bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solid state NMR reveals a parallel in register architecture for an infectious recombinant prion
Authors: Martín-Pastor Manuel , Codeseira Yaiza B. , Spagnolli Giovanni , Eraña Hasier , Fernández Leticia C. , Martin Davy , Bravo Susana , López-Lorenzo Nuria , Iglesias Alba , López-Moreno Rafael , Sabaté Raimon , Veiga Sonia , Rezaei Human , Biasini Emiliano , Sánchez-Pedregal Víctor M. , Castilla Joaquín , Requena Jesús R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTwo alternative architectures have been proposed for PrPSc, the most notorious prion: a parallel in register β stack (PIRIBS) and a 4-rung β-solenoid (4RβS). We challenged these two models by measuring intermolecular 13C-13C dipole-dipole couplings of 13CO-labelled Phe residues in a fully infectious sample of recombinant bank vole PrPSc (recBVPrPSc) using a PITHIRDS-CT solid state NMR (ssNMR) experiment. To our surprise, data strongly support a PIRIBS architecture. However, the mean distance measured (∼6.5 Å) suggests that a minimum of two of the three Phe residues are not perfectly stacked at the canonical ∼5 Å cross-β distance. Additional ssNMR experiments show some local conformational variability of the Phe residues within limits of a relatively high rigidity. The most parsimonious interpretation of our data is that recBVPrPSc is arranged as a PIRIBS, although additional conformers with alternative architectures cannot be excluded, including a mixture of PIRIBS and 4RβS.Author summaryPrPSc is the most notorious prion. It is an infectious protein that cuases fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. PrPSc is the aberrant version of a brain protein, PrPC. PrPSc and PrPC have the same prinary structure, but different secondary, tertiaty and quaternary structures. PrPSc is capable of templating PrPC to convert to the PrPSc conformation, which is the basis of its capacity to propagate. Two plausible structural models of PrPSc have been proposed, the four-rung β-solenoid (4RβS) and the parallel in-register β stack (PIRIBS) model. In both cases the driving force of the templating mechanism consists of “sticky” surface β-strands; however, in the PIRIBS model all the β-strands that conform a PrPSc monomer lie flat on a surface whereas in the 4RβS model they wind in a corkscrew fashion. Here, we analyzed fully infectious recombinant PrPSc using a solid state NMR technique, PITHIRDS, that allows probing distances between specific labelled amino acid residues. To our surprise (as we have defended the 4RβS model in the past), results clearly show the presence of a PIRIBS structure in our sample.
The relationship of health-related expectancies, fruit and vegetable intake, and positive mood: expectancies are important, but not in the way you expect
Authors: Smith Elliot , Stevenson Richard , Dudley Leah , Francis Heather 
Published: July 2021

PurposeGreater fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake has been linked to more positive mood. Here, the purpose of this paper is to examine if this relationship is mediated by expectancies about their benefit to health/mental health.Design/methodology/approachParticipants completed a new questionnaire to assess expectancies related to F&V intake. This was administered alongside a validated food-frequency measure of F&V intake, an assessment of positive and negative mood state and other measures.FindingsParticipants held strongly positive expectations about the physical and mental health benefits of consuming F&V. The authors observed a significant relationship between self-reported F&V intake and positive mood (d = 0.52). Importantly, this effect was largely (but not completely) independent of expectancies. The authors also observed that expectancies about F&V intake were independently predictive of positive mood (d = 0.47).Originality/valueThis is the first study to explore expectancy effects in the mental health benefits of F&V intake. These data suggest that positive expectancies about F&V intake, and F&V intake itself, are both predictive of positive mood. The former finding is probably a placebo effect, whereby people believe they are consuming sufficient F&V (even if they are not) and so experience mood-related benefits due to their positive expectations. The latter finding is consistent with F&V exerting a biologically beneficial effect on the brain.
A BIM-driven framework for integrating rules and regulations in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants
Authors: Oti Akponanabofa Henry , Farrell Peter , Abanda Fonbeyin Henry , McMahon Paul , Mahamadu Abdul-Majeed , Mzyece Dingayo , Akintola Adeyemi Ayodele , Prinja Nawal 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The relatively low capital cost and contributions to mitigating global warming have favoured the continuous construction and operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) across the world. One critical phase in the operation of nuclear plants for ensuring the safety and security of radioactive products and by-products is decommissioning. With the advent of digital twinning in the building information modelling (BIM) methodology, efficiency and safety can be improved from context-focus access to regulations pertaining to demolition of structures and the cleaning-up of radioactivity inherent in nuclear stations. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to propose a BIM-driven framework to achieve a more regulation-aware and safer decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

Design/methodology/approach
The framework considers task requirements, and landscape and environmental factors in modelling demolition scenarios that characterise decommissioning processes. The framework integrates decommissioning rules/regulations in a BIM linked non-structured query system to model items and decommissioning tasks, which are implemented based on context-focussed retrieval of decommissioning rules and regulations. The concept’s efficacy is demonstrated using example cases of digitalised NPPs.

Findings
This approach contributes to enhancing improvements in nuclear plant decommissioning with potential for appropriate activity sequencing, risk reduction and ensuring safety.

Originality/value
A BIM-driven framework hinged on querying non-structured databases to provide context-focussed access to nuclear rules and regulations and to aiding decommissioning is new.
Vietnam’s currency management: theory, practice and reality
Authors: Dapice David 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain why Vietnam has been charged as a currency manipulator by the USA, and why those charges are less than conclusive, as of May 2021, no immediate tariffs were imposed.Design/methodology/approachA comparative approach is applied using economic data on trade balances, inflation, exchange rates, and foreign exchange reserves from Vietnam, other Asian nations, and the USA. Currency regime theories are briefly reviewed, and USA. Treasury statements about Vietnam’s currency are referred to, which then are analyzed. Further explanations are based on the context of the economic situation and bilateral relations.FindingsSince 2010, Vietnam’s currency has appreciated, and since 2015, the government has kept the Vietnamese dong (VND) stable in real terms against the dollar. The sharp improvement in Vietnam’s bilateral and overall trade balance is due largely to rising labor costs in China and trade frictions between the USA and China. The resulting US tariffs on China’s exports redirected Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) exports to Vietnam. Even with these recent trade surpluses, Vietnam’s ratio of foreign exchange reserves to imports is lower than that of many other Asian nations. The USA’s recent decision not to impose punitive tariffs on Vietnam’s exports but continue to monitor and hold discussions reflects the reduced priority the new US administration puts on bilateral trade balances and the recognition that Vietnam is negotiating seriously and has significant value in a regional context.Originality/valueThe paper provides a comprehensive understanding from both theoretical and practical perspectives of the recent event. The implications are meaningful for the adjustment of national monetary strategy to avoid a similar situation in the future.
Analysis of thermo-hydraulic and entropy generation characteristics for flow through ribbed-wavy channel
Authors: Mehta Sumit Kumar , Pati Sukumar , Ahmed Shahid , Bhattacharyya Prangan , Bordoloi Jishnu Jyoti 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyze the thermal, hydraulic and entropy generation characteristics for laminar flow of water through a ribbed-wavy channel with the top wall as wavy and bottom wall as flat with ribs of three different geometries, namely, triangular, rectangular and semi-circular.

Design/methodology/approach
The finite element method-based numerical solver has been adopted to solve the governing transport equations.

Findings
A critical value of Reynolds number (Recri) is found beyond which, the average Nusselt number for the wavy or ribbed-wavy channel is more than that for a parallel plate channel and the value of Recri decreases with the increase in a number of ribs and for any given number of ribs, it is minimum for rectangular ribs. The performance factor (PF) sharply decreases with Reynolds number (Re) up to Re = 50 for all types of ribbed-wavy channels. For Re > 50, the change in PF with Re is gradual and decreases for all the ribbed cases and for the sinusoidal channel, it increases beyond Re = 100. The magnitude of PF strongly depends on the shape and number of ribs and Re. The relative magnitude of total entropy generation for different ribbed channels varies with Re and the number of ribs.

Practical implications
The findings of the present study are useful to design the economic heat exchanging devices.

Originality/value
The effects of shape and the number of ribs on the heat transfer performance and entropy generation have been investigated for the first time for the laminar flow regime. Also, the effects of shape and number of ribs on the flow and temperature fields and entropy generation have been investigated in detail.
The influence of board independence on dividend policy in controlling agency problems in family firms
Authors: Kilincarslan Erhan 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of board independence on the cash dividend payments of family firms listed on the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) in balancing controlling families’ power to mitigate agency problems between family and minority shareholders in the post-2012 period. The authors focus on this period because Turkish authorities implemented mandatory regulations on the employment of independent directors on boards from fiscal year 2012.Design/methodology/approachThe research model uses a panel dataset of 153 BIST-listed family firms over the period 2012–2017, employs alternative dependent variables and regression techniques and is applied to various sub-groups to improve robustness.FindingsThe empirical results show a strong positive effect of board independence on dividend decisions. The authors further detect that family directorship exhibits a negative effect, whereas both board size and audit committees have positive influences but chief executive officer (CEO)/duality has had no significant impact on the dividend policies of Turkish family firms since the new compulsory legal requirements in the Turkish market.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings suggest that independent directorship and dividend policy are complementary governance mechanisms to reduce agency conflicts between families and minority shareholders in Turkey, which is a civil law-based emerging country characterized by high family ownership concentration.Practical implicationsThe authors present evidence that Turkish family firms’ corporate boards have evolved, to some extent, from being managerial rubber stamps to more independent boards that raise opposing voices in family decision-making. However, independent directors’ preference for dividend-induced capital market monitoring implies that their direct monitoring is less effective than it is supposed to be. This suggests a need to revise the Turkish Corporate Governance Principles to enhance independent directors’ monitoring and supervisory power.Originality/valueThis is thought to be the first study to provide insights on how board independence influences dividend policy in controlling agency problems in Turkish family firms since Turkish authorities introduced compulsory rules on the employment of independent directors on boards.
A systematic review of factors affecting post-disaster reconstruction projects resilience
Authors: Charles Shawn Hezron , Chang-Richards Alice Yan , Yiu Tak Wing 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the literature on resilience factors applied to post-disaster reconstruction projects and to develop a guiding framework to assist in their strategic selection and application.

Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review was undertaken on the literature’s account in four major bibliographic databases to elicit resilience factors contributing to improving post-disaster reconstruction projects' robustness. Through summative content analysis and open-coding of research outputs over the past decade, the factors identified informed the development of a conceptual framework that can significantly impact the built environment’s resilience development process.

Findings
The review found 24 resilience factors open-coded into five criteria groups: governance, innovations, reconstruction approaches, resource management and stakeholder expectations. While these factors have influenced reconstruction projects, the recently increased participation of clients and end-users in construction management accentuates their strategic selection and applications.

Research limitations/implications
The research focused on English language articles; therefore, any claim to a comprehensive resilience factors listing can be amiss. The framework provides a platform for developing clear measurement indicators for allocating project resources and determining resilience deficiencies.

Practical implications
Results confirm the designs and assessment of a resilient built environment extends beyond the traditional structural characteristics, but includes the ability of the integrated network of buildings and infrastructure to support the continuous delivery of the community’s social and economic services in normal and post-disaster settings.

Originality/value
The review is very specific as it attempts to develop a novel conceptual framework for guiding developers and practitioners in the application of resiliency to post-disaster reconstruction projects.
Modelling the relationship between value management’s activities and critical success factors for sustainable buildings
Authors: Farouk Kineber Ahmed , Othman Idris Bin , Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Chileshe Nicholas 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of value management (VM) critical success factors (CSFs) on the implementation of VM activities in building projects with a view to promoting sustainability of construction industry in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach
The VM CSFs and implementation activities were recognized from earlier studies; questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from relevant stakeholders, and the collected data was subjected to exploratory factor analysis. Consequently, the influence of VM CSFs on VM implementation was generated via partial least square structural equation modelling. In addition, through relative importance ranking analysis, the significance VM CSFs were examined.

Findings
The findings from the proposed model revealed a strong relationship between VM implementation activities and its CSFs; the relationship is at a moderate level with an effect of 22.0%. This indicates that, VM CSFs would be useful to implement VM in the Egyptian building industry.

Research limitations/implications
Although these studies have been confined to Egypt’s VM studies; they may apply to other developing countries that have not carried out these studies. It is therefore vital, in those countries where the exercise has been entirely undertaken, to analyze the various measures to promote the application of the method.

Practical implications
This research would be of benefit to stakeholders in building industries to be aware of VM phases and its CSFs that demand utmost consideration. Also, the identified CSFs are expected to enhance the success and value of building projects by adopting VM.

Originality/value
The novelty of this research work will be a benchmark or board for decision-makers to eliminate the unwanted cost and enhance quality by adopting VM in Egypt’s building projects to achieve their sustainable projects.
Monetary and macroprudential policies in the presence of external shocks: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Lubis Alexander , Alexiou Constantinos , Nellis Joseph G. 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis paper examines the impact of using the reserve requirements, combined with foreign exchange (FX) intervention, as key instruments in an inflation-targeting framework.Design/methodology/approachIn the context of a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) framework and using Bayesian techniques, the authors estimate a model for the Indonesian economy using quarterly data spanning the period 2005Q2–2019Q4.FindingsThe reserve requirement is found to assume a complementary role to that of the interest rate policy and FX intervention when used to stabilise the macroeconomy.Originality/valueThis paper provides a benchmark for other emerging countries that consider adopting the inflation targeting framework and impose an FX intervention as part of their monetary policy.
Mergers by family firms and managerial delegation: a Cournot model and empirical evidence from Spain
Authors: Antelo Manel , Peón David , Martínez-Filgueira Xosé-Manuel 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse a key research hypothesis: Do firms ruled by managers have a greater rationale to implement a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) than (family) firms managed by their owners?Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses an organizational-delegation-quantity oligopoly game to examine the profitability of M&As for firms that strategically delegate production decisions to managers versus family firms with no strategic delegation. This paper delimits the condition for delegation as aimed at increasing merger profitability: non-family CEOs will implement mergers more frequently than family CEOs and more so for inefficient firms because these require fewer synergies. The paper tests the main propositions with data on all M&As by small and medium firms in Spain in 2017 and 2018.FindingsThe greater the average operating margin of a firm, the more likely a merger, which is also more likely between non-family firms. The evidence of higher ex post synergies by firms is not statistically significant due to large variability, suggesting that some family firms did not obtain the expected ex ante synergies. The lesson is that family firms competing in an environment of high marginal costs (e.g. industries in the early stage of the life cycle) seeking to grow through inorganic means such as M&As have an incentive to professionalize management.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper models competition in a Cournot fashion, representative of industries where firms compete in terms of sales growth and increased market share. Other results might hold in industries where firms are oriented to price competition or to service differentiation. The empirical research uses proxies for key variables such as the form of firm governance and unit costs, while hypotheses on ex ante synergies driving merger decisions had to be tested through ex post synergies.Originality/valueM&As by small firms and family firms remain largely unexplored in the literature. This paper contributes with both a theoretical model and empirical research that highlight the implications of strategic delegation contracts for M&A deals.
Digital project driven supply chains: a new paradigm
Authors: Bhattacharya Sanjay , Chatterjee Arup 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to propose an integrated framework for digital project-driven supply chains (PDSC) to address multiple objectives in Architecture, Engineering, Construction and, Operations and Maintenance (AECO) value chain. Additionally, the following sub-objectives were also to be addressed: to assess emerging themes of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in AECO and to identify lacunae in existing project supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach
The research relies on qualitative approaches and mixed methodologies, for building theories based on domain expert interviews and questionnaire surveys administered on industry professionals. Hypothesis testing has been used to analyze data and identify significant 4IR technology applications and evolve a PDSC framework to address multiple objectives in the AECO context.

Findings
4IR technologies can completely revolutionize AECO supply chains and catapult the discipline into a completely new paradigm. The immense computing power unleashed can contribute to enhancing effectiveness in delivery. Technologies such as the Internet of Things, Internet of Services, Cloud Computing, Big Data, Smart Factory, 3 D-Printing, Cyber-Physical Systems or Embedded Systems, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Robotics hold immense future potential. The study proposes an integrated framework to address the multiple objectives of improved project delivery, increased productivity and cost savings, activity monitoring, reporting and agility, better workflow processes and reduction of wastage.

Research limitations/implications
The study offers ideas for complete integration of the AECO supply chain to deliver value to end customers. It, however, relies on opinions, perspectives and recollections of respondents, which is its limitation. Their opinion is expected to be influenced by their domain and project expertise.

Practical implications
In today’s global environment, information and data management is a meaningful intermediary in 4IR. It can be delivered with the aid of the cloud to collect, appraise and evaluate data efficiently; faster machine operations to manufacture quality goods at a lower cost; boost productivity; and competitiveness in AECO companies. Appropriate exchange of information and knowledge transfer will lead to innovation, effective communication in terms of frequency and quality of information; willingness to share information to improve overall performance; commitment to a common goal and mutual support; and continuous innovative effort.

Originality/value
This paper suggests fresh perspectives to integrated digital project-driven supply chains propelled by 4IR technologies, with a purpose to deliver multiple project objectives and end-customer value addition.