bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting metabolomic profiles from microbial composition through neural ordinary differential equations
Authors: Wang Tong , Wang Xu-Wen , Lee-Sarwar Kathleen , Litonjua Augusto A. , Weiss Scott T. , Sun Yizhou , Maslov Sergei , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: June 2022

Characterizing the metabolic profile of a microbial community is crucial for understanding its biological function and its impact on the host or environment. Metabolomics experiments directly measuring these profiles are difficult and expensive, while sequencing methods quantifying the species composition of microbial communities are well-developed and relatively cost-effective. Computational methods that are capable of predicting metabolomic profiles from microbial compositions can save considerable efforts needed for metabolomic profiling experimentally. Yet, despite existing efforts, we still lack a computational method with high prediction power, general applicability, and great interpretability. Here we develop a new method — mNODE (Metabolomic profile predictor using Neural Ordinary Differential Equations), based on a state-of-the-art family of deep neural network models. We show compelling evidence that mNODE outperforms existing methods in predicting the metabolomic profiles of human microbiomes and several environmental microbiomes. Moreover, in the case of human gut microbiomes, mNODE can naturally incorporate dietary information to further enhance the prediction of metabolomic profiles. Besides, susceptibility analysis of mNODE enables us to reveal microbe-metabolite interactions, which can be validated using both synthetic and real data. The presented results demonstrate that mNODE is a powerful tool to investigate the microbiome-diet-metabolome relationship, facilitating future research on precision nutrition.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediates PqsA-dependent iron regulation of the RsmY and RsmZ sRNAs in static conditions
Authors: Chourashi Rhishita , Oglesby Amanda G.
Published: June 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that causes acute and chronic lung infection in compromised hosts. During infection, the host innate immune system restricts iron to limit microbial growth. In response, P. aeruginosa induces expression of numerous virulence genes. Recently, our lab showed that some virulence factors are responsive to iron limitation in static but not shaking growth conditions, the former of which is likely to mimic growth in the chronically-infected lung. One of these novel iron-responsive factors is the HSI-2-type six secretion system (T6SS), which is also induced during chronic infection. Iron regulation of T6SS was partially impacted by deletion of the iron-responsive PrrF sRNA and completely dependent upon the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) biosynthetic gene pqsA. Here, we analyzed the impact of iron on the expression of two small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), RsmY and RsmZ, that activate expression of T6SS by sequestering the RsmA translation inhibitor. Our results demonstrate that iron starvation induces expression of RsmY and RsmZ in static but not shaking cultures. We further show that this induction occurs through the rsmY and rsmZ promoters and is dependent upon PqsA. We identified interrupted palindromes in the rsmY and rsmZ promoters as putative PqsR binding sites, and disruption of these sites eliminated iron-dependent regulation of rsmY and rsmZ promoter activity. To determine if iron-dependent regulation of the Rsm sRNAs is likely responsible for iron regulation of HSI-2 T6SS, we constructed translational and transcriptional reporters of the hsiA2 T6SS gene. Analysis of these reporters revealed robust PqsA-mediated iron regulation of the transcriptional reporter, as well as modest PrrF-dependent iron regulation of the translational reporter. Taken together, our results show novel iron regulatory pathways that are promoted by static growth, highlighting the importance of studying regulatory mechanisms in static communities that are likely more representative of chronic P. aeruginosa infections.

IMPORTANCE

Iron is a central component of various bacterial metabolic pathways making it an important host acquired nutrient for pathogens to establish infection. Previous iron regulatory studies primaried relied on shaking bacterial cultures; while these ensure cultural homogeneity they do not reflect growth conditions during infection. We recently showed that static growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa promotes iron-dependent regulation of a type six secretion system (T6SS), a virulence factor that is induced during chronic infections. In the current study, we found that static growth also promotes iron-dependent regulation of the RsmY and RsmZ sRNAs, which are global regulators that affect T6SS during chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection. Hence, our work demonstrates the Rsm sRNAs as potential effectors of iron regulation during static growth that may also be relevant in chronic infection.
The dynamic response to hypoosmotic stress reveals distinct stages of freshwater acclimation by a euryhaline diatom
Authors: Downey Kala M. , Judy Kathryn J. , Pinseel Eveline , Alverson Andrew J. , Lewis Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2022

The salinity gradient separating marine and freshwater environments is a major ecological divide, and the mechanisms by which most organisms adapt to new salinity environments are poorly understood. Diatoms are a lineage of ancestrally marine microalgae that have repeatedly colonized and diversified in freshwaters. Cyclotella cryptica is a euryhaline diatom that naturally tolerates a broad range of salinities, thus providing a powerful system for understanding the genomic mechanisms for mitigating and acclimating to low salinity. To understand how diatoms mitigate acute hypoosmotic stress, we abruptly shifted C. cryptica from seawater to freshwater and performed transcriptional profiling during the first 10 hours. Freshwater shock dramatically remodeled the transcriptome, with ~50% of the genome differentially expressed in at least one time point. The peak response occurred within 1 hour, with strong repression of genes involved in cell growth and osmolyte production, and strong induction of specific stress defense genes. Transcripts largely returned to baseline levels within 4–10 hours, with growth resuming shortly thereafter, suggesting that gene expression dynamics may be useful for predicting acclimation. Moreover, comparison to a transcriptomics study of C. cryptica following months-long acclimation to freshwater revealed little overlap between the genes and processes differentially expressed in cells exposed to acute stress versus fully acclimated conditions. Altogether, this study highlights the power of time-resolved transcriptomics to reveal fundamental insights into how cells dynamically respond to an acute environmental shift and provides new insights into how diatoms mitigate natural salinity fluctuations and have successfully diversified across freshwater habitats worldwide.
Half-calcified Calmodulin Promotes Basal Activity and Inactivation of the Calcium Channel CaV1.2
Authors: Bartels Peter , Salveson Ian , Coleman Andrea M. , Anderson David E. , Jeng Grace , Estrada-Tobar Zoila M. , Man Kwun Nok Mimi , Yu Qinhong , Kuzmenkina Elza , Nieves-Cintron Madeline , Navedo Manuel F. , Horne Mary C. , Hell Johannes W. , Ames James B.
Published: June 2022

The L-type Ca2+channel CaV1.2 controls gene expression, cardiac contraction, and neuronal activity. Calmodulin (CaM) governs CaV1.2 open probability (Po) and Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) but the mechanisms remain unclear. We identified a half Ca2+-saturated CaM species (Ca2/CaM) with Ca2+bound solely at the third and fourth EF-hands (EF3 and EF4) under resting Ca2+concentrations (50-100 nM) that constitutively pre-associates with CaV1.2 to promote Po and CDI. We present an NMR structure of a complex between the CaV1.2 IQ motif (residues 1644-1665) and Ca2/CaM12’, a calmodulin mutant in which Ca2+binding to EF1 and EF2 is completely disabled. The CaM12’N-lobe does not interact with the IQ motif. The CaM12’C-lobe bound two Ca2+ions and formed close contacts with IQ residues I1654 and Y1657. I1654A and Y1657D mutations impaired CaM binding, CDI, and Po, as did disabling Ca2+binding to EF3 and EF4 in the CaM34mutant when compared to wildtype CaM. Accordingly, a previously unappreciated Ca2/CaM species promotes CaV1.2 Po and CDI identifying Ca2/CaM as an important mediator of Ca signaling.
The cryo-EM structure of the CENP-A nucleosome in complex with ggKNL2
Authors: Jiang Honghui , Ariyoshi Mariko , Watanabe Reito , Makino Fumiaki , Namba Keiichi , Fukagawa Tatsuo
Published: June 2022

Centromere protein A (CENP-A) nucleosome is an epigenetic marker that specifies centromere position. The Mis18 complex is a licensing factor for new CENP-A deposition via the CENP-A chaperone, Holliday junction recognition protein (HJURP) on the centromere chromatin. Chicken KINETOCHORE NULL2 (KNL2) (ggKNL2), a Mis18 complex component, has a CENP-C-like motif, and our previous study suggested that ggKNL2 directly binds to the CENP-A nucleosome to recruit HJURP/CENP-A to the centromere. However, the molecular basis for CENP-A nucleosome recognition by ggKNK2 remains unclear. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the chicken CENP-A nucleosome in complex with a ggKNL2 fragment containing a CENP-C-like motif. Chicken KNL2 distinguishes between CENP-A and histone H3 in the nucleosome using the CENP-C-like motif and its downstream region. Both the C-terminal tail and RG-loop of CENP-A are simultaneously recognized as CENP-A characteristics. The CENP-A nucleosome-ggKNL2 interaction is thus essential for CENP-A deposition. Furthermore, our structural, biochemical, and cell biology data indicate that ggKNL2 alters its binding partner at the centromere during chicken cell cycle progression.
NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate distinct sets of genes during C. elegans spermatogenesis
Authors: Ragle James Matthew , Morrison Kayleigh N. , Vo An A. , Johnson Zoe E. , Lopez Javier Hernandez , Rechtsteiner Andreas , Shakes Diane C. , Ward Jordan D.
Published: June 2022

Spermatogenesis is the process through which mature male gametes are formed and is necessary for transmission of genetic information. While much work has established how sperm fate is promoted and maintained, less is known about how the sperm morphogenesis program is executed. We previously identified a novel role for the nuclear hormone receptor transcription factor, NHR-23, in promoting C. elegans spermatogenesis. Depletion of NHR-23 along with SPE-44, another transcription factor that promotes spermatogenesis, caused additive phenotypes. Through RNA-seq, we determined that NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate distinct sets of genes. Depletion of both NHR-23 and SPE-44 produced yet another set of differentially regulated genes. NHR-23- regulated genes are enriched in phosphatases, consistent with the switch in spermatids to post-translational regulation following genome quiescence. In the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum, MFP1 and MFP2 control the polymerization of Major Sperm Protein, the molecule that drives sperm motility and serves as a signal to promote ovulation. NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate a number of MFP2 paralogs, and NHR-23 depletion caused defective localization of MSD/MFP1 and NSPH-2/MFP2. Although NHR-23 and SPE-44 do not transcriptionally regulate the casein kinase gene spe-6, a key regulator of sperm development, SPE-6 protein is lost following NHR-23+SPE-44 depletion. Together, these experiments provide the first mechanistic insight into how NHR-23 promotes spermatogenesis and an entry point to understanding the synthetic genetic interaction between nhr-23 and spe-44.
FAOF: a feature aggregation method based on optical flow for gangue detection on production environment
Authors: Yanzi Miao , Xiaolin Wang , Yuanhao Zhang , Liang Ji , Yizhou Wang , Zhiyang Xu
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the precision of gangue detection. In the real production environment, some gangue features are not obvious, and it is difficult to distinguish between coal and gangue. The color of the conveyor belt is similar to the gangue, the background noise also brings challenge to gangue detection. To address the above problems, we propose a feature aggregation method based on optical flow (FAOF).

Design/methodology/approach

An FAOF is proposed. First, to enhance the feature representation of the current frame, FAOF applies the timing information of video stream, propagates the feature information of the past few frames to the current frame by optical flow. Second, the coordinate attention (CA) module is adopted to suppress the noise impact brought by the background of convey belt. Third, the Mish activation function is used to replace rectified linear unit to improve the generalization capability of our model.

Findings

The experimental results show that the gangue detection model proposed in this paper improve 4.3 average precision compared to baseline. This model can effectively improve the accuracy of gangue detection in real production environment.

Originality/value

The key contributions are as follows: this study proposes an FAOF; this study adds CA module and Mish to reduce noise from the background of the conveyor belt; and this study also constructs a large gangue data set.
Busy CEOs and financial reporting quality: evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Harymawan Iman , Nasih Mohammad , Rahayu Nadia Klarita , Kamarudin Khairul Anuar , Wan Ismail Wan Adibah
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between CEO busyness and financial reporting quality in a country which implements a two-tier board system.

Design/methodology/approach

This study includes firms listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange during the 2010–2018 period. This study employs an ordinary least squares regression, the propensity score matching procedure, and a Heckman two-stage regression in testing the hypothesis.

Findings

This study finds that firms with busy directors have a higher financial reporting quality, and these results are robust to a battery or sensitivity analysis. The additional analyses also find that a busy CEO is negatively associated with the firm's financial reporting quality with decreasing income.

Practical implications

This paper provides implications for policy-makers in the emerging market on devising policies on CEOs' appointments, especially when involving multiple directorships. Despite the general belief on the detrimental workload effects of busy directors, this study offers evidence supporting the opposite effect.

Originality/value

As many previous studies focused on the effect of director busyness on firm’s performance, this study focusses on the effect of CEO busyness on financial reporting quality. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate this issue in an emerging market.
Framework for zero-defect manufacturing in Indian industries – Voice of the customer
Authors: Yadav Narottam , Kaliyan Mathiyazhagan , Saikouk Tarik , Goswami Susobhan , Görçün Ömer Faruk
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The present paper proposes a framework for zero-defect manufacturing in Indian industries. Due to the current competitive market, there is a strong need to achieve zero defects from the customer's perspective. A survey questionnaire is analyzed based on the responses and a structured framework is drafted to implement zero defect manufacturing in the Indian industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze zero-defect in Indian industries, a literature review and a survey questionnaire constituted a framework. This framework is independent of the type of process and product.

Findings

The findings of this study are based on a total of 925 responses received through survey questionnaires by different mediums. The framework has been tested in different manufacturing organizations to achieve zero-defect through the continuous improvement approach.

Practical implications

The study results aim to achieve zero-defect, help to improve customer satisfaction, reduce waste and rework in the manufacturing process. This framework is also used as a problem-solving approach to implement Six Sigma in the Indian industries.

Originality/value

Zero defect manufacturing is growing in India and globally. This framework helps to implement zero defect manufacturing in Indian industries. It is an essential tool to capture the voice of the customer.
Critical success criteria for retirement village public – private partnership housing
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Narbaev Timur , Atafo-Adabre Michael , Chileshe Nicholas , Ofori-Kuragu Joseph Kwame
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The demand for retirement villages globally has been increasing due to the rapid growth in the ageing population in recent years. To address the rising challenges in the retirement market, the public–private partnership (PPP) has become a feasible method to develop retirement villages. This paper aims to survey and examine the key success criteria (SC) for using the PPP approach in the retirement village sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with experts experienced in international PPP and retirement village. The analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance, mean score analysis, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and factor analysis.

Findings

Results indicate that out of the 16 recognized SC, the most significant ones are SC1: “Affordability”, SC11: “Reduced social isolation of residents” and SC14: “Improvement of emotional wellbeing of residents”. Furthermore, results from the factor analysis technique indicate that the 16 SC can be classified into five major factor groupings, and these include SCG1 – “Financial performance of project”; SCG2 – “Adherence to design and technical specifications”; SCG3 – “Adherence to local council/authority’s environmental health and socio-economic requirements”; SCG4 – “Social inclusion and risk management”; and SCG5 – “Advancement in emotional wellbeing and physical health of residents”.

Originality/value

The study will sufficiently assist retirement village stakeholders, retirement village project participants and related government authorities of the best measures to put in place to maintain the sustainable development of the global retirement village market.
Sustainably Developing in a Digital World: harnessing artificial intelligence to meet the imperatives of work-based learning in Industry 5.0
Authors: Al Mubarak Muneer
Published: June 2022

Purpose:

Mainly in terms of human-machine interactions, this paper discusses salient issues related to work-based learning in reference to technologies in the Industry 5.0 era.

Design/methodology/approach:

Several ideas are discussed based on recent thinking in the topic, putting forward visions that are likely to happen with Industry 5.0 revolution with prime focus on human-machine interactions.

Findings:

The review elucidated a plethora of benefits in terms of human-machine interactions inasmuch as technology complements rather than replaces human efforts that includes enhancement of: efficiency and production, job security and skill-upgrading. To engender these benefits, however, legal, psychological, and ethical issues need to be transcended on the managerial level.

Practical implications:

Positive externalities, associated with efficiency and production, are now possible with human-machine interactions without cost in terms of jobs being lost provided that skills are upgraded commensurate with the challenges posed by the new technological era.

Social implications:

People can benefit from life improvements and elevated standards of living stemming from robotics though optimization of the use of technology.

Originality:

This paper presents original ideas on how Industry 5.0 technologies can be harnessed to buoy sustainable development by striking an optimal balance between human and technological capital.
Research on the impact of digital finance on the innovation performance of enterprises
Authors: Jiang Ziyu , Ma Guojian , Zhu Wenyue
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purposes of this paper are to analyze whether digital finance can contribute to enterprises' innovation performance and to determine the mediating effect of government subsidies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper empirically examines the impacts of digital finance on enterprises' innovation performance by looking at Chinese companies listed on the SME and GEM boards from 2011 to 2018 to build an econometric model to test our hypotheses. The mediating effect of government subsidies, the moderating effect of financial constraints are examined, as well as shareholding of the largest shareholders in each selected company and the asset-liability ratio.

Findings

The results show that digital finance has a significant promotional effect on firms' innovation performance and that government subsidies play a partial mediating role in digital finance's contribution to firms' innovation performance. In addition, financial constraints and the shareholding of the largest shareholders in each selected company have a negative moderating effect on the relationship between government subsidies and firms' innovation performance. On the contrary, the asset-liability ratio is found to positively affect the relationship.

Originality/value

There has been limited research to date on the relationship between digital finance and firms' innovation performance, particularly with regard to the extent to which digital finance can influence innovation performance and the mechanisms for doing so. Therefore, it is of great significance to examine the relationship between digital finance and enterprises' innovation performance, which can also provide guidance for both the Chinese government and enterprises.
Develop a situation-based prioritization program as a road map to enhance the pre-resilience in flood management using machine learning methods
Authors: Samadi Samirasadat , Taslimi Mohammad Saeed
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to review the features and challenges of the flood relief chain, identifies administrative measures during and after the flood occurrence and prioritizes them using two machine learning (ML) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methods. This paper aims to provide a prioritization program based on flood conditions that optimize flood management and improves society’s resilience against flood occurrence.

Design/methodology/approach

The collected database in this paper has been trained by using ML algorithms, including support vector machine (SVM), Naive Bayes (NB) and k-nearest neighbors (kNN), to create a prioritization program. Furthermore, the administrative measures in two phases of during and after the flood are prioritized by using the AHP method and questionnaires completed by experts and relief workers in flood management.

Findings

Among the ML algorithms, the SVM method was selected with 91.37% accuracy. The prioritization program provided by the model, which distinguishes it from other existing models, considers five conditions of the flood occurrence to prioritize actions (season, population affected, area affected, damage to houses and human lives lost). Therefore, the model presents a specific plan for each flood with different occurrence conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is the lack of a comprehensive data set to determine the effect of all flood conditions on the prioritization program and the relief activities that have been done in previous flood disasters.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is the use of ML methods to prioritize administrative measures during and after the flood and presents a prioritization program based on each flood’s conditions. Therefore, through this program, the authority and society can control the adverse impacts of flood more effectively and help to reduce human and financial losses as much as possible.
Work flexibility arrangements for educators: which one is best for whom? Insights from Indonesia
Authors: Linando Jaya Addin , Halim M. , Rasman Rasman , Arifin Azizah Hasna'
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Despite all the complications COVID-19 brought to the education sector, the pandemic has indirectly created various work flexibility arrangements for educators. This paper investigates the impact of different work flexibility arrangements on educators' emotional exhaustion while taking educators' backgrounds (gender, tenure and age) into consideration. This paper explores which work flexibility arrangements fit best for particular educators.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a quantitative approach to investigate the effect of different work flexibility arrangements (low, medium and high) on educators' emotional exhaustion. In total, 462 educators from various educational levels in Indonesia participated as the respondents.

Findings

In general, the findings suggest that female educators are more prone to experience emotional exhaustion than their male counterparts. This study also finds that educators' age negatively relates to emotional exhaustion, and the longer-tenured educators might not be suitable for highly flexible work arrangements. In addition, different degrees of work flexibility have various impacts on educators, depending on their gender, tenure and age. These results are potentially helpful for educational institutions to design the best work arrangements for educators.

Originality/value

It is crucial for educational administrators to determine how much work flexibility should be given to educators from different backgrounds. This study is among the first to empirically examine the impact of different work flexibilities on educators' well-being.
Sustainability reporting and energy sectorial performance: developed and emerging economies
Authors: Alhawaj Abdulla , Buallay Amina , Abdallah Wael
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the level of sustainability reporting [environmental, social and governance (ESG)] and sectorial energy performance across both developed and emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data culled from 3,311 observations from 50 different countries over a ten-year period (2008–2017), an ESG-score-derived independent variable is regressed against dependent performance indicator variables (operation ratio, return on equity and Tobin’s Q). Two types of control variables complete the regression analysis in this study: firm-specific and macroeconomic.

Findings

The findings of this study elicited from the empirical results demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between ESG and operational performance (operation ratio). However, there is no significant relationship between ESG and financial performance (return on equity) and market performance (Tobin’s Q). However, the relationship between ESG and operation ratio is stronger in emerging than in developed economies.

Originality/value

The model in this study presents a valuable analytical framework for exploring sustainability reporting as a driver of performance across energy sectors in both developed and emerging economies. In addition, this study highlights energy-sectorial managerial implications contrasting developed, as juxtaposed with, emerging economies.
Central air conditioning, air pollution and housing location: evidence from Lebanon
Authors: Al Gharib Fairouz , Marrouch Walid
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of local air pollution on the presence of central air conditioners in apartments in Lebanon.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a Probit model in a unique data set on apartments’ listings for sale in Lebanon collected by Marrouch and Sayour (2021). The data set includes information about air pollution concentrations, dwellings’ characteristics, geographic features and location characteristics.

Findings

This study finds that local air pollution positively and significantly affects the presence of central air conditioning in dwellings. The estimated increase in the probability of having central air conditioning for a one microgram per cubic meter increase in Particulate Matter 2.5 concentration is 6.4%.

Research limitations/implications

The data set in this study is cross-sectional and thus does not capture variations over time for the examined variables.

Practical implications

The Probit regression approximates an equation that can predict the presence of central air conditioners in dwellings, which might be useful to policymakers.

Social implications

The findings suggest that local pollution is a significant factor in household behavior in Lebanon.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the scant literature studying the effects of air pollution on the presence of central air conditioning in developing countries. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to study the impact of air pollution on the presence of central air conditioning in the Middle East and North Africa Region.
Evaluating organizational agility in banking industry through data envelopment analysis: a case study of banks in Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Barati Masoud , Heidari Ehsan , Karimi Ali
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to provide a model for evaluating organizational agility in the banking industry in Isfahan using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This research’s population consists of selected first-class branches of Saderat, Melli, Shahr, Maskan, Keshavarzi, Refah and Tejarat banks. Five branches of each bank and Bank Shahr as a newly established bank with two branches were included in the study. First, a suitable DEA model was selected and then agility inputs and outputs for designing the model were extracted from the literature. The selected model is an output-oriented returns to scale model. Inputs were agility enablers extracted from the A.T. Kearney model, whereas agility results were considered as the output.

Findings

The results showed that of the 32 selected branches, 4 were efficient and 28 were inefficient. In the end, the efficient branches were ranked using the Anderson–Peterson ranking model.

Originality/value

This study tries to provide a model for evaluating the efficiency of bank branches in terms of agility (relative agility) through the DEA technique, considering inputs and outputs of the organizational agility system. Accordingly, the managers can identify the efficiency of bank branches and also they can improve the inefficiency of bank branches.
Exotic meets suave: the micro dynamics of homophily in the Cambridge cluster
Authors: Pio Edwina , Vyakarnam Shailendra , Barakat Shima , McCammon Margaret
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss how ethnicity and gender influence high-tech entrepreneurship in the Cambridge cluster emphasizing homophily and how and why bridging and bonding ties are created in moving individuals from the periphery to cross the threshold into acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present findings on the micro-dynamics of ethnicity and gender in high-tech entrepreneurship underpinned by homophily. The authors discuss how ethnicity and gender influence who enters and stays in high-tech entrepreneurship university spinouts. Through an entrepreneurial narrative qualitative approach, the authors explore how and why bridging and bonding ties may be created and the challenges for those at the periphery to cross the threshold into acceptance. The study adopts an entrepreneurial narrative qualitative approach using interviews with individuals associated with the Cambridge cluster.

Findings

The authors add to the entrepreneurship literature by responding to the call for multiplexity within homophily, and the research indicates that homophily strongly influences who enters and who leaves the cluster based on bridging and bonding ties. The findings address the need for more focused understanding of entrepreneurial clusters and how mechanisms can be developed to create an environment to nurture both bridging and bonding ties. It is possible for an entrepreneurial cluster to be perceived as attractive and thriving while being homophilous. Ethnic individuals and women continue to struggle to gain acceptance in the Cambridge cluster.

Research limitations/implications

Interviews were conducted by one person – an ethnic minority female – for continuity of all interviews. Yet as many of the participants were not minorities, it is possible that an interviewer who was not an ethnic minority may have elicited different narratives.

Originality/value

The study adds to the entrepreneurship literature by focusing on multiplexity within homophily in examining the dynamics of homophily in the context of the Cambridge cluster and the significance of nurturing bridging and bonding ties. The research comments on implications for practice among three interlinked but autonomous groups: first, the individual entrepreneurs; second, the networks she/he belongs to; third, the university as both fertile ground for entrepreneurship and an educational institution where entrepreneurship education is engaged in for encouraging and supporting spinouts.
Retention contracts with asymmetric information: optimistic approach vs pessimistic approach
Authors: Athamena Belkacem , Houhamdi Zina , ElRefae Ghaleb A.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the utilization of retention contracts to screen and discipline managers in a context in which the council, board of directors, possesses incomplete information about the consequences of managers’ decisions. The analysis enlightens us on empire building, on the slight connection between achievement and firing, and describes concerns about the belief that low achievements result from bad managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes a basic model to show the resulting dilemmas. The desire to screen managers to enhance the organization's future well-being motivates managers to show their credentials by becoming excessively active. The council can address this bias by firing a manager whose project is proven to ruin value. Moreover, the council can replace the manager if he has implemented a project but its outcomes remain unobservable. Both decisions decrease the attraction to develop loss-generating projects. However, the dismissing decision on either ground will affect the council deduction that the expected competence of the incoming manager is lower than that of the dismissed manager.

Findings

This study shows in which situation the selection option is preferred over the disciplining option using two different retention contracts: optimistic contract and pessimistic contract.

Originality/value

This study shows in which situation the selection option is preferred over the disciplining option using two different retention contracts: optimistic contract and pessimistic contract.
Optimizing firm's supply chain resilience in data-driven business environment
Authors: Gani Mohammad Osman , Yoshi Takahashi , Rahman Muhammad Sabbir
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of a firm’s supply chain capabilities on supply chain resilience, and the impact of supply chain resilience on sustainable supply chain performance in a data-driven business environment. The study also aims to explore the function of supply chain resilience in mediating the relationship between a firm’s supply chain capability and sustainable supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were acquired through a survey of 310 managers of small- and medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries across Bangladesh. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

A firm’s supply chain capabilities include information technology, leadership and collaboration. Supply chain capability is positively associated with supply chain resilience. The resilience of a firm’s supply chain is also positively correlated with its sustainable supply chain performance. Supply chain resilience plays a mediating role in the relationship between a firm’s supply chain capabilities and its sustainable supply chain performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a theoretical contribution by corroborating practical knowledge focusing on firms’ supply chain capability, supply chain resilience and sustainable supply chain performance by using a resource-based view and dynamic capability theory – a relevant and unexplored subject in the supply chain literature – and proposes several opportunities for future research.

Practical implications

The results highlight the study’s managerial and social relevance from the perspective of firms in developing countries. As firms shift toward an online environment, managers and decision-makers need to make strategic decisions, as they did to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19.

Originality/value

The study’s findings demonstrate that firms’ supply chain capabilities can be leveraged to increase supply chain resilience. Firms’ resilience during COVID-19 allowed them to avoid losses and to improve their supply chain’s sustainable performance. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, their complex higher order model is a unique contribution to the literature on firms’ supply chain capability and extends previous research on this topic.
Editorial: Research priorities in the new service marketplace
Authors: Rosenbaum Mark Scott , Russell-Bennett Rebekah , Contreras-Ramírez Germán
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This editorial aims to identify new research priorities in the service marketplace that are emerging because of consumer and organizational trends in the shadow of the global pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach is used that draws on observations from practitioners to synthesize changes in consumer values, motivations and behaviors as they pertain to service consumption, design and delivery. This editorial draws on current trends and recent service research to discuss the current state of the marketplace and to uncover areas in which research voids exist.

Findings

This editorial offers ten research priorities for service researchers. These research priorities are supply chain and staffing shortages; sustainable services, older consumers embrace digital technologies; digital financial services; consumer pursuit of personal and spiritual awareness; participating in virtual communities, networks and worlds; affinity for peer-to-peer commerce; transformative places; seeking self-love services, and social distance concerns.

Research limitations/implications

Academicians are provided with a series of research priorities that are interesting, timely and relevant for the new service marketplace.

Practical implications

Service academicians are encouraged to pursue empirical and descriptive investigations in-line with the priorities developed in this editorial. These research priorities are relevant, timely and interesting.

Originality/value

This work presents scholars with a historical overview of trends in service research. The challenges posed by the pandemic represent the beginning of a new era in service research thought and practice as many previously held theories and understandings of consumers’ marketplace behaviors have permanently changed due to behavioral changes that transpired during governmental mandated lockdowns.
The effects of hotel employee ternary safety behavior on negative safety outcomes: the moderation of job vigor and emotional exhaustion
Authors: Zhang Jiangchi , Xie Chaowu , Morrison Alastair M. , Huang Rui , Li Yuxi , Wu Gaoyang
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The effect of hotel employee safety behavior has not as yet been investigated. The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of hotel employee ternary safety behavior on negative safety outcomes, as well as the moderation effects of job vigor and emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey of 16 medium- and high-star-rated hotels in southeast China was conducted and 571 responses were received for model estimation. The statistical analysis techniques adopted were confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results showed that: (1) safety compliance and participation positively predicted safety adaptation; (2) the three dimensions of safety behavior contributed to reducing negative safety outcomes, and there was a multiple mediation process in their relationship; and (3) job vigor positively moderated the influence of safety compliance and adaption on negative safety outcomes, and emotional exhaustion negatively moderated the influence of safety participation on negative safety outcomes.

Originality/value

This research provides greater insights into the relationship between safety behavior and outcome performance within the hotel industry, and yields theoretical and practical implications for improving employee safety behavior and hotel safety performance.
How to design an organization to enable the implementation of the company’s sustainability agenda
Authors: Vantrappen Herman , Wagemans Michael
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The nitty-gritty of organizing for sustainability requires carefully defining and assigning the roles and responsibilities for carrying out the activities required to implement the company’s sustainability strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors offer a framework to help managers make design choices for their company’s Sustainability organization.

Findings

The “sustainability focus” and “organizational philosophy” dimensions can be combined into a grid onto which a company?s position can be mapped.

Practical/implications

Should Sustainability be a distinct and integrated function, or combined with another function, or split into subfunctions, or absorbed into the general management of the businesses?

Originality/value

Sustainability is a hot topic at the CEO level nowadays and the authors have worked out a practical guide for customizing a company’s implementation agenda and its organizational structure so its program will be effective.
Imputation of the major histocompatibility complex region identifies major independent variants associated with bullous pemphigoid and dermatomyositis in Han Chinese
Authors: Fan Wencheng , Li Zhuo , Wang Yirui , Zhang Chang , Liu Hao , Wang Daiyue , Bai Yuanming , Luo Sihan , Li Yuanyuan , Qin Qin , Chen Weiwei , Yong Liang , Zhen Qi , Yu Yafen , Ge Huiyao , Mao Yiwen , Cao Lu , Zhang Ruixue , Hu Xia , Yu Yanxia , Li Bao , Sun Liangdan
Published: June 2022

As autoimmune skin diseases, both bullous pemphigoid (BP) and dermatomyositis (DM) show significant associations with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region. In fact, the coexistence of BP and DM has been previously reported. Therefore, we hypothesized that there may be a potential genetic correlation between BP and DM. Based on data for 312 BP patients, 128 DM patients, and 6793 healthy control subjects, in the MHC region, we imputed single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), insertions and deletions (INDEL), and copy number variations (CNV) using the 1KGP phase 3 dataset and amino acids (AA) and SNP using a Han‐MHC reference database. An association study revealed the most significant SNP associated with BP, namely, rs580921 (p = 1.06E‐08, odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37–1.90), which is located in the C6orf10 gene, and the most significant classic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele associated with DM, namely, HLA‐DPB1*1701 (p = 6.56E‐10, OR = 3.61, 95% CI = 2.40–5.42). Further stepwise regression analyses with rs580921 identified a threonine at position 163 of the HLA‐B gene as a new independent disease‐associated AA, and HLA‐DPB1*1701 indicated that no loci were significant. Three‐dimensional ribbon models revealed that the HLA‐B AA position 163 (p = 3.93E‐07, OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.35–1.98) located in the α2 domain of the HLA‐B molecule was involved in the process of specific antigen presentation. The calculations showed that there was no significant genetic correlation between BP and DM. Our study identified three significant loci in the MHC region, proving that the HLA region was significantly correlated with BP and DM separately. Our research highlights the key role of the MHC region in disease susceptibility.
Invertebrate traits, diversity and the vulnerability of groundwater ecosystems
Authors: Hose Grant C. , Chariton Anthony A. , Daam Michiel A. , Di Lorenzo Tiziana , Galassi Diana Maria Paola , Halse Stuart A. , Reboleira Ana Sofia P. S. , Robertson Anne L. , Schmidt Susanne I. , Korbel Kathryn L.
Published: June 2022

Groundwater comprises the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet. It has a distinct regime of extreme, yet stable environmental conditions that have favoured the development of similar morphological and functional traits in the resident invertebrate fauna (stygofauna).

The analysis of community traits is increasingly used as an alternative to taxonomy‐based assessments of biodiversity, especially for monitoring ecosystem status and linking the functions of organisms to ecological processes, yet it has been rarely applied to stygofauna and groundwater ecosystems.

In this paper, we review the variation in functional traits among the invertebrate fauna of this important ecosystem. We focus on the stygofauna and processes of alluvium and fractured rock aquifers that are typified by small voids and fissures that constrain the habitats and environmental conditions.

As a first step, we compare trait variability between groundwater and surface water invertebrate communities and then examine the significance of the ranges of these traits to the vulnerability of the ecosystem to change.

Fifteen potentially useful functional traits are recognised. Eight of these have narrower ranges (i.e. exhibit fewer states, or attributes, of a particular trait) in groundwater than they do in surface water. Two traits have wider ranges.

Our synthesis suggests that the relative stability of groundwater environments has led to low trait variability. The low biomass and low reproductive rate of stygofauna suggest that recovery potential following disturbance is likely to be low.

For the purposes of both improved understanding and effective management, further work is needed to document additional functional traits and their states in groundwater fauna, enabling a better understanding of the relationship between response and effect traits in these ecosystems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
An in vitro redox adaptation model for metastatic prostate cancer: Establishing, characterizing and Cabazitaxel response evaluating
Authors: Eryilmaz Isil Ezgi , Egeli Unal , Cecener Gulsah
Published: June 2022

Little is known about the redox‐adapted cancer cells for understanding their pharmacologically targetable features and chemotherapeutic responses. Thus, we present the first in vitro redox adaptation model for metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), LNCaP‐hydrogen peroxide resistant (LNCaP‐HPR), with enhanced oxidative stress resistance accompanying poor Cabazitaxel response. After establishing, the cells were characterized by comparing the viability, death, oxidative stress, total glutathione (GSH) levels and the mRNA and protein levels of the redox‐sensitive transcription factors responsible for the adaptation, Nrf‐2, NF‐κB and HIF‐1α. Then, the apoptotic effect of Cabazitaxel was evaluated in LNCaP mPC, LNCaP‐HPR and C4‐2 metastatic castration‐resistant (mCRPC) cells. In response to H2O2, viability, oxidative stress and the total GSH levels of LNCaP‐HPR cells have confirmed the oxidative stress resistance. Nrf‐2, NF‐κB and HIF‐1α were upregulated in LNCaP‐HPR cells, not in LNCaP, confirming that resistant cells were much less affected by exogenous oxidative stress. Unlike LNCaP, LNCaP‐HPR cells were less sensitive to Cabazitaxel, as closer to the response of C4‐2 mCRPC cells, indicating that redox adaptation decreased Cabazitaxel response. This is the first evaluated association between redox adaptation and poor Cabazitaxel response, suggesting that in vitro Cabazitaxel efficiency is affected by PC cells' endogenous oxidative stress tolerance.