bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TrieDedup: A fast trie-based deduplication algorithm to handle ambiguous bases in high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Hu Jianqiao , Luo Sai , Tian Ming , Ye Adam Yongxin
Published: February 2022

Background

High-throughput sequencing is a powerful tool that is extensively applied in biological studies. However, sequencers may produce low-quality bases, leading to ambiguous bases, ‘N’s. PCR duplicates introduced in library preparation should usually be removed in genomics studies, and several deduplication tools have been developed for this purpose. However, two identical reads may appear different due to ambiguous bases and the existing tools cannot address ‘N’s correctly or efficiently.

Results

Here we proposed and implemented TrieDedup, which uses trie (prefix tree) data structure to compare and store sequences. TrieDedup can handle ambiguous base ‘N’s, and efficiently deduplicate at the level of raw sequences. We also reduced its memory usage by approximately 20% by implementing restrictedDict in Python. We benchmarked the performance of the algorithm and showed that TrieDedup can deduplicate reads up to 270-fold faster than pairwise comparison at a cost of 32-fold higher memory usage.

Conclusions

TrieDedup algorithm may facilitate PCR deduplication, barcode or UMI assignment and repertoire diversity analysis of large scale high-throughput sequencing datasets with its ultra-fast algorithm that can account for ambiguous bases due to sequencing errors.

Availability

TrieDedup is available athttps://github.com/lolrenceH/TrieDedup
Vigilance, arousal, and acetylcholine: Optimal control of attention in a simple detection task
Authors: Chebolu Sahiti , Dayan Peter , Lloyd Kevin
Published: February 2022

Paying attention to particular aspects of the world or being more vigilant in general can be interpreted as forms of ‘internal’ action. Such arousal-related choices come with the benefit of increasing the quality and situational appropriateness of information acquisition and processing, but incur potentially expensive energetic and opportunity costs. One implementational route for these choices is widespread ascending neuromodulation, including by acetylcholine (ACh). The key computational question that elective attention poses for sensory processing is when it is worthwhile paying these costs, and this includes consideration of whether sufficient information has yet been collected to justify the higher signal-to-noise ratio afforded by greater attention and, particularly if a change in attentional state is more expensive than its maintenance, when states of heightened attention ought to persist. We offer a partially observable Markov decision-process treatment of optional attention in a detection task, and use it to provide a qualitative model of the results of studies using modern techniques to measure and manipulate ACh in rodents performing a similar task.
The psychotomimetic ketamine disrupts the transfer of late sensory information in the corticothalamic network
Authors: Qin Yi , Mahdavi Ali , Bertschy Marine , Anderson Paul M , Kulikova Sofya , Pinault Didier
Published: February 2022

In prodromal and early schizophrenia, disorders of attention and perception are associated with structural and chemical brain abnormalities, and with dysfunctional corticothalamic networks exhibiting disturbed brain rhythms. The underlying mechanisms are elusive. The non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine simulates the symptoms of prodromal and early schizophrenia, including disturbances in ongoing and task & sensory-related broadband beta-/gamma-frequency (17-29 Hz/30-80 Hz) oscillations in corticothalamic networks. In normal healthy subjects and rodents, complex integration processes, like sensory perception, induce transient, large-scale synchronized beta/gamma oscillations in a time window of a few hundreds of ms (200-700 ms) after the presentation of the object of attention (e.g., sensory stimulation). Our goal was to use an electrophysiological multisite network approach to investigate, in lightly anesthetized rats, the effects of a single psychotomimetic dose (2.5 mg/kg, subcutaneous) of ketamine on sensory stimulus-induced oscillations. Ketamine transiently increased the power of baseline beta/gamma oscillations and decreased sensory-induced beta/gamma oscillations. In addition, it disrupted information transferability in both the somatosensory thalamus and the related cortex and decreased the sensory-induced thalamocortical connectivity in the broadband gamma range. In conclusion, the present findings support the hypothesis that NMDA receptor antagonism disrupts the transfer of perceptual information in the somatosensory cortico-thalamo-cortical system.

LAY ABSTRACT

Cognitive deficit is usual in schizophrenia. Perception- or task-related beta/gamma-frequency oscillations are decreased. In healthy humans and rodents, ketamine-induced NMDA receptor antagonism simulates the symptoms of early schizophrenia and excessively amplifies baseline beta/gamma oscillations. In the present study, using an electrophysiological multisite network approach in a rodent model, it is demonstrated that ketamine, systemically administered at a single psychotomimetic dose, increases baseline beta/gamma oscillations, decreases beta/gamma responses induced by sensory stimulation in a short time window (200-700 ms), and disrupts information transfer in the cortico-thalamo-cortical network. The present findings have mechanistic relevance for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Defensive shimmering responses inApis dorsataare triggered by dark stimuli moving against a bright background
Authors: Vijayan Sajesh , Warrant Eric J , Somanathan Hema
Published: February 2022

Giant honeybees, including the open-nesting Asian giant honeybeeApis dorsata, display a spectacular collective defence behaviour – known as “shimmering” – against predators, which is characterised by travelling waves generated by individual bees flipping their abdomens in a coordinated and sequential manner across the bee curtain. We examined if shimmering is visually-mediated by presenting moving stimuli of varying sizes and contrasts to the background (dark or light) in bright and dim ambient light conditions. Shimmering was strongest under bright ambient light, and its strength declined under dim-light in this facultatively nocturnal bee.A. dorsatashimmered only when presented with the darkest stimulus against a light background, but not when this condition was reversed (light stimulus against dark background). This response did not attenuate with repeated exposure to the stimuli, suggesting that shimmering behaviour does not undergo habituation. We suggest that this is an effective anti-predatory strategy in open-nestingA. dorsatacolonies which are exposed to high ambient light, as flying predators are more easily detected when they appear as dark moving objects against a bright sky. Moreover, the stimulus detection threshold (smallest visual angular size) is much smaller in this anti-predatory context (1.6° - 3.4°) than in the context of foraging (5.7°), indicating that ecological context affects visual detection threshold.
PBRM1 is a vulnerability in ARID1A deficient multicellular tumor spheroids
Authors: Chakravarty Tomali , Tran Kathleen Diep , Dhamecha Dinesh , Perdue Tyrus , Garzon Jada L. , Menon Jyothi U. , Dutta Arnob
Published: February 2022

ARID1A, a subunit of SWI/SNF, has been shown to play a major role in recruitment of the chromatin remodeler to enhancers for transcriptional regulation. Mutations inARID1A have been found in various cancers, many of which form solid tumors. Recent studies have revealed vulnerabilities in cells lacking ARID1A, specifically ARID1B, an ortholog and mutually exclusive subunit, in 2D cell culture. However, identification of vulnerabilities within SWI/SNF for loss of ARID1A in a multicellular tumor spheroid, that mimic in vivo condition within tumors, has not been explored. Here we show in the absence of ARID1A in a MTS model, ARID1B continues to be a vulnerability but we have identified PBRM1 as a new vulnerability within SWI/SNF. Levels of ARID1B and PBRM1 are elevated on loss of ARID1A. Further, reduction of ARID1B and PBRM1 protein levels, decreases cell survival and reduces induction of several hypoxia regulated genes in ARID1A deficient MTSs. Our studies have identified PBRM1 as a new vulnerability in ARID1a deficient cancers and which provides a new target for therapeutic strategies.
Staphylococcus aureus overcomes anaerobe-derived short-chain fatty acid stress via FadX and the CodY regulon
Authors: Fletcher Joshua R. , Villareal Alex R. , Penningroth Mitchell , Hunter Ryan C.
Published: February 2022

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by immune dysfunction, mucus hypersecretion, and persistent infection of the paranasal sinuses. While Staphylococcus aureus is a primary CRS pathogen, recent sequence-based surveys have found increased relative abundances of anaerobic bacteria, suggesting that S. aureus may experience altered metabolic landscapes in CRS relative to healthy airways. To test this possibility, we characterized the growth kinetics and transcriptome of S. aureus in supernatants of the abundant CRS anaerobe Fusobacterium nucleatum. While growth was initially delayed, S. aureus ultimately grew to similar levels as in the control medium. The transcriptome was significantly affected by F. nucleatum metabolites, with the agr quorum sensing system notably repressed. Conversely, expression of fadX, encoding a putative propionate coA-transferase, was significantly increased, leading to our hypothesis that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by F. nucleatum could mediate S. aureus growth behavior and gene expression. Supplementation with propionate and butyrate, but not acetate, recapitulated delayed growth phenotypes observed in F. nucleatum supernatants. A fadX mutant was found to be more sensitive than wild type to propionate, suggesting a role for FadX in the S. aureus SCFA stress response. Interestingly, spontaneous resistance to butyrate, but not propionate, was frequently observed. Whole genome sequencing and targeted mutagenesis identified codY mutants as resistant to butyrate inhibition. Together, these data show that S. aureus physiology is dependent on its co-colonizing microbiota and metabolites they exchange, and indicate that propionate and butyrate may act on different targets in S. aureus to suppress its growth.

Importance

S. aureus is an important CRS pathogen, yet is found in the upper airways of 30-50% of people without complications. The presence of strict and facultative anaerobic bacteria in CRS sinuses has recently spurred research into bacterial interactions and how they influence S. aureus physiology and pathogenesis. We show here that propionate and butyrate produced by one such CRS anaerobe, F. nucleatum, alter the growth and gene expression of S. aureus. We show that fadX is important for S. aureus to resist propionate stress, and that the CodY regulon mediates growth in inhibitory concentrations of butyrate. This work highlights the possible complexity of S. aureus-anaerobe interactions, and implicates membrane stress as a possible mechanism influencing S. aureus behavior in CRS sinuses.
Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map Based on Large-Scale Marker Development in Coix lacryma-jobi L. Using Specifific-Locus Amplifified Fragment Sequencing (SLAF-seq)
Authors: Yang Chenglong , Ban Xiuwen , Zhou Mingqiang , Zhou Yu , Luo Kai , Yang Xiaoyu , Li Zhifang , Liu Fanzhi , Li Qing , Luo Yahong , Zhou Xiang , Lei Jing , Long Peilin , Wang Jian , Guo Jianchun
Published: February 2022

Coix lacryma-jobi L. is one of the most important economical and medicine corn. In this study, a high genetic linkage map has been constructed for Coix lacryma-jobi L. from a cross F2 community of “Qianyi NO.2” × “Wenyi NO.2” and their parents through high-throughput sequencing and specfic-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) library construction. After pre-processing, 325.49 Gb of raw data containing 1,628 M reads were obtained. A total of 22,944 high-quality SLAFs were detected, among which 3,952 SLAFs and 3,646 of the polymorphic markers could meet the requirements for construction of a genetic linkage map. The integrated map contains 3,605 high quality SLAFs, which are grouped to 10 genetic linkage groups. The total length of the linkage map is 1,620.39 cM with an average distance of 0.45 cM and 360.5 markers in average of per linkage group. This work will provide an important molecular biology basis for investigating their characteristics, gene cloning, molecular marker-assisted breeding, functional genomics and so on for Job’s tears.
Zika virus replicates in the vagina of mice with intact interferon signaling
Authors: Lopez Cesar A. , Dulson Sarah J. , Lazear Helen M.
Published: February 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) is unusual among flaviviruses in its ability to spread between humans through sexual contact, as well as by mosquitoes. Sexual transmission has the potential to change the epidemiology and geographic range of ZIKV compared to mosquito-borne transmission and potentially could produce distinct clinical manifestations, so it is important to understand the host mechanisms that control susceptibility to sexually transmitted ZIKV. ZIKV replicates poorly in wild-type mice following subcutaneous inoculation, so most ZIKV pathogenesis studies use mice lacking IFN-αβ signaling (e.g.Ifnar1-/-). However, we found that wild-type mice support ZIKV replication following intravaginal infection, although the infection remained localized to the lower female reproductive tract. Vaginal replication was not a unique property of ZIKV, as other flaviviruses that generally are restricted in wild-type mice also were able to replicate in the vagina. Vaginal ZIKV infection required a high-progesterone state (pregnancy or pre-treatment with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)), identifying a key role for hormonal status in susceptibility to vaginal infection. Progesterone-mediated susceptibility did not appear to result from a compromised epithelial barrier, blunted antiviral gene induction, or changes in vaginal leukocyte populations, leaving open the mechanism by which progesterone confers susceptibility to vaginal ZIKV infection. Progesterone treatment is a key component of mouse vaginal infection models for herpes simplex virus andChlamydia, but the mechanisms by which DMPA increases susceptibility to those pathogens also remain poorly defined. Understanding how progesterone mediates susceptibility to ZIKV vaginal infection may provide insights into host mechanisms influencing susceptibility to diverse sexually transmitted pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted by mosquitoes, similarly to other flaviviruses. However, ZIKV is unusual in its ability also to spread through sexual transmission. We found that ZIKV was able to replicate in the vaginas of wild-type mice, even though these mice do not support ZIKV replication by other routes, suggesting that the vagina is particularly susceptible to ZIKV infection. Vaginal susceptibility was dependent on a high progesterone state, which is a common feature of mouse vaginal infection models for other pathogens, through mechanisms that have remained poorly defined. Understanding how progesterone mediates susceptibility to ZIKV vaginal infection may provide insights into host mechanisms that influence susceptibility to diverse sexually transmitted pathogens.
Minding the message: tactics controlling RNA decay, modification, and translation in virus-infected cells
Authors: Burgess Hannah M. , Vink Elizabeth I. , Mohr Ian
Published: February 2022

With their categorical requirement for host ribosomes to translate mRNA, viruses provide a wealth of genetically tractable models to investigate how gene expression is remodeled post-transcriptionally by infection-triggered biological stress. By co-opting and subverting cellular pathways that control mRNA decay, modification, and translation, the global landscape of post-transcriptional processes is swiftly reshaped by virus-encoded factors. Concurrent host cell-intrinsic countermeasures likewise conscript post-transcriptional strategies to mobilize critical innate immune defenses. Here we review strategies and mechanisms that control mRNA decay, modification, and translation in animal virus-infected cells. Besides settling infection outcomes, post-transcriptional gene regulation in virus-infected cells epitomizes fundamental physiological stress responses in health and disease.
I21: an advanced high-resolution resonant inelastic X-ray scattering beamline at Diamond Light Source
Authors: Zhou Ke-Jin , Walters Andrew , Garcia-Fernandez Mirian , Rice Thomas , Hand Matthew , Nag Abhishek , Li Jiemin , Agrestini Stefano , Garland Peter , Wang Hongchang , Alcock Simon , Nistea Ioana , Nutter Brian , Rubies Nicholas , Knap Giles , Gaughran Martin , Yuan Fajin , Chang Peter , Emmins John , Howell George
Published: February 2022

The I21 beamline at Diamond Light Source is dedicated to advanced resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) for probing charge, orbital, spin and lattice excitations in materials across condensed matter physics, applied sciences and chemistry. Both the beamline and the RIXS spectrometer employ divergent variable-line-spacing gratings covering a broad energy range of 280–3000 eV. A combined energy resolution of ∼35 meV (16 meV) is readily achieved at 930 eV (530 eV) owing to the optimized optics and the mechanics. Considerable efforts have been paid to the design of the entire beamline, particularly the implementation of the collection mirrors, to maximize the X-ray photon throughput. The continuous rotation of the spectrometer over 150° under ultra high vacuum and a cryogenic manipulator with six degrees of freedom allow accurate mappings of low-energy excitations from solid state materials in momentum space. Most importantly, the facility features a unique combination of the high energy resolution and the high photon throughput vital for advanced RIXS applications. Together with its stability and user friendliness, I21 has become one of the most sought after RIXS beamlines in the world.
Tackling the integration challenge between environmental strategy and environmental management accounting
Authors: Gunarathne Nuwan , Lee Ki-Hoon , Hitigala Kaluarachchilage Pubudu K.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The research debate on the direct relationship between environmental strategy and environmental management accounting (EMA) is quite popular; however, integration challenges between these two factors still persist at the firm level. This paper seeks to adopt the contingency theory perspective to examine how EMA implementation varies across organizations with different intensity levels of environmental management strategy implementation (i.e. environmental management maturity, EMM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a web-based survey, designed and administered to public listed companies and members of three industry chambers in Sri Lanka.

Findings

This study finds that EMA implementation is significantly different among organizations at varying EMM stages. Further, it is observed that organizations at higher stages of EMM use significantly greater domain-based EMA tools and EMA for functional purposes. Therefore, the results show that when organizations progress from reactive to proactive environmental strategies, the EMA evolves to encapsulate and diversify to deal with more-sophisticated environmental management activities.

Originality/value

This is the first study to provide cross-sectional evidence on the relationship between the application of EMA tools and functional uses and the intensity of the environmental strategy pursuance (or EMM). It also proposes a multi-item comprehensive measurement tool for EMA implementation.
A method of customer valuation score and implementation for marketing strategy
Authors: Huang Li , Liu Matthew Tingchi , Song Xi , Yen Jerome
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a compelling customer value score method (CVSM), which is applicable for different product categories, and elaborates customer values in three components (direct economic value, depth of direct economic value and breadth of the indirect economic value) throughout three stages of customer journey.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data from the Internet-shopping platforms, namely Taobao and T-Mall from 2019 to 2020 with particular focus on three product categories: lipstick (fast-moving consumer goods), mobile phones (durable goods) and alcohol (a hybrid of the other two product types) from 37 selected firms. The CVSM employs an entropy-based multiple criteria analysis, of which the weight of each indictor is not fixed artificially, but computed by the entropy-based method that calculates informative differences among the indicators (profit, revenue, positive reviews, search index and likes and favorites).

Findings

The result shows that product categories and market status have a moderation effect on three components in customer values. The findings suggested marketing strategies for different consumer goods, where the fast-moving consumer goods like lipstick should focus on the pre-purchase stage while the durable goods should emphasize post-purchase stage when the market is rapidly changing.

Originality/value

The study brings new insights to Kumar’s customer value theory by integrating product categories and the market status, revealing that three components of customer values differ in their contributions to the whole customer values. This paper further contributed managerial suggestions for marketers with regards to three stages of customer journey.
Storytelling in the communication of dark tourism
Authors: Tercia Christiana , Teichert Thorsten , Sirad Dini Anggraeni , Murniadi Krishnamurti
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to tap into the storytelling’s effects of evoking personal and historical memories and their emotions on travelers’ intention to visit dark tourism sites.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental study was performed. The authors created a story centered on dark tourism as their stimulus. The respondents received two stories in the form of printed ads. The presence and absence of a story character manipulated the stimulus. In addition to the experimental factors, four measurement constructs were included in the model: evoked historical memory, evoked personal memory, evoked emotion and intention to visit.

Findings

The results show that evoking historical and personal memories leads to traveler intention to visit the dark tourism sites whether or not the character is present or absent in the story. This study also reveals that only evoked personal memory positively affects individuals’ travel by evoking emotion. Furthermore, evoked historical memories also directly impact the evoke emotion, but only when the character is absent in the story.

Research limitations/implications

This study has three limitations. First, the measurement of emotion in this study only refers to a general measurement and does not specify between negative and positive emotions. Second, the story in the current study only focuses on one example of a natural disaster. Third, this study only used students to represent Generation Z respondents, so it would be interesting if future research compared the results across different generations.

Practical implications

The use of a reflective narrative in storytelling can be one of the options. Marketers should be cautious when using a character when it comes to dark tourism as it might have a boomerang effect, making the destination becoming unattractive to travelers, particularly, if the story tells more about the historical side of dark tourism. Managers of tourist destinations can leverage past visitors to be brand ambassadors of a place since humans share knowledge and experiences through stories and anecdotes. These personal touches can lend the personal aspects of past visitors to current ones, which can evoke memories better than an official message from a tourism board.

Originality/value

This research investigates the role of storytelling in eliciting travelers’ memories and emotional responses and how this response eventually influences their intention to visit a dark-based destination.
Thermo-hydraulic and entropy generation investigation of nano-encapsulated phase change material (NEPCM) slurry in hybrid wavy microchannel
Authors: Doshi Shivam , Kashyap Gopal , Tiwari Nishant
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to capture the heat transfer and entropy generation characteristics of temperature-dependent nano-encapsulated phase change material (NEPCM) slurry in a hybrid wavy microchannel. In addition, the effect of substrate material combined with NEPCM slurry on conjugate heat transfer condition is captured for different microchannel heat sinks.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel “hybrid wavy microchannel” is proposed to enhance the overall heat transfer and reduce the pressure drop by combining wavy and raccoon geometry. NEPCM–water slurry is implied in the hybrid wavy, conventional wavy and raccoon microchannel. A user-defined function (UDF) is used to observe the effect of phase-change of paraffin material in thermophysical properties of NEPCM–water nanofluid. All three (hybrid, wavy, raccoon) microchannels are engraved on a rectangular substrate of 1.8 mm width (ωs) and 30 mm length (L), respectively. For hybrid, wavy and raccoon microchannel, waviness (γ) of 0.067 is selected for the investigation.

Findings

The result shows that NEPCM particle presence reduces the fluid domain temperature. The thermal performance of proposed Heat sink 2 is found better than the Heat sink 1. The effect of the geometrical modification, wall thermal conductivity, different volumetric concentrations of nanoparticles (ϕ ∼ 1 – 5%) and Reynolds number (Re ∼ 100 – 500) on thermodynamic irreversibility is also observed. Additionally, the effect of thermal and frictional entropy generation is reduced with a combination of NEPCM slurry and higher conductive material for all heat sinks.

Practical implications

A combination of NEPCM slurry with laminar flow microchannel cooling system emerged as a better alternative over other cooling techniques for higher power density devices such as microprocessors, electronic radar systems, aerospace applications, semiconductors, power electronics in modern electronic vehicles, high power lasers, etc.

Originality/value

The phase-change process of the NEPCM slurry is tracked under conjugate heat transfer in a hybrid wavy microchannel. Furthermore, the phase-change process of NEPCM slurry is captured with different heat sink materials (SS316, silicon and copper) under conjugate heat transfer situation for different heat sinks and concentrations (ϕ ∼ 1–5) of NEPCM.
Sustainable entrepreneurs: what drives them to engage in different crowdfunding types?
Authors: Yacoub Ghassan , Mitra Paulami , Ratinho Tiago , Fatalot Faustine
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Sustainable entrepreneurs face additional challenges in fundraising. Crowdfunding is emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional sources of capital with a growing body of research outlining its characteristics and discussing mainly its antecedents. Yet little is known about the crowdfunding behaviour of sustainable entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to explore sustainable entrepreneurs' crowdfunding landscape namely the relation between motivation and different crowdfunding types.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a unique dataset of French sustainable entrepreneurs, this paper adopts a qualitative case study approach by conducting in-depth interviews with the entrepreneurs. This was complemented by secondary data collected from company websites and crowdfunding platforms.

Findings

This study presents a conceptual framework that outlines and maps the drivers that lead sustainable entrepreneurs to engage with different crowdfunding types (donation, reward, mixed and equity) by unravelling a more granular understanding of the key and condition-based additional drivers within the context of sustainable entrepreneurial crowdfunding.

Originality/value

Entrepreneurs are taking advantage of crowdfunding in order to raise funds. This manuscript offers empirical insights into the under-investigated question of what drives sustainable entrepreneurs to engage in crowdfunding and to what ends. This research also adds texture to prior findings about general motivations of entrepreneurs to seek crowdfunding. These insights inform research and practice on sustainable entrepreneurial crowdfunding, and entrepreneurial crowdfunding in general.
An exploration of politicized healthcare access for Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Jordan: a question of equity
Authors: Halsey Kayla , Alarood Salameh , Nawaiseh Mohammed , Mir Ghazala
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Refugees commonly face inequitable access to health care services in their host country. This study aimed to identify factors influence refugee access to health services and to assess perceptions of barriers to health care for different refugee groups in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were combined with document analysis and analyzed using thematic and framework methods.

Findings

Findings highlighted inequitable access to health services between different refugee groups. Unlike Palestinian refugees from the West Bank, Palestinian refugees from Gaza faced financial barriers to access health care as a result of citizenship status, which affected their health insurance, referrals for health care and legal right to work. Syrian refugees similarly lacked Jordanian citizenship and health insurance and mainly depended on UNHCR for health services, though some were able to acquire work permits and pay for private care.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates a need for politically and economically appropriate policies to minimize the disparity of health care access among these refugee groups.
Does group size and blending matter? Impact of a digital mental health game implemented with refugees in various settings
Authors: Schuler Brittany R. , Raknes Solfrid
Published: February 2022

Purpose

There is an urgent need to upscale accessible mental health (MH) interventions that address barriers to care among Syrian refugee adolescents. The Happy Helping Hand (HH) is an innovative, cognitive behavioral digital game designed to improve MH for adolescents across digital divides. This study aims to examine the impact of HH implemented among Syrian refugees who varied according to group size and face-to-face (F2F) versus digital contact.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed-methods study took place in Central Beqaa, Lebanon, from September 2020 to February 2021. Nine groups of Syrian displaced adolescents (n = 125) aged 13–17 years (Mage = 13.6 years) were recruited from an education center, two orphanages and one informal settlement to participate in the ten-session HH program. The WHO-Five-Well-being Index (WHO5) is a validated measure used to evaluate HH impact on MH at baseline and directly postintervention.

Findings

Significant improvements were seen in WHO5 scores in F2F and digital settings from baseline to follow-up. At baseline, 28% reported normal well-being, which increased to 99% after HH participation. WHO5 scores changed from M = 59.4 at baseline, indicating depression, to M = 77.3 at follow-up, indicating normal well-being. Smaller groups with more F2F contact reported greater improvements in mean WHO5 than larger groups with less F2F contact. The greatest aggregate change in well-being was achieved when HH was implemented digitally in bigger groups.

Originality/value

Study results indicate that the HH game can improve well-being and MH for Syrian refugees. Importantly, results build on the base of evidence on digital MH interventions as promising tools on the way to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all.
A review of ontologies for augmented reality cultural heritage applications
Authors: Vlachos Apostolos , Perifanou Maria , Economides Anastasios A.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review ontologies and data models currently in use for augmented reality (AR) applications, in the cultural heritage (CH) domain, specifically in an urban environment. The aim is to see the current trends in ontologies and data models used and investigate their applications in real world scenarios. Some special cases of applications or ontologies are also discussed, as being interesting enough to merit special consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

A search using Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore was done in order to find articles that describe ontologies and data models in AR CH applications. The authors identified the articles that analyze the use of ontologies and/or data models, as well as articles that were deemed to be of special interest.

Findings

This review found that CIDOC-CRM is the most popular ontology closely followed by Historical Context Ontology (HiCO). Also, a combination of current ontologies seems to be the most complete way to fully describe a CH object or site. A layered ontology model is suggested, which can be expanded according to the specific project.

Originality/value

This study provides an overview of ontologies and data models for AR CH applications in urban environments. There are several ontologies currently in use in the CH domain, with none having been universally adopted, while new ontologies or extensions to existing ones are being created, in the attempt to fully describe a CH object or site. Also, this study suggests a combination of popular ontologies in a multi-layer model.
Exploring explicit and implicit correlates of early anti-social fire exposure and everyday fire use in adulthood
Authors: Kathryn Horsley Faye , James Trevor Keith , Baker Natasha , Broughton Rachel , Hampton Xanthe , Knight Amy , Langford Imogen , Pomfrey Ellie , Unsworth Laura
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether early anti-social fire exposure (ASFE) is associated with how adults engage with fire and how they view fire.

Design/methodology/approach

An opportunistic sample (N = 326) was recruited. Participants completed an online survey exploring ASFE, fire use, strength of fire-beliefs and interest in/attitudes supportive of fire. Additionally, implicit fire bias was measured using the affect misattribution procedure (AMP).

Findings

Participants with ASFE engaged with more criminalised fire use as adults. They also scored higher on fire interest and general fire beliefs and showed an implicit dislike of fire stimuli, compared to non-exposed participants (although differences in fire use were not statistically significant when gender was accounted for). Males also had higher levels of fire interest, held stronger fire related beliefs and were more likely to have been exposed to ASFE during childhood. However, there were no gender differences in fire use or on the implicit task.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have practical application, namely in relation to early intervention and rehabilitative approaches. However, a limitation is that participants’ cultural background were not accounted for. Additionally, we advise caution in interpreting the implicit results and call for further research.

Social implications

The need for better early interventions for young people is highlighted, along with better screening which, currently, is unstandardised and inconsistent across the country (Foster, 2020). This demands a community-engagement approach.

Originality/value

This is the first study to explore type of early exposure to fire. It is also the first to adopt the AMP as a measure of implicit fire-bias.
Optimized distribution of halal products using tabu search
Authors: Kurniawati Dwi Agustina , Handoko Asfin , Piplani Rajesh , Rosdiahti Rianna
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to optimize the halal product distribution by minimizing the transportation cost while ensuring halal integrity of the product. The problem is considered as a capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP), based on the assumption that two different types of vehicles are used for distribution: vehicles dedicated for halal product distribution and vehicles dedicated for nonhalal products distribution. The problem is modeled as an integer linear program (ILP), termed CVRP-halal and nonhalal products distribution (CVRP-HNPD). It is solved using tabu-search (TS)-based algorithm and is suitable for application to real-life sized halal product distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

Two approaches are used in solving the problem: exact approach (integer-linear program) and approximate approach (TS). First, the problem is modeled as ILP and solved using CPLEX Solver. To solve life-sized problems, a TS-based algorithm is developed and run using MATLAB.

Findings

The experiments on numerical data and life-sized instances validate the proposed model and algorithm and show that cost-minimizing routes for HNPD are developed while ensuring the halal integrity of the products.

Practical implications

The proposed model and algorithm are suitable as decision support tools for managers responsible for distribution of halal products as they facilitate the development of minimum cost distribution routes for halal and nonhalal products while maintaining the integrity of halal products. The model and algorithm provide a low transportation cost strategy at the operational level of halal products distribution while fulfilling the halal logistics requirement.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that specifically deals with the CVRP of halal products distribution by proposing CVRP-HNPD model and TS-CVRP-HNPD algorithm. The proposed model and algorithm ensure the integrity of halal products along the distribution chain, from the warehouse (distribution center) to the retailer, while achieving lowest transportation cost.
The effects of expert power and referent power on knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding
Authors: Issac Abraham Cyril , Bednall Timothy Colin , Baral Rupashree , Magliocca Pierpaolo , Dhir Amandeep
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to determine the ways in which employees’ personal power-expert and referent power influences their knowledge sharing and hiding behaviour. There are hardly any studies that have investigated the effects of employee power and expectations regarding the consequences of divulging knowledge. In this study, the authors investigate whether expected gains and losses in employee personal power influence employees’ willingness to participate in knowledge transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a two-wave survey design and collected critical data from 288 employees of knowledge-intensive industries identified through online techno-groups, such as Stack Exchange. In the first wave, out of the total, 192 knowledge workers attended the follow-up survey. The authors apply polynomial regression followed by surface response analysis to establish the effects of any discrepancy between the current levels of employees’ personal power and their expected levels if they divulge their unique critical knowledge.

Findings

The authors find out that employees having relatively strong personal power are more likely to share knowledge, and the expected losses in power are categorically associated with a reduced intention to share knowledge. The authors also observed an increased knowledge hiding with expected losses in power. Surprisingly, the authors find that these established negative outcomes are also specifically associated with the expected gains in personal power.

Research limitations/implications

The most significant contribution of this study is to establish that power plays an important but complex role in determining the employees’ participation in knowledge transfer activities. The authors specifically conclude that the optimal scenario for knowledge sharing is one in which the employees’ contributions are fairly valued and their reputation is not expected to change because of knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first comprehensive studies that link power to both sharing and hiding of knowledge. This study is also unique in terms of its investigation of the effects of any discrepancy between current levels of employees’ personal power and their expected levels if they share or hide their unique critical knowledge. Thus, this research study is a unique contribution in terms of what and why of an untouched area in the entire knowledge management literature with a special focus on knowledge sharing and hiding.
The power of numbers: an examination of the relationship between numerical cues in online review comments and perceived review helpfulness
Authors: Li Hongliu , Wang Xingyuan , Wang Shuyang , Zhou Wenkai , Yang Zhilin
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the effects of the numerical cues (NC) used in online review comments on perceived review helpfulness and the underlying psychological mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental design approach was employed to investigate the proposed research questions. Two experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses. Mplus 7 and Stata 14.0 were used for data analysis.

Findings

Empirical findings support the positive correlation between the presence of NC in online review comments and perceived review helpfulness across different product categories. This relationship is mediated by two psychological responses of consumers: cognitive elaboration and credibility perception.

Research limitations/implications

This research adds to the existing literature by focusing on the value of NC in online review comments and how they can enhance perceived review helpfulness. Some practical implications are also addressed. For example, marketers can encourage consumers to post reviews that contain quantitative information to facilitate their target markets' comprehension of a product or brand.

Originality/value

Building on the previous literature, the work adds incremental knowledge on the role NC in online review comments play in affecting consumers' perceptions. In addition, the research uncovers the underlying psychological responses that mediate the relationship between NC in review comments and perceived review helpfulness.
Applying qualitative approach to identify the characteristics of effective messages in eWOM communications
Authors: Makvandi Rosha , Farzin Milad
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The present study aimed to identify the characteristics of effective messages in electronic word of mouth (eWOM) communication on social networks to be considered in the planning of eWOM strategies. For this purpose, the present study tries to identify these factors through a qualitative approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach based on the thematic analysis was used with semi-structured interviews and opinions of 25 experts in the field of e-marketing and e-retailing. The collected data were analyzed and coded in the MaxQDA software.

Findings

The results of the study showed the extracted seven main themes of message sender specifications, aesthetic appearance, choosing the right content, sending strategy, message usefulness, correct targeting, type of information and also 47 subthemes. These seven criteria provide a way to design the right strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Limited studies in this area were a challenge and also integrating the opinions of the interviewees due to contradictory and different views, as well as unfamiliarity with some new approaches to digital marketing, were among the limitations of the present study that managed and controlled their effects. Practical and theoretical implications for developing and planning effective eWOMs in social networks presented.

Originality/value

Understanding the way of creating appropriate features of effective and suitable messages in the planning of eWOM strategies is crucial to digital marketers. This study recommends considering the extracted features in designing effective messages.
Olive cake reduces obesity by decreasing epididymal adipocyte size, inhibiting oxidative stress and pancreatic lipase, in rat fed high fat diet
Authors: Samba Garba Mansourou , Bouderbala Sherazede
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of olive cake (OC) on oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers, lipase activity and on the histological analysis of epididymal fat, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.

Design/methodology/approach

Male obese rats were divided into two groups and were fed an HFD supplemented (HFD-OC) or not (HFD) with OC for 28 days. A control group was fed a standard diet for the same experimental period.

Findings

HFD significantly increased body weight, which was reduced by OC in the HFD-OC compared to HFD (p= 0.038). Lipase activity was higher (52%;p= 0.009) in the HFD group than the control group. Administration of OC to the obese rats decreased significantly this activity (38%;p= 0.025) compared to the HFD group. Serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxide and advanced oxidation protein products levels were significantly increased in the HFD group than the control group (p= 0.032,p= 0.023 andp= 0.017, respectively). These levels were significantly reduced in HFD-OC compared to the HFD group (p= 0.030,p= 0.021 andp= 0.010, respectively). Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were decreased (53%;p= 0.04), (61%;p= 0.03) and (32%;p= 0.002), in the HFD group than the control group. OC restored these activities (46%;p= 0.01), (58%;p= 0.003) and (30%;p= 0.0003) in the HFD-OC rats than the HFD rats. Consumption of the HFD resulted in adipocyte hypertrophy. Indeed, epididymal adipocyte size was significantly larger in the HFD group than the control group (p= 0.0001), whereas it was reduced in the HFD-OC compared to the HFD group (p= 0.012).

Originality/value

OC possesses an anti-obesity effect. This effect might be mediated by lipase inhibition, reduced oxidative stress and increased antioxidant activities. In addition, the reduction of fat accumulation in adipose tissue by OC consumption is reflected by reducing adipocyte size.
Surveying research data-sharing practices in US social sciences: a knowledge infrastructure-inspired conceptual framework
Authors: Jeng Wei , He Daqing
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study develops a conceptual framework and a series of instruments for capturing researchers' data-sharing practices in the social sciences, by synergizing the theory of knowledge infrastructure and the theory of remote scientific collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper triangulates the results of three studies of data sharing across the social sciences, with 144 participants in total, and classifies the confusion, “frictions” and opportunities arising from such sharing into four overarching dimensions: data characteristics, technological infrastructure, research culture and individual drivers.

Findings

Based on the sample, the findings suggest that the majority of faculty and students in social science research do not share their data because many of them are unaware of the benefits and methods of doing so. Additional findings regarding social scientists' data-sharing behaviors include: (1) those who do share qualitative data in data repositories are more likely to share their research tools than their raw data; and (2) perceived technical support and extrinsic motivation are both strong predictors of qualitative data sharing (a previously underresearched subtype of social science data sharing).

Originality/value

The study confirms the previously hypothesized nature of “friction” in qualitative data sharing in the social sciences, arising chiefly from the time and labor intensiveness of ensuring data privacy.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-03-2020-0079.