bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting the Influence of Axon Myelination on Sound Localization Precision Using a Spiking Neural Network Model of Auditory Brainstem
Authors: Li Ben-Zheng , Pun Sio Hang , Vai Mang I , Lei Tim C. , Klug Achim
Published: October 2021

Spatial hearing allows animals to rapidly detect and localize auditory events in the surrounding environment. The auditory brainstem plays a central role in processing and extracting binaural spatial cues through microsecond-precise binaural integration, especially for detecting interaural time differences (ITDs) of low-frequency sounds at the medial superior olive (MSO). A series of mechanisms exist in the underlying neural circuits for preserving accurate action potential timing across multiple fibers, synapses and nuclei along this pathway. One of these is the myelination of afferent fibers that ensures reliable and temporally precise action potential propagation in the axon. There are several reports of fine-tuned myelination patterns in the MSO circuit, but how specifically myelination influences the precision of sound localization remains incompletely understood. Here we present a spiking neural network model of the auditory brainstem with myelinated axons to investigate whether different axon myelination thicknesses alter the sound localization process. Our model demonstrates that axon myelin thickness along the contralateral pathways can substantially modulate ITD detection. Furthermore, optimal ITD sensitivity is reached when the MSO receives contralateral inhibition via thicker myelinated axons compared to contralateral excitation, a result that is consistent with previously reported experimental observations. Our results suggest specific roles of axon myelination for extracting temporal dynamics in ITD perception, especially in the pathway of the contralateral inhibition.
The Pathogenic R5L Mutation Disrupts Formation of Tau Complexes on the Microtubule by Altering Local N-Terminal Structure
Authors: Cario Alisa , Savastano Adriana , Wood Neil B. , Liu Zhu , Previs Michael J. , Hendricks Adam G. , Zweckstetter Markus , Berger Christopher L.
Published: October 2021

The microtubule-associated protein (MAP) Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) primarily expressed in axons, where it functions to regulate microtubule dynamics, modulate motor protein motility, and participate in signaling cascades. Tau misregulation and point mutations are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Pick’s Disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Many disease-associated mutations in Tau occur in the C-terminal microtubule-binding domain of the protein. Effects of C-terminal mutations in Tau have led to the widely accepted disease-state theory that missense mutations in Tau reduce microtubule-binding affinity or increase Tau propensity to aggregate. Here, we investigate the effect of an N-terminal disease-associated mutation in Tau, R5L, on Tau-microtubule interactions using an in vitro reconstituted system. Contrary to the canonical disease-state theory, we determine the R5L mutation does not reduce Tau affinity for the microtubule using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy. Rather, the R5L mutation decreases the ability of Tau to form larger order complexes, or Tau patches, at high concentrations of Tau. Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), we show that the R5L mutation results in a local structural change that reduces interactions of the projection domain in the presence of microtubules. Altogether, these results challenge both the current paradigm of how mutations in Tau lead to disease and the role of the projection domain in modulating Tau behavior on the microtubule surface.

Significance Statement

The microtubule-associated protein Tau is strongly linked to a number of neurological diseases. Disease onset is typically associated with weakened interaction with the microtubule, but this widely accepted model is based on hyperphosphorylation or mutations within the C-terminal microtubule-binding domain of Tau. Here, we find an N-terminal disease-associated mutation in Tau, R5L, does not reduce Tau affinity for microtubules, but instead modifies the N-terminal structure, altering Tau’s behavior and ability to condense on the microtubule surface. Our findings challenge the current paradigms of both how mutations in Tau lead to disease and the functional role of the N-terminal region of Tau.
Propofol modulates functional connectivity signatures of sustained attention
Authors: Chamberlain Taylor , Rosenberg Monica D.
Published: October 2021

Sustained attention is a critical cognitive function reflected in an individual’s whole-brain pattern of fMRI functional connectivity. However sustained attention is not a purely static trait. Rather, attention waxes and wanes over time. Do functional brain networks that underlie individual differences in sustained attention also underlie changes in attentional state? To investigate, we replicate the finding that a validated connectome-based model of individual differences in sustained attention tracks pharmacologically induced changes in attentional state. Specifically, preregistered analyses revealed that participants exhibited functional connectivity signatures of stronger attention when awake than when under deep sedation with the anesthetic agent propofol. Furthermore, this effect was relatively specific to the predefined sustained attention networks: propofol administration modulated strength of the sustained attention networks more than it modulated strength of canonical resting-state networks and a network defined to predict fluid intelligence, and the functional connections most affected by propofol sedation overlapped with the sustained attention networks. Thus, propofol modulates functional connectivity signatures of sustained attention within individuals. More broadly these findings underscore the utility of pharmacological intervention in testing both the generalizability and specificity of network-based models of cognitive function.
Hepatocyte Cell Cycle Progression Depends on a Transcriptional Repressor Cascade Downstream of Wnt Signaling
Authors: Jin Yinhua , Anbarchian Teni , Wu Peng , Sarkar Abby , Fish Matt , Nusse Roel
Published: October 2021

Cell proliferation is tightly controlled by inhibitors that block cell cycle progression until growth signals relieve this inhibition. In several tissues including the liver, transcriptional repressors such as E2F7 and E2F8 function as inhibitors of mitosis and promote polyploidy, but how growth factors release these mitotic inhibitors to facilitate cell cycle progression is unknown. We describe here a newly identified mechanism of cell division control in which Wnt/βcatenin signaling in the postnatal liver maintains active hepatocyte proliferation through Tbx3, a Wnt target gene. TBX3 directly represses transcription of E2f7 and E2f8, promoting a low ploidy state and cell cycle progression. This sequential transcriptional repressor cascade, initiated by Wnts, provides a new paradigm for exploring how a commonly active developmental signal impacts cell cycle completion.
Microbial community dispersal in sourdough
Authors: von Gastrow Lucas , Amelot Rémy , Segond Diego , Guézennec Stéphane , Valence Florence , Sicard Delphine
Published: October 2021

Understanding how microbes disperse in ecosystems is critical to understand the dynamics and evolution of microbial communities. However, microbial dispersal is difficult to study because of uncertainty about the vectors that may contribute to their migration. This applies to both microbial communities in natural and human-associated environments. Here, we studied microbial dispersal among French sourdoughs and flours used to make bread. Sourdough is a naturally fermented mixture of flour and water. It hosts a community of bacteria and yeasts whose origins are only partially known. We analyzed whether flour is a carrier of sourdough yeast and bacteria and studied whether microbial migration occurs between sourdoughs. The microbial community of a collection of 46 sourdough samples, as well as that of the flour from which each was made, was studied by 16S rDNA and ITS1 metabarcoding. No sourdough yeast species were detected in the flours. Sourdough lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were found in only five flour samples, and they did not have the same amplicon sequence variant (ASV) as found in the corresponding sourdough. The species shared between the sourdough and flour samples are commonly found on plants and are not known to be alive in sourdough. Thus, the flour microorganisms did not appear to grow in the sourdough microbial community. Dispersal between sourdoughs was also studied. Sourdoughs shared no yeast ASV, except in few cases where groups of three to five bakers shared some. These results suggest that there is little migration between sourdoughs, except in a few situations where bakers may exchange sourdough or be vectors of yeast dispersal themselves.
ADAR2-repressed RNA editing: a novel mechanism contributing to t (8:21) AML leukemogenesis
Authors: Guo Mingrui , Chan Tim Hon Man , An Omer , Song Yangyang , Tan Zi Hui , Ng Vanessa Hui En , Cao Xinang , Chng Wee Joo , Osato Motomi , Yang Henry , Zhou Qiling , Chen Leilei , Tenen Daniel Geoffrey
Published: October 2021

In the past decade, adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, which is catalyzed by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) family of enzymes ADAR1 and ADAR2, has been shown to contribute to the development and progression of multiple cancers; however, very little is known about its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - the second most common type of leukemia making up 31% of all adult leukemia cases. Here, we found that ADAR2, but not ADAR1 and ADAR3, is specifically downregulated in core binding factor (CBF) AML with t(8;21) or inv(16). In t(8;21) AML, RUNX1-driven transcription of ADAR2 transcripts was found to be repressed by the RUNX1-ETO fusion protein. Forced overexpression of two ADAR2-regulated RNA editing targets COPA and COG3 indeed inhibits clonogenic growth of human t(8;21) AML cells. Further in vivo animal studies confirmed that ADAR2 could suppress leukemogenesis of t(8;21) AML through its RNA binding and editing capabilities. Our results suggest a novel RNA editing-mediated mechanism leading to t(8,12) AML.
Sensorless localization of a minimally-actuated robotic system for automated pallet de-strapping
Authors: Khalifeh Nour El-Hoda , Youssef Rudy , Fadel Farah , Khalil Roy , Shammas Elie , Daher Naseem , Elhajj Imad H. , Irrenhauser Thomas , Niedermeier Michael N. , Poss Christian
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the design and prototyping of a smart automation solution for de-strapping plastic bonding straps on shipping pallets, which are loaded with multiple containers secured by a top-cover as they move on a conveyor belt.

Design/methodology/approach

The adopted design methodology to have the system perform its function entails using the least number of sensors and actuators to arrive at an economic solution from a system design viewpoint. Two prototypes of the robotic structure are designed and built, one in a research laboratory and another in an industrial plant, to perform localized cutting and grabbing of the plastic straps, with the help of a custom-designed passive localizing structure. The proposed structure is engineered to locate the plastic straps using one degree of freedom (DOF) only. An additional strap removal mechanism is designed to collect the straps and prevent them from interfering with the conveyor.

Findings

The functionality of the system is validated by performing full-process tests on the developed prototypes in a laboratory setting and under real-life operating conditions at BMW Group facilities. Testing showed that the proposed localization system meets the specified requirements and can be generalized and adapted to other industrial processes with similar requirements.

Practical implications

The proposed automated system for de-strapping pallets can be deployed in assembly or manufacturing facilities that receive parts in standard shipping pallets that are used worldwide.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first mechanically smart system that is used for the automated removal of straps from shipping pallets used in assembly facilities. The two main novelties of the proposed design are the robustness of the strap localization without the need for computer vision and a large number of DOF, and the critical placement and choice of the cutting and gripping tools to minimize the number of needed actuators.
Characterizing and predicting the cross-app behavior in mobile search
Authors: Liang Shaobo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the users' cross-app behavior characteristics in mobile search and to predict users' cross-app behavior using multi-dimensional information.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a longitudinal user experiment in 15 days. This paper recruited 30 participants and collected their mobile phone log data in the whole experiment. The structured diary method was also used to collect contextual information in mobile search.

Findings

This study focused on the users' cross-app behavior in mobile search and described cross-app behavior's basic characteristics. Usage of communication app and tool apps could trigger more cross-app behavior in mobile search. The method of cross-app behavior prediction in the mobile search was proposed. Collecting users' more contextual information, such as search tasks, search motivation and other environmental information, can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of cross-app behavior in mobile search.

Practical implications

The future research on cross-app behavior prediction should focus on context information in mobile search. Better prediction of cross-app behavior can reduce the users' interaction burden.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to research into cross-app behavior, especially in the mobile search research domain.
How managerial communication reduces perceived job insecurity of flight attendants during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Charoensukmongkol Peerayuth , Suthatorn Pornprom
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This research investigates whether and how the quality of vertical communication implemented by airline industry management can reduce perceived job insecurity of flight attendants during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this research covers 322 flight attendants from five domestic airlines based in Thailand. An online questionnaire survey was used for data collection, and a partial least squares structural equation model was used for data analysis.

Findings

The results support the negative association between the quality of vertical communication and perceived job insecurity; moreover, this association is partially mediated by perceived role ambiguity. When considering the moderating effect of perceived organizational support on the direct linkage between the quality of vertical communication and perceived job insecurity, the quality of vertical communication only has a negative association with perceived job insecurity among employees who exhibit high levels of perceived organizational support. For those who exhibit low levels of perceived organizational support, the quality of vertical communication does not have a negative association with perceived job insecurity.

Originality/value

This study advances prior communication research by showing that in order for communication to effectively lessen the perceived job insecurity of employees, it needs to be backed by high-quality organizational support.
Impact of entrepreneurial orientation on the performance of new ventures in China: the roles of entrepreneurial bricolage and opportunity recognition
Authors: Ma Tiannv , Yang Siying
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine how entrepreneurial orientation affects new venture performance in a dynamic environment. The authors examine whether entrepreneurial bricolage and opportunity recognition mediate the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on new venture performance and whether environmental dynamics moderate the above effects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses questionnaires to collect data. The sample includes responses of managers from 274 new Chinese ventures. Regression analysis and bootstrapping are used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Entrepreneurial bricolage and opportunity recognition play mediating roles between entrepreneurial orientation and new venture performance. Environmental dynamism positively moderates the relationship between opportunity recognition and new venture performance.

Practical implications

In a dynamic environment, new ventures should strengthen their entrepreneurial orientation, which would gradually improve their performance by improving their entrepreneurial bricolage and opportunity recognition ability.

Originality/value

This study innovatively explains the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and new venture performance from the perspectives of “flexible solutions to current problems” and “discovering and grasping potential new opportunities.” It does so by using the concepts of entrepreneurial bricolage and entrepreneurial opportunity identification in the context of a dynamic environment.
Modelling the blockchain adoption barriers in the AEC industry
Authors: Xu Yongshun , Chong Heap-Yih , Chi Ming
Published: October 2021

Purpose

In the era of digitalisation, blockchain has the potential to fundamentally change the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry's workflow, trust and procurement environments. However, few studies have investigated blockchain adoption barriers in the AEC industry in detail. Therefore, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these barriers and their interdependent relationships in the context of the AEC industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of the literature, industry reports and expert feedback, 11 barriers towards adopting the blockchain were identified. Then, the authors investigated the interdependencies amongst the factors by adopting a two-stage integrated interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method.

Findings

The findings show that the lack of information technology infrastructure (BC4) and legal and regulatory uncertainty (BC11) are the most prominent barriers towards blockchain adoption in the AEC industry.

Practical implications

The research contributes in providing a clearer understanding of related barriers and potential solutions for practitioners in this area. Subsequently, the identification of adoption barriers can enable an important knowledge foundation and suggest possible solutions for adopting blockchain techniques successfully and effectively in the AEC industry.

Originality/value

The study lays an essential research foundation for the effective adoption and use of blockchain in the AEC industry.
Predicting intention to follow online restaurant community advice: a trust-integrated technology acceptance model
Authors: Shaker Aya K. , Mostafa Rasha H.A. , Elseidi Reham I.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This research investigates consumer intention to follow online community advice. Applying the technology acceptance model (TAM) to the context of online restaurant communities, the study empirically examines the effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude and trust on the intention to follow online advice.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 360 members of online restaurant communities on Facebook and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The findings revealed that trust, perceived usefulness and attitude are key predictors of the intention to follow online restaurant community advice.

Originality/value

Extant research on the influence of online reviews on consumer behavior in the restaurant industry has largely focused on the characteristics of the review, reviewers or readers. Moreover, other studies have investigated consumers' motivations to write online restaurant reviews. This study, however, takes a different approach and examines what drives consumers to follow the advice from online restaurant communities.
Determining the types of internet plus government platform usage behaviour in selected cities of China
Authors: Wang Ge , Chen Qiang , Xie Shenghua
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Although internet plus government platforms (IPGPs) are being increasingly used by citizens around the world, questions emerge regarding the public adoption, utilization and use of IPGPs. This study aims to explore the determinants of citizens’ differentiated IPGPs usage behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical framework has been built upon the rational choice theory and the cultural dimension theory. The present study draws on a survey of 866 citizens from Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu.

Findings

The empirical findings suggest that the perceived functional benefits and personalization features both significantly affect citizens’ informational, service and participatory uses of IPGPs, to varying degrees. Furthermore, long-term orientation plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceived functional benefits and the service use of IPGPs.

Originality/value

The findings demonstrate that the public’s rational choice of a new digitalized service channel depends on to what extent and to what degree the absolute and relative benefits they consider important compare to other possible channels. Users also consider how the new service channel satisfies their personalized demands of digitalized services. Also, users’ long-term orientation can affect their rational choices by adjusting the perceived functional benefits of the channel when that channel is used for service transactions.
The adoption and institutionalization of governmental foresight practices in Singapore
Authors: Choo Eddie , Fergnani Alessandro
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to trace the factors that have contributed to the adoption and institutionalization of foresight practices within the Singapore Public Service, Government of Singapore.

Design/methodology/approach

This study discusses the history of the adoption and institutionalization of foresight practices in the Singapore Government; this study has carried out content analysis of secondary literature and conducted 11 in-depth semi-structured interviews with elite informants.

Findings

This study finds that the adoption and institutionalization of foresight practices in the Singapore Government was brought about by a combination of five factors. The most foundational factor in our model is the role of institutional entrepreneurs, who drew upon the symbolic representation of Singapore’s vulnerability to legitimize the use of foresight, thus resonating well with local technocratic groups to maintain steady economic progress. This study further argues that the underdevelopment of foresight in the local private and academic domains can be at least in part explained by the historical connotations of foresight that were uncovered.

Research limitations/implications

As the findings are fruit of the authors’ interpretation of the secondary literature/interview data, they require further triangulation by future research.

Originality/value

This study presents the interpretation of elite informants’ accounts and historical documents to explain one of the most exemplar yet classified case studies of governmental foresight globally.
Applying the CO2 concentration decay tracer gas method in long-term monitoring campaigns in occupied homes: identifying appropriate unoccupied periods and decay periods
Authors: Few Jessica , Elwell Clifford A.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Ventilation is driven by weather conditions, occupant actions and mechanical ventilation, and so can be highly variable. This paper reports on the development of two analysis algorithms designed to facilitate investigation of ventilation in occupied homes over time.

Design/methodology/approach

These algorithms facilitate application of the CO2 concentration decay tracer gas technique. The first algorithm identifies occupied periods. The second identifies periods of decaying CO2 concentration which can be assumed to meet the assumptions required for analysis.

Findings

The algorithms were successfully applied in four occupied dwellings, giving over 100 ventilation measurements during a six-month period for three flats. The specific implementation of the decay identification algorithm had important ramifications for the ventilation rates measured, highlighting the importance of interrogating the way that appropriate periods for analysis are identified.

Practical implications

The analysis algorithms provide robust, reliable and repeatable identification of CO2 decay periods appropriate for ventilation rate analysis. The algorithms were coded in Python, and these have been made available via GitHub. As well as supporting future CO2 tracer gas experiments, the algorithms could be adapted to different purposes, including the use of other tracer gases or exploring occupant exposure to indoor air pollution.

Originality/value

Empirical investigations of ventilation in occupied dwellings rarely aim to investigate the variability of ventilation. This paper reports on analysis methods which can be used to address this gap in the empirical evidence.
The rebirth of the Chinese higher education: analysis of higher education policies from the economic reform to date
Authors: Fu Wangqian , Larbi Frank Okai
Published: October 2021

Purpose

There have been regular policy enactment and dynamism to ensure progress and sustainability in the development of higher education (HE) in China after the Cultural Revolution. This study was purposed to reveal the processes of the Chinese higher education (CHE) development through series of policy implementations from the epoch of economic reformation and opening-up policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed document analysis, and selected and critically analyzed documents that include published articles and books, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Education, and historical documentaries of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and their HE aftermath. Again, a semi-structured interview was utilized with a sample size of 20 academics vested in the CHE history. Five academics from four universities in China were interviewed to analyze the historical events of the CHE transformation and current policies about the CHE development.

Findings

The authors established that enrollment in the CHE has increased since the economic reformation; there has been the enhancement of the CHE internationalization in recent decades and the emergence of world-class universities and programs in the CHE as a result of the world class policies and projects. For consistency of the innovative programs toward HE development, the authors have posited some challenges, future goals and the global impacts of the CHE development and its sustainability.

Originality/value

The utilization of document analysis cements the claims by the interviewees, which enriches the value of the results. This study would provide literature guidance to international researchers to critically concoct theoretical assumptions from the findings to critically investigate the developmental policy pattern of HE institutions.
Humour: coping with travel bans during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lenggogeni Sari , Ashton Ann Suwaree , Scott Noel
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to extend the use of psychology in the field of tourism crisis and disaster management using coping theory. It examines how resident emotions change in the extended prodromal stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and how residents used humour to cope with stress from not being able to travel.

Design/methodology/approach

Early COVID-19 (March–April 2020) was characterised by negative media reports, lockdowns and travel restrictions but for Indonesia, no direct effects in terms of loss of life. This unusual context has led to phenomena not previously studied – humour as a coping strategy. This research consists of two studies: Study 1 used thematic analysis of interviews before and during the early lockdown period with a panel of 245 quarantined residents who had travelled in the prior two years. Study 2 followed up using a #hasthtag analysis of travel-related videos content posted on Instagram and TikTok.

Findings

The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unusual crisis which has resulted in high levels of stress and uncertainty. This study identified the unusual characteristics of the COVID-19 crises and changes of quarantined resident’s emotions during the pre-event and prodromal stages. In addition, this study found the use of humour as a coping mechanism during the lockdown period and the use of social media as the vehicle for humour.

Research limitations/implications

These findings may be generalisable only to a crises and disasters with an extended prodromal stage. Interestingly, climate change has some similar characteristics where warning signs are available, but the personal implications have not yet become apparent.

Practical implications

The emotions associated with crisis are dynamic and crisis managers may tailor communication to help deal with stress.

Social implications

This research provides an insight into how humorous content can be used to reduce negative emotions in the early stage of a stressful event associated with travel restrictions. This study may be suitable for use in integrated marketing communication in post-recovery messaging for the tourism industry and destination management organisation in the digital platform.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate “dark humour” during the early stages of COVID-19 and also the use of coping strategies to explain how humour can reduce stress.
Survey on the dissemination of Web-based information on “evacuation and sheltering” in the context of COVID-19 by the Japanese Government
Authors: Sano Hiroaki , Chiba Yohei , Maeda Sachiko , Ikeda Chiharu , Handa Nobuyuki , Miura Shinya , Usuda Yuichiro
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study examines the websites of central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities to obtain a comprehensive bird’s-eye view of how they are preparing for natural disasters in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the websites of central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities in Japan to survey the actual status of information dissemination on “evacuation and sheltering” in the context of COVID-19.

Findings

This study found that the central government issued many notices, notifications and administrative communications to prefectures, cities with public health centers and special wards, which were mainly related to opening, securing and operating evacuation centers and improving the environment. It was found that most prefectures disseminated information on both survival and living evacuation and did so from June onward, when the flood season was approaching. Among the municipalities, there were differences in information dissemination tendencies by prefecture, and it became clear that smaller municipalities were especially incapable of fully disseminating information via the Web.

Research limitations/implications

The data from the prefectures and municipalities surveyed in this study were collected from websites and do not necessarily represent the actual response to disaster-related evacuation in the context of COVID-19 in those areas. To clarify this evacuation, more detailed surveys are needed.

Originality/value

This study is unique because no research has been conducted on the response of Japanese administrative agencies to disaster-related evacuation in the context of COVID-19; the actual situation was analyzed in this study by examining central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities as administrative agencies and comparing their responses.
Organizational justice and employee entrepreneurial intentions in South Africa
Authors: Urban Boris , Moloi Jeremia
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Notwithstanding the extensive body of knowledge on entrepreneurial intentions, there seems to be relatively little research on explaining intentions in the corporate entrepreneurship context, nor has organizational justice been previously linked with employee entrepreneurial intentions (EEI). The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent different dimensions of organizational justice are associated with EEI.

Design/methodology/approach

The study context is the financial and services sector where technology enabled banking solutions have become the norm, and the need for entrepreneurial behavior has become essential in this industry. Survey data are collected (n = 204) from full-time employees working in the South African financial services sector. Initially instrument validity and reliability is tested and the hypotheses are investigated using multiple regression analyses.

Findings

Across the dimensions, results reveal positive yet non-significant relationships with EEI. However, as a control variable gender plays an important role in the relationship between procedural justice (PRCJ) and EEI. The findings are supplemented with a qualitative assessment that adds value and helps explain the results.

Practical implications

Corporate managers must foster EEI while at the same time considering perceptions of workplace justice in terms of interactional justice, distributive justice and PRCJ.

Originality/value

By combining insights from two sources of literature – organizational justice and EEI, a clear empirical contribution is made to the literature that opens up avenues for future research. Moreover, given that the original scales have primarily been employed in developed economies, by verifying their psychometric properties in an African market context, this now allows for replication studies to take place in other emerging market contexts.
Prospects and challenges of Islamic fintech in Indonesia: a legal viewpoint
Authors: Muryanto Yudho Taruno , Kharisma Dona Budi , Ciptorukmi Nugraheni Anjar Sri
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the prospects and the challenges of Islamic fintech in Indonesia. This study also proposes a comprehensive legal framework to encourage and accelerate the growth of the Islamic economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is the result of legal research with a statute approach and conceptual approach. The types of data used are legal materials consisting of primary legal materials and secondary legal materials. The technique of collecting legal materials is done by using library research techniques. The legal materials were analyzed using the legal norm method.

Findings

Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world. However, the market size of Indonesia’s Islamic fintech is still below Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia. Saudi Arabia’s Islamic fintech is the biggest market in the world, with $17.9bn worth of transactions in 2020 while Iran is at $9.2bn, UAE $3.7bn, Malaysia $3.0bn and Indonesia $2.9bn. This condition was due to various challenges in the Islamic fintech industry in Indonesia, including inadequate regulations; complicated permit procedures; misuse of fintech for financing terrorism; rampant occurrence of illegal fintech businesses; and consumer disputes in the fintech sector. These challenges require the construction of a comprehensive legal framework through the formation of an Act on Fintech.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of this research was limited to the problems occurring in the Islamic fintech sector in Indonesia as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

Practical implications

The results of this research can be used as recommendations for the formulation of comprehensive policies for the growth and development of Islamic fintech.

Social implications

Islamic fintech requires a comprehensive legal framework that functions to encourage the development of the Islamic fintech industry, digital economy growth and legal mitigation of various legal risks and misuse of fintech for financial crime and financing terrorism.

Originality/value

This paper proposes an original idea of creating a legal framework in a form of the Islamic Fintech Act. The Act should cover such legal substances as follows: Islamic compliance; an integrated one-stop permit procedure; division of authority, coordination and synergy among authorities; prevention and resolution of digital financial system crisis; criminal sanctions; and consumer dispute resolution mechanisms and alternative institution for fintech consumer dispute resolution.
Improving the school-to-work transition for young people by closing the digital divide: evidence from the EU regions
Authors: Raileanu Szeles Monica , Simionescu Mihaela
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to provide comparative empirical evidence on young people neither in employment nor in education and training (NEET-youth) under the influence of the digital divide, education and sectoral growth across the EU regions, with a focus on the transition patterns followed over time by EU regions in bridging the digital divide and their specific implications on school-to-work transition (STWT).

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, five variables on Internet usage activities are aggregated into an index of E-skills. Secondly, linear dynamic panel data regression models are used to explain the influence of various factors on regional rates of NEET-youth, with or without grouping regions upon the digital divide in relative terms.

Findings

Advanced digital literary skills are found to have a stronger effect on the STWT than the basic ones. The growth of employment in specific economic activities like “Information and Communication” enhances STWT, but only when considering regional differences in the digital divide and E-skills as well. However, the negative effect of deprivation and low educational attainments on STWT is offset by a low level of the regional digital divide. In addition, more R&D expenditure in higher education is necessary to compensate for the effect of the digital divide on the STWT.

Practical implications

On brief, the policy implications are twofold. Firstly, regions will need to focus more on reducing the digital divide, because it will not only generate positive effects for STWT but will also enhance the positive impact of education and sectoral growth on STWT and even compensate for their low progress. Secondly, in the context of the EU single market, to better address the situation of young people, regions should monitor the relative progress in bridging the digital divide and improving E-skills, with respect to the other EU regions. Improving the relative position on the EU map of E-skills increases the effectiveness of regional policies targeting the STWT.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper lies in the regional approach to the relationship between STWT and the digital divide, which allows us to derive new policy measures for the EU regions. Other innovative contributions rely on the identification of (1) transition patterns that region follow over time in improving STWT while bridging the digital divide and (2) policy measures addressing the NEETs in the context of the regional digital divide.
Does the immigration issue divide the left’s attitudes towards social welfare? A study on public support of social benefits and services in the Nordic countries
Authors: Häkkilä Laura , Toikko Timo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The paper presents a study on whether citizens’ immigration attitudes shape their attitudes towards social welfare in three Nordic countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The main analysis was performed using linear regression analysis. Data were retrieved from the eighth round of the European Social Survey (2016). The data cover the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish respondents (N = 5,021).

Findings

The analyses indicate that citizens’ immigration attitudes are associated with their social welfare attitudes. The more positive the attitudes towards immigration are, the more positive the attitudes toward social welfare will be. Further, people in the political Left have more positive attitudes towards social welfare compared to those in the political Right; but, the immigration issue is more divisive of the political Left’s opinion than that of the Right.

Research limitations/implications

Public opinion research has its limitations because behind an individual’s opinion there are many hidden factors. An individual may also have different opinions depending on the dimensions of the welfare state.

Social implications

If the immigration issue reduces the support for social welfare among the political Left, it may reduce the legitimacy of the Nordic social policy because the support of the political Left has traditionally been in favour of the universal principles of the welfare state.

Originality/value

The association of the immigration issue and social welfare attitudes has been broadly studied; but, the interaction of the immigration issue and political opinion on social welfare attitudes is less studied.
Difference in authenticity perception of old towns among China’s various cultural regions
Authors: Wu Ying , Wang Fang , Mao Wen , Xu Shuangyu , Xu Shuangyu , Tang Jintong
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Regarding research on authenticity perception, this paper aims to pose the following questions: In different cultural regions, what are the different authenticity elements of old towns from a tourist perspective? What is the difference in authenticity perception in different cultural regions? How does the authenticity perception of old towns change in the tourismification process?

Design/methodology/approach

Combining eight cultural regions in China, this study focuses on 155 old towns to discuss the differences between authenticity perception of various old towns in different cultural regions and how the interactions between tourists and local places influence the perception of authenticity, with 11,387 user-generated photographs applied to interpret authenticity perception.

Findings

The study shows that the authenticity perceived by tourists varies greatly between farming and pastoral cultural regions; after authenticity loss, old towns with a long history of tourismification regain authenticity in tourists’ perception.

Originality/value

The findings could serve as a reference for tourism development and authenticity protection of old towns. Furthermore, the study explores a creative research method and theoretical framework for regional authenticity studies, which is significant in a global context. In the process of globalization, the implications of this study, including differences in authenticity perception within various cultural regions, will also be significant globally.
Deep learning based approach to unstructured record linkage
Authors: Jurek-Loughrey Anna
Published: October 2021

Purpose

In the world of big data, data integration technology is crucial for maximising the capability of data-driven decision-making. Integrating data from multiple sources drastically expands the power of information and allows us to address questions that are impossible to answer using a single data source. Record Linkage (RL) is a task of identifying and linking records from multiple sources that describe the same real world object (e.g. person), and it plays a crucial role in the data integration process. RL is challenging, as it is uncommon for different data sources to share a unique identifier. Hence, the records must be matched based on the comparison of their corresponding values. Most of the existing RL techniques assume that records across different data sources are structured and represented by the same scheme (i.e. set of attributes). Given the increasing amount of heterogeneous data sources, those assumptions are rather unrealistic. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel RL model for unstructured data.

Design/methodology/approach

In the previous work (Jurek-Loughrey, 2020), the authors proposed a novel approach to linking unstructured data based on the application of the Siamese Multilayer Perceptron model. It was demonstrated that the method performed on par with other approaches that make constraining assumptions regarding the data. This paper expands the previous work originally presented at iiWAS2020 [16] by exploring new architectures of the Siamese Neural Network, which improves the generalisation of the RL model and makes it less sensitive to parameter selection.

Findings

The experimental results confirm that the new Autoencoder-based architecture of the Siamese Neural Network obtains better results in comparison to the Siamese Multilayer Perceptron model proposed in (Jurek et al., 2020). Better results have been achieved in three out of four data sets. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the second proposed (hybrid) architecture based on integrating the Siamese Autoencoder with a Multilayer Perceptron model, makes the model more stable in terms of the parameter selection.

Originality/value

To address the problem of unstructured RL, this paper presents a new deep learning based approach to improve the generalisation of the Siamese Multilayer Preceptron model and make is less sensitive to parameter selection.
Fabricating fluorosilane self-assembled molecular film on Babbitt alloy and its tribological performance
Authors: Qin Liguo , Yang Hao , Ni Yuquan , Dong Guangneng
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to improve the tribological performance of Babbitt alloy under oil lubricant condition. Thus, the surface was treated into oleophobic state by modifying with low surface energy fluorosilane (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane). It is believed that the oleophobic surface offered excellent wear resistance of Babbitt-based tribo-pairs.

Design/methodology/approach

By modifying the Babbitt alloy with low surface energy fluorosilane and measuring the oil contact angle, the wetting behavior was evaluated. Using Pin on Disk tribometer, the tribological properties of bare Babbitt and modified Babbitt were quantified. The samples after the friction test were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the anti-wear performance was evaluated under dry and oil lubrication conditions.

Findings

Results showed that oil contact angle of modified Babbitt was109° which was tripled compared to that of prime surface, which indicates the oleophobic behavior was greatly improved. Under dry conditions, the friction coefficient of the modified surface with different load conditions is slightly lower than that of the bare surface, while the friction coefficient of the modified surface under lubrication conditions is significantly decreased compared to that of the bare surface. Interestingly, under low load and high load, the wear rate of the modified Babbitt alloy surface is only 1/4 and 1/3 of that of the bare surface, respectively.

Originality/value

The work proposed an effective method to improve the Babbitt tribological performances and will lighten future ideas for the Babbitt alloy bearing with high wear resistance, which is beneficial to improve the service life of sliding bearings and has huge promotion and application value in the manufacture of sliding bearings.