bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel micronemal protein, Scot1, is essential for apicoplast biogenesis and liver stage development inPlasmodium berghei
Authors: Ghosh Ankit , Mishra Akancha , Devi Raksha , Narwal Sunil Kumar , Nirdosh  , Srivastava Pratik Narain , Mishra Satish
Published: April 2024

Plasmodiumsporozoites invade hepatocytes, transform into liver stages, and replicate into thousands of merozoites that infect erythrocytes and cause malaria. Proteins secreted from micronemes play an essential role in hepatocyte invasion, and unneeded micronemes are subsequently discarded for replication. The liver-stage parasites are potent immunogens that prevent malarial infection. Late liver stage-arresting genetically attenuated parasites (GAPs) exhibit greater protective efficacy than early GAP. However, the number of late liver-stage GAPs for generating GAPs with multiple gene deletions is limited. Here, we identified Scot1 (Sporozoite Conserved Orthologous Transcript 1), which was previously shown to be upregulated in sporozoites, and by endogenous tagging with mCherry, we demonstrated that it is expressed in the sporozoite and liver stages in micronemes. Using targeted gene deletion inPlasmodium berghei, we showed that Scot1 is essential for late liver-stage development.Scot1KO sporozoites grew normally into liver stages but failed to initiate blood-stage infection in mice due to impaired apicoplast biogenesis and merozoite formation. Bioinformatic studies suggested that Scot1 is a metal/small molecule carrier protein. Remarkably, supplementation with metals in the culture of infectedScot1KO cells did not rescue their phenotype. Immunization withScot1KO sporozoites in C57BL/6 mice confers protection against a malaria challenge via infection. These proof-of-concept studies will enable the generation ofP. falciparum Scot1mutants that could be exploited to generate GAP malaria vaccines.

Importance

Malaria parasites experience significant bottlenecks as transmitted to the mammalian host during a mosquito bite. Sporozoites invade liver cells, reproducing into thousands of merozoites, which are released after liver cell ruptures. The specific arrest of sporozoites during liver stage development acts as a powerful immunogen and provides sterile protection against sporozoite infection. GAP leading to an arrest in late liver stage development offers superior protection. Here, we report that a micronemal protein, Scot1, is essential for parasite maturation in the liver. Deletion of Scot1 resulted in impaired apicoplast biogenesis and merozoite formation. Vaccination withScot1KO sporozoites protects against malaria challenge. We have identified a late arresting GAP that will aid in developing new as well as safeguarding existing whole parasite vaccines.
Multi-omics profiling of DNA methylation and gene expression alterations in human cocaine use disorder
Authors: Zillich Eric , Belschner Hanna , Avetyan Diana , Andrade-Brito Diego , Martínez-Magaña José Jaime , Frank Josef , Mechawar Naguib , Turecki Gustavo , Cabana-Domínguez Judit , Fernàndez-Castillo Noèlia , Cormand Bru , Montalvo-Ortiz Janitza L. , Nöthen Markus M. , Hansson Anita C. , Rietschel Marcella , Spanagel Rainer , Witt Stephanie H. , Zillich Lea
Published: April 2024

Structural and functional changes of the brain are assumed to contribute to excessive cocaine intake, craving, and relapse in cocaine use disorder (CUD). Epigenetic and transcriptional changes were hypothesized as a molecular basis for CUD-associated brain alterations. Here we performed a multi-omics study of CUD by integrating epigenome-wide methylomic (N=42) and transcriptomic (N=25) data from the same individuals using postmortem brain tissue of Brodmann Area 9 (BA9). Of the N=1,057 differentially expressed genes (p<0.05), one gene,ZFAND2A, was significantly upregulated in CUD at transcriptome-wide significance (q<0.05). Differential alternative splicing (AS) analysis revealed N=98 alternatively spliced transcripts enriched in axon and dendrite extension pathways. Strong convergent overlap in CUD-associated expression deregulation was found between our BA9 cohort and independent replication datasets. Epigenomic, transcriptomic, and AS changes in BA9 converged at two genes,ZBTB4andINPP5E.In pathway analyses, synaptic signaling, neuron morphogenesis, and fatty acid metabolism emerged as the most prominently deregulated biological processes. Drug repositioning analysis revealed glucocorticoid receptor targeting drugs as most potent in reversing the CUD expression profile. Our study highlights the value of multi-omics approaches for an in-depth molecular characterization and provides insights into the relationship between CUD-associated epigenomic and transcriptomic signatures in the human prefrontal cortex.
Circadian regulation of stereotypic chromatin conformations at enhancers
Authors: Nie Xinyu Y. , Menet Jerome S.
Published: April 2024

Cooperation between the circadian transcription factor (TF) CLOCK:BMAL1 and other TFs atcis-regulatory elements (CREs) is critical to daily rhythms of transcription. Yet, the modalities of this cooperation are unclear. Here, we analyzed the co-binding of multiple TFs on single DNA molecules in mouse liver using single molecule footprinting (SMF). We found that SMF reads clustered in stereotypic chromatin states that reflect distinguishable organization of TFs and nucleosomes, and that were remarkably conserved between all samples. DNA protection at CLOCK:BMAL1 binding motif (E-box) varied between CREs, from E-boxes being solely bound by CLOCK:BMAL1 to situations where other TFs competed with CLOCK:BMAL1 for E-box binding. SMF also uncovered CLOCK:BMAL1 cooperative binding at E-boxes separated by 250 bp, which structurally altered the CLOCK:BMAL1-DNA interface. Importantly, we discovered multiple nucleosomes with E-boxes at entry/exit sites that were removed upon CLOCK:BMAL1 DNA binding, thereby promoting the formation of open chromatin states that facilitate DNA binding of other TFs and that were associated with rhythmic transcription. These results demonstrate the utility of SMF for studying how CLOCK:BMAL1 and other TFs regulate stereotypical chromatin states at CREs to promote transcription.
Super-Resolution Imaging Uncovers Nanoscale Tau Aggregate Hyperphosphorylation Patterns in Human Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Tissue
Authors: Santiago-Ruiz Adriana N. , Hugelier Siewert , Bond Charles R. , Lee Edward B. , Lakadamyali Melike
Published: April 2024

Tau aggregation plays a critical role in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), where tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are a key pathological hallmark. While much attention has been given to NFTs, emerging evidence underscores nano-sized pre-NFT tau aggregates as potentially toxic entities in AD. By leveraging DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy, we visualized and quantified nanoscale tau aggregates (nano-aggregates) in human postmortem brain tissues from intermediate and advanced AD, and Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART). Nano-aggregates were predominant across cases, with AD exhibiting a higher burden compared to PART. Hyperphosphorylated tau residues (p-T231, p-T181, and p-S202/T205) were present within nano-aggregates across all AD Braak stages and PART. Moreover, nano-aggregates displayed morphological differences between PART and AD, and exhibited distinct hyperphosphorylation patterns in advanced AD. These findings suggest that changes in nano-aggregate morphology and hyperphosphorylation patterns may exacerbate tau aggregation and AD progression. The ability to detect and profile nanoscale tau aggregates in human brain tissue opens new avenues for studying the molecular underpinnings of tauopathies.
LEDGF interacts with the NID of MeCP2 and modulates MeCP2 condensates
Authors: Lesire Saskia , Lata Rodrigo , Hoogvliets Yannick , Herrebosch Kune , Van De Velde Paulien , Speleers Anouk , Christ Frauke , Van Belle Siska , Debyser Zeger
Published: April 2024

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein that is involved in transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling. MeCP2 exists in two isoforms, MeCP2 E1 and MeCP2 E2, which share the same functional domains. Loss-of-function mutations in the MeCP2 gene are the main cause of Rett syndrome (RTT). Previous studies identified a direct interaction between MeCP2 and Lens Epithelium-derived Growth Factor (LEDGF), a transcriptional regulator that also exists in two isoforms, LEDGF/p75 and LEDGF/p52. Here, we further characterized the molecular and functional interaction between MeCP2 and LEDGF. The NID domain in MeCP2 is crucial for the binding to the PWWP-CR1 region of LEDGF. Introduction of R306C, a known RTT mutation in the NID of MeCP2, reduced the interaction with LEDGF. Our data reveal mutual inhibition of MeCP2 and LEDGF multimerization due to overlapping binding sites. In line with this observation, LEDGF depletion resulted in enlarged MeCP2 and heterochromatin condensates in NIH3T3 cells. Unraveling the molecular interaction and functional impact of the MeCP2-LEDGF interaction will increase our understanding of RTT pathogenesis.
Measuring PETase enzyme kinetics by single-molecule microscopy
Authors: Zhang Yuwei , Hancock William O.
Published: April 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely produced man-made polymers and is a significant contributor to microplastics pollution. The environmental and human health impacts of microplastics pollution have motivated a concerted effort to develop microbe- and enzyme-based strategies to degrade PET and similar plastics. A PETase derived from the bacteriaIdeonella sakaiensiswas previously shown to enzymatically degrade PET, triggering multidisciplinary efforts to improve the robustness and activity of this and other PETases. However, because these enzymes only erode the surface of the insoluble PET substrate, it is difficult to measure standard kinetic parameters, such as kon, koffand kcat, complicating interpretation of the activity of mutants using traditional enzyme kinetics frameworks. To address this challenge, we developed a single-molecule microscopy assay that quantifies the landing rate and binding duration of quantum dot-labeled PETase enzymes interacting with a surface-immobilized PET film. Wild-type PETase binding durations were well fit by a biexponential with a fast population having a 2.7 s time constant, interpreted as active binding events, and a slow population interpreted as non-specific binding interactions that last tens of seconds. A previously described hyperactive mutant, S238F/W159H had both a faster on-rate and a slower off-rate than wild-type PETase, potentially explaining its enhanced activity. Because this single-molecule approach provides a more detailed mechanistic picture of PETase enzymatic activity than standard bulk assays, it should aid future efforts to engineer more robust and active PETases to combat global microplastics pollution.

Statement of significance

Plastic pollution is a global environmental and human health problem. PETases are recently discovered enzymes that degrade the ubiquitous plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A push is underway to understand and optimize these enzymes to enable large-scale microplastics remediation. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to visualize the interactions of PETase enzyme molecules with a thin film of PET. We identify specific binding interactions of a few seconds that differ between wild-type and PETase mutants that have been previously shown to have altered activities. These single-molecule investigations provide a new window into the mechanism and activity of PETase enzymes, and provide a platform for characterizing and optimizing novel PETases with improved function and stability.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Unveil the Aggregation Patterns and Salting out of Polyarginines at Zwitterionic POPC Bilayers in Solutions of Various Ionic Strengths
Authors: Hong Man Nguyen Thi , Vazdar Mario
Published: April 2024

This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the adsorption and aggregation behavior of simple polyarginine cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), specifically modeled as R9peptides, at zwitterionic phosphocholine POPC membranes under varying ionic strengths of two peptide concentrations and two concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2. The results reveal an intriguing phenomenon of R9aggregation at the membrane, which is dependent on the ionic strength indicating a salting-out effect. As the peptide concentration and ionic strength increase, peptide aggregation also increases, with aggregate lifetimes and sizes showing a corresponding rise, accompanied by the total decrease of adsorbed peptides at the membrane surface. Notably, in high ionic strength environments, large R9aggregates, such as octamers, are also observed occasionally. The salting-out, typically uncommon for short positively charged peptides, is attributed to the unique properties of arginine amino acid, specifically by its side chain containing amphiphilic guanidinium (Gdm+) ion which makes both intermolecular hydrophobic like-charge Gdm+– Gdm+and salt-bridge Gdm+ – C-terminus interactions, where the former are increased with the ionic strength, and the latter decreased due to electrostatic screening. The aggregation behavior of R9peptides at membranes can also linked to their CPP translocation properties, suggesting that aggregation may aid in translocation across cellular membranes.
Reassortant strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) belonging to genogroup A3B1 predominate in British broiler chicken flocks
Authors: Reddy Vishwanatha R. A. P. , Bianco Carlo , Poulos Christopher , Brodrick Andrew J. , Nazki Salik , Schock Alex , Broadbent Andrew J.
Published: April 2024

As part of ongoing epidemiological surveillance for infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), the hypervariable region (HVR) of the VP2 capsid gene encoded by segment A, and a region of the VP1 polymerase gene, encoded by segment B, were sequenced from 20 IBDV-positive bursal samples obtained in 2020 and 2021, from 16 commercial British broiler farms. Of the 16 farms, none contained very virulent (vv) strains belonging to genogroup A3B2, but 5/16 (31%) contained strains of genogroup A3B1, demonstrating birds were infected with reassortant strains containing a vv segment A and a non-vv segment B. In addition, 3/16 (19%) farms contained vaccine or classical strains belonging to genogroup A1B1, and 8/16 (50%) were co-infected with both genogroup A1B1 and A3B1 strains. Therefore, a total of 13/16 (81%) of the farms contained genogroup A3B1 reassortant viruses, the majority of which 8/13 (62%)) were found to be co-infected with genogroup A1B1 strains. Moreover, of the flocks containing reassortant strains, 5/13 (38%) had HVR mutations Q219L, G254D, D279N, and N280T, consistent with a recently described Western European clade, but 8/13 had other mutations or no mutations, demonstrating that multiple clades were present in the samples. Taken together, vv strains were not detected in the British broiler flocks we sampled, whereas reassortant strains predominated, which belonged to different clades, and were frequently found in samples that were also infected with genogroup A1B1 strains.
Identification of MYC synthetic lethal genes and networks
Authors: Martin Timothy D. , Choi Mei Yuk , Patel Rupesh , Liang Anthony , Li Mamie Z. , Elledge Stephen J.
Published: April 2024

MYC is a potent oncogene that is frequently overexpressed in human tumors arising in different tissues. To date there are no approved therapies to directly antagonize oncogenic MYC and its role in driving tumorigenesis. As an alternative approach we employed genetic screens using CRISPR and shRNA to identify the genes that are required for the survival and growth of cells harboring high levels of MYC expression. We find that cells with elevated MYC require the expression of many pro-growth and metabolic pathways including genes involved in mitochondrial citrate production and transport. This citrate producing pathway is critical for cells with elevated MYC to generate the necessary acetyl-CoA to drive the lipid synthesis required for increased proliferation. Inhibition of this pathway results in reduced proliferation and in vivo tumor growth providing a potential therapeutic strategy to target MYC-driven cancers.

HIGHLIGHTS

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CRISPR and shRNA screens identify synthetic lethal interactions with overexpressed MYC

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MYC overexpressing cells are more sensitive to disruption of citrate production and transport

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Inhibition of SLC25A1 reduces growth of MYC driven tumors
Conformal little Higgs models
Authors: Ahmed Aqeel , Lindner Manfred , Saake Philipp
Published: April 2024

Little Higgs models address the hierarchy problem by identifying the SM Higgs doublet as pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons arising from global symmetries with collective breakings. These models are designed to address the little hierarchy problem up to a scale of Λ∼O(10)  TeV. Consequently, these models necessitate an UV completion above this scale. On the other hand, conformal extensions of the Standard Model are intriguing because scales emerge as a consequence of dimensional transmutation. In this study, we present a unified framework in which the electroweak hierarchy problem is tackled through a conformal symmetry collectively broken around the TeV scale, offering an appealing UV completion for little Higgs models. Notably, this framework automatically ensures the presence of the required UV fixed points, eliminating the need for careful adjustments to the particle content of the theory. Moreover, this framework naturally addresses the flavor puzzles associated with composite or little Higgs models. Furthermore, we suggest that in this framework all known little Higgs models can be UV completed through conformal dynamics above the scale Λ up to arbitrary high scales.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Photometric redshifts and intrinsic alignments: Degeneracies and biases in the
3×2pt
analysis
Authors: Leonard C. Danielle , Rau Markus Michael , Mandelbaum Rachel
Published: April 2024

We present a systematic study of cosmological parameter bias in weak lensing and large-scale structure analyses for upcoming imaging surveys induced by the interplay of intrinsic alignments (IA) and photometric redshift (photo-z) model misspecification error. We first examine the degeneracies between the parameters of the tidal alignment–tidal torquing (TATT) model for IA and of a photo-z model including a mean shift (Δz¯) and variance (σz) for each tomographic bin of lenses and sources, under a variety of underlying true IA behaviors. We identify strong degeneracies between: (1) the redshift scaling of the tidal alignment amplitude and the mean shift and variances of source bins, (2) the redshift scaling of the tidal torquing amplitude and the variance of the lowest-z source bin, and (3) the IA source density weighting and the mean shift and variance of several source bins. We then use this information to guide our exploration of the level of cosmological parameter bias which can be induced given incorrect modeling of IA, photo-z, or both. We find that marginalizing over all the parameters of TATT is generally sufficient to preclude cosmological parameter bias in the scenarios we consider. However, this does not necessarily mean that IA and photo-z parameters are themselves unbiased, nor does it mean that the best-fit model is a good fit to the data. We also find scenarios where the inferred parameters produce χd.o.f.2 values indicative of a good fit but cosmological parameter bias is significant, particularly when the IA source density weighting parameter is not marginalized over.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Holographic dual of a quantum spin chain as a Chern-Simons-scalar theory
Authors: Yokoi Naoto , Oikawa Yasuyuki , Saitoh Eiji
Published: April 2024

We construct a holographic dual theory of one-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg spin chain, which includes two Chern-Simons gauge fields and a charged scalar field. Thermodynamic quantities of the spin chain at low temperatures, which are exactly calculated from the integrability, are completely reproduced by the dual theory on three-dimensional black hole backgrounds and the exact matching of the parameters between the dual theory and the spin chain is obtained. The holographic dual theory provides a new theoretical framework to analyze the quantum spin chain and one-dimensional quantum many-body systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Observation of quantum metric and non-Hermitian Berry curvature in a plasmonic lattice
Authors: Cuerda Javier , Taskinen Jani M. , Källman Nicki , Grabitz Leo , Törmä Päivi
Published: April 2024

We experimentally observe the quantum geometric tensor, namely, the quantum metric and the Berry curvature, for a square lattice of radiatively coupled plasmonic nanoparticles. We observe a nonzero Berry curvature and show that it arises solely from non-Hermitian effects. The quantum metric is found to originate from a pseudospin-orbit coupling. The long-range nature of the radiative interaction renders the behavior distinct from tight-binding systems: Berry curvature and quantum metric are centered around high-symmetry lines of the Brillouin zone instead of high-symmetry points. Our results inspire pathways in the design of topological systems by tailoring losses or gain.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
PINK: a tender X-ray beamline for X-ray emission spectroscopy
Authors: Peredkov Sergey , Pereira Nilson , Grötzsch Daniel , Hendel Stefan , Wallacher Dirk , DeBeer Serena
Published: April 2024

A high-flux beamline optimized for non-resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) in the tender X-ray energy range has been constructed at the BESSY II synchrotron source. The beamline utilizes a cryogenically cooled undulator that provides X-rays over the energy range 2.1 keV to 9.5 keV. This energy range provides access to XES [and in the future X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)] studies of transition metals ranging from Ti to Cu (Kα, Kβ lines) and Zr to Ag (Lα, Lβ), as well as light elements including P, S, Cl, K and Ca (Kα, Kβ). The beamline can be operated in two modes. In PINK mode, a multilayer monochromator (E/ΔE ≃ 30–80) provides a high photon flux (1014 photons s−1 at 6 keV and 300 mA ring current), allowing non-resonant XES measurements of dilute substances. This mode is currently available for general user operation. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and resonant XAS techniques will be available after the second stage of the PINK commissioning, when a high monochromatic mode (E/ΔE ≃ 10000–40000) will be facilitated by a double-crystal monochromator. At present, the beamline incorporates two von Hamos spectrometers, enabling time-resolved XES experiments with time scales down to 0.1 s and the possibility of two-color XES experiments. This paper describes the optical scheme of the PINK beamline and the endstation. The design of the two von Hamos dispersive spectrometers and sample environment are discussed here in detail. To illustrate, XES spectra of phosphorus complexes, KCl, TiO2 and Co3O4 measured using the PINK setup are presented.
Advancing social practice understandings of digital innovation delivery in construction project management
Authors: Collinge William Henry
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The paper aims to apply social practice theory to clarify the process of innovation design and delivery from one successful digital innovation: the building information modelling (BIM) risk library. The paper clarifies the practices surrounding construction innovation and provides a schema useful for practitioners and technology designers through a social practice analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies Schatzki's “organisation of practice” concepts to a construction project innovation to clarify how the practice of innovation revolves around understandings, rules and teleoaffectivities (emotive behaviours). Sources for the study include notes from meetings, workshops with experts and the shared artefacts of innovation.

Findings

The practice of innovation design and delivery are clarified through a social practice analysis: a distinct “field of practice” and a “schema” of generalisable prescriptions and preferences for innovation delivery being presented.

Practical implications

The paper informs the practice and process of innovation design and delivery; the insights clarify how collective understandings and rules of use evolve over time, becoming formalised into contracts, agreements and workplans. Practically, processes whereby innovation “sayings” evolve into innovation “doings” are clarified: a schema detailing prescriptions and preferences of practitioners and developers being presented.

Originality/value

The social practice analysis of one successful construction innovation is an original contribution to the body of knowledge, adding a level of detail regarding innovation design and delivery often missing from reported research.
Beyond the land of the living death: early-stage transformational entrepreneurs in digital healthcare as liminality navigator
Authors: Trincanato Edoardo , Vagnoni Emidia
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The lean startup approach (LSA) is extensively utilized by early-stage entrepreneurs, with “pivot” serving as a key pillar. However, there is a research gap concerning the boundary conditions impacting LSA and pivot decisions, especially when addressing societal challenges, as in the context of transformational entrepreneurship. In this regard, the healthcare sector, further compounded by a lack of research on startups and scale-ups, presents an embraced opportunity to provide multiple contributions for both theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The present investigation employs a grounded approach to explore the experiences of the co-founders of a fast-growing Italian e-health startup. A narrative strategy was employed to organize conditions and evolving strategic action/interactions into three different pivoting phases of the startup – before the pivot, its enactment and aftermath – with primary and secondary data collected over a period of one year.

Findings

Pivoting in digital healthcare unfolded as a liminal experience marked by factors such as high regulation, multiple stakeholders, technological and symbolic ambivalence, resource-intensive demands and institutional actors acting as pathway pioneers, leading to an information overload and unforeseeable uncertainty to manage. These factors challenge entrepreneurs' ability to attain optimal distinctiveness, presenting the paradoxical need for vertical flexibility for scaling up.

Social implications

By uniquely illuminating the sector’s constraints on entrepreneurial phenomena, this study provides a valuable guide for entrepreneurs and institutional actors in addressing societal challenges.

Originality/value

This study introduces a process model of transformational information crafting when pivoting, highlighting the role of entrepreneurs' transformational stance and platform-mediated solutions as engines behind strategies involving information breaking and transition, preceding knowledge-driven integration strategies.
Is lean manufacturing maturity a prerequisite for industry 4.0? Survey of SMEs in Japan and Brazil
Authors: Tsukada Osamu , Ibusuki Ugo , Kuchii Shigeru , de Almeida Anderson Tadeu de Santi Barbosa
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between Lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0 for small and medium size of enterprise in Japan and Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a quantitative survey (20 companies in Japan and 30 companies in Brazil) combined with a qualitative interview (2 companies in Japan and 15 companies in Brazil).

Findings

According to the quantitative study, 90% of them practice Lean manufacturing and 40% of them practice Industry 4.0. In the qualitative study in Brazil, four managers responded that the Lean manufacturing is a prerequisite for Industry 4.0 since any production process with waste cannot be productive, even with sophisticated digitalization technology.

Originality/value

The authors explored further the relationship between “defensive Digital Transformation (DX),” which is based mainly on Lean manufacturing, and “offensive DX,” which relates to customer value creation through Industry 4.0. This study clarifies the relationship and plays as a roadmap to develop better the manufacturing from current status to the vision of Industry 4.0.
Covid-19 heterogeneous effects on Italian workers’ incomes: the role of jobs routinization and teleworkability
Authors: Gallo Giovanni , Granato Silvia , Raitano Michele
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have engendered heterogeneous effects on individuals’ labour market prospects. This paper focuses on two possible sources of a heterogeneous exposition to labour market risks associated with the pandemic outbreak: the routine task content of the job and the teleworkability. To evaluate whether these dimensions played a crucial role in amplifying employment and wage gaps among workers, we focus on the case of Italy, the first EU country hit by Covid-19.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigating the actual effect of the pandemic on workers employed in jobs with a different degree of teleworkability and routinization, using real microdata, is currently unfeasible. This is because longitudinal datasets collecting annual earnings and the detailed information about occupations needed to capture a job’s routine task content and teleworkability are not presently available. To simulate changes in the wage distribution for the year 2020, we have employed a static microsimulation model. This model is built on data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (IT-SILC) survey, which has been enriched with administrative data and aligned with monthly observed labour market dynamics by industries and regions.

Findings

We measure the degree of job teleworkability and routinization with the teleworkability index (TWA) built by Sostero et al. (2020) and the routine-task-intensity index (RTI) developed by Cirillo et al. (2021), respectively. We find that RTI and TWA are negatively and positively associated with wages, respectively, and they are correlated with higher (respectively lower) risks of a large labour income drop due to the pandemic. Our evidence suggests that labour market risks related to the pandemic – and the associated new types of earnings inequality that may derive – are shaped by various factors (including TWA and RTI) instead of by a single dimension. However, differences in income drop risks for workers in jobs with varying degrees of teleworkability and routinization largely reduce when income support measures are considered, thus suggesting that the redistributive effect of the emergency measures implemented by the Italian government was rather effective.

Originality/value

No studies have so far investigated the effect of the pandemic on workers employed in jobs with a different degree of routinization and teleworkability in Italy. We thus investigate whether income drop risks in Italy in 2020 – before and after income support measures – differed among workers whose jobs are characterized by a different degree of RTI and TWA.
Climate lessons from the cold edge: rethinking the university as an ethical ecology
Authors: Boxley Simon
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This largely conceptual study aims to draw from the author’s experience of conversations with Svalbard’s educators, lessons for international higher education institutions’ engagement with climate change education and thinking for non-specialists.

Design/methodology/approach

In situ discussions with Svalbard’s educators informed the theoretical work of the author towards the development of conceptual conclusions. The theoretical frame used – “Red Biocentrism” – draws on both radical left and green thought to posit an emplaced, materialist understanding of author’s, participants’ and place’s intra-related contributions.

Findings

That, insofar as universities represent nodes in an ethical ecology, they have a capacity to realise that which is obvious in Svalbard – their role as embassies for their learning places, generative of spokespeople or ambassadors.

Originality/value

There is sparse published research into the work of Svalbard’s climate educators, as a pedagogical project undertaken under such extreme and rapidly changing environmental conditions. This study represents the first to reflect on what can be learnt from the educators of Svalbard by Universities elsewhere.
How healthy is your workplace? Testing the effectiveness of occupational health programs: insights from Germany
Authors: Afrahi Jasmin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Companies are increasingly struggling with the costs of absenteeism due to their employees’ physical and increasing psychological illnesses. At the same time, employers should recognize the value of healthy employees in terms of greater productivity and the development of positive organizational attitudes. Many organizations have implemented workplace health promotion (WHP) programs; however, we still have limited knowledge about the effectiveness of various measures. The present study is an examination of 18 WHP activities and their effect on employees’ perceived health support and actual absence rates.

Design/methodology/approach

I organized 112 German companies into four groups based on their subjective (employee perception of health promotion) and objective (absence rate) performance. Applying multinomial regression analysis, I assessed a company’s likelihood of falling into one of the four clusters if a specific measure was not implemented in it.

Findings

I identified five measures that significantly differ between company clusters: healthy food offerings, sports offerings, having fitness rooms, systematically evaluating WHP programs and smoking cessation courses. Investing in occupational health management can be a strategic asset for organizations. The study results give companies recommendations on how to address WHP and how to implement these concrete measures.

Originality/value

The study’s originality lies in the incorporation of 18 concrete WHP measures and the comparison of their effects in objective and subjective terms. It shows that employers can enhance employee well-being by using simple WHP activities.
The differential and accumulative impacts of self and other sources of moral injury on well-being in mental healthcare staff
Authors: Webb Elanor Lucy , Morris Deborah J. , Lupattelli Gencarelli Benedetta , Worsfold Jemima
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Research has established the prevalence and relevance of moral injury in healthcare workers, though less attention has been paid to the different classes of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) experienced by this population and their impact. This exploratory study sought to examine the frequency of self- and other-generated PMIE classes and their associations with demographic characteristics and well-being outcomes among mental healthcare staff.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary analysis of data drawn from two cross-sectional surveys of 267 frontline and leadership staff from mental healthcare settings in the UK was conducted. Responses on the Moral Injury Events Scale and the Short Professional Quality of Life Scale were extracted for analysis.

Findings

Betrayal by others was most frequently endorsed (61.8%), whilst self-transgressions were least frequently reported (25.5%). After controlling for the number of PMIE classes experienced, betrayal significantly predicted secondary traumatic stress (p = 0.01) and burnout (p = 0.04). Additionally, other transgressions significantly predicted secondary traumatic stress (p = 0.008). The predictive effects of self-transgressions on burnout, secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction were all nonsignificant after controlling for the number of PMIE classes experienced.

Practical implications

Findings highlight differences in the frequency and impact of self and other PMIEs experienced by healthcare professionals. Reducing cumulative exposure to differential PMIE classes appears to be of critical importance to improving occupational well-being in this group.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the associations between PMIE classes and occupational well-being in a mental healthcare population, inclusive of frontline and leadership staff.
How to make you more central? The role of guanxi and interaction
Authors: Yang Naiding , Wang Yan , Zhang Mingzhen , Xie Chunxiao
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Many studies have investigated dynamic positions and their importance, but there is less attention paid to how to enter more central positions. Interorganizational relationships are an important factor in network structural change. In Chinese society, firms allocate significant human, financial and material resources towards cultivating guanxi. The purpose of this study is to explore whether and how the three aspects of guanxi, namely renqing, ganqing and xinyong, can make firms more central, and to examine the mediating role of interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed method to collect data from 256 Chinese Cops (complex product systems) firms. And, hypotheses were tested using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 26.0.

Findings

The results indicate that renqing, ganqing and xinyong have significant positive effects on the increase in centrality, but with varying magnitudes. Additionally, the interaction was found to mediate the relationship between the three aspects of guanxi (renqing, ganqing and xinyong) and the increase in centrality.

Originality/value

The study provides new insights to help firms become more central by combining guanxi (renqing, ganqing and xinyong) with change in centrality, enriching the literature on network dynamics and guanxi-related research. Moreover, the study provides managers with a clear understanding of how to use guanxi to make the firm more central in situations with limited resources.
Unlocking the precursors of destination brand love: the roles of self-congruence and destination brand immersion
Authors: Le Angelina Nhat Hanh , Tran Phuong Thi Kim , Le Thanh Dat
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In the competitive realm of destination branding, understanding the factors that lead tourists to develop a deep emotional connection with a destination’s brand is essential. At the heart of this emotional bond lies destination brand love – an exceptionally profound sentiment transcending mere satisfaction or preference. This concept has recently garnered attention from both tourism academia and industry practice. However, there remains a void in exploring the factors and mechanisms that pave the way for tourists to develop deep affection for a destination’s brand. This study examines the influences of self-congruence and destination immersion on destination brand love. In addition, the linkages from the four facets of self-congruence to destination brand love via the mediating role of destination brand immersion are also scrutinized.

Design/methodology/approach

With data collected from 421 tourists in Vietnam, the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was applied to test the research model and hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that (1) ideal and ideal social self-congruence impact destination brand love, (2) all four facets of self-congruence impact destination brand immersion and (3) there is an indirect effect of the four facets of self-congruence on destination brand love, mediated by destination brand immersion.

Practical implications

The study’s findings provide evidence that destination characteristics must be symbolic of the destination brand and consistent with its image among tourists, which is essential in understanding the complex behavior of tourists. Indeed, the results indicate that facets of self-congruence significantly influence both destination brand immersion and destination brand love. Therefore, destination marketers should develop marketing strategies that emphasize personal relevance to the tourist destination to increase their sympathy and love for the destination.

Originality/value

Adapting self-congruence theory and the psychology of flow theory, this study presents a model that elucidates both the direct and indirect relationships among the four facets of self-congruence: destination brand immersion and destination brand love based on the aspects of congruence between tourists and destinations. From this, it helps to explore the factors and mechanisms that pave the way for tourists to develop deep affection for a destination’s brand.
Action-oriented entrepreneurial training and career resilience: a serial mediation model
Authors: Fatima Tehreem , Bilal Ahmad Raza , Imran Muhammad Kashif , Sarwar Ambreen
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The combination of action and process has remained the attention of the psychology of entrepreneurship research. Moreover, special attention has also been paid to the whens and hows of entrepreneurial psychological training. Keeping this in view the current study has tested the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) training on small business entrepreneurial career resilience. Using action regulation theory (ART), a serial mediation model of IEO behaviour and entrepreneurial career adaptability is hypothesised.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a longitudinal randomised controlled field experiment in which the data were collected at four points. A total of 546 small business owners from Lahore, Pakistan, participated in this research (training group = 265, control group = 281). The data were analysed using ANCOVAs and PROCESS Model 6.

Findings

The research has found that IEO training impacts the entrepreneurial career resilience of small business owners through the development of IEO behaviour and career adaptability.

Originality/value

This experimental inquiry is a novel attempt to extend the career-related outcomes of IEO training (career resilience) based on ART through the mediating role of IEO behaviour and career adaptability. In addition, it has tested the IEO training in the developing country of Pakistan, which is a relevant context for enhancing its socio-economic growth.
The theory of high hazard (HHT) based on grounded theory method and theories integration
Authors: Ghaith Ahmad , Huimin Ma
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Organizations working in high-hazard environments contribute significantly to modern society and the economy, not only for the valuable resources they hold but also for the indispensable products and services they provide, such as power generation, transportation and defense weapons. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to develop a framework that outlines future research on systems safety and provides a better understanding of how organizations can effectively manage hazard events.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, we developed the high hazard theory (HHT) and a theoretical framework based on the grounded theory method (GTM) and the integration of three established theoretical perspectives: normal accident theory (NAT), high reliability theory (HRT) and resilience engineering (RE) theory.

Findings

We focused on the temporal aspect of accidents to create a timeline showing the progression of hazard events and the factors contributing to safety and hazards in organizations. Given the limitations of the previous theories in providing a coherent explanation of hazard event escalation in high-hazard organizations (HHOs), we argue that the highlighted theories can be more complementary than contradictory regarding their standpoints on disasters and accident prevention.

Practical implications

A proper appreciation of the hazard nature of organizations can help reduce their susceptibility to failure, prevent outages and breakdowns of systems, identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance performance.

Originality/value

By developing HHT, we contribute to systems safety research by developing a new, refined theory and enrich the theoretical debate. We also expand the understanding of scholars and practitioners about the characteristics of organizations working in high-hazard environments.
Are we working from home or office? Insights from Australia
Authors: Tenakwah Emmanuel Senior , Watson Chrystie
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors influencing office occupancy and the broader implications for workplace dynamics in Australia in the post-pandemic era.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on industry insights, research data and expert opinions on remote work and office attendance to explain post-pandemic trends.

Findings

The paper finds that average office occupancy reached 71% of pre-pandemic levels in Q3 2023, indicating a significant rebound from earlier downturns. This can be explained by factors such as improved vaccination rates, clearer return-to-office policies by large corporations and a greater understanding of the virus.

Originality/value

This paper offers valuable insights on the implications of physical, hybrid and remote work highlighting the growing recognition of the importance of physical workspace in fostering collaboration, innovation and organisational culture. It also brings together evidence of the impact of flexible options that may support greater social and environmental sustainability.
Design, fabrication and experimental analysis of piezoresistive bidirectional acoustic sensor
Authors: Hegde Vasudha , Chaulagain Narendra , Tamang Hom Bahadur
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Identification of the direction of the sound source is very important for human–machine interfacing in the applications such as target detection on military applications and wildlife conservation. Considering its vast applications, this study aims to design, simulate, fabricate and test a bidirectional acoustic sensor having two cantilever structures coated with piezoresistive material for sensing has been designed, simulated, fabricated and tested.

Design/methodology/approach

The structure is a piezoresistive acoustic pressure sensor, which consists of two Kapton diaphragms with four piezoresistors arranged in Wheatstone bridge arrangement. The applied acoustic pressure causes diaphragm deflection and stress in diaphragm hinge, which is sensed by the piezoresistors positioned on the diaphragm. The piezoresistive material such as carbon or graphene is deposited at maximum stress area. Furthermore, the Wheatstone bridge arrangement has been formed to sense the change in resistance resulting into imbalanced bridge and two cantilever structures add directional properties to the acoustic sensor. The structure is designed, fabricated and tested and the dimensions of the structure are chosen to enable ease of fabrication without clean room facilities. This structure is tested with static and dynamic calibration for variation in resistance leading to bridge output voltage variation and directional properties.

Findings

This paper provides the experimental results that indicate sensor output variation in terms of a Wheatstone bridge output voltage from 0.45 V to 1.618 V for a variation in pressure from 0.59 mbar to 100 mbar. The device is also tested for directionality using vibration source and was found to respond as per the design.

Research limitations/implications

The fabricated devices could not be tested for practical acoustic sources due to lack of facilities. They have been tested for a vibration source in place of acoustic source.

Practical implications

The piezoresistive bidirectional sensor can be used for detection of direction of the sound source.

Social implications

In defense applications, it is important to detect the direction of the acoustic signal. This sensor is suited for such applications.

Originality/value

The present paper discusses a novel yet simple design of a cantilever beam-based bidirectional acoustic pressure sensor. This sensor fabrication does not require sophisticated cleanroom for fabrication and characterization facility for testing. The fabricated device has good repeatability and is able to detect the direction of the acoustic source in external environment.