bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precise exogenous insertion and sequence replacements in poplar by simultaneous HDR overexpression and NHEJ suppression using CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Movahedi Ali , Wei Hui , Zhou Xiaohong , Fountain Jake C. , Chen Zhong-Hua , Mu Zhiying , Sun Weibo , Zhang Jiaxin , Li Dawei , Guo Baozhu , Varshney Rajeev K. , Yang Liming , Zhuge Qiang
Published: July 2020

CRISPR-mediated genome editing has become a powerful tool for genetic modification of biological traits. However, developing an efficient, site-specific, gene knock-in system based on homology-directed DNA repair (HDR) remains a significant challenge in plants, especially in woody species like poplar. Here, we show that simultaneous inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) recombination cofactor XRCC4 and overexpression of HDR enhancer factorsCtIP and MRE11can improve the HDR efficiency for gene knock-in. Using this approach, theBleoRgene was integrated onto the 3′ end of theMKK2MAP Kinase gene to generate aBleoR-MKK2fusion protein. Based on exogenousBleoRexpression, the HDR-mediated knock-in efficiency was up to ∼40-fold greater when using aXRCC4silencing incorporated with a combination ofCtIP and MRE11overexpression compared to no HDR enhancement or NHEJ silencing. Furthermore, this corporation of HDR enhancer overexpression and NHEJ repression also resulted in 7-fold fewer CRISPR-induced Insertions and Deletions (InDels), resulting in no functional effects onMKK2-based salt stress responses in poplar. Therefore, this approach may be useful not only in poplar and plants or crops but also in mammalians for improving CRISPR-mediated gene knock-in efficiency.
The contribution of global mountains to the latitudinal diversity gradient
Authors: Tenorio Elkin A. , Montoya Paola , Norden Natalia , Rodríguez-Buriticá Susana , Salgado-Negret Beatriz , Gonzalez Mailyn A.
Published: July 2020

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is widely attributed to be the result of factors such as time, area, and energy. Although these factors explain most of the variation in lowlands, they fail in mountainous systems, which are biodiversity hotspots that may contribute meaningfully to the strength of the pattern following different evolutionary pathways. However, because lowlands cover the largest portion of the total land, they may have overshadowed the contribution of mountains to the LDG, but no study has addressed this issue in previous macroecological analyses. Here, we propose that the LDG shows a stronger trend in mountain ranges due to their high species turnover, in spite of covering less than one third of the Earth’s land. Using the geographical information for ∼22000 species of terrestrial vertebrates, we show that worldwide mountains harbor the 40% of the global diversity, and when taking into account the area effect, we quantified that mountains harbor close to double the species inhabiting lowlands per unit area. Moreover, when we evaluated the LDG after accounting for area size, we found that species richness increased faster towards the Equator and was better predicted by latitude in mountains than in lowlands. Our findings challenge previously well-supported hypotheses that predict that those regions with greater area, time and energy accumulate more species richness, since mountains are geologically younger, exhibit less energy, and cover smaller areas than lowlands. Hence, mountains represent a paradox, which invites to reevaluate hypotheses regarding macroecological and evolutionary processes driving species diversity gradients.
Explainable death toll motion modeling: COVID-19 narratives and counterfactuals
Authors: Veloso Adriano , Ziviani Nivio
Published: July 2020

Models have gained the spotlight in many discussions surrounding COVID-19. The urgency for timely decisions resulted in a multitude of models as informed policy actions must be made even when so many uncertainties about the pandemic still remain. In this paper, we use machine learning algorithms to build intuitive country-level COVID-19 motion models described by death toll velocity and acceleration. Model explainability techniques provide insightful data-driven narratives about COVID-19 death toll motion models – while velocity is explained by factors that are increasing/reducing death toll pace now, acceleration anticipates the effects of public health measures on slowing the death toll pace. This allows policymakers and epidemiologists to understand factors driving the outbreak and to evaluate the impacts of different public health measures. Finally, our models also predict counterfactuals in order to face the challenge of estimating what is likely to happen as a result of an action.
Isolation and characterisation ofKlebsiellaphages for phage therapy
Authors: Townsend Eleanor , Kelly Lucy , Gannon Lucy , Muscatt George , Dunstan Rhys , Michniewski Slawomir , Sapkota Hari , Kiljunen Saija J , Kolsi Anna , Skurnik Mikael , Lithgow Trevor , Millard Andrew D. , Jameson Eleanor
Published: July 2020

Klebsiellais a clinically important pathogen causing a variety of antimicrobial resistant infections in both community and nosocomial settings, particularly pneumonia, urinary tract infection and sepsis. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is being considered as a primary option for the treatment of drugresistant infections of these types. We report the successful isolation and characterisation of 30 novel, genetically diverseKlebsiellaphages. The isolated phages span six different phage families and nine genera, representing both lysogenic and lytic lifestyles. IndividualKlebsiellaphage isolates infected up to 11 of the 18Klebsiellacapsule types tested, and all 18 capsule-types were infected by at least one of the phages. Of theKlebsiella-infecting phages presented in this study, the lytic phages are most suitable for phage therapy, based on their broad host range, high virulence, short lysis period and given that they encode no known toxin or antimicrobial resistance genes. Importantly, when applied alone, none of the characterised phages were able to suppress the growth ofKlebsiellafor more than 12 hours, with some phages only able to suppress growth for 3 hours, likely due to inherent ease ofKlebsiellato generate spontaneous phage-resistant mutants. This indicates that for successful phage therapy, a cocktail of multiple phages would be necessary to treatKlebsiellainfections.
No Evidence for Long-range Male Sex Pheromones in Two Malaria Mosquitoes
Authors: Poda Serge Bèwadéyir , Buatois Bruno , Lapeyre Benoit , Dormont Laurent , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Gnankiné Olivier , Dabiré Roch K. , Roux Olivier
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Cues involved in mate seeking and recognition prevent hybridization and can be involved in speciation processes. In malaria mosquitoes, females of the two sibling speciesAnopheles gambiae s.s.andAn. coluzziimate in monospecific male swarms and hybrids are rare. Long-range sex pheromones driving this behavior have been debated in literature but to date, no study has proven their existence or their absence. Here, we attempted to bring to light their existence. To put all the odds in our favor, we used different chemical ecology methods such as behavioral and electrophysiological assays as well chemical analyses, and we worked with mosquitoes at their optimal physiological mating statei.e.with swarming males during their natural swarming windows. Despite all our efforts, our results support the absence of long-range sex pheromones involved in swarm detection and recognition by females. We briefly discuss the implications of this finding in ecology, evolution and for control strategies.
Comparison of manual and machine learning image processing approaches to determine fungiform papillae on the tongue
Authors: Cattaneo Camilla , Liu Jing , Wang Chenhao , Pagliarini Ella , Sporring Jon , Bredie Wender L.P.
Published: July 2020

Human taste perception is associated with the papillae on the tongue as they contain a large proportion of chemoreceptors for basic tastes and other chemosensation. Especially the density of fungiform papillae (FP) is considered as an index for responsiveness to oral chemosensory stimuli. The standard procedure for FP counting involves visual identification and manual counting of specific parts of the tongue by trained operators. This is a tedious task and automated image analysis methods are desirable. In this paper a machine learning image processing method based on a convolutional neural network is presented. This automated method was compared with three standard manual FP counting procedures using tongue pictures from 132 subjects. Automated FP counts, within the selected areas and the whole tongue, significantly correlated with the manual counting methods (all ρs ≥ 0.76). When comparing the images for gender and PROP status, the density of FP predicted from automated analysis was in good agreement with data from the manual counting methods, especially in the case of gender. Moreover, the present results reinforce the idea that caution should be applied in considering the relationship between FP density and PROP responsiveness since this relationship can be an oversimplification of the complexity of phenomena arising at the central and peripherical levels. Indeed, no significant correlations were found between FP and PROP bitterness ratings using the automated method for selected areas or the whole tongue. Besides providing estimates of the number of FP, the machine learning approach used a tongue coordinate system that normalizes the size and shape of an individual tongue and generated a heat map of the FP position and normalized area they cover. The present study demonstrated that the machine learning approach could provide similar estimates of FP on the tongue as compared to manual counting methods and provide estimates of more difficult-to-measure parameters, such as the papillae’s areas and shape.
The Impact of Gag Non-Cleavage Site Mutations on HIV-1 Viral Fitness from Integrative Modelling and Simulations
Authors: Samsudin Firdaus , Gan Samuel Ken-En , Bond Peter J.
Published: July 2020

The high mutation rate in retroviruses is one of the leading causes of drug resistance. In human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), synergistic mutations in its protease and the protease substrate – the Group-specific antigen (Gag) polyprotein – work together to confer drug resistance against protease inhibitors and compensate the mutations affecting viral fitness. Some Gag mutations can restore Gag-protease binding, yet most Gag-protease correlated mutations occur outside of the Gag cleavage site. To investigate the molecular basis for this, we now report multiscale modelling approaches to investigate various sequentially cleaved Gag products in the context of clinically relevant mutations that occur outside of the cleavage sites, including simulations of the largest Gag proteolytic product in its viral membrane-bound state. We found that some mutations, such as G123E and H219Q, involve direct interaction with cleavage site residues to influence their local environment, while certain mutations in the matrix domain lead to the enrichment of lipids important for Gag targeting and assembly. Collectively, our results reveal why non-cleavage site mutations have far-reaching implications outside of Gag proteolysis, with important consequences for drugging Gag maturation intermediates and tackling protease inhibitor resistance.
The ER membrane chaperone Shr3 acts in a progressive manner to assist the folding of related plasma membrane transport proteins
Authors: Myronidi Ioanna , Ring Andreas , Ljungdahl Per O.
Published: July 2020

Proteins with multiple membrane-spanning segments (MS) co-translationally insert into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane of eukaryotic cells. InSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Shr3 is an ER membrane-localized chaperone that is specifically required for the functional expression of amino acid permeases (AAP), a family of eighteen transporters comprised of 12 MS. Here, comprehensive scanning mutagenesis and deletion analysis of Shr3, combined with a modified split-ubiquitin approach, were used to probe chaperone-substrate interactions with seven different AAPin vivo. Our findings indicate that Shr3 specifically recognizes AAP substrates, largely independent of sequence-specific interactions involving membrane and luminally oriented domains. Shr3 selectively and robustly interacts with nested C-terminal AAP truncations in marked contrast to similar truncations of non-Shr3 substrate polytopic sugar transporters. Strikingly, Shr3-AAP interactions initiate with the first 4 MS of AAP and successively strengthen, but abruptly weaken when all 12 MS are present. The data are consistent with Shr3 acting in a temporal manner as a scaffold preventing AAP translation intermediates from engaging in non-productive interactions.
STAMP: a multiplex sequencing method for simultaneous evaluation of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmies and content
Authors: Guo Xiaoxian , Wang Yiqin , Zhang Ruoyu , Gu Zhenglong
Published: July 2020

Human mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) variations, such as mtDNA heteroplasmies (the co-existence of mutated and wild-type mtDNA), have received increasing attention in recent years for their clinical relevance to numerous diseases. But large-scale population studies of mtDNA heteroplasmies have been lagging due to the lack of a labor- and cost-effective method. Here, we present a novel human mtDNA sequencing method called STAMP (sequencing bytargetedamplification ofmultiplexprobes) for measuring mtDNA heteroplasmies and content in a streamlined workflow. We show that STAMP has high mapping rates to mtDNA, deep coverage of unique reads, and high tolerance to sequencing and PCR errors when applied to human samples. STAMP also has high sensitivity and low false positive rates in identifying artificial mtDNA variants at fractions as low as 0.5% in genomic DNA samples. We further extend STAMP, by including nuclear DNA-targeting probes, to enable assessment of relative mtDNA content in the same assay. The high cost-effectiveness of STAMP, along with the flexibility of using it for measuring various aspects of mtDNA variations, will accelerate the research of mtDNA heteroplasmies and content in large population cohorts, and in the context of human diseases and aging.
Novel algorithms for PFGE bacterial typing: Number of co-migrated DNA fragments, linking PFGE to WGS results and computer simulations for evaluation of PulseNet international typing protocols
Authors: Adam Ibrahim-Elkhalil M. , Abdokashif Isam , Elrashid Asia , Bayoumi Hiba , Musa Ahmed , Abdulgyom Eithar , Mamoun Safaa , Alnagar Sittana , Mohammed Wafaa , El-khateeb Amna , Oshi Musaab , El-bakri Faris
Published: July 2020

Background

Standard protocols for Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were adopted and being used in a global scale for surveillance of many bacterial food-borne diseases. Matched PFGE bands are considered regardless of co-migration of different DNA fragments. Molecular epidemiology is turning toward whole genome sequencing (WGS). Although, WGS results can be digestedIn-silico, PFGE and WGS data are being compared separately. We describe a new image analysis algorithm that enables identification of how many DNA fragments co-migrate during PFGE. We built a database that compare described PFGE results toin-silicoobtained digestion models (from WGS). Reliability of the method was assessedin-silicousing novel computer simulation approach. From WGS, 1,816 digestion model (DMs) were obtained as recommended by PulseNet international. Simulation codes were designed to predict PFGE profiles when DMs are separated at 5% PFGE resolution in addition to expected co-migration levels.

Results

PFGE simulation has shown that about 35% of DNA fragments co-migrate at 5% PFGE resolution. Similar result was obtained when wet-lab PFGE profiles were analyzed using image analysis algorithm mentioned earlier. When image analysis results were compared to DMs, results returned bygeltowgs.uofk.edudatabase revealed reasonable relatedness to DMs. In terms of number of PFGE typable DNA fragments, 45,517 were typable (representing 46.54% out of 97,801). Previously mentioned typable fragments (in terms of typable sizes) comprised 91.24% of the sum of nucleotides of all chromosomes tested (7.24 billion bp). However, significant variations were shown within and between different digestion protocols.

Conclusions

Identification of co-migration levels will reveal the third dimension of PFGE profiles. This will provide a better way for evaluating isolate relationships. Linking old PFGE results to WGS by means of simulation demonstrated here will provide a chance to link millions of PFGE epidemiological data accumulated during the last 24 years to the new WGS era. Evaluation of population dynamics of pathogenic bacteria will be deeper through space and time. Selection of restriction enzymes for PFGE typing will have a powerfulin-silicoevaluation tool.
Impact of climate on COVID-19 transmission: A case study with Indian states
Authors: Manik Souvik , Mandal Manoj , Pal Sabyasachi , Patra Subhradeep , Acharya Suman
Published: July 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in Wuhan province of China in November 2019 and within a short time, it was declared as a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organisation due to the very fast worldwide spread of the virus. There were a few studies that look for the correlation with infected individuals and different environmental parameters using early data of COVID-19 but there was no study that deal with the variation of effective reproduction number and environmental factors. Effective reproduction number is the driving parameter of the spread of a pandemic and it is important to study the effect of various environmental factors on effective reproduction numbers to understand the effect of those factors on the spread of the virus. We have used time-dependent models to investigate the variation of different time-dependent driving parameters of COVID-19 like effective reproduction number and contact rate using data from India as a test case. India is a large population country that was highly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has a wide span of different temperature and humidity regions and is ideal for such study. We have studied the impact of temperature and humidity on the spread of the virus of different Indian states using time-dependent epidemiological models SIRD, and SEIRD for a long time scale. We used a linear regression method to look for any dependency between the effective reproduction number with the relative humidity, absolute humidity, and temperature. The effective reproduction number showed a negative correlation with both relative and absolute humidity for most of the Indian states, which are statistically significant. This implies that relative and absolute humidity may have an important role in the variation of effective reproduction numbers. There was no conclusive evidence of a correlation between effective reproduction numbers and average air temperature.
Attenuated Anticipation of Social and Monetary Rewards in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Baumeister Sarah , Moessnang Carolin , Bast Nico , Hohmann Sarah , Tillmann Julian , Goyard David , Charman Tony , Ambrosino Sara , Baron-Cohen Simon , Beckmann Christian , Bölte Sven , Bourgeron Thomas , Rausch Annika , Crawley Daisy , Dell’Acqua Flavio , Dumas Guillaume , Durston Sarah , Ecker Christine , Floris Dorothea L. , Frouin Vincent , Hayward Hannah , Holt Rosemary , Johnson Mark H. , Jones Emily J.H. , Lai Meng-Chuan , Lombardo Michael V. , Mason Luke , Oldehinkel Marianne , Persico Tony , Cáceres Antonia San José , Wolfers Thomas , Spooren Will , Loth Eva , Murphy Declan G. M. , Buitelaar Jan K. , Tost Heike , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Banaschewski Tobias , Brandeis Daniel ,   the AIMS-2-TRIALS group
Published: July 2020

Background

Reward processing has been proposed to underpin atypical social behavior, a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous neuroimaging studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the specificity of atypicalities for social rewards in ASD. Utilizing a large sample, we aimed to assess altered reward processing in response to reward type (social, monetary) and reward phase (anticipation, delivery) in ASD.

Methods

Functional magnetic resonance imaging during social and monetary reward anticipation and delivery was performed in 212 individuals with ASD (7.6-30.5 years) and 181 typically developing (TD) participants (7.6-30.8 years).

Results

Across social and monetary reward anticipation, whole-brain analyses (p<0.05, family-wise error-corrected) showed hypoactivation of the right ventral striatum (VS) in ASD. Further, region of interest (ROI) analysis across both reward types yielded hypoactivation in ASD in both the left and right VS. Across delivery of social and monetary reward, hyperactivation of the VS in individuals with ASD did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Reward type by diagnostic group interactions, and a dimensional analysis of autism trait scores were not significant during anticipation or delivery. Levels of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms did not affect reward processing in ASD.

Conclusions

Our results do not support current theories linking atypical social interaction in ASD to specific alterations in processing of social rewards. Instead, they point towards a generalized hypoactivity of VS in ASD during anticipation of both social and monetary rewards. We suggest that this indicates attenuated subjective reward value in ASD independent of social content and ADHD symptoms.
TRACE: transcription factor footprinting using chromatin accessibility data and DNA sequence
Authors: Ouyang Ningxin , Boyle Alan P.
Published: July 2020

Transcription is tightly regulated by cis-regulatory DNA elements where transcription factors (TFs) can bind. Thus, identification of TF binding sites (TFBSs) is key to understanding gene expression and whole regulatory networks within a cell. The standard approaches used for TFBS prediction, such as position weight matrices (PWMs) and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq), are widely used but have their drawbacks, including high false-positive rates and limited antibody availability, respectively. Several computational footprinting algorithms have been developed to detect TFBSs by investigating chromatin accessibility patterns; however, these also have limitations. We have developed a footprinting method to predict TF footprints in active chromatin elements (TRACE) to improve the prediction of TFBS footprints. TRACE incorporates DNase-seq data and PWMs within a multivariate hidden Markov model (HMM) to detect footprint-like regions with matching motifs. TRACE is an unsupervised method that accurately annotates binding sites for specific TFs automatically with no requirement for pregenerated candidate binding sites or ChIP-seq training data. Compared with published footprinting algorithms, TRACE has the best overall performance with the distinct advantage of targeting multiple motifs in a single model.
Variations of quantum electronic pressure under the external compression in crystals with halogen bonds assembled in Cl3-, Br3-, I3-synthons
Authors: Bartashevich Ekaterina , Sobalev Sergey , Matveychuk Yury , Tsirelson Vladimir
Published: July 2020

The inner-crystal quantum electronic pressure was estimated for unstrained C6Cl6, C6Br6, and C6I6crystals and for those under external compression simulated from 1 to 20 GPa. The changes in its distribution were analyzed for the main structural elements in considered crystals: for triangles of the typical halogen bonds assembled in Hal3-synthons, where Hal = Cl, Br, I; for Hal...Hal stacking interactions, as well as for covalent bonds. Under simulated external compression, the quantum electronic pressure in the intermolecular space reduces as the electron density increases, indicating spatial areas of relatively less crystal resistance to external compression. The most compliant C6Cl6crystal shows the largest changes of quantum electronic pressure in the centre of Cl3-synthon while the deformation of rigid I3-synthon under external compression depends only on the features of I...I halogen bonds.
New cubic cluster phases in the Mg–Ni–Ga system
Authors: Pavlyuk Nazar , Dmytriv Grygoriy , Pavlyuk Volodymyr , Rozdzynska-Kielbik Beata , Cichowicz Grzegorz , Cyranski Michał K. , Chumak Ihor , Ehrenberg Helmut
Published: July 2020

The crystal structure of new Mg9Ni6Ga14and Mg3Ni2Ga compounds were investigated by single-crystal diffraction. Both structures can be described as three-core-shell cluster compounds. In the Mg6Ni9Ga14structure, the [Ni6Ga6] icosahedron is encapsulated within the [Mg20] dodecahedron, which is again encapsulated within a [Ni18Ga42] fullerene-like truncated icosahedron, thus the three core–shell cluster [Ni6Ga6@Mg20@Ni18Ga42] results. In the Mg3Ni2Ga structure, the [Mg6] octahedron is encapsulated within the [Ni12Ga6] flattened icosahedron in vertices of which there are 12 nickel atoms, and six lateral edges are centered by gallium atoms, which in turn is encapsulated within a [Mg36] pseudo-rhombicuboctahedron with 12 additional atoms centering the lateral faces; thus for Mg3Ni2Ga the three-shell cluster is [Mg6@Ni12Ga6@Mg36].
A failure case of P110 steel tubing in CO2 flooding well
Authors: Song Longfei , Liu Zhiyong , Lu Lin , Li Xiaogang , Sun BaoZhuang , Cheng Huanlin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze a failure case of a P110 tube in a CO2 flooding well.

Design/methodology/approach

The chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of the failed P110 tubing steel were tested, and met the API Spec 5CT standard. The fractures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Findings

Fracture was induced by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and that the stress concentration caused by the mechanical damage played an important role in the failure. The failure case is a SCC failure affected by mechanical damage and galvanic corrosion.

Originality/value

The effect of the infiltration of groundwater was studied in the failure case. The stress concentration caused by the mechanical damage played an important role in the failure.
AHP versus DEA: a comparative analysis for the gradual improvement of unsustainable suppliers
Authors: Rashidi Kamran
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) are two widely applied methods to evaluate and rank suppliers in terms of sustainability. In this study, to investigate the extent to which potential differences in the outcomes of these two methods influence the benchmarking strategies, a comparative analysis based on a common set of data gathered from 19 logistics service providers is implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

As suppliers' sustainability cannot be improved in a single-step process due to several limitations, improvement needs to proceed gradually. Therefore, using the self-organising map method, the suppliers were classified into clusters within a novel framework for gradually improving their sustainability. Then, the two processes of gradual improvement based on the outcomes of DEA and AHP were compared.

Findings

The findings show that although the rankings of suppliers guided by the methods correlated to a high degree, the benchmarking strategies provided by the methods for gradually improving the sustainability of suppliers differed considerably. In particular, whereas AHP suggests a benchmarking policy better suited for unsustainable or less sustainable suppliers with limited access to resources, DEA proposes one for suppliers able to dramatically boost their sustainability with few quick, significant leaps in performance.

Originality/value

First, this study revealed a novel gradual improvement framework using the self-organising map method. Second, it clarified the extent to which the benchmarking policies are influenced by the type of evaluation method.
Tackling the HR digitalization challenge: key factors and barriers to HR analytics adoption
Authors: Fernandez Vicenc , Gallardo-Gallardo Eva
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the literature on human resources (HR) digitalization, specifically on HR analytics, disentangling the concept of analytics applied to HR and explaining the factors that hinder companies from moving to analytics. Therefore, the central research questions addressed in this study are: what does HR analytics encompass? What impedes the adoption of analytics in HR within organizations?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors performed a comprehensive literature review on analytics as applied in HR. The authors relied on two of the major multidisciplinary publication databases (i.e. Scopus and WoS). A total of 64 manuscripts from 2010 to 2019 were content analyzed.

Findings

The results reveal that there is an ongoing confusion on HR analytics conceptualization. Yet, it seems that there is an emerging consensus on what HR analytics encompasses. The authors have identified 14 different barriers for HR analytics adoption grouped into four categories, namely, data and models, software and technology, people and management. Grounding on them the authors propose a set of 14 key factors to help to successfully adopt HR Analytics in companies.

Originality/value

This paper brings clarity over the conceptualization of HR analytics by offering a comprehensive definition. Additionally, it facilitates business and HR leaders in making informed decisions on adopting and implementing HR analytics. Moreover, it assists HR researchers in positioning their paper more explicitly in current debates and encouraging them to develop some future avenues of research departing from some questions posed.
Analysis of sponsorship networks and cross-domain knowledge exchange: an empirical study on Zhihu
Authors: Qi Tuotuo , Wang Tianmei , Chen Nuo
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the structural characteristics of knowledge exchange in Zhihu Lives to provide feasible suggestions for improving the creative enthusiasm of knowledge providers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the domain classification of Zhihu Lives to construct a cross-domain knowledge exchange network.

Findings

This research makes the following findings: the small-world effect exists in the sponsorship network and is conducive to enhancing the learning willingness of knowledge providers; significant sponsorships and strong learning willingness exist among knowledge providers; the knowledge exchange is obvious among the fields of education, reading and writing, business and lifestyle and the fields of music, film, games, art, the internet, science and technology, design, financial economy and occupation; and knowledge exchange is obvious among the internal fields of education, reading and writing, and business and life style, between the internal fields of music, film, and games and art and between the internal fields of the internet, science and technology, design, financial economy and occupation.

Originality/value

This study can provide practical suggestions for the following development of the platform by analyzing the special phenomenon of knowledge exchange in the present stage of knowledge exchange.
Gratitude, social intelligence, and leadership among university teachers: mediation and moderation analysis
Authors: Garg Naval , Jain Anuradha , Punia B.K.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the linkage between gratitude and leadership among university teachers. It also tended to examine mediating and moderating effect of social intelligence amidst the relationship between gratitude and leadership. As social intelligence is a multi-dimensional concept, this paper explored mediating and moderating effect of three dimensions of social intelligence, i.e. social awareness, social skills and social information processing.

Design/methodology/approach

Mediation effect was examined with help of Baron and Kenny’s (1986) technique, Sobel test and bootstrapping estimates. Significance of interaction between independent variable (gratitude) and moderator (social intelligence) was investigated for moderation analysis.

Findings

The findings reported partial mediating effect of all three dimensions of social intelligence. No significant moderation effect was observed.

Originality/value

This is one of the pioneer studies that explored interrelationship between gratitude, social intelligence and leadership among Indian University teachers.
Synergizing education, research, campus operations, and community engagements towards sustainability in higher education: a literature review
Authors: Menon Shalini , Suresh M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The UN proclamation of 2005–2014 as the decade of education for sustainable development has been instrumental in creating awareness and driving higher education institutions (HEIs) in integrating sustainability into their system. The purpose of this paper is to explore and encapsulate practices adopted by universities and colleges across the globe in integrating sustainability in education (here refers to curriculum and pedagogy), research, campus operations and outreach programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The review analyzed 229 peer-reviewed research studies in the time period 2005–2018 selected from 44 journals. The literature review was done in phases. The first phase was the selection of the database, the second phase was refining the database by eliminating irrelevant studies and the last phase was distributing selected studies on the basis of the journal, year and country of publication, research paradigm, sustainability integration in higher education, teaching techniques adopted by HEIs and research focus in publications.

Findings

This study contributes to the literature review of sustainability in higher education. From the literature review, it is evident that sustainability has made inroads into HEIs, but only a few universities have been successful in implementing it holistically, integrating all the triple bottom line dimensions in balance.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications for HEIs planning to integrate sustainability into teaching and learning and other aspects of educational practices. The findings and the examples of successful implementation of sustainable education by institutions around the world would help universities and colleges in formulating policies, strategies and practices that would promote sustainability on campuses.

Originality/value

The literature reviews on sustainability in higher education so far have focused either on curricula, pedagogical approaches, assessment and reporting or barriers and solutions. This study attempts to offer a comprehensive view of the initiatives adopted by the institutions in incorporating sustainability in education, research, campus operations and outreach programs.
Service providers' intention to continue sharing: the moderating role of two-way review system
Authors: Chen Jengchung Victor , Biamukda Sorawit , Tran Sinh Thi Thu
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims at investigating the effects of two-way review system and how reach and richness of information influence the perceptions of risks and benefits among service providers and their intention to continue sharing their property on sharing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

To generate the variance, a 2 × 2 × 2 full factorial experiment was conducted to collect data. The research model was then tested using the structural equation model technique.

Findings

The study finds that reach of information predicts the social and economic benefits among service providers, while richness of information negatively relates to perceived informational privacy risks, which, in turn, significantly influence the decision of the service providers to continue sharing. The results also suggest that the existence of the two-way review system weakens the effects of reach on perceived social benefits and of richness on perceived informational privacy risks.

Originality/value

The present study investigates the two-way review system as the intervention of platforms to protect the service providers. Also, the emphasis is on the service providers rather than on consumers on sharing economy platforms to investigate their behavioral intention as customers on such platforms.
A data envelopment analysis approach by partial impacts between inputs and desirable-undesirable outputs for sustainable supplier selection problem
Authors: Nemati Mohammad , Farzipoor Saen Reza , Matin Reza Kazemi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to propose a new data envelopment analysis (DEA) model for assessing sustainability of suppliers with partial impacts between inputs, desirable outputs and undesirable outputs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines partial impacts of inputs on desirable and undesirable outputs and applies weak disposability assumption to propose a novel DEA model to determine the sustainability of suppliers.

Findings

This paper shows the type of resource sharing in DEA models and takes into account sustainable development and sustainability assessment concepts for sustainable supplier selection problem and develops a DEA model for selecting the most sustainable suppliers with partial sharing of resources. To select the most sustainable suppliers, this model helps managers to consider aggregate efficiency, overall efficiency and bundle efficiency. The paper introduces the supplier which is efficient at all levels as the most sustainable supplier.

Originality/value

For the first time, this paper suggests a new DEA model by partial impact between inputs and good outputs/bad outputs for selecting sustainable supplier and deals with the situations in which each supplier has several subunits. The new model calculates aggregate efficiency, overall efficiency and subunit efficiency of supplier. paper introduces the supplier which is efficient in all levels including aggregate efficiency, overall efficiency and subunit efficiency as the best supplier.
Decoding the complexity of large-scale pork supply chain networks in China
Authors: Cai Mengsi , Huang Ge , Tan Yuejin , Jiang Jiang , Zhou Zhongbao , Lu Xin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

With the development of global food markets, the structural properties of supply chain networks have become key factors affecting the ability to evaluate and control infectious diseases and food contamination. The purpose of this paper is to describe and characterize the nationwide pork supply chain networks (PSCNs) in China and to demonstrate the potential of using social network analysis (SNA) methods for accessing outbreaks of diseases and contaminations.

Design/methodology/approach

A large-scale PSCN with 17,582 nodes and 49,554 edges is constructed, using the pork trade data collected by the National Important Products Traceability System (NIPTS) in China. A network analysis is applied to investigate the static and dynamic characteristics of the annual network and monthly networks. Then, the metric maximum spreading capacity (MSC) is proposed to quantify the spreading capacity of farms and estimate the potential maximum epidemic size. The structure of the network with the spatio-temporal pattern of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in China in 2018 was also analysed.

Findings

The results indicate that the out-degree distribution of farms approximately followed a power law. The pork supply market in China was active during April to July and December to January. The MSC is capable of estimating the potential maximum epidemic size of an outbreak, and the spreading of ASF was positively correlated with the effective distance from the origin city infected by ASF, rather than the geographical distance.

Originality/value

Empirical research on PSCNs in China is scarce due to the lack of comprehensive supply chain data. This study fills this gap by systematically examining the nationwide PSCN of China with large-scale reliable empirical data. The usage of MSC and effective distance can inform the implementation of risk-based control programmes for diseases and contaminations on PSCNs.
The new BMW: business model innovation transforms an automotive leader
Authors: Kukkamalla Prasanna Kumar , Bikfalvi Andrea , Arbussa Anna
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The car no longer serves simply as a means of transport but is at the core of a new concept of mobility. Car manufacturers are seizing opportunities to change the traditional business model of the auto business. Innovation in this business model has become vital to survival in today’s dynamic market conditions. This paper aims to find out what factors motivate and drive business model change and what the resulting business model innovation is.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study is based on a single case, namely, BMW as an illustrative example of an advanced, highly innovative customer-centric service business model (BM). The study adopts a document analysis method to reveal the firm’s BMI process.

Findings

First, the study presents a conceptual framework for business model change with the factors –motivators and drivers – that impact on the process of change. BMW’s BMI and its impacting factors are discussed based on this model. The McKinsey 7 s Model framework, the elements of which are strategy, structure, systems, shared values, style, staff and skills is used as an analytical tool to discuss new business model implementation. The study highlights the BM configuration of a traditional car manufacturer, the car as a product and the new car as a service concept.

Originality/value

This study reveals the BMI of BMW’s digital services and its key motivators and drivers. BMW mostly innovates in three key dimensions of the Business model. These are value creation, value delivery and value capture. Most of the elements in these dimensions are innovated.
“Developing human capitals in today's entrepreneurs: a practitioner perspective”
Authors: Murray Alan , Palladino Rosa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The main objective of this exploratory study is to analyze the range of human capitals necessary for the modern entrepreneur and the nature of the barriers to effectively support the development of these capitals. Human capital is one of the three dimensions of intellectual capital and this document examines the role of education and training for entrepreneurial success.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a broad review of the main contributions to research and practice in the field of intellectual capital and entrepreneurship issues, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews on a sample of 10 professionals expert in business support. They represent a cross section of the main corporate agencies in Scotland. In addition, an interview guide was used to ensure that some questions, or “key questions”, were asked to all participants, also allowing for the flexibility to obtain updated information.

Findings

The interviews identified 21 key human capitals needed by today's entrepreneurs. However, the study also identifies the existence of obstacles to providing effective support for the development of human capital in the entrepreneur in terms of attention, process and resources.

Research limitations/implications

Research limitations–The study is based on data collected by a sample of 10 professionals, according to a qualitative approach that focuses on a specific social field and therefore the results cannot be immediately generalized to other fields.

Practical implications

Practical implications–The study identifies the key human capital needed to run a successful company, directing the professional to direct support interventions more effectively in order to increase productivity and improve success rates for its customers.

Social implications

The value the long-term benefits of even a marginal increase in the efficiency of enterprise support to business through targeted entrepreneurial learning cannot be overstated.

Originality/value

There is a lack of empirical data linking the development of human capital and entrepreneurship. This work has resonance for providers of enterprise support seeking to remain relevant to the entrepreneurial development needs of the entrepreneur.
An integrated care solution for the electrocardiogram monitoring
Authors: Chow Josephine S.F. , Hopkins Andrew , Dimitri Hany , Tie Hui , Williams Rachael , Rajaratnam Rohan , Gopinath Sumana , Lazarovska Suzana , Andrijevic Stanica , Premawardhana Upul , Gonzalez-Arce Veronica E. , McDougall Alan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study has demonstrated how technology may contribute to integrated care solutions by comparing conventional ward telemetry (WT) to a wearable ECG monitor (S-Patch) to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with stroke.

Design/methodology/approach

51 patients admitted for stroke workup were recruited across two major tertiary centres to compare WT monitoring for two days versus S-Patch for four days in the detection of AF. The efficacy to detect AF using both technologies was assessed via data extractions and medical officer review. A matrix was used to measure nursing/patient satisfaction and setup/resource times were assessed.

Findings

Patients (84–94%) and nursing staff (75–95%) preferred the S-Patch wearable technology. Non-parametric tests indicated significant time saving for removal of S-Patch versus WT [2.2 min vs 5.1 min (p = 0.00)]. Efficacy of S-Patch to detect AF following medical officer review was greater than WT, with seven patients identified with AF by S-Patch versus one using WT. The S-patch had a false positive rate of 78%.

Research limitations/implications

The S-Patch is sensitive in the detection of AF; however, it showed a high false-positive rate with automated reporting. This study has provided insight into the details of delivery of integrated healthcare using wearable technology.

Originality/value

The technology and partnership were the first-in-kind in Australia. The S-Patch had a higher detection rate of AF compared to WT which allows patients to be anti-coagulated appropriately for the prevention of further stroke. The results of this study will be ideally placed to inform future policy in integrated healthcare using new technologies.