bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Minor QTLs mining through the combination of GWAS and machine learning feature selection
Authors: Zhou Wei , Bellis Emily S. , Stubblefield Jonathan , Causey Jason , Qualls Jake , Walker Karl , Huang Xiuzhen 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionMinor QTLs mining has a very important role in genomic selection, pathway analysis and trait development in agricultural and biological research. Since most individual loci contribute little to complex trait variations, it remains a challenge for traditional statistical methods to identify minor QTLs with subtle phenotypic effects. Here we applied a new framework which combined the GWAS analysis and machine learning feature selection to explore new ways for the study of minor QTLs mining.ResultsWe studied the soybean branching trait with the 2,137 accessions from soybean (Glycine max) diversity panel, which was sequenced by 50k SNP chips with 42,080 valid SNPs. First as a baseline study, we conducted the GWAS GAPIT analysis, and we found that only one SNP marker significantly associated with soybean branching was identified. We then combined the GWAS analysis and feature importance analysis with Random Forest score analysis and permutation analysis. Our analysis results showed that there are 36,077 features (SNPs) identified by Random Forest score analysis, and 2,098 features (SNPs) identified by permutation analysis. In total, there are 1,770 features (SNPs) confirmed by both of the Random Forest score analysis and the permutation analysis. Based on our analysis, 328 branching development related genes were identified. A further analysis on GO (gene ontology) term enrichment were applied on these 328 genes. And the gene location and gene expression of these identified genes were provided.ConclusionsWe find that the combined analysis with GWAS and machine learning feature selection shows significant identification power for minor QTLs mining. The presented research results on minor QTLs mining will help understand the biological activities that lie between genotype and phenotype in terms of causal networks of interacting genes. This study will potentially contribute to effective genomic selection in plant breeding and help broaden the way of molecular breeding in plants.
Root and shoot competition lead to contrasting competitive outcomes under water stress: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Foxx Alicia J. , Fort Florian 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundCompetition is a critical process that shapes plant communities and interacts with environmental constraints. Though important to natural communities and agricultural systems, there are surprising knowledge gaps related to mechanisms that belie those processes: the contribution of different plant parts on competitive outcomes and the effect of environmental constraints on these contributions.ObjectiveStudies that partition competition into root-only and shoot-only interactions assess whether plant parts impose different competitive intensities using physical partitions and serve as an important way to fill knowledge gaps. Given predicted drought escalation due to climate change, we focused meta-analytic techniques on the effects of water supply and competitive outcomes.MethodsWe searched Web of Science for peer-reviewed studies and found 2042 results. From which six suitable studies with 92 effect sizes on 10 species were identified to test these effects.ResultsWater availability and competition treatment (root-only, shoot-only, and full plant competition) significantly interact to affect plant growth responses (p < 0.0001). Root-only and full plant competition are more intense in low water availability conditions than shoot-only competition. Shoot-only competition in high-water availability was the most intense showing the opposite pattern. These results also show that the intensity of full competition is similar to root-only competition and that low-water availability intensifies root competition while weakening shoot competition.ConclusionsThese results emphasize the importance of root competition and these patterns of competition may shift in a changing climate, creating further urgency for further filling knowledge gaps to address issues of drought on plant interactions and communities.
Long-term protection of rhesus macaques from Zika virus reinfection
Authors: Moreno Gage K. , Newman Christina M. , Koenig Michelle R. , Mohns Mariel S. , Weiler Andrea M. , Rybarczyk Sierra , Vosler Logan J. , Pomplun Nicholas , Schultz-Darken Nancy , Rakasz Eva , Dudley Dawn M. , Friedrich Thomas C. , O’Connor David H. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBy the end of the 2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak, it is estimated that there were up to 100 million infections in the Americas. In approximately one in seven infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy, ZIKV has been linked to microcephaly, developmental delays, or other congenital disorders collectively known as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in ZIKV infected adults. It is a global health priority to develop a vaccine against ZIKV that elicits long-lasting immunity, however, the durability of immunity to ZIKV is unknown. Previous studies in mice and nonhuman primates have been crucial in vaccine development but have not defined the duration of immunity generated by ZIKV infection. In this study, we rechallenged five rhesus macaques with ZIKV two years after a primary ZIKV infection. We show that primary ZIKV infection generates high titers of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that protect from detectable plasma viremia following rechallenge and persist for at least 27 months. While additional longitudinal studies are necessary with longer time frames, this study establishes a new experimentally defined minimal length of protective ZIKV immunity.Author SummaryZIKV emerged as a vector-borne pathogen capable of causing illness in infected adults and congenital birth defects in infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy. Despite the drop in ZIKV cases since the 2015-16 epidemic, questions concerning the prevalence and longevity of protective immunity have left vulnerable communities fearful that they may become the center of next ZIKV outbreak. While pre-existing herd immunity in regions of past outbreaks may dampen the potential for future outbreaks to occur, we currently do not know the longevity of protective immunity to ZIKV after a person becomes infected. Here, we establish a new experimentally defined minimal length of protective ZIKV immunity. We show that five rhesus macaques initially infected with ZIKV two years prior to rechallenge elicit a durable immune response that protected from detectable plasma viremia. While this work establishes a new minimal length of protective immunity, additional studies are necessary to define the maximum length of protective immunity following ZIKV infection.
Examining the dynamics of SER evolution: an institutional understanding
Authors: Contrafatto Massimo , Costa Ericka , Pesci Caterina 
Published: July 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretically informed analysis of social and environmental reporting (SER) evolution, i.e. how and why the SER evolved over time in a cooperative bank in Italy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a qualitative fieldwork case study conducted from 2011 to 2015. Information and data were collected through several methods including: interviews with managers involved in the SER’s process; analysis of the SER-related documents; analysis of the website; and observations in the field. The analysis of the empirical evidence draws on the institutional logic (IL) perspective, which provides theoretical insights to interpret the role of the contrasting institutional forces in the evolution of SER.FindingsThe empirical analysis unveils three different stages in the evolution of SER: the “birth” whereby a new form of social reporting was initiated; the “development” through which SER was implemented to become a formal component of the organizational management; and the “de-structuring” when the SER was gradually de-composed. This gradual de-structuring, as well as the initiation and implementation processes, was influenced by different institutionally infused rationalities and logics. These institutionally infused rationalities and logics, along with the specific organizational and contextual events, provided the resources, and created the space and opportunity, for the SER-related changes to occur.Originality/valueThe analysis offers theoretical insights to understand “how” (i.e. processes) and “why” (i.e. the conditions under which) SER gradually evolved, i.e. emerged, was constructed and developed during the phases of implementation and post-implementation. Furthermore, it is shown that SER is multifunctional in nature and unveils how and why these multiple functions change over time. Finally, the analysis provides a theoretical contribution by illuminating the role that different and contrasting ILs play in driving the adoption of organizational practices.
A profile of the popular entrepreneur: a value-based approach
Authors: Esqueda H. Sofia , Csoban Eugenia , Felipe Prat Jose 
Published: July 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the personal characteristics and individual values of Venezuelan low-income entrepreneurs, according to the theoretical framework of the Schwartz model.

Design/methodology/approach
A stratified probabilistic sample of 416 individuals was selected from a database of Bangente’s clients, who received microcredits between 1999 and 2016, in the Capital District of Venezuela. The Portrait Value Questionnaire (Schwartz, 2003; Peiró and Palencia, 2009) was applied to measure the values of power, self-direction, stimulation and achievement. The locus of control was measured (Schjoedt and Shaver, 2012) and information was collected on some personal variables. An analysis of hierarchical clusters was conducted to group clients with similar characteristics, as well as a discriminant analysis, to characterize the groups obtained.

Findings
The selected Schwartz values, the locus of control and personal characteristics (such as educational level, age and gender) proved to be efficient in discriminating between four groups or profiles of low-income entrepreneurs: those “Focused on progress through effort,” “Independent and ambitious young people,” those “Focused on power and achievement” and those who were “Indifferent.” The results of the cluster analysis were validated using discriminant analysis, which identified the variables with the greatest impact for the characterization of each group. The coefficients of the discriminant functions would allow the classification of a new individual requesting a microcredit into one of the groups obtained. This is a proposal to complement the selection process mechanisms currently used to decide whether or not to grant loans, which must be validated in conclusive studies.

Research limitations/implications
The results cannot be generalized until the study is replicated in representative samples in other entities of the microfinance sector.

Originality/value
The main contribution of this work is the integration of individual values in the profile description of low-income entrepreneurs and in the use of statistical strategies such as cluster analysis and discriminant function. The nature of the study is exploratory: the development of this line of research can guide future decisions about which clients (according to their values, personal characteristics and locus of control) could receive their financial support. When considering these non-traditional variables in the banking context, the aim is to enrich our knowledge about low-income entrepreneurs.
Integration of oil with macroeconomic indicators and policy challenges in regard to Oman
Authors: M. Aravind , Nayar Jayaram 
Published: July 2019

PurposeThe Oman economy is dominated by production and export of petroleum products and an overdependence on oil revenue, which may have contributed to the continuance of the “resource curse” phenomenon. The purpose of this research is to examine the co-integration of oil with macroeconomic indicators of Oman and of suggesting some policy reform measures to trim down overdependence on oil.Design/methodology/approachThe authors culled out data from the annual reports published by the Central Bank of Oman from 1975 to 2016. Considering oil price and oil export volume as regressors, the long-term integration with other macroeconomic indicators was examined by using the bound test. Further, auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model was also derived to check the impact of these cross-sectional relations.FindingsOil price is observed to have a strong long-term significant relation with all the macroeconomic variables used in this study. However, the volumes of oil exports do not appear to have significant influence on GDP and consumption but do naturally sway other variables. This indicates that less elasticity of consumption to the flow of macro income, because the consumption in the Omani economy is driven by perceived future income. Oil export revenue is not seems to be much impacting on the real sector as the deficits are funded by the government through compensatory spending. Oil prices and oil exports have exhibited a strong long-term integration with variables such as gross domestic savings (GDS), credit to government (C2G), credit to private (C2P), demand deposits (DD) and time deposits (TD). This hints that oil boom does constitute the key source of funding of the financial sector of Oman.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers a generalized submission to support the real sector of Oman to lead out of a resource curse through diversification. The study however does not provide industrial groupings to assess the impact of fluctuations in oil prices.Originality/valueThis research has confirmed the existence of “resource movement” effect and “spending effect” in Oman economy. The nation needs to take radical measures to come out of this phenomenon. For addressing this we have suggested the modified version of Shumpeterian model of creative destruction. In this model we call for demolishing the oil dependent structure with a diversification structure. The new move can bring more positive effect on real and financial sectors of the economy.
The influence of policy makers over Lean implementations in healthcare
Authors: Gadolin Christian 
Published: July 2019

Purpose
It is often argued that Lean enables the challenges of contemporary healthcare delivery to be tackled in relation to consistently high-quality care, while utilizing the full potential of available resources. Nevertheless, system-wide implementations of Lean are notoriously difficult and the desired results are often not achieved. Policy makers play a pivotal role in enabling healthcare organizations to enact more precise strategies and frameworks through steering professionals toward both adopting guidelines and becoming more comfortable with Lean as an improvement technique. However, the difficulties in achieving system-wide implementations of Lean indicate their shortcomings in this respect. The purpose of this paper is to outline how these shortcomings may be manifested empirically.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative content analysis of Swedish counties’ annual reports with regard to how the implementation of Lean is presented and promoted.

Findings
The study shows that policy makers have vague and divergent perceptions of what Lean is, and that they often reduce Lean to a means of achieving cost reductions and savings, while relying on the education of managers as the primary factor to ensure implementation.

Originality/value
In order for policy makers to facilitate system-wide implementations of Lean, this study indicates that they need to rectify their simplistic perception of Lean while elaborating on why and how Lean should be implemented in healthcare.
Does shared leadership fosters taking charge behaviors? A post-heroic leadership perspective in the public sector higher educational institutes
Authors: Bilal Ahmad Raza , Fatima Tehreem , Imran Muhammad Kashif 
Published: July 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to advance the theoretical perspective of complexity leadership paradigm to introduce shared leadership style as a precursor of taking charge behavior in public sector higher educational institutions (HEIs) of Pakistan. Moreover, this study unveils the underlying mechanisms of the climate of initiative and psychological safety for clarifying the link of shared leadership and taking charge.

Design/methodology/approach
The multi-source and multi-wave data were analyzed by employing double mediation analysis (PROCESS Model 4); using 282 valid responses obtained from a proportionate stratified sample of faculty members working in public sector HEIs of Pakistan.

Findings
The result indicates that shared leadership is a suitable style for governing the public sector HEIs and it fosters taking charge behavior in teaching faculty. Additionally, shared leadership creates climates that support initiatives and are psychologically safe that set stage for taking charge behaviors in teaching faculty of public sector HEIs of Pakistan.

Originality/value
This research has filled the gap of focusing on more collaborative leadership styles instead of traditional vertical leadership practices in public sector HEIs of Pakistan. Theoretically, this study suggests new insights into the contextual antecedents and mediating mechanisms of taking charge behaviors.
Role-related stress and perceptions of the keyworker role among professionals supporting adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Moriarty John , Regan Daniel , Honan Rita 
Published: July 2019

PurposeIndividuals with intellectual disabilities who are users of day and residential services will often be assigned at least one “keyworker”, a staff member who is expressly responsive to their needs and responsible for co-ordinating services with them. Keyworkers are often given their role because it is a norm in their organisation. However, given the emotionally intensive workload involved in co-ordinating care for a single individual, little attention is given to the potential stress burden of being a keyworker. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey study was conducted of professionals’ perceptions of the keyworker role and of levels of workplace well-being. The authors first examine differences between keyworkers and their colleagues along measures of role perception and well-being. The authors then present a new measure of keyworkers’ duties and boundaries (Key-DAB) capturing perceptions of the keyworker role by keyworkers and other staff. The measure was administered to a sample of staff (n=69) from an Irish provider of services for adults with intellectual disabilities. Alongside the new scale, the authors administered established measures of workplace well-being and locus of control (LoC) to examine construct validity and assess if perception of keyworking could be related to stress.FindingsSome differences were detected between keyworkers and non-keyworkers: keyworkers had more internally oriented LoC and experienced lower work pressure than non-keyworking colleagues. The Key-DAB measure possessed favourable psychometric properties, including high internal reliability. External validity was also shown as keyworkers’ scale scores were related to LoC and to role demands. Results suggested: that keyworkers who are clear about what is expected of the keyworker are more satisfied with their role and perceive keyworking as beneficial to them; that role ambiguity and role conflict can undo these potential benefits and render the keyworker’s role a potentially hazardous one.Originality/valueThe authors recommend that employers provide clear guidelines and explicit training to keyworkers and suggest that the measures may be effective tools for ongoing assessment of keyworkers’ role clarity.
Factors affecting the role of local councils in local policy-making
Authors: Abdullah Rushdi Aziz 
Published: July 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the relevance and impact of a number of factors on the role of local councils in local policy-making in Erbil province/Iraq.

Design/methodology/approach
This research theoretically based on literature review and adopted an analytical approach to clarify the related concepts through the policy cycle approach. On the empirical side, the research adopted a descriptive analysis for research questions and used statistical analysis to test the research hypotheses.

Findings
The results of the study reveal that variables of the local policy-making process, political factors, interaction patterns and the role of other actors have relevance in the role of local councils. In addition, the study concludes that technical feasibility, budgetary considerations, public opinion, coalition building, civil society, executive bodies, administrative organs and non-governmental organizations have a positive effect on the role of local councils in local policy-making in Erbil province, while interest groups have a negative effect on the role of local councils in local policy-making in Erbil province.

Practical implications
The findings and recommendations of this research can practically use by the local councils to achieve effective local policy, particularly in Erbil province/Iraq.

Originality/value
This research has interesting implications in theory and practice, as it provides several contributions to the literature, as well as the practical contribution for local councils in the local policy-making process.
The fabrication of NiTi shape memory alloy by selective laser melting: a review
Authors: Chen Xizhang , Liu Kun , Guo Wei , Gangil Namrata , Siddiquee Arshad Noor , Konovalov Sergey 
Published: July 2019

Purpose
In recent years, the use of high performing materials, and application of additive manufacturing technology for industrial production has witnessed a steady rise and its expanse is only to increase in the future. “Selective laser melting (SLM) technique” for an exotic nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA) is expected to a great facilitator to research in this area. The purpose of this paper is to put forth the research direction of NiTi shape memory alloy by selective laser melting.

Design/methodology/approach
This review also summaries and skims out the information on process equipment, adopted methodologies/strategies, effects of process parameters on important responses e.g. microstructure and comprehensive functional and mechanical properties of SLM-NiTi. In particular, the functional characteristics (i.e. shape memory effects and super-elasticity behavior), process analysis and application status are discussed.

Findings
Current progresses and challenges in fabricating NiTi-SMA of SLM technology are presented.

Practical implications
This review is a useful tool for professional and researchers with an interest in the field of SLM of NiTi-SMA.

Originality/value
This review provides a comprehensive review of the publications related to the SLM techniques of NiTi-SMA while highlighting current challenges and methods of solving them.