bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allosteric inhibition of trypanosomatid pyruvate kinases by a camelid single-domain antibody
Authors: Pinto Torres Joar Esteban , Claes Mathieu , Hendrickx Rik , Yuan Meng , Smiejkowska Natalia , Van Wielendaele Pieter , Hacisuleyman Aysima , De Winter Hans , Muyldermans Serge , Michels Paul A. , Walkinshaw Malcolm D. , Versées Wim , Caljon Guy , Magez Stefan , Sterckx Yann G.-J.
Published: June 2024

African trypanosomes are the causative agents of neglected tropical diseases affecting both humans and livestock. Disease control is highly challenging due to an increasing number of drug treatment failures. African trypanosomes are extracellular, blood-borne parasites that mainly rely on glycolysis for their energy metabolism within the mammalian host. Trypanosomal glycolytic enzymes are therefore of interest for the development of trypanocidal drugs. Here, we report the serendipitous discovery of a camelid single-domain antibody (sdAb aka Nanobody) that selectively inhibits the enzymatic activity of trypanosomatid (but not host) pyruvate kinases through an allosteric mechanism. By combining enzyme kinetics, biophysics, structural biology, and transgenic parasite survival assays, we provide a proof-of-principle that the sdAb-mediated enzyme inhibition negatively impacts parasite fitness and growth.
TS-AI: A deep learning pipeline for multimodal subject-specific parcellation with task contrasts synthesis
Authors: Li Chengyi , Lu Yuheng , Yu Shan , Cui Yue
Published: June 2024

Accurate mapping of brain functional subregions at an individual level is crucial. Task-based functional MRI (tfMRI) captures subject-specific activation patterns during various functions and behaviors, facilitating the individual localization of functionally distinct subregions. However, acquiring high-quality tfMRI is time-consuming and resource-intensive in both scientific and clinical settings. The present study proposes a two-stage network model, TS-AI, to individualize an atlas on cortical surfaces through the prediction of tfMRI data. TS-AI first synthesizes a battery of task contrast maps for each individual by leveraging tract-wise anatomical connectivity and resting-state networks. These synthesized maps, along with feature maps of tract-wise anatomical connectivity and resting-state networks, are then fed into an end-to-end deep neural network to individualize an atlas. TS-AI enables the synthesized task contrast maps to be used in individual parcellation without the acquisition of actual task fMRI scans. In addition, a novel feature consistency loss is designed to assign vertices with similar features to the same parcel, which increases individual specificity and mitigates overfitting risks caused by the absence of individual parcellation ground truth. The individualized parcellations were validated by assessing test-retest reliability, homogeneity, and cognitive behavior prediction using diverse reference atlases and datasets, demonstrating the superior performance and generalizability of TS-AI. Sensitivity analysis yielded insights into region-specific features influencing individual variation in functional regionalization. In addition, TS-AI identified accelerated shrinkage in the medial temporal and cingulate parcels during the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting its potential in clinical research and applications.
A spatiotemporally resolved GPCR interactome reveals novel mediators of receptor agonism
Authors: Shchepinova Maria M. , Richardson Rachel , Houghton Jack W. , Walker Abigail R. , Conole Daniel , Hanyaloglu Aylin C. , Tate Edward W.
Published: June 2024

Cellular signaling by membrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is orchestrated by a complex and diverse array of mechanisms. The dynamics of a GPCR interactome as it evolves over time and space in response to an agonist can offer a unique window on pleiotropic signaling decoding and functional selectivity at a cellular level. In this study, we employed proximity-based APEX2 proteomics to interrogate the interaction network of the GPCR for luteinizing hormone (LHR) on a sub-minute timescale. We developed an analytical approach integrating quantitative multiplexed proteomics and temporal reference profiles, providing a platform to identify the proteomic environment of APEX2-tagged LHR at the nanometer scale. LHR activity is exquisitely regulated at a spatial level, leading to identification of novel interactors including the Ras-related GTPase RAP2B that modulate both receptor signaling and post-endocytic trafficking, and providing a resource for spatiotemporal nanodomain mapping of LHR interactors across subcellular compartments.
FINCA disease mouse model exhibits altered behaviour and immune response
Authors: Hiltunen Anniina E. , Kangas Salla M. , Gondane Aishwarya , Koivisto Henna , Salokas Kari , Heikkinen Anne , Salo Miia H. , Röning Tapio , Tallgren Antti , Glumoff Virpi , Denis Maria C. , Karagianni Niki , Myllyharju Johanna , Varjosalo Markku , Tanila Heikki , Itkonen Harri M. , Rämet Mika , Uusimaa Johanna , Hinttala Reetta
Published: June 2024

Fibrosis, neurodegeneration and cerebral angiomatosis (FINCA) is a childhood-onset multi-organ neurodevelopmental disorder associated with multi-organ manifestations and recurrent infections. The disease is caused by variants inNHLRC2initiating a cascade of unknown pathological events. Previously, we have demonstrated that despite the significant decrease at the molecular level, the compound heterozygosity of knock out and p.Asp148Tyr alleles in NHLRC2 does not lead to a severe phenotype in mice. Here, we analysed the behavioural and immunological phenotype of the FINCA mice and studied the molecular pathways affected by p.Asp148Tyr in NHLRC2 using mouse and human-derived cell culture models. The FINCA mice displayed a mild hyperactivity and deficient early immune response when challenged with LPS leading to altered cytokine responses, including IFNγ, IL-12, and TNFα. By comparing gene expression and putative interaction partners affected by p.Asp148Tyr, we identified Rho GTPase signalling as the common pathway. Altogether, these results establish a multi-dimensional impact of the p.Asp148Tyr variant in NHLRC2. Knowledge of the molecular pathways affected by NHLRC2 and the natural course of FINCA disease progression are instrumental for the development of effective therapeutics.

Summary statement

FINCA is a paediatric neurodevelopmental and multi-organ disorder caused by variants inNHLRC2. Here, mild hyperactivity in connection with altered early immune response is described in the FINCA mouse model.
Mycobacterium tuberculosisESX-T7SS impacts the 3D architecture of tuberculous lesion in susceptible mice
Authors: Beltran Caroline G.G. , Kriel Jurgen , Botha Stefan M. , Nolan Margaret B. , Ciccarelli Alessandro , Loos Ben , Gutierrez Maximiliano G. , Walzl Gerhard
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) is characterized by the formation of heterogenous, immune-rich granulomas present in various forms in the lungs. Both host and pathogen contribute to this heterogeneity however the molecular and cellular drivers of within-host granuloma heterogeneity remain to be fully elucidated. This knowledge gap is due to a lack of experimental approaches that can fully capture the complex dynamics of the lung architecture, dynamics of host-pathogen interplay and pathogenesis. Here, we developed an approach that combines PACT-based clearing with light sheet fluorescent microscopy for visualizing lesion architecture development and lung involvement inM. tuberculosis-infected C3HeB/FeJ susceptible mice. This 3D modelling of whole lung lobes approach revealed critical architectural features in lesion development and lung involvement that were not apparent using traditional thin section imaging. Wild typeM. tuberculosisinfection triggered a clear and well-organized granulomatous-like organization with substantial growth throughout the infection period that invaded a high percentage of the total lung volume. In contrast, infection with the avirulent ESX-1 deletion mutant strainMtbΔRD1 showed an altered growth pattern with diffuse and sparsely organized CD11b recruitment to sites of infection. Moreover, most of theMtbΔRD1-triggered lesions were present in the periphery of the lungs and did not display any formal organization. We further provide a novel way of interrogating PACT-cleared tissue for high ultrastructural content using volumetric correlative light and electron microscopy, allowing individual immune cell populations to be tracked and their fate within the granuloma captured. Ultimately, the combination of both modalities allowed an unprecedented view of the architectural distribution ofM. tuberculosisin the lungs and the progression of lesion development over time. Our data highlight that ESX-1 fromM. tuberculosisis required for lesion architecture progression in a susceptible mouse model of TB.
Using AlphaFold Multimer to discover interkingdom protein-protein interactions
Authors: Homma Felix , Lyu Joy , van der Hoorn Renier A. L.
Published: June 2024

Structural prediction by artificial intelligence (AI) can be powerful new instruments to discover novel protein-protein interactions, but the community still grapples with the implementation, opportunities and limitations. Here, we discuss and re-analyse our in-silico screen for novel pathogen-secreted inhibitors of immune hydrolases to illustrate the power and limitations of structural predictions. We discuss strategies of curating sequences, including controls, and reusing sequence alignments and highlight important limitations originating from platforms, sequence depth and computing times. We hope these experiences will support similar interactomic screens by the research community.
A larval zebrafish model of TBI: Optimizing the dose of neurotrauma for discovery of treatments and aetiology
Authors: Locskai Laszlo F. , Gill Taylor , Tan Samantha A.W. , Burton Alexander H. , Alyenbaawi Hadeel , Burton Edward A. , Allison W. Ted
Published: June 2024

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are diverse with heterogeneous injury pathologies, which creates challenges for the clinical treatment and prevention of secondary pathologies such as post-traumatic epilepsy and subsequent dementias. To develop pharmacological strategies that treat TBI and prevent complications, animal models must capture the spectrum of TBI severity to better understand pathophysiological events that occur during and after injury. To address such issues, we improved upon our recent larval zebrafish TBI paradigm emphasizing titrating to different injury levels. We observed coordination between an increase in injury level and clinically relevant injury phenotypes including post-traumatic seizures (PTS) and tau aggregation. This preclinical TBI model is simple to implement, allows dosing of injury levels to model diverse pathologies, and can be scaled to medium- or high-throughput screening.
Potassium-selective channelrhodopsins can exert hyper- or depolarizing effects in excitable cells ofCaenorhabditis elegans, depending on experimental condition
Authors: Ruse Christiane , Seidenthal Marius , Tillert Linda , Vierock Johannes , Gottschalk Alexander
Published: June 2024

One of the most frequent applications of optogenetic tools is for depolarization and stimulation of excitable cells such as neurons and muscles. Equally important, but less frequently used, are inhibitory tools that suppress activity through cellular hyperpolarization. These tools often rely on chloride conductance. Yet,in vivo, re- and hyperpolarization is typically mediated by potassium. In recent years, light-gated ion channels with a high preference for potassium were identified (Kalium channelrhodopsins, KCRs), and their inhibitory potential described in different organisms. Here, we characterizedHcKCR1 and WiChR, in cholinergic neurons and muscles ofCaenorhabditis elegans. Hyperpolarization of these cell types both induces muscle relaxation and, consequently, an elongation of the animals. Thus, we analyzed body length before, during, and after illumination, to assess KCR effectiveness, and to benchmark stimulation parameters like light intensity and duration. ForHcKCR1 in cholinergic neurons, continuous illumination at high light intensities (1-4.5 mW/mm2) evoked only a transient elongation, while stimulation at 0.1 mW/mm2could maintain inhibition for the duration of the stimulus in some transgenic strains. For animals expressing WiChR in body wall muscle cells or cholinergic neurons, we again observed brief hyperpolarization during continuous illumination, however, still during the stimulus, this changed to body contraction, corresponding to depolarization. This effect was long lasting, and required dozens of seconds for reversion, but could be reduced by pulsed illumination and fully avoided by less efficient channel activation using green or orange light. Hence, KCRs can be applied to hyperpolarizeC. eleganscells, but require optimized illumination parameters.

Article summary

To inhibit excitable cells, light-gated, potassium-selective channels (KCRs) can be used. This study explores whether stimulation of KCRsHcKCR1 and WiChR in cholinergic neurons and muscle cells ofCaenorhabditis eleganscan induce inhibition during illumination. While inhibition could be achieved, depending on light conditions, the authors unexpectedly also observed excitation. These effects may occur due to a combination of high conductivity of KCRs, and partial conductance of other cations. These findings highlight the need for specific experimental conditions in future studies utilizing these tools. The authors also present conditions that can partially or fully avoid the unwanted depolarizing effects.
Transcriptomics-informed pharmacology identifies epigenetic and cell cycle regulators as enhancers of AAV production
Authors: Tworig Joshua , Grafton Francis , Hörer Markus , Reid Christopher A. , Mandegar Mohammad A.
Published: June 2024

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is a widely used viral vector for gene therapy. Despite its clinical efficacy, the manufacturing of rAAV faces challenges in productivity and quality, leading to limited availability. To address the growing demand, next-generation process development should be informed by a mechanistic understanding of the cellular response to rAAV. In this study, we performed transcriptomic analysis of 5 cell lines with variable capacities for rAAV production. Using an intersectional approach, we assessed the transcriptional response to rAAV production and compared transcriptional profiles between high and baseline producers to identify possible targets for enhancing production. Modulation of cell cycle and nucleosome components suggested a reduction of proliferative capacity and a shift toward DNA replication to support rAAV production. During rAAV production, we observed upregulation of several core functions including transcription, stress response, and Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum organization. Conversely, inhibitors of DNA-binding proteins and mitochondrial components were consistently downregulated during rAAV production. We next performed a drug connectivity analysis of these results and identified 5 classes of drugs predicted to enhance rAAV production. Validation studies confirmed the efficacy of HDAC and microtubule inhibitors. Our data uncover novel and previously identified pathways that may enhance rAAV productivity, potentially enabling a path to engineer improved processes and cell lines for higher yields and better quality rAAV production.

Graphical abstract
Rad51 determines pathway usage in post-replication repair
Authors: Meyer Damon , Ceballos Shannon J. , Gore Steven , Liu Jie , Reginato Giordano , Cano-Linares Maria I. , Maslowska Katarzyna H. , Villafañez Florencia , Ede Christopher , Pagès Vincent , Prado Felix , Cejka Petr , Heyer Wolf-Dietrich
Published: June 2024

Stalled replication forks can be processed by several distinct mechanisms collectively called post-replication repair which includes homologous recombination, fork regression, and translesion DNA synthesis. However, the regulation of the usage between these pathways is not fully understood. The Rad51 protein plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability through its roles in HR and in protecting stalled replication forks from degradation. We report the isolation of separation-of-function mutations inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeRad51 that retain their recombination function but display a defect in fork protection leading to a shift in post-replication repair pathway usage from HR to alternate pathways including mutagenic translesion synthesis. Rad51-E135D and Rad51-K305N show normalin vivoandin vitrorecombination despite changes in their DNA binding profiles, in particular to dsDNA, with a resulting effect on their ATPase activities. The mutants lead to a defect in Rad51 recruitment to stalled forksin vivoas well as a defect in the protection of dsDNA from degradation by Dna2-Sgs1 and Exo1in vitro. A high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Rad51-ssDNA filament at 2.4 Å resolution provides a structural basis for a mechanistic understanding of the mutant phenotypes. Together, the evidence suggests a model in which Rad51 binding to duplex DNA is critical to control pathway usage at stalled replication forks.
Explicit finite element simulations of dynamic low adhesion behavior between wheel and rail in the presence of high-frequency vibrations
Authors: Liu Wen , Huang Shuangchao , Qi Hongfeng , Zhao Xin , Liang Shulin , Jin Xuesong
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This article aims to provide a simulation method to reveal the mechanism of DLA under high-frequency vibrations.

Design/methodology/approach

A transient wheel-rail rolling contact model is developed for a typical Chinese high-speed railway system using the explicit finite element (FE) method. Instantaneous adhesion exploitation levels are studied in the time domain, for which driving cases over corrugated rails are taken as an example. A speed up to 500 km/h is considered together with different traction coefficients and corrugation dimensions. DLA is expected when the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level reaches 1.0, that is adhesion saturates and full sliding contact occurs.

Findings

The instantaneous adhesion exploitation level can be very high in the presence of corrugation, even at low traction coefficients. DLA is found to occur as great vertical unloading takes place and causes a significant increase of creepage. An approach is further developed to determine the critical depth of corrugation over which DLA occurs.

Originality/value

This study employs the transient wheel-rail rolling contact model to predict the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level under high-frequency vibrations. The presented results reveal a mechanism of DLA being beneficial to guidelines for future railway practice.
The application of building information modeling (BIM) system in the smartification of green and sustainable buildings
Authors: Anjomshoa Erfan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Nowadays, designing environmentally compatible buildings with acceptable performance in terms of cost, materials, and energy efficiency is considered crucial for developing sustainable cities. This research aims to identify and rank the most influential factors in the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems in the smartification of green and sustainable buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research is applied and descriptive. In this study, we identified the most influential factors in the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems through library studies and expert opinions. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and a combination of the one-sample t-test method with a 95% confidence level and the fuzzy VIKOR method was employed for analysis.

Findings

The results show that the most influential factors in the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems in the Smartification of green and sustainable buildings, in order, are: “Energy saving and consumption reduction,” “Increased productivity and efficiency,” “Life-cycle assessment (LCA),” “Eco-friendly design,” “Integration with IoT and other technologies.”

Originality/value

In this study, while addressing the intersection of BIM technology, green building principles, and smart building objectives to optimize the performance of buildings during their life cycle, the most influential factors in the use of this system were ranked based on the criteria of “impact level,” “importance level,” and “availability of necessary tools” for implementation in Kerman. Moreover, solutions for more effectively utilizing this system in the smartification of green and intelligent buildings were proposed.
Can work-family balance reduce the unsafe behavior of new generation of construction workers effectively in China? A moderated mediation model
Authors: Ni Guodong , Fang Yaqi , Miao Xinyue , Qiao Yaning , Wang Wenshun , Xuan Jian
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to provide a new perspective and path to reduce the unsafe behavior of new generation of construction workers (NGCWs) in China. The purpose of this study is to explore the influencing mechanism of work-family balance on the unsafe behavior of NGCWs and test the mediating effect of job satisfaction and the moderating effect of group safety climate.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model on the influencing mechanism of work-family balance on unsafe behavior of NGCWs was constructed through theoretical analysis. Research data were collected from 502 NGCWs via a questionnaire survey, and research hypotheses were testified with regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that work-family balance not only directly reduces NGCWs’ unsafe behavior but also indirectly reduces it through job satisfaction, which plays a partial mediating role. In addition to positively moderating the relationship between work-family balance and NGCWs’ unsafe behavior, group safety climate can also moderate the relationship between work-family balance and job satisfaction in a positive way.

Practical implications

This study provides practical implications for construction companies to reduce the unsafe behaviors of NGCWs from the perspective of work-family balance. Specifically, construction companies should adopt more flexible work rules, such as flexible organization and rotation systems, to increase their work autonomy. Meanwhile, construction companies need to improve the work environment and basic conditions for NGCWs, establish a reasonable salary system and provide attractive promotion opportunities to increase their job satisfaction. In addition, construction companies should provide active safety lectures and training, and supervisors should improve safety communication and interaction levels. Co-workers should remind workers about their safety attitudes and behaviors promptly. A good group safety climate will be created through the efforts of construction companies, supervisors and co-workers.

Originality/value

This study clarifies the influencing mechanism of work-family balance on the NGCWs’ unsafe behavior and further tests the partial mediating role of job satisfaction and the positively moderating effect of group safety climate on the influence relationship of work-family balance on job satisfaction and NGCWs’ unsafe behavior, which defines the boundary conditions of the relationship between work-family balance and NGCWs’ unsafe behavior, and promotes the effective integration of social exchange theory and theoretical system of influencing mechanism of construction workers’ unsafe behavior.
Institutional configurations and social entrepreneurship: a country-based comparison using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
Authors: Yin Juelin , Zhao Jiaxin , Du Yunzhou
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Integrating institutional logic theory with institutional configurational perspective, this study proposes a theoretical framework to explore the configurational effect of multiple institutional logics, including state, market, and social logics, on social entrepreneurship (SE) participation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey combined with other international databases, this study applies a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify the pathways that how state, market and social logics jointly promote or hinder high SE prevalence among 38 developing countries.

Findings

Results show that high SE prevalence rates are achieved through the interaction of multiple institutional logics rather than by any single factor and identify three institutional configuration pathways leading to high SE participation. Further, the pathways impeding high SE participation are not simply the negation of conditions that lead to high SE prevalence.

Research limitations/implications

This study not only extends the institutional logics perspective to SE, enriching the growing research stream on how institutional complexity shapes entrepreneurial activities globally, but also underscores the significance of asymmetric institutional conditions in determining the presence and absence of high SE prevalence. These results have implications for policymakers to improve entrepreneurial institutional configurations that foster social entrepreneurial activities.

Originality/value

Compared with conventional statistical methods, which have limited effectiveness in exploring the synergies of multiple factors, the fsQCA method offers a more robust analysis of the causal complexity of institutional logics promoting or discouraging SE participation.
Pre-organization theory: an evolutionary approach integrating memetics, inducement-contribution theory and generalized darwinism
Authors: Powell Benjamin Caldwell
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Organization theory seeks to explain how people coordinate their behaviors to achieve common objectives, but it has offered little insight into how organizations emerge from such coordination. Fully understanding entities requires knowing their origins. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to and to suggest an approach for fortifying a foundational weakness in organization theory: pre-organization theory.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop pre-organization theory, this paper employs an evolutionary approach that integrates three theories. This paper first employs memetics to articulate a unit of selection, the i-memeplex, and next introduces inducement-contribution theory to tailor the i-memeplex to pre-organization, yielding a founder’s mental map for exchanges of inducements and contributions. It then applies generalized Darwinism to complete its evolutionary theory of pre-organization.

Findings

Memetics, inducement-contribution theory, and generalized Darwinism can be integrated to create a promising theoretical solution, but further investigation is needed to assess the empirical and practical value of pre-organization theory.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to organization theory by (1) explicating a foundational weakness in organization theory – its lack of pre-organization theory – and (2) integrating a novel set of theories to develop an evolutionary theory of pre-organization.
Don’t let them get stressed! HPWS mechanisms in improving psychological well-being in the workplace
Authors: Ardianto Heni , Rosari Reni
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The growing literature does not highlight the impact of high-performance work systems (HPWSs) on employee psychological well-being. This study aimed to test this influence by exploring the mediation of psychosocial safety and the moderation of supervisor support to overcome knowledge gaps in optimizing productivity in an increasingly dynamic workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved 395 service employees in Indonesia. Data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro approach.

Findings

The research findings indicate that while HPWS are perceived as organizational investments by employees, they do not directly impact employees’ psychological well-being in the service sector in Indonesia. Despite previous literature suggesting a positive relationship, this study emphasizes the importance of considering factors such as psychosocial safety and supervisor support in influencing employee perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the existing literature on the mechanisms of HPWS in promoting psychological well-being in the workplace. Furthermore, Psychological safety has also been identified as a strategic approach to reduce workplace bullying.

Practical implications

Organizations should prioritize creating a work environment that considers psychosocial safety and provides adequate supervisor support to enhance employees’ psychological well-being. Understanding the unique needs and perceptions of employees, including factors such as age and gender, is crucial in designing effective HPWS that foster a positive workplace culture and mitigate potential negative impacts.

Originality/value

The authors seek to explore the not yet fully understood relationship between HPWS, psychosocial safety, and supervisor support in promoting employee psychological well-being. This research also provides a broader view of how to prevent employees from feeling pressured and stressed in the workplace.
Spending money is like water soaking into the sand: anticipating financial distress in Japanese professional football clubs
Authors: Mondal Sarthak , Plumley Daniel , Wilson Rob
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper analyses J1 League and J2 League clubs during the period 2011–2020 to anticipate financial distress.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected for 29 professional football clubs competing in the J1 and J2 League for the financial years ending 2011–2020. Analysis was conducted using Altman’s Z-score methodology and additional statistical tests were conducted to measure differences between groups.

Findings

The results show significant cases of financial distress amongst clubs in both divisions and that clubs that have played predominantly in the J1 League are in significantly poorer financial health than clubs that have played predominantly in the J2 League. Overall, the financial situation in Japanese professional football needs to be monitored, a position that could be exacerbated by the economic crisis, caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Research limitations/implications

While the financial situation for a majority of the clubs in the J-League presents an austere picture, comparison with clubs in other leagues across Asia and Europe and understanding the different policies set by these leagues would enable us to understand whether the phenomenon of financial distress is common to other clubs and leagues across different countries and continents.

Practical implications

The paper recommends that J-League visit the existing club licensing criteria and implement equitable cost-control measures, such as implementing a cap on acceptable losses over a specified period or restricting overall expenditures as a percentage of the club’s revenue.

Originality/value

The paper extends the evidence base of measuring financial distress in professional team sports and is also the first paper of its kind to examine this in relation to Asian professional football.
Accounting and social health: a systematic literature review and agenda for future research
Authors: Adjei-Mensah Gifty , Ntim Collins G. , Zhang Qingjing , Boateng Frank
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to synthesize and extend the existing understanding of social health accounting (SHA) literature within the perspectives of social health disclosures (SHAD) and the effect of social health problems on public and private sector accounting.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date systematic literature review (SLR) of past studies on social health within the accounting literature. This is done by employing a three-step SLR research design to investigate a sample of papers, made up of 62 mixed, qualitative and quantitative studies conducted in over 23 countries, drawn predominantly from the extant accounting literature from 2013 to 2023 and published in 25 peer-reviewed journals.

Findings

Our SLR offers several findings. First, we find that existing SHA studies apply theories in SHAD studies, but hardly apply them to explain the impact of health problems on business outcomes. Second, we show that the extant studies have focused predominantly on rigorous empirical studies on SHAD, while this is scarce for studies examining the impact of diseases/health problems on both public and private sector accounting. Third, we identify several research design weaknesses, including a lack of primary data analysis, mixed-methods approach and rigorous qualitative studies. Finally, we present directions for future SHA research.

Originality/value

In contrast to the ever-increasing general social and environmental accounting (SEA) research, existing studies examining global health issues and challenges (e.g. diseases, epidemics and pandemics), especially from an accounting perspective are rare. Nonetheless, the past decade has witnessed a steady increase in research on corporate accounting for, and reporting of, health issues; although the emerging literature remains fragmented thereby impeding the generation of useful empirical and theoretical insights for policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Consequently, this paper offers extensive and timely SLR of the existing studies on SHA; critically reviewing past findings published in a wide range of peer-reviewed international journals that discuss the current state of global SHA research, their weaknesses and set future research agenda.
Audit process ineffectiveness: evidence from audit report errors
Authors: Beyer Brooke , Draeger Michelle , Rapley Eric T.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The process performed during a financial statement audit is critical but is unobservable to external stakeholders. This can create challenges in assessing the quality of individual audit engagements. This study’s objective is to introduce and investigate an archival measure based on publicly available information that proxies for audit process ineffectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

We proxy for audit process ineffectiveness using errors in the audit report. We examine audit reports to identify errors because the audit report represents the auditor’s primary communication with financial statement users and is subject to rigorous preparation and review. We first examine if typical factors influencing audit process ineffectiveness are associated with audit report errors. We then examine whether audit reports containing errors are associated with audit quality measures.

Findings

We find that errors are more likely to be present in audit reports when time pressure exists and less likely when auditors exert more effort and when audit engagement risk is higher. Results also show that errors in audit reports are positively associated with financial reporting misstatements, measured by subsequently disclosed Big R restatements and out-of-period adjustments.

Originality/value

Collectively, our evidence suggests that an audit report containing an error is a suitable proxy for audit process ineffectiveness. This proxy has audit quality implications because inattentiveness in one area of the audit process could indicate inattentiveness in another area.
Dilemmas in district–university partnerships: examining network improvement communities as levers for systems change
Authors: Neumerski Christine M. , Yurkofsky Maxwell M.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine dilemmas in a district–university partnership that used network improvement communities (NIC) as a levers for systems change after COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw on observations and in-depth, semi-structured interviews to understand the benefits and limitations of using network improvement communities embedded within a longstanding district–university partnership to address problems of practice.

Findings

Five dilemmas that emerged: (1) the need to continue the pilot roll-out of the NIC while still communicating a vision of the long-term, large-scale vision of NIC work, (2) center collaborative inquiry while still moving at a fast enough pace for participants to see progress, (3) include those most involved in the work while still having efficient decision making processes, (4) respect the knowledge and agency of participants while still supporting rigorous and impactful change and (5) honor the work the district is already engaged in while still extending beyond existing initiatives.

Originality/value

We conclude that the work of leading network improvement communities as part of a district–university partnership is complex. We add to the emerging research on NIC hub leadership by highlighting the dilemmas that must be managed in this work.
A duoethnography: female academics’ experiences of gendered health issues at the intersection of middlescence, ethnic origin, social and professional status in the neoliberal academy
Authors: Fox Joanna , Mano Irine
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Gender inequality and age discrimination persist in the Higher Education (HE) sectors. The significance of gendered health at middlescence, including peri/menopause, is often negated. This article explores women’s lived experiences of gendered health issues at middlescence in the neoliberal academy through an intersectional lens.

Design/methodology/approach

Two female academics engaged in dialogic narrative using duoethnography addressing their experiences of gendered health issues in a UK Higher Education Institution (HEI). They recorded intentional written reflections and met to explore their experiences over a four month period. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse their responses.

Findings

Both women considered how they self-advocated for their own care at the stage of middlescence whilst seeking health support and in accessing accommodations in the HE workplace. This process impacted on the construction of their professional identity and on their self-concept as social work academics at the dynamic intersection of age, gender, ethnic, social and professional status.

Originality/value

This article uniquely foregrounds two female academics’ lived experiences of middlescence in a UK HEI conceptualised through an intersectional lens. Their experiences are explored in the context of gendered age discrimination in HE sectors that are perpetuated through masculinized forms of career progression and management. The concept of the ideal academic, a white male, unencumbered by domestic responsibilities, is contested through consideration of care ethics. We acknowledge that forms of epistemic injustice silence women’s narratives in the neoliberal academy but highlight recommendations to enable their stories of gendered health discrimination to be heard.
“Blame deviance to Machiavellianism”: role of mediator and moderator
Authors: Srivastava Shalini , Raina Khushboo , Madan Poornima
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Drawing from the Moral Disengagement theory and the Social Exchange Theory, the present study posits to examine the influence of personality, that is Machiavellianism on organizational deviance in the service industry. Furthermore, the role of moral disengagement as a mediator accentuating the organizational deviance of service employees was examined. Also, the role of Servant Leadership as a moderator on the mediated relationship between Machiavellianism and Organizational Deviance via Moral Disengagement is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected from 269 employees working in hotels in northern India using the snowball technique. SPSS 22 and AMOS 22 were the statistical tools utilized to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Machiavellianism was positively related to Organizational Deviance. Findings support the fact that Moral disengagement is a mediator in the relationship between Machiavellianism and Organizational Deviance. Service Leadership moderated the mediated relationship between Machiavellianism and Organizational deviance via Moral disengagement such that the relationship was found to be weaker when Service Leadership was high.

Practical implications

Due to its emphasis on interpersonal interaction and intangible services, the hotel industry differs from other sectors of the economy. Employees contact directly with clients and are responsible for meeting their demands. As a result of these frequent interactions, controlling employee deviation is essential in the services industry. The study holds significant and notable implications from the organizational or managerial perspective.

Originality/value

The present study distinctively contributes by bringing the effect of personality on deviant behaviors in the hotel industry which is unmapped, besides examining the role of moral disengagement as the mediator and servant leadership as a moderator mitigating organizational deviance and morally disengaged workforce.
Seagrass recovery trajectories and recovery potential in relation to nutrient reduction
Authors: van Katwijk Marieke M. , van Beusekom Justus E. E. , Folmer Eelke O. , Kolbe Kerstin , de Jong Dick J. , Dolch Tobias
Published: June 2024

Seagrass recovery has been reported across the globe where previously eutrophied waters have become less nutrient‐rich. In the European Wadden Sea, different recovery trajectories were found after riverine nutrient loads decreased, namely full, temporary and no recovery. We compiled intertidal seagrass presence (Zostera noltei and Z. marina) and eutrophication data for 1930–2020, to relate the seagrass trajectories and regional eutrophication differences to riverine nutrient loads, and inferred prospects for seagrass recovery.

Seagrass fully recovered in the less eutrophic North Frisian region. The recovery trajectory was tightly coupled to riverine nutrient load reduction. Relative seagrass area (meadow area/region area) dropped from 10% prior to eutrophication to 2% during the eutrophication peak, increased to 7% during the nutrient reduction period and subsequently expanded to 13%. Colonization of marginal habitats was observed, indicating propagule spillover from neighbouring meadows.

The more eutrophic southern regions showed no or only temporary seagrass recovery. Prospects for (limited) recovery are good in only two out of four southern regions, provided that riverine nutrient loads are further reduced by ~40% (reference: 2010–2017). Without this reduction, seagrasses may only temporarily recover and will remain vulnerable to erratic disturbances like macroalgae accumulation or storms.

Historical evidence and application of habitat suitability models suggest that the potential relative seagrass area in the southern regions is low: less than 0.2% in the western Dutch region and maximum 2.4% in the Ems‐Jade region.

Synthesis and applications. Within a large seascape (15,000 km2) the least eutrophicated region showed seagrass recovery upon nutrient reduction. We translated the critical riverine nutrient loads for this recovery, via regional eutrophication indicators, to loads that may enable a sustained recovery in the other regions. This technique is applicable in other complex systems, provided sufficient historical data are available. Propagule spillover exerts a positive feedback at metapopulation scale leading to acceleration of recovery. Occupied and potential seagrass habitat (e.g. assessed by the maximum recorded area in the past) are thus important landscape selection criteria for restoration, particularly when eutrophication is not yet sufficiently reduced.
Rate of permafrost thaw and associated plant community dynamics in peatlands of northwestern Canada
Authors: Errington Ruth C. , Macdonald S. Ellen , Bhatti Jagtar S.
Published: June 2024

The most rapid climate warming is occurring in northern, permafrost environments. Peatlands of these regions are particularly sensitive to climate warming, with the high ground ice content of peat plateaux resulting in the formation of collapse scars as ground temperatures warm.

To quantify the rates of permafrost thaw and associated vegetation changes, we sampled the plant and lichen communities in transects spanning actively thawing collapse scar margins at sites from mid‐Boreal to Low Subarctic conditions, within Canada's Northwest Territories. Seventeen transects were sampled in 2007/08 and 14 of these were resampled 10 years later.

The rate of lateral permafrost thaw of collapse scar margins ranged from −6 to 63 cm year−1(mean: 22.0 cm ± 4.7 cm year−1(SE)); variability was high and no trends with respect to latitude or temperature gradients were detected.

Plant communities displayed a clear gradient from lichen‐ and ericaceous shrub‐dominated peat plateaux, to collapse scars primarily characterized bySphagnummosses and graminoids. Both space‐for‐time (distance from collapsing margin) and direct measurement of 10‐year changes showed a successional sequence following permafrost thaw; floating mat communities characterized bySphagnum ripariumorS. balticumproceeded to lawn communities ofS. angustifoliumand, finally, to hummock communities withMylia anomalaorS. fuscum. This successional sequence was associated with increased water table depth and lower soil water content in plant communities farther from the actively collapsing front, illustrating that peat growth above the water table was driving plant community successional changes.

The most rapid plant community succession occurred in recently thawed environments as peat growth propelled the ground surface above the water table while the slowest succession occurred in the collapse scar hummock communities located farthest from the actively collapsing peat plateau margin.

Synthesis. In just 10 years, significant vegetation change was detected, in association with both permafrost thaw and subsequent plant community succession. These changes occurred across a broad climatic and latitudinal gradient, from mid‐Boreal to Low Subarctic and have implications for wildlife, global C cycle and indigenous communities who depend on this landscape for harvesting, spiritual and cultural practices.
Infant mortality and social causality: Lessons from the history of Britain’s public health movement, c. 1834–1914
Authors: Nosrati Elias , Kelly Michael P. , Szreter Simon
Published: June 2024

What are the historical conditions under which a sociologically informed understanding of health inequality can emerge in the public sphere? We seek to address this question through the lens of a strategically chosen historical puzzle—the stubborn persistence of and salient variation in high infant mortality rates across British industrial towns at the dawn of the previous century—as analysed by Arthur Newsholme, the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board. In doing so, we retrace the historical processes through which the evolving public health movement gradually helped crystallise a scientific understanding of the social causes of excess mortality. We map the dominant ideology of the public sphere at the time, chart the shifting roles of the state, and retrace the historical origins and emergence of ‘public health’ as a distinctive category of state policy and public discourse. We situate the public health movement in this historical configuration and identify the cracks in the existing ideological and administrative edifice through which this movement was able to articulate a novel approach to population health—one that spotlights the political economy of social inequality. We relate this historical sequence to the rise of industrial capitalism, the social fractures that it spawned, and the organised counter‐movements that it necessitated.