bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social dimensions of chronic respiratory disease: stigma, isolation, and loneliness
Authors: Brighton Lisa Jane , Chilcot Joseph , Maddocks Matthew
Published: September 2022

Purpose of review

Social wellbeing is a core component of heath. However, people with chronic respiratory disease report unmet social needs, particularly in relation to stigma, social isolation, and loneliness. This review considers recent advances in understanding these social concepts within the context of chronic respiratory disease.

Recent findings

A growing body of qualitative work illustrates the detrimental impacts of stigma in chronic respiratory disease, contributing towards poorer psychological health and self-management, and reduced engagement with professional support. Stigma, alongside physical limitations stemming from respiratory symptoms, can also contribute to social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer mental health and quality of life, declines in function, and in some cases, increased hospital admissions. Although close or cohabiting relationships can ameliorate some social challenges, isolation and loneliness can also impact informal carers of people with chronic respiratory disease.

Increasing evidence illustrates the direct and indirect influences of social dimensions on health outcomes for people living with chronic respiratory disease. Although there is increased understanding of the lived experiences of stigma, less is understood about the complexities of social isolation and loneliness in chronic respiratory disease, and optimal interventions to address social challenges.
Crisis Preparedness: A Systems-Based Framework for Avoiding Harm in Surgery
Authors: Gogalniceanu Petrut , Karydis Nikolaos , Costan Victor-Vlad , Kessaris Nicos , Sevdalis Nick , Mamode Nizam
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Highly performing healthcare organizations benefit from robust failure management systems. This involves the ability to respond and recover from critical events, as well avoiding harm in the first place (crisis preparedness). Currently, the surgical community may lack an integrated toolbox for crisis readiness. The study aims to create a practical framework for crisis preparedness in surgery.

STUDY DESIGN:

A multimethod qualitative study was designed to identify and translate crisis preparedness interventions from high-reliability industries to clinical practice. The tools and strategies identified were subsequently developed and clinically adapted for healthcare use. The study used (1) observational fieldwork in commercial aviation; (2) semi-structured interviews with senior airline pilots, and (3) mixed focus groups with healthcare and aviation safety experts. A crisis preparedness framework was derived by thematic analysis using the framework method. Clinical adaptation was achieved using expert consensus methodology.

RESULTS:

Twenty-two aviation and healthcare experts participated in 17 interviews and 3 focus groups. A framework for crisis preparedness was derived, consisting of 6 behavioral interventions: (1) anticipate threats and errors by building situational awareness using cognitive tools; (2) brief teams about goals, deviations, operational risks, and contingency plans; (3) implement standard operating procedures using checklists; (4) rehearse emergency drills before critical phases of work; (5) set the tone for a positive working environment by establishing cultural norms and empowering individuals to speak up about safety issues; and (6) debrief performance outcomes to derive learning lessons.

CONCLUSIONS:

Surgical crisis preparedness requires integrated systems rather than isolated safety interventions. This study provides a framework and the tools to achieve this.
NSQIP Quality Benchmarking and Evaluation of Potential Bias Associated with Higher- or Lower-Risk Operation Case Mix
Authors: Cohen Mark E , Liu Yaoming , Hall Bruce L , Sachs Amy J , Lapsley Jakob C , Byrd Claudia M , Ko Clifford Y
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

To ensure validity and acceptance of NSQIP risk-adjusted benchmarking, it is important that adjustments adequately control for hospitals that vary in their proportions of lower- or higher-risk operations (combined risk for procedure and patient). This issue was addressed in separate empirical and simulation studies.

STUDY DESIGN:

For the empirical study, potential miscalibration bias favoring hospitals that do lower-risk operations or disfavoring hospitals that do higher-risk operations was evaluated for 14 modeled outcomes using NSQIP data. A determination was also made as to whether there was a relationship between mean hospital operation risk and benchmarking results (log odds ratio). In the simulation study of the same 14 outcomes, hospital benchmarked performance was evaluated when sampled cases were reconstituted to include either a larger proportion of lower-risk operations or a larger proportion of higher-risk operations.

RESULTS:

Miscalibration favoring either lower- or higher-risk operations was absent, as were important associations between operative risk and hospital log odds ratios (most model R2 less than 0.01). In the simulation, there were no substantial changes in log odds ratios when greater percentages of either lower- or higher-risk operations were included in a hospital’s sample (nonsignificant p values and effect sizes less than 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results should enhance NSQIP participants’ confidence in the adequacy of NSQIP patient and procedure risk-adjustment methods. NSQIP participants may rely on benchmarking findings, and implement quality improvement efforts based on them, without concern that they are biased by a preponderance of lower or higher risk operations.
Association of Implementation of Operating Room-Based Parathyroid Hormone Testing with Operative Time and Cost
Authors: Xie Steven , Kuriakose Jonathan , Beninato Toni , Carayannopoulos Mary , Trooskin Stanley Z , Libutti Steven K , Laird Amanda M
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) testing facilitates focused parathyroidectomy to establish biochemical cure but may be time-consuming. A dedicated immunoassay machine was relocated to the operating room for IOPTH. These data seek to determine association of operating room–based IOPTH with operative time, laboratory turnaround time (TAT), and cost.

METHODS:

Patients who underwent parathyroidectomy from June 2017 to February 2020 were reviewed. Clinical and demographic data, operative time, and TAT were collected. Patients were compared by operation dates pre- or post-machine acquisition. A cost model was created to evaluate cost of care before and after operating room–based testing.

RESULTS:

A total of 285 patients were included. Post-machine, median operative time decreased from 69 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 60 to 84) to 57 minutes (IQR 50 to 84.5), p 0.03. Additionally, median TAT for IOPTH values (preoperative, 0, 5, 10, and 15 minutes) decreased post-machine: time preoperative, 29 minutes (IQR 23 to 40) vs 18 minutes (IQR 17 to 23.5), p < 0.001; time 0, 33 minutes (IQR 27 to 39) vs 18.5 minutes (17.5 to 21), p < 0.001; time 5 minutes, 31 minutes (IQR 26 to 36) vs 20 minutes (IQR 18.5 to 21), p < 0.001; time 10 minutes, 32 minutes (IQR 27 to 39) vs 20 minutes (IQR 18.5 to 22.5), p < 0.001; and time 15 minutes, 30 minutes (IQR 26 to 36) vs 19 minutes (IQR 17 to 21), p < 0.001. Total costs pre- and post-machine were $4,442 and $4,111, respectively. With $331 cost reduction per operation and 127 operations per year, the IOPTH machine pays for itself in 3 years, or 378 surgeries, and saves $168,589 in the machine’s remaining 4-year life span.

CONCLUSIONS:

Operating room–based parathyroid hormone testing results in improved operating productivity by decreasing result TAT and operative time and reduces cost.
Thinking Your Way Through a Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Technique for High-Quality Subtotal Cholecystectomy
Authors: Deng Shirley X , Greene Brittany , Tsang Melanie E , Jayaraman Shiva
Published: September 2022

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) is a bailout strategy to prevent bile duct injury in difficult gallbladder cases. It is associated with acceptable morbidity that is readily managed with postoperative interventions. Here we share our techniques for LSC. We begin with landmarking, which includes the line of safety, a theoretical line the sulcus of Rouvière and the junction of the cystic and hilar plates. If the fundus can be grasped, then the gallbladder is dissected off the cystic plate using the top-around approach. The gallbladder is then amputated, creating a short cuff of proximal gallbladder. This cuff can be left patent (2A) or cinched close with an ENDOLOOP (Ethicon) if it is small, ideally less than 1 cm (1A). If the fundus cannot be grasped, then an inverted T incision is made on the anterior gallbladder wall. The longitudinal incision is extended toward the fundus, and the transverse incision is extended superiorly along the cystic plate edge. Two “bunny ears” are developed and ultimately resected to excise the anterior gallbladder wall at an oblique angle while leaving the posterior wall intact (2B). If the remaining cuff is small, then it can be sutured closed against the gallbladder back wall (1B). In the setting of extensive bowel adhesion to the anterior gallbladder, we perform a fundectomy, from which we extend two incisions along the cystic plate to open the gallbladder like a clamshell. Our paper describes and illustrates our St Joseph’s Health Centre institutional LSC approach and subtype classification (1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B).
Comparison Between Minimally Invasive Right Anterior and Right Posterior Sectionectomy vs Right Hepatectomy: An International Multicenter Propensity Score–Matched and Coarsened-Exact–Matched Analysis of 1,100 Patients
Authors: Willems Edward , D’Hondt Mathieu , Kingham T Peter , Fuks David , Choi Gi-Hong , Syn Nicholas L , Sucandy Iswanto , Marino Marco V , Prieto Mikel , Chong Charing C , Lee Jae Hoon , Efanov Mikhail , Chiow Adrian K H , Choi Sung Hoon , Sutcliffe Robert P , Troisi Roberto I , Pratschke Johann , Cheung Tan-To , Wang Xiaoying , Tang Chung-Ngai , Liu Rong , Han Ho-Seong , Goh Brian K P ,   International Robotic and Laparoscopic Liver Resection Study Group Investigators
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

The role of minimally invasive right anterior and right posterior sectionectomy (MI-RAS/MI-RPS) for right-sided liver lesions remains debatable. Although technically more demanding, these procedures might result in faster recovery and lower postoperative morbidity compared with minimally invasive right hemihepatectomy.

STUDY DESIGN:

This is an international multicenter retrospective analysis of 1,114 patients undergoing minimally invasive right hemihepatectomy, MI-RAS, and MI-RPS at 21 centers between 2006 and 2019. Minimally invasive surgery included pure laparoscopic, robotic, hand-assisted, or a hybrid approach. A propensity-matched and coarsened-exact–matched analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,100 cases met study criteria, of whom 759 underwent laparoscopic, 283 robotic, 11 hand-assisted, and 47 laparoscopic-assisted (hybrid) surgery. There were 632 right hemihepatectomies, 373 right posterior sectionectomies, and 95 right anterior sectionectomies. There were no differences in baseline characteristics after matching. In the MI-RAS/MI-RPS group, median blood loss was higher (400 vs 300 mL, p = 0.001) as well as intraoperative blood transfusion rate (19.6% vs 10.7%, p = 0.004). However, the overall morbidity rate was lower including major morbidity (7.1% vs 14.3%, p = 0.007) and reoperation rate (1.4% vs 4.6%, p = 0.029). The rate of close/involved margins was higher in the MI-RAS/MI-RPS group (23.4% vs 8.9%, p < 0.001). These findings were consistent after both propensity and coarsened-exact matching.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although technically more demanding, MI-RAS/MI-RPS is a valuable alternative for minimally invasive right hemihepatectomy in right-sided liver lesions with lower postoperative morbidity, possibly due to the preservation of parenchyma. However, the rate of close/involved margins is higher in these procedures. These findings might guide surgeons in preoperative counselling and in selecting the appropriate procedure for their patients.
Expert Consensus for Key Features of Operative Reports of Ventral Hernia
Authors: Dhanani Naila H , Lyons Nicole B , Divino Celia M , Harris Hobart , Holihan Julie L , Hope William , Itani Kamal , Loor Michele M , Martindale Robert , Prabhu Ajita , Reinke Caroline , Roth J Scott , Towfigh Shirin , Liang Mike K
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Operative reports are important documents; however, standards for critical elements of operative reports are general and often vague. Hernia surgery is one of the most common procedures performed by general surgeons, so the aim of this project was to develop a Delphi consensus on critical elements of a ventral hernia repair operative report.

STUDY DESIGN:

The Delphi method was used to establish consensus on key features of operative reports for ventral hernia repair. An expert panel was selected and questionnaires were distributed. The first round of voting was open-ended to allow participants to recommend what details should be included. For the second round the questionnaire was distributed with the items that did not have unanimous responses along with free text comments from the first round.

RESULTS:

Eighteen surgeons were approached, of which 11 completed both rounds. Twenty items were on the initial questionnaire, of which 11 had 100% agreement. Of the remaining 9 items, after the second questionnaire an additional 7 reached consensus.

CONCLUSION:

Ventral hernia repairs are a common and challenging problem and often require reoperations. Surgeons frequently refer to previous operative notes to guide future procedures, which requires detailed and comprehensive operative reports. This Delphi consensus was able to identify key components needed for an operative report describing ventral hernia repair.
Top-down response to spatial variation in productivity and bottom-up response to temporal variation in productivity in a long-term study of desert ants
Authors: Gibb Heloise , Wardle Glenda M. , Greenville Aaron C. , Grossman Blair F. , Dickman Chris R.
Published: September 2022

Under the Ecosystem Exploitation Hypothesis ecosystem productivity predicts trophic complexity, but it is unclear if spatial and temporal drivers of productivity have similar impacts. Long-term studies are necessary to capture temporal impacts on trophic structure in variable ecosystems such as deserts. We sampled ants and measured plant resources in the Simpson Desert, central Australia over a 22-year period, during which rainfall varied 10-fold. We sampled dune swales (higher nutrient) and crests (lower nutrient) to account for spatial variation in productivity. We asked how temporal and spatial variation in productivity affects the abundance of ant trophic guilds. Precipitation increased vegetation cover, with the difference more pronounced on dune crests; seeding and flowering also increased with precipitation. Generalist activity increased over time, irrespective of productivity. Predators were more active in more productive (swale) habitat, i.e. spatial impacts of productivity were greatest at the highest trophic level. By contrast, herbivores (seed harvesters and sugar feeders) increased with long-term rainfall; seed harvesters also increased as seeding increased. Temporal impacts of productivity were therefore greatest for low trophic levels. Whether productivity variation leads to top-down or bottom-up structured ecosystems thus depends on the scale and dimension (spatial or temporal) of productivity.
Functions of exogenous FGF signals in regulation of fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix protein expression
Authors: Sun Changye , Tian Xiangqin , Jia Yangyang , Yang Mingming , Li Yong , Fernig David G.
Published: September 2022

Fibroblasts are widely distributed cells found in most tissues and upon tissue injury, they are able to differentiate into myofibroblasts, which express abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Overexpression and unordered organization of ECM proteins cause tissue fibrosis in damaged tissue. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family proteins are well known to promote angiogenesis and tissue repair, but their activities in fibroblast differentiation and fibrosis have not been systematically reviewed. Here we summarize the effects of FGFs in fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and ECM protein expression and discuss the underlying potential regulatory mechanisms, to provide a basis for the clinical application of recombinant FGF protein drugs in treatment of tissue damage.
Maintaining robust size across environmental conditions through plastic brain growth dynamics
Authors: Cobham Ansa E. , Neumann Brent , Mirth Christen K.
Published: September 2022

Organ growth is tightly regulated across environmental conditions to generate an appropriate final size. While the size of some organs is free to vary, others need to maintain constant size to function properly. This poses a unique problem: how is robust final size achieved when environmental conditions alter key processes that regulate organ size throughout the body, such as growth rate and growth duration? While we know that brain growth is ‘spared’ from the effects of the environment from humans to fruit flies, we do not understand how this process alters growth dynamics across brain compartments. Here, we explore how this robustness in brain size is achieved by examining differences in growth patterns between the larval body, the brain and a brain compartment—the mushroom bodies—in
Drosophila melanogaster
across both thermal and nutritional conditions. We identify key differences in patterns of growth between the whole brain and mushroom bodies that are likely to underlie robustness of final organ shape. Further, we show that these differences produce distinct brain shapes across environments.
Developmental instability of CA1 pyramidal cells in Dravet Syndrome
Authors: Jones Steffan P. , O’Neill Nathanael , Muggeo Sharon , Colasante Gaia , Kullmann Dimitri M. , Lignani Gabriele
Published: September 2022

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is mostly caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel SCN1A (Nav1.1), thought to result in severe epilepsy and neurodevelopmental impairment due to reduced interneuron excitability. Recent studies in mouse models suggest that an “interneuronopathy” alone does not completely explain all the cellular and network impairments seen in DS. Here, we investigated the development of the intrinsic, synaptic, and network properties of CA1 pyramidal cells in a DS model prior to the appearance of overt seizures. We report that CA1 pyramidal cell development is disrupted by loss of Scn1a, and propose that this is explained by a period of reduced intrinsic excitability in early postnatal life, during which Scn1a is normally expressed in hippocampal pyramidal cells. We also use a novel ex vivo model of homeostatic plasticity to show an instability in homeostatic response during DS epileptogenesis. This study provides evidence for an important role of Scn1a haploinsufficiency in pyramidal cells in the pathophysiology of DS.
Learning Continuous Potentials from smFRET
Authors: Bryan J. Shepard , Pressé Steve
Published: September 2022

Potential energy landscapes are useful models in describing events such as protein folding and binding. While single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments encode information on continuous potentials for the system probed, including rarely visited barriers between putative potential minima, this information is rarely decoded from the data. This is because existing analysis methods often model smFRET output assuming, from the onset, that the system probed evolves in a discretized state-space to be analyzed within a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) paradigm. By contrast, here we infer continuous potentials from smFRET data without discretely approximating the state-space. We do so by operating within a Bayesian nonparametric paradigm by placing priors on the family of all possible potential curves. As our inference accounts for a number of required experimental features raising computational cost (such as incorporating discrete photon shot noise), the framework leverages a Structured-Kernel-Interpolation Gaussian Process prior to help curtail computational cost. We show that our Structured-Kernel-Interpolation Priors for Potential Energy Reconstruction from smFRET (SKIPPER-FRET) analysis accurately infers the potential energy landscape from a smFRET binding experiment. We then illustrate advantages of SKIPPER-FRET over standard HMM approaches by providing information, such as barrier heights and friction coefficients, otherwise inaccessible to HMMs.

SIGNIFICANCE

We introduce SKIPPER-FRET, a tool for inferring continuous potential energy landscapes, including barrier heights, from single molecule smFRET data. We benchmark on synthetic and experimental data.
SPRAY-INDUCED GENE SILENCING IDENTIFIES PATHOGEN PROCESSES CONTRIBUTING TO POWDERY MILDEW PROLIFERATION
Authors: McRae Amanda G. , Taneja Jyoti , Yee Kathleen , Shi Xinyi , Haridas Sajeet , LaButti Kurt , Singan Vasanth , Grigoriev Igor V. , Wildermuth Mary C.
Published: September 2022

Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an emerging tool for crop pest protection. It utilizes exogenously applied double stranded RNA to specifically reduce pest target gene expression using endogenous RNA interference machinery. Powdery mildews, widespread obligate biotrophic fungi infect agricultural crops including wheat, barley, cucurbits, grapevine, and ornamentals such as roses. In this study, SIGS methods were developed and optimized for powdery mildews using the known azole-fungicide target CYP51 and the Golovinomyces orontii-Arabidopsis thaliana pathosystem. Additional screening resulted in the identification of conserved gene targets and processes important to powdery mildew proliferation: apoptosis-antagonizing transcription factor in essential cellular metabolism and stress response; lipase a, lipase 1, and acetyl-CoA oxidase in lipid catabolism; 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, xanthoxin dehydrogenase, and a putative abscisic acid G-protein coupled receptor predicted to function in manipulation of the plant hormone abscisic acid; and the secreted effector EC2. Powdery mildew is the dominant disease impacting grapes and extensive powdery mildew resistance to applied fungicides has been reported. Therefore, we developed SIGS for the Erysiphe necator-Vitis vinifera system and tested six successful targets identified using the G. orontii-A. thaliana system. For all targets tested, a similar reduction in powdery mildew disease was observed between systems. This indicates screening of broadly conserved targets in the G. orontii-A. thaliana pathosystem identifies targets and processes for the successful control of other powdery mildews. The flexibility, specificity, reduced environmental and health risks, and rapid transition from the bench to the field make SIGS an exciting prospect for commercial powdery mildew control.
ARTseq-FISH reveals position-dependent fate decisions driven by cell cycle changes
Authors: Hu Xinyu , van Sluijs Bob , Blay Óscar García , Stepanov Yury , Rietrae Koen , Huck Wilhelm T.S. , Hansen Maike M. K.
Published: September 2022

Cell fate decisions are ubiquitous and play a critical role throughout development, yet how localization impacts cellular decision making remains unclear. To identify the drivers of position-dependent fate decisions at a molecular level, we developed a scalable antibody and mRNA targeting sequential fluorescence in situhybridization (ARTseq-FISH) method capable of simultaneously profiling mRNAs, proteins and phosphoproteins in single cells at sub-micrometre spatial resolution. We studied 67 unique (phospho-)protein and mRNA targets in individual mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) cultured on circular micropatterns, yielding quantification of both abundance and localization of mRNAs and (phospho-)proteins during the first 48 hours of differentiation. ARTseq-FISH revealed a fate decision between continued self-renewal and differentiation that relies solely on the position of each mESC on the micropattern. Our results demonstrate that temporal changes in cell cycle orchestrate these position-dependent cell fate decisions.
Reflectivity spectra as absorption resonant spectra: is it correct?
Authors: Andreeva Marina , Baulin Roman
Published: September 2022

Approximate expressions for X-ray resonant and Mössbauer reflectivity in the total external reflection region are developed for the limiting cases of a semi-infinite mirror with a small resonant addition to the total susceptibility and for the case of an ultrathin resonant layer. It is shown that in this region the reflectivity can depend linearly on the imaginary part of the refraction index; therefore in these cases the consideration of reflectivity spectra (R-spectra) as absorption resonant spectra, taken up in several experimental studies, can be justified. However, several effects producing dispersive distortions of the R-spectrum shape, even for very small grazing angles, have been found. It has been shown that dispersive corrections to the R-spectrum shape are mostly necessary if the non-resonant absorption is relatively large. Model calculations demonstrate that the quantitative spectroscopic information extracted from R-spectra using the software developed for absorption spectra can be inaccurate.
How accounting creates performative moments and performative momentum
Authors: Christner Carl Henning , Sjögren Ebba
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the longitudinal performative effects of accounting, focusing on how accounting shapes the stability/instability of economic frames over time.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the performative effects of accounting over time, a longitudinal case study narrates the transformation of a large, listed manufacturing company's financial strategy over 20 years. Using extensive document collection, the authors trace the shift from an “industrial” frame to a “shareholder value” frame in the mid-1990s, followed by the gradual entrenchment of this shareholder value frame until its decline in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008.

Findings

Our findings show how accounting has different performative temporalities, capable of precipitating sudden shifts between different economic frames and stabilising an ever-more entrenched and narrowly defined enactment of a specific frame. We conceptualise these different temporalities as performative moments and performative momentum respectively, explaining how accounting produces these performative effects over time. Moreover, in contrast to extant accounting research, the authors provide insight into the performative role of accounting not only in contested but also “cold” situations marked by consensus regarding the overarching economic frame.

Originality/value

Our paper draws attention to the longitudinal performative effects of accounting. In particular, the analysis of how accounting entrenches and refines economic frames over time adds to prior research, which has focused mainly on the contestation and instability of framing processes.
The DAWN readiness model to assess the level of use of Industry 4.0 technologies in the construction industry in Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro Daniel Bernardo , Coutinho Aparecido dos Reis , Satyro Walter Cardoso , Campos Fernando Celso de , Lima Carlos Roberto Camello , Contador José Celso , Gonçalves Rodrigo Franco
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Construction industry (CI) has great prominence for the world economy, and it is expected that, with the use of the innovative technologies and approaches of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the new industrial paradigm, construction can reach higher levels of productivity. This study aims to develop a model (readiness model) to assess the level of use of I4.0 technologies by the construction sector in Brazil and its most relevant applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used was bibliographic research, design-science research and a survey to validate the model, carried out with 162 companies, considered among the main ones in the sector in Brazil. The literature review revealed 13 technologies of I4.0 applied to construction; hence, the views of industry experts were based on these technologies.

Findings

The Digital Advancement Within CoNstruction (DAWN) readiness model was proposed, showing that among the 13 evaluated technologies of I4.0 and their applications, the Brazilian construction companies had a low level of utilization; both high and middle-income companies presented this low level of use; some technologies with a greater number of scientific publications were less used in practice in the Brazilian construction.

Originality/value

The originality and theoretical contribution are to present a readiness model to assess the level of use of I4.0 technologies and their most relevant applications in the CI in countries with an economy similar to Brazil’s, making it possible to measure the level of adoption of these technologies.
Tourists’ post-adoption continuance intentions of chatbots: integrating task–technology fit model and expectation–confirmation theory
Authors: Dhiman Neeraj , Jamwal Mohit
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Despite the proliferation of service chatbots in the tourism industry, the question on its continuance intentions among customers has largely remain unanswered. Building on an integrated framework using the task–technology fit theory (TTF) and the expectation–confirmation model (ECM), the present study aims to settle this debate by investigating the factors triggering customers to continue to use chatbots in a travel planning context.

Design/methodology/approach

The research followed a quantitative approach in which a survey of 322 chatbot users was undertaken. The model was empirically validated using the structural equation modelling approach using AMOS.

Findings

The results reveal that users’ expectations are confirmed when they believe that the technological characteristics of chatbots satisfy their task-related characteristics. Simply, the results reveal a significant and direct effect of TTF on customers’ confirmation and perceived usefulness towards chatbots. Moreover, perceived usefulness and confirmation were found to positively impact customers’ satisfaction towards chatbots, in which the former exerts a relatively stronger impact. Not surprisingly, customers’ satisfaction with the artificial intelligence(AI)-based chatbots emerged as a predominant predictor of their continuance use.

Practical implications

The findings have various practical ramifications for developers who must train chatbot algorithms on massive data to increase their accuracy and to answer more exhaustive inquiries, thereby generating a task–technology fit. It is recommended that service providers give consumers hassle-free service and precise answers to their inquiries to guarantee their satisfaction.

Originality/value

The present work attempted to empirically construct and evaluate the combination of the TTF model and the ECM, which is unique in the AI-based chatbots available in a tourism context. This research presents an alternate method for understanding the continuance intentions concerning AI-based service chatbots.
Factors affecting consumer purchase intention for buying solar energy products
Authors: Fathima M.S. Arshiya , Batcha H. Moideen , Alam Ansari Sarwar
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing consumers’ intention to purchase solar energy products (SEPs).

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on primary data that has been collected from a total of 351 non-users of SEPs from different cities of Tamil Nadu state (India). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling have been used to examine the collected data.

Findings

Attitude, perceived behavioral control and energy concern variables are significant towards consumers’ purchase intention. However, other variables such as subjective norms and energy awareness were found insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size was chosen based on convenience sampling, and the sample was collected from the different cities in Tamil Nadu. As a result, the outcome may not be representative of the whole population. Respondents’ perspectives in one section of India may differ from those in another.

Practical implications

The findings of this study help policymakers, business experts, marketers, social marketers and energy conservation organizations in gaining a better understanding of consumer behavior.

Social implications

The outcome of this study will be effective in developing action plans to improve environmental quality through solar products.

Originality/value

This study has targeted the potential consumers and identified factors that are influencing consumers’ intention to purchase SEP. Therefore, the study’s findings will add value to SEP companies, government and non-government organizations, marketers, academicians and the research community.
House price forecasting using the multi-level modelling method in Sydney
Authors: Ge Xin Janet , Mangioni Vince , Shi Song , Herath Shanaka
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a house price forecasting model to investigate the impact of neighbourhood effect on property value.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-level modelling (MLM) method is used to develop the house price forecasting models. The neighbourhood effects, that is, socio-economic conditions that exist in various locations, are included in this study. Data from the local government area in Greater Sydney, Australia, has been collected to test the developed model.

Findings

Results show that the multi-level models can account for the neighbourhood effects and provide accurate forecasting results.

Research limitations/implications

It is believed that the impacts on specific households may be different because of the price differences in various geographic areas. The “neighbourhood” is an important consideration in housing purchase decisions.

Practical implications

While increasing housing supply provisions to match the housing demand, governments may consider improving the quality of neighbourhood conditions such as transportation, surrounding environment and public space security.

Originality/value

The demand and supply of housing in different locations have not behaved uniformly over time, that is, they demonstrate spatial heterogeneity. The use of MLM extends the standard hedonic model to incorporate physical characteristics and socio-economic variables to estimate dwelling prices.
Aging is inevitable: understanding aging anxiety related to physical symptomology and quality of life with the mediating role of self-esteem in adults
Authors: Yawar Rowaida , Khan Soulat , Rafiq Maryam , Fawad Nimra , Shams Sundas , Navid Saher , Khan Muhammad Abdullah , Taufiq Nabiha , Touqir Areesha , Imran Moazma , Butt Tayyab Ali
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between aging anxiety, self-esteem, physical symptomology and quality of life in early and middle adults as well as to explore the mediating role of self-esteem.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was designed, and a sample of N= 700 educated men and women aged between 35 and 65 years were taken through purposive sampling. Anxiety about Aging Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, The World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF and Somatic Symptom Scale-8 were used for assessment.

Findings

Research suggests that an increase in aging anxiety leads to poor quality of life and lower self-esteem. Additionally, a negative relationship was observed between aging anxiety and physical symptomology. Self-esteem plays a mediating role significantly in these relationships.

Practical implications

The study highlighted the adverse effects of aging anxiety on the basis of which strategies can be devised to cope with it as well as to improve the self-esteem and quality of life in transition age. These findings can also aid in providing health care and public services in later adulthood. This study also emphasizes on aging as a human right rather than merely a process such as the human right for physical health and mental health.

Originality/value

This study provides a new outlook and perspective toward how the phenomenon of aging impacts the lives of adults who are about to enter older adulthood in a few years. The fears related to aging influence physical and mental health, due to which it is necessary to investigate the effect of aging anxiety.
Coaching in teacher residency programs: a strategy for professional learning and development for in-service teachers
Authors: Hope Samantha T. , Abrams Lisa M. , Marshall David T.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Teacher residency programs (TRPs) offer an alternative to traditional models of teacher preparation with the aim of developing teachers to work and stay in hard-to-staff schools. Research on these extended field placement programs is limited and typically examines program outcomes or the experiences and development of the pre-service teachers, or residents. This study focuses on a relatively unexamined area of TRPs to explore how providing mentoring and coaching supports the professional development of the in-service TRP coaches.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a qualitative case study design. Fourteen coaches in an urban teacher residency program were interviewed over a three-year period. Using a semi-structured protocol, participants’ experiences and the influence of program participation were explored.

Findings

Findings revealed that coaches experienced professional growth in their instructional practices and deepened or renewed their commitment to teaching. Program components such as evidence-based observational tools and protocols encouraged reflective practice and (re)evaluation of teaching that contributed to beliefs about improved practice.

Practical implications

In-service teachers experience development in their pedagogical practices and may feel a renewed sense of professional engagement through serving as a coach for a pre-service teacher. Additionally, hard-to-staff schools that partner with TRPs to recruit and develop new teachers may find an added benefit in retaining a greater number of veteran teachers who participate as coaches in residency pre-service education programs.

Originality/value

Much of the teacher residency literature explores the outcomes and experiences of pre-service teacher residents and has little focus on how these programs may benefit TRP coaches. Coaches have an essential role in the implementation and influence of residency programs on pre-service teachers, yet little is understood about how the act of coaching impacts the in-service teacher coach. This article suggests that coaches experience meaningful professional benefits of participation in TRPs and has implications for effective residency program design.
Customers' online shopping intention by watching AI-based deepfake advertisements
Authors: Sivathanu Brijesh , Pillai Rajasshrie , Metri Bhimaraya
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the online shopping intention of customers by watching artificial intelligence (AI)–based deepfake video advertisements using media richness (MR) theory and Information Manipulation Theory 2 (IMT2).

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed to understand customers' online shopping intention by watching deepfake videos. A quantitative survey was conducted among the 1,180 customers using a structured questionnaire to test the conceptual model, and data were analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The outcome of this research provides the antecedents of the online shopping intention of customers after watching AI-based deepfake videos. These antecedents are MR, information manipulation tactics, personalization and perceived trust. Perceived deception negatively influences customers' online shopping intention, and cognitive load has no effect. It also elucidates the manipulation tactics used by the managers to develop AI-based deepfake videos.

Practical implications

The distinctive model that emerged is insightful for senior executives and managers in the e-commerce and retailing industry to understand the influence of AI-based deepfake videos. This provides the antecedents of online shopping intention due to deepfakes, which are helpful for designers, marketing managers and developers.

Originality/value

The authors amalgamate the MR and IMT2 theory to understand the online shopping intention of the customers after watching AI-based deepfake videos. This work is a pioneer in examining the effect of AI-based deepfakes on the online shopping intention of customers by providing a framework that is empirically validated.
Effect of social capital on youth self-employment in Holeta town, Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Daniel
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Social resources have gained considerable interest from scholars for their effect on youth's labor market outcomes. The available evidence indicates that social capital is a crucial factor in determining youth's labor force status. This paper examines the effect of social capital components on youth self-employment in Holeta town, Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

Using youth survey data, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on social capital components datasets. This provided the construction of composite indicators for measuring social capital component, which are robust and exhibited construct validity. Following this, the effect of social capital component on youth self-employment was examined using Logit model.

Findings

The results show that institutional trust positively affects the likelihood of young people's decision to be self-employed.

Practical implications

The finding reveals a need to improve the transparency of the institutions' resource delivery, the competency of the institutions' workforce, communication, and information sharing of the institutions with the youth.

Originality/value

Looking at different social capital components simultaneously, the paper provides insight into the wide range of effects of social capital on youth self-employment.
Buyer behaviour and price expectations: a spatial analysis of the Athens residential market
Authors: White Michael , Papastamos Dimitrios
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper examines the price setting behaviour over time and space in the Athens residential market. In periods of house price inflation asking prices are often based upon the last observed highest selling price achieved for a similar property in the same micro-location. However, in a falling market, prices may be rigid downwards and less sensitive to the most recent transaction prices, weakening spatial effects. Furthermore, the paper considers whether future price expectations affect price setting behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a dataset of approximately 24,500 property values from 2007 until 2014 in Athens incorporating characteristics and locational variables. The authors begin by estimating a baseline hedonic price model using property characteristics, neighbourhood amenities and location effects. Following this, a spatio-temporal autoregressive (STAR) model is estimated. Running separate models, the authors account for spatial dependence from historic valuations, contemporaneous peer effects and expectations effects.

Findings

The initial STAR model shows significant spatial and temporal effects, the former remaining important in a falling market contrasting with previous literature findings. In the second STAR model, whilst past sales effects remain significant although smaller, contemporaneous and price expectations effects are also found to be significant, the latter capturing anchoring and slow adjustment heuristics in price setting behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

As valuations used in the database are based upon comparable sales, then in the recessionary periods covered in the dataset, finding comparables may have become more difficult, and hence this, in turn, may have impacted on valuation accuracy.

Practical implications

In addition to past effects, contemporaneous transactions and expected future values need to be taken in consideration in analysing spatial interactions in housing markets. These factors will influence housing markets in different cities and countries.

Social implications

The information content of property valuations should more carefully consider the relative importance of different components of asking prices.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to use transactions data over a period of falling house prices in Athens and to consider current and future values in addition to past values in a spatio-temporal context.
Fighting against white-collar crime: criminology to the aid of management sciences
Authors: Le Maux Julien , Smaili Nadia
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on white-collar crime that combines the perspectives of criminology and management sciences research.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a systematic review of white-collar crime recidivism, this paper defines crime and the white-collar criminal from a different perspective. The literature review was conducted using a multidisciplinary approach.

Findings

This paper offers an insightful discussion of white-collar recidivism. In particular, it highlights the interesting use of “Post Conviction Risk Assessment,” a tool used in criminology literature, and aims to show that the probability of recidivism in white-collar crime can be effectively measured and evaluated. This tool is commonly used by American professionals in combatting criminal recidivism.

Originality/value

This study provides interesting insights into white-collar crime recidivism. It has a number of implications for probation officers and criminologists evaluating the recidivism risk of white-collar criminals for reintegration purposes.