bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised cluster analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes reflects its geographic progression and identifies distinct genetic subgroups of SARS-CoV-2 virus
Authors: Hahn Georg , Lee Sanghun , Weiss Scott T. , Lange Christoph
Published: May 2020

Over 10,000 viral genome sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been made readily available during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic since the initial genome sequence of the virus was released on the open access Virological website (http://virological.org/) early on January 11. We utilize the published data on the single stranded RNAs of 11, 132 SARS-CoV-2 patients in the GISAID (Elbe and Buckland-Merrett, 2017; Shu and McCauley, 2017) database, which contains fully or partially sequenced SARS-CoV-2 samples from laboratories around the world. Among many important research questions which are currently being investigated, one aspect pertains to the genetic characterization/classification of the virus. We analyze data on the nucleotide sequencing of the virus and geographic information of a subset of 7, 640 SARS-CoV-2 patients without missing entries that are available in the GISAID database. Instead of modelling the mutation rate, applying phylogenetic tree approaches, etc., we here utilize a model-free clustering approach that compares the viruses at a genome-wide level. We apply principal component analysis to a similarity matrix that compares all pairs of these SARS-CoV-2 nucleotide sequences at all loci simultaneously, using the Jaccard index (Jaccard, 1901; Tan et al., 2005; Prokopenko et al., 2016; Schlauch et al., 2017). Our analysis results of the SARS-CoV-2 genome data illustrates the geographic and chronological progression of the virus, starting from the first cases that were observed in China to the current wave of cases in Europe and North America. This is in line with a phylogenetic analysis which we use to contrast our results. We also observe that, based on their sequence data, the SARS-CoV-2 viruses cluster in distinct genetic subgroups. It is the subject of ongoing research to examine whether the genetic subgroup could be related to diseases outcome and its potential implications for vaccine development.
Cadherin Preserves Cohesion Across Involuting Tissues DuringC. elegansNeurulation
Authors: Barnes Kristopher , Fan Li , Moyle Mark W. , Brittin Christopher , Xu Yichi , Colón-Ramos Daniel , Santella Anthony , Bao Zhirong
Published: May 2020

The internalization of the central nervous system, termed neurulation in vertebrates, is a critical step in embryogenesis. Open questions remain as to how force propels coordinated tissue movement during the process, and little is known as to how internalization happens in invertebrates. We show that inC. elegansmorphogenesis, apical constriction in the retracting pharynx drives involution of the adjacent neuroectoderm. Localized HMR-1/Cadherin mediates the inter-tissue attachment, as well as within the neuroectoderm to maintain intratissue cohesion. Our results demonstrate that localized HMR-1 is capable of mediating embryo wide reorganization driven by a centrally located force generator, and indicate a non-canonical use of Cadherin on the basal side of an epithelium that may apply to vertebrate neurulation. Additionally, we highlight shared morphology and gene expression in tissues driving involution, which suggests that neuroectoderm involution inC. elegansis potentially homologous with vertebrate neurulation and thus may help elucidate the evolutionary origin of the brain.
Condensed chromatin behaves like a solid on the mesoscale in vitro and in living cells
Authors: Strickfaden Hilmar , Tolsma Thomas , Sharma Ajit , Underhill D. Alan , Hansen Jeffrey C. , Hendzel Michael J
Published: May 2020

The association of nuclear DNA with histones to form chromatin is essential to the temporal and spatial control of eukaryotic genomes. In this study, we examined the physical state of chromatin in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro studies demonstrate that MgCl2-dependent self-association of native chromatin fragments or reconstituted nucleosomal arrays produced supramolecular condensates whose constituents are physically constrained and solid-like. Liquid chromatin condensates could be generated in vitro, but only using non-physiological conditions. By measuring DNA mobility within heterochromatin and euchromatin in living cells, we show that chromatin also exhibits solid-like behavior in vivo. Representative heterochromatin proteins, however, displayed liquid-like behavior and coalesced around a solid chromatin scaffold. Remarkably, both euchromatin and heterochromatin showed solid-like behavior even when transmission electron microscopy revealed limited interactions between chromatin fibers. Our results therefore argue that chromatin is not liquid but exists in a solid-like material state whose properties are tuned by fiber-fiber interactions.
Snipe: Highly sensitive pathogen detection from metagenomic sequencing data
Authors: Huang Lihong , Hong Bin , Yang Wenxian , Wang Liansheng , Yu Rongshan
Published: May 2020

Metagenomics data provides rich information for the detection of foodborne pathogens from food and environmental samples that are mixed with complex background bacteria strains. While pathogen detection from metagenomic sequencing data has become an activity of increasing interest, shotgun sequencing of uncultured food samples typically produces data that contains reads from many different organisms, making accurate strain typing a challenging task. Particularly, as many pathogens may contain a common set of genes that are highly similar to those from normal bacteria in food samples, traditional strain-level abundance profiling approaches do not perform well at detecting pathogens of very low abundance levels. To overcome this limitation, we propose an abundance correction method based on species-specific genomic regions to achieve high sensitivity and high specificity in target pathogen detection at low abundance.
Keratinocytes are required for normal cold and heat sensation
Authors: Sadler Katelyn E. , Moehring Francie , Stucky Cheryl L.
Published: May 2020

Keratinocytes are the most abundant cell type in the epidermis, the most superficial layer of the skin. Historically, epidermal-innervating sensory neurons were thought to be the exclusive detectors and transmitters of environmental stimuli. However, recent work from our lab and others has demonstrated that keratinocytes are also critical for normal mechanotransduction and mechanically-evoked behavioral responses in mice. Here, we asked whether keratinocyte activity is also required for normal cold and heat sensation. We first observed cold-induced activity in mouse, rat, hibernating 13-lined ground squirrel, and human keratinocytes and determined that keratinocyte cold activity is conserved across mammalian species. Next, using transgenic mouse tissues and pharmacological tools, we determined that keratinocyte cold responses require the release of intracellular calcium through one or more unknown cold-sensitive proteins. This cold-induced keratinocyte activity is required for normal cold sensation as optogenetic inhibition of epidermal cells reduced reflexive behavioral responses to cold stimuli. Keratinocyte inhibition also decreased reflexive behavioral responses to heat stimuli. Lastly, we demonstrated that epidermal ATP-P2X4 signaling is required for normal cold and heat sensation. Based on these data and our previous findings, keratinocyte purinergic signaling is a modality-conserved amplification system that is required for normal somatosensationin vivo.
Exploring the conformational space of a receptor for drug design: an ERαcase study
Authors: Schneider Melanie , Pons Jean-Luc , Labesse Gilles
Published: May 2020

Motivation

Protein flexibility is challenging for both experimentalists and modellers, especially in the field of drug design. Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) is an extensively studied Nuclear Receptor (NR) and a well-known therapeutic target with an important role in development and physiology. It is also a frequent off-target in standard toxicity tests for endocrine disruption. Here, we aim to evaluate the degree to which the conformational space and macromolecular flexibility of this well-characterized drug target can be described. Our approach exploits hundreds of crystallographic structures by means of molecular dynamics simulations and of virtual screening.

Results

The analysis of hundreds of crystal structures confirms the presence of two main conformational states, known as ‘agonist’ and ‘antagonist’, that mainly differ by the orientation of the C-terminal helix H12 which serves to close the binding pocket. ERαalso shows some loop flexibility, as well as variable side-chain orientations in its active site. We scrutinized the extent to which standard molecular dynamics simulations or crystallographic refinement as ensemble recapitulate most of the variability features seen by the array of available crystal structure. In parallel, we investigated on the kind and extent of flexibility that is required to achieve convincing docking for all high-affinity ERαligands present in BindingDB. Using either only one conformation with a few side-chains set flexible, or static structure ensembles in parallel during docking led to good quality and similar pose predictions. These results suggest that the several hundreds of crystal structures already known can properly describe the whole conformational universe of ERα’s ligand binding domain. This opens the road for better drug design and affinity computation.

Contact

labesse@cbs.cnrs.fr
In Vitro Reconstitution of Dynein Force Exertion in Bulk Cytoplasm
Authors: Palenzuela Héliciane , Lacroix Benjamin , Sallé Jérémy , Minami Katsuhiko , Shima Tomohiro , Jegou Antoine , Romet-Lemonne Guillaume , Minc Nicolas
Published: May 2020

The forces generated by Microtubules (MTs) and their associated motors orchestrate essential cellular processes ranging from vesicular trafficking to centrosome positioning [1, 2]. To date, most studies have focused on force exertion from motors anchored on a static surface, such as the cell cortexin vivoor glass surfacesin vitro[2–4]. However, motors also transport large cargos and endomembrane networks, whose hydrodynamic interactions with the viscous cytoplasm should generate sizable forces in bulk. Such forces may contribute to MT aster centration, organization and orientation [5–14], but have yet to be evidenced and studied in a minimal reconstituted system. By developing a bulk motility assay, based on stabilized MTs and dynein-coated beads freely floating in a viscous medium away from any surface, we demonstrate that the motion of a cargo exerts a pulling force on the MT and propels it in opposite direction. Quantification of resulting MT movements for different motors, motor velocities, over a range of cargo size and medium viscosities, shows that the efficiency of this mechanism is primarily determined by cargo size and MT length. Forces exerted by cargos are additive, allowing us to recapitulate tug-of-war situations, or bi-dimensional motions of minimal asters. These data also reveal unappreciated effects of the nature of viscous crowders and hydrodynamic interactions between cargos and MTs, likely relevant to understand this mode of force exertion in living cells. This study places endomembrane transport as a significant mode of MT force exertion with far-reaching consequences for cellular organization.
The mechanism of solvent-mediated desolvation transformation of lenvatinib mesylate from dimethyl sulfoxide solvate to form D
Authors: Zheng Zhixin , Hou Baohong , Cheng Xiaowei , Liu Wanying , Huang Xin , Bao Ying , Wang Ting , Wang Zhao , Hao Hongxun
Published: May 2020

In this work, the mechanism of solvent-mediated desolvation transformation of lenvatinib mesylate (LM) was investigated. Two new solid forms of LM, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvate and an unsolvated form defined as form D, were discovered and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. To investigate the thermodynamic mechanism of solvent-mediated desolvation transformation (SMDT) from LM DMSO solvate to form D, solubilities of LM DMSO solvate and form D in binary solvent mixtures of DMSO and water at different water volume fractions and temperatures (293.15–323.15 K) were measured and correlated by non-random two liquids model. The solubility data were used to evaluate the thermodynamic driving force of the SMDT process from DMSO solvate to form D and the effect of the activities of water and DMSO on the transformation process. Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor in situ the solid phase compositions during the SMDT process from LM DMSO solvate to form D while the solution concentration was measured by the gravimetric method. The overall desolvation transformation experiments demonstrated that the SMDT process was controlled by the nucleation and growth of form D. Moreover, effects of operating factors on the SMDT process were studied and the results illustrated that water activity in solution was the paramount parameter in the SMDT process. Finally, a new SMDT mechanism was suggested and discussed.
Orientational disorder of monomethyl-quinacridone investigated by Rietveld refinement, structure refinement to the pair distribution function and lattice-energy minimizations
Authors: Schlesinger Carina , Hammer Sonja M. , Gorelik Tatiana E. , Schmidt Martin U.
Published: May 2020

The crystal structure of the organic pigment 2-monomethyl-quinacridone (Pigment Red 192, C21H14N2O2) was solved from X-ray powder diffraction data. The resulting average structure is described in space group P\overline 1, Z = 1 with the molecule on the inversion centre. The molecules are arranged in chains. The molecules, which have no inversion symmetry, show orientational head-to-tail disorder. In the average structure, the methyl group is disordered and found on both ends of the molecule with an occupancy of 0.5 each. The disorder and the local structure were investigated using various ordered structural models. All models were analysed by three approaches: Rietveld refinement, structure refinement to the pair distribution function (PDF) and lattice-energy minimization. All refinements converged well. The Rietveld refinement provided the average structure and gave no indication of a long-range ordering. The refinement to the PDF turned out to be very sensitive to small structural details, giving insight into the local structure. The lattice-energy minimizations revealed a significantly preferred local ordering of neighbouring molecules along the [0\bar 11] direction. In conclusion, all methods indicate a statistical orientational disorder with a preferred parallel orientation of molecules in one direction. Additionally, electron diffraction revealed twinning and faint diffuse scattering.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 4-{2,2-dichloro-1-[(E)-(4-fluorophenyl)diazenyl]ethenyl}-N,N-dimethylaniline
Authors: Özkaraca Kadriye , Akkurt Mehmet , Shikhaliyev Namiq Q. , Askerova Ulviyya F. , Suleymanova Gulnar T. , Shikhaliyeva Irada M. , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: May 2020

In the title compound, C16H14Cl2FN3, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 64.12 (14)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by a short Cl...H contact, C—Cl...π and van der Waals interactions. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots show that H...H (33.3%), Cl...H/H...Cl (22.9%) and C...H/H...C (15.5%) interactions are the most important contributors towards the crystal packing.
h-adaptive topology optimization considering variations of material properties and energy error density recovery
Authors: da Silva Jéderson , Pereira Jucélio Tomás , Torres Diego Amadeu F.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new scheme for obtaining acceptable solutions for problems of continuum topology optimization of structures, regarding the distribution and limitation of discretization errors by considering h-adaptivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The new scheme encompasses, simultaneously, the solution of the optimization problem considering a solid isotropic microstructure with penalization (SIMP) and the application of the h-adaptive finite element method. An analysis of discretization errors is carried out using an a posteriori error estimator based on both the recovery and the abrupt variation of material properties. The estimate of new element sizes is computed by a new h-adaptive technique named “Isotropic Error Density Recovery”, which is based on the construction of the strain energy error density function together with the analytical solution of an optimization problem at the element level.

Findings

Two-dimensional numerical examples, regarding minimization of the structure compliance and constraint over the material volume, demonstrate the capacity of the methodology in controlling and equidistributing discretization errors, as well as obtaining a great definition of the void–material interface, thanks to the h-adaptivity, when compared with results obtained by other methods based on microstructure.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new technique to design a mesh made with isotropic triangular finite elements. Furthermore, this technique is applied to continuum topology optimization problems using a new iterative scheme to obtain solutions with controlled discretization errors, measured in terms of the energy norm, and a great resolution of the material boundary. Regarding the computational cost in terms of degrees of freedom, the present scheme provides approximations with considerable less error if compared to the optimization process on fixed meshes.
The multi resource leveling and materials procurement problem: an integrated approach
Authors: Almatroushi Hessa , Hariga Moncer , As'ad Rami , Al-Bar AbdulRahman
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper proposes an integrated approach that seeks to jointly optimize project scheduling and material lot sizing decisions for time-constrained project scheduling problems.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed integer linear programming model is devised, which utilizes the splitting of noncritical activities as a mean toward leveling the renewable resources. The developed model minimizes renewable resources leveling costs along with consumable resources related costs, and it is solved using IBM ILOG CPLEX optimization package. A hybrid metaheuristic procedure is also proposed to efficiently solve the model for larger projects with complex networks structure.

Findings

The results confirmed the significance of the integrated approach as both the project schedule and the material ordering policy turned out to be different once compared to the sequential approach under same parameter settings. Furthermore, the integrated approach resulted in substantial total costs reduction for low values of the acquiring and releasing costs of the renewable resources. Computational experiments conducted over 240 test instances of various sizes, and complexities illustrate the efficiency of the proposed metaheuristic approach as it yields solutions that are on average 1.14% away from the optimal ones.

Practical implications

This work highlights the necessity of having project managers address project scheduling and materials lot sizing decisions concurrently, rather than sequentially, to better level resources and minimize materials related costs. Significant cost savings were generated through the developed model despite the use of a small-scale example which illustrates the great potential that the integrated approach has in real life projects. For real life projects with complex network topology, practitioners are advised to make use of the developed metaheuristic procedure due to its superior time efficiency as compared to exact solution methods.

Originality/value

The sequential approach, wherein a project schedule is established first followed by allocating the needed resources, is proven to yield a nonoptimized project schedule and materials ordering policy, leading to an increase in the project's total cost. The integrated approach proposed hereafter optimizes both decisions at once ensuring the timely completion of the project at the least possible cost. The proposed metaheuristic approach provides a viable alternative to exact solution methods especially for larger projects.
After encounters: revealing patients’ unseen work through their pathways to care
Authors: Humphris Rachel , Bradby Hannah , Padilla Beatriz , Phillimore Jenny , Pemberton Simon , Samerski Silja
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Research has long focused on the notion of access and the trajectory towards a healthcare encounter but has neglected what happens to patients after these initial encounters. This paper focuses attention on what happens after an initial healthcare encounter leading to a more nuanced understanding of how patients from a diverse range of backgrounds make sense of medical advice, how they mix this knowledge with other forms of information and how they make decisions about what to do next.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on 160 in-depth interviews across four European countries the paper problematizes the notion of access; expands the definition of “decision partners”; and reframes the medical encounter as a journey, where one encounter leads to and informs the next.

Findings

This approach reveals the significant unseen, unrecognised and unacknowledged work that patients undertake to solve their health concerns.

Originality/value

De-centring the professional from the healthcare encounter allows us to understand why patients take particular pathways to care and how resources might be more appropriately leveraged to support both patients and professionals along this journey.
What do project management practitioners think governance is? A study on perceptions in Queensland, Australia
Authors: McGrath Stephen Keith , Whitty Stephen Jonathan
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To determine if there is confusion in governance terminology amongst experienced management and project management practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

Practitioner interviews and subsequent analysis.

Findings

Significant differences in governance terminology were found. The participants had nevertheless arrived at similar operating arrangements for their committees, even though they came from different segments of different industries and did not agree on the definition of governance. It was possible to develop a list of working parameters for operation of these committees from their responses. The labelling of committees associated with governance as steering or decision-making was found to be problematic and various causes/motivations for the differing definitions of governance having arisen were detected. These ranged from altruism, through dogmatic belief in particular frameworks, to enhancing career prospects/ego.

Research limitations/implications

The sample came from organisations and industries in one state in one country. The need for review of governance terminology used in various project management practitioner reference documents and methodologies was identified.

Practical implications

Projects and business alike can potentially achieve improvements in efficiency and effectiveness through consistency of terminology and the clarity this brings to governance arrangements and committee operations.

Social implications

Creation of a unifying feature within the project and management literature, shifting the understanding of governance and its boundaries and limitations. This will help progress governance from complexity to simplicity, from an art to an understandable practice, from a concept that has been hijacked for partisan and political gain to a lean social tool which can be put to use for the benefit of organisations, whether public, charitable or private.

Originality/value

The value is clarity – resulting in the avoidance of confusion and misunderstanding together with their consequent waste of time, resources and money.
Estimation of Armington elasticities for trade-policy analysis
Authors: Liu Kai , Yamazaki Masato , Koike Atsushi
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the Armington elasticities for world average values and country-specific values and obtain evidence for whether the world average elasticities and the “rule of two”, which have been applied in many papers, are accurate for cereals in trade policy studies related to an individual country.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use panel data with a nested model to estimate and compare Armington elasticities based on world average values and country-specific values from 10 countries and regions.

Findings

The results suggest that cereals’ elasticities vary between world average values and country-specific values, and the “rule of two” is not strictly applicable. In fact, the “less than two” concept fits well in many cases.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the effects of country heterogeneity on the elasticities and the accuracy of using world average elasticities in a trade policy study for an individual country. In addition, this paper offers estimated values of country-specific elasticities for 10 countries and regions.
Push–pull factors influencing international return migration intentions: a systematic literature review
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed-Abdullahi , Abdul-Talib Asmat-Nizam
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review motivational factors driving migration return by assessing both push and pull factors that influence return intentions. The study aims to expand current literature of migration return, and proposes a conceptual framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted to determine the push–pull factors that influence international return migration. The authors did a comprehensive search of electronic databases using relevant key terms.

Findings

The findings highlight motivational factors in detail and classify them into three categories: economic, psychological and situational. Most of the literature concerning motives of migration return discussed economic and psychological as the two major factors, but here other motivational factors are presented, which are named as situational factors in this study.

Research limitations/implications

The paper adopts a systematic literature review method to probe into existing literature, inevitably lacking some empirical studies; thus, the results may not be generalizable. Therefore, future research is suggested to test the proposed propositions.

Practical implications

The paper offers compelling propositions, which could be a useful reference for migrants’ repatriation motives. It will shed light on motivational factors beyond economic and physiological factors.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide a comprehensive review of motivational factors of migration return using push–pull theory and propose beyond psychological and economic factors.
Investigating quality of life by residents of social housing in eastern Algeria: a structural equation modelling
Authors: Djafri Riadh , Mohamed Osman Mariana , Suzilawati Rabe Noor , Shuid Syafiee
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, confirm and validate a model appropriate to capture the interrelationships between different variables to develop and improve social housing quality, adequacy, provision and residents’ quality of life (RQOL).

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a quantitative approach to examine the research objectives of this study. The proposed conceptual framework was tested using primary data collected from a survey of 418 residents of the new urban center of Hamla. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and exploratory factor analysis through SPSS. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was performed using AMOS before validating the measurement model and testing the hypotheses through structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results of SEM indicated acceptable high goodness-of-fit indices. The results revealed that three out of six hypotheses were supported. Consequently, residential quality and housing adequacy appeared to have a vital role in the conceptual framework, as it influenced social housing provision andRQOLand was influenced by socio-economic characteristics.

Practical implications

The present study illustrates the interrelationships between the proposed variables using SEM analysis. In addition, by understanding the direct relationships between the selected variables, the findings would be useful for the concerned authorities to ameliorate and upgrade the social housing quality and adequacy along with surpassing the current shortage, which would enhance and contribute to the amelioration of theRQOLand throughout Algeria.

Originality/value

This paper aims to establish, examine, validate the relationships and develop a conceptual framework in the context of Algerian social housing that contributes to the assessment and amelioration of social housing.
Establishing an EU internal market for depositaries
Authors: Buttigieg Christopher , Agius Joseph , Saliba Sandra
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the rationale for the establishment of a depositary passport as the next logical step in building an internal market for investment funds in the European Union (EU). It makes the point that the de facto prohibition of depositary passporting poses risks to financial stability and has an adverse impact on investor protection in EU member states, which do not have a fully developed funds industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses both the arguments in favour and against the adoption of a depositary passport. Moreover, it examines this proposal in the context of different approaches to fostering the internal market such as mutual recognition, harmonisation of regulation, reflexive governance of financial supervision and centralised supervision.

Findings

Based on the review of the current EU legal framework, this paper, subsequently, puts forward possible solutions for the establishment of an internal market for depositary business, which solutions have been discussed with various experts in the field to assess their feasibility in practice.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the debate on the EU internal market in the field of asset management, which is topical in view of the upcoming review of the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.
Unlocking inhibitors to women's expatriate careers: can job-related training provide a key?
Authors: Shortland Susan , Porter Christine
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine what job-related training interventions female expatriates seek and can access in order to build necessary knowledge and skills to progress into further career-enhancing expatriate positions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a cross-sectional qualitative research approach, drawing upon semi-structured interviews in respect of organisational training practice with 26 current female expatriates and nine human resource, international assignments and training managers in two oil and gas exploration firms.

Findings

Budgets, time and travel restrictions and competitive business pressures constrain on-the-job training provision for expatriates. Assignees require specific knowledge and skills ahead of appointment to subsequent expatriate positions. HR personnel believe training provides appropriate knowledge and capability development, supporting women expatriates' career ambitions. Women assignees view training available within their current roles as insufficient or irrelevant to building human capital for future expatriate posts.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal research across a wider spectrum of industries is needed to help understand the effects of training interventions on women's access to future career-enhancing expatriation and senior management/leadership positions.

Practical implications

Organisations should ensure relevant technical skills training, clear responsibility for training provision, transparent and fair training allocation, positive communication regarding human capital outcomes and an inclusive culture that promotes expatriate gender diversity.

Originality/value

Set within the framework of human capital theory, this study identifies the challenges that female expatriates experience when seeking relevant job-related training to further their expatriate careers. It identifies clear mismatches between the views of HR and female assignees in relation to the value of job-related training offered and women's access to it.
Consumer protection and electronic commerce in the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Belwal Rakesh , Al Shibli Rahima , Belwal Shweta
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Within a larger mandate of reviewing the key global trends concerning consumer protection in the electronic commerce (e-commerce) literature, this study aims to study the legal framework concerning e-commerce and consumer protection in the Sultanate of Oman and to analyse the current regulations concerning e-commerce and consumer protection.

Design/methodology/approach

This study followed the normative legal research approach and resorted to the desk research process to facilitate content analysis of literature containing consumer protection legislation and regulatory provisions in Oman in particular and the rest of the world in general.

Findings

The study reveals that consumer protection initiatives in Oman are well entrenched for offline transactions, but are relatively new and limited for e-commerce. In spite of the promulgation of consumer protection laws, electronic transaction law and cybercrime law, consumer protection measures for e-commerce in Oman do not address a large number of the global concerns necessary to build consumer confidence and trust in the online environment.

Research limitations/implications

There is a dearth of information concerning Oman on this topic in the extant literature. The research also witnessed the lack of empirical data on the issue of consumer protection and e-commerce in Oman that offer a detailed database of consumer complaints and associated outcomes.

Practical implications

The mechanism of consumer protection in electronic transactions is not robust in many countries. Because of the lack of comprehensive and robust legislation, consumers remain vulnerable in the online contractual purchase process. Moving beyond the fragmented legislation, many countries are currently mulling an all-comprehensive e-commerce law, implications of this paper will help the policymakers in identifying the focus areas.

Social implications

Consumer protection is a burning global issue in this era of consumerism. It is important to build consumer trust, transparency and integrity of transactions to reduce the risk and uncertainties of purchase.

Originality/value

Consumer protection studies conducted in the context of Oman, hitherto, deal more with data protection and dispute resolution mechanisms, and less with legal provisions, regulations and consumer confidence. The study shares newer insights based on a systematic review of legal and business databases. It is the first study of its kind in the context of Oman and the Middle East in general.
Symbiotic relationships in educational services for vulnerable adolescents
Authors: Battistella-Lima Suzana , Veludo-de-Oliveira Tânia , Barki Edgard
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and to what extent different forms of symbiotic relationships (named mutualism and collaboration) within a usage centre lead to different levels of value in use for its resource integrators. This study focusses on the educational services provided in deprived neighbourhoods to potentially vulnerable adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a two-phase sequential exploratory mixed-method design. The first phase included a qualitative study that involved both the focal (the students) and peripheral resource integrators (the students’ parents) of a Brazilian educational institution that had exceptional results. The qualitative findings were used to build a comparative multi-group survey with four subgroups in which 530 peripheral resource integrators participated.

Findings

A mutualistic educational institution in which the participation of students’ parents is mandatory creates more value in use than collaborative institutions in which parental participation is optional. In the context of educational services for vulnerable adolescents, value in use is echoed in the coexistence of families, greater caring about the students, and the encouragement from the adolescents’ positive beliefs about education and respectful relationships with others.

Social implications

Initiatives aimed at addressing social issues regarding children or adolescents in situations of vulnerability will achieve better results if their families are contemplated and involved.

Originality/value

This study is the first to empirically test Kleinaltenkampet al.’s usage centre framework (2017). In so doing, the study advances the understanding of how the interdependence of actors in the usage processes leads to value creation for vulnerable populations.
A novel approach for dyeing of polyester using non-aqueous deep eutectic solvent as a dyeing medium
Authors: Pawar Sushant S. , Adivarekar Ravindra
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Textile industry is considered to be one of the largest consumers of water. There needs to be an alternative for water in textile wet processing. Solvent dyeing can be an approach to replace the use of water in dyeing for water conservation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the dyeing of polyester was carried out using conventional and solvent dyeing methods. The solvent used was non-aqueous, deep eutectic solvent (DES) prepared using choline chloride and urea. Dyeing parameters such as time, temperature and pH were optimized for a concentration of dye using the solvent and were compared with the conventional dyeing.

Findings

The prepared solvent was characterized in terms of Fourier-transform infrared resonance and1H and13C nuclear magnetic resonance to analyze the reaction between choline chloride and urea. Dyeing performance in terms of K/S and fastness properties of dyed fabrics were evaluated and found to be at par against conventional dyeing.

Originality/value

Use of DES as a dyeing medium is a novel approach in the textile industry.
Role of financial and non-financial information in determining individual investor investment decision: a signaling perspective
Authors: Naveed Muhammad , Ali Shoaib , Iqbal Kamran , Sohail Muhammad Khalid
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of financial and nonfinancial information in determining individual investor's investment decisions by analyzing the mediating effect of corporate reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this study is deductive; therefore, the quantitative strategy is used for data collection. Primary data are collected from individual investors actively involved in stock trading at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Structural equation modeling is used to assess structural relationships.

Findings

The key findings of this study posit that financial and nonfinancial information positively influence an individual investor's investment decision. This study also provides empirical evidence confirming the mediating role of corporate reputation. Categorically, the findings indicate that financial and nonfinancial information remain significant to build perceived corporate reputation and influence investor's investment decisions.

Practical implications

he proposed model presents novel insight into the individual investor's investment decision in the context of Pakistan. The findings of this study remain robust for firms listed on the stock exchange and individual investors involved in stock trading. The results of this study are substantial to individual investor's and broker for making informed financial choices. Moreover, the firms listed on the PSX can use the findings to establish improved corporate reputation through reporting detailed financial and nonfinancial information.

Originality/value

Studies based on subjective measures in finance are lacking. This study contributes to the existing literature of behavioral finance by analyzing variations in investor's investment decisions explained by informational factors. The proposed model testifies the mediating role of corporate reputation in guiding investor's investment decisions, which has been overlooked by past studies. Therefore, this study seeks to fill this gap in the context of the PSX.
A model for evaluating eHealth preparedness – a case study approach
Authors: Yusif Salifu , Hafeez-Baig Abdul , Soar Jeffrey
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to validate an initially developed e-Health readiness assessment model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors thematically analysed an initial qualitative data collected and used the outcome to develop survey instruments for this study. To collect the quantitative data, the authors used the drop and collect survey approach given the research setting. The quantitative data was analysed using factor and regression analyses of SPSS 23 in which hypotheses formulated were tested.

Findings

The results suggest that the model [R2 = 0.971; F (5, 214) = 1414.303], which is made up of readiness assessment factors (constructs) and measuring tools explain about 97% of the variance of the overall health information technology/e-Health adoption readiness at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The measuring tools were reliable for assessing the composite variables (constructs): technology readiness; operational resource readiness; organizational and cultural readiness; regulatory and policy readiness; and core readiness, which have significant influence on eHealth adoption readiness assessment..

Originality/value

This study has successfully validated empirically developed eHealth readiness assessment model with complete reliable indicators given that existing eHealth readiness assessment models have not been effective due to a general lack of standard indicators for measuring assessment factors. The study also contributes to the growing research on the adoption of information technology/systems in health-care environment using the Technology–Organization–Environment framework.
C4 photosynthesis and the economic spectra of leaf and root traits independently influence growth rates in grasses
Authors: Simpson Kimberley J. , Bennett Christopher , Atkinson Rebecca R. L. , Mockford Emily J. , McKenzie Scott , Freckleton Robert P. , Thompson Ken , Rees Mark , Osborne Colin P.
Published: May 2020

Photosynthetic pathway is an important cause of growth rate variation between species such that the enhanced carbon uptake of C4 species leads to faster growth than their C3 counterparts. Leaf traits that promote rapid resource acquisition may further enhance the growth capacity of C4 species. However, how root economic traits interact with leaf traits, and the different growth strategies adopted by plants with C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways is unclear. Plant economic traits could interact with, or act independently of, photosynthetic pathway in influencing growth rate, or C3 and C4 species could segregate out along a common growth rate–trait relationship.

We measured leaf and root traits on 100+ grass species grown from seeds in a controlled, common environment to compare with relative growth rates (RGR) during the initial phase of rapid growth, controlling for phylogeny and allometric effects.

Photosynthetic pathway acts independently to leaf and root functional traits in causing fast growth. Using C4 photosynthesis, plants can achieve faster growth than their C3 counterparts (by an average 0.04 g g−1 day−1) for a given suite of functional trait values, with lower investments of leaf and root nitrogen. Leaf and root traits had an additive effect on RGR, with plants achieving fast growth by possessing resource‐acquisitive leaf traits (high specific leaf area and low leaf dry matter content) or root traits (high specific root length and area, and low root diameter), but having both leads to an even faster growth rate (by up to 0.06 g g−1 day−1). C4 photosynthesis can provide a greater relative increase in RGR for plants with a ‘slow’ ecological strategy than in those with fast growth. However, above‐ground and below‐ground strategies are not coordinated so that species can have any combination of ‘slow’ or ‘fast’ leaf and root traits.

Synthesis. C4 photosynthesis increases growth rate for a given combination of economic traits, and significantly alters plant nitrogen economy in the leaves and roots. However, leaf and root economic traits act independently to further enhance growth. The fast growth of C4 grasses promotes a competitive advantage under hot, sunny conditions.
COVID‐19 and toxicity from potential treatments: Panacea or poison
Authors: Wong Anselm
Published: May 2020

Since December 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) has been increasingly spreading from its origin in Wuhan, China to many countries around the world eventuating in morbidity and mortality affecting millions of people. This pandemic has proven to be a challenge given that there is no immediate cure, no vaccine is currently available and medications or treatments being used are still undergoing clinical trials. There have already been examples of self‐medication and overdose. Clearly, there is a need to further define the efficacy of treatments used in the management of COVID‐19. This evidence needs to be backed by large randomised‐controlled clinical trials. In the meantime, there will no doubt be further off‐label use of these medications by patients and practitioners and possibly related toxicity.
Struggles as triggers in a design‐thinking journey
Authors: Coco Nunzia , Calcagno Monica , Lusiani Maria
Published: May 2020

The scholarly and practitioner literatures have both described the potential benefits of Design Thinking (DT) to develop innovations. Innovation processes are widely characterized by continuous competing demands, which generate tensions. The paper analyzes a DT innovation journey, focusing on the struggles and triggers of participants as they work through conflicting demands. Following a qualitative inductive research design, the study reports on the experience of a group of management students exposed intentionally for the first time to the introduction of DT practices in a class setting. The originality of the paper lies in the fact that it analyzes participants' particular points of view, including feelings and cognitions, during the overall process. This angle allows identifying and describing three main struggles and triggers (destabilizing, non‐deciding, abstracting) for new adopters in each step of the DT process, which represent a cultural clash with their background. The study contributes to a better understanding of DT by acknowledging its challenges and costs, to be able to apply it as an organizational resource when facing competing demands. Moreover, it aims to provide some initial steps on how to move organizations to a culture based on collaboration and experimentation, able to better cope with innovation tensions.
Marijuana and alcohol: Evidence using border analysis and retail sales data
Authors: Baggio Michele , Chong Alberto , Kwon Sungoh
Published: May 2020

We use retail scanner data on purchases of alcoholic beverages across US counties for 2006 to 2015 to study the link between medical marijuana laws (MMLs) and alcohol consumption. To do this, we exploit differences in the timing of marijuana laws among states and find that they are substitutes. We show that unlike traditional national‐level analysis, focusing on contiguous‐border county pairs provides unbiased estimates of the effect of MMLs on alcohol sales. Specifically, alcohol sales in counties located in MML states decreased by 12.4%. Results are robust to including placebo effective dates for MMLs in treated states.