bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Oral Anticoagulants Affect Activated Clotting Time During and Bleeding Events After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Shibahashi Eiji , Abe Takuro , Kamishima Kazuho , Ebihara Suguru , Moriyama Tetsu , Shimazaki Kensuke , Saito Katsumi , Uchigata Yasuko , Jujo Kentaro
Published: March 2023

Background

Inappropriately high activated clotting time (ACT) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with an increased risk of bleeding events. However, whether the prescription of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) affects ACT kinetics during heparin use and adverse clinical events in patients undergoing PCI remains unclear. To evaluate the ACT changes during and adverse clinical events after PCI in patients who were prescribed DOAC.

Methods

This observational study included 246 patients undergoing PCI at the two cardiovascular centers who were not receiving warfarin and whose ACT was recorded immediately before and 30 min after injection of unfractionated heparin (UFH). Patients were divided into two groups according to DOAC prescription at the time of the index PCI: DOAC users (n=31) and non-users (n=215). Any bleeding and systemic thromboembolic events were investigated until 30 days after PCI.

Results

The average age of this population was 70.5 years, and 66.3% were male. Average ACT was significantly higher in DOAC users than non-users both before and 30 min after UFH induction (157.2 ± 30.1 vs. 131.8 ± 25.1 sec, p<0.001; 371.1 ± 122.2 vs. 308.3 ± 82.2 sec, p<0.001; respectively). The incidence of post-PCI systemic thromboembolism was low and comparable between the two groups (0% vs. 3.7%, p=0.60). However, the rate of any bleeding event was significantly higher in DOAC users than non-users (16.1% vs. 4.7%, p=0.028).

Conclusion

Patients receiving DOAC have higher ACTs during PCI and higher incidence of bleeding events than those not receiving DOAC.

CONDENSED ABSTRACT

Changes in activated clotting time (ACT) and incidence of systemic thromboembolic and bleeding events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using conventional heparin were compared between those receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) and those who were not. ACT both before and 30 min after initial heparin injection was higher in patients who received DOAC than in those who did not. DOAC prescription did not affect the incidence of systemic thromboembolic events. Conversely, patients receiving DOAC more frequently experienced post-PCI bleeding events than those not receiving DOAC.
Pleiotropic Regulatory Locus1 maintains actin microfilament integrity and concomitant cellular homeostasis facilitating root development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Chi , Wang Xing , Yang Zhenbiao , Gao Xiaowei
Published: March 2023

Cell functions are based on integrity of actin filaments. The Actin cytoskeleton is typically the target but also the source of signals. An evolutionarily conserved WD-40 protein PRL1 (Pleiotropic Regulatory Locus1) in Arabidopsis was investigated with multilayer functions in development, innate immunity, alternative splicing activation, transcription regulation, genome maintenance, ubiquitination-based protein turnover et al., but the underlying mechanisms are undefined. Here, we show PRL1 maintains actin integrity and concomitant cellular homeostasis. To explore causes for developmental root defect, we found depolymerization of cortical actin cytoskeleton and ROS imbalance inprl1mutant. Further, we revealed that actin de-polymerization was the fundamental cause and dominant to ROS imbalance (H2O2and O2·–) for retarded root ofprl1;NAC085was up-regulated by and cooperated with actin depolymerization to mediate to stele cell death. Moreover, we revealed stress-related differentially expressed genes and alternative splicing defects were mutually independent and were responses to actin depolymerization inprl1. Our work ravels out cause-effect relationships between actin configuration and downstream hierarchical signals and explores underlying mechanism for functions ofPRL1.
Incorporating clinical, genomic profiles and polygenic risk scores for the subtyping of depressive disorders
Authors: Yin Liangying , Lin Yuping , Lui Simon Sai-Yu , So Hon-Cheong
Published: March 2023

Precise stratification of clinical patients into more homogeneous disease subgroups could address the heterogeneity of disease phenotypes and enhance our understanding on possible biological mechanisms and pathophysiology of more specified subtypes. This approach could promote individualized and effective prevention/intervention strategies. In the extant literature, subtyping of patients with depressive disorders (Dep) mainly utilized clinical features only. Genomics data could be useful subtyping features but advanced methods are needed for subtyping psychiatric entities such as depression. To solve this issue, we proposed a novel disease subtyping framework for complex diseases such as Dep. It combines brain structural features with genotype-predicted gene expression levels of relevant brain tissues as well as polygenic risk scores (PRS) of related disorders. It is able to classify patients into both clinically and biologically homogeneous subgroups, based on a multiview biclustering method. Moreover, causal inference was employed to identify causally relevant genes in different brain tissues to inform feature selection under the proposed framework. We verified the reliability of the subtyping model by internal and external validation. The calculated prediction strengths(PS) (average PS:0.896, min PS: 0.854) supported the robustness and generalizability of our proposed approach. External validation results demonstrated that our proposed approach could stratify Dep patients into subgroups with varied treatment responses and hospitalization risks. Besides, some subtype-defining genes in our study overlapped with several well-known susceptibility genes for depression and were involved in the pathophysiology for the disease. Encouragingly, many enriched drugs based on identified subtype-defining genes have been reported in previous studies to be effective in reducing depression-related symptoms.
Silicon supplementation and jasmonate activation synergistically increase phenolic defences against a legume herbivore
Authors: Ryalls J.M.W. , Gherlenda A.N. , Rowe R.C. , Moore B.D. , Johnson S.N.
Published: March 2023

The accumulation of silicon (Si) is widely reported to have anti-herbivore defensive properties in grasses. There is emerging, but fragmentary, evidence that Si could play a similar role in legumes.

Here, we sought to understand the effects of Si supplementation on anti-herbivore defensive properties in lucerne (Medicago sativa), especially in relation to other potential defences (i.e. phenolics) and the phytohormone that regulates anti-herbivore defences, jasmonic acid or jasmonate (JA), which is also linked to Si accumulation.

We determined how growth, root nodulation and chemistry (carbon, nitrogen and phenolic concentrations) of four genotypes of lucerne responded to Si supplementation, with and without the application of JA, and we used feeding assays to determine the subsequent effects on the feeding success of adultSitona discoideusweevils.

Si supplementation increased plant mass and root nodulation ofM. sativaby 61% and 227%, respectively, and reduced relative consumption (RC) and frass production byS. discoideusby 38% and 30%, respectively. Si supplementation had no effect on foliar nitrogen concentrations, most likely due to the dilution effects of increased plant growth and foliar carbon. Phenolic concentrations were negatively correlated with leaf RC; RC also decreased by 34% when JA was applied to plants. When Si was combined with JA application, phenolics were significantly enhanced, demonstrating the potential to stimulate multiple anti-herbivore properties inM. sativa.

Synthesis. The novel findings suggest that Si accumulation may play a more important role in legume resistance to herbivorous animals than previously thought. The ubiquity of soil Si and its emerging functional role in plant biology, including plant–animal interactions, suggest that these patterns could be common amongst legumes.
Small Moleculein situResin Capture – A Compound First Approach to Natural Product Discovery
Authors: Bogdanov Alexander , Salib Mariam N. , Chase Alexander B. , Hammerlindl Heinz , Muskat Mitchell N. , Luedtke Stephanie , Barbosa da Silva Elany , O’Donoghue Anthony J. , Wu Lani F. , Altschuler Steven J. , Molinski Tadeusz F. , Jensen Paul R.
Published: March 2023

Microbial natural products remain an important resource for drug discovery. Yet, commonly employed discovery techniques are plagued by the rediscovery of known compounds, the relatively few microbes that can be cultured, and laboratory growth conditions that do not elicit biosynthetic gene expression among myriad other challenges. Here we introduce a culture independent approach to natural product discovery that we call the Small Molecule In situ Resin Capture (SMIRC) technique. SMIRC exploits in situ environmental conditions to elicit compound production and represents a new approach to access poorly explored chemical space by capturing natural products directly from the environments in which they are produced. In contrast to traditional methods, this compound-first approach can capture structurally complex small molecules across all domains of life in a single deployment while relying on Nature to provide the complex and poorly understood environmental cues needed to elicit biosynthetic gene expression. We illustrate the effectiveness of SMIRC in marine habitats with the discovery of numerous new compounds and demonstrate that sufficient compound yields can be obtained for NMR-based structure assignment. Two new compound classes are reported including one novel carbon skeleton that possesses a functional group not previously observed among natural products and a second that possesses potent biological activity. We introduce expanded deployments, in situ cultivation, and metagenomics as methods to facilitate compound discovery, enhance yields, and link compounds to producing organisms. This compound first approach can provide unprecedented access to new natural product chemotypes with broad implications for drug discovery.

Significance Statement

Pharmaceutically relevant microbial natural products have traditionally been discovered using a ‘microbe-first’ approach in which bioassays are used to guide the isolation of active compounds from crude culture extracts. While once productive, it is now widely recognized that this approach fails to access the vast chemical space predicted from microbial genomes. Here, we report a new approach to natural product discovery in which compounds are captured directly from the environments in which they are produced. We demonstrate the applications of this technique with the isolation and identification of both known and new compounds including several that possess new carbon skeletons and one with promising biological activity.
Microbiota epigenetically direct tuft cell differentiation to control type 2 immunity
Authors: Eshleman Emily M. , Rice Taylor , Potter Crystal , Waddell Amanda , Hashimoto-Hill Seika , Woo Vivienne , Field Sydney , Engleman Laura , Schumacher Michael A. , Frey Mark R. , Denson Lee A. , Finkelman Fred D. , Alenghat Theresa
Published: March 2023

Allergy and anti-helminth immunity are driven by type 2 responses in mucosal tissues. Tuft cells are key regulators of type 2 immunity, however the factors that control these cells remain poorly understood. Here we find that butyrate-producing commensal bacteria decrease tuft cells in the intestine. Butyrate suppression of tuft cells required the epigenetic modifying enzyme histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), suggesting that HDAC3 may promote tuft cell-dependent immunity. Consistent with this, epithelial-intrinsic HDAC3 actively regulated tuft cell expansionin vivoand was required to induce type 2 immune responses during helminth infection. Interestingly, butyrate epigenetically restricted stem cell differentiation into tuft cells, and inhibition of HDAC3 in adult mice and human intestinal organoids was sufficient to block tuft cell expansion. Collectively, these data reveal an epigenetic pathway in stem cells that directs tuft cell differentiation, and highlight a new level of regulation through which commensal bacteria calibrate intestinal immunity.
Comparison of enrichment methods for efficient nitrogen fixation on a biocathode
Authors: Rous Axel , Santa-Catalina Gaëlle , Quémener Elie Desmond-Le , Trably Eric , Bernet Nicolas
Published: March 2023

The production of nitrogen fertilizers in modern agriculture is mostly based on the Haber-Bosch process, representing nearly 2% of the total energy consumed in the world. Low-energy bioelectrochemical fixation of N2to microbial biomass was previously observed but the mechanisms of microbial interactions in N2-fixing electroactive biofilms are still poorly understood. The present study aims to develop a new method of enrichment of autotrophic and diazotrophic bacteria from soil samples with a better electron source availability than using H2alone. The enrichment method was based on a multi-stage procedure. The first enrichment step was specifically designed for the selection of N2-fixing bacteria from soil samples with organic C as electron and carbon source. Then, a polarized cathode was used for the enrichment of autotrophic bacteria using H2(hydrogenotrophic) or the cathode as electron source. This enrichment was compared with an enrichment culture of pure diazotrophic hydrogenotrophic bacteria without the use of a microbial electrochemical system. Interestingly, both methods showed comparable results for N2fixation rates at day 340 of the enrichment with an estimated average of approximately 0.2 mgNfixed/L.d. Current densities up to −15 A/m2were observed in the polarized cathode enrichments and a significant increase of the microbial biomass on the cathode was shown between 132 and 214 days of enrichment.These results confirmed an enrichment in autotrophic and diazotrophic bacteria on the polarized cathode. It was hypothesied that autotrophic bacteria were able to use either the H2produced at the cathode or directly the cathode through direct electron transfer (DET) as more biomass was produced than with H2alone. Finally, the analysis of the enriched communities suggested thatDesulforamulus ruminismediated microbial interactions between autotrophic anaerobic and heterotrophic aerobic bacteria in polarized cathode enrichment. These interactions could play a key role in the development of biomass in these systems and on N2fixation. Based on these findings, a conceptual model on the functioning of mixed cultures N2-fixing electroactive biofilms was proposed.
Membrane Topology of UbiA Prenyltransferase Domain-Containing Protein-1 (UBIAD1), a Novel Regulator of Cholesterol Homeostasis
Authors: Johnson Brittany , Jun Dong-Jae , DeBose-Boyd Russell A.
Published: March 2023

UbiA prenyltransferase domain containing protein-1 (UBIAD1) is a polytopic membrane-bound enzyme that synthesizes the vitamin K2subtype menaquinone-4 (MK-4) by conjugating the prenyl group of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGpp) to the aromatic acceptor menadione. The enzyme moonlights as a regulator endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of sterol and nonsterol isoprenoids. When cells are replete with isoprenoids, UBIAD1 constitutively cycles between membranes of the medial-trans Golgi and the ER. When ER membranes become depleted of GGpp, UBIAD1 becomes trapped in the organelle where it binds to and inhibits the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) of HMGCR. This inhibition permits continued synthesis of nonsterol isoprenoids, even when sterols are abundant. The resultant accumulation of GGpp in the ER causes dissociation of the HMGCR-UBIAD1 complex, which allows maximal ERAD of HMGCR and translocation of UBIAD1 to the Golgi. These findings disclose a novel GGpp sensing mechanism that allows for metabolically-regulated, intracellular trafficking of UBIAD1. However, the mechanism for this GGpp-induced transport remains to be determined. In the current study, we use cysteine derivatization and protease protection assays to determine the membrane topology of UBIAD1. These findings are key to the determination of mechanisms through which GGpp modulates the intracellular trafficking of UBIAD1 and ultimately, the ERAD of HMGCR.
The Estrogen Receptor-Related Orphan Receptors (ERRs) Regulate Autophagy through TFEB
Authors: Losby McKenna , Hayes Matthew , Valfort Aurore , Walker John , Xu Weiyi , Zhang Lilei , Billon Cyrielle , Burris Thomas P.
Published: March 2023

Autophagy is an essential self-degradative and recycling mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis. Estrogen receptor-related orphan receptors (ERRs) play fundamental role in regulation of cardiac metabolism and function. Previously, we showed that ERR agonists improve cardiac function in models of heart failure and induce autophagy in cardiomyocytes. Here, we characterized a mechanism by which ERRs induce autophagy in cardiomyocytes. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosome pathway and has been shown to be important in cardiac autophagy. We discovered that TFEB is a direct ERR target gene whose expression is induced by ERR agonists. Activation of ERR results in increased TFEB expression in both neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and C2C12myoblasts. ERR-dependent increases in TFEB expression results in increased expression of an array of TFEB target genes, which are critical for stimulation of autophagy. Pharmacologically targeting ERR is a promising potential method for treatment of many diseases where stimulation of autophagy may be therapeutic including heart failure.
A novel hypothalamic-midbrain circuit for model-based learning
Authors: Hoang Ivy B. , Munier Joseph J. , Verghese Anna , Greer Zara , Millard Samuel J. , DiFazio Lauren E. , Sercander Courtney , Izquierdo Alicia , Sharpe Melissa J.
Published: March 2023

Behavior is often dichotomized into model-free and model-based systems1, 2. Model-free behavior prioritizes associations that have high value, regardless of the specific consequence or circumstance. In contrast, model-based behavior involves considering all possible outcomes to produce behavior that best fits the current circumstance. We typically exhibit a mixture of these behaviors so we can trade-off efficiency and flexibility. However, substance use disorder shifts behavior more strongly towards model-free systems, which produces a difficulty abstaining from drug-seeking due to an inability to withhold making the model-free high-value response3–10. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is implicated in substance use disorder11–17and we have demonstrated that this region is critical to Pavlovian cue-reward learning18, 19. However, it is unknown whether learning occurring in LH is model-free or model-based, where the necessary teaching signal comes from to facilitate learning in LH, and whether this is relevant for learning deficits that drive substance use disorder. Here, we reveal that learning occurring in the LH is model-based. Further, we confirm the existence of an understudied projection extending from dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the LH and demonstrate that this input underlies model-based learning in LH. Finally, we examine the impact of methamphetamine self-administration on LH-dependent model-based processes. These experiments reveal that a history of methamphetamine administration enhances the model-based control that Pavlovian cues have over decision-making, which was accompanied by a bidirectional strengthening of the LH to VTA circuit. Together, this work reveals a novel bidirectional circuit that underlies model-based learning and is relevant to the behavioral and cognitive changes that arise with substance use disorders. This circuit represents a new addition to models of addiction, which focus on instrumental components of drug addiction and increases in model-free habits after drug exposure3–10.
How stra(i)nge are your controls? A comparative analysis of metabolic phenotypes in commonly used C57 substrains
Authors: Sil Annesha , Souza Matos Marina , Delibegovic Mirela , Platt Bettina
Published: March 2023

In recent years, the use of insufficiently characterised control subjects has been a contributing factor to increasing irreproducibility in different areas of biomedical research including neuroscience and metabolism. There is now a growing awareness of phenotypic differences between the metabolic profiles of C57BL/6 substrains which are commonly used as control animals.

We here investigated baseline metabolic characteristics such as glucose regulation, fasted serum insulin levels and hepatic insulin signalling in five different C57BL/6 sub-strains (N, J, JOla, JRcc) of both sexes, obtained from two commercial vendors Charles River Laboratories (Crl) and Envigo (Env).

Our results indicated systematic and tissue-specific differences between substrains, modulated by both vendor and sex in all parameters investigated, not necessarily mediated by the presence of theNntmutation. Not only were there differences between 6J and 6N as expected, all three 6J sub-strains exhibited different profiles, even from the same breeder. Two distinct metabolic profiles were identified, one in which low insulin levels resulted in impaired glucose clearance (6JCrl; both sexes) and the other, where sustained elevations in fasted basal insulin levels led to glucose intolerance (male 6JRccEnv). Further, 6JRccEnv displayed sex differences in both glucose clearance and hepatic insulin signalling markers. In comparison, the two 6N substrains of either sex, irrespective of vendor, did not exhibit considerable differences, with 6NCrl animals presenting a good choice as a healthy baseline ‘control’ for many types of experiments.

Overall, our data emphasise the importance of selecting and characterising control subjects regarding background, sex, and supplier to ensure proper experimental outcomes in biomedical research.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in marine mammals and seabirds in Peru
Authors: Leguia Mariana , Garcia-Glaessner Alejandra , Muñoz-Saavedra Breno , Juarez Diana , Barrera Patricia , Calvo-Mac Carlos , Jara Javier , Silva Walter , Ploog Karl , Amaro Lady , Colchao-Claux Paulo , Uhart Marcela M. , Nelson Martha I. , Lescano Jesus
Published: March 2023

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses (lineage 2.3.4.4b) are rapidly invading the Americas, threatening wildlife, poultry, and potentially evolving into the next global pandemic. In November 2022, HPAI arrived in Peru, where massive pelican and sea lion die-offs are still underway. We report complete genomic characterization of HPAI/H5N1 viruses in five species of marine mammals and seabirds (dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans and cormorants) sampled since November 2022. All Peruvian viruses belong to the HPAI A/H5N1 lineage 2.3.4.4b, but they are 4:4 reassortants where 4 genomic segments (PA, HA, NA and MP) position within the Eurasian lineage that initially entered North America from Eurasia, while the other 4 genomic segments (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) position within the American lineage (clade C) that was already circulating in North America. These viruses are rapidly accruing mutations as they spread south. Peruvian viruses do not contain PB2 E627K or D701N mutations linked to mammalian host adaptation and enhanced transmission, but at least 8 novel polymorphic sites warrant further examination. This is the first report of HPAI A/H5N1 in marine birds and mammals from South America, highlighting an urgent need for active local surveillance to manage outbreaks and limit spillover into humans.
A new proposal for the prediction of an aircraft engine fuel consumption: a novel CNN-BiLSTM deep neural network model
Authors: Metlek Sedat
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a new deep learning model to predict aircraft fuel consumption. For this purpose, real data obtained from different landings and take-offs were used. As a result, a new hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN)-bi-directional long short term memory (BiLSTM) model was developed as intended.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used are divided into training and testing according to the k-fold 5 value. In this study, 13 different parameters were used together as input parameters. Fuel consumption was used as the output parameter. Thus, the effect of many input parameters on fuel flow was modeled simultaneously using the deep learning method in this study. In addition, the developed hybrid model was compared with the existing deep learning models long short term memory (LSTM) and BiLSTM.

Findings

In this study, when tested with LSTM, one of the existing deep learning models, values of 0.9162, 6.476, and 5.76 were obtained for R2, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), respectively. For the BiLSTM model when tested, values of 0.9471, 5.847 and 4.62 were obtained for R2, RMSE and MAPE, respectively. In the proposed hybrid model when tested, values of 0.9743, 2.539 and 1.62 were obtained for R2, RMSE and MAPE, respectively. The results obtained according to the LSTM and BiLSTM models are much closer to the actual fuel consumption values. The error of the models used was verified against the actual fuel flow reports, and an average absolute percent error value of less than 2% was obtained.

Originality/value

In this study, a new hybrid CNN-BiLSTM model is proposed. The proposed model is trained and tested with real flight data for fuel consumption estimation. As a result of the test, it is seen that it gives much better results than the LSTM and BiLSTM methods found in the literature. For this reason, it can be used in many different engine types and applications in different fields, especially the turboprop engine used in the study. Because it can be applied to different engines than the engine type used in the study, it can be easily integrated into many simulation models.
The effect of the belief system on a temporary construction business consortium
Authors: Soares Piccoli Marcella , Diehl Carlos Alberto , Nascimento Alan Junior do
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Business consortiums for temporary projects have limited time and less attention from individual organisations concerning leadership alignment. Recognising the need to study relationships in alliances, this study aims to identify the fundamental organisational beliefs perceived by the leaders in a construction business consortium and relate them to the companies’ belief system as conceptualised by Simons.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a positivist qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, literature review and document analysis through a case study in a temporary business consortium formed by three large construction companies.

Findings

It was possible to verify alignment between the beliefs of the consortium and its leadership and infer that the flow of beliefs can be affected by the duration of the project. The research underlines the importance of the belief system within an organisation and how differences can cause internal conflicts, whilst alignment can improve competitiveness. The authors concluded that conflicts emerge due to a lack of alignment regarding the business’ core beliefs and the presence of different cultures and the duration of the project. Also, it was possible to create two different propositions for future studies regarding the project timeframe and improve competitiveness with the alignment of beliefs.

Social implications

Whilst there is academic literature that identifies challenges in successful project execution attributed to the misalignment of teams at a cultural level, organisations today still largely neglect the importance of team alignment. A better understanding of beliefs across organisations could have significant impact on social aspects resulting in improvements concerning projects timescales and quality of deliverables.

Originality/value

The main contribution is to explain how beliefs flow from individual parties to a temporary business consortium. This research addresses the lack of empirical studies relating to the alignment of temporary projects whilst providing recommendations to inform future research.
“I will always hate you”! An investigation of the impact of anthropomorphism in online anti-brand communities
Authors: Brandão Amélia , Popoli Paolo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether brand anthropomorphism has a direct impact on brand hate and what are the prevailing factors that play a significant role in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides insights on brand anthropomorphism phenomenon and negative consumer–brand relationships in the context of social media-based anti-brand communities. Using a quantitative analysis of the data gathered from an online survey, this study analyzes brand anthropomorphism in the three main online anti-brand communities toward Apple.

Findings

Findings indicated that brand anthropomorphism in itself does not impact on brand hate directly. Nevertheless, when it is used by consumers to express their negative feelings toward the hatred brand, the consumers’ attribution of responsibility and intentionality to Apple brand’s behavior positively affects brand hate, and ideological incompatibility is a good moderator for brand hate.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are based on a limited number of survey respondents because anti-brand community members are very difficult to access, and thus, it was not easy to have their collaboration for this research.

Practical implications

This study highlights the power of social media as a tool for establishing negative consumer–brand relationships. Therefore, brand managers must recognize that consumer activists may be a serious threat to the company and deal with the consumers’ tendency to use anthropomorphism to express their hate.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the link between brand anthropomorphism and brand hate, analyzed through a quantitative analysis.
Examination of the influence of transfer opportunity, assimilation of training content and motivation to transfer in the training transfer process
Authors: Andoh Raphael Papa Kweku , Annan-Prah Elizabeth Cornelia , Boampong Georgina Nyantakyiwaa , Jehu-Appiah Josephine , Korsah Araba Mbrowa , Owusu Emmanuel Afreh
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Research has established that 38%, 56% and 66% of training is not transferred to work immediately, six months and 12 months after training, respectively. This has led scholars to advocate the continuous examination of factors that enhance training transfer to have a comprehensive understanding of the factors that enhance it. As a result, this study aims to examine transfer opportunity as a pretraining factor and its influence on assimilated training content (in-training factor); the influence of assimilated training content on motivation to transfer (post-training factor) and training transfer; the influence of motivation to transfer on training transfer; and the mediating role of motivation to transfer in the relationship between assimilated training content and training transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model is developed to test the five hypotheses formulated in this study using survey data obtained from 195 respondents who attended various training programs across different organizations. Following the assessment of the measurement model, the determination of the significance of the hypothesized paths is assessed based on the bias-corrected and accelerated confidence intervals obtained from the bootstrapping of 10,000 subsamples.

Findings

The findings of this study are that: transfer opportunity positively influences assimilated training content; assimilated training content positively influences motivation to transfer and training transfer; motivation to transfer positively influences training transfer; and motivation to transfer plays a complementary mediation role between assimilated training content and training transfer.

Practical implications

The nature of the work environment regarding the opportunity to transfer training influences trainees’ assimilation of the training content when they undergo training. Hence, organizations need to ensure that employees are always afforded the opportunity to transfer training content assimilated from previously attended training programs to assimilate the content of subsequent training programs. Furthermore, for training to culminate in training transfer, organizations and, more specifically, learning and development practitioners ought to pay attention to trainees’ assimilation of the content of training programs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically consider transfer opportunity as a direct antecedent of assimilated training content. More so, it is one of few studies to empirically examine the influence of assimilated training content on training transfer.
The growing gap between lean production and digital lean tools
Authors: Holmemo Marte D.-Q. , Korsen Eirik Bådsvik Hamre
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to gain empirical insights into the relationship between lean production and digitalization within Industry 4.0 from a process-theoretical perspective. Following an initial report at the European Lean Educators Conference 2021 conference, the authors searched for explanations as to why digital lean tools stagnate, whereas production improves continuously.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a qualitative case study in a Norwegian processing industry company over a period of 18 months from 2020 to 2022.

Findings

Process theory offers explanations of why digitalization and lean can change over time. Despite agile development, digitalization is still characterized by centralization and programmatic planning. Lean production is decentralized, with long-term and continuous change processes. This creates challenges for coordination between digitalization and lean.

Practical implications

Organizations should strive for coordination and collaboration between central and local decision makers and between digital and business process competence. Digital systems should have built-in flexibility for local setup, and local managers need sufficient competence to set up systems that are aligned with continuous improved production.

Originality/value

This study contributes empirical insights into real-life industry challenges to a literature that has until now been theoretical and focused on potential synergies.
The rivalry trap – plant-based foods as transformers and destroyers
Authors: McMillan Charles
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, applying concepts in the plant-based food sector, is a focus on the competitive rival trap for startup firms, with their initial advantage for under-served market segments, only to be overtaken by scale, speed, and brands of incumbent brand firms. As a case study of industry transformation, the food production sector illustrates how organizational innovation brings new forms of rivalry, from the farm gate to the kitchen plate. As a result, startups face a rivalry trap, if unable to scale quickly, as incumbents reframe their strategic response with startup acquisitions, corporate incubators or alliance partnerships consumer demand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines the features of precision agriculture, a new paradigm for agriculture and food production, requiring new competences and skillsets in the protein revolution, including issues like virus, bacteria and the molecular structure of food groups, animal breeding and veterinary medicine. Plant-based foods is used as a case study for startups and the rivalry trap.

Findings

The emergence of plant-based foods is a case study of market opportunity and creative destruction, where the potential market varies from $25bn to $72bn, and growing faster in the dairy sector. However, food incumbents bring new strategic responses and a rivalry trap, where startups must gain scale quickly in capabilities, talent and marketing prowess, often exploiting demand in market niches unimpeded by incumbent rivals.

Research limitations/implications

Startups in biological sciences face massive challenges to increase scale and scope, even with unique intellectual property.

Practical implications

Startup firms need multidisciplinary management teams with a global outlook.

Social implications

Plant-based foods form part of the protein revolution but face challenges of scale, cost competitiveness and taste, despite advantages for climate mitigation.

Originality/value

The impact of technological and science applications has blurred the traditional concept of industry boundary, with huge variations in the intangible knowledge component in their core activities and capabilities. Underlying variations imply that not all industries have similar supply demand conditions, with variations in input costs, capital intensity and innovation needs, with strategic implications for the rivalry trap.
Criminal and positive identity development of young male offenders: pre and post rehabilitation
Authors: Jackson Laura Amy , Kyriakopoulos Alex , Carthy Nikki
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The rates of offending and re-offending for young males are higher than any other population. Whilst the UK Ministry of Justice (2020) states that rehabilitation programmes should aim to build a positive identity, little is known about the subjective experiences of how this occurs. Various theories and models suggest that the development of a positive identity assists rehabilitation for young men with convictions (i.e. Johns et al., 2017). Therefore, the current study aimed to gather personal narratives from male, young offenders with the intention of understanding identity development.

Design/methodology/approach

Twelve interviews were conducted with young men with convictions aged between 18 and 25 years who had almost completed a rehabilitation process within the community. Narrative analysis was used to analyse the data. All were engaging with the rehabilitation service as a result of conviction for low to medium level offences, including burglary, harm of another person and drug related offences.

Findings

Three plots were identified which explain identity when committing offences: “The Powerless”, “The Feared” and “The Disconnected”. One plot was evident within the narratives which explained positive identity when rehabilitated: “The Connected”. The findings illustrate the importance of an approach which considers various aspects of a young offender’s life.

Originality/value

The current study further adds to knowledge base of young offender rehabilitation by providing a systemic understanding of how men with convictions’ identity develop pre- and post-rehabilitation. New implications for trauma informed practice are discussed.
Pathways to truth: using criteria-based content analysis in missing person cases
Authors: Richards Yasmin , Keatley David
Published: March 2023

Purpose

When investigating missing persons cases, witness and suspect statements are often the only available evidence to investigators. As such, forensic linguistics can be useful to police when seeking information from individuals during investigative interviews. The presumption of innocence must be maintained in an investigation, and therefore this study aims to use a method focused on veracity detection, rather than the majority of studies using deception detection approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research uses criteria-based content analysis (CBCA), a method that has been applied to a variety of criminal cases. Real-world statements of individuals convicted or found innocent of their involvement in missing persons cases were used in the analyses. Additionally, behaviour sequence analysis (BSA) was used to map language patterns within individuals’ statements.

Findings

Results indicated that two individual markers occurred at a high frequency across all four groups (the guilty and innocent statements of both case types); however, differences were noted in the sequences based on an individual’s ability to provide experiential details.

Research limitations/implications

The current research contributes to the growing literature that aims to test CBCA in adult samples across crimes that do not pertain to sexual abuse, in addition to aiding researchers and practitioners to understand better the linguistic differences that occur in missing persons cases.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this type of research, using CBCA to assist with missing person's cases with a temporal method (BSA), has never before been tested. BSA has previously been used in forensic linguistics, and shown support for the method. The current research builds on this in terms of missing persons cases.
Strengthening business incubation practices among startup firms. Evidence from Ugandan communities
Authors: Ssekiziyivu Bob , Mwesigwa Rogers , Kabahinda Eunice , Lakareber Sharon , Nakajubi Florence
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the initial evidence on the role of business incubation (BI) in supporting startups and BI practices from developing communities in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is cross-sectional and a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data were used. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and an interview guide from 28 incubators.

Findings

Results indicate that business incubators play different roles in communities such as business assistance, networking, provision of necessary infrastructure and provision of an enabling environment. Furthermore, BI practices were identified such as networking, human resource, tenant management and assessment practices.

Research limitations/implications

This study was cross-sectional and thus monitoring changes in behavior of incubatees overtime was not possible. The study was conducted in Uganda, and it is possible that the results of this study can be generalized to developing communities with environments similar to that of Uganda.

Practical implications

The results are important for business incubators in improving the sustainability of startups in Uganda. The study will enable business incubators to understand their role and incubator practices in as far as supporting small and medium-sized enterprises is concerned.

Originality/value

While there have been a number of studies on BI, this study provides an initial empirical evidence on the role of BI and BI practices using evidence from developing communities in Uganda.
The use of ESG scores in academic literature: a systematic literature review
Authors: Clément Alexandre , Robinot Élisabeth , Trespeuch Léo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores are becoming increasingly relevant in academic literature and the corporate world. This is partly because the themes covered by ESG scores are intended to resolve multiple major social and environmental issues. However, there is little consensus among academics about the definition of ESG scores and their measures. Many scholars have used ESG scores to represent various issues. The purpose of this study is to gather all definitions that were used by scholar when using ESG scores in their research.

Design/methodology/approach

This systematic literature review aims to identify how ESG scores are presented in the academic literature. A total of 4,145 articles were identified, of which 342 articles from influential peer-reviewed journals were retained.

Findings

In the articles, five different thematic definitions emerged in terms of how scholars have used ESG scores in their research: sustainability, corporate social responsibility, disclosure, finance and the analysis of ESG scores. Although some definitions are consistent with the methodologies of the agencies that produce ESG scores, others raise further questions. Caution is required when using ESG scores as a metric. They represent financial adjusted risk-return for some and are used to express business sustainability for others.

Research limitations/implications

Only top-ranked journals were analyzed. In addition, only the key terms “ESG Score” and “ESG Scores” were used to gather all research papers.

Practical implications

Researchers could improve the accuracy of their results by developing specific methodologies that are closely related to the issues intended to be measured. The underlying variables composing the ESG scores could be used instead of the final score for more accurate environmental or social issues measurements.

Originality/value

This research shows that scholars use ESG scores to represent multiple issues that are not always captured by ESG scores’ official methodologies. ESG scores can express the overall performance of environmental and social issues, but they cannot be used to track specific underlying issues.
Determining the stationary barriers to the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in an emerging construction industry
Authors: Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Kineber Ahmed Farouk , Akindele Oluwaseun , Ekundayo Damilola
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To realize full benefits without sacrificing the practicality of such projects, the decision-making process for residential building construction needs to include sustainability principles at every level. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the applicability of radio frequency identification (RFID) and identify the barriers that impede its successful adoption in construction projects to achieve sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper opted for a quantitative approach by using a structured questionnaire survey. A total of 107 responses were collected from Nigerian construction practitioners involved in private and public construction businesses.

Findings

The results showed the high cost of RFID implementation, with a mean score of 4.42 as the top-ranked barrier, followed by lack of security, maintenance, power availability and inadequate training. This study further deployed Ginni’s mean difference measure of dispersion and revealed that the stationary barrier to adopting RFID technology is the lack of demand.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can assist decision-makers in improving the sustainability of all building projects by implementing RFID.

Originality/value

The findings of this study will serve as the basis for comprehension and critically evaluate the numerous barriers preventing the widespread adoption of RFID technology.