bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a mathematical model to predict the health impact and duration of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on board cargo vessels
Authors: Ng Kok Yew , Codreanu Tudor A. , Gui Meei Mei , Biglarbeigi Pardis , Finlay Dewar , McLaughlin James
Published: November 2021

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought significant impact onto the maritime activities worldwide, including disruption to global trade and supply chains. The ability to predict the evolution and duration of a COVID-19 outbreak on cargo vessels would inform a more nuanced response to the event and provide a more precise return-to-trade date. A SEIQ(H)R (Susceptibility-–Exposed–Infected—Quarantine-–(Hospitalisation)—Removed/Recovered) model is developed and fit-tested to simulate the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 on board cargo vessels of up to 60 crew. Due to specific living and working circumstances on board cargo vessels, instead of utilising the reproduction number, we consider the highest fraction of crew members who share the same nationality to quantify the transmissibility of the disease. The performance of the model is verified using case studies based on data collected during COVID-19 outbreaks on three cargo vessels in Western Australia during 2020. The simulations show that the model can forecast the time taken for the transmission dynamics on each vessel to reach their equilibriums, providing informed predictions on the evolution of the outbreak, including hospitalisation rates and duration. The model demonstrates that (a) all crew members are susceptible to infection; (b) their roles on board is a determining factor in the evolution of the outbreak; (c) an unmitigated outbreak could affect the entire crew and continue on for many weeks. The ability to model the evolution of an outbreak, both in duration and severity, is essential to predict outcomes and to plan for the best response strategy. At the same time, it offers a higher degree of certainty regarding the return to trade, which is of significant importance to multiple stakeholders.
Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda
Authors: Ntivuguruzwa Jean B. , Michel Anita , Kolo Francis B. , Mwikarago Ivan E. , Ngabonziza Jean C. S. , VanHeerden Henriette
Published: November 2021

Background

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an endemic disease in Rwanda, but little is known about its prevalence and causative mycobacterial species. The disease causes tremendous losses in livestock and wildlife and remains a significant threat to public health.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study employing a systematic random sampling of cattle (n=300) with the collection of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils (n=300) irrespective of granulomatous lesions was carried out in six abattoirs to investigate the prevalence and identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, polymerase chain reaction, and GeneXpert assay. Individual risk factors and the origin of samples were analysed for association with the prevalence.

Findings

Of the 300 samples, six were collected with visible TB-like lesions. Our findings demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in 1.7% (5/300) of sampled slaughtered cattle. M. bovis was isolated from 1.3% (4/300) animals while one case was caused by a rifampicin-resistance (RR) M. tuberculosis. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 12.0% (36/300) of the sampled cattle. There were no significant associations between the prevalence and abattoir category, age, sex, and breeds of slaughtered cattle.

Conclusions

This study is the first in Rwanda to isolate both M. bovis and RR M. tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle indicating that bTB is prevalent in Rwanda with a low prevalence. The isolation of RR M. tuberculosis from cattle indicates possible zooanthroponotic transmission of M. tuberculosis and close human-cattle contact. To protect humans against occupational zoonotic diseases, it is essential to control bTB in cattle and raise the awareness among all occupational groups as well as reinforce biosafety at the farm level and in the abattoirs.

Author’s summary

Tuberculosis in cattle (bTB) causes financial losses to livestock owners and is a disease transmissible to humans especially those with an occupational risk through exposure to infected animals and animal products. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of bTB and characterize the mycobacterial species from cattle slaughtered in the six abattoirs in Rwanda. Four M. bovis, as well as one rifampicin-resistant (RR) M. tuberculosis, were identified from slaughtered cattle and, thus, the apparent bTB prevalence was 1.7% (5/300). Likely, the RR M. tuberculosis isolate was mostly likely of human origin and transmitted to cattle during close human-cattle contact. It is therefore essential to control bTB in cattle and reinforce the protection of farmworkers and abattoir workers who are always exposed to infected animals.
ProDCoNN-server: a web server for protein sequence prediction and design from a three-dimensional structure
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Mandal Arunima , Cui Kevin , Liu Xiuwen , Zhang Jinfeng
Published: November 2021

We present ProDCoNN-server, a web server for protein sequence design and prediction from a given protein structure. The server is based on a previously developed deep learning model for protein design, ProDCoNN, which achieved state-of-the-art performance when tested on large numbers of test proteins and benchmark datasets. The prediction is very fast compared with other protein sequence prediction servers - it takes only a few minutes for a query protein on average. Two models could be selected for different purposes: BBO for full sequence prediction, extendable for multiple sequence generation, and BBS for single position prediction with the type of other residues known. ProDCoNN-server outputs the predicted sequence and the probability matrix for each amino acid at each predicted residue. The probability matrix can also be visualized as a sequence logos figure (BBO) or probability distribution plot (BBS). The server is available at: https://prodconn.stat.fsu.edu/.
Scrutiny of human lung infection by SARS-CoV-2 and associated human immune responses in humanized mice
Authors: Sun Renren , Zhao Zongzheng , Fu Cong , Wang Yixin , Guo Zhendong , Zhang Chunmao , Liu Lina , Zhang Cheng , Shu Chang , He Jin , Hua Shucheng , Gao Yuwei , Hu Zheng
Published: November 2021

There is an urgent need for animal models of COVID-19 to study immunopathogenesis and test therapeutic intervenes. In this study we showed that NSG mice engrafted with human lung (HL) tissue (NSG-L mice) could be infected efficiently by SARS-CoV-2, and that live virus capable of infecting Vero cells was found in the HL grafts and multiple organs from infected NSG-L mice. RNA-seq examination identified a series of differentially expressed genes, which are enriched in viral defense responses, chemotaxis, interferon stimulation, and pulmonary fibrosis between HL grafts from infected and control NSG-L mice. Furthermore, when infecting humanized mice with human immune system (HIS) and autologous HL grafts (HISL mice), the mice had bodyweight loss and hemorrhage and immune cell infiltration in HL grafts, which were not observed in immunodeficient NSG-L mice, indicating the development of anti-viral immune responses in these mice. In support of this possibility, the infected HISL mice showed bodyweight recovery and lack of detectable live virus at the later time. These results demonstrate that NSG-L and HISL mice are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, offering a useful in vivo model for studying SARS-CoV-2 infection and the associated immune response and immunopathology, and testing anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies.
Correlation scan: identifying genomic regions that affect genetic correlations applied to fertility traits
Authors: Olasege Babatunde S. , Porto-Neto Laercio R. , Tahir Muhammad S. , Gouveia Gabriela C. , Cánovas Angela , Hayes Ben J. , Fortes Marina R. S.
Published: November 2021

Reproductive traits are often genetically correlated. Yet, we don’t fully understand the complexities, synergism, or trade-offs between male and female fertility. Here, we introduce correlation scan, a novel framework for identifying the drivers or antagonizers of the genetic correlation between male and female fertility traits across the bovine genome. The identification of these regions facilitates the understanding of the complexity of these traits. Although the methodology was applied to cattle phenotypes, using high-density SNP genotypes, the general framework developed can be applied to any species or traits, and it can easily accommodate genome sequence data.
Outer Membrane Vesicles from the gut microbiome contribute to tumor immunity by eliciting cross-reactive T cells
Authors: Tomasi M. , Caproni E. , Benedet M. , Zanella I. , Giorgetta S. , Dalsass M. , König E. , Gagliardi A. , Fantappiè L. , Berti A. , Tamburini S. , Croia L. , Di Lascio G. , Bellini E. , Valensin S. , Licata G. , Sebastiani G. , Dotta F. , Armanini F. , Cumbo F. , Asnicar F. , Blanco-Míguez A. , Ruggiero E. , Segata N. , Grandi G. , Grandi A.
Published: November 2021

The gut microbiome plays a key role in cancer immunity. One proposed mechanism is through the elicitation of T cells, which incidentally recognize neo-epitopes arising from cancer mutations (“molecular mimicry (MM)” hypothesis). To support MM,Escherichia coliNissle was engineered with the SIINFEKL epitope (OVA) and orally administered to C57BL/6 mice. The treatment elicited OVA-specific CD8+T cells in thelamina propriaand inhibited the growth of OVA-B16F10 tumors. Importantly, the administration of Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) engineered with different T cell epitopes elicited epitope-specific T cells and inhibited tumor growth. Microbiome shotgun sequencing and TCR sequencing provided evidence that cross-reacting T cells were induced at the mucosal level and subsequently reached the tumor site. Overall, our data support the role of MM in tumor immunity, assign a new role to OMVs and pave the way to new probiotics/OMV-based anti-cancer immunotherapies.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Characterizes the Molecular Heterogeneity of the Larval Zebrafish Optic Tectum
Authors: Martin Annalie , Babbitt Anne , Pickens Allison G. , Pickett Brett E. , Hill Jonathon T. , Suli Arminda
Published: November 2021

The optic tectum (OT) is a multilaminated midbrain structure that acts as the primary retinorecipient in the zebrafish brain. Homologous to the mammalian superior colliculus, the OT is responsible for the reception and integration of stimuli, followed by elicitation of salient behavioral responses. While the OT has been the focus of functional experiments for decades, less is known concerning specific cell types, microcircuitry, and their individual functions within the OT. Recent efforts have contributed substantially to the knowledge of tectal cell types; however, a comprehensive cell catalog is incomplete. Here we contribute to this growing effort by applying single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptomic profiles of tectal cells labeled by the transgenic enhancer trap line y304Et(cfos:Gal4;UAS:Kaede). We sequenced 13,320 cells, a 4X cellular coverage, and identified 25 putative OT cell populations. Within those cells, we identified several mature and developing neuronal populations, as well as non-neuronal cell types including oligodendrocytes, microglia, and radial glia. Although most mature neurons demonstrate GABAergic activity, several glutamatergic populations are present, as well as one glycinergic population. We also conducted Gene Ontology analysis to identify enriched biological processes, and computed RNA velocity to infer current and future transcriptional cell states. Finally, we conducted in situ hybridization to validate our bioinformatic analyses and spatially map select clusters. In conclusion, the larval zebrafish OT is a complex structure containing at least 25 transcriptionally distinct cell populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time scRNA-seq has been applied to explore the OT alone and in depth.
Mitochondrial DNA variants segregate during human preimplantation development into genetically different cell lineages that are maintained postnatally
Authors: Mertens Joke , Regin Marius , De Munck Neelke , de Deckersberg Edouard Couvreu , Belva Florence , Sermon Karen , Tournaye Herman , Blockeel Christophe , Van de Velde Hilde , Spits Claudia
Published: November 2021

Humans present remarkable mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variant mosaicism, not only across tissues but even across individual cells within one person. The timing of the first appearance of this mosaicism has not yet been established. In this study, we hypothesized it occurs during preimplantation development. To investigate this, we deep-sequenced the mtDNA of 254 oocytes from 85 donors, 158 single blastomeres of 25 day-3 embryos, 17 inner cell mass and trophectoderm samples of 7 day-5 blastocysts, 142 bulk DNA and 68 single cells of different adult tissues. We found that day-3 preimplantation embryos already present blastomeres that carry variants unique to that cell, showing that the first events of mtDNA mosaicism happen very early in human development. We classified the mtDNA variants based on their recurrence or uniqueness across sibling oocytes and embryos, and between single cells and samples from the same embryos or adult individuals. Variants that recurred across samples had higher heteroplasmic loads and more frequently resulted in synonymous changes or were located in non-coding regions than variants that were unique to one oocyte or single embryonic cell. These differences were maintained through developmental stages, suggesting that the mtDNA mosaicism arising in preimplantation development is maintained into adulthood. Further, the results support a model in which close clustering of mitochondria carrying specific mtDNA variants in the ooplasm leads to asymmetric distribution of these mitochondria throughout the cell divisions of the preimplantation embryo, resulting in the appearance of the first form of mtDNA mosaicism in human development.
Land use land cover dynamics through time and their proximate drivers of change in a tropical mountain system: a case study in a highland landscape of northern Ecuador
Authors: Guarderas Adriana Paulina , Smith Franz , Dufrene Marc
Published: November 2021

Tropical mountain ecosystems are threatened by land use pressures, reducing the capacity of ecosystems to provide a large diversity of benefits to people and to be able to achieve them in the long term. The analysis of land use pressures is often superficial and very general, although they are characterized by numerous interactions and strong differences in their local dynamics. We used a variety of freely available geospatial and temporal data and methods to assess and explain patterns of land use land cover (LULC) change, focusing on native ecosystem dynamics, in a sensitive region of the northern Ecuadorian Andes. Our results demonstrate a dynamic and clear geographical pattern of distinct LULC transitions through time, explained by different combination of socio-economic factors, pressure variables and environmental parameters, from which ecological context variables, such as slope and elevation, were the main drivers of change in this landscape. We found that deforestation of remnant native forest and agricultural expansion still occur in higher elevations located, while land conversion toward anthropic environments were observed in lower elevations to the east of the studied territory. Our findings also reveal an unexpected stability trend of paramo and a successional recovery of previous agricultural land to the west and center of the territory which could be explained by agricultural land abandonment. However, the very low probability of persistence of montane forests in most of the studied landscape, highlights the risk that the remnant montane forests will be permanently lost in a few years, posing a greater threat to the already vulnerable biodiversity and limiting the capacity ecosystem service provisioning. The dynamic patterns through space and time and their explanatory drivers, found in our study, could help improve sustainably resource land management in vulnerable landscapes such as the tropical Andes in northern Ecuador.
Regulation of ERK2 activity by dynamic S-acylation
Authors: Azizi Saara-Anne , Qiu Tian , Brookes Noah , Dickinson Bryan C.
Published: November 2021

The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) are key effector proteins of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, choreographing essential processes of cellular physiology. Critical in regulating these regulators are a patchwork of mechanisms, including post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as MEK-mediated phosphorylation. Here, we discover that ERK1/2 are subject to S-palmitoylation, a reversible lipid modification of cysteine residues, at C271/C254. Moreover, the levels of ERK1/2 S-acylation are modulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling, mirroring its phosphorylation dynamics, and palmitoylation-deficient ERK2 displays altered phosphorylation patterns at key sites. We find that chemical inhibition of either lipid addition or removal significantly alters ERK1/2’s EGF-triggered transcriptional program. We also identify a subset of “writer” protein acyl transferases (PATs) and an “eraser” acyl protein thioesterase (APT) that drive ERK1/2’s cycle of palmitoylation and depalmitoylation. Finally, we examine ERK1/2 S-acylation in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome, correlating changes in its lipidation levels with alterations in writer/eraser expression and solidifying the link between ERK1/2 activity, ERK1/2 lipidation, and organismal health. This study not only presents a previously undescribed mode of ERK1/2 regulation and a node to modulate MAPK pathway signaling in pathophysiological conditions, it also offers insight into the role of dynamic S-palmitoylation in cell signaling more generally.
Enteroendocrine cell types that drive food reward and aversion
Authors: Bai Ling , Sivakumar Nilla , Mesgarzadeh Sheyda , Ding Tom , Ly Truong , Corpuz Timothy V. , Grove James C.R. , Jarvie Brooke C. , Knight Zachary A.
Published: November 2021

Animals must learn through experience which foods are nutritious and should be consumed, and which are toxic and should be avoided. Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are the principal chemosensors in the GI tract, but investigation of their role in behavior has been limited by the difficulty of selectively targeting these cells in vivo. Here we describe an intersectional genetic approach for manipulating EEC subtypes in behaving mice. We show that multiple EEC subtypes inhibit food intake but have different effects on learning. Conditioned flavor preference is driven by release of cholecystokinin whereas conditioned taste aversion is mediated by serotonin and substance P. These positive and negative valence signals are transmitted by vagal and spinal afferents, respectively. These findings establish a cellular basis for how chemosensing in the gut drives learning about food.
Deep time structural evolution of retroviral and filoviral surface envelope proteins
Authors: Hötzel Isidro
Published: November 2021

The retroviral surface envelope protein subunit (SU) mediates receptor binding and triggers membrane fusion by the transmembrane subunit (TM). SU evolves rapidly under strong selective conditions, resulting in seemingly unrelated SU structures in highly divergent retroviruses. Structural modeling of the SU of several retroviruses and related endogenous retroviral elements with AlphaFold identifies a TM-proximal SU β-sandwich structure that has been conserved in the orthoretroviruses for at least 110 million years. The SU of orthoretroviruses diversified by differential expansion of the β -sandwich core to form domains involved in virus-host interactions. The β-sandwich domain is also conserved in the SU equivalent GP1 of Ebola virus although with a significantly different orientation in the trimeric envelope protein structure. The unified structural view of orthoretroviral SU and filoviral GP1 identifies an ancient, structurally conserved and evolvable domain underlying the structural diversity of orthoretroviral SU and filoviral GP1.
Crystal structure of the high-P polymorph of Ca2B6O6(OH)10·2(H2O) (meyerhofferite)
Authors: Comboni Davide , Poreba Tomasz , Pagliaro Francesco , Battiston Tommaso , Lotti Paolo , Gatta Giacomo Diego , Garbarino Gaston , Hanfland Michael
Published: November 2021

The crystal structure of the high-pressure polymorph of meyerhofferite, ideally Ca2B6O6(OH)10·2(H2O), has been determined by means of single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. Meyerhofferite undergoes a first-order isosymmetric phase transition to meyerhofferite-II, bracketed between 3.15 and 3.75 GPa, with a large volume discontinuity. The phase transition is marked by an increase in the coordination number of the boron B1 site, from III to IV, leading to a more interconnected and less compressible structure. The main structural differences between the two polymorphs and the P-induced deformation mechanisms at the atomic scale are discussed.
A bis-chelate o-vanillin-2-ethanolamine copper(II) complex bearing both imine and amine forms of the ligand
Authors: Plyuta Nataliya , Kokozay Vladimir N. , Rusanova Julia A. , Buvailo Halyna , Goreshnik Evgeny , Petrusenko Svitlana
Published: November 2021

The molecular bis-chelate complex (2-{[(2-hydroxyethyl-κO)amino-κN]methyl}-6-methoxyphenolato-κO)(2-{[(2-hydroxyethyl)imino-κN]methyl}-6-methoxyphenolato-κO)copper(II), [Cu(C10H14NO3)(C10H12NO3)] or [Cu(HL
im)(HL
am); HL
im = C10H14NO3; HL
am = C10H12NO3, represents the first compound containing a salicylidene-2-ethanolamine type ligand in both imino HL
im (Schiff base) and amino HL
am (reduced Schiff base) forms that has been structurally characterized on the basis of X-ray data. Two molecules of the monodeprotonated ligands coordinate the CuII ion in an (N,O
phen)-bidentate and an (N,O
phen,O
alc)-tridentate fashion in the case of the imino and amino forms, respectively. The shape of the CuN2O3 coordination polyhedron is a distorted square-pyramid (geometry index τ5 = 0.26). Intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, involving H atoms of the amino and hydroxyethyl groups, create a two-dimensional supramolecular array extending parallel to (010).
Inflation targeting and economic performance over the crisis: evidence from emerging market economies
Authors: Duong Thuy Hang
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Inflation targeting has increasingly become a popular monetary framework since its first introduction in New Zealand at the beginning of 1990. However, the causality effects of this policy on economic performance, particularly in periods of economic turmoil remain controversial. Thus, this paper re-examines the treatment effect of inflation targeting on two important macro indicators which are inflation rate and output growth with the focus on emerging market economies. The global financial crisis, which is known as the great recession since the last decade, is investigated as an exogenous shock to test for the effectiveness of this popular regime.

Design/methodology/approach

The difference-in-difference approach in the fixed-model is employed for this investigation using a balanced panel data of 54 countries with 15 inflation-targeting countries for the period 2002 to 2010.

Findings

The examination finds that there is no significant difference in terms of the inflation rate and gross domestic product growth over the whole research period between the treatment and control groups. However, the outcome suggests that emerging economies can control the increase in inflation rate when the economy has to cope with the exogenous uncertainties.

Research limitations/implications

This finding indicates important policy implications for central banks in many countries.

Originality/value

Inflation targeting can help emerging countries to reduce an increase in inflation rate in the crisis period without many trade-offs in the growth of output.
Deep learning for detecting distresses in buildings and pavements: a critical gap analysis
Authors: Elghaish Faris , Matarneh Sandra T. , Talebi Saeed , Abu-Samra Soliman , Salimi Ghazal , Rausch Christopher
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The massive number of pavements and buildings coupled with the limited inspection resources, both monetary and human, to detect distresses and recommend maintenance actions lead to rapid deterioration, decreased service life, lower level of service and increased community disruption. Therefore, this paper aims at providing a state-of-the-art review of the literature with respect to deep learning techniques for detecting distress in both pavements and buildings; research advancements per asset/structure type; and future recommendations in deep learning applications for distress detection.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical analysis was conducted on 181 papers of deep learning-based cracks detection. A structured analysis was adopted so that major articles were analyzed according to their focus of study, used methods, findings and limitations.

Findings

The utilization of deep learning to detect pavement cracks is advanced compared to assess and evaluate the structural health of buildings. There is a need for studies that compare different convolutional neural network models to foster the development of an integrated solution that considers the data collection method. Further research is required to examine the setup, implementation and running costs, frequency of capturing data and deep learning tool. In conclusion, the future of applying deep learning algorithms in lieu of manual inspection for detecting distresses has shown promising results.

Practical implications

The availability of previous research and the required improvements in the proposed computational tools and models (e.g. artificial intelligence, deep learning, etc.) are triggering researchers and practitioners to enhance the distresses’ inspection process and make better use of their limited resources.

Originality/value

A critical and structured analysis of deep learning-based crack detection for pavement and buildings is conducted for the first time to enable novice researchers to highlight the knowledge gap in each article, as well as building a knowledge base from the findings of other research to support developing future workable solutions.
Decolonising knowledge production in disaster management: a feminist perspective
Authors: Andrabi Shazana
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper focuses on how feminist research seeks to integrate the inclusion of women in society for them to be active participants in disaster management, and goes on to prove how crucial it is for disaster research to collaborate with feminist research to arrive at a cohesive, interwoven, interdisciplinary field and methodology, while at the same time giving the agency in the hands of local agents for them to bring about change through traditional methods interwoven with broader methodologies. To hand over the process to local agents would result in decolonisation of knowledge production and implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper was written using secondary sources, mainly in the form of books, journal articles and news articles. Reports by international organisations were used to augment data and other theoretical frameworks and references in the paper. The secondary sources were selected keeping in view one of the primary objectives of the paper, namely “decolonising knowledge production”. Analysis by postcolonial authors from the global South has been included. Research and literature based in local contexts form an important part of the sources consulted throughout this paper. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been used as a case study to highlight how disasters are still “gendered”; it opens up space for further research on the topic.

Findings

Even though women are increasingly recognised as agents of positive change in prevention, mitigation and post-disaster efforts, very little is done at the policy and implementation levels to include their experiences and benefit from them. There is an urgent need for systemic, gender-aware changes at socio-economic and political levels so that hazards may be prevented from turning into disasters by reducing the vulnerability of populations.

Originality/value

The importance of this research lies in its interdisciplinary approach and the integration of three fields of study disaster management, feminist/gender studies and decolonising knowledge production. The attempt is to analyse the interdependence of these fields of study to understand the lacunae in planning and implementation of disaster management policies, and to pave the way for further research by way of this integration.
The role of site manager transformational leadership in the construction project success
Authors: Zavari Masoud , Afshar Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2021

Purpose

In the construction industry, site managers are responsible for the day-to-day on-site running of a project. Site managers are required not only to ensure that work is done safely, on time, within budget and to the right quality standards, but also to manage any delays or problems encountered on-site during a construction project. Thus, a site manager has a significant position in the success of a construction project. However, there is a lack of studies considering the role of the leadership style of a site manager in construction project success. In this study, not only the effect of the transformational leadership (TL) style of site managers on the success of construction projects is assessed, but also the mediating role of team-building (TB) and team innovation between TL and project success is studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypotheses are tested by comparing the performance criteria of construction projects with the TL style of site managers. The success criteria of the projects are examined using project documents and client opinions, and the TL of site managers, TB aspects and team innovation in projects are assessed by asking from their subordinates. The Pearson correlation coefficient is employed to investigate the relation between every two variables.

Findings

The results illustrate that the TL of a site manager is directly related to project success; thus, the findings would confirm the importance of selecting appropriate site managers for construction projects. Moreover, while there is a mediating role of TB between TL and construction project success, team innovation does not have a mediating impact in design-bid-build (DBB) construction projects.

Originality/value

As there is a lack of studies assessing the TL effects on the success of construction projects and the significant role of site managers, this study is one of the first researches that tested these impacts and evaluated the mediating role of TB and team innovation between TL and project performance.
Holistic design of online degree programmes in higher education – a case study from Finland
Authors: Joshi Marjo Susanna
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present design principles for holistic design of online degree programmes (ODPs) in higher education (HE). The study adds to previous research on online programme design by examining how the digital competence and pedagogical strategy of a HE organisation can inform holistic ODP design.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study placed in the context of a Finnish applied HE organisation. Design-based research (DBR) process is used to create holistic design principles for new ODPs. Theoretical framework for the study is digitally competent organisation (Kampylis et al., 2015) and pedagogical strategy is innovation pedagogy (Kettunen et al., 2013).

Findings

Design principles for pedagogically informed holistic design of ODPs are presented as a three-tiered model comprising organisational, pedagogical and ODP layers. Each layer includes various principles for holistic design to integrate an organisation's pedagogical strategy in a digitally competent context to create quality ODPs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a case study from a HE organisation in Finland, but results are applicable to a wider global audience.

Practical implications

As a contribution to practitioners, this paper presents a three-tiered holistic design of ODP in HE organisation, where the design principles are categorised in organisational, pedagogical and ODP design layers. In addition, suggestions to managers, instructional designers and educators are made for the holistic design of ODPs.

Social implications

Building the sense of community in ODPs and offering continuous support in pedagogy and technology are valuable for the well-being of the staff, students and the wider society.

Originality/value

The paper draws relationships between holistic design of ODPs, digital competence and pedagogical strategy. The paper provides managerial and operational viewpoints to managers, administrators and educators of HE organisations that plan to create new ODPs with a holistic focus on the educational organisation, its pedagogical strategy and digital competence. Recommendations for further development, possible applications and research of ODP education are made.
Flexible working arrangement and job performance: the mediating role of supervisor support
Authors: Sekhar Chandra , Patwardhan Manoj
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study's main objective is to investigate the influence of flexible working arrangements (FWAs) on employee job performance. In addition, this research studies the mediating role of supervisor's support on the relationship between FWAs and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypothesised model, cross-sectional data were collected from 214 employees working in 46 service firms in India. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling.

Findings

The supervisor's support mediated the relationship between FWAs and job performance. The study’s results show that role of supervisors shapes the collective social exchange relationship between the organisation and employees. These findings highlight the importance of shared experiences, values and norms, which reciprocate with change-supportive behaviours and abilities. Moreover, supervisors’ support transmits signals through which employees feel more valued and eventually affect their job performance.

Research limitations/implications

The research is confined to India's service industries settings only.

Practical implications

Service firm management recommended implementing FWAs with appropriate organisation level planning, which directly benefits employees' well-being, improves work–life balance, reduces the rate of employee turnover and leads to increased employee productivity.

Originality/value

The study's result is that supervisor's support has a significant influence on employee uptake of FWAs, and understanding how the service firm's context shapes supervisors’ support is critical to improving FWAs implementation.
Composing the same song: when and how high-performance work systems can stimulate proactive behavior
Authors: Lin Chiou-Shiu , Xiao Ran , Huang Pei-Chi , Huang Liang-Chih
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Drawing on signaling theory, the purpose of this study is to explore how high-performance work systems (HPWS) interact with leader–member exchange (LMX) to predict employees' proactive behavior and job engagement. Moreover, the present study also proposes the mediating role of job engagement in the interactive effects of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of this study include 228 customer-contact employees and 44 store managers from chain store enterprises in the service sector in Taiwan. The proposed models were tested with hierarchical linear modeling and Monte Carlo simulation.

Findings

The results show a significant interactive effect of HPWS and LMX on job engagement and proactive behavior. In addition, job engagement serves as a vital mechanism linking the interactive effect of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior.

Originality/value

This study uses signaling theory to unpack the question when and how HPWS can be more influential on employees' proactive behavior. In particular, the positive effect of HPWS on proactive behavior is more prominent only when employees enjoy high LMX quality with their respective line managers. In addition, the interactive effects of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior are mediated by job engagement. The findings provide valuable theoretical and managerial contribution by integrating HRM and leadership research.
Aesthetic wisdom of older workers
Authors: Niemi-Kaija Kristiina
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose the notion of the value and contribution of the wisdom of older workers in working life.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a framework of organisational aesthetics, this paper presents an empirical case study analysing the material collected from Finnish municipal home care services and sheltered accommodation designed for older people. Through the analysis of the stories of older and younger employees, the case study shows how workers construct ideas of skills related to ageing, how the wisdom of older workers has been transformed into practices and how aesthetic wisdom might benefit this social process.

Findings

The findings reveal three characteristics of ageing wisdom – caring, graceful and joyful wisdom – that all present focused sensitivity, emphasizing the subject’s experience, feelings and emotions. The findings also illustrate how the authority of older workers made visible this feeling-driven wisdom and values, and through these means, enhanced the skills of younger employees.

Social implications

The present paper challenges the debate on ageing which has mainly focused on the problems of older workers in a social context.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights into the skills of older workers in the empirical and theoretical framework of organisational aesthetics.
Informal financing or debt traps: are the UN sustainable development goals being met in emerging economies?
Authors: Manzilati Asfi , Prestianawati Silvi Asna
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide new insights into the financing system used in emerging economies and how they related to UN Development Goals for sustainable development. The study focuses on small businesses’ informal financing options and whether these lead the borrower into a debt trap.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the example of small-medium fisheries in Indonesia to highlight the formal/informal financing options availed by the businesses and their relationship with the lender. The authors use the qualitative method with a phenomenology approach and interview key stakeholders in the sector.

Findings

The authors find that the set interest repayments and the checks and balances involved in judging the borrower’s creditworthiness make the formal due to the strict requirements. Instead, the fishermen rely on the informal financing system and borrow from the mapak – a person who lends money on the condition that the fishermen’s catch will be sold to the lender as repayment.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the financing system in emerging economies. Using the coastal business areas in the Indonesian fishing sector, the authors highlight the informal financing system and the potential debt trap. Future research could extend and study this issue in other industries and geographic regions to test whether emerging economies meet their targets and commitments under the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Emerging markets like Indonesia have a unique model of financing system and their business structure. Three conditions are highlighted in the financing system of business in coastal areas, namely, informal financing, close market access and social capital.

Originality/value

This study addresses financial inclusion and whether the UN Sustainability Development Goal 8 is being met in emerging economies. The study is one of the few to address this issue and highlights that emerging economies are yet to take concrete steps to make the formal financing sector more inclusive to achieve poverty alleviation.
When love matters. Experience and brand love as antecedents of loyalty and willingness to pay a premium price in streaming services
Authors: Santos Mauricio , Schlesinger Walesska
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to test the effects of brand experience and brand love on brand loyalty and willingness to pay a premium price in streaming television services.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling was used to assess the proposed theoretical model drawing on data from 220 subscribers of a well-known TV streaming brand services (Netflix).

Findings

The results revealed that brand experience and brand love have a significant direct impact on brand loyalty and willingness to pay a premium price in streaming TV services. Also, the impact brand experience has on brand loyalty and on willingness to pay a premium price is partially mediated by brand love.

Practical implications

In the streaming television industry, brand managers can create more meaningful experiences that create strong and emotional bonds with users, thereby increasing loyalty levels and intention to pay a premium price. Also, brand managers should consider focusing their efforts to young consumers, as they have a stronger attachment to technology than older generational groups.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the existing literature on brand experience in the entertainment television industry and provides evidence of the role of experience and brand love on brand loyalty and willingness to pay a premium price in services.
Woodpeckers and other excavators maintain the diversity of cavity‐nesting vertebrates
Authors: Trzcinski M. Kurtis , Cockle Kristina L. , Norris Andrea R. , Edworthy Max , Wiebe Karen L. , Martin Kathy
Published: November 2021

Woodpeckers and other excavators create most of the holes used by secondary cavity nesters (SCNs) in North American temperate mixedwood forests, but the degree to which excavators release SCNs from nest‐site limitation is debated.

Our goal was to quantify how excavators maintain the diversity and abundance of secondary cavity nesters in a temperate forest through the creation of tree cavities.

We examined the short‐ and long‐term (legacy) effects of excavators (principally woodpeckers, but also red‐breasted nuthatches and black‐capped chickadees) on forest biodiversity using longitudinal monitoring data (1,732 nest cavities, 25 sites, 16 years) in British Columbia, Canada.

Sites with higher densities of excavator nests had more cavities available, higher species richness of SCNs and higher nest density of SCNs, indicating the importance of a standing stock of cavities. Years with higher nesting densities of excavators were followed by years with higher SCN diversity, indicating that the creation of nesting opportunities through fresh excavation releases SCNs from community‐wide nest‐site limitation. We also show that excavators leave a ‘legacy’ of biodiversity (species richness and abundance) at a site by accumulating cavities at rates faster than they become unusable by decay or destruction.

By quantifying site‐level effects of cavity excavation on the SCN community, our study highlights the key role of excavators as ecosystem engineers that maintain forest wildlife biodiversity.
Changes in arthropod communities mediate the effects of landscape composition and farm management on pest control ecosystem services in organically managed strawberry crops
Authors: Lu Adrian , Gonthier David J. , Sciligo Amber R. , Garcia Karina , Chiba Taiki , Juárez Gila , Kremen Claire
Published: November 2021

Landscape composition and local diversification practices such as polyculture, cover cropping and hedgerows may promote natural pest control by benefiting natural enemy communities on farms. Our study employs piecewise structural equation modelling (PSEM) to test causal hypotheses regarding the effects of landscape composition and local diversification practices on arthropod communities and pest control ecosystem services.

We sampled 27 organic strawberry fields in California's Central Coast region in 2015 and 2016 (17 repeated between years) for a total of 37 distinct sites across years. The sites were selected along orthogonal gradients of landscape composition and local diversification practices. We also investigated the effects of two common pest management practices. At each site, we sampled arthropod communities using a handheld vacuum and performed sentinel prey experiments using the pest species Lygus hesperus to estimate pest control levels.

At the landscape scale, proportion of woody habitat increased natural enemy abundance; at the local scale, on‐farm diversification practices increased natural enemy diversity.

Insecticides and tractor vacuuming, aimed at controlling pests, were indirectly detrimental to pest control services. Both practices decreased natural enemy abundance, and while insecticides also decreased pest abundance, vacuuming did not.

Natural enemy abundance and diversity increased pest control levels, while pest abundance had the opposite effect. The PSEM results confirmed our hypotheses that landscape and local effects on pest control are mediated through changes in arthropod communities.

Synthesis and applications. At the landscape scale, higher proportions of woody habitat are associated with greater natural enemy abundance, which increases pest control levels in organic strawberry crops. When promoting pest control ecosystem services is a policy goal, regional planners should prioritize the conservation and restoration of woodlands in agricultural landscapes. At the local scale, actions by individual growers can impact pest control services. For many growers, adopting practices that promote on‐farm plant diversity may be a feasible solution for increasing pest control levels while avoiding the environmental and economic costs imposed by insecticide application and tractor vacuuming.
Why doesn’t integrated care work? Using Strong Structuration Theory to explain the limitations of an English case
Authors: Hughes Gemma , Shaw Sara E. , Greenhalgh Trisha
Published: November 2021

Integrated care is an aim and a method for organising health and care services, particularly for older people and those with chronic conditions. Policy expects that integrated care programmes will provide person‐centred coordinated care which will improve patient or client experience, enable population health, prevent hospital admissions and thereby reduce costs. However, empirical evaluations of integrated care interventions have shown disappointing results. We analysed an in‐depth case study using Strong Structuration Theory to ask: how and why have efforts to integrate health and social care failed to produce desired outcomes? In our case, integrated case management and the creation of cost‐saving plans were dominant practices. People working in health and social care recursively produced a structure of integrated care: a recognised set of resources created by collective activities. Integrated care, intended to help patients manage their long‐term conditions and avoid hospital admission, was only a small part of the complex network that sustained patients at home. The structures of integrated care were unable to compensate for changes in patients’ health. The result was that patients’ experiences remained largely unaffected and hospital admissions were not easily avoided.