bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Disaggregated Oswestry Disability Index: What is the Most Predictive Subsection for Patient Satisfaction After Lumbar Surgery?
Authors: Hambrecht Jan , Köhli Paul , Duculan Roland , Chiapparelli Erika , Lan Ranqing , Guven Ali E. , Evangelisti Gisberto , Burkhard Marco D. , Tsuchiya Koki , Muellner Maximilian , Shue Jennifer , Sama Andrew A. , Cammisa Frank P. , Girardi Federico P. , Mancuso Carol A. , Hughes Alexander P.
Published: October 2024

Study Design:

Retrospective review of cohort studies.

Objective:

To analyze how different ODI subsections and their improvement affect patient satisfaction 2 years after elective lumbar surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Background:

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is crucial in evaluating outcomes of spinal disorders and provides valuable insights into a patient’s preoperative status. There is limited information available on the individual characteristics of its subsections and their relation to postoperative patient satisfaction.

Methods:

Pre- and 2-year postoperative ODI and patient satisfaction were assessed. The analysis included preoperative scores and improvements in each ODI subsection 2 years postoperatively. Satisfaction was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with scores ≥4 deemed satisfactory. Univariate linear regression and ROC analysis established cutoffs for subsection improvement and postoperative target values to achieve postoperative satisfaction.

Results:

265 patients (60% female, 67±8 years) were included. ODI improvement was achieved in 91%, and postoperative patient satisfaction in 73%. Patients with lower postoperative subsection scores and greater differences between pre- and postoperative scores were more likely to be satisfied (all P<0.001). A postoperative subsection target score of ≤1 was associated with patient satisfaction. Change in degree of pain was the most predictive subsection for satisfaction, with an AUC of 0.84 (sensitivity 79%, specificity 86%). Walking (AUC 0.83, sensitivity 87%, specificity 65%), pain intensity (AUC 0.82, sensitivity 79%, specificity 79%), personal care (AUC 0.82, sensitivity 83%, specificity 68%), and standing (AUC 0.82, sensitivity 83%, specificity 83%) all had an AUC greater than 0.80. The postoperative subsection with the lowest predictability was sleeping (AUC 0.69).

Conclusion:

Pain domains, walking, standing, and personal care were the subsections with the highest predictability for patient satisfaction. These findings on the correlation between different ODI subscales and patient satisfaction are valuable for improving preoperative education, addressing disability, and ensuring postoperative satisfaction.
What makes proactive behaviors at work effective? Perspectives of health care executives
Authors: Lai Alden Yuanhong , Frimpong Jemima A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Proactive behaviors at work refer to behaviors that are self-starting, future focused, and change oriented. Proactive behaviors are generally thought of as positive and desired and can benefit both the employee (e.g., job promotion) and organization (e.g., innovation). These behaviors can, however, backfire (e.g., due to unintended consequences), reflecting the “initiative paradox.”

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate, through the perspectives of health care executives, how employees can be more effective when engaging in proactive behaviors.

Methodology

We used the episodic narrative interview method. Health care executives narrated instances of perceived effective and ineffective proactive behaviors among employees. We then performed an inductive qualitative analysis of these episodes to identify emerging themes and dimensions.

Results

The effectiveness of proactive behaviors among health care employees is shaped by three dimensions: managerial expectation (in)congruence (e.g., knowledge of expectations, engagement with chain of command), organizational priority (in)congruence (e.g., degree of alignment between individual and organizational benefits), and boundaries of action and change (e.g., nonadherence to regulatory or financial conditions). Among the dimensions, managerial expectations may be the most challenging for employees to navigate.

Conclusion

Engaging in proactive behaviors is not a straightforward process. Navigating multiple dimensions is necessary for health care employees to be effective.

Practice Implications

Employees should be equipped with knowledge on relevant expectations, priorities, and boundaries when engaging in proactive behaviors at work. Health care leaders and managers should aim to clarify and periodically reassess these dimensions to facilitate effective proactive behaviors and to generate benefits for employees and the organization.
The assessment of myopenia and muscle biopsy in pediatric patients with liver disease awaiting liver transplantation—A cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Hager Amber , Mazurak  , Dajani Khaled , Dunichand-Hoedl Abha , Shapiro A.M. James , Bigam David , Anderson Blaire , Kneteman Norm , Montano-Loza Aldo J. , Noga Michelle , Gavreau Cynthia , Dziwenkocox Cindy , Yap Jason , Gilmour Susan M. , Mager Diana R.
Published: October 2024

Little is known about the skeletal muscle characteristics (fiber type proportion and size, location of nuclei, presence of fat infiltration) in children with liver disease with radiologically determined myopenia (low muscle mass). During liver transplantation (LTx) surgery, biopsies from the rectus abdominis muscle were collected. Muscle fiber types (I, I/IIA, IIA, IIA/X, IIX) and cross-sectional area index (µm/m2) were determined using immunofluorescence staining. Triacylglycerol and phospholipid content of muscle was determined using gas chromatography. Myopenia was defined using study-specific cutoffs (skeletal muscle index <−2 SD) from age-sex–matched healthy control scans. Myopenia was prevalent in 41% of children. Children also had a high prevalence of high muscle adiposity (37%). Children with myopenia were older (8.4 vs. 0.7 y; p<0.001), had smaller total (median 595 vs. 844 µm/m2; p=0.04) and hybrid IIA/X (612±143 vs. 993±341 µm/m2; p=0.04) muscle fiber size index, lower prevalence of type I fibers (53% vs. 64%; p=0.01) and higher prevalence of type IIA/X hybrid fibers (median 7.5% vs. 0%; p=0.04). Children with myopenia also had a higher prevalence of elevated triacylglycerol content (>75 percentile) within the muscle compared to children without myopenia (36% vs. 0%; p=0.009). Percent of muscle fibers with centralized nuclei was not different between groups. In conclusion, children with myopenia experience differences in skeletal muscle biological characteristics when compared to children without myopenia at LTx, and these findings may have implications for dietary and exercise rehabilitation pre-LTx and post-LTx.
Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: epidemiology, presentation, and high-risk endemic populations
Authors: Clark Cassra B. , Matheny Meghan , Raman Jay D.
Published: October 2024

Purpose of review

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) only accounts for 5–10% of all urothelial cancers but these patients present with high stage disease and 2 out of 3 patients have evidence of muscle-invasion at time of diagnosis. Furthermore, 10% of UTUC patients have associated Lynch syndrome and therefore diagnosis of UTUC should prompt timely evaluation and familial counseling. The purpose of this review is to outline the current evidence on the epidemiology, presentation, and high-risk endemic populations of UTUC through review of contemporary publications occurring over the preceding 18 months.

Recent findings

Both the American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU) have published updated guidelines within the last 18 months for the management of UTUC. Of note, the updated guidelines give special consideration to identifying patients with risk factors for Lynch syndrome and recommend universal histologic testing for those with high probability of having Lynch syndrome cancers as well as referral for genetic counseling and germline testing.

UTUC is an overall rare malignancy but tends to present with advanced stage and muscle-invasion. A proper understanding of the epidemiology, presentation, and high-risk endemic populations is necessary to develop preventive and interventional strategies.
e-EARLY TOGETHER Intervention for Infants at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Authors: Cunha Agnes F. S. , Leite Hércules R. , Santos Adriana N. , Campos Ana C. , Hines Ashleigh , Camargos Ana C. R.
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an early intervention program, e-EARLY TOGETHER, that combines goal-oriented training, parental coaching, environmental enrichment in a telehealth approach in a low- and middle-income country.

Methods:

Protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of e-EARLY TOGETHER intervention compared to standard guidelines on outcomes related to development and performance in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy.

Discussion:

This protocol will inform and enrich clinical practice related to early intervention in low- and middle-income countries. It is expected that the data obtained will contribute to the implementation of effective early intervention programs with positive and lasting results for the child, their family, and the community.

Trial registration:

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-7WWJRQ3, registered May 10, 2023; WHO Trial Registration UTN Code U-1111-1286-4639.
Specialty-Based Ambulatory Quality Improvement Program: A Specialty-Specific Ambulatory Metric Project
Authors: Nagler Arielle R. , Testa Paul A. , Cho Ilseung , Ogedegbe Gbenga , Kalkut Gary , Gossett Dana R.
Published: October 2024

Background and Objectives:

Healthcare is increasingly being delivered in the outpatient setting, but robust quality improvement programs and performance metrics are lacking in ambulatory care, particularly specialty-based ambulatory care.

Methods:

To promote quality improvement in ambulatory care, we developed an infrastructure to create specialty-specific quality measures and dashboards that could be used to display providers’ performance across relevant measures to individual providers and institutional leaders.

Results:

The products of this program include a governance and infrastructure for specialty-specific ambulatory quality metrics as well as two distinct dashboards for data display. One dashboard is provider-facing, displaying provider’s performance on specialty-specific measures as compared to institutional standards. The second dashboard is a leadership dashboard that provides overall and provider-level information on performance across measures.

Conclusions:

The Specialty-based Ambulatory Quality program reflects a systematic, institutionally-supported quality improvement framework that can be applied across diverse ambulatory specialties. As next steps, we plan to evaluate the program’s impact on provider performance across measures and expand this program to other specialties practicing in the outpatient setting.
Examining the Measurement Equivalence of Alzheimer Disease Research Centers’ Neuropsychological Test Battery (Version 3) Between Singapore and US Samples
Authors: Tay Sze Yan , Koay Way Inn , Ting Simon Kang Seng , Liew Tau Ming
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

Standardization of neuropsychological tests is crucial for consistency in cognitive assessment, as well as for validity and comparability of results across different populations. We examined the applicability and measurement equivalence of the Alzheimer Disease Research Centers' Neuropsychological Test Battery (version 3) (ADRC-NTB3) in Singapore.

Methods:

The ADRC-NTB3 was administered to 978 older persons with normal cognition in Singapore. To provide comparison between Singapore and US samples, a US sample with similar profile was retrieved from the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center (NACC) database.

Patients:

Scores were compared with 1853 participants with similar profile from the United States. Score-difference between the populations was computed using multiple linear regression (adjusted for covariates), with equivalent score considered present when 90% CI of the score-difference fell within the predefined margin of equivalence.

Results:

Tasks assessing for memory, processing speed, and executive functioning showed equivalence in scores between US and Singapore samples (adjusted-score difference=−0.94 to 0.09). Singapore sample performed marginally better on the visuospatial task (adjusted-score difference=0.50), but poorer on the language task (adjusted-score difference=−3.22).

Discussion:

Nonequivalence of visuospatial and language tasks, which may increase potential misinterpretation of cognitive profiles and misdiagnosis, are related to educational and cultural differences. This highlights the need for different normative data for more accurate diagnostic accuracy as well as research priorities.
Not so social in old age: demography as one driver of decreasing sociality
Authors: Schroeder Julia , Dunning Jamie , Chan Alex Hoi Han , Chik Heung Ying Janet , Burke Terry
Published: October 2024

Humans become more selective with whom they spend their time, and as a result, the social networks of older humans are smaller than those of younger ones. In non-human animals, processes such as competition and opportunity can result in patterns of declining sociality with age. While there is support for declining sociality with age in mammals, evidence from wild bird populations is lacking. Here, we test whether sociality declines with age in a wild, insular bird population, where we know the exact ages of individuals. Using 6 years of sociality data, we find that as birds aged, their degree and betweenness decreased. The number of same-age birds still alive also decreased with age. Our results suggest that a longitudinal change in sociality with age may be, in part, an emergent effect of natural changes in demography. This highlights the need to investigate the changing costs and benefits of sociality across a lifetime.

This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Understanding age and society using natural populations’.
Motor Clustering Enhances Kinesin-driven Vesicle Transport
Authors: Jiang Rui , Feng Qingzhou , Nong Daguan , Kang You Jung , Sept David , Hancock William O.
Published: October 2024

Intracellular vesicles are typically transported by a small number of kinesin and dynein motors. However, the slow microtubule binding rate of kinesin-1 observed inin vitrobiophysical studies suggests that long-range transport may require a high number of motors. To address the discrepancy in motor requirements betweenin vivoandin vitrostudies, we reconstituted motility of 120-nm-diameter liposomes driven by multiple GFP-labeled kinesin-1 motors. Consistent with predictions based on previous binding rate measurements, we found that long-distance transport requires a high number of kinesin-1 motors. We hypothesized that this discrepancy fromin vivoobservations may arise from differences in motor organization and tested whether motor clustering can enhance transport efficiency using a DNA scaffold. Clustering just three motors improved liposome travel distances across a wide range of motor numbers. Our findings demonstrate that, independent of motor number, the arrangement of motors on a vesicle regulates transport distance, suggesting that differences in motor organization may explain the disparity betweenin vivoandin vitromotor requirements for long-range transport.

Significance Statement

Intracellular vesicles frequently travel long distances, despite having few kinesin and dynein motors. By reconstituting liposome motility with kinesin-1 motors, we demonstrate the need for high motor copy numbers for long-range transport when motors are randomly distributed on the liposome surface. We further show that motor clustering reduces the required motor number, emphasizing its potential role in enhancing transport efficiency. Our findings highlight the significance of motor organization in regulating intracellular transport and suggest that motor clustering, such as by scaffolding proteins or lipid domains, influences bidirectional transport outcomes.
Identifying Opioid-Related Pharmacogenomic Variants in High-Risk Hospitalized Infants: A Pilot Study
Authors: Barq Rabab M. , Ourshalimian Shadassa , Maggo Simran , Keane Olivia A. , Nguyen Jenny Q. , Deardorff Matthew A. , Lewis Tamorah , Lakshmanan Ashwini , Mosley Scott A. , Kelley-Quon Lorraine I.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) variants impact the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of opioids and the brain’s reward, cognition, stress, and pain pathways. This study examines the prevalence of PGx variants impacting opioid response among a cohort of high-risk infants.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at a quaternary children’s hospital from 2009-2020. Infants <1y with ≥1 high-risk condition (congenital heart disease (CHD), medical or surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), thoracoabdominal surgery, very or extremely low birthweight, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) with exome sequencing were included. Prevalence of opioid-related variants (COMT, DRD2/ANKK1, ABCB1, OPRM1, CYP2B6, CYP2D6) were compared to Ensembl, a database of published genomic cohorts.

Results

Overall, 111 high-risk infants were identified (62.2% male, 47.7% Hispanic/Latino, 18.0% premature, and 82.0% CHD). Most underwent surgery (68.2%), with 37.8% undergoing CHD surgery. Overall, 81.1% of infants were homozygous for ≥1 opioid-related variant(s). Compared to Ensembl, high-risk infants had a significantly higher frequency of homozygosity forABCB1: rs1045642(43.6% vs. 18.7%, p<0.001) andrs2032582(42.7% vs. 15.9%, p<0.001). Conversely, high-risk infants had a lower frequency of homozygosity forCOMT: rs4818(2.7% vs. 10.3%, p<0.001) andOPRM1: rs1799971(2.7% vs. 7.1%, p<0.001). All infants with surgical NEC (N=5) were homozygous for ≥1 opioid-related variant. The most common metabolizer phenotypes were intermediate (CYP2B6: 35.5%, CYP2D6: 20.0%) and normal (CYP2B6: 53.9%, CYP2D6: 70.9%).

Conclusion

Most high-risk infants carried at least one opioid-related variant, with frequencies that are significantly different from broader genetic cohorts. Larger studies inclusive of intronic PGx variants using ancestrally comparable controls are needed.
Deep learning for polygenic prediction: The role of heritability, interaction type and sample size
Authors: Grealey Jason , Abraham Gad , Méric Guillaume , Cánovas Rodrigo , Kelemen Martin , Teo Shu Mei , Salim Agus , Inouye Michael , Xu Yu
Published: October 2024

Polygenic scores (PGS), which aggregate the effects of genetic variants to estimate predisposition for a disease or trait, have potential clinical utility in disease prevention and precision medicine. Recently, there has been increasing interest in using deep learning (DL) methods to develop PGS, due to their strength in modelling complex non-linear relationships (such as GxG) that conventional PGS methods may not capture. However, the perceived value of DL for polygenic scores is unclear. In this study, we assess the underlying factors impacting DL performance and how they can be better utilised for PGS development. We simulate large-scale realistic genotype-to-phenotype data, with varying genetic architectures of phenotypes under quantitative control of three key components: (a) total heritability, (b) variant-variant interaction type, and (c) proportion of non-additive heritability. We compare the performance of one of most common DL methods (multi-layer perceptron, MLP) on varying training sample sizes, with two well-established PGS methods: a purely additive model (pruning and thresholding, P+T) and a machine learning method (Elastic net, EN). Our analyses show EN has consistently better overall performance across traits of different architectures and training data of different sizes. However, MLP saw the largest performance improvements as sample size increases. MLP outperformed P+T for most traits and achieves comparable performance as EN for numerous traits at the largest sample size assessed (N=100k), suggesting DL may offer some advantages in future when they can be trained on biobanks of millions of samples. We further found that one-hot encoding of variant input can improve performance of every method, particularly for traits with non-additive variance. Overall, we show how different underlying factors impact how well methods leverage non-additivity for polygenic prediction.
Virus Entry is a Major Determinant of HCMV Latency in Monocytes
Authors: Kitsberg Yaarit , Nachshon Aharon , Arazi Tamar , Fisher Tal , Wainstein Alexander , Finkel Yaara , Stern-Ginossar Noam , Schwartz Michal
Published: October 2024

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection can result in either productive or latent infection, the latter being the basis for the virus life-long persistence. Intriguingly, monocytes, which support latent infection, become permissive to productive infection upon differentiation to macrophages. However, the molecular factors explaining these differentiation-driven differences are not fully understood and have been so far attributed to chromatin-mediated repression of the viral genome. Here, by using metabolic labeling of newly synthesized RNA early in monocyte and macrophage infection, we discover a major early block in viral gene expression, and viral transcripts are barely detected in infected monocytes. By unbiasedly analyzing the changes between monocytes and their differentiated counterparts, we reveal that the levels of several cell surface proteins involved in HCMV entry are upregulated upon monocyte to macrophage differentiation, and correspondingly we uncover HCMV entry into monocytes compared to macrophages is extremely inefficient. Remarkably, ectopic expression of a canonical HCMV entry receptor in monocytes facilitates productive infection of these cells, demonstrating that given efficient viral entry, monocytes, like macrophages, have the capacity to support productive infection. Among the cell surface proteins that are upregulated upon monocyte differentiation are several integrins, which we show play an important role in HCMV entry into macrophages, partially explaining the differences in viral entry. Overall, our findings reveal that a previously unrecognized major barrier for productive infection in monocytes is entry, adding a critical layer to the paradigm of HCMV latency.
Hypusinated and unhypusinated isoforms of eIF5A exert distinct effects in models of pancreas development and function
Authors: Anderson Cara M. , Kulkarni Abhishek , Maier Bernhard , Huang Fei , Figatner Kayla , Chakraborty Advaita , Pratuangtham Sarida , May Sarah C. , Tersey Sarah A. , Anderson Ryan M. , Mirmira Raghavendra G.
Published: October 2024

Hypusination of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is essential for its role in translation elongation and termination. Although the function of hypusinated eIF5A (eIF5AHyp) in cellular proliferation is well-characterized, the role of its unhypusinated form (eIF5ALys) remains unclear. We hypothesized that eIF5ALysexerts independent effects on cellular replication and metabolism distinct from the loss of eIF5AHyp. To test this hypothesis, we utilized zebrafish and mouse models with inducible knockdowns of deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) and eIF5A to investigate their roles in cellular growth. Gene expression analysis via RNA sequencing and morphometric measurements of pancreas and β-cell mass were performed to assess phenotypic changes and identify affected biological pathways. Loss of DHPS in zebrafish resulted in significant defects in pancreatic growth, accompanied by the dysregulation of mRNA translation, neurogenesis, and stress pathways. By contrast, knockdown of eIF5A had minimal impact on pancreas development, suggesting that the effects of DHPS loss are not solely due to the lack of eIF5AHyp. In mice, β cell-specific deletion of DHPS impaired β cell mass expansion and glucose tolerance, while eIF5A deletion had no statistically significant effects. These findings reveal an independent role for eIF5ALysin regulating developmental and functional responses and that a balance in levels of the hypusinated and unhypusinated isoforms of eIF5A may be pivotal in cellular phenotypes in health and disease.
Adenine DNA methylation associated to transcription is widespread across eukaryotes
Authors: Romero Charria Pedro , Navarrete Cristina , Ovchinnikov Vladimir , Sarre Luke A , Shabardina Victoria , Casacuberta Elena , Lara-Astiaso David , Sebé-Pedrós Arnau , de Mendoza Alex
Published: October 2024

DNA methylation in the form of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is widespread in eukaryotes, while the presence of N6-methyladenine (6mA) has sparked considerable debate. Methodological disparities in quantifying and mapping 6mA in genomic DNA have fueled this controversy. Yet, the distantly related early branching fungi, ciliates and the algaeChlamydomonas reinhardtiiexhibit robust 6mA methylation patterns, but the origin and evolution of 6mA remain unknown. Here we use Oxford Nanopore modified base calling to profile 6mA at base pair resolution in 18 unicellular eukaryotes spanning all major eukaryotic supergroups. Our results reveal that only species encoding the adenine methyltransferase AMT1 display robust genomic 6mA patterns. Notably, 6mA consistently accumulates downstream of transcriptional start sites, aligning with H3K4me3-enriched nucleosomes, suggesting a conserved role in placing transcriptionally permissive nucleosomes. Intriguingly, the recurrent loss of the 6mA pathway across eukaryotes, particularly in major multicellular lineages, implies a convergent alteration in the dual methylation system of the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor, which featured transcription-associated 6mA and repression-associated 5mC.
Challenges of remote working, perceived peer support, mental health and well-being of WIL students
Authors: Yacub Aasim , Drysdale Maureen T.B. , Callaghan Sarah A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study explored the relationship between perceived peer support, mental health and the well-being of students enrolled in work-integrated learning (WIL) at a Canadian institute of higher education, who were completing remote work experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey and virtual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The online survey captured demographic information as well as measures of perceived peer support, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH) and stressors associated with the on-going pandemic. The interviews captured narratives regarding peer support, attitudes surrounding remote work, mental health and well-being.

Findings

WIL students completing remote work terms experienced only moderate levels of peer support, moderate loneliness, below-average PMH and all the stressors associated with the on-going pandemic. Data also revealed that completing a remote work term negatively impacted work communications, opportunities to build connections with colleagues and overall motivation. On the other hand, WIL students appreciated the flexibility and comfort of working from home, as well as reduced work-related expenses.

Originality/value

With remote work experiences increasing globally and now a reality for many WIL students, the potential negative effects emphasize the importance of providing social and mental health support and resources, especially during stressful times.
Training transfer in MSMEs of India: examining the role of performance coaching, HRD climate and employee agility
Authors: Srigouri V.V. , Muduli Ashutosh
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The relatively low emphasis on training is often attributed to concerns about the uncertain return on investment in training initiatives. However, there has been limited research conducted to understand the critical success factors for training effectiveness in these enterprises. The current research aims to address this gap by examining the role of training transfer factors in enhancing training effectiveness within micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Influenced by the Learning Transfer System framework proposed by Holton et al. (2007), this study aims to focus on investigating the impact of performance coaching, human resource development (HRD) climate and employee agility on training transfer in MSMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Data has been collected from 411 respondents working in MSMEs of India through validated survey instruments. MSMEs have been chosen owing to the increasing contribution of the sector to the Indian gross domestic product and the lack of sufficient management research in the sector. The statistical software SPSS-AMOS has been used to create structural equational modeling for testing the hypotheses.

Findings

The result shows that performance coaching is the most impactful factor for training transfer, followed by HRD climate and employee agility.

Practical implications

The result suggests MSME practitioners activate a positive coaching environment in the organization by following the best practices in performance coaching. Further, the research suggests practitioners to realize the significance of HRD climate and employee agility. Appropriate management practices have been suggested to groom and develop HRD climate and employee agility for higher training transfer.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the research is first of its kind to study the impact of performance coaching, employee agility and HRD climate on training transfer in MSMEs.
Together we can do it! A roadmap to effectively tackle propaganda-related tasks
Authors: Rodríguez-García Raquel , Centeno Roberto , Rodrigo Álvaro
Published: October 2024

Purpose

In this paper, we address the need to study automatic propaganda detection to establish a course of action when faced with such a complex task. Although many isolated tasks have been proposed, a roadmap on how to best approach a new task from the perspective of text formality or the leverage of existing resources has not been explored yet.

Design/methodology/approach

We present a comprehensive study using several datasets on textual propaganda and different techniques to tackle it. We explore diverse collections with varied characteristics and analyze methodologies, from classic machine learning algorithms, to multi-task learning to utilize the available data in such models.

Findings

Our results show that transformer-based approaches are the best option with high-quality collections, and emotionally enriched inputs improve the results for Twitter content. Additionally, MTL achieves the best results in two of the five scenarios we analyzed. Notably, in one of the scenarios, the model achieves an F1 score of 0.78, significantly surpassing the transformer baseline model’s F1 score of 0.68.

Research limitations/implications

After finding a positive impact when leveraging propaganda’s emotional content, we propose further research into exploiting other complex dimensions, such as moral issues or logical reasoning.

Originality/value

Based on our findings, we provide a roadmap for tackling propaganda-related tasks, depending on the types of training data available and the task to solve. This includes the application of MTL, which has yet to be fully exploited in propaganda detection.
Co-creating an appreciative working climate: discussing reasons for appreciation, forms and roles from a communication perspective
Authors: Stranzl Julia , Ruppel Christopher
Published: October 2024

Purpose

In recent years, various socio-political developments have led to changes in the labor market that place high demands on both employees and organizations. Research has shown that strong employee–organization relationships depend partly on employees’ perceptions of appreciation at work for which different communicators are attributed with responsibility. This study draws conclusions for the role of internal communication professionals in co-creating an appreciative working climate by exploring employees’ expectations on what they want to be appreciated for, by identifying forms of appreciation and by stressing the contribution of communication professionals in meeting these expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

The results base on three focus groups conducted in January 2023 with employees without leadership responsibility working in large Austrian organizations.

Findings

The analysis yields to two areas – “personal characteristics and qualities” and “work-related behaviors” – where employees expect appreciation. In six categories we capture forms of appreciation that reflect employees’ expectations and perceptions. Most of the forms can and should be addressed by managers within an organization—internal communication professionals should follow a communicative professional logic and act as strategic partners and resource providers, enablers and role models.

Research limitations/implications

(1) What do employees expect to be appreciated for? (2) What forms of appreciation do employees expect? (3) What role do internal communication professionals seize in co-creating an appreciative working climate?

Practical implications

Based on social exchange theory, resource theory and the job-demands resource (JD-R) model, this study conceptualizes appreciation as a prototypical generic socioemotional resource at work that is communicative in nature, and key to both motivation and health.

Limitations

There is a need to capture the perspective of managers and internal communication professionals on employees’ expectations in order to deepen the debate about communication responsibilities, practice and critical aspects of appreciation. Furthermore, a comparison of different work cultures (e.g. Asia) and other institutionalized work forms (e.g. start-ups, small enterprises, public agencies) would advance the debate.

Originality/value

The study provides in-depth knowledge of reasons for and forms of appreciation from an employee’s perspective, which is considered relevant to discuss communication responsibilities in light of dependencies.
One faith for different realities: accounting and management practices of Benedictine monasteries
Authors: Centorrino Giovanna , Naciti Valeria , Schifilliti Valeria
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how the accounting and management practices of monastic institutions were shaped by their surrounding social, political, geographical and economic environments, as well as religious ideologies, during critical historical periods.

Design/methodology/approach

By applying institutional theory and the comparative international accounting history perspective, this study conducts a comparative analysis of archival records from two monasteries, examining how their accounting and managerial practices were influenced by differing institutional logics. The research relies on systematic archival data collection, complemented by secondary sources, to analyze how religious beliefs shaped the accounting and management practices of these institutions and the degree of convergence between the two.

Findings

This study found that both monasteries adapted their accounting and management practices to their external environments. San Placido demonstrated resilience amidst disruptions such as wars and earthquakes, while Silos showed financial sophistication through diverse income streams. The resilience of these institutions was driven by their ability to align internal operations with external political, economic and social factors. This adaptability, coupled with strategic management, enhanced their capacity to maintain financial stability, illustrating the direct link between external changes, organizational resilience and improved financial health.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights the historical interplay between religious principles and accounting management practices in Benedictine monasteries by comparing two monasteries. It reveals how external environments shape internal operations, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of these institutions in maintaining financial sustainability through the alignment of external pressures with internal resilience mechanisms, which in turn bolster their financial health.

Originality/value

This research contributes valuable insights to historical managerial and accounting literature, shedding light on the financial resilience and strategies used by Benedictine monasteries. It underscores the enduring respectful legacy of their accounting practices and the unique interplay between spiritual devotion and organizational structure within these institutions.
Ownership structure, adjustment speed toward target leverage and CEO power
Authors: Vo Thi Thuy Anh , Thai Thi Hong An
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of ownership structure on firm adjustment speed toward the target leverage.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a partial adjustment model on a sample of 694 publicly listed firms from 2007 to 2021 in Vietnam.

Findings

The study finds that state and foreign ownerships inhibit the speed at which firms approach their optimal level of debt. Interestingly, this negative association is less pronounced in firms managed by powerful CEOs (duality CEOs; highly experienced CEOs; CEOs who they own or their families possess a large number of shares). Further, state and foreign ownership are found to be positively associated with firm performance. This beneficial impact weakens, however, when firms use more debts.

Originality/value

The outcome reveals that having a powerful CEO on board can help businesses in this emerging market counteract the detrimental effects that foreign and state ownership leave on the process of adjusting leverage.
Optimal design parameter estimation and analytical investigation of MEMS quadruple touch mode capacitive pressure sensor
Authors: Gajula Rukshana Bi , Jindal Sumit Kumar
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Touch mode capacitive pressure sensors (TMCPS) offer superior sensitivity and linearity in comparison to normal mode CPS and have therefore seen substantial improvements in modeling and construction. This study aims to develop a sensor that is highly robust, with near-linear output characteristics, increased sensitivity and superior overload protection, making it an ideal choice for deployment in harsh industrial environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed sensor design uses a substrate with a multi-step notch, introducing a new quadruple TMCPS and uses a small deflection model for mathematical analysis. Addition of a multi-step notch to traditional touch mode capacitive sensors results in quadruple touch regions which further enhances its operational range performance.

Findings

The simulation of diaphragm deflection in response to pressure is carried out by using COMSOL Multiphysics, whereas MATLAB is used for analytical simulations pertaining to variations in capacitance and capacitive sensitivity. Comparing with earlier models, there is a noticeable enhancement in capacitance, experiencing a fivefold increase. The achieved value stands at 50.1 pF, reflecting improved sensitivity for applied pressure ranging from 0 to 2 MPa.

Originality/value

In existing literature to improve the performance of the single TMCPS, a double-sided TMCPS has been developed. To enhance sensor performance, a substrate with a multi-step notch is proposed. The notch creates four touch regions with varying gap depths, resulting in increased capacitance and capacitive sensitivity.
Senedd Reform: From Aspiration to Cold‐Headed Reality?
Authors: Evans Adam
Published: October 2024

In May 2024, the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill completed its legislative journey through the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament. The bill marks the latest chapter in the Senedd's evolution from an assembly established with no formally separated executive branch and no primary legislative powers into a lawmaking and tax‐raising parliament. It also marks the culmination of a long‐running debate about the size of the Welsh legislature. For at least twenty years there had appeared to be a broad agreement that the Senedd was too small, its capacity too thinly spread and that a larger membership of at least eighty, but closer to ninety or 100, members was required. In those respects, the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill can be seen as the culmination of that long‐established consensus. However, as this article will explore, in one key area—the choice of electoral system—the bill marks a key point of departure.
“Lascivious Poison?” Street‐songs as a Source for Popular Expression: The Case of Jansenism, c. 1687–1737*
Authors: Thomason Tiéphaine
Published: October 2024

Famed for its austerity, Jansenism nonetheless prompted a slew of salacious street‐songs throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. If historians have increasingly examined early modern urban singing practices, underlining the social porosity and intergenerational hold of many street‐songs, little research has been devoted to unpicking what songs offer to the study of religious history. The aims of this article are two‐fold. First, it seeks to assess the value (and sketch out some limits) to street‐songs as a source in recovering some of the more popular facets of religious controversies — here, the Jansenist movement. Second, and as a corollary of this, the article uses street‐songs to emphasise the political sophistication to popular interest in Jansenism. It suggests that this antedated and ran alongside the convulsionary movement, which has been typically viewed as the apogee of popular engagement with Jansenism. This article first considers how the hold of specific literary themes and popular tunes over generations impacted discussions on the Jansenist debate, before turning to examine the suitability of songs in capturing devotional and theological content, and finally discussing the complexity of the popular political and ecclesiological ideas on the Jansenist movement that the street‐songs conveyed. The article ultimately seeks to underline the value of street‐songs as a source on urban popular religious expression.
Transanal total mesorectal excision: Understanding indications, managing complications, and effective prevention methods
Authors: Stefanou Christos K. , Stefanou Stefanos K. , Tepelenis Kostas , Chatzoglou Theocharis , Smyris Thomas Iraklis , Aikaterini Marini , Barbouti Alexandra , Varvarousis Dimitrios N. , Kanavaros Panagiotis , Kitsoulis Panagiotis
Published: October 2024

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has emerged as a surgical method for treating rectal malignancies in the middle and lower third of the rectum over the past 15 years. This approach was adopted because of the challenges encountered in secure total mesorectal excision (TME). Patient selection criteria and the rationale for TaTME have evolved, leading to improved oncological outcomes and patient quality of life. The procedure includes inserting a unique platform through the anus, forming a purse‐string closure, and endoscopically sealing the lower rectum. The mesorectum is then removed laparoscopically following a ‘down‐to‐up’ approach, finalised with a transabdominal laparoscopic phase and anastomosis. Pelvic anatomy complexity poses challenges, including potential injuries to the urinary tract, surgical site leakage, sinus damage, sagittal vein harm, nerve injury, carbon dioxide embolism, bowel function disturbance, sphincter mechanism issues, and rectal abscess formation. Proficient anatomy knowledge, precise surgical techniques, and advanced technologies contribute to their prevention. In conclusion, TaTME offers a promising approach to rectal surgery with satisfactory oncological outcomes. However, vigilance is required to eliminate potential complications.
Gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and lipids related to blood glucose control and type 1 diabetes
Authors: Gu Zhaohe , Pan Lanxin , Tan Huiling , Wang Xulin , Wang Jing , Zheng Xueying , Weng Jianping , Luo Sihui , Yue Tong , Ding Yu
Published: October 2024

Background

The composition and function of gut microbiota, lipids, and metabolites in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or its association with glycemic control remains unknown. We aimed to use multi‐omics sequencing technology and machine learning (ML) approaches to investigate potential function and relationships among the gut microbiota, lipids, and metabolites in T1D patients at varied glycemic levels.

Methods

We conducted a multi‐omics analysis of the gut microbiome from fecal samples, metabolites, and lipids obtained from serum samples, collected from a cohort of 72 T1D patients. The patients were divided into two groups based on their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. 16S rRNA sequencing, and metabolomics methods were applied to analyze changes in composition and function of gut microbiota, metabolites, and lipids.

Results

The linear discriminant analysis, Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) algorithm, and ML algorithms revealed the enrichment of Bacteroides_nordii, Bacteroides_cellulosilyticus in the glycemic control (GC) group, while Bacteroides_coprocola and Sutterella_wadsworthensis were enriched in the poor glycemic control (PGC) group. Several metabolic enrichment sets like fatty acid biosynthesis and glycerol phosphate shuttle metabolism were different between two groups. Bacteroides_nordii exhibited a negative association with D‐fructose, a component involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, as well as with monoglycerides (16:0) involved in the glycerolipid metabolism pathway.

Conclusions

We identified distinct characteristics of gut microbiota, metabolites, and lipids in T1D patients exhibiting different levels of glycemic control. Through comprehensive analysis, microbiota (Bacteroides_nordii, Bacteroides_coprocola), metabolites (D‐fructose), and lipids (Monoglycerides) may serve as potential mediators that communicated the interaction between the gut, circulatory systems, and glucose fluctuations in T1D patients.

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CircSEC24A induces KLF8 expression to promote the malignant progression of non‐small cell lung cancer by regulating miR‐1253
Authors: Xiong Wei , Yang Jinhua
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the role of circSEC24A in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

RNA levels of circSEC24A, microRNA‐1253 (miR‐1253), and KLF transcription factor 8 (KLF8) were detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was analyzed by western blot or immunohistochemistry assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated by colony formation assay, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assay, and flow cytometry analysis. Glycolysis was evaluated by commercial kits. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were conducted to identify the associations among circSEC24A, miR‐1253, and KLF8. Xenograft mouse model assay was used to evaluate the effect of circSEC24A on tumor tumorigenesis.

Results

CircSEC24A and KLF8 were upregulated, while miR‐1253 was downregulated in NSCLC. CircSEC24A knockdown inhibited proliferation and glycolysis but induced the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. CircSEC24A acted as a miR‐1253 sponge and regulated NSCLC cell malignancy by targeting miR‐1253. KLF8 was identified as a target of miR‐1253, and its overexpression attenuated miR‐1253‐induced effects in NSCLC cells. Besides, circSEC24A upregulated KLF8 by sponging miR‐1253. Further, circSEC24A knockdown suppressed NSCLC cell tumorigenesis in vivo.

Conclusions

CircSEC24A silencing inhibited NSCLC cell malignancy through the miR‐1253/KLF8 pathway, providing a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.