bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multivariable Mendelian randomisation study of serum lipids and dementia risk within the UK Biobank
Authors: Pham Kitty , Mulugeta Anwar , Lumsden Amanda , Hyppӧnen Elina
Published: May 2024

Background and aims

An unfavourable lipid profile has been associated with increased risk of dementia. However, it is challenging to investigate each serum lipid measure individually due to the high correlation between the traits. We tested for genetic evidence supporting associations between serum lipid measures and risk of dementia.

Methods

We conducted multivariable and univariable Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses on 329,896 UK Biobank participants (age 37–73 years) to examine the associations between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein-B (ApoB), and the risk of dementia. The multivariable approach allows us to assess the association of each lipid measure with the outcome, including where the genetic variant-exposure associations are mediated by one another.

Results

In the univariable MR analyses, we observed no association between genetically determined serum lipids and risk of dementia. However, in a multivariable MR model containing LDL-C, triglycerides, and ApoB, ApoB was associated with a higher risk of dementia (OR per 1 SD higher ApoB 1.63, 95% CI 1.12, 2.37). Multivariable findings were consistent across IVWMR and MR-Egger, but not weighted median MR or MR-Lasso. HDL-C and ApoA1 were not associated with dementia in univariable or multivariable MR.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that when considering the correlation between lipid measures, ApoB may play a role in the previously reported association between serum lipids and increased risk of dementia. Future studies should aim to confirm the findings in clinical/experimental studies and further explore the role of ApoB in dementia pathophysiology.
The Neurodegenerative Disease Knowledge Portal: Propelling Discovery Through the Sharing of Neurodegenerative Disease Genomic Resources
Authors: Dilliott Allison A. , Costanzo Maria C. , Bandres-Ciga Sara , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Casey Bradford , Hoang Quy , Iwaki Hirotaka , Jang Dongkeun , Kim Jonggeol Jeffrey , Leonard Hampton L. , Levine Kristin S. , Makarious Mary , Nguyen Trang T. , Rouleau Guy A. , Singleton Andrew B. , Smadbeck Patrick , Solle J , Vitale Dan , Nalls Mike A. , Flannick Jason , Burtt Noël P. , Farhan Sali M.K.
Published: May 2024

Although large-scale genetic association studies have proven useful for the delineation of neurodegenerative disease processes, we still lack a full understanding of the pathological mechanisms of these diseases, resulting in few appropriate treatment options and diagnostic challenges. To mitigate these gaps, the Neurodegenerative Disease Knowledge Portal (NDKP) was created as an open-science initiative with the aim to aggregate, enable analysis, and display all available genomic datasets of neurodegenerative disease, while protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the underlying datasets. The portal contains 218 genomic datasets, including genotyping and sequencing studies, of individuals across ten different phenotypic groups, including neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. In addition to securely hosting large genomic datasets, the NDKP provides accessible workflows and tools to effectively utilize the datasets and assist in the facilitation of customized genomic analyses. Here, we summarize the genomic datasets currently included within the portal, the bioinformatics processing of the datasets, and the variety of phenotypes captured. We also present example use-cases of the various user interfaces and integrated analytic tools to demonstrate their extensive utility in enabling the extraction of high-quality results at the source, for both genomics experts and those in other disciplines. Overall, the NDKP promotes open-science and collaboration, maximizing the potential for discovery from the large-scale datasets researchers and consortia are expending immense resources to produce and resulting in reproducible conclusions to improve diagnostic and therapeutic care for neurodegenerative disease patients.
Prediction of 30-Day Mortality for ICU Patients with Sepsis-3
Authors: Yu Z , Ashrafi N , Li H , Alaei K , Pishgar M
Published: May 2024

Background

There is a growing demand for advanced methods to improve the understanding and prediction of illnesses. This study focuses on Sepsis, a critical response to infection, aiming to enhance early detection and mortality prediction for Sepsis-3 patients to improve hospital resource allocation.

Methods

In this study, we developed a Machine Learning (ML) framework to predict the 30-day mortality rate of ICU patients with Sepsis-3 using the MIMIC-III database. Advanced big data extraction tools like Snowflake were used to identify eligible patients. Decision tree models and Entropy Analyses helped refine feature selection, resulting in 30 relevant features curated with clinical experts. We employed the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model for its efficiency and predictive power.

Results

The study comprised a cohort of 9118 Sepsis-3 patients. Our preprocessing techniques significantly improved both the AUC and accuracy metrics. The LightGBM model achieved an impressive AUC of 0.983 (95% CI: [0.980-0.990]), an accuracy of 0.966, and an F1-score of 0.910. Notably, LightGBM showed a substantial 6% improvement over our best baseline model and a 14% enhancement over the best existing literature. These advancements are attributed to (I) the inclusion of the novel and pivotal feature Hospital Length of Stay (HOSP_LOS), absent in previous studies, and (II) LightGBM’s gradient boosting architecture, enabling robust predictions with high-dimensional data while maintaining computational efficiency, as demonstrated by its learning curve.

Conclusions

Our preprocessing methodology reduced the number of relevant features and identified a crucial feature overlooked in previous studies. The proposed model demonstrated high predictive power and generalization capability, highlighting the potential of ML in ICU settings. This model can streamline ICU resource allocation and provide tailored interventions for Sepsis-3 patients.
Chlamydia-driven ISG15 expression dampens the immune response of epithelial cells independently of ISGylation
Authors: Wu Yongzheng , Liu Chang , Tang Chongfa , Niragire Béatrice , Levy-Zauberman Yaël , Adapen Cindy , Vernay Thomas , Hugueny Juliette , Baud Véronique , Subtil Agathe
Published: May 2024

Excessive inflammation uponC. trachomatisinfection can cause severe damages in the female genital tract. This obligate intracellular bacterium develops mainly in epithelial cells, whose innate response contributes to the overall inflammatory response to infection. The ubiquitin-like protein interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) stimulates interferon γ (IFNγ) production and is required for bacterial clearance in several infectious contexts. Here, we describe and investigate the consequences of the increase in ISG15 expression by epithelial cells infected withC. trachomatis. Infection of HeLa cells and primary ecto-cervical epithelial cells resulted in a transcriptional up-regulation ofISG15expression. This did not involve the canonical IFN-I signaling pathway and depended instead on the activation of the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway. Absence or reduction of ISG15 synthesis led to increased production of several cytokines and chemokines including interleukin (IL) 6 and IL8, implicating that ISG15 normally dampens the immune response induced byC. trachomatisinfection in epithelial cells. ISG15 exerted its control from an intracellular location, but without involving ISGylation. Finally, higher levels of inflammation and delayed bacterial clearance were observed in the genital tracts of ISG15-KO mice infected byC. trachomatiscompared to wild type animals, however IFNγ production was unchanged. Altogether, our data show that ISG15 expression acts as a brake on the immune response toC. trachomatisinfection in epithelial cells and limits bacterial burden and inflammation in mice.
The effects of daylight saving time clock changes on accelerometer-measured sleep duration in the UK Biobank
Authors: de Lange Melanie A , Richmond Rebecca C , Birnie Kate , Shapland Chin Yang , Tilling Kate , Davies Neil M
Published: May 2024

We explored the effects of daylight saving time (DST) clock changes on sleep duration in a large accelerometer dataset. Our sample included UK Biobank participants (n= 11,780; aged 43-78) with accelerometer data for one or more days during the two weeks surrounding the Spring and Autumn DST transitions from October 2013 and November 2015. Between-individual t-tests compared sleep duration on the Sunday (midnight to midnight) of the clock changes to the Sunday before and the Sunday after. We also compared sleep duration on all other days (Monday-Saturday) before and after the clock changes. In Spring, mean sleep duration was 65 minutes lower on the Sunday of the clock changes than the Sunday before (95%CI -72 to -58 minutes) and 61 minutes lower than the Sunday after (95%CI -69 to -53). In Autumn, the mean sleep duration on the Sunday of the clock changes was 33 minutes higher than the Sunday before (95% CI 27 to 39 minutes) and 38 minutes higher than the Sunday after (95% CI 32 to 43 minutes). There was some evidence of catch-up sleep after both transitions, with sleep duration a little higher on the Monday - Friday than before, although this was less pronounced in Autumn. Future research should use large datasets with longer periods of accelerometer wear to capture sleep duration before and after the transition in the same individuals, and examine other aspects of sleep such as circadian misalignment, sleep fragmentation or daytime napping.
Protecting against Respiratory Syncytial Virus: An online questionnaire study exploring UK parents’ acceptability of vaccination in pregnancy or monoclonal antibody administration for infants
Authors: Paulson Simone , Munro Alasdair PS , Cathie Katrina , Bedford Helen , Jones Christine E
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Maternal vaccination and infant monoclonal antibodies are promising avenues to protect young infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Successful inclusion into the UK immunisation schedule depends on parental acceptability, among other factors.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey from August to September 2023 exploring the likelihood of accepting, and preference for, either method of RSV prophylaxis, and reasons given for these. A questionnaire was distributed via social media networks to UK participants with a child under the age of 2 years and/or pregnant.

Results

A total of 1620 participants completed the survey. Participants’ median age was 33 years (IQR 31 −36), 92% were of White ethnicity. Acceptability was high, but higher for a maternal vaccine than an infant monoclonal antibody (p<0.0001). Concerns about safety, need for more information, and number of vaccines given to infants already were common reasons for hesitancy. Lacking knowledge about RSV was associated with a lower likelihood of accepting either option (maternal vaccine: OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.68, p=0.002; infant monoclonal antibody: OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19-0.68, p= 0.002), as was identifying as Black, Black British, African or Caribbean ethnic group, or having declined the routinely recommended antenatal vaccines.

Conclusions

Whilst most parents would accept a maternal vaccine or infant monoclonal antibody to protect their infant against RSV, understanding preferences, influencing factors and concerns is essential to optimise immunisation programmes. This study highlights the information parents require to make an informed choice about RSV protection.
Time-resolved RNA-seq data reveal dynamic expressional behaviour of TALE target genes
Authors: Grau Jan , Grove René , Erkes Annett , Unger Neele , Göricke Marcel , Boch Jens
Published: May 2024

Xanthomonas oryzaebacteria infect rice (Oryza sativa) plants causing substantial harvest loss. During the infection, the bacteria translocate a collection of effector proteins into the host plant cells. This includes transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) that act as transcriptional activators of plant genes. To understand the dynamics of TALE action during the infection, we collected RNA-seq data at different time points after the infection of rice plants with two representative pathogens of the two rice-pathogenicXanthomonas oryzaessp., namelyXan-thomonas oryzaepv.oryzaePXO83 andXanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzicolaBAI35. We observed that the induction of direct TALE target transcripts already starts 24h after the infection and is widely established after 36h, while 72h after the infection, secondary targets and downstream effects start to dominate the set of differentially expressed transcripts relative to control. Based on computational predictions of TALE targets combined with expression data, we established criteria that may help to identify direct TALE targets, which are related to expression dynamics but also shifted transcription start sites, and compiled a list of high-confidence TALE targets. Using genome-wide target predictions, we further discovered several non-coding and anti-sense transcripts that are likely induced by TALEs. Finally, we investigated different strategies to link putative secondary targets to transcription factors that are induced by TALEs during the infection.
Wake forces in a background of quadratically coupled mediators
Authors: Van Tilburg Ken
Published: May 2024

Two particles can exert forces on each other when embedded in a sea of weakly coupled particles. These “wake forces” occur whenever the source and target particles have quadratic interactions with the mediating particles; they are proportional to the ambient energy density and typically have a range of order the characteristic de Broglie wavelength of the background. The effect can be understood as source particles causing a disturbance in the background waves—a wake—which subsequently interacts with the target particles. Wake forces can be mediated by bosons or fermions, can have spin dependence, may be attractive or repulsive, and have a generally anisotropic spatial profile and range that depends on the phase-space distribution of the ambient particles. In this work, I investigate the application of wake forces to dark matter searches, recast existing limits on short-range forces into leading constraints on dark matter with quadratic couplings, and sketch out potential experimental modifications to optimize sensitivity. Wake forces occur in the Standard Model: the presence of the cosmic neutrino background induces a millimeter-range force about 22 orders of magnitude weaker than gravity. Wake forces may also be relevant in condensed-matter and atomic physics.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Parity Quantum Computing as
yz
-Plane Measurement-Based Quantum Computing
Authors: Smith Isaac D. , Nautrup Hendrik Poulsen , Briegel Hans J.
Published: May 2024

We show that universal parity quantum computing employing a recently introduced constant depth decoding procedure is equivalent to measurement-based quantum computation (MBQC) on a bipartite graph using only yz-plane measurements. We further show that unitary MBQC using only yz-plane measurements must occur on a bipartite graph. These results have a number of consequences and open new research avenues for both frameworks.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Fostering hotel ambidexterity through knowledge-sharing culture and knowledge-sharing behavior: a study of the hospitality sector in Pakistan
Authors: Hadi Noor Ul , Sheikh Sadia Aftab
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To paint a more comprehensive picture of organizational ambidexterity in the hotel industry, the purpose of this study is to investigate how and when to develop a dual operating system following a theoretical rationale supported by the three-stage model of creativity and organization support theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey-based research strategy and questionnaire-based data collection techniques have been used in the current study. data was randomly collected from human resource managers of 16 four-star and five-star hotels. The 200 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 182 usable questionnaires were analyzed using “PROCESS macro”.

Findings

The findings show that the integrative moderated-mediation model fits the data well. Hence, the three-stage model of creativity and organization support theory is useful, and the numerical evidence verified its applicability in the hospitality industry. To conclude, the results of this study, when applied to the hotel industry, can do marvels by being more innovative with their services.

Originality/value

More recently, it has been found that long-term success is only achievable and can be sustained if exploitative and explorative innovations are balanced. So far, however, little is known about how to achieve organizational ambidexterity in the hospitality industry.
Continuous service-based process monitoring using Pareto analysis and start-end case diagram
Authors: Noroozian Ali
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to offer a straightforward, cost-effective, and feasible resolution for managers to assess their processes in a live manner using the process mining technique and to identify anomalies in cases that deviate from the standard. Consequently, the findings of this research can be utilized by organizational managers, while process mining vendors can also leverage it as a feature for their solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Our two-step method is designed to initially evaluate the level of standardization within the process, followed by identifying its underlying cause. These two steps are aimed at helping managers effectively evaluate their business processes. The steps are: (1). Start-End Case Diagram: This diagram allows for the evaluation of the lead time trend and identification of cases that deviate from the standard trend line in a service-based process. (2). Happy Path Analysis: Pareto law is suggested to identify the most frequent process variants.

Findings

This approach enables organizations to easily identify problematic cases and investigate bottlenecks when deviations from the standards occur.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper lies in the introduction and utilization of the start-end case diagram, as well as the combination of this diagram with the Pareto law for the identification of happy path and root cause analysis.
Sustainable human resource management: a mixed-method analysis of the research field focusing on the visegrad countries
Authors: Piwowar-Sulej Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

Purpose

I aimed to analyze and synthesize the literature on sustainable HRM and its sub-concepts, such as green HRM and socially responsible HRM, with the focus on research conducted in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. I posed the following research questions: (1) What are the main characteristics of sustainable HRM research in the worldwide literature? (2) What are the main characteristics of research conducted in the V4 countries? (3) Which future research directions are promising gaps to be filled by research conducted in V4 countries?

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this study, I applied bibliometric analysis, scientific network analysis and in-depth content analysis.

Findings

The results of the analyses of articles indexed in the Scopus database revealed that there is a growing trend in research on sustainable HRM. However, scarce research comes from the V4; scholars have conducted such studies only in Slovakia and Poland. There are five thematic clusters in the main sample, though the concept of green HRM has been explored the most. Although the keyword network analysis showed that the V4 articles focus mostly on sustainable HRM, the in-depth content analysis provided evidence that the V4 sample represented all concepts.

Originality/value

This is the first study to analyze the achievements of scientists from the V4 in this research field. It applies methodological rigor and a mixed-method approach. Moreover, it presents directions of research that go beyond the recommendations presented in the analyzed articles.
Forecasting hospital outpatient volume using an optimized medical two-stage hybrid grey model
Authors: Ren Youyang , Wang Yuhong , Xia Lin , Liu Wei , Tao Ran
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Forecasting outpatient volume during a significant security crisis can provide reasonable decision-making references for hospital managers to prevent sudden outbreaks and dispatch medical resources on time. Based on the background of standard hospital operation and Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) periods, this paper constructs a hybrid grey model to forecast the outpatient volume to provide foresight decision support for hospital decision-makers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes an improved hybrid grey model for two stages. In the non-COVID-19 stage, the Aquila Optimizer (AO) is selected to optimize the modeling parameters. Fourier correction is applied to revise the stochastic disturbance. In the COVID-19 stage, this model adds the COVID-19 impact factor to improve the grey model forecasting results based on the dummy variables. The cycle of the dummy variables modifies the COVID-19 factor.

Findings

This paper tests the hybrid grey model on a large Chinese hospital in Jiangsu. The fitting MAPE is 2.48%, and the RMSE is 16463.69 in the training group. The test MAPE is 1.91%, and the RMSE is 9354.93 in the test group. The results of both groups are better than those of the comparative models.

Originality/value

The two-stage hybrid grey model can solve traditional hospitals' seasonal outpatient volume forecasting and provide future policy formulation references for sudden large-scale epidemics.
Dynamic interconnections between career engagement and perceived employability among recent graduates: a latent change score modeling approach
Authors: Grosemans Ilke , Forrier Anneleen , De Cuyper Nele
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine career engagement and perceived employability during the school-to-work transition. We studied within-person changes in career engagement and perceived employability in the transition from higher education to the labor market. We investigated their dynamic reciprocal relationship to unravel whether career engagement or perceived employability is the leading indicator in the relationship in view of providing adequate support for students during the school-to-work transition.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted latent change score (LCS) analyses on a three-wave sample of 701 graduates in Flanders (Belgium). We collected data in July (right before graduation), November and May. LCS is a novel method allowing to simultaneously test change and reciprocal relationships.

Findings

Our findings demonstrated how both career engagement and perceived employability changed (within-person) non-linearly during the school-to-work transition. As for their relationship, we found that perceived employability is the driving force in the relationship. Perceived employability fueled subsequent positive changes in career engagement, whereas career engagement did not lead to subsequent changes in perceived employability.

Originality/value

Our study connects the career development and the graduate employability literature, and examines the school-to-work transition from preparation for the labor market to ten months after graduation. We also make an important methodological contribution, demonstrating the added value of LCS for studying employability in higher education. Our findings provide insights in how higher education institutions may support students in the school-to-work transition.
The impact of functional and service quality on perceived security in manufacturing and telecommunication services
Authors: Song Ho Jun , Shin Nina , Koo Hyun Mo , Shin Wan Seon
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This research deals with the critical factors of quality and their significance to perceived security as an effort to build a formidable loyalty of customers in a technology driven service environment. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the key contributing elements of functional and service quality on perceived security and to further analyze its impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

A hypothesized structure model is proposed and justified using the data collected in the manufacturing and telecommunication service sectors in South Korea through survey with total 647 respondents. To clarify the reliability of model and validity of the proposed hypothesis, AMOS 24.0 software was utilized. Furthermore, two moderating variables were adopted for the depth understanding.

Findings

This study reveals that service quality dominantly influences the level of perceived security due to its characteristics that are mostly formed on the stage of customer-contact activity. This study further provides a strategic methodology for manufacturing and telecommunication firms to foster sustainable growth by focusing on perceived security during the service delivery process.

Originality/value

This finding is particularly important as Ontact technology becomes increasingly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is worthwhile noting that the research outcome of this study may, in turn, trigger the trust issue that need to be combined with quality in the era of Industry 4.0.
Understanding beginning teachers’ socio-ecological challenges: self-directed learning in the r/Teachers subreddit
Authors: Na Hunhui , Staudt Willet K. Bret
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore beginning teachers’ diverse challenges and how these are related to self-directed professional learning through social media.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a content analysis of 2,445 “New Teacher” tagged posts shared in the r/Teachers subreddit. With 1,246 posts relevant to beginning teachers’ challenges, the authors used a socio-ecological model to analyze and categorize the challenges.

Findings

Results showed that posts reflected diverse and complex challenges. Such challenges were found to be interrelated and associated with employment status, highlighting teacher marginalization issues. Results also show that most posts sought resources or advice rather than merely complaining about their situations, meaning that beginning teachers leveraged the anonymity and shared affinity offered by r/Teachers to overcome their challenges as self-directed professional learners.

Originality/value

The current study not only highlights diverse and complex challenges faced by beginning teachers but also sheds light on how they navigate their challenges in social media spaces. This research provides unique insights into how social media, particularly an anonymous affinity space – r/Teachers, can benefit teachers’ professional growth in today’s digital era.
The commercialisation of microfinance: deploying management control to address institutional complexity
Authors: Siti Nazariah A.Z. , Siti-Nabiha A.K. , Azhar Zubir
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The study aimed to examine the transformation of a non-profit microfinance institution (MFI) into a hybrid social enterprise, and the role of formal and informal controls in reconciling the discordance between the two conflicting (social and commercial) objectives that emerged due to the transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of a non-governmental MFI located in Southeast Asian country was conducted. This case study drew on the institutional logics perspective as an analytical tool to understand the complexity of change and the mobilisation of management control practices to align two conflicting goals at the core of the MFI’s organisational strategies. This study adopted the interpretive approach and relied on multiple data sources, including semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence.

Findings

The application of commercial principles in the operations of the MFI occurred in several phases. First, the MFI changed from a non-profit business model to a hybrid social enterprise, which pursued a double bottom-line strategy. The informal control practices inherent in the organisation’s culture created a high level of social awareness embedded within a social logic. In contrast, the formal control practices were directly linked to the new commercial logic. The synergy between the two logics was optimised by reinforcing formal and informal control practices.

Originality/value

This study offers insights into the role of control systems in reconciling the discordance between competing social and financial objectives within a non-governmental MFI that enjoys substantial financial and nonfinancial support from the government.
Conceptualising “the more-than-migrant child”
Authors: Arndt Sonja , Smith Kylie , Yelland Nicola
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Using a feminist, post-structural and posthuman theoretical framing the paper argues for elevating the complexity of conceptions of migrant children’s engagements with and contributions to their own lives.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper responds to contemporary concerns with research involving migrant children and childhoods in an Australian context. With researchers and teachers’ attention being drawn to enhancing the cultural wellbeing, identity and belonging of young children, it asks: who is “the migrant child”? In our response to this question, we disrupt expectations of simplistic, homogeneous views of children of migrant families or backgrounds, including confronting notions such as vulnerability, neediness and deficit.

Findings

Potential ways in which “the migrant child” is implicated by diverse social, environmental and political factors underlie the many ways in which children might exercise their autonomy and participation. In Australia, contemporary migration remains clouded by such policies as the only relatively recently overturned “White Australia” policy and so-called “boat turnbacks”, whilst, and especially in post-Covid times, Australian society simultaneously depends on migrant workers in many areas of employment. At the same time, Australia seems to openly celebrate what is seen as “successful” multiculturalism.

Originality/value

These multiple perspectives offer a deeply concerning social and policy environment for researchers and educationalists. It is in this context that we raise questions and speculate towards potential conceptualisations of “the migrant child” which recognise, rather than negate, the powers and insights arising from the child’s experiential, relational and deeply entangled onto-epistemological perspective/s.
Effect of printing parameters on impact energy absorption of additively manufactured hierarchical structures
Authors: Irez Alaeddin Burak , Bilgen Bagci Merve
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine how the thickness of layers and printing speed impact the energy absorption capacity of honeycomb structures through drop-weight experiments. In addition, the effect of printing orientation on the resulting microstructure and mechanical performance was targeted to be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, after manufacturing test specimens using fused deposition modeling technique with three distinct layer thicknesses (0.16 mm, 0.20 mm and 0.28 mm) and printing speeds (40 mm/min, 50 mm/min and 70 mm/min), drop weight tests were carried out. Then to see the effect of printing orientation on mechanical performance, three-point-bending tests were performed and damage mechanisms were comparatively examined through scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

An increase in layer thickness from 0.16 mm to 0.28 mm resulted in a notable 37% decrease in the impact resistance of the printed part. In addition, increasing the printing speed from 50 to 70 mm/min reduced the energy absorption capacity of the printed part by approximately 36.5%. Moreover, in terms of printing direction, transversely printed specimens showed 10% lower flexural strength than longitudinally printed specimens. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that internal defects were more prominent in transversely printed specimens, resulting in premature failure. Furthermore, delamination was also detected in transversely printed specimens as another damage mechanism accelerating material failure.

Originality/value

It is seen that the effect of printing parameters on the fundamental mechanical properties including tensile strength, strain at break, ductility and elastic modulus were studied by various researchers. However, to the best of authors’ knowledge, the effect of printing speed and layer thickness on the energy absorption of polylactic acid based hexagonal honeycomb was not encountered. In addition, in-depth SEM analysis to discover the influence of printing direction significantly contributes to the literature.
Is it possible to reconcile the economic and social objectives of companies? A critical perspective
Authors: Katona Klára
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether reconciling profit maximization and social welfare as two possible aspirations of company is feasible.

Design/methodology/approach

The possible corporate goals are presented by drawing an arc from purely profit-maximizing organizations via a combination of profit and social objectives to organizations clearly serving social utility. In addition to this sorting principle, the order of the different positions presented also takes into account the number of goals and goal-setters.

Findings

The primary finding of the study is that none of the business concepts discussed here met the initial expectations as for economic and social objectives. The study points to the need to redefine the purpose of business within a broader social science framework.

Research limitations/implications

For a critical perspective, this paper considers only those standpoints that emphasize a certain form of social utility beyond profitability resulting from business activity directly or indirectly.

Originality/value

In addition to revealing the relationship between the two aspirations, the novelty of the paper lies in the attempt to explore through normative critique and empirical evidence the validity of the expectations regarding the goals.
Government innovation management: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Aladwan Shaker A. , Alrababah Aseel
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to identifying challenges faced by innovation in the public sector of Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative method was adopted for achieving the study objective with the undertaking of thematic analysis upon the answers of respondents in relation to the challenges for innovation within the public sector of Jordan. There were 25 semi-structured interviews conducted with organizational development managers, innovation assessors working within the public sector and other experts.

Findings

The aspect of the government innovation concept that is most important is the creation of added value, and also that innovation is a process that is individual rather than one that is institutional. Leaders or managers and the employees are considered as primary sources for the innovation in government. On the basis of the analysis of the data within the study, it was concluded that the challenges faced by innovation management within the public sector of Jordan can be considered as being a lack of a culture that is supportive of innovation, a lack of vision for innovation, a lack of institutionalization, a lack of an innovation plan at the national level, a general lack of awareness, the bureaucracy and the rigidity of the organizational structures, the excessive routine, the lack of rewards and incentives, the lack of training, the lack of financial resources and, finally, the silo effect. Several recommendations are provided by the study for improving the reality for government innovation including the building of organizational culture for supporting innovation, the activation of open communication, the development and training of employees and the provision of proper incentives for them.

Originality/value

A conceptual model has been put forward by the study that may be employed in the assessment of challenges faced by managers when seeking to implement innovation management within institutions in the public sector. The study can also benefit both decision makers and practitioners and the makers of public policy within the public administration of Jordan, especially in relation to government innovation through the identification of all the challenges faced by innovation management in Jordanian public sector, and the provision of useful strategies and mechanisms that can help in the mitigation of those challenges and the improvement of innovation management levels in Jordanian government. Further, the study results can act as a catalyst for the issuing of annual innovation reports within the government sector of Jordan.
CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated host signal reduction for 18S metabarcoding of host‐associated eukaryotes
Authors: Owens Leah A. , Thurber Mary I. , Goldberg Tony L.
Published: May 2024

Metabarcoding‐based methods for identification of host‐associated eukaryotes have the potential to revolutionize parasitology and microbial ecology, yet significant technical challenges remain. In particular, highly abundant host reads can mask the presence of less‐abundant target organisms, especially for sample types rich in host DNA (e.g., blood and tissues). Here, we present a new CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated approach designed to reduce host signal by selective amplicon digestion, thus enriching clinical samples for eukaryotic endosymbiont sequences during metabarcoding. Our method achieves a nearly 76% increased efficiency in host signal reduction compared with no treatment and a nearly 60% increased efficiency in host signal reduction compared with the most commonly used published method. Furthermore, the application of our method to clinical samples allows for the detection of parasite infections that would otherwise have been missed.
Opportunistic smoking cessation interventions for people accessing financial support settings: A scoping review
Authors: Doody Paul , Parkhouse Thomas , Gao Min , Haasova Simona , Livingstone‐Banks Jonathan , Cheeseman Hazel , Aveyard Paul , Lindson Nicola
Published: May 2024

Aim

The aim of this work was to systematically scope the evidence on opportunistic tobacco smoking cessation interventions for people accessing financial support settings.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group specialized register to 21 March 2023. We duplicate screened 20% of titles/abstracts and all full texts. We included primary studies investigating smoking cessation interventions delivered opportunistically to people who smoked tobacco, within settings offering support for problems caused by financial hardship, for example homeless support services, social housing and food banks. Data were charted by one reviewer, checked by another and narratively synthesized.

Results

We included 25 studies conducted in a range of financial support settings using qualitative (e.g. interviews and focus groups) and quantitative (e.g. randomized controlled trials, surveys and single arm intervention studies) methodologies. Evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of opportunistic smoking cessation advice was investigated among both clients and providers. Approximately 90% of service providers supported such interventions; however, lack of resources, staff training and a belief that tobacco smoking reduced illicit substance use were perceived barriers. Clients welcomed being asked about smoking and offered assistance to quit and expressed interest in interventions including the provision of nicotine replacement therapy, e‐cigarettes and incentives to quit smoking. Six studies investigated the comparative effectiveness of opportunistic smoking cessation interventions on quitting success, with five comparing more to less intensive interventions, with mixed results.

Conclusions

Most studies investigating opportunistic smoking cessation interventions in financial support settings have not measured their effectiveness. Where they have, settings, populations, interventions and findings have varied. There is more evidence investigating acceptability, with promising results.
Eligibility for the medical therapy among men with non‐obstructive azoospermia—Findings from a multi‐centric cross‐sectional study
Authors: Pozzi Edoardo , Venigalla Greeshma , Raymo Adele , Ila Vishal , Achermann Arnold P. P. , Esteves Sandro C. , Salonia Andrea , Ramasamy Ranjith
Published: May 2024

Background

Existing literature does not provide accurate epidemiological data regarding the true prevalence of men with non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) who would be eligible for hormonal optimization therapy, according to specific pre‐treatment criteria.

Objectives

To investigate the characteristics of those men with NOA who would qualify for the medical therapy prior to any SR procedure in a large multi‐centric cross‐sectional study.

Materials and methods

Complete data from 1644 NOA patients seeking medical help for primary infertility at three tertiary referral centers from USA, Brazil, and Italy were analyzed. Baseline serum hormone levels were collected for all patients. NOA was confirmed after two consecutive semen analyses. Genetic tests, including karyotype analysis and Y microdeletions, were performed on all patients. Patients with secondary hypogonadism (total testosterone (T) levels less than 300 ng/dL and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels less than 8 mIU/mL) were earmarked as potential candidates for receiving clomiphene citrate (CC) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Patients with a T to 17β‐estradiol (E2) ratio < 10 were classified as eligible for aromatase inhibitors (AIs) therapy (e.g., anastrazole). A third sub‐cohort was created by combining the criteria of the first two sub‐cohorts. Descriptive statistics was used to detail overall characteristics and differences between the different sub‐cohorts.

Results

Among the 1,644 men, 28% (n = 460) had T < 300 ng/dL and LH < 8 mIU/mL, thereby being potentially suitable for CC and/or hCG, while 37% (n = 607) had a T to E2 ratio < 10 thus potentially suitable for AIs. Lastly, 17.7% (n = 280) met the criteria for potential eligibility for both CC and/or hCG and AIs.

Conclusions

Findings from this multicentric cross‐sectional study reveal that about 30% of men with NOA were eligible for hormonal treatment with CC and/or hCG while 37% were found to be potential candidates for AIs, and 17% for both therapies. Therefore, these findings show that a only a small subset of NOA patients can benefit from medical therapy prior to considering any SR procedures.
Autologous bone harvested during implant bed preparation: A randomized clinical trial comparing high‐speed drilling with irrigation versus low‐speed drilling without irrigation
Authors: Bernabeu‐Mira Juan Carlos , Peñarrocha‐Diago Miguel , Canullo Luigi , Camacho‐Alonso Fabio , Cortes Arthur Rodriguez Gonzalez , Peñarrocha‐Oltra David
Published: May 2024

Objective

To compare collected bone weight and the frequency of autologous bone harvesting from the flutes of surgical drills used for implant bed preparation using two different drilling techniques. A comparative evaluation of radiographic bone density and bone quality was also made.

Materials and Methods

A randomized clinical trial was made of 66 dental implants in patients with a single posterior edentulous site. The compared drilling techniques were high‐speed drilling with irrigation (control group) and low‐speed drilling without irrigation (test group). The bone collected in both groups was dried and weighed with a precise electronic balance. The frequency of harvesting was calculated. The median radiographic bone density of each implant site was measured using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) pixel values. Patient sex, age, implant position and dimensions, as well as the last drill diameter were analyzed as independent variables. The level of significance was 5%.

Results

The harvesting of bone chips from drill flutes proved possible in 51.5% of the procedures in the control group and in 100% in the test group (p < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences in bone weight between the control group (6.7 ± 10.6 mg) and the test group (41.9 ± 30.3 mg) (p < 0.001). The CBCT pixel values were directly correlated with the collected bone weight in both groups. The median radiographic bone density, arch and last drill diameter were significantly associated with harvesting bone frequency and collected bone weight (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the frequency and weight of autologous bone harvested from drills are greater with low‐speed drilling without irrigation than with high‐speed drilling with irrigation. Radiographic bone density, arch and last drill diameter also significantly influenced the harvesting outcomes.
Co‐opted Independent Directors and Firms' Environmental Performance
Authors: Saeed Asif , Sarang Aitzaz Ahsan Alias , Rind Asad Ali
Published: May 2024

Research Question/Issue

Considering escalating environmental concerns and the important role of board members in shaping strategic corporate decisions, we investigate the relationship between co‐opted independent directors and firms' environmental performance.

Research Findings/Insights

Examining US firms from 2002 to 2018, we document a significant negative relationship between co‐opted independent directors and firm environmental performance. Our findings show that while institutional ownership and CEO power exacerbate the negative association, strong corporate governance mitigates this negative impact of co‐opted independent directors on environmental performance. The cross‐sectional results show that the relationship is pronounced in firms with young CEOs, male CEOs, and low CEO compensation. Further, the relationship is also prevalent in boards with fewer meetings, high multiple directors, and higher compensation, indicating a monitoring compromise by independent co‐opted directors.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Reasonable theoretical arguments are drawn from agency theory and the theory of friendly boards, and our statistical analysis supports the academic position of the theory of friendly boards. The negative effect of independent co‐opted directors on firm environmental performance challenges the role of independent directors in addressing agency issues in environmental efforts, hinting at a departure from conventional agency theory expectations.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

To improve environmental performance, firms should reconsider their board structures, acknowledging the potential drawbacks of co‐opted independent directors. Our findings challenge the Sarbanes–Oxley Act's (SOX) emphasis on increasing the number of outside directors, which assumes independent board members will rigorously oversee executives. Such legislation is greatly based on the premise that independent board members strictly monitor executives. However, our findings indicate that not all independent directors are strict monitors, as demonstrated by lower environmental performance when there are more co‐opted independent directors.