bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineered prime editors with minimal genomic errors
Authors: Chauhan Vikash P. , Sharp Phillip A. , Langer Robert
Published: August 2024

Prime editors make programmed genome modifications by writing new sequences into extensions of nicked DNA 3’ ends. These edited 3’ new strands must displace competing 5’ strands to install edits, yet a bias toward retaining the competing 5’ strands hinders efficiency and can cause indel errors. Using rational design of the constituent Cas9-nickase to reposition prime editor nicks, we discovered that competing 5’ strands are destabilized to favor the edited 3’ new strands. We exploit this mechanism to engineer efficient prime editors with strikingly low indel errors. Combining this error-suppressing strategy with the latest efficiency-boosting architecture, we design a next- generation prime editor (vPE). Compared with previous editors, vPE features comparable efficiency yet up to 60-fold lower indel errors, enabling edit:indel ratios as high as 465:1.

One Sentence Summary

Prime editors designed with repositioned DNA breaks nearly eliminate undesired genome editing errors
Nascent flagellar basal bodies are immobilized by rod assembly inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Dunn Caroline M. , Foust Daniel , Gao Yongqiang , Biteen Julie S. , Shaw Sidney L. , Kearns Daniel B.
Published: August 2024

Flagella are complex, trans-envelope nanomachines that localize to species- specific cellular addresses. Here we study the localization dynamics of the earliest stage of basal body formation inBacillus subtilisusing a fluorescent fusion to the C-ring protein FliM. We find thatB. subtilisbasal bodies do not exhibit dynamic subunit exchange and are largely stationary at steady state, consistent with flagellar assembly through the peptidoglycan. Rare basal bodies were observed to be mobile however, and the frequency of basal body mobility is elevated both early in basal body assembly and when the rod is mutated. Thus, basal body mobility is a precursor to patterning and we propose that rod polymerization probes the peptidoglycan superstructure for pores of sufficient diameter that permit rod completion. Furthermore, mutation of the rod also disrupts basal body patterning in a way that phenocopies mutation of the cytoplasmic flagellar patterning protein FlhF. We infer that conformational changes in the basal body exchange information between rod synthesis and the cytoplasmic patterning proteins to restrict assembly at certain pores established by a grid-like pattern pre-existent in the peptidoglycan itself.

IMPORTANCE

Bacteria insert flagella in a species-specific pattern on the cell body, but how patterns are achieved is poorly understood. In bacteria with a single polar flagellum, a marker protein localizes to the cell pole and nucleates the assembly of the flagellum at that site.Bacillus subtilisassembles ∼15 flagella over the length of the cell body in a grid-like pattern and lacks all proteins associated with targeted assembly in polarly flagellated bacteria. Here we show thatB. subtilisbasal bodies are mobile soon after assembly and become immobilized when the flagellar rod transits the peptidoglycan wall. Moreover, defects in the flagellar rod lead to an asymmetric distribution of flagella with respect to the midcell. We conclude that the patterning of flagella is different inB. subtilis, and we infer that theB. subtilisrod probes the peptidoglycan for holes that can accommodate the machine.
A general principle of neuronal evolution reveals a human-accelerated neuron type potentially underlying the high prevalence of autism in humans
Authors: Starr Alexander L. , Fraser Hunter B.
Published: August 2024

The remarkable ability of a single genome sequence to encode a diverse collection of distinct cell types, including the thousands of cell types found in the mammalian brain, is a key characteristic of multicellular life. While it has been observed that some cell types are far more evolutionarily conserved than others, the factors driving these differences in evolutionary rate remain unknown. Here, we hypothesized that highly abundant neuronal cell types may be under greater selective constraint than rarer neuronal types, leading to variation in their rates of evolution. To test this, we leveraged recently published cross-species single-nucleus RNA-sequencing datasets from three distinct regions of the mammalian neocortex. We found a strikingly consistent relationship where more abundant neuronal subtypes show greater gene expression conservation between species, which replicated across three independent datasets covering >106neurons from six species. Based on this principle, we discovered that the most abundant type of neocortical neurons—layer 2/3 intratelencephalic excitatory neurons—has evolved exceptionally quickly in the human lineage compared to other apes. Surprisingly, this accelerated evolution was accompanied by the dramatic down-regulation of autism-associated genes, which was likely driven by polygenic positive selection specific to the human lineage. In sum, we introduce a general principle governing neuronal evolution and suggest that the exceptionally high prevalence of autism in humans may be a direct result of natural selection for lower expression of a suite of genes that conferred a fitness benefit to our ancestors while also rendering an abundant class of neurons more sensitive to perturbation.
An engineered prodrug selectively suppresses β-lactam resistant bacteria in a mixed microbial setting
Authors: Duda Addison M. , Ma Helena R. , Villalobos César A. , Kuhn Sophia A. , He Katherine , Seay Sarah R. , Jackson Abigail C. , Suh Christine M. , Puccio Elena A. , Anderson Deverick J. , Fowler Vance G. , You Lingchong , Franz Katherine J.
Published: August 2024

The rise of β-lactam resistance necessitates new strategies to combat bacterial infections. We purposefully engineered the β-lactam prodrug AcephPT to exploit β-lactamase activity to selectively suppress resistant bacteria producing extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBLs). Selective targeting of resistant bacteria requires avoiding interaction with penicillin-binding proteins, the conventional targets of β-lactam antibiotics, while maintaining recognition by ESBLs to activate AcephPT only in resistant cells. Computational approaches provide a rationale for structural modifications to the prodrug to achieve this biased activity. We show AcephPT selectively suppresses gram-negative ESBL-producing bacteria in clonal populations and in mixed microbial cultures, with effective selectivity for both lab strains and clinical isolates expressing ESBLs. Time-course NMR experiments confirm hydrolytic activation of AcephPT exclusively by ESBL-producing bacteria. In mixed microbial cultures, AcephPT suppresses proliferation of ESBL-producing strains while sustaining growth of β-lactamase-non-producing bacteria, highlighting its potential to combat β-lactam resistance while promoting antimicrobial stewardship.

Abstract Figure
Isolation and characterization of mollicute symbionts from a fungus-growing ant reveals genome reduction and host specialization
Authors: Green Emily A. , Klepacki Ian , Klassen Jonathan L.
Published: August 2024

Two mollicute species belonging to theMesoplasmaandSpiroplasmagenera have been detected in several species of fungus-growing ants using molecular methods. However, their ecological roles remain largely only inferred from metagenomic data. To better understand their diversity and specialization, we cultured both of theseMesoplasmaandSpiroplasmasymbionts from the fungus-growing antTrachymyrmex septentrionalis, providing the first isolated mollicutes from any fungus-growing ant species. The genomes of our isolates and related metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) fromT. septentrionalisfungus gardens comprise two unique phylogenetic lineages compared to previously describedMesoplasmaandSpiroplasmaspecies, and from related MAGs previously sequenced from the leaf-cutting antAcromyrmex echinatior. This suggests that theT. septentrionalissymbionts comprise undescribed species with distinct host specificities.Mesoplasmagenomes and MAGs also demonstrate regional specificity with theirT. septentrionalisant hosts. BothMesoplasmaandSpiroplasmastrains fromT. septentrionaliscan catabolize glucose and fructose; both sugars are common in the ant’s diet. Similarly, both theseMesoplasmaandSpiroplasmacan catabolize arginine but onlyMesoplasmacan catabolizeN-acetylglucosamine, which could both produce ammonia for the ants or fungus garden. Based on our genomic and phenotypic analyses, we describe theseT. septentrionalissymbionts asMesoplasma whartonense sp. nov.andSpiroplasma attinicola sp. nov., providing insight into their genomic and phenotypic diversity, and cultures to facilitate future studies of these common but poorly understood members of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis.
Adapting protein language models for structure-conditioned design
Authors: Ruffolo Jeffrey A. , Bhatnagar Aadyot , Beazer Joel , Nayfach Stephen , Russ Jordan , Hill Emily , Hussain Riffat , Gallagher Joseph , Madani Ali
Published: August 2024

Generative models for protein design trained on experimentally determined structures have proven useful for a variety of design tasks. However, such methods are limited by the quantity and diversity of structures used for training, which represent a small, biased fraction of protein space. Here, we describe proseLM, a method for protein sequence design based on adaptation of protein language models to incorporate structural and functional context. We show that proseLM benefits from the scaling trends of underlying language models, and that the addition of non-protein context – nucleic acids, ligands, and ions – improves recovery of native residues during design by 4-5% across model scales. These improvements are most pronounced for residues that directly interface with non-protein context, which are faithfully recovered at rates >70% by the most capable proseLM models. We experimentally validated proseLM by optimizing the editing efficiency of genome editors in human cells, achieving a 50% increase in base editing activity, and by redesigning therapeutic antibodies, resulting in a PD-1 binder with 2.2 nM affinity.
CaMKII induces an autophagy-dependent anabolic response in Articular Chondrocytes
Authors: Day Nicholas James , Dutta Angshumi , Heluany Cintia Scucuglia , Asopa Vipin , Sochart David , Fielding Barbara , Nalesso Giovanna
Published: August 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of Calcium calmodulin-dependent Kinase II (CaMKII) in articular chondrocytes and its involvement in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. By performing gain and loss of function experiments, the research aimed to determine how CaMKII modulates chondrocyte metabolism, anabolic and catabolic processes, hypertrophic differentiation, and autophagy within the articular cartilage.

Design

Articular cartilage was harvested from patients undergoing joint replacement surgery for OA, and adult human articular chondrocytes (AHACs) were isolated and cultured. Recombinant adenoviruses were used to overexpress a constitutively active form of CaMKIIγ (AdCaMKII) or inhibit CaMKII activity (AdAIP). Various assays, including RT-PCR analysis, alcian blue staining of Micromass cultures, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting, were performed to assess the effects of CaMKII modulation on chondrocyte function.

Results

Overexpression of activated CaMKIIγ promoted anabolism, evidenced by increased expression of SOX9, COL2A1, and ACAN, and decreased MMP-13 levels. It also enhanced proteoglycan content in AHAC micromass cultures. Furthermore, CaMKII counteracted the catabolic effects of IL-1β and preserved proteoglycan content. We also observed decreased chondrocyte proliferation and increased synthesis of hypertrophic marker Type X Collagen. CaMKII activation was found to induce autophagy, as indicated by increased phosphorylation of Beclin1 and decreased p62 expression. The anabolic effects of CaMKII were dependent on autophagy, as inhibition of autophagy with Bafilomycin prevented the CaMKII-induced increase in glycosaminoglycan content.

Conclusions

CaMKII plays a significant role in modulating chondrocyte metabolism and maintaining cartilage homeostasis. It promotes anabolic processes, counteracts catabolic stimuli, and induces autophagy in articular chondrocytes. However, it also promotes hypertrophic differentiation, highlighting the complexity of CaMKII-mediated signalling in cartilage. Understanding these pathways could lead to new therapeutic strategies that leverage CaMKII’s anabolic potential while mitigating its pro-degenerative effects.
Social isolation in mid-life: associations with psychological distress, life satisfaction and self-rated health in two successive British birth cohorts
Authors: Mansfield Rosie , Richards Marcus , Ploubidis George B. , Henderson Morag , Patalay Praveetha
Published: August 2024

Little is known about the way in which different forms of isolation differentially impact mental health, whether they produce a ‘dose-response’ effect, and whether different forms of isolation interact in an additive or multiplicative way. The current study focuses on social isolation in mid-life (ages 42-26) – a life stage often neglected by the field. Data (N=32,391) were analysed from two successive British birth cohort studies: 1970 British Cohort Study N=16,585 and the 1958 National Child Development Study N=15,806. Linear multivariable regressions were run to investigate the independent, ‘dose-response’ and interactive associations of social isolation indicators with psychological distress, life satisfaction and self-rated health. Subsequently, all models were stratified to examine sex differences, and cohort effects were tested. Independent associations varied by isolation type and specific mental health outcomes, for instance, being out of employment was associated with all outcomes, living alone with only lower life satisfaction and a lack of frequent contact with friends and relatives, no labour market participation and limited community engagement were associated with lower life satisfaction and self-rated health. There was a ‘dose-response’ relationship with more social isolation associated with greater psychological distress, lower life satisfaction, and poorer self-reported health. The effects of different combinations of isolation on mental health appears to be additive, with no consistent sex and cohort differences observed. Results provide justification for investigating the separate and combined effects of different forms of social isolation; and the relevance of researching social isolation in relation to the complete mental health state. Isolation in its various forms was found to be detrimental for mental health, in mid-life, and over time in Great Britain. Social isolation was associated most consistently with lower levels of life satisfaction. Efforts to reduce isolation and its negative mental health impacts must recognise the complexity of experience across contexts and populations.
Chromatin-dependent motif syntax defines differentiation trajectories
Authors: Durdu Sevi , Iskar Murat , Isbel Luke , Hoerner Leslie , Wirbelauer Christiane , Burger Lukas , Hess Daniel , Iesmantavicius Vytautas , Schübeler Dirk
Published: August 2024

Transcription factors recognizing short DNA sequences within gene regulatory regions are crucial drivers of cell identity. Despite recent advances, their specificity remains incompletely understood. Here, we address this by contrasting two TFs, NGN2 and MyoD1, which recognize ubiquitous E-box motifs yet instigate distinct cell fates—neurons and muscles, respectively. Following controlled induction in embryonic stem cells, we monitor binding across differentiation trajectories, employing an interpretable machine-learning approach integrating pre-existing DNA accessibility data. This reveals a chromatin-dependent motif syntax, delineating both common and factor-specific binding and predicting genome engagement with high precision. Shared binding sites reside in open chromatin, locally influenced by nucleosomes. In contrast, factor-specific binding in closed chromatin involves NGN2 and MyoD1 acting as pioneer-factors, influenced by multi-motifs, rotational spacing, flanking sequences, and specific interaction partners, accounting for subsequent lineage divergence. Extending our methodology to other models demonstrates how such combination of opportunistic-binding and context-specific chromatin opening underpin transcription factor specificity driving differentiation trajectories.
Conformal anomalies and renormalized stress tensor correlators for nonconformal theories
Authors: Bertolini Tommaso , Casarin Lorenzo
Published: August 2024

We analyze the proposal of defining the Weyl anomaly for classically nonconformal theories as gmn⟨Tmn⟩−⟨gmnTmn⟩, originally put forward by Duff, in the case of a scalar field with quartic self-interaction in 4d. We work in the context of dimensional regularization in curved background to two loops (first order in the coupling). We review the original regularized but not renormalized prescription and its ambiguities; we argue that it cannot be extended to the interacting theory as it fails to provide a finite result. We then propose an alternative prescription via renormalized expectation values. At one loop, our candidate reproduces the local heat kernel result, while its extension to interacting theories contains nonlocal contributions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Pitting behavior of austenitic stainless-steel welded joints with dense inclusions and methods to enhance pitting resistance
Authors: Zhou QingYuan , Sun Yangting , Wang Xiangyu , Tan Xin , Jiang Yiming , Li Jin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to assess the pitting resistance of austenitic stainless steel welded joints fusion zone (FZ) with high density of inclusions before and after surface treatment, including potentiostatic pulse technique (PPT) and pickling.

Design/methodology/approach

The potentiodynamic polarization tests and critical pitting temperature tests were carried out for estimating pitting resistance. The PPT and pickling were performed as surface treatment. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer were used for characterize the microstructure and elemental distribution. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to assess the portion of phases and morphology of grains.

Findings

The weld metal exhibits a higher degree of alloying compared to the base metal, and it contains d-phase and sulfur-containing inclusions. Sulfur-containing inclusions serve as initiation sites for pitting, and they diminish the pitting resistance of weld metal. Both PPT and pickling can remove sulfur-containing inclusions, but PPT causes localized dissolution of the weld metal matrix around the inclusions, while pickling does not. Because of the high density of inclusions, certain pits initiated by PPT are significantly deeper, which makes the formation of stable pitting easier. Because of the high density of inclusions, certain pits initiated by the PPT are deeper. This characteristic facilitates the progression of these initial defects into fully developed, stable pits.

Originality/value

Analysis of pitting initiation in shielded metal arc welding FZ with PPT and ex situ SEM tracking observation. Explanation of why the PPT surface treatment is not able to enhance the pitting resistance of stainless steel with a high inclusion density.
The effect of investor protection on forced CEO turnover
Authors: D’Alauro Gabriele , Quagli Alberto , Nicoliello Mario
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the direct and indirect effects of investor protection on forced CEO turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors investigate 5,175 firm-year observations from 16 European countries over 2012–2018, collect data on four national investor protection indicators, identify 196 forced CEO turnovers and use multiple logistic regression models.

Findings

The results show that a reduction in the degree of investor protection significantly increases the probability of a forced change of the company’s CEO. Furthermore, when the degree of investor protection increases, directors are attributed a lower degree of responsibility in the event of a decline in earnings performance. Therefore, the relation between a decrease in profitability and a forced change of CEO is reduced.

Research limitations/implications

The research is focused on countries belonging to the European Economic Area and most of the investor protection indicators are derived from surveys. Concerning policy implications, the findings suggest that regulators should focus on the effective enforcement of investor protection mechanisms.

Social implications

The results confirm that characteristics at the country level have an impact on corporate decisions, highlighting the importance of increasing the degree of investor protection as a means of mitigating agency conflicts and improving stewardship.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study explores a relatively underinvestigated topic as it uses investor protection indicators to jointly evaluate both direct and indirect effects on forced changes of CEO through cross-national research.
Critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels
Authors: Omer Mazen M. , Moyo Tirivavi , Al-Otaibi Ali , Alawag Aawag Mohsen , Rizal Alias Ahmad , Rahman Rahimi A.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels. Accordingly, this study’s objectives are to identify: critical factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites in low-, lower-middle-, upper-middle- and high-income countries, overlapping critical factors across countries with different income levels and agreements on the critical factors across countries with different income levels.

Design/methodology/approach

This study identified 19 factors affecting workplace well-being using a systematic literature review and interviews with construction industry professionals. Subsequently, the factors were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed among construction industry professionals across Yemen, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, receiving 110, 169, 335 and 193 responses. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including mean, normalized value, overlap analysis and agreement analysis.

Findings

This study identified 16 critical factors across all income levels. From those, 3 critical factors overlap across all countries (communication between workers, general safety and health monitoring and timeline of salary payment). Also, 3 critical factors (salary package, working environment and working hours) overlap across low-, low-middle and upper-middle-income countries, and 1 critical factor (project leadership) overlaps across low-middle, upper-middle and high-income countries. The agreements are inclined to be compatible between low- and low-middle-income, and between low- and high-income countries. However, agreements are incompatible across the remaining countries.

Practical implications

This study can serve as a standard for maintaining satisfactory workplace well-being at construction sites.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to analyze factors affecting workplace well-being at construction sites across countries with different income levels.
The dynamics of crisis home office and employee engagement
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Drawing on the JD-R theory, this study investigates the effect of working from home on employee engagement and work-life balance considering work-life balance as the mediator in the working from home-employee engagement relationship and altruism as the moderator in the work-life balance-employee engagement relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire using the snowball sampling approach was employed to collect data from 350 professional-level employees working from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings indicate that work-life balance significantly affects employee engagement and confirm the moderating role of altruism in the relationship between work-life balance and employee engagement. However, work-life balance does not mediate the relationship between working from home and employee engagement.

Originality/value

These findings advanced JD-R theory in human resource management by focusing on a more humanistic and compassionate approach towards managing employees, particularly in the remote working context during turbulent times.
Form, criticality, and humanity: topic modeling the field of literary studies for English education
Authors: Storm Scott , Rainey Emily C.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Research on disciplinary literacy in English has struggled with how to represent large-scale disciplinary communities and consider issues of justice and power. The purpose of this study is to offer insights into the disciplinary practice of a community of literary scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

Using statistical topic modeling augmented with complementary qualitative analysis and interpretive rhetorical analysis, the authors describe patterns in a corpus of 4,039 articles published in the year 2018 and drawn from 215 peer-reviewed literary journals, a corpus comprising 15.5 million words.

Findings

Analysis suggests that contemporary literary scholars collectively build knowledge that considers diverse matters of form, including literary and linguistic forms, literary works and other representational forms; criticality, including critical theories and critical concepts; and humanity, including humanistic themes, human institutions and people/places.

Originality/value

This manuscript offers detail about the nature of contemporary literary scholarship as evident through linguistic patterns in and across published works.
Navigating the academic Labyrinth: describing the landscape of women faculty in hospitality higher education
Authors: Way Kelly A. , Mason Clarissa , Garrison M.E. Betsy
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to describe faculty women’s perspectives of the workplace environment in hospitality higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Female faculty members in hospitality (n = ∼50) completed an online survey about their beliefs about women’s experiences, advancement characteristics the glass ceiling and gender equity.

Findings

Respondents concurred that being self-directed, assertive and a risk-taker were essential; leadership is the most important characteristic for advancement and the glass ceiling is prevalent and prominent. It may be assumed that the milieu of academia would be free or freer of the glass ceiling, but research, including this study, suggests otherwise. Glass ceilings persist even in organizations with explicit policies promoting equality in advancement. Research participants identified raising awareness about the glass ceiling and its presence within academic institutions as crucial. However, for initiatives to be effective, they must be supported authentically and unwaveringly by top administrators, including both male and female leaders.

Originality/value

The findings underscore both progress and persisting disparities, shedding light on the need for targeted efforts to improve inclusivity and gender equity within academia in hospitality management. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on fostering a more diverse and equitable landscape in higher education, particularly within the field of hospitality.
Economic evaluation of a psychological surveillance and support programme in the UK police force
Authors: McCrone Paul , Tehrani Noreen , Tehrani Romin , Horsley Alex , Hesketh Ian
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Police officers in the UK frequently experience traumatic events and work pressures, and these can have a detrimental impact on mental health. A psychological surveillance programme has been implemented and clinically evaluated. This paper reports an economic evaluation of the programme.

Design/methodology/approach

A decision analytic model was developed to explore programme costs, outcomes and return on investment for a notional cohort of 1,000 police personnel (officers and staff). The model parameters were obtained from a large data set of sequential psychological surveillance results. Changes in individual work productivity were derived from a workability measure included in the survey.

Findings

The modelled expected total cost incurred to screen 1,000 participants was £84,287 ($106,971). The expected net increase in work productivity for those receiving interventions was valued at £241,672 ($306,713). This result represents a return on investment of 187%. Sensitivity analyses showed that the model was robust to changes in key parameters.

Research limitations/implications

Police personnel experiencing traumatic events may need specialist support from occupational health services or psychological therapy. Screening or surveillance can detect mental health problems, but its cost-effectiveness has been previously unknown.

Practical implications

The value for money of providing surveillance within the police force to detect mental health problems is assessed in this research. The gains in terms of increased work are evident. In similar environmental working conditions, this could extend to emergency services globally.

Social implications

The police are often called upon to deal with the lowest points in people’s lives. The findings have implications for police forces wishing to support officers to be able to provide the best of themselves in these situations.

Originality/value

There have been no previous studies in policing that have concluded that running a psychological surveillance programme in policing is financially viable. Although this requires initial investment, this paper models that the extra costs incurred are more than offset by improved work productivity.
Understanding variations of governmentality and governance structures at the project level in project-based organizations
Authors: Malik Muhammad Yousaf , Wang Linzhuo , Zhu Fangwei
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Variations of human-versus-structure and within-humans at the organizational and the project level are critical in shaping the internal arrangement for effectiveness of project-based organization’s (PBOs) governance. Recent discourse presents governmentality at the organizational level and leadership at the project level as human agency of governance, whereas governance structures to be their counterpart. However, project-level mechanisms of governmentality that can help to understand possible variations among these governance dimensions remained veiled. This study uses institutional theory to explore these internal arrangements accommodated by variations of PBOs governance dimensions at the project level.

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed Eisenhardt protocols of multiple case study design using an abductive research approach. Considering the heterogeneity of governance as a phenomenon in literature, boundary conditions were established before theorizing the model of the study to avoid ambiguities and define the research scope. Five PBOs were chosen using theoretical sampling, yielding 70 interviews. Data were analyzed by constant comparison with theory, using replication logic and cross-case analysis.

Findings

Findings revealed that project managers perform a buffer function for governmentality at the project level. Identified mechanisms of governmentality at the project level included two downward mechanisms, i.e. communication and informal interactions of governors, and two upward mechanisms of adaptation and reciprocity by project managers and project team members. Cross-analysis for variations among PBOs’ governance at the project level revealed seven arrangements showcasing synergies or contrasts.

Originality/value

The study adds to organizational project management literature by advancing the significance of congruence between humans and structures in project governance. Furthermore, the synchronization of the project manager’s leadership style with the governmentality approach and governance structure of PBOs is of crucial importance at the project level. Findings suggest the same by showcasing synergetic versus contrasting internal arrangements accommodated in varying PBOs governance dimensions. Implications highlight that synergies among PBOs governance dimensions and project manager’s styles can minimize conflicts and inconsistencies in governance implementation, whereas contrasts might trigger them.
Home-office implementation: challenges and changes in people management
Authors: Couto Ana Isabel , Rodrigues Ana Cláudia , Lousã Eva Petiz , Martins Dora
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates how organisations responded to the home office imposition during the recent global health crisis and its impacts on people management, detailing the organisational factors crucial for effective home-office implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

We used an exploratory design based on a multiple case study with four companies from two contrasting sectors (manufacturing and information technology (IT)). We interviewed a total of 12 managers, including one HR manager (HRms) and two team managers from each company. We also conducted an online questionnaire with open questions, reaching out to 128 home-office workers from the four participating companies. This diverse group consisted of 67 workers from the IT sector and 61 workers from the manufacturing sector. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, we opted for a qualitative approach to examine the data.

Findings

Findings enabled detail of the organisational factor of the Belzunegui-Eraso and Erro-Garcés (2020) extended Baruch and Nicholson’s (1997) model into people management issues: organisational culture, team management and human resources management (HRM) practices, as well as the technological support. The results also revealed that people management benefits from the successful home-office implementation, which boosted the digitalisation of human resources (HR) processes.

Originality/value

Considering the lessons learned from the home-office imposition, this research provides original insights into the field by exploring the roles of supervisors and HR managers, in non-health organisations, with different previous remote work experiences, in a recent global disruptive moment, based on a rich qualitative approach. The paper offers concrete guidelines for companies that intend to implement remote work management programs and contributes to deepen the knowledge of home-office experience, offering a model focusing on managers’ roles (HRms and TMs) and HRM practices.
Digital technology adoption and radical and incremental innovations: evidence from the Chinese wind power industry
Authors: Shi Jiarong , Jiang Zihao , Liu Zhiying
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Digital technologies open up unprecedented opportunities for the Chinese wind power industry to make rapid and comprehensive decisions. However, the relationship between digital technology adoption and radical and incremental innovations has not been empirically assessed. In addition, reconfiguration capability is the ability of firms to transform and respond to changes. How such an organizational capability influences the effectiveness of digital technology adoption is a black box. In response, this study aims to assess the relationship between digital technology adoption and radical and incremental innovations in the Chinese wind power industry and elucidate the moderating role of reconfiguration capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the data of listed companies in the Chinese wind power industry from 2006 to 2020, this study constructs regression models and validates the hypotheses.

Findings

The correlation between digital technology adoption and incremental innovation in the wind power industry in China is significantly positive, but the relationship between digital technology adoption and radical innovation is not significant. In addition, reconfiguration capability significantly enhances the incentive effect of digital technology adoption on incremental innovation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the earliest to explore the heterogeneous relationships between digital technology adoption and radical and incremental innovations in emerging economies, advancing the theoretical insights into how digital transformation can foster different categories of technological innovations. Moreover, this study embeds dynamic capability theory into digital transformation research by exploring the boundary conditions for the effectiveness of digital technology adoption from the perspective of organizational dynamic capability, thereby expanding the boundaries of existing knowledge.
The experience of stress, coping and support for prison officer negotiators in His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
Authors: Booth Catharine Charlotte , Stephenson Zoe
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Negotiation is an established strategy used by the police and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to manage serious incidents. Whilst the literature acknowledges the role of the negotiator to be stressful, little is known about the experience of stress and the coping strategies used by negotiators when undertaking this role. This is particuarly true for negotiators who work in prisons. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore the experience of negotiators working in a prison setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 prison officer negotiators based in public sector prisons in the North West of England. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Four overarching themes were identified relating to stressors; the experience of stress; use of coping strategies; and use of support. An underlying theme was identified relating to negotiating within the structure of a prison regime.

Practical implications

People involved in the management of serious incidents should be familiar with the negotiator role. Debriefing negotiators after a lone deployment and offering support to negotiators in the days following an incident is critical for staff well-being. Further, record keeping from the perspective of the negotiator should become formalised.

Originality/value

This paper contributes new insights into the management of serious incidents and the negotiator experience in prisons in England and Wales.
Crossing the lines a human approach to improving the effectiveness of the three lines model in practice
Authors: Fenelon Morgan , van Doorn Juliette , Scholten Wieke
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Financial services firms have a significant societal responsibility to prevent issues. The three lines model helps them do that though faces challenges in its effectiveness. This paper aims to offer a behavioural perspective on these challenges and practical solutions to help improve the model and herewith better prevent issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors detail key behavioural pitfalls and underlying psychological mechanisms that hinder the effectiveness of the model. The authors illustrate these with examples from the corporate practice, alluding to the behavioural patterns and drivers identified in the academic and consultancy work. The authors conclude with offering practical solutions how to enhance the effectiveness of the model.

Findings

The authors discuss common ineffective intergroup behaviours between the controllers (here: internal audit) and the controlled (here: the audited business or 2nd line functions): the controllers responding to issues with increased scrutiny; the controlled dismissing the feedback and challenging the issues raised; and the controlled and the controller competing for power. The root causes of these ineffective intergroup behaviours include: psychological defence mechanisms, social categorisation and collective beliefs about intrusiveness. The offered solutions range from actions the controllers can take, actions the controlled can take and actions both can take to improve the effectiveness of the model in practice.

Originality/value

The authors argue that the behavioural perspective on the effectiveness of the model is a blind spot and largely omitted from organisations’ agendas. This paper adds this behavioural perspective to help organisations improve the effectiveness of the model.
Coping trauma with tolerance! A dyadic approach to investigate the relationship between social rejection and work-deviant behavior
Authors: Hussain Hussam , Imran Muhammad Kashif , Fatima Tehreem , Sarwar Ambreen , Shabeer Sobia
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Based on the conservation of resources and emotional regulation theories, this research seeks to examine the relationship between social rejection and work-deviant behavior with a moderated mediation effect of emotional tolerance and psychological trauma.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave multi-sourced (dyad) data were collected from the professionals and respective supervisors of state-managed services sector organizations operating in Pakistan (n1 = 252, n2 = 126) selected through snowball sampling technique.

Findings

The results reflected that socially excluded employees indulge in work-deviant behaviors and psychological trauma perform a partial transmitting link. Further, an ability to be emotionally tolerant buffers the detrimental aspects effects of social rejection on psychological trauma but might not be an effective tool while one moves to the trauma stage. Further, the conditional effect confirms that a high level of emotional tolerance weakens the moderated mediation relationship between social rejection and work-deviant behavior via psychological trauma.

Practical implications

The present study provides guidelines to carefully identify and tackle the incidences of social rejection in the workplace and develop tolerance capabilities of employees to tackle the trauma and reduce work deviance.

Originality/value

This is a novel attempt to link the emotional regulation theory with the conservation of resources theory in order to minimize the deviance-related issues provoked by social rejection by introducing emotional tolerance as a coping mechanism which was paid less attention in the contemporary literature.
Integrated design and maintenance strategies for wind turbine gearboxes
Authors: Aafif Yazid , Schutz Jérémie , Dellagi Sofiene , Chelbi Anis , Mifdal Lahcen
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize the maintenance strategies for wind turbine (WT) gearboxes to minimize costs associated with PM actions, cooling, production loss and gearbox replacement. Two approaches, periodic imperfect maintenance and a novel design incorporating alternating gearboxes are compared to identify the most cost-effective solution.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs mathematical modeling to analyze the design, operation and maintenance of WT gearboxes. Two maintenance strategies are investigated, involving periodic imperfect maintenance actions and the incorporation of two similar gearboxes operating alternately. The models determine optimal preventive maintenance (PM) and switching periods to minimize total expected costs over the operating time span.

Findings

The research findings reveal, for the considered case of a moroccan wind farm, that the use of two similar gearboxes operating alternately is more cost-effective than relying on a single gearbox. The mathematical models developed enable the determination and comparison of optimal strategies for various WT gearbox scenarios and associated maintenance costs.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations may arise from simplifications in the mathematical models and assumptions about degradation, temperature monitoring and maintenance effectiveness. Future research could refine the models and incorporate additional factors for a more comprehensive analysis.

Practical implications

Practically, the study provides insights into optimizing WT gearbox maintenance strategies, considering the trade-offs between PM actions, cooling, production loss and gearbox replacement costs. The findings can inform decisions on maintenance planning and design modifications to enhance cost efficiency.

Social implications

While the primary focus is on cost optimization, the study indirectly contributes to the broader societal goal of sustainable energy production. Efficient maintenance strategies for WTs help ensure reliable and cost-effective renewable energy, potentially benefiting communities relying on wind power.

Originality/value

This paper introduces two distinct strategies for WT gearbox maintenance, extending beyond traditional periodic maintenance. The incorporation of alternating gearboxes presents a novel design approach. The developed mathematical models offer a valuable tool for determining and comparing optimal strategies tailored to specific WT scenarios and associated maintenance costs.
A digital positive psychology intervention for college student mental health and health behaviors
Authors: Biber Duke , Davis Ashlee
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a 10-week positive psychology course on college student stress, anxiety, self-compassion, resilience and health behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study implemented a 10-week positive psychology program that included ten one-week modules. Each module consisted of a reading on a given positive psychology topic, a guided learning slideshow, a video to reinforce topical understanding and individual reflection or application exercises. Participants completed pre and postintervention measures, including the perceived stress scale, generalized anxiety disorder-7, self-compassion scale, brief resilience scale and wellness behavior inventory.

Findings

A total of 48 students consented to participate in the study, of which 35 completed the 10-week positive psychology online intervention as well as the pre and postsurveys (27.1% attrition rate). There were no statistically significant differences between pre and postresponses for any of the outcome scales. However, there was a trend toward a decrease in perceived stress and generalized anxiety, as well as a trend toward an increase in self-compassion and health behaviors from pre to posttest.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study was design and sample size. Although it was a pilot study, future research should consider a randomized control trial, including pre and postevaluation and blind comparison group. Finally, this intervention was only implemented in the online, asynchronous format. Future research might consider comparing face-to-face, asynchronous online and synchronous online modalities.

Practical implications

Future implementation should include a more rigorous design, such as a comparison group with randomization as well as a larger sample size.

Social implications

Given the previous effectiveness of positive psychological interventions on health behaviors, continued research may use direct measures of health behavior engagement throughout the intervention (Biber and Ellis, 2019). This study provides other researchers and practitioners with a model for utilization with middle, high and university students.

Originality/value

This study used open-access content that was free of charge to students to promote positive mental health and health behavior change.