bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lean startup for opportunity exploitation: adoption constraints and strategies in technology new ventures
Authors: Silva Diego Souza , Ghezzi Antonio , Aguiar Rafael Barbosa de , Cortimiglia Marcelo Nogueira , ten Caten Carla Schwengber 
Published: March 2021

PurposeMost studies investigating the adoption of lean startup (LS) practices by technology new ventures focus on software startups in mature entrepreneurial ecosystems and disregard their applicability for opportunity exploitation in other technological backgrounds. This study contributes to this research stream by exploring how Brazilian technology new ventures (in different technological fields) tentatively adopt LS to exploit opportunities and whether LS is suitable to their emerging economy context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt an exploratory multiple-case study based on qualitative data collection and analysis of nine Brazilian biotechnology, engineering and software startups.FindingsThe study shows how technology new ventures tackle the activities of opportunity exploitation – namely, developing a product or service, acquiring human resources, gathering financial resources and setting up the organization – by leveraging LS tools and practices for business model validation; also, it identifies six contextual constraints hindering the systematic adoption of LS and reveals how technology new ventures cope with such constraints in their early stages by integrating LS with complementary strategies and practices. Furthermore, the study reveals that the systematic and comprehensive adoption of LS nurtures the development of an entrepreneurial experimental capability to explore opportunities in a quasi-scientific and hypothesis-driven fashion.Originality/valueThe study investigates how Brazilian engineering, biotechnology and software startups exploit opportunities and overcome constraints to business model validation through the combined adoption of LS and complementary strategies and practices and provides a set of propositions to guide future research.
Characterizing third-party logistics setups in the context of construction
Authors: Fredriksson Anna , Janné Mats , Rudberg Martin 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe use of third-party logistics (TPL) setups in construction has increased but is still a new phenomenon. The purpose was to increase understanding of how structural and management dimensions are related in CLSs by describing how CTPL setups are used.Design/methodology/approachTen dimensions to describe and structure CLSs were identified from the literature and used to structure a cross-case analysis of 13 Swedish CLSs.FindingsThe main findings are: (1) there are three typical initiators of CLSs: municipalities, developers and contractors; (2) CLSs are drivers for service differentiation and modularization among TPL providers as construction specific services are required; (3) CLSs play a new role in construction by coordinating logistics activities between the construction project and the vicinity of the site.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on 13 cases in the Swedish construction context. Additional studies of CLSs in other countries are needed.Practical implicationsThe ten dimensions can be used as a guide in designing a CLS and in determining the order of design decisions. The identification and structuring of CTPL services also exemplify the variety of service offerings.Originality/valueThis is one of the first cross-case analyses of CLSs enabling the characterization of CTPL setups. This study identifies how different services included in the setup relate to the roles of SCM and logistics in construction.
A bibliometric review of advances in building information modeling (BIM) research
Authors: Babalola Ayotunde , Musa Shamsudeen , Akinlolu Mariam Temisola , Haupt Theo C. 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of advances in building information modeling (BIM) research globally. It provides a recent state-of-the-art assessment on trends as it relates to the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Being a vastly emerging research area, there is a need for the appraisal of research trends.

Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using a dual step filtering system on an initial volume of 2347 documents in the first stage between 2010 and 2020, and of 311 publications in the final stage of the analyses which emphasized more on 2015–2020 from the WoS database. Frequency analyses on the sources, affiliations, authors and country/ region of publication were assessed in the first stage of the analyses. Co-authorship and evidence of author collaboration were also examined. The second stage included a co-occurrence keyword network analysis. Further, text mining/mapping of the abstract of the documents was performed.

Findings
Emerging trends in the field of BIM research include but are not limited to historical building information modeling (h-BIM) applications, the use of blockchain technology, digital twin, Construction Operations Building information exchange (COBiE), Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), dynamo-bim, energy plus software and BIM laser scanning innovations. The possibility of these innovations solving some current BIM challenges were also discussed.

Originality/value
The study provides an insight into the BIM research trends globally while identifying existing challenges. The study uses text mining of unstructured abstracts, which has not been reported in BIM research.
Critical success factors for implementing design-build: analysing Malaysian public projects
Authors: Lee Zheng Ping , Rahman Rahimi A. , Doh Shu Ing 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
The success rate of design-build (D-B) implementation in Malaysia’s private construction projects is low compared to the nation’s public projects. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) for D-B implementation in Malaysian public construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the research objectives, 111 questionnaire survey responses from construction-related professionals were collected and analysed using multivariate analysis, including t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and factor analysis.

Findings
The results indicate that while the client’s briefing effectiveness remained the top CSF among many nations, the other top CSFs in Malaysia D-B construction projects vastly differed compared to those countries. Moreover, the underlying components for successful D-B projects in Malaysia include the project management team, leader competency and “stakeholder” management.

Originality/value
This is one of the first studies that identify the CSFs for D-B implementation in the Malaysian construction industry. The outcomes provide a valuable reference and resource for academic scholars and construction practitioners to increase D-B implementation in the Malaysian private sector.
Teachers’ perceptions of their schools changing toward professional learning communities
Authors: de Jong Loes , Wilderjans Tom , Meirink Jacobiene , Schenke Wouter , Sligte Henk , Admiraal Wilfried 
Published: March 2021

PurposeIn professional learning communities (PLCs), teachers collaborate and learn with the aim of improving students' learning. The aim of this study is to gain insight into teachers' perceptions of their schools' changing toward PLCs and conditions which support or hamper this change.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were completed by a total of 2.111 teachers from 15 Dutch secondary schools for three years. With the use of multilevel regression analyses, the research questions were answered.FindingsAlthough the development of a school toward a PLC seems to be a slow process, the findings demonstrate the influence of school conditions on this development. Human resource management (HRM) stands out, as this school condition has a direct and longitudinal effect on the change.Practical implicationsThe main recommendation is to embed PLC elements in HRM policies such as facilitating teachers to collaboratively work and learn and aligning teachers' professional development with schools' vision and ambitions.Originality/valuePLCs have been studied occasionally in longitudinal in-depth case studies or in large-scale, cross-sectional research. This large-scale longitudinal study provides insights into the sustainability of schools as PLCs and the school conditions that are associated with sustainability.
Digitalizing procurement: the impact of data analytics on supply chain performance
Authors: Hallikas Jukka , Immonen Mika , Brax Saara 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
This study aims to investigate digitalization as a performance driver in supply chains, especially the role of data analytics in the digitalization of procurement. The study investigates how digital procurement capabilities are linked to data analytics capabilities and supply chain operational performance and how this links to business success.

Design/methodology/approach
Using operational and dynamic capabilities as foundations for data analytics capabilities, this paper studied the digital procurement capabilities and proposed the conceptual model and hypotheses for empirical testing. The collected industry survey data and structural equation method are then applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings
The study confirms positive and significant relationships among digital procurement capabilities, data analytics capabilities and supply chain performance. Digital procurement capabilities mediate the positive relationship between external data analytics capabilities and supply chain performance.

Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations that should be addressed. The empirical study was based on survey data from a questionnaire that was probably challenging for some respondent companies with low levels of digital procurement and data analytics. Also, it is necessary to adopt secondary data to measure business performance in future studies which reduces the effect of subjective bias.

Practical implications
From the managerial point of view, the findings highlight the importance of gaining knowledge from gathered data and digitalized processes. Managers must focus on data utilization capabilities to improve the operational performance expected from the digitalization of supply chain activities. In addition, managers need to consider exploiting of data through new creative approaches as part of standardized operations.

Originality/value
The present study contributes to existing knowledge by investigating the mediating role of data analytics capabilities between the digitalization of procurement and supply chain performance. The findings support a positive relationship between the data analytics capabilities and supply chain performance in digital upstream supply chain procurement processes. The present study also clarifies the impact and role of data analytics capabilities in digital supply chain development and success.
Does contract farming improve rice farmers' food security? Empirical evidence from Ghana
Authors: Jagri Binpori Reuben , Awunyo-Vitor Dadson , Wongnaa Camillus Abawiera 
Published: March 2021

PurposeIn order to improve access to resources for smallholder farmers, efforts are being made to promote contract farming in Ghana. This is seen as a strategy to increase agricultural productivity of farmers, give better market access and guarantee adequate supply of raw materials to agro-based industries. However, the challenge is whether contract farming leads to improvement in food security status of farmers. The study therefore seeks to explore to what extent farmers' food security status is influenced by their participation in contract farming activities.Design/methodology/approachUsing Cragg's double-hurdle model to analyse participation in contract farming, the authors control for selection bias using propensity score matching applied to a data set of 336 observations to examine the impact of contract farming on the food security levels of rice farmers in Ghana.FindingsThe results of this study show that yield of paddy and the wealth of the farmer are the main factors that influence the quantity of paddy rice to be contracted in contract farming arrangements. This study also finds that participation in contract farming will increase food security by 109%. In conclusion, contract farming has a significant positive impact on the farmers' food security status.Originality/valueAgricultural policies and rural development initiatives supporting the promotion and expansion of contract farming should be pursued to persuade more farmers to produce under contract farming agreements.
Investigation of the acousto‐optical properties of Ge–As–Te–(Se) chalcogenide glasses at 10.6 μm wavelength
Authors: Cao Zhenfei , Dai Shixun , Liu Zijun , Liu Chengcheng , Ding Shengjie , Lin Changgui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe acousto‐optic parameters of Ge10As90−xTex (x = 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mol%) and Ge10As20Te70−ySey (y = 20, 30, 40, 50 mol%) glasses, were studied systematically to compare the pros and cons of Te‐based and Se‐based chalcogenide glasses in acousto‐optic performance, as well as the thermomechanical properties. In the Ge10As90−xTex system, the acousto‐optic figure of merit (M2) increased with increased Te content, and the maximum M2 of 2279 × 10−18 s3/g, which is 13 times that of commercial single‐crystal Ge, obtained in Ge10As20Te70 at 10.6 μm. However, its thermal properties and elastic modulus decreased and the acoustic attenuation (α) at different ultrasonic frequencies increased accordingly. In the Ge10As20Te70−ySey system, the thermomechanical performance of the glasses improved with the introduction of Se element, the overall α was lower than that of Te‐based chalcogenide glasses, and the minimum α was 5.29 dB/cm at 30 MHz ultrasonic frequency, although its M2 was inferior to that of Te‐based chalcogenide glasses. Additionally, the difference in the α of these glasses was smaller at low ultrasonic frequencies than at high ultrasonic frequencies. This work will promote the practical application of chalcogenide glasses as promising materials with outstanding acousto‐optic properties in low ultrasonic frequency acousto‐optic devices.
Review of oral minoxidil as treatment of hair disorders: in search of the perfect dose
Authors: Villani A. , Fabbrocini G. , Ocampo‐Candiani J. , Ruggiero A. , Ocampo‐Garza S.S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTopical minoxidil has been used for many years as treatment for different hair disorders. Even though it is an effective therapy, many patients show poor compliance due to the cosmesis, cost and side‐effects. During the last few years, low‐dose oral minoxidil has proven to be an alternative for patients with alopecia. We performed a literature search including all the articles that used oral minoxidil as a primary treatment in various hair diseases in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low‐dose oral minoxidil as an alternative to topical minoxidil. Androgenetic alopecia was the most common studied condition, but others included telogen effluvium, tractional alopecia, postchemotherapy‐induced alopecia, monilethrix, loose anagen hair syndrome, alopecia areata and scarring alopecias (frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris). Larger randomized comparative studies including standardized objective measurements should be done in order to clarify the best treatment protocol, including dosage and treatment duration. Oral minoxidil has proven to be a successful and well‐tolerated alternative for patients with hair loss, including those with poor adherence to other therapies. Different dosing regimens have been utilized in scarring and non‐scarring alopecia, varying from 0.25 to 5 mg daily. Higher doses have not been studied in men or women. Available literature suggests women require lower doses, from 0.25 to 2.5 mg daily, while men require higher doses for maximal efficacy, from 1.25 to 5 mg a day.
Homocysteine – from disease biomarker to disease prevention
Authors: Smith A. D. , Refsum H. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe have reviewed the literature and have identified more than 100 diseases or conditions that are associated with raised concentrations of plasma total homocysteine. The commonest associations are with cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the central nervous system, but a large number of developmental and age‐related conditions are also associated. Few other disease biomarkers have so many associations. The clinical importance of these associations becomes especially relevant if lowering plasma total homocysteine by B vitamin treatment can prevent disease and so improve health. Five diseases can at least in part be prevented by lowering total homocysteine: neural tube defects, impaired childhood cognition, macular degeneration, primary stroke, and cognitive impairment in the elderly. We conclude from our review that total homocysteine values in adults of 10 μmol/L or below are probably safe, but that values of 11 μmol/L or above may justify intervention. Homocysteine is more than a disease biomarker: it is a guide for the prevention of disease.
On the comparative biology of mammalian telomeres: Telomere length co‐evolves with body mass, lifespan and cancer risk
Authors: Pepke Michael Le , Eisenberg Dan T. A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTelomeres, the short repetitive DNA sequences that cap the ends of linear chromosomes, shorten during cell division and are implicated in senescence in most species. Telomerase can rebuild telomeres but is repressed in many mammals that exhibit replicative senescence, presumably as a tumour suppression mechanism. It is therefore important to understand the co‐evolution of telomere biology and life‐history traits that has shaped the diversity of senescence patterns across species. Gomes et al. previously produced a large data set on telomere length (TL), telomerase activity, body mass and lifespan among 57 mammal species. We re‐analysed their data using the same phylogenetic multiple regressions and with several additional analyses to test the robustness of the findings. We found substantial inconsistencies in our results compared to Gomes et al.'s. Consistent with Gomes et al. we found an inverse association between TL and lifespan. Contrary to the analyses in Gomes et al., we found a generally robust inverse association between TL and mass, and only weak nonrobust evidence for an association between telomerase activity and mass. These results suggest that shorter TL may have been selected for in larger and longer lived species, probably as a mechanism to suppress cancer. We support this hypothesis by showing that longer telomeres predict higher cancer risk across 22 species. Furthermore, we find that domesticated species have longer telomeres. Our results call into question past interpretations of the co‐evolution of telomere biology and life‐history traits and stress the need for careful attention to model construction.
Enabling sustainable agriculture through understanding and enhancement of microbiomes
Authors: Trivedi Pankaj , Mattupalli Chakradhar , Eversole Kellye , Leach Jan E. 
Published: March 2021

SummaryHarnessing plant‐associated microbiomes offers an invaluable strategy to help agricultural production become more sustainable while also meeting growing demands for food, feed and fiber. A plethora of interconnected interactions among the host, environment and microbes, occurring both above and below ground, drive recognition, recruitment and colonization of plant‐associated microbes, resulting in activation of downstream host responses and functionality. Dissecting these complex interactions by integrating multiomic approaches, high‐throughput culturing, and computational and synthetic biology advances is providing deeper understanding of the structure and function of native microbial communities. Such insights are paving the way towards development of microbial products as well as microbiomes engineered with synthetic microbial communities capable of delivering agronomic solutions. While there is a growing market for microbial‐based solutions to improve crop productivity, challenges with commercialization of these products remain. The continued translation of plant‐associated microbiome knowledge into real‐world scenarios will require concerted transdisciplinary research, cross‐training of a next generation of scientists, and targeted educational efforts to prime growers and the general public for successful adoption of these innovative technologies.
Advanced domestication: harnessing the precision of gene editing in crop breeding
Authors: Lyzenga Wendy J. , Pozniak Curtis J. , Kagale Sateesh 
Published: March 2021

SummaryHuman population growth has increased the demand for food crops, animal feed, biofuel and biomaterials, all the while climate change is impacting environmental growth conditions. There is an urgent need to develop crop varieties which tolerate adverse growth conditions while requiring fewer inputs. Plant breeding is critical to global food security and, while it has benefited from modern technologies, it remains constrained by a lack of valuable genetic diversity, linkage drag, and an effective way to combine multiple favourable alleles for complex traits. CRISPR/Cas technology has transformed genome editing across biological systems and promises to transform agriculture with its high precision, ease of design, multiplexing ability and low cost. We discuss the integration of CRISPR/Cas‐based gene editing into crop breeding to advance domestication and refine inbred crop varieties for various applications and growth environments. We highlight the use of CRISPR/Cas‐based gene editing to fix desirable allelic variants, generate novel alleles, break deleterious genetic linkages, support pre‐breeding and for introgression of favourable loci into elite lines.
The Motivations for the Adoption of Management Innovation by Local Governments and its Performance Effects
Authors: Andrews Rhys , Bellò Benedetta , Downe James , Martin Steve , Walker Richard M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis article analyses the economic, political, and institutional antecedents and performance effects of the adoption of shared Senior Management Teams (SMTs)—a management innovation (MI) that occurs when a team of senior managers oversees two or more public organizations. Findings from statistical analysis of 201 English local governments and interviews with organizational leaders reveal that shared SMTs are adopted to develop organizational capacity in resource‐challenged, politically risk‐averse governments, and in response to coercive and mimetic institutional pressures. Importantly, sharing SMTs may reduce rather than enhance efficiency and effectiveness due to redundancy costs and the political transaction costs associated with diverting resources away from a high‐performing partner to support their lower‐performing counterpart.