bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale analysis of crystalline defect formation in rapid solidification of pure aluminium and aluminium–copper alloys
Authors: Pinomaa Tatu , Lindroos Matti , Jreidini Paul , Haapalehto Matias , Ammar Kais , Wang Lei , Forest Samuel , Provatas Nikolas , Laukkanen Anssi
Published: January 2022

Rapid solidification leads to unique microstructural features, where a less studied topic is the formation of various crystalline defects, including high dislocation densities, as well as gradients and splitting of the crystalline orientation. As these defects critically affect the material’s mechanical properties and performance features, it is important to understand the defect formation mechanisms, and how they depend on the solidification conditions and alloying. To illuminate the formation mechanisms of the rapid solidification induced crystalline defects, we conduct a multiscale modelling analysis consisting of bond-order potential-based molecular dynamics (MD), phase field crystal-based amplitude expansion simulations, and sequentially coupled phase field–crystal plasticity simulations. The resulting dislocation densities are quantified and compared to past experiments. The atomistic approaches (MD, PFC) can be used to calibrate continuum level crystal plasticity models, and the framework adds mechanistic insights arising from the multiscale analysis.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 2)’.
Amorphization and nanocrystal formation in a Pd–Ni–Cu–P alloy after cooling under different conditions
Authors: Kharanzhevskiy E. V. , Galenko P. K. , Rettenmayr M. , Koch S. , Wonneberger R. , Zamoryanskaya M. V. , Yagovkina M. A. , Kirilenko D. A. , Bershtein V. A. , Yakushev P. N. , Egorova L. M. , Orekhova K. N. , Lebedev V. G. , Egorov A. V. , Senchenkov A. S.
Published: January 2022

Structure formation during solidification of a Pd–Ni–Cu–P melt is studied. It is demonstrated that changes in the heat transfer conditions lead to a nonlinear change in the characteristics of the structure. The article presents the regimes of cooling the samples and the results of their structure and composition studies. It is found that a decrease in the cooling rate of the alloy leads to an increase in the size, proportion and composition of nanoinclusions in an amorphous matrix. X-ray diffraction method, electron probe microanalysis, transmission microscopy and scanning calorimetry are used for samples characterization.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 2)’.
Thermodynamic description of metastable fcc/liquid phase equilibria and solidification kinetics in Al-Cu alloys
Authors: Fang Yindong , Galenko Peter K. , Liu Dongmei , Hack Klaus , Rettenmayr Markus , Lippmann Stephanie
Published: January 2022

The thermodynamic description of the fcc phase in the Al-Cu system has been revised, allowing for the prediction of metastable fcc/liquid phase equilibria to undercoolings of Δ
T
 = 421 K below the eutectic temperature. Hypoeutectic Al-Cu alloys that are prone to pronounced microsegregation were solidified containerlessly in electromagnetic levitation. Solidus and liquidus concentrations were experimentally determined from highly undercooled samples employing energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Solid concentrations at a rapidly propagating solid/liquid interface were additionally calculated using a sharp interface model that considers all undercoolings and is based on solvability theory. Modelling results (front velocity versus undercooling) were also corroborated by
in situ
observation with a high-speed camera. A newly established thermodynamic description of the fcc phase in Al-Cu is compatible with existing CALPHAD-type databases. Inconsistencies of previous descriptions such as a miscibility gap between Al-fcc and Cu-fcc on the Al-rich side, an unrealistic curvature of the solidus line in the same composition range or an azeotropic point near the melting point of Cu, are amended in the new description. The procedure to establish the description of phase equilibria at high undercoolings can be transferred to other alloy systems and is of a general nature.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 2)'.
Effective connectivity of LSD-induced ego dissolution
Authors: Stoliker Devon , Novelli Leonardo , Vollenweider Franz X. , Egan Gary F. , Preller Katrin H. , Razi Adeel
Published: January 2022

Classic psychedelic-induced ego dissolution involves a shift in the sense of self and blurring of boundary between the self and the world. A similar phenomenon is identified in psychopathology and is associated to the balance of anticorrelated activity between the default mode network (DMN) – which directs attention inwards – and the salience network (SN) – which recruits the dorsal attention network (DAN) to direct attention outward. To test whether change in anticorrelated networks underlie the peak effects of LSD, we applied dynamic causal modeling to infer effective connectivity of resting state functional MRI scans from a study of 25 healthy adults who were administered 100mg of LSD, or placebo. We found that change in inhibitory effective connectivity from the SN to DMN became excitatory, and inhibitory effective connectivity from DMN to DAN decreased under the peak effect of LSD. These changes in connectivity reflect diminution of the anticorrelation between resting state networks that may be a key neural mechanism of LSD-induced ego dissolution. Our findings suggest the hierarchically organised balance of resting state networks is a central feature in the construct of self.

Significance

The findings can inform the parallel between the maintenance of subject-object boundary and changes to anticorrelated canonical resting state brain networks. Effective connectivity informs the hierarchical organisation of brain networks underlying modes of perception. Moreover, the anticorrelation of brain networks is an important measure of mental function. Understanding the neural mechanisms of anticorrelation change under psychedelics help identify its relationship to psychosis and its association to psychedelic assisted therapeutic outcomes.
DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission is essential to maintain cristae morphology and bioenergetics
Authors: Robertson Gabriella L. , Riffle Stellan , Patel Mira , Marshall Andrea , Beasley Heather , Lopez Edgar Garza , Shao Jianqiang , Vue Zer , Stoll Maria S. , de Wet Sholto , Theart Rensu P. , Loos Ben , Hinton Antentor , Mears Jason A. , Gama Vivian
Published: January 2022

Mitochondria and peroxisomes are both dynamic signaling organelles that constantly undergo fission. While mitochondrial fission is known to coordinate cellular metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis, the physiological relevance of peroxisome dynamics and the implications for cell fate are not fully understood. DRP1 (dynamin-related protein 1) is an essential GTPase that executes both mitochondrial and peroxisomal fission. Patients with de novo heterozygous missense mutations in the gene that encodes DRP1, DNM1L (Dynamin 1 Like), present with encephalopathy due to defective mitochondrial and peroxisomal fission (EMPF1). EMPF1 is a devastating neurodevelopmental disease with no effective treatment. To interrogate the mechanisms by which DRP1 mutations cause cellular dysfunction, we used human-derived fibroblasts from patients with mutations in DRP1 who present with EMPF1. As expected, patient cells display elongated mitochondrial morphology and lack of fission. Patient cells display a lower coupling efficiency of the electron transport chain, increased proton leak, and upregulation of glycolysis. In addition to these metabolic abnormalities, mitochondrial hyperfusion results in aberrant cristae structure and hyperpolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, both of which are tightly linked to the changes in metabolism. Peroxisome structure is also severely elongated in patient cells and results in a potential functional compensation of fatty acid oxidation. Understanding the mechanism by which DRP1 mutations cause these metabolic changes will give insight into the role of mitochondrial dynamics in cristae maintenance and the metabolic capacity of the cell, as well as the disease mechanism underlying EMPF1.
Natural history and epidemiology of cleft lip and palate: a registry-based study in Iran (2000-19)
Authors: Biabani Mahdi , Dastgiri Saeed , Esmaeili Elham Davtalab
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to provide the natural history and epidemiology of cleft lip and cleft palate in the northwest region of Iran between 2000 and 2019. Since 2000, infants born with birth defects have been registered in the Tabriz Registry of Congenital Anomalies (TRoCA). For this study, the information and data were collected using the TRoCA registry system. Prevalence of cleft lip and cleft palate was 1.48 (95% CI 1.34; 1.62) per 1000 live births over the past two decades in the region. The occurrence of cleft lip and cleft palate was more common in males than females. The fetal death ratio was 5 percent of live born children. The proportion of infants with cleft lip and cleft palate surviving to the second week was 54 percent. The results may have a role in planning and evaluating the strategies for primary prevention of cleft lip and cleft palate, particularly in high-risk populations.
Delays during PBMC isolation have a moderate effect on yield, but severly compromise cell viability
Authors: Golke T , Mucher P , Schmidt P , Radakovics A , Repl M , Hofer P , Perkmann T , Fondi M , Schmetterer KG , Haslacher H
Published: January 2022

Background

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) are a versatile material for clinical routine as well as for research projects. However, their isolation via density gradient centrifugation is still time-consuming. When samples are taken beyond usual laboratory handling times, it may sometimes be necessary to pause the isolation process. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of delays up to 48 hours after the density gradient centrifugation on PBMC yield, purity and viability.

Methods

PBMCs were isolated from samples of 20 donors, either with BD Vacutainer CPT tubes (CPT) or with the standard Ficoll method. Isolation was paused after initial density gradient centrifugation for 0, 24, or 48 hours. PBMC yield, purity and viability were compared.

Results

The yield did not change significantly over time when CPT were used (55%/52%/47%), but did after isolation with the standard method (62%/40%[p<0.0001]/53%[p<0.01]). Purity was only affected if CPT were used (95%/93%[p=n.s./92%[p<0.05] vs. 97% for all time points with standard method). Whereas viable PBMCs decreased steadily for CPT isolates (62%/51%[p<0.001]/36%[p<0.0001]), after standard Ficoll gradient isolation, cell apoptosis was more pronounced already after 24h delay, and viability did not further decrease after 48h (64%/44%[p<0.0001]/40%[p<0.0001]).

Conclusions

In conclusion, our data suggests that post-centrifugation delays of up to 48h might have only a minor effect on cell yield and purity. However, at the same time, a relevant decrease in cell viability was observed, which could be partially compensated by the use of CPT if the isolation was resumed latest the day after blood withdrawal.
The role of ecology and geography in the evolution of habitat isolation and sexual isolation among sister species of host-plant-specific insects
Authors: Zhang Linyi , Hood Glen Ray , Ott James R. , Egan Scott P.
Published: January 2022

While ecology and geography can play important roles in the evolution of reproductive isolation across the speciation continuum, the few studies to date examining their relative contributions have largely focused on the early stages of speciation. Studies exploring the evolution of multiple reproductive barriers among divergent lineages, where speciation is nearly complete, are also needed to gain a fuller understanding of the mechanisms promoting and constraining the speciation process. We examine the later stage of speciation by comparing the strength of habitat isolation and sexual isolation among closely related species of gall-forming wasps in the genusBelonocnemaexperiencing divergent ecologies due to different hos plant use and variable rates of migration due to geography. We found that the strength of both habitat isolation and sexual isolation is lowest among allopatric species pairs with the same host plant association, followed by allopatric species with different host plant association, and highest between sympatric species with different host-plant associations. This pattern strongly suggests that both ecology due to divergent host use, and geography contribute to the evolution of these two reproductive barriers. Notably, reproductive character displacement contributes to nearly half of the strength of both habitat isolation and sexual isolation in sympatry.
The First High-Quality Genome Assembly and Data Analysis of the Malaysian mahseer (Tor tambroides)
Authors: Lau Melinda Mei Lin , Lim Leonard Whye Kit , Chung Hung Hui , Gan Han Ming
Published: January 2022

The Malaysian mahseer (Tor tambroides), one of the most valuable freshwater fish in the world, is mainly targeted for human consumption. The mitogenomic data of this species is available to date, but the genomic information is still lacking. For the first time, we sequenced the whole genome of an adult fish on both Illumina and Nanopore platforms. The hybrid genome assembly had resulted in a sum of 1.5 Gb genomic sequence from the 44,726 contigs found with 44 kb N50 length and BUSCO genome completeness of 84.3%. Four types of SSRs had been detected and identified within the genome with a greater AT abundance than that of GC. Predicted protein sequences had been functionally annotated to public databases, namely GO, KEGG and COG. A maximum likelihood phylogenomic tree containing 53 Actinopterygii species and two outgroups was constructed, providing first insights into the genome-based evolutionary relationship of T. tambroides with other ray-finned fish. These data are crucial in facilitating the study of population genomics, species identification, morphological variations, and evolutionary biology, which are helpful in the conservation of this species.
Evaluation of lamin A/C mechanotransduction under different surface topography in LMNA related muscular dystrophy
Authors: Dutta Subarna , Muraganadan T. , Vasudevan Madavan
Published: January 2022

Most of the single point mutations of the LMNA gene are associated with distinct muscular dystrophies, marked by heterogenous phenotypes but primarily the loss and symmetric weakness of skeletal muscle tissue. The molecular mechanism and phenotype-genotype relationships in these muscular dystrophies are poorly understood. An effort has been here to delineating the adaptation of mechanical inputs into biological response by mutant cells of lamin A associated muscular dystrophy. In this study we implement engineered smooth and pattern surfaces of particular young modulus to mimic muscle physiological range. Using fluorescence and atomic force microscopy we present distinct architecture of the actin filament along with abnormally distorted cell and nuclear shape in mutants, which showed a tendency to deviate from wild type cells. Topographic features of pattern surface antagonizes the binding of the cell with it. Correspondingly, from the analysis of genome wide expression data in wild type and mutant cells, we report differential expression of the gene products of the structural components of cell adhesion as well as LINC (linkers of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) protein complexes. This study also reveals mis expressed downstream signaling processes in mutant cells, which could potentially lead to onset of the disease upon the application of engineered materials to substitute the role of conventional cues in instilling cellular behaviors in muscular dystrophies. Collectively, these data support the notion that lamin A is essential for proper cellular mechanotransduction from extracellular environment to the genome and impairment of the muscle cell differentiation in the pathogenic mechanism for lamin A associated muscular dystrophy.
Raw milk collection in Ireland: insights into the challenges facing the industry
Authors: O'Callaghan Seán , O. Connor Declan , Goulding David
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper provides insights into national practices used to schedule, collect and manage the transportation infrastructure of raw milk by Irish processors.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was designed and distributed to 14 processors, collecting details regarding suppliers, seasonality, costs per litre, planning, processing sites and emissions related to milk collection.

Findings

Irish raw milk transportation costs €95 million per annum, with an average weighted cost of 1.1 cents per litre. Primary route clustering of suppliers is based on farm location. Typically, collections employ forty-eight-hour rotas. Just three of the processors reported transportation emissions data. A disjointed approach to the adoption of scheduling and transportation technology was revealed.

Research limitations/implications

Given the broad scope of the survey covering financial, operational and environmental aspects of milk collection, it was challenging to find a single representative such as a transport manager who could be tasked with responding to the entire survey. Future research may consider a more focused interview-based approach with the various stakeholders to provide a more in-depth analysis.

Practical implications

Processors can gain an improved understanding of diversified milk collection methods. The research supports policymakers in considering environmental issues related to milk transportation. Costs could be reduced if transportation was better managed collectively with benefits accruing to the industry, suppliers and wider rural community. Stakeholders will need to address aspects of responsibility concerning environmental issues going forward.

Social implications

In this paper the authors recognise the environmental cost of milk collection. By improving the transportation infrastructure, this will have a positive impact on society in general.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the unique challenges and extends present knowledge in relation to milk collection; thus, this paves the way for new approaches to raw milk transportation.
Friend or foe? The effects of harmonious and obsessive passion on entrepreneurs’ well-being, strain and social loneliness
Authors: Bayraktar Secil , Jiménez Alfredo
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Passion is considered a critical aspect of entrepreneurship. According to the dualistic model of passion (DMP), entrepreneurs’ passion for their work can be harmonious or obsessive, leading to different personal and work outcomes. Drawing on DMP and the self-determination theory, this paper investigates these two types of passion for work and their effects on entrepreneurs’ subjective well-being (SWB), psychological strain and social loneliness.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a self-administered online survey with 312 entrepreneurs in Turkey. The authors selected the sample using purposive sampling and referrals through snowballing via associations, university start-up organizations, entrepreneur lists and personal networks. The data are analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that harmonious passion is negatively related to strain, while obsessive passion is positively related to both strain and social loneliness. Furthermore, both types of passion are associated with higher SWB. Finally, age moderates the relationship between obsessive passion and SWB.

Practical implications

The findings draw attention to another dark side to entrepreneurship and a useful perspective to raise awareness that entrepreneurs may think positively of obsessive passion and ignore the negative consequences.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by showing that both positive and negative consequences of passion may co-exist based on the entrepreneurs’ self-perceptions. It also contributes to the very scarce research in non-western, emerging contexts in entrepreneurial passion research and constitutes the first study conducted on this topic in Turkey.
Institutional intervention in technology innovation: the struggle to increase mobile payment adoption
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Sandip , Upadhyay Parijat
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Platform-driven business models have witnessed a significant proliferation in emerging economies. Such initiatives bring cost-effective services to a larger section of the population, given the reach of mobile phones. Drawing insights from the institutional theory and theories on the multisided platform, this paper aims to examine the impact of institutional intervention and platform competition on the initial adoption and continuance intention of platform-based payment services.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model is empirically developed through a unique single-case study covering the high-value banknote demonetization in India that was initiated in November 2016. The research is primarily based on archival data and is supported by a limited number of interviews.

Findings

The research finds that institutional interventions (in multiple forms) have increased people’s eagerness to use mobile payment. Supportive institutional environment and common citizen’s increased eagerness for mobile payment usage resulted in the emergence of multiple mobile payment platforms. Moreover, competition among multiple payment platforms positively impacts the continuance intention of users to use mobile payments.

Originality/value

The research supplements the present understanding of the technology adoption challenges. The study highlights that the relative success of technology adoption cannot be attributed only to the users’ economic or technological motives, as embodied in the adoption models. Carefully designed interventions by the institutions can reduce users’ inertia in using new technology and positively influence the emergence of multiple platform-based service providers.
The symbolic costs of advice: how social situations explain the occurrence of unplanned knowledge sharing interactions
Authors: Roth Philip
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Informal knowledge sharing interactions (IKSI) are of particular value for innovation projects. This is especially true for unplanned IKSI, because they are even more likely to provide non-redundant knowledge and new perspectives than planned IKSI. Seminal studies have shown that the formation of unplanned IKSI can be explained on the basis of spatial structures. Strictly speaking, however, these studies only explain unplanned encounters. Whether unplanned IKSI result from these unplanned encounters, though, cannot be satisfactorily explained on the basis of spatial configurations alone. The purpose of this paper is to tackle this explanatory gap by unraveling the fundamental social processes by application of the symbolic interaction theory.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the formation of 132 IKSI on innovation projects from three research and development departments of large companies was recorded in detail using a combination of diaries and interviews. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The analysis reveals that IKSI cause symbolic costs (image damages), and that these costs vary between types of social situations. Because actors anticipate situation-specific costs, their propensity to initiate IKSI can be explained in terms of the situations in which they encounter one another. Furthermore, the analysis reveals six particularly relevant characteristics of situations and further elaborates the basic argument by analyzing their functioning.

Originality/value

The paper complements previous explanations of unplanned IKSI by opening up the social processes underlying their formation.
Hybrid grey exponential smoothing approach for predicting transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka
Authors: Seneviratna D.M.K.N. , Rathnayaka R.M. Kapila Tharanga
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the major pandemic diseases caused by a newly discovered virus that has been directly affecting the human respiratory system. Because of the gradually increasing magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, it has been sparking emergencies and critical issues in the healthcare systems around the world. However, predicting the exact amount of daily reported new COVID cases is the most serious issue faced by governments around the world today. So, the purpose of this current study is to propose a novel hybrid grey exponential smoothing model (HGESM) to predicting transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak properly.

Design/methodology/approach

As a result of the complications relates to the traditional time series approaches, the proposed HGESM model is well defined to handle exponential data patterns in multidisciplinary systems. The proposed methodology consists of two parts as double exponential smoothing and grey exponential smoothing modeling approach respectively. The empirical analysis of this study was carried out on the basis of the 3rd outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka, from 1st March 2021 to 15th June 2021. Out of the total 90 daily observations, the first 85% of daily confirmed cases were used during the training, and the remaining 15% of the sample.

Findings

The new proposed HGESM is highly accurate (less than 10%) with the lowest root mean square error values in one head forecasting. Moreover, mean absolute deviation accuracy testing results confirmed that the new proposed model has given more significant results than other time-series predictions with the limited samples.

Originality/value

The findings suggested that the new proposed HGESM is more suitable and effective for forecasting time series with the exponential trend in a short-term manner.
Examining the relationship between team-level entrepreneurial orientation and team performance
Authors: Wójcik-Karpacz Anna , Kraus Sascha , Karpacz Jarosław
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This article investigates (in)direct relationships between team-level entrepreneurial orientation and team performance, where team entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is measured as a team-level construct, not as concentration of team members' scores. In this article, the authors present and explore how EO-oriented behaviour within a team affect its performance, taking into account the team's trust in a manager and commitment to team and company goals.

Design/methodology/approach

This article focuses on a quantitative analysis of 55 teams operating within a large high-tech manufacturing enterprise, gathered through a traditional survey. The conceptual framework for this research was based on the theories of organisational citizenship, extra-role behaviour and social exchange. The authors explain how contextual factors establish a framework which enables team EO transformation towards higher performance of teams.

Findings

The results show that (team) performance benefits from EO-related behaviours. However, individual dimensions of EO are not universally beneficial and need to be combined with a mutual trust and/or commitment to team enterprise's goals to achieve high performance.

Originality/value

The findings provide important insight into which team factors may be targeted at the intervention or support of team members, including managers and immediate superiors who lack an active personality and are not willing to take risks at workplace. The authors adopted EO instruments, mutual trust and commitment from an individual scale to a team one, and also offer new opportunities to analyse such phenomena from a new level and evaluate them from the perspective of team managers.
The impact of natural disasters on the performance and solvency of US banks
Authors: Walker Thomas , Xu Yixin , Gramlich Dieter , Zhao Yunfei
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper explores the effect of natural disasters on the profitability and solvency of US banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a sample of 187 large-scale natural disasters that occurred in the United States between 2000 and 2014 and a sample of 2,891 banks, we examine whether and how disaster-related damages affect various measures of bank profitability and bank solvency. We differentiate between different types of banks (with local, regional and national operations) based on a breakdown of their state-level deposits and explore the reaction of these banks to damages weighted by the GDP of the states they operate in.

Findings

We find that natural disasters have a pronounced effect on the net-income-to-assets and the net-income-to-equity ratio of banks, as well as the banks' impaired loans and return on average assets. We also observe significant effects on the equity ratio and the tier-1 capital ratio (two solvency measures). Interestingly, the latter are positive for regional banks which appear to benefit from increased customer deposits related to safekeeping, government payments for post-disaster recovery, insurance payouts and decreased withdrawals, while they are significantly negative for banks that operate locally or nationally.

Originality/value

We contribute to the literature by offering various new insights regarding the effects natural disasters have on financial institutions. With climate change-driven natural disasters widely expected to increase both in terms of frequency and severity, their economic fallout is likely to impose an increasing burden on financial institutions. Large, nationally operating banks tend to be well diversified both geographically and in terms of their product offerings. Small, locally operating banks, however, are increasingly at risk – particularly if they operate in disaster-prone areas. Current banking regulations generally do not factor natural disaster risks into their capital requirements. To avoid the next big financial crisis, regulators may want to adjust their reserve requirements by taking this growing risk exposure into consideration.
Despotic leadership and IT project efficiency: the role of resilience
Authors: Khan Jabran , Mubarak Namra , Khattak Sana Aroos , Safdar Samyia , Jaafar Mastura
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Based on conservation of resources theory, the present study aims to investigate the negative leadership style (i.e. despotic leadership) and its influence on a key dimension of project success (i.e. project efficiency) directly and indirectly via employees’ job stress. Moreover, this study also aims to investigate the moderating role of resilience on the relationship between despotic leadership and employees’ job stress.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a time-lagged design and collected data via purposive sampling technique from 342 information technology project employees. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 24.

Findings

The findings are in line with the proposed relationship, as despotic leadership negatively influences project efficiency via employees’ job stress and resilience plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of despotic leadership on employees' job stress.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide direction to information technology firms to develop strategies to decrease employees’ stress and increase project efficiency.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on leadership and information technology projects by examining how despotic leadership influences project efficiency via employees’ job stress. Negative leadership exists in organizations but has not yet been empirically explored; this study finds that it increases subordinates’ stress level and ultimately influences project efficiency.
Key factors affecting commercial actors in collaborative working within the UK construction industry
Authors: Ahmed Sa’id Namadi , Pasquire Christine , Manu Emmanuel
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Extensive research on the importance of collaborative working (CW) and aligning stakeholders’ interests in construction has been widely conducted. But often the practice of commercial actors during CW has often been overlooked, particularly within the UK setting, where scholars have lamented on the lack of industry-wide collaboration. This study aims to explore the factors affecting commercial actors in CW, specific to the UK construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a context-based approach to seek stakeholders’ perspectives on the key factors affecting commercial actors in CW within the UK. Semi-structured interviews with individuals (contractors, cost consultants, designers among others) from construction and infrastructure organisations were conducted, using multiple case study investigations. The collected data was analysed using a case study approach, and principles of inductive thematic analysis to identify the key factors.

Findings

Findings from the analysis identified “institutional” factors such as transactional cost economic influence, the prevailing construction model influence and professional related drivers. Key drivers within these factors include commercial background and training, custom and practice, misaligned interests in projects, clients’ perception of consultants, cost-driven environment, conventional procurement protocols and bureaucratic functions.

Originality/value

In conclusion, these factors continue to affect CW with undue influence on commercial actors in the UK, thus preventing performance improvement demanded by successive UK Government reports. The context-based approach applied in this study is expected to provide some insight in construction management research, especially from a commercial perspective in the UK, to gain an understanding of how these factors are manifesting.
Born brothers, born global: multiple possible faces of the internationalization path
Authors: Caputo Francesco , Fiano Fabio , Farina Briamonte Massimiliano , Sorrentino Marco
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Operating in a variety of countries, multinational companies (MNCs) experience a high variety and variability of physiological and contextual dynamics, requiring a more careful knowledge management approach. In this scenario, this paper aims to investigate the entrepreneurial facets and managerial aspects (entrepreneurial orientation/managerial intentionality) of MNCs’ internationalization from a knowledge-based perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A theory-building approach is applied, involving a comparative case study of two MNCs conceived through the separation of a unique family business. Aiming to enrich the research about companies’ internationalization, some crucial elements are individuated to build a theoretical frame explaining the evolutionary paths of so-called born global.

Findings

This paper shows that companies’ internationalization development is based on a multiplicity of variables and underlines the need to incorporate different points of view when attempting to explain the dynamics of internationalization processes.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical significance of the two cases does not legitimize theorization. However, this research presents interesting results that could be strengthened by a series of comparative case studies dealing with other MNCs or deeper quantitative investigation.

Originality/value

This research approach could be considered as stimulating by the scientific and managerial community, as the internationalization process is articulated by mixing managerial, entrepreneurial and cognitive aspects.
Blended human-technology service realities in healthcare
Authors: Dodds Sarah , Russell–Bennett Rebekah , Chen Tom , Oertzen Anna-Sophie , Salvador-Carulla Luis , Hung Yu-Chen
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The healthcare sector is experiencing a major paradigm shift toward a people-centered approach. The key issue with transitioning to a people-centered approach is a lack of understanding of the ever-increasing role of technology in blended human-technology healthcare interactions and the impacts on healthcare actors' well-being. The purpose of the paper is to identify the key mechanisms and influencing factors through which blended service realities affect engaged actors' well-being in a healthcare context.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper takes a human-centric perspective and a value co-creation lens and uses theory synthesis and adaptation to investigate blended human-technology service realities in healthcare services.

Findings

The authors conceptualize three blended human-technology service realities – human-dominant, balanced and technology-dominant – and identify two key mechanisms – shared control and emotional-social and cognitive complexity – and three influencing factors – meaningful human-technology experiences, agency and DART (dialogue, access, risk, transparency) – that affect the well-being outcome of engaged actors in these blended human-technology service realities.

Practical implications

Managerially, the framework provides a useful tool for the design and management of blended human-technology realities. The paper explains how healthcare services should pay attention to management and interventions of different services realities and their impact on engaged actors. Blended human-technology reality examples – telehealth, virtual reality (VR) and service robots in healthcare – are used to support and contextualize the study’s conceptual work. A future research agenda is provided.

Originality/value

This study contributes to service literature by developing a new conceptual framework that underpins the mechanisms and factors that influence the relationships between blended human-technology service realities and engaged actors' well-being.
Effects of weft count and weft density on the surface roughness of 3/1 (Z) twill woven fabric
Authors: Beyene Kura Alemayehu , Mengie Wassie , Korra Chirato Godana
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of weft yarn diameter and pick density on the properties of surface roughness (SMD) of 3/1 (Z) twill-woven fabrics in three measurement directions weft (0°), the warp (90°) and the diagonal (45°).

Design/methodology/approach

Nine 3/1 (Z) twill samples were prepared with two factors and three levels and their roughness values were measured in the weft (0°), warp (90°) and diagonal (45°) directions of 3/1 (Z) twill fabrics using the Kawabata-FB4 instrument. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to determine the effect of weft yarn diameter and pick density on SMD properties and comparisons were done in the weft (0°), the warp (90°) and the diagonal (45°) directions.

Findings

From experimental analysis, weft yarn diameter and pick density affect SMD of 3/1 (Z) twill-woven fabrics in both diagonal (45°) and weft (0°) directions but slightly affect warp (90°) direction. Maximum SMD values were observed in diagonal (45°) directions and the minimum was in warp (90°) directions of fabrics. Weft yarn diameter and pick density are statistically significant on SMD values of 3/1 (Z) twill-woven fabrics for three directions at a 95% confidence interval. Parameter variation in weft directions of 3/1 (Z) twill-woven fabrics also varies SMD values in three directions measurements

Originality/value

The findings of this study can be usually used for textile technology, industries and laboratories to create a basic understanding for measuring roughness properties of 3/1 (Z) twill fabric. It is also possible to identify the surface characterizations in different directions of measurement for their usage in some specific areas of end application like consumer goods, home textiles, technical textiles, etc.
CSR and shared value in multi-stakeholder relationships in South African mining context
Authors: Buddu Ashina , Scheepers Caren Brenda
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Mining is surrounded by controversy, in spite of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. This study aims to explore the theory on CSR and shared value (SV) and identified a gap in an approach to implementing CSR and SV. Perceptions of multi-stakeholder relationships in the South African mining context were elicited.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design included 17 semi-structured interviews with 3 stakeholder groups, including members of the community, government representatives and mining management and secondary data of company documents on CSR.

Findings

The qualitative research revealed important gaps between CSR and SV theoretical frameworks, normative ethical approaches and operationalizing of these at the mine to the detriment of effective multi-stakeholder relationships.

Practical implications

Mines have to engage with the community and government stakeholders proactively and build relationships.

Social implications

Ethical normative approaches have to be considered. Government has to take note of this study’s findings with regards to negative consequences of institutionalized CSR for trust between mines and communities.

Originality/value

The literature review differentiates theoretically between normative and instrumental stakeholder theory, philanthropic and business case CSR, SV and their implicit normative ethical approaches. The semi-structured interviews revealed legacy issues and lack of engagement between mine and community as main barriers to multi-stakeholder relationships and raised important questions on normative ethical approaches to CSR and SV. The direct and indirect barriers by government, community and mine management are identified and differentiated.
Analysis of rapid HIT application to touch DNA samples
Authors: Martin Belinda , Kaesler Todd , Linacre Adrian
Published: January 2022

Rapid DNA technology is being utilized for reference profiles worldwide. There is also strong data in the literature to support its use for high‐template DNA sources, the same is not true for low‐template sources, such as touch DNA; this is a requirement before wider implementation to forensic casework is considered. We report on the Rapid HIT Intel cartridge's ability to facilitate successful amplification of touch DNA to obtain profiles from template deposited on items commonly encountered in forensic casework. Eight items were touched in ten replicates— two were tapelifted, three swabbed, and three directly inserted.

Significance was observed in the alleles amplified and RFU with respect to sample type. Three samples performed well: cable tie, fabric, and matchstick. As two of these were directly inserted, this should be considered for any sample small enough. Placement of highly absorbent substrates into the cartridge is not advised as it can cause a lysate‐pull error. Heterozygote loci often presented as homozygous (32%–78% loci per profile); this was influenced by substrate type and profile RFU. Loci with larger masses exhibited higher false homozygosity also.

Comparison of the donor's profile analyzed was performed against previous datasets analyzing touch DNA through standard workflow, including manual DNA extraction, PCR, and CE separation. These data show that for all substrates, except for a fabric swatch, standard processing is preferential to Rapid HIT analysis. In its current form, rapid DNA technology is not fit for the routine analysis of touch DNA samples in forensic casework.
The Low‐carbon Equity Market: A New Alternative for Investment Diversification?
Authors: Gabriel Vítor Manuel de Sousa , Lozano María Belén , Matias Maria Fernanda Ludovina Inácio
Published: January 2022

Addressing the topic of ethical investment, this paper considers stock market indices related to climate change and provides the first comprehensive analysis of the links between low‐carbon equities and conventional equities. Results show that in the long run, low carbon economy indices do not behave like conventional indices, and no balance relationship is identified between the two, such that investors can find in the low‐carbon sector an opportunity to diversify investment as an alternative to traditional equity investment. In the short‐run, the two investment segments display identical behaviour, especially in contemporary terms, with daily dynamics driven fundamentally by market factors. These results will help regulators and policy makers to design policies for sustainable equity investment according to macroprudential policies.
One step closer to myocardial physiology: From PV loop analysis to state‐of‐the‐art myocardial imaging
Authors: Harbo Markus Borge , Stokke Mathis Korseberg , Sjaastad Ivar , Espe Emil Knut Stenersen
Published: January 2022

Recent advances in cardiac imaging have revitalized the assessment of fundamental physiological concepts. In the field of cardiac physiology, invasive measurements with pressure‐volume (PV) loops have served as the gold standard methodology for the characterization of left ventricular (LV) function. From PV loop data, fundamental aspects of LV chamber function are derived such as work, efficiency, stiffness and contractility. However, the parametrization of these aspects is limited because of the need for invasive procedures. Through the utilization of recent advances in echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, it has become increasingly feasible to quantify these fundamental aspects of LV function non‐invasively. Importantly, state‐of‐the‐art imaging technology enables direct assessment of myocardial performance, thereby extending functional assessment from the net function of the LV chamber, as is done with PV loops, to the myocardium itself. With a strong coupling to underlying myocardial physiology, imaging measurements of myocardial work, efficiency, stiffness and contractility could represent the next generation of functional parameters. The purpose of this review is to discuss how the new imaging parameters of myocardial work, efficiency, stiffness and contractility can bring cardiac physiologists, researchers and clinicians alike one step closer to underlying myocardial physiology.
Factors associated with parenting stress in parents of 18‐month‐old children
Authors: Khalsa Amrik Singh , Weber Zachary A. , Zvara Bharathi J. , Keim Sarah A. , Andridge Rebecca , Anderson Sarah E.
Published: January 2022

Aim

Parenting stress is associated with less optimal outcomes for children. Risk factors contributing to parenting stress in healthy toddlers have received little empirical attention. This study sought to determine the factors that are associated with parenting stress in parents of 18‐month‐old children.

Methods

We analysed cross‐sectional survey data from a prospective cohort study focused on parent–child mealtime interactions. Families with an 18‐month‐old child were recruited in Columbus, Ohio, USA, between December 2017 and May 2019. Adjusted stepwise linear regression models estimated associations between child factors (e.g., temperament), parental factors (e.g., depressive symptoms), quality of romantic relationship factors (e.g., adult attachment style) and home environment factors (e.g., household income) and parenting stress (Parental Distress subscale of the Parenting Stress Index‐4 Short Form).

Results

The 299 children included 129 (43%) females. Parents were on average 30.6 (SD 6.1) years old and included a diverse racial/ethnic cohort. Mean Parental Distress score was 24.3 (SD 6.8; score range 12–60). Higher Parental Distress scores were associated with greater parental depressive symptoms (B = 5.1 [95% CI: 2.4, 7.7]) and avoidant (B = 2.8 [95% CI: 0.9, 4.6]) attachment style. Other child, parental and home environment factors did not demonstrate statistically significant relationships with parental distress in the final model.

Conclusion

Our findings align with recommendations for paediatric providers to screen for parenting stress and mental health.