bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The structural dynamics of macropinosome formation and PI3-kinase-mediated sealing revealed by lattice light sheet microscopy
Authors: Quinn Shayne E. , Huang Lu , Kerkvliet Jason G. , Swanson Joel A. , Smith Steve , Hoppe Adam D. , Anderson Robert B. , Thiex Natalie W. , Scott Brandon L.
Published: December 2020

Macropinosomes are formed by shaping actin-rich plasma membrane ruffles into large intracellular organelles in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-coordinated manner. Here, we utilize lattice lightsheet microscopy and image visualization methods to map the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of macropinosome formation relative to PI3K activity. We show that multiple ruffling morphologies produce macropinosomes and that the majority form through collisions of adjacent PI3K-rich ruffles. By combining multiple volumetric representations of the plasma membrane structure and PI3K products, we show that PI3K activity begins early throughout the entire ruffle volume and continues to increase until peak activity concentrates at the base of the ruffle after the macropinosome closes. Additionally, areas of the plasma membrane rich in ruffling had increased PI3K activity and produced many macropinosomes of various sizes. Pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K activity had little effect on the rate and morphology of membrane ruffling, demonstrating that early production of 3’-phosphoinositides within ruffles plays a minor role in regulating their morphology. However, 3’-phosphoinositides are critical for the fusogenic activity that seals ruffles into macropinosomes. Taken together, these data indicate that local PI3K activity is amplified in ruffles and serves as a priming mechanism for closure and sealing of ruffles into macropinosomes.
Host-pathogen genetic interactions underlie tuberculosis susceptibility
Authors: Smith Clare M. , Baker Richard E. , Proulx Megan K. , Mishra Bibhuti B. , Long Jarukit E. , Park Sae Woong , Lee Ha-Na , Kiritsy Michael C. , Bellerose Michelle M. , Olive Andrew J. , Murphy Kenan C. , Papavinasasundaram Kadamba , Boehm Frederick J. , Reames Charlotte J. , Meade Rachel K. , Hampton Brea K. , Linnertz Colton L. , Shaw Ginger D. , Hock Pablo , Bell Timothy A. , Ehrt Sabine , Schnappinger Dirk , de Villena Fernando Pardo-Manuel , Ferris Martin T. , Ioerger Thomas R. , Sassetti Christopher M.
Published: December 2020

The outcome of an encounter withMycobacterium tuberculosisdepends on the pathogen’s ability to adapt to the variable immune pressures exerted by the host. Understanding this interplay has proven difficult, largely because experimentally tractable animal models do not recapitulate the heterogeneity of tuberculosis disease. We leveraged the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse panel in conjunction with a library ofMtbmutants to associate bacterial genetic requirements with host genetics and immunity. We report that CC strains vary dramatically in their susceptibility to infection and produce qualitatively distinct immune states. Global analysis ofMtbmutant fitness across the CC panel revealed that many virulence pathways are only in specific host microenvironments, identifying the large fraction of the pathogen’s genome that has been maintained to ensure fitness in a diverse population. Both immunological and bacterial traits were associated with genetic variants distributed across the mouse genome, identifying the specific host-pathogen genetic interactions that influence pathogenesis.
Inhibition of lysyl oxidase-like 2 ameliorates folic acid-induced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis
Authors: Choi Sung-Eun , Jeon Nara , Choi Hoon Young , Jeong Hyeon Joo , Lim Beom Jin
Published: December 2020

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is characterized by accumulation of the extracellular matrix in the interstitium. Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), a member of the lysyl oxidase family, is known for promoting cancer metastasis, invasion, and stromal fibrosis in various organs. Our previous study demonstrated expression of LOXL2 in kidney podocytes and tubular epithelial cells, and the association between elevated LOXL2 and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The present study evaluated the effect of LOXL2 inhibition using an inhibitory monoclonal antibody (AB0023) on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a folic acid-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis mouse model. We also evaluated the association of LOXL2 with epithelial-mesenchymal transformation related moleculesin vitrousing HK-2 cells. Our data demonstrate that AB0023 prevented the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis significantly, as determined by trichrome and picro-sirius red staining, as well as the total collagen assay. The mean expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad4 was lower in the AB0023-treated group although it was not statistically significant. Following transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) challenge, LOXL2-deficient HK-2 cells exhibited significantly lower expression of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and fibronectin than control HK-2 cells. In conclusion, LOXL2 inhibition ameliorates renal fibrosis through the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway.
Oct1 cooperates with Smad transcription factors to promote mesodermal lineage specification
Authors: Perovanovic Jelena , Wu Yifan , Abewe Hosiana , Shen Zuolian , Hughes Erik P. , Gertz Jason , Chandrasekharan Mahesh B. , Tantin Dean
Published: December 2020

The transition between pluripotent and tissue-specific states is a key aspect of development. Understanding the pathways driving these transitions will facilitate the engineering of properly differentiated cells for experimental and therapeutic uses. Here, we showed that during mesoderm differentiation, the transcription factor Oct1 activated developmental lineage-appropriate genes that were silent in pluripotent cells. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with an inducible knockout of Oct1, we showed that Oct1 deficiency resulted in poor induction of mesoderm-specific genes, leading to impaired mesodermal and terminal muscle differentiation. Oct1-deficient cells exhibited poor temporal coordination of the induction of lineage-specific genes and showed inappropriate developmental lineage branching, resulting in poorly differentiated cell states retaining epithelial characteristics. In ESCs, Oct1 localized with the pluripotency factor Oct4 at mesoderm-associated genes and remained bound to those loci during differentiation after the dissociation of Oct4. Binding events for Oct1 overlapped with those for the histone lysine demethylase Utx, and an interaction between Oct1 and Utx suggested that these two proteins cooperate to activate gene expression. The specificity of the ubiquitous Oct1 for the induction of mesodermal genes could be partially explained by the frequent coexistence of Smad and Oct binding sites at mesoderm-specific genes and the cooperative stimulation of mesodermal gene transcription by Oct1 and Smad3. Together, these results identify Oct1 as a key mediator of mesoderm lineage–specific gene induction.
Non-homologous end joining factors XLF, PAXX and DNA-PKcs support neural stem and progenitor cells development
Authors: Gago-Fuentes Raquel , Oksenych Valentyn
Published: December 2020

Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a major DNA repair pathway in mammalian cells that recognizes, processes and fixes DNA damages throughout the cell cycle, and is specifically important for homeostasis of post-mitotic neurons and developing lymphocytes. Neuronal apoptosis increases in the mice lacking core NHEJ factors Ku70 and Ku80. Inactivation of other core NHEJ genes, either Xrcc4 or Lig4, leads to massive neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system (CNS) that correlates with embryonic lethality in mice. Inactivation of one accessory NHEJ gene,e.g. Paxx, Mri and Dna-pkcs, results in normal CNS development due to compensatory effects of Xlf. Combined inactivation of Xlf/Paxx, Xlf/Mri and Xlf/Dna-pkcs, however, results in late embryonic lethality and high levels of apoptosis in CNS. To determine the impact of accessory NHEJ on early stages of neurodevelopment, we isolated neural stem and progenitors cells from mouse embryos and investigated proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation capacity of these cells lacking either Xlf,Paxx, Dna-pkcs, Xlf/Paxx or Xlf/Dna-pkcs. We found that accessory NHEJ factors are important for maintaining the neural stem and progenitor cell populations and neurodevelopment in mammals, which is particularly evident in the double knockout models.
Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 proteome in three dimensions (3D) during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lubin Joseph H. , Zardecki Christine , Dolan Elliott M. , Lu Changpeng , Shen Zhuofan , Dutta Shuchismita , Westbrook John D. , Hudson Brian P. , Goodsell David S. , Williams Jonathan K. , Voigt Maria , Sarma Vidur , Xie Lingjun , Venkatachalam Thejasvi , Arnold Steven , Alvarado Luz Helena Alfaro , Catalfano Kevin , Khan Aaliyah , McCarthy Erika , Staggers Sophia , Tinsley Brea , Trudeau Alan , Singh Jitendra , Whitmore Lindsey , Zheng Helen , Benedek Matthew , Currier Jenna , Dresel Mark , Duvvuru Ashish , Dyszel Britney , Fingar Emily , Hennen Elizabeth M. , Kirsch Michael , Khan Ali A. , Labrie-Cleary Charlotte , Laporte Stephanie , Lenkeit Evan , Martin Kailey , Orellana Marilyn , de la Campa Melanie Ortiz-Alvarez , Paredes Isaac , Wheeler Baleigh , Rupert Allison , Sam Andrew , See Katherine , Zapata Santiago Soto , Craig Paul A. , Hall Bonnie L. , Jiang Jennifer , Koeppe Julia R. , Mills Stephen A. , Pikaart Michael J. , Roberts Rebecca , Bromberg Yana , Hoyer J. Steen , Duffy Siobain , Tischfield Jay , Ruiz Francesc X. , Arnold Eddy , Baum Jean , Sandberg Jesse , Brannigan Grace , Khare Sagar D. , Burley Stephen K.
Published: December 2020

Three-dimensional structures of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviral proteins archived in the Protein Data Bank were used to analyze viral proteome evolution during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyses of spatial locations, chemical properties, and structural and energetic impacts of the observed amino acid changes in >48,000 viral proteome sequences showed how each one of the 29 viral study proteins have undergone amino acid changes. Structural models computed for every unique sequence variant revealed that most substitutions map to protein surfaces and boundary layers with a minority affecting hydrophobic cores. Conservative changes were observed more frequently in coresversusboundary layers/surfaces. Active sites and protein-protein interfaces showed modest numbers of substitutions. Energetics calculations showed that the impact of substitutions on the thermodynamic stability of the proteome follows a universal bi-Gaussian distribution. Detailed results are presented for six drug discovery targets and four structural proteins comprising the virion, highlighting substitutions with the potential to impact protein structure, enzyme activity, and functional interfaces. Characterizing the evolution of the virus in three dimensions provides testable insights into viral protein function and should aid in structure-based drug discovery efforts as well as the prospective identification of amino acid substitutions with potential for drug resistance.
Mapping the human auditory cortex using spectrotemporal receptive fields generated with magnetoencephalography
Authors: Falet Jean-Pierre R. , Côté Jonathan , Tarka Veronica , Martinez-Moreno Zaida-Escila , Voss Patrice , de Villers-Sidani Etienne
Published: December 2020

We present a novel method to map the functional organization of the human auditory cortex noninvasively using magnetoencephalography (MEG). More specifically, this method estimates via reverse correlation the spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRF) in response to a dense pure tone stimulus, from which important spectrotemporal characteristics of neuronal processing can be extracted and mapped back onto the cortex surface. We show that several neuronal populations can be found examining the spectrotemporal characteristics of their STRFs, and demonstrate how these can be used to generate tonotopic gradient maps. In doing so, we show that the spatial resolution of MEG is sufficient to reliably extract important information about the spatial organization of the auditory cortex, while enabling the analysis of complex temporal dynamics of auditory processing such as best temporal modulation rate and response latency given its excellent temporal resolution. Furthermore, because spectrotemporally dense auditory stimuli can be used with MEG, the time required to acquire the necessary data to generate tonotopic maps is significantly less for MEG than for other neuroimaging tools that acquire BOLD-like signals.
ATSAS 3.0: expanded functionality and new tools for small-angle scattering data analysis
Authors: Manalastas-Cantos Karen , Konarev Petr V. , Hajizadeh Nelly R. , Kikhney Alexey G. , Petoukhov Maxim V. , Molodenskiy Dmitry S. , Panjkovich Alejandro , Mertens Haydyn D. T. , Gruzinov Andrey , Borges Clemente , Jeffries Cy M. , Svergun Dmitri I. , Franke Daniel
Published: December 2020

The ATSAS software suite encompasses a number of programs for the processing, visualization, analysis and modelling of small-angle scattering data, with a focus on the data measured from biological macromolecules. Here, new developments in the ATSAS 3.0 package are described. They include IMSIM, for simulating isotropic 2D scattering patterns; IMOP, to perform operations on 2D images and masks; DATRESAMPLE, a method for variance estimation of structural invariants through parametric resampling; DATFT, which computes the pair distance distribution function by a direct Fourier transform of the scattering data; PDDFFIT, to compute the scattering data from a pair distance distribution function, allowing comparison with the experimental data; a new module in DATMW for Bayesian consensus-based concentration-independent molecular weight estimation; DATMIF, an ab initio shape analysis method that optimizes the search model directly against the scattering data; DAMEMB, an application to set up the initial search volume for multiphase modelling of membrane proteins; ELLLIP, to perform quasi-atomistic modelling of liposomes with elliptical shapes; NMATOR, which models conformational changes in nucleic acid structures through normal mode analysis in torsion angle space; DAMMIX, which reconstructs the shape of an unknown intermediate in an evolving system; and LIPMIX and BILMIX, for modelling multilamellar and asymmetric lipid vesicles, respectively. In addition, technical updates were deployed to facilitate maintainability of the package, which include porting the PRIMUS graphical interface to Qt5, updating SASpy – a PyMOL plugin to run a subset of ATSAS tools – to be both Python 2 and 3 compatible, and adding utilities to facilitate mmCIF compatibility in future ATSAS releases. All these features are implemented in ATSAS 3.0, freely available for academic users at https://www.embl-hamburg.de/biosaxs/software.html.
The XBI BioLab for life science experiments at the European XFEL
Authors: Han Huijong , Round Ekaterina , Schubert Robin , Gül Yasmin , Makroczyová Jana , Meza Domingo , Heuser Philipp , Aepfelbacher Martin , Barák Imrich , Betzel Christian , Fromme Petra , Kursula Inari , Nissen Poul , Tereschenko Elena , Schulz Joachim , Uetrecht Charlotte , Ulicný Jozef , Wilmanns Matthias , Hajdu Janos , Lamzin Victor S. , Lorenzen Kristina
Published: December 2020

The science of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) critically depends on the performance of the X-ray laser and on the quality of the samples placed into the X-ray beam. The stability of biological samples is limited and key biomolecular transformations occur on short timescales. Experiments in biology require a support laboratory in the immediate vicinity of the beamlines. The XBI BioLab of the European XFEL (XBI denotes XFEL Biology Infrastructure) is an integrated user facility connected to the beamlines for supporting a wide range of biological experiments. The laboratory was financed and built by a collaboration between the European XFEL and the XBI User Consortium, whose members come from Finland, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Sweden and the USA, with observers from Denmark and the Russian Federation. Arranged around a central wet laboratory, the XBI BioLab provides facilities for sample preparation and scoring, laboratories for growing prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, a Bio Safety Level 2 laboratory, sample purification and characterization facilities, a crystallization laboratory, an anaerobic laboratory, an aerosol laboratory, a vacuum laboratory for injector tests, and laboratories for optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy. Here, an overview of the XBI facility is given and some of the results of the first user experiments are highlighted.
Concepts for nondestructive and depth-resolved X-ray residual stress analysis in the near-surface region of nearly single crystalline materials with mosaic structure
Authors: Hollmann Andreas , Meixner Matthias , Klaus Manuela , Genzel Christoph
Published: December 2020

Two evaluation concepts for nondestructive depth-resolved X-ray residual stress analysis in the near-surface region of materials with cubic symmetry and nearly single crystalline structure are introduced by simulated examples. Both concepts are based on the same data acquisition strategy, which consists in the determination of lattice-spacing depth profiles along the 〈hkl〉 poles by stepwise sample rotation around the scattering vector. Segmentation of these profiles parallel to the sample surface provides the lattice strain state as a function of depth. The first evaluation concept extends the crystallite group method developed for materials with pronounced crystallographic texture by the feature of depth resolution and can be applied to samples with arbitrary orientation. The second evaluation concept, which adapts the linear regression approach of the sin2ψ method for the case of single crystalline materials, is restricted to samples with (001) orientation. The influence of the strain-free lattice parameter a
0 on residual stress analysis using both evaluation concepts is discussed on the basis of explicitly derived relations.
`Pink'-beam X-ray powder diffraction profile and its use in Rietveld refinement
Authors: Von Dreele Robert B. , Clarke Samantha M. , Walsh James P. S.
Published: December 2020

The powder diffraction profile obtained with a pink-beam synchrotron X-ray source is described as the convolution of a back-to-back pair of exponentials convoluted with the Gaussian and Lorentzian components of a pseudo-Voigt. This new function is employed for the first time in a Rietveld refinement using data collected from a single 100 ps synchrotron X-ray micropulse.
Influence of fast-food restaurant service quality and its dimensions on customer perceived value, satisfaction and behavioural intentions
Authors: Slack Neale J. , Singh Gurmeet , Ali Jazbeen , Lata Reshma , Mudaliar Karishma , Swamy Yogita
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of fast-food restaurant service quality (compound effect of food quality, physical environment quality and employee service quality) and its dimensions (when acting independently) on customer perceived value, satisfaction and behavioural intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 400 fast-food restaurant customers in Fiji using a public-intercept survey. The study used descriptive and inferential analysis. This research also used backward elimination multiple regressions to test the hypotheses of this study.

Findings

The compound effect of fast-food restaurant service quality dimensions on customer perceived value revealed food quality and physical environment quality are significant determinants of customer perceived value, however employee service quality is not. In contrast, the effect of the fast-food service quality dimensions acting independently on customer perceived value revealed the three dimensions are significant determinants of customer perceived value. Results also confirmed that customer perceived value is a significant determinant of customer satisfaction and customer satisfaction is a significant determinant of behavioural intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights to fast-food restaurateurs and marketers the importance of determining the compound effect of fast-food restaurant service quality dimensions, delivering the right combination of fast-food restaurant service quality dimensions to customers and not singling out dimensions in an attempt to enhance restaurant service quality.

Originality/value

This study makes important contributions towards understanding the compound effect of fast-food restaurant service quality dimensions and the independent effect of these dimensions on the formation of customer perceived value, customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions.
Exploring types, drivers and outcomes of social e-HRM
Authors: Martini Mattia , Cavenago Dario , Marafioti Elisabetta
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper explores the use of social media (SM) in Human Resource Management (HRM). Building on the configurational approach, the study investigates the existence of different configurations of social e-HRM, their consequences for the organizations and their predictors.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study draws on a survey administered to HR directors of 176 companies operating in Italy. Two-step cluster analysis, test for variance and logistic regressions were employed for data analysis.

Findings

Three social e-HRM configurations emerged – non-use, relational use and extended relational use – which distinguish different goals for using SM in HRM. The three configurations lead to similar outcomes for organizations, even if SM users, in general, enjoy greater success than non-users. Certain structural, strategic and HRM factors are systematically and variously associated with each configuration.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on cross-sectional research, and thus it is difficult to identify causal links between the variables. The study also relies on data collected in a specific national context, which limits the generalizability of the results.

Practical implications

The study suggests that different and equally effective social e-HRM configurations exist and that their presence is predicted by specific structural, strategic and HRM factors.

Originality/value

The study contributes to an emerging and still scarce literature on types, drivers and outcomes of SM use in HRM.
Effects of managers' environmental attitudes on waste management practices in small hotels in Accra
Authors: Mensah Ishmael , Ampofo Emmanuel Twumasi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the upper echelons theory, the study examines the effects of environmental attitudes of hotel managers on the waste management practices of small hotels in the context of a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving 246 managers of small hotels in the Accra Metropolitan Area was undertaken using a questionnaire that was based on the Waste Management Hierarchy and the revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scales.

Findings

Results of the study showed that environmental attitudes of managers significantly influence the waste management practices of hotels, specifically, the anti-anthropocentricism, anti-exceptionalism, eco-crisis and balance-of-nature dimensions of the NEP scale. The study also found that all the environmental attitude dimensions had more significant effects on the waste disposal option because usually in developing countries, small hotels by their nature are more predisposed to undertaking this option.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should use longitudinal data to make causal inferences and consider the use of a rigorous statistical test such as common latent factor analysis.

Practical implications

Waste management problems in small hotels require softer sustainability strategies geared towards creating environmental awareness and inculcating the right environmental values in hotel managers in order to change the way managers view the environment.

Originality/value

Results of the study indicate that in the context of small hotels in developing countries, managers with eco-centric attitudes are more likely to engage in less expensive waste management practices rather than the most environmentally-friendly options.
A design science-based case study of retail chain delivery operations and its implications
Authors: Su Shong-lee Ivan , Fan Xuemei , Shou Yongyi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The study aims to explore and develop a smart route planning system for the cross-docking delivery operations of a large supermarket chain using an action research (AR) approach and assessing through a design science research (DSR) lens.

Design/methodology/approach

This study took a problem-solving AR (PAR) approach toward the delivery operational issue of the case firm. The research process has accorded with the solution incubation and the refinement phases defined by a DSR framework. An intervention-based research framework for DSR is developed to assess the validity of this study as a DSR research and derive mid-range theories.

Findings

Dramatic operational and financial improvements were achieved for the case firm. Significant and unintended environmental and social benefits were also found. A design proposition (DP) and several mid-range theories are proposed as an extension of AR research to DSR research.

Research limitations/implications

A problem-solving DSR research can be better assessed by the intervention-based DSR framework developed in this study. DSR studies should be encouraged for both practical and theoretical advancement purposes.

Practical implications

A challenging business problem-solving study can be tackled effectively through an industry/academic collaboration taking a PAR approach to deliver substantial values and organization transformational results.

Social implications

Drivers and store associates are safer with smart delivery operations in the case firm.

Originality/value

There are still limited PAR design science case studies in the supply chain/logistics research literature. The research experience and findings gained from this study provide more insights toward how this type of research can be conducted and assessed.
Investigating the positive role of urban tourism in creating sustainable revenue opportunities in the municipalities of large-scale cities: the case of Iran
Authors: Faraji Amin , Khodadadi Masood , Nematpour Mohammad , Abidizadegan Shirin , Yazdani Hamid Reza
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that unsustainable revenues in municipalities are short term and may have an adverse effect on urban systems. Focusing on stable financial resources can reduce such adverse effects. According to the legal obligations of municipalities in the creation of sustainable revenue, developing tourism-based activities in municipalities can play a significant role in providing a sustainable income.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to assess the positive effects of economic opportunities related to tourism for the municipalities in Iran’s large-scale cities and to identify the hidden opportunities of tourism. Also, from interviews and analysis of themes based on the situation, task, action, result model, tourism opportunities have been extracted and classified.

Findings

As a result of this research, hidden income-generating opportunities of urban tourism have been identified for municipalities, including those depending on situation, tasks, actions and results. For each of these categories, strategies for the realization of tourism opportunities are presented. Tourism’s hidden opportunities include those relating to organizational aspects, tourism planning, tourism diplomacy, handicrafts, health tourism, event tourism and urban tourism marketing.

Originality/value

By taking advantage of these opportunities, income generation, employment and urban management will be improved in the municipalities.
Influence of knowledge-based safety culture in the construction industry: a stakeholder's perspective
Authors: MD Deepak , Mahesh Gangadhar
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Safety in construction projects is essential and requires more attention towards minimizing the accident rate. Problems concerning awareness of safety risks, procedures and practices still exist in the industry, which indicate a shortfall in diffusion of safety-related knowledge in construction industry. Also, there is dearth of studies on knowledge management strategies to prevent reoccurrence of accidents and thereby improve safety culture in construction industry. This study attempts to unveil aspects of knowledge management that are ignored in considering safety culture and discern the differences in the perception of key stakeholders of construction industry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify and measure knowledge-based safety culture elements.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the focus is on the application of a reliable, valid and sensitive knowledge-based safety culture assessment tool on key stakeholders operational in construction industry. Research method adopted is a questionnaire-based survey to seek responses from industry professionals. A total of 199 responses were obtained from 106 different companies operational in Indian construction industry. Statistical analyses including ranking analysis, t-test, correlation analysis, and ANOVA test are utilized for comparing and identifying the differences in view of stakeholder's perceptions concerning workplace safety.

Findings

This study helps to identify and rank critical knowledge-based safety culture elements from the perspective of key stakeholders of construction industry. This contributes in identifying the most critical and neglected variables among the key stakeholders regarding aspects of safety culture. Also, the study shows the importance of knowledge dimension in developing overall safety culture in construction industry.

Originality/value

Results of this study offer valuable insight in enabling key stakeholders of construction industry to examine and enhance their safety performance. The implications of this study contribute new knowledge in assessing conditions that will improve worker safety in the construction industry. The paper should be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the area of occupational health and safety management.
Defining the need: digital literacy skills for first-year university students
Authors: Öncül Gamze
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to build context-specific measurement tools to assess first-year students' digital literacy skills. The purpose is to collect data to provide more meaningful skills support for new students and raise their awareness about the digital literacy skills fundamental to academic study.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of three scales were developed and piloted at the beginning of 2018 and 2019 fall semesters: (1) a self-assessment survey, (2) an online test to collect indirect evidence and (3) a set of performance tasks. In both rounds, the scales were examined for reliability and construct validity and improved accordingly. The third round, conducted with a different scope, enabled a final reliability check for the online test.

Findings

The results indicate that first-year students need support with higher-order digital literacy skills. Low performers tend to overestimate their skills, so self-assessment surveys fall short in providing needs assessment but provide evidence of awareness when combined with the other scales. Performance tasks provide direct evidence but are not practical with larger numbers of participants. An online test to deliver indirect evidence works well but requires careful reliability considerations.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptual framework for digital literacies offered in this study was narrowed down to the immediate skills to maintain a feasible scope. The sample size was small in both rounds, but the findings gave insights regarding the skills under scrutiny. Similarly, the scales were subject to close examination and were continuously improved, and the imperfections were monitored carefully while drawing conclusions.

Practical implications

All of the three scales are ready to be used. Depending on the purpose, they can be given to first-year students together or separately to define their needs for support. Both versions of the survey and performance tasks are presented in the paper, and the test can be found at this link: Digital Literacy Test for Preview.

Originality/value

There are three methods to measure digital skills. Although there are studies using individual or paired methods, this study is distinctive as it combines all three. While other scales to measure digital literacy skills exist, they are not appropriate in every context. Therefore, this study will serve as an example for those wishing to devise context-specific scales.
The relationship between relative performance and managerial change
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Mirozadeh Masomeh , Adibian Mohammad Sadegh , Nazaridavaji Hamideh , Irvani Qale Sorkh Fahimeh
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the relationship between relative performance and change manager in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, the reasons for CEO change and the contributing factors to performance were defined based on the industry type. A systematic elimination approach is applied to select the study sample among listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2012–2016. Finally, a 390 firm-year population was tested using multiple regression.

Findings

The results of hypothesis testing indicate that the possibility of managerial change is less likely after a positive return of the market performance. Moreover, hypothesis testing results reveal that peer firms and specific-firm performance do not contribute to managerial change. The findings also demonstrate that systematic risk has a negative impact on managerial change, whereas unsystematic risks do not significantly play a part in managerial change.

Originality/value

As the present study is the pioneer study on the impact of managerial change factors on Iranian firms' relative performance, the findings of this study can contribute to the realm of this study and the related literature.
Multilevel approaches to advancing the measurement of intellectual capital research field–What can we learn from the literature?
Authors: Ferreira João J.M. , Fernandes Cristina , Veiga Pedro
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study seeks to provide a broad ranging review that identifies, summarises and integrates the different multi-level approaches contributing to advances in research on measuring IC. This furthermore sets out and highlights an agenda for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

Deploying a systematic and thorough review of the literature, the authors were able to identify 60 articles and identify the main theories applied and the respective methodological orientations of these articles across three levels of analysis: micro, meso and macro.

Findings

The study's findings suggest that the literature on measuring IC has approached the theme across three different levels –micro, meso and macro. In addition, the results enable the identification of seven dimensions to IC: competitive advantage, economic value generated, resources and capacities, corporate governance, IC components, innovation management and the dissemination of IC.

Research limitations/implications

The mixed-methods approach, which combines a traditional systematic literature review with ontological thematic analysis, casts light on the core aspects that led to the identification of a new approach in the academic literature on measuring IC.

Practical implications

This study puts forward a holistic model with measurements for IC across the three levels of analysis as well as the respective criteria for choosing the variables.

Originality/value

This study represents a first attempt to analyse the emerging literature on IC measurement through a multi-level approach; integrating and extracting the potential theoretical contributions in this field of knowledge; proposing an integrated model as well as a theoretically relevant and innovative research agenda that opens up paths to future research projects.
Drivers of intention to use Murabaha financing: religiosity as moderator
Authors: Atal Naqeeb Ullah , Iranmanesh Mohammad , Hashim Fathyah , Foroughi Behzad
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of Muslims’ attitude and intention towards Murabaha financing by considering religiosity as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through a survey of 373 Muslims in Afghanistan and were analysed using the partial least squares technique.

Findings

The results showed that social influence and religious obligation have a positive effect on attitude towards Murabaha financing. Furthermore, social influence and attitude have a positive effect on the intention to use Murabaha financing. Religiosity moderates negatively the impact of social influence on attitude towards Murabaha financing.

Practical implications

Managers and marketers of Islamic banks may benefit from the findings of this study, which provide insight into the factors that should be considered to promote Murabaha financing.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the literature on Islamic financing products by demonstrating the drivers of attitude towards and intention to use Murabaha financing. The study also extends the literature by testing the moderating role of religiosity. Furthermore, the study extends the theory of reasoned action in the context of Islamic financing by introducing religious obligation as a potential driver of attitude and religiosity as a moderator.
Investigating the sustainability habitus: insights from Aramex’s sustainability practices and reports
Authors: von Alberti-Alhtaybat Larissa , Alhatabat Zaidoon , Al-Htaybat Khaldoon
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the development of the sustainability habitus in the Arab Middle East (ME) based on the pioneer case organisation, Aramex, which has been the pioneer of sustainability practices and reporting. The context of the Arab region, as well as the global logistics sector, has significantly influenced the development of sustainable development at Aramex, as illustrated by their sustainability and integrated reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach of the current study is qualitative on the basis of open and selective coding techniques. The case organisation’s annual sustainability and integrated reports and additional relevant publicised information are analysed. Using publicised information from different sources increases triangulation and allows for more reliable findings. The theoretical context is Bourdieu’s habitus and field, which also reflects the interplay between habitus and field, and how Aramex’s sustainability practices and reports are being constructed.

Findings

The findings reflect Aramex’s sustainability practices and related reporting, subsumed in its organisational sustainability habitus. They span the sustainability reporting endeavours of the case organisation, commencing with the first sustainability report in 2006 until the most recent annual integrated report in 2018. Aramex is the precursor of sustainability and integrated reporting (IR) in the ME and is a significant contributor to developing a sustainability habitus in the region. The findings outline various elements of their reports as evidence of sustainability practices and reporting in the ME and the global logistics sector and as an illustration of the developing sustainability habitus.

Originality/value

This study reviews the original case of Aramex and its sustainability and IR practices. It also discusses the company’s practices and reporting details with regard to its organisational sustainability habitus and interplay with the local, Arab World and global, logistics sector, fields.
A new kind of travel guide or more of the same? Wikivoyage and Cambodia
Authors: Luyt Brendan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Given Wikipedia’s size and importance to the world’s information infrastructure, it can be forgotten that there exists under the same Wikimedia Foundation umbrella, a number of other volunteer wikis producing information on a variety of topics and subjects. Little research has been conducted on these offshoots. In this article I examine one of the earliest of these efforts, Wikivoyage, a free wiki-based travel guidebook.

Design/methodology/approach

I examine the content of Wikivoyage’s articles on the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap (the tourist gateway to the temples), the introductory page for the country of Cambodia as a whole and a sample of regional Cambodian entries. Textual and discourse analysis is the foundation of this work.

Findings

The findings suggest that although Wikivoyage is not currently an exemplar of alternative tourism discourses, it certainly has potential. But that potential can only be realized if those interested in contributing to the site alternative perspectives and discourses take up the task in a sensitive manner and in accordance with the developing editing culture.

Originality/value

While conceding that Wikivoyage is currently unlikely to monopolize the guidebook market anytime soon, it is still important to study this social phenomenon both for its own intrinsic interest and to assess its potential for a more enlightened and transformative tourism.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-03-2020-0104
Covid-19 and inequality: developing an age-friendly strategy for recovery in low income communities
Authors: Buffel Tine , Doran Patty , Goff Mhorag , Lang Luciana , Lewis Camilla , Phillipson Chris , Yarker Sophie
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on issues facing older people living in urban areas characterised by multiple deprivation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first reviews the role of place and neighbourhood in later life; second, it examines the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and the impact of COVID-19; and, third, it outlines the basis for an “age-friendly” recovery strategy.

Findings

The paper argues that COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on low-income communities, which have already been affected by cuts to public services, the loss of social infrastructure and pressures on the voluntary sector. It highlights the need for community-based interventions to be developed as an essential part of future policies designed to tackle the effects of COVID-19.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to debates about developing COVID-19 recovery strategies in the context of growing inequalities affecting urban neighbourhoods.
Accessible and inclusive tourism: why it is so important for destination branding?
Authors: Machado Pedro
Published: December 2020

Purpose

By embracing the entire community of travellers, despite their capacity, tourism destinations that have the opportunity to appeal to the art of inclusive tourism policies in the Center of Portugal, are analyzed, showing the importance for a tourist destination to adapt these policies to the notoriety of the destination brand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper offers a practical viewpoint based on the state-of-the-art of public policies relating to inclusive and accessible tourism in the Center of Portugal and their impacts on the destination branding.

Findings

Taking into account the territorial specificity of the Center of Portugal, the asymmetries of development and cohesion, Tourism Center of Portugal (TCP) has sought to develop projects and actions in partnership with the different actors in the territory that promote territorial cohesion, integrated and sustainable development and the attractiveness of the inland region.

Practical implications

All the projects developed to support accessible and inclusive tourism, in which TCP is an active part, create a network of tourist services to become destinations more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Originality/value

Inclusive and accessible tourism is little explored by DMOs. In this paper, the case of the Center of Portugal region is presented, highlighting a series of unprecedented initiatives that are being developed, aiming to provide the destination with unique points of differentiation.
Lesson learned from the pandemic: the need for sustainable employment
Authors: Bowen John
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a definition of sustainable employment (SE), the conditions that undermine SE, the need for SE and how the additional costs of SE can be covered through a re-imagined business. The paper is specific to industry policies and government laws in the USA. However, the concept of SE is a global issue, and this paper’s discussion has global implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper based on the author’s knowledge and opinion supported by references.

Findings

SE is key for the hospitality industry's success with the additional costs of its introduction being possibly covered through a reimagined business. This will lead to a committed and stable workforce.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the concept of SE. The pandemic exposed the need for a committed and stable workforce in the hospitality industry. This paper supports this need, explains the benefits of SE and gives insight into how to fund SE.
Adh4, an alcohol dehydrogenase controls alcohol formation within bacterial microcompartments in the acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii
Authors: Chowdhury Nilanjan Pal , Moon Jimyung , Müller Volker
Published: December 2020

Acetobacterium woodii utilizes the Wood‐Ljungdahl pathway for reductive synthesis of acetate from carbon dioxide. However, A. woodii can also perform non‐acetogenic growth on 1,2‐propanediol (1,2‐PD) where instead of acetate, equal amounts of propionate and propanol are produced as metabolic end products. Metabolism of 1,2‐PD occurs via encapsulated metabolic enzymes within large proteinaceous bodies called bacterial microcompartments. While the genome of A. woodii harbours 11 genes encoding putative alcohol dehydrogenases, the BMC‐encapsulated propanol‐generating alcohol dehydrogenase remains unidentified. Here, we show that Adh4 of A. woodii is the alcohol dehydrogenase required for propanol/ethanol formation within these microcompartments. It catalyses the NADH‐dependent reduction of propionaldehyde or acetaldehyde to propanol or ethanol and primarily functions to recycle NADH within the BMC. Removal of adh4 gene from the A. woodii genome resulted in slow growth on 1,2‐PD and the mutant displayed reduced propanol and enhanced propionate formation as a metabolic end product. In sum, the data suggest that Adh4 is responsible for propanol formation within the BMC and is involved in redox balancing in the acetogen, A. woodii.
Coincidence, Quantum Physics and Statistics
Authors: Sawyer Kim , Halpern Paul
Published: December 2020

Kim Sawyer interviews physicist Paul Halpern (pictured) about his new book, Synchronicity: The Epic Quest to Understand the Quantum Nature of Cause and Effect