bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robustness of DNA Looping Across Multiple Divisions in Individual Bacteria
Authors: Chang Chang , Garcia-Alcala Mayra , Saiz Leonor , Vilar Jose M.G. , Cluzel Philippe 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDNA looping has emerged as a central paradigm of transcriptional regulation as it is shared across many living systems. One core property of DNA looping-based regulation is its ability to greatly enhance repression or activation of genes with only a few copies of transcriptional regulators. However, this property based on small number of proteins raises the question of the robustness of such a mechanism with respect to the large intracellular perturbations taking place during growth and division of the cell. Here we address the issue of sensitivity to variations of intracellular parameters of gene regulation by DNA looping. We use the lac system as a prototype to experimentally identify the key features of the robustness of DNA looping in growing E. coli cells. Surprisingly, we observe time intervals of tight repression spanning across division events, which can sometimes exceed ten generations. Remarkably, the distribution of such long time intervals exhibits memoryless statistics that is mostly insensitive to repressor concentration, cell division events, and the number of distinct loops accessible to the system. By contrast, gene regulation becomes highly sensitive to these perturbations when DNA looping is absent. Using stochastic simulations, we propose that the robustness to division events of memoryless distributions emerges from the competition between fast, multiple re-binding events of repressors and slow initiation rate of the RNA-polymerase. We argue that fast re-binding events are a direct consequence of DNA looping that ensures robust gene repression across a range of intracellular perturbations.Significance statementIt is well-established that certain intracellular regulators can stabilize DNA loops to greatly enhance activation or repression of gene transcription. In vitro but also in vivo ensemble measurements have determined that only a few copies of regulators are in fact needed to stably form DNA loops. In view of such a small number, we address the issue of sensitivity of gene regulation by DNA looping to variations of intracellular parameters in individual growing E. coli bacteria. Surprisingly, we find that DNA looping from the lac system is robust to a range of perturbations including divisions during which cells can maintain tight repression over many generations. We propose a mechanism that governs the observed robustness across a range of intracellular perturbations.
Modeling of mobile channels using TIMS in IT education
Authors: Rakús Martin , Farkaš Peter , Páleník Tomáš 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to directly link information technology (IT) education with real-world phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach
The selected objectives are achieved by modeling line of sight (LOS) and nonline of sight (NLOS) mobile channels using corresponding distributions. Within the described experiments, students verify whether modeled generators generate random variables accordingly to the selected distribution. The results of observations are directly compared with theoretical expectations. The methodology was evaluated by students via questionnaires.

Findings
The results show that the proposed methodology can help graduate or undergraduate students better comprehend lectured material from mobile communications or mathematical statistics.

Originality/value
The hands on experience using the EMONA system make the approach original.
Third-party certification labels for organic food: consumers' purchase choice and willingness-to-pay
Authors: Nie Yong You , Liang Austin Rong-Da , Wang En Ci 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of organic food certification labels of different third-party verification institutions on consumers' choice of organic food in terms of willingness-to-pay (WTP) using cue utilization theory.Design/methodology/approachThe study conducted an experiment in which organic rice and organic certification labels were presented to 360 valid participants.FindingsWith different organic rice labels issued by various third-party verification institutions, including (1) foundations, (2) associations, (3) university certification centers and (4) private businesses, results indicate that consumers had different preferences and WTP for certain labels. The institutions preferred organic food labels issued by non-profit organizations. In addition, consumers showed different WTP as a result of different purchase motivations (e.g. health vs environmental protection).Originality/valueThese results imply that consumers might not have confidence in the organic labels issued by associations and private institutions. Therefore, different types of certification institutions can have significantly different impacts on consumers' WTP. The study further proposes that the extrinsic attributes of food products (i.e. the cues used in making a purchase decision) must be incongruent with the image of third-party certification institutions in order to develop more efficient communication of product information and to encourage consumers to give positive comments regarding organic food.
Resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic: is the hotel and tourism supply chain on the right path?
Authors: Jain Aaditya , Shanker Saket , Barve Akhilesh 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe hotel and tourism industry forms a crucial economic sector for all the economies around the world. However, it suffered the worst hit during the COVID-19 outbreak. Considering the hotel and tourism sector's critical situation, this manuscript aims to emphasise the importance of resilience in the hotel and tourism supply chain (HTSC) and explores the crucial barriers that tend to disturb the inculcation of stability in the hotel and tourism sector. The present research analyses the factors influencing the hotel and tourism sector's resilience and also takes into consideration the various critical success factors (CSFs) needed to build a resilient HTSC.Design/methodology/approachA two-phase research approach has been proposed and used in this study. In the first phase, eight CSFs and sixteen factors influencing the hotel and tourism sector's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified. The basis of the identification of the CSFs and factors was literature and inputs received from experts. In the second phase, the grey-Entropy-EDAS, a qualitative and quantitative analysis, was used to analyse the identified CSFs and factors to determine the priority of concern.FindingsIn this research, the most imperative facet influencing the hotel and tourism sector's resilience has been identified, and the findings will assist hotel and tourism sector in managing and mitigating the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of the results indicates that out of all the critical success factors, supply chain visibility is the most crucial aspect in building HTSC's resilience, whereas economic catastrophe is the most influential factor. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to examine the priority ranking stability.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can be used by the hotel supply chain managers and policymakers to plan for various challenges faced by them as they try to implement resilience-based strategies in their supply chain.Originality/valueThis research is unique as it analyses the general factors hindering the pathway of resilience in the hotel and tourism supply chain. This is also the first kind of study that has used grey-Entropy to analyse the critical success factors and grey-EDAS for analysing the impact of various factors influencing the hotel and tourism sector's resilience.
A novel way of parameter estimation of solar photovoltaic system
Authors: Bisht Rahul , Sikander Afzal 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to achieve accurate maximum power from solar photovoltaic (PV), its five parameters need to be estimated. This study proposes a novel optimization technique for parameter estimation of solar PV.

Design/methodology/approach
To extract optimal parameters of solar PV new optimization technique based on the Jellyfish search optimizer (JSO). The objective function is defined based on two unknown variables and the proposed technique is used to estimate the two unknown variables and the rest three unknown variables are estimated analytically.

Findings
In this paper, JSO is used to estimate the parameters of a single diode PV model. In this study, eight different PV panels are considered. In addition, various performance indices, such as PV characteristics, such as power-voltage and current-voltage curves, relative error (RE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) are determined using the proposed algorithm and existing algorithms. The results for different solar panels have been obtained under varying environmental conditions such as changing temperature and constant irradiance or changing irradiance and constant temperature.

Originality/value
The proposed technique is new and provides better results with minimum RE, RMSE, NMAE, MAE and converges fast, as depicted by the fitness graph presented in this paper.
Cross-country use of participatory research methods in practice to enhance inclusive decision-making
Authors: Krishnan Sneha , Soden Robert , Aguihon Bhen , Liu Rongkun , Khatiwada Pradip 
Published: December 2021

PurposeRethinking participation in disaster research and practice could be facilitated when practitioners are provided with opportunities to pause and reflect deeply on their work outside of the context of their own individual projects and organizational networks. The article draws from an extended collaboration between researchers from multiple countries and disciplines in a working group, which aimed at exploring ethics, participation and power in disaster management.Design/methodology/approachUnder responsible engineering science and technology for disaster risk management, the authors undertook weekly meetings over four months to discuss various facets of adopting participatory methods in their individual projects in Nepal, India, the Philippines and the USA. The article develops a critical reflection of practice using an auto-ethnographical and poly-vocal approach.FindingsThe voluntary, digital, sustained, unstructured, recurring and inter-disciplinary characteristics of the authors' working group created an opportunity for researchers and practitioners from different fields and different national, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to come together and collectively issues related to participation, ethics and power.Research limitations/implicationsIn the paper, the authors do not offer a systematic evaluation of what was a fairly unique process. The paper offers no evaluation of the working group or others like it that focus on questions of replicability, scale and sustainability.Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current work is a unique paper that focuses on situating multi-disciplinary practice within disaster risk management (DRM) and enhancing networks, capacities and expertise for professional education for engineers, physical and social scientists who are involved in research and practice. The polyvocal character of the presentation will help readers access the particular experiences of the participants, which reflect the deeply personal character of the subject matter.
Opportunities of and threats to consumer well-being in the age of Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) technologies
Authors: Boninsegni Melanie Florence , Roy Abhijit , Bakpayev Marat , Kumar Smriti , Peronard Jean-Paul , Reimer Thomas 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) technologies have strong potential to affect consumer well-being, positively or negatively, so the current paper aims to review potential opportunities and threats that these technologies represent for consumers in several core economic sectors: health care, education, financial services, manufacturing and retailing.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a conceptual framework for how IR 4.0 technologies affect consumer well-being in five representative sectors: health care, education, financial services, manufacturing and retailing. The authors argue that the potential transformations of these specific sectors, facilitated by these technologies, may have profound effects on consumer well-being, with urgent public policy implications.

Findings
Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, three-dimensional printing, machine learning and blockchain, provide customers with novel approaches toward decisions regarding health, education, finances and other fundamental parts of their lives. The organizations that provide these services, such as hospitals, universities and banks, actively adopt the innovations offered by IR 4.0. These evolving and disruptive technologies thus are changing reality for consumers and providers.

Originality/value
This paper proposes some novel public policy implications of IR 4.0 technologies for consumer well-being, and it outlines further research directions that can enhance understanding of relevant technologies and the consequences of their use for society.
An analytic network process model for hospital facilities management performance evaluation
Authors: Lai Joseph H.K. , Hou Huiying (Cynthia) , Edwards David J. , Yuen P.L. 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
This study aims to establish a rigorous model that can pragmatically evaluate the facilities management (FM) performance of hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach
Among the applicable performance indicators that were identified from extant literature, a focus group study shortlisted ten key performance indicators (KPIs) in four categories (safety, physical, financial and environmental) and verified their practicality. Using the analytic network process (ANP) method to process the focus group’s responses yielded importance weightings for the KPIs and developed the intended evaluation model. This model was then validated by a case study.

Findings
From the empirical data collected, two types of FM performance data and two scenarios of KPI scores were identified. To process these data and scores, a robust calculation method was devised and then proved useful in obtaining an overall score for holistic hospital FM performance. The case study confirmed the appropriateness and validity of the model developed.

Research limitations/implications
Through illustrating how the ANP method could be applied to develop an FM performance evaluation model, the study contributes knowledge to the multi-criteria decision-making domain. Despite the geographical limitation of the model established (i.e. centered around a group of hospitals investigated in Hong Kong), the study can serve as a reference for developing performance evaluation models for other buildings or infrastructures globally.

Practical implications
The model constitutes a practical tool for evaluating the FM performance of hospitals. Using this model on a regular basis will enable performance benchmarking and hence, continuous improvement of FM services.

Originality/value
The ANP model established is the first of its kind tailored for evaluation of hospital FM performance.
The impact of climate change on food and human security in Nigeria
Authors: Ani Kelechi Johnmary , Anyika Vincent Okwudiba , Mutambara Emmanuel 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to unravel the changing nature of climate change impact on the food and human security sector of the Nigerian State.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is an in-depth case study that involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative data. Statistical data on climate variability in Nigeria obtained from reliable databases were use in the making of analysis. Also, data derived from semi-structure interviews and special reports from International Non-governmental organizations on the subject matter were also used in the study. The findings of the study were based on an in-depth analysis of both primary and secondary sources of data. The secondary data were derived from existing published academic works. The primary data was developed using qualitative data that were collected from January to November, 2018 to 2019 in the different regions of Nigeria. For the South East, primary data was collected from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. In the South-South, primary data was collected from Asaba, Delta State. In the South West, primary data was collected from Barutin, Kwara State. In the North East, primary data was collected from Maiduguri, while in North West, data was collected from Gusau, Zamfara State. In the North Central, data was collected from Markurdi, Benue State. During the data collection, 48 semi-structured Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were carried out in the six selected research areas that represented their geo-political zones. Six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were carried out, one for each of these six selected cities. Each of the Focus Group Discussions comprised between five and seven respondents. The idea of KIIs and FGDs is to allow the respondents to freely express their ideas comprehensively. Again, in other to get varied forms of responses, the respondents are mainly farmers however, a number of NGOs, civil servants, fertilizer sellers, government officials, transporters and aged men and women/retirees. It should be noted that the respondents cut across male and female gender of all ages and ethnic configuration. The respondents were also randomly selected through social networking. To avoid having people of similar The KIIs were three academics; two community leaders; two small scale fish farmers; rice, cassava, fish, livestock and crop farmers. All KIIs ad TIs were transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis.

Findings
The findings revealed that climate change has negatively affected food security in Nigeria. it has also led to continuous armed confrontations over natural resources thereby undermining human security in the country.

Originality/value
This study is 100% original and can be assessed through turn it in evaluation.
Beauty premium or beauty penalty in sharing accommodation situations based on lay theories
Authors: Li Yaoqi , Peng Lixin , Ma Shuang , Zhou Xiaoman 
Published: December 2021

PurposeLimited research has paid attention to the physical attractiveness stereotype in peer-to-peer sharing accommodation settings. Since the high-risk situations in sharing accommodations, this paper aims to exam whether beauty premium is still relevant in peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation.Design/methodology/approachThe mixed method, including 2,506 secondary data analysis and two scenario experiments, is carried out to test the research framework.FindingsThe results show that both beauty premium and beauty penalty exist in the e-commerce context. Excessively high attractiveness and plain looking of hosts are likely to decrease consumers’ booking decision while moderately attractive hosts will stimulate more booking behaviors. Moreover, perceived trustworthiness mediates the effect of physical attractiveness on booking decision. Additionally, similarity between hosts and consumers plays a moderating role in the relationship between physical attractiveness and perceived trustworthiness.Research limitations/implicationsThis study reveals the physical attractiveness stereotype effects in P2P accommodation and carry implications to P2P platforms and hosts for providing moderately attractive profile photos, enhancing trustworthiness and similarity between hosts and consumers. Further studies can investigate the robustness of the findings as well as more possible reasons for its occurrence.Originality/valueThe research provides a clearer understanding of physical attractiveness stereotype effect in peer-to-peer sharing accommodation platforms. Besides, the linkage between physical attractiveness and perceived trustworthiness is dynamic; a high host – consumer similarity weakens the negative impact of both excessively high attractiveness and plain looking on consumers’ perceived trustworthiness.
Optimization of spatial distribution of hospitals for better earthquake recovery using GIS and imperialist competition algorithm (case study: Gorgan, Iran)
Authors: Saraei Mohammad Hossein , Sharifi Ayyoob , Adeli Mohsen 
Published: December 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to optimize the location of hospitals in Gorgan, Iran, to provide desirable services to citizens in the event of an earthquake crisis.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper, due to target, is practical and developmental, due to doing method is descriptive and analytical and due to information gathering method is documental and surveying. In the present study, the capabilities of genetic algorithms and imperialist competition algorithm in MATLAB environment in combination with GIS capabilities have been used. In fact, cases such as route blocking, network analysis and vulnerability raster have been obtained from GIS-based on current status data, and then the output of this information is entered as non-random heuristic information into genetic algorithms and imperialist competition algorithm in MATLAB environment.

Findings
After spatial optimization, the hospital service process has become more favorable. Also, the average cost and transfer vector from hospitals to citizens has decreased significantly. By establishing hospitals in the proposed locations, a larger population of citizens can access relief services in less time.

Originality/value
Spatial optimization of relief centers, including hospitals, is one of the issues that can be of significant importance, especially in the event of an earthquake crisis. The findings of the present study and the originality, efficiency and innovation of the used methods can provide a favorable theoretical framework for the success of earthquake crisis management projects.
Framelet transform and fuzzy clustering-based intelligent technique for speckle noise removal in ultrasound images
Authors: Lendale Praveen Kumar , Nandhitha N.M. 
Published: December 2021

PurposeSpeckle noise removal in ultrasound images is one of the important tasks in biomedical-imaging applications. Many filtering -based despeckling methods are discussed in many existing works. Two-dimensional (2-D) transforms are also used enormously for the reduction of speckle noise in ultrasound medical images. In recent years, many soft computing-based intelligent techniques have been applied to noise removal and segmentation techniques. However, there is a requirement to improve the accuracy of despeckling using hybrid approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe work focuses on double-bank anatomy with framelet transform combined with Gaussian filter (GF) and also consists of a fuzzy kind of clustering approach for despeckling ultrasound medical images. The presented transform efficiently rejects the speckle noise based on the gray scale relative thresholding where the directional filter group (DFB) preserves the edge information.FindingsThe proposed approach is evaluated by different performance indicators such as the mean square error (MSE), peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) speckle suppression index (SSI), mean structural similarity and the edge preservation index (EPI) accordingly. It is found that the proposed methodology is superior in terms of all the above performance indicators.Originality/valueFuzzy kind clustering methods have been proved to be better than the conventional threshold methods for noise dismissal. The algorithm gives a reconcilable development as compared to other modern speckle reduction procedures, as it preserves the geometric features even after the noise dismissal.