bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory inputs from hippocampal CA1 to retrosplenial agranular cortex gate social behavior
Authors: Shi Yuhan , Yan Jingjing , Xu Xiaohong , Qiu Zilong
Published: August 2022

Retrosplenial cortex has been implicated in processing sensory information and spatial learning, with abnormal neural activity observed in association with psychedelics and in mouse and non-human primate models of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The direct role of the retrosplenial cortex in regulating social behaviors remains unclear. This work reveals that the neural activity of retrosplenial agranular cortex (RSA), a subregion of retrosplenial cortex, is initially activated, then quickly suppressed upon social contact. The up-down phase of RSA neurons is crucial for normal social behaviors. PV-positive GABAergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region were found to send inhibitory projections to RSA. Blocking these CA1-RSA inhibitory inputs significantly impaired social behavior. Notably, enhancing the CA1-RSA inhibitory input could rescue social behavior defects in an ASD mouse model. This work suggests a neural mechanism for salience processing of social behavior and identifies a potential target for ASD intervention using neural modulation approaches.
Evaluating the effect of metabolic traits on oral and oropharyngeal cancer risk using Mendelian randomization
Authors: Gormley Mark , Dudding Tom , Thomas Steven J , Tyrrell Jessica , Ness Andrew R , Pring Miranda , Legge Danny , Smith George Davey , Richmond Rebecca C , Vincent Emma E , Bull Caroline
Published: August 2022

A recent World Health Organization report states that at least 40% of all cancer cases may be preventable, with smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity identified as three of the most important modifiable lifestyle factors. Given the significant decline in smoking rates, particularly within developing countries, other potentially modifiable risk factors for head and neck cancer warrant investigation. Obesity and related metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension have been associated with head and neck cancer risk in multiple observational studies. However, obesity has also been correlated with smoking, with bias, confounding or reverse causality possibly explaining these findings. To overcome the challenges of observational studies, we conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (inverse variance weighted (IVW) method) using genetic variants which were robustly associated with obesity, T2D and hypertension in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Outcome data was taken from the largest available GWAS of 6,034 oral and oropharyngeal cases, with 6,585 controls. We found limited evidence of a causal effect of genetically proxied body mass index (OR IVW = 0.89, 95%CI 0.72–1.09, p = 0.26 per 1 SD in BMI (4.81 kg/m2)) on oral and oropharyngeal cancer risk. Similarly, there was limited evidence for related traits including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Smoking appears to act as a mediator in the relationship between obesity and head and neck cancer.
Phylodynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in France, Europe and the world during 2020
Authors: Coppée Romain , Blanquart François , Jary Aude , Leducq Valentin , Ferré Valentine Marie , Franco Yusti Anna Maria , Daniel Lena , Charpentier Charlotte , Lebourgeois Samuel , Zafilaza Karen , Calvez Vincent , Descamps Diane , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Visseaux Benoit , Bridier-Nahmias Antoine
Published: August 2022

Background

Although France was one of the most affected European countries by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions within France, Europe and worldwide remain only partially characterized during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

Here, we analyzed GISAID deposited sequences from January to December 2020 (n = 638,706 sequences). To tackle the huge number of sequences without the bias of analyzing a single sequence subset, we produced 100 independent and randomly selected sequence datasets and related phylogenetic trees for different geographic scales (worldwide, European countries and French administrative regions) and time periods (first and second half of 2020). We applied a maximum likelihood discrete trait phylogeographic method to date transmission events and to estimate the geographic spread of SARS-CoV-2 to, from and within France, Europe and worldwide.

Results

The results unraveled two different patterns of inter- and intra-territory transmission events between the first and second half of 2020. Throughout the year, Europe was systematically associated with most of the intercontinental transmissions, for which France has played a pivotal role. SARS-CoV-2 transmissions with France were concentrated with North America and Europe (mainly Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany) during the first wave, and were limited to neighboring countries without strong intercontinental transmission during the second one. Regarding French administrative regions, the Paris area was the main source of transmissions during the first wave. But, for the second epidemic wave, it equally contributed to virus spread with Lyon and Marseille area, the two other most densely populated cities in France.

Conclusion

By enabling the inclusion of tens of thousands of viral sequences, this original phylogenetic strategy enabled us to robustly depict SARS-CoV-2 transmissions through France, Europe and worldwide in 2020.
Wide mismatches in the sequences of primers and probes for Monkeypox virus diagnostic assays
Authors: Wu Fuqing , Oghuan Jeremiah , Gitter Anna , Mena Kristina D. , Brown Eric L.
Published: August 2022

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of infections is fundamental to containment of disease. Several monkeypox virus (MPV) real-time diagnostic assays have been recommended by the CDC; however, the specificity of the primers and probes in these assays for the ongoing MPV outbreak has not been investigated. We analyzed the primer and probe sequences present in the CDC recommended monkeypox virus (MPV) generic real-time PCR assay by aligning those sequences against 1,730 MPV complete genomes reported in 2022 worldwide. Sequence mismatches were found in 99.08% and 97.46% of genomes for the MPV generic forward and reverse primers, respectively. Mismatch-corrected primers were synthetized and compared to the generic assay for MPV detection. Results showed that the two primer-template mismatches resulted in a ∼11-fold underestimation of initial template DNA in the reaction and 4-fold increase in the 95% LOD. We further evaluated the specificity of seven other real-time PCR assays used for MPV and orthopoxvirus (OPV) detection and identified two assays with the highest matching score (>99.6%) to the global MPV genome database in 2022. Genetic variations in the primer-probe regions across MPV genomes could indicate the temporal and spatial emergence pattern of monkeypox disease. Our results show that the current MPV real-time generic assay may not be optimal to accurately detect MPV, and the mismatch-corrected assay with full complementarity between primers and current MPV genomes could provide a more sensitive and accurate detection of MPV.
Doublecortin and JIP3 are neural-specific counteracting regulators of dynein-mediated retrograde trafficking
Authors: Rao Lu , Li Peijun , Liu Xinglei , Wang Qi , Son Alexander I. , Gennerich Arne , Liu Judy S. , Fu Xiaoqin
Published: August 2022

Mutations in the microtubule (MT)-binding protein doublecortin (DCX) or in the MT- based molecular motor dynein result in lissencephaly. However, a functional link between DCX and dynein has not been defined. Here, we demonstrate that DCX negatively regulates dynein-mediated retrograde transport by reducing dynein’s association with MTs and by disrupting the composition of the dynein motor complex. Previous work showed an increased binding of the adaptor protein C-Jun-amino-terminal kinase-interacting protein 3 (JIP3) to dynein in the absence of DCX. Using purified components, we demonstrate that JIP3 forms an active motor complex with dynein and its cofactor dynactin with two dyneins per complex. DCX competes with the binding of the second dynein, resulting in a velocity reduction of the complex. We conclude that DCX negatively regulates dynein-mediated retrograde transport through two critical interactions by regulating dynein binding to MTs and by regulating the association of JIP3 to the dynein motor complex.
The VGNC: Expanding Standardized Vertebrate Gene Nomenclature
Authors: Jones Tamsin E.M. , Yates Bethan , Braschi Bryony , Gray Kristian , Tweedie Susan , Seal Ruth L. , Bruford Elspeth A.
Published: August 2022

The Vertebrate Gene Nomenclature Committee (VGNC) was established in 2016 as a sister project to the HGNC (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee), to approve gene nomenclature in vertebrate species without an existing dedicated nomenclature committee. The VGNC aims to harmonize gene nomenclature across selected vertebrate species in line with human gene nomenclature, with orthologs assigned the same nomenclature where possible. This article presents an overview of the VGNC project and discussion of key findings resulting from this work to date. VGNC approved nomenclature is accessible at https://vertebrate.genenames.org, and is additionally displayed by the NCBI, Ensembl and UniProt databases.
Adolescent-specific memory effects: evidence from working memory, immediate and long-term recognition memory performance in 8–30 yr olds
Authors: Skalaban Lena J. , Cohen Alexandra O. , Conley May I. , Lin Qi , Schwartz Garrett N. , Ruiz-Huidobro Nicholas A. M. , Cannonier Tariq , Martinez Steven A. , Casey B.J.
Published: August 2022

Working memory and recognition memory develop across adolescence, but the relationship between them is not fully understood. We investigated associations between n-back task performance and subsequent recognition memory in a community sample (8–30 yr, n = 150) using tasks from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study) to cross-sectionally assess memory in an age range that will be sampled longitudinally. We added a 24-h delay condition to assess long-term recognition. Overall working memory, immediate and long-term recognition performance peaked in adolescence. Age effects in recognition memory varied by items (old targets, old distractors, and new items) and delay (0 and 24 h). For immediate recognition, accuracy was higher for targets and new items than for distractors, with accuracy for targets peaking in adulthood and accuracy for new items peaking during adolescence. For long-term recognition, adolescents’ accuracy was higher for targets than distractors, while adults showed similarly high accuracy for targets and distractors and children showed low accuracy for both. This pattern appeared to be specific to recognition of items from the high working memory load condition. The results suggest that working memory may facilitate long-term recognition of task-relevant over irrelevant items and may benefit the detection of new information during adolescence.
Improved precision in As speciation analysis with HERFD-XANES at the As K-edge: the case of As speciation in mine waste
Authors: Saurette Emily M. , Frinfrock Y. Zou , Verbuyst Brent , Blowes David W. , McBeth Joyce M. , Ptacek Carol J.
Published: August 2022

High-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected (HERFD) X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) is a spectroscopic method that allows for increased spectral feature resolution, and greater selectivity to decrease complex matrix effects compared with conventional XANES. XANES is an ideal tool for speciation of elements in solid-phase environmental samples. Accurate speciation of As in mine waste materials is important for understanding the mobility and toxicity of As in near-surface environments. In this study, linear combination fitting (LCF) was performed on synthetic spectra generated from mixtures of eight measured reference compounds for both HERFD-XANES and transmission-detected XANES to evaluate the improvement in quantitative speciation with HERFD-XANES spectra. The reference compounds arsenolite (As2O3), orpiment (As2S3), getchellite (AsSbS3), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), kaňkite (FeAsO4·3.5H2O), scorodite (FeAsO4·2H2O), sodium arsenate (Na3AsO4), and realgar (As4S4) were selected for their importance in mine waste systems. Statistical methods of principal component analysis and target transformation were employed to determine whether HERFD improves identification of the components in a dataset of mixtures of reference compounds. LCF was performed on HERFD- and total fluorescence yield (TFY)-XANES spectra collected from mine waste samples. Arsenopyrite, arsenolite, orpiment, and sodium arsenate were more accurately identified in the synthetic HERFD-XANES spectra compared with the transmission-XANES spectra. In mine waste samples containing arsenopyrite and either scorodite or kaňkite, LCF with HERFD-XANES measurements resulted in fits with smaller R-factors than concurrently collected TFY measurements. The improved accuracy of HERFD-XANES analysis may provide enhanced delineation of As phases controlling biogeochemical reactions in mine wastes, contaminated soils, and remediation systems.
Internal-led cyber frauds in Indian banks: an effective machine learning–based defense system to fraud detection, prioritization and prevention
Authors: Chhabra Roy Neha , Prabhakaran Sreeleakha
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The study aims to overview the different types of internal-led cyber fraud that have gained mainstream attention in recent major-value fraud events involving prominent Indian banks. The authors attempted to identify and classify cyber frauds and its drivers and correlate them for optimal mitigation planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology opted for the identification and classification is through a detailed literature review and focus group discussion with risk and vigilance officers and cyber cell experts. The authors assessed the future of cyber fraud in the Indian banking business through the machine learning–based k-nearest neighbor (K-NN) approach and prioritized and predicted the future of cyber fraud. The predicted future revealing dominance of a few specific cyber frauds will help to get an appropriate fraud prevention model, using an associated parties centric (victim and offender) root-cause approach. The study uses correlation analysis and maps frauds with their respective drivers to determine the resource specific effective mitigation plan.

Findings

Finally, the paper concludes with a conceptual framework for preventing internal-led cyber fraud within the scope of the study. A cyber fraud mitigation ecosystem will be helpful for policymakers and fraud investigation officers to create a more robust environment for banks through timely and quick detection of cyber frauds and prevention of them.

Research limitations/implications

Additionally, the study supports the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India's launched cyber security initiates and schemes which ensure protection for the banking ecosystem i.e. RBI direct scheme, integrated ombudsman scheme, cyber swachhta kendra (botnet cleaning and malware analysis centre), National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) and Security Monitoring Centre (SMC).

Practical implications

Structured and effective internal-led plans for cyber fraud mitigation proposed in this study will conserve banks, employees, regulatory authorities, customers and economic resources, save bank authorities’ and policymakers’ time and money, and conserve resources. Additionally, this will enhance the reputation of the Indian banking industry and extend its lifespan.

Originality/value

The innovative insider-led cyber fraud mitigation approach quickly identifies cyber fraud, prioritizes it, identifies its prominent root causes, map frauds with respective root causes and then suggests strategies to ensure a cost-effective and time-saving bank ecosystem.
Moderating effect of CEO power on institutional ownership and performance
Authors: Saleh Mohammed W.A. , Eleyan Derar , Maigoshi Zaharaddeen Salisu
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study examines the impact of institutional ownership (IO) on firm performance. It also investigates whether powerful CEOs using a “CEO score index” moderate IO and firm performance nexus by drawing on insights from the agency and resource dependency theories.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from annual reports of companies listed on the Palestine Security Exchange from 2009 to 2019. Panel data regressions were conducted based on 528 observations. In addition, this study repeated the analysis using a one-step generalized method of moments (GMM) and two-stage least squares analysis to deal with the endogeneity issue.

Findings

Results show that IO and CEO power is positively associated with firm performance. Besides, it has been established that CEO power strengthens the relationship between IO and performance. Thus, this can be summarized that IO improves firm performance; however, with the powerful CEO intervention, the performance will improve even more.

Originality/value

Studying IO is timely given since the type of ownership is paramount to identify which form of a high degree of ownership affects the performance negatively, especially, in the Palestine environment which is dominated by institutional investors. This is of great importance to the investors as it will enable them to identify the type of firms to which they can commit their funds, and which firm excels through the CEO power. Besides, the inconsistency results in previous literature on IO, and firm performance indicates that there is an indirect effect that needs alternative explanations.
Staff councils and their power resources – Workplace representation in German municipalities
Authors: Müller Andrea , Schmidt Werner
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The paper examines the work and interactions of staff councils in German municipalities and the power resources the staff councils have at disposal. The paper also discusses the relationship between staff councils and trade unions and suggests a modification of the prominent concept of the “dual system of interest representation” to a “trimorphic system of interest representation” for the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on case studies of staff councils in municipalities and administrative districts, relying on semi-structured interviews, group discussions and document analysis.

Findings

Staff councils operate in an extensively regulated field. The major task of staff councils is to monitor that employers follow collective agreements and the law. Staff councils' existence and co-determination rights of staff councils are provided by law; however, staff councils not only use institutional, but also organisational and – occasionally – political power resources, whereas structural and societal power resources are rarely actively used. The relationship between staff councils and trade unions often plays an important role and is in many cases characterised by mutual support.

Originality/value

Although staff councils are a widespread and a very interesting type of representation because staff councils represent both employees and civil servants who are employed in two distinctly different employment systems, staff councils are widely under-researched. This paper enriches empirical knowledge about labour relations and introduces the notion of a “trimorphic system of interest representation”.
Advancing archives and records management professionals in Africa
Authors: Katuu Shadrack
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The advancement of a profession depends on factors such as firm education, training programmes and vibrant professional associations. The purpose of this study is to provide baseline information on archives and records management (ARM) professionals from Africa, including their views on education and training programmes. Related studies have been limited to investigating the experiences of graduates from a few institutions within a limited jurisdiction. Similar studies have not been conducted by African-based ARM associations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study’s survey approach was administered electronically. Two surveys explored themes through 10 research questions in three categories: background information; characteristics of the education; and types of courses and extent covered during the study.

Findings

The two surveys had 107 and 179 respondents, respectively, domiciled in 19 African countries. In both studies, about 75% of the respondents had an undergraduate- or master-level qualification. Between 69% and 87% of the respondents from the first and second surveys, respectively, had completed their educational programmes within their home countries. There was varied sentiment on the types of courses and level of coverage within their studies. Legal and technology aspects were less covered in the curriculum than core subjects.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first with findings from ARM respondents across several African countries. It provides insight into the demographics and educational programmes. This study’s unique contribution provides baseline data for more detailed and nuanced studies that will explore data and investigate patterns within and among individual countries on the continent.
Health tourism enterprises and adaptation for sustainable development
Authors: Szromek Adam R. , Puciato Daniel , Markiewicz-Patkowska Julita Izabela , Colmekcioglu Nazan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of adjustment of the activities of health tourism and hospitality enterprises to the sustainable development criteria developed by the global sustainable tourism council.

Design/methodology/approach

The main research method used in this study was a diagnostic survey – an in-depth interview. This research was conducted among managers of 18 of the largest enterprises that conduct tourism and wellness activities in Polish health resorts.

Findings

The analysis of the research results indicated that only every other surveyed health resort entity implemented a sustainable development system or program. Most health resort entities undertook initiatives to support the local community in the field of education, health, sanitary safety and mitigating the negative effects of climate change. The respondents also unequivocally stated that they used good practices in promoting cultural heritage among health resort guests. Almost all of the analyzed enterprises applied solutions aimed at saving natural resources, i.e. reducing unnecessary purchases and saving electricity and water. Participation in programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and means of transport usage was very rarely declared.

Practical implications

It is recommended to include environmental issues in the business models of health tourism entities, e.g. by including them in the strategy, including mission, communicating pro-environmental goals and actions to stakeholders, and applying environmental management systems and concepts.

Originality/value

The research problem is a strong point of the work, as the issue of sustainable development of tourist organizations has rarely been discussed so far. Health resorts were also not considered the subject of research in this area. In this research, the authors assessed the degree of compliance of health tourism enterprises with the requirements of sustainable development, which is a contribution to the science system.
How GHRM impacts employee OCBE: the role of emotions and value discrepancy
Authors: Lu Hui , Cai Shaohan , Liu Yan , Chen Hong
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact mechanism of green human resource management (GHRM) on employee organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE). The authors maintain that anticipated environmental pride and guilt serve as dual mediators on the relationship between GHRM and OCBE, while environmental value discrepancy between employees and coworkers of the employees serve as the moderator on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, 226 valid questionnaires were obtained from various industries (food, machinery, electronics, etc.) in China and a hierarchical regression analysis was performed.

Findings

The results revealed that GHRM exerts a direct influence on OCBE, as well as indirect effects through anticipated environmental emotions. Environmental value discrepancy moderates the relationship between GHRM and anticipated environmental emotions.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is not only to investigate the emotional impact mechanism between GHRM and employee OCBE, but also to identify the boundary conditions for the effect of GHRM on employees’ anticipated environmental emotions. The authors' findings offer a new theoretical framework for future research on GHRM, as well as practical implications for researchers and managers in organizational environmental management.
Elucidating the role of digital technologies in bridling the ramifications of COVID-19 in restaurant services: moderation of pandemic susceptibility and severity
Authors: Biswas Abhijeet
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to augment the perceived service quality (PSQ) dimensions as well as evaluate the effects of pandemic susceptibility and severity by appending crucial enablers of customer satisfaction (CS) in the restaurant industry (RI).

Design/methodology/approach

The top 10 restaurants from Mumbai and Kolkata were selected based on the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine List, 2020. The study used a cross-sectional design to collect responses from 840 respondents across the two major metropolitans of India after the second wave of COVID-19 by employing a structured questionnaire. The proffered hypotheses in this study were validated using factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques.

Findings

This research espies pivotal facilitators of CS and customers' perceived value (CPV). The results divulge that food quality (FQ) and tangibility dimensions markedly enhance CS while the FQ and digital technologies (DT) dimensions augment CPV in Indian restaurants. The study asserts that CPV acts as a partial mediator between FQ and DT on the one hand and CS on the other. In addition, perceived pandemic susceptibility (PPSU) and perceived pandemic severity (PPSE) moderate the association between CPV and CS in restaurants.

Research limitations/implications

This study exemplifies the critical enablers of CS and CPV that may invigorate restaurant owners, managers and policymakers to prioritize the identified dimensions to aggrandize CS and CPV quotients.

Originality/value

The study enriches the literature by assimilating DT and CPV dimensions in a comprehensive theoretical framework. The research is unique in attempting to unfurl the moderating effects of PPSU and PPSE in the RI.
The relevance of national culture to policy uncertainty and firm performance: European evidence
Authors: Ahsan Tanveer , Qureshi Muhammad Azeem , Gull Ammar Ali , Muhammad Fazal
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of policy uncertainty on firm performance and to examine how the different cultural societies deal with the policy-induced uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data of European non-financial firms to extend the growing literature on policy uncertainty, firm performance and national culture. The authors consider financial as well as market proxies to measure firm performance and use Hofstede's cultural dimensions as a proxy for national culture. The authors apply the generalized method of moments (GMM-system) regression technique on a dataset of 702 non-financial European firms, listed during the period 2002–2018.

Findings

The authors find overwhelming evidence that policy uncertainty reduces the performance of the European firms; however, cultural differences among different European countries moderate the impact of policy uncertainty on the financial as well as the market performance of the firms. The results of this study show that European cultures with high power distance, individualism, masculinity and indulgence efficiently deal with the economic policy uncertainty. While the European societies with high uncertainty avoidance fail to cope with policy-induced uncertainty. The results are robust to different regression models, alternate proxies of firm performance and endogeneity issues.

Practical implications

The authors argue that policy uncertainty increases information asymmetry and decreases firm performance, therefore, the policymakers shall be considerate of the consequences of the policy-induced uncertainty in the society and business arena that would not only adversely affect the firms but also the economy.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the role of national culture on the relationship between policy uncertainty and firm performance in the European context.
The dark side of competitive psychological climate: exploring the role of workplace envy
Authors: Murtza Muhammad Hamid , Rasheed Muhammad Imran
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Employees compete for organizational resources as scarcity of resources has always been a critical issue in organizations. Since every employee cannot get equal pay raises, promotions and other incentives, therefore, they start feeling competition in the workplace which may further lead to negative outcomes such as envy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the negative consequences of the competitive psychological climate in the hospitality industry. The authors further intend to familiarize with the envy reducing mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on social comparison theory our study intends to explain the role of competitive psychological climate in workplaces. The authors utilized an exploratory qualitative research approach and surveyed through semi-structured interviews of the hospitality professionals working in the star hotels in Pakistan.

Findings

The authors’ findings reveal that there is a huge psychological competitive climate in the hotel industry in Pakistan. The psychological competitive climate leads to workplace envy among workers which further results in poor employee performance. The authors further found the role of personality traits in affecting employees' envious feelings.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the fact that this study only examined the star-category hotels in Pakistan and its findings may not be representative of the whole hospitality industry, it offers a clear illustration of the effect that competitive climate can have on individuals in the form of workplace envy.

Originality/value

The authors examined the dark side of the competitive climate in the hospitality industry which was overlooked in the literature. The study highlights key research implications and sets the future agenda for research in the hospitality industry.
What management history can tell us about the postpandemic workplace, and other useful things?
Authors: Spell Chester , Bezrukova Katerina
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that histories of how past crises were managed can help us anticipate how today’s public health challenges will permanently change the workplace and at least some aspects of management practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews prominent public health histories and leadership responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors interpret these accounts of past crises to anticipate the long-lasting effects of the COVID pandemic. This also can be seen as a case study of how public health crises are managed and the effects of that management.

Findings

It is likely that several changes will come to the workplace, similar to transformations that happened after past pandemics. Technologies incorporating virtuality will see adoption accelerated. Health behaviors may change, especially in certain cultures or industries. The psychological contract between employees and management may increasingly emphasize autonomy as a prized attribute, again in some cultures more than others.

Originality/value

In looking at past pandemics and public health crises, and the way leaders reacted, one can learn about the potential for current health- and conflict-related events to unfold and alter workplace practices and norms.
Towards ecological place management in UK housing associations: organising tomorrow’s places
Authors: Vandeventer James Scott , Lloveras Javier , Warnaby Gary
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise how place management practices in UK housing associations (HAs) involve processes of ecological place management.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnographic fieldwork focusing on how communal spaces are organised on a housing estate in a UK city revealed the importance of negotiation with other actors, including an HA which is responsible for managing the estate. The authors draw on extensive participant observation with residents, as well as interviews with both residents and employees of the HA, to show the wider forces and complexities involved in these ecological place management practices.

Findings

This paper identifies hybrid socio-ecological, socio-political and political-economic dynamics unfolding as places are managed and organised. These widen the scope of place management research and practice to account for multiple ways places are organised.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers a critical perspective on place management, developing an ecological approach that is applicable both to the relatively new context of housing and to more established sites in town and city centres.

Practical implications

This paper’s findings point to ways that housing and place management practitioners, both in the UK and elsewhere, can use an ecological approach to re-frame their strategic and practical actions with regards to “place”.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to unveiling the complexity involved in place management and organisation, thereby encouraging place managers to embrace ecological thinking capable of addressing future challenges.
Transformation and potentialization: how to extend the present and produce possibilities?
Authors: Niels Åkerstrøm Andersen , Pors Justine Grønbæk
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This article explores how the Danish public sector, over time, has followed different temporal strategies in order to extend the present and handle the system's increasing complexity, thereby counteracting a tendency towards entropy. It proposes that historical changes in the public sector's understandings of the concepts of “time” and “change” can be seen as the answer to the sector's enduring problem of ever-increasing complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct second-order observations of how the Danish public sector, in the period from 1900 until 2020, observes “time” and “change”. More specifically, they first observe how issues over time are temporalized in different forms, before employing the guiding distinction, operation/temporalization, to analyse the differences between temporalities.

Findings

The authors show that, today, the Danish public sector deals with the problems of complexity and entropy through, what is called, potentialization. Potentialization entails operations that aim to increase potentialities, rather than realize possibilities within a given potentiality. It works by extending the present, drawing on a particular temporality which is split into a present present and a future future.

Practical implications

The paper offers managers insights into the implications of their own observations of time and change, including how they might draw on different temporal semantics, through which managerial situations emerge differently. The paper also reveals that issues of transformation are not always about transformation, rather they concern the question of how to handle an increasing internal complexity.

Social implications

The article shows that potentialization and its temporal semantic of “transformation” also comes with a price – namely that it dissolves the certainties of structures, which results in conflicting expectations.

Originality/value

The paper draws on systems theory, including its notions of time and entropy, to analyse the evolution of public administration and management. It thereby produces a diagnosis of the present which offers insights into contemporary conditions for public management.
Mergers and acquisitions success: examining customer loyalty
Authors: Álvarez-González Paula , Otero-Neira Carmen
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Mergers and acquisition are a very common part of business strategy. However, it is not clear if and how these processes affect customers. This study aims to assess banking M&A from the marketing perspective, by analyzing its impact on the customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a purposive sampling method for collecting data from 232 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire. Variance-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for testing the proposed structural model.

Findings

Results show that M&A integration does influence customers' perception of key variables like customer–company relationship, and their loyalty after the M&A. Findings highlight the relative importance of these variables and the potential influence of some moderators (customer orientation, speed of integration and communication). The most important antecedent of loyalty in a M&A situation is service quality followed by company image, products and prices, sales channels and sales force.

Originality/value

This paper explores the impact of M&A on clients by using customer survey data, an area that is still an under-explored field, in relation with the total number of articles on M&A that are published each year.
Microencapsulation of karonda (Carissa carandas L.) anthocyanin extracts: effects of drying conditions on antioxidant contents and activities of spray-dried powder
Authors: Nguyen Quoc-Duy , Vu Thi-Dung , Nguyen Thuy-Trang , Phan Thi-Kieu-Vi , Pham Hieu-Thao , Nguyen Phuong-Thao
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of spray drying temperature and maltodextrin addition on the contents of phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and reducing power) of karonda powder.

Design/methodology/approach

Over the past few decades, the demands for application of natural colorants in food production have been attracting the attention of academic research and food industry. Anthocyanins, a red pigment commonly found on plants, show high potentials in the preparation of spray-dried pigment powder. This study, therefore, was conducted using full factorial design with two factors, namely, inlet temperature (150°C and 160°C) and soluble solid concentration (10, 15 and 20°Brix) with maltodextrin as carrier to produce pigment powder from karonda, an anthocyanin-rich fruit which is native to southeast Asia.

Findings

Increasing soluble solid content from 10 to 15°Brix resulted in a 42%–57% reduction in phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents. However, when increasing the amount of maltodextrin from 15 to 20°Brix, a lower reduction (approximately 11%–19%) was observed. In samples with the same °Brix, there was no significant variation in antioxidant contents and activities, especially at high maltodextrin ratios. In addition, the reducing power of samples dried at higher temperature (160°C) was higher than that of samples dried at lower temperature. Karonda spray-dried powder showed a good positive correlation (p < 0.01) between antioxidant contents and DPPH• activity.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, in this study, for the first time, the effect of spray drying conditions on the quality of karonda powder was investigated.
Haq Allah Hu: tourists' phenomenological experiences of visiting shrines as Islamic spiritual destinations
Authors: Kamal Ahsan , Kashif Muhammad
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Over the years, shrines have been ignored as a destination by islamic marketing scholars. However, shrines can be classified as Islamic spiritual destinations which are visited by people to serve various purposes. Moreover, in the country context of Pakistan with its beautiful cultural traditions and the religiousness among people, the visit to a shrine as a destination experience is scantly examined. This study fills this void and aims at exploring Muslim tourists' spiritual experiences of visiting shrines as Islamic spiritual destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive qualitative inquiry is used based on phenomenology as the leading methodology for this exploration. Following a purposive sampling technique, researchers interviewed 10 informants who regularly visit shrines. The collected data are analyzed based on thematic analysis.

Findings

The results of a thematic analysis reveal six themes that emerged from tourists' experiences of Islamic spiritual destinations. These include: religious and spiritual values, spiritual belief system, commercial experience, hospitality and support experience, socialization experience and obstruction experience.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can be used by policymakers managing Islamic tourist destinations. It will help them to improve tourist experiences.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to both theory and practice of destination marketing by exploring the factors influencing tourists' perceptions about their experience of Islamic spiritual destinations.
How do institutional investors influence accounting conservatism in China?
Authors: Zhang Dan , Ma Shiguang , Pan Xiaofei
Published: August 2022

Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2003 to 2015, we find that domestic mutual funds have negative effects while qualified foreign institutional investors (QFIIs) have positive effects on firm accounting conservatism. These effects become stronger when their ownerships are closer to that of the controlling shareholder, respectively. Furthermore, these results are more pronounced when institutional investors are more able to monitor managers and compete with controlling shareholders. Our findings suggest that the influence of institutional investors on accounting conservatism in China is subject to their identities as well as the control contestability against the controlling shareholders.
Induction of immunogenic cell death in murine colon cancer cells by ferrocene‐containing redox phospholipid polymers
Authors: Kaneko Masahiro , Yamaguchi Akio , Ito Akira
Published: August 2022

Immunogenic cell death (ICD), activated by damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), is an apoptotic cell death process that elicits antitumor immunity. Although anticancer drugs that can induce ICD are promising for cancer treatment, the design strategy for ICD inducers remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the cell‐penetrating redox phospholipid polymer poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine‐co‐vinyl ferrocene) (pMFc) inducing ICD in murine colon cancer CT26 cells. pMFc produced oxidative stress by extracting electrons from CT26 cells and induced the release of DAMPs, such as calreticulin, adenosine triphosphate, and high‐mobility group box 1. Moreover, the injection of pMFc‐treated CT26 cells inhibited tumor formation in subsequently challenged CT26 cells, indicating that pMFc elicited antitumor immunity through ICD. Using in vivo therapy, intratumoral injections of pMFc induced complete tumor regression in 20% (1/5) of mice. These results suggested that the redox phospholipid polymer provides a new option for ICD‐inducing anticancer polymers.
Describing functional skills in children with cerebral palsy close to age 5 years matters
Authors: Arnaud Catherine
Published: August 2022

This commentary is on the original article by Huroy et al. on pages 1487–1493 of this issue.
Intentions and confidence as predictors of mental health first aid: Findings from a longitudinal study
Authors: Usmani Aliya , Morgan Amy J. , Reavley Nicola J.
Published: August 2022

Background

Mental health first aid (MHFA) training can improve confidence and intention to help a person with a mental health problem, but there is limited research exploring whether this results in better support provided. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between a person's confidence and intention to help with the quality of support provided.

Methods

Australian public servants who had received MHFA training or Physical First Aid training (n = 152) completed questionnaires exploring attitudes and skills for assisting someone at work with a mental health problem. Data on confidence and intention to help was used to predict quality of support provided at 1 and 2‐year follow‐up. Data were analysed using linear and logistic regression.

Results

Intention to help predicted the quality of support for assisting someone at work at follow‐up (rs=0.15−0.20, p < .0.05), while confidence in providing help only predicted quality of support 1‐year later (rs = 0.42, p = .032). These relationships were significantly attenuated after controlling for personal stigma, desire for social distance, gender, age, language spoken at home, level of education and whether participant managed staff. Furthermore, there were some large associations between intentions to perform specific first aid actions and carrying out the same action at follow‐up such as for encouraging professional help at 2‐year follow‐up (OR=8.20, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Findings indicate that intended actions to support a person with a mental health problem can predict the quality of support provided up to 2 years later. Future research should clarify whether this support benefits the mental health of recipients.
Feminized cultural capital at work in the moral economy: Home credit and working‐class women
Authors: Marks Abigail , Terry Esme , Canduela Jesus , Dakessian Arek , Christopoulos Dimitris
Published: August 2022

One of the defining features of the home credit sector is the role played by its agents—workers who act as intermediaries between lending companies and borrowers to facilitate lending and collect repayments. There is a prevailing and pervasive narrative in the sector that women make superior agents, largely based on the belief that female agents can manage relationships with borrowers more successfully than their male counterparts. This article analyzes data from 349,078 home credit accounts (loans), as well as 71 interviews with home credit agents and lending company managers, to evaluate both the myths and realities of women's roles in home credit. The data is also used to explore the opportunities for—and potential constraints on—women's career progression in home credit work, based on an understanding of the moral economy in which they operate. By exploring the moral economy of low‐income communities, the article highlights the role of working‐class women's cultural capital within the labor market. Despite women forming the majority of the agent workforce in home credit, women's capital is undervalued in comparison with their male counterparts' capital. The analysis within this article allows a greater understanding of the highly classed and gendered nature of the moral economy of low‐income communities and the exchange value of women's capital within the labor market.