bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motor Skill Retention Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis
Authors: Cristini Jacopo , Parwanta Zohra , De las Heras Bernat , Medina-Rincon Almudena , Paquette Caroline , Doyon Julien , Dagher Alain , Steib Simon , Roig Marc
Published: December 2022

The ability to acquire and retain motor skills is essential for persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), who usually experience a progressive loss of mobility during the disease. Deficits in the rate of motor skill acquisition have been previously reported in these patients. Whether motor skill retention is also impaired is currently not known. We conducted a review that included 46 studies to determine whether, compared with neurologically intact individuals, motor skill retention is impaired in PD. Meta-analyses revealed that, following a single practice session, persons with PD have deficits in skill retention (SMD = −0.17; 95% CI = −0.32, −0.02;p= 0.0225). However, these deficits are task-specific, affecting sensory motor (SMD = −0.31; 95% CI −0.47, −0.15;p= 0.0002) and visuomotor adaptation (SMD = − 1.55; 95% CI = −2.32, −0.79;p= 0.0001) tasks, but not sequential fine motor (SMD = 0.17; 95% CI = −0.05, 0.39;p= 0.1292) and gross motor tasks (SMD = 0.04; 95% CI = −0.25, 0.33;p= 0.7771). Importantly, retention deficits became non-significant when augmented feedback during practice was provided. Similarly, additional sessions of motor practice restored the deficits observed in sensory motor tasks. Meta-regression analyses confirmed that retention deficits were independent of performance during motor skill acquisition, as well as the duration and severity of the disease. These results are in line with prominent neurodegenerative models of PD progression and emphasize the importance of developing targeted interventions to enhance motor memory processes supporting the retention of motor skills in people with PD.
Quantifying the rebound of influenza epidemics after relaxing nonpharmaceutical interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in China
Authors: Lei Hao , Yang Lei , Yang Mengya , Tang Jing , Yang Jiaying , Tan Minju , Yang Shigui , Wang Dayan , Shu Yuelong
Published: December 2022

The co-existence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza epidemics has become a potential threat to human health, particularly in China in the oncoming season. However, with the relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rebound extent of the influenza activities is still poorly understood. In this study, we constructed a susceptible-vaccinated-infectious-recovered-susceptible (SVIRS) model to simulate influenza transmission and calibrated it using influenza surveillance data from 2018 to 2022. We projected the influenza transmission over the next 3 years using the SVIRS model. We observed that, in epidemiological year 2021–2022, the reproduction numbers of influenza in southern and northern China were reduced by 64.0% and 34.5%, respectively, compared with those before the pandemic. The percentage of people susceptible to influenza virus increased by 138.6% and 57.3% in southern and northern China by October 1, 2022, respectively. After relaxing NPIs, the potential accumulation of susceptibility to influenza infection may lead to a large-scale influenza outbreak in the year 2022-2023, the scale of which may be affected by the intensity of the NPIs. And later relaxation of NPIs in the year 2023 would not lead to much larger rebound of influenza activities in the year 2023-2024. To control the influenza epidemic to the pre-pandemic level after relaxing NPIs, the influenza vaccination rates in southern and northern China should increase to 53.8% and 33.8%, respectively. Vaccination for influenza should be advocated to reduce the potential reemergence of the influenza epidemic in the next few years.
Poly(2-oxazoline)-based polyplexes as a PEG-free plasmid DNA delivery platform
Authors: Yamaleyeva Dina N. , Makita Naoki , Hwang Duhyeong , Haney Matthew J. , Jordan Rainer , Kabanov Alexander V.
Published: December 2022

The present study expands the versatility of cationic poly(2-oxazoline) (POx) copolymers as a PEG-free platform for gene delivery to immune cells, such as monocytes and macrophages. Several block copolymers are developed by varying non-ionic hydrophilic blocks (poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (pMeOx) or poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (pEtOx), cationic blocks, and an optional hydrophobic block (poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (iPrOx). The cationic blocks are produced by side chain modification of 2-methoxy-carboxyethyl-2-oxazoline (MestOx) block precursor with diethylenetriamine (DET) or tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN). For the attachment of a targeting ligand, mannose, we employed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry methods. Of the two cationic side chains, polyplexes made with DET-containing copolymers transfect macrophages significantly better than those made with TREN-based copolymer. Likewise, non-targeted pEtOx-based diblock copolymer is more active in cell transfection than pMeOx-based copolymer. The triblock copolymer with hydrophobic block iPrOx performs poorly compared to the diblock copolymer which lacks this additional block. Surprisingly, attachment of a mannose ligand to either of these copolymers is inhibitory for transfection. Despite similarities in size and design, mannosylated polyplexes result in lower cell internalization compared to non-mannosylated polyplexes. Thus, PEG-free, non-targeted DET- and pEtOx-based diblock copolymer outperforms other studied structures in the transfection of macrophages and displays transfection levels comparable to GeneJuice, a commercial non-lipid transfection reagent.
Passive identification of subjective preferences towards individual items using eye-tracking in a virtual reality environment
Authors: Gabay Michal , Schonberg Tom
Published: December 2022

Usage of Virtual reality (VR) has been growing in many fields of research and therapy thanks to its immersive and gamified nature. Detection of the subjective experience of the users is thus essential for effective personalization of content. Eye-tracking (ET) data and specifically gaze, in two-dimensional tasks has been linked to value-based choices and emotional states. Therefore, here we aimed to develop a method for passive identification of subjective preferences based on ET data collected during a VR experience. For this purpose, we developed a naturalistic dynamic VR task where participants searched and looked at complex objects of pets and control shapes that appeared in pre-defined locations in random order. At the end of the task, participants ranked their preference, valence, and arousal of the items they saw during the task. ET data was recorded using a built-in binocular eye-tracker within the VR headset. We found that the median distance of gaze from the center of objects and the median gaze scan speed showed a significant interaction with object type (pets/shapes), as well as a significant positive relation to preference and valence rankings of pets. Our results suggest that ET could be used as a passive biomarker for detecting individual preferences and pleasantness, and in the future may enable successful personalization of VR content in real time for various applications.
How SARS-CoV-2 alters the regulation of gene expression in infected cells†
Authors: Bignon Emmanuelle , Grandemange Stéphanie , Dumont Elise , Monari Antonio
Published: December 2022

Non-structural accessory proteins in viruses play a key role in hijacking the basic cellular mechanisms, which is essential to promote the virus survival and evasion of the immune system. The immonuglobulin-like open reading frame 8 (ORF8) protein expressed by SARS-CoV-2 accumulates in the nucleus and may influence the regulation of the gene expression in infected cells. In this contribution, by using micro-second time-scale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we unravel the structural bases behind the epigenetic action of ORF8. In particular, we highlight how the protein is able to form stable aggregates with DNA through a histone tail-like motif, and how this interaction is influenced by post-translational modifications, such as acetylation and methylation, which are known epigenetic markers in histones. Our work not only clarifies the molecular mechanisms behind the perturbation of the epigenetic regulation caused by the viral infection, but also offers an unusual perspective which may foster the development of original antivirals.
A complex tissue-specific interplay between the Arabidopsis transcription factors AtMYB68, AtHB23, and AtPHL1 modulates primary and lateral root development and adaptation to salinity
Authors: Spies Fiorella Paola , Perotti María Florencia , Cho Yuhan , Jo Chang Ig , Hong Jong Chan , Chan Raquel Lía
Published: December 2022

Adaptation to soil is a well-regulated process vital for plant life. AtHB23 is a homeodomain-leucine zipper I transcription factor (TF), previously revealed as crucial for plant survival in front of salinity conditions. We wondered whether this TF has partners to achieve this essential function.

A TF cDNA library screening, Y2H, BiFC, and CoIP assays were complemented with expression analyses and phenotypic characterizations of silenced, mutant, overexpressor, and crossed plants in normal and salinity conditions.

We revealed that AtHB23, AtPHL1, and AtMYB68 interact with each other, modulating root development and salinity response. The encoding genes coexpress in specific root tissues and developmental stages. In normal conditions,amiR68silenced plants have less initiated roots, the opposite phenotype to that showed byamiR23ones. AtMYB68 and AtPHL1 play contrary roles in lateral root elongation. Under salinity, where AtHB23 plays a crucial positive function, AtMYB68 cooperates with it, whereas AtPHL1 obstructs its action impacting survival ability and supporting the complex interaction between AtHB23, AtPHL1, and AtMYB68 in the primary and lateral roots. The root adaptation capability was associated with the amyloplast state.

We identified new molecular players that through a complex relationship determine Arabidopsis root architecture and survival ability in salinity conditions.
Activation of β2-adrenergic receptors in microglia alleviates neuropathic hypersensitivity in mice
Authors: Damo Elisa , Agarwal Amit , Simonetti Manuela
Published: December 2022

Drugs enhancing the availability of noradrenaline are gaining prominence in the therapy of chronic neuropathic pain. However, underlying mechanisms are not well understood, and research has thus far focused on α2-adrenergic receptors and neuronal excitability. Adrenergic receptors are also expressed on glial cells, but their roles toward antinociception are not well deciphered. This study addresses the contribution of β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs) to the therapeutic modulation of neuropathic pain in mice. We report that selective activation of β2-ARs with Formoterol inhibits pro-inflammatory signaling in microgliaex-vivoand nerve injury-induced structural remodeling and functional activation of microgliain vivo. Systemic delivery of Formoterol inhibits behaviors related to neuropathic pain, such as mechanical hypersensitivity, cold allodynia and the aversive component of pain, and reverses chronically established neuropathic pain. Using conditional gene targeting for microglia-specific deletion of β2-ARs, we demonstrate that the anti-allodynic effects of Formoterol are primarily mediated by microglia. Although Formoterol also reduces astrogliosis at late stages of neuropathic pain, these functions are unrelated to β2-AR signaling in microglia. Our results underline the value of developing microglial β2-AR agonists for relief from neuropathic pain and clarify mechanistic underpinnings.

Graphical Abstract
Super-resolution STED imaging in the inner and outer whole-mount mouse retina
Authors: Kremers Leon , Sarieva Kseniia , Hoffmann Felix , Ueffing Marius , Euler Thomas , Nikić-Spiegel Ivana , Schubert Timm
Published: December 2022

Since its invention in 1994, super-resolution microscopy has become a popular tool for advanced imaging of biological structures, allowing visualisation of subcellular structures at a spatial scale below the diffraction limit. Thus, it is not surprising that recently, different super-resolution techniques are being applied in neuroscience, e.g. to resolve the clustering of neurotransmitter receptors and protein complex composition in presynaptic terminals. Still, the vast majority of these experiments were carried out either in cell cultures or very thin tissue sections, while there are only a few examples of super-resolution imaging in thick (> ~50 μm) biological samples. In that context, the mammalian whole-mount retina has rarely been studied with super-resolution microscopy. Here, we aimed at establishing a stimulated-emission-depletion (STED) microscopy protocol for imaging whole-mount retina. To this end, we developed sample preparation including horizontal slicing of retinal tissue, an immunolabeling protocol with STED-compatible fluorophores and optimised the STED microscope’s settings. We labelled subcellular structures in somata, dendrites, and axons of retinal ganglion cells in the inner mouse retina. Under optimal conditions, we achieved a mean lateral spatial resolution of ~120 nm (using the full width of half-maximum as a proxy) for the thinnest filamentous structures in our preparation and a resolution enhancement of two or higher compared to conventional confocal images. When combined with horizontal slicing of the retina, these settings allowed us visualisation of putative GABAergic horizontal cell synapses in the outer retina with a similar resolution. Taken together, we successfully established a STED protocol for reliable super-resolution imaging in the whole-mount mouse retina, which enables investigating, for instance, protein complex composition and cytoskeletal ultrastructure at retinal synapses in health and disease.
Startle: a star homoplasy approach for CRISPR-Cas9 lineage tracing
Authors: Sashittal Palash , Schmidt Henri , Chan Michelle , Raphael Benjamin J.
Published: December 2022

CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing combined with single-cell sequencing enables the tracing of the history of cell divisions, or cellular lineage, in tissues and whole organisms. While standard phylogenetic approaches may be applied to reconstruct cellular lineage trees from this data, the unique features of the CRISPR-Cas9 editing process motivate the development of specialized models that describe the evolution of CRISPR-Cas9 induced mutations. Here, we introduce thestar homoplasymodel, a novel evolutionary model that constrains a phylogenetic character to mutate at most once along a lineage, capturing thenon-modifiabilityproperty of CRISPR-Cas9 mutations. We derive a combinatorial characterization of star homoplasy phylogenies by identifying a relationship between the star homoplasy model and the binary perfect phylogeny model. We use this characterization to develop an algorithm, Startle (Star tree lineage estimator), that computes a maximum parsimony star homoplasy phylogeny. We demonstrate that Startle infers more accurate phylogenies on simulated CRISPR-based lineage tracing data compared to existing methods; particularly on data with high amounts of dropout and homoplasy. Startle also infers more parsimonious phylogenies with fewer metastatic migrations on a lineage tracing dataset from mouse metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

Code availability

Software is available athttps://github.com/raphael-group/startle
Brain-based predictions of psychiatric illness-linked behaviors across the sexes
Authors: Dhamala Elvisha , Ooi Leon Qi Rong , Chen Jianzhong , Ricard Jocelyn A. , Berkeley Emily , Chopra Sidhant , Qu Yueyue , Lawhead Connor , Yeo B.T. Thomas , Holmes Avram J.
Published: December 2022

Background

Individual differences in functional brain connectivity can be used to predict both the presence of psychiatric illness and variability in associated behaviors. However, despite evidence for sex differences in functional network connectivity and in the prevalence, presentation, and trajectory of psychiatric illnesses, the extent to which disorder-relevant aspects of network connectivity are shared or unique across the sexes remains to be determined.

Methods

In this work, we used predictive modelling approaches to evaluate whether shared or unique functional connectivity correlates underlie the expression of psychiatric illness-linked behaviors in males and females in data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (n=5260; 2571 females).

Results

We demonstrate that functional connectivity profiles predict individual differences in externalizing behaviors in males and females, but only predict internalizing behaviors in females. Furthermore, models trained to predict externalizing behaviors in males generalize to predict internalizing behaviors in females, and models trained to predict internalizing behaviors in females generalize to predict externalizing behaviors in males. Finally, the neurobiological correlates of many behaviors are largely shared within and across sexes: functional connections within and between heteromodal association networks including default, limbic, control, and dorsal attention networks are associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviors as well as attentional deficits.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings suggest that shared neurobiological patterns may manifest as distinct behaviors across the sexes. These results highlight the need to consider factors beyond just neurobiology in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric illnesses.
A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions for Mexico and Peru: a modeling study
Authors: Acuña-Zegarra M. Adrian , Santana-Cibrian Mario , Rodriguez Hernandez-Vela Carlos E. , Mena Ramsés H. , Velasco-Hernández Jorge X.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We model the observed dynamics of COVID-19 in Mexico and Peru and explore the impact of hypothetical non-pharmaceutical interventions applied on key days of civic, religious, or political nature that increased contacts and transmission events. Using as a baseline the observed epidemic curve, we apply hypothetical reductions in the contact rates during the first year of the pandemic: i) near the beginning, ii) at the beginning of the second outbreak, and iii) end of the year. The effects of the interventions are different for Mexico and Peru but underlie the fact that strong early interventions do reduce the prevalence and, in general, allow for an epidemic evolution of relatively lower prevalence than interventions applied once the epidemic is underway. We provide evidence that key calendar days are good approximations of times when contact rates change and, therefore, are efficient periods for effective interventions particularly in places with low testing and lack of contact tracing. This has helped us to recreate different outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease dynamics in Mexico and Peru and explore the impact of hypothetical interventions that reduce the contact rate.
Gene complementation analysis suggests that dodder plants (Cuscutaspp.) do not depend on the host FT protein for flowering
Authors: Mäckelmann Sina , Känel Andrea , Kösters Lara M. , Lyko Peter , Prüfer Dirk , Noll Gundula A. , Wicke Susann
Published: December 2022

Dodder (Cuscutaspp.) is a genus of parasitic plants that form physiological bridges (haustoria) with their hosts to facilitate the transfer of water and nutrients. The parasites also repurpose nucleic acids and proteins translocating through the haustoria, potentially including the host florigen protein (FT), which is postulated to trigger floral transition in the parasite. Here, we identified the endogenous FT-FD flowering module inCuscuta campestris. We detected the expression of two parasite-encodedC. campestris(Cc)FT genes in haustoria, whereas a newly found CcFD-like gene was expressed ubiquitously.C. campestrisflowered while growing on mutant tobacco plants lacking the floral activators NtFT4 and NtFT5, indicating that host FT proteins are not required to initiate the parasite’s floral transition. We also showed that CcFT1 (identical to CaFT fromCuscuta australis) and CcFT2 can rescue a non-floweringNtft4−Ntft5−double knockout tobacco phenotype. Together, our results show thatCuscutaspp. produce a potent endogenous florigen as well as other proteins likely to be involved in floral transition. FT gene expression profiles in the haustoria suggest thatCuscutaspp. transition to flowering at least partly in response to host signals (e.g., sugars) that can activate the parasite’s FT-FD module. AlthoughC. campestrisandC. australisappear not to depend on the host FT protein for floral transition, the nature of the mobile host signals that influence floral development in these parasites remain unclear.

Significance Statement

Parasitic higher plants are known for their sophisticated adaptations that facilitate the transfer of water and nutrients from their hosts. They can also synchronize their transition from vegetative to reproductive development to match the host plant. Despite this high degree of synchronization, dodder plants maintain a potent endogenous floral activator module, which enables the parasite to switch to reproductive development autonomously. Synchronization must therefore involve other stimuli from the host plant, which are currently unknown. Understanding the environmental cues that trigger flowering, and the corresponding network of genetic and physiological regulators and integrators, may lead to new strategies that reduce the reproductive fitness of parasitic plants to protect crops and ensure food security.

Data Servers

This article is available as preprint (ID: BIORXIV/2022/520981) athttps://www.biorxiv.orgunder the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Reusable data files have been deposited athttps://datadryad.org, accessible during peer-review under:https://datadryad.org/stash/share/DK8Olh2VqFwbGNL0GtkGt24dD0GhWhJn82oLBC1XK70
Using UAV-Imagery for Leaf Segmentation in Diseased Plants via Mask-Based Data Augmentation and Extension of Leaf-based Phenotyping Parameters
Authors: Barreto Abel , Reifenrath Lasse , Vogg Richard , Sinz Fabian , Mahlein Anne-Katrin
Published: December 2022

Abstract

In crop production plant diseases cause significant yield losses. Therefore, the detection and scoring of disease occurrence is of high importance. The quantification of plant diseases requires the identification of leaves as individual scoring units. Diseased leaves are very dynamic and complex biological object which constantly change in form and color after interaction with plant pathogens. To address the task of identifying and segmenting individual leaves in agricultural fields, this work uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), multispectral imagery of sugar beet fields and deep instance segmentation networks (Mask R-CNN). Based on standard and copy-paste image augmentation techniques, we tested and compare five strategies for achieving robustness of the network while keeping the number of labeled images within reasonable bounds. Additionally, we quantified the influence of environmental conditions on the network performance. Metrics of performance show that multispectral UAV images recorded under sunny conditions lead to a drop of up to 7% of average precision (AP) in comparison with images under cloudy, diffuse illumination conditions. The lowest performance in leaf detection was found on images with severe disease damage and sunny weather conditions. Subsequently, we used Mask R-CNN models in an image-processing pipeline for the calculation of leaf-based parameters such as leaf area, leaf slope, disease incidence, disease severity, number of clusters, and mean cluster area. To describe epidemiological development, we applied this pipeline in time-series in an experimental trial with five varieties and two fungicide strategies. Disease severity of the model with the highest AP results shows the highest correlation with the same parameter assessed by experts. Time-series development of disease severity and disease incidence demonstrates the advantages of multispectral UAV-imagery for contrasting varieties for resistance, and the limits for disease control measurements. With this work we highlight key components to consider for automatic leaf segmentation of diseased plants using UAV imagery, such as illumination and disease condition. Moreover, we offer a tool for delivering leaf-based parameters relevant to optimize crop production thought automated disease quantification imaging tools.
Errors in structural biology are not the exception
Authors: Gao Yunyun , Thorn Volker , Thorn Andrea
Published: December 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the structural biology community swung into action quickly and efficiently, and many urgent questions were solved by macromolecular structure determination. The Coronavirus Structural Task Force evaluated all structures from SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, but errors in measurement, data processing and modelling are present beyond these structures and throughout the structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank. Identifying them is only the first step; in order to minimize the impact that errors have in structural biology, error culture needs to change. It should be emphasized that the atomic model which is published is an interpretation of the measurement. Furthermore, risks should be minimized by addressing issues early and by investigating the source of a given problem, so that it may be avoided in the future. If we as a community can do this, it will greatly benefit experimental structural biologists as well as downstream users who are using structural models to deduce new biological and medical answers in the future.
A deep learning-based approach to facilitate the as-built state recognition of indoor construction works
Authors: Ekanayake Biyanka , Ahmadian Fard Fini Alireza , Wong Johnny Kwok Wai , Smith Peter
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Recognising the as-built state of construction elements is crucial for construction progress monitoring. Construction scholars have used computer vision-based algorithms to automate this process. Robust object recognition from indoor site images has been inhibited by technical challenges related to indoor objects, lighting conditions and camera positioning. Compared with traditional machine learning algorithms, one-stage detector deep learning (DL) algorithms can prioritise the inference speed, enable real-time accurate object detection and classification. This study aims to present a DL-based approach to facilitate the as-built state recognition of indoor construction works.

Design/methodology/approach

The one-stage DL-based approach was built upon YOLO version 4 (YOLOv4) algorithm using transfer learning with few hyperparameters customised and trained in the Google Colab virtual machine. The process of framing, insulation and drywall installation of indoor partitions was selected as the as-built scenario. For training, images were captured from two indoor sites with publicly available online images.

Findings

The DL model reported a best-trained weight with a mean average precision of 92% and an average loss of 0.83. Compared to previous studies, the automation level of this study is high due to the use of fixed time-lapse cameras for data collection and zero manual intervention from the pre-processing algorithms to enhance visual quality of indoor images.

Originality/value

This study extends the application of DL models for recognising as-built state of indoor construction works upon providing training images. Presenting a workflow on training DL models in a virtual machine platform by reducing the computational complexities associated with DL models is also materialised.
Digital transformation using industry 4.0 technology by food and beverage companies in post COVID-19 period: from DCV and IDT perspective
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris , Galati Antonino
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to understand the influence of digital transformation, using Industry 4.0 technology, on food and beverage companies in the post-COVID-19 period.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the aim of this study, the authors have used innovation diffusion theory (IDT), dynamic capability view (DCV) theory and relevant literature, to develop a conceptual model. For the data, we surveyed 14, different sized food and beverage companies in India and the authors took inputs from 312 respondents at those companies to validate the conceptual model using the PLS-SEM approach.

Findings

The results from this study suggest that there is a considerable appetite for food and beverage companies to use Industry 4.0 technologies, as a part of their digital transformation journey in the post-COVID-19 scenario.

Practical implications

Food and beverage companies are going through a digital transformation process, which has been accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers and leaders of the food and beverage companies need to support activities to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies. Moreover, the leaders should sponsor various readiness and training programs so that their employees successfully adopt these modern technologies.

Originality/value

This is a primary study on food and beverage companies that are using Industry 4.0 technologies or are in the process of digital transformation. The usage of both IDT and DCV to develop the unique conceptual model is an important contribution to the body of knowledge. Moreover, the proposed model has a high explanatory power, which makes the model effective.
Post-pandemic intention to participate in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) events: an integrated investigation through the lens of the theory of planned behavior and perception of Covid-19
Authors: Al Rousan Ramzi , Khasawneh Nermin , Sujood Sujood , Bano Naseem
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to predict the post-pandemic intention of Indian consumers to participate in tourism and hospitality T&H events by incorporating the perception of Covid-19 (PCOV) into the theory of planned behavior (TPB). It also examines the relationship among attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention and PCOV.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a quantitative research technique, with data collected using an online questionnaire-based survey from August 23 to October 29, 2021. The sampling approach is convenient, and the sample of this study is comprised of individuals who follow events pages on social networking sites.

Findings

The findings of SEM revealed that the proposed model has better explanatory and predictive power. The path analysis showed that all the variables of the TPB are significantly and positively associated with the post-pandemic intention to participate in the T&H events. However, the PCOV is negatively associated with the post-pandemic intention.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study give an idea about the post-pandemic intention of Indian consumers to participate in T&H events. The results of this study revealed important practical implications for event management organizations, travel agencies that deal in events, the T&H industry, tourism planners and other stakeholders, as these findings may be used to develop effective marketing strategies.

Originality/value

There has been a lot of research on TPB in the context of coronavirus, but to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is a gap in the literature regarding the intention to participate in T&H events. Hence, this research fills that gap.
Integrating and transitioning the project front-end and project initiation phases in South African electrical engineering industrial projects
Authors: Siriram Rajenlall
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The objective of this research is to explore integration and transition activities in large industrial projects. The purpose is to (a) obtain a better understanding of the integration and transition activities between the project front-end (FE) and project initiation phases (PIPs), (b) explore what, how and when these integrations and transitions occur, and (c) explore what the integration and transition activities mean to project practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design methodology is followed, based on interviews using open-ended questions. An expert panel is used to provide responses to questions pertaining to the integration and transition between the project FE and PIP. The research is focused on managing large projects in the South African electrical engineering industrial projects industry. A literature review combined with empirical analysis reflects the importance of integrating and transitioning in project business.

Findings

The findings provide guidance to researchers and practitioners on integration and transition mechanisms, how and when these occur. It highlights the benefits of integration and transition activities. Important lessons for researchers and practitioners are provided together with areas for future research.

Originality/value

This is an interpretative analysis of expert opinion. Expert panel members are experienced at senior decision-making level, and their expertise was accessed based on experience, education and knowledge. This extensive experience is shared in this paper providing insights into their opinions, experiences, success and failures. These inputs together with the literature review provide interesting implications for both a theoretical foundation as well as practical implications for practitioners.
“The perfect moment is this one. The effect of mindfulness on employees: a perspective from self-determination theory”
Authors: Zeshan Muhammad , de La Villarmois Olivier , Rasool Shahid , Niazi Abdur Rafeh Khan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to show the direct and indirect effects of mindfulness on the employees’ commitment in the employees who perform monotonous work. Moreover, it also shows the role of basic psychological needs proposed by self-determination theory (SDT), on the relationship between mindfulness and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has used a time-lagged approach. Data has been collected from the nurses in public sector hospitals through a survey strategy. Structural equation modeling has been used to validate the measure and to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results of thi study reveal that there is a positive relationship between mindfulness and employee affective organizational commitment. This study also shows that in the existence of a high level of autonomy, mindfulness does have more effect on commitment. Moreover, this study also shows that this relationship is mediated by employee boredom. However, this mediation is not moderated by the satisfaction of the need for autonomy.

Practical implications

This study serves as a guide for frontline managers in situations where they want their subordinates who perform monotonous and boring work to remain committed to the organization. This study also emphasizes the recruitment of employees who may show more trait mindfulness.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature in the field of organizational behavior by showing how basic psychological needs proposed by SDT collaborate with mindfulness in producing employees’ positive attitudes.
Does customer’s perception of ethicality influence brand affect, image and equity in the banking sector
Authors: Manansala Giovanni , Arasanmi Chris Niyi , Ojo Adedapo Oluwaseyi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine ethical practices in the banking sector by testing the relationships between customer perceptions of ethicality and brand attributes like affect, image and equity.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the social exchange theory, the authors advance the consumer’s perspective in explaining brand equity in the banking sector. Following the survey technique, the authors used the Hayes’ Macro Process in analysing the data collected from 148 bank customers in New Zealand.

Findings

The findings suggest that customers’ perception of ethicality, brand image and affect are significantly associated with brand equity. Also, brand image and affect significantly mediate the relationship between customer’s perception of ethicality and brand equity.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is the use of survey and cross-sectional methods. Future research may adopt mixed-method techniques to provide insightful information on how these variables influence brand equity.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates the mechanisms that facilitate brand equity and contributes to theory by analysing the factors of brand equity in the banking sector, which has been less investigated.
Launching new products in international markets: waterfall versus sprinkler strategy of Korean SMEs
Authors: Cho Hyo Eun , Lee Jong-Ho , Jeong Insik
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate an understudied topic—new product strategy in international markets. Specifically, this study aims to address the crucial role played by organizational characteristics and market characteristics in determining a firm's decision of adopting either a waterfall or a sprinkler product strategy for international markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis was conducted using survey data collected from a sample of 171 Korean small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study uses logistic regression analysis to test the relationships among organizational characteristics, market characteristics and a firm's international product strategy.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that firm characteristics, such as higher degree of internationalization, lead the firms to choose the sprinkler strategy. Moreover, this research finds that a firm's choice between the waterfall and the sprinkler strategy varies depending on market characteristics such as competitive intensity and market turbulence. The findings indicate that the sprinkler strategy is more optimal for use when firms operate under a high level of competitive intensity, whereas a waterfall strategy is more suitable for firms that encounter a high level of market turbulence in targeted foreign markets.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the international marketing literature by exploring the impact of organizational characteristics and market characteristics on a firm's new product strategy in international markets.
Indian wine tourism: new landscape of international spillovers
Authors: Singh Swati , Wagner Ralf
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Wine tourism is spreading from the “old world” wine countries to Asia. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the GLOW framework capturing the tension of homogenization and globalization of touristic experiences, the tourists' rising environmental concerns and their conflict of searching for authentic experience with new sensations.

Design/methodology/approach

In a mixed-method procedure, evidence describing the wine tourists’ perceptions and motivations is assessed using a quantitative survey and fitting a structural equation model using the PLS algorithm. Complementing evidence through qualitative interviews with Indian entrepreneurs on designing a glocalized experience is analyzed.

Findings

Spillover from international travel is the most relevant driver of wine tourism in India. However, types of wines and the experiences are adjusted to the local conditions. The winemakers are remarkably advanced in implementing environmentally sustainable production and avoiding over tourism which perfectly meets their clients’ expectations.

Research limitations/implications

Entrepreneurial creation theory as described by Alvarez and Barney (2007) is illustrated in the Asian glocalisation context giving special attention to the entrepreneur’s individual capabilities as called by Helfat and Peteraf (2015) and Liñán et al. (2020).

Practical implications

Conservation of biodiversity and the aesthetics of the local landscape are essential for the vividness of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the attractiveness for the guests.

Social implications

Local adaptation of the touristic experience in terms of entertainment, indigenous cuisines and local specialty supports sustainable development of all the stakeholders.

Originality/value

Novelty arises from the projection of the visitors considering the wine cellar experience as an alternative to international travels in combination with analyzing how the entrepreneurs create entrepreneurial opportunities by carving out an authentic experience for their guests.
Social workers and safeguarding adult reviews (SARs)– an exploration of the stories that are told and the narratives that they hold
Authors: O'Reardon Mary
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to explore the contribution of safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) to the contemporary stories of what social work practice is and what social workers should do. Evidence of this contribution is sought by analysis of SARs as publicly available documents capturing contemporary social work alongside considering social worker’s views of these reports.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents two components of the wider research study as follows: documentary analysis exploring discussions of social work practice held within a sample of SARs xD;xA; and analysis of focus groups and semi-structured interviews established to explore the knowledge, experience and views of front-line social workers in relation to SARs.

Findings

It is suggested that social workers locate the value of SARs within the arena of learning and development often celebrating the SAR processes in bringing agencies together more so than the actual report. This paper argues that SARs hold considerable power in their ability to present a narrative about contemporary social work in England, and that social workers themselves can be wary of this power.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the scope of the data which includes a sample of SARs from one geographical area and data collected from social workers who volunteered to participate.

Practical implications

This paper draws on the evidence gathered and presents some recommendations to support the potential for SARs to positively enhance social work identity and practice.

Social implications

This paper explores the stories about social work that are found within a sample of SARs and seeks to explore how these stories fit with the stories that social workers themselves share about SARs.

Originality/value

There has been considerable research interest in SARs; however, to date there has not been a research exploration of the impact of SARs on professional social work and front-line social workers in practice. This paper presents early findings and analysis from research in progress as part of a Doctorate of Social Work Study at University of East London who provided ethical approval and supervisory support.
Facilitating computing education to graduate students in journalism and public relations from Dewey's lens: prototyping
Authors: Sharafeddin Mageda A. , Samarji Ahmad
Published: December 2022

Purpose

In a technological era driven by coding, programming and artificial intelligence (AI), there is more need than ever to develop computing skills and knowledge for non-specialist students. Nonetheless, the literature on computer science teaching methods of non-scientific majors is not as comprehensive as that of scientific ones.

Design/methodology/approach

Pedagogically, the authors designed and implemented prototyping from John Dewey's pragmatic epistemological lens. Using a mixed methods approach, the authors tested the effectiveness and efficiency of this approach within the same course over four semesters across four academic years.

Findings

As an epistemological pedagogic device, prototyping facilitated learning by doing and experimenting and stimulated graduate students' self-directed learning, engagement and their overall ownership of the learning and teaching process, changing their role from being merely passive recipients of “strange, awkward and unfamiliar” knowledge to active constructors of “relevant and exciting” content knowledge. Such a change was reflected in the significant progress students made, driven by their commitment, motivation and enthusiasm, irrespective of their prior knowledge and age (Generations X, Y and Z). Prototyping also served as an avenue for a “Deweyian Reflection”, where graduate students, after internalizing the acquired computing skills and knowledge, started transferring such skills and knowledge to their professions (journalism and public relations (PR)) and daily practices.

Research limitations/implications

Findings from this study will add to the literature review on this subject matter and will inform future case studies in computer science education for graduate students from non-scientific backgrounds.

Practical implications

This paper reveals that learning by doing/experimenting needs to be accompanied by in-depth reflection to enable students to transfer the acquired knowledge and skills to other settings and contexts beyond that of the lesson, task, or project in hand.

Originality/value

There is little research published on introductory programming courses offered to non-specialized students (i.e. students from non-scientific backgrounds). This study contributes to the body of research on how to effectively engage these students in programming courses informed by John Dewey's pragmatic lens/epistemological lens.
An analysis of the characteristics and motives of the UK homicides involving acts of dismemberment
Authors: Pointon Victoria Jade , Wright Michelle
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the evidence base by analysing the characteristics and motives of homicides involving acts of dismemberment.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study explored offence, victim and offender characteristics and the motives for 71 homicides involving dismemberment using open source data. All cases included in this study were investigated in the UK between 1970 and 2016. A non-metric multi-dimensional scaling procedure smallest space analysis (SSA) was used to explore the characteristics and motives derived from a content analysis of homicide data sourced online.

Findings

A distinction between expressive and instrumental characteristics was observable with three thematic regions identified: instrumental – defensive, instrumental – predatory and expressive – affective. Support was found for previously identified motives for criminal dismemberment, with defensive being the most common motive identified in 63% (N= 45) of the cases.

Originality/value

The implications of the findings are discussed with suggestions made for future research. The findings have practical implications for assisting law enforcement and forensic and clinical practitioners in further understanding offenders who engage in homicidal dismemberment. This includes aiding homicide investigations, in terms of supporting investigators to draw upon offence, victim and offender characteristics and motives for homicides involving acts of dismemberment. Differentiation between cases of dismemberment and understanding of motives also has practical implications for the development of interventions and treatment pathways for homicide offenders who dismember victims.