structural perspectives Research Articles (Page 1)

A comprehensive review on structural, chemical, and functional perspectives of dietary polysaccharide-driven gut microbiota modulation: Mechanisms and challenges.

GPR68, a proton-sensing GPCR, as a therapeutic target in depression: structural, signalling, and mechanistic perspectives.

ABSTRACT This study explores the structural, electronic, and biological properties of 6‐nitropiperonal (6NP), a nitro‐substituted derivative of piperonal with potential biomedical relevance. The crystalline nature of 6NP was confirmed by powder x‐ray diffraction (PXRD), while FT‐IR and FT‐Raman analyses provided detailed vibrational insights. UV–vis spectroscopy revealed absorption bands at 325.3 and 408.7 nm, attributed to π–π* and n–π* transitions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level yielded optimized geometry and a HOMO–LUMO gap of 3.92 eV, indicating moderate electronic stability and potential for controlled charge‐transfer interactions. Reactivity analyses using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural bond orbital (NBO), and Fukui functions identified clear electrophilic and nucleophilic regions within the molecule. ADMET predictions suggested favorable oral bioavailability and low toxicity, supporting its drug‐likeness profile. Molecular docking against the antibacterial target protein (1JIJ) showed a binding affinity of −6.6 kcal/mol, further supported by 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations confirming stable ligand–protein interactions. Experimental assays demonstrated notable antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 39.04 µg/mL), along with moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as well as antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. These findings establish a clear structure–property–activity relationship and highlight 6NP as a promising bioactive candidate.

Global demand for sustainable food packaging materials has intensified research on bio-based biopolymer systems capable of delivering functional compounds. Among these, protein-polysaccharide gels have emerged as versatile matrices for the incorporation and controlled release of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. This review examines recent advances in the design and functionality of protein-polysaccharide gel systems for active food packaging applications. Particular attention is given to representative hybrid matrices such as casein/chitosan, gelatin/alginate, and whey protein/pectin systems, highlighting their gelation mechanisms, molecular interactions, and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the review explores the potential of agro-industrial and marine by-products as renewable sources of proteins, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds within circular bioeconomy strategies. Current limitations related to stability, scalability, and regulatory compliance are also addressed. By integrating structural, functional, and sustainability perspectives, this work provides a comprehensive framework for the development of next-generation protein-polysaccharide gel carriers for active food packaging.

Introduction The quality advancement of processed agricultural products is essential for consolidating industrial resilience and fostering the high-quality development of global agricultural trade. Amid the deep restructuring of the global economic system, trade interactions among nations have reshaped network topological structures, thereby influencing endogenous comparative advantages and functional specialization trajectories within the Agricultural Global Value Chain (AGVC). Against this backdrop, it is necessary to examine how trade network characteristics affect quality upgrading. Methods Using balanced panel data of major economies from 2007 to 2023, this study employs social network analysis to quantify trade network characteristics, including centrality, connection strength, and heterogeneity. Econometric analysis is conducted to empirically test the impact of these network features on the quality upgrading of processed agricultural products, with AGVC functional specialization incorporated as a mediating mechanism. Results The findings are threefold. First, trade networks exhibit a significant “quality empowerment” effect. Improvements in centrality, connection strength, and heterogeneity all drive the quality upgrading of agricultural products. Among these dimensions, connection strength exerts the most prominent promotional effect, indicating that deepened bilateral economic exchanges remain the cornerstone of quality advancement. Second, AGVC functional specialization constitutes a key mediating path through which trade networks influence quality. Trade networks facilitate a nation's ascent toward upstream functional specialization to achieve quality breakthroughs. Conversely, for nations localized in downstream processing segments, the quality benefits of network embedding are significantly constrained, confirming that the structural transition of “de-downstreaming” constitutes the core logic of quality upgrading. Third, trade connection strength involves risks of dual heterogeneity and governance capture. Close trade ties exert a positive pulling effect on nations embedded in non-buyer-driven networks. However, under buyer-driven governance models, excessively high connection strength risks locking economies into low-end segments, thereby weakening the quality dividends of network participation. Discussion Overall, the results suggest that the quality upgrading of processed agricultural products is closely linked to trade network embeddedness and AGVC positioning. Network structure not only enhances upgrading potential but may also generate structural constraints under specific governance contexts. These findings provide a structural perspective for understanding quality advancement in global agricultural trade.

Purpose The paper aims to explore the often-overlooked career challenges faced by men from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in Western contexts. It seeks to highlight the underutilization of intersectionality frameworks in studying men's vocational and career experiences. By focusing on how gender norms, disadvantages, as well as technological and demographic shifts intersect, the paper intends to uncover unique barriers these men face. It ultimately aims to provide recommendations for organizational and policy interventions and identify avenues for future research to better support disadvantaged men's career development and integration. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs a critical approach, drawing on interdisciplinary literature from sociology, psychology, management, and cultural studies. It integrates an intersectional framework with a social structural perspective, analyzing existing empirical studies predominantly from Western countries. The authors conduct a broad literature review covering career stages such as vocational preparation and career entry and consider demographic and technological trends affecting disadvantaged men. Empirical examples and critical theoretical concepts are used to illustrate how masculinity intersects with variables such as socio-economic status, race, or migrant status to create unique career hurdles for men. Findings The paper reveals that men from disadvantaged backgrounds face multiple barriers throughout multiple career stages considered in this paper, rooted in gender norms, socio-economic inequities and systemic biases. These men experience educational disadvantages and career misalignment due to labor market shifts. Structural changes favor cognitive and social skills associated with upper-class masculinity, making physical strength less valued and diminishing opportunities in traditionally male-dominated sectors. These challenges contribute to social exclusion and barriers to joining emerging occupations. Research limitations/implications The paper primarily relies on data and studies from Western, affluent countries, mainly the USA, UK and parts of the EU, which limits its generalizability globally. Additionally, much of the research cited focuses on specific intersections and contexts; thus, findings may not apply universally. The authors acknowledge the scarcity of intersectional research on disadvantaged men, calling for more studies across diverse geographical and cultural settings to validate and extend current knowledge. Future research should explore the nuanced interactions of gender, class, race and other identity variables relevant to other regions, and to examine institutional practices affecting men's careers worldwide. Practical implications The paper proposes targeted organizational and policy interventions to support disadvantaged men's vocational and career development. Recommendations include enhancing educational programs that address boys' academic challenges, increasing the visibility of male role models in education and in female-dominated professions, and promoting inclusive workplace cultures that challenge harmful gender norms. These initiatives aim to broaden employment opportunities for disadvantaged men while contributing to gender equity and workforce diversity. Social implications The paper highlights the social consequences of neglecting disadvantaged men's career challenges, including increased risks of social exclusion, political backlash, and susceptibility to radicalization. It underscores how feelings of victimhood and insecurity linked to masculinity and socio-economic disadvantage can fuel hostility towards marginalized groups and lead to the rise of extremist and antisocial movements. Addressing men's unique career barriers is thus not only a matter of individual well-being but also crucial for social cohesion, equity, and the prevention of social unrest. The research encourages policies that foster inclusion and address intersectional inequities. Originality/value This paper makes a valuable and original contribution by bringing attention to an underexplored area: the career disadvantages faced by men from underprivileged backgrounds. It challenges prevailing assumptions that men universally benefit from organizational and societal structures, emphasizing the complexity of masculine situations and identities shaped by class, race, and other factors. By advocating for a social structural and intersectional framework, it broadens the scope of gender and career research and provides a foundation for future studies. The integration of technological and demographic megatrends further enriches the understanding of men's evolving career experiences and potential for future growth.

Front-end planning (FEP), the initial phase of a project life cycle, plays an important role in aligning business objectives with project elements such as scope, costs, and schedule before execution begins. Although FEP is traditionally associated with large-scale projects, it is also relevant for small-scale projects. However, the lack of a robust theoretical foundation and simplified FEP tools for this context leaves managers without effective guidance. Furthermore, the assumption that small-scale projects are less critical contributes to the systemic neglect of essential planning steps, resulting in more failures, higher costs, and a loss of strategic alignment. In response to this gap, this study aims to propose a framework for FEP in small-scale projects. Drawing on Structural Contingency Theory and Project Governance perspectives, the framework is aligned with the contextual constraints of small-scale projects. A qualitative methodology was adopted, including a literature review to identify existing FEP frameworks that served as the basis for proposing a new framework for small-scale projects. The framework was validated by two groups: professionals with low project management maturity and specialists with professional and academic experience. The interviewees highlighted that the framework meets the demand for structured planning in small-scale projects, valuing its simplicity and potential for expansion with complementary tools. The main contribution of this research lies in its practical and accessible framework for small-scale projects, emphasizing FEP as a tool for strategic alignment and effective project management.

Therapeutic proteins face a critical pharmacokinetic challenge: rapid clearance from circulation limits their clinical efficacy. Albumin-binding domains (ABDs) offer an elegant solution by enabling therapeutic proteins to “hitchhike” on serum albumin’s favorable 19-day half-life through FcRn-mediated recycling. Clinical validation through approved therapeutics like ozoralizumab demonstrates the success of this approach, with preclinical studies showing fusion to an ABD extended half-life to 18 days. This review provides an analysis of ABD-fusion protein design, integrating structural biology, computational prediction, and rational engineering principles. We catalog the major classes of albumin-binding modalities, including bacterial three-helix bundle domains, engineered peptides, antibody-derived binders, and alternative scaffolds, comparing their binding properties, size contributions, cross-species reactivity, and production cost. Critical examination of linker architectures reveals that flexible glycine-serine linkers (particularly the widely successful (GGGGS)3 motif) provide optimal balance between domain independence and molecular economy, though linker choice profoundly influences not only spatial separation but also binding affinity, folding, stability, and pharmacokinetics. We evaluate the utility and limitations of the structure prediction tools for ABD-fusion design. We establish practical guidelines for integrating computational screening with experimental validation. This review provides protein engineers and synthetic biologists with a comprehensive framework for rational design of albumin-binding therapeutics, emphasizing the synergistic integration of structural insight, computational prediction, and systematic experimental validation to accelerate development of next-generation long-acting biotherapeutics.

Collaborative knowledge-building is an important mode of learning in which students’ cognitive presence has a significant impact on learning outcomes. To better understand how cognitive presence influences collaborative learning, this study applied three complementary analytic approaches: epistemic network analysis, which maps how ideas are connected in discussions; sequential pattern mining, which identifies temporal sequences; and social network analysis, which examines the interaction patterns and roles among group members. Using data from 37 students divided into 8 groups in a university course on academic reading and writing, we compared high-performing groups (HPGs) and low-performing groups (LPGs). The results showed that HPGs demonstrated stronger exploratory, integrative, and problem-solving abilities in their cognitive networks, with members actively exchanging ideas, questioning, and summarizing. In contrast, LPGs relied more on encouragement and reminders to sustain discussions. Furthermore, HPGs displayed more complex and varied behavioral sequences and clearer leadership and facilitation roles within their social networks, whereas LPGs showed simpler and less developed interaction patterns and lacked core members in their networks. These findings provide insights for instructors on how to better design and guide group knowledge-building to enhance online collaborative learning outcomes.

Purpose Integrating complementarity and network theories, this study advances an integrative model that explains how perceived management support enhances inbound open innovation outcomes through realized absorptive capacity. The author posits that while internal support systems and external network structures serve as complementary drivers, their synergistic effect depends critically on a firm’s ability to move beyond knowledge acquisition to the assimilation and exploitation of external knowledge. This model clarifies the underlying pathways through which internal support structures and network-enabled knowledge complementarities jointly foster inbound open innovation. Design/methodology/approach The author analyzed survey data from middle- and senior-level managers in the UAE using a multimethod approach. Structural equation modeling tested the core hypothesized relationships, while fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) identified the sufficient configurations of conditions for enhanced inbound open innovation across varying market orientations. Findings The results show that perceived management support does not directly affect inbound open innovation. Instead, realized absorptive capacity fully mediates this relationship, emphasizing its critical role in translating managerial support into innovation outcomes. The fsQCA results further identify multiple equifinal configurations through which firms achieve strong inbound open innovation, contingent upon market orientation profiles. Originality/value This study contributes to knowledge management and open innovation literature by integrating structural and configurational perspectives to explain how internal support mechanisms and knowledge capabilities interact to enhance external knowledge integration. It extends the understanding of absorptive capacity as a strategic conduit through which managerial support is converted into innovation performance. For practitioners, the study offers actionable insights on how to enhance internal learning and absorptive capacity to maximize the benefits of open innovation initiatives under varying market conditions.

Comparative characterization of protein isolates from treated and un-treatedRed kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) with commercial pea protein (Pisum Sativum): Nutritional, functional, in vitro digestibility and structural perspectives.

Economic sanctions have emerged as a central instrument of geopolitical competition in the twenty-first century. While traditional scholarship evaluates sanctions primarily in terms of target-state compliance, this study reconceptualizes sanctions as mechanisms of structural transformation operating within networked global economic systems. Integrating realist, institutionalist, and structural power perspectives, the article develops a triadic analytical framework that incorporates intermediary states alongside sender-target dynamics. Empirically, the study examines macroeconomic trends and trade reorientation patterns in Russia and Iran between 2010 and 2025, demonstrating that while sanctions impose short-term economic shocks, they rarely induce compliance when core strategic interests are implicated. The analysis further highlights the mediating role of India as a strategically autonomous intermediary power. India’s expansion of discounted energy imports from Russia, combined with sustained engagement with Western economies, illustrates how multipolarity constrains sanction universality and facilitates trade diversification. At the systemic level, the study finds evidence of controlled fragmentation: financial diversification, regional trade clustering, and institutional pluralization without full global bifurcation. Sanctions thus reshape global economic geography rather than collapse interdependence. The findings contribute to international political economy scholarship by shifting evaluative criteria from immediate compliance to long-term structural transformation and by foregrounding the agency of emerging powers in mediating coercive economic statecraft. The article concludes with policy implications for sanctioning coalitions, target states, and intermediary powers navigating an increasingly multipolar order.

Abstract Gold belt interconnection, as a key process in microwave components, is widely used in aerospace and high-frequency communication fields. Under actual working conditions, gold belt interconnections are susceptible to fatigue failure in mechanical vibration environments, which can lead to equipment malfunction. This paper studies engineering failure cases of bridging gold belts commonly used in aerospace electronic products under random vibration loads. By combining mechanical simulation with experimental verification, it systematically analyzes the fatigue fracture mechanism of gold belts and proposes improvements and reinforcement measures from both geometric parameter and structural design perspectives, effectively addressing the issue of gold belt fatigue fracture. The related analysis methods and improvement strategies can be extended to other forms of flexible interconnections, providing an effective approach to enhance product interconnection reliability.

This study examines organizational adaptation strategies in digital transformation within manufacturing firms through a qualitative interpretative library research design grounded in a critical constructivist epistemology. Drawing on systematically selected and thematically synthesized scholarly literature, the analysis integrates operational, structural, leadership, and human resource perspectives to explain how organizations respond to digital disruption. The findings demonstrate that successful digital transformation depends on the coherence between adaptive operational practices, flexible organizational structures, digitally oriented leadership, and continuous workforce capability development. Fragmented or technocentric approaches are shown to generate limited performance gains and organizational resistance. The study further highlights the relevance of dynamic capability theory in explaining how sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring processes enable sustainable adaptation. By synthesizing diverse empirical and conceptual contributions, this article advances an integrative framework that clarifies the mechanisms linking digital transformation and organizational performance in manufacturing contexts. Methodologically, the study contributes by offering a transparent and replicable approach to theory-driven literature synthesis.

This review synthesizes four decades of scientific and industrial developments in packaging glass, integrating structural, technological, and sustainability perspectives. Glass remains the benchmark material for inert, transparent, and fully recyclable containment, yet its scope has expanded from conventional bottles and vials to advanced functional and electronic encapsulation. Packaging glasses are classified into five main families-soda-lime, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, recycled (cullet-rich), and functional/electronic-and compared across key domains: mechanical, thermal, chemical, optical, barrier, and hermetic. Quantitative tables and normalized diagrams illustrate how compositional and processing trends govern structure, processability, and performance. Advances in forming, surface engineering, and melting practice are analyzed for their contributions to lightweighting, durability, and decarbonization. Sustainability is addressed through cullet utilization, energy demand, life-cycle indicators, and regulatory alignment, defining pathways toward circular and low-carbon production. Overall, packaging glass emerges as a circular, chemically stable, and traceable material system, while advances in high-integrity glass formulations now support hermetic encapsulation for diagnostic, electronic, and energy devices.

Pentosan polysulfate (PPS) is an approved drug for the treatment of interstitial cystitis in humans and osteoarthritis in animals. This semisynthetic highly sulfated polysaccharide shares structural similarities with heparin and also interacts with platelet factor 4 (PF4), the key protein implicated in thrombocytopenia, a serious side effect of heparin administration. Thrombocytopenia arises from an immune response to structural features of multimeric complexes of heparin and PF4, although the prediction of disease progression in patients is complicated by the variable polyclonal and polyspecific response. The potential risk of provoking a similar response to PPS or materials derivatized with PPS, which could include subcutaneous or intravenous applications for other therapeutic goals, therefore needs to be assessed. In the absence of a clear proxy measurement for the risk of PPS to induce HIT, the ability of PPS and its fractions to interact with PF4 was examined from a broad structural perspective, employing orthogonal techniques, which were compared with unfractionated heparins (UFHs) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs). Zeta potential analysis, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, and circular dichroism showed that PPS interacts with PF4 in a manner dependent on its molecular weight, exhibiting behavior intermediate between that of LMHW and UFH. The interaction of PPS size-separated fractions with PF4 also exhibited a dependence on M w; higher M w corresponding to stronger interactions, and the same trend was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Interestingly, despite PPS forming complexes with PF4, and the complexes formed with PPS fractions being smaller than those formed with UFH and LMWH, enzyme immunoassay studies nevertheless demonstrated the formation of antigenic complexes. Since PPS provokes comparable interactions with PPS, the results suggest that close monitoring of potential thrombocytopenia effects will be necessary when considering PPS dosing, especially for intravenous applications.

Drawing from both critical political economy and community structure perspectives, this study compares local news quality in stories from nonprofit and commercial news sites in both high- and low- pluralism communities in the United States. Findings indicate that nonprofit business models offer benefits for news quality in local communities. Findings also show that these benefits from nonprofits are heightened in highly pluralistic communities (larger cities), though digital outlets overall showed signs of higher quality in less pluralistic cities. This research contributes to our understanding of the interplay between media business models, communities’ institutional structures, and local news content, particularly for digital news.

The public spaces in traditional villages carry historical memories and daily interactions, serving as crucial carriers for maintaining cultural continuity. However, with the acceleration of urbanization and the transformation of lifestyles, their spatial patterns and cultural functions are facing challenges such as degradation, inactivity, and even destruction. Adhering to the principle of "equal emphasis on conservation, inheritance, and activation for utilization," this study is based on a multi - dimensional integration perspective of historical context, landscape pattern, and social structure, aiming to construct a conservation and renewal design method for the public spaces of traditional villages that adapts to contemporary development. Firstly, methods such as literature research, field investigation, and oral history are used to systematically analyze their historical evolution, cultural connotations, and social functions. Subsequently, multi - dimensional value assessment and community participation are integrated to construct a strategic framework that takes into account both authenticity and contemporary adaptability.

We compare new time resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) measurements of the excited state dynamics of cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene using 196nm (6.3eV) pump pulses with recent ultrafast electron diffraction measurements and earlier TRPES measurements using 261nm pump pulses. We use two different probe pulses, centered at 156nm (8.0eV) and 260nm (4.8eV). The experimental results are interpreted with the help of trajectory surface hopping calculations of the measurement observable. Together with the previous measurements and the calculations, we arrive at a more complete picture of the excited state dynamics, including both energetic and structural perspectives for different excitation energies.

This study examines the work titled Zübdetü't-Ta'rîfat, published in Istanbul in 1314 AH by Osman Azmî b. Ahmed, from a structural and content perspective. The work is a terminology dictionary that concisely presents the concepts of fundamental Islamic and literary sciences such as morphology, syntax, logic, rhetoric, semantics, stylistics, and jurisprudence. The study discusses the book's place in the education system, its method of explaining concepts with diagrams, and the importance of the logic addition included in the text. The success of the work, which was compiled in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, in preserving classical terminology and its reference value for the contemporary academic world are emphasized. Keywords: Zubdat al-Ta'rifat, Osman Azmi b. Ahmed, Arabic Language and Literature, Ta'rifat, Islamic Sciences Terminology, Logic.