bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graphical model for joint segmentation and tracking of multiple dividing cells
Authors: Schiegg Martin , Hanslovsky Philipp , Haubold Carsten , Koethe Ullrich , Hufnagel Lars , Hamprecht Fred A.
Published: November 2014

Motivation: To gain fundamental insight into the development of embryos, biologists seek to understand the fate of each and every embryonic cell. For the generation of cell tracks in embryogenesis, so-called tracking-by-assignment methods are flexible approaches. However, as every two-stage approach, they suffer from irrevocable errors propagated from the first stage to the second stage, here from segmentation to tracking. It is therefore desirable to model segmentation and tracking in a joint holistic assignment framework allowing the two stages to maximally benefit from each other.

Results: We propose a probabilistic graphical model, which both automatically selects the best segments from a time series of oversegmented images/volumes and links them across time. This is realized by introducing intra-frame and inter-frame constraints between conflicting segmentation and tracking hypotheses while at the same time allowing for cell division. We show the efficiency of our algorithm on a challenging 3D+t cell tracking dataset from Drosophila embryogenesis and on a 2D+t dataset of proliferating cells in a dense population with frequent overlaps. On the latter, we achieve results significantly better than state-of-the-art tracking methods.

Availability and implementation: Source code and the 3D+t Drosophila dataset along with our manual annotations will be freely available on http://hci.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/MIP/Research/tracking/

Contact:  fred.hamprecht@iwr.uni-heidelberg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary material is available at Bioinformatics online.
European lobster stocking requires comprehensive impact assessment to determine fishery benefits
Authors: Ellis Charlie D. , Hodgson David J. , Daniels Carly L. , Boothroyd Dominic P. , Bannister R. Colin A. , Griffiths Amber G. F.
Published: November 2014

Historically, hatcheries in Europe and North America attempted to contribute to the conservation and enhancement of clawed lobster stocks, but lacked monitoring programmes capable of assessing success. In the 1990s, this perspective was changed by the results of restocking and stock enhancement experiments that inserted microwire tags into hatchery-reared juvenile European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) before release. This allowed recapture in sufficient numbers to prove that lobsters had survived and recruited to the mature fishable stock. However, evidence of recruitment still failed to answer key questions about the ultimate ecological and economic benefits. As a result, a growing number of lobster stocking ventures remain hindered by a lack of clear evidence of the effects of their stocking schemes. This review evaluates these experiments and related studies on other fished species, summarizes key findings, and identifies data and knowledge gaps. Although studies of fitness in cultured lobsters provide some of the most encouraging results from the wider field of hatchery-based stocking, the limitations of physical tagging technology have significantly hindered appraisals of stocking impacts. We lack basic knowledge of lobster ecology and population dynamics, especially among prerecruits, and of the impact of stocking on wild lobster population genetics. We advocate the use of genetic methods to further our understanding of population structure, rearing processes, and stocking success. We also recommend that more focused and comprehensive impact assessments are required to provide a robust endorsement or rejection of stocking as a viable tool for the sustainable management of lobster fisheries.
Early Intervention for Preterm Infants and Their Mothers
Authors: Zhang Xin , Kurtz Melissa , Lee Shih-Yu , Liu Huaping
Published: November 2014

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of various early interventions on maternal emotional outcomes, mother-infant interaction, and subsequent infant outcomes during neonatal intensive care unit admission and postdischarge. Key interventions associated with outcomes in both the neonatal intensive care unit and postdischarge (ie, home) settings are summarized. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials involving early interventions for infants and their mother published between 1993 and 2013 in the electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and Cochrane was undertaken. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale to evaluate internal and external validity of the study. Twelve randomized controlled trials were included in the review, and all used some form of parenting education. The interventions had limited effects on maternal stress and mother-infant interaction and positive effects on maternal anxiety, depressive symptoms, and maternal coping. There were positive effects on infants' short-term outcomes for length of stay and breast-feeding rate. Positive and clinically meaningful effects of early interventions were seen in some physiological/psychological outcomes of mothers and preterm infants. It is important for nurses to foster close mother-infant contact and increase maternal competence during and after the infant's hospitalization period.
Early pest development and loss of biological control are associated with urban warming
Authors: Meineke Emily K. , Dunn Robert R. , Frank Steven D.
Published: November 2014

Climate warming is predicted to cause many changes in ectotherm communities, one of which is phenological mismatch, wherein one species' development advances relative to an associated species or community. Phenological mismatches already lead to loss of pollination services, and we predict that they also cause loss of biological control. Here, we provide evidence that a pest develops earlier due to urban warming but that phenology of its parasitoid community does not similarly advance. This mismatch is associated with greater egg production that likely leads to more pests on trees.
Assortative mating among animals of captive and wild origin following experimental conservation releases
Authors: Slade Brendan , Parrott Marissa L. , Paproth Aleisha , Magrath Michael J. L. , Gillespie Graeme R. , Jessop Tim S.
Published: November 2014

Captive breeding is a high profile management tool used for conserving threatened species. However, the inevitable consequence of generations in captivity is broad scale and often-rapid phenotypic divergence between captive and wild individuals, through environmental differences and genetic processes. Although poorly understood, mate choice preference is one of the changes that may occur in captivity that could have important implications for the reintroduction success of captive-bred animals. We bred wild-caught house mice for three generations to examine mating patterns and reproductive outcomes when these animals were simultaneously released into multiple outdoor enclosures with wild conspecifics. At release, there were significant differences in phenotypic (e.g. body mass) and genetic measures (e.g.
G
st
and
F
) between captive-bred and wild adult mice. Furthermore, 83% of offspring produced post-release were of same source parentage, inferring pronounced assortative mating. Our findings suggest that captive breeding may affect mating preferences, with potentially adverse implications for the success of threatened species reintroduction programmes.
Human climbing with efficiently scaled gecko-inspired dry adhesives
Authors: Hawkes Elliot W. , Eason Eric V. , Christensen David L. , Cutkosky Mark R.
Published: November 2014

Since the discovery of the mechanism of adhesion in geckos, many synthetic dry adhesives have been developed with desirable gecko-like properties such as reusability, directionality, self-cleaning ability, rough surface adhesion and high adhesive stress. However, fully exploiting these adhesives in practical applications at different length scales requires efficient scaling (i.e. with little loss in adhesion as area grows). Just as natural gecko adhesives have been used as a benchmark for synthetic materials, so can gecko adhesion systems provide a baseline for scaling efficiency. In the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko), a scaling power law has been reported relating the maximum shear stressσmaxto the areaA:σmax∝A−1/4. We present a mechanical concept which improves upon the gecko's non-uniform load-sharing and results in a nearly even load distribution over multiple patches of gecko-inspired adhesive. We created a synthetic adhesion system incorporating this concept which shows efficient scaling across four orders of magnitude of area, yielding an improved scaling power law:σmax∝A−1/50. Furthermore, we found that the synthetic adhesion system does not fail catastrophically when a simulated failure is induced on a portion of the adhesive. In a practical demonstration, the synthetic adhesion system enabled a 70 kg human to climb vertical glass with 140 cm2of adhesive per hand.
Ontogenetic changes in the olfactory antennules of the shore crab,Hemigrapsus oregonensis, maintain sniffing function during growth
Authors: Waldrop Lindsay D. , Hann Miranda , Henry Amy K. , Kim Agnes , Punjabi Ayesha , Koehl M. A. R.
Published: November 2014

Malacostracan crustaceans capture odours using arrays of chemosensory hairs (aesthetascs) on antennules. Lobsters and stomatopods have sparse aesthetascs on long antennules that flick with a rapid downstroke when water flows between the aesthetascs and a slow return stroke when water is trapped within the array (sniffing). Changes in velocity only cause big differences in flow through an array in a critical range of hair size, spacing and speed. Crabs have short antennules bearing dense arrays of flexible aesthetascs that splay apart during downstroke and clump together during return. Can crabs sniff, and when during ontogeny are they big enough to sniff? Antennules ofHemigrapsus oregonensisrepresenting an ontogenetic series from small juveniles to adults were used to design dynamically scaled physical models. Particle image velocimetry quantified fluid flow through each array and showed that even very small crabs capture a new water sample in their arrays during the downstroke and retain that sample during return stroke. Comparison with isometrically scaled antennules suggests that reduction in aesthetasc flexural stiffness during ontogeny, in addition to increase in aesthetasc number and decrease in relative size, maintain sniffing as crabs grow. Sniffing performance of intermediate-sized juveniles was worse than for smaller and larger crabs.
Multi-haem cytochromes inShewanella oneidensisMR-1: structures, functions and opportunities
Authors: Breuer Marian , Rosso Kevin M. , Blumberger Jochen , Butt Julea N.
Published: November 2014

Multi-haem cytochromes are employed by a range of microorganisms to transport electrons over distances of up to tens of nanometres. Perhaps the most spectacular utilization of these proteins is in the reduction of extracellular solid substrates, including electrodes and insoluble mineral oxides of Fe(III) and Mn(III/IV), by species ofShewanellaandGeobacter.However, multi-haem cytochromes are found in numerous and phylogenetically diverse prokaryotes where they participate in electron transfer and redox catalysis that contributes to biogeochemical cycling of N, S and Fe on the global scale. These properties of multi-haem cytochromes have attracted much interest and contributed to advances in bioenergy applications and bioremediation of contaminated soils. Looking forward, there are opportunities to engage multi-haem cytochromes for biological photovoltaic cells, microbial electrosynthesis and developing bespoke molecular devices. As a consequence, it is timely to review our present understanding of these proteins and we do this here with a focus on the multitude of functionally diverse multi-haem cytochromes inShewanella oneidensisMR-1. We draw on findings from experimental and computational approaches which ideally complement each other in the study of these systems: computational methods can interpret experimentally determined properties in terms of molecular structure to cast light on the relation between structure and function. We show how this synergy has contributed to our understanding of multi-haem cytochromes and can be expected to continue to do so for greater insight into natural processes and their informed exploitation in biotechnologies.
Predictability in a highly stochastic system: final size of measles epidemics in small populations
Authors: Caudron Q. , Mahmud A. S. , Metcalf C. J. E. , Gottfreðsson M. , Viboud C. , Cliff A. D. , Grenfell B. T.
Published: November 2014

A standard assumption in the modelling of epidemic dynamics is that the population of interest is well mixed, and that no clusters of metapopulations exist. The well-known and oft-used SIR model, arguably the most important compartmental model in theoretical epidemiology, assumes that the disease being modelled is strongly immunizing, directly transmitted and has a well-defined period of infection, in addition to these population mixing assumptions. Childhood infections, such as measles, are prime examples of diseases that fit the SIR-like mechanism. These infections have been well studied for many systems with large, well-mixed populations with endemic infection. Here, we consider a setting where populations are small and isolated. The dynamics of infection are driven by stochastic extinction–recolonization events, producing large, sudden and short-lived epidemics before rapidly dying out from a lack of susceptible hosts. Using a TSIR model, we fit prevaccination measles incidence and demographic data in Bornholm, the Faroe Islands and four districts of Iceland, between 1901 and 1965. The datasets for each of these countries suffer from different levels of data heterogeneity and sparsity. We explore the potential for prediction of this model: given historical incidence data and up-to-date demographic information, and knowing that a new epidemic has just begun, can we predict how large it will be? We show that, despite a lack of significant seasonality in the incidence of measles cases, and potentially severe heterogeneity at the population level, we are able to estimate the size of upcoming epidemics, conditioned on the first time step, to within reasonable confidence. Our results have potential implications for possible control measures for the early stages of new epidemics in small populations.
A relativistic retrocausal model violating Bell's inequality
Authors: Lazarovici Dustin
Published: November 2014

We present a simple model demonstrating that time-symmetric (advanced + retarded) relativistic interactions can account for statistical correlations violating the Bell inequalities while avoiding conspiracies as well as the commitment to instantaneous (direct space-like) influences. We provide an explicit statistical analysis of the model while highlighting some of the difficulties arising from retrocausal effects. Finally, we discuss how this account fits into the framework of Bell's theorem.
The jellification of north temperate lakes
Authors: Jeziorski Adam , Tanentzap Andrew J. , Yan Norman D. , Paterson Andrew M. , Palmer Michelle E. , Korosi Jennifer B. , Rusak James A. , Arts Michael T. , Keller Wendel (Bill) , Ingram Ron , Cairns Allegra , Smol John P.
Published: November 2014

Calcium (Ca) concentrations are decreasing in softwater lakes across eastern North America and western Europe. Using long-term contemporary and palaeo-environmental field data, we show that this is precipitating a dramatic change in Canadian lakes: the replacement of previously dominant pelagic herbivores (Ca-rich
Daphnia
species) by
Holopedium glacialis
, a jelly-clad, Ca-poor competitor. In some lakes, this transformation is being facilitated by increases in macro-invertebrate predation, both from native (
Chaoborus
spp
.
) and introduced (
Bythotrephes longimanus
) zooplanktivores, to which
Holopedium
, with its jelly coat, is relatively invulnerable. Greater representation by
Holopedium
within cladoceran zooplankton communities will reduce nutrient transfer through food webs, given their lower phosphorus content relative to daphniids, and greater absolute abundances may pose long-term problems to water users. The dominance of jelly-clad zooplankton will likely persist while lakewater Ca levels remain low.
Phenotypic Convergence in Bacterial Adaptive Evolution to Ethanol Stress
Authors: Horinouchi Takaaki , Suzuki Shingo , Hirasawa Takashi , Ono Naoaki , Yomo Tetsuya , Shimizu Hiroshi , Furusawa Chikara
Published: November 2014

Bacterial cells have a remarkable ability to adapt and evolve to environmental changes, a phenomenon known as adaptive evolution. Adaptive evolution can be explained by phenotypic changes caused by genetic mutations, and by phenotypic plasticity that occur without genetic alteration, although far less is known about the contributions of the latter. In this study, we analyzed phenotypic and genotypic changes inEscherichia colicells during adaptive evolution to ethanol stress. Phenotypic changes were quantified by transcriptome and metabolome analyses and found similar among independently evolved ethanol tolerant strains. The contribution of identified mutations in the tolerant strain was evaluated by using site-directed mutagenesis, which suggested that the fixation of these mutations cannot fully explain the observed ethanol tolerance. The phenotype of ethanol tolerance was stably maintained after an environmental change, suggesting that a mechanism of non-genetic memory contributed to at least part of the adaptation process.
Triticeae resources in Ensembl Plants
Authors: Bolser Dan M , Kerhornou Arnaud , Walts Brandon , Kersey Paul
Published: November 2014

Recent developments in DNA sequencing have enabled the large and complex genomes of many crop species to be determined for the first time, even those previously intractable due to their polyploid nature. Indeed, over the course of the last two years, the genome sequences of several commercially important cereals, notably barley and bread wheat, have become available, as well as those of related wild species. While still incomplete, comparison to other, more completely assembled species suggests that coverage of genic regions is likely to be high. Ensembl Plants (http://plants.ensembl.org) is an integrative resource organising, analysing and visualising genome-scale information for important crop and model plants. Available data includes reference genome sequence, variant loci, gene models and functional annotation. For variant loci, individual and population genotypes, linkage information and, where available, phenotypic information, are shown. Comparative analyses are performed on DNA and protein sequence alignments. The resulting genome alignments and gene trees, representing the implied evolutionary history the gene family, are made available for visualisation and analysis. Driven by the use case of bread wheat, specific extensions to the analysis pipelines and web interface have recently been developed to support polyploid genomes. Data in Ensembl Plants is accessible through a genome browser incorporating various specialist interfaces for different data types, and through a variety of additional methods for programmatic access and data mining. These interfaces are consistent with those offered through the Ensembl interface for the genomes of non-plant species, including those of plant pathogens, pests and pollinators, facilitating the study of the plant in its environment.
Expansion load: recessive mutations and the role of standing genetic variation
Authors: Peischl Stephan , Excoffier Laurent
Published: November 2014

Expanding populations incur a mutation burden – the so-called expansion load. Previous studies of expansion load have focused on co-dominant mutations. An important consequence of this assumption is that expansion load stems exclusively from the accumulation of new mutations occurring in individuals living at the wave front. Using individual-based simulations we study here the dynamics of standing genetic variation at the front of expansions, and its consequences on mean fitness if mutations are recessive. We find that deleterious genetic diversity is quickly lost at the front of the expansion, but the loss of deleterious mutations at some loci is compensated by an increase of their frequencies at other loci. The frequency of deleterious homozygotes therefore increases along the expansion axis whereas the average number of deleterious mutations per individual remains nearly constant across the species range. This reveals two important differences to co-dominant models: (i) mean fitness at the front of the expansion drops much faster if mutations are recessive, and (ii) mutation load can increase during the expansion even if the total number of deleterious mutations per individual remains constant. We use our model to make predictions about the shape of the site frequency spectrum at the front of range expansion, and about correlations between heterozygosity and fitness in different parts of the species range. Importantly, these predictions provide opportunities to empirically validate our theoretical results. We discuss our findings in the light of recent results on the distribution of deleterious genetic variation across human populations, and link them to empirical results on the correlation of heterozygosity and fitness found in many natural range expansions.
Systems-Wide Analysis of Acclimation Responses to Long-Term Heat Stress and Recovery in the Photosynthetic Model OrganismChlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Hemme Dorothea , Veyel Daniel , Mühlhaus Timo , Sommer Frederik , Jüppner Jessica , Unger Ann-Katrin , Sandmann Michael , Fehrle Ines , Schönfelder Stephanie , Steup Martin , Geimer Stefan , Kopka Joachim , Giavalisco Patrick , Schroda Michael
Published: November 2014

We applied a top-down systems biology approach to understand how Chlamydomonas reinhardtii acclimates to long-term heat stress (HS) and recovers from it. For this, we shifted cells from 25 to 42°C for 24 h and back to 25°C for ≥8 h and monitored abundances of 1856 proteins/protein groups, 99 polar and 185 lipophilic metabolites, and cytological and photosynthesis parameters. Our data indicate that acclimation of Chlamydomonas to long-term HS consists of a temporally ordered, orchestrated implementation of response elements at various system levels. These comprise (1) cell cycle arrest; (2) catabolism of larger molecules to generate compounds with roles in stress protection; (3) accumulation of molecular chaperones to restore protein homeostasis together with compatible solutes; (4) redirection of photosynthetic energy and reducing power from the Calvin cycle to the de novo synthesis of saturated fatty acids to replace polyunsaturated ones in membrane lipids, which are deposited in lipid bodies; and (5) when sinks for photosynthetic energy and reducing power are depleted, resumption of Calvin cycle activity associated with increased photorespiration, accumulation of reactive oxygen species scavengers, and throttling of linear electron flow by antenna uncoupling. During recovery from HS, cells appear to focus on processes allowing rapid resumption of growth rather than restoring pre-HS conditions.
The Microtubule Plus-End Tracking Proteins SPR1 and EB1b Interact to Maintain Polar Cell Elongation and Directional Organ Growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Galva Charitha , Kirik Viktor , Lindeboom Jelmer J. , Kaloriti Despoina , Rancour David M. , Hussey Patrick J. , Bednarek Sebastian Y. , Ehrhardt David W. , Sedbrook John C.
Published: November 2014

The microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) END BINDING1b (EB1b) and SPIRAL1 (SPR1) are required for normal cell expansion and organ growth. EB proteins are viewed as central regulators of +TIPs and cell polarity in animals; SPR1 homologs are specific to plants. To explore if EB1b and SPR1 fundamentally function together, we combined genetic, biochemical, and cell imaging approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that eb1b-2 spr1-6 double mutant roots exhibit substantially more severe polar expansion defects than either single mutant, undergoing right-looping growth and severe axial twisting instead of waving on tilted hard-agar surfaces. Protein interaction assays revealed that EB1b and SPR1 bind each other and tubulin heterodimers, which is suggestive of a microtubule loading mechanism. EB1b and SPR1 show antagonistic association with microtubules in vitro. Surprisingly, our combined analyses revealed that SPR1 can load onto microtubules and function independently of EB1 proteins, setting SPR1 apart from most studied +TIPs in animals and fungi. Moreover, we found that the severity of defects in microtubule dynamics in spr1 eb1b mutant hypocotyl cells correlated well with the severity of growth defects. These data indicate that SPR1 and EB1b have complex interactions as they load onto microtubule plus ends and direct polar cell expansion and organ growth in response to directional cues.
R&D reporting methods and firm value: evidence from China
Authors: Wang Yanni , Fan Weiguo
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how different research and development (R&D) accounting choice (capitalization and expensing) affects the value of the listed companies under the new Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) background. According to new CAS, R&D expenditure can either be expensed as incurred as a whole or partly capitalized and partly expensed from 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper takes the form of an empirical study using a hand-collected sample of 3,664 observations from Chinese listed companies over 2007–2012 timeframe.

Findings

– It is found that different methods of reporting R&D investments do affect the value of listed firms in China. Specifically, the firms that chose to capitalize their R&D investments have higher stock price and return. On the contrary, the companies that select to expense their R&D expenditures have lower stock price and return. It is also found that capitalized R&D investments are positively connected to stock price, while expensed R&D expenditures are negatively related to stock prices.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper researches and finds the value relevance of R&D capitalization and expensing from the accounting report method itself. This explores some interesting research questions. Does choice of accounting method for R&D expenditure affect firm valuation? Do different methods of reporting R&D investments transfer different signal to investors? Does expensed R&D carry a negative signal to investors? So it can expand the existing R&D area of research.

Practical implications

– This paper can provide empirical evidence and decision support for corporate managers, R&D policy makers and investors in a non-mandatory disclosure market of R&D expenditure. Because different R&D accounting choice has different market reactions, managers can choose a favorable method of reporting R&D investments to raise their firm’s stock price. Policy makers should standardize accounting treatment of R&D expenditure, strengthen the disclosure of R&D information and develop a detailed, workable R&D capitalization accounting policies and procedures. Investors can make the right judgment and decision on business innovation capability and future development only by getting more R&D investment information.

Originality/value

– Different from present studies focusing on the value relevance of R&D investment, this paper explores an interesting topic showing how different methods of reporting R&D investment in China affect the value of the firms.
The effect of philanthropic marketing on brand resonance and consumer satisfaction of CSR performance
Authors: Tsui-Hsu Tsai Tracy , Jing Lin Arthur , Y. Li Eldon
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate whether engagement in philanthropic marketing after the 311 Japan earthquake crises had a positive effect on brand resonance and consumer satisfaction of CSR performance for Taiwanese companies. Additionally, the particular phenomenon of media self-regulation was integrated to explore the consolidated impact of philanthropic marketing, media self-regulation and brand resonance on consumer satisfaction of CSR performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used survey method to collect required data. The subjects of the study were 516 adults who were aware of the 311 Japan earthquake crises. Of the 476 survey questionnaires collected, 450 were identified as usable.

Findings

– The results show that the constructs were highly positively correlated, meaning that post-disaster corporate philanthropic marketing can enhance brand resonance and consumer satisfaction of CSR performance. Media self-regulation was found to have a significant influence on philanthropic marketing and brand resonance. However, it did not exert any significant effect on consumer satisfaction of CSR performance.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the chosen research method and surveyed subjects, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed research model further with additional subjects and variables.

Practical implications

– A good impression of the brand usually makes consumers generate brand resonance. This study reveals that a higher level of brand resonance may lead to higher consumer satisfaction of CSR performance. This implies that local and international companies should engage in philanthropic marketing programs, as it will not only support charitable organizations but also enhance the firm’s corporate image.

Social implications

– This study points out that the positive coverage of the disaster could give the audience a positive impression, rather than showing provocative, violent or sexual content to push viewership. At the time when disasters become increasingly common, people’s expectations of the media will also elevate. Dramatization, exaggeration and information overload make the audience distrust the media and constantly seek the truth behind the story. Content generated by online bloggers and citizen reporters (ordinary people) is an alternative source for true, fast and in-depth reports.

Originality/value

– This study differs from earlier studies researching disastrous events in that they were taking the perspective of natural sciences, while we adopted the management viewpoint to evaluate the 311 crises and took media self-regulation into account. It is the first to reveal that media’s self-regulated coverage of the disaster seems to have a positive effect on corporate philanthropic marketing and brand resonance.
Knowledge transfer, governance mechanisms in alliance and environmental uncertainty
Authors: Long Yong , Li Peng , You Bo
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationship between knowledge transfer characteristics in alliance and alliance governance mechanisms, the influence of alliance governance mechanisms on knowledge transfer consequences and investigate the role of environmental uncertainty in knowledge transfer of alliance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey data were collected mainly in high-tech industries of China, the firms in which often establish alliance for the purpose of learning and knowledge transfer often takes place in that alliance. Finally, 293 usable samples were included in subsequent analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

– The extent of relational (/formal) governance mechanism used in alliance has a stronger positive relationship with the extent of tacit (/explicit) knowledge transfer in alliance than with the extent of explicit (/tacit) knowledge transfer in alliance between them; environmental uncertainty impairs relational governance mechanisms and enhances formal governance mechanisms used in alliance; both relational and formal governance mechanisms could facilitate knowledge transfer in alliance; environmental uncertainty hinders knowledge transfer and negatively moderates the relationship between alliance governance mechanisms and knowledge transfer.

Originality/value

– This paper finds the relationship between knowledge transfer in alliance and alliance governance mechanisms, and the role of environmental uncertainty, providing managers with direct implications about how to manage alliance with different knowledge transfer characteristics for the purpose of facilitating knowledge transfer in alliance; provides managers more details about the dark side of the environmental uncertainty in knowledge transfer, also reminds public policy-makers paying enough attention for the improvement of institutional environment to deal with uncertainty.
Corporate governance, resources, FDI commitment and firm performance
Authors: Tsai Ming-Tien , Tung Wen-Hui
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to explore the effects of corporate governance structure and resources on foreign direct investment (FDI) commitment and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data are collected from high-tech firms listed by the Taiwan Stock Exchange. All selected 137 firms have complete FDI and other required data during 2007-2009. The mean values of the variables during the three-year period were used for analysis.

Findings

– The results indicate that both chief executive officer (CEO) duality and government shareholding affect a firm’s FDI; and the higher the management shareholding ratio, the lower the return on equity. Moreover, a large ownership of substantial shareholders can enhance a firm’s performance; and higher institutional ownership can lead to higher firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

– This study analyses the limited data from 137 high-tech firms in Taiwan during the three-year period of 2007-2009. Further analyses of other industries, countries and time periods are needed to generalize the conclusions.

Practical implications

– A firm with CEO duality should increase the ratio of government holding to mitigate the influence of CEO on FDI decisions. When a firm’s performance is poor, the ratio of managerial holdings should be reduced; conversely, the firm could attract more holdings from domestic securities and funds to improve performance.

Originality/value

– This study provides guidelines for shareholders to analyze governance structure and formulate their investment strategies. Corporate policymakers may use these as the principles for designing a corporate governance structure that could engender optimal firm performance.
Political connections, entry barriers, and firm performance
Authors: Chen Ying , Luo Danglun , Li Weiwen
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose, by drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) and economic regulation theory, that companies with political connections are more likely to enter into industries with high entry barriers, as they are more likely to obtain entry permits from the government and can gain more benefits after entering these industries. Managers’ political connections are a crucial determinant of firm scope. Although the existing research on this topic has shown that firms tend to use political connections to increase their scope, it remains unclear which industries companies with political connections choose to enter. Drawing on the resource-based view and economic regulation theory, we propose that companies with political connections are more likely to enter into industries with high entry barriers, as they are more likely to obtain entry permits from the government and can gain more benefits after entering these industries.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on a sample of Chinese listed privately owned enterprises were used and the findings support the main predictions.

Findings

– The findings support the main predictions.

Originality/value

– The research findings of this study contribute to the existing research on political connections and strategic choices.
Corporate politics, philanthropy and governance: their impacts on unit performance
Authors: Y. Li Eldon
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This aim of this article is to review the 12 manuscripts accepted into the special issue of “Corporate Politics, Philanthropy and Governance” in Chinese Management Studies. It explains basic concepts, provides brief introduction to each manuscript and presents the related findings.

Design/methodology/approach

– Most manuscripts in this special issue used primary empirical data (collected from field surveys or interviews) or secondary historical data (extracted from published literature, corporate reports or financial databases) for analyses. Both qualitative (case studies, comparative reviews) and quantitative (logistic regression, multiple regression, simultaneous equations) methods were used to draw conclusions.

Findings

– The results of the studies in this special issue show: Singapore, rather Hong Kong, is a better governance model for China in reforming her society to be corruption free; corporate governance structure affects a firm’s performance and foreign direct investment decision; corporate governance can affect auditor selection only in low and medium agency conflict conditions; trustworthy characteristic of benevolence can mitigate the damages of perceived politics on affective commitment; the firms who selected to expense their research and development expenditures have lower stock price and return; organizational citizenship behavior can mediate the relationship between psychological contract and organizational performance; both relational and formal governance mechanisms can facilitate knowledge transfer in the alliance; companies with political connections are more likely to enter into industries with high entry barriers; circular-economy accounting information disclosure quality has low correlation with the profitability and the location of the listed companies; media self-regulation has a significant influence on philanthropic marketing and brand resonance.

Originality/value

– The manuscripts in this special issue cover a wide range of topics, including corporate governance, corruption, politics, philanthropy, agency conflict, organizational citizenship behavior, media self-regulation and firm performance. The findings from the studies provide leaders of corporate governance with valuable insights, allowing them to adjust governance mechanisms properly to heighten governance quality and improve firm performance.
Role of auditor in agency conflict and corporate governance
Authors: Cho Chia-Ching , Wu Chu-Hua
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to investigate whether hiring a high-quality auditor (i.e. industry specialist) depends on corporate governance indicators after controlling a different level of agency conflicts (ACs).

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses logistic regressions on 12,449 firm-year samples of Taiwanese public companies from 1998 to 2011 by grouping the samples into three categories (i.e. low, medium and high AC).

Findings

– The results show that the corporate governance indicators can explain the decision of auditor selection only in low and medium AC groups, which suggest that there may be a complementary relationship between external (i.e. auditors) and internal governance when the ACs are mild.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the ongoing debate between the complementary and substitutable effects. When the internal ACs are controlled, the internal governance and auditor selection are complemented.
Segmenting consumers’ reasons for and against ethical consumption
Authors: F. Burke Paul , Eckert Christine , Davis Stacey
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to quantify the relative importance of reasons used to explain consumers’ selection and rejection of ethical products, accounting for differences in ethical orientations across consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reviewing previous literature and drawing on in-depth interviews, a taxonomy of reasons for and against ethical purchasing is developed. An online survey incorporating best–worst scaling (BWS) determines which reasons feature more in shaping ethical consumerism. Cluster analysis and multinomial regression are used to identify and profile segments.

Findings

– Positively orientated consumers (42 per cent of respondents) purchase ethical products more so because of reasons relating to impact, health, personal relevance, and quality. Negatively orientated consumers (34 per cent of respondents) reject ethical alternatives based on reasons relating to indifference, expense, confusion and scepticism. A third segment is ambivalent in their behaviour and reasoning; they perceive ethical purchasing to be effective and relevant, but are confused and sceptical under what conditions this can occur.

Research limitations/implications

– Preferences were elicited using an online survey rather than using real market data. Though the task instructions and methods used attempted to minimise social-desirability bias, the experiment might still be subject to its effects.

Practical implications

– Competitive positioning strategies can be better designed knowing which barriers to ethical purchasing are more relevant. The paper challenges the benefits in altruistic-based positioning and outlines shortcomings in communication about ethical products, including those relating to product labelling.

Social implications

– Through their purchase behaviours across a number of categories, ethical consumers aim to minimise the harm and exploitation of humans, animals and the natural environment. This research provides insights into the potential reasons why the uptake of ethical products is not being achieved and how it can be addressed to make improvements in making this movement more mainstream.

Originality/value

– This research examines an extensive list of reasons for and against ethical purchasing used by a general population of consumers. By forcing respondents to make trade-offs, this is the first study quantifying the relative importance of reasons utilised by consumers. It also highlights the value in using cluster analysis on best–worst scores to identify underlying segments.
The asymmetric influence of cognitive and affective country image on rational and experiential purchases
Authors: Li Dongjin , Lu Wang Cheng , Jiang Ying , R. Barnes Bradley , Zhang Hao
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to differentiate and examine how country image (cognitive and affective image) has different impacts on product judgment and purchase intention in rational versus experiential purchases.

Design/methodology/approach

– A large-scale survey involving over 1,200 consumers was conducted in China. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

Findings

– Empirical results show that the impact of country image on consumer purchase intention is mediated by general and category product image. In particular, the impact of cognitive country image on category product image is fully mediated by general product image in both rational and experiential purchases, whereas the affective country image has a direct impact on category product image in experiential but not in rational purchases.

Research limitations/implications

– This research extends the extant country-of-origin literature and shows that the product image dimension of the country-of-origin construct mediates the effect of the country image dimension of the country-of-origin construct on consumer purchase intention, and demonstrates the different effect of affective country image on product image in rational versus experiential purchases.

Practical implications

– The findings of this research can help multinational marketers, exporters and retailers to better decide when to benefit from their positive country image and avoid the potential pitfalls associated with negative country image.

Originality/value

– This study differentiates between cognitive and affective country image and between general and category product image. Thus, it provides insight to further understand how country image can influence consumer product judgment and purchase intention differently in rational and experiential purchases.
The reflexive turn in key account management
Authors: Vanharanta Markus , J.P. Gilchrist Alan , D. Pressey Andrew , Lenney Peter
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to address how and why do formal key account management (KAM) programmes hinder effective KAM management, and how can the problems of formalization in KAM be overcome. Recent empirical studies have reported an unexpected negative relationship between KAM formalization and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– An 18-month (340 days) ethnographic investigation was undertaken in the UK-based subsidiary of a major US sports goods manufacturer. This ethnographic evidence was triangulated with 113 in-depth interviews.

Findings

– This study identifies how and why managerial reflexivity allows a more effectively combining of formal and post-bureaucratic KAM practices. While formal KAM programmes provide a means to initiate, implement and control KAM, they have an unintended consequence of increasing organizational bureaucracy, which may in the long-run hinder the KAM effectiveness. Heightened reflexivity, including “wayfinding”, is identified as a means to overcome many of these challenges, allowing for reflexively combining formal with post-bureaucratic KAM practices.

Research limitations/implications

– The thesis of this paper starts a new line of reflexive KAM research, which draws theoretical influences from the post-bureaucratic turn in management studies.

Practical implications

– This study seeks to increase KAM implementation success rates and long-term effectiveness of KAM by conceptualizing the new possibilities offered by reflexive KAM. This study demonstrates how reflexive skills (conceptualized as “KAM wayfinding”) can be deployed during KAM implementation and for its continual improvement. Further, the study identifies how KAM programmes can be used to train organizational learning regarding KAM. Furthermore, this study identifies how and why post-bureaucratic KAM can offer additional benefits after an organization has learned key KAM capabilities.

Originality/value

– A new line of enquiry is identified: the reflexive-turn in KAM. This theoretical position allows us to identify existing weakness in the extant KAM literature, and to show a practical means to improve the effectiveness of KAM. This concerns, in particular, the importance of managerial reflexivity and KAM wayfinding as a means to balance the strengths and weaknesses of formal and post-bureaucratic KAM.