bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial anomalies in seabed sediments associated with deep water hydrocarbon seepage
Authors: Li Carmen , Adebayo Oyeboade , Ferguson Deidra K. , Wang Scott , Rattray Jayne E. , Fowler Martin , Webb Jamie , Campbell Calvin , Morrison Natasha , MacDonald Adam , Hubert Casey R.J.
Published: October 2022

Deep sea hydrocarbon seep detection relies predominantly on geochemical analyses of seabed marine sediment cores to identify the presence of gas or oil. The presence of seeping hydrocarbons in these locations alters resident microbial community structure, leading to culture-based biodegradation assays as a complement to geochemical tools for seep detection. Biodiversity surveys of microbial communities can offer a similar proxy for seeping hydrocarbons, but this strategy has not been extensively investigated in deep water settings. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of bacterial communities was performed on sediment cores obtained in >2500 m water depth at 43 different locations in the NW Atlantic Ocean. Core samples from as deep as 10 metres below seafloor (mbsf) were assessed for gas composition, gas isotopes and liquid hydrocarbons. Over 650 bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries were constructed from different sediment depths at these locations. Select sites showed strong evidence for the presence of thermogenic or biogenic hydrocarbons such that bacterial population analyses revealed significant differences between hydrocarbon seep and non-seep locations. Specific bacterial indicators were associated with different sediment depth intervals. Caldatribacteriota and Campilobacterota OTUs were observed in high relative sequence abundance in hydrocarbon seep sediments, particularly in the 20-50 cmbsf interval. Furthermore, these groups were differentially abundant between sites with thermogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons. The patterns revealed here suggest that microbial screening has the potential to play a key role in hydrocarbon seep detection and characterisation in remote deep-sea environments.
Comparison of various transcatheter aortic valves for aortic stenosis – a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Hiltner Emily , Shah Monarch , Schwabe-Warf Derek , Haik Bruce , Hakeem Abdul , Russo Mark , Sethi Ankur
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Our aim was to compare available transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) valves using direct and indirect evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT).

Background

TAVR is now an established treatment for majority of patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, there is limited data comparing various valves.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of electronic databases for RCT comparing a TAVR valve to a valve or surgery. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compile evidence from both direct and indirect comparisons at 30 days and at one year.

Results

Twelve studies with 10,307 patients eligible for TAVR met the criteria and were included. Self-expanding valve CoreValve type (SEV_C) is associated with higher risk of pacemaker implantation and use of >1 valve, SEV Accurate type (SEV_A) is associated with higher risk of ≥ moderate aortic regurgitation (AR) and death, and mechanically expandable valve (MEV) is associated with lower risk of ≥ moderate AR but higher risk of pacemaker at 30 days, SEV_C and MEV were associated with higher pacemaker rates compared balloon expandable valve (BEV) at 1 year. There is no difference among the valves in stroke at 30 days and 1 year.

Conclusions

At 30 days, BEV was superior on one or more outcomes of mortality, pacemaker implantation, >1 valve implantation, and ≥ moderate AR compared to other valves except the higher rate ≥?moderate AR compared to MEV. At one year, BEV was associated with lower odds of pacemaker implantation compared to SEV_C and MEV but not different on other end points.
A novel brain penetrant PDGFRα inhibitor HY-008 is effective against glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Chenxin , Feng Haizhong , Sun Weilin
Published: October 2022

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary intracranial malignant tumor in adults, with poor prognosis and high recurrence. Routine treatments of GBM show unsatisfactory efficiency in improving patients’ survival because of limited area of surgical resection and drug resistance. New therapeutic agents are needed to improve GBM treatment efficiency, but the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is a major hurdle. Here, we report HY-008 as a promising therapeutic drug targeting PDGFRα signaling with high BBB permeability and efficient inhibiting effects both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Through structural modification and medicinal chemistry efforts, HY-007 and HY-008 were developed. The brain and plasma pharmacokinetic profiles of these two compounds were assessed. The inhibitory efficiency of HY-007 and HY-008 on GBM cell survival and PDGFRα signaling were evaluated. The efficacy of HY-007 and HY-008 as a single agent or HY-008 in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) was investigated using transformed mouse astrocyte and glioma stem-like cell (GSC) orthotopic xenograft models.

Results

HY-007 and HY-008 both had good brain permeability and desirable PK profiles with mild hERG inhibition, while HY-008 is more brain permeable than HY-007. In vitro, HY-007 and HY-008 both significantly inhibited viability of the established GBM cells with PDGF-A overexpression and transformed mouse astrocytes with PDGF-A/PDGFRα overexpression by targeting the PDGFRα signaling activated Erk1/2 and Akt. In vivo, HY-007 and HY-008 both effectively inhibited orthotopic GBM tumor xenograft growth and prolonged the survival of mice, and HY-008 showed less toxicity and better therapeutic effect. In addition, HY-008 increased sensitivity of TMZ, exhibited treatment efficiency both as a single agent and in combination with TMZ, providing significant survival benefits for GBM tumor xenograft-bearing mice.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that HY-008 is a promising therapeutic agent in GBM treatment and a combination HY-008 with TMZ could serves as a potential efficient therapeutic option for improving GBM clinical treatment.
Functional characterization of a PHF8 processed pseudogene in the mouse genome
Authors: St-Germain Joannie , Khan Muhammad Riaz , Bavykina Viktoriia , Desmarais Rebecka , Scott Micah , Boissonneault Guylain , Brunet Marie A. , Laurent Benoit
Published: October 2022

The majority of pseudogenes are generated when an RNA transcript is reverse-transcribed and integrated into the genome at a new location. Pseudogenes are often considered as an imperfect and silent copy of a functional gene because of the accumulation of numerous mutations in their sequence. Here we report the presence ofPHF8-ps, aPHF8retrotransposed pseudogene in the mouse genome, which has no disruptions in its coding sequence. We showed that this pseudogene was specifically transcribed in testis and can produce a Phf8-ps protein in vivo. As Phf8-ps protein has a well-conserved JmjC domain, we characterized its enzymatic activity and showed that Phf8-ps did not have the intrinsic capability to demethylate H3K9me2 in vitro compared to the parental Phf8 protein. Surprisingly, Phf8-ps did not localize in the nucleus like Phf8 but rather was mostly located at the cytoplasm. Finally, our proteomic analysis of Phf8-ps associated proteins revealed that Phf8-ps interacted with mitochondrial proteins but also with prefoldin subunits (PFDN proteins) that deliver unfolded proteins to the cytosolic chaperonin complex implicated the folding of cytosolic proteins. Together, our findings highlighted Phf8-ps as a new pseudogene-derived protein with distinct molecular functions from Phf8.
COVID-19 among adults living with HIV: Correlates of mortality in a general population in a resource-limited setting
Authors: Kassanjee Reshma , Davies Mary-Ann , Ngwenya Olina , Osei-Yeboah Richard , Jacobs Theuns , Morden Erna , Timmerman Venessa , Britz Stefan , Mendelson Marc , Taljaard Jantjie , Riou Julien , Boulle Andrew , Tiffin Nicki , Zinyakatira Nesbert
Published: October 2022

Introduction

While a large proportion of people with HIV (PWH) have experienced SARS-CoV-2 infections, there is uncertainty about the role of HIV disease severity on COVID-19 outcomes, especially in lower income settings. We studied the association between mortality and characteristics of HIV severity and management, and vaccination, among adult PWH.

Methods

We analysed observational cohort data on all PWH aged ≥15 years experiencing a diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection (until March 2022), who accessed public sector healthcare in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Logistic regression was used to study the association of mortality with CD4 cell count, viral load, evidence of ART, time since first HIV evidence, and vaccination, adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, admission pressure, location and time period.

Results

Mortality occurred in 5.7% (95% CI: 5.3,6.0) of 17 831 first diagnosed infections. Higher mortality was associated with lower recent CD4, no evidence of ART collection, high or unknown recent viral load (among those with ART evidence), and recent first HIV evidence, differentially by age. Vaccination was protective. The burden of comorbidities was high, and tuberculosis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension were associated with higher mortality, more strongly in younger adults.

Conclusions

Mortality was strongly associated with suboptimal HIV control, and prevalence of these risk factors increased in later COVID-19 waves. It remains a public health priority to ensure PWH are on suppressive ART and vaccinated, and manage any disruptions in care that occurred during the pandemic. The diagnosis and management of comorbidities, including for tuberculosis, should be optimised.
Synthetic electronic health records generated with variational graph autoencoders
Authors: Nikolentzos Giannis , Vazirgiannis Michalis , Xypolopoulos Christos , Lingman Markus , Brandt Erik G.
Published: October 2022

Data-driven medical care delivery must always respect patient privacy – a requirement that is not easily met. This issue have impeded improvements to healthcare software and have delayed the long-predicted prevalence of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Until now, it has been very difficult to share data between healthcare organizations, resulting in poor statistical models due to unrepresentative patient cohorts. Synthetic data, i. e., artificial but realistic electronic health records, could overcome the drought that is troubling the healthcare sector. Deep neural network architectures in particular have shown an incredible ability to learn from complex data sets, and generate large amounts of unseen data points with the same statistical properties as the training data. Here, we present a generative neural network model that can create synthetic health records with realistic timelines. These clinical trajectories are generated on a per-patient basis and are represented as linear-sequence graphs of clinical events over time. We use a variational graph autoencoder (VGAE) to generate synthetic samples from real-world electronic health records. Our approach generates health records not seen in the training data. We show that these artificial patient trajectories are realistic and preserve patient privacy, and can therefore support safe sharing of data across organizations.
A systematic review on outbreaks of COVID-19 among children within households in the European region
Authors: Vardavas Constantine I. , Nikitara Katerina , Aslanoglou Katerina , Kamekis Apostolos , Ramesh Nithya , Symvoulakis Emmanouil , Agaku Israel , Phalkey Revati , Leonardi-Bee Jo , Fernandez Esteve , Condell Orla , Lamb Favelle , Deogan Charlotte , Suk Jonathan E.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

This systematic review aims to identify the secondary attack rates (SAR) to adults and other children when children are the index cases within household settings.

Methods

This literature review assessed European-based studies published in Medline and Embase between January 2020 and January 2022 that assessed the secondary transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within household settings. The inclusion criteria were based on the PEO framework (P-Population, E-Exposure, O-Outcome) for systematic reviews. Thus, the study population was restricted to humans within the household setting in Europe (population), in contact with pediatric index cases 1–17 years old (exposure) that led to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 reported as either a SAR or the probability of onward infection (outcome).

Results

Of 1,819 studies originally identified, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the SAR ranged from 13% to 75% in 23 studies, while there was no evidence of secondary transmission from children to other household members in two studies. Evidence indicated that asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 index cases also have a lower SAR than those with symptoms and that younger children may have a lower SAR than adolescents (>12 years old) within household settings.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 secondary transmission from paediatric index cases ranged from 0% to 75%, within household settings between January 2020 and January 2022, with differences noted by age and by symptomatic/asymptomatic status of the index case. Given the anticipated endemic circulation of SARS-CoV-2, continued monitoring and assessment of household transmission is necessary.
FGFR1 governs iron metabolism via regulating post-translational modification of IRP2 in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Lin Hui , Shi Liuhong , Zhou Dongyan , Chen Shuangya , He Ping , Zheng Xiaolu , Qiu Feng , Yuan Yuying , Lin Shuaijun , Li Xiaokun , Wang Fen , Wang Cong
Published: October 2022

The acquisition of ectopic fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) expression is well documented in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. However, how FGFR1 facilitates PCa progression is not fully revealed, although it is known to confer tumor growth advantage and metastasis. Here we report that FGFR1 deletion in DU145 human PCa cells retards the iron metabolism and reduces transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), which synergistically enhances the anti-cancer effect of iron chelator. FGFR1 and TFR1 are highly expressed in PCa, and FGFR1 overexpression increased TFR1 in PCa cell lines. Furthermore, we first time demonstrate that FGFR1 deletion boosts and shifts the degradation of iron regulatory proteins 2 (IRP2) to downregulate TFR1. Detailed characterization revealed that based on FGFR1 deletion the stability of IRP2 is broken, whose degradation is accelerated, which can be not observed without FGFR1 deletion. In addition, IRP2 overexpression rescue the malignancy degree of DU145 cells. Our results here unravel a novel mechanism by which FGFR1 promotes PCa progression by upregulating iron metabolism, and that the FGFR1/IRP2/TFR1 axis can be a potential target for managing PCa progression.
Class IIa HDACs inhibit cell death pathways and protect muscle integrity in response to lipotoxicity
Authors: Martin Sheree D. , Connor Timothy , Sanigorski Andrew , McEwen Kevin A. , Henstridge Darren C. , Nijagal Brunda , Souza David De , Tull Dedreia L. , Meikle Peter J. , Kowalski Greg M. , Bruce Clinton R. , Gregorevic Paul , Febbraio Mark A. , Collier Fiona M. , Walder Ken R. , McGee Sean L.
Published: October 2022

Lipotoxicity, the accumulation of lipids in non-adipose tissues, alters the metabolic transcriptome and mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle. The mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here we show that lipotoxicity increased histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5), which reduced the expression of metabolic genes and oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle, resulting in increased non-oxidative glucose metabolism. This metabolic reprogramming was also associated with impaired apoptosis and ferroptosis responses, and preserved muscle cell viability in response to lipotoxicity. Mechanistically, increased HDAC4 and 5 decreased acetylation of p53 at K120, a modification required for transcriptional activation of apoptosis. Redox drivers of ferroptosis derived from oxidative metabolism were also reduced. The relevance of this pathway was demonstrated by overexpression of loss-of-function HDAC4 and HDAC5 mutants in skeletal muscle of obesedb/dbmice, which enhanced oxidative metabolic capacity, increased apoptosis and ferroptosis and reduced muscle mass. This study identifies HDAC4 and HDAC5 as repressors of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism, which is linked to inhibition of cell death pathways and preservation of muscle integrity in response to lipotoxicity.
miR-495-3p Sensitizes BCR::ABL1 Expressing Leukemic cells to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors by Targeting Multidrug Resistance 1 Gene including in T315I Mutated cells
Authors: Rittavee Yutthana , Artus Jérôme , Desterke Christophe , Simanic Isidora , Eduardo Botelho de Souza Lucas , Riccaldi Sandra , Coignard Sabrina , Ijjeh Yousef , Hughes Patricia , Bennaceur-Griscelli Annelise , Turhan Ali G. , Foudi Adlen
Published: October 2022

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic malignancy driven by the BCR::ABL1 fusion oncoprotein. The development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has deeply increased long-term survival of CML patients. Nonetheless, one patient out of four will switch TKI off owing either to drug intolerance or resistance partly due to amplification or mutations ofBCR::ABL1oncogene and alteration of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Increasing evidence suggests an involvement of the microRNA miR-495-3p in cancer-associated chemo-resistance throughmultidrug resistance 1(MDR1) gene which encodes an ATP-dependent efflux pump. Our study aimed at investigating the potential role of miR-495-3p in CML TKI chemo-sensitivity and determining the underlying molecular circuitry involved. We first observed thatmiR-495-3pexpression was lower in BCR::ABL1 expressing cellular modelsin vitro. Notably, loss-of-function experiments showed increased proliferation associated with a decreased number of non-dividing cells (G0/G1) and resistance to Imatinib. Conversely, our data showed thatmiR-495-3poverexpression hindered leukemic cell growth and TKI resistance even in Imatinib-resistant T315I-mutant cells as well as drug efflux activity throughMDR1regulation. To further investigate the role of miR-495-3p in CML patients, we found that predicted miR-495-3p targets were upregulated in patients in blast crisis involved in protein phosphorylation and associated with the worst prognosis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that down-regulation ofmiR-495-3pexpression is important in the malignant phenotype of CML and TKI resistance mechanisms, which could be a useful biomarker and a potential therapeutic target to eradicate CML.

MeSH terms

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / drug effects

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism*

Blast Crisis / pathology

Cell Line, Tumor

Cell Proliferation / drug effects*

Cell Survival / drug effects

Drug Resistance

Genes, MDR

Imatinib Mesylate

Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive

MicroRNAs / genetics

MicroRNAs / physiology*

HIGHLIGHTS

miR-495-3p inhibits leukemic cell growth and is downregulated in BCR::ABL1 expressing cell lines

miR-495-3p modulates response to TKI treatment including in UT7 cells expressing T315I

Overexpression of miR-495-3p leads to a decrease ofMDR1and drug efflux activity

Bioinformatics analyses reveal that MiR-495-3p target genes are upregulated in blast crisis
Linking social media marketing efforts with customer brand engagement in driving brand loyalty
Authors: Aljuhmani Hasan Yousef , Elrehail Hamzah , Bayram Pelin , Samarah Tariq
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study explores some central questions related to the connections between social media marketing efforts (SMMEs) and brand loyalty by seeking to understand the mediating role of social media customer brand engagement (CBE) in the airline context.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model was examined empirically by targeting 360 consumers who follow Royal Jordanian Airlines on Facebook pages. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data collected.

Findings

Using the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) theory and customer engagement model as the theoretical foundations, this study confirms that SMMEs are a strong predictor and play a vital role in developing and building social media customer engagement and brand loyalty. This study also found that the cognitive aspect of CBE is a key driver in enhancing brand loyalty. Furthermore, cognitive social media CBE positively mediated the relationship between SMMEs and brand loyalty. Contrary to expectations, emotional CBE had no mediating effect on the relationship between SMMEs and brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This study contributes to CBE literature by adding SMMEs as antecedents. In addition, the findings of this study add the mediation effect of the cognitive component of customer engagement, through which SMMEs influence brand loyalty.
FDI and cities: network dynamics in cleantech innovation
Authors: Turkina Ekaterina , Sultana Nasrin
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and cities and how the relationship between multinational enterprise (MNEs) and local firms facilitates regional cleantech innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a combination of social network analysis, regression analysis and interview analysis, the authors map and analyze a cleantech cluster to investigate the relationship between MNEs and local firms and the resulting effects on cleantech innovation.

Findings

The findings of the paper indicate that FDI plays a crucial role in cities and their local clusters by acting as a broker between a diverse set of actors: firms, institutions, universities, financial and other intermediaries. Additionally, connectedness to MNEs improves local firms’ innovation.

Research limitations/implications

This study is not free of limitations, mainly, because of the aspects that the analysis is based on one city and one cleantech hub. Further research could verify whether the findings of this paper hold in other cities and industries.

Practical implications

The findings, elucidating the connection between MNEs and local firms, as well as MNEs being important brokers in the local system, and the resulting impact, will help policymakers to take appropriate actions and support the local cleantech innovation. It is important to not only attract high-quality FDI into local clusters, but also to create and support collaborations between foreign firms and local actors, because colocation does not automatically leads to positive spillovers and a lot depends on how MNEs are integrated into the local milieu.

Social implications

The present paper argues that FDI plays an important role in local cleantech innovation and it is important to integrate foreign firms in local social networks.

Originality/value

The authors analyze FDI patterns in an emerging industry at the city and local cluster level using a unique database containing the information on relationships between MNEs and local firms, as well as interview data.
A systematic review of measures of employability
Authors: Neroorkar Samiksha
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review empirical research on the measurement of employability, conducted in a 23-year period from 2000 to 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic and extensive search of the literature was conducted to select a set of studies that fit the inclusion criteria and addressed the research questions. These studies were conducted worldwide and published anytime from 2000 to 2022. The process of data extraction involved a tabulation of common themes across the studies. Thereafter, the data from the studies were analysed and interpreted to arrive at the findings.

Findings

The findings of this paper show variations in the measures of employability with respect to location, data points, domains and indicators of employability applied. Based on the type of indicators of employability applied, the studies can be categorised as those applying subjective indicators, objective indicators or a combination of the two.

Research limitations/implications

The paper observed that there has been a great focus on measuring employability using subjective indicators. However, in order to help individuals face the unpredictability of fractious labour markets, going ahead, this measure will not be sufficient. Empirical research needs to focus on applying holistic measures of employability combining both subjective and objective indicators.

Originality/value

This paper presents a detailed categorisation of measures of employability. Thereby, the paper provides useful insights to help practitioners choose a suitable measure of employability for future studies. The paper also makes a case for widening the scope of present measures to apply the construct of employability effectively.
Agile methodologies in times of pandemic: acquisition of employment skills in higher education
Authors: Canales-Ronda Pedro , Aragonés-Jericó Cristina
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This research aims to focus on analysing the opinion of university students on the effects that agile methodologies are having on their education during this time of pandemic that is affecting the normal functioning of on-site universities. Specifically, the authors intend to analyse the effect that different constructs have on the development of their skills for labour markets through the application of agile methodologies in blended learning. Thus, the authors will analyse the effects of intrinsic motivation, the interactivity of the system, the involvement of students, their engagement to these activities and their level of satisfaction with this training process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted research based on the use of agile methodologies applied to higher education. To this end, various activities were designed within different subjects in marketing area. 115 business students were consulted, who valued their experience and the usefulness of this methodology in relation to the improvement of the learning process.

Findings

The results of the research show the usefulness of agile methodologies for university students. In addition, these methodologies allow them to develop certain skills that will be important for labour markets, such as teamwork, motivation and engagement to tasks to be developed.

Originality/value

The main value of this research lies in the application of a methodology from the business environment in higher education and the subsequent analysis of the students' assessment of these agile methodologies in terms of their usefulness for their professional future. Moreover, this application of agile methodologies has been carried out in an unusual environment due to the pandemic situation that has changed the usual development of face-to-face university training towards the application of e-learning methodologies.
Reflection/transmission of plane waves at the interface of an ideal fluid and nonlocal piezothermoelastic medium
Authors: Gupta Vipin , Kumar Rajesh , Kumar Manjeet , Pathania Vijayata , Barak M.S.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to study the variation of energy ratios of different reflected and transmitted waves by calculating the amplitude ratios.

Design/methodology/approach

This investigation studied the reflection and transmission of plane waves on an interface of nonlocal orthotropic piezothermoelastic space (NOPHS) and fluid half-space (FHS) in reference to dual-phase-lag theory under three different temperature models, namely, without-two-temperature, classical-two-temperature, and hyperbolic-two-temperature with memory-dependent derivatives (MDDs).

Findings

The primary (P) plane waves propagate through FHS and strike at the interface x3 = 0. The results are one wave reflected in FHS and four waves transmitted in NOPHS. It is noticed that these ratios are observed under the impact of nonlocal, dual-phase-lag (DPL), two-temperature and memory-dependent parameters and are displayed graphically. Some particular cases are also deduced, and the law of conservation of energy across the interface is justified.

Research limitations/implications

According to the available literature, there is no substantial research on the considered model incorporating NOPHS and FHS with hyperbolic two-temperature, DPL and memory.

Practical implications

The current model may be used in various fields, including earthquake engineering, nuclear reactors, high particle accelerators, aeronautics, soil dynamics and so on, where MDDs and conductive temperature play a significant role. Wave propagation in a fluid-piezothermoelastic media with different characteristics such as initial stress, magnetic field, porosity, temperature, etc., provides crucial information about the presence of new and modified waves, which is helpful in a variety of technical and geophysical situations. Experimental seismologists, new material designers and researchers may find this model valuable in revising earthquake estimates.

Social implications

The researchers may classify the material using the two-temperature parameter and the time-delay operator, where the parameter is a new indication of its capacity to transmit heat in interaction with various materials.

Originality/value

The submitted manuscript is original work done by the team of said authors and each author contributed equally to preparing this manuscript.
Gaining more, producing less: the link between an obese workforce and firm-level productivity
Authors: Mazhar Ummad
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The health costs associated with obesity are increasing in developed and emerging economies. Particularly important, though remaining underexplored, is the overall impact of health risks associated with being obese and overweight on the productivity of firms in a cross-country setting. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper exploits the natural variation in the percentage of obese males in the population as an exogenous health risk randomly distributed across firms in each country.

Findings

Investigating this link for a sample of around 80 emerging countries, the evidence suggests a significant negative effect of health risks on productivity.

Research limitations/implications

The identification assumptions are checked using different approaches to establish the robustness of the empirical link.

Originality/value

This study helps us understand the microlevel effects of the rising average obesity rate. This knowledge is rare in emerging economies which are facing the highest risks of obesity and cardiovascular diseases associated with it.
The money laundering typologies and the applicability of placement-layering-integration model in undocumented South Asian economies: a case of Pakistan
Authors: Sultan Nasir , Mohamed Norazida
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to determine the applicability of the placement-layering-integration model of money laundering (ML) in the South Asian context with emphasis on Pakistan by analysing different ML typologies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied content analysis in the first step. It explored three primary documents concerning ML typologies: Asia Pacific Group’s yearly reports on ML typologies from 2010 to 2021, the mutual evaluation reports and the National Risk Assessment of Pakistan. In the second step, expert interviews were recorded, and NVivo was used for data management and analysis.

Findings

This study found primary predicate offences: corruption, tax crimes, smuggling and drug and human trafficking. Pakistani launderers often use traditional typologies, including cash smuggling, round-tripping, multiple bank accounts, investment in real estate (in Pakistan and Dubai) and hawala. However, cybercrimes, cyber laundering and trade-based ML are rising. The politically exposed persons are involved in most of the laundering cases.

Originality/value

Rare studies specifically address the south Asian typologies and the limitations of the placement, layering and integration model. Therefore, there is a need to understand the current typologies used in developing, less regulated and undocumented jurisdictions like Pakistan.
Exploring the effect of workplace incivility on job outcomes: testing the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion
Authors: Parray Zahoor Ahmad , Islam Shahbaz Ul , Shah Tanveer Ahmad
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The main goal of this research study is to look at the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion in the association between workplace incivility and job outcomes (job stress, job satisfaction, and employee turnover intentions).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gathered field data from individuals working in the higher education sector of Jammu and Kashmir to test the proposed study paradigm. A total of 550 respondents reported their perceptions of workplace incivility, emotional exhaustion, and job-related outcomes (job stress, job satisfaction, and employee turnover intention) at Time 1 in the Kashmir division and Time 2 in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir via a two-wave data collection design.

Findings

The findings supported the hypothesized relationships, demonstrating that emotional exhaustion acts as a mediator between workplace incivility and employee job outcomes (job stress, employee job satisfaction, and employee intention to leave).

Practical implications

The findings of this research study will assist organizations and practitioners in comprehending the implications of workplace incivility and emotional exhaustion, as well as how they positively impact job-related outcomes (employee job stress, turnover intention), and negatively on job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study adds to existing knowledge on COR theory by suggesting workplace incivility as a stressor and also testing emotional exhaustion as a defense mechanism for determining the effect of workplace incivility on employee job outcomes.
Willing but fearful: resilience and youth entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Ukil Minhajul Islam , Jenkins Anna
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Despite entrepreneurial intentions being a central and enduring construct in entrepreneurship research, most research on intentions focused on factors that underpin an individual's entrepreneurial intentions. This study extends the emerging literature on fear of failure and resilience to understand how they influence entrepreneurial intentions. The authors do this in a context where job prospects are low, and unemployment is high to understand what potentially prevents educated youth in a developing country from pursuing self-employment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 25 to test the hypotheses on a sample of 238 third- and fourth-year Bangladeshi students facing an important career decision. A replication study is also conducted with an additional sample (n = 209) to verify the robustness of the findings, using a different measurement of resilience and a different analysis method – partial least square (PLS)-SEM in Smart-PLS 3.

Findings

The study finds support for the mediation model where fear of failure mediates the relationship between resilience and entrepreneurial intentions. The findings suggest that resilience enhances entrepreneurial intentions while also reducing the negative effects of fear of failure on entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to an underexplored area of entrepreneurial intentions literature by exploring how resilience relates to fear of failure and entrepreneurial intentions. The findings demonstrate the importance of resilience through its direct effect on intentions as well as its indirect effect through its influence on fear of failure. The findings have implications for potential entrepreneurs and educational institutions providing training in entrepreneurship.
Sustainable green technology for adaptation of circular economy to valorize agri-food waste: celery root peel as a case study
Authors: Aşkın Uzel Ruhan
Published: October 2022

Purpose

One of the popular fields to replace linear economy approach with the sustainable circular approach is the valorization of agri-food waste and by-products by using green methods. Celery peel contains essential nutrients as much as celery root. This study aims to propose a novel framework for investigation of celery root peel waste, which has high nutritional value and is beneficial for healthy nutrition, valorization potential to re-formulate ayran (a traditional Turkish drink).

Design/methodology/approach

Sustainable green extraction/distillation methods were applied to the celery root peel material to obtain water soluble extracts to be used in formulation of traditional Turkish drink “Ayran”.

Findings

As a result of the study, a new functional fermented drink derived from traditional drink ayran was obtained by using celery root peel extract. In addition to the positive characteristic properties of samples in terms of physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory parameters, it was observed that it increased the shelf life by at least 50% compared to the drink from which it was derived.

Originality/value

Several studies focused the valorization of food waste materials; however, to the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has been taken an approach for using green methods to add additional properties to traditional foods by using celery root peel extracts. Therefore, the study is a remarkable contribution to the circular economy and is a role model for further studies.
Determinants of continuance intention of using e-government services in Tanzania: the role of system interactivity as moderating factor
Authors: Mandari Herman Eliawaha , Koloseni Daniel Ntabagi
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the continuance intention of using e-government services in Tanzania as well as moderating effects of system interactivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model based on expectancy confirmation model was developed and empirically tested using 213 data collected from e-government services users who were selected using the judgemental sampling technique. The variance-based structural equation modelling technique was used for data analysis using SmartPLS 3.0.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that system interactivity, computer self-efficacy, management support, confirmation, satisfaction and perceived usefulness have a positive and significant influence on continuance intention to use e-government services. Moreover, the findings of this study indicate that system interactivity moderates the influence of perceived usefulness and satisfaction on continuance intention.

Originality/value

This study extends the expectancy confirmation model with system interactivity, management support and computer self-efficacy which are considered as important factors in continuance usage of technology. Furthermore, this study examines the moderating effect of system interactivity on the effects of perceived usefulness and satisfaction on continuance intention.
Resilience of a tropical montane pine forest to fire and severe droughts
Authors: Swann Daniel E. B. , Bellingham Peter J. , Martin Patrick H.
Published: October 2022

Higher temperatures, declining precipitation, changing cloud cover and increased wildfires threaten tropical montane pine forests by overriding the environmental heterogeneity that typically buffers these systems from catastrophic fires. Severe fires threaten to overwhelm forest resilience and tip this biome into alternate vegetation states.

This study focused on long‐term dynamics of montane Pinus occidentalis forests in the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic after a ~1000 km2 fire in 2005, the largest since 1965. We used long‐term records to investigate climate before and after the fire, and 19‐year dataset of pre‐ and post‐fire vegetation change from a network of 55 permanent plots (20 small 0.05 ha plots and 35 large 0.1 ha plots) established in 1999 to model overstorey and understorey vegetation dynamics.

The 2005 fire was synchronized with the most extreme drought in the region in over 60 years. The fire burned from <1600 to >3000 m a.s.l. in elevation across windward and leeward slopes, creating a mosaic of low‐, moderate‐ and high‐severity patches. Lower elevations, leeward slopes and stands with a higher proportion of smaller pine trees all burned at higher severities.

Growth rates of trees that survived the fire remained lower than pre‐fire rates 13 years after the fire. The highest post‐fire mortality rates were soon after the fire and in the census immediately following subsequent post‐fire droughts. Post‐fire pine seedling abundance was significantly greater in stands with higher basal area of live canopy trees and significantly reduced by increased shrub abundance in the understorey. Understorey composition recovered rapidly to pre‐fire states in sites affected by low‐ and moderate‐severity fires, but sites affected by high‐severity fires remained dissimilar to pre‐fire composition 13 years after the fire. Even though high‐severity patches had persistently low pine regeneration, 100% of small plots and 96% of large plots had at least one pine sapling or canopy tree recruit by 2018. Shrub taxa survived the fire in higher numbers and recovered to pre‐fire densities much faster than the pine, especially in high‐severity burns.

Synthesis. Climate change has increased the likelihood of wildfires in tropical montane pine forests, with long‐lasting effects on vegetation dynamics. However, this biome may prove resilient to increasingly severe fires in the near future, given the ongoing recovery of Pinus occidentalis forests in Hispaniola despite repeated severe droughts. Nevertheless, highly drought‐ and fire‐resistant taxa (e.g. shrubs) may form alternate stable states in drier portions of tropical montane landscapes in the future as droughts and high‐severity fires become more common.
How Does Selling Capability Impact Firm Value? The Moderating Roles of Relative Strategic Emphasis, Market Volatility, and Technological Volatility
Authors: Rahman Mahabubur , Jang Seongsoo , Ahmed Shaker
Published: October 2022

Firms develop and deploy selling capability to create and sustain a competitive advantage. Previous studies have focused predominantly on static, input‐based selling capability, paying little attention to dynamic, efficiency‐focused selling capability. This treatise reconceptualizes selling capability from a dynamic and efficiency (input–output) perspective and investigates the effect of selling capability on firm value with the contingent role of internal [i.e. relative strategic emphasis (SE)] and external (i.e. market volatility and technological volatility) factors. Using data from 341 US‐based manufacturing and service firms over the period 2014–2020 and an endogeneity‐robust dynamic estimation technique, the authors find that selling capability positively affects firm value, and firms with a relative SE on value appropriation (i.e. advertising) as opposed to value creation (i.e. R&D) reap more rewards from selling capability. That is, relative SE positively moderates the nexus between selling capability and firm value. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the interactive effect of selling capability and relative SE is weaker when an industry experiences higher market volatility but stronger when technological volatility is higher. Overall, this study demonstrates that a firm's selling capability should be managed dynamically in light of its (internal) relative SE and (external) environmental conditions. The results are robust to several additional sensitivity analyses.
Irish Unification After Brexit: Old and New Political Identities?
Authors: Diamond Patrick , Colfer Barry
Published: October 2022

This article contends that the outcome of the prolonged dispute about the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland (NI) will be shaped by the emerging dynamic between ‘old’ and ‘new’ political identities in NI. The ‘old’ identities conceived political outcomes as defined by two monolithic ethno‐cultural blocs: nationalism (alongside republicanism) and unionism (alongside loyalism). Nationalism and unionism formed the ‘two communities model’ of consociational governance enshrined in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (B/GFA). Today, despite the Agreement being in existence for over twenty years, growing numbers of citizens identify with neither ethno‐cultural category. Recent elections indicate that more pluralistic ‘new’ political identities are gaining ground at the expense of traditional alignments. The implications for NI's constitutional future are likely to be profound. The emerging constituency of non‐aligned voters will have a decisive impact on the final outcome of any border poll on Irish unification. Such voters typically support the cross‐community Alliance Party, the Greens, or the left People Before Profit (PBP) party. Crucially, these parties are concerned as much with economic and social issues as constitutional questions. In the context of growing political fluidity, the result of any future border poll remains contingent.
Exacerbation of household food insecurity among low‐income families in Hong Kong during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Yung Tony K. C. , Tsang Sabina Y. T. , Tam Daisy D. S.
Published: October 2022

Aim

The economic depression and reduced physical mobility associated with COVID‐19 potentially affected the food security status of the poor. This study aimed to assess the possible worsening of perceived food insecurity among low‐income families in Hong Kong.

Methods

Families either receiving government subsidies or living in a subdivided flat referred by local non‐governmental organisations were invited to participate in a telephone survey. Food security status before (by recalling) and during the pandemic were assessed using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Chi‐square analysis and ANOVA were used to test the difference between the percentage of participants who responded affirmatively to survey questions and various categories of food insecurity. Paired t‐test was used to examine the reported change in food insecurity score before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Association between socio‐demographic factors and change in food insecurity score was then assessed by multiple linear regression using backward stepwise elimination.

Results

Findings from the 212 households revealed that, for all nine questions concerning food insecurity, there was a significantly higher percentage of affirmative responses during versus before the pandemic. The proportion of food‐secure households dropped from 16.5% to 7.1% amidst the pandemic. By contrast, households with severe food insecurity increased from 19.3% to 33.5%. Regression analysis showed that those households who were living in subdivided flats and with high monthly housing expenses, were likely to experience an exacerbation of food insecurity. Meanwhile, households with divorced parents (probably due to consistent social subsidy) and high household incomes, showed resilience toward food insecurity. Concurrently, about one fifth of children in these households had an experience of starvation for a whole day due to financial constraints.

Conclusion

The exacerbation of food insecurity among low‐income families during the COVID‐19 pandemic necessitates timely assessments and the implementation of appropriate measures to prevent them from experiencing physiological harm. These initiatives can be guided by the identified at‐risk socio‐economic characteristics in the present study.