bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Study of ML-based Phenotyping and Denoising for Improved Genomic Discovery
Authors: Yuan Bo , Hormozdiari Farhad , McLean Cory Y. , Cosentino Justin
Published: November 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are used to identify genetic variants significantly correlated with a target disease or phenotype as a first step to detect potentiallycausalgenes. The availability of high-dimensional biomedical data in population-scale biobanks has enabled novel machine-learning-based phenotyping approaches in which machine learning (ML) algorithms rapidly and accurately phenotype large cohorts with both genomic and clinical data, increasing the statistical power to detect variants associated with a given phenotype. While recent work has demonstrated that these methods can be extended to diseases for which only low quality medical-record-based labels are available, it is not possible to quantify changes in statistical power since the underlying ground-truth liability scores for the complex, polygenic diseases represented by these medical-record-based phenotypes is unknown. In this work, we aim to empirically study the robustness of ML-based phenotyping procedures to label noise by applying varying levels of random noise to vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), a quantitative feature of the optic nerve that is predictable from color fundus imagery and strongly influences glaucoma referral risk. We show that the ML-based phenotyping procedure recovers the underlying liability score across noise levels, significantly improving genetic discovery and PRS predictive power relative to noisy equivalents. Furthermore, initial denoising experiments show promising preliminary results, suggesting that improving such methods will yield additional gains.
Inferring ligand-receptor cellular networks from bulk and spatial transcriptomic datasets with BulkSignalR
Authors: Villemin Jean-Philippe , Bassaganyas Laia , Pourquier Didier , Boissiere Florence , Cabello-Aguilar Simon , Crapez Evelyne , Tanos Rita , Cornillot Emmanuel , Turtoi Andrei , Colinge Jacques
Published: November 2022

The study of cellular networks mediated by ligand-receptor interactions has attracted much attention recently owing to single-cell omics. However, rich collections of bulk data accompanied with clinical information exists and continue to be generated with no equivalent in single-cell so far. In parallel, spatial transcriptomic (ST) analyses represent a revolutionary tool in biology. A large number of ST projects rely on multicellular resolution, for instance the Visium™platform, where several cells are analyzed at each location, thus producing localized bulk data. Here, we describe BulkSignalR, a R package to infer ligand-receptor networks from bulk data. BulkSignalR integrates ligand-receptor interactions with downstream pathways to estimate statistical significance. A range of visualization methods complement the statistics, including functions dedicated to spatial data. We demonstrate BulkSignalR relevance using different bulk datasets, including new Visium liver metastasis ST data, with experimental validation of selected interactions. A comparison with other ST packages shows the significantly higher quality of BulkSignalR inferences. BulkSignalR can be applied to any species thanks to its built-in generic ortholog mapping functionality.
DNAJB6 Isoform Specific Knockdown: Therapeutic Potential for LGMDD1
Authors: Findlay Andrew R. , Paing May M. , Daw Jil A. , Bengoechea Rocio , Pittman Sara K. , Li Shan , Wang Feng , Miller Timothy M. , True Heather L. , Chou Tsui-Fen , Weihl Conrad C.
Published: November 2022

Dominant missense mutations in DNAJB6, an HSP40 co-chaperone, cause limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) D1. No treatments are currently available. Two isoforms exist, DNAJB6a and DNAJB6b, each with distinct localizations in muscle. Mutations reside in both isoforms, yet evidence suggests only DNAJB6b is responsible for disease pathogenesis. Mechanistic data supports either a toxic gain of function, a dominant negative mechanism, or a combination of both. Knockdown treatment strategies involving both isoforms carry risk as DNAJB6 knockout is embryonic lethal. We therefore developed an isoform specific knockdown approach using morpholinos. Selective reduction of each isoform was achievedin-vitroin primary mouse myotubes and human myoblasts, as well asin-vivoin mouse skeletal muscle. To assess isoform specific knockdown in LGMDD1, we created primary myotube cultures from aknock-inLGMDD1 mouse model. Using mass spectrometry, we identified an LGMDD1 protein signature related to protein homeostasis and myofibril structure. Selective reduction of DNAJB6b levels in LGMDD1 myotubes corrected much of the proteomic disease signature towards wild type levels. While additionalin-vivofunctional data is required, these findings suggest selective reduction of DNAJB6b may be a viable therapeutic target for LGMDD1.
Association of spinocerebellar ataxia related variants with myokymia and neuromyotonia in dogs
Authors: Vanhaesebrouck An , Van Poucke Mario , Stee Kimberley , Peelman Luc , Van Ham Luc , Bhatti Sofie F.M.
Published: November 2022

Background

KCNJ10 and CAPN1 variants have been shown to cause spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) in Jack Russell, Parson Russell and Fox terriers (JRT, PRT and FT). However, their association with the clinical manifestation of myokymia and neuromyotonia (M/NM), often reported alongside SCA, remains unclear.

Aims

To investigate the association between M/NM and SCA-related variants in 34 with SCA and/or M/NM affected dogs (30 JRTs; 1 PRT; 1 Yorkshire terrier, YT; 1 Dachshund; 1 crossbreed).

Methods

KCNJ10 XM_038448705.1:c.627C>G (p.(Ile209Met)) and CAPN1 XM_038425033.1:c.344G>A (p.(Cys115Tyr)) variants, and the complete coding sequence (CDS) of KCNA1, KCNA2, KCNA6, KCNJ10 and HINT1, were analysed via Sanger sequencing.

Results

The KCNJ10 c.627C>G variant was homozygously present in 16 JRTs, 1 Dachshund and 1 crossbreed with SCA and M/NM, and in 9 JRTs with SCA but without M/NM. The CAPN1 c.344G>A variant was homozygously present in 1 PRT with SCA but without M/NM. Both variants were not found in 2 JRTs with SCA but without M/NM, neither in 3 JRTs and 1 YT without SCA but with M/NM. No other causal variants were found in the coding sequence of the investigated candidate genes in these latter 6 dogs.

Conclusions

The KCNJ10 c.627C>G or CAPN1 c.344G>A variant was confirmed to be the causal variant in 28 of the 34 affected dogs (including 1 Dachshund with the KCNJ10 variant). The fact that 10 of these 28 dogs did not suffer from M/NM (all of them suffered from SCA) and that these variants were not found in 4 dogs suffering from M/NM without SCA, suggests that M/NM is caused by another genetic variant or that these patients suffer from an acquired (immune-mediated) syndrome, similar to humans. Another SCA-causing variant is probably also segregating in JRTs (but not in the CDS of the investigated candidate genes), because no causal variant was found in 2 JRTs suffering from SCA without M/NM.
Phosphatidylserine-exposing medium/large extracellular vesicles: potential cancer biomarkers
Authors: Perez Gloria I. , Bernard Matthew P. , Vocelle Daniel , Zarea Ahmed A. , Schneider Doug , Bauzon Maxine , Hermiston Terry , Kanada Masamitsu
Published: November 2022

Under physiological conditions, phosphatidylserine (PS) predominantly localizes to the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane of cells. During apoptosis, PS is exposed on the cell surface and serves as an “eat-me” signal for macrophages to prevent releasing self-immunogenic cellular components from dying cells which could potentially lead to autoimmunity. However, increasing evidence indicates that viable cells can also expose PS on their surface. Interestingly, tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) also externalize PS. Recent studies have proposed PS-exposing EVs as a potential biomarker for the early detection of cancer and other diseases. However, there are confounding results regarding subtypes of PS-positive EVs, and knowledge of PS exposure on the EV surface requires further elucidation. In this study, we enriched small EVs (sEVs) and medium/large EVs (m/lEVs) from conditioned media of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468) and non-cancerous cells (keratinocytes, fibroblasts). Since several PS-binding molecules are available to date, we compared recombinant proteins of annexin A5 and the carboxylated glutamic acid domain of Protein S (GlaS), also specific for PS, to detect PS-exposing EVs. Firstly, PS externalization in each EV fraction was analyzed using a bead-based EV assay, which combines EV capture using microbeads and analysis of PS-exposing EVs by flow cytometry. The bulk EV assay showed higher PS externalization in m/lEVs derived from MDA-MB-468 cells but not from MDA-MB-231 cells, while higher binding of GlaS was also observed in m/lEVs from fibroblasts. Second, using single EV flow cytometry, PS externalization was also analyzed on individual sEVs and m/lEVs. Significantly higher PS externalization was detected in m/lEVs (annexin A1+) derived from cancer cells compared to m/lEVs (annexin A1+) from non-cancerous cells. These results emphasize the significance of PS-exposing m/lEVs as an undervalued EV subtype for early cancer detection and provide a better understanding of PS externalization in disease-associated EV subtypes.
ppGpp is Present in and Functions to Regulate Sleep inDrosophila
Authors: Dai Xihuimin , Yang Wei , Zhang Xiaohui , Zhou Enxing , Liu Ying , Wang Tao , Zhang Wenxia , Zhang Xinxiang , Rao Yi
Published: November 2022

Sleep is essential for animals, and receives inputs from circadian, homeostasis, and environment, yet the mechanisms of sleep regulation remain elusive. Discovery of molecules in living systems and demonstration of their functional roles are pivotal in furthering our understanding of the molecular basis of biology. Here we report that ppGpp (guanosine-5’-diphosphate, 3’-diphosphate), a molecule that has been detected in prokaryotes for more than five decades, is present inDrosophila, and plays an important role in regulation of sleep and SISL (starvation induced sleep loss). ppGpp is detected in germ-freeDrosophilaand hydrolyzed by an enzyme encoded by themesh1gene inDrosophila. Nighttime sleep and SISL were defected inmesh1mutant flies, and rescued by expression of wildtype Mesh1, but not the enzymatically defective mutant Mesh1E66A. Ectopic expression of RelA, theE. colisynthetase for ppGpp, phenocopiedmesh1knockout mutants, whereas overexpression of Mesh1 resulted in the opposite phenotypes, supporting that ppGpp is both necessary and sufficient in sleep regulation. A chemoconnectomic screen followed by genetic intersection experiments implicate the Dilp2 neurons in thepars intercerebralis(PI) brain region as the site of ppGpp function. Our results have thus supported that ppGpp is present in animals after long lag since its discovery in bacteria, and revealed a physiological role of ppGpp in sleep regulation for the first time.
Exploration of the autonomous replication region and its utilization for expression vectors in cyanobacteria
Authors: Sakamaki Yutaka , Maeda Kaisei , Nimura-Matsune Kaori , Chibazakura Taku , Watanabe Satoru
Published: November 2022

Due to their photosynthetic capabilities, cyanobacteria is expected to be an ecologically friendly host for the production of biomaterials. However, compared to other bacteria, there is little information of autonomous replication sequences, and tools for genetic engineering, especially expression vector systems, are limited. In this study, we established an effective screening method, namely AR-seq (Autonomous Replication sequencing), for finding autonomous replication regions in cyanobacteria and utilized the region for constructing expression vector. AR-seq using the genomic library ofSynechocystissp. PCC 6803 revealed that a certain region containing Rep-related protein (here named as Cyanobacterial Rep protein A2: CyRepA2) exhibits high autonomous replication activity in a heterologous host cyanobacterium,Synechococcus elongatusPCC 7942. The reporter assay using GFP showed that the expression vector pYS carrying CyRepA2 can be maintained in a wide range of multiple cyanobacterial species, not onlyS. 6803 andS. 7942, but alsoSynechococcussp. PCC 7002 andAnabaenasp. PCC 7120. InS. 7942, the GFP expression in pYS-based system can be tightly regulated by IPTG, achieving 10-fold higher levels than that of chromosome-based system. Furthermore, pYS can be used together with conventional vector pEX, which was constructed from an endogenous plasmid in5. 7942. The combination of pYS with other vectors is useful for genetic engineering, such as modifying metabolic pathways, and is expected to improve the performance of cyanobacteria as bioproduction chassis.
Human Early Syncytiotrophoblasts Are Highly Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Ruan Degong , Ye Zi-Wei , Yuan Shuofeng , Li Zhuoxuan , Zhang Weiyu , Ong Chon Phin , Tang Kaiming , Guo Jilong , Xuan Yiyi , Tam Timothy Theodore Ka Ki , Huang Yunying , Zhang Qingqing , Lee Cheuk-Lun , Chiu Philip C.N. , Liu Fang , Jin Dong-Yan , Liu Pentao
Published: November 2022

The ongoing and devastating pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a global public health crisis. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and can potentially pose a serious risk to maternal and neonatal health. Cases of abnormal pregnancy and vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to foetus have been reported but no firm conclusions are drawn. Trophoblasts are the major constituents of the placenta to protect and nourish the developing foetus. However, directin vivoinvestigation of trophoblast’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and of COVID-19 and pregnancy is challenging. Here we report that human early syncytiotrophoblasts (eSTBs) are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent manner. From human expanded potential stem cells (hEPSCs), we derivedbona fidetrophoblast stem cells (TSCs) that resembled those originated from the blastocyst and the placenta in generating functional syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) and extravillus trophoblasts (EVTs) and in low expression of HLA-A/B and amniotic epithelial (AME) cell signature. The EPSC-TSCs and their derivative trophoblasts including trophoblast organoids could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, eSTBs expressed high levels of ACE2 and produced substantially higher amounts of virion than Vero E6 cells which are widely used in SARS-CoV-2 research and vaccine production. These findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical observations that opportunistic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can occur. At low concentrations, two well characterized antivirals, remdesivir and GC376, effectively eliminated infection of eSTBs by SARS-CoV-2 and middle east respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and rescued their developmental arrest caused by the virus infection. Several human cell lines have been used in coronavirus research. However, they suffer from genetic and/or innate immune defects and have some of the long-standing technical challenges such as cell transfection and genetic manipulation. In contrast, hEPSCs are normal human stem cells that are robust in culture, genetically stable and permit efficient gene-editing. They can produce and supply large amounts of physiologically relevant normal and genome-edited human cells such as eSTBs for isolation, propagation and production of coronaviruses for basic research, antivirus drug tests and safety evaluation.
Addressable and adaptable intercellular communication via DNA messaging
Authors: Marken John P. , Murray Richard M.
Published: November 2022

Engineered consortia are a major research focus for synthetic biologists because they can implement sophisticated behaviors inaccessible to single-strain systems. However, this functional capacity is constrained by their constituent strains’ ability to engage in complex communication. DNA messaging, by enabling information-rich channel-decoupled communication, is a promising candidate architecture for implementing complex communication. But its major advantage, its messages’ dynamic mutability, is still unexplored. We develop a framework for addressable and adaptable DNA messaging that leverages all three of these advantages and implement it in a plasmid conjugation-based communication channel. Our system can bias the transfer of messages to targeted receiver strains by 100-to 1000-fold, and their recipient lists can be dynamically updatedin situto control the flow of information through the population. This work lays the foundation for future developments that further utilize the unique advantages of DNA messaging to engineer previously-inaccessible levels of complexity into biological systems.
Fragment Linker Prediction Using Deep Encoder-Decoder Network for PROTAC Drug Design
Authors: Kao Chien-Ting , Lin Chieh-Te , Chou Cheng-Li , Lin Chu-Chung
Published: November 2022

Drug discovery and development pipeline is a prolonged and complex process and remains challenging for both computational methods and medicinal chemists. Deep learning has shed light on various fields and achieved tremendous success in designing novel molecules in the pharmaceutical industry. We utilize state-of-the-art techniques to propose a deep neural network for rapid designing and generating meaningful drug-like Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) analogs. Our method, AIMLinker, takes the structural information from the corresponding fragments and generates linkers to incorporate them. In this model, we integrate filters for excluding non-druggable structures guided by protein-protein complexes while retaining molecules with potent chemical properties. The novel PROTACs subsequently pass through molecular docking, taking root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), the change of Gibbs free energy (ΔGbinding), and relative Gibbs free energy (ΔΔGbinding) as the measurement criteria for testing the robustness and feasibility of the model. The generated novel PROTACs molecules possess similar structural information with superior binding affinity to the binding pockets in comparison to existing CRBN-dBET6-BRD4 ternary complexes. We demonstrate the effectiveness of AIMLinker having the power to design compounds for PROTACs molecules with better chemical properties.
Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 modulates development through Hedgehog/Patched signaling inC. elegans
Authors: Emans Sinclair W. , Yerevanian Armen , Ahsan Fasih M. , Zhou Yifei , Cedillo Lucydalila , Soukas Alexander A.
Published: November 2022

Both Hedgehog (Hh) signaling and target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2) are central, evolutionarily conserved pathways that regulate development and metabolism. InC. elegans, loss of essential TORC2 component RICTOR (rict-1) causes delayed development, shortened lifespan, reduced brood, small size, and increased fat. Here we report that knockdown of Hedgehog-related morphogengrd-1and its Patched-related receptorptr-11rescues delayed development in TORC2 loss of function mutants, indicating an unexpected role forgrd-1/ptr-11in slowing developmental rate downstream of nutrient sensing pathways. Further, we implicate chronic stress transcription factorpqm-1as a key transcriptional effector ofgrd-1/ptr-11in slowing whole-organism growth. We propose that the TORC2/grd-1/ptr-11/pqm-1signaling relay acts as a critical executor of growth to slow development whenC. elegansencounters unfavorable growth conditions.

Summary statement

Developmental rate inC. elegansis dramatically slowed in animals deficient in nutrient-sensitive target of rapamycin complex 2 signaling and slowing is effected by increased activity of a previously uncharacterized Hh-r/Ptr signaling relay.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents: determinants and association with quality of life and mental health – A cross-sectional study
Authors: Richard Viviane , Dumont Roxane , Lorthe Elsa , Loizeau Andrea , Baysson Hélène , Zaballa María-Eugenia , Pennacchio Francesco , Barbe Rémy P. , Posfay-Barbe Klara M. , Guessous Idris , Stringhini Silvia ,   SEROCoV-KIDS study group
Published: November 2022

Background

The medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of children and adolescents remains unclear. More than two years into the pandemic, we aimed to quantify the frequency and determinants of having been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and estimate its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health.

Methods

Data was drawn from a population-based cohort of children and adolescents, recruited between December 2021 and June 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland. We measured the impact of the pandemic via the Coronavirus impact scale, which assesses the multidimensional impact of the pandemic at the child and family level through parent’s report. A score higher than one standard deviation above the mean was deemed a severe impact. Parents additionally reported about their offspring HRQoL and mental health with validated scales. Determinants of having been severely impacted were assessed with logistic models, as were the associations between having experienced a severe impact and poor HRQoL or mental health.

Results

Out of 2101 participants aged 2-17, 12.7% had experienced a severe pandemic impact. Having a lasting health condition, a pandemic-related worsening of lifestyle habits or an unfavorable family environment were associated with having been severely impacted by the pandemic. Participants who had experienced a severe pandemic impact were more likely to present poor HRQoL (aOR=3.1; 95%CI: 2.3-4.4) and poor mental health (aOR=3.9; 95%CI: 2.5-6.2).

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic may have persistent consequences on the wellbeing of children and adolescents, especially among those with health and family vulnerabilities.
An examination of the effects of financial and process innovation on the sustainability of businesses under the influence of entrepreneurial leadership: a research in energy companies
Authors: Sonmez Cakir Fatma , Adiguzel Zafer
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Companies must implement sustainability measures in order to survive due to the relationship between financial, social and environmental performances. These elements must be integrated into the business in a complementary manner in this regard. As a result, this study aims to investigate the effects of entrepreneurial leadership on sustainability, as well as financial and process innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the scope of the research, a survey was conducted with 295 white-collar employees working in energy companies. SPSS 25, the LISREL program, and SOBEL analysis were used to determine the relationships between the variables.

Findings

In the research, financial innovation perceptions and process innovation activities have a positive effect on business sustainability and entrepreneurial leadership. As both an independent and a mediating variable, entrepreneurial leadership has a positive impact on business sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

Companies engaged in renewable energy production, operating in the Marmara region, constitute the sample mass. For this reason, it would be more accurate to evaluate the results obtained in this research only for companies producing renewable energy.

Practical implications

It is concluded that energy companies should prioritize financial and process innovations and that entrepreneurial leadership is required to ensure the sector's long-term viability.

Originality/value

This paper is an innovative study in terms of the scope and content of the research as data are collected and analyzed from companies that produce renewable energy.
Potential impacts of climate extremes on snow under global warming conditions in the Mongolian Plateau
Authors: Li Chunlan , Xu Xinwu , Du Hongyu , Du Debin , Leal Filho Walter , Wang Jun , Bao Gang , Ji Xiaowen , Yin Shan , Bao Yuhai , Azadi Hossein
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the possible changes in mean temperature in the Mongolian Plateau associated with the 1.5 and 2°C global warming targets and how snow changes in the Mongolian Plateau when the mean global warming is well below 2°C or limited to 1.5°C.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 30 model simulations of consecutive temperature and precipitation days from Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) are assessed in comparison with the 111 meteorological monitoring stations from 1961–2005. Multi-model ensemble and model relative error were used to evaluate the performance of CMIP5 models. Slope and the Mann–Kendall test were used to analyze the magnitude of the trends and evaluate the significance of trends of snow depth (SD) from 1981 to 2014 in the Mongolian Plateau.

Findings

Some models perform well, even better than the majority (80%) of the models over the Mongolian Plateau, particularly HadGEM2-CC, CMCC-CM, BNU-ESM and GFDL-ESM2M, which simulate best in consecutive dry days (CDD), consecutive wet days (CWD), cold spell duration indicator (CSDI) and warm spell duration indicator (WSDI), respectively. Emphasis zones of WSDI on SD were deeply analysed in the 1.5 and 2 °C global warming period above pre-industrial conditions, because it alone has a significant negative relation with SD among the four indices. It is warmer than before in the Mongolian Plateau, particularly in the southern part of the Mongolian Plateau, indicating less SD.

Originality/value

Providing climate extremes and SD data sets with different spatial-temporal scales over the Mongolian Plateau. Zoning SD potential risk areas and proposing adaptations to promote regional sustainable development.
What are you looking at? Visual attention during the co-created cellar door experience: customer and staff perspectives from Australian experiences
Authors: d’Ament Genevieve , Saliba Anthony John , Nayeem Tahmid
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The prevalence of visually splendid multi-million-dollar cellar doors (CDs) builds an assumption that bricks and mortar create the co-created cellar door experience (CDE). This study aims to determine what attracts the visual attention of staff and customers during a CDE at three visual designs of CD: lively, stylised and simple.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 23 customers and five staff consented to record their CDEs using TobiiPro2 glasses with 35 recordings providing 993 min for analysis with Tobii Pro Lab. Twenty-five areas of interest were used to calculate fixation and visit metrics.

Findings

The most attended elements of a co-created CDE were staff and faces. Attention is less influenced by the design of CD, whereas staff significantly influence attention.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are valuable to the industry as they highlight the importance of human resources to a winery business, an increasingly casualised workforce. Future research could focus on staffing needs, including training and performance during experience delivery, with the expectation of increasing profitability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to analyse objective recordings of staff and customer visual attention during their experience.
Incorporating student voice: bring changes in teaching techniques of college-level management education in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Farhana , Das Happy Kumar , Arafin Shaikh Shamsul
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Incorporating student voice to improve both academic and institutional performances is the contemporary innovative way to enhance and ensure quality in higher education. Higher education organizations are developing a culture and an encouraging environment for the students where they can express their opinions and be an integral part and partner of educational improvement process. The purpose of this paper is to explore students preferred learning and teaching methods for management education, to study current intended learning outcome and practiced teaching methods, to investigate prerequisites to implement students expected teaching methods in the college-level management education of National University.

Design/methodology/approach

Nature of the study is exploratory and descriptive as well. Primary data were collected using focus group discussions, surveys conducted using structured and closed-ended questions and in-depth, face-to-face interviews employed to collect data from academic staff.

Findings

The key findings include the need for bringing changes in teaching techniques at college-level management education. Furthermore, the study has explored challenging issues which can hinder changes in teaching techniques.

Practical implications

The study pointed to the need of including student voice to keep improving teaching techniques that can satisfy students' learning needs continuously.

Originality/value

The study adds the body of knowledge on incorporating student voice to improve the quality of higher education teaching techniques and in other services as well in Bangladesh.
Crowdsourcing a wellspring of value co-creation: an integration of social capital and organisational learning mechanisms
Authors: Mishra Divya , Maheshwari Nidhi
Published: November 2022

Purpose

With the advent of Internet technologies, shorter product life cycles and increasing competition, organisations have started looking for innovation sources outside the organisational boundaries. The external community of crowds can be used as a valuable source of co-creation in a company's innovation process to generate value. Despite its growing popularity, organisations often face difficulty capturing value from crowdsourcing due to the lack of proper mechanisms behind crowdsourcing-based value co-creation between a crowd and an organisation and their impact on organisational learning and innovation performance. The present study seeks to understand the crowdsourcing-based co-creation mechanism that influences knowledge transfer effectiveness and the organisation's absorptive capacity, resulting in improved innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was empirically tested using online survey data received from 300 managers of IT firms. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to test the model.

Findings

The empirical results reveal that crowdsourcing-based value co-creation causes structural, cognitive and relational linkages between a crowd and a firm, among which crowdsourcing-based cognitive linkage contributes more to organisational value capture. Further, an organisation's effective knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity play an important role in influencing the crowdsourcing-based-co-creation organisational learning-innovation performance framework.

Originality/value

This is the first and foremost study that has developed an integrated model using social capital dimensions to understand the entire mechanism behind crowdsourcing-based value co-creation between a crowd and an organisation and their impact on organisational learning and innovation performance. The study provides organisations with theoretical and practical implications of using crowdsourcing as a value co-creation tool and its effects on enhancing organisational learning and value capture.
Transformational leadership, job enrichment and recognition as predictors of job satisfaction in non-profit organizations
Authors: Mohd Zin Md. Lazim , Ibrahim Hadziroh , Aman-Ullah Attia , Ibrahim Norsuhainy
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influences of transformational leadership, job enrichment and recognition on employee job satisfaction in non-profit organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted on employees working in United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Data was collected from 226 employees via self-administered questionnaires. The convenience sampling method was applied for participant selection, and data was analysed using Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis via statistical package for the social sciences.

Findings

Job enrichment, transformational leadership and recognition were all found to have significant and positive relationships with job satisfaction.

Practical implications

The findings imply that job satisfaction will improve if managers are motivated to promote job enrichment, transformational leadership and employee recognition programs. These steps will augment the organization’s effort to design and implement the best strategies for enhancing employees’ job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study elaborates on transformational leadership, job enrichment and recognition in relation to job satisfaction. The insights it provides are novel due to the lack of research on the combination of these attributes. The study’s model was tested on UMNO, a non-profit organization in Malaysia that plays a significant role in Malaysian politics. Hence, this study provides a valuable addition to the literature on Malaysia. The study’s model was supported by transformational leadership theory and social exchange theory, making it another significant contribution to the body of literature.
Money laundering and infrastructure quality: the moderating effect of the strength of auditing and reporting standards
Authors: Amara Ines , Khelil Imen , El Ammari Anis , Khlif Hichem
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the association between money laundering and infrastructure quality and whether the strength of auditing and reporting standards (SARS) moderates this association.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 348 country-year observations over the period of 2015–2017. The authors use Basel Anti-Money Laundering reports for 2015, 2016 and 2017 to collect data concerning money laundering. Infrastructure quality and the remaining variables are gathered from the Global Competitiveness reports for the same years.

Findings

Results show that money laundering is negatively associated with infrastructure quality. This negative association remains stable for countries characterised by low SARS, while it becomes less pronounced for countries with high SARS. Additional tests for the moderating impact of the SARS, using an interaction term between money laundering and SARS dummy variable, confirm that high SARS mitigates the adverse effect of money laundering on infrastructure quality.

Originality/value

These findings are important for policymakers, as they put emphasis on the adverse effect of money laundering and financial crimes on infrastructure quality and how solid auditing and reporting standards may improve infrastructure quality and reduce the negative effect of money laundering on the same variable. Thus, strengthening legislations concerning auditing and reporting standards in one country may improve infrastructure quality and combat money laundering and its adverse impacts.
The impact of online presentations on reducing the introverted EFL learners' stress and anxiety
Authors: Mishu Anjum , Mohammed Hanan Abdullah , Hakami Sabreen Ahmed A. , Chowdhury Gaus
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to focus on how online presentations have a positive effect on the anxiety of the students, especially students who are introverted by nature and always suffer from anxiety and stress while performing face-to-face presentations in the classrooms, which negatively affect students’ performance and, thereby grade.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a quantitative research design to obtain a broader perspective. An online questionnaire, developed using Google Forms, was accessed by 239 female undergraduate students from Level 1 to 8 of the English Department at the College of Languages and Translation in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of 15 closed Likert-type questions. The Arabic translation of the questions was included in the questionnaire to make the participants more comfortable answering the questions as all the participants' L1 is Arabic.

Findings

With the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, COVID-19 became a global health issue and significantly impacted education worldwide. With this, a digital transformation took place, resulting in a total e-learning distance education system. This type of technology enhanced distance learning approach had to be adopted as social and physical contacts were limited globally to mitigate the transmissions of the virus. Accordingly, all lectures, learning activities, tests and other forms of evaluation were conducted via distance e-learning. When oral presentations were conducted online, a new reality emerged in this changed situation. This study sought to prove that online oral presentations positively reduce introvert EFL learners' anxiety and stress.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted using a small number of samples; thus, to gain substantial insight, future research could be conducted with a greater number of samples from diverse demographic backgrounds. Teachers' perceptions of online oral presentations could also be considered in future studies since education consolidates between learners and teachers. In addition, as this research explored English language major students only, further comparative studies can be conducted including students from other disciplines, which may lead to new insights and issues related to online presentations. This study used a questionnaire as a data collection instrument. It is recommended to use qualitative tools such as interviews, focus group meetings, journals and student diaries in future studies so that more information about in-person presentation anxiety can be discovered.

Originality/value

Participants' opinions, procured through the questionnaire of this study, can bring new insights for educators and policymakers to incorporate online presentations as one of the mainstream assessment methods for tertiary-level courses.
Innovation preservation and cultivation: where to locate transformational projects
Authors: McGrath Rita Gunther
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The reality of organizing new growth ventures is that every place to locate them in the organization has pros and cons.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Using a set of seven archetypes, executives can figure out which location solution fits the initiative and the parent company best.

Findings

Organizations pursuing ventures have a choice of how much separation/distance to insert between ongoing operations and the new business.

Practical/Implications

The “right” place to locate a venture also depends on such factors as the situation of the parent organization, the level of innovation maturity the parent organization has and the form and functions of the venture.

Originality/Value

One of the most critical decisions that executives need to make as they contemplate getting started with setting up an innovation/growth function within their organizations is where, organizationally, it belongs. Seven alternatives are analyzed.
Characterization of the molecular mechanisms of silicon uptake in coccolithophores
Authors: Ratcliffe Sarah , Meyer Erin M. , Walker Charlotte E. , Knight Michael , McNair Heather M. , Matson Paul G. , Iglesias‐Rodriguez Debora , Brzezinski Mark , Langer Gerald , Sadekov Aleksey , Greaves Mervyn , Brownlee Colin , Curnow Paul , Taylor Alison R. , Wheeler Glen L.
Published: November 2022

Coccolithophores are an important group of calcifying marine phytoplankton. Although coccolithophores are not silicified, some species exhibit a requirement for Si in the calcification process. These species also possess a novel protein (SITL) that resembles the SIT family of Si transporters found in diatoms. However, the nature of Si transport in coccolithophores is not yet known, making it difficult to determine the wider role of Si in coccolithophore biology. Here, we show that coccolithophore SITLs act as Na+‐coupled Si transporters when expressed in heterologous systems and exhibit similar characteristics to diatom SITs. We find that CbSITL from Coccolithus braarudii is transcriptionally regulated by Si availability and is expressed in environmental coccolithophore populations. However, the Si requirement of C. braarudii and other coccolithophores is very low, with transport rates of exogenous Si below the level of detection in sensitive assays of Si transport. As coccoliths contain only low levels of Si, we propose that Si acts to support the calcification process, rather than forming a structural component of the coccolith itself. Si is therefore acting as a micronutrient in coccolithophores and natural populations are only likely to experience Si limitation in circumstances where dissolved silicon (DSi) is depleted to extreme levels.
Climate Risk, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Firm Performance
Authors: Ozkan Aydin , Temiz Huseyin , Yildiz Yilmaz
Published: November 2022

We examine the impact of climate risk on firm performance with a focus on the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Further, we explore how the interaction between climate risk and CSR changes with national culture and religion. Our findings show that firms in countries with greater climate risks are associated with higher levels of CSR activities, possibly suggesting that firms respond to climate risks by engaging in more CSR activities. We then provide robust evidence that higher CSR significantly mitigates the performance‐reducing impact of climate risk. Importantly, the moderating effect of CSR is more pronounced in countries characterized by low individualism and high religiosity. Overall, our findings provide an alternative perspective on the risk‐management benefits of CSR, suggesting that CSR can be considered as a response to climate‐change related risks for corporations.
Association between marked fetal heart rate variability and neonatal acidosis: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Loussert Lola , Berveiller Paul , Magadoux Alexia , Allouche Michael , Vayssiere Christophe , Garabedian Charles , Guerby Paul
Published: November 2022

Objective

To assess the association between marked variability in fetal heart rate (FHR) and neonatal acidosis.

Design

Bicentric prospective cohort study.

Setting

From January 2019 to December 2019, in two French tertiary care maternity units.

Population

Women in labour at ≥37 weeks of gestation, with continuous FHR monitoring until delivery and with the availability of umbilical arterial pH. Women with intrauterine fetal death or medical termination, multiple pregnancies, non‐cephalic presentation or planned caesarean delivery were excluded.

Methods

The exposure was marked variability in FHR in the 60 minutes before delivery, defined as a variability greater than 25 beats per minute, with a minimum duration of 1 minute. To assess the association between marked variability and neonatal acidosis, we used multivariable modified Poisson regression modelling. We then conducted subgroup analyses according to the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) category of the associated fetal heart rate.

Main outcome measures

Neonatal acidosis, defined as an umbilical artery pH of ≤7.10.

Results

Among the 4394 women included, 177 (4%) had marked variability in fetal heart rate in the 60 minutes before delivery. Acidosis occurred in 6.0% (265/4394) of the neonates. In the multivariable analysis, marked variability was significantly associated with neonatal acidosis (aRR 2.30, 95% CI 1.53–3.44). In subgroup analyses, the association between marked variability and neonatal acidosis remained significant in NICHD category‐I and category‐II groups.

Conclusions

Marked variability was associated with a twofold increased risk of neonatal acidosis.
Testing machine learning systems in real estate
Authors: Wan Wayne Xinwei , Lindenthal Thies
Published: November 2022

Uncertainty about the inner workings of machine learning (ML) models holds back the application of ML‐enabled systems in real estate markets. How do ML models arrive at their estimates? Given the lack of model transparency, how can practitioners guarantee that ML systems do not run afoul of the law? This article first advocates a dedicated software testing framework for applied ML systems, as commonly found in computer science. Second, it demonstrates how system testing can verify that applied ML models indeed perform as intended. Two system‐testing procedures developed for ML image classifiers used in automated valuation models (AVMs) illustrate the approach.
Alcohol‐free and low‐alcohol beers: Aroma chemistry and sensory characteristics
Authors: Piornos José A. , Koussissi Elisabeth , Balagiannis Dimitrios P. , Brouwer Eric , Parker Jane K.
Published: November 2022

Alcohol‐free beers have gained popularity in the last few decades because they provide a healthier alternative to alcoholic beers and can be more widely consumed. Consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits of reducing their alcohol consumption, and this has increased the sales of nonalcoholic alternatives. However, there are still many challenges for the brewing industry to produce an alcohol‐free beer that resembles the pleasant fruity flavor and overall sensory experience of regular beers. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of alcohol‐free beer focusing on aroma chemistry. The formation of the most important aroma compounds, such as Strecker aldehydes, higher alcohols, and esters, is reviewed, aiming to outline the gaps in current knowledge. The role of ethanol as a direct and indirect flavor‐active compound is examined separately. In parallel, the influence of the most common methods to reduce alcohol content, such as physical (dealcoholization) or biological, on the organoleptic characteristics and consumer perception of the final product, is discussed.
Positioning context front and center in international human resource management research
Authors: Farndale Elaine , Bonache Jaime , McDonnell Anthony , Kwon Bora
Published: November 2022

The international human resource management (IHRM) field naturally lends itself to spotlighting the importance of internal and external organizational contexts to help understand how to manage employees in organizations effectively. However, we argue that the range of opportunities that the field creates to understand this context has not yet been fully embraced by IHRM scholars. To address this gap, this special issue explores: (a) the variety of approaches to theorizing how contexts promote or constrain organizational practice; and (b) relevant methodologies that might allow us to unearth novel context‐dependent theory in international HRM. We propose a distinction between variable‐oriented theorizing (that explains the effects of internal and external contexts on the phenomena under study) and context‐dependent theorizing (that requires researchers become intimately familiar with the setting under study to understand context as a shaper of meaning). This editorial also highlights how the articles in the special issue contribute to stimulating further context‐dependent IHRM research.