bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening and identification of muscle-specific candidate genes via mouse microarray data analysis
Authors: Abbas Raza Sayed Haidar , Liang Chengcheng , Guohua Wang , Zan Linsen
Published: August 2021

Muscle tissue is involved with every stage of life activities and has roles in biological processes. For example, the blood circulation system needs the heart muscle to transport blood to all parts, and the movement cannot be separated from the participation of skeletal muscle. However, the process of muscle development and the regulatory mechanisms of muscle development are not clear at present. In this study, we used bioinformatics techniques to identify differentially expressed genes specifically expressed in multiple muscle tissues of mice as potential candidate genes for studying the regulatory mechanisms of muscle development. Mouse tissue microarray data from 17 tissue samples was selected from the GEO database for analysis. Muscle tissue as the treatment group, and the other 16 tissues as the control group. Genes expressed in the muscle tissue were different to those in the other 16 tissues and identified 272 differential genes with highly specific expression in muscle tissue, including 260 up-regulated genes and 12 down regulated genes. is the genes were associated with the myofibril, contractile fibers, and sarcomere, cytoskeletal protein binding, and actin binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes in muscle tissue were mainly concentrated in pathways for AMPK signaling, cGMP PKG signaling calcium signaling, glycolysis, and, arginine and proline metabolism. A PPI protein interaction network was constructed for the selected differential genes, and the MCODE module used for modular analysis. Five modules with Score > 3.0 are selected. Then the Cytoscape software was used to analyze the tissue specificity of differential genes, and the genes with high degree scores collected, and some common genes selected for quantitative PCR verification. The conclusion is that we have screened the differentially expressed gene set specific to mouse muscle to provide potential candidate genes for the study of the important mechanisms of muscle development.
MOV10 facilitates messenger RNA decay in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) dependent manner to maintain the mouse embryonic stem cells state
Authors: Mehravar Majid , Kumar Yogesh , Olshansky Moshe , Dakle Pushkar , Bullen Michael , Pandey Varun K. , Bansal Dhiru , Dent Craig , Hathiwala Dhaval , Zhang Zhongming , Gandhi Hetvi , Fulcher Alex , Huang Cheng , Price Jonathan , Arumugam Senthil , Ceman Stephanie , Balasubramanian Sureshkumar , Papas Brian N , Morgan Marcos , Miska Eric A , Schittenhelm Ralf B , Tripathi Pratibha , Das Partha Pratim
Published: August 2021

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most predominant internal mRNA modification in eukaryotes, recognised by its reader proteins (so-called m6A-readers) for regulating subsequent mRNA fates — splicing, export, localisation, decay, stability, and translation — to control several biological processes. Although a few m6A-readers have been identified, yet the list is incomplete. Here, we identify a new m6A-reader protein, Moloney leukaemia virus 10 homologue (MOV10), in the m6A pathway. MOV10 recognises m6A-containing mRNAs with a conserved GGm6ACU motif. Mechanistic studies uncover that MOV10 facilitates mRNA decay of its bound m6A-containing mRNAs in an m6A-dependent manner within the cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies). Furthermore, MOV10 decays the Gsk-3ß mRNA through m6A that stabilises the ß-CATENIN expression of a WNT/ß-CATENIN signalling pathway to regulate downstream NANOG expression for maintaining the mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) state. Thus, our findings reveal how a newly identified m6A-reader, MOV10 mediates mRNA decay via m6A that impact embryonic stem cell biology.
Genome-guided discovery of natural products through multiplexed low coverage whole-genome sequencing of soil Actinomycetes on Oxford Nanopore Flongle
Authors: Rajwani Rahim , Ohlemacher Shannon I. , Zhao Gengxiang , Liu Hong-bing , Bewley Carole A.
Published: August 2021

Genome-mining is an important tool for discovery of new natural products; however, the number of publicly available genomes for natural product-rich microbes such as Actinomycetes, relative to human pathogens with smaller genomes, is small. To obtain contiguous DNA assemblies and identify large (ca. 10 to greater than 100 Kb) biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) with high-GC (>70%) and -repeat content, it is necessary to use long-read sequencing methods when sequencing Actinomycete genomes. One of the hurdles to long-read sequencing is the higher cost.

In the current study, we assessed Flongle, a recently launched platform by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, as a low-cost DNA sequencing option to obtain contiguous DNA assemblies and analyze BGCs. To make the workflow more cost-effective, we multiplexed up to four samples in a single Flongle sequencing experiment while expecting low-sequencing coverage per sample. We hypothesized that contiguous DNA assemblies might enable analysis of BGCs even at low sequencing depth. To assess the value of these assemblies, we collected high-resolution mass-spectrometry data and conducted a multi-omics analysis to connect BGCs to secondary metabolites.

In total, we assembled genomes for 20 distinct strains across seven sequencing experiments. In each experiment, 50% of the bases were in reads longer than 10 Kb, which facilitated the assembly of reads into contigs with an average N50 value of 3.5 Mb. The programs antiSMASH and PRISM predicted 629 and 295 BGCs, respectively. We connected BGCs to metabolites for N,N-dimethyl cyclic-ditryptophan, a novel lassopeptide and three known Actinomycete-associated siderophores, namely mirubactin, heterobactin and salinichelin.

Importance

Short-read sequencing of GC-rich genomes such as Actinomycetes results in a fragmented genome assembly and truncated biosynthetic gene clusters (often 10 to >100 Kb long), which hinders our ability to understand the biosynthetic potential of a given strain and predict the molecules that can be produced. The current study demonstrates that contiguous DNA assemblies, suitable for analysis of BGCs, can be obtained through low-coverage, multiplexed sequencing on Flongle, which provides a new low-cost workflow ($30-40 per strain) for sequencing Actinomycete strain libraries.
Data analysis of COVID-19 wave peaks in relation to latitude and temperature for multiple nations
Authors: Jain Mayuri , Aloni Sukhada , Adivarekar Pravin
Published: August 2021

It was observed that the multiple peaks of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) appeared in different seasons in different countries. There were countries where the COVID-19 peak occurred during extremely low temperatures, such as Norway, Canada and on the other hand there were countries with high-temperature ranges such as Brazil, India, UAE. Most of the high-latitude countries received their outbreak in winter and most of the countries near the equator mark the outbreak during the summer. Most of the biological organisms have their growth dependant on the temperature, and hence we explored that if there is any relation of temperature versus COVID-19 outbreak in the particular country. It was also seen that people are not behaving differently during the peak of the COVID-19 wave, hence it was important to know whether the COVID-19 virus has evolved or the global temperature variation caused these multiple peaks. This work focuses on finding the effect of temperature variation on the COVID-19 outbreak. We used Levenberg–Marquardt technique to find the correlation between the temperature at which COVID-19 outbreak peaks and the latitude of the particular country. We found that between the temperature range of 14°C to 20°C spread of the COVID-19 is minimal. Based on our results we can also say that the COVID-19 outbreak is seen in lower temperature (0°C to 13°C) ranges as well as in the higher temperature ranges (21°C to 35°C). The current data analysis will help the authorities to manage their resources in advance to prepare for any further outbreaks that might occur in the COVID-19 or even in the next pandemic.
Modelling the effects of optical vibrations on photon beam parameters using ray-tracing software
Authors: Houghton C. , Bloomer C. , Alianelli L.
Published: August 2021

A method to simulate beam properties observed at the beamline sample-point in the presence of motion of optical components has been developed at Diamond Light Source. A series of stationary ray-tracing simulations are used to model the impact on the beam stability caused by dynamic motion of optical elements. Ray-tracing simulations usingSHADOW3inOASYS, completed over multiple iterations and stitched together, permit the modelling of a pseudo-dynamic beamline. As beamline detectors operating at higher frequencies become more common, beam stability is crucial. Synchrotron ring upgrades to low-emittance lattices require increased stability of beamlines in order to conserve beam brightness. By simulating the change in beam size and position, an estimate of the impact the motion of various components have on stability is possible. The results presented in this paper focus on modelling the physical vibration of optical elements. Multiple beam parameters can be analysed in succession without manual input. The simulation code is described and the initial results obtained are presented. This method can be applied during beamline design and operation for the identification of optical elements that may introduce large errors in the beam properties at the sample-point.
Sustainable Development Goals and healthy foods: perspective from the food system
Authors: Iazzi Antonio , Ligorio Lorenzo , Vrontis Demetris , Trio Oronzo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The objective of the paper is to assess food and beverage companies' levels of communication about their activities and sustainability performances, in terms of their compliance with the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the consistency of the contents of the sustainability reports they publish on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, a content analysis of the non-financial reports published by 102 food and beverage companies in the year 2018 has been conducted to identify the most adopted GRI guideline and the nature of the communicated SDGs. Finally, three t-tests have been used to understand how the presence on a listed market, the geographical settlement and nature of the company affects the corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication.

Findings

The study has revealed how the transition to the more recent GRI Standards guidelines is still on going. Also, it has emerged how food and beverage companies are supporting the pursuit of the SDGs through the reduction of work inequalities. At last, the analysis has showed how the presence on a listed market is a driver of CSR communication.

Originality/value

The findings of the present study provide a picture of the current CSR practices in the food and beverage sector and allow companies to effectively choose the most suitable non-financial indicators and GRI guidelines. Also, the present contribution has revealed the key SDGs considered by food and beverage companies.
Face consciousness and purchase intention of organic food: the moderating effect of purchase situation and advertising appeal
Authors: Li Mo , Cui Hong-Jing
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of face consciousness on purchase intention of organic food, to test whether this relationship would be moderated by purchase situation (group vs individual) and advertising appeal (altruistic vs egoistic), and to explain the mediating role of perceived social value in these moderating effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Four between-subjects experiments were carried out (N = 123, N = 126, N = 130, N = 123) by using online questionnaires. Measured variables were introduced to assess participants' face consciousness, perceived social value and purchase intention. Two manipulated between-subjects variable were introduced to test how purchase situation (group vs individual) and advertising appeal (altruistic vs egoistic) moderates the relationship between face consciousness and purchase intention of organic food. SPSS Statistics 24 was used for the analysis of all experimental data.

Findings

Consumers with high face consciousness were more willing to buy organic food. Compared with the individual situation, face consciousness had a stronger impact on the purchase intention when the individual was in a group situation. Compared with egoistic appeals, face consciousness had a stronger impact on the purchase intention when the advertising appeal was altruistic. Perceived social value partly mediated the moderating effect of purchase situation and advertising appeal.

Originality/value

This study validates previous contributions on the effect of face consciousness on purchase intention of organic food and extends them by introducing two moderating variables. Additionally, it introduces perceived social value as a mediating variable to explain the mechanism of this effect.
Innovative search, capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance in the process of technological leapfrogging
Authors: Hu Pan , Wang Ying , Feng Tao , Duan Yuxin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate three issues: how does an innovative search (local search and boundary-spanning search) impact firm innovation performance of latecomers; how does capability reconfiguration (capability evolution and capability substitution) mediates the relationship between innovative search and firm innovation performance; and how does the technological leapfrogging process (initial stage, following stage, synchronization stage and leading stage) moderate the relationship between capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A “resource-capability-performance” theoretical framework was developed to explore the relationships between local/boundary-spanning search, capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance. The data were collected by sending out surveys to managers and employees in various industries in mainland China. These hypotheses were tested using structural equation models and hierarchical regressions.

Findings

The results showed that: innovative search has a direct causal relationship to capability reconfiguration; local search and boundary-spanning search are conducive to improve the innovation performance of latecomers; the impact of local search and boundary-spanning search on innovation performance is realized through the completion of mediating role of capability reconfiguration; there are differences in the path of local search and boundary-spanning search affecting the capability reconfiguration of enterprise innovation performance; and the relationship between innovative search, capability reconfiguration and enterprise innovation performance evolves with the enterprise in different stages of technological leapfrogging.

Originality/value

This study explores the relationship and the path of innovative search to firm innovation performance and analyzes the path difference between local search and boundary-spinning search, which enriches the research of organizational search and enterprise innovation. This paper reveals the whole path of innovative search affecting innovation performance, discusses the important role of capability reconfiguration and makes incremental contributions to dynamic capability theory. It studies the evolution of innovative search on innovation performance under the background of technological leapfrogging, which provides a new perspective for the study of organizational search and capability-based theory.
Cape union mart: digital transformation and customer experience during a crisis
Authors: Schoeman Aldi , Bick Geoff , Barnardo Claire
Published: August 2021

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to define the scope of digital customer experience, why it is important and how it can be used to create a competitive advantage, to evaluate the various challenges for traditional retail businesses that undertake a digital transformation strategy, to critically assess a chosen digital transformation strategy, to identify the key features of a successful digital transformation strategy and to develop a crisis communication strategy.

Case overview/synopsis

The Cape Union Mart Group is a typical apparel retail company faced with the challenge of improving the digital customer experience and accelerating digital transformation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the demand for e-commerce increased dramatically. However, strict lockdown regulations forbade the delivery of clothing. When the lockdown was lifted, there was an order backlog of four weeks. To add to this challenge, the Group was in the midst of a technology update. They moved their entire information technology (IT) backbone to three clouds and, just a week before the lockdown, launched five new websites for its five different retail chains. The ultimate goal with the technology update was to give the company a competitive advantage by improving the customer experience. However, having to do this at an accelerated pace due to the pandemic posed a number of challenges. The case provides a vivid description of how the crisis unfolded and how Grant De Waal-Dubla, the executive of e-commerce and IT at the Group and his team responded to the challenges, together with the marketing team. Based on the success of e-commerce during the lockdown, the owners of the business then tasked Grant with new, aggressive growth targets. Whilst dealing with the aftermath of the lockdown, Grant’s main challenge is to develop a strategy to reach those targets.

Complexity academic level

The primary target audience for this case are postgraduate students enrolled on programmes such as Master of Business Administration or specialist masters in a business field such as marketing or strategy and also for Executive Education courses.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Leadership competencies for the 21st century: a review from the Western world literature
Authors: Ngayo Fotso Guy Major
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The proliferation of studies on leadership competencies have not yet provided a consistent set to guide the work of researchers and practitioners. This paper aims to generate a clear, literature-based overview of the relevant leadership competencies for the twenty-first century.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an integrative literature review and identifies four strands of literature on leadership, reaching back to traditional works. It reviews each strand to establish which leadership competencies remain relevant for the twenty-first century.

Findings

This paper shows it is essential to clarify and harmonize terminology used in leadership literature. It identifies 18 groups of leadership competencies required for the twenty-first century. The research reveals that leaders of the twenty-first century must be able to combine a strong concern for people, customer experience, digitalization, financialization and the general good.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on a non-exhaustive list of literature derived from studies published in Western journals, written in English. Future research should include papers beyond the confines of Western academia and entail fieldwork to test the comprehensive framework derived here.

Practical implications

This paper will help practitioners develop leadership training curricula and transform the leadership culture in their organizations. The competency list can be useful in recruitment and selection processes for leadership positions. Professionals will find it helpful as an index in self-diagnosis and personal development for their career decision choices.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the growing need for clarity on the required leadership competencies for the twenty-first century.
Women’s journey to the top: the role of bonding and bridging social capital
Authors: Górska Anna Maria , Dobija Dorota , Staniszewska Zuzanna , Prystupa-Rządca Kaja
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Drawing on Putnam’s concept of social capital, this study aims to examine the oral life histories of women on management boards. It explores how the bridging and bonding forms of social capital are created and used to advance women’s careers to reach top management positions on corporate boards.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is both explorative and interpretive. A total of 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with female board members of Polish companies to gain access to their life histories.

Findings

Women develop social capital to advance their careers. However, they mainly focus on bonding capital, which allows them to sustain relationships within their inner circle. Bridging capital, which extends relationships to advance women’s careers, is often overlooked if not neglected. It seems it is usually an external shock when women understand the importance of bridging capital.

Practical implications

This study provides a better insight into how bridging and bonding capital help and/or distract women from reaching top managerial positions. It has potential policy-making implications for promoting women to leadership positions. The study results can guide organizations in providing equal opportunities for employees.

Originality/value

This study builds on previous research regarding the accumulation of human and social capital by board members. It encourages academics and practitioners to critically consider the relationship between bonding and bridging capital and the promotion of women to top management positions. This study provides access to a field of Central and Eastern European countries.
Calling out the laggards: shareholder activism and board gender diversity
Authors: Berns John P. , Williams Jaime L.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

While the presence of women in the boardroom has been steadily increasing, shareholders have taken action to push firms which lag in this area to add women to their boards. The purpose of this study is to examine whether firms with more gender homogenous (i.e. male-dominated) boards are disproportionately targeted with shareholder proposals calling for increased board gender diversity, how gender diversity among other firm leadership moderates this relationship, and whether firms respond.

Design/methodology/approach

Firth logistic regression is used to analyze the rare occurrence of a shareholder proposal within a sample of 7,226 firm year observations from S&P 1,500 firms in the USA between 2010 and 2017. Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine the subsequent three-year change in board gender diversity using a sample of 3,917 firm year observations.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that firms with gender homogenous boards are more likely to incur shareholder proposals aimed at increasing board gender diversity. Having women in leadership positions (e.g. as the Chief Executive Officer) weakens this relationship. Finally, despite most proposals failing to pass, board gender diversity dramatically increases following the rendering of a proposal.

Originality/value

This study adds to the understanding of the principal-agent relationship, offering novel insights into shareholder responses to the lack of gender diversity among the board and firm responses to such activism. Furthermore, the authors add to the understanding of expectation violations with regard to gender diversity within firm boards. Finally, the authors find that women in other leadership positions insulate the firm from such shareholder activism – an important boundary condition of the findings.
Numerical heat transfer in annular fins of curved profile formed with the intersection of two equal circles
Authors: Celentano Diego , Campo Antonio
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the heat transfer attributes of annular fins with quarter circle profile in terms of the Biot number Bi and the radius ratio rr. The latter corresponds to the internal radius of the tube divided by the length of the fin in question.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the governing two-dimensional (2-D) heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates is numerically solved via finite element analysis for different Bi (i.e., 0.1, 1 and 5) and rr (i.e., 0.5, 1 and 2).

Findings

The obtained results for the mid-plane and surface temperatures show that these profiles, which exhibit nearly rr-independent responses, only present one-dimensional (1-D) radially linear distributions for the case Bi = 1. For Bi = 0.1, the temperature profiles also possess a 1-D character but with a clearly defined concave pattern. Finally, for Bi = 5, a 2-D temperature field in a wide zone from the fin base is achieved with a convex pattern for the mid-plane and surface temperatures.

Originality/value

Exhaustive assessment of the heat transfer in annular fins with quarter circle profile in terms of different Biot numbers and radius ratios
Seasonal variation and its impacts in rice-growing regions of the Mekong Delta
Authors: Nguyen Van Hong , Yen Hoang Phan Hai
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In recent years, agricultural activities in the Mekong Delta have frequently faced the potential risks of drought, saline intrusion and unusually heavy rainfall because of climate change, leading to a decline in crop yield. Therefore, this study aimed to establish rice planting seasons in An Giang, an upper-located province in the Mekong Delta.

Design/methodology/approach

The impacts of seasonal variation on the key rice seasons were simulated using the Food and Agriculture Organization-crop model for the OM6976 rice variety grown in the study area. For the simulation, the model combined crop, soil, weather and crop management data.

Findings

The results show that seasonal variation because of changes in weather factors leads to alternation in crop yields across the study area. Specifically, the spring and summer rice planting seasons are advanced by one to two weeks compared with the baseline, and crop yield increased by 5.9% and 4.2%, respectively. Additionally, planting for the autumn–winter rice season on 3 August increased crop yield by up to 8.1%.

Originality/value

In general, rice planting seasons that account for weather factor changes effectively reduce production costs and optimise production.
It is not just an academic experience: preservice teachers as long-term sojourners in a study abroad program in the USA
Authors: Aslan Reyhan , Bekereci-Şahin Melike
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the long-term international experiences of a group of preservice English teachers who studied abroad as part of their training and recently returned home.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing an interpretivist case study, five preservice English teachers participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The participants were consulted to elicit feedback as the part of a member checking procedure.

Findings

This study revealed that the participants' views of their international experience were primarily shaped by two main themes: (1) postsojourn outcomes: intercultural learning, professional learning and personal growth and (2) “bumps” in the road: struggles in capitalizing the learning opportunities.

Originality/value

Recruiting students for extended study abroad programs alone without a concerted effort to address (inter)cultural learning and growth might not guarantee the quality and the outcomes of such programs. Based on the findings, the role of meaningful and intentional collaboration within the participant groups and between the partner institutions as well as critical reflection opportunities to assist prospective teachers through their growth in intercultural learning was discussed.
Samarco’s scandal: a perspective of organizational spirituality and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Rocha Raysa Geaquinto , d'Angelo Marcia Juliana
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Society is asking for a humanized business strategy. In this paradigm-shifting, the first change is in companies’ discourses. This paper aims to analyze an organization’s discourse involved in a scandal (environmental crime) from the perspective of corporate social responsibility and organizational spirituality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted an interpretive qualitative study using discourse analysis encompassing Samarco, a joint venture between Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton. The collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, caused the spillage of approximately 56 million cubic meters of iron ore and silica tailings, among other particles affecting 41 cities and three indigenous reserves degrading 240.88 hectares of Atlantic Forest, until reaching the Atlantic Ocean. This paper analyzed the company website and all public documents available, both before and after the crime, Code of Conduct (2014), Annual Sustainability Report (2014) and Actions Report (2016), Biennial Report (2015–2016 and 2018–2019) and the Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Term (2016). This study chose the data considering the series of judicial processes in course, environmental crime’s delicacy, and its consequences for Samarco employees, stakeholders, affected communities and families.

Findings

The spiritual elements underlined in organizational discourses are different from the corporate practice in their everyday interactions with their stakeholders. As a result, the organizations’ identity seems problematic. The company has failed to provide an environment that encourages spirituality.

Originality/value

This is the first article to analyze a company’s discourse involved in a scandal through the lenses of corporate social responsibility and organizational spirituality. It contributes to the research concerning irresponsible management and the rhetorical use of spirituality in management.
Corporate social responsibility disclosure on the websites of coffee chains in Turkey
Authors: Tosun Petek
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Coffee is among the primary products that attract the public attention to the social and environmental responsibilities of companies. Coffee shops have a big carbon footprint because of their daily operations. With the rising consciousness about sustainability in developing countries, online disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly important for not only multinational but also local coffee chains. The purpose of this study is to analyze the extent to which coffee chains include CSR on their websites.

Design/methodology/approach

Turkey, which is a large emerging economy with an expanding coffee chain market, is selected as the research context. The CSR disclosure on the websites of coffee chains is examined by content analysis according to CSR dimensions. A sample of 27 coffee chains with more than ten stores is included in the analysis.

Findings

Foreign coffee chains disclose more information on the environment and fair trade than local coffee chains. On the other hand, CSR content in websites of foreign and local coffee chains does not differ significantly in human resources and community dimensions. Foreign coffee chains have comparatively longer brand history, more rooted brands and larger networks than local coffee chains.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first that used a content analysis about CSR on the websites of coffee chains in Turkey. Findings contribute to the understanding of CSR disclosure in the coffee chain industry and can be beneficial for researchers and managers in other emerging markets.
Prisoners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: co-morbidities and service pathways
Authors: Chaplin Eddie , Rawat Amina , Perera Bhathika , McCarthy Jane , Courtenay Ken , Forrester Andrew , Young Susan , Hayward Hannah , Sabet Jess , Underwood Lisa , Mills Richard , Asherson Philip , Murphy Declan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine effective diagnostic and treatment pathways for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in prison settings given the high prevalence of ADHD and comorbidities in the prison population.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were carried out in two separate prisons in London. Firstly, data were collected to understand the prevalence of ADHD and the comorbidities. The second study used quality improvement (QI) methodology to assess the impact of a diagnostic and treatment pathway for prisoners with ADHD.

Findings

Of the prisoners, 22.5% met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Nearly half of them were screened positive for autistic traits, with a higher prevalence of mental disorders among prisoners with ADHD compared to those without. The QI project led to a significant increase in the number of prisoners identified as requiring ADHD assessment but a modest increase in the number of prisoners diagnosed or treated for ADHD.

Originality/value

Despite various challenges, an ADHD diagnostic and treatment pathway was set up in a prison using adapted QI methodology. Further research is needed to explore the feasibility of routine screening for ADHD in prison and examine at a national level the effectiveness of current ADHD prison pathways.
Will interfaces take over the physical workplace in higher education? A pessimistic view of the future
Authors: Horváth Dóra , Csordás Tamás , Ásványi Katalin , Faludi Julianna , Cosovan Attila , Simay Attila Endre , Komár Zita
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue for the sustained need for the physical workplace and real-life encounters in higher education even in the digital age despite being seemingly transformable into the virtual sphere as seen during the COVID-19 situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a collaborative autoethnography by a group of seven higher educators with an overall 2,134 student encounters during the study’s time span. The authors then connect these practitioner observations with relevant COVID-19-related studies thereby adding to research on higher education as a workplace.

Findings

The data suggest that the physical workplace strongly bolsters the personal experience and effectiveness of higher education through contributing to its dynamics. Spaces predetermine the scope and levels of human interaction of teaching and learning. In a physical setting, all senses serve as mediators, whereas, online, only two senses are involved: vision and hearing. The two-dimensional screen becomes a mediator of communications. In the physical space, actors are free to adjust the working space, whereas the online working space is limited and defined by platforms.

Practical implications

Although higher education institutions may indeed fully substitute most practices formerly in a physical setting with online solutions, real-time encounters in the physical working space belong to its deeper raisons d'être.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the necessity of the physical workplace in higher education and describes the depriving potential of the exclusively online higher education teaching setting.
Knowledge exchange between expatriates and host country nationals: an expectancy value perspective
Authors: Hsu Yu-Shan , Chen Yu-Ping , Shaffer Margaret A. , Chiang Flora F.T.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Drawing on expectancy value theory (EVT), this paper examines knowledge exchange between expatriate and host country national (HCN) dyads to understand whether receivers' perceptions about senders' motivation to transfer knowledge and perceived value of the knowledge jointly affect receivers' motivation to learn and, in turn, facilitate their knowledge acquisition and sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Latent moderated structural (LMS) equations were used to analyze data from 107 expatriate–HCN dyads working in the Asia Pacific region.

Findings

In general, whether senders are expatriates or HCNs, only when receivers perceive that (1) knowledge to be transferred is valuable and (2) senders are motivated to transfer, receivers are likely to be motivated to receive knowledge transferred from senders and, in turn, acquire and share knowledge with senders.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first in the expatriate and knowledge transfer literature to address the mixed findings between senders' motivation to transfer and receivers' knowledge acquisition and sharing by drawing on EVT.
Find me here: share store information through check-in
Authors: Yin Chin-Ching , Tang Yun-Chia , Hsieh Yi-Ching , Chiu Hung-Chang , Jhu Shu-Jie
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose several characteristics of check-in services and investigates whether these characteristics influence customer perceived utilitarian and hedonic values. These perceived values mediate the influences of check-in services on customers' responses.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of mobile check-in service, the authors proposed a framework with several hypotheses and verified the model with structural equation modeling based on questionnaire data collected from mobile device users.

Findings

The results indicate that self-disclosure, expressive support and self-congruity positively relate to utilitarian value; instrumental support positively relates to hedonic value and both hedonic and utilitarian values positively relate to continuance intention and re-patronage intention. However, sales promotion has no significant influence on both hedonic and utilitarian check-in values.

Originality/value

This study applies the concept of location-based social networks to provide new insights into the evolving user-generated content research in the interactive marketing field.
An analytical model for the behavior of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections at room temperature and high temperatures
Authors: Hosseini Seied Ahmad , Zeinoddini Mostafa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this paper, a closed-form analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections, commonly used on offshore platforms, at room and elevated temperatures, are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections is presented. The results of this model are compared with those of a non-linear coupled mechanical-thermal finite element model and small-scale experimental tests previously provided by the authors.

Findings

In this paper, a closed-form analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections, commonly used on offshore platforms, at room and elevated temperatures, is presented. The required yield and plastic moments in this model are provided as an extension to Roark's relationships. The results of this model are compared with those of a non-linear coupled mechanical-thermal finite element model and small-scale experimental tests previously provided by the authors. A reasonable agreement has been found between the analytical model results and the experimental/numerical modeling results.

Originality/value

This article is extracted from the author’s doctoral thesis, and all its achievements belong to the authors of the article.
Effect of adaptive capability and entrepreneurial orientation on SBU performance: moderating role of success trap
Authors: Rangaswamy Uma Shankar , Chaudhary Sanjay
Published: August 2021

Purpose

While prior research has theorized the relevance of adaptive capability (AC) to firm performance, skepticism remains regarding boundary conditions of the AC – performance relationship. This study aims to attempt to understand the intervening effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) impacting strategic business unit (SBU) performance. The authors further explore the moderating influence of the success trap on the AC – EO relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a sample of 293 SBU heads in an Indian information technology (IT) firm is analyzed using ordinary least squares regression. The authors performed a mediation and moderation test on the data using the Hayes PROCESS SPSS macro. Specifically, this study used Model 4 and Model 7 of the PROCESS macro to test the mediation and moderated–mediation models.

Findings

The results reveal that EO positively mediates the relationship between AC and SBU performance and the success trap negatively moderates the AC – EO relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The paper refers to empirical research of strategic business units of an IT services firm in India. Further research in other cultures and industry settings is required to generalize the findings.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that to improve performance, managers in entrepreneurial software firms should develop an adaptive and innovative culture to avoid success traps.

Originality/value

The study establishes the crucial role of a firm’s AC as the driver of improved performance in a turbulent environment. This study complements the literature concerning the AC-performance relationship with the introduction of EO as mediating variable.
Reinforcing the significance of human factor in achieving quality performance in data-driven supply chain management
Authors: Mondal Sanjana , Samaddar Kaushik
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the various dimensions of human factor relevant for integrating data-driven supply chain quality management practices (DDSCQMPs) with organizational performance. Keeping the transition phase from “Industry 4.0” to “Industry 5.0” in mind, the paper reinforces the role of the human factor and critically discusses the issues and challenges in the present organizational setup.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the grounded theory approach, the study arranged in-depth interviews and focus group sessions with industry experts from various service-oriented firms in India. Dimensions of human factor identified from there were grouped together through a morphological analysis (MA), and interlinkages between them were explored through a cross-consistency matrix.

Findings

This research work identified 20 critical dimensions of human factor and have grouped them under five important categories, namely, cohesive force, motivating force, regulating force, supporting force and functional force that drive quality performance in the supply chain domain.

Originality/value

In line with the requirements of the present “Industry 4.0” and the forthcoming “Industry 5.0”, where the need to collaborate human factor with smart system gets priority, the paper made a novel attempt in presenting the critical human factors and categorizing them under important driving forces. The research also contributed in linking DDSCQMPs with organizational performance. The proposed framework can guide the future researchers in expanding the theoretical constructs through initiating further cross-cultural studies across industries.
Family-friendly policies, supervisor support and job satisfaction: mediating effect of work-family conflict
Authors: Yadav Varsha , Sharma Himani
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of perceived support from family-friendly policies and supervisors on job satisfaction of employees by incorporating work-family conflict as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected from 369 employees working in different organizations from the service sector in India. Smart PLS software was used to perform partial least square structural equational modeling.

Findings

The result confirms that both family-friendly policies and supervisor support negatively influences the work-family conflict. Also, work-family conflict partially mediates between family-friendly policies and job satisfaction as well as between supervisor support and job satisfaction. Also, supervisor support directly influences the job satisfaction of the employees.

Research limitations/implications

Management needs to know the relevance of work-life policies and supervisor support to increase job satisfaction and reduce employees’ work-family conflict. Results will be useful for implementing family-friendly policies and designing training courses for the supervisors. This will make the workplace more family-friendly.

Originality/value

This study creates value for the employees in meeting their family obligations by reducing their work-family conflict. Organizations are benefited by attracting positive outcomes like satisfied employees, which will, in turn, lead to a more productive and happier workforce. Studies examining the influence of these policies and supervisory support on job satisfaction with work-family conflict as the mediating variable are difficult to find in the Indian context.
Higher forest cover and less contrasting matrices improve carrion removal service by scavenger insects in tropical landscapes
Authors: Alvarado‐Montero Sebastián , Boesing Andrea Larissa , Metzger Jean Paul , Jaffé Rodolfo
Published: August 2021

Understanding the links between biological communities and ecosystem service provision through the mechanisms driven by landscape structure is crucial to promote management strategies that safeguard both biodiversity and provision of these services. Here, we assess the impact of landscape structure and matrix contrast on carrion removal by scavenger insects, an often overlooked ecosystem service but of paramount importance for nutrient cycling and disease control.

We first hypothesize that more forested landscapes and less contrasting matrices harbour richer communities of scavenger insects, mainly composed of forest species. We then posit that these richer communities of scavenger insects promote a higher provision of the carrion removal service.

The scavenger insect community and carrion removal service was surveyed using 18 independent paired sampling sites (forest‐agricultural matrix, composed either by coffee plantations or cattle pastures) in the Atlantic Brazilian Forest domain. We measured insect species richness, community composition and carrion removal amount using meat baits inside exclusion cages monitored along 6 days across a forest cover gradient (8%–89%) and distance gradient from forest edge (0–100 m to the interior of forest patches and adjacent matrix).

Species richness of scavenger insects was higher in more fragmented landscapes, with more forested areas presenting communities composed of mainly forest‐associated species. Carrion in coffee plantations attracted richer communities than in cattle pastures or forests. Coffee plantations also presented communities with more forest‐associated species than cattle pastures. Carrion removal was higher in both forest and coffee plantations compared to cattle pastures. Even though forest communities had lower species richness, key forest‐associated groups were the bulk of a higher service provision.

Synthesis and applications. Forested landscapes with less contrasting matrices maintain a higher provision of carrion removal service by sustaining communities composed of scavenger insects with higher carrion removal capacity—mostly forest‐associated species. Landscape management focusing on the conservation and reforestation of native forest patches, as well as reducing matrix contrast, could facilitate species spillover and thereby ensure the provision of carrion removal service.