bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ApoE4 causes severe COVID-19 outcomes via downregulation of ACE2
Authors: Chen Feng , Chen Yanting , Ke Qiongwei , Wang Yongxiang , Chen Xiongjin , Peng Xiaoping , Cai Yujie , Li Shennan , Sun Yuanhong , Ji Yao , Jiang Yuling , Wu Wenxian , Wang Yan , Cui Lili
Published: September 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); host cell entry by this virus relies on the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of its spike glycoprotein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on cell membranes. In addition to serving as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 was originally discovered as a protective factor in the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) that catalyses the degradation of angiotensin II (Ang II) to Ang 1-7, which is involved in multiple organ pathology. Recent genetic and clinical studies reported that ApoE4 expression is associated with increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, but the underlying mechanism is currently unclear. In the present study, by using immunofluorescence staining, molecular dynamics simulations, proximity ligation assay (PLA) and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) combined with a biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay, we found that ApoE interacts with both the spike protein and ACE2 but does not show obvious isoform-dependent binding effects. These data suggest that ApoE4 increases SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in a manner that may not depend on differential interactions with the spike protein or ACE2. Importantly, further immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining results showed that ApoE4 significantly downregulates ACE2 protein expression in vitro and in vivo and subsequently decreases the conversion of Ang II to Ang 1-7, which could worsen tissue lesions; these findings provide a possible explain by which ApoE4 exacerbates COVID-19 disease.
Structure-based prediction of Ras-effector binding affinities and design of ‘branchegetic’ interface mutations
Authors: Junk Philipp , Kiel Christina
Published: September 2022

Ras is a central cellular hub protein controlling multiple cell fates. How Ras interacts with a variety of potential effector proteins is relatively unexplored, with only some key effectors characterized in great detail. Here, we have used homology modelling based on X-ray and AlphaFold2 templates to build structural models for 54 Ras-effectors complexes. These models were used to estimate binding affinities using a supervised learning regressor. Furthermore, we systematically introduced Ras ‘branch-pruning’ (or branchegetic) mutations to identify 200 interface mutations that affect the binding energy with at least one of the model structures. The impacts of these branchegetic mutants were integrated into a mathematical model to assess the potential for rewiring interactions at the Ras hub on a systems level. These findings have provided a quantitative understanding of Ras-effector interfaces and their impact on systems properties of a key cellular hub.
Whole-genome duplication reshaped adaptive evolution in a relict plant species, Cyclocarya paliurus
Authors: Qu Yinquan , Shang Xulan , Zeng Ziyan , Yu Yanhao , Bian Guoliang , Wang Wenling , Liu Li , Tian Li , Zhang Shengcheng , Wang Qian , Xie Dejin , Chen Xuequn , Liao Zhenyang , Wang Yibin , Qin Jian , Yang Wanxia , Sun Caowen , Fu Xiangxiang , Zhang Xingtan , Fang Shengzuo
Published: September 2022

Cyclocarya paliurus is a relict plant species that survived the last Glacial period and shows a population expansion recently. Its leaves have been traditionally used to treat obesity and diabetes with the well-known active ingredient cyclocaric acid B. Here, we present three C. paliurus genomes from two diploids with different flower morphs and one haplotype-resolved tetraploid assembly. Comparative genomic analysis revealed two rounds of recent whole-genome duplication events and identified 691 genes with dosage-effect that likely contribute to adaptive evolution through enhanced photosynthesis and increased accumulation of triterpenoids. Re-sequencing analysis of 45 accessions uncovered two bottlenecks, consistent with the known events of environmental changes, and many selectively swept genes involved in critical biological functions, including plant defense and secondary metabolism biosynthesis. We also proposed the biosynthesis pathway of cyclocaric acid B based on multi-omics data and identified key genes, in particular gibberellin related genes, associated with heterodichogamy in the species. Our research sheds light on evolutionary history and provides genomics resources to study the medicinal herb.
Production and secretion of recombinant proteins using the endotoxin-free, Gram-negative bacterium Sphingobium japonicum
Authors: Shahar Ehud , Emquies Ken , Pitcovski Jacob , Bloch Itai , Eliahu Dalia , Adiva Ran Ben , Yadid Itamar
Published: September 2022

Gram-negative bacteria are common and efficient protein expression systems, yet their outer membrane endotoxins can elicit undesirable toxic effects, limiting their applicability for parenteral therapeutic applications, e.g., production of vaccine components. In the bacterial genus Sphingomonas from the Alphaproteobacteria class, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins are replaced with non-toxic glycosphingolipids (GSL), rendering it an attractive alternative for therapeutic protein production. To explore the use of Sphingomonas as a safe expression system for production of proteins for therapeutic applications, in this study, Sphingobium japonicum (SJ) injected live into embryonated hen eggs proved safe and nontoxic. Multimeric viral polypeptides derived from Newcastle disease virus (NDV) designed for expression in SJ, yielded soluble proteins which were specifically recognized by antibodies raised against the whole virus. In addition, native signal peptides (SP) motifs identified using whole-genome computerized analysis and coupled to secreted proteins in SJ induced secretion of αAmy and mCherry gene products. Relative to the same genes expressed without an SP, SP 104 increased secretion of αAmy (3.7-fold) and mCherry (16.3-fold) proteins and yielded accumulation of up to 80µg/L of the later in the culture medium. Taken together, the presented findings demonstrate the potential of this unique LPS-free Gram-negative bacterial family to serve as an important tool for protein expression for both research and biotechnological purposes, including for the development of novel vaccines.

Importance

The Gram-negative, LPS-free Sphingomonas genus can serve as an effective and safe platform for therapeutic protein expression and secretion and bears potential as a live bacteria delivery system for protein vaccines.
Systematic Epigenome Editing Captures the Context-dependent Instructive Function of Chromatin Modifications
Authors: Policarpi Cristina , Munafò Marzia , Tsagkris Stylianos , Carlini Valentina , Hackett Jamie A.
Published: September 2022

Chromatin modifications are linked with regulating patterns of gene expression, but their causal role and context-dependent impact on transcription remains unresolved. Here, we develop a modular epigenome editing platform that programmes nine key chromatin modifications – or combinations thereof – to precise loci in living cells. We couple this with single-cell readouts to systematically quantitate the magnitude and heterogeneity of transcriptional responses elicited by each specific chromatin modification. Amongst these, we show installing H3K4me3 at promoters causally instructs transcription activation by hierarchically remodeling the chromatin landscape. We further dissect how DNA sequence motifs influence the transcriptional impact of chromatin marks, identifying switch-like and attenuative effects within distinct cis contexts. Finally, we examine the interplay of combinatorial modifications, revealing co-targeted H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub maximise silencing penetrance across single-cells. Our precision perturbation strategy unveils the causal principles of how chromatin modification(s) influence transcription, and dissects how quantitative responses are calibrated by contextual interactions.
SafeguardingDrosophilafemale germ cell identity depends on an H3K9me3 mini domain guided by a ZAD zinc finger protein
Authors: Shapiro-Kulnane Laura , Selengut Micah , Salz Helen K.
Published: September 2022

H3K9me3-based gene silencing is a conserved strategy for securing cell fate, but the mechanisms controlling lineage-specific installation of this epigenetic mark remain unclear. InDrosophila, H3K9 methylation plays an essential role in securing female germ cell fate by silencing lineage inappropriatephf7transcription. Thus,phf7regulation in the female germline provides a powerful system to dissect the molecular mechanism underlying H3K9me3 deposition onto protein coding genes. Here we used genetic studies to identify the essential cis-regulatory elements, finding that the sequences required for H3K9me3 deposition are conserved acrossDrosophilaspecies. Transposable elements are also silenced by an H3K9me3-mediated mechanism. But our finding thatphf7regulation does not require the dedicated piRNA pathway components,piwi, aub, rhino, panx, andnxf2, indicates that the mechanisms of H3K9me3 recruitment are distinct. Lastly, we discovered that an uncharacterized member of the zinc finger associated domain (ZAD) containing C2H2 zinc finger protein family, IDENTITY CRISIS (IDC; CG4936), is necessary for H3K9me3 deposition ontophf7. Loss ofidcin germ cells interferes withphf7transcriptional regulation and H3K9me3 deposition, resulting in ectopic PHF7 protein expression. IDC’s role is likely to be direct, as it localizes to a conserved domain within thephf7gene. Collectively, our findings support a model in which IDC guides sequence-specific establishment of an H3K9me3 mini domain, thereby preventing accidental female-to-male programming.

Author Summary

Tissue development and function relies on cells remembering their identity. A cell’s identity is defined by the genes it expresses and those it does not. Recent work has shown that genes can be silenced by trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) marked chromatin, and that H3K9me3-mediated gene silencing is a vital strategy for securing cell fate. But there is very little information about how the machinery responsible for H3K9 methylation finds its target genes. Here we explore this issue using theDrosophilafemale germline where a mini domain of repressive H3K9me3 chromatin secures female germ cell fate by silencingphf7, a gene normally expressed in male germ cells. Transposable elements are also silenced by H3K9me3 mini domains, but we find that the proteins involved in this process are not required forphf7silencing. Instead, we find that silencing requires a previously uncharacterized protein, we have named IDENTITY CRISIS. Our work provides evidence that IDENTITY CRISIS directs the H3K9 methylation machinery to build a mini domain at thephf7locus. Our results shed new light into how cells safeguard their identity by silencing cell type inappropriate genes, and more specifically how these genes are identified by the silencing machinery.
Institutional isomorphism and adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the Nigerian Construction Industry
Authors: Saka Abdullahi B. , Chan Daniel W.M. , Ajayi Saheed O.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Although there has been a surge in the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in the construction industry, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still struggling and perceive its adoption as risky. The SMEs in developing economies are especially on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide. Extant studies have focused on large firms and there are scanty studies on the influence of the external environments on BIM adoption in SMEs. Thus, this study espouses institutional theory (INT) to examine the influence of coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures on BIM awareness and adoption in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was employed, and data were collected from the Nigerian construction SMEs via an empirical questionnaire survey using a sequential stratified and convenient sampling method. Hypothesized relationships between the coercive, mimetic, and normative pressure and BIM in SMEs were empirically tested using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique and the model was validated with the “PLSpredict” procedure.

Findings

The results revealed that coercive and mimetic pressures significantly influence BIM adoption in SMEs while normative pressures have the strongest influence on BIM in SMEs. Also, BIM awareness is an important predictor of BIM adoption. The findings also shed light on the influence of firmographics on BIM awareness and adoption in Nigerian SMEs.

Originality/value

The study empirically validates the applicability of INT and highlights that BIM adoption is not only influenced by internal responses to the need for efficiency but also by external pressures. It implies a clear need for intentional isomorphic pressures in driving BIM adoption in SMEs. The study employs the INT to explain a phenomenon that has not been theoretically explored in the context of SMEs in developing economies. Lastly, the study provided valuable insights into driving BIM adoption, together with the effective practical implications for implementation and potential research areas for further studies.
A critical study of the existing issues in circular economy practices during movement control order: can BIM fill the gap?
Authors: Ismail Zul-Atfi Bin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The improper evaluation and information management of circular economy (CE) (i.e. design, planning, supply chain, waste pile and material hazard) is critical for public health and is a major problem in the waste management of precast concrete (PC) building manufacture and construction and demolition wastes industry. The CE model is particularly problematic for PC building construction projects where the standard practices for the total number of waste building materials are not appropriate and do not match the safe disposal design specification, such as the recent number increase in the Malaysian illegal construction waste pile during the Movement Control Order (11 March 2021, about 5 out of 29 landfills related to states enforcing Act 672). The study aims to develop a framework application (i.e. Building Information Modelling [BIM]) that supports intelligent waste recycling management and sophisticated CE model system solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Thus, the development of a new BIM-based programming algorithm approach is proposed for optimising CE in accordance with the needs of the current PC building construction schemes. As a precursor to this study, the concepts of CE practices are reviewed and the main features of BIM tools and techniques currently being employed on such projects are presented.

Findings

Sophisticated CE system solutions are described as an essential component of this optimisation to reduce the amount of waste generated at the end of the life cycle of PC building construction projects and to better manage the resources used throughout it.

Originality/value

Finally, the potential for a research framework for developing such a system in the future is presented.
Diversity skills for future teachers: how transformative learning prepares pre-service teachers for diversity in Austrian schools
Authors: Resch Katharina
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Mezirow's theory of transformative learning aims to evoke change on a deeper level of learning. This qualitative study with 38 pre-service teachers enrolled in a Master's degree programme for teacher education in Austria used semi-structured interviews to explore how diversity skills can transform after diversity training applying Mezirow's theory of transformative learning. In these trainings, a disorienting dilemma was placed at the centre of the diversity training from which transformative learning took its start.

Design/methodology/approach

In an increasingly diversified school system, diversity skills have become a pedagogical necessity for teachers in their future workplace. However, many teachers state not feeling adequately prepared for diversity within higher education and their attitudes towards diversity oftentimes remain unchanged despite diversity training.

Findings

The findings were deduced from structured content analysis. They show that the diversity trainings led to new cultural frames of reference for the study participants on a cognitive and social level, but to a smaller extent on an emotional level.

Originality/value

The study follows a different approach than “typical” diversity trainings through Mezirow's theory on transformative learning contributing to making a real change to preparing students for their workplaces in diversified Austrian schools.
Intention to use Internet of Things (IoT) in higher education online learning – the effect of technology readiness
Authors: Negm Eiman
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines higher education students' technology readiness level in explaining adoption intention toward educational Internet of Things (IoT) needed for online learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative deductive research approach is used to check the theory of technology readiness index toward IoT in education. An online administrated questionnaire is distributed through convenience sampling to reach generation(Z) students. The questionnaire is developed using Google form, placing the link on various universities' social media platforms so to be accessible to the respondents. Path coefficient analysis of SEM is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that the individual's level of technological optimism, discomfort and insecurity impact adoption intentions toward IoT products and services for online learning; the mental motivator, innovativeness, is insignificant.

Practical implications

This study helps guide practitioners (education institutions, IoT-developers, marketers and other professionals in the field) to consider students' mindset when designing products and strategies for promoting online learning and introducing educational IoT. This research provides insights on IoT in higher education; it provides perspectives for IoT adoption intention pro-online learning, aiding institutions looking for trends and practices for skills and work-based learning developments.

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge and literature by shedding light on the educational challenge of why not all students could harness the potentials of online learning and IoT of the twenty-first century. It provides insights to clarify students' mindset toward educational IoT needed for online learning.
Organisational resilience: the role of organisational culture from an organisational life cycle perspective
Authors: Su Sophia , Baird Kevin , Munir Rahat
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines the influence of organisational culture on organisational resilience from an organisational life cycle (OLC) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 410 middle-level managers in Australian business organisations using Qualtrics, a well-known international data collection organisation.

Findings

The findings reveal that the respect for people/teamwork cultural dimension is positively associated with organisational resilience across all OLC stages (i.e. birth, growth, maturity and revival stages). In addition, the outcome-oriented (innovation) culture dimension enhance organisational resilience in the growth and revival (maturity) stages.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the limited literature by providing empirical evidence on how specific organisational cultural dimensions can enhance organisational resilience across different development stages of organisations (i.e. the birth, growth, maturity and revival stages).
Mind the queue: understanding challenges of introducing e-government policies for entrepreneurs during Covid-19 in a Latin American country
Authors: Discua Cruz Allan , Reyes Hernandez Jose Mario , Arias Arévalo Carlos Roberto
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to focus on understanding the tensions experienced by government officials in introducing electronic government (e-government) policies to support entrepreneurs in a developing Latin American country.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies on an in-depth qualitative approach based on collaborative and analytic auto-ethnography. The authors concentrate on tensions experienced by a government official and how they were addressed when introducing e-government policies to support entrepreneurs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Findings

The findings reveal that paradoxical tensions occur as changes are demanded, multiple concerns are expressed and decisions about resources have to be made. The findings reveal sources of tensions from government, business and external sources. Addressing such tensions revolves around a diverse form of paradoxes dealing with contradictions in terms of speed vs thoroughness and short- vs long-term implications.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ study provides several contributions. It advances understanding on the source and management of tensions experienced by government officials introducing e-government policies to support entrepreneurs during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also delineates multiple paradoxes experienced by government officials as new policies and systems were introduced. Finally, it offers a conceptual model explaining how government officials deal with multiple tensions emerging from the introduction of e-government policies in a developing country.

Originality/value

The prior literature has suggested that e-government initiatives would be guided by a prescriptive and tension-free process, driven by the interest to enhance governmental efficiency. This study reveals that developing e-government initiatives for entrepreneurs and existing businesses during the Covid-19 crisis was not immune to contradictions between government officials and the public. A conceptual model, based on multiple sources of tensions (government-related, business-related and external sources) and their management, is proposed. Implications and opportunities for further research are presented.
Profiling a niche actor of civil society diplomacy: the unattached diplomat
Authors: Anton Anca
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to define the communicational profile of unattached diplomats and explore the viability of state-centric concepts such as citizen diplomacy when discussing non-state actors emerging from civil society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a comparative, multiple case design focusing on descriptive case studies (Yin, 2018) that explore the diplomatic endeavours and social biographies of “citizens of the world” acting at a global or local level, not explicitly attached to or explicitly against an official, state agenda: Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg and Bill Gates.

Findings

The unattached diplomats have organisational mobility but are attached to the cause they promote, a configuration that fundamentally opposes that of the traditional or organisational diplomat. Looking at individuals from a diplomatic perspective, not as instruments or as targets, but rather as agents with their own agenda, issues and diplomatic capital, the unattached diplomats define their lack of attachment through organisational mobility, adversarial positioning or personal financial autonomy with regard to state diplomatic institutions or for-profit/not-for-profit organisations.

Research limitations/implications

A higher number and diversity of case studies can enable the identification of patterns and standards.

Originality/value

This study introduces and operationalises the concept of unattached diplomats. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to discuss it in the context of another emerging concept, currently insufficiently researched: civil society diplomacy.
On the two conceptualizations of information experience as an object of study: a response to Yu and Liu
Authors: Gorichanaz Tim
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to further the scholarly discussion of information experience as an object of study, including how this research area fits into library and information studies more broadly.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual discussion of certain issues raised in Yu and Liu's recent paper in this journal.

Findings

While Yu and Liu seem to suggest that only a priori information experience research belong in library and information science (LIS), this paper suggests that a priori and a posteriori research have a synergistic relationship and both have a home in LIS.

Originality/value

This paper clarifies how the two conceptualizations of information experience as an object of study relate to each other, as well as how these relate to information experience as a research approach, and how all this fits within the metadisciplinary field of LIS.
The impact of halal tourism on Muslim diaspora intention to recommend: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Mohammed Iddrisu , Mahmoud Mahmoud Abdulai , Preko Alexander , Hinson Robert , Yeboah Joseph G.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper sought to examine the factors that influence intention to recommend, focussing on the extension of the theory of planned behaviour in halal tourism, with additional instruments such as halal safety and security, and trustworthiness of halal information.

Design/methodology/approach

Guided by a quantitative approach, cross-sectional data were collected using 394 Muslim diaspora tourists. The analysis technique used in this study is the partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results suggest that halal planned behaviour may account for the intention to recommend. Halal attitude, subjective norm, halal image, halal value, halal safety and security, and trustworthiness of halal information positively and significantly affect intention to recommend.

Practical implications

Muslim diaspora tourists are identified to have halal planned behaviour on intention to recommend. Hence, destination managers and practitioners are suggested to develop proactive halal products and services that appeal to tourists' intention to recommend.

Originality/value

This study has developed two new constructs: halal safety and security, and the trustworthiness of halal information grounded on the theory of planned behaviour in halal tourism. Specifically, the focus is on Muslim diasporic tourists' perspective in a non-Islamic context.
Human-centered integrated care pathways for co-creating a digital, user-centric health information solution
Authors: Turk Eva , Wontor Viola , Vera-Muñoz Cecilia , Comnes Lucia , Rodrigues Natercia , Ferrari Giovanna , Moen Anne
Published: September 2022

Purpose

A broader challenge of co-creating digital solutions with patients addresses the question how to apply an open-access digital platform with trusted digital health information as a measure to transform the way patients access and understand health information. It further addresses use this for adherence to treatment, risk minimization and quality of life throughout the integrated patient journey. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the early steps in towards progress to co-creating the digital solution.

Design/methodology/approach

To coordinate the co-creation process, the authors established a multiphased plan to deep-dive into user needs and behaviors across patient journeys, to identify nuances and highlight important patterns in stakeholder and end-user segment at various stages in the patient's journey.

Findings

A set of tools was designed to serve as a human-centered compass throughout the lifecycle of the project. Those tools include shared objects; personas, user journeys, a set of performance indicators with related requirements – all those tools being consistently refined in ongoing co-creation workshops with members of the cross-functional stakeholder groups.

Originality/value

In this study, a multidisciplinary, public-private partnership looked at integrated digital tool to improve access, understanding and adherence to treatment for diverse groups of patients across all stages of their health journeys in a number of countries including European Union (EU) and United States of America (USA). As a result of this work, the authors attempt to increase the possibility that the improved availability and understanding of health information from trusted sources translates to higher levels of adherence to treatment, safer use of medication (pharmacovigilance), better health outcomes and quality of life integrated in the patient's journey.
Patterns of behavioural preferences in innovation and project activities
Authors: Litau Ekaterina Yakovlevna
Published: September 2022

Purpose

In today’s world, high-quality economic development is possible through innovative entrepreneurial activity, which has led to the creation of various kinds of innovation infrastructure facilities that support future high-tech projects. However, the system of selecting start-ups to populate and produce for such organisations does not take into account several factors that exert strong influence on the success of an innovative entrepreneurial project. In this article, the author presents the developed multi-factor methodology of project scoring, which is recommended for use both at the initial stage and in the process of development and implementation of innovative idea.

Design/methodology/approach

The suggested multi-factor methodology is both a qualitative and quantitative methodology that allows evaluation of proposed projects by taking into account individual goals of the innovation infrastructure, serving as a flexible tool for analysing project potential and taking into account the model of human behavioural preferences as a key driver of economic activities.

Findings

As a result of the first (qualitative) stage of the study, the author confirmed the hypothesis that the theoretical model of behavioural preferences corresponds to the demonstrated behavioural characteristics of reference respondents. As a result of the second (quantitative) phase of the research, the author conducted a survey of business incubator residents claiming one of the four models of behavioural preferences, followed by quantitative analysis to determine the extent to which the demonstrated behavioural traits of the respondents correspond to those presented in the theoretical model. The results of the second stage of the study were used in the final scoring of start-ups to identify the most promising projects in terms of development.

Originality/value

The project scoring methodology was tested in two of the largest business incubators in St. Petersburg and clearly demonstrated that the use of qualitative indicators significantly increases the ability of incubator experts to make decisions regarding incoming project information.
Social network analysis to understand the dynamics of global supply chains
Authors: Meisel Carlos A. , Meisel Jose D. , Bermeo-Andrade Helga , Carranza Laura , Zsifkovits Helmut
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of collaborative relationships and assess according to the project size, the influence of the contributory factors in shaping collaboration network structure in projects developed in global supply chains (GSC).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used a case study methodology applied to eight global projects developed by an Austrian company leader in global market intra-logistics solutions and warehouse automation. The cases were studied by two approaches in network analysis. First, visual and descriptive analysis to describe structural aspects of the network. Second, stochastic network analysis to evaluate the influence of contributory factors in the structure of the collaboration network.

Findings

The results evidence that independently of the project size and project manager influence, project team roles (PTR) who have a reciprocal communication among other PTR tend to have a higher collaboration intensity (CI). Additionally, the results highlight the influence of the project manager in shaping the collaboration network in standard projects (STP) and small projects (SMP). According to the project size, the results show that the PTR that form complete triangles or cluster or who communicate frequently among each other tend to have a high CI, being more evident these tendencies in large-scale projects than STP and SMP.

Originality/value

This research provides a framework to identify the key actors and contributory factors in shaping collaborative relationships in GSC. The findings could be used to support the decision-making process and formulation strategies for effective collaborative relationship management in GSC.
Do emotions matter in digitized workplace? Technostress and employees’ emotional well-being during the pandemic
Authors: Ali Faiza , Nisar Qasim Ali , Nasir Sobia
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 concerns on employees’ well-being, considering workplace stress, aggression, and emotional outcomes, such as emotional engagement, emotional exhaustion, and negative emotional reactions. This study also considers the moderating role of technostress between workplace stress and aggression, which has been overlooked in previous studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from frontline hotel employees in Turkey. Online data were collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk services. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed. Nevertheless, only 204 questionnaires with valid responses were usable for analysis through partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The analytical findings showed that COVID-19 concerns (financial, social gaze, and technological) cause workplace stress, resulting in aggression. Aggression subsequently affects the employees’ emotional outcomes, impacting their emotional well-being. Furthermore, the results showed that technostress insignificantly moderates workplace stress and aggression.

Practical implications

This study provides valuable practical implications to the hotels’ top management, practitioners, and policymakers to provide preventive measures to employees, such as wearing masks and maintaining distance. Hotel practitioners should limit employees’ direct contact with customers and reduce factors that result in overall financial losses and create financial stress for employees.

Originality/value

The current study examined the relationships between the study’s variables in Turkey’s hotel industry context by employing the conservation of resources (COR) theory. The study investigated stress and aggression phenomena, their impact on employees’ emotional responses, and ultimately their influence on the employees’ well-being.
Adoption of blockchain technology enabled healthcare sustainable supply chain to improve healthcare supply chain performance
Authors: Vishwakarma Amit , Dangayach G.S. , Meena M.L. , Gupta Sumit , Luthra Sunil
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and worldwide influence on healthcare delivery, and it has significantly increased the pace at which digital technology is being used. Blockchain, one of these developing digital technologies, is distinguished by a number of properties. This study focuses on a blockchain-enabled healthcare supply chain. The purpose of this work is to investigate how blockchain technology (BCT) benefits the performance of healthcare supply chain management (HSCM).

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is based on the empirical research. Blockchain Technology (BCT), Healthcare Sustainable Supply Chain Practices (HSSCP), Healthcare Supply Chain Performance (HSCP) and Stakeholders’ Involvement (SI) practices are identified from the literature review and hypotheses are framed to check their interrelationship. For testing of hypothesis, a questionnaire was developed. Data collection was done by healthcare professionals via Google docs. The IBM SPSS version 22.0 was used to analyze the data and IBM SPSS AMOS 22.0 software was used for the development of structural modal. The data was collected through the Google form from the stakeholders of healthcare sector and analyzed through Structural Equation Modelling.

Findings

This research is focused on adoption of BCT enabled Healthcare Sustainable Supply Chain to improve HSCP. From the result, it had been found that BCT is positively effecting the stakeholder's involvement (SI) and HSSCP practices. Cumulatively, they positively impact the performance of HSCP. From this study, it is found that adoption of BCT enabled Healthcare Sustainable Supply Chain succours to combat COVID-19 situation.

Originality/value

This study attempts to show the potential benefits of the adoption of BCT enabled HSSCP to improve HSCP.
Enhancement of local concrete compression performance by incorporating ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) tube
Authors: Wang Lifeng , Wu Haiqi , Liu Long , Xiao Ziwang
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The application of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in anchorage zones can significantly improve the local compression performance of structures. However, the high cost and complex preparation of UHPC make UHPC difficult to be widely used in practice. This study proposes a method to strengthen the local compression zone of structures built by normal strength concrete (NSC) by incorporating UHPC cores.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a Finite Element Model (FEM) of local compression specimens was established by ABAQUS, and the accuracy of FEM was verified by comparing the FEM calculation results with experimental results. The verified FEM was adapted to the research on the influences of affecting factors on local compression performance of structures, including NSC strength, UHPC strength, spiral steel bar strength, and UHPC core diameter.

Findings

The results show that the peak load of the strengthened specimen SC1-U + N increases by 210.2% compared to that of the SC1-NSC. Furthermore, compared to SC1, the strengthened specimen SC1-U + N can save 64.7% amount of UHPC while the peak load decreases by only 34.4%. The peak load of the strengthened specimens increases with the axial compressive strength and the diameter of UHPC cores increasing, crack load increases with increasing the compressive strength of NSC, the spiral steel bar with high strength can prevent the sharp drop of load-deflection curve and the residual bearing capacity increases accordingly. All findings indicate that increasing the diameter of UHPC cores can improve the overall performance of the specimens. Under loading, all specimens fail by following a similar pattern. The effectiveness of this new strengthen method is also verified by FEM analytical calculations.

Originality/value

Based on the experimental study, this study extrapolates the influence of different parameters on the local bearing capacity of the strengthened specimens by finite element simulation. This method not only ensures the accuracy of bearing capacity assessment, but also does not require many samples, which ensures the economy of the reinforcement process. The research results provide a reference for the reinforcement design of anchorage zone.
Exploring the factors related to citizens' willingness to report police misconduct
Authors: Kutnjak Ivkovich Sanja , Liu Yang , Pavlović Vinogradac Valentina , Cajner Mraović Irena
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines the effects of diffuse support for the police, specific support for the police, experience with the police, and demographic characteristics on citizens' own expressed willingness to report police misconduct. The authors surveyed immigrants from Croatia who now reside in Germany and Ireland to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relative role these factors play in regard to immigrants' willingness to report misconduct in Croatia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study, based on a survey of 358 Croatian immigrants to Germany and 226 Croatian immigrants to Ireland, utilizes multivariate logistic regression models that assess factors affecting the respondents' expressed willingness to report police misconduct in their homeland and their current countries of residence.

Findings

The authors' multivariate models reveal that diffuse support for the police (e.g. confidence in the police and perceptions of widespread police corruption) plays a strong and significant role in explaining the respondents' willingness to report misconduct in the authors' initial models. However, the direct effect of the diffuse support completely disappears in most of the models once scenario-specific police integrity measures (e.g. views of expected discipline severity and estimates whether police officers would report misconduct) are included as well. With the exception of age, other demographic characteristics and contact with the police were not systematically and significantly related to the respondents' willingness to report.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to provide an in-depth exploration of various factors associated with the citizens' willingness to report police misconduct.
The use of blended synchronous learning for property education in and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Cheung Ka Ling , Wu Hao
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought serious disruptions worldwide and higher education has been at the forefront of this global pandemic. To adapt to the “new normal”, new technology-backed teaching mode emerges in universities as valued option to integrate face-to-face and remote teaching-learning activities. Blended synchronous learning (BSL) forms part of this new trial. This paper investigates the relevance and implications of BSL for university teaching and learning in the field of property and built environments in and beyond the transitional period of COVID disruptions and a time of global uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts case study approach to the understanding of BSL and its initial planning and design for property course delivery at the University of Melbourne. A review of literature helps formulate an analytical lens for the delivery mode and its significance and challenge in enhancing student learning experience. It also brings insights from the experience of participant observation.

Findings

This paper envisions new possibilities and challenges projecting the BSL as innovative and useful teaching-learning mode for property and built environments education in and beyond the pandemic. The analysis demonstrates the pedagogical values of BSL in facilitating supportive and equitable learning environment to achieve quality learning outcomes for property education. It identifies opportunities and challenges corresponding the underlying logic and practice of BSL.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to examine the use of BSL delivery and its pedagogical significance in post-pandemic property education. It sheds light on innovative pedagogical design for academic institutions to manage pandemic and technological disruptions to teaching-learning.
Employee idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) and organizational justice: the role of individual job performance and coworkers’ i-deals
Authors: Lee Eun Kyung , Hong Woonki , Rupp Deborah E.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) have been shown to influence several employee outcomes positively. To extend the research, the authors examine the effect of i-deals on employees’ perceptions of organizational justice, in particular, how the relationship between employees’ own i-deals and organizational justice is affected by employees' job performance as well as their perceptions of coworkers’ i-deals.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested the theoretical model using survey data from 182 hotel employees.

Findings

Results show that i-deals are positively related to employees’ perceptions of organizational justice and that such effects are stronger among high performing employees. The effect of i-deals on organizational justice was also more pronounced among employees who viewed coworkers as having successfully negotiated i-deals.

Practical implications

The authors' findings suggest that organizations can benefit from providing i-deals through employees’ enhanced perceptions of organizational justice. The paper thus recommends that organizations understand the impact of providing more flexible human resources (HR) practices and customized work arrangements that are aligned with individual goals and needs. This may be particularly relevant to high performers. Furthermore, the findings suggest that organizations may want to make i-deals available to employees more widely than to just a few selected individuals.

Originality/value

This study is one of a few attempts that empirically investigate the relationship between i-deals and organizational justice. The findings of this study shed light on the possibility that employees develop positive justice perceptions toward employeesʼ organization based on the appreciation of the customized work arrangements granted to both themselves and others.
A quantitative, evidence-based analysis of correlations between lean construction and building information modelling
Authors: Arayici Yusuf , Tokdemir Onur Behzat , Kassem Mohamad
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This research aims to identify and measure the correlations between building information modelling (BIM) and lean construction (LC) principles at the design and construction phases.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates BIM-LC principles correlations using the Istanbul Grant Airport (IGA) as a case study. The Delphi technique, performed quantitatively, contributes to the identification and quantification of a set of correlations between 11 selected BIM uses and 13 LC principles, which are supported with practical examples from the case study.

Findings

Together, the two research methods provide an evidence-based approach to understand the correlations between BIM and LC. The correlation analysis results in 46 correlations, and the correlations between the LC principles and BIM uses are intensified with the LC principles.

Practical implications

A quantitative understanding BIM use and LC principles correlations and appreciation of their specific uses can guide the practical implementation of BIM and LC, especially in large and mega projects.

Originality/value

BIM and LC practices represent approaches to improve performance in construction projects. While BIM has both information technology (IT) and process perspectives, the LC approach is mainly a process and product-oriented philosophy for project efficiency, effectiveness and the elimination of non-value-adding activities and waste. Many studies have investigated how the two approaches complement each other and concluded that their combined implementation in projects can improve efficiency and effectiveness. However, to date an analytical and granular investigation identifying and measuring correlations between BIM and LC based on empirical data is lacking. This paper fills that gap with an evidence-based analysis of the tightness of coupling and correlations between BIM uses and LC principles.