bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening and Management of PTLD
Authors: Zaffiri Lorenzo , Chambers Eileen T.
Published: March 2023

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represents a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative diseases occurring in the setting of immunosuppression following hematopoietic stem cells transplant and solid organ transplantation. Despite its overall low incidence, PTLD is a serious complication following transplantation, with a mortality rate as high as 50% in transplant recipients. Therefore, it is important to establish for each transplant recipient a personalized risk evaluation for the development of PTLD based on the determination of Epstein-Barr virus serostatus and viral load following the initiation of immunosuppression. Due to the dynamic progression of PTLD, reflected in the diverse pathological features, different therapeutic approaches have been used to treat this disorder. Moreover, new therapeutic strategies based on the administration of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells have been developed. In this review, we summarize the available data on screening and treatment to suggest a strategy to identify transplant recipients at a higher risk for PTLD development and to review the current therapeutic options for PTLD.
Membrane lipids from gut microbiome-associated bacteria as structural and signalling molecules
Authors: Ryan Eileen , Joyce Susan A. , Clarke David J.
Published: March 2023

Bacteria produce an array of diverse, dynamic and often complex lipid structures, some of which function beyond their typical role in membrane structure. The model organism,

E. coli

, has three major membrane lipids, which are glycerophosphoglycerol (phosphatidylglycerol), glycerophosphoethanolamine (phosphatidylethanolamine) and cardiolipin. However, it is now appreciated that some bacteria have the capacity to synthesize a range of lipids, including glycerophosphocholines, glycerophosphoinositols, ‘phosphorous-free’ N-acyl amines, sphingolipids and plasmalogens. In recent years, some of these bacterial lipids have emerged as influential contributors to the microbe–host molecular dialogue. This review outlines our current knowledge of bacterial lipid diversity, with a focus on the membrane lipids of microbiome-associated bacteria that have documented roles as signalling molecules.
Standardization of suspension and imaging mass cytometry readouts for clinical decision making
Authors: Casanova Ruben , Xu Shuhan , Sivapatham Sujana , Jacobs Andrea , Engler Stefanie ,   Tumor Profiler Consortium, Levesque Mitchell P. , Dummer Reinhard , Bodenmiller Bernd , Chevrier Stéphane
Published: March 2023

Suspension and imaging mass cytometry are single-cell, proteomic-based methods used to characterize tissue composition and structure. Data assessing the consistency of these methods over an extended period of time are still sparse and are needed if mass cytometry-based methods are to be used clinically. Here, we present experimental and computational pipelines developed within the Tumor Profiler clinical study, an observational clinical trial assessing the relevance of cutting-edge technologies in guiding treatment decisions for advanced cancer patients. By using aliquots of frozen antibody panels, batch effects between independent experiments performed within a time frame of one year were minimized. The inclusion of well-characterized reference samples allowed us to assess and correct for batch effects. A systematic evaluation of a test tumor sample analyzed in each run showed that our batch correction approach consistently reduced signal variations. We provide an exemplary analysis of a representative patient sample including an overview of data provided to clinicians and potential treatment suggestions. This study demonstrates that standardized suspension and imaging mass cytometry measurements generate robust data that meet clinical requirements for reproducibility and provide oncologists with valuable insights on the biology of patient tumors.
High performanceLegionella pneumophilasource attribution using genomics-based machine learning classification
Authors: Buultjens Andrew H. , Vandelannoote Koen , Mercoulia Karolina , Ballard Susan , Sloggett Clare , Howden Benjamin P. , Seemann Torsten , Stinear Timothy P.
Published: March 2023

Fundamental to effective Legionnaires’ disease outbreak control is the ability to rapidly identify the environmental source(s) of the causative agent,Legionella pneumophila. Genomics has revolutionised pathogen surveillance butL. pneumophilahas a complex ecology and population structure that can limit source inference based on standard core genome phylogenetics. Here we present a powerful machine learning approach that assigns the geographical source of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks more accurately than current core genome comparisons. Models were developed upon 534L. pneumophilagenome sequences, including 149 genomes linked to 20 previously reported Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks through detailed case investigations. Our classification models were developed in a cross-validation framework using only environmentalL. pneumophilagenomes. Assignments of clinical isolate geographic origins demonstrated high predictive sensitivity and specificity of the models, with no false positives or false negatives for 13 out of 20 outbreak groups, despite the presence of within-outbreak polyclonal population structure. Analysis of the same 534-genome panel with a conventional phylogenomic tree and a core genome multi-locus sequence type allelic distance-based classification approach revealed that our machine learning method had the highest overall classification performance – agreement with epidemiological information. Our multivariate statistical learning approach maximises use of genomic variation data and is thus well-suited for supporting Legionnaires’ disease outbreak investigations.
SpaceWalker: Interactive Gradient Exploration for Spatial Transcriptomics Data
Authors: Li Chang , Thijssen Julian , Abdelaal Tamim , Höllt Thomas , Lelieveldt Boudewijn
Published: March 2023

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) enables profiling the expression of hundreds of genes in tissue sections, down to the level of single cells in their tissue environment. The gradient structure of ST data is particularly interesting for tissue biology, since spatial gene expression gradients often represent tissue compartment edges, whereas in the single-cell transcriptomic domain, gene expression gradients may represent cell type differences and smooth phenotypic transitions. Various computational approaches have been developed to extract information from either the spatial domain or gene expression domain individually. However, integrative biological interpretation of expression gradients in single cell and ST data spaces remains challenging. Many prior spatial transcriptomics analysis pipelines are script-based, lack interactive exploration facilities, and do not have specific facilities for automatic identification of localized expression gradients. Here, we present SpaceWalker, a visual analytics tool for exploring the local gradient structure of ST data. The user is guided by the local intrinsic dimensionality of the high-dimensional data to define seed locations, from which a flood-fill algorithm approximates k-nearest neighbor subgraph topology on the fly. In several use cases, we demonstrate that the spatial projection of these local subgraphs highlights tissue architectural features, and that interactive retrieval of gene expression gradients in the spatial and transcriptomic domains confirms known biology, and provides additional insights into the tissue architecture. We also show that SpaceWalker generalizes to several different ST protocols, and scales well to large, multi-slice, whole-brain ST data, while maintaining real-time interaction performance.
Deep learning for rapid analysis of cell divisionsin vivoduring epithelial morphogenesis and repair
Authors: Turley Jake , Chenchiah Isaac V. , Martin Paul , Liverpool Tanniemola B. , Weavers Helen
Published: March 2023

Cell division is fundamental to all healthy tissue growth, as well as being rate-limiting in the tissue repair response to wounding and during cancer progression. However, the role that cell divisions play in tissue growth is a collective one, requiring the integration of many individual cell division events. It is particularly difficult to accurately detect and quantify multiple features of large numbers of cell divisions (including their spatio-temporal synchronicity and orientation) over extended periods of time. It would thus be advantageous to perform such analyses in an automated fashion, which can naturally be enabled using Deep Learning. Hence, we develop a pipeline of Deep Learning Models that accurately identify dividing cells in time-lapse movies of epithelial tissuesin vivo. Our pipeline also determines their axis of division orientation, as well as their shape changes before and after division. This strategy enables us to analyse the dynamic profile of cell divisions within theDrosophilapupal wing epithelium, both as it undergoes developmental morphogenesis and as it repairs following laser wounding. We show that the division axis is biased according to lines of tissue tension and that wounding triggers a synchronised (but not oriented) burst of cell divisions back from the leading edge.

Highlights

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Accurate and efficient detection of epithelial cell divisions can be automated by deep learning of dynamic time-lapse imaging data

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Optimal division detection is achieved using multiple timepoints and dual channels for visualisation of nuclei and cell boundaries

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Epithelial cell divisions are orientated according to lines of global tissue tension after post-division shuffling

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Spatio-temporal cell division analyses following wounding reveal spatial synchronicity that scales with wound size

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Additional deep learning tools enable rapid analysis of cell division orientation
Scalable parallel and distributed simulation of an epidemic on a graph
Authors: Dou Guohao
Published: March 2023

We propose an algorithm to simulate Markovian SIS epidemics with homogeneous rates and pairwise interactions on a fixed undirected graph, assuming a distributed memory model of parallel programming and limited bandwidth. We offer an implementation of the algorithm in the form of pseudocode in the Appendix. Also, we analyze its algorithmic complexity and its induced dynamical system. Finally, we design experiments to show its scalability and faithfulness. We believe this algorithm offers a way of scaling out, allowing researchers to run simulation tasks at a scale that was not accessible before. Furthermore, we believe this algorithm lays a solid foundation for extensions to simulating more advanced epidemic processes and graph dynamics in other fields.

Author summary

Modeling and simulation are two essential components in many decision-making processes. Many real-world phenomena can be modeled by a spreading process on a graph, such as the gossip protocol in distributed computing, the word-of-mouth effect in marketing, and a contagious disease that spreads among a population. It is not always possible to study these problems analytically, making computer-based simulations the only tool to make predictions about the system under study. Depending on the scale of the system, such simulations can be computationally expensive, especially when a large range of parameters are to be tested. We propose in this article an algorithm to leverage parallel or distributed computing hardware for discrete event simulations and use a simple susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic to illustrate the key idea of the algorithm. This algorithm allows one to make trade-offs between scalability and accuracy of the simulation. We believe that this algorithm will find wide applications in simulating graph dynamics.
Growth-inhibiting effects of the unconventional plant APYRASE 7 ofArabidopsis thalianainfluences the LRX1/FER/RALF growth regulatory module
Authors: Gupta Shibu , Herger Aline , Guérin Amandine , Hou Xiaoyu , Schaufelberger Myriam , Diet Anouck , Roffler Stefan , Wicker Thomas , Ringli Christoph
Published: March 2023

Plant cell growth involves coordination of numerous processes and signaling cascades among the different cellular compartments to concomitantly enlarge the protoplast and the surrounding cell wall. InArabidopsis thaliana, the cell wall integrity-sensing process involves the extracellular LRX (LRR-Extensin) proteins that bind RALF (Rapid ALkalinization Factor) peptide hormones and, in vegetative tissues, interact with the transmembrane receptor kinase FERONIA (FER). This LRX/RALF/FER signaling module influences cell wall composition and regulates cell growth. The numerous proteins involved in or influenced by this module are beginning to be characterized. In a genetic screen, mutations inApyrase 7(APY7) were identified to suppress growth defects observed inlrx1andfermutants.APY7encodes a Golgi-localized NTP-diphosphohydrolase, but opposed to other apyrases of Arabidopsis, APY7 revealed to be a negative regulator of cell growth. APY7 modulates the growth-inhibiting effect of RALF1, influences the cell wall architecture, and alters the pH of the extracellular matrix, all of which affect cell growth. Together, this study reveals a function of APY7 in cell wall formation and cell growth that is connected to growth processes influenced by the LRX/FER/RALF signaling module.
B cell-intrinsic STAT3-mediated support of latency and interferon suppression during murine gammaherpesvirus 68 infection revealed through anin vivocompetition model
Authors: Hogan Chad H. , Owens Shana M. , Reynoso Glennys V. , Kirillov Varvara , Meyer Thomas J. , Zelazowska Monika A. , Liu Bin , Li Xiaofan , Chikhalya Aniska , Dong Qiwen , Khairallah Camille , Reich Nancy C. , Sheridan Brian , McBride Kevin M. , Hearing Patrick , Hickman Heather D. , Forrest J. Craig , Krug Laurie T.
Published: March 2023

Cancers associated with the oncogenic gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, are notable for their constitutive activation of the transcription factor STAT3. To better understand the role of STAT3 during gammaherpesvirus latency and immune control, we utilized murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) infection. Genetic deletion of STAT3 in B cells ofCD19cre/+Stat3f/fmice reduced peak latency approximately 7-fold. However, infectedCD19cre/+Stat3f/fmice exhibited disordered germinal centers and heightened virus-specific CD8 T cell responses compared to WT littermates. To circumvent the systemic immune alterations observed in the B cell-STAT3 knockout mice and more directly evaluate intrinsic roles for STAT3, we generated mixed bone marrow chimeras consisting of WT and STAT3-knockout B cells. Using a competitive model of infection, we discovered a dramatic reduction in latency in STAT3-knockout B cells compared to their WT B cell counterparts in the same lymphoid organ. RNA sequencing of sorted germinal center B cells revealed that STAT3 promotes proliferation and B cell processes of the germinal center but does not directly regulate viral gene expression. Last, this analysis uncovered a STAT3-dependent role for dampening type I IFN responses in newly infected B cells. Together, our data provide mechanistic insight into the role of STAT3 as a latency determinant in B cells for oncogenic gammaherpesviruses.

IMPORTANCE

There are no directed therapies to the latency program of the gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Activated host factor STAT3 is a hallmark of cancers caused by these viruses. We applied the murine gammaherpesvirus pathogen system to explore STAT3 function upon primary B cell infection in the host. Since STAT3 deletion in all CD19+ B cells of infected mice led to altered B and T cell responses, we generated chimeric mice with both normal and STAT3-deleted B cells. B cells lacking STAT3 failed to support virus latency compared to normal B cells from the same infected animal. Loss of STAT3 impaired B cell proliferation and differentiation and led to a striking upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes. These findings expand our understanding of STAT3-dependent processes key to its function as a pro-viral latency determinant for oncogenic gammaherpesviruses in B cells and may provide novel therapeutic targets.
TheC. elegansproteome response to two protectivePseudomonasmutualists
Authors: Pees Barbara , Peters Lena , Treitz Christian , Hamerich Inga K. , Kissoyan Kohar A. B. , Tholey Andreas , Dierking Katja
Published: March 2023

TheC. elegansnatural microbiota isolatesPseudomonas luridaMYb11 andPseudomonas fluorescensMYb115 protect the host against pathogens through distinct mechanisms. WhileP. luridaproduces an antimicrobial compound and directly inhibits pathogen growth,P. fluorescensMYb115 protects the host without affecting pathogen growth. It is unknown how these two protective microbes affect host biological processes. We used a proteomics approach to elucidate theC. elegansresponse to MYb11 and MYb115. We found that bothPseudomonasisolates increase vitellogenin protein production in young adults, which confirms previous findings on the effect of microbiota onC. elegansreproductive timing. Moreover, theC. elegansresponses to MYb11 and MYb115 exhibit common signatures with the response to other vitamin B12-producing bacteria, emphasizing the importance of vitamin B12inC. elegans-microbe metabolic interactions. We further analyzed signatures in theC. elegansresponse specific to MYb11 or MYb115. We provide evidence for distinct modification in lipid metabolism by both mutualistic microbes. We could identify activation of host pathogen defense responses as MYb11-specific proteome signature and provide evidence that the intermediate filament protein IFB-2 is required for MYb115-mediated protection. These results indicate that MYb11 not only produces an antimicrobial compound, but also activates host antimicrobial defenses, which together might increase resistance to infection. In contrast, MYb115 affects host processes such as lipid metabolism and cytoskeleton dynamics, which might increase host tolerance to infection. Overall, this study pinpoints proteins of interest that form the basis for additional exploration into the mechanisms underlyingC. elegansmicrobiota-mediated protection from pathogen infection and other microbiota-mediated traits.
Emerging Antifungal Resistance in Falco Species: A Novel Model for Human Medicine
Authors: Das Sibi , Christu Sethi Das , Silvanose Christudas , Binoy Ambili , Azmanis Panagiotis , Somma Antonio Di , Gladston Jibin V
Published: March 2023

Antifungal resistance is a growing concern in the medical community, as fungal infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. In this study, Falco species were used as novel models for studying antifungal resistance since Aspergillosis, a fungal disease is common in falcons. The most isolated fungi in this study wereA. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, andA. terreus, all of which can cause aspergillosis in falcons. Isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole had the lowest MICs among the drugs tested, suggesting that they may be effective treatment options. However, this study showed that 34% of the isolates were resistant to itraconazole, which is an increase from 21% in 2006. There is no resistance to voriconazole found in 2006 and 2011, but a 9% resistance rate was noted in 2022. Similarly, there is no resistance to posaconazole and isavuconazole was noticed in 2011, but resistance of 4.7% and 5.8%, respectively was noticed in 2022. Amphotericin B, which showed a 51% resistance rate in 2006, became even more resistant with an 80% rate in 2011, leading to its discontinuation from the treatment of falcons against aspergillosis. This study highlights a significant rise in antifungal resistance, which is a challenging problem in both falcon and human medicine.
Interneuron diversity in the human dorsal striatum
Authors: Garma Leonardo D. , Harder Lisbeth , Barba-Reyes Juan M. , Díez-Salguero Mónica , Serrano-Pozo Alberto , Hyman Bradley T. , Muñoz-Manchado Ana B.
Published: March 2023

Deciphering the striatal interneuron diversity is key to understanding the basal ganglia circuit and to untangle the complex neurological and psychiatric diseases affecting this brain structure. We performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of postmortem human caudate nucleus (CN) and putamen (Pu) samples to elucidate the diversity and abundance of interneuron populations and their transcriptional structure in the human dorsal striatum. We propose a new taxonomy of striatal interneurons with eight main classes. We provide specific markers for all subclasses and validated some of them with quantitativein situfluorescence hybridization, such as a novel PTHLH-expressing population that exhibits different abundance and gene expression between CN and Pu. For the most abundant interneuron populations in human striatum, PTHLH and TAC3, we found matching known mouse interneuron populations based on key functional genes such as ion channels and synaptic receptors. Remarkably, human TAC3 and mouse Th populations share important similarities including the expression of the neuropeptide tachykinin 3. Finally, we were able to integrate our dataset with several prior smaller human striatal snRNA-seq studies, thus supporting the generalizability of this new harmonized taxonomy.
SapodillarTLP exists as a monomer, dimer with β-1, 3-glucanase and antifungal activity
Authors: Gowda Chandana Thimme , Rajagopal Kammara
Published: March 2023

The present study deals in understanding the structure-function relationship ofSapodillathaumatin-like protein (TLP). Most of the TLPs known to be stimulated in response to biotic, and abiotic stress. Few TLPs possess both antifungal and enzymatic properties, only very few TLPs possess either of the activity or none of the attributes. This characteristic of TLPs offer great challenges to examine its functional differences among its members, though they are structurally homologous. Therefore, we were concerned to see the functionality ofSapodillaTLP, by cloning inE.coli, expression, purification, and characterization. Being a plant derived protein, it possesses post-translational modifications such as the presence of disulfide bonds. Hence, we proposed to adapt various protein purification tools to purify and to obtain biologically active protein. The refolded and purified rTLP (recombinant TLP) exists as a monomer and dimer with β-1, 3-glucanase, and antifungal activity. The structure, function, relationship studies of rTLP (through deletion and site directed mutagenesis), observed to knock out the dimeric nature. Lastly, structural bioinformatics of rTLP reveal that their primary structural types are - β- and non-helical structures.
Evolving approaches to employee engagement: comparing antecedents in remote work and traditional workplaces
Authors: Hajjami Omaima , Crocco Oliver S.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influenced employee engagement in the context of remote work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them with antecedents of employee engagement in traditional workplaces.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an integrative literature review design of 27 empirical and conceptual peer-reviewed journal articles from a host of academic databases. Data were analyzed via a matrix and mapped onto individual and organizational antecedents of employee engagement.

Findings

This study identified 18 antecedents of remote work, which were categorized into individual antecedents, for example, mindfulness and digital literacy, as well as organizational antecedents, for example, job autonomy and supportive leadership. These findings were compared with antecedents of employee engagement in traditional workplaces to generate new knowledge about the impact of remote work on employee engagement as a result of the large shift to remote work in 2020.

Originality/value

This study synthesizes the most recent literature on antecedents of employee engagement in remote work settings as the result of the pandemic and contrasts these new approaches with previously identified antecedents of employee engagement in traditional workplaces.
Evolution of modern disaster management
Authors: Sawalha Ihab Hanna
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims at investigating the evolution of disaster management by identifying the different phases it has gone through over time, and laying a ground for the next generation of disaster studies that focus on value-creating and value-adding activities.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of the existing literature was made to develop an understanding of the evolution of disaster management. This study does not aim at assessing the tools or techniques used; rather it aims at identifying the major developments that took place over time.

Findings

Disaster management is a dynamic process. It has encountered/experienced different evolutionary phases that indicate that it has been developing over time. It continues to evolve until today as long as disasters occur. The nature and complexity of disasters are also changing. Most importantly, what seemed to be a practical approach for managing disasters yesterday might not fit for the use of today or tomorrow.

Practical implications

Understanding the evolution of disaster management mirrors the evolution of mankind and the ways people survived major incidents. As life itself evolves, disasters will continue to evolve which subsequently triggers the need for broader management insight to cope with.

Originality/value

This study traces the evolution of disaster management and the development of research and practice in this field over time. The existing literature rarely addresses the uniqueness of individual disasters and the need to treat them differently even the recurrent ones. To the best of the author’s knowledge, there is no single study that attempted to capture the evolution of disaster management during the 20th century until today. This study aims to achieve this goal.
Impact of imports from China on Indian manufacturing performance: an analysis of trade competitiveness
Authors: Raju Sunitha
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The focus of this paper is to provide an assessment of the impact of imports from China on Indian manufacturing and capture the multifarious dimensions of India–China bilateral trade flows. By examining the comparative disadvantage imports (RCA<1), the paper critically examines their significance on India's industry output and performance and underlines factors beyond trade competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

For examining the impact of India's manufacturing imports from China on industry performance, four stages of analysis is adopted. First, the imports with RCA <1 have been identified. For these, BRCA was also computed. Second, trends in industry performance associated with high imports from China. Third, for estimating the impact of imports on industry output, augmented production function was specified and estimated with imports from China as a potential determinant. And fourth, comparison of industry performance between India and China.

Findings

The impact of imports from China on industry output is positive and significant. A 1% increase/decrease in the share of China in world imports will result in output increasing by 0.31%. The rise in imports from China seems to be on account of non-availability of necessary intermediate and capital goods domestically, thereby making these imports critical and complementary for production. This negates the threat perception of imports from China.

Research limitations/implications

The paper recognizes the need for understanding the firm heterogeneity in import decisions and R&D intensity of imports. Across industries, the drivers for firms' decisions to import are “learning by importing’ and “self-selection” (Camino-Magro et al., 2020). Also, another important dimension at the firm-level analysis is the elasticity of substitution between foreign and domestic inputs. If the elasticity of substitution is low then high import barriers will lead to reduction of domestic output. These firm-level issues are important for effective policy interventions.

Practical implications

One, the inward looking focus of the industry which is exhibited in low export intensity will not provide the necessary impetus to propel the manufacturing sector to a higher technology frontier and translate the productivity gains to export competitiveness. Two, unless the domestic manufacturing is propelled from the current low/medium technology to high technology products, the current policy thrust on “self-reliance” cannot be realized.

Originality/value

Analysis is based on manufacturing imports with RCA<1 from China thereby underlining factors beyond trade competitiveness not covered by RCA methodology. Complementing the quantitative analysis with economic policy developments in China and India and contrasting the same has provided insights into the real factors determining India–China bilateral trade.
Poverty eradication in sub-Saharan Africa: a government-led or private sector-driven approach?
Authors: Olaoye Olumide , Bolarinwa Segun Thompson , Yaseen Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The paper contributes to the literature on investment and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Specifically, the study examined the separate role of private and public investment in poverty reduction in a panel of 40 sub-Saharan African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

For robustness, the study adopts a variety of estimation techniques. These include the fixed effect (within) regression model, the two-step system generalised method of moments (GMM) and the pooled OLS with Driscoll-Kraay robust standard errors to account for the well-known problems of endogeneity, heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence inherent in panel data.

Findings

The empirical results show that the reducing impact of public investment on poverty is marginal, while private investment has a significant reducing impact on poverty. The study also found that access to social services, such as water and sanitation, and credit are important determinants of investment in SSA. The research and policy implications are discussed.

Originality/value

The study investigated the separate effect of private and public investments on poverty in SSA, unlike the existing studies that adopted total investment.
Tribological properties of lyophilized graphene loading nano-copper as lubricating oil additive
Authors: Peng Runling , Liu Jinyue , Wang Wei , Wang Peng , Liu Shijiao , Zhai Haonan , Dai Leyang , Guo Junde
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the synergistic friction reduction and antiwear effects of lyophilized graphene loading nano-copper (RGO/Cu) as lubricating oil additives, compared with graphene.

Design/methodology/approach

The friction performance of freeze-drying graphene (RGO) and RGO/Cu particles was investigated at different addition concentrations and under different conditions.

Findings

Graphene plays a synergistic friction reduction and antiwear effect because of its large specific surface area, surface folds and loading capacity on the nanoparticles. The results showed that the average friction coefficients of RGO and RGO/Cu particles were 22.9% and 6.1% lower than that of base oil and RGO oil, respectively. In addition, the widths of wear scars were 62.3% and 55.3% lower than those of RGO/Cu particles, respectively.

Originality/value

The RGO single agent is suitable for medium-load and high-speed conditions, while the RGO/Cu particles can perform better in the conditions of heavy load and high speed.
Joint drivers of different shades of green IT/IS practices: a strategic cognition perspective
Authors: Chen Adela , Roberts Nicholas
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Practitioners and academics are starting to recognize the benefits of green IT/IS practices. Despite these benefits, this study aims to know more regarding the factors that would drive organizations to use green IT/IS practices within their IT function and across the enterprise. To further understanding in this area, this study applies a strategic cognition framework of firm responsiveness and institutional theory to determine the extent to which an organization uses green IT/IS practices in response to stakeholder concerns. This study investigates the extent to which two organizational logics – expressive and instrumental – and three institutional pressures – coercive, mimetic and normative – jointly affect an organization's use of both green IT practices and green IS practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tested the hypotheses with survey data collected from 306 organizations. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.

Findings

Findings support four joint effects: (1) individualistic identity orientation and coercive pressure positively affect green IT practices; (2) collectivistic identity orientation and normative pressure positively influence green IS practices; (3) cost reduction orientation and mimetic pressure positively affect green IT practices; and (4) revenue expansion orientation and normative pressure positively influence green IS practices.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence for joint drivers of green IT and green IS practices. Green IT and IS practices represent organizations' different levels of commitment to environmental sustainability and responsiveness to stakeholders (i.e. green IT/IS practices). Organizations of different expressive and instrumental orientations are attuned to institutional pressures to various degrees, which leads to different green IT/IS practices.
How does ICT literacy influence reading literacy score in Indonesia: first attempt using spatial analysis approach
Authors: Nandiasoka Annisawati Pratitis , Ika Oktora Siskarossa
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aims of this research include (1) to identify the scores of reading literacy in 34 provinces and (2) to determine the impact of ICT literacy with other variables on reading literacy in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Thematic maps and Spatial Autoregressive Regression were applied to 2019 AKSI Survey data.

Findings

The results showed that only D.I. Yogyakarta, DKI Jakarta and Kepulauan Riau have a high percentage of reading literacy scores in the excellent category. The ICT literacy and teachers' competency scores significantly affect the percentage of reading literacy. Meanwhile, the percentage of lack of learning materials and GRDP per capita has no significant effect.

Originality/value

Previously, the national exam has been used to determine the quality of education in Indonesia, but it is ineffective because it only measures cognitive aspects. In 2015, the Ministry of Education initiated the AKSI survey, which measures cognitive (reading, math and science literacy) and non-cognitive aspects, as an effort to improve the quality of education in Indonesia. Some literature states that reading literacy is the most basic indicator for determining the quality of education, but in Indonesia, it is the lowest achievement. To improve reading literacy scores, the government has to utilize technological advances through School Digitization. However, this should be supported by the ICT literacy of students. Presently, there is no study to evaluate the impact of ICT literacy on reading literacy, which is also affected by regional value differences.
Top quality hotel managers' perspectives on smart technologies: an exploratory study
Authors: Yağmur Yenal , Demirel Altan , Kılıç Gül Damla
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The main purpose of the study is to reveal the hotel managers' perspectives strategies, and predictions on smart technologies, and their expectations for current staff and potential staff to be employed in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach was used to reveal the internal perspectives of managers to determine their Smart Tourism (ST) perspectives. With the snowball sampling method, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 senior hotel managers working in a 5-star hotel in Antalya. The data obtained were carried out with inductive content analysis and descriptive analysis from qualitative research analysis methods.

Findings

In this study, hotel managers' broad perspectives on ST were discussed in depth and presented comprehensively. Managers' perceptions of smart technologies are classified in terms of aggregate dimensions and themes. Among the most important findings, rapidity/quickness, managing/holistic assessment, standardization, harmony/integration-coordination and experience-memory, defined as the crossroads of total dimensions or the heart of smart technologies, were identified as the most important themes. In addition, Stylos et al. (2021), another important finding is the classification of technologies used in top-quality hotels, based on the conceptual framework for smart technologies presented in the literature.

Practical implications

The effective and efficient use of technology, its internalization and openness to technology provides important advantages in hotels such as increasing revisits and satisfaction, providing loyalty and reducing costs. Thus, the perceptions, practices, strategies and prediction of senior managers working in high-level hotels about ST provide valuable data to other hotels that want to survive in the competition.

Originality/value

From a theoretical point of view, this study is valuable in that it deals with the ST perceptions of senior managers with an exploratory research approach. Managerially, the research findings offer valuable contribution about the attitudes, trends, forecasts and expectations of senior managers working in high-level hotels towards ST.
Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic: identification of working life impacts, employees’ data protection abilities and trust outcomes
Authors: Kähkönen Tiina
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study examined employees’ experiences of remote work and the impact of remote work on working life.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a mixed-methods study undertaken in three Finnish nonprofit firms. In total, 1,154 respondents took part during the first and second COVID-19 waves in Finland.

Findings

COVID-19 remote working saved employees’ and businesses’ financial resources; increased job satisfaction, firms’ performances and employee employment opportunities; and positively affected organizations’ trust outcomes. This study found that female team leaders were significantly more likely than male team leaders to trust team members’ data protection abilities. In addition, remote work can reduce climate pollution. Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic also affected the social lives of the employees and work relationships and led to a reduction in physical activity levels and work overload.

Research theoretical implications

The main theoretical contributions of this study are the identification of remote working characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic, positive/negative outcomes of remote working, and further forms measurable propositions. This study contributes to the change management literature and opens up new avenues for future research.

Practical implications

This study can help managers to better understand and lead employees at a time when significant numbers continue to work remotely. Continued work in this field is important because organizations are required to be agile in a changing operating work environment. Given that home-based work has become the new normal, organizations may need to update their data protection rules and address organizational trust issues.

Social implications

Social effects can be seen as an increased understanding of the effects of remote work in the colleague network. Although remote work suits many employees, they also wish to see their colleagues occasionally. Thus, a mix of remote work with some in-office time may be a more attractive option than remote work only.

Originality/value

The integrated multidimensional framework applied in this study is based on research findings. The framework is dynamic and can be further expanded with new findings, serving as a theoretical basis to guide future research.
Customers’ positive WOM toward m-banking: a standpoint of extended fairness theory and value-in-use
Authors: Le Xuan Cu
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to illuminate a mechanism of positive word of mouth (PWOM) toward mobile banking (m-banking) by extending the fairness theory (FAT) with satisfaction (SAT) and value-in-use (VIU).

Design/methodology/approach

A research model is examined by obtaining data from a web-based survey of 398 respondents who have used m-banking in Vietnam. AMOS 21.0 software is applied to analyze the hypothetical model with covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results reveal that price fairness (PRI) is of primary importance of fairness perception (FAI) in m-banking, followed by informative fairness, procedural fairness, interactional fairness and distributive fairness. Furthermore, SAT and VIU play a vital role in developing PWOM. In addition, FAI exerts a positive influence on SAT and VIU.

Practical implications

This study would help practitioners have the deep insights into affective and behavioral responses among customers and develop effective marketing trajectories to spur SAT, VIU and PWOM toward m-banking. The results hint that marketers may be tempted to simultaneously focus on the important dimensions of FAIs as they are indispensable to derive SAT and VIU from a customer perspective. This research assists governments and banks to adopt training programs and policies that will incite customer behaviors toward m-banking.

Originality/value

The value of the work lies in the combination between FAT with SAT to enlighten FAI and PWOM toward m-banking in a developing country. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is among the first to consider VIU that motivates PWOM. Moreover, this study links PRI to FAI to understand PWOM among Vietnamese customers.
Persistence of police legitimacy: understanding Asian American perspectives
Authors: Ha Stephanie Van , Sun Ivan
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Asian Americans' perceptions of the police, specifically how they construct support. Although such literature has been growing in recent years, research on Asian American interactions with the police remains limited. Additionally, this paper is situated within the theoretical framework of system justification theory to account for Asian Americans' views of the police.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies on interview data collected from 20 Asian Americans residing in mid-Atlantic states. Participants were either recruited directly by the researchers or through the snowball-sampling method.

Findings

Police support is influenced by perception of neighborhood safety, personal police contact and empathetic feelings toward the police. Specifically, regarding the latter component, humanizing or empathizing with police officers is a form of rationalizing individual police misconduct that reinforced police legitimacy. Most participants had similar characteristics and displayed police justification. Additional research is needed regarding what characteristics or patterns are likely to lead to lower levels of police justification.

Originality/value

This article's findings improve our understanding of system justification among Asian Americans, particularly as it relates to policing.
Evasive (knowledge) hiding and task performance: the moderating role of accumulative job resources
Authors: Hernaus Tomislav , Dragičević Nikolina , Sitar Aleša Saša
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Building on the premise of conservation of resources theory (COR) that people protect their knowledge as a resource, the authors questioned whether the contextual nature of job resources buffers the counterintuitive positive relationship between evasive knowledge hiding (KH) and task performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Two multisource field survey studies were conducted to examine the moderating influence of task-job resources on the knowledge hiders' task performance. Hierarchical regression analyses tested the main effect of evasive KH on task performance. In addition, conditional process analyses were applied to examine two-way and three-way interactions of evasive KH, job autonomy and task variety.

Findings

The data analysis showed a positive relationship between evasive KH and task performance. Moreover, the authors found that employees receiving accumulative task-job resources continued to hide knowledge and used abundant resources to increase their task performance further. However, contrary to expectations, for employees—who received partial task-job resources—their task performance deteriorated when evasively hiding knowledge.

Practical implications

Managers and human resource practitioners should acknowledge that employees' evasive KH to co-workers is not always wrong and should not be treated like it is. Moreover, they are endorsed to pay attention and invest in job resources since job autonomy and task variety create a beneficial context for knowledge holders' task performance.

Originality/value

The authors provided novel theoretical (the gain-loss perspective of COR theory) and consistent empirical (confirmed by two field-study evidence) arguments for an important contextual role of an HRM practice of job design in shaping the underrepresented knowledge behavior–task performance relationship.
Voltammetric analysis of luminescent markers in gunshot residues
Authors: Chedid Alex Almeida , Azevedo Larissa Silva , da Silva Galaço Ayla Roberta Borges , Casagrande Thiago Rui , Serra Osvaldo Antonio , de Oliveira Marcelo Firmino
Published: March 2023

Currently, SEM‐EDS is used to detect gunshot residue (GSR) from the presence of Ba, Pb, and Sb in the sample. However, the development of new nontoxic ammunition (NTA) has prevented conventional metals from being found. In this work, we aim to determine the presence of an inorganic luminescent chemical marker based on rare earth in gunshot residues using the technique of squarewave voltammetry (SWV). After firing, the luminescent complex [(Eu2Zr)(btc)3(Hbtc)0.5.6H2O], which is used as a chemical marker, can be detected under a UV lamp. An aqueous solution with 0.1 mol L−1 KCl as supporting electrolyte can be easily collected on carbon paste electrode surfaces for SWV analysis A = 100 mV, f = 10 Hz, and step potential of 5 mV are required. The luminescent marker incorporated into the carbon paste electrode showed two anodic peak currents in the region of 0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and at 0.75 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and also a cathodic one in 0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl). SEM‐EDS was able to analyze the same voltammetric results for conventional and nontoxic ammunition containing the luminescent marker. Therefore, voltammetry and SEM‐EDS are valid for detecting the new residue marker in GSR. Despite this, the electrochemical method is still more advantageous because of its low cost and lack of expensive equipment and supplies in forensic laboratories.