Role In Adaptation Research Articles

Cultural Dimensions and Ethical Decision-Making: A Case Study of Multinational Corporations Operating in Indonesia

Multinational corporations (MNCs) face significant ethical challenges when operating across diverse cultural environments, where differing norms and values can create conflicts in decision-making processes. This study examines how cultural dimensions, such as power distance and collectivism, influence ethical decision-making within MNCs, with a specific focus on operations in Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach, the research integrates thematic analysis of case studies and interviews with corporate managers. Data were also triangulated with organizational documents and industry reports. The findings reveal that high power-distance cultures, such as Indonesia, favor centralized decision-making, with ethical dilemmas typically resolved by senior leadership. While this hierarchical approach ensures efficiency, it often compromises transparency and accountability. Conversely, the collectivist orientation emphasizes group consensus and community engagement, fostering inclusivity but occasionally delaying resolution. For instance, case studies on bribery, environmental violations, and gender equality initiatives demonstrate the critical role of cultural adaptation in achieving ethical outcomes. Notably, participatory approaches involving local stakeholders improved trust and alignment with community expectations, enhancing reputational outcomes by 20% compared to centralized strategies. The study concludes that effective ethical frameworks for MNCs must balance global standards with cultural sensitivities. Recommendations include the adoption of culturally adaptive ethical policies, inclusive leadership training, and robust stakeholder engagement strategies. These findings offer valuable insights for MNCs aiming to navigate ethical complexities in culturally heterogeneous environments, contributing to both theoretical and practical advancements in global business ethics

Comparative Genomics of Different Lifestyle Fungi in Helotiales (Leotiomycetes) Reveals Temperature and Ecosystem Adaptations

Helotiales, a diverse fungal order within Leotiomycetes (Ascomycota), comprises over 6000 species occupying varied ecological niches, from plant pathogens to saprobes and symbionts. Despite their importance, their genetic adaptations to temperature and environmental conditions are understudied. This study investigates temperature adaptations in infection genes and substrate degradation genes through a comparative genomics analysis of 129 Helotiales species, using the newly sequenced genomes of Gyoerffyella rotula and Anguillospora crassa. Key gene families such as cytochrome P450 enzymes, virulence factors, effector proteins, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were analyzed to understand their roles in temperature and lifestyle adaptations, uncovering possible alternative lifestyle mechanisms. Our findings reveal that Helotiales fungi possess genes associated with nutrient acquisition, pathogenicity, and symbiotic relationships strongly adapted to cold environments that might be impacted by global warming. On the other hand, some species demonstrate potential for adaptation to warmer climates, suggesting increased activity in response to global warming. This study reveals the adaptive mechanisms enabling Helotiales fungi to thrive in both cold and warm environments. These findings provide valuable insights into their ecological success and evolutionary resilience, which may facilitate their ability to transition between pathogenic, symbiotic, and saprobic phases in response to changing environmental conditions.

Longitudinal relations between future time perspective and academic engagement among chinese college students: the mediating role of career adaptability

Longitudinal relations between future time perspective and academic engagement among chinese college students: the mediating role of career adaptability

Designing your own job: how protean mindset and adaptability resources shape the modern workplace

PurposeAs employees face increased turbulence due to uncertain economic and organisational conditions, they are nowadays pushed to be proactive in both their jobs and careers in terms of heightened customisation, adaptability and flexibility. Drawing from the career construction theory, we examine the reciprocal associations of a contemporary career orientation among employees to customise one’s own career (i.e. protean career orientation) vs one’s own job (i.e. job crafting behaviours) as well as the boundary conditions due to the levels of career adaptability.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a cross-lagged study with three waves using data collected from a sample of Polish employees. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling in AMOS.FindingsResults from a cross-lagged panel study with 168 participants revealed a bidirectional relationship between protean career orientation and job crafting behaviours. The results also confirmed the moderating role of career adaptability between these two variables.Originality/valueThis research is one of the first to examine a reciprocal relationship between protean career orientation and job crafting. Moreover, it examines the moderating role of career adaptability in the aforementioned association.

Pathobiochemistry of Aging and Neurodegeneration: Deregulation of NAD+ Metabolism in Brain Cells

NAD+ plays a pivotal role in energy metabolism and adaptation to external stimuli and stressful conditions. A significant reduction in intracellular NAD+ levels is associated with aging and contributes to the development of chronic cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. It is of particular importance to maintain optimal levels of NAD+ in cells with high energy consumption, particularly in the brain. Maintaining the tissue level of NAD+ with pharmacological tools has the potential to slow down the aging process, to prevent the development of age-related diseases. This review covers key aspects of NAD+ metabolism in terms of brain metabolic plasticity, including NAD+ biosynthesis and degradation in different types of brain cells, as well as its contribution to the development of neurodegeneration and aging, and highlights up-to-date approaches to modulate NAD+ levels in brain cells.

Circumpolar and Regional Seascape Drivers of Genomic Variation in a Southern Ocean Octopus.

Understanding how ecological, environmental and geographic features influence population genetic patterns provides crucial insights into a species' evolutionary history, as well as their vulnerability or resilience under climate change. In the Southern Ocean, population genetic variation is influenced across multiple spatial scales ranging from circum-Antarctic, which encompasses the entire continent, to regional, with varying levels of geographic separation. However, comprehensive analyses testing the relative importance of different environmental and geographic variables on genomic variation across these scales are generally lacking in the Southern Ocean. Here, we examine genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Southern Ocean octopus Pareledone turqueti across the Scotia Sea and the Antarctic continental shelf, at depths between 102 and 1342 m, throughout most of this species' range. The circumpolar distribution of P. turqueti is biogeographically structured with a clear signature of isolation-by-geographical distance, but with long-distance genetic connectivity also detected between East and West Antarctica. Genomic variation of P. turqueti was also associated with bottom water temperature at a circumpolar scale, driven by a genotype-temperature association with the warmer sub-Antarctic Shag Rocks and South Georgia. Within the Scotia Sea, geographic distance, oxygen and fine-scale isolation-by-water depth were apparent drivers of genomic variation at regional scales. Putative positive selection of haemocyanin (oxygen transport protein), calcium ion transport and genes linked to RNA modification, detected within the Scotia Sea, suggest physiological adaptation to the regional sharp temperature gradient (~0-+2°C). Overall, we identified seascape drivers of genomic variation in the Southern Ocean at circumpolar and regional scales in P. turqueti and contextualised the role of environmental adaptations in the Southern Ocean.

Distribution of C30 carotenoid biosynthesis genes suggests habitat adaptation function in insect-adapted and nomadic Lactobacillaceae

Carotenoids are membrane-bound pigments that are essential for photosynthesizing plants and algae, widely applied in food, feed and cosmetics due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The production of carotenoids, particularly C30 forms, has been documented in some non-photosynthetic prokaryotes. However, their function, distribution and ecology beyond photosynthesizing organisms remains understudied. In this study, we performed an eco-evolutionary analysis of terpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters in the Lactobacillaceae family, screening 4203 dereplicated genomes for terpenoid biosynthesis genes, and detected crtMN genes in 28/361 (7.7%) species across 14/34 (41.2%) genera. These genes encode key enzymes for producing the C30 carotenoid 4,4′-diaponeurosporene. crtMN genes appeared to be convergently gained within Fructilactobacillus and horizontally transferred across species and genera, including Lactiplantibacillus to Levilactobacillus. The phenotype was confirmed in 87% of the predicted crtMN gene carriers (27/31). Nomadic and insect-adapted species, particularly those isolated from vegetable fermentations, e.g., Lactiplantibacillus, and floral habitats, e.g., Fructilactobacillus, contained crtMN genes, while vertebrate-associated species, including vaginal associated species, lacked this trait. This habitat association aligned with the observations that C30 carotenoid-producing strains were more resistant to UV-stress. In summary, C30 carotenoid biosynthesis plays a role in habitat adaptation and is scattered across Lactobacillaceae in line with this habitat adaptation.

Symbiotic bacteria play crucial roles in a herbivorous mite host suitability.

The tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici, is a strictly herbivorous and economically significant pest that infests Solanaceae plants, but its host suitability varies, showing high performance on tomatoes. Although symbiotic bacteria have been suggested to play crucial roles in the host adaptation of herbivores, their effects on TRM remain unclear. In this study, using next generation high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA data, we identified the bacterial diversity and community composition of TRM feeding on tomato, eggplant, and chili. Our results show no significant difference in the bacterial community composition of TRM across three host plants. However, the relative density of Escherichia coli (TRM_Escherichia) showed 9.36-fold higher on tomato than on eggplant and chili. These results align with the observed TRM performance among three host plants. When TRM_Escherichia was reduced using antibiotics, the treated TRM decreased the population density on tomato. However, when we transferred TRM from eggplant to tomato, the population density of TRM increased, coinciding with an increase of the TRM_Escherichia density. These results indicate that TRM_Escherichia may affect the host suitability of TRM. Our fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results further showed that TRM_Escherichia is primarily distributed in the salivary glands. Metagenomic data results suggest that TRM_Escherichia functions in food digestion and energy metabolism. We provided the first comprehensive analysis of TRM bacterial communities. Our findings demonstrate that the symbiotic bacterium TRM_Escherichia may play crucial roles in the suitability of TRM feeding on different Solanaceae hosts. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Engineered Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Responsive Artificial H+/Cl- Ion Channels for Targeted Cancer Treatment.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive ion channels regulate the ion flow across the membranes in response to alterations in the cellular redox state, playing a crucial role in cellular adaptation to oxidative stress. Despite their significance, replicating ROS-responsive functionality in artificial ion channels remains elusive. In this study, we introduce a novel class of artificial H+/Cl- ion channels activatable by elevated ROS levels in cancer cells. ROS-induced decaging of the phenylboronate group triggers the rapid release of the channel-forming units, leading to self-assembly of the H-bonded cascades facilitating the synergistic transport of H+ and Cl- ions, with H+/Cl- ion transport selectivity of 7.7. Upon activation, ROS-C-Cl exhibits significant apoptotic activity against human breast cancer cells, achieving an IC50 of 2.8 μM, comparable to that of paclitaxel. Exploiting the intrinsic oxidative microenvironment of cancer cells, along with the enhanced oxidative stress arising from H+/Cl- co-transport, ROS-C-Cl demonstrates exceptional selectivity in targeting cancer cells with a selectivity index of 10.2 over normal breast cells, outperforming that of paclitaxel by 19.4 folds.

Empowering Maguindanaon Identity: Phonological Adaptation of Arabic Loanwords as a Pathway to Linguistic Preservation and Sustainable Development (SDG 4 & SDG 11)

Objectives: This study explores the phonological adaptation of Arabic loanwords in Maguindanaon, aiming to deepen understanding of the language's sound system and its linguistic preservation. Theoretical Framework: Drawing on the Optimality Theory (OT) framework, which emphasizes the interaction between markedness and faithfulness constraints, the research examines how Arabic phonemes are integrated and modified in the Maguindanaon phonology. Method: A qualitative methodology was employed, involving the participation of twelve native speakers who provided a corpus of 250 Arabic loanwords for analysis. Results and Discussions: The findings reveal that phonological adaptation prioritizes unmarked forms over faithfulness to Arabic originals, resulting in significant segmental shifts and morphological integration. These changes include affixation, inflectional adaptations, and semantic shifts such as broadening and extension, reflecting the cultural integration of Arabic influences. Research Implications: The study contributes to phonological theory by demonstrating how Maguindanaon achieves linguistic coherence through selective adaptations, aligning borrowed words with native patterns. Originality/Value: The research offers practical insights for language preservation, highlighting the role of phonological adaptation in maintaining linguistic identity. Moreover, the findings address sustainable development goals (SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering cultural literacy and promoting the sustainable use of linguistic heritage.

Engineered Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)‐Responsive Artificial H+/Cl− Ion Channels for Targeted Cancer Treatment

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐responsive ion channels regulate the ion flow across the membranes in response to alterations in the cellular redox state, playing a crucial role in cellular adaptation to oxidative stress. Despite their significance, replicating ROS‐responsive functionality in artificial ion channels remains elusive. In this study, we introduce a novel class of artificial H+/Cl‐ ion channels activatable by elevated ROS levels in cancer cells. ROS‐induced decaging of the phenylboronate group triggers the rapid release of the channel‐forming units, leading to self‐assembly of the H‐bonded cascades facilitating the synergistic transport of H+ and Cl‐ ions, with H+/Cl‐ ion transport selectivity of 7.7. Upon activation, ROS‐C‐Cl exhibits significant apoptotic activity against human breast cancer cells, achieving an IC50 of 2.8 μM, comparable to that of paclitaxel. Exploiting the intrinsic oxidative microenvironment of cancer cells, along with the enhanced oxidative stress arising from H+/Cl‐ co‐transport, ROS‐C‐Cl demonstrates exceptional selectivity in targeting cancer cells with a selectivity index of 10.2 over normal breast cells, outperforming that of paclitaxel by 19.4 folds.

In silico analysis of trehalose biosynthesis genes provides clues to reveal its roles in Avicennia marina adaptation to tidal submergence

In silico analysis of trehalose biosynthesis genes provides clues to reveal its roles in Avicennia marina adaptation to tidal submergence

Electrifying Maritime Shipping: Evaluating the CO2 Reduction and Viability of Future Battery-Powered Container Ships Calling at the Port of Los Angeles

Abstract Maritime shipping plays a pivotal role in global logistics, influencing efficiency, emissions, and adaptability. This academic study envisions future electrified shipping fleets and evaluates the potential for CO2 reduction and the cost delta between grid electricity and marine fossil fuels using three types of container ships (5000-7999 TEU, 8000-11999 TEU, and 12000-14499 TEU). The scenario evaluated envisions an electrical charging infrastructure at the Port of Los Angeles, supported fully by wind and solar energy sources, to recharge future battery-powered ships. It is recognized that electric-powered ocean-going long-transit ships are not practical, but this study provides baseline groundwork to justify and support future development of hybrid or partially electric ships to help meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from the world’s shipping by 2050. Additionally, a real case study analysis of all container ships at POLA was conducted using container vessel activity to further evaluate the practical implications and benefits of this transition. This analysis underscores the significant electrical infrastructure investments required and highlights the potential economic challenges as well as the environmental benefits of integrating electric power into maritime operations.

Genome-wide identification of gap junction gene family and their expression profiles under low temperature stress in noble scallop Chlamys nobilis

Gap junctions, formed by gap junction proteins (GJ), play crucial roles in cell signaling and immune responses. The structure and function of the GJ from vertebrates (called connexins) have been extensively studied. However, little is known about the proteins forming gap junctions in invertebrates (called innexins). In this study, 14 GJ genes of Chlamys nobilis were identified. GJ proteins are mainly distributed on the plasma membrane, and all proteins are hydrophilic Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the GJ proteins in C. nobilis were distantly related to those in vertebrates but closely related to those in invertebrates. Conserved motifs analysis of these GJ proteins in C. nobilis identified to have 10 conserved motifs, similar to gap junction proteins in other bivalves. Moreover, expression profiles of CnGJ genes under chronic and acute low temperature stress were also investigated. Results showed that chronic low temperature stress had a significant effect on the expression levels of CnGJ genes, and the expression profiles of CnGJ genes showed significantly variation under acute low temperature stress. All these results indicated that CnGJ genes play important roles in environmental adaptation in scallops. The present study initially elucidated the function of gap junction genes in noble scallop C. nobilis, which provides new insights into the GJ genes in mollusks and will help us better understand their roles in environmental stress in scallops.

Long-term stability of comammox Nitrospira under weakly acidic conditions and their acid-adaptive mechanisms revealed by genome-centric metatranscriptomics.

Despite their widespread presence in acidic environments, the stability and adaptative mechanisms of complete ammonia oxidization (comammox) bacteria remain poorly understood. In this three-year study, comammox Nitrospira consistently dominated both abundance and activity in an acidic nitrifying reactor (pH = 6.3-6.8), as revealed by metagenomic and cDNA-based 16S rRNA sequencing. Batch tests demonstrated their decent nitrification down to pH 4.7, while ceasing at pH 4.2. Genome-centric metatranscriptomics revealed that comammox Nitrospira upregulated a Rh-type ammonium transporter to enhance substrate uptake under acidic conditions. Active proton transport, mediated by NADH dehydrogenases and F-type ATPase, was identified as a primary strategy for maintaining pH homeostasis in comammox Nitrospira. Genes associated with carbon acquisition, chemotaxis, and DNA repair were upregulated at low pH, suggesting these processes play roles in acid adaptation. These findings enhance the understanding of ecological roles and adaptive mechanisms of comammox bacteria in acidic environments.

Rapid Adaption but Genetic Diversity Loss of a Globally Distributed Diatom in the Warmer Ocean.

Studies have demonstrated that marine phytoplankton can adapt to the warmer environment. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we quantified the capacity of a globally distributed marine diatom Skeletonema dohrnii, for rapid evolution under the moderate (24°C) and severe (28°C) warming scenarios. Whole-genome resequencing analysis revealed that the evolutionary adaptation of S. dohrnii to moderate warming was slow (i.e., 700 generations), whereas it was rapid (i.e., 300 generations) under severe warming but suffered a substantial loss of genetic diversity within the population. Genes associated with energy production and lipid metabolism evolved rapidly, particularly under severe warming, suggesting their vital roles in thermal adaptation. Proteomic results also showed the enhanced expression of proteins involved in energy production and lipid metabolism, especially under severe warming. Furthermore, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen production was greatly enhanced in the moderate warming-selected population but increased insignificantly in the severe warming-selected population, indicating more rapid adaptation driven by severe warming. Our results provide molecular insights into the rapid but limited evolution of thermal adaptation in marine diatoms and highlight energy production and lipid metabolism as the most important adaptive strategy. Future warming will affect genetic diversity and population dynamics of diatoms in the ocean.

Streptomyces sp. 30702 composite chitosan alleviates continuous cropping obstacles in Chinese yam by improving rhizospheric soil microbial environment: A field study in Hainan

Yam is a vital medicinal plant, yet its cultivation faces increasing challenges, particularly due to pathogenic diseases linked to continuous cropping obstacles. This study examines the effects of Streptomyces sp. 30702 and Chitosan on anthracnose and soil microbial communities across four treatment groups: CK (control), SP (Streptomyces sp. 30702), CTS (chitosan), and SC (combined Streptomyces sp. 30702 and Chitosan) within a continuous yam cropping system. The yam was watered every 20 days with 0.25 g plant−1 of chitosan and 4.2 × 10⁵ CFU plant−1 of Streptomyces sp. 30702. Notably, the SC treatment significantly reduced the disease index by 41.31 %, cut root-knot nematode populations by 95.40 %, and boosted yield by 205.45 % compared to CK (P > 0.05). SC treatment also increased soil levels of available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and urease activity. High-throughput sequencing highlighted the dominance of three bacterial phyla (Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota) and three fungal phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and unidentified Fungi) at harvest. At the bacterial genus level, Bacillus showed a significant increase in SC compared to CK, while LEfSe analysis identified five marker microorganisms in CTS (including Flavobacterium) and four in SC at the fungal genus level. Importantly, SC management reduced the relative abundance of Colletotrichum, the primary cause of anthracnose, by 42.27 % compared to CK. In the Hainan yam continuous cropping system, four Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were identified as bacterial connectors, two as module hubs, and two as fungal connectors, underscoring their roles in decomposition and environmental adaptability. The results of the Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicate that available phosphorus in the soil significantly affects the composition of bacterial and fungal communities, with the greatest influence. Additionally, available potassium, available nitrogen, and root-knot nematodes significantly influence the bacterial community, while available nitrogen and root-knot nematodes significantly affect the fungal community (P < 0.05). Overall, the combination of Streptomyces sp. 30702 and chitosan proved to be an effective bio-agent duo, regulating soil microbial communities, reducing anthracnose, and providing a theoretical basis for addressing continuous cropping challenges in yam cultivation.

Influence of Young Teachers’ Perceived School Support on Creative Teaching Behaviors in Higher Vocational Colleges

This study explores the impact of school support on the creative teaching behaviour of Chinese higher vocational teachers and the mediating role of teacher adaptability and creative teaching efficacy. It aims to understand the situation of young teachers' perceptions of school support, adaptability and creative teaching efficacy. It helps optimize incentive mechanisms in the long run for young teachers in higher vocational schools to stimulate their creative teaching behaviour. This study conveniently sampled 660 young teachers from vocational high schools in Shandong Province and conducted a questionnaire survey with them. The results showed that teaching adaptability and creative teaching efficacy could be mediators in the relationship between perceived school support and creative teaching behaviour, showing that apart from school support, these two elements are crucial for the activation of creative teaching behaviour. Perceived school support has a positive impact on teachers’ adaptability, creative teaching efficacy and creative teaching behaviour. Teacher adaptability and creative teaching efficacy play a partial mediating role in the relationship between perceived school support and creative teaching behaviour.

Uneven distribution of prokaryote-derived horizontal gene transfer in fungi: a lifestyle-dependent phenomenon.

This study sheds new light on the role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in fungi, an area that has remained relatively unexplored compared to its well-established prevalence in bacteria. By analyzing 829 fungal genomes, we identified over 20,000 genes that fungi acquired from prokaryotes, revealing the significant impact of HGT on fungal evolution. Our findings highlight that fungal lifestyle traits, such as being parasitic or saprotrophic, play a key role in determining the extent of HGT, with parasites showing the highest gene acquisition rates. We also uncovered unique patterns of HGT occurrence based on fungal morphology and reproduction. Importantly, genes with introns, which are more highly expressed, appear to play a crucial role in fungal adaptation. This research deepens our understanding of how HGT contributes to the metabolic diversity and ecological success of fungi, and it underscores the broader significance of gene transfer in shaping fungal evolution.

The role of morphological adaptability in Vibrio cholerae's motility.

This study highlights the enhanced motility of filamentous Vibrio cholerae in viscous environments, an adaptation that may provide a survival advantage in the human gastrointestinal tract. By demonstrating increased reversal behavior at mucin interfaces, filamentous V. cholerae cells exhibit a superior ability to penetrate the mucus layer, which is crucial for effective colonization and infection. Filamentous cells in bile-supplemented media further underscores their potential role in disease pathogenesis. These findings offer critical insights into the morphological flexibility of V. cholerae and its potential implications for infection dynamics, paving the way for more effective strategies in managing and preventing cholera outbreaks.