bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory cell populations depend on age, sex, and prior experience across a neural network for Critical Period learning
Authors: Gogola Joseph V , Gores Elisa O , London Sarah E
Published: June 2019

In many ways, the complement of cell subtypes determines the information processing that a local brain circuit can perform. For example, the balance of excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) signaling within a brain region contributes to response magnitude and specificity in ways that influence the effectiveness of information processing. An extreme example of response changes to sensory information occur across Critical Periods (CPs). In primary mammalian visual cortex, GAD65 and parvalbumin inhibitory cell types in particular control experience-dependent responses during a CP. Here, we test how the density of GAD65- and parvalbumin-expressing cells may inform on a CP for complex behavioral learning. Juvenile male zebra finch songbirds (females cannot sing) learn to sing through coordinated sensory, sensorimotor, and motor learning processes distributed throughout a well-defined neural network. There is a CP is for sensory learning, the stage during which a young male forms a memory of his “tutor’s” song, which is then used to guide the young bird’s emerging song structure. We quantified the effect of sex and experience with a tutor on the cell densities of GAD65- and parvalbumin-expressing cells across major nodes of the song network, using ages that span the CP for tutor song memorization. As a resource, we also include whole-brain mapping data for both genes. Results indicate that inhibitory cell populations differ across sex, age, and experiential conditions, but not always in the ways we predicted.
Down regulation ofHmgcrin response to Influenza A infection is independent of the IFN response in human cells
Authors: Lu Hongjin , Talbot Simon
Published: June 2019

Previous studies have demonstrated that the product of the Interferon stimulated geneCh25h, 25-Hydroxycholestrol, provides an immediate and rapid mechanism for down-regulating sterol biosynthesis, through the inhibition ofHmgcrgene expression and proteolytic degradation of HMGCR protein. Further studies provide evidence that inhibition of the sterol biosynthesis pathway by 25-HC has broad antiviral effects. In this study, Influenza A virus (IAV) replication was inhibited in cells treated with Fluvastatin or whereHmgcrexpression was inhibited with an siRNA. Treatment of A549 cells with 25-HC however, resulted in a 2-fold enhancement of IAV replication despite the fact that 25-HC promotes the proteolytic degradation of HMGCR. A549 cells infected with IAV revealed a rapid loss of HMGCR protein, a reduction inHmgcrgene expression as well as an increase in the expression ofCh25h, that were all independent of the IFN pathway. Infection of both wild-type andCh25h−/−murine BMDMs with IAV also revealed a rapid loss of HMGCR abundance indicating that 25-HC independent mechanisms exist for promoting proteolytic degradation of HMGCR. These data for the human A549 cell line contrast with the induction ofCh25hand subsequent loss of HMGCR in murine cells that has been shown to be dependent on IFN signalling.

Importance

Cholesterol, a lipid, is mainly produced by the liver or obtained from everyday foods. It is an essential element of the structure of cells and is vital for maintaining the normal function of human body. In cells, cholesterol can be oxidised to oxysterols by biological catalysts, known as enzymes. Certain oxysterols have recently emerged as important elements in the immune response to micro-organisms. This project studied a key enzyme, which is a component of the cholesterol metabolism, known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). A set of experiments were designed and performed to study the behaviour of HMGCR following viral infections. This study lays the foundation for re-building a map of cholesterol metabolism and the immune response to viral infection. It will be useful for understanding the importance of cholesterol metabolism in infection and exploring novel antiviral strategies.
Targeting glutamine metabolism enhances tumor specific immunity by inhibiting the generation of MDSCs and reprogramming tumor associated macrophages
Authors: Oh Min-Hee , Sun Im-Hong , Zhao Liang , Leone Robert , Sun Im-Meng , Xu Wei , Collins Samuel L. , Tam Ada J. , Blosser Richard L. , Patel Chirag H. , Englert Judson , Arwood Matthew L. , Wen Jiayu , Chan-Li Yee , Majer Pavel , Rais Rana , Slusher Barbara S. , Horton Maureen R. , Powell Jonathan D.
Published: June 2019

Myeloid cells comprise a major component of the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) promoting tumor growth and immune evasion. By employing a novel small molecule inhibitor of glutamine metabolism not only were we able to inhibit tumor growth but we markedly inhibited the generation and recruitment of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC). Targeting tumor glutamine metabolism led to a decrease in CSF-3 and hence recruitment of MDSC as well immunogenic cell death leading to an increase in inflammatory Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs). Alternatively, inhibiting glutamine metabolism of the MDSC themselves led to activation induced cell death and conversion of MDSC to inflammatory macrophages. Surprisingly, blocking glutamine metabolism also inhibited IDO expression of both the tumor and myeloid derived cells leading to a marked decrease in kynurenine levels. This in turn inhibited the development of metastasis and further enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Indeed, targeting glutamine metabolism rendered checkpoint blockade-resistant tumors susceptible to immunotherapy. Overall, our studies define an intimate interplay between the unique metabolism of tumors and the metabolism of suppressive immune cells.
DTI-CDF: a CDF model towards the prediction of DTIs based on hybrid features
Authors: Chu Yan-Yi , Zhang Yu-Fang , Wang Wei , Wang Xian-Geng , Shan Xiao-Qi , Xiong Yi , Wei Dong-Qing
Published: June 2019

Drug-target interactions play a crucial role in target-based drug discovery and exploitation. Computational prediction of DTIs has become a popular alternative strategy to the experimental methods for identification of DTIs of which are both time and resource consuming. However, the performances of the current DTIs prediction approaches suffer from a problem of low precision and high false positive rate. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel DTIs prediction method, named DTI-CDF, for improving the prediction precision based on a cascade deep forest model which integrates hybrid features, including multiple similarity-based features extracted from the heterogeneous graph, fingerprints of drugs, and evolution information of target protein sequences. In the experiments, we built five replicates of 10 fold cross-validations under three different experimental settings of data sets, namely, corresponding DTIs values of certain drugs (SD), targets (ST), or drug-target pairs (SP) in the training set are missed, but existed in the test set. The experimental results show that our proposed approach DTI-CDF achieved significantly higher performance than the state-of-the-art methods.
The neonatal microenvironment programs conventional and intestinal Tbet+γδT17 cells through the transcription factor STAT5
Authors: Kadekar Darshana , Agerholm Rasmus , Rizk John , Neubauer Heidi , Suske Tobias , Maurer Barbara , Viñals Monica Torrellas , Comelli Elena , Taibi Amel , Moriggl Richard , Bekiaris Vasileios
Published: June 2019

Interleukin(IL)-17-producing RORγt+γδ T (γδT17) cells develop in the embryonic thymus and participate in type 3 immune responses. Herein we show that γδT17 cells rapidly proliferate within neonatal lymph nodes and gut, where upon entry they uniquely upregulate Tbet and co-express IL-17, IL-22 and interferon(IFN) γ in a STAT3 and retinoic acid dependent manner. Neonatal expansion was halted in mice conditionally deficient in STAT5 and its loss resulted in γδT17 cell depletion from all adult organs. Hyperactive STAT5 mutant mice showed that the STAT5A homologue had a dominant role over STAT5B in promoting γδT17 cell expansion and downregulating gut-associated Tbet. In contrast, STAT5B preferentially expanded IFNγ-producing γδ populations. Importantly, mice lacking γδT17 cells due to STAT5 deficiency displayed a profound resistance to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Our data identify for the first time STAT5 as a key molecular checkpoint allowing γδT17 cells to pass through a critical neonatal developmental window to acquire tissue-specific characteristics essential for infection and autoimmunity.
Little Evidence for Associations Between the Big Five Personality Traits and Variability in Brain Gray or White Matter
Authors: Avinun Reut , Israel Salomon , Knodt Annchen R. , Hariri Ahmad R.
Published: June 2019

Attempts to link the Big Five personality traits of Openness-to-Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism with variability in trait-like features of brain structure have produced inconsistent results. Small sample sizes and heterogeneous methodology have been suspected in driving these inconsistencies. Here, we tested for associations between the Big Five personality traits and multiple measures of brain structure using data from 1,107 university students (636 women, mean age 19.69±1.24 years) representing the largest attempt to date. In addition to replication analyses based on a prior study, we conducted exploratory whole-brain analyses. Four supplementary analyses were also conducted to examine 1) possible associations with lower-order facets of personality; 2) modulatory effects of sex; 3) effect of controlling for non-target personality traits; and 4) parcellation scheme effects. The analyses failed to identify any significant associations between the Big Five personality traits and variability in measures of cortical thickness, surface area, subcortical volume, or white matter microstructural integrity, except for an association between greater surface area of the superior temporal gyrus and lower scores on conscientiousness that explained 0.44% of the morphometric measure’s variance. Notably however, the latter association is largely not supported by previous studies. The supplementary analyses mirrored these largely null findings, suggesting they were not substantively biased by our choice of analytic model. Collectively, these results indicate that if there are direct associations between the Big Five personality traits and variability in brain structure, they are of likely very small effect sizes and will require very large samples for reliable detection.
MALT1 mediates IL-17 Neural Signaling to regulate C. elegansbehavior, immunity and longevity
Authors: Flynn Sean M. , Chen Changchun , Artan Murat , Barratt Stephen , Crisp Alastair , Nelson Geoffrey M. , Peak-Chew Sew-Yeu , Begum Farida , Skehel Mark , de Bono Mario
Published: June 2019

Besides well-known immune roles, the evolutionarily ancient cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) modulates neural circuit function. We investigate how IL-17 signals in neurons, and the extent to which this signaling can alter organismal phenotypes. We combine immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to biochemically characterize endogenous signaling complexes that function downstream of IL-17 receptors inC. elegans(Ce) neurons. We identify theCeortholog of MALT1 as a critical output of the pathway. MALT1 was not previously implicated in IL-17 signaling or in nervous system function. MALT1 forms a complex with homologs of Act1 and IRAK and functions both as a scaffold for IκB recruitment, and as a protease. MALT1 is expressed broadly in theCenervous system, and neuronal IL-17–MALT1 signaling regulates many phenotypes, including escape behavior, associative learning, immunity and longevity. Our data suggest MALT1 has an ancient role modulating neural function downstream of IL-17 to remodel physiological and behavioral state.
Pilot Study of Metabolomic Clusters as State Markers of Major Depression and Outcomes to CBT Treatment
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sudeepa , Dunlop Boadie W. , Mahmoudiandehkordi Siamak , Ahmed Ahmed T. , Louie Gregory , Frye Mark A. , Weinshilboum Richard M. , Krishnan Ranga R , Rush A John , Mayberg Helen S. , Craighead W. Edward , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima
Published: June 2019

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and disabling syndrome with multiple etiologies that is defined by clinically elicited signs and symptoms. In hopes of developing a list of candidate biological measures that reflect and relate closely to the severity of depressive symptoms, so-called “state-dependent” biomarkers of depression, this pilot study explored the biochemical underpinnings of treatment response to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in medication-freeMDD outpatients. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and week 12 from a subset of MDD patients (N=26) who completed a course of CBT treatment as part of the Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study. Targeted metabolomic profiling using the the AbsoluteIDQ® p180 Kit and LC-MS identified eight “co-expressed” metabolomic modules. Of these eight, three were significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms over the course of the 12-weeks. Metabolites found to be most strongly correlated with change in depressive symptoms were branched chain amino acids, acylcarnitines, methionine sulfoxide, and α-aminoadipic acid (negative correlations with symptom change) as well as several lipids, particularly the phosphatidlylcholines (positive correlation). These results implicate disturbed bioenergetics as an important state marker in the pathobiology of MDD. Exploratory analyses contrasting remitters to CBT versus those who failed the treatment further suggest these metabolites may serve as mediators of recovery during CBT treatment. Larger studies examining metabolomic change patterns in patients treated with pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy will be necessary to elucidate the biological underpinnings of MDD and the -specific biologies of treatment response.
Evaluating the contribution of cell-type specific alternative splicing to variation in lipid levels
Authors: Gawronski K.A.B. , Bone W. , Park Y. , Pashos E. , Wang X. , Yang W. , Rader D. , Musunuru K. , Voight B. , Brown C.
Published: June 2019

Background

Genome-wide association studies have identified 150+ loci associated with lipid levels. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying most of these loci are not well-understood. Recent work indicates that changes in the abundance of alternatively spliced transcripts contributes to complex trait variation. Consequently, identifying genetic loci that associate with alternative splicing in disease-relevant cell types and determining the degree to which these loci are informative for lipid biology is of broad interest.

Methods and Results

We analyze gene splicing in 83 sample-matched induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and hepatocyte-like cell (HLC) lines (n=166), as well as in an independent collection of primary liver tissues (n=96). We observe that transcript splicing is highly cell-type specific, and the genes that are differentially spliced between iPSCs and HLCs are enriched for metabolism pathway annotations. We identify 1,381 HLC splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs) and 1,462 iPSC sQTLs and find that sQTLs are often shared across cell types. To evaluate the contribution of sQTLs to variation in lipid levels, we conduct colocalization analysis using lipid genome-wide association data. We identify 19 lipid-associated loci that colocalize either with an HLC expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) or sQTL. Only one locus colocalizes with both an sQTL and eQTL, indicating that sQTLs contribute information about GWAS loci that cannot be obtained by analysis of steady-state gene expression alone.

Conclusions

These results provide an important foundation for future efforts that use iPSC and iPSC-derived cells to evaluate genetic mechanisms influencing both cardiovascular disease risk and complex traits in general.
A combinatorial biomolecular strategy to identify peptides for improved transport across the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients and the underlying epithelia
Authors: Leal Jasmim , Liu Xinquan , Peng Xiujuan , Mohanty Rashmi P. , Arasappan Dhivya , Wylie Dennis , Schwartz Sarah H. , Fullmer Jason J. , McWilliams Bennie C. , Smyth Hugh D. C. , Ghosh Debadyuti
Published: June 2019

Drugs and drug delivery systems have to traverse multiple biological barriers to achieve therapeutic efficacy. In diseases of mucosal-associated tissues such as cystic fibrosis (CF), successful delivery of gene and drug therapies remains a significant challenge due to an abnormally concentrated viscoelastic mucus, which prevents ~99% of all drugs and particles from penetrating the mucus barrier and the underlying epithelia for effective therapy, resulting in decreased survival. We used combinatorial peptide-presenting phage libraries and next-generation sequencing to identify hydrophilic, close to net-neutral charged peptides that penetrate the mucus barrier ex vivo in sputum from CF patients with ~600-fold better penetration than a positively charged control. After mucus penetration, nanoparticles conjugated with our selected peptides successfully translocated into lung epithelial cells derived from CF patients and demonstrated up to three-fold improved cell uptake compared to non-modified carboxylated- and gold standard PEGylated-nanoparticles. The selected peptides act as surface chemistries with synergistic functions to significantly improve the ability of drug delivery systems to overcome the human mucosal barriers and provide efficient cellular internalization. Our screening strategy provides a biologically-based discovery assay that directly addresses transport through mucus and cell barriers and has the potential to advance drug and gene delivery to multiple mucosal barriers.
Photon-counting cine-cardiac CT in the mouse
Authors: Clark Darin P. , Holbrook Matthew , Lee Chang-Lung , Badea Cristian T.
Published: June 2019

The maturation of photon-counting detector (PCD) technology promises to enhance routine CT imaging applications with high-fidelity spectral information. In this paper, we demonstrate the power of this synergy and our complementary reconstruction techniques, performing 4D, cardiac PCD-CT data acquisition and reconstruction in a mouse model of atherosclerosis, including calcified plaque. Specifically,in vivocardiac micro-CT scans were performed in four ApoE knockout mice, following their development of calcified plaques. The scans were performed with a prototype PCD (DECTRIS, Ltd.) with 4 energy thresholds. Projection sampling was performed with 10 ms temporal resolution, allowing the reconstruction of 10 cardiac phases at each of 4 energies (40, 3D volumes per mouse scan). Reconstruction was performed iteratively using the split Bregman method with constraints on spectral rank and spatio-temporal gradient sparsity. The reconstructed images represent the firstin vivo, 4D PCD-CT data in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Robust regularization during iterative reconstruction yields high-fidelity results: an 8-fold reduction in noise standard deviation for the highest energy threshold (relative to algebraic reconstruction), while absolute spectral bias measurements remain below 13 Hounsfield units across all energy thresholds and scans. Qualitatively, image domain material decomposition results show clear separation of iodinated contrast and soft tissue from calcified plaque in thein vivodata. Quantitatively, spatial, spectral, and temporal fidelity are verified through a water phantom scan and a realistic MOBY phantom simulation experiment: spatial resolution is robustly preserved by iterative reconstruction (10% MTF: 2.8-3.0 lp/mm), left-ventricle, cardiac functional metrics can be measured from iodine map segmentations with ∼1% error, and small calcifications (615 μm) can be detected during slow moving phases of the cardiac cycle. Given these preliminary results, we believe that PCD technology will enhance dynamic CT imaging applications with high-fidelity spectral and material information.
Nonlinear Dispersive Cell Model for Microdosimetry of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields
Authors: Guo Fei , Zhang Lin , Liu Xin
Published: June 2019

For nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) based application, the underlying transmembrane potential (TMP) distribution of the plasma membrane is influenced by electroporation (EP) of the plasma membrane and dispersion (DP) of all cell compartments and is important for predicting the bioelectric effects. In this study, we analysed temporal and spatial distribution of TMP induced by nsPEFs of various durations (3 ns, 5 ns unipolar, 5 ns bipolar, and 10 ns) with the consideration of both DP and EP. Based on the double-shelled dielectric spherical cell model, we used second-order Debye equation to characterize the dielectric relaxation of plasma membrane and nuclear membrane in the frequency domain and transformed the Debye equation into the time domain with the introduction of polarization vector, then we obtained the time course of TMP by solving the combination of Laplace equation and time-domain Debye equation. Next, we used the asymptotic version of the smoluchowski equation to characterize electroporation of plasma membrane and added it to our model to achieve the temporal and spatial distribution of TMP and pore density. Much faster and more pronounced increased in TMP can be found with the consideration of dielectric relaxation of plasma membrane and nuclear membrane, and much larger electroporated area of at least half of the plasma membrane was obtained with the consideration of both DP and EP. Through the simulation it is clearer to understand the relationship.
Planning to revisit: neural activity in refixation precursors
Authors: Nikolaev Andrey R. , Ehinger Benedikt V. , Meghanathan Radha Nila , Leeuwen Cees van
Published: June 2019

Eye tracking studies suggest that refixations, fixations to locations previously visited, serve to recover information lost or missed during earlier exploration of a visual scene. These studies have largely ignored the role of precursor fixations, previous fixations on locations the eyes return to later. We consider the possibility that preparations to return later are already made during precursor fixations. This would mark precursor fixations as a special category of fixations, i.e., distinct in neural activity from other fixation categories such as refixations and fixations to locations visited only once. To capture the neural signals associated with fixation categories, we analyzed EEG and eye movement recorded simultaneously in a free-viewing contour search task. We developed a methodological pipeline involving regression-based deconvolution modeling, allowing our analyses to account for overlapping EEG responses due to the saccade sequence and other oculomotor covariates. We found that precursor fixations were preceded by the largest saccades among the fixation categories. Independently of the effect of saccade length, EEG amplitude was enhanced in precursor fixations compared to the other fixation categories 200-400 ms after fixation onsets, most noticeably over the occipital areas. We concluded that precursor fixations play a pivotal role in visual perception, marking the continuous occurrence of transitions between exploratory and exploitative modes of eye movement in natural viewing behavior.
Towards an extremely high resolution broad-band flat-field spectrometer in the `water window'
Authors: Li Zhuo , Li Bin
Published: June 2019

The optical design of a novel spectrometer is presented, combining a cylindrically convex pre-mirror with a cylindrically concave varied-line-spacing grating (both in the meridional) to deliver a resolving power of 100000–200000 in the `water window' (2–5 nm). Most remarkably, the extremely high spectral resolution is achieved for an effective meridional source size of 50 µm (r.m.s.); this property could potentially be applied to diagnose SASE-FEL and well resolve individual single spikes in its radiation spectrum. The overall optical aberrations of the system are well analysed and compensated, providing an excellent flat-field at the detector domain throughout the whole spectral range. Also, a machine-learning scheme – SVM – is introduced to explore and reconstruct the optimal system with high efficiency.
Crystal structure of N-(diphenylphosphoryl)-2-methoxybenzamide
Authors: Trush Victor A. , Kariaka Nataliia S. , Dyakonenko Viktoriya V. , Shishkina Svitlana V. , Amirkhanov Vladimir M.
Published: June 2019

In the title compound, C20H18NO3P, the C=O and P=O groups of the carbacylamidophosphate (CAPh) fragments are located in a synclinal position relative to each other and are pre-organized for bidentate chelate coordination of metal ions. The N—H group is involved in the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. In the crystal, molecules do not form strong intermolecular interactions but the molecules are linked via weak C—H...π interactions, forming chains along [001].
Crystal structures and snapshots along the reaction pathway of human phosphoserine phosphatase
Authors: Haufroid Marie , Mirgaux Manon , Leherte Laurence , Wouters Johan
Published: June 2019

The equilibrium between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation is one of the most important processes that takes place in living cells. Human phosphoserine phosphatase (hPSP) is a key enzyme in the production of serine by the dephosphorylation of phospho-L-serine. It is directly involved in the biosynthesis of other important metabolites such as glycine and D-serine (a neuromodulator). hPSP is involved in the survival mechanism of cancer cells and has recently been found to be an essential biomarker. Here, three new high-resolution crystal structures of hPSP (1.5–2.0 Å) in complexes with phosphoserine and with serine, which are the substrate and the product of the reaction, respectively, and in complex with a noncleavable substrate analogue (homocysteic acid) are presented. New types of interactions take place between the enzyme and its ligands. Moreover, the loop involved in the open/closed state of the enzyme is fully refined in a totally unfolded conformation. This loop is further studied through molecular-dynamics simulations. Finally, all of these analyses allow a more complete reaction mechanism for this enzyme to be proposed which is consistent with previous publications on the subject.
The cultural non-participant: critical logics and discursive subject identities
Authors: Stevenson David
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The existence of so-called non-participants is a cultural policy problem in the UK and beyond. Yet, the very notion of a cultural non-participant seems nonsensical against the palpable evidence of lived experience. The purpose of this paper is to understand “who” a cultural non-participant is by first comprehending “what” the cultural non-participant is and why it exists.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on primary data generated in the form of 40 in-depth qualitative interviews, this paper employs a discursive methodology to explore the critical logics (Howarth, 2010) that underlie the problem representation (Bacchi, 2009) of cultural non-participation and in particular the discursive subject identity of the cultural non-participant.

Findings

Beginning with a discussion about how cultural non-participants are represented as socially deprived and hard to reach, the paper moves on to highlight how they are also presumed to lack knowledge and understanding about what they are rejecting. Their supposed flawed subjectivity is then contrasted with the desirable model of agency claimed by the cultural professionals who seek to change the cultural participation patterns of others. The paper concludes with a consideration of how the existence of the cultural non-participant subject identity limits the extent to which those labelled as such can meaningfully contribute to the field of cultural policy and obscures the extent to which such individuals are culturally disenfranchised.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach and the geographical limitations to the data generation, the research makes no claim to generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the discursive logics identified at alternative discursive sites.

Practical implications

This paper proposes a change in the language used by cultural professionals accompanied by changes in practice that abandoning the identity of the cultural non-participant would demand.

Originality/value

This paper challenges a taken for granted assumption that cultural non-participants exist “in the real”.
The critical music fan: the role of criticality in collective constructions of brand loyalty
Authors: Obiegbu Chinedu James , Larsen Gretchen , Ellis Nick
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the act of expressing criticism against a music brand fits with the identity and practices associated with being a loyal fan of that brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on insights from theories of brand loyalty and fandom, this interpretive inquiry makes use of data from an online forum dedicated to the band, U2, and interviews with forum members. A combination of online ethnography and discourse analysis is employed.

Findings

The findings reveal how interpretations of the act of expressing criticism within a space that ostensibly functions as a place to celebrate all things U2 related, shape the construction of loyalty to the b(r)and in diverse ways. The apparent in-group tensions between being loyal and being critical pose a challenge to the taken for granted nature of brand loyalty and fandom, highlighting the nuanced ways with which they manifest.

Originality/value

By examining the role of criticality within otherwise loyal spaces, the authors contribute to brand loyalty theory by revealing the malleability of the concept, as meaning is constantly being reshaped depending on individual realities.
What price beauty! Tourists willingness-to-pay for cherry blossom preservation
Authors: Sussan Fiona , Nakagawa Hideyuki
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Mapping the intrinsic value of the art of architecture and the art of nature within the context of Kakunodate and the preservation of its samurai manors and Sakura heritage trees, this paper proposes that from the perception of tourists, the preservation of both items is important. Extending the psychology of pricing that is subject to consumers’ preference and expectation to the context of valuation of cultural heritage assets, the purpose of this paper is to suggest that including the art of nature and the aesthetic of Sakura to the art of architecture (Samurai manors) will add more value to the cultural heritage of Kakunodate than when only the art of architecture is mentioned.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses Contingency Valuation Method to solicit tourists willingness-to-pay to preserve the architecture and the nature in Kakunodate. The survey uses a double bounded dichotomous choice model to elicit the various levels of tourists preference in various scenarios. Response from more than 1,000 tourists in three scenarios were collected. Through a maximum likelihood method and a subsequent truncated calculation, results are reported.

Findings

The results support the conceptual argument that the art of nature adds value to the art of architecture only. Tourists are found to be willing to pay more to support both the architecture (samurai houses) and nature (cherry trees) than the samurai houses alone.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings add to the inventory of research on prior works in heritage trees, conservation of trees and heritage tourism, and cultural heritage assets in general. The empirical findings support prior theoretical works that examined the relationship of nature and art, art and architecture, and architecture as visual consumption.

Practical implications

The findings have managerial implications for policy makers relative to a possible increase of revenue by adding accompanying-nature component to focal architectural assets when soliciting funding support.

Originality/value

The originality and this piece stems from extending trees as an art form in nature and its added value to architecture within the context of cultural heritage assets. The empirical findings add to the much discussed relationships among art, nature, and architecture.
Implementation and challenges of accreditation of prior experiential learning: admissions (APEL-A)
Authors: Ooi Li Hsien , Din Eak Arathai
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight how accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) is implemented, the challenges faced by the APEL assessors while assessing candidates as well as to suggest recommendations for improving the APEL process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is written based on the critical reflection of two accreditation of prior experiential learning: admissions (APEL-A) assessors appointed from a Malaysian Qualifications Agency approved assessment centre. This process would add depth and breadth to the study based on the assessor’s experience.

Findings

The study identified five challenges in the implementation of APEL-A. They are limited literature and records of the existing practices, conceptualisation of the APEL process, complicated and time-consuming APEL process, standard of acceptance vary according to discipline and lack of continuous training for APEL assessors. The four recommendations for improvements are as follows: the need for transparent and clear guidelines, ensuring consistency in practices and fairness to those from conventional learning, integrating APEL as part of the institution’s academic policy and providing continuous training for all APEL assessors.

Originality/value

Until now, not much research has been done regarding its implementation in Malaysia. The number of learners enrolled through this form of assessment may be low but growing. The feedback on the implementation of the APEL-A assessment process would be greatly beneficial to the stakeholders involved in improving its implementation process. The highlighted challenges faced as well as the recommendations put forth may also be useful for the continuous improvement of the APEL-A assessment process. Relevant stakeholders would benefit from this study.
Complexity of women’s modern-day challenges in construction
Authors: Aboagye-Nimo Emmanuel , Wood Hannah , Collison Jodie
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Although the UK construction sector has enjoyed a significant rise in the number of women joining the industry, there is undoubtedly more room for improvement. Numerous schemes have been initiated by government and other professional bodies to encourage more women to undertake a career in construction. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the organisational complexities of problems faced by women working in professional roles in construction. It thus initiates a dialogue on the lack of workplace flexibility and discriminatory practices that prevent many more women from joining.

Design/methodology/approach

A phenomenological philosophy is adopted. The research critically explores the views of women working in professional roles in six large construction firms in England.

Findings

It was widely acknowledged that the industry had improved significantly, however there are still concerns yet to be addressed. It was identified that women face new challenges when they attain senior roles. Furthermore, it is believed that the current glass ceiling theory and leaky pipeline theory are not adequate to study these issues.

Research limitations/implications

Sample size and narrow focus on large construction firms are the limitations of the paper.

Practical implications

Through academic and industry dissemination, the findings from this research encourage both men and women working in the construction industry to adopt inclusive practices that will help widen the pool of knowledge and expertise.

Social implications

This paper sheds light on a problem that is assumed to be eradicated once women progress to senior management roles.

Originality/value

This research presents an in-depth critical perspective of challenges faced by women construction professionals occupying decision-making positions.
Managing production pressures through dangerous informality: a case study
Authors: Oswald David , Sherratt Fred , Smith Simon
Published: June 2019

Purpose

It is well-known that significant production pressures exist on many construction projects and previous studies have suggested that this pressure is a contributory factor in safety incidents on sites. While research has established that production pressures exist, less is understood about the construction practices that occur when projects are under such pressures and their repercussion for safety. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an ethnographic approach on a large construction project in the UK, these practices were explored and unpacked. The lead researcher was a member of the Health and Safety department, and undertook participant observation as a main research tool for three years.

Findings

It was found that informal, covert and dangerous “piecework” strategies were adopted at the site level in direct response to scheduling demands. Construction workers were incentivised through extra finance and rest periods to finish the work quickly, which, in turn, prioritised production over safety. Unreasonable production pressures remain an unresolved problem in the construction industry and are, perhaps consequentially, being informally managed on-site.

Originality/value

This study improves our understanding of the complexities involved in the unresolved demands between production and safety on construction sites, which marks a step towards addressing this substantial challenge that is deeply ingrained within the industry.
Green hotel adoption: a personal choice or social pressure?
Authors: Balaji M.S. , Jiang Yangyang , Jha Subhash
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the potential guest perception of green hotel attributes (GHAs) and the underlying mechanism through which GHA perception influences attitude toward green hotels, intention to stay at green hotels and willingness to pay a premium. It also investigates the moderating roles of personal norms and social norms in the influence of GHA perception on identification and trust toward green hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage survey was used to collect data via Prolific Academic. The authors tested the hypotheses on 521 valid responses using the partial least squares method.

Findings

The results show that identification and trust mediate the effect of GHA perception on attitude, intention to stay and willingness to pay a premium for green hotels. The authors found a positive interaction effect between GHA perception and personal norms on identification and trust and a negative interaction effect between social norms and GHA perception on trust. The interaction effect of GHA perception and social norms on identification is not significant.

Originality/value

This study presents an integrated framework for green hotel adoption by examining the potential guest perception of GHAs and explores how it fosters positive guest responses. Findings show that GHA perception positively influences potential guest responses through identification (the personal route) and trust (the social route). This study also simultaneously considers personal norms and social norms, together with the effects of their interactions with GHA perception on identification and trust.
Using Learning Analytics to evaluate the quality of multiple-choice questions
Authors: Azevedo Jose Manuel , Oliveira Ema P. , Beites Patrícia Damas
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find appropriate forms of analysis of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) to obtain an assessment method, as fair as possible, for the students. The authors intend to ascertain if it is possible to control the quality of the MCQ contained in a bank of questions, implemented in Moodle, presenting some evidence with Item Response Theory (IRT) and Classical Test Theory (CTT). The used techniques can be considered a type of Descriptive Learning Analytics since they allow the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data generated from students’ assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative data set of students’ grades from tests, randomly generated with a bank of questions implemented in Moodle, was used for analysis. The data were extracted from a Moodle database using MySQL with an ODBC connector, and collected in MS ExcelTM worksheets, and appropriate macros programmed with VBA were used. The analysis with the CTT was done through appropriate MS ExcelTM formulas, and the analysis with the IRT was approached with an MS ExcelTM add-in.

Findings

The Difficulty and Discrimination Indexes were calculated for all the questions having enough answers. It was found that the majority of the questions presented values for these indexes, which leads to a conclusion that they have quality. The analysis also showed that the bank of questions presents some internal consistency and, consequently, some reliability. Groups of questions with similar features were obtained, which is very important for the teacher to develop tests as fair as possible.

Originality/value

The main contribution and originality that can be found in this research is the definition of groups of questions with similar features, regarding their difficulty and discrimination properties. These groups allow the identification of difficulty levels in the questions on the bank of questions, thus allowing teachers to build tests, randomly generated with Moodle, that include questions with several difficulty levels in the tests, as it should be done. As far as the authors’ knowledge, there are no similar results in the literature.
An exploratory study of discharge planning home visits within an Irish context – investigating nationwide practice and nationwide perspectives
Authors: Davis Aisling Jane , Mc Clure Patricia
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Discharge planning home visits (DPHVs) are a routine part of occupational therapy clinical practice. However, there is a dearth of evidence to support or refute their efficacy and limited policies or standards to guide clinical practice. This study aims to investigate current clinical practice during home visits and the value that occupational therapists’ attribute to home visits within an Irish context.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection was carried out by using a survey questionnaire (postal and electronic options). The study population comprised occupational therapists across 52 sites including acute, rehabilitation and convalescence settings within the Republic of Ireland. In total, 122 occupational therapists that completed the survey questionnaire were recruited for the study.

Findings

Quantitative data identified time spent per visit, departmental size, hospital size, number of visits and report writing times. Information was gathered regarding clinical areas assessed during visits in a Likert scale format. Qualitative data identified benefits, risks, recommendations to improve home visit practice and clinical criteria for home visits. Findings conclude that DPHVs are routinely carried out by occupational therapists and that there is consistency in clinical practice within an Irish setting. Occupational therapists value home visits as clinical assessments and have identified risks during practice, benefits of visits and ways to improve practice.

Originality/value

This study has provided a reflection of clinical practice in the Republic of Ireland. It is the only study of its kind in an Irish setting, and it could be used as a knowledge base regarding current practice on DPHV and occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning regarding home visits. The information gathered in this study could influence policies regarding DPHV and could serve as a comparison to standardise practice and justify the need for DPHV.
Technology adoption by logistics service providers
Authors: Mathauer Mathias , Hofmann Erik
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effects of different technology access modes on the successful integration of technological innovations. From the perspective of logistics service providers (LSPs), theoretical and managerial implications for the process of technology adoption are discovered.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a structured literature review of the state-of-the-art in technology adoption by LSPs. Drawing on the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and absorptive capacity, the explorative case study research includes systematic analyses of ten technology projects conducted by seven different LSPs.

Findings

The findings illustrate that the technology access modes (make, buy and ally) prejudge the success of the integration process in terms of technology acceptance, as well as process quality, speed and costs of integration. This relationship is moderated by technology-, firm-, environment- and relation-related factors.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited by its qualitative research approach, only seven different LSPs were addressed. Furthermore, the scope of the investigated technologies is broad but not exhaustive.

Practical implications

For practitioners, research indicates that the way LSPs access technologies is highly related to a successful integration process. Therefore, the paper provides practical support for improving technology adoption.

Originality/value

As the link between LSPs’ technology access strategies and a successful integration process has been largely neglected thus far, this paper is the first contribution addressing this research gap. In this context, IDT and absorptive capacity are discussed for application to technology adoption in supply chain management research.
Third-party ratings and the US wine market
Authors: Babin Barry J. , Bushardt Christian
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insight into the three most prevalent expert wine rater sources and how they separately affect retail prices post-release across a sample of French and US wines from the 2012 vintage.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research using regression models built on data scraped from Web sources provides the source for the substance of the paper.

Findings

The findings suggest that all rating sources affect release price (approximately $3-4 per point), but more indicative of market performance, only Wine Advocate ratings significantly influence price change in the market post-release. Other results suggest some, but far from complete, consistency among raters. Red wines and French wines typically fetch better scores from the raters, and they are less subject to price drops in the marketplace.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of the data does not allow for consumers’ individual difference characteristics, such as wine knowledge, among others, to be included as potential factors explaining why and when expert ratings influence consumers.

Practical implications

Third-party wine ratings do indeed matter both in terms of release price and post-release price performance. In particular, following release, Wine Advocate ratings provide the most influential quality signal in the marketplace.

Social implications

Scrutiny on the manner in which ratings information is used by retailers is appropriate, given the influence such ratings have on consumers as demonstrated by their effects on market behaviors.

Originality/value

The research examines the top three US expert ratings and considers their consistency and impact, not just on release price but also on price following release, as a direct indicator of product performance in the marketplace.