bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cotranslational folding of alkaline phosphatase in the periplasm ofEscherichia coli
Authors: Elfageih Rageia , Karyolaimos Alexandros , Kemp Grant , de Gier Jan-Willem , von Heijne Gunnar , Kudva Renuka
Published: July 2020

Cotranslational protein folding studies using Force Profile Analysis, a method where the SecM translational arrest peptide is used to detect folding-induced forces acting on the nascent polypeptide, have so far been limited mainly to small domains of cytosolic proteins that fold in close proximity to the translating ribosome. In this study, we investigate the cotranslational folding of the periplasmic, disulfide bond-containingE. coliprotein alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) in a wild-type strain background and a strain background devoid of the periplasmic thiol:disulfide interchange protein DsbA. We find that folding-induced forces can be transmittedviathe nascent chain from the periplasm to the polypeptide transferase center in the ribosome, a distance of ~160 Å, and that PhoA appears to fold cotranslationallyviaat least two disulfide-stabilized folding intermediates. Thus, Force Profile Analysis can be used to study cotranslational folding of proteins in an extra-cytosolic compartment, like the periplasm.
Wide-Field Calcium Imaging of Dynamic Cortical Networks During Locomotion
Authors: West Sarah L. , Aronson Justin D. , Popa Laurentiu S. , Carter Russell E. , Feller Kathryn D. , Chiesl William M. , Gerhart Morgan L. , Shekhar Aditya C. , Ghanbari Leila , Kodandaramaiah Suhasa B. , Ebner Timothy J.
Published: July 2020

Motor behavior results in widespread activation of the cerebral cortex. Therefore, fully understanding the cerebral cortex’s role in motor behavior requires a mesoscopic level description of the engaged cortical regions and their functional interactions. Mesoscopic imaging of Ca2+ fluorescence through transparent polymer skulls implanted on transgenic Thy1-GCaMP6f mice reveals widespread activation of the cerebral cortex during locomotion, including not only in primary motor and somatosensory regions but also in secondary motor, retrosplenial, and visual cortices. Using the time series of Ca2+ fluorescence from 28 regions (nodes) we found to be consistent across mice, we examined the changes in functional connectivity from rest to locomotion. At the initiation of locomotion, the most anterior nodes of the secondary motor cortex increase in correlation with other nodes, while other nodes decrease in correlation. Eigenvector centrality confirms these changes in functional connectivity. Directed Granger causality analysis reveals an increase in causal influence of anterior regions of secondary motor cortex on other dorsal cortical regions at the onset of locomotion. These results highlight the global changes in correlation, centrality, and causality occurring throughout the cerebral cortex between rest and locomotion and suggest that the premotor areas play an important role in organizing these changes.
Metabolomics and lipidomics inC. elegansusing a single sample preparation
Authors: Molenaars Marte , Schomakers Bauke V. , Elfrink Hyung L. , Gao Arwen W. , Vervaart Martin A.T. , Pras-Raves Mia L. , Luyf Angela C. , Smith Reuben L. , Sterken Mark G. , Kammenga Jan E. , van Kampen Antoine H. C. , Janssens Georges E. , Vaz Frédéric M. , van Weeghel Michel , Houtkooper Riekelt H.
Published: July 2020

Comprehensive metabolomic and lipidomic mass spectrometry methods are in increasing demand, for instance in research related to nutrition and aging. The nematodeC. elegansis a key model organism in these fields, due to the large repository of availableC. elegansmutants and their convenient natural lifespan. Here, we describe a robust and sensitive analytical method for the semi-quantitative analysis of >100 polar (metabolomics) and >1000 apolar (lipidomics) metabolites inC. elegans, using a single sample preparation. Our method is capable of reliably detecting a wide variety of biologically relevant metabolic aberrations in, for instance, glycolysis and the TCA cycle, pyrimidine metabolism and complex lipid biosynthesis. In conclusion, we provide a powerful analytical tool that maximizes metabolic data yield from a single sample.

Graphical abstract
Single-cell analysis ofSchistosoma mansonireveals a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate
Authors: Li Pengyang , Sarfati Dania Nanes , Xue Yuan , Yu Xi , Tarashansky Alexander J. , Quake Stephen R. , Wang Bo
Published: July 2020

Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. Their germline outputs many fertilized eggs, which are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate its development. Here, we construct a transcriptomic cell type atlas of juvenile schistosomes. This allows us to capture germline stem cells (GSCs) duringde novogonadal development. We identify a genetic program that balances the fate of GSC between proliferation and differentiation. This program is controlled byonecut, a homeobox transcription factor, andboule, an mRNA binding protein. Evaluating this genetic program in schistosome’s free-living evolutionary cousin, the planarian, shows that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved but its function has changed significantly during evolution.
Estimating the establishment of local transmission and the cryptic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA
Authors: Davis Jessica T. , Chinazzi Matteo , Perra Nicola , Mu Kunpeng , Pastore y Piontti Ana , Ajelli Marco , Dean Natalie E. , Gioannini Corrado , Litvinova Maria , Merler Stefano , Rossi Luca , Sun Kaiyuan , Xiong Xinyue , Halloran M. Elizabeth , Longini Ira M. , Viboud Cécile , Vespignani Alessandro
Published: July 2020

We use a global metapopulation transmission model to study the establishment of sustained and undetected community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The model is calibrated on international case importations from mainland China and takes into account travel restrictions to and from international destinations. We estimate widespread community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in February, 2020. Modeling results indicate international travel as the key driver of the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in the West and East Coast metropolitan areas that could have been seeded as early as late-December, 2019. For most of the continental states the largest contribution of imported infections arrived through domestic travel flows.
Examining the protection efficacy of face shields against cough aerosol droplets using water sensitive papers
Authors: Ronen A. , Rotter H. , Elisha S. , Sevilia S. , Parizer B. , Hafif N. , Manor A.
Published: July 2020

Simple plastic face shields have many advantages compared to regular medical masks. They are easily cleaned for reuse and comfortable to wear. In light of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, the potential of face shields as a substitution for medical masks, as a recommendation to the general population, was tested. Testing the efficacy of the protective equipment utilized a cough simulator that was carefully tuned to replicate human cough in terms of droplet size distribution and outlet velocity. The tested protective equipment was worn on a manikin head simulating human breathing. An Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) was used to analyze the concentration and size distribution of small particles that reach the manikin head respiration pathways. Additionally, Water sensitive papers were taped over and under the tested protective equipment, and were subsequently photographed and analyzed. For droplets larger than 3μm by diameter, the efficiency of shields to block cough droplets was found to be comparable to that of regular medical masks, with enhanced protection on face parts the mask does not cover. Additionally, for finer particles, of the order 0.3 to few microns, a shield was found to perform even better, blocking about 10 times more fine particles than the medical mask. This implies that for the general population that is not intendedly exposed to confirmed infected individuals, recommending the use of face shields as an alternative to medical masks should be considered.
Optimal design of a parallel robotic gripper using enhanced multi-objective ant lion optimizer with a sensitivity analysis approach
Authors: Mahanta Golak Bihari , BBVL Deepak , Biswal Bibhuti B. , Rout Amruta
Published: July 2020

Purpose

From the past few decades, parallel grippers are used successfully in the automation industries for performing various pick and place jobs due to their simple design, reliable nature and its economic feasibility. So, the purpose of this paperis to design a suitable gripper with appropriate design parameters for better performance in the robotic production systems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, an enhanced multi-objective ant lion algorithm is introduced to find the optimal geometric and design variables of a parallel gripper. The considered robotic gripper systems are evaluated by considering three objective functions while satisfying eight constraint equations. The beta distribution function is introduced for generating the initial random number at the initialization phase of the proposed algorithm as a replacement of uniform distribution function. A local search algorithm, namely, achievement scalarizing function with multi-criteria decision-making technique and beta distribution are used to enhance the existing optimizer to evaluate the optimal gripper design problem. In this study, the newly proposed enhanced optimizer to obtain the optimum design condition of the design variables is called enhanced multi-objective ant lion optimizer.

Findings

This study aims to obtain optimal design parameters of the parallel gripper with the help of the developed algorithms. The acquired results are investigated with the past research paper conducted in that field for comparison. It is observed that the suggested method to get the best gripper arrangement and variables of the parallel gripper mechanism outperform its counterparts. The effects of the design variables are needed to be studied for a better design approach concerning the objective functions, which is achieved by sensitivity analysis.

Practical implications

The developed gripper is feasible to use in the assembly operation, as well as in other pick and place operations in different industries.

Originality/value

In this study, the problem to find the optimum design parameter (i.e. geometric parameters such as length of the link and parallel gripper joint angles) is addressed as a multi-objective optimization. The obtained results from the execution of the algorithm are evaluated using the performance indicator algorithm and a sensitivity analysis is introduced to validate the effects of the design variables. The obtained optimal parameters are used to develop a gripper prototype, which will be used for the assembly process.
Improved fault diagnosis for aircraft flap control system based on bond graph
Authors: Chen Jie , Jing Zhengdong , Wu Chentao , Chen Senyao , Cheng Liye
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the fault detection adaptive threshold of aircraft flap control system to make the system fault diagnosis more accurate.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the complex mechanical–electrical–hydraulic structure and the multiple fault modes of the aircraft flap control system, the advanced fault diagnosis method based on the bond graph (BG) model is presented, and based on the system diagnostic BG model, the parameter uncertainty intervals are estimated and a new adaptive threshold is constructed by linear fraction transformation.

Findings

To construct a more reasonable and accurate adaptive threshold range to more accurately detect system failures, some typical failure modes’ diagnosis process are selected and completed for verification; the simulation results show that the proposed method is effective and feasible for complex systems’ fault diagnosis.

Practical implications

This study can provide a theoretical guidance and technical support for fault diagnosis of complex systems, which avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

Originality/value

This study enables more accurate fault detection and diagnosis of complex systems when considering factors such as parameter uncertainty.
Testing for regime-switching behaviour in Finnish agricultural land prices
Authors: Valtiala Juho
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study analyses agricultural land price dynamics in order to better understand price development and to improve forecast accuracy. Understanding the evolution of agricultural land prices is important when considering sound investment decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies threshold autoregression to model agricultural land prices. The data includes quarterly observations on Finnish agricultural land prices.

Findings

The study shows that Finnish agricultural land prices exhibit regime-switching behaviour when using past changes in prices as a threshold variable. The threshold autoregressive model not only fits the data better but also improves the accuracy of price forecasts compared to the linear autoregressive model.

Originality/value

The results show that a sharp fall in agricultural land prices temporarily changes the regular development of prices. This information significantly improves the accuracy of price predictions.
Extending validity testing of the Persuasion Principles Index
Authors: Hartnett Nicole , Greenacre Luke , Kennedy Rachel , Sharp Byron
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to independently test the predictive validity of the Persuasion Principles Index (PPI) for video advertisements for low-involvement products with a measure of in-market sales effectiveness. This study follows the inaugural test conducted by Armstrong et al. (2016) for print advertisements for high-involvement utilitarian products with a measure of advertising recall.

Design/methodology/approach

The method was in line with that developed by Armstrong et al. (2016) for rating advertisements and assessing the reliability of ratings. Consensus PPI scores were calculated for a data set of 242 matched pairs of television advertisements. For each pair, the authors determined whether the advertisement that better adhered to the persuasion principles performed better in-market.

Findings

Consensus PPI scores predicted the more sales effective television advertisement for 55% (confidence interval (CI) = 49%, 61%) of the 242 pairs. This result is no better than chance and much weaker than the result from the initial validation study, which found that the consensus PPI scores predicted the more recalled print advertisement for 74.5% (CI = 66%, 83%) of 96 pairs.

Research limitations/implications

This study replicated the application of the PPI as per Armstrong’s guidelines and extended validity testing to a different set of advertising conditions. Findings indicate that better adherence to the persuasion principles produces only a weak, positive effect for predicting the performance of television advertisements for low-involvement products. A research agenda that flows from the results is discussed.

Practical implications

The authors suggest that the PPI in its present form is best used to predict advertising performance under conditions as per the inaugural validation test (Armstrong et al., 2016).

Originality/value

Advertisers will require compelling evidence of the PPI’s predictive accuracy to adopt the tool for pre-testing advertising. This study is the first independent test of the predictive validity of the PPI and its generalisability across advertising conditions. Another contribution of this study is the assessment of Armstrong’s advice to remove unreliable ratings. The authors show that this procedure, surprisingly, does not improve the predictive accuracy of the PPI.
Profiling information-seeking behavior of mosque speechmakers in Upper Egypt
Authors: Mansour Essam
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is attracting attention to the use of information by mosque speechmakers (MSs) in the Islamic and Arabic world, specifically in Upper Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a survey, which was conducted from September to November 2019. A structured questionnaire was designed in Arabic and distributed to the mosques that were chosen as a sample to represent all the mosques of Upper Egypt. The researcher sampled 5% (n = 421) of the total of 8,421 mosques in Upper Egypt.

Findings

The findings showed the majority of the MSs in Upper Egypt are to be older (from 36 to 60 years, educated [mostly with BA degrees]), married and with an average monthly income over LE 3,500. Almost all MSs were strongly looking for information to make specific/general research, to make a religious lecture and be aware of contemporary events. The most frequently used sources of information by MSs were biographies, books, mass media, references and the Web. Most of the MSs had been using information heavily. The highest percentage of them spent from 7 to 12 h a week searching for information. MSs preferred the use of printed sources of information to those non-print sources. Mobile apps, followed by the Web and information databases were the most significant technological tools used by MSs. MSs’ efficiency level of using English was good and a reasonable number of them indicated that they were not good at speaking other languages, such as French. The home/personal library and the special library were the most important types of libraries used by MSs. The unaffected role of the library to access information, followed by the use of foreign languages to access some sources of information, as well as the use of technology, were the most significant problems faced by MSs when searching for information.

Research limitations/implications

This paper investigates the topic of MSs’ use of and access to information. This topic, unfortunately, has limited previous research, particularly in the Arabic and Islamic environment.

Practical implications

This paper provides valuable insight into the information behavior of a very significant client group, namely, MSs.

Originality/value

Being one of the very few studies conducted on these beneficiaries of information in the Arab and Islamic environment, this study is considered a unique one among several studies conducted in the area of the information-seeking behavior, especially with such a significant group of information users/seekers in such influencing environment in the world. The findings of this study may help in a better understanding of the information-seeking behavior of the MSs.
Satisfaction with maternal and birth services: a survey in public hospitals in Turkey
Authors: Özkan Şirin , Chiang Chifa , Aba Gökhan , Çelik Yusuf
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the satisfaction of women who underwent normal delivery and cesarean section (or C-section) with maternal care in five state-run hospitals in Northwestern Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 580 women who underwent normal delivery (ND) and 392 who had a C-section (CS). Data were collected using two maternal satisfaction questionnaires, which participants completed right before they were discharged.

Findings

More than half of ND (61.7%) and CS (56.9%) participants were satisfied with maternal care. ND participants who had received antenatal training were more satisfied with maternal care than CS participants who had not received antenatal training. Higher income was a significant predictor for reduced satisfaction with maternal care among CS participants (p = 0.031).

Practical implications

Hospital administrators and decision-makers should meet women's expectations, provide them with comfort, encourage them for skin-to-skin contact and respect their right to privacy in order to increase their satisfaction with maternal care. Pregnant women should also be encouraged to receive antenatal training offered by hospitals before delivery.

Originality/value

The evidence-based results of the study will help hospital administrators to improve healthcare quality and focus on increasing women's satisfaction with maternal care.
Transaction costs and participation in avocado export marketing in Murang’a County, Kenya
Authors: Karing'u Kelvin Njuguna , Isaboke Hezron Nyarindo , Ndirangu Samuel Njiri
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of transactional costs on smallholder avocado farmers’ participation in the export market and the extent of participation in Murang’a County, Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 384 avocado farmers in Murang’a County, following stratified sampling. The Heckman two-stage model was used for analysis.

Findings

Results showed that the cost of information search was an important variable that impedes smallholders’ participation in export marketing while harvesting costs inhibits the extent of participation in export marketing.

Research limitations/implications

This study used data at the farm level. Therefore, insights on transaction costs among other marketing agents in the export market value chain would be an issue for future studies.

Originality/value

Following the debate on transaction costs and market participation among farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa, this paper models transactional costs and export market participation among avocado smallholders and measures the extent of participation with the inclusion of harvesting costs, negotiation costs, monitoring costs and information search costs that are not common in previous studies, thus contributing to the development of literature.
Explaining regional differences in firm formation rates: how far are government policies important for entrepreneurship?
Authors: Demirdag İsmail , Eraydin Ayda
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The growing number of studies shows that government policies and measures are critical in determining entrepreneurship levels of regions. Any changes in the government policies and measures are, therefore, expected to bring significant changes at the entrepreneurship levels. This paper aims to explore the importance of the government policies and measures, along with supply and demand-side determinants in regional entrepreneurship in Turkey and explains the convergence of entrepreneurship among two distinct periods corresponding to changes in the government policies and measures concerning entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

Looking at a study on 81 NUTS-III regions of Turkey, this paper focusses on regional determinants important in the separation of regions with different entrepreneurship trajectories (based on the initial level and the rate of increase in entrepreneurship). Using discriminant function analysis, this paper tries to show how far government policies are important in distinguishing regions with different entrepreneurship levels.

Findings

The outcomes of the analysis show that certain policies and measures recently introduced have become instrumental in triggering higher entrepreneurship levels in regions with already higher levels of entrepreneurship, but not in regions with initially lower levels of entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing regional entrepreneurship literature through introducing the research findings on the importance of government policies and institutions on regional entrepreneurship, besides the role of regional capacities and assets.
Overcoming the theoretical duality on social enterprise formation
Authors: Nascimento Leandro da Silva , Salazar Viviane Santos
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Nowadays, creation and discovery theories are the two main theoretical approaches supporting the studies on the emergence of enterprises and some scholars analyze these theories in isolation. In addition, studies that investigate the emergence of social enterprises based on these theories together are scarce. This paper aims to analyze if and how discovery and creation theories can coexist in the formation process of social enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-case study based on semi-structured interviews with the founders of eight Brazilian social enterprises was conducted.

Findings

From the results, it is identified that there is a continuous process between discoveries and creations that lead to the maturation of the initial idea and, consequently, to the formation of a social enterprise. Therefore, a continuous process model between discovery and creation of opportunities in the formation of a social enterprise (i.e. a mixed theoretical approach) is proposed, going beyond a theoretical duality between creation or discovery.

Originality/value

This study helps to overcome limitations inherent in both discovery and creation theories, proposing a mixed theoretical approach. This new theoretical approach praises the existence of new paths to understand the emergence of social enterprises, by overcoming the theoretical duality between creation or discovery of opportunities, i.e. a new understanding of an integrating process rather than a dichotomous one.
The relationship between the companies’ political connections and audit fees
Authors: Salehi Mahdi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the political connections of companies are correlated with auditor selection, audit fees and abnormal audit fees.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data contains 756 observations of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2011-2019. In this study, the relationship between companies with political relationships and the selection of a qualified auditor, audit fees and abnormal audit fees are reviewed. The regression used for test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results of hypotheses testing indicate that there is a positive and significant correlation between the political relationships of companies and certified auditor selection, auditing fees and abnormal audit fees. In addition, the political relationships of companies have a significant and inverse effect on the relationship between institutional ownership and auditing fee and abnormal audit fees. It was also found that there is a positive and significant correlation between companies and political relationships and abnormal audit fees.

Originality/value

So far several studies conducted on audit fees, however, no study conducted on the relationship of political relationship of the companies with audit fees and the results of the current study may bridge the gap in the current field.
FDI inflows and intellectual property rights for MNEs in emerging markets: an alternative approach through the lens of trademarks in Vietnam (1986-2016)
Authors: Nguyen Amy Linh Thuy
Published: July 2020

Purpose

While the current anti-globalisation wave is considered as a regional and cyclical relapse among Western countries, the new era of globalisation has shifted away from stagnant developed economies towards the rising prosperity of emerging Asia, where it is attracting substantial global inward foreign direct investment (FDI). Focussing on Vietnam, the country that is seen as Asia’s next economic tiger, the question of how important intellectual properties (IP) protection is in the international competition for FDI inflows is still unsettled, especially on the under-researched topic of trademarks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes on the business history approach, which allows rich evidence from the dynamic and evolving natures of multinational enterprises (MNEs) to drive the research process, so that international business scholars can test models rigorously. The evidence provided in this paper is essentially qualitative and combines trademark registrations data, with trade and FDI statistics between 1986 and 2016, also draws on companies’ archives, industry reports and related newspaper articles.

Findings

This paper provides the chronology of intellectual property right (IPR) legal landscapes and the dynamic co-evolution of trademarks and FDI inflows in Vietnam. Three trademark protection strategies for MNEs and their patterns here are addressed. The paper also argues that trademarks bring new insights and IP protection strategy for pharmaceutical MNEs for the case of Vietnam is as important in trademarks as it is in patents. In emerging markets with strong incentives for FDI such as Vietnam, MNEs are not necessarily put off by weak IPR, but rather create alternative strategies for dealing with the lack of IP protection in these emerging market settings.

Originality/value

This study challenges the stream of thoughts that view trademarks as a “neglected intangible asset” among different IPRs, while in fact, trademarks advance MNEs’ knowledge by ensuring competitiveness and long-run survival in emerging markets. This paper is among the first few attempts to look at pharmaceutical industry through the lens of trademarks, moving away from the traditional patent-focussed approach. It extends the understanding of OLI paradigm and highlights that MNEs need to possess Oa and Op advantages not only at the beginning of internationalisation process but rather evolving through the time to cope with imitation risks in the host country.
Managerial effectiveness and its correlates in Indian banking industry
Authors: Negi Pooja Singh , Dangwal Ramesh Chandra
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Various scams and swindles in banks demand effective supervision and competent workforce, as it involves with workplace accountability and undertaking customer support services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the managerial effectiveness of selected public, private and foreign banks in India.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 467 questionnaires from (middle and top-level) managers of (five public, five private and five foreign banks) fifteen banks have been considered. The descriptive statistics,t-test and ANOVA are used to differentiate each sector of banks.

Findings

The significant difference denoted in terms of managerial effectiveness among banks. The results revealed that managers of public banks are action-oriented and receptive to feedback, whereas the manager of private sector banks embodies self-disclosure and perceptiveness. The correlates, namely, action-orientation, self-disclosure and receptivity to feedback evident significant among foreign banks.

Practical implications

The consideration and application of such correlates would surely help managers, decision-makers and practitioners to enhance their effectiveness. Human resource professionals can use these results to develop programmes and policies for better management.

Originality/value

The study is imperative as it compares the behaviour of managers of public, private and foreign banks individually. The findings demonstrate that correlates of managerial effectiveness significantly differ among the banks.
Spanning the boundaries of qualitative grounded theory methods: breaking new grounds into the new online era
Authors: Bonfim Leandro
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to present a guide for using grounded theory methods for exploring organizational phenomena of the new online era.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflexive account is adopted on how one can build upon the foundations of traditional offline grounded theory for conducting grounded theorizing with online-based data.

Findings

Guidelines for conducting grounded theory on online contexts are presented for crafting research questions, gathering online data and using consolidated methods for analyzing online data. This study shows future and present challenges posed by the new online era for grounded theorizing, as well as helpful lessons to be learned from traditional offline grounded theory to mitigate them.

Research limitations/implications

The implications are helpful for established qualitative organizational scholars that are yet to catch-up in the boundary spanning process of using the digital sources of data in grounded theory. They are equally helpful for newcomers on qualitative grounded theory by guiding them on where and how to start these challenging research endeavors of grounded theorizing in this new online era.

Originality/value

Scant attention has been given on applications of grounded theory in the new online era. The differences between online and offline settings have not been clearly defined to this date, and neither do guidelines exist for how qualitative grounded theorists can take advantage of online data to build theory about new organizational phenomena emerging in the online era.
‘Social’ value creation as care: the perspective of beneficiaries in social entrepreneurship
Authors: Lorenzo-Afable Diana , Lips-Wiersma Marjolein , Singh Smita
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to characterise the “social” in social entrepreneurship (SE) by examining social value creation (SVC) from the perspective of vulnerable beneficiaries within a developing country context. It uses the lens of care ethics to garner insights into SVC based on what beneficiaries care about in their work engagement with social enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory paper implements a multiple case study approach to theory building, which considers the rich, real-life developing country context wherein much SVC occurs. Data collection primarily uses in-depth interviews with beneficiaries in accordance with socially sensitive research methodologies involving vulnerable participants.

Findings

The findings offer an ethical view of SVC that is premised on what is of value to beneficiaries in SE. The authors find that SVC is a multi-dimensional and reciprocal process that is shaped as beneficiaries work for social enterprises. The reciprocal nature of the process engenders beneficiary altruism, which may heighten vulnerability and lead to the dark side of SE.

Social implications

Many of the problems SE tries to address are situated in developing countries. The findings may enable social entrepreneurs, policymakers and social enterprise organisations to develop more responsive and more impactful solutions to social problems in developing countries. They further suggest that beneficiaries must not be looked upon merely as passive recipients of value but as active participants in the SVC process.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to critical SE discourse by giving voice to beneficiaries in SE.
The influence of relational pluralism in developing collective corporate social responsibility strategies
Authors: Silva Paula Maines Da , Verschoore Jorge Renato
Published: July 2020

Purpose

A literature gap has triggered a discussion on the influence of relational pluralism in the adoption of new practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Based on this literature, this paper aims to understand how relational pluralism influences small companies in the development of their collective CSR strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the case of a Brazilian hotel network called Charm Routes, which comprises 66 members. The study adopted a qualitative approach based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA).

Findings

The results show that relational pluralism influences small companies in their collective CSR strategies. This is especially because of the relationships among different actors within the network.

Research limitations/implications

QCA does not explain the correlation between variables, but rather the logical relations among them. The adoption of multivariate techniques is suggested for future studies to evaluate the correlations among the variables and not only the possible causal conditions.

Practical implications

The results bring added clarity to the collective CSR strategies of networks composed of small companies.

Social implications

The findings may be of use to networks of small companies working collectively to develop initiatives aimed at providing social and environmental benefits.

Originality/value

Instead of a framework, the study generated the expression RPN*(INT+LON) → CSR_CS. This means that relational pluralism within the network, enhanced by the intensity and the longevity of the relationship, influences small companies in the development of their collective CSR strategies.
Logistics service quality and customer satisfaction in B2B relationships: a qualitative comparative analysis approach
Authors: Gaudenzi Barbara , Confente Ilenia , Russo Ivan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the logistics service quality (LSQ) from a supply chain quality perspective. The purpose is twofold: (1) to investigate how business customers perceive the LSQ dimensions in business-to-business (B2B) relationships, with a particular focus on the role of logistics service providers and (2) to analyse the manner in which such dimensions, when combined, lead to high levels of customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected through a survey of a sample of Italian food companies are analysed using a qualitative comparative analysis approach. The analysis explores ways of achieving customer satisfaction through different combinations of LSQ dimensions and not only via a “single recipe,” as in most symmetrical methods.

Findings

The study describes how seven dimensions of LSQ lead to achieve customer satisfaction, particularly highlighting and discussing how the different LSQ constructs lead to gain high customer satisfaction via different configurations. This approach is unique in identifying not only linear relationships among variables as traditional statistical methods do, via a configurational approach.

Research limitations/implications

Most academic studies in the related literature investigate service quality from a quality management and a supply chain management perspective. This study fills the existing gap in the analysis of B2B relationships, focusing on the role of third-party logistics (3PL) service providers.

Practical implications

The study presents useful implications for practitioners, describing several ways in which 3PL service providers can combine LSQ dimensions to perform a continuous improvement of customer experience and to gain higher levels of customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study fills the existing gap in the analysis of B2B relationships, using the lens of quality management and supply chain management perspectives, and focusing on the role of 3PL service providers.
Hotels’ self-positioned image versus customers’ perceived image: a case study of a boutique luxury hotel in Hong Kong
Authors: Qian Jianwei , Law Rob , Wei Jiewen , Shen Huawen , Sun Yuqin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to take boutique luxury hotels as its research subject to enrich the view on the self-positioned image of luxury hotels and simultaneously compare this image with the one perceived by customers. It also investigates whether a gap exists between the two images.

Design/methodology/approach

The best-rated boutique luxury hotel in Hong Kong is selected as the case hotel. Through the interpretation and discussion of high-frequency wordlists and semantic co-occurrence network charts, major topics in the hotel’s self-presented image and customers’ perceived image are identified accordingly.

Findings

Five dimensions (event making, exquisite food, excellent amenities and services, special function venue and promotion) used by hotels to form their boutique luxury image are recognised. Between hotels’ self-positioned image and customers’ perceived images, minor similarities such as the recognition of excellent amenities and services were confirmed but considerable differences were identified, indicating the ineffective marketing by the boutique luxury hotel despite its success in terms of ranking. Managerial suggestions on how to address the image discrepancy were proposed.

Originality/value

This study contributes insights into hotel image discrepancy among social media platforms in luxury hotel segments by adding the category of boutique luxury hotels. It also identifies the implications for enhancing the development of a hotel image to meet customers’ needs and expectations.
Treatment of acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau: A case series of 39 patients
Authors: Kromer Christian , Loewe Emilia , Schaarschmidt Marthe‐Lisa , Pinter Andreas , Gerdes Sascha , Celis Daniel , Poortinga Sietske , Wilsmann‐Theis Dagmar , Mössner Rotraut
Published: July 2020

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare chronic inflammatory skin disease. Treatment is extremely challenging and mostly based on empirics as there is only scarce evidence from case reports and few small case series. In this retrospective study, patients with ACH treated at five university medical centers were analyzed according to patient and disease characteristics and treatment experience. We identified 39 patients with ACH with a mean age of 54.4 years at onset, of whom 22 (56.4%) were female. A total of 115 systemic treatment courses were analyzed with methotrexate as the most common therapy (27.0%). Overall, effectiveness of systemic treatments was low (excellent response rate: 14.8%). Among non‐biologics, excellent response was noted in 21.1% (4/19) of treatment courses with methotrexate, followed by acitretin (13.3%; 2/15). Among biologics, guselkumab (excellent response: 100%; 2/2), secukinumab (excellent response: 42.9%; 3/7) and adalimumab (excellent response: 20.0%; 2/10) were most efficacious. The median drug survival was 7.0 months and did not differ significantly between the subgroup of non‐biologic and biologic therapies. To our knowledge, this is the largest case series in ACH investigating patient characteristics and treatment outcomes. Based on our treatment experience, we suggest a treatment algorithm starting with acitretin or methotrexate as first‐line therapy, followed by biologics. Cyclosporin may be used for short‐term control. However, none of the applied systemic therapies yielded satisfying efficacy in our cohort. In patients with primary non‐response, switch of treatment should be evaluated timely on an individual basis, considering possible irreversible disease complications such as nail loss. More research with prospective design is needed to further evaluate traditional and also particularly newer antipsoriatic drugs in ACH.
Maternal input to children with sex chromosome trisomies
Authors: Zampini Laura , Ferrante Camilla , Silibello Gaia , Dall'Ara Francesca , Rigamonti Claudia , Zanchi Paola , Vizziello Paola Giovanna , Lalatta Faustina , Costantino Maria Antonella
Published: July 2020

Background

Although language difficulties are one of the most distinctive characteristics of the neuropsychological profile of children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCT), the analysis of the maternal input addressed to them is a neglected topic.

Aims

The present study aims to analyse the lexical, morphosyntactic, and functional features of the input addressed to children with SCT comparing them with those of the input directed to typically developing children (TD).

Methods & Procedures

Participants were 38 mothers and their 8‐month‐old children, 19 with SCT and 19 TD children. Maternal utterances, collected during video‐recorded play sessions, have been transcribed and coded.

Outcomes & Results

No significant differences between groups have been found in the lexical and syntactic characteristics of maternal input. However, considering the input functional features, the proportion of directives and questions was significantly higher in the maternal input addressed to children with SCT than in the input addressed to TD children whereas the opposite pattern was found in the proportion of affect‐salient speech.

Conclusions & Implications

The awareness of a possible delay in their children's language development could influence the way the mothers speak to them. In particular, the functional features of maternal input could be affected. Support groups for parents of children with SCT at the preverbal stage could be useful to reassure the mothers about their role in their children's language development.

What this paper adds

What is already known on the subject

Studies in the literature identified a high percentage of language delays or impairments in children with SCT. To date, according to our knowledge, there are no studies that analyse the linguistic input addressed to these children.

What this study adds

The lexical and syntactic features of maternal input addressed to 8‐month‐old children with SCT are adequate to the children's communicative skills. However, the mothers of children with SCT seem to provide additional scaffolding in their verbal input, using a lower proportion of affect‐salient speech and a higher proportion of questions. In addition, a higher proportion of directives suggests the use of a more demanding style.

Clinical implications of this study

The awareness of possible language delays could influence the functional features of input leading mothers to use a more supportive and demanding input. Support groups for parents of children with SCT at the preverbal stage could be useful to reassure the mothers about their role in their children's language development.
The ‘Heathrow’ Case: Polycentricity, Legislation, and the Standard of Review
Authors: Bell Joanna , Fisher Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

The recent Court of Appeal decision in the ‘Heathrow’ case, Plan B Earth v Secretary of State for Transport is an illustration of the challenges of reviewing polycentric and expert decision‐making. The issues raised in the case concerning the Planning Act 2008 are an illustration of a court's expository role in such contexts. The Court tackled directly a series of interpretive questions concerning the Planning Act 2008's obligations regarding the consideration of climate change. The Habitats and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive issues raised in the appeal, in contrast, were presented with the question of the intensity of review foregrounded in legal argument. The Court therefore sought to articulate the ‘standard of review’ and to apply it to the government's decisions. This way of framing the issue unfortunately sidelined the courts’ expository role in relation to intepreting the Habitats and SEA Directives, leaving key provisions under‐analysed.
Home Matters: The Material Culture of Urban Security
Authors: Müller Frank
Published: July 2020

How do residents mobilize their dwellings to engage in the politics of urban security? How do these mobilizations connect to their perceptions of insecurity and residents’ concrete engagements in protecting their lives and possessions? And what can we learn from these engagements—by looking through the lens of dwelling—about urban security? The main objective of this intervention forum is to explore the cross‐fertilization between studies on the material culture of house and home and studies on urban security. To this end, all of the contributions to this section highlight residents’ views, voices and practices, drawing from empirically saturated case studies in suburban Rome, Jerusalem, Lima, Medellín and La Plata. The essays suggest a move towards understanding the house and home as both place in need of protection and place of political engagement and struggle. Read together, this set of interventions contributes to a better understanding of how defending house and home turns security politics into a multi‐scalar governing principle and how one's house can shape the ways citizens negotiate their place in urban politics. In this way, the intervention offers some novel pathways for including security politics—and particularly the material elements that are involved in its production—in the scope of material culture studies.