bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow-related right ventricular to pulmonary arterial pressure gradients during exercise
Authors: Wright Stephen P , Opotowsky Alexander R , Buchan Tayler A , Esfandiari Sam , Granton John T , Goodman Jack M , Mak Susanna
Published: May 2018

Aims

The assumption of equivalence between right ventricular (RV) and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure is fundamental to several assessments of RV or pulmonary vascular haemodynamic function. Our aims were to (i) determine whether systolic pressure gradients develop across the RV outflow tract in healthy adults during exercise, (ii) examine the potential correlates of such gradients, and (iii) consider the effect of such gradients on calculated indices of RV function.

Methods and results

Healthy untrained and endurance-trained adult volunteers were studied using right-heart catheterization at rest and during submaximal cycle ergometry. RV and pulmonary artery (PA) pressures were simultaneously transduced, and the cardiac output was determined by thermodilution. Systolic pressures, peak and mean gradients, and indices of chamber, vascular, and valve function were analysed offline. Summary data are reported as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range). No significant RV outflow tract gradients were observed at rest [mean gradient = 4 (3–5) mmHg], and the calculated effective orifice area was 3.6 ± 1.0 cm2. The increase in right ventricular systolic pressure during exercise was greater than the PA systolic pressure. Accordingly, mean gradients were developed during light exercise [8 (7–9) mmHg] and increased during moderate exercise [12 (9–14) mmHg, P < 0.001]. The magnitude of the mean gradient was linearly related to the cardiac output (r2 = 0.70, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In healthy adults without pulmonic stenosis, systolic pressure gradients develop during exercise, and the magnitude is related to the blood flow rate.
Pulsatile arterial haemodynamics in heart failure
Authors: Weber Thomas , Chirinos Julio A
Published: May 2018

Due to the cyclic function of the human heart, pressure and flow in the circulation are pulsatile rather than continuous. Addressing pulsatile haemodynamics starts with the most convenient measurement, brachial pulse pressure, which is widely available, related to development and treatment of heart failure (HF), but often confounded in patients with established HF. The next level of analysis consists of central (rather than brachial) pressures and, more importantly, of wave reflections. The latter are closely related to left ventricular late systolic afterload, ventricular remodelling, diastolic dysfunction, exercise capacity, and, in the long-term, the risk of new-onset HF. Wave reflection may also represent a suitable therapeutic target. Treatments for HF with preserved and reduced ejection fraction, based on a reduction of wave reflection, are emerging. A full understanding of ventricular-arterial coupling, however, requires dedicated analysis of time-resolved pressure and flow signals, which can be readily accomplished with contemporary non-invasive imaging and modelling techniques. This review provides a summary of our current understanding of pulsatile haemodynamics in HF.
The mechanisms that regulate Vibrio parahaemolyticus virulence gene expression differ between pathotypes
Authors: Petronella Nicholas , Ronholm Jennifer
Published: May 2018

Most Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates found in marine environments are non-pathogenic; however, certain lineages have acquired genomic pathogenicity islands (PAIs) that enable these isolates to cause human illness. The V. parahaemolyticus PAI contains one or both of two toxins: thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) or TDH-related haemolysin (TRH) and type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2). Recently, a few V. parahaemolyticus isolates that do not have this PAI were obtained from clinical samples, and there has been interest in determining whether these isolates possess novel virulence factors. In this investigation, we have selected four V. parahaemolyticus isolates: a canonical pathogenic strain containing TDH, TRH and T3SS2; two strains from clinical cases which do not contain a PAI; and an environmental isolate which also does not contain a PAI. For each isolate, we analyzed differential gene expression after crude bile exposure. Several enteric bacterial pathogens are known to use bile as a signal to enhance virulence gene expression. We have shown that in the tdh-positive trh-positive pathotype gene virulence gene expression was not up-regulated in response to crude bile, strongly indicating that the current dogma of virulence gene regulation in V. parahaemolyticus needs to be revisited and separately investigated for each pathotype. In addition, we have created a list of genes of interest that were up-regulated in the non-canonical pathotypes which may contribute to virulence in these isolates.
Modeling structure, stability and flexibility of double-stranded RNAs in salt solutions
Authors: Jin L. , Shi Y.Z. , Feng C.J. , Tan Y.L. , Tan Z.J.
Published: May 2018

Double-stranded (ds) RNAs play essential roles in many processes of cell metabolism. The knowledge of three-dimensional (3D) structure, stability and flexibility of dsRNAs in salt solutions is important for understanding their biological functions. In this work, we further developed our previously proposed coarse-grained model to predict 3D structure, stability and flexibility for dsRNAs in monovalent and divalent ion solutions through involving an implicit structure-based electrostatic potential. The model can make reliable predictions for 3D structures of extensive dsRNAs with/without bulge/internal loops from their sequences, and the involvement of the structure-based electrostatic potential and corresponding ion condition can improve the predictions on 3D structures of dsRNAs in ion solutions. Furthermore, the model can make good predictions on thermal stability for extensive dsRNAs over the wide range of monovalent/divalent ion concentrations, and our analyses show that thermally unfolding pathway of a dsRNA is generally dependent on its length as well as its sequence. In addition, the model was employed to examine the salt-dependent flexibility of a dsRNA helix and the calculated salt-dependent persistence lengths are in good accordance with experiments.
Body size-dependent energy storage causes Kleiber’s law scaling of the metabolic rate in planarians
Authors: Rink Jochen C. , Thommen Albert , Werner Steffen , Frank Olga , Philipp Jenny , Knittelfelder Oskar , Quek Yihui , Fahmy Karim , Shevchenko Andrej , Friedrich Benjamin M. , Jülicher Frank
Published: May 2018

Kleiber’s law, or the ¾-power law scaling of the metabolic rate with body mass, is considered one of the few quantitative laws in biology, yet its physiological basis remains unknown. Here, we report Kleiber’s law scaling in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Its reversible and life history-independent changes in adult body size over 2 orders of magnitude reveal that Kleiber’s law does not emerge from the size-dependent decrease in cellular metabolic rate, but from a size-dependent increase in mass per cell. Through a combination of experiment and theoretical analysis of the organismal energy balance, we further show that the mass allometry is caused by body size dependent energy storage. Our results reveal the physiological origins of Kleiber’s law in planarians and thus have general implications for understanding a fundamental scaling law in biology.
Extended regions of suspected mis-assembly in the rat reference genome
Authors: Ramdas Shweta , Ozel Ayse Bilge , Treutelaar Mary K. , Holl Katie , Mandel Myrna , Woods Leah Solberg , Li Jun Z.
Published: May 2018

We performed whole-genome sequencing for eight inbred rat strains commonly used in genetic mapping studies. They are the founders of the NIH heterogeneous stock (HS) outbred colony. We provide their sequences and variant calls to the rat genomics community. When analyzing the variant calls we identified regions with unusually high levels of heterozygosity. These regions are consistent across the eight inbred strains, including Brown Norway, which is the basis of the rat reference genome. These regions show higher read depths than other regions in the genome and contain higher rates of apparent tri-allelic variant sites. The evidence suggests that these regions may correspond to duplicated segments that were incorrectly overlaid as a single segment in the reference genome. We provide masks for these regions of suspected mis-assembly as a resource for the community to flag potentially false interpretations of mapping or functional results.
Rapid Therapeutic Recommendations in the Context of a Global Public Health Crisis using Translational Bioinformatics Approaches: A proof-of-concept study using Nipah Virus Infection
Authors: Shameer Khader , Johnson Kipp W. , Readhead Ben , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , McCallum Claire , Revikumar Amjesh , Hirsch Jamie S. , Bock Kevin , Chelico John , Hajizadeh Negin , Oppenheim Michael , Dudley Joel T.
Published: May 2018

We live in a world of emerging new diseases and old diseases resurging in more aggressive forms. Drug development by pharmaceutical companies is a market-driven and costly endeavor, and thus it is often a challenge when drugs are needed for diseases endemic only to certain regions or which affect only a few patients. However, biomedical open data is accessible and reusable for reanalysis and generation of a new hypotheses and discovery. In this study, we leverage biomedical data and tools to analyze available data on Nipah Virus (NiV) infection. NiV infection is an emerging zoonosis that is transmissible to humans and is associated with high mortality rates. In this study, explored the application of computational drug repositioning and chemogenomic enrichment analyses using host transcriptome data to match drugs that could reverse the virus-induced gene signature. We performed analyses using two gene signatures: i) A previously published gene signature (n=34), and ii) a gene signature generated using the characteristic direction method (n= 5,533). Our predictive framework suggests that several drugs including FDA approved therapies like beclometasone, trihexyphenidyl, S-propranolol etc. could modulate the NiV infection induced gene signatures in endothelial cells. A target specific analysis of CXCL10 also suggests the potential application of Eldelumab, an investigative therapy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as a putative candidate for drug repositioning. To conclude, we also discuss challenges and opportunities in clinical trials (n-of-1 and adaptive trials) for repositioned drugs. Further follow-up studies including biochemical assays and clinical trials are required to identify effective therapies for clinical use. Our proof-of-concept study highlights that translational bioinformatics methods including gene expression analyses and computational drug repositioning could augment epidemiological investigations in the context of an emerging disease with no effective treatment.
The structure of the Pro-domain of mouse proNGF in contact with the NGF domain
Authors: Yan Robert , Yalinca Havva , Paoletti Francesca , Gobbo Francesco , Marchetti Laura , Kuzmanic Antonija , Lamba Doriano , Gervasio Francesco Luigi , Konarev Petr V. , Cattaneo Antonino , Pastore Annalisa
Published: May 2018

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is an important neurotrophic factor involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, maintenance, growth and survival of target neurons. Expressed as a proNGF precursor, NGF is then matured by furin-mediated protease cleavage. Increasing evidence suggests that NGF and proNGF have distinct cellular partners which account for different functional roles. While the structure of mature NGF is available, little is known about the structure of the pro-domain within the context of proNGF because the dynamical and structural features of the protein have so far prevented its structure determination. We have exploited a new hybrid strategy based on nuclear magnetic resonance and modelling validated by small angle X-ray scattering to gain novel insights on the pro-domain, both in isolation and in the context of proNGF. We show that the isolated pro-domain is intrinsically unstructured but has a clear tertiary structure propensity and forms transient tertiary intramolecular contacts. It is also able to interact, albeit weakly, with mature NGF and has per se the ability to induce growth cone collapse, indicating functional independence. Based on paramagnetic relaxation enhancement data and advanced molecular modelling, we have then reconstructed the overall properties of the pro-domain in the context of proNGF and showed that it has a compact structure. Our data represent an important step towards the structural and functional characterization of the properties of proNGF and its pro-domain.
Dynamic expression of risk genes for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder across development
Authors: Clifton Nicholas E , Hannon Eilís , Florio Arianna Di , Thomas Kerrie L , Holmans Peter A , Walters James TR , O’Donovan Michael C , Owen Michael J , Pocklington Andrew J , Hall Jeremy
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT

Common genetic variation contributes a substantial proportion of risk for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, there is evidence of significant, but not complete, overlap in genetic risk between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It has been hypothesised that genetic variants conferring risk for these disorders do so by influencing brain development, leading to the later emergence of symptoms. The comparative profile of risk gene expression for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder across development over different brain regions however remains unclear. Using genotypes derived from genome wide associations studies of the largest available cohorts of patients and control subjects, we investigated whether genes enriched for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder association show a bias for expression across any of 13 developmental stages in prefrontal cortical and subcortical brain regions. We show that genes associated with schizophrenia have a strong bias towards increased expression in the prefrontal cortex during early midfetal development and early infancy, and decreased expression during late childhood which normalises in adolescence. Risk-associated genes for bipolar disorder shared this postnatal expression profile but did not exhibit a bias towards expression at any prenatal stage. These results emphasise the dynamic expression of genes harbouring risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder across prefrontal cortex development and support the view that prenatal neurodevelopmental events are more strongly associated with schizophrenia than bipolar disorder.
The maternal hormone in the male brain: sexually dimorphic distribution of prolactin signalling in the mouse brain
Authors: Salais-López Hugo , Agustín-Pavón Carmen , Lanuza Enrique , Martínez-García Fernando
Published: May 2018

Research of the central actions of prolactin is virtually restricted to females, but this hormone has also documented roles in male physiology and behaviour. Here, we provide the first description of the pattern of prolactin-derived signalling in the male mouse brain, employing the immunostaining of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (pSTAT5) after exogenous prolactin administration. Next, we explore possible sexually dimorphic differences by comparing pSTAT5 immunoreactivity in prolactin-supplemented males and females. We also assess the role of testosterone in the regulation of central prolactin signalling in males by comparing intact with castrated prolactin-supplemented males.

Prolactin-supplemented males displayed a widespread pattern of pSTAT5 immunoreactivity, restricted to brain centres showing expression of the prolactin receptor. Immunoreactivity for pSTAT5 was present in several nuclei of the preoptic, anterior and tuberal hypothalamus, as well as in the septofimbrial nucleus or posterodorsal medial amygdala of the telencephalon. Conversely, non-supplemented control males were virtually devoid of pSTAT5-immunoreactivity, suggesting that central prolactin actions in males are limited to situations concurrent with substantial hypophyseal prolactin release (e.g. stress or mating). Furthermore, comparison of prolactin-supplemented males and females revealed a significant, female-biased sexual dimorphism, supporting the view that prolactin has a preeminent role in female physiology and behaviour. Finally, in males, castration significantly reduced pSTAT5 immunoreactivity in some structures, including the paraventricular and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and the septofimbrial region, thus indicating a region-specific regulatory role of testosterone over central prolactin signalling.
Identifying individual risk rare variants using protein structure-guided local tests (POINT)
Authors: West Rachel Marceau , Lu Wenbin , Rotroff Daniel M. , Kuenemann Melaine , Chang Sheng-Mao , Wagner Michael J. , Buse John B. , Motsinger-Reif Alison , Fourches Denis , Tzeng Jung-Ying
Published: May 2018

Rare variants are of increasing interest to genetic association studies because of their etiological contributions to human complex diseases. Due to the rarity of the mutant events, rare variants are routinely analyzed on an aggregate level. While aggregation analyses improve the detection of global-level signal, they are not able to pinpoint causal variants within a variant set. To perform inference on a localized level, additional information, e.g., biological annotation, is often needed to boost the information content of a rare variant. Following the observation that important variants are likely to cluster together on functional domains, we propose a protein structure guided local test (POINT) to provide variant-specific association information using structure-guided aggregation of signal. Constructed under a kernel machine framework, POINT performs local association testing by borrowing information from neighboring variants in the 3-dimensional protein space in a data-adaptive fashion. Besides merely providing a list of promising variants, POINT assigns each variant a p-value to permit variant ranking and prioritization. We assess the selection performance of POINT using simulations and illustrate how it can be used to prioritize individual rare variants in PCSK9 associated with low-density lipoprotein in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial data.

Author summary

While it is known that rare variants play an important role in understanding associations between genotype and complex diseases, pinpointing individual rare variants likely to be responsible for association is still a daunting task. Due to their low frequency in the population and reduced signal, localizing causal rare variants often requires additional information, such as type of DNA change or location of variant along the sequence, to be incorporated in a biologically meaningful fashion that does not overpower the genotype data. In this paper, we use the observation that important variants tend to cluster together on functional domains to propose a new approach for prioritizing rare variants: the protein structure guided local test (POINT). POINT uses a gene’s 3-dimensional protein folding structure to guide aggregation of information from neighboring variants in the protein in a robust manner. We show how POINT improves selection performance over single variant tests and sliding window approaches. We further illustrate how it can be used to prioritize individual rare variants using the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial data, finding five promising variants within PCSK9 in association with low-density lipoprotein, including three new mutations near the PCSK9-LDLR binding domain.
Prolonged culture of primary human keratinocytes isolated from suction blisters
Authors: Anderson Erik D. , Sastalla Inka , Earland Noah J. , Mahnaz Minai , Moore Ian N. , Otaizo-Carrasquero Francisco , Myers Timothy G. , Myles Christopher A. , Datta Sandip K. , Myles Ian A.
Published: May 2018

Keratinocytes are the most abundant cell type in the epidermis. They prevent desiccation and provide immunological and barrier defense against potential pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The study of this first line of immune defense is hindered by invasive isolation methods and insufficient techniques for long-term passage of primary keratinocytes in vitro. Primary keratinocytes have been successfully isolated from blister roofs induced by negative pressure, which separates the epidermis from the dermis in vivo in human subjects. This method allows collection of pure epidermal cells without dermal contamination in a minimally invasive manner. However, the isolated keratinocytes differentiate and senesce when cultured in vitro beyond five passages. Here, we present evidence that the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 can be used to effectively increase the proliferative capabilities of keratinocytes isolated using the suction blister method, similar to what has been previously reported for primary keratinocytes isolated using alternative methods. We show that the increase in passage number is directly correlated to delayed differentiation, and that cells passaged long term with the inhibitor retain their ability to stratify in organotypic raft cultures and respond to cytokine treatment; additionally, the late passage cells have a heterogeneous mix of differentiated and non-differentiated cells which may be predicted by a ratio of select differentiation markers. The described method presents a minimally invasive procedure for keratinocyte isolation and prolonged culture that allows analysis of keratinocyte function in both healthy volunteers and patients with dermatologic diseases.
Does a history of sexual and physical childhood abuse contribute to HIV infection risk in adulthood? A study among post-natal women in Harare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Shamu Simukai , Shamu Patience , Zarowsky Christina , Temmerman Marleen , Shefer Tamara , Abrahams Naeemah
Published: May 2018

Background

Sexual and physical abuse in childhood creates a great health burden including on mental and reproductive health. A possible link between child abuse and HIV infection has increasingly attracted attention. This paper investigated whether a history of child physical and sexual abuse is associated with HIV infection among adult women.

Methods

A cross sectional survey was conducted among 2042 postnatal women (mean age=26y) attending six public primary health care clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe within 6 weeks post-delivery. Clinic records were reviewed for mother’s antenatal HIV status. Participants were interviewed about childhood abuse including physical or sexual abuse before 15 years of age, forced first sex before 16, HIV risk factors such as age difference at first sex before age 16. Multivariate analyses assessed the associations between mother’s HIV status and child physical and sexual abuse while controlling for confounding variables.

Results

More than one in four (26.6%) reported abuse before the age of 15: 14.6% physical abuse and 9.1% sexual abuse,14.3% reported forced first sex and 9.0% first sex before 16 with someone 5+ years older. Fifteen percent of women tested HIV positive during the recent antenatal care visit. In multivariate analysis, childhood physical abuse (aOR 3.30 95%CI 1.58- 6.90), sexual abuse (3.18 95%CI: 1.64-6.19), forced first sex (aOR 1.42, 95%CI: 1.00-2.02), and 5+ years age difference with first sex partner (aOR 1.66 95%CI 1.09-2.53) were independently associated with HIV infection.

Conclusion

This study confirms that child physical and/or sexual abuse increases risk for HIV acquisition. Further research is needed to assess the pathways to HIV acquisition from childhood to adulthood. Prevention of child abuse must form part of the HIV prevention agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Inherited DNA methylation primes the establishment of accessible chromatin during genome activation
Authors: Liu Guifen , Wang Wen , Hu Shengen , Wang Xiangxiu , Zhang Yong
Published: May 2018

For animals, epigenetic modifications can be globally or partially inherited from gametes after fertilization, and such information is required for proper transcriptional regulation, especially during the process of zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, the mechanism underlying how the inherited epigenetic signatures affect transcriptional regulation during ZGA remains poorly understood. Here, we performed genome-wide profiling of chromatin accessibility during zebrafish ZGA, which is closely related to zygotic transcriptional regulation. We observed a clear trend toward a gradual increase in accessible chromatin during ZGA. Furthermore, accessible chromatin at the promoters displayed a sequential priority of emergence, and the locations of the accessible chromatin were precisely primed by the enrichment of unmethylated CpGs that were fully inherited from gametes. On the other hand, distal regions with high methylation levels that were inherited from the sperm facilitated the binding of DNA methylation-preferred transcription factors, such as Pou5f3 and Nanog, which contributed to the establishment of accessible chromatin at these loci. Our results demonstrate a model whereby inherited DNA methylation signatures from gametes prime the establishment of accessible chromatin during zebrafish ZGA through two distinct mechanisms.
Evidence of a novel intermetallic Mg7Ag3 phase in Mg–Ag binary alloy system
Authors: Ren Yuping , Zhao Hong , Wang Liqing , Yang Bo , Li Hongxiao , Sun Shineng , Pan Hucheng , Qin Gaowu
Published: May 2018

A novel intermetallic Mg7Ag3 phase in the Mg–Ag binary alloy system at 573 and 623 K was discovered by the diffusion couple technique combined with the equilibrated alloy method. The composition and crystal structure of the Mg7Ag3 phase were identified via scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The refinement of the XRD patterns was performed by Rietveld analysis. The XRD data have shown that Mg7Ag3 crystallizes in a body-centered crystal structure with Immm/orthorhombic symmetry (space group No. 71) and lattice parameters a = 14.2172, b = 14.6184, c = 14.177 Å and α = 90°. The well indexed selected area electron diffraction patterns and Kikuchi pattern obtained from TEM and EBSD confirmed the crystallographic structure obtained by XRD.
The simple physics of the bending magnet spectrum
Authors: Margaritondo Giorgio
Published: May 2018

A new elementary model of the bending magnet synchrotron radiation is presented, with minimal mathematical formalism. The model explains features not justified by other simplified approaches; in particular, it brings to light the key role of the directional Doppler effect.
Integrated reporting and narrative accountability: the role of preparers
Authors: Lai Alessandro , Melloni Gaia , Stacchezzini Riccardo
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The International Integrated Reporting Council claims that integrated reporting (IR) can enhance corporate accountability, yet critical and interpretative studies have contested this outcome. Insufficient empirical research details how preparers experience accountability while constructing IR; to fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how the preparers’ mode of cognition influences the patterns of accountability associated with IR.

Design/methodology/approach

A functionalist approach to narratives helps elucidate the role that the IR preparers’ narrative mode of cognition plays on accountability towards stakeholders. The empirical analysis particularly benefits from in-depth interviews with the IR preparers of a global insurer that has used IR since 2013.

Findings

The preparers’ narrative mode of cognition facilitates dialogue with IR users. It addresses accountability tensions by revealing the company’s value creation process. Preparers’ efforts to establish a meaningful dialogue with a growing variety of stakeholders through broader and plainer messages reveals the potential of IR as a narrative source of a socializing form of accountability. However, financial stakeholders remain the primary addressees of the reports.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focusses on preparers’ views; further research should integrate users’ accountability expectations.

Originality/value

This paper offers new insights for dealing with corporate reporting and accountability in a novel IR setting.
Procurement 4.0: factors influencing the digitisation of procurement and supply chains
Authors: Bienhaus Florian , Haddud Abubaker
Published: May 2018

Purpose

While digitisation is a key driver of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0); organisations have different approaches to deal with this topic to get a clearer picture of the opportunities and challenges concerning the digital transformation. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of digitisation on procurement and its role within the area of supply chain management. The research will also explore potential barriers to digitising procurement and supply chains and ways to overcome them. Finally, the significance of potential enabling technologies to the digitisation will also be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approached utilising an online survey was used to collect the primary data for this study. Data were collected from 414 participants directly involved with procurement or related business functions and work for different organisations in different industries. The survey included eight items about the impact of digitisation on organisational performance in the area of procurement and supply chains; ten items related to key barriers to digitisation of organisations and ways to overcome them; and seven items about enabling technologies to leverage procurement procedures and processes digitisation. All of these items utilised the Likert five-point level of agreement scale.

Findings

The findings indicate that digitisation of procurement process can yield several benefits including: supporting daily business and administrative tasks, supporting complex decision-making processes, procurement will become more focussed on strategic decisions and activities, procurement will become a strategic interface to support organisational efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability, and supporting the creation of new business models, products, and services. The authors were also able to confirm that there are barriers to digitising procurement process and supply chains and such barriers found in existing procedures, processes, capacities, and capabilities. Finally, the significance of a number of enabling technologies to the digitisation process was revealed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind with participants located world-wide. Industry 4.0 as a topic had been explored within different business areas and functions but very limited research specifically explored potential impact, barriers, and enabling technologies of procurement 4.0. The results can be beneficial for organisations already implemented Industry 4.0 or planning to do so. The study can also benefit academic scholars interested in the researched topic, business professionals, organisations within different sectors, and any other party interested in understanding more the concept of procurement 4.0.
Demands, identities and repertoire of protest: an analysis of the Mexican cannabis movement
Authors: Guerra Edgar
Published: May 2018

Purpose

In this paper, the author analyzed the repertoire of protest that cannabis activists employ in marches and mass demonstrations. The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between key demands and identities surrounding cannabis movement and the repertoire of protest they normally use.

Design/methodology/approach

The work was designed as a qualitative case study to build a deep understanding and detailed description of the cannabis movement’s dynamics and an analysis of its repertoire of protest. Data collection was carried out in two fieldwork periods in 2016 and 2017. This phase mainly consisted of ethnographic work and semi-structured interviews. An exploratory study was also carried out in May 2016. Information was mainly collected through interviews that delved into various issues regarding the movement’s internal composition and dynamics. As such, the author conducted 23 interviews with participants in marches and mass demonstrations, as well as with current non-governmental organization members. The compiled information was analyzed according to the “documentary method.”

Findings

Although the Global Marijuana March brings together users, activists, civil society organizations and politicians, the Mexican cannabis movement has non-articulated demands, it lacks a strong common identity and limited resources for mobilization. These features find an echo in a poor repertoire of protest.

Originality/value

This is the first scholarly and systematic analysis of the Mexican cannabis movement in the academic literature. Further, there is a systematic analysis of the cannabis movement repertoire of protest and how cannabis activists are able to translate their demands and identities into banners, chants, performances, masks and costumes, performances, pamphleteering, and demonstrations.
Enlivenment and the Gruffalo: the unfolding story of events in destination shopping centres
Authors: Strafford David , Crowther Phil , Schofield Peter
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the growing, and multifaceted, role for events within destination shopping centres. With particular focus upon The Gruffalo experience (GE)—a three week pop-up experiential children’s activation—the study offers insights and provides a conceptual framework, relating to the emerging and future role of events.

Design/methodology/approach

The study emerged from a privileged opportunity to research The GE, enabling a visitor questionnaire survey (n=1,305), using a non-probability sample, and four in-depth interviews, which were extended by an additional seven respondents.

Findings

There is a noteworthy role for events as “enlivenment”; attractors to increase visitation, repeat visitation and equally to impact dwell time and boost footfall and sales for tenants. The study revealed a need for a developed event portfolio, with various fundamental tensions relating to objectives, tenants, integration with wider strategy and customer experience.

Research limitations/implications

By interlinking events with shopping, re-visitation intention is improved and therefore not only does it deliver short-term return but longer-term payback. The vast assortment of events, and stakeholders, means a strategic and reflective approach is required. A limitation of the study is that there is limited existing research on this topic upon which to compare the overall findings, or specifically the survey data and analysis.

Originality/value

This early research study into events within destination shopping centres has revealed a prolific and advantageous, but also emerging and intricate, relationship. There is an absence of extant literature and therefore this paper makes a notable contribution to this unfolding area.
Registered nurses’ use of computerised decision support in medication reviews
Authors: Johansson-Pajala Rose-Marie , Martin Lene , Jorsäter Blomgren Kerstin
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of registered nurses’ (RNs) use of a computerized decision support system (CDSS) in medication reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test/post-test design with three- and six-month follow-ups subsequent to the introduction of a CDSS. In total, 11 RNs initiated and prepared a total of 54 medication reviews. The outcome measures were the number of drug-related problems (DRPs) as reported by the CDSS and the RNs, respectively, the RNs’ views on the CDSS, and changes in the quality of drug treatment.

Findings

The CDSS significantly indicated more DRPs than the RNs did, such as potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The RNs detected additional problems, outside the scope of the CDSS, such as lack of adherence. They considered the CDSS beneficial and wanted to continue using it. Only minor changes were found in the quality of drug treatments, with no significant changes in the drug-specific quality indicators (e.g. inappropriate drugs). However, the use of renally excreted drugs in reduced renal function decreased.

Practical implications

The RNs’ use of a CDSS in medication reviews is of value in detecting potential ADRs and interactions. Yet, in order to have an impact on outcomes in the quality of drug treatment, further measures are needed. These may involve development of inter-professional collaboration, such as established procedures for the implementation of medication reviews, including the use of CDSS.

Originality/value

This is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first study to explore the implications of medication reviews, initiated and prepared by RNs who use a CDSS. The paper adds further insight into the RNs’ role in relation to quality of drug treatments.
Implementation of an in-hospital stroke simulation protocol
Authors: Ortega Johis , Gonzalez Juan M. , de Tantillo Lila , Gattamorta Karina
Published: May 2018

Purpose

A major component of hospital stroke care involves prompt identification of stroke in admitted patients. Delays in recognizing stroke symptoms and initiating treatment for in-hospital stroke can adversely impact patient outcomes. This quality improvement intervention used simulation together with a traditional lecture to instruct nurses at a university hospital about a new stroke protocol being implemented to increase rapid recognition of stroke and meet Joint Commission National Hospital Inpatient Quality Measures. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 86 registered nurses from the neurology and cardiology units attended a lecture and participated in a simulation scenario with a standardized patient exhibiting stroke symptoms. Participants completed a ten-item pre-test to measure their knowledge of stroke care prior to the lecture; they repeated the test pre-simulation and once again post-simulation to evaluate changes in knowledge.

Findings

Overall mean stroke knowledge scores increased significantly from pre-lecture to pre-simulation, and from pre-simulation to post-simulation. Simulation plus lecture was more effective than lecture alone in increasing knowledge about hospital stroke protocol despite assigned unit (cardiology or neurology), years of experience, or previous exposure to simulation.

Research limitations/implications

All eligible nurses who agreed to participate received training, making it impossible to compare improvements in knowledge to those who did not receive the training.

Originality/value

A diverse array of nursing professionals and their patients may benefit from simulation training. This quality improvement intervention provides a feasible model for establishing new care protocols in a hospital setting.
Enabling continuous learning and quality improvement in health care
Authors: Smith Robert William , Orlando Elaina , Berta Whitney
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the design and implementation of learning models for performance management can foster continuous learning and quality improvement within a publicly funded, multi-site community hospital organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Niagara Health’s patient flow performance management system, a learning model, was studied over a 20-month period. A descriptive case study design guided the analysis of qualitative observational data and its synthesis with organizational learning theory literature. Emerging from this analysis were four propositions to inform the implementation of learning models and future research.

Findings

This performance management system was observed to enable: ongoing performance-related knowledge exchange by creating opportunities for routine social interaction; collective recognition and understanding of practice and performance patterns; relationship building, learning for improvement, and “higher order” learning through dialogue facilitated using humble inquiry; and, alignment of quality improvement efforts to organizational strategic objectives through a multi-level feedback/feed-forward communication structure.

Research limitations/implications

The single organization and descriptive study design may limit the generalizability of the findings and introduce confirmation bias. Future research should more comprehensively evaluate the impact of learning models on organizational learning processes and performance outcomes.

Practical implications

This study offers novel insight which may inform the design and implementation of learning models for performance management within and beyond the study site.

Originality/value

Few studies have examined the mechanics of performance management systems in relation to organizational learning theory and research. Broader adoption of learning models may be key to the development of continuously learning and improving health systems.
Nascent multinationals from West Africa
Authors: Ibeh Kevin I.N. , Uduma Idika Awa , Makhmadshoev Dilshod , Madichie Nnamdi O.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the motivations underpinning the foreign direct investment (FDI) activities, including the location and entry mode decisions, of nascent multinational enterprises (MNEs) from West Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a case study approach entailing the triangulation of interview data with documentary evidence on two leading West African financial service companies that have FDI footprints in over 50 country markets.

Findings

Evidence suggests the primacy of market-seeking motivations in explaining the FDI activities of the explored nascent MNEs, with relationship, efficiency and mission-driven motivations emerging as strong sub-themes. Having neither the global resonance of their traditional counterparts nor the government-augmented resource profile of their Asian counterparts, the study firms appear to have shied away from costly strategic asset and prestige-seeking FDI, and preferred psychically and institutionally proximate sub-Saharan African markets and non-organic collaborative entry modes.

Research limitations/implications

The above insights should be considered tentative given the study’s limited evidence base. This underscores the need for a larger scale empirical effort to assess the propositional inventory outlined at the end of this paper.

Practical implications

Africa’s growing population of MNEs are urged to continue to strengthen their positions across African markets, view these regional markets as a platform to learn and upgrade their capabilities for future expansion into more challenging global markets, and to augment their limited resource profiles, including by tapping into their global diaspora networks. Policy makers should support their market-seeking initiatives given evidence that they could be a pathway to higher order FDI motivations. This evolutionary approach reflects enduring lessons from earlier generations of MNEs. Policy makers should also support continuing intra-African investment flows as a pathway to creating more sizeable, integrated African markets and generating positive spill-overs, including in typically blind-sided post-conflict or fragile African markets. This also entails pushing for cross-border regulation needed to minimise the transfer of systemic risks across countries.

Originality/value

The study provides rare empirical evidence on hitherto neglected MNEs from sub-Saharan Africa, thus extending the geographic compass of research on FDI motivations. It identifies some distinctive aspects of the explored MNEs’ FDI behaviour, including the previously unheralded mission-driven motivation, whilst also revealing shared characteristics with traditional MNEs and emerging market multinational enterprisess.
Export promotion programmes and the export performance of Ghanaian firms
Authors: Sharma Revti Raman , Sraha Gloria , Crick Dave
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of foreign market attractiveness on the association between export promotion programmes (EPPs) and export performance in the context of Ghanaian firms. In addition to understanding how EPPs help enhance the attractiveness of the foreign markets and thus export performance, the study contributes to the under-developed export performance literature regarding Sub-Saharan African (SSA) firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method approach is utilised. In the first instance quantitative analysis is undertaken on 116 Ghanaian firms via data collected using the drop and pick method. Qualitative data involving interviews with 18 managers of exporting firms are then reported upon.

Findings

The study finds full mediation effects for foreign market attractiveness. This suggests that EPPs can enhance export performance via the intervening variable of foreign market attractiveness. Specifically, EPPs should be considered as a resource in managers’ ability to develop capabilities in exporting, but need to be considered in the context of other intervening factors such as perceived foreign market attractiveness.

Originality/value

The literature regarding EPPs and export performance mostly overlook any link between EPPs and other determinants of export performance towards establishing an indirect relationship between the constructs. The study fills this important gap; in particular, in respect of SSA firms and specifically in the context of Ghana.