bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rhodothermus bifroesti sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from the basaltic subsurface of the volcanic island Surtsey
Authors: Bergsten Pauline , Vannier Pauline , Mougeolle Alan , Rigaud Louise , Marteinsson Viggó Thór
Published: January 2022

Novel thermophilic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the subsurface of the volcanic island Surtsey off the south coast of Iceland. The strains were isolated from tephra core and borehole fluid samples collected below 70 m depth. The Gram-negative bacteria were rod-shaped (0.3–0.4 µm wide, 1.5–7 µm long), aerobic, non-sporulating and non-motile. Optimal growth was observed at 70 °C, at pH 7–7.5 and with 1% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis identified the strains as members of the genus

Rhodothermus

. The type strain, ISCAR-7401T, was genetically distinct from its closest relatives

Rhodothermus marinus

DSM 4252T and

Rhodothermus profundi

PRI 2902T based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (95.81 and 96.01%, respectively), genomic average nucleotide identity (73.73 and 72.61%, respectively) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (17.6 and 16.9%, respectively). The major fatty acids of ISCAR-7401T were iso-C17:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C15:0 (>10 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 while phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid and a phospholipid were the predominant polar lipid components. Based on comparative chemotaxonomic, genomic and phylogenetic analyses, we propose that the isolated strain represents a novel species of the genus

Rhodothermus

with the name Rhodothermus bifroesti sp. nov. The type strain is ISCAR-7401T (=DSM 112103T=CIP 111906T).
Shorter serial intervals in SARS-CoV-2 cases with Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta variant in the Netherlands, 13 – 26 December 2021
Authors: Backer Jantien A. , Eggink Dirk , Andeweg Stijn P. , Veldhuijzen Irene K. , van Maarseveen Noortje , Vermaas Klaas , Vlaemynck Boris , Schepers Raf , van den Hof Susan , Reusken Chantal B.E.M. , Wallinga Jacco
Published: January 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant, due to higher transmissibility, immune evasion, or a shorter serial interval. Using S-gene target failure (SGTF) as indication for Omicron BA.1, we identify 908 SGTF and 1621 non-SGTF serial intervals in the same period. Within households, we find that the mean serial interval for SGTF cases is 0.2-0.6 days shorter than for non-SGTF cases. This suggests that the growth advantage of Omicron is partly due to a shorter serial interval.
An expanded high throughput RT-PCR assay to rapidly identify all known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using melting temperature coding
Authors: Banada Padmapriya P , Green Raquel , Banik Sukalyani , Streck Deanna , Montalvan Ibsen , Reiss Robert , Jones Robert , Marras Salvatore A. E. , Chakravorty Soumitesh , Alland David
Published: January 2022

Background

The rapid emergence of new vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) requires an equally rapid deployment of diagnostic tests to specifically identify each VOC as soon as it arises. Here, we report an expanded version of our previously described sloppy molecular beacon (SMB) Alpha/Beta/Gamma RT-PCR melting temperature (Tm) signature-based assay, which now includes modifications that allow specific detection of Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.529) VOCs.

Methods

We developed a dual SMB assay (SMB-452), which targeted the T22917G (L452R) mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to specifically detect the Delta VOC. We also identified a Tm profile in our existing SMB-501 and SMB-484 assays (which detect mutations in codons 501 and 484 of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, respectively) that differentiate the Omicron-specific N501Y (A23063T) and E484A (A23013C) mutations from both wild type (WT) and other VOCs. The entire six SMB three-codon assay was tested using reference SARS-CoV-2 RNAs. The assay was then validated using clinical samples from COVID-19 patients tested with a LightCycler 480 (LC480) (74 samples), Bio-Rad CFX96 (34 samples), Rotor-Gene Q (Qiagen) (34 samples) and an ABI-7500 (34 samples) RT-PCR instruments. Six SMB Tm results were then inputted into an Excel Analysis tool to generate specific VOC identifications.

Results

The limit of detection (LOD) for the new SMB-452 assay, which specifically identified the Delta variant was 1 genomic equivalent (GE) per reaction. The LODs of the SMB-501 and SMB-484 assays, which detect Omicron were 100 and 103 GE respectively. Clinical validation of the 3-codon assay in the LC480 instrument showed the assay detected 94% of the samples as WT or VOCs in clinical samples and 6% of the tests producing indeterminate results. None of the samples were incorrectly identified as WT or as a different VOC. Thus, excluding samples with indeterminant results, the assay was 100% sensitive and 100% specific compared to sequencing. There was also 100% concordance between the LC480, BioRad, ABI and Qiagen results, excluding negative or indeterminate results; however, the Qiagen assay had significantly more indeterminates than the other assays.

Conclusion

This new assay can serve as a robust diagnostic tool for selecting appropriate monoclonal antibody therapy and rapid VOC surveillance.
Asthma treatment outcome and factors associated with uncontrolled asthma among adult asthmatic patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Tsegaye Tesfaye , Gebretekle Gebremedhin Beedemariam , Ahmed Mohammedjud Hassen , Bayissa Tola , Habte Bruck Messele
Published: January 2022

Background

Asthma is a major public health challenge in the world resulting in significant health and economic burden. The modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors could have considerable impact on Asthma control and medical care. Our goal was to evaluate the treatment outcome and identify risk factors for poor asthma control among asthmatic patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Method

A multicentre cross-sectional study using interview and chart review was conducted among asthmatic patients attending ambulatory care of two large public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between March and June 2018. The Global Initiative for Asthma Guideline was used to determine treatment outcomes. The variables of interest were described using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with uncontrolled asthma. All statistical significance level was determined at p<0.05.

Result

A total of 230 asthmatic patients were interviewed. More than half (65.2%) of patients were females and their mean age was 54±15.1 years. Overall, 50.4% of the patients had uncontrolled asthma status. More than two number of trigger factors (AOR=1.88; 95%CI:1.09-2.01), cold weather (AOR=2.11;95%CI: 1.51-2.42), exacerbations of asthma in the last 12 months (AOR=2.01;95%CI:1.39-2.32), moderate persistent asthma (AOR=3.47;95%CI:1.75-5.13), severe persistent asthma (AOR=2.90;95%CI:2.56-3.98) and Salbutamol Puff alone regimen (AOR=2.30;95%CI:2.01-2.76) use were significantly associated with uncontrolled asthma.

Conclusion

More than half of asthmatic patients had uncontrolled asthma treatment outcome. This indicates the need to give due attention to asthma patients with uncontrolled status particularly to those with identified risk factors. Health care providers should work in creating patient awareness on appropriate use of their prescribed medications, avoidance of asthma triggering factors for decreasing the progression of the disease and better asthma control.
Factors associated with adherence to HIV testing guidelines among HIV negative female sex workers in Kampala Uganda
Authors: Atuhaire Lydia , Shumba Constance S , Mapahla Lovemore , Maposa Innocent , Nyasulu Peter S
Published: January 2022

Background

Frequent HIV testing at intervals of every three to six months is recommended among HIV negative female sex workers as the first entry point to HIV prevention and treatment. In this study, we examined the extent to which HIV negative female sex workers adhere to the testing guidelines by measuring the frequency of testing in the last 12 months and identified associated factors among female sex workers in Kampala Uganda.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires. Using equal probability selection method, 12 hotspots were selected, and 200 participants interviewed based on proportional allocation in each hotspot. We used descriptive statistics to describe female sex workers’ characteristics, and multivariable logistic regression model to determine the factors associated with their adherence to the HIV testing guidelines. Adherence to the HIV testing guidelines was defined as having tested three or more times in the last 12 months. Factors with p-value ≤0.05 significance level were considered statistically significant.

Results

From the 200 study participants, 43% were aged 25-30 years, joined sex work between the ages of 18 to 24 years, 49% had attained primary and 41% secondary school respectively. 88% reported HIV testing status, of which 56% had tested three or more times in the 12 months preceding the survey. Attaining secondary education, was independently associated with adherence to the HIV testing guidelines (OR 1.86, 95% CI: 1.01 - 3.44, p=0.047). Those that had tested for STIs in the last three months (OR= 2.13, 95% CI: 0.95 - 4.74, p=0.065) and accessed HIV testing in a drop-in centre (OR= 5.90, 95% CI: 0.71 - 49.1, p=0.101) had higher odds of adhering to the HIV testing guidelines

Conclusion

This study found suboptimal adherence to the HIV testing guidelines among HIV negative female sex workers. Interventions such as HIV self-testing that improve access to, and frequency of HIV testing need to be taken to scale. There is need for rigorous behaviour change program evaluation to continually refine understanding of the message mix, to ensure simplified and easy to comprehend awareness messages are designed for female sex workers with no formal education.
Synaptic and intrinsic potentiation in O-LM interneurons is induced by theta patterns of stimulation
Authors: Sammari Malika , Inglebert Yanis , Ankri Norbert , Russier Michaël , Incontro Salvatore , Debanne Dominique
Published: January 2022

Oriens lacunosum-moleculare (O-LM) interneurons display a non-conventional form of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) conferred by calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPAR). So far, this form of LTP has been induced in O-LM cells by physiologically unrealistic protocols. We report here the induction of both synaptic and intrinsic potentiation in O-LM interneurons following stimulation of afferent glutamatergic inputs in the theta (θ) frequency range. LTP is induced by synaptic activation of CP-AMPAR whereas long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE) results from the mGluR1-dependent down-regulation of Kv7 voltage-dependent potassium channel and hyperpolarization activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel through the depletion of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bi-phosphate (PIP2). LTP and LTP-IE are reversible, demonstrating that both synaptic and intrinsic changes are bidirectional in O-LM cells. We conclude that physiological stimuli such as θ patterns induce synaptic and intrinsic potentiation in O-LM interneurons.
Multiomic Body Mass Index signatures in blood reveal clinically relevant population heterogeneity and variable responses to a healthy lifestyle intervention
Authors: Watanabe Kengo , Wilmanski Tomasz , Diener Christian , Earls John C. , Zimmer Anat , Lincoln Briana , Hadlock Jennifer J. , Lovejoy Jennifer C. , Gibbons Sean M. , Magis Andrew T. , Hood Leroy , Price Nathan D. , Rappaport Noa
Published: January 2022

Multiomic profiling can reveal population heterogeneity for both health and disease states. Obesity drives a myriad of metabolic perturbations in individuals and is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases. Here, we report a global atlas of cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in 1,111 blood analytes associated with variation in Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as the multiomic associations with host polygenic risk scores and gut microbiome composition, from a cohort of 1,277 individuals enrolled in a wellness program. Machine learning model predictions of BMI from blood multiomics captured heterogeneous phenotypic states of host metabolism and gut microbiome composition, better than classically-measured BMI. Moreover, longitudinal analyses identified variable BMI trajectories for different omics measures in response to a healthy lifestyle intervention; metabolomics-inferred BMI decreased to a greater extent than actual BMI, while proteomics-inferred BMI exhibited greater resistance to change. Our analyses further revealed blood analyte–analyte associations that were significantly modified by metabolomics-inferred BMI and partially reversed in the metabolically obese population during the intervention. Taken together, our findings provide a blood atlas of the molecular perturbations associated with changes in obesity status, serving as a valuable resource to robustly quantify metabolic health for predictive and preventive medicine.
SARS-CoV-2 Viral Genes Compromise Survival and Functions of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes via Reducing Cellular ATP Level
Authors: Liu Juli , Zhang Yucheng , Wu Shiyong , Han Lei , Wang Cheng , Liu Sheng , Simpson Ed , Liu Ying , Wang Yue , Shou Weinian , Liu Yunlong , Rubart-von der Lohe Michael , Wan Jun , Yang Lei
Published: January 2022

Cardiac manifestations are commonly observed in COVID-19 patients and prominently contributed to overall mortality. Human myocardium could be infected by SARS-CoV-2, and human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 gene-induced injury and dysfunction of human CMs remain elusive. Here, we find overexpression of three SARS-CoV-2 coding genes, Nsp6, Nsp8 and M, could globally compromise transcriptome of hPSC-CMs. Integrated transcriptomic analyses of hPSC-CMs infected by SARS-CoV-2 with hPSC-CMs of Nsp6, Nsp8 or M overexpression identified concordantly activated genes enriched into apoptosis and immune/inflammation responses, whereas reduced genes related to heart contraction and functions. Further, Nsp6, Nsp8 or M overexpression induce prominent apoptosis and electrical dysfunctions of hPSC-CMs. Global interactome analysis find Nsp6, Nsp8 and M all interact with ATPase subunits, leading to significantly reduced cellular ATP level of hPSC-CMs. Finally, we find two FDA-approved drugs, ivermectin and meclizine, could enhance the ATP level, and ameliorate cell death and dysfunctions of hPSC-CMs overexpressing Nsp6, Nsp8 or M. Overall, we uncover the global detrimental impacts of SARS-CoV-2 genes Nsp6, Nsp8 and M on the whole transcriptome and interactome of hPSC-CMs, define the crucial role of ATP level reduced by SARS-CoV-2 genes in CM death and functional abnormalities, and explore the potentially pharmaceutical approaches to ameliorate SARS-CoV-2 genes-induced CM injury and abnormalities.
Performance of five metagenomic classifiers for virus pathogen detection using respiratory samples from a clinical cohort
Authors: Carbo Ellen C. , Sidorov Igor A. , van Rijn-Klink Anneloes L. , Pappas Nikos , van Boheemen Sander , Mei Hailiang , Hiemstra Pieter S. , Eagan Tomas M. , Claas Eric C.J. , Kroes Aloys C.M. , de Vries Jutte J.C.
Published: January 2022

Viral metagenomics is increasingly being applied in clinical diagnostic settings for detection of pathogenic viruses. While a number of benchmarking studies have been published on the use of metagenomic classifiers for abundance and diversity profiling of bacterial populations, studies on the comparative performance of the classifiers for virus pathogen detection are scarce.

In this study, metagenomic data sets (N=88) from a clinical cohort of patients with respiratory complaints were used for comparison of the performance of five taxonomic classifiers: Centrifuge, Clark, Kaiju, Kraken2, and Genome Detective. A total of 1,144 positive and negative PCR results for a total of 13 respiratory viruses were used as gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity of these classifiers ranged from 83-100% and 90-99% respectively, and was dependent on the classification level and data pre-processing. Exclusion of human reads generally resulted in increased specificity. Normalization of read counts for genome length resulted in minor overall performance, however negatively affected the detection of targets with read counts around detection level. Correlation of sequence read counts with PCR Ct-values varied per classifier, data pre-processing (R2 range 15.1-63.4%), and per virus, with outliers up to 3 log10 reads magnitude beyond the predicted read count for viruses with high sequence diversity.

In this benchmarking study, sensitivity and specificity were within the ranges of use for diagnostic practice when the cut-off for defining a positive result was considered per classifier.

Highlights

The performance of five metagenomic classifiers was assessed using datasets obtained from respiratory samples from a clinical cohort of patients

88 samples were characterized by means of 1,144 respiratory virus PCR results

Using PCR as gold standard, sensitivity and specificity ranged from 83-100% and 90-99% respectively, with the overall highest scores resulting from amino-acid based classification by Kaiju classifier. Performance was dependent on classification level and exclusion of human reads prior to classification.

Normalization of assigned read counts for corresponding genome lengths generally had minor effect on performance, but negatively affected the detection of target viruses with read counts around detection level.

Correlation between sequence read counts and PCR Ct-values varied per classifier (12.1-62.7% at species level), per data pre-processing, and per virus. Outliers were detected of up to 3 log10 reads the predicted read counts for viruses with high sequence diversity.

Sensitivity and specificity of the classifiers were within the range of use for diagnostic practice when combined with a determined cut-off for defining a positive result.
Mechanical strain stimulates COPII-dependent trafficking via Rac1
Authors: Phuyal Santosh , Djaerff Elena , Roux Anabel-Lise Le , Baker Martin J. , Fankhauser Daniela , Mahdizadeh Sayyed Jalil , Reiterer Veronika , Kahlhofer Jennifer C. , Teis David , Kazanietz Marcelo G. , Geley Stephan , Eriksson Leif , Roca-Cusachs Pere , Farhan Hesso
Published: January 2022

Secretory trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is subject to regulation by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. While much of the focus has been on biochemical triggers, little is known whether and how the ER is subject to regulation by mechanical signals. Here, we show that COPII-dependent ER-export is regulated by mechanical strain. Mechanotransduction to the ER was mediated via a previously unappreciated ER-localized pool of the small GTPase Rac1. Mechanistically, we show that Rac1 interacts with the small GTPase Sar1 to drive budding of COPII carriers and stimulate ER-to-Golgi transport. Altogether, we establish an unprecedented link between mechanical strain and export from the ER.
Extraversion is associated with lower brain amyloid deposition in cognitively normal older adults
Authors: Oh Hwamee
Published: January 2022

Emerging evidence suggests that some personality traits may link to the vulnerability to or protection for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A causal mechanism underlying this relationship, however, remains largely unknown. Using 18F-Florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET) binding to beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, a pathological feature of AD, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated pathological and functional correlates of extraversion and neuroticism in a group of healthy young and older subjects. We quantified a level of brain Aβ deposition in older individuals. Brain activity was measured in young adults using a task-switching fMRI paradigm. When we correlated personality scores of extraversion and neuroticism with these pathological and functional measures, higher extraversion, but not neuroticism, was significantly associated with lower global Aβ measures among older adults, accounting for age and sex. This association was present across widespread brain regions. Among young subjects, higher extraversion was associated with lower activity during task switching in anterior cingulate cortex, left anterior insular cortex, left putamen, and middle frontal gyrus bilaterally, while higher neuroticism was associated with increased activity throughout the brain. The present results suggest that possibly via efficient neuronal activity, extraversion, one of lifelong personality traits, may confer the protective mechanism against the development of Aβ pathology during aging.
Extracellular matrix deposition precedes muscle-tendon integration during murine forelimb morphogenesis
Authors: Leng Yue , Lipp Sarah N. , Bu Ye , Larson Hannah , Jacobson Kathryn R. , Calve Sarah
Published: January 2022

The development of a functional vertebrate musculoskeletal system requires the combination of contractile muscle and extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich tendons that transmit muscle-generated force to bone. Despite the different embryologic origins, muscle and tendon integrate at the myotendinous junction (MTJ) to seamlessly connect cells and ECM across this interface. While the cell-cell signaling factors that direct development have received considerable attention, how and when the ECM linking these tissues is deposited remains unknown. To address this gap, we analyzed the 3D distribution of different ECM and the influence of skeletal muscle in forelimbs from wildype (WT) and muscle-less Pax3Cre/Cre mice. At E11.5, prior to MTJ integration, an aligned ECM was present at the presumptive insertion of the long triceps into the WT ulna. Mechanically robust tendon-like and muscle compartmentalization structures, positive for type I collagen, type V collagen, and fibrillin-2, still formed when muscle was knocked out. However, MTJ-specific ECM was not observed when muscle was absent. Our results show that an ECM-based template forms independent of muscle, but muscle is needed for the proper assembly of ECM at the MTJ.

Summary statement

An aligned ECM template connects tendon and muscle during limb development, independent of muscle progenitor migration into the limb; however, the assembly of MTJ-specific ECM requires the presence of muscle.
Ion transfer mechanisms in Mrp-type antiporters from high resolution cryoEM and molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Lee Yongchan , Haapanen Outi , Altmeyer Anton , Kühlbrandt Werner , Sharma Vivek , Zickermann Volker
Published: January 2022

Multiple resistance and pH adaptation (Mrp) cation/proton antiporters are essential for growth of a variety of halophilic and alkaliphilic bacteria under stress conditions. Mrp-type antiporters are closely related to the membrane domain of respiratory complex I. We determined the structure of the Mrp antiporter from Bacillus pseudofirmus by electron cryo-microscopy at 2.2 Å resolution. The structure resolves more than 99% of the sidechains of the seven membrane subunits MrpA to MrpG plus 360 water molecules, including ∼70 in putative ion translocation pathways. Molecular dynamics simulations based on the high-resolution structure revealed details of the antiport mechanism. We find that switching the position of a histidine residue between three hydrated pathways in the MrpA subunit is critical for proton transfer that drives gated transmembrane sodium translocation. Several lines of evidence indicate that the same histidine-switch mechanism operates in respiratory complex I.
The AAA-ATPase ATAD1 and its partners promote degradation of desmin intermediate filaments in muscle
Authors: Aweida Dina , Cohen Shenhav
Published: January 2022

Maintenance of desmin intermediate filaments (IF) is vital for muscle plasticity and function, and their perturbed integrity due to accelerated loss or aggregation causes atrophy and myopathies. Calpain-1-mediated disassembly of ubiquitinated desmin IF is a prerequisite for desmin loss, myofibril breakdown and atrophy. Because calpain-1 does not harbor a bona fide ubiquitin binding domain, the precise mechanism for desmin IF disassembly remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the AAA-ATPase, ATAD1, is required to facilitate disassembly and turnover of ubiquitinated desmin IF. We identified PLAA and UBXN4 as ATAD1’s interacting partners, and show they are required for desmin filaments turnover because their downregulation attenuated desmin loss upon denervation. The ATAD1-PLAA-UBXN4 complex binds desmin filaments and promotes a release of phosphorylated and ubiquitinated species into the cytosol, presenting ATAD1 as the only known AAA-ATPase that preferentially acts on phosphorylated substrates. Desmin filaments disassembly was accelerated by the coordinated functions of Atad1 and calpain-1, which interact in muscle. Thus, by extracting ubiquitinated desmin from the insoluble filament, ATAD1 may expose calpain-1 cleavage sites on desmin, consequently enhancing desmin solubilization and degradation in the cytosol.
Rural cooperatives in disaster risk reduction and management: contributions and challenges
Authors: Lawangen Abner
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper is to contribute to addressing the knowledge gap on the roles of rural cooperatives in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach highlighting indigenous strategies of community engagement – the pantatabtaval/tong tongan (brainstorming and dialogs), pan-iestorya/dad-at (storytelling session) and field observations with 50 village-level cooperatives in Benguet, Philippines to understand their contributions to local DRRM.

Findings

Rural cooperatives in Benguet have evolved on their context of service from mere rural development to now include DRRM donations and aid for disaster-affected families, credit and loans are the most common services of these rural cooperative extended to their members to deal with risks of disasters.

Originality/value

Most research on cooperatives focuses on their contribution to socio-economic development and only few dealt with DRRM. This paper explores the link of these rural organizations with DRRM drawing evidence from cooperatives in the rural communities of Benguet, Philippines.
Consumer adoption of mobile payment services during COVID-19: extending meta-UTAUT with perceived severity and self-efficacy
Authors: Upadhyay Nitin , Upadhyay Shalini , Abed Salma S. , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the important factors that could affect consumers' behavioural intention and use behaviour towards mobile payment services during COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model extends meta-Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (meta-UTAUT) model with perceived severity and self-efficacy factors affecting consumers' behavioural intention and use behaviour towards mobile payment services. A convenient sampling technique has been utilized to gather data from a self-administered questionnaire. The data collection was restricted to the online mode to avoid any physical contact considering the COVID-19 situation.

Findings

The findings revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and perceived severity have a significant positive impact on consumers' attitude; facilitating conditions has a significant positive impact on effort expectancy; self-efficacy has a significant positive impact on effort expectancy; attitude has a significant positive impact on behavioural intention; and behavioural intention has a significant positive impact on use behaviour. Social influence did not confirm any significant relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The current research study has utilized a non-probability convenient sampling technique to gather data through a self-administered questionnaire. The data collection was restricted to the online mode to avoid any physical contact considering the COVID-19 situation. The respondents were adopters of mobile payment services. The scope of the study is the COVID-19 context or related chronic diseases context where major preventive mechanisms such as social distancing and avoidance of physical contacts are vital.

Originality/value

This study has extended the meta-UTAUT model with the COVID-19 context-specific constructs and relationships. The undertaken work has strengthened the explanability of the model. The inclusion of context relevant variables such as perceived severity and self-efficacy and their association with the existing meta-UTAUT framework have enriched the context of the study. The current study offers a holistic understanding of significant factors influencing Indian consumers’ adoption of mobile payment services in the COVID-19 context.
Framework and determinants of benchmarking: a theoretical analysis and case study in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Viet , Nguyen Khanh-Duy , Nguyen Hoang-Le
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to develop a benchmarking model with productivity, management, and sustainability indicators (PMS), measure the performance of furniture firms in Vietnam, explore the causes of performance gaps, and identify the barriers and factors of benchmarking practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The article uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. Literature review, exploratory interviews and a grounded-theory process are employed to develop a benchmarking framework and identify performance gaps, barriers and factors of benchmarking practice. The PMS benchmarking model and quantitative analysis are utilized to assess performance indicators.

Findings

The study proposes the PMS benchmarking model and measures performance indicators of furniture firms. The sources of performance gaps are explored as design, material supply, the economy of scale, market, management systems and openness. Benchmarking practice encounters barriers of difficult indicators, unsuitable firms, insufficient benchmarking knowledge, reluctance to share data, unavailable and unreliable data, and weak engagement. Benchmarking practice is determined by core factors: leader; internal factors: systems, engagement, strategy, scope, culture; external factors: customers, suppliers, associations, support, competition.

Practical implications

Firms could learn benchmarking indicators and the causes of these gaps to improve their performance. When implementing a benchmarking study, scholars and practitioners need to pay attention to barriers and factors of the benchmarking practice to ensure effective results.

Originality/value

This study develops the PMS benchmarking model and estimates performance indicators in an emerging country with the performance gap justification. It provides readers with benchmarking barriers with solutions and success factors of benchmarking practice.
Debt maturity structure and firm investment in the financially constrained environment
Authors: Nouman Muhammad , Ahmad Ijaz , Siddiqi Muhammad Fahad , Khan Farman Ullah , Fayaz Mohammad , Shah Idrees Ali
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The financial policies of the modern world corporations and their investment decisions are generally considered as interrelated because the agency problems, associated with the debt level and its maturity structure, give rise to incentives for overinvestment or underinvestment. The present study empirically investigates the linkage between debt maturity structure and firm investment in a financially constrained environment, using Pakistan as a case study, to determine how the institutional environment in which firms operate affect these decisions and their linkage.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is carried in a panel data setting using panel regression models as the baseline methods. Moreover, generalized methods of moments (GMM) estimators are used, coupled with the instrumental variables approach, for robustness and improving the efficiency and consistency of estimates.

Findings

Results suggest that firms rely more on short financing in Pakistan. Thus, given the capital structure which is characterized by higher proportion of short-term financing, the higher level of leverage is less likely to cause underinvestment problem. However, the underinvestment problem do persists in the firms that have higher portion of long-term debt. These findings imply that the debt-overhang problem may persist even in the financially constrained environments where attractive investment opportunities are limited, and long-term financing is difficult to acquire.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by revealing how corporate investment and financing decisions and their linkage is influenced by the institutional environment of the less developed countries which is characterized by underdeveloped financial markets, inefficient legal system and weak investor protection system.
Formation and development of taxation and legislation on administrative responsibility for tax offences in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Kussainova Aigul K. , Sabitova Ainur A. , Sabitova Shynar A. , Saparaliyeva Saule M. , Begaliyev Yernar N.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The relevance of this research topic lies in the fact that administrative responsibility for tax offences is one of the most complex sections of legislation providing for administrative responsibility, because an administrative offence in the field of taxation is considered inextricably with the norms of tax legislation. The purpose of this study is a comparative legal and historical analysis of the legislation on administrative responsibility for offences in the field of taxation and tax legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used general scientific, private scientific and legal methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, historical, formal and logical methods, as well as the comparative-legal method, which was the main method of cognition in the study.

Findings

To reduce the number of administrative offences in the field of taxation, the study proposed the introduction of an open source of financial information on the income and taxes of tax collectors. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that taxation and administrative responsibility for the commission of offences in the field of taxation are studied in a simultaneous relationship with their formation and subsequent stages of development. The study examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the development of legislation in the field of taxation and on administrative responsibility in the field of taxation.

Originality/value

This paper is devoted to the study of legal norms establishing administrative responsibility for offences in the field of taxation.
Financial risks and performance of conventional and Islamic banks: do reputational risk matters?
Authors: Butt Mahnoor Anjum , Ayub Huma , Latif Bilal , Asif Fawad , Shabbir Malik Shahzad , Raja Ammar Aftab
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the reputational risk, which is elusive and difficult to measure due to the lack of its conclusive definition. Literature supports the notion that financial risks may translate into reputational risks that pose threat to bank performance. However, empirical investigations in this context are still at their nascent stage.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has used a panel dataset for the sample of 24 conventional and Islamic banks regarding the period 2007–2017 by using a structural equation model.

Findings

The results of this study show that reputational risk partially mediates the relationship between financial risks and the performance of conventional banks. However, for Islamic banks, the reputational risk remains insignificant as a mediator. This study provides significant implications to risk managers in banks, regulators and academics to understand the role of reputational risk linked to financial risks for the improvement of bank performance.

Originality/value

This study aims to add to the literature by measuring reputational risk through the shareholders reputational score index, which is used as a mediator to determine whether financial risks of banks affect the performance of conventional and Islamic banks in Pakistan.
Wavelet power spectrum analysis of ETF’s tracking error
Authors: Nieves-González Aniel , Rodríguez Javier , Vega Vilca José
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study examines the tracking error (TE) of a sample of sector exchange traded funds (ETFs) using spectral techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

TE is examined by computing its power spectrum using the wavelet transform. The wavelet transform maps the TE time series from the time domain to the time–frequency domain. Albeit the wavelet transform is a more complicated mathematical tool compared with the Fourier transform, it also has important advantages such as that it allows to analyze non-stationary data and to detect transient behavior.

Findings

Results show that changes in the TE of a sample of sector ETFs are captured by the wavelet transform. Moreover, the authors also find that the wavelet coherence function can be used as a measure of TE in the time–frequency domain.

Originality/value

The study shows that the wavelet coherence function can be used as a reliable measure of TE.
Antecedents and consequences of telecommuting on public organizations in Iran: the case of west Azerbaijan province
Authors: Bashir Khodaparasti Ramin , Bagheri Garbollagh Hooshmand
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Telecommuting can reduce traffic congestion, energy consumption, prevalence and a death toll of COVID-19 among employees due to less transportation and fewer physical contacts among employees, on the one hand, and efficiently develop their use of information and communications technology, on the other hand. In this regard, the present study aims to explore antecedents and consequences of telecommuting in public organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a descriptive survey method to collect data. The statistical population includes all employees of government organizations in West Azerbaijan province in 2020, which according to the collected information, their number is equal to 63,079 employees. Based on Cochran's formula, a sample size of 686 people was obtained; stratified random sampling was used to select sampling. The process of calculating the sample volume was such that after referring to the preliminary sample and processing the collected data, the variance of the given answers was approximately 0.446. After obtaining the variance of the data, assuming a maximum acceptable error of 5% and a significance level of 0.05, the Cochran's formula calculated the sample size to be 686 people. In order to collect and measure data for the study, a standard questionnaire and the collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Findings indicate that there is no meaningful relationship between the employees' physical job conditions or the quality of their life with telecommuting and that telecommuting does not have a significant effect on their life. However, job burnout, training and telecommuting experience have a significant positive effect on telecommuting, which in turn has a positive and significant effect on job security, job flexibility, organizational performance and overall productivity of employees.

Research limitations/implications

This research is a cross-sectional study, and its data have been collected in a certain period of time, while longitudinal research can provide a richer result. Future research can benefit from the impact of employee isolation and telecommuter organizational commitment.

Originality/value

This study hopes to contribute to the increase of the scientific knowledge in the telecommuting field and to allow organizations to rethink the telecommuting strategies to optimize resources and costs and to improve the organization's productivity without harming the quality of life and well-being of their workers.
Using the Donabedian framework to examine transitional care for cardiac patients and family caregivers
Authors: Udod Sonia , Lobchuk Michelle , Avery Lorraine , Armah Naomi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine how health-care managers in acute care and post-acute care facilities support and plan to improve transitional care for cardiac patients and their family caregivers, to better manage care in the home.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative descriptive approach, guided by appreciative inquiry was used in this study. A purposive sample of 16 participants were engaged in the study. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the caregiver policy lens questionnaire and participated in one of four focus group interviews. The semi-structured focus group interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Using Donabedian’s framework, six major themes contributed to how health-care managers can improve transitional care: structure included supporting personnel and continuing education; process included enacting approaches of care, coordinating care among the health-care team and calling to work upstream; and outcomes included needing to clarify expectations of home care services and witnessing the impact of the caregiver role.

Originality/value

These findings demonstrate the importance of Donabedian’s core dimensions of structure and processes in influencing caregiver outcomes. These results emphasize the central role of the manager in influencing system change to improve transitional care.
Understanding the process of patient empowerment and their well-being in the context of outpatient services
Authors: Marimuthu Malliga , Taghizadeh Seyedeh Khadijeh , Kandampully Jay
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study has conceptualized and empirically investigated how the psychological empowerment process is generated from a patient's cognitive knowledge and participation at different recovery places that results in a state of empowerment and predicts positive outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 150 physiotherapy outpatients who have been attending a series of physiotherapy courses at clinic and concurrently progressing with home physio exercise plan. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS software.

Findings

The results reveal that psychological empowerment best formed when patient centric knowledge is combined with place-based behavioral experiences that are gathered via healthcare encounters and experience patient gained outside of the clinic. Patients' involvement at different environmental settings contributes to patients' empowerment which further assists their well-being.

Practical implications

Understanding the process of empowerment in different environmental contexts can help healthcare organizations to better design patient empowerment strategies and support patients through the empowerment journey to demonstrate their capability to achieve more effective health recovery outcomes.

Originality/value

Patient empowerment is a concept of growing importance in the healthcare industry, yet the journey about how patients are being empowered within their sphere has not been well studied in the past. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first study that discusses the utilization of patient empowerment must be aimed at both the process and the outcomes. This study provides empirical insights to understand the factors that formulate patient empowerment and predicts positive patient outcomes such as feelings of well-being.
A review of knowledge management research in the past three decades: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Farooq Rayees
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis on knowledge management from journals in the Scopus database between 1988 and 2021. The paper covered the past three decades of publications and carried out performance analysis and science mapping analysis of articles.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses bibliometrics, performance analysis and science mapping analysis of 1,016 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The study examined the scientific productivity of articles, productive authors, citable documents, most relevant institutions, cited countries, co-occurrence of keywords, thematic mapping, co-citations and collaboration of authors and countries. The study used Biblioshiny as a tool to carry out the performance analysis and science mapping analysis.

Findings

The results show that the number of publications has significantly increased in the past decade, 88.4% of authors contribute at least a single article, 8.3% of authors published two articles, 2% of the authors published three documents and 0.6% of the authors contribute four papers. The USA, China and Australia were the most productive countries in terms of the total number of citations and foreign collaborations. Journal of Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management Research and Practice, VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management and International Journal of Technology Management are the top outlets in the knowledge management literature.

Originality/value

Over the past decade, the research on knowledge management construct has exploded because of the growing interest of researchers and practitioners in the field. Despite being a well-developed field, few studies have applied bibliometric analysis in the knowledge management literature. The study is more comprehensive in terms of the actors and methods involved in analyzing the scientific production of articles in the area of knowledge management.
Host innate and adaptive immunity shapes the gut microbiota biogeography
Authors: Gu Min , Samuelson Derrick R. , de la Rua Nicholas M. , Charles Tysheena P. , Taylor Christopher M. , Luo Meng , Siggins Robert W. , Shellito Judd E. , Welsh David A.
Published: January 2022

The gut microbiota has a fundamental role in the development and the maturation of the host immune system. Both innate and adaptive immune cells have critical functions in microbial pathogen containment and clearance, but the regulation of the commensal microbiome ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract by these major immune cell populations is incompletely defined. The role of specific innate and adaptive immune cell in the regulation of the microbiota in the intestinal tract biogeographically was investigated. Dendritic cells, macrophages, CD4+ T‐cells, CD8+ T‐cells, and B‐cells were depleted using monoclonal antibodies and clodronate liposomes, and the microbial communities were determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With specific immune cell depletion, distinct microbiota changes were observed. In general, immune cell depleted mice had higher microbiota richness and evenness at all gut anatomical sites. At each gut segment, samples from immune cell‐depleted animals clustered away from the isotype/liposome control mice. This was especially dramatic for the small intestinal microbiota. Specifically, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Mucispirillum schaedleri were highly enriched in the mucosa and lumen of the small intestine in immune cell‐deficient animals. Further, the mucosal microbiota had higher microbiota evenness compared with luminal microbiota at all gut segments, and the UniFrac distance between B cell depleted and isotype control mice was the largest in the duodenum followed by the ileum and colon. Taken together, the data suggest that innate and adaptive immune cells specifically contribute to the regulation of the gut microbiota's biogeographical distribution along the gastrointestinal tract, and microbiota in the duodenum mucosa are more responsive to host immune changes compared with other anatomical sites.