bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of chemosensing and carbon catabolite repression impacts fungal enzyme regulation and plant associations
Authors: Hinterdobler Wolfgang , Li Guofen , Turrà David , Schalamun Miriam , Kindel Stefanie , Sauer Ursula , Beier Sabrina , Iglesias Aroa Rodriguez , Compant Stéphane , Vitale Stefania , Pietro Antonio Di , Schmoll Monika
Published: May 2021

Fungal metabolism and enzyme production are regulated by nutrient availability and by interactions with the living environment. We investigated the mechanisms underpinning adaptation of the biotechnological fungusTrichoderma reeseito decaying plant biomass versus living plants. We found that concentration-gated response to glucose, the main molecule sensed from dead plant biomass, is mediated by a conserved signaling pathway downstream of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), while the carbon catabolite repressor CRE1 is critical for glucose concentration gating. The GPCRs CSG1 and CSG2 are further required for root colonization and formation of appressorium like structures on plant surfaces. Acceleration of sexual development in the presence of plant roots and their interactions with fruiting bodies indicates preferential association with plants. Our results reveal a complex sensing network governing resource distribution, enzyme production and fungal development that explains previously observed phenomena in fermentations and opens new perspectives for industrial strain improvement and agriculture.
GIV/Girdin, a Non-receptor Modulator for Gαi/s, Regulates Spatiotemporal Signaling during Sperm Capacitation and is Required for Male Fertility
Authors: Reynoso Sequoyah , Castillo Vanessa , Katkar Gajanan D. , Lopez-Sanchez Inmaculada , Taheri Sahar , Espinoza Celia R. , Rohena Christina , Sahoo Debashis , Gagneux Pascal , Ghosh Pradipta
Published: May 2021

For a sperm to successfully fertilize an egg, it must first undergo capacitation in the female reproductive tract, and later undergo acrosomal reaction (AR) upon encountering an egg surrounded by its vestment. How premature AR is avoided despite rapid surges in signaling cascades during capacitation remains unknown. Using a combination of KO mice and cell-penetrating peptides, we show that GIV (CCDC88A), a guanine nucleotide-exchange modulator (GEM) for trimeric GTPases, is highly expressed in spermatocytes and is required for male fertility. GIV is rapidly phosphoregulated on key tyrosine and serine residues in human and murine spermatozoa. These phosphomodifications enable GIV-GEM to orchestrate two distinct compartmentalized signaling programs in the sperm tail and head; in the tail, GIV enhances PI3K→ Akt signals, sperm motility and survival, whereas in the head it inhibits cAMP surge and premature AR. Furthermore, GIV transcripts are downregulated in the testis and semen of infertile men. These findings exemplify the spatiotemporally segregated signaling programs that support sperm capacitation and shed light on a hitherto unforeseen cause of infertility in men.

GRAPHIC ABSTRACT

HIGHLIGHTS

GIV is highly expressed in spermatozoa, and is required for male fertility

GIV is rapidly phosphoregulated during sperm capacitation

It enhances tyrosine-based signals in sperm tail, enhances motility

It suppresses cAMP in the sperm head, inhibits premature acrosome exocytosis
An Analysis of gRNA Sequence Dependent Cleavage Highlights the Importance of Genomic Context on CRISPR-Cas Activity
Authors: Moreb E.A , Lynch M.D.
Published: May 2021

CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful DNA editing tool. A gRNA directs Cas9 to cleave any DNA sequence with a PAM. However, some gRNA sequences mediate cleavage at higher efficiencies than others. To understand this, numerous studies have screened large gRNA libraries and developed algorithms to predict gRNA sequence dependent activity. These algorithms do not predict other datasets as well as their training dataset and do not predict well between species. To better understand these discrepancies, we retrospectively examine sequence features that impact gRNA activity in 39 published data sets. We find strong evidence that the genomic context, which can be defined as the DNA content outside of the gRNA/target sequence itself, greatly contributes to differences in gRNA dependent activity. Context underlies variation in activity often attributed to differences in gRNA sequence. This understanding will help guide future work to understand Cas9 activity as well as efforts to identify optimal gRNAs and improve Cas9 variants.

Highlights

Species-specific genomic context drives variability in gRNA activity in a PAM proximal sequence-dependent manner

Increased PAM specificity of Cas9 and/or increased Cas9/gRNA expression reduces the impact of species-specific context

Current gRNA prediction algorithms trained on species are not expected to predict activity in another species
Monoallelic antigen expression in trypanosomes requires a stage-specific transcription activator
Authors: Escobar Lara Lopez , Hänisch Benjamin , Halliday Clare , Dean Samuel , Sunter Jack Daniel , Wheeler Richard John , Gull Keith
Published: May 2021

Monoallelic expression of a single gene family member underpins a molecular “arms race” between many pathogens and their host, through host monoallelic immunoglobulin and pathogen monoallelic antigen expression. InTrypanosoma brucei, a single, abundant, variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) covers the entire surface of the bloodstream parasite1and monoallelic VSG transcription underpins their archetypal example of antigenic variation. It is vital for pathogenicity, only occurring in mammalian infectious forms1. Transcription of one VSG gene is achieved by RNA polymerase I (Pol I)2in a singular nuclear structure: the expression site body (ESB)3. How monoallelic expression of the single VSG is achieved is incompletely understood and no specific ESB components are known. Here, using a protein localisation screen in bloodstream parasites, we discovered the first ESB-specific protein: ESB1. It is specific to VSG-expressing life cycle stages where it is necessary for VSG expression, and its overexpression activates inactive VSG promoters. This showed monoallelic VSG transcription requires a stage-specific activator. Furthermore, ESB1 is necessary for Pol I recruitment to the ESB, however transcript processing and inactive VSG gene exclusion ESB sub-domains do not require ESB1. This shows that the cellular solution for monoallelic transcription is a complex factory of functionally distinct and separably assembled sub-domains.
Physiological and genetic analysis of tomato from two cultivars differing in potassium deficiency resistance
Authors: Wang Xi , Zhang Honghui , Li Tianlai , Liu Xin , Jiang Jing
Published: May 2021

Potassium (K) is one of the essential nutrients for tomato. Potassium deficiency will limit tomato growth and yield. So improving the low-K+(LK) resistance of tomato seems important. Two tomato cultivars (JZ18 and JZ34) differing in LK resistance were obtained to analyze the plant demonstration difference under LK treatment. According to the results, JZ34 showed lower accumulation of ROS, less membrane damage and higher antioxidant enzyme activity after LK treatment. Besides, JZ34 also keeps higher K+/Na+content, higher Ca2+and Mg2+content than JZ18 in both shoots and roots. Our genetic analysis revealed that the two additive-dominance-epistasis major genes plus additive-dominance polygene genetic model (E-1) was the optimum model associated with LK resistance based on root trait. The major QTL intervals were finally obtained by the bulked segregant sequencing (BSA-seq) analysis, which were 2.38 Mb at the end of chromosome 4 and 1.38 Mb at the chromosome 6. This is consistent with the analysis of the genetic model. A total of 8 genes were selected in the two candidate regions, which exhibited close related to ion and antioxidant signaling. These findings provided the inheritance pattern and foundation for further molecular mechanisms study of tomato LK resistance.
Single Cell Atlas of Human Putamen Reveals Disease Specific Changes in Synucleinopathies: Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Pande Rahul , Huang Yinyin , Teeple Erin , Joshi Pooja , Flores-Morales Amilcar , Latta-Mahieu Martine , Sardi S. Pablo , Cedazo-Minguez Angel , Klinger Katherine W. , Madden Stephen L. , Rajpal Deepak , Kumar Dinesh
Published: May 2021

Understanding disease biology at a cellular level from disease specific tissues is imperative for effective drug development for complex neurodegenerative diseases. We profiled 87,086 nuclei from putamen tissue of healthy controls, Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) subjects to construct a comprehensive single cell atlas. Although both PD and MSA are manifestations of α-synuclein protein aggregation, we observed that both the diseases have distinct cell-type specific changes. We see a possible expansion and activation of microglia and astrocytes in PD compared to MSA and controls. Contrary to PD microglia, we found absence of upregulated unfolded protein response in MSA microglia compared to controls. Differentially expressed genes in major cell types are enriched for genes associated with PD-GWAS loci. We found altered expression of major neurodegeneration associated genes — SNCA, MAPT, LRRK2, and APP — at cell-type resolution. We also identified disease associated gene modules using a network biology approach. Overall, this study creates an interactive atlas from synucleinopathies and provides major cell-type specific disease insights.

Link to interactive atlas will be made available at the time of publication.
A simple hierarchical model for heterogeneity in the evolutionary correlation on a phylogenetic tree
Authors: Revell Liam J. , Toyama Ken S. , Mahler D. Luke
Published: May 2021

Numerous questions in phylogenetic comparative biology revolve around the correlated evolution of two or more phenotypic traits on a phylogeny. In many cases, it may be sufficient to assume a constant value for the evolutionary correlation between characters across all the clades and branches of the tree. Under other circumstances, however, it is desirable or necessary to account for the possibility that the evolutionary correlation differs through time or in different sections of the phylogeny. Here, we present a method designed to fit a hierarchical series of models for heterogeneity in the evolutionary rates and correlation of two quantitative traits on a phylogenetic tree. We apply the method to two datasets: one for different attributes of the buccal morphology in sunfishes (Centrarchidae); and a second for overall body length and relative body depth in rock- and non-rock-dwelling South American iguanian lizards. We also examine the performance of the method for parameter estimation and model selection using a small set of numerical simulations.
Endothelial Unc5B controls blood-brain barrier integrity
Authors: Boyé Kevin , Geraldo Luiz Henrique , Furtado Jessica , Pibouin-Fragner Laurence , Poulet Mathilde , Kim Doyeun , Nelson Bryce , Xu Yunling , Jacob Laurent , Maissa Nawal , Tavitian Bertrand , Agalliu Dritan , Claesson-Welsh Lena , Ackerman Susan L , Eichmann Anne
Published: May 2021

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is critical for proper function of the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we showed that the endothelial Netrin1 receptor Unc5B controls BBB integrity by maintaining Wnt/β–catenin signaling. Inducible endothelial-specific deletion of Unc5B in adult mice led to region and size-selective BBB opening. Loss of Unc5B decreased BBB Wnt/β–catenin signaling, and β–catenin overexpression rescuedUnc5Bmutant BBB defects. Mechanistically, Netrin1 enhanced Unc5B interaction with the Wnt co-receptor LRP6, induced its phosphorylation and activated Wnt/β–catenin downstream signaling. Intravenous delivery of antibodies blocking Netrin1 binding to Unc5B caused a transient disruption of Wnt signaling and BBB breakdown, followed by neurovascular barrier resealing. These data identify Netrin-Unc5B signaling as a novel regulator of BBB integrity with potential therapeutic utility for CNS diseases.
Comprehensive analyses of RNA-seq and genome-wide data point to enrichment of neuronal cell type subsets in neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Olislagers M , Rademaker K , Adan RAH , Lin BD , Luykx JJ
Published: May 2021

Neurological and psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders share a range of symptoms, which could be the result of shared genetic background. Many genetic loci have been identified for these disorders using genome-wide association studies, but conclusive evidence about cell types wherein these loci are active is lacking. We aimed to uncover implicated brain cell types in neuropsychiatric traits and to assess consistency in results across RNA datasets and methods. We therefore comprehensively employed cell-type enrichment methods by integrating single-cell transcriptomic data from mouse brain regions with an unprecedented dataset of 42 human genome-wide association study results of neuropsychiatric, substance use and behavioral/quantitative brain-related traits (n=12,544,007 individuals). Single-cell transcriptomic datasets from the Karolinska Institute and the 10x Genomics dataset were used. Cell type enrichment was determined using Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression, Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation, and Data-driven Expression Prioritized Integration for Complex Traits. We found the largest degree of consistency across methods for implication of pyramidal cells in schizophrenia and cognitive performance. For other phenotypes, such as bipolar disorder, two methods implicated the same cell types, i.e. medium spiny neurons and pyramidal cells. For autism spectrum disorders and anorexia nervosa, no consistency in implicated cell types was observed across methods. We found no evidence for astrocytes being consistently implicated in neuropsychiatric traits. In conclusion, we provide comprehensive evidence for a subset of neuronal cell types being consistently implicated in several, but not all psychiatric disorders, while non-neuronal cell types seem less implicated.
Decoding the silence: Neural bases of zero pronoun resolution in Chinese
Authors: Zhang Shulin , Li Jixing , Yang Yiming , Hale John
Published: May 2021

Chinese is one of many languages that can drop subjects. We report an fMRI study of language comprehension processes in these “zero pronoun” cases. The fMRI data come from Chinese speakers who listened to an audiobook. We conducted both univariate GLM and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) on these data time-locked to each verb with a zero pronoun subject. We found increased left middle temporal gyrus activity for zero pronouns compared to overt subjects, suggesting additional effort searching for an antecedent during zero pronoun resolution. MVPA further revealed that the intended referent of a zero pronoun seems to be physically represented in the Precuneus and the Parahippocampal Gyrus shortly after its presentation. This highlights the role of memory and discourse-level processing in resolving referential expressions, including unspoken ones, in naturalistic language comprehension.
Genome-wide admixture mapping of eGFR and CKD identify European and African ancestry-of-origin loci in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos
Authors: Horimoto Andrea R.V.R. , Cai Jianwen , Lash James P. , Daviglus Martha L. , Franceschini Nora , Thornton Timothy A.
Published: May 2021

Background

Admixture mapping is a powerful approach for gene mapping of complex traits that leverages the diverse genetic ancestry in populations with recent admixture such as U.S. Hispanics/Latinos (HL), who have increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

Genome-wide admixture mapping was performed for CKD and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a sample of 12,601 participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, with validation in a sample of 8191 African Americans from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).

Results

Three novel ancestry-of-origin loci were identified on chromosomes 2, 14 and 15 for CKD and eGFR. The chromosome 2 locus (2p16.3) consisted of two European ancestry regions encompassing theFSHRandNRXN1genes, with European ancestry at this locus associated with increased risk for CKD. The chromosome 14 locus (14q32.2) located within theDLK1-DIO3imprinted domain was driven by European ancestry, and was associated with lower eGFR. The chromosome 15 locus (15q13.3-14) included intronic variants ofRYR3and was within an African-specific genomic region that was associated with higher eGFR. These findings were compared to the conventional genome-wide association study that failed to identify significant associations in these regions. We validated the chromosome 14 and 15 loci for eGFR in the WHI African Americans.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of shared ancestry-specific genomic regions influencing eGFR in HL and African Americans, and illustrates the potential for leveraging genetic ancestry in recently admixed populations for novel discovery of kidney trait loci.
Harnessing changes in open chromatin determined by ATAC-seq to generate insulin-responsive reporter constructs
Authors: Merrill Collin B. , Montgomery Austin B. , Pabon Miguel A. , Rodan Aylin R. , Rothenfluh Adrian
Published: May 2021

Background

Gene regulation is critical for proper cellular function. Next-generation sequencing technology has revealed the presence of regulatory networks that regulate gene expression and essential cellular functions. Studies investigating the epigenome have begun to uncover the complex mechanisms regulating transcription. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing (ATAC-seq) is quickly becoming the assay of choice for many epigenomic investigations. However, whether intervention-mediated changes in accessible chromatin determined by ATAC-seq can be harnessed to generate intervention-inducible reporter constructs has not been systematically assayed.

Results

We used the insulin signaling pathway as a model to investigate chromatin regions and gene expression changes using ATAC- and RNA-seq in insulin-treatedDrosophilaS2 cells. We found correlations between ATAC- and RNA-seq data, especially when stratifying differentially-accessible chromatin regions by annotated feature type. In particular, our data demonstrated a strong correlation between chromatin regions annotated to distal promoters (1-2 kb from the transcription start site) and downstream gene expression. We cloned candidate distal promoter regions upstream of luciferase and demonstrate insulin-inducibility of several of these reporters.

Conclusions

Insulin-induced chromatin accessibility determined by ATAC-seq reveals enhancer regions that drive insulin-inducible reporter gene expression.
Evaluation of a multi-species SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test
Authors: Embregts Carmen W.E. , Verstrepen Babs , Langermans Jan A.M. , Böszörményi Kinga P. , Sikkema Reina S. , de Vries Rory D. , Hoffmann Donata , Wernike Kerstin , Smit Lidwien A.M. , Zhao Shan , Rockx Barry , Koopmans Marion P.G. , Haagmans Bart L. , Kuiken Thijs , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H.
Published: May 2021

Assays to measure SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies are important to monitor seroprevalence, to study asymptomatic infections and to reveal (intermediate) hosts. A recently developed assay, the surrogate virus-neutralization test (sVNT) is a quick and commercially available alternative to the “gold standard” virus neutralization assay using authentic virus, and does not require processing at BSL-3 level. The assay relies on the inhibition of binding of the receptor binding domain (RBD) on the spike (S) protein to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) by antibodies present in sera. As the sVNT does not require species- or isotype-specific conjugates, it can be similarly used for antibody detection in human and animal sera. In this study, we used 298 sera from PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients and 151 sera from patients confirmed with other coronavirus or other (respiratory) infections, to evaluate the performance of the sVNT. To analyze the use of the assay in a One Health setting, we studied the presence of RBD-binding antibodies in 154 sera from nine animal species (cynomolgus and rhesus macaques, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, cats, cattle, mink and dromedary camels). The sVNT showed a moderate to high sensitivity and a high specificity using sera from confirmed COVID-19 patients (91.3% and 100%, respectively) and animal sera (93.9% and 100%), however it lacked sensitivity to detect low titers. Significant correlations were found between the sVNT outcomes and PRNT50 and the Wantai total Ig and IgM ELISAs. While species-specific validation will be essential, our results show that the sVNT holds promise in detecting RBD-binding antibodies in multiple species.
Frontostriatal Functional Connectivity Underlies Self-Enhancement During Social Evaluation
Authors: Parrish Michael H. , Dutcher Janine M. , Muscatell Keely A. , Inagaki Tristen K. , Moieni Mona , Irwin Michael R. , Eisenberger Naomi I.
Published: May 2021

Self-enhancement, the tendency to view oneself positively, is a pervasive social motive widely investigated in social and personality psychology. Despite research on the topic over the past several decades, relatively little is known about the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this motive, specifically in social evaluative situations. To investigate whether positive emotion regulation circuitry, neural circuitry involved in modulating positive affect, relates to the operation of the self-enhancement motive in social contexts, we conducted an fMRI study in a sample of healthy young adults. We hypothesized that self-enhancement indices (state, trait self-esteem) relate to greater positive functional connectivity between right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (RVLPFC), a neural region implicated in emotion regulation, and the ventral striatum (VS), a region associated with reward-related affect, during a social feedback task. Following social-evaluative feedback, participants maintained stable self-esteem or experienced a drop in state self-esteem. We found stable state self-esteem and higher trait self-esteem related to greater positive connectivity in RVLFPC-VS circuitry during receipt of positive (vs. neutral) feedback. These findings implicate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying emotion regulation in the functioning of the self-enhancement motive and highlight a pathway through which self-enhancement may restore feelings of self-worth during threatening circumstances.
CFD simulation of engine nacelle cooling on pusher configuration aircraft
Authors: Olejnik Aleksander , Dziubiński Adam , Kiszkowiak Łukasz
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to simulate with in-depth reconstruction of existing geometry a process of cooling of the aircraft engine in pusher configuration, which is more problematic than usually used, tractor configuration. Moreover, a complex thermal and fluid flow analysis is necessary to verify that an adequate cooling is ensured and that temperatures in the engine nacelle are maintained within the operating limits.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodology used in this research is based on computational fluid dynamics tools to model adequately the internal and the external flow, to find the state of cooling system and research the results of baffles modification inside the engine cover. Additionally, two types of the cover with different sizes of inlets and outlets are tested.

Findings

The results showed the influence of baffles modifications and changes in inlets and outlet sizes on the mass flow rate and temperature distributions inside the engine nacelle. The best configuration of air inlets and outlets was determined.

Practical implications

The method used in the research is the safest method in testing of such cases, provided the proper approach in modeling is taken. The collaboration of internal and external flow is crucial and should not be replaced with assumed flow rate through inlet and outlet area. The obtained results will help in future studies on cooling systems of engines in pusher configuration.

Originality/value

The work presents original results obtained by the authors during a complex fluid flow and heat transmission analysis and is a part of the design project of the OSA patrol aircraft.
Facilitating campus interactions – critical success factors according to university facility directors
Authors: Jansz Sascha Naomi , van Dijk Terry , Mobach Mark P.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate which critical success factors (CSFs) influence interaction on campuses as identified by the facility directors (FDs) of Dutch university campuses and to discuss how these compare with the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

All 13 Dutch university campus FDs were interviewed (office and walking interview), focussing on CSFs relating to spaces and services that facilitate interaction. Open coding and thematic analysis resulted in empirically driven categories indicated by the respondents. Similarities and differences between the CSFs as previously identified in the literature are discussed.

Findings

The following categories emerged: constraints, motivators, designing spaces, designing services, building community and creating coherence. The campus is seen as a system containing subsystems and is itself part of a wider system (environment), forming a layered structure. Constraints and motivators are part of the environment but cannot be separated from the other four categories, as they influence their applicability.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to interviews with FDs and related staff. The richness of the findings shows that this was a relevant and efficient data collection strategy for the purpose of this study.

Practical implications

By viewing the campus as an open system, this study puts the practical applicability of CSFs into perspective yet provides a clear overview of CSFs related to campus interaction that may be included in future campus design policies.

Social implications

This (more) complete overview of CSFs identified in both literature and practice will help FDs, policymakers and campus designers to apply these CSFs in their campus designs. This improved campus design would increase the number of knowledge sharing interactions, contributing to innovation and valorisation. This could create a significant impact in all research fields, such as health, technology or well-being, benefitting society as a whole.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive overview and comparison of CSFs from both literature and practice, allowing more effective application of CSFs in campus design policies. A framework for future studies on CSFs for interaction on campuses is provided.
The role of organizational factors in how efficiency-thoroughness trade-offs potentially affect clinical quality dimensions – a review of the literature
Authors: Glette Malin Knutsen , Wiig Siri
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase knowledge of the role organizational factors have in how health personnel make efficiency-thoroughness trade-offs, and how these trade-offs potentially affect clinical quality dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a thematic synthesis of the literature concerning health personnel working in clinical, somatic healthcare services, organizational factors and clinical quality.

Findings

Identified organizational factors imposing trade-offs were high workload, time limits, inappropriate staffing and limited resources. The trade-offs done by health personnel were often trade-offs weighing thoroughness (e.g. providing extra handovers or working additional hours) in an environment weighing efficiency (e.g. ward routines of having one single handover and work-hour regulations limiting physicians' work hours). In this context, the health personnel functioned as regulators, balancing efficiency and thoroughness and ensuring patient safety and patient centeredness. However, sometimes organizational factors limited health personnel's flexibility in weighing these aspects, leading to breached medication rules, skipped opportunities for safety debriefings and patients being excluded from medication reviews.

Originality/value

Balancing resources and healthcare demands while maintaining healthcare quality is a large part of health personnel's daily work, and organizational factors are suspected to affect this balancing act. Yet, there is limited research on this subject. With the expected aging of the population and the subsequent pressure on healthcare services' resources, the balancing between efficiency and thoroughness will become crucial in handling increased healthcare demands, while maintaining high-quality care.
COVID-19 induced impact on informal migrants in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Authors: Sohel Md. Salman , Hossain Babul , Alam Md. Kausar , Shi Guoqing , Shabbir Rubaiyat , Sifullah Md. Khaled , Mamy Most. Monowara Begum
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study intends to explore the impact of occupation and income on informal migrants in the face of COVID-19 induced lockdown in Bangladesh and their coping strategies to survive the pandemic situation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a qualitative research design in which four urban areas were chosen purposively from various parts of Dhaka city. The authors conducted 21 semi-structured in-depth interviews, four FGDs and eight months over participant observation for achieving study objectives. The four stages of data analysis used a thematic approach in the interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Findings

The results showed that respondents were massively affected due to loss of income and occupation in the period of induced lockdown. Besides, most people lost their earning sources entirely in this amid pandemic which bound them starvation in the mealtime along with several dynamic complications. The findings also revealed that they followed some surviving strategies such as taking loans, reducing expenses, consuming less food, selling land, jewelry, and goods, relatives and neighbor support, and government relief. Although these strategies somewhat supported them to struggle with the situation, their livelihood features became fragile immensely.

Research limitations/implications

The findings will be an important guiding principle for the policymakers, aid organizations and development practitioners to prepare development policies for vulnerable informal migrants in developing countries like Bangladesh.

Originality/value

This is the first study that explores the informal migrants’ occupation and income during COVID-19 induced lockdown in Bangladesh. This research also highlights coping strategies of the informal migrants to survive the pandemic situation.
An option embedded novel military service system based on cognitive bias theories
Authors: Kang Hyoung-Goo , Han Byungsuk
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to hypothesize that cognitive biases such as nostalgia, rosy retrospection, overconfidence, fading-affect bias and prospect theory affect how to serve in the military. The behaviors of those expecting military service and those who have completed the service differ significantly in evaluating the self and social value of the human capital during the military service. This difference corresponds to the predictions of the cognitive-bias literature. The authors test propositions in option framework. This study’s experimental design proposes a novel military system, a hybrid of conscription and voluntary systems. This study’s results are consistent with the hypothesis, option theory and behavioral economics literature.
Green bonds: a survey
Authors: Cheong Chiyoung , Choi Jaewon
Published: May 2021

This paper is a survey of recent academic developments in the literature on green bonds, which have become an important financial instrument in socially responsible investment. This study provides a review of papers that study the market pricing of green bonds, the economic and environmental effects of green bond financing, as well as legal and institutional issues in the green bond market. The literature on market pricing focuses mainly on the existence of greenium, which represents the extent to which green bonds carry a price premium over otherwise identical non-green counterparts. The literature on the economic and environmental effects mainly concerns stock market reaction to green bond issuance and associated economic value implications to other stakeholders, as well as investment in green projects. This paper discusses current issues in the green-bond market and avenues for future research.
The role of human capital in the foreign market performance of US SMEs: does owner ethnicity matter?
Authors: Ardito Lorenzo , D'Angelo Viviana , Petruzzelli Antonio Messeni , Peruffo Enzo
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper adopts an intellectual capital perspective to investigate the role of owners who are ethnic minorities in the foreign market expansion performance of SMEs, and in particular considers the human capital dimension of intellectual capital.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the empirical investigation of a sample of 10,326 small- and medium-sized US high-tech manufacturing enterprises, the authors’ results reveal a positive relationship between the number of foreign markets where these SMEs operate and their financial performance, and that this effect is reinforced by the presence of ethnic minority owners, as ethnic minorities constitute a valuable source of intellectual capital which bring value to firms.

Findings

The authors’ findings reveal the importance of intellectual capital in an SME’s leadership position, specifically in terms of having individuals from normally disadvantaged groups as owners. In this sense, policymakers are crucial in supporting the inclusion of ethnic minorities in SME ownership, through advantageous treatment in firms, for example.

Practical implications

The study presents practical implications for managers seeking foreign market expansion. In addition, when defining ownership structure (e.g., in the start-up phase), the role of human capital, in the form of ethnic minorities, should not be neglected, especially if an SME intends to operate or is already operating in different national contexts.

Originality/value

The authors’ results provide important insights into the positive effect of human capital on SME foreign market performance. The idea of a moderating role played by owners from ethnic minorities suggested here contributes to the literature on human capital and is one of the first attempts to consider this moderating factor in this relationship, especially in the SME context.
Engaging users in the sharing economy: individual and collective psychological ownership as antecedents to actor engagement
Authors: Baker Jonathan J. , Kearney Treasa , Laud Gaurangi , Holmlund Maria
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This conceptual study explicates the dynamic, interlinked relationship between two of the most popular theories in marketing today: psychological ownership (PO) and engagement. The study is set in the sharing economy (SE), where platform business success depends on high levels of engagement by users, both individuals and collectives. The study argues individual PO (iPO) acts as the antecedent to engagement within a dyad of brand and user, and collective PO (cPO) as the antecedent to collective engagement by communities of users.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual study synthesizes PO theory and engagement theory to produce a PO–engagement framework. The authors adopt a dual-level perspective encompassing individual- and group-level phenomena in the SE and employ examples from practice to illustrate their arguments.

Findings

PO acts as the antecedent to the positively valenced disposition and engagement activities of actors in the SE. iPO manifests as engagement within a dyad of brand and user. Outcomes include brand love and contributions to brand reputation and service offerings. Collective PO manifests as engagement within a community or collective. Outcomes include community-oriented peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing for the benefit of others.

Originality/value

This study offers a dynamic framework of PO and engagement in the SE, the PO–engagement framework. The authors contribute to PO and engagement literature studies in marketing by illustrating how a platform user's attachment to targets in the SE motivates emergence of PO, and how different types of engagement manifest from different types of PO.
Performance management problem of four small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): towards a performance resolution
Authors: Mendy John
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the underperformance problem of four UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from management's and employees' perspectives in order to advance knowledge on a neglected area in small business and management studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on performance management's theoretical frame of managerial/entrepreneurial, market shaping and system-wide resource (re)organisation and the microstories obtained from 85 surveyed employees and managers, the data are analysed using an interpretivist paradigm.

Findings

The key findings of the study highlighted the adoption of tough performance implementation measures by management, the development of learning initiatives, the adaptation of roles, the redefinition of what a performing employee meant and three areas for performance improving in all four SMEs. This study reveals the crucial role of personal, conversational agency and implementation attributes, which are neglected aspects in current performance management in small firms.

Research limitations/implications

The drawbacks of the study centre on the limited nature of the survey sample and the fact that it is solely based within the UK. This suggests that the findings are not to be generalised to other contexts.

Practical implications

The study identifies key employee and management behaviours, attitudes and lived experiences that need to fundamentally change in order to resolve the four SMEs' underperformance. In addition, an innovative environment encouraging inter-departmental agency collaborations and grassroots implementation are needed to effectively and holistically revive the four companies' performance.

Social implications

The study's results highlight the impact of manager/entrepreneur/employee relations on the social aspects that could either facilitate or hamper micro- and macro-level performance. It is therefore critical that owner entrepreneurs are mindful of the impact that their actions/activities and practices could have on the social lives of their employees and partners and on the ultimate bottom line of business success or failure.

Originality/value

Studies focussing on small businesses' underperformance in the UK are a rarity. The paper advances the traditional performance management literature by proposing employee learning and skills' developmental as non-tangible resources to complement managerial attempts. In addition, a “can do” attitude and a more holistic, organisational and individual approach to performance resolution is proposed to fill the performance implementation and theoretical gap faced by academics, employees, managers and owner entrepreneurs.
Bridging employee curiosity and service creativity: a new lens
Authors: Tsai Kuen-Hung , Zheng Li-li
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study develops a framework to examine how, why and when different traits of employee curiosity affect service creativity by considering the roles of knowledge sharing and task autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach

To reduce common method bias, this work separated the variables investigated into three parts, each of which was randomly used to collect data at three different periods. A total of 822 matched questionnaires obtained from frontline employees of service firms provided useable data for hypothesis tests. A moderated mediation approach was employed to analyse the data.

Findings

Results are as follows: (1) Deprivation sensitivity, joyous exploration and social curiosity have positive effects on knowledge collecting (KC) and knowledge donating (KD). (2) KD mediates the relationships between the three curiosity traits and service creativity. (3) Task autonomy enhances and suppresses the mediating effects of KC and KD, respectively, on the curiosity–service creativity relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This study has two main research implications: First, as different types (traits) of employee curiosity have different effects on service creativity, a single-dimensional view of employee curiosity may mask the differences of individual dimension and lead to a oversimplified conclusion. Second, lifting the vein from employee curiosity to service creativity has to consider the roles of knowledge sharing and task autonomy.

Originality/value

This research is the first to contribute to the service innovation literature by revealing the underlying mechanisms through which different types of employee curiosity affect service creativity and uncovering the moderating roles of task autonomy in the process mechanisms.
Analyzing a community worker’s stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in China
Authors: Gui Ping , Ji Xiaotong , Mei Yanlan , Quan Zhicheng
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Community governance plays an important role in the prevention and control of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China. Community workers, the main executors in community governance, experience a huge amount of stress, which affects their physical and mental health. Thus, it is crucial to pay more attention to the stressors and stress responses of community workers and propose strategies to alleviate such responses. This paper aims to analyze the work stress of community workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a questionnaire survey of 602 community workers during COVID-19 in China, the four main stressors and 14 stress factors of community workers were identified and six factors at three levels of stress responses were defined. A stress analysis model is proposed that tests the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating role of organizational climate.

Findings

The results show that stressors influence stress responses through the moderating role of psychological capital, organizational climate plays a negative mediator role between stressors and psychological capital and the main stressors for community workers are work, safety and performance stress.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to existing research because it offers suggestions for reducing the impact of stress on the community workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, it can promote the control and prevention of the COVID-19.
What drives people's intention toward live stream broadcasting
Authors: Lin Guan-Yu , Wang Yi-Shun , Wang Yu-Min , Lee Meng-Hsuan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The study aims to examine the relationships among personality traits (i.e. the Big Five personality traits and locus of control), self-perceived facial attractiveness, motivations (i.e. intrinsic and extrinsic motivation) and intention toward live stream broadcasting. It also investigates the moderating role of perceived behavioral control in the relationship between motivations and intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from a sample of 637 participants are used to examine the research model and test the hypotheses with the employment of partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study shows that motivations and perceived behavioral control are significant predictors of intention. Perceived behavioral control has a significant moderating effect between motivations and intention. Intrinsic motivation is positively influenced by self-perceived facial attractiveness, agreeableness, extraversion and internal locus of control, while extrinsic motivation is positively predicted by self-perceived facial attractiveness, conscientiousness and extraversion.

Originality/value

This study enhances our understanding of the determinants of intention toward live stream broadcasting by exploring its relationships with motivations, self-perceived facial attractiveness and personality, as well as the moderating effects of perceived behavioral control.
Tourism in Brazil: from politics, social inequality, corruption and violence towards the 2030 Brazilian tourism agenda
Authors: Lohmann Gui , Lobo Heros Augusto Santos , Trigo Luiz Gonzaga Godoi , Valduga Vander , Castro Rafael , Coelho Mariana de Freitas , Cyrillo Marina Wöhlke , Dalonso Yoná , Gimenes-Minasse Maria Henriqueta , Gosling Marlusa de Sevilha , Lanzarini Ricardo , Leal Sergio Rodrigues , Marques Osiris , Mayer Verônica Feder , Moreira Jasmine Cardozo , de Moraes Lauro Almeida , Panosso Netto Alexandre , Perinotto André Riani Costa , Queiroz Neto Ambrozio , Trentin Fabia , Raimundo Sidnei
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Different from most academic publications about tourism in Brazil, this paper provides an overarching and comprehensive perspective. Analysing key developments, and focusing on the period 2000–2019, this paper also considers long-standing structural issues that hinder tourism development. Although this viewpoint paper deals with Brazil, very similar issues can be identified for many countries worldwide.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint paper is a combination of reflections by leading Brazilian tourism academics; most are members of ABRATUR, the International Academy for the Development of Tourism Research in Brazil. This paper uses secondary data from the grey (e.g. government reports) and academic literature to support this opinion paper. The tourism-related topics covered in this paper include economics, policy and planning, marketing, transport, nature-based tourism, gastronomy, hospitality and education, amongst others.

Findings

Brazil has missed several unique opportunities to place it as a destination of international renown. Since the 1990s, efforts to support regional tourism development have achieved only moderate success as political instability, violence and corruption have impacted tourism. A lack of a coordinated approach between the various levels of government, a shortage of tourism data and a long-term supra-government marketing campaign, among other factors, have meant Brazil has missed several critical opportunities in the 2010s to establish itself as a leading tourism destination in the global market.

Originality/value

From leading tourism academic experts in Brazil, a unique opinion paper offers an overview of the critical development issues in 2000–2019. The paper presents matters that have hindered potential tourism contributions to the largest nation in South America. While these matters may be specific to Brazil, many of these challenges are not dissimilar to those in other emerging (democratic) nations. The authors offer several public policies and technical recommendations to scaffold tourism development towards the 2030 agenda.