bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-6 in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Coomes Eric A. , Haghbayan Hourmazd
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Coronaviruses may activate dysregulated host immune responses. As exploratory studies have suggested that interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are elevated in cases of complicated COVID-19 and that the anti-IL-6 biologic tocilizumab may be beneficial, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the evidence in this field.

Methods

We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies investigating the immunological response in COVID-19 or its treatment with tocilizumab; additional grey literature searches were undertaken. Meta-analysis was undertaken using random effects models.

Results

Eight published studies, three pre-prints, and five registered trials were eligible. Meta-analysis of mean IL-6 concentrations demonstrated 2.9-fold higher levels in patients with complicated COVID-19 compared with patients with non-complicated disease (six studies; n=1302; 95%CI, 1.17-7.19;I2=100%). A single non-randomized, single-arm study assessed tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19, demonstrating decreased oxygen requirements, resolution of radiographic abnormalities, and clinical improvement. No adverse events or deaths were observed.

Conclusions

In patients with COVID-19, IL-6 levels are significantly elevated and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. While inhibition of IL-6 with tocilizumab appears to be efficacious and safe in preliminary investigation, the results of several ongoing clinical trials should be awaited to better define the role of tocilizumab in COVID-19 prior to routine clinical application.

PROSPERO Registration

CRD42020175879
Ventral arkypallidal neurons modulate accumbal firing to promote reward consumption
Authors: Vachez Yvan M. , Tooley Jessica R. , Casey Eric , Earnest Tom , Abiraman Kavitha , Silberberg Hannah , Godynyuk Elizabeth , Uddin Olivia , Marconi Lauren , Le Pichon Claire , Creed Meaghan C.
Published: April 2020

A pause in firing of nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) neurons is critical for reward consumption; however, the substrate driving this pause is unknown. While ventral pallidal (VP) activity encodes reward value, the specific roles of VP subpopulations in computation and expression of this value are poorly understood. Here, we establish that inhibitory input from the VP is crucial for reward-related inhibition of NAc firing. A sparse, non-canonical subpopulation of VP neurons, the so-called “ventral arkypallidal (vArky)” neurons makes inhibitory synaptic contacts throughout the NAcSh, and drives inhibition of NAcSh neurons in vivo. Moreover, endogenous calcium activity of vArky neurons predicted subsequent reward consumption behavior, while optogenetically activating this pathway increased reward consumption by amplifying hedonic value of reward. Classically, the VP is considered downstream of the NAc; however, our results challenge this view and establish that vArky neurons in the VP promote reward consumption via potent modulation of NAcSh firing.
A microbial perspective on balancing trade-offs in ecosystem functions in a constructed stormwater wetland
Authors: Bledsoe Regina B. , Bean Eban Z. , Austin Samuel S. , Peralta Ariane L.
Published: April 2020

Green stormwater infrastructure, such as constructed wetlands (CWs), is a type of stormwater control measure that can decrease nutrient and pollutant loads from urban stormwater runoff. Wetland soil microorganisms provide nutrient and pollutant removal benefits which can also result in ecosystem disservices such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and can inadvertently exacerbate climate change. Microbial respiration by facultative anaerobes in anoxic conditions is the primary pathway for nitrogen removal (benefit). Similar anoxic conditions that support denitrifying microorganisms can also support obligate anaerobes that produce methane (CH4) via methanogenesis (disservice). We examined nitrogen removal potential, GHG production, and microbial community structure within permanently flooded and shallow land or temporarily-flooded areas of a stormwater CW to identify zones for CW design optimization. Results indicate that permanently flooded zones compared to shallow land zones are greater sources of CH4emissions (80.80 ± 118.31, 2.32 ± 9.33 mg CH4-C m-2hr-1, respectively) and emit more carbon to the atmosphere (7161.27 kg CO2, 93.20 kg CO2equivalents, respectively). However, nitrogen removal potential rates were similar across both flooded and shallow land zones (24.45 ± 20.18, 20.29 ± 15.14 ng N2O-N hr-1g-1dry soil, respectively). At this particular CW, reduction of permanently flooded zones within the wetland could decrease GHG emissions (disservice) without limiting nitrogen removal (benefit) potential of the wetland. Holistic development and design of stormwater control measures, which account for microbial activity, provides the opportunity to maximize benefits (i.e., nutrient and pollutant removal) and reduce disservices (i.e., GHG emissions) of green stormwater infrastructure.
New approaches to species delimitation and population structure of corals: two case studies using ultraconserved elements and exons
Authors: Erickson Katie L. , Pentico Alicia , Quattrini Andrea M. , McFadden Catherine S.
Published: April 2020

As coral populations decline worldwide in the face of ongoing environmental change, documenting their distribution, diversity and conservation status is now more imperative than ever. Accurate delimitation and identification of species is a critical first step. This task, however, is not trivial as morphological variation and slowly evolving molecular markers confound species identification. New approaches to species delimitation in corals are needed to overcome these challenges. Here, we test whether target enrichment of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and exons can be used for delimiting species boundaries and population structure within species of corals by focusing on two octocoral genera,AlcyoniumandSinularia, as exemplary case studies. We designed an updated bait set (29,363 baits) to target-capture 3,040 UCE and exon loci, recovering a mean of 1,910 ± 168 SD per sample with a mean length of 1,055 ± 208 bp. Similar numbers of loci were recovered fromSinularia(1,946 ± 227 SD) andAlcyonium(1,863 ± 177 SD). Species-level phylogenies were highly supported for both genera. Clustering methods based on filtered SNPs delimited species and populations that are congruent with previous allozyme, DNA barcoding, reproductive and ecological data forAlcyonium, and offered further evidence of hybridization among species. ForSinularia, results were congruent with those obtained from a previous study using Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing. Both case studies demonstrate the utility of target-enrichment of UCEs and exons to address a wide range of evolutionary and taxonomic questions across deep to shallow time scales in corals.
Is evolution in response to extreme events good for population persistence?
Authors: Lyberger Kelsey , Osmond Matthew , Schreiber Sebastian
Published: April 2020

Climate change is predicted to increase the severity of environmental perturbations, including storms and droughts, which act as strong selective agents. These extreme events are often of finite duration (pulse disturbances). Hence, while evolution during an extreme event may be adaptive, the resulting phenotypic changes may become maladaptive when the event ends. Using individual-based models and analytic approximations that fuse quantitative genetics and demography, we explore how heritability and phenotypic variance affect population size and extinction risk in finite populations under an extreme event of fixed duration. Since more evolution leads to greater maladaptation and slower population recovery following an extreme event, slowing population recovery, greater heritability can increase extinction risk when the extreme event is short, as in random environments with low autocorrelation. Alternatively, when an extreme event is sufficiently long, heritability often helps a population persist, as under a press perturbation. We also find that when events are severe, the buffering effect of phenotypic variance can outweigh the increased load it causes. Our results highlight the importance of the length and severity of a disturbance when assessing the role of evolution on population recovery; the rapid adaptive evolution observed during extreme events may be bad for persistence.
New Viral Biogeochemical Roles Revealed Through Metagenomic Analysis of Lake Baikal
Authors: Coutinho FH , Cabello-Yeves PJ , Gonzalez-Serrano R , Rosselli R , López-Pérez M , Zemskaya TI , Zakharenko AS , Ivanov VG , Rodriguez-Valera F
Published: April 2020

Lake Baikal is the largest body of liquid freshwater on Earth. Previous studies have described the microbial composition of this habitat but the viral communities from this ecosystem have not been characterized in detail. Here we describe the viral diversity of this habitat across depth and seasonal gradients. We discovered 19,475bona fideviral sequences, which are derived from viruses predicted to infect abundant and ecologically important taxa that reside in Lake Baikal, such as Nitrospirota, Methylophilaceae and Crenarchaeota. Diversity analysis revealed significant changes in viral community composition between epipelagic and bathypelagic zones. Analysis of the gene content of individual viral populations allowed us to describe one of the first bacteriophages that infect Nitrospirota, and their extensive repertoire of auxiliary metabolic genes that might enhance carbon fixation through the reductive TCA cycle. We also described bacteriophages of methylotrophic bacteria with the potential to enhance methanol oxidation and the S-adenosyl-L-methionine cycle. These findings unraveled new ways by which viruses influence the carbon cycle in freshwater ecosystems, namely by using auxiliary metabolic genes that act upon metabolisms of dark carbon fixation and methylotrophy. Therefore, our results shed light on the processes through which viruses can impact biogeochemical cycles of major ecological relevance.
Computational prediction of Drug-Disease association based on Graph-regularized one bit Matrix completion
Authors: Mongia Aanchal , Chouzenoux Emilie , Majumdar Angshul
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Investigation of existing drugs is an effective alternative to discovery of new drugs for treating diseases. This task of drug re-positioning can be assisted by various kinds of computational methods to predict the best indication for a drug given the open-source biological datasets. Owing to the fact that similar drugs tend to have common pathways and disease indications, the association matrix is assumed to be of low-rank structure. Hence, the problem of drug-disease association prediction can been modelled as a low-rank matrix-completion problem.

Results

In this work, we propose a novel matrix completion framework which makes use of the sideinformation associated with drugs/diseases for the prediction of drug-disease indications modelled as neighborhood graph: Graph regularized 1-bit matrix compeltion (GR1BMC). The algorithm is specially designed for binary data and uses parallel proximal algorithm to solve the aforesaid minimization problem taking into account all the constraints including the neighborhood graph incorporation and restricting predicted scores within the specified range. The results of the proposed algorithm have been validated on two standard drug-disease association databases (Fdataset and Cdataset) by evaluating the AUC across the 10-fold cross validation splits. The usage of the method is also evaluated through a case study where top 5 indications are predicted for novel drugs and diseases, which then are verified with the CTD database. The results of these experiments demonstrate the practical usage and superiority of the proposed approach over the benchmark methods.

Contact

aanchalm@iiitd.ac.in
Comparative single-cell trajectory network enrichment identifies pseudo-temporal systems biology patterns in hematopoiesis and CD8 T-cell development
Authors: Grønning Alexander G. B. , Oubounyt Mhaned , Kanev Kristiyan , Lund Jesper , Kacprowski Tim , Zehn Dietmar , Röttger Richard , Baumbach Jan
Published: April 2020

Single cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) technologies allow for investigating cellular processes on an unprecedented resolution. While software packages for scRNA-seq raw data analysis exist, no method for the extraction of systems biology signatures that drive different pseudo-time trajectories exists. Hence, pseudo-temporal molecular sub-network expression profiles remain undetermined, thus, hampering our understanding of the molecular control of cellular development on a single cell resolution. We have developed Scellnetor, the first network-constraint time-series clustering algorithm implemented as interactive webtool to identify modules of genes connected in a molecular interaction network that show differentiating temporal expression patterns. Scellnetor allows selecting two differentiation courses or two developmental trajectories for comparison on a systems biology level. Scellnetor identifies mechanisms driving hematopoiesis in mouse and mechanistically interpretable subnetworks driving dysfunctional CD8 T-cell development in chronic infections. Scellnetor is the first method to allow for single cell trajectory network enrichment for systems level hypotheses generation, thus lifting scRNA-seq data analysis to a systems biology level. It is available as an interactive online tool athttps://exbio.wzw.tum.de/scellnetor/.
Recursive Convolutional Neural Networks for Epigenomics
Authors: Symeonidi Aikaterini , Nicolaou Anguelos , Johannes Frank , Christlein Vincent
Published: April 2020

Deep learning methods have proved to be powerful classification tools in the fields of structural and functional genomics. In this paper, we introduce a Recursive Convolutional Neural Networks (RCNN) for the analysis of epigenomic data. We focus on the task of predicting gene expression from the intensity of histone modifications. The proposed RCNN architecture can be applied to data of an arbitrary size, and has a single meta-parameter that quantifies the models capacity, thus making it flexible for experimenting. The proposed architecture outperforms state-of-the-art systems, while having several orders of magnitude fewer parameters.
Plastome phylogenomic study of Gentianeae (Gentianaceae): widespread gene tree discordance and its association with evolutionary rate heterogeneity of plastid genes
Authors: Zhang Xu , Sun Yanxia , Landis Jacob B. , Lv Zhenyu , Shen Jun , Zhang Huajie , Lin Nan , Li Lijuan , Sun Jiao , Deng Tao , Sun Hang , Wang Hengchang
Published: April 2020

Background

Plastome-scale data have been prevalent in reconstructing the plant Tree of Life. However, phylogenomic studies currently based on plastomes rely primarily on maximum likelihood (ML) inference of concatenated alignments of plastid genes, and thus phylogenetic discordance produced by individual plastid genes has generally been ignored. Moreover, structural and functional characteristics of plastomes indicate that plastid genes may not evolve as a single locus and are experiencing different evolutionary forces, yet the genetic characteristics of plastid genes within a lineage remain poorly studied.

Results

We sequenced and annotated ten plastome sequences of Gentianeae. Phylogenomic analyses yielded robust relationships among genera within Gentianeae. We detected great variation of gene tree topologies and revealed more than half of the genes, including one (atpB) of the three widely used plastid markers (rbcL, atpBandmatK) in phylogenetic inference of Gentianeae, are likely contributing to phylogenetic ambiguity of Gentianeae. Estimation of nucleotide substitution rates showed extensive rate heterogeneity among different plastid genes and among different functional groups of genes. Comparative analysis suggested that the ribosomal protein (RPL and RPS) genes and the RNA polymerase (RPO) genes have higher substitution rates and genetic variations in Gentianeae. Our study revealed that just one (matK) of the three (matK, ndhBandrbcL) widely used markers show high phylogenetic informativeness (PI) value. Due to the high PI and lowest gene-tree discordance,rpoC2is advocated as a promising plastid DNA barcode for taxonomic studies of Gentianeae. Furthermore, our analyses revealed a positive correlation of evolutionary rates with genetic variation of plastid genes, but a negative correlation with gene-tree discordance under purifying selection.

Conclusions

Overall, our results demonstrate the heterogeneity of nucleotide substitution rates and genetic characteristics among plastid genes providing new insights into plastome evolution, while highlighting the necessity of considering gene-tree discordance into phylogenomic studies based on plastome-scale data.
Deregulated mito-nuclear communication alters chromatin plasticity and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells upon ageing
Authors: Pouikli Andromachi , Parekh Swati , Maleszewska Monika , Baghdadi Maarouf , Tripodi Ignacio , Nikopoulou Chrysa , Folz-Donahue Kat , Hinze Yvonne , Mesaros Andrea , Giavalisco Patrick , Dowell Robin , Partridge Linda , Tessarz Peter
Published: April 2020

Ageing is accompanied by a general decline in the function of many cellular pathways, with metabolic alterations, epigenetic modifications, and stem cell exhaustion representing three important hallmarks of the ageing process. However, whether these pathways are causally or functionally related at a molecular level remains poorly understood. Here, we use bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from young and old mice to address how age-dependent changes in metabolism and epigenetics are linked and how they impact on the ageing transcriptome and differentiation potential. Given that MSCs maintain specific age-associated properties even under prolonged culture conditions, such as the age-dependent decrease in osteogenic differentiation, they are an excellent model to investigatein vitrothe connection of ageing hallmarks on a mechanistic level. In this study, we demonstrate that upon ageing, osteogenic potential of MSCs declines as a consequence of deregulated mito-nuclear communication, mediated by decreased levels of the citrate carrier (CiC). Age-dependent down-regulation of CiC results in acetyl-CoA trapping within mitochondria, hypo-acetylation of histones and chromatin compaction. Together, these changes lead to an altered transcriptional output and are responsible for the reduced differentiation capacity into osteoblasts. Strikingly, short-term supplementation of aged cells with acetate, an exogenous source for cytosolic acetyl-CoA production, rescues not only the age-associated reduction of histone acetylation, but also the osteogenesis defect, representing a potential target forin vitroMSC rejuvenation.
Subcellular localization of the J-protein Sis1 regulates the heat shock response
Authors: Feder Zoe A. , Ali Asif , Singh Abhyudai , Krakowiak Joanna , Zheng Xu , Bindokas Vytas P. , Wolfgeher Donald , Kron Stephen J. , Pincus David
Published: April 2020

Cells exposed to heat shock induce a conserved gene expression program – the heat shock response (HSR) – encoding chaperones like Hsp70 and other protein homeostasis (proteostasis) factors. Heat shock also triggers proteostasis factors to form subcellular quality control bodies, but the relationship between these spatial structures and the HSR is unclear. Here we show that localization of the J-protein Sis1 – a co-chaperone for Hsp70 – controls HSR activation in yeast. Under nonstress conditions, Sis1 is concentrated in the nucleoplasm where it promotes Hsp70 binding to the transcription factor Hsf1, repressing the HSR. Upon heat shock, Sis1 forms an interconnected network with other proteostasis factors that spans the nucleolus and the surface of the cortical ER. We propose that localization of Sis1 to this network directs Hsp70 activity away from Hsf1 in the nucleoplasm, leaving Hsf1 free to induce the HSR. In this manner, Sis1 couples HSR activation to the spatial organization of the proteostasis network.

One sentence summary

Localization of the J-protein Sis1 to a subcellular network of proteostasis factors activates the heat shock response.
Identifying therapeutic drug targets for rare and common forms of short stature
Authors: Estrada Karol , Froelich Steven , Wuster Arthur , Bauer Christopher R. , Sterling Teague , Clark Wyatt T. , Ru Yuanbin , Trinidad Marena , Nguyen Hong Phuc , Luu Amanda R. , Wendt Daniel J. , Yogalingam Gouri , Yu Guoying Karen , LeBowitz Jonathan H. , Cardon Lon R.
Published: April 2020

While GWAS of common diseases has delivered thousands of novel genetic findings, prioritizing genes for translation to therapeutics has been challenging. Here, we propose an approach to resolve that issue by identifying genes that have both gain of function (GoF) and loss of function (LoF) mutations associated with opposing effects on phenotype (Bidirectional Effect Selected Targets, BEST). Bidirectionality is a desirable feature of the best targets because it implies both a causal role on the phenotype in one direction and that modulating the target activity might be safe and therapeutically beneficial in the other.

We used height, a highly heritable trait and a model of complex diseases, to test our approach. Using 34,231 individuals with exome sequence data and height, we identified five genes (IGF1R, NPPC, NPR2, FGFR3, andSHOX) with evidence for bidirectional effects on stature. Rare protein-altering variants significantly increased risk for idiopathic short stature (ISS) (OR=2.75, p= 3.99×10−8). These genes are key members of the only two pathways successfully targeted for short stature: Growth Hormone/Insulin-like growth factor 1 axis and C-type Natriuretic peptide (CNP) for Achondroplasia, a monogenic form of dwarfism. We assayed a subset ofNPR2mutations and identified those with elevated (GoF) and diminished (LoF) activity and found that a polygenic score for height modulates the penetrance of pathogenic variants. We also demonstrated that adding exogenous CNP (encoded byNPPC) rescues theNPR2haploinsufficiency molecular phenotype in a CRISPR-engineered cell line, thus validating its potential therapeutic treatment for inherited forms of short stature. Finally, we found that these BEST targets increase the probability of success in clinical trials above and beyond targets with other genetic evidence. Our results show the value of looking for bidirectional effects to identify and validate drug targets.
Recovery of cryo-injured rabbit urethras by biofabricated C-shaped adipose-derived mesenchymal cell structures
Authors: Gautam Sudha Silwal , Imamura Tetsuya , Shimamura Mitsuru , Minagawa Tomonori , Nakazawa Masaki , Ogawa Teruyuki , Ishizuka Osamu
Published: April 2020

Urethral tissue damage can cause stress urinary incontinence or urinary retention, and there are few long-term, effective treatments. For structural and functional recovery of urethral tissues, we designed and constructed C-shaped structures composed of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells (AMCs) by using a three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinter system, which could be transplanted in damaged urethras without obstructing the lumen. We determined if transplantation of the biofabricated structures could reconstruct the urethral tissues. AMCs were harvested from rabbits, cultured and labeled with PKH26 to form spheroids. The spheroids were assembled on a custom-designed C-shaped support by a 3D bioprinter. Urethras of rabbits were cryo-injured by spraying with liquid nitrogen for 20 seconds, incised and biofabricated structure was autologously transplanted. Control rabbits were treated similarly but without transplantation structure. Two and four weeks after surgery, the control urethras were partially constricted; however, the structure-transplanted urethras were patent. The AMCs within the structures differentiated into skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, nerve, or endothelial cells. Some cells contained growth factors and cytokines. Therefore, biofabricated C-shaped AMC structures have potential to be an effective treatment for urethral recovery.

Summary Statement

Three-dimensional bioprinter was used to biofabricate novel C-shaped structures composed of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells (AMCs) and have the potential to be an effective treatment for urethral recovery.
High affinity of Skp to OmpC revealed by single-molecule detection
Authors: Pan Sichen , Yang Chen , Zhao Xin Sheng
Published: April 2020

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are essential to Gram-negative bacteria, and they need molecular chaperones to prevent from aggregation in periplasm during the OMPs biogenesis. Seventeen kilodalton protein (Skp) is the major protein for this purpose. Here we used singlemolecule detection (SMD) to study the stoichiometry modulation of Skp in binding with outer membrane protein C (OmpC) fromEscherichia coli. To accomplish our task, we developed the tool of portion selectively chosen fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (pscFCS). We found that Skp binds OmpC with high affinity. The half concentration for Skp to form homotrimer Skp3(C1/2) was measured to be 250 nM. Under the Skp concentrations far belowC1/2OmpC can recruit Skp monomers to form OmpC·Skp3. The affinity of the process is in picomolar range, indicating that the trimerization of Skp in OmpC·Skp3complex is induced by OmpC-Skp interaction even though free Skp3is rarely present. In the concentration range that Skp3is the predominant form, OmpC may directly interact with Skp3. Under micro-molar concentrations of Skp, the formation of OmpC·(Skp3)2was observed. Our results suggest that the fine-tuned modulation of Skp composition stoichiometry plays an important role in the safe-guarding and quality control mechanism of OMPs in the periplasm.
Demographic factors and travel motivation among leisure tourists in Tanzania
Authors: Kara Nasra Shoka , Mkwizu Kezia Herman
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To examine demographic factors and travel motivations among leisure tourists in Tanzania. Specifically by examining the influence of demographic factors on travel motivation among local and international leisure tourists in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

Approach is quantitative and applied descriptive statistics, independentt-test and ANOVA.

Findings

The findings showed that age, gender and family size as demographic factors significantly influenced travel motivation among local and international leisure tourists.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies to consider different approaches including collection of data during the peak season, use qualitative method and conduct studies in other parts of the country to explore demographic factors and travel motivations of tourists.

Practical implications

To assist tourism stakeholders in their design of promotional tools to market tourism products/services to different tourists as opposed to homogeneous marketing campaigns.

Originality/value

Examined the influence of demographic factors and travel motivation among local and international leisure tourists in the context of Tanzania.
Sectoral carbon linkages of Indian economy based on hypothetical extraction model
Authors: Sajid Muhammad Jawad , Cao Qingren , Cao Ming , Li Shuang
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Presentation of the different industrial carbon linkages of India. The purpose of this paper is to understand the direct and indirect impact of these industrial linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a hypothetical extraction method with its various extensions. Under this method, different carbon linkages of a block are removed from the economy, and the effects of carbon linkages are determined by the difference between the original and the post-removal values. Energy and non-energy carbon linkages are also estimated.

Findings

“Electricity, gas and water supply (EGW)” at 655.61 Mt and 648.74 Mt had the highest total and forward linkages. “manufacturing and recycling” at 231.48 Mt had the highest backward linkage. High carbon-intensive blocks of “EGW” plus “mining and quarrying” were net emitters, while others were net absorbers. “Fuel and chemicals” at 0.08 Mt had almost neutral status. Hard coal was the main source of direct and indirect emissions.

Practical implications

Net emitting and key net forward blocks should reduce direct emission intensities. India should use its huge geographical potential for industrial accessibility to cheaper alternative energy. This alongside with technology/process improvements catalyzed by policy tools can help in mitigation efforts. Next, key net-backward blocks such as construction through intermediate purchases significantly stimulate emissions from other blocks. Tailored mitigation policies are needed in this regard.

Originality/value

By developing an understanding of India’s industrial carbon links, this study can guide policymakers. In addition, the paper lays out the framework for estimating energy and non-energy-based industrial carbon links.
Servant leadership and organizational citizenship behavior
Authors: Elche Dioni , Ruiz-Palomino Pablo , Linuesa-Langreo Jorge
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to process underlying the relationship between supervisor servant leadership and employee organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in hotels. Specifically, it analyzes the mediating role of empathy – individual level – and service climate – group level – in the relationship between supervisor servant leadership and employee OCB.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis uses original data on hotels located in historic cities in Spain. A survey provided a sample of 343 work-group-level (supervisors) and 835 individual-level (employee) from a sample of 171 hotels.

Findings

The most interesting finding is the indirect effect of supervisor servant leadership on employee OCB through the mediating role of both employee empathy – individual level – and group service climate – group level.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that hotel supervisors should adopt servant leadership to enhance OCB in their workgroups. This paper also provides insights into other ways to increase employee OCB, namely, through human resources initiatives that enhance employee empathy and shape a service climate within groups.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few that analyzes the relationships between supervisor servant leadership, employee empathy, group service climate and employee OCB in a unifying cross-level model. It is also the first to analyze employee empathy as a positive outcome of supervisor servant leadership, as well as a mechanism to explain the relationship between servant leadership and employee OCB. Finally, it is one of the few studies that analyzes all these relationships in conjunction within the hospitality industry.
Measuring the impact of lean practices on manufacturing performance – case study from the process industry
Authors: Kovács Tibor , Kő Andrea , Demeter Krisztina
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how measuring the lean practices–performance relationship could add value to businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Case-study methodology was used for the quantitative analysis of self-assessed lean capability scores and key manufacturing performance indicators from a global consumer goods company. Up to 80 sites over 3 years were analysed. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is used to analyse the lean implementation–performance relationship.

Findings

Results show that different performance areas may be affected differently and suggest that the measured relationship may depend on the reliability of the self-assessment.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on the manufacturing sites of a single company, implementing the same lean methodology, producing similar products and using similar process technologies. This helps to control confounding variables but may limit the generalisability of the findings.

Practical implications

Practitioners can use the measurement method to improve lean-based performance-improvement projects. The study suggests that the PLS-SEM technique could improve the calibration of lean-practice self-assessment and could identify further areas for improvement.

Originality/value

Very few papers developed measurement methods for the effectiveness of lean-practice implementation using objective manufacturing performance data within a single multinational company.
The impact of monetary systems on income inequity and wealth distribution
Authors: Othman Anwar Hasan Abdullah , Musa Alhabshi Syed , Kassim Salina , Abdullah Adam , Haron Razali
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study uses the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) econometric approach to investigate empirically the effects of cryptocurrencies, the gold standard and traditional fiat money on global income inequality measured based on the Gini coefficient, and various ratios of income inequality distribution such as top 1 per cent, top 10 per cent, top 40 per cent and top 50 per cent.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the ARDL econometric approach.

Findings

The findings indicated that cryptocurrency and gold standard monetary systems contributed significantly to reducing global inequality of income and wealth distribution. Conversely, the traditional fiat money system contributes positively to global income and wealth inequality while also contributing significantly to their fluctuation.

Practical implications

This suggests that the fiat monetary system results in the coercive redistribution of income and wealth if governments pursue a social welfare policy. They must resolve this conflict between the current fiat monetary system and social policy by opting for an alternative monetary system such as cryptocurrency or gold standard. These alternative monetary systems offer the promise of resolving the income and wealth inequality associated with the traditional monetary system which are accompanied with the channels of inflation, lack of financial inclusion and debt creation, and to offer a more sustainable financial system.

Originality/value

The study recommends that monetary policy must be revisited to account for its direct effect on income and wealth redistribution to achieve social welfare goals.
Knowledge sharing in social networks: considering the role of political skill and trust
Authors: Seitz Stephanie R. , Misra Kaumudi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model proposes that political skill will shape an individual's social network. Further, political skill within a network will influence the degree of complex knowledge sharing, which likely happens through the mechanism of affective- and cognitive-based trust.

Findings

Theoretical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Originality/value

Knowledge sharing is an inherently social process and as such occurs within the context of social networks in an organization. However, research to date has not fully explored the details of how and why complex knowledge sharing happens within a social network. Generally, theory on social networks has focused on structural qualities of a network, rather than the individual characteristics of the members of that network. This paper brings a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.
Authentic leadership and citizenship behavior
Authors: Kyei-Poku Ivy , Yang Ying (Jason)
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the pathway through which authentic leadership influences organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The authors examine how the perception of overall fairness and a sense of belongingness mediate the relationship between authentic leadership and OCB.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors distributed survey questionnaires to full-time employees working for an insurance company. Data were collected in two phases. To test the hypotheses, the authors conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis using the PROCESS macro by Hayes (2012).

Findings

PROCESS analysis reveals that overall fairness mediates the relationship between authentic leadership and subordinates' sense of belongingness, which is then positively related to OCB. Taken together, these findings are largely in line with the authors’ theoretical model.

Originality/value

Empirical research has yet to explore how authentic leaders create the perception of fairness, which influences subordinates' OCB. Thus, this study extends the authors’ knowledge on the extant literature of organizational behavior by integrating two important domains—authentic leadership and organizational fairness—to propose that authentic leadership is a fair leadership that aids in promoting OCB. Also, studies on authentic leadership processes have examined basic models and neglected the possibility of sequential mediation. To better understand the complex relationship of authentic leadership and OCB, the authors examine overall fairness and belongingness as sequential mediators.
Influence of empowerment, psychological contract and employee engagement on voluntary turnover intentions
Authors: S Sandhya , M M Sulphey
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to explore the influence of psychological empowerment, psychological contract and employee engagement on voluntary turnover intentions of employees in theinformation technology (IT) industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a cross-sectional, quantitative research design. The analysis for the study is based on a sample of 392 Indian IT professionals. Partial least square–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data.

Findings

This study has identified a significant relationship between turnover intentions, employee engagement, psychological contract and psychological empowerment. The findings of the study are that there exists significant positive influence of psychological contract and psychological empowerment on employee engagement. Employee engagement, in turn, has the capability to influence intention to leave the organization.

Originality/value

There is heightened awareness among industry leaders about the need to retain top performers. However, organizations are found to repeatedly fail in this regard. The study has succeeded in empirically establishing the complex relationship between empowerment, psychological contract, employee engagement and turnover intentions. The findings of the study are significant and have practical implications. It can be put to use by progressive managements in devising strategies to reduce turnover intentions.
The performance of Generation II journal gas foil bearing with misalignment
Authors: Li Hao , Geng Peng Hai , Lin Hao
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The normal operation of a rotor system is generally vulnerable to misalignment between gas foil bearing (GFB) and rotor. However, most theoretical and experimental researches about the characteristics of GFBs have ignored this phenomenon. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the static and dynamic performance of GFBs considering misalignment.

Design/methodology/approach

The shaft is allowed to misalign in two directions. Then the variations of bearing load, friction force, restoring moment, stiffness and damping coefficients are thoroughly explored. The hydrodynamic pressure on the gas film is modeled with compressible Reynolds equation, and the deformation of the flexible bearing is calculated with finite element method. Small perturbation method is used to obtain the displacement and moment dynamic coefficients.

Findings

The film thickness and pressure distribution distort when misalignments appear. The inclination of GFBs can enhance the restoring moment to withstand the imposed misalignment. Furthermore, the simulation phenomenon demonstrates the misalignment around load direction should be avoided as much as possible, while a small value misalignment around another direction is allowed.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is the exploration of the influence of misalignments on the static and dynamic performance of the Generation II journal GFB.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0418/
Preparation of self-lubricating coating by mechanical milling
Authors: Yan Chengqi , Karthik Namachivayam , Kang Yonghai , Xiong Dangsheng
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to fabricate nickel-aluminum (Ni-Al)-based self-lubricating composite coating on aluminum (Al) alloy by mechanical milling (MM).

Design/methodology/approach

A new carrier transport (CT) way was designed to solve the slippage fracture of the coating due to silver (Ag) accumulation (Ag powders were cold welded with nickel [Ni] powders by MM in advance to avoid accumulation, then Al powder and samples were added to fabricate the coating).

Findings

Microstructure analysis reveals that the solid lubricant Ag exists as particles in the composite coating via CT technique, which is different from the typical morphology (strip-type) of Ag tailored by normal methods. The unique granular form of Ag can effectively avoid the gliding fracture of the coating, thus forming an efficacious lubrication film on the worn surface, which is responsible for the excellent tribological properties of the coating.

Practical implications

Most of the papers reported that coatings synthesized by MM mainly concentrated on hard coatings, but the fabrication of self-lubricating coatings have not yet reported.

Originality/value

The uniform dispersion of solid lubricant Ag can effectively solves a fatal problem that the fracture failure of coating triggered by the Ag accumulation. This experiment provides a novel method for preparation of self-lubricating coating by MM.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0030
Cultures and entrepreneurial competencies; ethnic propensities and performance in Malaysia
Authors: Tehseen Shehnaz , Anderson Alistair R.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent and types of entrepreneurial competences among culturally different ethnic groups in Malaysia. Malaysia offers us a similar environment and ecosystem to make comparisons within a single context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper surveyed 600 respondents – 200 Malaysian Chinese, 200 Malaysian Indians and 200 Malays – and collected data about the types of competencies and about self-reported growth as firm performance. The study used PLS-SEM for inferential testing and PLS-MGA to conduct multigroup analysis among the three ethnic groups and found considerable and interesting differences.

Findings

The results of the nuanced, fine-grained findings showed a distinctive distribution of competencies. This study investigates the analysis further to argue that there is an ethnic disposition to favour and value different competencies. Broadly, Malaysian Chinese have a commercial outlook which contrasts with the Malaysian emphasis on social values such as family. Malaysian Indians’ competencies are similar to Malaysian Chinese’s, but with more social value emphasised. This distribution impacts on firm performance with Malaysian Chinese firms faring economically better. However, this economic measure takes no account of social measures which may be an important determinant and motivation for some ethnic groups.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, it becomes evident that one size does not fit all. In practice, different competencies are prioritised. Hence competencies appear to be culturally shaped. Culture influences what might be seen as very practical dimensions of entrepreneuring. From a practical perspective, those encouraging entrepreneurship should take such differences into account.

Originality/value

The study is original in comparing cultural effects on competencies and performance.
Quality antecedents and performance outcome of cloud-based hospital information system continuance intention
Authors: Cheng Yung-Ming
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study's purpose is to propose an integrated model based on expectation-confirmation model (ECM), task-technology fit (TTF) model, and updated DeLone and McLean information system (IS) success model to examine whether quality factors and TTF as antecedents to physician beliefs can affect physicians' continuance intention of the cloud-based hospital information system (HIS) and performance impact.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample data for this study were collected from physicians at five hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, and 305 (61.0 percent) usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling in this study.

Findings

This study verified that physicians' perceived information quality, system quality, general technical support service quality, and cloud storage service quality all positively caused their PU, confirmation, and perceived TTF in the cloud-based HIS, which together explained their satisfaction with the system, and subsequently led to their continuance intention of the system and performance impact.

Originality/value

First, IS-related and cloud-related quality factors are simultaneously taken into consideration within this study's research model, and empirical results reveal deep insights into quality evaluation in the field of physicians' cloud-based HIS continuance intention. Next, this study contributes to an understanding of TTF in explaining physicians' cloud-based HIS continuance intention that is difficult to explain with only their utilitarian perception of the system, and places emphasis upon physicians' perception of performance impact greatly driven by their perceived TTF and continuance intention of the system, thus the results can shed light on antecedents and outcome of physicians' cloud-based HIS continuance intention.
Bank efficiency in Bangladesh revisited: a slack-based network DEA approach
Authors: Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Wanke Peter , Raihan Mohammad Zahir , Anwar S.M. Rakibul , Mustafa Riduanul
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) calculates the efficiency of a business unit if all the inputs are creating outputs within a “black box.” Under traditional DEA, the detailed process of that business unit is ignored. However, a network DEA can explain the black box structure and provide efficiency results for sub-sections within any business process. This study aims to propose a network DEA model that explains a bank's total operation.

Design/methodology/approach

Earlier studies have focused only on bank efficiency ignoring this breakdown. This study departs from them by using a slack-based two-stage network DEA under a novel banking business perspective.

Findings

The results reveal that network DEA provides better benchmarking insights than the traditional DEA. As such, better benchmarking can guide both the banking industry managers and policy makers in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this study includes dividing a bank's total operation efficiency into two sub-operations: “core operations – collecting deposits and giving loans” and “additional operations – fees, commissions and other services.”