bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grant reviewer perceptions of the quality and effectiveness of panel discussion
Authors: Gallo Stephen A. , Schmaling Karen B. , Thompson Lisa A. , Glisson Scott R.
Published: March 2019

Background

Funding agencies have long used panel discussion in the peer review of research grant proposals as a way to utilize a set of expertise and perspectives in making funding decisions. Little research has examined the quality of panel discussions and how effectively they are facilitated.

Methods

Here we present a mixed-method analysis of data from a survey of reviewers focused on their perceptions of the quality and facilitation of panel discussion from their last peer review experience.

Results

Reviewers indicated that panel discussions were viewed favorably in terms of participation, clarifying differing opinions, informing unassigned reviewers, and chair facilitation. However, some reviewers mentioned issues with panel discussions, including an uneven focus, limited participation from unassigned reviewers, and short discussion times. Most reviewers felt the discussions affected the review outcome, helped in choosing the best science, and were generally fair and balanced. However, those who felt the discussion did not affect the outcome were also more likely to evaluate panel communication negatively, and several reviewers mentioned potential sources of bias related to the discussion. While respondents strongly acknowledged the importance of the chair in ensuring appropriate facilitation of the discussion to influence scoring and to limit the influence of potential sources of bias from the discussion on scoring, nearly a third of respondents did not find the chair of their most recent panel to have performed these roles effectively.

Conclusions

It is likely that improving chair training in the management of discussion as well as creating review procedures that are informed by the science of leadership and team communication would improve review processes and proposal review reliability.
A salt-induced kinase (SIK) is required for the metabolic regulation of sleep
Authors: Grubbs Jeremy J. , Lopes Lindsey E. , der Linden Alexander M. van , Raizen David M.
Published: March 2019

Many lines of evidence point to links between sleep regulation and energy homeostasis, but mechanisms underlying these connections are unknown. DuringC. eleganssleep, energetic stores are allocated to non-neural tasks with a resultant drop in the overall fat stores and energy charge. Mutants lacking KIN-29, theC. eleganshomolog of a mammalian Salt-Inducible Kinase (SIK) that signals sleep pressure, have low ATP levels despite high fat stores, indicating a defective response to cellular energy deficits. Liberating energy stores corrects adiposity and sleep defects ofkin-29mutants.kin-29sleep and energy homeostasis roles map to a small number of sensory neurons that act upstream of fat regulation as well as of central sleep-controlling neurons, suggesting hierarchical somatic/neural interactions regulating sleep and energy homeostasis. Genetic interaction betweenkin-29and the histone deacetylasehda-4coupled with subcellular localization studies indicate that KIN-29 acts in the nucleus to regulate sleep. We propose that KIN-29/SIK acts in nuclei of sensory neuroendocrine cells to transduce low cellular energy charge into the mobilization of energy stores, which in turn promotes sleep.

Highlights

Sleep is associated with fat mobilization and low ATP levels

Metabolic regulation of sleep requires the salt-induced kinase (SIK) homolog KIN-29

KIN-29 acts in sensory neurons upstream of sleep-promoting neurons

Nuclear localization of KIN-29 is required for the metabolic regulation of sleep

A type 2 histone deacetylase acts down stream of KIN-29 in the regulation of sleep.

Liberation of energy from fat-storage cells promotes sleep.

Beta-oxidation promotes sleep.
ERK1/2 signalling dynamics promote neural differentiation by regulating the polycomb repressive complex
Authors: Semprich Claudia I. , Metzis Vicki , Patel Harshil , Briscoe James , Storey Kate G.
Published: March 2019

Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) is a neural inducer in many vertebrate embryos, but how it regulates chromatin organization to coordinate the activation of neural genes is unclear. Moreover, for differentiation to progress FGF signalling has to decline. Why this signalling dynamic is required has not been determined. Here we show that dephosphorylation of the FGF effector kinase ERK1/2 rapidly increases chromatin accessibility at neural genes in mouse embryos and, using ATAC-seq in human embryonic stem cell derived spinal cord precursors, we demonstrate that this occurs across hundreds of neural genes. Importantly, while Erk1/2 inhibition induces precocious neural gene transcription, this step involves dissociation of the polycomb repressive complex from gene loci and takes places independently of subsequent loss of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 and transcriptional onset. We find that loss of ERK1/2 activity but not its occupancy at neural genes is critical for this mechanism. Moreover, transient ERK1/2 inhibition is sufficient for polycomb protein dissociation and this is not reversed on resumption of ERK1/2 signalling. These data indicate that ERK1/2 signalling maintains polycomb repressive complexes at neural genes, that its decline coordinates their increased accessibility and that this is a directional molecular mechanism, which initiates the process of neural commitment. Furthermore, as the polycomb repressive complexes repress but also ready genes for transcription, these findings suggest that ERK1/2 promotion of these complexes is a rite of passage for subsequent differentiation.
Caudate nucleus-dependent navigation strategies are associated with increased risk-taking and set-shifting behavior
Authors: Aumont Étienne , Blanchette Caroll-Ann , Bohbot Veronique D. , West Greg L.
Published: March 2019

When people navigate, they use strategies dependent on one of two memory systems. The hippocampus-based spatial strategy consists of using multiple landmarks to create a cognitive map of the environment. In contrast, the caudate nucleus-based response strategy is based on the memorization of a series of turns. Importantly, response learners display more gray matter and functional activity in the caudate nucleus and less gray matter in the hippocampus. In parallel, the caudate nucleus is involved in decision-making by mediating attention toward rewards and in set-shifting by mediating preparatory actions. The present study, therefore, examined the link between navigational strategy use, that are associated with gray matter differences in the caudate nucleus and hippocampus, and decision-making and set-shifting performance. Fifty-three participants completed the 4 on 8 virtual maze, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 (WCST-64), and a task-switching test. The results revealed that people who use response strategies displayed increased risk-taking behavior in the IGT compared to the people using hippocampus-dependent spatial strategies. Response strategy was also associated with enhanced set-shifting performance in the WCST-64 and task-switching test. These results confirm that risk-taking and set-shifting behavior, that are differentially impacted by the caudate nucleus and hippocampus memory systems, can be predicted by navigational strategy.
Exploring the impact of training, job tenure, and education-job and skills-job matches on employee turnover intention
Authors: Ju Boreum , Li Jessica
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how training, job tenure and education-job and skills-job matches impact employees’ turnover intention by using a representative national sample from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study in which 1,531 individuals were followed from 2003 to 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

A hierarchical-regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among training, job tenure, education-job match, skills-job match and turnover intention. This analysis focused on 12 year-to-year time points from 2003 to 2014 (one for each year), and the data were measured for each individual.

Findings

The results from the hierarchical-regression analysis supported the hypotheses that on-the-job training, off-the-job training, distance training, job tenure and education-job and skills-job matches are significantly associated with turnover intention.

Originality/value

The findings of this study, based on human capital theory and firm-specific human capital theory, contribute to an understanding of how training and the education-job and skills-job matches may impact turnover intention in a non-Western context. It also provides a longitudinal perspective of the impact of training on employee turnover intention to inform human resource development professionals when planning employee training.
Human resource development (HRD) practices and banking industry effectiveness
Authors: Otoo Frank Nana Kweku
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of employee competencies in the relationship between human resource development (HRD) practices and organizational effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated research model was developed by combining principal factors from existing literature. Data were collected through questionnaire from 550 employees of the selected banks. The validity of the model and hypotheses was tested using structural equation modeling. The reliability and validity of the dimensions are established through confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that some HRD practices impact organizational effectiveness through their influence on employee competencies. The study further revealed that employee competencies mediate the relationship between HRD practices and organizational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The research was undertaken in the banking industry and the analysis based on cross-sectional data which cannot be generalized across a broader range of sectors.

Practical implications

The findings of the study will help policymakers and management of banks in espousing suitable and well-articulated HRD practices to harness the competencies of employees and inordinately enhance organizational effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature by empirically adducing evidence that employee competencies mediated the relationship between HRD practices and organizational effectiveness of the banking industry in Ghana.
Exploring women-only training program for gender equality and women’s continuous professional development in the workplace
Authors: Chuang Szufang
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Women make up about half of the overall workforce, but they are still underrepresented in higher pay, leadership and senior-level positions. Literature indicated genders are different in information processing, values, learning styles, behaviors and leadership styles. A customized women-only training program (WOTP) has been implemented cross-disciplinary; yet, the literature has limited discussions on the principle and outcome of WOTP. The purpose of this paper is to explore the purpose, application, challenges, advantages and disadvantages of WOTP.

Design/methodology/approach

Social learning theory was applied to investigate the fundamental principle of WOTP.

Findings

The implication of WOTP to human resource development (HRD) discipline was discussed, and three propositions were created in this paper.

Originality/value

This paper is expected to contribute to adult education and HRD research and practices on promoting gender equality in the workplace and to provoke dialogue about a training strategy – WOTP.
Case study: establishing a social mobility pipeline to degree apprenticeships
Authors: McKnight Stella , Collins Sarah-Louise , Way David , Iannotti Pam
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The government’s ambition is to have three million more apprentices by 2020. The newness of degree apprenticeships and insufficient data make it difficult to assess their relative importance in boosting the UK economy, meeting higher skills needs of employers, closing educational attainment gaps, increasing social mobility and supporting under-represented groups into professional employment. The purpose of this paper, led by the University of Winchester and delivered by a new collaboration of private and public sector partners, is to build a pipeline between those currently failing to progress to, or engage with, degree apprenticeships and employers seeking higher skills and a broader pool of applicants.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis of collaborative initiatives and related research in England as the context for university involvement in degree apprenticeships. The case study illustrates the benefits of collaboration in targeted outreach initiatives within the local region to address gaps in progression to degree apprenticeships.

Findings

This paper illustrates how establishing a regional picture of degree apprenticeship provision, access and participation can inform effective partnerships and build capacity locally to deliver the higher skills employers need, further demonstrating the potential benefits of university involvement in degree apprenticeship provision in contributing to local and national policy ambition. It also shows how effective targeted interventions can help under-achieving groups, including those in social care and women in digital enterprises.

Originality/value

The authors believe this paper is the only academic analysis of the impact of Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund activity in the region.
Graduate employability
Authors: Okolie Ugochukwu Chinonso , Nwosu Hyginus Emeka , Mlanga Sunday
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Following the outcry of several employers that many higher education (HE) graduates do not possess employability skills and therefore are not employable, the purpose of this paper, therefore, is to examine what the labour market (LM) actually demands from the higher education institutions (HEIs) and how the demands of the LM can be met by the HEIs in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on interviews and focus group with 28 university professors, executives of the students’ industrial work scheme (SIWES), industry executives, executive officers of the Directorate of Employment and the HE course/programme leaders that revealed substantial information about what the LM actually requires from the HE, and how the HE can meet the demands of the LM in terms of supply of quality graduates.

Findings

The key findings reveal that with adequate teaching resources and competent teachers, graduate employability skills (technical and soft), which the LM demands from the HEIs, can be imparted to the students. Concerning LM and HEIs partnerships, it is found that understanding the demands of the LM by the HEIs can enhance the graduates’ outcomes and their prospects in the LM.

Research limitations/implications

The study argues that the graduate employability is still relevant to the existing practice, but further engagement and research surrounding how the HEIs in the developing countries, especially Nigeria, can meet the actual demands of the LM in terms of competent graduates are needed to examine this range of HE.

Originality/value

The study provides significant suggestions on the improvement needs of the HE teachers to inspire and motivate students to increase the knowledge (know-how), skills (how to do), self-efficacy (effectiveness) and qualities (technical and creative knowledge) required by the LM.
Post-levy apprenticeships in the NHS – early findings
Authors: Baker Denise
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate apprenticeship developments in two National Health Service (NHS) organisations since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017 and considers potential impact on social mobility. This is a pilot for a broader exploration of implementation of government apprenticeship policy in the NHS.

Design/methodology/approach

Following ethical approval, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two key informants with responsibility for education and training in their respective organisations. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify major and sub-themes of the interviews.

Findings

Four major themes were identified – organisational readiness, the apprenticeship offer, opportunities for further development and potential problems with implementation. Both organisations were actively seeking opportunities to spend their levy and had developed local strategies to ensure this. The levy was being used to develop both new and existing staff, with leadership and management being particularly identified as an area of growth. Similarly, both organisations were using levy monies to develop the bands 1–4 roles, including the nursing associate. The affordability and bureaucracy of apprenticeships were seen as potential problems to the wider implementation of apprenticeships in the NHS.

Practical implications

Although the apprenticeship levy is being spent in the NHS, there are some challenges for employers in their delivery. The levy is offering new and existing staff the opportunity to undertake personal and professional development at a range of educational levels. This has the potential to increase and upskill the NHS workforce, improve social mobility and possibly lead to larger cultural and professional changes.

Originality/value

This paper offers an early insight into the implementation of apprenticeship policy in a large public sector employer such as the NHS.
Content validation of flood disaster preparedness action (FDPA) items among small and medium enterprises (SME) business
Authors: Hashim Hajar Mariah , Ng Yee Guan , Talib Othman , Md Tamrin Shamsul Bahri
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present the process of construction and content validity of flood disaster preparedness action (FDPA) items to measure flood preparedness characteristics and activities among the small and medium enterprises (SME).

Design/methodology/approach

The content validity process involved the act of conceptualization, development and validation. In short, it was implemented to develop the FDPA items that were used to measure flood preparedness at the SME level. The steps began with literature review (adopt and adapt) and judgment of expert panel on the item development process. The list of 54 items was developed. A panel of eight experts rated its content validation during a focus group discussion.

Findings

In total, 52 items were acceptable to be passed on to the next stage of data collection. The items content validity (I-CVI) measurement of the items was within an acceptable range of more than 0.75, except for two items: Q38 and Q39. The scale content validity (S-CVI) value gave an excellent score of 0.95. Several items with low I-CVI score values for relevancy and clarity were subject to modification.

Practical implications

Content validity ensured accurate interpretations of results. To support the construct validity of an instrument, documenting findings from content validity was essential.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrated the initial phase of scale development on FDPA items. This newly developed item allows the integration of several flood disaster preparedness activities construct by review and judgment process by the panel of experts in the field.
Executive compensation of immigrant-founder firms in the USA
Authors: Hsieh Chialing , Pandey Vivek , Wang Hongxia
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine CEO compensation in immigrant-founder firms vs CEO compensation in non-immigrant-founder firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Univariate and multi-variate tests are implemented. CEO compensation is designed as a function of the origin of a firm’s founder (immigrant or native), executive characteristics and firm characteristics with firm and year fixed effect regressions. CEO compensation is measured with cash pay, equity-based pay and total compensation.

Findings

CEOs of immigrant-founder firms receive higher equity-based compensation and higher total pay than CEOs of non-immigrant-founder firms and the levels of their equity-based and total compensation are contingent upon their stock ownership. CEOs in high-growth immigrant-founder firms receive higher stock-based pay than their counterparts in non-immigrant-founder firms. Immigrant-founder family firms compensate their CEOs with higher equity-based pay than immigrant-founder non-family firms.

Practical implications

The paper provides some explanations on the success of immigrant-founder firms. CEO compensation designs in immigrant-founder firms can be adopted in other firms.

Social implications

The paper provides some rationale for immigration legislation to encourage the talented to come to the USA and start their business in the USA.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to study executive compensation practice in immigrant-founder firms. The findings provide some practical and policy implications on immigration reform.
Project management methods as a way to ambidexterity
Authors: Sailer Patrick
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Ambidexterity has been shown to contribute to project performance. Recent studies of ambidexterity on the project level focus on multilevel knowledge resources, individual actions and structural ambidexterity. However, the role of project management methods remains unclear. This is surprising because project management methods are broadly disseminated as standards. The purpose of this paper is to theorize how project management methods affect ambidexterity on the project level.

Design/methodology/approach

It is demonstrated how routine theory adds to a better theoretical conceptualization and understanding of project management methods. The analysis of this paper contains, first, the reconstruction of the contribution of each action in “Scrum” to either exploitation or exploration and, second, the discussion of roles in Scrum. To conclude, a “big picture” of what ambidexterity in projects can look like is developed.

Findings

The main findings suggest that Scrum facilitates sequential and contextual ambidexterity by producing a pattern of alternating exploitation and exploration actions and by assigning specific roles.

Practical implications

For practitioners this leads to steps they can take to enhance ambidexterity in projects. It is suggested to staff explicitly ambidexterity-related roles like a Scrum Master and to persist on explorative actions like adaption of project goals and Customer Feedback.

Originality/value

First, the present paper contributes an analysis of the underlying micro-mechanisms of sequential and contextual ambidexterity in projects. Second, it informs practitioners on what aspects of project management methods they should pay attention to.
A moderated mediation model of the relationship between organizational justice and turnover intention
Authors: Ekmekcioglu Emre Burak , Aydogan Enver
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of organizational identification (OI) on the relationship between organizational justice (OJ) and turnover intention (TI), as well as the moderating role of psychological contract fulfillment (PCF) in those relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 339 employees of a financial institution in Turkey. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate a moderated mediation model.

Findings

This study found that OI was partially mediated the relationship between OJ and TI. The results also indicated that the indirect effect of OJ on TI through OI was moderated by PCF.

Research limitations/implications

The generalizability of the findings is limited. As this study is cross-sectional, causal inferences cannot be inferred regarding the hypothesized relationships.

Practical implications

To reduce TI, organizations should ensure the fair allocation of resources and rewards among employees. Moreover, organizations should pay attention to the expectations of employees and the promises made to them in an attempt to fulfill psychological contract obligations.

Originality/value

This study explores the mediating role of OI in the relationship between OJ and TI. In addition, this research sheds light on the moderating role of PCF in this mediation model.
Transformational leadership behaviours of women in a socially dynamic environment
Authors: Sharif Khurram
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insights into the female transformational leadership behaviours within a socially dynamic environment. Research was conducted in the State of Qatar, a country that is going through a rapid social change.

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework was based on the transformational leadership framework (TLF) initially proposed by Burns (1978) and further developed by Bass (1985). A respondent set, consisting of 25 Qatari female managers, was taken from the largest public university in the State of Qatar. In-depth interviews were the main source of collected data. The data were analysed using NVivo 11.

Findings

Predominantly, Qatari female leadership behaviours were reflective of transformational leadership. In their dealings, Qatari female managers displayed motherly instincts, encouraged open communication, used relationship adaptations and used trust. From time to time, Qatari female managers displayed non-transformational leadership behaviours. This occasional leadership style switch was part of behavioural flexibility that was required in a mixed age, mixed gender, mixed experience and mixed nationalities work environment. The key reason for the change in transformational leadership approach came as a reaction to subordinates’ attitude. In particular, the male-dominated work environment required behavioural adjustments (such as being more assertive and autocratic) to deal with masculine subordinates.

Research limitations/implications

A range of respondent perceptions were related to defining leadership. There was some overlapping between the tested determinants. For example, idealised influence and individualised consideration shared a degree of similarity in terms of how they were perceived.

Social implications

Socially dynamic environment should be seen as an opportunity for female transformational leadership development. Social dynamism may result in an evolved TLF that could be more appropriate for Qatari organisations. Hence, experience and problem sharing between Qatari female managers may help in developing a socially and culturally fitting transformational leadership model.

Originality/value

The study presented a perspective of a socially dynamic environment where women were practicing transformational leadership primarily through behavioural flexibility and change management. The study suggests an extended version of TLF that would be more suitable for female leadership within a socially dynamic environment.
The conditioning function of rating mechanisms for consumers in the sharing economy
Authors: Newlands Gemma , Lutz Christoph , Fieseler Christian
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how rating mechanisms encourage emotional labor norms among sharing economy consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows a mixed-methods research design. Survey data from 207 consumers were used to quantify the impact of three distinct rating dimensions on a consumer behavioral outcome (emotional labor). In the second step, 18 focus groups with 94 participants were used to investigate the conditioning functions of ratings in more depth.

Findings

Rating mechanisms condition consumers toward performing socially desirable behaviors during sharing transactions. While consumers accept the necessity of bilateral rating mechanisms, they also recognize their coercive nature. Furthermore, the presence of bilateral rating mechanisms leads to negative outcomes such as annoyance and frustration.

Originality/value

This study contributes to sharing economy literature by examining bilateral rating mechanisms as a means of behavioral conditioning for consumers. This study points to improvements in platform design and informs theory on tripartite markets as well as trust.
Does usage of enterprise social media affect employee turnover? Empirical evidence from Chinese companies
Authors: Yingjie Lu , Deng Shasha , Pan Taotao
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the usage of enterprise social media (ESM) affects eventual employee turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a theoretical model based on the proposition that different ESM usage behaviors (utilitarian use, hedonic use and social use) have different effects on employee turnover, and job type and job level can moderate the effect of ESM usage on turnover. The model was examined empirically using 1,791 employee samples from a large high-tech manufacturing enterprise deploying ESM.

Findings

The results indicate that the utilitarian and social use of ESM has negative effects on turnover, but the hedonic use of ESM has positive effects on turnover. Furthermore, for employees working in different job types and job levels, there are significant differences concerning the effect of ESM usage on their turnover.

Practical implications

ESM managers should encourage employees to use ESM for utilitarian needs and social support but restrict excessive use of ESM for leisure. In addition, different ESM use policies depending upon job types and job levels could be adopted to retain valuable employees.

Originality/value

Few studies have focused on how usage of ESM affects eventual employee turnover. Given the lack of theoretical research and empirical evidence, the authors developed a theoretical model and conducted an empirical study to fill the research gap.
Impact of bargaining power on supply chain profit allocation: a game-theoretic study
Authors: Prasad Sanjay , Shankar Ravi , Roy Sreejit
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of bargaining powers of firms in supply chain coordination. It studies selected aspects of bargaining powers, namely, impatience, breakdown probability and outside options, and uses a bargaining-theoretic approach to analyze surplus allocation in a coordinated supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes one-supplier one-buyer infinite horizon supply chain coordination game, where suppliers and buyers negotiate for the allocation of supply chain surplus arising out of supply chain coordination. Various aspects of the bargaining power of the negotiating parties are modeled and the paper studies impact of power levels on the results of the bargaining game.

Findings

A significance of impatience on the bargaining process and the surplus split has been established. This paper also demonstrates a rather counter-intuitive aspect of bargaining that the impatience (as perceived by the other party) can improve the bargaining position and therefore share of profits.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has limited its analysis to three key components of bargaining power. Future works can study other aspects of bargaining power, namely information asymmetry, learning curve, inside options, etc. Further, the paper has considered an infinite horizon model – this assumption can be relaxed in future research.

Practical implications

Equations to derive optimal split of the surplus have been derived and can be leveraged to design an autonomous bargaining agent to discover equilibrium profit splits in a cloud or e-commerce setting. Further, insights from this paper can be leveraged by managers to understand their relative bargaining power and drive to obtain the best profit split.

Originality/value

This paper establishes that impatience (in terms of counter-offer probability) has a significant impact on the bargaining position and on the split of the surplus that the firm can get for themselves. It establishes the advantage of higher levels of impatience, provided the other party recognizes the impatience and factors it in their decision-making process.
End consumer’s value creation in a nature-based tourism service
Authors: Alakoski Leena , Tikkanen Irma
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of end consumer’s value creation in the context of Finnish nature-based tourism from the viewpoint of the customer-dominant logic (CD logic) of service.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing research on the CD logic of service and value creation, consumer value and value creation as a hierarchical process is reviewed. The exploratory research design was applied. The data were constituted of 40 end consumers’ interviews. Based on the means-end chain model, a laddering interview was applied.

Findings

The findings indicated that end consumer’s value created in a nature-based tourism service included five final value categories. Those categories were related to emotions and feelings, enjoyment, fun and even lifetime memories. They indicated long-term characteristics of value, individually created value, collective experience and shared value.

Practical implications

The findings increased understanding of end consumer’s value creation as a process. The paper provided ideas for developing better nature-based tourism service offerings, value propositions and insights into end consumer’s value creation in terms of individual and shared value. The findings are valuable for nature-based tourism researchers and stakeholders.

Originality/value

New knowledge on end consumer’s value creation process was created by presenting the hierarchical value maps. The five final value categories indicated the value-in-use. The final value categories emphasised either individual or shared value, which included the end consumer’s life and previous experiences. The preliminary findings will help to develop hypotheses and research problems for future research.
Becoming motivated to be a good actor in a student project team
Authors: Chou Shih Yung , Ramser Charles
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model that addresses how student citizenship behavior (CB) may be motivated by management of impression in a team-based project using peer evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies impression management (IM) theory as the theoretical lens to explore the impact of IM tactics, in the forms of task-, self- and peer-focused tactics, on student CB in a team-based project using peer evaluations.

Findings

This paper posits that task-, self- and peer-focused IM tactics positively influence a student’s CB in a team-based project when peer evaluations are used. Furthermore, it is proposed that the relative weight of a peer evaluation strengthens the relationship between the three IM tactics and a student’s CB.

Originality/value

From a theoretical standpoint, this study extends IM–CB relationship from the employment setting to the academic setting. More importantly, this study offers crucial recommendations for instructors that may help improve the effectiveness of peer evaluations.
Analysis or intuition? Reframing the decision-making styles debate in technological settings
Authors: Bullini Orlandi Ludovico , Pierce Paul
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The debate over intuitive vs analytical decision-making styles began almost 40 years ago and had yet to deliver definite answers. The debate – however – has led to divergent theoretical stances and empirical results. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of these information processing styles in customer-related decision-making in the context of mobile technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are derived from the contrasting theoretical propositions and empirical evidence present in the debate around decision-making styles. The study also introduces and investigates the moderating role of environmental dynamism (ED). Analyses and results are based on survey research that involves 251 managers with responsibility for organizational decision-making processes.

Findings

The study’s findings suggest that both intuitive and analytical styles are relevant in the actual context characterized by mobile technologies. Intuition still plays a central role in managers’ decision-making processes, but when the industry environment is highly dynamic analytical information processing also plays an essential role in supporting organizational responsiveness and performance.

Practical implications

This study can help managers in reconsidering the way in which they employ analytical or intuitive information processing activities inside their decision making at different levels of ED.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper relies on testing hypothesis simultaneously developed by both the theoretical stances favorable to intuitive and to analytical information processing. Besides, it tests these hypotheses in the actual empirical context characterized by a transformed scenario in terms of data availability.
Amplitude variation with incident angle and azimuth inversion for Young's impedance, Poisson's ratio and fracture weaknesses in shale gas reservoirs
Authors: Pan Xinpeng , Zhang Guangzhi
Published: March 2019

By analogy with P‐ and S‐wave impedances, the product of Young's modulus and density can be termed as Young's impedance, which indicates the rock lithology and brittleness of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. Poisson's ratio is also an effective indicator of rock brittleness and fluid property of unconventional reservoirs, and fracture weaknesses indicate the fracture properties (fracturing intensity and fracture fillings) in fracture‐induced unconventional reservoirs. We aim to simultaneously estimate the Young's impedance, Poisson's ratio and fracture weaknesses from wide‐azimuth surface seismic data in a fracture‐induced shale gas reservoir, and use the horizontal transversely isotropic model to characterize the fractures. First, the linearized PP‐wave reflection coefficient in terms of Young's impedance, Poisson's ratio, density and fracture weaknesses is derived for the case of a weak‐contrast interface separating two weakly horizontal transversely isotropic media. In addition, an orthorhombic anisotropic case is also discussed in this paper. Then a Bayesian amplitude variation with incident angle and azimuth scheme with a model constraint is used to stably estimate Young's impedance, Poisson's ratio and fracture weaknesses with only PP‐wave azimuthal seismic data. The proposed approach is finally demonstrated on both synthetic and real data sets with reasonable results.
Variation in growth and defence traits among plant populations at different elevations: Implications for adaptation to climate change
Authors: Buckley James , Widmer Alex , Mescher Mark C. , De Moraes Consuelo M.
Published: March 2019

Alpine plants occurring at high elevation are vulnerable to ongoing climate change, yet relatively little is known about the potential for high‐elevation species to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In particular, the extent to which high‐elevation plants will be able to resist predicted increases in the intensity of biotic interactions, such as herbivory, remains unclear.

Species distributed across broad elevational ranges provide an opportunity to investigate evolutionary mechanisms and traits involved in adaptation to varying abiotic and biotic environments. This study focused on the perennial alpine plant Arabis alpina and combined field surveys and climate chamber experiments to test for intraspecific genetic divergence in traits related to growth and defence against herbivores. We screened multiple populations from low, intermediate and high elevations across a broad geographic area, characterising differences in growth form, leaf structural traits, palatability for herbivores and defensive chemistry. We then quantified the proportion of variation explained by elevation and population‐level effects.

Our results document within‐species genetic divergence in multiple traits relevant for adaptation to the different abiotic and biotic pressures experienced at low and high elevations. Rates of herbivore damage declined with increasing elevation in the field, but plants from high‐ and intermediate‐elevation populations were generally more palatable for specialist herbivores than those from low‐elevation populations in feeding assays. Elevational clines were also observed in several glucosinolate defence compounds, and leaf herbivory more strongly induced glucosinolates in plants from high‐elevation populations than in those from low‐elevation populations. Leaf trichome density and growth form also diverged among populations contributing to growth–defence phenotypes associated with different elevations.

However, populations from similar elevations often differed significantly in both growth‐ and defence‐related traits, with trait variation often better explained by population‐level effects than by elevation alone.

Synthesis. Arabis alpina exhibits patterns of genetic variation in growth and defence traits consistent with adaptation to different elevations. However, populations from similar elevations also diverge in many of these ecologically relevant traits. Together, the extent of the observed trait variation suggests that this alpine species has considerable potential to adapt to a changing biotic environment.
Differential gene expression associated with fungal trophic shifts along the senescence gradient of the moss Dicranum scoparium
Authors: Chen Ko‐Hsuan , Liao Hui‐Ling , Bellenger Jean‐Philippe , Lutzoni François
Published: March 2019

Bryophytes harbour microbiomes, including diverse communities of fungi. The molecular mechanisms by which perennial mosses interact with these fungal partners along their senescence gradients are unknown, yet this is an ideal system to study variation in gene expression associated with trophic state transitions. We investigated differentially expressed genes of fungal communities and their host Dicranum scoparium across its naturally occurring senescence gradient using a metatranscriptomic approach. Higher activity of fungal nutrient‐related (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur) transporters and Carbohydrate‐Active enZyme (CAZy) genes was detected toward the bottom, partially decomposed, layer of the moss. The most prominent variation in the expression levels of fungal nutrient transporters was from inorganic nitrogen‐related transporters, whereas the breakdown of organonitrogens was detected as the most enriched gene ontology term for the host D. scoparium, for those transcripts having higher expression in the partially decomposed layer. The abundance of bacterial rRNA transcripts suggested that more living members of Cyanobacteria are associated with the photosynthetic layer of D. scoparium, while members of Rhizobiales are detected throughout the gametophytes. Plant genes for specific fungal–plant communication, including defense responses, were differentially expressed, suggesting that different genetic pathways are involved in plant‐microbe crosstalk in photosynthetic tissues compared to partially decomposed tissues.
Identification of a Suspect in a Murder Case through Recovery of Fingermarks from a Fired Cartridge Case
Authors: Girelli Carlos M. A. , Segatto Breno R.
Published: March 2019

During the period of one year, the Police of the State of Espírito Santo in Brazil analyzed 1,431 cartridge cases obtained from crime scenes and seizures. The cartridges were subjected to a development sequence (cyanoacrylate fuming + gun bluing + fluorescent dying), and panoramic images of the developed fingermarks were generated based on the photographs taken during the rotation of the cartridges. Ridge details were observed in 50 cartridges, but only in 5 cartridges, the marks were considered with value for identification. The fingermarks were searched in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) of the Brazilian Federal Police and, in one case, it was possible to obtain the suspect's identification. In our knowledge, this is the first case in Brazil of identification of a suspect based on a fingermark recovered from a fired cartridge case.
Silicosis: Diagnosis and Medicolegal Implications
Authors: Bukovitz Brandon , Meiman Jonathan , Anderson Henry , Brooks Erin G.
Published: March 2019

Despite well‐publicized sources of occupational hazard, silicosis continues to threaten industrial workers in the United States. We performed a retrospective search of the University of Wisconsin electronic pathology database to retrieve autopsy cases of silicosis and collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to obtain statewide epidemiologic data regarding silicosis morbidity/mortality since 2003. Three silicosis autopsy cases were retrieved: all were men with ≥ 30 years of occupational crystalline silica exposure and similar histologic features of collagenous pulmonary nodules with admixed refractile particles. Overall, our state exceeds the national rate of silicosis‐related hospitalizations and mortality, that is, 10.1 hospitalizations per million WI residents versus 1.2 nationally and 1.2 deaths per million WI residents versus 0.4 nationally. Surveillance is crucial to identify emerging occupational hazards and protect workers. A diagnosis of silicosis must be carefully considered at autopsy since it carries substantial implications for worker's compensation, compensatory losses, and employer liability.
Performance Evaluation of a Registered Ballistic Database Using the Evofinder® System
Authors: Li Yuesong , Lin Sheng , Luo Yaping , Mi Zhongliang
Published: March 2019

Firearms for police in China are registered along with their fired bullets and cartridge cases. A Registered Ballistic Database (RBD) of 1000 Norinco QSZ‐92 pistols with registered ammunition was established and was evaluated through the Evofinder® system. In this research, 1000 bullets and 1000 cartridge cases were randomly selected and correlated against an RBD of 2996 bullets and 2999 cartridge cases. Examiners found that successful identifications all ranked 1st, supported with land (100%), groove (97%) engraved areas, and primary marks (85.6%) for bullets, and firing pin impressions (99.8%), and breech face marks (99.9%) for cartridge cases. Two known matches (KM) for the same pistol rank in the top two (100%). The distribution of similarity scores varies from marks; however, the Evofinder® system could still effectively distinguish known matches from known nonmatches (KNM) for either bullets or cartridge cases. This study demonstrates the efficiency of the RBD.
Review of the Macrophya formosana group (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) with descriptions of two new species
Authors: Liu Meng‐Meng , Li Ze‐Jian , Wei Mei‐Cai
Published: March 2019

The Macrophya formosana group is reviewed and six species are recognized from Europe and East Asia, among them two new species, M. brevispuralis Li, Liu & Wei sp. nov. and M. pseudoformosana Li, Liu & Wei sp. nov. from China, and four known species, M. crassula (Klug 1817), M. dolichogaster Wei & Ma, 1997, M. formosana Rohwer 1916 and M. liukiuana Takeuchi 1926. A key to all known species of the Macrophya formosana group is provided.
Updates to the antitumor mechanism of oncolytic virus
Authors: Bai Yang , Hui Peng , Du Xiaoyu , Su Xing
Published: March 2019

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are promising new therapeutic agents in the field of malignant tumor treatment. OVs can achieve the goal of targeted therapy by selectively killing tumor cells and inducing specific antitumor immunity. The key roles of OVs are tumor targeting and tumor killing mechanisms. Recently, molecular biotechnology has been used to optimize the transformation of wild virus strains in order to ensure a stronger oncolytic effect and lower adverse reactions, to enable testing in clinical trials as an antitumor drug. The main purpose of this review is to provide a description of oncolytic mechanisms, clinical studies, combination therapies, current challenges, and future prospects of OVs.