bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oriented Display of Cello-Oligosaccharides for Pull-down Binding Assays to Distinguish Binding Preferences of Glycan Binding Proteins
Authors: Hackl Markus , Power Zachary , Chundawat Shishir P. S. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass using carbohydrate-active enzymes like cellulases is key to sustainable energy production. Understanding the adsorption mechanism of cellulases and associated binding domain proteins down to the molecular level details will help in the rational design of improved cellulases. In nature, carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) from families 17 and 28 often appear in tandem appended to the C-terminus of several endocellulases. Both CBMs are known to bind to the amorphous regions of cellulose non-competitively and show similar binding affinity towards soluble cello-oligosaccharides. Based on the available crystal structures, these CBMs may display a uni-directional binding preference towards cello-oligosaccharides (based on how the oligosaccharide was bound within the CBM binding cleft). However, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have indicated no such clear preference. Considering that most soluble oligosaccharides are not always an ideal substrate surrogate to study the binding of CBMs to the native cell wall or cell surface displayed glycans, it is critical to use alternative reagents or substrates. To experimentally assess any binding directionality of CBMs towards soluble cello-oligosaccharides, we have developed a simple solid-state depletion or pull-down binding assay. Here, we specifically orient azido-labeled carbohydrates from the reducing end to alkyne-labeled micron-sized bead surfaces, using click chemistry, to mimic insoluble cell wall surface-displayed glycans. Our results reveal that both family 17 and 28 CBMs displayed a similar binding affinity towards cellohexaose-modified beads, but not cellopentaose-modified beads, which helps rationalize previously reported crystal structure and MD data. This indicates a preferred uni-directional binding of specific CBMs and could explain their co-evolution as tandem constructs appended to endocellulases to increase amorphous cellulose substrate targeting efficiency. Overall, our proposed workflow can be easily translated to measure the affinity of glycan-binding proteins to click-chemistry based immobilized surface-displayed carbohydrates or antigens.
Microbial stir bars: light-activated rotation of tethered bacterial cells to enhance mixing in stagnant fluids
Authors: Gurung Jyoti P , Kashani Moein N , de Silva Charitha M , Baker Matthew AB 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMicrofluidics devices are gaining significant interest in biomedical applications. However, in a micron-scale device, reaction speed is often limited by the slow rate of diffusion of the reagents. Several active and passive micro-mixers have been fabricated to enhance mixing in microfluidic devices. Here, we demonstrate external control of mixing by rotating a rodshaped bacterial cell. This rotation is driven by ion transit across the bacterial flagellar stator complex. We first measured the flow fields generated by rotating a single bacterial cell rotationally locked to rotate either clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW). Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (μPIV) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry results showed that a bacterial cell of ~ 2.75 μm long, rotating at 5.75 ± 0.39 Hz in a counterclockwise direction could generate distinct micro-vortices with circular flow fields with a mean velocity of 4.72 ± 1.67 μm/s and maximum velocity of 7.90 μm/s in aqueous solution. We verified our experimental data with a numerical simulation at matched flow conditions which revealed vortices of similar dimensions and speed. We observed that the flow-field diminished with increasing z-height above the plane of the rotating cell. Lastly, we showed we could activate and tune rotational mixing remotely using strains engineered with Proteorhodopsin (PR), where rotation could be activated by controlled external illumination using green laser light (561 nm).
Infection of equine bronchial epithelial cells with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus
Authors: Legere Rebecca M. , Allegro Angelica R. , Affram Yvonne , da Silveira Bibiana Petri , Fridley Jennifer L. , Wells Kelsey M. , Oezguen Numan , Burghardt Robert C. , Wright Gus A. , Pollet Jeroen , Bordin Angela I. , de Figueiredo Paul , Leibowitz Julian L. , Cohen Noah D. 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of COVID-19, can infect animals by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Equine infection appears possible due to high homology (≈97%) between human and equine ACE2, evidence ofin vitroinfection in cell lines expressing equine ACE2, and evidence of seroconversion in horses after exposure to persons infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our objective was to examine susceptibility of cultured primary equine bronchial epithelial cells (EBECs) to a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus relative to human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs; positive control). ACE2 expression in EBECs detected by immunofluorescence, western immunoblotting, and flow cytometry was lower in EBECs than in HBECs. EBECs were transduced with a lentivirus pseudotyped with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that binds to ACE2 and expresses the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) as a reporter. Cells were co-cultivated with the pseudovirus at a multiplicity of infection of 0.1 for 6 hours, washed, and maintained in media. After 96 hours, eGFP expression in EBECs was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy, and mean Δ Ct values from quantitative PCR were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in HBECs (8.78) than HBECs (3.24) indicating lower infectivity in EBECs. Equine respiratory tract cells were susceptible to infection with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. Lower replication efficiency in EBECs suggests that horses are unlikely to be an important zoonotic host of SARS-CoV-2, but viral mutations could render some strains more infectious to horses. Serological and virological monitoring of horses in contact with persons shedding SARS-CoV-2 is warranted.IMPORTANCEThis study provides the first published evidence for SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection in equine airway epithelial cells, which were less susceptible to infection than cells of human origin. This was presumably due to lower ACE2 expression in equine cells, lower viral affinity for equine ACE2, or both. Our results are important considering recent evidence for asymptomatic seroconversion in horses following exposure to COVID-19 positive humans, despite this lower susceptibility, and increased affinity of viral variants of concern for equine ACE2 compared to ancestral strains. Thus, there is great need to better characterize SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in horses for the benefit of veterinary and human health.
Perception of the benefits of sustainable construction in Ghana
Authors: Ahiabu Moses Kwadzo , Emuze Fidelis , Das Dilip 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThe need to adopt sustainable construction (SC) practices in project activities will be appreciated when clear benefits are known to the stakeholders in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived benefits of using SC practices in building projects.Design/methodology/approachA modified Delphi method (MDM) was used to solicit the views of an expert panel on 33 benefits identified from the literature and validated by a pilot panel to ensure robustness. Statistical tools were used to analyse the data collected. The comparative analysis among the expert panel lends credence to the strong consensus reached on the 26 benefits of SC. The consensus reached by the expert panel after the three rounds were validated using the median and important scale of 70% response rate and above.FindingsThe essential benefits included the ability to enhance efficiency and improve the overall quality of life for all. Factors such as mandatory government policies and regulations are recommended as essential drivers to promote and sustain the implementation of SC in Ghana. The findings will enhance the drive for sustainability practices in construction projects in Ghana.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the benefits of SC from the perspective of experts in the Ghanaian construction industry. The paper would enhance stakeholders understanding the critical benefits of promoting and adopting SC practices in building projects.
Anchor investors and equity crowdfunding for entrepreneurs
Authors: Sendra-Pons Pau , Mas-Tur Alicia , Garzon Dolores 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThis empirical study uses herd behavior model to explore the role of anchor investors in ensuring fundraising success and overfunding of crowdfunded ventures.Design/methodology/approachQualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is applied to find the configurational patterns describing how anchor investors' information disclosure leads to successful financing and overfunding.FindingsEven when the anchor investor's resume is not detailed or the anchor investor has little experience in entrepreneurial investment, success or overfunding can be achieved, provided the anchor investor is a corporation rather than an individual. For individual anchor investors, a detailed resume matters. Overfunding can be achieved even when an individual anchor investor makes a small relative investment, if this small relative investment is compensated for by a detailed resume. Experience in entrepreneurial investment is crucial when individual anchor investors have few previous investments. Regardless of the anchor investor's identity, investment in absolute terms is crucial for crowdfunding success when experience in entrepreneurial investment is low. Such experience must be extensive if the anchor investor's resume is not detailed.Practical implicationsBoth entrepreneurs and crowdfunding platforms can benefit from the findings in relation to the design of campaigns that use anchor investors' informational cues to achieve success and overfunding.Originality/valueThe study examines the importance of anchor investors' information disclosure in digital crowdfunding environments, differentiating between individual and corporate anchor investors.
Appraisal of students' perceptions on green building concepts in a technical university
Authors: Novieto Divine Tuinese , Kulor Frank , Apprey Michael Wellington , Ayeke Elom 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThe main goal of this study was to determine how students at Ho Technical University (HTU) viewed green construction approaches and the benefits green buildings may provide to Ghana's tertiary institutions to enhance quality of life.Design/methodology/approachThe institution's 350 participants were chosen using a random selection method. A standardised questionnaire was used to gather data, which was analysed using SPSS v.20 and presented in tables using descriptive statistics such as Likert scale analysis, weighted mean and relative importance index (RII).FindingsThe study revealed that awareness of the green building principle is comparatively low amongst the survey participants. Participants agree that the University's green building adoption is high. Students cited decreased utility expenses, improved occupant productivity and cheaper operational costs as important benefits of green construction. Students' thoughts on hurdles to implementing green construction ideas at the University were the enormous price tag of green building technology (RII = 0.89), ignorance of demonstration projects and ignorance of information on green building principles (RII = 0.81).Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to study Ghanaian students' views on green buildings. This study adds to our understanding of students' thoughts on green building ideas. In addition, it sheds insight into their present awareness, which can help the university administration in Ghana design new paths for green building implementation.
Mitigating the risk of blood shortage
Authors: Fortsch Sima , Khapalova Elena , Carden Robert , Choi Jeong Hoon 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThe objective of this study is to mitigate the risks of a blood shortage. The authors designed two simulation studies to identify the superior methodology that can decrease the impact of a massive national donor shortage.Design/methodology/approachThe simulation designs are triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first simulation examines the company’s choice of strategic partners (regionally and nationally), and the second inspects creating a national coordinated effort to organize a pooled blood inventory that would require blood centers to contribute a small percentage of their monthly donations to become a member.FindingsThe results indicate that both methods can significantly manage the risk of stockouts regardless of the availability of safety inventory in a blood center; however, although more effective in reducing the number of shortages per month, creating a national blood pool causes the shortages to be recognized earlier than desired.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to the literature by focusing on the potential risk of blood shortage because it directly impacts healthcare, hospitals’ costs and their ability to provide care. Though a handful of researchers have targeted the study of the blood supply chain, there is not any article that is similar to this study.
Banking sector performance and FDI inflows in Bangladesh: exploring the unexplored
Authors: Alam Md Badrul , Sayal Aziz Ullah , Naveed Jan Muhammad , Tahir Muhammad 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThis research paper attempts to empirically examine the relationship between the performance of the banking industry and foreign direct investment (FDI), thereby helping the readers contemplate one of the least explored areas of the existing literature associated with the idiosyncratic characteristics of FDI resulting from its interaction with the efficient banking performance of the host country. The study has focused on the economy of Bangladesh because of its significant amount of FDI inflows from the rest of the world and its adoption of many liberalization policies, especially in the banking sector and in the areas of international business and trade.Design/methodology/approachThe study, to produce unbiased estimates, employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for analyzing the time series data collected from reliable sources.FindingsThe key outcomes of the study reveal that the sound performance of the banking industry appears to be counterproductive for FDI inflows, which is a bit unconventional insight. In the context of Bangladesh, trade openness, inflation rate and infrastructural development seem to be the dominant factors behind the rising inflows of FDI. Market size appears to be an insignificant determinant of FDI inflows.Originality/valueThis is a unique study because of its focus on the unexplored area in the literature.
A public service management model as an antecedent for citizen satisfaction and fiscal policy
Authors: Núnez-Barriopedro Estela , Penelas-Leguía Azucena , López-Sanz José María , Loranca-Valle María Cristina 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThe study of citizens' perceptions of the performance of public services and their relationship with the taxes allocated to them is of great interest in the context of public and fiscal management and the welfare state. This study has a twofold objective in defining a structural equation modeling (SEM) model: on the one hand, to measure the relationship between the perception of the performance of public services and the taxes allocated to them and on the other hand, to study the reflection of the perception of the performance of public services on the happiness and satisfaction of citizens.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this objective, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out based on data from the “Public opinion and fiscal policy, 2022” questionnaire of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) through a survey with a sample of 2,543 citizens representative of the Spanish population. The partial least squares (PLS) method was applied to test the following hypotheses.FindingsThe result of this research allows us to know which variables in relation to citizens' perception of the functioning of public services have a positive influence on use of taxes and on citizens' happiness and satisfaction.Originality/valueOne of the novelties of this study is to analyse the effect of consumer perception on the performance of public services from the perspective of the welfare state by improving citizens' happiness and satisfaction.
Non-financial reporting in hybrid organizations – a systematic literature review
Authors: Ahunov Husanboy 
Published: January 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to systematically review the field of non-financial reporting (NFR) in hybrid organizations, focusing on state-owned enterprises, third-sector organizations and public–private partnerships. This is a timely attempt to identify the state of the art in the literature and outline the future research agenda. The paper answers two research questions: RQ1. What can be learned about NFR in hybrid organizations from the existing literature? RQ2. What are the future avenues for research on the topic?

Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review method was applied in this paper to summarize evidence from extant literature on NFR in hybrid organizations. The Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases were used to locate 92 articles for the review.

Findings
Recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of articles on the topic. Regarding the implications of NFR for hybrid characteristics, NFR has some potential to strengthen the influence of non-market (i.e. state, community and social) logics in hybrid organizations. However, this potential may be limited due to the effect of market logics and the tensions that arise between the multiple logics in hybrid organizations. Regarding the implications of hybrid characteristics for NFR, these characteristics can not only affect the extent, the quality, the likelihood and the institutionalization of NFR but also result in the development of new NFR frameworks. The review calls for more research on the implications of NFR for multiple institutional logics and the implications of these logics for NFR in hybrid organizations.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first literature review that mobilizes insights from hybridity research to analyze NFR literature on diverse hybrid organizations.
Creating brand love for payment apps through emotions
Authors: Kumar Sushant , Prashar Sanjeev , Shah Arunima 
Published: January 2023

PurposeMobile payment system (MPSs) apps are accepted as a faster, reliable and feasible substitute to conventional payment systems. However, the reception of MPS has been slower than expected despite their potential and initial reach. Limited studies have investigated factors that determine consumers' brand love (BRL) towards MPSs. This study investigates the role of MPS app characteristics on consumer emotions, continued use intentions (CUI) and BRL towards MPS apps.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical underpinnings of stimulus organism behaviour consequence (SOBC) and pleasure arousal dominance (PAD) theory are utilized to conceptualize the research model. The model explains the drivers of MPS BRL. Innovativeness, perceived organization and entertainment are the stimuli. Emotion, conceptualized as the second-order construct derived from pleasure, arousal and dominance, is the organism. CUI is the behaviour exhibited, and BRL towards MPS is the consequence. A survey method is used to collect data from 317 MPS consumers, and the hypotheses are tested using a structural equation modelling approach.FindingsResults indicate that innovativeness, perceived organization and entertainment influence consumers' emotions, which affects their CUI. Emotions and CUI shape BRL. Results also show a significant mediating role of emotion and CUI.Originality/valueLimited studies have explored BRL for utility-driven apps like MPSs. The SOBC frameworks and PAD theory provide stronger explanatory powers to the complex interplay of variables that influence consumer perceptions and decisions regarding MPSs. The study provides several practical and theoretical insights into the role of emotions in the adoption of MPS apps, a hitherto understudied relationship in literature.
Using legacy 3D seismic data and source parameters of mining‐induced earthquakes to mitigate the risk of rockbursting in Kloof Gold Mine, South Africa
Authors: Masethe Richard T. , Manzi Musa S. D. , Durrheim Raymond J. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractRockbursts pose a significant risk in deep gold mines in the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa as they may damage the excavation, injure workers, and delay production. We analysed the source mechanisms of 75 large mining‐related seismic events (ML 1.5–2.7) that caused damage to stopes in Kloof Gold Mine and used legacy 3D reflection seismic data to delineate the ore body and geological structures that may be correlated with mining‐related seismic events. The 75 seismic events took place at depths of 1600–4200 m below surface. Most events were located close to stopes mining the Ventersdorp Contact Reef ore body. The S‐to‐P‐wave energy ratio (Es/Ep) from the analysed seismic events ranged from 1.1 to 19.9. The source mechanisms of mining‐induced seismic events aid in understanding the dominant modes of failure. Planes of weakness may be the result of mining‐induced stresses or pre‐existing geological structures such as faults and dykes. The Es/Ep ratio, focal mechanism and moment tensor solutions were correlated to the underground mapped and seismically defined geological structures. Approximately 44% of the events showed strong correlation with the known underground mapped and seismically imaged geological structures (faults and dykes), whereas 56% of the events were related to elements of the mining geometry (dip pillars, abutments and remnants). This information enables mining layouts to be modified to minimize the risk of rockbursting.