bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DNA Release from Complex Plant Tissue using Focused Ultrasound Extraction (FUSE)
Authors: Stettinius Alexia , Holmes Hal , Zhang Qian , Mehochko Isabelle , Winters Misa , Hutchison Ruby , Maxwell Adam , Holliday Jason , Vlaisavljevich Eli 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSample preparation in genomics is a critical step that is often overlooked in molecular workflows and impacts the success of downstream genetic applications. This study explores the use of a recently developed focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) technique to enable the rapid release of DNA from plant tissues for genetic analysis. FUSE generates a dense acoustic cavitation bubble cloud that pulverizes targeted tissue into acellular debris. This technique was applied to leaf samples of American chestnut (Castanea dentata), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), and chestnut oak (Quercus montana). We observed that FUSE can extract high quantities of DNA in 9-15 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes required for conventional DNA extraction. FUSE extracted DNA quantities of 24.33 ± 6.51 ng/mg and 35.32 ± 9.21 ng/mg from American chestnut and red maple, respectively, while conventional methods yielded 6.22 ± 0.87 ng/mg and 11.51 ± 1.95 ng/mg, respectively. The quality of the DNA released by FUSE allowed for successful amplification and next-generation sequencing. These results indicate that FUSE can improve DNA extraction efficiency for leaf tissues. Continued development of this technology aims to adapt to field-deployable systems to increase the cataloging of genetic biodiversity, particularly in low-resource biodiversity hotspots.
Meta-analysis of RNA Sequencing Data of Arabidopsis and Rice under Hypoxia
Authors: Tamura Keita , Bono Hidemasa 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHypoxia is an abiotic stress in plants. Flooding resulting from climate change is a major crop threat that increases the risk of hypoxic stress. The molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia in plants have been elucidated in recent years, but new genes related to this stress remain to be discovered. Thus, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) under hypoxia. We collected 29 (Arabidopsis) and 26 (rice) pairs of RNA-Seq data involving hypoxic (including submergence) and normoxic (control) treatments and extracted the genes that were commonly upregulated or downregulated in the majority of the experiments. The meta-analysis revealed 40 and 19 commonly upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively, in the two species. Several WRKY transcription factors and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase were commonly upregulated, but their involvement in hypoxia remains unclear. Our meta-analysis identified candidate genes for novel molecular mechanisms in plants under hypoxia.
An evolution of virtual training: implications for talent development in the post-pandemic period
Authors: Ganiyu Idris Olayiwola , Atiku Sulaiman Olusegun , Van der Byl Kim 
Published: June 2022

Purpose
This study examines the effectiveness of virtual training programs in times of crisis at a public institution in South Africa for an enhancement of talent development via virtual training in the post-pandemic period.

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a survey research design following a quantitative approach for data collection and analysis procedure. The respondents (employees receiving virtual training and the facilitators providing the training in times of crisis) were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was designed and administered to 119 respondents in the participating public institution in South Africa. The data were analyzed using a variance-based structural equation modeling via SmartPLS, version 3.3.3.

Findings
The results showcased the impact of information technology and virtual training platform on the effectiveness of virtual training programs during the pandemic in South Africa.

Originality
There is a dearth of literature on the evolution and effectiveness of virtual training in times of crisis in South Africa. The outcomes of this study contribute to the extant literature on talent development, virtual training, and HR effectiveness in the digital age.
Towards expediting the implementation of sustainable and successful lean paradigm for construction projects: a hybrid of DEMATEL and SNA approach
Authors: Dehdasht Gholamreza , Ferwati M. Salim , Mohandes Saeed Reza , El-Sabek Luai , Edwards David John 
Published: June 2022

PurposeProper identification of the key motivating factors (or key drivers) is needed to ensure successful adaption and implementation of the lean concept for construction projects. However, there lacks a study investigating the complex interrelationships existing among the key drivers contributing to Sustainable and Successful Lean Construction (SSLC) implementation for such projects. To address this shortcoming, this study aims to uncover the main critical key drivers towards the implementation of SSLC for the very first time by capturing the complexity of this vexing problem.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a new hybrid framework is developed through the integration of Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Social Network Analysis (SNA). The novel developed framework is called the DSNA approach.FindingsConsidering the case of Malaysian construction projects, the developed DSNA gives the following major outcomes: (1) Most important critical key drivers are seen to be optimization, continuous improvement, and, improve company culture, and (2) For SSLC adoption, the critical drivers impacting other key drivers are seen to be “improve teamwork”, “reduce leadership conflict”, and “improve company culture”, thereby demanding more attention.Practical implicationsThe outcomes of this study give insight for decisions and policymakers in the construction industry regarding critical key drivers and their complex interrelationships towards the further adoption of SSLC, promoting the sustainability paradigm within the respective sector.Originality/valueThis paper not only presents a list of critical drivers and the corresponding association among them towards SSLC adoption, but also proposes DSNA as a novel approach for uncovering the complex interrelationship existing in an intricate problem, improving the intricate process of decision-making.
Capital structure in family firms: the role of innovation activity and institutional investors
Authors: Harasheh Murad , Capocchi Alessandro , Amaduzzi Andrea 
Published: June 2022

PurposeThere is still an ongoing debate on the value relevance of capital structure and its determinants. Recently the issue has been explored in family firms after being explored in mature firms. This paper investigates the role of institutional investors and the firm's innovation activity in influencing the firm's decision and ability to acquire debt capital.Design/methodology/approachA large sample of 700 privately-held family firms in Italy from 2010 to 2019. Two analysis techniques are used: panel analysis and path analysis. The value of debt and the debt ratio are used as leverage measures. The value of patent (as a proxy for innovation) and institutional investor are the explanatory variables.FindingsThe results show that institutional investors have no relationship with financial leverage measures except when controlling for an interaction variable (Institutional investors × Lombardy region). The patent value is positively correlated with debt; however, the ratio patent-to-asset is negatively related to financial leverage indicating higher risk exposure. The nonlinearity test demonstrates a turning point when the relationship between patent value and debt inverts.Practical implicationsFirms should monitor their innovation activity since excessive innovation increases risk exposure and affects financing opportunities and value. The involvement of institutional investors does not always enhance value.Originality/valueExisting literature focuses separately on family firm innovations and financial leverage as outcome variables, emphasizing the role of institutional investors in both fields by adopting agency theory and socioemotional wealth framework. In this study, the authors go further by merging both relationships, investigating the dynamics of the institutional-family firm innovation relationship in influencing the firm's capital structure. The authors contribute to the ongoing debate by providing original findings on capital structure, governance and innovation, supported by rigorous methods to enhance family firms' decision-making.
Learning from digital adaptations to the pandemic: enhancing work-based higher education
Authors: Lester Stan , Crawford–Lee Mandy 
Published: June 2022

PurposeThis paper examines how the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated digital developments in apprenticeship and work-based learning in higher education (HE), focusing on practices that have ongoing value.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was carried out on the theme of HE work-based and work-integrated learning during the pandemic, followed by minimally-structured interviews with UK university staff responsible for apprenticeship and other work-based programmes.FindingsThe pandemic has accelerated adoption of online and digital methods to support work-based and apprenticeship learning. There has been progress from emergency measures to more pedagogically consistent ones. A blended approach is becoming common, with the learning and logistical benefits from digital methods ensuring their continuing use. Progress is uneven and there is still a need for improved digital pedagogy and better integration of theoretical and practical learning.Practical implicationsMore attention is needed to digital pedagogy and to effective use of online methods to support work-based learning with corresponding implications for staff development. There are institutional implications in terms of ensuring that systems and structures support what is, particularly for work-based learners, likely to be a permanent move towards digital, blended and online learning.Originality/valueThere has been limited research on the impact of the pandemic on work-based learning, with most of the literature focusing on placements and projects. This paper presents findings at a point when universities are considering how technologically-supported methods will be employed on a more permanent basis.
Multi-word terms selection for information retrieval
Authors: Bechikh Ali Chedi , Haddad Hatem , Slimani Yahya 
Published: June 2022

PurposeA number of approaches and algorithms have been proposed over the years as a basis for automatic indexing. Many of these approaches suffer from precision inefficiency at low recall. The choice of indexing units has a great impact on search system effectiveness. The authors dive beyond simple terms indexing to propose a framework for multi-word terms (MWT) filtering and indexing.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors rely on ranking MWT to filter them, keeping the most effective ones for the indexing process. The proposed model is based on filtering MWT according to their ability to capture the document topic and distinguish between different documents from the same collection. The authors rely on the hypothesis that the best MWT are those that achieve the greatest association degree. The experiments are carried out with English and French languages data sets.FindingsThe results indicate that this approach achieved precision enhancements at low recall, and it performed better than more advanced models based on terms dependencies.Originality/valueUsing and testing different association measures to select MWT that best describe the documents to enhance the precision in the first retrieved documents.
Distinctions in environmental attitudes between soccer and American football fans
Authors: Kellison Timothy , Cianfrone Beth A. 
Published: June 2022

PurposeIn this study, the authors examine consumer attitudes toward a professional soccer club’s proenvironmental initiatives and evaluate whether key themes are consistent with those found in previous research of fans in different sporting contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed empirical material provided by 147 highly identified supporters of a Major League Soccer team. Using template analysis, the authors compared codes, categories and themes with those previously identified in a reference group of National Football League (NFL) fans.FindingsTwenty-three preliminary codes, nine categories and four themes were established by the researchers. Three themes – Considering Environmental Action, Business Insights and Impacting the Fan Experience – were all consistent with the NFL reference group. A fourth theme, Public Visibility, focused on the possibility that the club’s proenvironmental initiatives could provide a competitive advantage over rival cities and positively influence local programming and behaviors.Originality/valueThe results of this study support the notion that fan characteristics may differ across various demographic and structural contexts and fans’ recognition that a club could leverage its community standing to promote proenvironmental action.
Business analysts' contributions to the dynamic capabilities of agile software development teams
Authors: Ndlela Mandlakazi , Tanner Maureen 
Published: June 2022

PurposeLiterature reveals ongoing debates around the role of business analysts in agile software development (ASD) teams. This can be attributed, in part, to a knowledge gap concerning how business analysts contribute to overall team capabilities, particularly those which are essential in enabling teams to respond to fast-paced environmental changes. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by investigating how business analysts (BAs) contribute to the dynamic capabilities of ASD teams.Design/methodology/approachThrough a deductive approach, this study adapted and applied a research model based on the team dynamic capabilities (DC) theory to explore the contributions of BAs in agile teams. The study was executed using a qualitative, single case study research strategy directed at an ASD team in the financial services industry. Moreover, data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews; a focus group; non-participant observation and physical artefacts review. The thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data.FindingsThe study contributes to teams DC theory through four theoretical propositions centred on the role of BAs. The proposition highlights how BAs relationship management, tacit knowledge sharing, task mental models and transactive memory are key contributors of ASD teams' DC. The study also found that BAs contribute to ASD teams' ability to embrace agile principles 2, 4, 6 and 12. This study can inform the design of capacity development programmes for individual team members and BAs and thus help managers curate teams that will best promote DC.Practical implicationsThis study can inform the design of capacity development programmes for individual team members and BAs and thus help managers curate teams that will best promote DC.Originality/valueThis study builds on the relatively few studies which focus on DC within software development (SD) teams and ASD project teams. Moreover, the study explores how an individual (i.e. a BA) can contribute to the DC of a team.
Navigating a global pandemic crisis through marketing agility: evidence from Italian B2B firms
Authors: Moi Ludovica , Cabiddu Francesca 
Published: June 2022

Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of marketing agility on the business-to-business (B2B) firms’ capacity to address unexpected events such as the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, examining how they reshape their strategies during the different stages of a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach
This study follows a theory-building approach and performs an in-depth exploratory multiple-case study in the context of 16 Italian firms operating in the B2B sector.

Findings
The study develops an event-sequence-based framework and illustrates how agile marketing strategies empower B2B firms to cope with a crisis across three crucial moments: the event phase, the response management phase and the investigation phase.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to a better understanding of marketing agility in the context of crisis management by showing the agile marketing strategies that B2B firms adopt during the different stages of a crisis. This work provides a useful foundation to assist managers in coping with market uncertainty. It suggests practical guidelines to make more informed strategic and operational marketing decisions, increasing a firm’s capacity to act in today’s fast-moving, complex times.
Regulations and banking crisis: lessons from the African context
Authors: Ofori-Sasu Daniel , Agbloyor Elikplimi Komla , Kuttu Saint , Abor Joshua Yindenaba 
Published: June 2022

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the coordinated impact of regulations on the predicted probability of a banking crisis in Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe study used the dynamic panel instrumental variable probit regression model of 52 African economies over the period 2006 to 2018.FindingsThe authors observe that banking crisis is persistent for few years but dissipates in the long run. The results show that board mechanism and ownership control are important in reducing the likelihood of banking crisis. The authors found a negative impact of regulatory capital and monetary policy on the predicted probability of a banking crisis while regulatory quality was not strong in reducing the likelihood of banking crisis. There was also evidence to support that regulatory capital and monetary policy augment the negative impact of board mechanism and ownership control on the predicted probability of a banking crisis.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of the study is that it did not explore all measures of regulatory framework and how they impact banking crisis. However, it has an advantage of using alternative measures of regulations in a banking crisis probability model. Therefore, future studies should include other macro-prudential regulations, regulatory environments and supervision and observe how they are coordinated to reduce possible crisis in a robust methodological framework.Practical implicationsThe research has policy implications for monetary authorities and policymakers to set coordinated regulations through internal banking mechanisms that are relevant in sustaining banking system stability goals. Countries in Africa should strengthen their quality of regulation in such a way that it can play a strong and complementary role to a robust internal control mechanisms, so as to maintain stability in the banking system. In general, regulators and policymakers should design greater coordination of external and internal regulations through a single regulatory framework and a common resolution mechanism that make the banking system more robust in curbing possible crisis.Social implicationsThe policy implication of the study is to build banking confidence in the society.Originality/valueThis study analyses the interactions of different components of internal and external regulatory framework in helping to reduce the probability of a banking crisis in Africa.
Market orientation and business performance: the mediating role of total quality management and service innovation among Moslem fashion macro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Fikri Amar Reza , Ratnasari Ririn Tri , Ahmi Aidi , Kirana Kusuma Chandra 
Published: June 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to see the effect of market orientation (MO) on business performance with two intervening variables, namely, service innovation and total quality management (TQM) with Muslim fashion micro, small, and medium enterprises as the object of research.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quantitative approach with structural equation modelling-partial least square analysis techniques. Date were collected using an online questionnaire that got 100 respondents. The respondents of this research are the owner, manager, human resource development, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of a business that is engaged in Muslim fashion.

Findings
This study found that MO has an effect on business performance either directly or through mediating variables, namely, service innovation and TQM.

Research limitations/implications
This study only focuses on the Muslim fashion business and does not pay attention to businesses operating in other sectors.

Practical implications
The results of the study highlight the need for Muslim fashion business owners/managers to pay more attention to customer feedback. This is by adopting modern ways of communicating, providing training for employees and starting to join the Muslim fashion business community. These things need to be highlighted because in the items measured, they get the smallest mean among other items that are in the same variable.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to find out the effect of MO on business performance using mediating variables, namely, service innovation and TQM.
The pollution-routing problem with one general period of congestion
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Chen Yuwen , Qin Jin 
Published: June 2022

Purpose
This paper aims to address a pollution-routing problem with one general period of congestion (PRP-1GPC), where the start and finish times of this period can be set freely.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, three sets of decision variables are optimized, namely, travel speeds before and after congestion and departure times on given routes, aiming to minimize total cost including green-house gas emissions, fuel consumption and driver wages. A two-phase algorithm is introduced to solve this problem. First, an adaptive large neighborhood search heuristic is used where new removal and insertion operators are developed. Second, an analysis of optimal speed before congestion is presented, and a tailored speed-and-departure-time optimization algorithm considering congestion is proposed by obtaining the best node to be served first over the congested period.

Findings
The results show that the newly developed operator of congested service-time insertion with noise is generally used more than other insertion operators. Besides, compared to the baseline methods, the proposed algorithm equipped with the new operators provides better solutions in a short time both in PRP-1GPC instances and time-dependent pollution-routing problem instances.

Originality/value
This paper considers a more general situation of the pollution-routing problem that allows drivers to depart before the congestion. The PRP-1GPC is better solved by the proposed algorithm, which adds operators specifically designed from the new perspective of the traveling distance, traveling time and service time during the congestion period.