bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender role reversal in political debate?
Authors: Baider Fabienne , Kafetzi Evi
Published: October 2017

Focusing on the Aubry – Hollande debate that took place in the context of the 2011 French socialist party primaries, we observe a possible reversal of gender stereotypes and examine word choices as well as more subtle cues such as interruptions, hedges, etc. If the debate could be described as a stereotypical gender role-reversal, we suggest that these cues point to a more complex picture than a gender reversal, and that the pragmatics structuring the dialogue might be interpreted as a pattern of challenger/champion. Moreover contrasting press articles and comment in online forums on the same debate we invoke a ‘peri-performativity concept’ to explain the differences in interpretations of the politicians’ performances, and conclude that perlocutionary dimensions can be reinterpreted by dominant discourses, (de)/(re)-constructing the performativity of speech acts.
Agency
Authors: Teubert Wolfgang
Published: October 2017

Am I responsible for what I say and how I say it? Or is what I say just a random transformation of what I have heard so far? Is my agency as a discourse participant perhaps borrowed from the agency of discourse? This ties in with another dimension: Is the reality confronting us, a reality that surely includes the notion of agency, a mere discourse construct? For the cognitive and neural sciences, individual agency is only an epiphenomenon of the real world, while it is endorsed by folk psychology and cultural anthropology, having long been a cherished tradition of western discourse. Obviously, selfhood in some form is part of our nature, though we only have discourse to talk about it. Thus it appears as a phenomenon of our contingent culture.
Complexity Theory
Authors: Larsen-Freeman Diane
Published: October 2017

Interest in Complexity Theory (CT) is growing. This is not surprising, considering the state of the modern world – its dynamism, interconnectivity, mobile populations, changing climate, pattern of unintentional consequences, space-time compression, and technological innovation. These qualities make the non-reductionist, ecological, dynamic systems view that CT affords appropriate for our post-structural times. This is not to say that CT is without antecedents in history, some of which are mentioned in the chapter. I also relate how I have come to see CT as a metatheory. A metatheory has wide, transdisciplinary implications. Nevertheless, a metatheory still warrants object theories: in the case of second language development, a theory of language and a theory of learning. These are discussed here as thirty aphorisms. Also taken up are additional lessons afforded by the theory, specifically, overcoming dualities, the need to distinguish a focal system from its environment for the purposes of investigation, and how generalizability can be achieved.
Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory
Authors: de Bot Kees
Published: October 2017

In this contribution, the history and use of the two labels Complexity Theory (CT) and Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) are presented. Although they have a different ontology, there does not seem to be a reason for choosing one or the other to refer to the same phenomenon. I propose to use the label Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) as the general label to refer to the systems studied.
Neural complexity meets lexical complexity
Authors: Schumann John H.
Published: October 2017

Complexity Theory provides avenues for understanding many aspects of language acquisition and use, including the language neuroscientists use to label the brain and to think about its structure and functions. A major concern for neuroscience has been the mapping of structure to function. The tendency has been to seek one-to-one mappings between the two, but advances in research have revealed that the brain is characterized by degeneracy in which two or more architecturally different structures can serve the same function. Thus, the brain can operate with many-to-one mappings. This complexity in neural structure is met with the complexity of synonymy in the lexicon of human language that is used to describe the brain. In this chapter I discuss the relationship between degeneracy and complexity and draw an analogy between neural degeneracy and lexical complexity, specifically as seen in synonymy.
The effect of saline environment on the fatigue behaviour of HVOF-sprayed WC–CrC–Ni coatings
Authors: Murariu Alin Constantin , Cernescu Anghel Vasile , Perianu Ion-Aurel
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the effect of saline environment on the fatigue behaviour of high-velocity oxygen fuel thermal-sprayed WC–CrC–Ni coatings. These coatings are used to improve the surface hardness, corrosion and wear resistance of components or products, in the place of hard chrome plating. Although so far many tests on the wear and corrosion of coating behaviour were carried, the conduct of the joint action fatigue – a corrosive environment is not fully identified. In the frame of the experimental programme, similar axial fatigue tests at room temperature, on air or on specimens immersed in 3% NaCl solution and also chemical composition, structural analysis of the fracture surface were performed, using SEM and EDX. The saline environmentcauses material corrosion, generation of voids and microcracks on the specimen surface and their propagation through the specimen cross-section, accelerating the specimen failure.
Titrated extract ofCentella asiaticaincreases hair inductive property through inhibition of STAT signaling pathway in three-dimensional spheroid cultured human dermal papilla cells
Authors: Choi Yeong Min , An Sungkwan , Lee Junwoo , Lee Jae Ho , Lee Jae Nam , Kim Young Sam , Ahn Kyu Joong , An In-Sook , Bae Seunghee
Published: October 2017

Dermal papilla (DP) is a pivotal part of hair follicle, and the smaller size of the DP is related with the hair loss. In this study, we investigated the effect of titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) on hair growth inductive property on 3D spheroid cultured human DP cells (HDP cells). Significantly increased effect of TECA on cell viability was only shown in 3D sphered HPD cells, not in 2D cultured HDP cells. Also, TECA treatment increased the sphere size of HDP cells. The luciferase activity of STAT reporter genes and the expression of STAT-targeted genes, SOCS1 and SOCS3, were significantly decreased. Also, TECA treatment increased the expression of the hair growth-related signature genes in 3D sphered HDP cells. Furthermore, TECA led to downregulation of the level of phosphorylated STAT proteins in 3D sphered HDP cells. Overall, TECA activates the potential of hair inductive capacity in HDP cells.
Development of predictive methods for strain at the surface due to longwall coal mining
Authors: Barbato James , Hebblewhite Bruce , Mitra Rudrajit , Mills Ken , Waddington Arthur
Published: October 2017

Longwall coal mining can result in impacts on natural and built features at the surface. The potential for impacts can be assessed using predicted mine subsidence parameters including strain. Improved predictive methods for strain have been developed as part of recent research using a large database of ground monitoring data from the Australian coalfields. Strain is predicted using a two-step process. Firstly, the net horizontal movements are predicted across each of the curvature zones above the active longwall. The distributions of strain are then predicted within each of these zones based on these net horizontal movements. The methods provide the site-specific predictions of strain anywhere above the active longwall based on the local surface topography, survey bay length and selected confidence level. The advantage of these methods is that they consider the potential for irregular anomalous movements, which are often not included in other existing predictive methods. The new predictive methods therefore can then be used to more reliably assess the potential for impacts on surface features located above longwall coal mining.
How do French social housing tenants interpret normative descriptive feedback connected with energy? / ¿Cómo interpretan los inquilinos de vivienda social en Francia los mensajes normativos descriptivos respecto al consumo de energía?
Authors: Rubens Lolita , Le Conte Johanna , Assegond Christèle , Fairier Emilie , Salvazet Raphael , Bonnefoy Barbara , Baud Anne-Cécile
Published: October 2017

Energy-efficient houses are designed to reduce electricity. However, a gap between theoretical and actual energy performance of buildings is often observed. Achieving energy efficiency through regulatory norms is insufficient, and ways must be found to change people’s behaviours. In this line, normative feedback could be a powerful tool to reduce residential energy consumption. In the present research, 14 low-energy buildings were equipped to measure energy consumption. Their occupants received descriptive normative messages used to promote household energy saving. We were interested in the quantitative impact of normative feedback on household consumption, but also in the way in which these households receive the information linked to normative feedback and how they adapt to it. The results showed that energy-efficient houses are not an environment in which people could learn new practices if they do not have knowledgeable pre-requisites. A normative feedback can help change habits only for people who have the knowledge regarding energy issues that allows them to understand the feedback. For most households, the information is not understood and does not lead to behavioural change.
Talking in defence of species conservation: the role of laws and community norms conflicts across stages of a communicative action / La defensa de la conservación de las especies: el papel de los conflictos entre las leyes y las normas de la comunidad en diversas etapas de una acción comunicativa
Authors: Mouro Carla , Castro Paula
Published: October 2017

New laws promoting species conservation in protected sites are often contested by local communities. Conflicts between the laws and community norms may explain this; yet the literature on normative conflicts has still not examined such laws-norms conflicts. It has moreover been inconclusive regarding the (negative or positive) relationship between normative conflicts and action, and has not studied how they affect engagement in communicative actions supporting the laws. A stage model (Trans-Theoretical Model) was used to clarify how two types of conflicts — between the law and community descriptive and injunctive norms, and between the latter two — are associated with transitions from awareness to engagement in communicative action. A survey of 342 residents in Portuguese Natura 2000 sites showed stronger normative conflicts at pre-action (versus post-action) stages. Additionally, conflict between injunctive and descriptive community norms is lower and more invariant across stages than conflict between them and the law, suggesting a higher relevance of the later for (dis)engagement in communicative action. We discuss the contributions a stage perspective may offer for improving the implementation of conservation laws.
A nonimmune function of T cells in promoting lung tumor progression
Authors: Green Jesse A. , Arpaia Nicholas , Schizas Michail , Dobrin Anton , Rudensky Alexander Y.
Published: October 2017

The involvement of effector T cells and regulatory T (T reg) cells in opposing and promoting solid organ carcinogenesis, respectively, is viewed as a shifting balance between a breach versus establishment of tolerance to tumor or self-antigens. We considered that tumor-associated T cells might promote malignancy via distinct mechanisms used by T cells in nonlymphoid organs to assist in their maintenance upon injury or stress. Recent studies suggest that T reg cells can participate in tissue repair in a manner separable from their immunosuppressive capacity. Using transplantable models of lung tumors in mice, we found that amphiregulin, a member of the epidermal growth factor family, was prominently up-regulated in intratumoral T reg cells. Furthermore, T cell–restricted amphiregulin deficiency resulted in markedly delayed lung tumor progression. This observed deterrence in tumor progression was not associated with detectable changes in T cell immune responsiveness or T reg and effector T cell numbers. These observations suggest a novel “nonimmune” modality for intratumoral T reg and effector T cells in promoting tumor growth through the production of factors normally involved in tissue repair and maintenance.
Understanding the Impacts of Food Consumer Choice and Food Policy Outcomes
Authors: Lusk Jayson L , McCluskey Jill
Published: October 2017

The food consumer plays an increasingly prominent role in shaping the food and farming system. A better understanding of how public policies affect consumer choice and how those choices impact health, environment, and food security outcomes is needed. This paper addresses several key challenges we see for the future, including issues related to dietary‐related diseases and the efficacy of policies designed to improve dietary choices, trust in the food system, acceptance of new food and farm technologies, environmental impacts of food consumption, preferences for increased food quality, and issues related to food safety. We also identify some research challenges and barriers that exist when studying these issues, including data quality and availability, uncertainty in the underlying biological and physical sciences, and the challenges to welfare economics that are presented by behavioral economics. We also identify the unique role that economists can play in helping address these key societal challenges.
A challenge to identify an optical counterpart of the gravitational wave event GW151226 with Hyper Suprime-Cam
Authors: Utsumi Yousuke , Tominaga Nozomu , Tanaka Masaomi , Morokuma Tomoki , Yoshida Michitoshi , Asakura Yuichiro , Finet François , Furusawa Hisanori , Kawabata Koji S , Liu Wei , Matsubayashi Kazuya , Moritani Yuki , Motohara Kentaro , Nakata Fumiaki , Ohta Kouji , Terai Tsuyoshi , Uemura Makoto , Yasuda Naoki ,   on behalf of the J-GEM collaboration
Published: October 2017

We present the results of detailed analysis of an optical imaging survey conducted using the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) that aimed to identify an optical counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW151226. In half a night, the i- and z-band imaging survey by HSC covered 63.5 deg2 of the error region, which contains about 7% of the LIGO localization probability, and the same field was observed in three different epochs. The detectable magnitude of the candidates in a differenced image is evaluated as i ∼ 23.2 mag for the requirement of at least two 5 σ detections, and 1744 candidates are discovered. Assuming a kilonova as an optical counterpart, we compare the optical properties of the candidates with model predictions. A red and rapidly declining light curve condition enables the discrimination of a kilonova from other transients, and a small number of candidates satisfy this condition. The presence of stellar-like counterparts in the reference frame suggests that the surviving candidates are likely to be flare stars. The fact that most of those candidates are in the galactic plane, |b| < 5°, supports this interpretation. We also check whether the candidates are associated with the nearby GLADE galaxies, which reduces the number of contaminants even with a looser color cut. When a better probability map (with localization accuracy of ∼50 deg2) is available, kilonova searches of up to approximately 200 Mpc will become feasible by conducting immediate follow-up observations with an interval of 3–6 d.
Aeromonas wound infection in a healthy boy, and wound healing with polarized light
Authors: Rutteman Bart , Borremans Kristien , Beckers Jan , Devleeschouwer Els , Lampmann Sybien , Corthouts Ivo , Verlinde Piet
Published: October 2017

Introduction. At emergency departments, history taking is often very brief. We present a case of an Aeromonas wound infection, that illustrates the importance of careful history taking. We also report the first successful use of polarized light as additional therapy for healing of this infectious wound.

Case presentation. A healthy boy was diagnosed with a wound infection, after a fall onto rocks. At first, it remained unmentioned that there had been contact with ditchwater, so he was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Only after the finding of an Aeromonas strain in the wound culture, and treatment with a fluoroquinolone, did he recover. Wound healing was aided with the use of polarized light, and with good effect. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of polarized light on the healing of infectious wounds.

Conclusion. Careful history taking is essential for adequate empiric therapy when faced with wounds and wound infections. Aeromonas infections are associated with water exposure, and should be treated with fluoroquinolones. Polarized light seems to have a good result on healing of infectious wounds.
Methods for addressing the protein-protein interaction between histone deacetylase 6 and ubiquitin
Authors: Passos Carolina dos S. , Deschamps Nathalie , Choi Yun , Cohen Robert E. , Perozzo Remo , Nurisso Alessandra , Simões-Pires Claudia A.
Published: October 2017

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a cytoplasmic HDAC isoform able to remove acetyl groups from cellular substrates such as α-tubulin. In addition to the two deacetylase domains, HDAC6 has a C-terminal zinc-finger ubiquitin (Ub)-binding domain (ZnF-UBP) able to recognize free Ub. HDAC6-Ub interaction is thought to function in regulating the elimination of misfolded proteins during stress response through the aggresome pathway. Small molecules inhibiting deacetylation by HDAC6 were shown to reduce aggresomes, but the interplay between HDAC6 catalytic activity and Ub-binding function is not fully understood. Here we describe two methods to measure the HDAC6-Ub interaction in vitro using full-length HDAC6. Both methods were effective for screening inhibitors of the HDAC6-Ub protein-protein interaction independently of the catalytic activity. Our results suggest a potential role for the HDAC6 deacetylase domains in modulating HDAC6-Ub interaction. This new aspect of HDAC6 regulation can be targeted to address the roles of HDAC6-Ub interaction in normal and disease conditions.
Leveraging molecular QTL to understand the genetic architecture of diseases and complex traits
Authors: Hormozdiari Farhad , Gazal Steven , Geijn Bryce van de , Finucane Hilary , Ju Chelsea J.-T. , Loh Po-Ru , Schoech Armin , Reshef Yakir , Liu Xuanyao , O’Connor Luke , Gusev Alexander , Eskin Eleazar , Price Alkes L.
Published: October 2017

There is increasing evidence that many GWAS risk loci are molecular QTL for gene ex-pression (eQTL), histone modification (hQTL), splicing (sQTL), and/or DNA methylation (meQTL). Here, we introduce a new set of functional annotations based on causal posterior prob-abilities (CPP) of fine-mapped molecular cis-QTL, using data from the GTEx and BLUEPRINT consortia. We show that these annotations are very strongly enriched for disease heritability across 41 independent diseases and complex traits (average N = 320K): 5.84x for GTEx eQTL, and 5.44x for eQTL, 4.27-4.28x for hQTL (H3K27ac and H3K4me1), 3.61x for sQTL and 2.81x for meQTL in BLUEPRINT (all P ≤ 1.39e-10), far higher than enrichments obtained using stan-dard functional annotations that include all significant molecular cis-QTL (1.17-1.80x). eQTL annotations that were obtained by meta-analyzing all 44 GTEx tissues generally performed best, but tissue-specific blood eQTL annotations produced stronger enrichments for autoimmune dis-eases and blood cell traits and tissue-specific brain eQTL annotations produced stronger enrich-ments for brain-related diseases and traits, despite high cis-genetic correlations of eQTL effect sizes across tissues. Notably, eQTL annotations restricted to loss-of-function intolerant genes from ExAC were even more strongly enriched for disease heritability (17.09x; vs. 5.84x for all genes; P = 4.90e-17 for difference). All molecular QTL except sQTL remained significantly enriched for disease heritability in a joint analysis conditioned on each other and on a broad set of functional annotations from previous studies, implying that each of these annotations is uniquely informative for disease and complex trait architectures.
Weighted burden analysis of exome-sequenced case-control sample implicates synaptic genes in schizophrenia aetiology
Authors: Curtis David , Coelewij Leda , Liu Shou-Hwa , Humphrey Jack , Mott Richard
Published: October 2017

A previous study of exome-sequenced schizophrenia cases and controls reported an excess of singleton, gene-disruptive variants among cases, concentrated in particular gene sets. The dataset included a number of subjects with a substantial Finnish contribution to ancestry. We have reanalysed the same dataset after removal of these subjects and we have also included non-singleton variants of all types using a weighted burden test which assigns higher weights to variants predicted to have a greater effect on protein function. We investigated the same 31 gene sets as previously and also 1454 GO gene sets. The reduced dataset consisted of 4225 cases and 5834 controls. No individual variants or genes were significantly enriched in cases but 13 out of the 31 gene sets were significant after Bonferroni correction and the “FMRP targets” set produced a signed log p value (SLP) of 7.1. The gene within this set with the highest SLP, equal to 3.4, wasFYN, which codes for a tyrosine kinase which phosphorylates glutamate metabotropic receptors and ionotropic NMDA receptors, thus modulating their trafficking, subcellular distribution and function. In the most recent GWAS of schizophrenia it was identified as a “prioritized candidate gene”. Two of the subunits of the NMDA receptor which are substrates ofFYNare coded for byGRIN1(SLP=1.7) andGRIN2B(SLP=2.1). Of note, for some sets there was a substantial enrichment of non-singleton variants. Of 1454 GO gene sets, 3 were significant after Bonferroni correction. Identifying specific genes and variants will depend on genotyping them in larger samples and/or demonstrating that they cosegregate with illness within pedigrees.
Csde1 cooperates with Strap to control translation of erythroid transcripts
Authors: Moore Kat S. , Yagci Nurcan , van Alphen Floris , Meijer Alexander B. , ‘t Hoen Peter A.C. , von Lindern Marieke
Published: October 2017

Erythropoiesis is regulated at many levels, including control of mRNA translation. Changing environmental conditions, such as hypoxia, or the availability of nutrients and growth factors, require a rapid response enacted by the enhanced or repressed translation of existing transcripts. Csde1 is an RNA-binding protein required for erythropoiesis and strongly upregulated in erythroblasts relative to other hematopoietic progenitors. The aim of this study is to identify the Csde1-containing protein complexes, and investigate their role in regulating the translation of Csde1-bound transcripts. We show that Strap, also called Unrip, was the protein most strongly associated with Csde1 in erythroblasts. Strap is a WD40 protein involved in signaling and RNA splicing, but its role is unknown when associated with Csde1. Reduced expression of Strap did not alter the pool of transcripts bound by Csde1. Instead, it reduced the mRNA and/or protein expression of several Csde1-bound transcript, that encode for proteins essential for translational regulation during hypoxia, such as Hmbs, eIF4g3 and Pabpc4. Also affected by Strap knockdown were Vim, a Gata-1 target crucial for erythrocyte enucleation, and Elavl1, which stabilizesGata-1mRNA. Thus, we found that the Csde1/Strap complex is at the crossroad of multiple pathways governing translation in erythroblasts.
SIRT2 and lysine fatty acylation regulate the oncogenic activity of K-Ras4a
Authors: Jing Hui , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wisner Stephanie A. , Chen Xiao , Spiegelman Nicole A. , Linder Maurine E. , Lin Hening
Published: October 2017

Ras proteins play vital roles in numerous biological processes and Ras mutations are found in many human tumors. Understanding how Ras proteins are regulated is important for elucidating cell signaling pathways and identifying new targets for treating human diseases. Here we report that one of the K-Ras splice variants, K-Ras4a, is subject to lysine fatty acylation, a previously under-studied protein post-translational modification. Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), one of the mammalian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent lysine deacylases, catalyzes the removal of fatty acylation from K-Ras4a. We further demonstrate that SIRT2-mediated lysine defatty-acylation promotes endomembrane localization of K-Ras4a, enhances its interaction with A-Raf, and thus promotes cellular transformation. Our study identifies lysine fatty acylation as a previously unknown regulatory mechanism for the Ras family of GTPases that is distinct from cysteine fatty acylation. These findings highlight the biological significance of lysine fatty acylation and sirtuin-catalyzed protein lysine defatty-acylation.
New Insights into the Conformational Activation of Full-Length Integrin
Authors: Bidone Tamara C. , Polley Anirban , Durumeric Aleksander , Driscoll Tristan , Iwamoto Daniel , Calderwood David , Schwartz Martin A. , Voth Gregory A
Published: October 2017

Integrin binding to extracellular matrix proteins is regulated by conformational transitions from closed, low affinity states to open, high affinity states. However, the pathways of integrin conformational activation remain incompletely understood. Here, by combining all-atom molecular dynamics simulation, coarse-graining, heterogeneous elastic network modeling, and experimental ligand binding measurements, we test the effect of integrin β mutations that destabilize the closed conformation. Our results support a “deadbolt” model of integrin activation, where extension of the headpiece is not coupled to leg separation, consistent with recent cryo-EM reconstructions of integrin intermediates. Moreover, our results are inconsistent with a “switchblade-like” mechanism. The data show that locally correlated atomistic motions are likely responsible for extension of integrin headpiece before separation of transmembrane legs, without persistence of these correlations across the entire protein. By combining modeling and simulation with experiment, this study provides new insight into the structural basis of full-length integrin activation.
Sexual conflict and STIs: coevolution of sexually antagonistic host traits with a sexually transmitted infection
Authors: Wardlaw Alison M. , Agrawal Aneil F.
Published: October 2017

In many taxa, there is a conflict between the sexes over mating rate. The outcome of sexually antagonistic coevolution depends on the costs of mating and natural selection against sexually antagonistic traits. A sexually transmitted infection (STI) changes the relative strength of these costs. We study the three-way evolutionary interaction between male persistence, female resistance, and STI virulence for two types of STIs: a viability-reducing STI and a reproduction-reducing STI. A viability-reducing STI escalates conflict between the sexes. This leads to increased STI virulence (i.e., full coevolution) if the costs of sexually antagonistic traits occur through viability but not if the costs occur through reproduction. In contrast, a reproduction-reducing STI de-escalates the sexual conflict but STI virulence does not coevolve in response. We also investigated the establishment probability of STIs under different combinations of evolvability. Successful invasion by a viability-reducing STI becomes less likely if hosts (but not parasite) are evolvable, especially if only the female trait can evolve. A reproduction-reducing STI can almost always invade because it does not kill its host. We discuss how the evolution of host and parasite traits in a system with sexual conflict differ from a system with female mate choice.
Post-sample aperture for low background diffraction experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers
Authors: Wiedorn Max O. , Awel Salah , Morgan Andrew J. , Barthelmess Miriam , Bean Richard , Beyerlein Kenneth R. , Chavas Leonard M. G. , Eckerskorn Niko , Fleckenstein Holger , Heymann Michael , Horke Daniel A. , Knoška Juraj , Mariani Valerio , Oberthür Dominik , Roth Nils , Yefanov Oleksandr , Barty Anton , Bajt Saša , Küpper Jochen , Rode Andrei V. , Kirian Richard A. , Chapman Henry N.
Published: October 2017

The success of diffraction experiments from weakly scattering samples strongly depends on achieving an optimal signal-to-noise ratio. This is particularly important in single-particle imaging experiments where diffraction signals are typically very weak and the experiments are often accompanied by significant background scattering. A simple way to tremendously reduce background scattering by placing an aperture downstream of the sample has been developed and its application in a single-particle X-ray imaging experiment at FLASH is demonstrated. Using the concept of a post-sample aperture it was possible to reduce the background scattering levels by two orders of magnitude.
Enriching the ECSI model using brand strength in the retail setting
Authors: Sarantidou Paraskevi
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the retailer’s brand strength as a potential predictor of loyalty. It also examines the role of customer satisfaction (CS) to the retailer’s loyalty as well as its impact on the retailer’s brand strength.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in the grocery context and in a market under recession using the European Customer Satisfaction Index (ECSI) model. Data were collected through a telephone survey from 2,000 participants responsible for the household grocery shopping with a quota of 250 respondents from each of the leading grocery retailers in Greece. A formative measurement model was developed and the collected data were analyzed using partial least square path modeling.

Findings

The findings revealed that the strength of the retailer’s brand and CS influence retail loyalty and that brand strength mediate the strength of CS to loyalty. Results also suggested that the expectations and the perceptions toward the retailer’s product offering are the most important drivers of CS and loyalty. Thus, the study has proved the importance of the functional store attributes to CS and loyalty in the grocery store setting.

Originality/value

Research examining the suitability of the ECSI model in the grocery setting and in a market under economic crisis is scarce. This paper addresses these shortcomings by examining a customer loyalty model which incorporates the brand strength construct and investigates the role of brand strength as a potential predictor of loyalty as well as the role of CS in the brand strength and loyalty.
Marketing and social networks: a criterion for detecting opinion leaders
Authors: Litterio Arnaldo Mario , Nantes Esteban Alberto , Larrosa Juan Manuel , Gómez Liliana Julia
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the practical application of tools provided by social network theory for the detection of potential influencers from the point of view of marketing within online communities. It proposes a method to detect significant actors based on centrality metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

A matrix is proposed for the classification of the individuals that integrate a social network based on the combination of eigenvector centrality and betweenness centrality. The model is tested on a Facebook fan page for a sporting event. NodeXL is used to extract and analyze information. Semantic analysis and agent-based simulation are used to test the model.

Findings

The proposed model is effective in detecting actors with the potential to efficiently spread a message in relation to the rest of the community, which is achieved from their position within the network. Social network analysis (SNA) and the proposed model, in particular, are useful to detect subgroups of components with particular characteristics that are not evident from other analysis methods.

Originality/value

This paper approaches the application of SNA to online social communities from an empirical and experimental perspective. Its originality lies in combining information from two individual metrics to understand the phenomenon of influence. Online social networks are gaining relevance and the literature that exists in relation to this subject is still fragmented and incipient. This paper contributes to a better understanding of this phenomenon of networks and the development of better tools to manage it through the proposal of a novel method.
A case against transformational leadership
Authors: Yousaf Nadeem
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Transformational and transactional leadership have become a fascinating issue for research since the work of Burns (1978) and Bass (1990). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness of the concept of transformational leadership using examples of political leadership from South Asia. It is argued that the construct of transformational leadership is practically non-existent. And, if the concept of transformational leadership exists, it cannot be specifically applied to the leaders who gain popularity and achieve their goals. It is also argued that positive and negative connotation with transformational and transactional leadership, respectively, is false. The popular leadership may be good for “one-point agenda,” but not necessarily transform the system.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative methods, historical analysis, and discourse analysis have been employed to understand the leaders’ actions and behaviors.

Findings

The discussion around the empirical examples show that the popular-successful leadership does not necessarily a transformational leadership even though the leadership achieves the goals.

Originality/value

The popular or so-called transformational leadership may be good to achieve one-point agenda, but it may not bring the required change and fruitful results to all stakeholders if it is not backed by a transactional strategy. Future research may turn the attention in three directions: whether or not the achieved goals were transformational or transactional; evaluation of leaders’ behavior from the perspective of consequential leadership; and the role of transactional leaders in the growth and strengthening of micro and macro organizations.
The impact of country of origin on context effects in choice
Authors: Kim Moon-Yong , Park Byung Il
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of country of origin (COO) information as an important/salient categorical attribute on choice context effects. Specifically, this research examines whether the introduction of a unique COO in the choice set will have a differential influence on context effects depending on the relative position of the third option (the asymmetrically dominated option vs the extreme option).

Design/methodology/approach

Five experiments were conducted in this research. Study 1 had a 2 (set size: two-option core set vs three-option asymmetric dominance set)×2 (competitor’s COO: common vs unique) between-subjects design. Study 2 had a 2 (set size: two-option core set vs three-option extreme option set)×2 (competitor’s COO: common vs unique) between-subjects design. To address the robustness of the effects, Studies 3-5 replicated the results of Studies 1 and 2. The data were analyzed by χ2 tests and logistic regression analyses.

Findings

The current research demonstrates that the attraction effect is attenuated by the introduction of a unique COO information in the competing option, whereas the tendency to prefer a middle option is not significantly affected.

Originality/value

The present research adds to the current understanding and the practical relevance of COO effects and context effects in marketing by examining the impact of COO as an important/salient categorical attribute on context effects.
Perceptions and effects of cross-national corporate reputation
Authors: Swoboda Bernhard , Hirschmann Johannes
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Few scholars have analysed the corporate reputation (CR) of multinational corporations (MNCs) internationally, but both CR perception and effect are likely to differ across nations. Most studies have compared a few countries, linked differences to selected dimensions of Hofstede’s cultural approach, and reported ambiguous results. The purpose of this paper is to address the important role of all Hofstede’s cultural dimensions that may influence CR perceptions and effects by applying an appropriate method.

Design/methodology/approach

By integrating signalling theory and each cultural dimension, hypotheses are proposed and tested using consumer surveys of a German MNC in 37 countries. Multilevel structural equation modelling (SEM) showed whether and how all cultural value dimensions – the predominant approach in marketing – affect CR perceptions and effects.

Findings

Individual CR perceptions and effects are strongly attributable to national culture, which explains up to 62 per cent of country-level variance; however, the explanatory powers of the cultural dimensions differ between CR perceptions and effects. Not all dimensions affect both. The results are stable in alternative models.

Research limitations/implications

The results enhance extant research because the relative importance of Hofstede’s dimensions and not only a possible role in country comparisons is shown. Hofstede’s approach explains considerable country-level variances. MNCs learn which cultural dimensions are core antecedents of CR perceptions (individualism and power distance explain >30 per cent variance) and core moderators of CR effects on loyalty (masculinity, individualism and uncertainty avoidance).

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights into the role of national cultural differences on CR perceptions and CR effects using the still novel multilevel SEM.
Parental influences on youth delinquency
Authors: Cicerali Lütfiye Kaya , Cicerali Eyyüb Ensari
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader about the currently employed theories, research, and interventions in developmental criminology, with a particular emphasis on parental influences.

Design/methodology/approach

As well as evoking the classical theories and relevant research in psychology and developmental criminology fields, some of the significant recent contributions are also evaluated to reveal how parenting is linked to youngsters’ delinquency in the extant literature.

Findings

While parental factors do not directly affect delinquency of children and adolescents, it is an effectual mediator.

Research limitations

Not a systematic (statistical) review, rather a hermeneutic one with righteous justifications.

Practical implications

Evidence-based suggestions, regarding the allocation of time and resources for the modification of implicated parenting factors in planning preventative and interventional programs, are made.

Originality/value

This review is an up-to-date instructional source that presents the major developmental criminology theories including the recent ones.
Revenge pornography: the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility
Authors: Scott Adrian J. , Gavin Jeff
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Drawing on gender-role stereotypes and defensive attribution theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of perpetrator-victim sex, observer sex and observer sexting experience on perceptions of seriousness and responsibility in the context of revenge pornography.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 239 university students read one of two versions of a hypothetical scenario, responded to items concerning their perceptions of the situation described, and responded to items concerning their sexting experience.

Findings

Men were more likely to believe the situation was serious when it involved a male perpetrator and a female victim rather than vice versa. However, perpetrator-victim sex did not influence women’s perceptions. Participants without sexting experience were more likely than participants with sexting experience to believe the situation was serious, and to hold the victim responsible.

Originality/value

Whilst there is a growing body of literature regarding revenge pornography from a legal perspective, there is little research on perceptions of revenge pornography situations. As the use of intimate images in relationships continues to rise, it is important to understand people’s attitudes and the extra-legal factors that shape them.
Voice of the Clinician: the case of an Australian health system
Authors: Lock Mark J. , Stephenson Amber L. , Branford Jill , Roche Jonathan , Edwards Marissa S. , Ryan Kathleen
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The Voice of the Clinician project commenced during an era when practitioner burnout, dissatisfaction, and turnover became an increasingly global health workforce concern. One key problem is clinical staff not being empowered to voice their concerns to decision-makers, as was found in this case study of an Australian public health organization. The following research question informed the present study: What is a better committee system for clinician engagement in decision-making processes? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The Mid North Coast Local Health District in New South Wales aspired to improve engagement between frontline clinicians and decision-makers. Social network analysis methods and mathematical modeling were used in the discovery of how committees are connected to each other and subsequently to other committee members.

Findings

This effort uncovered a hidden organizational architecture of 323 committees of 926 members which overall cost 84,729 person hours and AUD$2.923 million per annum. Furthermore, frontline clinicians were located far from centers of influence, just 37 percent of committees had terms of reference, and clinicians reported that meeting agendas were not being met.

Practical implications

In response to the findings, a technological platform was created so that the board of directors could visually see all the committees and the connections between them, thus creating ways to further improve communication, transparency of process, and – ultimately – clinician engagement.

Originality/value

The breakthrough idea is that all organizational meetings can be seen as a system of engagement and should be analyzed to determine and describe the points and pathways where clinician voice is blocked.
The influence of incidental affect and mood-changing price on online booking intention
Authors: Chen ChihChien , Xie Karen , Wang Shuo
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the joint influence of incidental affect and mood-changing prices on consumers’ hotel booking intention in an online purchase context.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the integrative framework of affect evaluation and affect regulation, a 3 × 2 full factorial between-subject online experiment in an online booking scenario is developed to investigate how consumers’ booking intentions change by mood inductions (happy, neutral and sad) and price levels (below versus above reference price).

Findings

Results showed that when the observed price was a mood-threatening cue, participants who were induced to feel either happy or sad by a commercial had a higher booking intention than those who were induced to feel neutral. However, there were no significant differences in participants’ booking intentions across pre-purchase affective states when the observed price was a mood-lifting cue.

Research limitations/implications

The current study contributes to a better understanding and prediction of consumers’ action tendencies resulting from the interactions between specific incidental affects and mood-changing opportunities in an online hotel reservation environment.

Practical implications

Online booking companies and online travel agencies in general may wish to incorporate mood-changing components into their booking web pages to enhance potential bookers’ purchase intentions at any given price.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first empirical studies to instantiate the integrative affective mechanism in an online purchase setting. As e-commerce and online marketplaces are taking the place of traditional brick-and-mortar retailing, it is critical for hospitality industry marketers to fully understand how consumers’ pre-purchase emotions influence their purchase decisions.
When employer brand image aids employee satisfaction and engagement
Authors: Davies Gary , Mete Melisa , Whelan Susan
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether employee characteristics (age, gender, role and experience) influence the effects of employer brand image, for warmth and competence, on employee satisfaction and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Members of the public were surveyed as to their satisfaction and engagement with their employer and their view of their employer brand image. Half were asked to evaluate their employer’s “warmth” and half its “competence”. The influence of employee characteristics was tested on a “base model” linking employer image to satisfaction and engagement using a mediated moderation model.

Findings

The base model proved valid; satisfaction partially mediates the influence of employer brand image on engagement. Age, experience gender, and whether the role involved customer contact moderate both the influence of the employer brand image and of satisfaction on engagement.

Practical implications

Engagement varies with employee characteristics, and both segmenting employees and promoting the employer brand image differentially to specific groups are ways to counter this effect.

Originality/value

The contexts in which employer brand image can influence employees in general and specific groups of employees in particular are not well understood. This is the first empirical study of the influence of employer brand image on employee engagement and one of few that considers the application of employee segmentation.