bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid disappearance of influenza following the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Hamilton, Ontario
Authors: Zhang Kevin , Misra Avika , Kim Patrick J. , Moghadas Seyed M. , Langley Joanne M. , Smieja Marek
Published: November 2020

Background

Public health measures, such as social distancing and closure of schools and non-essential services, were rapidly implemented in Canada to interrupt the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Objective

We sought to investigate the impact of mitigation measures during the spring wave of COVID-19 on the incidence of other laboratory-confirmed respiratory viruses in Hamilton, Ontario.

Methods

All nasopharyngeal swab specimens (n = 57,503) submitted for routine respiratory virus testing at a regional laboratory serving all acute-care hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario between January 2010 and June 2020 were reviewed. Testing for influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza I–III, adenovirus and rhinovirus/enterovirus was done routinely using a laboratory-developed polymerase chain reaction multiplex respiratory viral panel. A Bayesian linear regression model was used to determine the trend of positivity rates of all influenza samples for the first 26 weeks of each year from 2010 to 2019. The mean positivity rate of Bayesian inference was compared with the weekly reported positivity rate of influenza samples in 2020.

Results

The positivity rate of influenza in 2020 diminished sharply following the population-wide implementation of COVID-19 interventions. Weeks 12-26 reported 0% positivity for influenza, with the exception of 0.1% reported in week 13.

Conclusions

Public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with a reduced incidence of other respiratory viruses and should be considered to mitigate severe seasonal influenza and other respiratory virus pandemics.
Building a pathway for diversity in plant sciences in Argentina: highlighting the work of women scientists through virtual activities
Authors: Auge Gabriela Alejandra , de Leone María José , Deanna Rocío , Oliferuk Sonia , Ribone Pamela Anahí , Welchen Elina
Published: November 2020

Encouraging the participation of a diverse workforce in academia increases plurality as it broadens the range of skills, ways of thinking and experiences. Institutions and professional societies have been putting efforts on building plans that help make workplaces, conferences, education and extension programs more relatable to a highly diverse population. Argentina has an overall gender-balanced workforce in the sciences (~53% women/total), with an even higher representation in disciplines related to plant sciences. However, media outlets and national conferences related to genetics, botany, plant physiology, ecology and molecular biology, fail to reflect those numbers as the proportion of women invited for interviews, plenary lectures, and symposia falls below ~30%. As a way to increase the visibility of the wealth of plant science topics and experimental approaches in which Argentinian women work, and to facilitate connections among them across the country and abroad, we created the Argentinian Women in Plant Science network (https://argplantwomen.weebly.com/). This group has grown to over 200 members, representing a wide range of career stages and research topics. Since April, and taking advantage of the confinement situation, our weekly webinar series highlighting women plant scientists has reached an average audience of 60-70 participants, with a record of 100. Recently, we have begun a series of open professional development webinars to reach a wider public. Our first webinar, focused on Scientific poster design, had ~250 participants, most of them undergrad and graduate students from all over the country covering a diverse range of disciplines, including the social sciences. Even though we have immersed ourselves in the plant science community with our weekly seminars, we have expanded our goals with activities aimed to reach out to a much wider audience with webinars and teacher training workshops, hopefully making plant science more attainable to all.
A multisite genomic epidemiology study of Clostridioides difficile infections in the U.S. supports differential roles of healthcare versus community spread for two common strains
Authors: Miles-Jay Arianna , Young Vincent B. , Pamer Eric G. , Savidge Tor C. , Kamboj Mini , Garey Kevin W. , Snitkin Evan S.
Published: November 2020

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infectious diarrhea. However, it is increasingly appreciated that healthcare-associated infections derive from both community and healthcare transmission, and that the primary sites of C. difficile transmission may be strain dependent. We conducted a multisite genomic epidemiology study to assess differential genomic evidence of healthcare vs. community spread for two of the most common C. difficile strains in the U.S.: sequence type (ST) 1 (associated with Ribotype 027) and ST2 (associated with Ribotype 014/020). Isolates recovered from stool specimens collected during standard clinical care at three geographically distinct U.S. medical centers between 2010 and 2018 underwent whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. ST1 and ST2 isolates both displayed some evidence of phylogenetic clustering by study site, but clustering was stronger and more apparent in ST1, consistent with our healthcare-based study more comprehensively sampling local transmission of ST1 compared to ST2 strains. Analyses of pairwise single nucleotide variant (SNV) distance distributions were also consistent with more evidence of healthcare transmission of ST1 compared to ST2, with 44% of ST1 isolates being within 2 SNVs of another isolate from the same geographic collection site compared to 5.5% of ST2 isolates (p-value = <0.001). Conversely, ST2 isolates were more likely to have close genetic neighbors across disparate geographic sites compared to ST1 isolates, further supporting non-healthcare routes of spread for ST2 and highlighting the potential for misattributing genomic similarity among ST2 isolates to recent healthcare transmission. Finally, we estimated a lower evolutionary rate for the ST2 lineage compared to the ST1 lineage using Bayesian timed phylogenomic analyses, and hypothesize that this may contribute to observed differences in geographic concordance among closely related isolates. Together, these findings suggest that ST1 and ST2, while both common causes of C. difficile infection in hospitals, show differential reliance on community and hospital spread. This conclusion supports the need for strain-specific criteria for interpreting genomic linkages and emphasizes the importance of considering differences in the epidemiology of circulating strains when devising interventions to reduce the burden of C. difficile infections.

DATA SUMMARY

All whole genome sequence data was uploaded to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under Bioproject accessions PRJNA595724, PRJNA561087, and PRJNA594943. Metadata that comply with patient privacy rules are included in the Supplementary Materials.
Metabolic depression in sea urchin barrens associated with food deprivation
Authors: Spindel Nathan B. , Lee Lynn C. , Okamoto Daniel K.
Published: November 2020

The proliferation of sea urchins can decimate macroalgal forests in coastal ecosystems, leading to persistent barren seascapes. While kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, productivity in these urchin barrens is dramatically reduced. Moreover, urchins inhabiting these food-depauperate barrens face starvation and many survive in these barrens for years or decades. Urchins in barrens can persist by eating food subsidies from drift algae, pelagic salps, tubeworms, as well as encrusting and filamentous algae, microbial mats, and slow-growing species resistant to herbivory. Despite both food from endogenous production and exogenous subsidies, many urchins in barrens likely experience prolonged food deprivation. This resource limitation may create a trade-off between reproduction and survival; for example, fecundity of purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) is 99.9% lower in barrens. Despite food constraints, red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus), the dominant urchin species at our study sites, can live in excess of 100 years and barrens in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC), Canada, have persisted for at least 143 years. While these phenomena are widespread and well documented, the bioenergetic adaptations that allow urchins to persist in these food-depauperate barrens remain poorly understood. To quantify habitat-specific differences in metabolic rates and energy reserves (as measured by gonadal mass), we conducted respirometry on and measured gonadal mass inM. franciscanusat three locations in BC inside and outside of adjacent kelp forest and barrens habitat. Here we demonstrate thatM. franciscanusin barrens versus kelp forests have substantially lower energy reserves and, importantly, also exhibit dramatic reductions in size-specific resting metabolic rates (RMR), even after standardizing by metabolically active body mass. On average, gonadal mass was 44.6% lower and RMR scaled to metabolically active body mass was 40% lower in barrens urchins than in kelp forest urchins. Such a shift in metabolic rate may provide a mechanism that facilitates barren state stability over long time scales asM. franciscanuscan lower energetic demands while they wait for small pulses of food, scrape by on low-productivity resources, and suppress recruitment of macroalgae for months, years, or decades.
An altered balance of integrated and segregated brain activity is a marker of cognitive deficits following sleep deprivation
Authors: Cross Nathan E. , Pomares Florence B. , Nguyen Alex , Perrault Aurore A. , Jegou Aude , Uji Makoto , Lee Kangjoo , Razavipour Fatemeh , Bin Ka’b Ali Obaï , Aydin Umit , Benali Habib , Grova Christophe , Dang-Vu Thien Thanh
Published: November 2020

Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to impairments in cognitive function. Here, we tested the hypothesis that cognitive changes in the sleep-deprived brain can be explained by information processing within and between large-scale cortical networks. We acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of 20 healthy volunteers during attention and executive tasks following a regular night of sleep, a night of sleep deprivation, and a recovery nap containing non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Overall, sleep deprivation was associated with increased cortex-wide functional integration, driven by a rise of integration within cortical networks. The ratio of within vs between network integration in the cortex increased further in the recovery nap, suggesting that prolonged wakefulness drives the cortex toward a state resembling sleep. This balance of integration and segregation in the sleep-deprived state was tightly associated with deficits in cognitive performance. This was a distinct and better marker of cognitive impairment than conventional indicators of homeostatic sleep pressure, as well as the pronounced thalamo-cortical connectivity changes that occurs towards falling asleep. Importantly, restoration of the balance between segregation and integration of cortical activity was also related to performance recovery after the nap, demonstrating a bi-directional effect. These results demonstrate that intra- and inter-individual differences in cortical network integration and segregation during task performance may play a critical role in vulnerability to cognitive impairment in the sleep deprived state.

Significance Statement

Sleep deprivation has significant negative consequences for cognitive function. Understanding how changes in brain activity underpin changes in cognition is important not only to discover why performance declines following extended periods of wakefulness, but also for answering the fundamental question of why we require regular and recurrent sleep for optimal performance. Finding neural correlates that predict performance following sleep deprivation also has the potential to understand which individuals are particularly vulnerable to sleep deprivation, and what aspects of brain function may protect them from these negative consequences on performance. Finally, understanding how perturbations to regular (well-rested) brain functioning affect cognitive performance, will provide important insight into how underlying principles of information processing in the brain may support cognition generally.
Prevalence of low back pain among working Ethiopian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Arero Amanuel Godana , Arero Godana , Mohammed Shimels Hussien , Eftekhari Sahar
Published: November 2020

Background and objective

Low back pain (LBP) as musculoskeletal disorder remains a common health problem and is one of the most prevalent occupational injuries affecting adults living in both developed and developing countries. To increase the power and improve the estimates of the prevalence of LBP among the working Ethiopian population, a comprehensive meta-analysis was carried out.

Methods

A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in multiple international electronic bibliographic databases such as Web of Science, Pub Med, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Population-based Studies into the Prevalence of LBP among the working population living in Ethiopia were included. Methodological quality for included studies was appraised using an adapted tool. Meta-analyses, Meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Funnel plot symmetry visualization followed by Begg’s rank correlation and Egger’s regression asymmetry test methods were performed to detect the existence of publication bias. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by using the Cochrane Q and I2-statistics.

Results

In all 719 articles were identified and 13 articles with 6513 participants met the inclusion criteria for meta-analyses after filtering. The pooled point and twelve-month prevalence of LBP among working Ethiopian population was 49% (95% CI 40; 58) and 56% (95% CI 49; 62) respectively.

Conclusion

The results showed a high prevalence of LBP among working Ethiopian population, especially among Teachers. We believe that Prevention strategies addressing the early onset of LBP among the working population would most likely be the answer to the burden of LBP on future economies in Ethiopia.
SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalization, severity, criticality, and fatality rates
Authors: Seedat Shaheen , Chemaitelly Hiam , Ayoub Houssein , Makhoul Monia , Mumtaz Ghina R. , Kanaani Zaina Al , Khal Abdullatif Al , Kuwari Einas Al , Butt Adeel A. , Coyle Peter , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Yassine Hadi M. , Al Kuwari Mohamed G. , Al Romaihi Hamad Eid , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: November 2020

Background

This study aimed to estimate the age-stratified and overall morbidity and mortality rates of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on an analysis of the pervasive SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Qatar, a country with <9% of the population being ≥50 years of age.

Methods

Infection disease outcomes were investigated using a Bayesian approach applied to an age-structured mathematical model describing SARS-CoV-2 transmission and disease progression in the population. The model was fitted to infection and disease time-series and age-stratified data. Two separate criteria for classifying morbidity were used: one based on actual recorded hospital admission (acute-care or intensive-care-unit hospitalization) and one based on clinical presentation as per World Health Organization classification of disease severity or criticality.

Results

All outcomes showed very strong age dependence, with low values for those <50 years of age, but rapidly growing rates for those ≥50 years of age. The strong age dependence was particularly pronounced for infection criticality rate and infection fatality rate. Infection acute-care and intensive-care-unit bed hospitalization rates were estimated at 13.10 (95% CI: 12.82-13.24) and 1.60 (95% CI: 1.58-1.61) per 1,000 infections, respectively. Infection severity and criticality rates were estimated at 3.06 (95% CI: 3.01-3.10) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.67-0.68) per 1,000 infections, respectively. Infection fatality rate was estimated at 1.85 (95% CI: 1.74-1.95) per 10,000 infections.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 severity and fatality in Qatar was not high and demonstrated a very strong age dependence with <4 infections in every 1,000 being severe or critical and <2 in every 10,000 being fatal. Epidemic expansion in nations with young populations may lead to lower disease burden than previously thought.
Predicting COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) Outbreak Dynamics Using SIR-based Models: Comparative Analysis of SIRD and Weibull-SIRD
Authors: Sedaghat Ahmad , Mosavi Amir
Published: November 2020

The SIR type models are built by a set of ordinary differential equations (ODE), which are strongly initial value dependant. To fit multiple biological data with SIR type equations requires fitting coefficients of these equations by an initial guess and applying optimization methods. These coefficients are also extremely initial value-dependent. In the vast publication of these types, we hardly see, among simple to highly complicated SIR type methods, that these methods presented more than a maximum of two biological data sets. We propose a novel method that integrates an analytical solution of the infectious population using Weibull distribution function into any SIR type models. The Weibull-SIRD method has easily fitted 4 set of COVID-19 biological data simultaneously. It is demonstrated that the Weibull-SIRD method predictions for susceptible, infected, recovered, and deceased populations from COVID-19 in Kuwait and UAE are superior compared with SIRD original ODE model. The proposed method here opens doors for new deeper studying of biological dynamic systems with realistic biological data trends than providing some complicated, cumbersome mathematical methods with little insight into biological data’s real physics.
Brain transcriptomic changes in Japanese quail reveal roles for neurotensin and urocortin 3 in avian parental care
Authors: Lopes Patricia C. , de Bruijn Robert
Published: November 2020

For many species, parental care critically affects offspring survival. But what drives animals to display parental behaviours towards young? In mammals, pregnancy-induced physiological transformations seem key in preparing the neural circuits that lead towards attraction (and reduced-aggression) to young. Beyond mammalian maternal behaviour, knowledge of the neural mechanisms that underlie parental care is severely lacking. We took advantage of a domesticated bird species, the Japanese quail, for which parental behaviour towards chicks can be induced through a sensitization procedure, a process that is not effective in all animals. We used the variation in parental responses to study neural transcriptomic changes associated with the sensitization procedure itself and with the outcome of the procedure (i.e., presence of parental behaviours). Out of the brain regions studied, we found that most differences in gene expression were located in the hypothalamus. Two genes identified are of particular interest, as no role in avian parental care was known for those genes. One is neurotensin, previously only demonstrated to be causally associated with maternal care in mammals. The other one is urocortin 3, causally demonstrated to affect young-directed neglect and aggression in mammals. Our work opens new avenues of research into understanding the neural basis of parental care in non-placental species.
Polygenic Prediction of Complex Traits with Iterative Screen Regression Models
Authors: Luo Meng , Gu Shiliang
Published: November 2020

Although genome-wide association studies have successfully identified thousands of markers associated with various complex traits and diseases, our ability to predict such phenotypes remains limited. A perhaps ignored explanation lies in the limitations of the genetic models and statistical techniques commonly used in association studies. However, using genotype data for individuals to perform accurate genetic prediction of complex traits can promote genomic selection in animal and plant breeding and can lead to the development of personalized medicine in humans. Because most complex traits have a polygenic architecture, accurate genetic prediction often requires modeling genetic variants together via polygenic methods. Here, we also utilize our proposed polygenic methods, which refer to as the iterative screen regression model (ISR) for genome prediction. We compared ISR with several commonly used prediction methods with simulations. We further applied ISR to predicting 15 traits, including the five species of cattle, rice, wheat, maize, and mice. The results of the study indicate that the ISR method performs well than several commonly used polygenic methods and stability.
Complete Genome Sequences of Nine Cluster A Mycobacteriophages: AgentM, Ajay, Aragog, Archetta, ForGetIt, Koko, Ph8s, Phlorence, and Wilkins
Authors: Lipman Rachel M. , Freise Amanda C. , Kapinos Andrew , Torres Canela , Reddi Krisanavane , Parker Jordan Moberg
Published: November 2020

Background

Bacteriophages are ubiquitous, highly diverse, and relatively understudied. Growing interest in phage therapy has underscored the importance of isolating and characterizing novel bacteriophages. The Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program aims to address this need by involving undergraduates around the world in authentic research.

Materials and Methods

Nine novel mycobacteriophages - AgentM, Ajay, Aragog, Archetta, ForGetIt, Koko, Ph8s, Phlorence, and Wilkins - were isolated from soil samples in southern California using hostMycobacterium smegmatismc2155. Each purified phage was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and genome sequencing and annotation.

Results

All nine bacteriophages were placed into mycobacteriophage Cluster A based on nucleotide similarity with other phages. The average genome length of all nine phages was 50,706 bp. On average, each phage had 87 total coding genes and GC content between 60-63%, consistent with that of other Cluster A phages. Transmission electron microscopy of phage particles revealed they had icosahedral heads and long, flexible tails, consistent with that of theSiphoviridaefamily. Plaque morphology and genome analysis confirms the nine novel phages are temperate as expected of Cluster A phages.

Conclusions

AgentM, Ajay, Aragog, Archetta, ForGetIt, Koko, Ph8s, Phlorence, and Wilkins are all mycobacteriophages that belong to theSiphoviridaefamily. Comparative genomic analyses revealed genetic mosaicism and diversity among these Cluster A phages. The discovery of these novel phages expands on the existing library of mycobacteriophage genomes.
Discovering a less-is-more effect to select transcription factor binding sites informative for motif inference
Authors: Xu Jinrui , Gao Jiahao , Gerstein Mark
Published: November 2020

Many statistical methods have been developed to infer the binding motifs of a transcription factor (TF) from a subset of its numerous binding regions in the genome. We refer to such regions, e.g. detected by ChIP-seq, as binding sites. The sites with strong binding signals are selected for motif inference. However, binding signals do not necessarily indicate the existence of target motifs. Moreover, even strong binding signals can be spurious due to experimental artifacts. Here, we observe that such uninformative sites without target motifs tend to be “crowded” -- i.e. have many other TF binding sites present nearby. In addition, we find that even if a crowded site contains recognizable target motifs, it can still be uninformative for motif inference due to the presence of interfering motifs from other TFs. We propose using less crowded and shorter binding sites in motif interference and develop specific recommendations for carrying this out. We find our recommendations substantially improve the resulting motifs in various contexts by 30%-70%, implying a “less-is-more” effect.
Augmenter of Liver Regeneration Regulates Cellular Iron Homeostasis by Modulating Mitochondrial Transport of ATP-Binding Cassette B8
Authors: Chang Hsiang-Chun , Shapiro Jason S. , Jiang Xinghang , Senyei Grant , Sato Teruki , Sawicki Konrad T. , Ardehali Hossein
Published: November 2020

Chronic loss of Augmenter of Liver Regeneration (ALR) results in mitochondrial myopathy with cataracts, however, the mechanism for this disorder remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that loss of ALR, a principal component of the MIA40/ALR protein import pathway, results in impaired cytosolic Fe/S cluster biogenesis in mammalian cells. Mechanistically, MIA40/ALR facilitates the mitochondrial import of ATP binding cassette (ABC)-B8, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein required for cytoplasmic Fe/S cluster maturation, through physical interaction with ABCB8. Downregulation of ALR impairs mitochondrial ABCB8 import, reduces cytoplasmic Fe/S cluster maturation, and increases cellular iron through the iron regulatory protein-iron response element system. Our finding provides a mechanistic link between MIA40/ALR import machinery and cytosolic Fe/S cluster maturation through the mitochondrial import of ABCB8, and offers a potential explanation for the pathology seen in patients with ALR mutations.
Propeller locations study of a generic delta wing UAV model
Authors: Kasim Khushairi Amri , Mat Shabudin , Ishak Iskandar Shah , Mansor Shuhaimi
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of propeller locations on the aerodynamic characteristics of a generic 55° swept angle sharp-edged delta wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model.

Design/methodology/approach

A generic delta-winged UAV model has been designed and fabricated to investigate the aerodynamic properties of the model when the propeller is placed at three different locations. In this research, the propeller has been placed at three different positions on the wing, namely, front, middle and rear. The experiments were conducted in a closed-circuit low-speed wind tunnel at speeds of 20 and 25 m/s corresponding to 0.6 × 106 and 0.8 × 106 Reynolds numbers, respectively. The propeller speed was set at constant 6,000 RPM and the angles of attack were varied from 0° to 20° for all cases. During the experiment, two measurement techniques were used on the wing, which were the steady balance measurement and surface pressure measurement.

Findings

The results show that the locations of the propeller have significant influence on the lift, drag and pitching moment of the UAV. Another important observation obtained from this study is that the location of the propeller can affect the development of the vortex and vortex breakdown. The results also show that the propeller advance ratio can also influence the characteristics of the primary vortex developed on the wing. Another main observation was that the size of the primary vortex decreases if the propeller advance ratio is increased.

Practical implications

There are various forms of UAVs, one of them is in the delta-shaped planform. The data obtained from this experiment can be used to understand the aerodynamic properties and best propeller locations for the similar UAV aircrafts.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, the surface pressure data available for a non-slender delta-shaped UAV model is limited. The data presented in this paper would provide a better insight into the flow characteristics of generic delta winged UAV at three different propeller locations.
Personalized coupons for lower-calorie fast-food choices among young German adults and the influence of consumers' nutritional attitudes on promotion effectiveness
Authors: Nguyen Minh Thi Thuy , Emberger-Klein Agnes , Menrad Klaus
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Personalized price promotion (PPP) is a marketing instrument that addresses the limitations of untargeted promotions by tailoring the offers to individual customers based on their purchase histories. Current evidence on PPP is limited to its immediate effects on buying behaviors at grocery stores and food companies' economic benefits. Moreover, little is known about the role of consumer characteristics in determining how effectively this promotional tool works. Hence, we aim to assess the effectiveness of PPP in promoting healthy fast food and which consumer-specific factors affect its performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a laboratory experiment to examine the effects of personalized and non-personalized coupons for lower-calorie fast food menus on food and calorie selection. The coupon personalization is based on participants' menu choices, calorie needs and deal proneness. The authors additionally investigate how post-intervention changes are influenced by consumers' estimation of their selected calories, and their attitudes toward nutrition.

Findings

Recipients of personalized incentives are more likely than participants in the control group to redeem the offered coupons, select more healthy items and reduce their selected calories. Such changes are less likely among participants underestimating the calorie content of their menu choices and perceiving higher barriers to healthy eating. Personalized coupons perform better even among subjects receiving lower discounting levels than the control treatment.

Originality/value

As the first to evaluate the effectiveness of PPP in encouraging healthy food choices, this study highlights the potential of this cutting-edge price intervention and provides valuable implications for future research.
An integrated ANP–QFD approach for prioritization of customer and design requirements for digitalization in an electronic supply chain
Authors: TS Deepu , V Ravi
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Supply chain efficiency can be enhanced by integrating the activities in supply chain through digitalization. Advancements in digital technologies has facilitated in designing robust and dynamic supply chain by bringing in efficiency, transparency and reduction in lead times. This research tries to identify and prioritize the customer requirements and design requirements for effective integration of supply chain through digitalization.

Design/methodology/approach

The key nine customer requirements and 16 design requirements applicable for an electronics company were shortlisted in consultation with the experts from the company and academia. An integrated analytic network process (ANP) and quality function deployment (QFD) methodology has been applied for prioritizing the customer and design requirements. The relative importance and interdependence of these requirements were identified and a House of Quality (HOQ) is constructed.

Findings

The HOQ constructed has prioritized and identified interrelationships among customer requirements and design requirements for effective supply chain digitalization. These findings could be effectively used by managers for planning the objectives on long-term, medium-term and short-term basis.

Originality/value

This study tries to bridge the gap of identifying and prioritizing the design and customer requirements for effective supply chain integration through digitalization. The results could aid practicing managers and academicians in decision-making on supply chain digitalization process.
Exploring potential implications of Belt and Road Initiative for supply chain resilience: a comparative study of five South Asian countries
Authors: Butt Atif Saleem , Shah Syed Hamad Hassan
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper explores the potential opportunities and challenges that Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may bring for resilient supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs multiple case study methodology by considering five south Asian countries. Overall, 36 semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers from three supplying firms, two transportation centers and four buying firms are undertaken. Three supplying firms were based in Pakistan, providing cement and steel products. Simultaneously, two transportation centers were located in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, mainly engaged in cargo and freight handling. Finally, the buying firms were located in Mainland China and India, mainly constructing road and rail networks.

Findings

Our findings reveal both challenges and opportunities for supply chain resilience within the context of BRI. In particular, findings suggest that BRI can improve quality infrastructure, greater connectivity for logistics firms and enhance consumer markets. Conversely, BRI also poses challenges to supply chain resilience in managing large-scale logistics infrastructure and the potential conflicts between countries participating in BRI.

Research limitations/implications

As this study attempts to build a theory, its result should not be generalized to a broader population. Second, this study only explores BRI's implications for resilient supply chains within five South Asian countries.

Practical implications

Firms can use our study results to understand BRI’s implications for resilient supply chains. Particularly, it presents firms with the potential opportunities and challenges that BRI brings for resilient supply chains.

Originality/value

BRI has been the subject of much research in domains like political science, economics and law but its application to the supply chain resilience is rather scant. Our study, therefore, contributes to the emergent literature on supply chain resilience within the context of BRI by exploring its potential opportunities and challenges.
Uncovering the dimensions of servicescape using mixed method approach – A study of beauty salons
Authors: Kampani Nidhi , Jhamb Deepika
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study aims to explore the dimensions assessing the servicescape of beauty salons and provides suggestions to improve the salon's servicescape.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method design is used in the sequence of thematic analysis through focus group technique followed by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the beauty salon's servicescape.

Findings

The exploration of factors in beauty salons is determined with three dimensions: the substantive staging of servicescape, the communicative staging of servicescape and the social staging of servicescape. These dimensions are mentioned in the order of importance perceived by the customers. The substantive staging of servicescape was identified with five factors: ambient conditions, facility aesthetics, artifacts, provisions and spatial layout. Communicative staging of servicescape explored four factors: employee duties, employee commitment, employee–customer interactions and employee image. Social staging derived two factors: customer characteristics, customer-to-customer interactions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings enrich the previous literature with the addition of new factors while assessing servicescape in beauty salons and the development of new items through qualitative research in the domain of servicescape.

Practical implications

The study offers the managers to understand the importance of various factors affecting the servicescape in beauty salons. The salon managers can beautify the service environment through the implementation of the factors identified, thus resulting in enhancing the experience of customers at the salons.

Originality/value

Considering no research has been conducted on beauty salons scale development, this study serves as the first empirical research effort.
BigBasket.Com: Redefining the Business Model
Authors: Thomas Sujo , Abhishek  , Vatavwala Sanket , Kumar Sinha Piyush
Published: November 2020

BigBasket.com, an online supermarket established in December 2011 in Bangalore, India, had become one of the major players in the Indian online grocery market by the end of March 2016.1 Run by Innovative Retail Concepts Private Limited, BigBasket.com was operating in more than 23 cities across the country in 2016. The online grocery market in India was in a stage of growth and transformation, fuelled by India's large urban population who sought a lifestyle of convenience and ease. It had also attracted many entrepreneurs who competed fiercely with each other in a market characterised by thin margins. Intense competition ensured that only a few companies were able to survive and sustain themselves. One of these companies was Big Basket, which succeeded in spite of the competition, attracting Series Da funding worth USD 150b million from the United Arab Emirates-based Abraaj Group in March 2016.2
Microsign Products
Authors: Vohra Neharika , Saxena Siddharth
Published: November 2020

Microsign Products was established in 1979 by Mr. Nisheeth Mehta in the quiet town of Bhavnagar in Gujarat. The company commenced its operations to produce plastic fasteners, clips, clamps closures mainly used in electronic industries. In 2015, it had become the market leader in Western India and the whole and sole seller of many products such as adhesive clips and cables for large companies such as Honda, the Tatas, Siemens etc. Over the years Microsign diversified to meet the requirements of the automobile, defence, telecommunication, and packaging industries. Exhibit 1 shows the product list of Microsign. Operating from a single three storied building over the last 35 years, Microsign served clients from far and wide. The liaison office in Mumbai helped in the procurement of material and in marketing its products. In May 2015, Microsign moved to a 2000 square yard building on the outskirts of Bhavnagar. There was ample room for manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and administration in the new premises of Microsign.
GAIL “Saksham” Programme: Remoulding the Future
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Turaga Rama Mohana , Mittal Shweta
Published: November 2020

‘Saksham’, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of one of the largest public sector companies in India, the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), provides specific training in skills required for plastic industry to low-income communities potentially affected by GAIL's business operations. Unlike a typical GAIL CSR programme, which directly targets communities affected by GAIL's operations, the Saksham programme serves the needs of one of GAIL's main customers - the small and medium scale plastic industry. Although the programme is a huge success and has completed three batches, all the students of which were placed in plastic manufacturing companies, Shamasundara, Zonal General Manager of GAIL is still not sure about the future of the programme. He wondered what should be the metrics to evaluate whether a programme can be classified as a CSR initiative by a firm.
Society for Creation of Opportunity through Proficiency in English
Authors: Ravi Jayanti S. , Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: November 2020

The Chief Executive Officer of SCOPE (Society for Creation of Opportunity through Proficiency in English) has to decide which of two models, a public-private partnership model which trained interested youth in the language and certified them, or an Only Assessment Scheme, which only tested and certified candidates, needed to receive greater emphasis. SCOPE, a government programme to develop English competence among youth, was in its fifth year, but the initial targets set for it were yet to be achieved.
Setco Automotive Ltd: Drivers of a Successful Turnaround
Authors: Desai Naman , Jacob Joshy , Godiawala Savan
Published: November 2020

The case examines the financial and operational causes of business failure associated with Setco Automotive Ltd. an auto-clutch manufacturing company located in India and then proceeds to identify the key turn around factors which eventually led to Setco becoming the largest producer of clutches for medium and heavy vehicles in India. The case allows the participants to understand and evaluate the financial impact of turn around factors on the company's profitability and survivability and in also determining the optimal capital structure for a struggling company.
Government Engineering College, Gandhinagar
Authors: Chand Vijaya Sherry , Vasavada Mukul
Published: November 2020

Dr. Rajul Gajjar, Principal of Government Engineering College, Gandhinagar is facing the challenge of transforming the government-managed engineering college to a college with autonomous status. This significant change is contemplated as a part of Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme Phase II (TEQIP II), a government initiative, funded by World Bank. The case presents the operational challenges for improving and sustaining the quality of technical education within the larger transition to autonomous status. It also provides an opportunity to examine the tension between autonomy and governance.
Embedding entrepreneurship in doctoral students: the impact of a T-shaped educational approach
Authors: Rippa Pierluigi , Landi Giovanni , Cosimato Silvia , Turriziani Lorenzo , Gheith Mohamed
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Over the last decades, the importance of entrepreneurial education (EE) for the personal development of young generations has gained momentum among policymakers, practitioners and scholars. This paper offers some insights into the way T-shaped PhD programs can trigger transdisciplinary abilities of STEM students, making them even more ready toward venturing activities.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the purpose of the study, the effectiveness of a new T-shaped doctoral model was explored, testing it on a sample of STEM PhD students at Polytechnic School of University of Naples Federico II, using a qualitative-quantitative approach.

Findings

The results prove the positive influence that the T-shaped PhD program has on students in terms of vertical skills and horizontal capabilities attainment for entrepreneurial readiness.

Practical implications

This study advances interesting managerial and policy implications for activating virtuous collaborations to better respond to the need of current socioeconomic scenarios through academic knowledge.

Originality/value

Despite the growing relevance of EE, research about its influence at PhD level and the effect of different pedagogical methods remains scarce and controversial. Thus, this research explores if EE can support PhD students in science and technology transdisciplinarity terms of innovation management.
Authentic leadership and organizational citizenship behaviour: the role of psychological capital
Authors: Sri Ramalu Subramaniam , Janadari Nadira
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the direct and indirect effects of authentic leadership on organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) with the presence of psychological capital as a mediating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

This quantitative research was conducted among 396 front-line employees in six public sector organizations in Sri Lanka. A survey method was employed to collect the data.

Findings

It was found that psychological capital partially mediates the relationship between authentic leadership and OCB. In other words, the relationship between authentic leadership and OCB is both direct and indirect, mediated though psychological capital.

Research limitations/implications

The authenticity of leaders' conduct, psychological capabilities and the outcomes of the performance, are rooted in and reinforced by the culture of the particular organization; hence, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Practical implications

The framework of the present study provides a guideline to the top management of the public sector in Sri Lanka to design leadership programs that can develop authentic leaders.

Originality/value

The direct and indirect relationships established between authentic leadership and psychological capital and OCB signifies the critical importance of authentic leadership in the development of psychological capital and OCB among employees.
Decent work and work–family enrichment: role of meaning at work and work engagement
Authors: Kashyap Vaneet , Arora Ridhi
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the current study is to examine decent work (DW) as a critical antecedent of work–family enrichment (WFE). Further, it also focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms that facilitate the linkage of employees' perceptions of DW and WFE by investigating about the mediating role of knowledge workers' experience of meaning at work and their work engagement levels.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a quantitative cross-sectional research design using survey administration among faculty members employed in public and private universities of North India.

Findings

Results depicted that in addition to direct relationship between DW and WFE, both meaning at work and work engagement partially mediate the relationship between access to DW and WFE indirectly. These findings showed that the provision of access to DW by organizations will help facilitate WFE via employees' experience of meaning at work and their levels of engagement with their work.

Practical implications

The study findings would be useful for organizational practitioners and policymakers to design sustainable human resource development (HRD) policies and practices for enriching the WFE of employees as well as in driving talent retention and engagement.

Originality/value

It is one of the few studies that captures perceptions of employees about access to DW policies and practices and its role in enhancing WFE in the South Asian context. Further, it also advances our knowledge on antecedents and consequences of WFE.
Student experiences studying accounting in English as an additional language
Authors: Smith Sonnette , Carstens Adelia , Stainbank Lesley
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the individual and social learning experiences of first-year accounting students studying in English as an additional language. The challenges of these students relating to listening, reading, speaking and writing in English, and the impact of these on their academic outcomes, are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study design was used. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 students, both academically successful and unsuccessful, who had completed the first year. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted and a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive coding was used to interpret the data. This entailed the application of a language skills-based framework of teaching and learning to the first-order process of coding. An iterative and reflective process allowed themes to emerge from the data. These themes, in turn, triggered second-order codes that resonated with aspects of the interactionist approach to second language acquisition (SLA).

Findings

The themes that emerged indicated that students’ ability to interact with their study material, and their exposure to positive verbal interaction opportunities in both formal and informal contexts, may have contributed to their academic success.

Practical implications

It is recommended that an interactionist perspective be considered when designing curriculum resources and accounting language learning activities for first-year accounting students.

Originality/value

It is anticipated that the results will contribute towards building a bridge between accounting education and SLA research and provide a more informed linguistic foundation for incorporating language skills into the accounting curriculum.