bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hierarchical Anti-Hebbian Network Model for the Formation of Spatial Cells in Three-Dimensional Space
Authors: Soman Karthik , Chakravarthy Srinivasa , Yartsev Michael M.
Published: February 2018

Three dimensional (3D) spatial cells in the mammalian hippocampalformationare believed to support the existence of 3D cognitive maps. Modeling studies are crucial to comprehend the neural principles governing the formation of these maps, yet to date very few have addressed this topic in 3D space. Here, we present a hierarchical network model for the formation of 3D spatial cells using anti-hebbian network. Built on empirical data, the model accounts for the natural emergence of 3D place, border and grid-cells as well as a new type of previously undescribed spatial cell type which we call plane cells. It further explains the plausible reason behind the place and grid-cell anisotropic coding that has been observed in rodents and the potential discrepancy with the predicted periodic coding during 3D volumetric navigation. Lastly, it provides evidence for the importance of unsupervised learning rules in guiding the formation of higher dimensional cognitive maps.
Pre-pregnant obesity of mothers in a multi-ethnic cohort is associated with cord blood metabolomic changes in offspring
Authors: Schlueter Ryan J. , Al-Akwaa Fadhl M. , Benny Paula A. , Gurary Alexandra , Xie Guoxiang , Jia Wei , Chun Shaw J. , Chern Ingrid , Garmire Lana X.
Published: February 2018

Maternal obesity has become a growing global health concern that may predispose the offspring to medical conditions later in life. However, the metabolic link between maternal pre-pregnant obesity and healthy offspring has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a case-control study using coupled untargeted and targeted metabolomics approach, from the newborn cord blood metabolomes associated with a matched maternal pre-pregnant obesity cohort of 28 cases and 29 controls. The subjects were recruited from multi-ethnic populations in Hawaii, including rarely reported Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI). We found that maternal obesity was the most important factor contributing to differences in cord blood metabolomics. Using elastic net regularization based logistic regression model, we identified 29 metabolites as potential early-life biomarkers manifesting intrauterine effect of maternal obesity, with accuracy as high as 0.947 after adjusting for clinical confounding (maternal and paternal age and ethnicity, parity and gravidity). We validated the model results in a subsequent set of samples (N=30) with an accuracy of 0.822. Among the metabolites, six metabolites (galactonic acid, butenylcarnitine, 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, phosphatidylcholine diacyl C40:3, 1,5-anhydrosorbitol, and phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl 40:3) were individually and significantly different between the maternal obese vs. norm-weight groups. Interestingly, Hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid showed significnatly higher levels in cord blood from the NHPI group, compared to asian and caucasian groups. In summary, significant associations were observed between maternal pre-pregnant obesity and offspring metabolomics alternation at birth, revealing the inter-generational impact of maternal obesity.
Multisensory perception reflects individual differences in processing temporal correlations
Authors: Nidiffer Aaron R. , Diederich Adele , Ramachandran Ramnarayan , Wallace Mark T.
Published: February 2018

Sensory signals originating from a single event, such as audiovisual speech, are temporally correlated. Correlated signals are known to facilitate multisensory integration and binding. We sought to further elucidate the nature of this relationship, hypothesizing that multisensory perception will vary with the strength of audiovisual correlation. Human participants detected near-threshold amplitude modulations in auditory and/or visual stimuli. During audiovisual trials, the frequency and phase of auditory modulations were varied, producing signals with a range of correlations. After accounting for individual differences which likely reflect relative temporal processing abilities of participants’ auditory and visual systems, we found that multisensory perception varied linearly with strength of correlation. Diffusion modelling confirmed this and revealed that correlation is supplied to the decisional system as sensory evidence. These data implicate correlation as an important cue in audiovisual feature integration and binding and suggest correlational strength as an important factor for flexibility in these processes.
Characterizing the 3D structure and dynamics of chromosomes and proteins in a common contact matrix framework
Authors: Lindsay Richard J. , Pham Bill , Shen Tongye , McCord Rachel Patton
Published: February 2018

Any conformational ensemble of biopolymers, whether they are proteins or chromosomes, can be described using contact matrices derived from experimental or computational studies. One powerful approach to extract meaningful information from these contact matrices is to perform principal component analysis (PCA) on the covariance matrix of the contact data. Indeed, PCA on Hi-C chromosome contact matrices has revealed the spatial segregation of active and inactive chromatin. Separately, PCA on contact matrices from snapshots of protein conformations has characterized correlated fluctuations of protein domains. However, despite the similarities of these data and analyses, there has been little synergy between the PCA approaches and the comparison of resulting biological insights obtained for protein and chromosome structures. We note that, to date, different styles of analyses were applied exclusively to each biomolecule type: explicit contact correlation analysis (E-PCA) for proteins and implicit contact correlation (I-PCA) for chromosomes. In this work, we compare the results of applying both methods to both classes of biopolymers. While I-PCA reveals only average features of 3D chromosome structure, we find that applying E-PCA to an ensemble of chromosome structures from microscopy data reveals the dominant motion (concerted fluctuation) of the chromosome. Applying E-PCA to Hi-C data across the human blood cell lineage isolates the aspects of chromosome structure that most strongly differentiate cell types. Conversely, when we apply I-PCA to simulation snapshots of two protein complexes, the major component reports the consensus features of the structure, while the previously applied E-PCA characterizes correlated deviations from the mean structure.
Continuous flash suppression and monocular pattern masking impact subjective awareness similarly
Authors: Knotts J.D. , Lau Hakwan , Peters Megan A. K.
Published: February 2018

Peters & Lau (2015) found that when criterion bias is controlled for, there is no evidence for unconscious visual perception in normal observers, in the sense that they cannot directly discriminate a target above chance without knowing it. One criticism of that study is that the visual suppression method used, forward and backward masking (FBM), may be too blunt in the way it interferes with visual processing to allow for unconscious forced-choice discrimination. To investigate this question we compared FBM directly to continuous flash suppression (CFS) in a two-interval forced choice task. Although CFS is popular, and may be thought of as a more powerful visual suppression technique, we found no difference in the degree of perceptual impairment between the two suppression types. To the extent that CFS impairs perception, both objective discrimination and subjective awareness are impaired to similar degrees under FBM. This pattern was consistently observed across 3 experiments in which various experimental parameters were varied. These findings provide evidence for an ongoing debate about unconscious perception: normal observers cannot perform forced-choice discrimination tasks unconsciously.
Modeling Uncertainty in Grapevine Powdery Mildew Epidemiology Using Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Choudhury R. A. , Mahaffee W. F. , McRoberts N. , Gubler W. D.
Published: February 2018

Powdery mildew is the most important disease of grapevines worldwide. Despite the potential for rapid spread by the causal pathogen, grape powdery mildew has been effectively managed using fungicide applications applied based on a calendar schedule or modeled disease risk index. Various epidemiological models for predicting disease development or risk have helped to improve disease management. The Gubler-Thomas (GT) risk index is a popular disease risk model used by many growers in the western U.S. We modified the GT risk index using fuzzy logic to address both biological and mechanical uncertainty in the pathosystem. The spraying schedule suggested by the fuzzy-modified GT risk index was tested in eight site-years. Overall, the fuzzy-modified risk index maintained comparable levels of disease control as both the original model and a calendar based treatment, and had significantly less disease than the untreated control. The fungicide use efficiency of the fuzzy-modified GT risk index suggests that the updated risk index was significantly more efficient with fungicide applications than both the calendar and original GT risk index.
A Convenient Non-harm Cervical Spondylosis Intelligent Identity method based on Machine Learning
Authors: Wang Nana , Huang Xi , Rao Yi , Xiao Jing , Lu Jiahui , Wang Nian , Cui Li
Published: February 2018

Cervical spondylosis(CS), a most common orthopedic diseases, is mainly identified by the doctor’s judgment from the clinical symptoms and cervical change provided by expensive instruments in hospital. Owing to the development of the surface electromyography(sEMG) technique and artificial intelligence, we proposed a convenient non-harm CS intelligent identify method EasiCNCSII, including the sEMG data acquisition and the CS identification. For the convenience and efficiency of data acquisition with the limited testable muscles provided by the sEMG technology, we proposed a data acquisition method based on the relationship between muscle activity pattern, the tendons theory and CS etiology. It is easily performed in less than 20 minutes, even outside the hospital. Faced with the challenge of high-dimension and the weak availability, the 3-tier model EasiAI is developed to intelligently identify CS. The common features and new features are extracted from raw sEMG data in first tier. The EasiRF is proposed in second tier to further reduce the data dimension and improve the performance. With the limited and weakly available data, the gradient boosted regression tree is developed in third tier to effectively identify CS. The EasiAI achieve the best performance with 91.02% in accuracy, 97.14% in sensitivity, and 81.43% in specificity compared with 4 common machine learning classification model, validating the EasiCNCSII effectiveness.
Hawkmoth flight in the unsteady wakes of flowers
Authors: Matthews Megan , Sponberg Simon
Published: February 2018

Flying animals maneuver and hover through environments where wind gusts and flower wakes produce unsteady flow. Although both flight maneuvers and aerodynamic mechanisms have been studied independently, little is known about how these interact in an environment where flow is already unsteady. Moths forage from flowers by hovering in the flower’s wake. We investigate hawkmoths tracking a 3D-printed robotic flower in a wind tunnel. We visualize the flow in the wake and around the wings and compare tracking performance to previous experiments in a still air flight chamber. Like in still air, moths flying in the flower wake exhibit near perfect tracking at low frequencies where natural flowers move. However, tracking in the flower wake results in a larger overshoot between 2-5 Hz. System identification of flower tracking reveals that moths also display reduced-order dynamics in wind, compared to still air. Smoke visualization of the flower wake shows that the dominant vortex shedding corresponds to the same frequency band as the increased overshoot. Despite these large effects on tracking dynamics in wind, the leading edge vortex (LEV) remains bound to the wing throughout the wingstroke and does not burst. The LEV also maintains the same qualitative structure seen in steady air. Persistence of a stable LEV during decreased flower tracking demonstrates the interplay between hovering and maneuvering.

Summary statement

We examined how moths maneuver in the wake of flowers and discover that flower tracking dynamics are simplified compared to still air, while the leading edge vortex does not burst and extends continuously across the wings and thorax.
An integrated approach to comprehensively map the molecular context of proteins
Authors: Liu Xiaonan , Salokas Kari , Tamene Fitsum , Varjosalo Markku
Published: February 2018

Protein-protein interactions underlie almost all cellular functions. The comprehensive mapping of these complex cellular networks of stable and transient associations has been made available by affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) and more recently by proximity based labelling methods such as BioID. Due the advancements in both methods and MS instrumentation, an in-depth analysis of the whole human proteome is at grasps. In order to facilitate this, we designed and optimized an integrated approach utilizing MAC-tag combining both AP-MS and BioID in a single construct. We systematically applied this approach to 18 subcellular localization markers and generated a molecular context database, which can be used to define molecular locations for any protein of interest. In addition, we show that by combining the AP-MS and BioID results we can also obtain interaction distances within a complex. Taken together, our combined strategy offers comprehensive approach for mapping physical and functional protein interactions.
Transgenerational inheritance of shuffled symbiont communities in the coral Montipora digitata
Authors: Quigley Kate M. , Willis Bette L. , Kenkel Carly D.
Published: February 2018

Adult organisms may “prime” their offspring for environmental change through a number of genetic and non-genetic mechanisms, termed parental effects. Some coral species can alter their thermal tolerance by shuffling the proportions of Symbiodinium types within their endosymbiotic communities, but it is unclear if this plasticity can be transferred to offspring in corals that have maternal symbiont transmission. We evaluated symbiont community composition in tagged colonies of Montipora digitata from Orpheus Island, Australia, over two successive annual spawning seasons, the second of which overlapped with the 2016 mass coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. We applied amplicon sequencing of the ITS2 locus to samples of four families (parent colonies and 10-12 eggs per family) to characterize their potential for symbiont shuffling and to determine if shuffled abundances were preserved in gametes. Symbiont cell densities and photochemical efficiencies of the symbionts’ photosystem II differed significantly among adults in 2016, suggesting differential responses to increased temperatures. Although abundances of the dominant symbiont haplotype, a representative of clade C15, did not differ among families or over time, low-abundance (“background”) ITS2 types differed more among years (2015 vs. 2016) than between life stages (parent vs. offspring). Results indicate that background symbiont shuffling can occur in a canonically ‘stable’ symbiosis, and that such plastic changes to the symbiont community are heritable. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that shuffled Symbiodinium communities can be inherited by early life-history stages and supports the hypothesis that plastic changes in microbial communities may serve as a mechanism of rapid coral acclimation to changing environmental conditions.
Morphometric analysis of spread platelets identifies integrin αIIbβ3-specific contractile phenotype
Authors: Lickert Sebastian , Sorrentino Simona , Studt Jan-Dirk , Medalia Ohad , Vogel Viola , Schoen Ingmar
Published: February 2018

Haemostatic platelet function is intimately linked to cellular mechanics and cytoskeletal morphology. How cytoskeletal reorganizations give rise to a highly contractile phenotype that is necessary for clot contraction remains poorly understood. To elucidate this processin vitro, we developed a morphometric screen to quantify the spatial organization of actin fibres and vinculin adhesion sites in single spread platelets. Platelets from healthy donors predominantly adopted a bipolar morphology on fibrinogen and fibronectin, whereas distinguishable, more isotropic phenotypes on collagen type I or laminin. Specific integrin αIIbβ3inhibitors induced an isotropic cytoskeletal organization in a dose-dependent manner. The same trend was observed with decreasing matrix stiffness. Circular F-actin arrangements in platelets from a patient with type II Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) were consistent with the residual activity of a small number of αIIbβ3integrins. Cytoskeletal morphologiesin vitrocan thus inform about platelet adhesion receptor identity and functionality, and integrin αIIbβ3mechanotransduction fundamentally determines the adoption of a highly contractile bipolar phenotype. Super-resolution microscopy and electron microscopies further confirmed the stress fibre-like contractile actin architecture. For the first time, our assay allows the unbiased and quantitative assessment of platelet morphologies and could help to identify defective platelet contractility contributing to elusive bleeding phenotypes.
A long-chain fatty acid elongase Elovl6 regulates mechanical damage–induced keratinocyte death and skin inflammation
Authors: Nakamura Yoshiyuki , Matsuzaka Takashi , Tahara-Hanaoka Satoko , Shibuya Kazuko , Shimano Hitoshi , Nakahashi-Oda Chigusa , Shibuya Akira
Published: February 2018

Mechanical damage on the skin not only affect the barrier function but also induce various immune responses, which trigger or exacerbate the inflammation in healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory skin diseases. However, how mechanical damage-induced skin inflammation is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we show that mechanical damage due to tape stripping triggered keratinocyte death and release of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1) and IL-1α, which induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL-1β and CXCL-1 by keratinocytes in mice. We also show that a long-chain fatty acid elongase Elovl6 is expressed in keratinocytes. Mice deficient in Elovl6 had increased epidermal levels of cis-vaccenic acid (CVA); this accelerated keratinocyte death triggered by tape stripping and release of DAMPs and exacerbated skin inflammation. Our results demonstrate that Elovl6 regulates mechanical damage–triggered keratinocyte death and skin inflammation.
Empirical Bayes Meets Information Theoretical Network Reconstruction from Single Cell Data
Authors: Chan Thalia E. , Pallaseni Ananth V. , Babtie Ann C. , McEwen Kirsten R. , Stumpf Michael P.H.
Published: February 2018

Gene expression is controlled by networks of transcription factors and regulators, but the structure of these networks is as yet poorly understood and is thus inferred from data. Recent work has shown the efficacy of information theoretical approaches for network reconstruction from single cell transcriptomic data. Such methods use information to estimate dependence between every pair of genes in the dataset, then edges are inferred between top-scoring pairs. Dependence, however, does not indicate significance, and the definition of “top-scoring” is often arbitrary and apriorirelated to expected network size. This makes comparing networks across datasets difficult, because networks of a similar size are not necessarily similarly accurate. We present a method for performing formal hypothesis tests on putative network edges derived from information theory, bringing together empirical Bayes and work on theoretical null distributions for information measures. Thresholding based on empirical Bayes allows us to control network accuracy according to how we intend to use the network. Using single cell data from mouse pluripotent stem cells, we recover known interactions and suggest several new interactions for experimental validation (using a stringent threshold) and discover high-level interactions between sub-networks (using a more relaxed threshold). Furthermore, our method allows for the inclusion of prior information. We usein-silicodata to show that even relatively poor quality prior information can increase the accuracy of a network, and demonstrate that the accuracy of networks inferred from single cell data can sometimes be improved by priors from population-level ChIP-Seq and qPCR data.
Neo-formation of chromosomes in bacteria
Authors: Poirion Olivier B. , Lafay Bénédicte
Published: February 2018

Although the bacterial secondary chromosomes/megaplasmids/chromids, first noticed about forty years ago, are commonly held to originate from stabilized plasmids, their true nature and definition are yet to be resolved. On the premise that the integration of a replicon within the cell cycle is key to deciphering its essential nature, we show that the content in genes involved in the replication, partition and segregation of the replicons and in the cell cycle discriminates the bacterial replicons into chromosomes, plasmids, and another class of essential genomic elements that function as chromosomes. These latter do not derive directly from plasmids. Rather, they arise from the fission of a multi-replicon molecule corresponding to the co-integrated and rearranged ancestral chromosome and plasmid. All essential replicons in a distributed genome are thus neochromosomes. Having a distributed genome appears to extend and accelerate the exploration of the bacterial genome evolutionary landscape, producing complex regulation and leading to novel eco-phenotypes and species diversification.
The histone chaperone FACT coordinates H2A.X-dependent signaling and repair of DNA damage
Authors: Piquet Sandra , Parc Florent Le , Bai Siau-Kun , Chevallier Odile , Adam Salomé , Polo Sophie E.
Published: February 2018

Safeguarding cell function and identity following a genotoxic stress challenge entails a tight coordination of DNA damage signaling and repair with chromatin maintenance. How this coordination is achieved and with what impact on chromatin integrity remains elusive. Here, by investigating the mechanisms governing the distribution of H2A.X in mammalian chromatin, we demonstrate that this histone variant is deposited de novo at sites of DNA damage in a repair synthesis-coupled manner. Our mechanistic studies further identify the histone chaperone FACT (Facilitates Chromatin Transcription) as responsible for the deposition of newly synthesized H2A.X. Functionally, FACT potentiates H2A.X-dependent signaling of DNA damage and, together with ANP32E (Acidic Nuclear Phosphoprotein 32 Family Member E), orchestrates a H2A.Z/H2A.X exchange reaction that reshapes the chromatin landscape at repair sites. We propose that this mechanism promotes chromatin accessibility and helps tailoring DNA damage signaling to repair progression.

HIGHLIGHTS

H2A.X, but not H2A.Z, is deposited de novo at sites of DNA damage repair

FACT promotes new H2A.X deposition coupled to repair synthesis

FACT and ANP32E chaperones orchestrate H2A.Z/H2A.X exchange in damaged chromatin

FACT stimulates H2A.X-dependent signaling of DNA damage
Motif Scraper: A cross-platform, open-source tool for identifying degenerate nucleotide motif matches in FASTA files
Authors: Roberson Elisha D. O.
Published: February 2018

Many genomic features are defined not by exact sequence matches, but by degenerate nucleotide motifs that represent multiple compatible matches. While there are databases cataloging genomic features, such as the location of transcription factor motifs, for commonly used model species, identifying the locations of novel motifs, known motifs in non-model genomes, or known motifs in personal whole-genomes is difficult. I designed motif scraper to overcome this limitation, allowing for efficient, multiprocessor motif searches in any FASTA file.
TheC. elegansheterochronic genelin-28coordinates the timing of hypodermal and somatic gonadal programs for hermaphrodite reproductive system morphogenesis
Authors: Choi Sungwook , Ambros Victor
Published: February 2018

C. elegansheterochronic genes determine the timing of expression of specific cell fates in particular stages of developing larva. However, their broader roles in coordinating developmental events across diverse tissues has been less well investigated. Here, we show that loss oflin-28, a central heterochronic regulator of hypodermal development, causes reduced fertility associated with abnormal somatic gonad morphology. In particular, the abnormal spermatheca-uterine valve morphology oflin-28(lf)hermaphrodites trap embryos in the spermatheca, which disrupts ovulation and causes embryonic lethality. The same genes that act downstream oflin-28in the regulation of hypodermal developmental timing also act downstream oflin-28in somatic gonad morphogenesis and fertility. Importantly, we find that hypodermal expression, but not somatic gonadal expression, oflin-28is sufficient for restoring normal somatic gonad morphology inlin-28(lf)mutants. We propose that the abnormal somatic gonad morphogenesis oflin-28(lf)hermaphrodites results from temporal discoordination between the accelerated hypodermal development and normally timed somatic gonad development. Thus, our findings exemplify how a cell-intrinsic developmental timing program can also control cell non-autonomous signaling critical for proper development of other interacting tissues.
Isomerism in double-pillared-layer coordination polymers – structures and photoreactivity
Authors: Park In-Hyeok , Ju Huiyeong , Kim Kihwan , Lee Shim Sung , Vittal Jagadese J.
Published: February 2018

The existence of isomerism in coordination polymeric structures offers opportunities to understand structure–function relationships. Herein the serendipitous isolation is reported of two isomeric double-pillared-layer coordination polymeric structures arising from two different types of carboxylate bonding of benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate ligands to zinc(II), which constitutes a new type of structural isomerism. The different bonding modes not only alter the shape and size of the pores, but also the nature of interpenetration and photoreactivity. Although twotrans,cis,trans-bpeb ligands with conjugated olefin bonds are aligned in close proximity in both of the structures, one isomer undergoes a double [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and the second isomer only offers an incomplete single cycloaddition product. This work demonstrates how small changes in the structural connectivity can have an impact on the overall structural, physical and chemical properties of such materials.
3,4-Lutidinium salts with the diiodidoaurate(I) anion: structure of [(3,4-lut)2H]+·[AuI2]−and of two polymorphs of [(3,4-lut)2H+]2·[AuI2]−·I−
Authors: Döring Cindy , Sui Zhihong , Jones Peter G.
Published: February 2018

Reactions between potassium tetraiodidoaurate(III) and pyridine (py, C5H5N) or 3,4-lutidine (3,4-dimethylpyridine, 3,4-lut, C7H9N) were tested as possible sources of azaaromatic complexes of gold(III) iodide, but all identifiable products contained gold(I). The previously known structure dipyridinegold(I) diiodidoaurate(I), [Au(py)2]+·[AuI2]−, (3) [Adamset al.(1982).Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem.485, 81–91], was redetermined at 100 K. The reactions with 3,4-lutidine gave three different types of crystal in small quantities. 3,4-Dimethylpyridine–3,4-dimethylpyridinium diiodidoaurate(I), [(3,4-lut)2H]+·[AuI2]−, (1), consists of an [AuI2]−anion on a general position and two [(3,4-lut)2H]+cations across twofold axes. Bis(3,4-dimethylpyridine–3,4-dimethylpyridinium) diiodidoaurate(I) iodide, [(3,4-lut)2H+]2·[AuI2]−·I−, (2), crystallizes as two polymorphs, each forming pseudosymmetric inversion twins, in the space groupsP21andPc(but resemblingP21/mandP2/c), respectively. These are essentially identical layer structures differing only in their stacking patterns and thus might be regarded as polytypes.
Virtual reality as integration environments for facilities management
Authors: Carreira Paulo , Castelo Tiago , Gomes Cristina Caramelo , Ferreira Alfredo , Ribeiro Cláudia , Costa Antonio Aguiar
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of virtual reality environments (VRE) for maintenance activities by augmenting a virtual facility representation and integrating relevant information regarding the status of systems and the space itself, while providing simple ways to control them.

Design/methodology/approach

The research focuses in the implementation of a VRE prototype of a building management system using game engine technologies. To evaluate the prototype, a usability study has been conducted that contrasts the virtual reality interface with a corresponding legacy application showing the users perception in terms of productivity improvement of facilities management (FM) tasks.

Findings

The usability tests conducted indicated that VREs have the potential to increase the productivity in maintenance tasks. Users without training demonstrated a high degree of engagement and performance operating a VRE interface, when compared with that of a legacy application. The potential drop in user time and increase in engagement with a VRE will eventually translate into lower cost and to an increase in quality.

Originality/value

To date no commonly accepted data model has been proposed to serve as the integrated data model to support facility operation. Although BIM models have gained increased acceptance in architecture engineering and construction activities they are not fully adequate to support data exchange in the post-handover (operation) phase. The presented research developed and tested a prototype able to handle and integrate data in a flexible and dynamic way, which is essential in management activities underlying FM.
Grey relational analysis for the AQI of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang and related countermeasures
Authors: Fu Bin , Gao Xiao Hui , Wu Lifeng
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship among the air quality index (AQI) of Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang region and find countermeasures to control the pollution situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the grey convex relation model to calculate the grey correlation degree through the AQI of Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang region.

Findings

By analyzing the calculation results among the three cities, it was concluded that the air quality of the three cities is closely related. Therefore, the Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang region should collaboratively improve the air quality for common development.

Research limitations/implications

More approaches may be adopted to calculate the grey correlation degree in the further research studies.

Practical implications

There exist some practical difficulties in implementing these governance measures.

Originality/value

The paper gives the countermeasures to control the pollution situation in Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang region.
Witch-hunting, Cultural Revolution and the bright side of kinship
Authors: Deng Feng
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Many studies on witch killings in Africa suggest that “witchcraft is the dark side of kinship.” But in Chinese history, where patriarchal clan system has been emphasized as the foundation of the society, there have been few occurrences of witch-hunting except a large-scale one in the Cultural Revolution in 1966. The purpose of this paper is to explain the above two paradoxes.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical analysis based on preference falsification problem with regard to the effect of social structure on witch-hunting is carried out.

Findings

There is a “bright side of kinship” due to two factors: first, it would be more difficult to pick out a person as qualitatively different in Chinese culture; second, the hierarchical trust structure embedded in the Chinese culture can help mitigate the preference falsification problem, which acts as the leverage for witch-hunting. In this sense, an important factor for the Cultural Revolution is the decline of traditional social institutions and social values after 1949.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to advance the two paradoxes and offer an explanation from the perspective of social structure.
Combining BP with PSO algorithms in weights optimisation and ANNs training for mass appraisal of properties
Authors: Yacim Joseph Awoamim , Boshoff Douw Gert Brand
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the application of particle swarm optimisation and back propagation in weights optimisation and training of artificial neural networks within the mass appraisal industry and to compare the performance with standalone back propagation, genetic algorithm with back propagation and regression models.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilised linear regression modelling before the semi-log and log-log models with a sample of 3,242 single-family dwellings. This was followed by the hybrid systems in the selection of optimal attribute weights and training of the artificial neural networks. Also, the standalone back propagation algorithm was used for the network training, and finally, the performance of each model was evaluated using accuracy test statistics.

Findings

The study found that combining particle swarm optimisation with back propagation in global and local search for attribute weights enhances the predictive accuracy of artificial neural networks. This also enhances transparency of the process, because it shows relative importance of attributes.

Research limitations/implications

A robust assessment of the models’ predictive accuracy was inhibited by fewer accuracy test statistics found in the software. The research demonstrates the efficacy of combining two models in the assessment of property values.

Originality/value

This work demonstrated the practicability of combining particle swarm optimisation with back propagation algorithms in finding optimal weights and training of the artificial neural networks within the mass appraisal environment.
Technological appropriations as workarounds
Authors: Barrett Ashley Katherine
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to further adaptive structuration theory (AST) by associating technological appropriations with health information technology workarounds. The author argues that appropriating electronic health record (EHR) technology ironically – in a way other than it is designed to be used – and divergently across an organization results in enhanced perceptions of EHR technology and its implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 345 healthcare employees in a single healthcare organization that was switching to EHRs from paper records. Two major constructs of AST – unfaithfulness and dissension in appropriation – were operationalized and analyzed using multivariate regressions to test the relationship between the type of appropriation and perceptions of EHR technology’s relative advantage and implementation success.

Findings

Results reveal that both ironic (unfaithful) technological appropriation and dissension in technological appropriation across the organization predicted employees’ perceptions of EHR’s relative advantage and perceptions of EHR implementation success. Furthermore, physicians are the least likely to perceive EHR’s relative advantage or EHR implementation success. These results exemplify that EHR workarounds are taking place and reaffirm AST’s principle that employees evolve technology to better suit their working environments and preferences.

Originality/value

The survey and scales used in this study further demonstrate that there are meaningful statistical measures to accompany the qualitative methods frequently used in the AST literature. In addition, this paper expands AST research by exploring the positive outcomes that follow ironic and divergent technology appropriations.
From virtual worlds to reality
Authors: Lee Yi-Hsuan , Hsieh Ying-Che , Hsiao Chan , Lin Chen-Hsiang
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether online leadership affects offline leadership through a mediation mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on social presence theory, the authors developed a mediation model of online leadership to offline leadership, and examine the moderating effect of interactivity. Data were collected through an internet questionnaire, with gamers in Taiwan’s leading forum as research targets. After receiving 912 valid questionnaires, the authors used SPSS 21 and AMOS 21 to conduct data analysis to test the model.

Findings

The results show that online leadership will affect offline leadership. Moreover, game achievements and character identification have partial mediated effects in this model. Finally, interactivity has a moderating effect in this model.

Practical implications

These findings provide insights for future leadership training effectiveness, training guidelines, game design, and selection of references.

Originality/value

This research extends the current state of knowledge about the paths to transfer online leadership experiences to office situations through direct influence, game achievement, and character identification.
Using the technology acceptance model to predict patient attitude toward personal health records in regional communities
Authors: Razmak Jamil , Bélanger Charles
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to statistically measure (quantify) how a sample of Canadians perceives the usability of electronic personal health records (PHRs) and, in the process, to increase Canadian patients’ awareness of PHRs and improve physicians’ confidence in their patients’ ability to manage their own health information through PHRs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 325 Canadian patients living in Northern Ontario to assess a research model consisting of seven perceptions of PHR systems used to manage personal health information electronically, and to assess their perceived ability to use PHR systems. The survey questions were adapted from the 2014 National Physician Survey in Canada. The authors compared the patients’ results with physicians’ own perceptions of their patients’ ability to use PHR systems.

Findings

First, there was a positive relationship between surveyed patients’ prior experiences, needs, values, and their attitude toward adopting the PHR system. Second, how patients saw a PHR system’s user-friendliness was the strongest predictor of how useful they considered it would be. Finally, of the 243 physician respondents, 90.3 percent believed their patients would not be able to manage their own e-health information via a PHR system, but 54.8 percent of the 325 patient respondents indicated they would be able to do so.

Originality/value

This study is unique in that the authors know of no other Canadian study that purports to predict, using the technology acceptance model factors, people’s attitudes toward adopting a PHR system. As well, this is the first Canadian study to compare the perspectives of healthcare providers and their patients on e-health applications.
Understanding and managing knowledge transfer for customers in IT adoption
Authors: Daghfous Abdelkader , Belkhodja Omar , Ahmad Norita
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance information technology (IT) adoption research and practice by investigating the process of knowledge transfer (KT) undertaken by suppliers of IT innovations. The authors expound the intricacies of formal and informal mechanisms of the KT initiative that aims at augmenting the absorptive capacity (ACAP) of potential IT adopters with the objective of increasing the likelihood of adoption of new IT products or services.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on case studies of ten IT suppliers to build on the limited research on KT for customers in IT adoption. The authors focus on the for customer type of KT from the standpoint of the IT supplier firm.

Findings

The authors’ results show that complexity of the IT product or service increases the reliance on formal and systematic KT initiatives. This paper also shows that there is a required minimum threshold level of initial customers’ ACAP in order for the KT initiative to be worthwhile for the supplier, especially for those offering complex IT products and services. However, IT suppliers were found to limit their reliance on KT when they believed that customers that became too knowledgeable might threaten the innovation’s diffusion.

Research limitations/implications

Since the authors’ case firms represented innovation suppliers, future studies should investigate customer-supplier dyads to explore and integrate the customer’s perspective in the analysis of the KT process. To this end, longitudinal studies would also provide immense insights into the KT process and how it evolves over time.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper consists of illuminating the workings of KT initiatives aimed at existing and potential customers from the standpoint of the IT innovation supplier. By focusing on the for customers aspect of KT, this paper advances the authors’ understanding of why and how IT suppliers should resort to formal vs informal KT mechanisms. The authors’ proposed framework also integrates and shows the roles of customers’ ACAP, complexity of the IT innovation, and tacitness of the knowledge transferred to the customers.
Investigating Emirati citizens’ adoption of e-government services in Abu Dhabi using modified UTAUT model
Authors: Mansoori Khaled Ahmed Al , Sarabdeen Jawahitha , Tchantchane Abdel Latif
Published: February 2018

Purpose

E-government is new to the public administration sector of Abu Dhabi and it is rapidly expanding. The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that might motivate citizens to adopt the e-government public services provided by the Government of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The insights of the study will help government leaders to plan the delivery of public services effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The study surveyed 638 United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizens living in three main districts of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. The research used an exploratory factor analysis that conforms the validity of the theoretical model to the data collected, confirmatory analysis to extract the latent factors and both multiple regression and structural equation modelling to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The finding revealed that internet trust and performance expectancy was the strongest predictors of intention to use e-government services. Effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and trust had a positive influence on behavioural intention (BI). However, social influence (SI) did not have a significant effect. Gender, age and experience did not affect the relationship between SI and BI. It was also found that BI to use e-government services had a significant influence on the actual use of e-government sites.

Practical implications

When the government gets to know the major factors that affect the adoption of e-government services in Abu Dhabi, it can maximise its returns on ICT infrastructure investments by providing efficient service that could be adopted by the citizens.

Originality/value

The research has theoretical and practical value. Though the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model has previously been used in organisational settings, the present study uses a modified version in the context of citizens’ acceptance and use of e-government services. The present study thus provides an extension of the UTAUT model that could be suitable for developing countries such as the UAE.
Improving innovation performance through knowledge acquisition: the moderating role of employee retention and human resource management practices
Authors: Papa Armando , Dezi Luca , Gregori Gian Luca , Mueller Jens , Miglietta Nicola
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effects of knowledge acquisition on innovation performance and the moderating effects of human resource management (HRM), in terms of employee retention and HRM practices, on the above-mentioned relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 129 firms operating in a wide array of sectors has been used to gather data through a standardized questionnaire for testing the hypotheses through ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models.

Findings

The results indicate that knowledge acquisition positively affects innovation performance and that HRM moderates the relationship between knowledge acquisition and innovation performance.

Originality/value

With the increasing proclivity towards engaging in open innovation, firms are likely to face some tensions and opportunities leading to a shift in the management of human resources. This starts from the assumption that the knowledge base of the firm resides in the people who work for the firm and that some HRM factors can influence innovation within firms. Despite this, there is a lack of research investigating the link between knowledge acquisition, HRM and innovation performance under the open innovation lens. This paper intends to fill this gap and nurture future research by assessing whether knowledge acquisition influences innovation performance and whether HRM moderates such a relationship.
Information technology, knowledge management and environmental dynamism as drivers of innovation ambidexterity: a study in SMEs
Authors: Soto-Acosta Pedro , Popa Simona , Martinez-Conesa Isabel
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of technological, organizational and environmental factors on innovation ambidexterity and its influence on the performance of manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as the moderating effect environmental dynamism on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the Technology–Organization–Environment theory and the Knowledge-Based View, this paper develops an integrative research model, which analyzes the network of relations using covariance-based structural equation modeling on a data set of 429 Spanish SMEs.

Findings

The results show that information technology capability, knowledge management capability and environmental dynamism are positively associated with innovation ambidexterity. In addition, environmental dynamism is found to strengthen the positive effect of innovation ambidexterity on firm performance.

Practical implications

The study findings support the idea that innovation can be developed in an ambidextrous manner within a single SME as long as the firm is capable of creating a suitable organizational context and giving a prompt response to changes in the business environment.

Originality/value

Although many studies have highlighted that being ambidextrous is more challenging for SMEs than for their larger counterparts, the vast majority of studies has been conducted in large companies. This paper extends prior literature by analyzing antecedents and outcomes of innovation ambidexterity in manufacturing SMEs.