bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ClairS: a deep-learning method for long-read somatic small variant calling
Authors: Zheng Zhenxian , Su Junhao , Chen Lei , Lee Yan-Lam , Lam Tak-Wah , Luo Ruibang
Published: August 2023

Identifying somatic variants in tumor samples is a crucial task, which is often performed using statistical methods and heuristic filters applied to short-read data. However, with the increasing demand for long-read somatic variant calling, existing methods have fallen short. To address this gap, we present ClairS, the first deep-learning-based, long-read somatic small variant caller. ClairS was trained on massive synthetic somatic variants with diverse coverages and variant allele frequencies (VAF), enabling it to accurately detect a wide range of somatic variants from paired tumor and normal samples. We evaluated ClairS using the latest Nanopore Q20+ HCC1395-HCC1395BL dataset. With 50-fold/25-fold tumor/normal, ClairS achieved a 93.01%/86.86% precision/recall rate for Single Nucleotide Variation (SNVs), and 66.54%/66.89% for somatic insertions and deletions (Indels). Applying ClairS to short-read datasets from multiple sources showed comparable or better performance than Strelka2 and Mutect2. Our findings suggest that improved read phasing enabled by long-read sequencing is key to accurate long-read SNV calling, especially for variants with low VAF. Through experiments across various coverage, purity, and contamination settings, we demonstrated that ClairS is a reliable somatic variant caller. ClairS is open-source athttps://github.com/HKU-BAL/ClairS.
I-SVVS: Integrative stochastic variational variable selection to explore joint patterns of multi-omics microbiome data
Authors: Dang Tung , Fuji Yushiro , Kumaishi Kie , Usui Erika , Kobori Shungo , Sato Takumi , Toda Yusuke , Sakurai Kengo , Yamasaki Yuji , Tsujimoto Hisashi , Hirai Masami Yokota , Ichihashi Yasunori , Iwata Hiroyoshi
Published: August 2023

High-dimensional multi-omics microbiome data plays an important role in elucidating microbial communities’ interactions with their hosts and environment in critical diseases and ecological changes. Although Bayesian clustering methods have recently been used for the integrated analysis of multi-omics data, no method designed to analyze multi-omics microbiome data has been proposed. In this study, we propose a novel framework called integrative stochastic variational variable selection (I-SVVS), which is an extension of stochastic variational variable selection for high-dimensional microbiome data. The I-SVVS approach addresses a specific Bayesian mixture model for each type of omics data, such as an infinite Dirichlet multinomial mixture model for microbiome data and an infinite Gaussian mixture model for metabolomic data. This approach is expected to reduce the computational time of the clustering process and improve the accuracy of the clustering results. Additionally, I-SVVS identifies a critical set of representative variables in multi-omics microbiome data. Three datasets from soybean, mice, and humans (each set integrated microbiome and metabolome) were used to demonstrate the potential of I-SVVS. The results indicate that I-SVVS achieved improved accuracy and faster computation compared to existing methods across all test datasets. It effectively identified key microbiome species and metabolites characterizing each cluster. For instance, the computational analysis of soybean dataset, including 377 samples with 16,943 microbiome species and 265 metabolome features, was completed in 2.18 hours using I-SVVS, compared to 2.35 days with Clusternomics and 1.12 days with iClusterPlus. The software for this analysis, written in Python, is freely available athttps://github.com/tungtokyo1108/I-SVVS.
mosaicMPI: a framework for modular data integration across cohorts and -omics modalities
Authors: Verhey Theodore B. , Seo Heewon , Gillmor Aaron , Thoppey-Manoharan Varsha , Schriemer David , Morrissy Sorana
Published: August 2023

Advances in molecular profiling have facilitated generation of large multi-modal datasets that can potentially reveal critical axes of biological variation underlying complex diseases. Distilling biological meaning, however, requires computational strategies that can perform mosaic integration across diverse cohorts and datatypes. Here, we present mosaicMPI, a framework for discovery of low to high-resolution molecular programs representing both cell types and states, and integration within and across datasets into a network representing biological themes. Using existing datasets in glioblastoma, we demonstrate that this approach robustly integrates single cell and bulk programs across multiple platforms. Clinical and molecular annotations from cohorts are statistically propagated onto this network of programs, yielding a richly characterized landscape of biological themes. This enables deep understanding of individual tumor samples, systematic exploration of relationships between modalities, and generation of a reference map onto which new datasets can rapidly be mapped. mosaicMPI is available athttps://github.com/MorrissyLab/mosaicMPI.
Designed Endocytosis-Triggering Proteins mediate Targeted Degradation
Authors: Huang Buwei , Abedi Mohamad , Ahn Green , Coventry Brian , Sappington Isaac , Wang Rong , Schlichthaerle Thomas , Zhang Jason Z. , Wang Yujia , Goreshnik Inna , Chiu Ching Wen , Chazin-Gray Adam , Chan Sidney , Gerben Stacey , Murray Analisa , Wang Shunzhi , O’Neill Jason , Yeh Ronald , Misquith Ayesha , Wolf Anitra , Tomasovic Luke M. , Piraner Dan I , Gonzalez Maria J. Duran , Bennett Nathaniel R. , Venkatesh Preetham , Satoe Danny , Ahlrichs Maggie , Dobbins Craig , Yang Wei , Wang Xinru , Vafeados Dionne , Mout Rubul , Shivaei Shirin , Cao Longxing , Carter Lauren , Stewart Lance , Spangler Jamie B. , Bernardes Gonçalo J.L. , Roybal Kole T. , Greisen Per , Li Xiaochun , Bertozzi Carolyn , Baker David
Published: August 2023

Endocytosis and lysosomal trafficking of cell surface receptors can be triggered by interaction with endogenous ligands. Therapeutic approaches such as LYTAC1,2and KineTAC3, have taken advantage of this to target specific proteins for degradation by fusing modified native ligands to target binding proteins. While powerful, these approaches can be limited by possible competition with the endogenous ligand(s), the requirement in some cases for chemical modification that limits genetic encodability and can complicate manufacturing, and more generally, there may not be natural ligands which stimulate endocytosis through a given receptor. Here we describe general protein design approaches for designing endocytosis triggering binding proteins (EndoTags) that overcome these challenges. We present EndoTags for the IGF-2R, ASGPR, Sortillin, and Transferrin receptors, and show that fusing these tags to proteins which bind to soluble or transmembrane protein leads to lysosomal trafficking and target degradation; as these receptors have different tissue distributions, the different EndoTags could enable targeting of degradation to different tissues. The modularity and genetic encodability of EndoTags enables AND gate control for higher specificity targeted degradation, and the localized secretion of degraders from engineered cells. The tunability and modularity of our genetically encodable EndoTags should contribute to deciphering the relationship between receptor engagement and cellular trafficking, and they have considerable therapeutic potential as targeted degradation inducers, signaling activators for endocytosis-dependent pathways, and cellular uptake inducers for targeted antibody drug and RNA conjugates.
One-pot chemo-enzymatic synthesis and one-step recovery of homogeneous long-chain polyphosphates from microalgal biomass
Authors: Lin Yi-Hsuan , Nishikawa Shota , Jia Tony Z. , Yeh Fang-I , Khusnutdinova Anna , Yakunin Alexander F. , Fujishima Kosuke , Wang Po-Hsiang
Published: August 2023

Abstract Figure

Graphical abstract

Phosphate, an essential component of life, fertilizers, and detergents, is a finite resource that could be depleted within 70 years, while improper phosphate waste disposal in aquatic environments results in eutrophication. Despite some chemical-based methods, biological phosphorus removal using polyphosphate-accumulating organisms, such as microalgae, serves as a sustainable alternative to reclaim phosphate from wastewater. Polyphosphates have profound biological functions and biomedical applications, serving as energy stock, coagulation factors, and antiviral agents depending on their length, showing inherent value in polyphosphate recovery. Here, we leveraged the power of thermodynamic coupling and phase transitions to establish a one-pot, two-step multi-enzyme cascade to convert polydisperse polyphosphate in microalgae biomass into high-molecular-weight insoluble long-chain polyphosphates, allowing for one-step purification. We then optimzed a thermo-digestion approach to transform the 1,300-mers into shorter polyphosphates. Altogether, the processes established here enable the establishment of a sustainable P bioeconomy platform to refine microalgal biomass for biotechnological uses.
Cyclic stretch regulates epithelial cell migration in a frequency dependent manner via vinculin recruitment to cell-cell contacts
Authors: Dow Liam P. , Surace Stacey , Morozov Katrene , Kennedy Reagan , Pruitt Beth L.
Published: August 2023

Epithelial cell migration is critical in regulating wound healing and tissue development. The epithelial microenvironment is incredibly dynamic, subjected to mechanical cues including cyclic stretch. While cyclic cell stretching platforms have revealed responses of the epithelium such as cell reorientation and gap formation, few studies have investigated the long-term effects of cyclic stretch on cell migration. We measured the migratory response of the epithelium to a range of physiologically relevant frequencies and stretch. We integrated our experimental approach with high-throughput cell segmentation to discover a relationship between changes in cell morphology and migration as a function of cyclic stretch. Our results indicate that lower stretch frequencies (i.e., 0.1 Hz) arrest epithelial migration, accompanied by cell reorientation and high cell shape solidity. We found that this response is also accompanied by increased recruitment of vinculin to cell-cell contacts, and this recruitment is necessary to arrest cell movements. This work demonstrates a critical role for frequency dependence in epithelial response to mechanical stretch. These results confirm the mechanosensitive nature of vinculin within the adherens junction, but independently reveal a novel mechanism of low frequency stress response in supporting epithelial integrity by arresting cell migration.
R2C2+UMI: Combining concatemeric consensus sequencing with unique molecular identifiers enables ultra-accurate sequencing of amplicons on Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencers
Authors: Deng Dori Z.Q. , Verhage Jack , Neudorf Celine , Corbett-Detig Russell , Mekonen Honey , Castaldi Peter J. , Vollmers Christopher
Published: August 2023

The sequencing of PCR amplicons is a core application of high-throughput sequencing technology. Using unique molecular identifiers (UMIs), individual amplified molecules can be sequenced to very high accuracy on an Illumina sequencer. However, Illumina sequencers have limited read length and are therefore restricted to sequencing amplicons shorter than 600bp unless using inefficient synthetic long-read approaches. Native long-read sequencers from Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore Technologies can, using consensus read approaches, match or exceed Illumina quality while achieving much longer read lengths. Using a circularization-based concatemeric consensus sequencing approach (R2C2) paired with UMIs (R2C2+UMI) we show that we can sequence ∼550nt antibody heavy-chain (IGH) and ∼1500nt 16S amplicons at accuracies up to and exceeding Q50 (<1 error in 100,0000 sequenced bases), which exceeds accuracies of UMI-supported Illumina paired sequencing as well as synthetic long-read approaches.
Cerebro-spinal Flow Pattern in the Cervical Subarachnoid Space of Healthy Volunteers: Influence of the Spinal Cord morphology
Authors: Leblond Lugdivine , Sudres Patrice , Evin Morgane
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The cerebrospinal fluid is a fundamental part of the central nervous system. The objective of this study is to assess the variations in the CSF flow pattern associated with change in the morphology of the subarachnoidal space of the cervical canal of healthy humans by developing a Computational Fluid Dynamics model.

Methods

3D T2-space MRI sequence images of the cervical spine were used to segment 11 cervical subarachnoid space. Model validation (time-step, mesh size, size and number of boundary layers, influences of parted inflow and inflow continuous velocity) was performed a 40-year-old patient-specific model. Simulations were performed using CFD approach simulating transient flow (Sparlart-Almaras turbulence model) with a mesh size of 0.6, 6 boundary layers of 0.05 mm, a time step of 20 ms simulated on 15 cycles. Distributions of components velocity and WSS were respectively analyzed within the subrachachnoidal space (intervertebral et intravertebral levels) and on dura and pia maters.

Results

Mean values of CSF velocity ranges between 0.07 and 0.17 m.s-1and 0.1 and 0.3 m.s-1for maximum values. Maximum Wall Shear Stress values vary between 0.1 and 0.5 Pa with higher value at the middle of the cervical spine on pia mater and at the lower part of the cervical spine on dura mater. Intra and inter-individual variations of the Wall Shear Stress were found to differ between individuals and significant correlation was found with compression ratio (r=0.76) and lower correlation with occupation ratio and cross section area of the spinal cord.

Conclusion

This study is a first to present WSS and velocity distribution in the subarachnoidal canal of 11 individuals and to described the relationship between with subarachnoid canal morphology highlighting the influence of the shape of the spinal cord within the canal on the CSF flow pattern.
Mapping the Genetic Interaction Network of PARP inhibitor Response
Authors: Simpson Danny , Ling Jia , Jing Yangwode , Adamson Britt
Published: August 2023

Genetic interactions have long informed our understanding of the coordinated proteins and pathways that respond to DNA damage in mammalian cells, but systematic interrogation of the genetic network underlying that system has yet to be achieved. Towards this goal, we measured 147,153 pairwise interactions among genes implicated in PARP inhibitor (PARPi) response. Evaluating genetic interactions at this scale, with and without exposure to PARPi, revealed hierarchical organization of the pathways and complexes that maintain genome stability during normal growth and defined changes that occur upon accumulation of DNA lesions due to cytotoxic doses of PARPi. We uncovered unexpected relationships among DNA repair genes, including context-specific buffering interactions between the minimally characterizedAUNIPand BRCA1-A complex genes. Our work thus establishes a foundation for mapping differential genetic interactions in mammalian cells and provides a comprehensive resource for future studies of DNA repair and PARP inhibitors.
Advancements in Managing Wound Biofilm: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Topical Modalities
Authors: Astrada Adam , Pamungkas Rian Adi , Biomed Khoirul Rista Abidin M.
Published: August 2023

Significance

Gaining insights into the efficacy of topical wound treatments for biofilm eradication is pivotal to enhancing wound management strategies. Despite numerous available agents claiming anti-biofilm properties, the substantiating evidence remains inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the immediate impact of topical wound treatments on wound biofilm and healing outcomes in acute and chronic ulcers.

Recent Advances

We comprehensively searched PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Additionally, eligible grey literature was incorporated. English-language randomized controlled trials, observational, cohort, and case-control studies targeting biofilm prevention, inhibition, or elimination across diverse wound types were included. Primary outcomes included biofilm presence and elimination, supplemented by secondary outcomes encompassing reduced wound size, complete closure, and diminished infection indicators. Bacterial load reduction and biofilm presence were also assessed.

Critical Issues

Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Various modalities were identified, including biofilm-visualization techniques like wound blotting and handheld autofluorescence imaging. A notable high bias risk was observed across all studies. Pooled analysis for the primary outcomes was infeasible due to limited eligible studies and data reporting challenges. The primary source of bias is the lack of consensus on objectively evaluating the biofilm. As for the secondary outcomes, the pooled analysis for complete wound closure (6 RCTs, yielding n=439) and presence of infection/inflammation (2 RCTs, yielding n=284) showed no significant difference, with log odds ratio (LOD) 0.03 (95% CI: – 1.02 – 1.09; τ2=1.09, SE: 1.10, Q=14.33,p=.014) and LOD – 0.95 (95% CI: – 3.54 – 1.64; τ2=2.32, Q=2.71,p=.10), respectively.

Future Direction

Our findings suggest insufficient evidence to support anti-biofilm claims of topical modalities. Clinicians’ skill appears to play a pivotal role in biofilm elimination and wound healing enhancement, with potential optimization through visual-guided techniques like wound blotting and autofluorescence imaging. More rigorous clinical trials are warranted to ascertain the efficacy of these techniques.
Configural behavior response to a two component odor mixture
Authors: O’Brien Rory F. , Klymyshyn Dmytro , Cohen Lawrence B.
Published: August 2023

Configural odors are mixtures of odorant molecules that are perceived as an odor distinct from the components. They provide an attractive target for investigations of odor perception in the olfactory bulb. We investigated the perception of octanal and citronellal in mice using a Go/No-Go behavioral paradigm, and show that mice trained on the mixture of the two odorants respond selectively to the mixture, but not to the components delivered separately.
Software Package for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Coil and Coil Array Analysis and Design
Authors: Morales Leah , Wartman William A , Ferreira Jonathan , Miles Alton , Daneshzand Mohammad , Lu Hanbing , Nummenmaa Aapo R. , Deng Zhi-De , Makaroff Sergey N.
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study aims to describe a MATLAB software package for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil analysis and design.

Approach

Electric and magnetic fields of the coils as well as their self- and mutual (for coil arrays) inductances are computed, with or without a magnetic core. Solid and stranded (Litz wire) conductors are also taken into consideration. The starting point is the centerline of a coil conductor(s), which is a 3D curve defined by the user. Then, a wire mesh and a computer aided design (CAD) mesh for the volume conductor of a given cross-section (circular, elliptical, or rectangular) are automatically generated. Self- and mutual inductances of the coil(s) are computed. Given the conductor current and its time derivative, electric and magnetic fields of the coil(s) are determined anywhere in space.

Computations are performed with the fast multipole method (FMM), which is the most efficient way to evaluate the fields of many elementary current elements (current dipoles) comprising the current carrying conductor at a large number of observation points. This is the major underlying mathematical operation behind both inductance and field calculations.

Main Results

The wire-based approach enables precise replication of even the most complex physical conductor geometries, while the FMM acceleration quickly evaluates large quantities of elementary current filaments. Agreement to within 0.74% was obtained between the inductances computed by the FMM method and ANSYS Maxwell 3D for the same coil model. Although not provided in this study, it is possible to evaluate non-linear magnetic cores in addition to the linear core exemplified. An experimental comparison was carried out against a physical MagVenture C-B60 coil; the measured and simulated inductances differed by only 1.25%, and nearly perfect correlation was found between the measured and computed E-field values at each observation point.

Significance

The developed software package is applicable to any quasistatic inductor design, not necessarily to the TMS coils only.
Knowledge mapping of entrepreneurship research during COVID-19 and forecasting research directions for the post-pandemic era
Authors: Duan Carson
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 crisis has adversely affected entrepreneurs, innovators and their ventures and, arguably, entrepreneurship research. This study aims to map the knowledge of entrepreneurship research during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide evidence of literature evolution in the field with the purpose of supporting future decision-making for policymakers, academics and practitioners in the post-COVID-19 era.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines various bibliometric and scientometric indicators of entrepreneurship research in the Web of Science database using bibliometric techniques and visualization tools. Using the information gained, the scientometrics of entrepreneurship research during the COVID-19 time slice (2020–02-12 to 2022–10-15) are synthesized and comprehensively presented, and future research avenues for the post-COVID-19 era are suggested.

Findings

The results of rigorous quantitative analyses show that entrepreneurship research activities were not disrupted by COVID-19, although entrepreneurial activities themselves were impacted worldwide. In addition to providing key insights into the research field, including the most relevant keywords, keyword co-occurrences, publication sources, countries' contribution and collaboration, and source co-citations, the conceptual structural analysis separates the current trends (hotspots) into ten themes. Based on the evolution of author keywords and research themes, the study identified numerous future research directions, including 1) entrepreneurship in emerging countries, 2) firm performance in different categories of enterprises, 3) immigrants and transnational entrepreneurs, 4) technology in entrepreneurship education and 5) the impact of COVID-19 on the entrepreneurial ecosystem and entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

By building firm foundations for advancing the field in innovative and systematic ways, this timely study contributes to entrepreneurship literature and facilitates the understanding of the features and structures of entrepreneurship research towards the end of the pandemic. The research also has important implications for research management and entrepreneurship policymaking. The study's main limitation is that the results can only represent the time slice between 2020-02-12 and 2022-10-15.

Practical implications

Policymakers and managers of research and development can utilize this research to prepare a crisis-related minimization handbook in advance.

Originality/value

This first data mapping and thematic analysis research for entrepreneurship during the period of COVID-19 provides the latest knowledge in the field at the beginning of the end of the pandemic. It empowers scholars by 1) providing a one-stop literature overview for this global crisis time slice, 2) identifying research focuses and gaps, 3) developing new research avenues for investigation and 4) contributing conceptual structure for specific entrepreneurship research projects.
Wakefit Innovations: overcoming challenges of online sales of furniture & furnishings
Authors: Attri Rekha
Published: August 2023

Learning outcomes

After reading and discussing the case, the participants would be able to: apply 7S and VRIO framework for online furniture retail; evaluate the profitability of horizontal versus vertical marketplaces for selling furniture online; articulate the challenges faced by online furniture retailers; discuss the applicability of technology to enhance customer experience in online furniture retail; and discuss the omni-channel strategy which online furniture companies can adopt.

Case overview/synopsis

Although furniture has traditionally been an unorganized category, the online furniture platforms have been on an upward curve since past few years. Digitization of economy and usage of smartphones to access internet had given a thrust to online purchases. This case on Wakefit Innovations Private Limited is intended to provide the readers with the business and marketing insights of selling furniture using online platform. The readers will be able to understand how retailing furniture using e-commerce is full of challenges and how various marketing activities have helped Wakefit improve their customer base. The readers can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of horizontal versus vertical e-commerce marketplaces and various challenges associated with online furniture retailing. Whether Wakefit should continue setting up experience centres and the benefits that could accrue by usage of virtual reality, augmented reality and data analytics are additional dimensions which can be discussed by the readers. The case will benefit the professionals in understanding the challenges and marketing strategies used by online furniture retailers and the same can be replicated by other players in this sector.

Complexity academic level

This case is suitable for students enrolled for full credit course on e-commerce at post graduate level. The case can be discussed towards the middle of the course once the students have studied different formats of e-commerce marketplace.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
A thematic analysis of homelessness practitioners’ perception of the impacts of welfare reforms in the UK: “Hard to maintain my own mental equilibrium”
Authors: De Oliveira Bruno
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the lived experiences of key stakeholders working with homeless people during the implementation of universal credit during the austerity years.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature on austerity reveals welfare reforms’ impact on support services staff. Service providers’ perceptions of the impact of austerity-led policies and welfare reform via nine interviews with people working in homelessness organisations in Brighton and Hove in the UK. Service providers see the situation for their service users has gotten worse and that the policies make it more difficult to extricate themselves from their current situation. Three central themes relating to the impact of austerity-led welfare reforms were, namely, Universal Credit: the imposition of a precarious livelihood on welfare claimants; a double-edged sword: “If people are sanctioned: people can’t pay”; and “Hard to maintain my own mental equilibrium”.

Findings

More precisely, this paper captures service providers’ perceptions and experiences of the impact of austerity-led policies on their services and how they believe this, in turn, impacts their clients and their own lives.

Research limitations/implications

The dimension cuts across service provision to vulnerable people and is intertwined with health and well-being outcomes. Austerity is detrimental to the health of service users and their clients. It is known that when it comes to the health and well-being of the most vulnerable, who have suffered most from the impacts of austerity policies. However, in times of open austerity, it falls also on those trying to ease their suffering.

Originality/value

The data suggest that policies were developed and accentuated by austerity, which led to the stripping of welfare support from vulnerable people. This process has impacted the people who rely on welfare and service providers.
Diversity, equity and inclusion in employee-queer customer interactions in the hospitality service setting: including multiple stakeholders’ perspectives
Authors: Jin Dan , Chen Han , Qi Rui
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Drawing from cognitive dissonance theory (CDT) and attribution ambiguity theory (AAT), this paper aims to examine how employees interact with queer customers within the hospitality service and the ways that queer representations regulate emotions when discriminated against by normative gender roles.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mixed method. Study 1 used firm-level secondary data to analyze hospitality firms’ efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and the effects on firms’ profit margins and customer satisfaction. In Study 2, an experimental design was used to understand how employees’ assailing behavior toward queer customers interacts with employee feelings of guilt and impacts their sabotage and organizational citizenship behavior via self-serving bias. Study 3 further explored how queer customer victimization interacts with stress to influence their perceptions of organization DEI authenticity and corporate social responsibility (CSR) through resilience.

Findings

Hospitality firms’ DEI efforts were associated with varying outcomes, including higher profit margins but lower customer satisfaction, while guilt weakened the impact of employees’ assailing behavior on their outcomes and customer stress amplified the effect of assailing behavior on queer customers’ perceptions of DEI authenticity and CSR through resilience.

Research limitations/implications

Hospitality organizations should take proactive measures to address self-serving bias among employees. Moreover, fostering an inclusive culture is crucial, with managers playing a pivotal role in facilitating discussions and creating an environment that values diversity, inclusivity and respect for all employees.

Originality/value

The study makes a remarkable contribution to hospitality literature by focusing on CDT and AAT in providing valuable implications for DEI advocators to be aware of the tensions between heteronormativity and queer representations in service encounters.
A narrative inquiry into experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities
Authors: Beka Vanesa , Caine Vera , Clandinin D. Jean , Steeves Pam
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Children who are refugees and who live with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite their high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a narrative inquiry into the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon.

Findings

In attending to the families’ stories of their experiences across time, place and social contexts, two narrative threads resonated across their experiences including waiting and a struggle for agency as well as disruption and continuity.

Research limitations/implications

Narrative inquiry does not produce generalizable results but, rather, gives insight into the unique experiences of individuals.

Originality/value

To understand the complexities of the experience of a refugee family with a child living with disabilities, attending to their lived and told stories is essential.
Impact pathways: a home for insights from relevant and impactful operations and supply chain management research
Authors: Caniato Federico , Graham Gary , Roehrich Jens K. , Vereecke Ann
Published: August 2023

Purpose

International Journal of Operations and Production Management (IJOPM)'s Impact Pathway (IP) section has been launched in 2020 to host short contributions grounded in current managerial practices and/or policy development, challenging established operations and supply chain management (OSCM) knowledge and highlighting innovative and relevant research directions. This commentary reflects on the achievements of the section, delineates the key features of IP papers and stimulates further development.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary provides a brief overview of the IJOPM's IP section, taking stock of the contributions that have been published so far, analysing their topics, methodologies, insights and impact.

Findings

The 19 contributions published over the last three years have dealt with a variety of emerging topics, ranging from the COVID-19 response to additive manufacturing, leveraging on key evidence from managerial practice that challenges consolidated knowledge and theory, providing clear research directions as well as managerial and/or policy guidelines.

Originality/value

The commentary reflects on the importance of phenomenon-driven research that seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice, thus increasing the impact and reach of OSCM research. This is a call for contributions from scholars, business leaders and policymakers to develop further impact-oriented research.
Institutional quality and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: a panel data approach
Authors: Hussen Mohammed Seid
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of different dimensions of institutional quality indices on the economic growth of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a panel data set of 31 SSA countries from 1991 to 2015 and employs a two-step system-GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) estimation technique.

Findings

The study's empirical results indicate that investment-promoting and democratic and regulatory institutions have a significant positive effect on economic growth; however, once these institutions are taken into account, conflict-preventing institutions do not have a significant impact on growth.

Practical implications

The study's findings suggest that countries in the region should continue their institutional reforms to enhance the region's economic growth. Specifically, institutions promoting investment, democracy and regulatory quality are crucial.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies that use either composite measures of institutions or a single intuitional indicator in isolation, the present study has employed principal component analysis (PCA) to extract fewer institutional indicators from multivariate institutional indices. Thus, this paper provides important insights into the distinct role of different clusters of institutions in economic growth.
Driving systemic reform and enhancing professional capital: the transformative roles of excellent retired principals
Authors: Chen Hung-Chang
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study examines the deployment of excellent retired principals (ERPs) as system leaders to facilitate systemic professional capital building in Taipei City, Taiwan. It explores the unique approach of the Taipei City government and contributions of ERPs in driving educational reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines the perspectives of system leadership and professional capital, and analyzes the roles and practices of ERPs in promoting professional capital in Taipei's local education system. It draws on qualitative data gathered through interviews and document analyses.

Findings

The findings reveal that the Taipei City government adopted a systemic approach by appointing designated retired principals as system leaders. The findings are categorized into three themes. ERPs serve as systemic capacity-builders, enhancing leadership across the local education system; ERPs act as collaborators and bridge-builders, fostering joint work and a collective sense of professional responsibility; and ERPs function as facilitators and advisors, cultivating decisional capital by providing informed decision-making support based on their experiences and wisdom. These roles challenge the notion of late-career decline, highlight the ongoing contributions of ERPs to the education system, and extend professional capital beyond teacher development, influencing system-wide collective capacity-building, collective responsibility, and policy enactments.

Originality/value

This study contributes to understanding how exceptional retired principals can drive systemic reform and build systemic professional capital. It expands previous research by highlighting the unique Chinese cultural context in Taipei City and continued contributions of retired principals to the education system.
Valuation accuracy in the residential property markets in Minna and Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Dangana Umar Saba , Udoekanem Namnso Bassey
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The rising concern for the accuracy of residential valuations in Nigeria has created the need for key stakeholders in the residential property markets in the study areas to know the level of accuracy of valuations in order to make rational residential property transactions, amongst other purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

A blend of descriptive and causal designs was adopted for the study. Data were collected via structured questionnaire administered to 179 estate surveying and valuation (ESV) firms in the study areas using census sampling technique. Analytical techniques such as median percentage error (PE), mean and relative importance index (RII) analysis were employed in the analysis of data collected for the study.

Findings

The study found that valuation accuracy is greater in the residential property market in Abuja than in Minna, with inappropriate valuation methodology as the most significant cause of valuation inaccuracy.

Practical implications

The practical implication of this study is that a reliable databank should be established for the property market to provide credible transaction data for valuers to conduct accurate valuations in these cities. Strict enforcement of national and international valuation standards by the regulatory authorities as well as retraining of valuers on appropriate application of valuation approaches and methods are the recommended corrective measures.

Originality/value

No study has comparatively examined the accuracy of valuations in two extremely different residential property markets in the country using actual valuation and transaction prices.
Examining the ethical dilemmas of political impartiality in records administration: a phronetic approach
Authors: Adetayo Adebowale Jeremy
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the ethical dilemmas faced by records administrators concerning political impartiality by examining the case of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in the USA, which has faced reputational challenges due to perceived political bias.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a phronetic approach to resolve the ethical dilemmas associated with political impartiality in records administration. This approach emphasizes practical wisdom and ethical decision-making, offering a unique and effective way to address the challenges faced by presidential record archivists.

Findings

The proposed phronetic approach provides a means to resolve the ethical challenges posed by political impartiality in records administration, with a particular focus on NARA. By taking a transparent and impartial approach, agencies can minimize criticism and ensure their continued ability to equitably serve the public.

Practical implications

The phronetic approach offers a framework for addressing ethical dilemmas related to political impartiality in records administration, with potential implications for other independent agencies facing similar challenges.

Originality/value

This paper offers a unique perspective on the ethical dilemmas of political impartiality in records administration and proposes a practical and effective approach to resolving these challenges. It contributes to the broader discussion on the intersection of ethics and public administration.
Does citizens’ participation moderate the relationship between the built environment and their quality of life in Indian smart cities?
Authors: Dash Ajitabh
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of the built environment of smart cities on citizens’ quality of life in a developing country like India, focusing on the role of citizens’ participation as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used partial least square-based structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses using data from 542 sample respondents residing in five smart cities of India.

Findings

The findings of this study confirmed that the smart city-built environment dimensions of smart governance, smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment and smart living positively relate to citizen quality of life, except for the smart people dimension. This study also confirmed that citizen participation moderates the relationship between all six dimensions of the smart city-built environment and citizens’ quality of life.

Originality/value

This study investigates the relationship between the built environment of smart cities and residents’ quality of life and the moderating effect of citizen participation on this relationship.
Five‐year outcomes for extremely preterm babies with active perinatal management: A clinical prediction model
Authors: Diguisto Caroline , Morgan Andrei Scott , Foix L’Hélias Laurence , Pierrat Veronique , Ancel Pierre‐Yves , Cohen Jérémie F. , Goffinet Francois
Published: August 2023

Objective

To develop and validate a clinical prediction model for outcomes at 5 years of age for children born extremely preterm and receiving active perinatal management.

Design

The EPIPAGE‐2 national prospective cohort.

Setting

France, 2011.

Population

Live‐born neonates between 24+0 and 26+6 weeks of gestation who received active perinatal management (i.e. birth in a tertiary‐level hospital, with antenatal steroids and resuscitation at birth).

Methods

A prediction model using logistic modelling, including gestational age, small‐for gestational‐age (SGA) status and sex, was developed. Model performance was assessed through calibration and discrimination, with bootstrap internal validation.

Main outcome measures

Survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) at 5 years.

Results

Among the 557 neonates included, 401 (72%) survived to 5 years, of which 59% survived without NDD (95% CI 54% to 63%). Predicted rates of survival without NDD ranged from 45% (95% CI 33% to 57%), to 56% (95% CI 49% to 64%) to 64% (95% CI 57% to 70%) for neonates born at 24, 25 and 26 weeks of gestation, respectively. Predicted rates of survival without NDD were 47% (95% CI 18% to 76%) and 62% (95% CI 49% to 76%) for SGA and non‐SGA children, respectively. The model showed good calibration (calibration slope 0.85, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.16; calibration‐in‐the‐large −0.0123, 95% CI −0.25 to 0.23) and modest discrimination (C‐index 0.59, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.65).

Conclusions

A simple prediction model using three factors easily known antenatally may help doctors and families in their decision‐making for extremely preterm neonates receiving active perinatal management.
Analysing policy changes for achieving sustainable development goals: Insights from forest, environment and climate change action plan in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md Saifur , Khan Md Faisal Abedin , Giessen Lukas
Published: August 2023

Environmental sustainability lies at the centre of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Many developing economies, including Bangladesh, undertook massive institutional and policy reformulation initiatives to accomplish the respective environmental targets of the SDGs. However, effective policy implementation and obtaining the desired impact on people and the planet remain challenging. Against this backdrop, using the typical case of Bangladesh, the study hypothesises whether environmental (including forest and climate change) policy changes beget optimal policy outcomes and bring innovative policy ideas. Or they deliver sub‐optimal policy outcomes and prioritise traditional policy substances in achieving the SDGs. The study uses a policy typology and does content analysis for a large number of policy changes (n = 82). It applies the analytical framework of policy planning and a coherent–consistent policy approach. The result shows a tremendous shortfall in policy planning and a lack of technical policy capacities to implement innovative policy substances, for example, sustainable and scientific resources management, pollution control, science‐based study and data generation, and so forth. Also, incoherent goal settings (e.g., biodiversity conservation versus infrastructure development) and inadequate policy solutions for long‐standing problems (e.g., land tenure conflict) can obstruct achieving transformative changes. The sustainable development targets demand an all‐inclusive sectoral approach and technical‐legal policy solutions to achieve environmental sustainability.
Knowledge of child abuse and neglect in nursing students: Assessment and perspectives
Authors: Lupariello Francesco , Mattioda Giuliana , Di Vella Giancarlo
Published: August 2023

Misdiagnosis of child abuse and neglect can delay early treatment. Some authors have pointed out that nurses can miss child abuse and neglect diagnoses due to a lack of knowledge. It is unclear whether the lack of knowledge is due to students' insufficient preparation in nursing school and/or a deficiency in continuing education. An 18‐item questionnaire was administered to final‐year nursing students to assess their degree of knowledge on child abuse and neglect and to evaluate if the lack of knowledge was due to insufficient teaching/training during nursing school. The students were also asked to evaluate themselves by assigning a score to their knowledge. A statistical comparison was performed to define whether sufficient/insufficient results were associated with the following variables: sex, pediatric or general nursing student, attending pediatric lectures, training in pediatric wards/ambulatories, and attending specific lectures on child abuse and neglect. The study population comprised 175 students (154 females, 20 males, 1 unknown). Exactly 66.3% of the participants had ≤9/18 correct answers. Of all students, 77.7% self‐evaluated their level of knowledge as ≤5/10. The comparisons yielded statistically significant differences between the groups with sufficient objective knowledge and those unrelated to training in pediatric wards/ambulatories or pediatric nursing students. Overall, there was little objective knowledge on the subject, which may be related to insufficient teaching/training in nursing schools. Useful corrective strategies include further teaching on child abuse and neglect, preferably using a practical approach. Further, common teaching/training programs should be conducted by both pediatric and general nursing schools.