bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of a VPS29 isoform with restricted association to Retriever and Retromer accessory proteins through auto-inhibition
Authors: Daly James L. , Chen Kai-en , Butkovič Rebeka , Guo Qian , Healy Michael D. , Pennink Eva , Gamble-Strutt Georgia , Higham Zara , Moody Edmund R.R. , Lewis Philip A. , Heesom Kate J. , Williams Tom A. , McMillan Kirsty J. , Collins Brett M. , Cullen Peter J. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe endosomal-lysosomal network is a hub of organelles that orchestrate the dynamic sorting of hundreds of integral membrane proteins to maintain cellular homeostasis. VPS29 is a central conductor of this network through its assembly into Retromer, Retriever and Commander endosomal sorting complexes, and its role in regulating RAB GTPase activity. Two VPS29 isoforms have been described, VPS29A and VPS29B, that differ solely in their amino-terminal sequences. Here we identify a third VPS29 isoform, which we term VPS29C, that harbours an extended amino-terminal sequence compared to VPS29A and VPS29B. Through a combination of AlphaFold predictive modelling, in vitro complex reconstitution, mass spectrometry and molecular cell biology, we find that the amino-terminal VPS29C extension constitutes an autoinhibitory sequence that limits access to a hydrophobic groove necessary for effector protein recruitment to Retromer, and association with Retriever and Commander. VPS29C is therefore unique in its ability to uncouple Retromer-dependent cargo sorting from the broader roles of VPS29A and VPS29B in regulating the endosomal-lysosomal network through accessory protein recruitment. Our identification and characterisation of VPS29C points to additional complexity in the differential subunit assembly of Retromer, an important consideration given the increasing interest in Retromer as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe endosomal-lysosomal network is essential for normal cellular function with network defects being associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Two heterotrimeric complexes, Retromer and Retriever, control transmembrane protein recycling through the network. Of these, reduced Retromer expression is observed in Alzheimer’s disease and Retromer mutations lead to familial Parkinson’s disease. Here, we identify and characterise a new isoform of VPS29, a subunit shared between Retromer and Retriever. We reveal how this isoform, VPS29C, adopts an auto-inhibitory conformation to limit its association into Retriever and restrict the binding of VPS29C-containing Retromer to accessory proteins vital for regulating network function. By revealing added complexity in Retromer assembly and function, we provide new insight into Retromer’s potential as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.
Decoupling diffusion, turnover, and advection in long-term FRAP
Authors: Nakashima Outa , Saito Takumi , Deguchi Shinji 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIntracellular molecular turnover is a dynamic process governed by diffusion, biochemical reactions, and intracellular transport dynamics. While fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) has been widely used to quantify fluorescence recovery mechanisms, conventional models primarily focus on diffusion and reaction kinetics, often overlooking the influence of intracellular advection. However, in cytoskeletal structures such as stress fibers, myosin-driven actin retrograde flow generates a significant advective component, which complicates the interpretation of FRAP data, particularly in long-term observations where advective effects become sufficiently pronounced. Here, we develop an analytical framework that extends FRAP modeling to incorporate the coupled effects of diffusion, turnover, and intracellular advection within the photobleached region of interest. By deriving exact solutions to a reaction-diffusion-advection system, we identify three key dimensionless parameters that govern fluorescence recovery dynamics: the turnover-to-diffusion ratio, the monomer-to-filament ratio, and the advection magnitude. Our results demonstrate that, even in the absence of biochemical reactions, fluorescence recovery in a fixed region can occur due to advection, leading to potential misinterpretations of molecular exchange rates. The model provides a theoretical foundation for distinguishing these effects and offers a practical tool for long-term FRAP analysis, where the interplay of diffusion, turnover, and advection becomes increasingly relevant over extended timescales. By systematically characterizing the interplay between molecular diffusion, reaction kinetics, and intracellular transport, our framework provides deeper insight into protein turnover in complex biological environments.
Assessing bank financial performance in the context of digital financial service policy: empirical insights
Authors: Opuni-Frimpong Joseph , Dzorka Modupe , Oheneba Akomaning Justice 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The Digital Financial Services Policy (DFSP) was initiated by the Ghana Ministry of Finance in 2020, to promote the use of digital financial services by financial institutions to achieve financial inclusion. This study aims to examine the impact of the DFSP on bank financial performance (FP).

Design/methodology/approach
This study used data from 20 universal banks between 2017 and 2022. The ordinary least square, logistic regressions, heterogeneity analysis and robustness tests were used to examine whether DFSP affect FP.

Findings
This study finds that DFSP positively impacts return on assets and return on equity. In addition, adopting DFSP in Ghana has levelled the playing field for both large and small banks, as well as for listed, non-listed, domestic and foreign-owned banks, supporting the financial inclusion theory’s benefits associated with banks. However, DFSP negatively impacts the net interest margin.

Practical implications
As DFSP enhances financial inclusion with improved social ramifications, this highlights the need for Ghanaian universal banks to support digitalization policies, invest in digital infrastructure and develop innovative digital products and services to enhance their performance.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides some of the first empirical evidence on the effect of the DFSP on FP in Ghana.
Harmonizing quality and sustainability: a comprehensive analysis of total quality management and green manufacturing practices in small and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: T.S. Nanjundeswaraswamy , Bharath Sindu , P. Nagesh , B.R. Manoj 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the association between total quality management (TQM) and green manufacturing practices (GMP).

Design/methodology/approach
The study used a rigorous methodology to investigate the association between TQM and GMP in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Bengaluru, India. A questionnaire method was used in this research. Data were collected from 448 participants working in SMEs in Bengaluru. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha values are used to validate the instrument, and the structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to check the relationship between TQM and green manufacturing.

Findings
SEM confirmed a significant and positive association among TQM and GMP. The identified factors within TQM, including customer focus (CF), human resource management, information and analysis, leadership styles, process management and strategic planning (SP), highlighted the multifaceted nature of TQM practices influencing green manufacturing. Factors identified within GMP included green management, green process and green production. These factors represent key dimensions in the adoption of environmentally accountable manufacturing practices.

Practical implications
The findings suggest that assimilating environmental sustainability into quality management frameworks, particularly in areas such as leadership, SP and CF, can catalyze the adoption of GMP initiatives in SMEs.

Originality/value
This study’s originality lies in its association of TQM and GMP in SMEs located in Bengaluru, India. The comprehensive validation process, identification of specific TQM and GMP factors and practical implications contribute to the unique insights presented, making it a distinctive contribution to the field.
The drivers of intimacy toward social media-based brand communities: perspective of attachment theory
Authors: Wang Hui-Ju 
Published: February 2025

PurposeSocial media-based brand communities (SMBBCs) have emerged as one of the most significant marketing tools due to their ability to create and maintain close relationships between SMBBCs and consumers. However, past studies have ignored intimacy toward SMBBCs, particularly the role of individual variances in their development. Researchers have revealed the significant impacts of individual differences in attachment styles on the development of brand–consumer relationships based on attachment theory. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the drivers of intimacy toward SMBBCs from the perspective of attachment theory.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines a proposed model that integrates two attachment styles – attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety – self-disclosure on social media and intimacy toward SMBBCs through two samples in the context of brands’ Facebook fan pages.FindingsThe results show that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety have significantly negative and positive effects on self-disclosure on social media, respectively, which contribute to intimacy toward SMBBCs.Practical implicationsThe results offer brand managers significant implications for segmenting markets and developing relationship marketing strategies for their brand communities on social media.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to explore the driving factors of intimacy toward SMBBCs from the attachment theory perspective.
A multi-disciplinary analysis of adult practice reviews
Authors: Rees Alyson , Slater Tom , Dehaghani Roxanna , Swann Rachel 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to read across 20 adult practice reviews (APRs) undertaken in Wales to identify cross-cutting themes.

Design/methodology/approach
The method was for each APR to be read and independently coded by four researchers from differing disciplines of criminology, law and social work.

Findings
Five overarching themes were identified of (safeguarding, capacity and duty to report; commissioning and inspection; transitions; voice of vulnerable people and family and carers. In addition, quality and good practice are reflected on

Research limitations/implications
A further study capturing more APRs since the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being Act (2014) should be undertaken to help review changes in practice since the new legislation was introduced. Future research into APRs should adopt a similar multi-disciplinary approach.

Practical implications
The study identified the benefit of adopting a single unified assessment tool.

Originality/value
This is only the second study of its type undertaking a multi-disciplinary perspective of APRs.
Scientometric review of strategies to mitigate embodied carbon emissions in the construction industry
Authors: Kukah Augustine Senanu Komla , Jin Xiaohua , Osei-Kyei Robert , Perera Srinath 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
While operational carbon (OC) emission reduction strategies have received substantial attention in past literature, very few studies have focused on embodied carbon (EC) emission reduction in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims at undertaking a scientometric review of strategies to mitigate EC emissions in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach
Scopus search engine was used to search for articles. VOSViewer software was used for scientometric analysis using science mapping approach. Using a total of 151 documents, keywords, authors, papers and their sources were analysed. Furthermore, scientometric analysis was undertaken comprising co-occurrence of keywords, documents source analysis and author co-citation analysis.

Findings
The significant strategies identified to mitigate EC emissions were: offsite manufacturing/use of prefabricated elements, decarbonisation of energy grid, enhanced policies and regulations by governments, construction sector policies and regulations, guidelines for increased use of low EC materials and reuse and recovery of EC construction materials.

Practical implications
This study identifies practical strategies that contribute to reduction of EC emissions.

Originality/value
This study is significant and contributes to the construction industry’s agenda to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Examining the asymmetric influence of tax revenue policy in an oil-dependent economy: evidence from Oman
Authors: Maashani Suhail Said Salim , Gamal Awadh Ahmed Mohammed , Shaarani Ahmad Zakirullah , AbdulJalil Norasibah , Abd. Hadi Fatimah Salwa 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
This study aims to examine the asymmetric effects of tax revenue policies on the economic activity of Oman.

Design/methodology/approach
This study applies the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model and uses data from 1980 to 2022.

Findings
The findings confirmed that economic activity has a cointegrating relation with the positive and negative shocks of the tax revenue policy and selected macroeconomic variables. In addition, the long-run results show that positive changes in tax revenues have a positive significant effect on the economy, while negative shocks in tax revenues have a negative effect on the economy at the 5% significance level. The study concludes that a significant long-term asymmetric relationship exists between taxation policy changes through the revenue channel for the economy of Oman.

Originality/value
No previous study has specifically investigated the asymmetric impact of tax revenue policies on the economy of Oman, which is an oil-dependent country. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore this relationship with respect to the Omani economy, and it uses extensive time series data and employs various contemporary econometric techniques. Given Oman’s reliance on oil and gas revenues, which typically fund approximately 70% of the country’s annual budget through taxation on oil and gas sold, fluctuations in global oil prices directly influence country’s fiscal position. Thus, this study contributes to the literature by empirically confirming the asymmetries impact of fiscal (tax) policies on Oman’s economy. The implication of the results suggests that the government cut back on tax incentives and tax exemptions for local and foreign businesses. This move can foster economic growth and reduce the negative competition effect among investors and taxpayers, which may ultimately improve the country’s tax revenue.
The dual impact of audit partner busyness and boardroom gender diversity on audit quality in Australia
Authors: Ahmed Ammad , Hussain Atia , Tessema Abiot M. 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
This study aims to examine the association between audit partner busyness and audit quality. Moreover, this research investigates whether boardroom gender diversity moderates the relationship between audit partner busyness and audit quality in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach
The study sample consists of all public companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2014. The data is obtained from SIRCA and the Morning Star databases. The study uses fixed effects and logistic regression techniques to test the relationship between audit partner busyness, boardroom gender diversity and audit quality.

Findings
The collected empirical evidence shows that audit partner busyness is negatively associated with audit quality. In contrast, boardroom gender diversity moderates the relationship between audit partner busyness and audit quality. More specifically, the results suggest that board gender diversity mitigates the negative impact of audit partners’ busyness on the audit quality. The results are robust to endogeneity and alternative definitions of audit partner busyness, boardroom gender diversity and audit quality.

Practical implications
The study’s findings will be of interest to policymakers, regulators and investors in the Australian market. The results show the importance of gender-diverse boards in companies’ audit functions, particularly in the presence of busy audit partners, and hence support the call for more women on corporate boards in Australia. Moreover, the results call for a cap or upper limit on the number of clients an audit partner can take on based on their capacity.

Originality/value
The authors contribute to the growing literature on board gender diversity, audit partner busyness and audit quality. Although a plethora of prior literature suggests a negative association between audit partner busyness and audit quality, the results suggest that women in the boardroom positively moderate the relationship between audit partner busyness and audit quality.
Integrating sustainability goals into the balanced scorecard: a bibliometric analysis of the sustainability balanced scorecard
Authors: Quesado Patricia , Costa Oliveira Helena , Silva Rui 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
This study aims to analyse international publications about the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) and the need to integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into a Balanced Scorecard (BSC), identifying trends in evolution and future research opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on bibliometric techniques, the outputs obtained in the Web of Science (n = 65) and Scopus (n = 80) databases were analysed in the bibliometrix R package to map and systematically review the literature. After removing duplicates, this paper obtained a final output of 96 articles.

Findings
The interconnection between SDGs and BSC is a pertinent and emerging topic in academic and business circles. Therefore, there has been a growing number of publications on SBSC in recent years, particularly in countries such as Qatar, Taiwan, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Researchers in these countries have analysed the SBSC, Corporate Sustainability, Corporate Social Sustainability and Performance Evaluation as their main research themes. This research identifies four main research clusters: Strategy and Performance, Model Management Indicators, Balanced Scorecard Decision-Making and, finally, SBSC.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on Sustainability, BSC and SDGs. It can be useful for researchers and organizations that intend to integrate SDGs into a BSC and design an SBSC.
Durable wind energy harvesting by mode-switch triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered sensors
Authors: Zou Yulin , Xu Wei , Yang Weiqing 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The imperative for sustainable energy systems is increasingly pressing as the world transitions toward renewable energy sources. Among these, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a viable option for wind energy harvesting. However, they face significant challenges, including material durability under varying wind conditions; the intricacy of material selection and performance; and the trade-off between wear resistance and triboelectric efficiency. This study aims to address the above issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Herein, a mode-switch TENG (MS-TENG) was designed to overcome these limitations and serve as a self-powered energy solution for Internet of Things (IoT) sensor networks. The MS-TENG incorporates a multi-stage functional layer and an automatic mode-switching mechanism between contact and non-contact operation, thereby enhancing both efficiency and durability.

Findings
It is demonstrated that the MS-TENG achieves a maximum instantaneous output power of 0.069 mW with minimal mechanical wear, effectively capturing wind energy. Its capability to charge capacitors and power a range of electronic devices, such as temperature and humidity sensors, electronic watches and water immersion guards, underscores its practical utility across diverse settings.

Originality/value
This research situates the MS-TENG as a pioneering technology in smart sensor applications for future energy-harvesting endeavors, optimizing energy acquisition under fluctuating wind conditions and reinforcing the sustainability of IoT networks.
Observational and experimental evidence that rapid mass loss is consistent with the flight efficiency hypothesis and not caused by reproductive effort in three passerine species
Authors: Forrester Timothy R. , Martin Thomas E. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Breeding birds often lose mass abruptly around the time that their eggs hatch, but the reasons why and the demographic significance of mass loss are contentious.

Energy expenditure during offspring provisioning is one long‐standing explanation that fits with life‐history theory (energetic cost hypothesis). Mass loss may also reflect time constraints that limit foraging and self‐maintenance while warming (i.e. brooding) young (time constraint hypothesis). Alternatively, mass loss may be an adaptive strategy to provide benefits through decreased energetic flight costs while foraging and provisioning young (flight efficiency hypothesis).

To test these hypotheses, we measured mass loss across the nesting cycle for three passerine species using an automated weighing system and quantified reproductive effort by filming nests. We also experimentally manipulated reproductive effort using a nest heating experiment to test effects on mass loss.

Counter to the energetic cost hypothesis, female mass loss did not match changing parental provisioning effort across the reproductive cycle; mass loss in all three species started about 5 days before eggs hatched and finished well before nestling provisioning effort was greatest. The nest heating experiment reduced female and male provisioning rates but did not influence mass loss in either sex, also rejecting the energetic cost hypothesis. Counter to the time constraint hypothesis, more time spent brooding was associated with less mass loss.

Path analysis supported the flight efficiency hypothesis for females, where mass loss was not related to energetic costs or time constraints and was positively associated with fledging more and heavier young, as well as a greater proportion of young. Mass loss also did not influence the chance of double‐brooding or survival to the next breeding season. Males lost mass steadily over the nesting cycle, but our results did not strongly support one hypothesis.

Ultimately, results supported mass loss providing adaptive benefits for females, while rejecting reproductive cost hypotheses often expected under life‐history theory.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.