bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GPRC6A is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Metformin Regulation of Glucose Homeostasis in Mice
Authors: Pi Min , Agarwal Rupesh , Smith Micholas Dean , Smith Jeremy C. , Quarles L. Darryl
Published: August 2024

Understanding the mechanism of metformin actions in treating type 2 diabetes is limited by an incomplete knowledge of the specific protein targets mediating its metabolic effects. Metformin has structural similarities to L-Arginine (2-amino-5-guanidinopentanoic acid), which is a ligand for GPRC6A, a Family C G-protein coupled receptor that regulates energy metabolism. Ligand activation of GPRC6A results in lowering of blood glucose and other metabolic changes resembling the therapeutic effect of metformin. In the current study, we tested if metformin activates GPRC6A. We used Alphafold2 to develop a structural model for L-Arginine (L-Arg) binding to the extracellu-lar bilobed venus flytrap domain (VFT) of GPRC6A. We found that metformin docked to the site in the VFT that overlaps the binding site for L-Arg. Metformin resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of GPRC6A activity in HEK-293 cells transfected with full-length wild-type GPRC6A but not in untransfected control cells. In addition, metformin failed to activate an alternatively spliced GPRC6A isoform lacking the putative binding site in the VFT. More specifically, mutation of the predicted metformin key binding residues Glu170 and Asp303 in the GPRC6A VFT resulted in loss of metformin receptor activation in vitro. The in vivo role of GPRC6A in mediating the effects of metformin was tested in Gprc6a-/- mice. Administration of therapeutic doses of metformin lowered blood glucose levels following a glucose tolerance test in wild-type but not Gprc6a-/- mice. Finally, we EN300, created by adding a carboxymethyl group from L-Arg to the biguanide backbone of metformin. EN300 showed dose-dependent stimulation of GPRC6A activity in vitro with greater potency than L-Arginine, but less than met-formin. Thus, we suggest that GPRC6A is a potential molecular target for metformin which may be used to understand the therapeutic actions of metformin and develop novel small molecules to treat T2D.
Vaccines combining slow delivery and follicle targeting of antigens increase germinal center B cell clonal diversity and clonal expansion
Authors: Rodrigues Kristen A. , Zhang Yiming J. , Aung Aereas , Morgan Duncan M. , Maiorino Laura , Yousefpour Parisa , Gibson Grace , Ozorowski Gabriel , Gregory Justin R. , Amlashi Parastoo , Buckley Maureen , Ward Andrew B. , Schief William R. , Love J. Christopher , Irvine Darrell J.
Published: August 2024

Vaccines incorporating slow delivery, multivalent antigen display, or immunomodulation through adjuvants have an important role to play in shaping the humoral immune response. Here we analyzed mechanisms of action of a clinically relevant combination adjuvant strategy, where phosphoserine (pSer)-tagged immunogens bound to aluminum hydroxide (alum) adjuvant (promoting prolonged antigen delivery to draining lymph nodes) are combined with a potent saponin nanoparticle adjuvant termed SMNP (which alters lymph flow and antigen entry into lymph nodes). When employed with a stabilized HIV Env trimer antigen in mice, this combined adjuvant approach promoted substantial enhancements in germinal center (GC) and antibody responses relative to either adjuvant alone. Using scRNA-seq and scBCR-seq, we found that the alum-pSer/SMNP combination both increased the diversity of GC B cell clones and increased GC B cell clonal expansion, coincident with increases in the expression ofMycand the proportion of S-phase GC B cells. To gain insight into the source of these changes in the GC response, we analyzed antigen biodistribution and structural integrity in draining lymph nodes and found that the combination adjuvant approach, but not alum-pSer delivery or SMNP alone, promoted accumulation of highly intact antigen on follicular dendritic cells, reflecting an integration of the slow antigen delivery and altered lymph node uptake effects of these two adjuvants. These results demonstrate how adjuvants with complementary mechanisms of action impacting vaccine biodistribution and kinetics can synergize to enhance humoral immunity.
Nup107 is a crucial regulator of torso-mediated metamorphic transition inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kawadkar Jyotsna , Joshi Pradyumna Ajit , Mishra Ram Kumar
Published: August 2024

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), composed of nucleoporins (Nups), affect nucleocytoplasmic transport, thus influencing cell division and gene regulation. Nup107 subcomplex members have been studied in housekeeping functions, diseases, and developmental disorders.

We report a unique regulatory function for Nup107 in metamorphic transition duringDrosophiladevelopment. RNAi-mediatedNup107depleted larvae were arrested in the third-instar larval stage and completely ceased to pupariate. The pupariation defect is primarily due to inhibited nuclear translocation and transcriptional activation by EcR. We unequivocally demonstrate the involvement of Nup107 in the transcription of theHalloweengenes, modulating ecdysone biosynthesis and the EcR pathway activation. The regulation of EcR-mediated metamorphosis by the receptor tyrosine kinase,torso, is well documented. Accordingly, overexpression of thetorsoand MAP-kinase pathway activator,rasV12, in theNup107depletion background rescues the phenotypes, implying that Nup107 is an epistatic regulator of Torso-mediated activation of EcR signaling during metamorphosis.
Local nesting resources rather than floral food alter ground-nesting bee communities in grazed habitats
Authors: Collins Shannon M. , Taylor Laura A. , Wright Karen W. , Lichtenberg Elinor M.
Published: August 2024

Understanding how the availability of both trophic and non-trophic resources impacts key ecosystem service providers is crucial for informing conservation efforts. Non-trophic resources such as shelter can play critical roles in ecosystem function and resilience by affecting predation and pathogen rates, reproductive success, and interspecific interactions. However, non-trophic resources are often overlooked. This holds true for insect pollinators; impacts of shelter on community dynamics and pollination remain poorly understood.

Because most bee species spend most of their lives underground, we explored whether nesting habitat characteristics are key drivers of ground-nesting bee abundance, diversity, and community composition. We additionally compared impacts of aboveground versus belowground nesting habitat characteristics, as the latter have received significantly less attention. Nesting habitat characteristics we considered included bare ground cover; and soil texture, compaction, and depth. We also included floral abundance and richness. We focused on rangelands, natural or semi-natural grasslands that are managed for livestock grazing, where management can dramatically alter trophic and non-trophic resources. Thus, we also investigated impacts of grazing management on bee habitat.

We found that belowground, but not aboveground, nesting habitat characteristics were important for ground-nesting bee assemblages. Ground-nesting bee abundance and richness were highest at sites with sandier soils. More compacted soils also supported higher bee abundance.

Our results suggest that livestock grazing management may indirectly impact ground-nesting bee abundance through impacts on floral abundance. Sites with longer grazing rest periods had higher floral abundance, and sites with higher floral abundance supported more ground-nesting bees (but not more bee species).

Policy implications:Our study highlights the importance of considering non-trophic resources in conservation and restoration management. Managers should be cautious in using an aboveground measure such as bare ground as an indicator of bee habitat quality. Rather, we recommend that belowground habitat characteristics such as soil texture and compaction be included in habitat quality assessments. Evidence-based rangeland conservation and restoration planning may need to manage for ground-nesting bees’ preferred levels of soil compaction. Additionally, management-insensitive habitat characteristics such as soil texture may be important considerations for site prioritization in pollinator habitat conservation and restoration efforts.
Pseudomonas aeruginosapopulation dynamics in a vancomycin-induced murine model of gastrointestinal carriage
Authors: Lebrun-Corbin Marine , Cheung Bettina H. , Hullahalli Karthik , Dailey Katherine , Bailey Keith , Waldor Matthew K. , Wunderink Richard G. , Bachta Kelly E. R. , Hauser Alan R.
Published: August 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosais a common nosocomial pathogen and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Multiple reports highlight thatP. aeruginosagastrointestinal colonization may precede systemic infections by this pathogen. Gaining a deeper insight into the dynamics ofP. aeruginosagastrointestinal carriage is an essential step in managing gastrointestinal colonization and could contribute to preventing bacterial transmission and progression to systemic infection. Here, we present a clinically relevant mouse model relying on parenteral vancomycin pretreatment and a single orogastric gavage of a controlled dose ofP. aeruginosa.Robust carriage was observed with multiple clinical isolates, and carriage persisted for up to 60 days. Histological and microbiological examination of mice indicated that this model indeed represented carriage and not infection. We then used a barcodedP. aeruginosalibrary along with the sequence tag-based analysis of microbial populations (STAMPR) analytic pipeline to quantify bacterial population dynamics and bottlenecks during the establishment of the gastrointestinal carriage. Analysis indicated that most of theP. aeruginosapopulation was rapidly eliminated in the stomach, but the few bacteria that moved to the small intestine and the caecum expanded significantly. Hence, the stomach constitutes a significant barrier against gastrointestinal carriage ofP. aeruginosa,which may have clinical implications for hospitalized patients.

IMPORTANCE

WhileP. aeruginosais rarely part of the normal human microbiome, carriage of the bacterium is quite frequent in hospitalized patients and residents of long-term care facilities.P. aeruginosacarriage is a precursor to infection. Options for treating infections caused by difficult-to-treatP. aeruginosastrains are dwindling, underscoring the urgency to better understand and impede pre-infection stages, such as colonization. Here, we use vancomycin-treated mice to model antibiotic-treated patients who become colonized withP. aeruginosain their gastrointestinal tracts. We identify the stomach as a major barrier to the establishment of gastrointestinal carriage. These findings suggest that efforts to prevent gastrointestinal colonization should focus not only on judicious use of antibiotics but also on investigation into how the stomach eliminates orally ingestedP. aeruginosa.
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Drives Bi-Directional Changes in Excitability in Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Salimi Morteza , Nazari Milad , Mishler Jonathan , Mishra Jyoti , Ramanathan Dhakshin S
Published: August 2024

Theta burst stimulation (TBS), an FDA-cleared treatment for depression, is hypothesized to modulate excitability in the prefrontal cortex, though this has not definitively been shown in vivo. We performed calcium imaging on glutamatergic neurons in awake rodents to understand the effects of theta burst stimulation at a cellular level. Our findings provide the first direct evidence that TBS bidirectionally modulates glutamatergic activity when delivered in vivo and directly links calcium activity changes during stimulation with post-stimulation plasticity.
The polygenic strategies ofBotrytis cinereafor virulence across eight eudicot host species
Authors: Caseys Céline , Kliebenstein Daniel J.
Published: August 2024

Diverse qualitative and quantitative genetic architectures can successfully influence fungal virulence and host range. To model the quantitative genetic architecture of a generalist pathogen with an extensive host range, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the virulence ofBotrytis cinereaacross eight hosts. This approach revealed 4772 candidate genes, about one-third of theBotrytisgenome, contributing to virulence with small effect sizes. The candidate genes are evenly spread across the core chromosomes with no indication of bipartite genomic architecture. The GWAS-identified polymorphisms and genes show thatB. cinerearelies on genetic variants across hundreds of genes for infecting diverse hosts, with most genes influencing relatively few hosts. When pathogen genes associated to multiple hosts, they typically influenced more unrelated than related host species. Comparative genomics further suggested that the GWAS-identified genes are largely syntenic with other specialist Botrytis species and not novel toB. cinerea. Overall,B. cinerea’s generalist behavior is derived from the sum of the genome-wide genetic variation acting within gene networks that differentially coordinate the interaction with diverse hosts.
The Brain Interactome of a Permissive Prion Replication Substrate
Authors: Arshad Hamza , Eid Shehab , Mehra Surabhi , Williams Declan , Kaczmarczyk Lech , Stuart Erica , Jackson Walker S. , Schmitt-Ulms Gerold , Watts Joel C.
Published: August 2024

Bank voles are susceptible to prion strains from many different species, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of bank vole prion protein (BVPrP) to function as a universal prion acceptor remain unclear. Potential differences in molecular environments and protein interaction networks on the cell surface of brain cells may contribute to BVPrP’s unusual behavior. To test this hypothesis, we generated knock-in mice that express physiological levels of BVPrP (M109 isoform) and employed mass spectrometry to compare the interactomes of mouse (Mo) PrP and BVPrP following mildin vivocrosslinking of brain tissue. Substantial overlap was observed between the top interactors for BVPrP and MoPrP, with established PrP-interactors such as neural cell adhesion molecules, subunits of Na+/K+-ATPases, and contactin-1 being equally present in the two interactomes. We conclude that the molecular environments of BVPrP and MoPrP in the brains of mice are very similar. This suggests that the unorthodox properties of BVPrP are unlikely to be mediated by differential interactions with other proteins.
Mitochondrial complex III-derived ROS amplify immunometabolic changes in astrocytes and promote dementia pathology
Authors: Barnett Daniel , Zimmer Till S. , Booraem Caroline , Palaguachi Fernando , Meadows Samantha M. , Xiao Haopeng , Chouchani Edward T. , Orr Anna G. , Orr Adam L.
Published: August 2024

Neurodegenerative disorders alter mitochondrial functions, including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial complex III (CIII) generates ROS implicated in redox signaling, but its triggers, targets, and disease relevance are not clear. Using site-selective suppressors and genetic manipulations together with mitochondrial ROS imaging and multiomic profiling, we found that CIII is the dominant source of ROS production in astrocytes exposed to neuropathology-related stimuli. Astrocytic CIII-ROS production was dependent on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger (NCLX) and caused oxidation of select cysteines within immune and metabolism-associated proteins linked to neurological disease. CIII-ROS amplified metabolomic and pathology-associated transcriptional changes in astrocytes, with STAT3 activity as a major mediator, and facilitated neuronal toxicity in a non-cell- autonomous manner. As proof-of-concept, suppression of CIII-ROS in mice decreased dementia-linked tauopathy and neuroimmune cascades and extended lifespan. Our findings establish CIII-ROS as an important immunometabolic signal transducer and tractable therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disease.
A Human Biomimetic Intestinal Mucosa Model to Study Gastrointestinal Development and Disease
Authors: Dei Alessandro , Calitz Carlemi , Korsten Joep , Johannesson Nina , Freeze Eline , Eaves Allen , Louis Sharon , Conder Ryan K. , Chang Wing , Pajkrt Dasja , Wolthers Katja C. , Sridhar Adithya , Simmini Salvatore
Published: August 2024

The intestinal mucosa plays a vital role in nutrient absorption, drug metabolism, and pathogen defence. Advances in single-cell technologies have highlighted the specialised roles of various cell types that execute these diverse functions. Aside from intestinal epithelial cells, fibroblasts play an essential role in regulating the extracellular matrix and controlling pro- inflammatory signalling, and antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) maintain intestinal homeostasis and immune responses. The incorporation of such cellular complexity within the existingin vitromodels of the human intestine is currently challenging. To address this, we developed a human intestinal model that accurately mimics the mucosal cellular environment comprising intestinal epithelial cells, intestinal fibroblasts, and antigen presenting cells. This model includes co-cultures of adult and foetal cells, facilitating studies on barrier function, inflammation, and viral infections. It replicates extracellular matrix deposition, Paneth cell differentiation, immune interactions, and can be used to model host- pathogen interactions. Our advanced co-culture model improves the physiological relevance ofin vitrostudies, enabling the exploration of epithelial-mesenchymal-immune crosstalk and its role in intestinal health and disease.
Two paralogues of N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor: An exception to the minimal vesicular trafficking machinery ofGiardia
Authors: Ghosh Trisha , Datta Shankari Prasad , Mandal Pritha , Patra Nabanita , Jana Kuladip , Ganguly Sandipan , Sarkar Srimonti
Published: August 2024

Vesicular trafficking plays a critical role in the survival of the human gut pathogenGiardia lambliaas it drives nutrient uptake and morphological stage transition. Unlike most eukaryotes,Giardiahas a minimal vesicular trafficking machinery. Herein, we report a rare exception to this minimalism wherein two paralogues of NSF, a crucial factor driving vesicular trafficking by uncoupling the cis-SNARE bundle, are present in this unicellular parasite. While GlNSF114776and GlNSF112681share very high sequence homology, they are likely to have distinct cellular roles as they exhibit differences in their affinities towards the Glα-SNAPs and display non-overlapping distribution in encysting trophozoites. Under multiple stress conditions (nutritional, oxidative and nitrosative), while GlNSF112681remains at peripheral vesicles, GlNSF114776relocalizes to the anterior flagella-associated striated fibres, indicating a possible role in regulating flagellar motility. At this location, GlNSF114776is likely to perform a 20S complex independent function as neither Glα-SNAPs nor GlSNAREs are present there. The two paralogues are likely needed for stress adaptation as both copies have also been retained inGiardiagenomes isolated from clinical samples. This non-canonical function of the GlNSF114776may have evolved to support the unique architecture and motility of the anterior flagella.
Tacit knowledge management process, product innovation and organizational performance: exploring the role of affective trust and task efficiency
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Zia Umair , Shehzad Muhammad Usman , Sherani
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Nowadays, it is hard to retain a knowledge monopoly since tacit knowledge has become essential for innovation and organizational effectiveness (ORP). This study analyzed the role of product innovation as a mediator in the relationship between the tacit knowledge management process (TKMP) and organizational performance. In addition, two moderating variables were examined: (1) Affective trust (AFT) between the tacit knowledge management process and product innovation relationship and (2) Task efficiency in product innovation and organizational performance (ORP) relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Around 344 questionnaires were collected from various Chinese regions between February and April 2023 to conduct this study. The regression, mediation and moderation analyses on lower and higher-order data were evaluated using the SmartPLS approach.

Findings

The results validate that product innovation mediates the connection between managing tacit knowledge and the organization’s performance. Affective trust also plays a positive moderating role between tacit knowledge and product innovation. These results provide valuable theoretical and practical insights, substantiating various direct, indirect, mediate, and moderated effects hypotheses.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the study was restricted to manufacturing companies; however, further research may broaden the model’s scope to include other industries. Furthermore, future research should continue to explore the role of task efficiency in the innovation process and identify strategies for enhancing task efficiency in organizations.

Practical implications

The study establishes the significance of effectively managing tacit knowledge for fostering product innovation. Company managers and leaders can promote employee trust, enhancing innovation capabilities and overall organizational effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study, involving dual moderation, explores the connections between processes of managing tacit knowledge, product innovation and organizational performance. It addresses research gaps, enriching the understanding of managing tacit knowledge, leading to organizational innovation and performance improvements. The study also highlights how affective trust is vital in strengthening the connection between TKMP and product innovation.
Corporate social responsibility and firm value: the role of enterprise risk management and corporate governance
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Khan Imran , Kainat Mariam , Mumtaz Adeel
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained tremendous importance after several corporate scandals, financial crises and the rise of the hyper-competitive world. Firms must address multiple stakeholders’ interests to increase firm value. This study aims to investigate the effect of CSR on firm value. This study also examines the mediating role of enterprise risk management (ERM) and the moderating influence of corporate governance (CG) in this CSR-firm value relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of the study comprises 119 Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) listed firms and the study covers the period from 2010 to 2021. The corporate social responsibility performance has been quantified across five dimensions. These aspects are product, environment, employee relations, diversity and community. Four proxies i.e. strategy, operation, reporting and compliance, have been used to measure ERM. The governance quality of the sample companies was evaluated using the governance index, which included 29 governance provisions. The authors used the dynamic panel data technique (system-GMM) is used to achieve the objectives of the study. Furthermore, a firm’s engagement in CSR activities can also be measured through a multinational financial approach to check the robustness of the result.

Findings

Based on the regression analysis, the authors discovered that CSR was positively connected with firm value, validating the stakeholder view of CSR. Furthermore, following Baron and Kenny’s (1986) mediation technique, the findings confirm that ERM mediates this association. These results are robust by using the bootstrapping tests by Preacher and Hayes (2004). Furthermore, the result shows that corporate governance (CG) is positively connected with firm performance, and this relationship is strengthened in the presence of an effective governance system in the organization.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights to regulators, investors and policymakers to consider CSR as a value-enhancing factor and encourage the development of enterprise risk management and compliance with CG mechanisms to improve firm value.

Originality/value

The presented analysis strengthens the existing CSR–firm value relationship by analyzing the mediating and moderating roles of ERM and CG, which have not yet been tested, particularly in the context of Pakistan.
Novel framework for learning performance prediction using pattern identification and deep learning
Authors: Weng Cheng-Hsiung , Huang Cheng-Kui
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Educational data mining (EDM) discovers significant patterns from educational data and thus can help understand the relations between learners and their educational settings. However, most previous data mining techniques focus on prediction of learning performance of learners without integrating learning patterns identification techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a new framework for identifying learning patterns and predicting learning performance. Two modules, the learning patterns identification module and the deep learning prediction models (DNN), are integrated into this framework to identify the difference of learning performance and predicting learning performance from profiles of students.

Findings

Experimental results from survey data indicate that the proposed identifying learning patterns module could facilitate identifying valuable difference (change) patterns from student’s profiles. The proposed learning performance prediction module which adapts DNN also performs better than traditional machine techniques in prediction performance metrics.

Originality/value

To our best knowledge, the framework is the only educational system in the literature for identifying learning patterns and predicting learning performance.
System-level impacts of electrification on the road freight transport system: a dynamic approach
Authors: Raoofi Zeinab , Huge Brodin Maria , Pernestål Anna
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonising the road freight transport system, but it is challenging to understand its impact on the system. The purpose of this research is to provide a system-level understanding of how electrification impacts the road freight transport system. The goal is to develop a model that illustrates the system and its dynamics, emphasising the importance of understanding these dynamics in order to comprehend the effects of electrification.

Design/methodology/approach

The main methodological contribution of the study is the combination of the multi-layer model with system dynamics methodology. A mixed methods approach is used, including group model building, impact analysis, and literature analysis.

Findings

The study presents a conceptual multi-layer dynamic model, illustrating the complex causal relationships between variables in the different layers and how electrification impacts the system. It distinguishes between direct and induced impacts, along with potential policy interventions. Moreover, two causal loop diagrams (CLDs) provide practical insights: one explores factors influencing electric truck attractiveness, and the other illustrates the trade-off between battery size and fast charging infrastructure for electric trucks.

Originality/value

The study provides stakeholders, particularly policymakers, with a system-level understanding of the different impacts of electrification and their ripple effects. This understanding is crucial for making strategic decisions and steering the transition towards a sustainable road freight transport system.
Opportunities for self-preferencing in international online marketplaces
Authors: Jürgensmeier Lukas , Bischoff Jan , Skiera Bernd
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Large digital platforms face intense scrutiny over self-preferencing, which involves a platform provider favoring its own offers over those of competitors. In online marketplaces, also called retail or e-commerce platforms, much of the academic and regulatory debate focuses on determining whether the marketplace provider gives preference to its own private labels, such as “Amazon Basics” or Walmart’s “Great Value” products. However, we outline, both conceptually and empirically, that self-preferencing can also occur through other dimensions of vertical integration – namely, retailing and fulfillment.

Design/methodology/approach

This article contributes by conceptualizing three dimensions of vertical integration in online marketplaces – private labels, retailing and fulfillment. Then, two studies empirically assess (1) which of the 20 most-visited global online marketplaces vertically integrates which dimension and (2) which share of 600 m available offers is vertically integrated to which degree in eleven international Amazon marketplaces.

Findings

The majority of the leading marketplaces vertically integrate all three dimensions, implying ample opportunities for self-preferencing. Across international Amazon marketplaces, only 0.02% of available offers consist of an Amazon private-label product. However, Amazon is a retailer for around 31% and fulfills around 38% of all available offers in its marketplaces. Hence, self-preferencing on Amazon can occur most frequently through retailing and fulfillment but comparatively infrequently through private-label offers. Still, these shares differ substantially by country – every second offer is vertically integrated in the USA, but only one in ten in India.

Originality/value

Most of the self-preferencing debate often focuses on private-label products. Instead, we present large-scale empirical results showing that self-preferencing on Amazon could occur most often through retailing and fulfillment because these channels affect much larger shares of offers. We also measure the variation of these shares across countries and relate them to regulatory environments.
Social entrepreneurship: recognition of sociocultural competencies in the higher education future
Authors: Sharifi Saeid , Khoshnevisan Fatemeh
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The present study aimed recognition sociocultural competencies in social entrepreneurship of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a qualitative content analysis technique. In order to identify and select information-rich cases, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 22 experts among the social activists in Iran’s public and private universities based on the criterion-dependent targeted sampling method. Four credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability criteria were used to increase the accuracy of qualitative data the findings were analyzed using thematic analysis through open, axial and selective coding.

Findings

Sociocultural competencies in social entrepreneurship of higher education are categorized into three cognitive (cognitive requirements of entrepreneurship, sociocultural values) emotional (emotional integration, positive emotions) and behavioral (interactive communication, professional life, entrepreneurial social traits) levels at 34 subcomponents.

Originality/value

Higher education with the growing trend of the challenge of cultural diversity and fusion caused by intercultural communication requires competencies that prepare social entrepreneurs for the future of higher education with the lens of socio-cultural capabilities. The neglected gap in the higher education system has empirical value for executive managers. The approach of preparing future higher education leaders for social and human benefits beyond political boundaries and cultural and social tensions, sociocultural competencies have an exclusive appeal.
Psychological well-being and autonomy are guaranteed: an analysis of the significance of cognitive emotion regulation and reflective teaching in the careers of university EFL teachers
Authors: Namaziandost Ehsan , Heydarnejad Tahereh , Ashkani Parisa , Farokhipour Sajjad
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Psychological well-being is a central aspect of mental health, and it can be defined as the presence of enjoyment and fulfillment, as well as resilience. Different factors are critical in the tone and melody of language teachers’ psychological well-being. Cognitive emotion regulation (CER) pertains to the intentional cognitive strategies employed by educators in order to regulate and confront emotionally taxing content.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental strategy was used in the present experimental analysis. A total of 87 EFL students were split into two groups: one to participate in the experiment and another to serve as a control. The control group of students got regular teaching without any changes or additions to their books.

Findings

Path analysis results demonstrated that cognitive emotion regulation and reflective teaching were able to accurately forecast the teachers' psychological well-being at the institution.

Practical implications

The study's results suggest that it is essential for teachers, including language instructors, to undergo training in cognitive emotion regulation and reflective teaching in order to ensure their psychological well-being.

Originality/value

To achieve an optimal level of CER, educators must be equipped with a repertoire of effective strategies to promote the necessary equilibrium. Reflective teaching encompasses the critical analysis of an educator's fundamental convictions about pedagogy and the acquisition of knowledge, as well as the evaluation of their teaching process. To date, no study reflects on the possible connections between these variables in a single study. In light of this, the focus of this study was to discover how reflective teaching and cognitive emotion regulation affect the psychological health of English as a foreign language (EFL) university professors.
We are in this together: what the COVID-19 pandemic revealed about the nature of the student-professor relationship in higher education
Authors: Mitchell Dove Lakindra
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The study’s aims were to (1) Explore challenges, barriers and successes of students of color, as a result of the instructor’s approach to teaching in a remote learning environment; and (2) Determine what types of practices and approaches students of color found supportive in adjusting to a remote learning environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of students of color, reflecting on in-person and remote learning environments. A total of 18 students from a large public university participated in the study.

Findings

The findings suggest significant adjustments were made by both students and professors during the pandemic. Although academics were important to students, there was an emphasis on the impact on social interactions with peers and the ability to build meaningful relationships with professors. Students displayed a sense of compassion and empathy toward professors and themselves.

Practical implications

The results from the study provide some insight into how higher education can move forward, potentially conducting future research that includes the perspectives of both students and professors to determine how to best provide support in the aftermath of a pandemic.

Originality/value

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of students of color, reflecting on in-person and remote learning environments.
Sustainable fashion knowledge: nurturing individual responsibility through spiritual and emotional sustainable capacities in the fashion industry
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Aurora , Martelo-Landroguez Silvia , Cepeda Gabriel , Cegarra-Navarro Juan-Gabriel
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of sustainable fashion knowledge in shaping individual sustainable responsibility within the dynamic landscape of the fashion industry from a novel perspective, by exploring the intricate interplay between sustainable fashion knowledge, emotional and spiritual sustainable capacities.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was used, and a causal model with partial least squares structural equation modeling was developed. A total of 211 valid responses were obtained, and data were analysed to confirm the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings confirm the positive impact of sustainable fashion knowledge on individual sustainable responsibility, mediated by both spiritual and emotional sustainable capacities. This study underscores the significance of individuals in influencing societal norms, prompting fashion companies to adopt sustainable practices.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed conceptual framework integrates insights from the emotional and spiritual knowledge dynamics. This study uncovers the pathways through which individuals contribute to a more sustainable society.

Originality/value

The study not only advances the understanding of sustainable fashion practices but also provides actionable insights for policymakers, businesses and individuals seeking to foster a culture of sustainability in the fashion ecosystem.
Entrepreneurial orientation and project portfolio success: the roles of digitalization and modularization
Authors: Zhai He , Bai Sijun , Guo Min
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study explores entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on project portfolio success in new product development projects, with the moderating effects of digitalization capability and modularization process.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample data of 204 firms was used to analyze the research hypotheses. This study adopted hierarchical regression to test the theoretical conceptual model incorporating EO, digitalization capability, modularization process, and project portfolio success.

Findings

These results indicate that EO positively affects project portfolio success. More importantly, digitalization capability and modularization process positively moderate the relationship between EO and project portfolio success.

Originality/value

Prominent studies have focused on different antecedent and consequence factors of project portfolio success; however, the impacts of EO still need to be noticed. This study makes a pioneering effort to make up this gap and investigate the effects of EO on project portfolio success, digitalization capability, and modularization process as moderators, which can enrich the current literature on project portfolio management.
Can virtual streamers replace human streamers? The interactive effect of streamer type and product type on purchase intention
Authors: Yan Rui , Tang Zhen , Liu Dewen
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Digitally driven virtual streamers are increasingly utilized in live-streaming commerce, possessing distinct advantages compared to human streamers. However, the applicable scenarios of virtual streamers are still unclear. Focusing on product attribute variances, this paper compares the livestreaming effects of virtual and human streamers to clarify the applicable scenarios for each and assist companies in strategically choosing suitable streamers.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted four experiments utilizing both images and video as stimulus materials, and each experiment employed different products. To test the proposed model, a total of 1,068 valid participants were recruited, encompassing a diverse group of individuals, including undergraduates and employed workers.

Findings

The results indicate no significant difference between virtual and human streamers in increasing consumers’ purchase intention for utilitarian products. In contrast, human streamers are more effective in enhancing consumer purchase intention for hedonic products, with a mediating role of mental imagery quality. Consumers’ implicit personality variances also influence their willingness to accept virtual streamers.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to compare the effects of virtual and human streamers in promoting different products to enhance our comprehension of virtual streamers. Given the potential risks associated with human streamers, a comprehensive understanding of the role of virtual streamers is imperative for brands when deploying live-streaming commerce activities.
Capturing methane with recombinant soluble methane monooxygenase and recombinant methyl‐coenzyme M reductase
Authors: Sanchez‐Torres Viviana , Wood Thomas K.
Published: August 2024

Methane capture via oxidation is considered one of the ‘Holy Grails’ of catalysis (Tucci and Rosenzweig, 2024). Methane is also a primary greenhouse gas that has to be reduced by 1.2 billion metric tonnes in 10 years to decrease global warming by only 0.23°C (He and Lidstrom, 2024); hence, new technologies are needed to reduce atmospheric methane levels. In Nature, methane is captured aerobically by methanotrophs and anaerobically by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea; however, the anaerobic process dominates. Here, we describe the history and potential of using the two remarkable enzymes that have been cloned with activity for capturing methane: aerobic capture via soluble methane monooxygenase and anaerobic capture via methyl‐coenzyme M reductase. We suggest these two enzymes may play a prominent, sustainable role in addressing our current global warming crisis.
Piroxicam and paracetamol in the prevention of early recurrent pain and emergency department readmission after renal colic: Randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Jaballah Rahma , Toumia Marwa , Youssef Rym , Ali Khaoula Bel Haj , Bakir Arij , Sassi Sarra , Yaakoubi Hajer , Kouraichi Cyrine , Dhaoui Randa , Sekma Adel , Zorgati Asma , Beltaief Kaouthar , Mezgar Zied , Khrouf Mariem , Bouida Wahid , Grissa Mohamed Habib , Saad Jamel , Boubaker Hamdi , Boukef Riadh , Msolli Mohamed Amine , Nouira Semir
Published: August 2024

Objective

Renal colic (RC) is a common urologic emergency often leading to significant pain and recurrent hospital visits. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of piroxicam versus paracetamol in preventing pain recurrence and hospital readmission in patients treated for RC and discharged from the emergency department (ED).

Methods

A prospective, randomized, single‐blind trial was conducted in four EDs. Eligible adults with RC were randomized to receive oral piroxicam, paracetamol, or placebo for 5 days post–ED discharge. Primary outcomes included pain recurrence and ED readmission within 7 days. Secondary outcomes included time to recurrence and treatment‐related side effects.

Results

Of 1383 enrolled patients, no significant differences were observed among the groups regarding baseline characteristics. Pain recurrence rates within 7 days were 29% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.9%–33.2%) for piroxicam, 30.3% (95% CI 26.1%–34.5%) for paracetamol, and 30.8% (95% CI 26.6%–35.0%) for placebo, with no significant between‐group differences (p = 0.84). Among patients experiencing recurrence, the majority encounter it within the initial 2 days following their discharge (86% in the piroxicam group, 84.1% in the paracetamol group, and 86% in the placebo group, respectively). ED readmission rates were similar across groups: 20.8% (95% CI 17.1%–24.5%) in the piroxicam group, 23.8% (95% CI 19.9%–27.7%) in the paracetamol group, and 22.9% (95% CI 19.1%–26.8%) in the placebo group (p = 0.52). The piroxicam group reported significantly higher adverse effects compared to others.

Conclusions

Piroxicam and paracetamol did not demonstrate efficacy in preventing pain recurrence or ED readmission within the first week following RC treatment.
Minimally invasive guided endodontic microsurgery with Zekrya bur: A 48‐month follow‐up case report
Authors: Maia Lucas Moreira , Júnior Gil Moreira , Silva Nelson Renato França Alves , Machado Vinícius de Carvalho , Marquiore Larissa Fassarela , Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal , Sobrinho Antônio Paulino Ribeiro , Tavares Warley Luciano Fonseca
Published: August 2024

Endodontic microsurgery guided by navigation systems represents a precise and minimally invasive approach for retreatment of apical periodontitis following failed conventional endodontic therapy. Accurate localization and minimal access to the root apex are paramount for successful outcomes and preservation of anatomical structures. Workflow considerations, such as three‐dimensional (3D) virtual planning and endodontic guidance represent new crucial aspects for addressing complex cases. This clinical case report presents the successful reintervention of a complex case using a Zekrya bur, operative microscopy, cone beam computed tomography and biocompatible materials. After a 48‐month follow‐up, complete healing of the treated area was observed. This minimally invasive technique, employing a simple instrument widely available globally, underscores the potential for efficient and predictable outcomes in complex endodontic microsurgical retreatment.
Chapter 8. Isotopic evidence for protohistoric field locations in northeastern Illinois
Authors: Schurr Mark R. , McLeester Madeleine
Published: August 2024

In the western Great Lakes region of the United States, late prehistoric and early historic Indigenous fields are often difficult to investigate because their archaeological signatures are faint and easily destroyed. They have been identified largely via rare remnants of raised fields and historical records. With the majority of Indigenous fields destroyed, important aspects of cultivation remain ambiguous, especially the ecology of cultivated areas. In addition to archaeological indicators of field location, the choice of specific environmental settings (prairie, wetland, upland forest, etc.) can be encoded in the stable isotope ratios of cultigens. Stable carbon‐ and nitrogen‐isotope ratios of maize kernels and wood charcoal from the Middle Grant Creek site (11WI2739), an early 17th century village in northeastern Illinois, are used to better understand agricultural practices during one of the coldest periods of the Little Ice Age.
Chapter 11. Finding fields: Concluding remarks
Authors: Miller Naomi F.
Published: August 2024

Ancient agricultural landscapes are increasingly recognized as a vital subject of archaeological inquiry, the study of which requires methods and approaches of the social and natural sciences as well as the humanities. This chapter identifies three recurring themes addressed variously in the contributions to this volume that demonstrate the broad relevance of agricultural landscapes to an understanding of ancient society: globalization and hierarchy, niche construction, and memory embedded in agricultural practice and material traces of ancient fields.
Chapter 2. Stone by stone: Women's quotidian farm labor and the construction of the Khutwaneng farmscape in Bokoni, South Africa
Authors: Schoeman Alex
Published: August 2024

The ruins of stone‐walled towns, villages, and homesteads mark the residential nodes of Bokoni, a polity that thrived in northeastern South Africa from the late 15th to the early 19th century and extended over about 30 000 km2. These residential structures are generally observable on aerial photographs and satellite imagery, but with a few exceptions, the terraced gardens and fields are less visible. Lidar data from one of Bokoni's towns—Khutwaneng—has made finding the fields easier. In this 17th to early 19th‐century town, all homesteads have adjacent terraced gardens or fields, irrespective of whether they are well‐established or newly built. Lidar imagery of terraces that were being built in newly established homesteads supports the view that most terraces grew over time and were the result of quotidian actions by farmers. The pervasiveness of terraces throughout the town suggests that urban farming was an entrenched component of Bokoni's urban life. In southern Africa, daily farming duties were historically performed by women, and it is likely that this was also the case in Bokoni. Understanding the terraces as the product of women's quotidian labor allows for reflection on the role that women and their actions as farmers played in shaping the Khutwaneng farmscape, and it in shaping them.