bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro reconstitution of sortase-catalyzed pilus polymerization reveals structural elements involved in pilin cross-linking
Authors: Chang Chungyu , Amer Brendan R. , Osipiuk Jerzy , McConnell Scott A. , Huang I-Hsiu , Hsieh Van , Fu Janine , Nguyen Hong H. , Muroski John , Flores Erika , Ogorzalek Loo Rachel R. , Loo Joseph A. , Putkey John A. , Joachimiak Andrzej , Das Asis , Clubb Robert T. , Ton-That Hung
Published: May 2018

Significance

Gram-positive sortase enzymes represent two broad functional categories—those that cross-link proteins to the cell wall and those that can catalyze this reaction and polymerize proteins to build adhesive pilus fibers. Here we report an in vitro reproduction of a robust pilus polymerization reaction using a variant of a corynebacterial pilus-specific sortase in which the catalytic center is unmasked. By molecular modeling, we uncovered a conserved structural element of pilus-specific sortases critical for protein ligation in vitro and further demonstrated that the activated sortase ligates the isolated domains of the pilin harboring the donor and acceptor motifs for ligation. Besides enabling future molecular studies and antibiotic development, our system provides a powerful platform for bioconjugation and protein engineering.
How electrostatic networks modulate specificity and stability of collagen
Authors: Zheng Hongning , Lu Cheng , Lan Jun , Fan Shilong , Nanda Vikas , Xu Fei
Published: May 2018

Significance

We designed a synthetic heterotrimeric triple helix by jointly considering stability of a target
abc
association of three unique chains and the energy gap between the target and 26 competing states. The critical balance of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions is dramatically revealed in an atomic-resolution structure of the design. Mutations in multibody electrostatic interactions uncover cooperative networks of salt bridges. This work advances our understanding of the role of surface electrostatics and hydrogen bonding in protein stability and fold specificity and provides computational tools for modeling collagen.
The universal topic prominence stage hypothesis and L1 transfer
Authors: Lee EunHee
Published: May 2018

This paper tests the universal Topic Prominence (TP) stage hypothesis and L1 transfer hypothesis by analyzing attested TP features, namely zero pronouns, bare (i.e., article-less) nouns, and post-nominal topic marking found in Korean written narratives collected from L2 Korean (TP language) speakers whose L1 is English (SP language) and Mandarin Chinese (TP language), respectively. The results showed that L2 Korean speakers used zero pronouns as frequently as L1 Korean speakers did from the early stage of their acquisition, whereas the use of the topic marking lagged behind, regardless of their L1 backgrounds. We explain the results by appealing to the universal acquisition path based on pragmatic-lexical-morphosyntactic cline: while the concept of the topic is (arguably) universal, its morphological marking is influenced by L1 as well as learning experience.
Understanding Client Empowerment: An Online Survey of Social Workers Serving People with Mental Health Issues
Authors: Cui Jialiang , Mao Limin , Rose Grenville , Newman Christy E
Published: May 2018

This study explored how social workers located in Sydney and Hong Kong conceptualised client empowerment. Further, it investigated these professionals’ perceived facilitators and barriers to their empowerment practices, based on an ecological framework. A cross-sectional online survey was used, where the original Empowerment Scale for clients with mental health issues was adapted to measure conceptualisation of client empowerment from social workers’ perspectives. Eighty-three social workers serving people with mental health issues (MHIs) in Sydney and eighty in Hong Kong responded. A two-factor model was generated suggesting that practitioners tend to conceptualise client empowerment into two aspects: a relation-based dimension and a resource-oriented one. Compared with their Sydney counterparts, the Hong Kong practitioners considered resource-oriented empowerment as more integral to client empowerment (t(161) = 4.17, p < 0.001). Several key factors were found to be independently associated with endorsement of the two-factor client-empowerment model by practitioners: perceived less support from medical specialists but more support from teams serving the same client, perceived benefits of social work training and, finally, beliefs in the importance of social workers’ role in client empowerment. The study highlights the multiple dimensions of client empowerment and a wide range of inter-professional and sociostructural factors enabling social workers’ practices that support empowerment. Our paper highlights the role of professional empowerment as a stepping stone to enable their client-empowerment practices through policy support and inter-professional collaboration.
Effect of a Patient-Centered Phone Call by a Clinical Officer at Time of HIV Testing on Linkage to Care in Rural Kenya
Authors: Ayieko James , Petersen Maya L , van Rie Annelies , Wafula Erick , Opudo Wilson , Clark Tamara D , Kamya Moses R , Balzer Laura B , Cohen Craig R , Bukusi Elizabeth A , Charlebois Edwin D , Havlir Diane V
Published: May 2018

In a randomized controlled trial, we tested whether a structured, patient-centered phone call from a clinical officer after HIV testing improved linkage to/re-engagement in HIV care. Among 130 HIV-positive persons, those randomized to the phone call were significantly more likely to link to care by 7 and 30 days (P = .04).
Lymphocyte-Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase (LCK) is Involved in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Impairment of Immunoglobulin Secretion in Human Primary B Cells
Authors: Zhou Jiajun , Zhang Qiang , Henriquez Joseph E , Crawford Robert B , Kaminski Norbert E
Published: May 2018

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a cytosolic ligand-activated transcription factor involved in xenobiotic sensing, cell cycle regulation, and cell development. In humans, the activation of AHR by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a high affinity AHR-ligand, impairs the secretion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) to suppress humoral immunity. However, the mechanisms bridging the activation of AHR and the impairment of IgM secretion by human primary B cells remain poorly understood. Recent transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) in AHR-activated human primary B cells. LCK is a well-characterized tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates critical signaling proteins involved in activation and cytokine production in T cells. Conversely, the role of LCK in human primary B cells is not well understood. In the current studies, we have verified the transcriptomic finding by detecting AHR-mediated upregulation of LCK protein in human primary B cells. We also confirmed the role of AHR in the upregulation of LCK by using a specific AHR antagonist, which abolished the AHR-mediated increase of LCK. Furthermore, we have confirmed the role of LCK in the AHR-mediated suppression of IgM by using LCK specific inhibitors, which restored the IgM secretion by human B cells in the presence of TCDD. Collectively, the current studies demonstrate a novel role of LCK in IgM response and provide new insights into the mechanism for AHR-mediated impairment of immunoglobulin secretion by human primary B cells.
SuperDCA for genome-wide epistasis analysis
Authors: Puranen Santeri , Pesonen Maiju , Pensar Johan , Xu Ying Ying , Lees John A. , Bentley Stephen D. , Croucher Nicholas J. , Corander Jukka
Published: May 2018

The potential for genome-wide modelling of epistasis has recently surfaced given the possibility of sequencing densely sampled populations and the emerging families of statistical interaction models. Direct coupling analysis (DCA) has previously been shown to yield valuable predictions for single protein structures, and has recently been extended to genome-wide analysis of bacteria, identifying novel interactions in the co-evolution between resistance, virulence and core genome elements. However, earlier computational DCA methods have not been scalable to enable model fitting simultaneously to 104–105 polymorphisms, representing the amount of core genomic variation observed in analyses of many bacterial species. Here, we introduce a novel inference method (SuperDCA) that employs a new scoring principle, efficient parallelization, optimization and filtering on phylogenetic information to achieve scalability for up to 105 polymorphisms. Using two large population samples of Streptococcus pneumoniae, we demonstrate the ability of SuperDCA to make additional significant biological findings about this major human pathogen. We also show that our method can uncover signals of selection that are not detectable by genome-wide association analysis, even though our analysis does not require phenotypic measurements. SuperDCA, thus, holds considerable potential in building understanding about numerous organisms at a systems biological level.
Molecular mechanism of symmetry breaking in a 3D model of a human epiblast
Authors: Simunovic Mijo , Metzger Jakob J. , Etoc Fred , Yoney Anna , Ruzo Albert , Martyn Iain , Croft Gist , Brivanlou Ali H. , Siggia Eric D.
Published: May 2018

Breaking the anterior-posterior (AP) symmetry in mammals takes place at gastrulation. Much of the signaling network underlying this process has been elucidated in the mouse, however there is no direct molecular evidence of events driving axis formation in humans. Here, we use human embryonic stem cells to generate an in vitro 3D model of a human epiblast whose size, cell polarity, and gene expression are similar to a 10-day human epiblast. A defined dose of bone mor-phogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) spontaneously breaks axial symmetry, and induces markers of the primitive streak and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. By gene knockouts and live-cell imaging we show that, downstream of BMP4, WNT3 and its inhibitor DKK1 play key roles in this process. Our work demonstrates that a model human epiblast can break axial symmetry despite no asymmetry in the initial signal and in the absence of extraembryonic tissues or maternal cues. Our 3D model opens routes to capturing molecular events underlying axial symmetry breaking phenomena, which have largely been unexplored in model human systems.
Temporal Viral Genome-Protein Interactions Define Distinct Stages of Productive Herpesviral Infection
Authors: Dembowski Jill A. , DeLuca Neal A.
Published: May 2018

Herpesviruses utilize multiple mechanisms to redirect host proteins for use in viral processes and to avoid recognition and repression by the host. To investigate the dynamic interactions between HSV-1 DNA and viral and host proteins, we developed an approach to identify proteins that associate with the infecting viral genome from nuclear entry through packaging. We found that input viral DNA progressed within six hours through four temporal stages where the genomes: 1. interacted with intrinsic and DNA damage response proteins, 2. underwent a robust transcriptional switch mediated largely by ICP4, 3. engaged in replication, repair, and continued transcription, and then 4. transitioned to a more transcriptionally inert state engaging de novo synthesized viral structural components while maintaining interactions with replication proteins. Using a combination of genetic, imaging, and proteomic approaches, we provide a new and temporally compressed view of the HSV-1 life cycle based on genome-proteome dynamics.
Integrative genomic analysis of early neurogenesis reveals a temporal genetic program for differentiation and specification of preplate and Cajal-Retzius neurons
Authors: Li Jia , Sun Lei , Peng Xue-Liang , Yu Xiao-Ming , Qi Shao-Jun , Lu Zhi John , Han Jing-Dong J. , Shen Qin
Published: May 2018

Neurogenesis in the developing neocortex begins with the generation of the preplate, which consists of early born neurons including Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells and subplate neurons. Here, utilizing the Ebf2-EGFP transgenic mouse in which EGFP initially labels the preplate neurons then persists in CR cells, we reveal the dynamic transcriptome profiles of early neurogenesis and CR cell differentiation. At E15.5 when Ebf2-EGFP+ cells are mostly CR neurons, single-cell sequencing analysis of purified Ebf2-EGFP+ cells uncovers molecular heterogeneity in CR neurons, but without apparent clustering of cells with distinct regional origins. Along a pseudotemporal trajectory these cells are classified into three different developing states, revealing genetic cascades from early generic neuronal differentiation to late fate specification during the establishment of CR neuron identity and function. Further genome-wide RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses at multiple early neurogenic stages have revealed the temporal gene expression dynamics of early neurogenesis and distinct histone modification patterns in early differentiating neurons. We have also identified a new set of coding genes and lncRNAs involved in early neuronal differentiation and validated with functional assaysIn VitroandIn Vivo. Our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms governing the early differentiation steps during cortical development, especially CR neuron biology, and help understand the developmental basis for cortical function and diseases.
CMT3 and SUVH4/KYP silence the exonic retroelement Evelknievel to allow for reconstitution of CMT1 mRNA
Authors: Yadav Narendra , Khadka Janardan , Zemach Assaf , Grafi Gideon
Published: May 2018

Background: CHROMOMEHYLASE1 (CMT1) has long been considered a non-essential gene because, in certain Arabidopsis ecotypes, the CMT1 gene is disrupted by the retroelement Evelknievel (EK), inserted within exon 13, or contains frame-shift mutations resulting in a truncated, non-functional protein. Here, we wanted to explore the regulatory pathway responsible for EK silencing in the Ler ecotype and its effect on CMT1 transcription. Results: Methylome databases confirmed that EK retroelement is heavily methylated but methylation is extended toward CMT1 downstream region. Strong transcriptional activation of EK accompanied by significant reduction in non-CG methylation was found in cmt3 and kyp2, but not in ddm1 or RdDM mutants. EK activation in cmt3 and kyp2 did not interfere with upstream CMT1 expression but abolish transcription through the EK. We identified, in wild-type Ler, three spliced variants in which the entire EK is spliced out; one variant (25% of splicing incidents) facilitates proper reconstitution of an intact CMT1 mRNA. We could recover a very low amount of the full-length CMT1 mRNA from WT Ler and Col but not from cmt3 mutant. Conclusions: Our findings highlight CMT3-SUVH4/KYP as the major pathway silencing the intragenic EK via inducing non-CG methylation. Furthermore, retroelement insertion within exons (e.g., CMT1) may not lead to a complete abolishment of the gene product when the element is kept silent. Rather the element can be spliced out to bring about a reconstruction of a very low level of an intact, functional mRNA and possibly to retrieval of an active protein.
Physical interactions reduce the power of natural selection in growing yeast colonies
Authors: Giometto Andrea , Nelson David R , Murray Andrew W
Published: May 2018

Microbial populations often assemble in dense populations in which proliferating individuals exert mechanical forces on the nearby cells. Here, we use yeast strains whose doubling times depend differently on temperature to show that physical interactions among cells affect the competition between different genotypes in growing yeast colonies. Our experiments demonstrate that these physical interactions have two related effects: they cause the prolonged survival of slower-growing strains at the actively-growing frontier of the colony and cause faster-growing strains to increase their frequency more slowly than expected in the absence of physical interactions. These effects also promote the survival of slower-growing strains and the maintenance of genetic diversity in colonies grown in time-varying environments. A continuum model inspired by overdamped hydrodynamics reproduces the experiments and predicts that the strength of natural selection depends on the width of the actively-growing layer at the colony frontier. We verify these predictions experimentally. The reduced power of natural selection observed here may favor the maintenance of drug-resistant cells in microbial populations and could explain the apparent neutrality of inter-clone competition within tumors.

Significance Statement

Microbes often live in dense populations such as colonies and biofilms. We show that the success and extinction of yeast strains within a growing colony are determined by a combination of their relative fitness and the forces exerted by proliferating cells on their neighbors. These physical interactions prolong the survival of less-fit strains at the growing frontier of the colony and slow down the colony’s takeover by fitter strains. This reduction in the power of natural selection favors the maintenance of genetic diversity in environments in which the strains’ relative growth rates vary with time. Growth-induced physical interactions may thus favor the maintenance of drug-resistant cells, which are typically less-fit than non-resistant cells, within dense microbial populations.
Meta-analysis of Reward Processing in Major Depressive Disorder Reveals Distinct Abnormalities within the Reward Circuit
Authors: Ng Tommy H. , Alloy Lauren B. , Smith David V.
Published: May 2018

Many neuroimaging studies have investigated reward processing dysfunction in major depressive disorder. These studies have led to the common idea that major depressive disorder is associated with blunted responses within the reward circuit, particularly in the ventral striatum. Yet, the link between major depressive disorder and reward-related responses in other regions remains inconclusive, thus limiting our understanding of the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder. To address this issue, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis of 41 whole-brain neuroimaging studies encompassing reward-related responses from a total of 794 patients with major depressive disorder and 803 healthy controls. Our findings argue against the common idea that major depressive disorder is primarily linked to deficits within the reward system. Instead, our results demonstrate that major depressive disorder is associated with opposing abnormalities in the reward circuit: hypo-responses in the ventral striatum and hyper-responses in the orbitofrontal cortex. The current findings suggest that dysregulated corticostriatal connectivity may underlie reward-processing abnormalities in major depressive disorder, providing an empirical foundation for a more refined understanding of abnormalities in the reward circuitry in major depressive disorder.
Peri-saccadic perceptual mislocalization is different for upward saccades
Authors: Grujic Nikola , Brehm Nils , Gloge Cordula , Zhuo Weijie , Hafed Ziad M.
Published: May 2018

Saccadic eye movements, which dramatically alter retinal images, are associated with robust peri-movement perceptual alterations. Such alterations, thought to reflect brain mechanisms for maintaining perceptual stability in the face of saccade-induced retinalimage disruptions, are often studied by asking subjects to localize brief stimuli presented around the time of horizontal saccades. However, other saccade directions are not usually explored. Motivated by recently discovered asymmetries in upper and lower visual field representations in the superior colliculus, a structure important for both saccade generation and visual analysis, here we observed significant differences in peri-saccadic perceptual alterations for upward saccades relative to other saccade directions. We also found that, even for purely horizontal saccades, perceptual alterations differ for upper versus lower retinotopic stimulus locations. Our results, coupled with conceptual modeling, suggest that peri-saccadic perceptual alterations might critically depend on neural circuits, like superior colliculus, that asymmetrically represent the upper and lower visual fields.
Effect of set up protocols on the accuracy of alchemical free energy calculation over a set of ACK1 inhibitors
Authors: Granadino-Roldán José M. , Mey Antonia S. J. S. , Pérez González Juan J. , Bosisio Stefano , Rubio-Martinez Jaime , Michel Julien
Published: May 2018

Hit-to-lead virtual screening frequently relies on a cascade of computational methods that starts with rapid calculations applied to a large number of compounds and ends with more expensive computations restricted to a subset of compounds that passed initial filters. This work focuses on set up protocols for alchemical free energy (AFE) scoring in the context of a Docking – MM/PBSA – AFE cascade. A dataset of 15 congeneric inhibitors of the ACK1 protein was used to evaluate the performance of AFE set up protocols that varied in the steps taken to prepare input files (using previously docked and best scored poses, manual selection of poses, manual placement of binding site water molecules). The main finding is that use of knowledge derived from X-ray structures to model binding modes, together with the manual placement of a bridging water molecule, improves the R2 from 0.45 ± 0.06 to 0.76 ± 0.02 and decreases the mean unsigned error from 2.11 ± 0.08 to 1.24 ± 0.04 kcal mol-1. By contrast a brute force automated protocol that increased the sampling time ten-fold lead to little improvements in accuracy. Besides, it is shown that for the present dataset hysteresis can be used to flag poses that need further attention even without prior knowledge of experimental binding affinities.
Stretching combined with repetitive small length changes of the plantar flexor muscles enhances their passive extensibility for longer duration than conventional static stretching, while not compromising strength
Authors: Ikeda Naoki , Inami Takayuki , Kawakami Yasuo
Published: May 2018

Static stretching increases flexibility but can decrease muscle strength, and the method to avoid the latter has been longed for. In this study, a novel stretching modality was developed that provides repetitive small length changes to the plantar flexor muscles undergoing passive static stretching (“local vibration stretching,”). We investigated the effects of local vibration stretching on muscle strength, flexibility and its persistence. Plantar flexion strength and maximal ankle joint dorsiflexion angle (dorsiflexion range of motion) were measured for 10 healthy young males before (pre) and immediately after (post) three types of stretching: static stretching, local vibration stretching at 15 Hz, and no intervention (control). The dorsiflexion range of motion was measured also at 15, 30, and 60 min post-stretching. Elongation of the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon was determined by ultrasonography. Plantar flexion strength significantly decreased by 4.3 ± 3.5 % in static stretching but not in local vibration stretching. The dorsiflexion range of motion significantly increased both in static stretching (7.2 ± 8.1 %) and local vibration stretching (11.2 ± 14.6 %) which was accompanied by a significantly larger muscle elongation but not tendon elongation. Elevated dorsiflexion range of motion was maintained until 30 min after the local vibration stretching while it returned to baseline level (pre-intervention) in 15 min after the static stretching. All variables remained unchanged in the control condition. In conclusion, local vibration stretching improves extensibility of the muscle belly without decreasing strength, and the increased flexibility is retained longer than static stretching.
The influence of prosocial priming on visual perspective taking and automatic imitation
Authors: Newey Rachel , Koldewyn Kami , Ramsey Richard
Published: May 2018

Imitation and perspective taking are core features of non-verbal social interactions. We imitate one another to signal a desire to affiliate and consider others’ points of view to better understand their perspective. Prior research suggests that a relationship exists between prosocial behaviour and imitation. For example, priming prosocial behaviours has been shown to increase imitative tendencies in automatic imitation tasks. Despite its importance during social interactions, far less is known about how perspective taking might relate to either prosociality or imitation. The current study investigates the relationship between imitation and perspective taking by testing the extent to which these skills are similarly modulated by prosocial priming. Across all experimental groups, a surprising ceiling effect emerged in the perspective taking task (the Director’s Task), which prevented the investigation prosocial priming on perspective taking. A comparison of other studies using the Director’s Task shows wide variability in accuracy scores across studies and is suggestive of low task reliability. In addition, despite using a high-power design, and contrary to three previous studies, no effect of prosocial prime on imitation was observed. Meta-analysing all studies to date suggests that the effects of prosocial primes on imitation are variable and could be small. The current study, therefore, offers caution when using the Director’s Task as a measure of perspective taking with adult populations, as it shows high variability across studies and may suffer from a ceiling effect. In addition, the results question the size and robustness of prosocial priming effects on automatic imitation. More generally, by reporting null results we hope to minimise publication bias and by meta-analysing results as studies emerge and making data freely available, we hope to move towards a more cumulative science of social cognition.
Effect of the solid/liquid interface structure on X-ray diffraction in nano-biocomposites
Authors: Zolotoyabko Emil
Published: May 2018

It is shown that periodic modulation of electron density in a liquid layer surrounding a nanocrystal may influence considerably the width of a conventional diffraction profile taken along the normal direction to the liquid/solid interface. The kinematic approximation is used to develop an analytical expression for the diffraction profile, assuming that the degree of order in the modulated liquid-like layers diminishes exponentially with the distance from the interface, which is characterized by the correlation length,L. Owing to the above-mentioned modulation, the sizes of nanocrystals extracted from the width of diffraction profiles will appear larger than they really are. Molecular ordering is destroyed by mild annealing or pressure application, resulting in substantial broadening of X-ray diffraction lines. This effect may be most significant in nano-biocomposites, such as bone and tooth dentin, comprising substantial amounts of water (tens of percent). It is calculated that forL≃ 1 nm and a net crystallite thickness ofT< 50 nm, the relative change in profile width can reach a few percent, which is easily measurable. The obtained simulation results are compared with existing experimental data.
Achieving sustainable behavioral changes of daily work practices
Authors: Leyer Michael , Hirzel Ann-Kathrin , Moormann Juergen
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Process-oriented behavior is a prerequisite for transforming a company into a process-oriented organization, but is difficult to achieve among employees. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of role plays on adapting process-oriented behavior in daily work practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the theory of cognitive dissonance, the authors investigate whether role plays are an effective learning method. This study was conducted over a period of two years and included 212 participants of a financial services provider.

Findings

The results reveal that the role play used had a persistent impact on employees’ process-oriented behavior in terms of their process knowledge, their cross-functional coordination, and their continuous process reflection, but not on their process awareness. Thus, the authors conclude that despite high application costs, role plays are beneficial for financial services companies to train their employees.

Research limitations/implications

While the data stem from participants within one financial service provider only, this study contributes to the understanding how process-oriented behavior can be promoted sustainably in organizations.

Practical implications

The results indicate that companies aiming for process orientation should apply role plays to achieve a change in behavior of employees.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the understanding of role plays as an effective learning method to adopt process-oriented behavior.
Virtual reality: adding immersive dimension to sales training
Authors: Upadhyay Ashwani Kumar , Khandelwal Komal
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper discusses the applications of virtual reality (VR) in the field of sales training and highlights the implications for practice by building on cutting-edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is prepared on the basis of the review of recent developments in research and practice related to VR.

Findings

VR hardware, content, and applications are being designed to be more realistic and immersive, which may lead to higher visibility and popularity. VR training mimics real jobs, and with immersive experience, trainees do better at their actual jobs. The use of VR is training, transforming, and making it more dynamic, immersive, engaging, affordable, and remotely accessible.

Practical implications

The paper provides condensed insights about the applications and developments of VR in the field of sales training.

Originality/value

The paper saves hours of reading time for busy executives and researchers by selecting and presenting the most relevant and valuable information in a summarized and crisp format.
Agricultural shows: visitor motivation, experience and behavioural intention
Authors: Westwood Caroline , Schofield Peter , Berridge Graham
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theory concerning visitor motivations, consumer experience and behavioural intentions at rural events; more specifically, it focusses on agricultural shows, which have hitherto been neglected in the events management literature. These events have successfully broadened their visitor base, but not without the attendant challenges for agricultural events’ designers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a quantitative design using a questionnaire survey. The analysis, using a range of statistical procedures, centres on consumer motivation, experience and behaviour in relation to show features and their influence on future behaviour.

Findings

The findings of this paper demonstrates the relative importance to the consumer of the show’s various components and their influence on revisitation, which reflect the significance of social, cultural and personal meanings attached to their experiences. This highlights key motivational variables such as appreciating the shows’ traditions and intellectual enrichment.

Research limitations/implications

The study takes a cross-sectional approach, using a non-probability sample at four multi-day royal shows. Future research should establish the external validity of the findings and their applicability to smaller one-day agricultural shows.

Practical implications

The research provides a managerial contribution by informing show designers about the motivations of an increasingly diverse range of visitors. This will facilitate decisions around the engagement of contemporary design while preserving the traditional elements of agricultural shows.

Originality/value

Few studies have looked at rural events and, in particular, agricultural shows. Moreover, previous research in this area has focussed on rural tourism and place making, while consumer behaviour and experience at rural events has been neglected. This paper provides an insight into the consumer experience and perceived importance of various aspects of contemporary agricultural shows.
Identifying motives for engagement in major sport events
Authors: Tjønndal Anne
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Major sport events are facing increasing demands. These events are no longer “just” about sport, but are now expected to be sustainable, multicultural, democratic and convey specific political values such as “unity,” “identity” and “peace.” The increasing demands on major sport events place local hosts in a difficult situation, accommodating both the organization of the sport competitions and the ideologies connected to these events. The purpose of this paper is to identify motives for engagement among stakeholders of the 2017 Barents Summer Games. Furthermore, it investigates how and in what ways these motives are conflicting, and what the consequences of conflicting motives of engagement can be for the development of innovation in major sport events.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data in this study are derived from one year of ethnographic fieldwork, focusing on participant observations of the planning and execution of the 2017 Barents Summer Games.

Findings

The analysis identifies key economic, socio-cultural, political and athletic motives for engagement among six different stakeholders involved in the games. Additionally, the results indicate how there are both conflicting economic, socio-cultural and political motives for engagement among the stakeholders. Finally, the analysis illustrates how conflicting motives for engagement constitutes an innovation barrier for major sport events.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on ethnographic fieldwork of the planning and execution of the 2017 Barents Summer Games, a major sport event in the Barents region. The Barents region is characterized by its unique nature and vulnerable environment, with wide tundra areas in the north and extensive boreal forests zones in the south. The region represents an area as large as Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France (mainland) and Spain (mainland) together, totaling 1.75m km2. Several indigenous peoples and minority groups live in the region, such as the Sami and the Komi. Hence, the context of the study is quite unique and the results may not be transferable to other major sport events with regional significance.

Originality/value

Previous research on motives in major sport events have focused on motives and motivation for engagement among volunteers in major sport events. The paper contributes to this research field by studying motives of engagement among stakeholders from private, public and volunteer sectors in a major international sport event with regional significance.
Relationship marketing strategy
Authors: Adomah-Afari Augustine , Maloreh-Nyamekye Theophilus
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how strategies are put in place to formulate policies regarding the introduction and implementation of relationship marketing (RM) in the health sector, and how RM strategies are designed as part of the curricula for the training of prospective health professionals in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered using interviews and documentary review. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit policy makers and health educationists in Accra for in-depth interviews. Qualitative interviews were analysed using framework analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed that, currently, there is no policy framework on RM in the health sector nor included in the curricula of health training institutions in the country.

Research limitations/implications

Due to limited time and funding constraints, the study could not include many policy makers, educationists, health providers, facilities and regions outside the Greater Accra region of Ghana. This means that the authors missed out on useful insights from other relevant policy makers/educationists who would have added to the knowledge that this study contributes. There were still some areas that this study could not cover, including the lack of an exploration of the perceptions of health providers and patients.

Practical implications

Evidence from the current research provides the basis for scaling up of a similar study to the whole country to address the perennial RM or quality of care/patient satisfaction issues persisting in health facilities in the country. The outcome of this large-scale study would help to confirm the findings of the current study on the adoption and incorporation of RM into both policy framework and curricula of health training institutions in Ghana. The findings would culminate in the preparation and utilisation of guidelines on RM for client-centred service delivery in the health sector of the country.

Social implications

This paper argues that RM orientation could enable health professionals to improve upon their healthcare service performance and quality of care so as to enhance patient satisfaction.

Originality/value

The study recommends that RM should be adopted by health policy makers and designers of curricula for health training institutions.
Toward a history of housing market analysis
Authors: Baer William C.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to relate early history of housing conceptualizations and market analysis in the Anglosphere (Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Historians are ignorant of them but clear market analyses had early beginnings in every urban society for developing and accommodating growing populations.

Design/methodology/approach

Historiography.

Findings

Aspects of market analysis, especially appraisal and rudimentary approaches to the housing market in the Anglosphere, can be traced back to ancient Rome, housing market conceptualizations to Dr Nicholas Barbon and seventeenth-century London’s first population and housing boom and market analysis techniques in the USA at its founding, when Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand Perigor was the first to refine them and write them up in 1794-1796. The US next made major advances in the 1930s. The overall trend has been from inferred analyses to fundamental (derived) analyses, emphasizing “quantifiable data.”

Practical implications

This paper elicits researcher’s professional awareness that each nation has an implicit history of its early development practices and techniques.

Originality/value

The time frame of most housing market analysts is the recent past, the present and the future. But how enduring are their concerns? Do operational values in a housing market reflect historical epochs, or are there some universalities? Furthermore, most urban historians are ignorant of urban market dynamics. It does not occur to them that some of the dynamics that analysts attempt to capture today might always have been inherent in the urban built environment, regardless of era or urbanized part of the globe under consideration.
Does investor sentiment predict Mexican equity returns?
Authors: Liston-Perez Daniel , Torres-Palacio Patricio , Bayram Sidika Gulfem
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether investor sentiment is a significant predictor of future Mexican stock market returns. It also estimates the dynamic correlation between investor sentiment and equity returns. Finally, it examines if investor sentiment innovations impact unexpected returns for a variety of portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes predictive regressions to determine if sentiment can predict Mexican equity returns. Multivariate GARCH models are estimated to examine the time-varying correlations between investor sentiment and equity returns.

Findings

The results show that Mexican investor sentiment is a significant predictor of Mexican equity returns for up to 24 months ahead. The findings show that high levels of sentiment today are associated with lower equity returns over the near term. Furthermore, multivariate GARCH estimations indicate that the correlation between investor sentiment and equity returns is not static and varies considerably over time. Finally, the findings indicate that sentiment innovations are significantly correlated with unexpected returns, reinforcing the notion that unexplained sentiment fluctuations lead to unexplained changes in stock market returns. Overall, these results suggest that investor sentiment is a significant source of risk for the Mexican stock market.

Originality/value

This study seeks to further our understanding of how behavioral factors influence and predict Mexican equity returns.
A Bourdieusian perspective in exploring the emergence and evolution of the field of Islamic microfinance in Indonesia
Authors: Handayani Wuri , Haniffa Roszaini , Hudaib Mohammad
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Microfinance institutions (MFIs), including Islamic microfinance institutions (IMFIs) in Muslim countries, have spread across the globe and transformed into a new industry. However, how IMFIs in Indonesia evolved to become an important sector serving society has not been rigorously explored. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address the lacuna on the emergence of an industry by examining the development of Islamic microfinance sector in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts the historical research method to narrate the evolution of this specific sector based on the data collected through oral history and published academic research documents during various periods of Indonesia’s economic and political milieu.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that the emergence and development of IMFIs in Indonesia has been shaped within the wider process of socio-political changes, particularly, the role of Islamic movement and politics in Indonesia.

Originality/value

Most studies investigating the emergence and transformation of institution or industry adopt the static approach, which has been criticised as it fails to consider the process of emergence, growth path and the survival of organisations. Hence, this paper contributes to the literature by analysing the institutional evolution by locating the institution inside its wider environmental context by using Bourdieu’s concept of field to narrate the historical development of IMFIs from its emergence and evolution to become a significant new industry in the country.
The compliance of disclosure with AAOIFI financial accounting standards
Authors: Al-Sulaiti Jabir , Ousama A.A. , Hamammi Helmi
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the compliance of disclosure with the financial accounting standards of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions’ (AAOIFI) related to Islamic financing products by Islamic banks in Bahrain and Qatar.

Design/methodology/approach

The study measures compliance using disclosure indexes. The disclosure indexes include the three financial accounting standards of Murabaha, Mudaraba and Musharaka. The data are collected from the annual reports of 24 Islamic banks in Bahrain and Qatar over a period of 2012-2015.

Findings

The paper found that Islamic banks in Bahrain and Qatar comply with AAOIFI financial accounting standards related to Murabaha, Mudaraba and Musharaka. However, there was a level of non-compliance in both countries. In addition, it found that the extent of compliance had increased over the 2012-2015 period. Also, the Murabaha standard had the highest mean of compliance. Moreover, the results showed that the Islamic banks in Qatar tend to have more compliance of overall Murabaha and Mudaraba disclosures compared to the Islamic banks in Bahrain.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are preliminary and highlight that the issue is of high interest to Islamic banks and AAOIFI. Hence, it requires a detailed follow-up to form a complete picture that would assist AAOIFI and regulators gear their policies toward better quality disclosure by Islamic financial institutions. Even though the findings are encouraging, future research is recommended to enforce compliance with the AAOIFI financial accounting standards.

Originality/value

This is a pioneer empirical study that focuses on the level and trend of compliance with AAOIFI financial accounting standards related to the Islamic financing products of Murabaha, Mudaraba and Musharaka standards, especially in Qatar. Additionally, it is the first study comparing between the only two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, i.e. Bahrain and Qatar, that mandatory apply the AAOIFI standards.
Does prospectus information matter in IPO pricing?
Authors: Mohd-Rashid Rasidah , Masih Mansur , Abdul-Rahim Ruzita , Che-Yahya Norliza
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify selected information from the prospectus that might signal the initial public offering (IPO) offer price.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses cross-sectional data for a 14-year period from 2000 to 2014 in examining hypotheses relating to Shariah-compliant status, institutional investors, underwriter ranking and shareholder retention, with respect to their associations with the offer price of the IPOs. Further, this study uses ordinary least squares (OLS) for all models, including the models for both subsamples of Shariah- and non-Shariah-compliant IPOs. As for robustness, this study incorporates the quantile regression and quadratic model.

Findings

The results tend to provide support for the argument that firms with Shariah-compliant status reflect lower uncertainty and project better signalling of quality due to greater scrutiny by the government and thus are able to offer IPOs at higher prices. Similarly, firms with a higher proportion of shareholder retention indicate lower risks as insiders forego their options to diversify their portfolio, and hence could price their IPOs higher. Finally, the involvement of institutional investors and higher underwriter ranking could be used by firms to disregard information asymmetry, and therefore, the issuer might have to discount the IPO offer price.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses solely on information in the prospectus that should not be disregarded by the investors in valuing the appropriateness of the IPO offer price. This study contributes in terms of providing a better understanding of the determinant factors of the IPO offer price of the firms which are Shariah-compliant.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence for the determinants of the IPO offer price in a fixed pricing mechanism for both Shariah-and non-Shariah-compliant IPOs.