bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
pUL21 regulation of pUs3 Kinase Activity Influences the Nature of Nuclear Envelope Deformation by the HSV-2 Nuclear Egress Complex
Authors: Muradov Jamil H. , Finnen Renée L. , Gulak Michael A. , Hay Thomas J. M. , Banfield Bruce W.
Published: June 2021

It is well established that the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex (NEC) has an intrinsic ability to deform membranes. During viral infection, the membrane-deformation activity of the NEC must be precisely regulated to ensure efficient nuclear egress of capsids. One viral protein known to regulate herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) NEC activity is the tegument protein pUL21. Cells infected with an HSV-2 mutant lacking pUL21 (ΔUL21) produced a slower migrating species of the viral serine/threonine kinase pUs3 that was shown to be a hyperphosphorylated form of the enzyme. Investigation of the pUs3 substrate profile in ΔUL21-infected cells revealed a prominent band with a molecular weight consistent with that of the NEC components pUL31 and pUL34. Phosphatase sensitivity and retarded mobility in phos-tag SDS-PAGE confirmed that both pUL31 and pUL34 were hyperphosphorylated by pUs3 in the absence of pUL21. To gain insight into the consequences of increased phosphorylation of NEC components, the architecture of the nuclear envelope in cells producing the HSV-2 NEC in the presence or absence of pUs3 was examined. In cells with robust NEC production, invaginations of the inner nuclear membrane were observed that contained budded vesicles of uniform size. By contrast, nuclear envelope deformations protruding outwards from the nucleus, were observed when pUs3 was included in transfections with the HSV-2 NEC. Finally, when pUL21 was included in transfections with the HSV-2 NEC and pUs3, decreased phosphorylation of NEC components was observed in comparison to transfections lacking pUL21. These results demonstrate that pUL21 influences the phosphorylation status of pUs3 and the HSV-2 NEC and that this has consequences for the architecture of the nuclear envelope.

Author Summary

During all herpesvirus infections, the nuclear envelope undergoes deformation in order to enable viral capsids assembled within the nucleus of the infected cell to gain access to the cytoplasm for further maturation and spread to neighbouring cells. These nuclear envelope deformations are orchestrated by the viral nuclear egress complex (NEC), which, in HSV, is composed of two viral proteins, pUL31 and pUL34. How the membrane-deformation activity of the NEC is controlled during infection is incompletely understood. The studies in this communication reveal that the phosphorylation status of pUL31 and pUL34 can determine the nature of nuclear envelope deformations and that the viral protein pUL21 can modulate the phosphorylation status of both NEC components. These findings provide an explanation for why HSV-2 strains lacking pUL21 are defective in nuclear egress. A thorough understanding of how NEC activity is controlled during infection may yield strategies to disrupt this fundamental step in the herpesvirus lifecycle, providing the basis for novel antiviral strategies.
A juvenile climbing exercise establishes a muscle memory boosting the effects of exercise in adult rats
Authors: Eftestøl Einar , Ochi Eisuke , Solgård Juvkam Inga , Gundersen Kristian
Published: June 2021

One of the ideas stemming from the discovery of a cellular memory in muscle cells has been that an early exercise period could induce a long-term muscle memory, boosting the effects of exercise later in life. In general muscles are more plastic in younger animals, so we devised a 5-week climbing exercise scheme with food reward administered to juvenile rats (post-natal week 4-9). The juvenile exercise increased fiber cross-sectional area (fCSA), and boosted nuclear accretion. Subsequently the animals were subjected to 10 weeks of detraining (week 9-19, standard caging). During this period fCSA became similar in the animals that had been climbing compared to Naive controls, but the elevated number of myonuclei induced by the climbing were maintained. When the Naive rats were subjected to two weeks of adult exercise (week 19-21) there was little effect on fCSA, while the previously trained rats displayed an increase of 19%. Similarly, when the rats were subjected to unilateral surgical overload in lieu of the adult climbing exercise, the increase in fCSA was 20% (juvenile climbing group) and 11% (Naive rats) compared to the contralateral leg. This demonstrated that juvenile exercise can establish a muscle memory. The juvenile climbing exercise with food reward led to leaner animals with lower body weight. These differences were to some extent maintained throughout the adult detraining period in spite of all animals being fed ad libitum, indicating a form of body weight memory.
The cultural policies of a popular music venue: the case of Strasbourg's Espace Django
Authors: Costa Jacopo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This article discusses local cultural policies addressing popular music, and the values they imply, through a case study of Strasbourg's Espace Django, a publicly financed concert venue located in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Design/methodology/approach

Espace Django's structural organization and overall cultural “philosophy” are described on the basis of field interviews and several documents related to the venue; they are then discussed in relation to literature on urban cultural policies and French policies concerning popular music.

Findings

Espace Django's activities embody a will to improve social interactions within local communities. The venue does not fit in either the “music city” or the “creative cluster” theoretical model. However, its policies belong to the French institutional tradition of Développement Culturel, and they express a tendency toward eventification and the experience economy.

Originality/value

In France, the public sector plays an important role in cultural practices, mostly through funding and policymaking. The example of Espace Django adds a distinct French perspective to a research field mainly centered on Anglo-Saxon countries and more liberal economies. Also, the appendix on Espace Django's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis adds interesting elements for understanding what are the successful choices in the current cultural scenario.
Benchmarking organisational innovativeness types for sustainability: a study of Indian firms
Authors: Bhupendra Kumar Verma , Sangle Shirish
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the attributes and systemic characteristics of organisational innovativeness types in sustainability oriented firms in India. In dynamic business environment amid sustainability challenges, benchmarking organisational innovativeness of sustainability oriented firms may pave a way for many other firms to develop suitable strategies. The paper also presents the role of innovativeness in risk-management.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gather the responses from 689 managers of 60 firms operating in India and displaying traits of sustainability orientation. Generic organisational innovativeness characteristics of these firms are presented based on result of factor analysis and variances explained by respective factors. Innovativeness characteristics have been discussed in context of sustainability and environmental management.

Findings

Study provides the glimpse of variability in steps taken by firms to remain competitive in current and future markets. The paper also offers a new factor of organisational innovativeness as “risk-innovativeness” and presents its role in disruptive and sustainable innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The study adds to existing literature by providing a measure of organisational innovativeness types and proposes a definition of “risk-innovativeness” and opens a new avenue for further exploration.

Practical implications

The study may help organisations operating in emerging economies to benchmark and develop attributes of organisational innovativeness types considering sustainability challenges and uncertain market conditions.

Social implications

The study may guide other firms to benchmark their current innovativeness standing and may help in developing suitable attributes leading to combat negative impacts of climate change by developing sustainable innovations.

Originality/value

There are no existing studies which offer organisational innovativeness types of sustainability oriented firms, especially in emerging and developing economies context.
Construction time prediction model for public building projects
Authors: Alemu Shambel Kifle
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of the study was to develop a practical construction time model for public building projects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research work used regression analysis and also exploratory scatter and residual plot techniques. Simple and multiple regressions were used for the investigation of the best fit time model. The analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS statistical software, version 20.

Findings

The result revealed that the Bromilow time-cost principle was moderately applicable. However, the cubic regression model (CUB) was found a better time-cost relationship. On the contrary, the study has shown a poor relationship between actual time and gross floor area. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) consists of three statistically significant variables were found a better fit time model.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to only six project scope factors. Further research is recommended to include more building projects of similar type and implications of other factors to improve the reliability of the models.

Practical implications

The developed model was not intended as a replacement for detailed construction scheduling techniques. The resulting model is applicable for front-end predictions of construction duration.

Originality/value

The main parties involved in the building projects should apply the model for benchmarking a precise construction time during the early planning phase.
Engagement, inclusion, knowledge sharing, and talent development: is reverse mentoring a panacea to all? Findings from literature review
Authors: Chaudhuri Sanghamitra , Park Sunyoung , Johnson Karen R.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the practice of reverse mentoring and draw a timeline of the research over the past two decades. Considering the novelty of this intervention, this paper proposed an agenda for future research on this burgeoning topic.

Design/methodology/approach

By adopting narrative literature review and Gregory and Denniss’ (2018) four-step process, this paper reviewed 54 studies grounded in conceptual, literature review and empirical research published between 1998 and 2020.

Findings

The articles included in the literature review on reverse mentoring research were summarized according to journal publications, research methodologies, contextual settings, theoretical framework, purpose and outcomes. Reverse mentoring studies are dominantly published in educational journals using primarily qualitative and conceptual approaches to explore both academic and business contexts within the USA and Europe. Theories frequently used to frame and examine the need of reverse mentoring included social exchange theory and leader-member exchange theory. The fundamental purpose of reverse mentoring research is to transfer knowledge and to bridge the technology divide between intergenerational groups. Reverse mentoring has been used to promote inclusivity between multiple generations in relation to gender, ethnicity and culture.

Originality/value

As per the knowledge, this is the first-ever comprehensive English summary of reverse mentoring research done in the past two decades. Findings from this research can be used to better understand reverse mentoring research trends and directions.
Women directors and corporate performance: firm size and board monitoring as the least focused factors
Authors: Rahman Haseeb Ur , Zahid Muhammad
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of women directors on corporate performance (CP) and the mediating role of board monitoring in their relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The ordinary least squares with panel corrected standard errors are used as a primary estimator along with three other estimators to check the robustness of the estimations and address the potential endogeneity in a stratified random sample of 320 non-financial Malaysian companies listed on Bursa Malaysia (Stock Exchange) between 2010 and 2014.

Findings

It is found that women directors on the board not only improve firms’ return on assets but also reduce the volatility of their stocks. However, these findings are more applicable in small firms as compared to large firms. Besides, it is also noted the board monitoring significantly mediates the relationship between women directors and CP.

Practical implications

As the monitoring role of women directors improves CP, substantial efforts may be put in to increase their meritorious representation on the boards. The regulators could pay equal attention to the small firms. Additionally, the number of board meetings may also be increased for strengthening the monitoring abilities of the board to improve CP.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature, as little attention has been paid to the mediation of board monitoring in the nexus of women directors and CP in the past.
Measuring volatility spillovers and asymmetric responses of Agri commodity prices: evidence from spices and rubber futures in India
Authors: Thazhugal Govindan Nair Saji
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate price responses and volatility spillovers between commodity spot and futures markets. The study ultimately seeks the evidence-based claims on the efficiency of the long run and short run horizontal price transmissions from futures markets to spot markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the most recent daily price series of pepper, cardamom and rubber, during the period 2004–2019, use “cointegration-ECM-GARCH framework” and verify the persisting validity of the “expectancy theory” of commodity futures pricing.

Findings

The results offer overwhelming evidence of futures market dominance in the price discoveries and volatility spillovers in spot markets. However, this paper finds asymmetric responses between cash and futures prices across markets. The hedging efficiency of futures contracts is commodities specific’ where spices futures are more efficient than the rubber futures.

Practical implications

The study passes on vital information to the producers and traders of spices and rubber who have a potential interest in the use of futures contracts to make profits from arbitrage between futures and cash markets.

Originality/value

The paper is unique in terms of understanding asymmetric price linkages in markets for plantation crops.
Financial literacy or investment experience: which is more influential in cryptocurrency investment?
Authors: Zhao Haidong , Zhang Lini
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate how financial literacy and investment experience impact cryptocurrency investment behavior and explore which factor is more influential in cryptocurrency investment.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of US individual investors from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study Investor Survey, a three-step hierarchical logistic regression was conducted following a model-comparison approach. In addition, a mediation analysis was conducted using the Karlson−Holm−Breen (KHB) method to further explore the mediating effect of investment experience between financial literacy and cryptocurrency investment.

Findings

This study found that while both financial literacy and investment experience were positively associated with investing in cryptocurrencies, investment experience was more influential in cryptocurrency investment. The findings also demonstrated that investment experience, especially risky asset holding, had a significant mediating effect between subjective financial knowledge and cryptocurrency investment behavior.

Practical implications

The findings of this study offer insight to researchers by providing a deeper understanding of the determinants of cryptocurrency investment in the United States. This study also provides detailed implications for financial institutions, financial professionals and policymakers to guide rational cryptocurrency investment behavior.

Originality/value

This study is one of the initial attempts to explore the determinant factors in cryptocurrency investment, an area that has rarely been studied in the literature.
Energy analysis for construction of a zero-energy residential building using thermal simulation in Iran
Authors: Amani Nima , Reza Soroush Abdul Amir , Moghadas Mashhad Mostafa , Safarzadeh Keyvan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the feasibility and design of zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in cold and semi-arid climates. In this study, to maximize the use of renewable energy, energy consumption is diminished using passive solar architecture systems and techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study is a residential building with a floor area of 100 m2 and four inhabitants in the cold and semi-arid climate, northeast of Iran. For thermal simulation, the climate data such as air temperature, sunshine hours, wind, precipitation and hourly sunlight, are provided from the meteorological station and weather databases of the region. DesignBuilder software is applied for simulation and dynamic analysis of the building, as well as PVsyst software to design and evaluate renewable energy performance.

Findings

The simulation results show a 30% decrease in annual energy consumption of the building by complying with the principles of passive design (optimal selection of direction, Trombe wall, shade, proper insulation selection) from 25,443 kWh to 17,767 kWh. Then, the solar energy photovoltaic (PV) system is designed using PVsyst software, taking into account the annual energy requirement and the system’s annual energy yield is estimated to be 26,291 kWh.

Originality/value

The adaptive comparison of the values obtained from the energy analysis indicated that constructing a ZEB is feasible in cold and semi-arid conditions and is considered an effective step to achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly construction.
Green innovation a strategic resource to attain competitive advantage
Authors: Barforoush Nasrin , Etebarian Akbar , Naghsh Amirreza , Shahin Arash
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Many industries accomplish green innovation for sustainable development, but it should play a significant role in the sustainable development and implementation of an organizations benefit. The purpose of this paper is to examine if green business innovation in terms of technology, organization, stakeholder and policies is able to develop competitive advantages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was carried out in two stages and covered 4 variables and 21 indicators. Based on the experts’ opinions and literature review, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 113 experts of oil refining companies in Iran. The data were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The results indicated the effects of organizational factors, legislation, regulations and technology on green innovation. They also revealed the role of green innovation in reaching competitive advantages. Moreover, the relationship between stakeholder and green innovation was investigated.

Practical implications

The findings provide guidance on how firms can be better prepared for green innovation and get the most out of it and deal with the risks involved in green innovation, it is important that companies evaluate organization, technology and environment readiness and formulate corresponding strategies. Such a proactive approach can help enterprise control and minimize the risks of green innovation. A self-evaluation of the green innovation readiness of an enterprise helps the enterprise establish a mechanism to keep track of technological evolution.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging field of green innovation which embed organization, technology, stakeholders, legislation and flows of the value created, delivered and captured in a value network. It also highlights the gaps in addressing the challenges of an innovative model for competitive advantages and suggests avenues for future research.
Impacts of strategic orientations on Saudi firm performance: is supply chain integration a missing link?
Authors: Alsadi Amin K. , Aloulou Wassim J.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Little previous research has investigated the relationships among strategic orientations, supply chain integration and firm performance. The purpose of this study is to advance a research model that examines the direct and indirect effects of strategic orientations via supply chain integration on firm performance in the Saudi transitional context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data collected from a survey using questionnaires completed by 187 top management members of Saudi firms from different sectors. To analyse the data and test the proposed hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were conducted using the AMOS statistical analysis package.

Findings

Results show that both market orientation and supply chain integration have a significant positive direct effect on Saudi firm performance. They also reveal that supply chain integration fully mediates the effect of technology orientation on firm performance, while partially mediating the effect of market orientation on firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature by showing how SCI could serve as an organizational capability that links strategic resources to firm performance. The main limitation of this study is that it was not possible to generalize the findings. Future research perspectives were proposed to address this limitation and add new insights to the field.

Practical implications

The results could help decision-makers in Saudi firms choose the right strategic orientations and aid them in integrating their supply chains by sharing the necessary information and coordinating operations with key partners to enhance their firms' performance.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to conduct such an investigation in the Saudi context. The study simultaneously examines the role of supply chain integration in linking strategic orientations to firm performance and fills a current research gap in such a transitional context.
The application of Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience in maritime industry during the era of COVID-19
Authors: Praharsi Yugowati , Jami’in Mohammad Abu , Suhardjito Gaguk , Wee Hui Ming
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to apply a Lean Six Sigma framework to support continuous improvement in the maritime industry (shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping companies) during COVID-19 pandemics. By applying the concepts of Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience, the most suitable continuous improvement method for the maritime industry is developed to maintain a resilient supply chain during COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

A specific shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping company in Indonesia is chosen as the research object. The Lean Six Sigma framework reveals the wastes through the supply chain resilience concept, and implements internal business processes to maintain optimal system performance.

Findings

The paper identifies important implementation aspects in applying Lean Six Sigma to shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping. The DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) approach is applied to achieve supply chain resilience. Resilient measures are generated for the case companies to maximize performance during the pandemics.

Practical implications

This paper provides a new insight for integrating Lean Six Sigma and resilience strategies in the maritime industry during COVID-19 disruptions. The authors provide some insights to sustain the performance of the maritime industries under study.

Originality/value

This study is part of the first research in the maritime industry that focuses on continuous improvement during COVID-19 using Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience.
Pioneering anti-poverty policies in Brazil and Mexico: ambiguities and disagreements on conditional cash transfer programs
Authors: Tomazini Carla
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Focusing on the conditional cash transfers (CCTs) first created and implemented in Brazil and Mexico, this article takes a new look at the factors facilitating the creation of these innovative policies. In order to shed light on the continuous struggles that are faced when pioneering, formulating and adopting these anti-poverty policies, the authors analyze three types of ambiguities: axiological, partisan and electoral.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a gradual institutional change approach within the advocacy coalition framework, the authors conduct a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, official public administration archives and newspapers.

Findings

This article demonstrates that advocacy coalitions (for human capital, basic income and food security) and the quest for electoral gains are viable contexts for exploring the complex processes involved in setting up CCTs, of which Brazil's Bolsa-Família and Mexico's Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera (POP) provide emblematic examples.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to comparative social policy research and institutional change analysis. The coalitions and ambiguous consensuses studied here expand the perspectives with a more detailed understanding of the chaotic processes involved in developing social policies.
The elusive promise of universal social protection: the case of the Greek general minimum income (GMI)
Authors: Burgi Noëlle M. , Kyramargiou Eleni
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The need to alleviate poverty and achieve the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Universal Social Protection (USP) mechanisms is a high priority for governments and international organisations (IOs). This paper focuses on the recent introduction of a general minimum income (GMI) in Greece, in the context of the international diffusion of governing expertise. It examines whether the “universal” scheme being implemented constitutes a paradigm shift likely to offer solutions to the country's previous fragmented and unjust welfare system, and to problems the society has faced since the 2010s depression.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses critical grounded theory, with data gathering through iterative field observations and semi-structured interviews.

Findings

Results highlight the elusiveness of USP normative promises: rather than enhancing people's effective freedoms to act as self-determining agents, USP pushes the poor to adapt to current degraded socio-economic conditions. Participation in the shadow economy is a structural feature of USP; it is implicitly tolerated insofar as it is regarded, in the words of the World Bank (WB), an “engine for growth”. This constitutes an institutional and governance challenge for the implementation and expansion of social welfare programmes and could compromise the 2030 SDGs Agenda.

Originality/value

While research to date has examined the “modernisation” of the Greek welfare system in a national or comparative perspective, it adds to the literature by framing the study in the field of global social policy, shedding light on the discrepancies between internationally designed mechanisms and the normative aims of USP.
Innovation orientation and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) in Ghana: evidence from manufacturing sector
Authors: Issau Kassimu , Acquah Innocent Senyo Kwasi , Gnankob Robert Ipiin , Hamidu Zulaiha
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of innovation orientation dimensions on the performance of manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Probability sampling technique, particularly, simple random method, was used for this study. Approximately, 81% response rate was achieved from a total sample size of 346. Furthermore, PLS-SEM technique was used to determine the relationships among the study variables.

Findings

The result showed that market innovation significantly predicted SMEs’ performance. Conversely, non-significant positive nexus was established between process innovation and SMEs’ performance as well as product innovation and SMEs’ performance.

Practical implications

Based on the outcome, the stakeholders in the SME sector should aim at improving their market, products and process innovations.

Originality/value

Despite the importance attached to the employment of innovation in the SME sector by scholars in the extant literature, studies involving dimensions of innovation orientation on SMEs’ performance were not much seen in literature. This study enriched literature by determining the relationships between the innovation orientation dimensions and SMEs’ performance.
Impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on tacit knowledge sharing among Chinese employees
Authors: Zhang Ying , Chen Haoyu , Liu Ersi , He Yunwu , Cheng Edwin
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of cooperative and competitive personalities on tacit knowledge sharing (TKS) by exploring the mediating role of organizational identification (OI) and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) among Chinese employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducting a network survey of ordinary employees from Chinese listed companies (2019) as the research objects, the authors collect 298 valid samples for research. The authors apply confirmatory factor analysis to test the reliability and validity of the constructs, structural equation modeling to verify the direct effect and the PROCESS macro to test the mediating and moderating effects.

Findings

The results show that there is a positive relationship between cooperative personality (COP) and TKS, and there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between competitive personality (CMP) and TKS. OI plays a mediating role between COP and TKS, while POS plays a negative moderating role between COP and TKS.

Research limitations/implications

This paper only takes Chinese employees as the research sample, and future research can make a cross-cultural comparison between the impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on employees’ behaviors.

Practical implications

The results of this study suggest that enterprises should actively cultivate the COP of employees, and managers should refrain from intervening in the behaviors of employees with COP. At the same time, for employees with CMP, managers should guide them to control their competitive tendency at a reasonable level. The conclusions of this paper also suggest that managers should pay attention to the cultivation of employees’ OI.

Originality/value

This study plugs the gap in research on the impacts of cooperative and competitive personalities on TKS. It makes a contribution to the research development of COP and CMP and their influence mechanisms on employees’ behaviors. In addition, the negative moderating effect of POS on COP–TKS link verifies the correctness of Y theory. Studying the relationships among personality traits (cooperative and competitive personalities), cognition (OI) and behaviors (TKS), this paper makes a contribution to such a research stream.
Fostering performance management in healthcare: insights into the role of big data
Authors: Spanò Rosanna , Ginesti Gianluca
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to understand how Big Data foster a greater acceptance of performance management systems (PMS) discourses in health care.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focusses on the case of head and neck cancer treatment and prevention and benefits from the analysis of archival sources and 19 interviews with physicians in the field. It uses the framework of the Middle Range theory (MRT) to understand whether, in the case of head and neck cancer, Big Data may favour the enactment of PMS discourses in health care, in turn benefiting from any improvement in PMS.

Findings

This study setting unveils the changing pathway known as reorientation through boundary management. Medical professionals internalized and even mobilized PMS discourses, showing the premises for evolutionary changes in the future, when the current limitations will be dealt with.

Originality/value

This paper offers new theoretical, practical and policymaking insights into how new technologies can foster positive PMS discourses among actors who usually resist them. This value also extends to different fields and contexts.
Restraining forces and drivers of supply chain collaboration: evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Oyedijo Adegboyega , Francois Koukpaki Adebayo Serge , Kusi-Sarpong Simonov , Alfarsi Fahd , Yang Ying
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how restraining forces and driving forces impact SC collaboration in the context of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted. Using semi-structured interviews, data was obtained from manufacturers and third-party logistics providers in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector. The data was analysed using the thematic analysis method.

Findings

Interesting findings were revealed regarding how some underlying forces impact SC collaboration. These findings were categorised into internal, SC and external environment level factors. However, certain forces were also identified at these distinct levels which can sustain the collaboration between SC partners in emerging markets such as Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

The issues highlighted in this paper create opportunities for future studies to dig deeper into the concept of SC collaboration in emerging markets. Future studies may find other unique contextual factors which may influence SC collaboration asides from those identified in this paper.

Practical implications

This research aids managerial understanding of the restraining forces and drivers of SC collaboration in an emerging market. The research also provides new insights on how to manage SC collaboration in emerging markets.

Originality/value

Many studies on supply chain management have wholly focussed their attention on developed countries, often neglecting emerging markets such as Nigeria in the discourse. Although SC collaboration has been well researched, the study attempts to shift the attention to the most populous country in Africa. With the help of the force field theory, this research reveals new insights on the restraining forces and drivers of SC collaboration, offering the foundation for a new line of research on this subject in emerging markets.
How culture, leadership and engagement helped a small business survive during the pandemic
Authors: Blattner John F. , Karmia William P. , Walter Thomas J.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this case study is to investigate how a small catering company has coped with the current Covid-19 pandemic. Initial research was performed in 2014 and repeated in 2018. Given the far reaching business challenges of the pandemic, the authors examined the viability of the organization within the current climate.

Design/methodology/approach

Embedded organizational components of culture, leadership and engagement are explored as key elements in the sustainability of the company during the pandemic crisis. Prior research data using the organizational culture inventory is used to assess organizational culture over a four-year period. Employee data and interview analysis within company structure is used to determine how leadership and employee engagement is impacted. Culture research is examined to determine the influence of company culture upon organizational survival.

Findings

This paper identifies workplace culture elements that contribute to company sustainability. Embedded core value systems, strong employee engagement mechanisms and focused leadership styles were observed to be critical influences upon company survival during the pandemic.

Originality/value

This research would assist industry professionals and practitioners in understanding the active workplace culture mechanisms found to be effective for organizational survival during periods of crisis. Companies that adopt similar practices may acquire sustainability advantage during the pandemic.
Electronic component detection based on image sample generation
Authors: Wu Hao , Lv Quanquan , Yang Jiankang , Yan Xiaodong , Xu Xiangrong
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a deep learning model that can be used to expand the number of samples. In the process of manufacturing and assembling electronic components on the printed circuit board in the surface mount technology production line, it is relatively easy to collect non-defective samples, but it is difficult to collect defective samples within a certain period of time. Therefore, the number of non-defective components is much greater than the number of defective components. In the process of training the defect detection method of electronic components based on deep learning, a large number of defective and non-defective samples need to be input at the same time.

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain enough electronic components samples required for training, a method based on the generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate training samples is proposed, and then the generated samples and real samples are used to train the convolutional neural networks (CNN) together to obtain the best detection results.

Findings

The experimental results show that the defect recognition method using GAN and CNN can not only expand the sample images of the electronic components required for the training model but also accurately classify the defect types.

Originality/value

To solve the problem of unbalanced sample types in component inspection, a GAN-based method is proposed to generate different types of training component samples and then the generated samples and real samples are used to train the CNN together to obtain the best detection results.
Seasonal variations and risk assessment of heavy metals in PM2.5 from Handan, China
Authors: Niu Hongya , Wu Zhenxiao , Xue Fanli , Liu Zhaoce , Hu Wei , Wang Jinxi , Fan Jingsen , Lu Yanqi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to acquire a better understanding on the characteristics and risks of heavy metals (HMs) in PM2.5 from an industrial city – Handan, China.

Design/methodology/approach

PM2.5 samples were collected on the basis of daytime and nighttime at the state controlling air sampling site in Handan city. Ten metal elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Cd and Ba) in PM2.5 were determined with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The pollution levels of metals were characterized by enrichment factors, and the sources of metals were identified with principle component analysis and cluster analysis. The ecological and health risks of metals were assessed using ecological and health risk indexes.

Findings

Results showed that the highest and lowest PM2.5 concentration appeared in winter and summer, respectively. The concentration of PM2.5 at night was higher than in the daytime in winter, yet it is the opposite in other seasons. The total mass concentration of detected metals was the highest in winter, and the total mass concentration in the daytime was higher than at night in all four seasons. The elements V, Rb, Sr and Ba exhibited a deficient contamination level; Cr, Ni and Cu exhibited a moderate contamination level; while Fe and Cd were at an extreme contamination level. The metals in PM2.5 originated from a mixture source of fossil fuel combustion and manufacture and use of metallic substances (34.04%), natural source (26.01%) and construction and traffic-related road dust (17.58%). Results from the ecological risk model showed that the ecological risk of metals was very high, especially risks related to Cd. Health risk model presented that both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk coefficients of metals were above the tolerance level of the human body.

Originality/value

The significance of the study is to further know the pollution characteristics of PM2.5 and related HMs in Handan city, and to provide references for ensuring local resident health and ecological environment.
The Evolution of Supply and Demand in Markets for Generic Drugs
Authors: FRANK RICHARD G. , MCGUIRE THOMAS G. , NASON IAN
Published: June 2021

Policy Points

Much concern about generic drug markets has emerged in recent policy debates.

Important changes in regulations, the structure of purchasing, and the length of the drug supply chain have affected generic drug markets.

Effective price competition remains the rule in generic markets for large‐selling drugs. Smaller markets and those for injectable products often have less price competition and are more susceptible to supply disruptions.

Context

The image of generic drugs as a commodity sold in competitive markets is an oversimplification, as evidenced by increasing accounts of price spikes, sustained high price‐cost margins, and market disruptions. The mismatch between the canonical economic model of generic drug markets and reality motivated our empirical project.

Methods

To explore recent changes in those factors impacting the supply and demand for generic drugs, we studied, from a variety of sources, the data on price, competition, supply disruptions and recalls, changes to the supply chain, and buy‐side concentration. We examined quarterly data through 2018 for a cohort of 77 molecules that lost patent protection during the so‐called patent cliff between 2010 and 2013.

Findings

On the supply side, we found that for large‐market oral solids, generic entry and price declines were consistent with past studies showing a significant number of market entrants and substantial reductions in the average price of a molecule. In smaller markets for oral solids and injectable products, we observed fewer entrants, higher rates of exit, smaller price reductions, and, in some cases, considerable price instability. The number of reported shortages increased across all generic market types over time, with the rate of shortage increases especially pronounced in markets for injectable products. The number of product recalls also rose over our study period. Although we did not estimate causal effects, we did find several changes in the market environment for generic drugs that may contribute to these phenomena. The demand side for generics has become more concentrated. Supply chains rely more on producers outside the United States (particularly from China and India). Contracting practices have undergone changes that may inhibit competition in product supply. FDA regulatory scruitiny has increased.

Conclusions

Competition in generic drug markets varies widely by market size and product form. Recent changes in demand‐side market structure imply more downward pressure on prices stemming from buy‐side concentration. The FDA's greater regulatory oversight puts upward pressure on costs, and the lengthening of the supply chain increases production uncertainty for producers. Demand and supply‐side changes point to further market instabilities across all generic markets due to producers’ changing economic position.
Influence of a prebiotic and natural sweeteners on the sensory profile of skyr yogurt with mango pulp
Authors: Pereira Cecília Teresa Muniz , Pereira Dalva Muniz , Bolini Helena Maria André
Published: June 2021

Skyr yogurts have been gaining prominence because of their different sensory characteristics. Due to their healthy appeal, the use of natural sweeteners to replace sucrose in this type of yogurt can be an alternative for incorporating a sweet taste, in addition to increasing the functionality of the product through the incorporation of prebiotics. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of fructooligosaccharide (FOS), sucrose, stevia, and thaumatin affects the sensory profile of the skyr yogurt with mango pulp and its acceptance in two Brazilian regions. Eight formulations of skyr with mango pulp were developed. The compositional parameters evaluated were moisture, protein, lipids, ash, and carbohydrate. The tests performed were ideal sweetness and mango flavor, sweetness equivalence for each sweetener used, Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA), and consumer testing in the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil. In general, the addition of FOS did not impact the characteristics of the formulated skyr yogurt. The type of sweetener had an impact on the sensory profile and acceptance of the skyr yogurt, affected characteristics such as mango flavor, sweet taste, sweet aftertaste, bitter taste, bitter aftertaste, and metallic flavor. The results of the affective test demonstrated that, for consumers in the Southeast, mango flavor is a positive attribute in this yogurt, and for Northeastern consumers, in addition to mango flavor, sweetness must also be taken into consideration.

Practical Application

This study may be useful for the dairy industry because in the literature, there is still a lack of sensory studies of skyr yogurt, especially when sucrose substitutes are used. The results of the consumer test in this work reinforce the importance of studies related to consumer preferences with cultural differences.
Examination of Correlates of OUD Outcomes in Young Adults: Secondary Analysis From the XBOT Trial
Authors: Fishman Marc , Wenzel Kevin , Scodes Jennifer , Pavlicova Martina , Campbell Aimee N. C. , Rotrosen John , Nunes Edward
Published: June 2021

Background and Objectives

Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment outcomes are poorer for young adults than older adults. Developmental differences are broadly implicated, but particular vulnerability factor interactions are poorly understood. This study sought to identify moderators of OUD relapse between age groups.

Methods

This secondary analysis compared young adults (18‐25) to older adults (26+) from a comparative effectiveness trial (“XBOT”) that randomized (N = 570) participants to extended‐release naltrexone or sublingual buprenorphine‐naloxone. We explored the relationship between 25 prespecified patient baseline characteristics and relapse to regular opioid use by age group and treatment condition, using logistic regression.

Results

Young adults (n = 111) had higher rates of 24‐week relapse than older adults (n = 459) (70.3% vs 58.8%) and differed on a number of specific characteristics, including more smokers, more intravenous opioid use, and more cannabis use. No significant moderators predicted relapse, in either three‐way or two‐way interactions.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

No baseline factors were identified as moderating the relationship between age group and opioid relapse, nor any interactions between baseline characteristics, age group, and treatment condition to predict opioid relapse. Poorer treatment outcomes for young adults are likely associated with multiple developmental vulnerabilities rather than any single predominant factor. Although not reaching significance, several characteristics (using heroin, smoking tobacco, high levels of depression/anxiety, or treatment because of family/friends) showed higher odds ratio point estimates for relapse in young adults than older adults. This is the first study to explore moderators of worse OUD treatment outcomes in young adults, highlighting the need to identify predictor variables that could inform treatment enhancements. (Am J Addict 2021;00:1‐12)