bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oligogenic rare variant contributions in schizophrenia and their convergence with genes harbouringde novomutations in schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disability: Evidence from multiplex families
Authors: John Jibin , Kukshal Prachi , Bhatia Triptish , Harripaul Ricardo , Nimgaonkar V L , Deshpande S N , Thelma B.K.
Published: November 2019

Clinical and genetic heterogeneity has been documented extensively in schizophrenia, a common behavioural disorder with heritability estimates of about 80%. Common and rarede novovariant based studies have provided notable evidence for the likely involvement of a range of pathways including glutamatergic, synaptic signalling and neurodevelopment. To complement these studies, we sequenced exomes of 11 multimember affected schizophrenia families from India. Variant prioritisation performed based on their rarity (MAF <0.01), shared presence among the affected individuals in the respective families and predicted deleterious nature, yielded a total of 785 inherited rare protein sequence altering variants in 743 genes among the 11 families. These showed an enrichment of genes involved in the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton components, synaptic and neuron related ontologies and neurodevelopmental pathways, consistent with major etiological hypotheses. We also noted an overrepresentation of genes from previously reported gene sets withde novoprotein sequence altering variants in schizophrenia, autism, intellectual disability; FMRP target and loss of function intolerant genes. Furthermore, a minimum of five genes known to manifest behavioural/neurological and nervous system abnormalities in rodent models had deleterious variants in them shared among all affected individuals in each of the families. Majority of such variants segregated within and not across families providing strong suggestive evidence for the genetically heterogeneous nature of disease. More importantly, study findings unequivocally support the classical paradigm of cumulative contribution of multiple genes, notably with an apparent threshold effect for disease manifestation and offer a likely explanation for the unclear mode of inheritance in familial schizophrenia.
Acute perturbation of retromer and ESCPE-1 leads to functionally distinct and temporally resolved defects in endosomal cargo sorting
Authors: Evans Ashley J. , Daly James L. , Anuar Anis N. K. , Simonetti Boris , Cullen Peter J.
Published: November 2019

The human retromer is a stable heterotrimer of VPS35, VPS29 and VPS26 whose principal role is to orchestrate the endosomal retrieval of hundreds of internalised cargo and promote their recycling to the cell surface; a prototypical cargo being the glucose transporter GLUT1. Retromer’s role in a distinct endosomal retrieval pathway, the retrograde sorting of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), remains controversial. Here we have developed and applied knocksideways to acutely inactivate retromer and by visualising the sorting of endogenous GLUT1 and CI-MPR provide insight into the temporal dynamics of endosomal cargo sorting in HeLa and H4 human neuroglioma cells. While retromer knocksideways led to the development of time-resolved defects in cell surface sorting of GLUT1 we failed to observe defects in the sorting of the CI-MPR. In contrast knocksideways of ESCPE-1, a key regulator of retrograde CI-MPR sorting, resulted in a time-resolved defect in CI-MPR sorting. Together these data provide independent evidence consistent with a comparatively limited role for retromer in ESCPE-1 dependent CI-MPR retrograde sorting in HeLa and H4 human neuroglioma cells.
Type-2 diabetes with low LDL-C: genetic insights into a unique phenotype
Authors: Klimentidis Yann C. , Arora Amit , Newell Michelle , Zhou Jin , Ordovas Jose M. , Renquist Benjamin J. , Wood Alexis C.
Published: November 2019

Although hyperlipidemia is traditionally considered a risk factor for type-2 diabetes (T2D), evidence has emerged from statin trials and candidate gene investigations suggesting that lower LDL-C increases T2D risk. We thus sought to comprehensively examine the phenotypic and genotypic relationships of LDL-C with T2D. Using data from the UK Biobank, we found that LDL-C was negatively associated with T2D (OR=0.43[0.41, 0.45] per mmol/L unit of LDL-C), despite positive associations of LDL-C with HbA1c and BMI. We then performed the first genome-wide exploration of variants simultaneously associated with lower LDL-C and increased T2D risk, using data on LDL-C from the UK Biobank (n=431,167) and the GLGC consortium (n=188,577), and T2D from the DIAGRAM consortium (n=898,130). We identified 31 loci associated with lower LDL-C and increased T2D, capturing several potential mechanisms. Seven of these loci have previously been identified for this phenotype, and 9 have previously been implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Finally, two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses suggest that low LDL-C causes T2D, although causal interpretations are challenging due to pleiotropy. Our findings extend our current understanding of the higher T2D risk among individuals with low LDL-C, and of the underlying mechanisms, including those underlying the diabetogenic effect of LDL-C-lowering medications.
Reversed paired-gRNA plasmid cloning strategy for efficient genome editing inEscherichia coli
Authors: Ding Tingting , Huang Chaoyong , Liang Zeyu , Ma Xiaoyan , Wang Ning , Huo Yi-Xin
Published: November 2019

A growing number of CRISPR-Cas9 associated applications require co-expression of two distinct gRNAs. However, coexpressing paired gRNAs under the driving of independent but identical promoters in the same direction triggers plasmid instability, due to the presence of direct repeats (DRs). In this study, deletion between DRs occurred with high frequencies during plasmid construction and duplication processes, when three DRs-involved paired-gRNA plasmids cloning strategies were tested. This recombination phenomenon was RecA-independent, in agreement with the replication slippage model. To completely eliminate the DRs-induced plasmid instability, a reversed paired-gRNA plasmids (RPGPs) cloning strategy was developed by converting DRs to the more stable invert repeats (IRs). Using RPGPs, we achieved a rapid deletion of chromosome fragments up to 100 kb with high efficiency of 83.33% inEscherichia coli. This study provides general solutions to construct stable plasmids containing short DRs, which can improve the performances of CRISPR systems that relied on paired gRNAs, and also facilitate other applications involving repeated genetic parts.
Myeloarchitecture gradients in the human insula serve as blueprints for its diverse connectivity and function
Authors: Royer Jessica , Paquola Casey , Larivière Sara , de Wael Reinder Vos , Tavakol Shahin , Lowe Alexander J. , Benkarim Oualid , Evans Alan C. , Bzdok Danilo , Smallwood Jonathan , Frauscher Birgit , Bernhardt Boris C.
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Insular cortex is a core hub involved in multiple cognitive and socio-affective processes. Yet, the anatomical mechanisms that explain how it is involved in such a diverse array of functions remain incompletely understood. Here, we define a novel framework to test the hypothesis that changes in myeloarchitecture across the insular cortex explain how it can be involved in many different facets of cognitive function. Detailed intracortical profiling, performed across hundreds of insular locations on the basis of myelin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was compressed into a lower-dimensional space uncovering principal axes of myeloarchitectonic variation. Leveraging two datasets with different high-resolution MRI contrasts, we obtained robust support for two principal dimensions of insular myeloarchitectonic differentiation in vivo, one running from ventral anterior to posterior banks and one radiating from dorsal anterior towards both ventral anterior and posterior subregions. Analyses of post mortem 3D histological data showed that the antero-posterior axis was mirrored in cytoarchitectural markers, even when controlling for anatomical landmarks and sulco-gyral folding. Resting-state functional connectomics in the same individuals and ad hoc meta-analyses showed that myelin gradients in the insula constrained affiliation to macroscale intrinsic functional systems, showing differential shifts in functional network embedding across each myelin-derived gradient. Collectively, our findings offer a novel approach to capture structure-function interactions of a key node of the limbic system, and suggest a multidimensional structural basis underlying the diverse functional roles of the insula.
A Bayesian predictive approach for dealing with pseudoreplication
Authors: Lazic Stanley E. , Mellor Jack R. , Ashby Michael C. , Munafo Marcus R.
Published: November 2019

Pseudoreplication occurs when the number of measured values or data points exceeds the number of genuine replicates, and when the statistical analysis treats all data points as independent and thus fully contributing to the result. By artificially inflating the sample size, pseudoreplication contributes to irreproducibility, and it is a pervasive problem in biological research. In some fields, more than half of published experiments have pseudoreplication – making it one of the biggest threats to inferential validity. Researchers may be reluctant to use appropriate statistical methods if their hypothesis is about the pseudoreplicates and not the genuine replicates; for example, when an intervention is applied to pregnant female rodents (genuine replicates) but the hypothesis is about the effect on the multiple offspring (pseudoreplicates). We propose using a Bayesian predictive approach, which enables researchers to make valid inferences about biological entities of interest, even if they are pseudoreplicates, and show the benefits of this approach using twoin vivodata sets.
Effects of coral colony morphology on turbulent flow dynamics
Authors: Hossain Md Monir , Staples Anne E.
Published: November 2019

Local flow dynamics play a central role in physiological processes like respiration and nutrient uptake in coral reefs. Despite the importance of corals as hosts to a quarter of all marine life, and the pervasive threats currently facing corals, little is known about the detailed hydrodynamics of branching coral colonies. Here, in order to investigate the effects of the colony branch density and surface roughness on the local flow field, three-dimensional simulations were performed using immersed boundary, large-eddy simulations for four different colony geometries under low and high unidirectional oncoming flow conditions. The first two colonies were from thePocilloporagenus, one with a densely branched geometry, and one with a comparatively loosely branched geometry. The second pair of colony geometries were derived from a scan of a singleMontipora capitatacolony, one with the verrucae covering the surface intact, and one with the verrucae removed. We found that the mean velocity profiles in the densely branched colony changed substantially in the middle of the colony, becoming significantly reduced at middle heights where flow penetration was poor, while the mean velocity profiles in the loosely branched colony remained similar in character from the front to the back of the colony, with no middle-range velocity deficit appearing at the center of the colony. When comparing the turbulent flow statistics at the surface of the rough and smoothM. capitatacolonies, we found higher Reynolds stress components for the smooth colony, indicating higher rates of mixing and transport compared to the rough colony, which must sacrifice mixing and transport efficiency in order to maintain its surface integrity in its natural high-flow environment. These results suggest that the densely branched, roughly patterned corals found in high flow areas may be more resistant not only to breakage, but also to flow penetration.
The minimum land area requiring conservation attention to safeguard biodiversity
Authors: Allan James R. , Possingham Hugh P. , Atkinson Scott C. , Waldron Anthony , Di Marco Moreno , Adams Vanessa M. , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Kissling W. Daniel , Worsdell Thomas , Gibbon Gwili , Kumar Kundan , Mehta Piyush , Maron Martine , Williams Brooke A. , Jones Kendall R. , Wintle Brendan A. , Reside April E. , Watson James E.M.
Published: November 2019

More ambitious conservation efforts are needed to stop the global biodiversity crisis. Here, we estimate the minimum land area to secure important sites for terrestrial fauna, ecologically intact areas, and the optimal locations for representation of species ranges and ecoregions. We discover that at least 64 million km2 (44% of terrestrial area) requires conservation attention. Over 1.8 billion people live on these lands so responses that promote agency, self-determination, equity, and sustainable management for safeguarding biodiversity are essential. Spatially explicit land-use scenarios suggest that 1.3 million km2 of land requiring conservation could be lost to intensive human land-uses by 2030, which requires immediate attention. However, there is a seven-fold difference between the amount of habitat converted under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, highlighting an opportunity to avert this crisis. Appropriate targets in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to ensure conservation of the identified land would contribute substantially to safeguarding biodiversity.
ULK complex organization in autophagy by a C-shaped FIP200 N-terminal domain dimer
Authors: Shi Xiaoshan , Yokom Adam L. , Wang Chunxin , Young Lindsey N. , Youle Richard J. , Hurley James H.
Published: November 2019

The autophagy-initiating human ULK complex consists of the kinase ULK1/2, FIP200, ATG13, and ATG101. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry was used to map their mutual interactions. The N-terminal 640 residues (NTD) of FIP200 interact with the C-terminal IDR of ATG13. Mutations in these regions abolish their interaction. Negative stain electron microscopy (EM) and multiangle light scattering showed that FIP200 is a dimer whilst a single molecule each of the other subunits is present. The FIP200 NTD is flexible in the absence of ATG13, but in its presence adopts the shape of the letter C ~20 nm across. The ULK1 EAT domain interacts loosely with the NTD dimer, while the ATG13-ATG101 HORMA dimer does not contact the NTD. Cryo-EM of the NTD dimer revealed a structure similarity to the scaffold domain of TBK1, suggesting an evolutionary similarity between the autophagy initiating TBK1 kinase and the ULK1 kinase complex.

The human ULK complex consists of ULK1/2, FIP200, ATG13, and ATG101. We found that the FIP200 N-terminal domain is a C-shaped dimer that binds directly to a single ATG13 molecule and serves as the organizing hub of the complex.
Recurrent Processes Emulate a Cascade of Hierarchical Decisions: Evidence from Spatio-Temporal Decoding of Human Brain Activity
Authors: Gwilliams Laura , King Jean-Remi
Published: November 2019

Mounting evidence suggests that perception depends on a largely-feedforward brain network. However, the discrepancy between (i) the latency of the corresponding feedforward responses (150-200 ms) and (ii) the time it takes human subjects to recognize brief images (often >500 ms) suggests that recurrent neuronal activity is critical to visual processing. Here, we use magneto-encephalography to localize, track and decode the feedforward and recurrent responses elicited by brief presentations of variably-ambiguous letters and digits. We first confirm that these stimuli trigger, within the first 200 ms, a feedforward response in the ventral and dorsal cortical pathways. The subsequent activity is distributed across temporal, parietal and prefrontal cortices and leads to a slow and incremental cascade of representations culminating in action-specific motor signals. We introduce an analytical framework to show that these brain responses are best accounted for by a hierarchy of recurrent neural assemblies. An accumulation of computational delays across specific processing stages explains subjects’ reaction times. Finally, the slow convergence of neural representations towards perceptual categories is quickly followed by all-or-none motor decision signals. Together, these results show how recurrent processes generate, over extended time periods, a cascade of hierarchical decisions that ultimately predicts subjects’ perceptual reports.
Loss of m1acp3Ψ ribosomal RNA modification is a major feature of cancer
Authors: Babaian Artem , Rothe Katharina , Girodat Dylan , Minia Igor , Djondovic Sara , Milek Miha , Spencer Miko Sandra E. , Wieden Hans-Joachim , Landthaler Markus , Morin Gregg , Mager Dixie L.
Published: November 2019

The ribosome is an RNA-protein complex essential for translation in all domains of life. The structural and catalytic core of the ribosome is its ribosomal RNA (rRNA). While mutations in ribosomal protein (RP) genes are known drivers of oncogenesis, oncogenic rRNA variants have remained elusive. We discovered a cancer-specific single nucleotide variation in 18S rRNA at nucleotide 1248.U in up to 45.9% of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients and present across >22 cancer types. This is the site of a unique hyper-modified base, 1-methyl-3-α-amino-α-carboxyl-propyl pseudouridine (m1acp3Ψ), a >1 billion years conserved RNA modification at the ribosome’s peptidyl decoding-site. A sub-set of CRC tumors we term ‘hypo-m1acp3Ψ’, show sub-stoichiometric m1acp3Ψ-modification unlike normal control tissues. A m1acp3Ψ knockout model and hypo-m1acp3Ψ patient tumors share a translational signature, characterized by highly abundant ribosomal proteins. Thus, m1acp3Ψ-deficient rRNA forms an uncharacterized class of ‘onco-ribosome’ which may serve as a chemotherapeutic target for treating cancer patients.
Presynaptic depression maintains stable synaptic strength in developmentally arrested Drosophila larvae
Authors: Perry Sarah , Goel Pragya , Miller Daniel , Ganetzky Barry , Dickman Dion
Published: November 2019

Positive and negative modes of regulation typically constrain synaptic growth and function within narrow physiological ranges. However, it is unclear how synaptic strength is maintained when both pre- and post-synaptic compartments continue to grow beyond stages imposed by typical developmental programs. To address whether and how synapses can adjust to a novel life stage for which they were never molded by evolution, we have characterized synaptic growth, structure and function at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) under conditions where larvae are terminally arrested at the third instar stage. While wild type larvae transition to pupae after 5 days, arrested third instar (ATI) larvae persist for up to 35 days, during which NMJs exhibit extensive overgrowth in muscle size, presynaptic release sites, and postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Remarkably, despite this exuberant growth of both pre- and post-synaptic structures, stable neurotransmission is maintained throughout the ATI lifespan through a potent homeostatic reduction in presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Arrest of the larval stage in stathmin mutants reveals a degree of progressive instability and neurodegeneration that was not apparent during the typical larval period. Hence, during a period of unconstrained synaptic growth through an extended developmental period, a robust and adaptive form of presynaptic homeostatic depression can stabilize neurotransmission. More generally, the ATI manipulation provides an attractive system for studying neurodegeneration and plasticity across longer time scales.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

It is unclear whether and how synapses adjust to a novel life stage for which they were never molded by evolution. We have characterized synaptic plasticity at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction in third instar larvae arrested in development for over 35 days. This approach has revealed that homeostatic depression stabilizes synaptic strength throughout the life of arrested third instars to compensate for excessive pre- and post-synaptic growth. This system also now opens the way for the study of synapses and degeneration over long time scales in this powerful model synapse.
Comparative transcriptomics reveal distinct patterns of gene expression conservation through vertebrate embryogenesis
Authors: Chan Megan E. , Bhamidipati Pranav S. , Goldsby Heather J. , Hintze Arend , Hofmann Hans A. , Young Rebecca L.
Published: November 2019

Despite life’s diversity, studies of variation across animals often remind us of our shared evolutionary past. Abundant genome sequencing over the last ~25 years reveals remarkable conservation of genes and recent analyses of gene regulatory networks illustrate that not only genes but entire pathways are conserved, reused, and elaborated in the evolution of diversity. Predating these discoveries, 19th-century embryologists observed that though morphology at birth varies tremendously, certain stages of embryogenesis appear remarkably similar across vertebrates. Specifically, while early and late stages are variable across species, anatomy of mid-stages embryos (the ‘phylotypic’ stage) is conserved. This model of vertebrate development and diversification has found mixed support in recent analyses comparing gene expression across species possibly owing to differences across studies in species, embryonic stages, and gene sets compared. Here we perform a comparative analysis using 186 microarray and RNA-seq expression data sets covering embryogenesis in six vertebrate species spanning ~420 million years of evolution. We use an unbiased clustering approach to group stages of embryogenesis by transcriptomic similarity and ask whether gene expression similarity of clustered embryonic stages deviates from the null hypothesis of no relationship between timing and diversification. We use a phylogenetic comparative approach to characterize expression conservation pattern (i.e., early conservation, hourglass, inverse hourglass, late conservation, or no relationship) of each gene at each evolutionary node. Across vertebrates, we find an enrichment of genes exhibiting early conservation, hourglass, late conservation patterns and a large depletion of gene exhibiting no distinguishable pattern of conservation in both microarray and RNA-seq data sets. Enrichment of genes showing patterned conservation through embryogenesis indicates diversification of embryogenesis may be temporally constrained. However, the circumstances (e.g., gene groups, evolutionary nodes, species) under which each pattern emerges remain unknown and require both broad evolutionary sampling and systematic examination of embryogenesis across species.
Evaluating the effect of subsidies for rural development on agri-food and forestry firms
Authors: Pérez-Méndez José A. , Pérez-Urdiales María , Roibas David
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the impact of the subsidies established by Measure 123 of the Rural Development Policy on the productivity of a sample of agri-food and forestry companies in the region of Asturias over the period 2006-2009.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimate a stochastic frontier function which allows subsidies to be considered as affecting both the level of technical efficiency and technical progress.

Findings

The results show that while subsidies have a positive effect on the technical progress of companies in the agri-food industry, for the forestry industry, the effect materializes as an improvement in technical efficiency. Additionally, other factors affecting either, technical progress and technical efficiency were identified.

Originality/value

This study adopts a model that allows the separate identification of the effect of subsidies on the level of efficiency, on the one hand, and on the technical progress, on the other.
Agglomeration effects and informal firms in the internal structure of cities
Authors: Dominguez Andres
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to estimate the effect of agglomeration on the probability of being an informal firm in Cali, Colombia. Informal firms produce legal goods but do not comply with official regulations. This issue is relevant because, similar to other developing countries, the informal sector in Colombia employs more than 50 per cent of the workforce. The results of this study demonstrate that one standard deviation increase in agglomeration reduces by 52 per cent the probability of being informal. Results are consistent with the idea that informal firms benefit less from agglomeration because of legal restrictions that block the relationship with formal firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective of the present paper is to estimate the effect of agglomeration on the probability that a firm – given a location – chooses to be informal. The authors deal with endogeneity issues by using soil information related to earthquake risk, which reduces the height of buildings and therefore increases the cost of agglomeration. The analysis focuses on Cali, Colombia, where the informal sector employs 60 per cent of the workforce. The registration of economic activities is used as a criterion to identify informal firms, in such a way that the percentage of informal firms is 42 per cent.

Findings

The authors find that the effect of agglomeration is strongly negative. The probability of being informal diminishes by 52 per cent when agglomeration increases by one standard deviation. Results in this paper shed light on how formal firms tend to be localized in high-density commercial and industrial areas, while informal firms are localized in low-density and peripheral areas where the land for production is cheaper and where they can avoid the control of authorities.

Originality/value

Theory argues that spatial production externalities and commuting costs are among the main forces that shape the city’s internal structure. Externalities include effects that increase firms’ production, and therefore workers’ income, when the size of the local economy grows. The authors now have strong evidence that firms’ productivity is positively related with the volume of nearby employment. Most of the empirical findings concern firms in the formal sector and, accordingly, the literature says little about the effect of agglomeration on informal firms’ location. However, this effect is crucial for developing countries where informal work is the main option for less-educated workers facing unemployment.
Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution using high performance calcium alginate/activated carbon membrane
Authors: Zhang Xiaoping , Li Yanhui , Li Meixiu , Zheng Heng , Du Qiuju , Li Hong , Wang Yuqi , Wang Dechang , Wang Cuiping , Sui Kunyan , Li Hongliang , Xia Yanzhi
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to purify the wastewater in the garment industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The preparation of the calcium alginate (CA)/activated carbon (AC) composite membrane was achieved by vacuum freeze-drying and the cross-linking reaction between sodium alginate and CaCl2. Effective parameters in the methylene blue (MB) adsorption such as temperature, dose, contact time and pH were discussed. The adsorption properties of the composite membrane were investigated by isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamic analysis. The adsorption equilibrium data were described by the adsorption isotherm Langmuir model and the Freundlich model. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion equations were selected to evaluate the kinetics. The thermodynamic study described that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous and exothermic.

Findings

The AC/CA membrane is an efficient and powerful adsorbent to remove MB in printing and dyeing wastewater, and provides a new idea for the selection of adsorption materials for industrial printing and dyeing wastewater.

Practical implications

The composite membrane research on CA and AC can provide new ideas for the research of these kinds of materials.

Social implications

The paper contributes to its wider and convenientapplication in wastewater treatment.

Originality/value

Studies on the combination of CA and AC into adsorption membranes and for the removal of dyes from printing and dyeing wastewater have not been reported. A novel composite material is provided for treatment dyeing wastewater in garment production. The composite membrane research on CA and AC can provide new ideas for the research of these kinds of materials and contribute to its wider and convenient application in wastewater treatment.
Potential of blockchain technology in supply chain management: a literature review
Authors: Gurtu Amulya , Johny Jestin
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on blockchain technology, present some trends and consider its potential value in supply chain management (SCM).

Design/methodology/approach

Papers that contained the word “blockchain” in their titles, keywords or abstracts were selected for conducting trend analyses.

Findings

The blockchain technology is rapidly making inroads in many industries and there is tremendous potential to eliminate intermediaries and to make SCM more efficient.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis is limited to 299 papers from the EBSCO database through December 2018.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the imperative role of blockchain technology that has created a discourse in the world of innovation and technology. This work will help academics to further the understanding of blockchain technology.

Social implications

Blockchain technology will provide transparency to consumers.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first review of blockchain technology and delves into its value in SCM. This work will help researchers in identifying the areas where blockchain is the most desirable and can be implemented.
A comprehensive framework for Internet of Things development
Authors: Ghaffari Kimia , Lagzian Mohammad , Kazemi Mostafa , Malekzadeh Gholamreza
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Despite the availability of prior studies on the Internet of Things (IoT) development, they have largely focused on challenges associated with evolving IoT. Hence, identifying requirements for IoT development, as a multifaceted phenomenon, whereby the challenges would be tackled remains a less-explored valuable line of inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to present a holistic view of crucial building blocks of IoT development, in order to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducts empirical research using a grounded theory (GT), centering on semi-structured interviews with 25 experts involved in the Iranian IoT development effort. Data were analyzed by using MAXQDA software.

Findings

This study presents a conceptual framework of requirements for IoT development, consisting of 14 concepts and 5 categories. The findings reveal that strategic, interactive, institutional, market-oriented and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure requirements play a salient role in facilitating IoT development.

Practical implications

The findings of this study shed some light on the momentous aspects of IoT development. Practitioners including governmental policymakers, industry and private sectors could benefit from the policy recommendations offered in this study in terms of strategic viewpoint, legal issues, business perspective and technological readiness.

Originality/value

From the methodological aspect, the present research is among the first studies on utilizing GT for exploration of requirements for IoT development. From the theoretical perspective, a remarkable achievement of this study is to profoundly discover some less-explored concepts of IoT development such as commercialization, feasibility study, futurology and institutional aspects. Furthermore, findings of this study highlight the contribution of innovation systems theory for the IoT development area in terms of alignment of the emerged requirements for IoT development with the functions of this theory.
A new approach of social media analytics to predict service quality: evidence from the airline industry
Authors: Tian Xin , He Wu , Tang Chuanyi , Li Ling , Xu Hangjun , Selover David
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Research on how to use social media data to measure and evaluate service quality is still limited. To fill the research gap in the literature, the purpose of this paper is to open a new avenue for future work to measure the service quality in the service industry by developing a new analytical approach of using social media analytics to evaluate service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses social media data to measure the service quality of the airline industry with the SERVQUAL metrics. A novel benchmark data set was created for each SERVQUAL metric. The data set was analyzed through text mining and sentiment analysis.

Findings

By comparing the results from social media with official service quality report from the Department of Transportation, the authors found that the proposed service quality metrics from social media are valid and can be used to estimate the service quality.

Practical implications

This paper presents service quality metrics and a methodology that can be easily adopted by other businesses to assess service quality. This study also provides guidance and suggestions to help businesses understand how to collect and analyze social media data for the purpose of evaluating service quality.

Originality/value

This paper offers a novel methodology that uses text mining and sentiment analysis to help the airline industry assess its service quality.
Stories from the end of the world: in search of plots for a failing system
Authors: Kociatkiewicz Jerzy , Kostera Monika
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider three types of stories: media, personal accounts and fiction, and look for plots depicting situations of fundamental shift in the framing and basic definitions of reality. The authors examine them from the point of view of their usefulness for developing creative responses to systemic change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a narrative study in three stages, aimed at identifying strong plots pertaining to systemic change. The analyzed material came from three different sources of narratives (fiction, media and creative stories) and was approached by the use of two different narrative methods: symbolic interpretation and narrative collage.

Findings

Currently many voices are being raised that the authors are living in times of interregnum, a period in between working systems. There is also a mounting critique of the business school as an institution perpetuating dysfunctional ideologies, rather than enhancing critical and creative thinking. The authors propose that the humanities, and, in particular, learning from fiction (and science fiction) can offer a language to talk about major (systemic) change help and support learning about alternative organizational realities.

Research limitations/implications

The study pertains to discourse and narratives, not to material aspects of culture construction.

Practical implications

Today, there is a mounting critique of business schools and their role in society. Following Martin Parker’s call to transform them into schools of organizing, helping to develop and discuss different alternatives instead of reproducing the dominant model, the authors suggest that education should be based, to much larger extent than until now, on the humanities. The authors propose educational programmes including the study of fiction and film.

Social implications

The authors propose that the humanities (and the study of fiction) can equip society with a suitable language to discuss and problematize systemic change.

Originality/value

This paper adds to narrative social studies through providing an analysis of strong plots showing ways of coping with systemic collapse, and through an examination of these plots’ significance for organizational education, learning, and planning. The authors present an argument for the broader use of fiction as a sensemaking, teaching, and learning tool for managing organizations in volatile environments.
Uncoupling innovation and entrepreneurship to improve undergraduate education
Authors: Swayne Nick , Selznick Benjamin , McCarthy Seán , Fisher Kimberly A.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

When it comes to undergraduate education, the terms “innovation” and “entrepreneurship” are often used interchangeably with respect to curricular practices and their associated learning and developmental outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to chart a course through the vast and growing multidisciplinary literature covering both topics to argue that innovation and entrepreneurship are not only different concepts, but they also play out in postsecondary institutional contexts in different and important ways.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on these differences, the authors propose that developing innovators must precede teaching future entrepreneurs and that the home of innovation education is not necessarily in the business school at all. Ideally, the authors believe innovation should be taught separately from any one disciplinary context. To illustrate the concept, the authors point to an existing program where professors and students from different disciplines work together on actual problems provided by external clients from both the public and private sectors.

Findings

Based on the authors’ rationale and approach, the authors propose an agenda that would allow for a deep analysis of the interaction between organizational behaviors and student outcomes, providing insight into effective practices and strategies for mobilizing institutional efforts aimed at teaching innovation and better aligning innovation with entrepreneurship education.

Originality/value

The authors provide a clear rationale for separating innovation and entrepreneurship pedagogy in higher education, terms that have been conflated in literature and in practice for nearly a century. The authors do this in an original way by pairing a theoretical framework with a short case study of an education program that has developed innovation pedagogy at the undergraduate level.
A synthesized framework for the formation of startups’ innovation ecosystem
Authors: Ojaghi Hamed , Mohammadi Mahdi , Yazdani Hamid Reza
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study set out to introduce an alternative framework for explaining the formation of the innovation ecosystem based on the systematic literature review (SLR) and ecosystemic approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an SLR of studies from the year 2008-2018 that investigating startups’ innovation. SLR approach being used exploration, interpretation and communication method, which composed of seven steps as follows exploring topics, searching, organizing, evaluating and expanding, integrating and communicating. The output of this process is 63 documents that applied to synthesize the formation framework.

Findings

The systematic review of literature has shown that researchers in recent years have considered some entities such as incubators, financials suppliers, accelerators, universities and companies in relation to the startup innovations, which are described in this paper as key actors. The study of the relationship between these actors in the documents led to the identification of interactional necessities, including structures, infrastructures and networks. Finally, the processes studied in the literature were classified into three types of mechanisms, namely, the genesis, growth and development of startups innovations.

Research limitations/implications

The SLR approach is subject to limitations because some poor explanations amongst previous researchers may be repeated and reinforced. Also, in the protocol adopted in this paper, documents are limited in English.

Practical implications

The introduced frammework can be useful in identifying and understanding the requirements of startups and creating effective policies for their innovation development.

Originality/value

This paper reviews, summarizes and integrates the growing and scattered literature of the innovation ecosystem of the startups and delivers new facts for the future development of this field.
Financial report readability and audit fees: a simultaneous equation approach
Authors: Xu Qiao , Fernando Guy , Tam Kinsun , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether audit fees and financial report readability are bi-directionally related.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test their hypotheses with empirical data. Specifically, they adopt a two-stage simultaneous equation regression model to assess the bi-directional relationship between audit fees and financial report readability.

Findings

While poor readability increases the fees charged by the auditor, higher audit fees improve the readability of the financial reports.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on US data. Future research may extend this study to other countries.

Practical implications

Poor financial report readability encumbers stakeholders of the firms. Understanding the interaction between financial report readability and audit fees will help both auditors and firm managers.

Social implications

Audit committees aggressively negotiating for lower audit fees should be aware of the link of low audit fees, potentially indicative of poor quality, to less readable reports. Investors and regulators too should be concerned about this relationship, especially in instances when auditors low-ball audit fees or when firms aggressively negotiate for lower audit fees.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to document the bi-directional relationship between financial report readability and audit fees and assess the positive impact of audit fees on financial report readability.
Determinants of sustainable FDI: a panel data investigation
Authors: Kapuria Cheshta , Singh Neha
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to explore the interrelationships between FDI with growth and sustainability dimension; and to empirically analyze the four dimensions, namely, environmental, economic, social and governance of sustainable FDI for South Asia and West Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

The data utilized in the paper is sourced from the World Development Indicators and the Worldwide Governance Indicators, covering South and West Asian region over the period 2011–2017. The paper employed both static and dynamic panel (two-step difference generalized methods of moments) estimation methods.

Findings

The results established a significant and robust relationship of past year FDI inflows with the current year’s value of FDI inflows for both the regions. Further, some variances in the relationships such as control of corruption, long-run carbon emissions, research and development, number of trademark applications as per the contextual factors have been detected.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions related to gender and governance found in this paper will be of interest to both researchers and policy makers for substantially reorienting the sustainability attributes to the foreign investment.

Originality/value

The authors’ main contributions are: to encapsulate the conceptual framework into an empirical model by combining all the four dimensions, namely, environmental, economic, social and governance; to have analyzed the possible differences and similarities in the study based on South and West Asia; to have explored the relationship between gender and FDI.
Developing digital audience frameworks for Oxford’s GLAM
Authors: McCarthy Elizabeth
Published: November 2019

Purpose

In order to develop a common framework for strategic planning and evaluation, the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) of Oxford undertook a process for defining digital audiences, undertaking user research to inform a new audience framework, which, in turn, is feeding a new approach and the application of the research across the Libraries’ web redevelopment. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

GLAM used qualitative and quantitative techniques to understand how visitors engaged with GLAM digitally: visitor shadowing, exit interviews, diary studies, remote interviews, social media and data evaluation. From these, GLAM focussed on motivational archetypes that apply to visitors across the institutions as well as pen portraits to support those archetypes, and a template for creating new portraits.

Findings

The framework helped GLAM develop digital priorities and outline how digital output met the needs of all audiences from a bottom-up user perspective, rather than only through top-down institutional decision making. Most relevant here, learning from the user research hugely informed the Bodleian Libraries’ website redevelopment. The Bodleian Libraries’ work within that framework shows that such a body of research is not solely high level; it can be applied on an institutional and project level to great effect.

Originality/value

Focussing on motivations rather than demographics is a less common way to approach digital audiences. Developing such a cohesive framework for digital audiences before undertaking strategic planning and specific development projects proved a valuable piece of work from which other institutions can learn.
Immigrant stereotypes and differential screening
Authors: Lambert Jason R. , Akinlade Ekundayo Y.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

There has been an increasing number of allegations of discrimination toward US employees and anecdotal indications of immigrant employee exploitation in the information technology sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if applicants’ work visa status causes native-born applicants to be treated differentially (less favorably) than foreign-born applicants.

Design/methodology/approach

A correspondence study design is used to observe differential screening processes by measuring the frequency of favorable job application responses received by foreign-born applicants compared to equally skilled native-born applicants.

Findings

Results from the study suggest that fictitious Asian foreign-born applicants who demonstrate the need for H-1B work visa sponsorship for employment receive significantly more favorable e-mail responses to job ads than US native-born applicants. Moreover, white native-born applicants are approximately 23 percent less likely than Asian foreign-born applicants to receive a request for an interview.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen method, the research results may lack generalizability. The hypotheses should be tested further by targeting more geographical locations, a variety of industries and using qualitative methods in future research.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for hiring managers who wish to reduce their liability for employment discrimination and foreign-born job seekers wishing to manage their expectations of the recruitment process.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to empirically study how the work visa status of job seekers affects early recruitment as increasingly more anecdotal evidence of immigrant exploitation and discrimination in the technology sector is reported.