bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post-offshoring manufacturing strategies: decision-making and implementation
Authors: Bettiol Marco , Chiarvesio Maria , Di Maria Eleonora , Di Stefano Cristina , Fratocchi Luciano 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThe advantages of offshoring are increasingly under scrutiny, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has advanced the debate, calling for a redefinition of firms' production location strategies. While attention has primarily focused on the relocation of second-degree strategies, such as back-shoring, near-shoring and further offshoring, there are also other alternatives, including home country-based domestic product and process innovations, and the development of new business activities. The objective of the authors' paper is to identify which factors influence decision-makers when they select and implement such post-offshoring strategic alternatives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors consider 11 Italian manufacturing companies that implemented these strategies and analyze triggers, drivers, enabling factors and barriers of the decision phase, as well as content, governance mode and timing of the implementation phase.FindingsBased on the collected findings, the authors suggest a set of propositions for further research. First of all, firms can simultaneously manage multiple strategies by adopting an ambidextrous approach through which to mitigate supply chain risks. They may integrate their domestic and international production activities, but the home country remains central for innovations and production of high-end products and Industry 4.0 technologies increases the probability of investing in their home country. At the same time, lack of competence induces selective near- and back-shoring, while full back-shoring is mainly a consequence of managerial mistakes. Competence availability acts as a barrier to relocation in the home country, inducing the implementation of either an insourcing strategy or a combination of insourcing and outsourcing.Originality/valueThe authors' work identifies post-offshoring as a dynamic process and provides insights into the post-pandemic scenario. The conceptual framework may represent a useful tool for company managers in re-evaluating their initial offshoring strategies.
Indigenous cultures and employee efficiency: the moderating effect of cronyism in state-owned enterprises in Ghana
Authors: Awaah Fred , Olanrewaju Morounkeji 
Published: October 2023

PurposeThis paper examines the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency and how cronyism strengthens or weakens the relationship in the Ghanaian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in response to the employee efficiency.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a quantitative approach by a cross-sectional survey to collect data from 400 workers in ten SOEs in Ghana. The analysis is done by using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression techniques.FindingsThe findings indicate that showing gratitude is the predominant indigenous culture in the SOEs of Ghana while irregularity (absenteeism) is not dominant. Moreover, the practice of cronyism is high. It reveals that the indigenous cultures, except for respect for the elderly, relate negatively to employee efficiency, and cronyism strengthens the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence that cronyism effectively strengthens the relationship between indigenous cultures and employee efficiency in a developing country. Strategies to discourage cronyism should be the key focus of public administrators, as well as mechanisms to limit the practice of adverse indigenous cultures.
Methodological fitness-for-purpose in the phygital age: the case of luxury
Authors: Parnwell Michael J.G. , Meng Kelly 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to this special issue on interpretivist research methodologies and the phygital consumerist landscape by exploring some underlying issues within the specific context of luxury consumption. The paper starts with a critique of current research, drawing particular attention to problems of reductionism, poor representativeness and weak contextualisation in research that adopts a positivist epistemology. The paper then highlights some of the contributions that interpretivist scholarship is making, and can potentially make, to our understanding of the experiential and humanistic aspects of luxury consumption, presented in a nuanced, discursive and deeply contextualised manner.

Design/methodology/approach
This commentary is informed by an in-depth examination of the methodology and approach adopted in the 327 most-recently published academic articles on luxury (from late-2021).

Findings
This opinion piece suggests the need for a sea-change in the way that scholars approach luxury research in online, offline and hybrid phygital settings to capture and convey its true complexity, diversity, contingency and contextuality and its emotional and symbolic character, and to help ensure that it delivers findings that are of relevance and value to luxury industry practitioners.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to look comprehensively and critically at the methodological approaches adopted by academics writing in the field of luxury consumption.
Method for manufacturing ergonomic bespoke external breast prostheses using low-cost computer-aided technology
Authors: Regina Lucia , Foggiatto José Aguiomar 
Published: October 2023

Purpose
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the world, and mastectomies to remove tumors are still common. An external breast prosthesis (EBP) can be used to minimize the asymmetry, due to the ablation. Some governments do not cover costs of that assistive technology, and women end up using socks and fabric pockets filled with seeds, to simulate the volume lost in the surgery. This study aims to offer to those women a decent solution, ergonomic, but still affordable.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors interviewed 20 mastectomized Brazilian women, listened to their relate and 3D scanned them, to give rise to personalized external lightweight breast prostheses. The authors used free software for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, and low-cost 3D printers. From the strategy of bespoke products, this study generalized the method, to conceive mass customized prostheses, in a compromise solution that reduces personalization, conserving the best features of design.

Findings
This study achieved a method to manufacture ergonomic, bespoke external breast prostheses, using low-cost technology. Previous literature made them using expensive scanners, software and printers.

Research limitations/implications
The authors validated this method during pandemic, which restricted the number of patients the authors could have access to. This impacted authors’ possibility to work on matching the color of the final product and real skin. The authors understood, though, that precision of color, in the final product, is challenging, because of the peculiar aspects of human skin.

Originality/value
Using the method the authors proposed, personalized external breast prostheses can be manufactured using low-cost resources, democratizing better quality of life for more breast cancer survivors.
Investment decisions and small and medium-sized enterprise indebtedness: Heckman’s two-stage approach
Authors: Qerimi Argjente , Krasniqi Besnik A. , Balaj Driton , Aliu Muhamet , Ahmeti Skender 
Published: October 2023

PurposeInsufficient internal financing capacities and challenges to accessing external finance are crucial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investment and growth. This study aims to investigate how SME leverage of bank financing is related to the investment decision.Design/methodology/approachUsing Heckman’s two-step econometric modelling to correct for sample selection bias, this study investigates the effect of entrepreneur characteristics, firm characteristics and performance on firms’ capital structure choices conditional on new investment decisions.FindingsThe main results reveal that larger firms with growth aspirations tend to make new investments. In the second stage equation, empirical results demonstrate that among SMEs who made a new investment, those SMEs with highly educated owner/managers, on average, use more external financing (i.e. banks loan) rather than internal funds – also, the smaller the company, the less bank leverage. Compared to the limited liability legal form, SMEs registered as individual businesses have less bank financial leverage. These results confirm that internal capacities for funding new investments are limited, and hence small firms must rely on external finance.Originality/valueThis study provides a unique empirical investigation and evidence based on a sample of SMEs in Kosovo. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to empirically analyse investment behaviour in relation to capital structure for SMEs in Kosovo and one of the few, in general, to consider the sample selection bias issues underpinning the other studies in this field. The analysis corrects for sample selection bias, using growth aspiration as an instrumental variable.
The causality between gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis: Insights from a bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wang Danyan , Li Rongqun , Jin Yue , Shen Xiangfeng , Zhuang Aiwen 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe association between gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been reported in the literature; however, whether the two are correlative is unclear.MethodsSingle nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the gut microbiome composition and AS (968 AS cases and 336 191 controls) were obtained from published genome‐wide association studies in this two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. The causal relationship between gut microbiota and AS was estimated using the inverse‐variance weighted method, and the robustness of our findings was confirmed through a comprehensive series of sensitivity analyses.ResultsAnaerotruncus (OR = 0.9984, 95% CI, 0.9968–0.9999, p = .0405) and Ruminococcaceae UCG002 (OR = 0.9989, 95% CI, 0.9979–0.9999, p = .0375) were protective against AS. Defluviitaleaceae (OR = 1.0015, 95% CI, 1.0005–1.0025, p = .0048), Butyricicoccus (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0001–1.0032, p = .0429), Coprococcus 3 (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0000–1.0032, p = .0463), and Defluviitaleaceae UCG011 (OR = 1.0016, 95% CI, 1.0005–1.0027, p = .0041) exhibited significant positive correlations with heightened susceptibility to AS. Reverse MR revealed that AS does not affect the gut microbial composition.ConclusionOur study has established a genetically‐based causal relationship between gut microbiota and AS. This finding suggests that we may be able to target and regulate specific bacterial groups in the gut to prevent and treat AS.
Computed tomography imaging and clinical characteristics of pulmonary ground‐glass nodules ≤2 cm with micropapillary pattern
Authors: Guo Chen‐ran , Xu Lin , Li Xiao , Fu Yi‐lin , Wang Hui , Han Rui , Li Geng‐sheng , Feng Zhen , Li Meng , Ren Wan‐gang , Peng Zhong‐min 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the imaging features, lymph node metastasis, and genetic mutations in micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma (imaging with mixed ground‐glass nodules) ≤2 cm, to provide a more precise and refined basis for the selection of lung segment resection.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 162 patients with surgically resected pathologically confirmed cancers ≤2.0 cm in diameter (50 cases of micropapillary mixed ground‐glass nodules [mGGNs], 50 cases of nonmicropapillary mGGNs, and 62 cases of micropapillary SNs [solid nodules]) was performed. mGGNs were classified into five categories according to imaging features. The distribution of these five morphologies in micropapillary with mGGN and nonmicropapillary with mGGN was analyzed. The postoperative pathology and prognosis of lymph node metastasis were also compared between micropapillary mGGNs and micropapillary with SNs. After searching the TCGA database, we demonstrated heterogeneity, high malignancy and high risk of microcapillary lung cancer cancers.ResultsDifferent pathological subtypes of mGGN differed in morphological features (p < 0.05). The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in micropapillary mGGNs than in nonmicropapillary mGGNs. In the TCGA database samples, lactate transmembrane protein activity, collagen transcription score, and fibroblast EMT score were remarkably higher in micropapillary adenocarcinoma. Other pathological subtypes had a better survival prognosis and longer disease‐free survival compared with micropapillary adenocarcinoma.ConclusionmGGNs ≤2 cm with a micropapillary pattern have a higher risk of lymph node metastasis compared with SNs, and computed tomography (CT) imaging features can assist in their diagnosis.
Comparing abundance estimates of a cryptic carnivore in southern Patagonia using two experimental methods
Authors: Elbroch L. M. , Williams S. H. , Ohrens O. , Pilgrim K. , Moeller A. , Arroyo‐Arce S. , Parker M. , Goic D. , Robinson H. , Schwartz M. K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDetermining the abundance of cryptic carnivores is central to building successful conservation management to mitigate conflicts and support coexistence strategies. For these reasons, there is considerable investment in developing reliable, cost‐effective tools for estimating the abundance of wildlife. Nevertheless, field‐based comparisons of abundance methods remain uncommon, even while essential to refining methods and coming to consensus around best practices. Here, we compare two approaches still being tested in real‐world application for an emblematic puma (Puma concolor) population in the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in southern Chile: (1) the unmarked estimator, space‐to‐event model (STE), which utilizes photographs gathered with camera traps, and (2) the genotype spatial partial identity model (gSPIM), which is an adaptation of the more established spatially explicit genetic capture‐recapture method (SECR) based on genetic data extracted from scats collected in systematic surveys. We show the tremendous variation in resulting STE estimates depending upon the start time of the analysis and length of the sampling window, and showcase a refined iterative sampling approach in a Bayesian framework to both utilize the full camera data and to stabilize density estimates for a given sampling window. Across all sampling, estimates from the STE model ranged from 3.19 (1.6–5.1 representing 10th and 90th percentile of credible intervals) to 7.38 (3.3–11.6) independent pumas 100 km−2. By comparison, our gSPIM model estimated 5.1 independent pumas 100 km−2 (excluding kittens) (with credible intervals of 2.2–10.3). Neither method was compared with any known density to determine their accuracy. Nevertheless, we provide initial density estimates to guide conservation strategies for wildlife agencies and local communities overseeing and hosting nascent puma tourism and livestock ranching, as well as guidelines for the use of these methods for any wildlife species.
Potential for using simulated altitude as a means of prehabilitation: a physiology study
Authors: Brown L. A. , Griffiths J. A. , Santer P. , Jakeman P. M. , Smith T. G. 
Published: October 2023

SummaryThe current pandemic of surgical complications necessitates urgent and pragmatic innovation to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality, which are associated with poor pre‐operative fitness and anaemia. Exercise prehabilitation is a compelling strategy, but it has proven difficult to establish that it improves outcomes either in isolation or as part of a multimodal approach. Simulated altitude exposure improves performance in athletes and offers a novel potential means of improving cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness and alleviating anaemia within the prehabilitation window. We aimed to provide an initial physiological foundation for ‘altitude prehabilitation’ by determining the physiological effects of one week of simulated altitude (FIO2 15%, equivalent to approximately 2438 m (8000 ft)) in older sedentary volunteers. The study used a randomised, double‐blind, sham‐controlled crossover design. Eight participants spent counterbalanced normoxic and hypoxic weeks in a residential hypoxia facility and underwent repeated cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Mean (SD) age of participants was 64 (7) y and they were unfit, with mean (SD) baseline anaerobic threshold 12 (2) ml.kg‐1.min‐1 and mean (SD) peak V̇O2 15 (3) ml.kg‐1.min‐1. Hypoxia was mild (mean (SD) SpO2 93 (2) %, p < 0.001) and well‐tolerated. Despite some indication of greater peak exercise capacity following hypoxia, overall there was no effect of simulated altitude on anaerobic threshold or peak V̇O2. However, hypoxia induced a substantial increase in mean (SD) haemoglobin of 1.5 (2.7) g.dl‐1 (13% increase, p = 0.028). This study has established the concept and feasibility of ‘altitude prehabilitation’ and demonstrated specific potential for improving haematological fitness. Physiologically, there is value in exploring a possible role for simulated altitude in pre‐operative optimisation.
Systematic review: Glycomics as diagnostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Butaye Emma , Somers Nicky , Grossar Lorenz , Pauwels Nele , Lefere Sander , Devisscher Lindsey , Raevens Sarah , Geerts Anja , Meuris Leander , Callewaert Nico , Van Vlierberghe Hans , Verhelst Xavier 
Published: October 2023

SummaryBackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer with one of the highest cancer‐related mortality rates worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving the therapeutic options and reducing the disease‐related mortality.AimTo investigate serum N‐glycomics as diagnostic markers for HCC.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus through August 17, 2023. Eligible studies assessed the potential use of serum N‐glycomics as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.ResultsOf the 48 articles included, 11 evaluated the utility of N‐glycomics for the diagnosis of HCC in whole serum while the remaining articles focused on specific protein glycoforms or protein levels. Of these specific proteins, haptoglobin, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), kininogen (Kin), α‐1‐antitrypsin and Golgi protein 73 (GP73) were the most frequently studied. Increased levels of fucosylation and branching presented as the most prevalent post‐translational modifications of glycoproteins in patients with HCC compared to controls. Notably, glycomics‐based biomarkers may provide a clinical benefit for the diagnosis of early HCC, as several algorithms achieved AUCs between 0.92–0.97. However, these were based on single studies with limited sample sizes and should therefore be validated.ConclusionsAlterations in serum N‐glycomics, characterised by increased levels of fucosylation and branching, have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC. Optimisation of study design, patient selection and analysing techniques are needed before clinical implementation will be possible.
Retrospective cohort study: Effect of age as a barrier to diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis
Authors: Kiran Akshatha , Dellon Evan S. , Reed Craig C. 
Published: October 2023

SummaryBackgroundPrior work suggests eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is rare in those aged over 65 years. However, elderly patients with EoE experience a substantial diagnostic delay from symptom onset to diagnosis.AimsTo assess if age predicted whether oesophageal biopsies were obtained in patients with EoE symptoms, what clinical features predict EoE in the elderly, and if EoE phenotype differs between elderly and non‐elderly patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study utilising the University of North Carolina (UNC) electronic medical record, EoE clinicopathologic database and UNC endoscopy software from July 2008 to April 2021. A sample of 193 elderly and non‐elderly patients with dysphagia, chest pain and/or heartburn were assembled. Patients with EoE were newly diagnosed per contemporaneous guidelines. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and procedural data were extracted. Summary statistics, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsOf 193 patients, we included 91 elderly (47%) and 102 non‐elderly (53%). Age independently predicted the odds of biopsies (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.44 elderly vs. non‐elderly; 95% CI: 0.21–0.92). Endoscopic features of EoE, but not symptoms, were more common in elderly than non‐EoE elderly patients. Elderly patients with EoE differed from non‐elderly only by time to diagnosis (aOR per year of symptoms preceding diagnosis: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.11).ConclusionsElderly patients with EoE have <50% the odds of oesophageal biopsies. There were no significant differences between elderly and non‐elderly EoE patients, although endoscopic features helped discriminate the two groups. Our findings suggest that older age represents a barrier to EoE diagnosis.
Development of T cell receptor‐engineered T cells targeting the sarcoma‐associated antigen papillomavirus binding factor
Authors: Hamada Shuto , Tsukahara Tomohide , Watanabe Yuto , Murata Kenji , Mizue Yuka , Kubo Terufumi , Kanaseki Takayuki , Hirohashi Yoshihiko , Emori Makoto , Nakatsugawa Munehide , Teramoto Atsushi , Yamashita Toshihiko , Torigoe Toshihiko 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe previously identified papillomavirus binding factor (PBF) as an osteosarcoma antigen recognized by an autologous cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone. Vaccination with PBF‐derived peptide presented by HLA‐A24 (PBF peptide) elicited strong immune responses. In the present study, we generated T cell receptor‐engineered T cells (TCR‐T cells) directed against the PBF peptide (PBF TCR‐T cells). PBF TCR was successfully transduced into T cells and detected using HLA‐A*24:02/PBF peptide tetramer. PBF TCR‐T cells generated from a healthy donor were highly expanded and recognized T2‐A24 cells pulsed with PBF peptide, HLA‐A24+ 293T cells transfected with PBF cDNA, and sarcoma cell lines. To establish an adoptive cell therapy model, we modified the PBF TCR by replacing both α and β constant regions with those of mice (hybrid PBF TCR). Hybrid PBF TCR‐T cells also showed reactivity against T2‐A24 cells pulsed with PBF peptide and to HLA‐A24+ 293T cells transfected with various lengths of PBF cDNA including the PBF peptide sequence. Subsequently, we generated target cell lines highly expressing PBF (MFH03‐PBF [short] epitope [+]) containing PBF peptide with in vivo tumorigenicity. Hybrid PBF TCR‐T cells exhibited antitumor effects compared with mock T cells in NSG mice xenografted with MFH03‐PBF (short) epitope (+) cells. CD45+ T cells significantly infiltrated xenografted tumors only in the hybrid PBF TCR T cell group and most of these cells were CD8‐positive. CD8+ T cells also showed Ki‐67 expression and surrounded the CD8‐negative tumor cells expressing Ki‐67. These findings suggest that PBF TCR‐T cell therapy might be a candidate immunotherapy for sarcoma highly expressing PBF.