bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of single gene and module-based methods for modeling gene regulatory networks
Authors: Hernaez Mikel , Gevaert Olivier
Published: April 2018

Gene regulatory networks describe the regulatory relationships among genes, and developing methods for reverse engineering these networks are an ongoing challenge in computational biology. The majority of the initially proposed methods for gene regulatory network discovery create a network of genes and then mine it in order to uncover previously unknown regulatory processes. More recent approaches have focused on inferring modules of co-regulated genes, linking these modules with regulator genes and then mining them to discover new molecular biology.

In this work we analyze module-based network approaches to build gene regulatory networks, and compare their performance to the well-established single gene network approaches. In particular, we focus on the problem of linking genes with known regulatory genes. First, modules are created iteratively using a regression approach that links co-expressed genes with few regulatory genes. After the modules are built, we create bipartite graphs to identify a set of target genes for each regulatory gene. We analyze several methods for uncovering these modules and show that a variational Bayes approach achieves significant improvement with respect to previously used methods for module creation on both simulated and real data. We also perform a topological and gene set enrichment analysis and compare several module-based approaches to single gene network approaches where a graph is built from the gene expression profiles without clustering genes in modules. We show that the module-based approach with variational Bayes outperforms all other methods and creates regulatory networks with a significantly higher rate of enriched molecular pathways.

The code is written in R and can be downloaded from https://github.com/mikelhernaez/linker.
TSA-Seq Mapping of Nuclear Genome Organization
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhang Yang , Wang Yuchuan , Zhang Liguo , Brinkman Eva K. , Adam Stephen A. , Goldman Robert , van Steensel Bas , Ma Jian , Belmont Andrew S.
Published: April 2018

While nuclear compartmentalization is an essential feature of three-dimensional genome organization, no genomic method exists for measuring chromosome distances to defined nuclear structures. Here we describe TSA-Seq, a new mapping method able to estimate mean chromosomal distances from nuclear speckles genome-wide and predict several Mbp chromosome trajectories between nuclear compartments without sophisticated computational modeling. Ensemble-averaged results reveal a clear nuclear lamina to speckle axis correlated with a striking spatial gradient in genome activity. This gradient represents a convolution of multiple, spatially separated nuclear domains, including two types of transcription “hot-zones”. Transcription hot-zones protruding furthest into the nuclear interior and positioning deterministically very close to nuclear speckles have higher numbers of total genes, the most highly expressed genes, house-keeping genes, genes with low transcriptional pausing, and super-enhancers. Our results demonstrate the capability of TSA-Seq for genome-wide mapping of nuclear structure and suggest a new model for nuclear spatial organization of transcription.
Host identity and functional traits determine the community composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in facultative epiphytic plant species
Authors: Alguacil MM , Díaz G , Torres P , Rodríguez-Caballero G , Roldán A
Published: April 2018

The epiphytic vascular flora is scarce and facultative in semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems, thus covering diverse taxonomic groups. However, differently to terrestrial conditions, little is known about the factors driving mycorrhizal communities in epiphytic environments. Here, we investigated the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) harboured by 31 plant species occurring in the trunks of Phoenix dactylifera. We wanted to ascertain if host identity and plant functional traits shape mycorrhizal communities. Specifically, we tested the plant life-cycle (perennial versus annual), the plant life-form (herbaceous versus woody), the plant origin (exotic versus native) and the plant species.

The roots were examined by molecular and phylogenetic analysis of AMF community. The plant affiliation to species strongly influenced the AMF assemblages. Plant life-form and plant life-cycle also shaped AMF interactions. The AMF community differed between annual and perennial species and higher AMF richness was detected in perennial plants. The indicator species analysis revealed three Operational Taxonomic Units belonging to the Glomeraceae, associated with annual species. However, the epiphytic plants associated with AMF irrespective of whether they were native or not, probably because here no functional differences derive from plant origin.

IMPORTANCE

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has a decisive role in plant nutrient and water uptake by plants, with particular importance in stressful environments. Under semiarid conditions, the facultative epiphytic flora should cope with harsh conditions. While numerous studies have been conducted on factors driving terrestrial AM assemblages, the epiphytic environment remains unexplored. We offer new insights into composition of AM communities as shaped by epiphytic plant host identity and functional traits.
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Teng Jasmine C. , Linda Dreyer L
Published: April 2018

Mortality associated with anaerobic infections approximates 20%. Resistance of anaerobic bacteria to commonly used antimicrobials has been increasingly reported. The aim of this study was to describe antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical samples using a gradient diffusion method, E test (bioMérieux), in Victoria, Australia. Metronidazole, meropenem and amoxycillin-clavulanate were found to be active against almost all isolates tested. Most Gram positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC), exceptPeptostreptococcus anaerobius(64.6% penicillin-susceptible), remained susceptible to penicillin. AllClostridium perfringensisolates tested were penicillin, metronidazole and meropenem susceptible. OfB. fragilisisolates tested, 5% and 0.83% were meropenem and metronidazole non-susceptible, respectively. Clindamycin susceptibility in anaerobes other than the GPAC is approximately 75% and therefore should not be used as empirical treatment in the absence of susceptibility testing. Considering the global trend of antibiotic resistance among anaerobic bacteria, routine susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria, particularly when isolated from critical sites, as well as surveillance of local resistance trends is strongly encouraged. Gradient diffusion MIC determination of anaerobic bacteria is feasible in a clinical diagnostic laboratory and should be more widely utilised.
Cis- andtrans-acting factors influence expression of thenorM-encoded efflux pump ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaeand levels of gonococcal susceptibility to substrate antimicrobials
Authors: Rouquette-Loughlin Corinne E. , Dhulipala Vijaya , Reimche Jennifer L. , Raterman Erica , Begum Afrin A. , Jerse Ann E. , Shafer William M.
Published: April 2018

The gonococcal NorM efflux pump exports substrates with a cationic moiety including quaternary ammonium compounds such as berberine (BE) and ethidium bromide (EB) as well as antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and solithromycin. ThenorMgene is part of a four gene operon that is transcribed from a promoter containing a polynucleotide tract of 6 or 7 thymidines (Ts) between the -10 and -35 hexamers; the majority of gonococcal strains analyzed herein contained a T-6 sequence. Primer extension analysis showed that regardless of the length of the poly-T tract, the same transcriptional start site (TSS) was used for expression ofnorM. Interestingly, the T-6 tract correlated with a higher level of bothnorMexpression and gonococcal resistance to NorM substrates BE and EB. Analysis of expression of genes downstream ofnorMshowed that the product of thetetR-like gene has the capacity to activate expression ofnorMas well asmurB, which encodes an acetylenolpyroylglucosamine reductase predicted to be involved in the early steps of peptidoglycan synthesis. Moreover, loss of the TetR-like transcriptional regulator modestly increased gonococcal susceptibility to NorM substrates EB and BE. We conclude that bothcis- andtrans-acting regulatory systems can regulate expression of thenorMoperon and influence levels of gonococcal susceptibility to antimicrobials exported by NorM.
Identification of a novel subfamily of bacterial AAT-fold basic amino acid decarboxylases and functional characterization of its first representative:Pseudomonas aeruginosaLdcA
Authors: Carriel-Lopez Diego , Garcia Pierre Simon , Castelli Florence , Lamourette Patricia , Fenaille François , Brochier-Armanet Céline , Elsen Sylvie , Gutsche Irina
Published: April 2018

Polyamines are small amino-acid derived polycations capable of binding negatively charged macromolecules. Bacterial polyamines are structurally and functionally diverse, and are mainly produced biosynthetically by PLP-dependent amino acid decarboxylases referred to as LAOdcs (Lysine-Arginine-Ornithine decarboxylases). In a phylogenetically limited group of bacteria, LAOdcs are also induced in response to acid stress. Here, we performed an exhaustive phylogenetic analysis of the AAT-fold LAOdcs which showcased the ancestral nature of their short forms inCyanobacteriaandFirmicutes,and emergence of distinct subfamilies of long LAOdcs inProteobacteria.We identified a novel subfamily of lysine decarboxylases, LdcA, ancestral inBetaproteobacteriaandPseudomortadaceae {Gammaproteobacteria).We analyzed the expression of LdcA fromPseudomonas aeruginosa,and uncovered its role, intimately linked to cadaverine production, in promoting growth and reducing persistence of this multidrug resistant human pathogen during carbenicillin treatment. Finally, we documented a certain redundancy in the function of the three main polyamines - cadaverine, putrescine and spermidine - inP. aeruginosaby demonstrating the link between their intracellular level, as well as the capacity of putrescine and spermidine to complement the growth phenotype of theIdcAmutant.
Screening, Characterization and Optimization of antibacterial peptides, produced byBacillus safensisstrain MK-12 isolated from waste dump soil KP, Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Sajid , Qasim Muhammad , Begum Farida , Rahman Hazir , Sajid Imran
Published: April 2018

Aims

The current study was designed to isolate, screen and identify the indigenous soil antibacterial exhibiting bacteria (AEB) and effect of various parameters on growth of AEB and antibacterial peptides production.

Methods and results

The soil isolates were screened for antagonistic activity against a set of ATCC and local MDR human pathogenic bacterial strains. The antibacterial compound was protein in nature, exhibited no haemolysis and molecular weight was less than 20 KDa. The potential AEB isolate was identified by morphology, biochemical testing and by 16S rRNA gene sequencing asB. safensisMK-12. Growth and antibacterial activity was optimized forB. safensisstrain MK-12, exhibited maximum growth as well as antibacterial activity after 48 hours of incubation at pH 8, 30 °C in shaking incubator when fermented in optimized medium.

Conclusion

The current study results indicate that indigenous soil is rich source of AEB and could be a promising source of antimicrobial compounds to fight against MDR bacteria in future.

Significance and impact

This is the first scientific report on soil bacteria from northern region of Pakistan as per our knowledge. Therefore, screening of soil bacteria for antibacterial activity from unexplored area may contribute towards new antibiotic. Selected soil strain in the current study exhibited promising antibacterial activity against human pathogenic MDR bacterial strains.
Single-trial neural dynamics are dominated by richly varied movements
Authors: Musall Simon , Kaufman Matthew T. , Juavinett Ashley L. , Gluf Steven , Churchland Anne K.
Published: April 2018

When experts are immersed in a task, do their brains prioritize task-related activity? Most efforts to understand neural activity during well-learned tasks focus on cognitive computations and specific task-related movements. We wondered whether task-performing animals explore a broader movement landscape, and how this impacts neural activity. We characterized movements using video and other sensors and measured neural activity using widefield and two-photon imaging. Cortex-wide activity was dominated by movements, especially uninstructed movements, reflecting unknown priorities of the animal. Some uninstructed movements were aligned to trial events. Accounting for them revealed that neurons with similar trial-averaged activity often reflected utterly different combinations of cognitive and movement variables. Other movements occurred idiosyncratically, accounting for trial-by-trial fluctuations that are often considered “noise”. This held true for extracellular Neuropixels recordings in cortical and subcortical areas. Our observations argue that animals execute expert decisions while performing richly varied, uninstructed movements that profoundly shape neural activity.
The effect of symbiosis between silkworm (Bombyx mori) andFirmicuteson silk production
Authors: Medina Katherine
Published: April 2018

Silkwormconditioning systems are widely popular due to enhancements observed in productivity and in resource efficiencies. However, limited knowledge is available on howintra-gutinterspecific collaboration between the work and gut bacteria affects silk dry matter biomass production. The study was to study how gut bacteria, specifically fermicutes boost the dry silk production inBombyx moriby altruistic/symbiotic interactions.

Materials and methods

Greenhouse experiments were carried out to test the yield, biomass, nutrient uptake, parameters of gut morphology traits and glycolysis in 2017, the experiment included three treatments: no barrier treatment (NB) allowing complete gut collaboration, mesh barrier (MB) of partial gut collaboration and solid barrier (SB) without any exchanges of water and nutrients and gut collaboration.

Results

The yield of silk production was increased by 53.6% and 27.8% in the treatments with complete gut collaborations compared to that without gut collaborations. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) acquisitions ofsilk proteinswere 1.71, 1.97 and 1.47 times for silkworm, and 1.25, 1.21, and 1.19 times forfirmicutesin complete gut collaborations as high as in no gut collaborations, respectively. The length and surface area was increased by 42.9% and 43.6% for silkworm, 62.4% and 58.8% forfirmicutesin complete gut collaborations compared to that in no gut collaborations. The worm length, leave number and net photosynthetic rate of silkworm were significantly boosted, while there is no significant effect onfirmicutes.

Conclusions

The improvement of yield and nutrient acquisition may result fromsilkwormmorphological and functional pliability induced from altruistic collaborations offirmicutes. The results would contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the response of silkworm andfirmicutesto the gut collaboration on the basis of interspecific facilitation for silkworm/firmicutes system.
Optimisation of a novel method for the production of single-span membrane proteins in Escherichia coli
Authors: Smith Sarah M. , Walker Kelly L. , Smith Corinne J. , Robinson Colin
Published: April 2018

The large-scale production and isolation of recombinant protein is a central element of the biotechnology industry and many of the products have proved extremely beneficial for therapeutic medicine. Escherichia coli is the microorganism of choice for the expression of heterologous proteins for therapeutic application, and a range of high-value proteins have been targeted to the periplasm using the well characterised Sec protein export pathway. More recently, the ability of the second mainstream protein export system, the twin-arginine translocase, to transport fully-folded proteins into the periplasm of not only E. coli, but other Gram-negative bacteria, has captured the interest of the biotechnology industry.

In this study, we have used a novel approach to block the export of a heterologous Tat substrate in the later stages of the export process, and thereby generate a single-span membrane protein with the soluble domain positioned on the periplasmic side of the inner membrane. Biochemical and immuno-electron microscopy approaches were used to investigate the export of human growth hormone by the twin-arginine translocase, and the generation of a single span membrane-embedded variant. This is the first time that a bona-fide biotechnologically-relevant protein has been exported by this machinery and visualised directly in this manner. The data presented here demonstrate a novel method for the production of single-span membrane proteins in E. coli.

Highlights

The Tat translocase has captured the interest of the biotechnology industry

Biochemical and immuno-EM approaches showed efficient export of hGH by Tat

A novel approach was used to block export of hGH by Tat in E. coli

We demonstrate a novel method for producing single-span membrane proteins in E. coli
Golgi stabilization, not its front-rear bias, is associated with EMT-enhanced fibrillar migration
Authors: Natividad Robert J. , Lalli Mark L. , Muthuswamy Senthil K. , Asthagiri Anand R.
Published: April 2018

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and maturation of collagen fibrils in the tumor microenvironment play a significant role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Confinement along fiber-like tracks enhances cell migration. To what extent and in what manner EMT further promotes migration in a microenvironment already conducive to migration is poorly understood. Here, we show that TGFβ-mediated EMT significantly enhances migration on fiber-like micropatterned tracks of collagen, doubling migration speed and quadrupling persistence relative to untreated mammary epithelial cells. Thus, cell-intrinsic EMT and extrinsic fibrillar tracks have non-redundant effects on motility. To better understand EMT-enhanced fibrillar migration, we investigated the regulation of Golgi positioning, which is involved in front-rear polarization and persistent cell migration. Confinement along fiber-like tracks has been reported to favor posterior Golgi positioning, whereas anterior positioning is observed during 2d wound healing. While EMT also regulates cell polarity, little is known about its effect on Golgi positioning. Here, we show that EMT induces a 2:1 rearward bias in Golgi positioning; however, positional bias explains less than 5% of single-cell variability in migration speed and persistence. Meanwhile, EMT significantly stabilizes Golgi positioning. Cells that enhance migration in response to TGFβ maintain Golgi position for 3-4 fold longer than untreated counterparts, irrespective of whether the Golgi is ahead or behind the nucleus. In fact, 35% of cells that respond to TGFβ exhibit a fully-committed Golgi phenotype with the organelle either in the anterior or posterior position for over 90% of the time. Furthermore, single-cell differences in Golgi stability capture up to 30% of variations in migration speed and persistence. These results lead us to propose that the Golgi is part of a core physical scaffold that distributes cell-generated forces necessary for migration. A stable scaffold more consistently, and therefore more productively, distributes forces over time, leading to efficient migration.
Local adaptation and maladaptation during the worldwide range expansion of a selffertilizing plant
Authors: Cornille A. , Salcedo A. , Huang H. , Kryvokhyzha D. , Holm K. , Ge X-J , Stinchcombe J.R. , Glémin S. , Wright S.I. , Lascoux M.
Published: April 2018

Species having experienced rapid range expansion represent unique opportunities to evaluate the dynamics of adaptation during colonization of new environments. We investigated the consequences of range expansion on local adaptation of a successful worldwide colonizer, the shepherd’s purseCapsella bursa-pastoris. This species is an annual weed that originated recently in Eurasia and has now broadly colonized both temperate and subtropical areas. We assessed the performance, genetic diversity, and phenology of field-collected accessions belonging to three distinct genetic clusters of decreasing age (Middle East, Europe and Asia) in three common gardens in Europe, Asia and North America. To understand the genetic basis of local adaptation in this species, we also tested for correlation between SNP allele frequencies and environmental factors in Europe and Asia. Overall, we showed that patterns of local adaptation depended on population history: some older populations were weakly adapted to local conditions while those closer to the front of the colonization wave, far from the origin of the species, were maladapted whatever the common gardens. Altogether, our results have important consequences for the understanding of the evolution and adaptation of self-fertilizing plant during range expansion.
The CD163 long-range scavenger receptor cysteine-rich repeat: expression, purification and X-ray crystallographic characterization
Authors: Li Rui , Ma Hongfang , Jiang Longguang , Qiao Songlin , Zhi Yubao , Huang Mingdong , Deng Ruiguang , Zhang Gaiping
Published: April 2018

Scavenger receptors (SRs) play critical roles in various physiological and pathological pathways. One of them, CD163, is a multifunctional endocytic receptor and is characterized by a long-range scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) repeat. However, the structural and functional details of this long-range SRCR repeat have not yet been elucidated. In this study, the CD163 long-range SRCR repeat was expressed inDrosophilaSchneider 2 cells. The recombinant protein was homogeneous after purification by metal-affinity, cation-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Single crystals were obtained using 20% PEG 4000, 0.15 Mpotassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate pH 8.5 and diffracted to 3.30 Å resolution. As the first view of a long-range SRCR repeat, this work lays the structural basis for a deep understanding of SRs and their multiple functions.
International marketing and intra-cultural heterogeneity
Authors: Fatehi Kamal , Priestley Jennifer L. , Taasoobshirazi Gita
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Most international marketing studies, taking a sociological position, assume homogeneity within and heterogeneity between cultures. Taking a psychological position and based on the Mindscape Theory, the purpose of this paper is to support the hypothesis that there is intra-cultural and intra-market heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

The translated survey for international use has many problems. These problems can greatly be minimized by the use of pictorial/geometric shapes that were used in this study. These shapes were constructed using redundant and non-redundant complexity, and made to be culture neutral.

Findings

Data analysis supported the presence of three of the four Mindscape types as was hypothesized, indicating individual intra-market heterogeneity in the three cultures under investigation. Additionally, the corollary hypothesis of transcultural heterogeneity was confirmed.

Research limitations/implications

It has been proposed that Mindscape types are partly innate and partly learned. What proportions constitute each part? Can the learned aspect be unlearned? Can different marketing strategies appeal to each? What marketing programs are better suited to influence the learned aspect? Future studies could explore these issues.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper have wide applicability and implications for international marketing strategy, including ways of deploying market segmentation, target marketing, positioning strategies, as well as configurations of marketing mix elements.

Originality/value

This paper used a novel and unique way for data collection and analysis. A geometric-pictorial survey was used for data collection. Data analysis was done with factor analysis and cluster analysis combined.
The effects of government relation and institutional environments on channel performance
Authors: Jia Fang , Yang Zhilin , Jiang Ling (Alice)
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of channel partners’ government relations within channel performance and explore how institutional factors interact to influence channel performance. A theoretical framework, inclusive of hypotheses, is proposed to demonstrate the interaction of government relations and institutional environments on firm performance. Drawing on an institutional perspective, this paper suggests that the effect of partner’s government relations on firm performance is moderated by institutional environment factors, such as government interference, legal protection, and the importance of guanxi.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a questionnaire survey and collected data from 393 Chinese manufacturer managers in China.

Findings

Partner’s government relations increase focal firm’s performance and this effect is moderated by different levels of legal protection. Partner’s government relations increase firm performance only in the context of high-legal protection; whereas, when legal protection is low, partner’s government relations decrease focal firm performance. As for the interaction of institutional factors, legal protection and importance of guanxi, all three moderate the negative effect of government interference on firm performance.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights on how channel partner’s government relations, representing a key institutional capital, interact with institutional environment factors to influence channel performance.
The impact of total quality management and supply chain integration on firm performance of container shipping companies in Singapore
Authors: Thai Vinh , Jie Ferry
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of total quality management (TQM) and supply chain integration (SCI) practices on firm performance (FP) of container shipping industry in Singapore.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 159 container shipping companies in Singapore to examine the interrelationships between SCI and TQM practices and FP. A stepwise multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 14.0 was performed on the data.

Findings

Statistical results suggest that both TQM and SCI practices have positive effects on service quality and FP but at different extents, while TQM also contributes positively to SCI.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample is the main limitation. The findings bear important implications for further research as understanding these dimensions can help to position key changes and industry improvement that will increase revenue and reduce cost to the container shipping companies in Singapore.

Practical implications

This research provides guidelines for shipping managers on how to implement the SCI and TQM practices appropriately to boost their FP to the fullest extent.

Social implications

This study has unique implications for social sustainability especially the container shipping industry, which is hard pressed to combat the challenges within the logistics/transportation sector.

Originality/value

This is perhaps the first study that examines the influence of SCI and TQM practices on the performance of container shipping firms that helps them see beyond the silo mentality and focus on greater value addition in FP.
Mixed methods of assessment: measures of enhancing library services in academia
Authors: Sanchez-Rodriguez Nilda Alexandra
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Collection assessment is an essential aspect of library collection development, especially for public institutions currently affected by financial budget cuts. Collection managers working with little to no budget have the task of establishing unconventional methods of selecting most relevant materials. This paper aims to demonstrate the correlation between a syllabi analysis, faculty survey and circulation statistics as a practical measure to enhance and expand the architecture library services at the City College of New York and in academia in general.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses mixed use assessment strategies to evaluate a library collection. The scope of the study supports combining collection-based practices and use-based methods to gather two types of data: quantitative (including collection size and/or in-house use statistics) and qualitative (accomplished by user opinion surveys, focus groups and/or list checking).

Findings

Out of 74 architecture faculty members, 22 participated in a library survey to help uncover new opportunities for cross-collaboration. The findings simultaneously reinforce the importance of exploring syllabi and usage data as methods of assessment to reveal opportunities for cultivating library collections.

Originality/value

This paper will provide a better understanding of faculty perceptions to discover academic needs and achieve library integration into the design curriculum. The study demonstrates prospective directions for collection evaluation and faculty collaboration to open further opportunities for building a successful library.
Streamwise vortex generator for separation reduction on wind turbine rotors
Authors: Martinez Suarez Javier , Flaszynski Pawel , Doerffer Piotr
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe numerical investigations focused on the reduction of separation and the aerodynamic enhancement of wind turbine blades by a rod vortex generator (RVG).

Design/methodology/approach

A flow modelling approach through the use of a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes solver is used. The numerical tools are validated with experimental data for the NREL Phase VI rotor and the S809 aerofoil. The effect of rod vortex generator’s (RVG) configuration on aerofoil aerodynamic performance, flow structure and separation is analysed. RVGs’ chordwise locations and spanwise distance are considered, and the optimum configuration of the RVG is applied to the wind turbine rotor.

Findings

Results show that streamwise vortices created by RVGs lead to modification of flow structure in boundary layer. As a result, the implementation of RVGs on aerofoil has proven to decrease the flow separation and enhance the aerodynamic performance of aerofoils. The effect on flow structure and aerodynamic performance has shown to be dependent on dimensions, chordwise location and spanwise distribution of rods. The implementation of devices with the optimum configuration has shown to increase aerodynamic performance and to significantly reduce separation for selected conditions. Application of rods to the wind turbine rotor has proven to avoid the spanwise penetration of flow separation where applied, leading to reduction of flow separation and to aerodynamic enhancement.

Originality/value

The proposed RVGs have shown potential to enhance the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine rotors and profiles, making devices an alternative solution to the classical vortex generators for wind turbine applications.
Information security policies and value conflict in multinational companies
Authors: Yayla Alper , Lei Yu
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine challenges multinational companies face during the diffusion of their information security policies. Parent companies use these policies as their discourse for legitimization of their practices in subsidiaries, which leads to value conflicts in subsidiaries. The authors postulate that, when properly crafted, information security policies can also be used to reduce the very conflicts they are creating.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework is conceptualized based on the review of literatures on multinational companies, information security policies and value conflict.

Findings

The authors identified three factors that may lead to value conflict in subsidiary companies: cultural distance, institutional distance and stickiness of knowledge. They offer three recommendations based on organizational discourse, ambidexterity and resource allocation to reduce value conflict.

Research limitations/implications

The authors postulate that information security policies are the sources of value conflict in subsidiary companies. Yet, when crafted properly, these policies can also offer solutions to minimize value conflict.

Practical implications

The proposed framework can be used to increase policy diffusion success, minimize value conflict and, in turn, decrease information security risk.

Originality/value

The growing literature on information security policy literature is yet to examine the diffusion of policies within multinational companies. The authors argue that information security policies are the source of, and solution to, value conflict in multinational companies.
Rebuilding Nepal: traditional and modern approaches, building or diminishing resilience?
Authors: Forbes Catherine
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of vernacular architecture and traditional knowledge to building resilience in Nepal and the impact of modernisation on that resilience and architectural diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an action research approach, including field observations and discussions with local community members, artisans, architects, engineers and other international experts, the study examines the resilience of traditional building typologies to natural hazards in Nepal, including earthquake; the changes that have occurred over time leading to the failure and/or rejection of traditional construction; and a review of post-earthquake reconstruction options, both traditional and modern.

Findings

Although traditional approaches have been cyclically tested over time, this study found that changes in building materials, technologies, knowledge and skills, access to resources, maintenance practices, urban environments and societal aspirations have all contributed to the popular rejection of vernacular architecture following the earthquakes.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to traditional timber and masonry construction in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding mountain areas.

Practical implications

To improve resilience the study identifies the need for capacity building in both traditional and modern construction technologies; adoption of approaches that use local materials, knowledge and skills, whilst addressing local timber shortages and access issues; a transparent construction certification system; good drainage; and regular maintenance.

Originality/value

The study critically evaluates the impact of technological, environmental, social and economic changes over time on the resilience of vernacular housing in Nepal.
Post-disaster reconstruction in Christchurch: a “build back better” perspective
Authors: Francis Tinu Rose , Wilkinson Suzanne , Mannakkara Sandeeka , Chang-Richards Alice
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes were one of the most devastating events in New Zealand’s history. Due to the large scale of disruption and losses, the central government created a separate body, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), to manage and oversee recovery activities. Working with local authorities and stakeholders, CERA plays a major role in driving the recovery in Christchurch. This paper aims to analyse CERA’s decision-making process and the effects of some of its critical decisions on the recovery outcomes. The paper takes a “build back better” (BBB) perspective to understand the decisions taken and processes used.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study adopted a mixed-methods research design (Creswell, 2013) and was conducted by reviewing official CERA documents and publications related to its recovery assessments and by conducting interviews with key officials from CERA. Collecting data from both qualitative and quantitative data sources enabled the process of triangulation.

Findings

Lessons learned from the Canterbury experience in terms of recovery best practices are reported. CERA’s recovery policy aimed to give confidence to the community and renew and revitalise the damaged city. Compared with the BBB theory, the community-driven recovery strategy and the multi-stakeholder approach worked well. Other critical decisions aligned with the BBB theory include land zoning, empowering community and integration with existing developmental plans.

Originality/value

BBB can be used as a tool for the implementation of recovery and restoration measures following a large disaster. However, a set of practical indicators to measure the level of BBB is needed.
Reflections on the PhD thesis
Authors: van der Hoorn Bronte
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the arguments developed in the PhD thesis and also to outline the journey and context from which the thesis emerged.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a summary of key arguments in the thesis. It also provides reflections on the process of developing the thesis.

Findings

This PhD by publication process demonstrates how new philosophical thinking can contribute to the discipline literature, methodological advancements and also produce a practice tool.

Originality/value

Provision of a personal account of the PhD by publication journey and summary of the thesis: “Exploring the ‘lived experience’ of project work with Continental philosophical perspectives”.
A dynamic model for housing price spillovers with an evidence from the US and the UK markets
Authors: Ozun Alper , Ertugrul Hasan Murat , Coskun Yener
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an empirical model for house price spillovers between real estate markets. The model is presented by using data from the US-UK and London-New York housing markets over a period of 1975Q1-2016Q1 by employing both static and dynamic methodologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The research analyzes long-run static and dynamic spillover elasticity coefficients by employing three methods, namely, autoregressive distributed lag, the fully modified ordinary least square and dynamic ordinary least squares estimator under a Kalman filter approach. The empirical method also investigates dynamic correlation between the house prices by employing the dynamic control correlation method.

Findings

The paper shows how a dynamic spillover pricing analysis can be applied between real estate markets. On the empirical side, the results show that country-level causality in housing prices is running from the USA to UK, whereas city-level causality is running from London to New York. The model outcomes suggest that real estate portfolios involving US and UK assets require a dynamic risk management approach.

Research limitations/implications

One of the findings is that the dynamic conditional correlation between the US and the UK housing prices is broken during the crisis period. The paper does not discuss the reasons for that break, which requires further empirical tests by applying Markov switching regime shifts. The timing of the causality between the house prices is not empirically tested. It can be examined empirically by applying methods such as wavelets.

Practical implications

The authors observed a unidirectional causality from London to New York house prices, which is opposite to the aggregate country-level causality direction. This supports London’s specific power in the real estate markets. London has a leading role in the global urban economies residential housing markets and the behavior of its housing prices has a statistically significant causality impact on the house prices of New York City.

Social implications

The house price co-integration observed in this research at both country and city levels should be interpreted as a continuity of real estate and financial integration in practice.

Originality/value

The paper is the first research which applies a dynamic spillover analysis to examine the causality between housing prices in real estate markets. It also provides a long-term empirical evidence for a dynamic causal relationship for the global housing markets.
Air pollution online: everyday environmental information on the social media site Sina Weibo
Authors: Graminius Carin , Haider Jutta
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how information on air pollution is shaped online on an everyday basis, with a particular emphasis on digital devices and digital representations as constitutive of environmental information practices. Furthermore, this research highlights an understudied aspect of air pollution – the digital flow of multimodal representations that citizens encounter and produce in their everyday life.

Design/methodology/approach

The information gathering was carried out on an everyday basis during February-March 2017. The study is based on 403 microblog posts from the social media site Sina Weibo, and netnographic fieldwork, including the observation of news, advertisements, and diary writing. The collected data were mapped in clusters based on the interrelations of objects, agents, and activities, and analyzed in depth using qualitative multimodal analysis.

Findings

Information enacted through specific socio-materialist configurations depicts air pollution as self-contained and separated from human action. Air quality apps are central in connecting a wider nexus of representations and promoting such perceptions, illustrating the role of digital devices in an everyday information context.

Social implications

The study reveals a schism between Chinese political environmental visions and everyday environmental information practices, which raises questions of how the battle against air pollution can be sustained in the long term.

Originality/value

This study suggests that digital material aspects – inbuilt applications of digital devices and digital representations of objects – are interrelated with physical experiences of air pollution, and thus constitute elements of practice in their own right.
What does it mean to adopt a metadata standard? A case study of Omeka and the Dublin Core
Authors: Maron Deborah , Feinberg Melanie
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to employ a case study of the Omeka content management system to demonstrate how the adoption and implementation of a metadata standard (in this case, Dublin Core) can result in contrasting rhetorical arguments regarding metadata utility, quality, and reliability. In the Omeka example, the author illustrate a conceptual disconnect in how two metadata stakeholders – standards creators and standards users – operationalize metadata quality. For standards creators such as the Dublin Core community, metadata quality involves implementing a standard properly, according to established usage principles; in contrast, for standards users like Omeka, metadata quality involves mere adoption of the standard, with little consideration of proper usage and accompanying principles.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an approach based on rhetorical criticism. The paper aims to establish whether Omeka’s given ends (the position that Omeka claims to take regarding Dublin Core) align with Omeka’s guiding ends (Omeka’s actual argument regarding Dublin Core). To make this assessment, the paper examines both textual evidence (what Omeka says) and material-discursive evidence (what Omeka does).

Findings

The evidence shows that, while Omeka appears to argue that adopting the Dublin Core is an integral part of Omeka’s mission, the platform’s lack of support for Dublin Core implementation makes an opposing argument. Ultimately, Omeka argues that the appearance of adopting a standard is more important than its careful implementation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to our understanding of how metadata standards are understood and used in practice. The misalignment between Omeka’s position and the goals of the Dublin Core community suggests that Omeka, and some portion of its users, do not value metadata interoperability and aggregation in the same way that the Dublin Core community does. This indicates that, although certain values regarding standards adoption may be pervasive in the metadata community, these values are not equally shared amongst all stakeholders in a digital library ecosystem. The way that standards creators (Dublin Core) understand what it means to “adopt a standard” is different from the way that standards users (Omeka) understand what it means to “adopt a standard.”
Creativity as collaboration
Authors: Jaramillo-Vazquez Alejandra
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relations and processes by which creativity is assembled, and how this mode of creativity responds to tensions and difficulties in activities concerning “arts education” and “creativity” in a community arts organisation in Mexico City. It shows how ethnographic research can provide qualitative understanding about “creativity” on the ground, i.e. through people’s participation in ordinary activities and projects in arts organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach was ethnographic in data collection and analysis. Participant observation was conducted for 11 months (November 2011/October 2012), as well as archival research and photographs.

Findings

The findings of this research highlight how, in the face of personal difficulties and tensions people respond creatively through collaboration. The former refers to people’s difficulties to gain control over their lives, e.g., finding a stable job. The latter refers to people’s tensions to produce an artistic project, where they negotiate with institutional expectations about the project and their own experiences and reflections.

Originality/value

While there is an increasing interest of policy makers for fostering “arts education” and “creativity” in an instrumental way, this paper shows how creativity emerges through the intensity of their personal ideas, experiences and solidarity.
Copyright and information service provision in public university libraries in Kenya
Authors: Mathangani Salome W. , Otike Japheth
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Copyright law supposedly brings a balance between copyright owners and information users as a way of creating a harmonious relationship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Kenya’s Copyright Act and the provision of information services in public university libraries in Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was informed by both the organization theory and the social systems theory which, respectively, provided a base for discussion on the library and its basic functions, and an interdisciplinary approach that accommodate library services and law. Data were collected from a sample of 77 librarians from public universities libraries, and analyzed using the qualitative method.

Findings

The study established that librarians were reasonably aware of the copyright Act. However, they were apprehensive and uncertain about copyright effect on the library. Evidence from the study showed that librarians needed to extend their knowledge and understanding of the copyright law for the effective provision of information services. The paper concludes that there is scope for librarians, using their wealth of knowledge and expertise, to make relevant and useful suggestions on copyright. Such contribution would assist in bringing harmony in the use of copyrighted materials.

Originality/value

These findings are original and will be useful in giving general direction on copyright. The study highlights the important issue of universities as parent institutions providing needed leadership in the copyright area.