bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain cross-omics integration in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Eteleeb Abdallah M. , Novotny Brenna C. , Tarraga Carolina Soriano , Sohn Christopher , Dhungel Eliza , Brase Logan , Nallapu Aasritha , Buss Jared , Farias Fabiana , Bergmann Kristy , Bradley Joseph , Norton Joanne , Gentsch Jen , Wang Fengxian , Davis Albert A. , Morris John C. , Karch Celeste M. , Perrin Richard J. , Benitez Bruno A. , Harari Oscar
Published: December 2022

Unbiased data-driven omic approaches are revealing the molecular heterogeneity of Alzheimer disease. Here, we used machine learning approaches to integrate high-throughput bulk and single-nucleus transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic profiles with clinical and neuropathological data from multiple AD cohorts. We discovered four unique multimodal molecular profiles, one showing signs of poor cognitive function, a faster pace of disease progression, shorter survival with the disease, severe neurodegeneration and astrogliosis, and reduced levels of metabolomic profiles. This profile shows similar cellular and molecular profiles in multiple affected cortical regions associated with higher Braak tau scores and significant dysregulation of synapse-related genes and endocytosis, phagosome, mTOR signaling pathways altered in AD early and late stages. The multimodal clusters uncovered cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to monitor AD progression. AD cross-omics data integration with transcriptomic data from an SNCA mouse model revealed an overlapping signature. Our cross-omics analyses provide novel critical molecular insights into AD.
Identification of genomic signatures and multiple lineage markers from the second and third wave samples of COVID-19 in Western Rajasthan, India
Authors: Bokolia Naveen Prakash , Gadepalli Ravisekhar
Published: December 2022

Most of the mutations occurred in SARS-CoV-2 are either relatively neutral or swiftly purged. However, some mutations have altered the functional aspects in terms of infectivity and transmission, host-viral interactions, disease severity and immune or vaccine escape. There are emerging evidence that certain mutations are jeopardizing the immune based therapies. The present research report is focused on the identification of genomic signatures of SARS-CoV-2 variant that caused mortality during second and third wave of COVID-19 in Western Rajasthan, India. We identified that Delta clade of SARS-CoV-2 is the predominant cause of mortality during second wave and even third wave in Western Rajasthan, India. Importantly, this study also revealed the unique and common substitution mutations within the spike domain, those are present in mortality and survived persons during the second and third wave of COVID-19 in India. In addition, this study also revealed the multiple lineage markers (Delta and Omicron), that would update with insightful understanding in the clade development of SARS-CoV-2.
Dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations identify allosteric sites and positions associated with drug resistance in the SARS-CoV-2 main protease
Authors: Chan H. T. Henry , F. Oliveira A. Sofia , Schofield Christopher J. , Mulholland Adrian J. , Duarte Fernanda
Published: December 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) plays an essential role in the coronavirus lifecycle by catalysing hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins at specific sites. Mprois the target of drugs, such as nirmatrelvir, though resistant mutants have emerged that threaten drug efficacy. Despite its importance, questions remain on the mechanism of how Mprobinds its substrates. Here, we apply dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to evaluate structural and dynamical responses of Mproto the presence and absence of a substrate. The results highlight communication between the Mprodimer subunits and identify networks, including some far from the active site, that link the active site with a known allosteric inhibition site, or which are associated with nirmatrelvir resistance. They imply that some mutations enable resistance by altering the allosteric behaviour of Mpro. More generally, the results show the utility of the D-NEMD technique for identifying functionally relevant allosteric sites and networks including those relevant to resistance.
Priority effects in herbivore communities vary in effect on plant development and reproduction in four Brassicaceae plant species
Authors: Mertens Daan , Douma Jacob C. , Kamps Bram B. J. , Zhu Yunsheng , Zwartsenberg Sophie A. , Poelman Erik H.
Published: December 2022

Insect herbivores can directly affect plant reproduction by feeding on reproductive tissues, or indirectly by feeding on vegetative tissues for which plants are unable to compensate. Additionally, early arriving herbivores may have cascading effects on plant fitness by altering the richness and abundance of the later arriving community.

Studies are divided on whether herbivory early in the development of plants can impact plant fitness and whether these effects are predominantly mediated through changes in plant development or subsequent herbivory. Obtaining insight into the generality and consistency of mediated effects on plant reproduction induced by early-season herbivory requires a comparative approach across plant species and environmental conditions.

By excluding the herbivore community in an exclosure experiment and by manipulating early-season herbivory in a common garden experiment replicated across four Brassicaceae species and two years, we tested whether early-season herbivory could affect plant development, reproduction, and the herbivore communities associated with individual plants. In addition, we tested a causal hypothesis to disentangle the direct effect of herbivory on plant reproduction, and their indirect effect through changes in the development of plants.

Early-season herbivory affected plant development and reproduction, but effects were highly dependent on the plant species, the inducing herbivore species, and the biotic and abiotic environment. The exploratory path analysis indicated that plant reproduction was best predicted by variation in plant development, explaining up to 90.88% of the total effect on seed production. Even though the richness and abundance of the subsequent herbivore community were conditionally affected by the initial colonising herbivore, herbivore pressure is predicted to have only minor effects on reproduction. Importantly, the effects of herbivore pressure on seed set were not direct but were mediated by changes in plant development.

Synthesis:Early-season herbivory has the potential to affect plant reproduction through changes in the development of plants and, less strongly, through effects mediated by the plant-associated herbivore community. However, as plants are often able to compensate and attenuate the effects induced by herbivory, the detection, sign, and strength of effects are highly dependent on the plant species and environment.
Safety and Immunogenicity of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 Bivalent Vaccine Against Covid-19
Authors: Chalkias Spyros , Whatley Jordan , Eder Frank , Essink Brandon , Khetan Shishir , Bradley Paul , Brosz Adam , McGhee Nichole , Tomassini Joanne E. , Chen Xing , Zhao Xiaoping , Sutherland Andrea , Shen Xiaoying , Girard Bethany , Edwards Darin K. , Feng Jing , Zhou Honghong , Walsh Stephen , Montefiori David C. , Baden Lindsey R. , Miller Jacqueline M. , Das Rituparna
Published: December 2022

Background

Information on the safety and immunogenicity of the omicron BA.4/BA.5-containing bivalent booster mRNA-1273.222 are needed.

Methods

In this ongoing, phase 2/3 trial, 50-μg mRNA-1273.222 (25-μg each ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 and omicron BA.4/BA.5 spike mRNAs) is compared to 50-μg mRNA-1273, administered as second boosters in adults who previously received a 2-injection (100-μg) primary series and first booster (50-μg) dose of mRNA-1273. The primary objectives were safety and immunogenicity 28 days post-boost.

Results

Participants received 50-μg of mRNA-1273 (n=376) or mRNA-1273.222 (n=511) as second booster doses. Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and ancestral SARS-CoV-2 D614G neutralizing antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs [95% confidence interval]) after mRNA-1273.222 (2324.6 [1921.2-2812.7] and 7322.4 [6386.2-8395.7]) were significantly higher than mRNA-1273 (488.5 [427.4-558.4] and 5651.4 (5055.7-6317.3) respectively, at day 29 post-boost in participants with no prior SARS-CoV-2-infection. A randomly selected subgroup (N=60) of participants in the mRNA-1273.222 group also exhibited cross-neutralization against the emerging omicron variants BQ.1.1 and XBB.1. No new safety concerns were identified with mRNA-1273.222.

Vaccine effectiveness was not assessed in this study; in an exploratory analysis 1.6% (8/511) of mRNA-1273.222 recipients had Covid-19 post-boost.

Conclusion

The bivalent omicron BA.4/BA.5-containing vaccine mRNA-1273.222 elicited superior neutralizing antibody responses against BA.4/BA.5 compared to mRNA-1273, with no safety concerns identified.

(Supported by Moderna;ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier:NCT04927065)
Sequencing-free Tissue-wide Spatial Profiling of Post-transcriptional Regulations
Authors: Ji Xianglin , Fang Peilin , Zhao Xi , Xiong Chuanyin , Yang Qi , Wan Youyang , Do Richard Yan , Wang Zixun , Qi Lin , Huang Linfeng , Zhang Wenjun , Wang Xin , Shi Peng
Published: December 2022

The importance of genetic or epi-genetic heterogeneity has been increasingly recognized, but it has been challenging to profile intracellular post-transcriptional targets with sufficient throughput and resolution at across large-scale tissue samples. This study describes a technique, Spectrum-FISH, for high-throughput, sequencing-free, and tissue-wide spatial profiling of various post-transcriptional targets in acute tissue sections with subcellular resolution. The platform uses a biochip with an array of vertically aligned nanoprobes to effectively extract intracellular molecules for downstream analysis in the coordinates of the large-scale of cells within a tissue slice. As a proof-of-concept, the Spectrum-FISH is used to profile the spatial dynamics of 24 miRNAs and 9 m6A-modified messenger RNAs (m6A-mRNA) in acute olfactory bulb (OB) slices of millimeter scale. The results showed potentially multiomics spatial heterogeneity for the examined post-transcriptional regulations in rodent OB, especially in the outer plexiform layer and granule layer, where highly correlated miRNAs and m6A-mRNAs groups were identified, indicating a potential cooperative involvement of different post-transcriptional regulations at these OB regions.
A single protein to multiple peptides: Investigation of protein-peptide relationship using targeted alpha-2-macroglobulin analysis
Authors: Yildiz Pelin , Ozcan Sureyya
Published: December 2022

Recent advances in proteomics technologies have enabled analysis of thousands of proteins in a high-throughput manner. Mass Spectrometry (MS) based proteomics, uses a peptide centric approach where biological samples undergo a specific proteolytic digestion and then only unique peptides are used for protein identification and quantification. Considering the fact that a single protein may have multiple unique peptides and a number of different forms, it becomes essential to understand dynamic protein-peptide relationship to ensure robust and reliable peptide centric protein analysis. In this study, we investigated the correlation between protein concentration and corresponding unique peptide responses under conventional proteolytic digestion conditions. Protein-peptide correlation, digestion efficiency, matrix-effect, and concentration-effect were evaluated. Twelve unique alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2MG) peptides were monitored using a targeted MS approach to acquire insights into protein-peptide dynamics. Although the peptide responses were reproducible between replicates, protein-peptide correlation was moderate in protein standards and low in complex matrices. The results suggest that reproducible peptide signal could be misleading in clinical studies and a peptide selection could dramatically change the outcome at protein level. This is the first study investigating quantitative protein-peptide correlations in biological samples using all unique peptides representing the same protein and opens a discussion on peptide-based proteomics.
Bio-psycho-social factors’ associations with brain age: a large-scale UK Biobank diffusion study of 35,749 participants
Authors: Korbmacher Max , Gurholt Tiril P. , de Lange Ann Marie , van der Meer Dennis , Beck Dani , Eikefjord Eli , Lundervold Arvid , Andreassen Ole A. , Westlye Lars T. , Maximov Ivan I.
Published: December 2022

Brain age refers to age predicted by brain features. Brain age has previously been associated with various health and disease outcomes and suggested as a potential biomarker of general health. Few previous studies have systematically assessed brain age variability derived from single and multi-shell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data. Here, we present multivariate models of brain age derived from various diffusion approaches and how they relate to bio-psycho-social variables within the domains of sociodemographic, cognitive, life-satisfaction, as well as health and lifestyle factors in midlife to old age (N= 35,749, 44.6 to 82.8 years of age). Bio-psycho-social factors could uniquely explain a small proportion of the brain age variance, in a similar pattern across diffusion approaches: cognitve scores, life satisfaction, health and lifestyle factors adding to the variance explained, but not socio-demographics. Consistent brain age associations across models were found for waist-to-hip ratio, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, matrix puzzles solving, and job and health satisfaction and perception. Furthermore, we found large variability in sex and ethnicity group differences in brain age. Our results show that brain age cannot be sufficiently explained by bio-psycho-social variables alone. However, the observed associations suggest to adjust for sex, ethnicity, cognitive factors, as well as health and lifestyle factors, and to observe bio-psycho-social factor interactions’ influence on brain age in future studies.
Evolution of lineage-specific trafficking proteins and a novel post-Golgi trafficking pathway in Apicomplexa
Authors: Klinger Christen M. , Jimenez-Ruiz Elena , Mourier Tobias , Klingl Andreas , Lemgruber Leandro , Pain Arnab , Dacks Joel B. , Meissner Markus
Published: December 2022

The Organelle Paralogy Hypothesis (OPH) posits a mechanism to explain the evolution of non-endosymbiotically derived organelles, predicting that lineage-specific pathways organelles should result when identity-encoding membrane trafficking components duplicate and co-evolve. Here we investigate the presence of such lineage-specific membrane-trafficking machinery paralogs in the globally important lineage of parasites, the Apicomplexa. Using a new phylogenetic workflow, we are able to identify 18 novel paralogs of known membrane-trafficking machinery, the emergence of several of which correlate with the presence of new endomembrane organelles in apicomplexans or their larger lineage. Gene coregulation analysis of a large set of membrane-trafficking proteins in Toxoplasma both corroborate known molecular cell biological interactions between characterized machinery and suggest involvement of many of these new components into established pathways for biogenesis of or trafficking to the microneme and rhoptry invasion organelles. Moreover, focused molecular parasitological analysis of the apicomplexan Arf-like small GTPases, and the ArlX3 protein specifically, revealed a novel post-Golgi trafficking pathways involved in delivery of proteins to micronemes and rhoptries, with knock down demonstrating reduced invasion capacity. The totality of our data has identified an unforeseen post-Golgi trafficking pathway in apicomplexans and is consistent with the OPH mechanism acting to produce novel endomembrane pathways or organelles at various evolutionary stages across the Alveolate lineage.

Significance statement

The mechanism of non-endosymbiotic organelle evolution has been relatively poorly explored and yet is relevant to many eukaryotic compartments, including the endomembrane system. The Organelle Paralogy Hypothesis predicts novel lineage-specific paralogs evolutionarily concurrent with emergence of new endomembrane organelles or pathways. By investigating this phenomenon in the apicomplexan parasites and their relatives, we identify and profile over a dozen new trafficking factors, several correlating with emergence of lineage-specific organelles. Cell biological study of one such factor demonstrates the existence of a novel post-Golgi trafficking pathway for components to the invasion organelles in the parasiteToxoplasma gondii. This work reveals how non-endosymbiotic organelle evolution has shaped cellular novelty in this lineage, relevant both to global health and fundamental evolutionary biology.
Multimodal Mapping of Human Lymphopoiesis Reveals B and T/NK/ILC Lineages are Subjected to Cell-IntrinsicversusFlt3L-Dependent Regulation
Authors: Alhaj Hussen Kutaiba , Chabaane Emna , Nelson Elisabeth , Lekiashvili Shalva , Diop Samuel , Keita Seydou , Evrard Bertrand , Lardenois Aurélie , Delord Marc , Verhoeyen Els , Cornils Kerstin , Kasraian Zeinab , Macintyre Elizabeth A. , Cumano Ana , Garrick David , Goodhardt Michele , Andrieu Guillaume P. , Asnafi Vahid , Chalmel Frederic , Canque Bruno
Published: December 2022

The developmental cartography of human lymphopoiesis remains incompletely understood. Here, we establish a multimodal map that extends the current view of lymphoid development. Our results demonstrate that lymphoid specification follows independent direct or stepwise differentiation pathways converging toward the emergence of CD117lomulti-lymphoid progenitors (MLPs) that undergo a proliferation arrest before entering the CD127-(T/NK/ILC) or CD127+(B) lymphoid pathways. While the emergence of CD127-early lymphoid progenitors is driven by Flt3 signaling, differentiation of their CD127+counterparts is regulated cell-intrinsically and depends exclusively on the divisional history of their precursors. Single-cell mapping of lymphoid differentiation trajectories reveals that a dissociation between proliferation and differentiation phases allows amplification of the precursor pools prior to the onset of antigen receptor rearrangement. Besides demonstrating that B and T/NK/ILC lineages are subjected to differential cell-autonomousversusFlt3-inducible regulation, our results go a long way to reconciling human and mouse models of lymphoid architecture.
AUTS2 expression within mammalian lineage: a predictor of neural networks involved in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Lepagnol-Bestel Aude-Marie , Loe-Mie Yann , Bensaid Mounia , Simonneau Michel
Published: December 2022

Autism susceptibility gene 2 (AUTS2) is a neurodevelopmental regulator associated with an autosomal dominant neurological syndrome with ASD-like (Autism Spectrum Disorder-like) features. TheAUTS2syndrome phenotype includes borderline to severe intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly and mild dysmorphic traits. Specific ASD-like features, including obsessive or ritualistic behaviours, are frequently displayed, although sociability is largely unaffected. Syndrome severity is worse when mutations are present in the 3’ region (exons 9-19) of theAUTS2gene.AUTS2is also associated with alcohol consumption, heroin dependence, schizophrenia and dyslexia, using GWAS studies. Our working hypothesis is thatAUTS2expression during mammalian evolution can be instrumental to predict phenotypes linked to the disease. For that, we studied brain In Situ Hybridization (ISH) data in mouse, marmoset, human embryo and fetuses and sequences data of Neanderthal, Denisovan and modern humans. Developmental mouse brain expression is found in neocortex, hippocampus, thalamus, tegmentum and cerebellum suggesting a link linked with cognition, stereotypies and perseverative behaviors. Expression in amygdala and claustrum found in marmoset extend these phenotypes to anxiety and higher-order cognitive processes. In human embryos (8 weeks) and fetuses (15- and 19-weeks), we foundAUTS2expression in similar regions but also in medial, lateral and caudal ganglionic eminence, that are involved in the diversity of interneurons found in neocortex, hippocampus and striatum. Sequence comparison ofAUTS2locus in Neanderthal, Denisova and modern human reveals novel sites in regulatory regions ofAUTS2. Altogether, these results suggest that ISH distribution along mammals is a novel phenotype-related biomarker useful for translational research.
Proteomic discovery of chemical probes that perturb protein complexes in human cells
Authors: Lazear Michael R. , Remsberg Jarrett R. , Jaeger Martin G. , Rothamel Katherine , Her Hsuan-lin , DeMeester Kristen E. , Njomen Evert , Hogg Simon J. , Rahman Jahan , Whitby Landon R. , Won Sang Joon , Schafroth Michael A. , Ogasawara Daisuke , Yokoyama Minoru , Lindsey Garrett L. , Li Haoxin , Germain Jason , Barbas Sabrina , Vaughan Joan , Hanigan Thomas W. , Vartabedian Vincent F. , Reinhardt Christopher J. , Dix Melissa M. , Koo Seong Joo , Heo Inha , Teijaro John R. , Simon Gabriel M. , Ghosh Brahma , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Ahn Kay , Saghatelian Alan , Melillo Bruno , Schreiber Stuart L. , Yeo Gene W. , Cravatt Benjamin F.
Published: December 2022

Most human proteins lack chemical probes, and several large-scale and generalizable small-molecule binding assays have been introduced to address this problem. How compounds discovered in such “binding-first” assays affect protein function, nonetheless, often remains unclear. Here, we describe a “function-first” proteomic strategy that uses size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to assess the global impact of electrophilic compounds on protein complexes in human cells. Integrating the SEC data with cysteine-directed activity-based protein profiling identifies changes in protein-protein interactions that are caused by site-specific liganding events, including the stereoselective engagement of cysteines in PSME1 and SF3B1 that disrupt the PA28 proteasome regulatory complex and stabilize a dynamic state of the spliceosome, respectively. Our findings thus show how multidimensional proteomic analysis of focused libraries of electrophilic compounds can expedite the discovery of chemical probes with site-specific functional effects on protein complexes in human cells.
Cryo-EM structure of the complete inner kinetochore of the budding yeast point centromere
Authors: Dendooven Tom , Zhang Ziguo , Yang Jing , McLaughlin Stephen H. , Schwab Johannes , Scheres Sjors H.W. , Yatskevich Stanislau , Barford David
Published: December 2022

The point centromere of budding yeast specifies assembly of the large multi-subunit kinetochore complex. By direct attachment to the mitotic spindle, kinetochores couple the forces of microtubule dynamics to power chromatid segregation at mitosis. Kinetochores share a conserved architecture comprising the centromere-associated inner kinetochore CCAN (constitutive centromere-associated network) complex and the microtubule-binding outer kinetochore KMN network. The budding yeast inner kinetochore additionally includes the centromere-binding CBF1 and CBF3 complexes. Here, we reconstituted the complete yeast inner kinetochore complex assembled onto the centromere-specific CENP-A nucleosome (CENP-ANuc) and determined its structure using cryo-EM. This revealed a central CENP-ANuc, wrapped by only one turn of DNA, and harboring extensively unwrapped DNA ends. These free DNA duplexes function as binding sites for two CCAN protomers, one of which entraps DNA topologically and is positioned precisely on the centromere by the sequence-specific DNA-binding complex CBF1. The CCAN protomers are connected through CBF3 to form an arch-like configuration, binding 150 bp of DNA. We also define a structural model for a CENP-ANuc-pathway to the outer kinetochore involving only CENP-QU. This study presents a framework for understanding the basis of complete inner kinetochore assembly onto a point centromere, and how it organizes the outer kinetochore for robust chromosome attachment to the mitotic spindle.
Residual strain orientation in rolled titanium determined with synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction
Authors: Devoe Michelle , Tamura Nobumichi , Wenk Hans-Rudolf
Published: December 2022

Previously, synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction has been used to measure the magnitudes of residual strain in materials. Recently the method was advanced to determine the orientation of the strain ellipsoid and applied to naturally deformed quartzites; however, the deformation history of these quartzites is ambiguous due to their natural origin. In this study, synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction (µXRD) is used to measure the residual strain for the first time in a sample with known stress history, rolled titanium. A deviatoric strain tensor is calculated from each Laue diffraction image collected with two µXRD scans of a rolled titanium sheet in different sample orientations. The principal strain axes are calculated using an eigen decomposition of the deviatoric strain tensors. The results show that the principal axis of compression is aligned with the normal direction of the titanium sheet, and the principal axis of extension is aligned with the rolling direction. Pole figures are used to represent the 3D distribution of residual strain axes.
Earnings management contagion: evidence from institutional equivalence
Authors: Bansal Manish
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The study aims to investigate how the presence and absence of institutional equivalents (interaction of industry peers and local peers) affect the earnings management practices of firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses discretionary accruals to operationalize earnings management. A sample of 18,744 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed firm years spanning over 12 financial years (March 2010–March 2021) has been considered and analyzed through panel data regression models.

Findings

The author’s results show that the earnings management practices of a firm's institutional equivalents and the firm's own earnings management are positively associated, implying that firms closely follow their institutional equivalents. This association is found to be more pronounced among focal firms when the difference between the earnings management levels of industry peers and local peers is greater. Further, the author find that large firms aggressively imitate their industry peers and local peers, whereas profitability does not influence their imitation behavior.

Practical implications

The author’s findings have implications for understanding peer imitation processes, particularly when firms face increasingly multifaceted institutional environments. It suggests auditors and analysts take into account the earnings management practices of local and industry peers while analyzing the client's financial statements and making forecasts, respectively.

Originality/value

The study is among the pioneering attempts to explore the domain of earnings management from the lens of institutional equivalence and provides compelling evidence that the interaction of industry peers and local peers impacts the earnings management practices of firms.
Developing an alternative approach to the measurement of B2B relationship health
Authors: Bignoux Stephane , Gray David , Booth Anna Tudehope
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Psychotherapy is often used to treat dysfunctional inter-personal relationships, but it is rarely used to treat dysfunctional B2B relationships. Yet many of the variables found in inter-personal relationships are also found in B2B relationships and both types of relationships have similar fail rates. The authors take a multi-disciplinary approach by adapting an instrument from marriage therapy into a new measure called the Business Relationship Health Index (BRHI). In the process we re-evaluate the drivers of B2B relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning (GARF) psychiatric system to B2B relationships. The GARF instrument incorporates three components: interaction/problem solving, organization/structure and emotional climate. Using US panel data of 500 B2B relationships based in the USA, the authors use partial least squares analysis and develop a structural equation model to test the validity and reliability of the BRHI with some well-known relationship measures including, satisfaction, trust, commitment and performance.

Findings

The findings support a strong link between the BRHI (emotion, interaction and organization) and relationship performance. The proposed measure shows a strong link between BRHI and relationship performance (R2 = 0.54).

Originality/value

The GARF instrument has never been applied to a B2B context. BRHI is a holistic instrument used for assessing the specific relational characteristics of B2B relationships. The BRHI can benefit relationship stakeholders when used as a diagnostic tool to prioritize B2B investment strategies. Managers can use BRHI to determine the extent to which the relationship is healthy or needs repair, re-evaluation, re-commitment, or repositioning.
What is an equitable target percentage for women on corporate boards?
Authors: Lefley Frank , Janecek Vaclav
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The corporate communications literature recently raised the question, “Board gender diversity and women in leadership positions – are quotas the solution?” This paper extends the debate by asking, “What is an equitable target percentage for women on corporate boards?”

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores and gives a conceptualised viewpoint on the issues expressed in the literature concerning the meaning of board gender equality, focussing on what is regarded as an equitable number of women on corporate boards.

Findings

The arguments and questions raised in this paper highlight the difficulty in answering the research question. The question will only be answered when it no longer needs to be raised. In other words, when gender equality is no longer seen as an issue and men and women are treated equally, when qualifications, experience and ability are the key issues on board selection, not gender. Highlighting gender inequality issues by setting target figures may in itself deter some women from seeking board-level promotion. The target should not just be to place women in what is currently a masculinised board culture but to change this culture to reflect non-masculinity.

Practical implications

This paper can guide practitioners in their policy-making decisions on corporate board gender diversity and refocus the minds of academics on such an important issue. It should also help change the hegemonic understanding of leadership and thus influence recruitment policy.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first paper to give a conceptualised viewpoint on the issue of targets concerning the number of women on corporate boards and brings into perspective the wide variation highlighted in the literature. It adds to the current debate on board gender diversity and the lack of women on corporate boards by highlighting the questions regarding gender targets. A research opportunity lies in exploring this paper's conceptual issues and questions by soliciting the views of male and female management students and corporate directors.
Redesigning workspace at Adobe: an Indian perspective
Authors: Kaur Taran , Bansal Sanjeev , Solomon Priya
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the success story of a software company, Adobe, in redesigning the workplace environment from cubicles to a connected collaborative workplace, which helped the organization optimize workplace usage. The goals were to design an innovative work environment to optimize the usage of the office portfolio, improve workplace service quality and infrastructure facilities of the portfolio, increase employee productivity, reduce technology costs, engage employees in a better way to enhance employee satisfaction, align workplace design with the brand, mobilize technology and enable a globalized workforce to facilitate higher productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory research design method was adopted using the purposive sampling technique to collect data through semi-structured interviews with a team of nine property professionals from the operations team responsible for workspace redesign at Adobe in India.

Findings

The main observations of the corporate real estate (CRE) manager were on what value parameters drive workplace redesign and how different software companies were creating strategies to manage workplace design or redesign change for optimal use of the organization portfolio. To discuss the CRE strategies of global software leaders, IBM and SAP were pointed out in this case.

Research limitations/implications

The number of interviews were limited. The related parameters for workplace transformation are not necessarily complete. However, the parameters are regarded to include the most important aspects of workplace redesign.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights into how benchmarking in the workplace transformation function of the CRE industry can be applied to address portfolio-related challenges, divergent employee needs and improve workspace usability following energy-efficient policies. Practitioners can use this study as a guide to develop more effective workspace designs.

Social implications

This study may guide other firms on successful workspace design initiatives that may overcome many obstacles in the workplace transformation process to have their intended impact on workplace efficiency and employee satisfaction. The case can be used as an inspiration for developing specific user-focused innovative workspace design in practice.

Originality/value

Adopting the theoretical background of the person–environment fit theory, this study adds to the understanding of the operational model of a digitally connected workspace designed as per real estate needs and strategies to manage the CRE portfolio of the company.
Aerospace financing towards Mars commercialisation
Authors: Harris Wesley L. , Wonglimpiyarat Jarunee
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the financing mechanisms towards Mars commercialisation and SpaceX’s Mars mission programme to achieve the interplanetary settlement. This study also suggests the path to avoid the failure of space commercialisation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a case study methodology (Eisenhardt, 1989; Yin, 2013). The analysis is based on the construct of technology S-curves and attempts to answer the research question: What are the financing mechanisms to achieve successful aerospace financing for Mars mission? This research used semi-structured questionnaire and conducted 51 in-depth interviews. The interview data were supported by an examination of secondary data to provide a cross check on the validity of research (Yin, 2013). The research findings provide lessons and insights into the challenges of aerospace financing to Mars.

Findings

This study has shown that financing via cryptocurrency and initial coin offering as well as crowdfunding (particularly donation- and equity-based crowdfunding) provide promising financial solutions to achieve Mars commercialisation. The implementation of Mars programme demonstrates the fifth generation of innovation development model – systems integration and extensive networking model.

Originality/value

Given a dearth of study focusing on the links between S-curves and technology financing of aerospace commercialisation, this research study attempts to fill a gap in this neglected area with a focus on exploring the financing mechanisms towards Mars commercialisation.
Mobile payment service adoption: understanding customers for an application of emerging financial technology
Authors: P.H. Haritha
Published: December 2022

Purpose

As mobile payment systems have been in constant demand and are increasing in recent years, the various stakeholders involved in the process need to be identified. The study mainly includes ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, social influences, adoption readiness and intention to use financial technology (FinTech) in India. This paper aims to discuss FinTech and its dynamic changes in the banking sector. This study tests the mediation influence of perceived trust on adoption readiness and intention to use FinTech in India. The proposed impact of mediation of perceived trust was significant but small on adoption readiness and intention to use FinTech.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was administered to mobile payment users, and 349 responses were collected. Structural equations are analyzed to determine the proposed variables’ direct effects on adopting them. Additionally, to examine indirect effects, the mediation test is used.

Findings

The analysis results support the proposed model and thus help explain the impact of adoption readiness, trust and intention to use digital payment. The study’s significant findings will enable mobile payment institutions to understand the variables related to the growing use of technology in customers’ contexts. The study reveals the significance of ease of use, perceived usefulness and facilitating the service condition, which means that vendors prefer to use compatible devices that are easy to use with other devices. The analysis also explores the critical influence of perceived usefulness on customer behavior, enabling software designers to encourage accessible processes and device advantages for customers.

Practical implications

Mobile payment systems offered by financial institutions until currently become a variety of mobile payment services due to rapidly evolving information technology. This work is a groundbreaking attempt to apply technology acceptance in recent years to the emerging framework of mobile banking systems. This study examines the adoption of mobile payment technologies by proposing an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) to capture the issues associated with adoption in India through banking users. Now customers are aware that cyberattacks on banking networks and data breaches quickly through media and social networks. Also, they know that the industry has done little to avoid or mitigate these attacks.

Originality/value

This study examines the adoption of mobile payment technologies by proposing an extended TAM to capture the issues associated with adoption in India through banking users.
Roadmap for product development based on design for six sigma method
Authors: Francisco Marta Gomes , Canciglieri Junior Osiris , Santanna Angelo Marcio Oliveira
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology is one of the most important to achieving excellence in an organization’s product development process. This paper aims to propose a roadmap for product development based on the DFSS for the consumer durables manufacturing industries. The proposed roadmap presents a systematic approach to the phases of the product development process, integrating the statistical techniques and quality tools that should be used in each phase.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a detailed roadmap for product development, which was built by identifying gaps in the DFSS methods, based on previous studies on the subject. In this step, the opportunities are provided in all phases from creation to discontinuation of the product in the market. In addition, the roadmap presented was validated by team of stakeholders in the product development process of different industrial companies.

Findings

The proposed roadmap for the product development process based on six sigma design suggests a visual tool with sequential steps and techniques that allow you to follow the evolution of the development process from idea conception until the product is discontinued in the market. Identifying the priorities of organizations, especially the consumer, regarding the quality and reliability of the product.

Practical implications

The roadmap seeks to facilitate an understanding of the important stages of the product development process and to provide an approach to improving and optimizing the product before the manufacturing process step through the principles of DFSS methodology. This research provides a guide step by step to apply statistical techniques and quality tools in the product development process to achieve high quality and six sigma level in the manufacturing process.

Originality/value

The proposed roadmap of this research combines design for sigma and product development concepts, covering a wide spectrum of relevant activities that include the product development process, the application of statistical techniques and the design of high-quality durable consumer goods to match manufacturing technologies.
Prisoners’ experiences and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic response – an ethnographic study conducted mid-pandemic
Authors: Munkholm Mathilde Carøe
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to report findings about how prisoners experience and cope with COVID-19 restrictions, which can contribute to an understanding of how pandemic responses, and specifically the COVID-19 response, affect prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected through ethnographic fieldwork involving days of observations (N = 24) and the conduction of semi-structured interviews with prisoners (N = 30) in closed prisons and detentions in Denmark between May and December 2021. The transcribed interviews and field notes were processed and coded by using the software programme NVivo.

Findings

The data analysis reveals that the pains of imprisonment have been exacerbated to people incarcerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. To relieve pains of imprisonment, prisoners turn to censoriousness as an informal coping strategy, where they complain about inconsistency and injustice in the prison’s COVID-19 prevention strategy to reveal the prison system itself as a rule-breaking institution. The prisoners criticise the prison management for using COVID-19 as an excuse, treating prisoners unjustly or not upholding the COVID-19 rules and human rights. Furthermore, principles of justice and equality are also alleged by some prisoners who contemplate the difficulty in treating all prisoners the same.

Research limitations/implications

More research will be needed to create a full picture of how prisoners cope with pandemic responses. Further research could include interviews with people working inside prisons.

Originality/value

In a Scandinavian context, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to apply an ethnographic approach in exploring prison life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interventions for sustainable livelihoods: a review of evidence and knowledge gaps
Authors: Kumar Shubham , Sengupta Keya , Gogoi Bidyut Jyoti
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The concept of sustainable livelihoods – commonly understood as managing of means of living without undermining natural resources – has gained momentum in international development discourse. This review focuses on broadening of conceptualisation of policy intervention process for sustainable livelihoods approach and synthesis of evidence to track development in their knowledge structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Evidence available in the literature systematically reviewed with the established methods and themes of interest are curated, to assess the characteristics, mechanisms and caveats arising in policy and practice.

Findings

The authors found seventy-five independent studies that fit into the pre-specified research protocol and objectives. The authors classify these studies into six major themes: Economic wellbeing; Opportunities and capabilities; Climate and natural resources; Policy design; Formal-informal institutional environment; and Labour, entrepreneurship and exports. Various research gaps and directions for future research are also discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides a typology of reviewed literature examining the profile dynamics. Thematic analysis resulted into identifying complementarities and trade-offs and results demonstrate multiple heterogeneity in structures, processes and outcomes.

Originality/value

The definitive areas of interventions are discussed to broaden the utility of the concept in a structured way. This review paper brings a comprehensive view of livelihood intervention system and contribute in enriching the social policy perspective.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2022-0402
Investigating literary gaze through the orchestra model of the tourist experience
Authors: Shekari Fatemeh , Azizi Fatemeh , Mohammadi Zohre
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Considering the diversity of literary sites, various needs and motivations of literary visitors, and the limited research on literary tourists’ experiences, this study aims to explore the literary gaze at Hafez Tomb in Shiraz, Iran. As the visitor gaze encompasses various dimensions of experience, this study connected the two notions to identify the components of the literary gaze and determine the attributes that best describe it.

Design/methodology/approach

Data sources include semi-structured interviews with visitors and user-generated content on Tripadvisor. The deductive thematic analysis and multiple correspondence analysis were used.

Findings

The findings revealed the multidimensionality of the literary gaze. The dominant factors that best describe the literary gaze at Hafez’s tomb were the sensory component of the experience, including “seeing”, “smelling”, “hearing”; affective including “anticipation”, “joy”, “trust”; cognitive including “perceiving”, “thinking”, “learning”; behavioural including “literary related”, “general”; and relationship including “tourist-companion”, “tourist-tourist”.

Practical implications

Understanding the literary gaze can assist site managers and destination marketers in designing the literary experience and developing promotional strategies that reflect the multifaceted nature of the literary experience. Tourism authorities should identify and shape tourists’ perceptions of literary sites to build the city’s image and brand as a literary city.

Originality/value

This paper used the orchestra model of experience to analyse the literary tourist’s gaze. This modification could explain that the literary gaze has multiple dimensions and studying all the dimensions gives the literary experience greater significance.