bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) model of COVID-19 reproduces diverse clinical outcomes and reveals new and complex signatures of disease
Authors: Melton Alexandra , Doyle-Meyers Lara A , Blair Robert V , Midkiff Cecily , Melton Hunter J , Russell-Lodrigue Kasi , Aye Pyone P , Schiro Faith , Fahlberg Marissa , Szeltner Dawn , Spencer Skye , Beddingfield Brandon J , Goff Kelly , Golden Nadia , Penney Toni , Picou Breanna , Hensley Krystle , Chandler Kristin E , Plante Jessica A , Plante Kenneth S , Weaver Scott C , Roy Chad J , Hoxie James A , Gao Hongmei , Montefiori David C , Mankowski Joseph L , Bohm Rudolf P , Rappaport Jay , Maness Nicholas J
Published: August 2021

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 disease, has killed over four million people worldwide as of July 2021 with infections rising again due to the emergence of highly transmissible variants. Animal models that faithfully recapitulate human disease are critical for assessing SARS-CoV-2 viral and immune dynamics, for understanding mechanisms of disease, and for testing vaccines and therapeutics. Pigtail macaques (PTM, Macaca nemestrina) demonstrate a rapid and severe disease course when infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), including the development of severe cardiovascular symptoms that are pertinent to COVID-19 manifestations in humans. We thus proposed this species may likewise exhibit severe COVID-19 disease upon infection with SARS-CoV-2. Here, we extensively studied a cohort of SARS-CoV-2-infected PTM euthanized either 6- or 21-days after respiratory viral challenge. We show that PTM demonstrate largely mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Pulmonary infiltrates were dominated by T cells, including CD4+ T cells that upregulate CD8 and express cytotoxic molecules, as well as virus-targeting T cells that were predominantly CD4+. We also noted increases in inflammatory and coagulation markers in blood, pulmonary pathologic lesions, and the development of neutralizing antibodies. Together, our data demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection of PTM recapitulates important features of COVID-19 and reveals new immune and viral dynamics and thus may serve as a useful animal model for studying pathogenesis and testing vaccines and therapeutics.
Evaluation of height as a disease risk factor through a phenome-wide association study of genetically-predicted height
Authors: Raghavan Sridharan , Huang Jie , Tcheandjieu Catherine , Huffman Jennifer E. , Litkowski Elizabeth , Ho Yuk-Lam A. , Hunter-Zinck Haley , Zhao Hongyu , Marouli Eirini , North Kari E. ,   the VA Million Veteran Program, Lange Ethan , Lange Leslie A. , Voight Benjamin F. , Gaziano J. Michael , Pyarajan Saiju , Hauser Elizabeth R. , Tsao Philip S. , Wilson Peter W. F. , Chang Kyong-Mi , Cho Kelly , O’Donnell Christopher J. , Sun Yan V. , Assimes Themistocles L.
Published: August 2021

Background

Height has been associated with many clinical traits but whether such associations are causal versus secondary to confounding remains unclear in many cases. To systematically examine this question, we performed a Mendelian Randomization-Phenome-wide association study (MR-PheWAS) using clinical and genetic data from a national healthcare system biobank.

Methods and Findings

Analyses were performed using data from the US Veterans Affairs (VA) Million Veteran Program in non-Hispanic White (EA, n=222,300) and non-Hispanic Black (AA, n=58,151) adults in the US. We estimated height genetic risk based on 3290 height-associated variants from a recent European-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis. We compared associations of measured and genetically-predicted height with phenome-wide traits derived from the VA electronic health record, adjusting for age, sex, and genetic principal components. We found 345 clinical traits associated with measured height in EA and an additional 17 in AA. Of these, 127 were associated with genetically-predicted height at phenome-wide significance in EA and 2 in AA. These associations were largely independent from body mass index. We confirmed several previously described MR associations between height and cardiovascular disease traits such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), and atrial fibrillation, and further uncovered MR associations with venous circulatory disorders and peripheral neuropathy. As a number of traits associated with genetically-predicted height frequently co-occur with diabetes mellitus and/or CHD, we evaluated effect modification by diabetes and CHD status of genetically-predicted height associations with risk factors for and complications of diabetes and CHD. We found modification of effects of MR associations by diabetes for skin and bone infections and by CHD status for atrial fibrillation/flutter.

Conclusions

We conclude that height may be an unrecognized but biologically plausible risk factor for several common conditions in adults. However, more studies are needed to reliably exclude horizontal pleiotropy as a driving force behind at least some of the MR associations observed in this study.
Transcriptional organization and regulation of thePseudomonas putidaflagellar system
Authors: Leal-Morales Antonio , Pulido-Sánchez Marta , López-Sánchez Aroa , Govantes Fernando
Published: August 2021

A single region of thePseudomonas putidagenome, designated the flagellar cluster, includes 59 genes potentially involved in the biogenesis and function of the flagellar system. Here we combine bioinformatics andin vivogene expression analyses to clarify the transcriptional organization and regulation of the flagellar genes in the cluster. We have identified eleven flagellar operons and characterized twenty-two primary and internal promoter regions. Our results indicate that synthesis of the flagellar apparatus and core chemotaxis machinery is regulated by a three-tier cascade in whichfleQis a Class I gene, standing at the top of the transcriptional hierarchy. FleQ- andσ54-dependent Class II genes encode most components of the flagellar structure, part of the chemotaxis machinery and multiple regulatory elements, including the flagellarσfactor FliA. FliA activation of Class III genes enables synthesis of the filament, one stator complex and completion of the chemotaxis apparatus. Accessory regulatory proteins and an intricate operon architecture add complexity to the regulation by providing feedback and feed-forward loops to the main circuit. Because of the high conservation of the gene arrangement and promoter motifs, we believe that the regulatory circuit presented here may also apply to other environmental pseudomonads.

ORIGINALITY-SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This is the first integrative study of the flagellar transcriptional cascade inPseudomonas putida. Our results provide a new transcriptional organization featuring several operons with a nested architecture, detailed regulatory characterization of twenty-two flagellar promoters and a novel hierarchy for the regulatory circuit of the flagellar transcriptional cascade. The results presented represent a significant departure from previous models for other related bacteria. High conservation of flagellar gene organization and promoter sequences suggest that our observations may be relevant to other pseudomonads.
Transcriptome profiling of theCaenorhabditis elegansintestine reveals that ELT-2 negatively and positively regulates intestinal gene expression within the context of a gene regulatory network
Authors: Williams Robert T.P. , King David C. , Mastroianni Izabella R. , Hill Jessica L. , Apenes Nicolai W. , Ramirez Gabriela , Miner E. Catherine , Moore Andrew , Coleman Karissa , Osborne Nishimura Erin
Published: August 2021

ELT-2 is the major transcription factor required forCaenorhabditis elegansintestinal development. ELT-2 expression initiates in embryos to promote development and then persists after hatching through the larval and adult stages. Though the sites of ELT-2 binding are characterized and the transcriptional changes that result from ELT-2 depletion are known, an intestine-specific transcriptome profile spanning developmental time has been missing. We generated this dataset by performing Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) on intestine cells at distinct developmental stages. We analyzed this dataset in conjunction with previously conducted ELT-2 studies to evaluate the role of ELT-2 in directing the intestinal gene regulatory network through development. We found that only 33% of intestine-enriched genes in the embryo were direct targets of ELT-2 but that number increased to 75% by the L3 stage. This suggests additional transcription factors promote intestinal transcription especially in the embryo. Furthermore, only half of ELT-2’s direct target genes were dependent on ELT-2 for their proper expression levels, and an equal proportion of those responded toelt-2depletion with over-expression as with under-expression. That is, ELT-2 can either activate or repress direct target genes. Additionally, we observed that ELT-2 repressed its own promoter, implicating new models for its autoregulation. Together, our results illustrate that ELT-2 impacts roughly 20 – 50% of intestine-specific genes, that ELT-2 both positively and negatively controls its direct targets, and that the current model of the intestinal regulatory network is incomplete as the factors responsible for directing the expression of many intestinal genes remain unknown.
Biosynthetic gene cluster profiling predicts the positive association between antagonism and phylogeny in Bacillus
Authors: Xia Liming , Miao Youzhi , Cao A’li , Liu Yan , Liu Zihao , Sun Xinli , Xue Yansheng , Xu Zhihui , Xun Weibing , Shen Qirong , Zhang Nan , Zhang Ruifu
Published: August 2021

Understanding the driving forces and intrinsic mechanisms of microbial competition is a fundamental question in microbial ecology. Despite the well-established negative correlation between exploitation competition and phylogenetic distance, the process of interference competition that is exemplified by antagonism remains controversial. Here, we studied the genus Bacillus, a commonly recognized producer of multifarious antibiotics, to explore the role of phylogenetic patterns of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in mediating the relationship between antagonism and phylogeny. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a positive association between BGC distance and phylogenetic distance. Antagonistic tests demonstrated that the inhibition phenotype positively correlated with both phylogenetic and predicted BGC distance, especially for antagonistic strains possessing abundant BGCs. Mutant-based verification showed that the antagonism was dependent on the BGCs that specifically harbored by the antagonistic strain. These findings highlight that BGC-phylogeny coherence regulates the positive correlation between congeneric antagonism and phylogenetic distance, which deepens our understanding of the driving force and intrinsic mechanism of microbial interactions.
Mitochondrial mRNA is a stable and convenient reference for the normalization of RNA-seq data
Authors: Liu Yusheng , Zhang Yiwei , Lu Falong , Wang Jiaqiang
Published: August 2021

The normalization of high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data is needed to accurately analyze gene expression levels. Traditional normalization methods can either correct the differences in sequencing depth, or correct both the sequencing depth and other unwanted variations introduced during sequencing library preparation through exogenous spike-ins1-4. However, the exogenous spike-ins are prone to variation5,6. Therefore, a better normalization approach with a more appropriate reference is an ongoing demand. In this study, we demonstrated that mitochondrial mRNA (mRNA encoded by mitochondria genome) can serve as a steady endogenous reference for RNA-seq data analysis, and performs better than exogenous spike-ins. We also found that using mitochondrial mRNA as a reference can reduce batch effects for RNA-seq data. These results provide a simple and practical normalization strategy for RNA-seq data, which will serve as a valuable tool widely applicable to transcriptomic studies.
Nanopore-Based Enrichment of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes – A Case-Based Study
Authors: Viehweger Adrian , Marquet Mike , Hölzer Martin , Dietze Nadine , Pletz Mathias W. , Brandt Christian
Published: August 2021

Rapid screening of hospital admissions to detect asymptomatic carriers of resistant bacteria can prevent pathogen outbreaks. However, the resulting isolates rarely have their genome sequenced due to cost constraints and long turn-around times to get and process the data, limiting their usefulness to the practitioner. Here we use real-time, on-device target enrichment (“adaptive”) sequencing as a highly multiplexed assay covering 1,147 antimicrobial resistance genes. We compare its utility against standard and metagenomic sequencing, focusing on an isolate ofRaoultella ornithinolyticaharbouring three carbapenemases (NDM,KPC,VIM). Based on this experimental data, we then model the influence of several variables on the enrichment results and predict a large effect of nucleotide identity (higher is better) and read length (shorter is better). Lastly, we show how all relevant resistance genes are detected using adaptive sequencing on a miniature (“Flongle”) flow cell, motivating its use in a clinical setting to monitor similar cases and their surroundings.
ATM phosphorylates PP2A subunit A resulting in nuclear export and spatiotemporal regulation of the DNA damage response
Authors: Sule Amrita , Golding Sarah E. , Farhan Syed F. , Watson James , Ahmed Mostafa H. , Kellogg Glen E. , Bernas Tytus , Koebley Sean , Reed Jason C. , Povirk Lawrence F. , Valerie Kristoffer
Published: August 2021

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine-threonine protein kinase and important regulator of the DNA damage response (DDR). One critical ATM target is the structural subunit A (PR65) of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), known to regulate diverse cellular processes such as mitosis and cell growth as well as dephosphorylating many proteins during the recovery from the DDR. We generated mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing PR65-WT, -S401A (cannot be phosphorylated), and -S401D (phosphomimetic) transgenes. Significantly, S401 mutants exhibited extensive chromosomal aberrations, impaired DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and underwent increased mitotic catastrophe after radiation. Our study demonstrates that the phosphorylation of a single, critical PR65 amino acid (S401) by ATM fundamentally controls the DDR, and balances DSB repair quality, cell survival and growth by spatiotemporal PR65 nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling mediated by the nuclear export receptor CRM1.
Cholinergic interneurons mediate cocaine extinction through similar plasticity across medium spiny neuron subtypes
Authors: Fleming Weston , Lee Junuk , Briones Brandy A. , Bolkan Scott , Witten Ilana B.
Published: August 2021

Cholinergic interneurons (ChINs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) have been implicated in the acquisition and extinction of drug associations, as well as related plasticity in medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, since most previous work has relied on artificial manipulations, if and how endogenous patterns of cholinergic signaling relate to drug associations is unknown. Moreover, despite great interest in the opposing effects of dopamine on MSN subtypes, whether ChIN-mediated effects are similar or different across MSN subtypes is also unknown. Here, we find that endogenous acetylcholine event frequency during extinction negatively correlates with the strength and persistence of cocaine-context associations across individuals, consistent with effects of artificial manipulation of ChIN activity during extinction. Moreover, ChIN activation during extinction produces a reduction in excitatory synaptic strength on both MSN subtypes, similar to the effect of multiple extinction sessions in the absence of ChIN manipulations. Together, our findings indicate that natural variation in NAc acetylcholine may contribute to individual differences in drug-context extinction by modulating glutamatergic presynaptic strength similarly at both D1R and D2R MSN subtypes.

Graphical abstract
Deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson’s disease can restore dynamics of striatal networks
Authors: Adam Elie M , Brown Emery N , Kopell Nancy , McCarthy Michelle M
Published: August 2021

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is highly effective in alleviating movement disability in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, its therapeutic mechanism of action is unknown. The healthy striatum exhibits rich dynamics resulting from an interaction of beta, gamma and theta oscillations. These rhythms are at the heart of selection, initiation and execution of motor programs, and their loss or exaggeration due to dopamine (DA) depletion in PD is a major source of the behavioral deficits observed in PD patients. Interrupting abnormal rhythms and restoring the interaction of rhythms as observed in the healthy striatum may then be instrumental in the therapeutic action of DBS. We develop a biophysical networked model of a BG pathway to study how abnormal beta oscillations can emerge throughout the BG in PD, and how DBS can restore normal beta, gamma and theta striatal rhythms. Our model incorporates STN projections to the striatum, long known but understudied, that were recently shown to preferentially target fast spiking interneurons (FSI) in the striatum. We find that DBS in STN is able to normalize striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) activity by recruiting FSI dynamics, and restoring the inhibitory potency of FSIs observed in normal condition. We also find that DBS allows the re-expression of gamma and theta rhythms, thought to be dependent on high DA levels and thus lost in PD, through cortical noise control. Our study shows how BG connectivity can amplify beta oscillations, and delineates the role of DBS in disrupting beta oscillations and providing corrective input to STN efferents to restore healthy striatal dynamics. It also suggests how gamma oscillations can be leveraged to enhance or supplement DBS treatment and improve its effectiveness.
The control of transcriptional memory by stable mitotic bookmarking
Authors: Bellec Maëlle , Dufourt Jérémy , Hunt George , Lenden-Hasse Hélène , Trullo Antonio , El Aabidine Amal Zine , Lamarque Marie , Gaskill Marissa M , Faure-Gautron Heloïse , Mannervik Mattias , Harrison Melissa M , Andrau Jean-Christophe , Favard Cyril , Radulescu Ovidiu , Lagha Mounia
Published: August 2021

To maintain cellular identities during development, gene expression profiles must be faithfully propagated through cell generations. The reestablishment of gene expression patterns upon mitotic exit is thought to be mediated, in part, by mitotic bookmarking by transcription factors (TF). However, the mechanisms and functions of TF mitotic bookmarking during early embryogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, taking advantage of the naturally synchronized mitoses ofDrosophilaearly embryos, we provide evidence that the pioneer-like transcription factor GAF acts as stable mitotic bookmarker during zygotic genome activation. We report that GAF remains associated to a large fraction of its interphase targets including atcis-regulatory sequences of key developmental genes, with both active and repressive chromatin signatures. GAF mitotic targets are globally accessible during mitosis and are bookmarked via histone acetylation (H4K8ac). By monitoring the kinetics of transcriptional activation in living embryos, we provide evidence that GAF binding establishes competence for rapid activation upon mitotic exit.
Topological sensitivity analysis revisited for time-harmonic wave scattering problems. Part I: the free space case
Authors: Le Louër Frédérique , Rapún María-Luisa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this paper, the authors revisit the computation of closed-form expressions of the topological indicator function for a one step imaging algorithm of two- and three-dimensional sound-soft (Dirichlet condition), sound-hard (Neumann condition) and isotropic inclusions (transmission conditions) in the free space.

Design/methodology/approach

From the addition theorem for translated harmonics, explicit expressions of the scattered waves by infinitesimal circular (and spherical) holes subject to an incident plane wave or a compactly supported distribution of point sources are available. Then the authors derive the first-order term in the asymptotic expansion of the Dirichlet and Neumann traces and their surface derivatives on the boundary of the singular medium perturbation.

Findings

As the shape gradient of shape functionals are expressed in terms of boundary integrals involving the boundary traces of the state and the associated adjoint field, then the topological gradient formulae follow readily.

Originality/value

The authors exhibit singular perturbation asymptotics that can be reused in the derivation of the topological gradient function that generates initial guesses in the iterated numerical solution of any shape optimization problem or imaging problems relying on time-harmonic acoustic wave propagation.
Board gender diversity and firms' social engagement in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
Authors: Jizi Mohammad , Nehme Rabih , Melhem Cynthia
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries form a unique socioeconomic environment that makes the conclusions of the prior literature not likely to be applicable. GCC countries have huge oil reserves, yet they are aiming at reducing oil dependency through enhancing transparency, increasing foreign direct investments and reforming their governance structure. Their firms are mainly family owned and have low female representation in leadership positions. The study seeks to fill a literature gap by providing a business case supporting the call for gender diverse boards for better governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines a sample of GCC-listed firms for the years 2009–2018. Three measures are used to proxy for firm social engagement, namely, CSR strategy score, environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure score and social pillar score. To ensure whether the presence of women on board or the number of women on board is influential on social engagements, the authors use the existence of women on board and the percentage of women on board variables. Data are collected using Thomson Reuters, and generalized least squares (GLS) panel data regression is used to estimate relationships.

Findings

The authors find that female representation on GCC corporate boards is increasing, yet in a slow path. The reported results support the role of women on boards in prompting firms' social agenda and enhancing the level of sustainability reporting. The results also show that female board representation supports the implementation of climate change policy, business ethics policy and health and safety policy.

Originality/value

The paper evidence the add value of women participation on GCC corporate boards in enhancing boards' functionality and governance. The empirical findings encourage firms and policymakers in the GCC countries to increase the share of females on corporate boards to improve firms' citizenship and facilitate attracting foreign investors.
Witnessing Wonderland: Research with Black girls imagining freer futures
Authors: Young Alexis Morgan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to a growing body of work (re)imagining the future for Black girls by calling Western notions of time into question. At its core, this paper argues that all Black girls are imaginative beings and that it is essential that Black girlhood imagination as a mode of future-making praxis be considered an integral component in the pursuit of Black liberation. To do such the author engages Black feminist futurity Campt (2017) and Black Quantum Futurity Phillips (2015) to illuminate ways a reconceptualization of time provides us with an analytical tool to amplify Black girls’ liberatory fantasies.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted to synthesize Black girls’ freedom dreams (Kelley, 2002) across time in an effort to demonstrate that Black girls, despite their conditions, are experts in self-defining their dreams of the future. It also highlights methods that researchers use to elucidate the freedom dreams of Black girls years past.

Findings

This paper underscores the urgency in applying future-oriented research practices in the attempt to create a new world for Black girls. It also demonstrates that Black girls have always been and always be, imaginative beings that engaged in future-making dreaming.

Research limitations/implications

The author offers a conceptual framework for researchers committed to witnessing Black girl imaginations and in an effort to work in concert with Black girls to get them freer, faster.

Originality/value

This paper makes the argument that studying the imaginations and freedom dreams of Black girls requires the employment of future-oriented theories that have a racial, gender and age-based analysis.
Determinant factors of urban housing preferences among low-income people in Greater Jakarta
Authors: Hartono Djoni , Irawan Tony , Khoirunurrofik Khoirunurrofik , Partama Ramadani , Mujahid Nurul Wajah , Setiadestriati Desi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

High numbers of housing backlogs as well as inadequate housing for low-income are one of the Indonesian government’s major concerns, especially in urban areas where the price of house is high. This study aims to identify low-income communities’ preferences on house ownership status, renting or buying and house provider, public or private, in Jakarta and surrounding areas.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adapts Longley multistage choice model in the Indonesian context to analyze people’s preferences in choosing a place to live in urban areas. This study analyzes two choices of models which are aspects of homeownership (buying or renting) and aspects of residential types (private or public).

Findings

Using data collected through a survey of 1,000 households in greater Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi), this study found that households which have fixed employment status, an older age, a larger number of family members, higher level of education and literacy in housing policy, accessible house location and more affordable to own house have a higher probability to choose to own a house. In addition, education level, age, and family size are major determinants of a household’s decision to occupy a public house rather than a private house. The findings provide basic input to government development programs in designing housing policy for low-income people.

Originality/value

There are only a few studies related to house-ownership preferences in low-income people, especially in developing countries, including Indonesia. This study contributes to the housing studies literature by strengthening empirical evidence from developing countries that have large populations and mostly live in urban areas.
Effects on corporate performance through ISS-enabled strategy-making on dynamic and improvisational capabilities
Authors: Yoshikuni Adilson Carlos
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study develops the idea that resource orchestration (RO) of ISS-enabled strategy-making (ISS-SM) can influence dynamic and improvisational capabilities in innovation resulting in corporate performance (CP) gains under a hostile environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural equation modeling is applied to the data collected from 551 Brazilian firms.

Findings

The results suggest that ISS-SM facilitates dynamic and improvisational capabilities in innovation, consequently promoting CP. The research also showed that, under conditions of high environmental hostility, the impact of improvisational capabilities in innovation on CP is significantly amplified. Finally, in the specific case of high hostility, ISS-SM is especially important in enabling organizational capabilities on CP, for digital mastery firms, large firms in the manufacturing and services sectors.

Practical implications

The findings provide insights on how RO of ISS and resource management action enable strategy-making to leverage innovation and corporate performance during an uncertain environment.

Originality/value

This study developed an original contribution to resource orchestration, information systems strategies, and strategy-making literature through developing a novel construct of ISS-enabled strategy-making to enhance proximate and distal outcomes under a hostile environment.
Multi-objective design optimization of hydrodynamic journal bearings using a hybrid approach
Authors: Shaltout Mohamed L. , Hegazi Hesham A.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this work, the design problem of hydrodynamic plain journal bearings is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem to improve bearing performance under different operating conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem is solved using a hybrid approach combining genetic algorithm and sequential quadratic programming. The selected state variables are oil leakage flow rate, power loss and minimum oil film thickness. The selected design variables are the radial clearance, length-to-diameter ratio, oil viscosity, oil supply pressure and oil supply groove angular position. A validated empirical model is adopted to provide relatively accurate estimation of the bearing state variables with reduced computations. Pareto optimal solution sets are obtained for different operating conditions, and secondary selection criteria are proposed to choose a final optimum design.

Findings

The adopted hybrid optimization approach is a random search algorithm that generates a different solution set for each run, thus a different bearing design. For a number of runs, it is found that the key design variables that significantly affect the optimum state variables are the bearing radial clearance, oil viscosity and oil supply pressure. Additionally, oil viscosity is found to represent the significant factor that distinguishes the optimum designs obtained using the implemented secondary selection criteria. Finally, the results of the proposed optimum design framework at different operating conditions are presented and compared.

Originality/value

The proposed multi-objective formulation of the bearing design problem can provide engineers with a systematic approach and an important degree of flexibility to choose the optimum design that best fits the application requirements.
Effects of visit behavior on online store sales performance: personal computer (PC) versus mobile channels
Authors: Luo Peng , Ngai Eric W.T. , Li Yongli , Tian Xin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study examines the dynamic relationships of visit behavior in the multiple channels [personal computer (PC) and mobile channels] on online store sales performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were from an online store for the period between August 14, 2015 and May 15, 2016. The data consisted of consumer visit behavior and online store sales performance. Vector autoregression with an exogenous variables model was adopted to investigate the dynamic relationships.

Findings

The empirical results show significant relationships between visit behavior metrics (number of visitors, average number of visits per visitor and average length of each visit) in the two channels and online store sales performance. The number of visitors through the PC and mobile channels strongly and positively affects online store sales performance both in the short term and in the longer term. Moreover, the number of visitors in the PC channel has the strongest influence on sales performance metrics, followed by the number of visitors and the average number of visits in the mobile channel. The PC channel's visit behavior metrics explain a larger proportion of the sales performance variance than that in the mobile channel.

Originality/value

The previous literature on consumer behavior in multichannel marketing mainly focuses on channel selection or migration, and examines the different factors affecting channel choice behavior. Little is known about the impacts of visit behavior in the multiple channels. This study adopts the heuristic-systematic information processing theory to unveil the impacts of visit behavior metrics in the PC and mobile channels on online store sales performance.
Forensic auditing mechanism and fraud detection: the case of Nigerian public sector
Authors: Oyerogba Ezekiel Oluwagbemiga
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the perception of professionals in the field of accounting, and those associated with forensic auditing, about the knowledge and skills, experience and technique that a forensic auditor should possess to provide high-quality services in fraud detection. The study also shows the impact of forensic auditing tools on fraud detection.

Design/methodology/approach

With the use of a self-administered questionnaire, the study adopts a survey design in which 298 respondents participated. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics (ranking, mean and standard deviation), inferential statistics (binary logistic regression and ordinary least square regression).

Findings

The findings indicate that adequate knowledge of economic damage calculation and financial statement valuation is essential for forensic auditors' service. The results also reveal that forensic auditor skills and techniques is a significant predictor for fraud detection in the Nigerian public sector.

Practical implications

The paper draws attention of the federal government parastatals to the need to improve their internal control system to reduce the fraudulent practices in their parastatal. The study also draws the attention of the Nigeria University Commission and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria on the needs for revision of the accounting curricular for the training of accounting graduates and professional accountants in Nigeria.

Social implications

The paper is of importance to other developing nation as it provides empirical evidence on the needs to do periodic forensic audits of government corporations.

Originality/value

With the persistent increase in the number of fraudulent cases, current views of those associated with forensic auditing (judiciaries, parastatals, forensic auditors and academics) on mechanisms for timely detection of fraud are needed.
Enhancing the export activities of small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets
Authors: Safari Arsalan , Saleh Ali Salman , Balicevac Al Ismail Vanesa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine a conceptual integrated framework for small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) export performance that comprises all potential export determinants and inhibitors. This study also incorporates and examines the potential mediators of proactiveness (business strategy), innovativeness (innovation strategy) and export marketing strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

His research is based on the contingency theory, resource-based and market-based view, and it provides an integrated model about the research problem. The primary data are collected through direct survey amongst active SME exporters, and three main approaches of descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling are applied for data analysis.

Findings

The results show significant effects of various internal and external firms’ determinants on their export performance in Qatar. Two mediators, proactiveness (business strategy) and innovativeness (innovation strategy), have key roles in enhancing SMEs’ export as well. The final research findings have significant implications for understanding all key drivers of SME export in Qatar, and it helps policymakers, regulators and service providers to improve the current SME ecosystem and their services to SMEs. Finally, the results of this study can be extended to other emerging markets with similar economic and legal structures.

Originality/value

Many obstacles discourage SMEs to move internationally, especially in emerging markets. This study focuses on the capacity building to enhance SME export activities in an emerging market. Even though the latest literature in the area of export performance has focused on firms from emerging economies, studies in this area are still limited. Earlier research in this area has mostly focused solely on the determinants of export performance from either internal factors, external factors or both without using adequately potential mediating factors, which could affect export performance.
Priming effect of celebrities on consumer response toward endorsed brands: an experimental investigation
Authors: Nagar Komal
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Moving beyond the concept of congruence between celebrity image and brand image, this study explores a new domain in which to investigate the match-up hypothesis. Specifically, this study aims to understand the extent to which consumers engage in more indulgent behavior when participants are primed with a celebrity with a certain perceived lifestyle.

Design/methodology/approach

Two independent experiments were undertaken to observe consumer reactions to advertisements using celebrities as priming stimulus. Experiment 1 featured a 2 (perceived celebrity lifestyle) × 3 (celebrity persuasion style) between-subjects design, while a follow-up study featured a 2 (celebrity’s on-screen portrayal) × 3 (celebrity persuasion style) between-subjects factorial design.

Findings

Results support the proposition that celebrities cause priming effects such that consumers’ attitude and willingness to spend (WTS) on the endorsed brand depends on their perception of the celebrity’s lifestyle. Participants exposed to a perceived high-flamboyant-lifestyle celebrity had a more positive attitude toward the endorsed brand and were more willing to spend money when the celebrity used a “spend money” persuasion style than when the celebrity used a “save money” persuasion style in endorsements. Findings of a follow-up study suggest that exposure to a celebrity playing a flamboyant character on-screen was seen to be associated with a positive attitude toward the brand and increased WTS, than exposure to a celebrity playing a less flamboyant character on-screen.

Originality/value

Although effects of person primes are evidenced in the literature, previous studies are silent on the impact of presenting celebrities as priming stimulus. This study extends the idea of priming using a social category that has not been explored before, namely, celebrities and explores the effect that celebrity priming has on activating specific consumer response behavior.
Corporate governance structure and bank performance: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Molla Md. Ibrahim , Islam Md. Saiful , Rahaman Md. Kayes Bin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the association between corporate governance mechanisms and the performance of listed banks in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

Dynamic panel data of two-step System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) estimators are used to analyze the influence of corporate governance characteristics on the performance of banks operating in Bangladesh over a period of eleven years from 2008 to 2018.

Findings

By employing the two-step SGMM, the authors find statistical evidence to conclude that board size has a positive impact on banks' accounting performance. However, it does not influence the market performance of banks operating in Bangladesh. The authors’ results also suggest that outside independent directors, managerial ownership and females' participation on the board are not linked with the performance of the listed banks in Bangladesh. It signifies that the mere presence of outside directors and female directors in the board does not guarantee the enhancement of banks' performance and the minimization of agency conflict between shareholders and management. The persistent characteristic of bank performance is one of the crucial findings of this paper.

Research limitations/implications

This research has some limitations as the study's findings may not be generalized to other countries or industries because the current study considered only the small sample size based on the availability of the data and focused only on the banks listed in the DSE. Moreover, this study may not represent the whole financial industry because it includes all listed and non-listed banks and non-bank financial institutions. Hence, the findings may not be applicable to the other industries operating in different business ecosystems.

Practical implications

The findings of this analysis have some managerial implications. This study provides managers empirical evidence regarding the influence of corporate governance elements on banks' performance, and they can now identify the factors that should emphasize enhancing the bank performance. The findings demonstrate that policymakers, regulatory bodies and bank management should pay more attention to the banks' overall corporate governance structures, especially in the case of appointing independent and female directors to challenge the executive power and to prevent the repetition of financial irregularities and loan scams in the banking industry of Bangladesh. Furthermore, the regulatory authorities should ensure the banks follow the corporate governance guidelines precisely for building a resilient banking industry to attain sustainable development goals in the long run.

Originality/value

This paper is the first empirical in-depth analysis applying the most recent data that examines the effect of bank governance elements on the performance of all the banks listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange to the best of our knowledge.
Managing the risk and challenges of COVID-19 on construction sites in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Kukoyi Patricia Omega , Simpeh Fredrick , Adebowale Oluseyi Julius , Agumba Justus Ngala
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The novel COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk in construction operations. New systems are, thus, required on construction sites to mitigate the risk and challenges associated with the pandemic. This paper aims to determine construction organisations risk control systems and the challenges of implementing safety measures on construction sites.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a qualitative research method. A purposive sampling method was used to select study participants, who were administered open-ended questionnaires designed to gather qualitative data. The contents of the data were analysed, presented and reported based on the objectives of the study.

Findings

Some of the construction organisations conducted COVID-19 related risk assessments, whilst a few organisations did not conduct a risk assessment. Inspections to ensure COVID-19 compliance was done by government officials, health organisations and client’s health and safety officers. The construction organisations demonstrated considerable competence in record keeping and some organisations further evolved a follow-up plan for sick workers. The study found that some construction practitioners had misconceptions about the disease, used COVID-19 personal protective equipment incorrectly and lack adequate information about the virus. It is required that construction stakeholders evolve policies and strategies that would promote risk control and foster compliance to COVID-19 safety measures.

Originality/value

COVID-19 is still new, therefore, the body of knowledge is still at the infancy stage. This paper provided insight into the COVID-19 related risk and challenges that may increase the rate of virus infection amongst construction practitioners.
Effect of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) on the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams
Authors: Khatib Jamal , Jahami Ali , El Kordi Adel , Sonebi Mohammed , Malek Zeinab , Elchamaa Rayan , Dakkour Sarah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to concern with using municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) in concrete application.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams containing MSWI-BA was investigated. Four concrete mixes were used in this study. The control mix had a proportion of 1 (cement): 2 (fine aggregates): 4 (coarse aggregates) by weight. In the other three mixes, the fine aggregates were partially replaced with 20%, 40% and 60% MSWI-BA (by weight). The water to cement ratio was kept constant at 0.5 in all mixes. Concrete cubes and cylinders were prepared to determine some physical and mechanical properties of concrete, whereas RC beams were used for determining the structural performance.

Findings

There was an increase in compressive strength, tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity when 20% of fine aggregates were replaced with MSWI-BA. However, beyond 20% these properties were reduced. The load bearing capacity and deflection were the highest for the control beam and the beam with 20% MSWI-BA.

Research limitations/implications

The research conducted in this investigation used a specific type of MSWI-BA. The composition of the waste can vary from one plant to another and this presents one of the limitations.

Practical implications

The findings of this research indicate that MSWI-BA can partially substitute fine aggregate, thus reducing the impact of construction on the environment.

Originality/value

The MSWI-BA used in this research differs from other types as the waste papers and cartons are removed from the waste and used to produce other products. Therefore, this study is considered original as it examines MSWI-BA with different properties for use in construction.
Including decision-makers preferences in the cost-deprivation trade-off during disaster interventions
Authors: Diehlmann Florian , Hiemsch Patrick Siegfried , Wiens Marcus , Lüttenberg Markus , Schultmann Frank
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this contribution, the purpose of this study is to extend the established social cost concept of humanitarian logistics into a preference-based bi-objective approach. The novel concept offers an efficient, robust and transparent way to consider the decision-maker’s preference. In principle, the proposed method applies to any multi-objective decision and is especially suitable for decisions with conflicting objectives and asymmetric impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors bypass the shortcomings of the traditional approach by introducing a normalized weighted sum approach. Within this approach, logistics and deprivation costs are normalized with the help of Nadir and Utopia points. The weighting factor represents the preference of a decision-maker toward emphasizing the reduction of one cost component. The authors apply the approach to a case study for hypothetical water contamination in the city of Berlin, in which authorities select distribution center (DiC) locations to supply water to beneficiaries.

Findings

The results of the case study highlight that the decisions generated by the approach are more consistent with the decision-makers preferences while enabling higher efficiency gains. Furthermore, it is possible to identify robust solutions, i.e. DiCs opened in each scenario. These locations can be the focal point of interest during disaster preparedness. Moreover, the introduced approach increases the transparency of the decision by highlighting the cost-deprivation trade-off, together with the Pareto-front.

Practical implications

For practical users, such as disaster control and civil protection authorities, this approach provides a transparent focus on the trade-off of their decision objectives. The case study highlights that it proves to be a powerful concept for multi-objective decisions in the domain of humanitarian logistics and for collaborative decision-making.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, the present study is the first to include preferences in the cost-deprivation trade-off. Moreover, it highlights the promising option to use a weighted-sum approach to understand the decisions affected by this trade-off better and thereby, increase the transparency and quality of decision-making in disasters.