bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional brain volumetric changes despite 2 years of treatment initiated during acute HIV infection
Authors: Kallianpur Kalpana J. , Jahanshad Neda , Sailasuta Napapon , Benjapornpong Khunthalee , Chan Phillip , Pothisri Mantana , Dumrongpisutikul Netsiri , Laws Elizabeth , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C. , Clifford Katherine M. , Paul Robert , Jagodzinski Linda , Krebs Shelly , Ananworanich Jintanat , Spudich Serena , Valcour Victor
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To assess changes in regional brain volumes after 24 months among individuals who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) within weeks of HIV exposure.

Design:

Prospective cohort study of Thai participants in the earliest stages of HIV-1infection.

Methods:

Thirty-four acutely HIV-infected individuals (AHI; Fiebig I–V) underwent brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR spectroscopy at 1.5 T and immediately initiated cART. Imaging was repeated at 24 months. Regional brain volumes were quantified using FreeSurfer's longitudinal pipeline. Voxel-wise analyses using tensor-based morphometry (TBM) were conducted to verify regional assessments. Baseline brain metabolite levels, blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers assessed by ELISA, and peripheral blood monocyte phenotypes measured by flow cytometry were examined as predictors of significant volumetric change.

Results:

Participants were 31 ± 8 years old. The estimated mean duration of infection at cART initiation was 15 days. Longitudinal analyses revealed reductions in volumes of putamen (P < 0.001) and caudate (P = 0.006). TBM confirmed significant atrophy in the putamen and caudate, and also in thalamic and hippocampal regions. In exploratory post-hoc analyses, higher baseline frequency of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1)-expressing total monocytes correlated with greater caudate volumetric decrease (ρ = 0.67, P = 0.017), whereas the baseline density of PSGL-1-expressing inflammatory (CD14+CD16+) monocytes correlated with putamen atrophy (ρ = 0.65, P = 0.022).

Conclusion:

Suppressive cART initiated during AHI may not prevent brain atrophy. Volumetric decrease appears greater than expected age-related decline, although examination of longitudinal change in demographically similar HIV-uninfected Thai individuals is needed. Mechanisms underlying progressive HIV-related atrophy may include early activation and enhanced adhesive and migratory capacity of circulating monocyte populations.
Using a Dual-Input Convolutional Neural Network for Automated Detection of Pediatric Supracondylar Fracture on Conventional Radiography
Authors: Choi Jae Won , Cho Yeon Jin , Lee Seowoo , Lee Jihyuk , Lee Seunghyun , Choi Young Hun , Cheon Jung-Eun , Ha Ji Young
Published: November 2019

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a dual-input convolutional neural network (CNN)–based deep-learning algorithm that utilizes both anteroposterior (AP) and lateral elbow radiographs for the automated detection of pediatric supracondylar fracture in conventional radiography, and assess its feasibility and diagnostic performance.

Materials and Methods

To develop the deep-learning model, 1266 pairs of AP and lateral elbow radiographs examined between January 2013 and December 2017 at a single institution were split into a training set (1012 pairs, 79.9%) and a validation set (254 pairs, 20.1%). We performed external tests using 2 types of distinct datasets: one temporally and the other geographically separated from the model development. We used 258 pairs of radiographs examined in 2018 at the same institution as a temporal test set and 95 examined between January 2016 and December 2018 at another hospital as a geographic test set. Images underwent preprocessing, including cropping and histogram equalization, and were input into a dual-input neural network constructed by merging 2 ResNet models. An observer study was performed by radiologists on the geographic test set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the model and human readers were calculated and compared.

Results

Our trained model showed an AUC of 0.976 in the validation set, 0.985 in the temporal test set, and 0.992 in the geographic test set. In AUC comparison, the model showed comparable results to the human readers in the geographic test set; the AUCs of human readers were in the range of 0.977 to 0.997 (P's > 0.05). The model had a sensitivity of 93.9%, a specificity of 92.2%, a PPV of 80.5%, and an NPV of 97.8% in the temporal test set, and a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 86.1%, a PPV of 69.7%, and an NPV of 100% in the geographic test set. Compared with the developed deep-learning model, all 3 human readers showed a significant difference (P's < 0.05) using the McNemar test, with lower specificity and PPV in the model. On the other hand, there was no significant difference (P's > 0.05) in sensitivity and NPV between all 3 human readers and the proposed model.

Conclusions

The proposed dual-input deep-learning model that interprets both AP and lateral elbow radiographs provided an accurate diagnosis of pediatric supracondylar fracture comparable to radiologists.
Images in Scalp Ultrasound Before and After Hair Transplant in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Authors: Whittle Carolina , Castro Alex , Larrondo Jorge
Published: November 2019

Primary cicatricial alopecias are inflammatory scalp conditions that may lead to permanent hair loss and severe alopecia. Frontal fibrosing alopecia is one of the most frequent etiologies of primary cicatricial alopecias. Hair transplant could be a therapeutic option.

High-resolution ultrasound (US) is an imaging technique useful for evaluating scalp with adequate differentiation of the skin layers. Also, hair follicles are visualized.

The objectives are present presurgical and posttransplant scalp US studies on hair transplant.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a chronic entity that can progress to extensive irreversible alopecia. Hair transplant is a surgical option. On US, the hair follicles are visualized as thin hypoechoic lines. With Doppler color imaging, it is possible to evaluate vascularization. In this experience, we can observe the follicles of the compromised area before and after the hair transplant and the depth of the implanted follicles.

In conclusion, US impresses as a promissory technique for the imaging of hair transplant. More experience is necessary for a better approach of these findings.
Peripheral Serum Metabolomic Profiles Inform Antecedent Central Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
Authors: Wang Jingye , Wei Runmin , Xie Guoxiang , Arnold Matthias , Louie Gregory , MahmoudianDehkordi Siamak , Blach Colette , Baillie Rebecca , Han Xianlin , De Jager Philip L. , Bennett David A. , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima , Jia Wei ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolomics Consortium
Published: November 2019

The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases with age and is a significant cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. However, the metabolic perturbations behind the onset of AD remains unclear. In this study, we performed metabolite profiling in both brain (n = 109) and matching serum samples (n = 566) to identify differentially expressed metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with neuropathology and cognitive performance and to identify individuals at high risk of developing cognitive impairment. The abundances of six metabolites, GLCA, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and palmitoleic acid as well as the DCA/CA ratio, along with the dysregulation scores of three metabolic pathways, primary bile acid biosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids showed significant differences in diagnostic groups across both brain and serum (P-value < 0.05).Significant associations were observed between the levels of differential metabolites/pathways and cognitive performance, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuritic plaque burden. Metabolites abundances and personalized metabolic pathways scores were used to derive machine learning models that could be used to differentiate cognitively impaired persons from those without cognitive impairment (median of AUC = 0.772 for the metabolite level model; median of AUC = 0.731 for the pathway level model). Utilizing these two models on the entire baseline control group, we identified those who experienced cognitive decline (AUC = 0.804, sensitivity = 0.722, specificity = 0.749 for the metabolite level model; AUC = 0.778, sensitivity = 0.633, specificity = 0.825 for the pathway level model) and demonstrated their pre-AD onset prediction potentials. Our study provides a proof-of-concept that it is possible to discriminate antecedent cognitive impairment in older adults before the onset of overt clinical symptoms using metabolomics. Our findings, if validated in future studies, could enable the earlier detection and intervention of cognitive impairment that may halt its progression.
Antibiotic resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing faecal coliforms in wastewater treatment plant effluent
Authors: Smyth Cian , O’Flaherty Aidan , Walsh Fiona , Do Thi Thuy
Published: November 2019

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the maintenance and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this work we describe the occurrence of antibiotic resistant faecal coliforms and their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in the effluent of two urban WWTPs in Ireland. Effluent samples were collected from two WWTPs in Spring and Autumn of 2015 and 2016. The bacterial susceptibility patterns to 13 antibiotics were determined. The phenotypic tests were carried out to identify AmpC or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers. The presence of ESBL genes were detected by PCR. Plasmids carrying ESBL genes were transformed intoEscherichia coliDH5α recipient and underwent plasmid replicon typing to identify incompatibility groups. More than 90% of isolated faecal coliforms were resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin, followed by tetracycline (up to 39.82%), ciprofloxacin (up to 31.42%) and trimethoprim (up to 37.61%). Faecal coliforms resistant to colistin and imipenem were detected in all effluent samples. Up to 53.98% of isolated faecal coliforms expressed a multi-drug resistance (MRD) phenotype. AmpC production was confirmed in 5.22% of isolates. The ESBL genes were confirmed for 11.84% of isolates (9.2% of isolates carriedblaTEM, 1.4%blaSHV-12, 0.2%blaCTX-M-1and 1%blaCTX-M-15). Plasmids extracted from 52 ESBL isolates were successfully transformed into recipientE. coli. The detected plasmid incompatibility groups included the IncF group, IncI1, IncHI1/2 and IncA/C. These results provide evidence that treated wastewater is polluted with ARB and MDR faecal coliforms and are sources of ESBL-producing, carbapenem and colistin resistantEnterobacteriaceae.

Importance

Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) are an emerging environmental concern with a potential impact on human health. The results provide the evidence that treated wastewater is polluted with antibiotic resistant bacteria containing mobile resistance mechanisms of importance to clinical treatment of pathogens and multi-drug resistant (MDR) faecal coliforms. They are sources of relatively high proportions of ESBL-producingEnterobacteriaceae, and include carbapenem and colistin resistantEnterobacteriaceae.The significance of this study is the identification of the role of WWTPs as a potential control point to reduce or stop the movement of ESBL, MDR and colistin resistant bacteria into the environment from further upstream sources, such as human or animal waste.
Modeling dynamic allocation of effort in a sequential task using discounting models
Authors: Darío Cuevas Rivera , Alexander Strobel , Thomas Goschke , Kiebel Stefan J.
Published: November 2019

Most rewards in our lives require effort to obtain them. It is known that effort is seen by humans as carrying an intrinsic disutility which devalues the obtainable reward. Established models for effort discounting account for this by using participant-specific discounting parameters inferred from experiments. These parameters offer only a static glance into the bigger picture of effort exertion. The mechanism underlying the dynamic changes in a participant’s willingness to exert effort is still unclear and an active topic of research. Here, we modeled dynamic effort exertion as a consequence of effort- and probability-discounting mechanisms during goal reaching, sequential behavior. To do this, we developed a novel sequential decision-making task in which participants make binary choices to reach a minimum number of points. Importantly, the time points and circumstances of effort allocation are decided by participants according to their own preferences and not imposed directly by the task. Using the computational model to analyze participants’ choices, we show that the dynamics of effort exertion arise from a combination of changing task needs and forward planning. In other words, the interplay between a participant’s inferred discounting parameters is sufficient to explain the dynamic allocation of effort during goal reaching. Using formal model comparison, we also infer the forward-planning strategy used by participants. The model allows us to characterize a participant’s effort exertion in terms of only a few parameters. Moreover, the model can be adapted to a number of tasks used in establishing the neural underpinnings of forward-planning behavior and meta-control, allowing for the characterization of behavior in terms of model parameters.
Comparing optimization modeling approaches for the multi-mode resource-constrained multi-project scheduling problem
Authors: Kannimuthu Marimuthu , Raphael Benny , Ekambaram Palaneeswaran , Kuppuswamy Ananthanarayanan
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Construction firms keep minimal resources to maintain productive working capital. Hence, resources are constrained and have to be shared among multiple projects in an organization. Optimal allocation of resources is a key challenge in such situations. Several approaches and heuristics have been proposed for this task. The purpose of this paper is to compare two approaches for multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling in a multi-project environment. These are the single-project approach (portfolio optimization) and the multi-project approach (each project is optimized individually, and then heuristic rules are used to satisfy the portfolio constraint).

Design/methodology/approach

A direct search algorithm called Probabilistic Global Search Lausanne is used for schedule optimization. Multiple solutions are generated that achieve different trade-offs among the three criteria, namely, time, cost and quality. Good compromise solutions among these are identified using a multi-criteria decision making method, Relaxed Restricted Pareto Version 4. The solutions obtained using the single-project and multi-project approaches are compared in order to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages. Data from two sources are used for the evaluation: modified multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem data sets from the project scheduling problem library (PSPLIB) and three real case study projects in India.

Findings

Computational results prove the superiority of the single-project approach over heuristic priority rules (multi-project approach). The single-project approach identifies better solutions compared to the multi-project approach. However, the multi-project approach involves fewer optimization variables and is faster in execution.

Research limitations/implications

It is feasible to adopt the single-project approach in practice; realistic resource constraints can be incorporated in a multi-objective optimization formulation; and good compromise solutions that achieve acceptable trade-offs among the conflicting objectives can be identified.

Originality/value

An integer programming model was developed in this research to optimize the multiple objectives in a multi-project environment considering explicit resource constraints and maximum daily costs constraints. This model was used to compare the performance of the two multi-project environment approaches. Unlike existing work in this area, the model used to predict the quality of activity execution modes is based on data collected from real construction projects.
Multi-skill project scheduling with skill evolution and cooperation effectiveness
Authors: Li Qian , Sun Qinshan , Tao Sha , Gao Xinglin
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Recently, there has been increasing focus on the development of multi-skilled workforce in project management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a multi-skill project scheduling problem (MSPSP), which combines project scheduling and multi-skill personnel assignment. The distinct features of skill evolution and cooperation effectiveness are considered in the problem to maximize the total project effectiveness and skill development simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

The Bi-objective non-linear integer programming (LIP) models are formulated for the problem using three types of skill development objective function: number of experts, total skill increment and “bottleneck” skill increment. Non-linear models are then linearized through several linearization techniques, and the ε-constraint method is used to convert the bi-objective models into single-objective models.

Findings

A construction project case is used to validate the proposed models. In comparison with models that do not consider skill evolution and cooperation effectiveness, the models proposed in this paper offer more realistic solutions and show better performance with regard to both project effectiveness and skill development.

Originality/value

This research extends the current MSPSP by considering skill evolution based on the “learning effect” as well as the influence of cooperation in an activity-based team, which are common phenomena in practice but seldom studied. LIP models formulated in this paper can be solved by any off-the-shelf optimization solver, such as CPLEX. Besides, the proposed LIP models can offer better project scheduling and personnel assignment plan, which would be of immense practical value in project management applications.
Does megaproject social responsibility improve the sustainability of the construction industry?
Authors: Ma Hanyang , Liu Zheming , Zeng Saixing , Lin Han , Tam Vivian W.Y.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Since megaproject social responsibility (MSR) has received increasing attention in megaproject management and plays critical roles in megaproject practices, the purpose of this paper is to explore how MSR facilitates an improved sustainability of the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

By integrating multiple theoretical perspectives of transaction cost theory, institutionalism and attention- and resource-based views, and by using survey data of Chinese megaprojects and construction enterprises, this paper offers a theoretical elaboration of and an empirical investigation into the impacts that MSR’s four dimensions exert on industrial improvement in economic sustainability and social responsibility.

Findings

The study’s empirical results indicate that MSR has positive impacts on improving the sustainability of the construction industry, and that such positive impacts are weakened by the interactions of primary stakeholders in the megaprojects but are strengthened by the interactions of secondary stakeholders.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that managers and policymakers make efforts to governmental guidance, media monitoring and public participation in megaprojects, so as to limit the potential unethical behaviors in megaproject management and enhance the sociopolitical legitimacy that are essential for the sustainability of the construction industry.

Originality/value

By analyzing the industrial outcomes of MSR, this paper extends studies on the topic beyond the current literature’s focus on the antecedents of MSR, and it enriches the research on MSR stakeholders by elaborating on the contingent roles of the various stakeholders in megaproject management.
Pedagogical utility of oral discussion versus collaborative drafting
Authors: Heidari Darani Laya , Hosseinpour Nafiseh
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and compare the effects of group-to-whole student-led oral discussion and small-group collaborative drafting as pre-writing tasks on Iranian intermediate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ writing performance. Additionally, the difference between the writing components was examined.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve these objectives, a group of 120 intermediate EFL learners participated in a pretest–posttest study in which they were randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group. The students in all three groups were tasked with writing a textbook evaluation report for the pretest and posttest. The pre-writing process in the first experimental group consisted of a group-to-whole student-led oral discussion, while the second experimental group engaged in small-group collaborative drafting.

Findings

The results indicate that both pre-tasks were effective in improving the participants’ writing skill, while collaborative drafting was even more efficient. Furthermore, it was observed that more writing components improved through collaborative drafting. It is concluded, therefore, that the social atmosphere created through oral discussion and the scaffolding resulting from collaborative drafting can help in writing improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The findings herein can have implications for first language (L1) composition instruction and second language (L2) writing teaching and, thus, underscoring the utility of the social constructivist approach to writing instruction.

Originality/value

As there has been no study conducted to explore the effects of group-to-whole student-led oral discussion on EFL learners’ writing skill and to compare its impacts to those of small-group collaborative drafting, the results of this study fill this gap in the literature.
Matching training to individual learning styles improves information security awareness
Authors: Pattinson Malcolm , Butavicius Marcus , Lillie Meredith , Ciccarello Beau , Parsons Kathryn , Calic Dragana , McCormac Agata
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the concept of a framework of cyber-security controls that are adaptable to different types of organisations and different types of employees. One of these adaptive controls, namely, the mode of training provided, is then empirically tested for its effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 1,048 working Australian adults completed the human aspects of the information security questionnaire (HAIS-Q) to determine their individual information security awareness (ISA). This included questions relating to the various modes of cyber-security training they had received and how often it was provided. Also, a set of questions called the cyber-security learning-styles inventory was used to identify their preferred learning styles for training.

Findings

The extent to which the training that an individual received matched their learning preferences was positively associated with their information security awareness (ISA) level. However, the frequency of such training did not directly predict ISA levels.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should examine the influence of matching cyber-security learning styles to training packages more directly by conducting a controlled trial where the training packages provided differ only in the mode of learning. Further research should also investigate how individual tailoring of aspects of an adaptive control framework (ACF), other than training, may improve ISA.

Practical implications

If cyber-security training is adapted to the preferred learning styles of individuals, their level of ISA will improve, and therefore, their non-malicious behaviour, whilst using a digital device to do their work, will be safer.

Originality/value

A review of the literature confirmed that ACFs for cyber-security does exist, but only in terms of hardware and software controls. There is no evidence of any literature on frameworks that include controls that are adaptable to human factors within the context of information security. In addition, this is the first study to show that ISA is improved when cyber-security training is provided in line with an individual’s preferred learning style. Similar improvement was not evident when the training frequency was increased suggesting real-world improvements in ISA may be possible without increasing training budgets but by simply matching individuals to their desired mode of training.
An empirical study of the challenges facing zakat and waqf institutions in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Ahmad Mahadi
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to unearth the factors inhibiting the development of zakat (the Islamic obligatory alms) and waqf (endowment) institutions in Northern Nigeria, with the aim of proffering appropriate solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a qualitative research methodology whereby data was sourced from relevant stakeholders in Northern Nigeria. To select the appropriate interviewees, maximum variation and homogenous purposeful sampling techniques were used.

Findings

The findings of the paper show that zakat and waqf institutions in Northern Nigeria have not achieved their inherent Sharīʿah objectives because members of the public have little or no trust or confidence in the institutions. Also, the potential zakat payers and waqf donors dislike political office holders’ involvement in the appointment of the institutions’ administrators. Finally, the administrators lack adequate managerial and administrative knowledge of the two institutions.

Research limitations/implications

The current research focusses on causes of low performance of zakat and waqf institutions solely in Northern Nigeria. It is envisaged that subsequent researchers may conduct research on the possibility of having a federal law that will strengthen the overall establishment and development of zakat and waqf in Nigeria. This will affect both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority communities.

Originality/value

This paper represents a referenceable work in the field of zakat and waqf in Northern Nigeria, as it uses an approach that sources primary data in the form of participants’ point of view instead of relying on literature or document analysis. It is not a mere theoretical study of the literature but an empirical investigation of the problem.
Shop floor management system in the context of smart manufacturing: a case study
Authors: Torres Diamantino , Pimentel Carina , Duarte Susana
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study intends to make a characterization of a shop floor management (SFM) system in the context of smart manufacturing, through smart technologies and digital shop floor (DSF) features.

Design/methodology/approach

To attain the paper objective, a mixed method methodology was used. In the first stage, a theoretical background was carried out, to provide a comprehensive understanding on SFM system in a smart manufacturing perspective. Next, a case study within a survey was developed. The case study was introduced to characterize a SFM system, while the survey was made to understand the level of influence of smart manufacturing technologies and of DSF features on SFM. In total, 17 experts responded to the survey.

Findings

Data analytics is the smart manufacturing technology that influences more the SFM system and its components and the cyber security technology does not influence it at all. The problem solving (PS) is the SFM component more influenced by the smart manufacturing technologies. Also, the use of real-time digital visualization tools is considered the most influential DSF feature for the SFM components and the data security protocols is the least influential one. The four SFM components more influenced by the DSF features are key performance indicator tracking, PS, work standardization and continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The study was applied in one multinational company from the automotive sector.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is one of the first to try to characterize the SFM system on smart manufacturing considering smart technologies and DSF features.
The impact of multinational corporations’ socially responsible supplier development practices on their corporate reputation and financial performance
Authors: Subramaniam Prema Latha , Iranmanesh Mohammad , Kumar Kavigtha Mohan , Foroughi Behzad
Published: November 2019

Purpose

In the literature on sustainable supply chain management, the social pillar of sustainability has received relatively little attention, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to test empirically the impacts of supplier development practices on suppliers’ social performance. Furthermore, the impact of suppliers’ social performance on MNCs’ social performance was investigated and corporate reputation was proposed as a potential explanation for the relationship between MNCs’ social and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a survey of 141 multinational companies (MNCs) in Malaysia which were listed in the Federation of Malaysia Manufacturers’ directory 2017. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that among the four proposed practices, supplier development and supplier collaboration have significant effects on suppliers’ social performance and consequently on the multi-national companies’ social performance. According to these results, multi-national companies’ corporate reputation mediates the relationship between their social and financial performance.

Practical implications

These results will be useful in helping managers of MNCs to realize that simply monitoring suppliers and giving them incentives are not effective ways of enhancing social responsibility among suppliers; instead, supplier development and collaboration such as technical support and training are needed.

Originality/value

The results extend the literature on socially responsible supplier development practices by testing empirically the impacts of four popular practices in the literature and showing that supplier monitoring and incentives have no effect.
Competitiveness and cost behaviour: evidence from the retail industry
Authors: Krisnadewi Komang Ayu , Soewarno Noorlailie
Published: November 2019

Purpose

With a particular emphasis on corporate strategies for innovation, the purpose of this paper is to examine how cost behaviour operates under conditions of strong competition in the retail industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Retail companies listed on the Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian capital markets are studied using the regression analysis method.

Findings

The findings of this study show the sticky behaviour of changes in the selling, general and administrative (SGA) costs when companies are under competitive pressure. When sales increase, SGA costs will increase; however, when sales decline, SGA costs evidently increase. This is especially true for retail companies which have suffered a decrease in their sales of less than 7 per cent, but experienced positive sales growth in the previous period. The suggestion would seem to be that competition leads to greater aggression and the contemporary real options theory bears this out.

Research limitations/implications

This study only uses data from retail companies listed on stock exchanges in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Practical implications

The type of industry, the extent of the competition and the corporate strategy employed might influence the extent of cost stickiness. Therefore, the users of financial statements need to understand these factors.

Originality/value

While previous studies incorporated a variety of industries, this paper focuses on examining cost behaviour amid the competitive pressure from recent phenomena in the retail industry. The study provides empirical evidence for supporting the contemporary real options theory. When an industry experiences competition, investing in an uncertain situation will add value to a company, even if it causes sticky cost behaviour. This result contributes to the literature on cost behaviour and strategy management.
Trust and reciprocity effect on electronic word-of-mouth in online review communities
Authors: Gharib Rebwar Kamal , Garcia-Perez Alexeis , Dibb Sally , Iskoujina Zilia
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Social media developments in the last decade have led to the emergence of a new form of word of mouth (WOM) in the digital environment. Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is considered by many scholars and practitioners to be the most influential informal communication mechanism between businesses and potential and actual consumers. The purpose of this paper is to extend knowledge about WOM in this new context by proposing a conceptual framework that enables a better understanding of how trust and reciprocity influence eWOM participation in ORCs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies non-probability convenience sampling technique to conduct a quantitative study of data from an online survey of 189 members of ORCs. Partial least squares (PLS) is used to analyse the correlations between individuals’ intention to seek opinion, to give their own opinion and to pass on the opinion of another within ORCs.

Findings

The data analysis reveals that opinion seeking within ORCs had a direct effect on opinion giving and opinion passing. Ability trust and integrity trust had a positive effect on opinion seeking, while benevolence trust had a direct positive effect on opinion passing. Reciprocity had a direct impact on opinion passing. While reciprocity did not affect opinion giving, the relationship between these two concepts was mediated by integrity trust.

Research limitations/implications

By studying the complexities that characterise the relationships between reciprocity, trust and eWOM, the study extends understanding of eWOM in ORCs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of only a few papers that have examined the complex interrelationships between reciprocity, trust and eWOM in the context of ORCs.
Hospital employees’ perceptions of circadian lighting: a pharmacy department case study
Authors: McCunn Lindsay J. , Wright Jeremy
Published: November 2019

Purpose

An interdisciplinary body of literature has focused on the role of lighting in mitigating patient and employee stress and error-producing conditions in hospital settings. The purpose of this study is to explore how a new circadian lighting system installed in a small pharmacy unit with no penetration of natural light is experienced by staff. Psychosocial variables, such as affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being, and satisfaction with the physical work environment, were measured to further a line of inquiry that may help facilities managers and hospital administrators make optimal choices when purchasing lighting and commissioning retrofits.

Design/methodology/approach

Post-occupancy evaluation; mixed methods survey design.

Findings

While affective organizational commitment, perceived productivity, well-being and satisfaction with the physical work environment were experienced, to some extent, by employees, low average responses about whether the setting had improved, as the circadian lighting had been installed suggest that the retrofit did not affect them as positively as expected. Counter to the intention of the installation, participants did not perceive the circadian lighting as having strongly improved their levels of stress, concentration, mood or fatigue at work.

Originality/value

More research on simulated daylighting should be done to optimize occupant responses to lighting retrofits in hospitals. This case study supports recommendations to measure relevant psychosocial variables before and after a design change. Similarly, sized units within hospitals and health care facilities that possess analogous dimensions and design constraints concerning a lack of daylight penetration will benefit from this study’s mixed methods, results and interpretations.
Progress on smart tourism research
Authors: Mehraliyev Fuad , Choi Youngjoon , Köseoglu Mehmet Ali
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic and quantitative review of published papers on smart tourism. More specifically, the paper aims to identify the smart tourism research life cycle, collaboration trends, main social structure, disciplinary approaches and foundations, research topics and methodological approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic quantitative review techniques were used to review smart tourism literature. Frequency analysis, network analysis, text mining techniques were performed on data obtained from 96 papers collected from three databases as follows: Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCOhost.

Findings

The smart tourism research life cycle has two turning points with an exponential increase: 2015 and 2017. The latter is mainly associated with the internationalization of collaboration. Social structure of smart tourism research was revealed. Many of the ideas and research trends are affected by one research cluster. Destination related articles are dominant in smart tourism research. Internet of things and tourist experience are less researched areas. Only a quarter of the articles was published in tourism and hospitality journals. In particular, there is a big gap in published papers in hospitality journals. An important gap from methodological aspect is limited number of qualitative studies with human subjects. The geographical limitation is high concentration of smart tourism studies in Korea.

Research limitations/implications

This study collected and analyzed only full papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Future research may consider including book chapters and/or conference proceedings. This study was mainly based on quantitative review techniques. Qualitative or mixed review techniques may be conducted.

Originality/value

This study is the first literature review on an increasingly popular topic of smart tourism.
Moving toward: using a social justice curriculum to impact teacher candidates
Authors: Adams Megan , Rodriguez Sanjuana
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Public schools are spaces where capital-T transformation in teachers is needed (Guillory, 2012). To shift schools to places where all communities are valued, teacher education programs must create spaces where shifts in beliefs and practice can occur. This study aims to describe how the use of a social justice curriculum framework impacted teacher candidates by creating such a space.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an ethnographic study. Qualitative ethnography is appropriate when “the study of a group provides an understanding of a larger issue” (Creswell, 2015, p. 466). In this case, studying the impact of a social justice framework on the children and teacher candidates in the program allows the researchers to capture the relationships developed during the course of the program and study.

Findings

The framework created valuable experiences for both teacher candidates and elementary age participants. Data were collected to determine the impact of the program on all participants. The authors discuss implications for practitioners planning a social justice curriculum and for teacher educators planning field experiences for teacher candidates.

Research limitations/implications

The need for shifting beyond culturally relevant pedagogy has been well documented in the field (Cho, 2017; Guillory, 2012; Paris, 2012). Moving toward – culturally sustaining pedagogy, multicultural social justice curriculum, critically conscious teachers – must be a priority in teacher education (Banks, 2013; Convertino, 2016). This has been explored in other studies, particularly in studies of merging – or emphasizing – multicultural and social justice education and curricula (Cho, 2017; Lawyer, 2018; Sleeter, 2018). What sets this study apart, and what needs further exploration diverse, is how to set up multicultural social justice education projects involving culturally and economically teacher education candidates and students working together (Cammarota, 2016; Lawyer, 2018; Valenzuela, 2016).

Originality/value

The questions that arise from this study make it new in the field. These include how to set up these diverse field experiences, including how to increase recruitment and retention of culturally and economically marginalized students in teacher education programs (Cammarota, 2016; Castaneda, Kambutu and Rios, 2006). These are important questions to consider in designing research and recruitment projects in colleges of teacher education. Exploring how to push multicultural education into multicultural social justice education deserves additional attention and exploration (Cammarota, 2016; Lawyer, 2018; Sleeter, 2018; Valenzuela, 2016).
Understanding organizational aspects for managing crisis situations
Authors: Gabrielli Giorgio , Russo Vincenzo , Ciceri Andrea
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The uncertainty of the current economic environment increases the risk of organizational failure. The traditional approach intends the crisis as a phenomenon that can be managed according to some predetermined and well-defined procedures. Although this traditional approach emphasizes on the technical dimension, it does not take into account that organizational dimension, which instead plays a crucial role in the circumstances of today’s crisis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate which are the most effective organizational practices able to promote an adequate culture prevent or manage effectively crisis situations.

Design/methodology/approach

A group of Italian military and civil opinion leaders took part in the study. Authors hypothesized that the military organizations, being defined as “High Reliability Organization,” have organizational characteristics that allow them to manage crisis situations more effectively, and, for this reason, they can be taken as a reference by civil organizations.

Findings

The results show noticeable differences about organizational attributes concerning the two organizations. According to the results, the military organization has the most appropriate organizational dimensions to prevent and manage the crisis situations.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in the empirical and theoretical framework provided to analyze risk and crisis management, based on the comparison between military and civil organizations. The paper aims to be a starting point from which a positive process of cultural osmosis between the two organizations can be promoted.
The role of leadership in business model innovation: a case of an entrepreneurial firm from India
Authors: Saiyed Abrar Ali Mohammadusman
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between leadership and business model innovation (BMI) in an entrepreneurial firm. From the literature, it was found that the role of a leader in BMI was unexplored. A research framework was created which was the replication of the model created showing the relationship between leadership and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative single in-depth case study was used to understand the effects of leadership in BMI. The case of an entrepreneurial firm in the graphic and animation education sector from India was chosen to test the research framework. The leader of Xplora Design Skools was observed closely, and he was interviewed multiple times.

Findings

From the analysis, it was clear that, in this organization, the leader was a trigger for BMI through creating and influencing creativity and innovation in the organization. This case also shows that he was making tangible contribution to the work being done and motivating his employees. These initiatives show his influence on the process or execution of BMI.

Originality/value

This is the first study explores the role of a leader in BMI in an entrepreneurial firm in emerging economy contexts like India.
Workplace flexibility and its relationship with work-interferes-with-family
Authors: Halinski Michael , Duxbury Linda
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Drawing from the workplace flexibility and coping literatures, the purpose of this paper is to re-conceptualize the workplace flexibility construct as a coping resource that may help prevent work-interferes-with-family (WIF) from arising and/or assist employees manage such interference when it has occurred. A measure capturing this re-conceptualized view of flexibility is developed and tested using two samples of dual-income employees with dependent care demands.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, the authors use LISERL to develop and test a new multi-dimensional measure of workplace flexibility (n1=6,659). In Study 2 (n2=947), the authors use partial least squares, a component-based structural equation modeling technique, to test a model that posits workplace flexibility that helps employees cope with WIF.

Findings

This research provides support for the idea that workplace flexibility helps employees cope with WIF by: preventing interference (i.e. negatively moderating the relationship between work hours and WIF), and managing interference that has occurred (i.e. negatively moderating relationship between WIF and perceived stress).

Originality/value

This study highlights the complexity of the relationship between workplace flexibility and work-to-family interference and offers guidelines on how employers and employees can use the workplace flexibility measure developed in this study.