bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocol summary and statistical analysis plan for the randomized trial of early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (ProScreen)
Authors: Nevalainen Jaakko , Raitanen Jani , Natunen Kari , Kilpeläinen Tuomas , Rannikko Antti , Tammela Teuvo , Auvinen Anssi ,   the ProScreen Trial Team
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Evidence on the effectiveness of prostate cancer screening based on prostate-specific antigen is inconclusive and suggests a questionable balance between benefits and harms due to overdiagnosis. However, diagnostic accuracy studies have shown that detection of clinically insignificant prostate cancer can be reduced by magnetic resonance imaging combined with targeted biopsies.

The aim of the paper is to describe the analysis of the ProScreen randomized trial to assess the performance of the novel screening algorithm in terms of the primary outcome, prostate cancer mortality, and secondary outcomes as intermediate indicators of screening benefits and harms of screening.

Methods

The trial aims to recruit at least 111,000 men to achieve sufficient statistical power for the primary outcome. Men will be allocated in a 1:3 ratio to the screening and control arms. Interim analysis is planned at 10 years of follow-up, and the final analysis at 15 years. Difference between the trial arms in prostate cancer mortality will be assessed by Gray’s test using intention to screen analysis of randomized men. Secondary outcomes will be the incidence of prostate cancer by disease aggressiveness, progression to advanced prostate cancer, death due to any cause and cost-effectiveness of screening.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial protocol was reviewed by the ethical committee of the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS 2910/2017). Results will be disseminated in an international peer-reviewed journal(s) and at scientific meetings.

Trial Registration

NCT03423303

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

This population-based, randomized multicenter trial targeting at recruiting 111,000 men will provide high quality evidence on the effectiveness of a novel screening strategy for prostate cancer mortality

Broad eligibility criteria and pragmatic approach embedded in normal clinical practice enhances the external validity of the trial and provide evidence applicable to decision making in public health and health care

Challenges for the trial include the maintenance of high compliance to screening and the extent of opportunistic PSA testing in the population
Sub-national estimates of vitamin A supplementation coverage in children: a geospatial analysis of 45 low and middle-income countries
Authors: Seufert Jacqueline , Krishnan Nandita , Darmstadt Gary L. , Wang Grace , Bärnighausen Till , Geldsetzer Pascal
Published: May 2023

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) can protect children from the adverse health consequences of vitamin A deficiency. To inform the geographically precise targeting of VAS programs and provide a benchmark for monitoring progress in reducing geographic disparities in coverage over time, we created high resolution maps (5km x 5km) of the proportion of preschool-age children (6-59 months) covered by VAS in 45 UNICEF designated VAS priority countries using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys program. In addition to prevalence, we estimated absolute VAS coverage and exceedance probabilities using thresholds of 0.5 and 0.7. We found that most countries had coverage levels below 70%. Coverage varied substantially between and within countries. Inter-national variations were most notable in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Africa, whereas intra-national variations were greatest in some south Asian and west and central African countries. These maps, especially when used along with high-resolution data on indicators of VAS need, could help VAS programs improve equity.
Population Genetics Analysis ofSLC3A1andSLC7A9Revealed the Etiology of Cystine Stone May Be More Than What Our Current Genetic Knowledge Can Explain
Authors: Wu Chen-Han Wilfred , Badreddine Jad , Chang Joshua , Huang Yu-Ren Mike , Kim Fernando J. , Wild Trevor , Tsai Anne , Meeks Naomi , Da Silva Rodrigo Donalisio , Molina Wilson R. , Schumacher Fredrick R.
Published: May 2023

Background

Cystine stone is a Mendelian genetic disease caused bySLC3A1orSLC7A9. In this study, we aimed to estimate the genetic prevalence of cystine stones and compare it with the clinical prevalence to better understand the disease etiology.

Methods

We analyzed genetic variants in the general population using the 1000 Genomes project and the Human Gene Mutation Database to extract allSLC3A1andSLC7A9pathogenic variants. All variants procured from both databases were intersected. Pathogenic allele frequency, carrier rate, and affected rate were calculated and estimated based on Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Results

We found that 9 uniqueSLC3A1pathogenic variants were carried by 26 people and 5 uniqueSLC7A9pathogenic variants were carried by 12 people, all of whom were heterozygote carriers. No homozygote, compound heterozygote, or double heterozygote was identified in the 1000 Genome database. Based on the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the calculated genetic prevalence of cystine stone disease is 1 in 30,585.

Conclusion

The clinical prevalence of cystine stone has been previously reported as 1 in 7,000, a notably higher figure than the genetic prevalence of 1 in 30,585 calculated in this study. This suggests that the etiology of cystine stone is more complex than what our current genetic knowledge can explain. Possible factors that may contribute to this difference include novel causal genes, undiscovered pathogenic variants, alternative inheritance models, founder effects, epigenetic modifications, environmental factors, or other modifying factors. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the etiology of cystine stone.
Influence of endosymbionts on the reproductive fitness of the tickOrnithodoros moubata
Authors: Florian Taraveau , Thomas Pollet , Maxime Duhayon , Laëtitia Gardès , Hélène Jourdan-Pineau
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Over the past decade, many studies have demonstrated the crucial role of the tick microbiome in tick biology. The soft tickOrnithodoros moubatais a hematophagous ectoparasite ofSuidae, best known for transmitting theAfrican swine fever virus. Its bacterial microbiota is characterized by a high prevalence ofFrancisella-like andRickettsiaendosymbionts. The present study aims to better understand the potential influence of these two major members of the tick microbiota on the reproductive fitness ofO. moubata. A total of 132 adult female ticks were treated with antibiotics using gentamycin or rifampicin added to the blood meal. Half of the ticks were also supplemented with B vitamins to address the nutritional role of endosymbionts. Over two periods of 50 days, several traits related to the reproductive fitness were monitored to investigate the importance ofFrancisellaandRickettsiafor these traits. It appeared that most of the reproductive parameters considered were not affected. However, antibiotic treatments induced an increase in the tick survival, indicating a potential fitness cost of harboring endosymbionts during the tick reproductive cycle. Similarly, 366 first stage nymphs ofOrnithodoros moubatawere exposed to the same treatments for molecular quantification of both endosymbionts. Results from qPCR suggested that the treatments had a bacteriostatic effect on endosymbionts without completely eliminating neitherFrancisella-like endosymbiont norRickettsia.
Directed-evolution mutations of adenine base editor ABE8e improve its DNA-binding affinity and protein stability
Authors: Zhu Haixia , Jiang Xinyi , Wang Lei , Qin Qin , Song Menghua , Huang Qiang
Published: May 2023

Adenine base editors (ABEs), consisting of CRISPR-associated (Cas) nickase and deaminase, can convert the A:T base pair to G:C. Previous studies have shown that ABE8e, a directed-evolution variant of ABE7.10 with eight amino-acid mutations in its deaminase TadA-8e, has higher base editing activity than ABE7.10. However, it remains unclear how the directed-evolution mutations of ABE8e increase its editing activity. Here, we combined molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental measurements to elucidate the molecular origin of the activity enhancement by these mutations. MD simulations and microscale thermophoresis measurements showed that TadA-8e has a higher DNA-binding affinity than TadA-7.10, and the main driving force is electrostatic interactions. The directed-evolution mutations increase the positive charge density in the DNA-binding region, thereby enhancing the electrostatic attractions with DNA. We showed that R111 is the key mutation for the enhanced binding to DNA, which explains why the ABE-8e activity was dramatically reduced when R111 was mutated back to the original T. Unexpectedly, we also found that these mutations improve the thermal stability of TadA-8e by ∼12°C (Tm). Our results indicate that the editing activities of ABEs are closely related to their DNA-binding affinity and protein stability, thus providing a rational basis for their optimization.

Author Summary

Adenine-to-guanine mutations account for 47% of known disease-causing point mutations in humans. Adenine base editors (ABEs), which can restore the guanine mutation to adenine, are a promising tool for precision gene therapy. ABE8e is the most widely used editor today due to its high editing efficacy and was derived from the first-generation base editor ABE7.10 by directed evolution. Compared to ABE7.10, ABE8e contains 8 directed-evolution amino-acid mutations. Understanding how these mutations affect the efficiency of ABE8e is important for the development of efficient base editors. In this study, we combined computational and experimental approaches to investigate how these mutations affect the editing activity of ABE8e. Our results showed that these directed-evolution mutations improve the DNA binding affinity and the protein stability of ABE8e, by enhancing electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Therefore, our study provides valuable insights for the design of more efficient base editors.
Regulatory mechanisms in multiple vascular diseases locusLRP1involve repression by SNAIL and extracellular matrix remodeling
Authors: Liu Lu , Henry Joséphine , Liu Yingwei , Jouve Charlène , Georges Adrien , Bouatia-Naji Nabila
Published: May 2023

Background

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) implicate common genetic variations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 locus(LRP1)in risk for multiple vascular diseases and traits. However, the underlying biological mechanisms are unknown.

Methods

Fine mapping analyses included Bayesian colocalization to identify the most likely causal variant. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) were genome-edited using CRISPR-Cas9 to delete or modify candidate enhancer regions, and generateLRP1knockout cell lines (KO). Cells were differentiated into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) through a mesodermal lineage. Transcription regulation was assessed using luciferase reporter assay, transcription factor knockdown and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Phenotype changes in cells were conducted using cellular assays, bulk RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry.

Results

Multi-trait co-localization analyses pointed at rs11172113 as the most likely causal variant inLRP1for fibromuscular dysplasia, migraine, pulse pressure and pulmonary function trait. We found rs11172113-T allele to associate with higherLRP1expression. Genomic deletion in iPSC-derived SMCs supported rs11172113 to locate in an enhancer region regulatingLRP1expression. We found transcription factors MECP2 and SNAIL to repressLRP1expression through an allele-specific mechanism, involving SNAIL interaction with disease risk allele.LRP1KO decreased iPSC-derived SMCs proliferation and migration. Differentially expressed genes were enriched for collagen-containing extracellular matrix, connective tissue and lung development.LRP1KO showed potentiated canonical TGF-β signaling through enhanced phosphorylation of SMAD2/3. Analyses of protein content of decellularized extracts indicated partial extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling involving enhanced secretion of CYR61, a known LRP1 ligand involved in vascular integrity and TIMP3, implicated in extracellular matrix maintenance and also known to interact with LRP1.

Conclusions

Our findings support allele specificLRP1gene repression by the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition regulator SNAIL. We propose decreasedLRP1expression in SMCs to remodel the ECM enhanced by TGF- β as a potential mechanism of this pleiotropic locus for vascular diseases.

Graphical abstract
iFlpMosaics enable the multispectral barcoding and high-throughput comparative analysis of mutant and wildtype cells
Authors: Garcia-Gonzalez Irene , Gambera Stefano , Regano Alvaro , Rocha Susana F. , Garcia-Ortega Lourdes , Lytvyn Mariya , Diago-Domingo Luis , Sanchez-Muñoz Maria S. , Garcia-Cabero Aroa , Zagorac Ivana , Luo Wen , Fernández-Chacón Macarena , Casquero-Garcia Verónica , Lunella Federica Francesca , Benedito Rui
Published: May 2023

To understand gene function, it is necessary to compare cells carrying the mutated target gene with normal cells. In most biomedical studies, the cells being compared are in different mutant and control animals and therefore do not experience the same epigenetic changes and tissue microenvironment. The experimental induction of genetic mosaics is essential to determine a gene cell-autonomous function and to model the etiology of diseases caused by somatic mutations. Current technologies used to induce genetic mosaics in mice lack either accuracy, throughput or barcoding diversity. Here, we present a large set of new genetic tools and mouse lines that enable Flp recombinase-dependent ratiometric induction and single-cell clonal tracking of multiple fluorescently labeled wildtype and Cre-mutant cells within the same time window and tissue microenvironment. The labeled cells can be profiled by multispectral imaging or by FACS and scRNA-seq. This technology facilitates the induction and analysis of genetic mosaics in any cell type and for any given single or combination of floxed genes. iFlpMosaics enables a more accurate understanding of how induced genetic mutations affect the biology of single cells during tissue development, homeostasis, and disease.
Metabolic flux regulates growth transitions and antibiotic tolerance in uropathogenicEscherichia coli
Authors: Morrison Josiah J. , Banas Daniel A. , Madden Ellen K. , DiBiasio Eric C. , Rowley David C. , Cohen Paul S , Camberg Jodi L.
Published: May 2023

Reducing growth and limiting metabolism are strategies that allow bacteria to survive exposure to environmental stress and antibiotics. During infection, uropathogenicEscherichia coli(UPEC) may enter a quiescent state that enables them to reemerge after completion of successful antibiotic treatment. Many clinical isolates, including the well characterized UPEC strain CFT073, also enter a metabolite-dependent, quiescent state in vitro that is reversible with cues, including peptidoglycan-derived peptides and amino acids. Here, we show that quiescent UPEC is antibiotic tolerant and demonstrate that metabolic flux in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle regulates the UPEC quiescent state via succinyl-CoA. We also demonstrate that the transcriptional regulator complex IHF and the FtsZ-interacting protein ZapE, which is important forE. colidivision during stress, are essential for UPEC to enter the quiescent state. Notably, in addition to engaging FtsZ and late-stage cell division proteins, ZapE also interacts directly with TCA cycle enzymes in bacterial two hybrid assays. We report direct interactions between succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit SdhC, the late-stage cell division protein FtsN, and ZapE. These interactions likely enable communication between oxidative metabolism and the cell division machinery in UPEC. Moreover, these interactions are conserved in anE. coliK-12 strain. This work suggests that there is coordination among the two fundamental and essential pathways that regulate overall growth, quiescence, and antibiotic susceptibility.

Importance

UropathogenicEscherichia coli(UPEC) are the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Upon invasion into bladder epithelial cells, UPEC establish quiescent intracellular reservoirs that may lead to antibiotic tolerance and recurrent UTIs. Here, we demonstrate using an in vitro system that quiescent UPEC cells are tolerant to ampicillin and have decreased metabolism characterized by succinyl-CoA limitation. We identify the global regulator the IHF complex and the cell division protein ZapE as critical regulators of quiescence and antibiotic tolerance. Lastly, we show ZapE interacts with components of both the cell division machinery and the TCA cycle, and this interaction is conserved in non-pathogenicE. coli, establishing a novel link between cell division and metabolism.
Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Oxidative Stress Impair Cardiac Desmin Proteostasis
Authors: Li Zixiao , Jun Seungho , Singh Krishna K. , Calhoun Patrick J. , Keceli Gizem , Patel Krishna , Kadioglu Hikmet , Paolocci Nazareno , Agnetti Giulio
Published: May 2023

Background

Though acute mortality by myocardial infarction (MI) has declined in past decades, MI still represents one of the leading causes of heart failure (HF) development. We recently demonstrated the accumulation of toxic desmin aggregates in patients with HF of ischemic origin. Since desmin aggregates are toxic for the heart we aimed to test whether their formation can be induced by oxidative stress as a proxy for reperfusion injury, as well as addressing the effects of therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing desmin aggregation with cardiac oxidative stress.

Methods and Results

We demonstrate here that oxidative stress is able to induce desmin aggregation, acutely, in a cell-specific and dose-dependent fashion. We also show that elevation ofO-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) prior to or after oxidative stress reduces the formation of toxic desmin aggregates and its pro-aggregating desmin post-translational modifications (PTM). In addition, we show for the first time a role for the transmembrane protease serine 13 (TMPRSS13) with desmin cleavage in response to oxidative stress while desmin’s single cysteine plays a protective role from I/R injury, which is independent of gain or loss of desmin function.

Conclusions

The proliferation of desmin PTM-forms (i.e., proteoforms) and its aggregation hallmark acute and chronic cardiac stress and result in both loss of and gain of desmin function. We report here two novel mechanisms that could be targeted for therapy to preserve desmin homeostasis and cardiac function in the acute settings of oxidative stress and reperfusion injury.
TGFβ controls alveolar type 1 epithelial cell plasticity and alveolar matrisome gene transcription
Authors: Callaway Danielle A. , Penkala Ian J. , Zhou Su , Cardenas-Diaz Fabian , Babu Apoorva , Morley Michael P. , Lopes Mariana , Garcia Benjamin A. , Morrisey Edward E.
Published: May 2023

Premature birth disrupts normal lung development and places infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a disease increasing in incidence which disrupts lung health throughout the lifespan. The TGFβ superfamily has been implicated in BPD pathogenesis, however, what cell lineage it impacts remains unclear. We show thatTgfbr2is critical for AT1 cell fate maintenance and function. Loss ofTgfbr2in AT1 cells during late lung development leads to AT1-AT2 cell reprogramming and altered pulmonary architecture, which persists into adulthood. Restriction of fetal lung stretch and associated AT1 cell spreading through a model of oligohydramnios enhances AT1-AT2 reprogramming.

Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveal the necessity ofTgfbr2expression in AT1 cells for extracellular matrix production. Moreover, TGFβ signaling regulates integrin transcription to alter AT1 cell morphology, which further impacts ECM expression through changes in mechanotransduction. These data reveal the cell intrinsic necessity of TGFβ signaling in maintaining AT1 cell fate and reveal this cell lineage as a major orchestrator of the alveolar matrisome.
Serine arginine-rich splicing factor (SRSF7) cooperates with the histone methyltransferase KMT5a to promote the type I interferon response via transcriptional activation of IRF7
Authors: Scott Haley M. , Smith Mackenzie H. , Coleman Aja K. , Apostalo Summer L. , Wagner Allison R. , Watson Robert O. , Patrick Kristin L.
Published: May 2023

Tight regulation of macrophage immune gene expression is required to fight infection without risking harmful inflammation. The contribution of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to shaping the macrophage response to pathogens remains poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that a member of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) family of mRNA processing factors, SRSF7, is required for optimal expression of a cohort of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in macrophages. Using genetic and biochemical assays, we discovered that in addition to its canonical role in regulating alternative splicing, SRSF7 drives transcription of interferon regulatory transcription factor 7 (IRF7) to promote antiviral immunity. At theIrf7promoter, SRSF7 maximizes STAT1 transcription factor binding and RNA polymerase II elongation via cooperation with the H4K20me1 histone methyltransferase KMT5a (SET8). These studies define an unorthodox role for an SR protein in activating transcription and reveal an unappreciated RNA binding protein-chromatin network that orchestrates macrophage antiviral gene expression.
Dynamic catcher for stabilization of high-viscosity extrusion jets
Authors: Doak R. Bruce , Shoeman Robert L. , Gorel Alexander , Barends Thomas R. M. , Marekha Bogdan , Haacke Stefan , Nizinski Stanislaw , Schlichting Ilme
Published: May 2023

A `catcher' based on a revolving cylindrical collector is described. The simple and inexpensive device reduces free-jet instabilities inherent to high-viscosity extrusion injection, facilitating delivery of microcrystals for serial diffraction X-ray crystallography.
Organizational change strategies: the role of leaders, change agents, and firm structures
Authors: Leventhal Emily
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Organizational development strategies must be carefully considered before they are enacted, based on involvement, the issue at hand, the existing structures of the firm, and managerial structures.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Reframing the practice of volunteering as a collective endeavour through a focal brand community
Authors: Mitchell Sarah-Louise
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Nonprofit organisations (NPOs) are an increasingly fundamental part of our society. Meeting rising demand requires NPOs to attract enough resources, especially volunteers, to enable service delivery. This paper aims to adopt a novel theoretical lens to reframe this marketing challenge to inform practice and extend theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Practice-based exploration of a volunteer-enabled NPO, parkrun, through in-depth interviews and secondary source analysis.

Findings

The research identified that the brand community connects volunteers through three inter-connected levels. The big idea of parkrun, the focal brand, resonated with people through being “on their wavelength”, something they believed in. The local, physical event meant engagement was “on their patch”, anchored in place. Finally, the brand community enables people to volunteer “on their terms”, with fluid roles and flexible levels of commitment.

Research limitations/implications

Not all NPOs have service beneficiaries who are able to volunteer, services with different volunteering roles, or operate through a local physical presence. However, taking a focal brand approach to consider the brand community through which people volunteer for an NPO, the practices that reinforce that community, and how to offer volunteers significantly greater flexibility in both role and commitment presents an opportunity for NPOs to rethink how volunteering works for them in the future.

Practical implications

Clear recommendations for practice include the opportunity to integrate service beneficiary with service delivery enabler (volunteer) to strengthen the implicit social contract, increasing participation to deepen the social identity felt towards the brand, and key practices that reduce barriers to volunteering.

Originality/value

The paper extends volunteering theory from the traditional individual needs approach to a focal brand community perspective. The marketing challenge of attracting volunteer resources to NPOs is understood through rethinking the boundaries between service beneficiaries and service enablers, anchored in social identity theory. It provides clear recommendations for practice through reframing the recruitment challenge.
Supervisors’ roles for newcomer adjustment: review of supervisors’ impact on newcomer organizational socialization outcomes
Authors: Lee Andrew Sanghyun
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore and classify the fragmentary findings of previous studies and improve understanding of the overall roles of supervisors in newcomer organizational socialization (NOS) and their relationships to NOS outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study chiefly involves undertaking a literature review, with an emphasis on the perspective of human resource development (HRD). A structured literature review was conducted to identify and select articles through the Web of Science database.

Findings

Five important roles of supervisors during NOS – supporting training transfer, providing information, clarifying newcomers’ roles, facilitating sensemaking and providing feedback – were revealed from an examination of extant work. These roles markedly influence five different components of newcomers’ adjustment: task mastery, role clarification, organizational knowledge, social identification and social integration.

Research limitations/implications

Although the concept of NOS used in this paper did not include all meanings of organizational socialization, the findings proposed key areas that require further study to enhance the understanding of supervisors’ roles for NOS.

Practical implications

The literature review suggests key efforts that supervisors should pursue to enhance the efficacy of newcomers’ adjustment. HRD professionals can use this information to design supervisor training programs aimed at enhancing supervisors’ knowledge and skills for successful NOS.

Originality/value

Studies have reported that supervisors markedly impact NOS and ultimately a newcomer’s success or failure. Relatively little work, however, has investigated how supervisors’ roles in the NOS process can enhance newcomers’ successful NOS outcomes.
Thinking out of the box’ exploring the dual outcomes of gritty leadership in project-based organizations
Authors: Faiz Shazia , Mubarak Namra , Safdar Samyia
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the dual outcomes and consequences of gritty leadership, including how it encourages followers to engage proactively and, as a result, succeed in their careers. On the other hand, the way it causes job stress in employees affects the overall work-life balance.

Design/methodology/approach

The snowball sampling method was used to gather data to test the dual outcomes of gritty leadership. Mid-level project employees in Rawalpindi and Islamabad provided the data.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that gritty leadership comes with both advantages and disadvantages and adds to the development of individuals. Positive spillover effects (career success) may be created by grit leaders, and vice versa (poor work-life balance). On the bright side, gritty leadership promotes career success favorably through a proactive personality. Contrarily, gritty leadership causes job stress, which has a detrimental impact on work-life balance.

Originality/value

Thus, this study offers the explanatory mechanism by which the advantages and disadvantages of gritty leadership are manifested. The study is unique because it examines the results of gritty leadership and gives practitioners a realistic notion of the direction they should go.
Examining technology use within the ADDIE framework to develop professional training
Authors: Crompton Helen , Jones Mildred V. , Sendi Yaser , Aizaz Maram , Nako Katherina , Randall Ricardo , Weisel Eric
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine what technological strategies were used within each of the phases of the ADDIE framework when developing content for professional training. The study also examined the affordances of those technologies in training.

Design/methodology/approach

A PRISMA systematic review methodology (Moher et al., 2015) was utilized to answer the four questions guiding this study. Specifically, the PRISMA extension Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Protocols (PRISMA-P, Moher et al., 2015) was used to direct each stage of the research, from the literature review to the conclusion. In addition, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA principles; Liberati et al., 2009) are used to guide the article selection process.

Findings

The findings reveal that the majority of the studies were in healthcare (36%) and education (24%) and used an online format (65%). There was a wide distribution of ADDIE used with technology across the globe. The coding for the benefits of technology use in the development of the training solution revealed four trends: 1) usability, 2) learning approaches, 3) learner experience and 4) financial.

Research limitations/implications

This systematic review only examined articles published in English, which may bias the findings to a Western understanding of how technology is used within the ADDIE framework. Furthermore, the study examined only peer-review academic articles from scholarly journals and conferences. While this provided a high level of assurance about the quality of the studies, it does not include other reports directly from training providers and other organizations.

Practical implications

These findings can be used as a springboard for training providers, scholars, funders and practitioners, providing rigorous insight into how technology has been used within the ADDIE framework, the types of technology, and the benefits of using technology. This insight can be used when designing future training solutions with a better understanding of how technology can support learning.

Social implications

This study provides insight into the uses of technology in training. Many of these findings and uses of technology within ADDIE can also transfer to other aspects of society.

Originality/value

This study is unique in that it provides the scholarly community with the first systematic review to examine what technological strategies were used within each of the phases of the ADDIE structure and how these technologies provided benefits to developing a training solution.
Technology enablement of the skills ecosystem
Authors: Boyer Naomi Rose , Griffith Margo Leanne
Published: May 2023

Purpose

As the skills economy becomes the norm, learning focused on skills, learners who understand those skills and can iterate the learners to potential employers, and hiring personnel who prioritize skills when making personnel decisions create a visible currency that can be leveraged by all the stakeholders. This paper seeks to analyze those emergent skills, show the skills' impact on the self-organizing skills ecosystem and illustrate how the skills provide a conduit to wholesale global change by creating a talent pipeline designed to generate economic vitality.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a system thinking lens and by exploring related skills ecosystem literature, this paper explores the concept of the self-organizing learn-earn skills ecosystem and the role technology plays in the development, implementation and continuation of the process. Tools such as customer, actor, transformation, worldview, owner and environment (CATWOE) and levers have been implemented to probe the maturity, challenges and opportunities the emerging ecosystem provides.

Findings

As the ecosystem evolves, there is much to be done to align stakeholders to reach the ecosystem's full potential. However, by applying a systems lens to the work in progress, greater clarity and definition can be achieved, thereby generating more forward momentum to propel the skills movement toward the intended outcomes.

Originality/value

While there are many recent publications that define the elements, parameters and attributes of the referenced skills ecosystem, this article aggregates information, through a system thinking lens, to provide a deeper, more cohesive analysis.
Examining significance of “downside beta” as a measure of risk – evidence from Indian equity market
Authors: Menon Sivakumar , Mohanty Pitabas , Damodaran Uday , Aggarwal Divya
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Many studies have shown that from a theoretical and empirical point of view, downside risk-based measures of risk are better than the traditional ones. Despite academic appeal and practical implications, downside risk has not been thoroughly examined in markets outside developed country markets. Using downside beta as a measure of downside risk, this study examines the relationship between downside beta and stock returns in Indian equity market, an emerging market with unique investor, asset and market characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an empirical study done by using ranked portfolio return analysis and regression analysis methodologies.

Findings

The study results show that downside risk, as measured by downside beta, is distinctly priced in the Indian equity market. There is a direct positive relationship between downside beta and contemporaneous realized returns, indicating a premium for downside risk. Downside risk carries a higher weightage than upside potential in the aggregate return of the stock portfolios. Downside beta is a better measure of systematic risk than conventional market beta and downside coskewness.

Practical implications

The empirical results support the adoption of downside beta in practice and provide a case for replacing traditional beta with downside beta in asset pricing applications, trading and investment strategies, and capital allocation decision-making.

Originality/value

This is one of the first in-depth studies examining downside beta in Indian equity markets using a broad sample of individual stock returns covering a wide time range of 22 years. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one to compare downside beta and downside coskewness using individual stock data from the Indian equity market.
Operational space efficiency (OpSE): a structured metric to evaluate the efficient use of space in industrial workstations
Authors: Braglia Marcello , Gallo Mosè , Marrazzini Leonardo , Santillo Liberatina Carmela
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper proposes a new metric, named Operational Space Efficiency (OpSE), intended to diagnose and quantify the inefficient use of floor space for stocking materials in industrial workstations. OpSE presents a formulation analogous to the well-known Overall Equipment Effectiveness and can be obtained as the product of three distinct indicators: Standard Compliance Effectiveness, Standards Selection Effectiveness and Design Space-usage Effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This indicator scrutinizes how usefully floor space in workstations is used to temporarily stock materials in the form of raw materials, semi-finished products, parts and components. It is suited for analyzing fixed-position layouts as well as product layouts typical of repetitive manufacturing settings, such as assembly lines in the automotive sector. The proposed indicator leverages an appropriate loss structure that features those factors affecting floor space utilization in workstations with regard to supplying and stocking materials.

Findings

An Italian manufacturer in the field of electro-technology was used as an industrial case study for the application of the methodology. The application shows how the three indicators work in practice, the effectiveness of OpSE and the methodology as a whole, in diagnosing floor space usage inefficiencies and in properly addressing improvement actions of the internal logistics in industrial settings.

Originality/value

The paper scrutinizes some important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) dealing with space usage efficiency and identifies some significant drawbacks. Then it suggests a new, inclusive structure of losses and a KPI that not only measures efficiency but also allows to identify viable countermeasures.
Cyberbullying at work: an extension of traditional bullying or a new threat?
Authors: Platts Jordan , Coyne Iain , Farley Samuel
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Research comparing offline and cyberbullying is relatively sparse, with scholars suggesting the need for empirical investigations to clarify whether cyberbullying and offline bullying are similar or different constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental vignette methodology, the current study of 163 working participants obtained via social media examines the effect of medium (offline vs cyberbullying), type (person-related vs work-related) and the interaction between medium and type on perceptions of definitional criteria (severity, frequency, power and intent) and outcomes (negative emotion, fairness, job satisfaction and turnover intention).

Findings

Significant differences between offline and cyberbullying were seen only for ratings of severity, job satisfaction and turnover intention, with cyberbullying perceived as more severe and as having a more detrimental impact on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Stronger effect sizes emerged for type of bullying, with person-related bullying having a stronger negative impact on definitional criteria and outcomes than work-related bullying. Moreover, interaction effects suggested differences between the two media were dependent on type of act – with person-related/cyberbullying acts seen more negatively than other acts.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to use a vignette approach to test the similarity or difference hypothesis between offline and cyberbullying. Overall, limited support is seen for the notion that offline bullying and cyberbullying are perceived as different constructs, with type of behaviour suggesting a more complex relationship between the two.
Market integration of chickpea crop: an evidence of India
Authors: Pandey Ghanshyam , Bansal Surbhi , Mohapatra Shruti
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the market integration and direction of causality of wholesale and retail prices for the chickpea legume in major chickpea markets in India.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors employ the Johansen co-integration test, Granger causality test, vector autoregression (VAR), and vector error correction model (VECM) to examine the integration of markets. The authors use monthly wholesale and retail price data of the chickpea crop from select markets in India spanning January 2003–December 2020.

Findings

The results of this study strongly confirm the co-integration and interdependency of the selected chickpea markets in India. However, the speed of adjustment of prices in the wholesale market is weakest in Bikaner, followed by Daryapur and Narsinghpur; it is relatively moderate in Gulbarga. In contrast, the speed of adjustment is negative for Bhopal and Delhi, weak for Nasik, and moderate for retail market prices in Bangalore. The results of the causality test show that the Narsinghpur, Daryapur, and Gulbarga markets are the most influential, with bidirectional relations in the case of wholesale market prices. Meanwhile, the Bangalore market is the most connected and effective retail market among the selected retail markets. It has bidirectional price transmission with two other markets, i.e. Bhopal and Nasik.

Research limitations/implications

This paper calls for forthcoming studies to investigate the impact of external and internal factors, such as market infrastructure; government policy regarding self-reliant production; product physical characteristics; and rate of utilization indicating market integration. They should also focus on strengthening information technology for the regular flow of market information to help farmers increase their incomes.

Originality/value

Very few studies have explored market efficiency and direction of causality using both linear and nonlinear techniques for wholesale and retail prices of chickpea in India.
A hybrid metaheuristic approach for solving a bi-objective capacitated electric vehicle routing problem with time windows and partial recharging
Authors: Zahedi Farbod , Kia Hamidreza , Khalilzadeh Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) has been widely investigated during last decades to reduce logistics costs and improve service level. In addition, many researchers have realized the importance of green logistic system design in decreasing environmental pollution and achieving sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a bi-objective mathematical model is developed for the capacitated electric VRP with time windows and partial recharge. The first objective deals with minimizing the route to reduce the costs related to vehicles, while the second objective minimizes the delay of arrival vehicles to depots based on the soft time window. A hybrid metaheuristic algorithm including non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO), called NSGA-II-TLBO, is proposed for solving this problem. The Taguchi method is used to adjust the parameters of algorithms. Several numerical instances in different sizes are solved and the performance of the proposed algorithm is compared to NSGA-II and multi-objective simulated annealing (MOSA) as two well-known algorithms based on the five indexes including time, mean ideal distance (MID), diversity, spacing and the Rate of Achievement to two objectives Simultaneously (RAS).

Findings

The results demonstrate that the hybrid algorithm outperforms terms of spacing and RAS indexes with p-value <0.04. However, MOSA and NSGA-II algorithms have better performance in terms of central processing unit (CPU) time index. In addition, there is no meaningful difference between the algorithms in terms of MID and diversity indexes. Finally, the impacts of changing the parameters of the model on the results are investigated by performing sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value

In this research, an environment-friendly transportation system is addressed by presenting a bi-objective mathematical model for the routing problem of an electric capacitated vehicle considering the time windows with the possibility of recharging.
Micro-businesses in the driver's seat: a qualitative study of market-driving practices in the food sector
Authors: Hersleth Stine Alm , Gonera Antje , Kubberød Elin
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Previous research studying larger market-driving businesses argues that successful entrepreneurs intuitively show market-driving capabilities. Even though market-driving is acknowledged as entrepreneurial action and practice, this phenomenon has rarely been studied from a micro-business perspective. Representing more than 40% of all food businesses in Norway, micro-businesses contribute significantly to both value creation and variety in the marketplace, and this study addresses the existing research gap by examining market-driving practices in food micro-businesses in a competitive Norwegian grocery market.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a multiple-case-study approach with four pioneering food micro-businesses within the Norwegian local food sector. Data collected during in-depth interviews with the individual founder-managers provide insight into understanding market-driving practices through the lens of entrepreneurial orientation.

Findings

The findings suggest that food micro-businesses are disrupting the grocery market through their pioneering practices. A three-pillared framework for market-driving practices in food micro-businesses was developed: (1) taking the risk and following their passion, (2) innovativeness led by a passionate personal value proposition, and (3) proactively and perseveringly building a new category.

Originality/value

The study offers a novel attempt to explore and conceptualize market-driving practices in a micro-business context. The findings present a new framework for market-driving contextualized in the local food sector, representing an under-investigated area in micro-business and enterprise development.
Impact of risk culture on supplier selection decisions in family firms
Authors: Hasenau Alexander F.J. , Dutzi Andreas
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Sourcing decisions are one of the most crucial strategic decisions in companies and often confronted with inherent unexpected uncertainties and risks. This study aims to investigate the impact of ownership involvement on purchasing (PUR) supplier selection activities, including risk consideration in family firms (FFs).

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation is based on a structured literature review (SLR) of 83 studies to identify FF-specific supplier sourcing characteristics. To verify these propositions, the authors conducted a second SLR of non-FF behaviour research (179 papers) to generate a non-FF reference base for the respective behavioural characteristics. Following this analysis, the authors conducted 16 qualitative and explorative-oriented expert interviews (EIs).

Findings

Based on reviews, the authors deduce that PUR activities of family and non-FFs are different regarding the PUR decision processes and PUR risk behaviour, and that suppliers' selection criteria like sustainability, partnership and long-term orientation are prioritised in FFs. Additionally, several trends of family and non-FF behaviour approximation were identified. Besides these findings, it might be expected that the differentiating characteristics of family and non-FFs vary based on their region or industry sector. The EIs indicated that “the depth of added values” should be considered as a further potential differentiating influence factor.

Originality/value

The analysis encourages to execute further quantitative studies on FF sourcing activities and requests managers to strengthen the position of the PUR departments in FFs.