bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Susceptibility of novel Italian rice varieties to panicle blast under field conditions
Authors: Mongiano Gabriele , Titone Patrizia , Bregaglio Simone , Tamborini Luigi
Published: April 2020

A panel of 48 of Italian rice varieties recently included in the Common Catalogue of Agricultural Species was evaluated for susceptibility to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzaeB. Couch) in open field conditions. Trials were performed under highly favourable conditions for the pathogen, and visual assessments focused on the severity and incidence of panicle blast symptoms. Only 8% of newly released varieties were classified as resistant, whereas 40% were highly susceptible. Our results confirmed that a fungicide treatment with tricyclazole reduces the disease incidence and severity and that the effect is measurable up to six weeks after treatment. A double application of tricyclazole at stem elongation and booting stage was more effective than the single application at booting. This study provides ready-to-use information to support rice growers in variety choice and planning of plant protection strategies, as well as public institutions in the emanation of guidelines for integrated pest management.
Locally-invasive, castrate-resistant prostate cancer in a Pten/Trp53 double knockout mouse model of prostate cancer monitored with non-invasive bioluminescent imaging
Authors: Yong Courtney , Moose Devon L. , Bannick Nadine , Vanneste Marion , Svensson Robert , Breheny Patrick , Brown James A. , Cohen Michael B. , Henry Michael D.
Published: April 2020

Here we have improved an existing mouse model of prostate cancer based on prostate-specific deletion ofPtenandTrp53by incorporating a Cre-activatable luciferase reporter. By coupling the deletion of those genes to the activation of a luciferase reporter, we were able to monitor tumor burden non-invasively over time. We show that, consistent with previous reports, deletion of bothPtenandTrp53on a C57BL/6 background accelerates tumor growth and results in both the loss of androgen receptor expression and castrate resistant tumors as compared with loss ofPtenalone. Loss ofTrp53results in the development of sarcomatoid histology and the expression of markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition Zeb1 and vimentin, with kinetics and penetrance dependent on whether one or both alleles ofTrp53were deleted. Homozygous deletion ofTrp53andPtenresulted in uniformly lethal disease by 25 weeks. While we were able to detect locally invasive disease in the peritoneal cavity in aggressive tumors from the double knockout mice, we were unable to detect lymphatic or hematogenous metastatic disease in lymph nodes or at distant sites.
Clinical factors affecting evoked magnetic fields in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Naganuma Ryoji , Yabe Ichiro , Takeuchi Megumi , Morishita Kirari , Nakane Shingo , Takase Ryoken , Takahashi-Iwata Ikuko , Matsushima Masaaki , Otsuki Mika , Shiraishi Hideaki , Sasaki Hidenao
Published: April 2020

Studies on evoked responses in Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be useful for elucidating the etiology and quantitative evaluation of PD. However, in previous studies, the association between evoked responses and detailed motor symptoms or cognitive functions has not been clear. This study investigated the characteristics of the visual (VEF), auditory (AEF), and somatosensory (SEF) evoked magnetic fields in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the correlations between evoked fields and the patient’s clinical characteristics, motor symptoms, and cognitive functions. Twenty patients with PD and 10 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited as participants. We recorded VEF, AEF, and SEF, collected clinical characteristics, performed physical examinations, and administered 10 cognitive tests. We investigated differences in the latencies of the evoked fields between patients with PD and HCs. We also evaluated the correlation of the latencies with motor symptoms and cognitive functioning. There were significant differences between the two groups in 6 of the cognitive tests, all of which suggested mild cognitive impairment in patients with PD. The latencies of the VEF N75m, P100m, N145m, AEF P50m, P100m, and SEF P60m components were greater in the patients with PD than in the HCs. The latencies mainly correlated with medication and motor symptoms, less so with cognitive tests, with some elements of the correlations remaining significant after Bonferroni correction. In conclusion, the latencies of the VEF, AEF, and SEF were greater in PD patients than in HCs and were mainly correlated with medication and motor symptoms rather than cognitive functioning. Findings from this study suggest that evoked fields may reflect basal ganglia functioning and are candidates for assessing motor symptoms or the therapeutic effects of medication in patients with PD.
Cell-free prototyping of limonene biosynthesis using cell-free protein synthesis
Authors: Dudley Quentin M. , Karim Ashty S. , Nash Connor J. , Jewett Michael C.
Published: April 2020

Metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce sustainable chemicals has emerged as an important part of the global bioeconomy. Unfortunately, efforts to design and engineer microbial cell factories are challenging because design-built-test cycles, iterations of re-engineering organisms to test and optimize new sets of enzymes, are slow. To alleviate this challenge, we demonstrate a cell-free approach termedin vitroPrototyping and Rapid Optimization of Biosynthetic Enzymes (or iPROBE). In iPROBE, a large number of pathway combinations can be rapidly built and optimized. The key idea is to use cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) to manufacture pathway enzymes in separate reactions that are then mixed to modularly assemble multiple, distinct biosynthetic pathways. As a model, we apply our approach to the 9-step heterologous enzyme pathway to limonene in extracts fromEscherichia coli. In iterative cycles of design, we studied the impact of 54 enzyme homologs, multiple enzyme levels, and cofactor concentrations on pathway performance. In total, we screened over 150 unique sets of enzymes in 580 unique pathway conditions to increase limonene production in 24 hours from 0.2 to 4.5 mM (23 to 610 mg/L). Finally, to demonstrate the modularity of this pathway, we also synthesized the biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene. We anticipate that iPROBE will accelerate design-build-test cycles for metabolic engineering, enabling data-driven multiplexed cell-free methods for testing large combinations of biosynthetic enzymes to inform cellular design.

TOC Figure

Highlights

Applied the iPROBE framework to build the nine-enzyme pathway to produce limonene

Assessed the impact of cofactors and 54 enzyme homologs on cell-free enzyme performance

Iteratively optimized the cell-free production of limonene by exploring more than 580 unique reactions

Extended pathway to biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene
Membrane voltage dysregulation driven by metabolic dysfunction underlies bactericidal activity of aminoglycosides
Authors: Bruni Giancarlo N. , Kralj Joel M.
Published: April 2020

Aminoglycosides are broad-spectrum antibiotics whose mechanism of bactericidal activity has been under debate. It is widely accepted, however, that membrane voltage potentiates aminoglycoside activity, which is ascribed to voltage dependent drug uptake. In this paper, we measured the single cell response ofEscherichia colitreated with aminoglycosides and discovered that the bactericidal action arises not from the downstream effects of voltage dependent drug uptake, but rather directly from dysregulated membrane potential. In the absence of voltage, aminoglycosides are taken into cells and exert bacteriostatic effects by inhibiting translation. However, cell killing was immediate upon re-polarization. The hyperpolarization arose from altered ATP flux, which induced a reversal of the F1Fo-ATPase to hydrolyze ATP and generated the deleterious voltage. Heterologous expression of an ATPase inhibitor fromSalmonellacompletely eliminated bactericidal activity, while loss of the F-ATPase significantly reduced the electrophysiological response to aminoglycosides. Our data support a model of voltage induced death, which could be resolved in real-time at the single cell level, and separates the mechanisms of aminoglycoside bacteriostasis and bactericide inE. coli.
C-terminal HA tags compromise function and exacerbate phenotypes ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeBloom’s helicase homolog Sgs1 SUMOylation-associated mutants
Authors: Cohen Matan , Lichten Michael
Published: April 2020

The Sgs1 helicase and Top3-Rmi1 decatenase form a complex that affects homologous recombination outcomes during the mitotic cell cycle and during meiosis. Previous studies have reported that Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 function is regulated by SUMOylation that is catalyzed by the Smc5-Smc6-Mms21 complex. These studies used strains in whichSGS1was C-terminally tagged with three or six copies of a human influenza hemagglutinin-derived epitope tag (3HA and 6HA). They identifiedSGS1mutants that affect its SUMOylation, which we will refer to asSGS1SUMO-site mutants. In previous work, these mutants showed phenotypes consistent with substantial loss of Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 function during the mitotic cell cycle. We find that the reported phenotypes are largely due to the presence of the HA epitope tags. UntaggedSGS1SUMO-site mutants show either wild-type or weak hypomorphic phenotypes, depending on the assay. These phenotypes are exacerbated by both 6HA and 3HA epitope tags in two differentS. cerevisiaestrain backgrounds. Importantly, a C-terminal 6HA tag confers strong hypomorphic or null phenotypes on an otherwise wild-type Sgs1 protein. Taken together, these results suggest that the HA epitope tags used in previous studies seriously compromise Sgs1 function. Furthermore, they raise the possibilities either that sufficient SUMOylation of the Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 complex might still occur in the SUMO-site mutants isolated, or that Smc5-Smc6-Mms21-mediated SUMOylation plays a minor role in the regulation of Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 during recombination.
Destination food research: a bibliometric citation review (2000–2018)
Authors: Lyu Venessa Chan , Lai Ivan K.W. , Ting Hiram , Zhang Hongfeng
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the knowledge infrastructure of destination food research based on a systematic literature review. This bibliometric analysis involves authors, institutions, countries and co-citation networks and discloses trending developments in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on 176 articles published in hospitality and tourism journals during the period 2000–2018 and bibliometric data downloaded from the ISI Web of Science. This review applies bibliometric analysis, citation network analysis and content analysis to examine the structure and networks of destination food knowledge so as to provide destination food researchers with a reference guide to the context, methods and focus of previous studies.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the development and trends of destination food research. This is the first study to address the limitations of prior systematic literature reviews by applying network analysis to reveal the interrelated structures and properties of the destination food research domain.

Practical implications

Practitioners can also discover trends in the design of development strategies, as well as identify extended themes that may be integrated with research in the field of destination food at present.

Originality/value

As a summary of key characteristics, this report is a useful reference guide to previous studies for researchers. This study presents core content about the destination food field and identifies development trends within destination food research. Based on the results, further research directions are provided.
Development of virtual reality and stereo-panoramic environments for construction safety training
Authors: Jeelani Idris , Han Kevin , Albert Alex
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Workers and construction professionals are generally not proficient in recognizing and managing safety hazards. Although valuable, traditional training experiences have not sufficiently addressed the issue of poor hazard recognition and management in construction. Since hazard recognition and management are cognitive skills that depend on attention, visual examination and decision-making, performance assessment and feedback in an environment that is realistic and representative of actual working conditions are important. The purpose of this paper is to propose a personalized safety training protocol that is delivered using robust, realistic and immersive environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of virtual environments were developed: (1) Stereo-panoramic environments using real construction scenes that were used to evaluate the performance of trainees accurately and (2) A virtual construction site, which was used to deliver various elements of instructional training. A training protocol was then designed that was aimed at improving the hazard recognition and management performance of trainees. It was delivered using the developed virtual environments. The effectiveness of the training protocol was experimentally tested with 53 participants using a before–after study.

Findings

The results present a 39% improvement in hazard recognition and a 44% improvement in hazard management performance.

Originality/value

This study combines the benefits of using a virtual environment for providing instructional training along with realistic environments (stereo-panoramic scenes) for performance assessment and feedback. The training protocol includes several new and innovative training elements that are designed to improve the hazard recognition and hazard management abilities of the trainees. Moreover, the effectiveness of training in improving hazard recognition and hazard management is measured using specific outcome variables.
Dynamic performance incentive model with supervision mechanism for PPP projects
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yu Lu , Zhang Wenyu
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study is aimed to explore the dynamic performance incentive model for a flexible PPP contract to handle uncertainties based on supervision during the long-time concession period, so as to ensure operation performance and benefits of the public sector while protecting the economic benefit of the private sector, thus avoiding unnecessary renegotiation.

Design/methodology/approach

The microeconomic and principal–agent theories and relevant studies on the basic incentive model and flexible contract are fully utilized. The procedure for developing the dynamic incentive model and the assumptions about the quantitative relationships among fundamental variables or factors are first proposed. The static incentive model without incentive parameter adjustment and then the dynamic incentive model allowing incentive parameter adjustment are successively developed. Finally, the propositions regarding the valid adjustment ranges of the incentive parameter with respect to the economic, social and hybrid benefits of the public sector and the economic benefit of the private sector are suggested.

Findings

The dynamic incentive model enables to achieve a flexible contract to handle uncertainties on the PPP project to ensure the benefits of the public sector while protecting the benefit of the private sector. The economic, social and hybrid benefits of the public sector and the economic benefit of the private sectors can be respectively realized through adjusting the reward–punishment coefficient under different adjustment ranges and different importance. The incentive model is able to ensure the benefits of the public sector while protecting the benefit of the private sector by controlling the private sector's effort level unknown to the public sector.

Originality/value

The dynamic incentive model helps implement a flexible PPP contract to handle uncertainties during the operation period, thus controlling the effort level of the private sector and ensuring the benefits of the public sector while protecting the economic benefit of the sector. It enables to clarify the quantitative relationships between the operation performance, the benefits of the stakeholders, the effort level of the private sector and the reward–punishment coefficient. This study contributes to the domain knowledge of the incomplete contract theory for designing a flexible PPP contract with dynamic incentive and supervision mechanism by applying the microeconomic and principal–agent theories.
Planning, management and administration of HS contents with BIM and VR in construction: an implementation protocol
Authors: Getuli Vito , Capone Pietro , Bruttini Alessandro
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Building construction is considered a complex, dynamic and highly hazardous process, which embraces many factors that are potentially dangerous to workers. Many studies proved that the improvement of preventive and proactive measures – dynamically included in the building design, planning and construction – could reduce site accidents as well as increase the site productivity. In this context, process management models and information visualization techniques such as building information modeling (BIM) and virtual reality (VR) seem to be devoted to strongly contribute to the advancement of the current safety management practices. For these reasons, the presented contribution is based on the assumption that a more nuanced approach for construction worker's safety training is warranted and the authors propose a safety training protocol based on BIM-enabled VR activity simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology comprised a safety training protocol based on BIM-enabled VR activity simulations. The protocol addresses three methodological issues: (1) Planning in terms of training typologies and related health and safety contents to be implemented in the VR construction site scenarios; (2) Management regarding the solution to integrate BIM and game technologies to deliver VR training experiences; (3) Administration in terms of definition of standardized rules to define a safety training schedule in a given construction project.

Findings

This work contributes to provide a standardized protocol for a viable integration of BIM and VR technologies for construction safety training in real projects.

Practical implications

The VR training protocol was applied to a construction project based in Italy that served as case study for the development of the training sessions' contents and their implementation. This case demonstrated the feasibility of the protocol's implementation and pointed out the drawbacks and limitations on which further efforts need to be spent in order to take the proposed protocol from a prototypical stage to a maturity for its larger-scale adoption from the practitioners involved in construction safety training.

Originality/value

The research gives a contribution to reduce the currently existing knowledge gap regarding how BIM and VR can be simultaneously integrated in real projects for construction safety training by using standardized rules to be extensively reproduced in different construction projects. It uses a customized toolkit with a mobile smartphone solution to administer Safety Training Scenarios which increases its portability in construction site compared to PC-based VR solutions.
Organizational diversity and inclusive boundary-work: the case of Israeli hospitals
Authors: Keshet Yael
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The theoretical conceptualization of boundaries is proposed as a useful approach to study diversity in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of diversity in health-care organizations – functional diversity and social category diversity – are compared, drawing on two extensive studies of Israeli hospitals. One study addresses the boundary between the medical professions and complementary medicine and the other examines the boundary between Israel's Jewish ethnic majority and the Arab minority.

Findings

With regard to functional diversity, boundary-work is used to draw, redraw, and maintain the boundary between biomedicine professionals and complementary medicine practitioners. With respect to social category diversity, boundary-work is employed to blur the boundary between Jewish and Arab professionals working within the organization and the ideal of professionalism is used as a boundary object to blur this ethno-national boundary.

Originality/value

This typology is offered in the hope of providing greater theoretical insight into the study of organizational diversity in the context of power relations.
A novel synthetic index of two counts and mathematical model for researcher evaluation
Authors: Liu Sifeng , Li Qi , Yang Yingjie
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel synthetic index of two counts and mathematical model for researcher evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

A synthetic indexLfor researcher evaluation considering both the total number of other citations (C) and nonacademic impact (I) and a synthetic evaluation model are proposed in this paper.CandIare verified impact indexes. According to investigation by Delphi method, researchers are divided into five different classes of “below average,” “average,” “good,” “excellent” and “stellar.” The threshold values for countsCof grey class “stellar” are determined by deep investigation. The possibility functions of the two countsCandIon four grey classes of “below average,” “average,” “good” and “excellent” are built.

Findings

The novel synthetic index of two counts and mathematical model for researcher evaluation provide a better way to conduct researcher assessment.

Practical implications

The synthetic indexLpresented in this paper can be used to evaluate a researcher. It's more reasonable than the current research assessment indexes such as the number of publications and the numbers of so-called high-quality journal publications and the amount of granted funds and so on. The synthetic indexLreflects the actual value created by a researcher. No artificial maneuver can change them significantly.

Originality/value

A synthetic indexLfor researcher evaluation considering both the total number of other citations (C) and nonacademic impact (I) and a synthetic evaluation model are proposed in this paper.
A prompt CNN-FL model based on multi criteria for a smart vertical handoff in heterogeneous system
Authors: R Ganesan , B Sowmya
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Heterogeneous network is mainly focused to enrich the demands of network's traffic and data rate. Heterogeneous network is an integrated system composed of diverse radio access technologies such as Wi-Fi, UMTS and WiMAX soon. To exchange the packets among these different wireless technologies, an adoptable vertical handoff (VHO) is required.

Design/methodology/approach

Various types of techniques have been proposed in line with VHO. However these algorithms lead to the threat of high dropping rate and poor Quality of Service (QoS). We modulate a new methodology by integrating Convolutional Neural Network with Fuzzy Logic (CNN-FL) for an optimum vertical handoff decision process (VHDP). The CNN-FL–based VHDP is very effective because of nonlinearity and generalization capability with uncertain data inputs.

Findings

The performance results exhibit that proposed methods show efficient for selecting the appropriate network with maximum throughput. At the same time, the proposed method reduces computational complexity and dropping rate considerably.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a novel CNN model along with a FL model for achieving a vertical hand off.
An integrated mathematical model for production scheduling and preventive maintenance planning
Authors: Kolus Ahmet , El-Khalifa Ahmed , Al-Turki Umar M. , Duffuaa Salih Osman
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The integration between production scheduling and maintenance planning is attracting the attention of planners in the manufacturing sector with the increase in global competitiveness. Researchers have developed various methodologies to optimize integrated decisions in planning and scheduling, including mathematical modeling under different conditions. This paper considers the simultaneous scheduling of production and maintenance activities with the objective of minimizing the expected total tardiness cost on a single machine (production line).

Design/methodology/approach

Scheduling in these two types of activities, production and maintenance, are traditionally done independently, causing conflicts between the two functional areas. To eliminate or at least reduce conflicts, the scheduling of both activities can be done simultaneously with the objective of meeting due dates and maintaining maximum machine availability. In this paper, a mathematical model for an integrated problem is developed and demonstrated by an example.

Findings

The proposed integrated model shows a high potential for significant improvements in performance with respect to the cost of tardiness in delivery and machine availability. This is demonstrated by an example showing an average savings of approximately 40%.

Originality/value

This substantial saving is owed to the integration of two important decision-making processes in manufacturing systems. Although the integrated problem is complex and difficult to solve, the fact that it is savings driven makes the problem of interest to researchers and practitioners in manufacturing.
The influence of internet marketing capabilities on international market performance
Authors: Liu Chia-Ling (Eunice) , Zhang-Zhang Yingying , Ghauri Pervez Nasim
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the influential path of internet marketing capabilities impacting international market performance. The paper further investigates the mitigating roles of market- and entrepreneurial-oriented behaviors and knowledge internalization in this relationship. The effect of internet use for customer management on internet marketing capabilities is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 618 firms with sales in international markets were approached to participate. Data were collected from a sample of 132 Taiwanese firms and analyzed using a structural equation model.

Findings

Use of internet for customer management positively influences internet marketing capabilities. The results also support the positive impacts of internet marketing capabilities on market- and entrepreneurial-oriented behaviors. Knowledge internalization mediates the relationships between market- and entrepreneurial-oriented behaviors and international market performance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper’s investigation of the role of internet marketing capability in international market performance contributes to online internationalization, strategic orientations and organizational learning theory.

Practical implications

Managers should focus on developing internet marketing capabilities in management culture and fostering market- and entrepreneurial-oriented behaviors to facilitate knowledge internalization for better international performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the construction of an alternative and comprehensive mechanism to understand the influences of internet marketing capabilities on the firm’s international performance.
Presence of professional accountant in the top management team and financial reporting quality
Authors: Rashid Md Mamunur
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the presence of professional accountants in the top management team (TMT) on financial reporting quality (FRQ) in public limited companies using the context of Bangladesh, which is an emerging economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a modified version of Beestet al.’s (2009) FRQ index to measure the quality of information published in 351 annual reports of listed companies in Bangladesh. It also uses a qualitative characteristics approach to measure the quality of financial reporting, as defined by the International Financial Reporting Standards framework 2018, as opposed to an accrual or value relevance approach that solely depends on the information disclosed in the financial statements.

Findings

This study finds that the presence of professional accountants in the TMT is positively and significantly associated with FRQ. The findings also show that the sample companies disclosed better quality information in the enhancing qualitative characteristics category, as compared to the fundamental qualitative characteristics category.

Originality/value

This study uses the context of Bangladesh to explore a new type of relationship between the presence of professional accountants in the TMT and FRQ.
BIM data model requirements for asset monitoring and the circular economy
Authors: Davila Delgado Juan Manuel , Oyedele Lukumon O.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and provide recommendations to extend the current open standard data models for describing monitoring systems and circular economy precepts for built assets. Open standard data models enable robust and efficient data exchange which underpins the successful implementation of a circular economy. One of the largest opportunities to reduce the total life cycle cost of a built asset is to use the building information modelling (BIM) approach during the operational phase because it represents the largest share of the entire cost. BIM models that represent the actual conditions and performance of the constructed assets can boost the benefits of the installed monitoring systems and reduce maintenance and operational costs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a horizontal investigation of current BIM data models and their use for describing circular economy principles and performance monitoring of built assets. Based on the investigation, an extension to the industry foundation classes (IFC) specification, recommendations and guidelines are presented which enable to describe circular economy principles and asset monitoring using IFC.

Findings

Current open BIM data models are not sufficiently mature yet. This limits the interoperability of the BIM approach and the implementation of circular economy principles. An overarching approach to extend the current standards is necessary, which considers aspects related to not only modelling the monitoring system but also data management and analysis.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study that identifies requirements for data model standards in the context current linear economic model of making, using and disposing is growing unsustainably far beyond the finite limits of planet of a circular economy. The results of this study set the basis for the extension of current standards required to apply the circular economy precepts.
Fashion “see-now-buy-now”: implications and process adaptations
Authors: Boardman Rosy , Haschka Yvonne , Chrimes Courtney , Alexander Bethan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify if and how the see-now-buy-now model impacts the traditional buying, merchandising and supply chain processes (BMSCP) of multi-brand fashion retailers (MBFR) and whether they need to be adapted in order to facilitate this development.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study includes three industry case studies, triangulated with external observers. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted within Germany and the UK.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that in order to adopt the see-now-buy-now model there is a need for process-shortening, as well as better process and network alignment between MBFR and brands through agility, supplier–relationship management and vertical integration in order to stay competitive against time-based competition. Whilst most steps of the traditional BMSCP are still applicable under the see-now-buy-now model, they must be re-engineered and shortened, with the steps being rolling rather than linear, with buyers and merchandisers operating in a more hybrid role.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the lack of research on the see-now-buy-now model as well as on the BMSCP of MBFR and the implications that see-now-buy-now could have on those processes. A modified buying, merchandising and supply chain framework adapted to incorporate see-now-buy-now is created which will be useful for academics and practitioners.
Achieving supply chain resilience: the role of supply chain ambidexterity and supply chain agility
Authors: Aslam Haris , Khan Abdul Qadeer , Rashid Kamran , Rehman Saif-ur
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study analyzes the role of supply chain ambidexterity (SC-Ambidexterity) in developing supply chain resilience (SC-Resilience). We describe SC-Ambidexterity as a simultaneous application of supply chain adaptability (SC-Adaptability) and supply chain alignment (SC-Alignment) capabilities. We also consider the role of supply chain agility (SC-Agility) in the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience. We further suggest that the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience may be stronger in case of higher market uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) of the firm, we develop a set of hypotheses that are tested through a survey of manufacturing firms in Pakistan. The hypothesized model is tested through structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results of this study show a positive effect of SC-Ambidexterity on SC-Resilience. SC-Agility positively mediates the relationship between SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Resilience. However, our results show that this relationship does not vary at different levels of environmental uncertainty.

Originality/value

This study provides the seminal operationalization of SC-Ambidexterity in the supply chain context. It further shows the importance of SC-Ambidexterity and SC-Agility in contributing toward SC-Resilience.
Performing technical analysis to predict Japan REITs' movement through ensemble learning
Authors: Loo Wei Kang
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of the ensemble learning models, such as the Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting models, in predicting the direction of the Japan real estate investment trusts (J-REITs) at different return horizons, based on input obtained from various technical indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

This study measures the predictability of J-REITs with technical indicators by using different horizons of REITs' return and machine learning models. The ensemble learning models includes Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting models while the return horizons of REITs ranging from 1 to 300 days. The results were further split into individual years to check for the consistency of the performance across time.

Findings

The Extreme Gradient Boosting appears to be the best method in improving forecast accuracy but not the trading return. A wider return horizons platform seemed to deliver a relatively better performance in both forecast accuracy and trading return, when compared to the return horizon of one.

Practical implications

It is recommended that the Extreme Gradient Boosting and Random Forest model be considered by practitioners for back-testing trading model. In addition, selecting different return horizons so as to achieve a better performance in trading/investment should also be considered.

Originality/value

The predictability of J-REITs using technical indicators was compared among different returns horizons and the models (Extreme Gradient Boosting and Random Forest).
Is the MD&A of US REITs informative? A textual sentiment study
Authors: Koelbl Marina
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study examines whether language disclosed in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) of US Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) provides signals regarding future firm performance and thus generates a market response.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducts textual analysis on a sample of approximately 6,500 MD&As of US REITs filed by the SEC between 2003 and 2018. Specifically, the Loughran and Mcdonald (2011) financial dictionary, and a custom dictionary for the real estate industry created by Ruscheinsky et al. (2018), are employed to determine the inherent sentiment, that is, the level of pessimistic or optimistic language for each filing. Thereafter, a panel fixed-effects regression enables investigating the relationship between sentiment and future firm performance, as well as the markets’ reaction.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that higher levels of pessimistic (optimistic) language in the MD&A predict lower (higher) future firm performance. Hereby, the use of a domain-specific real estate dictionary, namely that developed by Ruscheinsky et al. (2018) leads to superior results. Corresponding to the notion that the human psyche is affected more strongly by negative than positive news (Rozin and Royzman, 2001), the market responds solely to pessimistic language in the MD&A.

Practical implications

The results suggest that the market can benefit from textual analysis, as investigating the language in the MD&A reduces information asymmetries between US REIT managers and investors.

Originality/value

This is the first study to analyze exclusively US REITs, whether language in the MD&A is predictive of future firm performance and whether the market responds to textual sentiment.
Investigating factors affecting holiday home purchases in Greece
Authors: Papageorgiou George , Loulis Vasilios , Efstathiades Andreas , Ness Alexander N.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The decision to buy a holiday home depends on a number of social, cultural, economic and demographic factors. These factors are related to home and environmental characteristics as well as demographic characteristics of buyers. The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors that shape the decision to purchase a holiday home in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the results of a survey, involving a representative sample of potential buyers of holiday homes in Greece.

Findings

According to the research results, buying a holiday home in Greece is mainly an investment decision for the future and is determined by the value and characteristics of the house, the hidden costs and the factors that shape the external economic environment. (1) Further, the analysis has shown that there is a limited use of electronic channels in the real estate market in Greece with further potential of development.

Originality/value

The investigation focuses on the characteristics of the house, the variables of the external environment, (2) considering any obstacles or catalysts, such as the use of electronic channels. Even though similar studies have been conducted worldwide on the topic, very few have been carried out in Greece which lately has gone through major market changes.
Coordination difficulties and self‐esteem: The views of children, adolescents, and their parents
Authors: Eggleston Matthew , Watkins William , Frampton Christopher , Hanger Nicola
Published: April 2020

Introduction

This study aimed to examine the views of children and adolescents with significant coordination difficulties, and their parents, regarding factors they considered had most supported and hindered the development of their self‐esteem (SE).

Methods

A survey was sent to members of the Dyspraxia Support Group of New Zealand asking participants to prioritise the three factors that had most positively and negatively influenced the development of the young person's SE. Quantitative content analysis was utilised to summarise responses in order to describe main influences.

Results

Both groups rated love and support from family as an important factor that had promoted SE. Young people placed more emphasis than parents on friendship and rewarding activities. Parents emphasised the importance of a supportive school environment and the benefits of “diagnosis.” Both groups frequently rated aspects directly related to coordination difficulties and bullying as negative influences on SE.

Conclusion

The results provide information for young people with coordination difficulties, their parents, and occupational therapists regarding useful strategies for developing healthy SE. Occupational therapists have a critical role in the assessment of children and adolescents with coordination difficulties which leads to better understanding of the young person by others. Additionally, task‐oriented treatment approaches are indicated and are likely to lead to increased rates of participation of young people in rewarding activities, including with friends. Further research is required to determine whether these occupational therapy interventions promote increases in SE.
Taming the flagellar motor of pseudomonads with a nucleotide messenger
Authors: Ma Guang‐Lei , Chandra Hartono , Liang Zhao‐Xun
Published: April 2020

Pseudomonads rely on the flagellar motor to rotate a polar flagellum for swimming and swarming, and to sense surfaces for initiating the motile‐to‐sessile transition to adopt a surface‐dwelling lifestyle. Deciphering the function and regulation of the flagellar motor is of paramount importance for understanding the behaviours of environmental and pathogenic pseudomonads. Recent studies disclosed the preeminent role played by the messenger c‐di‐GMP in controlling the real‐time performance of the flagellar motor in pseudomonads. The studies revealed that c‐di‐GMP controls the dynamic exchange of flagellar stator units to regulate motor torque/speed and modulates the frequency of flagellar motor switching via the chemosensory signalling pathways. Apart from being a rotary motor, the flagellar motor is emerging as a mechanosensor that transduces surface‐induced mechanical signals into an increase of cellular c‐di‐GMP concentration to initiate the cellular programs required for long‐term colonization. Collectively, the studies generate long‐awaited mechanistic insights into how c‐di‐GMP regulates bacterial motility and the motile‐to‐sessile transition. The new findings also raise the fundamental questions of how cellular c‐di‐GMP concentrations are dynamically coupled to flagellar output and the proton‐motive force, and how c‐di‐GMP signalling is coordinated spatiotemporally to fine‐tune flagellar response and the behaviour of pseudomonads in solutions and on surfaces.
The influence of calculative (“hard”) and collaborative (“soft”) HRM on the layoff‐performance relationship in high performance workplaces
Authors: Cregan Christina , Kulik Carol T. , Johnston Stewart , Bartram Timothy
Published: April 2020

We investigate the effect of employment systems on the layoff‐performance relationship. We construct a typology of two types of HPWS (Calculative or “hard” HRM and Collaborative or “soft” HRM) and two non‐high performance systems (Traditional HRM and Low HRM). We use attribution theory as a framework from which to draw hypotheses. We examine survey responses from two waves of panel data. We employ cluster analysis to identify distinctive configurations of employment practices used in UK workplaces. We use the cluster outcomes as explanatory variables in moderator regression analysis. Following layoffs, we find that Calculative workplaces experience lower subsequent performance than Collaborative workplaces. Over the next five years, Calculative and Collaborative workplaces experience equivalent amounts of performance change but Calculative workplaces fail to make a full recovery.
Nutrients and Heavy Metals in Legacy Sediments: Concentrations, Comparisons with Upland Soils, and Implications for Water Quality
Authors: Lutgen Alyssa , Jiang Grant , Sienkiewicz Nathan , Mattern Katie , Kan JinJun , Inamdar Shreeram
Published: April 2020

Concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals in streambank legacy sediments are needed to estimate watershed exports and to evaluate against upland inputs. Concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals were determined for legacy sediments in 15 streambanks across northeastern Maryland, southeastern Pennsylvania, and northern Delaware. Samples were collected from multiple bank depths from forested, agricultural, urban, and suburban sites. Analyses were performed for fine (<63 μm) and coarse sediment fractions. Nutrient and heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in fine than coarse legacy sediments and water extractable nutrient concentrations were significantly greater for fine sediments. Nutrient and heavy metal concentrations were highest in streambank legacy sediments associated with urban land use, but few differences were found with bank depth. Total N (40–3,970 mg/kg) and P (25–1,293 mg/kg) and bioavailable P (0.25–48.8 mg/kg) concentrations for legacy sediments were lower than those for upland soils. This suggests that legacy sediments could serve as sink or source of N and P depending on the redox conditions and stream water nutrient concentrations. However, despite low concentrations, caution should be exercised since streambank erosion and legacy sediment mass loadings could be high, these sediments are in immediate proximity of aquatic ecosystems, and biogeochemical transformations could result in release of the nutrients.
Comparing Environmental Flow Implementation Options with Structured Decision Making: Case Study from the Willamette River, Oregon
Authors: DeWeber J. Tyrell , Peterson James T.
Published: April 2020

Many frameworks have been used to identify environmental flows for sustaining river ecosystems or specific taxa in the face of widespread flow alteration. However, these frameworks largely focus on identifying suitable flows and often ignore the important links between management actions, resulting flows, and valued ecosystem or social responses. Structured decision making (SDM) could assist the comparison of environmental flows by providing a mature framework to link management actions to objectives via environmental flow science. We describe SDM and illustrate its application using a case study focused on comparing environmental flow scenarios for the mainstem Willamette River, Oregon. In a short timeframe, SDM was applied to identify objectives, develop empirical and expert opinion‐based models, and compare flow scenarios while accounting for interannual flow variability and partial controllability. No scenario was clearly preferred based on available knowledge, largely because river flows could only be partially controlled through dam operations. Participants agreed that SDM was useful for comparing alternative dam operations, but that refined predictive models and additional objectives were needed to better inform basinwide flow decisions. In our view, SDM can provide more realistic comparisons of environmental flows by accounting for partial controllability and uncertainty, which may result in greater implementation of available flow management actions.