bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DCBLD1 modulates angiogenesis by regulating of the VEGFR-2 endocytosis in endothelial cells
Authors: Feng Qi , Guo Lingling , Yu Chao , Liu Xiaoning , Lin Yanling , Li Chenyang , Zhang Wenjun , Zong Yanhong , Yang Weiwei , Ma Yuehua , Wang Runtao , Li Lijing , Pei Yunli , Wang Huifang , Liu Demin , Han Mei , Niu Honglin , Nie Lei
Published: April 2023

Objective

Unwanted angiogenesis is involved in the progression of various malignant tumors and cardiovascular diseases, and the factors that regulate angiogenesis are potential therapeutic targets. We tested the hypothesis that DCBLD1 (Discoidin, CUB, and LCCL domain-containing protein 1) is a co-receptor of VEGFR-2 and modulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells(ECs).

Approach and Results

A carotid artery ligation model and retinal angiogenesis assay were used to study angiogenesis using globe knockout or EC-specific conditional DCBLD1 knockout micein vivo. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence staining, plasma-membrane subfraction isolation, Co-immunoprecipitation and mass-spectrum assay were performed to clarify the molecular mechanisms.Loss of DCBLD1 impaired VEGF response and inhibited VEGF-induced EC proliferation and migration. DCBLD1 deletion interfered with adult and developmental angiogenesis. Mechanistically, DCBLD1 bound to VEGFR-2 and regulated the formation of VEGFR-2 complex with negative regulators: protein tyrosine phosphatases, E3 ubiquitin ligases(Nedd4 and c-Cbl), and also DCBLD1 knockdown promoted lysosome-mediated VEGFR-2 degradation in ECs.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrated the essential role of endothelial DCBLD1 in regulating VEGF signaling and provided evidence that DCBLD1 promotes VEGF-induced angiogenesis by limiting the dephosphorylation, ubiquitination, and lysosome degradation after VEGFR-2 endocytosis. We proposed that endothelial DCBLD1 is a potential therapeutic target for ischemic cardiovascular diseases by the modulation of angiogenesis through regulating of the VEGFR-2 endocytosis.
Putative NAD(P)-binding Rossmann fold protein is involved in chitosan-induced peroxidase activity and lipoxygenase expression in Physcomitrella
Authors: Marttinen Eeva M. , Decker Eva L. , Heinonen Petra , Reski Ralf , Valkonen Jari P.T.
Published: April 2023

Oxidative burst, the rapid production of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to external stimuli, is an early defense reaction against pathogens. The fungal elicitor chitosan causes an oxidative burst in the moss Physcomitrella (new species name:Physcomitrium patens) mainly due to the peroxidase enzyme Prx34. To better understand the chitosan responses in Physcomitrella, we conducted a screen of part of aP. patensmutant collection to isolate plants with less peroxidase activity than wild-type plants after chitosan treatment. We isolated aP. patensmutant that affected the gene encoding NAD(P)-binding Rossmann fold protein (hereafter, Rossmann fold protein). Three Rossmann fold protein-knockout (KO) plants (named Rossmann fold KO-lines) were generated and used to assess extracellular peroxidase activity and expression of defense-responsive genes including alternative oxidase (AOX), lipoxygenase (LOX), NADPH-oxidase (NOX) and peroxidase (Prx34) in response to chitosan treatment. Extracellular (apoplastic) peroxidase activity was significantly lower in Rossmann fold KO-lines than in wild-type plants after chitosan treatments. Expression of the LOX gene in Rossmann-fold KO-plants was significantly lower before and after chitosan treatment when compared to WT. Peroxidase activity assays together with gene expression analyses suggest that the Rossmann-fold protein might be an important component of the signaling pathway leading to oxidative burst and basal expression of the LOX gene in Physcomitrella.
Optimization of a Novel Automated, Low Cost, Three-Dimensional Photogrammetry System (PHACE)
Authors: To Josiah K. , Wang Jenny N. , Vu Anderson N. , Ediriwickrema Lilangi S. , Browne Andrew W.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Clinical tools are neither standardized nor ubiquitous to monitor volumetric or morphological changes in the periorbital region and ocular adnexa due to pathology such as oculofacial trauma, thyroid eye disease, and the natural aging process. We have developed a low-cost, three dimensionally printedPHotogrammetry forAutomatedCarE(PHACE) system to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) measurements of periocular and adnexal tissue.

Methods

The PHACE system uses two Google Pixel 3 smartphones attached to automatic rotating platforms to image a subject’s face through a cutout board patterned with registration marks. Photographs of faces were taken from many perspectives by the cameras placed on the rotating platform. Faces were imaged with and without 3D printed hemispheric phantom lesions (black domes) affixed on the forehead above the brow. Images were rendered into 3D models in Metashape (Agisoft, St. Petersburg, Russia) and then processed and analyzed in CloudCompare (CC) and Autodesk’s Meshmixer. The 3D printed hemispheres affixed to the face were then quantified within Meshmixer and compared to their known volumes. Finally, we compared digital exophthalmometry measurements with results from a standard Hertel exophthalmometer in a subject with and without an orbital prosthesis.

Results

Quantification of 3D printed phantom volumes using optimized stereophotogrammetry demonstrated a 2.5% error for a 244μL phantom, and 7.6% error for a 27.5μL phantom. Digital exophthalmometry measurements differed by 0.72mm from a standard exophthalmometer.

Conclusion

We demonstrated an optimized workflow using our custom apparatus to analyze and quantify oculofacial volumetric and dimensions changes with a resolution of 244μL. This apparatus is a low-cost tool that can be used in clinical settings to objectively monitor volumetric and morphological changes in periorbital anatomy.
Compartmentation of photosynthesis gene expression between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of C4maize is dependent on time of day
Authors: Borba AR , Reyna-Llorens I , Dickinson PJ , Steed G , Gouveia P , Górska AM , Gomes C , Kromdijk J , Webb AAR , Saibo NJM , Hibberd JM
Published: April 2023

Compared with the ancestral C3state, C4photosynthesis enables higher rates of photosynthesis as well as improved water and nitrogen use efficiencies. In both C3and C4plants rates of photosynthesis increase with light intensity and so are maximal around midday. We report that in the absence of light or temperature fluctuations, photosynthesis in maize peaks in the middle of the subjective photoperiod. To investigate molecular processes associated with these changes, we undertook RNA-sequencing of maize mesophyll and bundle sheath strands over a 24-hour time-course. Cell-preferential expression of C4cycle genes was strongest between six and ten hours after dawn when rates of photosynthesis were highest. For the bundle sheath, DNA motif enrichment and gene co-expression analyses suggested members of the DOF and MADS-domain transcription factor families mediate diurnal fluctuations in C4gene expression, andtrans-activation assaysin plantaconfirmed their ability to activate promoter fragments from bundle sheath expressed genes. The work thus identifies transcriptional regulators as well as peaks in cell-specific C4gene expression coincident with maximum rates of photosynthesis in the maize leaf at midday.
Kronos: A computational tool to facilitate biological rhythmicity analysis
Authors: Bastiaanssen Thomaz F. S. , Leigh Sarah-Jane , Tofani Gabriel S. S. , Gheorghe Cassandra E. , Clarke Gerard , Cryan John F.
Published: April 2023

Motivation

Circadian rhythms, or 24-hour biological cycles, are key in maintaining health in almost all living organisms and synchronize important physiological and behavioural processes daily. Interest in circadian rhythm research is expanding as our urban environments have increased exposure to factors that can disrupt the normal physiological rhythm of our body, such as delayed bedtimes, shift work, jet-lag, increased screen-time, and exposure to artificial light. Discovering how oscillatory signals respond to both external and internal factors can lead to important biological breakthroughs, but assessing rhythmicity can be both limited by the complexity of statistical models and demanding in terms of coding and statistical expertise.

Implementation

Here, we describe the development of a novel easy-to-use R-based tool, Kronos, to assess circadian rhythms in biological data sets. Kronos provides the user with new functionalities not currently available, including the analysis of two or more groups in complex study designs, handling both independent and repeated-measures data, as well as ranging from single variables to high dimensional ‘omics data sets. Kronos is a novel tool to facilitate the analysis of rhythmicity in simple and complex experimental designs and enables researchers from diverse scientific fields to interrogate rhythmicity.

Availability

https://github.com/thomazbastiaanssen/kronos
Vertical transmission of maternal DNA through extracellular vesicles associates with altered embryo bioenergetics during the periconception period
Authors: Bolumar David , Moncayo-Arlandi Javier , Gonzalez-Fernandez Javier , Ochando Ana , Moreno Inmaculada , Monteagudo-Sanchez Ana , Marin Carlos , Diez Antonio , Fabra Paula , Checa Miguel Ángel , Espinos Juan José , Gardner David K. , Simon Carlos , Vilella Felipe
Published: April 2023

The transmission of DNA through extracellular vesicles (EVs) represents a novel genetic material transfer mechanism that may impact genome evolution and tumorigenesis. We aimed to investigate the potential for vertical DNA transmission within maternal endometrial EVs to the pre-implantation embryo and describe any effect on embryo bioenergetics.

We discovered that the human endometrium secretes all three general subtypes of EV - apoptotic bodies (ABs), microvesicles (MVs), and exosomes (EXOs) - into the human endometrial fluid (EF) within the uterine cavity. EVs become uniformly secreted into the EF during the menstrual cycle, with the proportion of different EV populations remaining constant; however, MVs contain significantly higher levels of mitochondrial (mt)DNA than ABs or EXOs. During the window of implantation, MVs contain an eleven-fold higher level of mtDNA when compared to cells-of-origin within the receptive endometrium, which possesses a lower mtDNA content and displays the upregulated expression of mitophagy-related genes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the internalization of EV-derived nuclear-encoded (n)DNA/mtDNA by trophoblast cells of murine embryos, which associates with a reduction in mitochondrial respiration and ATP production.

These findings suggest that the maternal endometrium suffers a reduction in mtDNA content during the preconceptional period, that nDNA/mtDNA become packaged into secreted EVs that the embryo uptakes, and that the transfer of DNA to the embryo within EVs occurs alongside the modulation of bioenergetics during implantation.
Cradle to production gate life cycle assessment of cultured meat growth media: A comparison of Essential 8™ and Beefy-9
Authors: Risner Derrick , Negulescu Patrick , Kim Yoonbin , Nguyen Cuong , Siegel Justin B. , Spang Edward S.
Published: April 2023

There is an increasing interest in use of biotechnology as a means of sustainable food manufacturing; however, biotechnology processing is considerably resource and energy intensive. Recent interest in animal cell-based meat (ACBM) has prompted scientific and engineering questions about the economic and environmental viability of these proposed ACBM products. This study provides an environmental assessment of two proposed growth mediums (Essential 8TMand Beefy-9) for ACBM production. The study found that the addition of antibiotics/antimycotics (10,000 μg/mL) to the growth media increased the environmental metrics, such as the cumulative energy demand and global warming potential, by two orders of magnitude. To account for additional processing for animal cell culture, a scenario analysis was conducted to assess the potential environmental impacts of growth medium production with varying level of refinement required for the input components. The study indicates that the heavy refinement of the growth medium components is likely to undermine the potential sustainability of future ACBM products.
RNA-binding protein YBX1 promotes Type H vessels dependent bone formation in an m5C-dependent manner
Authors: Li Yu-Jue , Guo Qi , Xiao Wen-Feng , Xiao Ye
Published: April 2023

RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) interact with RNA and ubiquitously regulating RNA transcripts during their life cycle. Previous works showed that RBPs play fundamental roles in the progression of angiogenesis-related diseases. However, the role of RBPs in skeletal endothelium-dependent bone formation and osteogenesis is unclear. Here, we show that RBP-Ybx1 was strongly reduced in bone vasculature from ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic mice. Endothelial cell-specific deletion of Ybx1 impaired CD31hiEMCNhiendothelium morphology and osteogenesis and resulted in low bone mass, while its overexpression promoted angiogenesis-dependent osteogenesis and ameliorated bone loss in OVX mice. Mechanistically, Ybx1 deletion disrupted CD31, EMCN and BMP4 stability in an m5C-dependent manner and blocked endothelial-derived BMP4 release, thereby inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Administration of recombinant BMP4 protein promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and restored impaired bone formation in Ybx1iΔECmice. Finally, tail vein injection of CD31-modified PEG-PLGA carrying sciadopitysin, a natural Ybx1 agonist, pharmacologically partially reversed CD31hiEMCNhivessels decline and improved the restoration of bone mass both in OVX and aging animals. These findings demonstrated the role of RBP-Ybx1 in angiogenesis-dependent bone formation and provided a novel therapeutic approach for ameliorating aging-related and postmenopausal osteoporosis.
The architecture of metabolic networks constrains the evolution of microbial resource hierarchies
Authors: Takano Sotaro , Vila Jean CC , Miyazaki Ryo , Sanchez Alvaro , Bajic Djordje
Published: April 2023

Microbial strategies for resource use are an essential determinant of their fitness in complex habitats. When facing environments with multiple nutrients, microbes often use them sequentially according to a preference hierarchy, resulting in well-known patterns of diauxic growth. In theory, the evolutionary diversification of metabolic hierarchies could represent a mechanism supporting coexistence and biodiversity by enabling temporal segregation of niches. Despite this ecologically critical role, the extent to which substrate preference hierarchies can evolve and diversify remains largely unexplored. Here we used genome-scale metabolic modeling to systematically explore the evolution of metabolic hierarchies across a vast space of metabolic network genotypes. We find that only a limited number of metabolic hierarchies can readily evolve, corresponding to the most commonly observed hierarchies in genome-derived models. We further show how the evolution of novel hierarchies is constrained by the architecture of central metabolism, which determines both the propensity to change ranks between pairs of substrates and the effect of specific reactions on hierarchy evolution. Our analysis sheds light on the genetic and mechanistic determinants of microbial metabolic hierarchies, opening new research avenues to understand their evolution, evolvability and ecology.
TUMOR ENDOTHELIAL CELL AUTOPHAGY IS A KEY VASCULAR-IMMUNE CHECKPOINT IN MELANOMA
Authors: Verhoeven Jelle , Jacobs Kathryn A , Rizzollo Francesca , Lodi Francesca , Hua Yichao , Poźniak Joanna , Srinivasan Adhithya Narayanan , Houbaert Diede , Shankar Gautam , More Sanket , Schaaf Marco B , Lakic Nikolina Dubroja , Ganne Maarten , Lamote Jochen , Weyenbergh Johan Van , Boon Louis , Bechter Oliver , Bosisio Francesca , Bertrand Mathieu JM , Marine Jean Christophe , Lambrechts Diether , Bergers Gabriele , Agrawal Madhur , Agostinis Patrizia
Published: April 2023

Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) actively repress inflammatory responses and maintain an immune-excluded tumor phenotype. However, the molecular mechanisms that sustain TEC-mediated immunosuppression remain largely elusive. Here, we show that autophagy ablation in TECs boosts antitumor immunity by supporting infiltration and effector function of T cells, thereby restricting melanoma growth. In melanoma-bearing mice, loss of TEC autophagy leads to the transcriptional expression of an immunostimulatory/inflammatory TEC phenotype driven by heightened NF-kB and STING signaling. In line, single-cell transcriptomic datasets from melanoma patients disclose an enriched InflammatoryHigh/AutophagyLowTEC phenotype in correlation with clinical responses to immunotherapy. Congruently, patients responding to immunotherapy exhibit an increased presence of inflamed vessels, interfacing with infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, STING-dependent immunity in TECs is not critical for the immunomodulatory effects of autophagy ablation, since NF-kB-driven inflammation remains functional in STING/ATG5 double knockout TECs. Hence, autophagy is a principal tumor vascular anti-inflammatory mechanism dampening melanoma antitumor immunity.
The effect of developmental variation on expression QTLs in a multi parentalC. eleganspopulation
Authors: van Eijnatten Bram , Sterken Mark , Kammenga Jan , Nijveen Harm , Snoek Basten L.
Published: April 2023

Regulation of gene expression plays a crucial role in the development and adaptation of organisms to changing environments. A population-based procedure used to investigate the genetic regulation of gene expression is eQTL mapping. Typically, the age of the population used for eQTL mapping at the time of sampling is strictly controlled. This is necessary because the developmental process causes changes in gene expression, complicating the interpretation of eQTL mapping experiments. However, organisms can differ in their “developmental age”, even if they are of the same chronological age. As a result, eQTL patterns are affected by uncontrolled developmental variation in gene expression. The model organismC. elegansis particularly suited for studying the effect of developmental variation on eQTL mapping patterns. In a span of daysC. eleganstransitions from embryo through four larval stages to adult while undergoing massive changes to its transcriptome. Here we useC. elegansto investigate the effect of developmental age variation on eQTL patterns and an available normalization procedure. We used dynamical eQTL mapping, which includes developmental age as a cofactor, to separate the variation in development from genotypic variation and explain variation in gene expression levels. We compare classical single marker eQTL mapping and dynamical eQTL mapping using RNA-seq data of ∼200 multi-parental recombinant inbred lines ofC. elegans. The results show that many eQTLs are actually caused by developmental variation, that most trans-bands are associated with developmental age and that dynamical eQTL mapping detects additional eQTLs not found with classical eQTL mapping.
Functional analysis ofSalix purpureagenes support roles forARR17andGATA15as master regulators of sex determination
Authors: Hyden Brennan , Carper Dana L. , Abraham Paul E. , Yuan Guoliang , Yao Tao , Baumgart Leo , Zhang Yu , Chen Cindy , O’Malley Ronan , Chen Jin-Gui , Yang Xiaohan , Hettich Robert L. , Tuskan Gerald A. , Smart Lawrence B.
Published: April 2023

The Salicaceae family is of growing interest in the study of dioecy in plants because the sex determination region (SDR) has been shown to be highly dynamic, with differing locations and heterogametic systems between species. Without the ability to transform and regenerateSalixin tissue culture, previous studies investigating the mechanisms regulating sex in the genusSalixhave been limited to genome resequencing and differential gene expression, which are mostly descriptive in nature, and functional validation of candidate sex determination genes has not yet been conducted. Here we used Arabidopsis to functionally characterize a suite of previously identified candidate genes involved in sex determination and sex dimorphism in the bioenergy shrub willowSalix purpurea. Six candidate master regulator genes for sex determination were heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis, followed by floral proteome analysis. In addition, 11 transcription factors with predicted roles in mediating sex dimorphism downstream of the SDR were tested using DAP-Seq in both male and femaleS. purpureaDNA. The results of this study provide further evidence to support models for the roles ofARR17andGATA15as master regulator genes of sex determination inS. purpurea, contributing to a regulatory system that is notably different from that of its sister genusPopulus. Evidence was also obtained for the roles of two transcription factors, anAP2/ERFfamily gene and a homeodomain-like transcription factor, in downstream regulation of sex dimorphism.
Specific behaviors during auditory fear conditioning and postsynaptic expression of AMPA receptors in the basolateral amygdala predict interindividual differences in fear generalization in male rats
Authors: Moraes Bruno José , Hardt Oliver
Published: April 2023

Auditory fear conditioning in rats is a widely used method to study learning, memory, and emotional responding. Despite procedural standardizations and optimizations, there is substantial interindividual variability in fear expression during test, notably in terms of fear expressed toward the testing context alone. To better understand which factors could explain this variation between subjects, we here explored whether behavior during training and expression of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) after long-term memory formation in the amygdala could predict freezing during test. We studied outbred male rats and found strong variation in fear generalization to a different context. Hierarchical clustering of these data identified two distinct groups of subjects that independently correlated with a specific pattern of behaviors expressed during initial training (i.e., rearing and freezing). The extent of fear generalization correlated positively with postsynaptic expression of GluA1-containing AMPA receptors in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Our data thus identify candidate behavioral and molecular predictors of fear generalization that may inform our understanding of some anxiety-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that are characterized by overgeneralized fear.
Three-dimensional temperature distribution of aircraft tyre tread at touchdown
Authors: Li Yu , Wang Weiji
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aircraft’s tyres are forced to spin up at touchdown. A considerable amount of frictional energy will be converted into heat, raising the tread temperature and leading to thermal wear. This study aims to develop a model to analyse the tread heat and discuss the effectiveness of two wear reduction methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The tread temperature is calculated using Laplace’s Equation. The efficiency of pre-rotation and soft landing in reducing tyre heat is studied using a developed three-dimensional heatmap method.

Findings

The result indicates that pre-rotation can significantly lower landing gear’s heat generation at touchdown. The soft landing, instead, has an insignificant or counterproductive effect.

Research limitations/implications

The pre-rotation can significantly increase the tyre’s lifespan and cut the replacement cost. The emission of tyre particles into the environment can be reduced to protect the planet and human health.

Originality/value

Few studies have used a theoretical model to estimate the tread temperature. The existing studies have only dealt with the maximum tread temperature or the tread centreline temperature, which is insufficient to discuss the heat across the entire tread. However, the heatmap method in this paper can do the job.
The effect of increases in board independence on financial reporting quality
Authors: Porter Christine , Sherwood Matthew
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relation between SEC regulations centered on board of director independence and financial reporting quality and investigates the different routes to board independence.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 1,248 firm observations whose board composition is compared between 2001 and 2008. Each firm is categorized based on how they increase board independence. The authors test the hypotheses using ordinary least squares regression models.

Findings

Results show that firms choose between multiple routes when complying with the independence requirements, and how firms operationalize the SEC requirement impacts financial reporting quality. Specifically, firms that achieve increased board independence through increased board size are associated with higher financial reporting quality. However, there is no association between higher financial reporting quality and a subsequent increase in audit fees. Suggesting the reporting quality results from the board monitoring function and not from an increase in auditor effort.

Originality/value

No evidence exists on how a firm’s chosen route to increased board independence relates to financial reporting quality.
Thermal modeling of the cylindrical electromagnets in transient and steady-state modes
Authors: Hashemi Ali , Yazdanpanah Qaraei Parsa , Shabanian Mostafa
Published: April 2023

Purpose

An excessive increase in temperature will reduce the lifespan and even burn the coil. The variety of materials in the structure of the electromagnet along with its multi-layer winding creates a complex and heterogeneous thermal structure. There are very few researches that are completely focused on the thermal analysis of electromagnets. The purpose of this paper is to provide an accurate, yet fast and simple method for the thermal analysis of cylindrical electromagnets in both transient and steady-state modes. For this purpose, a thermal equivalent circuit (TEC) is presented based on the nodding approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The results of TEC analysis of cylindrical electromagnet, for two orthogonal and orthocyclic winding coil technologies, were compared with the results of the thermal simulation in COMSOL. The authors also built a laboratory model of the cylindrical electromagnet, similar to those analyzed and simulated, and measured the temperature in different parts of it.

Findings

The comparison of the results obtained from different methods for the thermal analysis of the cylindrical electromagnet indicates that the proposed TEC has an error of less than 2%. The simplicity and high accuracy of the results are the most important advantages of the proposed TEC.

Originality/value

Comparing the information and results related to winding schemes, indicates that the orthogonal winding has less cost and weight due to the shorter length of the wire used. On the other hand, orthocyclic winding generates lower temperature and has more lifting force, and is simpler to implement. Therefore, in practice, orthocyclic winding technology is usually used.
Effect of employee resilience on organizational resilience in construction projects: considering the role of project tasks
Authors: Wang Dedong , Wang Peng
Published: April 2023

Purpose

As the risks and uncertainties faced by construction projects increase, the study of organizational resilience becomes more and more important for construction project management. Therefore, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the micro-mechanisms of organizational resilience in construction projects and explore the impact of employee resilience on organizational resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

By combining the conservation of resources, this study constructs the mechanism of employee resilience on organizational resilience in construction projects and considers the mediating role of task types. A partial least squares structural equation model (SEM) was used to test hypotheses based on data collected from 224 respondents.

Findings

The results show that employees' work resilience has a direct positive impact on the organizational resilience in construction projects and is also mediated by inter-team tasks. However, the psychological resilience of employees will have a direct adverse effect on the organizational resilience in construction projects and will be mediated by inter-team tasks and intra-team tasks.

Originality/value

This study verifies the impact mechanism of employee resilience on organizational resilience, including direct effects and indirect effects through different types of team tasks, and reveals the micro-mechanisms of using employee resources to build organizational resilience. This article sheds light on how project managers and employees can develop resilience to deal with the uncertainty and complexity of construction projects.
Gamification to enhance engagement and higher order learning in entrepreneurial education
Authors: Lyons Roisin M. , Fox Grace , Stephens Simon
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In an effort to enhance the student experience and achieve complex learning outcomes the use of gamification in higher education is increasing. Using two case studies, this paper explores the efficacy of two discrete inclusions of gamification in entrepreneurial education.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first case study, students leveraged their taught knowledge about gamification to develop a gamified business concept. In the second case study, students played a humanitarian game and provided feedback about its design and efficacy.

Findings

The students' overall engagement with entrepreneurial education was significantly influenced by two factors: their perceived learning about gamification; and their perceived engagement with the gamification. It was observed that highly engaged students considered the gamification component of the course challenging.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the potential of gamification to enhance engagement and to foster higher-order learning in the context of entrepreneurial education.
Local community engagement as a practice: an investigation of local community engagement issues and their impact on transport megaprojects' social value
Authors: Babaei Ata , Locatelli Giorgio , Sainati Tristano
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Transport megaprojects often struggle to offer social value (SV) that meets local communities' needs. This problem is embedded in how local communities' views are captured and incorporated into SV plans through local community engagement (LCE). By problematising the literature, this article aims to identify LCE issues and their impacts on SV plans at the front-end of transport megaprojects.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical lens of the study is the practice theory developed by Schatzki (2016, 2005). The authors conceptualised LCE as a practice and conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with UK practitioners. The authors collected data in three steps from three types of practitioners involved in LCE practice and SV planning: project managers, LCE experts and SV experts.

Findings

The authors identified 18 LCE issues with thematic analysis and clustered them into five themes. These issues impact LCE with five mechanisms. Findings show that a weak link between LCE and SV plans due to the issues reduces LCE to a tick-box exercise and presents a distorted view of local communities. This reduces SV plans to the bare minimum for project approval instead of offering relevant SV to local communities. Addressing the issues goes beyond changing the approach of project teams to engagement (from instrumental to normative) and requires changing the practices.

Originality/value

For the first time, the study uses practice theory to conceptualise LCE as a practice, following the notion of project as practice. The study problematises the literature to address the under-represented link between LCE and SV plans.
Development of a student-centred manual using appreciative inquiry
Authors: Fadiya Olusanjo
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Unlike common evaluation procedures where students are only used to gather information without being involved in the utilisation of the information, the procedure applied in this study involved students in the process of implementing the gathered information in the improvement of learning and the development of a student-centred learning resource. This study aims to improve learning by involving students in the improvement process through appreciative inquiry (AI) and give students a different teaching method.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, AI was used to identify the best of an existing learning resource; co-envisioning the possibilities that can improve the learning resource and co-constructing the possibilities along with the students that will benefit from the improved learning resource.

Findings

Through the five phases of AI, students generated ideas for improving the learning resource and the ideas were implemented in creating an improved learning resource. The improved learning resource was evaluated by other students that did not participate in creating the improved learning resource. Majority of the students said the improved learning resource was more impactful on their learning, better than the original learning resource.

Originality/value

AI has hitherto been mostly focussed on other aspects of teaching and learning than aspects that require subject knowledge such as the development of teaching and learning resources. Hence, in this study, students were engaged as co-creators in developing a student-centred self-learning study manual.
Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development on economic growth in developing countries
Authors: Verma Anushka , Dandgawhal Prajakta Sandeep , Giri Arun Kumar
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between information and communication technologies (ICT) diffusion, financial development and economic growth in the panel of developing countries for 2005–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed the principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the index of ICT diffusion. First-generation panel unit root tests such as Levine Lin Chu (LLC), Im Pesaran Shin (IPS), Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips and Perron (PP) were employed to check the stationarity of the variables. Pedroni and Kao co-integration techniques were used to examine the existence of the long-run relationship, and co-integration coefficients were estimated using FMOLS and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). The panel Granger causality approach examined the short-run and long-run causality.

Findings

The results confirmed that ICT diffusion, financial development and trade openness accelerate growth, whereas inflation dampens economic growth. Further, the causality test showed bidirectional causality between ICT growth and financial development growth but a unidirectional causality from financial development to ICT diffusion in developing countries.

Originality/value

The study recommends synchronizing public and private sector investment for a synergistic effect on ICT infrastructure and adequate investment in the financial sector to increase the growth rate in developing countries. Economic policies should be adopted toward incentives and subsidies to ensure affordable ICT services for disadvantaged communities. Also, training programs focussing on enhancing digital literacy to enable all segments of the population to use digital platforms for financial services are recommended.
Exploring the mediating role of social capital and pro-social motivation in the relationship between CSR and creative deviance
Authors: Bhatti Sabeen Hussain , Irshad Rabia , Shehzad Nazia , Santoro Gabriele
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of the less studied relationship between perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) (both internal and external) and creative deviance (CD). Based on the signalling and social capital (SC) theories, this study proposes that the relationship between CSR and CD is mediated by both the prosocial motivation and SC of the employees.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a survey approach to gathering data and implemented a structural equation modelling technique for analysis.

Findings

Data collected from telecom employees supported the sequential mediation of both SC and prosocial motivation on the relationship between internally and externally perceived corporate social responsibility and CD.

Research limitations/implications

The in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences in the internal and external dimensions of CSR is valuable for understanding the antecedents of CD.

Practical implications

The in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences in the internal and external dimensions of CSR is valuable for understanding the antecedents of CD. Managers can use this knowledge to improve their performance by following better CSR practices that in turn foster SC and CD. By supporting SC, companies will be able to increase their intellectual capital (IC), which is necessary to compete in today's markets.

Originality/value

The present literature is mostly silent on the differences and similarities between perceived CSR and employee creative behaviour: CD. The present study fills this gap by investigating this important relationship and testing its underlying mechanisms for internally and externally perceived CSR separately. The paper puts forward the key role of SC, which is part of IC, in reinforcing the relationship between CSR and CD.
Building AgriRef: an AI embedded virtual reference app for farmers
Authors: Garg Priya , Rao K. Shivarama
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the process of building a 24×7 reference platform for facilitating the farmers with the easy access of information at any time from any location. It takes the text string as input and process it to respond with the desired result to the user.

Design/methodology/approach

An interactive Web-based chatbot named as AgriRef was developed using free version of Dialogflow. The intents were defined based on the conversation flow diagram. Furthermore, the application was integrated with website on local server and telegram application.

Findings

With this chatbot application, the farmers will able to get answers of their queries. It provides the human-like conversational interface to the farmers. It will also be useful for librarians of agricultural libraries to save time in answering common queries.

Originality/value

This paper describes the various steps involved in developing the chatbot application using Dialogflow.
Through many doors at once: rethinking the multiverse of graduate student professional development
Authors: Cavallo Sara E. , Cruz Laura E. , Kim Jamie , Brua Chas
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how the phenomenon of academic professional development looks through the eyes of graduate students navigating the increasing complexity of postgraduate careers. This study pays particular attention to how current students navigate the interplay between their beliefs, intentions and behaviors when it comes to making choices regarding their engagement in professional development.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study, based on a phenomenological analysis of seven in-depth interviews with advanced PhD students from the earth sciences college at a large, public, research-intensive university located in the mid-Atlantic area of the USA (Penn State).

Findings

Framed in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the findings of this study suggest that the interviewees varied across all aspects of Theory of Planned Behavior: in their beliefs about valued career paths, in their convergence or divergence from the departmental or institutional norms they perceived and in their sense of control over their career pathways. They all shared, however, a strong desire to successfully navigate the widening array of possibilities to achieve a range of personal and professional goals, but they often lacked the ability to align those intentions with actions related to professional development.

Originality/value

This study suggests that institutions may wish to rethink their positionality in the professional development of graduate students, moving away from centralized models of direct support and towards more indirect, informal and co-created means of exerting influence and building community.
Lavinia Fontana's Freedom
Authors: Lugli Emanuele
Published: April 2023

This essay searches for the meaning of the medal commemorating Bolognese painter Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614). While doing so, it rediscovers what has been regarded as an interesting but derivative object to be a most sophisticated artwork. Fontana's medal was not just an honour: it was a cultural intervention that addressed multiple cultural debates taking place across central Italy, from the nature of emblems to women's worth. While presenting some overlooked sources related to Fontana's medal and contemporary artistic production (a couple of treatises, a guidebook, and a thank you note), the essay introduces three new exemplars of the coin. This new evidence prompts a reconsideration of the circulation of Fontana's medal and the identity of its designer, a question that has so far escaped attention.
Effectiveness of fish assemblage as seed dispersers in Amazon oligotrophic flooded forests
Authors: Weiss Bianca , D. Santana Flávia , Petene Calvi Geângelo , Costa Gilvan , Zuanon Jansen , Piedade Maria Teresa Fernandez
Published: April 2023

In tropical and highly diverse systems, Seed Dispersal Effectiveness (SDE) is a very useful approach to investigating the role of seed dispersers in one of the most important and complex phases of plants by analysing the quantitative (QC) and qualitative (QL) components of the seed dispersal process. Although fishes are recognized as an important guild of frugivores in flooded environments, we still know very little about the dispersal effectiveness performed by this group. Our study evaluated two quantitative subcomponents of effectiveness, where we used: (a) the volume of intact and crushed seeds found in the stomach and intestine of fish (QC1), and (b) the total number of tested and viable seeds (QC2). From these subcomponents, a two‐dimensional landscape of effectiveness was generated and a fish species was ranked according to the quantitative component of the SDE. Eight species of fish consumed 1054 seeds belonging to 16 plant species. Sphinctanthus striiflorus, Corynostylis pubescens, Connarus sp. and Piper sp., were the most abundant plant species in fish's diets, totalling 95% (N = 983) of the seeds consumed. We used a tetrazolium viability test protocol and about 678 (85%) of the 797 seeds tested were viable and 119 (14.7%) were unviable; the viability test was inconclusive for less than 1% of the seeds. Our findings showed that, as seen in other effectiveness studies with terrestrial vertebrate dispersers, fish species also have different degrees of effectiveness. Additionally, we pointed out that the fish species more specialized in the consumption of fruits and seeds were quantitatively more effective dispersers, while species with lower SDE corresponded to generalists that just occasionally consume seeds. We suggest that high‐diversity fish assemblages allow for greater complementarity in the seed dispersal interaction, which can potentially favour the recruitment of plant species via ichthyochory.
Human‐wildlife conflicts in communities bordering a Savannah‐Fenced wildlife conservancy
Authors: Dupuis‐Desormeaux Marc , Kaaria Timothy N. , Kinoti John , Paul Adrian , Gilisho Saibala , Kobia Francis , Onyango Reagan , Chege Geoffrey , Kimiti David , Mwololo Mary , Davidson Zeke , MacDonald Suzanne E.
Published: April 2023

We discuss various human‐wildlife conflicts (HWC) inherent within communities bordering a mid‐sized, semi‐porous wildlife conservancy in Kenya. HWC are a growing issue as human population expands into wildlife habitat to put people and wildlife in more frequent contact and compete for scarce resources. In 2018, we surveyed the crop‐raiding and livestock depredation experiences of 918 households from 10 separate villages and asked about the experiences of the villagers with HWC over the past 3 years. These communities are protected from wildlife with two different fence designs, a standard 12‐strand electrical fence, and an upgraded predator‐proof fence design. We found that between 70% and 91% of respondents had experienced some form of HWC including 39.5% who reported threats to their person from wildlife encroachments despite electrical perimeter fencing. HWC happened more often at night and during the dry seasons. The most common encroachments were from elephants, hyenas, leopards, and baboons. Community respondents rated that the upgraded predator‐proof fences performed better than the standard 12‐strand fences. However, even the predator‐proof design had issues with keeping monkeys from entering the communities and crop raiding. We discuss potential mitigation measures, including an improved predator‐proof fencing design that incorporates butterfly stingers that may offer better protection.
De/Recolonising Development: Fanon, Rostow, and the Violence of Social Change
Authors: Selwyn Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Can development be decolonised? The dominant form of contemporary development thinking prioritises capital accumulation and economic growth, guided, if necessary, by violent means by national elites and hegemonic states. This article recounts an early moment in the struggle over the form and content of development. It argues that in response to post‐World War 2 decolonisation, W.W. Rostow's Stages of Economic Growth represents the modernisation and application to development thinking of supremacist norms rooted in the standard of civilisation (recolonising development). By contrast, Frantz Fanon's Wretched of the Earth proposed a “new humanist” alternative (decolonising development). However, reflecting and reinforcing the dominant ideology of development, the violence inherent in Rostow's notion of development has been whitewashed (development without violence), especially within the sub‐discipline of development economics, while within various strands of development thinking Fanon's vision of development has been blackwashed (violence without development). Reclaiming Fanon's humanism requires grappling with his insistence upon revolutionary violence as necessary to overcome supremacist forms of development.