bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A high-throughput cytotoxicity screening platform revealsagr-independent mutations in bacteraemia-associatedStaphylococcus aureusthat promote intracellular persistence
Authors: Hachani Abderrahman , Giulieri Stefano G. , Guérillot Romain , Walsh Calum J. , Herisse Marion , Soe Ye Mon , Baines Sarah L. , Thomas David R. , Cheung Shane , Hayes Ashleigh S. , Cho Hyun-Jung , Newton Hayley J. , Pidot Sacha , Massey Ruth C. , Howden Benjamin P. , Stinear Timothy P.
Published: December 2022

Staphylococcus aureusinfections are associated with high mortality rates. Often considered an extracellular pathogen,S. aureuscan persist and replicate within host cells, evading immune responses and causing host cell death. Classical methods for assessingS. aureuscytotoxicity are limited by testing culture supernatants and endpoint measurements that do not capture the phenotypic diversity of intracellular bacteria. Using a well-established epithelial cell line model, we have developed a platform calledInToxSa(IntracellularToxicity ofS. aureus) to quantify intracellula cytotoxicS. aureusphenotypes. Studying a panel of 387S. aureusbacteraemia isolates, and combined with comparative, statistical and functional genomics, our platform identified mutations inS. aureusclinical isolates that reduced bacterial cytotoxicity and promoted intracellular persistence. In addition to numerous convergent mutations in the Agr quorum sensing system, our approach detected mutations in other loci that also impacted cytotoxicity and intracellular persistence. We discovered that clinical mutations inausA,encoding the aureusimine non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, reducedS. aureuscytotoxicity and increased intracellular persistence.InToxSais a versatile, high-throughput cell-based phenomics platform and we showcase its utility by identifying clinically relevantS. aureuspathoadaptive mutations that promote intracellular residency.
Development of a protocol for soil transmitted helminths DNA extraction from feces by combining commercially available solutions
Authors: Devyatov AA , Davydova EE , Luparev AR , Karseka SA , Shuryaeva AK , Zagainova AV , Shipulin GA
Published: December 2022

Background

One of the main challenges for the mass introduction of molecular diagnostics of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) into clinical practice is the lack of a generally recognized effective method for isolating parasitic DNA from fecal samples. In the present study, we assessed the effect of various pretreatment procedures on the efficiency of removing PCR inhibitors and extractingToxocara canisDNA from feces.

Methodology and main results

In the first part of the work, we evaluated the effectiveness of four destructive methods (bead beating, the action of temperature-dependent enzymes, freeze-heat cycles, and incubation in a lysis buffer of a commercial kit) on the integrity of Toxocara eggs using microscopy and the efficiency of DNA extraction using PCR. Our results showed that Toxocara eggs were most effectively destroyed using the bead beating procedure, while the effect of enzymes and freeze-heat cycles did not lead to significant destruction of the eggs or the release of Toxocara DNA. In the second part of the work, we evaluated the effect of prewashes with 0.1% Tween-20 solution and the use of commercial concentrators on DNA extraction from fecal samples contaminated withT. caniseggs. We have shown that the use of commercial concentrators in combination with sample washing can significantly increase the DNA yield and reduce PCR inhibition.

Conclusions

A bead beating procedure for 30 minutes at a shaking frequency of 50 Hz was sufficient to completely destroy theToxocara caniseggs. Helminth DNA isolation protocols that do not include a bead beating step are not preferred. The use of a commercial concentrator followed by washing with a 0.1% Tween-20 solution can significantly increase the yield of STHs DNA and reduce PCR inhibition.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

DNA-based techniques are increasingly being used for the diagnosis of intestinal helminth infections in both clinical and research laboratories. However, extracting DNA from intestinal worm eggs in feces remains a challenge because the very tough eggshell protects their DNA. In addition, feces contain inhibitors that can interfere with test results, and these must be removed during DNA extraction. In the present study, we assessed the effect of different STHs egg destruction methods, as well as concentration and washing procedures for fecal samples, on the PCR test results. We have shown that bead beating is the most effective and sufficient method for the complete destruction of helminth eggs. In addition, we have shown that parasite concentrators significantly increase the sensitivity of the PCR-based test.
Emergency Department average wait time before admission, average time till sent home, and average number of violations for different hospitals types in Tennessee: Date Analysis of Medicare Data
Authors: Brahmbhatt Viraj
Published: December 2022

The Emergency Department is a key facet of modern healthcare facilities and is responsible for bringing in a lot of patient volume. This healthcare asset is prone to a lot of shortcomings, primarily long waiting times. Though, patients primarily go to the emergency department in emergency scenarios, they still have a choice on which hospital they choose to attend. As such, it may be important for patients to be informed on the expected wait times at hospitals. Though the wait times vary each day, it may be important to know the average expected wait times, time till sent home, and number of violations by hospital type. Using the hospital data published by Medicare, the hospitals were grouped into 3 categories (Not for profit, For profit, and Academic) and data analysis was conducted and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)was used to determine if the results were statistically significant. The analysis revealed that Academic hospital emergency departments had the highest time before admission, highest time until admission, and highest number of violations. The ANOVA revealed that the difference observed was significant in both time until admission (p-value=.0867) and number of violations (p-value = .011). The results of the study suggest that patients should consider attending a for-profit hospital emergency department if waiting time is a major concern. Analysis of the number of violations (indicative of poor care quality) suggested that for-profit hospitals do not have worse care quality and patients should not be worried about compromised quality care for the shorter wait time.
High Density Domain-Focused CRISPR Screens Reveal Novel Epigenetic Regulators ofHOX/MEISActivation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Barbosa Karina , Deshpande Anagha , Perales Marlenne , Xiang Ping , Murad Rabi , Minkina Anna , Robertson Neil , Schischlik Fiorella , Lei Xue , Sun Younguk , Brown Adam , Amend Diana , Jeremias Irmela , Doench John G. , Humphries R. Keith , Ruppin Eytan , Shendure Jay , Mali Prashant , Adams Peter D , Deshpande Aniruddha J.
Published: December 2022

Aberrant expression of stem-cell-associated genes is a common feature in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is linked to leukemic self-renewal and therapy resistance. Using AF10-rearranged leukemia as a prototypical example displaying a recurrent “stemness” network activated in AML, we screened for chromatin regulators that sustain aberrant activation of these networks. We deployed a CRISPR-Cas9 screen with a bespoke domain-focused library and identified several novel chromatin-modifying complexes as regulators of the TALE domain transcription factor MEIS1, a key leukemia stem cell (LSC)-associated gene. CRISPR droplet sequencing revealed that many of these MEIS1 regulators coordinately controlled the transcription of several AML oncogenes. In particular, we identified a novel role for the Tudor-domain containing chromatin reader protein SGF29 in the transcription of key AML oncogenes. Furthermore, SGF29 deletion impaired leukemogenesis in models representative of multiple AML subtypes. Our studies reveal a novel role for SGF29 as a non-oncogenic dependency in AML and identify the SGF29 Tudor domain as an attractive target for drug discovery.
A genome-wide screen in macrophages identifies PTEN as required for myeloid restriction ofListeria monocytogenesinfection
Authors: Glover Rochelle C. , Schwardt Nicole H. , Leano Shania-Kate E. , Sanchez Madison E. , Thomason Maureen K. , Olive Andrew J. , Reniere Michelle L.
Published: December 2022

Listeria monocytogenes(Lm) is an intracellular foodborne pathogen which causes the severe disease listeriosis in immunocompromised individuals. Macrophages play a dual role duringLminfection by both promoting dissemination ofLmfrom the gastrointestinal tract and limiting bacterial growth upon immune activation. Despite the relevance of macrophages toLminfection, the mechanisms underlying phagocytosis ofLmby macrophages are not well understood. To identify host factors important forLminfection of macrophages, we performed an unbiased CRISPR/Cas9 screen which revealed pathways that are specific to phagocytosis ofLmand those that are required for internalization of bacteria generally. Specifically, we discovered the tumor suppressor PTEN promotes macrophage phagocytosis ofLmandL. ivanovii, but not other Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, we found that PTEN enhances phagocytosis ofLmvia its lipid phosphatase activity by promoting adherence to macrophages. Using conditional knockout mice lackingPtenin myeloid cells, we show that PTEN-dependent phagocytosis is important for host protection during oralLminfection. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive identification of macrophage factors involved in regulatingLmuptake and characterizes the function of one factor, PTEN, duringLminfectionin vitroandin vivo. Importantly, these results demonstrate a role for opsonin-independent phagocytosis inLmpathogenesis and suggest that macrophages play a primarily protective role during foodborne listeriosis.

Author Summary

Listeria monocytogenes(Lm) is a bacterial pathogen that causes the foodborne illness listeriosis primarily in immunocompromised, elderly, and pregnant individuals. Listeriosis is one of the deadliest bacterial infections known, with a mortality rate of ~30% even when treated with antibiotics. The high mortality rate of listeriosis is due to inefficient restriction ofLmby the immune system, and subsequent spread of bacteria beyond the gastrointestinal tract to internal organs such as the liver and brain. Macrophages are important for immune clearance ofLmbut are also hypothesized to promote dissemination of intracellularLm; thus, studies ofLm-macrophage interactions are critical for understanding the balance between bacterial growth and restriction by these phagocytes. We performed a forward genetic screen in macrophages and discovered that the tumor suppressor PTEN promotes phagocytosis ofLmby enhancing adherence to macrophages. These results demonstrate a novel function of macrophage PTEN, which canonically acts as a repressor of phagocytosis. In addition, we found that PTEN protects mice from severe disease and lowers bacterial burdens following oral inoculation ofLm. Our results demonstrate for the first time that macrophage phagocytosis is an important immune defense against invasiveLmduring the foodborne route of infection.
TREX1 restricts CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in human cells
Authors: Karasu Mehmet E. , Toufektchan Eléonore , Maciejowski John , Corn Jacob E.
Published: December 2022

CRISPR-Cas mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) can flexibly introduce desired mutations at targeted sites in a genome. But achieving high HDR efficiencies is a major hurdle in many cellular contexts. Moreover, cells from patients with mutations in DNA repair factors can exhibit low CRISPR-Cas-mediated HDR, complicating genome editing as a potential treatment. We used genome-wide screening in Fanconi anemia (FA) patient lymphoblastic cell lines to uncover suppressors of CRISPR-Cas mediated HDR. Surprisingly, we found that a single exonuclease calledTREX1is an important determinant of HDR efficiency when single-stranded templates are used as a repair template.TREX1expression acts as a biomarker for CRISPR-Cas mediated HDR, such that cell lines expressing high levels ofTREX1have poor HDR that can be rescued byTREX1removal. CRISPR-Cas mediated HDR can also be rescued by using single-stranded DNA templates that are chemically protected in a manner consistent with TREX1’s exonucleolytic activity. Overall, our data provide a mechanistic explanation for why some cells are easier to edit than others and suggest a route to increase CRISPR-Cas mediated HDR inTREX-expressing context.
Novel synergies and isolate specificities in the drug interactions landscape ofMycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Van Nhi , Degefu Yonatan N. , Leus Pathricia A. , Larkins-Ford Jonah , Klickstein Jacob , Maurer Florian P. , Stone David , Poonawala Husain , Thorpe Cheleste M. , Smith Trever C. , Aldridge Bree B.
Published: December 2022

Mycobacterium abscessusinfections are difficult to treat and are often considered untreatable without tissue resection. Due to the intrinsic drug-resistant nature of the bacteria, combination therapy of three or more antibiotics is recommended. A major challenge in treatingM. abscessusinfections is the absence of a universal combination therapy with satisfying clinical success rates, leaving clinicians to treat infections using antibiotic lacking efficacy data. We systematically measured drug combinations inM. abscessusto establish a resource of drug interaction data and identify patterns of synergy to help design optimized combination therapies. We measured approximately 230 pairwise drug interactions among 22 antibiotics and identified 71 synergistic pairs, 54 antagonistic pairs, and four potentiator-antibiotics not previously reported. We found that commonly used drug combinations in the clinic, such as azithromycin and amikacin, are antagonistic in lab reference strain ATCC19977, whereas novel combinations, such as azithromycin and rifampicin, are synergistic. Another challenge in developing universally effective multidrug therapies forM. abscessusis the significant variation in drug response between isolates. We measured drug interactions in a focused set of 36 drug pairs across a small panel of clinical isolates with rough and smooth morphotypes. We observed highly strain-dependent drug interactions that cannot be predicted from single-drug susceptibility profiles or known drug mechanisms of action. Our study demonstrates the immense potential to identify synergistic drug combinations in the vast drug combination space and emphasizes the importance of strain-specific combination measurements for designing improved therapeutic interventions.
The impact of corporate attributes on voluntary HR disclosure practices: a study of Indian corporate sector
Authors: Aggarwal Kirti
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The objective of the present study is to examine the impact of corporate characteristics on human resource disclosures in Indian corporate sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates the annual reports of 336 Indian listed companies of NSE-500 Index. The data are collected for the latest time period which contains eight years (FY 2012–13 to 2019–2020). The data of independent variables (company characteristics) have collected from annual reports and CMIE ProwessIQ Database of the Indian listed companies. The data of human resource dissclosure index (HRDI) is collected form annual reports using content analysis approach. For analysis purpose, descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation matrix, Two-way Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) regression model have been used.

Findings

The outcomes show that net sales, market capitalisation, ROTA, return on equity, quick ratio, PAR have significant positive and age, profit after tax, current ratio have significant negative effect on HRDI. On the contrary, debt-equity ratio, earnings per share, type of auditor, listing status have insignificant positive and net fixed assets, promoter's holding have insignificant negative effect on HR disclosures of the selected Indian listed companies.

Originality/value

The HRDI constructed in the present study helps the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and other regulatory bodies to make some standards regarding voluntary HR disclosure practices in Indian corporate sector.
Consumer engagement with self-driving cars: a theory of planned behavior-informed perspective
Authors: Hollebeek Linda D. , Menidjel Choukri , Itani Omar S. , Clark Moira K. , Sigurdsson Valdimar
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study investigates the mediating role of consumer engagement (CE) in the relationship between perceived behavioral control (PBC) and purchase intent and the moderating role of perceived safety in the relationship between PBC and CE in the self-driving car (SDC) context.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the model, a sample of 368 consumers was deployed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings reveal that consumers' SDC engagement mediates the relationship between PBC and their intent to purchase an SDC. Consumer-perceived SDC safety also moderates the association of PBC/engagement.

Originality/value

While prior research has examined consumer-based drivers of SDC adoption, understanding of consumers' SDC engagement-related dynamics and outcomes lags behind. Addressing this gap, we propose and test a model that explores consumers' SDC engagement vis-à-vis its drivers (perceived SDC safety/behavioral control) and outcomes (SDC purchase intent).
Furniture configurations in an active learning classroom make further differences in student outcomes
Authors: Kepez Orcun , Üst Selin
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to understand the effect of class configurations in an active learning classroom (ALC) on students' self-perception of experiences and learning outcomes, namely participation, performance, motivation and creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered survey (N = 131) was conducted in seven classes from the varied disciplines of communication, interior design and architecture. During the first half of the semester, all selected courses were conducted in traditional classrooms, whereas those in the second half were conducted in an ALC. ALC was designed to be used with several furniture configurations which could be easily set up by members of the learning community themselves. The survey was conducted at the end of semester before final exams, when students have a clear idea of the experiences in both the traditional and the new (ALC) classrooms, having spent equal time in each of these learning environments.

Findings

The main finding of the study is that students were eager to have future classes in the ALC rather than in traditional settings since the students experienced better learning outcomes in the ALC. During the second half of the semester, students who were in classes conducted following active learning (AL) pedagogies, with its supportive spatial configurations, were more aware of the learning outcomes facilitated by the physical environment. Further, the authors found that the increase in the number of furniture configurations has a statistically significant positive impact on learning outcomes.

Originality/value

AL pedagogy is often studied as a way of teaching and rarely with its associated classroom environments. In most of the existing studies, the configuration of furniture has often been overlooked within an AL environment by a learning community. This study fills the gap in emphasising the spatial aspects of the ALC by focusing on the specific pedagogy being followed.
Pineapple: The growth challenges faced by a South African Insurtech disruptor
Authors: Tladinyane Lesego , Gumede Lungelo , Bick Geoff
Published: December 2022

Subject area of the teaching case:

This case study is intended to supplement postgraduate business learning with the facilitation of an academic practitioner. The case draws on a culmination of subjects, and the participants are encouraged to juxtapose the case information with their professional experiences; however, the primary focus of the case material will be centred on strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Student level:

The primary audience for the teaching case is management education programmes including: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), specialist Masters in Management, and certain Executive Education programmes.

Brief overview of the teaching case:

This case is about protagonist Ndabenhle Junior Ngulube, the cofounder of an innovative technology-enabled insurance intermediary company called Pineapple. The company has identified an opportunity to resolve the inherent conflict of interest within the insurance industry, as well as the grudge association of non-life insurance purchases. While the competitive landscape of the sector is traditionally dominated by a few large incumbent market participants, Pineapple's digital distribution strategy is more effective at converting ‘clicks-to-clients’, at a fraction of the typical customer acquisition cost. The peer-to-peer business model also allows for superior risk-selection, greater affinity, and lower incidents of fraudulent claims. Ndabenhle and the team develop the company's customer acquisition strategy by drawing on technological trends, reputation drivers, and a concentrated social media approach that focusses on trust, access, product, and value. But, as 2020 begins, Ndabenhle faces choices about the means and methods of scaling the business operation. The case documents the first few years of Pineapple's operations, with a strong focus on business model innovation, distribution, scalability, and technological integration.

Expected learning outcomes:

To analyse the role disruptive technologies play within sectoral business model innovation

To evaluate the industry-specific competitive business landscape and complexities of building and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage within a niche market segment

To assess the strategic growth opportunities for an emerging market Insurtech disruptor

To critically appraise the entrepreneurial complexities faced by decision-makers when looking to challenge incumbent market leaders
Savannah Informatics: Driving renewed growth in a Kenyan health informatics company
Authors: Nyakeri Willys Makoyo , Samuelsson Mikael , Bick Geoff
Published: December 2022

Subject area of the teaching case:

The case is particularly well suited to entrepreneurship, marketing, technology, innovation, or strategy courses.

Student level:

This teaching case is aimed at postgraduate students in management or business programmes.

Brief overview of the teaching case:

This case follows the Kenyan healthcare tech company Savannah Informatics as they contemplate how the company will continue to grow in a post-pandemic world. Savannah is the market leader in electronic claims validation solutions for the Kenyan healthcare system. Their flagship product, the digital platform Slade 360, allows health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients to share claims information for health services in real time, drastically reducing payment transfer times, incidents of fraud, and account errors. The Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown mandates from the Kenyan government have reduced short-term revenues by driving down hospital visits for citizens overall, but they have also created a demand for telemedicine and more online healthcare solutions. CEO John Muthee and his co-founders are left to consider their options for growing Savannah Informatics: expanding into new markets, creating more solutions for their insurance and provider customers in Kenya, or diversifying.

Expected learning outcomes:

Identify the key challenges facing Savannah

Analyse the organisation using the 5Cs model (company, customers, competitors, collaborators and context) and VRIO (value, rarity, imitability, and organisation) analysis

Assess the growth opportunities available to Savannah and make recommendations
Repositioning and diversification in crisis times: a case of ShakahariS by Awadhpuri
Authors: Sunil Anitha , Shah Neha
Published: December 2022

Learning outcomes

Students discussing the case will be able to:▪ Evaluate and decide the marketing strategy that will best align the organizational resources and capabilities with the external environment.▪ Demonstrate the process of segmentation and choose the most attractive target market.▪ Analyze the competition and develop an effective positioning strategy.▪ Evaluate and use different growth strategies in business situations.

Case overview/synopsis

The case demonstrated the decision-making process behind the post-pandemic strategy of ShakahariS by Awadhpuri, a restaurant in the emerging Indian market. The restaurant was situated in Ahmedabad, one of the fastest-growing mini-metro cites of the Indian restaurant industry. It was known for authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine. The restaurant, originally named Awadhpuri, was started in 2012 by Ms. Vandana Singh. It was positioned as a non-vegetarian restaurant providing Awadhi cuisine in the fine-dining segment known for its ambiance and authentic taste. However, due to the predominant vegetarian market in Ahmedabad city, the restaurant was rebranded and repositioned as ShakahariS by Awadhpuri, serving only vegetarian cuisine in 2018. The years 2019–2020 were very harsh due to the Covid-19 crisis. During the uncertain times when the lockdowns and the guidelines kept on changing, it was difficult for the restaurant to even recover their costs. It was a good time to explore the possibilities of the cloud kitchen format, and they came up with multiple kitchens offering different cuisines and targeted new customer segments. The case highlighted these survival strategies adopted by the restaurant during Covid. Post-pandemic, the protagonist was now contemplating a long-term growth strategy for the restaurant to target a new market with a new offering. The dilemma for the restaurant is whether (or not) to align the marketing strategy by repositioning again to cater to the new target segment.

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate courses on Business Management (BBA) and specific topics in introductory courses on marketing management and strategic management of the post-management programs.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
The hope and burden of early intervention: Parents' educational planning for their deaf children in post-1960s Australia
Authors: Payne Aaron , Proctor Helen , Spandagou Ilektra
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This article examines the educational decision-making of hearing parents for their deaf children born during a period (1970–1990s) before the introduction of new-born hearing screening in New South Wales, where the study was conducted, and prior to the now near-universal adoption of cochlear implants in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

We present findings from an oral history study in which parents were invited to recall how they planned for the education of their deaf children.

Findings

We propose that these oral histories shed light on how the concept, early intervention – a child development principle that became axiomatic from about the 1960s – significantly shaped the conduct of parents of deaf children, constituting both hope and burden, and intensifying a focus on early decision-making. They also illustrate ways in which parenting was shaped by two key structural shifts, one, being the increasing enrolment of deaf children in mainstream rather than separate classrooms and the other being the transformation of deafness itself by developments in hearing assistance technology.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a sociological/historical literature of “parenting for education” that almost entirely lacks deaf perspectives and a specialist literature of parental decision-making for deaf children that is almost entirely focussed on the post cochlear implant generation. The paper is distinctive in its treatment of the concept of “early intervention” as a historical phenomenon rather than a “common sense” truth, and proposes that parents of deaf children were at the leading edge of late-20th and early-21st century parenting intensification.
Relationship sustainability-store equity across segments of retail customers
Authors: Marín-García Antonio , Gil-Saura Irene , Ruiz-Molina Maria-Eugenia , Fuentes-Blasco Maria
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The study of sustainability in retail has experienced an exponential interest in recent years as a result of greater awareness on the part of consumers of the negative effects of the current way of producing and consuming on society and the environment. This work examines the heterogeneous evaluation based on behavioural variables in retail trade and how consumer perceptions towards sustainable practices implemented in stores can influence the overall store equity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a theoretical model based on the literature, tested through a mixed regression model in a sample of 510 customers of food retail establishments.

Findings

The dimensions of sustainability are postulated as driving forces of brand equity towards the retail establishment. Specifically, social sustainability shows a greater impact on consumer perception, being the main factor in the development of the store's brand equity. Furthermore, the analysis of unobserved heterogeneity identifies three latent classes in which the effects of perceptions on sustainable retail activities vary across consumer segments.

Originality/value

The study analyses in a single model the effect of sustainability dimensions on store equity from the consumer's perspective, analysing the differences between these relationships as a consequence of the unobserved heterogeneity of consumers.
Reduced-form models of correlated default timing: a systematic literature review
Authors: Nguyen Ha , Zhou Xian
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview, a classification of existing research groups for correlated default models using a reduced-form method and an identification of future research opportunities in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review is used for the identification, selection, evaluation and synthesis of relevant literature using keywords regarding the reduced-form default models in the Web of Science database. The authors also add articles from cross-referencing and expert recommendations to the literature. HistCite™program is used to generate a citation map of the literature.

Findings

The results show that reduced-form correlated default risk models are developing towards modelling credit risk with both observable and unobservable variables. The frailty correlated default model at the firm level is still a potential research field.

Originality/value

This is the first paper systematically reviewing the research on reduced-form models of default timing.
Authentic versus staged identity – problematizing tourism interventions for authenticity and integrity in historic cities
Authors: Jigyasu Niyati
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to problematize authenticity and integrity in the context of tourist-based interventions in historic cities through a case study of skewed strategies in urban conservation programs. The paper aims to explore the paradoxes of tourists’ requisites against the heritage management imperatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is a mix of case study and analytical study of theories, literature, and principles related to authenticity and integrity in urban conservation with a focus on tourism.

Findings

In the context of historic areas, while tourism is essential for generating the economic support necessary for conserving and managing a heritage site, lopsided strategies challenge the “authenticity” and “integrity” of the place.

Practical implications

Bringing forth the point of the authentic or curated identity, the paper argues for a framework grounded in authenticity and integrity for achieving balance in the management of historic cities.

Originality/value

The paper brings together the subject of authenticity and integrity in the context of tourist-based strategies in historic cities. It highlights the gap in current practices, which often gets into inadvertent consequences of tourists appreciating the intervention that appear to be against the fundamentals of heritage conservation.
Assessing the link between market orientation and hotel performance: the mediating role of value-based marketing innovation
Authors: Sari Tria Mei Dian , Indriani Farida
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study examines how market orientation (MO) affects hotel performance through the value-based marketing innovation intermediate function.

Design/methodology/approach

:Structural equation modeling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS) analyses are performed to assess the proposed research model on a sample of 166 three-to-five-star hotels located in six provinces of Java Island, Indonesia.

Findings

The findings indicate that MO influences value-based marketing innovation and hotel performance. Additionally, it was demonstrated that value-based marketing innovation mediates the indirect link between MO and hotel performance.

Practical implications

This research encourages the managers of hotels to adopt MO as the company's culture and to pay close attention to value-based marketing innovation to recognize the potential benefit of MO in hotel performance enhancement.

Originality/value

This research focuses on unifying MO and resource-based view into a cohesive approach to better understand the link between MO and value-based marketing innovation and how both aspects affect hotel performance.
A comprehensive study on using expanded silica gel size as hollow sphere material in different aluminum alloy-based syntactic foams
Authors: Yavuz Ibrahim , Şimşir Ercan , Yildirim Alev
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Metal foams are a structural and functional composite materials that have received wide attention due to their specific structures and properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of syntactic foam by using expanded silica gel with the spacer technique.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research paper, the vacuum casting production method was used to produce metal syntactic foams including AlSi12 and AlSi8Cu3 matrix and expanded silica gel fillers with diameters of 2–4.75 mm and 4.75–5.6 mm.

Findings

As a result of the study, it was observed that as the foam densities increased, the compressive strength values of the samples increased due to the increasing volume fraction of the metallic matrix. Samples with the AlSi12 matrix showed higher compressive strength than samples with the AlSi8Cu3 matrix.

Originality/value

The originality of the study is the comparison of two different main matrix alloys (AlSi12 and AlSi8Cu3) and different pores using expanded silica gel.
Investigating the impact of usage factors on satisfaction and intention to use e-resources
Authors: Vandana  , Garg Ruchi Jain , Kumar Vinod , Singh Alok Kumar
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Present research analyzes and evaluates the impact of e-resources usage factors (training modes, awareness, influencers, utilitarian benefits and ease of use) towards satisfaction and intention to use these e-resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for present study were collected from postgraduate students of Delhi (India) and 248 valid responses were received through the survey. After reliability and validity tests, structural relationships between variables were studied.

Findings

The present study revealed that all five factors significantly affected satisfaction and intention to use e-resources. However, influencers were found to have the highest impact on satisfaction and intention to use e-resources.

Originality/value

The present study is a maiden attempt to explore the impact of e-resources usage factors on satisfaction and intention to use by postgraduate students at management schools in Delhi, India.
A STOMP-focused evaluation of prescribing practices in one assessment and treatment unit for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Painter Jon , Chio Winola , Black Liam , Newman David
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to understand whether psychotropic prescribing practices for people with intellectual disabilities are in keeping with best practice guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

This service evaluation project was a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data from the care records of all 36 people with intellectual disability discharged from an intellectual disability assessment and treatment unit during the first five years of the Stop Over medicating People with Intellectual Disabilities and/or autistic people (STOMP) initiative. Data were gathered at four time points (pre-admission, discharge, 6- and 12-month follow-up) before being analysed to understand whether psychotropic prescribing differed among people with different clinical characteristics/traits/diagnoses. Changes over time were also explored to ascertain whether and how prescribing altered from admission to discharge, and over the subsequent year of community living.

Findings

Most people with intellectual disabilities left the assessment and treatment unit on fewer regular psychotropic medications and at lower doses than at admission. These optimised regimes were still apparent 12 months post-discharge, suggesting effective discharge planning and community care packages. Inpatients with severe intellectual disabilities generally received more anxiolytics and hypnotics, at higher doses. Autistic people tended to receive more psychotropics in total and at higher cumulative doses, a pattern that persisted post discharge. A third of the sample were admitted on regular anti-psychotic medications despite having no corresponding psychotic diagnosis, a proportion that remained relatively stable through discharge and into the community.

Originality/value

This study highlights subsets of the intellectual disability population at particular risk of receiving high doses of psychotropics and a feasible template for providers intending to undertake STOMP-focused evaluations.
Here, there and everywhere: Ecology and biology of the Dependentiae phylum
Authors: Weisse Louis , Héchard Yann , Moumen Bouziane , Delafont Vincent
Published: December 2022

Our view of bacterial diversity has been dramatically impacted by cultivation‐independent approaches such as metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Consequently, most bacterial phyla known to date are only documented by the presence of DNA sequences in databases and lack cultivated representatives. This bacterial majority that is yet‐to‐be cultivated, is forming the ‘Microbial Dark Matter’, (MDM) a consortium, whose ecology and biology remain largely unexplored. The Candidatus Dependentiae stands as one of many phyla within this MDM, found worldwide in various environments. Genomic evidence suggests ancestral, unusual adaptations of all Ca. Dependentiae to a host dependent lifestyle. In line with this, protists appear to be important for Ca. Dependentiae biology, as revealed by few recent studies, which enabled their growth in laboratory through host cultivation. However, the Ca. Dependentiae still remain to this day a poorly documented phylum. The present review aims to summarize the current knowledge accumulated on this often found, but rarely highlighted, bacterial phylum.
Beyond the theory: From holobiont concept to microbiome engineering
Authors: Biggs Eva , Taylor Michael W. , Middleton Danielle M. R. L.
Published: December 2022

Holobiont research has increasingly moved from descriptive studies to sophisticated field‐ and laboratory‐based manipulations; however, the extent to which changes in the holobiont persist remains largely unknown. In this Burning Question, we ask whether the underlying principles of the holobiont concept, whereby an externally applied evolutionary pressure can lead to a beneficial change in host‐associated microbial community composition, could be used to facilitate microbiome engineering and thereby addition of a new ecosystem service that persists across generations. The answer to this question has potential implications for diverse fields including symbiosis, conservation and biotechnology.
How has horizontal gene transfer shaped the evolution of insect genomes?
Authors: Liu Chao , Li Yang , Chen Yun , Chen Xue‐xin , Huang Jianhua , Rokas Antonis , Shen Xing‐Xing
Published: December 2022

As the most diverse group of animals on Earth, insects are key organisms in ecosystems. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) refers to the transfer of genetic material between species by non‐reproductive means. HGT is a major evolutionary force in prokaryotic genome evolution, but its importance in different eukaryotic groups, such as insects, has only recently begun to be understood. Genomic data from hundreds of insect species have enabled the detection of large numbers of HGT events and the elucidation of the functions of some of these foreign genes. Although quantification of the extent of HGT in insects broadens our understanding of its role in insect evolution, the scope of its influence and underlying mechanism(s) of its occurrence remain open questions for the field.
Exploiting the post‐attendee URL feature in Zoom webinar to distribute malware
Authors: Cauley Austin , McCoy Mark
Published: December 2022

The post‐attendee Uniform Resource Locator (URL) feature within the video conferencing application known as Zoom is often overlooked by digital forensic experts as a potential risk for malware transmission. However, with the ability to redirect webinar participants to any URL set by the host for the webinar, the post‐attendee URL can be abused by bad actors to expose webinar participants to malicious websites or, in the worst‐case scenario, force participants to download a file through the use of a direct download link URL. This study aims to showcase how this exploit can be replicated by creating an experimental environment involving four Windows 10 desktops running Zoom version 5.7.5 and creating a webinar with four user accounts acting as webinar participants and setting the post‐attendee URL value to the URL of a website that contained a keylogger. In another trial, the same experimental environment was utilized, with the only difference being the post‐attendee URL that was set to redirect webinar participants to a download link for a .jpg file. In both instances, every user account that joined the webinar via clicking on the invitation link that was emailed to each user account after registering for the webinar was redirected to the post‐attendee URL regardless of their user account role. These results not only prove that the post‐attendee URL can be exploited, but also provide insight as to how this type of attack can be prevented.
Genome‐wide association study reveals a genomic region on SSC7 simultaneously associated with backfat thickness, skin thickness and carcass length in a Large White × Tongcheng advanced generation intercross resource population
Authors: Fu Ming , Zhou Xiang , Liu Zuhong , Wang Tengfei , Liu Bang
Published: December 2022

In order to identify important genetic markers associated with backfat thickness, skin thickness and carcass length, we first constructed Large White × Tongcheng (Chinese local breed), an advanced generation intercross population, then performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) to reveal the key genomic region associated with these traits through whole genome sequencing. The GWAS results of backfat thickness, skin thickness and carcass length showed that all the most significant SNPs associated with these three traits were located on SSC7, and that 14.9, 27.0 and 21.1% of phenotypic variances were explained by these three SNPs, respectively. Through linkage disequilibrium analysis, we found that a 66.9 kb (30.23–30.31 Mb) genetic region was overlapped among these three traits, and that NUDT3 and HMGA1 were identified as major candidate genes for backfat thickness and carcass length, and GRM4 as a potential candidate gene for skin thickness. In addition, 13 highly linked SNPs significantly associated with the three traits were also identified in overlapped region, and three completely linked SNPs formed two haplotypes Q and q. The backfat thickness of individuals with the qq genotype was significantly lower than that of individuals with the QQ genotype, but their carcass length and skin thickness were significantly higher than those with the QQ genotype. Our detected candidate genes and SNPs will provide the foundation for genetic improvement of these three traits.
A practical use of noninvasive tests in clinical practice to identify high‐risk patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Younossi Zobair , Alkhouri Naim , Cusi Ken , Isaacs Scott , Kanwal Fasiha , Noureddin Mazen , Loomba Rohit , Ravendhran Natarajan , Lam Brian , Nader Khalil , Racila Andrei , Nader Fatema , Henry Linda
Published: December 2022

Background

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or other components of metabolic syndrome are at high risk for disease progression. We proposed an algorithm to identify high‐risk NAFLD patients in clinical practice using noninvasive tests (NITs).

Methods

Evidence about risk stratification of NAFLD using validated NITs was reviewed by a panel of NASH Experts. Using the most recent evidence regarding the performance of NITs and their application in clinical practice were used to develop an easy‐to‐use algorithm for risk stratification of NAFLD patients seen in primary care, endocrinology and gastroenterology practices.

Results

The proposed algorithm uses a three‐step process to identify NAFLD patients who are potentially at high risk for adverse outcomes. The first step is to use clinical data to identify most patients who are at risk for having potentially progressive NAFLD (e.g. having T2D or multiple components of metabolic syndrome). The second step is to calculate the FIB‐4 score as a NIT that can further risk stratifying individuals who are at low risk for progressive liver disease and can be managed by their primary healthcare providers to manage their cardiometabolic comorbidities. The third step is to use second‐line NITs (transient elastography or enhanced liver fibrosis tests) to identify those who at high risk for progressive liver disease and should be considered for specially care by providers with NASH expertise.

Conclusions

The use of this simple clinical algorithm can identify and assist in managing patients with NAFLD at high risk for adverse outcomes.