bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choline
Authors: Wallace Taylor C. , Blusztajn Jan Krzysztof , Caudill Marie A. , Klatt Kevin C. , Natker Elana , Zeisel Steven H. , Zelman Kathleen M.
Published: November 2018

Choline has been recognized as an essential nutrient by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Medicine since 1998. Its metabolites have structural, metabolic, and regulatory roles within the body. Humans can endogenously produce small amounts of choline via the hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase pathway. However, the nutrient must be consumed exogenously to prevent signs of deficiency. The Adequate Intake (AI) for choline was calculated at a time when dietary intakes across the population were unknown for the nutrient. Unlike the traditional National Academy of Medicine approach of calculating an AI based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of intake by a group (or groups) of healthy individuals, calculation of the AI for choline was informed in part by a depletion-repletion study in adult men who, upon becoming deficient, developed signs of liver damage. The AI for other gender and life-stage groups was calculated based on standard reference weights, except for infants 0 to 6 months, whose AI reflects the observed mean intake from consuming human breast milk. Recent analyses indicate that large portions of the population (ie, approximately 90% of Americans), including most pregnant and lactating women, are well below the AI for choline. Moreover, the food patterns recommended by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are currently insufficient to meet the AI for choline in most age-sex groups. An individual’s requirement for choline is dependent on common genetic variants in genes required for choline, folate, and 1-carbon metabolism, potentially increasing more than one-third of the population’s susceptibly to organ dysfunction. The American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics have both recently reaffirmed the importance of choline during pregnancy and lactation. New and emerging evidence suggests that maternal choline intake during pregnancy, and possibly lactation, has lasting beneficial neurocognitive effects on the offspring. Because choline is found predominantly in animal-derived foods, vegetarians and vegans may have a greater risk for inadequacy. With the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommending expansion of dietary information for pregnant women, and the inclusion of recommendations for infants and toddlers 0 to 2 years, better communication of the role that choline plays, particularly in the area of neurocognitive development, is critical. This narrative review summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and discussions from the 2018 Choline Science Summit, held in Washington, DC, in February 2018.
Heat-Stable Carbetocin Versus Oxytocin to Prevent Hemorrhage After Vaginal Birth
Authors: Widmer Mariana , Piaggio Gilda , Nguyen Thi M. H. , Osoti Alfred , Owa Olorunfemi O. , Misra Sujata , Coomarasamy Arri , Abdel-Aleem Hany , Mallapur Ashalata A. , Qureshi Zahida , Lumbiganon Pisake , Patel Archana B. , Carroli Guillermo , Fawole Bukola , Goudar Shivaprasad S. , Pujar Yeshita V. , Neilson James , Hofmeyr G. Justus , Su Lin L. , Ferreira de Carvalho Jose , Pandey Uma , Mugerwa Kidza , Shiragur Shobha S. , Byamugisha Josaphat , Giordano Daniel , Gülmezoglu A. Metin
Published: November 2018

(Abstracted from New Engl J Med 2018;379:743–752)

Postpartum hemorrhage is the most common cause of maternal death. Oxytocin is the standard therapy for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, but it requires cold storage, which is not available in many countries, and has unsatisfactory real-world efficacy as a result of heat sensitivity and quality issues such as insufficient active ingredient or impurities.
Dural Reconstruction With Autologous Rectus Fascia: A New Technique for Addressing Large-Sized Defects During Cranioplasty
Authors: Santiago Gabriel , Wolff Amir , Huang Judy , Weingart Jon , Brem Henry , Gordon Chad R.
Published: November 2018

Introduction:

Patients requiring cranioplasty reconstruction with customized cranial implants may unexpectedly present with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and durotomies following previous neurosurgical procedures. As such, multiple factors influence the type of dural reconstruction chosen at this time, which are essential for achieving long-term success. Overall, the most common material used for duraplasty is currently an “off-the-shelf” xenograft construct. However, some believe that they are not suitable for large-sized defects and accompany a higher incident of complications. Therefore, based on our success and experience with scalp augmentation using rectus fascia grafts, the authors herein present our preliminary experience with duraplasty using autologous rectus fascia grafts (ARFGs).

Methods:

A retrospective review of our database, consisting of 437 cranial reconstructions from 2012 to 2017, was performed under institutional review board approval. Selection criteria included all adult patients (n = 6) requiring dural reconstruction (duraplasty) with ARF grafting for an active CFS leak with concomitant skull defect. Cadaver study and patient illustrations are also presented to demonstrate clinical applicability. All outcomes, including complications, were reviewed and are presented here.

Results:

A total of 6 patients underwent autologous duraplasty with either unilateral or bilateral ARFGs. All patients (6/6) of large-sized (>3 cm2) defect repair with ARFGs were indicated for repair of secondary CSF leaks following previous craniotomy by neurosurgery. To date, none have demonstrated recurrent leaking and/or dura-related complications. At this time, all 6 patients were reconstructed using customized cranial implants with a mean follow-up of 10 months.

Conclusion:

Based on our preliminary experience presented here, the use of rectus fascia grafts for autologous dural reconstruction appears to be both safe and reliable. This new technique adds another tool to the neurosurgical armamentarium by reducing the additional risk of “off-the-shelf” dural substitutes.
The Effect Evaluation of Functional Appliance Used for Class II Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Anterior Disc Displacement
Authors: Shen Pei , Liu Xiaohan , Xie Qianyang , Zhang Shanyong , Yang Chi
Published: November 2018

Orthopedic functional appliances are usually used to correct patients with retrognathic mandible. However, a part of cases have a trend of relapse after splint treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the role of temporomandibular joint disc position in functional appliance treatment. This study included 8 patients who had 1 joint anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDWR) and the other joint anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWoR) confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Only the ADDWR joint could return to its normal position after wearing the anterior repositioning appliances (ARAs). Condylar morphology, condylar height, and disc length were evaluated 6 months after ARA treatment. The MRI showed that new bone appeared on 7 joints with ADDWR and on 1 joint with ADDWoR. The condylar height has increased 1.4 mm in the ADDWR group, while 0.1 mm shorter in the ADDWoR group. Disc length has increased from 8.5 to 8.7 mm in the ADDWR group and 0.4 mm shorter in the ADDWoR group after wearing the ARA. Our results suggested that it is noneffective of functional appliance used for class II malocclusion adolescents with ADDWoR and only a normal disc-condyle relationship benefits condyle growth by functional appliance. Thus it is important to reposition the disc as soon as possible.
Transcriptomics-based screening identifies pharmacological inhibition of Hsp90 as a means to defer aging
Authors: Janssens Georges E. , Lin Xin-Xuan , Millán-Ariño Lluís , Seinstra Renée I. , Stroustrup Nicholas , Nollen Ellen A. A. , Riedel Christian G.
Published: November 2018

Aging is a major risk factor for human morbidity and mortality. Thus, the identification of compounds that defer aging, also known as ‘geroprotectors’, could greatly improve our health and promote a longer life. Here we screened for geroprotectors, employing the power of human transcriptomics to predict biological age. We used age-stratified human tissue transcriptomes to generate machine-learning-based classifiers capable of distinguishing transcriptomes from young versus old individuals. Then we applied these classifiers to transcriptomes induced by 1300 different compounds in human cell lines and ranked these compounds by their ability to induce a ‘youthful’ transcriptional state. Besides known geroprotectors, several new candidate compounds emerged from this ranking. Testing these in the model organismC. elegans, we identified two Hsp90 inhibitors, Monorden and Tanespimycin, which substantially extended the animals’ lifespan and improved their health. Hsp90 inhibition specifically induces the expression of heat shock proteins, known to improve protein homeostasis. Consistently, Monorden treatment improved the survival ofC. elegansunder proteotoxic stress, and its lifespan benefits were fully dependent on the master regulator of the cytosolic unfolded protein response, the transcription factor HSF-1. Taken together, we present an innovative transcriptomics-based screening approach to discover aging-preventive compounds and highlight Hsp90 inhibitors as powerful geroprotectors that could be of great value, to target the aging process in humans.
Population structure across scales facilitates coexistence and spatial heterogeneity of antibiotic-resistant infections
Authors: Krieger Madison S. , Denison Carson E. , Anderson Thayer L. , Nowak Martin A. , Hill Alison L.
Published: November 2018

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing threat to human health, but basic features of the eco-evolutionary dynamics remain unexplained. Most prominently, there is no clear mechanism for the long-term coexistence of both drug-sensitive and resistant strains at intermediate levels, a ubiquitous pattern seen in surveillance data. Here we show that accounting for structured or spatially-heterogeneous host populations and variability in antibiotic consumption can lead to persistent coexistence over a wide range of treatment coverages, drug efficacies, costs of resistance, and mixing patterns. Moreover, this mechanism can explain other puzzling spatiotemporal features of drug-resistance epidemiology that have received less attention, such as large differences in the prevalence of resistance between geographical regions with similar antibiotic consumption or that neighbor one another. We find that the same amount of antibiotic use can lead to very different levels of resistance depending on how treatment is distributed in a transmission network. We also identify parameter regimes in which population structure alone cannot support coexistence, suggesting the need for other mechanisms to explain the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance. Our analysis identifies key features of host population structure that can be used to assess resistance risk and highlights the need to include spatial or demographic heterogeneity in models to guide resistance management.
Chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 Overexpression Causes Chondrodysplasia During Development, but is Not Sufficient to Induce OA-like Articular Cartilage Degeneration in Adult Mice Without Injury
Authors: Catheline Sarah E. , Hoak Donna , Chang Martin , Ketz John P. , Hilton Matthew J. , Zuscik Michael J. , Jonason Jennifer H.
Published: November 2018

RUNX2 is a transcription factor critical for chondrocyte maturation and normal endochondral bone formation. It promotes the expression of factors catabolic to the cartilage extracellular matrix and is shown to be upregulated in human osteoarthritic cartilage and in murine articular cartilage following joint injury. To date,in vivostudies of RUNX2 overexpression in cartilage have been limited to forced expression in osteochondroprogenitor cells preventing investigation into the effects of chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 overexpression during development or in postnatal articular cartilage. Here, we used theRosa26Runx2allele in combination with the inducibleCol2a1CreERT2transgene or the inducibleAcanCreERT2knock-in allele to achieve chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 overexpression (OE) during embryonic development or in the postnatal articular cartilage of adult mice, respectively. RUNX2 OE was induced at E13.5 for all developmental studies and resulted in a phenotype resembling chondrodysplasia at E18.5. Histology andin situhybridization analyses suggest an early onset of chondrocyte hypertrophy and accelerated terminal maturation in the limbs of the RUNX2 OE embryos compared to control embryos. Additionally, RUNX2 OE resulted in enhanced TUNEL staining indicative of increased chondrocyte apoptosis throughout all regions of the growth plate. For all postnatal studies, RUNX2 OE was induced at 2 months of age. Surprisingly, no histopathological signs of OA or cartilage catabolism were observed even six months following induction of RUNX2 OE in postnatal animals. Using the meniscal/ligamentous injury (MLI), a surgical model of knee joint destabilization and meniscal injury, however, we found that chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 OE accelerates the progression of OA pathogenesis following joint trauma. Histomorphometry and OARSI scoring confirmed decreased cartilage area two months following injury in the RUNX2 OE joints compared to control joints. Further, the numbers of MMP13-positive and TUNEL-positive chondrocytes were significantly greater in the articular cartilage of the RUNX2 OE joints compared to control joints one month following injury. Collectively, our data support that RUNX2 OE in growth plate chondrocytes is sufficient to promote their hypertrophy and terminal maturation during development. While RUNX2 overexpression alone is surprisingly insufficient to induce catabolic changes to the postnatal articular cartilage, it can accelerate the progression of post-traumatic OA. These results suggest that although increased RUNX2 expression may predetermine the rate of OA onset and/or progression following traumatic joint injury, alone this change is not sufficient to initiate the OA degenerative process.
Senescent cells and the dynamics of aging
Authors: Karin Omer , Agrawal Amit , Porat Ziv , Krizhanovsky Valery , Alon Uri
Published: November 2018

A causal factor in mammalian aging is the accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs) with age. SnCs cause chronic inflammation, and removing SnCs decelerates aging in mice. Despite their importance, however, the production and removal rates of SnCs are not known, and their connection to aging dynamics is unclear. Here we use longitudinal SnC measurements and SnC induction experiments to show that SnCs turn over rapidly in young mice, with a half-life of days, but slow their own removal rate to a half-life of weeks in old mice. This leads to a critical slowing-down that generates persistent SnC fluctuations. We further demonstrate that a mathematical model, in which death occurs when fluctuating SnC populations cross a threshold, quantitatively recapitulates the Gompertz law of survival curves in mice and humans. The concept of a causal factor for aging with rapid turnover which slows its own removal can go beyond SnCs to explain the effects of interventions that modulate lifespan in Drosophila and C. elegans, including survival-curve scaling and rapid effects of dietary shifts on mortality.
Consistency of non-cognitive skills and their relation to educational outcomes in a UK cohort
Authors: Morris Tim T , Smith George Davey , van Den Berg Gerard , Davies Neil M
Published: November 2018

Non-cognitive skills have previously been associated with a range of health and socioeconomic outcomes, though there has been considerable heterogeneity in published research. Many studies have used cross sectional data and therefore the longitudinal consistency of measures designed to capture non-cognitive skills is poorly understood. Using data from a UK cohort, we assess the consistency of non-cognitive skills over a 17-year period throughout childhood and adolescence, their genomic architecture, and their associations with socioeconomic outcomes. We find that longitudinal measurement consistency is high for behavioural and communication skills but low for other non-cognitive skills, implicating a high noise to signal ratio for many non-cognitive skills. Consistent non-zero heritability estimates and genetic correlations applied to cross-sectional measures are observed only for behavioural difficulties. When aggregating across multiple measurements, we find evidence of low heritabilityfor behaviour, communication, self-esteem and locus of control. We find weak correlations between aggregate measures of skills, further supporting cross-sectional measurement error in the non-cognitive measures. Associations between non-cognitive skills and educational outcomes are observed for skills measured in mid to late childhood and these are at most a third of the size of IQ-education associations. These results suggest that individual measures designed to capture non-cognitive skills may be subject to considerable measurement error and provide unreliable indicators of children’s skills. However, aggregate measures that leverage longitudinal data may more reliably identify underlying non-cognitive traits.
Spatial structure arising from chase-escape interactions with crowding
Authors: Surendran Anudeep , Plank Michael J , Simpson Matthew J
Published: November 2018

Movement of individuals, mediated by localised interactions, plays a key role in numerous processes including cell biology and ecology. In this work, we investigate an individual-based model accounting for various intraspecies and interspecies interactions in a community consisting of two distinct species. In this framework we consider one species to bechasersand the other species to beescapees, and we focus on chase-escape dynamics where the chasers are biased to move towards the escapees, and the escapees are biased to move away from the chasers. This framework allows us to explore how individual-level directional interactions scale up to influence spatial structure at the macroscale. To focus exclusively on the role of motility and directional bias in determining spatial structure, we consider conservative communities where the number of individuals in each species remains constant. To provide additional information about the individual-based model, we also present a mathematically tractable deterministic approximation based on describing the evolution of the spatial moments. We explore how different features of interactions including interaction strength, spatial extent of interaction, and relative density of species influence the formation of the macroscale spatial patterns.
Simultaneous profiling of DNA methylation and chromatin architecture in mixed populations and in single cells
Authors: Li Guoqiang , Liu Yaping , Zhang Yanxiao , Fang Rongxin , Kellis Manolis , Ren Bing
Published: November 2018

Dynamic DNA methylation and three-dimensional chromatin architecture compose a major portion of a cell’s epigenome and play an essential role in tissue specific gene expression programs. Currently, DNA methylation and chromatin organization are generally profiled in separate assays. Here, we report Methyl-HiC, a method combining in situ Hi-C and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to simultaneously capture chromosome conformation and DNA methylome in a single assay. Methyl-HiC analysis of mouse embryonic stem cells reveals coordinated DNA methylation between distant yet spatially proximal genomic regions. Extension of Methyl-HiC to single cells further enables delineation of the heterogeneity of both chromosomal conformation and DNA methylation in a mixed cell population, and uncovers increased dynamics of chromatin contacts and decreased stochasticity in DNA methylation in genomic regions that replicate early during cell cycle.
TheMycobacterium tuberculosisPup-proteasome system regulates nitrate metabolism through an essential protein quality control system
Authors: Becker Samuel H. , Jastrab Jordan B. , Dhabaria Avantika , Chaton Catherine T. , Rush Jeffrey S. , Korotkov Konstantin V. , Ueberheide Beatrix , Darwin K. Heran
Published: November 2018

The human pathogenMycobacterium tuberculosis(M. tuberculosis) encodes a proteasome that carries out regulated degradation of bacterial proteins. It has been proposed that the proteasome contributes to nitrogen metabolism inM. tuberculosis, although this hypothesis had not been tested. Upon assessingM. tuberculosisgrowth in several nitrogen sources, we found that a mutant strain lacking theMycobacteriumproteasomal activator Mpa was unable to use nitrate as a sole nitrogen source due to a specific failure in the pathway of nitrate reduction to ammonium. We found that the robust activity by the nitrite reductase complex NirBD depended on expression of thegroEL/groESchaperonin genes, which are regulated by the repressor HrcA. We identified HrcA as a likely proteasome substrate, and propose that the degradation of HrcA is required for the full expression of chaperonin genes. Furthermore, our data suggest that degradation of HrcA, along with numerous other proteasome substrates, is enhanced during growth in nitrate to facilitate the de-repression of the chaperonin genes. Importantly, growth in nitrate is the first example of a specific condition that reduces the steady-state levels of numerous proteasome substrates inM. tuberculosis.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The proteasome is required for the full virulence ofM. tuberculosis. However, the extent of its role as a regulator of bacterial physiology remains unclear. In this work, we demonstrate a novel function of the proteasome system in maintaining the expression of essential chaperonin genes. This activity by the proteasome is required forM. tuberculosisto use nitrate as a nitrogen source. Furthermore, we identified a specific growth condition that robustly decreases the abundance of pupylated proteins. This observation strongly suggests the presence of a yet-to-be-determined mechanism of control over the Pup-proteasome system inM. tuberculosisthat is induced in nitrate.
Intermediate-term memory in Aplysia involves neurotrophin signaling, transcription, and DNA methylation
Authors: Yang Qizong , Antonov Igor , Castillejos David , Nagaraj Anagha , Bostwick Caleb , Kohn Andrea , Moroz Leonid L. , Hawkins Robert D.
Published: November 2018

Long-term but not short-term memory and synaptic plasticity in many brain areas require neurotrophin signaling, transcription, and epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation. However, it has been difficult to relate these cellular mechanisms directly to behavior because of the immense complexity of the mammalian brain. To address that problem, we and others have examined numerically simpler systems such as the hermaphroditic marine mollusk Aplysia californica. As a further simplification, we have used a semi-intact preparation of the Aplysia siphon withdrawal reflex in which it is possible to relate cellular plasticity directly to behavioral learning. We find that inhibitors of neurotrophin signaling, transcription, and DNA methylation block sensitization and classical conditioning beginning ∼1 h after the start of training, which is in the time range of an intermediate-term stage of plasticity that combines elements of short- and long-term plasticity and may form a bridge between them. Injection of decitabine (an inhibitor of DNA methylation that may have other actions in these experiments) into an LE sensory neuron blocks the neural correlates of conditioning in the same time range. In addition, we found that both DNA and RNA methylation in the abdominal ganglion are correlated with learning in the same preparations. These results begin to suggest the functions and integration of these different molecular mechanisms during behavioral learning.
Multi-element X-ray movie imaging with a visible-light CMOS camera
Authors: Zhao Wenyang , Sakurai Kenji
Published: November 2018

For many years, X-ray movies have been considered a promising tool for exploring and providing insights into chemical reactions. A simultaneous multi-element X-ray movie can further clarify the behavior difference of various elements and help investigate their interactions. The present short communication illustrates how to conduct multi-element X-ray movie imaging in a synchrotron facility solely by placing a micro-pinhole in front of a visible-light complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera. It has been found that the CMOS camera can resolve X-ray fluorescence spectra when it is specially operated. In this work, a spatial resolution of ∼15 µm was achieved. In the X-ray movie, a movie frame acquisition time of 2 min and a spatial resolution of ∼50 µm were simultaneously achieved. It is clear that the CMOS camera can be a cost-efficient option for many researchers who wish to establish their own setup for visualizing chemical diffusion in various reactions.
Fast inside-source X-ray fluorescent holography
Authors: Bortel G. , Faigel G. , Tegze M. , Angelov B.
Published: November 2018

Atomic resolution X-ray holography can be realized by using the atoms of the sample as inside sources or inside detectors. However, until now there were only very few experiments in which the atoms played the role of inside sources. The reason is twofold: (i) technically, inside-detector experiments are much easier and faster; (ii) by using atoms as inside detectors one can measure holograms at many energies on the same sample, which helps the reconstruction. This paper shows that, using new technical developments, inside-source holograms can be taken much faster than inside-detector holograms and, by applying a sophisticated evaluation method, high-quality reconstruction from a single-energy hologram can also be obtained.
BIM-based energy consumption assessment of the on-site construction of building structural systems
Authors: Zhou Hao , Rezazadeh Azar Ehsan
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Steel and reinforced concrete are among the most common structural materials used in the construction industry. Cost and the speed of construction have been usually the main criteria when selecting a building’s structural system, whereby the environmental impact of the structural material is sometimes ignored. Availability of an easy-to-use tool for environmental assessment of the structural alternatives could encourage this evaluation in the decision making. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an automated tool for the environmental assessment of the on-site construction processes of a building structural system, which calculates the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the structural system as a parameter for comparison.

Design/methodology/approach

This assessment tool is implemented using a building information modeling (BIM) platform to extract structural elements and their key attributes, such as type, geometrical and locational data. These data are processed together with a productivity database to calculate machine hours, and then predefined energy and carbon inventories are used to assess the energy consumption of the structural system in the erection/installation stage.

Findings

This assessment tool provides an automated and easy-to-use approach to estimate energy consumption and carbon emissions of different structural systems that are modeled in a BIM platform. The results of this tool were within the ranges reported by the available studies.

Originality/value

This research project presents a novel approach to use BIM-based attributes of the structural elements to calculate the required efforts, i.e. machine hours, and assess their energy consumption and carbon emissions during construction processes.
Organizational helping behavior and its relationship with employee workplace well-being
Authors: Duan Jinyun , Wong Macy , Yue Yumeng
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Research examining the effect of helping on outcomes related to helpers has gained some mixed results. The purpose of this paper is to reconcile such inconsistency by understanding the multi-dimensional nature of helping behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first develop a helping behavior scale that differentiates between the proactive and reactive form of helping. Furthermore, the authors also examined whether these two forms of helping are differently related to employees’ well-being. Data were collected from 448 employees and their immediate supervisors working in different organizations in the South Jiangsu province, in which the authors examined the main relationship and also explored the mediating effect of meaningfulness.

Findings

Results provided corroborating evidence that helping behavior was a multi-dimensional construct, consisting of proactive and reactive dimensions. Furthermore, the authors are also able to support discriminatory validity between these two dimensions by showing that they are differently related to employees’ well-being.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to management practice by specifying the benefits and detriments of different kinds of helping behaviors.

Originality/value

The findings of this study do not only provide ideas to explain contradictions in the effect of helping behaviors on helpers themselves, but also deepens scholars’ knowledge and understanding toward helping behavior.
Reflections of a green university building: from design to occupation
Authors: Moore Trivess , Iyer-Raniga Usha
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present outcomes from a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of a sustainable university building development.

Design/methodology/approach

A POE was conducted for a sustainable university building in Melbourne, Australia. The method included interviews with key stakeholders involved in the design, construction and occupation of the building. The interviews were complemented by conducting a Builder User Satisfaction survey and analysis of two year’s worth of building performance data.

Findings

While technically the building saw a significant improvement in performance in comparison to existing buildings at the university, it ultimately did not meet its design performance goals as determined by the design rating. The interviews revealed limited formal documenting of lessons learnt and the challenges associated with using a sustainable and innovative building to drive cultural change. A major success was the realisation by the university of the benefits that the systematic POE provided. Lessons are now being applied to other new and refurbished buildings on campus, with POE now an integrated part of these processes.

Originality/value

While there are some studies of sustainable university operations and buildings, many focus on one or two parts of the process and fail to include evaluation of the full sustainability approach to check if stated goals have been met. This paper begins to address this gap. Learnings from the research are applicable to the wider building development industry and demonstrate the important role universities can play in shaping the sustainability of urban environments.
Sustainability evaluation of post-disaster housing reconstruction after 55 years: Rudak village, Iran
Authors: Mohtat Niloofar , Zargar Akbar Haji Ibrahim
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Focusing on Rudak, a village destroyed in the Buin-Zahra earthquake of 1962 in Qazvin, Iran, this paper aims to evaluate the reconstruction of this village in terms of sustainability. Rudak reconstruction has left long-term consequences on the physical structure of the village, as some of the people refused the constructed houses and built their own ones. Hence, after more than 50 years, this village is now consisted of two physically different neighborhoods. Examining the long-term consequences of this reconstruction through comparing housing and physical structure of the two different neighborhoods contains valuable lessons in terms of sustainability because sustainable reconstruction results unveil in long term.

Design/methodology/approach

Using sustainable reconstruction theory as the conceptual framework, this research investigates social, economic and environmental sustainability of Rudak housing reconstruction and that leads to comprehensive lessons. The study has a qualitative method and is based on fieldwork allowing for dynamic interviews with the community. Furthermore, data are analyzed through descriptive and comparative approaches.

Findings

The research concluded that sustainability related implications of post-disaster reconstruction policies are not restricted to the time of reconstruction or a limited interval after that. Lack of livelihood considerations, providing all people with similar houses and nontransparent decisions, resulted in unsustainable consequences such as building vulnerable extensions by people, social segregation and people unwillingness for participation. However, this experience was sustainable in terms of some other factors. For example, using local materials for building the structures of the new houses, putting the houses on the natural bedrock and building public services for people were sustainable measurements.

Originality/value

This paper is a rare example of research focusing on impacts of post-disaster reconstruction after more than 50 years. It contains valuable lessons for planners and architects.
Evaluating the service quality of solar product companies using SERVQUAL model
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Hundal Bikramjit Singh
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to consider a five-factor model to evaluate the service quality of solar product companies in the context of rural Punjab (India) and validate the proposed model. In addition, the study considered the factors which affect the service quality of solar product companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A five-factor model of service quality has been tested for reliability and validity by confirmatory factor analysis. For determining satisfaction of the solar product users, SERVQUAL model/gap analysis has been applied. Five dimensions, namely tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy have been considered to assess the overall satisfaction level. A modified scale of Parasuraman incorporated in 1985 has been used as a survey instrument for research. A sample size of 345 solar submersible pump users was selected.

Findings

The study concluded that dimensions such as reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy have lesser gap. The major gap has been found in the tangibility dimension which includes variables like modern design of solar energy products, facilities and attractiveness, variety of solar products and performance of solar products, etc.

Research limitations/implications

As primary data are concerned, the biasness of the respondents may affect the results of the study. The survey has been conducted in the Punjab region, and a sample size is 345 only which may not reflect the broader picture.

Practical implications

Solar energy has huge benefits in the Indian agriculture sector. The erratic state of power supply in India casts important costs on agriculture productivity. One such segment concerns systems, an important input for agriculture production. The study has implications for solar energy product manufacturers, as it makes them aware about customer perception toward services of solar product companies.

Social implications

To decrease pollution and to save the environment, solar energy technologies have a good potential energy source and to meet the global energy demand, as it is the most promising and reliable energy source.

Originality/value

The existing studies in the context of service quality of solar product companies in Punjab have been majorly confined to proposing key drivers toward adoption of renewable energy sources. By providing an insight into the satisfaction level of farmers for solar submersible pumps, the proposed study attempts to fill the gap. As the study relates to solar product users in rural Punjab, the findings will be of additional value to solar product companies which are manufacturing solar products. Therefore, it is expected that this research will fill the gap in literature by studying empirically the service quality of solar product companies.
Teacher change through Lesson Study collaboration
Authors: Samaranayake Geethamali , Premadasa Kirthi , Amarasinghe Rajee , Paneru Khyam
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure teacher change in attitudes and beliefs among college teachers and school teachers who participated in Lesson Study projects. The authors investigate the answers to the question “Does the collective design of a single lesson contribute to noteworthy and lasting teacher change and student achievement?”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed a group of college and school teachers on several aspects central to the Lesson Study mission. The authors performed a formal statistical analysis of the survey results. The authors also utilized the analysis of student performance data of the same group of schoolteachers. These teachers come from a school district in the western USA and conducted Lesson Study as professional development.

Findings

The findings show significant and lasting change in attitudes and beliefs of teachers as a result of their Lesson Study experience. In addition, evidence suggests a strong connection between collaboration and teacher change. The authors also present evidence of the noteworthy influence that teachers who participated in Lesson Study had on a historically under-performing student population.

Practical implications

The findings show evidence of lasting and beneficial effects of teacher collaboration. The authors believe that our research is appealing to a vast audience and should inspire teachers toward collaboration.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing body of research on professional development of teachers by demonstrating the positive effects of Lesson Study on teachers in both college and school environments.
Predicting supply chain effectiveness through supply chain finance
Authors: Ali Zulqurnain , Gongbing Bi , Mehreen Aqsa
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Due to globalization, textile small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operations have become complex which raised the needs of risk-free financing solutions to support the SMEs’ daily processes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of supply chain (SC) finance, a risk-free financing solution, on SC effectiveness (SCE) in the context of textile SMEs by employing transaction cost (TC) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants of the study were recruited from textile SMEs through a structured questionnaire. The proposed model and structural relationships were assessed by employing AMOS 24.0.

Findings

The results of this paper indicate that supply chain finance (SCF) has a significant effect on SCE. Furthermore, all proposed factors of SCF adoption have a positive and significant effect on SCF.

Practical implications

This study helps the SMEs executives or owners to adopt SCF as a secure financing scheme to reduce the credit TCs, optimize the firm working capital, reduce the risk of default, and improve SC effectiveness. SMEs and suppliers can build strong relationships while adopting the findings of this study. SMEs can engage the suppliers to work under strategic alliance through negotiation, collaboration, and work digitization, and extend their payment terms while providing an opportunity to the suppliers to get their payment back before a fixed time through discounting from financial institutions as needed.

Originality/value

The present study covered the gap related to SCF and SCE by identifying unique factors of SCF adoption which was ignored in the previous literature by employing TC approach.
Developing a model of vendor rating to manage quality in the supply chain
Authors: Santos Gilberto , Murmura Federica , Bravi Laura
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a model developed by an Italian company, Gamma, that produces technologically high-precision components, with the objectives of defining a model of vendor rating to improve companies’ management and quality within the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been developed through a qualitative approach, based on a longitudinal single case study. Two semi-structured interviews have been carried out with the company’s Quality Manager in September 23 and October 31, 2016. Relevant secondary data were also used, such as company reports and their website.

Findings

Owing to the implementation of the Gamma model, the company is committed to the prudent selection of its partners and in establishing lasting relationships of mutual benefit with them. The termination of the relationship with suppliers is therefore rare; monitoring periods and improvement of suppliers are preferred. The Gamma model and its suppliers jointly undertake corrective actions that have to be implemented within a defined time frame.

Practical implications

Establishing criteria for an objective evaluation of suppliers could be directly or indirectly related to the quality of the final product, and greatly affects the same. This model has been effective for the identification of less performing suppliers that have to be subjected to improvement and audit plans.

Originality/value

This model allows the assignment of penalties or rewards, identifies which suppliers to direct audits and improvement plans, with which to end the relationship and with which to establish a relationship of integration and direct involvement.
An exploratory study of Thai consumers’ perceptions of “conspicuousness”: a case of luxury handbags
Authors: Oe Hiroko , Sunpakit Pornchnit , Yamaoka Yasuyuki , Liang Yan
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine consumer perceptions of conspicuousness of purchasing of luxury goods in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a quantitative approach, based on a survey data collected on the internet. The data set was analyzed with structural equation modeling focusing on three latent factors: “Social”, “Personal” and “Conspicuous” value perceptions.

Findings

The result indicates that “Conspicuous” value does not have a significant impact on their purchasing intentions, which is a contradiction to the previous understanding that Asian consumers are inclined to behave conspicuously from the collectivist cultural context. This finding casts an implication for marketers in the relevant industry and the field of study for inconspicuous consumer behavior.

Research limitations/implications

This research outcome should be expanded to develop more robust implications for the relevant marketers and researchers. In doing so, another investigation based on a bigger data set with more samples would be required.

Originality/value

This study indicates that Thai consumers do not behave from the conspicuous perceptions, which has been believed in the Asian context of consumer behavior. This finding suggests a new paradigm for discussion is required to understand Asian consumer attitudes in more depth especially their perceptions of conspicuous and inconspicuous views.
The role of customer readiness and participation in non-technology-based service delivery
Authors: Poushneh Atieh , Vasquez-Parraga Arturo Z.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to answer the following question: How can customer readiness be instrumental in non-technology-based service delivery?

Design/methodology/approach

Using a field study, this research examines the role of customer readiness in customer participation in non-technology-based service delivery and its indirect effects on such customer outcomes as perceived service quality, customer satisfaction and customer willingness to recommend.

Findings

The results show that customer readiness is a second-order construct. It has a significant impact on customer participation in service delivery, which in turn impacts three key service outcomes: customer perceived service quality, customer satisfaction and customer willingness to recommend. Four factors influencing customer readiness (consumer previous experience, consumer desire for control, consumer perceived risk and customer organizational socialization) are also empirically evaluated.

Research limitations/implications

Some limitations of the study are related to sample size and use of a type of services. The research tested 13 hypotheses with a limited sample size in one context. A better representation of the population and a more generalizable outcome require more representative samples and studies in various contexts such as banking, hotel services or health care services. This study demonstrated the importance of customer readiness for effective participation in non-technology-based service delivery; it does not address the impact of customer readiness on participation in the context of technology-based services. Future research may also shed light on when and why customers choose technology-based services versus non-technology-based services.

Practical implications

Effective customer participation in service delivery can, and should, benefit from boosting customer readiness.

Originality/value

This research shows the impact of customer readiness on non-technology-based service delivery, more specifically, the impact of customer readiness on customer participation in this type of service delivery. Customer readiness has been found to be beneficial in the provision of technology-based services; yet, its role in the provision of non-technology-based services has not been thoroughly evaluated.
Supporting Ghanaian micro-entrepreneurships: the role of mobile technology
Authors: Asiedu Emmanuel Mensah , Shortland Susan , Nawar Yehia Sabri , Jackson Paul J. , Baker Laura
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of mobile technology and related service platforms in supporting informal micro-entrepreneurships in rural Ghana. It aims to extend our knowledge through the development of a conceptual model.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design used in-depth semi-structured interviews with five micro-entrepreneurship owners in the Kwahu South District in the Eastern region of Ghana. Identification of potential case firms was facilitated by a local official. Interview data were analysed thematically.

Findings

Mobile technology engendered pride and emotional connectedness and, being easy to use, helped to increase business confidence. Adoption advantages included improved communications with customers and business partners, and effective stock control, providing competitive advantage. Further understanding of mobile technology’s role in improving business processes is needed.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research is based on five micro-entrepreneurships in one Ghanaian rural area. Further research is needed using larger samples, additional locations and sectors and larger businesses, to identify other factors influencing mobile technology adoption and associated benefits and problems.

Practical implications

Government policy supporting growth of informal micro-entrepreneurships using mobile phone technology could increase economic advantage. Micro-business owners need education and training in understanding business processes. Telecommunications companies can highlight technological, business and socio-cultural benefits of mobile phone adoption in rural Ghana.

Originality/value

The paper draws upon the experiences of a range of rural-based Ghanaian micro-entrepreneurships to propose a model setting out and linking the technical, business and socio-cultural benefits of mobile phone adoption in supporting business processes.