bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a large-scale flow manipulation to the upper San Francisco Estuary: Response of habitat conditions for an endangered native fish
Authors: Sommer Ted , Hartman Rosemary , Koller Michal , Koohafkan Michael , Conrad J. Louise , MacWilliams Michael , Bever Aaron , Burdi Christina , Beakes Michael P.
Published: June 2020

While flow is known to be a major driver of estuarine ecosystems, targeted flow manipulations are rare because tidal systems are extremely variable in space and time, and because the necessary infrastructure is rarely available. In summer 2018 we used a unique water control structure in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) to direct a managed flow pulse into Suisun Marsh, one of the largest contiguous tidal marshes on the west coast of the United States. The action was designed to increase habitat suitability for the endangered Delta SmeltHypomesus transpacificus, a small osmerid fish endemic to the upper SFE. The approach was to operate the Suisun Marsh Salinity Control Gates (SMSCG) in conjunction with increased Sacramento River tributary inflow to direct an estimated 160 × 106m3pulse of low salinity water into Suisun Marsh during August, a critical time period for juvenile Delta Smelt rearing. Three-dimensional modeling showed that directing additional low salinity water into Suisun Marsh (“Flow Action”) substantially increased the area of low salinity habitat for Delta Smelt that persisted beyond the period of SMSCG operations. Field monitoring showed that turbidity and chlorophyll were at higher levels in Suisun Marsh, representing better habitat conditions, than the upstream Sacramento River region throughout the study period. The Flow Action had no substantial effects on zooplankton abundance, nor did Suisun Marsh show enhanced levels of these prey species in comparison to the Sacramento River. Fish monitoring data suggested that small numbers of Delta Smelt colonized Suisun Marsh from the Sacramento River during the Flow Action, further supporting our hypothesis that the Flow Action would benefit this rare species. Our study provides insight into both the potential use of targeted flow manipulations to support endangered fishes such as Delta Smelt, and into the general response of estuarine habitat to flow management.
Competition and growth inAedes aegyptilarvae: effects of distributing food inputs over time
Authors: Steinwascher Kurt
Published: June 2020

Male and female mosquito larvae compete for different subsets of the yeast food resource in laboratory microcosms. Males compete more intensely with males and females with females. The amount and timing of food inputs alters both growth and competition, but the effects are different between sexes. Increased density increases competition among males. Among females, density operates primarily by changing the food/larva or total food; this affects competition in some interactions and growth in others. Food added earlier in the life span contributes more to mass than the same quantity added later. After a period of starvation larvae appear to use some of the subsequent food input to rebuild physiological reserves in addition to building mass. The timing of pupation is affected by the independent factors and competition, but not in the same way for the two sexes, and not in the same way as mass at pupation for the two sexes. There is an effect of density on the timing of pupation for females independent of competition or changes in food/larva or total food. Male and female larvae have different larval life history strategies. Males grow quickly to a minimum size, then pupate, depending on the amount of food available. Males that do not grow quickly enough may delay pupation further to grow larger, resulting in a bimodal distribution of sizes and ages. Males appear to have a maximum size determined by the early food level. Females grow faster than males and grow larger than males on the same food inputs. Females affect the growth and competition among males by manipulating the number of particles in the microcosm through changes in feeding behavior. Mosquito larvae appear to have evolved to survive periods of starvation and take advantage of intermittent inputs of food into containers.
Development of an absolute assignment predictor for triple-negative breast cancer subtyping using machine learning approaches
Authors: Azzouz Fadoua Ben , Michel Bertrand , Lasla Hamza , Gouraud Wilfried , François Anne-Flore , Girka Fabien , Lecointre Théo , Guérin-Charbonnel Catherine , Juin Philippe P. , Campone Mario , Jézéquel Pascal
Published: June 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) heterogeneity represents one of the main impediment to precision medicine for this disease. Recent concordant transcriptomics studies have shown that TNBC could be splitted into at least three subtypes with potential therapeutic implications. Although, a few studies have been done to predictTNBC subtypeby means oftranscriptomics data, subtyping was partially sensitive and limited by batch effect and dependence to a given dataset, which may penalize the switch to routine diagnostic testing. Therefore, we sought to build an absolute predictor (i.e. intra-patient diagnosis) based onmachine learningalgorithm with a limited number of probes. To this end, we started by introducing probe binary comparison for each patient (indicators). We based predictive analysis on this transformed data. Probe selection was first performed by combining both filter and wrapper methods forvariable selectionusing cross validation. We thus tested threeprediction models(random forest, gradient boosting [GB] and extreme gradient boosting) using this optimal subset of indicators as inputs. Nested cross-validation allowed us to consistently choose the best model. Results showed that the 50 selected indicators highlighted biological characteristics associated with each TNBC subtype. The GB based on this subset of indicators has better performances as compared to the other models.
Neutralizing effects of small molecule inhibitors and metal chelators on coagulopathicViperinaesnake venom toxins
Authors: Xie Chunfang , Albulescu Laura , Bittenbinder Matyas A , Somsen Govert , Vonk Freek , Casewell Nicholas R , Kool Jeroen
Published: June 2020

Animal-derived antivenoms are the only specific therapies currently available for the treatment of snake envenoming, but these products have a number of limitations associated with their efficacy, safety and affordability for use in tropical snakebite victims. Small molecule drugs and drug candidates are regarded as promising alternatives for filling the critical therapeutic gap between snake envenoming and effective treatment. In this study, by using an advanced analytical technique that combines chromatography, mass spectrometry and bioassaying, we investigated the effect of several small molecule inhibitors that target phospholipase A2(varespladib) and snake venom metalloproteinase (marimastat, dimercaprol and DMPS) toxin families on inhibiting the activities of coagulopathic toxins found inViperinaesnake venoms. The venoms ofEchis carinatus, Echis ocellatus, Daboia russeliiandBitis arietans, which are known for their potent coagulopathic toxicities, were fractionated in high resolution onto 384-well plates using liquid chromatography followed by coagulopathic bioassaying of the obtained fractions. Bioassay activities were correlated to parallel recorded mass spectrometric and proteomics data to assign the venom toxins responsible for coagulopathic activity and assess which of these toxins could be neutralized by the inhibitors under investigation. Our results showed that the phospholipase A2-inhibitor varespladib neutralized the vast majority of anticoagulation activities found across all of the tested snake venoms. Of the snake venom metalloproteinase inhibitors, marimastat demonstrated impressive neutralization of the procoagulation activities detected in all of the tested venoms, whereas dimercaprol and DMPS could only partially neutralize these activities at the doses tested. Our results provide additional support for the concept that combination of small molecules, particularly the combination of varespladib with marimastat, serve as a drug-repurposing opportunity to develop new broad-spectrum inhibitor-based therapies for snakebite envenoming.
Neural signatures of arbitration between Pavlovian and instrumental action selection
Authors: Gershman Samuel J. , Guitart-Masip Marc , Cavanagh James F.
Published: June 2020

Pavlovian associations drive approach towards reward-predictive cues, and avoidance of punishment-predictive cues. These associations “misbehave” when they conflict with correct instrumental behavior. This raises the question of how Pavlovian and instrumental influences on behavior are arbitrated. We test a computational theory according to which Pavlovian influence will be stronger when inferred controllability of outcomes is low. Using a model-based analysis of a Go/NoGo task with human subjects, we show that theta-band oscillatory power in frontal cortex tracks inferred controllability, and that these inferences predict Pavlovian action biases. Functional MRI data revealed an inferior frontal gyrus correlate of action probability and a ventromedial prefrontal correlate of outcome valence, both of which were modulated by inferred controllability.
Optimizing the molecular diagnosis of Covid-19 by combining RT-PCR and a pseudo-convolutional machine learning approach to characterize virus DNA sequences
Authors: Gomes Juliana Carneiro , Masood Aras Ismael , de S. Silva Leandro Honorato , Ferreira Janderson , Júnior Agostinho A. F. , dos Santos Rocha Allana Lais , Castro Letícia , da Silva Nathália R. C. , Fernandes Bruno J. T. , dos Santos Wellington Pinheiro
Published: June 2020

The proliferation of the SARS-Cov-2 virus to the whole world caused more than 250,000 deaths worldwide and over 4 million confirmed cases. The severity of Covid-19, the exponential rate at which the virus proliferates, and the rapid exhaustion of the public health resources are critical factors. The RT-PCR with virus DNA identification is still the benchmark Covid-19 diagnosis method. In this work we propose a new technique for representing DNA sequences: they are divided into smaller sequences with overlap in a pseudo-convolutional approach, and represented by co-occurrence matrices. This technique analyzes the DNA sequences obtained by the RT-PCR method, eliminating sequence alignment. Through the proposed method, it is possible to identify virus sequences from a large database: 347,363 virus DNA sequences from 24 virus families and SARS-Cov-2. Experiments with all 24 virus families and SARS-Cov-2 (multi-class scenario) resulted 0.822222±0.05613 for sensitivity and 0.99974±0.00001 for specificity using Random Forests with 100 trees and 30% overlap. When we compared SARS-Cov-2 with similar-symptoms virus families, we got 0.97059±0.03387 for sensitivity, and 0.99187±0.00046 for specificity with MLP classifier and 30% overlap. In the real test scenario, in which SARS-Cov-2 is compared to Coronaviridae and healthy human DNA sequences, we got 0.98824±001198 for sensitivity and 0.99860±0.00020 for specificity with MLP and 50% overlap. Therefore, the molecular diagnosis of Covid-19 can be optimized by combining RT-PCR and our pseudo-convolutional method to identify SARS-Cov-2 DNA sequences faster with higher specificity and sensitivity.
Molecular Determinants of Liquid Demixing and Amyloidogenesis in Human CPEB3
Authors: de Mingo Daniel Ramírez , López-García Paula , Hervás Rubén , Laurents Douglas V. , Carrión-Vázquez Mariano
Published: June 2020

The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3), is an RNA-binding protein which in its soluble state is localized in membraneless neuronal RNA granules keeping target mRNAs in a repressed state. The stimulus-dependent aggregation of CPEB3 activates target mRNAs translation, a central event for the maintenance of long-term memory-related synaptic plasticity in mammals. To date, the molecular determinants that govern both connected events remain unclear. Here, to gain insight into these processes, the biophysical properties of the human CPEB3 (hCPEB3) are characterized. We found that hCPEB3 homotypic condensation is mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions and occurs under physiological conditions. Moreover, hCPEB3 biomolecular condensates are dynamic inside living cells, whose localization and stabilization are mediated by its RNA-recognition domains. In contrast, the hCPEB3 polar N-terminal region is crucial for hCPEB3 amyloid-like aggregationin vitro, which is disrupted by the polyglutamine binding peptide 1 (QBP1), Aβ42seeds and Hsp70, highlighting the importance of the Q4RQ4tract as well as the hydrophobic residues for hCPEB3 functional aggregation. Based on these findings, we postulate a model for hCPEB3’s role in memory persistence that advances a rather sophisticated control for hCPEB3 condensate dissociation and amyloid-like formation to achieve its physiological function.

Highlights

hCPEB3 forms toxic intermediates that persist longer than in other functional amyloids.

RNA-recognition domains stabilize hCPEB3 granule formation and dynamics.

Different segments within hCPEB3 promote amyloidogenesis and liquid demixing.

hCPEB3 amyloid formation requires both hydrophobic and polyQ segments.

Graphical Abstract
Implications for tetraspanin-enriched microdomain assembly based on structures of CD9 with EWI-F
Authors: Oosterheert Wout , Xenaki Katerina T. , Neviani Viviana , Pos Wouter , Doulkeridou Sofia , Manshande Jip , Pearce Nicholas M. , Kroon-Batenburg Loes M. J. , Lutz Martin , van Bergen en Henegouwen Paul M. P. , Gros Piet
Published: June 2020

Tetraspanins are ubiquitous eukaryotic membrane proteins that contribute to a variety of signaling processes by spatially organizing partner-receptor molecules in the plasma membrane. How tetraspanins bind and cluster partner receptors into so-called tetraspanin-enriched microdomains is unknown. Here we present crystal structures of the large extracellular loop of CD9 in complex with nanobodies 4C8 and 4E8; and, the cryo-EM structure of 4C8-bound CD9 in complex with its prototypical partner EWI-F. The CD9 - EWI-F complex displays a tetrameric arrangement with two centrally positioned EWI-F molecules, dimerized through their ectodomains, and two CD9 molecules, one bound to each EWI-F single-pass transmembrane helix through CD9-helices h3 and h4. In the crystal structures, nanobodies 4C8 and 4E8 bind CD9 at the C and D loop, in agreement with 4C8 binding at the ends of the CD9 - EWI-F cryo-EM complex. Overall, the 4C8 - CD9 - EWI-F - EWI-F - CD9 - 4C8 complexes varied from nearly two-fold symmetric (i.e. with the two CD9 - 4C8 copies in nearly anti-parallel orientation) to ca. 50° bent arrangements. Since membrane helices h1 and h2 and the EC2 D-loop have been previously identified as sites for tetraspanin homo-dimerization, the observed linear but flexible arrangement of CD9 - EWI-F with potential CD9 - CD9 homo-dimerization at either end provides a new ‘concatenation model’ for forming short linear or circular assemblies, which may explain the occurrence of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains.
An alpaca nanobody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by blocking receptor interaction
Authors: Hanke Leo , Perez Laura Vidakovics , Sheward Daniel J. , Das Hrishikesh , Schulte Tim , Moliner-Morro Ainhoa , Corcoran Martin , Achour Adnane , Hedestam Gunilla B. Karlsson , Hällberg B. Martin , Murrell Ben , McInerney Gerald M.
Published: June 2020

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiologic agent of COVID-19, currently causing a devastating pandemic for which pharmacological interventions are urgently needed. The virus enters host cells through an interaction between the spike glycoprotein and the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Directly preventing this interaction presents an attractive possibility for suppressing SARS-CoV-2 replication. Here we report the isolation and characterization of an alpaca-derived single domain antibody fragment, Ty1, that specifically targets the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike, directly preventing ACE2 engagement. The nanobody binds with high affinity in the low nM range to the RBD, occluding ACE2. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of the bound complex at 2.9 Å resolution reveals that Ty1 binds to an epitope on the RBD accessible in both the ‘up’ and ‘down’ conformations and that Ty1 sterically hinders RBD-ACE2 binding. This 12.8 kDa nanobody does not need an Fc domain to neutralize SARS-CoV-2, and can be expressed in high quantities in bacteria, presenting opportunities for manufacturing at scale. Ty1 is therefore an excellent candidate as an intervention against COVID-19.
A Rab Escort Protein Regulates the MAPK Pathway That Controls Filamentous Growth in Yeast
Authors: Jamalzadeh Sheida , Cullen Paul J.
Published: June 2020

MAPK pathways regulate different responses yet can share a subset of common components. In this study, a genome-wide screen was performed to identify genes that, when overexpressed, induce a growth reporter (FUS1-HIS3) that responds to ERK-type MAPK pathways (Mating/filamentous growth or fMAPK) but not p38-type MAPK pathways (HOG) in yeast. Approximately 4,500 plasmids overexpressing individual yeast genes were introduced into strains containing theFUS1-HIS3reporter by high-throughput transformation. Candidate genes were identified by measuring the degree of growth, which was a reflection of reporter activity. Of fourteen genes identified and validated by re-testing, two were metabolic controls (HIS3andATR1), five had established roles in regulating ERK-type pathways (STE4, STE7, BMH1, BMH2, MIG2) and seven represent potentially new regulators of MAPK signaling (RRN6, CIN5, MRS6, KAR2, TFA1, RSC3, RGT2).MRS6encodes a Rab escort protein and effector of the TOR pathway that plays an established role in nutrient signaling.MRS6overexpression stimulated filamentous/invasive growth and phosphorylation of the ERK-type fMAPK, Kss1. Overexpression ofMRS6reduced the osmotolerance of cells and phosphorylation of the p38/HOG pathway MAPK, Hog1. Mrs6 interacted with the PAK kinase Ste20 and MAPKK Ste7 by two-hybrid analysis. Collectively, the data indicate that Mrs6 may function to selectively propagate an ERK-dependent signal. Generally speaking, the identification of new MAPK pathway regulators by genetic screening in yeast may be a useful resource for understanding signaling pathway regulation.
STAT3 Serine phosphorylation is required for TLR4 metabolic reprogramming and IL-1β expression
Authors: Balic Jesse , Albargy Hassan , Luu Kevin , Kirby Francis J , Jayasekara W. Samantha N. , Mansell Finbar , Gamara Daniel J , De Nardo Dominic , Baschuk Nikola , Louis Cynthia , Humphries Fiachra , Fitzgerald Katherine , Latz Eicke , Gough Daniel J , Mansell Ashley
Published: June 2020

Detection of microbial components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expressed on macrophages induces a robust pro-inflammatory response which has recently been shown to be dependent on metabolic reprogramming1, 2, 3, 4. These innate metabolic changes have been compared to the Warburg effect (also known as aerobic glycolysis) described in tumour cells5, 6. However, the mechanisms by which TLR4 activation leads to mitochondrial and glycolytic reprogramming remain unknown. Here we show that TLR4 activation induces a signalling cascade recruiting TRAF6 and TBK-1, while TBK-1 phosphorylates STAT3 on S727. Using a genetically engineered mouse model incapable of undergoing STAT3 Ser727 phosphorylation, we show bothex vivoandin vivothat STAT3 Ser727 phosphorylation is critical for LPS-induced glycolytic reprogramming, the production of the central immune-metabolite succinate and inflammatory cytokine production in a model of LPS-induced inflammation. Our study identifies non-canonical STAT3 activation as the crucial signalling intermediary for TLR4-induced glycolysis, macrophage metabolic reprogramming and inflammation.
How antiporters exchange substrates across the cell membrane? An atomic-level description of the complete exchange cycle in NarK
Authors: Feng Jiangyan , Selvam Balaji , Shukla Diwakar
Published: June 2020

Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) proteins operate via three different mechanisms: uniport, symport, and antiport. Despite extensive investigations, molecular understanding of antiporters is less advanced than other transporters due to the complex coupling between two substrates and the lack of distinct structures. We employ extensive (~300 μs) all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to dissect the complete substrate exchange cycle of the bacterial antiporter, NarK. We show that paired basic residues in the binding site prevent the closure of unbound protein and ensure the exchange of two substrates. Conformational transition only occurs in the presence of substrate, which weakens the electrostatic repulsion and stabilizes the transporter by ~1.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol. Furthermore, we propose a state-dependent substrate exchange model, in which the relative spacing between the paired basic residues determines whether and bind simultaneously or sequentially. Overall, this work presents a general working model for the antiport mechanism within MFS family.
Experimental study of wake steadiness of an airfoil in pitch–hold–return motion
Authors: Masdari Mehran , Ghorbani Maryam , Tabrizian Arshia
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze experimentally subsonic wake of a supercritical airfoil undergoing a pitch–hold–return motion. The focus of the investigation has been narrowed to concentrate on the steadiness of the flow field in the wake of the airfoil and the role of reduced frequency, amplitude and the hold phase duration.

Design/methodology/approach

All experiments were conducted in a low sub-sonic closed-circuit wind tunnel, at a Reynolds number of approximately 600,000. The model was a supercritical airfoil having 10% thickness and wall-to-wall in ground test facilities. To calculate the velocity distribution in the wake of the airfoil, total and static pressures were recorded at a distance of one chord far from the trailing edge, using pressure devices. The reduced frequency was set at 0.012, 0.03 and the motion pivot was selected at c/4.

Findings

Analysis of the steadiness of the wake flow field ascertains that an increase in reduced frequency leads to further flow time lag in the hold phase whereas decreases the time that the wake remains steady after the start of the return portion. Also, the roles of amplitude and stall condition are examined.

Practical implications

Examination of a pitch–hold–return motion is substantial in assessment of aerodynamics of maneuvers with a rapid increase in angle of attack. Moreover, study of aerodynamic behavior of downstream flow field and its steadiness in the wake of the airfoil is vital in drag reduction and control of flapping wings, dynamic stability and control of aircrafts.

Originality/value

In the present study, to discuss the steadiness of the flow field behind the airfoil some statistical methods and concept of histogram using an automatic algorithm were used and a specific criterion to characterize the steadiness of flow field was achieved.
Evolution of financial inclusion in Latin America
Authors: Martinez Lisana B. , Scherger Valeria , Guercio M. Belén , Orazi Sofía
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper analyses the evolution of the financial inclusion and its main determinants in seven Latin American countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The database used is the Global Findex from the World Bank for the latest data released that includes the years 2011 and 2014. The variables used are formal financial accounts, formal savings and formal credit as proxies of financial inclusion for the years of study. Moreover, the use of debit and credit cards is considered. The methodologies applied are the mean difference tests, in order to contrast the hypotheses of the inclusion evolution and binary probit regressions models.

Findings

The results of the analysis show that there is a positive evolution in the use of financial instruments in the countries of the sample, especially in the use of formal accounts. On the other hand, considering the characteristics of the individuals, age, level of education and income positively affect their financial inclusion.

Originality/value

There are no similar works for the region of study that allow us to evaluate the evolution of financial inclusion considering the variables selected in the literature. It is possible to clearly fulfil the proposed objective, highlighting the importance of implementing financial inclusion policies in view of the low percentage of use of the instruments in the analyzed countries.
As you sow, so shall you reap: finding customer-based outcomes of socially responsible coffee cafés
Authors: Ahmed Ishfaq , Islam Talat , Abdul Rasid Siti Zaleha , Anwar Farooq , Khalid Arooj
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In the realm of increased competition among coffee café, the need for customer citizenship behavior (CCB) has increased. But the question of how a café can win CCB through firm-level and individual dispositional factors have not been gained due attention. Against this backdrop, this study aims to investigate a moderated-mediation model to predict CCB through CSR, affective commitment and service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 797 coffee café visitors between April–June 2019. The respondents were approached through a convenience sampling technique.

Findings

Using both Structural Equation Modeling and Hayes Macros, data analysis proved that CSR significantly predicts affective commitment and CCB. Moreover, it is also witnessed that the presence of high service quality strengthens the mediation mechanism; thus, a moderated-mediation model is supported.

Research limitations/implications

The study is cross-sectional, although the design did not cause a common method variance. The model tested in the study offers a novel mechanism explaining the linking between CSR and CCB through affective commitment and service quality. The findings are useful for the management of café as the large sample size may offer generalizable results.

Originality/value

The study offers a novel way of predicting CCB, the desired customer behavior in the present competitive environment in the coffee market. The usefulness of the findings for management is yet another contribution offered by this study.
Receptacle interacts with consumers’ need for touch to influence tea-drinking experience
Authors: Wang Chujun , Peng Yubin , Spence Charles , Wan Xiaoang
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate how the material properties of the tea-drinking receptacle interact with a participant's motivation and preference for extracting and using information obtained via haptic perception, namely the need for touch (NFT), to influence his or her tea-drinking experience.

Design/methodology/approach

72 blindfolded participants were instructed to sample room temperature tea beverages served in a cup that was made of ceramic, glass, paper or plastic. They were then asked to rate how familiar they were with the taste of the beverage, to rate how pleasant the taste was and to specify how much they would like to pay for it (i.e. willingness-to-pay ratings).

Findings

The material of the receptacles used to serve the tea exerted a significant influence over the pleasantness ratings of the tea and interacted with the participants' NFT, exerting a significant influence over their willingness to pay for the tea. Specifically, high-NFT participants were willing to pay significantly more for the same cup of tea when it was served in a ceramic cup rather than in a paper cup, whereas the low-NFT participants' willingness to pay for the tea was unaffected by the material of the receptacles.

Originality/value

Our findings suggest that consumers may not be equally susceptible to the influence of the receptacle in which tea, or any other beverage, is served. Our findings also demonstrate how the physical properties of a receptacle interact with a consumer's motivation and preference to influence his or her behavior in the marketplace.
A product-technology portfolio alignment approach for food industry: a multi-criteria decision making with z-numbers
Authors: Garousi Mokhtarzadeh Nima , Amoozad Mahdiraji Hannan , Jafari-Sadeghi Vahid , Soltani Arash , Abbasi Kamardi AliAsghar
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To design a novel hybrid approach to illustrate a reciprocal alignment to integrate future products and technologies. This mixed qualitative-quantitative method aims to optimize the final product portfolio and production technologies alignment in the food industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A list of products and technologies is extracted and evaluated by experts employing Market Attractiveness and Ease of Implementations Matrix (MA-EI) for products and attractiveness and technological Capability Matrix (A-C) for technologies. Weights of high-scored alternatives are attained applying the Z-number extension of Best Worst Method (ZBWM). After the product-technology matrix is formed and the alignment scores of each pair are determined by experts. Subsequently, final scores are computed, and a framework is proposed by electing high-ranked products and technology of each cluster to form the aligned product and technology portfolios of a food and hygiene industry company.

Findings

By employing an uncertain multicriteria decision-making approach besides product and technology matrices in a food industry corporation, among 40 technology and product, 13 products by 6 technologies are proposed. Thus, only six technology are necessary to manufacture the highly important and effective products.

Originality/value

The combination of product and technology analysis matrixes with an uncertain decision-making approach is considered as a novel approach in this research. Moreover, the distinctness between the present study and other researches is the concurrent unified aspect of product portfolio and technology optimization and its implementation in the planning discussion, especially in the food industry.
High pressure processing of apple juice: the most effective parameters to inactivate pathogens of reference
Authors: Rodrigues Petrus Rodrigo , Joseph Churey John , William Worobo Randy
Published: June 2020

Purpose

High-acid liquid foods are a substrate in which foodborne pathogens can maintain their viability. In this research an experimental design was conducted to optimize the parameters for high pressure processing (HPP) of apple juice (pH 3.76).

Design/methodology/approach

Juice was inoculated with cocktails of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Pressures ranging from 139 to 561 MPa and dwell times between 39 and 181 s were challenged.

Findings

Pressures above 400 MPa achieved a greater than 5-log reduction in all pathogen cocktails regardless of the dwell time. L. monocytogenes was more sensitive to HPP at a pressure of 350 MPa and dwell times equal to or beyond 110 s. E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica exhibited similar resistance; the number of log reductions in the central point (350 MPa/110 s) ranged from 2.2 to 3.7. The first-order mathematical model better fitted experimental data for E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica. In regard to L. monocytogenes, the second-order model better fitted this pathogen's reduction.

Practical implications

Fruit juices are usually high pressure processed at approximately 600 MPa. For pathogenic reduction, the use of milder parameters may save energy and maintenance costs. The results herein exhibited could assist the apple juice industry with more effective applications of HPP.

Originality/value

The findings of this study demonstrate that relatively moderate pressures can be successfully used to assure the safety of apple juice.
A simulation model for managing customer waiting time in restaurants: scenarios and beyond
Authors: Tasar Bahar , Ventura Keti , Cicekli Ural Gokay
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of capacity decisions regarding the number of servers/chefs and tables on identifying a change in the number of wait-related anxious customers, customer losses and customers served to meet the waiting time standards of an actual upscale restaurant.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a simulation model to present the consequences of restaurant capacity decisions based on waiting time standards. Arena Simulation Software, licensed by Rockwell Automation, was used for modeling and identifying distributions of the data set provided by the restaurant. An experiment was designed for an upscale restaurant with existing five servers/chefs and 50 tables by changing these resources to measure the changes in customers' wait-related anxiety and other service performance indicators.

Findings

The results showed that an additional server/chef on weekends decreases the daily average number of anxious customers by nearly 33% and increases the daily average number of customers served by nearly 3% and has a little positive effect of decreasing customer losses. Table insertion for high- and low-requested seating areas had an only positive effect on decreasing customer losses.

Originality/value

In this study, the service capacity is dependent on waiting time, and it is addressed to study the relationship with customers' wait-related anxiety, which is a subjective metric. This study developed a point of view for identifying anxious customers whose waiting times are much longer than their cooking and delivery duration expectations regarding their meal preferences in the cooking stage and waiting experiences in the service entry.
An assessment of e-book collection development practices among Romance language librarians
Authors: Reyes Betsaida M. , Devlin Frances A.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the collection development practices regarding e-books among librarians who manage French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (Romance) materials. The authors aim to describe factors that influence acquisition of e-books for Romance language collections to confirm librarians’ perception that humanities researchers prefer print and library administrators’ attitudes toward e-books.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data using a mixed-method approach of a survey and focus groups.

Findings

This study confirms that user preference is the primary consideration of Romance librarians in selecting e-books. Contrary to librarians’ perceptions, this study found that humanities faculty and students are not averse to using e-books for specific purposes such as searching, targeted reading and course materials. While restrictions on lending e-books are a concern, Romance librarians are focused primarily on serving the needs of their core constituencies.

Research limitations/implications

The practice of adding call numbers to individual e-books varies among institutions. Individual e-book titles in large packages do not necessarily get added to the catalog, thus making it very difficult to compare e-book collections between institutions.

Originality/value

This study endeavors to unify the anecdotal narratives and factors that influence the acquisition of e-books by Romance librarians.
Responsibilities and accountabilities for industrial facility commissioning and startup activities
Authors: O'Connor James T. , Mock Brant
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Successful commissioning and startup (CSU) is critical to successful capital project completion. Industrial facility production and operations can also be affected by the level of CSU success. Specifically, transitions between construction, commissioning and startup (CCSU) phases, as well as between project organizations, have been identified as an opportunity for improvement across the industry. The purpose of this paper is to establish and clarify CCSU accountabilities and responsibilities for industrial-type capital projects across these transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a panel of industry practitioners to assist with data collection, review research products and provide industry perspective. The authors used the insight of these CCSU experts to craft new CCSU models. A separate set of industry practitioners was used to validate the findings, and an illustrative case study is also provided. Descriptive analyses and statistics aid the interpretation of research findings.

Findings

Substantial research findings include: three novel CCSU project delivery models, a comprehensive CCSU activity flowchart applicable across industrial sectors, and an extensive CCSU RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed) matrix detailing responsibility and accountability assignments across 60 project functions for all of the 124 CCSU flowchart activities. Four key leadership functions are found to be accountable for most of the CCSU process. A need for frontloading CCSU activities during construction is clearly demonstrated, and the value of administrative activities as enablers of core CCSU activities should not be underestimated.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to a more accurate model of CCSU execution best practices for industrial applications. Specifically, CCSU project delivery models give insight into high-level transition structures between organizations and across phases.

Practical implications

The extensive listing of CCSU activities along with suggested accountability and responsibility assignments for each activity give CCSU managers a starting point for ensuring that important tasks are not left undone during this critical phase of capital projects.

Originality/value

New CCSU models for industrial capital projects presented in this paper (including CCSU project delivery models, activity flowchart and RACI matrix) constitute substantial contributions to the industrial construction body of knowledge. These models provide more comprehensive coverage of CCSU topics than their predecessors, and specifically address activities and issues pertinent to industrial construction. The establishment and clarification of responsibility and accountability assignments are of particular value during this high-transition stage of capital projects.
Impact of safety management system on safety performance: the mediating role of safety responsibility
Authors: Tong Ruipeng , Zhang Na , Wang Xiaolong , Zhao Hui
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Safety management system (SMS) has been widely adopted to explore its influence on safety performance (SP). However, most existing researches recognized SMS as a one-dimension structure and neglected the influences of its subdimensions. Similarly, the impact of safety responsibility (SR) on SP received little attention. This study aims to explore the relationship between subdimensions of SMS and SP, while incorporating the mediating effect of SR.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data were gathered from safety management evaluation report of a large real estate enterprise in China during 2010–2017. This paper carries out a series of data analyses to explore the impact of SMS and SR on SP. In order to analyze the synergistic impacts of SMS and SR on SP, path analysis, correlation analysis and mediation analysis were conducted using hypotheses concerning with the main subdimensions.

Findings

The results indicated SMS and SR decreased the project risk level and improved SP of real estate projects. Furthermore, the effect of SR partially mediated the relationship between the SMS and SP.

Practical implications

Findings in this research contribute to improve SP in real estate industry as well as other industries by the active assumption of SR and the successful implementation of SMS.

Originality/value

This research shows the relationship between subdimensions of SMS and SP and the mediating role of SR on SMS–SP relationship to improve SP in real estate industry.
Treatment cost of HIV/AIDS in Turkey
Authors: Özkaya Hakan , Balcı Nehir , Özkan Özdemir Hülya , Demirdal Tuna , Tosun Selma , Köse Şükran , Yapar Nur
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to estimate the average cost of treatment and investigate the related parameters of HIV/AIDS among patients based on their annual treatment regime during the 2017 in Izmir.

Design/methodology/approach

The average annual direct cost of an HIV patient's treatment was estimated for 2017 at four university hospitals in a retrospective study in Izmir, Turkey. Inclusion criteria included confirmed HIV infection, age = 18 years, visited one of the hospitals at least three times a year and with at least one CD4+ T cell count. The average annual treatment cost per patient was calculated using accounting data for 527 patients from the hospitals' electronic databases.

Findings

The mean treatment cost per patient was US$4,381.93. Costs for treatment and care were statistically significantly higher (US$5,970.55) for patients with CD4+ T cell counts of fewer than 200 cells/mm3 than for other patients with CD4+ T cell counts above 200 cells/mm3. The mean treatment cost for patients who were 50 years old or older (US$4,904.24) was statistically significantly higher than for those younger than 50 years (US$4,216.10). The mean treatment cost for female patients (US$4,624.92) was higher than that of male patients ($US4,339.72), although the difference was not statistically significant. The main cost driver was antiretroviral treatment (US$3,852.38 per patient), accounting for almost 88% of all costs. However, the high burden of antiretroviral treatment cost is counterbalanced by relatively low care and hospitalization costs in Turkey.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by providing average annual treatment cost of an HIV-infected patient in Turkey by using a comprehensive bottom up approach. Moreover, cost drivers of HIV treatment are investigated.
An exploration of gender and workplace bullying in New Zealand
Authors: Gardner Dianne , Roche Maree , Bentley Tim , Cooper-Thomas Helena , Catley Bevan , Teo Stephen , Trenberth Linda
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Workplace bullying involves a power imbalance, and despite laws in New Zealand which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender, women remain under-represented in top-level roles. The aim of the study was to examine whether gender and role (managerial/non-managerial) were related to the bullying experienced by women and men.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey collected data from 991 (41%) men and 1,421 (59%) women. The survey provided a definition of bullying and asked participants whether they had been bullied at work. If they replied yes, then follow-up questions asked for the gender and role of the perpetrator.

Findings

Women were more likely than men to self-identify as having been bullied. Male employers, senior managers, middle managers, supervisor and peers bullied men and women about equally, whereas women bullied women far more than they bullied men. The largest group of bullies of women were female peers, who rarely bullied male peers, while male peers bullied both genders about equally. Female clients bullied female staff but almost never male staff; male clients bullied both men and women but the numbers were small.

Research limitations/implications

These data relied on self-report, and people may be reluctant to identify themselves as targets or may not recognize that the negative behaviours they have been facing amount to bullying. Qualitative data can help explore these issues from societal, organizational and policy perspectives.

Practical implications

While men and women may differ in how often they recognize or admit to having been bullied, the gendered nature of power in the workplace is well established and reinforced in the findings here. It is clear that organizational leaders, both male and female, need to understand gender and power imbalance and act as role models. Currently, the authors’ findings show that the behaviour of at least some of those at the top of New Zealand organizations needs to improve.

Social implications

The problem of bullying at work will not be easy to solve. The solutions lie, not with “fixing” individuals via training, stress management and well-being programmes but with effective systems, procedures, policies and leadership that recognize the power dynamics at work.

Originality/value

Little is known at present about the relationships between gender and bullying behaviour. The paper focusses on who bullies whom in the workplace and finds that men tend to bully both men and women while women tend to bully women. Importantly, the authors’ works suggest that instead of structural and organizational measures to manage bullying, greater initiatives to manage bullying need to consider how gender and power dynamics interact at work.
The listening hermeneutic of public servants: building on the implicit
Authors: Elias Maria Veronica , Piccorelli Justin T.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of phenomenological or attuned listening and explore its implications for deliberative governance. Drawing on examples from urban planning and city administration, we make a case for listening as a hermeneutic phenomenological practice of crucial importance for public organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This research relies on interpretive phenomenology, critical reflection, and political theory. Through the examination of case studies, we show that attuned or phenomenological listening contributes to greater participatory processes in organizations and to democratic governance processes, more generally.

Findings

By enhancing both collaborative endeavors and discretionary action, phenomenological listening acknowledges the unpredictable, dynamic and political aspects of organizations. Finally, it helps transform the latter into spaces where democratic and accountable action can take place.

Practical implications

This perspective encourages public deliberation and attentive listening for practitioners to make decisions on the spot that are sensitive to people’s needs.

Originality/value

Embodied and attuned listening fosters reflection-in-action, as well as a reasoned pathway toward public accountability and deliberative democracy.
Methodology for wear mapping error quantification
Authors: Cousseau Tiago , Passos Adriano Gonçalves
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to quantify the error on wear volume evaluation using optical interferometry with image analysis (OI+IA), to establish a lower threshold for wear mapping in practical applications.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional surface wear map is quantified by measuring the same area of a surface before and after a wear process using optical interferometry. Then, by subtracting the matching images, the wear map (volume of wear) is obtained. To access the error related to wear mapping, the difference between several consecutive measurements of the same unworn surface was performed and deeply investigated.

Findings

The paper shows that the difference between two consecutive measurements of the same unworn surface, which ideally should be zero, is not. Thus, the magnitude of this “wear map” is the error. The main causes of such uncertainties are because of sample motion in a subpixel scale; a combination between surface roughness with the selected resolution; and numerical errors on the relocation process that is used to match the surfaces before subtracting them.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology allows one to define the lower threshold for wear map analysis using OI+IA. To know the limitation of OI+IA for wear mapping prevents misevaluation of the so-called almost-zero-wear.

Originality/value

This paper covers and identifies main uncertainties and numerical errors related to optical interferometry assisted by image analysis for wear mapping. Several other papers deal with uncertainties of OI; however, this paper proposes a simple methodology to evaluate the lower threshold for wear mapping.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2019-0354