bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in choice-based thermal nociceptive tasks in adult rats
Authors: Bourgeois JR , Kopec AM
Published: November 2021

Interest in the role of sex as a biological variable continues to increase, including a mandate for the study of both sexes in NIH-funded research. Choice-based thermal nociceptive tests allow for the study of a more spontaneous response to thermal stimuli and avoidance behavior compared to traditional nociceptive assays, and their usage has been increasing in recent years. However, to date no comparison of naïve male and female responses to such tests has been published. As sex differences are known to exist in both human chronic pain conditions and rodent models of nociception, it is critical to understand the impact of sex on any nociceptive assay. Herein, we examined the effect of sex on two choice-based thermal nociceptive tests, the thermal gradient test and the temperature place preference test, in adult rats. We report that marked sex differences exist in responses to these tests. Namely, the activation of a 10° C-to-47° C thermal gradient results in an increase in time spent in the 10° C zone in females, compared to a reduction in males. In a temperature place preference test pairing a surface temperature of 22° C with either 5° C, 10° C, 47° C, or 50° C, males spent less than 50% of their time in every non-22° C zone, but in females this was only observed when testing 50° C. Together, these results suggest that male rats show more avoidance behavior to non-ambient temperatures when given free access to multiple zones, including at temperatures which are milder than those typically used to evoke a nociceptive response in traditional hot and cold plate tests.
Hippocampal-Prefrontal cortex network dynamics predict performance during retrieval in a context-guided object memory task
Authors: Morici JF , Weisstaub NV , Zold CL
Published: November 2021

Remembering life episodes is a complex process that requires the interaction between multiple brain areas. It is thought that contextual information provided by the hippocampus (HPC) can trigger the recall of a past event through the activation of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neuronal ensembles, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Indeed, little is known about how the vHPC and mPFC are coordinated during a contextual-guided recall of an object recognition memory. To address this, we performed electrophysiological recordings in behaving rats during the retrieval phase of the object-in-context memory task (OIC). Coherence, phase locking and theta amplitude correlation analysis showed an increase in vHPC-mPFC LFP synchronization in the theta range when animals explore contextually mismatched objects. Moreover, we identified ensembles of putative pyramidal cells in the mPFC that encode specific object-context associations. Interestingly, the increase of vHPC-mPFC synchronization during exploration of the contextually mismatched object and the preference of mPFC incongruent object neurons predicts the animals’ performance during the resolution of the OIC task. Altogether, these results identify changes in vHPC-mPFC synchronization and mPFC ensembles encoding specific object-context associations likely involved in the recall of past events.
Neuronal activity in the human amygdala and hippocampus enhances emotional memory encoding
Authors: Qasim Salman E. , Mohan Uma R. , Stein Joel M. , Jacobs Joshua
Published: November 2021

Emotional events comprise our strongest and most valuable memories, yet it is unknown how the brain prioritizes emotional information for storage. Here, we examined the neural basis of this prioritization using direct brain recording, deep brain stimulation, and psychometric assessment, with human subjects performing an episodic memory task in which they showed improved performance for emotional stimuli. During the task, high-frequency activity (HFA), a correlate of neuronal spiking activity, increased in both the hippocampus and amygdala when subjects successfully encoded emotionally arousing stimuli. Applying inhibitory electrical stimulation to these regions decreased HFA and specifically reversed the enhancement of memory for emotional stimuli, indicating that neuronal activity in the amygdalohippocampal circuit has a direct role in prioritizing emotional memories. Finally, we found abnormal patterns of amygdalohippocampal HFA in depressed individuals which correlated with a bias for negative memories in these subjects. Going forward, targeted modulation that upregulates neuronal excitation in the amygdalohippocampal circuit may have a causal and translational role in modulating emotional memory.
Archetypal Analysis for Population Genetics
Authors: Gimbernat-Mayol Julia , Montserrat Daniel Mas , Bustamante Carlos D. , Ioannidis Alexander G.
Published: November 2021

The estimation of genetic clusters using genomic data has application from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to demographic history to polygenic risk scores (PRS) and is expected to play an important role in the analyses of increasingly diverse, large-scale cohorts. However, existing methods are computationally-intensive, prohibitively so in the case of nationwide biobanks. Here we explore Archetypal Analysis as an efficient, unsupervised approach for identifying genetic clusters and for associating individuals with them. Such unsupervised approaches help avoid conflating socially constructed ethnic labels with genetic clusters by eliminating the need for exogenous training labels. We show that Archetypal Analysis yields similar cluster structure to existing unsupervised methods such as ADMIXTURE and provides interpretative advantages. More importantly, we show that since Archetypal Analysis can be used with lower-dimensional representations of genetic data, significant reductions in computational time and memory requirements are possible. When Archetypal Analysis is run in this fashion, it takes several orders of magnitude less compute time than the current standard, ADMIXTURE. Finally, we demonstrate uses ranging across datasets from humans to canids.

Author summary

This work introduces a method that combines the singular value decomposition (SVD) with Archetypal Analysis to perform fast and accurate genetic clustering by first reducing the dimensionality of the space of genomic sequences. Each sequence is described as a convex combination (admixture) of archetypes (cluster representatives) in the reduced dimensional space. We compare this interpretable approach to the widely used genetic clustering algorithm, ADMIXTURE, and show that, without significant degradation in performance, Archetypal Analysis outperforms, offering shorter run times and representational advantages. We include theoretical, qualitative, and quantitative comparisons between both methods.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the malaria burden in northern Ghana: Analysis of routine surveillance data
Authors: Heuschen Anna-Katharina , Abdul-Mumin Alhassan , Adokiya Martin Nyaaba , Lu Guangyu , Jahn Albrecht , Razum Oliver , Winkler Volker , Müller Olaf
Published: November 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and its collateral damage severely impact health systems globally and risk to worsen the malaria situation in endemic countries. Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. This study aims to analyze routine surveillance data to assess possible effects on the malaria burden in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Methods

Monthly routine data from the District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) of the Northern Region of Ghana were analyzed. Overall outpatient department visits and malaria incidence rates from the years 2015 to 2019 were compared to the corresponding data of the year 2020.

Results

Compared to the corresponding periods of the years 2015 to 2019, overall visits and malaria incidence in pediatric and adult outpatient departments in northern Ghana decreased in March and April 2020, when major movement and social restrictions were implemented in response to the pandemic. Incidence slightly rebounded afterwards in 2020 but stayed below the average of the previous years. Data from inpatient departments showed a similar but more pronounced trend when compared to outpatient departments. In pregnant women, however, malaria incidence in outpatient departments increased after the first COVID-19 wave.

Discussion

The findings from this study show that the COVID-19 pandemic affects the malaria burden in health facilities of Ghana, with declines in in- and outpatient rates. Pregnant women may experience reduced access to intermittent preventive malaria treatment and insecticide treated nets, resulting in subsequent higher malaria morbidity. Further data from other African countries, particularly on community-based studies, are needed to fully determine the impact of the pandemic on the malaria situation.
A cross-sectional study exploring the justification of opportunistic breast cancer screening in Thailand
Authors: Lerttiendamrong Bhoowit , Satapongpeera Lertpong , Vongsaisuwon Mawin
Published: November 2021

Objective

Breast cancer is currently the most common malignant disease in Thailand. The present study aims to evaluate the most beneficial method of breast cancer screening in different breast densities by analyzing the benefits of screening mammography with additional breast ultrasonography classified by breast density.

Method

49 middle-aged and elderly Bangkokian women who had undergone both mammography and ultrasonography were picked at random for analysis. BI-RADS scores were assigned based on mammography results alone and based on combined mammography and ultrasonography results. Concordance/discordance rates between the 2 radiographic techniques were compared in women stratified based on their breast densities.

Results

All of our participants were given a score between BIRADS 1 and 3, while over 40% of participants are in the BIRADS 2 category. 60% of subjects with extremely dense breasts benefit from screening mammography with additional breast ultrasonography, while only 50% of samples with heterogeneous density and 34.21% samples with heterogeneous fibroglandular breasts benefit from the extra intervention.

Conclusion

Our study concludes that women with higher breast density are more likely to benefit from screening using ultrasonography in addition to mammography as opposed to mammography screening alone. We recommend both mammography and ultrasonography for initial breast cancer screening. For follow-up visits, we suggest the screening method in accordance with breast density, using ultrasonography alone for women with high breast densities and mammography for women with heterogeneously dense breasts.
Deficits in planned hospital care for vulnerable adolescents in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of linked administrative data
Authors: Grath-Lone Louise Mc , Etoori David , Gilbert Ruth , Harron Katie , Woodman Jenny , Blackburn Ruth
Published: November 2021

Planned hospital care (outpatient attendances and planned hospital admissions) was disrupted during the pandemic, but we lack evidence on which groups of young people were most impacted. We aimed to describe differences in planned care for vulnerable adolescents receiving children’s social care (CSC) services or special educational needs (SEN) support during the pandemic, relative to their peers. Using the ECHILD Database (linked de-identified administrative health, education and social care records for all children in England), we examined changes in planned hospital care from 23 March to 31 December 2020 for secondary school pupils in Years 7 to 11 (N=3,030,235). There were large deficits in planned care for adolescents overall, which disproportionately affected the 21% receiving SEN support or CSC services who bore 25% of the outpatient attendance deficit and 37% of the planned admissions deficit. These findings indicate a need for targeted ‘catch-up’ funding and resources, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Mapping SOX9 transcriptional dynamics during multi-lineage differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Govindaraj Kannan , Khurana Sakshi , Karperien Marcel , Post Janine N.
Published: November 2021

The master transcription factor SOX9 is a key player during chondrocyte differentiation, cartilage development, homeostasis and disease. Modulation of SOX9 and its target gene expression is essential during chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). However, lack of sufficient knowledge about the signaling interplay during differentiation remains one of the main reasons preventing successful application of hMSCs in regenerative medicine. We previously showed that Transcription Factor – Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (TF-FRAP) can be used to study SOX9 dynamics at the single cell level. We showed that changes in SOX9 dynamics are linked to its transcriptional activity. Here, we investigated SOX9 dynamics during differentiation of hMSCs into the chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. We show that there are clusters of cells in hMSCs with distinct SOX9 dynamics, indicating that there are a number of subpopulations present in the heterogeneous hMSCs. SOX9 dynamics data at the single cell resolution revealed novel insights about its activity in these subpopulations (cell types). In addition, the response of SOX9 to differentiation stimuli varied in these subpopulations. Moreover, we identified donor specific differences in the number of cells per cluster in undifferentiated hMSCs, and this correlated to their differentiation potential.
A previously unknown cyclic alkanolamine and molecular ranking using the pair distribution function
Authors: Gallo Gianpiero , Terban Maxwell W. , Moudrakovski Igor , Huber Tatjana , Etter Martin , Ernst Martin , Hinrichsen Bernd , Dinnebier Robert E.
Published: November 2021

A new six-membered cyclic alkanolamine with chemical formula C6H15N3O3 was synthesized by the reaction of glycolaldehyde with gaseous ammonia. The molecular structure, characterized by a hexagonal ring of alternating carbon and nitrogen atoms with three hydroxymethyl groups attached to the carbon atoms, could not be unambiguously determined by elemental analysis and 1H/13C/15N NMR. The molecular structure and conformation were further determined using a combination of vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman) and real-space pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The crystal structure was determined ab initio from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) with orthorhombic space group Ama2 (No. 40) and unit-cell parameters a = 12.1054 (2) Å, b = 13.5537 (2) Å and c = 5.20741 (8) Å. Consistent structure models could be obtained by symmetry-independent PDF and PDF-Rietveld co-refinements. Independent local structure refinements indicate that the most likely deviations from the average structure consist of small tilting and translational distortions of hydrogen-bonded molecular stacks. Thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and temperature-dependent XRPD measurements were also performed to determine the thermal behavior.
Kilobytes of kilopascals: high-pressure depositions of the Cambridge Structural Database
Authors: Kaźmierczak Michal , Patyk-Kaźmierczak Ewa
Published: November 2021

The Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is the largest repository of crystal structures of organic and metal–organic compounds, containing over 1.1 million entries. Over 3300 of the deposits are structures determined under high pressure, with the number being strongly affected by the experimental requirements of the high-pressure techniques. Nevertheless, it still presents a population sufficiently representative for statistical data mining. In this work, an in-depth analysis of this population is presented, showing where contributors of high-pressure depositions come from, which journals high-pressure structures are published in, and also providing information on some trends in high-pressure crystallography and how they have changed over the years elucidated from data collected in the CSD. The ultimate goal of this article is to bring the high-pressure crystallography content in the CSD to a wider audience of scientists.
Predicting the performance of automated crystallographic model-building pipelines
Authors: Alharbi Emad , Bond Paul , Calinescu Radu , Cowtan Kevin
Published: November 2021

Proteins are macromolecules that perform essential biological functions which depend on their three-dimensional structure. Determining this structure involves complex laboratory and computational work. For the computational work, multiple software pipelines have been developed to build models of the protein structure from crystallographic data. Each of these pipelines performs differently depending on the characteristics of the electron-density map received as input. Identifying the best pipeline to use for a protein structure is difficult, as the pipeline performance differs significantly from one protein structure to another. As such, researchers often select pipelines that do not produce the best possible protein models from the available data. Here, a software tool is introduced which predicts key quality measures of the protein structures that a range of pipelines would generate if supplied with a given crystallographic data set. These measures are crystallographic quality-of-fit indicators based on included and withheld observations, and structure completeness. Extensive experiments carried out using over 2500 data sets show that the tool yields accurate predictions for both experimental phasing data sets (at resolutions between 1.2 and 4.0 Å) and molecular-replacement data sets (at resolutions between 1.0 and 3.5 Å). The tool can therefore provide a recommendation to the user concerning the pipelines that should be run in order to proceed most efficiently to a depositable model.
New system for archiving integrative structures
Authors: Vallat Brinda , Webb Benjamin , Fayazi Maryam , Voinea Serban , Tangmunarunkit Hongsuda , Ganesan Sai J. , Lawson Catherine L. , Westbrook John D. , Kesselman Carl , Sali Andrej , Berman Helen M.
Published: November 2021

Structures of many complex biological assemblies are increasingly determined using integrative approaches, in which data from multiple experimental methods are combined. A standalone system, called PDB-Dev, has been developed for archiving integrative structures and making them publicly available. Here, the data standards and software tools that support PDB-Dev are described along with the new and updated components of the PDB-Dev data-collection, processing and archiving infrastructure. Following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles, PDB-Dev ensures that the results of integrative structure determinations are freely accessible to everyone.
Towards the automatic crystal structure solution of nucleic acids: automated model building using the new CAB program
Authors: Cascarano Giovanni Luca , Giacovazzo Carmelo
Published: November 2021

CAB, a recently described automated model-building (AMB) program, has been modified to work effectively with nucleic acids. To this end, several new algorithms have been introduced and the libraries have been updated. To reduce the input average phase error, ligand heavy atoms are now located before starting the CAB interpretation of the electron-density maps. Furthermore, alternative approaches are used depending on whether the ligands belong to the target or to the model chain used in the molecular-replacement step. Robust criteria are then applied to decide whether the AMB model is acceptable or whether it must be modified to fit prior information on the target structure. In the latter case, the model chains are rearranged to fit prior information on the target chains. Here, the performance of the new AMB program CAB applied to various nucleic acid structures is discussed. Other well documented programs such as Nautilus, ARP/wARP and phenix.autobuild were also applied and the experimental results are described.
Understanding the mental health experiences of adult men with intellectual disabilities in Singapore
Authors: Ee Jonathan , Lim Jan Mei , Stenfert Kroese Biza , Rose John
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities in Singapore receiving inpatient mental health treatment. To date, there has not been any research that examines the views and experiences of this population in Singapore. The research examines how the participants view their mental health problems and their experiences of the services they received.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative design was chosen to address the research question. Six adult men with intellectual disabilities were recruited from the tertiary hospital and interviewed. The transcripts of these interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Four super-ordinate themes were identified; awareness of mental health problems; yearn for a life outside the ward; interacting with other people and finding purpose.

Originality/value

The participants reported that they struggled with being segregated from their families and communities following an inpatient admission. They were able to report on the emotional difficulties that they experienced and hoped to find employment after their discharge from the hospital. They talked about reconstructing their self-identity and forming friendships to cope with their hospital stay. This research is one of its kind carried out in a non-western society and the findings are discussed in the light of how mental health professionals can best support people with intellectual disabilities during their inpatient treatment.
Semi-analytical finite element method for simulating chemical dissolution-front instability problems in fluid-saturated porous media
Authors: Zhao Chongbin , Hobbs B.E. , Ord Alison
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to develop a semi-analytical finite element method for solving chemical dissolution-front instability problems in fluid-saturated porous media.

Design/methodology/approach

The porosity, horizontal and vertical components of the pore-fluid velocity and solute concentration are selected as four fundamental unknown variables for describing chemical dissolution-front instability problems in fluid-saturated porous media. To avoid the use of numerical integration, analytical solutions for the property matrices of a rectangular element are precisely derived in a purely mathematical manner. This means that the proposed finite element method is a kind of semi-analytical method. The column pivot element solver is used to solve the resulting finite element equations of the chemical dissolution-front instability problem.

Findings

The direct use of horizontal and vertical components of the pore-fluid velocity as fundamental unknown variables can improve the accuracy of the related numerical solution. The column pivot element solver is useful for solving the finite element equations of a chemical dissolution-front instability problem. The proposed semi-analytical finite element method can produce highly accurate numerical solutions for simulating chemical dissolution-front instability problems in fluid-saturated porous media.

Originality/value

Analytical solutions for the property matrices of a rectangular element are precisely derived for solving chemical dissolution-front instability problems in fluid-saturated porous media. The proposed semi-analytical finite element method provides a useful way for understanding the underlying dynamic mechanisms of the washing land method involved in the contaminated land remediation.
Bean There: coffee as a vehicle for change
Authors: Thomson Richard , Hofmeyr Katherine , Bowen Amanda
Published: November 2021

Case overview

At midnight on Thursday, 26 March 2020, the South African government ordered a three-week lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently extended this lockdown for a further two weeks until the end of April 2020. Among other measures, businesses not classed as “essential” had to cease operation. This meant that Jonathan Robinson, founder of the Bean There Coffee Company had to close his trendy Cape Town and Milpark coffee shops, as well as the company’s hospitality and corporate business. At the same time, Bean There’s costs increased by 25%, as the rand: dollar exchange rate worsened substantially. A glimmer of hope was that the company was able to continue roasting coffee and supplying its retail clients. Unlike most captains of industry, Robinson was not driven by the bottom line and clamouring shareholders. His corporate strategy was driven by a single, simple purpose: to achieve ethical sustainability aspirations while still running a profitable business. The question for him now, however, was how to ensure that his company could survive in the short term, so that it could achieve these goals in the longer term, and whether he could take this opportunity to think about whether his business was best positioned to achieve these goals when things returned to normal.

Expected learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: conduct a thorough analysis of a specific company and its industry, including its markets, competitors, and other aspects of the internal and external business environment, using a range of tools, including a Business Model Canvas (BMC), SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis; analyse and explain the market outlook of a company; identify and analyse a company’s competitors; discuss and explain a detailed implementation plan showing the way forward for a company, considering its current challenges, including integrating a range of conceptual and analytical fields of knowledge to assess a management dilemma, and arrive at a creative and innovative management solution; and be able to present information and defend substantial insights and solutions to a management dilemma in oral and written modes, appropriate in standard for both the academic and business communities to analyse and appreciate.

Complexity academic level

Postgraduate Diploma in Management, MBA, Masters in Management, Executive Education.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
The expatriate and local hotel general managers: differing approaches to employees’ loyalty
Authors: Lee Yong-Ki , Sinha Paresha N. , Kim Soon-Ho , Swanson Eric Melvin , Yang Jae-Jang , Kim Eun-Jung
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Hotels conducting international business are acknowledging the importance of an expatriate general manager (GM), to increase the effectiveness of their knowledge management system through the sharing of knowledge between expatriates and local employees. In the aspect of comparative leadership studies, this study attempts to compare and analyze the effects of knowledge sharing (KS) efforts, which are competencies of expatriate GMs and local GMs, on employee trust, organizational KS and employee loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from employees of 7 hotels managed by expatriate GMs among 16 franchising luxury (5-star) hotels, and from employees of 6 hotels operated by local GMs among 9 local luxury hotels located in Korea. Structural equation modeling method using SmartPLS 3.3.3 was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Expatriate GM’s two-way KS influences affective trust but does not influence cognitive trust. Affective trust influences cognitive and organizational KS but does not influence employee loyalty. Cognitive trust does not influence organizational KS but influences employee loyalty. Finally, organizational KS significantly affects employee loyalty. In addition, in the analysis comparing the estimates between expatriate and local GM group, significant differences in groups were found for the impact of GM’s two-way KS on cognitive trust, for the impact of affective trust on organizational KS, for the impact of affective trust on employee loyalty and for the impact of cognitive trust on organizational KS.

Practical implications

This study shows that knowledge management designs need to consider different effects of expatriate GMs’ and local GMs’ capabilities on employee attitudes and behavior considering cultural impacts. Expatriate GMs will greatly benefit their effort for KS by assuring employees that they are attentive to their needs, interests and problems.

Originality/value

This study not only contributes to the existing social capital theory but also provides managerial implications for human resources management in the hospitality field through a comparative study of KS efforts of expatriate and local GMs.
ViewpointExploring leadership through literature - an audacious experiment
Authors: Deal Terrence E. , Lieberman Devorah , Meek Jack Wayne
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to address the following question: What can novels reveal about what leadership nonfiction sources miss or obscure?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the benefits that are derived from the use of literature in the examination of leadership, compares and contrasts three novel experiments in the examination of literature and leadership, and examines the impact of one approach as reflected in student assignments and exit interviews.

Findings

Student reflection papers morphed from descriptive reviews to reflections expressed through poetry, artwork and personal experiences. Students also deepened their views on what leadership is and means. Exit interviews revealed student significant reflection on personal views in a number of areas. The longitudinal follow up of students expanded their flexibility and ability to listen and understand how and why people approach leadership in different ways. They also felt it increased their openness to new or different approaches and encouraged them to think more independently.

Practical implications

One implication of the approach of this class is how the authors embraced questions to guide the students and faculty. Instead of listing topics and assigning categorical meaning, the approach of the class was organized around questions, such as, “is leadership real or imagined? Am I ready to take responsibility?

Social implications

The power of storytelling is unmistakable. The value of storytelling is that it allows the reader to escape from the day-to-day challenges we face to find how others are facing challenges sometimes very similar to our own.

Originality/value

The article compares and contracts three experiments in the examination of literature and leadership. The paper then examines one approach to literature and leadership in terms of the impact on students (papers, exit interview and longitudinal follow-up). Findings are assessed with the works of Gardner, Bennis and Hartley stressing the possibilities of storytelling as a unique approach to studying and practicing leadership.
Digital voice-of-customer processing by topic modelling algorithms: insights to validate empirical results
Authors: Barravecchia Federico , Mastrogiacomo Luca , Franceschini Fiorenzo
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Digital voice-of-customer (digital VoC) analysis is gaining much attention in the field of quality management. Digital VoC can be a great source of knowledge about customer needs, habits and expectations. To this end, the most popular approach is based on the application of text mining algorithms named topic modelling. These algorithms can identify latent topics discussed within digital VoC and categorise each source (e.g. each review) based on its content. This paper aims to propose a structured procedure for validating the results produced by topic modelling algorithms.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed procedure compares, on random samples, the results produced by topic modelling algorithms with those generated by human evaluators. The use of specific metrics allows to make a comparison between the two approaches and to provide a preliminary empirical validation.

Findings

The proposed procedure can address users of topic modelling algorithms in validating the obtained results. An application case study related to some car-sharing services supports the description.

Originality/value

Despite the vast success of topic modelling-based approaches, metrics and procedures to validate the obtained results are still lacking. This paper provides a first practical and structured validation procedure specifically employed for quality-related applications.
The effect of the Mongol invasion on the townscape of Iranian cities
Authors: Khademzade Mohammad Hasan , Tasdiqi Shahaboddin , Mottaki Zoheir , Hosseini Akram
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The Mongol invasion caused widespread destruction in many cities; this research studies the destruction course of cities after the Mongol invasion and their reconstruction during the reform period, the change that it brought to the cityscapes of Iranian cities and the difference between the urbanscape of the cities that flourished or were re-established after these destructions with the cities prior to them.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of research used is historical interpretation/analysis. The historical texts of pre-Mongolian Persia and texts from the Ilkhanid era are studied, references to the shapes and appearances of Iranian cityscapes are classified, and with the help of contemporary interpretations and existing physical evidence, the urbanscape of these two periods are redrawn and compared to each other.

Findings

The selection of scenic meadows to build the city, the presence of many gardens in the urban patterns and the construction of satellite towns around large cities have been the effects of the Mongol tradition of (Yurt) tent-dwelling on Iranian cities during the reforms. The declining population and the massive migration of artists together with the rethinking of the rulers made the existence of dense cities with multi-storey houses less likely. The tradition of pre-designing the city and buildings and designing open and right-angled pathways continued after the Mongol invasion.

Originality/value

The prevailing belief is that during the Mongol era, only the destruction of cities took place and the Mongols did not create any cities and had no influence on urban development. This research aims to challenge that.
Integration in banking efficiency: a comparative analysis of the European Union, the Eurozone, and the United States banks
Authors: Kolia Dimitra Loukia , Papadopoulos Simeon
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates the development of efficiency and the progress of banking integration in the European Union by checking for convergence among banks of European and Eurozone countries as well as contrasting the results with those of United States banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, we employ the two-stage semi-parametric double bootstrap DEA method, which absorbs the effects of possible integration barriers in the measurement of efficiency. Afterwards, we apply a panel data model, in order to investigate the process of banking integration by testing for convergence and for convergent clusters in banking efficiency.

Findings

Our main findings show that the bank efficiency of the US is considerably higher than that of the Eurozone and the European Union. Although there is no evidence of convergence across the banking groups, our results indicate the presence of club convergence. We also conclude that the US banking system is closer to convergence than the Eurozone and the European Union banks. Nevertheless, this outcome is subject to change in the future due to the fact that Eurozone and European Union banks' speed of convergence is higher than that of US banks.

Originality/value

Our survey is unique in trying to check for convergence while controlling for country-specific and bank-specific factors that affect the efficiency of European and Eurozone banks. Moreover, recent literature does not compare the convergence of efficiency of Eurozone, European and US banking. Finally, in our paper special consideration was given to the comparison of commercial, cooperative and savings banks, as subsets of our banking groups.
Examination of the success drivers of equity crowdfunding campaigns in Malaysia
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista , Suhili Nur Firzanah
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the drivers of successful equity crowdfunding campaigns in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study are collected manually from 5 different equity crowdfunding platforms in Malaysia. A total of 101 campaigns are analyzed, out of which the final sample used for this study is 97. The relationships are analyzed via ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The results of the analysis show that minimum funding target, minimum investment required, pre-money valuation and length of pitch video are highly significant in influencing the success of the campaign. Percentage of equity retained is only significant at the 10% level. The size of the project team and the text length of the pitch are found to be insignificant. In addition, all the variables, except for equity retained and the minimum investment required, are found to have a positive impact on the success of an equity crowdfunding campaign in Malaysia.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the success factors of equity crowdfunding campaigns in a developing country such as Malaysia. In addition, this study contributes to the literature on equity crowdfunding success via the inclusion of less-studied variables such as pre-money valuation and minimum investment required.
Patient experience and satisfaction with admission to an acute geriatric community hospital in the Netherlands: a mixed method study
Authors: Ribbink Marthe E. , Roozendaal Catharina C. , MacNeil-Vroomen Janet L. , Franssen Remco , Buurman Bianca M.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The acute geriatric community hospital (AGCH) in an intermediate care facility is an alternative to conventional hospitalization. A comprehensive geriatric assessment and rehabilitation are integrated into acute medical care for older patients. This study aims to evaluate patient experience and satisfaction with the AGCH.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed method observational study including a satisfaction questionnaire and qualitative interviews with AGCH patients or informal caregivers.

Findings

A total of 152 participants filled in the questionnaire, and thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Twelve categories and four overarching themes emerged in the analysis. In general, study participants experience the admission to the AGCH as positive and are satisfied with the care they received; there were also suggestions for improvement.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of this study include possible participation bias. The results show that patients value this type of care indicating that it should be implemented elsewhere. Further research will focus on health outcomes, readmission rates and cost effectiveness of the AGCH.

Originality/value

This is the first study to evaluate care satisfaction with the AGCH. It shows that hospitalized older adults positively value the AGCH as an alternative to hospitalization.
The role of brand interactivity and involvement in driving social media consumer brand engagement and brand loyalty: the mediating effect of brand trust
Authors: Samarah Tariq , Bayram Pelin , Aljuhmani Hasan Yousef , Elrehail Hamzah
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study explores central questions related to the connections between brand interactivity and involvement on brand-related outcomes (brand trust and loyalty) through understanding the role played by customer brand engagement (CBE) through social media platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online survey, the data for this study were collected from 353 participants who follow Royal Jordanian Airlines on their Facebook page. A cross-sectional research approach was implemented using a partial least squares path modeling approach.

Findings

The study finds that perceived brand interactivity and involvement are positively associated with social media CBE. The authors also find that social media CBE is positively related to brand trust and that brand trust is positively associated with brand loyalty. Consequently, the authors observe that social media CBE is positively related to brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This study investigates the impact of perceived brand interactivity and involvement on social media CBE while accounting for the mediating role of brand trust through which social media CBE influences brand loyalty of airline brands in the Jordanian context. Finally, the findings have noteworthy theoretical and managerial implications.
Characterizing response quantity on academic social Q&A sites: a multidiscipline comparison of linguistic characteristics of questions
Authors: Li Lei , Li Anrunze , Song Xue , Li Xinran , Huang Kun , Ye Edwin Mouda
Published: November 2021

Purpose

As academic social Q&A networking websites become more popular, scholars are increasingly using them to meet their information needs by asking academic questions. However, compared with other types of social media, scholars are less active on these sites, resulting in a lower response quantity for some questions. This paper explores the factors that help explain how to ask questions that generate more responses and examines the impact of different disciplines on response quantity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines 1,968 questions in five disciplines on the academic social Q&A platform ResearchGate Q&A and explores how the linguistic characteristics of these questions affect the number of responses. It uses a range of methods to statistically analyze the relationship between these linguistic characteristics and the number of responses, and conducts comparisons between disciplines.

Findings

The findings indicate that some linguistic characteristics, such as sadness, positive emotion and second-person pronouns, have a positive effect on response quantity; conversely, a high level of function words and first-person pronouns has a negative effect. However, the impacts of these linguistic characteristics vary across disciplines.

Originality/value

This study provides support for academic social Q&A platforms to assist scholars in asking richer questions that are likely to generate more answers across disciplines, thereby promoting improved academic communication among scholars.
Value creation disclosure: the international integrated reporting framework revisited in the light of stakeholder theory
Authors: Dameri Renata Paola , Ferrando Pier Maria
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to propose an integrated reporting (IR) framework rooted in Freeman’s stakeholder theory (ST). The proposed framework modifies the international integrated reporting framework (IIRF) and aims to overcome criticisms related to its focus on investors and the abandonment of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a modified IIRF based on an in-depth analysis of the IR and ST literature. The framework was then applied to a non-profit health-care organisation to verify its theoretical assumptions.

Findings

The modified IIRF was conceived as a ready-to-use tool. By applying it to a business case, it was validated with respect to whether and how it could help achieve better and more stakeholder-oriented reporting. The findings enabled us to validate the use of the tool not only for reporting but also for the self-assessment of organisations with respect to embedding ST.

Research limitations/implications

The modified IIRF was implemented only in one case, and further implementations are needed to comprehensively identify its strengths and weaknesses, both in for-profit and non-profit organisations.

Practical implications

The revised IIRF represents an updated tool for reporting and disclosing the value created by an organisation for itself and for its stakeholders including the external entities affected by the impacts engendered by the organisation. In this way, the IIRF can give visibility to all value created and the value creation process, including sustainability matters. This allows integrated thinking processes to be incorporated accordingly, supporting better management.

Originality/value

This paper suggests three adjustments to improve the IIRF’s ability to incorporate ST as a theoretical foundation. The adjusted IIRF is a ready to-use-tool specifically highlighting what value or values an organisation delivers (its outcomes), for whom (its stakeholders) and how (its specific business processes) within a business model effectively connecting them. From this point of view, it fits the rising stream about the evolution of the sustainability reporting fostered jointly by the international integrated reporting council and sustainability accounting standard board, and by the European Union.
CFO gender in curbing CEO dominance on overpriced acquisition premiums
Authors: Grossman Amanda , Naaman Christine , Sahyoun Najib
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tempering effect of the presence of a female chief financial officer (CFO) on potentially dominant chief executive officer (CEO) behavior expressed through the overvaluing of acquisition premiums.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used Securities Data Corporation (SDC) database data over an eight-year period to analyze the relationships between CEO dominance and the acquisition premiums paid in an acquisition deal. The study also analyzes the effect of CFO gender in curbing CEO dominance in the acquisition deals. The authors employ clustered standard errors ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis along with robustness testing, which supports the validity of our conclusions.

Findings

The authors expect and find that as CEO dominance rises, so does the acquisition premium; however, the presence of a female CFO in such situations significantly reduces the overpayment of the acquisition premium.

Practical implications

The study findings advocate for organizational change in the form of an increased presence of female CFOs within business organizations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the accounting literature by timely exploiting a rising trend in which female executives are expected to become more prolific. The authors’ research indicates that their entrenchment into business organizations, thereby promoting gender diversity, produces beneficial outcomes for those organizations. It also capitalizes on the specific attributes of the CEO–CFO relationship, which lends itself to particular effectiveness in the hands of female CFOs.