bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graft-derived cfDNA Monitoring in Plasma and Bile During Normothermic Machine Perfusion in Liver Transplantation Is Feasible and a Potential Tool for Assessing Graft Viability
Authors: Cox Daniel R.A. , Lee Eunice , Wong Boris K.L. , McClure Tess , Zhang Fan , Goh Su Kah , Vago Angela , Jackett Louise , Fink Michael , Jones Robert , Perini Marcos V. , Dobrovic Alexander , Testro Adam , Starkey Graham , Muralidharan Vijayaragavan
Published: October 2023

Background.

Ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is an organ preservation technique that enables an extended assessment of graft suitability before liver transplantation (LT). Established monitoring protocols used during NMP vary significantly in their assessment of transplant suitability when applied to the same grafts. Graft-derived cell-free DNA (gdcfDNA) analysis is an emerging tool for monitoring graft health post-transplantation. We investigated the feasibility of monitoring gdcfDNA during NMP for LT in a proof-of-concept, observational study.

Methods.

Serial plasma and bile samples were collected during NMP for 10 consecutive grafts, at 15 min post–machine reperfusion and then 2-h intervals. Digital polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify gdcfDNA at each time point.

Results.

Five grafts were suitable for LT, there were no cases of primary nonfunction or death in the recipients. gdcfDNA was quantified in all bile and plasma samples (n > 100). In plasma, gdcfDNA concentrations climbed post–machine reperfusion until 4.25 h (median 2.25 h = 15.98 × 106 copies/mL, 4.25 h = 40.21 × 106 copies/mL). gdcfDNA levels then diverged significantly when comparing the viable and non-viable graft groups (6.25 h, median viable: 117.15 × 106 copies/mL versus non-viable: 16.72 × 106 copies/mL, P = 0.01). These opposing trends correlated in each graft and in all cases with the viable/non-viable outcome. There was a trend of gradual decline in bile gdcfDNA from viable grafts post–machine reperfusion; discarded grafts showed more variable patterns of release.

Conclusions.

gdcfDNA analysis during NMP is a feasible and potential tool to inform viability assessment during NMP for LT. Bile gdcfDNA monitoring offers the prospect of an objective means to assess the degree of biliary injury associated with organ procurement.
Transplant Vasculopathy Versus Native Atherosclerosis: Similarities and Differences
Authors: Weis Michael , Weis Mara
Published: October 2023

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is one of the leading causes of graft failure and death after heart transplantation. Alloimmune-dependent and -independent factors trigger the pathogenesis of CAV through activation of the recipients' (and to a lesser extent donor-derived) immune system. Early diagnosis of CAV is complicated by the lack of clinical symptoms for ischemia in the denervated heart, by the impact of early functional coronary alterations, by the insensitivity of coronary angiography, and by the involvement of small intramyocardial vessels. CAV in general is a panarterial disease confined to the allograft and characterized by diffuse concentric longitudinal intimal hyperplasia in the epicardial coronary arteries and concentric medial disease in the microvasculature. Plaque composition in CAV may include early fibrous and fibrofatty tissue and late atheromatous calcification. In contrast, native coronary atherosclerosis usually develops over decades, is focal, noncircumferential, and typically diminishes proximal parts of the epicardial vessels. The rapid and early development of CAV has an adverse prognostic impact, and current prevention and treatment strategies are of limited efficacy compared with established strategies in native atherosclerosis. Following acute coronary syndromes, patients after heart transplantation were more likely to have accompanying cardiogenic shock and higher mortality compared with acute coronary syndromes patients with native hearts.
What’s New: Updates on Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Stewart Adam G. , Kotton Camille N.
Published: October 2023

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common infections occurring after solid organ transplantation. This high burden of disease, which incurs sizeable morbidity, may be worsening with the proportion of high-risk D+/R− solid organ transplantation recipients increasing in some regions globally. Cohort studies continue to support either universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy as effective prevention strategies. Letermovir prophylaxis was noninferior to valganciclovir in adult high-risk D+/R− kidney transplant recipients with fewer drug-related adverse events in a recent clinical trial and has now been approved for such use in some regions. Maribavir preemptive therapy failed to demonstrate noninferiority when compared with valganciclovir in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients but looked promising for safety. Donor matching could be useful in prevention CMV disease with a survival advantage demonstrated in seronegative recipients waiting up to 30 mo for a seronegative kidney. Immune-guided prophylaxis resulted in fewer CMV infection episodes in lung transplant recipients when compared with fixed-duration prophylaxis in a recent clinical trial. For treatment of refractory or resistant CMV infection, maribavir was more efficacious and better tolerated when compared with investigator-initiated therapy in its registration trial for this condition. Further research regarding best treatment and prophylaxis of resistant or refractory CMV infection is needed to reflect best clinical practice choices. Optimal use of immune globulin or CMV-specific T cells for prevention or treatment of CMV disease remains undefined. Standardized definitions for the design of CMV clinical trials have been developed. In this review, we highlight recent updates in the field from data published since 2018.
The clinical, genomic, and microbiological profile of invasive multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in a major teaching hospital in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hamilton William L. , Coscione Suny , Maes Mailis , Warne Ben , Pike Lindsay J. , Khokhar Fahad A. , Blane Beth , Brown Nicholas M. , Gouliouris Theodore , Dougan Gordon , Török M. Estée , Baker Stephen
Published: October 2023

Escherichia coli

is a ubiquitous component of the human gut microbiome, but is also a common pathogen, causing around 40, 000 bloodstream infections (BSI) in the United Kingdom (UK) annually. The number of

E. coli

BSI has increased over the last decade in the UK, and emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles threaten treatment options. Here, we combined clinical, epidemiological, and whole genome sequencing data with high content imaging to characterise over 300

E. coli

isolates associated with BSI in a large teaching hospital in the East of England. Overall, only a limited number of sequence types (ST) were responsible for the majority of organisms causing invasive disease. The most abundant (20 % of all isolates) was ST131, of which around 90 % comprised the pandemic O25b:H4 group. ST131-O25b:H4 isolates were frequently multi-drug resistant (MDR), with a high prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and fluoroquinolone resistance. There was no association between AMR phenotypes and the source of

E. coli

bacteraemia or whether the infection was healthcare-associated. Several clusters of ST131 were genetically similar, potentially suggesting a shared transmission network. However, there was no clear epidemiological associations between these cases, and they included organisms from both healthcare-associated and non-healthcare-associated origins. The majority of ST131 isolates exhibited strong binding with an anti-O25b antibody, raising the possibility of developing rapid diagnostics targeting this pathogen. In summary, our data suggest that a restricted set of MDR

E. coli

populations can be maintained and spread across both community and healthcare settings in this location, contributing disproportionately to invasive disease and AMR.
Hierarchical communities in the larvalDrosophilaconnectome: Links to cellular annotations and network topology
Authors: Betzel Richard , Puxeddu Maria Grazia , Seguin Caio
Published: October 2023

One of the longstanding aims of network neuroscience is to link a connectome’s topological properties–i.e. features defined from connectivity alone–with an organism’s neurobiology. One approach for doing so is to compare connectome properties with maps of metabolic, functional, and neurochemical annotations. This type of analysis is popular at the meso-/macro-scale, but is less common at the nano-scale, owing to a paucity of neuron-level connectome data. However, recent methodological advances have made possible the reconstruction of whole-brain connectomes at single-neuron resolution for a select set of organisms. These include the fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, and its developing larvae. In addition to fine-scale descriptions of neuron-to-neuron connectivity, these datasets are accompanied by rich annotations, documenting cell type and function. Here, we use a hierarchical and weighted variant of the stochastic blockmodel to detect multi-level communities in a recently published larvalDrosophilaconnectome. We find that these communities partition neurons based on function and cell type. We find that communities mostly interact assortatively, reflecting the principle of functional segregation. However, a small number of communities interact non-assortatively. The neurons that make up these communities also form a “rich-club”, composed mostly of interneurons that receive sensory/ascending inputs and deliver outputs along descending pathways. Next, we investigate the role of community structure in shaping neuron-to-neuron communication patterns. We find that polysynaptic signaling follows specific trajectories across modular hierarchies, with interneurons playing a key role in mediating communication routes between modules and hierarchical scales. Our work suggests a relationship between the system-level architecture of an organism’s complete neuronal wiring network and the precise biological function and classification of its individual neurons. We envision our study as an important step towards bridging the gap between complex systems and neurobiological lines of investigation in brain sciences.
Incoherent feedback from coupled amino acids and ribosome pools generates damped oscillations in growing E. coli
Authors: Droghetti Rossana , Fuchs Philippe , Iuliani Ilaria , Firmano Valerio , Tallarico Giorgio , Calabrese Ludovico , Grilli Jacopo , Sclavi Bianca , Ciandrini Luca , Lagomarsino Marco Cosentino
Published: October 2023

Current theories of bacterial growth physiology demonstrate impressive predictive power but are often phenomenological, lacking mechanistic detail. Incorporating such details would significantly enhance our ability to predict and control bacterial growth under varying environmental conditions. The “Flux Controlled Regulation” (FCR) model serves as a reference framework, linking ribosome allocation to translation efficiency through a steady-state assumption. However, it neglects ppGpp-mediated nutrient sensing and transcriptional regulation of ribosomal operons. Here, we propose a mechanistic model that extends the FCR framework by incorporating three key components: (i) the amino acid pool, (ii) ppGpp sensing of translation elongation rate, and (iii) transcriptional regulation of protein allocation by ppGpp-sensitive promoters. Our model aligns with observed steady-state growth laws and makes testable predictions for unobserved quantities. We show that during environmental changes, the incoherent feedback between sensing and regulation generates oscillatory relaxation dynamics, a behavior that we support by new and existing experimental data.
Phase-changing citrate macromolecule combats oxidative pancreatic islet damage, enables islet engraftment and function in the omentum
Authors: Burke Jacqueline A. , Zhu Yunxiao , Zhang Xiaomin , Rios Peter D. , Joshi Ira , Lopez Daisy , Nasir Hafsa , Roberts Sharon , Rodriguez Quetzalli , McGarrigle James , Cook David , Oberholzer Jose , Luo Xunrong , Ameer Guillermo A.
Published: October 2023

Clinical outcomes for total-pancreatectomy followed by intraportal islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) to treat chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients are suboptimal due to the inflammatory state of the patient’s pancreas, oxidative tissue damage during the isolation process, and the harsh engraftment conditions in the liver’s vasculature, which include ischemia-reperfusion injury, and instant blood–mediated inflammatory reactions. We describe the use of the thermoresponsive, antioxidant macromolecule poly(polyethylene glycol citrate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (PPCN) to protect islet redox status and functionin vitroandin vivoand to create a viable extrahepatic islet engraftment site in the abdomen. PPCN in aqueous media transitions from a liquid to an elastic hydrogel when exposed to body temperature via temperature-induced macromolecular self-assembly. Islets entrapped in the PPCN hydrogel and exposed to oxidative stress remain functional and support long-term euglycemia, in contrast to islets entrapped in a biologic scaffold (BS). When applied to the omentum of non-human primates (NHPs), PPCN is well-tolerated, safe, and mostly resorbed without fibrosis at 3 months post-implantation. To obtain autologous islets, a partial pancreatectomy was performed, followed by STZ administration to induce diabetes and destroy any remaining endogenous islets. Application of the autologous islets to the momentum using PPCN restored normoglycemia with minimal insulin requirements for over 100 days. These results support the use of PPCN as a scaffold for minimally invasive delivery of islets to the omentum of pancreatitis patients and highlight the importance of scaffold antioxidant properties as a new mechanism to protect islet function and maximize long-term autologous graft performance.

One Sentence Summary

Omentum islet transplantation using a thermoresponsive, antioxidative polymer supports autologous islet viability and function in nonhuman primates.
Ornaments for Accurate and Efficient Allele-Specific Expression Estimation with Bias Correction
Authors: Adduri Abhinav , Kim Seyoung
Published: October 2023

Allele-specific expression has been used to elucidate various biological mechanisms, such as genomic imprinting and gene expression variation caused by genetic changes incis-regulatory elements. However, existing methods for obtaining allele-specific expression from RNA-seq reads do not adequately and efficiently remove various biases, such as reference bias, where reads containing the alternative allele do not map to the reference transcriptome, or ambiguous mapping bias, where reads containing the reference allele map differently from reads containing the alternative allele. We present Ornaments, a computational tool for rapid and accurate estimation of allele-specific expression at unphased heterozygous loci from RNA-seq reads while correcting for allele-specific read mapping bias. Ornaments removes reference bias by accounting for personalized transcriptome, and ambiguous mapping bias by probabilistically assigning reads to multiple transcripts and variant loci they map to. Ornaments is a lightweight extension of kallisto, a popular tool for fast RNA-seq quantification, that improves the efficiency and accuracy of WASP, a popular tool for bias correction in allele-specific read mapping. Our experiments on simulated and human lymphoblastoid cell-line RNA-seq reads with the genomes of the 1000 Genomes Project show that Ornaments is as efficient as kallisto, an order of magnitude faster than WASP, and more accurate than WASP and kallisto. In addition, Ornaments detected genes that are imprinted at transcript level with higher sensitivity, compared to WASP that detected the imprinted signals only at gene level.
Genome-wide association study of prostate-specific antigen levels in 392,522 men identifies new loci and improves cross-ancestry prediction
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas J , Graff Rebecca E , Madduri Ravi K , Rodriguez Alex A , Cario Clinton L , Feng Karen , Jiang Yu , Wang Anqi , Klein Robert J , Pierce Brandon L , Eggener Scott , Tong Lin , Blot William , Long Jirong , Goss Louisa B , Darst Burcu F , Rebbeck Timothy , Lachance Joseph , Andrews Caroline , Adebiyi Akindele O , Adusei Ben , Aisuodionoe-Shadrach Oseremen I , Fernandez Pedro W , Jalloh Mohamed , Janivara Rohini , Chen Wenlong C , Mensah James E , Agalliu Ilir , Berndt Sonja I , Shelley John P , Schaffer Kerry , Machiela Mitchell J , Freedman Neal D , Huang Wen-Yi , Li Shengchao A , Goodman Phyllis J , Till Cathee , Thompson Ian , Lilja Hans , Ranatunga Dilrini K , Presti Joseph , Van Den Eeden Stephen K , Chanock Stephen J , Mosley Jonathan D , Conti David V , Haiman Christopher A , Justice Amy C , Kachuri Linda , Witte John S
Published: October 2023

We conducted a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in 296,754 men (211,342 European ancestry; 58,236 African ancestry; 23,546 Hispanic/Latino; 3,630 Asian ancestry; 96.5% of participants were from the Million Veteran Program). We identified 318 independent genome-wide significant (p≤5e-8) variants, 184 of which were novel. Most demonstrated evidence of replication in an independent cohort (n=95,768). Meta-analyzing discovery and replication (n=392,522) identified 447 variants, of which a further 111 were novel. Out-of-sample variance in PSA explained by our genome-wide polygenic risk scores ranged from 11.6%-16.6% in European ancestry, 5.5%-9.5% in African ancestry, 13.5%-18.2% in Hispanic/Latino, and 8.6%-15.3% in Asian ancestry, and decreased with increasing age. Mid-life genetically-adjusted PSA levels were more strongly associated with overall and aggressive prostate cancer than unadjusted PSA. Our study highlights how including proportionally more participants from underrepresented populations improves genetic prediction of PSA levels, offering potential to personalize prostate cancer screening.
Race, Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Outcomes in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Polsinelli Vincenzo B. , Koczo Agnes , Johnson Amber E. , Elkayam Uri , Cooper Leslie , Gorcsan John , Briller Joan , Fett James , McNamara Dennis M. ,   the IPAC investigators
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Black women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) have a high prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and worse clinical outcomes compared with other races. We examined the role of HDP and race on myocardial recovery in women with PPCM.

Methods

A total of 100 women were enrolled into the Investigation in Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy (IPAC) study. A hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) was defined as a gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, chronic hypertension was not included in the HDP subgroup. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by echocardiography at entry, 6, and 12-months post-partum (PP). Clinical outcomes including persistent cardiomyopathy (LVEF≤35%), left ventricular assist device, (LVAD), transplantation, or death at 12-months were examined with and without HDP and between Black and non-Black subsets of women.

Results

Mean age in IPAC was 30±6 years, with a baseline LVEF of 35±10%. In Black women, those with HDP were more likely to present earlier (days PP HDP: 35±20 vs 54±27 days, P=0.03) compared to women without HDP. There was no difference in LVEF at study entry, but better recovery with HDP at 6 (HDP:0.52±0.11 vs no HDP:0.40±0.14, P=0.03) and 12-months (HDP:0.53±0.10 vs no HDP:0.40±0.16, P=0.02). At 12-months, Black women had a lower LVEF than non-Black women (P=0.007), driven by worse recovery in Black women without HDP (P=0.002). Black women with HDP had a similar LVEF to non-Black women (P=0.31).

Conclusions

In women with PPCM, HDP among Black women was associated with earlier presentation and better recovery compared to Black women without HDP.
Individual-level deviations from normative brain morphology in violence, psychosis, and psychopathy
Authors: Haukvik Unn K , Wolfers Thomas , Tesli Natalia , Bell Christina , Hjell Gabriela , Fischer-Vieler Thomas , Bang Nina , Melle Ingrid , Andreassen Ole A , Rasmussen Kirsten , Agartz Ingrid , Westlye Lars T , Friestad Christine , Rokicki Jaroslav
Published: October 2023

Background

Neuroimaging research has shown brain morphological abnormalities associated with violence and psychosis, but individual differences are substantial and results not consistent across studies. Recently developed normative modeling of brain MRI-features provides a possibility to parse this heterogeneity by mapping inter-individual brain characteristics, which has not yet been explored in forensic psychiatry.

Methods

We explored brain heterogeneity in persons with a history of severe violence with or without a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (HoV, n=58), non-violent patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD-NV, n=138), and healthy non-violent controls (HC) from lifetime normative trajectories of cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volumes. Normative models were based on Freesurfer derived regions of interest from 58,836 individuals (ages 2-100) from 82 sites. Group differences and associations between brain deviations and psychopathy traits (PCL-R scores) were investigated.

Results

Across groups, we found an overall heterogeneous pattern of individual-level deviations, with a significantly higher frequency of extreme negative deviations in HoV (p=.020,d=.31) and SSD-NV (p=.019,d=.48), than HC. Group differences were mostly present in subcortical volumes and cortical area, but not thickness, with significant regional group-level differences within the subcallosal and insular cortices, and the cerebellum, and no significant associations to psychopathy traits.

Conclusion

By applying normative modeling, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates the heterogeneous pattern of brain morphometry deviations associated with violence and psychosis. While the results warrant replication, studies addressing individual brain deviations may contribute to improved understanding of the complex underpinnings of violence in forensic psychiatry.
Reliability of high-quantity human brain organoids for modeling microcephaly, glioma invasion, and drug screening
Authors: Ramani Anand , Pasquini Giovanni , Gerkau Niklas J. , Vinchure Omkar Suhas , Gabriel Elke , Rothenaigner Ina , Lin Sean , Altinisk Nazlican , Rathinam Dhanasekaran , Mirsaidi Ali , Goureau Olivier , Giorgio Lucia Ricci-Vitiani , d’alessandris Q. , Pallini Roberto , Wollnik Bernd , Muotri Alysson , Jurisch-Yaksi Nathalie , Rose Christine R. , Busskamp Volker , Hadian Kamyar , Gopalakrishnan Jay
Published: October 2023

Brain organoids offer unprecedented insights into brain development and disease modeling and hold promise for drug screening. Significant hindrances, however, are morphological and cellular heterogeneity, inter-organoid size differences, cellular stress, and poor reproducibility. Here, we describe a method that reproducibly generates thousands of organoids across multiple iPSC lines. These High Quantity brain organoids (Hi-Q brain organoids) exhibit reproducible cytoarchitecture, cell diversity, and functionality, are free from ectopically active cellular stress pathways, and allow cryopreservation and re-culturing. Using patient-derived Hi-Q brain organoids, we recapitulated distinct forms of microcephaly pathogenesis: primary microcephaly due to a mutation in centrosomal CDK5RAP2 and progeria-associated microcephaly in Cockayne syndrome. When modeling glioma invasion, hi-Q brain organoids displayed a similar invasion pattern for a given patient-derived glioma cell line. This enabled a medium-throughput screen to identify Selumetinib and Fulvestrant, which also perturbed glioma invasion in vivo. Thus, the Hi-Q approach can easily be adapted to reliably harness brain organoids’ utility for personalized disease modeling and drug discovery.
The N-terminal region of DNMT3A combines multiple chromatin reading motifs to guide recruitment
Authors: Wapenaar Hannah , Clifford Gillian , Rolls Willow , Burdett Hayden , Zhang Yujie , Deák Gauri , Zou Juan , Taylor Mark R. D. , Mills Jacquie , Watson James A. , Kumar Dhananjay , Das Alakta , Valsakumar Devisree , Bramham Janice , Voigt Philipp , Wilson Marcus D.
Published: October 2023

DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) plays a critical role in establishing and maintaining DNA methylation patterns. However, the mechanisms underlying DNMT3A recruitment to and function within different chromatin environments remain unclear. Using a combination of biochemical and structural approaches we find that DNMT3A interacts using multiple interfaces with chromatin; directly binding generic nucleosome features as well as site-specific post-translational histone modifications. The N-terminal region, unique to the DNMT3A1 isoform, is essential for these interactions and stabilises H3K36me2-nucleosome recruitment. Intriguingly, in the same region critical for nucleosome binding we also map a ubiquitylation-dependent recruitment motif (UDR). The UDR binds specifically to ubiquitylated H2AK119, explaining the previously observed recruitment to Polycomb-occupied heterochromatin. A cryo-EM structure of DNMT3A1-DNMT3L with a modified nucleosome reveals that the UDR interacts with the nucleosome surface including the acidic patch. Previously unexplained disease-associated mutations are present in the UDR and ablate nucleosome interactions. This leads to an increased understanding of how DNMT3A1 recruitment occurs in the genome and highlights the importance of multivalent binding of DNMT3A to histone modifications and the nucleosome.
Economic-financial performance and value creation in the Brazilian construction industry
Authors: Jordão Ricardo Vinícius Dias , Costa Davidson Junio
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the economic-financial performance (EFP) and value creation (VC) in the Brazilian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theories of strategy and finance, a quantitative-qualitative, descriptive and explanatory and applied study was carried out, contrasting the performance of the Direcional company and the civil construction industry – both listed on the Brazilian Stock Exchange and the Over-the-Counter Market (B3)

Findings

The analysis of the EFP in the Brazilian construction industry shows that EZTEC, Helbor, Trisul and Direcional were the companies with the best EFP in the period. The analysis of the Economic Value Added (EVA®, henceforth EVA), as a VC metric and basis for assessing the relative technical efficiency score by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA®, henceforth DEA), revealed that the companies Direcional, EZTEC, MRV and CR2 were considered efficient throughout the period covered. The multicriteria methodology for empirical testing of the EFP and VC allowed not only contrasts Direcional's results with the other companies of the construction industry but also offered a complementary tool for comparative analysis of enterprises of different sizes, structures and realities.

Research limitations/implications

Regardless of any contextual limitations, from a theoretical point of view, the research not only helps fill the research gap aforementioned but also expands knowledge on the topic and demonstrates how this multi-criteria methodology (integrating DEA and EVA) can be used to assess EFP and VC in addition to traditional tools. However, this new approach evaluates, at the same time, corporate and sectorial effectiveness by contrasting the efficiency and efficacy (simultaneously) in the generation of performance and value of a company in relation to the industry.

Practical implications

Significant implications for managerial practice could be noted by offering a tool to improve company performance and creating a competitive benchmarking process for analysts, investors, managers, financing agencies, shareholders, policymakers and business owners, as well as organizations and sectors in similar situations – who need to assess the EFP and VC holistically and improve their decision-making processes.

Originality/value

The uniqueness and innovation of this research come from the original multi-criteria methodology developed, applied and validated for analysis of EFP and VC. This methodology was operationalized through DEA applied to the companies' EVA, making it possible to compare corporate results and those of the whole industry in a balanced way – an unexplored issue in the literature, especially in emerging economies, opening several avenues for future research.
The formation of citizens' intentions to purchase prefabricated housing in China: the integrating theory of planned behavior and norm activation model
Authors: Zhou Zhenzong , Shen Geoffrey , Xue Jin , Sun Chengshuang , Liu Yongyue , Cong Weiyi , Yu Tao , Wang Yaowu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to develop an improved understanding of the formation of citizens' purchase intention to increase the adoption of prefabricated housing (PH).

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative model of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and norm activation model (NAM) was proposed based on previous studies. To verify the conceptual model, an analysis was conducted after data collection from a questionnaire survey. Lastly, findings were presented by explaining the formation of purchase intention in the egoistic and altruistic contexts. Practical implications were likewise discussed.

Findings

Findings manifest that citizens' purchase intention is influenced by egoistic and altruistic cognitions. An effective strategy is to show citizens the pro-environmental features of PH to promote its adoption because they value the environmental performance of housing. Meanwhile, consumers' social fitness also plays an essential role in decision-making, and the dual contradiction in the PH market is revealed.

Originality/value

This study extends the knowledge of psychological decision-making theories in the field of purchase intention toward PH by proposing an integrative framework of TPB and NAM. Results indicate a systematic and comprehensive understanding of consumers' decision-making in the PH domain. Moreover, results of this research contribute to specifying and refining the applicable contexts of TPB and NAM by adding two antecedents: subjective knowledge and environmental concern. This research contributes to the literature by being one of the first to investigate purchase intention toward a high-cost product with invisible technological innovation.
Boundaryless career orientation and Internet professionals' grievance strategies: evidence from China
Authors: Zheng Xiaojing
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This article aims to examine the role of boundaryless career orientation in influencing Internet professionals' strategies toward workplace problems in China's Internet companies, which feature prominent problems including excessive overwork. It addresses one question: how do Chinese Internet professionals make grievance strategies?

Design/methodology/approach

This article draws on qualitative data based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 134 employees from 6 representative Chinese Internet companies. The data were collected during 2018-2021 and analyzed with a grounded theory approach.

Findings

This article highlights the role of boundaryless career orientation in explaining Chinese Internet professionals' strategies toward workplace grievances. The author develops a comprehensive model to illustrate how boundaryless career orientation influences four grievance strategies namely, strategic compliance, exit, dissent expression and resistance that correspond to four different motives to advance the professionals' boundaryless career: learning, transferring, relieving and resolving. Internet professionals choose different grievance strategies based on how each option can benefit their boundaryless career goals.

Originality/value

This article is one of the first to bring in boundaryless career orientation as a key factor in explaining Chinese Internet professionals' grievance strategies. It provides a fuller picture than previous studies by showing wide varieties of professionals' grievance behaviors. The finding of high-level boundaryless career orientation among Internet professionals offers insights on how companies can improve employment relations by improving career management practices.
Changing the perception of core competency using student journey – tracking research on the core competencies of EECS students in technological universities
Authors: Chang Jen-Chia , Shih Hsiao-Fang , Yu Yu-Hsien
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In this study a survey with a questionnaire was used to track the learning situation and core competencies of students in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Science and Technology. A determination of areas that need to be strengthened is used as a reference in the cultivation of core competency in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 320 junior students in electrical engineering and computer science were surveyed and given questionnaires. A total of 219 valid questionnaires were collected for a paired sample t-test, to find and compare changes in core competencies of the group over a period of three years.

Findings

Higher education institutions are presently more inclined to competency-oriented education, training and learning. This establishes good relevant practices, enhances core competencies in students and improves their chances of satisfactory future employment. In this study it was found that the general core competencies of students were better than their professional core competencies, and the self-reported core competencies of freshman students were better than those of the junior students. The results showed that core competencies did not grow with the years. This result is most likely due to a gain of knowledge which makes them more able to understand their own shortcomings.

Originality/value

Most studies investigating the core competencies of higher education students are cross-sectional studies. This study follows students over a period of three years and provides the results of a longitudinal survey of a group of students' core competencies.
Exploring the nexus between reattachment to work, presenteeism and organisational resilience of MNEs: a conceptual analysis
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Soumyadeep , Randev Kadumbri Kriti
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the different contextual and psychological determinants of organisational resilience (OR) in the context of global mobility in multinational enterprises (MNEs). Banking upon the conservation of resources theory, this paper studies how and when reattachment to work (RTW), work engagement (WE) and two types of presenteeism lead to OR. Further, in the backdrop of the post-pandemic world of work, this paper also conceptualises the conditional effects of trait resilience (TR), organisational support (OS) and expatriation type (ET) on the aforementioned linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a conceptual framework that depicts various antecedents of OR in MNEs. Several testable propositions are also offered alongside the model’s moderated mediation and moderated moderation relationships.

Findings

The conceptual framework depicts the causal relationships between RTW and OR, such that Flexible RTW increases OR through higher WE and functional presenteeism under the conditional influences of TR, OS and ET, whereas rigid RTW decreases OR through lower WE and dysfunctional presenteeism under the conditional effects of TR, OS and ET.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind that explores the psychological and contextual antecedents of the OR of MNEs and offers numerous testable propositions. The nexus of unique relationships presented in the conceptual framework bridges a crucial gap in the literature that explores the complexities of the post-pandemic workplace in the context of global mobility.
Teachers' assessment of the challenges faced during COVID-19 outbreak and new-normal teaching: qualitative study
Authors: Fernandes Semila , Mahendiran Sathish , Balasudarsun N.L.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

School teachers had difficulty in monitoring and assessing the students during the COVID-19 lockdown. This study attempts to understand the assessment and teaching challenges during COVID-19 and how this problematic situation was reshaped by new normal teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research included perspectives of 84 school teachers using an interview-based approach. Pedagogical assessment, societal assessment and personal assessment were considered in the study.

Findings

Content switching, student involvement and individual assessment are the challenges in terms of pedagogy. Buying power of electronic equipment, digital skills, study environment and distraction are the challenges faced in terms of personal challenges. Personal connect and interaction intensity is the challenges faced in terms of social challenges. Teachers adapted to synchronous, blended, flipped and asynchronous modes of teaching.

Originality/value

The authors’ study will support schools in developing their institutional plans to understand teachers' apprehensions better and to check the readiness of the schools towards teaching and learning approaches.
Leadership: emotional and spiritual intelligence in the mix
Authors: Reisdorf Carri , Murray Meghan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

One critical aspect of strong leadership communication is developing emotional (EQ) and spiritual intelligences (SQ). EQ helps individuals be more empathetic and effective, while SQ promotes an understanding of impacts beyond oneself. This paper aims to explore the relationship between leadership communication and EQ and SQ. Corporations can leverage leaders with high EQ and SQ and/or provide EQ/SQ training to employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Using critical review and integration, the authors consolidate existing literature and best practices to explore, develop and propose strategies for integrating EQ and SQ into the workplace.

Findings

Building upon existing theory and literature, the authors present a model of understanding both EQ and SQ. A generalized four-step process is presented for building EQ/SQ capabilities within the firm.

Originality/value

This study explores the synergy between an employee’s leadership skills and the ability to exhibit EQ and SQ. This research can provide corporations with tangible and targeted ways to enhance their EQ and SQ in their leaders. Firms can improve leveraging individuals with high SQ, in addition to providing SQ training to employees to improve individuals’ SQ.
Entrepreneurship skills: do all dimensions of skills matter for sustainable business start-up?
Authors: Tibaingana Anthony , Sendawula Kasimu , Buyinza Faisal , Kimuli Saadat Nakyejwe Lubowa , Ssemuyaga Emmanuel , Tumusiime Catherine , Mulongo Ronny , Atukwasa Rita
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to establish whether all the dimensions of entrepreneurship skills matter for sustainable business start-up among the youths, using evidence from a developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This was cross-sectional study which utilized a quantitative approach. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 254 youths who undertook skills training at the various government-supported business skills training centers in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), that is to say, Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to derive descriptive, correlational and hierarchical regression.

Findings

Study findings indicate that unlike entrepreneurial skills, management, technical and personal maturity skills matter for the sustainability of business start-up of youths in Uganda. However, when all skills are compared, management skills matter most as compared to technical and personal maturity skills.

Originality/value

This study strengthens the existing literature on the sustainable business start-up of youths in Uganda. It is also relevant for policy decision-making and policy reversal because it demonstrates that skilling is pertinent and should be encouraged and rolled out across the country to encourage sustainable youth business start-ups. To increase sustainable business start-up among youths, management skills should be prioritized, together with technical and personal maturity skills, compared to entrepreneurial skills, which should only be emphasized at the idea generation, planning, resource mobilization and business implementation stages.
Engaging customers through satisfaction; does social media marketing and perceived innovativeness really matter? A time-lagged study in the hospitality industry
Authors: Khan Sarah , Wahab Abdul
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address the issue of customer engagement faced by the hospitality industry. By employing the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) model and engagement theory, this study investigates the influence of social media marketing (SMM) and consumers' perceived innovativeness on customer engagement. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of customer satisfaction. Lastly, it examines the moderating effect of service convenience between customer satisfaction and customer engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is quantitative in nature. Data were collected through surveys using a three-wave time-lagged design from 564 consumers of various restaurants.

Findings

The findings reveal that SMM did not directly impact customer engagement; however, it showed a full mediation through customer satisfaction. Perceived innovativeness showed a significant relationship with customer engagement both directly and indirectly. Service convenience also showed significant moderation.

Practical implications

The study is useful for the hospitality managers and the restaurant industry as a whole in facilitating memorable customer experiences in order engage them for longer time periods. This study would also help give other firms in the service sector a direction to better engage with their customers.

Originality/value

This study by investigating the unique framework produces the useful information for hospitality managers, policy makers and contributes to the body of knowledge from a developing country's perspective. Testification of S-O-R model and engagement theory are also significant theoretical contributions.
Netflix at a crossroad: a time for reinforcement or another reinvention?
Authors: Lewis Michael S. , Frkal Robin Ayers
Published: October 2023

Research methodology

This case study is developed using secondary sources, including newspapers, periodicals and academic references.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study examines the challenges of a market leader in a changing industry and how that leader might respond. Growth was becoming exceedingly difficult for Netflix due to various external forces. For a company that relied on radical innovation to reinvent the video market industry and gain market dominance, Netflix appeared to be focusing on protecting its market position through strategies designed to reinforce its existing strengths and assets. Could Netflix maintain its leadership position and reignite growth by pursuing a reinforcement strategy, or was it time for another reinvention?

Complexity academic level

This case was written for strategic management classes at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The case was classroom tested with undergraduate business students in a strategic management course and masters-level organizational leadership students in a strategic innovation and change management course.
Blended acquisition with temporally signatured/modulated and spatially dispersed source array: The first pilot survey onshore Abu Dhabi
Authors: Ishiyama Tomohide
Published: October 2023

Recently, we established a blended‐acquisition method: temporally signatured and/or modulated and spatially dispersed source array that jointly uses various signaturing and/or modulation in the time dimension and dispersed source array in the space dimension. We acquired and processed the first pilot programme with our method onshore Abu Dhabi. In this paper, we review the resulting acquisition‐productivity enhancement in the time dimension and discuss it in the space dimension as well. We then review the deblended‐data‐reconstruction processing, followed by imaging processing, and discuss their performance and resulting data quality. We last establish a relationship between the acquisition productivity and the processing performance. We found that this method significantly enhances the acquisition productivity compared to conventional blending methods. For the processing performance, the deblended data can successfully be reconstructed from the blended data; afterwards, the subsurface sections can naturally be imaged from the deblended data. Furthermore, this method owns a relationship: The deblended‐data‐reconstruction performance increases with the acquisition time (i.e. the acquisition effort that is inversely proportional to the acquisition productivity) up to a plateau; the imaging processing improves the data quality as the flow makes progress and eventually reaches a high data quality after poststack processing, regardless of the acquisition effort.
Dispersion computation of guided waves in a layered transversely isotropic elastic medium sandwiched between two half‐spaces
Authors: Bhattacharya Sankar N.
Published: October 2023

A transversely isotropic elastic medium with a vertical axis of symmetry is considered. We obtain dispersion equations in real terms for guided Love and Rayleigh waves in a such a medium consisting of horizontal layers sandwiched between two half‐spaces by brief modifications of the available literatures on dispersion equations in elastic layered media through transfer matrix. To illustrate the applicability, dispersion curves of guided waves are computed for three‐ and five‐layered symmetric models with transversely isotropic coal seam in the middle. The Airy phase is marked by a minimum or maximum of group velocity in a dispersion curve, and this phase is important to get seam structure for mining safety. For the first three modes, the effect of Thomsen anisotropy parameters γ, ε and δ of a coal seam on frequency (fA) and group velocity (UA) of the Airy phase is similar in three‐ and five‐layered models. For guided Love waves, fA and UA have nearly a uniform increase with the increase of γ. For guided Rayleigh waves, the increase of ε causes fA and UA to increase; however, the increase of δ causes fA and UA to decrease.