bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Task switching costs contribute to the apparent speeding of multisensory reaction times
Authors: Albat Miriam , Hautmann Jasmin , Kayser Christoph , Molinski Josefine , Ülkü Soner
Published: March 2021

Faster reaction times for the detection of multisensory compared to unisensory stimuli are considered a hallmark of multisensory integration. While this multisensory redundant signals effect (RSE) has been reproduced many times, it has also been repeatedly criticized as confounding multisensory integration and general task switching effects. When unisensory and multisensory conditions are presented in random order, some trials repeat the same sensory-motor association (e.g. an auditory followed by an auditory trial), while others switch this association (e.g. an auditory followed by a visual trial). This switch may slow down unisensory reaction times and inflate the observed RSE. Following this line of ideas, we used an audio-visual detection task and quantified the RSE for trials derived from pure unisensory blocks and trials from mixed blocks involving a repeat or switch of modalities. The RSE was largest for switch trials and smallest for unisensory trials. In fact, during unisensory blocks the multisensory reaction times did not differ from predictions by the race model, speaking against a genuine multisensory benefit. These results confirm that the observed multisensory RSE can be easily confounded by task switching costs, and suggest that the true benefit of multisensory stimuli for reaction speed may often be overestimated.
Integrated bioinformatics analysis reveals novel key biomarkers and potential candidate small molecule drugs in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Vastrad Basavaraj , Vastrad Chanabasayya , Tengli Anandkumar
Published: March 2021

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the metabolic diseases during pregnancy. The identification of the central molecular mechanisms liable for the disease pathogenesis might lead to the advancement of new therapeutic options. The current investigation aimed to identify central differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GDM. The transcription profiling by array data (E-MTAB-6418) was obtained from the ArrayExpress database. The DEGs between GDM samples and non GDM samples were analyzed with limma package. Gene ontology (GO) and REACTOME enrichment analysis were performed using ToppGene. Then we constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database (STRING) and module analysis was performed. Subsequently, we constructed the miRNA-hub gene network and TF-hub gene regulatory network by the miRNet database and NetworkAnalyst database. The validation of hub genes was performed through receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Finally, the candidate small molecules as potential drugs to treat GDM were predicted by using molecular docking. Through transcription profiling by array data, a total of 869 DEGs were detected including 439 up regulated and 430 down regulated genes. Biological process analysis of GO enrichment analysis showed these DEGs were mainly enriched in reproduction, nuclear outer membrane-endoplasmic reticulum membrane network, identical protein binding, cell adhesion, supramolecular complex and signaling receptor binding. Signaling pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs played a vital in cell surface interactions at the vascular wall and extracellular matrix organization. Ten genes, HSP90AA1, EGFR, RPS13, RBX1, PAK1, FYN, ABL1, SMAD3, STAT3, and PRKCA in the center of the PPI network, modules, miRNA-hub gene regulatory network and TF-hub gene regulatory network were associated with GDM, according to ROC analysis. Finally, the most significant small molecules were predicted based on molecular docking. Our results indicated that HSP90AA1, EGFR, RPS13, RBX1, PAK1, FYN, ABL1, SMAD3, STAT3, and PRKCA could be the potential novel biomarkers for GDM diagnosis, prognosis and the promising therapeutic targets. The current might be essential to understanding the molecular mechanism of GDM initiation and development.
Potent neutralizing nanobodies resist convergent circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 by targeting novel and conserved epitopes
Authors: Sun Dapeng , Sang Zhe , Kim Yong Joon , Xiang Yufei , Cohen Tomer , Belford Anna K. , Huet Alexis , Conway James F. , Sun Ji , Taylor Derek J. , Schneidman-Duhovny Dina , Zhang Cheng , Huang Wei , Shi Yi
Published: March 2021

There is an urgent need to develop effective interventions resistant to the evolving variants of SARS-CoV-2. Nanobodies (Nbs) are stable and cost-effective agents that can be delivered by novel aerosolization route to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections efficiently. However, it remains unknown if they possess broadly neutralizing activities against the prevalent circulating strains. We found that potent neutralizing Nbs are highly resistant to the convergent variants of concern that evade a large panel of neutralizing antibodies (Abs) and significantly reduce the activities of convalescent or vaccine-elicited sera. Subsequent determination of 9 high-resolution structures involving 6 potent neutralizing Nbs by cryoelectron microscopy reveals conserved and novel epitopes on virus spike inaccessible to Abs. Systematic structural comparison of neutralizing Abs and Nbs provides critical insights into how Nbs uniquely target the spike to achieve high-affinity and broadly neutralizing activity against the evolving virus. Our study will inform the rational design of novel pan-coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics.
A conversion from slow to fast memory in response to passive motion
Authors: Javidialsaadi Mousa , Albert Scott T. , Wang Jinsung
Published: March 2021

When the same perturbation is experienced consecutively, learning is accelerated on the second attempt. This savings is a central property of sensorimotor adaptation. Current models suggest that these improvements in learning are due to changes in the brain’s sensitivity to error. Here, we tested whether these increases in error sensitivity could be facilitated by passive movement experiences. In each experimental group, a robot moved the arm passively in the direction that solved the upcoming rotation, with no visual feedback provided. Following that, participants adapted to a visuomotor rotation. Prior passive movements substantially improved motor learning, increasing total compensation in each group by approximately 30%. Similar to savings, a state-space model suggested that this improvement in learning was due to an increase in error sensitivity, but not memory retention. When we considered the possibility that learning was supported by parallel fast and slow adaptive processes, a striking pattern emerged: whereas initial improvements in learning were driven by a slower adaptive state, increases in error sensitivity gradually transferred to a faster learning system with the passage of time. These findings suggest that passive errors engage motor learning systems, but the resulting behavioral patterns migrate between slow and fast adaptive circuits as the passive memory is consolidated.
Mapping Complex Brain Torque Components and Their Genetic and Phenomic Architecture in 24,112 healthy individuals
Authors: Zhao Lu , Matloff William , Shi Yonggang , Cabeen Ryan P. , Toga Arthur W.
Published: March 2021

The mechanisms determining the development and individual variability of brain torque (BT) remain unclear. Here, all relevant components of BT were analyzed using neuroimaging data of up to 24,112 individuals from 6 cohorts. Our large-scale data confirmed the population-level predominance of the typical anticlockwise torque and suggested a “first attenuating, then enlarging” dynamic across the lifespan primarily for frontal, occipital and perisylvian BT features. Sex/handedness differences in BT were found and were related to cognitive sex/handedness differences in verbal-numerical reasoning. We observed differential heritability of up to 56% for BT, especially in temporal language areas, and identified numerous genome- and phenome-wide significant associations pointing to neurodevelopment, cognitive functions, lifestyle, neurological and psychiatric disorders, sociodemographic, cardiovascular and anthropometric traits. This study provides a comprehensive description of BT and insights into biological and other factors that may contribute to the development and individual variations of BT.
A role for the Erk MAPK pathway in modulating SAX-7/L1CAM-dependent locomotion inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Moseley-Alldredge Melinda , Sheoran Seema , Yoo Hayoung , O’Keefe Calvin , Richmond Janet E. , Chen Lihsia
Published: March 2021

L1CAMs are immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecules that play important roles in the development and function of the nervous system. In addition to being associated with autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, impaired L1CAM function also underlies the X-linked L1 syndrome, which encompasses a group of neurological conditions, including spastic paraplegia and congenital hydrocephalus. Previous studies on both vertebrate and invertebrate L1CAMs established conserved roles that include axon guidance, dendrite morphogenesis, synapse development, and maintenance of neural architecture. We previously identified a genetic interaction between theC. elegansL1CAM encoded by thesax-7gene and RAB-3, a GTPase that functions in synaptic neurotransmission;rab-3; sax-7animals exhibit synthetic locomotion abnormalities and neuronal dysfunction. In this study, we examine the significance of this genetic interaction and show that this synergism also occurs when loss of SAX-7 is combined with mutants of other genes encoding key players of the synaptic vesicle cycle. In contrast,sax-7does not interact with genes that function in synaptogenesis. These findings suggest a post-developmental role forsax-7in the regulation of synaptic activity. To further assess this possibility, we conducted electrophysiological recordings and ultrastructural analyses at neuromuscular junctions. Lastly, we performed a forward genetic screen for suppressors of therab-3; sax-7synthetic phenotypes, uncovering a role for the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway in promoting coordinated locomotion.
Nanopore electro-osmotic trap for the label-free study of single proteins and their conformations
Authors: Schmid Sonja , Stömmer Pierre , Dietz Hendrik , Dekker Cees
Published: March 2021

Many strategies have been pursued to trap and monitor single proteins over time in order to detect the molecular mechanisms of these essential nanomachines. Single protein sensing with nanopores is particularly attractive because it allows label-free high-bandwidth detection based on ion currents. Here we present the Nanopore Electro-Osmotic trap (NEOtrap) that allows trapping and observing single proteins for hours with sub-millisecond time resolution. The NEOtrap is formed by docking a DNA-origami sphere onto a passivated solid-state nanopore, which seals off a nanocavity of a user-defined size and creates an electro-osmotic flow that traps nearby particles irrespective of their charge. We demonstrate the NEOtrap’s ability to sensitively distinguish proteins based on size and shape, and discriminate nucleotide-dependent protein conformations, as exemplified by the chaperone protein Hsp90. Given the experimental simplicity and capacity for label-free single-protein detection over the broad bio-relevant time range, the NEOtrap opens new avenues to study the molecular kinetics underlying protein function.
Admixed Populations Improve Power for Variant Discovery and Portability in Genome-wide Association Studies
Authors: Lin Meng , Park Danny S. , Zaitlen Noah A. , Henn Brenna M. , Gignoux Christopher R.
Published: March 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are primarily conducted in single-ancestry settings. The low transferability of results has limited our understanding of human genetic architecture across a range of complex traits. In contrast to homogeneous populations, admixed populations provide an opportunity to capture genetic architecture contributed from multiple source populations and thus improve statistical power. Here, we provide a mechanistic simulation framework to investigate the statistical power and transferability of GWAS under directional polygenic selection or varying divergence. We focus on a two-way admixed population and show that GWAS in admixed populations can be enriched for power in discovery by up to 2-fold compared to the ancestral populations under similar sample size. Moreover, higher accuracy of cross-population polygenic score estimates is also observed if variants and weights are trained in the admixed group rather than in the ancestral groups. Common variant associations are also more likely to replicate if first discovered in the admixed group and then transferred to an ancestral population, than the other way around (across 50 iterations with 1,000 causal SNPs, training on 10,000 individuals, testing on 1,000 in each population, p=3.78e-6, 6.19e-101, ~0 for FST= 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, respectively). While some of these FSTvalues may appear extreme, we demonstrate that they are found across the entire phenome in the GWAS catalog. This framework demonstrates that investigation of admixed populations harbors significant advantages over GWAS in single-ancestry cohorts for uncovering the genetic architecture of traits and will improve downstream applications such as personalized medicine across diverse populations.
CHIPS: A Snakemake pipeline for quality control and reproducible processing of chromatin profiling data
Authors: Taing Len , Cousins Clara , Bai Gali , Cejas Paloma , Qiu Xintao , Herbert Zach , Brown Myles , Meyer Clifford A. , Liu X. Shirley , Long Henry W. , Tang Ming
Published: March 2021

Motivation

The chromatin profile measured by ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, or DNase-seq experiments can identify genomic regions critical in regulating gene expression and provide insights on biological processes such as diseases and development. However, quality control and processing chromatin profiling data involve many steps, and different bioinformatics tools are used at each step. It can be challenging to manage the analysis.

Results

We developed a Snakemake pipeline called CHIPS (CHromatin enrichmentProcessor) to streamline the processing of ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and DNase-seq data. The pipeline supports single- and paired-end data and is flexible to start with FASTQ or BAM files. It includes basic steps such as read trimming, mapping, and peak calling. In addition, it calculates quality control metrics such as contamination profiles, PCR bottleneck coefficient, the fraction of reads in peaks, percentage of peaks overlapping with the union of public DNaseI hypersensitivity sites, and conservation profile of the peaks. For downstream analysis, it carries out peak annotations, motif finding, and regulatory potential calculation for all genes. The pipeline ensures that the processing is robust and reproducible.

Availability

CHIPS is available athttps://github.com/liulab-dfci/CHIPS
Bacteriophage inhibits murine norovirus replication after co-incubation in RAW 264.7 cells
Authors: Zhang Lili , Shahin Khashayar , Wang Ran
Published: March 2021

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses of bacteria. Despite the growing progress in research on phage interactions with eukaryotic cells, our understanding of the roles of phages and their potential implications remains incomplete. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of theStaphylococcus aureusphage vB_SauM_JS25 on murine norovirus (MNV) replication. Experiments were performed using the RAW 264.7 cell line. After phage treatment, MNV multiplication was significantly inhibited, as indicated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, western blot, and immunofluorescence assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated the transcriptional changes in phage–MNV co-incubated RAW 264.7 cells through RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and bioinformatic analysis. Our subsequent analyses revealed that the innate immune response may play an important role in the restriction of MNV replication, such as the cellular response to IFN-γ and response to IFN-γ. In addition, the gene expression ofIL-10, Arg-1, Ccl22, GBP2, GBP3, GBP5, andGBP7was proven to increase significantly by RT-qPCR, showing a strong correlation between RT-qPCR and RNA-Seq results. Furthermore, phage treatment activated guanylate binding proteins (GBPs), as revealed by RT-qPCR analysis, western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Taken together, these data suggest that the phage affects the innate response (such as the IFN-inducible GTPases and GBPs), reflecting their direct antimicrobial effect on the membrane structure of the MNV replication complexes, and therefore, exerts an antiviral effectin vitro. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the interactions of immune cells and phages, which improve our understanding of the actual role and potential of phages.
A topological approach to DNA similarity analysis from 5-dimensional representation
Authors: Ngoc Nguyen Dong Quan , Tan Le Phuong Dong , Hu Ziqing , Lin Lizhen
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we propose another topological approach for DNA similarity analysis. For each DNA sequence, we transform it into a collection of vectors in 5-dimensional space in which all nucleotides of the same type, say A, C, G, T are on the same line in this 5D space. Based on this special geometric property, we combine this representation with tools in persistent homology to obtain only zeroth persistence diagrams as a topological representation of DNA sequences. Similarities between DNA sequences are signified via how close the representing zeroth persistence diagrams of the DNA sequences are, based on the Wasserstein distance of order zero, which provides a new method for analyzing similarities between DNA sequences. We test our methods on the datasets of Human rhinovirus (HRV) and Influenza A virus.
Derivatized volatile organic compound characterization of Friulano wine from Collio (Italy–Slovenia) by HS-SPME-GC-MS and discrimination from other varieties by chemometrics
Authors: Licen Sabina , Muzic Elija , Briguglio Sara , Tolloi Arianna , Barbieri Pierluigi , Giungato Pasquale
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Methods to assess the authenticity and traceability of wines have been extensively studied as enhancers of food quality, allowing producers to obtain market recognition and premium prices. Among analytical techniques, the volatilome profile attained by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is acquiring more and more attention by the scientific community, together with the use of chemometrics

Design/methodology/approach

The volatilome profile of three varieties of blanc wines from the Collio area (namely Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and Friulano) between Italy and Slovenia, was determined by head space-solid phase micro extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhancing the carbonyl compounds identification with O-(2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentafluorobenzyl)-hydroxylamine with the aim of identifying the autochthonous Friulano variety.

Findings

A two-step chemometric approach based on an unsupervised technique (PCA) followed by a supervised one (PLS-DA) allowed to identify possible markers for discriminating the Friulano Collio variety from the others, in particular two chemical classes were identified by PCA (ketones and long chain esters). PLS-DA showed 87% accuracy in classification. A correct classification (i.e. non-Friulano Collio) of a group of wines obtained from the same grape variety but produced in an extra-Collio area was obtained as well. The results confirmed the benefits of using a derivatization step prior to volatile organic compounds analysis.

Research limitations/implications

Among methods to assess the authenticity and traceability of wines, volatilome profile of wines determined by head space-solid phase micro extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhanced by the carbonyl compound identifications with O-(2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentafluorobenzyl)-hydroxylamine, may have a key role in conjunction with chemometrics and, in particular with principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis.

Practical implications

Among methods to assess the authenticity and traceability of Friulano wine, volatilome profile of wines determined by head space-solid phase micro extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhanced by the carbonyl compound identifications with O-(2, 3, 4, 5, 6-Pentafluorobenzyl)Hydroxylamine hydrochloride, may have a key role in conjunction with chemometrics.

Originality/value

Few works investigated both wine traceability with a volatilome enhancer and chemometrics of the Friulano wine variety obtaining such an improvement in this wine variety discrimination.
The evolution of habit formation effect on sugar consumption of urban residents in China
Authors: Zhai Tianchang , Long Wenjin , Si Wei
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explain the rapid growth of urban residents' sugar consumption in China from the perspective of habit formation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the provincial panel data of Chinese urban households from 1995 to 2012, this study uses the two-step System Generalized Moment Method (GMM) to test the habit formation effect on residents' sugar expenditure in urban China. We also use system GMM and the recursive estimated method to explore the changes of the habit formation coefficients in different years.

Findings

We find a significant habit formation effect on overall residents' sugar expenditure and different types of sugary foods expenditure. The habit formation effect on total residents' sugar expenditure and different types of sugary foods is decreasing over the years. The patterns of the changes of the habit formation effect on different types of sugar foods are slightly different.

Research limitations/implications

Due to data limitations, we are not able to do household-level analysis and to examine the heterogeneity of the habit formation effect.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines changes in the habit formation effect on residents' sugar expenditure in urban China. Our findings provide a reasonable explanation for the rapid growth of residents' sugar consumption in urban China. The result helps to formulate targeted policies for future interventions to control the growth of sugar consumption.
Adaptive hybrid arbiter design for real-time traffic-aware scheduling
Authors: Khan Afshan Amin , Mir Roohie Naaz , Din Najeeb-Ud
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This work focused on a basic building block of an allocation unit that carries out the critical job of deciding between the conflicting requests, i.e. an arbiter unit. The purpose of this work is to implement an improved hybrid arbiter while harnessing the basic advantages of a matrix arbiter.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic approach of the design methodology involves the extraction of traffic information from buffer signals of each port. As the traffic arrives in the buffer of respective ports, information from these buffers acts as a source of differentiation between the ports receiving low traffic rates and ports receiving high traffic rates. A logic circuit is devised that enables an arbiter to dynamically assign priorities to different ports based on the information from buffers. For implementation and verification of the proposed design, a two-stage approach was used. Stage I comprises comparing the proposed arbiter with other arbiters in the literature using Vivado integrated design environment platform. Stage II demonstrates the implementation of the proposed design in Cadence design environment for application-specific integrated chip level implementation. By using such a strategy, this study aims to have a special focus on the feasibility of the design for very large-scale integration implementation.

Findings

According to the simulation results, the proposed hybrid arbiter maintains the advantage of a basic matrix arbiter and also possesses the additional feature of fault-tolerant traffic awareness. These features for a hybrid arbiter are achieved with a 19% increase in throughput, a 1.5% decrease in delay and a 19% area increase in comparison to a conventional matrix arbiter.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a traffic-aware mechanism that increases the throughput of an arbiter unit with some area trade-off. The key feature of this hybrid arbiter is that it can assign priorities to the requesting ports based upon the real-time traffic requirements of each port. As a result of this, the arbiter is dynamically able to make arbitration decisions. Now because buffer information is valuable in winning the priority, the presence of a fault-tolerant policy ensures that none of the priority is assigned falsely to a requesting port. By this, wastage of arbitration cycles is avoided and an increase in throughput is also achieved.
The evaluation of the relationship between customers’ knowledge management and their loyalty to academic libraries
Authors: Malakooti Asl Nargess , Kaffashan Kakhki Mojtaba , Parirokh Mehri
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between customers’ knowledge management and their loyalty to academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted by the descriptive-survey method. After determining the validity and the reliability of the questionnaire, 400 questionnaires were distributed among the undergraduate students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) by stratified sampling method. Finally, 373 questionnaires were considered as the basis for data analysis. Structural equation method was used for data analysis.

Findings

In this study, nine hypotheses were examined and tested. The results of the path analysis indicated that factors such as perceived value, knowledge about customer, satisfaction, perceived quality, knowledge for customer and knowledge about customer had the most to least impact on customer loyalty to academic libraries. In addition, this study highlighted the role of perceived value. Data analysis showed the important role of perceived value as an interface between customers’ knowledge management and its direct and indirect relationship with them.

Practical implications

Based on the findings of this study, it seems that the managers and the librarians of academic libraries need to consider the relationship between customers’ knowledge management and perceived quality, as well as the satisfaction of their customers to use the customer knowledge management capacities for developing their loyalty.

Originality/value

In this case, an effective step can be taken toward developing the knowledge management of users and ultimately encouraging them to show their loyalty to academic libraries and satisfying their information needs and providing the justification for the survival of these types of libraries.
Sensor and photovoltaic dual functions of a-Si:H solar cell in smart clothing and eyewear
Authors: Lin Miao-Tzu
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Flexible hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells have many advantages, including lower weight, good flexibility and light sensitivity. Moreover, a-Si:H solar cells can be used as sensors, as indoor light sources and can also generate electricity. These solar cells are suitable for the design of portable systems and curved materials. The purpose of this study was to integrate flexible a-Si:H solar cells and wearable technology and to apply the dual functions of photovoltaics and photo sensors to smart clothing and eyewear.

Design/methodology/approach

The integration of flexible a-Si:H solar cells and tri-colour light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was used to develop smart auto-flashing clothing. In addition, we combined flexible a-Si:H solar cells and twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal (LC) cells to design smart self-activation eyewear.

Findings

The maximum power resistance value of flexible a-Si:H solar cells was used to deduce the equation of solar cell voltage value generated by different percentages of SUN (100% SUN means 100 mW/cm2). A solar cell was used as a photo sensor that connects a resistor in a series to the Arduino to detect the voltage value, and then different percentages of SUN are calculated from the equation. Applying the deduced equation to the smart phone APP and Arduino code, we developed a human–machine interface (HMI) to facilitate user operation.

Originality/value

In this study, the flexible a-Si:H solar cell performs the function of not only photovoltaic power generation but also that of a photo sensor. The smart auto-flashing clothing is suitable for traffic guides, joggers and people engaging in other night activities. This smart self-activating eyewear can adjust to light and protect the eyes.
Modelling the affecting factors of housing price using GMDH-type artificial neural networks in Isfahan city of Iran
Authors: Nazemi Behrooz , Rafiean Mohsen
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH)-type artificial neural network to model the affecting factors of housing price in Isfahan city housing market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an accurate model based on GMDH approach to describing connection between housing price and considered affecting factors in case study of Isfahan city based on trusted data that have been collected from 1995 to 2017 for every six months. The accuracy of the model has been evaluated by mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) in this case.

Findings

Due to the obtained value of MAPE, RMSE and MAE and also their interpretation, accuracy of modelling the factors affecting housing price in Isfahan city housing market using GMDH-type artificial neural network that has been conducted in this paper, is acceptable.

Research limitations/implications

Due to limitation of reliable data availability about affecting factors, selected period is from 1995 to 2017. Accessing to longer periods of reliable data can improve the accuracy of the model.

Originality/value

The key point of this research is reaching to a mathematical formula that accurately shows the relationships between housing price in Isfahan city and effective factors. The simplified formula can help users to use it easily for analysing and describing the status of housing market in Isfahan city of Iran.
Can offline–online congruence explain online loyalty in electronic commerce?
Authors: Ruiz-Molina Maria Eugenia , Gómez-Borja Miguel-Ángel , Mollá-Descals Alejandro
Published: March 2021

Purpose

One key issue to be addressed in multichannel retailing strategies has to do with ensuring the consistency of the retailer offerings between the brick-and-mortar and the online stores to offer their customers a seamless experience. This study assesses whether perceived congruence may be relevant to identify segments of heterogeneous based on their online loyalty levels as well as other constructs and variables related to the customer relationship with the retailer for two different product categories.

Design/methodology/approach

From the responses of apparel and electronics multichannel shoppers to an online survey, a CHAID algorithm was performed to identify the most relevant congruence attribute(s) perceived by customers for predicting their loyalty levels toward the online store.

Findings

The results have allowed the identification of five segments of online shoppers, both for apparel and for electronics retailing, so that customers showing the highest scores in all congruence attributes also showed a higher loyalty toward the online store.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents a first insight into the link between perceived congruence and online loyalty in retailing using a CHAID segmentation-based approach by differentiating various dimensions of perceived congruence for two product categories.

Practical implications

The results obtained allow for inferring a series of strategies and actions that retailers can adopt for improving perceived congruence between physical and online stores along with a series of dimensions, and ultimately, increase online loyalty.

Originality/value

As the interest of the literature on perceived congruence between offline and online stores is relatively recent, this exploratory research contributes to shedding light on the implications of specific congruence dimensions between the offline and the online store in terms of consumer online loyalty in all multicategory setting.
The food we waste: antecedents of food wastage management behaviour
Authors: Nair Girish
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This research is on the study of the variables which have bearing on behavioural aspects of food wastage in Qatar. As about 30% of food is being wasted in Qatar, despite the fact that 90% of food consumption is imported, the problem has now drawn national importance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts positivist paradigm, and Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB) provides the theoretical foundation. Questionnaire survey has been used to collect data from the consumers in Qatar (n = 212), based on convenience sampling, and the tool used for analysis is structural equation modelling (SEM) using partial least square method (PLSM).

Findings

Out of the five hypotheses being tested, four have been supported, which have led to the drawing of the implications and suggestions to reduce or even avoid food wastage. The study has revealed that both attitude and perceived behavioural control act as significant predictors of intention to avoid food wastage, which in turn is the predictor of food wastage behaviour. In addition, it is also revealed that perceive behavioural control is a direct predictor of food wastage behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

More research may be required to further investigate why Qatari consumers have not been influenced by subjective norms on their intention to avoid food wastage.

Practical implications

The suggestions have been drawn to the concerned authorities in Qatar to consider as measures of food waste minimization.

Social implications

Theoretically, the research provides an empirical proof to Ajzen's TPB in the context of food wastage management.

Originality/value

An attempt has been made to study the food wastage behaviour of the residents of Qatar so that the antecedents of food wastage behaviour can be identified and remedial actions may be taken to reduce food wastage.
Influence of political leaders on sustainable development goals – insights from twitter
Authors: Grover Purva , Kar Arpan Kumar , Gupta Shivam , Modgil Sachin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The importance and criticality of sustainable development goals is witnessed by 195 member countries. For its full-fledged adoption and implementation, it needs to be understood by masses and political leaders are critical agents those engage diverse communities through social media such as twitter. Therefore, in this study focuses on how political leaders can influence the sustainable development goals through Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the social media conversations of political leaders on Twitter. Social media analytics methods such as sentiment mining, topic modelling and content analysis-based methods have been used.

Findings

The findings indicate that most political leaders are primarily discussing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) “partnership for goals” and “peace, justice and strong institutions”. Many other goals such as “clean water and sanitation”, “life below water”, “zero hunger”, “no poverty” and “educational quality” are not being focused on.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers implications in terms of collective decision making and the role of policy makers towards the goals of promoting SDGs. The authors highlight how political leaders need to involve key stakeholders in this journey.

Originality/value

This study scores and provides a cohort-specific prioritization of the leadership within these countries with regard to SDGs, which could be beneficial to the society.
Does financial inclusion induce poverty, income inequality, and financial stability: empirical evidence from the 54 African countries?
Authors: Khan Iftikhar , Khan Ismail , Sayal Aziz Ullah , Khan Muhammad Zubair
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The aim of the study is to examine the impact of financial inclusion on poverty, income inequality and financial stability using panel data of 54 African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this objective, the current study used multiple regressions across an unbalanced panel data of 54 African countries which are based on the four years mean value for the period 2001–2019.

Findings

The results show that financial inclusion (FI) is a valuable indicator; it reduces poverty, income inequality and improves financial stability.

Research limitations/implications

The study invokes the attention of government and policymakers to build up a financially inclusive system which, in turn, leads to improve financial stability and lower poverty and income inequality. They should focus on quality and sustainable financial products and services in terms of financial inclusion to avoid dominant accounts and ensure consumer protection.

Originality/value

This adds to the scarce literature on the impact of financial inclusion on poverty, income inequality and financial stability in the context of African countries. The study contributes to the literature on the issue of financial inclusion and poverty, income inequality and financial stability by reconfirming (or otherwise) findings of previous studies.
Travel and the climate crisis: exploring COVID-19 impacts and the power of stories to encourage change
Authors: Wright Daniel William Mackenzie
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The natural environment is facing unprecedented times owing to rising temperatures from carbon emissions, which travel-related industries contribute significantly towards. The recent global COVID-19 outbreak should be a wake-up call for the industry, as vulnerabilities have been laid bare. The current challenges should be used as a motivation to change the meaning of travel to support the global warming crisis. This paper aims emphasis that, by means of new stories, new values, beliefs and ultimately travel behaviours can be rewritten.

Design/methodology/approach/

This study embraces a pragmatic approach to research. To ensure plausibility, credibility and relevance, the research carried out multi-disciplinary analysis of secondary data, information, knowledge and draws on current developing trends.

Findings

The travel community needs to take responsibility and start reducing its carbon footprint and as carbon neutrality is increasingly a global priority. Accordingly, this research considers potential future travel-related behaviours that could support more carbon-neutral travel. Significantly, it notes how the COVID-19 outbreak has offered insights into potential positive changes. To benefit from these changes, new stories for industry providers are necessary to encourage more carbon-neutral travel practices.

Originality/value

This paper offers timely and original discussions on the future of travel as a result of COVID-19 impacts. It draws on the power of storytelling as a means of achieving behavioural change in the travel community to support the challenge of climate change.
A systems perspective as a tool to understand disruption in travel and tourism
Authors: Postma Albert , Yeoman Ian Seymour
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of systems thinking and its value for strategic foresight and scenario planning to address disruptive forces from the outside, with the outbreak of COVID19 as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper concisely discusses the notion of systems thinking and the concept of complex adaptive systems and puts this in the context of contemporary society in general and travel and tourism in particular. Strategic foresight and scenario planning are introduced as an approach to anticipate disruptions in the complex adaptive travel and tourism system.

Findings

As COVID-19 has demonstrated, travel and tourism is sensitive for disruptions from the outside. To ensure long-term resilience and sustainability, a systems approach embedded in strategic foresight and scenario planning is emphasised.

Practical implications

Strategic foresight and scenario planning is a competence that can be learned.

Originality/value

Given the present status of COVID-19 and other disruptors on travel and tourism, a resilient approach to the future is necessary; thus, the value of this viewpoint paper is the proposition of an adaptive capacity system. This paper offers advice to understand and manage complexity and adaptive systems.
COVID-19, bitcoin market efficiency, herd behaviour
Authors: Mnif Emna , Jarboui Anis
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Unlike previous crisis where investors tend to put their assets in safe havens like gold, the recent coronavirus pandemic is characterised by an increase in the Bitcoin purchasing described as risk heaven. This paper aims to analyse the Bitcoin dynamics and the investor response by focusing on herd biases. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to study the degree of efficiency through multifractal analysis in order to detect herd behaviour leading to build the best predictions and strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a novel methodology that detects the presence of herding biases and assesses the inefficiency of Bitcoin through an inefficiency index (MLM) by using statistical indicators defined by measures of persistence. This study, also, investigates the nonlinear dynamical properties of Bitcoin by estimating the Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA) leading to deduce the effect of COVID-19 on the Bitcoin performance. Besides, this work performs an event study to capture abnormal changes created by COVID-19 related events capable to analyse the Bitcoin market response.

Findings

The empirical results of the generalized Hurst exponent GHE estimation indicates that Bitcoin is multifractal before this pandemic and becomes less fractal after the outbreak. Using an efficiency index (MLM), Bitcoin is found to be more efficient after the pandemic. Based on the Hausdorff topology, the authors showed that this pandemic has reduced the herd bias.

Research limitations/implications

The uncertainty of COVID-19 disease and the lasting of its duration make it difficult to make the best prediction.

Practical implications

The main contribution of this study is the evaluation of the Bitcoin value after the COVID19 outbreak. This work has practical implications as it provides new insights on trading opportunities and social reactions.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this work represents the first study that analyses the Bitcoin response to different events related to COVID-19 and detects the presence of herding behaviour in such a crisis.
Technology adoption in the apparel industry: insight from literature review and research directions
Authors: Hoque Md Aynul , Rasiah Rajah , Furuoka Fumitaka , Kumar Sameer
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to identify key theoretical cornerstones and research trends in the apparel industry. It also compares theoretical bases with those of the general research domain in technology adoption literature and, thus, provides future policy guidelines for practitioners and research gaps for further studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Documents were collected from the Web of Science (core collection) database using systematic methods. The bibliometric coupling and co-citation analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software to construct theoretical cornerstones and research trends in the apparel industry.

Findings

Literature in the apparel industry focuses mainly on the diffusion of innovation and the theory of reasoned action. Hence, the literature lacks investigations of technology–organization–environment and institutional theories for technology adoption in the apparel industry. This study also traces six clusters of prevalent research trends: radiofrequency identification, virtual-try on technology for e-commerce, computer-aided design, Industry 4.0 technologies, virtual-try on technology in design and information technology.

Originality/value

Little research is done on theoretical cornerstones on technology adoption in the apparel industry. This study looks into the theoretical bases for technology adoption, research trends in the apparel supply chain and calls for future research necessities.
Household food security and the COVID‐19 pandemic in Nigeria
Authors: Ibukun Cleopatra Oluseye , Adebayo Abayomi Ayinla
Published: March 2021

Pivotal to human development and the sustainable development goals is food security, which remains of substantial concern globally and in Nigeria, particularly during the COVID‐19 pandemic despite various palliatives and intervention initiatives launched to improve household welfare. This study examined the food security status of households during the pandemic and investigated its determinants using the COVID‐19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (COVID‐19 NLPS). In analysing the data, descriptive statistics, bivariate as well as multivariate analysis were employed. Findings from the descriptive statistics showed that only 12% of the households were food secure, 5% were mildly food insecure, 24.5% were moderately food insecure and over half of the households (58.5%) experienced severe food insecurity. The result from the ordered probit regression identified socioeconomic variables (education, income and wealth status) as the main determinants of food security during the pandemic. This study indicates that over two‐thirds of households were threatened by food insecurity in Nigeria. The finding indicates the gross inadequacy of government palliative support and distribution. Thus, regarding policy implication, interventions and palliatives should be well planned and consistent with household size and needs.
Explaining Academic Interest in Crowdfunding as a Research Topic
Authors: Le Pendeven Benjamin , Bardon Thibaut , Manigart Sophie
Published: March 2021

Crowdfunding research has grown exponentially since the first academic papers in the field were published in 2013. This interpretivist study attempts to explain why academics worldwide have chosen to study crowdfunding. As no explicit theories currently exist to guide our research, we have relied on schooling and management fashion theories. Based on interviews with 30 crowdfunding scholars, we develop a model which interprets the underlying reasons why academics have chosen this research topic. Our results show that, beyond scientific reasons, career and socio‐psychological reasons also explain why academics have chosen to research crowdfunding. By documenting both the scientific and non‐scientific reasons why researchers study a certain topic, our findings contribute to the knowledge about the rationales behind scientific development in the fields of management, entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurship.