bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Changes in Prader-Willi Syndrome Neurons Reveals Clues About Increased Autism Susceptibility
Authors: Victor A. Kaitlyn , Donaldson Martin , Johnson Daniel , Miller Winston , Reiter Lawrence T.
Published: August 2021

Background

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hormonal dysregulation, obesity, intellectual disability, and behavioral problems. Most PWS cases are caused by paternal interstitial deletions of 15q11.2-q13.1, while a smaller number of cases are caused by chromosome 15 maternal uniparental disomy (PW-UPD). Children with PW-UPD are at higher risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than the neurotypical population. In this study, we used expression analysis of PW-UPD neurons to try to identify the molecular cause for increased autism risk.

Methods

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) from neurotypical control and PWS subjects were differentiated to neurons for mRNA sequencing. Significantly differentially expressed transcripts among all groups were identified. Downstream protein analysis including immunocytochemistry and immunoblots were performed to confirm the transcript level data and pathway enrichment findings.

Results

We identified 9 transcripts outside of the PWS critical region (15q11.2-q13.1) that may contribute to core PWS phenotypes. Moreover, we discovered a global reduction in mitochondrial transcripts in the PW-UPD +ASD group. We also found decreased mitochondrial abundance along with mitochondrial aggregates in the cell body and neural projections of +ASD neurons.

Limitations

DPSC derived neuronal cultures used here were immature (3 weeks old), while important for studying the development of the disorder, it will be critical to confirm these mitochondrial defects in more mature neurons or postmortem brain tissue. Our PW-UPD -ASD group included only females, but the sample size in downstream image analysis was increased to include males for the analysis of mitochondrial phenotypes. The ASD diagnostic tool we use is the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), which has been used extensively, but is not the gold standard for ASD diagnosis.

Conclusions

The 9 transcripts we identified common to all PWS subtypes may reveal PWS specific defects during neurodevelopment. Importantly, we found a global reduction in mitochondrial transcripts in PW-UPD +ASD neurons versus control and other PWS subtypes. We then confirmed mitochondrial defects in neurons from individuals with PWS at the cellular level. Quantification of this phenotype supports our hypothesis that the increased incidence of ASD in PW-UPD subjects may arise from mitochondrial defects in developing neurons.
Acetylation regulates the oligomerization state and activity of RNase J, the major ribonuclease of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Tejada-Arranz Alejandro , Bouilloux-Lafont Maxime , Pei Xue-Yuan , Douché Thibaut , Matondo Mariette , Williams Allison , Raynal Bertrand , Luisi Ben F , De Reuse Hilde
Published: August 2021

In Helicobacter pylori, post-transcriptional regulation strongly relies on the activity of an RNA degradosome, composed of the essential ribonuclease RNase J and the DEAD-box RNA helicase RhpA. Here, we describe post-translational modifications of this protein complex that affect its activity. Cell-extracted RNase J is acetylated on multiple residues, one of which, K649, strongly impacts RNase J oligomerization, which in turn influences ribonuclease activity. Corroborating the link between oligomerization and activity, mutations targeting K649 and other residues affect the dimerization and in vitro activity of RNase J. Our crystal structure of RNase J reveals three loops that gate access to the active site and rationalizes how oligomerization state influences activity. The acetylated residues of RNase J are important for H. pylori morphology, highlighting that the modifications affect the RNase J cellular function. We propose acetylation as a regulatory level controlling the activity of RNase J and the H. pylori RNA degradosome.
Predictive Modeling of Multiplex Chemical Phenomics for Novel Cells and Patients: Applied to Personalized Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Repurposing
Authors: Liu Qiao , Qiu Yue , Xie Lei
Published: August 2021

Chemical phenomics which measures multiplex chemical-induced phenotypic response of cells or patients, particularly dose-dependent transcriptomics and drug-response curves, provides new opportunities forin silicomechanism-driven phenotype-based drug discovery. However, state-of-the-art computational methods only focus on predicting a single phenotypic readout and are less successful in screening compounds for novel cells or individual patients. We designed a new deep learning model, MultiDCP, to enable high-throughput compound screening based on multiplex chemical phenomics for the first time, and further expand the scope of chemical phenomics to unexplored cells and patients. The novelties of MultiDCP lie in a multi-task learning framework with a novel knowledge-driven autoencoder to integrate incoherent labeled and unlabeled omics data, and a teacher-student training strategy to exploit unreliable data. MultiDCP significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art for novel cell lines. The predicted chemical transcriptomics demonstrate a stronger predictive power than noisy experimental data for downstream tasks. We applied MultiDCP to repurpose individualized drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that MultiDCP is a potentially powerful tool for personalized medicine.
Visual evoked feedforward-feedback travelling waves organize neural activity across the cortical hierarchy in mice
Authors: Aggarwal Adeeti , Brennan Connor , Luo Jennifer , Chung Helen , Contreras Diego , Kelz Max B. , Proekt Alex
Published: August 2021

Sensory processing is distributed among many brain regions that interact via feedforward and feedback signaling. It has been hypothesized that neuronal oscillations mediating feedforward and feedback interactions organize into travelling waves. However, stimulus evoked travelling waves of sufficient spatial scale have never been demonstrated directly. Here, we show that simple visual stimuli reliably evoke two traveling waves with spatial wavelengths that cover much of the cerebral hemisphere in awake mice. 30-50Hz feedforward waves arise in primary visual cortex (V1) and propagate rostrally, while 3-6Hz feedback waves originate in the association cortex and flow caudally. The phase of the feedback wave modulates the amplitude of the feedforward wave and synchronizes firing between V1 and parietal cortex. Altogether, these results provide direct experimental evidence that visual evoked travelling waves percolate through the cerebral cortex and coordinate neuronal activity across broadly distributed networks mediating visual processing.
Genomic style: yet another deep-learning approach to characterize bacterial genome sequences
Authors: Yoshimura Yuka , Hamada Akifumi , Augey Yohann , Akiyama Manato , Sakakibara Yasubumi
Published: August 2021

Motivation

Biological sequence classification is the most fundamental task in bioinformatics analysis. For example, in metagenome analysis, binning is a typical type of DNA sequence classification. In order to classify sequences, it is necessary to define sequence features. Thek-mer frequency, base composition, and alignment-based metrics are commonly used. In contrast, in the field of image recognition using machine learning, image classification is broadly divided into those based on shape and those based on style. A style matrix was introduced as a method of expressing the style of an image (e.g., color usage and texture).

Results

We propose a novel sequence feature, called genomic style, inspired by image classification approaches, for classifying and clustering DNA sequences. As with the style of images, the DNA sequence is considered to have a genomic style unique to the bacterial species, and the style matrix concept is applied to the DNA sequence. Our main aim is to introduce the genomics style as yet another basic sequence feature for metagenome binning problem in replace of the most commonly used sequence featurek-mer frequency. Performance evaluations show that our method using style matrix achieves the superior accuracy than state-of-the-art binning tools based onk-mer frequency.
Domain Organization of Lentiviral and Betaretroviral Surface Envelope Glycoproteins Modeled with AlphaFold
Authors: Hötzel Isidro
Published: August 2021

The surface envelope glycoproteins of non-primate lentiviruses and betaretroviruses share sequence similarity with the inner proximal domain β-sandwich of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 glycoprotein that faces the transmembrane glycoprotein as well as patterns of cysteine and glycosylation site distribution that points to a similar two-domain organization in at least some lentiviruses. Here, high reliability models of the surface glycoproteins obtained with the AlphaFold algorithm are presented for the gp135 glycoprotein of the small ruminant caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAEV) and visna lentiviruses and the betaretroviruses jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and consensus human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K). The models confirm and extend the inner domain structural conservation in these viruses and identify two outer domains with a putative receptor binding site in the CAEV and visna virus gp135. The location of that site is consistent with patterns of sequence conservation and glycosylation site distribution in gp135. In contrast, a single domain is modeled for the JSRV, MMTV and HERV-K betaretrovirus envelope proteins that is highly conserved structurally in the proximal region and structurally diverse in apical regions likely to interact with cell receptors. The models presented here identify sites in small ruminant lentivirus and betaretrovirus envelope glycoproteins likely to be critical for virus entry and virus neutralization by antibodies and will facilitate their functional and structural characterization.

Importance

Structural information on the surface envelope proteins of lentiviruses and related betaretroviruses is critical to understand mechanisms of virus-host interactions. However, experimental determination of these structures has been challenging and only the structure of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 has been determined. The advent of the AlphaFold artificial intelligence method for structure prediction allows high-quality modeling of the structures of small ruminant lentiviral and betaretroviral surface envelope proteins. The models are consistent with much of previously described experimental data, show regions likely to interact with receptors and identify domains that may be involved in mechanisms of antibody neutralization resistance in the small ruminant lentiviruses. The models will allow more precise design of mutants to further determine mechanisms of viral entry and immune evasion in this group of viruses and constructs for structure of these surface envelope proteins.
Predictive Structured-Unstructured Interactions in EHR Models: A Case Study of Suicide Prediction
Authors: Bayramli Ilkin , Castro Victor , Barak-Corren Yuval , Madsen Emily M. , Nock Matthew K. , Smoller Jordan W. , Reis Ben Y.
Published: August 2021

Clinical risk prediction models powered by electronic health records (EHRs) are becoming increasingly widespread in clinical practice. With suicide-related mortality rates rising in recent years, it is becoming increasingly urgent to understand, predict, and prevent suicidal behavior. Here, we compare the predictive value of structured and unstructured EHR data for predicting suicide risk. We find that Naive Bayes Classifier (NBC) and Random Forest (RF) models trained on structured EHR data perform better than those based on unstructured EHR data. An NBC model trained on both structured and unstructured data yields similar performance (AUC = 0.743) to an NBC model trained on structured data alone (0.742, p = 0.668), while an RF model trained on both data types yields significantly better results (AUC = 0.903) than an RF model trained on structured data alone (0.887, p<0.001), likely due to the RF model’s ability to capture interactions between the two data types. To investigate these interactions, we propose and implement a general framework for identifying specific structured-unstructured feature pairs whose interactions differ between case and non-case cohorts, and thus have the potential to improve predictive performance and increase understanding of clinical risk. We find that such feature pairs tend to capture heterogeneous pairs of general concepts, rather than homogeneous pairs of specific concepts. These findings and this framework can be used to improve current and future EHR-based clinical modeling efforts.
Computational Prediction of Disease Detection and Insect Identification using Xception model
Authors: Cleetus Lidia , Raji Sukumar A , Hemalatha N
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a detection tool has been built for the detection and identification of the diseases and pests found in the crops at its earliest stage. For this, various deep learning architectures were experimented to see which one of those would help in building a more accurate and an efficient detection model. The deep learning architectures used in this study were Convolutional Neural Network, VGG16, InceptionV3, and Xception. VGG16, InceptionV3, and Xception are categorized as the pre-trained models based on CNN architecture. They follow the concept of transfer learning. Transfer learning is a technique which makes use of the learnings of the models previously trained on a base data and applies it to the present dataset. This is an efficient technique which gives us rapid results and improved performance. Two plant datasets have been used here for disease and insects. The results of the algorithms were then compared. Most successful one has been the Xception model which obtained 82.89 for disease and 77.9 for pests.
In situ N K-edge XANES study of iron, cobalt and nickel nitride thin films
Authors: Pandey Nidhi , Gupta Mukul , Phase D. M. , Gupta Ajay
Published: August 2021

A prototype in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) system was developed to explore its sensitivity for ultra-thin films of iron-nitride (Fe-N), cobalt-nitride (Co-N) and nickel-nitride (Ni-N). They were grown using DC-magnetron sputtering in the presence of an N2 plasma atmosphere at the experimental station of the soft XAS beamline BL01 (Indus-2, RRCAT, India). XANES measurements were performed at the N K-edge in all three cases. It was found that the N K-edge spectral shape and intensity are greatly affected by increasing thickness and appear to be highly sensitive, especially in low-thickness regions. From a certain thickness of ∼1000 Å, however, samples exhibit a bulk-like behavior. On the basis of the obtained results, different growth stages were identified. Furthermore, the presence of a molecular N2 component in the ultra-thin regime (<100 Å) was also obtained in all three cases studied in this work. In essence, this prototype in situ system reveals that N K-edge XANES is a powerful technique for studying ultra-thin films, and the development of a dedicated in situ system can be effective in probing several phenomena that remain hitherto unexplored in such types of transition metal nitride thin films.
Measuring food inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic in real time using online data: a case study of Poland
Authors: Jaworski Krystian
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study paper is to focus on developing novel ways to monitor an economy in real time during the COVID-19 pandemic. A fully automated framework is proposed for collecting and analyzing online food prices in Poland. This is important, as the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe in 2020 has led many governments to impose lockdowns that have prevented manual price data collection from food outlets. The study primarily addresses whether food price inflation can be accurately measured during the pandemic using only a laptop and Internet connection, without needing to rely on official statistics.

Design/methodology/approach

The big data approach was adopted to track food price inflation in Poland. Using the web-scraping technique, daily price information about individual food and non-alcoholic beverage products sold in online stores was gathered.

Findings

Based on raw online data, reliable estimates of monthly and annual food inflation were provided about 30 days before final official indexes were published.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to focus on measuring inflation in real time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monthly and annual food price inflation are estimated in real time and updated daily, thereby improving previous forecasting solutions with weekly or monthly indicators. Using daily frequency price data deepens understanding of price developments and enables more timely detection of inflation trends, both of which are useful for policymakers and market participants. This study also provides a review of crucial issues regarding inflation that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adoption of product lifecycle management in new product development: a case study of automotive organisation
Authors: Tanpure Ganesh , Yadav Vinod , Jain Rakesh , Soni Gunjan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system has found varieties of deployments in various domains of product-based industries. Current study aims to provide a framework for the adoption of PLM systems in manufacturing organizations to meet the actual requirements of industries.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a systematic review of extant literature was performed, and further, the case study approach is opted to study the process of New Product Development (NPD) in a manufacturing organization. Triangulation methodology was adopted wherein the interview results, actual observations, and authorized documentations were used to validate the result and provide conclusions.

Findings

A conceptual framework and implementation architecture for PLM is derived. The complete ecosystem for digital footprint is mapped for New Product Development (NPD) activities.

Practical implications

The study could be helpful for Techno-Functional Managers. For individuals with only functional/technical knowledge, additional training might be required to adopt the framework in actual practices.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a framework and demonstrating the feasibility of implementation through the case study.
Research scholars and faculty members perception and participation in collection development of university libraries of Northern India – a comparative study
Authors: Singh Har , Mahajan Preeti
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate research scholars’ and faculty members’ perception, participation in collection development, satisfaction with the adequacy of the library collection and challenges faced during the recommendation of resources in selected university libraries of Northern India.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected with the help of a structured questionnaire from the research scholars and faculty members from all disciplines of five universities of Northern India. The comparison between the researchers and faculty members was carried out within the university, as well as across the universities. A total of 652 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 465 filled questionnaires were finally selected for data analysis. The collected data was analyzed with the help of SPSS and the hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (χ²) test.

Findings

The survey results found significant differences in awareness of collection development policy (CDP), as well as the recommendation of resources (i.e. textbooks, reference books, journals and magazines and non-book materials) between the research scholars and faculty members across the libraries. However, no significant difference was found between the opinion of the research scholars and faculty members on the adequacy of library collection across the libraries.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to five university libraries of North India which included Maharishi Dayanand University (Rohtak) and Kurukshetra University (Kurukshetra) from the State of Haryana Panjab University from Union Territory of Chandigarh and Punjabi University (Patiala) and Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar) from the state of Punjab.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this study will undoubtedly help the library authorities and management to understand the awareness of users (i.e. research scholars and faculty members) about the collection development process such as CDP of the library, kind of resources recommend, their assessment on adequacy of different kind of resources and their ultimate satisfaction from it.

Originality/value

The study is an extensive survey about the perception and participation of research scholars and faculty members in the collection development process of their respective libraries and indicates their satisfaction from the library collection.
Towards an improved understanding of participation in natural hazard early warning systems
Authors: Clegg Georgina , Haigh Richard , Amaratunga Dilanthi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the conceptual understanding of the process of participation in early warning systems (EWS) through a review of participatory EWS examples in the academic literature. Specifically, this paper asks: who is involved, what responsibilities do participants hold, what activities are they involved in, and what are the associated successes, issues and outcomes?

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 30 cases of participation in EWS documented in the academic literature were identified through online searches. Existing concepts in participation (power and responsibility, communication) and people-centred early warning (risk knowledge, monitoring and warning, communication and dissemination and response capability) were used to examine each paper.

Findings

Participation was found to take place through a range of activities across all elements of the EWS. Participation also varied in breadth of inclusion, ranging from the general public to selected volunteers. The majority of cases received support and facilitation from other actors, such as government and NGOs, but the extent of power and responsibility held by participants varied greatly within this. Common successes and issues associated with participatory EWS and the potential outcomes are presented, and the opportunities, challenges and gaps in knowledge are discussed.

Originality/value

This paper links participation and EWS literature to form a clearer conceptualisation of participation in EWS in support of future research in the field. It provides unique insights into who participates, their roles and relations with other actors and the outcomes of participation.
Assessing readiness for lean thinking in healthcare settings: the case for Oman
Authors: Sohal Amrik , de Vass Tharaka , Singh Prakash , Al Balushi Shahid , Al Hajri Abdullah Said , Al Farsi Yahya , Al Arbi Rashid
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Healthcare provision is costly, and patient expectations are increasing. Lean implemented within healthcare settings is one possible solution for dealing with this issue, with much of the current research in this respect mostly focused on developed countries. The research examines the applicability of lean in the healthcare sector of a developing country, specifically Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 32 individuals representing four public sector hospitals, along with two major hospital suppliers and the Ministry of Health. The readiness of lean thinking was assessed against seven criteria. Data were then analyzed thematically.

Findings

The authors found that Oman's healthcare sector is strong on leadership support, understanding value and customer groups, ability to undertake an end-to-end process view and engaging in the required training for lean. Interviewees showed awareness of the challenges, including aligning lean with the strategic agenda of healthcare settings, aligning measurement and reward systems to lean thinking and matching demand and capacity levels. The authors conclude that Oman's healthcare sector is ready for widespread application of lean, and if executed successfully, will generate strong strategic and operational outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence of the applicability of lean in a very different context to the one that has been generally reported in the literature. The authors propose that lean thinking can be applied in countries and regions with similar cultural contexts such as the Middle East.
“What a lot of things I don’t need!”: consumption satiation, self-transcendence and consumer wisdom
Authors: Ganassali Stephane , Matysiewicz Justyna
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the conditions in which consumer wisdom emerges. Based on some theories of dynamic moral and needs development, the authors have designed a first model of consumer wisdom development process, taking consumption satiation (as a new concept) and self-transcendence as its possible antecedents.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted that collected 800 responses from 2 European countries with different levels of maturity with regard to consumption: France and Poland.

Findings

The authors find that consumption satiation is positively and significantly correlated with self-transcendence. Self-transcendence is positively and significantly correlated with consumer wisdom. Age seems to be partly operating as a moderating variable.

Research limitations/implications

The findings confirm that the occurrence of consumer wisdom may be partly explained by a dynamic process based on previous consumption experiences, resulting in a certain level of consumption satiation and the concomitant development of self-transcendence needs.

Practical implications

Government bodies, consumer advocacy groups and possibly corporate actors in Europe could promote consumer wisdom not only as an idealistic and benevolent attitude but as a true sign of maturity, personal accomplishment, well-being and success.

Originality/value

This research work studies new antecedents of emerging consumer wisdom, outside personal values and socio-demographics. The authors define and identify “consumption satiation” as one promising stage in the development process of wise, responsible consumer attitudes and behaviors.
Understanding the ecologically conscious behaviors of status motivated millennials
Authors: Eastman Jacqueline Kilsheimer , Iyer Rajesh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to test the relationship between millennials’ status motivation and their ecologically conscious consumer behavior (ECCB) and the mediating role of culture influencing this effect.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel of millennials was surveyed using established scales to measure their status motivation, cultural values and ECCB.

Findings

The findings demonstrate status motivation has a positive effect on millennials’ ECCB. The findings indicate that the cultural values of collectivism, power distance and masculinity mediate the relationship between status motivation and ECCB.

Research limitations/implications

This study looked at responses from one generation, millennials, in one country, the USA.

Practical implications

Status motivation can impact ECCB and cultural values mediate this relationship. Status motivation can directly impact ECCB, as well as work positively through the cultural values of collectivism and power distance and negatively through masculinity.

Social implications

The results suggest ECCB for status-motivated millennials is driven by both status motivation and their collectivism, power distance and masculinity. To encourage millennials’ ECCB, public policymakers and marketers should emphasize the social influences of sustainable behaviors and how these behaviors make them stand out from others who are not sustainable and target those who view women as equal to men.

Originality/value

This research examines how millennials’ status motivations impact their ecologically conscious behaviors both directly and through the mediating role of cultural values. This research contributes by answering the call for looking at the influence of cultural values on environmental behaviors. It offers a possible reason for the mixed findings previously in the literature regarding status and sustainability by illustrating status motivations may work both directly and through cultural values in influencing ECCB. Thus, it is one of the first studies to demonstrate culture’s mediating effect in the area of sustainability.
Instructional leadership in a centralized and competitive educational system: a qualitative meta-synthesis of research from Turkey
Authors: Gümüş Sedat , Hallinger Philip , Cansoy Ramazan , Bellibaş Mehmet Şükrü
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study sought to provide an understanding of what a culturally contextualized model of instructional leadership looks like in Turkey, and how this differs from models disseminated in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed qualitative meta-synthesis to systematically review the full set of 22 qualitative studies of instructional leadership in Turkey. A systematic synthesis strategy was applied to code the findings from each study to develop broad themes that describe key domains of principal instructional leadership practice.

Findings

The results showed that instructional leadership of school principals in Turkey is composed of four main dimensions and ten subdimensions. The main dimensions include: (1) emphasis on national goals and competition, (2) maintaining the learning environment, (3) motivating and enabling teachers, and (4) monitoring program alignment and test results.

Research limitations/implications

While broad dimensions of instructional leadership described in the international literature are relevant in Turkey, some practices used to enact those dimensions appear poorly aligned with the institutional–cultural context of Turkish schools. Thus, findings from this study support the assertion that the specific practices used to measure, assess and practice instructional leadership must be adapted to the context of a specific society.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to international efforts to develop a globally validated knowledge base in educational leadership and management.
Risk analysis of construction of administration projects using Bayesian networks
Authors: Osama Mohammad , Sherif Aly , Badawy Mohamed
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to enlighten the importance of the risk management process which is considered as a major procedure to effectively handle the potential inherent risks in the construction industry. However, most traditional risk analysis techniques are based on theories that deal with each risk factor as an independent, which does not take into consideration the causal relationships between risk factors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aspires to identify the overall risk of the administrative construction projects in Egypt and to recognize the most influencing risk factors through the project life cycle by using Bayesian belief networks (BBN). Through a review of the literature, 27 risk factors were identified and categorized as the most common risk factors in the construction industry. A structured questionnaire was performed to estimate the probability and severity of these risks. Through site visits and interviews with experts in the construction field, 200 valid questionnaires were collected. A risk analysis model was developed using BBNs, then the applicability of this model was verified using a case study in Egypt.

Findings

However, the outcome showed that critical risks that manipulate administrative construction projects in Egypt were corruption and bribery, contractor financial difficulties, force majeure, damage to the structure and defective material installation.

Practical implications

The proposed study presents the possibilities available to the project parties to obtain a better forecast of the project objectives, including the project duration, total project cost and the target quality by examining the causal relationships between project risks and project objectives.

Originality/value

This study aspires to identify the overall risk of the administrative construction projects in Egypt and to recognize the most influencing risk factors through the project life cycle by using BBNs.
Critical analysis of pandemic impact on AEC organizations: the COVID-19 case
Authors: King Sze Soon , Rahman Rahimi A. , Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Haron Ahmad Tarmizi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between COVID-19 pandemic impact and architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) organizations. To achieve that aim, the objectives are to: identify the critical pandemic impact (CPI) of COVID-19 on AEC organizations; compare the CPI between the different organization characteristics; and analyze the interrelationships between the CPI.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review of 519 articles and in-depth interviews with 40 AEC practitioners were carried out, yielding 12 COVID-19 impacts. Then, data on the 12 impact’s criticality were collected through a survey among AEC practitioners. In total, 127 valid responses were received and analyzed using mean ranking analysis, analysis of variance and Spearman’s correlation. The findings were also compared with pandemic impacts from prior works.

Findings

Five CPI exist among the 12 impacts, namely, “reduced construction productivity,” “reduced foreign investment in the construction industry,” “reduced demand on construction-related works,” “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced number of public projects.” “Reduced foreign investment in the construction industry” and “reduced demand on construction-related works” significantly impact small-medium enterprises than large enterprises. Also, “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced construction productivity” are recurring impacts in all countries compared. Finally, moderate relationships exist between “reduced foreign investment in the construction industry” and “reduced demand on construction-related works” and “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced construction productivity.”

Originality/value

The findings can be used to prioritize available resources in developing short-term responses for COVID-19. Also, action plans can be developed to mitigate the CPI from recurring.
Reconfigurable manufacturing system: a systematic review, meta-analysis and future research directions
Authors: Pansare Rajesh , Yadav Gunjan , Nagare Madhukar R.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Uncertainties in manufacturing and changing customer demands force manufacturing industries to adopt new strategies, such as the reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS). To improve the implementation and performance of RMS, it is necessary to review the available literature and identify future trends in this field. This paper aims to analyze existing literature and to see trends in RMS-related research.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic literature review and analysis of RMS-related research papers from 1999 to 2020 is carried out in this literature. The selected studies are analyzed based on the year of publication, journals, publishers, active authors, research design, countries, enablers, barriers, performance evaluation parameters and universities.

Findings

After the analysis of selected RMS-related research papers, the top countries, universities, journals, publishers and authors are identified in this domain. Research themes and trends in research are identified in this study. Besides, it has been noted that there is a need for further research in this domain and for the creation of a generalized framework that can guide researchers and practitioners to increase RMS adoption.

Practical implications

Research insights, guidance and observations from this paper are provided to RMS-related researchers and practitioners. Important research gaps are identified in this study, which can provide direction for future research and trends in RMS research.

Originality/value

The study presented focuses mainly on the method of collecting, organizing, capturing, interpreting and analyzing data to provide more insight into RMS to identify future trends in research.
Factors associated with the voluntary disclosure of the integrated report in Brazil
Authors: Fernandes Ruhama Bezerra , Barbosa Alexandro
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the factors associated with the voluntary disclosure of integrated reporting (IR) in Brazil of the companies listed on the stock exchange – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão. The cultural dimensions of a nation reflect different priorities in accounting practices. The Brazilian case, therefore, becomes significant, as Brazil is increasingly important in world markets.

Design/methodology/approach

As an explanatory econometric model, multinomial logistic regression was used (Y = 2 to describe the probability of the IR disclosure; Y = 1 to describe the occurrence of reports with practices similar to the IR and Y = 0 to describe the occurrence of non-disclosure of non-financial reports). Applied to panel data with random effects (chosen for best performance) in the period from 2016 to 2019.

Findings

Reveals the positive association of the company’s profitability and market-to-book with the probability of the IR disclosure. Regarding the board composition, it is suggested that size does not make a difference, with the greater participation of women and independence of directors associated with better probabilities of adopting the IR in Brazil.

Originality/value

This work is the first to characterize the Brazilian reality of voluntary disclosure, specifying the implementation of IR, compared to publishing reports similar to the IR and not reporting structured non-financial statements. It can also be considered the first study on the relevance of the board structure in the disclosure of IR by Brazilian companies. Finally, it contributes to the literature on IR adoption, bringing practical results in understanding the most favorable conditions in which the IR framework will be fully implemented.
Achieving shared understanding in chronic care interactions: the role of caregivers
Authors: Bigi Sarah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Within the context of a research program on the most relevant discourse types in chronic care medical encounters, this contribution reports on a qualitative study on the role caregivers play within the process of shared understanding occurring between health-care professionals and elderly patients. The purpose of the paper is to highlight one dimension of such complexity, by bringing to light the challenges connected to the achievement of shared understanding between health-care professionals and elderly patients when caregivers are involved in the conversation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on a two-step analysis of a corpus of transcripts of interactions in diabetes and hypertension settings. In the first step, caregivers’ contributions to deliberative sequences have been analyzed. In the second step, the analysis was extended to caregivers’ contributions to the whole encounter.

Findings

The results show that professionals’ ability to engage caregivers in deliberations during the encounter and, more generally, to assign a role to caregivers as legitimate participants in the consultation may favor the smooth development of the interaction and an effective process of shared understanding among all participants.

Originality/value

The paper further develops original research about the functions of the argumentative component in dialogues occurring in clinical settings.
Indirect effects mediate direct effects of climate warming on insect disturbance regimes of temperate broadleaf forests in the central U.S.
Authors: Duan Shengwu , He Hong S. , Spetich Martin A. , Wang Wen J. , Fraser Jacob S. , Thompson Frank R.
Published: August 2021

Climate warming directly affects insect disturbance regimes by altering temperature‐dependent population development. Indirect effects of climate change on insect disturbance may mediate or accelerate direct effects via vegetation feedback (e.g. host tree demographic dynamics). However, such indirect effects have rarely been incorporated in predicting insect disturbance regimes.

We included both direct and indirect effects in a forest landscape modelling framework to simulate red oak borer [ROB, Enaphalodes rufulus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)] disturbance regimes under a warming climate from 2000 to 2150 in the Central Hardwood Forests, U.S. We quantified effect sizes and relative importance of direct effects and indirect effects of warming climate on the ROB disturbance using a factorial experimental design and two‐way ANOVA.

Both direct and indirect effects acted positively in the short and medium term (e.g. 0–100 years) while the effect size of indirect effects changed over time from positive (+30.9 kha) to negative (−17.3 kha) and mediated the positive direct effects in the long term (e.g. 100–150 years).

Direct effects had greater influence than indirect effects on ROB disturbed areas in the short term (e.g. <50 years), whereas indirect effects were more important (ω2 = 0.38 vs. 0.26) in the long term. This was because the host tree abundance significantly declined over time under warming climates, which decreased the forest susceptibility to ROB and thus overrode the outbreak‐promoting effects of warming climates in the long term.

Synthesis and applications. This study reveals indirect effects of warming climates mediate direct effects on insect disturbance regimes by altering primary host tree demographic dynamics. We highlight that indirect effects are important in understanding insect disturbance regimes under warming climates as they may mediate or even reverse the expectation of increased insect disturbance. Long‐term predictions of insect disturbance without considering indirect effects may overestimate its impacts under warming climates. Our findings also indicate that different management interventions are required at different time‐scales to maintain oak forests' health and sustainability in the U.S. central temperate broadleaf forests.
Local management or wider context: What determines the value of farm revegetation plantings for birds?
Authors: Haslem Angie , Clarke Rohan H. , Holland Greg J. , Radford James Q. , Stewart Alistair , Bennett Andrew F.
Published: August 2021

Small‐scale revegetation plantings on farms are common to restoration efforts in agricultural regions worldwide. Such plantings provide habitat for diverse faunal groups. A key question concerns the degree to which their value for biodiversity is influenced by the features of individual plantings, which can be controlled by local land managers, or by broader‐scale drivers in the wider landscape.

We developed a conceptual model of factors of potential influence on birds in revegetation plantings at different spatial scales. To test this model, we surveyed native birds in 133 plantings in south‐eastern Australia. Regression models were used to compare the effect of ‘habitat‐’, ‘patch‐’, ‘farm‐’ and ‘landscape‐’ scale variables on species richness (of woodland and open country birds) and the occurrence of individual species in plantings. We further tested whether the influence of variables representing local actions was swamped by larger‐scale variables.

Birds that occupied plantings were influenced by variables at all scales. Woodland birds were consistently richer and more likely to use older plantings (patch scale) with higher floristic richness (habitat scale), and surrounded by more wooded vegetation (at patch, farm and landscape scales). Open country species responded positively to the density of live trees (habitat scale) and the presence of large remnant tree/s (patch scale) in plantings.

Variables representing local management actions generally maintained a strong influence on birds in plantings irrespective of the influence of broader drivers. Few relationships between bird species and planting attributes were contingent on features of the surrounding landscape; those that were suggested woodland birds are more responsive to local actions when broad‐scale vegetation cover is greater.

Synthesis and applications. Land managers can enhance the conservation value of plantings by (a) planting a greater diversity of trees and shrubs and (b) locating revegetation near other vegetation or around mature remnant tree/s. These actions will measurably increase the value of plantings for birds, irrespective of larger‐scale drivers. Nonetheless, the important role of increased vegetation cover across broader agricultural landscapes emphasises that the collective efforts of individuals and larger initiatives are critical for conservation.
The renal excretory responses to acute renal interstitial angiotensin (1–7) infusion in anaesthetised spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Barry Elaine F. , O'Neill Julie , Abdulla Mohammed H. , Johns Edward J.
Published: August 2021

This study investigated the impact of intrarenal angiotensin 1–7 (Ang [1–7]) infusion on renal excretory function in a rat model of hypertension. Eleven‐week‐old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs, n = 7) and Han Wistar controls (NCR, n = 7) were anaesthetised with sodium pentobarbital (60 mg/kg i.p.) and prepared for the measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and left renal function during renal interstitial infusion of Ang (1–7) (50 ng/min). The kidneys were harvested, the renal cortex and medulla separated, prepared for measurement of Ang II and Ang (1–7) and Western blot determination of AT1 and Mas receptor protein expression. MAP, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow (UF) and absolute sodium excretion (UNaV) were 109 ± 16 mmHg, 4.4 ± 1.0 mL/min/kg, 102 ± 16 µL/min/kg and 16 ± 3 µmol/min/kg, respectively in the NCR and 172 ± 24 mmHg, 3.4 ± 0.7 mL/min/kg, 58 ± 30 μL/min/kg and 8.6 ± 4.8 μmol/min/kg respectively in the SHR. Ang (1–7) increased UF (31%), UNaV (50%) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa+) (22%) in the NCR group (all p < 0.05) but had no effect on GFR in either group. The magnitudes of the Ang (1–7)‐induced increases in UF and UNaV were significantly blunted in the SHR group (model × drug p < 0.05). The renal cortical AT1: Mas receptor expression ratio was significantly higher in the SHR group (p < 0.05) but renal Ang II and Ang (1–7) levels were not statistically different between groups. The Ang (1–7)‐induced increases in sodium and water excretion were impaired in the SHR group in the context of an unstimulated RAS. The decrease in responsiveness of the SHR kidney to Ang (1–7) appears to be associated with higher levels of AT1 receptor expression in the renal cortex.
As You Were: The Scottish Parliament Election of 2021
Authors: Johns Robert
Published: August 2021

The Scottish Parliament election of May 2021 was an ‘as you were’ election. Vote shares were more or less as in the previous election five years earlier. Barely any seats changed hands and the Scottish National Party (SNP) was left tantalisingly short of a majority. One reason for this stasis is that voting in Scottish elections remains largely an expression of support or opposition to independence—and opinions on that issue are deeply entrenched. Opinions on most other issues, like the pandemic or the Alex Salmond scandal, were mostly driven by constitutional preferences and certainly could not override them. Only Brexit had the power to shift significant numbers of votes. However, because the Conservatives lost Remainers while gaining Leavers and the reverse was true of the SNP, the net result was little change. The entrenchment and polarisation over independence means that this election was never likely to break the constitutional deadlock—and it did not surprise.