bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Major surgery induces acute changes in DNA methylation associated with activation of the immune response
Authors: Sadahiro Ryoichi , Knight Bridget , James Ffion , Hannon Eilis , Charity John , Daniels Ian R. , Burrage Joe , Knox Olivia , Crawford Bethany , Smart Neil J. , Mill Jonathan
Published: July 2019

Background

Surgery is an invasive procedure evoking acute inflammatory and immune responses that are believed to mediate risk for postoperative complications including cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Although the specific mechanisms driving these responses have not been well-characterized, they are hypothesized to involve the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. We quantified genome-wide levels of DNA methylation in purified peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) longitudinally collected from 55 elderly patients undergoing three types of major surgery (elective colorectal and hip replacement surgery, and emergency hip fracture surgery), comparing samples collected at baseline to those collected immediately post-operatively and at discharge from hospital.

Results

Major surgery was associated with acute changes in DNA methylation at sites annotated to immune system genes, paralleling changes in serum-levels of markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) measured in the same individuals. Although many of the observed changes in DNA methylation are consistent across the three types of surgery, there is notable heterogeneity between surgery types at certain loci. The acute changes in DNA methylation induced by surgery are relatively stable in the postoperative period, generally persisting until discharge from hospital.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the dramatic alterations in gene regulation induced by invasive surgery, primarily reflecting upregulation of the immune system in response to trauma, wound healing and anaesthesia.
An Information-based approach to handle various types of uncertainty in Fuzzy Bodies of Evidence
Authors: Sarabi-Jamab Atiye , Araabi Babak N.
Published: July 2019

Fuzzy evidence theory or fuzzy Dempster-Shafer Theory captures all three types of uncertainty usually contained in a piece of information within one framework: fuzziness, non-specificity, and conflict. Therefore, it is known as one of the most promising approaches for practical applications. Quantifying the difference between two fuzzy bodies of evidence has a central role when this framework is used in applications. This work is motivated by the fact that while dissimilarity measures have been surveyed in the fields of evidence theory and fuzzy set theory, no comprehensive survey is yet available for fuzzy evidence theory. Here, we modified a set of the most discriminative dissimilarity measures (smDDM)-as the minimum set of dissimilarity with the maximal power of discrimination in evidence theory- to handle all types of uncertainty in fuzzy evidence theory. Consequently, our generalized smDDM (FsmDDM) together with one previously introduced fuzzy measure make up a set of measures that is comprehensive enough to compare all aspects of information conveyed by the fuzzy bodies of evidence. Experimental results are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed method.
Discovery of CD80 and CD86 as recent activation markers on regulatory T cells by protein-RNA single-cell analysis
Authors: Trzupek Dominik , Dunstan Melanie , Cutler Antony J. , Lee Mercede , Godfrey Leila , Aschenbrenner Dominik , Uhlig Holm H. , Wicker Linda S. , Todd John A. , Ferreira Ricardo C.
Published: July 2019

The transcriptomic and proteomic characterisation of CD4+T cells at the single-cell level has been performed traditionally by two largely exclusive types of technologies: single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies and antibody-based cytometry. Here we demonstrate that the simultaneous targeted quantification of mRNA and protein expression in single-cells provides a high-resolution map of human primary CD4+T cells, and identified precise trajectories of Th1, Th17 and regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation in blood and tissue. Furthermore, the sensitivity provided by this massively-parallel multi-omics approach revealed novel insight into the mechanism of expression of CD80 and CD86 on the surface of activated CD4+Tregs and demonstrate their potential to identify recently activated T cells in circulation. This transcriptomic and proteomic hybrid technology provides a cost-effective solution to dissect the heterogeneity of immune cell populations, including more precise and detailed descriptions of the differentiation and activation of circulating and tissue-resident cells in response to therapies and in stratification of patients.
Forcing contacts between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum extends lifespan in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Garrido-Maraver Juan , Loh Samantha H. Y. , Martins L. Miguel
Published: July 2019

Eukaryotic cells are complex systems containing internal compartments with specialised functions. Among these compartments, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a major role in processing proteins for modification and delivery to other organelles, whereas mitochondria generate energy in the form of ATP. Mitochondria and the ER form physical interactions, defined as mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS) to exchange metabolites such as calcium ions (Ca2+) and lipids. Sites of contact between mitochondria and the ER can regulate biological processes such as ATP generation and mitochondrial division. The interactions between mitochondria and the ER are dynamic and respond to the metabolic state of cells. Changes in MERCS have been linked to metabolic pathologies such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and sleep disruption.

Here we explored the consequences of increasing contacts between mitochondria and the ER in flies using a synthetic linker. We showed that enhancing MERCS increases locomotion and extends lifespan. We also showed that, in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease linked to toxic amyloid beta (Aβ), linker expression can suppress motor impairment and extend lifespan. We conclude that strategies for increasing contacts between mitochondria and the ER may ameliorate symptoms of diseases associated with mitochondria dysfunction.
Regulation of lipid saturation without sensing membrane fluidity
Authors: Ballweg Stephanie , Sezgin Erdinc , Wunnicke Dorith , Hänelt Inga , Ernst Robert
Published: July 2019

Abstract/Summary

Cells maintain membrane fluidity by regulating lipid saturation, but the molecular mechanisms of this homeoviscous adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we have reconstituted the core machinery for sensing and regulating lipid saturation in baker’s yeast to directly characterize its response to defined membrane environments. Using spectroscopic techniques andin vitroubiquitylation, we uncover a unique sensitivity of the transcriptional regulator Mga2 to the abundance, position, and configuration of double bonds in lipid acyl chains and provide unprecedented insight into the molecular rules of membrane adaptivity. Our data challenge the prevailing hypothesis that membrane viscosity serves as the measured variable for regulating lipid saturation. Rather, we show that the signaling output of Mga2 correlates with the size of a single sensor residue in the transmembrane helix, which senses the lateral pressure and/or compressibility profile in a defined region of the membrane. Our findings suggest that membrane property sensors have evolved remarkable sensitivities to highly specific aspects of membrane structure and dynamics, thus paving the way toward the development of genetically encoded reporters for such membrane properties in the future.
MATE-Seq: Microfluidic Antigen-TCR Engagement Sequencing
Authors: Ng Alphonsus H.C. , Peng Songming , Xu Alexander M. , Noh Won Jun , Guo Katherine , Bethune Michael T. , Chour William , Choi Jongchan , Yang Sung , Baltimore David , Heath James R.
Published: July 2019

Adaptive immunity is based on peptide antigen recognition. Our ability to harness the immune system for therapeutic gain relies on the discovery of the T cell receptor (TCR) genes that selectively target antigens from infections, mutated proteins, and foreign agents. Here we present a method that selectively labels peptide antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells in human blood using magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with peptide-MHC tetramers, isolates these specific cells within an integrated microfluidic device, and directly amplifies the TCR genes for sequencing. Critically, the identity of the peptide recognized by the TCR is preserved, providing the link between peptide and gene. The platform requires inputs on the order of just 100,000 CD8+ T cells, can be multiplexed for simultaneous analysis of multiple peptides, and performs sorting and isolation on chip. We demonstrate 1000-fold sensitivity enhancement of antigen-specific T-cell receptor detection and simultaneous capture of two virus antigen-specific T-cell receptors from samples of human blood.
Gut-Liver physiomimetics reveal paradoxical modulation of IBD-related inflammation by short-chain fatty acids
Authors: Trapecar Martin , Communal Catherine , Velazquez Jason , Maass Christian Alexander , Huang Yu-Ja , Schneider Kirsten , Wright Charles W. , Eng George , Yilmaz Omer , Trumper David , Griffith Linda G.
Published: July 2019

Association between the microbiome, IBD and liver diseases are known, yet cause and effect remain elusive. By connecting human microphysiological systems of the gut, liver and circulating Treg/Th17 cells, we modeled progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) ex vivo. We show that microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) may either improve or worsen disease severity, depending on the activation state of CD4 T cells. Employing multiomics, we found SCFA increased production of ketone bodies, glycolysis and lipogenesis, while markedly reducing innate immune activation of the UC gut. However, during acute T cell-mediated inflammation, SCFA exacerbated CD4+T cell effector function, partially through metabolic reprograming, leading to gut barrier disruption and hepatic injury. These paradoxical findings underscore the emerging utility of human physiomimetic technology in combination with systems immunology to study causality and the fundamental entanglement of immunity, metabolism and tissue homeostasis.
A unified approach for characterizing static/dynamic connectivity frequency profiles using filter banks
Authors: Faghiri Ashkan , Iraji Armin , Damaraju Eswar , Turner Jessica , Calhoun Vince D.
Published: July 2019

Studying dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) has been the focus of many studies in recent years. The most commonly used estimator for dFC uses a sliding window in combination with a connectivity estimator such as Pearson correlation. Here, we propose a new approach to estimate connectivity while preserving its full frequency range and subsequently examine both static and dynamic connectivity in one unified approach. This approach which we call filter banked connectivity (FBC), implements frequency tiling directly in the connectivity domain contrary to other studies where frequency tiling is done in the activity domain. This leads to more accurate modeling, and a unified approach to capture connectivity ranging from static to highly dynamic, avoiding the need to pick a specific band as in a sliding window approach.

First, we demonstrated that our proposed approach, can estimate connectivity at frequencies that sliding window approach fails. Next we evaluated the ability of the approach to identify group differences by using the FBC approach to estimate dFNC in a resting fMRI data set including schizophrenia patients (SZ, n=151) and typical controls (TC, n=163). To summarize the results, we used k-means to cluster the FBC values into different clusters. Some states showed very weak low frequency strength and as such SWPC was not well suited to capture them. Additionally, we found that SZs tend to spend more time in states exhibiting higher frequencies and engaging the default mode network and its anticorrelations with other networks compared to TCs which spent more time in lower frequency states which primarily includes strong intercorrelations within the sensorimotor domains. In summary, the proposed approach offers a novel way to estimate connectivity while unifying static and dynamic connectivity analyses and can provide additional otherwise missed information about the frequency profile of connectivity patterns.
Long-term culturing of porcine nodose ganglia
Authors: Kuan Shin-Ping , Atanasova Kalina R. , Guevara Maria V. , Collins Emily N. , Reznikov Leah R.
Published: July 2019

Background

Neuronal cell cultures are widely used in the field of neuroscience. Cell dissociation allows for the isolation of a desired cell type, yet the complexity that distinguishes the nervous system is often lost as a result. Thus, culturing neural tissues in ex vivo format provides a physiological context that more closely resembles the in vivo environment. Nodose ganglia neurons have been extensively studied both in dissociated form and acutely in slice format. However, methods to culture long-term ex vivo have not been established.

New Method

We developed a simple method to culture nodose ganglia neurons from neonatal pigs long-term in ex vivo format using an in-house media formulation derived from commercially available components.

Results

Cultures were viable for approximately 12 months. mRNA expression for nestin, a marker of neural progenitor cells, was stable across time. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and tachykinin, markers of nodose neurons, showed either no statistically significant differences or decreased across time, respectively. mRNA expression for glia fibrillary acidic protein and myelin basic protein showed no statistically significant differences over time.

Comparison with Existing Method(s)

There are currently no methods that describe long-term culturing of porcine nodose ganglia. Further, the media formulation we developed is new and not previously reported.

Conclusions

The simple procedure we developed for culturing nodose ganglia will enable both short-term and long-term investigations aimed at understanding peripheral ganglia in vitro. It is also possible that the methods described herein can be applied to other animal models, adult samples, and other neural tissues.
Natural LXRβ agonist stigmasterol confers protection against excitotoxicity after hypoxia- reoxygenation (H/R) injury via regulation of mitophagy in primary hippocampal neurons
Authors: Haque Md. Nazmul , Hannan Md. Abdul , Dash Raju , Moon Il Soo
Published: July 2019

Ischemic brain injury represents insufficient oxygen supply to the brain and further damage occurs upon reoxygenation due to elevated intracellular levels excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and subsequent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which has long been related to neuronal cell death of hippocampus brain region. Previously, using cell biological assay and transcriptomics analysis we reported that naturally occurring phytosterol Stigmasterol (ST) promotes brain development and function through the enhancement of neuronal cytoarchitectural complexity and functional maturation in rat hippocampal neurons by induction of immediate early genes (IEGs). In the present study we investigated the STs role in neuroprotection and found that ST also dose-dependently increased the neuronal viability in hypoxia reoxygenation (H/R) induced injury at hippocampal culture. ST, at an optimal concentration of 20 μM, significantly reduced the transport of vesicular glutamate (VGULT1), synaptic vesicle pool size, expression of GluN2B, rate of ROS formation (DCFDA) but restore mitochondrial membrane potential (JC1) and DNA fragmentation (H2AX) against H/R induced injury. More interestingly, ST also significantly induces the expression of autophagy marker protein LC3BII and the adaptor protein P62 but not HSC70 which indicates STs capability of induction of chaperon independent autophagy at H/R treated cultures. Furthermore densitometric analysis reveals ST also significantly increases PINK1 (PTEN induced protein kinase 1) expression therefore, indicates its role in mitophagy. In addition, molecular dynamic simulations study indicates that ST bind to LXRβ and forms hydrogen bonds with ASN239, GLU281, ARG319, THR316, SER278, ASN239 and SER278 residues at high occupancy with GLU281(20.21%) and ARG319 (21.04%,) residues, which is necessary for sterol binding to the LXRβ. Taken together these findings suggest that neuroprotective effect of ST might be associated with anti-excitatory and anti-oxidative actions on CNS neurons and could be a promising drug candidate for the treatment or prevention of ischemic stroke related neurological disorders.
Larger, but not better, implicit motor adaptation ability inherent in medicated Parkinson’s disease patients: a smart-device-based study
Authors: Takiyama Ken , Sakurada Takeshi , Shinya Masahiro , Sato Takaaki , Ogihara Hirofumi , Komatsu Taiki
Published: July 2019

Generating appropriate motor commands is an essential brain function. To achieve proper motor control in diverse situations, predicting future states of the environment and body and modifying the prediction are indispensable. The internal model is a promising hypothesis about brain function for generating and modifying the prediction. Although several findings support the involvement of the cerebellum in the internal model, recent results support the influence of other related brain regions on the internal model. A representative example is the motor adaptation ability in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Although this ability provides some hints about how dopamine deficits affect the internal model, previous findings are inconsistent; some reported a deficit in the motor adaptation ability in PD patients, but others reported that the motor adaptation ability of PD patients is comparable to that of healthy controls. A possible factor causing this inconsistency is the difference in task settings, which yield different cognitive strategies in each study. Here, we demonstrate a larger, but not better, motor adaptation ability in PD patients than healthy controls while reducing the involvement of cognitive strategies and concentrating on implicit motor adaptation abilities. This study utilizes a smart-device-based experiment that enables motor adaptation experiments anytime and anywhere with less cognitive strategy involvement. The PD patients showed a significant response to insensible environmental changes, but the response was not necessarily suitable for adapting to the changes. Our findings support compensatory or paretic cerebellar functions in PD patients from the perspective of motor adaptation.
Shear forces drive precise patterning of hair cells in the mammalian inner ear
Authors: Cohen Roie , Amir-Zilberstein Liat , Hersch Micha , Woland Shiran , Taiber Shahar , Matsuzaki Fumio , Bergmann Sven , Avraham Karen B. , Sprinzak David
Published: July 2019

Precise cellular organizations are required for the function of many organs and tissues. It is often unclear, however, how such precise patterns emerge during development. The mammalian hearing organ, the organ of Corti, consists of a remarkably organized pattern of four rows of hair cells (HCs) interspersed by non-sensory supporting cells (SCs). This checkerboard-like pattern of HCs and SCs emerges from a disordered epithelium over several days, yet the transition to an ordered cellular pattern is not well understood. Using a combination of quantitative morphological analysis and time-lapse imaging of mouse cochlear explants, we show here that patterning of the organ of Corti involves dynamic reorganizations that include lateral shear motion, cell intercalations, and delaminations. A mathematical model, where tissue morphology is described in terms of the mechanical forces that act on cells and cellular junctions, suggests that global shear on HCs and local repulsion between HCs are sufficient to drive the tissue into the final checkerboard-like pattern. Our findings suggest that precise patterns can emerge during development from reorganization processes, driven by a combination of global and local forces in a process analogous to shear-induced crystallization.
FGF2 modulates simultaneously the mode, the rate of division and the growth fraction in cultures of Radial Glia
Authors: Ledesma-Terrón Mario , Peralta-Cañadas Nuria , Míguez David G.
Published: July 2019

Radial Glial progenitors in the mammalian developing neocortex have been shown to follow a deterministic differentiation program restricted to an asymmetric-only mode of division. This feature seems incompatible with their well known ability to expand in number when cultured in vitro, driven by Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 and other mitogenic signals. The changes in their differentiation dynamics that allow this transition from in vivo asymmetric-only division mode to an in vitro self-renewing culture have not been fully characterized. Here we combine experiments of Radial Glia cultures with theory and numerical models to show that Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 has a triple effect by simultaneously increasing the growth fraction, promoting symmetric divisions and shortening the length of the cell cycle. This combined effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 in the differentiation dynamics of Radial Glial progenitors partner to establish and sustain a pool of rapidly proliferating in vitro pool of Radial Glial progenitors.
Cryo-EM structure of the Hedgehog release protein Dispatched
Authors: Cannac Fabien , Qi Chao , Falschlunger Julia , Hausmann George , Basler Konrad , Korkhov Volodymyr M.
Published: July 2019

The Hedgehog signaling pathway controls embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. In Drosophila melanogaster, the pathway is primed by secretion of a dually lipid-modified morphogen, Hedgehog (Hh), a process dependent on a membrane-integral protein Dispatched. Although Dispatched is a critical component of the pathway, the structural basis of its activity has so far not been described. Here, we describe a cryo-EM structure of the Drosophila melanogaster Dispatched at 3.2 Å resolution. The ectodomains of Dispatched adopt an open conformation suggestive of a receptor-chaperone role. A 3D reconstruction of Dispatched bound to Hh confirms the ability of Dispatched to bind Hh but using a unique mode distinct from those previously observed in structures of Hh complexes. The structure may represent the state of the complex that precedes shedding of Hh from the surface of the morphogen-releasing cell.
Few glitters are original gold
Authors: Ansari Aisha Rehman , Kashif Muhammad
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of brand identification (BI), brand knowledge (BK) and brand psychological ownership (BPO) to predict brand citizenship behaviours (BCB) in a mediating role of brand pride.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data collected from 372 front line employees (FLEs), employed in different banks in Pakistan, the path analysis through structural equation modelling procedures is used to perform data analysis.

Findings

The results show that BI, BK and BPO strongly predict BCB in a mediating role of brand pride.

Practical implications

The results have pragmatic value to guide managers and marketing policymakers to develop a brand culture where the company as a brand is internally owned by its employees. The supervisors should offer FLEs with opportunities to speak up and must socialize with them so that communication touch points can be established and strengthened. Furthermore, delegation of authority and positive enforcement are important tools to trigger psychological ownership among FLEs.

Originality/value

Three antecedents (i.e. BI, BK and BPO) to advocate and channelize brand-oriented citizenship behaviours are unique to this study. Furthermore, the mediating role of brand pride is yet another unique contribution.
Early bird or versioning
Authors: Chen Mingchun , Liu Zhiying , Ma Chaoliang
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Crowdfunding, especially reward-based crowdfunding, has quickly evolved into a commonly used vehicle for innovating entrepreneurs to develop their products. Many crowdfunding platforms allow creators maximum flexibility in terms of the prices and rewards offered in a project to gain sufficient capital. However, creators need to understand how to design project rewards and how to select a pricing strategy, in addition to whether the creator should spend resources on designing multiple rewards of varying quality. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues by answering whether and why there are significant differences in the application of early-bird and versioning pricing strategies in crowdfunding.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a two-stage dynamic game model with incomplete information, proposes a corollary calculated by analyzing a perfect Bayesian equilibrium, and then tests Corollary 1 by empirical analysis.

Findings

Contrary to the findings of other studies, the results show that an early-bird pricing strategy is likely better than a versioning pricing strategy for earning greater revenue in a crowdfunding context, on average. This finding means that creators do not have to spend as much in designing rewards of various qualities; rather, they should only provide multiple price options for high-quality rewards. However, if the heterogeneity of target backers’ valuations and the quality difference between two types of products are adequately high, a versioning pricing strategy may be a good choice for creators.

Practical implications

This paper provides a reference for creators regarding the selection of pricing strategies and the design of reward quality when launching crowdfunding projects.

Originality/value

This paper explains an interesting and practical issue in the design of reward quality and the selection of a pricing strategy after fully considering the role of the crowdfunding all-or-nothing mechanism and special backer behavior.
CSR, social ties and firm performance
Authors: Jang Soojeen Sarah , Ko Hyesoo , Chung Yanghon , Woo Chungwon
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effect of social ties on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance in Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

Social ties were measured from firm disclosures of 318 Korean firms from 2012 to 2015. Propensity score matching and regression analysis were used to investigate the moderating effects of social ties on the relationship between CSR and firm performance.

Findings

The result shows that social ties have more negative moderating effects on the relationship between CSR and firm performance in Chaebol firms than in non-Chaebol firms.

Practical implications

Firms need to enhance the monitoring of social ties within board members to assure the proper oversight of CSR.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the CSR literature by providing empirical evidence of the negative aspects of social ties on the relationship between CSR and firm performance in Korea.
Transplantation of Anglo-American corporate governance and its impact on financial market growth: a comparative analysis of nineteen developing countries 1995-2014
Authors: Samanta Navajyoti
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Since the late 1990s, developing countries have been encouraged by international financial organisations to adopt a shareholder primacy corporate governance model. It was anticipated that in an increasingly globalised financial market, countries which introduced corporate governance practices that favour investors would gain a comparative advantage and attract more capital leading to financial market growth. This paper aims to empirically test this hypothesis.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research paper quantitatively investigates whether adopting shareholder primacy corporate governance norms has had any impact on the growth of the financial market, focusing on nineteen developing countries between 1995 and 2014. Time series indices are prepared for corporate governance regulations, financial market development along with three control indices. Then a lagged multilevel regression between these indices is used to investigate the strength of causality between the adoption of pro-shareholder corporate governance and the growth of the financial market.

Findings

The research paper finds that shifting towards a shareholder primacy model in corporate governance has a very small effect on growth of financial market in developing countries. Overall the financial, economic and technological controls have much more impact on the growth of financial markets.

Originality/value

This paper conclusively ends the discussion as to whether change in corporate governance has any impact on financial market growth of a country. The papers uses Bayesian econometric model. The paper thus signals the end of LLSV led question as to whether law can affect finance.
Lean construction for affordable housing: a case study in Latin America
Authors: Martinez Eder , Reid Carolina K. , Tommelein Iris D.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore opportunities and barriers to using lean construction to address issues related to the value, quality and scalability of affordable housing production in Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study of a housing developer in Ecuador that used lean construction in the design and construction stages of an affordable housing project. The study describes how the developer addressed operational challenges derived from implementing a customization strategy and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data to assess the outcomes of lean initiatives.

Findings

The developer reduced cost and delivery time without sacrificing consumer choice. However, the economic and policy conditions worked against the benefits of lean construction, demonstrating the importance of the regulatory context in facilitating or inhibiting lean initiatives and construction innovation.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses on conventional means for new housing construction. Self-help and upgrading are not covered.

Practical implications

The operational challenges described in this study, as well as the innovative ways to deal with them, are beneficial for practitioners seeking to improve the quality and efficiency of affordable housing construction.

Social implications

This paper advances knowledge about how to increase value and quality delivery in the built environment which may benefit low-income families.

Originality/value

This study bridges construction innovation and housing policy, discussing the potential of lean construction within the policy and regulatory environment in which affordable housing takes place.
When do customers engage in brand pages? Effects of social presence
Authors: Song Jahyun , Moon Hyoungeun , Kim Miyoung
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Drawing upon the social presence theory, this paper aims to propose three social presence variables in the brand page context (the brand page as a medium, the presence of other customers and interaction with the brand page manager) and to test their effects on customer engagement behavior (CEB) and customer-brand identification (CBI).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 340 responses were collected via an online research platform and analyzed using structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that both the social presence of the brand page and the interaction with the brand page manager are positively associated with CEB, whereas that of other customers negatively influences CEB, which in turn, positively affects CBI.

Research limitations/implications

This paper presents the underlying process of driving customers’ engagement activities and building psychological closeness between customers and brands by applying social presence theory and social identity theory to Facebook brand pages.

Practical implications

To enhance customers’ experiences on Facebook brand pages, practitioners should visualize brand page managers through diverse types of postings. Brand page managers need to balance the presence of others, as well as bring a sense of human-likeness on the pages using storytelling strategies.

Originality/value

This research sheds light on the human side of a non-human world. The results suggest that the sense of a human presence in virtual brand communities is essential to engage customers with online activities toward brands while also building a closer customer–brand relationship.
Effect of stakeholder’s conflicts on project constraints: a tale of the construction industry
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Thaheem Muhammad Jamaluddin , Gabriel Hamza Farooq , Malik Muhammad Sohail Anwar , Nasir Abdur Rehman
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to quantify the effect of stakeholder conflicts on project constraints in the construction industry using ordinal regression analysis. For this purpose, the most significant project constraints and factors that cause stakeholder conflicts found in the literature are measured.

Design/methodology/approach

Factors causing stakeholder conflicts and project constraints are extracted through a content analysis of the published literature. Further, a questionnaire survey is conducted involving 170 professionals to assess the effect of conflicts on project constraints. Finally, to obtain a more objective assessment, a statistical model is developed, and to highlight the most severe factors causing conflict and impacting project constraints, ordinal regression analysis is performed.

Findings

The results show that in the construction industry, all project constraints are affected by stakeholder conflicts. Factors that result in stakeholder conflicts indicated a positive relationship with cost, time and resources. This means that any increase or decrease in the effect of stakeholder conflicts will directly influence these three project constraints. Similarly, a negative relationship was observed between stakeholder conflicts and quality, workforce productivity, protection of environment and safety regulations in the construction industry, indicating that increase in the effect of stakeholder conflicts will decrease these four project constraints and vice versa. The results for cumulative ordinal regression model highlight that lack of communication, poor quality of completed works and change orders and rework have intense effects on project constraints collectively.

Originality/value

A small number of studies have been undertaken to examine the emergence of project constraints in the developing countries. And even more, its relationship with stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry is limited. This research highlights the most significant project constraints and factors that result in stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry. Therefore, this study adds to the existing body of knowledge by developing an ordinal regression model that will help decision-makers and top management control this enigma of stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry.
The emergence of deviant behaviors in the physical work environment
Authors: Zoghbi-Manrique-de-Lara Pablo , Sharifiatashgah Maryamsadat
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, the relationship between crowding perceptions (i.e. employees’ perceptions of insufficient personal space due to offices’ physical constraints) and deviant workplace behaviors (DWBs) directed at both the organization as a whole (DWB-O) and individuals (DWB-I); and second, privacy invasion from supervisors and peers as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 299 respondents working in open-plan offices at four medium-to-large sized IT-based companies. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the paper suggests that under crowding conditions employees can perceive the physical workspace as a space-related resource that is threatened leading them to engage in DWBs out of a conservation strategy.

Findings

Structural equation modeling results significantly supported main effects of employees’ crowding perceptions on the two types of DWBs, with privacy invasion from supervisors and peers as full mediator.

Research limitations/implications

The study could suffer from mono-method/source bias, and specificities of the studied IT-based companies and their work can raise concerns about the generalizability of the results.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that a proper physical office arrangement can be a useful tool for managers in combating employee DWB.

Originality/value

To date, the origin of workplace deviance has mainly been investigated in terms of the psychosocial work environment; however, the physical labor conditions (i.e. the layout of buildings, furniture, workspace, air conditioning, workplace density, etc.) have received little systematic attention.
Cost-reduction and quality improvement using DMAIC in the SMEs
Authors: K. Soundararajan , K. Janardhan Reddy
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to achieve cost reduction and quality improvement in SME by implementing define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) stages of Six Sigma.

Design/methodology/approach

The application of DMAIC stages of Six Sigma was carried out in an SME. The cause of the wear out of the guide wheel was discerned in the define stage. In the measure stage, details from the field gathered and sigma level was determined. Using the paired comparison test and FMEA, various causes of the wear out of wheel was analyzed. The alternate material as a solution obtained was compared with present material in the improvement stage. The alternate material was implemented and ensured with proper documents, process change sheet and adoption.

Findings

With the application of easy to use tools a cost reduction of INR10,98,096 per annum and the quality improved from 2.9 to 4.4 sigma.

Originality/value

Easy tools were attempted in DMAIC model vs multiple and complex tools usage in large-sized organizations, which was not that much wide spread in SMEs. The study was carried out by changing the raw material of the outer layer of the guide wheel, by applying DMAIC model. A better grade rubber was used for solving the higher wear of the outer layer of the guide wheel. Significant cost reduction and quality improvement can be obtained in SMES by DMAIC model which leads to better brand image.
Effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on sustainable supply chain performance
Authors: Tipu Syed Awais Ahmad , Fantazy Kamel
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by questionnaire survey from 259 supply chain executives in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that the relative openness of supply chain organizations in Pakistan is very low. Further, all the attributes of supply chain openness have positive but weak association with SSCP. This indicates that there is some awareness of sustainable supply chain but there remains a significant room for improvement with regard to the relationships among different attributes of supply chain openness and SSCP. Pakistani organizations do not fully embrace the concept of supply chain openness in order to achieve SSCP.

Originality/value

The current paper makes three important contributions to the existing literature. First, it empirically examines the attributes of supply chain openness. Second, it contributes to the broader sustainable supply chain management literature by exploring the effects of the attributes of supply chain openness on SSCP. Third, given the limited studies that address sustainable supply chain issues in the context of developing countries, this is one of the few studies that add value to the body of literature in the context of developing countries, such as Pakistan.
“Future-proof your Degree”
Authors: Winfield Fiona , Ndlovu Tabani
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of how a UK business school has explicitly linked sustainability to employability and embedded these into all levels of its undergraduate and postgraduate degree portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study features Nottingham Business School’s (NBS’s) journey of linking sustainability with employability to achieve the University’s strategic objectives and help deliver on the sustainable development goals (SDGs). After reviewing all courses, a cross-school approach was adopted in re-designing the curriculum, first at undergraduate and later postgraduate level. Partnerships, both internal and external were developed, involving the employability and enterprise teams, the University’s students and alumni, local employers, local authorities and businesses and charities. Feedback from graduates is included.

Findings

When NBS introduced new undergraduate modules in 2012, there was resistance with concerns over already crammed curricula and the perceived irrelevance of sustainability. This changed as students realised that an understanding of sustainability was benefiting them at interviews and adding value to their employers. While it cannot be proved that increased self-awareness and sustainability literacy have a direct effect on graduate prospects (as measured by the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey), NBS has seen the percentage of students in graduate level employment and/or study increase from 71 to 89.6 per cent over the past five years.

Originality/value

Linking sustainability to employability, and embedding these in the curriculum, should benefit any institution, its students, employers and society, and can be replicated anywhere in the world.
Human capital and innovation: mixing apples and oranges on the board of high-tech firms
Authors: Sarto Fabrizia , Saggese Sara , Viganò Riccardo , Mauro Marianna
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the implications of board human capital heterogeneity for company innovation by focusing on the educational and the functional background of directors. Moreover, it examines the moderating effect of the CEO expertise-overlap within the innovation domain on the relationship between board human capital heterogeneity and firm innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested through a set of ordinary least squares regressions on a unique dataset of 149 Italian high-tech companies observed between 2012 and 2015.

Findings

Findings show that the educational and the functional background heterogeneity of directors increase both the innovation input and output. However, results highlight that these relationships are negatively moderated by the CEO expertise-overlap within the innovation domain.

Practical implications

The paper emphasizes the importance of appointing directors with different and specific educational and functional backgrounds to foster the company innovation.

Originality/value

The paper fills a gap in the literature as it has devoted limited attention to the performance implications of board human capital heterogeneity in the high-tech industry where knowledge and skills are the primary sources of value. Moreover, the paper integrates the research on the CEO-board interface by shedding light on how the CEO expertise within the innovation domain affects the contribution of heterogeneous boards to company innovation.
Soccer and Twitter: virtual brand community engagement practices
Authors: Zanini Marco Tulio , Carbone de Moraes Fábio , Lima Vitor , Migueles Carmen , Lourenco Carlos , Reis Irigaray Hélio Arthur
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify how consumer engagement practices shape the dynamics of a soccer club virtual brand community.

Design/methodology/approach

A netnographic approach was employed. Using a Python script, more than 7,000 tweets about São Paulo FC soccer club on Twitter were collected and analyzed using the Virtual Brand Community Engagement Practices typology.

Findings

The dynamics of engagement relies on two types of practices: those that comprise the actions of tweeting, retweeting, replying to, mentioning and liking messages from and about the São Paulo FC soccer club profile and those derived from the proposition of Hollebeek et al. (2017). Given the dynamics of Twitter, some practices have performed differently than the original proposal, resulting in a slight adaptation of the framework.

Research limitations/implications

Given the length and the netnographic nature of this study, its findings should be considered exploratory. Future studies can build upon the ideas presented here by researching different contexts and focal objects of engagement.

Practical implications

This paper provides the refinement of social media strategies and content development to make them more efficient and to establish a relevant communication channel with audiences. This knowledge can contribute to a better understanding of goals and metrics.

Originality/value

This paper is based on the behavioral nature of engagement in virtual brand communities, which is an increasing topic of interest. To date, few studies have examined online engagement using a practice approach specifically in the sports marketing context.
Magnetothermoelastic interactions in non-simple medium with a spherical cavity due to time-harmonic varying heat
Authors: Othman Mohamed I.A. , Abouelregal Ahmed E.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic response for a thermoelastic infinite medium with a spherical cavity in the context of the theory of two-temperature thermoelasticity without energy dissipation.

Design/methodology/approach

The cavity is fixed and subjected to a subjected to harmonically varying temperature.

Findings

The exact expressions for displacement, temperature and thermal stresses are computed and represented graphically. These distributions are calculated for a copper material and results are analyzed.

Originality/value

Effects of non-simple heat conduction, frequency of thermal vibrations and magnetic field are depicted graphically on the field variables.