bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Mycolactone Toxin Membrane Permeation: Atomistic vs Coarse-Grained MARTINI Simulations
Authors: Aydin F. , Sun R. , Swanson J. M. J.
Published: November 2018

Mycolactone, a cytotoxic and immunosuppressive macrolide produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the central virulent factor in the skin disease Buruli ulcer. This multifunctional cytotoxin affects fundamental cellular processes such as cell adhesion, immune response and cell death by targeting various cellular structures. Developing effective diagnostics that target mycolactone has been challenging, potentially due to suspected interactions with lipophilic architectures, including membranes. To better understand the pathogenesis of Buruli ulcer disease, aid in the development of diagnostics, and learn how amphiphiles in general use lipid trafficking to navigate the host environment, we seek to understand the nature of mycolactone-membrane interactions. Herein we characterize how the two dominant isomers of mycolactone (A and B) interact with and permeate DPPC membranes with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations employing transition tempered metadynamics, and compare these results with those obtained by MARTINI coarse-grained simulations. Our all-atom simulations reveal that both isomers have a strong preference to associate with the membrane, although their mechanisms and energetics of membrane permeation differ slightly. Water molecules are found to play an important role in the permeation process. Although the MARTINI coarse-grained simulations give the correct free energy of membrane association, they fail to capture the mechanism of permeation and role of water during permeation as seen in all-atom simulations.
Nanoscale decompaction of nucleosomal DNA revealed through multi-color super-resolution microscopy
Authors: Otterstrom Jason , Garcia Alvaro Castells , Vicario Chiara , Cosma Maria Pia , Lakadamyali Melike
Published: November 2018

Chromatin organization plays an important role in regulating gene expression. Previously, we showed that chromatin is organized in the form of nucleosome groups or clutches. The size and nucleosome packing density of clutches decreased in hyperacetylated cells having more open chromatin. While hyperacetylation is thought to disrupt histone-DNA and inter-nucleosome interactions, its impact on higher order DNA compaction by groups of nucleosomes in vivo is not clear. To elucidate this question, we carried out two-color super-resolution imaging of histones and DNA in cells treated with the Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA). We showed that a lower percentage of DNA was associated to clutches in hyperacetylated cells, suggesting a decrease in nucleosome occupancy. We further identified the presence of “clutch” DNA within a nanoscale distance around the clutches. Upon histone hyperacetylation, the radius of the clutch DNA decreased leading to DNA release from the clutches, consistent with disruption of DNA-histone interactions. Finally, the most dramatic decompaction was observed for groups of clutches in close spatial proximity, suggesting that neighboring clutches influence each other’s DNA compaction.

Super-resolution imaging of histones and DNA reveals that DNA is compacted by groups of nucleosomes – clutches – at the nanoscale level and clutch compaction of DNA is affected by histone tail acetylation especially in highly folded regions containing several nearby clutches.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Hepatitis B Prevention and Immunization of Pregnant Women and Mothers in Viet Nam
Authors: Hang Pham Thi T. , Nguyen Thuy X. , Nguyen Dong T. , Luu Chau M. , Truong Bac D. , Tran Phu D. , So Samuel
Published: November 2018

Background and Aim

Vietnam’s high burden of liver cancer is largely attributable to the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). Infection at birth due to mother-to-child (MTC) transmission is the most common cause of chronic HBV in Vietnam and increases the risk of liver cancer later in life. This study was undertaken to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women and mothers in Vietnam concerning HBV prevention and immunization.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quang Ninh and Hoa Binh provinces in 2017. A pre-designed questionnaire was administered to women when they received care at primary and tertiary maternal health clinics. Correct responses were summarized as knowledge scores. Data was analyzed using a multivariable regression model across participant demographics.

Results

Among the 404 women surveyed, 57.6% were pregnant and 42.4% were postpartum. Despite 73.5% of participants reporting having received information about HBV during their pregnancy, gaps in knowledge and misconceptions are evident. Overall, only 10.6% provided correct answers to all questions regarding HBV transmission routes and prevention measures. Around half of the participants incorrectly believed that HBV is transmitted through sneezing, contaminated water or sharing foods with chronic HBV patients. Although 96.4% of participants believed that HBV vaccination is necessary for infants, only 69.1% were willing to have their own child vaccinated within 24 hours. More than a third of participants expressed concern about having casual contacts or sharing foods with chronic HBV patients. In multivariable analysis, having received information about HBV during their pregnancy were consistently associated with better knowledge score for transmission, prevention and immunization. However, knowledge of women who received information about HBV during their pregnancy was still suboptimal.

Conclusions

The results highlight the need to prioritize educating pregnant women and mothers in future public health campaigns in order to increase knowledge, reduce misperception, and improve HBV vaccine coverage in Vietnam.
Relationship between epicardial and perivascular fatty tissue and adipokine-cytokine level in coronary artery disease patients
Authors: Gruzdeva Olga , Uchasova Evgenya , Dyleva Yulia , Borodkina Daria , Akbasheva Olga , Karetnikova Viktoria , Brel Natalia , Alexander Kokov , Barbarash Olga
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the thickness of EAT and PVAT and the adipokine-cytokine profile of patients with coronary heart disease, which can be of significant importance for predicting the course of CVD. 84 patients with CVD, were assessed and divided into two groups based on the presence of visceral obesity (VO). In VO patients, the thickness of the epicardial deposits of the left and right ventricles were 1.75 and 1.43 times greater, respectively, than in patients without VO. For patients with VO, the prevalence of the volume of the left anterior descending artery was 10% higher, and the middle third of the envelope artery was 28% higher, when compared to patients without VO. When evaluating inflammatory status, it was established that the concentration of TNF-α and IL-1β, leptin in the blood serum of patients with VO exceeded the values of patients without VO. Level of proinflammatory IL-10 was 2-times lower in patients with VO. The findings of this study show that the increase of EAT and PVAT are independent risk factors of CVD, as well as a possible model for the assessment of drug effectiveness for CVD.
FlexiBAC: a versatile, open-source baculovirus vector system for protein expression, secretion, and proteolytic processing
Authors: Lemaitre Régis P. , Bogdanova Aliona , Borgonovo Barbara , Woodruff Jeffrey B. , Drechsel David N.
Published: November 2018

Baculovirus-mediated expression in insect cells is a powerful approach for protein production. However, many existing methods are time consuming, offer limited options for protein tagging, and are unsuitable for secreted proteins requiring proteolytic maturation, such as TGF-β family growth factors. To overcome these limitations, we engineered “FlexiBAC”, a system that simplifies baculovirus production and permits furin-driven proteolytic maturation of targets. This system allows recombinant baculovirus formation inside insect cells and reduces the time between initial cloning and protein production to 13 days. FlexiBAC includes 146 shuttle vectors that append combinations of purification tags, fluorescent markers, proteolytic cleavage sites, trafficking signals, and chemical conjugation tags to the termini of the target protein. We demonstrate that this system can be used to produce high levels of mature, active forms of TGF-β family growth factors, such as Activin A, as well as other proteins that are typically difficult to reconstitute, such as proteins rich in coiled-coil, low complexity, and disordered domains.
Poverty index vs richness index: a new way to analyze the determinants of poverty
Authors: Kacem Rami B.H.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The analysis of poverty is fundamentally focused on examining the well-being condition of the poor. We usually neglect the information provided by the rich. Nevertheless, perhaps the non-considered information indicating the determinants of non-poverty is also useful for fighting against poverty. The purpose of this paper is to analyze poverty under a new angle i.e. focusing on the information provided by the non-poor instead of the poor. For that a richness index is calculated in order to estimate econometric models regressing both indices i.e. poverty and richness indices on same selected characteristics. Thus, the comparison of the determinants of poverty and non-poverty for Tunisian case have allowed the classification of the selected explanatory variables with significant effect into four categories: the variables having significant effect on both sides (permanent effect), the variables having significant effect on the poor but not on the non-poor (transitory effect), the variables having significant effect on the non-poor but not on the poor (insurance effect) and the variables without any effect on both cases (neutral effect). This procedure is thus important given that it provides additional information and new way to enhance the targeting efficiency of the poor and fighting against poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Tunisian data, an original procedure is proposed for calculating a richness index, defined based on the common formula of calculating the poverty index. Next econometric models are estimated regressing both the indices i.e. poverty and richness index on same selected characteristics.

Findings

The comparison of the determinants of poverty and non-poverty have allowed the classification of the selected explanatory variables with significant effect into four categories: the variables having significant effect on both sides (permanent effect), the variables having significant effect on the poor but not on the non-poor (transitory effect), the variables having significant effect on the non-poor but not on the poor (insurance effect) and the variables without any effect on both cases (neutral effect).

Originality/value

The analysis and the classification of the determinants of poverty according to the determinants of non-poverty is never made before in the litterature. This procedure is important given that it provides additional information and a new way to enhance the efficiency of targeting the poor and fighting against poverty.
Modeling of core loss for non-oriented electrical steel
Authors: Dems Maria , Komeza Krzysztof , Szulakowski Jacek , Kubiak Witold
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of the loss approximation method for non-oriented electrical steel developed by the authors. A new model of a toroidal sample with dimensions ensuring high uniformity of the field was presented.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical analysis of the methods used was carried out. Based on these considerations, the authors proposed their own loss approximation method, which allows obtaining high accuracy in a wide range of induction and frequency. The proposed method is based on the assumption that for a certain frequency range losses can be describe by two terms formula. For a fixed value of the peak flux density Bm, the graph of specific loss divided by the frequency should have the form of a straight line. Then, the obtained coefficients for different Bm are the basis for approximation with the power function.

Findings

The comparison of measurement and approximation results shows that the method allows to obtain very good accuracy in a wide range of induction and frequency.

Research limitations/implications

More detailed studies on the impact of cutting on a larger number of samples with different geometrical dimensions are needed.

Practical implications

Application of the new method provides a better approximation of the curve of the loss and thus a more accurate calculation of the core loss in the electrical machines.

Originality/value

The paper presents the application of the loss approximation method for non-oriented electrical steel developed by the authors. A new model of a toroidal sample with dimensions ensuring high uniformity of the field was presented. It is shown that the approximation introduced allows for high accuracy in a wide range of frequency and magnetic flux density.
Bats and grammar: developing critical language awareness in the context of school reform
Authors: Gebhard Meg , Graham Holly
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze how middle schoolers developed a critical awareness of language while participating in a curricular unit informed by systemic functional linguistics (SFL). This unit was developed to understanding and taking action to protect a local bat population in the context of school reforms shaping teaching and learning in the USA. It was designed to support a heterogeneous class of seventh graders in learning to read scientific explanations, write letters to government officials and develop a functional metalanguage to support them in analyzing how language simultaneously constructs ideas, enacts power dynamics and manages the flow of information in disciplinary texts. The questions guiding this study are: How do students use SFL metalanguage in text production and interpretation practices? Do their uses of SFL metalanguage support critical language awareness and reflection? And, if so, in what ways?

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses ethnographic methods to conduct teacher action research. Data include classroom transcripts, student writing samples and interviews.

Findings

The findings illustrate how students engaged with SFL, often playfully, to create their own student-generated functional metalanguage in highly productive ways.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to a growing body of scholarship that suggests SFL metalanguage can provide teachers and students with a powerful semiotic toolkit that enables them to navigate the demands of teaching and learning in the context of the Standardization and Accountability movement.

Practical implications

This study has implications teachers’ professional development and students’ disciplinary literacy development in the context of school reform.

Originality/value

To date, few studies have explored how students take up and transform SFL metalanguage into a tool for critical reflection, especially adolescents.
Partnership in action: forging a new approach
Authors: Roxby Sarah
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Professional partnerships between housing and health are not impossible, but they take time, commitment and dedicated strategic leadership. The language and culture of the two sectors are sometimes complex and do not always match. There can be issues understanding each other’s motivation, ethics and terminology which can cause a barrier when working together. The purpose of this paper is to share the journey of how Wakefield District Housing (WDH) is working with the care and health sector to create sustainable partnerships that benefit both parties, getting to a stage where they could successfully integrate with healthcare providers in the Wakefield district.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers the reader an overview of how WDH’s membership of the Wakefield Health and Wellbeing Board enabled improved partnership working with NHS and other members, including the establishment of a Housing, Health and Social Care Partnership, the employment of dedicated senior staff, co-located multi-disciplinary teams and joint design of new services.

Findings

WDH has demonstrated that the organisation understands the challenges facing NHS colleagues, has acknowledged the complexities of the system that their partners work in and looked for solutions alongside them. The opportunities within partnership working are boundless and, if successful, the outcomes for tenants and the wider Wakefield population could be in excess of those envisaged in planning the project. Partnerships will almost inevitably encounter challenges along the way but if all partners keep their own and shared visions in mind, further success is within reach and all parties will get there faster by not going alone.

Practical implications

The paper offers useful guidance and ideas for other housing organisations aiming to improve their contribution to local integrated healthcare.

Originality/value

This paper provides an original perspective from inside the programme, offering practical, comprehensive and deliverable initiatives to improve health outcomes for local communities.
How does consumer regulatory focus impact perceived value and consumption emotions?
Authors: Song Jahyun , Qu Hailin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how individuals’ regulatory focus affects perceived value and consumption emotions and how differently perceived value and emotions influence the future behavioral intentions of ethnic restaurant customers.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was empirically tested with the online survey sent to frequent American travelers who have had dining experiences at Asian restaurants. A total of 435 valid responses were obtained and analyzed by means of structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

The results indicated that promotion-focused individuals are more likely to perceive both hedonic and utilitarian values, and as a result experience positive emotions while dining at Asian restaurants. On the other hand, prevention focus was not significantly related to either hedonic or utilitarian values in itself, and it has a significant effect on negative emotions. The results also demonstrated that perceived hedonic and utilitarian values directly and/or indirectly influence behavioral intentions through consumption emotions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing knowledge on regulatory focus theory by identifying significant theoretical relationships among cognitive and affective consumption responses and regulatory focus. Specifically, the main contributions include suggesting novel perspectives that promotion focus is associated with consumers’ value perception, whereas prevention focus is not, and making a first attempt to discover a relationship between regulatory foci and two general types of consumption emotions (positive and negative emotions) and identifying theoretically important associations that promotion focus (vs prevention focus) is more strongly related to positive emotions (vs negative emotions).
What precipitates growth in CO2emissions?
Authors: Gbatu Abimelech Paye , Wang Zhen , Wesseh Presley K. , Sesay Vamuyan A.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The degradation of the natural habitat at the expense of economic development is a harmful growth that warrants environmental policy actions. For instance, the economic impacts of environmental pollution are quite visible in developed and developing economies, where human health is compromised by rapid economic growth and energy induced pollution. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of CO2emissions on economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the correlation between pollutant emissions and key economic variables within the economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) region by applying fixed effects model to unbalanced time-series panel data for the period 1980-2014. This paper examines the full ECOWAS panel and sub-panels with export-and-import-dependent countries.

Findings

The authors argue that energy consumption (EC) and real output exert causal influences on CO2emissions for the full ECOWAS panel and the sub-panels with export-and-import-dependent countries.

Practical implications

The results imply that increase in EC is the main factor that promotes economic growth in the region. Additionally, growth in EC and real output stimulates CO2emissions growth.

Originality/value

Therefore, it is argued that technological innovations that increase energy efficiency through new carbon-free technologies that minimize CO2emissions growth without impairing economic growth and development must be introduced in the region.
Adoption of lean principles in software development projects
Authors: Yadav RamKaran , Mittal M.L. , Jain Rakesh
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain insights about the applicability of Lean principles in software industry along with the Lean implementation issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory case studies have been carried out in five software companies. Data were collected by observation and semi-structured interviews with project managers. In this paper, case organizations are categorized as product vs project software development (SD) organization.

Findings

It is found that although Lean principles are being adopted in SD projects, application of all Lean principles is not visible. This research reveals that value and flow are more relevant in SD organizations, while value stream, pull and perfection are not conspicuous.

Originality/value

This paper would prove invaluable to lean practitioners and researchers to gain knowledge in lean SD. The paper puts forward the key issues that should be addressed for successful adoption of lean in SD. This study set out to determine the practitioners’ perception of the applicability of lean principles in SD projects. It provides a sound basis for further empirical research on adoption of lean principles in SD organizations.
The new roles of medical librarians in medical research
Authors: Safdari Reza , Ehtesham Hamideh , Ziaee Narges , Robiaty Mehri
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to highlight the role of librarians as an essential element in medical research. For this purpose, the primary research process was divided into three phases: before, during and after. Then, the roles of librarians associated with each phase were separated and the viewpoint of researchers and librarians on the importance of these roles were considered and compared.

Design/methodology/approach

This comparative, descriptive-causal research was conducted using the census method. Birjand University, a type-2 university in the field of Medical Sciences according to the rating of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, was selected for the study. The participants were all faculty members and all librarians working in the university’s libraries. The data collection tool was a questionnaire made by authors. Its validity was confirmed by four professors of Library Science, and questionnaire design expert and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, using descriptive statistics.

Findings

From the perspective of researchers, awareness-raising for open access resources, determination of standard subject keywords on the basis of Medical Subject Headings for articles and scientific texts and using scientific research findings as a basis for preventing duplicate studies in future research are the most important roles for librarians in the three stages of medical research. From the perspective of librarians, the use of knowledge management skills, searching scientific information as review of the literature and also selecting standard keywords to search the databases and providing health-care professionals with the findings of latest scientific research have the highest place in the different stages of the research lifecycle.

Originality/value

The difference between the viewpoints of librarians and researchers about the role of medical librarians at the various stages of the research lifecycle shows that there are significant gaps between the librarians’ services and users’ expectations. It is expected that through learning modern professional skills, medical librarians can assume new roles in medical research and make their capabilities known and available to researchers.
Understanding succession planning as a combating strategy for turnover intentions
Authors: Ali Zulqurnain , Mehreen Aqsa
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Considerable research has linked leaders’ development practices to employee performance, but little research has concentrated on how succession planning minimizes the turnover intentions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of succession planning on turnover intentions among banking professionals. Moreover, the authors examine whether succession planning enhances the employee job security and creates career attitude that mitigates the risk of employee turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the survey method, the authors recruited permanent employees of retail banking and the proposed model and structural relationships were tested via structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings depict that succession planning provides job security and creates positive career attitude which in turn mitigate the turnover intentions among banks employees.

Practical implications

The present study helps the bank management to formulate a strategic and proactive succession system based on job security and build a strong career attitude to discourage the turnover intentions among banks employees. Moreover, the outcome supports the management of banks in case of the sudden resignation of a bank employee; they will be in a position to appoint a resourceful employee immediately on the vacant post to provide excellent customer services.

Originality/value

The current study successfully developed an empirical relationship between succession planning and turnover intentions which was skipped in the literature on human resource development. Furthermore, this study offers an important mediation mechanism for job security and career attitude for mitigating the turnover intentions among banks employees through succession planning.
The middle manager in search of business model innovation
Authors: Groskovs Sergejs , Ulhøi John P.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

It does not always take a heroic CEO to initiate a major transformation such as business model innovation. A middle manager with a personal drive and a sense of need for change may well jump-start this process. This paper aims to offer a simple framework and a set of practical guidelines for engaging the broader organisation in business model search and change activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on research in entrepreneurship, organisational change and strategic renewal; develops a set of managerial guidelines; and illustrates those with practical examples.

Findings

Business model innovation is an iterative, dynamic and continuous process of search and change activities. Key practical guidelines to manage this process include understanding the environment, ensuring resources and funding, engaging entrepreneurial individuals, committing senior management, firm orchestration of the change process and involvement of middle management and employees.

Practical implications

The framework allows for structuring a business model innovation and offers key guidelines for the journey, thus enabling an entrepreneurial middle manager to lead the effort.

Originality/value

Despite that business model innovation is normally considered the domain of the CEO, this paper shows that middle managers can also play a key role in the process. The value of the paper lies in the simplicity and practicality of the framework.
Older entrepreneurship: a literature review and research agenda
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Mature age or older entrepreneurship is an understudied but important area of research due to the ageing population and changing demographics in society. The purpose of this study is to review the literature about older entrepreneurship to understand the gaps and areas that need more attention.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was undertaken and then the content was analyzed according to main themes. The key issues currently discussed about older entrepreneurship are stated, which leads to a number of future research suggestions.

Findings

The findings involve the need to take more care in how to define and conceptualize older entrepreneurship and to undertake more studies that have an older sample in general entrepreneurship research.

Research limitations/implications

The systematic literature review highlights the gaps in the literature about older entrepreneurs that need to be addressed in future research.

Practical implications

The paper provides some suggestions about how older people can be more involved in entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging literature about older entrepreneurship by providing an overview and directions for the future.
Contextual engineering assessment using an influence-identification tool
Authors: Witmer Ann-Perry
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce a new thought process and associated predictive tool to assist designers of infrastructure for unfamiliar rural societies in understanding the specific non-engineering influences that can lead to greater effectiveness of engineered infrastructure.

Design/methodology/approach

Using sociological principles, a simple checklist tool has been designed to assess specific societal conditions that may influence intervention outcomes. The tool, when weighted by regional predispositions, allows the designer to incorporate five non-engineering influences into technical design of engineered infrastructure.

Findings

Early deployment of the tool indicates that the predictive process helps to adapt technical designs to societal contexts. It also enhances consultant understanding of the client’s values and needs to achieve a collaborative technical solution.

Research limitations/implications

Long-term outcomes have not been assessed, so additional time is needed to confirm the value of context in design performance. Further evaluations will refine the technical guideline process as well.

Practical implications

Merging sociological understanding with technical design allows engineers to assimilate client values and indigenous beliefs into an infrastructure, preventing rejection due to incompatibility with local context.

Originality/value

The concept of contextual engineering, which melds technical approach with societal influences, is the original contribution of the author, as is the predictive tool.
Emerging trends in data analytics and knowledge management job market: extending KSA framework
Authors: Chang Hsia-Ching , Wang Chen-Ya , Hawamdeh Suliman
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate emerging trends in data analytics and knowledge management (KM) job market by using the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) framework. The findings from the study provide insights into curriculum development and academic program design.

Design/methodology/approach

This study traced and retrieved job ads on LinkedIn to understand how data analytics and KM interplay in terms of job functions, knowledge, skills and abilities required for jobs, as well as career progression. Conducting content analysis using text analytics and multiple correspondence analysis, this paper extends the framework of KSA proposed by Cegielski and Jones‐Farmer to the field of data analytics and KM.

Findings

Using content analysis, the study analyzes the requisite KSA that connect analytics to KM from the job demand perspective. While Kruskal–Wallis tests assist in examining the relationships between different types of KSA and company’s characteristics, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) aids in reducing dimensions and representing the KSA data points in two-dimensional space to identify potential associations between levels of categorical variables. The results from the Kruskal–Wallis tests indicate a significant relationship between job experience levels and KSA. The MCA diagrams illustrate key distinctions between hard and soft skills in data across different experience levels.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the study are two-fold. First, the extended KSA framework can guide KM professionals with their career planning toward data analytics. Second, the findings can inform academic institutions with regard to broadening and refining their data analytics or KM curricula.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies to investigate the connection between data analytics and KM from the job demand perspective. It contributes to the ongoing discussion and provides insights into curriculum development and academic program design.
Emotional intelligence, external emotional connections and brand attachment
Authors: Vredeveld Anna J.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of emotional brand attachment by examining two of its antecedents: external emotional brand connections and emotional intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using survey methodology (n = 419), and the hypotheses were tested by using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.

Findings

Findings reveal that emotional intelligence is positively related external emotional brand connections (i.e. connecting a brand to important people, events and experiences in memory) which, in turn, has a positive influence on emotional brand attachment. Findings also show that emotional brand attachment is positively related to brand purchase intentions and brand attitudes.

Research limitations/implications

This research shows that both external emotional connections and emotional intelligence are important antecedents of emotional brand attachment, even after controlling for different types of brand use (social and special occasion brand use) and product category. Other control variables, such as brand characteristics, are not examined.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that brand managers can enhance emotional brand attachment by helping consumers establish external emotional brand connections.

Originality/value

This research addresses a gap in previous research by examining antecedents of emotional brand attachment. The findings showcase that emotional intelligence is an antecedent to external emotional brand connections and emotional brand attachment. This research also goes beyond the loyalty focus of previous research to show that emotional brand attachment has an impact on general purchase intentions and brand attitudes.
Place brand communities: from terminal to instrumental values
Authors: Martin Emeline , Capelli Sonia
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to understand the values around which stakeholders of a place brand within a community can align.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis of websites provided a description of region brands. In-depth interview data from representatives of two communal region brands provide a foundation for investigating the attitudes and behaviors of 20 place brand managers depending on their value orientation.

Findings

Two categories of communal region brands are found, of which one reflects terminal values whereas the other is based on instrumental values. Instrumental values appear more efficient for promoting the place through stakeholders than terminal values.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research highlights some particularities of place brand communities and adds instrumental value to the classic terminal value identified within commercial brand communities.

Practical implications

Place brand managers gain insights into the values around which they can align stakeholders of their brand.

Originality/value

Brand community literature focuses mostly on specialty or convenience product-oriented communities. By investigating a place as a different type of “product”, this study demonstrates that place brands draw on communal arguments to function like master brands. Furthermore, terminal values can be replaced by more instrumental values in the context of place branding, because agreement on broad terminal values by individual members of the community is unlikely to be achieved whereas specific instrumental values can serve their individual interests.
Places in names: an investigation of regional geographic brand congruency
Authors: Sloan David R. , Aiken Damon , Mikkelson Alan C.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore the effects of regional geographic brand congruency (GBC) on brand trust, brand parity, perceived value, brand honesty and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses an experimental method in two studies to test hypotheses derived from the literature.

Findings

This research conceptualizes GBC as the relationship between products/services and geographic regions that are authentic, credible and fitting. Results from the two studies support the hypothesis that brands with regional GBC have higher levels of consumer evaluation compared to brands with geographic incongruence or with no geographic reference at all.

Research limitations/implications

This research offers insight into the decision to name a brand. If one is going to associate a product with a regional geographic location, it is more effective to use a location that is fitting as it applies to that product; otherwise, it would be best to avoid a geographic association in a brand name.

Originality/value

The exploration of regional geographic brand congruency in relation to outcomes of brand trust, brand parity, perceived value, purchase intentions and honesty offers new insights into the nature and role of place images.
Resilience research and social marketing: the route to sustainable behaviour change
Authors: Wood Matthew
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that resilience – and its underlying socio-ecological perspective – is a critical concept that could serve to integrate different views on, and approaches to, social marketing. The aim is to inspire social marketers to move away from narrow, issue-based interventions targeting individual behaviours and to consider the impact of social ecologies, particularly the contribution resilience research can make to behaviour change.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper; socio-ecological models and the resilience concept are discussed and applied to a current “wicked problem” – obesity.

Findings

From a socio-ecological perspective, research findings highlight the impact macro, meso and micro forces have on behaviour and the importance of a child’s micro-system and the influence it has on development and life outcomes. Building resilience requires a relationship-building, person-centred, holistic and long-term developmental approach to behaviour change.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper that introduces new concepts to the social marketing field. Future research should focus on understanding how to implement a resilience-building approach in practice – including the interrelationships and interactions between individual, family and community resilience – and how resilience can be integrated within systematic, socio-ecological thinking when addressing “wicked problems”.

Practical implications

Rather than blaming and targeting individuals, the goal should be to create an environment that supports parents, families and communities to build resilience at the micro, meso and macro levels. The findings support the argument that social marketers should adopt an upstream approach to develop interventions that make the environment the primary focus. Social marketers should collaborate with, and learn from, social workers, psychologists and educationalist to further their understanding of resilience. This would have a positive, sustainable impact on a whole range of social and health issues, ultimately helping to address the overarching issue of social inequality.

Social implications

Building resilience amongst individuals, families and communities offer a means to achieve fundamental positive social change and to reduce social, economic and health inequality.

Originality/value

The paper offers a unique perspective on how and why resilience – and its underlying socio-ecological framework – should be applied within the social marketing field.
Informal learning, organizational commitment and self-efficacy
Authors: Yoon Dong-Yeol , Han Seung-hyun , Sung Moonju , Cho Jun
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a mediating effect of self-efficacy between individuals’ informal learning and their organizational commitment. Informal learning between individuals is critical in the workplace because sharing knowledge and expertise is directly related to employee’s attitude and organizational benefits such as enhanced performance and productivity. Of the many factors affecting organizational commitment, this research focuses on effects of informal learning and a mediating role of self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

To address these research questions, this research analyzes survey data of 317 Korean workers. Through structural equation model analysis, the authors examine how informal learning affects employee commitment to organizations, where individual self-efficacy works as a mediator.

Findings

The analysis confirms that informal learning increases self-efficacy, whereas no directly influences organizational commitment. The analysis also demonstrates that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between informal learning and organizational commitment. This study confirms the positive relationship between informal learning and self-efficacy, whereas no direct relationship between informal learning and organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

This study has several limitations in terms of methodology. Data collection mainly relied on a survey method, which is a single source and raises the concern of common method bias. Therefore, future studies may use different types of data to solve the problem of common method biases. In addition, the study design was cross-sectional; therefore, it was unable to eliminate the biases caused by simultaneous data. Future studies can adopt a longitudinal design using different time stages to collect data in order to eliminate this bias.

Originality/value

The main reasons for the high rate of informal learning through activities such as on-the-job training, coaching, mentoring and community of practice include the increase in the efficiency of learning and reduction in learning costs by integrating learning and work and the effectiveness of informal learning in terms of improving performance. This research seeks to demonstrate how informal learning in the workplace influences employees’ commitment to the organization through self-efficacy.
The home country boundness of technological resources and internationalization performance
Authors: Mun Hee Jin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mixed results of the relationship between technological resources and internationalization performance. It argues that a high proportion of technological resources bound to be used in home countries decrease internationalization performance, which is moderated by organizational slack.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from Korean-listed pharmaceutical firms from 1998 to 2010. Tobit regression is used to test the hypotheses since the dependent variable takes a value within a limited range.

Findings

The empirical results show that a high ratio of home country-bound technological resources reduces internationalization performance. This negative relationship is reinforced as organizational slack increases.

Originality/value

This study reveals why technological resources do not always result in effective internationalization. Furthermore, its focus on organizational slack as an intrafirm contingency contributes to recent attempts to reveal organizational slack’s role in internationalization.
Development of naturally carbonated paneer whey fermented beverage blended with pineapple and strawberry juice
Authors: Kaur Simarjit , Bhise Suresh Rajabhau , Kaur Amarjeet , Minhas K.S.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The present study was carried out to standardize the method for preparation of naturally carbonated fermented paneer whey beverage by incorporating pineapple and strawberry fruit juice and to check their suitability in the beverage by evaluating the organoleptic characteristics and shelf life of product.

Design/methodology/approach

Beverage was inoculated with yeast cultureClavispora lucitaniaeat 0.5 per cent v/v and fermented at 35 ± 1°C for 36 h aerobically. Standardization of total soluble solids (TSS) (16, 15, 14, 13 and 12oBrix) and juice concentration (15, 20, 25 and 30 per cent) of beverage was done on the basis of organoleptic evaluation, and the beverage with TSS 12oB and 30 per cent juice was selected best for further storage study. Two types of beverages were prepared: paneer whey beverage blended with pineapple juice and paneer whey beverage blended with strawberry juice, and were stored at refrigerated (4 ± 1oC) and ambient (25 ± 5oC) conditions. Effect of storage on physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes were studied periodically after every 15 days for 90 days of storage period.

Findings

There was significant decrease in brix:acid ratio (p= 0.0008) from 12.0 to 9.3, total sugar (p= 0.017) from 10.8 to 6.8, ascorbic acid (p= 0.002) from 17.8 to 9.3 mg/100 mL and lactose (p= 0.037) from 3.1 to 0.6 per cent content over 90 days of ambient storage period. Total yeast count increased during the initial stages of fermentation and started declining after 60 days of storage. The alcohol production started after 15 days and reached 0.7 per cent after 90 days for paneer whey beverages blended with strawberry juice. The more variations were found in the physico-chemical and microbiological properties of the beverage at ambient storage than refrigeration storage. Highest score for color, flavor, mouthfeel and overall acceptability was found on third days, which decreased further during the storage. The comparative study of the paneer whey beverage blended with strawberry juice stored at ambient and refrigeration temperature showed that maximum decrease was found for score of appearance/color, flavor, mouthfeel and overall acceptability at ambient temperature as compared to refrigeration temperature. Beverage stored at refrigeration temperature was found more acceptable than the beverage which was stored at ambient temperature irrespective of all types of beverages.

Originality/value

The refrigerated beverage was found more acceptable up to 90 days, whereas beverage stored under ambient conditions was found acceptable up to 60 days. The products so obtained had naturally produced CO2, and little alcohol content added effervescence, sparkle, tangy taste and flavoring characteristics.