bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A unified theory for organic matter accumulation
Authors: Zakem Emily J. , Cael B. B. , Levine Naomi M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractOrganic matter constitutes a key reservoir in global elemental cycles. However, our understanding of the dynamics of organic matter and its accumulation remains incomplete. Seemingly disparate hypotheses have been proposed to explain organic matter accumulation: the slow degradation of intrinsically recalcitrant substrates, the depletion to concentrations that inhibit microbial consumption, and a dependency on the consumption capabilities of nearby microbial populations. Here, using a mechanistic model, we develop a theoretical framework that explains how organic matter predictably accumulates in natural environments due to biochemical, ecological, and environmental factors. The new framework subsumes the previous hypotheses. Changes in the microbial community or the environment can move a class of organic matter from a state of functional recalcitrance to a state of depletion by microbial consumers. The model explains the vertical profile of dissolved organic carbon in the ocean and connects microbial activity at subannual timescales to organic matter turnover at millenial timescales. The threshold behavior of the model implies that organic matter accumulation may respond nonlinearly to changes in temperature and other factors, providing hypotheses for the observed correlations between organic carbon reservoirs and temperature in past earth climates.
Phage origin of mitochondrion-localized family A DNA polymerases in kinetoplastids and diplonemids
Authors: Harada Ryo , Inagaki Yuji 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMitochondria retain their own genomes as other bacterial endosymbiont-derived organelles. Nevertheless, no protein for DNA replication and repair is encoded in any mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) assessed to date, suggesting the nucleus primarily governs the maintenance of mtDNA. As the proteins of diverse evolutionary origins occupy a large proportion of the current mitochondrial proteomes, we anticipate finding the same evolutionary trend in the nucleus-encoded machinery for mtDNA maintenance. Indeed, none of the DNA polymerases (DNAPs) in the mitochondrial endosymbiont, a putative α-proteobacterium, seemingly had been inherited by their descendants (mitochondria), as none of the known types of mitochondrion-localized DNAP showed a specific affinity to the α-proteobacterial DNAPs. Nevertheless, we currently have no concrete idea of how and when the known types of mitochondrion-localized DNAPs emerged. We here explored the origins of mitochondrion-localized DNAPs after the improvement of the samplings of DNAPs from bacteria and phages/viruses. Past studies revealed that a set of mitochondrion-localized DNAPs in kinetoplastids and diplonemids, namely PolIB, PolIC, PolID, PolI-Perk1/2, and PolI-dipl (henceforth designated collectively as “PolIBCD+”) have emerged from a single DNAP. In this study, we recovered an intimate connection between PolIBCD+ and the DNAPs found in a particular group of phages. Thus, the common ancestor of kinetoplastids and diplonemids most likely converted a laterally acquired phage DNAP into a mitochondrion-localized DNAP that was ancestral to PolIBCD+. The phage origin of PolIBCD+ hints at a potentially large contribution of proteins acquired via non-vertical processes to the machinery for mtDNA maintenance in kinetoplastids and diplonemids.
Apoptosis is not conserved in plants as revealed by critical examination of a model for plant apoptosis-like cell death
Authors: Minina Elena A. , Dauphinee Adrian N. , Ballhaus Florentine , Gogvadze Vladimir , Smertenko Andrei P. , Bozhkov Peter V. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundAnimals and plants diverged over one billion years ago and evolved unique mechanisms for many cellular processes, including cell death. One of the most well-studied cell-death programmes in animals, apoptosis, involves gradual cell dismantling and engulfment of cellular fragments, apoptotic bodies, through phagocytosis. However, rigid cell walls prevent plant cell fragmentation and thus apoptosis is not applicable for executing cell death in plants. Furthermore, plants are devoid of the key components of apoptotic machinery, including phagocytosis as well as caspases and Bcl-2 family proteins. Nevertheless, the concept of plant “apoptosis-like programmed cell death” (AL-PCD) is widespread. This is largely due to superficial morphological resemblances between plant cell death and apoptosis; in particular between protoplast shrinkage in plant cells killed by various stimuli and animal cell volume decrease preceding fragmentation into apoptotic bodies.ResultsHere, we provide a comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis of cytological and biochemical events occurring in plant cells subjected to heat shock at 40-55°C and 85°C, the experimental conditions typically used to trigger AL-PCD and necrotic cell death, respectively. We show that cell death under both conditions was not accompanied by membrane blebbing or formation of apoptotic bodies, as would be expected during apoptosis. Instead, we observed instant and irreversible permeabilization of the plasma membrane and ATP depletion. These processes did not depend on mitochondrial functionality or the presence of Ca2+and could not be prevented by an inhibitor of ferroptosis. We further reveal that the lack of protoplast shrinkage at 85°C, the only striking morphological difference between cell deaths induced by 40-55°C or 85°C heat shock, is a consequence of the fixative effect of the high temperature on intracellular contents.ConclusionsWe conclude that heat shock-induced cell death is an energy-independent process best matching definition of necrosis. Although the initial steps of this necrotic cell death could be genetically regulated, classifying it as apoptosis or AL-PCD is a terminological misnomer. Our work supports the viewpoint that apoptosis is not conserved across animal and plant kingdoms and demonstrates the importance of focusing on plant-specific aspects of cell death pathways.
The C-terminal domain of transcription factor RfaH: Folding, fold switching and energy landscape
Authors: Seifi Bahman , Wallin Stefan 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe study the folding and fold switching of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the transcription factor RfaH using a hybrid sequence-structure based model. We show that this model captures the essential thermodynamic behavior of this metamorphic domain, i.e., a switch in the global free energy minimum from anα-helical hairpin to a 5-strandedβ-barrel upon separating the CTD from the rest of the protein. Using this model and Monte Carlo sampling techniques, we analyze the energy landscape of the CTD in terms of progress variables for folding towards the two folds. We find that, below the folding temperature, the energy landscape is characterized by a single, dominant funnel to the nativeβ-barrel structure. The absence of a deep funnel to theα-helical hairpin state reflects a negligible population of this fold for the isolated CTD. We observe, however, a significantly higherα-helix structure content in the unfolded state compared to results from a similar but fold switch-incompetent version of our model. Moreover, in folding simulations started from an extended chain conformation we find transientα-helix structure that disappears as the chain progresses to the thermally stableβ-barrel state.
Eco product development combining eco design and life cycle assessment
Authors: Barbosa Ana Jamile Damasceno , Santos Vitor Hugo de Paiva , Araújo Priscilla Cavalcante de , Medeiros Felipe Lucas de , Otaviano Letícia Yasmin da Silva 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe paper aims to propose the development of an eco product to replace the traditional cotton swab that meets the expected needs, besides having a bias based on sustainability and economic viability.Design/methodology/approachThe applied nature article opted for an exploratory and descriptive study, with the objective of seeking a solution to a real problem: to reduce the environmental impact in the disposal of cotton swabs. To test this hypothesis, the exploratory stage evaluated the literature on the principles of eco design and environmental marketing to understand market viability and environmental impacts. The descriptive phase presented a comparative analysis between the original product and the proposed one, in terms of production processes and impacts of the product life cycle. Thus, an alternative product was conceived and validated applying the life cycle analysis (LCA).FindingsThe paper provides a comparative analysis between the eco product and the traditional product in order to validate the hypothesis that the new proposal reduces the environmental impact. It was found that both productive processes have similar impacts; however, the raw material of the proposed eco product demonstrated a significant reduction in the impact caused on the environment, considering cradle to cradle analysis.Originality/valueThis paper conceives an eco product as an alternative to traditional cotton swab, presenting an innovative potential in line with worldwide sustainability trends.
Addressing the knowledge management “nightmare” for construction companies
Authors: Vaz-Serra Paulo , Edwards Peter 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
Knowledge management presents a problem for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, largely because of the industry’s fragmented structure and project-driven nature. Construction companies may be involved in a variety of projects in different locations, each having its own knowledge requirements. Companies are also expected to be competitive, flexible and innovative, but introducing new knowledge management systems (KMSs) may represent a change that is beyond the organisation’s capacity to undergo successfully, and thus becomes a “nightmare”. The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a KMS solution that can help to facilitate the capture and application of important knowledge without introducing unnecessary changes in internal procedures for the organisation.

Design/methodology/approach
Following a review of existing systems, and an interview survey of 22 managers in the Portuguese AEC industry (contractors, design consultants and project management consultants) a new IT-based construction KMS called ConstruKnowledge was developed. The KMS was tested, verified and validated in two Portuguese construction projects and assessed by 12 managers in the construction company undertaking those projects.

Findings
The results of two pilot tests using ConstruKnowledge in two Portuguese construction projects demonstrate that its use can raise the levels of confidence in decision-making, and retaining knowledge; and that it serves to add value to the company.

Practical implications
The Construknowledge KMS is an innovative contribution to the greater acceptance of KMSs in the construction industry. The system facilitates the effective and efficient development of an organisational KMS using basic Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-based collaboration tools. While undertaken in the context of the Portuguese industry, the KMS has a wider global potential for implementation and further development.

Originality/value
The originality and value of this research are that it demonstrates how a KMS can be developed and then used in a construction company to capture and share knowledge without introducing additional constraints.
Decisive structures for multirate FIR filter incorporating retiming and pipelining schemes
Authors: K. Mariammal , M. Hajira Banu , J. Britto Pari , Dhandapani Vaithiyanathan 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
Very large-scale integration (VLSI) digital signal processing became very popular and is predominantly used in several emerging applications. The optimal design of multirate filter with improvement in performance parameters such as less area, high speed and less power is the challenging task in most of the signal processing applications. This study aims to propose several effective multirate filter structures to accomplish sampling rate conversion.

Design/methodology/approach
The multirate filter structures considered in this work are polyphase filter and coefficient symmetry-based finite impulse response filter. The symmetry scheme particularly brings down the complexity to significant extent. To bring improvement in speed, delay registers are inserted at appropriate path with the help of pipelining and retiming scheme.

Findings
In this paper, the three tasks have been considered. First, the polyphase coefficient symmetry and modified polyphase (MP) structure is designed. Second, the pipelining is applied to the polyphase structure and the obtained results are compared with the polyphase structure. In third, retiming is applied to the polyphase structure and the performance comparison is carried out. The structures are realized for various orders, and the comparative analysis is carried out with the filter order N = 12, 30, 42, 8, 11 and 24 and the results are stated. The performance of all the accomplished structures is analyzed using Altera Quartus with the family cyclone II, device EP2C70F672C6. The results show that the multirate filter using pipelining and retiming offers better performance when examining with the conventional structures. Retimed and pipelined MP structure achieves a speed enhancement of about 33.81% when examining with the conventional polyphase (CP) structure with retiming and pipelining for N = 24 and M = 5. Likewise, the 2/3 structure of pipelined coefficient symmetry approach offers area reduction of about 54.76% over 2/3 structure of pipelined polyphase approach for N = 30 with little reduction in power. The fine grain pipelined and retimed MP structure with N = 11 and M = 3 avails critical path delay reduction of about 28.15% when examining with the corresponding fine grain pipelined and retimed CP structure.

Originality/value
The proposed distinct structures offer better alternative to conventional structures because of the symmetric coefficients, performance enhancement using pipelining and retiming based rate conversion structures. The suggested structures can be used for achieving different rates in software radios.
Integrating a rich picture diagram and causal loop diagram to model stakeholder engagement in building refurbishment projects
Authors: Seki Yuri , Sutrisna Monty , Olanipekun Ayokunle Olubunmi 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe more contemporary views on managing projects recommend stakeholder engagement as an important part of the process. Challenges have been reported when attempting to involve project stakeholders in a construction project due to the complexity of the processes. In projects such as refurbishment projects, the efforts to incorporate end users' needs and preferences into spatial environmental functions increase the complexity of stakeholder engagement during the journey of the project. This paper presents a unique technique used to integrate different tools within the system enquiry methodology in modelling the project stakeholder engagement process for refurbishment projects.Design/methodology/approachAiming to address the problem, system dynamics (SD) has been selected as the most suitable method for modelling the dynamic behaviour of this complex system over time. A tool known as a rich picture diagram (RPD) is proposed as the precursor of the development of a causal loop diagram (CLD) to facilitate a more holistic abstraction for applicable solutions. An example of a single case study involving the refurbishment of a higher education building project is presented to explain the analysis undertaken in the process of developing the CLD that models the dynamic behaviour within end-user stakeholder engagement.FindingsThis paper demonstrates the complementarity capabilities of the soft and hard systems of enquiry in modelling stakeholder's dynamics within the refurbishment construction contexts. The RPD soft system tool was found useful to congregate diverse stakeholder expressions and experiences of a complex system in a holistic manner. Subsequently, the development of the CLD was fully guided by the information and relationship captured and presented in the RPD to yield a representative system model. Furthermore, this paper also reports the dynamics of the actors, situations, events and their inter-relationship found in the presented refurbishment project.Originality/valueThis paper enriches the techniques within the system enquiry methodology by integrating hard and soft system tools for dynamic process modelling purposes. This is particularly achieved by utilizing the RPD as the precursor of SD that provides a useful way for researchers and stakeholders to fully understand the dynamics and develop robust systemic interventions to optimize end-user stakeholder engagement during the journey of refurbishment projects, particularly of higher education buildings.
Local food and changes in tourist eating habits in a sun-and-sea destination: a segmentation approach
Authors: Santos José António C. , Santos Margarida Custódio , Pereira Luis Nobre , Richards Greg , Caiado Luis 
Published: September 2020

PurposeLittle is known about how tourists’ eating habits change between everyday life and holidays. This study aims to identify market segments based on changes in food consumption and experiences of a sun-and-sea destination’s local food. The authors evaluate to what extent tourists consume local food and assess the contribution of local food experiences to the tourists’ overall experience.Design/methodology/approachThe target population was all tourists visiting the Algarve in the Summer 2018 and included both domestic and international sun-and-sea tourists. A sample of 378 valid questionnaires was collected. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, statistical tests and cluster analysis.FindingsCluster analysis identified three segments: non-foodies, selective foodies and local gastronomy foodies. Results indicate that tourists change their eating habits during holidays, eating significantly more seafood and fish and less legumes, meat, fast food and cereals and their derivatives. International and domestic sun-and-sea tourists reported that eating local food contributes significantly to their overall tourism experience.Practical implicationsSun-and-sea destinations should promote the offer of local dishes, especially those that include locally produced fish and seafood, to improve the tourist experience, differentiate the destination and increase sustainability.Originality/valueThe authors address three identified research gaps:a posteriorisegmentation based on tourists’ food consumption behaviour; measurement of changes in eating practices between home and in a sun-and-sea destination; and assessment of the role of food experiences to overall tourism experience of tourists visiting a sun-and-sea destination.
Analyzing financial risks in small and medium enterprises: evidence from the food processing firms in selected cities in Ghana
Authors: Agyapong Daniel 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose of the paper was to analyze the financial risk perception of owners/managers and to link such perception to the performance of their ventures.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employed PLS-SEM to analyze financial risks and its impact on SMEs in the food processing sector. Financial risks data on the operational, market, technological, credit and liquidity risks and financial performance including compliance, social and resource efficiency performance were collected from 214 food processors in selected cities in Ghana. Higher-order constructs were employed in assessing the relationship between financial risks and SME performance.FindingsFinancial risk spurs a firm's financial performance. Increased financial risks cause firms to be resource-efficient and compliant. Furthermore, an assessment of how the various performance indicators interplay showed increased compliant improved social performance and vice versa.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper looked at food processing firms in three major cities, analyzing the financial risks of the businesses and their effect on their performance. Although, these cities have the largest number of these firms, generalizing the findings from the study should be done taking into consideration the scope of the study.Practical implicationsThe study exposes owners/managers to the critical issues of financial risk, its components and how this could impact on their operations. It expected that owner/managers in the food processing sector would craft the necessary risk mitigating strategies to deal with the different financial risks they face. For theoretical implication, the paper suggests the need to highlight the risk exposure of firms due to the business–stakeholder interactions as contained in the stakeholder theory.Originality/valueThe paper employed the higher-order construct of PLS-SEM to analyze the financial risks of food processors. The originality of the paper lies with the methods used.
Impact of lean practices on organizational sustainability through green supply chain management – an empirical investigation
Authors: Singh Jagdeep , Singh Harwinder , Kumar Amit 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to uncover the significance of green supply chain management (GSCM) to study the impact lean practices, namely, Kaizen and innovation management practices on organizational sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach
The subject of green supply chains attracts a growing interest in academic and professional literature since 1990. Questionnaire survey and structured interviews (set of questions) among the industrial professionals and academicians of northern India region have been performed to ascertain the significance of GSCM toward organizational sustainability. Structural equation modeling, Cronbach’s alpha, z-test, correlation and t-test have been used to ascertain the significance of lean practices toward sustaining organization by taking the mediating effect of GSCM.

Findings
The results signify the negative potential of combined Kaizen, innovation management and government policies on environmental thinking through supply chain. The innovation management strategies and Kaizen individually has positive influence on environment supply chain but government policies should be improved to improve the positive impact on environmental thinking through supply chain by decreasing pollution. Economic performance, environmental performance and competitive performance are significantly improved by implementing Kaizen and innovation management through GSCM.

Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to northern India. Moreover, selection of industry and academic organizations has been done on convenient sampling technique.

Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the application of lean techniques, namely, Kaizen and innovation management practices, showing how it can bring real breakthroughs in organizational sustainability through GSCM.