bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Scoping Review of Multimodal, Dyadic Early Relational Health Interventions in NICUs in the United States
Authors: Darilek Umber , Graw Jasmine , Sisk Laura , Crawford Allison D. , Lopez Emme , Howe Rebecca , McGlothen-Bell Kelly
Published: November 2024

Background:

Early relational health (ERH) interventions can buffer toxic stress and improve the developmental trajectories of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants.

Purpose:

The purpose was to examine the current state of the science related to multimodal, dyadic ERH interventions implemented in the NICU setting in the United States and identify gaps in the current literature.

Data Sources:

PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo were searched in November 2022 and November 2023 for original studies and conference proceedings from 1970 to present in the English language. Gray literature searches were performed in February 2023 and December 2023.

Study Selection:

English language, original research, with a focus on multimodal, dyadic ERH interventions that took place primarily in a NICU in the United States were included. Outcome measures could be related to implementation, relational health, or physical and/or mental health outcomes of parent and/or infant. Eighteen of 2021 reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria.

Data Extraction:

Data were extracted for author, year, intervention, purpose, methods, sample, paternal inclusion, dyadic components, non-dyadic components, and major outcomes/results and distilled for study characteristics, multimodal, dyadic intervention characteristics, and outcome measures.

Results:

Several multimodal dyadic interventions exist to aid ERH in the NICU, providing evidence of improved outcomes for infants and families. More research is required using higher sample sizes and replication studies.

Implications for Practice and Research:

ERH interventions show promise in improving neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and maternal mental health outcomes and should be considered for implementation into NICU services.
Giving a voice to patient and caregiver perspectives on equity in transplantation
Authors: Reed Rhiannon D. , Locke Jayme E.
Published: November 2024

Purpose of review

While prior reviews have assessed barriers to transplantation experienced by patients and their families, they have not summarized how these stakeholders feel about whether and how those barriers impact equity in transplantation. We seek to comprehensively present the literature of patients and family perspectives on disparities in transplant access and potential solutions.

Recent findings

Some patients and their families report experiences of discrimination, while others from traditionally marginalized groups feel the system is equitable and do not perceive any different treatment as a result of their race/ethnicity, sex, age, religion, or geography. This summary suggests that not all of the disparities observed in transplant access are attributable to systemic or unconscious bias and may be partially alleviated through enhanced education and communication.

Lack of understanding and transparency lead to mistrust of organ transplantation, further exacerbating existing disparities. Patient and family engagement is paramount for ensuring the trust of the public who are the source of organs and those who directly benefit from this field. Partnerships between patient advocacy groups, professional societies, and policymakers have the potential to increase transparency while ensuring that the patient voice is represented in any system-level change and assessment.
Membrane staining and phospholipid tracking in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 using the phosphatidylcholine mimic propargyl-choline
Authors: Graham Chris L.B. , Bryant Jack , Roper David I. , Banzhaf Manuel
Published: November 2024

The use of membrane-specific dyes for in vivo fluorescent microscopy is commonplace. However, most of these reagents are non-specific and cannot track specific lipid species movement, instead often acting as non-covalent lipid-associated probes or requiring the uptake of whole lipids and acyl tails into the membrane. This issue has been solved in eukaryotic cell biology by the use of click-chemistry-liable phospholipid headgroup pulse labels. Here, we describe a method for in vivo phospholipid labelling by fluorescent imaging in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a phosphatidylcholine mimic, ‘propargyl-choline’ (PCho). This click-chemistry-liable headgroup mimic is visible by microscopy and allows the covalent labelling of lipids. Fluorescence of the cell membranes, visible in heterogeneous patches, is dependent on PCho concentration and is localized in the membrane fraction of cells, demonstrating that it is suitable for membrane labelling and cell imaging.
Cervicovaginal microbial features predict Chlamydia trachomatis spread to the upper genital tract of infected women
Authors: Jeong Sangmi , Tollison Tammy S , Brochu Hayden , Chou Hsuan , Huntress Ian , Yount Kacy S , Zheng Xiaojing , Darville Toni , O'Connell Catherine M. , Peng Xinxia
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and other reproductive sequelae when it ascends to the upper genital tract. Factors including chlamydial burden, co-infection with other sexually-transmitted bacterial pathogens and oral contraceptive use influence risk for upper genital tract spread. Cervicovaginal microbiome composition influences CT susceptibility and we investigated if it contributes to spread by analyzing amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) derived from the V4 region of 16S rRNA genes in vaginal samples collected from women at high risk for CT infection and for whom endometrial infection had been determined. Results: Participants were classified as CT negative (CT-, n=77), CT positive at the cervix (Endo-, n=77), or CT positive at both cervix and endometrium (Endo+, n=66). Although we were unable to identify many significant differences between CT infected and uninfected women, differences in abundance of ASVs representing Lactobacillus iners and L. crispatus subspecies but not dominant lactobacilli were detected. Twelve informative ASVs predicted endometrial chlamydial infection (AUC=0.74), with CT ASV abundance emerging as a key predictor. We also observed a positive correlation between levels of cervically secreted cytokines previously associated with CT ascension and abundance of the informative ASVs. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that vaginal microbial community members may influence chlamydial spread directly by nutrient limitation and/or disrupting endocervical epithelial integrity and indirectly by modulating pro-inflammatory signaling and/or homeostasis of adaptive immunity. Further investigation of these predictive microbial factors may lead to cervicovaginal microbiome biomarkers useful for identifying women at increased risk for disease.
Flowers that cool themselves: thermal ecology of summer-blooming thistles in hot Mediterranean environments
Authors: Herrera Carlos M.
Published: November 2024

Flower exposure to high temperature reduces the production, viability and performance of pollen, ovules and seeds, which in turn reduces individual fecundity and risks the survival of populations. Autonomous flower cooling could help to alleviate exposure of pollen and ovules to harmful temperatures, yet investigations on the thermal ecology of flowers in hot environments are still needed to evaluate the frequency, magnitude and ecological significance of floral thermoregulatory cooling. This paper reports a study on the thermal ecology of flower heads (=capitula) of 15 species of summer-blooming Asteraceae, tribe Cardueae, from hot-dry habitats in the southern Iberian Peninsula. Temperature inside (Tin) and outside (Tout) capitula were assessed under natural field conditions by two complementary sampling and measurement procedures, which provided information on the relationships between the two temperatures at the levels of individual capitula (“continuous recording”) and local plant populations (“instantaneous measurements”). Baselines for theTin–Toutrelationship in absence of physiological activity were obtained by exposing dehydrated capitula to variable ambient temperatures. To assess whether the co-flowering capitula of summer-blooming Asteraceae collectively defined a distinct thermal layer, the vertical distribution of capitula relative to the ground was quantified. Bees visiting capitula were watched and the temperature of the air beside the visited capitulum was measured. Capitula of all species were exposed to high ambient temperatures during long periods, yet their interior was cooler than the air for most of the time, with temperature differentials (ΔT=Tin-Tout) quite often approaching, and sometimes exceeding −10°C. The relationship betweenTinandToutwas best described by a composite of steep and shallow linear relationships separated by a breakpoint (Ψ, interspecific range=25°C–35°C). Capitula were weakly or not thermoregulated forTout<Ψ, but switched to intense, thermoregulated cooling whenTout>Ψ. Narrow vertical distribution of capitula above ground and similar cooling responses by all species produced a refrigerated floral layer where most bees foraged atTout>Ψ and presumably visited cooled capitula. Thermoregulatory cooling of capitula can benefit plant reproduction by reducing pollen and ovule exposure to high temperature, but also the populations of insect mutualists and antagonists through habitat improvement via a refrigerated flower layer.

OPEN RESEARCH STATEMENT

Data, metadata and R script will be made available at figshare.
Identification and genomic characterization of a novel bisegmented coronavirus in the lesser panda
Authors: Chen Xiaoyuan , Guo Hua , Zhou Niu , Shi Zhengli , Cui Xinyuan , Dong Tianyi , Qin Mengjie , Liang Xianghui , Shan Fen , Wang Hai , Zuo Qian , Peng Shiming , You Wenjie , Irwin David M. , Ding Chan , Zeng Leiping , Chen Wu , Shen Yongyi
Published: November 2024

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses and are renowned for their capacity to infect a diverse range of animals, including humans. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel bisegmented coronavirus, designated LpCoV, from a dead lesser panda, which exhibited severe clinical manifestations and lesions in multiple organs. The LpCoV represents the first documented coronavirus with a unique bisegmented genome while maintaining the typical coronavirus morphology. One genomic segment encodes the ORF1ab polyprotein, while the other segment encodes the spike and nucleocapsid proteins, notably lacking the envelope (E) and membrane (M) genes. The pairwise patristic distances of the five concatenated domains in the replicase region (3CLpro, NiRAN, RdRP, ZBD, and HEL1) between LpCoV and α-δ coronaviruses range from 1.19 to 1.70. Based on the classification criteria established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), LpCoV is proposed to constitute a new genus within the Coronaviridae family. An epidemiological investigation identified five LpCoV-like viruses in lesser pandas from two different provinces (Sichuan and Jiangsu) indicating the long-term circulation and expansion of bisegmented coronaviruses in wildlife. These findings highlight the imperative for comprehensive viral surveillance in wildlife, which is essential for understanding and mitigating the risk of animal diseases and zoonotic spillover.
Programmable epigenome editing by transient delivery of CRISPR epigenome editor ribonucleoproteins
Authors: Xu Da , Besselink Swen , Ramadoss Gokul N. , Dierks Philip H. , Lubin Justin P. , Pattali Rithu K. , Brim Jinna I. , Christenson Anna E. , Colias Peter J. , Ornelas Izaiah J. , Nguyen Carolyn D. , Chasins Sarah E. , Conklin Bruce R. , Nuñez James K.
Published: November 2024

Programmable epigenome editors modify gene expression in mammalian cells by altering the local chromatin environment at target loci without inducing DNA breaks. However, the large size of CRISPR-based epigenome editors poses a challenge to their broad use in biomedical research and as future therapies. Here, we present Robust ENveloped Delivery of Epigenome-editor Ribonucleoproteins (RENDER) for transiently delivering programmable epigenetic repressors (CRISPRi, DNMT3A-3L-dCas9, CRISPRoff) and activator (TET1-dCas9) as ribonucleoprotein complexes into human cells to modulate gene expression. After rational engineering, we show that RENDER induces durable epigenetic silencing of endogenous genes across various human cell types, including primary T cells. Additionally, we apply RENDER to epigenetically repress endogenous genes in human stem cell-derived neurons, including the reduction of the neurodegenerative disease associated V337M-mutated Tau protein. Together, our RENDER platform advances the delivery of CRISPR-based epigenome editors into human cells, broadening the use of epigenome editing in fundamental research and therapeutic applications.
TheHelicobacter pyloriorphan ATTAAT-specific methyltransferase M.Hpy99XIX plays a central role in the coordinated regulation of genes involved in iron metabolism
Authors: Gottschall Wilhelm , Ailloud Florent , Josenhans Christine , Suerbaum Sebastian
Published: November 2024

H. pylorigenomes contain a large and variable portfolio of methyltransferases (MTases), creating a highly diverse methylome. Here, we characterize a highly conserved ATTAAT-specific MTase, M.Hpy99XIX, the onlyH. pyloriMTase never associated with an endonuclease (“orphan” MTase). Inactivation of M.Hpy99XIX resulted in a significant change in the transcription of >100 genes, despite the fact that only a small subset of their promoter regions contained an ATTAAT target motif. Patterns of transcriptional change showed significant correlations with changes reported forH. pylorimutants in the ArsRS regulators involved in iron regulation. The MTase inactivation also caused a higher susceptibility to diverse metal ions as well as iron chelation and oxidative stress. These phenotypes could be traced back to the methylation of single motifs in the promoter regions of iron transportersfrpB1andfecA1. Altogether, methylation of individual motifs in promoters can have a large downstream effect causing major changes to metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that the methylome represents a universal and dynamic interface connecting genome diversity and transcriptional regulation. Very recently, a new ecospeciesHardyofH. pylorihas been reported. M.Hpy99XIX is present in the majority of “normal” (Ubiquitous)H. pyloristrains, whereas no singleHardystrain contained this gene, consistent with other reported differences betweenHardyandUbiquitousstrains related to iron/metal homeostasis. ATTAAT methylation is intricately connected with the bacterial transcriptional network, highlighting the important role of bacterial epigenetic modifications in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis.
Structural and biochemical characterization of a widespread enterobacterial peroxidase encapsulin
Authors: Ubilla-Rodriguez Natalia C. , Andreas Michael P. , Giessen Tobias W.
Published: November 2024

Encapsulins are self-assembling protein compartments found in prokaryotes and specifically encapsulate dedicated cargo enzymes. The most abundant encapsulin cargo class are Dye-decolorizing Peroxidases (DyPs). It has been previously suggested that DyP encapsulins are involved in oxidative stress resistance and bacterial pathogenicity due to DyPs’ inherent ability to reduce and detoxify hydrogen peroxide while oxidizing a broad range of organic co-substrates. Here, we report the structural and biochemical analysis of a DyP encapsulin widely found across enterobacteria. Using bioinformatic approaches, we show that this DyP encapsulin is encoded by a conserved transposon-associated operon, enriched in enterobacterial pathogens. Through low pH and peroxide exposure experiments, we highlight the stability of this DyP encapsulin under harsh conditions and show that DyP catalytic activity is highest at low pH. We determine the structure of the DyP-loaded shell and free DyP via cryo-electron microscopy, revealing the structural basis for DyP cargo loading and peroxide preference. Our work lays the foundation to further explore the substrate range and physiological functions of enterobacterial DyP encapsulins.
Functional maturation and experience-dependent plasticity in adult-born olfactory bulb dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Tufo Candida , Cheah Menghon , Lipovsek Marcela , Browne Lorcan P , Grubb Matthew S
Published: November 2024

Continued integration of new neurons persists in only a few areas of the adult mouse brain. In the olfactory bulb (OB), immature adult-born neurons respond differently to olfactory stimuli compared to their more mature counterparts, and have heightened levels of activity-dependent plasticity. These distinct functional features are thought to bestow unique properties onto existing circuitry. OB interneurons, including those generated through adult neurogenesis, consist of a set of highly distinct subtypes. However, we do not currently know the different cell-type-specific mechanisms underlying their functional development and plastic potential. Here, we specifically characterised electrophysiological maturation and experience-dependent plasticity in a single, defined subtype of adult-born OB neuron: dopaminergic cells. We selectively live-labelled both adult-born and ‘resident’ dopaminergic cells, and targeted them for whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in acute mouse OB slices. Surprisingly, we found that from the time – at ∼1 month of cell age – that live adult-born dopaminergic neurons could first be reliably identified, they already possessed almost fully mature intrinsic firing properties. We saw significant maturation only in increased spontaneous activity and decreased medium afterhyperpolarisation amplitude. Nor were adult-born dopaminergic cells especially plastic. In response to brief sensory deprivation via unilateral naris occlusion we observed no maturation-specific plastic alterations in intrinsic properties, although we did see deprivation-associated increases in spike speed and amplitude across all adult-born and resident neurons. Our results not only show that adult-born OB dopaminergic cells rapidly functionally resemble their pre-existing counterparts, but also underscore the importance of subtype identity when describing neuronal maturation and plasticity.
How the layer-dependent ratio of excitatory to inhibitory cells shapes cortical coding in balanced networks
Authors: Alizadeh Arezoo , Englitz Bernhard , Zeldenrust Fleur
Published: November 2024

The cerebral cortex exhibits a sophisticated neural architecture across its six layers. Recently, it was found that these layers exhibit different ratios of excitatory to inhibitory (EI) neurons, ranging from 4 to 9. This ratio is a key factor for achieving the often reported balance of excitation and inhibition, a hallmark of cortical computation. However, neither previous theoretical nor simulation studies have addressed how these differences in EI ratio will affect layer-specific dynamics and computational properties. We investigate this question using a sparsely connected network model of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. To keep the network in a physiological range of firing rates, we varied the inhibitory firing threshold or the synaptic strength between excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We find that decreasing the EI ratio allows the network to explore a higher-dimensional space and enhance its capacity to represent complex input. By comparing the empirical EI ratios of layer 2/3 and layer 4 in the rodent barrel cortex, we predict that layer 2/3 has a higher dimensionality and coding capacity than layer 4. Furthermore, our analysis of primary visual cortex data from the Allen Brain Institute corroborates these modelling results, also demonstrating increased dimensionality and coding capabilities of layer 2/3.

Author summary

Experimental studies indicate that the ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurons varies across different cortical layers. In this study, we investigate how these varying excitatory-to-inhibitory (EI) ratios affect the layer-specific dynamics and computational capacity of cortical networks. We modeled a randomly connected network of spiking neurons, incorporating different EI ratios based on experimental observations. Our findings reveal that as the influence of inhibition increases, corresponding to lower EI ratios, the network explores a higher dimensionality in its activity, thereby enhancing its capacity to encode high-dimensional inputs. These results align with our analysis of experimental data recorded from layers 2/3 and layer 4 of the rodent primary visual cortex. Specifically, our findings support the hypothesis that layer 2/3, which has a lower EI ratio compared to layer 4, possesses a greater computational capacity.
Incommensurately modulated structure of Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O at high pressure
Authors: Gajda Roman , Sławiński Wojciech , Poręba Tomasz , Parafiniuk Jan , Mezouar Mohamed , Dera Przemysław , Woźniak Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

High-resolution single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments on Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O hemimorphite were conducted at high pressure using diamond anvil cells at several different synchrotron facilities (ESRF, Elettra, DESY). Experimental data confirmed the existence of a previously reported phase transition and revealed the exact nature of the incommensurate modulation. We report the incommensurately modulated structure described in the (3+1)D space group Pnn2(0, β, 0)000. We have determined the modulation mechanism, which involves the fluctuation of atoms between two main positions, occurring mainly along the [100] direction, perpendicular to the modulation vector. Moreover, our results reveal that the phase transition occurs at lower pressure than previously reported.
Service recovery and customer loyalty in the logistics industry: the role of justice perceptions and switching costs
Authors: Srivastava Vibhava
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study delves into the intricate dynamics between the severity of service failures and the justice perceptions of B2B customers, with a specific focus on their impact on subsequent service recovery satisfaction. Furthermore, it explores the nuanced relationship between recovery satisfaction and repurchase intention while scrutinizing the influence of perceived switching costs on this interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study centers around the logistics service market, employing institutional customers of logistics services as the primary unit of analysis. The conceptual model is empirically tested using a dataset comprising responses from 196 participants, employing PLS-SEM as the analytical approach.

Findings

The study reveals a negative impact of service failure severity on justice perceptions, with distributive justice showing no influence on recovery satisfaction. However, procedural justice and interactional justice positively affect recovery satisfaction. Furthermore, a positive connection is identified between service recovery satisfaction and repurchase intention, with perceived switching costs acting as a negative moderator in this interaction.

Research limitations/implications

This research reaffirms the interplay between justice perceptions, recovery satisfaction and repurchase intention in B2B service settings. It underscores the influence of service failure severity on justice perceptions and establishes perceived switching cost as a moderator in the interaction between recovery satisfaction and repurchase intention.

Practical implications

The study underscores the imperative of careful and empathetic handling of distressed customers by personnel. Through effective recovery efforts and a well-calibrated combination of recovery mechanisms, service providers can instill a perception of higher switching costs in customers, acting as a deterrent to changing service providers.

Originality/value

This study is one of its kind which examines customer responses in the post-recovery phase of the service recovery journey, providing unique insights into the interaction between service failure severity, justice perceptions, recovery satisfaction, perceived switching costs and repurchase intention. Its contribution extends to the B2B services domain, particularly within the context of an emerging economy.
The silent potential: coworkers’ voicing in workplace meetings
Authors: Bohacova Karolina , Heide Mats
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The article aims to increase the understanding of how coworkers perform voice (i.e., do voicing) in internal meetings while embedding the phenomenon in wider organizational and social contexts. It answers the following research questions: 1. How do coworkers perform voicing in team meetings at an international manufacturing company? 2. How do coworkers experience voicing in meetings?

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative study is based on empirical material collected through 11 observations and 16 semi-structured interviews at a multinational organization within the transportation and infrastructure sector.

Findings

Work meetings remain largely silent even though coworkers perceive their workplace as safe, open and transparent. Coworker’s voicing is therefore postponed or transformed into a form of pseudo-communication, influenced by a discourse of productivity, effectivity and efficiency, hybrid ways of organizing, and both enabling and constraining character of a meeting structure. Additionally, the study uncovers a new form of unobtrusive managerial control, i.e. wellbeing talk. Coworker’s voicing is a complex communication process influenced by various social, cultural, organizational, individual and team-based norms.

Research limitations/implications

The article offers a three-fold contribution to communication scholarship: (1) identification and exploration of new communicative phenomena emerging in organizations; (2) problematization of silence and voice theories and (3) challenging the theoretical assumption that open organizational environments, psychological safety and transparency automatically result in coworkers’ voicing.

Practical implications

Our results raise several practical challenges that teams must address, such as who is responsible for facilitating coworker’s voicing and what is reasonable to expect from coworkers. Some members’ silence might not mean they are unsatisfied or suppressing their voicing. Instead, they might need more time to reflect before their performance. Ideally, coworker’s voicing becomes a habitualized practice, replacing the currently normalized silence.

Originality/value

The study departed from the fact that work meetings, i.e. everyday organizational communicative events, are commonly taken for granted, and the importance of coworker’s voicing in organizing processes remains overlooked. This article problematizes the current dominant voice scholarship, which is strongly influenced by normative managerial thinking and a limited understanding of communication. Voicing is not merely a voluntary, rational and reactive communicative process. Instead, we propose voicing is a complex interplay between various situational, structural, social, cultural and team-based influences governed by norms and power dynamics.
Analysis of content, services, and resources available and accessible on websites of academic libraries
Authors: Dei De-Graft Johnson
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to review the content of academic libraries’ websites with specific reference to the general information, services, information resources, features and functionalities, instructional tools to support teaching, learning and research for the patrons and users, and the visibility or activeness of the navigational tools on the websites.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focused on six categories of tertiary institutions: public universities, technical universities, chartered private universities, university colleges, colleges of education and nursing and midwifery schools. From each category, the researchers purposively selected five different institutions with library websites. Thus, 30 library websites were reviewed and analyzed for this study.

Findings

The review disclosed a generally low content and information on the websites in terms of the availability of information resources and collections; the types of services available at the libraries via the websites; the features and functionalities of the websites; the instructional tools to support teaching, learning and research for the patrons and users; and the visibility or activeness of the navigational tools on the websites. Despite this, the public universities displayed more and above average information, services, information resources, instructional tools and navigational tools on their library websites, followed by the technical universities, chartered private universities and university colleges. Conversely, the colleges of education and nursing and midwifery schools were to a large extent unable to provide information relating to electronic resources, instructional tools and navigational tools.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to 30 library websites from all six categories of tertiary institutions in Ghana. From the study, the management of the universities and the libraries must appreciate the significant role of websites in providing information and resources in support of teaching, research and learning at the institutions. In this regard, they need to provide the necessary support and resources for the effective deployment and operationalization of websites.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind as no study seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the content of academic libraries’ websites with specific reference to the general information, services, information resources, features, functionalities, instructional tools to support teaching, learning and research for the patrons and users, and the visibility or activeness of the navigational tools on the websites.
Construction quality problems prevention based on coupling relationship mining
Authors: Jiang Shaohua , Zhang Jingqi , Mao Yufeng
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study introduces a novel approach to preventing construction quality problems by examining the complex interrelations among such issues. Recognizing the overlooked coupling between problems is essential, as it can exacerbate quality issues, triggering chain reactions that compromise project success. The research justifies its focus on these interrelations by highlighting the insufficiency of traditional quality management methods, which often fail to account for interconnected quality problems in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.

Design/methodology/approach

At the core of this research is the establishment of a knowledge base for construction quality issues, marking a pioneering effort to systematically organize unstructured textual data on construction quality problems and their interconnections. This base serves as a platform for the subsequent application of advanced analytical techniques. Specifically, the study leverages preprocessing, text similarity algorithms and association rule mining to dissect and illuminate the nuanced coupling relationships among construction quality issues, a facet not thoroughly explored in prior research.

Findings

The innovative analytical methodology employed here reveals significant insights into the dynamics of construction quality issue coupling. These insights not only deepen the understanding of these complex interactions but also guide the development of targeted intervention strategies. The practical applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach are demonstrated using selected textual materials as experimental evidence. The findings show that understanding and addressing these couplings can significantly mitigate potential chain reactions of defects, thus enhancing overall project quality.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in its threefold contribution: the creation of a dedicated knowledge base for construction quality issues, the application of novel analytical methodologies to decipher coupling relationships and the extension of text analysis techniques to the realm of construction quality problem prevention. Together, these innovations open new avenues for research and practice in construction management, offering a robust framework for the systematic identification and mitigation of quality issues in construction projects.
The impact of supply chain due diligence practices on supply chain performance: an organization’s perception
Authors: Samal Tejaswini , Jena Sarat Kumar
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The increasing complexity and globalization of supply chains raise risks such as human rights abuses and environmental damage while affecting their supply chain performance (SCP), which prompted a study on supply chain due diligence (SCDD) practices. This study examines the impact of SCDD practices on the SCP. It examines if and how these relationships can be influenced by factors such as organizational culture and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model and hypotheses based on institutional theory were developed. The survey instrument captures organizations' perceptions of SCDD practices and related key performance indicators for SCP. The study collects data from 329 supply chain and logistics managers in Indian manufacturing and logistics organizations, and the hypotheses are validated using a structural equation model.

Findings

Results indicate that SCDD practices positively influence SCP. Trust and organizational culture strengthened SCDD–SCP relationships.

Practical implications

The study explores how organizations perceive and implement due diligence in their supply chains, highlighting areas for improvement. This understanding could help organizations enhance their supply chain management strategies, leading to better risk management, cost reduction, avoiding penalties and improved overall performance.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the study is to examine organizations' perceptions of SCDDA implementation and then identify its effects on supply chain performance. This is done considering trust and organizational culture as moderating factors.
Towards a comparison of three customer value perspectives in the hotel industry: insights from Moroccan context
Authors: Nejjari Ridouan , Slaoui Samira
Published: November 2024

Purpose

While creating and delivering customer value involves managers, frontline employees and tourists; no prior study has investigated and compared the customer value from these three different perspectives. This paper aims to fill this gap, thereby facilitating the enhancement of the value proposition (VP) and its implementation by frontline employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing three surveys that represent the perspectives of three actors (managers, frontline employees and customers), this study investigates perceptions using both SmartPls4 and SPSS25. SmartPls4 is useful for construct validation, whereas SPSS25 is suitable for hypothesis testing.

Findings

In three- and four-star hotels, the results reveals significant disparities between in the perception of customer value between managers and frontline employees, as well as between frontline employees and customers. Similar discrepancies are observed between managers and customers. However, in five-star hotels, the study indicates that there are no significant differences in the perception of customer value among the three actors (managers, frontline employees and customers).

Practical implications

In three- and four-star hotels, the results suggest two primary managerial implications: firstly, the need to enhance understanding of guests, and secondly, to motivate and engage frontline employees in contributing to the development and shaping of the VP. Conversely, in five-star hotels, they should maintain the value they conceive and offer.

Originality/value

This study stands out in the realism of hospitality customer value investigation as it pioneers in offering valuable and useful insights from three different perspectives related to the three actors involved in customer value (managers, frontline employees and customers) within three, four and five-star hotels.
Impact of Islamic work ethic on employee ethical behavior: the serial mediation of moral identity and felt obligation
Authors: Topcan Ozlem , Uluturk Bulent , Iltar Ekin Kaynak , Akcoru Rabia
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Drawing on conservation of resources, social cognitive and self-verification theories, the current study endeavors to extend our comprehension of the mechanisms linking Islamic work ethics (IWE) to employee ethical behavior. More specifically, the current study investigates the potential impact of IWE on employees’ ethical behavior through the serial mediating roles of moral identity and felt obligation.

Design/methodology/approach

By utilizing two-wave data collected from 513 employee-co-worker dyads in the education sector in Turkey, we employed AMOS to conduct a confirmatory analysis and the PROCESS macro for SPSS to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The results provide evidence for our hypothesized model. Our results indicate that employees with higher levels of IWE are more likely to exhibit higher levels of ethical behavior. Our results also reveal that IWE has a significant and positive impact on employees’ moral identity and sense of obligation, which in turn enhances their ethical behavior.

Originality/value

By integrating multiple theories, the current research addresses a dearth in the literature and provides a nomological network from Islamic work ethics to ethical employee behavior through the serial mediating role of moral identity and felt obligation. This study adds value to the literature on human resource management and work ethics by examining how IWE affects the attitudes and behaviors of employees in both the public and private sectors. Accordingly, organizations can strengthen their workforce’s moral identities and instill a sense of obligation to behave morally by incorporating workplace ethics into HRM processes.
“I think my accent is the way I am”: how East Asian international students describe themselves as foreign-accented speakers
Authors: Park Eunjae , Hodge Steven , Klieve Helen
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study explores how second language (L2) East Asian international students at an Australian university describe themselves as foreign-accented speakers and develop a new L2 identity within a sociolinguistic landscape that reinforces hierarchies between first language (L1) and L2 speakers.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon van Manen’s (2016) hermeneutic phenomenology, this study employs a qualitative-dominant mixed methods approach. An initial survey with 306 participants informed subsequent phenomenological interviews with five students, enabling a comprehensive exploration of their L2 identity construction.

Findings

The analysis revealed four themes: being proud to be L2 speakers, the value of having L2, complex attitudes towards foreign accents, and miscommunication as natural. These findings underscore the importance of critical engagement with evolving L2 identity and highlight the role of university interventions in fostering students' agency, which aids their successful transitions to host institutions.

Originality/value

This study addresses a gap in existing research by exploring how L2 students develop a new L2 identity beyond the challenges of language proficiency. It emphasises the significance of contextualising their experiences within the broader sociolinguistic landscape, offering insights that contribute to a better understanding of L2 identity construction among international students.
Acclimation temperature and parasite infection drive metabolic changes in a freshwater fish at different biological scales
Authors: Levet Marie , Killen Shaun S. , Bettinazzi Stefano , Mélançon Vincent , Breton Sophie , Binning Sandra A.
Published: November 2024

Environmental stressors such as elevated temperature and parasite infection can impact individual energy metabolism. However, organismal responses to co‐occurring stressors and their effects across biological scales remain unexplored despite the importance of integrative studies for accurately predicting the resilience of natural populations in changing environments.

Using wild‐caught, naturally parasitized pumpkinseed sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus, we quantified changes in cellular and whole‐organism metabolism in response to temperature and parasite infection. We acclimated pumpkinseeds for 3 weeks at 20°C, 25°C or 30°C before measuring whole‐organism oxygen uptake (ṀO2) using intermittent flow‐respirometry to quantify maximal and standard metabolic rates (MMR and SMR, respectively) and aerobic scope (AS). We also measured the maximal activity of enzymes [citrate synthase (CS), respiratory complexes I + III and IV of the electron transport system and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] linked with cellular bioenergetics in fish heart, brain, spleen and gills using spectrophotometry.

We found no interactions between acclimation temperatures and parasite intensity on cellular or whole‐organism metabolism. However, both stressors were independently related to fish metabolism, with differing impacts across biological scales.

Whereas MMR increased with acclimation temperature, this was not mirrored by increasing SMR or decreasing AS, suggesting thermal compensation across acclimation temperatures at the whole‐organism level.

On a cellular level, acclimation responses were similar across organs, with maximal activity of all enzymes decreasing with increasing acclimation temperature. However, LDH activity remained higher than aerobic enzyme activities (CS, ETS complexes I + III and IV) across acclimation temperatures and organs, especially in gills, where LDH activity drastically increased at 30°C. This may indicate a stronger reliance on anaerobic metabolism to sustain whole‐organism metabolic performance at high temperatures.

Fish with greater trematode infection had lower MMR. There were no relationships between parasite intensity and SMR, AS or maximal enzyme activity.

Our work shows that co‐occurring stressors have distinct impacts on fish metabolism: parasites are primarily related to whole‐organism metabolism while temperature impacts metabolism across biological scales. This highlights that interactions among co‐occurring stressors are important for ecological realism and accurate predictions regarding population resilience to environmental changes.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
What they did next: Using follow‐up phone calls to investigate health care access patterns of patients who take their own leave
Authors: Stewart Isabelle , Freeman Sam , Phillips Georgina , Maplesden Jacqueline , Barnes Deborah , Soderland Simone , Hutton Jennie
Published: November 2024

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to use telephone follow‐up (TFU) to investigate the actions taken by patients after they took their own leave (TOL) from an ED, with a focus on priority groups who are at risk of experiencing health inequity. These included people experiencing homelessness (EH), people with a low socioeconomic status by index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage (IRSD) and First Nations people. The primary outcome was being seen by a general practitioner (GP) within 2 days of the TOL event. The utility of the TFU was also examined.

Methods

This was an observational study of data collected during a quality improvement intervention at an inner‐city, tertiary, teaching hospital in Melbourne from January to December 2022. Descriptive results were obtained from a TFU survey that was administered 24–48 h after the TOL event.

Results

During the study period, 4209 patients TOL from the ED. Eight hundred forty‐one of these were contacted and consented to the TFU survey. 97.7% of patients expressed gratitude at being followed up. Patients EH, compared to patients not EH, were less likely to have seen their GP within 2 days of TOL event (0.295 [0.132–0.661], P < 0.001). Both First Nations patients and those from low IRSD areas were as likely to have seen their GP within 2 days as other groups.

Conclusion

Patients EH were less likely to receive GP care within 2 days of TOL. Improving the access and acceptability of health care in these priority groups is important for achieving health equity.
Aqueous copper geochemistry shapes the sediment microbial resistome in a recovering stream
Authors: Helfrich Paul G , Feldman Johnathan , Andrade‐Barahona Eva , Robertson Isaiah , Foster Jordan , Hofacker Renee , Dahlquist Selking Gavin , Sheik Cody S , Cox Alysia
Published: November 2024

Aqueous metals are pervasive contaminants associated with historical mining. We produced and examined 16 metagenomes from a contaminated creek to investigate how anthropogenic metal contamination shapes the functional profiles of microbial communities. We then incorporated the metagenomic profiles and concurrently collected geochemical context into a multivariate model to examine correlations between stream geochemistry and microbial functional potential. Integrating the metagenomes with full geochemical profiles emphasised that even low metalloid concentrations shaped microbial functionality, seasonal shifts in copper bioavailability and arsenic exposure correlated with genetic variation, and copper resistomes were spatiotemporally distinct. This study provides new insights into microbial metabolic potential and microbe‐metal(loid) interactions.
Impact of extracellular enzymes on Staphylococcus aureus host tissue adaptation and infection
Authors: Borah Atlanta , Srivastava Anand
Published: November 2024

Staphylococcus aureus is a multi‐host pathogen that can colonize and infect both humans and livestock in a tissue‐specific manner. This amazing feature of the pathogen is mainly facilitated by the surplus virulence agents produced upon necessity and favorable environmental factors. These factors are adept at damaging cellular barriers, manipulating host immune factors, and circumventing the host complement system. The delicate balance between the timely release of virulent factors and the regulation of their production underscores the significance of the exoenzyme network. Moreover, the intricate relationship between the pathogen and host tissue highlights the importance of understanding tissue‐specific phenotypes for effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we provide a review on the diverse role played by the extracellular enzymes of S. aureus in tissue‐specific infection and systemic colonization leading to distinctive diseased conditions. The article highlights the need to study the role of staphylococcal exoenzymes in various systemic invasions, their impact on the deterioration of host tissue, and the regulation of S. aureus virulence factors.