bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Th2-like T-follicular helper cells promote functional antibody production duringPlasmodium falciparuminfection
Authors: Chan Jo-Anne , Rivera Fabian de Labastida , Loughland Jessica , Engel Jessica A , Lee Hyun Jae , SheelaNair Arya , Wines Bruce D , Amante Fiona H , Webb Lachlan , Mukhopadhyay Pamela , Patch Ann-Marie , Hogarth P. Mark , Beeson James G , McCarthy James S , Haque Ashraful , Engwerda Christian R , Boyle Michelle J
Published: May 2020

The most advanced malaria vaccine only has approximately 30% efficacy in target populations, and avenues to improve next generation vaccines need to be identified. Functional antibodies are key effectors of both vaccine induced and naturally acquired immunity, with induction driven by T-follicular helper cells (TfH) CD4+ T cells. We assessed circulating TfH (cTfH) responses and functional antibody production in human volunteers experimentally infected withPlasmodium falciparum. Longitudinal single-cell RNA-sequencing of cTfH revealed peak transcriptional activation and clonal expansion of major cTfH subsets occurred at day 8 following infection and a population structure of cTfH capturing phenotypical subsets of Th1- and Th2-like cells. Among 40 volunteers, infection resulted in the emergence of activated ICOS+ cTfH cells. During peak infection, activation was restricted to Th2-like cTfH cells, while Th1-like cTfH cell activation occurred one week after treatment. To link cTfH activation to antibody induction, we assessed the magnitude and function of anti-malarial IgM and IgG after infection. The functional breadth and magnitude of parasite-specific antibodies was positively associated with Th2-cTfH activation. In contrast, Th1-cTfH activation was associated with the induction of plasma cells, which we have previously shown have a detrimental role in germinal cell formation and antibody development. Thus, we identified that duringP. falciparummalaria infection in humans, the activation of Th2-cTfH but not other subsets correlates with the development of functional antibodies required for protective immunity. Data for the first time identify a specific cellular response that can be targeted by future malaria vaccines to improve antibody induction.
The microbial metabolitep-Cresol induces autistic-like behaviors in mice by remodeling the gut microbiota
Authors: Bermudez-Martin P. , Becker J. A. J. , Caramello N. , Fernandez S. P. , Costa-Campos R. , Canaguier J. , Barbosa S. , Martinez-Gili L. , Myridakis A. , Dumas M.-E. , Bruneau A. , Cherbuy C. , Langella P. , Callebert J. , Launay J.-M. , Chabry J. , Barik J. , Le Merrer J. , Glaichenhaus N. , Davidovic L.
Published: May 2020

Background

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis resulting in changes in microbiota composition as well as fecal, serum and urine levels of microbial metabolites. Yet, a causal relationship between dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and ASD remains to be demonstrated. Here, we hypothesized that the microbial metabolitep-Cresol, which is more abundant in ASD patients compared to neurotypical individuals, could induce ASD-like behavior in mice.

Results

Mice exposed top-Cresol for 4 weeks in drinking water presented social behavior deficits, stereotypies, and perseverative behaviors, but no changes in anxiety, locomotion, or cognition. Abnormal social behavior induced byp-Cresol was associated with decreased activity of central dopamine neurons involved in the social reward circuit. Further,p-Cresol induced changes in microbiota composition and social behavior deficits could be transferred fromp-Cresol-treated mice to control mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We also showed that mice transplanted with the microbiota ofp-Cresol-treated mice exhibited increased fecalp-Cresol levels compared to mice transplanted with the microbiota of control mice and identified possiblep-Cresol bacterial producers. Lastly, the microbiota of control mice rescued social interactions, dopamine neurons excitability and fecalp-Cresol levels when transplanted top-Cresol-treated mice.

Conclusions

The microbial metabolitep-Cresol induces ASD core behavioral symptoms in mice via a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism. Our study paves the way for therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiota to treat patients with ASD.
Does the human placenta express the canonical cell entry mediators for SARS-CoV-2?
Authors: Pique-Regi Roger , Romero Roberto , Tarca Adi L. , Luca Francesca , Xu Yi , Alazizi Adnan , Leng Yaozhu , Hsu Chaur-Dong , Gomez-Lopez Nardhy
Published: May 2020

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected over 3.8 million people, including pregnant women. To date, no consistent evidence of vertical transmission for SARS-CoV-2 exists. This new coronavirus canonically utilizes the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and the serine protease TMPRSS2 for cell entry. Herein, building upon our previous single cell study of the placenta (Pique-Regi, 2019), another study, and new single-cell/nuclei RNA-sequencing data, we investigated the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 throughout pregnancy as well as in third-trimester chorioamniotic membranes. We report that co-transcription of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 is negligible, thus not a likely path of vertical transmission for SARS-CoV-2 at any stage of pregnancy. In contrast, receptors for Zika virus and cytomegalovirus which cause congenital infections are highly expressed by placental cell types. These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to infect the human placenta through the canonical cell entry mediators; yet, other interacting proteins could still play a role in the viral infection.
SARS-CoV2 infection in farmed mink, Netherlands, April 2020
Authors: Oreshkova Nadia , Molenaar Robert-Jan , Vreman Sandra , Harders Frank , Munnink Bas B. Oude , Hakze Renate , Gerhards Nora , Tolsma Paulien , Bouwstra Ruth , Sikkema Reina , Tacken Mirriam , de Rooij Myrna M.T. , Weesendorp Eefke , Engelsma Marc , Bruschke Christianne , Smit Lidwien A.M. , Koopmans Marion , van der Poel Wim H.M. , Stegeman Arjan
Published: May 2020

In April 2020, respiratory disease and increased mortality were observed in farmed mink on two farms in the Netherlands. In both farms, at least one worker had been found positive for SARS-CoV-2. Necropsies of the mink revealed interstitial pneumonia, and organ and swab samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by qPCR. Variations in viral genomes point at between-mink transmission on the farms and lack of infection link between the farms. Inhalable dust in the mink houses contained viral RNA, indicating possible exposure of workers.
Immunologic perturbations in severe COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Kuri-Cervantes Leticia , Pampena M. Betina , Meng Wenzhao , Rosenfeld Aaron M. , Ittner Caroline A.G. , Weisman Ariel R. , Agyekum Roseline , Mathew Divij , Baxter Amy E. , Vella Laura , Kuthuru Oliva , Apostolidis Sokratis , Bershaw Luanne , Dougherty Jeannete , Greenplate Allison R. , Pattekar Ajinkya , Kim Justin , Han Nicholas , Gouma Sigrid , Weirick Madison E. , Arevalo Claudia P. , Bolton Marcus J. , Goodwin Eileen C. , Anderson Elizabeth M. , Hensley Scott E. , Jones Tiffanie K. , Mangalmurti Nilam S. , Luning Prak Eline T. , Wherry E. John , Meyer Nuala J. , Betts Michael R.
Published: May 2020

Although critical illness has been associated with SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperinflammation, the immune correlates of severe COVID-19 remain unclear. Here, we comprehensively analyzed peripheral blood immune perturbations in 42 SARS-CoV-2 infected and recovered individuals. We identified broad changes in neutrophils, NK cells, and monocytes during severe COVID-19, suggesting excessive mobilization of innate lineages. We found marked activation within T and B cells, highly oligoclonal B cell populations, profound plasmablast expansion, and SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in many, but not all, severe COVID-19 cases. Despite this heterogeneity, we found selective clustering of severe COVID-19 cases through unbiased analysis of the aggregated immunological phenotypes. Our findings demonstrate broad immune perturbations spanning both innate and adaptive leukocytes that distinguish dysregulated host responses in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and warrant therapeutic investigation.

One Sentence Summary

Broad immune perturbations in severe COVID-19
Molecular mapping of qBK1Z, a major QTL for bakanae disease resistance in rice
Authors: Lee Sais-Beul , Kim Namgyu , Jo Sumin , Hur Yeon-Jae , Lee Ji-youn , Cho Jun-Hyeon , Lee Jong-Hee , Kang Ju-Won , Song You-Chun , Bombay Maurene , Kim Sung-Ryul , Lee Jungkwan , Seo Young-Su , Ko Jong-Min , Park Dong-Soo
Published: May 2020

Bakanae disease is a fungal disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.) caused by the pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi (also known as Fusarium fujikuroi). Recently the disease incidence has increased in several Asian countries and continues to spread throughout the world. No rice varieties have been developed yet to be completely resistant to this disease. With increasing need to identify various genetic resources to impart resistance to local elite varieties, this study was carried out to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from an indica variety Zenith. We performed a QTL mapping using 180 F2:9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the resistant variety, Zenith, and the susceptible variety, Ilpum. A primary QTL study using the genotypes and phenotypes of the RILs indicated that the locus qBK1z conferring bakanae disease resistance from the Zenith was located in a 2.8 Mb region bordered by the two SSR markers, RM1331 and RM3530 on chromosome 1.

The log of odds (LOD) score of qBK1z was 13.43, accounting for 30.9% of the total phenotypic variation. A finer localization of qBK1z was delimited at an approximate 730 kb interval in the physical map between Chr01_1435908 (1.43 Mbp) and RM10116 (2.16 Mbp). The development of a rice variety with a higher level of resistance against bakanae disease is a major challenge in many rice growing countries. Introducing qBK1z or pyramiding with other previously identified QTLs could provide effective genetic control of bakanae disease in rice.
The transcriptome ofListeria monocytogenesduring co-cultivation with cheese rind bacteria suggests adaptation by induction of ethanolamine and 1,2-propanediol catabolism pathway genes
Authors: Anast Justin M. , Schmitz-Esser Stephan
Published: May 2020

The survival ofListeria (L.) monocytogenesin foods and food production environments (FPE) is dependent on several genes that increase tolerance to stressors; this includes competing with intrinsic bacteria. We aimed to uncover genes that are differentially expressed (DE) inL. monocytogenessequence type (ST) 121 strain 6179 when co-cultured with cheese rind bacteria.L. monocytogeneswas cultivated in broth or on plates with either aPsychrobacterorBrevibacteriumisolate from cheese rinds. RNA was extracted from co-cultures in broth after two or 12 hours and from plates after 24 and 72 hours. Broth co-cultivations withBrevibacteriumorPsychrobacteryielded up to 392 and 601 DE genes, while plate co-cultivations significantly affected the expression of up to 190 and 485L. monocytogenesgenes, respectively. Notably, the transcription of virulence genes encoding theListeriaadhesion protein and Listeriolysin O were induced during plate and broth co-cultivations. The expression of several systems under the control of the global stress gene regulator, σB, increased during co-cultivation. A cobalamin-dependent gene cluster, responsible for the catabolism of ethanolamine and 1,2-propanediol, was upregulated in both broth and plate co-cultures conditions. Finally, a small non-coding (nc)RNA, Rli47, was induced after 72 hours of co-cultivation on plates and accounted for 50-90% of the total reads mapped toL. monocytogenes. A recent study has shown that Rli47 may contribute toL. monocytogenesstress survival by slowing growth during stress conditions through the suppression of branch-chained amino acid biosynthesis. We hypothesize that Rli47 may have an impactful role in the response ofL. monocytogenesto co-cultivation by regulating a complex network of metabolic and virulence mechanisms.
PU.1 enforces quiescence and limits hematopoietic stem cell expansion during inflammatory stress
Authors: Chavez James S. , Rabe Jennifer L. , Loeffler Dirk , Higa Kelly C. , Hernandez Giovanny , Mills Taylor S. , Ahmed Nouraiz , Gessner Rachel L. , Ke Zhonghe , Idler Beau M. , Kim Hyun Min , Myers Jason R. , Stevens Brett M. , Jordan Craig T. , Nakajima Hideaki , Ashton John , Welner Robert S. , Schroeder Timm , DeGregori James , Pietras Eric M.
Published: May 2020

Loss of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence and resulting clonal expansion are common initiating events in the development of hematological malignancy. Likewise, chronic inflammation related to aging, disease and/or tissue damage is associated with leukemia progression, though its role in oncogenesis is not clearly defined. Here, we show that PU.1-dependent repression of protein synthesis and cell cycle genes in HSC enforces homeostatic protein synthesis levels and HSC quiescence in response to IL-1 stimulation. These genes are constitutively de-repressed in PU.1-deficient HSC, leading to activation of protein synthesis, loss of quiescence and aberrant expansion of HSC. Taken together, our data identify a mechanism whereby HSC regulate their cell cycle activity and pool size in response to chronic inflammatory stress.
Protein context shapes the specificity of domain-peptide interactionsin vivo
Authors: Dionne Ugo , Bourgault Émilie , Dubé Alexandre K , Bradley David , Chartier François JM , Dandage Rohan , Dibyachintan Soham , Després Philippe C , Gish Gerald D , Lambert Jean-Philippe , Bisson Nicolas , Landry Christian R
Published: May 2020

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between modular binding domains and their target peptide motifs are thought to largely depend on the intrinsic binding specificities of the domains. By combining deletion, mutation, swapping and shuffling of SRC Homology 3 (SH3) domains and measuring their impact on protein interactions, we find that most SH3s do not autonomously dictate PPI specificityin vivo. The identity of the host protein and the position of the SH3 domains within their host are both critical for PPI specificity, for cellular functions and for key biophysical processes such as phase separation. Our work demonstrates the importance of the interplay between a modular PPI domain such as SH3 and its host protein in establishing specificity to wire PPI networks.
Neurochemical signaling of reward and aversion by ventral tegmental area glutamate neurons
Authors: McGovern Dillon J. , Polter Abigail M. , Root David H.
Published: May 2020

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) glutamate neurons signal and participate in reward and aversion-based behaviors. However, the neurochemical mechanisms that underlie how these neurons participate in diverse motivated behaviors is unknown. We used a combination of optical sensors to identify how distinct neurochemical inputs to VTA glutamate neurons participate in motivated behavior. Glutamate inputs to VTA glutamate neurons increased for both reward- and aversion-predicting cues and aversive outcomes, but subpopulations of glutamate inputs were increased or decreased by reward. For all cues and outcomes, GABA inputs to VTA glutamate neurons decreased and GCaMP-measured neuronal activity increased. GCaMP recordings also showed that VTA glutamate neuronal activity discriminated between the omission and receipt of an expected reward, but glutamate and GABA inputs to these neurons did not. Electro-physiological recordings in coordination with our sensor data suggest that glutamate inputs, but not GABA inputs, principally regulate VTA glutamate neuron participation in diverse motivated behaviors.
Sense–antisense miRNA pairs constitute an elaborate reciprocal regulatory circuit
Authors: Song Yulong , Li Lishi , Yang Wenbing , Fu Qiang , Chen Wanying , Fang Zeng , Li Wen , Gu Nannan , Zhang Rui
Published: May 2020

Antisense transcription of protein-coding genes has been increasingly recognized as an important regulatory mechanism of gene expression. However, less is known about the extent and importance of antisense transcription of noncoding genes. Here, we investigate the breadth and dynamics of antisense transcription of miRNAs, a class of important noncoding RNAs. Because the antisense transcript of a miRNA is likely to form a hairpin suitable as the substrate of ADARs, which convert adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNAs, we used A-to-I RNA editing as ultrasensitive readout for antisense transcription of the miRNAs. Through examining the unstranded targeted RNA-seq libraries covering all miRNA loci in 25 types of human tissues, we identified 7275 editing events located in 81% of the antisense strand of the miRNA loci, thus uncovering the previously unknown prevalent antisense transcription of the miRNAs. We found that antisense transcripts are tightly regulated, and a substantial fraction of miRNAs and their antisense transcripts are coexpressed. Sense miRNAs have been shown to down-regulate the coexpressed antisense transcripts, whereas the act of antisense transcription, rather than the transcripts themselves, regulates the expression of sense miRNAs. RNA editing tends to decrease the miRNA accessibility of the antisense transcripts, therefore protecting them from being degraded by the sense-mature miRNAs. Altogether, our study reveals the landscape of antisense transcription and editing of miRNAs, as well as a previously unknown reciprocal regulatory circuit of sense–antisense miRNA pairs.
Polymorphic centromere locations in the pathogenic yeast Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Ola Mihaela , O'Brien Caoimhe E. , Coughlan Aisling Y. , Ma Qinxi , Donovan Paul D. , Wolfe Kenneth H. , Butler Geraldine
Published: May 2020

Centromeres pose an evolutionary paradox: strongly conserved in function but rapidly changing in sequence and structure. However, in the absence of damage, centromere locations are usually conserved within a species. We report here that isolates of the pathogenic yeast species Candida parapsilosis show within-species polymorphism for the location of centromeres on two of its eight chromosomes. Its old centromeres have an inverted-repeat (IR) structure, whereas its new centromeres have no obvious structural features but are located within 30 kb of the old site. Centromeres can therefore move naturally from one chromosomal site to another, apparently spontaneously and in the absence of any significant changes in DNA sequence. Our observations are consistent with a model in which all centromeres are genetically determined, such as by the presence of short or long IRs or by the ability to form cruciforms. We also find that centromeres have been hotspots for genomic rearrangements in the C. parapsilosis clade.
MEDEA: analysis of transcription factor binding motifs in accessible chromatin
Authors: Mariani Luca , Weinand Kathryn , Gisselbrecht Stephen S. , Bulyk Martha L.
Published: May 2020

Deciphering the interplay between chromatin accessibility and transcription factor (TF) binding is fundamental to understanding transcriptional regulation, control of cellular states, and the establishment of new phenotypes. Recent genome-wide chromatin accessibility profiling studies have provided catalogs of putative open regions, where TFs can recognize their motifs and regulate gene expression programs. Here, we present motif enrichment in differential elements of accessibility (MEDEA), a computational tool that analyzes high-throughput chromatin accessibility genomic data to identify cell-type-specific accessible regions and lineage-specific motifs associated with TF binding therein. To benchmark MEDEA, we used a panel of reference cell lines profiled by ENCODE and curated by the ENCODE Project Consortium for the ENCODE-DREAM Challenge. By comparing results with RNA-seq data, ChIP-seq peaks, and DNase-seq footprints, we show that MEDEA improves the detection of motifs associated with known lineage specifiers. We then applied MEDEA to 610 ENCODE DNase-seq data sets, where it revealed significant motifs even when absolute enrichment was low and where it identified novel regulators, such as NRF1 in kidney development. Finally, we show that MEDEA performs well on both bulk and single-cell ATAC-seq data. MEDEA is publicly available as part of our Glossary-GENRE suite for motif enrichment analysis.
Numerical predictions of the flow characteristics of subsonic jet emanating from corrugated lobed nozzle
Authors: V. Paul Roy , K.G. Kriparaj , P.S. Tide
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of subsonic jet emanating from corrugated lobed nozzle.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical simulations of subsonic turbulent jets from corrugated lobed nozzles using shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model have been carried out. The analysis was carried out by varying parameters such as lobe length, lobe penetration and lobe count at a Mach number of 0.75. The numerical predictions of axial and radial variation of the mean axial velocity, u′u′ ¯ and v′v′ ¯ have been compared with experimental results of conventional round and chevron nozzles reported in the literature.

Findings

The centreline velocity at the exit of the corrugated lobed nozzle was found to be lower than the velocity at the outer edges of the nozzle. The predicted potential core length is lesser than the experimental results of the conventional round nozzle and hence the decay in centreline velocity is faster. The centreline velocity increases with the increase in lobe length and becomes more uniform at the exit. The potential core length increases with the increase in lobe count and decreases with the increase in lobe penetration. The turbulent kinetic energy region is narrower with early appearance of a stronger peak for higher lobe penetration. The centreline velocity degrades much faster in the corrugated nozzle than the chevron nozzle and the peak value of Reynolds stress appears in the vicinity of the nozzle exit.

Practical implications

The corrugated lobed nozzles are used for enhancing mixing without the thrust penalty inducing better acoustic benefits.

Originality/value

The prominent features of the corrugated lobed nozzle were obtained from the extensive study of variation of flow characteristics for different lobe parameters after making comparison with round and chevron nozzle, which paved the way to the utilization of these nozzles for various applications.
A pragmatic mixed-methods review of changing “case-complexity” of referrals to an intensive support service
Authors: Clifford Adam , Kemp Francesca Georgina
Published: May 2020

Purpose

“Case-complexity” is a widely used but under-explored concept across health and social care. A region’s Intensive Support Teams (ISTs) had been reporting an increase in “case-complexity”, but had not tested this hypothesis against data. This study aims to investigate this question through a pragmatic mixed-methods approach as part of a wider service evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for People with Learning Disabilities (HoNOS-LD) scores were used (n = 1,766) to estimate average “case-complexity” of referrals over an eight-year sample period. Two focus groups for IST staff (n = 18) explored why “case-complexity” appears to be increasing. Participant perspectives were subjected to thematic analysis.

Findings

Average HoNOS-LD scores have steadily increased over the sample period, suggestive of increasing “case-complexity”. Focus groups identified three broad themes to potentially explain the increased complexity: effects of Transforming Care; people’s changing and unchanging support systems; and issues related to mild and borderline intellectual disability. Many perspectives are grounded in or supported by evidence.

Research limitations/implications

Implications and limitations of findings are discussed, including areas for further consideration and research. The well-designed “short-cut” is promoted as a strategy for busy professionals in need of practice-based evidence but with limited research time and resources.

Originality/value

The findings and discussion will be of value to anyone involved in the design, commissioning and delivery of mental health and challenging behaviour services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) under Transforming Care. Study methodology is easily replicable to build broader picture about “case-complexity” among UK’s IDD population.
Factors influencing marketing channel choices for improved indigenous chicken farmers: insights from Baringo, Kenya
Authors: Kiprop Emmanuel Kiprotich , Okinda Cedric , Akter Asma , Geng Xianhui
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Improved indigenous chicken is considered a sustainable agricultural practice with social, economic and environmental indicators. Therefore, the analysis of the choice of market channels is of considerable importance to farmers with reference to improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence market channel choices among improved indigenous chicken farmers in Baringo County and to rank the determinants according to their level of importance in influencing farmer's choice of marketing channels.

Design/methodology/approach

A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect data from 209 households for the study conducted between April and July 2019, out of which, 198 useful responses were obtained. Multinomial logit regression and neural network models were used to analyze the factors influencing market channel choice based on socioeconomic, demographic and farm characteristics.

Findings

It was established that group membership, education, market distance, transport costs, farm size, cost of information and bargain costs were statistically significant in the choice of market channels (wholesaler, brokers, processors and supermarkets). With the direct consumer as the base market choice. The cost of transport had the highest normalized importance in the prediction of a farmer's selection of market channels for both radial basis function (RBF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks. However, flock attributes and age of household head had the least normalized importance in MLP and RBF, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the insufficiency of resources and time, this study only focused on a small part of the country (Baringo County). However, improved indigenous chicken farming is widely practiced in Kenya. Further studies can be carried out in other counties to validate the results of this study.

Practical implications

The outcome can be used in policy implementation involving improved indigenous chicken production in Kenya.

Originality/value

This study suggests the methods aimed at enhancing poultry sector in other counties in Kenya as well as other developing countries.
Artificial intelligence exploitation in facility management using deep learning
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , Zaher Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to apply a methodology that is capable to classify and localize mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) elements to assist facility managers. Furthermore, it assists in decreasing the technical complexity and sophistication of different systems to the facility management (FM) team.

Design/methodology/approach

This research exploits artificial intelligence (AI) in FM operations through proposing a new system that uses a deep learning pre-trained model for transfer learning. The model can identify new MEP elements through image classification with a deep convolutional neural network using a support vector machine (SVM) technique under supervised learning. Also, an expert system is developed and integrated with an Android application to the proposed system to identify the required maintenance for the identified elements. FM team can reach the identified assets with bluetooth tracker devices to perform the required maintenance.

Findings

The proposed system aids facility managers in their tasks and decreases the maintenance costs of facilities by maintaining, upgrading, operating assets cost-effectively using the proposed system.

Research limitations/implications

The paper considers three fire protection systems for proactive maintenance, where other structural or architectural systems can also significantly affect the level of service and cost expensive repairs and maintenance. Also, the proposed system relies on different platforms that required to be consolidated for facility technicians and managers end-users. Therefore, the authors will consider these limitations and expand the study as a case study in future work.

Originality/value

This paper assists in a proactive manner to decrease the lack of knowledge of the required maintenance to MEP elements that leads to a lower life cycle cost. These MEP elements have a big share in the operation and maintenance costs of building facilities.
Crisis situations: how should micro, small and medium enterprises handle them with a long term view?
Authors: Csath Magdolna
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economies. They employ about 70 percent of the working age population and produce on average about half of new value-added. Self-employed micro’s are a special segment of the MSME population. They are either the typical service providers or the new start-ups, later becoming rapidly growing gazelles. It is therefore very important that the majority of these businesses survive crises. There are plenty of suggestions about what governments should do to help, but what should MSMEs themselves do, not only for survival but also for a successful future? This is the topic of this article.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The article is based on international research findings and the long-time professional experience of the author on the operations of the MSME sector in an international context.

Findings

MSMEs can survive and even thrive on challenges created by sudden crisis situations, like a pandemic, if they have a proactive managerial mentality and also diverse professional knowledge, often called intellectual capital. There are well-known, but perhaps now neglected, management techniques which can support this combination of short and long run orientation, including future building aspirations. Combined they can enhance the intellectual capital stock of business, serving as a springboard for future sustainable success.

Originality/value

Crisis situations do not happen – fortunately - too often. Therefore. experiments about how to handle them, especially in the MSME sector are not extensively available. This paper suggests a tool-set which might be especially useful not only for handling crisis situations, but also for improving chances for lasting business success.
Status quo bias and shoppers’ mobile website purchasing resistance
Authors: Nel Jacques , Boshoff Christo
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Shopping statistics indicate that online shoppers prefer purchasing products using the desktop website of the retailer, rather than using the mobile website on a mobile phone to purchase products (mobile website purchasing). Therefore, using status quo bias theory, this study aims to investigate mobile website purchasing resistance of those customers using only desktop website purchasing.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the conceptual model an online questionnaire was used to collect data from customers purchasing products using only the desktop website on a computer (n = 484) and not the retailer’s mobile website.

Findings

Due to cognitive dissonance, customers using only desktop purchasing trivialize mobile website purchasing perceived attractiveness while perceiving more cognitive effort in mobile website purchasing to maintain consonance with their inertia. Further, relative advantage perceptions of mobile website purchasing lead to more trivialization of mobile website purchasing attractiveness perceptions. Desktop purchasing inertia enhances resistance through alternative attractiveness and cognitive effort perceptions, respectively, and cognitive effort and alternative attractiveness perceptions in serial. Desktop purchasing habit has the strongest positive influence on desktop purchasing inertia.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted in a high-involvement product context. Replication in a low-involvement product context is necessary to confirm the robustness of the results.

Practical implications

Retailers can use the findings to develop strategies to lower mobile website purchasing resistance in an online-mobile concurrent channel environment.

Originality/value

The study provides novel insights into mobile website purchasing resistance in an online-mobile concurrent channel environment. Further, the study addresses the gap in research on inertia and switching costs in the adoption of concurrent channels.
Factors affecting successful transition between post-disaster recovery phases: a case study of 2010 floods in Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Ali Rizwan Akbar , Mannakkara Sandeeka , Wilkinson Suzanne
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an in-depth study conducted on transition of recovery into subsequent recovery phases after the 2010 super floods in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The objectives of this research were to examine the post-disaster activities after the floods and highlight the critical areas hindering the transition into an effective recovery phase.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach based on literature reviews with semi-structured interviews with disaster management stakeholders were applied as the primary source of data.

Findings

The study found that long-term recovery was the most neglected phase of post-disaster recovery (PDR). The factors hindering successful transition following short-term recovery activities are lack of following: community-level involvement, local administration and community capacity, disaster governance, different stakeholders and coordination, information and knowledge management.

Research limitations/implications

This paper examines the long-term disaster recovery after the 2010 super floods in three districts of Sindh. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to investigate the factors in other areas for different types of disasters.

Practical implications

These findings are critical to planning future post-disaster recoveries in the region. It also provides a basis to investigate other types of disasters.

Originality/value

The transition of recovery into long-term phase has never been investigated before. The recovery phase is an opportune time to incorporate strategies for building back better, resilience, mitigation and preparedness. A PDR that does not incorporate these strategies in the long-term leaves affected communities in more vulnerable conditions for future disasters.
Identifying Muda in a fast food service process in Spain
Authors: Morales-Contreras Manuel Francisco , Suárez-Barraza Manuel F. , Leporati Marcelo
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Identification and elimination of Muda (any activity adding cost but not value from the customers’ perspective) is one of the main objectives of Lean service. Whilst there is significant research on implementing lean in manufacturing and some service industries, there is little information related to its application to the fast food service industry. The purpose of this paper is to try to fill in this gap by answering the research question: What type of Muda could be identified from the customers’ perspective within the service production processes in the fast food restaurant industry in Spain?

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study has been conducted. Three multinational companies were selected and several sites observed in Madrid, Spain. Three methods were used to gather data: document analysis; direct and participative observation and semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The paper identifies the seven types of Muda: defects, movements, process, inventory, overproduction, transport and delay. The results are discussed for Cases A, B and C, showing that A and B present higher potential for Muda, compared C.

Practical implications

Threefold value for practitioners and managers: waste identification is an opportunity for non-efficient processes improvement; observation/analysis from the customers’ perspective reveals that customers perceive these inefficiencies; a guideline/audit tool for future assessments.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the limited existing literature on lean service in fast food industry and disseminates this information to provide impetus, guidance and support toward increasing the productivity, efficiency, consistency and quality of service.
The perceived association between audit rotation and audit quality: evidence from the UAE
Authors: Malagila John Kalimilo , Bhavani Ganga , Amponsah Christian Tabi
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived association between audit rotation (AR) and audit quality (AQ) using respondents from a sample of audit firms operating in a developing economy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper addresses the following research question: How do UAE auditors perceive the association between various forms of AR and AQ?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected perception data from a sample of UAE auditors using a questionnaire, and applied several non-parametric statistical techniques to analyze the data, and to answer five exploratory research questions on the perceived association between various forms of AR and AQ.

Findings

The findings suggest that the UAE auditors in our sample did not perceive the association between individual types of AR and AQ as significantly different, and that AR in general is essential for AQ improvement and enhances trust in the audit process. Similarly, we find more support for the perception that medium audit tenure is associated with a lower impairment effect on auditor independence. Furthermore, we find no significant differences in perception based on gender, but younger/less experienced professionals and professionals in self-employed practices and small audit firms (compared to other demographics) significantly perceived AR enforceability and AT length to be associated with AQ. Our findings help to enrich our understanding of the perceived AR-AQ association in a relatively new context and less researched audit area in a developing economy.

Originality/value

Although lively debates on the question of AR and AQ within the accounting, finance, investment professions and in the financial media continue, there has been relatively limited knowledge and a dearth of empirical studies on this question in most developing economies. Being the first attempt in the country – the UAE, this study contributes towards addressing this gap in empirical knowledge by exploring the perceived association between various forms of AR and AQ in a developing economy.
How environmental turbulence influences firms’ entrepreneurial orientation: the moderating role of network relationships and organizational inertia
Authors: Wang Ming-Chao , Chen Pei-Chen , Fang Shih-Chieh
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Environmental turbulence represents a double-edged sword, simultaneously fueling and hindering a firm’s entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Drawing on the theories of EO and network relationships, this study aims to develop and test a conceptual model that provides a nuanced account of the relationship between environmental turbulence and firm EO.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were collected using a survey of high-technology firms in Hsinchu Science Park (HSP) in Taiwan. Questionnaires were mailed to 297 high-technology firms in the semiconductor, photoelectric and communication industries within HSP. Completed questionnaires were received from 94 firms, which included responses from 94 research and development managers and 462 employees.

Findings

The results reveal that the degree of environmental turbulence exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with a firm’s EO. Moreover, this relationship is positively moderated by network relationships between firms, but negatively moderated by organizational inertia.

Originality/value

The empirical and conceptual findings have important implications for understanding EO, because the findings explain causal relationships that transform a firm’s interactive and inner control capabilities into firm-level results.
Impact of gold and oil prices on the stock market in Pakistan
Authors: Shabbir Aiza , Kousar Shazia , Batool Syeda Azra
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to find out the impact of gold and oil prices on the stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the data on gold prices, stock exchange and oil prices for the period 1991–2016. This study applied descriptive statistics, augmented Dickey–Fuller test, correlation and autoregressive distributed lag test.

Findings

The data analysis results showed that gold and oil prices have a significant impact on the stock market.

Research limitations/implications

Following empirical evidence of this study, the authors recommend that investors should invest in gold because the main reason is that hike in inflation reduces the real value of money, and people seek to invest in alternative investment avenues like gold to preserve the value of their assets and earn additional returns. This suggests that investment in gold can be used as a tool to decline inflation pressure to a sustainable level. This study was restricted to use small sample data owing to the availability of data from 1991 to 2017 and could not use structural break unit root tests with two structural break and structural break cointegration approach, as these tests require high-frequency data set.

Originality/value

This study provides information to the investors who want to get the benefit of diversification by investing in gold, oil and stock market. In the current era, gold prices and oil prices are fluctuating day by day, and investors think that stock returns may or may not be affected by these fluctuations. This study is unique because it focusses on current issues and takes the current data in this research to help investment institutions or portfolio managers.
The impact of gender diversity on the relationship between managerial entrenchment and corporate social responsibility: evidence from UK companies
Authors: Kachouri Maali , Salhi Bassem , Jarboui Anis
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue the relationship between managerial entrenchment (ME), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and gender diversity. Specifically, this paper aims to empirically examine the impact of board gender diversity (BGD) and gender diversity in top management teams (TMTs) on the relationship between ME and CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data set of 300 UK companies listed during 2005-2017.

Findings

The results show that the positive relation between CSR and ME is more pronounced in companies where the level of women on the board is higher. However, women in TMT moderate this positive relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Women in TMT may be less responsive to shareholders’ preference for reduced company CSR concerns, but a higher percentage of women on the board can mitigate this effect.

Originality/value

This study suggests the dynamic relationship between CSR and ME.
Analysis of professional perceptions relating to the effectiveness of codes of ethics for journalists in Spain
Authors: Mauri-Ríos Marcel , Marcos-García Silvia , Zuberogoitia-Espilla Aitor
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Codes of ethics are important instruments in journalism, as they promote transparency and self-regulation of media, in addition to monitoring the quality of information. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the perceptions that Spanish journalists have of the effectiveness of codes of ethics and to evaluate the different personal and professional variables which condition this vision.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in the present study is based on quantitative content analysis using the survey technique. This technique makes it possible to obtain empirical data on various key aspects of the profession that are determining factors in ascertaining Spanish journalists’ views of one of the instruments of accountability that is external to the media: general ethical codes.

Findings

The results show that Spanish journalists are largely confident in the effectiveness of ethical codes in their profession. Likewise, it was seen that variables such as age, professional experience or the media with which they work influence the perceptions that professionals have of such instruments.

Originality/value

If understanding journalism as a profession whose mission is to guarantee the citizens their right to information, then it is essential to be familiar with the tools provided by the profession itself to be accountable to the public regarding this professional mission. Hence the importance of instruments of accountability and the perceptions of the professionals themselves regarding their effectiveness.
Customer incivility, rapport and tipping: the moderating role of agreeableness
Authors: Medler-Liraz Hana
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Although studies have emphasized the need to explore the negative consequences of customer incivility, scant attention has been paid to positive factors that can mitigate its negative effects on employees’ service performance. The purpose of this study is to extend research on customer incivility and its association with rapport and tipping through the prism of conservation of resources theory. It also examines the role of agreeableness as a personal resource in coping with instances of incivility.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 502 Israeli restaurant servers took part in this study.

Findings

Agreeableness significantly moderated the relationship between customer incivility and rapport: agreeable hospitality employees who served customers manifesting low/medium incivility reported better rapport than disagreeable hospitality employees. However, this effect was not significant for high incivility. Further, agreeable hospitality employees who served customers with low/medium incivility reported higher tips than disagreeable hospitality employees. Surprisingly, the findings also suggested that when employees served customers exhibiting high incivility, the tips were lower for servers high on agreeableness than for servers low on agreeableness.

Originality/value

This study broadens the frontiers of research on customer incivility and provides insights into the critical financial and emotional costs hospitality employees and service organizations incur when encountering incivility. The findings also contribute to the scant research on the potential moderators that may enable employees to handle customer interactions more constructively in the case of incivility within the hospitality industry. Agreeableness appeared to alleviate the negative effects of customer incivility on rapport and tipping but only seemed to be an effective resource up to a certain level of customer incivility.