bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cortical VIP neurons locally control the gain but globally control the coherence of gamma band rhythms
Authors: Veit Julia , Handy Gregory , Mossing Daniel P. , Doiron Brent , Adesnik Hillel
Published: May 2021

Gamma band synchronization can facilitate local and long-range communication in neural circuits. In the primary visual cortex (V1) the strength of synchronization on the local level is strongly tuned to the contrast, size and center/surround orientation of grating stimuli. On the global level, the synchronization of gamma oscillations across the retinotopic map crucially depends on matched stimulus properties in the corresponding locations in the visual field. Although these features of V1 gamma rhythms are likely to be crucial for how they might support cortico-cortical communication and visual perception, their neural basis remains largely unknown. We hypothesized VIP disinhibitory interneurons, which shape other tuning properties in V1 by inhibiting SST neurons, may be responsible for tuning local gamma band power and global gamma synchronization. To test these ideas, we combined multi-electrode electrophysiology, cell-type specific optogenetic suppression of VIP neurons and computational modeling. Contrary to expectations, our data show that on the local level, VIP activity has no role in tuning gamma power to stimulus properties; rather, it scales the gain of gamma oscillations linearly across stimulus space and across behavioral state. Conversely, on the global level, VIP neurons specifically suppress gamma synchronization (as measured by spectral coherence) between spatially separated cortical ensembles when they are processing non-matched stimulus features. A straightforward computational model of V1 shows that like-to-like connectivity across retinotopic space, and specific, but powerful VIP➔SST inhibition are sufficient to capture these seemingly opposed effects. These data demonstrate how VIP neurons differentially impact local and global properties of gamma rhythms depending on the global statistics of the retinal image. VIP neurons may thus construct temporal filters in the gamma band for spatially continuous image features, such as contours, to facilitate the downstream generation of coherent visual percepts.
Capturing the songs of mice with an improved detection and classification method for ultrasonic vocalizations (BootSnap)
Authors: Abbasi Reyhaneh , Balazs Peter , Marconi Maria Adelaide , Nicolakis Doris , Zala Sarah M. , Penn Dustin J.
Published: May 2021

House mice communicate through ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), which are above the range of human hearing (>20 kHz), and several automated methods have been developed for USV detection and classification. Here we evaluate their advantages and disadvantages in a full, systematic comparison. We compared the performance of four detection methods, DeepSqueak (DSQ), MUPET, USVSEG, and the Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector (A-MUD). Moreover, we compared these to human-based manual detection (considered as ground truth), and evaluated the inter-observer reliability. All four methods had comparable rates of detection failure, though A-MUD outperformed the others in terms of true positive rates for recordings with low or high signal-to-noise ratios. We also did a systematic comparison of existing classification algorithms, where we found the need to develop a new method for automating the classification of USVs using supervised classification, bootstrapping on Gammatone Spectrograms, and Convolutional Neural Networks algorithms with Snapshot ensemble learning (BootSnap). It successfully classified calls into 12 types, including a new class of false positives used for detection refinement.BootSnapprovides enhanced performance compared to state-of-the-art tools, it has an improved generalizability, and it is freely available for scientific use.
Salt-dependent conformational changes of intrinsically disordered proteins
Authors: Wohl Samuel , Jakubowski Matthew , Zheng Wenwei
Published: May 2021

The flexible structure of an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) is known to be perturbed by salt concentrations, which can be understood by electrostatic screening on charged amino acids. However, an IDP usually contains more uncharged residues which are influenced by the salting-out effect. Here we have parameterized the salting-out effect into a coarse-grained model using a set of Förster resonance energy transfer data and verified with experimental salt-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of 17 proteins. The new model can correctly capture the behavior of 6 more sequences, resulting in a total of 13 when varying salt concentrations. Together with a survey of more than 500 IDP sequences, we conclude that the salting-out effect, which was considered to be secondary to electrostatic screening, is important for IDP sequences with moderate charged residues at physiological salt concentrations. The presented scheme is generally applicable to other computational models for capturing salt-dependent IDP conformations.

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Simulating PIP2-induced gating transitions in Kir6.2 channels
Authors: Bründl Michael , Pellikan Sarala , Stary-Weinzinger Anna
Published: May 2021

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels consist of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel (Kir6.2) pore, to which four ATP-sensitive sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) domains are attached, thereby coupling K+ permeation directly to the metabolic state of the cell. Dysfunction is linked to neonatal diabetes and other diseases. K+ flux through these channels is controlled by conformational changes in the helix bundle region, which acts as a physical barrier for K+ flux. In addition, the G-loop, located in the cytoplasmic domain, and the selectivity filter might contribute to gating, as suggested by different disease-causing mutations. Gating of Kir channels is regulated by different ligands, like Gβγ, H+, Na+, adenosine nucleotides and the signaling lipid phosphatidyl-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), which is an essential activator for all eukaryotic Kir family members. Although molecular determinants of PIP2 activation of KATP channels have been investigated in functional studies, structural information of the binding site is still lacking as PIP2 could not be resolved in Kir6.2 cryo-EM structures. In this study, we used Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to examine the dynamics of residues associated with gating in Kir6.2. By combining this structural information with functional data, we investigated the mechanism underlying Kir6.2 channel regulation by PIP2.
The proportional recovery rule redux Arguments for its biological and predictive relevance
Authors: Goldsmith Jeff , Kitago Tomoko , de la Garza Angel Garcia , Kundert Robinson , Luft Andreas , Stinear Cathy , Byblow Winston D. , Kwakkel Gert , Krakauer John W.
Published: May 2021

The proportional recovery rule (PRR) posits that most stroke survivors can expect to reduce a fixed proportion of their motor impairment. As a statistical model, the PRR explicitly relates change scores to baseline values – an approach that has the potential to introduce artifacts and flawed conclusions. We describe approaches that can assess associations between baseline and changes from baseline while avoiding artifacts due either to mathematical coupling or regression to the mean due to measurement error. We also describe methods that can compare different biological models of recovery. Across several real datasets, we find evidence for non-artifactual associations between baseline and change, and support for the PRR compared to alternative models. We conclude that the PRR remains a biologically-relevant model of recovery, and also introduce a statistical perspective that can be used to assess future models.
A complex interplay between balancing selection and introgression maintains a genus-wide alternative life history strategy
Authors: Tunström Kalle , Woronik Alyssa , Hanly Joseph J. , Rastas Pasi , Chichvarkhin Anton , Warren Andrew D , Kawahara Akito , Schoville Sean D. , Ficarrotta Vincent , Porter Adam H. , Watt Ward B. , Martin Arnaud , Wheat Christopher W.
Published: May 2021

Alternative life-history strategies (ALHS) are genetic polymorphisms generating phenotypes differing in life histories that generally arise due to metabolic resource allocation tradeoffs. Althouigh ALHS are often be limited to a single sex or populations of a species, they can, in rare cases, be found among several species across a genus. In the butterfly genus Colias, at least a third of the species have a female limited ALHS called Alba. While many females develop brightly pigmented wings, Alba females reallocate nitrogen resources used in pigment synthesis to reproductive development, producing white-winged, more fecund females. Whether this ALHS evolved once or many times, and whether it has moved among species via introgression or been maintained via long-term balancing selection, has not been established. Answering these questions presents an opportunity to investigate the genetic basis and evolutionary forces acting upon ALHS, which have rarely been studied at a genus level. Here we identify the genetic locus of Alba in a second Colias species, allowing us to compare this with previous results in a larger phylogenetic context. Our findings suggest Alba has a singular origin and has been maintained in Colias through a combination of balancing selection and introgression for nearly one million years and at least as many generations. Finally, using CRISPR/Cas9 deletions in the cis-regulatory region of the Alba allele, we demonstrate that the Alba allele is a modular enhancer for the BarH1 gene and is necessary for the induction of the ALHS, which potentially facilitates its long-term persistence in the genus.
Correction of a pathogenic mutation in iPSCs derived from a patient with Christianson syndrome using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing
Authors: Ma Li , Wu Qing , Schmidt Michael , Morrow Eric M.
Published: May 2021

SLC9A6 (also termed NHE6) encodes the endosomal Na+/H+ exchanger 6 (NHE6). Pathogenic, loss-of-function mutations in NHE6 cause the X-linked neurogenetic disorder Christianson syndrome (CS). We developed induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines derived from a patient with CS and from a biologically related control. The patient with CS contained the nonsense mutation c.1569G>A (p.(W523X)), which caused a significant reduction in NHE6 mRNA and a lack of detectable NHE6 protein in CS iPSCs in comparison to control iPSCs. To establish a cell model for study of CS with an isogenic control, we corrected the c.1569G>A mutation to the NHE6 reference genome sequence using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology directed repair knock-in methodology. Multiple subclonal lines were generated, and notably, NHE6 protein was expressed in all analyzed c.1569G>A (p.(W523X)) genome-corrected iPSC lines. This CS iPSC model together with the associated biologically related and isogenic control cell lines will serve as a valuable resource for both basic and translational studies in CS.
High resolution analysis of proteome dynamics during Bacillus subtilis sporulation
Authors: Tu Zhiwei , Dekker Henk L. , Roseboom Winfried , Swarge Bhagyashree N. , Setlow Peter , Brul Stanley , Kramer Gertjan
Published: May 2021

Bacillus subtilis vegetative cells switch to sporulation upon nutrient limitation. To investigate the proteome dynamics during sporulation, high resolution time-lapse proteomics was performed in a cell population that was induced to sporulate synchronously. Here, we are the first to comprehensively investigate the changeover of sporulation regulatory proteins, coat proteins and other proteins involved in sporulation and spore biogenesis. Protein co-expression analysis revealed four co-expressed modules (blue, brown, green and yellow). Modules brown and green are upregulated during sporulation and contain proteins associated with sporulation. Module blue, is negatively correlated with modules brown and green, and contained ribosomal and metabolic proteins. Finally, module yellow shows co-expression with the three other modules. Notably, several proteins not belonging to any of the known transcription regulons were identified as co-expressed with modules brown and green. We speculate that they may also play roles during sporulation. Finally, levels of some coat proteins, for example morphogenetic coat proteins, decreased late in sporulation. We speculate on their possible role in guiding or helping assembly of other coat proteins, after which they can be disposed of, but such a hypothesis remains to be experimentally addressed.
Loss of Acta2 in cardiac fibroblasts does not prevent the myofibroblast differentiation or affect the cardiac repair after myocardial infarction
Authors: Li Yuxia , Li Chaoyang , Liu Qianglin , Wang Leshan , Bao Adam X. , Jung Jangwook P. , Francis Joseph , Molkentin Jeffery D. , Fu Xing
Published: May 2021

In response to myocardial infarction (MI), quiescent cardiac fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts mediating tissue repair in the infarcted area. One of the most widely accepted markers of myofibroblast differentiation is the expression of Acta2 which encodes smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMαA) that is assembled into stress fibers. However, the requirement of Acta2 in the myofibroblast differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts and its role in post-MI cardiac repair were still not known. To answer these questions, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible cardiac fibroblast-specific Acta2 knockout mouse line. Surprisingly, mice that lacked Acta2 in cardiac fibroblasts had a normal survival rate after MI. Moreover, Acta2 deletion did not affect the function or overall histology of infarcted hearts. No difference was detected in the proliferation, migration, or contractility between WT cardiac fibroblasts and Acta2-null cardiac myofibroblasts. Additional analysis identified that Acta2-null cardiac myofibroblasts had a normal total filamentous actin level and total actin level. Acta2 deletion caused a unique compensatory increase in the transcription level of Actg2 and a possible increase in the protein abundance of cytoplasmic actin isoforms. In conclusion, the deletion of Acta2 does not prevent the myofibroblast differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts or affect the post-MI cardiac repair, and the increase in the expression of non-SMαA actin isoforms and the functional redundancy between actin isoforms are likely able to compensate for the loss of Acta2 in cardiac myofibroblasts.
Polygenic heterogeneity across obsessive-compulsive disorder subgroups defined by a comorbid diagnosis
Authors: Strom Nora I. , Grove Jakob , Meier Sandra M. , Bækvad-Hansen Marie , Nissen Judith Becker , Als Thomas Damm , Halvorsen Matthew , Nordentoft Merete , Mortensen Preben B. , Hougaard David M. , Werge Thomas , Mors Ole , Børglum Anders D. , Crowley James J. , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Mattheisen Manuel
Published: May 2021

Among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 65-85% manifest another psychiatric disorder concomitantly or at some other time point during their life. OCD is highly heritable, as are many of its comorbidities. A possible genetic heterogeneity of OCD in relation to its comorbid conditions, however, has not yet been exhaustively explored. We used a framework of different approaches to study the genetic relationship of OCD with three commonly observed comorbidities, namely major depressive disorder (MDD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). First, using publicly available summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies, we compared genetic correlation patterns for OCD, MDD, ADHD, and ASD with 861 somatic and mental health phenotypes. Secondly, we examined how polygenic risk scores (PRS) of eight traits that showed heterogeneous correlation patterns with OCD, MDD, ADHD, and ASD partitioned across comorbid subgroups in OCD using independent unpublished data from the Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH). The comorbid subgroups comprised of patients with only OCD (N = 366), OCD and MDD (N = 1052), OCD and ADHD (N = 443), OCD and ASD (N = 388), and OCD with more than 1 comorbidity (N = 429). We found that PRS of all traits but BMI were significantly associated with OCD across all subgroups (neuroticism: p = 1.19⨯10−32, bipolar disorder: p = 7.51⨯10−8, anorexia nervosa: p = 3.52⨯10−20, age at first birth: p = 9.38⨯10−5, educational attainment: p = 1.56⨯10−4, OCD: p = 1.87⨯10−6, insomnia: p = 2.61⨯10−5, BMI: p = 0.15). For age at first birth, educational attainment, and insomnia PRS estimates significantly differed across comorbid subgroups (p = 2.29⨯10−4, p = 1.63⨯10−4, and p = 0.045 respectively). Especially for anorexia nervosa, age at first birth, educational attainment, insomnia, and neuroticism the correlation patterns that emerged from genetic correlation analysis of OCD, MDD, ADHD, and ASD were mirrored in the PRS associations with the respective comorbid OCD groups. Dissecting the polygenic architecture, we found both quantitative and qualitative polygenic heterogeneity across OCD comorbid subgroups.
The Neural Determinants of Beauty
Authors: Yang Taoxi , Formuli Arusu , Paolini Marco , Zeki Semir
Published: May 2021

What are the conditions that determine whether the medial orbito-frontal cortex (mOFC), in which activity correlates with the experience of beauty derived from different sources, becomes co-active with sensory areas of the brain during the experience of sensory beauty? We addressed this question by studying the neural determinants of facial beauty. The perception of faces correlates with activity in a number of brain areas, but only when a face is perceived as beautiful is the mOFC also engaged. The enquiry thus revolved around the question of whether a particular pattern of activity, within or between areas implicated in face perception, emerges when a face is perceived as beautiful, and which determines that there is, as a correlate, activity in mOFC. 17 subjects of both genders viewed and rated facial stimuli according to how beautiful they perceived them to be while the activity in their brains was imaged with functional magnetic resonance imaging. A univariate analysis revealed parametrically scaled activity within several areas in which the strength of activity correlated with the declared intensity of the aesthetic experience of faces; the list included the mOFC and two core areas strongly implicated in the perception of faces - the occipital face area (OFA), fusiform face area (FFA)- and, additionally, the cuneus. Multivariate analyses showed strong patterns of activation in the FFA and the cuneus and weaker patterns in the OFA and the pSTS. It is only when specific patterns emerged in these areas that there was co-activation of the mOFC, in which a strong pattern also emerged during the experience of facial beauty. A psychophysiological interaction analysis with mOFC as the seed area revealed the involvement of the right FFA and the right OFA. We conjecture that these collective patterns of activity constitute the neural basis for the experience of facial beauty, bringing us a step closer to understanding the neural determinants of aesthetic experience.
Developing an integrated framework for optimization of spatial requirements of construction equipment
Authors: Hemalattha S. , Vidjeapriya R.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop a framework for optimizing the spatial requirements of the equipment in a construction site using a geographic information system (GIS).

Design/methodology/approach

An ongoing construction project, an existing thermal powerplant in India, is considered to be the case study, and the corresponding construction activities were scheduled. The equipment spaces were defined for the scheduled activities in building information modelling (BIM), which was further imported to GIS to define the topology rules, validate and optimize the spatial requirements. The BIM simulates the indoor environment, which includes the actual structure being constructed, and the GIS helps in modelling the outdoor environment, which includes the existing structures, temporary facilitates, topography of the site, etc.; thus, this study incorporates the knowledge of BIM in a geospatial environment to obtain optimized equipment spaces for various activities.

Findings

Space in construction projects is to be considered as a resource as well as a constraint, which is to be modelled and planned according to the requirements. The integration of BIM and GIS for equipment space planning will enable precise identification of the errors in the equipment spaces defined and also result in fewer errors as possible. The integration has also eased the process of assigning the topology rules and validating the same, which otherwise is a tedious process.

Originality/value

The workspace for each activity will include the space of the equipment. But, in most of the previous works of workspace planning, only the labour space is considered, and the conflicts and congestions occurring due to the equipment were neglected. The planning of equipment spaces cannot be done based only on the indoor environment; it has to be carried out by considering the surroundings and topography of the site, which have not been researched extensively despite its importance.
Identification, analysis and improvement of red meat supply chain strategies considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic: a hybrid SWOT-QSPM approach in an emerging economy
Authors: Riahi Dorcheh Farshid , Razavi Hajiagha Seyed Hossein , Rahbari Misagh , Jafari-Sadeghi Vahid , Amoozad Mahdiraji Hannan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In recent years, and especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the significant role of agriculture, specifically red meat, in household consumption has been increased. On the other hand, the lack of proper policymaking in the production and pricing of red meat and the lack of a comprehensive study on the beef supply chain has led to a reduction in the role of this protein product in the household food basket. Thus, in this research, comprehensive strategic planning considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been illustrated to overcome the aforementioned problems.

Design/methodology/approach

To study the intended objectives, first, using qualitative methods, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to the studied company's supply chain in Iran were identified and then using the SWOT-Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) technique, the surrounding strategies have been analysed.

Findings

The results indicate that the most important strength of the studied company is the “access to the red meat market of the retirement plan”; the most important weakness is the “lack of required and on-time funding, especially in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic”; the highest-ranked opportunity is the “access to banking facilities” and the main threat to the company is the “COVID-19 pandemic limitations and health protocols”. In the same vein, by examining the attractiveness score of internal and external factors, it was observed that diversity and competitive strategies would have a higher priority. Finally, the QSPM illustrated that activating the full capacity of existing infrastructure has the highest priority.

Originality/value

According to the red meat supply chain and the link amongst different market levels, identifying, analysing and improving the beef supply chain is of particular importance. One of the threats facing the international community is the emergence of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires businesses to choose the right strategy to deal with the issue. Therefore, the main distinction of this study is to identify, analyse and improve the red meat supply chain of a real case due to the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An inverse problem of determining the time-dependent potential in a higher-order Boussinesq-Love equation from boundary data
Authors: Huntul M.J. , Tamsir Mohammad , Ahmadini Abdullah
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to numerically solve the inverse problem of determining the time-dependent potential coefficient along with the temperature in a higher-order Boussinesq-Love equation (BLE) with initial and Neumann boundary conditions supplemented by boundary data, for the first time.

Design/methodology/approach

From the literature, the authors already know that this inverse problem has a unique solution. However, the problem is still ill-posed by being unstable to noise in the input data. For the numerical realization, the authors apply the generalized finite difference method (GFDM) for solving the BLE along with the Tikhonov regularization to find stable and accurate numerical solutions. The regularized nonlinear minimization is performed using the MATLAB subroutine lsqnonlin. The stability analysis of solution of the BLE is proved using the von Neumann method.

Findings

The present numerical results demonstrate that obtained solutions are stable and accurate.

Practical implications

Since noisy data are inverted, the study models real situations in which practical measurements are inherently contaminated with noise.

Originality/value

The knowledge of this physical property coefficient is very important in various areas of human activity such as seismology, mineral exploration, biology, medicine, quality control of industrial products, etc. The originality lies in the insight gained by performing the numerical simulations of inversion to find the potential co-efficient on time in the BLE from noisy measurement.
Macro autonomous traffic flow model with traffic jerk and downstream vehicle information
Authors: Cong Zhai , Wu Weitiao
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In the era of connected and autonomous vehicles, a large amount of surrounding vehicular information can be acquired by the focal vehicle in real time using vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, such as the core variable of electronic throttle opening angle. Meanwhile, the traffic jerk, such as the non-compliance of drivers and pedestrians, worsens the chaos of the surrounding traffic environment. To reflect the future traffic environment, the authors simultaneously incorporate the electronic throttle (ET) and traffic jerk into the traditional continuum model. The authors derive the stability criterion of the enhanced continuum model via the perturbation method.

Design/methodology/approach

To facilitate insight into the propagation and evolution mechanism of traffic jam near the stability condition, the authors use the nonlinear stability analysis method to derive the KdV-Burgers equation of proposed continuum model.

Findings

The new item of ET opening angle and traffic jerk have a positive impact on suppressing traffic congestion and improving road robustness.

Originality/value

The research on autonomous continuum models is rare. This model can better reflect the actual traffic, which can also provide a theoretical reference for the future traffic governance.
An IoT device for striking of vertical concrete formwork
Authors: John Shemin T. , Mohan Athul , Philip Merin Susan , Sarkar Pradip , Davis Robin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Timely removal of formwork is one of the crucial aspects of construction management that directly influences the safety and quality of the structure as well as the economy of the project. Code recommendations in this regard are not widely practiced because of the difficulties in their implementations. Also, such code recommendations are not robust for all the possible construction conditions. The present paper proposes an IoT-enabled system that notifies the minimum striking time of vertical formwork based on a specified target compressive strength.

Design/methodology/approach

An IoT device is proposed for the timely removal of vertical formwork by monitoring of early age concrete compressive strength in real-time. The maturity method is utilized for this purpose. The implementation of the proposed system is demonstrated on three concrete columns. The proposed system is found to be suitable for any construction condition.

Findings

The proposed system is a novel, cost-effective, IoT-enabled real-time monitoring system which includes features like cloud connectivity and remote monitoring. This system can be easily implemented at the site without any human intervention.

Practical implications

The study explores the development of an IoT device for the timely removal of vertical formwork which will ensure quality, safety and productivity in concrete construction.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to determine the minimum striking time of vertical formwork using IoT-based technology.
Culture and financial reporting quality in GCC countries: what do we know about tribal culture?
Authors: Baatwah Saeed Rabea , Aljaaidi Khaled Salmen , Almoataz Ehsan Saleh , Salleh Zalailah
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Although the effect of culture on financial reporting practices has been addressed in earlier studies, the existing empirical evidence totally neglects an important dimension in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets: tribal culture. The authors fill this gap in the literature using Oman as the setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collect data for 583 company-year observations for companies listed on the Omani capital market, 2007–2014. The authors run a two-way fixed effects panel data regression to test their hypothesis.

Findings

Tribal culture has a negative effect on financial reporting quality (FRQ), measured by both accrual-based and real earnings management. The findings are robust under a variety of sensitivity analyses. In additional analysis, the findings confirm that tribal culture negatively moderates the effectiveness of internal monitoring mechanisms and is associated with low-quality auditing. Further, the authors find tribal culture associated with delayed financial information.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, the study makes several contributions to the literature because it is the first archival evidence linking tribal culture with FRQ. It is the first to show that the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on FRQ is moderated by tribal culture. The study has valuable implications for policymakers, regulators, boards of directors and auditors in GCC countries as well as in countries with similar cultures.
Idiosyncratic volatility and interruption mechanisms in South Korean stock markets
Authors: Shin Seungho , Naka Atsuyuki , Alsunbul Saad
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how the volatility interruption (VI) mechanisms affect idiosyncratic volatilities in Korean stock markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Collecting the South Korea Stock Market (KOSPI) data from June 15, 2015 to March 31, 2019, we collect each residual,  εi,t, from three different estimated models: capital asset pricing model (CAPM), FF3 and FF5. To estimate the conditional idiosyncratic volatility, the authors employ two conditional time-varying measurements: GARCH and TGARCH.

Findings

The results show that the conditional idiosyncratic volatility increases when stock prices reach the upper and lower static limits, indicating the implementation of adopting static VI mechanism neither stabilize market conditions nor reduce excess volatility along with the existence of price limits.

Originality/value

Although market regulators and policymakers improve market conditions with the advanced VI mechanism, the empirical results show the adverse effect of the mechanism. Not allowing investors to earn above average returns without accepting above average risks makes Korean stock markets inefficient along with advanced VI mechanisms.
Beyond workaholism: differences between heavy work investment (HWI) subtypes in well-being and health-related outcomes
Authors: Snir Raphael , Harpaz Itzhak
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore well-being and health-related outcomes among all the four basic subtypes of heavy work investment (HWI), as well as a fifth distinct category of full-time workers (i.e. those who work from 35 to 43 weekly hours).

Design/methodology/approach

The 510 respondents chosen to be included in the Internet survey were mostly heavy work investors. Based on two dimensions of causal attributions (causal locus and controllability), an elimination mode was used to classify heavy work investors into four main subtypes. Those who reported high financial needs were classified as needy. From the remaining heavy work investors, those who reported high organizational demands were classified as organization-directed. Afterward, those who reported high drive to work were classified as workaholics. Finally, those who reported high passion for work were classified as work-devoted.

Findings

Among the five categories of classified respondents, the work-devoted and the needy emerged as the most distinct categories. The work-devoted had the best outcomes (stronger positive feelings, better current health condition, better body mass index (BMI) and adequate hours of sleep a night), whereas the needy had the worst outcomes (a higher level of stress, bodily pain, aches that interfere with regular activities and weariness throughout the day).

Originality/value

This study addressed both long hours and high effort invested in work, and both dispositional and situational heavy work investors. A possible implication of this study is that when job applicants have similar human capital profiles, organizations should consider recruitment of work-devoted individuals for demanding jobs.
Immersive live streaming experience in satisfying the learners’ need for self-directed learning
Authors: Ho Ree Chan , Song Bee Lian
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine live streaming experiences of business students’ at the tertiary education level, and how the use of this interactive platform satisfies their affective, cognitive, social and hedonic needs in learning. Likewise, it explored the influence of live streaming class on the learning outcome needed in achieving self-directed learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the uses and gratifications theory, a conceptual framework was developed to discover the impact of interactive live streaming platform in meeting learners’ needs required for self-directed learning. A survey was conducted with a sample of 402 business undergraduate students from 5 universities. Data was analyzed with covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study confirmed that learners’ gratifications gained from live streaming encouraged them to collaborate with the instructors in meeting the learning outcomes. The findings also supported that the interactive nature of live streaming offers the opportunity for students to learn independently. Thus, it sheds new light on how a live streaming learning environment can be further developed in promoting self-directed learning.

Originality/value

This study offers a novel understanding of live stream class adoption by examining learners’ needs from a uses and gratification perspective. It also contributed new insight to the existing literature on live streaming technology use in education to promote self-directed learning.
Inhabiting war craters examining geostatistical modeling within landscape heritage recovery in Aleppo
Authors: Elsayed Doaa Salaheldin Ismail
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Aleppo city in Syria has witnessed severe bombardment since the 2011 war affecting its landscape heritage, causing explicit geomorphological changes with anthropogenic qualities. The research aims to log observations on the patterns of bombardment craters. It investigates their key role in guiding post-war recovery plans. Currently, the interpretation of war scars is not considered in the reconstruction plans proposed by local administrations and here lies the importance of the research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates the geomorphological transformations along the southern citadel perimeter in old Aleppo. Currently, digital tools facilitated data prediction in conflict areas. The research employs an empirical method for inhabiting war craters based on both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The former utilizes satellite images to define the geographical changes of landscape heritage. The latter applies geostatistical data analysis, validation, interpolation and simulation for multi-temporal Google Earth maps. The study exploits Surfer 13 software to localize and measure the preserved craters.

Findings

The research employs the generated models in a landscape design proposal examining the method's applicability. Finally, it offers a methodological toolkit guiding post-war landscape recovery toward the interpretation of conflict geography.

Practical implications

The paper enables a practical understanding of the contemporaneity of landscape heritage recovery as an action between sustainable development and conservation.

Social implications

The paper integrates the conflict geographies to the people's commemoration of places and events.

Originality/value

The article offers an insight into the rehabilitation of war landscapes focusing on land craters, exploiting geostatistical data prediction methods.
Public preferences for allocating absolute scarce critical healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pinho Micaela
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the Portuguese general public views regarding the criteria that should guide critical COVID-19 patients to receive medical devices (ventilators and IUC beds) during the current pandemic context. Based on rationing principles and protocols proposed in ethical and medical literature the authors explore how Portuguese general public evaluates the fairness of five allocation principles: “prognosis”, “severity of health condition”, “patients age”, “instrumental value” (frontline healthcare professionals should be prioritized during the pandemic) and “lottery”.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 586 Portuguese citizens. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to define a hierarchy of prioritization criteria and to test for the association between respondents support to them and their socio-demographic and health characteristics.

Findings

Respondents gave top priority to prognosis when faced with absolute scarcity, followed closely by the severity of health condition, patient’s age with instrumental value receiving lowest support, on average. However, when the age of the patients was confronted with survival, younger-first principle prevailed over recovery. In a pandemic context, lottery was considered the least fair allocation method. The findings suggest that respondents’ opinions are aligned with those of ethicists but are partially in disagreement with the protocol suggested for Portugal.

Originality/value

This study represents the first attempt to elicit public attitudes towards distributive criteria during a pandemic and, therefore, in a real context where the perception is that life and death decisions have to be made.
Gone in 2s: a deep dive into perfection analysing the collaborative maintenance pitstop of Formula 1
Authors: Martinetti Alberto , Awadhpersad Preshant , Singh Sarbjeet , van Dongen Leo A.M.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to convert into useable guidelines, the knowledge related to human factors and tasks' organisation, which are embedded in one of the most exciting maintenance actions that are carried out, the pitstop in Formula 1 races.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for a fault tree analysis (FTA) to de-construct all the sub-tasks and their possible deviations from desirable situations and to evaluate the most relevant information needed for carrying out the pitstop operation. Besides, the SHELL model was applied in a second stage to evaluate the interaction between human being and human interfaces with other components of the system. Once this set of information was crystallised, the research translated it into useable guidelines for organising industrial maintenance actions using the same approach and possible reaching the same results.

Findings

The results of this study is a structured set of guidelines that encompasses the most paramount aspects that should be considered for setting correct maintenance actions. They represent a “guide” for including the different angles that are included during these operations.

Research limitations/implications

The guidelines are potentially applicable to every maintenance operation. The guidelines should be tested on different working domains to check their applicability besides the racing world.

Practical implications

This study is a reverse engineering work for creating a scheme to include into maintenance operations aspects such as crew athlete-like fitness, training, technology, organisational issues, safety, ergonomics and psychology.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is deconstructing the results of one of the most successful and prepared maintenance action. The paper takes a different approach in proposing how to structure and create maintenance solutions. The difference in approaches between the maintenance during the pitstop of Formula 1 car and industrial applications enhances the gap that needs still to be filled for further improving maintenance actions out of the racing world.
Relationship between altmetric and bibliometric indicators across academic social sites in article-level: the case of Iranian researchers' “Top Papers” in clinical medicine
Authors: Batooli Zahra , Mohamadloo Azam , Nadi-Ravandi Somayyeh
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The study aimed to measure scientific and social impacts of Iranian researchers' “Top Papers” in clinical medicine using citation and altmetric indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

In this applied descriptive-analytical study, it used scientometric analysis. A total of 166 “Top Papers” of Iranian researchers in clinical medicine category of Web of Science (WoS) database including “Highly Cited Papers” and “Hot Papers” published between 2009 and 2019 were used. Overall, 29 indicators and their data were extracted from WoS, Scopus, ResearchGate (RG) and PlumX in March 2020.

Findings

The results showed that there exists a positive correlation between the number of citations in WoS, Scopus, RG, PubMed and Crossref. In addition, it was found that there existed a positive correlation between the received citations by articles and altmetric indicators. According to the results, there is a strong correlation between RG Research Interest and citation impact. The correlation analysis on the Plum Analytics categories including “Usage”, “Capture”, “Mention”, “Social Media” and “Citation” showed the correlations between five dimensions of impact were positive and significant. The results have led the authors to think more about new metrics that can response to new developments in the new information areas.

Research limitations/implications

There are limitations to access altmetric.com in Iran and cannot be used easily. On the other hand, because of considering 24 indicators, authors had to investigate only a sample of 166 top papers from Iranian researchers to present the detailed results. About nature of altmetric indicators, although they reflect the nonacademic impact of articles alongside bibliographic indicators, they still cannot be a complete representative of the influence of their owners.

Practical implications

This study can indicate a practical application appropriate for the future study. It would be valuable to further examine how social academic platforms construct images of impact of research and how this impacts the social impact of the university as a mission. This study suggests that social media attention to academic research can be much greater than what is shown in traditional indicators such as citation.

Originality/value

This study examines 29 indicators from four platforms including RG, WoS, Scopus and PlumX, simultaneously and measures the relationship among them.
Assessing the factors of employees' intrapreneurial behaviour: an Indian context
Authors: Kumar Sunayana , Parveen Rakhshanda
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper evaluates the factors that help in enabling the intrapreneurial behaviour amongst the employees according to their importance. This study will evaluate the relationship between these factors and intrapreneurship. It will also provide a significant contribution in understanding what it takes to be among India's best companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study incorporates a quantitative approach where the data has been collected through the “Great Place to Work” Institute's list of top companies in India to work for. The final sample included 109 employees from 50 companies. Correlation and regression analyses are used for data analysis.

Findings

The results indicated that there is a positive and significant effect of the environment and organizational factors on intrapreneurship. Within the individual factors, management support in organizational factors and technological opportunities present in the market (environmental factors) are perceived as the most important factors for intrapreneurial activities. Additionally, “self-renewal activities” are considered as an important intrapreneurial activity for the respondents.

Originality/value

The results of this study are significant because the sample is taken of the companies already known for their workplace culture. This helped in cross-validating the results.
A Fatherland of Free Men. Virility and ‘Frailty’ in Spanish Liberalism (1808–1814)
Authors: Andreu‐Miralles Xavier
Published: May 2021

The ideal of the patriotic citizen‐soldier familiar from civic humanism re‐emerged in Spain in the context of the Napoleonic Wars. Spaniards were required to uphold a model of masculinity that was continually threatened by ‘effeminacy’. The study of this model is approached through an analysis of literary texts: the main neoclassical tragedies and the main liberal patriotic collections of the period. The article thus allows us to explore Spanish revolutionary subjectivities in the early ‐nineteenth century and the political dynamics to which they gave rise and so provides insights into how citizenship, national identity and the categories of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ were built in Spain in a period marked by a deep revolutionary break.
When There is No Way Up: Reconsidering Low‐paid Jobs as Stepping‐stones
Authors: Plum Alexander , Pacheco Gail , Dasgupta Kabir
Published: May 2021

The economic literature considers a low‐paid job as a ‘stepping‐stone’ if it improves jobless individuals’ future likelihood of transitioning towards higher pay. The majority of empirical studies rely on annual surveys and are unable to differentiate individuals by their degree of attachment to the low‐paid sector. Using population‐wide administrative data with monthly earnings information, our study first confirms the stepping‐stone effect. However, our analysis indicates that annual survey‐based evidence on the future likelihood of transitioning to higher‐paid jobs is likely overstated when respective groups of low‐paid workers and non‐employed individuals are identified by binary indicators.