bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Essential role of proline synthesis and the one-carbon metabolism pathways for systemic virulence ofStreptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Ramos-Sevillano Elisa , Ercoli Giuseppe , Guerra-Assunção José Afonso , Betts Modupeh , Partridge Frederick , Fernandes Vitor E. , Wall Emma , Gordon Stephen B. , Ferreira Daniela M. , Heyderman Rob , Brown Jeremy S. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTPrevious virulence screens have indicated potential roles duringStreptococcus pneumoniaeinfection for the one-carbon metabolism pathway component Fhs and proline synthesis mediated by ProABC. To define how these metabolic pathways affectS. pneumoniaevirulence we have investigated phenotypes and transcription profiles of Δfhsand ΔproABCstrain mutants.S. pneumoniaecapsular serotype 6B BHN418 Δfhsand ΔproABCmutant strains were markedly reduced virulence in mouse models of systemic infection and pneumonia, but were still able to colonise the nasopharynx. Although the Δfhsand ΔproABCmutant strains grew normally in complete media, both mutant strains had markedly impaired growth in chemically defined medium, human serum and human CSF. The ΔproABCstrain also had impaired growth under conditions of osmotic and oxidative stress. When transferred to the serotype 2 D39S. pneumoniaestrain background, the Δfhsmutation replicated the virulence and growth in serum phenotype of the BHN418 mutation. In contrast, the D39 ΔproABCmutant could cause septicaemia and grow in human serum, indicating the role of this genetic locus during virulence is strain-specific. In human sera the Δfhsand ΔproABCmutants both had major derangements in global gene transcription affecting multiple but different metabolic pathways, identifying the correspondingS. pneumoniaemetabolic functions affected by these genes under infection-related conditions. Our data demonstrate an essential role for theS. pneumoniaeone- carbon metabolism and a strain-conditional role for proline biosynthesis for growth in physiological fluids and therefore systemic infection, and further demonstrate the vital importance of bacterial metabolism for disease pathogenesis.ImportanceRapid adaptation to grow within the physiological conditions found in the host environment is an essential but poorly understood virulence requirement for systemic pathogens such asStreptococcus pneumoniae. We have now demonstrated an essential role for the one-carbon metabolism pathway and a conditional role depending on strain background for proline biosynthesis forS. pneumoniaegrowth in serum or CSF and therefore for systemic virulence. RNAseq data demonstrated that loss of one carbon metabolism or proline biosynthesis both have profound but differing effects onS. pneumoniaemetabolism in human serum, identifying the metabolic processes dependent on each pathway during systemic infection. These data provide a more detailed understanding of the adaptations required by systemic bacterial pathogens in order to cause infection, and demonstrate that the requirement for some of these adaptations vary between strains from the same species and could therefore underpin strain variations in virulence potential.
Invariant point message passing for protein side chain packing
Authors: Randolph Nicholas Z. , Kuhlman Brian 
Published: August 2023

AbstractProtein side chain packing (PSCP) is a fundamental problem in the field of protein engineering, as high-confidence and low-energy conformations of amino acid side chains are crucial for understanding (and designing) protein folding, protein-protein interactions, and protein-ligand interactions. Traditional PSCP methods (such as the Rosetta Packer) often rely on a library of discrete side chain conformations, or rotamers, and a forcefield to guide the structure to low-energy conformations. Recently, deep learning (DL) based methods (such as DLPacker, AttnPacker, and DiffPack) have demonstrated state-of-the-art predictions and speed in the PSCP task. Building off the success of geometric graph neural networks for protein modeling, we present the Protein Invariant Point Packer (PIPPack) which effectively processes local structural and sequence information to produce realistic, idealized side chain coordinates using χ-angle distribution predictions and geometry-aware invariant point message passing (IPMP). On a test set of ∼1,400 high-quality protein chains, PIPPack is highly competitive with other state-of-the-art PSCP methods in rotamer recovery and per-residue RMSD but is significantly faster.
Regulation of the trade-off between cold stress and growth byBcGSTF10
Authors: Shen Yunlou , Wang Guangpeng , Ran Jiajun , Li Yiran , Wang Huiyu , Ding Qiang , Li Ying , Hou Xilin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCold stress represents a significant threat to global agricultural productivity and food security. Typically, plant resistance to cold stress is accompanied by a growth deficit and a reduction in yield. In this study, we have discovered a novel gene,BcGSTF10, which has not been previously reported to be involved in low-temperature stress. On the one hand, biochemical and genetic analyses have demonstrated that BcGSTF10 interacts with BcICE1 to promote the expression ofCBFgenes, thereby enhancing freezing stress tolerance in non-heading Chinese cabbage [NHCC,Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa)ssp.chinensis] andArabidopsis. On the other hand, the expression of theBcGSTF10gene is directly repressed by BcCBF2, whileBcGSTF10exhibits a positive role in growth in both NHCC andArabidopsis. This dual function ofBcGSTF10indicates its pivotal role in balancing low-temperature stress and growth, which will inform the development of strategies to breed climate-resilient and high-yield crops, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture.
The ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine rescues hippocampal mRNA translation, synaptic plasticity and memory in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ribeiro Felipe C. , Cozachenco Danielle , Argyrousi Elentina K. , Staniszewski Agnieszka , Wiebe Shane , Calixtro Joao D. , Soares-Neto Rubens , Al-Chami Aycheh , Sayegh Fatema El , Bermudez Sara , Arsenault Emily , Cossenza Marcelo , Lacaille Jean-Claude , Nader Karim , Sun Hongyu , De Felice Fernanda G. , Lourenco Mychael V. , Arancio Ottavio , Aguilar-Valles Argel , Sonenberg Nahum , Ferreira Sergio T. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractImpaired synaptic plasticity and progressive memory deficits are major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippocampal mRNA translation, required for memory consolidation, is defective in AD. Here, we show that systemic treatment with (2R,6R)- hydroxynorketamine (HNK), an active metabolite of the antidepressant ketamine, prevented deficits in hippocampal mRNA translation, long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory induced by AD-linked amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) in mice. HNK activated hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p70S6 kinase 1 (S6K1)/ribosomal protein S6 (S6), which promote protein synthesis and synaptic plasticity. Stimulation of S6 phosphorylation by HNK was mTORC1-dependent, while rescue of hippocampal LTP and memory in HNK-treated AβO-infused mice was ERK1/2-dependent and, partially, mTORC1- dependent. Remarkably, treatment with HNK corrected LTP and memory deficits in aged APP/PS1 mice. Transcriptomic analysis further showed that HNK rescued signaling pathways that are aberrant in APP/PS1 mice, including inflammatory and hormonal responses, and programmed cell death. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that HNK induces signaling and transcriptional responses that correct deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory in AD mouse models. These results raise the prospect that HNK could serve as a therapeutic to prevent or reverse memory decline in AD.
How much does an employer's attractiveness matter to youth employment? Evidence from a developing country
Authors: Buitek Elvira К. , Kaliyeva Saule A. , Turginbayeva Ardak N. , Meldakhanova Marziya K. , Shaikh Aijaz A. 
Published: August 2023

PurposeDrawing on the contemporary literature and the theory of employer attractiveness, the authors aimed to examine key antecedents and consequences of employer attractiveness by proposing functional hypotheses and relationships between some endogenous variables.Design/methodology/approachUsing the quota-cum-purposive sampling method, the unit of analysis selected for this study was millennials aged 18–35 years and working in the hospitality, travel, tourism and leisure (HTTL) sectors for the last two years. A total of 218 responses were collected in three months (June–August 2022). The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsFor young employees, company recruitment behaviour, company image and source credibility are significantly and directly related to company attractiveness. The relationship between company image and employee word of mouth (WOM) was significantly positive. Company recruitment behaviour was found to significantly influence employee commitment. Company attractiveness was found to be directly related to young employees' WOM about the company and commitment to it.Originality/valueThe study establishes the significance of company attractiveness because a company's success largely depends on the company's ability to attract and retain a talented and skilled workforce. Moreover, the present study provides much-needed insights to policymakers and regulators that can help the policymakers define and implement favourable policies to promote and protect the country's job market and offer directions to youth employment.
Survival still in dilemma: an empirical analysis of factors influencing the performance and survival of eateries in COVID-19-prone world
Authors: Dhillon Dilpreet Kaur , Mahajan Pranav , Kaur Kuldip 
Published: August 2023

PurposeDistancing people socially as a precautionary measure against the mushrooming of COVID-19’s health and economic crisis has deleteriously affected the performance of the eatery industry to a great extent. Many food outlets failed to cope up with crisis and opted to move out, and many still vie to survive through pandemic. It becomes vital for researchers to understand what factors influence the performance and survival of eateries during the pandemic? The study makes an attempt to fabricate new factors which affect the performance and contribute significantly towards the survival of eateries in this new COVID-19-prone world.Design/methodology/approachThe present study is a cross-sectional analysis with the sample of 150 eateries from the walled city of Punjab (India), i.e. Amritsar. Factor analysis is employed to scrutinise the factors which influence the performance of eateries during the pandemic, and to analyse factors which contribute significantly for the survival of eateries, logistic regression is performed.FindingsThe empirical analysis reveals that at prior psychological factor, followed by turnover factor, external factor, financial factor and marketing factor influence the performance of eateries during the pandemic. Only three factors, namely turnover factor, external factor and financial factor, turned up to be significant towards the survival rate of an eatery. The marketing factor which is a crucial contributor for survival of business in literature has turned out to be insignificant during the times of pandemic.Originality/valueWith the arrival of pandemic, the preference of people has changed, and the business environment in which entities operate has turned more complex. The present study is one of the pioneer attempts to evaluate whether the factors responsible for performance or survival of an eatery during normal times is relevant during the pandemic as well. The study contributes to the literature of eatery industry by adding a new variable namely psychological factor, i.e. changes witnessed in customers’ preference to visit an eatery.
An empirical study on Lean and its impact on sustainability in services
Authors: Lizarelli Fabiane Letícia , Chakraborty Ayon , Antony Jiju , Furterer Sandy , Maalouf Maher , Carneiro Matheus Borges 
Published: August 2023

PurposeLean implementation has become popular over the past three decades in the industry and is becoming more prevalent in, service organizations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of social and technical Lean practices on sustainable performance (i.e. economic, environmental and social) in service organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology includes the analysis of global results obtained from 139 managers from the service sector.FindingsThe results demonstrate that Lean practices have a positive effect on the three perspectives of sustainable performance, regardless of the company size and duration of Lean implementation. Furthermore, both social and technical Lean practices have a similar impact on environmental and economic performance, but their impact on social performance differs, since social Lean practices have a stronger impact on social performance.Practical implicationsThis study has a significant contribution to Lean practitioners in service sectors, as it demonstrates that efforts to apply Lean practices can benefit economic results as well as environmental and social performance.Originality/valueMajority of existing studies focused on the isolated impact of Lean on one of the triple bottom line performance aspects and with a scarcity of studies within the context of services. The intersection of these three strategic areas – Lean, sustainability and services – has not been extensively addressed. There is also a lack of studies that observe sustainability in environmental, social and economic performance, mainly in the service sector.
From “intimate-insider” to “relative-outsider”: an autoethnographic account of undertaking social work research in one’s own “backyard”
Authors: Murphy Ciarán 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
This study aims to explore the challenges of being simultaneously “intimate insider” and “relative outsider” whilst undertaking an ethnography into a statutory child protection team. As a novice researcher seeking to explore a world of which he was already part, ethnography was considered the most suitable means for exploring child protection social workers’ discretion. However, by subscribing to binary notions of “insider” and “outsider” at the commencement of the study, the author underplayed the dilemma of reconciling friendships with his researcher role, as well as the barriers that his more junior organisational status could create.

Design/methodology/approach
This study provides an autoethnographic account of these challenges, and the author’s evolving status and movement between “insider” and “outsider” relative to different groups within the children’s services department.

Findings
The implications include the potential for being simultaneously “insider” and “outsider” when undertaking research within one’s employing organisation; the need to reconcile challenging social work tasks with researcher responsibilities; and the difficulty of maintaining pre-existing relationships, whilst also cultivating an objective research profile.

Originality/value
This paper offers an important contribution to the limited accounts of conducting research from “inside” a statutory children’s services department and will be of benefit to early career researchers considering a research project within their own “backyard”.
Abnormal returns and anti-leverage effect in the time of Russo-Ukrainian War 2022: evidence from oil, wheat and natural gas markets
Authors: Vasileiou Evangelos 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThis study examines the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on the commodity markets of oil, wheat, and natural gas, in which these two countries play/have a dominant role. The author examines if during these extreme events an anti-leverage effect emerges and indicates the abnormal conditions of the markets.Design/methodology/approachThe author uses daily returns from the future prices of brent oil, wheat, and natural gas for the period 31.3.2020–31.3.2022 and applies the exponential and the threshold asymmetry GARCH models.FindingsThe empirical findings confirm the existence of anti-leverage effect in the wheat and natural gas commodity markets and point to the existence of the leverage effect in the Brent market.Practical implicationsThe existence of the anti-leverage effect means that stock prices and volatility present a positive relationship which is in contrast to the normal/conventional stylized facts which suggest the opposite. These findings could be useful for scholars and practitioners because they enable them to examine market abnormalities using the anti-leverage effect as a criterion and explore its relationship with extreme conditions and strategies that lead to skyrocketing increases in prices.Originality/valueThis study investigates the anti-leverage effect in commodity markets under extreme conditions, which has received little attention in the literature. Moreover, this paper links the existence of the anti-leverage effect with abnormal growth in asset prices, which shows a new direction for the behavior of assets when extreme conditions emerge.
Cashless policy initiative in Nigeria: outline of crucial socio-economic and regulatory considerations
Authors: Monye Ogochukwu 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently relaunched Nigeria’s cashless policy initiative which seeks to reduce financial crime and tax avoidance, decrease cash dependency, advance the adoption of digital financial services (DFS), decrease the risks to the payment system and foster financial inclusion. This study aims to identify the unique challenges of going cashless in Nigeria, particularly in terms of infrastructural, exclusionary and cost implications of the policy on the average citizens.

Design/methodology/approach
The author applies a doctrinal research methodology to identify and reflect on key challenges of the cashless policy from the economic, regulatory and transactional perspectives.

Findings
The cashless policy initiative in Nigeria heralds value for financial integrity, financial policy regulation and user convenience. The mode of introduction, however, ushers in significant challenges and hardly considers Nigeria’s inadequate payment infrastructure, persistent financial exclusion, low levels of financial and digital literacy and capability, high cost of using DFS and pervasive proclivity for cash. As Nigerians adjust albeit inconveniently to the policy, the CBN can ameliorate the hardship by strengthening the payment infrastructure, particularly for digital payments, fostering consumer trust by safeguarding user funds and enabling consumer preferences.

Research limitations/implications
Research materials include the national regulator’s policy documents and newspaper articles that have not been published in formal reports but non-the-less adequately mirror the policy intention of the CBN and the lived experiences of Nigerians.

Practical implications
This study identifies the practical steps and regulatory measures that the CBN can take to improve acceptance and meaningful and sustainable adoption of the cashless policy by the majority of Nigerians.

Social implications
The recommendations that are proffered provide some rich insights to inform regulatory direction for the CBN to seamlessly phase-in the cashless policy and consequently drive down financial exclusion in Nigeria.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the policy discussion around the introduction of the cashless Nigeria project. The doctrinal research method highlights the policy intentions of the regulator in juxtaposition with lived experiences of Nigerians. This study offers recommendations to bolster financial inclusion, stability and integrity.
Paradox in the making: toward a theory of utility maximization in human-commercial robot interactions
Authors: Chou Shih Yung , Barron Katelin , Ramser Charles 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThis article aims to develop a new theory that can better explain and predict how and when humans interact with commercial robots. To this end, utility maximization theory (UMT) along with four principles and propositions that may guide how human-to-commercial robot interactions are developed.Design/methodology/approachThis article conceptualizes UMT by drawing from social exchange, conservation of resources, and technology-driven theories.FindingsThis article proposes UMT, which consists of four guiding principles and propositions. First, it is proposed that the human must invest sufficient resources to initiate a human-to-commercial robot interaction. Second, the human forms an expectation of utility gain maximization once a human-to-commercial robot interaction is initiated. Third, the human severs a human-to-commercial robot interaction if the human is unable to witness maximum utility gain upon the interaction. Finally, once the human severs a human-to-commercial robot interaction, the human seeks to reinvest sufficient resources in another human-to-commercial robot interaction with the same expectation of utility maximization.Originality/valueThis article is one of the few studies that offers a theoretical foundation for understanding the interactions between humans and commercial robots. Additionally, this article provides several managerial implications for managing effective human-to-commercial robot interactions.
Voter rationality, the use of accounting information and voting behavior: evidence from a referendum
Authors: Kuroki Makoto 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
This study aims to investigate whether objective and subjective rationality affects individual voters’ use of accounting information and if such use affects voting behavior. While prior accounting studies assume voter rationality concerning financial performance and political outcomes, this study distinguishes between two types of voters: objective rational voters (who make voting decisions about multiple alternatives based on objective information) and subjective rational voters (who make decisions based on their subjective values, and thus do not explore information or explore only information biased toward one alternative). This study expects that accounting information can influence the voting behavior of objective and subjective rational voters.

Design/methodology/approach
Focusing on the 2020 Osaka Metropolitan Plan Referendum, this study used an online survey conducted on 768 respondents after the referendum.

Findings
This study finds that objective rational voters use accounting information more than subjective rational voters, voters who used accounting information were more likely to vote against the referendum, and voting behavior is not directly affected by the type of rationality of voters; rather, objective rational voters are more likely to use accounting information that has a mediating effect on voting behavior.

Originality/value
The results advance the understanding of public sector accounting research and practices by providing evidence of the individual voter’s use of accounting information and their voting behavior in political contexts.