bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction fromAnnona crassiflorafruit peel inhibits proliferation and migration of human liver cancer HepG2 cells
Authors: Justino Allisson B. , Florentino Rodrigo M. , França Andressa , Filho Antonio C. M. L. , Franco Rodrigo R. , Saraiva André L. , Fonseca Matheus C. , Leite Maria F. , Espindola Foued S.
Published: April 2021

Plant species from Annonaceae are commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative potential of an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction from the fruit peel ofAnnona crassiflorain HepG2 cells. A liquid-liquid fractionation was carried out on the ethanol extract ofA. crassiflorafruit peel in order to obtain an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction (AF-Ac). Cytotoxicity, proliferation and migration were evaluated in the HepG2 cells, as well as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vinculin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. In addition, intracellular Ca2+was determined using Fluo4-AM and fluorescence microscopy. First, 9 aporphine alkaloids and 4 acetogenins that had not yet been identified in the fruit peel ofA. crassiflorawere found in AF-Ac. The treatment with 50 µg/mL AF-Ac reduced HepG2 cell viability, proliferation and migration (p< 0.001), which is in accordance with the reduced expression of PCNA and EGFR levels (p< 0.05). Furthermore, AF-Ac increased intracellular Ca2+in the HepG2 cells, mobilizing intracellular calcium stores, which might be involved in the anti-migration and anti-proliferation capacities of AF-Ac. Our results support the growth-inhibitory potential of AF-Ac on HepG2 cells and suggest that this effect is triggered, at least in part, by PCNA and EGFR modulation and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. This study showed biological activities not yet described forA. crassiflorafruit peel, which provide new possibilities for furtherin vivostudies to assess the antitumoral potential ofA. crassiflora, especially its fruit peel.
Identifying SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Compounds by Screening for Small Molecule Inhibitors of Nsp12/7/8 RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase
Authors: Bertolin Agustina P. , Weissmann Florian , Zeng Jingkun , Posse Viktor , Milligan Jennifer C. , Canal Berta , Ulferts Rachel , Wu Mary , Drury Lucy S. , Howell Michael , Beale Rupert , Diffley John F.X.
Published: April 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has turned into the largest public health and economic crisis in recent history impacting virtually all sectors of society. There is a need for effective therapeutics to battle the ongoing pandemic. Repurposing existing drugs with known pharmacological safety profiles is a fast and cost-effective approach to identify novel treatments. The COVID-19 etiologic agent is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. Coronaviruses rely on the enzymatic activity of the replication-transcription complex (RTC) to multiply inside host cells. The RTC core catalytic component is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) holoenzyme. The RdRp is one of the key druggable targets for CoVs due to its essential role in viral replication, high degree of sequence and structural conservation and the lack of homologs in human cells. Here, we have expressed, purified and biochemically characterised active SARS-CoV-2 RdRp complexes. We developed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based strand displacement assay for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity suitable for a high-throughput format. As part of a larger research project to identify inhibitors for all the enzymatic activities encoded by SARS-CoV-2, we used this assay to screen a custom chemical library of over 5000 approved and investigational compounds for novel SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitors. We identified 3 novel compounds (GSK-650394, C646 and BH3I-1) and confirmed suramin and suramin-like compounds asin vitroSARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity inhibitors. We also characterised the antiviral efficacy of these drugs in cell-based assays that we developed to monitor SARS-CoV-2 growth.
Tracing patterns of evolution and acquisition of drug resistantAspergillus fumigatusinfection from the environment using population genomics
Authors: Rhodes Johanna , Abdolrasouli Alireza , Dunne Katie , Sewell Thomas R. , Zhang Yuyi , Ballard Eloise , Brackin Amelie P. , van Rhijn Norman , Tsitsopoulou Alexandra , Posso Raquel B. , Chotirmall Sanjay H , McElvaney Noel G , Murphy Philip G , Talento Alida Fe , Renwick Julie , Dyer Paul S. , Szekely Adrien , Bromley Michael J. , Johnson Elizabeth M. , White P. Lewis , Warris Adilia , Barton Richard C. , Schelenz Silke , Rogers Thomas R. , Armstrong-James Darius , Fisher Matthew C.
Published: April 2021

Infections caused by opportunistic fungal pathogens are increasingly resistant to first-line azole antifungal drugs. However, despite its clinical importance, little is known about the extent to which susceptible patients acquire infection from drug resistant genotypes in the environment. Here, we present a population genomic analysis of the mouldAspergillus fumigatusfrom across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. First, we show occurrences where azole resistant isolates of near identical genotypes were obtained from both environmental and clinical sources, indicating with high confidence the infection of patients with resistant isolates transmitted from the environment. Second, we find that the fungus is structured into two clades (‘A’ and ‘B’) with little interclade recombination and the majority of environmental azole resistance genetically clustered inside Clade A. Genome-scans show the impact of selective sweeps across multiple regions of the genome. These signatures of positive selection are seen in regions containing canonical genes encoding fungicide resistance in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, whilst other regions under selection have no defined function. Phenotyping identified genes in these regions that could act as modifiers of resistance showing the utility of reverse genetic approaches to dissect the complex genomic architecture of fungal drug resistance. Understanding the environmental drivers and genetic basis of evolving fungal drug resistance needs urgent attention, especially in light of increasing numbers of patients with severe viral respiratory tract infections who are susceptible to opportunistic fungal superinfections.
Thunderstruck: The ACDC model of flexible sequences and rhythms in recurrent neural circuits
Authors: Calderon Cristian B. , Verguts Tom , Frank Michael J.
Published: April 2021

Adaptive sequential behavior is a hallmark of human cognition. In particular, humans can learn to produce precise spatiotemporal sequences given a certain context. For instance, musicians can not only reproduce learned action sequences in a context-dependent manner, they can also quickly and flexibly reapply them in any desired tempo or rhythm without overwriting previous learning. Existing neural network models fail to account for these properties. We argue that this limitation emerges from the fact that sequence information (i.e., the position of the action) and timing (i.e., the moment of response execution) are typically stored in the same neural network weights. Here, we augment a biologically plausible recurrent neural network of cortical dynamics to include a basal ganglia-thalamic module which uses reinforcement learning to dynamically modulate action. This “associative cluster-dependent chain” (ACDC) model modularly stores sequence and timing information in distinct loci of the network. This feature increases computational power and allows ACDC to display a wide range of temporal properties (e.g., multiple sequences, temporal shifting, rescaling, and compositionality), while still accounting for several behavioral and neurophysiological empirical observations. Finally, we apply this ACDC network to show how it can learn the famous “Thunderstruck” song intro and then flexibly play it in a “bossa nova” rhythm without further training.
Clinical impact of genomic characterization of 15 patients with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia–related malignancies
Authors: Lalonde Emilie , Rentas Stefan , Wertheim Gerald , Cao Kajia , Surrey Lea F. , Lin Fumin , Zhao Xiaonan , Obstfeld Amrom , Aplenc Richard , Luo Minjie , Li Marilyn M.
Published: April 2021

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia but is approximately 500 times more likely to develop in children with Down syndrome (DS) through transformation of transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM). This study investigates the clinical significance of genomic heterogeneity of AMKL in children with and without DS and in children with TAM. Genomic evaluation of nine patients with DS-related TAM or AMKL, and six patients with non-DS AMKL, included conventional cytogenetics and a comprehensive next-generation sequencing panel for single-nucleotide variants/indels and copy-number variants in 118 genes and fusions involving 110 genes. Recurrent gene fusions were found in all patients with non-DS, including two individuals with complex genomes and either a NUP98–KDM5A or a KMT2A–MLLT6 fusion, and the remaining harbored a CBFA2T3–GLIS2 fusion, which arose from both typical and atypical cytogenetic mechanisms. These fusions guided treatment protocols and resulted in a change in diagnosis in two patients. The nine patients with DS had constitutional trisomy 21 and somatic GATA1 mutations, and those with DS-AMKL had two to four additional clinically significant somatic mutations. Comprehensive genomic characterization provides critical information for diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment decisions for patients with AMKL. Continued genetic and clinical characterization of these rare cancers will aid in improving patient management.
Sustainable architecture and earthquake resilience of vernacular Zegalli houses in northern Iran
Authors: Zaryoun Mona , Hosseini Mahmood , Soleymani Kaveh
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is revival of vernacular architecture of Zegalli houses, which can be beneficial in several aspects of sustainable architecture, and therefore, its reuse in contemporary architecture can be strongly recommended. Zegalli houses, in northern Iran, are almost-entirely wooden vernacular houses, which beside to having several aspects of sustainable architecture, have shown good resistance against past earthquakes. Their relatively good seismic performance is mainly because of their specific timber foundation, which creates a kind of rocking/rolling isolation, as well as their light weight and diagonally braced stiff walls.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, first the architectural features of Zegalli houses, particularly energy efficiency, sustainability and eco-friendliness are described. Then, their structural system, focusing more on their foundation, is discussed. Finally, a simplified model of the house, developed in a powerful finite element analysis program, is introduced, and sample results of a series of time history analyses (THA), employing three-component accelerograms of three selected earthquakes, are presented.

Findings

Results of THA show that the rocking/rolling behavior of foundation timbers in various levels significantly reduces seismic response of the house, leading to its stability against earthquakes with peak ground acceleration up to 0.25 g.

Practical implications

Regarding the architectural and structural merits of Zegalli houses, they can be considered as sustainable vernacular architecture, and therefore, architects and civil and structural engineers are encouraged to reconsider the use of these houses, with some modifications, in future developments.

Originality/value

3D dynamics analysis of Shikilli foundations of Zegalli houses is done for the first time in this study.
Adaptive marketing capability and product innovations: the role of market ambidexterity and transformational leadership (evidence from Pakistani manufacturing industry)
Authors: Ali Shabahat , Wu Weiwei , Ali Sadaqat
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to offer and validate an integrated marketing capability-product innovations framework. Particularly, it aims to examine the role of adaptive marketing capability in enabling market ambidexterity and incremental as well as radical product innovation. Also it intends to investigate the moderating role of transformational leadership between adaptive marketing capability and market ambidexterity.

Design/methodology/approach

Manufacturing firms in Pakistan, an emerging economy, are taken as the context for this study. A designed survey questionnaire is used for data collection. Partial least square technique is employed to empirically validate and test the hypothesized model with a sample of 192 manufacturing firms. Particularly, the two-stage approach in SmartPLS is used to validate measurement models, and structural equation modeling technique is used to test the proposed hypothesis.

Findings

The findings not only confirm that adaptive marketing capability is instrumental to both incremental and radical product innovations but also reveal that adaptive marketing capability serves an important antecedent to market ambidexterity shedding new lights on its mediating role in the relationship of adaptive marketing capability with incremental and radical product innovations. Moreover, the results find that the effectiveness of adaptive marketing capability to support market ambidexterity may involve a possible trade-off between exploitation and exploration when the leaders exhibit a low or high level of transformational leadership behavior.

Originality/value

This study contributes to outside-in strategic perspective and contextual ambidexterity literature by revealing the role of adaptive marketing capability as an important enabler of market ambidexterity which, in turn, allows the firm to simultaneously introduce incremental and radical product innovations. In this way, this study advances the current understanding of the antecedents and consequences of contextual ambidexterity. Also, this study provides insight into the types of capabilities needed for the firm's contextual and employees' behavioral adaptation to simultaneously manage exploitation and exploration within the same business unit which was lacking in the previous literature. Further, this study also offers a novel understanding of the conditional role of transformational leadership between adaptive marketing capability and market ambidexterity.
Reciprocity or negotiation in the psychological contract: a power perspective
Authors: Ali Haris
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The psychological contract literature is generally based on the assumption of reciprocity between employee and employer. The emphasis on reciprocity, however, largely downplays the implications of power dynamics in the employment relationship. In order to bridge this gap, the current research investigates psychological contract from the lens of power particularly focusing on reciprocity.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 43 semi-structured interviews are carried out with 37 employees and six managers of three call center companies in Pakistan. The technique of template analysis is used for data analysis.

Findings

In contrast to the assumption of reciprocity, the research findings highlight employees' perceived inability to reciprocate the employer's inducements on parity basis, because of their view of power asymmetry in the employment relationship. The results further suggest the high tendency among employees to attribute employer reciprocity largely to their managers. The findings also point toward divergence in the reciprocity perceptions of employees and managers in relation with the employers.

Research limitations/implications

The emphasis on call centers bounds the generality of results. Future research is needed to further explore the impact of power asymmetry on reciprocity in organizations of other industries. With significant implications for the employment relations, negotiated contracts consider the exchange between employee and employer as an obligation rather than a voluntary act of kindness, as emphasized in reciprocity.

Originality/value

This research contributes to knowledge by emphasizing the significance of negotiation rather than reciprocation in the psychological contract. The negotiation approach efficiently recognizes the implications of power asymmetry that remain generally under-researched in the psychological contract literature.
Affordable housing policies in a post-COVID aftermath
Authors: Andres Fernandez Mario , Martin Shane L.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the outcomes of a suite of affordability policies in Auckland, New Zealand, in the face of a post-COVID aftermath. Improving the access to homeownership while preserving the competitive nature of the housing market will remain a critical goal for New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a spatially delineated one-to-one matching model to assess affordable housing policies such as the targeting of houses to target population groups, a shared ownership/equity scheme and the cascading (or release) of the developed affordable houses into the broader market.

Findings

Results show that a targeting programme with an income threshold set between $120,000 and $150,000 maximises house sales, but a threshold set at $96,000 maximises the number of moderate-income households becoming homeowners. Several parameterisations of the model demonstrate the potential contradictions (or overlaps) between policy goals.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is a deeper understanding of the market outcomes of affordability policies, and inputs to design strategies that balance market efficiency and fairness. Also, this paper shows that stronger integration across governments (central and local) and actors of the housing market.
How kinship resources alleviate structural disadvantage: self-employment duration among refugees and labor migrants
Authors: Kazlou Aliaksei , Wennberg Karl
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Economic integration of refugees remains a challenge for developed countries. Although refugees differ greatly from labor migrants in available resources and motivation toward self-employment, prevailing studies on minority and ethnic entrepreneurship tend to lump these different categories of migrants together. Based on theories of migrants’ economic embeddedness, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the extent to which family- and kinship-based resources affect self-employment duration among refugees and labor migrants.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Cox regression models, this longitudinal study estimates the self-employment duration of 10,519 refugees and 2,503 labor migrants starting businesses in Sweden in the period 2006–2012.

Findings

Results reveal that while refugees are at a disadvantage to labor migrants in terms of self-employment duration, their higher level of family embeddedness in part helps them overcome these disadvantages. For refugees but not for labor migrants, co-location in an ethnic enclave also lowers the risk of them becoming unemployed after a spell in entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This original paper provides empirical and theoretical contributions to research on migrants’ self-employment success. It also discusses contributions for research on entrepreneurs’ social embeddedness and refugees’ entrepreneurship.
Service innovation in the hotel industry: the dynamic capabilities view
Authors: Ziyae Babak , Sadeghi Hossein , Golmohammadi Maryam
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Consistent with the dynamic capabilities view tenets, this paper aims to conceptualize a theoretical framework of service innovation in the hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative method with a content analysis approach. The data were collected using a snowball sampling method and semi-structured interviews with 14 experts in Tehran's hotel industry.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the most significant factors are using the new technology, keeping up with it, training human labor, being up-to-date and adopting new infrastructures. Results also reveal that improper management and lack of knowledge are the most critical factors behind service innovation failure in the hotel industry. Regarding the infrastructures needed to develop service innovation in the hotel industry, the results show that adopting the newest technology in diverse aspects, human infrastructure, the capital and appropriate space and place are the key factors.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by linking the service innovation perspective to the dynamic capabilities view. It explains how hotels can enhance service innovation to gain a competitive advantage. Therefore, both academicians and hoteliers can develop action plans by selecting and managing the service innovation process.
Momentum strategies in times of economic policy uncertainty
Authors: Paule-Vianez Jessica , Lobão Júlio , Gómez-Martínez Raúl , Prado-Román Camilo
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the influence of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the momentum effect, analysing its influence depending on the economic cycle and in different quantiles.

Design/methodology/approach

To determine the influence of EPU in the momentum effect taking into account the economic cycle and the level of the quantile, linear regression and quantile regression have been applied for the period from 2 January 1985 to 30 April 2019 for the US stock market.

Findings

It is shown that an increased feeling of insecurity associated with EPU reduces the momentum effect, especially in times of recession. Distinguishing by quantiles, an asymmetry in the impact of EPU in the momentum effect is discovered, finding that EPU reduces (increases) the profits of momentum strategies in the lowest (highest) quantiles. In the highest quantiles, an investor can obtain higher extraordinary returns with this strategy. For example, in the highest quantile, a one-point increase in the EPU levels would have increased the daily profitability by 12.7 basis points. These findings have important implications for investors and policymakers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that evaluates the influence of EPU on the momentum effect by conducting an analysis based on the economic cycle and different quantiles, demonstrating how these factors are relevant in the influence of this uncertainty in the momentum anomaly.
Construct validity and measurement invariance of the Asian Family Characteristics Scale in the Thai population
Authors: Huansuriya Thipnapa , Kruahiran Piyakrita , Sriutaisuk Suppanut , Musa Ramli
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to establish the psychometric properties of the Asian Family Characteristics Scale (AFCS) in the Thai population.

Design/methodology/approach

The 30-item AFCS originally developed in the Malay language was translated into Thai. Thai (n = 384) and Malay (n = 500) participants in Study 1 responded to the AFCS in their respective languages. The data were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis with a measurement invariance test. In Study 2, Thai participants (n = 495) filled out the AFCS and Chulalongkorn Family Index, International Personality Item Pool-NEO, Self-Compassion Scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Findings

Study 1 showed that the measurement model of the Thai AFCS fit the data from the Thai population. The measurement invariance test confirmed that the structure and meaning of the AFCS are equivalent across the Thai and Malay samples. Study 2 demonstrated the AFCS's convergent validity by showing that the AFCS score had a positive correlation with the Chulalongkorn Family Inventory, self-compassion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, satisfaction with life and a negative correlation with neuroticism, depression, anxiety and stress. The AFCS's discriminant validity was supported by nonsignificant correlations with extraversion and openness to experience.

Originality/value

This paper is an attempt to develop a family characteristic measure specifically for the Asian population. The results provide empirical evidence for measurement invariance and validity of the scale in another Asian language, enhancing its cross-cultural generalizability.
Managing expatriates in the United Arab Emirates: the role of host- and home-country mentors on expatriate career outcomes
Authors: Tahir Rizwan
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to empirically explore how mentoring can help Western expatriates before, during and after the overseas assignment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study is built on 20 in-depth interviews with Western expatriates currently working and living in the UAE.

Findings

This study demonstrates that expatriate mentoring is an important area largely unexplored in the literature. The results establish that host-country mentors are fundamentally responsible for helping expatriates to develop common problem-focused coping tactics, whereas home-country mentors predominantly address emotionally focused coping tactics during the pre-departure and repatriation phase of the expatriation process.

Research limitations/implications

Over 30 years’ worth of research literature was searched within the following major databases: ABI/INFORM, ERIC and PsycINFO. These databases contained articles, mainly in English, of limited scope, i.e. more academic than practical. This may have led to the omission of some expatriate mentoring approaches applied in practice by human resources managers, especially in countries where English is not the first language.

Practical implications

Mentors in both the host and home countries are crucial in assisting and supporting expatriates in developing constructive coping strategies that enhance the likelihood of a successful expatriation experience.

Originality/value

There is insufficient research in expatriate mentoring, which this study aims to address by focusing on Western expatriates in the UAE, a vibrant Arab, Muslim country whose local business environment is very different from that of China, Europe and the USA, which have been the main focus of prior research.
The impact of individual motivation on employee voluntary pro-environmental behaviours: the motivation towards the environment of Polish employees
Authors: Budzanowska-Drzewiecka Małgorzata , Tutko Marta
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Environmental management researchers stress the need to study the determinants of employee pro-environmental behaviour in different cultural settings. This study focusses on employee voluntary pro-environmental behaviours in Poland. It aims (1) to examine the scope of employee green behaviours in the private and public sphere and (2) to explore the relationship between individual motivation and pro-environmental behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data from 325 Polish employees. A structural equation modelling was applied to estimate the effects of individual motivation on pro-environmental behaviours in both private and public sphere. The psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale based on self-determination theory were checked beforehand.

Findings

Polish employees mainly engage in private-sphere pro-environmental behaviours. The engagement of employees in green behaviours is driven by autonomous motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a more important driver in the case of private-sphere pro-environmental behaviours; integrated regulation in the public sphere. The relationship between controlled motivation and employee pro-environmental behaviours in both spheres is unclear.

Research limitations/implications

As the data were gathered amongst Polish employees, the proposed model may be applied in culture-specific conditions in Poland.

Originality/value

This paper explores the extent to which individual motivation may foster pro-environmental behaviour of employees. Moreover, it offers the validation of the Polish version of the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale.
“Mosaicking”: cross construction, sense-making and methods of police investigation
Authors: Innes Martin , Brookman Fiona , Jones Helen
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This article explores how homicide detectives make sense of and manipulate multiple physical, digital and informational artefacts when assembling case narratives. The authors introduce the concept of mosaicking to illuminate how different modes of information, deriving from different investigative methods, are used in concert at key moments of the investigative process – defining what type of crime has occurred; the incrimination and elimination of suspects; and decisions to charge key suspects.

Design/methodology/approach

The data qualitatively analysed include several hundred case papers, interview transcripts (n = 144) and detailed ethnographic fieldnotes relating to 44 homicide investigations across four police services. These were collected during a four-year ethnographic study of the use of forensic sciences and technologies (FSTs) in British homicide investigations.

Findings

Mosaicking describes how investigators blend and combine information, intelligence and evidence generated via different techniques and methods, to make sense of “who did what to whom and why?” Through processes of convergent and divergent mosaicking, detectives are able to “lean” on different kinds of material to reinforce or connect key points of evidence or intelligence.

Originality/value

The findings fill a gap in knowledge about how investigators blend and composite diverse sources of information in the construction of case narratives. The findings present a more complex and nuanced understanding of the epistemological and interpretative work conducted by contemporary detectives, given the array of investigative technologies they increasingly have at their disposal.
Curvilinear effects of work engagement on job outcomes
Authors: Kibatta Juliana N. , Samuel Olorunjuwon Michael
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the non-linear effects of work engagement (WE) on the job outcomes’ creative performance (CRP), extra-role customer service (ERCS) and turnover intention (TI).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 405 millennial frontline employees (FLEs) working in the hospitality industry in Kenya. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The results yielded support for one relationship. WE was found to have a significant non-linear relationship with TI. This finding provides evidence of a ceiling to the positive impact of WE on reduced TI. WE and CRP and ERCS were however found to be non-significant and linear, and significant and linear, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

A large number of studies have evidenced positive individual and organizational outcomes associated with WE. This study however, is important, as the “dark side” of WE is empirically examined, therefore providing a different perspective of the concept.

Practical implications

The study findings affirm that management must exercise caution with excess levels of WE among millennial FLEs as this may lead to unfavourable outcomes.

Originality/value

In this research, the assumption of linearity is challenged. Empirical evidence for the need to systematically explore non-linear associations for a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between variables is provided. Moreover, this study is among the few in which the presence of curvilinear relations between WE and job outcomes is examined in a non-Western context.
Learning to learn from bushfire: Perspectives from Victorian emergency management practitioners
Authors: Dwyer Graham
Published: April 2021

The Black Summer Fires of 2019/2020 remind us not only that Australia is arguably the most bushfire prone area in the world but also that we have much to learn in terms of how we learn from such events. Bushfires interact with emergency management systems in a manner that is complex and unpredictable which all too often results in damages and losses, so significant that governments establish public inquiries to forensically examine what happened and why afterwards. Too often, such processes have resulted in emergency management practitioners (EMP) being blamed, not to mention scapegoated and even vilified for damages and losses from major bushfire events. With recent bushfire events (as well as other crises surrounding Covid‐19) highlighting the excruciating demands placed on EMP and an escalating scepticism about whether public inquiries improve preparation for future bushfires, this paper explores the question: what can we learn about public inquiries based on the experiences of EMP?
New Jerusalems? The Labour Party's Economic Policy‐Making in Hard Times
Authors: Diamond Patrick
Published: April 2021

This paper is an historical analysis of ideational change in the British Labour Party. It briefly examines two critical phases of economic policy formation: the aftermath of the Great Depression and the MacDonald administration's implosion in 1931 until the outbreak of the Second World War; alongside Labour's experience following the 2008 financial crisis and electoral defeat in 2010 through to Jeremy Corbyn's emergence as leader. Throughout both periods, the aftershocks of financial crises stimulated a ferment of new thinking about the management of the British economy. Think tanks, universities and professionally trained economists aided the left in devising a new economic narrative and programme. For all the criticism of Corbyn's performance as leader, it was only after his victory in 2015 that a serious debate about ideas emerged within the party, more than seven years since the great financial crisis.
Automated retrieval of information on threatened species from online sources using machine learning
Authors: Kulkarni Ritwik , Di Minin Enrico
Published: April 2021

As resources for conservation are limited, gathering and analysing information from digital platforms can help investigate the global biodiversity crisis in a cost‐efficient manner. Development and application of methods for automated content analysis of digital data sources are especially important in the context of investigating human–nature interactions.

In this study, we introduce novel application methods to automatically collect and analyse textual data on species of conservation concern from digital platforms. An end‐to‐end pipeline is constructed that begins from searching and downloading news articles about species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) along with news articles from specific Twitter handles and proceeds with implementing natural language processing and machine learning methods to filter and retain only relevant articles. A crucial aspect here is the automatic annotation of training data, which can be challenging in many machine learning applications. A Named Entity Recognition model is then used to extract additional relevant information for each article.

The data collected over a 1‐month period included 15,088 articles focusing on 585 species listed in Appendix I of CITES. The accuracy of the neural network to detect relevant articles was 95.91% while the Named Entity recognition model helped extract information on prices, location and quantities of traded animals and plants. A regularly updated database, which can be queried and analysed for various research purposes and to inform conservation decision making, is generated by the system.

The results demonstrate that natural language processing can be used successfully to extract information from digital text content. The proposed methods can be applied to multiple digital data platforms at the same time and used to investigate human–nature interactions in conservation science and practice.
Prenatal methamphetamine—impact on the mother and child—a review
Authors: Perez Fatima Anne , Blythe Stacy , Wouldes Trecia , McNamara Kelly , Black Kirsten I. , Oei Ju Lee
Published: April 2021

Methamphetamine (MA) is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the world, after cannabis. There are limited data on the outcomes of pregnant MA users but there is rapidly emerging evidence to suggest that they are more vulnerable, marginalized and impoverished compared with other drug‐using mothers. MA use during pregnancy is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes and significantly higher rates of co‐existing health and psychosocial problems. Newborn infants exposed to MA are at increased risk of perinatal complications, present differently at birth to infants exposed to other drugs of dependency such as opioids and have poorer neurological adaptation and feeding difficulties. Sparse literature from neuroimaging and cohort studies suggests that the neurocognitive deficits in MA exposed children persist, even into adulthood. Current clinical practice guidelines for the care of substance exposed pregnant women are opioid‐centric with little attention paid to the consequences of prenatal MA exposure.
Clinical comparison of sensitivity and specificity between sensibility and vitality tests in determining the pulp vitality of mandibular premolars
Authors: Farughi Aidin , Rouhani Armita , Shahmohammadi Reza , Jafarzadeh Hamid
Published: April 2021

This clinical study was designed to compare cold pulp testing (CPT), heat pulp testing (HPT) and electric pulp test (EPT) with pulse oximetry (PO), flowmetry (FM) and thermometry (TM) in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Twenty premolar teeth in need of root canal treatment were included in the study. Pulp sensibility tests (CPT, HPT and EPT) along with vitality tests (PO, FM and TM) were performed. As the gold standard, the teeth were endodontically treated and pulp vitality was determined by direct visual observation. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values for each test were as follows: HPT 1, 1, 100%; CPT 1, 0.818, 90%; EPT 1, 0.909, 95%; PO 1, 0.545, 75%; TM 0.111, 0.272, 20%; and FM 0.444, 0.272, 35%, respectively. The most accurate test among all was HPT. PO was the most accurate vitality test.
Genomic inbreeding and selection signatures in the local dairy breed Icelandic Cattle
Authors: Gautason E. , Schönherz A. A. , Sahana G. , Guldbrandtsen B.
Published: April 2021

Icelandic Cattle is the only dairy cattle breed native to Iceland. It currently numbers ca. 26 000 breeding females. We used 50k genotypes of over 8000 Icelandic Cattle to estimate genomic and pedigree‐based inbreeding and to detect selection signatures using the integrated haplotype score. We used 47 Icelandic bulls genotyped with a 770k SNP chip to estimate LD decay for comparison with other Nordic dairy cattle breeds. We detected ROHs on the autosomes and computed ROH‐based autosomal inbreeding coefficients. Average inbreeding coefficients according to pedigree and ROHs were 0.0621 and 0.101. Effective population sizes for the years 2009–2017 according to pedigree, ROHs, genomic relationship matrix, excess of homozygosity and individual increase in inbreeding were 81, 65, 60, 58 and 92 respectively. We identified three regions and six candidate genes that showed a signature of selection according to the integrated haplotype score (P < 0.05) on chromosomes 1, 16 and 23. The LD structure of Icelandic Cattle is shaped by a long period of isolation and a small founder population. The estimate of LD at distances closer than 0.3 Mb is lower in Icelandic Cattle than in Danish Jersey, but is higher than in Danish Holstein and Red Nordic Dairy Cattle breeds. Our findings show that inbreeding rates in Icelandic Cattle currently are sustainable according to FAO guidelines, and our results do not indicate severe historical inbreeding.
Importance of research higher degree training availability in rural and remote regions
Authors: Campbell Narelle , Kumar Koshila
Published: April 2021

Aims

This commentary contends that research by higher degree research training is a sustainable strategy for capacity building the rural and remote health research workforce, provided they have equitable opportunity for access, participation and attainment.

Context

The path for health professionals into academic roles, particularly in rural and remote areas, can be fraught. A strong research skill set might not form a significant component of a clinician's prior experience. Concurrently, university academic positions usually include the PhD as an essential qualification which is misaligned with the experience and skills of rural and remote applicants who are otherwise well‐qualified.

Approach

Higher degree researches are one mechanism for extending the research expertise and capabilities. However, non‐traditional and remotely located cohorts such as the rural and remote health research workforce can face barriers to accessing, participating in and successfully completing formal research training. Barriers include the prevalence of the apprenticeship model of research training grounded in assumptions of colocation and face‐to‐face learning and supervision and a focus on the binary relationship between supervisors and students. In this commentary, the authors call for greater flexibility and equity in the higher degree research training system to cater for health professionals located in rural and remote practice contexts.

Conclusion

Institutional investment in, and commitment to, a truly distributed higher degree research model would ensure a stronger rural and remote workforce who can aspire to a range of career options and thereby positively impacting on the health and research outcomes for rural and remote Australia.
Electrical impedance spectroscopy for the characterization of skin barrier in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Rinaldi Arturo O. , Korsfeldt Angelica , Ward Siobhan , Burla Daniel , Dreher Anita , Gautschi Marja , Stolpe Britta , Tan Ge , Bersuch Eugen , Melin David , Askary Lord Nima , Grant Simon , Svedenhag Per , Tsekova Kristina , Schmid‐Grendelmeier Peter , Möhrenschlager Matthias , Renner Ellen D. , Akdis Cezmi A.
Published: April 2021

Background

Allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD) are strongly associated with an impairment of the epithelial barrier, in which tight junctions and/or filaggrin expression can be defective. Skin barrier assessment shows potential to be clinically useful for prediction of disease development, improved and earlier diagnosis, lesion follow‐up, and therapy evaluation. This study aimed to establish a method to directly assess the in vivo status of epithelial barrier using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Methods

Thirty‐six patients with AD were followed during their 3‐week hospitalization and compared with 28 controls. EIS and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured in lesional and non‐lesional skin. Targeted proteomics by proximity extension assay in serum and whole‐genome sequence were performed.

Results

Electrical impedance spectroscopy was able to assess epithelial barrier integrity, differentiate between patients and controls without AD, and characterize lesional and non‐lesional skin of patients. It showed a significant negative correlation with TEWL, but a higher sensitivity to discriminate non‐lesional atopic skin from controls. During hospitalization, lesions reported a significant increase in EIS that correlated with healing, decreased SCORAD and itch scores. Additionally, EIS showed a significant inverse correlation with serum biomarkers associated with inflammatory pathways that may affect the epithelial barrier, particularly chemokines such as CCL13, CCL3, CCL7, and CXCL8 and other cytokines, such as IRAK1, IRAK4, and FG2, which were significantly high at admission. Furthermore, filaggrin copy numbers significantly correlated with EIS on non‐lesional skin of patients.

Conclusions

Electrical impedance spectroscopy can be a useful tool to detect skin barrier dysfunction in vivo, valuable for the assessment of AD severity, progression, and therapy efficacy.
Early Educators’ Collective Workplace Stress as a Predictor of Professional Development’s Impacts on Children’s Development
Authors: Hanno Emily C. , McCoy Dana C. , Sabol Terri J. , Gonzalez Kathryn E.
Published: April 2021

Although professional development is widely used to improve the impacts of early childhood education, little is known about the conditions under which such interventions promote child outcomes. This study applies newly developed methods for quantifying intervention impact heterogeneity to understand whether educators’ collective workplace stress moderates professional development’s impacts on children’s language and literacy skills, executive functioning, and learning behaviors. Within a sample of 406 children from the National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education Professional Development Study (Mage = 4.17; 50% female; 50% Black, 32% Latinx, 11% White), professional development positively impacted child outcomes in centers where educators collectively reported high workplace stress but negatively impacted child outcomes in centers where educators collectively reported low workplace stress.
Tailored total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: One size may not fit for all!
Authors: Ozer Leyla , Yildiz Ibrahim , Bayoglu Vedat , Bozkurt Mustafa , Esen Eren , Remzi Feza H. , Gogenur Ismail , Aytac Erman
Published: April 2021

While current neoadjuvant protocols have proven benefits on local control for majority of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, there are certain clinical conditions that require future advances for improving the outcomes. Total neoadjuvant therapy incorporates systemic chemotherapy planned within standard neoadjuvant protocols either before or after radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer as a whole. Enhanced compliance with planned oncological therapy, tumour downstaging, administration of chemotherapy at the earliest time in the disease course to help assessing chemosensitivity are the proposed benefits of total neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patient selection criteria for administration of total neoadjuvant therapy in the recent guidelines are unclear. Since current literature is inconclusive for the optimal sequence and type of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, premature incorporation of total neoadjuvant therapy for all locally advanced rectal cancers may result in overtreatment and subsequently toxicity. This article aims to discuss the current literature and to propose a future perspective by considering real‐life scenarios reflecting patients’ needs for treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.