bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No need to choose: independent regulation of cognitive stability and flexibility challenges the stability-flexibility tradeoff
Authors: Geddert Raphael , Egner Tobias
Published: August 2021

Adaptive behavior requires the ability to focus on a current task and protect it from distraction (cognitive stability) as well as the ability to rapidly switch to another task in light of changing circumstances (cognitive flexibility). Cognitive stability and flexibility have been conceptualized as opposite endpoints on astability-flexibility tradeoffcontinuum, implying an obligatory reciprocity between the two: greater flexibility necessitates less stability, and vice versa. Surprisingly, rigorous empirical tests of this critical assumption are lacking. Here, we acquired simultaneous measurements of cognitive stability (congruency effects) and flexibility (switch costs) on the same stimuli within the same task, while independently varying contextual demands on these functions with block-wise manipulations of the proportion of incongruent trials and task switches, respectively. If cognitive stability and flexibility are reciprocal, increases in flexibility in response to higher switch rates should lead to commensurate decreases in stability, and increases in stability in response to more frequent incongruent trials should result in decreased flexibility. Across three experiments, using classic cued task switching (Experiments 1 and 3) and attentional set shifting (Experiment 2) protocols, we found robust evidence against an obligatory stability-flexibility tradeoff. Although we observed the expected contextual adaptation of stability and flexibility to changing demands, strategic adjustments in stability had little influence on flexibility, and vice versa. These results refute the long-held assumption of a stability-flexibility tradeoff, documenting instead that the cognitive processes mediating these functions can be regulated independently – it is possible to be both stable and flexible at the same time.
Polysorbate 80 Controls Morphology, Structure and Stability of Human Insulin Amyloid-Like Spherulites
Authors: Zhou Xin , Galparsoro Dirk Fennema , Madsen Anders Østergaard , Vetri Valeria , van de Weert Marco , Nielsen Hanne Mørck , Foderà Vito
Published: August 2021

Amyloid protein aggregates are not only associated with neurodegenerative diseases and may also occur as unwanted by-products in protein-based therapeutics. Surfactants are often employed to stabilize protein formulations and reduce the risk of aggregation. However, surfactants alter protein-protein interactions and may thus modulate the physicochemical characteristics of any aggregates formed. Human insulin aggregation was induced at low pH in the presence of varying concentrations of the surfactant polysorbate 80. Various spectroscopic and imaging methods were used to study the aggregation kinetics, as well as structure and morphology of the formed aggregates. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the initial interaction between the surfactant and insulin. Addition of polysorbate 80 slowed down, but did not prevent, aggregation of insulin. Amyloid spherulites formed under all conditions, with a higher content of intermolecular beta-sheets in the presence of the surfactant above its critical micelle concentration. In addition, a denser packing was observed, leading to a more stable aggregate. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested a tendency for insulin to form dimers in the presence of the surfactant, indicating a change in protein-protein interactions. It is thus shown that surfactants not only alter aggregation kinetics, but also affect physicochemical properties of any aggregates formed.
Stable Flow-induced Expression of KLK10 Inhibits Endothelial Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Williams Darian , Mahmoud Marwa , Liu Renfa , Andueza Aitor , Kumar Sandeep , Kang Dong-Won , Zhang Jiahui , Tamargo Ian , Villa-Roel Nicolas , Baek Kyung-In , Lee Hwakyoung , An Yongjin , Zhang Leran , Tate Edward W. , Bagchi Pritha , Pohl Jan , Mosnier Laurent O. , Diamandis Eleftherios P. , Mihara Koichiro , Hollenberg Morley D. , Dai Zhifei , Jo Hanjoong
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in arterial regions exposed to disturbed blood flow (d-flow), while regions exposed to stable flow (s-flow) are protected. The proatherogenic and atheroprotective effects ofd-flowands-floware mediated in part by the global changes in endothelial cell gene expression, which regulates endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Previously, we identified Kallikrein-Related Peptidase 10 (KLK10, a secreted serine protease) as a flow-sensitive gene in arterial endothelial cells, but its role in endothelial biology and atherosclerosis was unknown.

Methods and Results

Here, we show that KLK10 is upregulated unders-flowconditions and downregulated underd-flowconditions usingin vivomouse models andin vitrostudies with cultured endothelial cells (ECs). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and scATAC sequencing (scATACseq) study using the partial carotid ligation mouse model showed flow-regulated KLK10 expression at the epigenomic and transcription levels. Functionally, KLK10 protected againstd-flow-induced inflammation and permeability dysfunction in human artery ECs (HAECs). Further, treatment of micein vivowith rKLK10 decreased arterial endothelial inflammation ind-flowregions. Additionally, rKLK10 injection or ultrasound-mediated transfection of KLK10-expressing plasmids inhibited atherosclerosis inApoE-/-mice. Studies using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNAs revealed that the anti-inflammatory effects of KLK10 were mediated by a Protease Activated Receptors (PAR1/2)-dependent manner. However, unexpectedly, KLK10 did not cleave the PARs. Through a proteomics study, we identified HTRA1 (High-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1), which bound and cleaved KLK10. Further, siRNA knockdown of HTRA1 prevented KLK10’s anti-inflammatory and barrier protective function in HAECs, suggesting that HTRA1 regulates KLK10 function. Moreover, KLK10 expression was significantly reduced in human coronary arteries with advanced atherosclerotic plaques compared to those with less severe plaques.

Conclusion

KLK10 is a flow-sensitive endothelial protein and, in collaboration with HTRA1, serves as an anti-inflammatory, barrier-protective, and anti-atherogenic factor.
Localized hypermutation drives the evolution of unstable colistin resistance inPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kapel Natalia , Caballero Julio Diaz , MacLean R. Craig
Published: August 2021

Colistin has emerged as an important last line of defence for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Here we investigate the responses of ≈1,000 populations of an MDR strain ofP. aeruginosato a high dose of colistin. Colistin exposure resulted in rapid cell death, but a sub-set of populations eventually recovered due to the outgrowth of heteroresistant cells. Genome sequencing revealed that heteroresistance was primarily driven by mutations in the PmrAB two-component system that occurred at a rate (≈2×10-5per cell division) that was 103-104fold higher than typical resistance mutation rates. Crucially, this elevated mutation rate was only found inpmrB, demonstrating that hypermutability is localized to this gene. PmrAB provides resistance to antimicrobial peptides that are involved in host immunity, suggesting that this pathogen may have evolved a high mutation rate as an adaption to generate mutants that are resistant to host antimicrobial peptides that are secreted during infection. Interestingly, we found no mutations in 1/3 of populations that recovered from colistin treatment, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity and/or persister cells contribute to the ability ofPseudomonasto adapt to colistin.
Crosstalk between Ethylene and ABA during changes in soil water content reveals a role of ACC in coffee anthesis regulation
Authors: López Marlon Enrique , Santos Iasminy Silva , Gutiérrez Robert Márquez , Mesa Andrea Jaramillo , Cardon Carlos Henrique , Espindola Lima Juliana Maria , Lima André Almeida , Chalfun-Junior Antonio
Published: August 2021

Coffee (Coffea arabicaL.) presents an asynchronous flowering regulated by endogenous and environmental stimulus, and anthesis occurs once plants are rehydrated after a period of water deficit.

We evaluated the evolution of Abscisic Acid (ABA), ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) content, ACC oxidase (ACO) activity, and expression analysis of theLysine Histidine Transporter1 (LHT1)transporter, in roots, leaves and, flower buds from three coffee genotypes (Coffea arabicaL. cv Oeiras, Acauã, andSemperflorens) cultivated under field conditions with two experiments. In a third field experiment, the effect of exogenous supply of ACC in coffee anthesis was evaluated.

We found an increased ACC level in all tissues from the three coffee genotypes in the re-watering period just before anthesis for all tissues and high expression of theLHT1gene in flower buds and leaves. Ethylene content and ACO activity decreased from rainy to dry period whereas ABA content increased. Higher number of opened and G6 stage flower buds were observed in the treatment with exogenous ACC.

The results showed that the interaction of ABA-ACO-ethylene and intercellular ACC transport among leaves, buds, and roots in coffee favors an increased level of ACC that is most likely, involved as a modulator in coffee anthesis.
Improved blind demixing methods for recovering dense neuronal morphology from barcode imaging data
Authors: Chen Shuonan , Loper Jackson , Zhou Pengcheng , Paninski Liam
Published: August 2021

Cellular barcoding methods offer the exciting possibility of ‘infinite-pseudocolor’ anatomical reconstruction — i.e., assigning each neuron its own random unique barcoded ‘pseudocolor,’ and then using these pseudocolors to trace the microanatomy of each neuron. Here we use simulations, based on densely-reconstructed electron microscopy microanatomy, with signal structure matched to real barcoding data, to quantify the feasibility of this procedure. We develop a new blind demixing approach to recover the barcodes that label each neuron. We also develop a neural network which uses these barcodes to reconstruct the neuronal morphology from the observed fluorescence imaging data, ‘connecting the dots’ between discontiguous amplicon signals. We find that accurate recovery should be feasible, provided that the barcode signal density is sufficiently high. This study suggests the possibility of mapping the morphology and projection pattern of many individual neurons simultaneously, at high resolution and at large scale, via conventional light microscopy.
QSAR Model Based Gradient Boosting Regression of N-Arylsulfonyl-Indole-2-Carboxamide Derivatives as Inhibitors for Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase
Authors: Zhao Ziyi , Yang Jialong , Li Bowen , Sun Tingting , Si Hongzong , Ni Tongshang
Published: August 2021

As is known to all, diabetes metellius is a global health threaten and it has caused worldwide attention of scientists. To get a better investigation of the drug design of diabetes, we used heuristic method to established the linear model and used Gradient Boosting Regression to establish the nonlinear model of Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatse inhibitor successively. In this study, 84 derivatives of N-Arylsulfonyl-Indole-2-Carboxamide were introduced into the models, two outstanding QSAR models with 2 molecule descriptors were established successfully. Grandient Boosting Regression rendered a good correlation with R2 of 0.943 and MSE of 0.135 for the training set, 0.916 and 0.213 for test set, which also proves the feasibility of the implementation of the new method GBR in the field of QSAR. Meanwhile, the optimal model displayed wonderful statistical significance. This study shows unlimited potential for design of new drugs for diabetes.
Degenerate primed randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (DP-RAPD) fingerprinting of bacteriophages ofVibrio harveyifrom shrimp hatcheries in Southern India
Authors: Thiyagarajan S. , Chrisolite B. , Alavandi S.V.
Published: August 2021

Vibrio harveyiis a significant pathogen of shrimp. Seventy-six bacteriophages infecting luminescentV. harveyiwere isolated from a total of 194 water samples drawn from various sources of shrimp hatcheries located in South East coast and Andaman island of India. Degenerate primed randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (DP- RAPD) fingerprinting of these bacteriophages was carried out to determine their genetic relatedness. Similarity matrix based on Dice coefficient followed by construction of dendrogram by unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) revealed 12 major clusters. One phage was randomly selected from each of these major clusters for transmission electron microscopic observations. Eleven of them had an icosahedral head (46-115 nm) with a long non-contractile tail (132-329 nm), belonging to theSiphoviridaefamily and two phages had a short tail (15-27 nm), belonging to the familyPodoviridae. The phylogenetic analysis of the phages using DP-RAPD fingerprinting correlated to some extent to the phenotypic nature of the host specifically with regard to sucrose fermentation and source of isolation. However, phages specifically infectingV. harveyiand those belonging to different families did not cluster together in the DP-PCR cluster analysis. Hence, the genetic diversity of phages infecting same host with respect to phenotypic difference was revealed by the DP-RAPD applied in this study.
BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant in Qatar
Authors: Tang Patrick , Hasan Mohammad R. , Chemaitelly Hiam , Yassine Hadi M. , Benslimane Fatiha M. , Khatib Hebah A. Al , AlMukdad Sawsan , Coyle Peter , Ayoub Houssein H. , Kanaani Zaina Al , Al Kuwari Einas , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Abdul Rahim Hanan F. , Nasrallah Gheyath K. , Al Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Al Romaihi Hamad Eid , Butt Adeel A. , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Khal Abdullatif Al , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: August 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of concern is expanding globally. Here, we assess real-world effectiveness of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines against this variant in the population of Qatar, using a matched test-negative, case- control study design. BNT162b2 effectiveness against any Delta infection, symptomatic or asymptomatic, was 64.2% (95% CI: 38.1-80.1%) ≥14 days after the first dose and before the second dose, but was only 53.5% (95% CI: 43.9-61.4%) ≥14 days after the second dose, in a population in which a large proportion of fully vaccinated persons received their second dose several months earlier. Corresponding effectiveness measures for mRNA-1273 were 79.0% (95% CI: 58.9-90.1%) and 84.8% (95% CI: 75.9-90.8%), respectively. Effectiveness against any severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 disease due to Delta was 89.7% (95% CI: 61.0-98.1%) for BNT162b2 and 100.0% (95% CI: 41.2-100.0%) for mRNA-1273, ≥14 days after the second dose. Both BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are highly effective in preventing Delta hospitalization and death, but less so in preventing infection, particularly for BNT162b2.
Opportunistic gut sampling indicates differential diet and plastic ingestion risk in Indian dugongs
Authors: Prajapati Sumit , Ghanekar Chinmaya , Pathan Sameeha , Shekar Rukmini , Magesh K. Madhu , Gole Swapnali , Bose Srabani , Iyer Sweta , Pande Anant , Johnson Jeyaraj Antony , Sivakumar Kuppusamy
Published: August 2021

Dugongs, exclusively seagrass foragers, are globally threatened marine mammals. Knowledge on their feeding biology has been derived from few direct observations and mostly by analysis of stomach contents. Given limitations in data from Indian populations, dugong strandings serve as an opportunity to understand their dietary composition through gut sampling. In this paper, we utilize the gut contents collected from stranded dugongs to detect differences in the seagrass foraging between two isolated pockets of dugong distribution (Tamil Nadu and Gujarat) and supplement existing knowledge on dugong feeding biology in Indian waters. We extracted, enumerated and identified seagrass species from dugong gut contents. The proportion of seagrass leaf fragments were found higher (>40%) than other fragments in all the gut samples analysed. We recorded two seagrass genera (Halophila spp. and Halodule spp.) from Gujarat and five seagrass genera (Halophila spp., Halodule spp., Cymodocea spp., Enhalus spp., Syringodium spp.) from Tamil Nadu dugong individuals. We also obtained anthropogenic debris such as plastic, fishing net and wood fragments from the gut samples. We suggest enhanced monitoring of seagrass habitats and fine spatial scale threat mapping in entire dugong distribution range in India.
Pout2Prot: an efficient tool to create protein (sub)groups from Percolator output files
Authors: Schallert Kay , Verschaffelt Pieter , Mesuere Bart , Benndorf Dirk , Martens Lennart , Bossche Tim Van Den
Published: August 2021

In metaproteomics, the study of the collective proteome of microbial communities, the protein inference problem is more challenging than in single-species proteomics. Indeed, a peptide sequence can not only be present in multiple proteins or protein isoforms of the same species, but also in homologous proteins from closely related species. To assign the taxonomy and functions of the microbial species, specialized tools have been developed, such as Prophane. This tool, however, is not directly compatible with post-processing tools such as Percolator. In this manuscript we therefore present Pout2Prot, which takes Percolator Output (.pout) files from multiple experiments and creates protein group and protein subgroup output files (.tsv) that can be used directly with Prophane. We investigated different grouping strategies, and compared existing protein grouping tools to develop an advanced protein grouping algorithm that offers a variety of different approaches, allows grouping for multiple files, and uses a weighted spectral count for protein (sub)groups to reflect abundance. Pout2Prot is available as a web application at https://pout2prot.ugent.be and is installable via pip as a standalone command line tool and reusable software library. All code is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and is available at https://github.com/compomics/pout2prot.
Fast and efficient digestion of adeno associated virus (AAV) capsid proteins for liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based peptide mapping and post translational modification analysis (PTMs)
Authors: Guapo Felipe , Strasser Lisa , Millán-Martín Silvia , Anderson Ian , Bones Jonathan
Published: August 2021

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) represent a widely used delivery mechanism for gene therapy treatments currently being developed. The size and complexity of these molecules requires the development of sensitive analytical methods for detailed product characterization. Among the quality attributes that need to be monitored, characterization of the AAV capsid protein amino acid sequences and any associated post translational modifications (PTM) present should be performed. As commonly used for recombinant protein analysis, LC-MS based peptide mapping can provide sequence coverage and PTM information to improve product understanding and the development and deployment of the associated manufacturing processes. In the current study, we report a fast and efficient method to digest AAV5 capsid proteins in only 30 minutes prior to peptide mapping analysis. The performance of different proteases in digesting AAV5 was compared and the benefits of using nanoflow liquid chromatography for separation prior to high resolution mass spectrometry to obtain 100% sequence coverage are highlighted. Characterization and quantitation of PTMs on AAV5 capsid proteins when using pepsin as a single protease is reported, thereby demonstrating the potential of this method to aid with complete characterization of AAV serotypes in gene therapy development laboratories.
Durability of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses at 12-months post-infection
Authors: Lu Zhongyan , Laing Eric D. , Pena-Damata Jarina , Pohida Katherine , Tso Marana S. , Samuels Emily C. , Epsi Nusrat J. , Dorjbal Batsukh , Lake Camille , Richard Stephanie A. , Maves Ryan C. , Lindholm David A. , Rozman Julia , English Caroline , Huprikar Nikhil , Mende Katrin , Colombo Rhonda E. , Colombo Christopher J. , Broder Christopher C. , Ganesan Anuradha , Lanteri Charlotte A. , Agan Brian K. , Tribble David , Simons Mark P. , Dalgard Clifton L. , Blair Paul W. , Chenoweth Josh , Pollett Simon D. , Snow Andrew L. , Burgess Timothy H. , Malloy Allison M.W. ,   the EPICC COVID-19 Cohort Study Group
Published: August 2021

Background

Characterizing the longevity and quality of cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to understanding immunologic approaches to protection against COVID-19. Prior studies suggest SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are present in peripheral blood 10 months after infection. Further analysis of the function, durability, and diversity of the cellular response long after natural infection, over a wider range of ages and disease phenotypes, is needed to further identify preventative and therapeutic interventions.

Methods

We identified participants in our multi-site longitudinal, prospective cohort study 12-months post SARS-CoV-2 infection representing a range of disease severity. We investigated the function, phenotypes, and frequency of T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 using intracellular cytokine staining and spectral flow cytometry. In parallel, the magnitude of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies was compared.

Results

SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies and T cells were detected at 12-months post-infection. Severity of acute illness was associated with higher frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 T cells and antibodies at 12-months. In contrast, polyfunctional and cytotoxic T cells responsive to SARS-CoV-2 were identified in participants over a wide spectrum of disease severity.

Conclusions

Our data show that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces polyfunctional memory T cells detectable at 12-months post-infection, with higher frequency noted in those who originally experienced severe disease.
Scale heterogeneity in hotel guests’ satisfaction relative to room rates
Authors: Boto-Garcia David , Escalonilla Marta , Zapico Emma , Baños Jose F.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine hotel guests’ satisfaction relative to room rates paying attention to the heterogeneity in the scale of satisfaction scores.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies guests’ post-purchase hotel evaluation using survey data from a sample of 14,879 tourists visiting a Northern Spanish region. This study estimates a Heteroskedastic Ordered Probit model in which both “cognitive” and “emotional” components of satisfaction are modelled. The model allows us to control for heterogeneity in the scale of the latent satisfaction scores.

Findings

This paper finds that satisfaction relative to rates (value for money) decreases with expenditure per person and day. Interestingly, this negative relationship mainly holds for those who do not prioritize prices at the time of choosing the hotel. Positive first impressions are positively associated with higher satisfaction. In addition, this study finds that the emotional component of satisfaction increases with hotel quality and hiring a full board, being also greater among women and elderly people.

Originality/value

Instead of using an overall measure of satisfaction, this paper uses one that gathers how the tourist assesses satisfaction in relation to cost (value for money).
Investigating asymmetric effects of public debt on economic growth in South Africa: a smooth transition regression (STAR) approach
Authors: Makhoba Bongumusa Prince , Kaseeram Irrshad , Greyling Lorraine
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The primary purpose of the study is to analyse the asymmetric effects of public debt on economic growth, using secondary data over the period 1980–2018 in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This study estimated a Smooth Transition Regression (STAR) and Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach, using time series data to analyse the asymmetric effect of public debt on economic growth in South Africa.

Findings

The findings revealed a significant nonlinear relationship between public debt and economic growth in South Africa. The results showed an inverted U-Shape relationship, implying a significant positive influence of public debt on economic growth during the low-debt regime. While during a high-debt regime, public debt exerted a significant negative effect on economic growth. The study proposes that policymakers ought to consider targeting a sustainable debt threshold that would enhance efficient use of public finances consistent with long-term economic prosperity.

Originality/value

This paper asymmetries and threshold effects between public debt and economic growth in South Africa, through the application of dynamic nonlinear models namely, Smooth Transition Regression (STAR) and Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach. Studies on the relationship under examination have predominantly been confined in advanced economies. This study provides rigorous empirical evidence from the South African perspective.
Developed DICOM standard schema with DSpace
Authors: Hazarika Hirak Jyoti , Ravikumar S. , Handique Akash
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present a novel DSpace-based medical image repository system planned explicitly for storing and retrieving clinical images using digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) metadata standards. DSpace institutional repository software is widely used in an academic environment for accessing and mainly storing text-related files. DICOM images are particular types of images embedded with much system-generated metadata and organised using DICOM metadata standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper talks about institutional repository software (DSpace) in archiving DICOM images. In the current study, the authors have tried to integrate the DICOM metadata standard with DSpace, which was compatible with Dublin Core (DC) and open archives initiative – protocol for metadata harvesting (OAI-PMH). After combining the DICOM standard with DSpace and the repository tested with a sample of 5,000 images, the retrieval results using various DICOM tags was very satisfactory. This study paves for the use of open source software (OSS) in storing and retrieving medical images.

Findings

The author has provided the DSpace software to recognised DICOM (.dcm) files in the first stage. In the second stage, a patch was developed to identify the DICOM metadata standard in Dspace, which has inbuilt DC metadata standards. Finally, in the third stage, retrieval efficiency was tested with a 5,000 .dcm image using the DICOM tag and the results were very fruitful.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation of this study was the size of the data (5,000 DICOM images) with which the authors have tested the system. The system scalability has to be tested on various fronts like on cloud and local servers with different configurations, for which a separate study has to be done.

Practical implications

Once this system is in place, DICOM users can stock, retrieve and access the image from the Web platform. Furthermore, this proposed repository will be the warehouse of various DICOM images with reasonable storage costs.

Originality/value

In addition to exploring the opportunities of free open source software (FOSS) implementation in medical science, this study includes issues related to the performance of an open-source repository for retrieving and preserving medical images. It created and developed Open Source DICOM Medical Image Library with DICOM metadata standard with the help of DSpace. Thus, the study will generate value for library professionals and medical professionals and FOSS vendors to understand the medical market in the context of FOSS.
Media interviews as strategic external communication to maintain legitimacy for sustainability activities
Authors: Crumley Ellen T. , Grandy Karen , Sundararajan Binod , Roy Judy
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the thematic content and inclusive language in leaders' media interviews to maintain legitimacy for organizational sustainability activities.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory, qualitative content analysis of 24 organizational leaders' media interviews about environmental sustainability was conducted. Inclusive language (i.e. collective focus terms, collective personal pronouns, and metaphors) and thematic content were analyzed.

Findings

Legitimacy maintenance entails both describing organizational sustainability activities and conveying, through the use of inclusive language, multiple audiences' connection to the organization. The qualitative content analysis found that leaders discussed both primary and secondary stakeholders. With the exception of the code defending existing practices, leaders consistently highlighted positive sustainability activities of their organizations. The inclusive language analysis found that collective focus terms were used by all the leaders, with the most common term being “everyone.” Collective personal pronouns were found in half the interviews. Metaphors were employed by all leaders; the most common sustainability-related metaphors were journey, structural, personification, military/competition, vision and science.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is limited to 24 organizations and not representative of all industries.

Originality/value

While sustainability communication research focuses on annual reports and website and social media content, this study draws attention to a common but under-examined type of strategic external communication: senior organizational leaders' media interviews. To the authors’ knowledge, scholars have not previously considered the possible legitimacy maintenance function of organizational leaders' use of inclusive language and thematic content to address a broad array of stakeholders in their external communication.
Teaching literature following loss: teachers’ adherence to emotional rules
Authors: Dunn Mandie Bevels
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore how teachers changed literature instruction in English language arts (ELA) classrooms following personal loss, and identifies factors influencing those changes. The author argues teachers regulated their responses to literature according to emotional rules they perceived to be associated with the teaching profession. Understanding teachers’ responses helps educators, teacher educators and educational researchers consider what conditions and supports may be required for teachers and students to share emotions related to loss in authentic ways in ELA classrooms.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine changes teachers made in literature instruction following personal loss, the author conducted a thematic analysis of 80 questionnaire responses.

Findings

The author found teachers changed literature instruction related to three areas: teachers’ relationship to students, teachers’ instruction surrounding texts and teachers’ reader responses. Responses highlighted how teachers adhered to emotional rules, including a perception of teachers as authorities and caretakers of children. Teachers considered literature instruction to require maintaining focus on texts, and avoided emotional response unless it aided textual comprehension.

Originality/value

Scholars have argued for literature instruction inclusive of both loss experiences and also emotional response, with particular focus on students’ loss experiences. This study focuses on teachers’ experiences and responses to literature following loss, highlighting factors that influence, and at times inhibit, teachers’ authentic sharing of experiences and emotions. The author argues teachers require support to bring loss experiences into literature instruction as they navigate emotional response within the relational dynamics of the classroom.
Contraceptive prevalence and factors influencing utilization among women in Pakistan: a focus on gender-based violence
Authors: Nguyen Thao Thi , Neal Sarah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this study, the authors determined the prevalence of contraceptive use among Pakistani women and assessed factors influencing the utilization of contraception with a particular focus on the experience of gender-based violence.

Design/methodology/approach

The dataset used in this study was the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2018, which includes married women only. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the association between contraceptive use and a number of explanatory variables including experience of gender-based violence.

Findings

From 2006 to 2018, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and the use of modern contraceptive methods increased slowly. The findings of this study demonstrated that higher educational level and wealth index increased the likelihood of contraceptive uptake and the use of modern contraception. Media exposure to family planning and spousal communication were protective factors that encouraged women to use contraception, including modern contraception, to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Women who experienced gender-based violence (GBV) were more likely to use contraception than women who did not experience GBV.

Research limitations/implications

The use of secondary data limited the variety of important variable that should be investigated including knowledge of women on SRH, the attitude of women toward SRH and family planning, the skills of a healthcare provider on counseling family planning, and other barrier variables such as transportation and willingness to pay for contraceptive methods. 10;The sensitivity of the topic is considered as another challenge when collecting data. Women might be hesitant to share about their GBV experience. The experience to GBV is also hard to define and depends on the feeling of each person, especially emotional violence.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the very few studies to examine the association between GBV and contraceptive use, and thus is valuable in opening up debate about the links between these two factors.
Library leadership in Nigeria and COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Arapasopo Esther Arinola , Adekoya Clement Ola
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The current scourge of COVID-19 in educational enterprise requires that libraries tame the wave of the pandemic through effective leadership. This paper aims to investigate library leadership in Nigeria and COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive research design was used for the study. A structured questionnaire designed with Google Form and administered online was used to elicit data from 137 heads of academic and public libraries and their deputies in South West, Nigeria.

Findings

It was found that transformational and transactional leadership styles were more effective than laissez-faire style in managing libraries during crisis. Library operations were reduced during the COVID-19 era, and communication and meetings were conducted via social media. The spread of the pandemic was curtailed through enforcement of the use of face mask and nose covers and awareness campaign through posters and handbills.

Practical implications

It is the library heads with effective leadership styles that will be productive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This study is novel, as it approaches the handling of COVID-19 in libraries from the perspective of the leadership styles of the library leaders. No studies have emanated from Africa in this area. The few available narratives are centred around the Western countries. Meanwhile, managers of libraries in Nigeria are not immune to leadership crisis in the handling of the COVID-19 in their respective libraries.
Servant and authoritarian leadership, and leaders’ third-party conflict behavior in convents
Authors: Obi Innocentina-Marie , Bollen Katalien , Aaldering Hillie , Euwema Martin Claes
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The present study investigates the relationship between servant and authoritarian leadership, and leaders’ third-party conflict behaviors in followers’ conflicts, thereby contributing to integrating knowledge on leadership styles and leaders’ third-party conflict behaviors. This study aims to investigate leadership and conflict management in a context hardly studied: local religious communities or convents within a female religious organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected quantitative survey data from 453 religious sisters, measuring their perception of leaders’ behaviors. These religious sisters live in local religious communities within a Catholic Women Religious Institute based in Nigeria (West Africa) and in other countries across the globe.

Findings

Results show that servant leadership relates positively to leaders’ third-party problem-solving behavior and negatively to leaders’ avoiding and forcing. Moreover, authoritarian leadership relates positively to leaders’ third-party avoiding and forcing behaviors.

Originality/value

This study expands theory development and practices on leadership and leaders’ third-party conflict behaviors. The authors associate servant and authoritarian leadership with leaders’ third-party conflict behaviors: avoiding, forcing and problem-solving, in followers’ conflicts. The authors offer practical recommendations for religious leaders on servant leadership and leaders’ third-party conflict behaviors.
An entrepreneurial way of engaging student entrepreneurs at business school during pandemic
Authors: Brahmankar Yogesh , Bedarkar Madhura , Mishra Mahima
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges faced by the higher educational institutes in imparting entrepreneurial education during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the institutional response to handle the difficulties posed by COVID-19 through innovative educational initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the challenges faced, data was collected from entrepreneurship students and entrepreneurship educators through focus group discussions. The study followed Kitzinger (1995) as data was analyzed in its entirety as a group and then individually. Groups and individuals were the focus of the analysis. The study applies the Kepner Trego problem analysis technique (KPTA) as the problem-solving technique adopted by the institute and SAP-LAP (situation, actor, process, learning, action, performance) to discuss the findings of the study.

Findings

The study found that to engage, encourage and enable students to study on their start-up/business ideas; it is important to facilitate peer interactions, internships in start-ups and meaningful engagement with alumni entrepreneurs. Some proactive interventions are also expected from institutes to energize the student community with positivity. It is also important to nurture the emotional well-being of budding entrepreneurs.

Research limitations/implications

The case study narrates the innovative and agile problem-solving approach of the business school during the pandemic. KPTA focuses more on appreciative dialogue and also helps to replicate the best from other situations to the problem areas. SAP-LAP method also helps practitioners to initiate the right new actions with targeted performance.

Practical implications

As a greater number of academic institutions impart entrepreneurship education today, the findings of the study would be relevant to the stakeholders, including students, educators and institutes.

Social implications

The study underpins the importance of the emotional well-being of entrepreneurs/student entrepreneurs and an innovative approach to keep the student moral high during such a challenging situation.

Originality/value

It is an ongoing exercise at a business school where the challenges were identified, analyzed and solutions were implemented using a structured methodology such as focused group discussions, KPTA and SAPLAP. The innovative initiatives not only engaged the student well but also were able to ensure their emotional well-being.
Family influence on career decisions: perceptions of Latin American CEOs
Authors: Blanco Maria Rita , Golik Mariela N.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The career is a space where family and work lives amalgamate. The role of work for the individual, and the meaning of work within the culture, will determine the relevance of family. This study investigates CEOs' perception about conjugal family influence on career decisions, and it examines family factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a qualitative study, 22 Latin American CEOs who work for multinational firms were interviewed in a semi-structured way.

Findings

Not all career decisions were influenced by conjugal family. CEOs varied in the extent to which they considered their families when reflecting on their career decisions. Expatriation, joining or quitting an organization and change of area of work were found as those decisions perceived to be influenced by conjugal family. Family support, family structure and family demands and responsibilities were identified as the family factors involved. In spite of the role salience, family factors influenced some of CEOs' career decisions, in part, due to the cultural characteristics of the Latin American environment. The instrumental support of the extended family, as part of collectivist societies, was also evidenced.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the family influenced decisions and family factors involved may enhance individual career decision-making as well as organizational career management processes and public initiatives.

Originality/value

This study contributes to family and career literature, being the first one to explore the conjugal family influence upon CEOs' career decisions.
Individuals' waste separation practice in a relationship with social bonds: a case study of Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to ascertain whether residents in Nguyen Du ward still sort their waste at source following the end of the 3R project that ended in 2009. Additionally, this paper aims to explore the relationship between waste separation practices and social bonds.

Design/methodology/approach

The Travis Hirschi theory of social control was applied, together with the mixed method research design which included a structured questionnaire survey. Twelve semi-structured interviews were also conducted with residents and the data processed by SPSS software, using Chi-Square test, Independent-Samples t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis.

Findings

A proportion of respondents has continued practicing waste separation since the 3R project ended. The study also indicated that the greater the involvement in family and neighborhood activities the more the participants were likely to practice waste separation.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size limits the extent to which the most influential factors can be determined and therefore the degree to which the findings can be generalized.

Practical implications

The study includes implications for rerunning the waste separation programs for households as together with community campaigns to improve individuals' attachment and commitment and thus their participation in pro-environmental behaviors.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to take a sociological approach to investigate factors affecting household waste separation, which has attracted little attention in previous studies. Useful information is also provided to local authorities for a policy-making process to implement effective domestic waste policies.
The copycat effect: do social influences allow peer team members' dysfunctional audit behaviors to spread throughout the audit team?
Authors: Wetmiller Rebecca J
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study seeks to identify the role that peer team members' behaviors and superiors' preferences play in influencing the likelihood that staff auditors engage in dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB).

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an experiment that manipulates peer team member behavior (DAB present or DAB absent) and superior preference (efficiency or effectiveness). Students enrolled in a graduate accounting course, proxying for inexperienced staff auditors, receive an internal control sample selection task. Participants assess the likelihood that a typical staff auditor would engage in DAB or non-DAB.

Findings

First, staff auditors with a peer team member who engages in DAB are more likely to engage in DAB. Second, staff auditors who have a superior with a preference toward efficiency are more likely to engage in DAB. Finally, when considered simultaneously, the effect of the superior's preference on the likelihood of staff auditors engaging in DAB is not different for staff auditors, subject to a peer engaging in DAB versus those subject to a peer who engaged in a non-DAB.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses a hypothetical audit team, a written script of team member communication, and students proxying for inexperienced staff auditors. As such, future studies might consider improving the realism of the team setting, the manner in which a message is portrayed, and implications at higher levels within the audit team hierarchy.

Practical implications

Team interactions contribute to the prevalence of DAB within the profession. Specifically, inexperienced auditors are influenced by the behavior of peer and superior team members and this may be one cause of the prevalence of DAB within the profession. As such, future firm considerations could include well-structured mentorship programs and rewards structures.

Originality/value

This study adds to the audit team literature by investigating the influence of audit team dynamics on staff auditors' behaviors. This paper extends the current audit team literature, that is mostly focused on supervisor–subordinate relationships, by investigating social influences from peers and superiors. This study's findings inform public accounting firms of areas in which personnel may negatively affect audit quality through intra-team interactions.
Value co-creation and new service performance: mediated by value-informed pricing
Authors: Taghizadeh Seyedeh Khadijeh , Rahman Syed Abidur , Marimuthu Malliga
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the dialogue, access, risk assessment and transparency model of value co-creation processes (dialogue, access, risk and transparency) on new service market performance (NSMP) with the mediating role of value-informed pricing in the context of business-to-business (B2B).

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 230 managers of the telecommunications industry in Malaysia and analyzed through structural equation modeling using SmartPLS v.3.3.3 software.

Findings

This study found that dialogue and transparency are predictors of NSMP. The findings indicate that value-informed pricing plays a mediating role in the relationship between dialogue and transparency with NSMP.

Practical implications

Disclosing pricing related information, providing up to date information to the customers, making clear to the customers about new offerings would certainly influence value-informed pricing. Thus, managers can enhance customer engagement in the interaction processes to better understand customer expectations of new services and how the new services should be priced.

Originality/value

The link between value co-creation and value-informed pricing has been only conceptualized in literature. This study has opened a new stream of research, examining the relationship of interactional-based value co-creation process with value-informed pricing and NSMP in the context of B2B relationship from providers’ perspective.