bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure of CYRI-B (FAM49B), a key regulator of cellular actin assembly
Authors: Kaplan Elise , Stone Rachael , Hume Peter J. , Greene Nicholas P. , Koronakis Vassilis
Published: September 2020

In eukaryotes, numerous fundamental processes are controlled by the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) that regulates cellular actin polymerization, crucial for cell motility, cell–cell adhesion and epithelial differentiation. Actin assembly is triggered by interaction of the small GTPase Rac1 with CYFIP1, a key component of the WRC. Previously known as FAM49B, CYRI-B is a protein that is highly conserved across the Eukaryota and has recently been revealed to be a key regulator of Rac1 activity. Mutation of CYRI-B or alteration of its expression therefore leads to altered actin nucleation dynamics, with impacts on lamellipodia formation, cell migration and infection by intracellular pathogens. In addition, knockdown of CYRI-B expression in cancer cell lines results in accelerated cell proliferation and invasiveness. Here, the structure of Rhincodon typus (whale shark) CYRI-B is presented, which is the first to be reported of any CYRI family member. Solved by X-ray crystallography, the structure reveals that CYRI-B comprises three distinct α-helical subdomains and is highly structurally related to a conserved domain present in CYFIP proteins. The work presented here establishes a template towards a better understanding of CYRI-B biological function.
An evaluation of online students’ persistence intentions
Authors: Ilyas Asifa , Zaman Muhammad Kashif
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The high dropout rate among online learning students is a serious issue. Using the theory of planned behavior as a framework, this study investigates what effect attitude, opinion of others and perceived ease of online learning technologies leave on Pakistani online students' persistence intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this study comprises 320 students enrolled at a distance learning university in Pakistan. Online questionnaires are used to gather data for the study. Correlations and regression analysis are run to figure out the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable of the study.

Findings

The findings of the study show that 51% variance in online students’ persistence intentions can be explained by personal attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a non-random sampling technique along with a cross-sectional design form the major limitations of the study.

Practical implications

The outcome of the study may help online education providers as well as policymakers to design programs and initiatives to improve students’ retention in online study programs.

Originality/value

The study contributed to the extant literature by finding out Pakistani online students’ persistence behavior is affected by their attitude, subjective norms and perceived ease of online learning. The study also found that the opinion of people closely related to students influences their study persistence decisions.
Investigation of indoor air quality and thermal comfort condition in airport terminal buildings
Authors: Akyüz Mehmet Kadri , Kafali Hasim , Altuntas Onder
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to measure the thermal comfort conditions and indoor air quality parameters, through on-site measurements taken in the areas mostly occupied by the passengers and airport staff. Terminal buildings consist of areas with various functions. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning requirements vary from area to area, thus leading to challenges in the management of indoor environment quality. Therefore, the study focuses on investigating the indoor environment conditions in various areas of the terminal buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the thermal comfort and indoor air quality were evaluated based on the parameters [CO2 concentration, relative humidity, temperature, predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD)] collected for summer 2019 from different zones inside the International Dalaman Airport terminal building located in the southwest of Turkey. The measurements were performed in the areas mostly occupied by the airport staff and passengers (check-in area, security control areas, international departure lounge, domestic departure lounge and baggage claim hall).

Findings

As a result of the study, it was observed that the CO2 concentration was 480–965 ppm, the relative humidity was 51.9–75.8% and the temperature was in the range of 23.9°C–28.3°C inside the airport terminal. The PMV values were determined to be in the range of −0.23 to 0.67, and the PPD values 5–15%, which are used to measure the thermal comfort conditions.

Originality/value

There has been limited study on the determination of the indoor air quality in airport terminals and the investigation of the thermal comfort conditions. However, in this study, indoor air quality and thermal comfort conditions were determined by on-site measurements in the five mostly occupied areas by passengers and employees in the terminal building.
3D food printing: nutrition opportunities and challenges
Authors: Burke-Shyne Suailce , Gallegos Danielle , Williams Tim
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To explore the nutrition opportunities and challenges for 3D food printing.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the field of nutrition or with a technical understanding of 3D food printing and a thematic analysis undertaken.

Findings

Four themes emerged: potential uses, sustainability, technical issues and ethical and social issues. The primary use identified was for texture-modified diets. Other uses include personalised nutrition and for novelty purposes. Interviewees indicated food printing may aid sustainability by reducing food waste, using food by-products and incorporating eco-friendly foods. The main technical issues were speed, cost and inability of the technology to move between textures. The latter is a limiting issue if the technology is purported to be used for texture-modified diets. Ethical and social issues raised included the acceptability and high degree of processing involved in printed foods.

Originality/value

This research highlights the need for nutrition issues to be considered as 3D food printing technology develops.
Validation of a multiple criteria tool for healthcare facilities quality evaluation
Authors: Brambilla Andrea , Lindahl Göran , Dell'Ovo Marta , Capolongo Stefano
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Several healthcare quality assessment tools measure the processes and outcomes of the care system. The actual physical infrastructure (buildings and organizational) aspects are, however, rarely considered. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of validation and weighting of an evidence-informed framework for the quality assessment of hospital facilities from social, environmental and organizational perspectives to complement other assessments.

Design/methodology/approach

Sustainable High-quality Healthcare version 2 (SustHealth v2) is the updated version of an existing framework composed of three domains (social, environmental and organizational quality). To validate and establish a relevant weighting, interviews were conducted with 15 professionals within the field of healthcare planning, design, research and management. The study has been conducted through semi-structured interviews and the application of the Simon Roy Figueras (SRF) procedure for the elicitation of weights criteria. The data collected have been processed through the DecSpace web platform.

Findings

Among the three domains, the organizational qualities appear to be the most important (W = 49%), followed by the environmental (W = 29%) and social aspects (W = 22%). Relevant indicators such as future-proofing, wayfinding and users’ space control emerged as the most important within each macro-area. Those results are confirmed by the outcome of the interviews that highlight user/patient-centeredness, wayfinding strategies and space functionality as the most important concepts to foster in existing healthcare facilities improvement.

Practical implications

The study highlights important structural and organizational aspects that hospital managers and planners can consider when dealing with healthcare facilities’ quality improvement.

Originality/value

The use of the SRF multicriteria method is novel in this context when used to weight an assessment tool with a focus on hospital built environment.
Women empowerment, attitude toward risk-taking and entrepreneurial intention in the hospitality industry
Authors: Yoopetch Chanin
Published: September 2020

Purpose

First, this study aims to investigate the factors affecting entrepreneurial intentions. Second, it is to identify the influential factors with the highest influence on entrepreneurial intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of the current study was female employees in various hospitality firms, including restaurants, hotels and wellness services. The questionnaire was developed based on past research studies and was tested for reliability prior to the full set of data collection. To represent the early to mid-level career women in hospitality, female employees with at least one-year experience from hospitality businesses, such as restaurants and hotels, participated in the study and total usable samples were 416.

Findings

The findings demonstrated that attitude toward risk-taking, self-efficacy, subjective norm and empowerment is significantly influential to the entrepreneurial intention of the women in the hospitality industry. Based on the data analysis, attitude toward risk-taking has the highest influence on entrepreneurial intention. In other words, with a positive attitude toward risk-taking, female employees showed the greatest tendency to start their own business.

Research limitations/implications

The current study extended the theory of planned behavior in that it can be used to explain the women’s entrepreneurial intention with subjective norms, attitudes and self-efficacy. The study also highlighted the flexibility of the theory in allowing the researchers to add external variables to help further investigate the relationships among all the factors in the models.

Practical implications

To highlight the opportunity to promote more equality and diversity in the business management environments, the results from the study promoted the roles of women entrepreneurs to support hospitality business development. One of the most influential factors is the attitude toward risk-taking. This suggested that with the positive attitude toward risk, the respondents have higher entrepreneurial intentions. Promoting and sharing the success stories of female entrepreneurs can affect the attitude of female employees and raise their interests toward becoming entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The current study provided a unique investigation on the early to mid-level career hospitality female employees to explore their intention to be entrepreneurs. This research offered the extension of the theory of planned behavior in the context of entrepreneurship.
Enhanced self-assessment of CPR by low-dose, high-frequency training
Authors: Abelsson Anna , Appelgren Jari , Axelsson Christer
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose was to investigate what effect an intervention of low-dose, high-frequency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training with feedback for one month would have on professionals' subjective self-assessment skill of CPR.

Design/methodology/approach

This study had a quantitative approach. In total, 38 firefighters performed CPR for two minutes on a Resusci Anne QCPR. They then self-assessed their CPR through four multiple-choice questions regarding compression rate, depth, recoil and ventilation volume. After one month of low-dose, high-frequency training with visual feedback, the firefighters once more performed CPR and self-assessed their CPR.

Findings

With one month of low-dose, high-frequency training with visual feedback, the level of self-assessment was 87% (n = 33) correct self-assessment of compression rate, 95% (n = 36) correct self-assessment of compression depth, 68% (n = 26) correct self-assessment of recoil and 87% (n = 33) correct self-assessment of ventilations volume. The result shows a reduced number of firefighters who overestimate their ability to perform CPR.

Originality/value

With low-dose, high-frequency CPR training with visual feedback for a month, the firefighters develop a good ability to self-assess their CPR to be performed within the guidelines. By improving their ability to self-assess their CPR quality, firefighters can self-regulate their compression and ventilation quality.
The effects of COVID-19 on job security and unemployment in Portugal
Authors: Almeida Fernando , Santos José Duarte
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This short communication aims to explore and synthesize the main effects of COVID-19 on the labor market in Portugal regarding the dimensions related to job security and unemployment.

Design/methodology/approach

Field research is used to identify and understand the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the labor market in Portugal. Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Portugal are analyzed and compared with artifacts published in the field, which allow us to explore the impact of this phenomenon from multiple perspectives.

Findings

The findings indicate that the impact on the labor market is very asymmetric regarding geographical regions, sectors of activity, age groups and the nature of labor ties. The most touristic regions and those with a strong dependence on the exterior are the most affected. Young people and women with unstable employment relationships and in temporary work situations are also particularly vulnerable.

Originality/value

This study focuses on an emerging area with a strong impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market. This study seeks both to identify challenges in the Portuguese labor market and to discuss measures that should be taken to mitigate their effects, such as reforming the social security model, the role of teleworking or the more balanced development of the territory.
A biopsychosocial framework for recovery from COVID-19
Authors: Stuart Kaz , Faghy Mark A. , Bidmead Elaine , Browning Ruth , Roberts Catriona , Grimwood Sam , Winn-Reed Thea
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper proposes a biopsychosocial (BPS) analysis of COVID-19 experiences which enhances understanding of complex and interrelated factors and leads to the proposition of a BPS recovery framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Online narrative research was used to explore people's experiences of COVID-19 and was conducted over a four-month period. The call was distributed via a short open-ended qualitative online survey advertised on social media platforms and 305 responses came from across England.

Findings

The findings illustrate people with a narrow range of BPS characteristics experienced over a wide range of BPS impacts which are nuanced, complex and dynamic. Left unaddressed these may create future adverse BPS characteristics. An integrated BPS framework for recovery is proposed to avoid such further negative outcomes from the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The sample contained a bias in age, gender and living arrangements.

Practical implications

The paper offers a clear framework to enable integrated holistic recovery/regrowth planning.

Social implications

Using the framework would reduce social and health inequities which have been recently deepened by COVID-19 in the long-term.

Originality/value

The paper is original in its use of a BPS analytical framework.
Dark side of online social games (OSG) using Facebook platform: effect of age, gender, and identity as moderators
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Online social games (OSG) possess unique characteristics that distinguish them from other kind of online games. Its overuse has brought addiction to it. In this perspective, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors impacting addiction of OSG and to investigate the role of age, gender and identity (students and non-students) to moderate addiction of OSG.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has developed a research model by the help of literature review and different relevant theories. This model has been validated by survey method using feedbacks of 305 social game players. Structural equation modeling technique has been used to validate the model.

Findings

The study has been able to find key factors of social influence and individual influence (characteristics) that impact the intention of the online social games players to play social games that ultimately may cause addiction to online social games. Further, the study highlights that gender and identity (students and non-students) have no effects on the addictive behavior of the social game players, whereas age has a moderating impact.

Practical implications

The results of this study have derived a set of rich guidelines to the policymakers and the management of social media platforms (like Facebook) toward framing policy and regulations on online social games.

Originality/value

The study has been able to uniquely highlight the dark side of online social games and its consequences. The study also provides a guideline to the policymakers, practitioners and online social game players on how to restrict its over usage that may prompt online social game addiction.
Influence of stress and coping strategies on undergraduate students' performance
Authors: Oyewobi Luqman Oyekunle , Bolarin Gbolahan , Oladosu Naomi Temitope , Jimoh Richard Ajayi
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study examined the causes of academic stress amongst undergraduate students in the Department of Quantity Surveying to ascertain whether stress has an influence on their academic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research explores the relationships between these constructs: academic stress, non-academic stress, coping strategies and academic performance, using a survey questionnaire to collect data from 190 undergraduate students in the Quantity Survey department. Descriptive statistics have been used to analyse the data and a path analytical approach has been adopted to evaluate the relationship between the constructs discussed in the paper.

Findings

Significant linear associations have been established between all the proposed paths and the outcome factor (p < 0.00). Coping strategies were an important mediator (p = 0.000), as they explained 32.9% of the association between academic stress and non-academic stress. However, the findings have shown that the stress faced by students is an optimal degree of stress that improves learning capabilities.

Practical implications

Explanation and clarification of the effects of academic and non-academic stress and coping mechanisms on the academic performance of university undergraduate students could help to reduce the risk of suicide amongst the teeming youths. It will also afford the university administration the opportunity to engender stress-free environment that is conducive for learning through the formulation of appropriate policies that promote “balanced learning” for the students. The outcome of this study may provide a launch pad for researchers who are interested in knowing how the possible causes of stress may impact on the health of university students.

Originality/value

The findings will be of great importance to the academic advisers and university administration in developing a flexible academic calendar and adopt policies that will eliminate academic stress and promote strategies to cope with non-academic stress. The study is the first attempt to examine academic stress, non-academic stress, coping strategies and academic performance in a single research in the Nigerian context due to limited literature found. This study has pedagogical implications to education practice by offering tertiary institutions the opportunity to appraise and device a means of managing students' stress by identifying their needs and increase students' coping skills based on prevailing modalities that give students' opportunities to strengthen the strategies of coping.
The role of spinoffs and tradeoffs of business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace
Authors: Svensson Göran , Padin Carmen
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of spinoffs and tradeoffs in business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace based on environmental, economic and social constituents. It is based on the insights gathered from a company’s business-driven sustainable development. It can therefore be used as a teaching case.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive approach based on case study methodology is applied to describe a company’s spinoffs and tradeoffs of business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace.

Findings

The study reports how raw material residuals can be recycled and reused in spinoff processes, and tradeoffs done, to optimize the outcome of business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace.

Research limitations/implications

The study reveals that spinoffs and tradeoffs between constituents and related sub-constituents enable to improve the ultimate outcome of business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace. The study also illustrates how environmental, social and economic constituents and related sub-constituents connect and reconnect to each other as a whole through spinoffs and tradeoffs, to optimize business-driven sustainable development in marketplace.

Practical implications

Business-driven sustainable development requires corporate considerations to connect and reconnect the economic, social and environmental constituents and related sub-constituents. It illustrates the pioneering actions of combining existing solutions of business sustainability in conjunction and gaining synergy effects to optimize business-driven sustainable development.

Originality/value

Contribution is based on the actions of combining existing solutions of business sustainability in conjunction and gaining synergy effects to optimize business-driven sustainable development. This study also makes a contribution illustrating a framework based on a company’s business-driven sustainable development fostering CO2neutrality and fossil-free fuel in the food and agricultural industries. In addition, it makes a contribution illustrating how raw material residuals are recycled and reused in spinoff processes, so as to optimize the business-driven sustainable development. Furthermore, it makes a contribution illustrating that business-driven sustainable development in the marketplace is neither simplistic nor straightforward, but requires that tradeoffs between constituents and related sub-constituents be made to optimize the ultimate outcome.
Covid-19, county lines and the seriously “left behind”
Authors: Pitts John
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to suggest how the Covid-19 lockdown may affect illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people who become involved in County lines drug dealing.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an “opinion piece” based on data released by central and local government departments and voluntary sector sources concerning the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people. The data is augmented with information from recent discussions with police officers, youth workers and social workers in a London borough.

Findings

It appears that the Covid-19 restrictions have had, and will continue to have, a deleterious impact upon both illicit drug users and the young people caught up in County lines drug distribution.

Originality/value

The study’s originality lies in its attempt to use a range of sources to anticipate the consequences of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people.
Halal food purchase intention of Muslim students in Spain: testing the moderating effect of need-for-cognition
Authors: Pradana Mahir , Wardhana Aditya , Rubiyanti Nurafni , Syahputra Syahputra , Utami Dian Gita
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the purchase intention of halal food products in Spain, from the perspective of Muslim students.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 500 Muslim students living in Spain. Variance-based structural equation modelling was applied to evaluate the association between halal credence, attitude towards halal, need for cognition and purchase intention.

Findings

This study reveals that the need for cognition does not act as a moderating variable, while halal credence factor is an important factor affecting attitude towards halal and purchase intention.

Practical implications

This study provides an additional study on the topic of halal consumer behaviour, especially by showing an empirical result from Spain.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to incorporate the need for cognition into the relationship between halal credence, attitude towards halal and purchase intention (traditional theory of planned behaviour model).
Peer knowledge sharing and organizational performance: the role of leadership support and knowledge management success
Authors: Muhammed Shahnawaz , Zaim Halil
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to focus on a particular type of intra-organizational knowledge sharing that is referred to as peer knowledge sharing. This paper examines how peer knowledge sharing impacts firms’ financial and innovation performance, and the mechanism through which such a relationship is realized. The study also evaluates the extent to which leadership support acts as a key antecedent to peer knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on social capital theory and a knowledge-based view of firms, a theoretical model and related hypotheses are presented for testing. A survey design methodology is used to collect data and test the model. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypothesized relationships based on data collected from 330 knowledge workers in various service-based organizations in Turkey.

Findings

The results indicate that the extent of employees’ engagement in knowledge sharing behavior with their peers and their managers’ leadership support exert a positive impact on organizations’ knowledge management success, which, in turn, can affect organizations’ innovation performance positively and, subsequently, their financial performance. Leadership support of the immediate manager is found to be an important factor that contributes to the respondent’s peer knowledge sharing behavior. The proposed model’s invariance testing between male and female respondents revealed that peer knowledge sharing’s contribution to knowledge management success may be different in the two groups.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to extant research on knowledge sharing by specifically focusing on peer knowledge sharing and reinforcing leadership support’s importance on knowledge sharing. The study also highlights the importance of knowledge management success as an important mediator necessary for linking individual knowledge management behaviors, such as peer knowledge sharing, with organizational performance.

Originality/value

Knowledge sharing is a topic of continuing interest for organizational researchers, yet limited empirical research has been conducted that links individual-level, intra-organizational knowledge sharing to organizational performance. This study examines this linkage and provides empirical support for this relationship, while simultaneously pointing to an important type of knowledge sharing that occurs within organizations, referred to as peer knowledge sharing.
Green branding effects on consumer response: examining a brand stereotype-based mechanism
Authors: Gong Siyu , Sheng Guanghua , Peverelli Peter , Dai Jialin
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework to investigate how green brand positioning strategies positively impact consumer response. It focusses on uncovering the causal mechanism in which such effect is mediated by brand stereotypes. Additionally, it outlines the moderating role of construal level in this formation process.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies were conducted to examine the hypotheses. Study 1 tests the positive influence of green brand positioning on consumer response. Study 2 tests the dual mediating effect of warmth and competence in the relationship between green brand positioning and consumer response. Study 3 further examines the moderating role of construal level in the effects of green brand positioning on brand stereotypes.

Findings

The findings reveal that green emotional positioning strategies are predominantly stereotyped as warm while green functional positioning strategies are predominantly stereotyped as competent. Both warm and competent mediate the effects of green brand positioning on consumer response. Furthermore, a congruency between green emotional positioning and high-level construal, as well as the match between green functional positioning and low-level construal, leads to more warmth and competence perception.

Originality/value

This study contributes to green brand management literature by proposing a brand stereotype-based mechanism to explain how green brand positioning strategies trigger consumers’ stereotyping process, leading to positive consumer response. This study also identifies the construal level as a moderating variable that impacts consumers’ warmth and competence perceptions towards two kinds of green brand positioning strategies. Managerially, the findings of this study provide managerial ideas for developing green branding strategies.
Made for each other? Psychological contracts and service brands evaluations
Authors: Kingshott Russel P.J. , Gaur Sanjaya Singh , Sharma Piyush , Yap Sheau Fen , Kucherenko Yekaterina
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the individual and combined effects of three types of psychological contracts between customers and service employees (i.e. transactional, relational and communal), resulting from the service organizations’ relational marketing efforts, on their customers’ service brand evaluations in terms of their satisfaction, trust and commitment toward the brand.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a field-survey of 303 regular customers of beauty salons and hairdressers in Auckland, New Zealand. All the constructs were measured using adapted versions of well-established scales and data was analyzed using SmartPLS due to the relatively smaller sample size and the primary research objective being the prediction of the three outcome variables (i.e. satisfaction, trust and commitment).

Findings

Transactional and relational contracts have a negative and positive impact, respectively, upon communal contracts. Communal contracts mediate the impact of transactional and relational contracts on trust and commitment but not on satisfaction. Trust also mediates the relationship between satisfaction and commitment.

Research limitations/implications

This paper collected data from female customers of beauty salons and hairdressers in New Zealand, which may affect the generalizability of the results.

Practical implications

This study provides practical insights into the differences in the roles of psychological contracts between the customers and service employees, which may help managers in service firms improve their customer relationship outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper extends the relationship and services marketing literature to reveal the individual and combined effects of the three types of psychological contracts on customer satisfaction, trust and commitment toward their service brand.
Neighborhood location and its association with place attachment and residential satisfaction
Authors: Aksel Elif , İmamoğlu Çağrı
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the association of neighborhood location with place attachment and residential satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors reviewed the literature on place attachment and residential satisfaction, and then generated a questionnaire based on the scales from the literature. The authors surveyed 135 respondents in two neighborhoods of Ankara, a metropolitan city in Turkey: one in the city center, the other in a suburb. To analyze the data, first, factor analysis, and later, multivariate analysis of variance and correlation tests were conducted.

Findings

The results indicated that place attachment and residential satisfaction were positively correlated, in congruence with the related literature; however, neighborhood location appeared to be associated only with residential satisfaction. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed with respect to the recent issues on housing.

Originality/value

The effects of neighborhood location on place attachment and residential satisfaction (by comparing two different residential areas of the city) have not been adequately examined in earlier studies. The study results provide an understanding of the effectiveness of residential location on improving place attachment and residential satisfaction and contribute to the existing literature. Although the study findings may not be generalized to other locations in Turkey, this study contributed to the previous studies on place attachment and residential satisfaction by providing data from Turkish residents, which is less often examined.
Interplay between labour dynamics, accounting and accountability practices during the rise of a political logic: an Egyptian case study
Authors: Diab Ahmed Abdelnaby Ahmed
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a political explanation of management, accounting and control (MAC) practices in a traditional and unstable African setting. This was done by exploring the influence of latest revolutionary politics in Egypt along with labour dynamics in the context.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretically, the study uses the institutional logics perspective to understand the effects of higher order institutions on corporate management and workers at the micro level. Methodologically, the study adopts an interpretative case study approach. Data were collected using a triangulation of interviews, documents and observations.

Findings

The study finds that volatile political settings can have different contradictory implications for MAC practices. It also concludes that revolutionary events play a central role not only in the configuration of MAC practices but also in the mobilisation of labour resistance to these practices.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by investigating the different appearances of MAC practices in a volatile, political or revolutionary context, in contrast to highly investigated stabilised Western contexts. This broadens the definition of the social in the area of accounting and control.
The candidate vaccine strain Brucella ovis ∆abcBA is protective against Brucella melitensis infection in mice
Authors: Costa Luciana Fachini , Cabello Ana L. , Batista Diego Felipe Alves , Chaki Sankar P. , de Figueiredo Paul , da Paixão Tatiane Alves , Rice‐Ficht Allison C. , Ficht Thomas A. , Santos Renato Lima
Published: September 2020

Brucellosis is a major zoonotic disease, and Brucella melitensis is the species most often associated with human infection. Vaccination is the most efficient tool for controlling animal brucellosis, with a consequent decrease of incidence of human infections. Commercially available live attenuated vaccines provide some degree of protection, but retain residual pathogenicity to human and animals. In this study, Brucella ovis ∆abcBA (Bo∆abcBA), a live attenuated candidate vaccine strain, was tested in two formulations (encapsulated with alginate and alginate plus vitelline protein B [VpB]) to immunize mice against experimental challenge with B. melitensis strain 16M. One week after infection, livers and spleens of immunized mice had reduced numbers of the challenge strain B. melitensis 16M when compared with those of nonimmunized mice, with a reduction of approximately 1‐log10 of B. melitensis 16M count in the spleens from immunized mice. Moreover, splenocytes stimulated with B. melitensis antigens in vitro secreted IFN‐γ when mice had been immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate plus VpB, but not with alginate alone. Body and liver weights were similar among groups, although spleens from mice immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate were larger than those immunized with Bo∆abcBA encapsulated with alginate plus VpB or nonimmunized mice. This study demonstrated that two vaccine formulations containing Bo∆abcBA protected mice against experimental challenge with B. melitensis.
Habitat selection patterns are density dependent under the ideal free distribution
Authors: Avgar Tal , Betini Gustavo S. , Fryxell John M.
Published: September 2020

Despite being widely used, habitat selection models are rarely reliable and informative when applied across different ecosystems or over time. One possible explanation is that habitat selection is context‐dependent due to variation in consumer density and/or resource availability. The goal of this paper is to provide a general theoretical perspective on the contributory mechanisms of consumer and resource density‐dependent habitat selection, as well as on our capacity to account for their effects.

Towards this goal we revisit the ideal free distribution (IFD), where consumers are assumed to be omniscient, equally competitive and freely moving, and are hence expected to instantaneously distribute themselves across a heterogeneous landscape such that fitness is equalised across the population. Although these assumptions are clearly unrealistic to some degree, the simplicity of the structure in IFD provides a useful theoretical vantage point to help clarify our understanding of more complex spatial processes. Of equal importance, IFD assumptions are compatible with the assumptions underlying common habitat selection models.

Here we show how a fitness‐maximising space use model, based on IFD, gives rise to resource and consumer density‐dependent shifts in consumer distribution, providing a mechanistic explanation for the context‐dependent outcomes often reported in habitat selection analysis. Our model suggests that adaptive shifts in consumer distribution patterns would be expected to lead to nonlinear and often non‐monotonic patterns of habitat selection.

These results indicate that even under the simplest of assumptions about adaptive organismal behaviour, habitat selection strength should critically depend on system‐wide characteristics. Clarifying the impact of adaptive behavioural responses may be pivotal in making meaningful ecological inferences about observed patterns of habitat selection and allow reliable transferability of habitat selection predictions across time and space.
Best‐practice forestry management delivers diminishing returns for coral reefs with increased land‐clearing
Authors: Wenger Amelia S. , Harris Daniel , Weber Samuel , Vaghi Ferguson , Nand Yashika , Naisilisili Waisea , Hughes Alec , Delevaux Jade , Klein Carissa J. , Watson James , Mumby Peter J. , Jupiter Stacy D.
Published: September 2020

Protection of coastal ecosystems from deforestation may be the best way to protect coral reefs from sediment runoff. However, given the importance of generating economic activities for coastal livelihoods, the prohibition of development is often not feasible. In light of this, logging codes of practice have been developed to mitigate the impacts of logging on downstream ecosystems. However, no studies have assessed whether managed land‐clearing can occur in tandem with coral reef conservation goals.

This study quantifies the impacts of current land use and the risk of potential logging activities on downstream coral reef condition and fisheries using a novel suite of linked land‐sea models, using Kolombangara Island in the Solomon Islands as a case study. Further, we examine the ability of erosion reduction strategies stipulated in logging codes of practice to reduce these impacts as clearing extent increases.

We found that with present‐day land use, reductions in live and branching coral cover and increases in turf algae were associated with exposure to sediment runoff from catchments and log ponds. Critically, reductions in fish grazer abundance and biomass were associated with increasing sediment runoff, a functional group that accounts for ~25% of subsistence fishing. At low clearing extents, although best management practices minimize the exposure of coral reefs to increased runoff, it would still result in 32% of the reef experiencing an increase in sediment exposure. If clearing extent increased, best management practices would have no impact, with a staggering 89% of coral reef area at risk compared to logging with no management.

Synthesis and applications. Assessing trade‐offs between coastal development and protection of marine resources is a challenge for decision makers globally. Although development activities requiring clearing can be important for livelihoods, our results demonstrate that new logging in intact forest risks downstream resources important for both food and livelihood security. Importantly, our approach allows for spatially explicit recommendations for where terrestrial management might best complement marine management. Finally, given the critical degradation feedback loops that increased sediment runoff can reinforce on coral reefs, minimizing sediment runoff could play an important role in helping coral reefs recover from climate‐related disturbances.
Bioactivities of hen's egg yolk phosvitin and its functional phosphopeptides in food industry and health
Authors: Yilmaz Birsen , Ağagündüz Duygu
Published: September 2020

Phosvitin, one of the most noteworthy bioactive components of hen egg yolk, is an amphiphilic protein that stands out with its unique composition and functionality in the food industry and health. Phosvitin consists of 4% of egg yolk dry matter and 11% of egg yolk proteins. It is considered as the most phosphorylated protein with 10% phosphorus. Besides, some potential novel phosphopeptides containing clusters of phosphoserines can be derived from hen's egg yolk phosvitin. Phosvitin, which has many functional features thanks to its unique structure, is known primarily for its metal bonds binding (iron, calcium, etc.) feature. On the other hand, its phosphopeptides may increase the bioavailability of metals compared to phosvitin. Although this feature of phosvitin may partially decrease the bioavailability of especially iron in the egg, it allows the phosvitin to have many bioactivities in the food industry and health. Lipid oxidation, which is a serious problem in the food industry, can be inhibited by adding phosvitin and its derived phosphopeptides to the food production chain via inhibiting bivalent iron. Because phosvitin is an amphiphilic protein capable of chelating, it also shows potential antibacterial effects against the Gram‐negative bacteria. Moreover, the literature has recently been attempting to define the promising relationship between phosvitin and its phosphopeptides and plenty of health‐promoting activities such as immune‐enhancing, melanogenesis inhibitor, anti‐ageing, and anticancer. In this review, current information on the hen's egg yolk phosvitin and its phosphopeptides and their bioactivities in the food industry and health are discussed and some future directions are given.
Propidium monoazide for viable Salmonella enterica detection by PCR and LAMP assays in comparison to RNA‐based RT‐PCR, RT‐LAMP, and culture‐based assays
Authors: Techathuvanan Chayapa , D'Souza Doris Helen
Published: September 2020

Rapid and sensitive detection of live/infectious foodborne pathogens is urgently needed in order to prevent outbreaks and food recalls. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the incorporation of propidium monoazide (PMA) into PCR or LAMP assays to selectively detect viable Salmonella Enteritidis following sublethal heat or UV treatment, and autoclave sterilization; and (2) compare the detection of PMA‐PCR and PMA‐LAMP to DNA‐based PCR and LAMP (without PMA), RNA‐based RT‐PCR and RT‐LAMP, and culture‐based methods. Nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) from 1‐mL S. Enteritidis samples were used for PCR, RT‐PCR, LAMP, and RT‐LAMP assays. Serially diluted samples were plated on Xylose Lysine Tergitol‐4 agar for cultural enumeration. Comparable detection of overnight cultured S. Enteritidis was obtained by PMA‐PCR, PCR, and RT‐PCR, though 1 to 2 log less sensitive than cultural assays. PMA‐LAMP and RT‐LAMP showed similar detection of overnight cultures, being 1 to 2 log less sensitive than the LAMP assay, and ∼4 log less than culture‐based detection. Autoclaved S. Enteritidis did not test positive by RNA‐based methods or PMA‐PCR, but PMA‐LAMP showed detection of 1 log CFU/mL. PMA‐PCR and RT‐PCR showed comparable detection of sublethal heat‐treated cells to cultural assays, while PMA‐LAMP showed 1 to 2 log less detection. Our results suggest that PMA‐PCR and PMA‐LAMP assays are not suitable for selective viable cell detection after UV treatment. While PMA‐LAMP assay needs optimization, PMA‐PCR shows promise for live/viable S. Enteritidis detection. PMA‐PCR shows potential for routine testing in the food industry with results within 1‐day, albeit depending on the inactivation method employed.
Assessment of left ventricular contractile functions in inflammatory bowel disease according to disease activity
Authors: Sari Cenk , Özer Sarı Sevil , Duran Karaduman Bilge , Koseoglu Huseyin , Şimşek Ersin Çağrı
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The study aimed to investigate the subclinical involvement of cardiac functions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) according to their disease activity status by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Methods

This prospective study included 72 consecutive patients with IBD and 93 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent conventional and 2DSTE assessments. The IBD patients were subdivided into active disease and remission groups for further investigation of the effect of disease activity on left ventricular (LV) contractile functions.

Results

The longitudinal strain values differed significantly between the IBD group and the control group (global longitudinal strain [GLS] from two‐chamber view: [−15.74 ± 6.33]% vs [−18.8 ± 2.87]%, P = 0.001; GLS from four‐chamber view: [−16.61 ± 9.91]% vs [−20.12 ± 2.57]%, P = 0.008; GLS: [−15.47 ± 6.87]% vs [−19.48 ± 2.16]%, P = 0.0001). The circumferential strain measurements showed a nonsignificant trend of depressed contractile functions in the IBD group. Patients with active IBD had similar GLS and global circumferential strain (GCS) values as those in remission. A correlation analysis revealed that the neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio was positively correlated and the platelet count was negatively correlated with GCS. Deterioration of LV diastolic functions examined with E/e' and mitral deceleration time was found in the IBD group compared with the controls.

Conclusions

LV global longitudinal contractile and diastolic functions were decreased in patients with IBD. Clinicians should maintain patients’ remission periods and prevent flare‐ups.