bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subtype-specific roles of ellipsoid body ring neurons in sleep regulation in Drosophila
Authors: Yan Wei , Lin Hai , Yu Junwei , Wiggin Timothy D. , Wu Litao , Meng Zhiqiang , Liu Chang , Griffith Leslie C.
Published: September 2022

The ellipsoid body (EB) is a major structure of the central complex of the Drosophila melanogaster brain. 22 subtypes of EB ring neurons have been identified based on anatomical and morphological characteristics with light-level microscopy and EM connectomics. A few studies have associated ring neurons with the regulation of sleep homeostasis and structure. However, cell type-specific and population interactions in the regulation of sleep remain unclear. Employing a unbiased thermogenetic screen of collected EB drivers, we found: 1) multiple ring neurons are involved in the modulation of amount of sleep and structure in a synergistic manner; 2) analysis of data for ΔP(doze)/ ΔP(wake) using a mixed Gaussian model detected 5 clusters of GAL4 drivers which had similar effects on sleep pressure and/or depth: lines driving arousal contained R4m neurons, whereas lines that increased sleep pressure had R3m cells; 3) a general linear model analysis correlating ring cell subtype and activity-dependent changes in sleep parameters across all the lines identified several cell types significantly associated with specific sleep effects: R3p for daytime sleep promotion, and R4m for nighttime wake-promoting; and 4) another subclass, R3d cells present in 5HT7-GAL4+ neurons and in GAL4 lines from our screen which exclusively affect sleep structure, were found to contribute to fragmentation of sleep during both day and night. Thus, multiple subtypes of ring neurons distinctively control sleep amount and/or structure, and the unique highly interconnected structure of the EB and its connections with other regions of brain suggest a local-network model worth future investigation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

How multiple brain regions, with many cell types, can coherently regulate sleep remains unclear, but identification of cell type-specific roles can generate opportunities for understanding the principles of integration and cooperation. The ellipsoid body (EB) of the fly brain exhibits a high level of connectivity and functional heterogeneity yet is able to tune multiple behaviours in real-time, including sleep. Leveraging the powerful genetic tools available in Drosophila and recent progress in the characterization of the morphology and connectivity of EB ring neurons, we identify several EB subtypes specifically associated with distinct aspects of sleep. Our findings will aid in revealing the rules of coding and integration in the brain.
Core species and interactions prominent in fish-associated microbiome dynamics
Authors: Yajima Daii , Fujita Hiroaki , Hayashi Ibuki , Shima Genta , Suzuki Kenta , Toju Hirokazu
Published: September 2022

In aquatic ecosystems, the health of fish depends greatly on the dynamics of microbial community structure in the background environment. Nonetheless, finding microbes with profound impacts on fish’s performance out of thousands of candidate species remains a major challenge. We here show that time-series analyses of microbial population dynamics illuminate core components and structure of fish-associated microbiomes. By targeting eel aquaculture microbiomes as model systems, we reconstructed the population dynamics of 9,605 bacterial and 303 archaeal species/strains across 128 days. Due to the remarkable increase/decrease of constituent microbial populations, the taxonomic compositions of microbiomes changed drastically through time. We then found that some specific microbial taxa showed positive relationship with eels’ activity level even after excluding cofounding effects of environmental parameters (pH and dissolved oxygen level) on population dynamics. In particular, a vitamin B12-producing bacteria,Cetobacterium somerae, consistently showed strong positive associations with eels’ activity level across the replicate time-series of the five aquaculture tanks. Network theoretical and metabolic modeling analyses further suggested that the highlighted bacterium formed compartments of close microbe-to-microbe interactions with some other bacterial taxa, forming potential core microbiomes with positive impacts on eels. Overall, these results suggest that integration of microbiology, ecological theory, and network science allows us to explore core species and interactions embedded within complex dynamics of fish-associated microbiomes.
Emergence of syntax and word prediction in an artificial neural circuit of the cerebellum
Authors: Ohmae Keiko , Ohmae Shogo
Published: September 2022

The cerebellum, interconnected with the cerebral neocortex, plays a vital role in human-characteristic cognition such as language processing, but knowledge about the underlying circuit computation of the cerebellum remains very limited. Here, to understand the computation underlying the cerebellar language processing, we developed a biologically-constrained cerebellar artificial neural network (cANN) model, which implemented the recently identified cerebello-cerebellar recurrent pathway. We found that while cANN acquires prediction of future words, another function of syntactic recognition emerges in the middle layer of the prediction circuit. The recurrent pathway of the cANN was essential for the two language functions, whereas cANN variants with further biological constraints preserved these functions. Considering the uniform structure of cerebellar circuitry across all functional domains, the single-circuit computation, which is the common basis of the two language functions, can be generalized to fundamental cerebellar functions of prediction and grammar-like rule extraction from sequences, that underpin a wide range of cerebellar motor and cognitive functions. This is a pioneering study to understand the circuit computation of human-characteristic cognition by biologically-constrained ANNs, which can lead new therapeutic interventions for human cognitive dysfunction.
CLT-seq as a universal homopolymer-sequencing concept reveals poly(A)-tail-tuned ncRNA regulation
Authors: Su Qiang , Long Yi , Wang Jun , Gou Deming
Published: September 2022

Dynamic tuning of the poly(A) tail is a crucial mechanism for controlling translation and stability of eukaryotic mRNA. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of how this regulation occurs requires unbiased abundance quantification of poly(A)-tail transcripts and simple poly(A)-length measurement using high-throughput sequencing platforms. Current methods have limitations due to complicated setups and elaborate library preparation plans. To address this, we introduce Central Limit Theorem (CLT)-managed RNA-seq (CLT-seq), a simple and straightforward homopolymer-sequencing method. In CLT-seq, an anchor-free oligo(dT) primer rapidly binds to and unbinds from anywhere along the poly(A) tail string, leading to position-directed reverse transcription with equal probability. The CLT mechanism enables the synthesized poly(T) lengths, which correspond to the templated segment of the poly(A) tail, to distribute normally. Based on a well-fitted pseudogaussian-derived poly(A)-poly(T) conversion model, the actual poly(A)-tail profile is reconstructed from the acquired poly(T)-length profile through matrix operations. CLT-seq follows a simple procedure without requiring RNA-related pre-treatment, enrichment, or selection, and the CLT-shortened poly(T) stretches are more compatible with existing sequencing platforms. This proof-of-concept approach facilitates direct homopolymer base-calling and features unbiased RNA-seq. Therefore, CLT-seq provides unbiased, robust, and cost-efficient transcriptome-wide poly(A)-tail profiling. We demonstrate that CLT-seq on the most common Illumina platform delivers reliable poly(A)-tail profiling at a transcriptome-wide scale in human cellular contexts. We find that the poly(A)-tail-tuned ncRNA regulation undergoes a dynamic, complex process similar to mRNA regulation. Overall, CLT-seq offers a simplified, effective, and economical approach to investigate poly(A)-tail regulation, with potential implications for understanding gene expression and identifying therapeutic targets.
Correlated somatosensory input in parvalbumin/pyramidal cells in mouse motor cortex
Authors: Goz Roman U. , Hooks Bryan M.
Published: September 2022

In mammalian cortex, feedforward excitatory connections recruit feedforward inhibition. This is often carried by parvalbumin (PV+) interneurons, which may densely connect to local pyramidal (Pyr) neurons. Whether this inhibition affects all local excitatory cells indiscriminately or is targeted to specific subnetworks is unknown. Here, we test how feedforward inhibition is recruited by using 2-channel circuit mapping to excite cortical and thalamic inputs to PV+ interneurons and Pyr neurons in female and male mouse motor cortex. Single Pyr and PV+ neurons receive input from both cortex and thalamus. Connected pairs of PV+ interneurons and excitatory Pyr neurons receive correlated cortical and thalamic inputs. While PV+ interneurons are more likely to form local connections to Pyr neurons, Pyr neurons are much more likely to form reciprocal connections with PV+ interneurons that inhibit them. This suggests that Pyr neurons are embedded in local subnetworks. Excitatory inputs to M1 can thus target inhibitory networks in a specific pattern which permits recruitment of feedforward inhibition to specific subnetworks within the cortical column.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Incoming sensory information to motor cortex (M1) excites neurons to plan and control movements. This input also recruits feedforward inhibition. Whether inhibition indiscriminately suppresses cortical excitation or forms specific subnetworks is unclear. Specific differences in connectivity in circuits promoting different movements might assist in motor control. We show that input to connected pairs of pyramidal (Pyr) excitatory neurons and parvalbumin (PV+) inhibitory interneurons is more strongly correlated than non-connected pairs, suggesting the integration of interneurons into specific cortical subnetworks. Despite sparse connections between these cells, pyramidal neurons are vastly more likely (3x) to excite PV+ cells connected to them. Thus, inhibition integrates into specific circuits in motor cortex, suggesting that separate, specific circuits exist for recruitment of feedforward inhibition.
Two gustatory receptors involved in host plant recognition of silkworm larvae
Authors: Endo Haruka , Tsuneto Kana , Yamagishi Takayuki , Mang Dingze , Ito Katsuhiko , Nagata Shinji , Sato Ryoichi
Published: September 2022

Herbivorous insects can identify their host plants by sensing plant secondary metabolites as chemical cues. We previously reported the two-factor host acceptance system of the silkwormBombyx morilarvae. The chemosensory neurons in the maxillary palp (MP) of the larvae detect mulberry secondary metabolites, chlorogenic acid (CGA), and isoquercitrin (ISQ), with ultrahigh sensitivity, for host plant recognition and feeding initiation. Nevertheless, the molecular basis for the ultrasensitive sensing of these compounds remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that two gustatory receptors (Grs), BmGr6 and BmGr9, are responsible for sensing the mulberry compounds with attomolar sensitivity for host plant recognition by silkworm larvae. Calcium imaging assay using cultured cells expressing the silkworm putative sugar receptors (BmGr4-10) revealed that BmGr6 and BmGr9 serve as receptors for CGA and ISQ with attomolar sensitivity in human embryonic kidney 293T cells. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) of BmGr6 and BmGr9 resulted in a low probability of making a test bite of the mulberry leaves, suggesting that they lost the ability to recognize host leaves specifically. Electrophysiological recordings showed that the loss of host recognition ability in the Gr-KO strains was due to a drastic decrease in MP sensitivity toward ISQ in BmGr6-KO larvae and toward CGA and ISQ in BmGr9-KO larvae. Our findings unraveled that the two Grs, which have been regarded as sugar receptors, are molecules responsible for detecting plant phenolics in host plant recognition.
3D in vitro blood-brain-barrier model for investigating barrier insults
Authors: Wei Wei , Cardes Fernando , Hierlemann Andreas , Modena Mario M.
Published: September 2022

The blood-brain-barrier (BBB) prevents that harmful substances in the blood enter the brain, and barrier disruption has been associated with a variety of central-nervous-system diseases. In vitro BBB models enable to recapitulate the BBB behavior in a controlled environment to investigate how the barrier reacts to stress events and external insults. Here, we present a human-cell-based BBB platform with integrated, transparent electrodes to monitor barrier tightness in real time at high spatiotemporal resolution. The BBB model includes human cerebral endothelial cells and primary human pericytes and astrocytes in a three-dimensional arrangement within a pump-free, open microfluidic platform. With our platform, we demonstrate that oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), which mimics the characteristics of an ischemic insult, induces a rapid remodeling of the cellular actin structures and subsequent morphological changes in the endothelial cells. High-resolution live imaging showed the formation of large actin stress-fiber bundles in the endothelial layer during OGD application, which ultimately led to cell shrinkage and barrier breakage. Simultaneous electrical measurements showed a rapid decrease of the barrier electrical resistance before the appearance of the stress fibers, which indicates that the barrier function is compromised already before the appearance of drastic morphological changes. The results demonstrate that our BBB platform recapitulates the main barrier functions in vitro and can be used to investigate the rapid reorganization of the BBB upon application of external stimuli.
Immunological landscape of human lymphoid explants during measles virus infection
Authors: Acklin Joshua A , Patel Aum R , Kurland Andrew P , Horiuchi Shu , Moss Arianna S , Degrace Emma J , Ikegame Satoshi , Carmichael Jillian , Kowdle Shreyas , Thibault Patricia , Imai Naoko , Ueno Hideki , Tweel Benjamin , Johnson Jeffrey R , Rosenberg Brad R , Lee Benhur , Lim Jean K.
Published: September 2022

In humans, lymph nodes are the primary site of measles virus (MeV) replication. To understand the immunological events that occur at this site, we infected human lymphoid tissue explants using a pathogenic strain of MeV that expresses GFP. We found that MeV infected between 5-15% of cells across donors. Using single cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) and flow cytometry, we found that while most of the 29 cell populations identified in the lymphoid culture were susceptible to MeV, there was a broad preferential infection of B cells and reduced infection of T cells. Further subsetting of T cells revealed that this reduction may be driven by the decreased infection of naive T cells. Transcriptional changes in infected B cells were dominated by an interferon stimulated gene (ISG) signature. To determine which of these ISGs were most substantial, we evaluated the proteome of MeV-infected Raji cells by mass spectrometry. We found that IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, ISG15, CXCL10, MX2, and XAF1 proteins were the most highly induced, and positively correlated with their expression in the transcriptome. These data provide insight into the immunological events that occur in lymph nodes during infection and may lead to the development of therapeutic interventions.
Miniaturised structured illumination microscopy using two 3-axis MEMS micromirrors
Authors: Tinning Peter , Donnachie Mark , Christopher Jay , Uttamchandani Deepak , Bauer Ralf
Published: September 2022

We present the development and performance characterisation of a novel structured illumination microscope (SIM) in which the grating pattern is generated using two optical beams controlled via 2 micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) three-axis scanning micromirrors. The implementation of MEMS micromirrors to accurately and repeatably control angular, radial and phase positioning delivers flexible control of the fluorescence excitation illumination, with achromatic beam delivery through the same optical path, reduced spatial footprint and cost-efficient integration being further benefits. Our SIM architecture enables the direct implementation of multi-colour imaging in a compact and adaptable package. The two-dimensional SIM system approach is enabled by a pair of 2 mm aperture electrostatically actuated three-axis micromirrors having static angular tilt motion along the x- and y- axes and static piston motion along the z-axis. This allows precise angular, radial and phase positioning of two optical beams, generating a fully controllable spatial interference pattern at the focal plane by adjusting the positions of the beam in the back-aperture of a microscope objective. This MEMS-SIM system was applied to fluorescent bead samples and cell specimens, and was able to obtain a variable lateral resolution improvement between 1.3 and 1.8 times the diffraction limited resolution.
Cell-based optimisation and characterisation of genetically encoded, location-based biosensors for Cdc42 or Rac activity
Authors: Mahlandt Eike K. , Kreider-Letterman Gabriel , Chertkova Anna O. , Garcia-Mata Rafael , Goedhart Joachim
Published: September 2022

Rac and Cdc42 are Rho GTPases which regulate the formation of lamellipoda and filopodia and are therefore crucial in processes such as cell migration. Relocation-based biosensors for Rac and Cdc42 have not been characterized well in terms of their specificity or affinity. In this study, we identify relocation sensor candidates for either Rac or Cdc42. We compared their (i) ability to bind the constitutively active Rho GTPases, (ii) specificity for Rac and Cdc42 and (iii) relocation efficiency in cell-based assays. Subsequently, the relocation efficiency was improved by a multi-domain approach. For Rac1 we found a sensor candidate with low relocation efficiency. For Cdc42 we found several sensors with sufficient relocation efficiency and specificity. These optimized sensors enable the wider application of Rho GTPase relocation sensors, which was showcased by the detection of local endogenous Cdc42 activity at assembling invadopodia. Moreover, we tested several fluorescent proteins and HaloTag for their influence on the recruitment efficiency of the Rho location sensor, to find optimal conditions for a multiplexing experiment. The characterization and optimization of relocation sensors will broaden their application and acceptance.
Exploration of O-GlcNAc-transferase (OGT) glycosylation sites reveals a target sequence compositional bias
Authors: Chong P. Andrew , Nosella Michael , Vanama Manasvi , Ruiz-Arduengo Roxana , Forman-Kay Julie D.
Published: September 2022

O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is an essential glycosylating enzyme that catalyzes the addition of N-acetylglucosamine to serine or threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. The enzyme glycosylates a broad range of peptide sequences and prediction of glycosylation sites has proven challenging. The lack of an experimentally verified set of polypeptide sequences that are not glycosylated by OGT has made prediction of legitimate glycosylation sites more difficult. Here, we tested a number of intrinsically disordered protein regions as substrates of OGT to establish a set of sequences that are not glycosylated by OGT. The negative data set suggests an amino acid compositional bias for OGT targets. This compositional bias was validated by modifying the amino acid composition of the protein Fused in sarcoma (FUS) to enhance glycosylation. NMR experiments demonstrate that the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) region of OGT can bind FUS and that glycosylation-promoting mutations enhance binding. These results provide evidence that the TPR recognizes disordered segments of substrates with particular compositions to promote glycosylation, providing insight into the broad specificity of OGT.
Identification of a novel family of benzimidazole species-selective Complex I inhibitors as potential anthelmintics
Authors: Davie Taylor , Serrat Xènia , Snider Jamie , Štagljar Igor , Hirano Hiroyuki , Watanabe Nobumoto , Osada Hiroyuki , Fraser Andrew G
Published: September 2022

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) includingAscaris, hookworm, and whipworm are major human pathogens infecting over a billion people worldwide1,2. There are few existing classes of anthelmintics and resistance is increasing3–5— there is thus an urgent need for new classes of these drugs. Here we focus on identifying compounds that interfere with the unusual anaerobic metabolism that STHs use to survive the highly hypoxic conditions of the host gut6–9. This requires rhodoquinone (RQ), a quinone electron carrier that is not made or used by the STH hosts10. We previously showed thatC. elegansalso uses this rhodoquinone-dependent metabolism (RQDM)11and established a high throughput assay for RQDM11. We screened a collection of 480 natural products for compounds that kill worms specifically when they rely on RQDM — these 480 are representatives of a full library of ~25,000 natural products and derivatives12,13. We identify several classes of compound including a novel family of species selective inhibitors of Complex I. These Complex I inhibitors are based on a benzimidazole core but unlike commercial benzimidazole anthelmintics they do not target microtubules14–17. We screened over 1,200 benzimidazoles and identify the key structural requirements for species selective Complex I inhibition. We suggest that these novel benzimidazole species-selective Complex I inhibitors may be potential anthelmintics.
Phenotypic plasticity and the anthropause: an urban bird becomes less aggressive
Authors: Walters Marlene , Diamant Eleanor S , Wong Felisha , Cen Christina , Yeh Pamela
Published: September 2022

Urban areas often impose strong, novel selection pressures on wildlife. Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism helping organisms establish populations in novel environments. Phenotypic plasticity can be difficult to study in urban wildlife because many urban environmental variables are challenging to isolate and manipulate experimentally. We took advantage of the COVID-19 lockdowns to assess whether urban birds expressed aggression differently when relieved from frequent encounters with humans. We measured the territorial aggression responses of resident dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) on an urban college campus in Los Angeles, USA. We found that the population overall displayed significantly reduced aggression in pandemic year 2021 compared to the typical year 2019. Furthermore, individuals measured in both 2019 and 2021 showed significantly reduced aggression during 2021, demonstrating that individual birds maintain phenotypic plasticity in this trait. Our results show that human disturbance likely has a significant effect on the aggressive behavior of urban birds.
Optimized fluorescent proteins for 4-color and photoconvertible live-cell imaging in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Wang Ziyan , Bartholomai Bradley M. , Loros Jennifer J. , Dunlap Jay C.
Published: September 2022

Fungal cells are quite unique among life in their organization and structure, and yet implementation of many tools recently developed for fluorescence imaging in animal systems and yeast has been slow in filamentous fungi. Here we present analysis of properties of fluorescent proteins in Neurospora crassa as well as describing genetic tools for the expression of these proteins that may be useful beyond cell biology applications. The efficacy of ten different fluorescent protein tags were compared in a constant context of genomic and intracellular location; six different promoters are described for the assessment of the fluorescent proteins and varying levels of expression, as well as a customizable bidirectional promoter system. We present an array of fluorescent proteins suitable for use across the visible light spectrum to allow for 4-color imaging, in addition to a photoconvertible fluorescent protein that enables a change in the color of a small subset of proteins in the cell. These tools build on the rich history of cell biology research in filamentous fungi and provide new tools to help expand research capabilities.
The individual vulnerability to develop compulsive adjunctive behavior is associated with the recruitment of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) within the Locus Coeruleus
Authors: Velazquez-Sanchez Clara , Muresan Leila , Belin David
Published: September 2022

Some compulsive disorders have been considered to stem from the loss of control over coping strategies, such as displacement. However, the cellular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of coping behaviors and their ensuing compulsive manifestation in vulnerable individuals have not been elucidated. Considering the role of the locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenaline dependent system in stress and related excessive behaviors, we hypothesised that neuroplastic changes in the LC may be involved in the acquisition of an adjunctive polydipsic water drinking, a prototypical displacement behavior, and the subsequent development of compulsion in vulnerable individuals. Thus, male Sprague Dawley rats were characterised for their tendency, or not, to develop compulsive polydipsic drinking in a schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) procedure before their fresh brains were harvested. A new quantification tool for RNAscope assays revealed that the development of compulsive adjunctive behavior was associated with a low mRNA copy number of the plasticity marker Arc in the LC which appeared to be driven by specific adaptations in an ensemble of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)+, zif268-neurons. This ensemble was specifically engaged by the expression of compulsive adjunctive behavior, not by stress, because its functional recruitment was not observed in individuals that no longer had access to the water bottle before sacrifice while it consistently correlated with the levels of polydipsic water drinking only when it had become compulsive. Together these findings suggest that downregulation of Arc mRNA levels in a population of a TH+zif268-LC neurons represents a signature of the tendency to develop compulsive coping behaviors.
The diagonal axis from VERB to VOID: interdisciplinarity in basic design studio education
Authors: Çakmakli Aysem Berrin , Gursel Dino Ipek , Komez Daglioglu Esin , Pinar Ekin , Yoncacı Arslan Pelin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the potentials of interdisciplinary exercises that bring together art and design methodologies in expanding as well as redefining the given methods and principles of basic design in architecture education. The primary purpose is to improve the conventional, well-established principles and methodologies of basic design studios into fresh perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

Focussing on the case study of a basic design studio assignment that translated Richard Serra's Verb List (1967-68) into space-generating operations, the authors analyse how a diagonal interdisciplinary approach to studio pedagogy opened up the basic design studio into the exploration of new concepts and approaches. The assignment encouraged architecture students to productively and creatively engage with a significant art historical work for the purposes of design thinking and exploration.

Findings

Findings reveal that the students explored the possible reciprocal influences between materials, actions, and issues of form and organisation, thereby operating in an interface between art, architecture and design surveying the possible interactions between these disciplines. Based on the outcome of this studio exercise, the authors argue that designing assignments that would bring together various and sometimes even conflicting approaches of different fields allow us to reassess and conceptualise anew the pedagogical aims and modi operandi.

Originality/value

The research is original in the ways in which it suggests many possibilities of dialogue, interaction and collaboration between art, design and architecture studios.
The impact of business-to-business salespeople’s social media use on value co-creation and cross/up-selling: the role of social capital
Authors: Itani Omar S. , Badrinarayanan Vishag , Rangarajan Deva
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to develop and test a process model of the effect of social media use by business-to-business (B2B) salespeople on their value cocreation and cross/upselling performance. Adopting a research acquisition perspective, the authors claim that salesperson’s social media use is critical for generating social capital – an operant resource characterized by superior market knowledge, reputation and networking – which, in turn, directly and synergistically enhances value cocreation and cross/upselling outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is developed based on extant sales research on salesperson’s social media use and social capital theory. Data from B2B salespeople is analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results demonstrate that salespeople’s social media use enhances their social capital with support for direct effects on market knowledge and reputation, and indirect effect on networking. The results also show that the three aspects of social capital drive value cocreation, which enhances cross/upselling performance. Post hoc analysis shows the indirect effects of salesperson’s social media use as well as the interconnected effects of the aspects of social capital on value cocreation.

Practical implications

The study indicates that salespeople should be encouraged to use social media as a means for enhancing market knowledge and reputation, which can then be leveraged to build networking skills. Providing training to salespeople and coaching them on how to build their social capital is essential if organizations need to capitalize on novel ways to improve the value cocreation performance of their sales teams.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates how salespeople’s social media use can enhance their social capital, which, in turn, is critical for value cocreation and cross/upselling performance. The proposed framework opens opportunities for future studies to examine the role of salesperson social capital and value cocreation in B2B exchanges.
Motivating university management students on studying research methods: influence of career applicability, and emotional and cognitive interests
Authors: Tang Anne L.L. , Tung Vincent , Cheng Tiffany
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationships between undergraduate management students’ emotional interest (EI) and cognitive interest (CI) in research methods (RMs), the perceived applicability of RMs to future careers and motivation to study RMs within the Asian higher education context. This draws implications for better pedagogical approaches to motivating them to study RMs.

Design/methodology/approach

A pre–post-semester cohort study design was conducted with 172 undergraduate management students enrolled on an RMs subject by means of a self-administrated online survey using Qualtrics. A total of 170 students responded to the pre-semester survey and 116 students to the post-semester one. The main instrument was adapted from Mazer’s (2012) study interest scale. Regression analysis was applied to investigating the relationship between students’ EI and CI in RMs with perceived applicability of RMs to future careers and their motivation to study RMs.

Findings

The findings have shown that there was a significant relationship between undergraduate management students’ CI and EI and perceived applicability of RMs to future careers and their study motivation towards RMs. The regression model built on the two independent variables of students’ EI in RMs and their perceived applicability of RMs to future careers served to have higher accuracy in predicting their study motivation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to enriching the conceptual understanding of the conflating influences of undergraduate management students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels on studying RMs within the Asian higher education context. Practically, this study explores different pedagogical approaches to better motivating students to study RMs.
Promoting management skills: an intercultural comparative analysis
Authors: Aránega Alba Yela , Castaño Sánchez Rafael
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, young people have found their development obstructed and in some cases paralysed. Young professionals have had to learn to adapt to this new environment, and they have also lost opportunities to enter the labour market. The main objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness of tools based on experiential learning, such as outdoor training accompanied by mindfulness, in improving the emotional skills of young Asian professionals and, potentially, help them break down the barriers of their environment. It also compares the findings with the young Asian professionals with young European professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study replicates the one used in the first study, in which the data were first compiled using a closed-ended questionnaire during an outdoor training and mindfulness. A sample of 46 Asian and 49 young European professionals completed a series of outdoor training sessions. The participants provided their self-assessments of their own emotional competencies. Pre- and post-sessions questionnaires were used to measure competencies of emotional intelligence among young professionals who have just finished their studies, as the current educational system was found to require young people to develop professional skills that they will need in employment in the near future.

Findings

The results show that outdoor training had a greater effect on the young Asian professionals than on their European counterparts, overall, and particularly in Teamwork competence. Finally, this tool was positively received in both segments.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this study is that the Asian participants felt reserved when participating. Their cultural model includes a vision, education and politics that differ so much from European culture that it could have led to difficulties. They are not used to close contact with others or working as a team, and their character is more individualistic and independent (Hu, 2002). A second limitation is that (apart from the pre-activity questionnaire) the degree of cultural difference is not measured quantitatively but is based on a review of the literature and previous findings.

Practical implications

The research provides an underlying finding that addresses how the emotional competencies in demand could be developed at a more globalised level after a post-pandemic environment.

Originality/value

Very few studies have quantitatively confirmed its effectiveness, which is difficult, given the subjective nature of evaluation (Padilla-Melé ndez et al., 2014). Authors such as Barner (1989), Huszczo (1990), Lusher (1990), Bailey (1990), Fulmer (1992), Irvine and Wilson (1994) and Wagner and Campbell (1994) mention studies which implemented an outdoor training programme, but few studies attempt an objective evaluation. This study uses these tools in the Asian environment, after their application and confirmation of their measurability in Europe.
The relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior in the aviation industry: the mediating effect of work engagement
Authors: Saeed AlShamsi Sultan Salem , Bin Ahmad Kamarul Zaman , Jasimuddin Sajjad M.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the mediating effect of work engagement on the relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior. The context of the study is the initial stages of the pandemic starting April 2020, when international travel became restricted.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaires were distributed and collected from 327 respondents of 32 organizations in the aviation industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Findings

As hypothesized, work engagement is a mediator of the relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The limited sample size and confinement to the aviation industry in the UAE limit the generalisation of the results.

Practical implications

Managers desirous of improving employees’ innovative work behavior will now understand how employees’ curiosity and exploration can impact innovative work behavior through the employees’ work engagement. Therefore, managers should focus on ensuring how employees’ curiosity and exploration can be created into work engagement, ultimately leading to innovative work behavior.

Originality/value

This research extends the social learning theory by positing that people who have strong traits of curiosity and exploration, will learn from others on how to work more effectively. This will make them more absorbed in their work (work engagement) and subsequently lead to innovative work behavior.
Awareness on energy conservation: a case study of first-year undergraduate students in Malaysia
Authors: Jamaludin Adi Ainurzaman , Zulkifli Nurul Emy Idayu , Bharin Saherra , Jani Rohana , Mokhtar Mohd Istajib , Abdul Halim-Lim Sarina , Wan-Mohtar Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad , Ilham Zul
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the awareness level of university students on energy conservation by focusing on their knowledge, attitude and practice. Energy awareness is a feasible energy conservation measure, but an inappropriate approach can cause the wastage of resources. The current number of reported awareness studies especially among the university student is quite limited, and focus is more given to the awareness on renewable energy, instead of energy conservation.

Design/methodology/approach

A paper-based survey using a set of questionnaires that involved 2,857 respondents. There are four sections in this questionnaire, which are basic background information of respondents, knowledge (yes/true or no/false choice of responses), attitude (a scale of 1–10, where 10 indicates “strongly agree” and 1 chooses “strongly disagree”) and practices (a scale of 1–10, where 10 indicates “Always” and 1 selects “Never”). The evaluation includes the correlation analysis of all awareness variables with an educational background to disclose the most critical aspects that should be highly considered in the forthcoming awareness campaign.

Findings

This research revealed that university students have a high level of awareness of energy conservation. They hold a high knowledge level and show a positive attitude with very good energy conservation practices. However, some issues require serious attention in preparing energy management plans. Effective approaches should be taken by considering the field of study, gender and family economic status to enhance the awareness level of the university students on energy conservation.

Originality/value

The absence of appropriate references complicates the preparation of energy management plans including the establishment of energy policy and strategies. The findings of this research can contribute some contextual information in the local perspective to ensure the effectiveness of the energy management program and strengthen academic leadership by emphasising the element of sustainability. This is crucial for developing an energy saving culture among the young generation that will be our future scholars and leaders.
Social identity dilemmas of ultra-orthodox men in Israeli higher education
Authors: Binhas Adi , Moskovich Yaffa
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the unique dilemmas and challenges of ultra-orthodox men in academia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is conducted in the phenomenology approach. It explores the experience and the process that shape the social identity of higher-educated Haredi men through the life stories of twenty individuals.

Findings

The research found the developmental path of Haredi-educated males, till they adopted a hybridist identity. The research uses a new term of hybridist identity, to better analyze the components of this new identity structure that, to the best of the authors knowledge, has not been examined as such in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The study population is not large and therefore the number of participants is not large.

Practical implications

From this, we can also learn about other conservative groups that integrate into academic institutions.

Social implications

This is a group that has been researched, through which it will be possible to learn about trends of diversity in academia and other public institutions. From the findings, it will be possible to design a policy that will suit the sociological, social and cultural composition of the students, in order to enable access to higher education for more diverse groups.

Originality/value

This is a group that has been researched, through which it will be possible to learn about trends of diversity in academia and other public institutions. From the findings, it will be possible to design a policy that will suit the sociological, social and cultural composition of the students, in order to enable access to higher education for more diverse groups.
Human-robot kinematics mapping method based on dynamic equivalent points
Authors: Zhao Jing , Wang Xin , Xie Biyun , Zhang Ziqiang
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present a new kinematics mapping method based on dynamic equivalent points. In teleoperation, this method enables a robotic (follower) arm to mimic human (leader) arm postures and avoid obstacles in a human-like manner.

Design/methodology/approach

The information of the human arm is extracted based on the characteristics of human arm motion, and the concept of equivalent points is introduced. Then, an equivalent point is determined to transform the robotic arm with a nonhuman-like kinematic structure into an anthropomorphic robotic arm. Based on this equivalent point, a mapping method is developed to ensure that the two arms are similar. Finally, the similarity between the human elbow angle and robot elbow angle is further improved by using this method and an augmented Jacobian matrix with a compensation coefficient.

Findings

Numerical simulations and physical prototype experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method. In environments with obstacles, this method can adjust the position of the equivalent point in real time to avoid obstacles. In environments without obstacles, the similarity between the human elbow angle and robot elbow angle is further improved at the expense of the end-effector accuracy.

Originality/value

This study presents a new kinematics mapping method, which can realize the complete mapping between the human arm and heterogeneous robotic arm in teleoperation. This method is versatile and can be applied to various mechanical arms with different structures.
Exploring the views of students with dyslexia attending a third level college in Ireland
Authors: O'Brien Trevor
Published: September 2022

This article considers the perspectives of five college students who have all obtained the label of dyslexia. As the topic of student voice is important in educational research, the objective was to listen to what students had to say about issues that directly impacted them. A focus group was conducted and the findings pointed to overall satisfaction with the label, access to college supports and strategies which could be used to facilitate learning and well‐being. The insights provided by the students signify the imperative of listening to young people whose ‘expert’ views should be included in discussions to improve practice.
How temporary organisations manage flexibility in times of crises? Experiences of a Chinese control command in response to COVID‐19
Authors: Li Yanwei , Song Yunpeng
Published: September 2022

Coordination of the response to the COVID‐19 crisis may be understood as the multimonth management of a temporary organisation instead of classical crisis management. A key question is how to maintain operational flexibility, that is, an organisation's ability to adapt its day‐to‐day functions to accommodate a changing environment. This contribution describes how a control command established by a Chinese municipality in response to COVID‐19 tried to cope with the problems at hand. Based partially upon participatory observation the following aspects are considered: shifting political attention, adapting interaction frequency, changing organisational structures, improvising routines, and altering priorities.
Impact of cannabis‐infused edibles on public safety and regulation
Authors: Peralt Alain , Ke Pucheng , Castaneto Marisol S.
Published: September 2022

Popularity of cannabis‐infused products has bloomed since legalization for recreational use of marijuana started. Consumption of cannabis edibles has steadily increased, as restrictions on recreational cannabis smoking have become tighter. This phenomenon enhanced the possibility of these products crossing the state line. The most psychoactive component of cannabis, ∆9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is infused in “edibles” and linked to physiological and psychological effects. Consumers unfamiliar with these edibles may mistake them for non‐THC containing products, causing unintended use or overconsumption. In addition, these cannabis‐infused edibles are posing significant health risks. The FDA has recognized the potential dangers and recommended that cannabis remain as a Schedule I substance and illegal at the federal level. However, states maintain control of determining the legality of cannabis related products, and creating guidelines distinguishing cannabis edibles from the non‐cannabis containing products. Recently, the State of Maine offers a blueprint for edible regulation that should be implemented in all states that are considering or have legalized marijuana.