bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anaerobic microbial degradation of protein and lipid macromolecules in subarctic marine sediment
Authors: Pelikan Claus , Wasmund Kenneth , Glombitza Clemens , Hausmann Bela , Herbold Craig W. , Flieder Mathias , Loy Alexander
Published: April 2020

Microorganisms in marine sediments play major roles in marine biogeochemical cycles by mineralizing substantial quantities of organic matter from decaying cells. Proteins and lipids are abundant components of necromass, yet microorganisms that degrade them remain understudied. Here, we revealed identities, trophic interactions and genomic features of microorganisms that degraded 13C-labelled proteins and lipids in cold anoxic microcosms with sulfidic subarctic marine sediment. Supplemented proteins and lipids were rapidly fermented to various volatile fatty acids within five days. DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) suggested Psychrilyobacter atlanticus was an important primary degrader of proteins, and Psychromonas members were important primary degraders of both proteins and lipids. Closely related Psychromonas populations, as represented by distinct 16S rRNA gene variants, differentially utilized either proteins or lipids. DNA-SIP also showed 13C-labeling of various Deltaproteobacteria within ten days, indicating trophic transfer of carbon to putative sulfate-reducers. Metagenome-assembled genomes revealed the primary hydrolyzers encoded secreted peptidases or lipases, and enzymes for catabolism of protein or lipid degradation products. Psychromonas were prevalent in diverse marine sediments, suggesting they are important players in organic carbon processing in situ. Together, this study provides an improved understanding of the metabolic processes and functional partitioning of necromass macromolecules among microorganisms in the seafloor.
Expanding magnetic organelle biogenesis in the domainBacteria
Authors: Lin Wei , Zhang Wensi , Paterson Greig A. , Zhu Qiyun , Zhao Xiang , Knight Rob , Bazylinski Dennis A. , Roberts Andrew P. , Pan Yongxin
Published: April 2020

The discovery of membrane-enclosed, metabolically functional organelles inBacteriaandArchaeahas transformed our understanding of the subcellular complexity of prokaryotic cells. However, whether prokaryotic organelles emerged early or late in evolutionary history remains unclear and limits understanding of the nature and cellular complexity of early life. Biomineralization of magnetic nanoparticles within magnetosomes by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) is a fascinating example of prokaryotic organelles. Here, we reconstruct 168 metagenome-assembled MTB genomes from various aquatic environments and waterlogged soils. These genomes represent nearly a 3-fold increase over the number currently available, and more than double the known MTB species. Phylogenomic analysis reveals that these newly described genomes belong to 13 Bacterial phyla, six of which were previously not known to include MTB. These findings indicate a much wider taxonomic distribution of magnetosome organelle biogenesis across the domainBacteriathan previously thought. Comparative genome analysis reveals a vast diversity of magnetosome gene clusters involved in magnetosomal biogenesis in terms of gene content and synteny residing in distinct taxonomic lineages. These gene clusters therefore represent a promising, diverse genetic resource for biosynthesizing novel magnetic nanoparticles. Finally, our phylogenetic analyses of the core magnetosome proteins in this largest available and taxonomically diverse dataset support an unexpectedly early evolutionary origin of magnetosome biomineralization, likely ancestral to the origin of the domainBacteria. These findings emphasize the potential biological significance of prokaryotic organelles on the early Earth and have important implications for our understanding of the evolutionary history of cellular complexity.
Modulation of macrophage defense responses by Mycobacterial persistence protein MprA (Rv0981) in human THP-1 cells: effect of single amino acid variation on host-pathogen interactions
Authors: Bhattacharyya Kausik , Bandopadhyay Upasana , Singh Aayushi , Prakash Amresh , Nemaysh Vishal , Jain Shruti , Varma-Basil Mandira , Lynn Andrew M , Bose Mridula , Luthra Pratibha Mehta , Natarajan Krishnamurthy , Brahmachari Vani
Published: April 2020

M. tuberculosisis one of the most successful human pathogens causing tuberculosis that leads to highest daily morbidity worldwide. The evasion of the host immune responses is an important strategy thatM. tuberculosisadopts. MprA (Rv0981), the response regulator of two component system is known for DNA binding activity in the pathogen and its role in persistent infection in the host. MprA is recognized as a late stage antigen during infection. A variant form of the protein MprA with G70S polymorphism (MprA*) is observed in one of our local and in several global clinical isolates ofM. tuberculosis.Here we report the nuclear localization of MprA and MprA* in differentiated macrophages. MprA and MprA* increase the expression of TGF-β and IL-10, the immune suppressive cytokines in THP-1 derived macrophage cells. Concurrently the phago-lysosome fusion is significantly reduced as shown by infection withM.bovisBCG. We show that single nucleotide variation in clinical isolates lead to quantitative variations resulting in host immune suppression and support the survival and persistence of the pathogen.
A SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate would likely match all currently circulating strains
Authors: Dearlove Bethany , Lewitus Eric , Bai Hongjun , Li Yifan , Reeves Daniel B. , Joyce M. Gordon , Scott Paul T. , Amare Mihret F. , Vasan Sandhya , Michael Nelson L. , Modjarrad Kayvon , Rolland Morgane
Published: April 2020

The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency for a safe and effective vaccine. Here we analyzed SARS-CoV-2 sequence diversity across 5,700 sequences sampled since December 2019. The Spike protein, which is the target immunogen of most vaccine candidates, showed 93 sites with shared polymorphisms; only one of these mutations was found in more than 1% of currently circulating sequences. The minimal diversity found among SARS-CoV-2 sequences can be explained by drift and bottleneck events as the virus spread away from its original epicenter in Wuhan, China. Importantly, there is little evidence that the virus has adapted to its human host since December 2019. Our findings suggest that a single vaccine should be efficacious against current global strains.

One Sentence Summary

The limited diversification of SARS-CoV-2 reflects drift and bottleneck events rather than adaptation to humans as the virus spread.
Wedge reversion antisymmetry and 41 types of physical quantities in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Gopalan Venkatraman
Published: April 2020

It is shown that there are 41 types of multivectors representing physical quantities in non-relativistic physics in arbitrary dimensions within the formalism of Clifford algebra. The classification is based on the action of three symmetry operations on a general multivector: spatial inversion, 1, time-reversal, 1′, and a third that is introduced here, namely wedge reversion, 1†. It is shown that the traits of `axiality' and `chirality' are not good bases for extending the classification of multivectors into arbitrary dimensions, and that introducing 1† would allow for such a classification. Since physical properties are typically expressed as tensors, and tensors can be expressed as multivectors, this classification also indirectly classifies tensors. Examples of these multivector types from non-relativistic physics are presented.
Digital twin of the rotor-shaft of a lightweight electric motor during aerobatics loads
Authors: Goraj Robert
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present airworthiness considerations regarding a shaft of an electric motor. A fatigue lifetime prediction analysis based on one-step load spectrum is performed during high-cycle fatigue. Time-dependent normal and shear stress components are estimated using a high-fidelity digital twin built in Siemens PLM Nx Nastran as a finite element model (FEM). Linear and centrifugal acceleration as well as gyroscopic moment, motor torque, propeller thrust and thermal loads are considered. The equivalent cyclic degree of utilisation and a safety margin against the slip of a press-fitted shaft to rotor hub connection is estimated.

Design/methodology/approach

A load analysis using FEM is presented. The numerically obtained results are verified on an analytical and a semi-empirical basis.

Findings

The shaft of the electric motor can sustain 74 h of operation if burdened with aerobatic loads. Its load capacity equals 48% for the overall safety factor of 2.25.

Practical implications

The paper presents a specific, easily identifiable advance in knowledge that can be applicable in safety flight analysis issues.

Originality/value

The work presents a rotor of a novel lightweight electric motor for aircraft applications, which is a successor of the electric motor set recently in Extra 330E. The work delivers a computational estimation of the shaft life.
The accession of Latin American countries to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: lessons from Brazil and Chile
Authors: Urdinez Francisco
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the motivations behind the accession of Latin American countries to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with a focus on the cases of Brazil and Chile.

Design/methodology/approach

The author collected data using a case study methodology, primarily through semi-structured interviews with decision-makers and through official government documentation.

Findings

The findings identified that, overall, the Brazilian politicians who made the decision to join the bank had an unclear perception of its economic benefit and believed that the clearest benefit from accession is political (to support China's initiative). After years of domestic political turmoil and economic crisis, Brazil experienced delayed incorporation into the bank, slow ratification processes in the domestic arena and a reduction in its capital commitment. Chilean decision-makers, on the other hand, seemed to have a clearer idea of the benefits from accessing the bank, which explains that their ratification process has been faster and smoother. Yet, a surprising socio-political crisis delayed incorporation into the bank. Both countries have delayed their accession to the bank due to domestic crises.

Practical implications

Three policy implications can be drawn from this study. First, the entry of Latin American countries into the bank reflects the persuasiveness of Chinese diplomacy in this region. Second, the author finds that interviewees are not always able to differentiate the AIIB from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and hold the misguided idea that the AIIB is subordinated to the BRI rather than complementary to it. This might set overly high expectations of the benefits of entering the AIIB. Third, the author foresees that the largest potential of the AIIB in Latin America lies in the possibility of participating in co-financed projects, in particular with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America.

Originality/value

Research on the AIIB has boomed in recent years, yet there are few in-depth studies about Latin American prospective members. The value of this study lies in offering in-depth data for two of the eight prospective members from this region.
Strategic groups and local railway development in China
Authors: Yan Karl
Published: April 2020

Purpose

What are the mechanisms through which Chinese municipal leaders overcome implementation breakdown? This study, through process tracing, archival work and semi-structured interviews, examines the implementation of three sub-municipal-level railway projects involving the same principals and agents over the same period of time.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis was guided by the hypothesis that political coordination and the exercise of political and Party leadership played an indispensable role in the two cases of successful policy implementation, and its absence accounts for the case of implementation breakdown.

Findings

The principal finding is that an informal “strategic group” was created to “herd” cadres to overcome the problem of implementation. Herding here refers to the idea that Party leadership, through the use of moral persuasion, encourages cadres moving towards a desired common goal and direction.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited in the number of secondary resources (government documents and government and media releases) available to the field interviewees, which the author heavily relied on to complete the study.

Originality/value

Building on the conceptual work of “strategic groups” by Thomas Heberer, Anna Ahlers, and Gunter Schubert, this study makes an empirical contribution by tracing the process through which an informal strategic group exercises its power to overcome implementation breakdown.
Can digital solutions help in the minimization of out-of-home waste? An analysis from the client and business perspective
Authors: Secondi Luca , Principato Ludovica , Mattia Giovanni
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Halving food waste has been included within the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Food wasted out-of-home is the second source of food waste. However, the majority of the studies have focused on home generated food waste, and still little is known about out-of-home food waste and how it is managed by food service companies. The purpose of this paper is to adopt a double perspective in analyzing food waste generated at a food service level, by focusing on both the client and business perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

First, from the client perspective, the authors aim at analyzing consumer out-of-home habits, self-reported waste quantification, and doggy bag usage by reporting the results of an exploratory survey which involved 411 individuals living in central Italy. Second, from a business perspective, the authors analyzed an award-winning practice that manages out-of-home food waste in Italy by combining food surplus management and digital solutions with a profitable business model innovation.

Findings

Results obtained from the two perspectives of analysis support the need of business investments in innovations and digital solutions, in order to meet client needs and behavior, thus contributing to better manage and reduce food surplus and waste.

Practical implications

This study will raise practitioners’ knowledge on the advantages of digital solution in food surplus management, along with a better comprehension on food waste behavior from the client perspective.

Originality/value

This is the first study that analyses out-of-home waste from both the client and business perspective, emphasizing how digital solutions can help in reducing the phenomenon.
Leading properties of GDT auctions for dairy prices
Authors: Olipra Jakub
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Professionals from the dairy sector commonly believe that the results of Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions are a good leading indicator for prices of dairy commodities. The purpose of this paper is to test that hypothesis for prices of key dairy commodities (skimmed milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder (WMP), butter and cheddar) in the main dairy markets (the US, EU and Oceania).

Design/methodology/approach

The leading properties of the GDT auctions are investigated using vector error correction models (VECM).

Findings

The results show that prices at GDT auctions may be treated as a benchmark for global prices of WMP and SMP as they affect prices in all considered markets. However, in case of EU market the relationship with the GDT is bidirectional. GDT prices reveal some leading properties also in cheddar market, however price relationships in this market are much more complex. In case of butter market, GDT can be regarded as a benchmark only for Oceania.

Practical implications

The results of this paper improve knowledge on price transmission in dairy markets, show the role of the GDT auctions in the price setting process, and thus may help professionals from the dairy sector to formulate their price expectations more precisely.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that many professionals from the dairy sector treat GDT auctions as a benchmark, so far their leading properties have not been scientifically proven.
Topic: chemical compositions and mineral content of four selected South African herbal teas and the synergistic response of combined teas
Authors: Malongane Florence , McGaw Lyndy Joy , Mudau Fhatuwani Nixwell
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The present study was carried out to determine (1) essential minerals, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, moisture and ash of four selected South African herbal teas and (2) the effect of blending bush tea with other known commercial herbal teas.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used to determine moisture and ash contents followed that of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Nine minerals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu assay and aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, respectively.

Findings

The results of the study demonstrated that bush tea had a high ash content of 8.01% and special tea (9.23%), while honeybush (1.96%) and rooibos tea (2.17%) exhibited a low ash percentage. The mineral content was higher in bush tea and special tea than in rooibos tea and honeybush tea except for sodium, which was higher in rooibos tea. The blending of bush tea with special tea improved its potassium content from 22,937.00 mg/kg to 23,379.20 mg/kg. Blending bush tea with rooibos tea at a ratio of 25:75 increased the flavonoid content to 12.21 µg/mL.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the nutrients composition cannot be generalized as it is influenced by other factors such as soil type and seasons.

Social implications

Increasing the commercialization of indigenous teas.

Originality/value

The results of the study suggest that bush tea and special tea are nutritionally comparable with South African commercial herbal teas. Thus, the consideration for commercialization of these teas is crucial.
Daily use of alcohol in the Norwegian general population: Prevalence and associated factors
Authors: Bonsaksen Tore , Heir Trond , Skogstad Laila , Grimholt Tine K. , Ekeberg Øivind , Lerdal Anners , Schou-Bredal Inger
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Harmful use of alcohol is a major public health problem. While harm is often researched in the context of heavy drinking episodes, high-frequency drinking, even when drinking moderate quantities, constitutes a health risk in a longer perspective. The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of daily use of alcohol in the Norwegian general population and to assess sociodemographic, mental health-related and personal resource variables associated with daily use of alcohol.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey concerned with health, illness and serious life events was distributed to 5,500 persons in the general population in Norway (response rate 36%). Sociodemographic variables, personal resource variables (general self-efficacy, optimism and extraversion) and psychological distress (current anxiety and/or depression) were assessed with regards to their associations with daily drinking in unadjusted and adjusted regression models.

Findings

Daily use of alcohol was reported by 39 persons (2.2%) in the sample (3.1% of men and 1.4% of women). While general self-efficacy, optimism and extraversion were unrelated to daily drinking, the adjusted model revealed that male sex (OR: 2.18, p < 0.05), being unemployed/not in education (OR: 3.10, p < 0.05) and reporting current anxiety and/or depression (OR: 3.12, p < 0.01) were associated with daily use of alcohol.

Originality/value

The study has contributed to the knowledge about daily drinkers in a representative sample of the Norwegian population. A proportion of 2.2% was found to drink alcohol on a daily basis. Compared to their counterparts, the odds of daily drinking were higher for men, unemployed persons and persons reporting current psychological distress. Public health initiatives aiming at reducing harmful use of alcohol may pay particular attention to these subsets of the population.
Three-phase lag model of thermo-elastic interaction in a 2D porous material due to pulse heat flux
Authors: Hobiny Aatef , Alzahrani Faris S. , Abbas Ibrahim
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purposes of this study, a generalized model for thermoelastic wave under three-phase lag (TPL) model is used to compute the increment of temperature, the components of displacement, the changes in volume fraction field and the stress components in a two-dimension porous medium.

Design/methodology/approach

By using Laplace-Fourier transformations with the eigen values methodologies, the analytical solutions of all physical variables are obtained.

Findings

The derived methods are estimated with numerical outcomes which are applied to the porous media in simplified geometry.

Originality/value

Finally, the outcomes are represented graphically to display the difference among the models of the TPL and the Green and Naghdi (GNIII) with and without energy dissipations.
The social representations of climate change: comparison of two territories exposed to the coastal flooding risk
Authors: Mambet Doue Constance , Navarro Carrascal Oscar , Restrepo Diego , Krien Nathalie , Rommel Delphine , Lemee Colin , Coquet Marie , Mercier Denis , Fleury-Bahi Ghozlane
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Based on social representation theory, this study aims to evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between social representations of climate change held by people living in two territories, which have in common that they are exposed to coastal risks but have different socio-cultural contexts: on the one hand, Cartagena (Colombia) and on the other, Guadeloupe (French overseas department, France).

Design/methodology/approach

A double approach, both quantitative and qualitative, of social representation theory was adopted. The data collection was undertaken in two phases. First, the content and organization of social representation of climate change (SRCC) was examined with a quantitative study of 946 participants for both countries, followed by a qualitative study of 63 participants for both countries also.

Findings

The study finds unicity in the SRCC for the quantitative study. In contrast, the qualitative study highlights differences at the level of the institutional anchoring of the climate change phenomenon in these two different socioeconomic and political contexts.

Practical implications

These results are relevant for a reflection in terms of public policies for the prevention and management of collective natural risks, as well as for the promotion of ecological behavior adapted to political and ideological contexts.

Originality/value

The use of a multi-methodological approach (quantitative and qualitative) in the same research is valuable to confirm the importance of an in-depth study of the social representations of climate change because of the complexity of the phenomenon.
Meta-analysis of outcomes of leader–member exchange in hospitality and tourism: what does the past say about the future?
Authors: Chang Wen , Liu Anyu , Wang Xuhui , Yi Bowen
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Leader–member exchange (LMX) theory is particularly relevant to the hospitality and tourism industry due to its labor-intensive and service-focused nature. However, the hospitality literature regarding the impact of LMX on its various outcomes have inconsistent results. A holistic review of LMX studies is nonexistent in the current literature. Thus, the purpose of this study is to use a meta approach to quantitatively summarize and examine the relationship between LMX and its outcomes in the hospitality and tourism literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 89 individual observations from 36 studies conducted between 1997 and 2018 were identified. A Bayesian random effect model was introduced into the hospitality and tourism literature for the first time to implement the meta-analysis.

Findings

The results suggest significant differences in the impact of LMX on various groups of outcomes. LMX has the strongest impact on firms’ practice-related outcomes, such as organizational justice and employee empowerment. Few moderators are identified on the impact of LMX, such as LMX measure, culture, industry sector and statistical method.

Practical implications

Findings yielded several recommendations for both hospitality researchers and organizations in developing LMX related studies, as well as managing employees.

Originality/value

This study is the first Bayesian meta-analysis in the hospitality and tourism literature; it complements LMX theory by linking it to cognitive appraisal theory. Specific characteristics of LMX in the hospitality and tourism industry, such as the measurement of LMX and the effect of industry sector, are also identified.
The effect of hotel investments on employment in the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries
Authors: Dogru Tarik , McGinley Sean , Kim Woo Gon
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the extent to which hotel investments create jobs and, second, to compare whether investment in a particular hotel segment generates more or less jobs in the overall economy and in the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The panel autoregressive distributed lag regression model was used to examine the effect of total hotel investments and hotel investments in economy-scale, midscale, luxury-scale and independent hotels on total employment and employment in the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries in the USA.

Findings

Hotel investments increase employment in both the overall economy and the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries. Midscale hotels make the highest contribution to employment in the overall economy. Economy-scale hotels make the highest contribution to employment in the overall tourism, leisure and hospitality industries.

Research limitations/implications

The results support the postulations of growth pole theory. As hotel investment increases, not only does the hotel industry see gains in employment but also does related economic sectors see an increase. Midscale hotels have the greatest positive impact on local labor markets, which is consistent with the assertions of middle-out economics.

Practical implications

Community leaders should encourage the type of investment that benefits the broader area as much as possible by incentivizing the type of growth that is related to employment growth.

Originality/value

This study investigates the relations between hotel investment and employment from a theoretical and empirical perspective by providing objective claims inferred from statistical inferences.
Definitive guidelines toward effective mobile devices crowdtesting methodology
Authors: Naith Qamar , Ciravegna Fabio
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to gauge developers’ perspectives regarding the participation of the public and anonymous crowd testers worldwide, with a range of varied experiences. It also aims to gather their needs that could reduce their concerns of dealing with the public crowd testers and increase the opportunity of using the crowdtesting platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

An online exploratory survey was conducted to gather information from the participants, which included 50 mobile application developers from various countries with diverse experiences across Android and iOS mobile platforms.

Findings

The findings revealed that a significant proportion (90%) of developers is potentially willing to perform testing via the public crowd testers worldwide. This on condition that several fundamental features were available, which enable them to achieve more realistic tests without artificial environments on large numbers of devices. The results also demonstrated that a group of developers does not consider testing as a serious job that they have to pay for, which can affect the gig-economy and global market.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights for future research in the study of how acceptable it is to work with public and anonymous crowd workers, with varying levels of experience, to perform tasks in different domains and not only in software testing. In addition, it will assist individual or small development teams who have limited resources or who do not have thousands of testers in their private testing community, to perform large-scale testing of their products.
Is the meaning of ethical leadership constant across cultures? A test of cross-cultural measurement invariance
Authors: Ahmad Saima , Fazal-e-hasan Syed , Kaleem Ahmad
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper empirically addresses the question of whether the meaning of ethical leadership is constant across cultures. Drawing on the implicit leadership theory (ILT), we examine whether people in Australia and Pakistan respond to perceived ethical leadership in a similar or different manner. By comparing employees' interpretation of the key attributes associated with ethical leadership, we advance construct-specific knowledge in cross-national contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Since meaningful cross-country comparisons of a research construct require an equivalent measurement of it, we examine the issue of cross-cultural measurement invariance of ethical leadership. Specifically, this study explores the configural, metric and scalar invariance of ethical leadership by obtaining data from matched international samples.

Findings

The findings broadly support cross-cultural generalisability of the construct's meaning and cross-cultural transferability of the ethical leadership scale (ELS). They suggest that measures of ethical leadership constructs should be used in different cultures with caution because significant differences may exist at the item level.

Originality/value

This study provides cross-cultural endorsement to the construal of ethical leadership by presenting evidence that supports convergence in the construct's meaning across Eastern and Western cultures. The study has enhanced the construct validity of ethical leadership through the use of the refined multiple-sample analytical approach. Previous studies have assumed that measures of ethical leadership are invariant across various contexts. However, this is the first study to employ a robust methodological technique (metric and path invariance) that demonstrates the significant difference between each item and path and generalises the validity of ethical leadership construct and its measures by using international samples.
SME productivity stakeholders: getting in the right orbit
Authors: Jones Oliver William , Gold Jeff , Devins David
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore who small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner–managers consider as key stakeholders for their business for helping increase productivity and the nature of the stakeholders' impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the Lego Serious Play methodology and narrative analysis in a focus group setting.

Findings

The analysis revealed a narrow depth of field of productivity stakeholders and identified critical narratives, involving close stakeholders which could constrain productivity. Lack of information on current and/or future productivity states, and a social brake due to the potential impact on employees are two at the forefront of owner–manager perspectives. The study also identified the importance of internal and external champions to improve productivity and re-enforced the significance of skills gaps, the role of Further Education providers and other infrastructure assets.

Research limitations/implications

The purposiveness sample of the single focus group setting results in a lack of generalizability, but provides potential for replication and transposability based on the generic type of stakeholders discussed. The work highlights the potential to further enhance the constituent attributes of stakeholder salience.

Practical implications

There is a potential for different network agents to increase their collaboration to create a more coherent narrative for individual productivity investment opportunities and for policy makers to consider how to leverage this.

Social implications

The findings suggest that the implications of deskilling and job loss are major factors to be considered in the policy discourse. SMEs are less likely to pursue productivity improvements in a low growth setting because of their local social implications.

Originality/value

The study is innovative in using Lego to elucidate narratives in relation to both stakeholder identification and their contributions to productivity improvement impact in a UK SME context. The study introduces an innovative stakeholder orbital map and further develops the stakeholder salience concept; both useful for the future conceptual and empirical work.
Online decision aids: the role of decision-making styles and decision-making stages
Authors: Virdi Preeti , Kalro Arti D. , Sharma Dinesh
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Decision aids (DAs) in online retail stores ease consumers' information processing. However, online consumers do not use all decision aids in purchase decision-making. While the literature has documented the effects of individual decision aids or two decision aids at a time, no study has compared the efficacy of multiple decision aids simultaneously. Also, very few studies have looked at the use of decision aids for consumers with maximizing and satisficing tendencies. Hence, this study aims to understand the preferences of maximizers and satisficers towards online decision aids during the choice-making process.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an observational study with 60 individuals who were asked to purchase either a search-based or an experience-based product online. Participants' browsing actions and verbalizations during online shopping, were recorded and analysed using NVivo, and later the use of decision aids was mapped along their choice process.

Findings

Consumer's preference of decision aids varies across the two stages of the choice process (that is, consideration set formation and evaluation & choice). In their choice formation, maximizers use different decision aids in both stages, that is, filter tool and in-website search tool for search products, and collaborative filtering-based recommender systems and eWOM for experience products. Satisficers used more decision aids as compared to maximizers across the two stages for both product types.

Originality/value

This study is an exploratory attempt to understand how consumers use multiple decision aids present on e-commerce websites.
Corporate greenfluencing: a case study of sponsorship activation in Formula E motorsports
Authors: Næss Hans Erik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how companies activate their sponsorship of Formula E (for Electric) championship races to influence consumers' opinion of them as sustainable businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on an original combination of promotional outputs (YouTube spots, social media releases and sustainability reports) from Formula E race title sponsors in the 2017–2019 seasons, the paper is a qualitative analysis of how these sponsors solve the value clash between traditional motorsport imagery and environmentalism to achieve “narrative authenticity”.

Findings

Findings show that sponsors do not address this clash directly. Instead, the conflict itself is reframed as a question of what sponsors do to improve the environment, not what they ndo not do. Second, the timeframe for action is redefined, which means that the future is what counts, not the situation today or given aims like the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Originality/value

Sponsorship activation through Formula E as way of generating green brand equity would come across as more credible if companies improved the use of cross-platform synergies to convey narrative authenticity. To qualitative researchers on sport sponsorship, the findings strengthen the understanding of brands as “cultural narrators”.
The Internet and international marketing – from trigger technology to platforms and new markets
Authors: Sinkovics Rudolf R. , Sinkovics Noemi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The authors critically examine the paper by Samiee (2019, this issue) “International marketing and the Internet: A research overview and the path forward” and offer an appraisal of its merits as well as thoughts for further development of research on advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) in international marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper approaches its purpose via a reflexive review of Samiee's paper and continues by offering a content analysis of a broader body of literature which includes internationally oriented papers in international business (IB), international marketing (IM), general management, marketing and strategy (GMS) as well as information systems (IS). The underpinning question is whether and which particular ICT concepts have successfully been adopted in the IM literature and what the inclusion or exclusion of these phenomena may imply for future research.

Findings

The Internet and internationalization implications of the technology have been studied excessively in the domain; however, newer developments such as dimensions of Industry 4.0 or advanced manufacturing, have not yet been widely considered in IB and marketing work. The ramifications for future research are significant in that the understudied modern industrial organization of the contemporary firm in the digital world needs much concerted research focus to be adequately understood.

Research limitations/implications

This paper and the literature review is limited to “international” studies. While this is an appropriate limitation for the purposes of this IM-oriented review, some work in the GMS domain as well as the IS domain will have significant ramification for international firms and IM thinking, despite these papers limited to noninternational firms.

Practical implications

The notion of advanced ICTs, builds on the underpinning Internet technology, and has transformative effects on the way in which (international) firms are organized, studied and performed. The pervasive shifts triggered by advanced ICTs and the reconfiguration of firms to platform providers and system integrators need to be well understood, in order to stay legitimate and as performant in contemporary markets.

Originality/value

Rather than looking at only IM papers, this paper reviews Internet/advanced ICT papers in multiple related fields. Significant novelty in this area comes from IS, by including this discipline in the review, the authors see real diffusion of novel thinking and potential research areas for IM scholars at the interface of ICT and IM.
Asymmetric impact of exchange rate pass-through into employees' wages in sub-Saharan Africa: panel non-linear threshold estimation
Authors: Abdulqadir Idris Abdullahi , Chua Soo Y.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate the asymmetric impact of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) on employees' wages via consumer prices in 15 major oil-exporting countries from sub-Saharan Africa over the period 1996-2017 using the panel threshold regression model.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this article was built on non-linear panel threshold regression models developed by Hansen (1996, 1999) threshold regression. The authors first tested for the existence of threshold-effect in ERPT and wage nexus using 1,000 bootstrap replications and 400 grid searches to obtain an optimal threshold. We also estimated that asymmetric ERPT on employees' wages reacts differently when the inflation-threshold exceeds beyond a 15.12% threshold level.

Findings

Our findings showed that asymmetric ERPT is incomplete and indicates that an increase by one standard deviation in real exchange rate causes a decline in employees' wages by 2.69%.

Research limitations/implications

The policy implications of our results are drawn from the significant threshold estimates. However, a significant threshold value of 15.12 is an inflation-threshold estimates that split our 330 observations into the lower (upper) regimes. Further, an inflation rate beyond the threshold value is likely to have an asymmetric ERPT on employees' wages in the 15 major oil-exporting sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Practical implications

The practical implication of the study is when ERPT exceeds the threshold, the effect of real exchange rate variations is passed on to employees' wages. It is widely believed that labor productivity increase with increased minimum wages. Nevertheless, there is contention as regards the effects on employment and poverty. As rising goods prices make the minimum wage increased homogeneous of degree zero.

Social implications

Considerable increased ERPT on imported goods reduces employees' wages purchasing ability from import-dependent countries through import prices. Once it has documented, this also reduces welfare via deteriorations of marginal propensity to consume (MPC) and marginal propensity to savings (MPS).

Originality/value

This article integrates labor purchasing power into the analysis of ERPT using non-linear dynamic panel heterogeneous threshold regression. It extends the Hansen (1996, 1999) dynamic panel threshold models to exchange rate pass-through in SSA economies.
Religion and tax compliance among SMEs in Ghana
Authors: Carsamer Emmanuel , Abbam Anthony
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the suitability of religion and religiosity in small and medium-scale enterprises’ (SMEs) tax compliance in Ghanaian markets. The current research attempts to obtain insights into the advantages of Ghanaian religious notoriety in tax compliance based on the perceptions of entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey is the main tool used in this research. A total of 472 questionnaires were distributed to SMEs without Ghana revenue authority. Because of self-administered instrument, all the questionnaires were returned for analysis.

Findings

The results suggest that Ghanaian religious notoriety does not explain SMEs’ tax compliance and that tax evasion is seen as ethical. Institutional, firm and entrepreneurs’ characteristics are important determinants of SMEs’ tax compliance.

Practical implications

The results of this research paper will help regulators and Ghana Revenue Authority in developing tax compliance education without compromising on religion.

Originality/value

This paper provides empirical evidence of the suitability of religion and religiosity in emerging markets in general and Ghana in particular and enhances the level of understanding of SMEs’ tax compliance.
The efficacy of multilateral anti-bribery convention with national government enforcement
Authors: Swaleheen Mushfiq , Allen Marcus Tim
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) home country corruption in their decision to bribe officials in foreign host countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A model that predicts MNE bribing by controlling for a multitude of foreign host country factors is used. The information contained in the orthogonal residuals from this model is exploited to see whether MNE’s home country factors, particularly the level of public corruption, work to amplify illegal behavior by respective MNE in abroad.

Findings

MNEs pay more in bribes when the foreign officials they face are more corrupt. This behavior worsens when MNE’s home country has more corruption.

Social implications

All UN member countries are signatories to the UN Convention against Corruption that proscribes the bribing of foreign public officials by respective MNEs. The Convention’s reliance on home country enforcement of stipulations against the bribing of foreign officials by respective MNEs exposes its efficacy of the malfeasance of home country public officials.

Originality/value

This paper extends the literature to an examination of MNE’s use of bribes in a world with a global anti-corruption regime. Additionally, it ties MNE behavior in foreign countries to corruption in MNE’s home country.
Workforce diversity: from a literature review to future research agenda
Authors: Yadav Shatrughan , Lenka Usha
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Workforce diversity is widely believed to enhance the knowledge and perspectives of organizations. The purpose of this study is to synthesize the existing diverse literature on workforce diversity and to enlighten the avenues for future research in managing workforce diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study performs a comprehensive review of empirical and conceptual studies published on workforce diversity and its outcomes in the top 13 peer-reviewed leading management journals between 1990 and 2019.

Findings

The assessment of diversity literature reported mixed and inconsistent results that are the critical challenges of diversity management. Furthermore, most studies have not individually identified the problems of diversity dimensions. To understand the problems, this study has divided the different dimensions of diversity (e.g. age, gender, race, education, functional background and tenure) and their results, supported by various theories. The findings of this study suggested a different reason for existing conflicts and proposed a future research agenda.

Originality/value

To overcome the challenges of diversity, this study has proposed the future research agenda for future research. to take optimum advantage of workforce diversity, this study contributes a theoretical perspective that enhances the understanding of existing diversity in organizations and develops diverse organizations.
Returnee academic entrepreneurship in China
Authors: Lai Yanzhao , Vonortas Nicholas S.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Universities have become both increasingly entrepreneurial and international over the past few decades. We still, however, know little about the relationship between the two trends. This paper investigates the effect of international exposure of university faculty members on university entrepreneurial culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a specially constructed dataset of the entrepreneurial activities of 507 computer science faculty members—among whom 138 are returnees—from 21 research-intensive universities in China during 2007–2017, the study empirically investigates the relationship between foreign experience and academic entrepreneurial activity back home. We control for characteristics of the faculty member and the location of the university.

Findings

Academic tenure overseas is found to positively affect academic entrepreneurship. The length of stay abroad also affects the relationship: returnee academics with foreign Ph.D. degrees are more likely to start new businesses than returnee academics with shorter postdoc experience overseas. The economic gap between the host (foreign) and home country (China) does not have a statistically significant effect on returnee academic entrepreneurial activity.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to empirically investigate returnee academic entrepreneurship. It provides indications on how foreign educational background affects academics entrepreneurial activities.