bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioactive exometabolites drive maintenance competition in simple bacterial communities
Authors: Chodkowski John L. , Shade Ashley
Published: September 2021

During prolonged resource limitation, bacterial cells can persist in metabolically active states of non-growth. These maintenance periods, such as those experienced in stationary phase, can include upregulation of secondary metabolism and release of exometabolites into the local environment. As resource limitation is common of many environmental microbial habitats, we hypothesized that neighboring bacterial populations employ exometabolites to compete or cooperate during maintenance, and that these exometabolite-facilitated interactions can drive community outcomes. Here, we evaluated the consequences of exometabolite interactions over stationary phase among three environmental strains:Burkholderia thailandensisE264,Chromobacterium subtsugae, andPseudomonas syringaepv.tomatoDC3000. We assembled them into synthetic communities that only permitted chemical interactions. We compared the responses (transcripts) and outputs (exometabolites) of each member with and without neighbors. We found that transcriptional dynamics were changed with different neighbors, and that some of these changes were coordinated between members. The dominant competitorB. thailandensisconsistently upregulated biosynthetic gene clusters to produce bioactive exometabolites for both exploitative and interference competition. These results demonstrate that competition strategies during maintenance can contribute to community-level outcomes. It also suggests that the traditional concept of defining competitiveness by growth outcomes may be narrow, and that maintenance competition could be an additional or alternative measure.
Coherent Gene Assemblies: Example, Yeast Cell Division Cycle, CDC
Authors: Sirovich Lawrence
Published: September 2021

A fresh approach to the dynamics of gene assemblies is presented. Central to the exposition are the concepts of: high value genes; correlated activity; and the orderly unfolding of gene dynamics; and especially dynamic mode decomposition, DMD, a remarkable new tool for dissecting dynamics. This program is carried out, in detail, for the Orlando et al yeast database (Orlando et al. 2008).

It is shown that the yeast cell division cycle, CDC, requires no more than a six dimensional space, formed by three complex temporal modal pairs, each associated with characteristic aspects of the cell cycle: (1) A mother cell cohort that follows a fast clock; (2) A daughter cell cohort that follows a slower clock; (3) inherent gene expression, unrelated to the CDC.

A derived set of sixty high-value genes serves as a model for the correlated unfolding of gene activity. Confirmation of our results comes from an independent database, and other considerations. The present analysis, leads naturally, to a Fourier description, for the sparsely sampled data. From this, resolved peak times of gene expression are obtained. This in turn leads to prediction of precise times of expression in the unfolding of the CDC genes. The activation of each gene appears as uncoupled dynamics from the mother and daughter cohorts, of different durations. These deliberations lead to detailed estimates of the fraction of mother and daughter cells, specific estimates of their maturation periods, and specific estimates of the number of genes in these cells.

An algorithmic framework for yeast modeling is proposed, and based on the new analyses, a range of theoretical ideas and new experiments are suggested.

A Supplement contains additional material and other perspectives.
Reprogramming the neuroblastoma epigenome with a mitochondrial uncoupler
Authors: Jiang Haowen , Greathouse Rachel L , He Bo , Li Yang , Li Albert M. , Forgo Balint , Yip Michaela , Li Allison , Shih Moriah , Banuelos Selene , Zhou Meng-Ning , Gruber Joshua J. , Shimada Hiroyuki , Chiu Bill , Ye Jiangbin
Published: September 2021

Dysregulated DNA methylation is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients, promoting tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance1. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) reduce DNA methylation and promote cancer cell differentiation, with two DNMTi already approved for cancer treatment2. However, these drugs rely on cell division to dilute existing methylation, thus the ‘demethylation’ effects are achieved in a passive manner, limiting their application in slow-proliferating tumor cells. In this study we use a mitochondrial uncoupler, niclosamide ethanolamine (NEN), to actively achieve global DNA demethylation. NEN treatment promotes DNA demethylation by activating electron transport chain (ETC) to produce α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), a substrate for the DNA demethylase TET. In addition, NEN inhibits reductive carboxylation, a key metabolic pathway to support growth of cancer cells with defective mitochondria or under hypoxia. Importantly, NEN treatment reduces 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) generation and blocks DNA hypermethylation under hypoxia. Together, these metabolic reprogramming effects of NEN actively alter the global DNA methylation landscape and promote neuroblastoma differentiation. These results not only support Warburg’s original hypothesis that inhibition of ETC causes cell de-differentiation and tumorigenesis, but also suggest that mitochondrial uncoupling is an effective metabolic and epigenetic intervention that remodels the tumor epigenome for better prognosis.
History-Dependent Physiological Adaptation to Lethal Genetic Modification under Antibiotic Exposure
Authors: Koganezawa Yuta , Umetani Miki , Sato Moritoshi , Wakamoto Yuichi
Published: September 2021

Genetic modifications, such as gene deletion and mutations, could lead to significant changes in physiological states or even cell death. Bacterial cells can adapt to diverse external stresses, such as antibiotic exposure, but can they also adapt to detrimental genetic modification? To address this issue, we visualized the response of individual Escherichia coli cells to deletion of the antibiotic resistance gene under chloramphenicol (Cp) exposure, combining the light-inducible genetic recombination and microfluidic long-term single-cell tracking. We found that a significant fraction (∼ 40%) of resistance-gene-deleted cells demonstrated a gradual restoration of growth and stably proliferated under continuous Cp exposure without additional mutations. Such physiological adaptation to genetic modification was not observed when the deletion was introduced in 10 h or more advance before Cp exposure. Resistance gene deletion under Cp exposure disrupted the stoichiometric balance of ribosomal large and small subunit proteins (RplS and RpsB). However, the balance was gradually recovered in the cell lineages with restored growth. These results demonstrate that bacterial cells can adapt even to lethal genetic modifications by plastically gaining physiological resistance. However, the access to the resistance states is limited by the environmental histories and the timings of genetic modification.
Allosteric cooperation in ß-lactam binding to a non-classical transpeptidase
Authors: Ahmad Nazia , Kachhap Sangita , Chauhan Varsha , Sharma Kunal , Juneja Pallavi , Bullen C. Korin , Borowski Tomasz , Bishai William R. , Lamichhane Gyanu , Kumar Pankaj
Published: September 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptidoglycan (PG) is atypical as its synthesis involves a new enzyme class, L,D-transpeptidases. Prior studies of L,D-transpeptidases have identified only the catalytic site that binds to peptide moiety of the PG substrate or ß-lactam antibiotics. This insight was leveraged to develop mechanism of its activity and inhibition by ß-lactams. Here we report identification of an allosteric site at a distance of 21 Å from the catalytic site that binds the sugar moiety of PG substrates (hereafter referred to as the S-pocket). This site also binds a second ß-lactam molecule and influences binding at the catalytic site. We provide evidence that two ß-lactam molecules bind co-operatively to this enzyme, one non-covalently at the S-site and one covalently at the catalytic site. This dual ß-lactam binding phenomenon is previously unknown and is an observation that may offer novel approaches for the structure-based design of new ß-lactam antibiotics for M. tuberculosis.
Tool workspace consideration for assembly plan generation
Authors: Bedeoui Akram , Ben Hadj Riadh , Hammadi Moncef , Aifaoui Nizar
Published: September 2021

Purpose

During the design of a new product, the generation of assembly sequences plans (ASPs) has become one of the most important problems taken into account by researchers. In fact, a good mounting order allows the time decrease of the assembly process which leads to the reduction of production costs. In this context, researchers developed several methods to generate and optimize ASP based on various criteria. Although this paper aims to improve the quality of ASP it is necessary to increase the number of criteria which must be taken into account when generating ASPs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, an ASP generation approach, which is based on three main algorithms, is proposed. The first one generates a set of assembly sequences based on stability criteria. The obtained results are treated by the second algorithm which is based on assembly tools (ATs) workspace criterion. An illustrative example is used to explain the different steps of this proposed approach. Moreover, a comparative study is done to highlight its advantages.

Findings

The proposed algorithm verifies, for each assembly sequence, the minimal required workspace of used AT and eliminates the ASPs non-respecting this criterion. Finally, the remaining assembly sequences are treated by the third algorithm to reduce the AT change during the mounting operation.

Originality/value

The proposed approach introduces the concept of AT workspace to simulate and select ASPs that respect this criterion. The dynamic interference process allows the eventual collision detection between tool and component and avoids it. The proposed approach reduces the AT change during the mounting operations.
Supervised learning and resampling techniques on DISC personality classification using Twitter information in Bahasa Indonesia
Authors: Utami Ema , Oyong Irwan , Raharjo Suwanto , Dwi Hartanto Anggit , Adi Sumarni
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Gathering knowledge regarding personality traits has long been the interest of academics and researchers in the fields of psychology and in computer science. Analyzing profile data from personal social media accounts reduces data collection time, as this method does not require users to fill any questionnaires. A pure natural language processing (NLP) approach can give decent results, and its reliability can be improved by combining it with machine learning (as shown by previous studies).

Design/methodology/approach

In this, cleaning the dataset and extracting relevant potential features “as assessed by psychological experts” are essential, as Indonesians tend to mix formal words, non-formal words, slang and abbreviations when writing social media posts. For this article, raw data were derived from a predefined dominance, influence, stability and conscientious (DISC) quiz website, returning 316,967 tweets from 1,244 Twitter accounts “filtered to include only personal and Indonesian-language accounts”. Using a combination of NLP techniques and machine learning, the authors aim to develop a better approach and more robust model, especially for the Indonesian language.

Findings

The authors find that employing a SMOTETomek re-sampling technique and hyperparameter tuning boosts the model’s performance on formalized datasets by 57% (as measured through the F1-score).

Originality/value

The process of cleaning dataset and extracting relevant potential features assessed by psychological experts from it are essential because Indonesian people tend to mix formal words, non-formal words, slang words and abbreviations when writing tweets. Organic data derived from a predefined DISC quiz website resulting 1244 records of Twitter accounts and 316.967 tweets.
Organizational identification and employees’ innovative behavior: the mediating role of work engagement and the moderating role of creative self-efficacy
Authors: Zhang Guangning , Wang Yingmei
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of organizational identification to employees’ innovative behavior, the mediating role of work engagement and the moderating role of creative self-efficacy in the relationship between organizational identification and employees’ innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted questionnaires to gather data. The sample of 289 employees working in diverse organizations in China was applied to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicates that organizational identification is positively related to employees’ innovative behavior and work engagement mediates the relationship between organizational identification and employees’ innovative behavior. In addition, creative self-efficacy enhances the relationship of work engagement and employees’ innovative behavior.

Originality/value

This study builds a system from psychological aspect to behavior, which includes the effect of individual cognition to explain the mechanism of organizational identification on employees’ innovative behavior.
Lagrangian particle tracking with new weighted fraction Monte Carlo method for studying the soot particle size distributions in premixed flames
Authors: Jiang Xiao , Chan Tat Leung
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the soot formation and evolution by using this newly developed Lagrangian particle tracking with weighted fraction Monte Carlo (LPT-WFMC) method.

Design/methodology/approach

The weighted soot particles are used in this MC framework and is tracked using Lagrangian approach. A detailed soot model based on the LPT-WFMC method is used to study the soot formation and evolution in ethylene laminar premixed flames.

Findings

The LPT-WFMC method is validated by both experimental and numerical results of the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and Multi-Monte Carlo (MMC) methods. Compared with DSMC and MMC methods, the stochastic error analysis shows this new LPT-WFMC method could further extend the particle size distributions (PSDs) and improve the accuracy for predicting soot PSDs at larger particle size regime.

Originality/value

Compared with conventional weighted particle schemes, the weight distributions in LPT-WFMC method are adjustable by adopting different fraction functions. As a result, the number of numerical soot particles in each size interval could be also adjustable. The stochastic error of PSDs in larger particle size regime can also be minimized by increasing the number of numerical soot particles at larger size interval.
Effects of quality coffee production on smallholders’ adaptation to climate change in Yirgacheffe, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Adane Asnake , Bewket Woldeamlak
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to assess the effects of quality coffee production on climate change adaptation using household surveys and interview data gathered from coffee farmers in Yirgacheffe, southern Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 352 households, stratified into conventional coffee farmers 232 (66%) and specialty coffee producers 120(34%), was used. The propensity score model for participating in quality coffee production was estimated using 14 covariates, and the impact of quality coffee production on adaptation to climate change adaptation was examined. The results are augmented with qualitative data collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews held with randomly selected smallholder farmers. A telecoupling theoretical perspective was used to understand the link between coffee farmers’ adaptation practices and the demand for quality coffee, as coffee is a global commodity.

Findings

The PSM analysis reveals that quality coffee production positively influences climate change adaptation. This implies that conventional coffee producers would have performed better in adaptation to climate change if they had participated in quality coffee production. The results of group discussions also confirm the positive effects of quality coffee production on adaptation to climate change, which also suggests a positive spillover effects for sustainable coffee farm management.

Practical implications

This study suggests enhancing quality coffee production is essential if a more sustainable and climate change resilient coffee livelihood is envisioned.

Originality/value

Though many studies are available on adaptation to climate change in general, this study is one of the few studies focusing on the effects of quality coffee production on climate change adaptation by smallholders in one of the least developed countries, Ethiopia. This study provides a better understanding of the importance of adaptation strategies specific to coffee production, which in turn help develop a more resilient coffee sector, as coffee production is one of the most sensitive activity to climate change.
The thematic evolution of customer engagement research: a comparative systematic review and bibliometric analysis
Authors: So Kevin Kam Fung , Kim Hyunsu , King Ceridwyn
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to serve as an important resource for customer engagement (CE) researchers by presenting a comprehensive, up-to-date and objective assessment of the status and evolution of the CE literature. This purpose is achieved through simultaneous consideration and separate analyses of both the marketing/service and hospitality/tourism literature where CE research dominates.

Design/methodology/approach

This study integrated three review techniques, including a systematic review technique, evaluative technique and relational technique, to present a state-of-the-art analysis of 236 articles. It provides an updated picture of scientific research on CE, as well as the thematic evolution and structure of the CE literature across the two disciplines.

Findings

Through a comprehensive review of the CE literature in marketing/service and hospitality/tourism domains, the present study findings build a robust foundation to evaluate how this strand of literature has developed and evolved over time. More importantly, a comparative and quantitative analysis of marketing/service and hospitality/tourism journals delivers actionable insight for hospitality and tourism scholars.

Research limitations/implications

This study reframes the scientific knowledge regarding the evolution of CE literature, along with interrelation patterns, to advance relevant studies in hospitality and tourism. Findings offer a broadened perspective on the concept’s scholarly development and current research trends, thereby charting a new path for future research.

Originality/value

By adopting three review techniques, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this state-of-the-art analysis is the first to compare and synthesize a large volume of marketing/service and hospitality/tourism research, assembling a springboard from which to evaluate how CE studies have developed.
An organizational analysis of how managers must understand the mental health impact of teleworking during COVID-19 on employees
Authors: Shipman Kristine , Burrell Darrell Norman , Huff Mac Pherson Allison
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The unimagined workplace disturbance caused by the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has made many organizations virtual or telework driven workplaces, often without the infrastructure and systems in place to support employees facing these sudden workplace changes (Burrell, 2020). Many stressors accompanied this transition, to include lack of childcare, home-school responsibilities and layoffs and business closings. These stressors have perpetuated concerns for the job and financial security for all workers (Fox, 2020), leading some employees to struggle with the work-life balance out of concern for being laid off due to perceived low productivity (Fox, 2020). This study aims to explore those manifestations.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19 induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment to fill a gap in the literature concerning emerging workplace dynamics due to COVID-19 for small real estate businesses in the USA.

Findings

The results of this qualitative research case study provide knowledge and information about the need for small businesses to be resourceful and resilient in the way that they support and engage remote workers. This qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19-induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment for small real estate businesses. The analysis of current work-life structures through a qualitative lens provides trends among workers to gain a greater perspective of the current accelerators and barriers to worker success in a COVID-19 teleworking environment.

Originality/value

This qualitative research case study explores the impact COVID-19 induced telework has on their job satisfaction, mental well-being and aspects of organizational commitment to fill a gap in the literature concerning emerging workplace dynamics due to COVID-19 for small real estate businesses. The value of this research is that majority of the participants were African-Americans, which represents a participant group that is highly under researched.
A knowledge-based view of analytics capability in purchasing and supply management
Authors: Öhman Mikael , Arvidsson Ala , Jonsson Patrik , Kaipia Riikka
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to elaborate on how analytics capability develops within the PSM function. This study is an in-depth exploration of how analytics capability develops within the purchasing and supply management (PSM) function.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study was conducted of the PSM function of six case firms, in which primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with PSM analytics stakeholders. The data were analyzed based on an analytics capability framework derived from the literature. Cases were chosen based on them having advanced PSM practices and ongoing analytics projects in the PSM area.

Findings

The findings shed light on how the firms develop their analytics capability in the PSM functional area. While we identify several commonalities in this respect, the authors also observe differences in how firms organize for analytics, bringing analytics and PSM decision-makers together. Building on the knowledge-based view of the firm, The authors offer a theoretical explanation of our observations, highlighting the user-driven side of analytics development, which has largely been unrecognized by prior literature. The authors also offer an explanation of the observed dual role that analytics takes in cross-functional initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory nature of our study limits the generalizability of our results. Further, our limited number of cases and interviewees indicate that there is still much to explore in the phenomenon of developing analytics capability.

Practical implications

Our findings can help firms gain a better understanding of how they could develop their analytics capability and what issues they need to consider when seeking leveraging data through analytics for PSM decisions.

Originality/value

This paper is, to the best knowledge of the authors, the first empirical study of analytics capability in PSM.
A global marketing logic: local stakeholders’ influence in diverse emerging markets
Authors: Elg Ulf , Ghauri Pervez Nasim
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The authors discuss a dominant logic as the main idea behind a global marketing logic (GML) of an MNE and investigate how local stakeholders’ influence the feasibility of applying the GML in emerging markets. The aim of the paper is to enhance the understanding of the factors that influence the local stakeholders' acceptance of the MNEs' GML and the different activities of MNEs that may increase the acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a qualitative case study method investigating three Swedish MNEs and their activities while implementing a GML in the big emerging markets. The authors study their relationships with business, political and social stakeholders.

Findings

The authors identify three persistent contents of the GML: (1) a consistent value chain role across markets, (2) standardized, premium products/services and promotion strategies, (3) a corporate brand-based identity. The development of trust, commitment, legitimacy and power within local stakeholders’ relationships influences the approval. The acceptance of the MNE's GML by local stakeholders strengthens its market position.

Originality/value

The authors extend the knowledge by investigating the nature of a GML and explain to what extent it may help MNEs to gain a competitive position. The authors also discuss how global and local activities may influence local stakeholders' acceptance. This study contributes towards a better understanding of how and to what extent a GML can be successful.
The role of big data analytics capabilities in bolstering supply chain resilience and firm performance: a dynamic capability view
Authors: Bahrami Mohamad , Shokouhyar Sajjad
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Big data analytics capability (BDAC) can affect firm performance in several ways. The purpose of this paper is to understand how BDA capabilities affect firm performance through supply chain resilience in the presence of the risk management culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a cross-sectional approach to collect survey-based responses to examine the hypotheses. 167 responses were collected and analyzed using partial least squares in SmartPLS3. The respondents were generally senior IT executives with education and experience in data and business analytics.

Findings

The results show that BDA capabilities increase supply chain resilience as a mediator by enhancing innovative capabilities and information quality, ultimately leading to improved firm performance. In addition, the relationship between supply chain resilience and firm performance is influenced by risk management culture as a moderator.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to the relevant literature by demonstrating the mediating role of supply chain resilience between the BDA capabilities relationship and firm performance. In this context, some theoretical and managerial implications are proposed and discussed.
Exploring sectoral diversity in the timing of organizational blockchain adoption
Authors: Turhan Cigdem , Akman Ibrahim
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Blockchain is a relatively new technology. Although it has a high potential to influence organizational strategies for adoption into respective operations, it has not been widely explored yet. This study aims to assess the sectoral diversity in the timing of organizational adoption of blockchain through selected organizational factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted based on a sample of 208 IT professionals. The data was collected using an instrument containing 17 questions. The existence of sector diversity was statistically analyzed using the Least Square Regression method.

Findings

The results indicate that, except for management support and perceived ease of use, all the other factors in the analysis significantly influence sector diversity in terms of blockchain adoption timing.

Originality/value

Although blockchain has received attention from researchers, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no published work in the literature that explores the organizational factors influencing sectoral differences in the timing of blockchain technology adoption. Therefore, our work is unique in the related literature since we present analyses for the diversity between public and private sectors by modeling the factors affecting the intentions for the timing of blockchain adoption as part of the organizations' IT infrastructure.
Revising the Non-Financial Reporting Directive and the role of board of directors: a lost opportunity?
Authors: Cosma Simona , Leopizzi Rossella , Nobile Lorenzo , Schwizer Paola
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light an important limit of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) in pursuit of its substantial purpose, which is to achieve sustainability and contribute to achieving the objectives of United Nation (UN) Agenda 2030; the paper also suggests how to overcome those limits.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a survey of board members of listed and un-listed Italian companies. Data were analysed using an ordered probit model.

Findings

The results show that a greater involvement of a board member in the non-financial reporting process is associated with a stronger commitment towards sustainable development. Specifically, the involvement in materiality assessment is positively associated with more proactive behaviours towards sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

The use of self-reported assessments on beliefs and behaviours and the application of an online survey are methodology limitations of the study. Regarding theory, the study contributes to the literature on corporate governance and sustainability, integrating upper echelons theory, which focuses on how individual attributes influence a firm's strategies and governance, with research on how leadership practices can have a positive impact on corporate sustainability goals.

Practical implications

The paper underscores the opportunity for policymakers to increase the effectiveness of the NFRD through deeper involvement of the board members in the process of non-financial reporting. The results could also be of interest to governance bodies in terms of defining a board's tasks and practices to encourage the adoption of behaviours oriented towards a stronger engagement in sustainable issues.

Originality/value

This is the first study to provide evidence of the relationship between individual directors' tasks and behaviours, non-financial reporting and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study highlights some of the limits of the NFRD, even after the public consultation to revise it, and suggests how to overcome these limits.
Negotiating violence in family law mediation
Authors: Behounek Elaina , Hughes Miller Michelle
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand mediation in divorce cases where intimate partner violence (IPV) is a concern. These cases may involve managing power imbalances, coercive control or risk for continued violence.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors use feminist and sociological theoretical approaches and grounded theory to analyze triangulated ethnographic data to explore how mediators construct and manage the issue of IPV in mediation.

Findings

The results indicate that mediators often share a common discourse about IPV that asserts that mediators are professionals with the skills to both identify IPV and to appropriately conduct mediations where IPV is present. However, to achieve successful mediations mediators sometimes choose to discount the seriousness of IPV in assessments. They also use a set of fluid strategies to handle potential power imbalances that allow them to represent themselves as unbiased, even while those strategies risk the equity of the mediation.

Practical implications

The authors share several strategies that could enhance the social justice of the process for all parties, including uniformity in assessing whether IPV is a concern and oversight of mediators’ practices and training.

Social implications

The results indicate mediators often share a common discourse about IPV that asserts mediators are professionals with the skills to identify IPV and to appropriately conduct mediations where IPV is present. To reach settlement mediators use a set of fluid mediation and accommodation strategies to handle potential power imbalances due to IPV that allow them to represent themselves as impartial, even while those strategies may risk equity in the mediation.

Originality/value

The unique data provide a behind-the-scenes look at mediation generated from participant observation of mediation training and actual mediations, along with interviews with 30 practicing mediators.
Economic policy uncertainty and overinvestment: evidence from Korea
Authors: Jiang Wenwen , Kim Hwa-Sung
Published: September 2021

The authors show that there is a negative relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and firm overinvestment using Korean data from 2007 to 2016. Since Jensen (1986) shows that a firm's free cash flow is an important factor of overinvestment, the authors examine how free cash flow influences the sensitivity of overinvestment to EPU. The authors find that a high level of free cash flow attenuates the negative effect of EPU on overinvestment. The authors find that there is no significant difference in the effect of EPU on overinvestment between Chaebol (Korean family-run conglomerates) and non-Chaebol firms, which is consistent with the literature that the features of Chaebol are weakening.
Quadrinomial trees with stochastic volatility to value real options
Authors: Marín-Sánchez Freddy H. , Pareja-Vasseur Julián A. , Manzur Diego
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to propose a detailed methodology to estimate, model and incorporate the non-constant volatility onto a numerical tree scheme, to evaluate a real option, using a quadrinomial multiplicative recombination.

Design/methodology/approach

This article uses the multiplicative quadrinomial tree numerical method with non-constant volatility, based on stochastic differential equations of the GARCH-diffusion type to value real options when the volatility is stochastic.

Findings

Findings showed that in the proposed method with volatility tends to zero, the multiplicative binomial traditional method is a particular case, and results are comparable between these methodologies, as well as to the exact solution offered by the Black–Scholes model.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in try to model the implicit (conditional) market volatility to assess, based on that, a real option using a quadrinomial tree, including into this valuation the stochastic volatility of the underlying asset. The main contribution is the formal derivation of a risk-neutral valuation as well as the market risk premium associated with volatility, verifying this condition via numerical test on simulated and real data, showing that our proposal is consistent with Black and Scholes formula and multiplicative binomial trees method.
The effect of brand heritage in tourists' intention to revisit
Authors: Mohammed Iddrisu , Mahmoud Mahmoud Abdulai , Hinson Robert Ebo
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Utilising brand equity dimensions, this study aims to enhance the literature by conceptualising and testing heritage brand equity dimensions (i.e. awareness, image, quality and value) and the intentions of international tourists to revisit moderated by safety and security within the tourism sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was cross-sectional in nature and used the quantitative research approach with questionnaires for the collection of data. In total, 392 international tourists were purposively sampled from the departure hall of Kotoka International Airport. The data gathered were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

Findings

The findings revealed that heritage brand image, perceived quality and value had positive significant effects on the intentions of tourists to revisit. Nevertheless, heritage brand awareness had a negative insignificant impact on intentions to revisit. Safety and security significantly moderate the relationship between heritage brand equity and the intentions of international tourists to revisit.

Research limitations/implications

The Ghana tourism industry should increase the activities that will create more awareness, to generate the interest of potential tourists within the international community. Such initiatives can increase the likelihood of the destination being visited. In addition, policymakers must guarantee that associated government entities, as well as other stakeholders, work together within the tourism industry to promote safety and security.

Originality/value

This study adds to the ongoing discussions in the hospitality and tourism industry by providing a comprehensive overview of brand equity in heritage tourism, operationalised as heritage brand equity dimensions.
Mediating role of customer’s satisfaction on Jaiz bank products: a model development
Authors: Muhammad Tijjani , Bin Ngah Besar
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study developed a model for the mediation role of satisfaction on Jaiz bank products and services as an alternative way of improving customer’s subjective experiences of banking in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopted structural equation modelling’s confirmatory factory analysis with three-factor theory. Composite reliability, average variance extracted and discriminant validity were used to test the validity and reliability of data collected from a sample of 345 participants comprising senior, middle and lower-income earners. Also, descriptive statistics and independent analysis of variance were used for the analyses.

Findings

This paper provides insights into how Jaiz bank products and services will significantly improved the social lifestyle of Nigeria. Findings also indicates how context-specific Islamic bank products and services are embedded in the social ordering of communities in Nigeria and thus facilitate a more satisfactory and productive experience of customers.

Practical implications

Findings from the study provide insight and inform managers in making an informed decision on the products and services offered to a section of the popular, where strategic and analytical insights could strengthen different segments of the banking system in Nigeria. This study emphasises the significance of Islamic banking within the specific context of Nigeria, and also has an obvious theory and management implications.

Originality/value

It is hard to find a research paper discussing the mediation role of customer’s satisfaction on Jaiz bank products and services in improving the social lifestyle of Nigerians. This study provides a model that can be adopted in analysing products and services of Islamic banks based on customer’s satisfaction.
Thematic analysis of mechanisms underpinning email peer support for young people with eating disorders
Authors: Peebles Imogen , Brown Beccy , Juster Emma , Duffy Fiona
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Peer support, such as mentorship and befriending, has been found to have a valuable impact on a range of outcomes. There are multiple formats, including face-to-face (individually and group), and in online forums. Advancement in technology has enabled online peer support to increase in popularity; however, little is known about mechanisms underpinning individual one to one online peer interactions. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore the mechanisms underpinning email exchanges in an eating disorder peer support service.

Design/methodology/approach

Email transcripts from dyads in a moderated peer-to-peer email support service were analysed using inductive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006).

Findings

The thematic analysis generated five themes as mechanisms of peer support. Relating and reflecting experience was the central superordinate theme. Subthemes included Positive Encouragement, Checking in and Prompting, Being a Confidante and Defining Recovery.

Originality/value

The current findings align with previous research and add new developments. The theme of Defining Recovery added the awareness of the personal perception of recovery, which had not been considered as a mechanism in previous literature and may be specific to this digital platform. This study could assist in the development of training for the provision of further peer support within eating disorder services.
Toward a strategic approach to studying COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Narayanan Vadake , Wokutch Richard E. , Ghobadian Abby , O'Regan Nicholas
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this introduction is fourfold: (1) to articulate the reasons for the special issue; (2) to highlight some of the fundamental issues related to the management research on COVID-19; (3) to introduce the authors and to summarize their contributions to this special issue; and (4) to provide some suggestions for future research pertaining to global challenges and business in general.

Design/methodology/approach

This article introduces the special issue by addressing the following four points related to the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) conceptualization of the crisis, (2) the role of organizations, (3) challenges of the global pandemic and (4) business–society relationships. We briefly relate the papers in this special issue to these four points and we conclude with some thoughts on how to move forward on research in this domain.

Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be one of the most important challenges to mankind and to organizations in recent years, and many organizations have proven to be very resilient in the face of this. Effective leadership, communication with stakeholders, global organizations and new organizational forms such as cross-sectoral collaborations have all proven important in dealing with this crisis. They will also likely be important for dealing with even more serious crises in the future such as climate change and other challenges referred to in the papers in this issue.

Originality/value

This paper provides an overview and summary of the implications of the papers in this special issue. As such, its originality derives mostly from the originality of the papers contained in this special issue.
Exploring individuals’ adoption of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps: a mixed-methods approach
Authors: Nguyen Tin Trung , Nguyen Tony Cat Anh Hung , Tran Cong Duc
Published: September 2021

Purpose

During the challenging time of lockdown and isolation due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), contact-tracing apps have played a critical role in health communication and preventive healthcare. This study proposed and tested an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) with key health factors (i.e. health risk perception from COVID-19, health information orientation to COVID-19 and health consciousness) to understand individuals' adoption of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage online survey was conducted to collect data on US individuals’ intention and actual use of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps. The sample comprises 288 valid responses. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set/qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were employed as the complementary approaches.

Findings

The findings from PLS-SEM revealed that health risk perception, health information orientation and perceived usefulness have positive net effects on behavioral intention, which, in turn, affects actual use. The results from fsQCA highlighted the explanatory power of the extended TAM to COVID-19 contact-tracing app adoption.

Originality/value

Although TAM is considerably effective in measuring technology acceptance, the phenomenon is highly context-driven. How technological and health factors simultaneously motivate the use of contact-tracing apps has not been well documented. The present study offers some implications for practitioners concerned about fostering the adoption of mobile health services in the time of COVID-19. Methodologically, this study is among the first to blend PLS-SEM and fsQCA to measure the explanatory power of a structural model.
Earnings management, financial performance and the moderating effect of corporate social responsibility: evidence from France
Authors: Chakroun Salma , Ben Amar Anis , Ben Amar Anis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of earnings management on financial performance. In addition, the authors investigate whether corporate social responsibility has a moderating effect on the impact of earnings management on financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study is based on a sample of French companies listed on the CAC-All-Tradable index over the period 2008–2018. Feasible generalized least square regression method is used to estimate the econometric models.

Findings

Based on panel data of 3,003 French firm-year observations, the authors demonstrate that earnings management has a negative and significant impact on financial performance. Indeed, corporate social responsibility moderates positively the negative impact of earnings management on financial performance in the French context.

Practical implications

The findings have several implications for regulatory, investors and academic researchers. For regulators, it is appropriate to promote more several standards related to corporate social responsibility and earnings management. For investors, considering societal issues is very important in making decisions. For academic researchers, the results show that it is important to discover how corporate social responsibility can influence the relation between earnings management and financial performance.

Originality/value

The existing literature has generally focused on the impact of earnings management on financial performance and the empirical tests did not yield similar results. The study shows that corporate social responsibility has a moderating role in determining the impact of earnings management on financial performance.
Assessment resistance: using Kubler-Ross to understand and respond
Authors: Tarnoff Karen A. , Bostwick Eric D. , Barnes Kathleen J.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Faculty participation in the assurance of learning (AoL) is requisite both for the effective operation of the system and for accreditation compliance, but faculty often resist engaging in AoL tasks. The purpose of this paper is to provide specific recommendations to address faculty concerns and to guide AoL systems toward maturity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a comprehensive model of faculty resistance perspectives aligned to AoL maturity, provides specific responses to faculty resistance and introduces success markers of progress toward maturity.

Findings

Specifically, a three-stage model of AoL system maturity is presented and aligned with five faculty perspectives. For each faculty perspective, responses targeting causal factors are proposed and signs of progress toward the next level of faculty engagement are highlighted.

Practical implications

Faculty and AoL leaders will be able to identify their current stage of AoL system maturity and implement practical solutions to move to the next stage of system maturity.

Social implications

Understanding the motivations for faculty resistance will facilitate more meaningful and effective internal interactions as a school seeks to improve its AoL system. In turn, a more effective AoL system will promote better learning experiences for students; and better learning allows students to become productive in their chosen careers more quickly, thus improving society as a whole.

Originality/value

To the knowledge, no prior paper has organized faculty resistance along a maturity continuum, provided targeted responses based on the level of maturity or included signs that indicate growth toward the next level of maturity.