bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TubULAR: Tracking in toto deformations of dynamic tissues via constrained maps
Authors: Mitchell Noah P. , Cislo Dillon J.
Published: April 2022

A common motif in biology is the arrangement of cells into tube-like sheets, which further transform into more complex shapes. Traditionally, analysis of the dynamic surfaces of growing tissues has relied on inspecting static snapshots, live imaging of cross-sections, or tracking isolated cells in 3D. However, capturing the interplay between in-plane and out-of-plane behaviors requires following the full surface as it deforms and integrating cell-scale motions into collective, tissue-scale deformations. The advent of methods for whole-organ live imaging ushers the need for in toto analysis methods to understand these collective tissue dynamics. Here, we introduce an approach that builds in toto maps of surface deformation by following tissue parcels in the material frame of reference. Mapping the full 3D surface to 2D images such that the tissue motion in 2D is minimal enables the user to easily follow the tissue and discern its 3D motion. We then provide a computational framework for linking in-plane and out-of-plane behaviors and decomposing complex deformation maps into elementary contributions. The Tube-like sUrface Lagrangian Analysis Resource (TubULAR) provides an open-source MATLAB implementation whose functionality is accessible either as a standalone toolkit or as an extension of the ImSAnE package used in the developmental biology community. We underscore the power of our approach by analyzing shape change in the embryonic Drosophila midgut and beating zebrafish heart. Following deformations in the tissue/material frame reveals the signatures of tissue flow and a reduced-dimensional mode decomposition of the dynamics. The method naturally generalizes to in vitro and synthetic systems and provides ready access to the mechanical mechanisms relating genetic patterning to organ shape change.
From motif to function: Inferring the functions of long zinc finger proteins through combinatorial selection
Authors: Zuo Zheng
Published: April 2022

C2H2 zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) comprise of the largest group of DNA-binding proteins in human genome, and many of them contain long, tandem array of fingers, making the motif discovery, prediction of in vivo cis-regulatory elements (CREs), and understanding their functions particularly challenging. Previous work established that due to the dependent recognition between sub-motifs, the simple, additive recognition model impedes motif discovery and compromises our understanding about how ZFPs work. This work uses ZFP3, a 13-finger long ZFP with no known function, as case example to address the reverse question---given the full-length motif learned through in vitro experiments, like Spec-seq and HT-SELEX, how to reliably identify its in vivo cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and further predict this gene’s functions. Through sorting of all possible sites within the ChIP-seq peaks with similar predicted binding energy into groups and comparing the aggregate ChIP-seq signals between groups, it is evident that either its full-length or individual sub-motif alone fails to correctly identify all high-affinity specific sites without false-positives, thus it is necessary to revise current algorithm, and use both the core and upstream motifs as separate components to improve the prediction accuracy. Furthermore, significant number of regulatory elements of ZFP3 are found to be proximal to genes associated with microtubules organization and ciliogenesis, which coincides with the fact that ZFP3 is specifically upregulated in multiple ciliated cells. At last, local chromatin accessibility and active chromatin marks like H3K27ac are found to positively associate with the differential binding of ZFP3 between tested cell lines. Overall, this work establishes a novel “From motif to function” strategy for long ZFPs, and the data analysis workflows are implemented through R package TFCookbook for reuse onto other ZFPs.
moRphology - dEep Learning Imaging Cells (RELIC) - to Differentiate Between Normal and Pathological Kidney Exfoliated Cells
Authors: Habibalahi Abbas , Campbell Jared M. , Mahbub Saabah B. , Anwer Ayad G. , Nguyen Long T. , Gill Anthony J , Wong Muh Geot , Chou Angela , Pollock Carol A. , Saad Sonia , Goldys Ewa M.
Published: April 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterised by progressive loss of kidney function leading to kidney failure. Significant kidney damage can occur before symptoms are detected. Currently, kidney tissue biopsy is the gold standard for evaluation of renal damage and CKD severity. This study explores how to precisely quantify morphology characteristics of kidney cells exfoliated into urine, with a view to establish a future urine-based non-invasive diagnostic for CKD. We report the development of a novel deep learning method, which was able to discover a RELIC (moRphology dEep Learning Imaging Cells) signature that can differentiate between kidney cells exfoliated in human urine of and CKD patients with varying degree of kidney damage and non-CKD controls. Exfoliated proximal tubule cells (PTCs) originating from kidneys were isolated from the urine of patients with different levels of kidney damage using previously published methods. An advanced combination of artificial intelligence techniques, deep learning, swarm intelligence, and discriminative analysis was used to discover a RELIC signature in brightfield microscopy images of exfoliated PTCs. Kidney damage in the study subjects was characterised by assessing kidney tissues obtained through a nephrectomy or kidney biopsy. A special deep learning algorithm was developed and trained to create a predictive tool. The algorithm was then used to analyse data from patients with normal and fibrotic kidneys. Data were then classified according to different groups (healthy or fibrosis) and clustering of the training and validation cells was determined for model validation. We developed a novel deep learning method, to obtain RELIC signatures and identify specific deep morphological features which can be used to differentiate urinary PTC cells shed by people with CKD (confirmed by tissue histology obtained from an invasive kidney biopsy) from those without CKD, with a discriminatory accuracy of 82%. We identified a RELIC signature which can be used on a collection of bright field images of exfoliated urinary PTCs to create a predictive tool and differentiate between normal and pathological kidney cells. This study, for the first time, provides a proof of concept that urinary exfoliated tubule cells in patients with kidney fibrosis and healthy controls differ in appearance (morphology) as observed under a basic brightfield microscope. The results suggest that morphological signatures of exfoliated PTCs have the potential to serve as a non-invasive marker of kidney fibrosis.
Listeria monocytogenesInfection Alters Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Trophoblast Stem Cells to Confer a Pro-Inflammatory State
Authors: Kaletka Jonathan , Lee Kun Ho , Kanada Masamitsu , Hardy Jonathan W.
Published: April 2022

Placental immunity is critical for fetal health during pregnancy, as invading pathogens can be transmitted from the maternal blood to the fetus through this organ. However, inflammatory responses in the placenta can adversely affect both the fetus and the pregnant mother, and the balance between protective placental immune response and detrimental inflammation is poorly understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed vesicles that play a critical role in placental immunity. EVs produced by placental trophoblasts mediate immune tolerance to the fetus and to the placenta itself, but these EVs can also activate detrimental inflammatory responses. The regulation of these effects is not well-characterized, and the role of trophoblast EVs (tEVs) in the response to infection has yet to be defined. The Gram-positive bacterial pathogenListeria monocytogenes(Lm) infects the placenta, serving as a model to study tEV function in this context. We investigated the effect ofLminfection on the production and function of tEVs, using a trophoblast stem cell (TSCs) model. We found that tEVs from infected TSCs were immunostimulatory, activating macrophages to a pro-inflammatory state. Surprisingly, this activation made RAW 264.7 macrophages more susceptible to subsequentLminfection. Increased susceptibility to infection has not previously been reported as an effect of EVs. Proteomic analysis and RNA sequencing revealed that tEVs from infected TSCs had altered cargo compared to those from uninfected TSCs. Together, these results suggest an immunomodulatory role for tEVs during prenatal infection.
Functional Specialization of Parallel Distributed Networks Revealed by Analysis of Trial-to-Trial Variation in Processing Demands
Authors: DiNicola Lauren M. , Ariyo Oluwatobi I. , Buckner Randy L.
Published: April 2022

Multiple large-scale networks populate human association cortex. Here we explored the functional properties of these networks by exploiting trial-to-trial variation in component processing demands. In two behavioral studies (N=136 and N=238), participants quantified strategies used to solve individual task trials that spanned remembering, imagining future scenarios, and various control trials. These trials were also all scanned in an independent sample of functional MRI participants (N=10), each with sufficient data to precisely define within-individual networks. Stable latent factors varied across trials and correlated with trial-level functional responses selectively across networks. One network linked to parahippocampal cortex, labeled Default Network A (DN-A), tracked scene construction, including for control trials that possessed minimal episodic memory demands. To the degree a trial encouraged participants to construct a mental scene with vivid imagery and awareness about spatial locations of objects or places, the response in DN-A increased. The juxtaposed Default Network B (DN-B) showed no such response but varied in relation to social processing demands. Another adjacent network, labeled Frontoparietal Network B (FPN-B), robustly correlated with trial difficulty. These results support that DN-A and DN-B are specialized networks differentially supporting information processing within spatial and social domains. Both networks are dissociable from a closely juxtaposed domain-general control network that tracks cognitive effort.
Heavy metals concentrations and speciation of Pb and Ni in airborne particulate matter over two residential sites in Greater Cairo – reflection from synchrotron radiation
Authors: Monged Mohamed H. E. , Imam N. G. , Aquilanti Giuliana , Pollastri Simone , Rashad A. M. , Osán János
Published: April 2022

Synchrotron radiation-based techniques [X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)] combined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used for the assessment of heavy metals concentrations as well as lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) speciation in airborne particulate matter (PM10) over two residential sites in Greater Cairo. Nineteen 24 h high-volume samples collected at Giza (G) Square and Helwan (H) University (Egypt) were selected for this study. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in PM10 at both sites were found to have the same descending order of Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd > Co > As, of which concentrations of Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd in H samples were higher than those in G samples. For Pb, synchrotron-based XRF results were in good agreement with concentrations obtained by ICP-MS. The XANES spectra of PM10 at the Pb L
2-edge and Ni K-edge were compared with those of Pb and Ni in model standard compounds to provide information on the potential oxidation states as well as the chemical forms of those elements. The data show that Pb has similar chemical environments in both series G and H with the predominance of Pb2+ oxidation state. Nickel was found as Ni(OH)2, NiO and Ni metal in the analyzed samples. However, the content of Ni in the background filter shows a very strong interference with that of the collected PM10. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks resulting from the inhalation of the studied heavy metals were assessed for children and adult residents and were found below the safe limits, at both sites.
Biochemical and crystallization analysis of the CENP-SX–DNA complex
Authors: Ito Sho , Nishino Tatsuya
Published: April 2022

The CENP-SX (MHF) complex is a conserved histone-fold protein complex that is involved in chromosome segregation and DNA repair. It can bind to DNA on its own as well as in complex with other proteins such as CENP-TW and FANCM to recognize specific substrates. CENP-SX binds nonspecifically to dsDNA, similar to other histone-fold proteins. Several low-resolution structures of CENP-SX in complex with DNA are known, but a high-resolution structure is still lacking. The DNA-binding properties of CENP-SX and FANCM–CENP-SX complexes with various lengths of dsDNA were compared and the band-shift patterns and migration positions were found to differ. To confirm the DNA-binding properties in detail, CENP-SX–DNA and FANCM–CENP-SX–DNA complexes were crystallized. Analysis of the crystals revealed that they all contained the CENP-SX–DNA complex, irrespective of the complex that was used in crystallization. Detailed diffraction data analyses revealed that there were two types of crystal with different space groups, P21 and C2, where the volume of the P21 asymmetric unit is twice as large as that of the C2 asymmetric unit. Analysis of the self-rotation function revealed the presence of twofold and fourfold symmetry in both crystals. This suggests that there may be multiple molecules of CENP-SX and DNA within the asymmetric unit with respective symmetry. Structure determination of the present crystals should reveal details of the DNA-binding properties of CENP-SX.
Halogen-bonded zigzag molecular network based upon 1,2-diiodoperchlorobenzene and the photoproduct rctt-1,3-bis(pyridin-4-yl)-2,4-diphenylcyclobutane
Authors: Dunning Taylor J. , Bosch Eric , Groeneman Ryan H.
Published: April 2022

The formation and crystal structure of a zigzag molecular network held together by I...N halogen bonds is reported. In particular, the halogen-bond donor is 1,2-diiodoperchlorobenzene (1,2-C6I2Cl4
) while the acceptor is a head-to-tail photoproduct, namely rctt-1,3-bis(pyridin-4-yl)-2,4-diphenylcyclobutane (
ht

-PP). In this co-crystal (1,2-C6I2Cl4
)·(
ht-PP), the donor acts as a bent two-connected node while the acceptor behaves as a linear linker to form the extended solid. Neighbouring chains pack in a tongue-and-groove-like pattern that engage in various Cl...π interactions to both the phenyl and pyridyl rings resulting in a supramolecular two-dimensional sheet.
Systematic mapping of food safety outbreaks in the hospitality sector in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Diaz De Oleo Dileyni , McIntyre Lynn , Randall Nicola , Nayak Rounaq , Manning Louise
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The hospitality sector underpins the Dominican Republic's (DR) economy but may be a setting where foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) can occur. The purpose of this research is to conduct a systematic mapping exercise on the available scientific literature related to FBDOs in hospitality in the DR and their link to reported food safety and hygienic practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A predefined search protocol applied the principles of PRISMA guidance. Publications (n = 2,793) from databases (e.g. Web of Science, PubMed) were identified and systematically selected for relevance. A full-text assessment based on the inclusion criteria led to the identification of a refined list of studies and academic publications (n = 22) included in this review. The descriptive analysis of the collated data is then presented graphically.

Findings

A low rate of reporting highlights a knowledge gap on FBDOs, the related food safety hazards and how they are mitigated by stakeholders and local health authorities in the DR. Improving government and other stakeholder capacity to report, investigate and understand FBDOs and the practices involved is essential.

Research limitations/implications

The research has implications for Government, businesses and public health officials and managers in the hospitality sector in the DR. A potential research limitation is that the search strategies could miss some relevant articles.

Practical implications

The findings provide a framing for improved risk analysis in implementing food safety management strategies for FBDOs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic mapping research assessing evidence of FBDOs affecting hospitality in the DR.
Consumer power: scale development and validation in consumer–firm relationship
Authors: Akhavannasab Sanam , Dantas Danilo C. , Senecal Sylvain , Grohmann Bianca
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the development and validation of a consumer power scale comprising a personal and a social power dimension. Personal power refers to consumers’ perceived ability to resist and ignore a firm’s marketing efforts. Social power refers to consumers’ perceived ability to influence a firm’s actions.

Design/methodology/approach

Following established scale development procedures, the construct definition and item generation preceded five studies that establish the scale’s dimensionality, psychometric properties and external, predictive and nomological validity.

Findings

Consumer power was modeled as a reflective first-order, formative second-order latent construct. The consumer power scale is psychometrically sound and possesses external and discriminant validity with regard to other power-related measures. Consumer power mediates the relation between consumers’ cognitive control and consumer satisfaction and between perceived choice and emotional responses.

Research limitations/implications

This research uses episodic recall tasks to elicit power perceptions in various contexts. Results suggest that the scale is useful in comparative and longitudinal tracking of consumers’ perceptions of power in relation to a firm.

Originality/value

Building on a comprehensive literature review and rigorous scale development, this paper introduces a scale of consumer power that comprises a personal and a social power dimension. A critical analysis of and a predictive validity test of the scale against existing power scales highlight its unique contribution. The scale lends itself to further theory tests regarding antecedents, consequences and moderators of consumer power.
Does bestial make you a happy human? The impact on happiness from participation in an obstacle running event
Authors: Almeida-Santana Arminda , Moreno-Gil Sergio , Andersson Tommy D.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The main research questions addressed by this study focus on Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and to what extent the individual's SWB relates to the individual's need for personal growth. Specific interest is devoted to the effects of intentions (to have personal goals) and behavior (to achieve personal goals).

Design/methodology/approach

Can SWB and happiness research help to explain the tremendous growth in demanding amateur sport event participation? Most research on SWB and events has, so far been undertaken on cultural events leaving a gap related to sport events, especially obstacle running events. Bestial is an obstacle race event held in Arucas on Canary Islands, Spain. Apart from competitiveness, the race also contains elements of altruism as many competitors do help each other at various obstacles along the route, in groups (mainly) teams. A sample of 700 participants answered questions about behavior, attitudes and SWB.

Findings

The results show significant relations between SWB and both intentions and behavior but also that intentions and behavior are not correlated.

Research limitations/implications

The “Bestial” is different from an average running event in some respects. It is a rather local event for Gran Canaria without international participation. For some participants it is more challenging and enduring but for others it is a team sport where one helps other team members to complete the race. In this study, these two types of participation have not been separated. The test of whether the SWB of participants is higher than the SWB of the average citizen is not satisfactory. Data for the average of SWB in Spain had to depend on a study from another year and where standard deviation was not available.

Practical implications

The results of this work are useful for event managers to improve their design and develop the most appropriate marketing messages.

Social implications

The study aims for an explanation to why demanding physical activities, such as obstacle races, are so popular. In this study of obstacle race participation, hedonia is regarded as less relevant and focus is on eudaimonia and an assumption that participants in an obstacle race have a high SWB since they can feel that they make progress towards goals. One intended contribution of this study is to distinguish between “to have a goal” and “to progress towards a goal”. Thus, the model proposed is based on hypotheses that SWB is influenced by both. Two types of goals are studied: first a mainly individualistic goal of becoming physically fit and second a more altruistic goal of “becoming a better person”.

Originality/value

In the conclusions, the importance for a happy life of simply having goals for personal growth and the value of anticipation for happiness is discussed.
Event innovation in times of uncertainty
Authors: Dragin-Jensen Christian , Kwiatkowski Grzegorz , Hannevik Lien Vilde , Ossowska Luiza , Janiszewska Dorota , Kloskowski Dariusz , Strzelecka Marianna
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study highlights areas of key importance for building event resilience and provides best-practice industry examples that foster innovative, adaptable and transformative event environments, which are areas of high academic and managerial relevance in times of uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a multicase study research design that draws on interviews with the leaders of four event organizations in Denmark and Norway: (1) the Steinkjer Festival, (2) Run Alone Denmark, (3) FC Midtjylland and (4) the Bergen International Festival.

Findings

The events demonstrated the critical necessity of understanding innovation and its contribution to resilience in the event sector, particularly in times of uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations achieved success by continuously fostering innovative environments before COVID-19 by being value-driven and customer-centric organizations. Digital technologies were not used as makeshift solutions but rather to enhance event attendees' experiential platforms and expand each event's business potential.

Practical implications

The paper answers the call for event and festival research during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore the importance of understanding failure, crisis, innovation and recovery.

Originality/value

The paper's contributions to event management research are (1) adding to the ongoing discussion about building a resilient event sector in times of uncertainty, (2) screening how event organizers achieve innovation in their organizations and (3) providing insights on future requirements for events in a post-COVID world.
Solenoid valves quality improvement based on Six Sigma management
Authors: Liu Yafen , Ren Yingxue , Zhang Min , Wei Keke , Hao Lei
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present the implementation of Six Sigma in a solenoid valve manufacturing company in China. The project aims to reduce the solenoid valve defects, decrease the cost of poor quality, increase customer satisfaction and improve the long-term profitability of Company B.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows the Six Sigma methodology: DMAIC (define, measure, analyse, improve and control) principle of case study research. Hysteresis, the key characteristic of a solenoid valve, is the main chance for quality improvement. This paper emphasizes the solution to the hysteresis problem. During DMAIC phases, the critical factors that affect hysteresis performance are identified for continuous quality improvement of solenoid valve manufacturing.

Findings

The implementation of Six Sigma leads to a great quality improvement for the company studied in this paper. Control plans are made for good hysteresis performance. As a result, the first pass yield of solenoid valves has increased from 60% to 99.64%. The key hysteresis of the solenoid valve has shown a better performance.

Originality/value

This study presents a solenoid valve industrial quality improvement case that demonstrates how Six Sigma and DMAIC methodology can be applied to reduce defects and achieve quality improvement in Company B. This study can be referred to for managers and engineers to undertake quality improvement programs.
University to work transition: a literature review
Authors: Izzo Filomena , Mele Stefania , Mustilli Mario
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This article aims to describe the role universities should play in student to work transition.

Design/methodology/approach

An objective bibliometric analysis is conducted and supported by qualitative assessments based on authors’ study of relevant papers.

Findings

Two themes emerge from the analysis: the first on the university's role in students' learning, skills and fits, in the transition process; the second on the university's role in engagement, motivation and support students in university-to-work transition.

Research limitations/implications

From the analysis, no indications emerge on how universities could contribute to student-to-work transition in the context of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development objectives. Furthermore, training students for the future is not an easy assignment in a fast-changing ecosystem. How can higher education prepare students to face future challenges if we only have partial and incomplete perceptions about possible futures? This vexes many policymakers, organisational leaders and educators. Finally, it could be an interesting next step to repeat the Bibliometrix research using subfield keywords to analyse revealed gaps.

Practical implications

The study shows that the topic analysed is complex from the managerial, political and social points of view. The issues addressed by studies in UWT so far, concern various aspects: development of student identity, student engagement, fit between higher education and labour market, student motivation, student emotions and learning approaches. The university-to-work transition theme has become a work in progress effort and will most likely continue for the foreseeable future.

Originality/value

Since research into university-to-work transition is fragmented, a comprehensive view of this theme seems necessary. Given the importance of the subject, this study will endeavour to fill this gap with an overall and organic perspective of the issue. This is one of the first attempts to grasp this research stream, which, over time, has paved the way to the intersection between “university-to-work transition” in business, management and educational fields.
Assessing the moderating effect of brick-and-mortar store on omnichannel retailing
Authors: Teixeira Rafael , Duarte André Luís de Castro Moura , Macau Flavio Romero , de Oliveira Fernanda Marinuzzi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the moderating effects of brick-and-mortar (BM) store characteristics and customer satisfaction on the relationship between ship-to-store (STS) retailing and BM store performance in an emerging economy. The purpose is to explore how BM store characteristics and customer satisfaction influence online buying behaviour when customers visit the stores to pick up their products.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected secondary longitudinal data from 615 BM stores from one of Brazil's largest retailers and performed a panel-data regression analysis using the following moderating variables: customer satisfaction with BM stores, BM store's size, convenience and inventory transparency.

Findings

Customer satisfaction with BM stores moderates the effect of STS transactions on the revenue per store. Results also show that BM store's convenience, size and inventory transparency moderate STS online customers' impact on BM store cross-sales.

Research limitations/implications

The STS strategy can increase online and BM store performance. Some BM store characteristics and customer satisfaction influence online customers to buy more products when they visit BM stores to pick up their products, providing a more complex model for the relationship between STS strategy and BM store performance.

Practical implications

Companies in emerging economies can use the BM store more strategically in combination with the STS strategy to increase overall retailer performance. By managing some BM store characteristics, managers can improve retail sales.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates how new moderating factors expand the understanding of the relationship between online and physical retailing in emerging economies. Also, the panel data regression results control for extraneous variables and provide more robust evidence of the relationships observed.
Vietnamese living habits, wellbeing and working adaptation in face of COVID-19's strictest lockdown
Authors: Anh Dao Le Trang , Nguyen Quang Thi Thieu , Gan Christopher , Thai Tung Duy , Nguyen Tu-Anh
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study explores the impacts of COVID-19's strictest lockdown on Vietnamese citizens' living habits, wellbeing and work-from-home effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a survey questionnaire to gather relevant data from Vietnamese adults during the most recent, strictest lockdown in their cities/provinces since July 2021. The study employs ordinal regression and mediation models to examine the effects of the strict lockdown difficulties on the changes in living habits, wellbeing and work effectiveness of Vietnamese respondents.

Findings

The empirical result demonstrates that the strictest lockdown adversely affected the living habits of Vietnamese citizens, thus impacting people's wellbeing. Work-from-home lockdown difficulties led to unexpected health issues that bring produce lower working effectiveness.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the changes in citizens' living habits, health and working conditions in adherence to Vietnam's strictest COVID-19 lockdown. This is also the first study to examine the impacts of lockdown difficulties on human wellbeing with the mediating effect of changes in living habits, and the influence of work-from-home lockdown difficulties on work effectiveness, with the mediating effect of lower wellbeing based on the literature. Our study suggests solutions to improve Vietnamese people's health and working productivity during and after a strict lockdown.
Supply chain risk identification: a real-time data-mining approach
Authors: Deiva Ganesh A. , Kalpana P.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The global pandemic COVID-19 unveils transforming the supply chain (SC) to be more resilient against unprecedented events. Identifying and assessing these risk factors is the most significant phase in supply chain risk management (SCRM). The earlier risk quantification methods make timely decision-making more complex due to their inability to provide early warning. The paper aims to propose a model for analyzing the social media data to understand the potential SC risk factors in real-time.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the potential of text-mining, one of the most popular Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based data analytics approaches for extracting information from social media is exploited. The model retrieves the information using Twitter streaming API from online SC forums.

Findings

The potential risk factors that disrupt SC performance are obtained from the recent data by text-mining analyses. The outcomes carry valuable insights about some contemporary SC issues due to the pandemic during the year 2021. The most frequent risk factors using rule mining techniques are also analyzed.

Originality/value

This study presents the significant role of Twitter in real-time risk identification from online SC platforms like “Supply Chain Dive”, “Supply Chain Brain” and “Supply Chain Digest”. The results indicate the significant role of data analytics in achieving accurate decision-making. Future research will extend to represent a digital twin for identifying potential risks through social media analytics, assessing risk propagation and obtaining mitigation strategies.
The impacts of point rewarding and exchanging on users’ loyalty toward mobile payment applications: a dual channeling perspective
Authors: Zhang Lin , Wang Yanqing , Anjum Muhammad Adeel , Mu Jingjing
Published: April 2022

Purpose

By distinguishing between core business service and value-added service in mobile payment applications, this paper aims to incorporate point mechanisms (point rewarding and point exchanging) into these two separated roles of services to understand user loyalty formation. Specifically, this study aims to examine the mediating role of need satisfaction and perceived value in the relationships between point mechanisms and user loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon self-determination theory and perceived value lens, this study develops a theoretical model that examines the mediation effects of multiple psychological outcomes on the relationships between point mechanisms (point rewarding and point exchanging) and user loyalty in the context of mobile payment. Data were collected from 731 users of a leading mobile payment application in China through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Empirical results suggest that point rewarding enhances users’ need satisfaction of core service, whereas point exchanging increases users' perceived value of additional value-added service. Results also reveal that need satisfaction and perceived value mediate the relationships between point mechanisms (i.e. point rewarding and point exchanging) and user loyalty. In sum, the findings enhance our understanding of user loyalty formation from a dual channeling perspective.

Practical implications

This study informs the managers of mobile payment applications on how to build user loyalty by enhancing users' experience of core business service and value-added service through point mechanism implementation.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of both core business service and value-added service in mobile payment applications and provides new insights into the effects of point mechanisms on user loyalty by considering different service routes. Additionally, this study uncovers the mediation mechanisms of users' need satisfaction of core service and users' perceived value of additional value-added service on the two service routes, which further enrich our understanding regarding the user loyalty formation of mobile payment applications.
Design and implementation of an intelligent tutoring system in the view of learner autonomy
Authors: Le Huixiao , Jia Jiyou
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In intelligent tutoring systems (ITS), learners were often granted limited authority and are forced to obey the decision of the system which might not satisfy their needs. Failure to grant learners sufficient autonomy could yield unexpected effects that hinder learning, including undermining learners’ motivation, priming learners’ aversion to the algorithm. On the contrary, granting learners overwhelming autonomy could also be harmful as the absence of learning support would also have a negative impact on learning. As such, this study aims to design and implement an intelligent tutoring system that offers learners proper autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach

The main learning activity in the system is doing exercises, and by finishing exercises learners could earn virtual coins. Based on item response theory, exercises are administered to learners with proper difficulty. Based on a recommended difficulty parameter predicted by the system, learners could manually modify the difficulty of the exercises, they could earn more credits by finishing more challenging exercises. Meanwhile, a pedagogical agent is embedded. Learners could customize the agent’s personality jointly with the system to create the learning context they prefer.

Findings

A intelligent tutoring system with proper learner autonomy (LA) is designed and implemented.

Originality/value

Few previous researches have noticed the potentially important role that LA plays in ITS. Learning might be facilitated using such a design.
Board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility in an international setting
Authors: Kamran Muhammad , Djajadikerta Hadrian Geri , Mat Roni Saiyidi , Xiang Erwei , Butt Pakeezah
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study examines how board gender diversity (BGD) interacts with the “tough vs tender” trait in country cultures in influencing firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive set of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data of 5,748 firms from 70 countries were collected from Bloomberg terminal, and national-level data on “tough vs tender” societies were collected from the official website of Hofstede. The data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) and bootstrapping estimation techniques.

Findings

The findings show that BGD increases the extent of firms' CSR, with a more pronounced relationship in the tender than in the tough societies. Results are consistent in traditional (p-value based HMR) and robust (confidence intervals reliant bootstrapping) estimation techniques.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence on tough vs tender societies' moderating role in the relationship between BGD and CSR from a rounded international setting. It also raises interesting insights about the dynamics in boards' responses to institutional forces as an avenue for future research.
Research focus for construction robotics and human-robot teams towards resilience in construction: scientometric review
Authors: Onososen Adetayo Olugbenga , Musonda Innocent
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Rapid urbanisation and recent shock events have reiterated the need for resilient infrastructure, as seen in the pandemic. Yet, knowledge gaps in construction robotics and human–robot teams (HRTs) research limit maximising these emerging technologies’ potentials. This paper aims to review the state of the art of research in this area to identify future research directions in HRTs able to aid the resilience and responsiveness of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 71 peer-reviewed journal articles centred on robotics and HRTs were reviewed through a quantitative approach using scientometric techniques using Gephi and VOSviewer. Research focus deductions were made through bibliometric analysis and co-occurrence analysis of reviewed publications.

Findings

This study revealed sparse and small research output in this area, indicating immense research potential. Existing clusters signifying the need for further studies are on automation in construction, human–robot teaming, safety in robotics and robotic designs. Key publication outlets and construction robotics contribution towards the built environment’s resilience are discussed.

Practical implications

The identified gaps in the thematic areas illustrate priorities for future research focus. It raises awareness on human factors in collaborative robots and potential design needs for construction resilience.

Originality/value

Rapid urbanisation and recent shock events have reiterated the need for resilient infrastructure, as seen in the pandemic. Yet, knowledge gaps in construction robotics and HRTs research limit maximising these emerging technologies’ potentials. This paper aims to review the state of the art of research in this area to identify future research directions in HRTs able to aid the resilience and responsiveness of the AEC sector.
A new era in psychiatry: the impacts of COVID-19 and the shift to telepsychiatry on clinical practice and clinician well-being
Authors: Celentano Lauren , Brenisin Kristina , Breen Kieran C.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has actively changed the face of all medical disciplines, including mental health practices. In a matter of days from the introduction of the lockdown, clinicians have to adapt to new working models with many changing the consultation methods clinicians have utilized for years. To best understand the wider clinical impact, a limited study was carried out to assess the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on psychiatric clinical practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on clinician practice at a UK secure care mental health facility. A four-question free-text survey was distributed online to all physicians and seven responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Four key themes were identified – use of technology, the importance of face-to-face contact, work/life balance and mental well-being.

Practical implications

Overall, the results of the study reported that although some negative changes to the traditional work–life balance were identified, the clinicians found remote working within a secure care setting cultivated a more efficient working environment while allowing for more effective social distance practices.

Originality/value

This study highlighted some of the challenges faced by clinicians employed in a secure care mental health setting following the introduction of lockdown measures in the UK associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will also inform future work practices, including the potential of longer term remote working in this sector.
Crisis communication in service ecosystems: perspectives and future challenges
Authors: Blasco-Arcas Lorena , Falkheimer Jesper , Heide Mats
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to offer new insights into crisis communication in service ecosystems. The authors present a framework to conceptually categorize service crises and then analyze key aspects of crisis communication among different stakeholders in a service ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on crisis communication and service ecosystems research, we propose a framework to better understand crisis communication during service crises in service ecosystems. In doing so, we propose a typology of service crisis in service ecosystems and identify the main factors of crisis communication under the lens of the Rhetorical Arena Theory (RAT).

Findings

This article integrates communication theory and service research in the area and identifies different key dimensions to gain a deeper understanding of crisis communication in service ecosystems. Moreover, and building on RAT, several research lines are recommended in order to explore further macro (i.e. the role and interactions between different stakeholders in the event of a crisis) and micro (i.e. individual aspects related to the context, media, genre and text) dimensions, and their importance during the communication process.

Originality/value

Our framework offers a typology of service crises and suggests the importance of considering a multi-actor, multi-channel perspective in communication when a crisis occurs in order to monitor and avoid the potential negative impact for both the organization's recovery and the service ecosystem evolution afterward.
Partners we can trust: the role of employee engagement influencing partnerships’ relationship quality in the voluntary sector
Authors: Marques Susana Henriques , Bilro Ricardo Godinho , Gonçalves Márcia , Rather Raouf Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore if employee engagement (EE) influences the relationship quality of long-term partnerships between non-profit organisations (NPO) and for-profit organisations (FPO) and offer a theoretical framework for NPO and FPO long-term partnerships’ success based on the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study resorts to qualitative research, and through 45 in-depth structured interviews with NPO and FPO employees, this paper intends to investigate the theoretical framework using a hypothetico-deductive method.

Findings

The findings support the authors’ theoretical framework, where EE influences satisfaction, trust and commitment to the partnership. The results highlight that organisations creating high levels of satisfaction, trust and commitment may have a higher propensity for long-term partnerships.

Originality/value

This study offers a novel theoretical framework for developing long-term partnerships between NPO and FPO. However, each variable’s extent of influence still needs to be further explored, creating a fertile ground for future research in this area.
Synthesis, spectroscopic and physico-chemical studies of novel pigments derived from Lithol Rubine
Authors: Abdelmaksoud Wael Mohamed , Aboaly Mohamed , Teleb Said , Gabr Adel Mohy-Eldin , Sayed Mostafa Abdellah
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The pursuit of manufacturing new inks with low financial cost is an urgent economic demand. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to synthesize some new pigments derived from Lithol Rubine (LR) via a successful simple route and to investigate their physicochemical properties for usage in the inks industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Two novel pigments were generated during the reaction of LR with Mn(II) and Co(II) salts in ethanolic solutions. The obtained pigments were isolated as solid compounds and characterized through elemental analysis, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR spectra, oil absorption, specific gravity, melting point, molar conductivity and magnetic moment measurements. Their dyeing and durability characteristics were examined using American Standard Testing Methods. The synthesized pigments were then applied in inks formulation.

Findings

The printing inks containing the two new pigments (LR–Mn and LR–Co) were compared to (GF 59-606 and GF 59-616), respectively. The results of this study showed that the performance of newly prepared pigments was comparable to that of commercial pigments currently in use in the inks industry.

Practical implications

LR and its new derivative pigments can be used in other different applications such as paper coating, crayon, rubber and paint industries.

Originality/value

The authors designed an efficient synthesis for some novel pigments. The synthesis technique is featured by a short reaction time, high yields and ease of use. The pigments developed would be good and cost-effective substitute for the original commercially available and expensive pigments used in the inks industry.
The burgeoning role of iBuyers in the housing market
Authors: Seiler Michael J. , Yang Liuming
Published: April 2022

We examine the iBuyers’ business model and their impact on housing markets. We find that iBuyers tend to enter neighborhoods that have more easily priced and homogeneous homes, as price discovery is simpler and more consistent with their pricing algorithm in those areas. iBuyers purchase homes at lower prices than individual owner‐occupiers, and this acquisition discount reflects the benefits iBuyers offer to motivated sellers rather than distressed home purchases or unobserved lower‐quality housing characteristics. Last, a greater presence of iBuyers results in a higher volume of local housing transactions and encourages more home sellers to sell without listing.