bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thiol and Disulfide Containing Vancomycin Derivatives Against Bacterial Resistance and Biofilm Formation
Authors: Shchelik Inga S. , Gademann Karl
Published: August 2021

Antibiotic-resistant and biofilm-associated infections constitute a rapidly growing issue. Use of the last resort antibiotic vancomycin is under threat, due to the increasing appearance of vancomycin resistant bacteria as well as the formation of biofilms. Herein, we report a series of novel vancomycin derivatives carrying thiol- and disulfide-containing moieties. The new compounds exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity against a broad range of bacterial strains, including vancomycin resistant microbes and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, all obtained derivatives demonstrated improved antibiofilm formation activity against VanB resistant Enterococcus compared to vancomycin. This work established a promising strategy for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections or disrupting biofilm formation and advances the knowledge on structural optimization of antibiotics with sulfur-containing modifications.
Repurposing melanoma chemotherapy to activate inflammasomes in treatment of BRAF/MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma
Authors: Ahmed Farzana , Tseng Hsin-Yi , Ahn Antonio , Gunatilake Dilini , Alavi Sara , Eccles Michael , Rizos Helen , Gallagher Stuart , Tiffen Jessamy , Hersey Peter , Emran Abdullah Al
Published: August 2021

The development of resistance to treatments of melanoma is commonly associated with upregulation of the MAPK pathway and development of an undifferentiated state. Prior studies have suggested that melanoma with these resistance characteristics may be susceptible to innate death mechanisms such as pyroptosis triggered by activation of inflammasomes. In the present studies we have taken cell lines from patients before and after development of resistance to BRAF V600 inhibitors and exposed the resistant melanoma to temozolomide (a commonly used chemotherapy) with and without chloroquine to inhibit autophagy. It was found that melanoma with an inflammatory undifferentiated state appeared susceptible to this combination when tested in vitro and in vivo against xenografts in NSG mice. Translation of the latter results into patients would promise durable responses in patients treated by the combination. The inflammasome and death mechanism involved appeared to vary between melanoma and involved either AIM2, NLRP3 or NLRC4 inflammasomes and gasdermin D or E. These preliminary studies have raised questions as to the selectivity for different inflammasomes in different melanoma and their selective targeting by chemotherapy. They also question whether the inflammatory state of melanoma may be used as biomarkers to select patients for inflammasome targeted therapy.
A Recurring Chemogenetic Switch for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells
Authors: Cao Wenyue , Geng Zhi Z. , Wang Na , Pan Quan , Guo Shaodong , Xu Shiqing , Zhou Jianfeng , Liu Wenshe Ray
Published: August 2021

As a revolutionary cancer treatment, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy suffers from complications such as cytokine release syndromes and T cell exhaustion. Their mitigation desires controllable activation of CAR-T cells that is achievable through regulatory display of CARs on the T cell surface. By embedding the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease (HCV-NS3) in an anti-CD19 CAR between the anti-CD19 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and the hinge domain, we showed that the display of anti-CD19 scFv on CAR-T cells was positively correlated to the presence of a clinical HCV-NS3 inhibitor asunaprevir (ASV). This novel CAR design that allows the display of anti- CD19 scFv on the T cell surface in the presence of ASV and its removal in the absence of ASV effectuates a practically recurring chemical switch for CAR-T cells. We demonstrated that the intact CAR on T cells was repeatedly turn on and off by controlling the presence of ASV. The dose dependent manner of the intact CAR display on T cells with regard to the ASV concentration enables delicate modulation of CAR-T cell activation during cancer treatment. In a mouse model, we showed different treatment prospects when ASV was provided at different doses to mice that were infused with both human CD19+ lymphoma and the switchable CAR-T cells.
Neuronal control of suppression, initiation and completion of egg deposition in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Oliveira-Ferreira Cristina , Gaspar Miguel , Vasconcelos Maria Luísa
Published: August 2021

Egg-laying in Drosophila is the product of post-mating physiological and behavioural changes that culminate in a stereotyped sequence of actions. While egg-laying behaviour has been mostly used as a system to understand the neuronal basis of decision making in the context of site selection, it harbours a great potential as a paradigm to uncover how, once a site is selected, the appropriate motor circuits are organized and activated to deposit an egg. To study this programme, we first describe the different stages of the egg-laying programme and the specific actions associated with each stage. Using a combination of neuronal activation and silencing experiments we characterize the role of three distinct neuronal populations in the abdominal ganglion with different contributions to the egg deposition motor elements. Specifically, we identify a subset of glutamatergic neurons and a subset of cholinergic neurons that promote the initiation and completion of egg expulsion respectively, while a subset of GABAergic neurons suppresses egg-laying. This study provides insight into the organization of neuronal circuits underlying complex motor behaviour.
Comparison of Single-Trait and Multi-Trait Genome-Wide Association Models and Inclusion of Correlated Traits in the Dissection of the Genetic Architecture of a Complex Trait in a Breeding Program
Authors: Merrick Lance F. , Burke Adrienne B. , Zhang Zhiwu , Carter Arron H.
Published: August 2021

Traits with an unknown genetic architecture make it difficult to create a useful bi-parental mapping population to characterize the genetic basis of the trait due to a combination of complex and pleiotropic effects. Seedling emergence of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) from deep planting is a vital factor affecting stand establishment and grain yield, has a poorly understood genetic architecture, and is historically correlated with coleoptile length. The creation of bi-parental mapping populations can be overcome by using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). This study aimed to dissect the genetic architecture of seedling emergence while accounting for correlated traits using one multi-trait GWAS model (MT-GWAS) and three single-trait GWAS models (ST-GWAS) with the inclusion of covariates for correlated traits. The ST-GWAS models included one single locus model (MLM), and two multiple loci models (FarmCPU and BLINK). We conducted the GWAS using two populations, the first consisting of 473 varieties from a diverse association mapping panel (DP) phenotyped from 2015-2019, and the other population used as a validation population consisting of 279 breeding lines (BL) phenotyped in 2015 in Lind, WA, with 40,368 markers. We also compared the inclusion of coleoptile length and markers associated with reduced height as covariates in our ST-GWAS models for the DP. ST-GWAS found 107 significant markers across 19 chromosomes, while MT-GWAS found 82 significant markers across 14 chromosomes. MT-GWAS models were able to identify large-effect markers on chromosome 5A. FarmCPU and BLINK models were able to identify many small effect markers, and the inclusion of covariates helped to identify the large effect markers on chromosome 5A. Therefore, by using multi-locus models combined with pleiotropic covariates, breeding programs can uncover the complex nature of traits to help identify candidate genes and the underlying architecture of a trait, such as seedling emergence of deep-sown winter wheat.
LRRK2 causes centrosomal deficits via phosphorylated Rab10 and RILPL1 at centriolar subdistal appendages
Authors: Ordóñez Antonio Jesús Lara , Fernández Belén , Fasiczka Rachel , Naaldijk Yahaira , Fdez Elena , Ramírez Marian Blanca , Phan Sébastien , Boassa Daniela , Hilfiker Sabine
Published: August 2021

The Parkinson’s disease-associated LRRK2 kinase phosphorylates multiple Rab GTPases including Rab8 and Rab10, which enhances their binding to RILPL1 and RILPL2. The nascent interaction between phospho-Rab10 and RILPL1 blocks ciliogenesis in vitro and in the intact brain, and interferes with the cohesion of duplicated centrosomes in dividing cells. We show here that various LRRK2 risk variants and all currently described regulators of the LRRK2 signaling pathway converge upon causing centrosomal cohesion deficits. The cohesion deficits do not require the presence of RILPL2 or of other LRRK2 kinase substrates including Rab12, Rab35 and Rab43. Rather, they depend on the RILPL1-mediated centrosomal accumulation of phosphorylated Rab10. RILPL1 localizes to the subdistal appendages of the mother centriole, followed by recruitment of the LRRK2-phosphorylated Rab protein to cause the centrosomal defects. These data reveal a common molecular pathway by which alterations in the LRRK2 kinase activity impact upon centrosome-related events.
Superovulation does not alter calcium oscillations following fertilization
Authors: Savy Virginia , Stein Paula , Shi Min , Williams Carmen J.
Published: August 2021

Superovulation is a common approach to maximize the number of eggs available for either clinical assisted reproductive technologies or experimental animal studies. This procedure provides supraphysiological amounts of gonadotropins to promote continued growth and maturation of ovarian follicles that otherwise would undergo atresia. There is evidence in mice, cows, sheep and humans that superovulation has a detrimental impact on the quality of the resulting ovulated eggs or embryos. Here we tested the hypothesis that eggs derived from superovulation have a reduced capacity to support calcium oscillations following fertilization, which is a critical factor in the success of embryo development. Eggs were obtained from mice that were either naturally cycling or underwent a standard superovulation protocol. Naturally cycling mice were mated to vasectomized males and vaginal plugs were checked to assure ovulation had occurred. The superovulated mice were also mated to vasectomized males for consistency of treatment across groups. The eggs were fertilized in vitro while undergoing monitoring of calcium oscillatory patterns. There were no differences in any measures of calcium oscillatory behavior, including length of the first oscillation, area under the curve of calcium signal, or frequency or persistence of oscillations. These findings indicate that superovulation does not disrupt calcium signaling at fertilization, supporting the use of this method for both clinical and experimental purposes.
CRISPRi screens in human astrocytes elucidate regulators of distinct inflammatory reactive states
Authors: Leng Kun , Rose Indigo V.L. , Kim Hyosung , Xia Wenlong , Romero-Fernandez Wilber , Rooney Brendan , Koontz Mark , Li Emmy , Ao Yan , Wang Shinong , Krawczyk Mitchell , TCW Julia , Goate Alison , Zhang Ye , Ullian Erik M. , Sofroniew Michael V. , Fancy Stephen P.J. , Schrag Matthew S. , Lippmann Ethan S. , Kampmann Martin
Published: August 2021

In response to central nervous system injury or disease, astrocytes become reactive, adopting context-dependent states and functional outputs. Certain inflammatory insults induce reactive astrocytes that lose homeostatic functions and gain harmful outputs through cellular pathways that are not fully understood. Here, we combined single-cell transcriptomics with CRISPRi screening in human iPSC-derived astrocytes to systematically interrogate inflammatory astrocyte reactivity. We found that autocrine-paracrine IL-6 and interferon signaling downstream of canonical NF-κB activation drove two distinct inflammatory reactive signatures – one promoted by and the other inhibited by STAT3. These signatures overlapped with those observed in other experimental contexts, including mouse models, and their markers were upregulated in the human brain in Alzheimer’s disease and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Furthermore, we validated that these signatures were regulated by Stat3in vivo.These results and the platform we established have the potential to guide the development of therapeutics to selectively modulate different aspects of inflammatory astrocyte reactivity.
Genome assembly, annotation and comparative analysis of the cattail Typha latifolia
Authors: Widanagama Shane D. , Freeland Joanna R. , Xu Xinwei , Shafer Aaron B.A.
Published: August 2021

Cattails (Typha species) comprise a genus of emergent wetland plants with a global distribution. Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia are two of the most widespread species, and in areas of sympatry can interbreed to produce the hybrid Typha x glauca. In some regions the relatively high fitness of T. x glauca allows it to outcompete and displace both parent species, while simultaneously reducing plant and invertebrate biodiversity, and modifying nutrient and water cycling. We generated a high-quality whole genome assembly of T. latifolia using PacBio long-read and high coverage Illumina sequences that will facilitate evolutionary and ecological studies in this hybrid zone. Genome size was 287 Mb and consisted of 1,189 scaffolds, with an N50 of 8.706 Mb; 43.84% of the genome were identified as repetitive elements. The assembly has a BUSCO score of 96.03%, and 27,432 genes and 2,700 RNA sequences were putatively identified. Comparative analysis detected over 9,000 shared orthologues with related taxa and phylogenomic analysis supporting Typha latifolia as a divergent lineage within Poales. This high-quality scaffold-level reference genome will provide a useful resource for future population genomic analyses and improve our understanding of Typha hybrid dynamics.
HIV-1 Vif gained breadth in APOBEC3G specificity after cross-species transmission of its precursors
Authors: Chesarino Nicholas M. , Emerman Michael
Published: August 2021

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a host-encoded cytidine deaminase that potently restricts retroviruses, such as HIV-1, and depends on its ability to package into virions. As a consequence of this, HIV-1 protein Vif has evolved to antagonize human A3G by targeting it for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. There is an ancient arms-race between Vif and A3G highlighted by amino acids 128 and 130 in A3G that have evolved under positive selection due to Vif-mediated selective pressure in Old World primates. Nonetheless, not all possible amino acid combinations at these sites have been sampled by nature and it is not clear the evolutionary potential of species to resist Vif antagonism. To explore the evolutionary space of positively selected sites in the Vif-binding region of A3G, we designed a combinatorial mutagenesis screen to introduce all 20 amino acids at sites 128 and 130. Our screen uncovered mutants of A3G with several interesting phenotypes, including loss of stability and resistance of Vif antagonism. However, HIV-1 Vif exhibited remarkable flexibility in antagonizing A3G 128 and 130 mutants, which significantly reduces viable Vif resistance strategies for hominid primates. Importantly, we find that broadened Vif specificity was conferred through Loop 5 adaptations that were required for cross-species adaptation from Old World monkey A3G to hominid A3G. Our evidence suggests that Vif adaptation to novel A3G interfaces during cross-species transmission may train Vif towards broadened specificity that can further facilitate cross-species transmissions and raise the barrier to host resistance.
SEA: Simple Enrichment Analysis of motifs
Authors: Bailey Timothy L. , Grant Charles E.
Published: August 2021

Motif enrichment algorithms can identify known sequence motifs that are present to a statistically significant degree in DNA, RNA and protein sequences. Databases of such known motifs exist for DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, as well as for many functional protein motifs. The SEA (“Simple Enrichment Analysis”) algorithm presented here uses a simple, consistent approach for detecting the enrichment of motifs in DNA, RNA or protein sequences, as well as in sequences using user-defined alphabets. SEA can identify known motifs that are enriched in a single set of input sequences, and can also perform differential motif enrichment analysis when presented with an additional set of control sequences. Using in vivo DNA (ChIP-seq) data as input to SEA, and validating motifs with reference motifs derived from in vitro data, we show that SEA is is faster than three widely-used motif enrichment algorithms (AME, CentriMo and Pscan), while delivering comparable accuracy. We also show that, in contrast to other motif enrichment algorithms, SEA reports accurate estimates of statistical significance. SEA is easy to use via its web server at https://meme-suite.org, and is fully integrated with the widely-used MEME Suite of sequence analysis tools, which can be freely downloaded at the same web site for non-commercial use.
Poly(A)-binding protein is an ataxin-2 chaperone that emulsifies biomolecular condensates
Authors: Boeynaems Steven , Dorone Yanniv , Marian Anca , Shabardina Victoria , Huang Guozhong , Kim Garam , Sanyal Anushka , Şen Nesli-Ece , Docampo Roberto , Ruiz-Trillo Iñaki , Lasker Keren , Auburger Georg , Kabashi Edor , Gitler Aaron D.
Published: August 2021

Biomolecular condensation underlies the biogenesis of an expanding array of membraneless assemblies, including stress granules (SGs) which form under a variety of cellular stresses. Advances have been made in understanding the molecular grammar that dictates the behavior of a few key scaffold proteins that make up these phases but how the partitioning of hundreds of other SG proteins is regulated remains largely unresolved. While investigating the rules that govern the condensation of ataxin-2, a SG protein implicated in neurodegenerative disease, we unexpectedly identified a short 14aa sequence that acts as an ataxin-2 condensation switch and is conserved across the eukaryote lineage. We identify poly(A)-binding proteins as unconventional RNA-dependent chaperones that control this regulatory switch. Our results uncover a hierarchy of cis and trans interactions that fine-tune ataxin-2 condensation and reveal a new molecular function for ancient poly(A)-binding proteins as emulsifiers of biomolecular condensate proteins. These findings may inspire novel approaches to therapeutically target aberrant phases in disease.
An overlapping sliding window and combined features based emotion recognition system for EEG signals
Authors: Garg Shruti , Patro Rahul Kumar , Behera Soumyajit , Tigga Neha Prerna , Pandey Ranjita
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose an alternative efficient 3D emotion recognition model for variable-length electroencephalogram (EEG) data.

Design/methodology/approach

Classical AMIGOS data set which comprises of multimodal records of varying lengths on mood, personality and other physiological aspects on emotional response is used for empirical assessment of the proposed overlapping sliding window (OSW) modelling framework. Two features are extracted using Fourier and Wavelet transforms: normalised band power (NBP) and normalised wavelet energy (NWE), respectively. The arousal, valence and dominance (AVD) emotions are predicted using one-dimension (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) convolution neural network (CNN) for both single and combined features.

Findings

The two-dimensional convolution neural network (2D CNN) outcomes on EEG signals of AMIGOS data set are observed to yield the highest accuracy, that is 96.63%, 95.87% and 96.30% for AVD, respectively, which is evidenced to be at least 6% higher as compared to the other available competitive approaches.

Originality/value

The present work is focussed on the less explored, complex AMIGOS (2018) data set which is imbalanced and of variable length. EEG emotion recognition-based work is widely available on simpler data sets. The following are the challenges of the AMIGOS data set addressed in the present work: handling of tensor form data; proposing an efficient method for generating sufficient equal-length samples corresponding to imbalanced and variable-length data.; selecting a suitable machine learning/deep learning model; improving the accuracy of the applied model.
WisdomModel: convert data into wisdom
Authors: Mahmood Israa , Abdullah Hasanen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Traditional classification algorithms always have an incorrect prediction. As the misclassification rate increases, the usefulness of the learning model decreases. This paper presents the development of a wisdom framework that reduces the error rate to less than 3% without human intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed WisdomModel consists of four stages: build a classifier, isolate the misclassified instances, construct an automated knowledge base for the misclassified instances and rectify incorrect prediction. This approach will identify misclassified instances by comparing them against the knowledge base. If an instance is close to a rule in the knowledge base by a certain threshold, then this instance is considered misclassified.

Findings

The authors have evaluated the WisdomModel using different measures such as accuracy, recall, precision, f-measure, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, area under the curve (AUC) and error rate with various data sets to prove its ability to generalize without human involvement. The results of the proposed model minimize the number of misclassified instances by at least 70% and increase the accuracy of the model minimally by 7%.

Originality/value

This research focuses on defining wisdom in practical applications. Despite of the development in information system, there is still no framework or algorithm that can be used to extract wisdom from data. This research will build a general wisdom framework that can be used in any domain to reach wisdom.
Surface roughness optimization in milling operation for aluminum alloy (Al 6061-T6) in aviation manufacturing elements
Authors: Seçgin Ömer , Sogut Mehmet Ziya
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims that optimization parameters depending on machining processes examine to define for the milling process of AL 6061-T6 aluminum alloy used in the aviation industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The Taguchi method was used to study the optimal parameters. Furthermore, the effects of machining parameters on surface roughness were also evaluated by performing variance analysis. Optimum parameter levels were determined by Signal/Noise analysis.

Findings

It was determined that the parameter levels that optimize the surface roughness were “4000 rev/min for the rotational speed of the cutting tool, 0.4 mm for the cutting depth and the optimum value for the feedrate 500 mm/min.”

Research limitations/implications

It is limited by the precision of the manufacturing processes, the desired geometry and the exactness of the measurement make the machine productivity valuable in the production of parts.

Practical implications

By improving the optimal production parameters, reducing part production costs and waste amount in aviation has been seen as an important gain.

Social implications

Improving production methods and optimization parameters in production technologies will ensure the minimization of loss and waste. These developed parameters with optimizing the surface roughness will add value in this context.

Originality/value

It was determined that the parameter levels that optimize the surface roughness of aluminum considering manufacturing processes. Especially as process parameters, optimum feed rate has been developed for effective rotation speed and cutting depth for cutting tools.
Investigating the healthiness of food products on promotion: market brands and own brands
Authors: Beacom Emma , Hollywood Lynsey Elizabeth , McLaughlin Christopher , Furey Sinead , Price Ruth , McMahon-Beattie Una , Burns Amy
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the proportionality of market brand (MB) foods versus supermarket own brand (OB) foods sold on promotion and to compare their healthiness.

Design/methodology/approach

An existing dataset containing nutritional information about a variety of foods on promotion (n = 6,776) from 48 stores across 8 retail chains in Northern Ireland (NI) was reanalysed. Product healthiness was measured using a score aligned to the Food Standards Agency's Front of Pack nutrient labelling system. MBs and OBs were considered as a whole and in their respective subsets–international/national and regional MBs, and premium, mid-market and value tiered OBs.

Findings

Results found a balance in favour of health (52.4% amber/green versus 47.6% red) across retailers' promotions in NI. Further, OB products were often found to be superior to MBs with regards to overall healthfulness, and regional brands were found to be less healthy than international/national brands.

Research limitations/implications

Findings rationale further retail research to compare nutritionally OB and MB product types, and further consumer research regarding important attributes of OBs.

Practical implications

Retailers should communicate the comparative healthiness of their OBs in comparison to MB alternatives, in addition to communicating comparative price savings. There is opportunity for retailers to increase visibility of mid-market and value OB tiers, and for regional MBs to improve the nutritional profile of products in line with the consumer trend for health.

Originality/value

This study provides a contribution by using data on OBs and MBs on promotion, and by investigating the nutritional differences between different tiers of OB and MB products.
Sustainability of operations through disruptive technologies in the petroleum supply chain
Authors: Kumar Sourabh , Barua Mukesh Kumar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Disruptive technologies can significantly contribute to the sustainability of operations in the petroleum supply chain. The present study aims to identify the prime sustainable dimensions and disruptive technologies implementation in the supply chain of the petroleum industry. The authors used content analysis in the literature and experts input to explore the sustainable dimensions and disruptive technologies in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a hybrid method of hesitant fuzzy set and regret theory to identify the prominent sustainability dimensions and prominent disruptive technologies. This method emphasizes the decision-makers psychological characteristics under uncertain environments.

Findings

The result indicates that social responsibility, labor practices, safety and technical standards hold the most prominent sustainable dimensions in the petroleum supply chain. Further, the result also depicts that when consider an equal degree of regret and rejoice, artificial intelligence and big data could significantly enhance operations sustainability in the petroleum industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study considers only 11 sustainable dimensions and 43 sustainable factors, whereas other dimensions and factors could also be considered in future research. The research uses hesitant fussy set and regret set theory to identify the prominent sustainable dimensions and disruptive technologies, whereas other multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques can also be used.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the sustainable dimensions (environmental, social and economic) and disruptive technologies in the supply chain of the petroleum industry. This research intended to guide the practitioners, policymakers and academicians to emphasize their effort toward sustainable operations supply chain management.
Development and validation of core technology competencies for systems librarian
Authors: Naveed Muhammad Asif , Siddique Nadeem , Mahmood Khalid
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to develop and validate a list of core technology competencies for systems librarian in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey method was used to conduct this investigation. A structured questionnaire, consisting of 52 competency statements categorized into six core technology areas, was developed based on an extensive literature review, experts’ scrutiny and pilot testing. The administration of the survey questionnaire was done though online environments such as related listservs and Facebook pages. The received 62 responses were imported into statistical package for social sciences and analyzed by computing means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation and t-test.

Findings

The results indicated six core technology areas where competencies of systems librarians needed to be developed, namely, basic computing, programming and Web publishing, computer networks, cloud computing, database management systems and information systems. The respondents validated 50 statements with an average mean score more than three. Only two statements received mean scores less than three. The results also indicated higher consistency of these statements as the value of Cronbach’s alpha was 0.973.

Research limitations/implications

This research attempted to identify and validate core technology competencies needed for systems librarians in Pakistan. It neither attempted to determine the weightage each competency should have if it was to be included in curriculum nor it intended to identify a detailed content for each core technology competency. In Pakistan, System librarians develop their knowledge and skills with the specialized computer subject by studying on their own, attending training workshops and on job experience. It is therefore worth mentioning here that the knowledge of the needed competencies may be limited.

Practical implications

Library and information science schools need to consider these competencies in developing and designing information curriculum with regard to management of library systems. This set of competencies help academicians in designing need-based curricula and training programs for existing and prospect system librarians in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study would be a worthwhile contribution to the literature on competencies of information professionals especially systems librarians as no such study appeared providing pragmatic, evidenced and field-based insights toward proposed research area.
Entropy generation of natural heat exchange into a porous medium accumulated by a hybrid nanoliquid applying LTNE model
Authors: Shaker Hosein , Izadi Mohsen , Assareh Ehsanolah , Shehzad Sabir Ali , Sheremet Mikhail
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to use the thermal non-equilibrium approach to inquire the entropy production and conjugate natural heat exchange in a porous medium. Entropy generation is studied separately for the solid matrix and the hybrid nanoliquid.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristic equations are unraveled by applying the finite element method. Mathematical relations are used to calculate the generated entropy for the hybrid nanoliquid and matrix structure.

Findings

Based on the results, the produced entropy and the viscous friction term associated with the hybrid nanoliquid phase are not affected by increasing the thermal conductivity ratio of the rigid wall to nanoliquid. Moreover, a higher amount of entropy is generated by the thermal gradients in the hybrid nanoliquid phase compared to the solid matrix.

Originality/value

No investigation in the literature has been reported in this context.
How to manage and minimize food waste in the hotel industry: an exploratory research
Authors: Amicarelli Vera , Aluculesei Alina-Cerasela , Lagioia Giovanni , Pamfilie Rodica , Bux Christian
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The hospitality industry is responsible for significant amounts of waste, more than one-third of which is food waste. Through the comparison between an Italian and a Romanian hotel, this paper aims to provide a better understanding of food waste management trends in the hotel industry as well as to highlight hotel kitchens and hotel food services weaknesses and opportunities to minimize food waste.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews, personal communication and observations were conducted to investigate food service planning, food procurement and food waste management, as well as to better comprehend current individuals’ understanding and attitudes, infrastructures, legislative culture and opportunities either from the managerial and the employees’ perspective. Data were analyzed according to a content analysis approach.

Findings

Three critical hot spots emerged from the analysis: prediction and check of guests’ attendance, communication and transparency with local suppliers and among departments within the unit and purchasing frequency and perishable food provisioning. The accurate forecasting of the number of guests and their nationality is fundamental in avoiding food waste at food service, as well as implementing transparency and communication with local suppliers.

Originality/value

Although academia and authorities have recognized the crucial importance of food waste management, food waste research in the hotel industry remains under-researched. The present exploratory research contributes to the scarce empirical studies about hotels’ food waste, giving theoretical and managerial recommendations for supporting further studies, highlighting the need for formal deals between hotels and local suppliers (food procurement), as well as the importance of food-networks that holds together companies, retailers and charities (food donation).
By-production of electricity and particulates: efficiency of Indian thermal power plants revisited
Authors: Sengupta Debarun , Mukherjee Deep
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper studies the efficiency of Indian coal-fired thermal power plants (CTPPs) in by-production of electricity and particulates also known as Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM).

Design/methodology/approach

A non-radial directional distance function is optimized using data envelopment analysis to enumerate the overall inefficiency of CTPPs and its components in recent times. Further, second-stage regression analysis is conducted to identify factors that affect the inefficiency of plants.

Findings

The low inefficiency score for electricity generation suggests that most CTPPs operate close to the good output frontier. A high degree of emissions inefficiency is a challenge for Indian CTPPs. Ever-rising coal use inefficiency is a hindrance to control SPM emissions. The second stage regression analysis concludes that factors like ownership and capacity utilization play vital roles in determining a plant’s inefficiency level. Privately owned CTPPs have performed better in terms of technical inefficiency and emission inefficiency than plants owned by Central and State governments.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few published works that benchmark the productive and environmental performance of Indian CTPPs.
Good and bad high-frequency volatility spillovers among developed and emerging stock markets
Authors: Mensi Walid , Nekhili Ramzi , Vo Xuan Vinh , Kang Sang Hoon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper examines dynamic return spillovers and connectedness networks among international stock exchange markets. The authors account for asymmetry by distinguishing between positive and negative returns.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs the spillover index of Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) to measure the volatility spillover index for total, positive and negative volatility.

Findings

The results show time-varying and asymmetric volatility spillovers among the stock markets under investigation. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, bad volatility spillovers are more pronounced and dominated over good volatility spillovers, indicating contagion effects.

Originality/value

The presence of confirmed COVID-19 cases positively (negatively) affects the good and bad spillovers under low and intermediate (upper) quantiles. Both types of spillovers at various quantiles agree also influenced by the number of COVID-19 deaths.
User recommendation in online health communities using adapted matrix factorization
Authors: Yang Hangzhou , Gao Huiying
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Online health communities (OHCs) are platforms that help health consumers to communicate with each other and obtain social support for better healthcare outcomes. However, it is usually difficult for community members to efficiently find appropriate peers for social support exchange due to the tremendous volume of users and their generated content. Most of the existing user recommendation systems fail to effectively utilize the rich social information in social media, which can lead to unsatisfactory recommendation performance. The purpose of this study is to propose a novel user recommendation method for OHCs to fill this research gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposed a user recommendation method that utilized the adapted matrix factorization (MF) model. The implicit user behavior networks and the user influence relationship (UIR) network were constructed using the various social information found in OHCs, including user-generated content (UGC), user profiles and user interaction records. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach based on a dataset collected from a famous online health community.

Findings

The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed all baseline models in user recommendation using the collected dataset. The incorporation of social information from OHCs can significantly improve the performance of the proposed recommender system.

Practical implications

This study can help users build valuable social connections efficiently, enhance communication among community members, and potentially contribute to the sustainable prosperity of OHCs.

Originality/value

This study introduces the construction of the UIR network in OHCs by integrating various social information. The conventional MF model is adapted by integrating the constructed UIR network for user recommendation.
Acceptance of wearable fitness devices in developing countries: exploring the country and gender-specific differences
Authors: Pandey Shweta , Chawla Deepak , Puri Sandeep , Jeong Luz Suplico
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Notwithstanding the novelty and importance of wearable fitness devices, few studies have focussed on comparing the drivers of adoption and usage of wearable fitness in the context of developing countries. This study aims to explore factors that drive overall acceptance of wearable fitness devices in developing countries (India and the Philippines) and whether the impact of these factors on the intention to adopt (INT) differs by country and gender.

Design/methodology/approach

The study extends the existing body of knowledge by developing a model that integrates the impact of various perceived benefits (health, autonomy, social, hedonic, symbolic), health self-efficacy (HEALTHSE) and individual characteristics (technological innovativeness [TI]) on the INT wearable fitness devices and the moderating impact of country and gender. The analysis was carried out using partial least square and data of 343 respondents.

Findings

This study finds that the INT wearable fitness devices by consumers in developing countries are positively impacted by hedonic, health and autonomy, HEALTHSE and TI. Symbolic and social factors do not have any significant impact on the overall INT wearable fitness devices. However, there are country and gender-specific differences that are consequential to the development of marketing strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The framework and results are specific to the two countries and limited by convenience sampling. Future research can focus on replication across different countries and extend the model with additional contextual factors such as perceived risks.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this is one of the few studies to examine and compare the drivers of adoption of wearable fitness devices in lesser researched developing countries. Also, it is one of the few studies to compare the moderating impact of country and gender in the context of the INT wearable devices. The study provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for future research, as well as practical implications for global companies developing and promoting wearable fitness devices.
Sukuk and monetary policy transmission in Indonesia: the role of asset price and exchange rate channels
Authors: Suriani Suriani , Abd. Majid M. Shabri , Masbar Raja , A. Wahid Nazaruddin , Ismail Abdul Ghafar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze the role of sukuk in the monetary policy transmission mechanism through the asset price and exchange rate channels in the Indonesian economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the monthly data from January 2003 to November 2017, this study uses a multivariate vector error correction model causality framework. To examine the role of sukuk in the monetary policy transmission mechanism through the asset price channel, this study uses the variables of consumption, inflation, interest rates, economic growth and the composite stock price index. Meanwhile, to examine the role of sukuk in the monetary policy transmission mechanism through the exchange rate channel, this study used variables of inflation, interest rates, economic growth, foreign investment and exchange rate.

Findings

This study documented that sukuk has no causal relationship with inflation through asset price and exchange rate channels. Nevertheless, sukuk has a bidirectional causal relationship with economic growth through asset price and exchange rate channels. Sukuk is also documented to have a causal relationship with monetary policy variables of interest rate and stock prices through asset price and exchange rate channels. Finally, a unidirectional causality is recorded running from the exchange rate to sukuk in the exchange rate channel.

Research limitations/implications

The finding of independence of the sukuk market from interest rates provides evidence that the trading of the sukuk in Indonesia has been in harmony with the Islamic tenets.

Practical implications

The relevant Indonesian authorities need to enhance both domestic and global sukuk markets as part of efforts to promote the sustainability of Islamic capital market development in Indonesia.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first attempts to empirically investigate the role of sukuk in monetary policy transmission through asset price and exchange rate channels in the context of the Indonesian economy.
Supporting minority groups in schools – reflections on training education mental health practitioners
Authors: Woodley Helen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to reflect upon the first wave of training of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), a new National Health Service role to provide support for Children and Young People (CYP) with low and moderate mental health needs in education settings in England. The study specifically focusses on the training for EMHPs in relation to their support for CYP who identify themselves as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME), refugees or from the traveller community.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief review of the policy and literature on the role and remit of EMHPs was undertaken, including an exploration of the current status of BAME, refugee and traveller community CYP in schools in England. The review was then related to the specific experience of the author within the context of teaching EMHP trainees in a higher educational setting and evaluated as developing outcomes in low-intensity school-based practice.

Findings

There are benefits for trainee EMHPs to have an understanding of the minority groups of CYP attending schools in the area their Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers. There are benefits for the MHST to form relationships with minority groups at an early stage in the MHST formation. Adapting the EMHP curriculum at a local level to include specific training on the needs of minority groups supports the development of relationships between schools and the communities they engage with locally. Ongoing training should be provided by services focussing on the specific needs of minority groups in their MHST area.

Originality/value

Involving minority groups in education in the formation of MHST and the training of EMHPs may improve outcomes in developing therapeutic relationships with CYP. Developing engagement practices in MHSTs with higher education providers, begins the process early in the experience of EMHP trainees, providing a safe environment in which to develop engagement skills.
Moral communication and legal uncertainty in small and medium enterprises
Authors: Winczorek Jan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The links between moral communication and legal communication have long been studied in sociology of law. Little has yet been said about moral communication invoking when communication in the legal system is impossible, ineffective or uncertain. The paper fills this gap to demonstrate that systems theory-based sociology of law can effectively recognise the role of moral communication in such situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an empirical study of moral communication in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It focused on situations when SMEs' interactions with function systems, particularly the legal system, result in irremovable legal uncertainty. The data depict strategies of managing such uncertainty and were obtained in a paths-to-justice survey of 7,292 owners and managers of SMEs and 101 in-depth interviews. The findings are interpreted using the author's concept of “uncertainty translation”, rooted in Luhmann's systems theory. It suggests that business organisations such as SMEs deal with the ubiquitous uncertainty in their operations by translating it into a convenient type.

Findings

The study distinguishes between formative and absorbing moral communication and finds that both types play a role in steering the uncertainty translation mechanism in SMEs. Six scenarios of invoking moral communication are identified in SMEs dealing with legal uncertainty. In such scenarios, moral communication facilitates the translation of business uncertainty “away from law”. Under some circumstances, this, in turn, leads to latent systematic results, reflexively affecting the legal system, the economic system and the SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

In its core argument, the study is based on qualitative material. While it identifies empirical scenarios of invoking moral communication, it does not report the prevalence of these scenarios due to methodological limitations.

Originality/value

The study results pose questions related to the staple theoretical issue in post-Luhmannian social systems theory: functional differentiation. If moral communication–a type of communication not linked to any social system–can produce far-reaching, systematic results that affect function systems, then the functional differentiation thesis should be less pronounced than Luhmann typically stressed. This said, the paper argues that the contradiction between the findings and Luhmannian theory of morality is only apparent and may be reconciled.