scholarly journals Patterns of [FeFe] Hydrogenase Diversity in the Gut Microbial Communities of Lignocellulose-Feeding Higher Termites

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (15) ◽  
pp. 5368-5374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas R. Ballor ◽  
Jared R. Leadbetter

ABSTRACTHydrogen is the central free intermediate in the degradation of wood by termite gut microbes and can reach concentrations exceeding those measured for any other biological system. Degenerate primers targeting the largest family of [FeFe] hydrogenases observed in a termite gut metagenome have been used to explore the evolution and representation of these enzymes in termites. Sequences were cloned from the guts of the higher termitesAmitermessp. strain Cost010,Amitermessp. strain JT2,Gnathamitermessp. strain JT5,Microcerotermessp. strain Cost008,Nasutitermessp. strain Cost003, andRhyncotermessp. strain Cost004. Each gut sample harbored a more rich and evenly distributed population of hydrogenase sequences than observed previously in the guts of lower termites andCryptocercus punctulatus.This accentuates the physiological importance of hydrogen for higher termite gut ecosystems and may reflect an increased metabolic burden, or metabolic opportunity, created by a lack of gut protozoa. The sequences were phylogenetically distinct from previously sequenced [FeFe] hydrogenases. Phylogenetic and UniFrac comparisons revealed congruence between host phylogeny and hydrogenase sequence library clustering patterns. This may reflect the combined influences of the stable intimate relationship of gut microbes with their host and environmental alterations in the gut that have occurred over the course of termite evolution. These results accentuate the physiological importance of hydrogen to termite gut ecosystems.

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakee L. Sabree ◽  
Charlie Ye Huang ◽  
Gaku Arakawa ◽  
Gaku Tokuda ◽  
Nathan Lo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBeneficial microbial associations with insects are common and are classified as either one or a few intracellular species that are vertically transmitted and reside intracellularly within specialized organs or as microbial assemblages in the gut. Cockroaches and termites maintain at least one if not both beneficial associations.Blattabacteriumis a flavobacterial endosymbiont of nearly all cockroaches and the termiteMastotermes darwiniensisand can use nitrogenous wastes in essential amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis. Key changes during the evolutionary divergence of termites from cockroaches are loss ofBlattabacterium, diet shift to wood, acquisition of a specialized hindgut microbiota, and establishment of advanced social behavior. Termite gut microbes collaborate to fix nitrogen, degrade lignocellulose, and produce nutrients, and the absence ofBlattabacteriumin nearly all termites suggests that its nutrient-provisioning role has been replaced by gut microbes.M. darwiniensisis a basal, extant termite that solely retainsBlattabacterium, which would show evidence of relaxed selection if it is being supplanted by the gut microbiome. This termite-associatedBlattabacteriumgenome is ∼8% smaller than cockroach-associatedBlattabacteriumgenomes and lacks genes underlying vitamin and essential amino acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, theM. darwiniensisgut microbiome membership is more consistent between individuals and includes specialized termite gut-associated bacteria, unlike the more variable membership of cockroach gut microbiomes. TheM. darwiniensis Blattabacteriumgenome may reflect relaxed selection for some of its encoded functions, and the loss of this endosymbiont in all remaining termite genera may result from its replacement by a functionally complementary gut microbiota.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-263
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Carabellese ◽  
Michael J. Proeve ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of two distinct variants of dispositional shame (internal and external shame) with collaborative, purpose-driven aspects of the patient–provider relationship (working alliance) and patient satisfaction. The aim of this research was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the relevance of dispositional shame in a general healthcare population. Design/methodology/approach In total, 127 community members (mean age 25.9 years) who reported that they had regularly seen a GP over the past year were recruited at an Australian university. Participants were asked to reflect on their relationship with their GP, and completed instruments assessing various domains of shame, as well as working alliance and patient satisfaction. Findings Non-parametric correlations were examined to determine the direction and strength of relationships, as well as conducting mediation analyses where applicable. Small, negative correlations were evident between external shame and working alliance. Both external and internal shame measures were also negatively correlated with patient satisfaction. Finally, the relationship of external shame to patient satisfaction was partially mediated by working alliance. Practical implications Both the reported quality of patient–provider working alliance, and level of patient satisfaction are related to levels of dispositional shame in patients, and working alliance may act as a mediator for this relationship. Originality/value The findings from this preliminary study suggest that internal and external shame are important factors to consider in the provision of medical care to maximise the quality of patient experience and working alliance.


1972 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 514-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley J. Goodman ◽  
Donald P. Becker ◽  
John Seelig

✓ Intracranial pressures above and below the tentorium, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded continuously before, during, and after expansion of a supratentorial mass in awake unsedated cats. In general, as the mass enlarged, the intracranial pressure rose; however, considerable variation was observed among animals with respect to specific mass size and associated intracranial pressures. There was considerable variation in the relationship of supratentorial pressure to infratentorial pressure. No animal survived that had sustained a mass-induced pressure exceeding 1100 mm H2O, and survival was shorter with greater pressures. Systemic hypertension occurred always and only when the infratentorial pressure exceeded 600 mm H2O, regardless of the magnitude of the associated supratentorial intracranial pressure. The methodological limitations of previous studies of mass-induced intracranial hypertension appear to have been substantially reduced by the technique described.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 802-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Yashwant Patil ◽  
Ravi M. Warkhedkar

Purpose In the past decade, much has been written about knowledge management (KM) in the manufacturing; however, less attention has been paid to the Indian automobile ancillary industries located in Chinchwad, Pune. It is suitable to find out the relationship of the factors of the study. It helps in identifying the hierarchy of factors to be taken, and interlinking of production department with KM improves the productivity of the industries. Categorization of these principles based on their driving power (principles which hold other principles) and dependence (principles which are dependent on other principles) has also been examined for KM implementation to study the driving power and dependence power of these principles. This paper aims to determine the roadmap of KM implementation and categorize KM principles based on their driving power for manufacturing industries with the use of the interpretive structural modeling (ISM)-based model. The results indicate that the principles possessing higher driving power, such as KM, inventory control, quality control, productivity and scheduling and their interlinking. The major contribution of this research lies in the development of contextual relationship among various identified factors of KM and determination of their driving and dependence power through a single systemic framework. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, author find out the suitability ISM for Indian Automobile industries to find the relation among the variables. Findings ISM model has been developed for the hierarchy of the identified KM. As ISM model results a hypothetical hierarchy which needs a proper quantitative analysis to evaluate their percentage effectiveness in the hierarchy. Research limitations/implications It is applied to automobile industries with limited number of variables that will show the dependence variable and driving variables and their interrelations. It can be applied other fields to fine the relationship of variables. Practical implications The ISM may be used in supply chain management and total quality management to find interlinking between the variables. Originality/value The limited data collected from Pimpri Chinchwad industrial area of Pune from Maharashtra state (India).


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asim Rafique ◽  
Yumei Hou ◽  
Muhammad Adnan Zahid Chudhery ◽  
Nida Gull ◽  
Syed Jameel Ahmed

PurposeInnovations are imperative for organizational growth and sustainability. This study focuses on the employees' innovative behavior, a source of organizational innovations, which has received substantial attention from the researchers. Based on the psychological empowerment theory, the study exposes the effect of the various dimensions of public service motivation (PSM) on employees' innovative behavior (IB) in public sector institutions especially in the context of developing countries such as Pakistan. Moreover, the study also investigates the mediating role of psychological empowerment (PSE) between the dimensions of PSM and IB.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the cross-sectional research design. By using random sampling, the adapted survey questionnaires were used to collect data from 346 faculty members of public sector universities located in provincial capitals of Pakistan. A partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) tool was used to assess the proposed hypotheses through SMART-PLS software.FindingsResults revealed that attraction to policymaking (APM), compassion (COM), self-sacrifice (SS) have a significant impact on employees' PSE and their innovative behavior, while the relationship of commitment to the public interest (CPI) with PSE and IB was found insignificant. Moreover, PSE partially mediated the relationship between PSM dimensions and employees' IB.Originality/valueThere was a scarcity of research on IB especially in public sector institutions such as academia. This study theoretically contributed to the literature by providing a refined picture in assessing the proposed relationship of the constructs. This is also one of the original studies that examine the relationship between the dimensions of PSM and IB.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Getie Mihret ◽  
Monika Kansal ◽  
Mohammad Badrul Muttakin ◽  
Tarek Rana

Purpose This study aims to examine the setting of International Standards on Auditing (ISA) 701 on disclosing key audit matters (KAMs) to explore the role of standard setting in maintaining or reconstituting the relationship of the auditing profession with preparers and users of financial reports. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on concepts from the sociology of the professions literature and the regulatory space metaphor. Data comprises comment letters and other documents pertaining to the setting of ISA 701. Findings The study shows that the KAM reporting requirement is part of the ongoing re-calibration of the regulatory arrangements governing auditing, which started in the early 2000s. This study interprets standard setting as a site for negotiating the relationships between linked ecologies in the audit regulatory space, namely, the auditing profession, preparers of financial statements and users of audited reports. This study identifies three processes involved in setting ISA 701, namely, reconstitution of the rules governing auditors’ reports as a link between the three ecologies, preserving boundaries between the auditing profession and preparers and negotiation aimed at balancing competing interests of the interrelated ecologies. Originality/value The study offers insights into the role of regulatory rule setting as a central medium through which the adaptive relationship of the profession with its environment is negotiated.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jnaneswar K ◽  
M.M. Sulphey

PurposeMental wellbeing brings in multiple benefits to employees and their organizations like better decision-making capacity, greater productivity, resilience and so on. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of a few antecedents of mental wellbeing like workplace spirituality, mindfulness and self-compassion, using structural equation modeling (SEM).Design/methodology/approachUsing the convenience sampling method, data were collected from 333 employees of various organizations in India and SEM was performed using the R Program to test the hypotheses.FindingsResults suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion influenced the mental wellbeing of employees. It was also observed that workplace spirituality has a significant influence on both mindfulness and self-compassion.Originality/valueAn in-depth review of the literature revealed that no previous studies had examined the complex relationship between workplace spirituality, mindfulness, self-compassion and the mental wellbeing of employees. This research suggests that workplace spirituality, mindfulness and self-compassion are important factors that influence employees' mental wellbeing, and it empirically tests this in a developing country context. The present study enriches the literature studies on mental wellbeing, mindfulness, self-compassion and workplace spirituality by integrating “mindfulness to meaning theory”, “socio-emotional selectivity theory”, and “broaden and build theory”.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aqsa Ameer ◽  
Farah Naz ◽  
Bushra Gul Taj ◽  
Iqra Ameer

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of conscientiousness and extraversion personality traits on project success. The relationship is mediated by affective professional commitment, whilst the relationship between personality traits and project success is moderated by organizational project management maturity. Design/methodology/approach The deductive approach is used to achieve the objectives of this study. Data were collected through a purposive sampling technique from 250 respondents with the help of questionnaires from information technology sectors. The structural equation modelling (SEM) in partial least squares-SEM and SPSS is used to analyse the data and to examine the hypothesis. Findings The outcomes demonstrate the partial mediating impact of affective professional commitment between the relationship of conscientiousness and extraversion personalities with project success. Additionally, it proves the moderating effects of project management maturity between the relationship of conscientiousness and extraversion personalities with project success. Practical implications This study reflects that employee personality appears to be a reliable indicator of how an employee is faithful to his profession. This faithfulness or duty decides the employee’s execution in terms of offering a successful project. Thus, achieving employee commitment needs to be done by completing the project successfully by the organizations in the presence of project management maturity systems. Originality/value It is the first study of its kind to provide experimental proof of the impact of a manager’s personality traits on project success in the presence of affective professional commitment (mediator) and organizational project management maturity (moderator).


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie Louise Stewart ◽  
Karl Kilian Konrad Wiener

Purpose This paper aims to examine the quality of the relationship between a supervisor and their subordinate, conceptualised as leader member exchange (LMX), and the mediating influence of subordinate’s job embeddedness on job satisfaction. The LMX model considered the four-gender dominant leadership style facets, female – affect and loyalty (communal), and male – contribution and professional respect (agentic). Social role theory was applied to explain societies influence on leadership style. The moderating influence of supervisor gender on the relationship of LMX facets and subordinate embeddedness is investigated. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional survey study of 213 self-selected employed participants investigated the mediation of job embeddedness LMX and job embeddedness and the moderation impact of supervisor gender on this mediation. Findings Job embeddedness mediated the relationship between all four facets of LMX and job satisfaction. Supervisor gender did not moderate the relationships of the four LMX facets and job embeddedness. These findings highlight the potential impact of a homogeniuos sample in relation to industry type and culture as this may impact on the findings. That is, participants in this study were predominantly females working in female dominant industries. Originality/value This study builds on the work of Collins et al. (2014) who examined the moderating impact of subordinate gender on the mediating relationship of job embeddedness on the relationship between LMX facets and job satisfaction. Previously, the gender role of supervisors on this relationship was not explored.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 4125-4138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami R.M. Musallam

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in Palestine.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes a panel data of 31 Palestinian listed companies from 2010 to 2016. It also utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) model.FindingsThe results of SEM model find a significant positive relationship of the existence of risk management, audit committee meeting and audit committee size with CSR disclosure. However, audit committee financial expertise has a significant negative relationship with CSR disclosure. The results also find a significant relationship of audit committee meeting and audit committee financial expertise with CSR disclosure through the existence of risk management.Practical implicationsThis study is important to policymakers, accounting professionals and shareholders on the extent to which audit committee related to such committee efficiency in monitoring CSR disclosure.Social implicationsThis study adds to the existing literature by investigating the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and CSR disclosure in Palestine as one of the youngest market in region that assists to test the validity of agency theory in a young and small emerging market context.Originality/valueIt is the first study to investigate the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and CSR disclosure in Palestine.


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