bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermostable designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) as building blocks for innovative drugs
Authors: Schilling Johannes , Jost Christian , Ilie Ioana Mariuca , Schnabl Joachim , Buechi Oralea , Eapen Rohan S. , Truffer Rafaela , Caflisch Amedeo , Forrer Patrik
Published: April 2021

Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) are a class of antibody mimetics with a high and mostly unexplored potential in drug development. They are clinically validated and thus represent a true alternative to classical immunoglobulin formats. In contrast to immunoglobulins, they are built from solenoid protein domains comprising an N-terminal capping repeat, one or more internal repeats and a C-terminal capping repeat. By usingin silicoanalysis and a rationally guided Ala-Scan, we identified position 17 of the N-terminal capping repeat to play a key role for the overall protein thermostability. The melting temperature of a DARPin domain with a single full-consensus internal repeat was increased by about 8°C to 10°C when the original Asp17 was replaced by Leu, Val, Ile, Met, Ala or Thr, as shown by high-temperature unfolding experiments at equilibrium. We then transferred the Asp17Leu mutation to various backgrounds, including different N- and C-terminal capping repeats and clinically validated DARPin domains, such as the VEGF-binding ankyrin repeat domain of abicipar pegol. In all cases, the proteins remained monomeric and showed improvements in the thermostability of about 8°C to 16°C. Thus, the replacement of Asp17 seems to be generically applicable to this drug class. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the Asp17Leu mutation reduces electrostatic repulsion and improves van-der-Waals packing, rendering the DARPin domain less flexible and more stable. Interestingly, such a beneficial Asp17Leu mutation is present in the N-terminal caps of three of the five DARPin domains of ensovibep, a SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor currently in clinical development. This mutation is likely responsible, at least in part, for the very high melting temperature (>90°C) of this promising anti-Covid-19 drug. Overall, such N-terminal capping repeats with increased thermostability seem to be beneficial for the development of innovative drugs based on DARPins.
Activation of ACC synthase 2/6 increases stomatal density and cluster on theArabidopsisleaf epidermis during drought
Authors: Jia Ming-zhu , Liu Ling-yun , Geng Chen , Song Chun-peng , Jiang Jing
Published: April 2021

It is known that the transcription factor SPEECHLESS (SPCH) drives entry of epidermal cells into stomatal lineage, and that the activation of subtilisin-like protease SDD1 reduces stomatal density and cluster on the epidermis. However, there is still a big gap in our understanding of the relationship between stomatal development and the establishment of stomatal density and pattern, especially during drought. Interestingly, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) not only promotes stomatal development, but also is involved in the establishment of stomatal density and pattern. ACC generation comes from the activity of ACC synthase (ACS), while ACS activity could be mediated by drought. This work showed that the Arabidopsis SPCH activatedACS2/6expression and ACC-dependent stomatal generation with an increase of stomatal density and cluster under drought conditions; and the possible mechanisms were that ACC-induced Ca2+shortage in stomatal lineage reduced the inhibition of the transcription factor GT-2 Like 1 (GTL1) onSDD1expression. These suggest that ACS2/6-dependent ACC accumulation integrated stomatal development with the establishment of stomatal density and pattern by mediating Ca2+levels in stomatal lineage cells on the leaf epidermis, and this integration is directly related to the growth or survival of plants under escalated drought stress.

Highlight

ACC synthase ACS2/6 activation integrated stomatal individual development with space setting between stomata by mediating Ca2+levels in stomatal lineage on the leaf epidermis in response to drought.
Long- and short-range bimodal signals mediate mate location and recognition in yellow fever mosquitoes
Authors: Ko Elton , Blake Adam J. , Lier Chiara , Takács Stephen , Gries Gerhard
Published: April 2021

Mate location and mate selection behavior in diurnally-active yellow fever mosquitoes,Aedes aegypti, take place in mating swarms but the mechanisms underlying swarm formation and long-range detection of females by males remain largely unexplored. In high-speed video recordings we show that incident light reflects off the wings of swarming males, and in behavioral experiments we demonstrate that swarm formation and mate recognition are mediated, in part, by these wingbeat light flashes and by wingbeat sound signals that operate at long and short range, respectively. To test for range-dependent effects of these signals, we presented ‘mating swarms’ in form of two paired 8-LED assemblies that were fitted with micro-speakers and placed either well separated in a large space or side-by-side in a small space. In the large but not the small space, the LED assembly flashing light at the wingbeat frequency of females (665 Hz), and emitting their wingbeat sound (665 Hz), attracted and prompted 5.8-times more alightings by males than the LED assembly emitting constant light and wingbeat sound. In the small space, the LED assembly flashing light and emitting wingbeat sound induced 5.0-times more alightings by males than the LED assembly flashing light without wingbeat sound. The attractiveness of light flash signals to males increased with increasing numbers of signals but did not vary according to their wavelengths (UV or blue). Females responded to light flash signals of males. As predicted by the sensory drive theory, light flashes had no signal function for crepuscular house mosquitoes,Culex pipiens.
Visualizing transcription sites in living cells using a genetically encoded probe specific for the elongating form of RNA polymerase II
Authors: Uchino Satoshi , Ito Yuma , Sato Yuko , Handa Tetsuya , Ohkawa Yasuyuki , Tokunaga Makio , Kimura Hiroshi
Published: April 2021

In eukaryotic nuclei, most genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (RNAP2). How RNAP2 transcription is regulated in the nucleus is a key to understanding the genome and cell function. The largest subunit of RNAP2 has a long heptapeptide repeat (Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5- Pro6-Ser7) at the C-terminal domain and Ser2 is phosphorylated on an elongation form of RNAP2. To detect RNAP2 Ser2 phosphorylation (RNAP2 Ser2ph) in living cells, we developed a genetically encoded modification-specific intracellular antibody (mintbody) probe. The RNAP2 Ser2ph-mintbody probe exhibited numerous foci, possibly representing transcription “factories” in living HeLa cells, and foci were diminished when cells were treated with triptolide to induce RNAP2 degradation and with flavopiridol to inhibit Ser2ph. An in vitro binding assay using phospho-peptides confirmed the Ser2ph-specific binding of the mintbody. These results support the view that mintbody localization represents the sites of RNAP2 Ser2ph in living cells. RNAP2 Ser2ph-mintbody foci were colocalized with proteins associated with elongating RNAP2, such as the CDK12 and Paf1 complex component, compared to factors involved in transcription activation around the transcription start sites, such as CDK9 and BRD4. Tracking analysis revealed that RNAP2 Ser2ph-mintbody foci showed constrained diffusional motion like chromatin, but was more mobile compared to euchromatin domains, suggesting that the elongating RNAP2 complexes are separated from the more confined initiating clusters.

The authors developed a genetically encoded probe to specifically detect the Ser2- phosphorylated, elongating form of RNA Polymerase II in living cells. The motion of Ser2- phosphorylated polymerase foci was more dynamic than chromatin domains, suggesting that the elongating complexes are separated from the more confined initiating clusters.
SMURF2 phosphorylation at Thr249 modifies the stemness and tumorigenicity of glioma stem cells by regulating TGF-β receptor stability
Authors: Hiraiwa Manami , Fukasawa Kazuya , Iezaki Takashi , Sabit Hemragul , Horie Tetsuhiro , Tokumura Kazuya , Iwahashi Sayuki , Murata Misato , Kobayashi Masaki , Park Gyujin , Kaneda Katsuyuki , Todo Tomoki , Hirao Atsushi , Nakada Mitsutoshi , Hinoi Eiichi
Published: April 2021

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to the pathogenesis of glioblastoma, the most malignant form of glioma. The implication and underlying mechanisms of SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 (SMURF2) on the GSC phenotypes remain unknown. We previously demonstrated that SMURF2 phosphorylation at Thr249(SMURF2Thr249) activates its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Here, we demonstrate that SMURF2Thr249phosphorylation plays an essential role in maintaining GSC stemness and tumorigenicity.SMURF2silencing augmented the self-renewal potential and tumorgenicity of patient-derived GSCs. The SMURF2Thr249phosphorylation level was low in human glioblastoma pathology specimens. Introduction of theSMURF2T249Amutant resulted in increased stemness and tumorgenicity of GSCs, recapitulating theSMURF2silencing. Moreover, the inactivation of SMURF2Thr249phosphorylation increases TGF-β receptor (TGFBR) protein stability. Indeed,TGFBR1knockdown markedly counteracted the GSC phenotypes bySMURF2T249Amutant. These findings highlight the importance of SMURF2Thr249phosphorylation in maintaining GSC phenotypes, thereby demonstrating a potential target for GSC-directed therapy.
The metabolic cost of overcoming air resistive forces in distance running
Authors: da Silva Edson Soares , Kram Rodger , Hoogkamer Wouter
Published: April 2021

We lack a mechanistic understanding of the relationship between aerodynamic drag forces and metabolic power during running. Further, the energetic and time savings possible from reducing aerodynamic drag (drafting) are still unclear due to the different methods previously assumed for converting from force reductions to metabolic power savings. Here, we quantified how small horizontal impeding forces (equivalent to aerodynamic forces) affect metabolic power and ground reaction forces over a range of velocities in competitive runners. In three sessions, 12 runners completed six 5-minute trials with 5 minutes of recovery in-between. We tested one velocity per session (12, 14 and 16 km/h), at three horizontal impeding force conditions (0, 4 and 8 N). On average, metabolic power increased by 6.13% per 1% body weight of horizontal impeding force but varied considerably between individuals. With greater horizontal impeding force, braking impulses decreased while propulsive impulses increased (p < 0.001). Across running velocities, the changes in braking and propulsive impulses with greater impeding force were correlated (r = -0.97; p < 0.001), but were not related to individual changes in metabolic power. We estimate that at ∼2-hour marathon pace, overcoming air resistive force comprises 8.52% of the gross metabolic power on average.
Modulations in motor unit discharge are related to changes in fascicle length during isometric contractions
Authors: Martinez-Valdes Eduardo , Negro Francesco , Botter Alberto , Pincheira Patricio A , Cerone Giacinto Luigi , Falla Deborah , Lichtwark Glen A , Cresswell Andrew G
Published: April 2021

The integration of electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound imaging has provided important information about the mechanisms of muscle activation and contraction. Unfortunately, EMG does not allow an accurate assessment of the interplay between the neural drive received by muscles, changes in fascicle length (FL) and the force/torque produced. We aimed to assess the relationship between modulations in tibialis anterior (TA) motor unit (MU) firing rate, FL and dorsiflexion torque (DT) using ultrasound-transparent high-density EMG electrodes. EMG and ultrasound images were recorded simultaneously from TA, using a 32-electrode silicon matrix, while performing isometric dorsiflexion, at diverse ankle joint positions (0° and 30° plantar flexion) and torques (20% and 40% of maximum). EMG signals were decomposed into individual MUs and changes in FL were assessed with a fascicle-tracking algorithm. MU firings were converted into a cumulative spike train (CST) that was cross-correlated with DT (CST-DT) and FL (CST-FL). High cross-correlations were found for CST-FL, 0.60 (range: 0.31-0.85) and CST-DT 0.71 (range: 0.31-0.88). Cross-correlation lags revealed that the delay between CST-FL (~75ms) was significantly smaller than CST-DT (~150ms, p<0.001). These delays affected the interpretation of MU recruitment/de-recruitment thresholds, with FL showing similar lengths for both recruitment and de-recruitment. This study is the first to demonstrate that changes in TA FL are closely related to both modulations in MU firing frequency and DT. These relationships allow assessment of the interplay between neural drive, muscle contraction and resultant torque, thereby providing a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the generation of muscle force.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

By employing ultrasound-transparent high-density surface EMG electrodes, we show that modulations in tibialis anterior motor unit discharge rate were closely related to both changes in its fascicle length and resultant torque. These relationships allowed quantifying delays between neural drive and muscle shortening as well as muscle shortening and torque during submaximal isometric contractions, providing an accurate estimation of the time required to generate muscle force and subsequent production of torque via the tendon.
Activin B Promotes the Initiation and Progression of Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Wang Yan , Hamang Matthew , Culver Alexander , Jiang Huaizhou , Kusumanchi Praveen , Chalasani Naga , Liangpunsakul Suthat , Yaden Benjamin C. , Dai Guoli
Published: April 2021

Background & Aims

Liver fibrosis is a pivotal pathology in multiple hepatic disease indications, profoundly characterizing disease severity and outcomes. The role of activin B, a TGFβ superfamily cytokine, in liver health and disease is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate whether activin B modulates liver fibrogenesis.

Methods

Liver and serum activin B, along with its analog activin A, were analyzed in patients with liver fibrosis from different etiologies and in mouse acute and chronic liver injury models. Activin B, activin A, or both was immunologically neutralized in mice with progressive or established carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. The direct effects of activin B and A on hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were evaluatedin vitro.

Results

As a result, hepatic and circulating activin B was increased in human patients with liver fibrosis caused by several liver diseases. In mice, hepatic and circulating activin B exhibited persistent elevation following the onset of several types of liver injury, whereas activin A displayed transient increases. The results revealed a close correlation of activin B with liver injury regardless of etiology and species. We found that neutralizing activin B largely prevented, as well as remarkably regressed, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, which was augmented by co-neutralizing activin A. Mechanistically, activin B directly promotes hepatocyte death, induces a profibrotic expression profile in HSCs, and stimulates HSCs to form a septa structure. In addition, activin B and A interdependently upregulated the transcription of profibrotic factors including connective tissue growth factor and TGFβ1 in injured livers.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that activin B, cooperating with activin A, directly acts on multiple liver cell populations, and drives the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. Our finding inspires the development of a novel therapy of chronic liver diseases.
APRANK: computational prioritization of antigenic proteins and peptides from complete pathogen proteomes
Authors: Ricci Alejandro D. , Brunner Mauricio , Ramoa Diego , Carmona Santiago J. , Nielsen Morten , Agüero Fernán
Published: April 2021

Availability of highly parallelized immunoassays has renewed interest in the discovery of serology biomarkers for infectious diseases. Protein and peptide microarrays now provide a rapid, high-throughput platform for immunological testing and validation of potential antigens and B-cell epitopes. However, there is still a need for tools to prioritize and select relevant probes when designing these arrays. In this work we describe a computational method called APRANK (Antigenic Protein and Peptide Ranker) which integrates multiple molecular features to prioritize antigenic targets in a given pathogen proteome. These features include subcellular localization, presence of repetitive motifs, natively disordered regions, secondary structure, transmembrane spans and predicted interaction with the immune system. We applied this method to prioritize potentially antigenic proteins and peptides in a number of bacteria and protozoa causing human diseases:Borrelia burgdorferi(Lyme disease),Brucella melitensis(Brucellosis),Coxiella burnetii(Q fever),Escherichia coli(Gastroenteritis),Francisella tularensis(Tularemia),Leishmania braziliensis(Leishmaniasis),Leptospira interrogans(Leptospirosis),Mycobacterium leprae(Leprae),Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Tuberculosis),Plasmodium falciparum(Malaria),Porphyromonas gingivalis(Periodontal disease),Staphylococcus aureus(Bacteremia),Streptococcus pyogenes(Group A Streptococcal infections),Toxoplasma gondii(Toxoplasmosis) andTrypanosoma cruzi(Chagas Disease). We have tested this integrative method using non-parametric ROC-curves and made an unbiased validation using an independent data set. We found that APRANK is successful in predicting antigenicity for all pathogen species tested, facilitating the production of antigen-enriched protein subsets. We make APRANK available to facilitate the identification of novel diagnostic antigens in infectious diseases.
Upregulation of the Cdc42 GTPase limits the replicative lifespan of budding yeast
Authors: Kang Pil Jung , Mullner Rachel , Li Haoyu , Hansford Derek , Shen Han-Wei , Park Hay-Oak
Published: April 2021

Cdc42, a conserved Rho GTPase, plays a central role in polarity establishment in yeast and animals. Cell polarity is critical for asymmetric cell division, and asymmetric cell division underlies replicative aging of budding yeast. Yet how Cdc42 and other polarity factors impact lifespan is largely unknown. Here, we show by live-cell imaging that the active Cdc42 level is sporadically elevated in wild type during repeated cell divisions but rarely in the long-livedbud8deletion cells. We find a novel Bud8 localization with cytokinesis remnants, which also recruit Rga1, a Cdc42 GTPase activating protein. Genetic analyses and live-cell imaging suggest that Rga1 and Bud8 oppositely impact lifespan likely by modulating active Cdc42 levels. Anrga1mutant, which has a shorter lifespan, dies at the unbudded state with a defect in polarity establishment. Remarkably, Cdc42 accumulates in old cells, and its mild overexpression accelerates aging with frequent symmetric cell divisions, despite no harmful effects on young cells. Our findings implicate that the interplay among these positive and negative polarity factors limits the lifespan of budding yeast.
Handedness and midsagittal corpus callosum morphology: A systematic meta-analytic evaluation
Authors: Westerhausen René , Papadatou-Pastou Marietta
Published: April 2021

Following a series of seminal studies in the 1980s, left or mixed hand preference is widely considered to be associated with a larger corpus callosum, influencing the interpretation of findings and various theories related to inter-hemispheric processing, brain lateralisation, and hand preference. Recent reviews of the literature, however, report inconsistencies in the literature and cast doubt on the existence of such an association. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate and meta-analytically integrate the available data on the effect of hand preference on corpus-callosum morphology. For this purpose, articles were identified via a search in PubMed and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting findings relating handedness (assessed as hand preference) and corpus-callosum morphology in healthy participants were considered eligible. On the basis of a total ofk= 25 identified studies, random-effects meta-analyses were conducted considering four different group comparisons found in the literature. That is, studies comparing participants of (a) predominantly right- (dRH) and left-hand preference (dLH), (b) consistent right (cRH) and non-cRH preference, (c) cRH with mixed-hand preference (MH), and (d) cRH with consistent left-hand hand preference (cLH). For none of these meta-analyses did we find a significant effect of hand preference, and narrow confidence intervals suggest that the existence of substantial population effect sizes can be excluded. For example, considering the comparison of dRH and dLH, (summarizingk= 14 studies incorporating 1910 dRH and 646 dLH participants) the estimated mean effect size wasg= 0.016 (95% confidence interval: −0.12 to 0.15). Thus, the common practice of assuming an increase in callosal connectivity based on hand preference is likely invalid.
Crafting for a better MAGIC: systematic design and test for multiparental advanced generation inter-cross population
Authors: Yang Chin Jian , Edmondson Rodney N. , Piepho Hans-Peter , Powell Wayne , Mackay Ian
Published: April 2021

Multiparental advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations are valuable crop resources with a wide array of research uses including genetic mapping of complex traits, management of genetic resources and breeding of new varieties. Multiple founders are crossed to create a rich mosaic of highly recombined founder genomes in the MAGIC recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Many variations of MAGIC population designs exist; however, a large proportion of the currently available populations have been created empirically and based on similar designs. In our evaluations of five MAGIC populations, we found that the choice of designs has a large impact on the recombination landscape in the RILs. The most popular design used in many MAGIC populations has been shown to have a bias in recombinant haplotypes and low level of unique recombinant haplotypes, and therefore is not recommended. To address this problem and provide a remedy for the future, we have developed the “magicdesign” R package for creating and testing any MAGIC population design via simulation. A Shiny app version of the package is available as well. Our “magicdesign” package provides a unifying tool and a framework for creativity and innovation in MAGIC population designs. For example, using this package, we demonstrate that MAGIC population designs can be found which are very effective in creating haplotype diversity without the requirement for very large crossing programmes. Further, we show that interspersing cycles of crossing with cycles of selfing is effective in increasing haplotype diversity. These approaches are applicable in species which are hard to cross or in which resources are limited.
Diversity of free-living prokaryotes on terrestrial and marine Antarctic habitats
Authors: Bendia Amanda Gonçalves , Moreira Julio Cezar Fornazier , Ferreira Juliana Correa Neiva , Romano Renato Gamba , de Castro Ferreira Ivan Gonçalves , Franco Diego Castillo , Evangelista Heitor , Montone Rosalinda Carmela , Pellizari Vivian Helena
Published: April 2021

Microorganisms in Antarctica are recognized for having crucial roles in ecosystems functioning and biogeochemical cycles. In order to explore the diversity and composition of microbial communities through different terrestrial and marine Antarctic habitats, we analyze 16S rRNA sequence datasets from fumarole and marine sediments, soil, snow and seawater environments. We obtained measures of alpha- and beta-diversities, as well as we have identified the core microbiome and the indicator microbial taxa of a particular habitat. Our results showed a unique microbial community structure according to each habitat, including specific taxa composing each microbiome. Marine sediments harbored the highest microbial diversity among the analyzed habitats. In the fumarole sediments, the core microbiome was composed mainly by thermophiles and hyperthermophilic Archaea, while in the majority of soil samples Archaea was absent. In the seawater samples, the core microbiome was mainly composed by cultured and uncultured orders usually identified on Antarctic pelagic ecosystems. Snow samples exhibited common taxa in comparison to the habitats from the Antarctic Peninsula, which suggests long-distance dispersal processes occurring from the Peninsula to the Continent. This study contributes as a baseline for further efforts on evaluating the microbial responses to environmental conditions and future changes.
Deep Generative Design with 3D Pharmacophoric Constraints
Authors: Imrie Fergus , Hadfield Thomas E. , Bradley Anthony R. , Deane Charlotte M.
Published: April 2021

Generative models have increasingly been proposed as a solution to the molecular design problem. However, it has proved challenging to control the design process or incorporate prior knowledge, limiting their practical use in drug discovery. In particular, generative methods have made limited use of three-dimensional (3D) structural information even though this is critical to binding. This work describes a method to incorporate such information and demonstrates the benefit of doing so. We combine an existing graph-based deep generative model, DeLinker, with a convolutional neural network to utilise physically-meaningful 3D representations of molecules and target pharmacophores. We apply our model, DEVELOP, to both linker and R-group design, demonstrating its suitability for both hit-to-lead and lead optimisation. The 3D pharmacophoric information results in improved generation and allows greater control of the design process. In multiple large-scale evaluations, we show that including 3D pharmacophoric constraints results in substantial improvements in the quality of generated molecules. On a challenging test set derived from PDBbind, our model improves the proportion of generated molecules with high 3D similarity to the original molecule by over 300%. In addition, DEVELOP recovers 10 × more of the original molecules compared to the base-line DeLinker method. Our approach is general-purpose, readily modifiable to alternate 3D representations, and can be incorporated into other generative frameworks. Code is available athttps://github.com/oxpig/DEVELOP.
Clustering Generation Z university students based on daily fruit and vegetable consumption: empirical research in an emerging market
Authors: Pocol Cristina Bianca , Marinescu Valentina , Dabija Dan-Cristian , Amuza Antonio
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The present paper explores Generation Z university students' clusters based on the consumption of daily fruits and vegetables in an emerging market economy, indicating young people's reasons to adopt a healthy diet.

Design/methodology/approach

Using cluster theory, the authors analyse Generation Z university students who consume fresh fruits and vegetables, highlighting aspects of a healthy diet, in compliance with the WHO recommendations and challenges.

Findings

Data collected from over 459 Generation Z university students point out the possibility of typologizing them into nine clusters: three consuming fresh fruit and six consuming fresh vegetables. Most cluster members are aware of the value of regular fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in order to maintain health and overall well-being, but the authors also identified a cluster called “urban, but sick humanists at the beginning of their professional careers”, for whom a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables is not a priority.

Research limitations/implications

Although this research only refers to consumers in the emergent economy Romania, it also allows the delimitation of specific categories which can be utilized by sector stakeholders, in order to identify issues addressed by each cluster member and to find the most appropriate solutions for encouraging/promoting a healthy diet.

Social implications

The paper also raises awareness of the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption in other emerging economies, given the advancement of processed food and reduction of time available to cook healthy dishes.

Originality/value

The results contribute to extending studies conducted on emerging markets concerning fruit and vegetable consumption among Generation Z university students, highlighting the importance of a healthy diet, and the proper targeting of these consumer clusters by fresh fruit and vegetable producers and distributors.
Effect of drying techniques on yield, nutritional, minerals of wild banana pulp (Musa balbisiana Colla): physicochemical and morphological characterization thereof
Authors: Borah Twinkle , Washmin Nooreen , Bora Nayan Jyoti , Saikia Jadumoni , Bomzon Padma Sangmu , Ahmed Tobiul Hussain , Manna Prasenjit , Saikia Siddhartha Proteem , Banik Dipanwita
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The study was aimed to compare the effect of three drying techniques viz., spray, freeze and hot air oven (HAO) drying on yield, nutritional parameters, minerals and physicochemical and morphological characterization of wild banana pulp (Musa balbisiana Colla).

Design/methodology/approach

Contents of carbohydrate was estimated by Anthrone reagent, protein by Kjeldahl, fat by Soxhlet, dietary fiber and ash by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), minerals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, gross calorific value by Bomb calorimeter, moisture by moisture analyzer, water activity by water activity meter, morphological characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), statistical level of significance at p < 0.05 by ANOVA, predictive modeling by simple and multiple linear regression.

Findings

Freeze and HAO drying were standardized with matured (stage 2) and spray drying with ripe bananas (stage 6). Freeze drying showed highest yield (76.69 ± 0.15%), minerals viz., K (1175.67 ± 1.41), Fe (2.27 ± 0.09), Mg (120.33 ± 0.47), Mn (4.40 ± 0.28) mg/100 g, protein (7.53 ± 0.14%), lesser moisture (7.95 ± 0.01%), water activity (0.17 ± 0.02aw), hygroscopicity (6.37 ± 1.09%), well dispersed particles by SEM. HAO drying exhibited highest dietary fiber (18.95 ± 0.24%), gross calorific value 357.17 kcal/100 gm, higher solubility (47.22 ± 0.86%). Spray drying showed highest carbohydrate (85.29 ± 0.01%), lowest yield (28.26 ± 0.32%), required 30.5% adjuncts.

Research limitations/implications

Effect of three drying techniques and use of adjuncts were not uniform for ripe and matured bananas.

Practical implications

Commercial utilization of seeded wild banana.

Social implications

Value addition of wild banana in Assam, India

Originality/value

Freeze drying of mature wild banana pulp (M. balbisiana) was found as best technique utilizing lesser energy.
Building crisis capacity with data breaches: the role of stakeholder relationship management and strategic communication
Authors: Diers-Lawson Audra , Symons Amelia , Zeng Cheng
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Data security breaches are an increasingly common and costly problem for organizations, yet there are critical gaps in our understanding of the role of stakeholder relationship management and crisis communication in relation to data breaches. In fact, though there have been some studies focusing on data breaches, little is known about what might constitute a “typical” response to data breaches whether those responses are effective at maintaining the stakeholders' relationship with the organization, their commitment to use the organization after the crisis, or the reputational threat of the crisis. Further, even less is known about the factors most influencing response and outcome evaluation during data breaches.

Design/methodology/approach

We identify a “typical” response strategy to data breaches and then evaluate the role of this response in comparison to situation, stakeholder demographics and relationships between stakeholders, the issue and the organization using an experimental design. This experiment focuses on a 2 (type of organization) × 2 (prior knowledge of breach risk) with a control group design.

Findings

Findings suggest that rather than employing reactive crisis response messaging the role of public relations should focus on proactive relationship building between organizations and key stakeholders.

Originality/value

For the last several decades much of the field of crisis communication has assumed that in the context of a crisis the response strategy itself would materially help the organization. These data suggest that the field crisis communication may have been making the wrong assumption. In fact, these data suggest that reactive crisis response has little-to-no effect once we consider the relationships between organizations, the issue and stakeholders. The findings show that an ongoing program of crisis capacity building is to an organization's strategic advantage when data security breaches occur.
Does public segmentation matter in crisis communication? The interplay between public segmentation and crisis response strategies
Authors: Wen Taylor Jing , Li Jo-Yun , Song Baobao
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study situates in the context of Chipotle's food safety issue and seeks to understand how their primary customers perceive their crisis response messages after learning of the outbreaks. The current study incorporates the framework of situational crisis communication theory (SCCT; Coombs, 2007) and public segmentation model (Rawlins, 2006) to understand the effectiveness of crisis response messages. It aims to examine the role of public segmentation in situational crisis communication and investigate the effects of three crisis response strategies according to SCCT on different public segments.

Design/methodology/approach

The SCCT provides guidelines for understanding the effectiveness of different crisis response strategies. The current study showcases the importance of public segmentation in the SCCT model through the lens of stakeholder theory. A 3 (crisis response strategy: deny, diminish, rebuild) × 4 (public segment: advocate, dormant, adversarial, apathetic) factorial experiment was conducted.

Findings

The findings suggest that advocate public expressed more positive evaluation about the company when exposed to rebuild and deny strategies. Both dormant and adversarial stakeholders reported positive responses on rebuild and diminish strategies. However, no difference was found among apathetic public.

Originality/value

The researchers attempt to make a modest contribution in this direction by reporting results from an empirical experiment that examined the effects of crisis response strategies on different public segments. The findings suggest an effective message tailoring approach to target different public segments. Thus, the results of this study are expected to benefit relevant corporations and public relations practitioners.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication via social media sites: evidence from the German banking industry
Authors: Schröder Philipp
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore how banks practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication on two popular social media sites (SMSs), Facebook and Twitter. Furthermore, this study examines CSR communication strategies on SMSs, including the levels of communication direction and communication balance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were extracted from Facebook and Twitter over a five-year period (2015–2019), and content analysis was performed. The research setting was the German banking industry.

Findings

The results indicate that the number of banks using SMSs to communicate CSR-information increased over time. Although the majority of banks’ messages were not related to CSR, the most-referenced (least-referenced) CSR-theme was “society” (“human rights”). On Facebook, banks employed an interacting CSR communication strategy more often than an informing one when communicating CSR activities; on Twitter banks used a balanced mix of communication strategies. In terms of stakeholder engagement, social media users interacted with banks more frequently on Facebook than on Twitter, and banks made efforts to engage in two-way symmetrical communication.

Research limitations/implications

Although the sample comprised the most relevant banks in Germany, it was limited to a single national context. Thus, the results may not be generalizable.

Originality/value

This study makes a significant contribution to the limited literature on banks’ CSR communication via SMSs, provides new empirical evidence on the use of CSR communication strategies and extends prior research on the direction and balance of communication. Recommendations are provided for banking communication practitioners.
Knowledge discovery of correlations between unsafe behaviors within construction accidents
Authors: Guo Shengyu , Zhao Yujia , Luoren Yuqiu , Liang Kongzheng , Tang Bing
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Knowledge discovery related to unsafe behaviors promotes the performance of accident prevention in construction. Although numerous studies on accident causation models have discussed the correlations of unsafe behaviors with various factors (e.g., unsafe conditions), limited research explores correlations between unsafe behaviors within accidents. The purpose of this paper is mining strong association rules of unsafe behaviors from historical accidents to clarify this kind of tacit knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was adopted as the research approach, in which accident records from building and urban railway construction in China were selected as data resources. The groups of unsafe behaviors extracted from accident records were expressed by the definitions of unsafe behaviors from safety regulations and operating procedures. Frequent Pattern (FP)-Growth algorithm was used for association rule mining, and the critical correlations between unsafe behaviors were represented by the effective strong rules.

Findings

The findings identify and distinguish correlations between unsafe behaviors within construction accidents. In building construction, workers and managers should pay attention to preventing unsafe behaviors related to personal protective equipment and machines and equipment. In urban railway construction, workers should especially avoid unsafe behaviors of inadequately dealing with environmental factors.

Practical implications

Tacit knowledge is transferred to explicit knowledge as the critical correlations between unsafe behaviors within accidents are determined by the effective strong rules. Additionally, the findings provide practice guidance for safety management, to collaboratively control unsafe behaviors with strong correlations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of safety knowledge in construction and provides a further understanding of how construction accidents are caused by multiple unsafe behaviors.
Environmental impact assessments during construction stage at different geographic levels – a cradle-to-gate analysis of using sustainable concrete materials
Authors: Sandanayake Malindu , Kumanayake Ramya , Peiris Achini
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The main objective of the study is to present a systematic process that can assess, compare and benchmark different geographical levels environmental impacts of using sustainable materials at construction stage.

Design/methodology/approach

Current study presents a methodological framework to evaluate environmental impacts at the construction stage of using sustainable materials through a cradle-to-gate process based quantitative LCA study. Scenario analyses and an optimisation analysis using Monte-Carlo simulation are conducted to investigate the influence of external factors on environmental impacts at different geographical regions.

Findings

Materials account for 98% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon monoxide (CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) record significant non-GHG emissions. Particulate matter (PM10) emissions are significant from transportation and equipment. High significance of global warming potential (GWP) (38.98%) and photochemical oxidation formation potential (POFP) (34.49%) at global level and eutrophication potential (EP) (52.83%) and human toxicity potential (HTP) (25.30%) impacts at local level were observed. Shortest transportation distance reduces 14.91% PM10 and 4.69% nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. Inventory variations have major influence on POFP impact at global level. Local level impacts are not significantly affected by inventory variations. Optimisation analysis indicated, high fly ash in concrete increase local level carbon emissions, if OPC concrete transportation distance is less than 23.7 km.

Research limitations/implications

Use of case-specific information for validation may lack generalisation. However, methodology can be used for future sustainable decision making over using sustainable materials in construction.

Originality/value

The study estimate environmental impacts at different geographical levels when sustainable materials are used for construction.
The mediating role of job stress on the relationship between job satisfaction facets and turnover intention of the construction professionals
Authors: Dodanwala Tharindu C. , Santoso Djoen San
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The present study examines the mediating role of job stress on the relationship between job satisfaction facets and turnover intention of the construction project professionals in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from a cross-sectional survey of 274 project-level employees of 10 construction organizations in Sri Lanka. A path analytical model is developed to assess the research hypotheses.

Findings

Results support the mediation model of job stress, in which satisfaction with supervision and job security directly contributed to a reduction in stress levels, which in turn lessened the turnover intention. Full mediation is observed from supervision, and partial mediation is observed from job security. Satisfaction with pay and co-workers directly predicted a decline in turnover intention. Contrary to the authors’ expectations, the authors could not find any significant effect from promotion to job stress and promotion to turnover intention. The results further illustrated that demographic variables, i.e. gender, age and organization tenure play a role in determining employees’ stress levels.

Originality/value

In identifying how job satisfaction facets, job stress and turnover intention are linked together, the present study added the mediating role of job stress to the previous empirical research on the relationship between job satisfaction facets and turnover intention.
Multi-age organisation, complexity theory and secondary school reform
Authors: Barnard Peter Alexander
Published: April 2021

Purpose

At a time when many education systems are grappling with the issue of school reform, there is a concern that traditional UK secondary schools are organised in a way that makes them unable to respond to increasingly complex environmental demands. This research-based paper uses complexity theory to gauge the organisational differences between (1) the traditional model of schooling based on same-age organisation and (2) a form of organisation based on multi-age tutor groups, one that schools call a vertical tutoring (VT) system. The intention is to highlight the organisational changes made by schools that choose to transition from their same-age iteration to the VT system, and expose organisational assumptions in the dominant same-age structure that may account for the failure of reform.

Design/methodology/approach

The author's consultancy and research work spans two decades, and includes around 200 UK secondary schools, and others in China, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Qatar, Germany and Colombia. This conceptual paper draws on the recorded discourse and critical reflections of leadership teams during programmes of transformative learning, the process involved in the transition from one system to another. Using descriptions of school organisation abstracted from the complexity literature, differences in the two models not otherwise apparent, come into sharp focus. These not only reveal a substantive connection between organisation, complexity, and individual and organisational learning, but offer insights into the challenge of school reform.

Findings

Same-age organisations act in ways that regulate and restrict the agency of participating actors (staff, students and parents). The effect is to reduce a school’s learning capacity and ability to absorb the value demand on its system. Such a system is closed and non-complex. VT schools construct an open and fluid learning system from the base, deregulating agency. By unfreezing their structure, they intervene in processes of power, necessitating the distribution of leadership to the organisational edge, a process of complexification. The form of organisation chosen by a school explains the failure of reform.

Originality/value

Insights from VT schools cast considerable doubt on the viability of traditional same-age structures to serve complex societies and communities, while highlighting the critical role played by complexity theory in organisational praxis. If correct, the current emphasis on teacher “will and skill”, curricular editing, pedagogy and the “what works agenda” will be insufficient to bring about reformational change and more likely to contribute to systemic stasis.
A national vision for information and communication technologies in education: reflections on Singapore's ICT technologies Masterplans
Authors: Natarajan Uma , Lim Kenneth Y.T. , Laxman Kumar
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the reform initiatives that began with a focus towards change in the teaching and learning in Singapore classrooms with technology integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this study is review and descriptive narrative of educational technology polices, initiatives and projects.

Findings

The Ministry of Education, Singapore, has ensured that schools had infrastructure, leadership and necessary teacher training to successfully implement the initiatives.

Originality/value

The descriptions of the implementations are valuable lessons for other national systems in the region and beyond, seeking to integrate information and communications technology (ICT) in their education systems.