bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inositol depletion regulates phospholipid metabolism and activates stress signaling in HEK293T cells
Authors: Suliman Mahmoud , Case Kendall C. , Schmidtke Michael W. , Lazcano Pablo , Onu Chisom J. , Greenberg Miriam L.
Published: February 2022

Inositol plays a significant role in cellular function and signaling. Studies in yeast have demonstrated an “inositol-less death” phenotype, suggesting that inositol is an essential metabolite. In yeast, inositol synthesis is highly regulated, and inositol levels have been shown to be a major metabolic regulator, with its abundance affecting the expression of hundreds of genes. Abnormalities in inositol metabolism have been associated with several human disorders. Despite its importance, very little is known about the regulation of inositol synthesis and the pathways regulated by inositol in human cells. The current study aimed to address this knowledge gap. Knockout of ISYNA1 (encoding myo-inositol-3-P synthase 1) in HEK293T cells generated a human cell line that is deficient in de novo inositol synthesis. ISYNA1-KO cells exhibited inositol-less death when deprived of inositol. Lipidomic analysis identified inositol depletion as a global regulator of phospholipid levels in human cells, including downregulation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and upregulation of the phosphatidylglycerol (PG)/cardiolipin (CL) branch of phospholipid metabolism. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that inositol depletion induced substantial changes in the expression of genes involved in cell signaling, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and genes controlling amino acid transport and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This study provides the first in-depth characterization of the effects of inositol depletion on phospholipid metabolism and gene expression in human cells, establishing an essential role for inositol in maintaining cell viability and regulating cell signaling and metabolism.
Landscape diversity and local temperature, but not climate, affect arthropod predation among habitat types
Authors: Fricke Ute , Steffan-Dewenter Ingolf , Zhang Jie , Tobisch Cynthia , Rojas-Botero Sandra , Benjamin Caryl S. , Englmeier Jana , Ganuza Cristina , Haensel Maria , Riebl Rebekka , Uhler Johannes , Uphus Lars , Ewald Jörg , Kollmann Johannes , Redlich Sarah
Published: February 2022

Arthropod predators are important for ecosystem functioning by providing top-down regulation of insect herbivores. As predator communities and activity are influenced by biotic and abiotic factors on different spatial scales, the strength of top-down regulation (‘arthropod predation’) is also likely to vary. Understanding the combined effects of potential drivers on arthropod predation is urgently needed with regard to anthropogenic climate and land-use change. In a large-scale study, we recorded arthropod predation rates using artificial caterpillars on 113 plots of open herbaceous vegetation embedded in contrasting habitat types (forest, grassland, arable field, settlement) along climate and land-use gradients in Bavaria, Germany. As potential drivers we included habitat characteristics (habitat type, plant species richness, local mean temperature and mean relative humidity during artificial caterpillar exposure), landscape diversity (0.5–3.0-km, six scales), climate (multi-annual mean temperature, ‘MAT’) and interactive effects of habitat type with other drivers. We observed no substantial differences in arthropod predation rates between the studied habitat types, related to plant species richness and across the Bavarian-wide climatic gradient, but predation was limited when local mean temperatures were low and tended to decrease towards higher relative humidity. Arthropod predation rates increased towards more diverse landscapes at a 2-km scale. Interactive effects of habitat type with local weather conditions, plant species richness, landscape diversity and MAT were not observed. We conclude that landscape diversity favours high arthropod predation rates in open herbaceous vegetation independent of the dominant habitat in the vicinity. This finding may be harnessed to improve top-down control of herbivores, e.g. agricultural pests, but further research is needed for more specific recommendations on landscape management. The absence of MAT effects suggests that high predation rates may occur independent of moderate increases of MAT in the near future.
Discovering genomic regions associated with the phenotypic differentiation of European local pig breeds
Authors: Poklukar Klavdija , Mestre Camille , Škrlep Martin , Čandek-Potokar Marjeta , Ovilo Cristina , Fontanesi Luca , Riquet Juliette , Bovo Samuele , Schiavo Giuseppina , Ribani Anisa , Muñoz Maria , Gallo Maurizio , Bozzi Ricardo , Charneca Rui , Quintanilla Raquel , Kušec Goran , Mercat Marie-José , Zimmer Christoph , Razmaite Violeta , Araujo Jose P. , Radović Čedomir , Savić Radomir , Karolyi Danijel , Servin Bertrand
Published: February 2022

Background

Intensive selection of modern pig breeds resulted in genetic improvement of productive traits while local pig breeds remained less performant. As they have been bred in extensive systems, they have adapted to specifical environmental conditions resulting in a rich genotypic and phenotypic diversity. This study is based on European local pig breeds genetically characterized using DNA-pool sequencing data and phenotypically characterized using breed level phenotypes related to stature, fatness, growth and reproductive performance traits. These data were analyzed using a dedicated approach to detect selection signatures linked to phenotypic traits in order to uncover potential candidate genes that may be under adaptation to specific environments.

Results

Genetic data analysis of European pig breeds revealed four main axes of genetic variation represented by Iberian and modern breeds (i.e. Large White, Landrace, and Duroc). In addition, breeds clustered according to their geographical origin, for example French Gascon and Basque breeds, Italian Apulo Calabrese and Casertana breeds, Spanish Iberian and Portuguese Alentejano breeds. Principal component analysis of phenotypic data distinguished between larger and leaner breeds with better growth potential and reproductive performance on one hand and breeds that were smaller, fatter, and had low growth and reproductive efficiency on the other hand. Linking selection signatures with phenotype identified 16 significant genomic regions associated with stature, 24 with fatness, 2 with growth and 192 with reproduction. Among them, several regions contained candidate genes with possible biological effect on stature, fatness, growth and reproduction performance traits. For example, strong associations were found for stature in two regions containing theANXA4andANTXR1genes, for fatness containing theDNMT3AandPOMCgenes and for reproductive performance containing theHSD17B7gene.

Conclusions

The present study on European local pig breeds used a dedicated approach for searching selection signatures supported by phenotypic data at the breed level to identify potential candidate genes that may have adapted to different living environments and production systems. Results can be useful to define conservation programs of local pig breeds.
Predicting genotype-specific gene regulatory networks
Authors: Weighill Deborah , Ben Guebila Marouen , Glass Kimberly , Quackenbush John , Platig John
Published: February 2022

Understanding how each person's unique genotype influences their individual patterns of gene regulation has the potential to improve our understanding of human health and development, and to refine genotype-specific disease risk assessments and treatments. However, the effects of genetic variants are not typically considered when constructing gene regulatory networks, despite the fact that many disease-associated genetic variants are thought to have regulatory effects, including the disruption of transcription factor (TF) binding. We developed EGRET (Estimating the Genetic Regulatory Effect on TFs), which infers a genotype-specific gene regulatory network for each individual in a study population. EGRET begins by constructing a genotype-informed TF-gene prior network derived using TF motif predictions, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data, individual genotypes, and the predicted effects of genetic variants on TF binding. It then uses a technique known as message passing to integrate this prior network with gene expression and TF protein–protein interaction data to produce a refined, genotype-specific regulatory network. We used EGRET to infer gene regulatory networks for two blood-derived cell lines and identified genotype-associated, cell line–specific regulatory differences that we subsequently validated using allele-specific expression, chromatin accessibility QTLs, and differential ChIP-seq TF binding. We also inferred EGRET networks for three cell types from each of 119 individuals and identified cell type–specific regulatory differences associated with diseases related to those cell types. EGRET is, to our knowledge, the first method that infers networks reflective of individual genetic variation in a way that provides insight into the genetic regulatory associations driving complex phenotypes.
Bis(2-aminobenzimidazolium) sulfate monohydrate
Authors: Peña Hueso Adrian , Esparza Ruiz Adriana , Flores Parra Angelina
Published: February 2022

In the title hydrated molecular salt, 2C7H8N3
+·SO4
2−·H2O, the components are linked by numerous N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.
“We need to keep making stuff, regardless of what the situation is”: creativity and the film festival sector during COVID-19
Authors: Richards Stuart , Pacella Jessica
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In-person film festival experiences have faced uncertain futures since the spread of COVID-19. Snap-lockdowns, unclear and rapidly changing rules to public density allowances in theatres, distribution and challenges of “working-from-home” have become prominent issues to creative and cultural workers employed within the film festival ecosystem. The purpose of this paper, drawing from a series of interviews with film festival directors, organisers and workers within Australia, offers insight into the working lives of those employed within the film festival sector during 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the research team's existing professional networks and a targeted approach of participant recruitment, this paper draws upon interview data from 5 semi-structured interviews with participants located in various Australian capital cities, who were working in the film festival sector during 2020. Participants were all mid-career, having at least 5 years of employment experience within the film festival ecosystem (directors, programmers and content creators) as well as having experience in other adjacent cultural and creative work.

Findings

The results in this study highlight common concerns of the legacy precarity has on professional and creative practice for those engaged in creative and cultural work, but also of unusual and unexpected opportunities for creativity and new film festival delivery beyond the dominant mode of in-theatre only experience pre-COVID-19.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in its qualitative exploration of the various employment experiences of Australian film festival workers during COVID-19.
Aerodynamic flow modelling of NACA 0010 using 2D panel and Jukouwski methods
Authors: Bhargava Vasishta , Maddula Satya Prasad , Venkata Neigapula Swamy Naidu , Khan Md. Akhtar , Padhy Chinmaya Prasad , Yagya Dutta Dwivedi
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to model the aerodynamic flow characteristics of NACA0010 for various angle of attacks including stall for incompressible flows using panel methods. This paper also aims to quantify the surface pressure distribution on streamlined bodies and validate the results with analytical Jukouwski method and inverse panel methods that can predict the aerodynamic flow behaviour using the geometric iteration approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The 2 D panel method was implemented in Qblade software v.06 which uses the fundamental panel method which rely on source strengths and influence coefficients to determine the velocity and pressure fields on the surface. The software implements the boundary layer or viscous effects to determine the influence on aerodynamic performance at various angles of attack. Jukouwski method is also evaluated for predicting aerodynamic characteristics and is based on the geometric iteration approach. Then complex aerodynamic flow potentials are determined based on the source strengths which are used to predict the pressure and velocity fields.

Findings

At low to moderate angles of attack, panel and Jukouwski methods predict similar results for surface pressure coefficients comparable to Hess and Smith inverse method. In comparison to panel method, results from the Jukouwski mapping method predicted the pressure coefficient conservatively for the same free stream conditions. With increase in Reynolds number, lift coefficient and aerodynamic performance improved significantly for un-tripped aerofoil when stall angle is approached when compared to tripped aerofoil.

Practical implications

This study demonstrated that panel methods have higher efficacy in terms of computational time or resources and thus can provide benefits to many real-world aircraft or aerospace design applications.

Originality/value

Even though panel and Jukouwski methods have been studied extensively in the past, this paper demonstrates the efficacy of both methods for modelling aerodynamic flows that range between moderate to high Reynolds number which are critical for many aircraft applications. Both methods have been validated with analytical and inverse design methods which are able to predict aerodynamic flow characteristics for simple bluff bodies, streamlined aerofoils as well as bio-inspired corrugated aerofoils.
Exploring the adoption of technologies among beginning farmers in the specialty crops industry
Authors: Torres Ariana
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adoption of two categories of agricultural technologies among beginning farmers (10 years or less of experience) operating in the specialty crops industry. A secondary goal is to characterize the beginning farmers' population in the specialty crops industry and compare them to more experienced farmers (more than 10 years of farming experience).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a series of regressions, this paper tests the hypothesis that beginning farmers are more likely to adopt agricultural technologies such as growing technologies (i.e. hydroponics and hoop houses) and value-added (VA) technologies (drying and cutting produce into customer-ready portions) relative to counterparts. Using a unique primary collected dataset of specialty crops farmers, the dependent variable for each model is the binary decision to adopt each agricultural technology, while the main variables of interest are the dummy variables beginning farmers and the interaction terms created between beginning farmers and land farmed, percent of land rented, crop diversification, local sales, and part-time farming.

Findings

Farmers' characterization suggests that, on average, beginning farmers are more likely to adopt growing technologies than more experienced farmers. However, after controlling for other determinants of adoption, there is no significantly difference between the two groups. Lastly, results suggest that beginning farmers are more likely to adopt VA technologies relative to experienced farmers.

Originality/value

While the adoption of agricultural innovations can lead to increases in economic and environmental resilience, little is known about beginning farmers adopting agricultural technologies, and studies are even less common for specialty crops operations. As the world population continues to grow rapidly, the demand for agricultural food products is expected to increase up to 100% between 2010 and 2050. This growth places additional stress on the limited access to land and water for agricultural production. Farm profitability can be boosted by increasing economies of scope through the use of growing technologies that increase yield or by adding value to specialty crops. The increasing global demand for food makes it imperative to understand what influences the adoption of agricultural technologies among beginning farmers growing food crops.
Possibilities of a gender-responsive infrastructure for livelihood-vulnerable women's resilience in rural-coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Azharul , Shetu Muntaha Marzan , Hakim Sheikh Serajul
Published: February 2022

Purpose

With the simultaneous increase of natural hazards and land- and resource-vulnerable women in the rural coasts of Bangladesh, large- and medium-scale infrastructure and livelihood programmes by government and non-government-organisations have been plenty. Yet, gender-responsive and livelihood-integrated infrastructure for these women's adaptation against increasing coastal vulnerabilities has been scarce. This paper outlines an infrastructure framework for improving their livelihood resilience in the scarcity of similar research.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was assumed for this research. Based on a conceptual framework, in-depth interviews and focus-group-discussions with vulnerable women and key-informant-interview of NGO/government respondents were primarily used for data collection at Latachapli – a disaster-vulnerable coastal village in Southwest Bangladesh. Findings were derived primarily through inductive thematic coding.

Findings

Rural coastal women's livelihood vulnerabilities result from the lack of adequate, spatial/infrastructural and integrated (socio-economic) facilities and institutions. There is a clear need for a community-level and gender-responsive spatio-physical platform to create income generation/livelihood diversification opportunities irrespective of seasonalities, skill/capacity development and sharing/networking possibilities.

Research limitations/implications

Due to case-specificity, research findings are representative but not generalisable. Further research is needed, especially at the intersection of gender, inequality and infrastructure design/planning regarding vulnerable women's resilience.

Practical implications

This proposed infrastructure framework can be considered for similar disaster-vulnerable rural coastal settings as a development policy and a physical infrastructure.

Originality/value

This case study's in-depth probing into vulnerable coastal women's livelihoods contributes to a growing body of knowledge, highlights their complex needs, and re-conceptualises gender-responsive infrastructure in similar communities' sustainable development. Piecemeal funding for social services will be more effective if coordinated with and allocated to appropriate engineering infrastructure. With access to proper community facilities and diverse livelihood opportunities all around the year (in this case, a multipurpose gender-sensitive infrastructure), communities would be more empowered to self-organise and support each other in delivering necessary soft services.
Recasting trust and distrust in the boardroom
Authors: Mthombeni Morris , Chizema Amon
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyse trust and distrust as specific board processes between the board chair and chief executive officer (CEO) aimed at reducing corporate governance (CG) risk partially mitigated by regnant CG mechanisms. This study incorporates the nascent literature that posits trust and distrust as two separate constructs that co-exist simultaneously to recasts them in the CG domain.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analysed data from 20 in-depth interviews conducted with board representatives at four financial services firms in The Netherlands, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Findings

This paper found that the foundational bases of the chair–CEO relationship determine how trust and distrust are apportioned between them, which impacts board dynamics. This paper also confirmed that the constructs of trust and distrust are separate thus do not sit at opposite ends of a single continuum. Finally, this paper found that high levels of task-based distrust (as opposed to mistrust) are necessary during periods of organisational distress and more effective if there are also high levels of relational trust between the parties.

Originality/value

This paper empirically examines the relationship between trust and distrust in CEO–chair dyadic relationships in multiple companies across multiple countries. This paper also introduces the concept of tempered trust, which is defined as interpersonal trust tempered by task-based distrust, recasting the traditional characterisation of trust and distrust in the CG domain, thereby making a useful contribution to the literature on board dynamics.
The evolution of the disruptive ecosystem: a framework integrating disruption, ecosystems, and business models
Authors: Silva Joao Paulo Nascimento , Grützmann André
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This article aims to understand the dynamics between disruptive innovations and innovation ecosystems, using disruption business models as a catalyst.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents an integrative literature review and a theoretical framework in order to integrate the theories of disruptions and ecosystems.

Findings

The dynamics of disruptive innovation, within an ecosystem, as an essential driver of creating new markets. The effect of creative destruction from a disruption influences business models in a coopetitive dynamic that drives the ecosystem as a whole.

Research limitations/implications

Limited to theoretical research and suggested the application of the proposed model in an empirical study.

Practical implications

Understand the formation of new ecosystems based on the occurrence of a disruption as a way for organisations to prepare for the arrival of this new market.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is based on joining the literature of disruptive innovation and innovation ecosystem, pointing to a theoretical framework and a flow of Evolution and Adaptation to the Disruptive Ecosystem that integrates this complex dynamic.
Does work engagement mediate the impact of green human resource management on absenteeism and green recovery performance?
Authors: Darban Golnaz , Karatepe Osman M. , Rezapouraghdam Hamed
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper tests a research model that examines work engagement (WENG) as a mediator between green human resource management (GHRM) and absenteeism and green recovery performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To gauge the aforesaid linkages, the authors used data collected from employees and their supervisors in the international five-star chain hotels in Istanbul, Turkey. One-hundred and eighty-two respondents completed the surveys.

Findings

GHRM fosters WENG. As predicted, WENG alleviates absenteeism and triggers green recovery performance. Employees' favorable perceptions of GHRM (cognitive evaluation) give rise to higher WENG (emotional response), which in turn directs their behaviors such as reduced absenteeism and higher green recovery performance (behavioral response).

Originality/value

No empirical study has gauged the linkage between GHRM and WENG and nonattendance behavior or absenteeism so far. Moreover, there are few empirical pieces in the current literature that have tested the mechanism through which GHRM is associated with green and/or nongreen outcomes.
Toward an architecture to improve privacy and informational self-determination through informed consent
Authors: Gharib Mohamad
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Most developed countries have enacted privacy laws to govern the collection and use of personal information (PI) as a response to the increased misuse of PI. Yet, these laws rely heavily on the concept of informational self-determination through the “notice” and “consent” models, which is deeply flawed. This study aims at tackling these flaws achieve the full potential of these privacy laws.

Design/methodology/approach

The author critically reviews the concept of informational self-determination through the “notice” and “consent” model identifying its main flaws and how they can be tackled.

Findings

Existing approaches present interesting ideas and useful techniques that focus on tackling some specific problems of informational self-determination but fail short in proposing a comprehensive solution that tackles the essence of the overall problem.

Originality/value

This study introduces a model for informed consent, a proposed architecture that aims at empowering individuals (data subjects) to take an active role in the protection of their PI by simplifying the informed consent transaction without reducing its effectiveness, and an ontology that can partially realize the proposed architecture.
Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing: a systematic literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Ali Imran , Phan Huy Minh
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Robust and efficient warehouse management is pivotal to the success of contemporary logistics and business productivity. Given the recent technological revolutions and the rising pressure for sustainable warehouse activities, the recent literature continues to grow on Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing. Following this, the review aims to explore current state-of-the-art, knowledge development, the focus of research, methodological development and knowledge gaps for more impactful future research on this important yet underexplored topic.

Design/methodology/approach

A widely accepted systematic literature review (SLR) methodology was employed on a sample of 46 articles retrieved from multiple search queries in the three large databases: Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar.

Findings

The authors’ analysis unveils several interesting findings: the positive linkage between various Industry 4.0 technologies and the three main pillars (economic, social, environmental) of sustainable warehousing; the paucity of large scale empirical research, specifically in the context of COVID-19; imbalance amid studies on three main aspects of warehouse sustainability; partial application of Industry 4.0 technologies; and disproportion in scholarly focus between numerous warehouse activities and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Practical implications

The authors integrate research findings from a pool of studies, thereby improving the understanding of practitioners on how different Industry 4.0 technologies relate to sustainable warehousing.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SLR at the intersection of Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing. Our review expands the existing knowledge base, devises a conceptual framework and suggests avenues for fruitful future research on this emerging area.
Executive compensation linked to corporate social responsibility and firm risk
Authors: Gao Lucia , Sheikh Shahbaz , Zhou Hong
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the relationship between executive compensation linked to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm risk. It also explores the moderating role of CSR-linked compensation on the relationship between risk-taking incentives provided in executive compensation and firm risk.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and firm-fixed effects regressions to estimate the association between CSR-linked compensation and firm risk. Furthermore, it employs instrumental variable, propensity score matching and first-order difference approaches to address concerns about endogeneity and sample selection.

Findings

Benchmark results show that CSR-linked compensation reduces both total and idiosyncratic measures of risk. Further results indicate that CSR-linked compensation reduces firm risk only when risk is above the optimal level and has no significant effect when risk is below the optimal level. Additionally, tests show that CSR-linked compensation also mitigates the positive effect of Vega of executive compensation on risk and this mitigation effect is significant only when risk is above the optimal level.

Practical implications

The empirical results of this study show that boards can use CSR-linked compensation not only to induce higher social performance but also as a risk management tool to manage risk, especially when risk is above value increasing optimal levels. Furthermore, boards can use CSR-linked compensation to mitigate excessive risk-taking induced by option compensation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging literature on CSR-linked compensation and firm risk. To our knowledge, this is the first study that documents the direct risk-reducing effect of CSR-linked compensation and its mitigating effect on the relation between Vega of executive compensation and firm risk.
Infrastructure and health: the salutogenic approach, interdisciplinarity and new challenges for planning and design
Authors: Patuano Agnès , Shentova Ralitsa , Aceska Ana
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to present some preliminary findings and discussions points from a symposium on Public Outdoor Spaces and COVID-19 organised in Wageningen, The Netherlands, in June 2021.

Design/methodology/approach

The article argues for a salutogenic perspective on infrastructure planning and design, dealing with the interplay between the ideas and practices of infrastructure planning and design and the outcomes of those ideas and practices for health.

Findings

Within that perspective, the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is seen as an opportunity to revive the importance of infrastructure in promoting health and well-being.

Originality/value

The salutogenic approach adds a much-needed new perspective on infrastructure planning and design, and also involves challenges both in research and practice, for the application of holistic principles to the design of new environments.
Determinants of big data analytics adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Maroufkhani Parisa , Iranmanesh Mohammad , Ghobakhloo Morteza
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The study challenges the assumption of independence among Technological, Organizational and Environmental (TOE) factors and investigates the influence of TOE factors on Big Data Analytics (BDA) adoption among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Top management support was proposed as a mediator between technological and organizational factors and BDA adoption. Furthermore, the moderating effect of environmental factors on the association between relative advantage, compatibility, competitiveness, organizational readiness and BDA adoption was evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 171 SME manufacturing firms and analyzed using the partial least squares technique.

Findings

The findings confirmed the interrelationships among the TOE factors. The effects of compatibility, competitiveness and organizational readiness on BDA adoption were mediated by top management support. Furthermore, environmental factors moderate the influences of compatibility and organizational readiness on top management support.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the TOE model by challenging the assumption of independence among TOE factors, and future studies should use this model with more caution and consider the potential relationships between TOE factors.
The influence of social Q&A systems on consumers' purchase intention: an empirical study based on Taobao's “Ask Everyone”
Authors: Yang Ruiqian , Ai Shizhong , Li Na , Du Rong , Fan Weiguo
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Social question and answer (Q&A) systems have been rapidly developed on many e-commerce websites. The purpose of this paper is to explore how social Q&A systems influence consumers' information processing and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors design this research based on the information adoption model (IAM). First, the auhors consider the impacts of the central route (information factor) and peripheral route (social factor) on consumers' perception of information usefulness in Q&A systems. Then, the authors verify the influence of information and social aspects on purchase intention and empirically test the model with structural equation modelling (SEM) using 428 effective data samples.

Findings

On the whole, the authors prove that purchase intention is influenced by information and social aspects, which are two paths in Q&A systems. Specifically, both answer quality and social presence positively influence information usefulness. Interestingly, respondent credibility and answer consistency do not significantly impact information usefulness. Moreover, information usefulness positively affects information adoption, which positively affects consumer purchase intention.

Practical implications

This paper provides insights on social Q&A system mechanism design.

Originality/value

First, this paper is a useful complement to the research on social Q&A systems on e-commerce websites. Second, the authors provide a new theoretical lens through which the impacts of social Q&A systems on e-commerce websites are understood by extending the IAM. Third, the authors add answer consistency into original information process routes, which obtains a finding that is different from those of prior research.
A qualitative study of social sciences faculty research workflows
Authors: Ince Sharon , Hoadley Christopher , Kirschner Paul A.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper is a qualitative study of how social sciences faculty construct their research workflows with the help of technological tools. The purpose of this study is to examine faculty scholarly workflows and how both tools and practices support the research process. This paper could inform academic libraries on how to support scholars throughout the research process.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study case study of ten faculty members from six research universities from the United States and Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the transcripts; each participant was a separate case. Descriptive coding was used to identify digital tools used for collaboration; process and descriptive coding was utilized to examine practices in scholarly workflows.

Findings

Through case study analysis the results of this study include the role of technology in faculty research workflows. Each workflow was grouped into four categories: information literacy, information management, knowledge management, and scholarly communication. The findings included scholars creating simple workflows for efficiency and collaboration and utilizing workarounds.

Research limitations/implications

The study did not observe faculty in the process of doing research and, thus, only reports on what the researchers say that they do.

Originality/value

The research is unique in that there is almost no research on how social scientists conduct their research workflows and the affordances/impasses of this process.
Knowledge hiding behavior in higher education institutions: a scientometric analysis and systematic literature review approach
Authors: Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically review knowledge hiding (KH) behavior in higher education institutions (HEIs). KH is regarded as an unethical and antisocial behavior by many scholars, which should not be prevalent in HEIs.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phase analysis through quantitative scientometric analysis and qualitative systematic literature review method through the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) model was applied. In phase 1,174 articles were analyzed using the VOSviewer through co-word and co-citation analyses. In Phase 2, 20 related studies on KH in HEIs were qualitatively analyzed on the fundamental concept of KH. The main themes were determined based on current research findings, through the identification of relevant gaps in the context of higher education.

Findings

In Phase 1, co-word and co-citation analyses resulted in six and three clusters, respectively. Subsequently, in Phase 2, five themes were discovered: terminology of KH, scale of KH, cultural and geographical context, KH among academics and students and relevant theories. Further, discussion on the institutional factors of individuals, organizations, technology and culture is presented.

Practical implications

This review lays out a practical guide to facilitate HEIs in managing KH behavior among academics, employees, and students. Strategies can be planned and implemented to foster and inculcate knowledge sharing behavior to circulate knowledge while at the same time diminishing KH behavior in HEIs.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to review KH behavior in the context of HEIs through quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Job experience as a buffer against incivility: a daily diary study
Authors: Park Lauren S. , Martinez Larry , Xu Shi
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Incivility is pervasive in organisational settings, particularly in healthcare, and is associated with negative employee outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between experienced incivility, sleep quality and emotional outcomes, positioning sleep quality as a mediator. Additionally, the protective role of tenure and the unique effects of incivility from different sources were examined.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a daily diary longitudinal design using self-report questionnaires with 92 nurses of varying tenure.

Findings

This research demonstrates that experiencing incivility negatively impacts sleep quality, which, in turn, increases surface acting and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the negative relationship between incivility and sleep quality is attenuated among nurses who have longer tenure.

Practical implications

These findings are helpful in developing targeted practical practices, such as incivility interventions and mentorship programs to reduce the incidence and impact of incivility.

Originality/value

This study draws upon theories of self-regulation and emotion regulation to examine how incivility diminishes self-control resources, leading to negative outcomes. This study also positions job tenure as a buffer against incivility and examines the differential impact of different sources of incivility.
Exploring the predictor and the consequence of digital organisational culture: a quantitative investigation using sufficient and necessity approach
Authors: Pangarso Astadi , Winarno Alex , Aulia Pramitha , Ritonga Dinda Aulia
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Digital organisational culture is essential for organisations in the digital era. However, examination of the role of digital organisational culture in government institutions remains limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of digital organisational culture on employee performance by considering empowering leadership as a predictor.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyses the research framework on the basis of a survey of 76 employees at the Indonesian Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform. The framework relating to the influence of digital organizational culture is tested using a mix of partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and an examination of the essential circumstances (necessary condition analysis/ NCA).

Findings

The findings indicate that empowering leadership is a sufficient condition for digital organisational culture. Empowering leadership positively and significantly affects digital organisational culture. Digital organisational culture positively and significantly affects employee performance. Empowering leadership represents a necessary condition for digital organisational culture. A digital organisational culture is necessary and sufficient for government employee performance.

Practical implications

Results of this study practically suggest that digital organisational culture can be considered vital to a strategy for improving government employee performance. Empowering leadership is a key success factor in improving digital organisational culture. This study initiated the identification of the role of digital organisational culture in the government institution context.

Originality/value

Methodologically, this study stated a paradigm that combines the PLS-SEM and NCA approaches in public administration research by identifying the influence on sufficient and necessary digital organisational culture government employee performance.
The politics of profit production
Authors: Carrington Thomas , Eklöv Alander Gunilla
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the process of producing a reported profit number to understand how different actors overcome the tensions arising from the often conflicting value frames that apply in different situations during this process and how the actors can benefit from the ensuing friction.

Design/methodology/approach

The tensions found in the profit production process are theorized in terms of dissonance (Stark, 2009), emphasizing how multiple voices, drawing on different value frames, contribute to the search for a profit number. The authors study this by means of a case study of a large listed company in the construction industry, where, because of how judgment pervades the profit production process, the search for profit is particularly exposed.

Findings

The authors find three important value frames – caution, control and compliance – which managers, accountants and auditors draw on in the profit production process, depending on the situation they find themselves in. With this finding, the authors contribute to the previous research on financial reporting and management work and the production of profits by demonstrating how the relationships between the involved actors – primarily the auditor–client relationship – can be characterized by principled and constructive rivalry in which competing value frames can coexist alongside each other and how the dissonance created in these situations can produce generative and productive friction.

Originality/value

Previous research has mostly focused on profit measurement, taking the existence of a “true” profit number for granted. The auditor–client negotiation literature typically suggests that actors endeavor to solve situations in a zero-sum game where different value frames are present. This paper, drawing on an incipient theoretical approach to accounting research which emphasizes multivocality and perspective, contributes to the nascent research on financial accounting and management work in general and the profit production process in particular. With empirical illustrations of the dissonance found in this process, this paper suggests that tensions resulting from dissonance (Stark, 2009) may be a resource in situations like the profit production process.
The audit society: opening up a meaningful epistemological agenda
Authors: Gendron Yves
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to bring to the fore some conditions of possibility surrounding the audit society thesis that might have contributed to construct a sense of distinctiveness around it, thereby facilitating its spread and travel in the accounting research community (and beyond) as a meaningful epistemological agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

My argument is that the aura of distinctiveness surrounding the audit society thesis as a noteworthy epistemological agenda relates to outsider influences, concept plasticity, and in-depth persuasiveness. I discuss these three features of distinctiveness through excerpts from the book and my own interpretations, the whole analytic process being circumscribed by a disciplined imagination exercise (Weick, 1989).

Findings

While the webs of unpredictability surrounding social life necessarily influenced the travel of the audit society thesis in academia, it seems to me that the thesis’ journey may have been helped by the author’s outsider status, the malleability of the thesis’ key concepts, and the medium (as a book) through which the thesis was articulated (which provided a persuasive platform to underline and demonstrate the depth of the argument).

Originality/value

In an age where journal rankings abound, the audit society thesis constitutes a telling demonstration that one can have a meaningful impact in setting an epistemological agenda and consolidate her/his scholarly reputation through the publication of a scholarly book.
Sectoral diversification of UAE toward a knowledge-based economy
Authors: Siddiqui Shamim Ahmad , Afzal Munshi Naser Ibne
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to look at the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE's) progress toward economic diversification and becoming a knowledge-based economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The World Development Indicators (WDI) and GlobalEconomy websites provided all secondary data for this paper. The data are largely used to highlight the UAE's current level of diversification and, consequently, the atmosphere for a knowledge economy transition necessary for sustainable development. Additionally, the study conducts a nonparametric estimation using DEA to identify the condition of four variables pertaining to the UAE's knowledge economy. The Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) was utilized empirically in this study to determine the current state of diversity.

Findings

According to this research, the UAE economy was reasonably diverse until recently. The number of patents and journal papers published per resident both add to the UAE's GDP. Furthermore, the UAE's information and communication technology (ICT) exports are inconsistent; a declining trend in the number of researchers and the education sector's continuous struggles are major concerns. Furthermore, Figure 1 in the introduction reinforces this conclusion by noting that construction and building remained the greatest employer of labor throughout the time period. This is a significant finding because, as illustrated in this research, low labor force participation in the education sector, combined with lower citizen participation in advanced education in the UAE, results in low scientific research and publications, with low knowledge output as patent applications. In general, the majority of the UAE's population is expat, and the extent to which locals and expats contribute to the overall advancement of education remains an open question. According to the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, three variables in the knowledge economy are productive, and they are economic incentive and institutional regime, innovation systems and ICT. The findings of this article will aid policymakers in the UAE, and more generally in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, in developing more successful policies that help in the growth of a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.

Practical implications

This study is appropriate for UAE economic policymakers to monitor the state and policies required for the UAE's transition to a knowledge economy.

Originality/value

This issue has rarely been addressed by the use of robust parametric and nonparametric processes, as well as robust data visualization tools.