bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell Type-specific Genome Scans of DNA Methylation Diversity Indicate an Important Role for Transposable Elements
Authors: Kartal Önder , Schmid Marc W , Grossniklaus Ueli
Published: October 2019

The epigenome modulates the activity of genes and supports the stability of the genome. The epigenome can also contain phenotypically relevant, heritable marks that may vary at the organismic and population level. Such non-genetic standing variation may be relevant to ecological and evolutionary processes. To identify loci susceptible to selection, it is common to profile large populations at the genome scale, yet methods to perform such scans for epigenetic diversity are barely tapped. Here, we develop a scalable, information-theoretic approach to assess epigenome diversity based on Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) and demonstrate its practicality by measuring cell type-specific methylation diversity in the model plantArabidopsis thaliana. DNA methylation diversity tends to be increased in the CG as compared to the non-CG (CHG and CHH) sequence context but the tissue or cell type has an impact on diversity at non-CG sites. Less accessible, more heterochromatic states of chromatin exhibit increased diversity. Genes tend to carry more single-methylation polymorphisms when they harbor gene body-like chromatin signatures and flank transposable elements (TEs). In conclusion, the analysis of DNA methylation with JSD inArabidopsisdemonstrates that the genomic location of a gene dominates its methylation diversity, in particular the proximity to TEs which are increasingly viewed as drivers of evolution. Importantly, the JSD-based approach we implemented here is applicable to any population-level epigenomic data set to analyze variation in epigenetic marks among individuals, tissues, or cells of any organism, including the epigenetic heterogeneity of cells in healthy or diseased organs such as tumors.
Simulation of Stand-to-Sit Biomechanics for Design of Lower-Limb Exoskeletons and Prostheses with Energy Regeneration
Authors: Laschowski Brock , Razavian Reza Sharif , McPhee John
Published: October 2019

Although regenerative actuators can extend the operating durations of robotic lower-limb exoskeletons and prostheses, these energy-efficient powertrains have been exclusively designed and evaluated for continuous level-ground walking.

Objective

Here we analyzed the lower-limb joint mechanical power during stand-to-sit movements using inverse dynamic simulations to estimate the biomechanical energy available for electrical regeneration.

Methods

Nine subjects performed 20 sitting and standing movements while lower-limb kinematics and ground reaction forces were measured. Subject-specific body segment parameters were estimated using parameter identification, whereby differences in ground reaction forces and moments between the experimental measurements and inverse dynamic simulations were minimized. Joint mechanical power was calculated from net joint torques and rotational velocities and numerically integrated over time to determine joint biomechanical energy.

Results

The hip produced the largest peak negative mechanical power (1.8 ± 0.5 W/kg), followed by the knee (0.8 ± 0.3 W/kg) and ankle (0.2 ± 0.1 W/kg). Negative mechanical work from the hip, knee, and ankle joints per stand-to-sit movement were 0.35 ± 0.06 J/kg, 0.15 ± 0.08 J/kg, and 0.02 ± 0.01 J/kg, respectively.

Conclusion and Significance

Assuming an 80-kg person and previously published regenerative actuator efficiencies (i.e., maximum 63%), robotic lower-limb exoskeletons and prostheses could theoretically regenerate ~26 Joules of total electrical energy while sitting down, compared to ~19 Joules per walking stride. Given that these regeneration performance calculations are based on healthy young adults, future research should include seniors and/or rehabilitation patients to better estimate the biomechanical energy available for electrical regeneration among individuals with mobility impairments.
Collagen I weakly interacts with the β-sheets of β2-microglobulin and enhances conformational exchange to induce amyloid formation
Authors: Hoop Cody L. , Zhu Jie , Bhattacharya Shibani , Tobita Caitlyn A. , Radford Sheena E. , Baum Jean
Published: October 2019

Amyloidogenesis is significant in both protein function and pathology. Amyloid formation of folded, globular proteins is commonly initiated by partial unfolding. However, how this unfolding event is triggered for proteins that are otherwise stable in their native environments is not well understood. The accumulation of the immunoglobulin protein β2-microglobulin (β2m) into amyloid plaques in the joints of long-term hemodialysis patients is the hallmark of Dialysis Related Amyloidosis (DRA). While β2m does not form amyloid unassisted near neutral pHin vitro, the localization of β2m deposits to joint spaces suggests a role for the local extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, specifically collagens, in promoting amyloid formation. Indeed, collagen and other ECM components have been observed to facilitate β2m amyloid formation, but the large size and anisotropy of the complex, combined with the low affinity of these interactions, has limited atomic-level elucidation of the amyloid-promoting mechanism by these molecules. Using solution NMR approaches that uniquely probe weak interactions and large complexes, we are able to derive binding interfaces for collagen I on β2m and detect collagen I-induced µs–ms timescale dynamics in the β2m backbone. By combining solution NMR relaxation methods and15N-dark state exchange saturation transfer experiments, we propose a model in which weak, multimodal collagen I–β2m interactions promote exchange with a minor population of an amyloid-competent species to induce fibrillogenesis. The results portray the intimate role of the environment in switching an innocuous protein into an amyloid-competent state, rationalizing the localization of amyloid deposits in DRA.
DNA methylation-based forensic age estimation in human bone
Authors: Gopalan Shyamalika , Gaige Jonathan , Henn Brenna M.
Published: October 2019

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of cytosine nucleotides that represents a promising suite of aging markers with broad potential applications. In particular, determining an individual’s age from their skeletal remains is an enduring problem in the field of forensic anthropology, and one that epigenetic markers are particularly well-suited to address. However, all DNA methylation-based age prediction methods published so far focus on tissues other than bone. While high accuracy has been achieved for saliva, blood and sperm, which are easily accessible in living individuals, the highly tissue-specific nature of DNA methylation patterns means that age prediction models trained on these particular tissues may not be directly applicable to other tissues. Bone is a prime target for the development of DNA methylation-based forensic identification tools as skeletal remains are often recoverable for years post-mortem, and well after soft tissues have decomposed. In this study, we generate genome-wide DNA methylation data from 32 individual bone samples. We analyze this new dataset alongside published data from 133 additional bone donors, both living and deceased. We perform an epigenome-wide association study on this combined dataset to identify 108 sites of DNA methylation that show a significant relationship with age (FDR < 0.05). We also develop an age-prediction model using lasso regression that produces highly accurate estimates of age from bone spanning an age range of 49-112 years. Our study demonstrates that DNA methylation levels at specific CpG sites can serve as powerful markers of aging, and can yield more accurate predictions of chronological age in human adults than morphometric markers.
Marizomib suppresses triple-negative breast cancer via proteasome and oxidative phosphorylation inhibition
Authors: Raninga Prahlad V. , Lee Andy , Sinha Debottam , Dong Lan-feng , Datta Keshava K. , Lu Xue , Kalita-de Croft Priyakshi , Dutt Mriga , Hill Michelle M. , Pouliot Normand , Gowda Harsha , Kalimutho Murugan , Neuzil Jiri , Khanna Kum Kum
Published: October 2019

Lacking effective targeted therapies, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBCs) is highly aggressive with development of metastasis especially brain, and remains clinically challenging breast cancer subtype to treat. Despite the survival dependency on the proteasome pathway genes, FDA-approved proteasome inhibitors induced minimal clinical response in breast cancer patients due to weak proteasome inhibition. Here, we show that a potent proteasome inhibitor Marizomib (Mzb) inhibits multiple proteasome catalytic activities and induces a better anti-tumor response in TNBC cell lines and patient-derived xenografts alone and in combination with the standard-of-care chemotherapy. Mechanistically, Mzb inhibits oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) via PGC-1α suppression in conjunction with proteasome inhibition in TNBC cells. Mzb reduces lung and brain metastases by reducing the number of circulating tumor cells and the expression of multiple genes involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, Mzb-induced OXPHOS inhibition upregulates glycolysis to meet the energetic demands of TNBC cells and, hence, combined inhibition of glycolysis with Mzb exposure leads to a synergistic anti-cancer activity. Collectively, our data provide a strong rationale for a clinical evaluation of Mzb in primary and metastatic TNBC patients.

One Sentence Summary

Marizomib inhibits primary tumor growth, and also reduces lung and brain metastases in pre-clinical models of triple-negative breast cancer.
Visualization of the Dynamics of Histone Modifications and Their Crosstalk Using PTM-CrossTalkMapper
Authors: Kirsch Rebecca , Jensen Ole N. , Schwämmle Veit
Published: October 2019

Visualization of large-scale, multi-dimensional omics data is a major challenge. Experimental study designs in proteomics research produce multiple data layers, e.g. relationships between hundreds of proteins, their interactions and abundances as a function of time or perturbation, as well as dynamics of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and allelic variants (proteoforms). These different levels and types of information of proteins and proteoforms complicate data analysis and generation of insightful and comprehensible graphic visualizations. Middle-down mass spectrometry of histone proteins now allows quantifying hundreds of histone proteoforms including co-existing methylation, acetylation and phosphorylation events at distinct amino acid residues within histone molecules. The histone PTM landscape plays a dominant role in the regulation of chromatin activity and transcriptional and epigenetic control. The dynamics of these reversible modifications are governed by reader, writer and eraser enzymes that cooperate to regulate molecular mechanism that rely on multiple interdependent PTM marks in histones and nucleosomes in chromatin. This PTM crosstalk can be quantified and provides a detailed picture of the underlying rules for setting the histone PTM landscape and chromatin activity, and is available to the community via our CrosstalkDB platform. Here, we developed a new computational method, PTM-CrossTalkMapper, to visualize the dynamics of histone PTMs for different experimental conditions, replicates and proteoforms onto a landscape, thereby describing the crosstalk and interplay between PTMs in a more comprehensible manner. We show the power of combining different levels of information on such crosstalk maps for histone PTM dynamics in mouse organs during the aging process. The PTM-CrossTalkMapper toolkit provides flexible functions to create these maps in various scenarios of multi-dimensional experimental designs, including histone PTM patterns and PTM crosstalk.

The source code is available at https://github.com/veitveit/CrossTalkMapper.
Long-term dynamics of aberrant neuronal activity in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Korzhova V. , Marinković P. , Goltstein P. M. , Herms J. , Liebscher S.
Published: October 2019

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with aberrant neuronal activity levels. How those activity alterations emerge and how stable they are over time in vivo, however, remains elusive to date. To address these questions we chronically recorded the activity from identified neurons in cortex of awake APPPS1 transgenic mice and their non-transgenic littermates over the course of 4 weeks by means of calcium imaging. Surprisingly, aberrant neuronal activity was very stable over time. Moreover, we identified a slow progressive gain of activity of former intermediately active neurons as the main source of new highly active neurons. Interestingly, fluctuations in neuronal activity were independent from amyloid plaque proximity, but aberrant activity levels were more likely to persist close to plaques. These results support the notion that neuronal network pathology observed in AD patients is the consequence of stable single cell aberrant neuronal activity, a finding of potential therapeutic relevance.
Lynch syndrome–associated ultra-hypermutated pediatric glioblastoma mimicking a constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome
Authors: Yang Chen , Austin Frances , Richard Hope , Idowu Michael , Williamson Vernell , Sabato Fernanda , Ferreira-Gonzalez Andrea , Turner Scott A.
Published: October 2019

Pediatric glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has a poor prognosis as a result of recurrence after treatment of surgery and radiochemotherapy. A small subset of pediatric GBMs presenting with an ultra-high tumor mutational burden (TMB) may be sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibition. Here we report a 16-yr-old male with an ultra-hypermutated GBM. After incomplete surgical resection, molecular analysis of the tumor identified unusually high numbers of mutations and intratumor heterogeneity by a hotspot next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel. Further comprehensive molecular profiling identified a TMB of 343 mutations/Mb. An ultra-hypermutation genotype in pediatric GBMs is suggestive of a constitutive mismatch repair deficiency syndrome (CMMRD), which often acquires additional somatic driver mutations in replicating DNA polymerase genes. Tumor sequencing identified two MSH6 nonsense variants, a hotspot POLE mutation and a mutational signature supportive of a germline MMR deficiency with a somatic POLE mutation. However, constitutional testing identified only one nonsense MSH6 variant consistent with a Lynch syndrome diagnosis. This case represents the first confirmed Lynch syndrome case mimicking CMMRD by manifesting as an ultra-hypermutated pediatric GBM, following somatic mutations in MSH6 and POLE. These findings permitted the patient's enrollment in an anti-PD-1 clinical trial for children with ultra-hypermutated GBM. Immunotherapy response has resulted in the patient's stable condition for over more than 1 year postdiagnosis.
Extraction of plutonium-containing microcrystals from Hanford soil using a focused ion beam for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis
Authors: Corbey Jordan F. , Reilly Dallas D. , Sweet Lucas E. , Lach Timothy G.
Published: October 2019

Herein, the successful use of a focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope to prepare microsamples of radioactive single crystals for X-ray diffraction analysis is reported. This technique was used to extract and analyze crystalline Pu-containing particles as small as 28 µm3from Hanford soil taken from the 216-Z-9 waste crib, which were then crystallographically characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction to confirm the cubic structure of PuO2. As a systematic proof of concept, the technique was first tested using UO2crystals milled into cubic shapes with approximate volumes of 4620, 1331, 125, 8 and 1 µm3, in order to empirically determine the crystal size limits for characterization by a laboratory-based diffractometer with a sealed tube Mo or Ag anode X-ray source and a charge-coupled device detector.
Parallel calibration based on modified trim strategy
Authors: Peng Yaxin , Wen Naiwu , Shen Chaomin , Zhu Xiaohuang , Ying Shihui
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Partial alignment for 3 D point sets is a challenging problem for laser calibration and robot calibration due to the unbalance of data sets, especially when the overlap of data sets is low. Geometric features can promote the accuracy of alignment. However, the corresponding feature extraction methods are time consuming. The purpose of this paper is to find a framework for partial alignment by an adaptive trimmed strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors propose an adaptive trimmed strategy based on point feature histograms (PFH) coding. Second, they obtain an initial transformation based on this partition, which improves the accuracy of the normal direction weighted trimmed iterative closest point (ICP) method. Third, they conduct a series of GPU parallel implementations for time efficiency.

Findings

The initial partition based on PFH feature improves the accuracy of the partial registration significantly. Moreover, the parallel GPU algorithms accelerate the alignment process.

Research limitations/implications

This study is applicable to rigid transformation so far. It could be extended to non-rigid transformation.

Practical implications

In practice, point set alignment for calibration is a technique widely used in the fields of aircraft assembly, industry examination, simultaneous localization and mapping and surgery navigation.

Social implications

Point set calibration is a building block in the field of intelligent manufacturing.

Originality/value

The contributions are as follows: first, the authors introduce a novel coarse alignment as an initial calibration by PFH descriptor similarity, which can be viewed as a coarse trimmed process by partitioning the data to the almost overlap part and the rest part; second, they reduce the computation time by GPU parallel coding during the acquisition of feature descriptor; finally, they use the weighted trimmed ICP method to refine the transformation.
Innovative low-cost strategy and firm performance of restaurants
Authors: Kankam-Kwarteng Collins , Osman Barbara , Donkor Jacob
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the appreciation of the moderating role of competitive intensity on the relationship between low-cost strategy and firm performance of restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses empirical data collected from 118 restaurants operators, Ghana. The effects of relationships and the interaction of low-cost strategy and competitive intensity were tested using regression analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate the existence of a significant positive relationship between low-cost strategy and firm performance. The effect of competitive strategy on firm performance was found to be partially significant. The findings revealed that competitive intensity does moderate the relationship between low-cost strategy and firm performance of restaurants.

Practical implications

Implications of the findings for restaurant operators suggest that effective application of low-cost strategy and monitoring and managing competitive intensity results in high performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature on low-cost strategy, competitive intensity and firm performance. More specifically, the interaction terms of low-cost strategy and competitive intensity have been explored in this study and can be used for further investigations.
Overcoming the barriers to the implementation of more efficient productive strategies in small enterprises
Authors: Signoretti Andrea
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate an empirical model of how small, family-owned companies can overcome the barriers that have been shown in different disciplines to hinder the implementation of lean production in this category of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study involving five carefully selected small manufacturing firms operating in Northern Italy was conducted through interviews with key managers and visits inside plants. This data was integrated by a specific seminar and by interviews with unions and training specialists.

Findings

The resulting empirical model highlights the significance of social relations among small entrepreneurs in overcoming any lack of commitment towards lean changes, the role of consultants and practical training in breaking the barrier of resource constraints and the channelling and control of employee involvement to encourage their participation in lean activities. Unions, when present, also play a role in preventing situations of excessive work intensity. Important variants within this common model also emerged among small firms on the grounds of their structure (e.g. size), product market conditions and managerial choices.

Practical implications

Knowledge on how to overcome the barriers to lean production implementation can help social actors both inside and outside of differently characterised small firms which are implementing, or intending to implement, the lean approach.

Originality/value

There is no existing literature on the subject of successful application of lean methods in small enterprises. The uniqueness of this paper’s contribution is reinforced by its broad analytical perspective on the lean system, stemming from an interdisciplinary analysis of different bodies of literature, including management, operations, human resources and employment relations in line with the definition of the lean system.
The prioritization of technologies and public R&D roles between the manufacturing and service industries in the fourth industrial revolution
Authors: Kang Jinwon , Kim Jong-Seok , Seol Seonmi
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reveal the similarities and differences between the manufacturing and service industries in their prioritization of technologies and public research and development (R&D) roles, along with the complementation of properties of technology and public R&D role in the context of Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Design/methodology/approach

Two rounds of Delphi surveys were designed to meet the purpose of this study, which used rigorous triangulation techniques. The Delphi method was combined with the brainstorming method in the first-round Delphi survey, while the second-round Delphi survey focused on experts’ judgments. Finally, language network analysis was performed on the properties of technology and public R&D roles to complement the data analyses regarding prioritization.

Findings

This study identifies different prioritizations of five similar key technologies in each industry, so that it can note different technological impacts to the two industries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Smart factory technology is the first priority in the manufacturing industry, whereas artificial intelligence is the first priority in the service industry. The properties of the three common technologies: artificial intelligence, big data and Internet of things in both industries are summarized in hyper-intelligence on hyper-connectivity. Moreover, it is found that different technological priorities in the service and manufacturing industries require different approaches to public R&D roles, while public R&D roles cover market failure, system failure and government failure. The highest priority public R&D role for the service industry is the emphasis of non-R&D roles. Public R&D role to solve dy-functions, focus basic technologies and support challenging areas of R&D is prioritized at the highest for the manufacturing industry.

Originality/value

This study of the different prioritizations of technologies in the manufacturing and service industries offers practical lessons for executive officers, managers and policy-makers. They, by noting the different technological impacts in the manufacturing and service industries, can prepare for current actions and establish the priority of technology for R&D influencing the future paths of their industries in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While managers in the service industry should pay greater attention to the technological content of hyper-intelligence and hyper-connectivity, managers in the manufacturing industry should consider smart factory and robot technology.
A multi-scenario assessment of the seismogenic tsunami hazard for Bangladesh
Authors: Wijetunge Janaka J.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a multi-scenario assessment of the seismogenic tsunami hazard for Bangladesh from active subduction zones in the Indian Ocean region. Two segments of the Sunda arc, namely, Andaman and Arakan, appear to pose a tsunamigenic seismic threat to Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

High-resolution numerical simulations of tsunami propagation toward the coast of Bangladesh have been carried out for eight plausible seismic scenarios in Andaman and Arakan subduction zones. The numerical results have been analyzed to obtain the spatial variation of the maximum tsunami amplitudes as well as tsunami arrival times for the entire coastline of Bangladesh.

Findings

The results suggest that the tsunami heights are amplified on either side of the axis of the submarine canyon which approaches the nearshore sea off Barisal in the seaboard off Sundarban–Barisal–Sandwip. Moreover, the computed tsunami amplitudes are comparatively higher north of the latitude 21.5o in the Teknaf–Chittagong coastline. The calculated arrival times indicate that the tsunami waves reach the western half of the Sundarban–Barisal–Sandwip coastline sooner, while shallow water off the eastern half results in a longer arrival time for that part of the coastline, in the event of an earthquake in the Andaman seismic zone. On the other hand, most parts of the Chittagong–Teknaf coastline would receive tsunami waves almost immediately after an earthquake in the northern segment of the Arakan seismic zone.

Originality/value

The present assessment includes probabilistic measures of the tsunami hazard by incorporating several probable seismic scenarios corresponding to recurrence intervals ranging from 25 years to over 1,000 years.
Symmetric and asymmetric modeling of entrepreneurial ecosystem in developing entrepreneurial intentions among female university students in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ali Imran , Ali Murad , Badghish Saeed
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Unlike previous studies that examine the role of different entrepreneurial ecosystem factors in predicting entrepreneurial intentions. The purpose of this study is to explain the direct effects of entrepreneurial ecosystem factors effecting entrepreneurial intentions and configurational combinations of entrepreneurial ecosystem factors that cause high or low entrepreneurial intentions among female university students in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used structured survey-questionnaire based data collected from 310 female students enrolled in different universities in Saudi Arabia. The study used symmetric analysis using structural equation modeling technique, whereas asymmetric analysis is performed using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, necessary condition analysis is also used to identify the role of different entrepreneurial ecosystem factors in increasing and/or decreasing entrepreneurial intentions among young Saudi women.

Findings

The results of symmetrical analysis show that access to finance, access to physical infrastructure, and cultural factors are not significantly associated with entrepreneurial intentions, whereas government policies and regulations, government programs and support, social factors and entrepreneurship education and training are significantly associated with the development of entrepreneurial intentions among female Saudi university students. While the result of asymmetrical analysis provides 15 configurational models that explains the high levels of certain factors to predict entrepreneurial intentions among female university students in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, social support is found as necessary condition in majority of models to predict high levels of entrepreneurial intentions among female Saudi university students.

Practical implications

The results of the study provide empirical evidence to policymakers in Saudi Arabia. The study proposes that it is not mandatory that the high levels of all entrepreneurial ecosystem factors are important to predict high entrepreneurial intentions, rather in some conditions the low levels of certain factors are obligatory to predict high levels of entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

Two-step mix-method approach is used in this study containing analysis of symmetric within entrepreneurial ecosystem increase or decrease entrepreneurial intentions among female university students in Saudi Arabia. There has been plenty of research that examines the role of entrepreneurial ecosystem factors in development of university students’ entrepreneurial intentions, however there is less research evident in the entrepreneurship literature that examine the configurational effects of factors within entrepreneurial ecosystem in increasing and/or decreasing entrepreneurial intentions among female university students.
Performance evaluation of table type RFID reader for library automatic book identification
Authors: Fujisaki Kiyotaka
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of table type radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and verify the effect of the use of a parasitic element on the table type RFID reader to increase the communication performance and improve the automatic identification of books in the library.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors observe the magnetic field at each point on the reader by using a small probe antenna and evaluate the reading performance of table type RFID reader at each point on the reader by using a RFID tag. Furthermore, to increase the communication performance, they add a parasitic element on the table type RFID reader and evaluate its usefulness.

Findings

The power distribution on the table type RFID reader and the communication performance of the table type REID reader were clearly shown. From the experiments of the magnetic field observation, when the coil surface of a tag is put in the parallel with the antenna plane of the reader, the tag can obtain electric power from the reader most effectively. Furthermore, by using a loop coil between the reader and the tag as a parasitic element, the points where communication is enabled with tag increased as the number of turns of coil increased.

Originality/value

In this research work, the author clearly showed the table type RFID reader’s performance by experiment. Moreover, to increase the communication performance, the author proposed to add a parasitic element to the table type RFID leader.
Capital regulation and ownership structure on bank risk
Authors: Siddika Aysa , Haron Razali
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of capital regulation, ownership structure and the degree of ownership concentration on the risk of commercial banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of 565 commercial banks from 52 countries over the period of 2011-2015. A dynamic panel data model estimation using the maximum likelihood with structural equation modelling (SEM) was followed considering the panel nature of this study.

Findings

The study found that the increase of capital ratio decreases bank risk and the regulatory pressure increases the risk-taking of the bank. No statistically significant relationship between banks’ ownership structure and risk-taking was found. The concentration of ownership was found negatively associated with bank risk. Finally, the study found that in the long term, bank increases the capital level that decreases the default risk.

Originality/value

This study presents an empirical analysis on the global banking system focusing on the Basel Committee member and non-member countries that reflect the implementation of Basel II and Basel III. Therefore, it helps fill the gap in the banking literature on the effect of recent changes in the capital regulation on bank risk. Maximum likelihood with SEM addresses the issue of endogeneity, efficiency and time-invariant variables. Moreover, this study measures the risk by different proxy variables that address total, default and liquidity risks of the banks. Examining from a different perspective of risk makes the study more robust.
A deterministic inventory model in reverse supply chain
Authors: Mohapatra Sasmita , Behera Ajay Kumar , Mahapatra Rabindra , Das Harish
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a unique model for the production–recycling–reuse of aluminium refreshment cans. It is presumed that disposed-off 250-ml aluminium cans are collected from the retail outlet. The cans are thereafter arranged into non-tainted and tainted categories.

Design/methodology/approach

The current model considers all the factors, i.e. producing, recycling and remanufacturing, whereas the previous models provide emphasis only one factor. Six procedures were considered in the improvement of the mathematical model.

Findings

In this paper, a recycling–reuse model that remanufactures non-tainted aluminium beverage cans and uses regrind from damaged non-tainted aluminium beverage cans mixed with parent aluminium material in the production of new cans was developed and analysed to reduce the amount of aluminium beverage cans that are disposed off in a scrapyard. The model is assumed to have no shortcomings, and the different percentages regarding the classes of cans are taken to be deterministic.

Originality/value

The model incorporates several unique aspects, including accounting for the cost of land use and associated environmental damage through the calculation of a present value that is charged to the manufacturer.
Simultaneous balancing and worker assignment problem for mixed-model assembly lines in a make-to-order environment considering control points and assignment restrictions
Authors: Tanhaie Fahimeh , Rabbani Masoud , Manavizadeh Neda
Published: October 2019

Purpose

In this study, a mixed-model assembly line (MMAL) balancing problem is applied in a make-to-order (MTO) environment. One of the important problems in MTO systems is identifying the control points, which is considered by designing a control system. Furthermore, the worker assignment problem is defined by considering abilities and operating costs of workers. The proposed model is solved in two stages. First, a multi-objective model by simultaneously minimizing the number of stations and the total cost of the task duplication and workers assignment is considered. The second stage is designing a control system to minimize the work in process.

Design/methodology/approach

To solve this problem, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is introduced and the proposed model is compared with four multi-objective algorithms (MOAs).

Findings

The proposed model is compared with four MOAs, i.e. multi-objective particle swarm optimization, multi-objective ant colony optimization, multi-objective firefly algorithm and multi-objective simulated annealing algorithm. The computational results of the NSGA-II algorithm are superior to the other algorithms, and multi-objective ant colony optimization has the best running time of the four MOA algorithms.

Practical implications

With attention to workers assignment in a MTO environment for the MMAL balancing problem, the present research has several significant implications for the rapidly changing manufacturing challenge.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has provided for the MMAL balancing problem in a MTO environment considering control points. This study provides the first attempt to fill this research gap. Also, a usual assumption in the literature that common tasks of different models must be assigned to a single station is relaxed and different types of real assignment restrictions like resource restrictions and tasks restrictions are described.
Frontline backlash: service employees’ deviance from digital processes
Authors: Christ-Brendemühl Sonja , Schaarschmidt Mario
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the implementation of digital interfaces into service encounters is transforming demands toward frontline service employees. In addition to having the potential to enhance employee–customer interactions, changes related to new technologies can be perceived as stressful by employees and might foster deviation from prescribed processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the transactional theory of stress and coping as a theoretical framework, this paper aims to develop and test a research model to investigate the influence of technology-induced role ambiguity on constructive and destructive process deviance. Data were collected via an online survey of 123 frontline service employees in restaurants that have online reservation systems in use.

Findings

The results confirm that employee resistance to change fosters role ambiguity, while self-efficacy reduces the latter. Technology-induced role ambiguity leads to both constructive and destructive process deviance.

Originality/value

By revealing the above relationships, this study contributes to research in services marketing by examining two types of employees’ deviance from customer-facing processes.
An integrated supplier selection approach incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude using ANN, AHP and TOPSIS methods
Authors: Yu Chunxia , Zou Zhiqin , Shao Yifan , Zhang Fengli
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel integrated supplier selection approach incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude using the artificial neural network (ANN), analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach, the ANN model is used to classify decision maker’s risk attitude; the fuzzy AHP method is used to determine the relative weights of evaluation criteria; and the fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to evaluate ratings of suppliers. Finally, experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed integrated approach.

Findings

Experiments results show that the proposed integrated approach is effective and efficient to help decision makers to select suitable suppliers according to their risk attitudes.

Originality/value

The aim of this paper is to develop a novel integrated supplier selection approach incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude using the ANN, AHP and TOPSIS methods. The decision maker’s risk attitude toward procurement transaction is originally considered in supplier selection process.
A grid model to address the behaviour of the nodes in the dissemination of information
Authors: Signes-Pont María Teresa , Mora Higinio , Cortés-Castillo Antonio , Mollá-Sirvent Rafael
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a framework to address the impact of people’s behaviour in the dissemination of information through mobile social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach follows the epidemical compartmental models and uses a grid to model the nodes’ (people) behaviour in the dissemination process. The nodes’ status is determined by binary rules that update and define the flow of information between neighbour nodes. An improved stacked-layer grid model is used to implement modulations in the application of the rules and neighbourhoods to model the impact of people’s attitude, which may improve or jeopardize the efficiency of the process.

Findings

This proposal shows how grid architecture is a valuable tool to model different causes of malfunction of data dissemination. Combining different grids with different neighbourhoods and different local rules provides a wide range of possibilities to depict the impact of human awareness and decision on the dissemination of data.

Originality/value

This works develops a new approach for the analysis of dissemination of information which add new features to traditional methods for modelling local interactions and describing the dynamics of the communication patterns in the population.
Recognizing activities of the elderly using wearable sensors: a comparison of ensemble algorithms based on boosting
Authors: Wu Yuchuan , Qi Shengfeng , Hu Feng , Ma Shuangbao , Mao Wen , Li Wei
Published: October 2019

Purpose

In human action recognition based on wearable sensors, most previous studies have focused on a single type of sensor and single classifier. This study aims to use a wearable sensor based on flexible sensors and a tri-axial accelerometer to collect action data of elderly people. It uses a statistical modeling approach based on the ensemble algorithm to classify actions and verify its validity.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine types of daily actions were collected by the wearable sensor device from a group of elderly volunteers, and the time-domain features of the action sequences were extracted. The dimensionality of the feature vectors was reduced by linear discriminant analysis. An ensemble learning method based on XGBoost was used to build a model of elderly action recognition. Its performance was compared with the action recognition rate of other algorithms based on the Boosting algorithm, and with the accuracy of single classifier models.

Findings

The effectiveness of the method was validated by three experiments. The results show that XGBoost is able to classify nine daily actions of the elderly and achieve an average recognition rate of 94.8 per cent, which is superior to single classifiers and to other ensemble algorithms.

Practical implications

The research could have important implications for health care, including the treatment and rehabilitation of the elderly, and the prevention of falls.

Originality/value

Instead of using a single type of sensor, this research used a wearable sensor to obtain daily action data of the elderly. The results show that, by using the appropriate method, the device can obtain detailed data of joint action at a low cost. Comparing differences in performance, it was concluded that XGBoost is the most suitable algorithm for building a model of elderly action recognition. This method, together with a wearable sensor, can provide key data and accurate feedback information to monitor the elderly in their rehabilitation activities.
Understanding the social construction of crises: Comparing the crisis‐as‐claim model with securitization theory
Authors: Kalkman Jori Pascal
Published: October 2019

Spector (2019) introduced the crisis‐as‐claim model to analyze the social construction of crises. Securitization theory offers insights that can complement this crisis‐as‐claim model. Both approaches share an interest in the crisis declarations of actors, the motivations behind such claims, and the public's evaluations of crisis claims. In addition, securitization theory helps us to understand how various actors negotiate crisis declarations, how certain practices can constitute a crisis reality, and how crisis perceptions enable the use of exceptional crisis response measures.
Understanding motivated publics during disasters: Examining message functions, frames, and styles of social media influentials and followers
Authors: Zhao Xinyan , Zhan Mengqi Monica , Liu Brooke Fisher
Published: October 2019

There has been a growing body of research regarding how organizations and general publics communicate on social media during crises. Integrating the uses and gratifications perspective, the social‐mediated crisis communication model, and the framing approach, our study offers a consolidated framework explaining how and why motivated social media publics communicate during crises. Namely, we examined whether and how influentials and followers employed different message functions through communicative devices including frames and styles. A content analysis was conducted on 800 tweets sampled from influentials and followers discussing the 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing disaster. Our results (N = 800) suggested that influentials and followers adopted distinct communicative functions on social media during the disaster. Influentials engaged in information sharing and support exchange, whereas followers engaged in opinion expression and emotional coping. Influentials and followers also adopted specific frames and styles to achieve these communicative functions. Our findings can help crisis communicators understand the needs, concerns, and communication features of different publics and construct effective messages to reach them.
The Effect of Coating Incorporated with Black Pepper Essential Oil on the Taste Quality of Jinhua Ham After Storage for Four Months
Authors: Bi Yao , Wang Ying , Zhou Guanghong , Pan Daodong , Liu Junhua , Zhang Yuyu , Cao Jinxuan
Published: October 2019

In this study, 1H NMR and multivariate data analysis were used to investigate the effect of coating incorporated with black pepper essential oil (CIBPEO) on the taste of Jinhua ham after 4 months of storage; four treatments of control check (CK), base formula coating (BC), BC + 0.05% BPEO, and BC + 0.1% BPEO were used for the coating of hams. Results showed that the metabonome was dominated by 23 metabolites, including amino acids, sugar, organic acids, alkaloids, nucleic aides and their derivatives, and others. BPEO decreased the intensity of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, aftertaste, and the relative nonvolatile taste metabolites compared to CK and BC; the decrease of intensity was not dependent on the BPEO contents. These findings demonstrated that CIBPEO could give a new taste balance to Jinhua ham and be beneficial to a group of people with a particular sensory preference, who are sensitive to undesirable sourness and bitterness, and prefer a light overall taste.

Practical Application

The coating incorporated with black pepper essential oil during storage could give a new taste balance to Jinhua ham and be beneficial to a group of people with a particular sensory preference, who are sensitive to undesirable sourness and bitterness, and prefer a light overall taste.
Adoption of hypofractionated radiation therapy for early breast cancer in private practice: the GenesisCare experience 2014–2106
Authors: Neville Katherine , Dreosti Marcus , Blakey David , Latham Margaret , Izard Michael A , Young Susan , Graham Georgia , O’Brien Peter
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Cancer Australia guidelines recommend that hypofractionation should be considered for women over the age of 50 years with early breast cancer. GenesisCare is the largest provider of radiation therapy services in Australia. This study aimed to investigate variation in hypofractionation across 4 states encompassing the period when the most recent guidelines had been released.

Methods

Patients with T1 N0 and T2 N0 breast cancer who received radiation therapy as adjuvant therapy after breast conservation surgery between 2014 and 2016 were reviewed. Patient, treatment and disease‐related variables were included in the univariate and multivariate models together with other potential explanatory variables such as the state, in which the patient was treated, radiation oncologist and distance from the treatment centre.

Results

Of 3374 patients included, 44% received a hypofractionated schedule. There was an increase in the use of hypofractionation from 32% in 2014 to 56% in 2016. Older patients were more likely to receive a hypofractionated treatment schedule – 75% for patients 80 years and over. Multivariate modelling revealed older age, year of treatment, higher T stage and grade, chemotherapy and the individual radiation oncologist (and state) as independent predictors of the use of hypofractionation. There was no difference in hypofractionation based on laterality.

Conclusions

Guidelines from Cancer Australia may impact clinician behaviour. The influence of the individual radiation oncologist remains paramount, and their practice is affected by their immediate colleagues. Subsequent analysis of hypofractionation rates after presentation of these data has resulted in a significant increase in its use.