bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting disease-causing variant combinations
Authors: Papadimitriou Sofia , Gazzo Andrea , Versbraegen Nassim , Nachtegael Charlotte , Aerts Jan , Moreau Yves , Van Dooren Sonia , Nowé Ann , Smits Guillaume , Lenaerts Tom
Published: January 2019

Notwithstanding important advances in the context of single-variant pathogenicity identification, novel breakthroughs in discerning the origins of many rare diseases require methods able to identify more complex genetic models. We present here the Variant Combinations Pathogenicity Predictor (VarCoPP), a machine-learning approach that identifies pathogenic variant combinations in gene pairs (bi-locus variant combinations). We show that the results produced by this method are highly accurate and precise, an efficacy that is endorsed when validating the method on recently published independent disease-causing data. Confidence labels of 95% and 99% are identified, representing the probability of a bi-locus combination being a true pathogenic result, providing geneticists with rational markers to evaluate the most relevant pathogenic combinations and limit the search space and time. Finally, VarCoPP has been designed to act as an interpretable method that can provide explanations on why a bi-locus combination is predicted as pathogenic and which biological information is important for that prediction. This work provides an important new step towards the genetic understanding of rare diseases, paving the way to new clinical knowledge and improved patient care.
Adapting the ELEAT (Early Life Exposure Assessment Tool) to Portugal – a pilot study to tackle gene-environment interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Rasga Celia , Santos João Xavier , Lopes Ana Leonie , Marques Ana Rita , Vilela Joana , Asif Muhammad , Oliveira Guiomar , Bennett Deborah , Walker Cheryl , Schmidt Rebecca J. , Vicente Astrid Moura
Published: January 2019

Background

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive and clinically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction skills, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviours. It is known that ASD has a strong genetics component, but heritability estimates of 50-80% suggest that modifiable non-genetic factors may play an important role in the onset of the disorder. Recently, pre-, peri and post-natal exposure to a variety of environmental factors has been implicated in ASD. Yet, the comprehensive assessment of environmental exposures in this pathology, using large population datasets, is still lacking. The objective of this study was to pilot an environmental exposure assessment tool in Portugal.

Methods

To examine environmental exposures in a population of Portuguese children with ASD, we translated, adapted and piloted the Early Life Exposure Assessment Tool (ELEAT). The ELEAT was originally developed to assess environmental factors in studies of neurodevelopmental disorders. It is a questionnaire filled by mothers of children with ASD, enquiring about Demographic Information, Maternal Conditions/Medical Interventions, Breastfeeding and Child Diet, Maternal Diet, Supplements, Lifestyle, Home and Environment, Environment, Occupation and Exposures. The ELEAT gathers information about environmental exposure along key phases for early neurodevelopment, from 3 months prior to conception, pregnancy, labor and delivery to the first year of life of the child. Two focus groups were realized, one with mothers of typically-developing children and another with mothers of children with ASD, in order to discuss the mothers opinion regarding the tool comprehensiveness and relevance.

Results

The large majority of mothers were sure about their answers for all modules, with a small fraction of the group reporting difficulties for the Occupations/Exposures module. Most mothers considered the ELEAT to be a little too long, but generally found that the instructions were clear and, most importantly, agreed that the questions were important.

Conclusions

Integration of the pilot feedback will allow us to enhance the tool and optimize its usage in Portuguese-speaking communities, improving its capacity to assemble accurate environmental data from diverse cultural settings, and to be extended to larger population datasets. Combined with genetic and clinical data, the ELEAT will contribute to the identification of modifiable lifestyle and environmental risk factors for ASD. Such evidence may eventually provide the opportunity for disease prevention or reduced severity by mitigating exposure when genetic susceptibility is identified early in life.
A new transgenic reporter line reveals Wnt-dependent Snail2 reexpression and cranial neural crest differentiation in Xenopus
Authors: Li Jiejing , Perfetto Mark , Materna Christopher , Li Rebecca , Tran Hong Thi , Vleminckx Kris , Duncan Melinda K. , Wei Shuo
Published: January 2019

During vertebrate embryogenesis, the cranial neural crest (CNC) forms at the neural plate border and subsequently migrates and differentiates into many types of cells. The transcription factor Snail2, which is induced by canonical Wnt signaling to be expressed in the early CNC, is pivotal for CNC induction and migration in Xenopus. However, snail2 expression is silenced during CNC migration, and its roles at later developmental stages remain unclear. We generated a transgenic X. tropicalis line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) driven by the snail2 promoter/enhancer, and observed eGFP expression not only in the pre-migratory and migrating CNC, but also the differentiating CNC. This transgenic line can be used directly to detect deficiencies in CNC development at various stages, including subtle perturbation of CNC differentiation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry confirm that Snail2 is reexpressed in the differentiating CNC. Using a separate transgenic Wnt reporter line, we show that canonical Wnt signaling is also active in the differentiating CNC. Blocking Wnt signaling shortly after CNC migration causes reduced snail2 expression and impaired differentiation of CNC-derived head cartilage structures. These results suggest that Wnt signaling drives the reexpression of snail2 in the post-migratory CNC and regulates CNC differentiation.
Spatial summation of individual cones in human color vision
Authors: Schmidt Brian P. , Boehm Alexandra E. , Tuten William S. , Roorda Austin
Published: January 2019

The human retina contains three classes of cone photoreceptors each sensitive to different portions of the visual spectrum: long (L), medium (M) and short (S) wavelengths. Color information is computed by downstream neurons that compare relative activity across the three cone types. How cone signals are combined at a cellular scale has been more difficult to resolve. This is especially true near the fovea, where spectrally-opponent neurons in the parvocellular pathway draw excitatory input from a single cone and thus even the smallest stimulus will engage multiple color-signaling neurons. We used an adaptive optics microstimulator to target individual and pairs of cones with light. Consistent with prior work, we found that color percepts elicited from individual cones were predicted by their spectral sensitivity, although there was considerable variability even between cones within the same spectral class. The appearance of spots targeted at two cones were predicted by an average of their individual activations. However, two cones of the same subclass elicited percepts that were systematically more saturated than predicted by an average. Together, these observations suggest both spectral opponency and prior experience influence the appearance of small spots.
Computational design of improved standardized chemotherapy protocols for grade II oligodendrogliomas
Authors: Pérez-García Víctor M. , Ayala-Hernández Luis E. , Belmonte-Beitia Juan , Schucht Philippe , Murek Michael , Raabe Andreas , Sepúlveda Juan
Published: January 2019

The use of mathematical models for personalization of cancer therapies and raising hypothesis of potential clinical impact is an emerging topic in the interface between mathematics and oncology. Here we put forward a mathematical model describing the response of low-grade (WHO grade II) oligodendrogliomas (LGO) to temozolomide (TMZ). The model described the longitudinal volumetric dynamics of tumor response to TMZ of a cohort of 11 LGO patients treated with TMZ. After finding patient-specific parameters, different therapeutical strategies were tried computationally on the ‘in-silico twins’ of those patients. Chemotherapy schedules with larger-than-standard rest periods between consecutive cycles had either the same or better long-term efficacy than the standard 28-day cycles. The results were confirmed in a large virtual clinical trial including 2000 patients. These long-cycle schemes would also have reduced toxicity and defer the appearance of resistances.

On the basis of those results, a combination scheme consisting of five induction TMZ cycles given monthly plus 12 maintenance cycles given every three months was found to provide substantial survival benefits for the in-silico twins of the 11 LGO patients (median 5.69 years, range: 0.67 to 68.45 years) and in a large virtual trial including 2000 patients. This scheme could be useful for defining a standardized TMZ treatment for LGO patients with survival benefits.

Author summary

A mathematical model described the longitudinal volumetric growth data of grade II oligodendrogliomas patients and their response to temozolomide. The model was used to explore alternative therapeutical protocols for the in-silico twins of the patients and in virtual clinical trials. The simulations show that enlarging the time interval between chemotherapy cycles would maintain the therapeutical efficacy, while limiting toxicity and defering the development of resistances. This may allow for improved drug-exposure by administering a larger number of cycles for longer treatment periods. A scheme based on this idea consisting of an induction phase (5 consecutive cycles, 1 per month) and a maintenance phase (12 cycles given in three-months intervals) led to substantial survival benefits in-silico.
The emergence of integrated information, complexity, and consciousness at criticality
Authors: Khajehabdollahi Sina , Abeyasinghe Pubuditha M. , Owen Adrian M. , Soddu Andrea
Published: January 2019

Using the critical Ising model of the brain, integrated information as a measure of consciousness is measured in toy models of generic neural networks. Monte Carlo simulations are run on 159 random weighted networks analogous to small 5-node neural network motifs. The integrated information generated by this sample of small Ising models is measured across the model parameter space. It is observed that integrated information, as a type of order parameter not unlike a concept like magnetism, undergoes a phase transition at the critical point in the model. This critical point is demarcated by the peaks of the generalized susceptibility of integrated information, a point where the ‘consciousness’ of the system is maximally susceptible to perturbations and on the boundary between an ordered and disordered form. This study adds further evidence to support that the emergence of consciousness coincides with the more universal patterns of self-organized criticality, evolution, the emergence of complexity, and the integration of complex systems.

Author summary

Understanding consciousness through a scientific and mathematical language is slowly coming into reach and so testing and grounding these emerging ideas onto empirical observations and known systems is a first step to properly framing this ancient problem. This paper in particular explores the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness framed within the physics of the Ising model to understand how and when consciousness, or integrated information, can arise in simple dynamical systems. The emergence of consciousness is treated like the emergence of other classical macroscopic observables in physics such as magnetism and understood as a dynamical phase of matter. Our findings show that the sensitivity of consciousness in a complex system is maximized when the system is undergoing a phase transition, also known as a critical point. This result, combined with a body of evidence highlighting the privelaged state of critical systems suggests that, like many other complex phenomenon, consciousness may simply follow from/emerge out of the tendency of a system to self-organize to criticality.
Robust manipulation of magnetism in LaAO3/BaTiO3 (A = Fe, Mn and Cr) superstructures by ferroelectric polarization
Authors: Chen Dong , Zhang Guangbiao , Cheng Zhenxiang , Dong Shuai , Wang Yuanxu
Published: January 2019

Robust control of magnetism is both fundamentally and practically meaningful and highly desirable, although it remains a big challenge. In this work, perovskite oxide superstructures LaFeO3/BaTiO3 (LFO/BTO), LaMnO3/BaTiO3 (LMO/BTO) and LaCrO3/BaTiO3 (LCO/BTO) (001) are designed to facilitate tuning of magnetism by the electric field from ferroelectric polarization, and are systemically investigated via first-principles calculations. The results show that the magnetic ordering, conductivity and exchange interactions can be controlled simultaneously or individually by the reorientation of the ferroelectric polarization of BTO in these designed superstructures. Self-consistent calculations within the generalized gradient approximation plus on-site Coulomb correction did not produce distinct rotations of oxygen octahedra, but there were obvious changes in bond length between oxygen and the cations. These changes cause tilting of the oxygen octahedra and lead to spin, orbital and bond reconstruction at the interface, which is the structural basis responsible for the manipulation. With the G-type antiferromagnetic (G-AFM) ordering unchanged for both ±P cases, a metal–insulator transition can be observed in the LFO/BTO superstructure, which is controlled by the LFO thin film. The LMO/BTO system has A-type antiferromagnetic (A-AFM) ordering with metallic behavior in the +P case, while it shifts to a half-metallic ferromagnetic ordering when the direction of the polarization is switched. LCO/BTO exhibits C-type antiferromagnetic (C-AFM) and G-AFM orders in the +P and −P cases, respectively. The three purpose-designed superstructures with robust intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling are a particularly interesting model system that can provide guidance for the development of this field for future applications.
Nanobeam precession-assisted 3D electron diffraction reveals a new polymorph of hen egg-white lysozyme
Authors: Lanza Arianna , Margheritis Eleonora , Mugnaioli Enrico , Cappello Valentina , Garau Gianpiero , Gemmi Mauro
Published: January 2019

Recent advances in 3D electron diffraction have allowed the structure determination of several model proteins from submicrometric crystals, the unit-cell parameters and structures of which could be immediately validated by known models previously obtained by X-ray crystallography. Here, the first new protein structure determined by 3D electron diffraction data is presented: a previously unobserved polymorph of hen egg-white lysozyme. This form, with unit-cell parametersa= 31.9,b= 54.4,c= 71.8 Å, β = 98.8°, grows as needle-shaped submicrometric crystals simply by vapor diffusion starting from previously reported crystallization conditions. Remarkably, the data were collected using a low-dose stepwise experimental setup consisting of a precession-assisted nanobeam of ∼150 nm, which has never previously been applied for solving protein structures. The crystal structure was additionally validated using X-ray synchrotron-radiation sources by both powder diffraction and single-crystal micro-diffraction. 3D electron diffraction can be used for the structural characterization of submicrometric macromolecular crystals and is able to identify novel protein polymorphs that are hardly visible in conventional X-ray diffraction experiments. Additionally, the analysis, which was performed on both nanocrystals and microcrystals from the same crystallization drop, suggests that an integrated view from 3D electron diffraction and X-ray microfocus diffraction can be applied to obtain insights into the molecular dynamics during protein crystal growth.
The crystal structures of 6′-(4-chlorophenyl)- and 6′-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6a′-nitro-6a′,6b′,7′,9′,10′,12a′-hexahydro-2H,6′H,8′H-spiro[acenaphthylene-1,12′-chromeno[3,4-a]indolizin]-2-one
Authors: Syed Abuthahir S. , NizamMohideen M. , Viswanathan V. , Velmurugan D. , Nagasivarao J.
Published: January 2019

In the title compounds, C32H25ClN2O4 (I) and C33H28N2O5 (II), the six-membered pyran and piperidine rings adopt envelope and chair conformations, respectively. The five-membered pyrrolidine rings adopt twist conformations. Compound (II) crystallizes with two independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. In all three molecules there is a C—H...O intramolecular hydrogen bond present enclosing an S(7) ring motif. In (I), both oxygen atoms of the nitro group are disordered, while in (II) the methoxybenzene group is disordered in molecule B. The geometries were regularized by soft restraints. In the crystal of (I), molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [010]. The chains are linked by C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (10\overline{1}). Within the layer there are C—H...π interactions present. In the crystal of (II), the A and B molecules are linked via C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a square four-membered A–B–A–B unit. These units are linked by a number of C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular structure.
Bis(1-phenylimidazole)[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-pivalamidophenyl)porphinato]iron(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate chlorobenzene disolvate
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Oliver Allen G. , Scheidt W. Robert
Published: January 2019

The title complex, [Fe(C64H64N8O4)(C9H8N2)2](CF3O3S)·2C6H5Cl, has an unusual relative orientation of the two planar axial ligands [dihedral angle between the two imidazole planes = 46.55 (9)°]. The average equatorial Fe—N bond length is 1.974 (3) Å; the axial distances are 1.9628 (19) and 1.9932 (19) Å. The porphyrin core displays modest ruffling. Disorder is modeled for three of the tert-butyl groups of the pickets. In the crystal, a modest π–π interaction exists between adjacent phenyl rings related by an inversion center, and hydrogen bonds connect the trifluoromethanesulfonate oxygen atoms to the amide groups of the picket substituents.
Rubidium bis(2-methyllactato)borate monohydrate
Authors: Gokila Govindharajan , Thiruvalluvar Aravazhi Amalan , Ramachandra Raja Chidambaram
Published: January 2019

The asymmetric unit of the inorganic–organic hybrid salt, poly[aqua[μ4-bis(2-methyllactato)borato]rubidium], [Rb(C8H12BO6)(H2O)]
n
, comprises a rubidium cation, a bis(2-methyllactato)borate anion, and a water molecule of crystallization. The rubidium cation is pseudo-octahedrally coordinated by five O atoms from four bis(2-methyllactato)borate ligands and by a water molecule. The presence of four coordinating O atoms within the anion lead to the formation of a polymeric three-dimensional framework structure that is consolidated by additional O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions.
6-Bromo-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-[(1-octyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine
Authors: Bourichi Selma , Kandri Rodi Youssef , Hökelek Tuncer , Chakroune Said , Ouzidan Younes , Capet Frédéric
Published: January 2019

In the title compound, C23H26BrClN6, the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.012 Å) is inclined at angles of 19.37 (12) and 89.27 (13)° to the phenyl and triazole rings, respectively, while the phenyl and triazole rings subtend a dihedral angle of 71.23 (15)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by C—H...NI and bifurcated C—H...(NT,NT) (I = imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and T = triazole) hydrogen bonds into a double-column structure propagating along the b-axis direction.
What counts for quality in interdisciplinary accounting research in the next decade
Authors: Guthrie James , Parker Lee D. , Dumay John , Milne Markus J.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the focus and changing nature of measuring academic accounting research quality. The paper addresses contemporary changes in academic publishing, metrics for determining research quality and the possible impacts on accounting scholars. These are considered in relation to the core values of interdisciplinary accounting research ‒ that is, the pursuit of novel, rigorous, significant and authentic research motivated by a passion for scholarship, curiosity and solving wicked problems. The impact of changing journal rankings and research citation metrics on the traditional and highly valued role of the accounting academic is further considered. In this setting, the paper also provides a summary of the journal’s activities for 2018, and in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on contemporary data sets, the paper illustrates the increasingly diverse and confusing array of “evidence” brought to bear on the question of the relative quality of accounting research. Commercial products used to rate and rank journals, and judge the academic impact of individual scholars and their papers not only offer insight and visibility, but also have the potential to misinform scholars and their assessors.

Findings

In the move from simple journal ranking lists to big data and citations, and increasingly to concerns with impact and engagement, the authors identify several challenges facing academics and administrators alike. The individual academic and his or her contribution to scholarship are increasingly marginalised in the name of discipline, faculty and institutional performance. A growing university performance management culture within, for example, the UK and Australasia, has reached a stage in the past decade where publication and citation metrics are driving allocations of travel grants, research grants, promotions and appointments. With an expanded range of available metrics and products to judge their worth, or have it judged for them, scholars need to be increasingly informed of the nuanced or not-so-nuanced uses to which these measurement systems will be put. Narrow, restricted and opaque peer-based sources such as journal ranking lists are now being challenged by more transparent citation-based sources.

Practical implications

The issues addressed in this commentary offer a critical understanding of contemporary metrics and measurement in determining the quality of interdisciplinary accounting research. Scholars are urged to reflect upon the challenges they face in a rapidly moving context. Individuals are increasingly under pressure to seek out preferred publication outlets, developing and curating a personal citation profile. Yet such extrinsic outcomes may come at the cost of the core values that motivate the interdisciplinary scholar and research.

Originality/value

This paper provides a forward-looking focus on the critical role of academics in interdisciplinary accounting research.
To speak or not to speak the language of numbers: accounting as ventriloquism
Authors: Fauré Bertrand , Cooren François , Matte Frédérik
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on accounting’s performativity by developing a ventriloquial perspective that directs the attention to the reciprocity between the accounting signs and the accountants: they both do things by making each other speak. This oscillation explains where accounting number’s authority, materiality and resistance come from.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to show the relevance of this approach, the authors examine various ways numbers manage to speak or do things in the context of video-recorded conversations taken from fieldwork completed with Médecins sans frontières (also known as Doctors without Borders) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Findings

The analyses show how this ventriloquial perspective can inform the way the authors interpret what happens: when numbers do not say the same thing; when numbers are competing with other figures; and when numbers backfire on their own promoters.

Research limitations/implications

Even if some of the numbers studied are sometimes far from accounting per se, it shows how the absence or presence of accounting can make a difference.

Practical implications

The authors then discuss the implications of this research for accounting social innovation through accounting inscriptions.

Social implications

This perspective helps to understand that numbers can give great power, but that everything cannot be told with numbers. This is why making numbers speak is a great talent.

Originality/value

This refreshing perspective on accounting could be extended to other fields such as auditing and auditing.
A resource-based perspective on work–family conflict: meta-analytical findings
Authors: Liao Eko Yi , Lau Victor P. , Hui Ray Tak-yin , Kong Kaylee Hao
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated and theory-driven meta-analysis of work–family conflict (WFC). The authors quantitatively review the relationships between WFC and three pairs of antecedents and several consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the research model. Specifically, the authors adopt a resource-based perspective (i.e. conservation of resources (COR) theory) to investigate the relationships between three pairs of antecedents (demand/control, autonomy/hours spent at both work and family domains and role overload/flexibility) and WFC. While COR theory argues that resource loss perceptions would generate much more influential impact on individuals comparing to that of resource gain, both favourable and unfavourable antecedents, representing resource gain and resource loss, respectively, are incorporated in each pair of antecedents. This inclusion of contrary antecedents allows the authors to investigate the comparison of the relationships between the favourable antecedents – WFC relationships and the unfavourable factors – WFC relationships. In addition, the authors analyse how and to what extent WFC influences employees’ attitudes (i.e. commitment), behaviours (i.e. performance) towards both work and family, and their career consequences.

Findings

The meta-analytical findings generally support the hypotheses. Work and family demands are found positively related to WFC, while having a control at either work or family would be negatively related to WFC. Perceiving a high level of autonomy at work is negatively related to WFC, and hours spend at work has a positive relation with WFC. Role overload at both work and family are associated with WFC, while having flexibility from work schedule would be negatively related to WFC. In addition, WFC is negatively related to employee career development outcomes.

Originality/value

First, the authors adopt a resource-based view to organise both favourable and unfavourable antecedents of WFC. Second, this paper aims at extending the investigation on WFC consequences to performance at both work and family, commitment to both work and family, and employee career outcomes, because all of them are critical consequences but not fully explored in previous meta-analyses. Third, this paper has incorporated newly explored correlates of WFC (e.g. employee career development-related outcomes) and quantitatively reviewed their relationships with WFC.
A panel for lemons? Positivity bias, reputation systems and data quality on MTurk
Authors: Matherly Ted
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the effectiveness of systems for ensuring cooperation in online transactions is impacted by a positivity bias in the evaluation of the work that is produced. The presence of this bias can reduce the informativeness of the reputation system and negatively impact its ability to ensure quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This research combines survey and experimental methods, collecting data from 1,875 Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers in five studies designed to investigate the informativeness of the MTurk reputation system.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the presence of a positivity bias in evaluations of workers on MTurk, which leaves them undifferentiated, except at the extremity of the reputation system and by status markers.

Research limitations/implications

Because MTurk workers self-select tasks, the findings are limited in that they may only be generalizable to those who are interested in research-related work. Further, the tasks used in this research are largely subjective in nature, which may decrease their sensitivity to differences in quality.

Practical implications

For researchers, the results suggest that requiring 99 per cent approval rates (rather than the previously advised 95 per cent) should be used to identify high-quality workers on MTurk.

Originality/value

The research provides insights into the design and use of reputation systems and demonstrates how design decisions can exacerbate the effect of naturally occurring biases in evaluations to reduce the utility of these systems.
Using Facebook for travel decision-making: an international study of antecedents
Authors: Mariani Marcello , Ek Styven Maria , Ayeh Julian K.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate antecedents of using non-travel-specific social media (specifically Facebook) for travel decision-making before a leisure trip.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an online survey of 426 young travel consumers from Italy and Sweden, this work applies structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis.

Findings

The study finds support for most of the conventional TAM-related constructs: perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and intention, while ease of use is not found relevant in this context.

Research limitations/implications

Results shed light on the antecedents of using non-travel specific social media in two countries. Future research might focus on validating the factors identified and add others that might shape usage in the selected countries. Future studies could further investigate possible differences arising from culture, country of origin and age. The analysis can also be extended to other countries.

Practical implications

The analysis might help managers in the hospitality and tourism sector by providing an understanding of the cognitive factors which determine travelers’ decision to use Facebook for trip planning. Thus, managers should get to know these factors in their effort to influence social media in hospitality and tourism settings.

Originality/value

The findings offer interesting perspectives on the applicability of conventional models to the context of non-travel-specific social media platforms. The exploration of cross-cultural differences also adds to the extant body of knowledge.
The concept of Datenherrschaft of patient information from a Heideggerian perspective
Authors: Koskinen Jani Simo Sakari
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In this paper, patient information is approached from a Heideggerian perspective with the intention to gather an understanding about the personal nature of the information. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the ownership of patient information and then present Datenherrschaft (German for “mastery over information”) as a suitable model for patient ownership of patient information.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is theoretical in approach. It is based on arguments derived from Heidegger’s work in the Being and Time.

Findings

Based on this Heideggerian approcah, a proposal for using the special definition of ownership of patient information – Datenherrschaft – given to a patient is suggested. From a Heideggerian perspective, it can be stated that the patient has the strongest rights towards patient information because this information is crucial for a patient to have an understanding about their Dasein (being-in-the-world).

Research limitations/implications

Datenherrschaft is used as an example of an ethically justified way of regulating the patient information ownership and should be analysed further. Especially the practical implications of implementing Datenherrschaft need more research.

Originality/value

Patient information ownership is an issue that is neither unambiguously solved in many countries, nor has it, in our view, been ethically justified. The potential solution – Datenherrschaft – presented in this paper is clear and has strong philosophical justifications.
The risk analysis of Bitcoin and major currencies: value at risk approach
Authors: Uyar Umut , Kahraman Ibrahim Korkmaz
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This study aims to compare investors of major conventional currencies and Bitcoin (BTC) investors by using the value at risk (VaR) method common risk measure.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used a risk analysis named as VaR. The analysis has various computations that Historical Simulation and Monte Carlo Simulation methods were used for this paper.

Findings

Findings of the analysis are assessed in two different aspects of singular currency risk and portfolios built. First, BTC is found to be significantly risky with respect to the major currencies; and it is six times riskier than the singular most risky currency. Second, in terms of inclusion of BTC into a portfolio, which equally weights all currencies, it elevates overall portfolio risk by 98 per cent.

Practical implications

In spite of the remarkable risk level, it could be considered that investors are desirous of making an investment on BTC could mitigate their overall exposed risk relatively by building a portfolio.

Originality/value

The paper questions the risk level of Bitcoin, which is a digital currency. BTC, a matter of debate in the contemporary period, is seen as a digital currency free from control or supervision of a regulatory board. With the comparison of major currencies and BTC shows that how could be risky of a financial instrument without regulations. However, there is some advice for investors who would like to invest digital currencies despite the risk level in this study.
Following the cyber money trail
Authors: Irwin Angela S.M. , Dawson Caitlin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how global regulation of cryptocurrencies and other cybercurrencies can assist in addressing the challenges of attribution when investigating ransomware attacks and other types of cybercrime using these payment methods.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review, looking at current academic research and discourse on the topic cryptocurrency regulation, is conducted to highlight current thinking and perceived difficulties in implanting a global regulatory framework. In addition, the research explores how governments have addressed the risks posed by cryptocurrencies and how regulation has been implemented. The research focuses on the regulatory approaches of Australia, Europe and the Americas to determine whether they could feasibly address the risks posed by cryptocurrencies and be implemented on a global scale.

Findings

To date, few sustained efforts have been made to regulate Bitcoin or other cybercurrencies. Where regulation has been introduced, it has often proven too costly to implement, thereby, stifling Bitcoin industry growth, or too ad hoc to function effectively. These regulatory pitfalls are substantiated by the continuing difficulty faced by law enforcement agencies, in identifying individual Bitcoin users and separating those that are using them for nefarious purposes from those that are using them for legitimate ones. These challenges appear to grow exponentially when it comes to prosecuting criminals for Bitcoin-related offences, due to the enormous lack of agreement within the justice system of most countries as to the appropriate legal definition for Bitcoin. This research highlights three characteristics that will be vital to the success of any global regulatory framework. These are consistency, clarity and cost-effective implementation. A regulatory framework for Bitcoin that lacks any one of these elements will fail to meet the requirements of every stakeholder in the regulatory process. A framework that is too costly to implement will stifle fintech innovation, subsequently depriving national economies of the multitude of potential benefits promised by fostering fintech entrepreneurship. Equally, a framework that is inconsistent will hamper the global cooperation necessary to combat Bitcoin-related crime.

Originality/value

This research evaluates research, discourse and regulatory responses from academic and governmental sources and discusses how a global response to cryptocurrency regulation will help address the growing problem of attribution when it comes to ransomware attacks, which has experienced a considerable spike in recent months.
Money laundering and terrorism financing through consulting companies
Authors: Teichmann Fabian Maximilian Johannes
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how criminals need to proceed to launder money and finance terrorism through the use of consulting firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis of 58 semi-standardized expert interviews with both illegal financial services providers and prevention experts led to the identification of concrete techniques for money laundering and terrorism financing through consulting companies.

Findings

Consulting firms could be considered to be “criminals’ best friends”. Terrorists could either buy or set up consulting firms in reputable countries, such as Switzerland or the UK. Subsequently, they could combine real consulting services along with fake clients to cover their illicit activities.

Research limitations/implications

As the findings are based on semi-standardized interviews, they are limited to the 58 interviewees’ perspectives.

Practical implications

The identification of gaps in current prevention mechanisms is meant to provide legislators, compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and intelligence offices with insights into how criminals finance terrorism and launder money.

Originality/value

While the existing literature focuses on simply naming areas that could play a part in money laundering or the financing of terrorism, this paper describes a concrete method. It takes both prevention and criminal perspectives into account.
An investigation of the fraud risk and fraud scheme methods in Greek commercial banks
Authors: Repousis Spyridon , Lois Petros , Veli Varvara
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine types of fraud risk and fraud scheme methods in Greek commercial banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Data used for this study were obtained from primary source through questionnaires. This method of data collection was followed and was considered appropriate because the information sought is not publicly available and middle management and internal auditors are in a good position to know the answers to the questions asked. Questionnaires were sent to a sample of 230 persons, all bank branch employees (internal auditors were excluded), in the city of Athens (capital city of Greece), in five banks, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, Eurobank and Postal Bank, during February 2017-March 2017. Finally, of the 230 questionnaires distributed, 225 completed and returned but only 203 of them were usable questionnaires. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of variables.

Findings

Results showed that forgeries, bribery and money laundering are the most important types of fraud risk, and the best fraud scheme methods are using dormant accounts and checks. Based on the empirical findings, the study recommends that there is a need for banks to implement a code of conduct and a code of ethics for staff, staff training, signature verification, control over dormant accounts, asking employees about their opinions and the way they feel about their bank, conducting surprise audits and using a hot line for whistleblowing.

Practical implications

The study will help banks in fraud risk management and in the development of policies to reduce risk within the banking sector. Also, will be useful to all categories of potential bank clients and users of financial services including shareholders, creditors, debtors and fund providers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study examining middle management and staff opinions about fraud risk and fraud scheme methods in Greek commercial banks.
The impact of the Greek economic crisis on the sustainability of the Turkish economy
Authors: Tsioptsia Kyriaki Argyro , Mallidis Ioannis , Siskou Thomas , Sariannidis Nikolaos
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of the Greek economic crisis on the sustainability of the Turkish economy.

Design/methodology/approach

A generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model is used over the Thomson Reuter’s Turkey Index for the period of May 1999 to August 2018 using monthly data. The control variables introduced in the proposed model are the S&P 500 of the US stock market and crude oil prices which are used to isolate more general systemic factors.

Findings

The structural analysis of volatility with the EGARCH model has shown that current volatility is more influenced by past volatility than by previous month shocks.

Research limitations/implications

The results can be exploited by investors, portfolio managers and policy makers in their decision-making process.

Originality/value

It is a first-time effort that examines the impact of the Greek economic crisis on the sustainability of the Turkish economy. The developed methodology can be used by investors, portfolio managers and policy makers in their decision-making process.
Clothing brand purchase intention through SNS
Authors: Pujadas-Hostench Jordi , Palau-Saumell Ramon , Forgas-Coll Santiago , Sánchez-García Javier
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the intention to purchase products through clothing brands’ social network sites (SNS) based on the theory of planned behavior and uses and gratifications theory (U&G), and the moderating effects of self-image congruity (SIC).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 1,003 followers of their favorite clothing brands’ SNS. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM analysis. The models were estimated from the matrices of variances and covariances by the maximum likelihood procedure using EQS 6.1.

Findings

The results highlight the positive impact of U&G on attitude, SNS intentions and SNS use, and U&G, SNS intentions and SNS use were seen to be the main antecedents predicting purchase intentions. Furthermore, SIC was found to have moderating effects between SNS attitude and SNS intentions and between SNS intentions and SNS use.

Practical implications

This research can help clothing brands understand the need to generate brand beliefs, and to develop contents or events to help accomplish the transition from use to purchase.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by providing a better understanding of intention to use and purchase intention through clothing brands’ SNS pages.
Theory, regulation and practice in Swedish digital records appraisal
Authors: Klett Elisabeth
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Digital records appraisal and aspects of archival values in theory, regularization and practice are explored. This paper aims to reflect upon the appraisal process, responsibility and norms for value creation in a digitalized environment. The research question was how do appraisal theory, normative rules and appraisal practice meet the aims of values in digital archives?

Design/methodology/approach

The study triangulated appraisal theory, normative values and participants’ views about archival values in appraisal practice in a Swedish setting. Content analysis were used to explore normative documents and interviews. Appraisal theories of the Swedish Nils Nilsson and the Canadian Terry Cook were interpreted. The result was related to theories on public values, the nature of responsibility and relations between the state and citizens.

Findings

The results show influences between theory, norms and practice. Changes in norms and practice do not follow the development of digitalization. Responsibility is focused on tasks, which exposes risks of accountability control and knowledge of appraisal grounds. The paper concludes that access requirements and user needs may prompt change in appraisal processes. In the light of digitalization, “primary and secondary value” are merely a matter of use and usability in a time and space (continuum) perspective.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based in Sweden where extensive right of access to public records and default preservation are norm.

Originality/value

The result shows how allocated responsibilities impinge on a re-active digital appraisal process.
Salience of public leaders’ “meaning making” in news coverage of a health crisis
Authors: You Myoungsoon , Ju Youngkee
Published: January 2019

Meaning making by leadership in a crisis is required to reduce uncertainty. We used analytic criteria for meaning making suggested by crisis management literature to investigate public leaders’ quotations in news coverage of a health crisis. The quotations were examined in terms of the five frame functions, which include offering a credible explanation of what happened, offering guidance, instilling hope, showing empathy, and suggesting that leaders are in control. The Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in South Korea was examined. As a result, the most salient frame function identified was displaying they are in control of the emergency, followed by offering guidance and explaining what happened. The salience of leaders’ meaning making disappeared in coverage by a liberal newspaper.
Fiscal Rules and Government Financing Costs
Authors: Afonso António , Jalles João Tovar
Published: January 2019

This paper assesses the effect of fiscal rules on sovereign bond spreads over the short and medium term, for 34 advanced countries and 19 emerging market economies, over the period 1980–2016. Our results, based on impulse response functions, show that the dynamic impact of fiscal rules on sovereign yield spreads is negative and statistically significant, at around 1.2–1.8 percentage points, implying lower government borrowing costs. This result stems essentially from the advanced economies subsample. We also find that more fiscally responsible countries are the ones for which a fiscal rule reduces the government's borrowing costs. Moreover, in times of recession, a fiscal rule leads financial markets to reduce the risk premiums on government bonds. Finally, when it comes to design features of fiscal rules, independent monitoring of compliance to the rule, done outside government, also reduces sovereign spreads.