bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noncoding RNAs evolutionarily extend animal lifespan
Authors: Wang Anyou
Published: June 2023

The mechanisms underlying lifespan evolution in organisms have long been mysterious. However, recent studies have demonstrated that organisms evolutionarily gain noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that carry endogenous profound functions in higher organisms1,2, including lifespan3. This study unveils ncRNAs as crucial drivers driving animal lifespan evolution. Species in the animal kingdom evolutionarily increase their ncRNA length in their genomes, coinciding with trimming mitochondrial genome length. This leads to lower energy consumption and ultimately lifespan extension. Notably, during lifespan extension, species exhibit a gradual acquisition of long-life ncRNA motifs while concurrently losing short-life motifs. These longevity-associated ncRNA motifs, such as GGTGCG, are particularly active in key tissues, including the endometrium, ovary, testis, and cerebral cortex. The activation of ncRNAs in the ovary and endometrium offers insights into why women generally exhibit longer lifespans than men. This groundbreaking discovery reveals the pivotal role of ncRNAs in driving lifespan evolution and provides a fundamental foundation for the study of longevity and aging.
Hydraulic Conductivity of The Hemp Stems Under Water Stress
Authors: Yuksel Mehmet , Al-agele Hadi A. , Nackley Lloyd , Higgins Chad W.
Published: June 2023

The hydraulic conductivity of hemp stems under water-stress conditions was investigated to assess the impact on water transport from the root to the leaves. Water-stress conditions induce embolism (cavitation) in xylem channels, thereby affecting water flow. The percentage loss of water transfer ability within the xylem channels can be represented by a ‘vulnerability curve’ (VC). This study utilized an air injection technique to induce embolisms in the stem and measured the subsequent changes in hydraulic conductivity using a specialized measurement apparatus. The results revealed that the shape of the vulnerability curve for hemp was influenced by the xylem area, which is an atypical finding with no prior evidence in other plant species. The statistical analysis confirmed the significance of this effect (p-value=0.003 at 95% confidence intervals). Consequently, a non-traditional mathematical equation (simple power law) was developed to describe the relationship between pressure and xylem area. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that hemp stems are more responsive to water stress compared to other plant species documented in previous literature. The minimum pressure (0.15 MPa) at which initial cavitation is observed and the maximum pressure (∼2.4 MPa) at which all stem conductance is lost were among the lowest reported values, indicating that hemp growth may be significantly affected by deficit irrigation strategies. Thus, careful monitoring of the irrigation schedule is crucial, particularly for younger stems with smaller xylem cross-sectional areas. These insights into the hydraulic behavior of hemp can contribute to the development of improved irrigation strategies in agriculture, ultimately enhancing water-use efficiency and optimizing crop production.

Highlight

The hydraulic conductivity of hemp stems under water-stress conditions was investigated to assess the impact on water transport from the root to the leaves.

The results revealed that the shape of the vulnerability curve for hemp was influenced by the xylem area, which is an atypical finding with no prior evidence in other plant species.

Our findings demonstrated that hemp stems are more responsive to water stress compared to other plant species documented in previous literature.

The minimum pressure (0.15 MPa) at which initial cavitation is observed and the maximum pressure (∼2.4 MPa) at which all stem conductance is lost were among the lowest reported values, indicating that hemp growth may be significantly affected by deficit irrigation strategies.

Thus, careful monitoring of the irrigation schedule is crucial, particularly for younger stems with smaller xylem cross-sectional areas. These insights into the hydraulic behavior of hemp can contribute to the development of improved irrigation strategies in agriculture, ultimately enhancing water-use efficiency and optimizing crop production.
Dose-dependent interaction of parasites with tiers of host defence generates “wormholes” that prolong infection at intermediate inoculum sizes
Authors: Graham Andrea L. , Regoes Roland R.
Published: June 2023

Immune responses are induced by parasite exposure and can in turn reduce parasite burden. Despite such apparently simple rules of engagement, key drivers of within-host dynamics, including dose-dependence of defence and infection duration, have proven difficult to predict. Here, we model how varied inoculating doses interact with host defences. Defence is multi-tiered, with 3 tiers invoked for all animals: barrier, innate, and adaptive. We model how these tiers interact with replicating and non-replicating parasites across six orders of magnitude of dose. We find that, in general, intermediate parasite doses generate infections of longest duration because they are sufficient in number to breach barrier defences, but insufficient to strongly induce subsequent tiers of defence. Deviation from the hypothesis of independent action, which postulates that each parasite has an independent probability of establishing infection, may therefore be widespread. Most interestingly, our model predicts local maxima of duration at two doses – one for each tier transition. While empirical evidence is consistent with nonlinear dose-dependencies, the profiles with multiple turning points that we predict will require finer-scale dose experiments than are usually undertaken. Our results help explain varied infection duration among differentially-exposed hosts and elucidate evolutionary pressures that shape both virulence and defence.
Endothelial cell flow-mediated quiescence is temporally regulated and utilizes the cell cycle inhibitor p27
Authors: Tanke Natalie T , Liu Ziqing , Gore Michaelanthony T , Bougaran Pauline , Linares Mary B , Marvin Allison , Sharma Arya , Oatley Morgan , Yu Tianji , Quigley Kaitlyn , Vest Sarah , Cook Jeanette Gowen , Bautch Victoria L
Published: June 2023

Background

Endothelial cells regulate their cell cycle as blood vessels remodel and transition to quiescence downstream of blood flow-induced mechanotransduction. Laminar blood flow leads to quiescence, but how flow-mediated quiescence is established and maintained is poorly understood.

Methods

Primary human endothelial cells were exposed to laminar flow regimens and gene expression manipulations, and quiescence depth was analyzed via time to cell cycle re-entry after flow cessation. Mouse and zebrafish endothelial expression patterns were examined via scRNA seq analysis, and mutant or morphant fish lacking p27 were analyzed for endothelial cell cycle regulation andin vivocellular behaviors.

Results

Arterial flow-exposed endothelial cells had a distinct transcriptome, and they first entered a deep quiescence, then transitioned to shallow quiescence under homeostatic maintenance conditions. In contrast, venous-flow exposed endothelial cells entered deep quiescence early that did not change with homeostasis. The cell cycle inhibitor p27 (CDKN1B)was required to establish endothelial flow-mediated quiescence, and expression levels positively correlated with quiescence depth. p27 lossin vivoled to endothelial cell cycle upregulation and ectopic sprouting, consistent with loss of quiescence.HES1andID3, transcriptional repressors of p27 upregulated by arterial flow, were required for quiescence depth changes and the reduced p27 levels associated with shallow quiescence.

Conclusions

Endothelial cell flow-mediated quiescence has unique properties and temporal regulation of quiescence depth that depends on the flow stimulus. These findings are consistent with a model whereby flow-mediated endothelial cell quiescence depth is temporally regulated downstream of p27 transcriptional regulation by HES1 and ID3. The findings are important in understanding endothelial cell quiescence mis-regulation that leads to vascular dysfunction and disease.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

HIGHLIGHTS

Different quiescence stimuli lead to distinct transcriptional and functional quiescence profiles in endothelial cells

p27 is required for endothelial cell quiescence and depth is temporally regulated in a flow stimulus-dependent manner that correlates with p27 levels and flow-regulated repressorsHES1andID3

p27 is expressed in endothelial cells according to flow magnitudein vivoand is functionally required for cell cycle regulation and sproutingin vivo
Protein Dynamics Govern the Oxyferrous State Lifetime of an Artificial Oxygen Transport Protein
Authors: Zhang Lei , Brown Mia C. , Mutter Andrew C. , Greenland Kelly N. , Cooley Jason W. , Koder Ronald L.
Published: June 2023

It has long been known that the alteration of protein side chains which occlude or expose the heme cofactor to water can greatly affect the stability of the oxyferrous heme state. Here we demonstrate that the rate of dynamically-driven water penetration into the core of an artificial oxygen transport protein also correlates with oxyferrous state lifetime by reducing global dynamics, without altering the structure of the active site, via the simple linking of the two monomers in a homodimeric artificial oxygen transport protein using a glycine-rich loop. The tethering of these two helices does not significantly affect the active site structure, pentacoordinate heme binding affinity, reduction potential, or gaseous ligand affinity. It does, however, significantly reduce the hydration of the protein core as demonstrated by resonance Raman spectroscopy, backbone amide hydrogen exchange, and pKa shifts in buried histidine side chains. This further destabilizes the charge-buried entatic state and nearly triples the oxyferrous state lifetime. These data are the first direct evidence that dynamically-driven water penetration is a rate-limiting step in the oxidation of these complexes. It furthermore demonstrates that structural rigidity which limits water penetration is a critical design feature in metalloenzyme construction and provides an explanation for both the failures and successes of earlier attempts to create oxygen-binding proteins.

Significance

This communication sheds light on one of the more controversial areas in protein folding and design: the dynamic nature of the hydrophobic core and its relationship to metalloprotein function, in particular the relationship between dynamic solvent penetration into the protein core and the stability of metalloenzyme intermediates. We demonstrate that the basic tetrameric scaffold that is the classic helical bundle model for cofactor binding and activation can be easily upgraded to a more rigid, less dynamic, single chain helical bundle by merely taking the same helical sequences and converting it to a single chain protein connected by simple, nonoptimized glycine-rich loops. Importantly, our results explain the decades-long history of failure in the design of proteins capable of stably forming an oxyferrous state – the requirement for a protein large enough to protect the heme porphyrin surface with both structural specificity and sufficient structural rigidity to restrict water penetration into the protein core. Finally, we believe this is the first use of Deep UV Resonance Raman spectroscopy to monitor dynamic water penetration in a functional protein. This method may prove useful moving forward to many research groups.
Gene family evolution in brassicaceous-feeding insects: Implications for adaptation and host plant range
Authors: Ravikanthachari Nitin , Boggs Carol L
Published: June 2023

Herbivores have a defined range of hostplants that they can feed on, which is mediated by underlying detoxification and sensory repertoires. Insects that feed on Brassicaceae represent one of the striking examples of co-evolutionary arms race. Insects specialized on Brassicaceae have evolved specific mechanisms to detoxify mustard oils (glucosinolates), while generalist species use detoxification enzymes that act on a variety of substrates. Understanding the gene evolution of detoxification and sensory repertoire in specialist and generalist Brassicaceae feeders will shed light on the processes involved in mediating hostplant ranges in herbivores. We use a comparative phylogenomic approach in 12 lepidopterans that feed on Brassicaceae, ranging from specialist to pests in their host range to examine the gene family expansion of detoxification and sensory gene families. We found that gene family expansions and contractions were larger in generalist herbivores compared to specialist herbivores. Gene evolutionary rate of detoxification genes reflected hostplant range where generalists had a higher evolutionary rate of detoxification genes that act on wide substrates while specialists had a higher evolutionary rate in genes that conjugate toxic compounds to hydrophilic byproducts. Our analysis on the nitrile specifier gene, a key innovation for feeding on Brassicaceae, indicated pervasive purifying selection with lineage specific differences in selection. Our results add to the growing body of work addressing gene family evolution and its role in hostplant range and specialization in insects.
A Transient High-dimensional Geometry Affords Stable Conjunctive Subspaces for Efficient Action Selection
Authors: Kikumoto Atsushi , Bhandari Apoorva , Shibata Kazuhisa , Badre David
Published: June 2023

Flexible action selection requires cognitive control mechanisms capable of mapping the same inputs to different output actions depending on the context. From a neural state-space perspective, this requires a control representation that separates similar input neural states by context. Additionally, for action selection to be robust and time-invariant, information must be stable in time, enabling efficient readout. Here, using EEG decoding methods, we investigate how the geometry and dynamics of control representations constrain flexible action selection in the human brain. Participants performed a context-dependent action selection task. A forced response procedure probed action selection different states in neural trajectories. The result shows that before successful responses, there is a transient expansion of representational dimensionality that separated conjunctive subspaces. Further, the dynamics stabilizes in the same time window, with entry into this stable, high-dimensional state predictive of individual trial performance. These results establish the neural geometry and dynamics the human brain needs for flexible control over behavior.
Temporal dynamics of honeybee learning and decision-making are revealed by a novel automated PER system
Authors: Strelevitz Heather , Tiraboschi Ettore , Haase Albrecht
Published: June 2023

The proboscis extension response (PER) has been widely used for decades to evaluate honeybees’ (Apis mellifera)learning and memory abilities. This classical conditioning paradigm is traditionally administered manually, and produces a binary score for each subject depending on the presence or absence of the proboscis extension in response to a stimulus - typically an odor which has been associated with a sucrose reward - to classify whether or not the bee has learned the association. Here we present a fully automated PER system which delivers stimuli in a more controlled manner, and thus standardizes the protocol within and between labs; further, the AI-facilitated behavioral scoring reduces human error and allows us to extract a richer meaning from the outcome. The automated frame-by-frame assessment goes beyond the binary classification of “learned” or “not learned”, expanding the possibilities for many other measures. Using this method, we investigate the real-time decision-making processes of honeybees faced with difficult learning tasks. When posed with a quantitative (rather than qualitative, as in the case of different odors) PER association, honeybees show a pattern of rapid generalization to both the rewarded and non-rewarded stimuli, followed by a slowly acquired discrimination between the two. Our work lays the foundation for deeper exploration of the honeybee cognitive processes when posed with complex learning challenges.
Comparative genetic, biochemical, and biophysical analyses of the fourE. coliABCF paralogs support distinct functions related to mRNA translation
Authors: Ousalem Farès , Singh Shikha , Bailey Nevette A. , Wong Kam-Ho , Zhu Lingwei , Neky Matthew J. , Sibindi Cosmas , Fei Jingyi , Gonzalez Ruben L. , Boël Grégory , Hunt John F.
Published: June 2023

Multiple paralogous ABCF ATPases are encoded in most genomes, but the physiological functions remain unknown for most of them. We herein compare the fourEscherichia coliK12 ABCFs – EttA, Uup, YbiT, and YheS – using assays previously employed to demonstrate EttA gates the first step of polypeptide elongation on the ribosome dependent on ATP/ADP ratio. A Δuupknockout, like ΔettA, exhibits strongly reduced fitness when growth is restarted from long-term stationary phase, but neither ΔybiTnor ΔyheSexhibits this phenotype. All four proteins nonetheless functionally interact with ribosomes based onin vitrotranslation and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments employing variants harboring glutamate-to-glutamine active-site mutations (EQ2) that trap them in the ATP-bound conformation. These variants all strongly stabilize the same global conformational state of a ribosomal elongation complex harboring deacylated tRNAValin the P site. However, EQ2-Uup uniquely exchanges on/off the ribosome on a second timescale, while EQ2-YheS-bound ribosomes uniquely sample alternative global conformations. At sub-micromolar concentrations, EQ2-EttA and EQ2-YbiT fully inhibitin vitrotranslation of an mRNA encoding luciferase, while EQ2-Uup and EQ2-YheS only partially inhibit it at ~10-fold higher concentrations. Moreover, tripeptide synthesis reactions are not inhibited by EQ2-Uup or EQ2-YheS, while EQ2-YbiT inhibits synthesis of both peptide bonds and EQ2-EttA specifically traps ribosomes after synthesis of the first peptide bond. These results support the fourE. coliABCF paralogs all having different activities on translating ribosomes, and they suggest that there remains a substantial amount of functionally uncharacterized “dark matter” involved in mRNA translation.
Profiling of microglia nodules in multiple sclerosis reveals propensity for lesion formation
Authors: van den Bosch Aletta M.R. , van der Poel Marlijn , Fransen Nina L. , Vincenten Maria C.J. , Bobeldijk Anneleen M. , Jongejan Aldo , Engelenburg Hendrik J. , Moerland Perry D. , Smolders Joost , Huitinga Inge , Hamann Jörg
Published: June 2023

Clusters of ramified HLA-DR+cells, known as microglia nodules, are associated with brain pathology. Here we investigated if microglia nodules in the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of multiple sclerosis (MS) are different from microglia nodules in white matter (WM) in stroke and whether they may relate to the start of demyelinating MS lesions. We studied the relation between microglia nodules and pathological severity in an MS autopsy cohort (n=167), and we compared frequency, size, and gene expression of microglia nodules in MS (n=7) and stroke (n=7). MS donors with microglia nodules (64%) had a higher lesion load and a higher proportion of active lesions compared to donors without microglia nodules (36%). We found altered expression of genes in microglia nodules in MS compared to stroke, including genes previously shown to be upregulated in MS lesions. Genes associated with lipid metabolism, presence and proliferation of T and B cells, production of and response to immunoglobulins and cytokines (specifically TNF and IFN), activation of the complement cascade, and metabolic stress were upregulated. Using immunohistochemistry, we confirmed that in MS, more than in stroke, microglia nodules are associated with membrane attack complexes, have phagocytosed oxidized phospholipids, and have a tubular mitochondrial network reflecting increased metabolic activity. Furthermore, in MS, some nodules encapsulated partially demyelinated axons. Taken together, we propose that activation of some microglia nodules in MS by pro-inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins in combination with phagocytosis of oxidized phospholipids may lead to a volatile phenotype prone to form MS lesions.
Cyclic mechanical stretching stimuli promotes angiocrine signals duringin vitroliver bud formation from human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yoshimoto Koki , Maki Koichiro , Adachi Taiji , Kamei Ken-ichiro
Published: June 2023

Liver organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) allow elucidation of liver development and have great potential for drug discovery. However, current methods for generating liver organoids using biochemical substances do not realize the vascular network of the liver lobule, due to the lack of knowledge of the role ofin vivomechanical environments during liver development. Here, we investigate the role of cyclic mechanical stretch (cMS) to angiocrine signals of hepatoblasts (HBs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) using an organ-on-a-chip platform to emulatein vivo-like mechanical environments and hPSCs to recapitulate hepatic differentiation. RNA sequencing revealed that the expression of angiocrine signal genes, such asHGFand matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), was increased by cMS in co-cultured HBs and EPCs. The secretion of HGF and MMP9 increased by 3.23-folds and 3.72-folds with cMS in the co-cultured HBs and EPCs but was not increased by cMS in the mono-cultured HBs and EPCs. Immunofluorescence micrographs with anti-KRT19, HGF, and MMP9 antibodies also revealed that cMS increased HGF and MMP9 expression when HBs and EPCs were co-cultured. cMS increased HGF and MMP9 expression and secretion when HBs and EPCs were co-cultured. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanical factors involved in the vascular network of human liver bud formation and liver organoid generation.
Hepatic lipid-associated macrophages mediate the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery against MASH
Authors: Fredrickson Gavin , Florczak Kira , Barrow Fanta , Dietsche Katrina , Wang Haiguang , Parthiban Preethy , Almutlaq Rawan , Adeyi Oyedele , Herman Adam , Bartolomucci Alessandro , Staley Christopher , Jahansouz Cyrus , Williams Jesse , Mashek Douglas G. , Ikramuddin Sayeed , Revelo Xavier S.
Published: June 2023

For patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome, bariatric procedures such as vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) have a clear benefit in ameliorating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). While the effects of bariatric surgeries have been mainly attributed to nutrient restriction and malabsorption, whether immuno-modulatory mechanisms are involved remains unclear. Here we report that VSG ameliorates MASH progression in a weight loss- independent manner. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that hepatic lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) expressing the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) increase their lysosomal activity and repress inflammation in response to VSG. Remarkably, TREM2 deficiency in mice ablates the reparative effects of VSG, suggesting that TREM2 is required for MASH resolution. Mechanistically, TREM2 prevents the inflammatory activation of macrophages and is required for their efferocytotic function. Overall, our findings indicate that bariatric surgery improves MASH through a reparative process driven by hepatic LAMs, providing insights into the mechanisms of disease reversal that may result in new therapies and improved surgical interventions.
Diversity of hydrodynamic radii of intrinsically disordered proteins
Authors: Białobrzewski Michał K. , Klepka Barbara P. , Michaś Agnieszka , Cieplak-Rotowska Maja K. , Staszałek Zuzanna , Niedźwiecka Anna
Published: June 2023

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) form an important class of biomolecules regulating biological processes in higher organisms. The lack of a fixed spatial structure facilitates them to perform their regulatory functions. Due to the possibility of large conformational changes of IDPs, the cellular milieu can also control productivity of biochemical reactions. From the biophysical point of view, IDPs are biopolymers with a broad configuration state space. The conformation of such a biopolymer depends on non-covalent interactions of its amino acid side chain groups at given temperature and chemical conditions. Thus, the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of an IDP of a given polymer length (N) is a sequence- and environment-dependent variable. We have reviewed the literature values of hydrodynamic radii of IDPs determined experimentally by SEC, AUC, PFG NMR, DLS, and FCS, and complement them with our FCS results obtained for a series of protein fragments involved in regulation of human gene expression. The data collected herein show that the values of hydrodynamic radii of intrinsically disordered proteins can span the full space between the folded globular and denatured proteins in the Rh(N) diagram.
Immuno-Engineered Mitochondria for Efficient Therapy of Acute Organ Injuries via Modulation of Inflammation and Cell Repair
Authors: Zhang Qing , Shen Yan , Zhang Hanyi , Li Xuemei , Yang Shengqian , Dai Chen , Yu Xiuyan , Lou Jie , Zhang Chengyuan , Feng Jinwei , Hu Chenglu , Lin Zhihua , Li Xiaohui , Zhou Xing
Published: June 2023

Acute organ injuries represent a major public health concern, and despite recent advances in organ support therapy, managing patients with organ failure stemming from such injuries remains a formidable challenge. The pathogenesis of acute organ injuries is driven by a cascade of inflammatory reactions and mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated cell damage, two interrelated events that fuel a vicious cycle of disease progression. In this study, we engineered neutrophil membrane-fused mitochondria (nMITO) that inherit the injury-targeting and broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activities from neutrophil membrane proteins while retaining the cell-repairing activity of mitochondria. We demonstrated that nMITO can effectively block the inflammatory cascade and replenish mitochondrial function to simultaneously modulate these two key mechanisms in diverse acute organ injuries. Furthermore, by virtue of the β-integrin inherited from neutrophils, nMITO exhibit selective homing to injured endothelial cells and can be efficiently delivered to damaged tissue cells via tunneling nanotubes, amplifying their regulatory effects on local inflammation and cell injury. In mouse models of acute myocardial injury, acute liver injury, and acute pancreatitis, nMITO effectively ameliorated immune dysfunction and repaired damaged tissues. Our findings suggest that nMITO represents a promising therapeutic strategy for managing acute organ injuries.
Characterization and super-resolution imaging of small tau aggregates in human samples
Authors: Böken Dorothea , Cox Dezerae , Burke Melanie , Lam Jeff Y. L. , Katsinelos Taxiarchis , Danial John S. H. , McEwan William A. , Rowe James B. , Klenerman David
Published: June 2023

Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule binding protein tau plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. While the structure of the filamentous aggregates formed in humans has recently been determined to atomic resolution, there is far less information available about the smaller aggregate precursors, thought to be the most neurotoxic. To address this gap, we have developed a single molecule pull-down (SiMPull) able to detect tau aggregates in clinically relevant human samples. This method enables the detection and characterisation of individual tau aggregates, as opposed to averaged features obtained from traditional bulk techniques. We report the number, size and shape of individual aggregates measured via super-resolution microscopy, revealing disease-specific differences in tau aggregate morphology. By adapting the assay to simultaneously detect multiple phosphorylation sites in individual aggregates, we were also able to derive compositional profiles for pathological modifications present in individual aggregates. We demonstrate that tau aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease are significantly more likely to contain both the AT8 and T181 pathological phosphorylation markers, rather than only one. Together, tau SiMPull identified distinct subpopulations of large, modified tau aggregates that were invisible to traditional methodologies. These morphological and compositional differences distinguish samples taken from disease cohorts, offering to illuminate underlying disease mechanisms, and providing a foundation for novel diagnostic strategies.
Small-angle X-ray scattering in the era of fourth-generation light sources
Authors: Narayanan Theyencheri , Chèvremont William , Zinn Thomas
Published: June 2023

Recently, fourth-generation synchrotron sources with several orders of magnitude higher brightness and higher degree of coherence compared with third-generation sources have come into operation. These new X-ray sources offer exciting opportunities for the investigation of soft matter and biological specimens by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and related scattering methods. The improved beam properties together with the advanced pixel array detectors readily enhance the angular resolution of SAXS and ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering in the pinhole collimation. The high degree of coherence is a major boost for the X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) technique, enabling the equilibrium dynamics to be probed over broader time and length scales. This article presents some representative examples illustrating the performance of SAXS and XPCS with the Extremely Brilliant Source at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The rapid onset of radiation damage is a significant challenge with the vast majority of samples, and appropriate protocols need to be adopted for circumventing this problem.
Schedule compression and emerging waste in construction: an assessment of overlapping activities
Authors: Salhab Diana , Lindhard Søren Munch , Hamzeh Farook
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Compressing the schedule by using overlapping activities is a commonly adopted approach for accelerating projects. However, this approach might channel a variety of risks into the construction processes. Risks imply waste; still, evaluating the effects of using overlapping activities on schedule quality has been a looming gap in construction research. Therefore, this paper aims to study the quality of overlapping in terms of emerging waste and to demarcate the boundaries of the overlapping envelope.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a method for assessing the consequences of implementing overlapping activities in a schedule on two types of waste namely waiting time and variation gap. A critical path method (CPM) network including eleven activities is modeled stochastically where the durations of individual activities are sampled as beta-distributions. Using program evaluation and review technique (PERT) assumptions to calculate the schedule dates, the network is simulated for various amounts of overlapping and the corresponding waste is quantified each time.

Findings

Results show that not only the returns on overlapping are diminishing after a certain overlap percentage, but also waste in the production system increases. Particularly, results reveal that compressing the schedule leads to a decrease in variation gaps, but at the same time, it leads to a larger increase in waiting times, which creates more waste.

Originality/value

The presented study shows through simulation how overlapping activities affects productivity by identifying wastes. It shows that despite the apparent gains, overlaps should be used with caution, and while considering the side-effects of increased waste which introduces a need for increased managerial awareness.
What drives the successful launch of IoT-related business models?
Authors: Falkenreck Christine , Leszczyński Grzegorz , Zieliński Marek
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Customer value perception of Internet of Things (IoT)-based services has not been studied in the context of a company’s readiness to adopt IoT technology. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by indicating a research framing that combines insights from the IoT business model literature and customer perception of the value of such models and their drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

The interplay between a company’s IoT readiness and its perception of the value of IoT services is tested using a sample of 90 Eastern European business customers in a competitive business field. The conceptual framework described also examines relationships among constructs that refer to relationship quality. This study evaluates its quantitative sample using partial least squares path modeling.

Findings

Customers’ perceived value of IoT business models strongly relates to their digitalization capabilities and their own company’s innovativeness. When referring to disruptive technical offerings, existing trustful and satisfactory relationships cannot enhance the customer’s value perception.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of Eastern European buyers is not representative of the majority of manufacturing companies. A randomized sample using other sources such as large industry databases could be useful. In addition, a replication of the study in other countries would allow for a cross-border validation of this study’s results.

Practical implications

This study suggests a detailed process that is based on a careful preselection of test customers working for innovative companies. A marketing communication approach must state clearly the benefits the buyers get in return for their sacrifice of sharing data.

Originality/value

Technology readiness refers to the user’s propensity to embrace and use new technologies. The results indicate that IoT readiness influences the successful launch of IoT-related business models. For managers, this study proposes a process to implement IoT-related business models.
Investigating the implementation of immersive technologies within on-site construction safety processes
Authors: Swallow Mark , Zulu Sambo Lyson
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The benefits of integrating immersive technologies (ImTs) within a construction safety context are acknowledged within the literature; however, its practical application on construction sites remains low. Whilst research into the integration of ImTs within the construction industry is underway, most have viewed this from a broader adoption context or within educational settings, and not specifically from a practical on-site safety perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address the contributing factors to its integration within on-site safety processes, using the experiences of active construction professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative approach. Data was collected through online focus groups involving UK based construction professionals with experience in using ImTs, recruited using selective sampling. Data sets were subsequently analysed using inductive thematic analysis and are presented within key themes.

Findings

The results showed that among the experienced construction professionals, the use of ImTs specifically for on-site safety applications (including inductions/training/workshops) was rare on projects. The findings identified various contributing factors related to the integration of ImTs, including the potential improvements in on-site safety practices such as enhanced communication of hazards, safety planning, engagement during training and more accurate risk assessment. Critical challenges, concerns and frustrations included a lack of engagement from senior level management, inadequate leadership, limited investment, a need for digital expertise, fear of complacency and the acceptance of ImTs within existing safety processes from the wider project team.

Originality/value

This study provides a fresh perspective to this field by using practical accounts from active and experienced on-site construction professionals. This study supports the integration of ImTs within the construction industry, presenting key contributing factors influencing its integration within on-site safety processes. These factors can be considered by industry adopters, and includes the rationale, challenges and potential on-site benefits of ImTs.
Mapping the state of expanded audit reporting: a bibliometric view
Authors: Mashayekhi Bita , Dolatzarei Ehsan , Faraji Omid , Rezaee Zabihollah
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the intellectual structure of expanded audit reporting (EAR), offers a quantitative summation of prominent themes, contributors and knowledge gaps and provides suggestions for further research.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses various bibliometric techniques, including co-word and co-citation analysis for EAR science mapping, based on 123 papers from Scopus Database between 1991 and 2022.

Findings

The results show EAR research is focused on Audit Quality; Auditor Liability and Litigation; Communicative Value and Readability; Audit Fees; and Disclosure. Regarding EAR research, Brasel et al. (2016), article is the most cited paper, Bédard J. is the most cited author, Laval University is the most influential university, The Accounting Review is the most cited journal and USA is the leading country. Furthermore, the results show that in common law countries, in which shareholder rights and litigation risk is high, topics such as disclosure quality and audit litigation have been addressed more; and in civil legal system countries, which usually favor stakeholders’ rights, topics of gender diversity or corporate governance have been more studied.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for standard setters and regulators, who can identify important, overlooked and emerging issues and consider them in future policies and standards.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by providing a more objective and comprehensive status of the accounting research on EAR, identifying the gaps in the literature and proposing a direction for future research to continue the discussion on the value-relevance of EAR to achieve more transparency and less audit expectation gap.
Physicochemical characterization of titanium dioxide inks for digital textile printing based on newly developed polyurethane prepolymers
Authors: Hassanein M. , El Rahm M. Abd , El Bary H. M. Abd , El-Wahab H. Abd
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study the physical and chemical characteristics of inkjet titanium dioxide inks for cotton fabric digital printing.

Design/methodology/approach

Different dispersing agents through the reaction of glycerol monooleate and toluene diisocyanate were prepared and then performed by using three different polyols (succinic anhydride-modified polyethylene glycol PEG 600, EO/PO Polyether Monoamine and p-chloro aniline Polyether Monoamine), to obtain three different dispersing agents for water-based titanium dioxide inkjet inks. The prepared dispersants were characterized using FTIR to monitor the reaction progress. Then the prepared dispersants were formulated in titanium dioxide inkjet inks formulation and characterized by particle size, dynamic surface tension, transmission electron microscopy, viscosity and zeta potential against commercial dispersants. Also, the study was extended to evaluate the printed polyester by using the prepared inks according to washing and crock fastness.

Findings

The obtained results showed that p-chloro aniline Polyether Monoamine (J) and succinic anhydride modified polyethylene glycol PEG 600 (H) dispersants provided optimum performance as compared to commercial standards especially, particle size distribution data while EO/PO Polyether Monoamine based on dispersant was against and then failed with the wettability and dispersion stability tests.

Practical implications

These ink formulations could be used for printing on cotton fabric by DTG technique of printing and can be used for other types of fabrics.

Originality/value

The newly prepared ink formulation for digital textile printing based on synthesized polyurethane prepolymers has the potential to be promising in this type of printing inks, to prevent clogging of nozzles on the printhead and to improve the print quality on the textile fiber.
Role of top management green commitment, adaptability culture and green product innovation in boosting organizational green performance in Pakistan
Authors: Gull Maryam , Rashid Mohsin , Hassan Sobia , Rehman Saqib
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Top management and managers must highlight environmental issues and adopt green product innovation (GPI) to implement eco-friendly management in their businesses. This research aims to examine the impact of top management’s green commitment and adaptability culture (AC) on organizational green performance (OGP) mediated by GPI.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in the context of the textile industry of Pakistan, where a sample of 232 employees was collected for the data analysis. The study adopted a quantitative approach, and the data collected were analyzed using relevant statistical tools (SPSS 24 and Smart PLS 3.0) to address the research questions.

Findings

The present study supported positive relationships of top management green commitment (TMGC) and AC with the OGP, whereas GPI mediated the relationships.

Originality/value

Integrating the AC, TMGC, GPI and the organization’s green performance is a milestone as it serves as an effort to present a model promoting green management research. The study’s findings could be used in the textile sector to foster a green culture by strengthening green AC and GPI by raising environmental concerns within the workforce.
Exploring environmental sustainability and green management practices: evidence from logistics service providers
Authors: Leung Tiffany Cheng Han , Guan Jieqi , Lau Yui-Yip
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine management attitude and awareness towards green logistics, explores the external conditions that drive and restrict its positive behaviour, investigates the level of its adoption amongst logistics service providers (LSPs) and determines the major barriers affecting its application in the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This research investigates the key decision-making process on green logistics attitude and behaviour through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis.

Findings

This study explores both institutional and individual-level attitudes/awareness. Then, the driving and restraining forces and the challenges that influence the industry’s adoption of green initiatives are determined. Finally, this study constructs a framework following a behavioural driving route with interactions among green “attitude”, sustainable “subjective norms”, “behavioural control” and “external context” factors.

Practical implications

Findings can enlighten the practitioners who are struggling to adopt the green or low-carbon practice and provide valuable insights and constructive advice to LSPs and their stakeholders.

Social implications

Findings can draw the government and policy-makers’ attention to provide necessary financial or non-financial support for the practitioners to improve their green operations.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to adopt the hybrid theoretical lens on the green behaviour of the logistics industry. New insights are added to existing environmental management literature with a wider understanding and deeper investigation of the decision-making on green logistics in the industry. The theoretical framework in this study can offer future applications to a relevant large-scale study.
‘A place for training, not for competition’: negotiations of competition and agency among long‐distance runners in Kenya
Authors: Kovač Uroš
Published: June 2023

Kenyan long‐distance runners have for decades famously dominated international athletic competitions. Most of the aspiring runners live and train in the highlands of northwest Kenya, in Elgeyo Marakwet County, where they have access to competitive peer groups of budding athletes and an elaborate infrastructure of camps, coaches, and managers. The most promising and successful ones travel abroad to take part in international races, only to quickly return and continue training in the ‘county of champions’. Meanwhile, Kenya is undergoing a rapid transformation, envisioned by the government's development plan, which promises to transform it into a ‘globally competitive and prosperous country’. On the surface, competition is a self‐explanatory notion that drives the transnational sports industry and the state's development plan. However, ethnography of the county's capital, Iten, and its community of athletes reveals tensions: Kenyans take up, negotiate, appropriate, and challenge meanings of competition offered by the state and the sports industry on ecological, gendered, and moral grounds. Ethnography of ideologies of competition in Iten, conceptualized as moral, aesthetic, and gendered projects, complicates accounts of competition as a tool for global neoliberal governance. It also provides an alternative to analyses of African subjects’ agency in global circulation of capital, people, and ideas, namely analyses subsumed under signs of marginality, dependence, and subjection.
Meat color and iridescence: Origin, analysis, and approaches to modulation
Authors: Ruedt Chiara , Gibis Monika , Weiss Jochen
Published: June 2023

Meat color is an important aspect for the meat industry since it strongly determines the consumers’ perception of product quality and thereby significantly influences the purchase decision. Emergence of new vegan meat analogs has renewed interest in the fundamental aspects of meat color in order to replicate it. The appearance of meat is based on a complex interplay between the pigment‐based meat color from myoglobin and its chemical forms and light scattering from the muscle's microstructure. While myoglobin biochemistry and pigment‐based meat color have been extensively studied, research on the physicochemical contribution of light scattering to meat color and the special case of structural colors causing meat iridescence has received only little attention. Former review articles focused mostly on the biochemical or physical mechanisms rather than the interplay between them, in particular the role that structural colors play. While from an economic point of view, meat iridescence might be considered negligible, an enhanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the interactions of light with meat microstructures can improve our overall understanding of meat color. Therefore, this review discusses both biochemical and physicochemical aspects of meat color including the origin of structural colors, highlights new color measurement methodologies suitable to investigate color phenomena such as meat iridescence, and finally presents approaches to modulate meat color in terms of base composition, additives, and processing.