bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inter-rater reliability of the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale in poststroke spasticity
Authors: Bayram Korhan Bariş , Şengül İlker , Aşkin Ayhan , Tosun Aliye
Published: January 2022

To investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS) in adult stroke patients with spasticity, two experienced clinicians rated the elbow flexor, wrist flexor, and ankle plantar flexor spasticity by using the ASAS in 85 persons with stroke. Unweighted and weighted (linear and quadratic) kappa statistics were used to calculate the inter-rater reliability for each muscle group. Unweighted kappa coefficients for elbow flexors (n = 83), wrist flexors (n = 80), and ankle plantar flexors (n = 77) were 0.67, 0.60, and 0.55, respectively. Linear and quadratic weighted kappa coefficients, respectively, were 0.77 and 0.87 for elbow flexors, 0.72 and 0.82 for wrist flexors, and 0.72 and 0.85 for ankle plantar flexors. The raters never disagreed by more than a single score in the rating of elbow flexors. On the contrary, the raters disagreed by more than a single score in three patients in the rating of ankle plantar flexors and in one patient in the rating of wrist flexors. The results suggested that inter-rater reliability of the ASAS differed according to the spastic muscle group assessed and the statistical method used. The strength of the agreement on the ASAS, an ordinal scale, ranged from good to very good when the weighted kappa values were considered.
Support Seeking in the Context of Self-Injury Recovery
Authors: Meheli Saha , Lewis Stephen P.
Published: January 2022

A sample of 229 university students responded to open-ended questions for the present study, which aimed to gain a deeper understanding of lived experiences of support seeking in the context of self-injury recovery. Inductive thematic analysis of the responses indicated themes from two domains: the benefits of support seeking and the barriers to support seeking. The first domain highlighted benefits from both professional sources (such as receiving diagnosis and referrals to therapy, learning emotion regulation strategies, and developing an improved understanding of self) and informal sources (such as receiving tangible aid, having a support system, and having a compassionate space). The second domain indicated that barriers could be both intrapersonal (such as desire to continue nonsuicidal self-injury, embarrassment and shame, establishing agency without others' support, and minimizing self-injury) and interpersonal (such as fear of being stigmatized, concern for others, and unhelpful prior experiences) in nature. Implications for future research, outreach efforts, and clinical practice are discussed.
State Preemption of Consumer Merchandise and Beverage Containers: New Strategy to Preempt Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Policies?
Authors: Pomeranz Jennifer L. , Mozaffarian Dariush
Published: January 2022

State legislators passed laws preempting, or prohibiting, local governments from regulating beverage containers. Although the primary purpose of these laws may be to ban local environmental regulations addressing single-use plastics, it is unknown the extent they also preempt public health policies aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. In 2021, using LexisNexis, we assessed state legislation preempting local control over consumer merchandise and containers. We identified 8 laws (and 16 failed bills) with broad language preempting local regulation of the sale, use, or marketing of multiple container types, including beverage containers. Most legislative activity occurred during 2016-2021, with legislative intent to avoid a “patchwork” of local laws, avoid burdening retailers, and have a “refreshing drink.” Local policy control was characterized as “personal choice.” Broad preemption language may stifle local policy making aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and preempt public health policies such as restricting portion size, in-store promotion and display, and labeling measures.
Is Tailoring of PrEP Programs Needed to Overcome Racial Disparities in PrEP Uptake in Local Health Departments? A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of PrEP Implementation in Virginia
Authors: Schexnayder Julie , Elamin Fatima , Mayes Eric , Cox Lauren , Martin Elaine , Webel Allison R.
Published: January 2022

Context:

African American and Hispanic adults share a disproportionate burden of HIV infections in the United States but continue to experience suboptimal uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Increasing PrEP accessibility in nontraditional care settings is a potential strategy to increase PrEP uptake in these high-risk groups. PrEP implementation in local health departments (LHDs) is not well characterized.

Objective:

To evaluate HIV PrEP implementation for African American and Hispanic adults receiving medical care in Virginia's LHDs.

Design:

We conducted a retrospective, mixed-methods evaluation of PrEP services implementation at LHDs completing their first PrEP program year between June 1, 2016, and June 30, 2019. Using pharmacy records, we estimated PrEP coverage and adherence using PrEP to need ratios (PnRs) and medication possession ratios (MPRs), respectively. Thematic analysis was used to identify barriers to PrEP delivery in interviews with 6 multidisciplinary LHD workers.

Results:

Of the 433 PrEP clients receiving an emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada) prescription in year 1, 52.0% self-identified as African American and 8.9% self-identified as Hispanic. PnRs were greater for White adults in 50.0% of clinics. The average MPR (0.79) was consistent with protective medication adherence levels; however, 25.0% of clients filled only one prescription in the program year. Qualitative findings suggest incompatibilities between health PrEP services delivery and community preferences for African American and Hispanic adults; however, LHDs in one health region were able to link communities of color to PrEP at similar rates as Whites.

Conclusions:

Incorporating a metric sensitive to racial/ethnic differences in the burden of HIV infection improved recognition of PrEP disparities; however, population-specific targets are needed to enhance use of the PnR for program evaluation. Tailoring of PrEP services to communities with the greatest local PrEP burden may be needed to optimize the effectiveness of PrEP programs in LHDs.
In Situ Simulation for Adoption of New Technology to Improve Sepsis Care in Rural Emergency Departments
Authors: Powell Emilie S. , Bond William F. , Barker Lisa T. , Cooley Kimberly , Lee Julia , Vincent Andrew L. , Vozenilek John A.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

The aims of the study were to evaluate whether in situ (on-site) simulation training is associated with increased telemedicine use for patients presenting to rural emergency departments (EDs) with severe sepsis and septic shock and to evaluate the association between simulation training and telehealth with acute sepsis bundle (SEP-1) compliance and mortality.

Methods

This was a quasi-experimental study of patients presenting to 2 rural EDs with severe sepsis and/or septic shock before and after rollout of in situ simulation training that included education on sepsis management and the use of telehealth. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were conducted to describe the association of simulation training with sepsis process of care markers and with mortality.

Results

The study included 1753 patients, from 2 rural EDs, 629 presented before training and 1124 presented after training. There were no differences in patient characteristics between the 2 groups. Compliance with several SEP-1 bundle components improved after training: antibiotics within 3 hours, intravenous fluid administration, repeat lactic acid assessment, and vasopressor administration. The use of telemedicine increased from 2% to 5% after training. Use of telemedicine was associated with increases in repeat lactic acid assessment and reassessment for septic shock. We did not demonstrate an improvement in mortality across either of the 2 group comparisons.

Conclusions

We demonstrate an association between simulation and improved care delivery. Implementing an in situ simulation curriculum in rural EDs was associated with a small increase in the use of telemedicine and improvements in sepsis process of care markers but did not demonstrate improvement in mortality. The small increase in telemedicine limited conclusions on its impact.
Higher risk of auto versus pedestrian crashes in school-age children on school days
Authors: Morrison Chad , Olson Ty , McNickle Allison G. , Fraser Douglas R. , Kuhls Deborah A. , Gryder-Culver Laura K. , Slinkard-Barnum Samantha , Saquib Syed F. , Carroll Joseph T. , Chestovich Paul J.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

This study examines the rates of pediatric auto versus pedestrian collision (APCs) and determined ages and periods of greatest risk. We hypothesized that the rate of APC in children would be higher on school days and in the timeframes correlating with travel to and from school.

METHODS

Retrospective case-control study of APC on school and nonschool days for patients younger than 18 years at an urban Level II pediatric trauma center from January 2011 to November 2019. Frequency of APC by hour of the day was plotted overall, for school versus nonschool days and for age groups: 0 year to 4 years, 5 years to 9 years, 10 years to 13 years, and 14 years to 17 years. t Test was used with a p value less than 0.05, which was considered significant.

RESULTS

There were 441 pediatric APC in the study period. Frequency of all APC was greater on school days (0.174 vs. 0.101; relative risk [RR], 1.72, p < 0.001), and APC with Injury Severity Score greater than 15 (0.039 vs. 0.024; p = 0.014; RR, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.56). Comparing school day with nonschool day, the 0-year to 4-year group had no significant difference in APC frequency (0.021 vs. 0.014; p = 0.129), APC frequency was higher on school days in all other age groups: 5 years to 9 years (0.036 vs. 0.019; RR, 1.89; p = 0.0134), 10 years to 13 years (0.055 vs. 0.024; RR, 2.29; p < 0.001), and 14 years to 17 years (0.061 vs. 0.044; RR, 1.39; p = 0.045). The greatest increase in APC on school days was in the 10-year to 13-year age group.

DISCUSSION

All school age children are at higher risk of APC on school days. The data support our hypothesis that children are at higher risk of APC during transit to and from school. The age 10-year to 13-year group had a 129% increase in APC frequency on school days. This age group should be a focus of injury prevention efforts.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level IV.
Direct to OR resuscitation of abdominal trauma: An NTDB propensity matched outcomes study
Authors: Habarth-Morales Theodore E. , Rios-Diaz Arturo J. , Gadomski Stephen P. , Stanley Tiffani , Donnelly Julie P. , Koenig George J. , Cohen Murray J. , Marks Joshua A.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Direct to operating room resuscitation (DOR) is used by some trauma centers for severely injured trauma patients as an approach to minimize time to hemorrhage control. It is unknown whether this strategy results in favorable outcomes. We hypothesized that utilization of an emergency department operating room (EDOR) for resuscitation of patients with abdominal trauma at an urban Level I trauma center would be associated with decreased time to laparotomy and improved outcomes.

METHODS

We included patients 15 years or older with abdominal trauma who underwent emergent laparotomy within 120 minutes of arrival both at our institution and within a National Trauma Data Bank sample between 2007 to 2019 and 2013 to 2016, respectively. Our institutional sample was matched 1:1 to an American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank sample using propensity score matching based on age, sex, mechanism of injury, and abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score. The primary outcome was time to laparotomy incision. Secondary outcomes included blood transfusion requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), ventilator days, hospital LOS, and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty patients were included (120 institutional, 120 national). Both samples were well balanced, and 83.3% sustained penetrating trauma. There were 84.2% young adults between the ages of 15 and 47, 91.7% were male, 47.5% Black/African American, with a median Injury Severity Score of 14 (interquartile range [IQR], 8–29), Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 (IQR, 13–15), 71.7% had an systolic blood pressure of >90 mm Hg, and had a shock index of 0.9 (IQR, 0.7–1.1) which did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). Treatment in the EDOR was associated with decreased time to incision (25.5 minutes vs. 40 minutes; p ≤ 0.001), ICU LOS (1 vs. 3.1 days; p < 0.001), transfusion requirement within 24 hours (3 units vs. 5.8 units packed red blood cells; p = 0.025), hospital LOS (5 days vs. 8.5 days, p = 0.014), and ventilator days (1 day vs. 2 days; p ≤ 0.001). There were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality (22.5% vs. 15.0%; p = 0.14) or outcome-free days (4.9 days vs. 4.5 days, p = 0.55).

CONCLUSION

The use of an EDOR is associated with decreased time to hemorrhage control as evidenced by the decreased time to incision, blood transfusion requirement, ICU LOS, hospital LOS, and ventilator days. These findings support DOR for patients sustaining operative abdominal trauma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management, Level III.
Mapping of a N-terminal α-helix domain required for human PINK1 stabilization, Serine228 autophosphorylation and activation in cells
Authors: Kakade Poonam , Ojha Hina , Raimi Olawale G. , Shaw Andrew , Waddell Andrew D. , Ault James R. , Burel Sophie , Brockmann Kathrin , Kumar Atul , Ahangar Mohd Syed , Krysztofinska Ewelina M. , Macartney Thomas , Bayliss Richard , Fitzgerald Julia C. , Muqit Miratul M. K.
Published: January 2022

Autosomal recessive mutations in the
PINK1
gene are causal for Parkinson's disease (PD). PINK1 encodes a mitochondrial localized protein kinase that is a master-regulator of mitochondrial quality control pathways. Structural studies to date have elaborated the mechanism of how mutations located within the kinase domain disrupt PINK1 function; however, the molecular mechanism of PINK1 mutations located upstream and downstream of the kinase domain is unknown. We have employed mutagenesis studies to define the minimal region of human PINK1 required for optimal ubiquitin phosphorylation, beginning at residue Ile111. Inspection of the AlphaFold human PINK1 structure model predicts a conserved N-terminal α-helical extension (NTE) domain forming an intramolecular interaction with the C-terminal extension (CTE), which we corroborate using hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry of recombinant insect PINK1 protein. Cell-based analysis of human PINK1 reveals that PD-associated mutations (e.g. Q126P), located within the NTE : CTE interface, markedly inhibit stabilization of PINK1; autophosphorylation at Serine228 (Ser228) and Ubiquitin Serine65 (Ser65) phosphorylation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that NTE and CTE domain mutants disrupt PINK1 stabilization at the mitochondrial Translocase of outer membrane complex. The clinical relevance of our findings is supported by the demonstration of defective stabilization and activation of endogenous PINK1 in human fibroblasts of a patient with early-onset PD due to homozygous PINK1 Q126P mutations. Overall, we define a functional role of the NTE : CTE interface towards PINK1 stabilization and activation and show that loss of NTE : CTE interactions is a major mechanism of PINK1-associated mutations linked to PD.
Daughter centrioles assemble preferentially towards the nuclear envelope in
Drosophila
syncytial embryos
Authors: Cunningham Neil H. J. , Bouhlel Imène B. , Conduit Paul T.
Published: January 2022

Centrosomes are important organizers of microtubules within animal cells. They comprise a pair of centrioles surrounded by the pericentriolar material, which nucleates and organizes the microtubules. To maintain centrosome numbers, centrioles must duplicate once and only once per cell cycle. During S-phase, a single new ‘daughter’ centriole is built orthogonally on one side of each radially symmetric ‘mother’ centriole. Mis-regulation of duplication can result in the simultaneous formation of multiple daughter centrioles around a single mother centriole, leading to centrosome amplification, a hallmark of cancer. It remains unclear how a single duplication site is established. It also remains unknown whether this site is pre-defined or randomly positioned around the mother centriole. Here, we show that within
Drosophila
syncytial embryos daughter centrioles preferentially assemble on the side of the mother facing the nuclear envelope, to which the centrosomes are closely attached. This positional preference is established early during duplication and remains stable throughout daughter centriole assembly, but is lost in centrosomes forced to lose their connection to the nuclear envelope. This shows that non-centrosomal cues influence centriole duplication and raises the possibility that these external cues could help establish a single duplication site.
Modelling how the altered usage of cell entry pathways by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may affect the efficacy and synergy of TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L inhibitors
Authors: Padmanabhan Pranesh , Dixit Narendra M.
Published: January 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant harbours mutations in its spike protein, which may affect its cell entry, tropism, and response to interventions. To elucidate these effects, we developed a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells and applied it to analyse recent in vitro data. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells using host proteases, either Cathepsin B/L or TMPRSS2. We estimated >4-fold increase and >3-fold decrease in entry efficiency using Cathepsin B/L and TMPRSS2, respectively, of the Omicron variant relative to the original or other strains in a cell type-dependent manner. Our model predicted that Cathepsin B/L inhibitors would be more and TMPRSS2 inhibitors less efficacious against the Omicron than the original strain. Furthermore, the two inhibitor classes would exhibit synergy, although the drug concentrations maximizing synergy would have to be tailored to the Omicron variant. These findings provide insights into the cell entry mechanisms of the Omicron variant and have implications for interventions.
An adaptive testing strategy for efficient utilization of healthcare resources during an epidemic
Authors: Balakrishnan Sreenath , Palathingal Safvan
Published: January 2022

Stringent lockdowns imposed as a preventive measure against rapidly spreading epidemics like COVID-19 adversely affect the economy. They also prolong the duration of the epidemic, making the hardship on the economy two-fold. The extended duration observed in strategies rooted in social distancing and lockdowns is often due to the under-utilization of medical facilities. Even though an under-utilized health care system is preferred over an overwhelmed one, an alternate and optimal strategy is to maintain medical facilities close to their capacity. We show that such a control strategy can be achieved by varying the testing rate and we present an algorithm to calculate the number of tests per day to achieve this. We illustrate the efficacy of our strategy by showing that it reduced the epidemic duration by 40% in comparison to lockdown-based strategies. Our strategy helps in managing the epidemic without high fatalities and the crippling effects of lockdowns.
Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors and the Risk of COVID-19 Infection among University Employees in Indonesia
Authors: Widyahening Indah Suci , Vidiawati Dhanasari , Pakasi Trevino A , Soewondo Pradana , Ahsan Abdillah
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are still a major public health problem in Indonesia. Studies have shown that risk factors of NCDs were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. However, it is unclear whether NCD risk factors are also risks for new COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to obtain the NCD risk profiles among university’s employees and its association with COVID-19 infection.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2021. Participants were administrative employees of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Depok City, West Java. Assessment of NCDs risk factors was based on the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (WHO STEPS). Demographics, working and medical history data were obtained electronically by using a Google Form. Physical and laboratory examination were done in the Integrated Post for NCDs. Risks were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 613 employees were enrolled. Men were predominant (54.8%) and about 36% of them work in shift as security personnel. About 66.7% were overweight or obese and 77.8% had hypertension. There were 138 (22.8%) employees who had COVID-19 infection. Nearly all (95.6%) have completed COVID-19 vaccination. At-risk waist circumference (ORadj1.74, 95% CI 1.17-2.60, p=0.007) and total cholesterol level of 200-239 mg/dL (ORadj2.24, 95% CI 1.15-4.33, p=0.017) were independent risk factors, but shift work (ORadj0.54, 95% CI 0.24-0.84, p=0.006) was protective to COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NCDs risk factors among university administrative employees was high, increasing the risk for COVID-19 infection. A behavioral intervention program to manage the NCD risk factors at the university level is urgently needed according to the Health Promoting University framework.
In vitro demonstration of broad host range mobile genetic elements transferring antibiotic resistance from the human microbiome
Authors: Forster Samuel C. , Liu Junyan , Kumar Nitin , Gulliver Emily L. , Gould Jodee A. , Escobar-Zepeda Alejandra , Mkandawire Tapoka , Pike Lindsay J. , Shao Yan , Stares Mark D. , Browne Hilary P. , Neville B. Anne , Lawley Trevor D.
Published: January 2022

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) disseminate ARGs when they mobilise into new bacterial hosts. To investigate the scale of such horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events between human gut commensals and enteropathogens for the first time, we compared 1354 cultured commensal strains (540 species) to 45,403 enteropathogen strains (12 species) and found 64,188 MGE-mediated ARG transfer events between the two groups using established methods. Among the 5931 MGEs involved, we found 15 broad host range elements predicted to have crossed different bacterial phyla while also occurring in animal and environmental microbiomes. We experimentally demonstrated that predicted broad host range MGEs can mobilise from commensals Dorea longicatena and Hungatella hathewayi to enteropathogens Klebsiella oxytoca, crossing phyla simultaneously. Our work establishes the MGE-mediated ARG dissemination network between human gut commensals and enteropathogens and highlights novel broad host range MGEs as targets for future ARG dissemination management.
Optical demonstration of crystallography and reciprocal space using laser diffraction from Au microdisc arrays
Authors: Chayanun Lert , Gustafson Johan , Wallentin Jesper
Published: January 2022

Crystallography is an invaluable tool in materials science, solid state physics and protein science. Understanding crystallography requires grasping the powerful but abstract concept of reciprocal space. Here a simple but insightful experiment using a laser pointer and Au microdisc arrays to explore and illustrate Bragg diffraction and reciprocal space is demonstrated. The Au microdisc arrays were manufactured using standard semiconductor fabrication techniques. The flexibility of the array design allows the demonstration of basic concepts such as lattice and atomic form factor, but also more advanced ones such as quasicrystal and shape function.
Generating coherent and ultrashort X-ray pulses via HHG-seeding in storage rings
Authors: Lu Yujie , Feng Chao , Tu Lingjun , Li Changliang , Jiang Bocheng , Wang Dong
Published: January 2022

The generation of fully coherent and femtosecond time-scale radiation pulses in the X-ray regime is one of the most common demands of ring-based synchrotron light source users. In this paper, a method that utilizes the recent proposed angular dispersion induced microbunching technique to convert external light from high-harmonic generation (HHG) to coherent light at shorter wavelength is proposed. Numerical simulations using the practical parameters of a diffraction-limited storage ring demonstrate the generation of coherent pulse trains with photon energy as high as 2 keV, pulse duration as short as ∼10 fs and high peak brightness directly from an HHG source at 13 nm.
Does use of nontraditional credit increase risk?
Authors: Dodson Charles B. , Ahrendsen Bruce L. , Short Gianna
Published: January 2022

Purpose

A potential farm policy concern is that if nontraditional (vendor/point-of-sale) financing represents increased risk, it may have an aggregate effect on sector-wide farm financial risk. This analysis examines the use of nontraditional lender credit among borrowers in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Farm Service Agency (FSA)'s direct farm loan programs.

Design/methodology/approach

Data source included the USDA FSA direct operating loan program for 2011–2020. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the occurrence of default over seven-year term direct operating loans.

Findings

Results indicated that point-of-sale financing has a significant and positive relationship with risk for FSA direct operating loan borrowers. The presence of intermediate point-of-sale financing (mostly from machinery and equipment vendors) is associated with an increased probability of default of 9%, and the presence of such loan balances in the amount of $50,000 or more had a higher probability of default of 21%. Short-term nontraditional financing (for example from fertilizer vendors) was found to be positively related to borrower risk of default as indicated by a 22–25% increase in the likelihood of loan default.

Originality/value

Through FSA Farm Business Plan data, the authors were able to distinguish specific vendors and their loan purpose, which advances the knowledge beyond what is currently available through survey data. Findings indicate a minor increase in borrower risk for those with intermediate-term nontraditional financing. However, borrowers with short-term nontraditional financing and having large balances or greater number of nontraditional loans had increases in risk of default by substantive amounts.
Competitive intelligence practices in Japanese companies: multicase studies
Authors: Tsuchimoto Ichiro , Kajikawa Yuya
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study investigates competitive intelligence (CI)-related practices in companies, including process, scope and organizational structure. As these aspects have not been sufficiently discussed in the literature, the study objective is to determine (1) the type of CI process being employed, (2) whether the CI scope is limited to competitor analysis or spans a broader business environment and (3) whether the CI process and scope vary depending on organizational CI.

Design/methodology/approach

An interview was conducted at two types of Japanese companies: one established a CI department to implement CI, whereas the other did not establish a CI department and conducted CI in an ad hoc manner. Multicase studies were performed to examine companies with different organizational structures.

Findings

The CI scopes included a broad range of factors (e.g. technology, customers, markets, suppliers, economy, society, politics, legislation and regulation), and not only competitor analysis. An established CI department did not guarantee a well-organized CI process. Furthermore, the lack of such a department did not preclude systematic CI processes or activities.

Originality/value

The authors classified the CI in the companies the authors inspected as either systematic (organized CI) or ad hoc (unorganized CI) methods. The advantages and disadvantages of both are discussed. The authors found the promotion mechanisms in company-wide CI process, which can cause intelligence transfers from CI to absorptive capacity processes.
Negative effects of enterprise social networks (ESNs) and technostress: empirical evidence from R&D centres operating in India
Authors: Nayak Sunanda , Budhwar Pawan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Nowadays, technostress is a common problem for many organisations. The purpose of this research is to investigate the underlying mechanisms under which enterprise social networks (ESNs) leads to technostress and their consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 242 employees working in research and development (R&D) centres in India and analysed the data using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings of the study contribute to the growing body of knowledge in “dark side of social media research” by researching the phenomenon of higher use of ESNs in organisations and the consequences while theoretically delineating the effect of social, hedonic and cognitive use of ESNs in organisations on technostress, thus extending prior research on adverse impact of social media and technostress research. The results revealed that both ESNs’ need and technostress is adversely related to mental health, performance and greater turnover intention, and perceived organisation support (POS) played a moderating role in this relationship such that with higher POS, employee turnover intention reduces. By uncovering the role of POS as a potential moderator, the findings provide empirical evidence for POS and technostress in organisations, thus offering practical implications for the ESNs strategists, managers and practitioners to develop ESNs’ usage policies to avoid adverse outcomes of technostress in organisations.

Research limitations/implications

This research advances theoretical understanding of the relationship between ESNs, technostress, mental health, performance and turnover” intention while contributing extensively to the technostress literature and to the scholarship of ESNs. In addition, by uncovering the role of perceived organisational support as a potential moderator, this study contributes to the existing literature on POS.

Practical implications

The empirically tested model delivered by this research will enable organisations to understand different excessive usage patterns of ESNs at work, which contribute to negative outcomes for organisations and employees. The findings support the maintenance of social life at work affecting better employee mental health, and the application of cognitive use of ESNs can reduce technostress. Hence, organisational strategies should implement employee policies and interventions that facilitate better work–social life and well-being, simultaneously encouraging usage of ESNs largely for work-related information transmission and sharing within the organisations.

Originality/value

This study constructed a moderated-mediation model by introducing the potential mediating effect of technostress, mental health and performance and the moderating effect of POS to reveal the mechanism through which ESNs related to technostress, mental health, performance and turnover intention in the Indian context.
Gambling in professional sport: the enabling role of “regulatory legitimacy”
Authors: Evans Richard , Walters Geoff , Hamil Sean
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explain why organisations remain vulnerable to financial failure despite increasing financial regulation to improve governance. Using a case study of gambling and regulation in professional football in England, it introduces the concept of “regulatory legitimacy” to show how this enables football clubs to gamble.

Design/methodology/approach

The study quantifies the extent to which football clubs in the Championship of the English Football League (EFL) adopt a conventionally economically irrational decision to run a loss-making budget in the hope of achieving sporting success. The study postulates criteria for evidence of this form of gambling by overspending on playing talent with data from the clubs’ published financial statements. A pay-off matrix is developed to compare the intended and actual outcomes.

Findings

The research finds that this strategy was both prevalent and the most successful to achieve promotion.

Originality/value

This study makes three contributions. The first is the quantification of the prevalence of this form of gambling. The second is the finding that, despite regulations to limit spending on wages, gambling is rational in the non-economic sense because it is almost a necessary strategy to achieve promotion if the club had not been relegated from the Premier League in the previous season. The third contribution is the development of the concept of “regulatory legitimacy” as a way to understand the process through which regulations are implemented yet are ineffective at curbing financial gambling.
Numerical simulation of the influence of mixed sand on erosion characteristics of centrifugal pump
Authors: Wang Yong , Wang Xiaolin , Chen Jie , Li Gangxiang , Liu Houlin , Xiong Wei
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to predict the erosion rate of the components of centrifugal pump under certain operating condition to identify the maximum erosion area and to discuss the factors affecting them. This helps to optimize design and estimate service life.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper, the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach method coupled with the erosion model to investigate the mixed sand characteristics on erosion characteristics of centrifugal pump flow-through wall. The hydraulic performance and wear characteristics experiment of the pump is used to verify the accuracy of the numerical simulation.

Findings

The blade erosion area mainly occurs near the blade inlet and the trailing edge of the pressure surface, the main erosion area of the impeller back shroud is near the outlet of the flow passage and the main erosion area of the volute is near the tongue and the I section. With the change of the average diameter and density of sand particles, the average erosion rate on different flow-through walls is positively correlated with the average mass concentration to a certain extent. However, for different sand shape factors, there is little correlation between the average erosion rate and the average mass concentration. In addition, compared with other erosion areas, the increase of average sand particle diameter and density has the greatest impact on the total erosion rate of blade pressure surface, while the shape of sand particles has a greater impact on the total erosion rate of each flow-through wall of centrifugal pump.

Originality/value

In this work, according to the characteristics of the mixed distribution of different sand diameters in the Yellow River Basin, the erosion characteristics of centrifugal pumps used in the Yellow River Basin are studied. The numerical calculation method for predicting the wall erosion of centrifugal pump is established and compared with the experimental results. The results can provide reference for optimizing design and increasing service life.
The effect of cultural intelligence of top management on pro-diversity work climate and work attitudes of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand
Authors: Charoensukmongkol Peerayuth , Phungsoonthorn Tipnuch
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This research examines the effect of cultural intelligence (CQ) of top management on pro-diversity climates and perceived discrimination of the Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. This research also analyzes the effect of perceived discrimination on job satisfaction and turnover intention of the Myanmar migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 650 Myanmar migrant workers who are employed at two factories in Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used as the data analysis method.

Findings

The results significantly support the positive effect of perceived management CQ on pro-diversity climates. Pro-diversity climates are also negatively and significantly associated with perceived discrimination. Moreover, the effect of perceived management CQ on perceived discrimination is fully mediated by pro-diversity climate.

Originality/value

This research clarifies that simply ensuring top management possess CQ may not be a sufficient condition for the company to successfully tackle discrimination in the workplace. Rather, it is crucial for the top management to create an organizational climate that is supportive of the racial diversity of foreign migrant employees.
A multi-preference integrated algorithm (MPIA) for the deep learning-based recommender framework (DLRF)
Authors: Maditham Vikram , Reddy N. Sudhakar , Kasa Madhavi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The deep learning-based recommender framework (DLRF) is based on an improved long short-term memory (LSTM) structure with additional controllers; thus, it considers contextual information for state transition. It also handles irregularities in the data to enhance performance in generating recommendations while modelling short-term preferences. An algorithm named a multi-preference integrated algorithm (MPIA) is proposed to have dynamic integration of both kinds of user preferences aforementioned. Extensive experiments are made using Amazon benchmark datasets, and the results are compared with many existing recommender systems (RSs).

Design/methodology/approach

RSs produce quality information filtering to the users based on their preferences. In the contemporary era, online RSs-based collaborative filtering (CF) techniques are widely used to model long-term preferences of users. With deep learning models, such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), it became viable to model short-term preferences of users. In the existing RSs, there is a lack of dynamic integration of both long- and short-term preferences. In this paper, the authors proposed a DLRF for improving the state of the art in modelling short-term preferences and generating recommendations as well.

Findings

The results of the empirical study revealed that the MPIA outperforms existing algorithms in terms of performance measured using metrics such as area under the curve (AUC) and F1-score. The percentage of improvement in terms AUC is observed as 1.3, 2.8, 3 and 1.9% and in terms of F-1 score 0.98, 2.91, 2 and 2.01% on the datasets.

Originality/value

The algorithm uses attention-based approaches to integrate the preferences by incorporating contextual information.
Teaching and confronting digital extremism: contexts, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Rea Stephen C.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to offer practical guidance on teaching about digital extremism – defined here as the intersection of digital disinformation campaigns with political extremism – by highlighting four pedagogical challenges: the danger of unintentionally “redpilling” students; the slippery slope to false equivalency and “bothsidesism” in turbulent partisan waters; the difficulty of separating empirical analyses from prescriptive debates circulating in popular media; and the trouble of getting students to understand digital extremism as a sociotechnical problem rather than as a social-or-technical problem. The conclusion proposes opportunities for educators to integrate practical approaches to confronting digital extremism with digital civics curricula.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews pedagogical challenges and outlines a curricular program for teaching about digital extremism drawn from the author’s experience designing undergraduate courses and open teaching modules between 2016 and 2021.

Findings

Educators should shift focus from the substance of digital extremism to its tools – social media platforms’ surveillance and data-gathering methods, advertising technologies and monetized user-generated content, personalized recommendation algorithms and media manipulation strategies that amplify some narratives while suppressing others – and the media and political institutions that benefit most from it. Proposed lessons include: how digital extremists manipulate social media metadata; engagement with data creation and targeting practices; and analysis of information production, circulation and consumption exploring media manipulation tools and their effects.

Originality/value

This paper’s added values are the insights and practical recommendations for undergraduate educators teaching on a topic of urgent contemporary concern: digital extremism.
Internet of Things application in Indian agriculture, challenges and effect on the extension advisory services – a review
Authors: Jarial Sapna
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The emerging technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are transforming various industries, including agriculture. Unaware, young male and female farmers leave the agriculture profession as they perform unsustainable practices. Precision agriculture using the Internet of Things (IoT) is a solution to sustainable agriculture. Extension professionals are at the heart of disseminating agricultural advisory agricultural services in India. The discourse on the IoT is entering the space of extension advisory services (EASs) and social sciences. Thus, the present paper seeks to review the application of IoT in Indian agriculture, its challenges and its effect on EASs. The conceptual framework is drawn from disruptive and surveillance capitalist theories.

Design/methodology/approach

Online literature review was conducted on electronic e-book Ebsco, Google scholar, PubMed, Jane, j gate, research4life, springer journal and Mendeley databases for full-text repositories, textbook, thesis, web articles, newspaper articles, reports, blogs for the year 1990 to May 2021 using keywords “IoT application in agriculture,” “emerging technologies in agriculture,” “challenges in IoT application,” “extension advisory services sources of information,” “big data and extension advisory, “IoT and extension advisory in India.” Only publications in the English language were included.

Findings

IoT aids progressive farmers and small farmers alike. Drones, robotics, precision irrigation, livestock tracking and crop disease surveillance are examples of IoT applications in agriculture. Only large corporations and governments access IoT, and for them, big data storage is an issue. Privacy and security concerns demand upgrades in IoT systems. Solutions to the convergence of IoT with the cloud will leverage agricultural EASs, resulting in fast computing, precise and proactive up-to-date problem solving. Hence, the need for communication between firms and clients has ceased. Thus, the jobs of extension agents are replaced.

Research limitations/implications

The competence of future human extension agents lies in reskilling as a “knowledge broker” of relationships and expertise, as s/he cannot have all multidisciplinary knowledge.

Originality/value

Although IoT applications in agriculture are available from a technological standpoint, there remains an awareness gap regarding the impact of IoT applications in agricultural EASs. This study will aid in a better comprehension of IoT applications from current and prospective EASs.
Risk management and bank performance: evidence from the MENA region
Authors: Harb Etienne , El Khoury Rim , Mansour Nadia , Daou Rima
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The credit crunch of 2008 and recent COVID-19 influences underscored the importance of liquidity and credit risk management in businesses and financial institutions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of liquidity risk and credit risk management on accounting and market performances of banks operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a panel data regression analysis on a sample of 51 listed commercial banks operating in 10 MENA countries during the period 2010–2018.

Findings

The results show that credit risk management does not affect the accounting performance of banks, while it has a non-linear, convex relationship with market performance. Surprisingly, liquidity risk management is not a significant driver for either performance measure in studied banks. However, when a bank combines credit risk management with liquidity risk management efforts, liquidity risk management actions return significant results on both performances, illustrated by an inverted U-shaped relationship. In addition, this study examines the joint impact of both risks on bank performance. This study reveals that accounting and market performances are differently affected by joint risk management efforts. Their impact depends on the combination of risk management ratios upon which banks choose to focus their efforts.

Practical implications

The findings help bankers and regulators further consider non-linearities and offer them new tools for managing the impact of credit and liquidity risk interactions towards achieving more financial stability.

Originality/value

These results contribute to traditional banking in offering bankers and regulators new tools for managing the impact of credit and liquidity risk interactions on bank performance.
Leadership and supply chain management: a systematic literature review
Authors: Prabhu Mahesh , Srivastava Amit Kumar
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the state of knowledge on the relationship between leadership and the firm’s supply chain. The study identifies and examines the existing literature, unveils research gaps and suggests future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a systematic review process, a total of 110 articles published in top-ranked academic journals (A* and A category as per ABDC-2019 list) were analyzed. Descriptive, cluster, thematic and regression analyses of citations were performed to garner insights.

Findings

The review outcome shows an upward trend of articles studying the influence of leadership in the supply chain. With the highest number of articles, developed countries and manufacturing companies have been the research contexts of the research studies. Clustering reveals eight significant areas where the leader’s involvement in the supply chain is discussed, with several sub-themes emerging within each cluster. Finally, the regression analysis of citations shows that only the journal’s quality matters the most in receiving the highest citation for the articles.

Research limitations/implications

As this study considered only A* and A-ranked journals of the ABDC-2019 list, there is a risk of excluding some relevant articles.

Originality/value

While the current literature deliberates on recent trends in the supply chain, such as the application of Industry 4.0 practices, this review revolves around the classical theme of leadership and demonstrates its importance in the supply chain. The study is among the first to conduct a bibliometric analysis of articles deliberating on leadership and supply chain issues by grouping the articles into clusters and themes. In the end, the clusters and themes were conceptualized into the “House of Supply Chain Leadership,” of which leadership forms the foundation.