bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical decisions in the trauma intensive care unit: Are we practicing primary palliative care?
Authors: Edsall Andrew , Howard Shannon , Dewey Elizabeth N. , Siegel Timothy , Zonies David , Brasel Karen , Cook Mackenzie R. , Nagengast Andrea K.
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

Devastating injuries require both urgent assessment by a trauma service and early attention to patients’ goals of care (GOC). American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) guidelines recommend an initial palliative assessment within 24 hours of admission and family meeting, if needed, within 72 hours. We hypothesize that a primary palliative care–based practice improves adherence to TQIP guidelines in trauma patients.

METHODS

All adult trauma patients who died while inpatient from January 2014 to December 2018 were reviewed. Timing of GOC discussions, transition to comfort measures only (CMO), and the utilization of specialty palliative services were analyzed with univariate analysis.

RESULTS

During the study period, 415 inpatients died. Median Injury Severity Score was 26 (interquartile range [IQR], 17–34), median age was 67 years (IQR, 51–81 years), and 72% (n = 299) transitioned to CMO before death. Documented GOC discussions increased from 77% of patients in 2014 to 95% of patients in 2018 (p < 0.001), and in 2018, the median time to the first GOC discussion was 15 hours (IQR, 7– 24 hours). Specialty palliative care was consulted in 7% of all patients. Of patients who had at least one GOC discussion, 98% were led by the trauma intensive care unit (TICU) team. Median time from admission to first GOC discussion was 27 hours (IQR, 6–91 hours). Median number of GOC discussions was 1 (IQR, 1–2). Median time to CMO after the final GOC discussion was 0 hours (IQR, 0–3). Median time to death after transition to CMO was 4 hours (IQR, 1–18 hours).

CONCLUSION

Of those who died during index admission, we demonstrated significant improvement in adherence to American College of Surgeons TQIP palliative guidelines across the 5-year study period, with the TICU team guiding the majority of GOC discussions. Our TICU team has developed an effective primary palliative care approach, selectively consulting specialty palliative care only when needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/care management, level III.
Mosquito-borne arboviruses in Uganda: history, transmission and burden
Authors: Mayanja Martin N. , Mwiine Frank N. , Lutwama Julius J. , Ssekagiri Alfred , Egesa Moses , Thomson Emma C. , Kohl Alain
Published: June 2021

Mosquito-transmitted arboviruses constitute a large proportion of emerging infectious diseases that are both a public health problem and a threat to animal populations. Many such viruses were identified in East Africa, a region where they remain important and from where new arboviruses may emerge. We set out to describe and review the relevant mosquito-borne viruses that have been identified specifically in Uganda. We focused on the discovery, burden, mode of transmission, animal hosts and clinical manifestation of those previously involved in disease outbreaks. A search for mosquito-borne arboviruses detected in Uganda was conducted using search terms ‘Arboviruses in Uganda’ and ‘Mosquitoes and Viruses in Uganda’ in PubMed and Google Scholar in 2020. Twenty-four mosquito-borne viruses from different animal hosts, humans and mosquitoes were documented. The majority of these were from familyPeribunyaviridae, followed byFlaviviridae,Togaviridae,Phenuiviridaeand only one each from familyRhabdoviridaeandReoviridae. Sixteen (66.7 %) of the viruses were associated with febrile illnesses. Ten (41.7 %) of them were first described locally in Uganda. Six of these are a public threat as they have been previously associated with disease outbreaks either within or outside Uganda. Historically, there is a high burden and endemicity of arboviruses in Uganda. Given the many diverse mosquito species known in the country, there is also a likelihood of many undescribed mosquito-borne viruses. New generation diagnostic platforms have great potential to identify new viruses. Indeed, four novel viruses, two of which were from humans (Ntwetwe and Nyangole viruses) and two from mosquitoes (Kibale and Mburo viruses) including the 2010 yellow fever virus (YFV) outbreak were identified in the last decade using next generation sequencing. Given the unbiased approach of detection of viruses by this technology, its use will undoubtedly be critically important in the characterization of mosquito viromes which in turn will inform other diagnostic efforts.
Correlates of protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Feng Shuo , Phillips Daniel J. , White Thomas , Sayal Homesh , Aley Parvinder K. , Bibi Sagida , Dold Christina , Fuskova Michelle , Gilbert Sarah C. , Hirsch Ian , Humphries Holly E. , Jepson Brett , Kelly Elizabeth J. , Plested Emma , Shoemaker Kathryn , Thomas Kelly M. , Vekemans Johan , Villafana Tonya L. , Lambe Teresa , Pollard Andrew J , Voysey Merryn ,   the Oxford COVID Vaccine Trial Group
Published: June 2021

Background

Although 6 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organisation as of 16th June 2021, global supply remains limited. An understanding of the immune response associated with protection could facilitate rapid licensure of new vaccines.

Methods

Data from a randomised efficacy trial of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in the UK was analysed to determine the antibody levels associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2. Anti-spike and anti-RBD IgG by multiplex immunoassay, pseudovirus and live neutralising antibody at 28 days after the second dose were measured in infected and non-infected vaccine recipients. Weighted generalised additive models for binary data were applied to symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection data from ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 recipients. Cubic spline smoothed log antibody levels, and weights were applied to account for potential selection bias in sample processing. Models were adjusted for baseline risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

Higher levels of all immune markers were correlated with a reduced risk of symptomatic infection. Vaccine efficacy of 80% against primary symptomatic COVID-19 was achieved with an antibody level of 40923 (95% CI: 16748, 125017) and 63383 (95% CI: 16903, not computed (NC)) for anti-spike and anti-RBD, and 185 (95% CI: NC, NC) and 247 (95% CI: 101, NC) for pseudo- and live-neutralisation assays respectively. Antibody responses did not correlate with overall protection against asymptomatic infection.

Conclusions

Correlates of protection can be used to bridge to new populations using validated assays. The data can be used to extrapolate efficacy estimates for new vaccines where large efficacy trials cannot be conducted. More work is needed to assess correlates for emerging variants.
Dystrophin regulates peripheral circadian SRF signalling
Authors: Betts Corinne A , Jagannath Aarti , van Westering Tirsa LE , Bowerman Melissa , Banerjee Subhashis , Meng Jinhong , Falzarano Maria Sofia , Cravo Lara , McClorey Graham , Meijboom Katharina E , Bhomra Amarjit , Lim Wooi Fang , Rinaldi Carlo , Counsell John R , Chwalenia Katarzyna , O’Donovan Elizabeth , Saleh Amer F , Gait Michael J , Morgan Jennifer E , Ferlini Alessandra , Foster Russell G , Wood Matthew JA
Published: June 2021

Dystrophin is a sarcolemmal protein essential for muscle contraction and maintenance, absence of which leads to the devastating muscle wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)[1, 2]. Dystrophin has an actin-binding domain [3–5], which specifically binds and stabilises filamentous (F)-actin[6], an integral component of the RhoA-actin-serum response factor (SRF)-pathway[7]. The RhoA-actin-SRF-pathway plays an essential role in circadian signalling whereby the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, transmits systemic cues to peripheral tissues, activating SRF and transcription of clock target genes[8, 9]. Given dystrophin binds F-actin and disturbed SRF-signalling disrupts clock entrainment, we hypothesised that dystrophin loss causes circadian deficits. Here we show for the first time alterations in the RhoA-actin-SRF-signalling-pathway, in both dystrophin-deficient myotubes and dystrophic mouse models. Specifically, we demonstrate reduced F/G-actin ratios and nuclear MRTF, dysregulation of core clock and downstream target-genes, and down-regulation of key circadian genes in muscle biopsies from DMD patients harbouring an array of mutations. Further, disrupted circadian locomotor behaviour was observed in dystrophic mice indicative of disrupted SCN signalling, and indeed dystrophin protein was absent in the SCN of dystrophic animals. Dystrophin is thus a critically important component of the RhoA-actin-SRF-pathway and a novel mediator of circadian signalling in peripheral tissues, loss of which leads to circadian dysregulation.
utR.annotation: a tool for annotating genomic variants that could influence post-transcriptional regulation
Authors: Liu Yating , Dougherty Joseph D.
Published: June 2021

Whole genome sequencing of patient populations is identifying thousands of new variants in UnTranslated Regions(UTRs). While the consequences of UTR mutations are not as easily predicted from primary sequence as coding mutations are, there are some known features of UTRs modulate their function. utR.annotation is an R package that can be used to annotate potential deleterious variants in the UTR regions for both human and mouse species. Given a CSV or VCF format variant file, utR.annotation provides information of each variant on whether and how it alters known translational regulators including:upstream Open Reading Frames (uORFs), upstream Kozak sequences, polyA signals, the Kozak sequence at the annotated translation initiation site, start codon, and stop codon, conservation scores in the variant position, and whether and how it changes ribosome loading based on a model from empirical data.

Availability and implementation

utR.annotation is freely available on Bitbucket (https://bitbucket.org/jdlabteam/utr.annotation/src/master/) and CRAN (to be updated)

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available athttps://wustl.box.com/s/yye99bryfin89nav45gv91l5k35fxo7z
Integrative COVID-19 Biological Network Inference with Probabilistic Core Decomposition
Authors: Guo Yang , Esfahani Fatemeh , Shao Xiaojian , Srinivasan Venkatesh , Thomo Alex , Xing Li , Zhang Xuekui
Published: June 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is responsible for millions of deaths around the world. To help contribute to the understanding of crucial knowledge and to further generate new hypotheses relevant to SARS-CoV-2 and human protein interactions, we make use of the information abundant Biomine probabilistic database and extend the experimentally identified SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interaction (PPI) networkin silico. We generate an extended network by integrating information from the Biomine database, the PPI network, and other experimentally validated results. To generate novel hypotheses, we focus on the high-connectivity sub-communities that overlap most with the integrated experimentally validated results in the extended network. Therefore, we propose a new data analysis pipeline that can efficiently compute core decomposition on the extended network and identify dense subgraphs. We then evaluate the identified dense subgraph and the generated hypotheses in three contexts: literature validation for uncovered virus targeting genes and proteins, gene function enrichment analysis on subgraphs, and literature support on drug repurposing for identified tissues and diseases related to COVID-19. The majority types of the generated hypotheses are proteins with their encoding genes and we rank them by sorting their connections to the integrated experimentally validated nodes. In addition, we compile a comprehensive list of novel genes, and proteins potentially related to COVID-19, as well as novel diseases which might be comorbidities. Together with the generated hypotheses, our results provide novel knowledge relevant to COVID-19 for further validation.
Aliquoting of isobaric labeling reagents for low concentration and single cell proteomics samples
Authors: Yuan Yuting , Orsburn Benjamin C.
Published: June 2021

The introduction of isobaric tagging reagents enabled more accurate, high-throughput quantitative proteomics by enabling multiple samples to be multiplexed. One drawback of these workflows is the relative expense of the proprietary isobaric reagents, which is often only second to the expense of the instruments themselves. These highly reactive chemical tags are only commercially available in relatively large aliquots compared to the typical amounts of peptides analyzed in proteomic workflows today. Excess reagents are typically disposed of following a single labeling experiment or those performed within a few days of opening a new kit. We present a simple procedure to aliquot commercial isobaric tagging reagents and demonstrate the successful and high efficiency labeling of multiple samples over a period of six months. The samples presented herein were selected as the most diverse ones labeled by prepared aliquots from a single labeling reagent kit over this period. We observe comparable labeling efficiency from 100 microgram to 100 picograms of peptide when labeling samples from both human digest standards, cancer cell lines prepared in-house and from cells directly obtained from human organ donors, despite differences in cell type, lysis, and digestion procedures. No labeling experiment of whole human proteomics samples achieved less than 92% labeling efficiency over this period. When preparing phosphoproteomic samples 6 months after the date of the aliquoting procedure, we observed a decrease in labeling efficiency to approximately 86%, indicating the end of the useful lifetime of aliquots prepared in this manner. Over this period, we have effectively reduced the reagent costs of each experiment to less than 10% of the predicted costs when following the manufacturer instructions for use and disposal. While aliquoting of reagents can be performed by hand, we provide a complete template for automatic aliquoting using an affordable liquid handling robot, including plans for 3D printing of two parts we have found useful for streamlining this procedure.

Abstract Graphic
A TREM2-derived circRNA is upregulated in the entorhinal cortex of Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Urdánoz-Casado Amaya , Gordoa Javier Sánchez-Ruiz de , Robles Maitane , Roldan Miren , Zelaya María Victoria , Blanco-Luquin Idoia , Mendioroz Maite
Published: June 2021

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of noncoding RNAs characterized by a covalent and stable closed loop structure. circRNAs are enriched in neural tissues, particularly at synapses, where they are involved in synaptic plasticity. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is considered a synaptopathy since neurodegeneration causes loss or dysfunction of synapses. Microglia participate in synaptic pruning and also play a crucial role in developing AD. For instance, genetic variants in TREM2, a microglia-related gene, are risk factors for AD. Alterations in circRNAs expression have been described in different neurological diseases, including AD. However, no TREM2-derived circRNAs have been described so far. TREM2 has 3 linear RNA variants due to alternative splicing. We hypothesized that alternative splicing of exon 4 might be favoring circRNAs originating from TREM2 (circTREM2s), which in turn might be involved in AD pathogenesis. First, divergent primers (overlapping exons 3-4 and 4-5) were designed to amplify circRNAs by RT-PCR, which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Three candidate TREM2-derived circRNAs were identified on control human entorhinal samples. Then, additional primer sets were used to confirm back-splicing junctions. One of the circRNAs, circTREM2_1, was consistently amplified with all primer sets. In addition, circTREM2_1 was also present in AD entorhinal cortex samples and in HMC3 cells. We observed that circTREM2_1 is up-regulated in AD entorhinal cortex samples compared to controls, particularly at early stages of the disease, when we performed RT-qPCR. In conclusion, we have identified a novel circRNA derived from the TREM2 gene that could play a role in AD pathogenesis.
Prolonged and distributed processing of facial identity in the human brain
Authors: Stecher Rico , Muukkonen Ilkka , Salmela Viljami , Rostalski Sophie-Marie , Ambrus Géza Gergely , Kovács Gyula
Published: June 2021

The recognition of facial identity is essential for social interactions. Despite extensive prior fMRI and EEG/MEG research on the neural representations of familiar faces, we know little about the spatio-temporal dynamics of face identity information. Therefore, we applied a novel multimodal approach by fusing the neuronal responses recorded in an fMRI and an EEG experiment. We analyzed the neural responses to naturally varying famous faces and traced how face identity emerges over time in different areas of the brain. We found that image invariant face identity information prevails over an extended time period (from 150 to 810 ms after stimulus onset) in the representational geometry of a broadly distributed network of parietal, temporal, and frontal areas with overlapping temporal profiles. These results challenge the current hierarchical models of face perception and suggest instead concerted and parallel activation of multiple nodes in the brain’s identity coding network while processing information of familiar faces.
Dopamine Neurons Evaluate Natural Fluctuations in Performance Quality
Authors: Duffy Alison , Latimer Kenneth W. , Goldberg Jesse H. , Fairhall Adrienne L. , Gadagkar Vikram
Published: June 2021

Many motor skills are learned by comparing ongoing behavior to internal performance benchmarks. Dopamine neurons encode performance error in behavioral paradigms where error is externally induced, but it remains unknown if dopamine also signals the quality of natural performance fluctuations. Here we recorded dopamine neurons in singing birds and examined how spontaneous dopamine spiking activity correlated with natural fluctuations in ongoing song. Antidromically identified basal ganglia-projecting dopamine neurons correlated with recent, and not future, song variations, consistent with a role in evaluation, not production. Furthermore, dopamine spiking was suppressed following the production of outlying vocal variations, consistent with a role for active song maintenance. These data show for the first time that spontaneous dopamine spiking can evaluate natural behavioral fluctuations unperturbed by experimental events such as cues or rewards.
MethodsJ2: A Software Tool to Improve Microscopy Methods Reporting
Authors: Ryan Joel , Pengo Thomas , Rigano Alex , Llopis Paula Montero , Itano Michelle S. , Cameron Lisa , Marqués Guillermo , Strambio-De-Castillia Caterina , Sanders Mark A. , Brown Claire M.
Published: June 2021

Proper reporting of metadata is essential to reproduce microscopy experiments, interpret results and share images. Experimental scientists can report details about sample preparation and imaging conditions while imaging scientists have the expertise required to collect and report the image acquisition, hardware and software metadata information. MethodsJ2 is an ImageJ/Fiji based software tool that gathers metadata and automatically generates text for the methods section of publications.
Gene-teratogen interactions influence the penetrance of birth defects by altering Hedgehog signaling strength
Authors: Kong Jennifer H. , Young Cullen B. , Pusapati Ganesh V. , Espinoza F Hernán , Patel Chandni B. , Beckert Francis , Ho Sebastian , Patel Bhaven B. , Gabriel George C. , Aravind L. , Bazan J Fernando , Gunn Teresa M. , Lo Cecilia W. , Rohatgi Rajat
Published: June 2021

Birth defects result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. We find that mutations and teratogens interact in predictable ways to cause birth defects by changing target cell sensitivity to Hedgehog (Hh) ligands. These interactions converge on a membrane protein complex, the MMM complex, that promotes degradation of the Hh transducer Smoothened (SMO). Deficiency of the MMM component MOSMO results in elevated SMO and increased Hh signaling, causing multiple birth defects. In utero exposure to a teratogen that directly inhibits SMO reduces the penetrance and expressivity of birth defects in Mosmo-/- embryos. Additionally, tissues that develop normally in Mosmo-/- embryos are refractory to the teratogen. Thus, changes in the abundance of the protein target of a teratogen can change birth defect outcomes by quantitative shifts in Hh signaling. Consequently, small molecules that re-calibrate signaling strength could be harnessed to rescue structural birth defects.
Sulfation of glycosaminoglycans depends on catalytic activity of a lithium-inhibited phosphatase
Authors: Eisele Brynna S. , Luka Zigmund A. , Wu Alice J. , Yang Fei , Hale Andrew T. , York John D.
Published: June 2021

Golgi-resident bisphosphate nucleotidase 2 (BPNT2) is a member of a family of magnesium-dependent/lithium-inhibited phosphatases that share a three-dimensional structural motif that directly coordinates metal binding to effect phosphate hydrolysis. BPNT2 is responsible for the breakdown of 3’-phosphoadenosine-5’-phosphate (PAP), a by-product of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sulfation. Disruption of BPNT2 in mice leads to skeletal abnormalities due to impaired GAG sulfation, especially chondroitin-4-sulfation. Mutations in BPNT2 have also been found to underlie a chondrodysplastic disorder in humans. The precise mechanism by which loss of BPNT2 impairs sulfation remains unclear. Here, we utilize an in vitro approach using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to test the hypothesis that catalytic activity of BPNT2 is required for GAG sulfation. We show that a catalytic-dead Bpnt2 construct (D108A) does not rescue impairments in intracellular or secreted sulfated GAG, including decreased chondroitin-4-sulfate, present in Bpnt2-knockout MEFs. We also demonstrate that missense mutations in Bpnt2 which are adjacent to the catalytic site (and known to cause chondrodysplasia in humans) recapitulate defects in overall GAG sulfation and chondroitin-4-sulfation in MEF cultures. We further show that treatment of MEFs with lithium inhibits GAG sulfation, and that this effect depends on the presence of BPNT2. This work demonstrates that the catalytic activity of an enzyme potently inhibited by lithium can modulate GAG sulfation and therefore extracellular matrix composition, revealing new insights into lithium pharmacology and the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders responsive to lithium.
A disproportionate impact of G9a methyltransferase deficiency on the X chromosome
Authors: Szanto Attila , Aguilar Rodrigo , Kesner Barry , Blum Roy , Wang Danni , Cifuentes-Rojas Catherine , del Rosario Brian C. , Kis-Toth Katalin , Lee Jeannie T.
Published: June 2021

G9a is a histone methyltransferase responsible for the dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2). G9a plays key roles in transcriptional silencing of developmentally regulated genes, but its role in X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) has been under debate. Here, we uncover a female-specific function of G9a and demonstrate that deleting G9a has a disproportionate impact on the X chromosome relative to the rest of the genome. G9a deficiency causes a failure of XCI and female-specific hypersensitivity to drug inhibition of H3K9me2. We show that G9a interacts with Tsix and Xist RNAs, and that competitive inhibition of the G9a-RNA interaction recapitulates the XCI defect. During XCI, Xist recruits G9a to silence X-linked genes on the future inactive X. In parallel on the future Xa, Tsix recruits G9a to silenceXistincis. Thus, RNA tethers G9a for allele-specific targeting of the H3K9me2 modification and the G9a-RNA interaction is essential for XCI.
Hierarchical reactivation of transcription during mitosis-to-G1 transition by Brn2 and Ascl1 in neural stem cells
Authors: Soares Mário A.F. , Soares Diogo S. , Teixeira Vera , Heskol Abeer , Bressan Raul Bardini , Pollard Steven M. , Oliveira Raquel A. , Castro Diogo S.
Published: June 2021

During mitosis, chromatin condensation is accompanied by a global arrest of transcription. Recent studies suggest transcriptional reactivation upon mitotic exit occurs in temporally coordinated waves, but the underlying regulatory principles have yet to be elucidated. In particular, the contribution of sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) remains poorly understood. Here we report that Brn2, an important regulator of neural stem cell identity, associates with condensed chromatin throughout cell division, as assessed by live-cell imaging of proliferating neural stem cells. In contrast, the neuronal fate determinant Ascl1 dissociates from mitotic chromosomes. ChIP-seq analysis reveals that Brn2 mitotic chromosome binding does not result in sequence-specific interactions prior to mitotic exit, relying mostly on electrostatic forces. Nevertheless, surveying active transcription using single-molecule RNA-FISH against immature transcripts reveals differential reactivation kinetics for key targets of Brn2 and Ascl1, with transcription onset detected in early (anaphase) versus late (early G1) phases, respectively. Moreover, by using a mitotic-specific dominant-negative approach, we show that competing with Brn2 binding during mitotic exit reduces the transcription of its target geneNestin. Our study shows an important role for differential binding of TFs to mitotic chromosomes, governed by their electrostatic properties, in defining the temporal order of transcriptional reactivation during mitosis-to-G1 transition.
Evolution and genomic signatures of spontaneous somatic mutation in Drosophila intestinal stem cells
Authors: Riddiford Nick , Siudeja Katarzyna , van den Beek Marius , Boumard Benjamin , Bardin Allison J.
Published: June 2021

Spontaneous mutations can alter tissue dynamics and lead to cancer initiation. Although large-scale sequencing projects have illuminated processes that influence somatic mutation and subsequent tumor evolution, the mutational dynamics operating in the very early stages of cancer development are currently not well understood. To explore mutational processes in the early stages of cancer evolution, we exploited neoplasia arising spontaneously in the Drosophila intestine. Analysing whole-genome sequencing data with a dedicated bioinformatic pipeline, we found neoplasia formation to be driven largely through the inactivation of Notch by structural variants, many of which involve highly complex genomic rearrangements. The genome-wide mutational burden in neoplasia was found to be similar to that of several human cancers. Finally, we identified genomic features associated with spontaneous mutation, and defined the evolutionary dynamics and mutational landscape operating within intestinal neoplasia over the short lifespan of the adult fly. Our findings provide unique insight into mutational dynamics operating over a short timescale in the genetic model system, Drosophila melanogaster.
Predictors of behavioral intention to adopt e-AgriFinance app among the farmers in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Omar Quistina , Yap Ching Seng , Ho Poh Ling , Keling William
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study examines the predictors of behavioral intention of farmers to adopt a mobile agricultural finance application called e-AgriFinance using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and perceived cost as an additional predictor.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a questionnaire survey, data are collected from 337 farmers in Sarawak, Malaysia. The collected data are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The research finds that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions are positively related to behavioral intention to adopt the e-AgriFinance app, with social influence being the strongest predictor. Perceived cost is also found to be positively related to behavioral intention which contradicts the prediction of the model.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the use of UTAUT in predicting the adoption of mobile agricultural finance applications among farmers.

Practical implications

For practice, this study provides implications for the Sarawak government to promote digital and financial inclusivity for all communities. This study also provides insights into important features of the e-AgriFinance app for digital finance providers to develop the apps that will be well accepted by farmers in the future.

Originality/value

This research is one of the few studies that focused on farmers' mobile technology adoption in agribusiness from the perspective of an emerging economy.
An artificial compressibility method for axisymmetric swirling flows
Authors: Leloudas Stavros N. , Lygidakis Georgios N. , Delis Argiris I. , Nikolos Ioannis K.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to feature the application of the artificial compressibility method (ACM) for the numerical prediction of two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric swirling flows.

Design/methodology/approach

The respective academic numerical solver, named IGal2D, is based on the axisymmetric Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, arranged in a pseudo-Cartesian form, enhanced by the addition of the circumferential momentum equation. Discretization of spatial derivative terms within the governing equations is performed via unstructured 2D grid layouts, with a node-centered finite-volume scheme. For the evaluation of inviscid fluxes, the upwind Roe’s approximate Riemann solver is applied, coupled with a higher-order accurate spatial reconstruction, whereas an element-based approach is used for the calculation of gradients required for the viscous ones. Time integration is succeeded through a second-order accurate four-stage Runge-Kutta method, adopting additionally a local time-stepping technique. Further acceleration, in terms of computational time, is achieved by using an agglomeration multigrid scheme, incorporating the full approximation scheme in a V-cycle process, within an efficient edge-based data structure.

Findings

A detailed validation of the proposed numerical methodology is performed by encountering both inviscid and viscous (laminar and turbulent) swirling flows with axial symmetry. IGal2D is compared against the commercial software ANSYS fluent – by using appropriate metrics and characteristic flow quantities – but also against experimental measurements, confirming the proposed methodology’s potential to predict such flows in terms of accuracy.

Originality/value

This study provides a robust methodology for the accurate prediction of swirling flows by combining the axisymmetric RANS equations with ACM. In addition, a detailed description of the convective flux Jacobian is provided, filling a respective gap in research literature.
Online banking and privacy: redesigning sales strategy through social exchange
Authors: Liyanaarachchi Gajendra , Deshpande Sameer , Weaven Scott
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper advocates for banks to understand customers' online privacy concerns, use those insights to segment consumers and design tailored sales strategies to build a mutual relationship through a social exchange that produces a competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study involving 30 in-depth interviews with Australian and Asian millennials residing in Australia was conducted using a grounded theory approach to explore privacy concerns of online banking and determine the efficacy of their banks' existing sales strategy and practice.

Findings

The study revealed differences in customer perceptions of trust, confidence, responsibility and exchange. Adopting a power-dependency paradigm within a social exchange theoretical framework and power distance belief of national culture theory, the authors identified four consumer segments: exemplar, empiric, elevator and exponent. The authors propose a tailored consumer-centered sales strategy of communication, control, consolidation and collaboration.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the research in services marketing, sales strategy and banking in three ways: first, the authors demonstrate the importance of the social exchange theory and national culture as a premise to develop a competitive advantage; second, the authors propose an innovative set of consumer segments in regards to online privacy concerns; and, third, the authors introduce four sales strategies tailored to each of the four segments.
Empowering Islamic boarding schools by applying the humane entrepreneurship approach: the case of Indonesia
Authors: Anggadwita Grisna , Dana Leo-Paul , Ramadani Veland , Ramadan Reza Yanuar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Islamic boarding schools are education institutions that have been developing in Indonesia as places for the Indonesian people to learn and gain knowledge in the perspectives of the Islamic religion and Indonesian nationalism. This study aims to explore the potential of Islamic boarding schools as places to support and to empower the economy and to increase the participation of students in entrepreneurial activities by applying the Humane Entrepreneurship approach. This study identifies the humane entrepreneurship approach by analyzing the humane cycle and the enterprise cycle in the entrepreneurship activities occurring in a single case study of an Islamic boarding school.

Design/methodology/approach

This article used a qualitative method with a case study approach through deep exploration and observation. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the key people in one of the Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia using a purposive sampling technique. Miles and Huberman (1984) technique was used for data analysis by grouping similar text segments into codes and categorizing them for further analysis.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that the Islamic boarding school has implemented humane entrepreneurship through entrepreneurial-oriented activities as the main aspects of the humane cycle and the enterprise cycle. The implementation of humane entrepreneurship aims to achieve entrepreneurial growth, innovation and independence of the Islamic boarding school, as well as the development of the stakeholder's capabilities, knowledge and commitment. In addition, applying the spiritual approach, which is one of the important components of Islamic boarding schools, has proven to be effective in implementing humane entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

This study has several limitations. First, this study only focused on one Islamic boarding school in Indonesia. Second, there is still very little research in the field of humane entrepreneurship, so the concept itself is still considered to be relatively new. Therefore, further direction is needed for future research regarding the exploration and identification of any other factors that might influence humane entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights on the implementation of humane entrepreneurship in Islamic boarding schools. This research covers the gap where the humane entrepreneurial approach can be applied not only in large organizations, but also in religious educational institutions. The spiritual approach and religious values as the principles of Islamic boarding schools have been proven to be effective in implementing humane entrepreneurship.
Does it pay to act feminine? A cross-cultural study of gender stereotype endorsement and cognitive legitimacy in the evaluation of new ventures
Authors: Javadian Golshan , Figueroa-Armijos Maria , Gupta Vishal K. , Modarresi Meisam , Dobratz Crystal
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Does gender stereotype endorsement play a role in the customer's cognitive evaluation of new ventures owned by women entrepreneurs? The authors’ cross-cultural study integrates literature on gender stereotype endorsement and cognitive legitimacy to address this research question.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a two-study experimental design and analyze our results by cultural context to test our hypotheses: one drawn from college students in Iran and one from working professionals in the United States.

Findings

The authors’ comparative results suggest that the evaluation of feminine versus masculine characteristics of women entrepreneurs varies depending on the evaluator's (in this case the customer's) endorsement of gender stereotypes and the cultural context. Specifically, the authors found that a new venture owned by a woman entrepreneur who displays feminine characteristics is perceived as more legitimate when the customer endorses feminine stereotypes, regardless of the country.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ research contributes to the literature on cognitive legitimacy and women's entrepreneurship by unveiling the cultural conditions and factors that allow women entrepreneurs to benefit from acting in a stereotypically feminine way. The authors use a binary approach to gender. Future research should extend our findings to also include a non-binary approach.

Originality/value

This study contributes to women's entrepreneurship research by unraveling the implications of gender stereotype endorsement, legitimacy and culture in customer evaluation of ventures owned by women.
Innovation and the performance of informal enterprises in developing countries: a gender perspective
Authors: Avenyo Elvis Korku , Kraemer-Mbula Erika
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Examining the impact of gender on various aspects of business performance has gained research and policy traction, although the empirical evidence remains inconclusive. This paper aims to focus on one type of business, namely, informal enterprises and one dimension of business performance, namely, product innovation, to better understand how product innovations affect employment in both female- and male-owned informal enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper relies on a unique data set of 513 informal enterprises located in two urban centres in Ghana (Accra and Tema), covering the period between 2013 and 2015 and the Dose-Response Model to examine the effect of product innovations on employment in informal enterprises in urban Ghana.

Findings

The findings suggest that product innovation has considerable beneficial impacts on the creation of employment in informal enterprises. The results do not show systematic differences in the factors affecting product innovation in female- and male-owned enterprises. However, they suggest that although female-owned enterprises are less likely to introduce product innovations, they do sell more innovative products.

Originality/value

These findings support the view that innovation is “gendered”, and therefore, requires a “gendered” policy lens.
The moderating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between burnout and depression among nursing staff: a human rights concern in Pakistan
Authors: Aslam Naeem , Khan Araib , Habib Nida , Ahmed Ammar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to see the role of life satisfaction in the relationship between burnout and depression among nurses to highlight the human rights norms for institutions, as well as practitioners within the health sector to improve life satisfaction among nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a survey-based study. Data was collected by using well-established questionnaires. The sample (N = 250) comprising nurses taken from different public and private hospitals of Islamabad. Participants were both male (n = 125) and female nurses (n = 125), with age range 20–51 (M = 29.95, SD = 4.95) years. The data was collected by using the convenient sampling technique from different government and private hospitals of Islamabad from September 2017 to December 2017.

Findings

Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that burnout was positively associated with depression and negatively associated with life satisfaction. Moreover, depression was negatively associated with life satisfaction. Moderation analysis demonstrated that life satisfaction moderated the relationship between burnout and depression. Female nurses scored high on burnout as compared to male nurses.

Research limitations/implications

The use of self-report measures and the cross-sectional nature of the study design are the limitations of the study. The findings contribute by recognizing the various factors affecting the performance of nursing staff specifically in developing countries such as Pakistan.

Practical implications

This study demonstrated the vital implication of factors reducing depression among nursing staff through life satisfaction. Health care organizations should take measures to condense the level of burnout, make and boost a caring and fair working atmosphere to improve the level of life satisfaction, and therefore, reduce the negative emotions associated with burnout. It is concluded that life satisfaction may buffer the effect of burnout and subsequent depression.

Originality/value

This study has extended the prevailing literature by recognizing the moderating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between burnout and depression among nursing staff specifically highlighting their human rights in the Pakistani context.
If crime is not the problem, crime fighting is no solution: policing gang violence in the age of abolition
Authors: Van Hellemont Elke , Densley James
Published: June 2021

Purpose

In their 1999 classic,Crime is Not the Problem, Zimring and Hawkins changed the way criminologists thought about crime and violence simply by forcing us to distinguish between them. In so doing, they advanced an agenda for a more effective response to the real “crime” problem in America – violence. In this short commentary, the authors apply this logic to gang research and responses. The authors argue police fall short in responding to “gangs” because researchers and policymakers have defined them in terms of criminal behaviour writ large, not the problem that really needs policing – the precise social and spatial dynamics of gang violence. The purpose of this paper is to stand on the shoulders of others who have stated violence trumps gangs when it comes to policy and practice and provide a conceptual review of the literature that captures mainstream and critical perspectives on gangs and offers both sides some common ground to start from as they contemplate “policing” gangs with or without police.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the extant literature.

Findings

The authors stand on the shoulders of others who have stated violence trumps gangs when it comes to policy and practice, to provide a conceptual review of the literature that captures mainstream and critical perspectives on gangs, in North American and European contexts, and offers both sides some common ground to start from as they contemplate “policing” gangs with or without police.

Originality/value

The paper is a conceptual piece looking at policing gang violence versus gang crime. The paper aims to restart the debate around the role of crime in gangs and gangs in crime. This debate centres around whether gangs should be understood as primarily criminal groups, whether “the gang” is to blame for the crime and violence of its members and what feature of collective crime and violence designate “gangness”. We use that debate to reflect past and current police practices towards gangs.
Building a climate of faculty trust in students through principal support of student psychological needs
Authors: Adams Curt , Adigun Olajumoke Beulah
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study was designed to test the relationship between principal support of student psychological needs and faculty trust in students. Without direct empirical evidence to draw from, the line of reasoning integrated evidence on social-cognitive processes involved in trust formation and conversation theory to advance two hypotheses: (1) After accounting for school and leadership conditions, principal support of student psychological needs will be related to school differences in faculty trust in students; (2) The relationship between principal support of student psychological needs and faculty trust in students is mediated by a positive view of the teaching task.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested with a nonexperimental, correlational research design using ex post facto data. Due to the hierarchical structure of the data, hypotheses were tested with a 2-2-1 multilevel mediation model in HLM 7.03 with restricted maximum likelihood estimation.

Findings

Findings were consistent with the hypothesized relationships – principal support of student psychological needs was related to faculty trust in students and this relationship was mediated by teacher perceptions of the teaching task.

Originality/value

School research has primarily examined interpersonal antecedents of trust, focusing on behaviors and characteristics that position a person or group as trustworthy. This study extends trust research to the cognitive side of the formation process, calling attention to the function of mental representation in shaping trust discernments. Results suggest that cognitive processes hold promise as both a source of faculty trust in students and as a malleable mental structure that school leaders can shape through conversation.
How novice analysts understand supply chain process models: an experimental study of using diagrams and texts
Authors: Leukel Joerg , Sugumaran Vijayan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Process models specific to the supply chain domain are an important tool for the analysis of interorganizational interfaces and requirements of information technology (IT) systems supporting supply chain decision-making. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of supply chain process models for novice analysts in conveying domain semantics compared to alternative textual representations.

Design/methodology/approach

A laboratory experiment with graduate students as proxies for novice analysts was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the diagram group, which worked with “thread diagrams” created from the modeling grammar “Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) model”, or the text group, which worked with semantically equivalent textual representations. Domain understanding was measured using cognitively demanding information acquisition for two different domains.

Findings

Diagram users were more accurate in identifying product-related information and organizing this information in a graph compared to those using the textual representation. The authors found considerable improvements in domain understanding, and using the diagrams was perceived as easy as using the texts.

Originality/value

The study's findings are unique in providing empirical evidence for supply chain process models being an effective representation for novice analysts. Such evidence is lacking in prior research because of the evaluation methods used, which are limited to scenario, case study and informed argument. This study adds the diagram user's perspective to that literature and provides a rigorous empirical evaluation by contrasting diagrammatic and textual representations.