bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The secret of VDAC isoforms is in their gene regulation? Characterization of human VDAC genes expression profile, promoter activity, and transcriptional regulators
Authors: Zinghirino Federica , Pappalardo Xena Giada , Messina Angela , Guarino Francesca , De Pinto Vito
Published: August 2020

Background

VDACs (Voltage-Dependent Anion-selective Channels) are pore-forming proteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane, whose permeability is primarily due to their presence. In higher eukaryotes three isoforms raised during the evolution: they have the same exon-intron organization and the proteins show the same channel-forming activity. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the three human VDAC genes (VDAC1–3), their expression profiles, promoter activity, and potential transcriptional regulators.

Results

VDAC isoforms are broadly but also specifically expressed in various human tissues at different levels with a predominance of VDAC1 and VDAC2 over VDAC3. However, RNA-seq CAGE approach revealed a higher level of transcription activation of VDAC3 gene. We experimentally confirmed this information by reporter assay of VDACs promoter activity. Transcription Factor Binding Sites (TFBSs) distribution in the promoters was investigated. The main regulators common to the three VDAC genes were identified as E2FF, NRF1, KLFS, EBOX transcription factors family members. All of them are involved in cell cycle and growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism. More transcription factors specific for each isoform gene were identified, supporting the results in the literature, indicating a general role of VDAC1, as actor of apoptosis for VDAC2, and the involvement in sex determination and development of VDAC3.

Conclusions

For the first time, we propose a comparative analysis of human VDAC promoters to investigate their specific biological functions. Bioinformatics and experimental results confirm the essential role of VDAC protein family in mitochondrial functionality. Moreover, insights about a specialized function and different regulation mechanisms arise for the three isoforms genes.
A Neural Habituation Account of the Negative Compatibility Effect
Authors: Jacob Len P. L. , Potter Kevin W. , Huber David E.
Published: August 2020

The Negative Compatibility Effect (NCE) is slower reaction times (RTs) to report the direction of a target arrow that follows a matching prime arrow. The cause has been debated, with some studies indicating perception, while others indicate a response effect. We applied the neural habituation model of Huber and O’Reilly (2003) to the NCE, explaining the varied results as reflecting changes in the timing of events. We developed a novel variant of the NCE task, specifying the perceptual dynamics of orientation priming as measured with threshold accuracy. This revealed a transition from positive to negative priming as a function of prime duration, and a second experiment ruled out response priming. The perceptual dynamics of the neural habituation model were fit to these results and the parameter values were fixed in applying the model to the NCE literature. Application of the model to RTs necessitated a response representation that accumulates response information during the trial. Our results indicate that the NCE reflects rapid perceptual priming and slower response priming. Because the accumulation of response information is slow and does not suffer from habituation, the response factor of the prime is a positive effect (lingering response information). In contrast, because perceptual activation is fast and habituates, the perceptual factor can be positive or negative priming depending on the timing of the display sequence. These factors interact with the post-prime mask, which can prime the alternative direction when the mask is a related mask created by combining arrows pointing in both directions.
KinPred: A unified and sustainable approach for harnessing proteome-level human kinase-substrate predictions
Authors: Xue Bingjie , Jordan Benjamin , Rizvi Saqib , Naegle Kristen M.
Published: August 2020

Tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases are essential regulators of cell processes and are important targets for human therapies. Unfortunately, very little is known about specific kinase-substrate relationships, making it difficult to infer meaning from dysregulated phosphoproteomic datasets or for researchers to identify possible kinases that regulate specific or novel phosphorylation sites. The last two decades have seen an explosion in algorithms to extrapolate from what little is known into the larger unknown – predicting kinase relationships with site-specific substrates using a variety of approaches that include the sequence-specificity of kinase catalytic domains and various other factors, such as evolutionary relationships, coexpression, and protein-protein interaction networks. Unfortunately, a number of limitations prevent researchers from easily harnessing these resources, such as loss of resource accessibility, limited information in publishing that results in a poor mapping to a human reference, and not being updated to match the growth of the human phosphoproteome. Here, we propose a methodological framework for publishing predictions in a unified way, which entails ensuring predictions have been run on a current reference proteome, mapping the same substrates and kinases across resources to a common reference, filtering for the human phosphoproteome, and providing methods for updating the resource easily in the future. We applied this framework on three currently available resources, published in the last decade, which provide kinase-specific predictions in the human proteome. Using the unified datasets, we then explore the role of study bias, the emergent network properties of these predictive algorithms, and comparisons within and between predictive algorithms. The combination of the code for unification and analysis, as well as the unified predictions are available under the resource we named KinPred. We believe this resource will be useful for a wide range of applications and establishes best practices for long-term usability and sustainability for new and existing predictive algorithms.
Cell Ecosystem and Signaling Pathways of Primary and Metastatic Pediatric Posterior Fossa Ependymoma
Authors: Aubin Rachael , Troisi Emma C. , Alghalith Adam N. , Nasrallah MacLean P. , Santi Mariarita , Camara Pablo G.
Published: August 2020

Pediatric ependymoma is a devastating brain cancer marked by its relapsing pattern and lack of effective chemotherapies. This shortage of treatments is partially due to limited knowledge about ependymoma tumorigenic mechanisms. Although there is evidence that ependymoma originates in radial glia, the specific pathways underlying the progression and metastasis of these tumors are unknown. By means of single-cell transcriptomics, immunofluorescence, andin situhybridization, we show that the expression profile of tumor cells from pediatric ependymomas in the posterior fossa is consistent with an origin in LGR5+ stem cells. Tumor stem cells recapitulate the developmental lineages of radial glia in neurogenic niches, promote an inflammatory microenvironment in cooperation with microglia, and upon metastatic progression initiate a mesenchymal program driven by reactive gliosis and hypoxia-related genes. Our results uncover the cell ecosystem of pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma and identify WNT/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling as major drivers of tumorigenesis for this cancer.
Adaptive control of missile attitude based on BP–ADRC
Authors: Qiao Haiyan , Meng Hao , Ke Wei , Gao Quanxi , Wang Shaobo
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To improve the robustness of missile control system and reduce the error, a missile attitude adaptive control method based on active disturbance rejection control technology (ADRC) and BP neural network is innovatively proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

ADRC improves the performance of the missile control system by estimating and eliminating the total disturbance of the system. BP neural network adjusts the parameters of ADRC controller according to the state of the system to realize adaptive control. Based on the control system and missile dynamics model, the convergence analysis of the extended state observer and the stability analysis of the closed-loop system after embedding BP neural network are given.

Findings

The simulation results show that the adaptive control method can adjust the coefficient of error feedback rate according to the system input, output and error change rate, which accelerates the response speed of missile attitude angle and reduces the attitude angle error.

Practical implications

BP–ADRC further improves the robustness and environmental adaptability of the missile control system. The BP–ADRC control method proposed in this paper is proved feasible.

Originality/value

Different from the traditional ADRC, the BP–ADRC feedback signal proposed in this paper uses the output signal and its rate of the closed-loop system instead of the system state quantity estimated by extended state observer (ESO). This innovative method combined with BP neural network can make the system output meet the requirements when ESO has errors in the estimation of missile dynamics model.
Correlates and impact of crop insurance in India: evidence from a nationally representative survey
Authors: Cariappa A.G. Adeeth , Mahida Darshnaben P. , Lal Priyanka , Chandel B.S.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the correlates of crop insurance adoption and estimate the impact on debt and farm income.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used nationally representative data from National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which consisted of 35,200 farming households. Logit and propensity score matching (PSM) (nearest neighbor, caliper and kernel matching) techniques were used.

Findings

With only around 5% of households insuring their crops and 87% of them not receiving claims, crop insurance in India has failed. Logit model estimates of correlates of adoption indicated that households with larger family size, lower social group, less education, lower standard of living and poor were more likely to be left out of the ambit of crop insurance. Further, propensity score estimates suggested that households with access to crop insurance had significantly lesser outstanding debt with positive effect on input costs and crop income. The authors’ results were in contrast to the risk balancing theory.

Practical implications

Results of our work encourage us to rethink and restructure the crop insurance policy design in India. With credit and insurance markets interlinked by design and as the risk balancing in the farm business found absent, policies to strengthen both the markets are the need of the hour. To encourage more farmers to take up crop insurance, revenue-based indemnity calculation could be tried in India.

Originality/value

Impact estimates from three different algorithms of matching were compared and tested for robustness. Consistent average treatment effect on treated (ATT) was considered for interpretation and policy implications. Since the data are from a nationally representative survey, results are believed to be of extreme value to policy makers and insurance providers as it can be generalized.
Air Asia India 2017
Authors: Dixit M. R. , Jena Sanjay Kumar
Published: August 2020

The AirAsia India 2017 (AAI) case presents the situation faced by Tony Fernandes, the CEO of the AirAsia group of companies, in 2017, when he had to respond to the changes in aviation policy made by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA). As per the changes, an airline operating in India could start its international operations without having five years of domestic flying experience provided it deployed 20 of its aircraft or 20% of the total capacity, whichever was higher, for domestic operations. The objective of this case is to help discuss issues relating to sustaining late entry and exploring new growth opportunities in the context of regulatory changes.
Accuflow-Commercialization Deal
Authors: Basant Rakesh , Karthik D.
Published: August 2020

The case describes the situation faced by the chairperson of CIIE with respect to commercialization of an innovation of one of the incubatee companies. The incubatee had been working on a prototype of a flow monitor for IV fluids since his diploma days and won the competition organized by CIIE for the best innovation worthy of commercialization. The case describes the problem of nurses spending considerable time in monitoring the administration of IV drugs and the solution that the innovator had developed to reduce the monitoring burden. The case also chronicles the development of infusion systems, a rival method of reducing the burden that was expensive and not well adopted in India. The dilemma that the chairperson is facing is vis-à-vis a marketing and distribution deal that a pharmaceutical company involved in mentoring of the project had offered.
Indore City Bus Transport Service (A)
Authors: Raghuram G , Sundaram Satyam Shivam
Published: August 2020

Towards the end of 90s, mounting losses forced Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC), the sole provider of public transport in Madhya Pradesh, to suspend their urban services. As a consequence, organized public transport services ceased to exist in Indore, the largest metropolitan city of the state of Madhya Pradesh. This void was filled by Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) consisting of minibuses, tempos and auto rickshaws. As of January 2004, 300 private minibuses, 150 tempos, and 10,000 auto rickshaws were plying as IPT, but with poor service levels. Lack of public transport was a catalyst for rapid increase in personalized vehicles, and high level of pollution and accidents. Worried over the rapid growth of personalized vehicles, and high levels of pollution and accidents in Indore, policy makers and administrators had made several attempts of reviving the public transport system in the city. In 2005, the Collector and District Magistrate of Indore decided to make another attempt of reviving the public transport. The two cases, Indore City Bus Transport Service (A) and Indore City Bus Transport Service (B) discuss the complexity involved in the planning, rolling out, and running of public transport services in Indore on a sustainable basis. Case (A) details the prevalent socio-economic condition, travel characteristics, and positions taken by various stakeholders on provisioning of public transport service in Indore as of November 2005. The readers have to conceptualize the transport system for the city and take the position of the Collector and District Magistrate of Indore to prepare a note that would be submitted to the state cabinet for their approval. Case (B) discusses the challenges during the growth and operation of the services as of June 2008.
Karaikal Port Private Limited
Authors: Nambissan S. , Ramakrishnan S. , Yegneswaran S. , Raghuram G.
Published: August 2020

Karaikal Port Private Limited (KPPL) was a special purpose vehicle created by MARG Group on February 18, 2006 to develop Karaikal port. According to the concession agreement signed for a period of 30 years, KPPL was given rights to Karaikal port on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. It was to phase the building of the port based on short term, midterm and long term demand. By August 22, 2011, Phase I of construction had been completed, and Phase IIA was nearing completion. Though the project had not faced any major problems in its development, there were issues such as restrictions on the availability of land for any future expansion, limited scope of hinterland businesses, small scale environmental issues and others that needed to be addressed for the future development of the port.
Can multiple large shareholders promote corporate social responsibility?
Authors: Wang Xiao-xia , Pan Hai-ying , Xue Kun-kun
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between an ownership structure with multiple large shareholders and corporate social responsibility (CSR) with regard to Chinese-listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple regression analysis was used on 4,940 samples of 884 listed companies in China for the period 2009–2017, to empirically test the influence of an ownership structure on enterprises’ fulfillment of social responsibility. Moreover, the propensity score matching–difference in differences and Heckman two-stage approaches were used for the robustness of the regression results.

Findings

The results show that ownership structures with multiple large shareholders can promote social responsibility. The check-and-balance ability of non-controlling large shareholders, corporate information transparency and corporate system environment moderate the relationship between multiple large shareholders and CSR engagement.

Originality/value

This paper complements prior studies on the ownership structure of multiple large shareholders. The findings enrich the literature on corporate governance and CSR. The results also reveal information about the situational factors, helping identify the mechanism through which the ownership structure of multiple large shareholders affects CSR.
Critical success factors for integrating artificial intelligence and robotics
Authors: Mir Umar Bashir , Sharma Swapnil , Kar Arpan Kumar , Gupta Manmohan Prasad
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to enlighten stakeholders about critical success factors (CSFs) in developing intelligent autonomous systems (IASs) by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with robotics. It suggests a prioritization hierarchy model for building sustainable ecosystem for developing IASs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the existing literature and on the opinion of 15 experts. All the experts have minimum of eight years of experience in AI and related technologies. The CSF theory is used as a theoretical lens and total interpretative structure modelling (TISM) is used for the prioritization of CSFs.

Findings

Developing countries like India could leverage IASs and associated technologies for solving different societal problems. Policymakers need to develop basic policies regarding data collection, standardized hardware, skilled manpower, funding and start-up culture that can act as building blocks in undertaking sustainable ecosystem for developing IASs and implementing national AI strategy. Clear-cut regulations need to be in place for the proper functioning of the ecosystem. Any technology that can function properly in India has better chances of working at the global level considering the size of the population.

Research limitations/implications

This paper had all its experts from India only, and that makes the limitation of this paper, as there is a possibility that some of the factors identified may not hold same significance in other countries.

Practical implications

Stakeholders will understand the critical factors that are important in developing sustainable ecosystem for IASs and what should be the possible order of activities corresponding to each CSF.

Originality/value

The paper is the first of its kind that has used the CSF theory and TISM methodology for the identification and prioritization of CSFs in developing IASs. Further, eight significant factors, that is, emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs), governance, utility, manpower, capital, software, data and hardware, have come up as the most important factors in integrating AI with robotics in India.
Prioritizing complexity using fuzzy DANP: case study of international development projects
Authors: Kim Soo Yong , Nguyen Minh V. , Dao Tuyen T.N.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a comprehensive framework for prioritizing complexity criteria. The framework was validated by applying in infrastructure international development (ID) project as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review highlighted the limitations of existing complexity prioritization methods. Then, a combination of the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy analytic network process (ANP) was employed as a foundation to develop a three-stage complexity prioritization framework. Focus group discussion and questionnaire surveys were used to practically test the framework in the infrastructure ID projects.

Findings

The three-stage complexity prioritization framework was validated to be reliable and feasible. The findings showed ability of consultants, scope uncertainties, site compensation and clearance, communication between stakeholders, administrative procedure and project duration were the most significant complexity criteria of ID projects in the Vietnamese context.

Practical implications

The framework is a robust tool that enables the researchers to grasp the interaction of complexity criteria for complexity prioritization. Later studies can apply the proposed framework, with some minor revisions, to assess the interaction of criteria in other research topics in, and beyond, project complexity. Results of the case study suggest project stakeholders focusing on complex interactions among criteria to reduce project complexity.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a comprehensive complexity prioritization framework that grasps the interrelationship of complexity criteria. For stakeholders of ID projects, the findings provide insightful perspectives to understand complexity, which can help to enhance project performance.
Nestlé South Africa: leading multi-stakeholder partnership response in the COVID-19 context
Authors: Pillay Ravi , Scheepers Caren Brenda
Published: August 2020

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: identifying and prioritising of stakeholders’ needs during crises; gaining insight into applying contextual intelligence in leaders’ decision-making on philanthropic investments; and evaluating initiatives by differentiating between creating shared value and corporate social responsibility.

Case overview/synopsis

On 15 March 2020, Bruno Olierhoek, Chairman and MD, Nestlé East and Southern Africa considers his dilemma of where to focus his community support initiatives during COVID-19, which could reflect their company’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future in their response to the crisis? Also, creating shared value (CSV) was in their DNA as a company, and they wanted to do more than philanthropic gestures; therefore, they had to decide carefully about leveraging their strategic partnerships in the relief effort. The case highlights existing community involvement projects, pre-COVID-19, which illustrate multi-stakeholder collaboration. These existing trust relationships and partnerships are then leveraged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case highlights unintended consequences of Nestlé’s gesture of donating food products to the 5,000 frontline health-care workers for specific stakeholder groups, such as the positive emotional responses of Nestlé’s own employees. These events in the case relate to existing theoretical frameworks, such as corporate citizenship which elicits pro-organisational behaviour in stakeholder groups.

Complexity academic level

Postgraduate programmes MBA or MPhil.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS: 7 Management Science
Looking at you: celebrity direct eye gaze influences social media post effectiveness
Authors: Ilicic Jasmina , Brennan Stacey M.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and examine the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze on self-celebrity connection. A celebrity’s direct (vs averted) eye gaze can be used as a tactic in social media posts to increase self-celebrity connection and behavioral intentions. Examining the effectiveness of a celebrity’s eye gaze is important, as celebrities regularly use social media to manage their brand image and to build a relationship with consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 examines the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze (direct vs averted) on self-celebrity connection. Study 2 investigates the role of celebrity authenticity in explaining the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze on consumer–celebrity brand relationships. Study 3 examines the moderating role of a non-Duchenne smile (fake, social smile) in diluting the effect of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze on self-celebrity connection and the downstream consequences on behavioral intentions.

Findings

The findings from Study 1 indicate that a celebrity’s direct (averted) eye gaze strengthens (weakens) self-celebrity connection. Study 2 provides evidence of celebrity authenticity as the explanation for stronger consumer–celebrity connection when a celebrity is featured with a direct eye gaze. The results of Study 3 show that a fake smile in a celebrity’s social media posts can weaken relationships with and behavioral intentions toward celebrities with a direct eye gaze.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited, as it focuses only on eye gaze and smiles as non-verbal cues depicted in celebrity images on social media.

Practical implications

This paper has important implications for celebrities, celebrity brand managers (including digital/social media marketing managers and public relations professionals) and advertisers. Celebrities, celebrity brand managers and advertisers should develop social media posts that can strengthen consumer–celebrity relationships and positively influence behaviors toward the celebrity through: 1) ensuring that photographs are taken with the celebrity looking directly into the camera at the target (audience); and 2) avoiding posting images of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze with a non-Duchenne (fake) smile.

Originality/value

This paper introduces and provides evidence of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze–self-celebrity relationship effect. Tactics, such as eye gaze, can strengthen consumer–celebrity relationships, which is crucial in building brand equity and in increasing financial value for the celebrity.
Which journal ranking list? A case study in business and economics
Authors: Jaafar Rayana , Pereira Vijay , Saab Samer S. , El-Kassar Abdul-Nasser
Published: August 2020

Purpose

With over 3,000 academic journals in the fields of Business and Economics, most academics face a hard time selecting an adequate journal to submit their work to. In today's demanding academic environment and with the presence of different journal ranking lists (JRLs), the selection becomes more difficult when considering employment, promotion and funding. The purpose of this paper is to explore key differences among multiple JRLs pertinent to the latter common objectives. An extensive analysis is conducted to compare the content of journals in the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality list, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) in the fields of Business and Economics. Then, a case of a university with medium research output is considered where scholarly performance evaluation is based on the ABDC Journal Quality List.

Design/methodology/approach

After ranking journals in the fields of Business and Economics based on SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator, JCR's Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and JCR's Eigenfactor (EF), a methodology is proposed to categorize journals in the three JRLs into the same categorization adopted by ABDC. The latter establishes a way to compare the four JRLs under consideration and serves as a basis to compare and analyze the content of journals in the ABDC Journal Quality list, Scopus and WoS. As a proxy impact metric, a normalized citation count is associated with each article based on Google Scholar. The publications of the considered university are then evaluated from the perspective of the four JRLs in terms of citation-based impact and quality while considering the exposure to popular world university ranking tables.

Findings

For journals classified under fourth tier by ABDC, over 53 and 59% are not indexed by Scopus and WoS, respectively. In this case study, over 42% of the publications appear in journals that are not listed in JCR despite the fact that over 94% of them are listed by the SJR list. Generally, publications that appear in journals listed by JCR achieve, on a yearly average, significantly higher citation rates when compared to those that appear in journals listed in ABDC and SJR Lists.

Originality/value

A four-tier mapping is proposed for consistent comparison among JRLs. Normalized citation count associated with each article based on Google Scholar is employed for evaluation. The findings provide recommendations for scholars, administrators and global universities, including Euro-Med Universities, on which JRL can be more influential for both faculty development and positioning of the university.
The impact of infrastructure investment and development on economic growth on BRICS
Authors: Apurv Rohit , Uzma Shigufta Hena
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of infrastructure investment and development on economic growth in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. The effect is examined for each country separately and also collectively by combining each country.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least square regression method is applied to examine the effects of infrastructure investment and development on economic growth for each country. Panel data techniques such as panel least square method, panel least square fixed-effect model and panel least square random effect model are used to examine the collective impact by combining all countries in BRICS. The dynamic panel model is also incorporated for analysis in the study.

Findings

The results of the study are mixed. The association between infrastructure investment and development and economic growth for countries within BRICS is not robust. There is an insignificant relationship between infrastructure investment and development and economic growth in Brazil and South Africa. Energy and transportation infrastructure investment and development lead to economic growth in Russia. Telecommunication infrastructure investment and development and economic growth have a negative relationship in India, whereas there is a negative association between transport infrastructure investment and development and economic growth in China. Panel data results conclude that energy infrastructure investment and development lead to economic growth, whereas telecommunication infrastructure investment and development are significant and negatively linked with economic growth.

Originality/value

The study is novel as time series analysis and panel data analysis are used, taking the time span for 38 years (1980–2017) to investigate the influence of infrastructure investment and development on economic growth in BRICS Countries. Time-series regression analysis is used to test the impact for individual countries separately, whereas panel data regression analysis is used to examine the impact collectively for all countries in BRICS.
Experience design and the dimensions of transformative festival experiences
Authors: Neuhofer Barbara , Celuch Krzysztof , To Thuy Linh
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In the emerging transformation economy, there is a shift from staging memorable experiences for many to eliciting life-transformative events for one. This study aims to understand how transformative experiences can be guided and what prerequisites are needed to elicit human transformation when designing experiences. This study borrows positive psychology as a theoretical lens to explore festivals as a prime context for liminal transformative experiences in the hospitality context.

Design/methodology/approach

A constructivist qualitative research design was used through 31 in-depth interviews. To ensure experience recollection, memory formation and integration of the experience into long-term transformative effects, all interviewees had attended an electronic dance music festival in the past 12 months.

Findings

Guided by the positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishments (PERMA) model, the thematic analysis revealed a series of psychological and contextual dimensions around PERMA and liminality that need to occur for transformative experiences, personal growth and self-transcendence to happen.

Practical implications

This study provides a guideline for event organisers and experiences designers to intentionally design and occasion positive human experiences in temporal and spatial liminal hospitality consumption contexts. Psychological and contextual dimensions are identified as critical factors in facilitating human transformation.

Originality/value

This paper bridges the emerging transformation economy, experience design and positive psychology. Grounded in PERMA, the study offers a novel theoretical model that serves as a framework for both transformative experience research and practical experience design.
“It’s not worth the effort”! Examining service recovery in Airbnb and other homesharing platforms
Authors: Mody Makarand Amrish , Lu Lu , Hanks Lydia
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use equity theory to develop and test a model of the dynamics of service recovery in the homesharing context.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of those who have experienced a service failure with a homesharing company and have voiced complaints to the company directly, the study adopted alternative model comparison procedures to test three competing models of service recovery and examined the effects of five moderating variables.

Findings

The results indicated that the model based on equity theory provides a theoretically and empirically superior explanation of the dynamics of service recovery in the homesharing context than the alternative explanation based on the tenets of justice theory. The two key inputs into the service recovery interaction – consumer complaining and recovery effort and trust in brand – have significant direct effects on post-failure loyalty outcomes, and also significant indirect effects via the mediating mechanism of perceived justice. All five moderators have significant effects for at least one of the post-failure loyalty outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The findings emphasize the company’s role in service recovery in the homesharing context. Managers of homesharing platforms need to establish customer service infrastructure that minimizes the amount of time-related, procedural and cognitive effort that customers need to expend in the recovery process, and effect communication that enhances trust in the homesharing brand. Future research is needed on the dynamics of service recovery in alternative hotel-homesharing business models, and on the role of value co-creation in the homesharing context.

Originality/value

This study is the first to create a holistic theory-based model of the dynamics of service recovery in the homesharing context, using the novel construct of customer complaining and recovery effort. Also, and contrary to typical conceptualization, it demonstrates the role of trust in brand as an antecedent input into the recovery interaction that can generate loyalty outcomes.
How global is the affordable housing crisis?
Authors: Coupe Tom
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to determine to what extent the housing affordability crisis is a “global” crisis and to what extent there is a variation across countries and over time, in who is concerned about housing affordability.

Design/methodology/approach

The author analyses data from about 500,000 respondents from over 140 countries and uses both descriptive statistics as well as regression analysis (using a random effects within between model [Bell et al., 2019]).

Findings

The findings show that concerns about housing affordability are widespread both within and across countries but the extent of these concerns depends greatly on the country, the subgroup and the indicator analysed. Moreover, in many countries, more people worry about other aspects of life than about housing affordability.

Research limitations/implications

The global diversity in the housing affordability crisis suggests that one should be cautious when extrapolating research findings for a given country to other countries or when proposing housing policy transfer across countries.

Practical implications

The specific nature of the housing affordability crisis varies substantially across countries. Policymakers thus should be aware that there is no guarantee that a housing affordability policy that was effective in one country will also be effective in another country.

Originality/value

This paper is original in its use of the Gallup World poll, a unique survey, which is done world-wide and hence is ideally suited for the purpose of this paper, providing a much more detailed picture of the global housing crisis than so far available in the literature.
Adolescents’ representations of close relationships in the context of parental migration: an exploratory study from Ecuador
Authors: Jerves Elena Monserrath , De Haene Lucia , Rober Peter , Enzlin Paul
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between parental migration and adolescents’ styles of close relationships with parents, friends and romantic partners.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 197 adolescents from Cuenca (Ecuador) participated in the study, of which 35% reported a background of parental migration. The Behavioral Systems Questionnaire was used to assess participants’ relational styles.

Findings

The study reveals that, although parental migration is associated with the development of lower secure styles for parents and friends, it is not associated with the development of insecure styles. Moreover, parental migration does not appear to be associated with the development of romantic styles. Based on the differential impact of the migration of one or two parents, the migration of two parents appeared to have a stronger association with lower secure styles.

Originality/value

The results are discussed in light of the socio-cultural context in which parental migration occurs in Ecuador, which may offer clue variables in shaping the relational styles of adolescents. The study addresses an important consequence of migration focusing on a scarce studies group, adolescents who stay in their home country while their parents migrate. Moreover, its main findings challenge the preconceptions that parent-child separations necessarily involve a direct negative impact on relational functioning.
Employee psychological well-being and job performance: exploring mediating and moderating mechanisms
Authors: Kundi Yasir Mansoor , Aboramadan Mohammed , Elhamalawi Eissa M.I. , Shahid Subhan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Given the importance of employee psychological well-being to job performance, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of affective commitment between psychological well-being and job performance while considering the moderating role of job insecurity on psychological well-being and affective commitment relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered from employees working in cellular companies of Pakistan using paper-and-pencil surveys. A total of 280 responses were received. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling technique and Hayes’s Model 1.

Findings

Findings suggest that affective commitment mediates the association between psychological well-being (hedonic and eudaimonic) and employee job performance. In addition, perceived job insecurity buffers the association of psychological well-being (hedonic and eudaimonic) and affective commitment.

Practical implications

The study results suggest that fostering employee psychological well-being may be advantageous for the organization. However, if interventions aimed at ensuring job security are not made, it may result in adverse employee work-related attitudes and behaviors.

Originality/value

The study extends the current literature on employee well-being in two ways. First, by examining psychological well-being in terms of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being with employee work-related attitude and behavior. Second, by highlighting the prominent role played by perceived job insecurity in explaining some of these relationships.
Pervasive computing in the context of COVID-19 prediction with AI-based algorithms
Authors: S. Magesh , V.R. Niveditha , P.S. Rajakumar , S. Radha RamMohan , L. Natrayan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The current and on-going coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted many human lives all over the world and seems very difficult to confront this global crisis as the infection is transmitted by physical contact. As no vaccine or medical treatment made available till date, the only solution is to detect the COVID-19 cases, block the transmission, isolate the infected and protect the susceptible population. In this scenario, the pervasive computing becomes essential, as it is environment-centric and data acquisition via smart devices provides better way for analysing diseases with various parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

For data collection, Infrared Thermometer, Hikvision’s Thermographic Camera and Acoustic device are deployed. Data-imputation is carried out by principal component analysis. A mathematical model susceptible, infected and recovered (SIR) is implemented for classifying COVID-19 cases. The recurrent neural network (RNN) with long-term short memory is enacted to predict the COVID-19 disease.

Findings

Machine learning models are very efficient in predicting diseases. In the proposed research work, besides contribution of smart devices, Artificial Intelligence detector is deployed to reduce false alarms. A mathematical model SIR is integrated with machine learning techniques for better classification. Implementation of RNN with Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) model furnishes better prediction holding the previous history.

Originality/value

The proposed research collected COVID −19 data using three types of sensors for temperature sensing and detecting the respiratory rate. After pre-processing, 300 instances are taken for experimental results considering the demographic features: Sex, Patient Age, Temperature, Finding and Clinical Trials. Classification is performed using SIR mode and finally predicted 188 confirmed cases using RNN with LSTM model.
Implementation and effectiveness of the Stress Check Program, a national program to monitor and control workplace psychosocial factors in Japan: a systematic review. Translated secondary publication
Authors: Tsutsumi Akizumi , Sasaki Natsu , Komase Yu , Watanabe Kazuhiro , Inoue Akiomi , Imamura Kotaro , Kawakami Norito
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive review on the implementation and the effect of Japan's Stress Check Program, a national program to monitor and control workplace psychosocial factors that was initiated in December 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

We comprehensively reviewed articles published in Japanese and English, assessed the performance of the Stress Check Program and summarized future challenges. We also discussed the implications for practice.

Findings

The available literature presented a scientific basis for the efficiency and validity of predictions using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, which is the instrument recommended to screen workers with high stress in the program. No study has verified the effect of the program on workers' mental health by using group analysis of stress check results. There is room for improvement in tools that contribute to identifying workers with high stress and in measures for improving the work environment. The Stress Check Program contrasts with risk management of psychosocial factors at work, widely adopted in European countries as a strategy for improving workers' mental health by focussing on the psychosocial work environment.

Practical implications

Although the effectiveness of the Japanese program needs further evaluation, future developments of the program would provide insight for national policies on psychosocial risks/psychosocial stress at work.

Originality/value

This paper is the first systematic review on the implementation and effects of Japan's Stress Check Program.
The effect of cryogenic treatment on dry sliding wear mechanisms in hard coatings
Authors: Kurşuncu Bilal
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The effect of cryogenic heat treatment on the mechanical properties of different materials has been frequently investigated by researchers in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate wear behaviour of monolayer, multilayer and nanocomposite coatings after cryogenic heat treatment. It is a first in its field in terms of both the heat treatment used and the coatings examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The aCN/TiAlN, TiAlN and ncTiAlSiN hard coatings deposited on the AISI D2 steel substrate were subjected to cryogenic heat treatment at −145oC and −196oC for 24 h and then tempered at 200oC for 2 h. Then, the samples were subjected to wear tests of 5, 10 and 15 N three different load values. The wear mechanisms occurring on the wear surfaces were determined by scanning electron microscope supported by EDS.

Findings

Oxidation, fatigue and delamination wear mechanisms were realized on the surfaces of the samples subjected to dry sliding wear test. The wear resistance of S1 increased with cryogenic heat treatment. According to the wear test results of the untreated samples, it was found that the samples with lower hardness than the others had higher wear resistance. The wear resistance of S1 and S2 samples was increased by cryogenic heat treatment. The best wear resistance in all parameters was obtained by S1. Oxidation in the S1 was found to have a positive effect on wear resistance. According to EDS results after wear of S2, chromium-rich layer was found on the surface of the material. It is understood that cryogenic heat treatment causes carbide precipitation in the inner structure of the substrate material.

Originality/value

The effect of cryogenic heat treatment on the mechanical properties of different materials has been frequently investigated by researchers in recent years. In this study, wear behaviour of monolayer, multilayer and nanocomposite coatings after cryogenic heat treatment was investigated. It is a first in its field in terms of both the heat treatment used and the coatings examined.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2020-0111/