bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating diagnostic accuracies of Panbio™ COVID-19 rapid antigen test and RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using Bayesian Latent-Class Models (BLCM)
Authors: Sisay Abay , Hartnack Sonja , Tiruneh Abebaw , Desalegn Yasin , Tesfaye Abraham , Desta Adey Feleke
Published: April 2022

Background

Rapid diagnostics are vital for curving the transmission and control of COVID-19 pandemic. Although many commercially available antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 are recommended by the WHO, their diagnostic performance has not yet been assessed in Ethiopia. So far, the vast majority of studies assessing diagnostic accuracies of rapid antigen tests considered RT-PCR as a gold standard, which inevitably leads to bias when RT-PCR is not 100% sensitive and specific. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Panbio ™ COVID-19 rapid antigen test jointly together with the RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study was done from July to September 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the third wave of the pandemic involving two health centers and two hospitals. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Panbio™ rapid antigen test and RT-PCR were obtained using Bayesian Latent-Class Models (BLCM).

Results

438 COVID-19 presumptive clients were enrolled, 239 (54.6%) were females, of whom 196 (44.7%) had a positive RT-PCR and 158 (36.1%) were Ag-RDT positive. The Ag-RDT and RT-PCR had a sensitivity (95% CrI) of 99.6 (98.4-100), 89.3 (83.2-97.6) and specificity (95% CrI) of 93.4 (82.3 - 100), 99.1 (97.5-100) respectively. Most of the study participants, 318 (72.6) exhibited COVID-19 symptoms and the most reported was cough 191 (43.6).

Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag RDT is coherent with the WHO established criteria of having a sensitivity ≥80% for Ag-RDTs. Superior performance of the Panbio™ RDT was documented in samples with the lowest cycle-threshold RT-PCR values and clients with confirmed clinical symptoms. Thus, we recommend the use of the Panbio™ RDT for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in clinical settings for screening purposes.
Characterization of Autonomic Symptom Burden in Long COVID: A Global Survey of 2,314 Adults
Authors: Larsen Nicholas W. , Stiles Lauren E. , Shaik Ruba , Schneider Logan , Muppidi Srikanth , Tsui Cheuk To , Miglis Mitchell G.
Published: April 2022

Background

Autonomic dysfunction is a common complication of post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)/long COVID, however prevalence and severity rates are unknown.

Objective

The primary goal of this study was to assess the frequency and severity of autonomic symptoms in PASC. We also aimed to assess symptom burden in PASC though well-validated questionnaires, evaluate which pre-existing conditions are associated with an increased risk of developing autonomic dysfunction, and determine whether the severity of acute COVID-19 illness is associated with the severity of autonomic dysfunction in this population.

Methods

We conducted an online survey of 2,314 adults with PASC using several validated questionnaires including the COMPASS-31 to evaluate for autonomic dysfunction. We included both participants who had tested positive for COVID-19 (test-confirmed) and participants who were diagnosed with COVID-19 based on clinical symptoms alone (test-unconfirmed). Additional analyses were performed on test-confirmed participants, comparing hospitalized to non-hospitalized participants.

Results

67% of PASC patients had a COMPASS-31 score >20, suggestive of moderate to severe autonomic dysfunction. COMPASS-31 scores did not differ between test-confirmed hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants (28.95±30.98 vs 26.4±28.35, p=0.06). Both hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants reported significant functional disability across all quality-of-life domains.

Conclusions

Moderate to severe autonomic dysfunction was seen in all PASC groups in our study, independent of hospitalization status, suggesting that autonomic dysfunction is highly prevalent in the PASC population and not necessarily dependent on the severity of acute COVID illness.
Pilot study on the use of low molecular weight heparins in the prevention of thromboembolic disease during pregnancy and puerperium
Authors: Anchústegui-Mendizábal Paloma , Anchústegui-Mendizábal Patricia , Arechabala-Palacios Laura , Fernández-González Laura , Garcia-Gil Clara , Hernández-Guijo Jesús Miguel , Martínez-Pérez Óscar
Published: April 2022

A pregnant woman is 4 to 5 times more likely to suffer a thromboembolic event than a non-pregnant woman. Furthermore, an increase in these episodes has been observed in women infected with SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, the prophylactic prescription of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) in pregnant women is undergoing an increase that has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LMWH prescription in pregnant women at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (HUPHM), according to their level of risk and its variation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. To answer this question, a retrospective cohort of 113 women who gave birth during the month of February at the HUPHM was designed. The level of individual risk of thromboembolism, according to the Royal College guidelines (37a), was calculated with an interview to complete a questionnaire and the analysis of their clinical records. 53.6% of the women were prescribed LMWH as indicated in the guidelines. This high prevalence is explained by the high age of the pregnant women (over 35 years), the wave of the omicron variant (December 2021) and a high rate of cesarean sections (25%). On the other hand, the percentage of patients with COVID-19 was 17.6% but only 53% of them had received LMWH. In conclusion, LMWH is a very common prescription in obstetrics, mostly during puerperium, and has become even more relevant due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Computational Image Analysis Techniques, Programming Languages and Software Platforms Used in Cancer Research: A Scoping Review
Authors: Arafat Youssef , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos
Published: April 2022

Background

Cancer-related research, as indicated by the number of entries in Medline, the National Library of Medicine of the USA, has dominated the medical literature. An important component of this research is based on the use of computational techniques to analyse the data produced by the many acquisition modalities. This paper presents a review of the computational image analysis techniques that have been applied to cancer. The review was performed through automated mining of Medline/PubMed entries with a combination of keywords. In addition, the programming languages and software platforms through which these techniques are applied were also reviewed.

Methods

Automatic mining of Medline/PubMed was performed with a series of specific keywords that identified different computational techniques. These keywords focused on traditional image processing and computer vision techniques, machine learning techniques, deep learning techniques, programming languages and software platforms.

Results

The entries related to traditional image processing and computer vision techniques have decreased at the same time that machine learning and deep learning have increased significantly. Within deep learning, the keyword that returned the highest number of entries was convolutional neural network. Within the programming languages and software environments, Fiji and ImageJ were the most popular, followed by Matlab, R, and Python. Within the more specialised softwares, QuPath has had a sharp growth overtaking other platforms like ICY and CellProfiler.

Conclusions

The techniques of artificial intelligence techniques and deep learning have grown to overtake most other image analysis techniques and the trend at which they grow is still rising. The most used technique has been convolutional neural networks, commonly used to analyse and classify images. All the code related to this work is available through GitHub: https://github.com/youssefarafat/Scoping-Review.
Identifiability of parameters in mathematical models of SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans
Authors: Ciupe Stanca M. , Tuncer Necibe
Published: April 2022

Determining accurate estimates for the characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, by fitting mathematical models to data, is made difficult by the lack of measurements early in the infection. To determine the sensitivity of viral predictions to the noise in the data, we developed a novel two-patch within-host mathematical model and investigated its ability to match population level data. We proposed several approaches that can improve practical identifiability of parameters, including an optimal experimental approach, and found that availability of viral data early in the infection is of essence for improving the accuracy of the estimates. Our findings can be useful for designing interventions.
Observed strong pervasive positive selection in the N-terminal domain, receptor-binding domain and furin-cleavage sites of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein sampled from Zimbabwean COVID-19 patients
Authors: Kambarami Milton S , Justen Manasa , Tawanda Mushiri
Published: April 2022

Mutations primarily in the Spike (S) gene resulted in the emergence of many SARS-CoV-2 variants like Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron variants. This has also caused a number of COVID-19 pandemic waves which have impacted human lives in different ways due to restriction measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus. In this study, evolutionary patterns found in SARS-CoV-2 sequences of samples collected from Zimbabwean COVID-19 patients were investigated. High coverage SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences were downloaded from the GISAID database along with the GISAID S gene reference sequence. Biopython, NumPy and Pandas Data Science packages were used to load, slice and clean whole genome sequences outputting a fasta file with approximate Spike (S) gene sequences. Alignment of sliced dataset with GISAID reference sequence was done using Jalview 2.11.1.3 to find exact sequences of SARS-CoV-2 S gene. Evidence of recombination signals was investigated using RDP 4.1 and pervasive selection in the S gene was investigated using FUBAR algorithm hosted on the Datamonkey webserver. Matplotlib and Seaborn Python packages were used for Data Visualisation. A plot of Bayes factor hypothesizing non-synonymous substitution being greater than synonymous substitution (β > α) in the S protein sites showed 3 peaks with evidence of strong divergence. These 3 diverging S protein sites were found to be D142G, D614G and P681R. No evidence of recombination was detected by 9 methods of RDP which use different approaches to detect recombination signals. This study is useful in guiding drug, vaccine and diagnostic innovations toward better control of the pandemic. Additionally, this study can guide other non-biological interventions as we better understand the changes in various viral characteristics driven by the observed evolutionary patterns.
High-Dimensional Multinomial Multiclass Severity Scoring of COVID-19 Pneumonia Using CT Radiomics Features and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Shiri Isaac , Mostafaei Shayan , Avval Atlas Haddadi , Salimi Yazdan , Sanaat Amirhossein , Akhavanallaf Azadeh , Arabi Hossein , Rahmim Arman , Zaidi Habib
Published: April 2022

We aimed to construct a prediction model based on computed tomography (CT) radiomics features to classify COVID-19 patients into severe-, moderate-, mild-, and non-pneumonic. A total of 1110 patients were studied from a publicly available dataset with 4-class severity scoring performed by a radiologist (based on CT images and clinical features). CT scans were preprocessed with bin discretization and resized, followed by segmentation of the entire lung and extraction of radiomics features. We utilized two feature selection algorithms, namely Bagging Random Forest (BRF) and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), each coupled to a classifier, namely multinomial logistic regression (MLR), to construct multiclass classification models. Subsequently, 10-fold cross-validation with bootstrapping (n=1000) was performed to validate the classification results. The performance of multi-class models was assessed using precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy based on the 4×4 confusion matrices. In addition, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) for multi-class classifications were calculated and compared for both models using “multiROC” and “pROC” R packages. Using BRF, 19 radiomics features were selected, 9 from first-order, 6 from GLCM, 1 from GLDM, 1 from shape, 1 from NGTDM, and 1 from GLSZM radiomics features. Ten features were selected using the MARS algorithm, namely 2 from first-order, 1 from GLDM, 2 from GLRLM, 2 from GLSZM, and 3 from GLCM features. The Mean Absolute Deviation and Median from first-order, Small Area Emphasis from GLSZM, and Correlation from GLCM features were selected by both BRF and MARS algorithms. Except for the Inverse Variance feature from GLCM, all selected features by BRF or MARS were significantly associated with four-class outcomes as assessed within MLR (All p-values<0.05). BRF+MLR and MARS+MLR resulted in pseudo-R2 prediction performances of 0.295 and 0.256, respectively. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences between the feature selection models when using a likelihood ratio test (p-value =0.319). Based on confusion matrices for BRF+MLR and MARS+MLR algorithms, the precision was 0.861 and 0.825, the recall was 0.844 and 0.793, whereas the accuracy was 0.933 and 0.922, respectively. AUCs (95% CI)) for multi-class classification were 0.823 (0.795-0.852) and 0.816 (0.788-0.844) for BRF+MLR and MARS+MLR algorithms, respectively. Our models based on the utilization of radiomics features, coupled with machine learning, were able to accurately classify patients according to the severity of pneumonia, thus highlighting the potential of this emerging paradigm in the prognostication and management of COVID-19 patients.
Insulin-like growth factor 2 hypermethylation in peripheral blood leukocytes and colorectal cancer risk and prognosis: a propensity score analysis of multiple-centre populations
Authors: Sun HongRu , Liu YanLong , Zhang YuXue , Wang Yibaina , Cui BinBin , Zhao YaShuang , Liu YuPeng
Published: April 2022

Background

To comprehensively assess and validate the associations between insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene methylation in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and prognosis.

Methods

The association between IGF2 methylation in PBLs and CRC risk was initially evaluated in a case-control study and then validated in a nested case-control study and a twins’ case-control study, respectively. Meanwhile, an initial CRC patient cohort was used to assess the effect of IGF2 methylation on CRC prognosis and then the finding was validated in the EPIC-Italy CRC cohort and TCGA datasets. A propensity score (PS) analysis was performed to control for confounders, and extensive sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of our findings.

Results

PBL IGF2 hypermethylation was associated with an increased risk of CRC in the initial study (ORPS-adjusted, 2.57, 95% CI: 1.65 to 4.03, P<0.0001), and this association was validated using two independent external datasets (ORPS-adjusted, 2.21, 95% CI: 1.28 to 3.81, P=0.0042 and ORPS-adjusted, 10.65, 95% CI: 1.26 to 89.71, P=0.0295, respectively). CRC patients with IGF2 hypermethylation in PBLs had significantly improved overall survival compared to those patients with IGF2 hypomethylation (HRPS-adjusted, 0.47, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.76, P=0.0019). The prognostic signature was also observed in the EPIC-Italy CRC cohort, although the HR did not reach statistical significance (HRPS-adjusted, 0.69, 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.27, P=0.2359).

Conclusions

IGF2 hypermethylation may serve as a potential blood-based predictive biomarker for the identification of individuals at high risk of developing CRC and for CRC prognosis.

Funding

This work was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant number 2018M641875 to YPL); the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (grant number YQ2019H021 to YPL); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 81473055 to YSZ), and by grant from the SCORE Foundation (Y-MX2016-045 to YLL).

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.
Racial Disparities in Post-Transplant Stroke and Mortality Following Stroke in Adult Cardiac Transplant Recipients in the United States
Authors: Liou Lathan , Mostofsky Elizabeth , Lehman Laura , Salia Soziema , Gupta Suruchi , Barrera Francisco J. , Mittleman Murray A.
Published: April 2022

Background

Black heart transplant recipients have a higher mortality rate than white recipients 6-12 months after transplant. Whether there are racial disparities in post-transplant stroke incidence and all-cause mortality following post-transplant stroke among cardiac transplant recipients is unknown.

Methods and Findings

Using a nationwide transplant registry, we assessed the association between race and incident post-transplant stroke using logistic regression and the association between race and mortality among adults who survived a post-transplant stroke using Cox proportional hazards regression. We found no evidence of an association between race and the odds of post-transplant stroke (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.83 – 1.21). The median survival time of those with a post-transplant stroke in this cohort was 4.1 years (95% CI: 3.0, 5.4). There were 726 deaths among the 1139 patients with post-transplant stroke, including 127 deaths among 203 Black patients and 599 deaths among 936 white patients. Among post-transplant stroke survivors, Black transplant recipients experienced a 27% higher rate of mortality compared to white recipients (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.57). This disparity is strongest in the period beyond the first 6 months and appears to be mediated by differences in the post-transplant setting of care between Black and white patients. The racial disparity in mortality outcomes was not evident in the past decade.

Conclusions

The improved survival of Black patients in the recent decade may reflect overall protocol improvements for heart transplant recipients irrespective of race, such as advancements in surgical techniques and immediate postoperative care as well as increased awareness about reducing racial disparities.
Downregulating PTBP1 fails to convert astrocytes into hippocampal neurons and to alleviate symptoms in Alzheimer’s mouse models
Authors: Guo Tiantian , Pan Xinjia , Jiang Guangtong , Zhang Denghong , Qi Jinghui , Shao Lin , Wang Zhanxiang , Xu Huaxi , Zhao Yingjun
Published: April 2022

Conversion of astroglia into functional neurons has been considered as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies reported that downregulation of the RNA binding protein, PTBP1, converts astrocytes into neurons in situ in multiple mouse brain regions, consequently improving pathological phenotypes associated with Parkinson’s disease, RGC loss, and aging. Here, we demonstrate that PTBP1 downregulation using antisense oligonucleotides or an astrocyte specific AAV-mediated shRNA system fails to convert hippocampal astrocytes into neurons in WT, and β- amyloid (5×FAD) and tau (PS19) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse models, and fails to reverse synaptic/cognitive deficits and AD-associated pathology. Similarly, PTBP1 downregulation cannot convert astrocytes into neurons in the striatum and substantia nigra. Together, our study suggests that cell fate conversion strategy for neurodegenerative disease therapy through manipulating one single gene, such as PTBP1, warrants more rigorous scrutiny.
Whole genome analysis in APOE4 homozygotes identifies the DAB1-RELN pathway in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis
Authors: Bracher-Smith Matthew , Leonenko Ganna , Baker Emily , Crawford Karen , Graham Andrew C. , Salih Dervis A. , Howell Brian W. , Hardy John , Escott-Price Valentina
Published: April 2022

The APOE-ε4 allele is known to predispose to amyloid deposition and consequently is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. There is debate as to whether the APOE gene accounts for all genetic variation of the APOE locus. Another question which remains is whether APOE-ε4 carriers have other genetic factors influencing the progression of amyloid positive individuals to AD. We conducted a genome-wide association study in a sample of 5,390 APOE-ε4 homozygous (ε4ε4) individuals (288 cases and 5,102 controls) aged 65 or over in the UK Biobank. We found no significant associations of SNPs in the APOE locus with AD in the sample of ε4ε4 individuals. However, we identified a novel genome-wide significant locus associated to AD, mapping to DAB1 (rs112437613, OR=2.28, CI=1.73-3.01, p=5.4×10−9). This identification of DAB1 led us to investigate other components of the DAB1-RELN pathway for association. Analysis of the DAB1-RELN pathway indicated that the pathway itself was associated with AD, therefore suggesting an epistatic interaction between the APOE locus and the DAB1-RELN pathway.
Towards a liberatory pedagogy of disaster risk reduction among built environment educators
Authors: Chmutina Ksenia , von Meding Jason
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of what is being taught – and how – to future built environment (BE) professionals in higher education (HE) BE curricular in the context of disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Design/methodology/approach

Reflecting on the results of an extensive survey carried out among 21 BE educators representing 14 countries, the pedagogies used to educate tomorrow’s BE professionals about DRR-related subjects are explored.

Findings

The vast majority of HE training for the future BE professionals focuses on hazards as a “problem” posed by nature – something that can be “solved” through a technical solution. Little reflection is required as to the social implications of DRR “solutions”, and knowledge too often remains analytical and distant from any sort of lived experience. Whilst many DRR-related subjects introduce the ideas of human-centric DRR, there is still a disconnection between technical engineering subjects and broader social science subjects. This is a missed opportunity for students acquiring technical knowledge to reflect on and engage with a wider societal context.

Originality/value

The paper draws on the liberative pedagogies of Paulo Freire, bell hooks and others to engage BE educators in collectively drawing on philosophies and practices that emphasise holistic ways of knowing and learning and encourage the broader consideration of non-technical ideas. This kind of DRR pedagogy is required if the society is to collectively strive for a BE that enhances equity and well-being, while avoiding the creation of risk through development and redevelopment.
The heterogeneous effect of forest tenure security on forestry management efficiency of farmers for different forest management types
Authors: Zou Yaqin , Jiang Xuemei , Wen Caiyun , Li Yang
Published: April 2022

Purpose

After the Collective Forest Tenure Reform (CFTR) in China, the enthusiasm of farmers for forestry management is stimulated. However, the forest tenure security varies among farmers, making the research conclusions of its impact on forestry management efficiency inconsistent. Based on the survey data of 1,627 households from the collective forest regions in 6 provinces of China in 2017, this paper not only discusses the differences of farmers' forestry management efficiency after the reform, but also further explores the heterogeneous impact of forest tenure security on forestry management efficiency in combination with different forest management types.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed the stochastic frontier production function model to measure the forestry management efficiency of farmers. Then, Tobit models were used to discuss the influencing factors of farmers' forestry management efficiency.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the improvement of farmers' forest tenure security can effectively improve forestry management efficiency, but the effect is affected by forest management types. For farmers who manage economic forests and non-timber forests, safe tenure promotes the forestry management efficiency; while for those who manage ecological public welfare forests, tenure security plays an opposite role.

Originality/value

Therefore, satisfying farmers' differentiated demands for forest tenure according to forest management types to improve forest tenure security and further refining supporting policies of collective forestry reform is of great significance to improve the efficiency of farmers' forestry management in collective forest regions.
Pathfinder; alternative care pathways for older adults who phone the emergency medical services in North Dublin: a case study
Authors: O’Brien Claire , Hogan Laura , Ward Peter , Howard William , Mooney Rebecca , Bernard Paul , Corcoran Grace
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Emergency Department (ED) presentations in older people are associated with a wide range of adverse events, which increase the risk of lengthy hospitalisation and poor outcomes. Pathfinder is an inter-organisational initiative delivered in partnership between Beaumont Hospital Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy departments and the National Ambulance Service. Pathfinder responds to non-serious and non-life-threatening emergency medical service (EMS) calls. This study aims to demonstrate how Pathfinder can safely treat a proportion of older people at home by using alternative care pathways (ACPs), therefore avoiding unnecessary ED presentations. Once a decision has been reached to treat the person at home, the Pathfinder follow-up team delivers functional rehabilitation and case management in the persons’ home over the subsequent days.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines the Pathfinder assessment, management and interventions in one clinical case example. Outcome measures include the level of patient satisfaction obtained via routine telephone feedback questionnaire and re-presentation to Beaumont Hospital within 30 days.

Findings

This paper illustrates through a case example the benefit of a collaborative multi-disciplinary rapid response team for non-serious and non-life-threatening EMS calls in older adults. The patient in this case example had no further EMS calls or ED presentations for 30 days after Pathfinder intervention and reported a high level of satisfaction with the service.

Research limitations/implications

ED presentation was avoided through comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment, including immediate access to intensive follow-up support in the person’s own home.

Practical implications

The Pathfinder service is improving access to ACPs for older people in the Beaumont Hospital catchment area. Pathfinder will now be spread nationally, with local adaptation, so that older people in other parts of Ireland will also benefit from this integrated model of care.

Originality/value

Patient feedback surveys confirm older adults want access to alternative care pathways.
Where does internal governance mechanism matter in emerging markets? Insight from financial and non-financial firms
Authors: Agyemang Badu Ebenezer , Nyarko Assabil Ebenezer
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between board attributes and firm value to identify board attributes that are “pleasant” to have from what is required to have in financial and non-financial firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses five measures of firm value to estimate the relationship between internal governance mechanism for financial and non-financial firms using system generalized methods of moments.

Findings

The paper finds that board independence and board size is a “must” have and value-enhancing board attributes for financial firms. On the contrary, board independence may be considered as a “pleasant” board attribute for non-financial firms. Further, the paper finds that duality is not value-enhancing board attribute for both financial and non-financial firms.

Practical implications

The findings imply that differences in requirements for strategic or resource and monitoring functions in financial and non-financial firms are responsible for the differences in board attributes that are value-relevant for these firms.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that the value relevance of board attributes differs in financial and non-financial firms.
Green talent management and employees’ innovative work behavior: the roles of artificial intelligence and transformational leadership
Authors: Odugbesan Jamiu Adetola , Aghazadeh Sahar , Al Qaralleh Rawan Enad , Sogeke Olukunle Samuel
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the significance of an emerging concept – green talent management (TM) and its influence on employees’ innovative work behavior, together with the moderating roles of transformational leadership and artificial intelligence within the context of higher educational institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Two hundred and thirty-five structured questionnaires were administered to the academic staff in five universities located in Northern Cyprus, and the data was analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling with the aid of WarpPLS (7.0).

Findings

This study provides evidences that green hard and soft TM exerts significant influence on employees’ innovative work behavior. Similarly, transformational leadership and artificial intelligence were confirmed to have a significant impact on employees’ innovative work behavior. Moreover, the study found transformational leadership and artificial intelligence to significantly moderate the relationship between green hard TM and employees’ innovative work behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides theoretical and managerial implications of findings that will assist the leaders in higher educational institutions in harnessing the potential of green TM in driving their employees’ innovative work behavior toward the achievement of sustainable competitive advantage in the market where they operate.

Originality/value

The attention of researchers in the recent time has been on the way to address the challenge facing organizational leaders on how to develop and retain employee that will contribute to the sustainability of their organization toward the achievement of sustainable competitive advantage in the market they operate. Meanwhile, the studies exploring these concerns are limited. In view of this, this study investigates the significance of an emerging concept – green talent management and its influence on employees’ innovative work behavior, together with the moderating roles of transformational leadership and artificial intelligence within the context of higher educational institutions.
Managing knowledge reuse: the duality of innovator personality
Authors: Zhao Jianyu , Wei Jiang , Yu Lean , Xi Xi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights for managing knowledge reuse in terms of the duality of innovator personality. Continuously developing new products is crucial for firms to maintain and enhance their competitive advantages. However, the limited and highly specialized knowledge can cause innovators of firms to face difficulties in the process of new product development (NPD). In this setting, knowledge reuse becomes a solution that may benefit innovators to overcome the innovation dilemma. Given the fact that innovators with different personality are likely to form incongruent cognitions and affection on knowledge reuse, thus subsequently affecting the performance of NPD, there is an urgent need to investigate the effects of innovator personality in the entire process of knowledge reuse.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper exploits five-factor model (FFM) of personality to comprehensively investigate the dual effects of innovator personality in managing knowledge reuse based on the two distinct sets of knowledge reuse initiation and implementation.

Findings

By using the data from 981 innovators of knowledge-intensive firms in China, this study finds that the FFM traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness had opposing effects on initiation and implementation of knowledge reuse. While the FFM traits of emotional stability and openness to experience both positively affect the knowledge reuse initiation and implementation. Moreover, the FFM traits of extraversion benefit the shaping of knowledge reuse initiation whereas encumbering the implementation of knowledge reuse.

Originality/value

First, this study reveals the different roles of cognitive and affective traits of personality in shaping knowledge reuse. Second, this study exposes the role of innovator personality in determining the performance effects of knowledge reuse implementation. Third, this study highlights the dual effects of innovator personality in managing knowledge reuse. This study offers evidence for arranging the innovators with appropriate FFM traits in various stages of knowledge reuse.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics do not serve services customers: a missing link between sustainability metrics and customer perceptions of social innovation
Authors: Aksoy Lerzan , Buoye Alexander John , Fors Maja , Keiningham Timothy Lee , Rosengren Sara
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight challenges for service firms communicating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts to customers. Specifically, it focuses on the relationship between ESG metrics and reporting and customer perceptions of social innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical material comprises three years of data (2018–2020) covering more than 100 firms from three sources: (1) Social Innovation Index (Sii), which is collected as part of the American Innovation Index (Aii), (2) Bloomberg Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) ESG and (3) Datamaran.

Findings

ESG metrics and reporting do not suffice to explain customer perceptions of social innovativeness. Rather, a firm's industry plays the prominent role in affecting these perceptions where service firms are at a disadvantage as customers perceive services as less socially innovative compared to goods.

Practical implications

While ESG metrics and reporting provide important information for investors and regulators, they are not reflected in customers' perceptions of firms' social innovativeness, and services are at a disadvantage relative to goods. Therefore, services researchers and managers must advance their knowledge regarding how to better link ESG metrics and report to customers' perceptions.

Originality/value

The paper offers a first large-scale, cross-industry investigation of how ESG metrics and reporting impact customer perceptions of social innovativeness, leading to a research agenda on communication of ESG.
The effectiveness of mobile learning strategies based on pervasive animated games: an example in a vocational technology college
Authors: Huang Yuanlin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The author proposed a mobile learning model of pervasive animated games which allows college students to learn via games accessed through a smartphone. It can develop the process of field observation and self-reflection to enhance learning effectiveness, and the motivation, and attitude of students towards learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The author proposed a model for teaching via pervasive animated games. The author used SPSS software and Pearson's correlation coefficients to explore different mobile learning strategies and their relationship with learning attitudes and achievement. Participants were vocational technology college students, who each experienced animated games in individual and group learning settings.

Findings

The results found that the learning performance of students in the individual learning group was better than that of the group learning group. A higher level of digital experience was associated with better learning performance, and a more positive attitude towards using mobile phones was associated with better learning performance.

Research limitations/implications

The learning method still has its limitations, the learner's digital information level, learning mode, learning attitudes will have an impact on the student playing teaching pervasive animation games. Therefore, improving student information level is one of the important topics of teaching pervasive animation games and mobile learning.

Originality/value

The author proposed a mobile learning strategy based on pervasive animated games. The result in the strategy of mobile learning shows that the level of students' digital experience and the overall design of animated games are important criteria for successful implementation.
Turmeric as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for electron beam-curable steel coating in 3.5% sodium chloride solution
Authors: Mousaa I.M. , Elhady M.A.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims is to evaluate the environmentally friendly turmeric as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in a simulated seawater corrosion medium such as a 3.5% NaCl solution. To accomplish this, different proportions of turmeric (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.5%) were added to solvent-free epoxy-acrylate resin-based coating formulations. Then, all the formulations were sonicated and coated as thin films on different substrates; these coated films were then polymerized under a dose of 10 kGy of electron beam (EB) radiation.

Design/methodology/approach

Various properties of all cured coating films such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy were studied, in addition to their physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Turmeric was then evaluated in these formulations as an anticorrosion agent for mild steel in 3.5% NaCl. The different corrosion-resistant properties of all EB-cured coating films were evaluated by open circuit potential measurements, rust degree, blistering, adhesion loss at X-cut and weight loss measurements.

Findings

The results showed that most of the formulations are homogeneous, especially at low concentrations of turmeric, and their films have high-performance properties.

Originality/value

It was also found that the formulation containing 0.6% of turmeric per 100 g of coating was considered the best formulation as it gave the highest protection to the mild steel plates with no negative effects on the chemical and physical properties of their films.
Macro-economic variables and mortality rate nexus: focus on Nigeria
Authors: Adeosun Oluyemi Theophilus , Gbadamosi Idris Isaac , Odior Ernest Simeon
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of critical macroeconomic drivers like economic growth (gross domestic product (GDP)/capita), inflation and population size on the mortality rate of Nigeria. The general lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had so many effects like loss of jobs, insecurity, businesses collapsing, salary cuts, unemployment and increased prices of commodities in the market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focused on secondary data for the period 1991–2019 for GDP/capita, inflation, population size and mortality rate which were obtained from World Development Indicators (WDI). Time series analysis tests like augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF), Bounds co-integration and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) were used to determine the stationarity conditions of the variables, co-integration presence among the variables and to determine the short-run and long-run relationships between the endogenous and exogenous variables.

Findings

The study shows that the variables are stationary at different orders i.e. I (0) and I (1) and the presence of co-integration among the variables. There exists a positive relationship between GDP/capita and mortality rate on the short-run which means increase in GDP/capita does not reduce the mortality rate in the country, there is also a positive short-run relationship between inflation and mortality rate but there are no long-run relationships among the variables.

Originality/value

The paper clearly examines the impact of GDP/capita, inflation and population growth on mortality rate in Nigeria.
Cultural heritage tourism in North Cyprus: findings from in-depth interviews with experts
Authors: Saydam Mehmet Bahri , Ozturen Ali , Kilic Cemal
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Heritage tourism is vital to the preservation of cultural resources and economic growth and tourism can be utilized to protect and promote cultural heritage. However, if cultural heritage tourism is not developed following sustainable development principles, it can negatively affect a region's cultural legacy. This study aims to analyze expert opinion on sustainable heritage tourism in the geographical setting of North Cyprus.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative method was used to conduct in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews with seven heritage tourism experts in North Cyprus. Theme analysis of the transcripts was undertaken and triangulated utilizing the automated content and thematic analysis capabilities of the Leximancer software program.

Findings

The analysis revealed six themes in descriptions of sustainable cultural heritage tourism provided by the experts. These are “history”; “promotion”; “institutions”; “protection and maintenance”; “museums” and “technology”.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to analyze the key aspects affecting the long-term viability of cultural heritage tourism in North Cyprus.
Education for sustainable tourism development: an exploratory study of key learning factors
Authors: Rezapouraghdam Hamed , Alipour Habib , Kilic Hasan , Akhshik Arash
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to identify the main facilitating factors in learning sustainable tourism development from the perspective of tourism students.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive qualitative approach was applied. Focus group data collection and content analysis were used to gather and interpret the data obtained from tourism students.

Findings

Three major problems prevent tourism students from learning; consequently, three solutions emerged to encourage them to learn about sustainable tourism development. The problems are (1) the complexity of the topic, (2) the applicability of the subject and (3) pessimism about the future. The solutions are (1) implementable sustainable approaches/ideas for the future, (2) the learning process needs to combine field observation and creative approaches and (3) digital tools and video material should be integrated with the learning process.

Originality/value

The presentation of sustainable tourism development for tourism students has received relatively limited attention in the literature. For Northern Cyprus as a study setting, this study is one of the first attempts to contribute to education for sustainable development and its implementation.
Agricultural green efficiency and productivity incorporating waste recycling
Authors: Xu Ruomei , Wu Yanrui , Chen Chen
Published: April 2022

This paper analyses agricultural green efficiency and productivity by using the farming and livestock industries as case studies. To do so, nitrogen and phosphorus surpluses in arable land are measured by considering recycling of agricultural wastes in the farming and livestock ecosystem and defined as the undesirable output in agricultural production. The empirical analysis is based on data of rural areas in Anhui province, China, over the period of 2000 to 2017. It shows the existence of considerable nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient surplus in arable land, with phosphorus surplus keeps increasing. It also illustrates that nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from manure were decreasing while those from the crop residues were increasing. The empirical assessment demonstrates that agricultural green efficiency tended to converge over time. Furthermore, agricultural green total factor productivity showed an overall increasing trend, although its components, efficiency change and technological progress, moved in opposite directions in most years. Finally, some useful policy recommendations are provided in this paper.
Investigating the relationship between learning channel sets during the mathematical practice of autistic students
Authors: Vostanis Athanasios , Padden Ciara , Langdon Peter E.
Published: April 2022

Learning channels refer to the way students receive instruction and respond to it. We examined the relationship between See‐Say and See‐Write learning channel sets during the mathematical practice of four male autistic students, aged 8 to 14 years. Participants received practice in the ×7 and ×8 tables across both channel sets. Lessons included untimed practice, timed practice, graphing and goal‐setting. A multiple treatments design, embedded in a multiple baseline across participants design, was used. When practice on a set was completed, an assessment of endurance, stability, application, generalisation to the other set and maintenance was conducted. Practice led to improvements that were maintained. Participants achieved learning rates above 30% per week, which is a minimum expectation in Precision Teaching. Practice on one set affected performance on the other, and the order of practice was an important variable. The See‐Say channel set led to better generalisation outcomes while performance was stronger on the See‐Write.
Enzyme cascade converting cyclohexanol into ε‐caprolactone coupled with NADPH recycling using surface displayed alcohol dehydrogenase and cyclohexanone monooxygenase on E. coli
Authors: Tian Haijin , Furtmann Christoph , Lenz Florian , Srinivasamurthy Vishnu , Bornscheuer Uwe T. , Jose Joachim
Published: April 2022

The application of enzymes as biocatalysts in industrial processes has great potential due to their outstanding stereo‐, regio‐ and chemoselectivity. Using autodisplay, enzymes can be immobilized on the cell surface of Gram‐negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. In the present study, the surface display of an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and a cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) on E. coli was investigated. Displaying these enzymes on the surface of E. coli resulted in whole‐cell biocatalysts accessible for substrates without further purification. An apparent maximal reaction velocity VMAX(app) for the oxidation of cyclohexanol with the ADH whole‐cell biocatalysts was determined as 59.9 mU ml−1. For the oxidation of cyclohexanone with the CHMO whole‐cell biocatalysts a VMAX(app) of 491 mU ml−1 was obtained. A direct conversion of cyclohexanol to ε‐caprolactone, which is a known building block for the valuable biodegradable polymer polycaprolactone, was possible by combining the two whole‐cell biocatalysts. Gas chromatography was applied to quantify the yield of ε‐caprolactone. 1.12 mM ε‐caprolactone was produced using ADH and CHMO displaying whole‐cell biocatalysts in a ratio of 1:5 after 4 h in a cell suspension of OD578nm 10. Furthermore, the reaction cascade as applied provided a self‐sufficient regeneration of NADPH for CHMO by the ADH whole‐cell biocatalyst.
Palaeoserology – teeth put into ancient plagues and pandemics
Authors: Dallmeier Kai
Published: April 2022

Based on archived medical records and evolutionary modelling, a Coronavirus has been hypothesized as root and causative agent of the so‐called ‘Russian Flu’ pandemic that surged in 1889–1890. In a Correspondence published in this volume of Microbial Biotechnology, Ramassy and colleagues try to support historical evidence by true experimental data using 'palaeoserology', a novel approach combining archaeology and modern immunological analysis. This Opinion piece tries to weigh arguments how strong such data may be, and where a refinement of methodology might be desirable before textbooks of medical history switch to call the 1890s pandemic ‘Russian Corona’.