bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of NFkB activation resulting from damage, reactive microglia, cytokines, and growth factors in the mouse retina
Authors: Palazzo Isabella , Kelly Lisa , Koenig Lindsay , Fischer Andy J.
Published: August 2022

Müller glia are a cellular source for neuronal regeneration in vertebrate retinas. However, the capacity for retinal regeneration varies widely across species. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the reprogramming of Müller glia into progenitor cells is key to reversing the loss of vision that occurs with retinal diseases. In the mammalian retina, NFκB signaling promotes glial reactivity and represses the reprogramming of Müller glia into progenitor cells. Here we investigate different cytokines, growth factors, cell signaling pathways, and damage paradigms that influence NFκB-signaling in the mouse retina. We find that exogenous TNF and IL1β potently activate NFκB-signaling in Müller glia in undamaged retinas, and this activation is independent of microglia. By comparison, TLR1/2 agonist indirectly activates NFκB-signaling in Müller glia, and this activation depends on the presence of microglia as Tlr2 is predominantly expressed by microglia, but not other types of retinal cells. Exogenous FGF2 did not activate NFκB-signaling, whereas CNTF, Osteopontin, WNT4, or inhibition of GSK3β activated NFκB in Müller glia in the absence of neuronal damage. By comparison, dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid agonist, suppressed NFκB-signaling in Müller glia in damaged retinas, in addition to reducing numbers of dying cells and the accumulation of reactive microglia. Although NMDA-induced retinal damage activated NFκB in Müller glia, optic nerve crush had no effect on NFκB activation within the retina, whereas glial cells within the optic nerve were responsive. We conclude that the NFκB pathway is activated in retinal Müller glia in response to many different cell signaling pathways, and activation often depends on signals produced by reactive microglia.
In Situ Microwave Fixation to Define the Terminal Rodent Brain Metabolome
Authors: Juras Jelena A. , Webb Madison B. , Young Lyndsay E.A. , Markussen Kia H. , Hawkinson Tara R. , Buoncristiani Michael D. , Bolton Kayli E. , Coburn Peyton T. , Williams Meredith I. , Sun Lisa PY. , Sanders William C. , Bruntz Ronald C. , Conroy Lindsey R. , Wang Chi , Gentry Matthew S. , Smith Bret N. , Sun Ramon C.
Published: August 2022

The brain metabolome directly connects to brain physiology and neuronal function. Brain glucose metabolism is highly heterogeneous among brain regions and continues postmortem. Therefore, challenges remain to capture an accurate snapshot of the physiological brain metabolome in healthy and diseased rodent models. To overcome this barrier, we employ a high-power focused microwave for the simultaneous euthanasia and fixation of mouse brain tissue to preserve metabolite pools prior to surgical removal and dissection of brain regions. We demonstrate exhaustion of glycogen and glucose and increase in lactate production during conventional rapid brain resection prior to preservation by liquid nitrogen that is not observed with microwave fixation. Next, microwave fixation was employed to define the impact of brain glucose metabolism in the mouse model of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes. Using both total pool and isotope tracing analyses, we identified global glucose hypometabolism in multiple regions of the mouse brain, evidenced by reduced 13C enrichment into glycogen, glycolysis, and the TCA cycle. Reduced glucose metabolism correlated with a marked decrease in GLUT2 expression and several metabolic enzymes in unique brain regions. In conclusion, our study supports the incorporation of microwave fixation to study terminal brain metabolism in rodent models.
Fibronectin-integrin α5 signaling promotes thoracic aortic aneurysm in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome
Authors: Chen Minghao , Cavinato Cristina , Hansen Jens , Tanaka Keiichiro , Ren Pengwei , Hassab Abdulrahman , Li David S. , Joshuao Eric. , Tellides George , Iyengar Ravi , Humphrey Jay D. , Schwartz Martin A.
Published: August 2022

Background

Marfan syndrome, caused by mutations in the gene for the extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein fibrillin-1, leads to thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and ECM remodeling are characteristics of both non-syndromic and Marfan aneurysms. The ECM protein fibronectin (FN) is elevated in the tunica media of TAAs and amplifies inflammatory signaling in endothelial and SMCs through its main receptor, integrin α5β1. We investigated the role of integrin α5-specific signals in Marfan mice in which the cytoplasmic domain of integrin α5 was replaced with that of integrin α2 (denoted α5/2 chimera).

Methods

We used α5/2 chimera mouse crossed with Fbn1mgR/mgR genetic background (mgR, a mouse model of Marfan syndrome) to compare the survival rate and pathogenesis of TAAs among wild type, α5/2, mgR and α5/2; mgR mice. Further biochemical and microscopic analysis of porcine and mouse aortic SMCs allowed us to identify the molecular mechanisms by which FN affects SMCs and subsequent development of TAAs.

Results

FN was elevated in the thoracic aortas from Marfan patients, in non-syndromic aneurysms and in the mgR mouse model of Marfan syndrome. The α5/2 mutation greatly prolonged survival of Marfan mice, with improved elastic fiber integrity, mechanical properties, SMC density, and SMC contractile gene expression. Furthermore, in vitro, plating of wild-type, but not α5/2, SMCs on FN decreased contractile gene expression and activated inflammatory pathways. These effects correlated with increased NF-kB activation and immune cell infiltration in the mgR aortas, which was rescued in the α5/2 mgR aortas.

Conclusions

FN-integrin α5 signaling is a significant driver of TAA in the mgR mouse model. This pathway warrants further investigation as a therapeutic target.
Robust phenotyping of highly multiplexed tissue imaging data using pixel-level clustering
Authors: Liu Candace C. , Greenwald Noah F. , Kong Alex , McCaffrey Erin F. , Leow Ke Xuan , Mrdjen Dunja , Cannon Bryan J. , Rumberger Josef Lorenz , Varra Sricharan Reddy , Angelo Michael
Published: August 2022

While technologies for multiplexed imaging have provided an unprecedented understanding of tissue composition in health and disease, interpreting this data remains a significant computational challenge. To understand the spatial organization of tissue and how it relates to disease processes, imaging studies typically focus on cell-level phenotypes. However, images can capture biologically important objects that are outside of cells, such as the extracellular matrix. Here, we developed a pipeline, Pixie, that achieves robust and quantitative annotation of pixel-level features using unsupervised clustering and show its application across a variety of biological contexts and multiplexed imaging platforms. Furthermore, current cell phenotyping strategies that rely on unsupervised clustering can be labor intensive and require large amounts of manual cluster adjustments. We demonstrate how pixel clusters that lie within cells can be used to improve cell annotations. We comprehensively evaluate pre-processing steps and parameter choices to optimize clustering performance and quantify the reproducibility of our method. Importantly, Pixie is open source and easily customizable through a user-friendly interface.
Modulation of adaptive immune responses by Akkermansia muciniphila is restricted to an early life window in NOD mice
Authors: Maddux Sarah , Lubin Jean-Bernard , Green Jamal , Flores Julia , Rozich Isaiah , Duranova Tereza , Planet Paul J. , Silverman Michael A.
Published: August 2022

Early life microbiota drive immune system development and influence risk for immune dysfunction later in life, including the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Which specific early-life microbes modulate diabetes risk and the timing of these critical interactions are not well understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we screened for microbes that induce systemic IgG1 responses in young NOD mice. We isolated a strain of Akkermansia muciniphila that potently induces systemic IgG1 antibodies and peripheral regulatory T cells (pTregs). Since this mucus-degrading commensal protects NOD mice from T1D and is associated with lower risk of developing T1D in children, we investigated how A. muciniphila impacts early-life host-commensal interactions using gnotobiotic NOD mice colonized with a defined 9-member bacterial consortium that models the early life microbiome. We find that A. muciniphila potently induces pTregs and enhances antibody responses to other commensal microbes. Remarkably, these effects only occur when A. muciniphila colonizes NOD mice prior to weaning, establishing that the specific window of exposure to A. muciniphila shapes adaptive immune system development in diabetes-susceptible NOD mice. This time dependence provides important evidence that early-life exposure may enhance microbiota-based therapies to prevent T1D.

One Sentence Summary

Akkermansia muciniphila induces peripheral Tregs and enhances antibody responses to itself and other commensals during an early life window.
Transcriptome-Wide Gene-Gene Interaction Association Study Elucidates Pathways and Functional Enrichment of Complex Traits
Authors: Evans Luke M. , Arehart Christopher H. , Grotzinger Andrew D. , Mize Travis J. , Brasher Maizy S. , Stitzel Jerry A. , Ehringer Marissa A. , Hoeffer Charles A.
Published: August 2022

It remains unknown to what extent gene-gene interactions contribute to complex traits. Here, we introduce a new approach using predicted gene expression to perform exhaustive transcriptome-wide interaction studies (TWISs) for multiple traits across all pairs of genes expressed in several tissue types. Using imputed transcriptomes, we simultaneously reduce the computational challenge and improve interpretability and statistical power. We discover and replicate several interaction associations, and find several hub genes with numerous interactions. We also demonstrate that TWIS can identify novel associated genes because genes with many or strong interactions have smaller single-locus model effect sizes. Finally, we develop a method to test gene set enrichment of TWIS associations (E-TWIS), finding numerous pathways and networks enriched in interaction associations. Epistasis is likely widespread, and our procedure represents a tractable framework for beginning to explore gene interactions and identify novel genomic targets.
Cereblon controls the timing of muscle differentiation in Ciona embryos
Authors: Long Juanjuan , Mariossi Andrea , Cao Chen , Levine Michael , Lemaire Laurence A.
Published: August 2022

Thalidomide has a dark history as a teratogen, but in recent years it has been shown to function as a chemotherapeutic agent. Thalidomide binds cereblon, a component of E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and modifies its degradation targets. Despite these insights, remarkably little is known about the normal function of cereblon in development. Here, we employ the simple proto-vertebrate model, Ciona intestinalis, to address this question. We observed a “hotspot” of Crbn expression in the developing tail muscles and identify its enhancer containing both Myod activator sites and a Snail repressive element. Overexpression of Crbn in tail muscles decreases expression of contractility genes. We suggest that this reduction is due to premature degradation of Tbx6. Drug inhibition studies using lenalidomide, a derivative of thalidomide, lead to a striking increase of Crbn expression. This autofeedback regulation could be induced by neomorphic degradation of Snail, contributing to the efficacy of lenalidomide in treating metastatic melanoma. In summary, our analysis of Crbn suggests that its normal function in Ciona is to time expression of contractility genes during muscle differentiation thereby ensuring coordination of tail morphogenesis and hatching of swimming tadpoles.
Virtual screening for the discovery of novel urease inhibitors of rumen bacterial urease
Authors: Zhao Shengguo , Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu , Narantuya Baatar
Published: August 2022

Inhibition of urea hydrolysis by rumen bacterial urease can improve the efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization in animal production and decrease nitrogen pollution into the environment. The three dimensional structure of urease from the ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus 8 (RaUrease) was resolved by comparison with the crystal structure of urease from Helicobacter pylori (HpUrease, PDB ID 1E9Z) using Modeller. A reliable structure of RaUrease was generated using molecular dynamics simulation for 20 ns with the AMBER force field using the Gromacs system, and the stereochemical quality of the protein model was evaluated. On the basis of binding energies (<-9.8 kcal mol-1), 12 commercially available agents were selected as potential urease inhibitors. Characterization of the RaUrease-binding site for the compound with the highest predicted inhibitory activity indicated that van der Waals forces were more important than hydrogen bonds for rumen bacterial urease binding. The results of the present study may help design novel urease inhibitors for ruminants and alleviate nitrogen pollution derived from livestock production.
Translation control by maternal Nanog promotes oocyte maturation and early embryonic development
Authors: He Mudan , Jiao Shengbo , Ye Ding , Wang Houpeng , Sun Yonghua
Published: August 2022

Many maternal mRNAs are translationally repressed during oocyte maturation and spatio-temporally activated during early embryogenesis, which is critical for oocyte and early embryo development. By analyzing maternal mutants of nanog (Mnanog) in zebrafish, we demonstrated that Nanog tightly controls translation of maternal mRNA during oocyte maturation via transcriptional repression of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1, like 2 (eef1a1l2). Loss of maternal Nanog led to defects of egg maturation, increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and an activated unfold protein response (UPR), which was caused by elevated translational activity. We further demonstrated that Nanog, as a transcriptional repressor, represses the transcription of eefl1a1l2 by directly binding to the eef1a1l2 promoter during oocyte maturation. More importantly, depletion of eef1a1l2 in nanog mutant females effectively rescued the elevated translational activity in oocytes, egg quality defects, and embryonic defects of Mnanog embryos. Thus, our study demonstrates that maternal Nanog regulates oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis though translational control of maternal mRNA via a novel mechanism, in which Nanog acts as a transcriptional repressor to suppress transcription of eef1a1l2.
Homeodomain-less MEIS1 suppresses CUL3-dependent ATOH1 degradation to regulate cerebellar granule cell development
Authors: Owa Tomoo , Shiraishi Ryo , Adachi Toma , Miyashita Satoshi , Ichijo Kentaro , Nishioka Tomoki , Taya Shinichiro , Kaibuchi Kozo , Hoshino Mikio
Published: August 2022

Granule cell progenitors (GCPs) and granule cells (GCs) in the cerebellum are excellent models for studying the differentiation of neural progenitors into neurons. Although gradual degradation of ATOH1 protein in GCPs leads to their differentiation into GCs, the underlying regulatory mechanism is unclear. We show that a homeodomain-less isoform of MEIS1 (MEIS1-HdL) regulates ATOH1 degradation and GCP differentiation in a transcriptional regulation-independent manner. BMP signaling phosphorylates Ser328 of ATOH1 via ERK. CUL3 was identified as an E3-ligase that polyubiquitinates Ser328 phosphorylated ATOH1, leading to ATOH1 degradation. MEIS1-HdL and full-length MEIS1 form a trimeric complex with CUL3 and COP9 signalosome that inhibits ATOH1 ubiquitination and degradation. MEIS1-HdL is exclusively expressed in GCPs and suppresses ATOH1 degradation and GCP differentiation into GCs, despite high BMP signaling activities in the cells. Our study provides insight into the precise regulatory machinery of the degradation of the pivotal protein ATOH1 and differentiation of neural progenitors.
Direct access to millions of mutations by Whole Genome Sequencing of an oilseed rape mutant population
Authors: Jhingan Srijan , Kumar Avneesh , Harloff Hans-Joachim , Dreyer Felix , Abbadi Amine , Beckmann Katrin , Obermeier Christian , Jung Christian
Published: August 2022

Induced mutations are an essential source of genetic variation in plant breeding. EMS mutagenesis has been frequently applied, and mutants have been detected by phenotypic or genotypic screening of large populations. In this study, a rapeseed M2 population was derived from M1 parent cultivar “Express” treated with EMS. Whole genomes were sequenced from fourfold (4x) pools of 1,988 M2 plants representing 497 M2 families. Detected mutations were not evenly distributed and displayed distinct patterns across the 19 chromosomes with lower mutation rates towards the ends. Mutation frequencies ranged from 32/Mb to 48/Mb. On average, 284,442 single nucleotide polymorphisms per M2 DNA pool were found resulting from EMS mutagenesis. 55% were C→T and G→A transitions, characteristic for EMS induced (‘canonical’) mutations, whereas the remaining SNPs were ‘non-canonical’ transitions (15%) or transversions (30%). Additionally, we detected 88,725 high confidence insertions and deletions (InDels) per pool. On average, each M2 plant carried 39,120 canonical mutations, corresponding to a frequency of one mutation per 23.6 kb. Roughly 82% of such mutations were located either 5 kb upstream or downstream (~56%) of gene coding regions or within intergenic regions (26%). The remaining 18% were located within regions coding for genes. All mutations detected by whole-genome sequencing could be verified by comparison with known mutations. Furthermore, all sequences are accessible via the online tool “EMS Brassica” (http://www.emsbrassica.plantbreeding.uni-kiel.de/), which enables direct identification of mutations in any target sequence. The sequence resource described here will further add value for functional gene studies in rapeseed breeding.
Characteristic energy scales of active fluctuations in adherent cells
Authors: Moriel Avraham , Wolfenson Haguy , Bouchbinder Eran
Published: August 2022

Cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion play important roles in a wide variety of physiological processes, from the single cell level to the large scale, multicellular organization of tissues. Cells actively apply forces to their environment, either extracellular matrix or neighboring cells, as well as sense its biophysical properties. The fluctuations associated with these active processes occur on an energy scale much larger than that of ordinary thermal equilibrium fluctuations, yet their statistical properties and characteristic scales are not fully understood. Here, we compare measurements of the energy scale of active cellular fluctuations — an effective cellular temperature — in four different biophysical settings, involving both single cell and cell aggregates experiments under various control conditions, different cell types and various biophysical observables. The results indicate that a similar energy scale of active fluctuations might characterize the same cell type in different settings, though it may vary among different cell types, being approximately 6 to 8 order of magnitude larger than the ordinary thermal energy at room temperature. These findings call for extracting the energy scale of active fluctuations over a broader range of cell types, experimental settings and biophysical observables, and for understanding the biophysical origin and significance of such cellular energy scales.
Incorporating cell hierarchy to decipher the functional diversity of single cells
Authors: Chen Lingxi , Li Shuai Cheng
Published: August 2022

Cells possess functional diversity hierarchically. However, most single-cell analyses neglect the nested structures while detecting and visualizing the functional diversity. Here, we incorporate cell hierarchy to study functional diversity at subpopulation, club (i.e., sub-subpopulation), and cell layers. Accordingly, we implement a package, SEAT, to construct cell hierarchies utilizing structure entropy by minimizing the global uncertainty in cell-cell graphs. With cell hierarchies, SEAT deciphers functional diversity in 36 datasets covering scRNA, scDNA, scATAC, and scRNA-scATAC multiome. First, SEAT finds optimal cell subpopulations with high clustering accuracy. It identifies cell types or fates from omics profiles and boosts accuracy from 0.34 to 1. Second, SEAT detects insightful functional diversity among cell clubs. The hierarchy of breast cancer cells reveals that the specific tumor cell club drivesAREG-EGFTsignaling. We identify a dense co-accessibility network ofcis-regulatory elements specified by one cell club in GM12878. Third, the cell order from the hierarchy infers periodic pseudo-time of cells, improving accuracy from 0.79 to 0.89. Moreover, we incorporate cell hierarchy layers as prior knowledge to refine nonlinear dimension reduction, enabling us to visualize hierarchical cell layouts in low-dimensional space.
Mixed-integer linear programming models for the type-II resource-constrained assembly line balancing problem
Authors: Michels Adalberto Sato , Costa Alysson M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Resource-constrained assembly lines are widely found in industries that manufacture complex products. In such lines, tasks may require specific resources to be processed. Therefore, decisions on which tasks and resources will be assigned to each station must be made. When the number of available stations is fixed, the problem’s main goal becomes the minimisation of cycle time (type-II version). This paper aims to explore this variant of the problem that lacks investigation in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors propose mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models to minimise cycle time in resource-constrained assembly lines, given a limited number of stations and resources. Dedicated and alternative resource types for tasks are considered in different scenarios.

Findings

Besides, past modelling decisions and assumptions are questioned. The authors discuss how they were leading to suboptimal solutions and offer a rectification.

Practical implications

The proposed models and data set fulfil more practical concerns by taking into account characteristics found in real-world assembly lines.

Originality/value

The proposed MILP models are applied to an existing data set, results are compared against a constraint programming model, and new optimal solutions are obtained. Moreover, a data set extension is proposed due to the simplicity of the current one and instances up to 70 tasks are optimally solved.
Technology and solution-driven trends in sustainable aviation
Authors: Rohacs Daniel
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The primary driver of future aviation has recently been sustainability. The rapid development of radically new, disruptive technologies and solutions should be regularly evaluated to maintain the desired trends in sustainable aviation. The purpose of this research can be listed as follows: (i) to propose a sustainable performance index and methodology (ii) to evaluate the new technologies and solutions, and (iii) apply them to evaluate the effect of technologies and solutions under development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces a total sustainable performance index for evaluating the sustainability; demonstrates its applicability to future development processes; recognizes the supporting new technologies and solutions by implementing their identification, evaluation and selection processes; and defines the major trends and drivers maintaining the sustainability of the future aviation.

Findings

This study has resulted in a proposed new “total sustainable performance index,” and methodology of identifying key drivers that allow defining the technology and solution-driven trends, and defines the major trends and listed technologies and solutions that may have a determining role in given trends.

Research limitations/implications

There are dilemmas on taking into account the positive effects of aviation on the economy and society that may overwrite the costs and limited information about the foresight on new technologies and solutions.

Practical implications

It depends on access to required inputs.

Social implications

Two-way effects of solid expectations of society on the possible greening of aviation can be listed as the social implication of this research.

Originality/value

The proposed “total sustainability performance index” totally evaluates sustainability, including a penalty, considering the policy (regulation) and interest of future generations.
What motivates people to continuously engage in online task-oriented check-ins? The role of perceived social presence
Authors: Sun Wenzheng , Liu Hong , Wen Nainan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Online task-oriented check-ins (i.e. OTOCs) are popular means of tracking personal progress in certain fields. This study focused on the use of OTOC platforms and explored the predictors of individuals' continuing usage intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A model was proposed to understand Chinese users' continuous intention of OTOCs based on the UTAUT framework. Perceived social presence was also incorporated as a predictor of continuance intention of OTOC platforms. A survey of 397 users of the OTOC platforms was conducted in Nanjing, China.

Findings

Performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and habit had direct, positive influence on the continuous use intention, whereas effort expectancy and social influence were not significant predictors of continuance intention of OTOCs. Perceived social presence was a significant, indirect predictor of intention to continuously use the OTOCs, and the relationship was mediated by performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and habit.

Originality/value

This study distinguished OTOCs from other modes of self-tracking and extended the UTAUT framework by incorporating perceived social presence as a predictor of continuous technology use in the context of OTOCs. This study also provided a deeper understanding of the interrelations between the explanatory variables of the model that have been identified as robust in previous literature on technology use.
Enhancing project stakeholder communication under insufficient knowledge of project management concepts
Authors: Zwikael Ofer , Salmona Michelle , Meredith Jack , Zarghami Seyed Ashkan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Although the literature is clear on what comprises effective project stakeholder management, communication between key stakeholders and project managers is often ineffective. Research is silent on stakeholders' insufficient knowledge of project management terminology, which is a barrier for such effective communication. This paper aims to identify the project management concepts that key stakeholders should understand to improve effective communication.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a three-step research design. In the first step, based on threshold concept theory, the authors identify the key project management concepts through interviews with 20 project management practitioners, trainers and trainees. In the second step, the authors confirm the findings from the first step and identify effective approaches to enhance project stakeholders' communication through seven additional interviews with project stakeholders. In the third step, the authors construct a functional model of the research findings by employing a system-level modeling tool.

Findings

This research identifies five project management threshold concepts (TC) that are challenging for project stakeholders to understand (1) project benefits, (2) the iron triangle, (3) the critical path, (4) uncertainty and (5) project leadership. Following these knowledge barriers, the paper proposes unique approaches to develop effective project stakeholder communication.

Originality/value

This paper advances project stakeholder management research by identifying knowledge barriers and providing project managers with more effective approaches to better engage with their stakeholders.
From music industry to content industry: a story of Sun Eater Records
Authors: Resmadi Idhar
Published: August 2022

Learning outcomes

At the end of this study, students should analyze the re-orientation of innovation music business model strategy to create a new market using the Blue Ocean Strategy of Sun-Eater Records Company. Furthermore, they should be able to implement the business model transformation in the music industry in this digital media era based on data and technological capability. Students should analyze the digital content strategy that is relatable and relevant to music customers/users through content creation. Finally, they need to create the content strategy applicable to promotion and marketing innovatively in the music business.

Case overview/synopsis

This study analyzes how a Jakarta-based independent music company, Sun Eater Records, changed its strategy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The adverse effect of the pandemic on this company included a massive drop in sales of products and revenues from tours, festivals and outdoor music performances. Music industry stakeholders were confused and frustrated because of the restriction and the implementation of the social distancing policy, as most of their business models depended on live music showcases and selling records. The protagonist of this study, Kukuh Rizal Arfianto, is the director and co-founder of Sun Eater Records. Kukuh’s experience during the pandemic is used to capture the dilemma faced by the music industry players in Indonesia. This agile businessman transformed this music company by embracing digitalization. Inspired by the business models of Disney and 88 Rising (Music Management), Sun Eater Records developed various derivatives digital products. The company did not only sell music through digital content, it also developed several complementary products with music as their main theme. These innovative creations include mini-documentary, virtual concerts, compilation albums serial, digital comics, and Covid-19 Campaigns. The company is quite active in leveraging digitalization to survive in this business compared to other industry players. This study provides communication and design students opportunities to analyze how to draft an effective content strategy in the industry, in this case, the music industry.

Complexity academic level

This case is designed mainly for Management, Innovation, and Digital Communication course at the Bachelor's level program.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
How organizational dehumanization impacts hospitality employees service recovery performance and sabotage behaviors: the role of psychological well-being and tenure
Authors: Gip Huy , Guchait Priyanko , Paşamehmetoğlu Aysin , Khoa Do The
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of psychological well-being between organizational dehumanization and two outcome variables: service recovery performance and service sabotage. This research also investigates whether organizational tenure moderates the relationship between organizational dehumanization and psychological well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey methodology, 200 hotel frontline service employees (FLEs) in Turkey were sampled over two time points. Additionally, employees’ direct supervisors rated their service recovery performance. The partial least squares method, specifically SmartPLS 3.3.3, was used for data analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that organizational dehumanization negatively influences employees’ psychological well-being. However, organizational tenure moderates this relationship, in which organizational dehumanization has less of a negative effect on employees’ psychological well-being in those with longer tenure. Psychological well-being was found to mediate the relationship between organizational dehumanization and service recovery performance. Finally, psychological well-being mediates the relationship between organizational dehumanization and service sabotage.

Practical implications

Managers should consider the negative effect organizational dehumanization has on FLEs’ psychological well-being and aim to establish an organizational culture that values these employees as individuals and as invaluable resources for the organization. Further, this study has found that less tenured employees are less likely to have the psychological resources to cope with organizational dehumanization and are more susceptible to decreased productivity (i.e. service recovery performance) and engaging in counterproductive work behaviors (i.e. service sabotage) due to mistreatment in the workplace.

Originality/value

This study furthers our understanding of organizational dehumanization, an understudied concept in hospitality research, which influences employee outcomes. The findings of this study contribute to the advancement of the self-determination theory and how organizational dehumanization impacts psychological well-being. It also contributes to the conservation of resources theory and current literature on service recovery performance and service sabotage.
Interpersonal conflict as a barrier to task performance: the mediating role of workplace deviance and the moderating role of emotional intelligence
Authors: Kundi Yasir Mansoor , Badar Kamal , Sarfraz Muhammad , Ashraf Naeem
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study aims to examine the association between interpersonal conflict and task performance as well as the mediating and moderating roles of workplace deviance and emotional intelligence, respectively, in this association.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were designed to test the authors’ hypotheses using multiwave and multisource data collected from 173 (187) subordinates and their immediate supervisors from Pakistan.

Findings

An important reason that interpersonal conflict diminishes employees’ task performance is that employees are engaged in workplace deviance. This indirect effect is less salient when employees are more emotionally intelligent.

Practical implications

One way to improve employees’ task performance could be to reduce and manage interpersonal conflicts, especially through interventions aimed at increasing employees’ emotional intelligence levels.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by demonstrating that employees’ emotional intelligence is a boundary condition that alters the association between interpersonal conflict and employee task performance directly and indirectly via workplace deviance.
The cultural factors in global account management: the case of Indian buyers and German suppliers
Authors: Kadam Nayan , Niersbach Barbara , Ivens Bjoern Sven
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the cultural factors that influence global account management (GAM) in the context of Indian buyers and German suppliers from a wide perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

After conducting a critical literature review on key account management (KAM), GAM and organizational culture, the authors conducted an exploratory case study with 23 global account managers (GA managers) who work for German-based multinational companies and manage global accounts from India. The results of a qualitative data analysis are demonstrated using consensus and template methods.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that language, communication, the concept of time, conflict avoidance, organizational structure, decision-making, trust and relationship are among the cultural factors that can influence GAM in a German and Indian context.

Research limitations/implications

Given the substantial cultural disparities between Northern India and Southern India, it is especially difficult to generalize cultural factors in GAM. On the other hand, these factors can be used as a prerequisite for the development of cultural dimensions when collaborating with individuals and organizations from diverse cultures.

Practical implications

This research is essential for global sales managers, GA managers and executives who intend to collaborate with Indian buyers or suppliers.

Originality/value

Prior business-to-business marketing literature on KAM and GAM has been mostly on the western context. This study is the first step in examining the cultural effect on GAM relationships between Indian and German organizations.
Security practices in retail properties in a developing economy: a logistic analysis of impacts on customers’ satisfaction and patronage
Authors: Akinbogun Solomon Pelumi , Kayode Olayemisi Funmi , Oyedokun Tunbosun Biodun
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a soft facility practice in the organized retail sector. In specifics, it draws context from a security practice and assesses its effect on customers’ satisfaction and patronage in retail properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method is quantitative. The study used a survey research design with the use of a structured questionnaire for data collection. The data were collected from the head of households who purchase items in the retail shops. It applied a logistic regression model to estimate customers’ satisfaction and the effect of the current security practice on patronage.

Findings

Contrary to expectation, descriptive analysis of data shows that respondents were satisfied with the security procedure with weighted means scores (3.62, 3.74, 3.78 and 3.66) above average for bag check at exits, reconciliation of receipts with purchase, the attitude of security personnel during exit checks and time taken during exit checks. With specific reference to bag checks at the exit, logit shows that 32% were neutral while 8% were dissatisfied with the security practice. Among the dissatisfied, logit shows an odds ratio of 0.059, which implies that they are likely to verbally express their dissatisfaction with the shop. On the other hand, the chances that they would not do this are more likely with an odds ratio of 162818201.343. Further, continuous patronage (Loyalty) is strongly less likely with an odds ratio of 1.250E-22. This was corroborated by a similar odd ratio of 4.068E-11 estimated for those that would take the exit option due to the bag’s check.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that samples were randomly drawn from an unknown population of customers. However, the study was guided by Cochran (1963) to select a valid representative sample and support the reliability of the research findings.

Practical implications

The findings on satisfaction imply that the convenience and swiftness associated with shopping in a retail shop had been eroded by the current security facility practices which may lead to a reduction in the growth and retail sector turnover. While many dissatisfied customers would have exited if there are alternative shops with more customer-friendly security practices, the limited number of organized retail shops in the study area will prevent this from happening.

Originality/value

Literature on the management of facilities in real estate is quite vast; however, not much attention has been paid to the management of security in the retail sector particularly in Nigeria. This study is, therefore, novel, as it provides seminal evidence on this important topic and will serve as a reference for further research in Nigeria.
What makes a socially skilled leader? Findings from the implementation and operation of New Care Models (Vanguards) in England
Authors: Coleman Anna , MacInnes Julie D. , Mikelyte Rasa , Croke Sarah , Allen Pauline W. , Checkland Kath
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The article aims to argue that the concept of “distributed leadership” lacks the specificity required to allow a full understanding of how change happens. The authors therefore utilise the “Strategic Action Field Framework” (SAF) (Moulton and Sandfort, 2017) as a more sensitive framework for understanding leadership in complex systems. The authors use the New Care Models (Vanguard) Programme as an exemplar.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the SAF framework, the authors explored factors affecting whether and how local Vanguard initiatives were implemented in response to national policy, using a qualitative case study approach. The authors apply this to data from the focus groups and interviews with a variety of respondents in six case study sites, covering different Vanguard types between October 2018 and July 2019.

Findings

While literature already acknowledges that leadership is not simply about individual leaders, but about leading together, this paper emphasises that a further interdependence exists between leaders and their organisational/system context. This requires actors to use their skills and knowledge within the fixed and changing attributes of their local context, to perform the roles (boundary spanning, interpretation and mobilisation) necessary to allow the practical implementation of complex change across a healthcare setting.

Originality/value

The SAF framework was a useful framework within which to interrogate the data, but the authors found that the category of “social skills” required further elucidation. By recognising the importance of an intersection between position, personal characteristics/behaviours, fixed personal attributes and local context, the work is novel.
Antecedents and consequences of knowledge sabotage in the Turkish telecommunication and retail sectors
Authors: Serenko Alexander , Abubakar A. Mohammed
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to propose and test a model explicating the antecedents and consequences of knowledge sabotage.

Design/methodology/approach

Data obtained from 330 employees working in the Turkish retail and telecommunication sectors were analyzed by means of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling technique.

Findings

Co-worker knowledge sabotage is the key factor driving knowledge sabotage behavior of individual employees, followed by co-worker incivility. Interactional justice suppresses individual knowledge sabotage, while supervisor incivility does not affect it. Co-worker knowledge sabotage reduces job satisfaction of other employees, which, in turn, triggers their voluntary turnover intention. Contrary to a popular belief that perpetrators generally benefit from their organizational misbehavior, the findings indicate that knowledge saboteurs suffer from the consequences of their action because they find it mentally difficult to stay in their current organization. Employees understate their own knowledge sabotage engagement and/or overstate that of others.

Practical implications

Managers should realize that interactional justice is an important mechanism that can thwart knowledge sabotage behavior, promote a civil organizational culture, develop proactive approaches to reduce co-worker incivility and strive towards a zero rate of knowledge sabotage incidents in their organizations. Co-worker incivility and co-worker knowledge sabotage in the workplace are possible inhibitors of intraorganizational knowledge flows and are starting points for job dissatisfaction, which may increase workers’ turnover intention.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to further our knowledge on the cognitive mechanisms linking interactional justice and uncivil organizational behavior with knowledge sabotage and employee outcomes.
Social media influencer (SMI) as a human brand – a need fulfillment perspective
Authors: Malik Aaminah Zaman , Thapa Sajani , Paswan Audhesh K.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Social media influencers (SMIs) are becoming a powerful force within the marketing and branding landscape, with several leading brands opting to use SMI endorsements for their products and brands. Extant SMI literature has primarily focused on the influence mechanism exerted by SMIs on their followers. Less is known about how followers view their favorite SMIs. This study aims to explore the SMI–follower relationship from the follower’s perspective and examine the underlying attachment mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the attributes that individuals consider following an SMI and ensure that it is consistent with the literature review. This was followed by a survey-based quantitative study where a structural equation modeling technique was used to test the hypotheses using 508 SMI followers.

Findings

Followers find the SMI as a source to fulfill their intrinsic needs, that is, need to escape or self- improvement. The findings of this study suggest that followers attribute glamor, fun and connectedness to the SMIs driven by their need for self-improvement and fun with their need to escape. Finally, these attributions influence the overall perceived image of the SMI in followers' minds.

Originality/value

This study uses qualitative and quantitative approaches to picture SMIs as human brands from a follower's need fulfillment perspective.
TBL dominant logic for sustainability in oriental businesses
Authors: Lee Tzong-Ru (Jiun-Shen) , Lin Ku-Ho , Chen Chang-Hsiung , Otero-Neira Carmen , Svensson Gøran
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the common denominators of measurement properties of a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) dominant logic for business sustainability through time and across business contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The method was based on a quantitative approach and a questionnaire survey in corporate Taiwan with a response rate of 68.5%.

Findings

This article uncovers and fortifies common denominators through time between oriental and occidental business contexts.

Practical implications

The framework of TBL dominant logic for business sustainability establishes a toolbox for practitioners to examine economic, social and environmental elements as the marketing strategy in connection with business sustainability.

Social implications

This enables to validate the framework of TBL dominant logic for business sustainability in previous research. Multiple dimensions are validated through time and across business contexts.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing theory and previous research by fortifying the framework of TBL-dominant logic for business sustainability. The twenty-dimensional framework demonstrates universal measurement properties through time and across oriental and occidental business contexts.
Preparation and application of high-performance composite polymer emulsion cement waterproof coatings
Authors: Lu Yuting , Fu Wanwan , Ren hao , Wu Shifang , Liu Jiesheng , Peng Hao
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a high-performance composite emulsion cement waterproof coating. The coating has excellent durability and is effective in protecting cement mortar substrates from harmful ions.

Design/methodology/approach

The polymer cement waterproof coatings with different emulsion compounding ratios were tested for mechanical properties and water resistance after alkali immersion, water immersion, thermal aging and UV aging, and the coatings were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy after aging to evaluate its durability. Meanwhile, the coating that presents favorable durability was applied to cement mortar test blocks. The protective effect of the coating on the test blocks was tested by immersion method, and X-ray diffraction analysis was performed on the eroded test blocks.

Findings

The coating with neoprene latex/acrylate latex weight ratio of 90/10 presents favorable durability and has superior overall performance. Besides, when it is applied to cement mortar blocks, the coatings effectively reduced the erosive effect of harmful ions on cement mortar blocks, resulting in much lower mass change ratios and less internal structural damage of the blocks significantly.

Originality/value

The obtained coating will be of great application potential for use in building waterproofing construction. Moreover, the coating can practically prevent chloride ions and sulfate ions from penetrating cement-based materials.