bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in Head-fixed Running Behavior
Authors: Warner Emily J. , Padmanabhan Krishnan
Published: April 2019

Sex differences in running behaviors between male and female mice occur naturally in the wild. Recent experiments using head restrained mice on a running wheel have exploited locomotion to provide insight in the neural underpinnings of a number of behaviors ranging from spatial navigation to decision making. However, it is largely unknown how males and females behave differently in this experimental paradigm. We found that in head-fixed mice that were initially exposed to a running wheel, all female mice ran forward naturally within the first two days, while almost all male mice scurried backward for up to 4 days. With daily exposure, male mice progressively learned to naturally run forward, with this transition occurring over the course of a 7-day period. Taken together, we have identified a sexually divergent behavior in head-fixed running that should be considered in experiments that use this experimental design. Furthermore, this sex-specific difference could serve as a new way to interrogate the neural underpinnings of a number of behaviors such as anxiety or fear.
Pre-Settlement Forests around Puget Sound: Eyewitness Evidence
Authors: Schroeder Tom
Published: April 2019

Witness trees from GLO surveys covering 6,300 square miles around Puget Sound (western Washington State) reveal, for the first time, the character and local diversity in the region’s mid-19th-century forest cover, before it was severely logged during the settlement period. Although only a few coniferous and hardwood species occurred overall, discrete geographical areas supported distinctive species compositions. Geo-climatic and developmental factors are explored to explain these local differences. Profiles of tree diameters reveal that most trees were small to medium in size, even though most areas also exhibited a minority of larger legacy trees. Approximate stand ages and stages of ecological succession are inferred from local tree sizes and site qualities. Despite current inclusion within the Western Hemlock Zone, major portions of the Puget lowlands (below 1000 feet) displayed extremely few western hemlock, the putative climax species, even stands of decidedly advanced age; in extreme cases “pioneer old growth” prevailed. Conversely, hemlock was strongly predominant in the region’s framing foothills (above 1000 feet), even when stand age there was relatively low. These problematic successional conditions question whether many early forests around Puget Sound deserve a categorical recognition separate from the Western Hemlock Zone.
Stress-induced neuronal hypertrophy decreases the intrinsic excitability in stress habituation
Authors: Matovic Sara , Ichiyama Aoi , Igarashi Hiroyuki , Salter Eric W , Wang Xie-Fan , Henry Mathilde , Vernoux Nathalie , Tremblay Marie-Eve , Inoue Wataru
Published: April 2019

A rapid activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a hallmark stress response to an imminent threat, but its chronic activation can be detrimental. Thus, the long-term survival of animals requires experience-dependent fine-tuning of the stress response. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the ability to decrease the stress responsiveness of the HPA axis remain largely unsolved. Using a stress habituation model in male mice and slice patch-clamp electrophysiology, we studied hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons that form the apex of the HPA axis. We found that the intrinsic excitability of these neurons substantially decreased after daily repeated restraint stress in a time course that coincided with their loss of stress responsiveness in vivo. This plasticity of intrinsic excitability co-developed with an expansion of surface membrane area, resulting in an increase in input conductance with minimal changes in conductance density. Moreover, multi-photon and electron microcopy data found that repeated stress augmented ruffling of the plasma membrane, suggesting an ultrastructural plasticity that efficiently accommodates membrane area expansion with proportionally less expansion of gross cell volume. Overall, we report a novel structure-function relationship for intrinsic excitability plasticity that correlates with habituation of the neuroendocrine stress response.

Significance statement

The long-term survival of animals requires experience-dependent fine-tuning of stress response. Using a mouse model of repeated stress that develops habituation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, our study demonstrates a robust decrease in the intrinsic excitability of the output neuroendocrine neurons of the HPA axis. Mechanistically, we show that repeated stress increases the cell size of these neurons (i.e. surface membrane area). This cell-size change increases input conductance, and hence decreases excitability. Our findings challenge a conventional view that plasticity of intrinsic excitability relies on changes on membrane excitability resulting from up- and down-regulation of various voltage-gated ion channels. Our study reports a novel structure-function relationship for intrinsic excitability plasticity that correlates with habituation of the neuroendocrine stress response.
BEN-solo factors partition active chromatin to ensure proper gene activation inDrosophila
Authors: Ueberschär Malin , Wang Huazhen , Zhang Chun , Kondo Shu , Aoki Tsutomu , Schedl Paul , Lai Eric C. , Wen Jiayu , Dai Qi
Published: April 2019

TheDrosophilagenome encodes three BEN-solo proteins including Insensitive (Insv), Elba1 and Elba2 that possess activities in both transcriptional repression and chromatin insulation. These proteins all have a DNA binding BEN domain. A fourth protein Elba3 bridges Elba1 and Elba2 to form a heterotrimeric complex ELBA. Here we report comprehensive investigation on thein vivofunctions of these proteins inDrosophilaembryos. We generate ChIP-seq data of all these factors from all cognate and non-cognate mutants to assess common and distinct binding locations of Insv and ELBA, and genetic interdependencies. Notably, while most Elba1 and Elba2 binding requires the full ELBA complex, the adapter protein Elba3 can associate with chromatin and repress gene expression independently of Elba1 and Elba2. We also employ high-resolution ChIP-nexus mapping to show that Insv binds to DNA in a symmetric configuration while the ELBA complex binds asymmetricallyin vivo. We observe that motifs of known insulator proteins are enriched in ELBA and Insv ChIP peaks and demonstrate that ELBA collaborates with other insulator factors to regulate developmental patterning in embryos. To differentiate the insulator function of ELBA and Insv from their repressor activity, we determined real-time transcription change in mutant embryos using precision nuclear run-on sequencing. ELBA factor mutants dampen expression differences between pairs of ELBA-bound neighboring genes. Finally, transgenic reporters confirm insulation activity of ELBA- and Insv-bound sites. Altogether, these findings define ELBA and Insv as general insulator proteins inDrosophilaand demonstrate the functional importance of insulators in partitioning transcription units.
Two molecules of Has1 RNA helicase function simultaneously in the biogenesis of small and large ribosomal subunits
Authors: Gnanasundram Sivakumar Vadivel , Kos-Braun Isabelle C. , Koš Martin
Published: April 2019

The RNA helicase Has1 is involved in the biogenesis of both small and large ribosomal subunits. How it performs these separate roles is not fully understood. Here we provide evidence that two molecules of Has1 are recruited and temporarily present in the same time in 90S pre-ribosomes. We identified multiple Has1 binding sites in the 18S, 5.8S and 25S rRNAs. We show that while the Has1 catalytic activity is not required for binding to 5.8S/25S region in pre-rRNA, it is essential for binding to 18S sites. After the cleavage of pre-rRNA at the site A2 Has1 remains associated not only with pre-60S but unexpectedly also with the pre-40S ribosomes. The recruitment to 90S/pre-40S and pre-60S ribosomes is mutually independent. Our data reconcile some seemingly contradictory observations about Has1 function in ribosome biogenesis.
Medroxyprogesterone reverses tolerable dose metformin-induced inhibition of invasion via matrix metallopeptidase-9 and transforming growth factor-β1 in KLE endometrial cancer cells
Authors: Suh Dong Hoon , Lee Sunray , Park Hyun-Sook , Park Noh Hyun
Published: April 2019

This study was performed to evaluate the anticancer effects of tolerable doses of metformin with or without medroxyprogesterone (MPA) in endometrial cancer cells. Cell viability, cell invasion, and levels of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were analyzed using three human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines (Ishikawa, KLE, and USPC) after treatment with different dose combinations of MPA (0, 10 μM) and metformin (0, 100, 1000 μM). Combining metformin (0, 100, 1000 μM) and 10 μM MPA induced significantly decreased cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner in Ishikawa cells, but not in KLE and USPC cells. There was no dose- or time-dependent cell growth inhibition, or positive western blot results for the expression of progesterone receptors and phospho-AMPKa, following treatment with any combination of metformin (0, 100, 1000 μM) and 10 μM MPA in KLE and USPC cells. In KLE cells, metformin treatment alone significantly inhibited cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner (1.31±0.05, 0.94±0.04, 0.83±0.05 at 0, 100 μM, 1000 μM, respectively; p<0.0005). The inhibitory effect of metformin was reversed to create a stimulating effect when metformin was combined with 10 μM MPA (1.10±0.05, 1.42±0.18, 1.41±0.26 at 0, 100, 1000 μM, respectively; p<0.005). MMP-9 and TGF-β1 showed similar trends in terms of cell invasion in KLE cells. In conclusion, the anti-invasive effect of metformin in KLE cells was completely reversed to the state of no treatment by the addition of MPA; this might be mediated through MMP-9 and TGF-β1. Our study suggests the possibility of these combinations doing harm, rather than good, under some conditions.
Temporary anosmia in mice following nasal lavage with dilute detergent solution
Authors: Mast Thomas Gerald , Zuk Kelsey , Rinke Andrew , Quasem Khaleel , Savard Bradley , Brobbey Charles , Reiss Jacob , Dryden Michael
Published: April 2019

Olfactory sensory deprivation induces anosmia and reduces tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine levels in the olfactory bulb. The behavioral consequences specific to the loss of olfactory bulb dopamine are difficult to determine because sensory deprivation protocols are either confounded by side effects or leave the animal anosmic. A new method to both induce sensory deprivation and to measure the behavioral and circuit consequences is needed. We developed a novel, recoverable anosmia protocol utilizing nasal lavage with a dilute detergent solution. Detergent treatment did not damage the olfactory epithelium as measured by scanning electron microscopy, alcian blue histology, and acetylated tubulin immunohistochemistry. One treatment induced anosmia that lasted 24-48 hours. Lastly, five days of treatment reduced both olfactory bulb tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine levels which indicates that anosmia persists between treatments. This is the first report of a sensory deprivation protocol that induces recoverable anosmia and can be paired with biochemical, histological, and behavioral investigations of olfaction.
Temporal gating of SIRT1 functions by O-GlcNAcylation prevents hyperglycemia and enables physiological transitions in liver
Authors: Chattopadhyay Tandrika , Maniyadath Babukrishna , Bagul Hema P , Chakraborty Arindam , Shukla Namrata , Budnar Srikanth , Kolthur-Seetharam Ullas
Published: April 2019

Inefficient fasted-to-refed transitions are known to cause metabolic diseases. Thus, identifying mechanisms that may constitute molecular switches during such physiological transitions become crucial. Specifically, whether nutrients program a relay of interactions in master regulators, such as SIRT1, and affect their stability is underexplored. Here, we elucidate nutrient-dependent O-GlcNAcylation of SIRT1, within its N-terminal domain, as a key determinant of hepatic glucose- and fat-metabolism, and insulin signaling. SIRT1 glycosylation dictates interactions with PPARα/FOXO1/PGC1α/SREBP1, to exert a temporal control over transcription of genes during fasted-to-refed transitions. Interestingly, glycosylation-dependent cytosolic export of SIRT1 promotes a transient interaction with AKT and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Loss of glycosylation discomposes these interactions and enhances stability of SIRT1 even upon refeeding, which causes insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hepatic-inflammation. Aberrant glycosylation of SIRT1 is associated with aging and/or metabolic diseases. Thus, nutrient-dependent glycosylation constrains spatio-temporal dynamics of SIRT1 and gates its functions to maintain metabolic homeostasis.
A high-throughput energy-dispersive tender X-ray spectrometer for shot-to-shot sulfur measurements
Authors: Abraham Baxter , Nowak Stanislaw , Weninger Clemens , Armenta Rebecca , Defever Jim , Day David , Carini Gabriella , Nakahara Kazutaka , Gallo Alessandro , Nelson Silke , Nordlund Dennis , Kroll Thomas , Hunter Mark S. , van Driel Tim , Zhu Diling , Weng Tsu-Chien , Alonso-Mori Roberto , Sokaras Dimosthenis
Published: April 2019

An X-ray emission spectrometer that can detect the sulfur Kα emission lines with large throughput and a high energy resolution is presented. The instrument is based on a large d-spacing perfect Bragg analyzer that diffracts the sulfur Kα emission at close to backscattering angles. This facilitates the application of efficient concepts routinely employed in hard X-ray spectrometers towards the tender X-ray regime. The instrument described in this work is based on an energy-dispersive von Hamos geometry that is well suited for photon-in photon-out spectroscopy at X-ray free-electron laser and synchrotron sources. Comparison of its performance with previously used instrumentation is presented through measurements using sulfur-containing species performed at the LCLS. It is shown that the overall signal intensity is increased by a factor of ∼15. Implementation of this approach in the design of a tender X-ray spectroscopy endstation for LCLS-II is also discussed.
Pseudomonas aeruginosaesterase PA2949, a bacterial homolog of the human membrane esterase ABHD6: expression, purification and crystallization
Authors: Bleffert Florian , Granzin Joachim , Gohlke Holger , Batra-Safferling Renu , Jaeger Karl-Erich , Kovacic Filip
Published: April 2019

The human membrane-bound α/β-hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6) protein modulates endocannabinoid signaling, which controls appetite, pain and learning, as well as being linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, through the degradation of the key lipid messenger 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG). This makes ABHD6 an attractive therapeutic target that lacks structural information. In order to better understand the molecular mechanism of 2-AG-hydrolyzing enzymes, the PA2949 protein fromPseudomonas aeruginosa, which has 49% sequence similarity to the ABHD6 protein, was cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Overexpression of PA2949 in the homologous host yielded the membrane-bound enzyme, which was purified in milligram amounts. Besides their sequence similarity, the enzymes both show specificity for the hydrolysis of 2-AG and esters of medium-length fatty acids. PA2949 in the presence ofn-octyl β-D-glucoside showed a higher activity and stability at room temperature than those previously reported for PA2949 overexpressed and purified fromEscherichia coli. A suitable expression host and stabilizing detergent were crucial for obtaining crystals, which belonged to the tetragonal space groupI4122 and diffracted to a resolution of 2.54 Å. This study provides hints on the functional similarity of ABHD6-like proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and might guide the structural study of these difficult-to-crystallize proteins.
Crystal structure of phosphoribulokinase fromSynechococcussp. strain PCC 6301
Authors: Wilson Robert H. , Hayer-Hartl Manajit , Bracher Andreas
Published: April 2019

Phosphoribulokinase (PRK) catalyses the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of ribulose 5-phosphate to give ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. Regulation of this reaction in response to light controls carbon fixation during photosynthesis. Here, the crystal structure of PRK from the cyanobacteriumSynechococcussp. strain PCC 6301 is presented. The enzyme is dimeric and has an α/β-fold with an 18-stranded β-sheet at its core. Interestingly, a disulfide bond is found between Cys40 and the P-loop residue Cys18, revealing the structural basis for the redox inactivation of PRK activity. A second disulfide bond appears to rigidify the dimer interface and may thereby contribute to regulation by the adaptor protein CP12 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Structure of a critical metabolic enzyme:S-adenosylmethionine synthetase fromCryptosporidium parvum
Authors: Ohren Jeffrey , Parungao Gwenn G. , Viola Ronald E.
Published: April 2019

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet), the primary methyl donor in most biological methylation reactions, is produced from ATP and methionine in a multistep reaction catalyzed by AdoMet synthetase. The diversity of group-transfer reactions that involve AdoMet places this compound at a key crossroads in amino-acid, nucleic acid and lipid metabolism, and disruption of its synthesis has adverse consequences for all forms of life. The family of AdoMet synthetases is highly conserved, and structures of this enzyme have been determined from organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. Here, the structure of an AdoMet synthetase from the infectious parasiteCryptosporidium parvumhas been determined as part of an effort to identify structural differences in this enzyme family that can guide the development of species-selective inhibitors. This enzyme form has a less extensive subunit interface than some previously determined structures, and contains some key structural differences from the human enzyme in an allosteric site, presenting an opportunity for the design of selective inhibitors against the AdoMet synthetase from this organism.
Functional and structural characterization of IdnL7, an adenylation enzyme involved in incednine biosynthesis
Authors: Cieślak Jolanta , Miyanaga Akimasa , Takaishi Makoto , Kudo Fumitaka , Eguchi Tadashi
Published: April 2019

Adenylation enzymes play an important role in the selective incorporation of the cognate carboxylate substrates in natural product biosynthesis. Here, the biochemical and structural characterization of the adenylation enzyme IdnL7, which is involved in the biosynthesis of the macrolactam polyketide antibiotic incednine, is reported. Biochemical analysis showed that IdnL7 selects and activates several small amino acids. The structure of IdnL7 in complex with an L-alanyl-adenylate intermediate mimic, 5′-O-[N-(L-alanyl)sulfamoyl]adenosine, was determined at 2.1 Å resolution. The structure of IdnL7 explains the broad substrate specificity of IdnL7 towards small L-amino acids.
Crystal structure oftrans-diaqua(3,10-dimethyl-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane)copper(II) pamoate
Authors: Tsymbal Liudmyla V. , Andriichuk Irina L. , Arion Vladimir B. , Lampeka Yaroslaw D.
Published: April 2019

The asymmetric unit of the title compound,trans-diaqua(3,10-dimethyl-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane-κ4N1,N5,N8,N12)copper(II) 4,4′-methylenebis(3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylate), [Cu(C10H26N6)(H2O)2](C23H14O6) {[Cu(L)(H2O)2](pam), whereL= 3,10-dimethyl-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane and pam = dianion of pamoic acid} consists of two independent halves of the [Cu(L)(H2O)2]2+cation and one dicarboxylate anion. The CuIIatoms, lying on inversion centres, are coordinated by the four secondary N atoms of the macrocyclic ligands and the mutuallytransO atoms of the water molecules in a tetragonally elongated octahedral geometry. The average equatorial Cu—N bond length is significantly shorter than the average axial Cu—O bond length [2.007 (10) and 2.486 (18) Å, respectively]. The macrocyclic ligand in the complex cations adopts the most energetically stabletrans-III conformation. The complex cations and anions are connectedviahydrogen-bonding interactions between the N—H groups of the macrocycles and the O—H groups of coordinated water molecules as the proton donors and the O atoms of the carboxylate as the proton acceptors into layers lying parallel to the (1\overline{1}1) plane.
Crystal structure of 4-[(1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl] 2-methyl (2S,4S,5R)-1-[(2S,3R,5R)-5-methoxycarbonyl-2-(2-methylphenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbonyl]-5-(2-methylphenyl)pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate
Authors: Ivantcova Polina M. , Sokolov Mikhail N. , Kudryavtsev Konstantin V. , Churakov Andrei V.
Published: April 2019

The title compound, C38H50N2O7, represents a chiral β-proline dipeptide. Corresponding stereogenic centres of constituting pyrrolidine units have opposite absolute configurations. The central amide fragment is planar within 0.1 Å and adopts a Z configuration along the N—CO bond. In the crystal, the hydrogen atoms of the methylene groups form several short intermolecular C—H...O contacts with the carbonyl oxygen atoms of an adjacent molecule. The only active amino hydrogen atom is not involved in hydrogen bonding.
Crystal structure of memantine–carboxyborane
Authors: Ayudhya Theppawut I. , Rheingold Arnold L. , Dingra Nin N.
Published: April 2019

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound, C13H24BNO2 [systematic name: 3,5-dimethyladamantanylamine–boranecarboxylic acid or N-(carboxyboranylidene)-3,5-dimethyladamantan-1-amine], derived from the anti-Alzheimer's disease drug memantine is reported. The C—N—B—CO2 unit is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.095 Å). The extended structure shows typical carboxylic acid inversion dimers linked by pairwise O—H...O hydrogen bonds [O...O = 2.662 (3) Å]. The amino group forms a weak N—H...O hydrogen bond [N...O = 3.011 (3) Å], linking the dimers into [001] chains in the crystal. Highly disordered solvent molecules were treated using the SQUEEZE routine of PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18], which treats the electron density as a diffuse contribution without assignment of specific atom locations. A scattering contribution of 255 electrons was removed. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.
Rational and symbolic uses of performance measurement
Authors: Dobija Dorota , Górska Anna Maria , Grossi Giuseppe , Strzelczyk Wojciech
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the uses and users of performance measurement (PM) in the university context.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were gathered from four universities. This approach allows for a multilevel and comparative analysis based on the neo-institutional theory. The results are discussed alongside interdisciplinary literature on the use of PM in the public sector.

Findings

PM practices at universities have become increasingly popular on institutional, organisational and individual levels. The results indicate that different types of PM are used in universities and that the extent, and scope of PM used by various actors differ. Universities often use PM in a ceremonial and symbolic manner, with the aim of legitimising themselves externally as research-oriented institutions. The use of PM depends on both, exogenous factors (such as isomorphic pressures) and endogenous factors related to the different responses of organisations and individual actors (university managers, and academics). However, the analysis at the internal level reveals different attitudes and some resistance to the use of such kinds of PM. In universities with a local focus, the use of PM for rational decision-making is generally loosely coupled with the reporting performance for external accountability purposes. Moreover, the internal use of PM can be also symbolic.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focusses on four case studies that are currently undergoing changes. The comparative analysis is supported by the use of different data collection methods and several in-depth interviews with key university actors.

Originality/value

The authors assume that the use of PM depends on a number of exogenous and endogenous factors. PM uses and users are discussed in the specific context of the higher education system in Poland. The four business school cases facilitate a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences in terms of the uses and users of PM in the context of internationally and locally oriented universities.
Corporate-level strategy and firm performance: evidence from China
Authors: Li Boya , Chen Shou
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The research interest in this paper is primarily in the question of how important changes in corporate-level strategy affect firm performance. This paper aims to explore the relationship between strategic change and performance, illustrate the frequency patterns of major strategic changes and assess the multi-period performance implications of major strategic changes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper defines strategic change by combining contingency theory and resource-based view. The panel data from 1973 listed firms of China’s A-share market that reported data between the years 2004 and 2015 are selected as the sample to test various relationships and effects between performance and strategic change.

Findings

This paper empirically shows that change in strategies benefits subsequent firm performance, specifically resources re-allocation among existing businesses will result better performance, and successful firms exhibit less strategic change than those performing poorly. It also demonstrates that, in China, the effects of a major strategic change on subsequent performance peaks after one year, but starts to decline thereafter.

Originality/value

This paper explores whether changes, especially important changes, in corporate-level strategy influence subsequent firm performance, and illustrates how frequently a listed firm in China makes decisions about corporate-level strategy. It contributes empirically to the literature by providing one of the first empirical evidence on assessing the effects of important changes in corporate-level strategy on performance.
The changing role of the salesperson: how should salespeople act today?
Authors: Castro-González Sandra , Bande Belén
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the nature and the organizational role of salespeople and, in particular, underscore the change in salespeople’s management in the current business context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper briefly explains the role of salespeople in an organization and how salespeople are gaining prominence in customer management. From this point of view, the paper suggests steps to achieve the sale.

Findings

It is evident that salespeople must change the way they achieve sales goals within the organization. Currently, they need to adopt a more customer-centric approach, and the paper suggests how to do this.

Practical implications

The paper aims to provide key points for understanding and managing the sales force within the organization. Findings are relevant for those who must manage these workers or those who simply want to know more about the characteristics of the sales force.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of salespeople in organizations and describes how they should be managed. In addition, in some ways, the paper helps improve readers’ perception of the sales position.
Dynamic changes of governance mechanisms in mega construction projects in China
Authors: Wang Dedong , Fang Shaoze , Li Kaili
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanisms governing dynamic changes in relational and contractual governance at different stages of government-funded mega construction projects (MCPs) by studying their different effects on project performance and participants’ opportunism.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test eight hypotheses based on data collected from 147 respondents in different participating organizations in Chinese MCPs.

Findings

First, contractual governance has a stronger positive impact on project performance than relational governance in the early stage of MCPs, while relational governance exerts more positive effects on project performance than contractual governance in the middle and late stages. Second, opportunism is a mediator variable between governance mechanisms and project performance, and relational governance is more effective than contractual governance in restricting opportunism.

Originality/value

In contrast to a static analysis of project governance mechanisms, this study examines dynamic changes in the governance mechanisms of MCPs in the Chinese context by considering the mediating role of opportunism as well as guanxi as an element of relational governance, thus filling in gaps in the literature on MCP governance and contributing to the development of MCP management theory.
Training and development in small professional services firms
Authors: Susomrith Pattanee , Coetzer Alan , Ampofo Emmanuel
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether participation in training and development (T&D) events is associated with employees’ affective commitment and propensity to enact innovative behaviours in small professional services firms. The study also investigates associations between both attitudes towards T&D and policy and practice supportive of T&D and levels of participation in T&D events.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 203 employees in small professional services firms employing 50 or fewer staff were analysed using regression analysis and PROCESS macro.

Findings

Only policy and practice supportive of T&D was associated with participation levels. Participation in T&D events was positively related to affective commitment. Furthermore, employees who participated in more T&D events were more likely to enact innovative behaviours, while affective commitment mediated the positive relationship between number of T&D events attended and innovative behaviours. Contrary to expectations, neither participation in just training nor participation in just development was associated with either attitudes or behaviours.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications for small firms which tend to rely on wholly work-based experiences for the development of employees’ knowledge and skills. Such an approach to learning for work may inadvertently shape a workforce that lacks commitment to the organisation and that has a diminished capacity for innovative behaviours.

Originality/value

There is limited research on how T&D affects attitudes and behaviours in small firms. Large and small firms are fundamentally different, thus findings from studies in large firms may not extend to small firms.
Use of multi-lexicons to analyse semantic features for summarization of touring reviews
Authors: Wang Hei Chia , Chiang Yu Hung , Sun Yi Feng
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to improve a sentiment analysis (SA) system to help users (i.e. customers or hotel managers) understand hotel evaluations. There are three main purposes in this paper: designing an unsupervised method for extracting online Chinese features and opinion pairs, distinguishing different intensities of polarity in opinion words and examining the changes in polarity in the time series.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a review analysis system is proposed to automatically capture feature opinions experienced by other tourists presented in the review documents. In the system, a feature-level SA is designed to determine the polarity of these features. Moreover, an unsupervised method using a part-of-speech pattern clarification query and multi-lexicons SA to summarize all Chinese reviews is adopted.

Findings

The authors expect this method to help travellers search for what they want and make decisions more efficiently. The experimental results show the F-measure of the proposed method to be 0.628. It thus outperforms the methods used in previous studies.

Originality/value

The study is useful for travellers who want to quickly retrieve and summarize helpful information from the pool of messy hotel reviews. Meanwhile, the system will assist hotel managers to comprehensively understand service qualities with which guests are satisfied or dissatisfied.
The role of practical assessment in the delivery of successful enterprise education
Authors: Murray Alan
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to concentrate on how assessment is used to support the aims of enterprise education leading to recommendations for improvements to the current approach to the assessment of enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a review of entrepreneurship education literature and a qualitative case study conducted on a sample of enterprise educators at University of the West of Scotland. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Paradoxically, the traditional enterprise education paradigm harms that which it attempts to nurture: entrepreneurial thinking and activity. The rationalised approach to education conflicts with the aims of enterprise educators, and there is evidence of a visible and growing disconnect between academia (the theory) and industry (the practice).

Research limitations/implications

The work is limited as it concentrates on a single case study. The qualitative approach focusses on a specific social field and therefore the findings cannot be generalised to other settings. These limitations can be addressed in future research.

Practical implications

This work has resonance for enterprise educators delivering and assessing entrepreneurial learning in an academic setting and will also be of interest to decision makers within this sector concerned with ensuring academic practice remains aligned to policy and industry requirements.

Originality/value

Enterprise education is well researched; however, there is a gap in the area of enterprise assessment which is under researched and not well understood.
The central role of customer dialogue and trust in gaining bank loyalty: an extended SWICS model
Authors: Hoang Dung Phuong
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand the Swiss Index of Customer Satisfaction (SWICS) model by investigating the role of customer dialogue in the interrelationships among customer satisfaction, customer trust, perceived value and customer loyalty upon Vietnam banking industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework was developed from both an exploratory research with focus group method and the literature. A structural equation model linking customer dialogue to customer satisfaction, customer trust, perceived value and loyalty is tested using data from a sample of 389 Vietnamese individual bank customers.

Findings

The results indicate the key role of customer dialogue in bank marketing since it not only has an independent impact on customer loyalty but also mediates the effect of customer satisfaction on loyalty completely and the relationship between customer trust and loyalty partially. Besides, the central role of customer trust was also highlighted since it mediates totally the effect of perceived value on both of customer dialogue and customer loyalty while explaining partially the path from customer satisfaction and customer dialogue.

Research limitations/implications

First, regarding sample size, the authors have used suitable sampling methods with adequate sample representation. However, a larger sample size with more diverse age range and usage of various banking services may be more helpful and effective for the path analysis and managerial implication. Second, the authors have used only a limited set of measurement items due to the concerns of model parsimony and data collection efficiency. For example, perceived value can be measured upon more detailed dimensions, and yet the author focussed only on some selected measures based mainly on their relevance to the context studied.

Practical implications

The findings imply that building trust and engaging with customers better through communication are keys for Vietnamese commercial banks to gain more customer loyalty in such competitive conditions.

Originality/value

The study is noteworthy that it adds perceived value and customer trust in the SWICS model and investigates the interrelationships between all variables in a single model.
Liquidity creation and bank performance: evidence from MENA
Authors: Sahyouni Ahmad , Wang Man
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Islamic banks have significantly different balance sheets from their conventional counterparts, leading to different implications in relation to liquidity creation compared to conventional banks. This work, first, investigates the liquidity creation of conventional and Islamic banks in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries between 2011 and 2016. It then tests the relationship between liquidity creation and performance of these banks.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses the data of 491 commercial banks across 18 MENA countries between 2011 and 2016. The analysis is based on panel data techniques.

Findings

The banks created US$18.596 trillion of liquidity, about 28.4% of total assets. Conventional banks created more liquidity compared with Islamic banks. Nevertheless, Islamic banks created more liquidity per asset compared with conventional banks. The regression analysis revealed a significant and negative correlation between liquidity creation and performance of the banks using return on average equity (ROAE) measure. However, no significant relationship is observed between liquidity creation and return on average assets (ROAA) of MENA banks. Moreover, there is no difference between Islamic and conventional banks in the relation between liquidity creation and bank performance.

Research limitations/implications

The data are limited to the period 2011-2016; the period of this study was selected based on yearly data availability from the data source. Accounting measures were used to study the effect of liquidity creation on bank profitability, and the market-based measures were excluded, as there is no uniform sources in these countries that can be used to collect market-based data.

Practical implications

Bank managers must reach a trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages of liquidity creation, as well as consider the negative relationship between liquidity creation and bank performance when making their decisions.

Originality/value

First, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is the first to analyse the relationship between the liquidity creation and performance of conventional and Islamic banks in MENA. Second, this study uses a sample of Islamic and conventional banks in MENA that have detailed information on the Orbis Bank Focus dataset, which is the most comprehensive database of commercial banks in the MENA region.
Hegemonic masculinity or masculine domination
Authors: Reddy Raghunandan , Sharma Arun Kumar , Jha Munmun
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that Bourdieu’s concept of masculine domination offers a comprehensive social theory of gender as compared to Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity through examining the proposition of positive hegemonic masculinity.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that argues that Bourdieu’s concept of masculine domination offers a comprehensive social theory of gender as compared to Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that Bourdieu’s concept of masculine domination incorporates both discursive and material structures of the gender system that privileges men/masculine over women/feminine, making it a comprehensive social theory of gender.

Research limitations/implications

The concepts of hegemonic masculinity and masculine domination have not been reviewed in the light of emerging perspectives on hegemony, power and domination. The future research could focus on a review of research methods such as institutional ethnography, in examining masculine domination.

Practical implications

Using masculine domination perspective, organizations could identify specific managerial discourses, aspects of work organization and practices in order to eliminate gender-based discrimination, harassment and unequal access to resources.

Social implications

Public policy interventions aimed at inclusive development could examine women’s condition of continued disadvantageousness, through masculine domination perspective.

Originality/value

The authors seek to provide a comparative view of the concepts of hegemonic masculinity and masculine domination, using the categories of comparison that was not attempted earlier.
Supporting women’s persistence in computing and technology
Authors: Weidler-Lewis Joanna , DuBow Wendy , Kaminsky Alexis , Weston Tim
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate what factors influence women’s meaningful and equitable persistence in computing and technology fields. It draws on theories of learning and equity from the learning sciences to inform the understanding of women’s underrepresentation in computing as it investigates young women who showed an interest in computing in high school and followed-up with them in their college and careers.

Design/methodology/approach

The mixed-methods approach compares data from quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups and interviews. The sample comes from database of 1,500 young women who expressed interest in computing by applying for an award for high schoolers. These women were surveyed in 2013 and then again in 2016, with 511 women identifying themselves as high schoolers in 2013 and then having graduated and pursued college or careers in the second survey. The authors also conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups with 90 women from the same sample.

Findings

The findings show that multiple factors influence women’s persistence in computing, but the best predictor of women’s persistence is access to early computing and programming opportunities. However, access and opportunities must be evaluated within broader social and contextual factors.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is that the authors measure women’s persistence in computing according to their chosen major or profession. This study does not measure the impact of computational thinking in women’s everyday lives.

Practical implications

Educators and policymakers should consider efforts to make Computer Science-for-All a reality.

Originality/value

Few longitudinal studies of a large sample of women exist that follow women interested in computing from high school into college and careers particularly from a critical educational equity perspective.
Manipulator visual localization motion control for power cable mobile robot in dynamic-unstructured environment
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zhang An , Wu Gongping , Yu Lianqing , Li Hong Jun , Du Lizhen , Chen Wei
Published: April 2019

Purpose

To improve the operational efficiency and intelligence of live operation robots in dynamic-unstructured operation environments, this paper aims to propose a fuzzy logic-based method for the autonomous search and visual localization control of a manipulator end effector applied to a drainage plate bolt on a high-voltage transmission line. The proposed approach is based on a four-way video image information output from a dual-operation manipulator.

Design/methodology/approach

First, based on the structural characteristics of the drainage line, an autonomous search method for the drainage plate bolt and a mapping relationship between the autonomous search control parameters and the relative posture of the operation manipulator-drainage line are proposed. The posture control parameters of the dual manipulators can then be obtained, and a two-dimensional fuzzy controller is designed with the posture offset distance and the posture offset angle as its input signals. This enables the localization control of the bolt and nut alignment to be realized through a visual process.

Findings

The proposed fuzzy control algorithm is used for bolt location control, and its performance is compared with that of the conventional approach. The simulation results indicate that the fuzzy control algorithm greatly improves the localization accuracy and operational efficiency of live operation robots.

Originality/value

Field operation experiments on actual transmission lines verify that the fuzzy control-based visual localization control of the robot manipulator has great engineering practicality. Therefore, the proposed method further improves operational intelligence compared with conventional algorithms.
The effect of insufficient effort responding on the validity of student evaluation of teaching
Authors: AlQuraan Mahmoud
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of insufficient effort responding (IER) on construct validity of student evaluations of teaching (SET) in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 13,340 SET surveys collected by a major Jordanian university to assess teaching effectiveness were analyzed in this study. The detection method was used to detect IER, and the construct (factorial) validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and principal component analysis (PCA) before and after removing detected IER.

Findings

The results of this study show that 2,160 SET surveys were flagged as insufficient effort responses out of 13,340 surveys. This figure represents 16.2 percent of the sample. Moreover, the results of CFA and PCA show that removing detected IER statistically enhanced the construct (factorial) validity of the SET survey.

Research limitations/implications

Since IER responses are often ignored by researchers and practitioners in industrial and organizational psychology (Liu et al., 2013), the results of this study strongly suggest that higher education administrations should give the necessary attention to IER responses, as SET results are used in making critical decisions

Practical implications

The results of the current study recommend universities to carefully design online SET surveys, and provide the students with clear instructions in order to minimize students’ engagement in IER. Moreover, since SET results are used in making critical decisions, higher education administrations should give the necessary attention to IER by examining the IERs rate in their data sets and its consequences on the data quality.

Originality/value

Reviewing the related literature shows that this is the first study that investigates the effect of IER on construct validity of SET in higher education using an IRT-based detection method.