bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EUS–guided versus percutaneous liver biopsy: A prospective randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ali Ahmad H. , Nallapeta Naren S. , Yousaf Muhammad N. , Petroski Gregory F. , Sharma Neal , Rao Deepthi S. , Yin Feng , Davis Ryan M. , Bhat Ambarish , Swi Ahmed I. A. , Al-Juboori Alhareth , Ibdah Jamal A. , Hammoud Ghassan M.
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives

Prospective studies comparing EUS–guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) to percutaneous LB (PC-LB) are scarce. We compared the efficacy and safety of EUS-LB with those of PC-LB in a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Methods

Between 2020 and 2021, patients were enrolled and randomized (1:1 ratio). The primary outcome was defined as the proportion of patients with ≥11 complete portal tracts (CPTs). The sample size (n = 80) was calculated based on the assumption that 60% of those in the EUS-LB and 90% of those in the PC-LB group will have LB with ≥11 CPTs. The secondary outcomes included proportion of patients in whom a diagnosis was established, number of CPTs, pain severity (Numeric Rating Scale—Pain Intensity), duration of hospital stay, and adverse events.

Results

Eighty patients were enrolled (median age, 53 years); 67.5% were female. Sixty percent of those in the EUS-LB and 75.0% of those in the PC-LB group met the primary outcome (P= 0.232). The median number of CPTs was higher in the PC-LB (17 vs 13;P= 0.031). The proportion of patients in whom a diagnosis was established was similar between the groups (92.5% [EUS-LB] vs 95.0% [PC-LB];P= 1.0). Patients in the EUS-LB group had less pain severity (median Numeric Rating Scale—Pain Intensity, 2.0 vs 3.0;P= 0.003) and shorter hospital stay (2.0 vs 4.0 hours;P< 0.0001) compared with the PC-LB group. No patient experienced a serious adverse event.

Conclusions

EUS–guided liver biopsy was safe, effective, better tolerated, and associated with a shorter hospital stay.
Infectious Keratitis After Keratoplasty in the United States: Analysis of a National Medicare Claims Data Set
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Dun Chen , Cho Kyongjin , Soiberman Uri , Woreta Fasika , Makary Martin A. , Jhanji Vishal , Srikumaran Divya
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, trends, and risk factors of infectious keratitis (IK) and subsequent repeat keratoplasty after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and endothelial keratoplasty (EK).

Methods:

Using a retrospective cohort study design, IK cases within 6 months of keratoplasty were identified using billing codes among 100% Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older who underwent either PK or EK between 2011 and 2020. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with postkeratoplasty IK.

Results:

We identified 115,588 keratoplasties, of which 20.0% (n = 23,144) were PK and 80.0% (n = 92,444) were EK. IK developed within 6 months with a rate of 3.32% (n = 769) post-PK and 0.72% (n = 666) post-EK. Overall rates of IK decreased from 16.05 to 9.61 per 1000 keratoplasties between 2011 and 2020 (P < 0.001). The median interval between keratoplasty and diagnosis of IK was 73 days (interquartile range: 29–114 days) for PK and 74 days (interquartile range: 38–116 days) for EK. After IK, 22.9% (n = 176) and 23.8% (n = 159) eyes underwent repeat keratoplasty within 1 year for PK and EK, respectively. The occurrence of IK after PK was associated with age 85 years and older [odds ratio (OR): 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13–1.68] relative to patients aged 65 to 74 years. The occurrence of IK after EK was also associated with age 85 years and older (OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.14–1.82) relative to patients aged 65 to 74 years.

Conclusions:

IK was 4 times more common after PK than EK and the complication was associated with older age. Our findings may help corneal surgeons in counseling patients at higher risk and guiding their postoperative care.
Pilot study of HER2 targeted 64Cu-DOTA-tagged PET imaging in gastric cancer patients
Authors: Hernandez Matthew C. , Yazaki Paul , Mortimer Joanne E. , Yamauchi Dave , Poku Erasmus , Park Jinha , Frankel Paul , Kim Joseph , Colcher David M. , Wong Jeffrey , Fong Yuman , Shively John , Woo Yanghee
Published: October 2023

Objective

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important biomarker for targeted gastric cancer (GC) immunotherapy. However, heterogeneous HER2 overexpression in GC, loss of HER2 expression during therapy, and inability to non-invasively identify HER2 overexpressing tumors impede effective targeting therapies. Improved HER2-specific functional imaging can address these challenges. Trastuzumab is a HER2-directed mAb to treat HER2 overexpressing cancers. The 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab radiotracer is used to detect HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. We aimed to develop 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab PET-CT to detect and characterize tumor uptake in HER2+ or - GC patients.

Methods

We conducted a single-arm phase II pilot study exploring the feasibility of 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab for PET imaging of HER2 overexpressing GC compared to HER2 non-expressing tumors. Eight patients with biopsy-confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma were included. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate primary tumor biopsies for HER2 overexpression. Patients were injected with 45 mg of cold trastuzumab followed by 5 mg of 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab. PET-CT scans were performed 24–48 h post radiotracer injection and compared to standard staging CT scans.

Results

We observed limited toxicity following 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab injections. While there was uptake of the radiotracer in portions of HER2+ lesions, there was no statistically significant distinction between tumor and background by standardized uptake value analysis.

Conclusion

Despite the potential of 64Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab PET imaging of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, a 5 mg dose of this radiotracer injected 24–48 h before imaging was insufficient to identify HER2+ GC. These results inform future GC imaging studies to optimize biomarker-targeted therapies based on dosage and timing for more clinically relevant imaging.
Evidence-based guideline on chronic postsurgical pain management in adult patients in resource-restricted setting, 2023: systematic review and guideline
Authors: Milkias Mesay , Mekonnen Semagn , Ahmed Siraj , Getachew Hailemariam , Adamu Yayeh , Mola Simeneh , Gugsa Tesfaye
Published: October 2023

Background:

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after tissue trauma is frequent and may have a long-lasting impact on the functioning and quality of life. The development of CPSP increases the burden on both the patient and the community. This review aims to systematically review articles and, lastly, pull an evidence-based guideline for CPSP management in adult patients in resource-limited areas.

Methodology:

The review was reported based on preferred reporting items for the systemic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol. A literature search was conducted from the Cochrane, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar databases, and other gray literature from 2010 to 2022. The conclusion was made based on the level of evidence.

Results:

A total of 3521 articles were identified through the database by searching strategies. Finally, by filtering duplicates unrelated to the topics, 22 articles (9 meta-analyses and systematic reviews, 12 systematic reviews, and one cohort study) were selected on the management of CPSP in adult patients. Filtering was made based on the intervention, outcome data of the population, and methodological quality.

Conclusion:

Given the complexity and multidimensional nature of chronic postsurgical pain, effective assessment, and management require a comprehensive, multiaxial approach. Adequate preoperative preparation and counseling, potential risk identification and optimization, and use of a multimodal approach, and noninvasive surgical techniques are crucial in reducing the development of chronic postsurgical pain.
Renal Cell Carcinoma Associated With TSC/MTOR Genomic Alterations: An Update on its Expanding Spectrum and an Approach to Clinicopathologic Work-up
Authors: Shah Rajal B. , Mehra Rohit
Published: October 2023

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)/mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR) pathway-related genomic alterations have been classically described in hereditary TSC syndrome setting involving germline mutations, whereby cells with a bi-allelic inactivation of genes originate tumors in a classic tumor-suppressor “two-hit” Knudson paradigm. Initial studies of TSC-associated RCC categorized tumors into 3 broad heterogeneous morphologic groups: RCC with smooth muscle stroma, chromophobe-like, and eosinophilic-macrocytic. Recently, a similar morphologic spectrum has been increasingly recognized in novel and emerging entities characterized by somatic mutations in the TSC1/2 and MTOR in patients who do not suffer from the TSC. Correct recognition of RCC with TSC/MTOR mutations is critical for accurate prognostication because such tumors with aggressive behavior have the potential to be tailored to mTOR inhibitors. Whether TSC/MTOR mutated renal epithelial neoplasms represent a distinct molecular class has been confounded by the fact that TSC1/2, and the gene encoding the downstream protein MTOR, are mutated secondarily in ∼5% of the more common subtypes of RCC, including the commonest subtype of clear cell RCC. This review summarizes the expanding morphologic spectrum of renal tumors with TSC/mTOR pathway alterations, specifically for sporadically occurring tumors where these genomic alterations likely are primary pathologic events. Finally, a practical surgical pathology approach to handling these tumors, and a conceptual framework of renal epithelial tumors with TSC/MTOR mutations as a “family of tumors”, is presented.
Kairos infersin situhorizontal gene transfer in longitudinally sampled microbiomes through microdiversity-aware sequence analysis
Authors: Brown Connor L. , Cheung Yat Fei , Song Haoqiu , Snead Delaney , Vikesland Peter , Pruden Amy , Zhang Liqing
Published: October 2023

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) occurring within microbiomes is linked to complex environmental and ecological dynamics that are challenging to replicate in controlled settings. Consequently, most extant studies of microbiome HGT are either simplistic experimental settings with tenuous relevance to real microbiomes or correlative studies that assume that HGT potential is a function of the relative abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), the vehicles of HGT. Here we introduce Kairos as a bioinformatic tool deployed in nextflow for detecting HGT events “in situ,” i.e., within a microbiome, through analysis of time-series metagenomic sequencing data. Thein-situframework proposed here leverages available metagenomic data from a longitudinally sampled microbiome to assess whether the chronological occurrence of potential donors, recipients, and putatively transferred regions could plausibly have arisen due to HGT over a range of defined time periods. The centerpiece of the Kairos workflow is a novel competitive read alignment method that enables discernment of even very similar genomic sequences, such as those produced by MGE-associated recombination. A key advantage of Kairos is its reliance on assemblies rather than metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs), which avoids systematic exclusion of accessory genes associated with the binning process. In an example test-case of real world data, use of assemblies directly produced a 264-fold increase in the number of antibiotic resistance genes included in the analysis of HGT compared to analysis of MAGs with MetaCHIP. Further,in silicoevaluation of contig taxonomy was performed to assess the accuracy of classification for both chromosomally- and MGE-derived sequences, indicating a high degree of accuracy even for conjugative plasmids up to the level of class or order. Thus, Kairos enables the analysis of very recent HGT events, making it suitable for studying rapid prokaryotic adaptation in environmental systems without disturbing the ornate ecological dynamics associated with microbiomes. Current versions of the Kairos workflow are available here:https://github.com/clb21565/kairos.
Modular vector assembly enables rapid assessment of emerging CRISPR technologies
Authors: McGee Abby V. , Liu Yanjing V. , Griffith Audrey L. , Szegletes Zsofia M. , Wen Bronte , Kraus Carolyn , Miller Nathan W. , Steger Ryan J. , Velasco Berta Escude , Bosch Justin A. , Zirin Jonathan D. , Viswanatha Raghuvir , Sontheimer Erik J. , Goodale Amy , Greene Matthew A. , Green Thomas M. , Doench John G.
Published: October 2023

The diversity of CRISPR systems, coupled with scientific ingenuity, has led to an explosion of applications; however, to test newly-described innovations in their model systems, researchers typically embark on cumbersome, one-off cloning projects to generate custom reagents that are optimized for their biological questions. Here, we leverage Golden Gate cloning to create the Fragmid toolkit, a modular set of CRISPR cassettes and delivery technologies, along with a web portal, resulting in a combinatorial platform that enables scalable vector assembly within days. We further demonstrate that multiple CRISPR technologies can be assessed in parallel in a pooled screening format using this resource, enabling the rapid optimization of both novel technologies and cellular models. These results establish Fragmid as a robust system for the rapid design of CRISPR vectors, and we anticipate that this assembly approach will be broadly useful for systematic development, comparison, and dissemination of CRISPR technologies.
Exploring the Accuracy of Differentiation-Based Regressive Models in Disease Forecasting
Authors: Karimirad Rojina
Published: October 2023

Predictive models have been able to foresee outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and map Ebola outbreaks1. This has allowed health organizations to plan the amount of resources and the number of healthcare workers needed more effectively, on top of finding out other useful data such as the locations most vulnerable to the disease and the demographics most affected. It can therefore be assumed that predictive analytics can reduce the amount of economic and non-economic burden caused by other epidemics as well, with COVID-19 being an obvious example.
Altered PBP4 and GdpP functions synergistically mediate MRSA-like high-level, broad-spectrum β-lactam resistance inStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Lai Li-Yin , Satishkumar Nidhi , Cardozo Sasha , Hemmadi Vijay , Marques Leonor B. , Huang Liusheng , Filipe Sergio R. , Pinho Mariana G. , Chambers Henry F. , Chatterjee Som S.
Published: October 2023

Infections caused byStaphylococcus aureusare a leading cause of mortality worldwide.S. aureusinfections caused by Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) are particularly difficult to treat due to their resistance to Next Generation β-lactams (NGB) such as Methicillin, Nafcillin, Oxacillin etc. Resistance to NGBs, which is alternatively known as broad-spectrum β- lactam resistance is classically mediated by PBP2a, a Penicillin-Binding Protein encoded bymecA(ormecC) in MRSA. Thus, presence ofmecgenes amongS. aureusserves as the predictor of resistance to NGBs and facilitates determination of the proper therapeutic strategy for a staphylococcal infection. Although far less appreciated,mecAdeficientS. aureusstrains can also exhibit NGB resistance. These strains, which are collectively termed as Methicillin-Resistant Lackingmec(MRLM) are currently being identified in increasing numbers among natural resistant isolates ofS. aureus. The mechanism/s through which MRLMs produce resistance to NGBs remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that mutations that alter PBP4 and GdpP functions, which are often present among MRLMs can synergistically mediate resistance to NGBs. Furthermore, our results unravel that this novel mechanism potentially enables MRLMs to produce resistance towards NGBs at levels comparable to that of MRSAs. Our study, provides a fresh new perspective about alternative mechanisms of NGBs resistance, challenging our current overall understanding of high-level, broad-spectrum β-lactam resistance inS. aureus. It thus suggests reconsideration of the current approach towards diagnosis and treatment of β-lactam resistantS. aureusinfections.
Apple and banana fruits produce anteiso- and iso-branched-chain esters from newly synthesized precursors
Authors: Engelgau Philip , Wendakoon Sumithra K. , DuBois Aubrey , Mayhew Emily J. , Beaudry Randolph
Published: October 2023

Inhibitors of acetohydroxyacid synthase, the common enzyme of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, were applied to ripening apple (Malus×domesticaBorkh.), banana (Musaspp.), and flowering quince (Chaenomeles×superba) fruits to discern the contribution of newly synthesized precursors to branched-chain ester formation. After treatment, anteiso- and iso-branched-chain volatiles (i.e., those related to isoleucine, and valine and leucine, respectively) were observed to universally decrease in content. Fruits recovered production following exogenous feeding of branched-chain ⍺-ketoacids. Furthermore, apple and banana fruits were capable of metabolizing all three branched-chain ⍺-ketoacids to esters. Among free amino acids, only the branched-chain amino acids with correspondingly reduced branched-chain esters had a lesser concentration following treatment with inhibitor. Our results ultimately reject the hypothesis that anteiso- and iso-branched-chain esters are derived from preexisting amino acids and instead support the hypothesis that these esters are the product ofde novoprecursor biosynthesis. The novel use of these inhibitors also allowed for further investigation of branched-chain volatile biosynthesis, the citramalate synthase pathway, and the importance of precursor availability in fruits. Notably, in ‘Valery’ banana fruit, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate were found to be dependent on acetohydroxyacid synthase activity for production whereas 1-methylbutyl acetate and 1-methylbutyl butanoate (sec-branched-chain esters) were not. Inhibitor usage on apples also allowed for a sensory study that found that humans can discern the absence of 2-methylbutyl and 2-methylbutanoate esters in apple fruit. Additionally, a population genetics analysis found that there is selection pressure against apples that lack these esters.
A multitask neural network trained on embeddings from ESMFold can accurately rank order clinical outcomes for different cystic fibrosis mutations
Authors: Drysdale Erik
Published: October 2023

Advancements in AI-based protein structure prediction have opened new research avenues in computational biology. Previous work has shown mixed results when the predicted 3D structure or model embeddings have been used as features for predicting phenotypes. Many existing tools which predict the pathogenicity of variants (e.g. SIFT 4G, Polyphen-2, REVEL, LYRUS) have incorporated structural protein features, but have shown mixed success when applied to mutations on the CFTR gene. This paper explores whether embeddings from the ESM-Fold model, which predicts the 3D structure of a protein from an amino acid sequence, can be used to predict clinical outcomes for different Cystic Fibrosis (CF) genotypes found in the CFTR2 database. A neural network model trained on these embeddings is able to obtain both non-trivial and statistically significant correlations on CF-related phenotypes (sweat chloride, pancreatic insufficiency, and infection rates). Overall, AI-based protein structure prediction models show a promising ability to assess the relative severity of CFTR-based mutations on key phenotypic outcomes associated with CF. The entire processing and analysis pipeline for this work can be found at thisrepo.
Insights into assembly of constitutive filament-forming proteins of novel fold through domain dissection and EGFP insertion-based screen: A case study ofSpiroplasmaFibril
Authors: Bapat Mrinmayee , Harne Shrikant , Kashyap Rajnandani , Gayathri Pananghat
Published: October 2023

Spiroplasmais a cell-wall less, helical bacterium possessing a cytoskeletal ribbon consisting Fibril and 5 MreB paralogs. In absence of any information regarding the filament interface of Fibril, a cytoskeleton protein of novel fold, multiple short constructs of Fibril were designed to identify minimal domains required for polymerization. Purification trials of these short constructs resulted in insoluble protein products. In a parallel approach, we incorporated EGFP at the loop regions aimed to hinder polymerization and obtain non-polymerising constructs. We were able to identify probable interfilament/intrafilament interface residues based on the fluorescence screen. We show that EGFP insertions at many of the positions are tolerated as Fibril filaments were readily observed for these constructs in transmission electron microscopy. Both the approaches suggest that Fibril requires N and C-terminal domains for its polymerization. Earlier studies have shown that FibrilWTinteracts with MreB5. Our Fibril-EGFP constructs and MreB5 showed interaction similar to the wild-type. Co-sedimentation assay and visualization of Fibril-EGFP proteins proves that the fluorescent constructs are folded and functional and possess structural and biochemical properties similar to the wild type protein.
PhysiMeSS - A New PhysiCell Addon for Extracellular Matrix Modelling
Authors: Noël Vincent , Ruscone Marco , Shuttleworth Robyn , Macnamara Cicely K.
Published: October 2023

The extracellular matrix is a complex assembly of macro-molecules, such as collagen fibres, which provides structural support for surrounding cells. In the context of cancer metastasis, it represents a barrier for the cells, that the migrating cells needs to degrade in order to leave the primary tumor and invade further tissues. Agent-based frameworks, such as PhysiCell, are often use to represent the spatial dynamics of tumor evolution. However, typically they only implement cells as agents, which are represented by either a circle (2D) or a sphere (3D). In order to accurately represent the extracellular matrix as a network of fibres, we require a new type of agent represented by a segment (2D) or a cylinder (3D).

In this article, we present PhysiMeSS, an addon of PhysiCell, which introduces a new type of agent to describe fibres, and their physical interactions with cells and other fibres. PhysiMeSS implementation is publicly available athttps://github.com/PhysiMeSS/PhysiMeSS, as well as in the official Physi-Cell repository. We also provide simple examples to describe the extended possibilities of this new framework. We hope that this tool will serve to tackle important biological questions such as diseases linked to dis-regulation of the extracellular matrix, or the processes leading to cancer metastasis.
SCD1 and monounsaturated lipids are required for autophagy and survival of adipocytes
Authors: Mori Hiroyuki , Peterson Sydney K. , Simmermon Rachel , Overmyer Katherine A. , Nishii Akira , Paulsson Emma , Li Ziru , Jen Annie , Uranga Romina M. , Maung Jessica , Yacawych Warren T. , Lewis Kenneth T. , Schill Rebecca L. , Hetrick Taryn , Seino Ryo , Inoki Ken , Coon Joshua J. , MacDougald Ormond A.
Published: October 2023

Exposure of adipocytes to ‘cool’ temperatures often found in the periphery of the body induces expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 (SCD1), an enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids. In this study, we employedScd1knockout cells and mouse models, along with pharmacological SCD1 inhibition, to investigate further the roles of SCD1 in adipocytes. Our study reveals that production of monounsaturated lipids by SCD1 is necessary for fusion of autophagosomes to lysosomes and that with a SCD1-deficiency, autophagosomes accumulate. In addition, SCD1-deficiency impairs lysosomal and autolysosomal acidification resulting in vacuole accumulation and eventual cell death. Blocking autophagosome formation or supplementation with monounsaturated fatty acids maintains vitality of SCD1-deficient adipocytes. Taken together, our results demonstrate thatin vitroinhibition of SCD1 in adipocytes leads to autophagy-dependent cell death, andin vivodepletion leads to loss of bone marrow adipocytes.
Selection leads to false inferences of introgression using popular methods
Authors: Smith Megan L. , Hahn Matthew W.
Published: October 2023

Detecting introgression between closely related populations or species is a fundamental objective in evolutionary biology. Existing methods for detecting migration and inferring migration rates from population genetic data often assume a neutral model of evolution. Growing evidence of the pervasive impact of selection on large portions of the genome across diverse taxa suggests that this assumption is unrealistic in most empirical systems. Further, ignoring selection has previously been shown to negatively impact demographic inferences (e.g., of population size histories). However, the impacts of biologically realistic selection on inferences of migration remain poorly explored. Here, we simulate data under models of background selection, selective sweeps, balancing selection, and adaptive introgression. We show that ignoring selection sometimes leads to false inferences of migration in popularly used methods that rely on the site frequency spectrum (SFS). Specifically, balancing selection and some models of background selection result in the rejection of isolation-only models in favor of isolation-with-migration models and lead to elevated estimates of migration rates. BPP, a method that analyzes sequence data directly, showed false positives for all conditions at recent divergence times, but balancing selection also led to false positives at medium divergence times. Our results suggest that such methods may be unreliable in some empirical systems, such that new methods that are robust to selection need to be developed.

Article Summary

Detecting migration between closely related populations is a central objective in many evolutionary biology studies. However, popular methods for detecting migration assume a simplified model of evolution. Here, we evaluate the impacts of biologically realistic natural selection, recombination, and mutation on three methods for detecting migration. We find that biological complexity leads to false inferences of migration, suggesting that results should be interpreted with caution and that new methods are needed to make robust inferences of migration across empirical systems.
Prefrontal suppression in short-video viewing: unraveling the neural correlates of self-control
Authors: Su Conghui , Teng Binyu , Zhou Hui , Geng Fengji , Hu Yuzheng
Published: October 2023

The recent surge in short-video application usage has raised concerns about potential mental health risks. Using a novel video-watching task, we investigated the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying self-control during short-video viewing from a dual-system perspective. Results revealed watching preferred videos significantly activated the amygdala (System I) and deactivated the control regions (System II), with individuals with lower trait self-control being suppressed more. Dynamic causal modelling revealed the amygdala inhibited control regions during preferred viewing, while control regions downregulated the amygdala during less-preferred viewing. The control regions also demonstrated enhanced activation during cognitive control and inner-state monitoring tasks, with the latter correlating with trait self-control. These findings suggest preference-based video-watching suppresses prefrontal areas that represent rules and support self-awareness, enabling bottom-up limbic processes to dominate attention. This study provides insights into the neuropsychological impacts of short-video applications use, informing policies and interventions to promote healthier technology use and mitigate potential adverse effects.
Wastewater Tiling Amplicon Sequencing Reveals Longitudinal Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Prevalence in the Community
Authors: Wang Yu , Ni Gaofeng , Tian Wei , Wang Haofei , Li Jiaying , Thai Phong , Choi Phil M. , Jackson Greg , Hu Shihu , Yang Bicheng , Guo Jianhua
Published: October 2023

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, while the decline in clinical sequencing efforts hampers public health sectors to prepare for the menace of ongoing variant emergence and future COVID-19 surges.1Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been proposed to provide complementary insights on the variants being transmitted in communities.2However, limited research has been dedicated to the use sequencing methods for tracking disease prevalence and variant dynamics in wastewater, particularly on a large scale. Here, we employed a tiling amplicon sequencing to track the dynamics of variant of concern (VOC) in wastewater collected from Queensland, Australia from 2020 to 2022. RNA concentrations in wastewater measured by ATOPlex showed a stronger correlation and greater consistency with the number of daily new cases than a PCR-based method. The VOC dynamics observed in wastewater were largely in line with clinical reports. These findings support that WBE and sensitive sequencing methods can serve as a long-term approach for disease surveillance, thus aiding in disease outbreak prevention, control, and management.
Autism diagnosis experience and parental stress among Portuguese parents
Authors: Kulari Genta , Sarantakos Cordeiro Giulia Francisca
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact that diagnostic factors such as duration of diagnostic period, number of professionals consulted and perceived social support have on parental stress during the diagnostic process of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Design/methodology/approach

Forty parents of 2–18 year-old children/adolescents with a formal ASD diagnosis recruited from five specialized private clinics in Lisbon completed a survey which included diagnostic questionnaire, parental stress scale and social support scale from April to December 2022.

Findings

Data analysis indicated that the mean age of the diagnosis was 5.6 years with a delay of 3.95 years from first concern until final diagnosis. On average, parents consulted a mean of 3.62 professionals. Other findings indicated that as age of parents increased, levels of parental stress decreased. Parents with higher levels of social support had lower levels of parental stress. Furthermore, higher age of child at first concern predicted higher affective social support.

Originality/value

This study reflects on the experience of obtaining the ASD diagnosis in Portugal, raising awareness on the importance of providing early detection and social support for distressed parents.
Remote auditing and its impacts on auditors’ work and work-life balance: auditors’ perceptions and implications
Authors: Lorentzon Johan Ingemar , Fotoh Lazarus Elad , Mugwira Tatenda
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impacts of remote auditing on auditors’ work and work-life balance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopted a qualitative online survey approach using open-ended reflections from 98 highly experienced auditors. The survey design aligns with a “Big Q” approach to qualitative data. The reflections were interpreted through the theoretical lens of the social presence theory.

Findings

Auditors underscore that remote auditing has improved their work-life balance since it offers flexibility, greater autonomy and efficient use of time. However, they believe less social contact due to remote auditing can hurt their work.

Research limitations/implications

This study aimed to holistically comprehend the concept of work-life balance in a remote auditing setting. Therefore, the study refrained from making comparisons based on demographic information (e.g. gender, experience and type of audit firm).

Practical implications

The findings highlight the need for adopting flexible work arrangements that prioritise auditors’ well-being. This is critical for making the audit profession attractive and enhancing overall audit quality. Updated regulatory guidance and controls are needed concerning the use of technologies in remote auditing to ensure high-quality audits.

Social implications

The findings of this study can positively reshape public perception of the audit profession. Firstly, enhanced work-life balance can improve audit quality. Secondly, incorporating emerging technologies in auditing can result in society perceiving auditors as adaptive to innovation and technological advancement that has been touted for their potential for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of audit and audit quality, potentially enhancing societal trust in auditing.

Originality/value

The findings of this study complement the auditing literature that has mainly focused on the traditional work paradigm, requiring in-person presence. The authors identify potential challenges emanating from auditors’ remote work and propose solutions for audit firms to improve work-life balance in a remote work setting.
Do employees involved in career accidents experience greater work engagement? The moderating role of job resources
Authors: Ugwu Fabian O. , Ugwu Lawrence E. , Okpata Fidelis O. , Onyishi Ike E.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study investigated whether job resources (i.e. strengths use support, career self-management and person–job [PJ] fit) moderate the relationship between perceived involvement in a career accident (PICA) and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a time-lagged design (N = 398; 69% male), and data were collected at two-point of measurements among Nigerian university academics.

Findings

Results of the present study indicated that employees with higher PICA scores reported low work engagement. Strength use support had significant direct positive main effects on employee work engagement and also produced a significant moderation effect between PICA and work engagement. Career self-management (CSM) was positively related to employee work engagement. The moderation effect of CSM on the relationship between PICA and work engagement was also significant. Results of the present study further indicated that P-J fit was related positively to work engagement and also moderated the negative relationship between PICA and work engagement.

Originality/value

Dearth of employment opportunities has led individuals to choose their career by chance, but empirical studies that validate this assertion are lacking. Few available studies on career accident were exclusively conducted in Western European contexts. The current study therefore deepens the understanding of career accident and work engagement in a neglected context such as Nigeria.
The role of engagement and knowledge-sharing in the high-performance work systems–innovative behaviour relationship
Authors: Escribá-Carda Naiara , Canet-Giner Teresa , Balbastre-Benavent Francisco
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine two indirect mechanisms through which employees' perceptions of high-performance work systems (HPWS) foster employees' innovative behaviour (IB). Particularly, this study analyses the sequential mediating role of work engagement and knowledge-sharing in this relationship at the individual level.

Design/methodology/approach

Using researchers and professors working at a Spanish state university as an empirical sample and applying partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the authors test hypotheses regarding the impact of the indirect and sequential effect of engagement and knowledge-sharing on the relationship between employees' perceptions of HPWS and IB.

Findings

Findings indicate the existence of a sequential mediating effect of work engagement and knowledge-sharing. The authors' results suggest that the existence of engagement is necessary for the influence of HPWS on IB to become effective.

Social implications

The authors' results also highlighted the importance of suitable design and implementation for HPWS so that employees feel motivated and dedicated to their work.

Originality/value

The authors' findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms by which HPWS enhance employees' IB, and the results are especially salient in advancing the theoretical understanding of how HPWS, engagement and knowledge-sharing are relevant variables for IB.
Promoting perceived service quality and organisational performance through customer retention strategies: the moderating role of ICT
Authors: Lovemore Chikazhe , Chavunduka Desderio , Chinofunga Shakemore , Marere Rumbidzai Patience , Chifamba Oniwel , Kaviya Martha
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The major objective of the study is to investigate the effect of selected customer retention strategies (fair pricing, online marketing and frequent communication) on perceived service quality and organisational performance within the retail sector in Zimbabwe. Also, the study sought to understand the moderating role of ICT on the effect of customer retention strategies on perceived service quality and organisational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey of 280 employees within Zimbabwe's retail sector was adopted and respondents were selected using simple random sampling method. A structured questionnaire with Likert type questions was used to gather data.

Findings

The study findings indicate that the performance of organisations within the retail sector is influenced by superior service quality, selected customer retention strategies and also moderated by the use of ICT.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the business management body of knowledge by assessing the effect of selected customer retention strategies (fair pricing, online marketing and frequent communication) on perceived service quality and organisational performance within the retail industry of an emerging economy. The study is also unique in that it used ICT to moderate the effect of selected customer retention strategies on perceived service quality and organisational performance.
High-performance work systems and proactive behavior: the mediating role of customer-oriented behavior
Authors: Matsuo Makoto
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Although high-performance work systems (HPWS) have been shown to promote employees' proactive behavior, only a limited number of studies have examined this process. This study explores how HPWS promote proactive behavior through learning goal orientation (LGO) and customer-oriented behavior (COB).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted with 279 healthcare workers in nursing homes. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that HPWS positively influenced proactive behavior through COB and that HPWS positively influenced proactive behavior through LGO and subsequently through COB. The findings indicate that COB is vital in linking HPWS to proactive behavior in healthcare service organizations.

Originality/value

The results suggest that HPWS provide job resources that enable health care workers to take initiatives to change their work environment through performance management, incentive systems and training programs. This study is the first to identify the mediating role of COB in linking HPWS to proactive behavior.
Improvement of an order-to-cash business process by deploying lean six sigma tools: a case study
Authors: Kääriä Emilia , Shamsuzzoha Ahm
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study is focused to support an ongoing development project of the case company's current state and the challenges of the order-to-cash (O2C) process. The O2C process is the most visible process to the customer, and therefore, its punctual and fluent order management is vital. It is observed that the high degree of manual work in the O2C process causes mistakes, delays and rework in the process. The purpose of this article is therefore to analyze the case company's current state of the O2C process as well as to identify the areas of development in this process by deploying the means of Lean Six Sigma tools such as value stream mapping (VSM).

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted as a mix of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Based on both the quantitative and qualitative data, a workshop on VSM was organized to analyze the current state of the O2C process of a case company, engaged in the energy and environment sector in Finland.

Findings

The results found that excessive manual work was highly connected to inadequate or incorrect data in pricing and invoicing activities, which resulted in canceled invoices. Canceled invoices are visible to the customer and have a negative impact on the customer experience. This study found that by improving the performance of the O2C process activities and improving communication among the internal and external stakeholders, the whole O2C process can perform more effectively and provide better customer value.

Originality/value

The O2C process is the most visible process to the customer and therefore its punctual and fluent order management is vital. To ensure that the O2C process is operating as desired, suitable process performance metrics need to be aligned and followed. The results gathered from the case company's data, questionnaire interviews, and the VSM workshop are all highlighted in this study. The main practical and managerial implications were to understand the real-time O2C process performance, which is necessary to ensure strong performance and enhance continuous improvement of the O2C process that leads to operational excellence and commercial competitiveness of the studied case company.
Stimulating employee performance and well-being: a review of mindfulness impact in the hospitality sector
Authors: Dsouza Melanie Pius , Shetty Ankitha , Dinesh Tantri Keerthi , Damodar Pooja
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Mindfulness is gaining popularity in the business world as a way to improve mental health and productivity in employees. However, the application of mindfulness for employees in the hospitality sector is still in its nascent stage. This paper aims to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of mindfulness practice on employees in this high-pressure service industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This narrative review identifies and integrates insights from journal articles researching mindfulness in the hospitality industry. Synthesis and reflective description of the literature reveal an exigent need for practice, policy-making and future research.

Findings

This review paper describes mindfulness-based interventions used in the literature. It shows how the practice of mindfulness stimulates a culture of well-being and effectiveness at work, consequently having a positive impact on the customer and the organization. It points to the role of mindfulness in helping hospitality employees deal with stress, depression, anxiety, burnout and emotional labor peculiar to this industry, lowering absenteeism levels and turnover intention.

Practical implications

This paper has implications for hospitality managerial practice, human resource (HR) policy development, employees at all levels in the hospitality industry, business coaches/trainers, educationists, students pursuing hospitality management and researchers.

Originality/value

This first review article on mindfulness in the hospitality industry lays the foundation to accentuate the need and benefits of prioritizing mindfulness in this sector. It provides directions for future research, application in HR management in hospitality and designing effective interventions.
Engaging institutions in crowdsourcing close-range photogrammetry models of urban cultural heritage
Authors: Ch'ng Eugene
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The need to digitise is an awareness that is shared across our community globally, and yet the probability of the intersection between resources, expertise and institutions are not as prospective. A strategic view towards the long-term goal of cultivating and digitally upskilling the younger generation, building a community and creating awareness with digital activities that can be beneficial for cultural heritage is necessary.

Design/methodology/approach

The work involves distributing tasks between stakeholders and local volunteers. It uses close-range photogrammetry for reconstructing the entire heritage site in 3D, and outlines achievable digitisation activities in the crowdsourced, close-range photogrammetry of a 19th century Cheah Kongsi clan temple located in George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Penang, Malaysia.

Findings

The research explores whether loosely distributing photogrammetry work that partially simulates an unorganised crowdsourcing activity can generate complete models of a site that meets the criteria set by the needs of the clan temple. The data acquired were able to provide a complete visual record of the site, but the 3D models that was generated through the distributed task revealed gaps that needed further measurements.

Practical implications

Key lessons learned in this activity is transferable. Furthermore, the involvement of volunteers can also raise awareness of ownership, identity and care for local cultural heritage.

Social implications

Key lessons learned in this activity is transferable. Furthermore, the involvement of volunteers can also raise awareness of identity, ownership, cultural understanding, and care for local cultural heritage.

Originality/value

The value of semi-formal activities indicated that set goals can be achieved through crowdsourcing and that the new generation can be taught both to care for their heritage, and that the transfer of digital skills is made possible through such activities. The mass crowdsourcing activity is the first of its kind that attempts to completely digitise a cultural heritage site in 3D via distributed activities.