bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RNA pull-down-Confocal Nanoscanning (RP-CONA) detects quercetin as pri-miR-7/HuR interaction inhibitor that decreases α-Synuclein levels
Authors: Zhu Siran , Rooney Saul , Pham Nhan T. , Koszela Joanna , Kelly David , Auer Manfred , Michlewski Gracjan
Published: January 2021

RNA-protein interactions are central to all gene expression processes and contribute to variety of human diseases. Therapeutic approaches targeting RNA-protein interactions have shown promising effects on some diseases that are previously regarded as ‘incurable’. Here we developed a fluorescent on-bead screening platform: RNA pull-down-Confocal Nanoscanning (RP-CONA), to identify RNA-protein interaction modulators in eukaryotic cell extracts. Using RP-CONA, we identified small molecules that disrupt the interaction between HuR, an inhibitor of brain-enriched miR-7 biogenesis, and the conserved terminal loop of pri-miR-7-1. Importantly, miR-7’s primary target is an mRNA of α-Synuclein, which contributes to aetiology of Parkinson’s disease. Our method identified a natural product quercetin as a molecule able to upregulate cellular miR-7 levels and downregulate the expression of α-Synuclein. This opens up new therapeutic avenues towards treatment of Parkinson’s disease as well as provides novel methodology to search for RNA-protein interaction modulators.
More than expected: the abundance of yellow-legged gullsLarus michahellisbreeding in the historic centre of Venice and the initial effects of the new waste collection policy on the population
Authors: Coccon Francesca , Vanni Lorenzo , Dabalà Caterina , Giunchi Dimitri
Published: January 2021

Yellow-legged gull,Larus michahellis, has undergone widespread colonization of the urban environment in recent past. Starting in 2000 this affected the historical centre of Venice, 24 roof-nesting pairs being recorded in 2005, with this number increasing significantly in the last decade. In 2016, the waste management company of Venice established a new door to door garbage collection system to prevent the accumulation of rubbish in the streets and limit the trophic resources available for the species. The study provides an up-to-date estimate of the urban population of yellow-legged gulls, using Distance Sampling method. We also studied the effect of the new system on the species by comparing the population estimate before and after the change and by analysing the trend of individuals collected in the old town by the service of wildlife recovery during 2010-2018. Results estimate 440 breeding pairs (95s% confidence interval: 326-593) in June 2018 and show a 34% decrease of breeding pairs in 2018 with respect to 2017, as well as a decrease in number of 1-year birds andpullicollected by wildlife recovery service starting from 2016, year of the policy implementation. Our data did not show a significant decrease in the overall number of individuals, suggesting the new policy has a stronger effect on the breeding success of the species than on adult survival. This study emphasizes the importance of preventing rubbish accumulation in the streets as factor for reducing the abundance of urban yellow-legged gulls.
Do school closures and school reopenings affect community transmission of COVID-19? A systematic review of observational studies
Authors: Walsh Sebastian , Chowdhury Avirup , Braithwaite Vickie , Russell Simon , Birch Jack , Ward Joseph , Waddington Claire , Brayne Carol , Bonell Chris , Viner Russell , Mytton Oliver
Published: January 2021

Background

School closures are associated with significant negative consequences and exacerbate inequalities. They were implemented worldwide to control SARS-CoV-2 in the first half of 2020, but their effectiveness, and the effects of lifting them, remain uncertain. This review summarises observational evidence of the effect of school closures and school reopenings on SARS-CoV-2 community transmission.

Methods

The study protocol was registered on Prospero (ID:CRD42020213699). On 07 January 2021 we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, the WHO Global COVID-19 Research Database, ERIC, the British Education Index, the Australian Education Index, and Google. We included observational studies with quantitative estimates of the effect of school closures/reopenings on SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. We excluded prospective modelling studies and intra-school transmission studies. We performed a narrative synthesis due to data heterogeneity. We used the ROBINS-I tool to assess risk of bias.

Findings

We identified 7,474 articles, of which 40 were included, with data from 150 countries. Of these 32 studies assessed school closures, and 11 examined reopenings. There was substantial heterogeneity between school closure studies, with half of the studies at lower risk of bias reporting reduced community transmission by up to 60%, and half reporting null findings. The majority (n=3 out of 4) of school reopening studies at lower risk of bias reported no associated increases in transmission.

Conclusions

School closure studies were at risk of confounding and collinearity from other non-pharmacological interventions implemented around the same time as school closures, and the effectiveness of closures remains uncertain. School reopenings, in areas of low transmission and with appropriate mitigation measures, were generally not accompanied by increasing community transmission. With such varied evidence on effectiveness, and the harmful effects, policymakers should take a measured approach before implementing school closures; and should look to reopen schools in times of low transmission, with appropriate mitigation measures.
Competition between bridged dinucleotides and activated mononucleotides determines the error frequency of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension
Authors: Duzdevich Daniel , Carr Christopher E. , Ding Dian , Zhang Stephanie J. , Walton Travis S. , Szostak Jack W.
Published: January 2021

Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates with activated nucleotides is a useful model for studying the emergence of heredity at the origin of life. Previous experiments with defined-sequence templates have pointed to the poor fidelity of primer extension as a major problem. Here we examine the origin of mismatches during primer extension on random templates in the simultaneous presence of all four 2-aminoimidazole-activated nucleotides. Using a deep sequencing approach that reports on millions of individual template-product pairs, we are able to examine correct and incorrect polymerization as a function of sequence context. We have previously shown that the predominant pathway for primer extension involves reaction with imidazolium-bridged dinucleotides, which form spontaneously by the reaction of two mononucleotides with each other. We now show that the sequences of correctly paired products reveal patterns that are expected from the bridged dinucleotide mechanism, whereas those associated with mismatches are consistent with direct reaction of the primer with activated mononucleotides. Increasing the ratio of bridged dinucleotides to activated mononucleotides, either by using purified components or by using isocyanide-based activation chemistry, reduces the error frequency. Our results point to testable strategies for the accurate nonenzymatic copying of arbitrary RNA sequences.
Modelling cellular spreading and emergence of motility in the presence of curved membrane proteins and active cytoskeleton forces
Authors: Sadhu Raj Kumar , Penič Samo , Iglič Aleš , Gov Nir S.
Published: January 2021

Eukaryotic cells adhere to extracellular matrix during the normal development of the organism, forming static adhesion as well as during cell motility. We study this process by considering a simplified coarse-grained model of a vesicle that has uniform adhesion energy with a flat substrate, mobile curved membrane proteins and active forces. We find that a high concentration of curved proteins alone increases the spreading of the vesicle, by the self-organization of the curved proteins at the high curvature vesicle-substrate contact line, thereby reducing the bending energy penalty at the vesicle rim. This is most significant in the regime of low bare vesicle-substrate adhesion. When these curved proteins induce protrusive forces, representing the actin cytoskeleton, we find efficient spreading, in the form of sheet-like lamellipodia. Finally, the same mechanism of spreading is found to include a minimal set of ingredients needed to give rise to motile phenotypes.
The Ricepropiconazole resistant 1-Dmutant, with activated expression of a DPb transcription factor gene, exhibits increased seed yields
Authors: Corvalán Claudia , An Gynheung , Choe Sunghwa
Published: January 2021

Mutants defective in brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis or signaling pathways often display semi-dwarfism, as do the highly productive gibberellin mutants that enabled the Green Revolution. However, reduced vegetative growth in BR mutants does not necessarily correspond to increased seed yields. To better understand the mode of action of BR, we isolated a ricepropiconazole resistant1-D(pzr1-D) mutant by screening an activation-tagging mutant population in the presence of the BR biosynthesis inhibitor propiconazole (Pcz). The expression of a putative transcription factor gene homologous to Arabidopsis Dimerization Partner (DPb) was activated inpzr1-D. pzr1-Dexhibited characteristic phenotypes such as reduced height, and increased seed yields and tiller numbers. Like ArabidopsisDPb, ricePZR1is expressed differentially in the tissues examined. Furthermore,pzr1-Ddisplayed altered cell division phenotypes, including the production of small calli. In addition, the cell number and size in mutant roots and leaves differed from those in wild-type plants of the same age. RNA sequencing revealed that the promoters of differentially expressed genes are enriched with cognate sequences for both BZR1 and EF-DPb transcription factors, suggesting that PZR1 functions in BR-mediated cell division in rice.PZR1expression may thus be manipulated to increase seed yield in economically important rice varieties.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Mutants defective in brassinosteroid biosynthesis or signaling pathways often display semi-dwarfism. However, in many cases these mutants do not necessarily produce increased seed yields. We show a ricepropiconazole resistant1-D(pzr1-D) mutant which exhibits reduced height phenotypes along with increase tiller number and seed yields.pzr1-Dshows activation of a putative homologous to Arabidopsis Dimerization Partner (DPb) with functions in cell division, pointing that PZR1 may function in BR-mediated cell division in rice.
Real-time respiration changes as a viability indicator for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing in a microfluidic chamber array
Authors: Jusková Petra , Schmitt Steven , Kling André , Rackus Darius G. , Held Martin , Egli Adrian , Dittrich Petra S.
Published: January 2021

Rapid identification of a pathogen and the measurement of its antibiotic susceptibility are key elements in the diagnostic process of bacterial infections. Microfluidic technologies offer great control over handling and manipulation of low sample volumes with the possibility to study microbial cultures on the single-cell level. Downscaling the dimensions of cultivation systems directly results in a lower number of bacteria required for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and thus in a reduction of the time to result. The developed platform presented in this work allows the reading of pathogen resistance profiles within 2-3 hours based on the changes of the dissolved oxygen levels during bacterial cultivation. The platform contains hundreds of individual growth chambers prefilled with a hydrogel containing oxygen-sensing nanoprobes and different concentrations of antibiotic compounds. The performance of the microfluidic platform is tested using quality controlEscherichia colistrains (ATCC 25922 and ATCC 35218) in response to different clinically relevant antibiotics. The achieved results are in agreement with values given in clinical reference guides and independent measurements using a clinical AST protocol. Finally, the platform is successfully used for AST of anE. coliclinical isolate obtained from a patient blood culture.
Polymerase chain reaction-based assays facilitate the breeding and study of mouse models of Klinefelter syndrome
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Xu Wenyan , Zhou Yulin , Chen Xiaolu , Jiang Jiayang , Zhou Xiaoman , Wang Zengge , Ke Rongqin , Guo Qiwei
Published: January 2021

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is one of the most frequent genetic abnormalities and the leading genetic cause of non-obstructive azoospermia. The breeding of mouse models of KS and their study are essential to advance our knowledge of the pathologic mechanism. Karyotyping and fluorescencein situhybridization are reliable methods for identifying chromosomal contents. However, technical issues associated with these methods can decrease the efficiency of breeding KS mouse models and limit studies that require rapid identification of target mice. To overcome these limitations, we developed three polymerase chain reaction-based assays to measure the specific genetic information, including the presence or absence ofSry, copy number ofAmelx, and Xist RNA transcript levels. Through a combined analysis of the assay results, we can infer the karyotype of target mice. We confirmed the utility of our assays with the successful generation of KS mouse models. Our assays are rapid, inexpensive, high capacity, easy to perform, and require small amounts of sample. Therefore, they facilitate the breeding and study of KS mouse models and help advance our knowledge of the pathologic mechanism underlying KS.
Intracortical recordings reveal Vision-to-Action cortical gradients driving human exogenous attention
Authors: Seidel Malkinson Tal , Bayle Dimitri J. , Kaufmann Brigitte C. , Liu Jianghao , Bourgeois Alexia , Lehongre Katia , Fernandez-Vidal Sara , Navarro Vincent , Lambrecq Virginie , Adam Claude , Margulies Daniel S. , Sitt Jacobo D. , Bartolomeo Paolo
Published: January 2021

Exogenous attention, the process that makes external salient stimuli pop-out of a visual scene, is essential for survival. How attention-capturing events modulate human brain processing remains unclear. Here we show how the psychological construct of exogenous attention gradually emerges over large-scale gradients in the human cortex, by analyzing activity from 1,403 intracortical contacts implanted in 28 individuals, while they performed an exogenous attention task. The timing, location and task-relevance of attentional events defined a spatiotemporal gradient of three neural clusters, which mapped onto cortical gradients and presented a hierarchy of timescales. Visual attributes modulated neural activity at one end of the gradient, while at the other end it reflected the upcoming response timing, with attentional effects occurring at the intersection of visual and response signals. These findings challenge multi-step models of attention, and suggest that frontoparietal networks, which process sequential stimuli as separate events sharing the same location, drive exogenous attention phenomena such as inhibition of return.
Has the implementation of time-based-targets for emergency department length-of-stay influenced the quality of care for patients? A systematic review of qualitative literature
Authors: Walker Katie , Honan Bridget , Haustead Daniel , Mountain David , Gangathimmaiah Vinay , Martini Ella , Forero Roberto , Mitchell Rob , Tesch Greg , Bissett Ian , Jones Peter , Nagree Yusuf , Middleton Paul , Liew Danny
Published: January 2021

abstract

Background

Time-based-targets for emergency department length-of-stay were introduced in England in 2000; followed by Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia after emergency department crowding was associated with poor quality of care and increased mortality.

Objectives

The aim of the systematic review was to evaluate qualitative literature to investigate how implementing time-based-targets for emergency department length-of-stay has influenced the quality of care of patients.

Methods

Systematic review of qualitative studies that described knowledge, attitudes to or experiences regarding a time-based-target for emergency department length-of-stay. Searches were conducted in Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, CInAHL, Emerald, ABI/Inform, and Informit. Individual studies were evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Individual study findings underwent thematic analysis. Confidence in findings was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach.

Results

The review included thirteen studies from four countries, incorporating 617 interviews. Themes identified were: quality of care, access block and overcrowding, patient experience, staff morale and workload, intrahospital and interdepartmental relationships, clinical education and training, gaming, and enablers and barriers to achieving targets. The confidence in findings is moderate or high for most themes. More patient and junior doctor perspectives are needed.

Conclusions

Emergency time-based-targets have impacted on the quality of emergency patient care. The impact can be both positive and negative and successful implementation depends on whole hospital resourcing and engagement with targets.

Funding

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine provided administrative support for the study, no funding was received.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42019107755 (prospective)
An increase in atypical petal numbers during a shift to autogamy in a coastal sand verbena and potential evolutionary mechanisms
Authors: LoPresti Eric F. , Mickley James G. , Darby Addison , Eckert Christopher G. , Foisy Michael , Girvin Cecilia , Jaeger Sierra , Toll Katherine , Van Natto Alyson , Weber Marjorie G.
Published: January 2021

Premise

In plants, meristic traits, such as petal and sepal numbers, are usually considered invariant within taxa, yet certain species consistently exhibit great variability in these traits. The factors contributing to “atypical” counts are not well-known, published hypotheses include relaxation of pollinator selection, inbreeding, and hybridization, among others. The sand verbenas,Abronia(Nyctaginaceae), usually have five perianth lobes (‘petals’), yet certain taxa exhibit marked departures from this norm.

Methods

Here we integrate an analysis of images from community science data (iNaturalist) and common garden experiments to evaluate a comprehensive set of adaptive and nonadaptive explanations for the production of these ‘atypical’ flowers across an evolutionary transition from xenogamy (outcrossing) to autogamy (selfing) in the coastal sand verbenaAbronia umbellata.

Key results

The shift to autogamy in this lineage correlated with a higher frequency of atypical flowers from ~7% to ~20% and a significant reduction in mean petal number per inflorescence. Autogamous success did not change with petal number, and neither hybridization or up to three generations of inbreeding consistently increased production of atypical flowers or decreased mean petal number, all in contrast to previously-published hypotheses. In contrast, intra-inflorescence, inter-plant (intra-population), inter-population, and inter-variety comparisons demonstrated a correlation of reduced floral size with reduced petal number, suggesting correlated evolution due to a well-established relation between organ number and meristem size.

Conclusions

The reduction in petal number was probably a consequence of selection for smaller flowers associated with increased selfing. While we could not completely eliminate several alternative hypotheses, including a long-term history of inbreeding or relaxed selection on petal number constancy, those are less likely to explain the observed changes, though they may have contributed to the trend. In general, we develop a framework of hypotheses for evolutionary investigations of meristic variation in floral organs.
Non-clinical safety profile and pharmacodynamics of two formulations of the anti-sepsis drug candidate Rejuveinix
Authors: Uckun Fatih M. , Orhan Cemal , Powell Joy , Sahin Emre , Ozercan Ibrahim H. , Volk Michael , Sahin Kazim
Published: January 2021

Here, we demonstrate that the two distinct formulations of our anti-sepsis drug candidate Rejuveinix (RJX) have a very favorable safety profile in Wistar Albino rats at dose levels comparable to the projected clinical dose levels. 14-day treatment with RJX-P or RJX-B similarly elevated the day 15 tissue levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as ascorbic acid in both the lungs and liver in a dose-dependent fashion. The activity of SOD and ascorbic acid levels were significantly higher in tissues of RJX-P or RJX-B treated rats than vehicle-treated control rats (p<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between tissues SOD activity or ascorbic acid levels of rats treated with RJX-P vs. rats treated with RJX-B (p>0.05). The observed elevations of the SOD and ascorbic acid levels were transient and were no longer detectable on day 28 following a 14-day recovery period. These results demonstrate that RJX-P and RJX-B are bioequivalent relative to their pharmacodynamic effects on tissue SOD and ascorbic acid levels.
Autoimmune anti-DNA antibodies predict disease severity in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Gomes Claudia , Zuniga Marisol , Crotty Kelly A. , Qian Kun , Lin Lawrence Hsu , Argyropoulos Kimon V. , Li Huilin , Cotzia Paolo , Rodriguez Ana
Published: January 2021

COVID-19 can lead to severe disease and death, however the mechanisms of pathogenesis in these patients remain poorly understood. High levels of autoimmune antibodies have been observed frequently in COVID-19 patients but their specific contribution to disease severity and clinical manifestations remain unknown.

We performed a retrospective study of 115 COVID-19 hospitalized patients with different degrees of severity to analyze the generation of autoimmune antibodies to common antigens: a lysate of erythrocytes, the lipid phosphatidylserine (PS) and DNA.

High levels of IgG autoantibodies against erythrocyte lysates were observed in a large percentage (up to 41%) of patients. Anti-DNA antibodies determined upon hospital admission correlated strongly with later development of severe disease, showing a positive predictive value of 89.5% and accounting for 22% of total severe cases. Statistical analysis identified strong correlations between anti-DNA antibodies and markers of cell injury, coagulation, neutrophil levels and erythrocyte size.

Anti-DNA autoantibodies may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and could be developed as a predictive biomarker for disease severity and specific clinical manifestations.
Efficient Prediction of Microplastic Counts from Mass Measurements
Authors: Tan Shuyao , Taylor Joshua , Passeport Elodie
Published: January 2021

Microplastics must be characterized and quantified to assess their impact. Current quantification procedures are time-consuming and prone to human error. This study evaluates the use of machine learning to estimate the number of microplastic particles based on aggregate particle weight measurements. Synthetic datasets are used to test the performance of linear regression, kernel ridge regression and decision trees. Kernel ridge regression achieves the strongest performance, and it is also tested with experimental datasets. The numerical results show that the algorithm is better at predicting the counts of larger and more homogeneous samples, and that contamination by organics does not significantly increase error. In mixed samples, prediction error is lower for heavier particles, with an error rate comparable to or better than that of manual counting. Overall, the proposed method is faster and easier than current approaches.
The RAG1 Ubiquitin Ligase Domain Enhances the Assembly and Selection of T Cell Receptor Genes to Restrain the Autoimmune Hazard of Generating T Cell Receptor Diversity
Authors: Burn Thomas N. , Miot Charline , Gordon Scott M. , Culberson Erica J. , Diamond Tamir , Kreiger Portia A. , Hayer Katharina E. , Bhattacharyya Anamika , Jones Jessica M. , Bassing Craig H. , Behrens Edward M.
Published: January 2021

RAG1/RAG2 (RAG) endonuclease-mediated assembly of diverse lymphocyte antigen receptor genes by V(D)J recombination is critical for the development and immune function of T and B cells. However, this process creates highly self-reactive cells that must be properly selected to suppress autoimmunity. The RAG1 protein contains a ubiquitin ligase domain that stabilizes RAG1 and stimulates RAG endonuclease activityin vitro. We report that mice with a mutation that inactivates the RAG1 ubiquitin ligasein vitroexhibit modestly reduced thymic cellularity, decreased assembly and altered repertoires of T cell receptor (TCR) β and α genes in thymocytes, and impaired thymocyte developmental transitions that require the assembly of TCRβ or α genes and signaling by their proteins. These RAG1 mutant mice also exhibit less efficient positive selection and superantigen-mediated negative selection of conventional αβ T cells, 2) impaired differentiation of iNKT lineage αβ T cells, and 3) CD4+αβ T cells with elevated autoimmune potential. Our findings demonstrate that the RAG1 ubiquitin ligase domain functionsin vivoto stimulate the assembly and selection of TCRβ and TCRα genes, thereby establishing replete diversity of αβ TCRs and αβ T cell lineages while restraining the inherent autoimmune hazard of generating diverse antigen specificities.
Northern Hybridization
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: January 2021

RNA samples that have been transferred and fixed to a membrane may be hybridized with a specific probe to locate the RNA species of interest. Any one of a large number of methods can be used to label and detect probes, at the discretion of the investigator. After treating the membrane with blocking agents that suppress nonspecific absorption of the probe, the membrane is incubated under conditions that favor hybridization of the labeled probe to the immobilized target RNA. The membrane is then washed extensively to remove adventitiously bound probe and finally manipulated to yield an image of the distribution of the tightly bound probe on the membrane. After analysis of the results, the probe may be stripped from the membrane, and the membrane can then be used again in another hybridization experiment.
Determinants of M&A acquisition premium: a social capital perspective
Authors: Nguyen Huy Will , Zhu Zhu , Jung Young Hoon , Kim Dong Shin
Published: January 2021

Purpose

What determines the level of acquisition premium? This paper aims to investigate the effect of acquirers’ social capital as reflected through their network position (structural holes and network density) on the level of acquisition premiums.

Design/methodology/approach

This study predicts acquisition premiums using a panel data set of 324 mergers and acquisition (M&A) transactions including 161 unique acquirers over a 21-year timeframe. M&A and alliance information are obtained from the securities data company platinum database; firm financial data are obtained from the COMPUSTAT database.

Findings

The results show that alliance network social capital provides acquiring firms with information benefits, thus, reducing the acquisition premium. However, such information benefits are also contingent on target valuation uncertainty and acquirers’ structure exploitation tendency.

Practical implications

Different types of network structures provide different social capital influences: managers should be aware of their advantages and pitfalls when engaging in M&As. The findings suggest that firms should pay close attention to social capital when making decisions regarding acquisition premiums.

Originality/value

Past research has indicated that acquiring firms tend to overestimate the value of target firms. Still, little attention has been paid to organizational-level social capital in analyzing the determinants of acquisition premiums. This study offers insight into the effect of network structure on M&A acquisition premiums.
Ambiguous practices and conflicting interests: why immigrants end up in uncertain employment
Authors: Lindheim Tone
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate why many immigrants end up in uncertain employment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a qualitative case study of three nursing homes in Oslo (Norway), which investigates immigrant employment and recruitment-related practices. Practice theory is used as the theoretical and methodological framework. The study takes an ethnographic approach and combines participant observation, semi-structured shadowing, qualitative interviews and document review.

Findings

The recruitment practice, as it is accomplished, is different from the practice that is prescribed in the formal recruitment policy. The configuration of the recruitment-related practices locks in the recruitment practice and reproduces the social order. The net effect of the recruitment-related practices is that immigrant employees remain in uncertain employment.

Research limitations/implications

A practice-theoretical approach, analyzing organizational practices as they are accomplished in space and time and not as isolated activities defined by their purpose, provides a richer understanding of the complexity and connectedness of organizational practices. Combining practice theory and institutional perspectives, the paper demonstrates how normative and regulative mediators order and align related practices. The study demonstrates the importance of examining the configuration of practices to understand how the net effect of related practices affects those who dwell in them, in this case immigrants pursuing secure and stable employment.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field of diversity management by using practice theory to explain why measures for enhancing immigrant employment may not have the intended effect because they are interwoven in a nexus of practices with conflicting interests that (un)intentionally undermine the measures.
Ecological conservation through COREMAP program governance perspectives in empowering coastal communities in Bahari village
Authors: Didi La
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to reviewing community empowerment in ecological conservation through the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP). This research is under a governance perspective, namely transparency, accountability and community participation in Bahari Village, South Buton District, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in three ways: they are interviews, observation and documentation. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methods.

Findings

The empowerment of coastal village communities through the COREMAP program is not fully managed properly referring to the principles of transparency, accountability and participatory. In addition, the role of stakeholders is not maximal, where the government and the companion are not able to provide solutions to the problem of community empowerment while the apathetic community in the implementation of empowerment program. So that empowerment does not fully have a positive impact on coastal communities. While the sustainability of the empowerment program is threatened with failure, which has an impact on COREMAP's environmental damage and coastal communities.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is that the study was conducted on coastal communities in ecological conservation through the COREMAP program in Bahari Village, South Buton Regency.
Evaluating a programming topic using GitHub data: what we can learn about machine learning
Authors: Dello Vicario Paolo , Tortolini Valentina
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define a methodology to analyze links between programming topics and libraries starting from GitHub data.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper developed an analysis over machine learning repositories on GitHub, finding communities of repositories and studying the anatomy of collaboration around a popular topic such as machine learning.

Findings

This analysis indicates the significant importance of programming languages and technologies such as Python and Jupyter Notebook. It also shows the rise of deep learning and of specific libraries such as Tensorflow from Google.

Originality/value

There exists no survey or analysis based on how developers influence each other for specific topics. Other researchers focused their analysis on the collaborative structure and social impact instead of topic impact. Using this methodology to analyze programming topics is important not just for machine learning but also for other topics.
A quantitative approach for evaluating intervention-value relations: historic mosques of Manisa, Turkey
Authors: Büyükkılıç Koşun Suna , Hamamcıoğlu Turan Mine
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a systematic way of evaluating the impact of historic and current interventions on cultural asset values of monuments that have preserved their authentic functions so that future interventions can be better guided.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on the Mosque typology. The case studies are chosen from a region that has a rich historic background, but has generally undergone rapid urbanization and faces extensive restorations today. Conventional site survey, archive and historical research and visual analysis are made, but the evaluation process has been designed. As a result, scale and intensity of interventions and disasters and the vulnerability of the monument should be identified for each period of the asset. Variations in the intensity of esthetic or historic qualities and the environmental settings should be credited, rather than the utilitarian necessities.

Findings

Mosques and their environs are most vulnerable in terms of their architectural authenticity and site aesthetics.

Originality/value

The objects studied in the previous studies present a variation, but the majority of the work is carried out with conventional evaluation methods with the emphasis on building scale. However, the mosques are affected by the interventions and disasters, not only as single architectural entities but also as the focal elements of their neighborhoods. So, the intervention-value relations should be understood both for building and site scales. An evaluation process is proposed for understanding the change of values with respect to interventions and disasters throughout history by combining qualitative and quantitative techniques.
Critical success factors in the supply chain management of essential medicines in the public health-care system in Malawi
Authors: Kaupa Feston , Naude Micheline Juliana
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to report on a study that investigated the critical success factors (CSFs) in the supply chain management of essential medicines in the public health-care delivery system in Malawi.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory and descriptive study followed a qualitative and quantitative research approach. Data were collected by means of semistructured interviews and a questionnaire administered to suppliers of essential medicines, regulators, donors and logistics companies in Malawi. Data was analyzed using SPSS.

Findings

The findings revealed that the significant CSFs are knowledge of disease patterns and prevalence, skills and experience of personnel, adequate financial resources, collaboration with supply chain partners and an efficient procurement and distribution system.

Research limitations/implications

There were a number of limitations in this study. Although every effort was made to carefully and purposefully select the participants for the in-depth interviews in the first phase of the study and the respondents for the questionnaire in the second phase of the study, they were not randomly selected. As such, the findings cannot be generalised to all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain in Malawi. However, they can be used as a basis for further research on the topic.

Originality/value

No previous studies that deal with the identification of CSFs in the Malawi pharmaceutical supply chain were found. Therefore, this research makes a twofold contribution to the body of knowledge in the field. First, it identifies CSFs; second, it could assist stakeholders in the public health-care service delivery system in Malawi with regard to how they can improve the supply of essential medicines.
The delicate balance of communicational interests: A Bakhtinian view of social media in health care
Authors: Ukoha Chukwuma , Stranieri Andrew
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to use the writings of Mikhail Bakhtin to reveal new insights into the role and impact of social media in health-care settings.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of Bakhtin’s constructs of dialogism, polyphony, heteroglossia and carnival, the power and influences of the social media phenomenon in health-care settings, are explored.

Findings

It is apparent from the in-depth analysis conducted that there is a delicate balance between the need to increase dialogue and the need to safeguard public health, in the use of social media for health-related communication. Bakhtin‘s constructs elucidate this delicate balance and highlight the need for health-care providers that use social media to find the right balance between these competing communicational priorities.

Originality/value

This paper advances a nascent theoretical approach to social media research. By applying Bakhtinian ideas to consumer health informatics, this paper has the potential to open a new approach to theorizing the role of social software in health-care settings. Stakeholders in digital health will find this paper useful, as it opens up dialogue to further discuss the role of social media in health care.
Determining and representing value in creative placemaking
Authors: Vaughan Josephine , Maund Kim , Gajendran Thayaparan , Lloyd Justine , Smith Cathy , Cohen Michael
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to address the research gap about value in the holistic discourse of creative placemaking. It identifies and synthesises the often discounted social and environmental values of creative placemaking along with typically emphasised economic values.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds upon two research phases; first, a review and extraction of creative placemaking value indicators from relevant current urban, cultural and planning literature; and second, the identification of relevant, practice-based, value indicators through interviews with 23 placemaking experts including practitioners, urban planners, developers and place managers from the two largest cities of NSW, Australia; Sydney and Newcastle.

Findings

This study identifies three broad thematics for valuing creative placemaking along with several sub-categories of qualitative and quantitative indicators. These indicators reveal the holistic value of creative placemaking for its key stakeholders, including expert placemakers, designers, building developers, government and community groups. A key conclusion of the research is the need for tools that grasp the interconnected, and at times conflicting, nature of placemaking’s social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Originality/value

While a variety of value indicators exist to understand the need for ongoing resourcing of creative placemaking, stakeholders identified the limitations of current approaches to determine, represent and appraise the value of creative placemaking. The indicators of value proposed in this research consolidate and extend current discourse about the value of creative placemaking specifically. The indicators themselves have profound practical implications for how creative placemaking is conceived, executed and evaluated. Theoretically, the study builds on the deep relationships between values and practice in creative placemaking, as well as critiquing narrow forms of evaluation that entrench economic benefits over other outcomes.
Introducing relational dialectics on actor engagement in the social media ecosystem
Authors: Tsiotsou Rodoula H.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of actor engagement (AE) on social media by proposing a holistic and integrative conceptual framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 118 articles, the paper draws on the service-dominant logic (SDL)-based service ecosystem perspective combined with the tenets of relational dialectics as theoretical lenses to inform AE research in social media.

Findings

The paper proposes a framework of AE in social media called the TASC model, an acronym of Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis-Conflict. TASC introduces the dialectical nature of AE and discusses the contexts and levels of AE in the social media ecosystem and their evolving processes.

Practical implications

Firms can apply the knowledge provided by TASC to gather marketing intelligence and develop marketing strategies to anticipate tensions, motivate the desired AE intensity and valence and reinforce value co-creation in the social media ecosystem.

Originality/value

TASC is a comprehensive framework that, for the first time, explains engagement at all levels of the social media ecosystem by combining the SDL-based service ecosystem view with the relational dialectics perspective.
Ethics disclosure as strategy: a longitudinal case study
Authors: Kumarasinghe Sriyalatha , Peiris Indujeeva Keerthilal , Everett André M.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study investigates how a globally-oriented, developing country enterprise formulates and implements ethics strategies, policies and behaviours with respect to its stakeholders, and how the case company discloses and utilises its ethics strategies, policies and behaviours to gain competitive advantage and create stakeholder value.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal single case study is presented featuring a tea producer and marketer in Sri Lanka, one of the country’s largest exporters, that is targeting a global consumer market. Applying Spiller’s (2000) framework for ethical business practices, this research analyses data collected in a series of interviews in combination with content analysis of company annual reports and sustainability reports covering 2010 to 2019 supplemented by on-site observation.

Findings

Analysis reveals that the company maintains ethical strategies, policies and behaviours with respect to its prominent stakeholders, and strategically discloses those practices. The firm’s proactive disclosures of its business and sustainability ethics practices enabled it to establish and sustain competitive advantage over its competitors. The findings are discussed in light of their theoretical and practical implications, identifying areas for future studies.

Originality/value

This is the first ethics study to include both longitudinal documentary analysis and personal interviews in a single case study based in Sri Lanka. It contributes to discussion regarding balancing ethics and sustainability as parts of business strategies for reputation building and value creation through identifying salient stakeholders and ethics-based non-financial disclosures by contemporary business organisations.
The concept of 3D ECT system with increased border area sensitivity for crystallization processes diagnosis
Authors: Wajman Radosław
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Crystallization is the process widely used for components separation and solids purification. The systems for crystallization process evaluation applied so far, involve numerous non-invasive tomographic measurement techniques which suffers from some reported problems. The purpose of this paper is to show the abilities of three-dimensional Electrical Capacitance Tomography (3D ECT) in the context of non-invasive and non-intrusive visualization of crystallization processes. Multiple aspects and problems of ECT imaging, as well as the computer model design to work with the high relative permittivity liquids, have been pointed out.

Design/methodology/approach

To design the most efficient (from a mechanical and electrical point of view) 3D ECT sensor structure, the high-precise impedance meter was applied. The three types of sensor were designed, built, and tested. To meet the new concept requirements, the dedicated ECT device has been constructed.

Findings

It has been shown that the ECT technique can be applied to the diagnosis of crystallization. The crystals distribution can be identified using this technique. The achieved measurement resolution allows detecting the localization of crystals. The usage of stabilized electrodes improves the sensitivity of the sensor and provides the images better suitable for further analysis.

Originality/value

The dedicated 3D ECT sensor construction has been proposed to increase its sensitivity in the border area, where the crystals grow. Regarding this feature, some new algorithms for the potential field distribution and the sensitivity matrix calculation have been developed. The adaptation of the iterative 3D image reconstruction process has also been described.
Toward dynamic capability views of entrepreneurial growth intention: perspective of floricultures industry in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sachitra Vilani , Padmini Chandra
Published: January 2021

Purpose

It is aware that entrepreneurial growth has gained some attention in the literature, yet the debate in respect of the determinants of entrepreneurial growth intention (EGI) is far from being complete. The purpose of this study is to identify the key dynamic capabilities that foster EGI in floriculture industry in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used quantitative approach. The owners of farms who possess commercial experience in floriculture cultivation in Sri Lanka were selected as a target population. A self-administrated structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Valid and reliable indicators were developed to conceptualize five key capabilities and EGI.

Findings

Based on the responses from 206 farm owners, results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that organizational learning, technological and alliance formation capabilities are significantly associated with EGI of floriculture farm owners.

Originality/value

The need for common conceptualization of dynamic capabilities and EGI represents a major gap in the literature. The study expands the current debates on entrepreneurial growth and institutional environment, which allows the mapping out of dynamic capability development.
Ending youth unemployment in sub‐saharan Africa: Does ICT development have any role?
Authors: Metu Amaka G. , Ajudua Emmanuel , Eboh Ifeoma , Ukeje Chimezie , Madichie Chekwube
Published: January 2021

This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) development towards ending youth unemployment in the 48 sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2018. Using a dynamic panel modelling technique, the study employed the instrumental variable (IV) regression, within the framework of the system generalized method of moment (GMM‐SYS) estimator. The results show that the low level of mobile phone subscriptions, broadband internet subscriptions, Wi‐Fi internet subscriptions and internet bandwidth exert a significant negative effect on youth unemployment. This means that ICT development reduces youth unemployment in SSA. Also, it was found that the number of households with access to computers has a negative but insignificant effect on youth unemployment; this shows the ineffective role of household computers in reducing youth unemployment in SSA. Based on these findings, we recommend among other things that, for government to optimize the expanding youth population, there is the need for further telecommunication reforms to reduce the cost of mobile phone technologies and improved ultra‐modern internet facilities in the region.