bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Olverembatinib inhibits SARS-CoV-2-Omicron variant-mediated cytokine release
Authors: Chan Marina , Holland Eric C. , Gujral Taranjit S
Published: February 2022

The Omicron variant has become dominant in the U.S. and around the world. This variant is found to be 2-fold more infectious than the Delta variant, posing a significant threat of severe cases and death. We and others have recently reported that the N-terminus domain (NTD) of the SARS-CoV-2 of various variants is responsible for inducing cytokine release in human PBMCs. Here, we demonstrate that the NTD of the Omicron variant remains highly effective at inducing cytokine release in human PBMCs. Furthermore, we show that Ponatinib and a novel compound, Olverembatinib, are potent Omicron NTD-mediated cytokine release inhibitors. Target profiling revealed that Olverembatinib blocks most of the previously identified kinases responsible for cytokine release. Together, we propose that Ponatinib and Olverembatinib may represent an attractive therapeutic option for treating moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.

HIGHLIGHTS

The N-terminus domain (NTD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant strongly induces multiple inflammatory molecules in PBMCs, unaffected by the mutations observed in the NTD.

The cytokine release mediated by the Omicron variant is comparable to the Delta variant.

Olverembatinib, a clinical-stage multi-kinase inhibitor, potently inhibits Omicron NTD-mediated cytokine release.

Olverembatinib could relieve severe symptoms associated with COVID-19 Omicron and Delta variants.
Distinct sensitivities to SARS-CoV-2 variants in vaccinated humans and mice
Authors: Walls Alexandra C. , VanBlargan Laura A. , Wu Kai , Choi Angela , Navarro Mary Jane , Lee Diana , Avena Laura , Berrueta Daniela Montes , Pham Minh N. , Elbashir Sayda , Miranda Marcos C. , Kepl Elizabeth , Johnson Max , Blackstone Alyssa , Sprouse Kaitlin , Fiala Brooke , O’Connor Megan A. , Brunette Natalie , Arunachalam Prabhu S. , Shirreff Lisa , Rogers Kenneth , Carter Lauren , Fuller Deborah H. , Villinger Francois , Pulendran Bali , Diamond Michael S. , Edwards Darin K. , King Neil P. , Veesler David
Published: February 2022

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 has led to the development of a large number of vaccines, several of which are now approved for use in humans. Understanding vaccine-elicited antibody responses against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) in real time is key to inform public health policies. Serum neutralizing antibody titers are the current best correlate of protection from SARS-CoV-2 challenge in non-human primates and a key metric to understand immune evasion of VOC. We report that vaccinated BALB/c mice do not recapitulate faithfully the breadth and potency of neutralizing antibody responses against VOC, as compared to non-human primates or humans, suggesting caution should be exercised when interpreting data for this animal model.
Azole resistance associated regulatory motifs within the promoter of cyp51A in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Kühbacher Alexander , Peiffer Mandy , Hortschansky Peter , Merschak Petra , Bromley Michael J , Haas Hubertus , Brakhage Axel A , Gsaller Fabio
Published: February 2022

Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the deadliest fungal species causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. As azoles provide the preferred first-line option for treatment of Aspergillosis, the increase in rates of resistance and the poor therapeutic outcomes for those infected with a resistant isolate constitutes a serious global health threat. Azole resistance is frequently associated with specific tandem repeat duplications of a promoter element upstream of cyp51A, the gene which encodes the target for this drug class in A. fumigatus. This promoter element is recognized by the activating transcription factors SrbA and AtrR. This region also provides a docking platform for the CCAAT-binding-complex (CBC) and HapX that cooperate in the regulation of genes involved in iron-consuming pathways including cyp51A. Here, we studied the regulatory contribution of SrbA, AtrR, CBC and HapX binding sites on cyp51A expression and azole resistance during different iron availability employing promoter mutational analysis and protein/DNA interaction analysis. This strategy revealed iron status-dependent and -independent roles of these regulatory elements. We show that promoter occupation by both AtrR and SrbA is required for iron-independent steady-state transcriptional activation of cyp51A and its induction during short-term iron exposure relies on HapX binding. We further uncover the HapX binding site as repressor element the disruption of which elevates cyp51A expression and azole resistance regardless of iron availability.
Light/dark and temperature cycling modulate metabolic electron flow inPseudomonas aeruginosabiofilms
Authors: Kahl Lisa Juliane , Eckartt Kelly N. , Morales Diana K. , Price-Whelan Alexa , Dietrich Lars E. P.
Published: February 2022

Sunlight drives phototrophic metabolism, which affects redox conditions and produces substrates for non-phototrophs. These environmental parameters fluctuate daily due to Earth’s rotation, and non-phototrophic organisms can therefore benefit from the ability to respond to, or even anticipate, such changes. Circadian rhythms, such as daily changes in body temperature, in host organisms can also affect local conditions for colonizing bacteria. Here, we investigated the effects of light/dark and temperature cycling on biofilms of the opportunistic pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosaPA14. We grew biofilms in the presence of a respiratory indicator dye and found that greater dye reduction occurred in biofilm zones that formed during dark intervals and at lower temperatures. This pattern formation occurred with cycling of blue, red, or far-red light, and a screen of mutants representing potential sensory proteins identified two with defects in pattern formation, specifically under red light cycling. We also found that the physiological states of biofilm subzones formed under specific light and temperature conditions were retained during subsequent condition cycling. Light/dark and temperature cycling affected expression of genes involved in primary metabolic pathways and redox homeostasis, including those encoding electron transport chain components. Consistent with this, we found thatcbb3-type oxidases contribute to dye reduction under light/dark cycling conditions. Together, our results indicate that cyclic changes in light exposure and temperature have lasting effects on redox metabolism in biofilms formed by a non-phototrophic, pathogenic bacterium.

IMPORTANCE

Organisms that do not obtain energy from light can nevertheless be affected by daily changes in light exposure. Many aspects of animal and fungal physiology fluctuate in response to these changes, including body temperature and the activities of antioxidant and other redox enzymes that play roles in metabolism. Whether redox metabolism is affected by light/dark and temperature cycling in bacteria that colonize such circadian organisms has not been studied in detail. Here we show that growth under light/dark and temperature cycling leads to rhythmic changes in redox metabolism inPseudomonas aeruginosaand identify proteins involved in this response.P. aeruginosais a major cause of healthcare-associated infections and designated as a serious threat by the CDC due to its recalcitrance during treatments. Our findings have the potential to inform therapeutic strategies that incorporate controlled light exposure or considerP. aeruginosa’s responses to conditions in the host.
Bacterial Pneumonia and Respiratory Culture Utilization among Hospitalized Patients with and without COVID-19 in New York City
Authors: Weidmann Maxwell D. , Berry Gregory J. , Zucker Jason E. , Huang Simian , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E. , Green Daniel A.
Published: February 2022

COVID-19 is associated with prolonged hospitalization and a high risk of intubation, which raises concern for bacterial co-infection and antimicrobial resistance. Previous research has shown a wide range of bacterial pneumonia rates for COVID-19 patients in a variety of clinical and demographic settings, but none have compared hospitalized COVID-19 patients to patients testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 in similar care settings. We performed a retrospective cohort study on hospitalized patients with COVID-19 testing from 10 March 2020 to 31 December 2020. A total of 19,219 patients were included, of which 3,796 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We found a 2.6-fold increase (p < 0.001) in respiratory culture ordering in COVID-19 patients. On a per-patient basis, COVID-19 patients were 1.5-fold more likely than non-COVID patients to have abnormal respiratory cultures (46.8% vs. 30.9%, p < 0.001), which was primarily driven by patients requiring intubation. Among patients with pneumonia, a significantly higher proportion of COVID-19 patients had ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) relative to non-COVID patients (85.7% vs 55.1%, p <0.001), but a lower proportion had community-acquired (12.2% vs 22.1%, p < 0.01) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (2.1% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.001). There was also a significantly higher proportion of respiratory cultures positive for MRSA, K. pneumoniae, and antibiotic-resistant organisms in COVID-19 patients. Increased rates of respiratory culture ordering for COVID-19 patients therefore appear to be clinically justified for patients requiring intubation, but further research is needed to understand how SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of VAP.
Community vaccination can shorten the COVID-19 isolation period: an individual-based modeling approach
Authors: Sararat Chayanin , Wangkanai Jidchanok , Wilasang Chaiwat , Chantanasaro Tanakorn , Modchang Charin
Published: February 2022

Background

Isolation of infected individuals and quarantine of their contacts are usually employed to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. While 14-day isolation of infected individuals could effectively reduce the risk of subsequence transmission, it also significantly impacts the patient’s financial, psychological, and emotional well-being. It is, therefore, vital to investigate how the isolation duration could be shortened when effective vaccines are available and in what circumstances we can live with COVID-19 without isolation and quarantine.

Methods

An individual-based modeling approach was employed to estimate the likelihood of secondary infections and the likelihood of an outbreak following the isolation of an index case for a range of isolation periods. Our individual-based model integrates the viral loads and infectiousness profiles of vaccinated and unvaccinated infected individuals. The effects of waning vaccine-induced immunity against Delta and Omicron variant transmission were also investigated.

Results

In the baseline scenario in which all individuals are unvaccinated, and no nonpharmaceutical interventions are employed, there is a chance of about 3% that an unvaccinated index case will make at least one secondary infection after being isolated for 14 days, and a sustained chain of transmission can occur with a chance of less than 1%. We found that at the outbreak risk equivalent to that of 14-day isolation in the baseline scenario, the isolation duration can be shortened to 7.33 days (95% CI 6.68-7.98) if 75% of people in the community are fully vaccinated during the last three months. In the best-case scenario in which all individuals in the community are fully vaccinated, isolation of infected individuals may no longer be necessary. However, to keep the outbreak risk low, a booster vaccination may be necessary three months after full vaccination. Finally, our simulations showed that the reduced vaccine effectiveness against transmission of the Omicron variant does not much affect the risk of an outbreak if the vaccine effectiveness against infection is maintained at a high level via booster vaccination.

Conclusions

The isolation duration of a vaccine breakthrough infector could be safely shortened if a majority of people in the community are immune to SARS-CoV-2 infection. A booster vaccination may be necessary three months after full vaccination to keep the outbreak risk low.
Binding of cardiolipin to the KcsA channel at the membrane outer leaflet allosterically opens the inner gate
Authors: Inada Masataka , Iwamoto Masayuki , Yoshida Norio , Oiki Shigetoshi , Matsumori Nobuaki
Published: February 2022

Membrane proteins embedded in the membrane undergo changes in their actions under the influence of membrane lipids. Here, we present a novel type of lipid action on the potassium channel KcsA from Streptomyces lividans. Cardiolipin is present in various cellular membranes, including the host membrane of KcsA. Although the M0 domain, a nontransmembrane helix, is known to sense anionic lipids in the inner leaflet, we found that divalent anionic cardiolipin in the outer leaflet of the membrane interacts with positively charged residues, Arg64 and Arg89, on the extracellular side of the transmembrane domain. This binding propagates its action across the membrane toward the intracellular region of KcsA, thus, opening the inner gate. Such a long-range allosteric effect has not been found for channel–lipid interactions.
Changes in interactions over ecological time scales influence single cell growth dynamics in a metabolically coupled marine microbial community
Authors: Daniels Michael , van Vliet Simon , Ackermann Martin
Published: February 2022

Microbial communities thrive in almost all habitats on earth. Within these communities, cells interact through the release and uptake of metabolites. These interactions can have synergistic or antagonistic effects on individual community members. The collective metabolic activity of microbial communities leads to changes in their local environment. As the environment changes over time, the nature of the interactions between cells can change. We currently lack understanding of how such dynamic feedbacks affect the growth dynamics of individual microbes and of the community as a whole. Here we study how interactions mediated by the exchange of metabolites through the environment change over time within a simple marine microbial community. We used a microfluidic-based approach that allows us to disentangle the effect cells have on their environment from how they respond to their environment. We found that the interactions between two species - a degrader of chitin and a cross-feeder that consumes metabolic by-products - changes dynamically over time as cells modify their environment. Cells initially interact positively and then start to compete at later stages of growth. Our results demonstrate that interactions between microbes are not static and depend on the state of the environment, emphasizing the importance of disentangling how modifications of the environment affects species interactions. This experimental approach can shed new light on how interspecies interactions scale up to community level processes in natural environments.
Antiviral DExD/H-box helicase 60 selectively inhibits translation from type II internal ribosome entry sites
Authors: Sadic Mohammad , Schneider William M. , Katsara Olga , Medina Gisselle N. , Mogulothu Aishwarya , Yu Yingpu , Gu Meigang , de los Santos Teresa , Schneider Robert J. , Dittmann Meike
Published: February 2022

During viral infection, competition ensues between viruses and their host cells to control the protein synthesis machinery. In response, certain host defense proteins globally limit mRNA translation. However, this is also detrimental for host protein synthesis. Here we describe an interferon-stimulated helicase, DDX60, that specifically inhibits translation from type II viral internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). IRESs are RNA structures that enable mRNAs to recruit ribosomes directly, bypassing translation initiation using a 5’ cap. DDX60 was previously observed to inhibit replication of a reporter hepatitis C virus (HCV). We show that DDX60 likely does not inhibit HCV replication, but surprisingly, inhibits the type II IRES used in the reporter HCV genomic RNA. Using firefly luciferase mRNAs translationally driven by different viral IRESs or a 5’ cap analog, we show that DDX60 selectively reduces translation driven by type II IRESs of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), but not other IRES types or a 5’ cap analog. Correspondingly, DDX60 reduces EMCV and FMDV (type II IRES) replication, but not poliovirus or bovine enterovirus 1 (type I IRES) replication. Furthermore, replacing the IRES of poliovirus with a type II IRES is sufficient for DDX60 to inhibit poliovirus replication. Finally, we demonstrate that DDX60 specifically reduces polysome binding on type II IRES mRNA, but not 5’ cap-dependent mRNA. Our data demonstrate that the cellular defense factor DDX60 counteracts viral takeover of host translation by blocking ribosome access to type II IRES elements specifically.
Ascending neurons convey behavioral state to integrative sensory and action selection centers in the brain
Authors: Chen Chin-Lin , Aymanns Florian , Minegishi Ryo , Matsuda Victor D. V. , Talabot Nicolas , Günel Semih , Dickson Barry J. , Ramdya Pavan
Published: February 2022

Knowledge of one’s own behavioral state—whether one is walking, grooming, or resting—is critical for contextualizing sensory cues including interpreting visual motion and tracking odor sources. Additionally, awareness of one’s own posture is important to avoid initiating destabilizing or physically impossible actions. Ascending neurons (ANs), interneurons in the vertebrate spinal cord or insect ventral nerve cord (VNC) that project to the brain, may provide such high-fidelity behavioral state signals. However, little is known about what ANs encode and where they convey signals in any brain. To address this gap, we performed a large-scale functional screen of AN movement encoding, brain targeting, and motor system patterning in the adult fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Using a new library of AN sparse driver lines, we measured the functional properties of 247 genetically-identifiable ANs by performing two-photon microscopy recordings of neural activity in tethered, behaving flies. Quantitative, deep network-based neural and behavioral analyses revealed that ANs nearly exclusively encode high-level behaviors—primarily walking as well as resting and grooming—rather than low-level joint or limb movements. ANs that convey self-motion—resting, walking, and responses to gust-like puff stimuli—project to the brain’s anterior ventrolateral protocerebrum (AVLP), a multimodal, integrative sensory hub, while those that encode discrete actions—eye grooming, turning, and proboscis extension—project to the brain’s gnathal ganglion (GNG), a locus for action selection. The structure and polarity of AN projections within the VNC are predictive of their functional encoding and imply that ANs participate in motor computations while also relaying state signals to the brain. Illustrative of this are ANs that temporally integrate proboscis extensions over tens-of-seconds, likely through recurrent interconnectivity. Thus, in line with long-held theoretical predictions, ascending populations convey high-level behavioral state signals almost exclusively to brain regions implicated in sensory feature contextualization and action selection.
Augmenting effectiveness of geared turbofan engines by dual stage radial blisks
Authors: Bandopadhyay Shouvik , Jagdeep Tanooj , Pandey Koshika , Sadrani Nishchay , B.T. Kannan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to propose a novel configuration for turbofan engine inlets to increase the overall effectiveness of the engine.

Design/methodology/approach

Conventional fan has been split radially into two blisk stages, namely, core blisk and bypass blisk. The two blisks are driven by a common shaft but rotate at two different revolutions per minutes (RPMs) on the same plane of rotation simultaneously through a planetary gear mechanism. To avoid any mechanical contact between the two stages, a minimum optimum distance is kept between them.

Findings

An apt reduction ratio of planetary gears allows the bypass blisk to rotate at a lower RPM. Thus, unlike conventional geared single fan configuration, transonic speed at the blade’s tip is prevented without decreasing the core stage’s RPM. Consequently, wave drag is eradicated without compromising the engine's core performance as surplus air can always be supplied to it. Compressor stall and surge can also be significantly reduced.

Research limitations/implications

The concept is at its infancy. Extensive iterations and experimentations are required before implementing it practically.

Practical implications

The configuration fulfils to conceive a practical and industrially scalable method to extract better performance from existing engine architecture with minimal changes while reducing noise and emissions, meeting the short-term emission and noise goals unless electric or hydrogen-powered flight fully matured.

Social implications

The present concept reduces engine noise and thereby helps in reduction of airport noise pollution. This concept also helps in reducing global warming by reducing emissions.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel configuration for a turbofan engine’s inlet fan and discusses its engineering implications and initial feasibility in detail.
Opening the black box of organizational Machiavellianism: is co-innovation coming to an end as a driver of innovation performance?
Authors: Arias-Pérez José , Perdomo-Charry Geovanny , Lozada Nelson
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The discussion on co-innovation inhibitors usually focuses on external actors’ opportunism, related to the loss of intellectual property. However, from the organizational Machiavellianism perspective, inhibitors are not external as the company itself is a source of constraints. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research studies examining the possible negative impact of organizational Machiavellian behavior such as amorality or distrust and desire for control, which could destroy external partners’ trust and commitment. This paper aims to analyze the effect of organizational Machiavellianism on the relationship between co-innovation and innovation performance (product and process innovation).

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equations were used to test the research model using survey data from a sample of companies located in an emerging country with a high risk of corruption.

Findings

Surprisingly, distrust and desire for control do not moderate the relationship between co-innovation and innovation performance, but do have a positive and direct effect on innovation performance. Conversely, amorality has a negative moderating effect on this relationship.

Originality/value

The study reveals that amorality is an evident constraint of the positive impact of co-innovation, as it diminishes the amount and quality of external actors’ contributions in terms of new ideas and knowledge. In contrast, distrust and desire for control alert the firm about opportunistic behavior by external partners such as technology providers, who may induce the firm to adopt an inadequate technological standard in line with their commercial interests.
Computing the severities of critical onsite assembly risk factors for modular integrated construction projects
Authors: Wuni Ibrahim Yahaya , Shen Geoffrey Qiping , Saka Abdullahi B.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Modular integrated construction (MiC) reengineers the traditional construction process. By introducing factory production and onsite assembly (OA) of modules, MiC reinvents construction projects' uncertainties and risk profiles. The OA stage constitutes the highest end of the MiC delivery and supply chains, where several inherited and symbiotic errors and risk events become realities, negatively impacting the MiC project's success. This study explored the severities of OA risk factors for MiC projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review, consultation of experts and a questionnaire survey of domain experts were conducted to assess the severity of fifteen OA risk factors for MiC projects. The risk severity index was used to compute and rank the severities of critical OA risk factors for MiC projects, followed by proposed mitigation strategies.

Findings

The study revealed that the top five OA risk factors with the severest impact on MiC projects include modules installation discrepancies and errors, poor cooperation among critical onsite stakeholders, a mismatch between production schedules and site conditions, improper lifting equipment selection for onsite installation and site-fit rework due to discrepancies in drawings.

Originality/value

This study is the first to offer some important insights into the uncertainties that could compromise the OA objectives of MiC projects. It discussed risk management strategies for known and unknown OA risks and made a unique contribution to the theory, practice, and praxis of MiC supply chain risk management.
Studying key antecedents of disruptive technology adoption in the digital supply chain: an Indian perspective
Authors: Mitra Tarit , Kapoor Rohit , Gupta Narain
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The study examines the key drivers of the adoption of disruptive technologies (DTs) in the digital supply chain (DSC) in developing nations.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected using well-established measures grounded in the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. The hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach using SmartPLS. The authors control for the demographics and apply the required statistical diagnostics for robust findings.

Findings

The compatibility and IT expertise were the two key factors in adopting the DTs in DSC in developing nations. The organizations with higher compatibility and internal IT expertise and competence witness a higher level of adoption of DT. The perceived cost and complexity were not found statistically significant. This may be probably because developing nations such as India do not perceive the technology adoption complex.

Research limitations/implications

The research enhances DTs adoption, assuming it is organizational innovation. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the DOI literature.

Practical implications

The practicing managers should pay attention to addressing the existing technology compatibility issues and spend efforts on training employees to increase the IT expertise to improve the adoption of DT.

Social implications

The greater adoption of the DTs in DSCs can reduce wastages in supply chains by a faster sense and response and greater technological flexibility with transparency and information sharing.

Originality/value

The key antecedent to the acceptance of the DTs in developing nations is compatibility than complexity and IT expertise than the cost. The study's originality lies in the fact that most studies on technology adoption study a single technology, but this study captures a holistic view on a group of technologies under industry 4.0.
Study on time-varying mixed lubrication performance of microgroove journal-thrust coupled bearing under water lubrication
Authors: Dai Haiming , Xiang Guo , Wang Jiaxu , Guo Juan , Wang Cheng , Jia Hang
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the time-varying mixed lubrication performance of microgroove journal-thrust coupled bearing (MJTCB) under nonlinear excitation.

Design/methodology/approach

A three degree of freedom (3-DOF) dynamic model of the rotor coupling with the transient mixed lubrication behavior is established. Based on numerical predictions, the role of the microgroove on the time-varying mixed lubrication performance of MJTCB is identified. The effects of the microgroove depth, microgroove shape and external load on the time-varying mixed lubrication performance of MJTCB are also studied.

Findings

Numerical results show that the effect of the coupling hydrodynamic on the time-varying mixed lubrication performance of the coupled bearing is strengthen with the increasing of microgroove depth. Furthermore, it is found that the optimal microgroove shape for the thrust bearing, arc or rectangle, highly depends on the microgroove depth. Finally, the contact performance of the thrust bearing is slightly affected by the radial external load.

Originality/value

This study is expected to achieve a better understanding of the time-varying mixed lubrication performance of MJTCB under nonlinear excitations.
Examining new measure of asnaf muslimpreneur success model: a Maqasid perspective
Authors: Amin Hanudin
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigatemustahiqbusiness success using a newly developed index called asnaf muslimpreneur success index (AMSi).

Design/methodology/approach

Following Abu Zaharah theory ofal-Maqasid al-Shariah, the authors developed the AMSi through literature analyses and expert judges involving threeShariahscholars for improved extensions and applications. Subsequently, the authors conducted the actual survey, which included 17mustahiqwho had been assisted by the zakat institution in running their small andhalalbusinesses in Sabah, Malaysia.

Findings

Using the AMSi, the success ofasnafbusinesses was in the moderate index, implying the success meets the index score of more than 50%. All indexes capturingasnafs’ business experience,asnafs’ business justice,asnafs’ well-being andasnafs’ financial wisdom were greater than the threshold value of 0.5 or 50%, implying that the interaction of the battery items involved in those variables resulted in satisfactory results, indicating that they are relevant and essential in gauging the asnafs’ success level in the development business programme.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained were at the exploratory level, and for that, more studies related are expected to be conducted in the future, where the coverage of the respondents used is larger to extend the findings, at least.

Practical implications

The results obtained can become a yardstick to gauge the success ofasnafmuslimpreneurs in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Originality/value

This study introduces new measures ofasnafmuslimpreneur success model, wheremustahiqbusiness is brought into play.
Inclusive gentrification? Reproducing logics of exclusion in strategies for inclusive urban planning
Authors: Nygaard-Christensen Maj , Bjerge Bagga
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The authors investigate two contrasting, yet mutually constitutive strategies for regulating open drug scenes in the city of Aarhus, Denmark: A strategy of dispersing marginalized substance users from the inner city, and a simultaneous strategy of inclusion in a new, gentrifying neighbourhood.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a multi-temporal ethnography approach, including data from studies dating back to 2002. This enables us to scrutinize reconfigurations of processes of exclusion and inclusion in urban city life based on studies that in different ways feed into the broader picture of how socially marginalized citizens are included and excluded in urban space.

Findings

The municipality of Aarhus sways between strategies of dispersion and exclusion and those of inclusion of marginalized citizens. Taken together, these strategies constitute a “messy middle ground” (May and Cloke, 2014) in responses to the street people rather than either clear-cut punitive or supportive strategies. Finally, we point to the limit of inclusion in more recent strategies aimed at including marginalized citizens in urban planning of a new, gentrifying neighbourhood.

Originality/value

The article builds on studies that in critical engagement with the dominating focus on punitive or revanchist approaches to regulation of homeless citizens' presence in urban space have shown how such regulating practices are rarely punishing alone. We contribute to this literature by showing how seemingly contradictory attempts to exclude, disperse and include socially marginalized citizens in different urban settings are relational rather than in outright opposition. In continuation of this, we show how dispersal strategies both depend on and are legitimized by the promotion of alternative and more inclusive settings elsewhere.
Exploring user’s experience of push notifications: a grounded theory approach
Authors: Gavilan Diana , Martinez-Navarro Gema
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a holistic understanding of the user experience of push notifications, and the challenge brands face in managing them effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A grounded theory (GT) approach was chosen to analyze the subjective interpretations of the 21 participants in the study. Unstructured interviews were conducted with the help of a set of nine intentionally developed push notifications prototypes.

Findings

Push notifications are a powerful communication tool with great scope to deliver value to the user that would consequently increase brand attachment. However, the risk of mismanagement due to inappropriate timing of message delivery, lack of perceived value, inappropriate content or excessive frequency of messaging can make them intrusive, annoying and unwelcome, thus reducing brand attachment.

Research limitations/implications

GT has the ultimate goal of building a theory based on the data obtained. To improve theoretical sensitivity throughout the analysis related theories have been considered to obtain a deep and broad understanding of the phenomenon under study.

Practical implications

The design of user experience with push notifications is both a tactical decision focused on timely content and a strategic decision that may influence users’ brand attachment.

Social implications

A better understanding of user experience with push notifications is strongly needed since users receive an average of 63 push notifications per day being eventually disruptive and distractive.

Originality/value

A user experience model of push notifications is proposed and expressed in a set of tentative hypotheses contributing to the scarce and fragmented literature on this subject.
A taxonomy of knowledge risks for healthcare organizations
Authors: Hammoda Basel , Durst Susanne
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Knowledge is a critical factor for health-care organizations’ sustainability in today’s hyperconnected and technology reliant environment, which presents additional challenges and responsibilities for managing knowledge and its risks in medical practices. This paper aims at developing a taxonomy of knowledge risks (KR) within a health-care context, with relevant descriptions and discussion of their possible impact on health-care organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

As KRs have not been discussed yet within a health-care context, the authors reviewed relevant literature on KRs and challenges to knowledge practices in general contexts and in other industries. In addition, the authors reviewed literature on knowledge management (KM) in health care. The authors synthesized their findings and combined it with authors’ insights based on their experience in the health-care and KM fields to develop the taxonomy of KR, with contextual explanations and expounded on their potential effects on health-care organizations.

Findings

The authors propose and explain 25 types of KRs in health-care organizations and organized them into three categories: human, operational and technology.

Practical implications

Proper identification of clinical and administrative KRs plays a critical role in their effective management and remediation, thus improving the quality of care, promoting efficiency savings and ensuring health-care organizations’ sustainability. This paper will raise the awareness of KR among health-care professionals and offer researchers solid ground for more rigorous research in the field of KR and their management, within the health-care context in specific.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to comprehensively discuss issues of KRs within a health-care context.
Uncovering the knowledge coordination process in information and communication technologies services outsourcing from the provider’s perspective
Authors: Herrera Andrea , Camacho Sonia
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically investigate how knowledge coordination is carried out within and across expert teams in the outsourcing service desk context from the standpoint of the information and communication technologies (ICT) provider.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on an embedded case study to unravel the mechanisms used by expert teams to achieve knowledge coordination. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and document analysis over eight months.

Findings

Four groups of coordination mechanisms were found according to their nature and role in helping MESA achieve its organizational goals. The authors also identified how this set of mechanisms responds to the task-resource dependency and how it evolves over time to provide reliable ICT services. Furthermore, the analysis of four knowledge coordination dimensions inside each group uncovers the complexity of coordination in the studied context, with the “who” dimension being predominant across the groups. The analysis further reveals that the content (what) and mode of coordination (how) of each group respond to elements in the knowledge coordination process relevant for the different stages of the ICT service delivery process.

Originality/value

The case study addresses how people in outsourced services coordinate their knowledge to manage the interdependencies among the involved organizations and thus, achieving their goals. This study extends previous research that had analyzed the consequences of knowledge coordination for providers and customers by delving into the mechanisms used in this process from the provider’s point of view.
The concurrent assessment of agronomic, ecological and environmental variables enables better choice of agroecological service crop termination management
Authors: Navarro‐Miró David , Blanco‐Moreno José M. , Ciaccia Corrado , Testani Elena , Iocola Ileana , Depalo Laura , Burgio Giovanni , Kristensen Hanne Lakkenborg , Hefner Margita , Tamm Kalvi , Bender Ingrid , Persiani Alessandro , Diacono Mariangela , Montemurro Francesco , Willekens Koen , Védie Hélène , Bavec Martina , Robačer Martina , Arlotti Donatienne , Deltour Pauline , De Neve Stefaan , Gebremikael Mesfin Tsegaye , Chamorro Lourdes , Caballero‐López Berta , Pérez‐Ferrer Alejandro , Canali Stefano , Sans Francesc Xavier
Published: February 2022

Although organic farming was originally promoted as an alternative farming system to address agronomic, environmental and ecological issues, its conventionalisation has led to an intensification and specialisation of production. In the light of this, several studies have questioned the environmental benefits of organic farming as well as its agronomic viability. Thus, there is a need to improve organic vegetable systems to reduce their environmental impact without affecting their productivity. To tackle this challenge, European farmers and researchers have recently started to focus on agroecological service crops (ASCs). However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated the agronomic, environmental and ecological aspects of ASC management under different European pedo‐climatic conditions.

We evaluated effects of the ASC management strategies—no‐till roller crimping (NT‐RC) and green manuring (T‐GM) on cropping system performance using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators—to exemplify the need for multidimensional analysis to understand management implications for addressing environmental and agronomic challenges. We combined the results from 11 organic vegetable field trials conducted in seven European countries over a period of 2 years to test for general trends.

Our results provide solid evidence that NT‐RC management across different pedo‐climatic conditions in Europe enhances the activity density of ground and rove beetles and improves both the potential energy recycling within the system and weed control. However, in NT‐RC plots, lower cash crop yield and quality, energetic efficiency of production and activity density of spiders were observed compared to T‐GM.

Synthesis and applications. Multidimensional analyses using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators are required to understand the implications of agricultural management in agroecosystem functioning. Introducing agroecological service crops combined with the use of no‐till roller crimping is a promising strategy for improving agronomic performance (e.g. fewer weeds) and reducing environmental (e.g. increasing the potentially recyclable energy) and ecological (e.g. enhancing the activity density of beneficial taxa such as ground and rove beetles) impacts. However, our study also indicates a need for agronomic and environmental improvements while promoting a wider acceptance of this strategy.
Foreign institutional ownership and bank performance: Evidence from Tunisia
Authors: Othmani Hidaya
Published: February 2022

This paper aims to investigate the effect of foreign institutional investors on banks' performance for the case of a developing African country. Previous studies on the impact of foreign institutional investors on banks’ corporate governance and performance are inconclusive. The sample includes a unique dataset of Tunisian banks during the period 2005–2020. First, this study uses panel data regressions with fixed or random individual effects. Then it adopts the GMM system technique to account for potential endogeneity problems and the dynamic nature of the panel data. The results support a positive relationship between foreign institutional ownership and banks’ performance as measured by Tobin's Q and Return On Equity. They indicate that banks with more foreign institutional ownership perform better. Foreign institutional investors are considered as good monitors. They facilitate the transfer of technology and the development of new products and services. These findings contribute to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of foreign institutional investors in the banking sector for an African emerging economy, where the studies on this matter are scarce. Policymakers and bank managers in emerging economies should attract foreign institutional investors to benefit from their experience and enhance bank performance.
Dynamic spatial effects of determinants of foreign direct investment: A case of the southern key economic region of Vietnam
Authors: Huynh The Nguyen
Published: February 2022

The determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) always attract the attention of researchers and policymakers. However, the spatial spillovers of FDI have not been given due attention. This study analyses the dynamic spatial effects of determinants of FDI in emerging markets: a case of the southern key economic region of Vietnam. The model employed in the research is the Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model for testing hypotheses of data collected from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam in the period of 2005–2016. The results show that there is a spatial interaction in FDI attraction to the above‐mentioned region. At the same time, factors such as market size, trade openness, population growth, agglomeration and institutional quality affect FDI inflows in the short and long term. In particular, the population growth of a locality reduces FDI inflows of that locality and neighbouring localities. Enterprise agglomeration of a province increases the FDI inflows of that province and reduces FDI inflows in adjacent provinces. This paper's findings highlight the determinants of FDI and spatial spillovers of FDI in emerging markets. In addition, previous models have not fully identified the spatial effects of FDI in the short and long term, which may skew policy decisions. Therefore, the article contributes to redefining the key factors to attract FDI inflows into emerging markets like Vietnam.
Informing Resource Allocation for Investment in Early Childhood: A Review of the International Peer‐Reviewed Evidence
Authors: Geelhoed Elizabeth A. , Bloom David E. , Bock Catherine , Flatau Paul , Mandzufas Joelie , Li Ian , Cross Donna
Published: February 2022

Early childhood investment decisions represent critical policy frameworks that ideally reflect a strong evidence base. This review seeks to assess early childhood intervention priorities based on return on investment without limitation by health, education or social science sector. A systematic search of peer‐reviewed literature identified 858 eligible papers relating to economic evaluations of intervention in early childhood (0–4 years). Data for this narrative review was provided by 34 papers. The capacity to rank interventions and to compare relevance across disciplines is limited by the degree of heterogeneity across studies and the potential to compare published studies based on journal indices.
Impact of phosphate binders on medication dosing frequency, timing, and number of prescribed pills in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Nagano Nobuo , Fukushima Takahiro , Shikata Risa , Ando Tetsuo , Tsutsui Takaaki , Ogawa Tetsuya , Ito Kyoko
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Phosphate binders (PBs) account for a large proportion of the daily pill burden in hemodialysis patients. However, patients do not take them all at once but at several dosing timings.

Methods

We analyzed the dosing timings of all 322 types of oral drugs prescribed to 533 hemodialysis patients.

Results

The median daily dosing frequency for all drugs was 6 (4–7) times/day/patient. Patients prescribed PBs had a markedly higher daily dosing frequency than those not taking PBs (7 [5–8] times/day/patient vs. 4 [3–5] times/day/patient, respectively [p < 0.001]). In addition, the ratio of the number of PB pills to other drugs varied greatly at each dosing timing. Furthermore, it was simulated that the daily dosing frequency could be reduced by approximately two times/day/patient by combining the dosing timings of PBs.

Conclusion

Changing PB dosing timings can reduce the daily dosing frequency, which may lead to improved medication adherence.
Heat transfer analysis during hydrothermal treatment of mango
Authors: Pierre‐Noel‐Gilles Bibiane , Iribe‐Salazar Rosalina , Vázquez‐López Yessica , Caro‐Corrales José
Published: February 2022

To export Mexican mango fruit, it is required to comply with phytosanitary regulations, which implies heat transfer. Foods are biological systems with a dynamic behavior and, when they are thermally processed, their thermophysical properties change with temperature. Suitable simulation of heat transfer with temperature‐dependent thermophysical properties can provide proper estimations of temperature histories to perform heat penetration analyses. The objective of this study was to predict temperatures within mango and immersion times by varying the mass of the fruit and water temperature during hydrothermal treatments. Thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and apparent density of ‘‘Kent’’ mango peel and pulp were determined. Finite element analysis was used to simulate heat transfer within the mango. Thermal conductivity and density were different for peel and pulp, but thermal diffusivity for both materials was not different. Predicted temperature histories adjusted properly to experimental data throughout the heating process. This indicates that thermophysical properties as a function of temperature for mango peel and pulp, the convective coefficient, the finite element model, and the methodology used to perform the estimations can be useful in the design of hydrothermal treatments for mango.

Practical Application

Proper simulation of heat transfer with temperature‐dependent thermophysical properties during hot water treatments for mango can provide accurate temperature histories and profiles that allow the prediction of temperatures within the fruit or immersion times by varying the mass and temperature of the heating medium. This will allow a subsequent heat penetration study to predict larval mortality, facilitating the design of quarantine treatments.