bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parental Perception of Cranial Orthotic Treatment for Infants with Deformational Plagiocephaly
Authors: Van Allen Camille , Mott Sandra , McGrath Jacqueline , DeGrazia Michele
Published: November 2019

Introduction

The objective of this study is to increase understanding of the parents’ experiences while caring for their infants during cranial orthotic treatment for deformational plagiocephaly.

Methods

This study is a qualitative descriptive study consisting of interviews focused on parental perceptions of the experience caring for their infant during treatment. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

Results

Ten parents participated in this qualitative study. Data revealed the pattern of a journey related to caring for an infant undergoing cranial orthotic treatment. Parents described the journey as consisting of the following phases: “making the decision,” “acclimating to the cranial orthosis,” “developing a routine,” “seeing results,” and “envisioning the future.” Minor nuisances and concerns were present throughout treatment.

Discussion

With initiation of cranial orthotic treatment, parents expressed some reservations. As treatment advanced, parents discussed their journey more positively as their infant’s head shapes improved. The availability of support, someone to answer questions, and patience facilitated a successful journey. Seeing the change in head shapes reinforced continuing with treatment.
Asthma and air pollution: recent insights in pathogenesis and clinical implications
Authors: Bontinck Annelies , Maes Tania , Joos Guy
Published: November 2019

Purpose of review

Air pollution has adverse effects on the onset and morbidity of respiratory diseases, including asthma. In this review, we discuss recent insights into the effects of air pollution on the incidence and exacerbation of asthma. We focus on epidemiological studies that describe the association between air pollution exposure and development, mortality, persistence and exacerbations of asthma among different age groups. Moreover, we also provide an update on translational studies describing the mechanisms behind this association.

Recent findings

Mechanisms linking air pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone to the development and exacerbation of asthma include the induction of both eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation driven by stimulation of airway epithelium and increase of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative stress and DNA methylation changes. Although exposure during foetal development is often reported as a crucial timeframe, exposure to air pollution is detrimental in people of all ages, thus influencing asthma onset as well as increase in asthma prevalence, mortality, persistence and exacerbation.

In conclusion, this review highlights the importance of reducing air pollution levels to avert the progressive increase in asthma incidence and morbidity.
A Virtual Nursing Journal Club
Authors: Rosen Jacquelyn , Ryan Marybeth
Published: November 2019

Creating a nursing journal club is an initiative to promote nurses' use of best evidence in practice. A virtual nursing journal club (VNJC) was implemented in a Magnet®-designated, midsize community hospital. The VNJC fostered nurses' reading nursing research studies and subsequent interaction with other nurses. The VNJC's formation, implementation, and evaluation are described. Quantitative and qualitative research critique items and an evaluation form are included that are essential to the site's ongoing processes.
Gadolinium Retention as a Safety Signal
Authors: Lancelot Eric , Desché Pierre
Published: November 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this manuscript is to review the successive regulatory actions and decisions following the initial publication by Kanda and colleagues in 2014 regarding gadolinium retention in the human brain after multiple gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) administrations.

Materials and Methods

Starting from 2014, the actions and decisions made by all regulatory authorities were collected and summarized region by region. Volumes of GBCA sales in 2018 per region and main countries are also presented as an indicator of patients’ exposure to those products.

Results

All regulatory authorities agreed on the absence of evidence of any harmful effect of gadolinium retention in humans. However, based on the same amount of preclinical and clinical evidence available in adults and children, regulatory authorities used different approaches resulting in different actions and decisions regarding the labeling and market authorizations of GBCAs, as well as the specific actions requested to the manufacturers.

Conclusions

The manufacturers of GBCAs had to face different situations according to the countries, due to the different positions and expectations from regulatory agencies. They have adapted their responses to the different positions of the regulatory agencies and conducted specific preclinical and clinical investigations to provide the expected evidence. It is also their responsibility to continuously monitor the benefit-risk balance of the products and to propose risk minimization measures to the regulatory agencies.
Vaginal Estrogen Therapy Is Associated With Decreased Inflammatory Response in Postmenopausal Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Meister Melanie R. , Wang Caihong , Lowder Jerry L. , Mysorekar Indira U.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Vaginal estrogen therapy (VET) has been shown to decrease the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in postmenopausal women, but the mechanism of action has not been fully described. Our objectives were to assess whether the postmenopausal urine inflammatory profile changes in response to VET.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled postmenopausal patients into 3 groups: (1) currently using VET without a history of recurrent UTIs (rUTIs); (2) history of UTIs, currently using VET; and (3) history of rUTIs, not using VET but willing to start. We followed patients over 6 to 19 months and collected urine samples at 3 time points. We performed comprehensive cytopathologic analysis, quantitative urine inflammatory scoring, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for interleukin 6.

Results

Seventy patients were recruited (group 1, n = 30; group 2, n = 20; group 3, n = 20). Urine from patients in groups 2 and 3 demonstrated increased inflammatory cells, debris, and exfoliated urothelial cells. Quantitative urine inflammatory scores and interleukin 6 were significantly higher in postmenopausal patients with rUTIs not on VET (0.12 vs 0.93, P < 0.05) and decreased significantly after initiating VET (0.93 vs 0.38, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Postmenopausal women with rUTIs on VET demonstrate decreased cell shedding, reduced urine inflammatory scores, and decreased urine interleukin 6. Modulation of the genitourinary inflammatory profile may represent one mechanism through which VET helps prevent rUTIs in postmenopausal women.
Plastic but repeatable: rapid adjustments of mitochondrial function and density during reproduction in a wild bird species
Authors: Stier Antoine , Bize Pierre , Hsu Bin-Yan , Ruuskanen Suvi
Published: November 2019

Most of the energy fluxes supporting animal performance flow through mitochondria. Hence, inter-individual differences in performance might be rooted in inter-individual variations in mitochondrial function and density. Furthermore, because the energy required by an individual often changes across life stages, mitochondrial function and density are also expected to show within-individual variation (i.e. plasticity). No study so far has repeatedly measured mitochondrial function and density in the same individuals to simultaneously test for within-individual repeatability and plasticity of mitochondrial traits. Here, we repeatedly measured mitochondrial DNA copy number (a proxy of density) and respiration rates from blood cells of female pied flycatchers (
Ficedula hypoleuca
) at the incubation and chick-rearing stages. Mitochondrial density and respiration rates were all repeatable (
R
= [0.45; 0.80]), indicating high within-individual consistency in mitochondrial traits across life-history stages. Mitochondrial traits were also plastic, showing a quick (i.e. 10 days) downregulation from incubation to chick-rearing in mitochondrial density, respiratory activity, and cellular regulation by endogenous substrates and/or ATP demand. These downregulations were partially compensated by an increase in mitochondrial efficiency at the chick-rearing stage. Therefore, our study provides clear evidence for both short-term plasticity and high within-individual consistency in mitochondrial function and density during reproduction in a wild bird species.
A pair of non-optimal codons are necessary for the correct biosynthesis of the
Aspergillus nidulans
urea transporter, UreA
Authors: Sanguinetti Manuel , Iriarte Andrés , Amillis Sotiris , Marín Mónica , Musto Héctor , Ramón Ana
Published: November 2019

In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, synonymous codons are unevenly used. Such differential usage of optimal or non-optimal codons has been suggested to play a role in the control of translation initiation and elongation, as well as at the level of transcription and mRNA stability. In the case of membrane proteins, codon usage has been proposed to assist in the establishment of a pause necessary for the correct targeting of the nascent chains to the translocon. By using as a model UreA, the
Aspergillus nidulans
urea transporter, we revealed that a pair of non-optimal codons encoding amino acids situated at the boundary between the
N
-terminus and the first transmembrane segment are necessary for proper biogenesis of the protein at 37°C. These codons presumably regulate the translation rate in a previously undescribed fashion, possibly contributing to the correct interaction of
ureA
-translating ribosome-nascent chain complexes with the signal recognition particle and/or other factors, while the polypeptide has not yet emerged from the ribosomal tunnel. Our results suggest that the presence of the pair of non-optimal codons would not be functionally important in all cellular conditions. Whether this mechanism would affect other proteins remains to be determined.
Migratory passage structures at hydropower plants as potential physiological and behavioural selective agents
Authors: Haraldstad Tormod , Haugen Thrond Oddvar , Kroglund Frode , Olsen Esben Moland , Höglund Erik
Published: November 2019

Anthropogenic activities affect fish populations worldwide. River dams have profound impacts on ecosystems by changing habitats and hindering migration. In an effort to counteract such effects, a range of mitigation measures have been installed at hydroelectric power plants. However, not all individuals in a population use these measures, potentially creating strong selection processes at hydroelectric power plants. This may be especially true during migration; fish can get heavily delayed or pass through a hydropower turbine, thus facing increased mortality compared with those using a safe bypass route. In this study, we quantify migration route choices of descending wild passive integrated transponder (PIT)-tagged Atlantic salmon smolts released upstream from a hydroelectric plant. We demonstrate how only a few metres’ displacement of bypass canals can have a large impact on the fish guidance efficiency (FGE). The proportion of fish using the bypasses increased from 1% to 34% when water was released in surface gates closer to the turbine intake. During a period of low FGE, we observed two different smolt migratory strategies. While some individuals spent little time in the forebay before migrating through the turbine tunnel, others remained there. We suggest that these groups represent different behavioural types, and that suboptimal mitigation measures at hydropower intakes may, therefore, induce strong selection on salmon behavioural traits. The ultimate outcome of these selection mechanisms is discussed in light of potential trade-offs between turbine migration mortality coast and optimal sea entrance timing survival benefits.
Body mass index and carpal tunnel syndrome: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Daghlas Iyas , Varady Nathan
Published: November 2019

Introduction

We investigated whether higher body mass index (BMI) may causally increase risk of carpal tunnel syndrome using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

The exposure included genetic instruments comprising independent variants associated with BMI (n=322,154). Associations of these variants with CTS were obtained from a genome-wide association study conducted in UK Biobank (UKB; 12,312 cases/389,344 controls) with replication in the FinnGen cohort (4,505 cases/86,854 controls). Causal effects were estimated using inverse-variance weighted regression, and sensitivity analyses probed robustness of results.

Results

A 1-standard deviation (4.7kg/m2) increase in genetically instrumented BMI increased the odds of CTS in UKB (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.48-2.02, P=2.68×10−12; 16.8 additional cases per 1000 person-years [95% CI 11.0-23.5]). This effect was consistent in the replication sample and across sensitivity analyses.

Discussion

These data support a causal effect of higher BMI on susceptibility to CTS. Clinical investigations of weight loss for treatment of CTS may be warranted.
Covalent Surface Modification Effects on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Multimodal Optical Applications
Authors: Chio Linda , Pinals Rebecca L. , Murali Aishwarya , Goh Natalie S. , Landry Markita P.
Published: November 2019

Optical nanoscale technologies often implement covalent or noncovalent strategies for the modification of nanoparticles, whereby both functionalizations are leveraged for multimodal applications but can affect the intrinsic fluorescence of nanoparticles. Specifically, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can enable real-time imaging and cellular delivery; however, the introduction of covalent SWCNT sidewall functionalizations often attenuates SWCNT fluorescence. Herein, we leverage recent advances in SWCNT covalent functionalization chemistries that preserve the SWCNT’s pristine graphitic lattice and intrinsic fluorescence and demonstrate that such covalently functionalized SWCNTs maintain fluorescence-based molecular recognition of neurotransmitter and protein analytes. We show that the covalently modified SWCNT nanosensor fluorescence response towards its analyte is preserved for certain nanosensors, presumably dependent on the steric hindrance introduced by the covalent functionalization that hinders noncovalent interactions with the SWCNT surface. We further demonstrate that these SWCNT nanosensors can be functionalized via their covalent handles to self-assemble on passivated microscopy slides, and discuss future use of these dual-functionalized SWCNT materials for multiplexed applications.
BK current contributions to action potentials across the first postnatal week reflect age dependent changes in BK current kinetics in rat hippocampal neurons
Authors: Hunsberger Michael , Mynlieff Michelle
Published: November 2019

The large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel is a critical regulator of neuronal action potential firing and follows two distinct trends in early postnatal development: an increase in total expression and a shift from the faster activating STREX isoform to the slower ZERO isoform. We analyzed the functional consequences of developmental trends in BK channel expression in hippocampal neurons isolated from neonatal rats aged one to seven days. Following overnight cultures, action potentials were recorded using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology. This population of neurons undergoes a steady increase in excitability during this time and the effect of blockade of BK channel activity with 100 nM iberiotoxin, changes as the neurons mature. BK currents contribute significantly more to single action potentials in neurons of one-day old rats (with BK blockade extending action potential duration by 0.46±0.12 ms) than in those of seven-day old rats (with BK blockade extending action potential duration by 0.17±0.05 ms). BK currents also contribute consistently to maintain firing rates in neurons of one-day old rats throughout extended action potential firing; BK blockade evenly depresses action potentials frequency across action potential trains. In neurons from seven-day old rats, BK blockade initially increases firing frequency and then progressively decreases frequency as firing continues, ultimately depressing neuronal firing rates to a greater extent than in the neurons from one day old animals. These results are consistent with a transition from low expression of a fast activating BK isoform (STREX) to high expression of a slower activating isoform (ZERO).

New and Noteworthy

This work describes the early developmental trends of BK channel activity. Early developmental trends in expression of BK channels, both total expression and relative isoform expression, have been previously reported, but little work describes the effect of these changes in expression patterns on excitability. Here, we show that early changes in BK channel expression patterns lead to changes in the role of BK channels in determining the action potential waveform and neuronal excitability.
Challenges in Peptide-Spectrum Matching: a Robust and Reproducible Statistical Framework for Removing Low-Accuracy, High-Scoring Hits
Authors: Hubler Shane L. , Kumar Praveen , Mehta Subina , Easterly Caleb , Johnson James E. , Jagtap Pratik D. , Griffin Timothy J.
Published: November 2019

Workflows for large-scale (MS)-based shotgun proteomics can potentially lead to costly errors in the form of incorrect peptide spectrum matches (PSMs). To improve robustness of these workflows, we have investigated the use of the precursor mass discrepancy (PMD) to detect and filter potentially false PSMs that have, nonetheless, a high confidence score. We identified and addressed three cases of unexpected bias in PMD results: time of acquisition within a LC-MS run, decoy PSMs, and length of peptide. We created a post-analysis Bayesian confidence measure based on score and PMD, called PMD-FDR. We tested PMD-FDR on four datasets across three types of MS-based proteomics projects: standard (single organism; reference database), proteogenomics (single organism; customized genomic-based database plus reference), and metaproteomics (microorganism community; customized conglomerate database). On a ground truth dataset and other representative data, PMD-FDR was able to detect 60-80% of likely incorrect PSMs (false-hits) while losing only 5% of correct PSMs (true-hits). PMD-FDR can also be used to evaluate data quality for results generated within different experimental PSM-generating workflows, assisting in method development. Going forward, PMD-FDR should provide detection of high-scoring but likely false-hits, aiding applications which rely heavily on accurate PSMs, such as proteogenomics and metaproteomics.
In-silico immune cell deconvolution of the airway proteomes of infants with pneumonia reveals a link between reduced airway eosinophils and an increased risk of mortality
Authors: Sande Charles J , Waeni Jacqueline M , Njunge James M , Mutunga Martin N , Gicheru Elijah , Kibinge Nelson K , Gwela Agnes
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in infants and young children. The mechanisms that lead to mortality in these children are poorly understood. Studies of the cellular immunology of the infant airway have traditionally been hindered by the limited sample volumes available from the young, frail children who are admitted to hospital with pneumonia. This is further compounded by the relatively low frequencies of certain immune cell phenotypes that are thought to be critical to the clinical outcome of pneumonia. To address this, we developed a novel in-silico deconvolution method for inferring the frequencies of immune cell phenotypes in the airway of children with different survival outcomes using proteomic data.

Methods

Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we identified > 1,000 proteins expressed in the airways of children who were admitted to hospital with clinical pneumonia. 61 of these children were discharged from hospital and survived for more than 365 days after discharge, while 19 died during admission. We used machine learning by random forest to derive protein features that could be used to deconvolve immune cell phenotypes in paediatric airway samples. We applied these phenotype-specific signatures to identify airway-resident immune cell phenotypes that were differentially enriched by survival status and validated the findings using a large retrospective pneumonia cohort.

Main Results

We identified immune-cell phenotype classification features for 33 immune cell types. Eosinophil-associated features were significantly elevated in airway samples obtained from pneumonia survivors and were downregulated in children who subsequently died. To confirm these results, we analyzed clinical parameters from >10,000 children who had been admitted with pneumonia in the previous 10 years. The results of this retrospective analysis mirrored airway deconvolution data and showed that survivors had significantly elevated eosinophils at admission compared to fatal pneumonia.

Conclusions

Using a proteomics bioinformatics approach, we identify airway eosinophils as a critical factor for pneumonia survival in infants and young children.
Human papillomavirus 16 E6 and E7 synergistically repress innate immune gene transcription
Authors: James Claire D. , Fontan Christian T. , Otoa Raymonde , Das Dipon , Prabhakar Apurva T. , Wang Xu , Bristol Molly L. , Morgan Iain M.
Published: November 2019

Human papillomaviruses are causative agents in 5% of all cancers, including the majority of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Downregulation of innate immune genes (IIGs) by HPV to promote the viral life cycle is well documented; E6 and E7 are known repressors of these genes. More recently we demonstrated that E2 could also repress IIGs. These studies have been carried out in cells over-expressing the viral proteins and to further investigate the role of individual viral proteins in this repression we introduced stop codons into E6 and/or E7 in the entire HPV16 genome and generated N/Tert-1 cells stably maintaining the HPV16 genomes. We demonstrate that E6 or E7 individually are not sufficient to repress IIG expression in the context of the entire HPV16 genome, both are required for a synergistic repression. The DNA damage response (DDR) is activated by HPV16 irrespective of E6 and E7 expression, presumably due to viral replication; E1 is a known activator of the DDR. In addition, replication stress was apparent in the HPV16 positive cells lacking E6 and E7, manifested by attenuated cellular growth and activation of replication stress genes. These studies lead us to the following model. Viral replication per se can activate the DDR following infection, and this activation is a known inducer of IIG expression which could induce cellular senescence. To combat this, E6 and E7 synergistically combine to manipulate the DDR and actively repress innate immune gene expression promoting cellular growth; neither protein by itself is able to do this.

Importance

The role of HPV16 in human cancers is well established; however, to date there are no anti-viral therapeutics that are available for combatting these cancers. To identify such targets, we must enhance understanding of the viral life cycle. Innate immune genes (IIGs) are repressed by HPV16, and we have reported that this repression persists through to cancer. Reversal of this repression would boost the immune response to HPV16 positive tumors, an area that is becoming more important given the advances in immunotherapy. This report demonstrates that E6 and E7 synergistically repress IIG expression in the context of the entire HPV16 genome. Removal of either protein activates the expression of IIGs by HPV16. Therefore, gaining a precise understanding of how the viral oncogenes repress IIG expression represents an opportunity to reverse this repression and boost the immune response to HPV16 infections for therapeutic gain.
A new measure of regional competitiveness
Authors: Sánchez de la Vega José Carlos , Buendía Azorín José Daniel , Calvo-Flores Segura Antonio , Esteban Yago Miguel
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a measure of competitiveness of the Spanish autonomous communities from a multidimensional and dynamic perspective for the period 2008-2016.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a broad definition of competitiveness based on five key environments (productive capital, human capital, social and institutional capital, infrastructure and knowledge) and comprising 53 indicators. The method used to construct the competitiveness index is based on the P-distance proposed by Pena Trapero (1979), which objectively assigns weights to the indicators. There is an important advantage in the methodological proposal of this study, as it allows analyzing the behavior of partial and aggregated indicators from a dynamic perspective, taking the same value as a reference for the entire period. Therefore, not only a classification obtained for each year but also the variation that occurs in terms of the reference period can be analyzed.

Findings

The classification of the autonomous communities is established using common intervals based on the results obtained for the whole period, i.e. 2008-2016. The data point to the unequal situations of the autonomous communities. The results also reveal that the evolution of the regional competitiveness synthetic index is clearly cyclical and the drop recorded in the recessive period is less pronounced than the increase recorded in the growth phase.

Originality/value

The main innovation of the competitiveness index presented here lies in its allowing comparisons over time.
Technology and talent analytics for talent management – a game changer for organizational performance
Authors: Sivathanu Brijesh , Pillai Rajasshrie
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the technology usage for talent management and its effect on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The grounded theory approach was used for this research. Semi-structured interviews with 122 senior HR officers of national and multinational companies in India were conducted after extensive literature review. NVivo 8.0 software was used for the analysis of the interview data.

Findings

Technology usage for talent management contributes to talent analytics and strategic HR management (SHRM). It was found that talent analytics and SHRM lead to developing a high-performing talent pool, which in turn contributes to organizational performance.

Originality/value

This study used the grounded theory approach to develop the proposed conceptual model for organizational performance using talent management technology. This study delivers important insights for talent managers, HR technology marketers and developers of technology.
Managing performance in quality management
Authors: de Menezes Lilian M. , Escrig Ana B.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address potential effects of the control element in quality management. First, behavioural theories on how elements of performance management can affect organisational performance are examined. Second, theoretical models on how perceptions of work conditions may impact well-being and performance are considered. Direct and indirect pathways from performance management to productivity/quality are inferred.

Design/methodology/approach

Matched employee-workplace data from an economy-wide survey in Britain and two-level structural equation models are used to test the hypothesised associations.

Findings

The use of practices in workplaces is inconsistent with a unified performance management approach. Distinct outcomes are expected from separate components in performance management and some may be contingent on workplace size. For example, within quality planning, strategy dissemination is positively associated with workplace productivity; targets are negatively associated with perceptions of job demands and positively correlated with job satisfaction, which in turn can increase workplace productivity. With respect to information and analysis: keeping and analysing records, or monitoring employee performance via appraisals that assess training needs, are positively associated with workplace productivity and quality.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates how control in quality management can be effective. Although the merits of performance management are subject to ongoing debate, arguments in the literature have tended to focus on performance appraisal. Analyses of economy-wide data linking performance management practices, within quality management, to employee perceptions of work conditions, well-being and aggregate performance are rare.
Can CSR help achieve sustainable development? Applying a new assessment model to CSR cases from Egypt
Authors: Abdelhalim Khalid , Eldin Amani Gamal
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an assessment model for corporate social responsibility (CSR) that is interlinked to sustainable development and examine the model on CSR cases in Egypt, exploring whether CSR is embedded into the core agenda of the corporations. This analysis helps in understanding the state of CSR in Egypt and countries with a similar socio-economic background.

Design/methodology/approach

The study presents a sustainable development assessment model for CSR, based on combining and modifying Archie Carroll’s model of Hierarchy of Corporate Responsibilities (1979, 2010) and Donna Wood’s Corporate Performance Model (1991) to include sustainable development imperatives. The proposed model analyzes two CSR practices of corporates. Qualitative analysis using in-depth interviews was conducted in the two case studies: a global multinational company represented in Egypt and a family business typical of many Egyptian corporates.

Findings

Generalizing from the results of the assessment in Egypt and countries with similar circumstances, most CSR practices in such a context still fall under philanthropy and few under human development or the business case. The lack of the formal institutional framework for organizing the role of the State in CSR promotion leads to missing the opportunity of linking CSR to the Sustainable Development Goals or similar strategies.

Originality/value

The paper presents a CSR assessment model adopted in developing countries, with a focus on incorporating sustainable development indicators since the 1990s. This methodological development since 2010 is timely and particularly useful for relating CSR to the recent global focus on sustainable development.
To couple or not to couple
Authors: Melin Ulf , Sarkar Pradip K. , Young Leslie W.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The predominant narrative is that contemporary organisations, motivated by economic-rationalist aspirations, adopt cloud applications on the premise of achieving cost-savings and efficiency gains. However, how they actually adopt and rollover such new or emerging technologies may be influenced by acts, patterns and processes of institutional legitimacy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics surrounding decisions on how specific cloud applications are adopted from the context of institutional theory, with a particular focus on the concepts of coupling and decoupling.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine this phenomenon, two qualitative case studies, using a reflexive research approach, of an Australian and a Swedish university have been undertaken, both of which adopted commercial cloud applications for e.g. e-mail, collaboration and storage (as examples of software as a service) at different points in time. One of the universities was known for its early adoption of cloud applications, but had decelerated further deployment of such services, while the other, despite its conservative reputation, has made rapid strides in this regard.

Findings

The findings of the dual case studies reveal that organisations, contrary to economic-rationalist claims, may or may not decide to adopt particular commercial cloud-based offerings for the support of core operations, on the basis of how they perceive their institutional legitimacy being affected by a complex network of influential actors, both internally and in the external spaces. Therefore, this paper offers an institutional theory-based discourse and rich illustrations on how the role of technology is played out in enhancing relationships between an organisation and such actors in terms of legitimacy focusing acts of coupling and decoupling.

Originality/value

In the analysis and findings the authors, in a novel way, illustrate how organisations strive for: institutional legitimacy through acts of coupling, and the revelations of consequential decoupling. The value is based on a rich case description, analysis and application of institutional theory.
Trade credit use by shrimp farmers in Ca Mau province
Authors: Ninh Le Khuong , Kieu Truong Diem
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the amount of trade credit granted to shrimp farmers in Ca Mau.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review, the authors proposed six hypotheses on the determinants of the amount of trade credit granted to shrimp farmers. Data collected from 120 shrimp farmers in Ca Mau were used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Two out of six determinants, i.e. the size of input order (a pulling factor) and the competition among input suppliers (a pushing factor), are significantly positively associated with the amount of trade credit granted to shrimp farmers. No impact of the other determinants was found. The findings imply that shrimp farmers should join cooperatives to enhance access to trade credit and mitigate the risk for input suppliers.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the fact that trade credit is still granted to such risky buyers as shrimp farmers, which has not been explored by previous studies.
Assessing the predictability of construction time overruns using multiple linear regression and Markov chain Monte Carlo
Authors: Asiedu Richard Ohene , Gyadu-Asiedu William
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on developing a baseline model for time overrun.

Design/methodology/approach

Information on 321 completed construction projects used to assess the predictive performance of two statistical techniques, namely, multiple regression and the Bayesian approach.

Findings

The eventual results from the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo model were observed to improve the predictive ability of the model compared with multiple linear regression. Besides the unique nuances peculiar with projects executed, the scope factors initial duration, gross floor area and number of storeys have been observed to be stable predictors of time overrun.

Originality/value

This current model contributes to improving the reliability of predicting time overruns.
Effects of network externalities on user loyalty to online B2B platforms: an empirical study
Authors: Cen Yonghua , Li Li
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Given a product or service, the number of its installed user base has a significant positive effect on the existing users’ loyalty and new users’ conversion. This effect is conceptualized as network externalities in economics. Network externalities are supposed to be particularly striking in nowadays online business-to-business (B2B) platforms, but yet the mystery behind their effects on user loyalty to online B2B platforms remains to be delicately unraveled. The purpose of this paper is to discover the factors driving users’ loyalty, especially buyers’ loyalty, to online B2B platforms, by highlighting the impacts of network externalities on loyalty and other mediating factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model of buyer loyalty under network externalities is elaborated. The reliability and validity of the instruments of the latent model constructs are assessed by confirmatory factor analysis, and the hypothesized causal relationships among the constructs are tested by structural equation modeling, on 710 valid buyer samples collected from a famous online B2B platform in China.

Findings

The analysis demonstrates that: perceived value, user satisfaction and switching costs are the major predictors of buyer loyalty to online B2B platforms characterized by network externalities; network externalities positively account for buyer loyalty by contributing to perceived value, user satisfaction and switching costs; and direct network externality (measured by perceived network size and perceived external prestige) has a significant effect on indirect network externality (measured by perceived compatibility and perceived complementarity).

Originality/value

The findings allow the authors to conclude meaningful managerial implications for online B2B service providers to build up loyal user bases through improving users’ perceptions of network externalities, switching costs and value.
Economic consequences of consumer repair strategies for electrical household devices
Authors: Brusselaers Jan , Bracquene Ellen , Peeters Jef , Dams Yoko
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent a consumer’s repair strategy impacts the annual costs of ownership of a washing machine and two types of vacuum cleaner.

Design/methodology/approach

The annual cost of ownership is determined by calculating the annual life cycle cost (LCC) for the respective devices. The annual LCCs of the different scenarios allow a comparison of the different repair strategy options. A Monte Carlo simulation is run to introduce parameter variability. The device’s failure rate is estimated by a combination of data sets on the devices’ performance.

Findings

Results demonstrate that the repair of the devices considered is a more favourable option over replacement. A consumer who aims for the lowest annual LCC should allow for a high number of repairs per device, without putting a maximum on the cost per repair. However, the consumer should become more cautious when a device approaches the end of its expected lifetime. Finally, the purchase of warranty can be interesting when the warranty covers a sufficiently long proportion of the device’s (expected) lifetime and when its cost does not exceed a threshold proportion of the initial purchase price.

Research limitations/implications

The costs for repair might be overestimated. Future research can focus on the reduction of repair costs following self-repair.

Practical implications

The results provide strong arguments in favour of repair instead of replacement of broken devices.

Originality/value

This is the first research to quantify the influence of consumer behaviour in the context of repair of devices on the ownership costs of these devices.
The path to the Hotel of Things: Internet of Things and Big Data converging in hospitality
Authors: Nadkarni Sanjay , Kriechbaumer Florian , Rothenberger Marcus , Christodoulidou Natasa
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of Internet of Things (IoT) in hospitality and examine its relationship with Big Data. Drawing upon theoretical and practical considerations, it lays a foundation for its adoption in practice and future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a conceptual approach. It demonstrates the use of IoT and its impact on Big Data in hospitality through exemplars. The paper further explores the convergence of IoT, Big Data and hospitality in the context of the literature, value attributes and vendor offerings. Theoretical models from information systems and business are used to support the concepts proposed.

Findings

The study compiles and contextualizes the applications of IoT in hospitality by applying an input–process–output model, demonstrating the link to Big Data. The resulting value dimensions are represented by the IoT–Big Data triple impact intensity model.

Research limitations/implications

An outlook toward the future trajectory of IoT adoption is provided by proposing to extend the prevalent social, mobile, analytics and cloud framework with an IoT component.

Practical implications

Practical implications of the use of IoT and Big Data in hospitality on information technology infrastructure, business models, security and standardization highlight the scope for further empirical research.

Originality/value

By synthesizing IoT applications in hospitality and by bringing to light their relationship with Big Data, the study demonstrates how IoT, Big Data and hospitality converge – a synthesis that has thus far been largely unexplored. This study lays the groundwork for increased deployment of IoT and Big Data in hospitality and future academic research in this area.
The emergence of sensemaking through socio-material practices
Authors: Jansson Noora , Lunkka Nina , Suhonen Marjo , Meriläinen Merja , Wiik Heikki
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of how sensemaking occurs as a holistic, processual phenomenon during an organisational change.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal, qualitative case study was conducted by analysing video-recorded meetings among the staff of two recently merged surgical departments in a university hospital. Sensemaking was approached through the lens of socio-material practices.

Findings

The analysis revealed that material-discursive practices produce sensemaking in various ways, creating a holistic process and a dynamic agency. Four sensemaking practices were identified through which personnel made sense of the development of ward inpatient rounding: facilitated meetings, a status board, video analysis and humour.

Originality/value

This paper identifies diverse sensemaking practices, each of which increases understanding of sensemaking as a holistic, processual phenomenon that emerges through socio-material practices. The paper also enhances practical understanding of how sense is made of a working practice, as well as how a working practice is developed and improved during an organisational change.
Maintenance practices and parameters for marine mechanical systems: a review
Authors: Kimera David , Nangolo Fillemon Nduvu
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review maintenance practices, tools and parameters for marine mechanical systems that can be classified as plant, machinery and equipment (PME). It provides an insight for the maintenance crew on which maintenance parameters and practices are critical for a given PME systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The review paper characterizes the various maintenance parameters and maintenance practices used onshore and offshore for PME and identifies the possible gaps.

Findings

A variety of maintenance techniques are being used in the marine industry such as corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance. As marine vehicles (MV) get older, the most important maintenance parameters become maintenance costs, reliability and safety. Maintenance models that have been developed in line with marine mechanical systems have been validated using a single system, whose outcome could be different if another PME system is used for validation.

Research limitations/implications

There is a limited literature on MV maintenance parameters and maintenance characterization regarding mechanical systems. The maintenance practices or strategies of marine mechanical systems should be based on maintenance parameters that suit the marine industry for a given PME.

Originality/value

Based on the available literature, the paper provides a variety of maintenance framework, parameters and practices for marine mechanical systems. The paper further gives an insight on what maintenance parameters, strategies and platforms are given preference in the shipping industry.
Enhancing performance of maintenance in solar power plant
Authors: Rukijkanpanich Jittra , Mingmongkol Mathurot
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the performance of maintenance in a solar power plant by implementing the proactive maintenance (PaM) strategy, measured by the availability and the total maintenance workload.

Design/methodology/approach

The prior maintenance strategy was reviewed, and then the strategy was adjusted to focus on PaM. Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) was a tool for analyzing the severity and occurrence of the failure modes and effects. Then, the Why‒Why analysis was used for investigating the root causes of failures. The countermeasures were drawn, and the preventive maintenance (PM) plan was revised and carried out. The total maintenance, the PaM and reactive maintenance workload, was obtained, and then the improvements were determined. The values of availability were also obtained.

Findings

Previously, the appeared maintenance strategy was not clearly defined. It seemed to have reactive maintenance coupled with PM; it was checked once a year, and corrective actions were made when something wrong was found. Then the management team observed an increase in the reactive maintenance workload, whereas the values of availability were not consistent and tended to drop. After implementing the new maintenance strategy, PaM, the total maintenance workload decreased 14 percent in one year. The average availability of the solar power plant improved from 0.9943 to 0.9969, and the values of availability had better consistency.

Practical implications

The PaM can be applied to solar power plant without limiting the prior maintenance strategy and the complexity of production or machinery. The solar power plant is a quite simple production, and most machines consist of electrical equipment and electrical circuits. The PaM supports to analyze the failure modes, the consequence of the failure events and failure effects, and to decide what should be done. Importantly, PaM can reduce total maintenance workload while the value of availability is higher and consistent.

Originality/value

This paper states how to successfully implement the PaM for the solar power plant. Previously, the plant did not have a clearly defined maintenance strategy; it was checked once a year, and it was corrected when abnormalities were detected. The PaM strategy provides tools and processes for failures and effects analysis. Although there was a more workload of PM, the total maintenance workload decreased, even in the first year.