bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct Brain Mechanisms for Conflict Adaptation Within and Across Conflict Types
Authors: Yang Guochun , Wang Kai , Nan Weizhi , Li Qi , Zheng Ya , Wu Haiyan , Liu Xun
Published: May 2021

Cognitive conflict, like other cognitive processes, shows the characteristic of adaptation, i.e., conflict effects are attenuated when immediately following a conflicting event, a phenomenon known as the conflict adaptation effect (CAE). One important aspect of CAE is its sensitivity to the intertrial coherence of conflict type, i.e., behavioral CAE occurs only if consecutive trials are of the same conflict type. Although reliably observed behaviorally, the neural mechanisms underlying such a phenomenon remains elusive. With a paradigm combining the classic Simon task and Stroop task, this fMRI study examined neural correlates of conflict adaptation both within and across conflict types. The results revealed that when the conflict type repeated (but not when it alternated), the CAE-like neural activations were observed in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobe, etc. (i.e., regions within typical task-positive networks). In contrast, when the conflict type alternated (but not when it repeated), we found CAE-like neural deactivations in a range of regions including bilateral superior and medial frontal gyri, bilateral angular cortex, bilateral temporal cortices, etc. (i.e., regions within the typical task-negative network). Moreover, this CAE-like neural deactivation predicts behavior performance. Network analyses suggested that these regions (for CAE-like neural activities within and across conflict type[s] respectively) can be clustered into two antagonistic networks. This evidence suggests that our adaptation to cognitive conflicts within a conflict type and across different types may rely on these two distinct neural mechanisms.
The inner nuclear membrane protein Lem2 coordinates RNA degradation at the nuclear periphery
Authors: Caballero Lucía Martín , Capella Matías , Barrales Ramón Ramos , Dobrev Nikolay , van Emden Thomas , Fischer-Burkart Sabine , Kinugasa Yasuha , Hirano Yasuhiro , Sinning Irmgard , Fischer Tamás , Hiraoka Yasushi , Braun Sigurd
Published: May 2021

Transcriptionally silent chromatin often localizes to the nuclear periphery. However, whether the nuclear envelope (NE) is a site for post-transcriptional gene repression is unknown. Here we demonstrate that S. pombe Lem2, an NE protein, regulates nuclear exosome-mediated RNA degradation. Lem2 deletion causes accumulation of non-coding RNAs and meiotic transcripts. Indeed, an engineered exosome substrate RNA shows Lem2-dependent localization to the nuclear periphery. Lem2 does not directly bind RNA, but instead physically interacts with the exosome-targeting MTREC complex and promotes RNA recruitment. The Lem2-assisted pathway acts independently of nuclear bodies where exosome factors assemble, revealing that multiple spatially distinct degradation pathways exist. The Lem2 pathway is environmentally responsive: nutrient availability modulates Lem2 regulation of meiotic transcripts. Our data indicate that Lem2 recruits exosome co-factors to the nuclear periphery to coordinate RNA surveillance and regulates transcripts during the mitosis-to-meiosis switch.
Sex differences and estradiol effects in MAPK and Akt cell signalling across subregions of the hippocampus
Authors: Sheppard Paul A. S. , Puri Tanvi A. , Galea Liisa A. M.
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Rapid effects of estrogens within the hippocampus of rodents are dependent upon cell signaling cascades, and activation of these cascades by estrogens varies by sex. Whether these pathways are rapidly activated within the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 by estrogens and across the anatomical longitudinal axis has been overlooked.

Methods

Gonadally-intact female and male rats were given either vehicle or physiological systemic low (1.1µg/kg) or high (37.3µg/kg) doses of 17β-estradiol thirty minutes prior to tissue collection. To control for the effects of circulating estrogens, an additional group of female rats was ovariectomized (OVX) and administered 17β-estradiol. Brains were extracted and tissue punches of the CA1 and DG were taken along the longitudinal hippocampal axis (dorsal and ventral) and analyzed for key MAPK and Akt cascade phosphoproteins.

Results

Intact females had higher Akt pathway phosphoproteins (pAkt, pGSK-3β, pp70S6K) than males in the DG (dorsal, ventral) and lower pERK1/2 in the dorsal DG. Most effects of 17β-estradiol on cell signalling occurred in OVX animals. In OVX animals, 17β-estradiol increased cell signalling of MAPK and Akt phosphoproteins (pERK1/2, pJNK, pAkt, pGSK-3β) in the CA1 and pERK1/2 and pJNK DG.

Discussion/Conclusions

Systemic 17β-estradiol treatment rapidly alters phosphoprotein levels in the hippocampus dependent on reproductive status and intact females have greater expression of Akt phosphoproteins than intact males across the hippocampus. These findings shed light on underlying mechanisms of sex differences in hippocampal function and response to interventions that affect MAPK or Akt signaling.
metapredict: a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use predictor of consensus disorder and structure
Authors: Emenecker Ryan J. , Griffith Daniel , Holehouse Alex S.
Published: May 2021

Intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions make up a substantial fraction of many proteomes where they play a wide variety of essential roles. A critical first step in understanding the role of disordered protein regions in biological function is to identify those disordered regions correctly. Computational methods for disorder prediction have emerged as a core set of tools to guide experiments, interpret results, and develop hypotheses. Given the multiple different predictors available, consensus scores have emerged as a popular approach to mitigate biases or limitations of any single method. Consensus scores integrate the outcome of multiple independent disorder predictors and provide a per-residue value that reflects the number of tools that predict a residue to be disordered. Although consensus scores help mitigate the inherent problems of using any single disorder predictor, they are computationally expensive to generate. They also necessitate the installation of multiple different software tools, which can be prohibitively difficult. To address this challenge, we developed a deep-learning-based predictor of consensus disorder scores. Our predictor, metapredict, utilizes a bidirectional recurrent neural network trained on the consensus disorder scores from 12 proteomes. By benchmarking metapredict using two orthogonal approaches, we found that metapredict is among the most accurate disorder predictors currently available. Metapredict is also remarkably fast, enabling proteome-scale disorder prediction in minutes. Importantly, metapredict is fully open source and is distributed as a Python package, a collection of command-line tools, and a web server, maximizing the potential practical utility of the predictor. We believe metapredict offers a convenient, accessible, accurate, and high-performance predictor for single-proteins and proteomes alike.

Statement of Significance

Intrinsically disordered regions are found across all kingdoms of life where they play a variety of essential roles. Being able to accurately and quickly identify disordered regions in proteins using just the amino acid sequence is critical for the appropriate design and interpretation of experiments. Despite this, performing large-scale disorder prediction on thousands of sequences is challenging using extant disorder predictors due to various difficulties including general installation and computational requirements. We have developed an accurate, high-performance and easy-to-use predictor of protein disorder and structure. Our predictor, metapredict, was designed for both proteome-scale analysis and individual sequence predictions alike. Metapredict is implemented as a collection of local tools and an online web server, and is appropriate for both seasoned computational biologists and novices alike.
Mendelian randomization analyses show that higher acetyl-carnitine and carnitine levels in blood protect against severe Covid19
Authors: Kazmi Nabila , Smith George Davey , Lewis Sarah J
Published: May 2021

Background

Severe Covid19 is characterised by a hyperactive immune response. Carnitine, an essential nutrient, and it’s derivative acetyl-carnitine can downregulate proinflammatory cytokines and has been suggested as a potential treatment for the disease.

Methods

We carried out Mendelian randomization analyses using publicly available data from a large genome wide association study (GWAS) of metabolites and a collaborative genome wide study of Covid19 to investigate the nature of the relationship between carnitine and acetyl-carnitine and Covid19 infection, hospitalisation with Covid19 and very severe Covid19. We used the same methodology to determine whether carnitine was associated with co-morbidities commonly found among those with severe Covid19.

Results

We found evidence of a protective effect against very severe Covid19 for both carnitine and acetyl-carnitine, with around a 40% reduction in risk associated with a doubling of carnitine or acetyl-carnitine (carnitine odds ratio (OR) = 0.56, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.33 to 0.95, p=0.03 and acetyl-carnitine OR=0.60, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.02, p=0.06), and evidence of protective effects on hopitalisation with Covid19. For acetyl-carnitine the largest protective effect was seen in the comparison between those hospitalised with Covid19 and those infected but not hospitalised (OR=0.34, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.62, p=0.0005).

Conclusion

Carnitine and acetyl-carnitine merit further investigation in respect to the prevention of severe Covid19.
The neurogenic fate of the hindbrain boundaries relies on Notch-dependent asymmetric cell divisions
Authors: Hevia Covadonga F , Engel-Pizcueta Carolyn , Udina Frederic , Pujades Cristina
Published: May 2021

The generation of cell diversity in the central nervous system occurs during embryogenesis and requires a precise balance between cell proliferation, commitment to specific fates, and further neuronal differentiation. The cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating this balance in the embryonic brain are still poorly understood. Here we study how the neurogenic capacity in the embryonic hindbrain is spatiotemporally allocated, and how the fate and the growth of the hindbrain boundary cells are regulated. By generating a CRISPR-based knock-in zebrafish transgenic line to specifically label the hindbrain boundaries, we unveiled that boundary cells undergo a functional transition to become neurogenic during hindbrain segmentation concurrently as they maintain the progenitor cell pool. Boundary cells engaged in neurogenesis coinciding with the onset of Notch signaling, which triggered their asymmetrical cell division. Our findings reveal that distinct neurogenic phases take place during hindbrain growth and suggest that boundary cells contribute to refine the final number, identity, and proportion of neurons in the brain.

Hindbrain boundary cells undergo a functional transition to become neurogenic concurrently as they are maintained as a progenitor cell pool. This involves a behavioral switch from symmetrically dividing progenitor cells to asymmetrically dividing progenitors, which depends on Notch-activity.
Deep learning models for poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma classification in whole slide images using transfer learning
Authors: Tsuneki Masayuki , Kanavati Fahdi
Published: May 2021

Colorectal poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (ADC) is known to have a poor prognosis as compared with well to moderately differentiated ADC. The frequency of poorly differentiated ADC is relatively low (usually less than 5% among colorectal carcinomas). Histopathological diagnosis based on endoscopic biopsy specimens is currently the most cost effective method to perform as part of colonoscopic screening in average risk patients, and it is an area that could benefit from AI-based tools to aid pathologists in their clinical workflows. In this study, we trained deep learning models to classify poorly differentiated colorectal ADC from Whole Slide Images (WSIs) using a simply transfer learning method. We evaluated the models on a combination of test sets obtained from five distinct sources, achieving receiver operator curve (ROC) area under the curves (AUCs) in the range of 0.94-0.98.
Mechanistic insights into the Japanese Encephalitis Virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase protein inhibition by bioflavonoids from Azadirachta indica
Authors: Dwivedi Vivek Dhar , Singh Ankita , El-Kafraway Sherif Aly , Alandijany Thamir A. , Bajrai Leena Hussein , Kamal Mohammad Amjad , Azhar Esam Ibraheem
Published: May 2021

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, belongs to the genus flavivirus, is a major cause of viral encephalitis, which results in neurological damage. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein is the sole enzyme responsible for viral genome replication in RNA viruses and serves as an excellent target for anti-viral therapeutic development, as its homolog is not present in humans. In this study, the crystal structure of JE RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (jRdRp) protein was obtained from protein data bank while 43 by bioflavonoids reported in Azadirachta indica were retrieved from the PubChem database. Following, structure based virtual screening was employed using MTiOpenScreen server and top four compounds, viz. Gedunin, Nimbolide, Ohchinin acetate, and Kulactone, with the most negative docking scores (> -10 kcal/mol) conformations were redocked using AutoDock Vina; these complexes showed mechanistic interactions with Arg474, Gly605, Asp668, and Trp800 residues in the active site of jRdRp protein against reference ligand, i.e., Guanosine-5’-Triphosphate. Furthermore, 100 ns classical molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation showed considerable stability (via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions) of docked bioflavonoids in the active pocket of jRdRp and significant contribution of van der Waals interactions for docked complex stability during simulation, respectively. Therefore, the outcome of this study predicted the substantial anti-viral activity of Gedunin, Nimbolide, Ohchinin acetate, and Kulactone against jRdRp protein and can be considered for further antiviral drug development.
Structural and biochemical analysis of ATPase activity and EsxAB substrate binding of M. tuberculosis EccCb1 enzyme
Authors: Bandyopadyay Arkita , Saxena Ajay K.
Published: May 2021

The EccC enzyme of M. tuberculosis ESX-1 system is a promising target for antivirulence drug development. The EccC enzyme comprises two polypeptides (i) EccCa1, a membrane bound enzyme having two ATPase domains D2 & D3 (ii) cytosolic EccCb, which contains two ATPase domains. In current study, we have analyzed the low-resolution structure of EccCb1, performed ATPase activity and EsxAB substrate binding analysis. The EccCb1 enzyme eluted as oligomer from size exclusion column and small angle X-ray scattering analysis revealed the double hexameric structure in solution. The EccCb1 enzyme showed catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM)∼ 0.020±0.005 μM-1 min-1, however ∼ 3.7 fold lower than its D2 and ∼1.7 fold lower than D3 domains respectively. The D2 and D3 domains exhibited the ATPase activity and mutation of residues involved in ATP+Mg2+ binding have yielded 56-94% reduction in catalytic efficiency for both D2 and D3 domains. The EccCb1 binds the EsxAB substrate with KD ∼ 11.4±3.4 nM via specific groove located at C-terminal region of D3 domain. ATP binding to EccCb1 enhanced the EsxAB substrate binding by ∼ 3 fold, indicating ATPase energy involvement in EsxAB substrate translocation. We modeled the dodecameric EccCb1+EsxAB+ ATP+Mg2+ complex, which showed the binding pockets involved in ATP+Mg2+ and EsxAB substrate binding. The enzyme dynamics involved in ATP+Mg2+ and EsxAB substrate recognition were identified and showed the enhanced stability of EccCb1 enzyme as a result of ligand binding. Overall, our structural and biochemical analysis showed the low-resolution structure and mechanism involved in ATPase activity and EsxAB substrate binding and dynamics involved in EsxAB substrate and ATP+Mg2+ recognition. Overall, our structural and biochemical data on EccCb1 will contribute significantly in development of antivirulence inhibitors, which will prevent virulence factor secretion by M. tuberculosis ESX-1 system.
Longevity interventions temporally scale healthspan inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Statzer Cyril , Reichert Peter , Dual Jürg , Ewald Collin Y.
Published: May 2021

Human centenarians and longevity mutants of model organisms show lower incidence rates of late-life morbidities than the average population. However, whether longevity is caused by a compression of the portion of life spent in a state of morbidity,i.e., “sickspan,” is highly debated even in isogenicC. elegans. Here, we developed a microfluidic device that employs acoustophoretic force fields to quantify the maximum muscle strength and dynamic power in agingC. elegans. Together with different biomarkers for healthspan, we found a stochastic onset of morbidity, starting with a decline in dynamic muscle power and structural integrity, culminating in frailty. Surprisingly, we did not observe a compression of sickspan in longevity mutants but instead observed a temporal scaling of healthspan. Given the conservation of these longevity interventions, this raises the question of whether the healthspan of mammalian longevity interventions is also temporally scaled.
Single seed microbiota: assembly and transmission from parent plant to seedling
Authors: Chesneau Guillaume , Laroche Béatrice , Préveaux Anne , Marais Coralie , Briand Martial , Marolleau Brice , Simonin Marie , Barret Matthieu
Published: May 2021

Gaining basic understanding of processes involved in seed microbiota assembly is a prerequisite for improving crop establishment. Investigation of microbiota structure during seed development revealed that individual seeds of bean and radish were associated with a dominant bacterial taxon representing more than 75% of all reads. The identity of this taxon was highly variable between plants and within seeds of the same plant. Succession of dominant taxa occurred during seed filling and maturation through Selection. In a second step, we evaluated seed to seedling transmission of these dominant seed-borne taxa. We showed that initial bacterial abundance on seeds was not a good predictor of seedling transmission and that the identity of seed-borne taxa can impact seedling phenotype. Altogether this work unveiled that seeds are colonized by few bacterial taxa of highly variable identity, which appears to be important for the early stages of plant development.
High-throughput macromolecular polymorph screening via an NMR and X-ray powder diffraction synergistic approach: the case of human insulin co-crystallized with resorcinol derivatives
Authors: Spiliopoulou Maria , Valmas Alexandros , Triandafillidis Dimitris-Panagiotis , Fili Stavroula , Christopoulou Magdalini , Filopoulou Aikaterini J. , Piskopou Anastasia , Papadea Polyxeni , Fitch Andrew N. , Beckers Detlef , Degen Thomas , Gozzo Fabia , Morin Mickael , Reinle-Schmitt Mathilde L. , Karavassili Fotini , Rosmaraki Eleftheria , Chasapis Christos T. , Margiolaki Irene
Published: May 2021

Regular injections of insulin provide life-saving benefits to millions of diabetics. Apart from native insulin and insulin analogue formulations, microcrystalline insulin suspensions are also commercially available. The onset of action of the currently available basal insulins relies on the slow dissociation of insulin hexamers in the subcutaneous space due to the strong binding of small organic ligands. With the aim of identifying insulin–ligand complexes with enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, the binding affinity of two resorcinol-based molecules (4-chlororesorcinol and 4-bromoresorcinol) and the structural characteristics of insulin upon co-crystallization with them were investigated in the present study. `In solution' measurements were performed via saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR. Co-crystallization upon pH variation resulted in the production of polycrystalline precipitates, whose structural characteristics (i.e. unit-cell symmetry and dimension) were assessed. In both cases, different polymorphs (four and three, respectively) of monoclinic symmetry (P21 and C2 space groups) were identified via X-ray powder diffraction. The results demonstrate the efficiency of a new approach that combines spectroscopy and diffraction techniques and provides an innovative alternative for high-throughput examination of insulin and other therapeutic proteins.
Food tracking and blockchain-induced knowledge: a corporate social responsibility tool for sustainable decision-making
Authors: Rainero Christian , Modarelli Giuseppe
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In the disruptive technologies era, the lack of convincing business cases on blockchain (BC) adoption about food supply chain, the existence of uncertainties and barriers to adoption due to knowledge scarcity on characteristics as well as the potentialities and risks involved in it, have triggered the need to investigate the first multinational BC adoption for food supply chain in Europe, to consider how it can guarantee knowledge for the consumption/purchase decision-making and the creation-mechanism of consciousness for sustainable behavioral choice.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide a field exploratory analysis based on customers' perceptions and real knowledge about BC (as a knowledge-constructive tool) in the food and beverage sector. This connected with the need for an informed context, favoring sustainable conscious decision-making related to both the food chain and innovation acceptance. This analysis included the use of innovation acceptance as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategic orientation through a survey- and interview-based field analysis (80 respondents).

Findings

The findings of this study can be considered as antecedents of innovation acceptance in the sector. The analysis assesses consumers' scarce knowledge and perceptions on the BC system, the scarce usage level and the higher acquiring propensity for traceable foodstuffs generating bi-directional/dimensional value, considering that consumption habits could change through security and certainty antecedents and induced knowledge provided by external technological intervention.

Originality/value

By trying to match innovation and the knowledge-construction need as a vehicle for acceptance, the theoretical contribution would empower the literature on food traceability from the perspective of strategic BC application through a from-knowledge-to-knowledge strategy.
Does organic means health for consumers? Selected issues of organic food market
Authors: Drejerska Nina , Sobczak Wioleta , Gołębiewski Jarosław , Gierula Weronika Aniela
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe organic food supply and demand from the perspective of evolutionary economics. Furthermore, identification of motives of organic food purchasing as well as the most important distribution channels was performed.

Design/methodology/approach

This study included review of statistical data available on organic food market, observations from three different formats of shops in France and Poland as well as collected data from 54 French and 85 Polish consumers.

Findings

The findings of this paper show how the organic food market undergoes evolutionary changes, especially how supply and demand sides are being tuned to each other. Health properties of organic food were found as universal characteristics affecting organic food purchasing, regardless the level of the national market development. Organic food retail adjusts to consumer demand, but the rate of this transformation is different when markets of different countries are compared.

Originality/value

Changes in supply and demand are continuous in the organic food market; therefore, they should be monitored on an ongoing basis. The insights extend present knowledge on consumer behaviour indicating health concerns as a universal motive affecting organic food purchasing. The study also takes the existing literature a step further by providing additional insight into adjustment of organic food retail to consumer demand.
Heat transfer promotion in channel laminar flow employing a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across
Authors: Perng Shiang-Wuu , Wu Horng Wen , Wu Jun-Kuan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to promote laminar heat transfer from the channel heated through a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across.

Design/methodology/approach

The novel design of this study is performed through making the slits in the slab (C1–C3: with slits; C4–C6: without slits) and changing the vertical location of this slab (1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 channel height). The thermal fluid characteristics of all cases are analyzed for various Reynolds numbers (500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000) by the SIMPLE-C algorithm.

Findings

The results display that the ribbed slab effectively improves the heat transfer. The slits can modify the flow field in the vortexes around the inclined ribs and remove more heat from this zone to promote the heat transfer. As compared with C0 (without a slab), C2 (the slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across located vertically on the 3/4 channel height) raises the averaged Nusselt number up to 27.7% at Re = 2,000. As compared with C4 (without slits), C1 (with slits) gains the maximum increase in the averaged Nusselt number by 5.07% at Re = 1,000.

Research limitations/implications

The constant thermo-physical properties of incompressible fluid and the steady flow are considered in this study.

Practical implications

The numerical results will profit the design of heated passageway using a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across to acquire better heat transfer promotion.

Originality/value

This slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across can be applied to the heat transfer promotion and thus be viewed as a useful cooling mechanism in the thermal engineering.
How the Sans Everything and Ely inquiries put reform of psychiatric hospitals onto the United Kingdom government agenda
Authors: Powell Martin , Hilton Claire
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to draw on multiple streams analysis (MSA) and to investigate how policy change emerged from two inquiries into allegations of abusive hospital care in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1960s.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this study is regarding a historical case study of two inquiries.

Findings

The Sans Everything and Ely inquiries had the same legal standing and terms of reference, but the second put psychiatric hospital reform on the agenda, while the first did not. The main factor making Ely rather than Sans Everything the turning point seems to have been concerned with “agency”, linked with a few key individuals.

Research limitations/implications

A study of 1960s event necessarily relies heavily on documentary and archival sources, and cannot draw on interviews which are an important ingredient of many case studies.

Originality/value

The originality of the study is to examines inquiries, which have been largely neglected in MSA, despite their obvious potential role in placing issues on the agenda. Previous studies of MSA have devoted little attention to the ability of the media to provide the focus on “focusing events”.
Managers' role in supporting resilience in healthcare: a proposed model of how managers contribute to a healthcare system's overall resilience
Authors: Ree Eline , Ellis Louise A. , Wiig Siri
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To discuss how managers contribute in promoting resilience in healthcare, and to suggest a model of managers' role in supporting resilience and elaborate on how future research and implementation studies can use this to further operationalize the concept and promote healthcare resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first provide an overview of and discuss the main approaches to healthcare resilience and research on management and resilience. Second, the authors provide examples on how managers work to promote healthcare resilience during a one-year Norwegian longitudinal intervention study following managers in nursing homes and homecare services in their daily quality and safety work. They use this material to propose a model of management and resilience.

Findings

The authors consider managerial strategies to support healthcare resilience as the strategies managers use to engage people in collaborative and coordinated processes that adapt, enhance or reorganize system functioning, promoting possibilities of learning, growth, development and recovery of the healthcare system to maintain high quality care. The authors’ model illustrates how managers influence the healthcare systems ability to adapt, enhance and reorganize, with high quality care as the key outcome.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors argue that managerial strategies should be considered and operationalized as part of a healthcare system's overall resilience. They propose a new model of managers' role in supporting resilience to be used in practice, interventions and future research projects.
Are we all in this together? Alleviating the childcare constraint for women in economic crises
Authors: Cagliesi Gabriella , Hawkes Denise
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to advocates the use of gendered economic policies to stimulate a post-COVID-19 recovery. It alerts on the risk of ignoring the female dimension of the current crisis and of resorting again to austerity programs that, like the ones enacted after the 2008 crisis, would hit women and mothers disproportionally harder than other groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data from the British Household Panel Survey on female participation and account for gendered constraints and enablers missed by mainstream economics. Using a sequential empirical approach, the authors simulate various welfare policy scenarios that address factors, such as childcare costs, personal and social nudges, that could help women back into the labor market in the aftermath of a crisis.

Findings

The authors found that incentive-type interventions, such as subsidies, promote female labor market participation more effectively than punishment-austerity type interventions, such as benefits' cuts. Policies oriented to alleviate childcare constraints can be sustainable and effective in encouraging women back to work. Considering factors wider than the standard economic variables when designing labor market policies may provide fruitful returns.

Originality/value

The sequential methodology enables to estimate current and counterfactual incomes for each female in the sample and to calculate their prospective financial gains and losses in changing their labor market status quo, from not employed into employed or vice-versa. Welfare policies affect these prospective gains and losses and, by interacting with other factors, such as education, number and age of children and social capital, prompt changes in women's labor market choices and decision.
Understanding people's participation in online charities: a dual-process approach of trust and empathic concern
Authors: Chen Hao , Li Wenli , Lyu Tu , Zheng Xunan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The rapid development of the Internet in China has profoundly affected the country's charities, which many people support through online donations (e.g. providing financial help) and charity information forwarding (a new behavior of participating in online charities via social media). However, the development of online charities has been accompanied by many problems, such as donation fraud and fake charity information, which adversely affect social kindness. The purpose of this paper is to understand people's online donation and forwarding behaviors and to explore the mechanisms of such behaviors from the perspectives of cognitive-based trust and emotional-based empathic concern.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a research model based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model. The researchers obtained 287 valid samples via a scenario-based experimental survey and conducted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the model.

Findings

The results indicated that (1) online donation intention is motivated by rational-based trust and emotional-based empathic concern; (2) online charity information forwarding is triggered only when trust is built, and there is no significant correlation between empathic concern and forwarding intention; and (3) content quality, initiator credibility, and platform reputation are three critical paths to promote trust; in addition, an individual's empathic concern can be motivated by the emotional appeal.

Originality/value

This study highlights the different mechanisms of donation and forwarding behaviors and provided theoretical measures for motiving trust and empathic concern in the online context to promote people's participation in online charity.
R&D spending and patents: levers of national development
Authors: Paula Fábio de Oliveira , Silva Jorge Ferreira da
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The level of R&D spending of a country tends to increase the national patent rate and, in consequence, can collaborate with its economic development. However, there are a few empirical studies investigating this phenomenon by comparing countries from all over the globe. The purpose of this paper is to disassemble the sources of R&D spending and identify the role of national patent applications as a mediator in the relationship between R&D spending and national development.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data on patent applications in 35 countries of all continents (except Africa) over 15 years (from 1999 to 2013) regarding four levels of national R&D intensity (i.e. by enterprises, governments, higher education institutions and private non-profit organisations), gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, gross national income (GNI) and human development index (HDI) were collected from the OCDE. Then, two-stage panel regressions were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical findings indicated that R&D spending from firms and higher education institutions (public and private) help to directly improve national patent applications, thus contributing to the national development (measured by GDP per capita, GNI per capita and HDI).

Originality/value

The importance of this study was to show that the investments in R&D made by universities and firms are more effective in leading to patent applications, which contributes to promoting national development. With these findings, governments can focus their efforts on stimulating these types of investments if they want to foster the growth of national patent rates.
Augmenting the space domain awareness ground architecture via decision analysis and multi-objective optimization
Authors: Vasso Albert , Cobb Richard , Colombi John , Little Bryan , Meyer David
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The US Government is challenged to maintain pace as the world’s de facto provider of space object cataloging data. Augmenting capabilities with nontraditional sensors present an expeditious and low-cost improvement. However, the large tradespace and unexplored system of systems performance requirements pose a challenge to successful capitalization. This paper aims to better define and assess the utility of augmentation via a multi-disiplinary study.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypothetical telescope architectures are modeled and simulated on two separate days, then evaluated against performance measures and constraints using multi-objective optimization in a heuristic algorithm. Decision analysis and Pareto optimality identifies a set of high-performing architectures while preserving decision-maker design flexibility.

Findings

Capacity, coverage and maximum time unobserved are recommended as key performance measures. A total of 187 out of 1017 architectures were identified as top performers. A total of 29% of the sensors considered are found in over 80% of the top architectures. Additional considerations further reduce the tradespace to 19 best choices which collect an average of 49–51 observations per space object with a 595–630 min average maximum time unobserved, providing redundant coverage of the Geosynchronous Orbit belt. This represents a three-fold increase in capacity and coverage and a 2 h (16%) decrease in the maximum time unobserved compared to the baseline government-only architecture as-modeled.

Originality/value

This study validates the utility of an augmented network concept using a physics-based model and modern analytical techniques. It objectively responds to policy mandating cataloging improvements without relying solely on expert-derived point solutions.
Boosters of satisfaction, performance and employee loyalty: application to a recruitment and outsourcing information technology organization
Authors: Veloso Cláudia Miranda , Sousa Bruno , Au-Yong-Oliveira Manuel , Walter Cicero Eduardo
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study applies an Employee Satisfaction Index (ESI) model to quantify the level of job satisfaction and explores the factors that influence employee satisfaction, performance and loyalty to an information technology recruitment and outsourcing organization in Portugal.

Design/methodology/approach

As an instrument of data collection, questionnaire was applied to the company's employees, which was divided into two parts: the first part consisted of a previous questionnaire, with questions related to sociodemographic characterization; the second part consisted of the ESI. The company operates only in the information technology (IT) market, and there are currently 300 consultants with different skills.

Findings

The results confirm that the company's employees are globally satisfied, and this satisfaction contributes positively and significantly to the reinforcement of contextual performance and to their loyalty to this organization.

Originality/value

Job satisfaction takes on a growing interest in understanding quality of life, strategic management and organizational performance. Job satisfaction contributes to the professional finding, that is, in employees’ activity and in adopting positive attitudes toward customer satisfaction, thus promoting organizational performance.
How endorser-product congruity and self-expressiveness affect Instagram micro-celebrities’ native advertising effectiveness
Authors: Lee Susanna S. , Chen Huan , Lee Yu-Hao
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how perceived micro-celebrity-product image congruency and product type affect native advertising effectiveness on Instagram. Additionally, the study aims to understand how advertising skepticism and persuasion knowledge affect the effectiveness of native advertising featuring micro-celebrity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was administered online using a 2 (product type: high self-expressive vs low self-expressive) × 2 (micro-celebrity and product congruity: congruent vs incongruent) between-subjects factorial design to test the hypotheses. A total of 186 participants, all Instagram users living in the USA, were recruited using an Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). After screening out 14 respondents who were not Instagram users or did not fully answer the questions, a total sample of 172 valid and complete responses were included for hypotheses testing.

Findings

The results revealed that when native advertising featured highly self-expressive products and micro-celebrities with good product image fit, consumers had a more positive attitude toward the ad and the brand, higher source credibility and higher electronic word-of-mouth intention. In addition, advertising skepticism was found to moderate the effect of micro-celebrity-product fit on source credibility.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the effect of micro-celebrity and product congruence on native advertising effectiveness. Moreover, the study provides a better understanding of the advertising skepticism and its influence on source credibility. It discusses why a micro-celebrity’s image is a critical factor in shaping attitudes toward native advertising. This study contributes to both the native adverting and influencer marketing literature.
Reactance and turbulence: examining the cognitive and affective antecedents of ad blocking
Authors: Brinson Nancy H. , Britt Brian C.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

One of the most effective tools used by interactive marketers is personalized advertising, which allows consumers to directly respond to customized offers to purchase a brand’s products and services. Yet, recent studies show many consumers are installing ad blockers to avoid personalized ads. This study aims to examine how ad skepticism, ad relevance and ad irritation predict ad avoidance directly, as well as indirectly through consumers’ attitudes toward personalized advertising. Also, considered were how these antecedents’ study in tandem to trigger consumers’ desire to avoid ads by installing ad-blocking software.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was administered to a pool of 1,313 paid panelists who were familiar with ad blocking and reported that they either currently used an ad blocker, previously used an ad blocker, were considering using an ad blocker or did neither use nor were they considering using an ad blocker. All hypotheses were addressed via path modeling using PROC CALIS in SAS 9.4.

Findings

Results indicate that attitudes toward personalized advertising are more complex than attitudes toward advertising in general and mediate the effect of ad relevance on ad avoidance. Likewise, trust in interactive marketers moderates attitude toward personalized advertising and the negative outcomes of ad avoidance and ad blocker usage among skeptical consumers. Also, the reported differences in ad avoidance based on participants’ current vs previous ad blocker usage suggest that former users are using a more sophisticated evaluation of the costs and benefits of using ad blockers.

Practical implications

Consumers’ trust in an interactive marketer to properly collect and use their information plays an important role in moderating negative outcomes associated with personalized advertising. Also, the key is the use of high-quality data (best obtained through a permission-based relationship with the consumer) to deliver relevant ads without stimulating reactance or (privacy-related) boundary turbulence. Findings suggest that bolstering trust by engaging in a transparent, permission-based relationship with consumers may mitigate the tendency to adopt ad blockers and enhance the effectiveness of interactive marketing efforts.

Originality/value

Ad blocking presents a significant threat to the effectiveness of interactive marketing efforts like personalized advertising. Previous research on the antecedents of ad blocking is limited, considers a broad range of factors and offers mixed findings. The present study examines an informed set of cognitive and affective factors suggested by previous ad blocking studies to predict consumers’ desire to avoid personalized ads by installing ad-blocking software. Given the continued threat to the interactive marketing industry posed by ad blocking, a greater understanding of consumers’ motivations to adopt and use ad blockers is critical.
A persuasive eWOM model for increasing consumer engagement on social media: evidence from Irish fashion micro-influencers
Authors: Shen Zheng
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to find how can fashion micro-influencers and their electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) messages increase consumer engagement on social media, focusing on micro-influencers’ influence, typology, eWOM content and consumer engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 20,000 microblogs were collected from Irish fashion micro-influencers and analyzed through keyword classification and content analysis in NVivo. The determinants of eWOM persuasiveness for consumer engagement on social media were investigated based on Sussman and Siegal’s information adoption model.

Findings

The study finds that among the four types of micro-influencers, market mavens and their eWOM messages have the highest impact on consumer engagement on social media, and it presents a repetitive and persuasive eWOM model of market mavens to increase consumer participation. Also, the study discovers that micro-influencers’ occasion-related microblogs have an increasing impact on consumer interactions whereas microblogs with brands have a decreasing engagement with consumers on social media.

Originality/value

This study advances prior studies on the relationship between influencers’ eWOM messages and consumer participation on social media by the development of a persuasive eWOM model of micro-influencers to increase consumer engagement and fill in the lack of relevant literature. Also, findings provide actionable insights for marketing communication practitioners to persuade consumers to participate in eWOM communications and establish strong consumer-brand relationships on social media.
Rheology effect and enhanced thermal conductivity of diamond/metakaolin geopolymer fabricated by direct ink writing
Authors: Wang Yushen , Xiong Wei , Tang Danna , Hao Liang , Li Zheng , Li Yan , Cheng Kaka
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Traditional simulation research of geological and similar engineering models, such as landslides or other natural disaster scenarios, usually focuses on the change of stress and the state of the model before and after destruction. However, the transition of the inner change is usually invisible. To optimize and make models more intelligent, this paper aims to propose a perceptible design to detect the internal temperature change transformed by other energy versions like stress or torsion.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, micron diamond particles were embedded in 3D printed geopolymers as a potential thermal sensor material to detect the inner heat change. The authors use synthetic micron diamond powder to reinforced the anti-corrosion properties and thermal conductivity of geopolymer and apply this novel geopolymer slurry in the direct ink writing (DIW) technique.

Findings

As a result, the addition of micron diamond powder can greatly influence the rheology of geopolymer slurry and make the geopolymer slurry extrudable and suitable for DIW by reducing the slope of the viscosity of this inorganic colloid. The heat transfer coefficient of the micron diamond (15 Wt.%)/geopolymer was 50% higher than the pure geopolymer, which could be detected by the infrared thermal imager. Besides, the addition of diamond particles also increased the porous rates of geopolymer.

Originality/value

In conclusion, DIW slurry deposition of micron diamond-embedded geopolymer (MDG) composites could be used to manufacture the multi-functional geological model for thermal imaging and defect detection, which need the characteristic of lightweight, isolation, heat transfer and wave absorption.