bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ThePseudomonas aeruginosaPrrF sRNAs promote biofilm formation at body temperature
Authors: Chourashi Rhishita , Weiner Jacob , Hoang Tra-My , Ouattara Khady , Oglesby Amanda G. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosais a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that causes both acute and chronic infections in vulnerable populations. Treatment ofP. aeruginosainfections is increasingly challenging due to multi-drug resistance as well as biofilm formation that further increases antibiotic tolerance. Iron, which is sequestered by the host innate immune system, is also a key nutrient that required forP. aeruginosabiofilm formation. Previous work showed that the iron-responsive PrrF small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which are key toP. aeruginosa’siron starvation response and required for virulence in murine lung infection, are dispensable for biofilm formation. However, these studies were performed using flow-cell biofilms at room temperature. Here we demonstrate a temperature dependency for PrrF inP. aeruginosabiofilm formation – the genes for these sRNAs are required for optimal biofilm formation at 37°C but not 25°C. We further show that the ΔprrFmutant lacks a yet-to-be identified surface appendage that is produced at 37°C but not 25°C. These studies demonstrate that the importance of the PrrF sRNAs inP. aeruginosabiofilm formation at body temperature and reveal a previously under-appreciated role of temperature in iron homeostasis andP. aeruginosabiofilm physiology.IMPORTANCEBiofilm formation is a critical aspect of pathogenesis for many microbial pathogens as it confers increased tolerance to the host immune system and antimicrobial treatments.Pseudomonas aeruginosais an opportunistic pathogen that forms biofilms during infection, resulting in antimicrobial tolerance and treatment failure. Iron is a known requirement forP. aeruginosabiofilm formation, yet the precise role of iron homeostasis in biofilm physiology remains unclear. Here we show that temperature alters the requirement for the PrrF small regulatory RNAs, key components ofP. aeruginosa’siron starvation response, for biofilm formation. Specifically, PrrF is required for the optimal formation of biofilms in flow cells at 37°C but not 25°C, yet most flow-cell biofilm studies are conducted at 25°C. These results demonstrate a previously under-appreciated role of temperature inP. aeruginosabiofilm physiology.
Staphylococcus aureusCOL: An Atypical Model Strain of MRSA that Exhibits Slow Growth and Antibiotic Tolerance
Authors: Stevens Claire E. , Deventer Ashley T. , Johnston Paul R. , Lowe Phillip T. , Boraston Alisdair B. , Hobbs Joanne K. 
Published: December 2024

SummaryMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) has been a pathogen of global concern since its emergence in the 1960s. As one of the first MRSA strains isolated, COL has become a common model strain ofS. aureus. Here we report that COL is, in fact, an atypical strain of MRSA that exhibits slow growth (extended lag and doubling times) and multidrug tolerance, with minimum duration of killing (MDK) values 50-300% greater than other “model” strains ofS. aureus.Genomic analysis identified three mutated genes in COL (rpoB, gltXandprs) with links to tolerance. Allele swapping experiments between COL and the closely related, non-tolerant Newman strain uncovered a complex interplay between these genes. However, Prs (phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate [PRPP] synthetase) accounted for most of the growth and tolerance phenotype of COL. ppGpp quantitation and transcriptomic comparison of COL and Newman revealed that COL does not exhibit slow growth as a result of partial stringent response activation, as previously proposed. Instead, COL exhibits downregulation of purine, histidine and tryptophan synthesis, three pathways that rely on PRPP. Overall, our findings indicate that COL is an atypical, antibiotic-tolerant strain of MRSA whose isolation predates the previous first report of tolerance among clinical isolates.
Maintaining the methionine residues of the chaperone Spy in a reduced state is crucial for periplasmic proteostasis
Authors: Loiseau Laurent , Visch Nathan De , Vergnes Alexandra , Armengaud Jean , Vincent Maxence S. , Ezraty Benjamin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe bacterial cell envelope is exposed to various stresses, including oxidative stress caused by different types of oxidants, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive chlorine species (RCS). InE. coli, the reduction of chlorate into chlorite, a toxic RCS compound, induces the expression of the MsrPQ system, which repairs periplasmic proteins oxidized at methionine residues (methionine sulfoxide, Met-O). In this study, using a proteomic-based approach, we show that chlorite stress also triggers the overproduction of the periplasmic chaperone Spy. This response is mediated by the activation of the BaeSR two-component system. Furthermore, bothin vivoandin vitroevidence reveal that Spy’s susceptibility to oxidation is critical for its chaperone activity. We demonstrate that the MsrPQ repair system ensures Spy’s functionality by reducing its Met-O, thereby safeguarding its role in periplasmic protein homeostasis. Overall, this work reveals Spy as a key target of chlorite-induced oxidative damage and underscores the essential role of MsrPQ in preserving periplasmic protein quality control.
A Dual-Functional Needle-Based VOC Sensing Platform for Rapid Vegetable Quality Examination
Authors: Hossain Oindrila , Wang Yan , Li Mingzhuo , Jamalzadegan Sina , Mohammad Noor , Velayati Alireza , Poonam Aditi Dey , Wei Qingshan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common constituents of fruits, vegetables, and crops, and are closely associated with their quality attributes, such as firmness, sugar level, ripeness, translucency, and pungency levels. While VOCs are vital for assessing vegetable quality, traditional detection methods, such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) are limited by expensive equipment, complex sample preparation, and slow turnaround time. Additionally, the transient nature of VOCs complicates their detection using these methods. Here, we developed a paper-based colorimetric sensor array combined with needles that could induce vegetable VOC release in a minimally invasive fashion and analyze VOCsin situwith a smartphone reader device. The colorimetric sensor array was optimized using sulfur compounds as main targets and classified fourteen different vegetable VOCs, including sulfoxides, sulfides, mercaptans, thiophenes, and aldehydes. By combining principal components analysis (PCA) analysis, the integrated sensor platform proficiently discriminated between four vegetable subtypes originating from two major categories within 2 min of testing time. This rapid and minimally invasive sensing technology holds great promise for conducting field-based vegetable quality monitoring.Graphical abstract
Bank performance and general specialization vs agricultural loan specialization: an analysis of US banks
Authors: Kashian Russ , Drago Robert 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThe effects of bank lending specialization are unclear. To explore this issue, we contrast the performance effects of general lending specialization and agricultural specialization. The latter is important given small or community banks account for a significant share of all agricultural lending, while the number of such banks continues to shrink.Design/methodology/approachThis article develops a novel measure of general lending specialization for the percentage of loans that could be shifted across seven categories to mimic market allocations. Using US government data, we analyze small-, medium- and large-sized banks for four performance indicators in random effects regressions for 2011–2019, with four sets of subsidiary analyses.FindingsResults suggest specialized lending reduces risk for small, community banks, and that large-sized banks face a risk-reward trade-off such that general specialization improves returns, but increases risk. Agricultural lending is associated with improved returns and lower risk for small-sized banks, particularly in rural locations, but with poorer performance for large-sized banks. Analyses of bank performance around the global financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemics suggest these were black swan events. Overall results suggest that both general lending specialization and agricultural specialization warrant separate analytical treatment and that small, community banks continue to play a crucial role in the US economy.Originality/valueThis is the first article to contrast general and agricultural lending, and across small-, medium- and large-sized banks, finding distinct effects. Future studies of other types of lending specialization are warranted.
Research on the coordinated development evaluation of manufacturing and logistics industry: a case study of Jiangsu province and Shandong province
Authors: Liu Rongkun , Zhao Furui 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThe integrated and coordinated development of the manufacturing and logistics industries is crucial for promoting deep integration and innovative development between the two sectors. It aids in reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, which is significant for high-quality economic growth and the acceleration of modern industrial system construction.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explores the integrated development status of the two industries in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces. Based on the relevant data of 44 indicators from the manufacturing and logistics industries in these provinces from 2010 to 2021, a comprehensive evaluation index system is constructed. The study employs coupling coordination degree and grey correlation models to comparatively analyze the integrated development status of the two industries in the provinces.FindingsThe findings indicate that the coupling coordination degree of Jiangsu and Shandong provinces has shown a gentle spiraling upward trend. By 2021, Jiangsu province had achieved intermediate coordination, and Shandong province had achieved good coordination. The grey correlation degree is within the moderate and strong correlation range, but the impact of efficiency indicators is weak.Research limitations/implicationsThe research has limitations, including a focus on specific provinces, potential data constraints and a need for further exploration of the dynamic and influencing factors of the industries' coordinated development for more comprehensive conclusions.Practical implicationsThe research provides practical significance by offering insights into the coordinated development of manufacturing and logistics industries, which can inform policymaking and strategic planning for regional economic integration and supply chain efficiency.Social implicationsThe study’s findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, promoting regional economic synergy and supply chain optimization. It emphasizes the crucial role of industry integration in advancing high-quality economic growth, aligning with modern industrial system development goals.Originality/valueThis research’s innovation lies in its comprehensive evaluation index system and the application of coupling coordination degree and grey relational analysis models, offering a nuanced assessment of the integrated development between manufacturing and logistics industries in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. It provides valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance regional economic integration and supply chain efficiency.
Exploring the interdependent drivers of tourism competitiveness: insights from the Travel and Tourism Development Index
Authors: Qazi Abroon 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative importance of the five dimensions and 17 associated pillars of the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) to understand their contributions to overall tourism competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach
Using Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs), this study analyzes data from 2024 for 119 countries to model the interactions between the dimensions and pillars of the TTDI. The BBN approach allows for a probabilistic understanding of how these elements influence tourism competitiveness.

Findings
The analysis reveals that “infrastructure and services” and “information and communication technology (ICT) readiness” play a critical role in enhancing tourism competitiveness. This study underscores the interconnectedness of various tourism factors, highlighting how strategic emphasis on these key areas can drive overall success in the sector.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by empirically validating the factors that significantly impact tourism competitiveness. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders to enhance tourism development through a robust, data-driven framework that supports sustainable tourism management.
Is blockchain truly improving supply chain information quality? A positivist case study research
Authors: Alkhudary Rami 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis paper advances the understanding of how blockchain technology enhances the quality of information within the supply chain by employing the information-processing view as a theoretical lens.Design/methodology/approachOur research begins with a review of the existing literature and formulates a set of propositions. We then employ a positivist case study approach in various industries across Europe, the USA and Argentina, encompassing agriculture, fisheries, e-commerce and pharmaceuticals, to empirically investigate these propositions.FindingsOur study confirms that blockchain enhances the dimensions of information quality by reinforcing traceability and transparency. Nevertheless, the degree of traceability and transparency depends on the supply chain’s internal processes, blockchain configurations and willingness to share information. Moreover, blockchain does not ensure perfect information security, lacking guaranteed immutability and decentralization in present supply chain applications. Furthermore, the integration of complementary technologies with blockchain to reconcile the divide between physical and digital realms remains largely untested, introducing uncertainty about its influence on information accuracy. Consequently, this study cautions against viewing blockchain as a wholesale replacement for inter-organizational trust.Originality/valueBlockchain technology is widely regarded as having substantial potential to revolutionize supply chain information systems. However, only a limited number of studies have critically examined the value added by blockchain within an inter-organizational context.
Exploring uncharted territories: a classification of unconventional perspectives on homo Islamicus
Authors: Sholihin Muhammad , Annisa Arna Asna 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
This study aims to analyze the definition and contextual variations of homo islamicus in literature across disciplines, including beyond Islamic economics, and to explore their implications for Islamic economic agents.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a machine learning-based text analysis approach, 61 articles will be examined to classify definitions and identify contextual clusters for homo islamicus.

Findings
This study reveals eight classifications of homo islamicus definitions and three distinct contexts. These findings suggest significant divergence between the concept of homo islamicus in Islamic economic tradition and its interpretation by non-Islamic scholars, attributable to underlying values and ideologies rather than methodological differences.

Research limitations/implications
This study focuses solely on textual analysis of articles using the term “homo islamicus” across disciplines, precluding the formulation of epistemological and ontological frameworks. Future research could expand on these aspects.

Practical implications
By presenting diverse perspectives on homo islamicus, this paper facilitates a more comprehensive understanding among scholars of Islamic economics, aiding in the resolution of disagreements within the field.

Originality/value
This study introduces novel classifications of homo islamicus definitions and contextualizes them, providing insights into their implications for Islamic economic agents.
For prime customers only: consumer decision-making towards targeted mobile coupons
Authors: Gong Siyu , Suo Danni , Dai Jiatong 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effectiveness of exclusive promotions in the form of targeted m-coupons and to uncover the potential psychological mechanisms underpinning consumer redemption behaviour.Design/methodology/approachThree experimental studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of psychological ownership as well as perceived intrusiveness and to examine the moderating effect of the timing of delivery in these relationships.FindingsThe findings suggest that consumers demonstrate a higher intention to redeem targeted m-coupons than for untargeted m-coupons. Psychological ownership and perceived intrusiveness act as dual mediators in this relationship. However, delivering m-coupons on special dates helps mitigate the discrepancies in consumer responses between targeted and untargeted m-coupons.Originality/valueThis research contributes to existing literature on targeted promotion by comparing the effectiveness of two types of m-coupons and elucidating the dual mechanisms of psychological ownership and perceived intrusiveness. Furthermore, this study identifies a boundary condition that modifies the positive effects of targeted m-coupons.
From catalyst to burden: shopping malls and franchising in Brazil
Authors: Grünhagen Marko , Jell-Ojobor Maria , Hess Julia E. , da Silva Filho Haroldo Monteiro 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis research links the global advance of the franchise model to the geohistorical foray of shopping malls through an empirical longitudinal study in the largest emerging market in Latin America, Brazil.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted an analysis of a multi-year set of qualitative interviews with the same franchised mall tenants (23 interviews in 2017 and 12 follow-up interviews in 2022) via an iterative procedure of transcript data coding and theme identification.FindingsShopping malls were key catalysts in the pre-pandemic growth of franchising in Brazil, yet during the pandemic, malls became liabilities. Attitudes towards malls as franchise hosts changed, flipping the mall perception from catalytic host to burdensome trap. Mall management companies, as key gatekeepers, deserve more research attention.Originality/valueOur study reveals the detrimental role shopping malls, with their static rules and high cost structures, have played as franchise businesses struggled to survive during the global pandemic. While franchising represents one of the most influential retail business models today, shopping malls have been among the most important brick-and-mortar retail institutions since the 1950s. Jointly, they constitute a unique retail symbiosis with little attention in the academic literature.
Increasing digitalization of the workplace: is the workforce ready?
Authors: Khatri Muskaan , Duggal Harshleen Kaur , Thomas Asha , Varma Arup 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
With a host of changes being driven by automation, digitalization and robotization, every business today comprises some digital aspect. Possessing digital skills is key for staying employable. Because digital skill requirements of employers are constantly being redefined, an alignment between industry and academia is necessary to develop a workforce that can promote economic growth and societal welfare. This study aims to analyse the differences in employer expectations as compared to management graduates’ perceptions regarding the digital skills and abilities necessary for human resources to be employable.

Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative content analysis techniques have been used to demonstrate the thematic convergence of data collected using focus groups. A series of seven focus groups were conducted with two respondent groups – HR professionals (n = 26) and final-year postgraduate management students (n = 32). NVivo was used to analyze the transcripts.

Findings
The findings establish a qualitative hierarchy of 15 digital skills necessary for management graduates to be employable. These have been mapped onto the typology of managerial skills (technical, human and conceptual) given by Katz (1955). The salience of the themes identified varies significantly across the two respondent groups.

Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in establishing a qualitative hierarchy of digital skills essential to be employable. By mapping the differences in management graduates’ understanding of employability and HR expectations regarding digital skills, the study generates new insights for examining the student-job fit.
Paying your debt makes you happy: insights during the COVID-19 period
Authors: Mamatzakis Emmanuel C. , Ongena S. 
Published: December 2024

PurposeUtilizing a Bayesian vector autoregressive (BVAR) model with time-varying conditional mean equations, we treat our n-dimensional model as a collection of n univariate estimation problems. Cross-dependence is addressed using a student-t skewed distribution with latent autoregressive factors.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates the relationship between happiness and household debt repayments during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.FindingsOur findings suggest that the pandemic has led to a decline in happiness, but an increase in household debt repayments appears to have a positive effect on happiness. Interestingly, various government interventions, including lockdown measures, pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination policies and financial support measures like income support and debt relief, are associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction. However, stay-at-home policies are linked to heightened anxiety.Originality/valueInspired by the framework proposed by Kahneman and Krueger (2006), which emphasizes the importance of assessing well-being through happiness as a lens to unveil household financial preferences, our analysis delves into the intricate interplay between individual happiness, household debt repayments and the dynamics of the pandemic. Acknowledging the complex and evolving dynamics among these variables, we adopt a unique BVAR model, incorporating a student-t, time-varying, skewed copula. This modelling approach offers the necessary flexibility to accurately capture the dynamics of diverse data series, while its estimation techniques remain accessible. Given the dynamic nature of happiness, debt repayments and COVID-19 infections and deaths, the incorporation of a time-varying copula within the BVAR framework is deemed appropriate, treating these variables as endogenous. The subsequent section details our methodology in Section 2. Section 3 presents the data, while Section 4 showcases the results, and Section 5 concludes with insights and policy implications.