Receptor Specificity Engineering of TNF Superfamily Ligands

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family has nine ligands that show promiscuity in binding multiple receptors. As different receptors transduce into diverse pathways, the study on the functional role of natural ligands is very complex. In this review, we discuss the TNF ligands engineering for receptor specificity and summarize the performance of the ligand variants in vivo and in vitro. Those variants have an increased binding affinity to specific receptors to enhance the cell signal conduction and have reduced side effects due to a lowered binding to untargeted receptors. Refining receptor specificity is a promising research strategy for improving the application of multi-receptor ligands. Further, the settled variants also provide experimental guidance for engineering receptor specificity on other proteins with multiple receptors.

The emerging work system and strategy for skills transition in South Africa

Purpose The rapidly emerging digital work system, accentuated by technological innovation, has dramatically changed the nature of skill-sets required for employees to perform their tasks effectively at the workplaces. This paper aims to examine the skills development strategies that organizations in South Africa are adopting in the transitioning of their respective workforces to fit the skills dynamics of the emerging work system. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses the interpretive qualitative research strategy to draw evidence from semi-structured interviews conducted on 38 respondents, using the thematic analytical process to derive themes embedded in the data set. Findings Based on the strength of data analysis, this paper identified two broad themes and six sub-themes that are critical for the transformation and transition of existing pool of skills for the emerging work system in South Africa. Research limitations/implications The research lacks ability to be generalized, which is a methodological limitation that is inherently associated with cross-sectional design and qualitative strategy in terms of causality and generalizability of findings. Originality/value The main value-add of this paper is the development of evidence-based research outcomes that provide both theoretical and practical framework for skills development and transition initiatives that are imperative for policy formulation. The paper responded to, and advanced the respective works of Hirschi (2017), Sharma et al. (2021) and Barley et al. (2017), by establishing the following strategic themes that are critical for skills development and transition mechanisms in the emerging work system: stakeholder relationship, media and public perception, learning organization, higher education system, continuous skills development and technology and job losses.

Analysis of the Use of E-Learning as a Historical Learning Medium during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to see how E-learning applications were used in history lectures during the Covid-19 period. This research uses descriptive-evaluative research strategy with Mixed Methods technique (quantitative and qualitative). The descriptive-evaluative analysis in this study is limited to the E-Learning program as a historical learning medium. The subjects of this study were teachers of history subjects and students at SMA Negeri 1 Kota Padang who used E-Learning. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and distributing questionnaires. This study uses descriptive statistical analysis, namely calculating the amount of data obtained from questionnaire data and then evaluating the data in the form of percentages. The influence of online learning with E-Learning applications on students’ historical thinking skills and historical awareness abilities is substantial. Furthermore, using E-Learning technology into history lessons may aid students in developing a stronger sense of national identity. As a result, it is possible to infer that the E-learning application had a significant impact on history learning during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Dynamics of Business Models in Industry-Wide Collaborative Networks for Circularity

Incumbent B2B manufacturing companies join forces and form collaborative networks, called consortia, aiming to increase the circularity of their products. Our research interest lies in the understanding of how the business models (BM) of the companies and the industry are affected by such collaborations in the collaborative networks of the circular economy (CE). Given the exploratory nature of our empirical research, we applied a mixed research strategy of an inductively deductive nature. We carried out case studies in a manufacturing industry field and combined them with quantitative content analyses of the companies’ financial and non-financial reports. Drawing on the assumptions of the Attention-Based View Theory and Legitimacy Theory, we defined and found verbally communicated identifiers of BM elements, CE strategies, and collaborative networks, quantified their occurrences, and transformed them into variables. Using correlation analyses, we determined the tightness and the changes in relationships between the BMs’ elements and CE strategies. We examined the dynamic changes in the structure of BMs and their elements occurring within the implementation of selected CE strategies. Our findings suggest that collaborative networks for CE support an adaptation of the industry’s BMs. The higher-level CE strategies impact the BM more than the lower-level ones. The contribution of our research is in the suggested method of quantification and concretization of an abstract concept of BMs’ elements and their interrelations. This enables an assessment and a direct comparison of BMs, as well as of implemented CE strategies across companies and across industries. Our results also shed more light on the way the companies and industries adapt their BMs towards reaching circularity, as well as on how collaborative networks support such a transition.

The Contribution of Case Study Research in Information Science

The reputation of case study research has grown as a research strategy for developing theories and as a method for investigating and understanding world complex issues. The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate how the case study research can add value to a research project. Case study research, although becoming increasingly popular is not adequately utilised in information science research. The chapter draws on the literature on case study research in various fields and uses examples to inform research in information science. Case study research have been used across a number of disciplines, particularly, in the social sciences, education and business to address real world problems. Many researchers tend to use case study research because of the numerous advantages it offers. For instance, the employment of multiple data collection instruments maximises the depth of information, which in turn increases transferability of the findings. Additionally, the use of multiple cases and multiple data collection instruments make generalisation easy and valid. Maximising generalisability of findings is the ultimate goal of research.

Digital Humanities Strategy

This chapter outlines a strategy for digital humanities that can address some of the challenges that have arisen due to informing technologies. The chapter begins by giving a definition of humanism and by describing the nature of the humanistic attitude. The chapter next considers the role that mythology plays in humanism. After this, a matrix model of the humanities is presented that shows the role of the humanities in a computerized society. Then, a digital humanities research strategy is discussed with specific recommendations for implementing such research. This is followed by a discussion of the role that supercomputers play in research. Strategies for creating content in the digital humanities are then explored in disciplines such as philosophy, archeology, and history. Next, strategies for publishing and distributing information are described. The chapter concludes by considering strategies for teaching digital humanities and for developing digital social resonance.

Factors Influencing Web 2.0 Technology Usage among Academics

The usage of Web 2.0 tools in education affords many benefits, which include increased access to educational resources, and the ability to collaboratively create and use content. Despite the benefits of Web 2.0 tools in higher education, the technology has not been widely used by academics in South Africa. Thus, the purpose of this research is to investigate the extent of usage and the factors that play a role in the usage of Web 2.0 tools among academics at two South African higher education institutions. A case study research strategy was adopted to fulfil the objectives of the study. This paper reports on the quantitative approach used to conduct the study. A questionnaire was administered to collect data from the target population. The results revealed that individual factors, organisational factors, perceived usefulness and perceived quality characteristics are significant predictors to the usage of Web 2.0 tools. The study has practical implications for academic stakeholders in private higher education for the integration of Web 2.0 technology into their teaching practice.

Public-Private Partnership for Urban Housing Through Civic Engagement

Public-private partnership (PPP) is a contractual arrangement between a public agency and a private sector, whereby the private sector performs a public function in accordance with an output-based specification for a specified period of time in return for a financial benefit. The central problem investigated in this chapter is the challenges in urban housing delivery using the public-private partnership approach, to identify concerns and develop a framework to address them. Adopting a qualitative research strategy and descriptive approach, primary data was collected thru questionnaire administered to selected sample of staff, private partners, and beneficiaries of houses. This research analysed the identified challenges experienced in the urban housing based on the existing literature and theories on PPP. Findings reflect that, despite challenges, there is confirmation that the PPP concept is a catalyst to addressing urban housing delivery by using private investment.

Digital Labour: Digital Capitalism and the Alienation of YouTube Content Creators

YouTube is a digital platform that allows content creators to stream their videos in exchange for money earned through the YouTube Partner Program mechanism, motivates many people to join YouTube. However, what they do not realize is the hidden effect YouTube brings in the form of alienation experienced by YouTube content creators as digital labour. This article discusses this phenomenon of alienation experienced by digital labours. Using a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design, it offers a narrative research strategy to examine the narrative and discourse of alienation of content creators on YouTube. The unit of analysis of the study is the content of YouTube creators as digital labour. The findings show that YouTube is mainly a vehicle used by digital capitalism for the sake of profit accumulated by exploiting content creators from the videos they make. Content creators receive disproportionate or even no financial compensation from YouTube for the videos they produce for YouTube. As a result, YouTube content creators as digital labour experienced alienation from their work, their work activities, from themselves as a human species and from other humans.