bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecological dynamics of the almond floral microbiome in relation to crop management and pollination
Authors: Schaeffer Robert N. , Crowder David W. , Illán Javier Gutiérrez , Beck John J. , Fukami Tadashi , Williams Neal M. , Vannette Rachel L.
Published: November 2020

Crop tissues harbor microbiomes that can affect host health and yield. However, processes driving microbiome assembly, and resulting effects on ecosystem services, remain poorly understood. This is particularly true of flowering crops that rely on pollinators for yield.

We assessed effects of orchard management tactics and landscape context on the flower microbiome in almond,Prunus dulcis. Fourteen orchards (5 conventional, 4 organic, 5 habitat augmentation) were sampled at two bloom stages to characterize bacterial and fungal communities associated with floral tissues. The surveys were complemented byin vitroexperiments to assess effects of arrival order and fungicides on nectar microbial communities, and effects of fungicides and microbes on honey bee foraging. Finally, a field trial was conducted to test effects of fungicides and microbes on pollination.

As bloom progressed, bacterial and fungal abundance and diversity increased, across all floral tissue types and management strategies. The magnitude by which microbial abundance and diversity were affected varied, with host proximity to apiaries and orchard management having notable effects on bacteria and fungi, respectively.

Experiments showed immigration history and fungicides affected the composition of nectar microbial communities, but only fungicides affected pollinator foraging through reduced nectar removal. Neither treatment affected pollination services.

Synthesis and applications. Our results shed light on routes through which management practices can shape microbiota associated with flowers of a pollinator-dependent crop. With growing appreciation for the role of floral-associated microbes in affecting biotic interactions at the floral interface, understanding such drivers can potentially inform microbial-derived ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes, including pollination and biocontrol.
Identification of a novel fold type in CPA/AT transporters by ab-initio structure prediction
Authors: Bassot Claudio , Govindarajan Sudha , Lamb John , Elofsson Arne
Published: November 2020

Members of the CPA/AT transporter superfamily show significant structural variability. All previously known members consist of an inverted duplicated repeat unit that folds into two separate domains, the core and the scaffold domain. Crucial for its transporting function, the central helix in the core domain is a noncanonical transmembrane helix, which can either be in the form of a broken helix or a reentrant helix. Here, we expand the structural knowledge of the CPA/AT family by using contact-prediction-based protein modelling. We show that the N-terminal domains of the Pfam families; PSE (Cons_hypoth698 PF03601), Lysine exporter (PF03956) and LrgB (PF04172) families have a previously unseen reentrant-helix-reentrant fold. The close homology between PSE and the Sodium-citrate symporter (2HCT) suggests that the new fold originates from the truncation of an ancestral reentrant protein, caused by the loss of the C-terminal reentrant helix. To compensate for the lost reentrant helix one external loop moves into the membrane to form the second reentrant helix, highlighting the adaptability of the CPA/AT transporters. This study also demonstrates that the most recent deep-learning-based modelling methods have become a useful tool to gain biologically relevant structural, evolutionary and functional insights about protein families.
Gene-corrected Parkinson’s disease neurons show the A30P alpha-synuclein point mutation leads to reduced neuronal branching and function
Authors: Barbuti Peter A. , Santos Bruno FR. , Antony Paul M. , Massart Francois , Cruciani Gérald , Dording Claire M. , Pavelka Lukas , Kwon Yong-Jun , Krüger Rejko
Published: November 2020

Parkinson’s disease is characterised by the degeneration of A9 dopaminergic neurons and the pathological accumulation of alpha-synuclein. In a patient-derived stem cell model, we have generated dopaminergic neurons from an individual harbouring the p.A30P SNCA mutation and compared those neurons against gene-corrected isogenic control cell lines. We have used confocal microscopy to assess the neuronal network, specifically segmenting dopaminergic neurons and have identified image-based phenotypes showing axonal impairment and reduced neurite branching. We show using multi-electrode array (MEA) technology that the neurons carrying the endogenous p.A30P alpha-synuclein mutation are functionally impaired and identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a pathogenic cellular phenotype. We report that against gene-corrected isogenic control cell lines the neurons carrying the p.A30P SNCA mutation have a deficit and are susceptible to the mitochondrial toxin and environmental pesticide Rotenone. Our data supports the use of isogenic cell lines in identifying image-based pathological phenotypes that can serve as an entry point for future disease modifying compound screenings and drug discovery strategies.
Lipidation of a bacterial effector is critical for bacterial evasion of host-defense
Authors: Cattelan Natalia , Yu Hongjiao , Przybyszewska Kornelia , Colamarino Rosa Angela , Baldassarre Massimiliano , Spanò Stefania
Published: November 2020

The Rab32 antimicrobial pathway has been shown to restrictSalmonellaTyphi, in mouse macrophages. The broad-host pathogenSalmonellaTyphimurium however has evolved a strategy to evade the Rab32 antimicrobial pathway, via its effector protein GtgE. GtgE is a cysteine protease that specifically mediates the cleavage and inactivation of Rab32. Here we show that GtgE association and targeting to membranes is critical for its efficient proteolytic activity. The C-terminus of GtgE contains a CaaX motif, which can be post-translationally modified by the host’s prenylation machinery. Using a combination of confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation we show that a cysteine in the CaaX motif is crucial for GtgE membrane targeting and, more importantly, GtgE localization to theSalmonella-containing vacuole. We also demonstrated that prenylation of CaaX is important for an effective and fast Rab32 cleavage, which in turn helpsSalmonellato successfully survive in macrophages and establish anin vivoinfection in mice. Our findings shed light on the importance of a host mediated post-translational modification that targets GtgE to the membranes where it can efficiently cleave and inactivate Rab32, leading to a betterSalmonellasurvival in macrophages.

Author summary

Salmonellaspecies includes a large group of bacteria that cause disease in different hosts. While some serovars are host generalists, others are restricted to humans. This is the case ofSalmonellaTyphi, responsible for Typhoid fever, a disease that affects millions globally. We have previously discovered an antimicrobial activity in macrophages that is controlled by Rab32. While the broad-host bacteriumSalmonellaTyphimurium effectively counteracts this mechanism through the delivery of two effectors, GtgE and SopD2,SalmonellaTyphi does not express those effectors and cannot survive in mouse macrophages. In this article, we demonstrate howSalmonellaTyphimurium exploits a host machinery to modify GtgE. We show that this host mediated modification is important for GtgE intracellular localization and effective Rab32 targeting, resulting in both a better intracellular survival and infection in vivo.
Enrichment of neurodegenerative microglia signature in brain-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from Alzheimer’s disease mouse model
Authors: Muraoka Satoshi , Jedrychowski Mark P. , Iwahara Naotoshi , Abdullah Mohammad , Onos Kristen D. , Keezer Kelly J. , Hu Jianqiao , Ikezu Seiko , Howell Gareth R. , Gygi Steven P. , Ikezu Tsuneya
Published: November 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by any neuronal cells in the central nervous system (CNS) for molecular clearance, cellular communications and disease spread in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although their exact molecular mechanism is poorly understood. We hypothesize that high-resolution proteomic profiling of EVs separated from animal models of AD would determine the composition of EV contents and their cellular origin. Here, we examined recently developed transgenic mice (CAST.APP/PS1), which express familial AD-linked mutations of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin-1 (PS1) in the CAST/EiJ mouse strain and develop hippocampal neurodegeneration. Quantitative proteomics analysis of EVs separated from CAST.APP/PS1and age-matched control mice by tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry identified a total of 3,444 unique proteins, which are enriched in neuron, astrocyte, oligodendrocyte and microglia-specific molecules. CAST.APP/PS1-derived EVs show significant enrichment of Psen1, APP, Itgax, and reduction of Wdr61, Pmpca, Aldh1a2, Calu, Anp32b, Actn4 and Ndufv2 compared to WT-derived EVs, suggesting the involvement of Aβ-processing complex and disease-associated / neurodegenerative microglia (DAM/MGnD) in EV secretion. In addition, Itgax and Apoe, the DAM/MGnD markers, in EV show a positive correlation withItgaxandApoemRNA expression from brain tissue in CAST.APP/PS1mice. These datasets indicate the significant contribution of Aβ plaque and neurodegeneration-induced DAM/MGnD microglia for EV secretion in CAST.APP/PS1mice and shed light on understanding the AD pathogenesis.
Developing mammary terminal duct lobular units have a dynamic mucosal and stromal immune microenvironment
Authors: Nagy Dorottya , Gillis Clare M. C. , Davies Katie , Fowden Abigail L. , Rees Paul , Wills John W. , Hughes Katherine
Published: November 2020

The human breast and ovine mammary gland undergo a striking degree of postnatal development, leading to formation of terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs). In this study we interrogated aspects of sheep TDLU growth to increase understanding of ovine mammogenesis and as a model for the study of breast development. Mammary epithelial proliferation is significantly higher in lambs less than two months old than in peri-pubertal animals. Ki67 expression is polarized to the leading edge of the developing TDLUs. Intraepithelial ductal macrophages exhibit striking periodicity and significantly increased density in lambs approaching puberty. Stromal macrophages are more abundant centrally than peripherally. The developing ovine mammary gland is infiltrated by intraepithelial and stromal T lymphocytes that are significantly more numerous in older lambs. In the stroma, hotspots of Ki67 expression colocalize with large aggregates of lymphocytes and macrophages. Multifocally these aggregates exhibit distinct organization consistent with tertiary lymphoid structures. The lamb mammary gland thus exhibits a dynamic mucosal and stromal immune microenvironment and, as such, constitutes a valuable model system that provides new insights into postnatal breast development.

Summary statement

Development of terminal duct lobular units in the sheep mammary gland involves distinct growth phases and macrophage and lymphocyte fluxes. Tertiary lymphoid structures are present subjacent to the mucosal epithelium.
Morphometric and elastic properties of immature reticulocytes in health and during acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Seliverstov Evgeniy S.
Published: November 2020

Despite significant advances, many changes occurring in the tumor microenvironment during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain unclear. The surface of immature reticulocytes was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine specific changes during the development of ALL and AML. In patients with ALL the surface area of reticulocytes increased by 18.5%, volume by 8.7%, the width of invaginations by 18%, and cell height decreased by 7.8%. In patients with AML, the volume increased by 12.6%, roughness by 35.5%, the height of protrusions by 36.2%, the depth of invaginations by 24.8%, their width by 18.2%, and the maximum height difference of the surface by 31.9%. No significant differences in Young’s modulus were found, but a downward trend was noted. The obtained data has important prognostic value in studying the bone marrow activity during acute leukemia.

Highlights

AFM reveals implicit signs of malignant disease development in the blood. ALL increases area, volume, and invaginations, but reduces the height of IRF. AML increases volume, roughness, protrusions, and invaginations of IRF.
Finite-size transitions in complex membranes
Authors: Girard M. , Bereau T.
Published: November 2020

The lipid raft hypothesis postulates that cell membranes possess some degree of lateral organization. The last decade has seen a large amount of experimental evidence for rafts. Yet, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. One hypothesis that supports rafts relies on the membrane to lie near a critical point. While supported by experimental evidence, the role of regulation is unclear. Using both a lattice model and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that lipid regulation of a many-component membrane can lead to critical behavior over a large temperature range. Across this range, the membrane displays a critical composition due to finite-size effects. This mechanism provides a rationale as to how cells tune their composition without the need for specific sensing mechanisms. It is robust and reproduces important experimentally verified biological trends: membrane-demixing temperature closely follows cell growth temperature, and the composition evolves along a critical manifold. The simplicity of the mechanism provides a strong argument in favor of the critical membrane hypothesis.

SIGNIFICANCE

We show that biological regulation of a large amount of phospholipids in membranes naturally leads to a critical composition for finite-size systems. This suggests that regulating a system near a critical point is trivial for cells. These effects vanish logarithmically and therefore can be present in micron-sized systems.
Maize centromeric chromatin scales with changes in genome size
Authors: Wang Na , Liu Jianing , Ricci William A. , Gent Jonathan I. , Dawe R. Kelly
Published: November 2020

Centromeres are defined by the location of Centromeric Histone H3 (CENP-A/CENH3) which interacts with DNA to define the locations and sizes of functional centromeres. An analysis of 26 maize genomes including 110 fully assembled centromeric regions revealed positive relationships between centromere size and genome size. These effects are independent of variation in the amounts of the major centromeric satellite sequence CentC. We also backcrossed known centromeres into two different lines with larger genomes and observed consistent increases in functional centromere sizes for multiple centromeres. Although changes in centromere size involve changes in bound CENH3, we could not mimic the effect by overexpressing CENH3 by threefold. Literature from other fields demonstrate that changes in genome size affect protein levels, organelle size and cell size. Our data demonstrate that centromere size is among these scalable features, and that multiple limiting factors together contribute to a stable centromere size equilibrium.
Working Memory Capacities Neurally Dissociate: Evidence from Acute Stroke
Authors: Martin Randi C , Ding Junhua , Hamilton A Cris , Schnur Tatiana T
Published: November 2020

Substantial behavioral evidence implies the existence of separable working memory (WM) components for maintaining phonological and semantic information. In contrast, only a few studies have addressed the neural basis of phonological vs. semantic WM using functional neuroimaging and none has used a lesion-symptom mapping (LSM) approach. Here we address this gap, reporting a multivariate LSM study of phonological and semantic WM for 94 individuals at the acute stage of left hemisphere stroke. Testing at the acute stage avoids issues of brain reorganization and the adoption of patient strategies for task performance. The LSM analyses for each WM component controlled for the other WM component and semantic and phonological knowledge at the single word level. For phonological WM, the regions uncovered included the supramarginal gyrus, argued to be the site of phonological storage, and several cortical and subcortical regions plausibly related to inner rehearsal. For semantic WM, inferior frontal regions and the angular gyrus were uncovered. The findings thus provide converging evidence for separable systems for phonological and semantic WM that are distinguished from the systems supporting long-term knowledge representations in those domains.
Snail host parental investment throughout aSchistosoma mansoniinfection
Authors: Gutierrez Stephanie O. , Lockyear Olivia J. , Minchella Dennis J.
Published: November 2020

Parental investment theory describes the ability of organisms to respond to an environmental challenge by increasing the fitness of future offspring. Utilizing life history changes, organisms can maximize fitness by increasing their total reproductive output or by investing more into the success of fewer offspring. In cases where parasitic infections result in castration of their host, increased reproductive effort known as fecundity compensation has been demonstrated in a variety of organisms. This response appears predictive of expected future reproductive losses. Organisms struggling with an environmental pathogen, may attempt to better prepare their offspring for the environment they are experiencing through transgenerational immune priming (TGIP). In immune priming, primary infection lowers the prevalence and intensity of a subsequent infection by the same pathogen. Transgenerational immune priming carries pathogen resistance into further generations without genotypic changes. The focus of this study was to determine whether invertebrate parental investment into offspring parasite resistance varies over the course of an infection. Utilizing the snail hostBiomphalaria glabrataand its trematode parasiteSchistosoma mansoni, offspring were reared from specific time intervals in the parent’s infection and subsequently exposed to the same pathogen when each cohort reached the same age- 12 weeks. Differences in infection prevalence and intensity were expected based on when the offspring were born during their parent’s infection. A trade-off was predicted between the number of offspring produced in a cohort and offspring resistance to future infections. Offspring born during the period of fecundity compensation were predicted to exhibit lower resistance due to a dilution of individual investment by parents into a larger offspring pool. While our results did not support TGIP, there were differences in offspring prevalence, as well as an indication that parent health may interact with genetics in offspring resistance. Results suggest that parental condition can influence resistance ofB. glabrataoffspring toS. mansonibut that TGIP may not be operating in this system.
Instrumentation and experimental procedures for robust collection of X-ray diffraction data from protein crystals across physiological temperatures
Authors: Doukov Tzanko , Herschlag Daniel , Yabukarski Filip
Published: November 2020

Traditional X-ray diffraction data collected at cryo-temperatures have delivered invaluable insights into the three-dimensional structures of proteins, providing the backbone of structure–function studies. While cryo-cooling mitigates radiation damage, cryo-temperatures can alter protein conformational ensembles and solvent structure. Furthermore, conformational ensembles underlie protein function and energetics, and recent advances in room-temperature X-ray crystallography have delivered conformational heterogeneity information that can be directly related to biological function. Given this capability, the next challenge is to develop a robust and broadly applicable method to collect single-crystal X-ray diffraction data at and above room temperature. This challenge is addressed herein. The approach described provides complete diffraction data sets with total collection times as short as ∼5 s from single protein crystals, dramatically increasing the quantity of data that can be collected within allocated synchrotron beam time. Its applicability was demonstrated by collecting 1.09–1.54 Å resolution data over a temperature range of 293–363 K for proteinase K, thaumatin and lysozyme crystals at BL14-1 at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. The analyses presented here indicate that the diffraction data are of high quality and do not suffer from excessive dehydration or radiation damage.
Ethyl 5-methyl-3-[11-(pyridin-2-yl)-6,11-dihydro-6,11-epoxydibenzo[b,e]oxepin-6-yl]isoxazole-4-carboxylate: a bicyclic acetal from the rearrangement of an anthracenyl isoxazole
Authors: Weaver Matthew J. , Campbell Michael J. , Li Chun , Natale Nicholas R.
Published: November 2020

The title compound, C26H20N2O5, is a rearrangement product of an o-pyridinyl anthracenyl isoxazole ester. It features a bicyclic acetal structure, which has two extended almost co-planar ring systems, which subtend a fold angle of 102.17 (5)°. In the crystal, the molecules are closely knitted together through C—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds and form chains of alternating enantiomers propagating along the c-axis direction.
The hidden standards war: economic factors affecting IPv6 deployment
Authors: Kuerbis Brenden , Mueller Milton
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The data communications protocol supporting the internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) is almost 40 years old, and its 32-bit address space is too small for the internet. A “next-generation” internet protocol version 6 (IPv6), has a much larger, 128-bit address space. However, IPv6 is not backward compatible with the existing internet. For 20 years, the internet technical community has attempted to migrate the entire internet to the new standard. This study aims to address important but overlooked questions about the internet’s technical evolution: will the world converge on IPv6? Will IPv6 die out? or will we live in a mixed world for the foreseeable future?

Design/methodology/approach

The research offers an economically-grounded study of IPv6’s progress and prospects. Many promoters of IPv6 sincerely believe that the new standard must succeed if the internet is to grow, and assume that the transition is inevitable because of the presumed depletion of the IPv4 address resources. However, by examining the associated network effects, developing the economic parameters for transition, and modeling the underlying economic forces, which impact network operator decisions, the study paints a more complex, nuanced picture.

Findings

The report concludes that legacy IPv4 will coexist with IPv6 indefinitely. IPv6 is unlikely to become an orphan. For some network operators that need to grow, particularly mobile networks where the software and hardware ecosystem is mostly converted, IPv6 deployment can make economic sense. However, the lack of backward compatibility with non-deployers eliminates many network effects that would create pressure to convert to IPv6. A variety of conversion technologies, and more efficient use of IPv4 addresses using network address translation, will support a “mixed world” of the two standards for the foreseeable future.

Originality/value

The authors’ conceptualization and observations provide a clearer understanding of the economic factors affecting the transition to IPv6.
Supportive supervisor to curtail turnover intentions: do employee engagement and work–life balance play any role?
Authors: Kaur Raminderpreet , Randhawa Gurpreet
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of employee engagement and work–life balance in perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The perception of teachers on the constructs considered has been assessed by a survey using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from the teachers of private schools of Punjab, India, and 375 were valid number of responses. Parallel multiple mediated regression was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions mediated through employee engagement and work–life balance.

Findings

The results reveal that the effect of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions is indirect rather than direct. On the comparison of specific indirect effects, the results demonstrate that employee engagement and two dimensions of work–life balance (work interference with personal life and work–personal life enhancement) act as mediators in the perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.

Practical implications

School principals need to draft teacher-friendly policies for enhancing work–life balance and employee engagement so that teachers can feel satisfied with their work and can handle work and family demands. In this way, positive perceptions associated with high engagement and work–family balance can take place, which in turn can curtail the turnover intentions of teachers.

Originality/value

The use of employee engagement and work-life balance in the relationship of perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions is unprecedented. The study also considered three different dimensions of work–life balance and tested the model in an integrative manner. Since the study is based on an Indian sample, it also adds to growing literature on turnover intentions in nonwestern countries. The results are of great value to school managements, HR managers and policymakers who are seeking to develop practices that reduce employee turnover at workplaces.
Requirement management in a life cycle perspective based on ISO 19650-1 and CoClass as the new classification system in Sweden
Authors: Sadrinooshabadi Seyedhabibollah , Taheri Afshin , Yitmen Ibrahim , Jongeling Rogier
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Each building project demands an integrated method for information and requirement management in its life cycle. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the major obstacles in integrated life cycle information management and recognize the potentials of CoClass as the new Swedish digital classification system to tackle them throughout asset life cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

The industry viewpoint toward the current status of asset information management considering ISO 19650-1 principles and the existing obstacles and the industry practitioners' ideas regarding CoClass capabilities and applicability were captured and analyzed. A total of 13 semistructured interviews were conducted with the AECO industry professionals to have an understanding of information requirement management. Then the results were analyzed qualitatively, using the NVivo 12 software. Different attributes of a component (heating panel) in a meeting room according to CoClass and data deviations throughout the asset life cycle were elaborated.

Findings

This study reveals some obstacles in information management process in seven categories in relation to: (1) the need to employ information exchange platforms as common data environments (CDEs) by all actors from early stages; (2) the communication issues caused by lack of utilizing common languages; (3) the costly and time-consuming implementation process; (4) the misunderstandings in terms of data communication between service providers and owners; (5) the definition and fulfillment of information requirements as well as keeping track of data deviations throughout asset life cycle; (6) the information update difficulty; and (7) the need for training practitioners dealing with new systems such as CoClass.

Originality/value

The research explores the major obstacles in information requirement management concerning the practical implementation of the new Swedish classification system, CoClass, supporting the asset life cycle.
Sustainable growth in times of crisis: L’Oréal Russia
Authors: Daniil Muravskii , Snezhana Muravskaia , Elena Romanova , Valeria Kudinova
Published: November 2020

Learning outcomes

This study enables to critically assess: what constitutes the consequences of a financial crisis to a multi-national enterprise operating in the emerging market of Russia; the decision-making processes behind crisis management and the corresponding search for informational grounds to be used as decision justification; and the role of sustainable development in times of crisis.

Case overview/synopsis

During the 2014–2015 financial crisis in Russia, L’Oréal Russia managed to increase growth by 7%–15%, strengthening its place as the market leader in the country. First, the case illustrates the way Antonio, the General Manager of L’Oréal Russia, had successfully approached this situation by learning from the shortcomings of the company’s strategy during the 2007–2008 crisis and deciding to take a proactive position concerning stakeholders. Then, upon recalling his success story, Antonio suddenly found himself at the dawn of yet another crisis caused simultaneously by the COVID-19 outbreak and oil prices drop. In the face of uncertainty regarding the applicability of prior crisis management strategy for the new economic and social reality of Russia, Antonio was worried about whether the company would be able to achieve the 2020 sustainable development goals of L’Oréal by the end of the year. The case dilemma involves choices Antonio faced during mid-March 2020 about strategy formulation based on an adjustment to the expected consumer behavior patterns and possible need to rethink sustainable development goals priority.

Complexity academic level

This case is appropriate for an undergraduate or graduate-level program curriculum for courses dedicated to or including topics related to crisis management, doing business in emerging markets, corporate social responsibility and consumer behavior. Before engaging with the case, the students should be aware of basic management- and economics-related concepts and terms, such as strategy, sustainable development, CSR and economic crisis.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Consumer suggestion sharing: helpful, pragmatic and conditional
Authors: Burnham Thomas A. , Ridinger Garret , Carpenter Anne , Choi Laee
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Consumers who share their suggestions with firms contribute valuable knowledge and both exhibit and reinforce positive customer engagement. Yet, the motivational antecedents of direct-to-firm customer suggestion sharing remain understudied. This study aims to investigate how potential self, other customer and firm benefits motivate consumer suggestion sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical incident pretest explores the domain and establishes ecological validity. Two scenario-based experimental studies test the proposed relationships in distinct service contexts.

Findings

Results support a prosocial (helpful) view of suggestion sharing – potential benefits to other customers motivate suggestion sharing. Potential benefits for the firm play two roles, namely, they indirectly motivate suggestion sharing by increasing consumers’ perceived outcome expectancy, illustrating a pragmatic mechanism, and they directly motivate suggestion sharing when service quality is high, illustrating a conditional, reciprocity-driven mechanism. When service quality is low, consumers are less likely to share firm-benefitting suggestions and more likely to share non-beneficial suggestions, highlighting a potential low service quality “trap” in which firms can become stuck.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is needed to study the antecedents of attitude toward suggestion sharing and the effect of relationship strength on suggestion sharing.

Practical implications

Managerially, multiple paths are identified by which firms can motivate suggestion sharing. The low-service quality “trap” indicates that low-service quality firms should not rely on, and should perhaps even ignore, customer suggestions as a tool for improving their offerings.

Originality/value

By experimentally investigating the motivational antecedents of direct-to-firm consumer suggestion sharing, this paper fills a gap in extant research and provides a foundation upon which future suggestion sharing research can build.
Public-private: unequal competition Israeli public hospitals vs the private health-care system following government reforms
Authors: Naamati Schneider Lior
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to map perceptions and changes in public hospitals in response to competition with the private health system, describes solutions adopted by the public hospitals and considers their implications for the business and strategic management of those hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper opted for a qualitative study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory, including 40 in-depth interviews with key figures in the health system and administrators at various levels of management.

Findings

Public hospitals are constantly adopting changes because of state-mandated reforms and growing competition with private hospitals. Notable measures include making hospitals customer-oriented and adopting business-oriented behaviors and competitive and marketing strategies. However, because public hospitals are unable to institute radical changes, they typically introduce hybrid services (private services within public services) and other creative solutions such as business-funded research foundations operating alongside them.

Research limitations/implications

The main methodological limitation of this study was the difficulty in obtaining data because of the limited cooperation and lack of transparency of Israel’s health-care system. The interviewees expressed concerns that their department or hospital would appear in a negative light, especially as motivated solely by financial considerations. In anticipation of this difficulty, requests for participation were addressed individually and contained extensive detail regarding the study, the ethics committee’s approval, the data gathering and the strict maintenance of anonymity and confidentiality.

Originality/value

Adopting business-oriented behaviors in public hospitals is somewhat contrary to the principles of public medicine. Their adaptation to the market is partial, and their creative hybrid solutions require state regulation. The absence of controls leads to duplication and waste, causing various problems, including increased social inequality, costs and deficits.
The dilemma of relational embeddedness: mediating roles of influence strategies in managing marketing channel opportunism
Authors: Zhou Yin , Yang Wei , Zhuang Guijun
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of how relational embeddedness offers marketing channel partners both benefits and hazards. The nonlinear effect of relational embeddedness on channel opportunism is investigated. Influence strategies (i.e. coercive and noncoercive influence) are also examined as mediators of this nonlinear effect.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data are gathered from a sample of 149 manufacturers in China. The hypotheses are tested through regression analysis.

Findings

The results support the hypothesis that relational embeddedness has a U-shaped effect on opportunism, and that this relationship can be mediated through noncoercive influence strategies. The results also indicate that coercive influence has an inverted U-shaped effect and noncoercive influence has a U-shaped effect on opportunism.

Research limitations/implications

This research serves as a launching point for further investigations into the “black box” of the double-edged effects of relational embeddedness. Other channel behavior constructs can be explored in future studies.

Practical implications

Firms should be aware of the benefits and pitfalls associated with relational embeddedness in marketing channels. They should be alert to using influence strategies when managing channel opportunism.

Originality/value

This study addresses the dilemma of embeddedness in marketing channel relationships and reveals its causes and mechanisms by exploring the mediating effects of influence strategies.
How collaboration impacts in the market orientation-performance relationship of SMEs? A perspective from belt and road initiative
Authors: Ahmad Zafran , Chao Liu , Chao Wang , Ilyas Saqib
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This article extends knowledge of market orientation (MO) and strategic collaboration by analyzing MO-collaborations in the context of firm performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A proposed framework built on the Knowledge and resource-based theory was tested using Structural Equation Modelling with data collected from 171 SMEs.

Findings

This research study supported the direct impact of market orientation on performance as well as the mediating role of collaboration in this focal relationship and assumed it would have a significant role in SME’s performance.

Practical implications

These findings have noteworthy implications for managers. Managers can focus on potential collaboration in order to acquire the needed assets. Owners-mangers should closely evaluate the FTAs, economic corridors, and regional cooperation agreements like BRI as these sources can lead them to collaboration with international partners. Additionally, it provides insight for entrepreneurs, business practitioners, and stakeholders of SMEs that are already operating or plan to increase their market share.

Originality/value

The study findings give interesting bits of knowledge to academia, entrepreneurs, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Given that market orientation and collaboration must proceed in parallel to improve firm performance, Assets like MO provide valuable knowledge and information about partners, which will lead to further valuable information to help the SME succeed. This study further extend the KBV theory recommendation that information and knowledge on collaboration works better and integration will be more successful in ‘resource rich’ firms.
Analysis of the effects of (de)regulation on housing prices in Spain 1977–2019
Authors: De Jorge-Huertas Virginia , De Jorge-Moreno Justo
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper analyzes the regulatory effects on homeownership and rental prices in Spain in the years between 1977m1 and 2019m5, taking into account the economic crisis. It also studies the causal relationship of the prices of private housing (owned and rented).

Design/methodology/approach

Interrupted time series analysis has been used to analyze the legislative impact on the construction sector. Also, the Box–Cox transformation has been used to carry out the above analysis. Finally, Granger's test has made possible to determine the causal relationship between the price series.

Findings

The results obtained in this work show the partial positive effects of legislative instrumentalization, which in general result in decreasing trends of prices in both types of housing use. Likewise, the causal relationship between the prices of owned and rented housing shows that the latter do not provide any incentive with respect to the former.

Social implications

The social implications in this work could be important since this paper analyzes the effects of (de)regulation on housing prices in Spain, and the policy implications could help to control the speculation in housing.

Originality/value

The results obtained in this work could be relevant, both from the point of view of future housing policies and of the agents involved and that of society in general. In addition, this work could contribute to fill the existing gap in this field in Spain, given the scarce literature that raises the objective, using quantitative methodologies.
Factors associated with social responsibility among university students in Yala, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Singkun Awirut
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to evaluate knowledge on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, attitude toward the measures of COVID-19 prevention and control, explore social responsibility behaviors and test for the association between variables and social responsibility among university students.

Design/methodology/approach

It was a cross-sectional study. The population was 7,754 students from a university in Yala province. The sample size was 370 students according to Krejcie and Morgan table. Google form was introduced to make the self-administered questionnaires. Content validity was evaluated by three experts, and for reliability of knowledge and attitude, the coefficient was 0.707 and 0.702. Data collection was done in the early April 2020. Descriptive statistics and χ² were used to analyze the data. Ethical approval number 095–63.

Findings

The results found that students' knowledge on COVID-19 transmission was in a moderate level, attitude toward the state measures for COVID-19 prevention and control was at a high level. Their social responsibility behaviors were at a high level. Their knowledge, attitude and payment were significant association with social responsibility behaviors among university students (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

University students' knowledge on disease transmission as well as positive attitude toward the measures of regulation led them to have cooperation. Social distancing and lockdown measures affected their lifestyle. However, they have responsibility behaviors to the society, especially in the pandemic situation.
More Accountable, More Ethical, Yet Less Trusted: Misplaced Corporate Governance in the Era of Big Data
Authors: Fotaki Maria , Voudouris Irini , Lioukas Spyros , Zyglidopoulos Stelios
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we investigate the corporate governance and ethical practices of firms in emerging technologies. We argue that because they have unique characteristics and face unique institutional challenges and legitimacy controversies, compared to their non‐emerging technology counterparts, these firms tend to over‐conform with respect to their corporate governance and ethical practices. Drawing on corporate governance deviance theory and legitimacy theory, we develop a number of hypotheses, which we test using data from 68 matched pairs based in the USA for the period 2009–2017. Our findings indicate that emerging technology firms over‐conform regarding both corporate governance and ethical practices, yet, despite such over‐conformity, they have lower legitimacy levels compared to their non‐emerging technology counterparts.
FOXO3 targets are reprogrammed as Huntington's disease neural cells and striatal neurons face senescence with p16INK4a increase
Authors: Voisin Jessica , Farina Francesca , Naphade Swati , Fontaine Morgane , Tshilenge Kizito‐Tshitoko , Galicia Aguirre Carlos , Lopez‐Ramirez Alejandro , Dancourt Julia , Ginisty Aurélie , Sasidharan Nair Satish , Lakshika Madushani Kuruwitage , Zhang Ningzhe , Lejeune François‐Xavier , Verny Marc , Campisi Judith , Ellerby Lisa M. , Neri Christian
Published: November 2020

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) have been linked to the critical process in aging—cellular senescence. However, the temporal dynamics of cellular senescence in ND conditions is unresolved. Here, we show senescence features develop in human Huntington's disease (HD) neural stem cells (NSCs) and medium spiny neurons (MSNs), including the increase of p16INK4a, a key inducer of cellular senescence. We found that HD NSCs reprogram the transcriptional targets of FOXO3, a major cell survival factor able to repress cell senescence, antagonizing p16INK4a expression via the FOXO3 repression of the transcriptional modulator ETS2. Additionally, p16INK4a promotes cellular senescence features in human HD NSCs and MSNs. These findings suggest that cellular senescence may develop during neuronal differentiation in HD and that the FOXO3‐ETS2‐p16INK4a axis may be part of molecular responses aimed at mitigating this phenomenon. Our studies identify neuronal differentiation with accelerated aging of neural progenitors and neurons as an alteration that could be linked to NDs.
Alzheimer’s amyloid β heterogeneous species differentially affect brain endothelial cell viability, blood‐brain barrier integrity, and angiogenesis
Authors: Parodi‐Rullán Rebecca , Ghiso Jorge , Cabrera Erwin , Rostagno Agueda , Fossati Silvia
Published: November 2020

Impaired clearance in the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brain is key in the formation of Aβ parenchymal plaques and cerebrovascular deposits known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), present in >80% of AD patients and ~50% of non‐AD elderly subjects. Aβ deposits are highly heterogeneous, containing multiple fragments mostly derived from catabolism of Aβ40/Aβ42, which exhibit dissimilar aggregation properties. Remarkably, the role of these physiologically relevant Aβ species in cerebrovascular injury and their impact in vascular pathology is unknown. We sought to understand how heterogeneous Aβ species affect cerebral endothelial health and assess whether their diverse effects are associated with the peptides aggregation propensities. We analyzed cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) viability, blood‐brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and angiogenesis, all relevant aspects of brain microvascular dysfunction. We found that Aβ peptides and fragments exerted differential effects on cerebrovascular pathology. Peptides forming mostly oligomeric structures induced CMEC apoptosis, whereas fibrillar aggregates increased BBB permeability without apoptotic effects. Interestingly, all Aβ species tested inhibited angiogenesis in vitro. These data link the biological effects of the heterogeneous Aβ peptides to their primary structure and aggregation, strongly suggesting that the composition of amyloid deposits influences clinical aspects of the AD vascular pathology. As the presence of predominant oligomeric structures in proximity of the vessel walls may lead to CMEC death and induction of microhemorrhages, fibrillar amyloid is likely responsible for increased BBB permeability and associated neurovascular dysfunction. These results have the potential to unveil more specific therapeutic targets and clarify the multifactorial nature of AD.
Alteration in endometrial helper T‐cell subgroups in chronic endometritis
Authors: Kitazawa Jun , Kimura Fuminori , Nakamura Akiko , Morimune Aina , Hanada Tetsuro , Amano Tsukuru , Tsuji Shunichiro , Kasahara Kyoko , Satooka Hiroki , Hirata Takako , Kushima Ryoji , Murakami Takashi
Published: November 2020

Problem

The effect of chronic endometritis (CE) on the subpopulation of CD4+ T cells, Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells in the endometrium is unknown.

Method of study

Lymphocytes were isolated from the endometrium of CE patients (n = 12) and non‐CE patients (n = 7). The CD4+ T‐cell profile was analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.

Results

In the endometrium of CE patients, there were significantly more Th1 cells among CD4+ cells and fewer Th2 cells in comparison to non‐CE patients. No marked difference was observed in Th17 cells or Foxp3+ Treg cells. Moreover, the proportion of Th1 cells increased and the proportion of Th2 cells decreased as the number of CD138+ cells increased. Furthermore, when the localization of CD138+ cells and CD4+ cells was examined, CD4+ cells were found to be clustered around CD138+ cells in CE patients.

Conclusion

The CD4+ T‐cell profile in the endometrium is altered in women with CE. This finding may help to clarify the pathophysiology and development of treatment methods for CE.