bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
e-Health Multimodal Interventions for Older Adults with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: De Lucia Annalisa , Chiarotto Alessandro , Pasini Ilenia , Pachera Sara , Del Piccolo Lidia , Perlini Cinzia , Donisi Valeria
Published: July 2023

Background

Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is one of the most prevalent health conditions among the elderly, with a considerable impact on the person’s physical, mental and social functioning. The use of a bio-psycho-social multidisciplinary approach has become widely recommended for more likely effective management of chronic pain. In recent years, the growing development and application of e-Health (or digital health) within pain medicine has been showing encouraging results. However, the application of such technologies in the field of pain management among elderly is yet understudied, particularly in regard to the potential impacts of multimodal therapies (i.e., interventions which integrate a physical and a psychological component) provided via digital devices.

Objective

The overall aim of this scoping review is to systematically map the existing literature about the e-Health multimodal interventions designed for older adults with CNCP.

Methods

Multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, PsycINFO) will be searched for relevant articles to August 2023. The review will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and will utilize the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guideline and checklist. All eligible studies will be evaluated against the 16-item Quality Assessment Tool (QATSDD). The extracted information will be presented in tabular form along with a narrative summary that is in line with the scoping review’s objective.
Microtubule association of TRIM3 revealed by differential extraction proteomics
Authors: Glover Hannah L. , Mendes Marta , Gomes-Neto Joana , Rusilowicz-Jones Emma V. , Rigden Daniel J. , Dittmar Gunnar , Urbé Sylvie , Clague Michael J.
Published: July 2023

The microtubule network is formed from polymerised Tubulin subunits and associating proteins, which govern microtubule dynamics and a diverse array of functions. To identify novel microtubule binding proteins, we have developed an unbiased biochemical assay, which relies on the selective extraction of cytosolic proteins from cells, whilst leaving behind the microtubule network. Candidate proteins are linked to microtubules by their sensitivities to the depolymerising drug Nocodazole or the microtubule stabilising drug, Taxol, which is quantitated by mass spectrometry. Our approach is benchmarked by co-segregation of Tubulin and previously established microtubule-binding proteins. We then identify several novel candidate microtubule binding proteins, from which we have selected the ubiquitin E3 ligase TRIM3 (Tripartite motif-containing protein 3) for further characterisation. We map TRIM3 microtubule binding to its C-terminal NHL-repeat region. We show that TRIM3 is required for the accumulation of acetylated Tubulin, following treatment with Taxol. Furthermore, loss of TRIM3, partially recapitulates the reduction in Nocodazole-resistant microtubules characteristic of Alpha-Tubulin Acetyltransferase 1 (ATAT1) depletion. These results can be explained by a decrease in ATAT1 following depletion of TRIM3 that is independent of transcription.
Somatic DIS3 mutations in Multiple Myeloma arise early in clonal evolution, but are later counterselected due to toxicity
Authors: Kuliński Tomasz M. , Gewartowska Olga , Mroczek Seweryn , Szpila Marcin , Sałas Katarzyna , Liudkovska Vladyslava , Dziembowski Andrzej
Published: July 2023

DIS3 encodes an essential ribonucleic subunit of the nuclear exosome complex, responsible for degrading RNA in the nucleus. Somatic DIS3 mutations drive translocations in B cells, leading to multiple myeloma (MM). Clinical data analysis reveals that 42% of DIS3 mutations occur at three recurrent residues (D479, D488, and R780). These mutations, deactivating DIS3 exonucleolytic activity, are never homozygous, often appearing as minor subclones in advanced MM. Surprisingly, mutant DIS3 alleles undergo loss-of-heterozygosity, correlating with frequent del(13q) encompassing DIS3. Overexpression of wild-type DIS3 enhances growth and viability of DIS3-mutated MM cells, while CRISPR-mediated knock-out of the mutant variant, followed by longitudinal co-culture, replicates its elimination through counterselection, observed in the natural course of the disease. In mice, the heterozygous DIS3D479mutation is embryolethal, confirming its dominant toxic effects. Transcriptome analysis of patients and cell lines reveals specific transcriptional signatures of DIS3 mutations with accumulation of non-coding unstable RNA species and including secondary indications of decreased proliferation. All these signatures are reversible upon mutant DIS3 loss-of-heterozygosity. DIS3 is an intriguing hit-and-run oncogene that drives MM, but is subsequently eliminated during clonal evolution.
Multiple Myeloma associated DIS3 mutations drive AID-dependent IGH Translocations
Authors: Kuliński Tomasz M. , Gewartowska Olga , Mahé Mélanie , Kasztelan Karolina , Durys Janina , Stroynowska-Czerwińska Anna , Jedynak-Slyvka Marta , Owczarek Ewelina P. , Chaudhury Debadeep , Nowotny Marcin , Pękowska Aleksandra , Séraphin Bertrand , Dziembowski Andrzej
Published: July 2023

Role of dominant DIS3 mutations in multiple myeloma (MM) remains elusive. These mutations decrease the exoribonucleolytic activity of DIS3, a key nuclear RNA-degrading enzyme. Utilizing knock-in mice with clinical Dis3 G766R variant, we demonstrate an increased frequency of aberrant chromosomal translocations in B-cells, leading to plasmacytoma, an early-stage MM model. DIS3-dependent translocations display characteristics of aberrant activation-induced deaminase (AID) activity. In clinical MM samples with DIS3 mutations, driver genes also show AID-dependent lesions. Mechanistically, mutated DIS3 accumulates on chromatin-associated RNA substrates, including aberrant AID action sites, fostering oncogenic chromosomal rearrangements. Translocations occur during immunoglobulin class switch recombination, a process otherwise unaffected in MM patients or mice with mutated DIS3. Dis3 G766R mutation does not alter chromatin architecture in activated B-cells but hijacks it to bring together enhancers with proto-oncogenes permanently. In conclusion, gain-of-function DIS3 mutations increase nuclear exosome and AID affinity to chromatin, facilitating IGH translocations and driving MM transformation.
Deep estimation of the intensity and timing of selection from ancient genomes
Authors: Laval Guillaume , Patin Etienne , Quintana-Murci Lluis , Kerner Gaspard
Published: July 2023

Leveraging past allele frequencies has proven to be key to identify the impact of natural selection across time. However, this approach often suffers from imprecise estimations of the intensity (s) and timing (T) of selection particularly when ancient samples are scarce in specific epochs. Here, we aimed at bypassing the computation of past allele frequencies by implementing new convolutional neural networks (CNNs) algorithms that directly use ancient genotypes sampled across time to refine the estimations of selection parameters. Using computer simulations, we first show that genotype-based CNNs consistently outperform an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach based on past allele frequency trajectories, regardless of the selection model assumed and of the amount of ancient genotypes available. When applying this method to empirical data from modern and ancient Europeans, we confirmed the reported excess of selection events in post-Neolithic Europe, independently of the continental subregion studied. Furthermore, we substantially refined the ABC-based estimations ofsandTfor a set of positively-and negatively-selected variants recently identified, including iconic cases of positive selection and experimentally validated disease-risk variants. Thanks to our CNN predictions we provide support to the history of recent and strong selection in northern Europe associated to the Black Death pandemic and confirm the heavy burden recently imposed by tuberculosis in Europe. These findings collectively support that detecting the imprints of natural selection on ancient genomes are crucial for unraveling the past history of severe human diseases.
A conserved fertilization complex of Izumo1, Spaca6, and Tmem81 mediates sperm-egg interaction in vertebrates
Authors: Deneke Victoria E. , Blaha Andreas , Lu Yonggang , Draper Jonne M. , Phan Clara S. , Panser Karin , Schleiffer Alexander , Jacob Laurine , Humer Theresa , Stejskal Karel , Krssakova Gabriela , Handler Dominik , Kamoshita Maki , Vance Tyler D.R. , Roitinger Elisabeth , Lee Jeffrey E. , Ikawa Masahito , Pauli Andrea
Published: July 2023

Fertilization, the fusion of sperm and egg, is essential for sexual reproduction. While several proteins have been demonstrated to be essential for the binding and fusion of gametes in vertebrates, the molecular mechanisms driving this key process are poorly understood. Here, we performed a protein interaction screen using AlphaFold-Multimer to uncover protein-protein interactions in fertilization. This screen resulted in the prediction of a trimeric complex composed of the essential fertilization factors Izumo1 and Spaca6, and Tmem81, a protein previously not implicated in fertilization. We show that Tmem81 is a conserved, testis-expressed transmembrane protein that is evolutionarily related to Izumo1 and Spaca6 and is essential for male fertility in fish and mice. Consistent with trimer formationin vivo, zebrafishizumo1-/-,spaca6-/-, andtmem81-/-mutants exhibit the same sperm-egg binding defect and show co-depletion of all three proteins in sperm. Moreover, we provide experimental evidence that Izumo1, Spaca6, and Tmem81 interact in zebrafish sperm. Strikingly, the Izumo1-Spaca6 interaction is predicted to form a cleft that serves as a binding site for Bouncer, the only identified egg protein essential for fertilization in zebrafish. Together, these results provide compelling evidence for a conserved sperm factor complex in vertebrates that forms a specific interface for the sperm-egg interaction required for successful fertilization.
Analysis of behavioral flow resolves latent phenotypes
Authors: von Ziegler Lukas M. , Roessler Fabienne K. , Sturman Oliver , Waag Rebecca , Privitera Mattia , Duss Sian N , O’Connor Eoin C. , Bohacek Johannes
Published: July 2023

The nuanced detection of rodent behavior in preclinical biomedical research is essential for understanding disease conditions, genetic phenotypes, and internal states. Recent advances in machine vision and artificial intelligence have popularized data-driven methods that segment complex animal behavior into clusters of behavioral motifs. However, despite the rapid progress, several challenges remain: Statistical power typically decreases due to multiple testing correction, poor transferability of clustering approaches across experiments limits practical applications, and individual differences in behavior are not considered. Here, we introduce “behavioral flow analysis” (BFA), which creates a single metric for all observed transitions between behavioral motifs. Then, we establish a “classifier-in-the-middle” approach to stabilize clusters and enable transferability of our analyses across datasets. Finally, we combine these approaches with dimensionality reduction techniques, enabling “behavioral flow fingerprinting” (BFF) for individual animal assessment. We validate our approaches across large behavioral datasets with a total of 443 open field recordings that we make publicly available, comparing various stress protocols with pharmacologic and brain-circuit interventions. Our analysis pipeline is compatible with a range of established clustering approaches, it increases statistical power compared to conventional techniques, and has strong reproducibility across experiments within and across laboratories. The efficient individual phenotyping allows us to classify stress-responsiveness and predict future behavior. This approach aligns with animal welfare regulations by reducing animal numbers, and enhancing information extracted from experimental animals
Blood pressure pulsations modulate olfactory bulb neuronal activity via mechanosensitive ion channels
Authors: Salameh Luna Jammal , Bitzenhofer Sebastian H. , Hanganu-Opatz Ileana L. , Dutschmann Mathias , Egger Veronica
Published: July 2023

Abstract

The transmission of heartbeat through the cerebral vascular system is known to cause intracranial pressure pulsations. Here we describe that arterial pressure pulsations within the brain can directly modulate central neuronal activity. In a semi-intact rat brain preparation, pressure pulsations elicit correlated local field oscillations in the olfactory bulb (OB) that are sensitive to hypoxia and block of mechanosensitive channels. We find that mitral cell spiking activity is in part synchronized to these oscillations. Indeed, in awake animals the firing of a subset of OB neurons is entrained to heartbeat within ∼ 20 ms. Several lines of evidence indicate the expression of a mechanosensitive ion channel within the mitral cell membranes, most likely Piezo2, implementing a pressure pulsation transduction pathway and thus baroreception within the OB. We propose that this intrinsic interoceptive mechanism modulates OB neuronal activity e.g. during arousal and also could influence brain activity on a wider scale.
Beyond 40 fluorescent probes for deep phenotyping of blood mononuclear cells, using spectral technology
Authors: Schmutz Sandrine , Commere Pierre-Henri , Montcuquet Nicolas , Cumano Ana , Ait-Mansour Cédric , Novault Sophie , Hasan Milena
Published: July 2023

The analytical capability of flow cytometry is crucial for differentiating the growing number of cell subsets found in human blood. This is important for accurate immunophenotyping of patients with few cells and a large number of parameters to monitor.

Here, we present a 43-parameter panel to analyze peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals using 41 fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies, an autofluorescent channel, and a viability dye. We demonstrate minimal population distortions that lead to optimized population identification and reproducible results. We have applied an advanced approach in panel design, in selection of sample acquisition parameters and in data analysis. Appropriate autofluorescence identification and integration in the unmixing matrix, allowed for resolution of unspecific signals and increased dimensionality. Addition of one laser without assigned fluorochrome resulted in decreased fluorescence spill over and improved discrimination of cell subsets. It also increased staining index when autofluorescence was integrated in the matrix. We conclude that spectral flow cytometry is highly valuable tool for high-end immunophenotyping, and that fine-tuning of major experimental steps is key for taking advantage of its full capacity.
Phenotypic screen-based discovery of a small molecule that can increase adult neurogenesis and improve memory
Authors: Davies Julie , Hoerder-Suabedissen Anna , Musaelyan Ksenia , Torroba Blanca , Daubney Jesse , Untermoser Nicole , Carter Tom , Bauer Ulrich , Walker Roderick , Harris Kate S. , Bromhead Liam , Suresh Megalakshi , Fouka Penelope , Li Yichen , Davies Steve , Webber Caleb , Bannerman David , Terstappen Georg , Russell Angela , Szele Francis G.
Published: July 2023

Stem cells and neurogenesis persist in the postnatal and adult brain. Adult brain stem cells can be neuroprotective in disease and augment hippocampal-dependent cognitive function and thus are an important therapeutic target. Although many molecules have been discovered that regulate neurogenesis, few studies have attempted to amplify the process pharmacologically as a therapeutic goal. To address this gap, we used murine neurosphere cultures from the two major stem cell niches: the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular zone (SGZ). We screened compounds sharing pharmacophores with known inducers of neurogenesis and found several dozen proneurogenic compounds in anin vitrophenotypic screen. One, OXS-N1 was stable, and had acceptable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profiles in animal studies. OXS-N1 could increase neurogenesis in the SVZ and SGZ in WT mice after both intraperitoneal and oral administration. The number of newborn neurons (BrdU+/NeuN+) was increased; however, the number of activated stem cells (BrdU+/GFAP+) was not, suggesting an effect on neurogenesis independent of stem cell activation. This was supported by OXS-N1 increasing neurosphere differentiation but not proliferation. OXS-N1 also increased neurogenesis and improved performance in a Y maze cognitive task in PDGF-APPSw,Ind mice, a model of Alzheimer’s disease. RNAseq of SVZ and SGZ neurospheres in turn showed that genes associated with synaptic function were significantly increased by OXS-N1. Our study demonstrates the utility of phenotypic screening for the identification of molecules that increase neurogenesis and might be of therapeutic relevance.
Production of Infectious Reporter Murine Norovirus by VP2 trans-Complementation
Authors: Ishiyama Ryoka , Yoshida Kazuhiro , Oikawa Kazuki , Takai-Todaka Reiko , Kato Akiko , Kanamori Kumiko , Nakanishi Akira , Haga Kei , Katayama Kazuhiko
Published: July 2023

Human norovirus (HuNoV) causes gastroenteritis, a disease with no effective therapy or vaccine. Murine norovirus (MNV) easily replicates in cell culture and small animals and has often been used as a model to elucidate the structural and functional characteristics of HuNoV. A MNV plasmid-based reverse genetics system was developed to produce modified recombinant virus. In this study, we attempted to construct the recombinant virus by integrating a foreign gene into MNV ORF3 that encodes the minor structural protein VP2. We found that deletion of VP2 expression abolished infectious particles from MNV cDNA clones, and supplying exogenous VP2 to the cells rescued the infectivity of cDNA clones without VP2 expression. In addition, we found that the coding sequence of C-terminal ORF3 was essential for cDNA clones compensated with VP2 to produce infectious particles. Further, the recombinant virus with exogenous reporter genes in place of the dispensable ORF3 coding region was able to propagate when VP2 was constitutively supplied. Our findings indicate that foreign genes can be transduced into the norovirus ORF3 region when VP2 is supplied and that successive propagation of modified recombinant norovirus could lead to the development of norovirus-based vaccines or therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, we revealed that some of the coding regions of ORF3 could be replaced by foreign gene and infectious virus could be produced under conditions with VP2 supplied. Propagation of this virus depended on VP2 being suppliedin trans, indicating that this virus could infect only once. Our findings help to elucidate the functions of VP2 in virus lifecycle and to the development of other caliciviral vectors for recombinant attenuated live enteric virus vaccines or therapeutics.
Genetic variations in foraging habits and their developmental noise inDrosophila
Authors: Hamamichi Kaiya , Takahashi Yuma
Published: July 2023

Investigating the causes and consequences of niche partitioning in populations is a significant goal in ecology and evolutionary biology. Studies have examined genetic and environmentally induced variations in resource utility and their ecological implications. However, few have explored developmental noise or instability as a factor contributing to variation in resource utility. Here, we studied genetic variation, and developmental noise in foraging traits ofDrosophila lutescens, a wild fruit fly. Using 70 iso-female lines from a single population, we observed two foraging behavior traits - locomotive activity and resource preferences - in an experimental “8”-shaped arena with two different fruit juices in each chamber. The mean locomotive speed and relative preference for orange juice over grape juice varied significantly among iso-female lines, indicating genetic variation in foraging behavior. Additionally, the degree of variation within iso-female lines also varied, showing relatively higher heritability. While the locomotive speed and resource preferences of each line did not correlate with each other, the strength of variation within iso-female lines for locomotive speed showed a significant correlation with that for resource preferences. This suggests that the degree of developmental noise in both locomotive activity and resource preferences is governed by a shared genetic basis. Consequently, developmental noise can contribute to increased phenotypic variation in resource utility within a population and may evolve through natural selection.
Bernays and Goebbels: “the strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”
Authors: Milburn Kerrie
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to examine whether, if Bernays can be cast as “Dr Jekyll”, the personification of “good”, respectable public relations, and Goebbels as “Mr Hyde”, “evil”, disreputable propaganda, a comparison of their writing and work provides an insight into public relations as an activity distinct from propaganda or rather adds weight to the conclusion that both are behaviours of “self-presentation for attention and advantage”.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative analysis of writings and work of contemporaries, Bernays and Goebbels, gathered from original documents, speeches and interviews from the 1920s to the mid-1940s, as well as secondary academic and historical sources, was carried out. The analysis of their views on propaganda and “public relations” was organised using the point-by-point method.

Findings

The findings support the conclusion that both activities are behaviours of “self-presentation for attention and advantage”. For Bernays and Goebbels, public relations and propaganda were always self-advantaging communication that drew attention to the positive values and behaviours of the interests they represented and masked the negative ones.

Originality/value

There are striking parallels between contemporaries, Bernays and Goebbels, including working in public opinion management for their respective governments and embracing propaganda as a means of “engineering consent”. Yet, while Bernays has been lauded as the “father of public relations” and “the PR profession's first philosopher and intellectual”, Goebbels is remembered as a “master manipulator”, “probably the most overt and arguably the most important, exponent of propaganda in history”. To the researcher's knowledge, there are no other point-by-point analyses of their work with a view to distinguishing public relations as an activity distinct from propaganda.
A reinforcing transfer learning approach to predict buildings energy performance
Authors: Mahamedi Elham , Wonders Martin , Gerami Seresht Nima , Woo Wai Lok , Kassem Mohamad
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel data-driven approach for predicting energy performance of buildings that can address the scarcity of quality data, and consider the dynamic nature of building systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a reinforcing machine learning (ML) approach based on transfer learning (TL) to address these challenges. The proposed approach dynamically incorporates the data captured by the building management systems into the model to improve its accuracy.

Findings

It was shown that the proposed approach could improve the accuracy of the energy performance prediction compared to the conventional TL (non-reinforcing) approach by 19 percentage points in mean absolute percentage error.

Research limitations/implications

The case study results confirm the practicality of the proposed approach and show that it outperforms the standard ML approach (with no transferred knowledge) when little data is available.

Originality/value

This approach contributes to the body of knowledge by addressing the limited data availability in the building sector using TL; and accounting for the dynamics of buildings’ energy performance by the reinforcing architecture. The proposed approach is implemented in a case study project based in London, UK.
A plasma energy deposition based model for power cable bellows discharge
Authors: Xu Chong , Wang Pengbo , Yang Fan , Wang Shaohua , Cao Junping , Wang Xin
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims at building a discharge model for the power cable bellows based on plasma energy deposition and analyzing the discharge ablation problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Aiming at the multiphysical mechanism of the discharge ablation process, a multiphysical field model based on plasma energy deposition is established to analyze the discharge characteristics of the power cable bellows. The electrostatic field, plasma characteristics, energy deposition and temperature field are analyzed. The discharge experiment is also carried out for result validation.

Findings

The physical mechanism of the bellows ablative effect caused by partial discharge is studied. The results show that the electric field intensity between the aluminum sheath and the buffer layer easily exceeds the pressure resistance value of air breakdown. On the plasma surface of the buffer layer, the electron density is about 4 × 1,019/m3, and the average temperature of electrons is about 3.5 eV. The energy deposition analysis using the Monte Carlo method shows that the electron range in the plasma is very short. The release will complete within 10 nm, and it only takes 0.1 s to increase the maximum temperature of the buffer layer to more than 1,000 K, thus causing various thermal effects.

Originality/value

Its physical process involves the distortion of electric field, formation of plasma, energy deposition of electrons, and abrupt change of temperature field.
Dynamic characteristics and structural stability analysis of a large annular tensegrity structure with radial ribs
Authors: Zhao Hongyue , Shi Chuang , Guo Hongwei , Liu Rongqiang
Published: July 2023

Purpose

In order to make the aperture of spatial deployable antenna larger, this paper proposed the study on a spatial annular tensegrity structure with 100 m large scale, which could be one of the ideal solutions to improve the dimension of the antenna. This study is aiming to figure out the dynamic characteristic of ultra-large annular tensegrity and address the problem of insufficient rigidity with local modes that many ring truss-type deployable antenna structures have faced.

Design/methodology/approach

This work is carried out based on the nonlinear dynamic modelling when fully considering the effect of bending and torsion deformation of beams, as well as the pretension of cables. Additionally, the structural stability analysis based on the proposed stability criterion is also presented to evaluate the tensegrity configuration with different distribution of cable groups.

Findings

This research results verify that the modified structure with radial ribs could eliminate the effect of the local vibration mode on stiffness and is suitable to meet the requirements of the annular tensegrity structure. Additionally, the calculation results demonstrate that the structural configuration of annular tensegrity with 36 groups of cables which share the nodes with radial ribs is more appropriate to enhance the stiffness and structural stability.

Originality/value

A new large annular tensegrity structure with radial ribs and tensioned cables is proposed. Based on the proposed structural configuration, the positive definiteness of the tangent stiffness matrix is carried out as the criterion of stability and the composition of the analytical expression of the tangent stiffness matrix is analyzed. Four levels of tensegrity structure stability have been carried out and the influence of the structural parameters on the stability and the rigidity has been analyzed. A scaled-down prototype is developed to verify the feasibility of the design of the hoop-column-rib configuration by the deployment and dynamic experiment.
Compulsory citizenship behaviour and job outcome among unpaid interns: the buffering role of perceived co-worker support
Authors: Azila-Gbettor Edem M. , Mensah Christopher , Abiemo Martin K.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The study aims to examine the moderating influence of perceived co-worker support in the nexus between compulsory citizenship behaviour, job involvement and social loafing amongst university interns.

Design/methodology/approach

Four hundred and sixty-two) respondents took part in the study by completing a self-reported questionnaire distributed via online WhatsApp platform. The respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. The data were processed and analysed using IBM SPSS version 24 and PLS-SEM, respectively.

Findings

Results reveal interns’ experience of compulsory citizenship behaviour positively influences their social loafing and negatively influences their job involvement. Furthermore, the support received from co-workers’ reduces the negative influence of compulsory citizenship behaviour on interns’ (1) social loafing and (2) job involvement.

Research limitations

The study’s main limitations have been identified as the type of organisation in which the internship was completed and the number of years of internship experience. Future research may seek to address this problem by obtaining data from a cohort that is categorised based on the nature of the organisation and duration of the internship.

Practical implications

Perceived co-worker support has been found to reduce the negative effects of interns’ compulsory citizenship behaviour on their job outcomes. It is recommended that organisations establish a supportive work environment to assist interns. This can be achieved through various means, such as engaging in team-building activities and assigning mentors, among other strategies.

Originality/value

One of the first to have examined a model linking compulsory citizenship behaviour, job involvement, social loafing and perceived co-worker support amongst interns in a higher education environment.
Critical success factors for Security Education, Training and Awareness (SETA) programme effectiveness: an empirical comparison of practitioner perspectives
Authors: Alyami Areej , Sammon David , Neville Karen , Mahony Carolanne
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Cyber security has never been more important than it is today in an ever more connected and pervasive digital world. However, frequently reported shortages of suitably skilled and trained information system (IS)/cyber security professionals elevate the importance of delivering effective Security Education,Training and Awareness (SETA) programmes within organisations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is the questionable effectiveness of SETA programmes at changing employee behaviour and an absence of empirical studies on the critical success factors (CSFs) for SETA programme effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study follows a three-stage research design to give voice to practitioners with SETA programme expertise. Data is gathered in Stage 1 using semi-structured interviews with 20 key informants (the emergence of the CSFs), in Stage 2 from 65 respondents to a short online survey (the ranking of the CSFs) and in Stage 3 using semi-structured interviews with nine IS/cyber security practitioners (the emergence of the guiding principles). Using a multi-stage research design allows the authors to propose and evaluate the 11 CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness.

Findings

This study conducted a mean score analysis to evaluate the level of importance of each CSF within two independent groups of IS/cyber security professionals. This multi-stage analysis produces a ranked list of 11 CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness, while the difference in the rankings leads to the emergence of five CSF-specific guiding principles (to increase the likelihood of delivering an effective SETA programme within an organisational context). This analysis also reveals that most of the contradictions/differences in CSF rankings between IS/cyber security practitioners are linked to the design phase of the SETA programme life cycle. While two CSFs, “maintain quarterly evaluation of employee performance” (CSF-DS6) and “build security awareness campaigns” (CSF-EV1), represent the most significant contradiction in this study.

Originality/value

The 11 CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness, along with the five CSF-specific guiding principles, provide a greater depth of knowledge contributing to both theory and practice and lays the foundation for future studies. Therefore, the outputs of this study provide valuable insights on the areas that practice needs to get right to deliver effective SETA programmes.
Internal openness? How and why managing directors in SMEs involve employees in strategic conversations
Authors: Fasth Jonas , Tengblad Stefan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper investigates the ways managing directors (MDs) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involve employees in strategic conversations. The paper examines how managers interact with employees in strategic conversations, and why the managers do so (or do not), to generate empirically grounded knowledge about the nature of internal openness in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a general inductive approach and is based on in-depth interviews with 60 Swedish MDs with development and growth ambitions.

Findings

The paper develops a model of employee involvement in strategic conversations based on the nature and intensity of the MD–employee interaction. A key finding is that SMEs exhibit wide variation in terms of employee involvement, from virtually no employee involvement to, in some cases, far-reaching company democracy. The reasons for this variation are complex, but personal preferences and company size are shown to have an impact, as does, to some degree, ownership structure. In contrast to existing research, the limitations and drawbacks of involving employees in strategic conversations are outlined.

Originality/value

The study provides important insight into MDs' views and practices of internal openness in strategic conversations in SMEs. A model of employee involvement in strategic processes is outlined, and potential limitations of internal openness are highlighted.
The gendered use of cronyism in academic contexts: does social exchange really matter?
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Althalathini Doaa , Abdelgaffar Hala
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how cronyism is employed by some married female faculty to secure workplace rights and privileges.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design is employed and interviews were conducted with 32 female academics working at four different universities.

Findings

The narrative demonstrates the gendered use of cronyism at work – pre-COVID-19, during which female academics had to work full-time and be present on school campuses, and after COVID-19 pandemic, when academic working conditions changed due to the lockdown of university campuses and the reliance on remote online protocols to fulfil academic duties. The paper shows an increased use of cronyism as a mechanism to reduce heavy workloads. This type of cronyism is known as the expectation of mutual favour cronyism, which means that benefits are exchanged between a female academic and the chair of her department and/or the school rector, but the interests of the university they work in are not taken into consideration.

Originality/value

Virtually, no research exists on the sociocultural determinants of nepotism that undermine the professional performance of female academics at work. The authors draw on social exchange theory and the norm of negative reciprocity to identify the conditions under which social capital is undermined. The results have important implications for theory, practice and future research.
Prevalence of HIV among inmates in four states of north India: findings from the 16th round of HIV sentinel surveillance
Authors: Jha Shreya , Kant Shashi , Thakur Nishakar , Kumar Pradeep , Rai Sanjay , Haldar Partha , Kardam Priyanka , Misra Puneet , Goswami Kiran , Rajan Shobini
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Prisoners are at a higher risk of HIV infection compared to the general population. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HIV and related risk behaviours among inmates of the Central Prisons in four states of North India.

Design/methodology/approach

The HIV sentinel surveillance was conducted in seven Central Prisons in four states of North India from February to April 2019. Four hundred inmates were included from each prison. The interviews were conducted at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre located within the prison premises. The Ethics Committee of the National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, granted ethical approval before the start of the surveillance.

Findings

Overall, 2,721 inmates were enrolled in this study. The mean (SD) age was 38.9 (13.9) years. One-third of prison inmates had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The proportion of convict (54%) and undertrial (46%) inmates was almost equal. The overall prevalence of HIV infection among inmates was 0.96% (95% CI 0.65–1.40). The odds of being HIV positive were significantly higher in never married inmates, undertrials, inmates who were in the prison for more than three months to one year, inmates incarcerated for multiple times, inmates with history of injecting drug use and inmates with history of intercourse with a commercial sex worker.

Originality/value

The findings from the very first HIV sentinel surveillance in central prisons in North India have been presented in this paper. This has huge implications for future policy decisions.
Friend-connecting affordances: playing online games to contact friends
Authors: Liao Gen-Yih , Huang Tzu-Ling , Dennis Alan R. , Teng Ching-I
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Online games are popular applications of Internet technology, with over 2.8 billion users worldwide. Many players engage in team gameplay, indicating that online games are suitable media through which players connect with their friends. However, past studies have not examined the ability of games to assist players in connecting with their friends, indicating a gap. To fill this gap, the authors propose a new concept, the friend-connecting affordance, which is the ability of an online game to enable players to contact friends within the game.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors built a model to explain how games' friend-connecting affordances influence game loyalty. The authors gathered responses from 1,347 online players and used structural equation modeling to test the model.

Findings

The authors found that friend-connecting affordances and team participation influence game loyalty. Gaming intensity and gaming history can moderate the impact of friend-connecting affordances.

Originality/value

This new affordance can be realized through various game elements, offering unique and actionable insights to game makers. The authors also compared the friend-connecting affordances among a number of popular online games, providing insights specific to each game and increasing the practical value of the findings.
Sectoral brand management: a social constructionist approach in the business-to-business market
Authors: Lourenção Marina , de Moura Engracia Giraldi Janaina , Dinnie Keith
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Sectoral brands are umbrella brands created to represent all companies’ products belonging to a country’s economic industry abroad to enhance their export performance. This study aims to explore the development of a sectoral brand model through the optic of the social constructionist perspective. Besides, this study also proposes to apply the model to a sectoral brand case in the business-to-business market.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have developed a systematic qualitative literature review to provide a theoretical basis for the attributes chosen to compose the social constructionist sectoral brand management (SCSBM) model. To apply the model, the authors have conducted a series of 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with the association’s managers that constitute the sectoral brand development, the director of the branding consultancy firm and specialists on place branding.

Findings

The authors present the SCSBM model, highlighting that sectoral branding should be seen as a dynamic and continuous process with the integrated participation of all industry stakeholders. Moreover, the authors have applied the model to the Brazil Fashion System brand.

Research limitations/implications

The main contribution to theory is the link between sectoral brand management and the social constructionist approach, being the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to propose this connection. SCSBM model extends previous work on sectoral brands by adopting a social constructionist view.

Practical implications

The SCSBM model might contribute to marketing professionals willing to develop sectoral brands across multiple economic sectors and geographies.

Originality/value

The study’s originality lies in developing the first model, which adopts a social constructionist approach to sectoral brands.
Identifying factors needed for business actor engagement in sustainable development goal (SDG) initiatives
Authors: Anastasiadou Elena , Röndell Jimmie , Berglind Magnus , Ekman Peter
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to offer a mid-range theory conceptualization of factors central to understanding and facilitating business actor engagement (BAE). Reports on a study of real estate companies and their sustainable development goal (SDG) driven business initiatives. The aim is to identify the factors that need to be in place to facilitate positive engagement amongst actors in business-to-business (B2B) settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of real estate companies (landlords of business premises) and their business customers (tenants of offices and warehouses) – comprising interviews and workshops – offer insights related to the factors that need to be in place to facilitate BAE types and outcomes.

Findings

The identified central factors of BAE – needed to understand and facilitate positive engagement to unfold – are the actors’ perception of: willingness (to act), resourcefulness (to contribute and solve issues) and influence (to affect decisions) regarding solutions related to the business initiative at hand. Failing to facilitate these factors may result in negative outcomes of BAE where “engagement” merely constitutes perceived obligations and responsibilities.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers theoretical and managerial insights on how to manage the factors needed for BAE. It also sheds light on how actors can use SDG-driven business initiatives to achieve sustainability goals.

Originality/value

It contributes to the concept of BAE, by emphasizing the dynamics of engagement, from the motivational and behavioral dimensions specific to B2B settings. It offers insights how to managerially cogovern rather than control BAE. It presents central factors needed to include and capacitate customers, facilitating successful implementations of SDG-driven business initiatives to reduce absent or negative outcomes.
Are equally competent Roma-minority students perceived as less smart than their non-Roma classmates? Ethnic differences in teachers’ ability attributions
Authors: Kisfalusi Dorottya
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Teachers’ ability attributions play an important role in students’ educational outcomes. Perceptions of academic abilities, however, are subject to biases. This study aims to examine ethnic biases in homeroom teachers’ ability attributions in Hungarian primary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a unique database combining survey data collected among teachers with administrative data on students’ standardised test scores, the author compares ability attributions towards equally competent minority and majority classmates (Nstudents = 604, Nclasses = 34 in Grade 6; Nstudents = 420, Nclasses = 27 in Grade 8).

Findings

The author finds that Roma students are less likely to be perceived as smart by their homeroom teachers than their non-Roma classmates with similar standardised achievement scores in Grade 6, but not in Grade 8. The ethnic difference in being perceived as smart is substantially reduced after controlling for students’ socioeconomic status and cultural resources. On the other hand, homeroom teachers perceive Roma students to be similarly hardworking and “good students” than equally competent non-Roma students.

Originality/value

This study highlights an important mechanism that can contribute to educational inequalities. The findings suggest that previously found differences between equally competent Roma and non-Roma students’ teacher-given school grades might arise due to biases in ability attributions rather than differences in perceived efforts. It is important to make teachers aware of potential biases in student assessment and evaluation.
Defining and implementing a smart working environment for employee sustainability: action research for organisational development and learning
Authors: Wiklund-Engblom Annika , Polo Federica , Kullbäck Caroline , Asplund Staffan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study consisted of an organisational development intervention in a growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) where the top management’s objective was to become an attractive workplace for the next generation of employees. The central problem is how to develop a smart working environment (SWE) based on the needs of this target group. The aim is both practical and theoretical.

Design/methodology/approach

The action research (AR) approach was used as a frame for the organisational learning process. The problem identification, targets and activities were developed in an iterative process together with the management team and employees. Starting from the main problem, a methodological plan was outlined for the intervention, including several instruments for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. AR is an emergent process in which data, researchers and participants are equally contributing in deciding on the next steps to be taken.

Findings

The theoretical findings pertain to the definition of what an SWE is in this specific context and how it evolved during the intervention period. It is identified as expansive learning of the concept, which is illustrated through the iterative phases allowing for the expansion of understanding and implementing new ways of being, doing and relating in the organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The results are based on a limited and contextually specific sample and are thus descriptive in relation to the organisation subjected to study. Further research is needed to see how the findings are transferable to other contexts.

Practical implications

This study highlights how participative approaches and managerial sensitivity to employees’ needs are valuable for defining and implementing an SWE and how this approach can improve organisational dynamics and contribute to organisational learning.

Originality/value

The study gives insight into factors that the new generation of employees finds most important at work. While prior research on SWE mostly focuses on efficiency and effectiveness framed by digitalisation and workspace, the present findings emphasise the importance of working with the socioemotional dimension at work for ensuring employee sustainability.