bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Feature Selection Improves Prediction Accuracy of Multi-Voxel Pattern Classification
Authors: Choupan Jeiran , Gal Yaniv , Douglas Pamela K. , Cohen Mark S. , Reutens David C. , Yang Zhengyi
Published: August 2019

The importance of spatiotemporal feature selection in fMRI decoding studies has not been studied exhaustively. Temporal embedding of features allows the incorporation of brain activity dynamics into multivariate pattern classification, and may provide enriched information about stimulus-specific response patterns and potentially improve prediction accuracy. This study investigates the possibility of enhancing the classification performance by exploring spatial and temporal (spatiotemporal) domain, to identify the optimum combination of the spatiotemporal features based on the classification performance. We investigated the importance of spatiotemporal feature selection using a slow event-related design adapted from the classic Haxby et al. (2001) study. Data were collected using a multiband fMRI sequence with temporal resolution of 0.568 seconds. A wide range of spatiotemporal observations was created as various combinations of spatiotemporal features. Using both random forest, and support vector machine, classifiers, prediction accuracies for these combinations were then compared with the single time-point spatial multivariate pattern approach that uses only a single temporal observation. The results showed that on average spatiotemporal feature selection improved prediction accuracy. Moreover, the random forest algorithm outperformed the support vector machine and benefitted from temporal information to a greater extent. As expected, the most influential temporal durations were found to be around the peak of the hemodynamic response function, a few seconds after the stimuli onset until ∼4 seconds after the peak of the hemodynamic response function. The superiority of spatiotemporal feature selection over single time-point spatial approaches invites future work to design systematic and optimal approaches to the incorporation of spatiotemporal dependencies into feature selection for decoding.

Highlights

Spatiotemporal feature selection effect on MVPC was assessed in slow event-related fMRI

Spatiotemporal feature selection improved brain decoding accuracy

From ∼2-11 seconds after stimuli onset were the most informative part of each trial

Random forest outperformed support vector machines

Random forest benefited more from temporal changes compared with support vector machine
Close homologue of L1 sensitizes lung cancer cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel via inhibition Akt pathway
Authors: Cai Xiangdao , Hu Bang , Liu Sheng , Liu Maolin , Huang Yunhe , Lei Peng , Zhang Zhi , He Zhiwei , Zhang Linquan , Huang Rimao
Published: August 2019

Drug resistance is a serious promble during chemotherapy in lung cancer, which may lead to tumor relapse and further progression. CHL1 was a tumor suppressor in most malignancies, and it was found downregulated in NSCLC cisplatin-resistant cells H460. Thus, in this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of chemoresistance by CHL1 in lung cancer. Human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 and its cisplatin resistant cells (A549/DDP) and paclitaxel resistant cells (A549/PTX) were applied in this research. CHL1 was found obvious downregulation in A549/DDP and A549/PTX cells versus A549 cells. Suppression of CHL1 in A549 cells, promoted cell survival rate and clone formation, decreased cell apoptosis when treated with or without DDP and PTX, respectively. While excessive CHL1 expression in A549/DDP and A549/PTX cells, the results were opposite. Moreover, CHL1 knockdown mediating chemoresistance was reversed by Akt inhibitor SC66 in A549 cells. In summary, overexpression of CHL1 reversed chemoresistance to cisplatin and PTX via suppressing Akt pathway in lung cancer, it was suggested that CHL1 maybe as a potential target for overcome chemoresistance in lung cancer.
Abscisic acid is essential for rewiring of jasmonic acid-dependent defenses during herbivory
Authors: Vos Irene A , Verhage Adriaan , Watt Lewis G , Vlaardingerbroek Ido , Schuurink Robert C , Pieterse Corné MJ , Van Wees Saskia CM
Published: August 2019

Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important plant hormone in the regulation of defenses against chewing herbivores and necrotrophic pathogens. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the JA response pathway consists of two antagonistic branches that are regulated by MYC- and ERF-type transcription factors, respectively. The role of abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene (ET) in the molecular regulation of the MYC/ERF antagonism during plant-insect interactions is still unclear. Here, we show that production of ABA induced in response to leaf-chewing Pieris rapae caterpillars is required for both the activation of the MYC-branch and the suppression of the ERF-branch during herbivory. Exogenous application of ABA suppressed ectopic ERF-mediated PDF1.2 expression in 35S::ORA59 plants. Moreover, the GCC-box promoter motif, which is required for JA/ET-induced activation of the ERF-branch genes ORA59 and PDF1.2, was targeted by ABA. Application of gaseous ET counteracted activation of the MYC-branch and repression of the ERF-branch by P. rapae, but infection with the ET-inducing necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea did not. Accordingly, P. rapae performed equally well on B. cinerea-infected and control plants, whereas activation of the MYC-branch resulted in reduced caterpillar performance. Together, these data indicate that upon feeding by P. rapae, ABA is essential for activating the MYC-branch and suppressing the ERF-branch of the JA pathway, which maximizes defense against caterpillars.
Type I fatty acid synthase (FAS) trapped in the octanoyl-bound state
Authors: Rittner Alexander , Paithankar Karthik S. , Himmler Aaron , Grininger Martin
Published: August 2019

De novofatty acid biosynthesis in humans is accomplished by a multidomain protein, the type I fatty acid synthase (FAS). Although ubiquitously expressed in all tissues, fatty acid synthesis is not essential in normal healthy cells due to sufficient supply with fatty acids by the diet. However, FAS is overexpressed in cancer cells and correlates with tumor malignancy, which makes FAS an attractive selective therapeutic target in tumorigenesis. Herein, we present a crystal structure of the condensing part of murine FAS, highly homologous to human FAS, with octanoyl moieties covalently bound to the transferase (MAT) and the condensation (KS) domain. The MAT domain binds the octanoyl moiety in a novel (unique) conformation, which reflects the pronounced conformational dynamics of the substrate binding site responsible for the MAT substrate promiscuity. In contrast, the KS binding pocket just subtly adapts to the octanoyl moiety upon substrate binding. Besides the rigid domain structure, we found a positive cooperative effect in the substrate binding of the KS domain by a comprehensive enzyme kinetic study. These structural and mechanistic findings contribute significantly to our understanding of the mode of action of FAS and may guide future rational inhibitor designs.

Highlights

The X-ray structure of the KS-MAT didomain of murine type I FAS is presented in an octanoyl-bound state.

Multiple conformations of the MAT domain and a dynamic active site pocket explain substrate promiscuity.

The rigid domain structure and minor structural changes upon acylation are in line with the strict substrate specificity of the KS domain.

Enzyme kinetics reveals cooperativity in the KS-mediated transacylation step.
Reconstruction of nine thousand years of agriculture-based diet and impact on human genetic diversity in Asia
Authors: Raj Srilakshmi M. , Pei Allison , Foll Matthieu , Schlamp Florencia , Excoffier Laurent , Fuller Dorian Q. , Kivisild Toomas , Clark Andrew G.
Published: August 2019

Domestication of crops and animals during the Holocene epoch played a critical role in shaping human culture, diet and genetic variation. This domestication process took place across a span of time and space, especially in Asia. We hypothesize that domestication of plants and animals around the world must have influenced the human genome differentially among human populations to a far greater degree than has been appreciated previously. The range of domesticated foods that were available in different regions can be expected to have created regionally distinct nutrient intake profiles and deficiencies. To capture this complexity, we used archaeobotanical evidence to construct two models of dietary nutrient composition over a 9000 year time span in Asia: one based on Larson et al. (2014) and measured through composition of 8 nutrients, and another taking into account a wider range of crops, cooking and lifestyle variation, and the dietary variables glycemic index and carbohydrate content. We hypothesize that the subtle dietary shifts through time and space have also influenced current human genetic variation among Asians. We used statistical methods BayeScEnv, BayeScan and Baypass, to examine the impact of our reconstructed long-term dietary habits on genome-wide genetic variation in 29 current-day Asian populations (Figure S1, Figure 1, Figure 2). Our results show that genetic variation in diet-related pathways is correlated with dietary differences among Asian populations. SNPs in five genes, GHR, LAMA1, SEMA3A, CAST and TCF7L2, involved in the gene ontologies ‘salivary gland morphogenesis’ and ‘negative regulation of type B pancreatic cell apoptotic process’ suggest that metabolism may have been primary targets of selection driven by dietary shifts. These shifts may have influenced biological pathways in ways that have a lasting impact on health. We present a case that archaeobotanical evidence can provide valuable insight for understanding how historical human niche construction might have influenced modern human genetic variation.
Developmental gene expression differences between humans and mammalian models
Authors: Cardoso-Moreira Margarida , Velten Britta , Mort Matthew , Cooper David N. , Huber Wolfgang , Kaessmann Henrik
Published: August 2019

Identifying the molecular programs underlying human organ development and how they differ from those in model species will advance our understanding of human health and disease. Developmental gene expression profiles provide a window into the genes underlying organ development as well as a direct means to compare them across species. We use a transcriptomic resource for mammalian organ development to characterize the temporal profiles of human genes associated with distinct disease classes and to determine, for each human gene, the similarity of its spatiotemporal expression with its orthologs in rhesus macaque, mouse, rat and rabbit. We find that half of human genes differ from their mouse orthologs in their temporal trajectories. These include more than 200 disease genes associated with brain, heart and liver disease, for which mouse models should undergo extra scrutiny. We provide a new resource that evaluates for every human gene its suitability to be modeled in different mammalian species.
Specific Regulation of TCP genes by miR319
Authors: Palatnik Javier F. , Weigel Detlef
Published: August 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major regulators of gene expression in multicellular organisms. Many of the evolutionarily conserved miRNAs in plants are encoded by small gene families. The miR159/miR319 family has six members of similar sequences sharing 17 nucleotides in Arabidopsis thaliana. The members of this miRNA family regulate genes encoding TCP (TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA and PCF1/2) and MYB transcription factors. However, despite their sequence similarities, genetic evidence indicates that miR159 and miR319 fulfil different roles in vivo. Here, we confirm previous findings showing that TCP genes are not targeted by miR159. Thus, specific small sequence differences between the miRNAs allow for the specific regulation of TCP transcription factors by miR319 miRNAs.
Environmental pH impacts division assembly and cell size inEscherichia coli
Authors: Mueller Elizabeth A. , Westfall Corey S. , Levin Petra Anne
Published: August 2019

Cell size is a complex trait, derived from both genetic and environmental factors. Environmental determinants of bacterial cell size identified to date primarily target assembly of cytosolic components of the cell division machinery. Whether certain environmental cues also impact cell size through changes in the assembly or activity of extracytoplasmic division proteins remains an open question. Here, we identify extracellular pH as a modulator of cell division and a key determinant of cell size across evolutionarily distant bacterial species. In the Gram-negative model organismEscherichia coli, our data indicate environmental pH impacts the length at which cells divide by altering the ability of the terminal cell division protein FtsN to localize to the cytokinetic machinery and activate division. Acidic environments lead to enrichment of FtsN at the septum and activation of division at a reduced cell length, while alkaline pH inhibits FtsN localization and suppress division activation. Altogether, our work reveals a previously unappreciated role for pH in bacterial cell size control.
Systematic identification of engineered methionines and oxaziridines for efficient, stable, and site-specific antibody bioconjugation
Authors: Elledge Susanna K. , Tran Hai L. , Christian Alec H. , Steri Veronica , Hann Byron , Dean Toste F. , Chang Christopher J. , Wells James A.
Published: August 2019

Chemical modification of antibodies is one of the most important bioconjugations utilized by biologists and biotechnology. To date, the field has been dominated by random modification of lysines or more site-specific labeling of cysteines, each with attendant challenges. Recently we have developed oxaziridine chemistry for highly selective and efficient sulfimide modification of methionine called redox-activated chemical tagging (ReACT). Here, we systematically scanned methionines throughout one of the most popular antibody scaffolds, trastuzumab, for antibody engineering and drug conjugation. We tested the expression, reactivities, and stabilities of 123 single engineered methionines distributed over the surface of the antibody when reacted with oxaziridine. We found uniformly high expression for these mutants and generally good reaction efficiencies with the panel of oxaziridines. Remarkably, the stability to hydrolysis of the sulfimide varied more than ten-fold depending on temperature and the site of the engineered methionine. Interestingly, the most stable and reactive sites were those that were partially buried, likely because of their reduced access to water. There was also a ten-fold variation in stability depending on the nature of the oxaziridine, which we determined was inversely correlated with the electrophilic nature of the sulfimide. Importantly, the stabilities of the best analogs and antibody drug conjugate potencies were comparable to those reported for cysteine-maleimide modifications of trastuzumab. We also found our antibody drug conjugates to be potent in a breast cancer mouse xenograft model. These studies provide a roadmap for broad application of ReACT for efficient, stable, and site-specific antibody and protein bioconjugation.
The Integrator complex cleaves nascent mRNAs to attenuate transcription
Authors: Tatomer Deirdre C. , Elrod Nathan D. , Liang Dongming , Xiao Mei-Sheng , Jiang Jeffrey Z. , Jonathan Michael , Huang Kai-Lieh , Wagner Eric J. , Cherry Sara , Wilusz Jeremy E.
Published: August 2019

Cellular homeostasis requires transcriptional outputs to be coordinated, and many events post transcription initiation can dictate the levels and functions of mature transcripts. To systematically identify regulators of inducible gene expression, we performed high-throughput RNAi screening of the Drosophila Metallothionein A (MtnA) promoter. This revealed that the Integrator complex, which has a well-established role in 3’ end processing of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), attenuates MtnA transcription during copper stress. Integrator complex subunit 11 (IntS11) endonucleolytically cleaves MtnA transcripts, resulting in premature transcription termination and degradation of the nascent RNAs by the RNA exosome, a complex also identified in the screen. Using RNA-seq, we then identified >400 additional Drosophila protein-coding genes whose expression increases upon Integrator depletion. We focused on a subset of these genes and confirmed that Integrator is bound to their 5’ ends and negatively regulates their transcription via IntS11 endonuclease activity. Many non-catalytic Integrator subunits, which are largely dispensable for snRNA processing, also have regulatory roles at these protein-coding genes, possibly by controlling Integrator recruitment or RNA polymerase II dynamics. Altogether, our results suggest that attenuation via Integrator cleavage limits production of many full-length mRNAs, allowing precise control of transcription outputs.
The diagnostic chronic lymphocytic leukaemia genome by nanopore sequencing
Authors: Burns Adam , DiSalvo-Williams Daniella , Bruce David , Robbe Pauline , Timbs Adele , Stamatopoulos Basile , Clifford Ruth , Lopopolo Maria , Parkes Duncan , Ridout Kate , Schuh Anna
Published: August 2019

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is characterised by considerable clinical and biological heterogeneity, with specific recurrent genomic alterations, includingTP53mutations, deletions of chromosome 17p, and IgHV mutational status, impacting on response to chemo-immunotherapy and targeted agents. Consequently, diagnostic screening for these predictive biomarkers is recommended in both national and international clinical guidelines. Current conventional methods, including fluorescentin-situhybridisation and Sanger sequencing, exhibit shortcomings in terms of cost, speed and sensitivity, and even second-generation sequencing methods encounter technical limitations imposed by short-read lengths and bio-informatics analysis. The MinION platform from Oxford Nanopore Technologies generates exceptionally long (1-100kbp) read lengths in a short period of time and at low cost, making it a good candidate for diagnostic testing. In this paper, we present a nanopore-based CLL-specific screening assay, to simultaneously screen for bothTP53mutations and del17p13.1, as well as determining the IgHV mutation status for a single patient in one sequencing run. We sequenced 11 CLL patients and were able to generate a full diagnostic dataset for all. We identified somatic SNVs and indels in the coding region ofTP53, and demonstrate that, following error correction of the data, we could accurately define the somatically hypermutated IgHV region in all patients. We also demonstrated the ability of the MinION platform to detect large-scale genomic deletions through low-coverage whole-genome sequencing. We conclude that nanopore sequencing has the potential to provide accurate, low-cost and rapid diagnostic information, which could be applied to other cancer types.
Coherent Bragg imaging of 60 nm Au nanoparticles under electrochemical control at the NanoMAX beamline
Authors: Björling Alexander , Carbone Dina , Sarabia Francisco J. , Hammarberg Susanna , Feliu Juan M. , Solla-Gullón José
Published: August 2019

Nanoparticles are essential electrocatalysts in chemical production, water treatment and energy conversion, but engineering efficient and specific catalysts requires understanding complex structure–reactivity relations. Recent experiments have shown that Bragg coherent diffraction imaging might be a powerful tool in this regard. The technique provides three-dimensional lattice strain fields from which surface reactivity maps can be inferred. However, all experiments published so far have investigated particles an order of magnitude larger than those used in practical applications. Studying smaller particles quickly becomes demanding as the diffracted intensity falls. Here, in situ nanodiffraction data from 60 nm Au nanoparticles under electrochemical control collected at the hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline of MAX IV, NanoMAX, are presented. Two-dimensional image reconstructions of these particles are produced, and it is estimated that NanoMAX, which is now open for general users, has the requisites for three-dimensional imaging of particles of a size relevant for catalytic applications. This represents the first demonstration of coherent X-ray diffraction experiments performed at a diffraction-limited storage ring, and illustrates the importance of these new sources for experiments where coherence properties become crucial.
No magnesium is needed for binding of the stimulator of interferon genes to cyclic dinucleotides
Authors: Smola Miroslav , Birkus Gabriel , Boura Evzen
Published: August 2019

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) binds cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs), which induce a large conformational change of the protein. The structural basis of activation of STING by CDNs is rather well understood. Unliganded STING forms an open dimer that undergoes a large conformational change (∼10 Å) to a closed conformation upon the binding of a CDN molecule. This event activates downstream effectors of STING and subsequently leads to activation of the type 1 interferon response. However, a previously solved structure of STING with 3′,3′-c-di-GMP shows Mg atoms mediating the interaction of STING with this CDN. Here, it is shown that no Mg atoms are needed for this interaction; in fact, magnesium can in some cases obstruct the binding of a CDN to STING.
Detecting anomalies in financial statements using machine learning algorithm
Authors: Lokanan Mark , Tran Vincent , Vuong Nam Hoai
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the possibility of rating the credit worthiness of a firm’s quarterly financial report using a dynamic anomaly detection method.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a data set containing financial statements from Quarter 1 – 2001 to Quarter 4 – 2016 of 937 Vietnamese listed firms. In sum, 24 fundamental financial indices are chosen as control variables. The study employs the Mahalanobis distance to measure the proximity of each data point from the centroid of the distribution to point out the extent of the anomaly.

Findings

The finding shows that the model is capable of ranking quarterly financial reports in terms of credit worthiness. The execution of the model on all observations also revealed that most financial statements of Vietnamese listed firms are trustworthy, while almost a quarter of them are highly anomalous and questionable.

Research limitations/implications

The study faces several limitations, including the availability of genuine accounting data from stock exchanges, the strong assumptions of a simple statistical distribution, the restricted timeframe of financial data and the sensitivity of the thresholds for anomaly levels.

Practical implications

The study opens an avenue for ordinary users of financial information to process the data and question the validity of the numbers presented by listed firms. Furthermore, if fraud information is available, similar research can be conducted to examine the tendency for companies with anomalous financial reports to commit fraud.

Originality/value

This is the first paper of its kind that attempts to build an anomaly detection model for Vietnamese listed companies.
Elaboration and validation of a checklist for the evaluation of good hygiene practices in food trucks
Authors: Dolberth Dardin Francine , Stangarlin-Fiori Lize , Olmedo Patrícia Vitório , Serafim Ana Lúcia , Opolski Medeiros Caroline
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop, validate the content and analyze the inter-rater reliability of a checklist of good hygiene practices in food trucks (GHPFT).

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out in Curitiba, Brazil, and divided into three stages: preparation of the evaluation checklist; validation of the checklist’s content; and reliability analysis. Content validation was carried out by six experts using the Content Validity Index (CVI). The reliability analysis was performed on five food trucks by four partners using the κ coefficient.

Findings

Prior to validation, the checklist contained 34 items divided into 9 categories; after, this number was changed to 30 items divided into 8 categories. The validated checklist presented a CVI=0.867 for each of the categories and κ between 0.636 and 0.759, indicating good reproducibility.

Research limitations/implications

The checklist considered the requirements of Brazilian laws, and may not reflect the good hygiene practices requirements specific to other countries.

Practical implications

The checklist proposed is an unprecedented tool, and may be used in the implementation of good hygiene practices and in inspections carried out by the Health Regulatory Agency for the street food segment.

Originality/value

The study was the first to describe the development, content validation and inter-rater reliability analysis of an evaluation checklist for GHPFT, and the results can be used by professionals working in the area.
Media usage of evacuees in a multichannel environment
Authors: Cheng John William , Mitomo Hitoshi
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine structural and psychological factors that may affect disaster evacuees’ usage of different media channels in a multichannel media environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study uses the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in Japan as the case study. It adopts a quantitative approach using structural equation modelling with data collected from an original questionnaire survey (n=744).

Findings

The results show that the evacuees’ usage of almost all media channels is positively related to the number of different types of media terminals they had. That said, those who were evacuated mandatorily tend to utilise internet-enabled media channels more. It is also found that traditional broadcast and internet-enabled media channels complement each other instead of displacing. Thus, multichannel appears to be an effective means for disseminating disaster information. However, it is also found that having access to a particular media channel does not necessarily mean that people will utilise it.

Practical implications

To fully utilise the multichannel media environment for disaster information dissemination, governments and media organisations also need to focus on the quality of the information being disseminated over both traditional broadcast and internet-enabled media channels.

Originality/value

Few studies have empirically examined factors that affect disaster evacuees’ usage of different media channels in a multichannel media environment. This study fills this gap and the findings may help governments and media organisations in utilising multiple media channels to disseminate disaster information.
The role of translators and interpreters in cascading crises and disasters
Authors: Alexander David E. , Pescaroli Gianluca
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the significance of cascading crises for translators and interpreters, and how their work may be affected by such events. It provides a theoretical basis for analysis and field practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors define cascades and explain how they influence the development of preparedness, mitigation and response. The authors identify key drivers of cascading crises and discuss how they challenge conventional approaches to emergency management. The authors discuss ways in which use of language could be a key factor in crisis escalation. The authors define priorities and operational challenges of cascading crises for translators and interpreters. In terms of methodology, this paper develops a conceptual framework that can be used for future enquiry and case history analysis.

Findings

The authors provide a qualitative description and synthesis of the key instructions to be used in the field. The authors offer a short list of key questions that can be referred to by linguists and scholars. The authors identify situations in which translation and interpretation are important ingredients in the success of emergency preparedness and response efforts. These include multilingual populations, migrant crises, international humanitarian deployment and emergency communication during infrastructure failures.

Research limitations/implications

This work has academic value for the process of understanding cascades and practical relevance in terms of how to deal with them.

Practical implications

Translators and interpreters need to understand cascading crises in order to be prepared for the challenges that such events will present.

Social implications

Society has become more complex and interconnected, with non-linear cascading escalation of secondary emergencies. Emergency planners and responders need to address this in new ways. Effective communication and information strategies are essential to the mitigation of cascading disaster risk.

Originality/value

The study of cascading crises from a socio-economic point of view is relatively new, but it is important because society is increasingly dependent on networks that can propagate failure of information supply.
Mega event management of formula one grand prix: an analysis of literature
Authors: Chamberlain David Andrew , Edwards David , Lai Joseph , Thwala Wellington Didibhuku
Published: August 2019

Purpose

A comprehensive literature review of mega event management of dynamic sporting events is presented. The purpose of this paper is to learn from these mega events to prescribe mitigation strategies for improving cost performance while simultaneously minimising public disruption on formula one grand prix events. Knowledge accrued of challenges posed is theoretically applied to circuit construction and reestablishment processes involved in orchestrating a “street circuit” grand prix event.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive research methodological approach was adopted using an interpretivist epistemological design. A mixed methods analysis of pertinent extant literature of mega events afforded greater synthesis of the research problem domain and generated more valid and reliable findings. The software VOSviewer was used to conduct a qualitative bibliographic analysis of pertinent extant literature.

Findings

Three thematic groups of past research endeavour emerged from the analysis and were assigned appropriate nomenclature, namely: customer experience; geographical location; and research methods and approaches adopted. Analysis of these clusters revealed common factors that impact upon construction works during mega sporting events including: inclement weather conditions; miscommunication between project stakeholders; and economic impact upon the local community. Factors for mitigating these risks were also proposed, namely: traffic management plans; shift working; and wider public consultation.

Originality/value

This unique study provides invaluable insight into construction works commissioned and implemented at a mega “motor sports” public event. Although the research context was narrowly defined, findings presented are equally applicable to contractors, organisers and public authorities orchestrating other types of public event. The research concludes with direction for future work that seeks to apply the lessons learnt and measure the impact of findings presented herein.
Gender diversity and management aspirations in public sector workplaces in Denmark
Authors: Nielsen Vibeke Lehmann , Madsen Mikkel Bo
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between workplace gender diversity among peers and management aspirations among male and female employees. It focuses on whether gender diversity influences men and women’s management aspirations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study builds on cross-sectional survey data from the Danish public sector.

Findings

Results shows that in mixed-gender workplaces, male employees are less likely to express management aspirations than male employees in mono-gender workplaces, but female employees in mixed-gender workplaces express management aspirations to the same – low – degree as female employees in mono-gender workplaces. All in all, the findings show that gender differences in career aspirations are not just a matter of individual preferences and/or macro-structural factors but also a matter of factors at organizational level. The findings suggest both positive and negative implications of gender diversity, and hence problematize a – rather common – simplistic celebration of gender diversity. First of all, gender diversity seems to counteract the fertilization of rigid stereotypes of men and hence prevents some men from being pushed into management positions and a career ladder they perhaps do not want to be placed at in the first place.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

Practical implications

The findings seem to identify that the challenge of secure a large and qualified pool of potential managers might be even extra challeging for managers in gender-diverse organisations.

Originality/value

A more nuanced view of the implications of gender diversity based on a basic argument of gender-asymmetry. Furthermore, the study are build on a unique dataset that allows to study the implications of gender diversity across a wide range of occupational setting and hence control for occupation specific characteristics.
Developing and validating a common body of knowledge for information privacy
Authors: Lavranou Rena , Tsohou Aggeliki
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a common body of knowledge (CBK) for the field of information privacy, titled InfoPrivacy CBK. The purpose of the proposed CBK is to guide internet users to better understand the concept of information privacy and associate information privacy-related concepts. The InfoPrivacy CBK was created with an educational orientation to provide the basis for designing privacy awareness and training programs and organizing relevant educational material.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed CBK for information privacy was developed conceptually and includes five domains and four levels of analysis. It is illustrated with conceptual maps. The authors identified a variety of concepts related to information privacy and created a set of categories to categorize the concepts. They used, as inclusion criteria, both theoretical and practical information privacy aspects, so that the developed CBK can address the challenges of modern technologies for preserving information privacy.

Findings

To validate and refine the conceptually developed CBK, the authors conducted an empirical research, in which seven information privacy experts participated. The experts commented largely positively for the structure and content of InfoPrivacy CBK, as well as for the extent to which it achieves the intended educational goals.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed InfoPrivacy CBK was validated by a limited number of information privacy experts, mainly due to the lengthy and in-depth participation that was required.

Practical implications

The InfoPrivacy CBK can be used primarily by privacy awareness and training programs developers, such as organizations, data protection officers, the state, educational policy makers and teachers.

Social implications

Internet users will benefit from InfoPrivacy CBK by acquiring knowledge and skills from theoretically grounded training programs, which can enhance their awareness and critical thinking on issues related to the protection of their information privacy. This will lead to more privacy-aware online societies, communities, networks, etc.

Originality/value

This work intends to bridge the existing gap in the literature through the creation of a novel CBK for information privacy; information privacy is a field for which no such research effort has been recorded. This paper offers important knowledge in the field of information privacy, which could be useful to both technological education designers and learners (students, employees, etc.).
Practice-based segmentation: taxonomy of C2C co-creation practice segments
Authors: Rihova Ivana , Moital Miguel , Buhalis Dimitrios , Gouthro Mary-Beth
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and evaluate practice-based segmentation as an alternative conceptual segmentation perspective that acknowledges the active role of consumers as value co-creators.

Design/methodology/approach

Data comprising various aspects of customer-to-customer (C2C) co-creation practices of festival visitors were collected across five UK-based festivals, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with naturally occurring social units (individuals, couples and groups). Data were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis procedure within QSR NVivo 10.

Findings

Private, sociable, tribal and communing practice segments are identified and profiled, using the interplay of specific subject- and situation-specific practice elements to highlight the “minimum” conditions for each C2C co-creation practice. Unlike traditional segments, practice segment membership is shown to be fluid and overlapping, with fragmented consumers moving across different practice segments throughout their festival experience according to what makes most sense at a given time.

Research limitations/implications

Although practice-based segmentation is studied in the relatively limited context of C2C co-creation practices at festivals, the paper illustrates how this approach could be operationalised in the initial qualitative stages of segmentation research. By identifying how the interplay of subject- and situation-specific practice elements affects performance of practices, managers can facilitate relevant practice-based segments, leading to more sustainable business.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to segmentation literature by empirically demonstrating the feasibility of practice-based segments and by evaluating the use of practice-based segmentation on a strategic, procedural and operational level. Possible methodological solutions for future research are offered.
Motivating senior employees in the hospitality industry
Authors: Ann Saehya , Blum Shane C.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aims to use Herzberg’s two-factor theory and attempted to discover, which motivational factors are the best predictors of senior employees’ job satisfaction and dissatisfaction and turnover intentions. The study also verified the two-factor theory’s validity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a Web-based, self-administered survey method with measurements developed specifically for this study. Structural equation modeling using confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The two factors that had significantly positive effects on job satisfaction were recognition and the work itself. Interestingly, achievement had a significantly negative effect on job satisfaction. The four hygiene factors that had a significantly negative effect on job dissatisfaction were technical supervision, personal life, status and job security. Job satisfaction had a significantly negative effect on turnover intention, while job dissatisfaction had a significantly positive effect on the variable, which supported Herzberg’s theory.

Research limitations/implications

Although quantitative research is the most useful research tool and is used most widely, the method can provide only limited information, while qualitative research might provide further information that would allow us to understand the relation between motivation, job satisfaction and turnover intentions better from different perspectives. Future research using Herzberg’s interview method would be helpful to obtain more detailed information regarding these factors.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to use both job satisfaction and dissatisfaction separately to explore the relations among senior citizen employees’ motivators, hygiene factors, job satisfaction and dissatisfaction and turnover intentions in the hospitality industry, as most previous studies have used job satisfaction alone. This study’s empirical findings of the validity of Herzberg’s two-factor theory in this context prove that the theory remains applicable in a new environment six decades after its original development.
Time poverty in Egypt and Tunisia: is there a gender gap?
Authors: Ezzat Asmaa , Nazier Hanan
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender differences in time poverty in two Middle East North African (MENA) countries, particularly Egypt and Tunisia, as well as examining its determinants across gender.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the authors make use of data provided by the Labor Market Panel Survey (LMPS) in Egypt (2012) and in Tunisia (2014) to estimate probit regressions to identify various determinants that explain time poverty.

Findings

The empirical findings show that the probability of time poverty, in both countries, is lower for women compared to men. In addition, the determinants of time poverty (individual, household and community variables) and their marginal effects differ across gender.

Originality/value

Research on the gender inequalities in time poverty and its determinants has been very limited. Additionally, the relationships between individuals’ time use and the conditions under which this might represent time poverty have not been fully studied in the literature. Moreover, most of the available studies have focused on developed countries; while studies tackling this issue in developing countries are very few. For the MENA region, in particular, this topic is totally missing in the available literature.
Knowledge management capability and organizational memory: a study of public sector agencies
Authors: Adobor Henry , Kudonoo Enyonam , Daneshfar Alireza
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore organizational memory (OM) in three public agencies in a developing country context. Research suggests that knowledge management (KM) can build a nation’s intellectual capital and improve the effectiveness of public sector management. Therefore, how knowledge is preserved is important.

Design/methodology/approach

The study targeted three large public institutions in Ghana. The study used a survey of 756 individuals in managerial and operational level positions in institutions to test the hypotheses in the study.

Findings

The findings confirm that knowledge management capability (KMC) has a positive and significant impact on OM. Knowledge acquisition and retention capabilities, in particular, are critical variables in building OM.

Research limitations/implications

The research relied on self-reports and so one cannot completely rule out social desirability and consistency biases. Using cross-sectional data also makes it difficult to make inferences about the causality.

Practical implications

Public agencies desirous of building their OM will need to build critical KMC and infrastructure.

Originality/value

This paper links KMC to OM in public institutions in an emerging country context.
Experimental validation of the proposed technique for condition monitoring of structure using limited noisy modal data
Authors: Ali Jafar , Bandyopadhyay Debasish
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Condition monitoring (CM) of structures is important from safety consideration. Damage detection techniques, using inverse dynamic approaches, are important tools to improve the mathematical models for monitoring the condition of structure. Uncertainties in the measured data might lead to unreliable identification of damage in structural system. Experimental validation is crucial for establishing its practical applicability. The measurement of dynamic responses at all degrees of freedom (DOFs) of a structure is also not feasible in practice. In addition the effect of these uncertainties and constraint of limited measurement are required to be studied based on experimental validation. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Proposed numerical model based on measured natural frequencies and mode shapes is found suitable for CM of framed structures in the framework of finite element model with limited dynamic responses. The structural properties, namely, axial rigidity and bending rigidity are identified at the element level in the updated models of the system. Damage at the element level is identified by comparing the identified structural parameters of the updated model of the system with those of the undamaged state. Proposed numerical model is suitable for practical problem, as it is able to identify the structural parameters with limited modal data of first few modes, measured at selected DOFs.

Findings

The model is able to identify the structural damage with greater accuracy from the noisy dynamic responses even if the extent of damage is small. Experimental studies, on simple cantilever beams, establish the potential of the proposed methods for its practical implementation.

Research limitations/implications

The greater random noise will lead to unreliable identification of structural parameters as observed. Thus, filtering of noise technique may be required to be adopted prior to consideration of the measured data in the proposed identification approach.

Practical implications

Requirement of higher modal data seems to be difficult in case of real life practical problem. Thus, simulation technique like condensation or SEREP technique may be adopted.

Social implications

Structural health monitoring of infrastructural system is significantly important. CM of those structures from global response with limited measured data seems to be an effective tool to ensure safety and durability of structures.

Originality/value

The modal testing and subsequent extraction of modal data have been carried out at the authors’ laboratory. The numerical code based on inverse dynamic approach has been developed independently with original contribution.
Investigation the combined effects of wear and turbulent on the performance of hydrodynamic journal bearing operating with couple stress fluids
Authors: Mahdi Mushrek A. , Hussein Ahmed Waleed
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effect of wear and turbulence on the performance of a hydrodynamic journal bearing operating under Newtonian and couple stress fluids (CSF).

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis consists of a modified Reynolds equation of incompressible thin viscous films, and the film thickness model taking into account the wear effect. The governing equation was solved numerically using the finite difference approach.

Findings

The effect of both the wear parameter and the local Reynolds number on the performance characteristics of bearing has been presented and discussed. The obtained results observed that the characteristics of the intact and worn bearing in turbulent and laminar have been enhanced due to the non-Newtonian fluid (CSF) effect. Also, the results display that bearing worn and the turbulent regime cannot be neglected in calculating the performance characteristics of the bearing lubricated with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The results achieved from this study, specify that the bearing characteristics are significantly affected by these effects.

Originality/value

The paper investigates the behavior of hydrodynamic bearings considering different aspects simultaneously is interesting, and the application meets the current needs of improvement in modeling hydrodynamic bearings under different conditions.