bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A high affinity human monoclonal antibody against Pfs230 binds multiple parasite stages and blocks oocyst formation in mosquitoes
Authors: Coelho Camila H. , Tang Wai Kwan , Burkhardt Martin , Galson Jacob D. , Muratova Olga , Salinas Nichole D. , Silva Thiago Luiz Alves e , Reiter Karine , MacDonald Nicholas J. , Nguyen Vu , Herrera Raul , Shimp Richard , Narum David L. , Byrne-Steele Miranda , Pan Wenjing , Hou Xiaohong , Brown Brittany , Eisenhower Mary , Han Jian , Jenkins Bethany J. , Doritchamou Justin Yai Alamou , Smelkinson Margery G. , Vega-Rodriguez Joel , Trück Johannes , Taylor Justin J. , Sagara Issaka , Renn Jonathan P. , Tolia Niraj H. , Duffy Patrick E.
Published: September 2020

Malaria elimination requires tools that interrupt parasite transmission. Here, we characterized B cell receptor responses among Malian adults vaccinated against the first domain of the cysteine-rich 230kDa gamete surface protein Pfs2301–3to neutralize sexual stageP. falciparumparasites and halt their further spread. We generated nine Pfs230 human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). One mAb potently blocked transmission to mosquitoes in a complement-dependent manner and reacted strongly to gamete surface while eight mAbs showed only low or no blocking activity. This study provides a rational basis to improve malaria vaccines and develop therapeutic antibodies for malaria elimination.
Meta-analysis of MERS, SARS and COVID-19in vitroInfection Datasets Reveals Common Patterns in Gene and Protein Expression
Authors: Martinelli Axel , Akhmedov Murodzhon , Kwee Ivo
Published: September 2020

Three lethal lower respiratory tract coronavirus epidemics have occurred over the past 20 years. This coincided with major developments in genome-wide gene and protein expression analysis, resulting in a wealth of datasets in the public domain. Seven such invitrostudies were selected for comparative bioinformatic analysis through the VirOmics Playground, a visualisation and exploration platform we developed. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the data sets, several commonalities could be observed across studies and species. Differences, on the other hand, reflected not only variations between species, but also other experimental variables, such as cell lines used for the experiments, infection protocols and viral strains. The datasets analysed here are available online through our platform (https://public.bigomics.ch/app/omicsplayground_viromics).
A potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing human monoclonal antibody that reduces viral burden and disease severity in Syrian hamsters
Authors: Fagre Anna C. , Manhard John , Adams Rachel , Eckley Miles , Zhan Shijun , Lewis Juliette , Rocha Savannah M. , Woods Catherine , Kuo Karina , Liao Wuxiang , Li Lin , Corper Adam , Challa Dilip , Mount Emily , Tumanut Christine , Tjalkens Ronald B. , Aboelleil Tawfik , Fan Xiaomin , Schountz Tony
Published: September 2020

The emergence of COVID-19 has led to a pandemic that has caused millions of cases of disease, variable morbidity and hundreds of thousands of deaths. Currently, only remdesivir and dexamethasone have demonstrated limited efficacy, only slightly reducing disease burden, thus novel approaches for clinical management of COVID-19 are needed. We identified a panel of human monoclonal antibody clones from a yeast display library with specificity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain that neutralized the virusin vitro. Administration of the lead antibody clone to Syrian hamsters challenged with SARS-CoV-2 significantly reduced viral load and histopathology score in the lungs. Moreover, the antibody interrupted monocyte infiltration into the lungs, which may have contributed to the reduction of disease severity by limiting immunopathological exacerbation. The use of this antibody could provide an important therapy for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Adaptive and maladaptive expression plasticity underlying herbicide resistance in an agricultural weed
Authors: Josephs Emily B. , Van Etten Megan L. , Harkess Alex , Platts Adrian , Baucom Regina S.
Published: September 2020

Plastic phenotypic responses to environmental change are common, yet we lack a clear understanding of the fitness consequences of these plastic responses. Here, we use the evolution of herbicide resistance in the common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) as a model for understanding the relative importance of adaptive and maladaptive gene expression responses to herbicide. Specifically, we compare leaf gene expression changes caused by herbicide to the expression changes that evolve in response to artificial selection for herbicide resistance. We identify a number of genes that show plastic and evolved responses to herbicide and find that for the majority of genes with both plastic and evolved responses, plastic responses appear to be adaptive. We also find that selection for herbicide response increases gene expression plasticity. Overall, these results show the importance of adaptive plasticity for herbicide resistance in a common weed and that expression changes in response to strong environmental change can be adaptive.

Impact statement

Predicting whether and how organisms will adapt to environmental change is a crucial goal. However, this goal can be complicated because environmental change can alter traits, in a process called plasticity. The extent and fitness consequences of plasticity will have important effects on the adaptive process. In this study, we use adaptation to herbicide in the agricultural weed, the common morning glory, as a model for understanding the extent and fitness consequences of plasticity in gene expression. We find evidence that gene expression plasticity is adaptive in the presence of herbicide, suggesting that understanding plasticity is crucial for understanding how organisms adapt to new environments.
The extracellular matrix protein agrin is essential for epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during heart development
Authors: Sun Xin , Malandraki-Miller Sophia , Kennedy Tahnee , Bassat Elad , Klaourakis Konstantinos , Zhao Jia , Gamen Elisabetta , Vieira Joaquim Miguel , Tzahor Eldad , Riley Paul R.
Published: September 2020

During embryonic heart development, epicardial cells residing within the outer layer of the heart undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migrate into the myocardium to support and stimulate organ growth and morphogenesis. Disruption of epicardial EMT results in aberrant heart formation and embryonic lethality. Despite being an essential process during development, the regulation of epicardial EMT is poorly understood. Here we report EMT on the epicardial surface of the embryonic heart at subcellular resolution using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We identified high- and low-EMT regions within the mesothelial layer of the epicardium and an association with key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM basement membrane-associated proteoglycan agrin was found to localize in the epicardium in regions actively undergoing EMT. Deletion of agrin resulted in impaired EMT and compromised development of the epicardium, accompanied by down-regulation of the epicardial EMT regulator WT1. Agrin enhanced EMT in human embryonic stem cell-derived epicardial-like cells by decreasing β-catenin and promoting pFAK localization at focal adhesions. In addition, agrin promoted the aggregation of its receptor dystroglycan to the Golgi apparatus in murine epicardial cells and loss of agrin resulted in dispersal of dystroglycan throughout the epicardial cells in embryos, disrupting basement membrane integrity and impairing EMT. Our results provide new insights into the role of the ECM in heart development, and implicate agrin as a critical regulator of EMT, functioning to ensure dystroglycan connects signals between the ECM and activated epicardial cells.

Summary statement

The basement membrane-associated proteoglycan agrin regulates epicardial epithelia-to-mesenchyme transition (EMT) through dystroglycan localizing on the Golgi apparatus. This ensures ECM and cytoskeletal connectivity and mechanical integrity of the transitioning epicardium and has important implications for the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in heart development.
Exponential-family embedding with application to cell developmental trajectories for single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Lin Kevin Z. , Lei Jing , Roeder Kathryn
Published: September 2020

Scientists often embed cells into a lower-dimensional space when studying single-cell RNA-seq data for improved downstream analyses such as developmental trajectory analyses, but the statistical properties of such non-linear embedding methods are often not well understood. In this article, we develop theeSVD(exponential-family SVD), a non-linear embedding method for both cells and genes jointly with respect to a random dot product model using exponential-family distributions. Our estimator uses alternating minimization, which enables us to have a computationally-efficient method, prove the identifiability conditions and consistency of our method, and provide statistically-principled procedures to tune our method. All these qualities help advance the single-cell embedding literature, and we provide extensive simulations to demonstrate that the eSVD is competitive compared to other embedding methods.

We apply the eSVD via Gaussian distributions where the standard deviations are proportional to the means to analyze a single-cell dataset of oligodendrocytes in mouse brains (Marques et al., 2016). Using the eSVD estimated embedding, we then investigate the cell developmental trajectories of the oligodendrocytes. While previous results are not able to distinguish the trajectories among the mature oligodendrocyte cell types, our diagnostics and results demonstrate there are two major developmental trajectories that diverge at mature oligodendrocytes.
Insights into the mechanism of bovine spermiogenesis based on comparative transcriptomic studies
Authors: Li Xin , Duan Chenying , Li Ruyi , Wang Dong
Published: September 2020

To reduce the reproductive loss caused by semen quality and provide theoretical guidance for the eradication of human male infertility, differential analysis of the bovine transcriptome among round spermatids, elongated spermatids, and epididymal sperm was carried out with the reference of the mouse transcriptome, and the homology trends of gene expression to the mouse were also analysed. First, to explore the physiological mechanism of spermiogenesis that profoundly affects semen quality, homological trends of differential genes were compared during spermiogenesis in dairy cattle and mice. Next, the Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, protein-protein interaction network (PPI network), and bioinformatics analysis uncovered the regulation network of acrosome formation during the transition from round to elongated spermatids. In addition, processes that regulate gene expression during spermiogenesis from elongated spermatid to epididymal sperm, such as ubiquitination, acetylation, deacetylation, glycosylation, and the functional gene ART3 may play an important role during spermiogenesis. Therefore, its localisation in the seminiferous tubule was investigated by immunofluorescent analysis, and its structure and function were also predicted. This study provides important data for revealing the mystery of life during spermiogenesis resulting from acrosome formation, histone replacement, and the fine regulation of gene expression.
Origin of diverse phosphorylation patterns in the ERBB system
Authors: Okada T. , Miyagi H. , Sako Y. , Hiroshima M. , Mochizuki A.
Published: September 2020

Intercellular signals induce various cellular responses, including growth, proliferation, and differentiation, via the dynamic processes of signal transduction pathways. For cell-fate decisions, ligand-binding induces the phosphorylation of ERBB receptors, which in turn activate downstream molecules. The ERBB family includes four subtypes, which diverged through two gene duplications from a common ancestor, of different kinetic properties. Differences in the expression patterns of the subtypes have been reported between different organs in the human body. However, how these different kinetic and expression properties influence the diverse phosphorylation dynamics of ERBB proteins is not well understood. Here we study the phosphorylation dynamics by experimental and mathematical analyses. The experimental measurements clarified that the phosphorylation dynamics heavily depend on the ERBB expression profiles. We developed a mathematical model consisting of the four subtypes as monomers, homodimers and heterodimers and estimated the rate constants governing the phosphorylation dynamics from the experimental data. To understand the origin of the diversity of the phosphorylation responses of the ERBB system, we analyzed the expression profiles and reaction rates of the ERBB subtypes. The difference in phosphorylation rates between ERBB subtypes showed a much larger contribution to the diversity of the phosphorylation responses than did the dimerization rates. This result implies that divergent evolution in phosphorylation reactions rather than in dimerization reactions after whole genome duplications was essential for increasing the diversity of the phosphorylation responses.

Statement of Significance

It is known that the expression patterns of a protein family are different between different organs in the human body. This difference is considered essential for the functional diversity between organs. However, the dynamical processes that translate expression patterns into function are not well understood. Here we study the origin of the diversity in ERBB phosphorylation patterns by combining experimental and mathematical methods. We confirmed experimentally that phosphorylation patterns depend on the ERBB expression profiles. Our mathematical model found that differences in phosphorylation rates made the largest contribution to the diversity of phosphorylation patterns between ERBB subtypes.
Single-molecule light-sheet microscopy with local nanopipette delivery
Authors: Li B. , Ponjavic A. , Chen W. H. , Hopkins L. , Hughes C. , Ye Y. , Bryant C. , Klenerman D.
Published: September 2020

Detection of single molecules in biological systems has rapidly increased in resolution over the past decade. However, delivery of single molecules has remained a challenge. Currently there is no effective method that can both introduce a precise amount of molecules onto or into a single cell at a defined position, and then image the cellular response. Here we have combined light sheet microscopy with local delivery, using a nanopipette, to accurately deliver individual proteins to a defined position. We call this method local delivery selective plane illumination microscopy (ldSPIM). ldSPIM uses a nanopipette and the ionic feedback current at the nanopipette tip to control the position from which molecules are delivered. The number of proteins delivered can be controlled by varying the voltage applied. For single-molecule detection, we implemented single-objective SPIM using a reflective atomic force microscopy cantilever to create a 2µm thin sheet. Using this setup, we demonstrate that ldSPIM can deliver single fluorescently-labeled proteins onto the plasma membrane of HK293 cells or into the cytoplasm. Next, we deposited aggregates of amyloid-β, which causes proteotoxicity relevant to Alzheimer’s disease, onto a single macrophage stably expressing a MyDD88-eGFP fusion construct. Whole-cell imaging in 3D mode enables live detection of MyDD88 accumulation and formation of MyDDosome signaling complexes, as a result of aggregate-induced triggering of toll-like receptor 4. Overall, we demonstrate a novel multifunctional imaging system capable of precise delivery of single proteins to a specific location on the cell surface or inside the cytoplasm and high-speed 3D detection at single-molecule resolution within live cells.

Statement of Significance

This paper describes and validates a new method to study biological processes based on the controlled local delivery of molecules onto or into the cell, combined with single molecule imaging using light sheet microscopy. we not only demonstrate the instrument’s capability of delivering controlled numbers of molecules to a defined position, down to the level of single molecules, but also its potential in study of the triggering of the innate immune response by protein aggregates, a key process in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The same approach could be applied to a wide range of other important biological processes allowing them to be followed in live cells in real-time, hence it will be of great interest to the biophysical community.
Slit2 is necessary for optic axon organization in the zebrafish ventral midline
Authors: Davison Camila , Zolessi Flavio R.
Published: September 2020

Slit-Robo signaling has been implicated in regulating several steps of retinal ganglion cell axon guidance, with a central role assigned to Slit2. We report here the phenotypical characterization of a CRISPR-Cas9-generated zebrafish null mutant for this gene, along with a detailed analysis of its expression pattern by WM-FISH. All evident defects in the optic axons inslit2-/-mutants were detected outside the retina, coincident with the major sites of expression at the ventral forebrain, around the developing optic nerve and anterior to the optic chiasm/proximal tract. Anterograde axon tracing experiments in zygotic and maternal-zygotic mutants, as well as morphants, showed the occurrence of axon sorting defects, which appeared mild at the optic nerve level, but more severe in the optic chiasm and the proximal tract. A remarkable sorting defect was the usual splitting of one of the optic nerves in two branches that surrounded the contralateral nerve at the chiasm. Although all axons eventually crossed the midline, the retinotopic order appeared lost at the proximal optic tract, to eventually correct distally. Time-lapse analysis demonstrated the sporadic occurrence of axon misrouting at the chiasm level, which could be responsible for the sorting errors. Our results support previous evidence of a channeling role for Slit molecules in retinal ganglion cell axons at the optic nerve, in addition to a function in the segregation of axons coming from each nerve and from different retinal regions at the medio-ventral area of the forebrain.
Treating Porcine Abscesses With Histotripsy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Matula Thomas J. , Wang Yak-Nam , Khokhlova Tatiana , Leotta Daniel F. , Kucewicz John , Brayman Andrew A. , Bruce Matthew , Maxwell Adam D. , MacConaghy Brian E. , Thomas Gilles , Chernikov Valery P. , Buravkov Sergey V. , Khokhlova Vera A. , Richmond Keith , Chan Keith , Monsky Wayne
Published: September 2020

Infected abscesses are walled-off collections of pus and bacteria. They are a commonsequelaof complications in the setting of surgery, trauma, systemic infections, and other disease states. Current treatment is typically limited to antibiotics with long-term catheter drainage, or surgical wash-out when inaccessible to percutaneous drainage or unresponsive to initial care efforts. Antibiotic resistance is also a growing concern. Although bacteria can develop drug resistance, they remain susceptible to thermal and mechanical damage. In particular, short pulses of focused ultrasound (i.e., histotripsy) generate mechanical damage through localized cavitation, representing a potential new paradigm for treating abscesses non-invasively, without the need for long-term catheterization and antibiotics. In this pilot study, boiling and cavitation histotripsy treatments were applied to subcutaneous and intramuscular abscesses developed in a novel porcine model. Ultrasound imaging was used to evaluate abscess maturity, for treatment monitoring and assessment of post-treatment outcomes. Disinfection was quantified by counting bacteria colonies from samples aspirated before and after treatment. Histopathological evaluation of the abscesses was performed to identify changes resulting from histotripsy treatment and potential collateral damage. Cavitation histotripsy was more successful in reducing the bacterial load while having a smaller treatment volume compared with boiling histotripsy. The results of this pilot study suggest focused ultrasound may lead to a technology forin situtreatment of acoustically accessible abscesses.
Human papillomavirus 16 E2 repression of TWIST1 transcription is a potential mediator of HPV16 cancer outcomes
Authors: Fontan Christian T , Das Dipon , Bristol Molly L , James Claire D , Wang Xu , Lohner Hannah , Atfi Azeddine , Morgan Iain M.
Published: September 2020

Human papillomaviruses are causative agents in around 5% of all cancers, including cervical and oropharyngeal. A feature of HPV cancers is their better clinical outcome compared with non-HPV anatomical counterparts. In turn, the presence of E2 predicts a better clinical outcome in HPV positive cancers; the reason(s) for the better outcome of E2 positive patients is not fully understood. Previously, we demonstrated that HPV16 E2 regulates host gene transcription that is relevant to the HPV16 life cycle in N/Tert-1 cells. One of the genes repressed by E2 and the entire HPV16 genome in N/Tert-1 cells is TWIST1. Here we demonstrate that TWIST1 RNA levels are reduced in HPV positive versus negative head and neck cancer, and that E2 and HPV16 downregulate both TWIST1 RNA and protein in our N/Tert-1 model; E6/E7 cannot repress TWIST1. E2 represses the TWIST1 promoter in transient assays, and is localized to the TWIST1 promoter; E2 also induces repressive epigenetic changes on the TWIST1 promoter. TWIST1 is a master transcriptional regulator of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and a high level of TWIST1 is a prognostic marker indicative of poor cancer outcomes. We demonstrate that TWIST1 target genes are also downregulated in E2 positive N/Tert-1 cells, and that E2 promotes a failure in wound healing, a phenotype of low TWIST1 levels. We propose that the presence of E2 in HPV positive tumors leads to TWIST1 repression, and that this plays a role in the better clinical response of E2 positive HPV tumors.

Importance

HPV16 positive cancers have a better clinical outcome that their non-HPV anatomical counterparts. Furthermore, the presence of HPV16 E2 RNA predicts a better outcome for HPV16 positive tumors; the reasons for this are not known. Here we demonstrate that E2 represses expression of the TWIST1 gene; an elevated level of this gene is a marker of poor prognosis for a variety of cancers. We demonstrate that E2 directly binds to the TWIST1 promoter and actively represses transcription. TWIST1 is a master regulator promoting EMT and here we demonstrate that the presence of E2 reduces the ability of N/Tert-1 cells to wound heal. Overall, we propose that the E2 repression of TWIST1 may contribute to the better clinical outcome of E2 positive HPV16 positive tumors.
Political interference in private entities' financial reporting and the public interest: evidence from the Spanish financial crisis
Authors: Giner Begoña , Mora Araceli
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The study aims to show how the public interest has been argued to justify the political interference in the accounting of financial entities as a tool to face a critical financial situation in a country. And to offer a different perspective of the publicness notion that focuses on the field of financial accounting for private entities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on legal and political arguments referred to the public interest that consider the balancing approach, and so goes beyond the traditional agency framework, to explain politicians' influence on financial reporting. The behavior of the newly elected Spanish government, which issued accounting impairment rules for banks is described, and the accounting practices of a highly politically connected financial entity—Bankia—are used to illustrate the consequences of that intervention.

Findings

The paper evidences that the government intervention, which implied non-compliance with IFRS, was in line with its economic goals, led to the financial sector bailout and avoided the rescue of the country. This is what we call “breaking rules to achieve the public interest”, which is also consistent with a big-bath behavior to justify the bailout and legitimate the decision to breach IFRS. The silence of enforcers is consistent with the balancing approach that suggests compliance costs from a breach of rules are perceived less relevant after a high-level decision.

Research limitations/implications

This is a country-specific study based on a single case study that limits the generalizability of the findings.

Originality/value

This research provides a new angle to consider the political motivations to intervene in accounting in the private sector, as well as the enforcers' motivations to allow it. From an interdisciplinary perspective, it shows how politicians have argued the “public interest” to use (and abuse) to intervene in accounting rules, as well as to influence the accounting practice of a highly politically connected bank. It also highlights the potential long-term unintended consequences of these actions.
Management reporting complexity and earnings management: evidence from the Baltic markets
Authors: Pajuste Anete , Poriete Elva , Novickis Reinis
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper explores how the text complexity and content of management discussion and analysis (MD&A) relate to earnings management in Baltic listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a panel data set of 250 firm-year observations from the Baltic markets in the period 2012–2016, this paper uses linear regression analysis to examine the relation between earnings management and reporting complexity.

Findings

The results show that earnings could be managed in about 6–11% of firm-years, depending on specification, and there is a positive relationship between earnings management and reporting complexity; however, this relationship is confined to more liquid companies. The authors argue that higher scrutiny by market participants in more liquid companies incentivizes managers to obfuscate negative financial results through report complexity.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel application of the opportunistic perspective of positive accounting theory (PAT) in relation to managers' choice of reporting complexity. The findings of this paper contribute by providing empirical evidence for strategic reporting by managers and can be useful for regulators and investors that should monitor the level of reporting complexity in the listed companies.
A risk-oriented tender evaluation system for construction projects in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Mohd Razali , Sun Ming , Bowles Graeme
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper presents results of an empirical investigation involving private construction clients in Malaysia, which seeks to establish appropriate tender evaluation criteria and weightings for a risk-oriented tender evaluation system.

Design/methodology/approach

At the initial stage of this study, a list of significant risks is identified and gathered through literature review. These risks are then mapped onto tender evaluation criteria. Following this, the identified risks and their mappings are validated through a questionnaire survey to determine appropriate criteria for tender evaluation. Weightings for the selected evaluation criteria are established through an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) group decision-making (GDM) method.

Findings

In practice, different lists of criteria, covering tender's technical capability and financial performance, are often used by different client organisations. However, there is a paucity of research behind the selection of these criteria and the weighting being attributed to different criteria.

Originality/value

This study provides an important and a valuable insight into the actual criteria used during tender evaluation practice based on an analysis of documentary evidence. Both current practice and existing tender evaluation studies failed to address the risk element adequately. There is a lack of an explicit link between evaluation criteria and project risks. This study fills this knowledge gap by identifying tender evaluation criteria through reviewing criteria used in practice and examining their links to risk factors.
Cross flow and heat transfer past a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in a hybrid nanofluid
Authors: Roşca Natalia C. , Roşca Alin V. , Jafarimoghaddam Amin , Pop Ioan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the laminar boundary layer cross flow and heat transfer on a rotational stagnation-point flow over either a stretching or shrinking porous wall submerged in hybrid nanofluids. The involved boundary layers are of stream-wise type with stretching/shrinking process along the surface.

Design/methodology/approach

Using appropriate similarity variables the partial differential equations are reduced to ordinary (similarity) differential equations. The reduced system of equations is solved analytically (by high-order perturbed field propagation for small to moderate stretching/shrinking parameter and low-order perturbation for large stretching/shrinking parameter) and numerically using the function bvp4c from MATLAB for different values of the governing parameters.

Findings

It was found that the basic similarity equations admit dual (upper and lower branch) solutions for both stretching/shrinking surfaces. Moreover, performing a linear stability analysis, it was confirmed that the upper branch solution is realistic (physically realizable), while the lower branch solution is not physically realizable in practice. These dual solutions will be studied in the present paper.

Originality/value

The authors believe that all numerical results are new and original and have not been published before for the present problem.
Mobile payments adoption – introducing mindfulness to better understand consumer behavior
Authors: Flavián Carlos , Guinaliu Miguel , Lu Yuntao
Published: September 2020

Purpose

With the popularity of mobile devices and new technologies, such as NFC, mobile payment, which is taking the place of credit cards and cash as the chief payment method, is attracting more and more attention. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the main determinants of mobile payment use intention and proposes a model of mobile payment adoption, integrating mindfulness as a major factor.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the study were collected through an online survey of a representative sample of 414 users in the United States and 380 in Spain. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to verify the validity of the variables and the relationships among them.

Findings

The results showed that mindfulness, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, subjective norms and attitude have significant influence on mobile payment use intention.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is based on samples from only the United States and Spain, which limits generalization of the results. The notion of mindfulness is new in mobile payment adoption research, so future studies should analyze in more detail and in depth its effect on these adoption processes.

Originality/value

This is the first study to incorporate mindfulness into a mobile payment adoption process. Incorporating mindfulness complements traditional variables to show how users address the adoption process (e.g. novelty seeking, engagement, anxiety, attention paid).
Information and communication technologies and human resources in hospitality and tourism
Authors: Gonzalez Reyes , Gasco Jose , Llopis Juan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

ICTs play a key role in the tourism sector, influencing the labor context among other things. Hence, the purpose of this study: a review of the literature in which the topics of tourism, ICTs and human resources converge through an analysis of the articles published in the relevant journals, which are included in the Web of Science.

Design/methodology/approach

The 60 articles analyzed – published over a period of 31 years – were studied according to several criteria such as research methodology, statistical techniques used, topics dealt with, technologies addressed, authors and countries.

Findings

The topics under study were divided into four broad areas – technology and employees, technology and HR processes, technology and results and technology and organizational structure – the first, which focuses on how employees behave in relation to technology, received the most attention.

Research limitations/implications

The literature review was confined to articles on the topics of tourism, ICTs and human resources published in 73 academic journals, leaving aside other research sources, e.g. books and papers presented at conferences. This study can be useful both in the academic field and for tourism firm managers – especially those in ICT and human resources.

Originality/value

Although there are several previous reviews of the literature on human resource management and ICTs in the tourism sector, none of them has jointly examined these three topics.
A reconsideration of the EWOM construct in restaurant research: what are we really measuring?
Authors: Line Nathaniel Discepoli , Hanks Lydia , Dogru Tarik
Published: September 2020

Purpose

With the proliferation of internet-based communication channels, understanding how restaurant consumers engage in electronic word of mouth (EWOM) has become an important field of academic pursuit. However, while communication channels have become more numerous and complex, the methods used to operationalize the attendant EWOM behaviors on these channels have remained relatively simplistic. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to consider existing methods of measuring restaurant EWOM in terms of their face validity in the contemporary communications landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a total of six independent surveys that use various combinations of sampling, methodological and analytical approaches to demonstrate, measurement, social media, methodology, user-generated content, EWOM, electronic word of mouth the multiple problems associated with the measurement of restaurant EWOM as a latent construct.

Findings

The results suggest that the current methods for measuring EWOM are indeed outdated, indicating the need for a more nuanced approach to the academic pursuit of EWOM behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The existing methods of measuring restaurant EWOM are found to be invalid for many reasons. These methods of measuring EWOM should be abandoned in favor of channel-specific operationalizations that control for previous behavior and respondents’ account access at a minimum.

Originality/value

As its inception, many studies have operationalized restaurant EWOM as an intention-based construct used to measure an individual’s likelihood to communicate information about hospitality experiences “online.” While such measures were no doubt valid in the early years of EWOM research, the research is the first to criticize the face validity of this approach in terms of its relevance in the contemporary communications environment.
Redefining quality in terms of value, risk and cost: a literature review
Authors: Grigg Nigel P.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review demonstrating that quality and its management are increasingly definable as a balancing act between value, risk and cost throughout the value stream, from product/service design to production and delivery, and purchaser decision-making. An original framework is presented showing this interplay across the value stream, referred to as the QVRC framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis is combined with bibliometric analytics, displayed via temporal graphs and citation networks. Reviewed literature is transdisciplinary, encompassing marketing, operations/quality and psychology sources. Core quality management methodologies are positioned on the framework illustrating their relative contribution to value, risk and cost management.

Findings

The QVRC framework is developed, and used as a basis for classifying models and methodologies associated with quality management. A set of propositions are developed, which, together with the framework, set an agenda for further research.

Research limitations/implications

No literature review can capture the richness of discourses on terms as pervasive as value, risk and cost. This paper aims to present a systematic and reliable sampling of such literature.

Practical implications

The resulting model can be applied to management tools, and to products and services.

Originality/value

Researchers, particularly in marketing, have developed models of value, risk and cost in terms of products and services. However, delivering products that provide the appropriate value, risk and cost trade-off is an operations management problem. This is the first paper to combine value, risk and cost across the value stream showing how this interplay extends beyond product.
The impact of working conditions on the health of taxi drivers in an urban metropolis
Authors: Marani Husayn , Roche Brenda , Anderson Laura , Rai Minnie , Agarwal Payal , Martin Danielle
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This descriptive qualitative study explores how working conditions impact the health of taxi drivers in Toronto, Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

Drivers were recruited between September 2016 and March 2017. A total of 14 semi-structured qualitative interviews and one focus group (n = 11) were conducted. Transcripts were analyzed inductively through a socioecological lens.

Findings

The findings of this study are as follows: drivers acknowledged that job precariousness (represented by unstable employment, long hours and low wages) and challenging workplace conditions (sitting all day and limited breaks) contribute to poor physical/mental health. Also, these conditions undermine opportunities to engage in health-protective behaviors (healthy eating, regularly exercising and taking breaks). Drivers do not receive health-enabling reinforcements from religious/cultural networks, colleagues or their taxi brokerage. Drivers do seek support from their primary care providers and family for their physical health but remain discreet about their mental health.

Research limitations/implications

As this study relied on a convenience sample, the sample did not represent all Toronto taxi drivers. All interviews were completed in English and all drivers were male, thus limiting commentary on other experiences and any gender differences in health management approaches among drivers.

Practical implications

Given the global ubiquity of taxi driving and an evolving workplace environment characterized by growing competition, findings are generalizable across settings and may resonate with other precarious professions, including long-haul truck operators and Uber/Lyft drivers. Findings also expose areas for targeted intervention outside the workplace setting.

Originality/value

Health management among taxi drivers is understudied. A fulsome, socioecological understanding of how working conditions (both within and outside the workplace) impact their health is essential in developing targeted interventions to improve health outcomes.
Study on free trial decision-making of IT products and services from an IT company's perspective
Authors: Xu Jiaqing , Jiao Weiling , Chen Hao , Yuan Yufei
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Free trial is an effective strategy to gaining users’ data so as to strengthen and optimize product design. The purpose of this paper is to understand the IT companies' dynamic decision-making behavior in the free trial of IT products and services context based on a three-stage theoretical framework and users' decision-making behavior in the respective stage.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-stage methodology is proposed to clarify relevant decision problems and actions in each stage from IT companies' and users' perspectives, respectively. It then investigates relating variables on IT companies' decision-making based on extant research and users' decision-making.

Findings

In this study, the authors argue that the IT companies have to make the offering, implementation and retention decision in different stage during the whole free trial process. Each decision is determined by several variables from their own and users, namely the offering decision is determined by product characteristics, network effects, product life cycle and WOM (word of mouth); the implementation decision is determined by the quality of products and services, trial type, incentive measures on user's usage and communication strategy; and the retention decision is determined by the product and price strategy.

Practical implications

The results are practical and can be used by IT companies as a decision basis or reference to make reliable decisions so that IT companies can take target measures to ensure the effectiveness of their free trial strategy so as to meet their users' needs based on products designed by data driven. Thus, the ultimate goal of supply chain management is achieved.

Originality/value

In this study, the decision-making process in the free trial of IT products and services context is investigated as a whole for the first time. From the IT companies' perspective, the process includes offering, implementation and retention decision stages, which are continuous and inseparable. The variables that determine IT companies' decision-making are identified based on users' decision and action. Hence, it represents a brand-new whole process perception to clearly understand the dynamic of the IT companies' decision-making. Considering users' decision and action, the final decisions of the IT companies will be more practical in respect of motivating, retaining and upgrading users.
Completing abandoned public facility projects by the private sector: results of a Delphi survey in the Iranian Water and Wastewater Company
Authors: Sarvari Hadi , Cristofaro Matteo , Chan Daniel W.M. , Noor Norhazilan Md. , Amini Mohammadreza
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Completion of abandoned public facility projects is one of the major concerns of governments struggling with budget issues. Various research studies have shown that this can only be solved with the help of the private sector. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the capacity of the private sector to complete abandoned public facility projects through the study of the Water and Wastewater Company in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi survey questionnaires, which were distributed to and responded by a panel of experts – i.e. three groups of employers of the Iranian Water and Wastewater Company, consulting agents and private sector stakeholders engaging with Water and Wastewater Company projects – identified 50 critical factors allowing the private sector to carry out abandoned facility projects. These have been categorized into four components: financial capacities, management competency, knowledge and expertise and resources and facilities. A descriptive survey method was used to determine and prioritize these factors.

Findings

The survey findings indicate that knowledge and expertise are the main important clusters of factors influencing the completion of abandoned public facility projects. The value of these results is essential in providing the sound basis for mutual trust between the private sector and the public sector for greater participation, thereby helping to complete abandoned public facility projects.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study attempting to investigate the capacity of the private sector to complete abandoned public facility projects through an empirical analysis of factors influencing their completion.
Challenges and potential improvements in hospital patient flow: the contribution of frontline, top and middle management professionals
Authors: Gualandi Raffaella , Masella Cristina , Viglione Daniela , Tartaglini Daniela
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to describe and understand the contributions of frontline, middle and top management healthcare professionals in detecting areas of potential improvement in hospital patient flow and proposing solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative interview study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 professionals in the orthopedic department of a 250-bed academic teaching hospital. Data were analyzed through a thematic framework analytical approach by using an a priori framework. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative (COREQ) checklist for qualitative studies was followed.

Findings

When dealing with a hospital-wide process, the involvement of all professionals, including nonhealth professionals, can reveal priority areas for improvement and for services integration. The improvements identified by the professionals largely focus on covering major gaps detected in the technical and administrative quality.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on the professional viewpoint and the connections between services and further studies should explore the role of patient involvement. The study design could limit the generalizability of findings.

Practical implications

Improving high-quality, efficient hospital patient flow cannot be accomplished without learning the perspective of the healthcare professionals on the process of service delivery.

Originality/value

Few qualitative studies explore professionals' perspectives on patient needs in hospital flow management. This study provides insights into what produces value for the patient within a complex process by analyzing the contribution of professionals from their particular role in the organization.
Outbound medical tourism experience, satisfaction and loyalty: lesson from a developing country
Authors: Mahmud Md. Shahed , Rahman Md. Mahbubar , Lima Reshma Pervin , Annie Esmat Jahan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The objective of the study is to measure outbound medical tourists' satisfaction and loyalty based on medical tourists' experience from a developing country's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The medical tourists taken medical services from India constituted the population of this study. By applying a purposive and snowball sampling techniques, samples were selected. Based on the expectation confirmation theory (ECT) and a modified medical tourism experience model, this study empirically analyzed the research hypotheses by applying the partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) technique.

Findings

The empirical result revealed that the experience of service quality, medical tourism infrastructure and experience of medical tourism expenses has a direct impact on medical tourists' satisfaction. Furthermore, destination appeal and culture has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between medical tourists' satisfaction and destination loyalty. Multigroup analysis (MGA) was performed to examine group differences of the model. The MGA results revealed that, based on age, the research model remains undifferentiated between groups. In contrast, based on income, the only relationship, medical tourism infrastructure and medical tourists' satisfaction significantly differ between groups, while others remain identical from each other.

Practical implications

The study results will contribute both theoretically and practically. Theoretically, the study will be a helpful instrument to figure out medical tourists' behavior through the lens of ECT in a developing country’s perspective. Furthermore, practically this study results will assist policymakers and practitioners of medical tourism in formulating strategies and making future decisions effectively.

Originality/value

The study has uniqueness in two aspects. First, the study empirically revealed Bangladeshi medical tourists' experience and behavioral intention to Indian medical tourism destinations. Second, the study’s findings exposed quantifiable insights into the Bangladesh–India medical tourism phenomenon.