bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycoplasma genitaliumincidence, persistence, concordance between partners and progression: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cina Manuel , Baumann Lukas , Egli-Gany Dianne , Halbeisen Florian S , Ali Hammad , Scott Pippa , Low Nicola
Published: August 2018

Background

Mycoplasma genitaliumis increasingly seen as an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen, and has been likened toChlamydia trachomatis, but its natural history is poorly understood. The objectives of this systematic review were to determineM. genitaliumincidence, persistence, concordance between sexual partners, and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Methods

We searched Medline, EMBASE, LILACS, IndMed and African Index Medicus from 1 January 1981 until 17 March 2018. Two independent researchers screened studies for inclusion and extracted data. We examined results in forest plots, assessed heterogeneity and conducted meta-analysis where appropriate. Risk of bias was assessed for all studies.

Results

We screened 4634 records and included 17 studies; five (4100 women) reported on incidence, five (636 women) on persistence, 10 (1346 women and men) on concordance and three (5139 women) on PID. Incidence in women in two very highly developed countries was 1.07 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 0.61 to 1.53, I2 0%). Median persistence ofM. genitaliumwas estimated from one to three months in four studies but 15 months in one study. In ten studies measuringM. genitaliuminfection status in couples, 39-50% of male or female sexual partners of infected participants also hadM. genitaliumdetected. In prospective studies, the incidence of PID was higher in women withM. genitaliumthan those without (RR 1.68, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.77, I20%, 2 studies).

Discussion

Based on findings from this and our linked review of prevalence, concordantM. genitaliummight be less common than forC. trachomatisand the age distributions of the infections differ. The synthesised data about prevalence, incidence and persistence ofM. genitaliuminfection are inconsistent. Taken together with evidence about antimicrobial resistance in the two infections,M. genitaliumis not the new chlamydia.

Registration Numbers

PROSPERO: CRD42015020420, CRD42015020405

KEY MESSAGES

There are calls for widespread screening forMycoplasma genitalium, but the natural history of this emerging sexually transmitted pathogen is poorly understood.

M. genitaliumincidence was 1.07 (95% confidence intervals, CI 0.61 to 1.53) per 100-person years in women in highly developed countries, 39-50% of infected individuals had a heterosexual partner withM. genitaliumand the risk ratio for pelvic inflammatory disease was 1.68 (95% CI 0.59 to 2.77).

The duration of untreatedM. genitaliuminfection is probably longer than persistent detection ofM. genitalium, as measured in most cohort studies, in which inadvertent treatment cannot be ruled out.

The results of this systematic review and other evidence sources show important differences in the epidemiology and dynamics ofM. genitaliumandChlamydia trachomatisinfection.
Self-organization controls expression more than abundance of molecular components of transcription and translation in confined cell-free gene expression
Authors: Caveney P.M. , Dabbs R. , Chauhan G. , Norred S.E. , Collier C.P. , Abel S.M. , Simpson M.L.
Published: August 2018

Cell-free gene expression using purified components or cell extracts has become an important platform for synthetic biology that is finding a growing numBer of practical applications. Unfortunately, at cell-relevant reactor volumes, cell-free expression suffers from excessive variability (noise) such that protein concentrations may vary by more than an order of magnitude across a population of identically constructed reaction chambers. Consensus opinion holds that variability in expression is due to the stochastic distribution of expression resources (DNA, RNAP, ribosomes, etc.) across the population of reaction chambers. In contrast, here we find that chamber-to-chamber variation in the expression efficiency generates the large variability in protein production. Through analysis and modeling, we show that chambers self-organize into expression centers that control expression efficiency. Chambers that organize into many centers, each having relatively few expression resources, exhibit high expression efficiency. Conversely, chambers that organize into just a few centers where each center has an abundance of resources, exhibit low expression efficiency. A particularly surprising finding is that diluting expression resources reduces the chamber-to-chamber variation in protein production. Chambers with dilute pools of expression resources exhibit higher expression efficiency and lower expression noise than those with more concentrated expression resources. In addition to demonstrating the means to tune expression noise, these results demonstrate that in cell-free systems, self-organization may exert even more influence over expression than the abundance of the molecular components of transcription and translation. These observations in cell-free platform may elucidate how self-organized, membrane-less structures emerge and function in cells.
Nucl2Vec : Local alignment of DNA sequences using Distributed Vector Representation
Authors: Ganesh Prakhar , Gupta Gaurav , Saini Shubhi , Paul Kolin
Published: August 2018

The Next Generation Sequencing Technique (NGS) has provided affordable and fast method for generating genetic data. Generation of whole Genome Sequence and extract relevant information from this data is still a computationally expensive process. In this paper we demonstrate a novel approach for local alignment of DNA reads with respect to reference genome. For this process we have used Skip-gram model for creating encoding(Nucl2Vec) and k-nearest neighbor for the alignment. With our new approach we have reduced computation cost for local alignment, while achieving accuracy comparable to existing defacto standard BWA-MEM tool.

Index Terms

Genome, Alignment, Local Alignment, k-nearest Neighbor, Distributed vector representation, Skip-gram
Homozygous TRPV4 mutation causes congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy and arthrogryposis
Authors: Velilla Jose , Marchetti Michael Mario , Toth-Petroczy Agnes , Grosgogeat Claire , Bennett Alexis H , Carmichael Nikkola , Estrella Elicia , Darras Basil T. ,   Brigham Genomic Medicine, Frank Natasha Y , Krier Joel , Gaudet Rachelle , Gupta Vandana A.
Published: August 2018

Objective

The objective of this study is to identify the genetic cause of disease in a congenital form of congenital spinal muscular atrophy and arthrogryposis (CSMAA).

Methods

A 2-year-old boy was diagnosed with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, severe skeletal abnormalities, torticollis, vocal cord paralysis and diminished lower limb movement. Whole exome sequencing was performed on the proband and family members. In silico modeling of protein structure and heterologous protein expression and cytotoxicity assays were performed to validate pathogenicity of the identified variant.

Results

Whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous mutation in the TRPV4 gene (c.281C>T; p.S94L). The identification of a recessive mutation in TRPV4 extends the spectrum of mutations in recessive forms of the TRPV4-associated disease. p.S94L and other previously identified TRPV4 variants in different protein domains were compared in structural modeling and functional studies. In silico structural modeling suggests that the p.S94L mutation is in the disordered N-terminal region proximal to important regulatory binding sites for phosphoinositides and for PACSIN3, which could lead to alterations in trafficking and/or channel sensitivity. Functional studies by western blot and immunohistochemical analysis show that p.S94L reduces TRPV4 protein stability because of increased cytotoxicity and therefore involves a gain-of-function mechanism.

Conclusion

This study identifies a novel homozygous mutation in TRPV4 as a cause of the recessive form of congenital spinal muscular atrophy and arthrogryposis.
Proton co-transport and voltage dependence enforce unidirectional metal transport in an Nramp transporter
Authors: Bozzi Aaron T. , Bane Lukas B. , Zimanyi Christina M. , Gaudet Rachelle
Published: August 2018

Secondary transporters harness electrochemical energy to move substrate through structurally-enforced co-substrate “coupling”. We untangle the “proton-metal coupling” behavior by a Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (Nramp) transporter into two distinct phenomena: ΔpH stimulation of metal transport and metal stimulation of proton co-transport. Surprisingly, metal type dictates co-transport stoichiometry, leading to manganese-proton symport but cadmium uniport. Additionally, the membrane potential affects both the kinetics and thermodynamics of metal transport. A conserved salt-bridge network near the metal-binding site imparts voltage dependence and enables proton co-transport, properties that allow this Nramp transporter to maximize metal uptake and prevent deleterious back-transport of acquired metals. We provide a new mechanistic model for Nramp metal-proton symport in which, in addition to substrate gradients determining directionality as in canonical secondary transport, synergy between protein structure and physiological voltage enforces unidirectional substrate movement. Our results illustrate a functional advantage that arises from deviations from the traditional model of symport.
Estimation of Rearrangement Break Rates Across the Genome
Authors: Hann-Soden Christopher , Holmes Ian , Taylor John W.
Published: August 2018

Genomic rearrangements provide an important source of novel functions by recombining genes and motifs throughout and between genomes. However, understanding how rearrangement functions to shape genomes is hard because reconstructing rearrangements is a combinatoric problem which often has many solutions. In lieu of reconstructing the history of rearrangements, we answer the question of where rearrangements are occurring in the genome by remaining agnostic to the types of rearrangement and solving the simpler problem of estimating the rate at which double-strand breaks occur at every site in a genome. We phrase this problem in graph theoretic terms and find that it is a special case of the minimum cover problem for an interval graph. We employ and modify existing algorithms for efficiently solving this problem. We implement this method as a Python program, named BRAG, and use it to estimate the break rates in the genome of the model Ascomycete mold,Neurospora crassa. We find evidence that rearrangements are more common in the subtelomeric regions of the chromosomes, which facilitates the evolution of novel genes.
Avian diet and foraging ecology constrain foreign egg recognition and rejection
Authors: Luro Alec B. , Hauber Mark E.
Published: August 2018

Egg rejection is the most common defense against avian brood parasitism in which the host either removes the parasitic egg or deserts the parasitized clutch. The ability to recognize and reject a parasitic egg depends on bill morphology, sensory systems, and cognition, all of which are also shaped by other selective processes, such as foraging. This begs the question whether specific phenotypes associated with different foraging strategies and diets may constrain or facilitate egg recognition and rejection. Here, we propose a novel hypothesis that host species phenotypes related to foraging ecology and diet impose morphological and sensory constraints on the evolution of egg rejection. We conducted a comparative analysis of the adult diets and egg rejection rates of 165 current host and non-host species and found species that consume an animal and fruit dominated diet rather than seeds and grains, forage arboreally rather than aerially, and possess relatively larger body sizes have significantly higher egg rejection rates. As predicted, these results suggest that phenotypes related to specific diets and foraging strategies may differentially constrain or facilitate evolution of host egg rejection defenses against avian brood parasitism.
Deformation microscopy for dynamic intracellular and intranuclear mapping of mechanics with high spatiotemporal resolution
Authors: Ghosh Soham , Seelbinder Benjamin , Henderson Jonathan T. , Watts Ryan D. , Veress Alexander I. , Neu Corey P.
Published: August 2018

Structural heterogeneity is a hallmark of living cells and nuclei that drives local mechanical properties and dynamic cellular responses, including adhesion, gene expression, and differentiation. However, robust quantification of intracellular or intranuclear mechanics are lacking from conventional methods. Here, we describe new development of deformation microscopy that leverages conventional imaging and an automated hyperelastic warping algorithm to investigate strain history, deformation dynamics, and changes in structural heterogeneity within the interior of cells and nuclei. Using deformation microscopy, we found that tensile loading modes dominated intranuclear architectural dynamics in cardiomyocytes in vitro or myocytes in vivo, which was compromised by disruption of LINC complex molecule nesprin-3 or Lamin A/C, respectively. We also found that cells cultured on stiff substrates or in hyperosmotic conditions displayed abnormal strain burden and asymmetries compared to controls at interchromatin regions where active translation was expected. Deformation microscopy represents a foundational approach toward intracellular elastography, with potential utility to provide new mechanistic and quantitative insights in diverse mechanobiological applications.
Silk assembly integrates cells into a 3D fibrillar network that promotes cell spreading and proliferation
Authors: Johansson Ulrika , Widhe Mona , Shalaly Nancy Dekki , Arregui Irene Linares , Nilebäck Linnea , Tasiopoulos Christos Panagiotis , Åstrand Carolina , Berggren Per-Olof , Gasser Christian , Hedhammar My
Published: August 2018

Tissues are built of cells integrated in an extracellular matrix (ECM) which provides a three-dimensional (3D) fibrillar network with specific sites for cell anchorage. By genetic engineering, motifs from the ECM can be functionally fused to recombinant silk proteins. Such a silk protein, FN-silk, which harbours a motif from fibronectin, has the ability to self-assemble into fibrillar networks under physiological-like conditions. Herein we describe a method by which mammalian cells are added to the silk solution before assembly, and thereby get uniformly integrated between the formed fibrils. In the resulting 3D scaffold, the cells proliferate and spread out with tissue-like morphology. Elongated cells containing filamentous actin and defined focal adhesion points confirm proper cell attachment to the FN-silk. The cells remain viable in culture for at least 90 days. The method is also scalable to macro-sized 3D cultures. Silk fibers with integrated cells are both strong and extendable, with mechanical properties similar to that of artery walls. The described method enables both differentiation of stem- or precursor cells in 3D and facile co-culture of several different cell types. We show that inclusion of endothelial cells leads to the formation of vessel-like structures throughout the tissue constructs. Hence, silk-assembly in presence of cells constitutes a viable option for 3D culture of cells integrated in a fibrillary ECM-like network, with potential as base for engineering of functional tissue.
Paranoid schizophrenia and methamphetamine-induced paranoia are both characterized by a similar LINE-1 partial methylation profile, which is more pronounced in paranoid schizophrenia
Authors: Kalayasiri Rasmon , Kraijak Korakot , Mutirangura Apiwat , Maes Michael
Published: August 2018

Background

There is evidence that schizophrenia is a neuro-immune disorder. Genes linked to intragenic LINE-1 methylation show a strong association with immune-associated disorders including psychosis. The aim of this study was to examine LINE-1 methylation patterns in paranoid schizophrenia and methamphetamine-induced paranoia, a model for schizophrenia.

Methods

This study recruited 31 patients with paranoid schizophrenia, 94 with methamphetamine-induced paranoia (MIP) and 163 normal controls. LINE-1 methylation patterns were assayed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a combined bisulphite restriction analysis and COBRA were used to estimate global methylation (mC) and LINE-1 CpG dinucleotide methylation patterns, namely 2 methylated (mCmC) and 2 unmethylated (uCuC) CpGs and the partially methylated loci mCuC (5’m with 3’u) and uCmC (5’u with 3’m).

Results

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia show highly significant changes in LINE-1 partial methylation patterns, namely a higher % mCuC and lower % uCmC as compared with controls and MIP patients, while the latter show higher % mCuC but lower % uCmC as compared with controls. Higher % mCuC significantly predicts paranoid schizophrenia with a sensitivity of 51.6%, specificity of 97.5% and an area under the ROC curve of 0.895.

Conclusions

The results indicate that a common dysfunction in LINE-1 partial methylation may underpin both paranoid schizophrenia and MIP and that this methylation pattern is significantly more expressed in paranoid schizophrenia than MIP. Reciprocal links between impairments in LINE-1 methylation and neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative pathways may underpin the pathophysiology of both MIP and paranoid schizophrenia.
In vivo function of the lipid raft protein Flotillin 1 during CD8+ T cell-mediated host surveillance
Authors: Ficht Xenia , Ruef Nora , Stolp Bettina , Moalli Federica , Page Nicolas , Merkler Doron , Nichols Ben J. , Diz-Muñoz Alba , Niggli Verena , Stein Jens V.
Published: August 2018

Flotillin-1 (Flot1) is a highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed lipid raft-associated scaffolding protein. Migration of Flot1-deficient neutrophils is impaired due to a decrease in myosin II-mediated contractility. Flot1 also accumulates in the uropod of polarized T cells, suggesting an analogous role in T cell migration. Here, we analyzed morphology and migration of naïve and memory WT and Flot1-/- CD8+ T cells in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues with intravital two-photon microscopy, as well as their clonal expansion during antiviral immune responses. Flot1-/- CD8+ T cells displayed minor alterations in cell shape and motility parameters in vivo but showed comparable homing to lymphoid organs and infiltration into non-lymphoid tissues. Taken together, Flot1 plays a detectable but unexpectedly minor role for CD8+ T cell behavior under physiological conditions.
Neighbor signals perceived by phytochrome B increase thermotolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Arico Denise , Legris Martina , Castro Luciana , Garcia Carlos Fernando , Laino Aldana , Casal Jorge , Mazzella Maria Agustina
Published: August 2018

Due to the preeminence of reductionist approaches, our understanding of plant responses to combined stresses is limited. We speculated that light-quality signals of neighboring vegetation might increase susceptibility to heat shocks because shade reduces tissue temperature and hence the likeness of heat shocks. In contrast, plants ofArabidopsis thalianagrown under low red / far-red ratios typical of shade were less damaged by heat stress than plants grown under simulated sunlight. Shade reduces the activity of phytochrome B (phyB) and thephyBmutant showed high tolerance to heat stress even under simulated sunlight. The enhanced heat tolerance under low red / far-red ratios failed in a multiple mutant of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs. ThephyBmutant showed reduced expression of several fatty acid desaturase (FAD) genes, proportion of fully unsaturated fatty acids and electrolyte leakage of membranes exposed to a heat shock. Activation of phyB by red light also reduced thermotolerance of dark-grown (etiolated) seedlings but not via changes inFADgene expression and membrane stability. We propose that the reduced photosynthetic capacity linked to thermotolerant membranes would be less costly under shade, where the light input itself limits photosynthesis.
Inpatient mobility to predict hospital-onset Clostridium difficile: a network approach
Authors: Bush Kristen , Barbosa Hugo , Farooq Samir , Weisenthal Samuel J. , Trayhan Melissa , White Robert J. , Ghoshal Gourab , Zand Martin S.
Published: August 2018

With hospital-onset Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) still a common occurrence in the U.S., this paper examines the relationship between unit-wide CDI susceptibility and inpatient mobility and creates a predictive measure of CDI called “Contagion Centrality”. A mobility network was constructed using two years of patient electronic health record (EHR) data within a 739-bed hospital (Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014; n=72,636 admissions). Network centrality measures were calculated for each hospital unit (node) providing clinical context for each in terms of patient transfers between units (edges). Daily unit-wide CDI susceptibility scores were calculated using logistic regression and compared to network centrality measures to determine the relationship between unit CDI susceptibility and patient mobility. Closeness centrality was a statistically significant measure associated with unit susceptibility (p-value < 0.05), highlighting the importance of incoming patient mobility in CDI prevention at the unit-level. Contagion Centrality (CC) was calculated using incoming inpatient transfer rates, unit-wide susceptibility of CDI, and current hospital CDI infections. This measure is statistically significant (p-value <0.05) with our outcome of hospital-onset CDI cases, and captures the additional opportunities for transmission associated with inpatient transfers. We have used this analysis to create an easily interpretable and informative clinical tool showing this relationship and risk of hospital-onset CDI in real-time. Quantifying and visualizing the combination of inpatient transfers, unit-wide risk, and current infections help identify hospital units at risk of developing a CDI outbreak, and thus provide clinicians and infection prevention staff with advanced warning and specific location data to concentrate prevention efforts.
MBP-binding DARPins facilitate the crystallization of an MBP fusion protein
Authors: Gumpena Rajesh , Lountos George T. , Waugh David S.
Published: August 2018

The production of high-quality crystals is the main bottleneck in determining the structures of proteins using X-ray crystallography. In addition to being recognized as a very effective solubility-enhancing fusion partner,Escherichia colimaltose-binding protein (MBP) has also been successfully employed as a `fixed-arm' crystallization chaperone in more than 100 cases. Here, it is reported that designed ankyrin-repeat proteins (DARPins) that bind with high affinity to MBP can promote the crystallization of an MBP fusion protein when the fusion protein alone fails to produce diffraction-quality crystals. As a proof of principle, three different co-crystal structures of MBP fused to the catalytic domain of human dual-specificity phosphatase 1 in complex with DARPins are reported.
Structural model of perishable food supply chain quality (PFSCQ) to improve sustainable organizational performance
Authors: Siddh Man Mohan , Soni Gunjan , Jain Rakesh , Sharma Milind Kumar
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of perishable food supply chain quality (PFSCQ) and to suggest a structural model that counts the influence of PFSCQ practices on organizational sustainable performance.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of comprehensive literature review, PFSCQ highly significant practices were examined and designated. These practices were classified into four dimensions: upstream quality (supplier quality), downstream quality (customer focus), internal quality (process and logistics quality) and support practices (top management leadership and commitment to quality, quality of human resource, quality of information and supply chain integration). The measurement instrument of organizational sustainable performance was also build on, containing three aspects: economic, environmental and social performance.

Findings

An inventive conceptual model that specifies a comprehensive image cover up core dimensions of PFSCQ and various aspects of organizational sustainable performance was suggested. This conceptual model can be used as “a directive” for theory developing and measurement instrument development of PFSCQ practices and organizational sustainable performance. More prominently, on the road to achieving additional insight, an extensive structural model that makes out direct and indirect relationships between PFSCQ practices and organizational sustainable performance was also developed. Practitioners can apply this model as “a path plan” for implementing PFSCQ practices to improve organizational sustainable performance.

Originality/value

The integration of quality and supply chain even now remains inadequate in the literature. Consequently, it is required to have a more focused approach in assessing quality issues inside the upstream, internal and downstream of the supply chain. This study concentrates on the practices which make better quality aspects of the supply chain, known as PFSCQ practices. Suggested research models in this paper contribute to conceptual frameworks for theory building in PFSCQ and sustainable organizational performance. It is also expected that this research can suggest a useful direction for determining and implementing PFSCQ practices as well as make possible further studies in this arena.
Investigating the impact of hard total quality management practices on operational performance in manufacturing organizations
Authors: Saleh Rawan Ali , Sweis Rateb J. , Mahmoud Saleh Firas Izzat
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of hard total quality management (TQM) practices on operational performance dimensions in manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was designed in the Jordanian manufacturing sector. Organizations that are familiar with hard TQM practices specifically that had already implemented ISO 9001 certificate were randomly surveyed through structured questionnaire, yielded a sample of 40 responding organizations. Principal component factor analysis was used to analyze hard TQM practices implementation and organizations operational performance dimensions. As a result, specific hard TQM practices and operational performance dimensions were extracted. The hard TQM practices that significantly influence operational performance dimensions were tested using simple and multiple linear regression analysis.

Findings

The research findings showed that hard TQM practices in manufacturing sector include; continuous improvement, statistical process control (SPC), process management and quality tools and techniques. Meanwhile, operational performance dimensions include; quality and inventory management performance. Also, the findings showed that continuous improvement and SPC practices play a major role in obtaining the desired results of operational performance.

Research limitations/implications

Three limitations can be identified in this research, using subjective measures of TQM practices and operational performance, low response rate and using a sample of organizations from various industries. This paper can help Jordanian manufacturing organizations to foster proper practices and make the right decisions related to operational performance.

Originality/value

This study describes a reliable hard TQM model that can be used by manufacturing organizations to improve their operational performance. Also, the results of this study contribute to prior literature and recommend some best practices for manufacturing organizations.
Efficiency and internal benchmark on an armament company
Authors: de Souza Ibere Guarani , Lacerda Daniel Pacheco , Camargo Luis Felipe Riehs , Dresch Aline , Piran Fabio Antonio Sartori
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the productive efficiency and the best operational practices in an armaments manufacturer.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal case study is performed using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Using DEA, an assessment of six years in the company manufacturing process is conducted. The research aims at developing an internal benchmark on three production lines of the company.

Findings

The results show that only one of the three analyzed production lines increased efficiency over time. With this result, the most efficient production line may be used as a reference in relation to the best operational practices of the company. Moreover, it was found that the current indicators to evaluate efficiency are insufficient and may lead to wrong management decisions.

Practical implications

This research could allow a larger understanding of the factors that really contribute to increased operational efficiency. This is due to internal benchmark assist in the identification of the best practices. The identification of best practices can contribute to enhance the efficiency of inefficient operations without the need for external comparisons.

Originality/value

DEA contributes due to its robustness, for the evaluation of productive efficiency. One of the contributions of this study is to identify opportunities for improvement in key components of the operation through targets, internal benchmarking and robust assessment of productive efficiency.
Logical foundations of hierarchical model checking
Authors: Kamide Norihiro
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop new simple logics and translations for hierarchical model checking. Hierarchical model checking is a model-checking paradigm that can appropriately verify systems with hierarchical information and structures.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, logics and translations for hierarchical model checking are developed based on linear-time temporal logic (LTL), computation-tree logic (CTL) and full computation-tree logic (CTL*). A sequential linear-time temporal logic (sLTL), a sequential computation-tree logic (sCTL), and a sequential full computation-tree logic (sCTL*), which can suitably represent hierarchical information and structures, are developed by extending LTL, CTL and CTL*, respectively. Translations from sLTL, sCTL and sCTL* into LTL, CTL and CTL*, respectively, are defined, and theorems for embedding sLTL, sCTL and sCTL* into LTL, CTL and CTL*, respectively, are proved using these translations.

Findings

These embedding theorems allow us to reuse the standard LTL-, CTL-, and CTL*-based model-checking algorithms to verify hierarchical systems that are modeled and specified by sLTL, sCTL and sCTL*.

Originality/value

The new logics sLTL, sCTL and sCTL* and their translations are developed, and some illustrative examples of hierarchical model checking are presented based on these logics and translations.
What have we learned? Themes from the literature on organizational culture in family firms
Authors: Tipu Syed Awais Ahmad
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to review the important themes in the literature on organizational culture (OC) in family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The review of the current literature is organized around three themes: nature of OC in family firms, antecedents of OC in family firms and outcomes of OC in family firms. The discussion on each theme is followed by the suggested pointers for future research.

Findings

Much is known about the identified three themes in the literature on OC in family firms. However, the current review also highlights the limitations of the available literature. With regard to the nature of OC, some inconsistent findings are reported in the literature with regard to the types of prevailing OC in family firms. The literature also reveals a range of positive outcomes of OC. Significantly less research examines the influence of environmental factors and other moderators of OC. Given the focus of the current literature on developed countries, there is a need of more comparative studies in emerging as well as developing countries to understand how contextual factors affect OC in family business settings.

Originality/value

For each theme, the suggested pointers for future research serve as a springboard for future research and improve the theoretical understanding of OC in family firms.
Disposal and reuse of the information technology waste: a case study in a Brazilian university
Authors: Alves Davis Souza , Farina Milton Carlos
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that define the management practices of a center of electrical and electronic waste and of reuse of equipment aiming to contribute to the sustainable development. It is known that the effort to achieve the green IT, including recycling and sustainable disposability of equipment does not follow the same pace as industry production.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the existing sustainable development, on the computer equipment and its composition and in the disposal of electronic waste as literature of orientation. The center for disposal and reuse of the information technology waste from a Brazilian university was approached by the methodology of qualitative case study.

Findings

The research revealed some findings related to the concepts of integrated waste management, product life cycle assessment, stakeholder involvement and inventory and information system of electrical and electronic equipment.

Research limitations/implications

The research involved the analysis of documents and the website of the center and the technician responsible for the center was interviewed. The results can contribute as a benchmark for other universities and organizations who intend to create or implement a center for collection and recycling of computer equipment.

Practical/implications

The paper shows the importance of communication and relationship between the center and the units of the university and with the stakeholders related to the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management.

Originality/value

The study has its focus on a more comprehensive WEEE approach that shows insights that can be used or adapted to any university or even companies.
Design management as dynamic capabilities: a historiographical analysis
Authors: Santos Renato dos , Bueno Eduardo Veiga , Kato Heitor Takashi , Corrêa Rúbia Oliveira
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This study aims to analyse design management as a dynamic capability.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a systematic review with paper searches conducted on the ISI Web of Science database’s Social Sciences Citation Index, complemented by a historiographical analysis developed using the HistCite software.

Findings

The analysis of paper allowed for the identification of three processes that, if integrated, construct design management as a dynamic capability, namely, design learning, design coordination and design skills. Design learning corresponds to the skill of acquiring and absorbing knowledge and practices and spreading them throughout the whole organisation, and design coordination corresponds to the capability to coordinate the activities and practices that are necessary for good design. Finally, design skills comprise a set of techniques and knowledge that generate synergy, creativity and innovation.

Practical implications

This perspective suggests a new concept of design management that allows organisations to achieve a competitive advantage in environments of rapid technological change.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on design management as a dynamic capability. Another contribution is that design management presents itself as an important dynamic that is capable of creating and maintaining a competitive edge through its potential to generate innovation and creativity and to make firms more flexible and dynamic.
Performative narrative and actor-network theory – a study of a hotel in administration
Authors: Vickers David Andrew , Moore Alice , Vickers Louise
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This study aims to weave together narrative analysis (hereinafter NA) and Actor-Network Theory (hereinafter ANT), in order to address recent calls for performative studies to combine approaches and specifically to use ANT. Particularly, they address how a conflicting narrative is mobilised through a network of internal–external and human–nonhuman actors.

Design/methodology/approach

A fragment of data, generated from a longitudinal case study, is explored using NA and ANT in combination.

Findings

By engaging with ANT’s rejection of dualisms (i.e. human–nonhuman and micro–macro) and its approach to relationality, the authors inform NA and performative studies. They also add to the limited literature addressing how conflicting antenarratives are mobilised and shape the organisation’s trajectory.

Research limitations/implications

Generalizing from a single case study is problematic, although transferability is possible. Generalisability could be achievable through multiple performative studies.

Practical/implications

By demonstrating how counter networks form and antenarrative is constructed to supplant hegemonic narrative, the authors are able to problematise the taken for granted and highlight the possibilities offered by divergent voices.

Originality/value

The performation provides a deeper understanding of organisational performance through our NA-ANT combination, and the authors provide insight into the mobilisation of conflicting narratives in organisation studies.
Adapting warehouse operations and design to omni-channel logistics
Authors: Kembro Joakim Hans , Norrman Andreas , Eriksson Ebba
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how warehouse operations and design are affected by the move toward integrated omni-channels.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review is conducted to identify and categorize themes in multi- and omni-channel logistics, and to discuss how aspects related to these themes impact and pose contingencies for warehouse operations and design.

Findings

The review revealed a lack of focus on warehouse operations and design in multi- and omni-channels. Instead, most articles published in scientific journals discuss changes in consumer demand and implications for the network level, concerning aspects such as the organization and management of material and information flows, inventory management, resources, actors and relationships. Ten themes in omni-channel logistics were identified and grouped into two categories: the value proposition and channel management; and the physical distribution network design. The themes and related aspects have implications for warehousing, and by combining these with general warehousing knowledge, the authors derive a comprehensive and structured agenda is derived to guide future research on omni-channel warehousing.

Research limitations/implications

This paper outlines a research agenda, including detailed research questions, for advancing the theory on warehouse operations and design in omni-channels.

Practical implications

The agenda can inspire practitioners in their work to understand the upcoming challenges and address relevant issues in omni-channel warehousing, taking into consideration its interdependence with value proposition, channel management and network decisions.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive review focusing on and synthesizing available literature on omni-channel warehousing. This topic has until now received limited coverage but is of increasing importance to scholars in the field.
Acceptance and use of mobile banking: an application of UTAUT2
Authors: Owusu Kwateng Kwame , Osei Atiemo Kenneth Afo , Appiah Charity
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Mobile banking (m-banking) can be defined as a service offered by a bank or any other financial institution that allows the customers of such establishments to carry out a variety of banking operations via a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, tablet or personal digital assistant. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that influence customers to adopt and subsequently use m-banking services in Ghana using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) model with age, educational level, user experience and gender as moderators.

Design/methodology/approach

Using questionnaire survey, the study sampled 300 users of m-banking services in Ghana as respondents. The primary data collected were analyzed using SmartPLS software.

Findings

Findings of the study indicate that Habit, Price Value and Trust are the main factors influencing adoption and use of m-banking in Ghana. Individual differences of gender, age, educational level and user experience responded differently as they moderate the relationship between UTAUT2 constructs and use bahaviour. The applicability of UTAUT2 model was confirmed in the context of the research.

Practical implications

M-banking is a new phenomenon in Ghana’s financial industry, thus it is imperative to understanding the customer adoption behavior. The outcome will aid financial institutions to develop strategies that will sustain the interest of consumers to embrace m-banking.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first ever known attempts to examine m-banking adoption in Ghana using UTAUT2 model.
The mediating effect of lean management on the relationship between flexibility implementation and operational metrics in US automotive manufacturing plants
Authors: EL-Khalil Raed
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the mediating effect of lean management (LM) dimensions on the relationship between flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) dimensions and operational performance metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was developed based on previous literature and interviews conducted at the automotive facilities visited that identified 28 lean dimensions, 15 flexibility dimensions and 8 operational performance metrics. The survey was presented to 175 North American automotive manufacturing managers through interviews conducted at 64 automotive facilities. A total of 164 usable responses were studied.

Findings

Lean and FMS are multi-dimensional philosophies, the results demonstrate that the automotive industry in North America has implemented many dimensions of both philosophies. Each dimension is categorized based on specific organizational metrics. The 64 facilities studied use common dimensions identified by this study for lean and flexibility. Data analysis indicates a direct link between lean, flexibility and operational metrics. It shows that LM plays a critical role in improving the impact of flexibility on performance metrics. The results also indicate that specific lean and FMS dimensions or categories have higher significant roles than others in the relationship between LM, FMS and operational performance metrics.

Research limitations/implications

Since the sample size only considered automotive manufacturing facilities, the results need to be considered with caution.

Originality/value

This research empirically develops a framework linking FMS and LM to operational performance metrics. This research addresses an area within which there is little consensus on the relationship between LM, FMS and their impact on operational performance metrics. The study is unique due to the depth and breadth of the investigation that far exceeds previous literature conducted. In addition, this research highlights the LM and FMS practices on which managers should focus on when attempting to improve operational performance metrics at their facility.
Google as a political subject: the right to be forgotten debate 2014-2016
Authors: Lindsköld Linnéa
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create knowledge on how Google and Google search are discursively constructed as a political subject suitable or not suitable for governing in the debate regarding the Right to be Forgotten ruling (RTBF).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 28 texts are analysed using a Foucauldian discourse analysis focussing on political problematisations in the media and in blogs.

Findings

Google is conceptualised as a commercial company, a neutral facilitator of the world and as a judge of character. The discourse makes visible Google’s power over knowledge production. The individual being searched is constructed as a political object that is either guilty or innocent, invoking morality as a part of the policy. The ruling is framed as giving individuals power over companies, but the power still lies within Google’s technical framework.

Originality/value

The ruling opens up an empirical possibility to critically examine Google. The value of the study is the combination of focus on Google as a political subject and the individual being searched to understand how Google is constructed in the discourse.
Do corporate websites’ changes reflect firms’ survival?
Authors: Blazquez Desamparados , Domenech Josep , Debón Ana
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze to what extent changes in corporate websites reflect firms’ survival. Since keeping a website online involves some costs, it is likely that firms would invest resources on it only when they are active and healthy. Therefore, when a firm dies, this event is likely to be manifested on its website as lacking updates or being down.

Design/methodology/approach

Changes in the corporate websites of a panel of Spanish firms were tracked between 2008 and 2014 in order to evaluate the approach. The status of websites, classified according to the type of change undergone, was used to infer firms’ activity status (active or inactive). Multi-period logistic regressions and a duration model were applied to study the relationship among the website status and the firm’s status.

Findings

Results showed that changes in website contents clearly reflect the firm’s status. Active firms were mainly associated with updated corporate websites, while inactive firms were more associated with down websites. In fact, results confirmed that the firms’ death hazard increases when the website activity lowers.

Originality/value

Although online information is increasingly being used to monitor the economy, this is the first study to connect online data to firms’ survival. The results revealed a new source of information about business demography and evidenced corporate websites as a fresh source of high granularity business data.