bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolome: Effects of Sex andAPOEε4 genotype
Authors: Arnold Matthias , Nho Kwangsik , Kueider-Paisley Alexandra , Massaro Tyler , Brauner Barbara , MahmoudianDehkordi Siamak , Louie Gregory , Arthur Moseley M. , Will Thompson J. , John Williams Lisa St , Tenenbaum Jessica D. , Blach Colette , Chang Rui , Brinton Roberta D. , Baillie Rebecca , Han Xianlin , Trojanowski John Q. , Shaw Leslie M. , Weiner Michael W. , Trushina Eugenia , Toledo Jon B. , Krumsiek Jan , Murali Doraiswamy P. , Saykin Andrew J. , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima , Kastenmüller Gabi ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Metabolomics Consortium
Published: April 2019

Recent studies have provided evidence that late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can in part be considered a metabolic disease. Besides age, female sex andAPOEε4 genotype represent strong risk factors for AD. They also both give rise to large metabolic differences, suggesting that metabolic aspects of AD pathogenesis may differ between males and females and betweenAPOEε4 carriers and non-carriers. We systematically investigated group-specific metabolic alterations by conducting stratified association analyses of 140 metabolites measured in serum samples of 1,517 AD neuroimaging initiative subjects, with AD biomarkers for Aβ and tau pathology and neurodegeneration. We observed substantial sex differences in effects of 15 metabolites on AD biomarkers with partially overlapping differences forAPOEε4 status groups. These metabolites highlighted several group-specific alterations not observed in unstratified analyses using sex andAPOEε4 as covariates. Combined stratification by both variables uncovered further subgroup-specific metabolic effects limited to the group with presumably the highest AD risk:APOEε4+ females. Pathways linked to the observed metabolic alterations suggest that females experience more expressed impairment of mitochondrial energy production in AD than males. These findings indicate that dissecting metabolic heterogeneity in AD pathogenesis may enable grading of the biomedical relevance of specific pathways for specific subgroups. Extending our approach beyond simple one- or two-fold stratification may thus guide the way to personalized medicine.

Significance statement

Research provides substantial evidence that late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a metabolic disease. Besides age, female sex and APOEε4 genotype represent strong risk factors for AD, and at the same time give rise to large metabolic differences. Our systematic investigation of sex and APOE ε4 genotype differences in the link between metabolism and measures of pre-symptomatic AD using stratified analysis revealed several group-specific metabolic alterations that were not observed without sex and genotype stratification of the same cohort. Pathways linked to the observed metabolic alterations suggest females are more affected by impairment of mitochondrial energy production in AD than males, highlighting the importance of tailored treatment approaches towards a precision medicine approach.
Contraction of the ROS scavenging enzyme glutathioneS-transferase gene family in cetaceans
Authors: Tian Ran , Seim Inge , Ren Wenhua , Xu Shixia , Yang Guang
Published: April 2019

Cetaceans are a group of marine mammals whose ancestors were adaptated for life on land. Life in an aquatic environment poses many challenges for air-breathing mammals. Diving marine mammals have adapted to rapid reoxygenation and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated reperfusion injury. Here, we considered the evolution of the glutathione transferase (GST) gene family which has important roles in the detoxification of endogenously-derived ROS and environmental pollutants. We characterized the cytosolic GST gene family in 21 mammalian species; cetaceans, sirenians, pinnipeds, and their terrestrial relatives. All seven GST classes were identified, showing that GSTs are ubiquitous in mammals. Some GST genes are the product of lineage-specific duplications and losses, in line with a birth-and-death evolutionary model. We detected sites with signatures of positive selection that possibly influence GST structure and function, suggesting that adaptive evolution of GST genes is important for defending mammals from various types of noxious environmental compounds. We also found evidence for loss of alpha and mu GST subclass genes in cetacean lineages. Notably, cetaceans have retained a homolog of at least one of the genesGSTA1,GSTA4, andGSTM1; GSTs that are present in both the cytosol and mitochondria. The observed variation in number and selection pressure on GST genes suggest that the gene family structure is dynamic within cetaceans. Taken together, our results indicate that the cytosolic GST family in cetaceans reflects unique evolutionary dynamics related to oxygen-poor aquatic environments.
Diverse communities behave like typical random ecosystems
Authors: Cui Wenping , Marsland Robert , Mehta Pankaj
Published: April 2019

With a brief letter toNaturein 1972, Robert May triggered a worldwide research program in theoretical ecology and complex systems that continues to this day[1]. Building on powerful mathematical results about large random matrices, he argued that systems with sufficiently large numbers of interacting components are generically unstable. In the ecological context, May’s thesis directly contradicted the longstanding ecological intuition that diversity promotes stability[2–4]. In economics and finance, May’s work helped to consolidate growing concerns about the fragility of an increasingly interconnected global marketplace[5–7]. In this Letter, we draw on recent theoretical progress in random matrix theory and statistical physics to fundamentally extend and reinterpret May’s theorem. We confirm that a wide range of ecological models become unstable at the point predicted by May, even when the models do not strictly follow his assumptions. Surprisingly, increasing the interaction strength or diversity beyond the May threshold results in a reorganization of the ecosystem – through extinction of a fixed fraction of species – into a new stable state whose properties are well described by purely random interactions. This self-organized state remains stable for arbitrarily large ecosystem and suggests a new interpretation of May’s original conclusions: when interacting complex systems with many components become sufficiently large, they will generically undergo a transition to a “typical” self-organized, stable state.
Fast and unbiased purification of RNA-protein complexes after UV cross-linking
Authors: Urdaneta Erika C , Beckmann Benedikt M
Published: April 2019

Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in cells is facilitated by formation of RNA-protein complexes (RNPs). While many methods to study eukaryotic (m)RNPs rely on purification of polyadenylated RNA, other important regulatory RNA classes or bacterial mRNA could not be investigated at the same depth. To overcome this limitation, we developed Phenol Toluol extraction (PTex), a novel and unbiased method for the purification of UV cross-linked RNPs in living cells. PTex is a fast (2-3 hrs) and simple protocol. The purification principle is solely based on physicochemical properties of cross-linked RNPs, enabling us to interrogate RNA-protein interactions system-wide and beyond poly(A) RNA from a variety of species and source material. Here, we are presenting an introduction of the underlying separation principles and give a detailed discussion of the individual steps as well as incorporation of PTex in high-throughput pipelines.
A Single-cell Transcriptomic Atlas of the Developing Chicken Limb
Authors: Feregrino Christian , Sacher Fabio , Parnas Oren , Tschopp Patrick
Published: April 2019

Background

Through precise implementation of distinct cell type specification programs, differentially regulated in both space and time, complex patterns emerge during organogenesis. Thanks to its easy experimental accessibility, the developing chicken limb has long served as a paradigm to study vertebrate pattern formation. Through decades’ worth of research, we now have a firm grasp on the molecular mechanisms driving limb formation at the tissue-level. However, to elucidate the dynamic interplay between transcriptional cell type specification programs and pattern formation at its relevant cellular scale, we lack appropriately resolved molecular data at the genome-wide level. Here, making use of droplet-based single-cell RNA-sequencing, we catalogue the developmental emergence of distinct tissue types and their transcriptome dynamics in the distal chicken limb, the so-called autopod, at cellular resolution.

Results

Using single-cell RNA-sequencing technology, we sequenced a total of 17,628 cells coming from three key developmental stages of chicken autopod patterning. Overall, we identified 23 cell populations with distinct transcriptional profiles. Amongst them were small, albeit essential populations like the apical ectodermal ridge, demonstrating the ability to detect even rare cell types. Moreover, we uncovered the existence of molecularly distinct sub-populations within previously defined compartments of the developing limb, some of which have important signaling functions during autopod pattern formation. Finally, we inferred gene co-expression modules that coincide with distinct tissue types across developmental time, and used them to track patterning-relevant cell populations of the forming digits.

Conclusions

We provide a comprehensive functional genomics resource to study the molecular effectors of chicken limb patterning at cellular resolution. Our single-cell transcriptomic atlas captures all major cell populations of the developing autopod, and highlights the transcriptional complexity in many of its components. Finally, integrating our data-set with other single-cell transcriptomics resources will enable researchers to assess molecular similarities in orthologous cell types across the major tetrapod clades, and provide an extensive candidate gene list to functionally test cell-type-specific drivers of limb morphological diversification.
Proposal for a Global Adherence Scale for Acute Conditions (GASAC): a prospective cohort study in two Emergency Departments
Authors: Sustersic Mélanie , Gauchet Aurélie , Duvert Amélie , Gonnet Laure , Foote Alison , Vermorel Céline , Allenet Benoit , Bosson Jean-Luc
Published: April 2019

Background

Adherence in the context of patients with acute conditions is a major public health issue. It is neglected by the research community and no clinically validated generic scale exists to measure it.

Objective

To construct and validate a Global Adherence Scale usable in the context of Acute Conditions (GASAC) that takes into account adherence both to advice and to all types of prescriptions that the doctor may give. To measure adherence and to study its determinants.

Materials and method

We based the construction of the GASAC questionnaire on a theoretical model and a literature search. Then, between 2013 and 2014, we validated it in a prospective observational study in two hospital emergency departments. Patients were contacted by phone about one week after their consultation to answer several questionnaires, including GASAC and the Girerd self-administered questionnaire about medication adherence as a control.

Results

GASAC consists of four adherence subscales: drug prescriptions; blood test/ radiography prescriptions; lifestyle advice and follow-up instructions. An analysis of the 154 sets of answers from patients showed that the GASAC drug subscale had satisfactory internal coherence (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.78) and was correlated with the Girerd score, as was GASAC as a whole (p<0.01)). The median score was 0.93 IQR [0.78-1] for a maximum value of 1 (n = 154). In multivariate analysis, infection was more conducive of good adherence (cut off at ≥ 0.8; n=115/154; 74.7% [67.0-81.3]) than trauma (OR 3.69; CI [1.60-8.52]). The Doctor-Patient Communication score (OR 1.06 by score point, CI [1.02-1.10]) also influenced adherence.

Conclusions

GASAC is a generic score to measure all dimensions of adherence in emergency departments for clinical research and the evaluation of clinical practice. The level of adherence was high for acute conditions and could be further improved by good Doctor-Patient Communication.
Analysis of glue line and correlations between anatomical characteristics of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla glued-laminated timber
Authors: Oliveira Rafael G. E. , Gonçalves Fabricio G. , Segundinho Pedro G. A. , Oliveira José Tarcísio S. , Paes Juarez B. , Chaves Izabella Luzia S. , Brito Alice S.
Published: April 2019

The main goal of this study was to analyze glue line on eucalyptus wood. In order to do that, thickness of main and secondary glue lines were measured as well their interaction with apparent density of elements glued with resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) and castor polyurethane (CP) adhesives. Anatomical wood characterization of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla was performed by correlating glue line thickness. According to normative instruction, specimens were produced for delamination tests. The experiment was conducted in a completely random 2 × 2 design factorial scheme (two classes of apparent density and two adhesives). Pearson correlation (t < 0.01) was performed among variables. It was found that there was adhesive penetration into wood pots and rays. Glue line thickness was higher in woods with density higher than 0.58 g cm−3 glued with RF adhesive. There was low correlation among density, vessel diameter, main and secondary glue lines (t < 0.01).
Machine learning to predict microbial community functions: An analysis of dissolved organic carbon from litter decomposition
Authors: Thompson Jaron , Johansen Renee , Dunbar John , Munsky Brian
Published: April 2019

Microbial communities are ubiquitous and often influence macroscopic properties of the ecosystems they inhabit. However, deciphering the functional relationship between specific microbes and ecosystem properties is an ongoing challenge owing to the complexity of the communities. This challenge can be addressed, in part, by integrating the advances in DNA sequencing technology with computational approaches like machine learning. Although machine learning techniques have been applied to microbiome data, use of these techniques remains rare, and user-friendly platforms to implement such techniques are not widely available. We developed a tool that implements neural network and random forest models to perform regression and feature selection tasks on microbiome data. In this study, we applied the tool to analyze soil microbiome (16S rRNA gene profiles) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) data from a 44-day plant litter decomposition experiment. The microbiome data includes 1709 total bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU) from 300+ microcosms. Regression analysis of predicted and actual DOC for a held-out test set of 51 samples yield Pearson’s correlation coefficients of .636 and .676 for neural network and random forest approaches, respectively. Important taxa identified by the machine learning techniques are compared to results from a standard tool (indicator species analysis) widely used by microbial ecologists. Of 1709 bacterial taxa, indicator species analysis identified 285 taxa as significant determinants of DOC concentration. Of the top 285 ranked features determined by machine learning methods, a subset of 86 taxa are common to all feature selection techniques. Using this subset of features, prediction results for random permutations of the data set are at least equally accurate compared to predictions determined using the entire feature set. Our results suggest that integration of multiple methods can aid identification of a robust subset of taxa within complex communities that may drive specific functional outcomes of interest.
Predicting sediment and nutrient concentrations from high-frequency water-quality data
Authors: Leigh Catherine , Kandanaarachchi Sevvandi , McGree James M. , Hyndman Rob J. , Alsibai Omar , Mengersen Kerrie , Peterson Erin E.
Published: April 2019

Water-quality monitoring in rivers often focuses on the concentrations of sediments and nutrients, constituents that can smother biota and cause eutrophication. However, the physical and economic constraints of manual sampling prohibit data collection at the frequency required to adequately capture the variation in concentrations through time. Here, we developed models to predict total suspended solids (TSS) and oxidized nitrogen (NOx) concentrations based on high-frequency time series of turbidity, conductivity and river level data from in situ sensors in rivers flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. We fit generalized-linear mixed-effects models with continuous first-order autoregressive correlation structures to water-quality data collected by manual sampling at two freshwater sites and one estuarine site and used the fitted models to predict TSS and NOx from the in situ sensor data. These models described the temporal autocorrelation in the data and handled observations collected at irregular frequencies, characteristics typical of water-quality monitoring data. Turbidity proved a useful and generalizable surrogate of TSS, with high predictive ability in the estuarine and fresh water sites. Turbidity, conductivity and river level served as combined surrogates of NOx. However, the relationship between NOx and the covariates was more complex than that between TSS and turbidity, and consequently the ability to predict NOx was lower and less generalizable across sites than for TSS. Furthermore, prediction intervals tended to increase during events, for both TSS and NOx models, highlighting the need to include measures of uncertainty routinely in water-quality reporting. Our study also highlights that surrogate-based models used to predict sediments and nutrients need to better incorporate temporal components if variance estimates are to be unbiased and model inference meaningful. The transferability of models across sites, and potentially regions, will become increasingly important as organizations move to automated sensing for water-quality monitoring throughout catchments.
A kinetic and mechanistic study into the transformation of calcium sulfate hemihydrate to dihydrate
Authors: Gurgul Sebastian J. , Seng Gabriel , Williams Gareth R.
Published: April 2019

The conversion of CaSO4·0.5H2O to CaSO4·2H2O is of great importance industrially, being the reaction behind plasterboard production and the setting of medical plasters. A detailed kinetic and mechanistic study of this process was conducted using time-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction in this work. The CaSO4·2H2O product is very similar regardless of whether the α- or β-form of CaSO4·0.5H2O is used as the starting material, but the reaction process is very different. The induction time is usually shorter for α-CaSO4·0.5H2O than β-CaSO4·0.5H2O, and a greater conversion percentage is observed with the former (although in neither case does the reaction proceed to 100% completion). The temperature of the system, widely used in industry as an indirect measure of the extent of the hydration process, is found to be a poor proxy for this, with the maximum temperature reached well before the reaction is complete. The Avrami–Erofe'ev and Gualtieri models could both be fitted to the experimental data, with the fits being substantially closer in the case of α-CaSO4·0.5H2O. The rate of reaction in the Avrami model tends to increase with the amount of gypsum seeds added to accelerate the process, and the importance of nucleation declines. The Gualtieri analysis suggested that the rate of nucleation increases substantially with the amount of seeds added, while there are less distinct changes in the rate of crystal growth. At low seed concentrations (<0.5% w/w) the rate of crystal growth is greater than the rate of nucleation, but at concentrations above 0.5% w/w nucleation is faster. These findings represent the first synchrotron study of the conversion of CaSO4·0.5H2O to CaSO4·2H2O, and will be of importance to gypsum producers globally.
Rainfall financial risk assessment in the hospitality industry
Authors: Franzoni Simona , Pelizzari Cristian
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The variability of weather at tourist destinations can significantly affect travel decisions by tourists and their comfort. In particular, rain affects the profitability of hospitality firms that can hardly contrast the phenomenon of heavy rain. Therefore, the assessment of rainfall financial risks, i.e. the negative economic effects caused by rain, becomes crucial to safeguarding the profitability of the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study is to assess such risks.

Design/methodology/approach

The present work contributes to the literature on weather/climate change and tourism by advancing a model for the rainfall financial risk assessment of hospitality firms. The model is based on scenario correlation between business performances and rain and originates from the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) presented by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), where some tools to adequately face business risks are advanced.

Findings

The model is complemented by an empirical experiment based on the business performances of the hospitality industry of Lake Garda and the amount of rainfall in the same area during the decade 2005-2014. The empirical application detects scenario correlation between those variables over time. In particular, the findings open opportunities to purchase financial instruments (insurance contracts, derivative instruments, etc.) with greater awareness, with the purpose of mitigating the negative impacts of rain on business performances of hospitality firms.

Originality/value

The model improves scenario analysis by introducing scenario correlation, which is a tool for assessing the highly nonlinear links between business performances and rain in today’s complex world. This is the essential step that firms should perform if they want to successfully adopt strategic decisions about rainfall financial risk management.
Influence of unmanned aerial vehicle in medical product transport
Authors: G. Prasad , P. Abishek , R. Karthick
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the special applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the transport of medical goods.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental work has been carried out to predict the performance characteristics of UAVs.

Findings

The results have been obtained to predict the range and endurance of UAVs, which can be optimized based on the payload and source of power.

Originality/value

Real-time applications. As the medical products are necessary in the real time life saving events.
Transitional leadership to resolve conflict, facilitate change and restore wellbeing
Authors: Pratt Tim J. , Smollan Roy K. , Pio Edwina
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the experiences of church ministers who played the role of transitional leaders in congregational situations involving conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded theory was chosen as a suitable approach to investigate phenomena that occasionally penetrate religious publications and even less frequently scholarly management journals. Accordingly, in-depth interviews were conducted with six church ministers who had been transitional leaders in one Christian denomination in New Zealand.

Findings

Participants indicated that the drivers of transitional ministry were conflict, dysfunction and loss of direction; the goals were to heal the damage caused by conflict and restore functionality and well-being; the process, underpinned by a leadership philosophy of affirmation, trust-building, engagement and communication, involved working with church members to instil hope, establish operational structures, identify and resolve dysfunction, envision a future and ultimately recruit a permanent minister.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of a small sample size in one Christian denomination could be addressed by using wider samples in other contexts. It is suggested that insights into transitional leadership after conflict will be of interest to researchers as well as practitioners in other religious organizations, the wider non-profit sector and the private sector. Future research into the impact of transitional leadership, against a background of conflict and organizational change, will add to this empirical foundation.

Originality/value

The model of transitional ministry is a unique contribution to religious literature and practice. It also offers insight into how other types of organization could deal with the exit of its permanent leader, in circumstances of conflict, and manage the transition phase of a temporary replacement, so that the organization returns to a state of well-being with a renewed sense of purpose.
Key drivers for public value creation enhancing the adoption of electronic public services by citizens
Authors: Lopes Karen M. Gross , Macadar Marie Anne , Luciano Edimara Mezzomo
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The relationship between citizens and government has been gradually changing from government centered to citizen centered. These changes can be understood from the public value perspective, which is a promising way to foster the use of electronic services (e-services) by citizens. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how key drivers for public value creation can enhance adopting electronic public services by citizens. The use of e-services as a basis for applying smart technologies is also discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study based on both a systematic literature review and a case study of an e-service provided by a Brazilian state government.

Findings

The study identifies that creating public value happens only after adopting e-services and that public value can be perceived directly by those who use the service or indirectly by the observation of people who have adopted it. A two-dimensional framework showing the direct and indirect factors that drive public value creation is proposed based on the data collection and literature review.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed conceptual framework remains untested and the data collection in the Brazilian context might be a limitation. Other studies could gather data based on the collective uses of e-services.

Originality/value

The framework can be used in other studies concerning public value creation. Public managers might consider its drivers when planning e-services as a way to link them to social, political and collective issues in addition to smart technologies.
Innovation starts at the storefront
Authors: Pantano Eleonora , Priporas Constantinos Vasilios , Foroudi Pantea
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Research into the introduction of innovative technologies directly at the storefront window is limited. The purpose of this paper is to model the behavioural attitudes and the subsequent benefits of, introducing innovative technologies to the storefront, while also considering the role of personal innovativeness in the decision process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a sample of 341 consumers who approached this new kind of storefront in two well-known apparel stores in the centre of New York City. A self-administered questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection.

Findings

Findings empirically demonstrate that when consumers sense that there are innovative interactive technologies in the storefront windows, they are willing to enter the store, generate positive word-of-mouth communication (sharing the positive experience with friends).

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate the combination of consumer innovativeness and storefront window on the behavioural attitude, supported with quantitative evidence.
Building customers’ trust in the ridesharing platform with institutional mechanisms
Authors: Shao Zhen , Yin Hao
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Drawing upon institution-based trust theory, the purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly, to examine the joint influences of legally binding and market-driven institutional mechanisms in promoting customers’ trust and continuance intention in the ridesharing platform; and secondly, to examine if there exists a trust transfer mechanism between institution-based trust and interpersonal trust.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted in China and data were collected from 307 customers in DiDi, which is one of the largest ridesharing platforms in China. Structural equation modeling statistical method was used to test the theoretical model and research hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that market-driven institutional mechanisms, regarding feedback and surge pricing, have strong influences on customers’ trust in the ridesharing platform. In addition, legally binding institutional mechanisms, regarding payment security and driver certification, are also beneficial to promote customers’ trust. Furthermore, there is a trust transfer between customers’ trust in the platform and trust in the driver.

Practical implications

This study provides guidelines to the administrators of the ridesharing platform to establish effective institutional mechanisms. In particular, the platform can appropriately adopt and implement the legally binding mechanisms combined with market-driven mechanisms on the platform, in order to enhance customers’ trust and promote their subsequent transaction behaviors.

Originality/value

This study enriches and extends the extant literature of institution-based trust from e-commerce to the sharing economy by identifying four significant institutional mechanisms. Furthermore, this study presents a new perspective of customer trust (one-to-many) in the context of ridesharing and uncovers the transfer mechanism between institution-based trust and interpersonal trust.
Farmers’ usage preferences for Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Authors: Musafili Ildephonse , Ngabitsinze Jean Chrysostome , Niyitanga Fidèle , Weatherspoon Dave
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Policymakers and stakeholders lack empirical evidence on the effectiveness of community participatory management for agribusiness development and environmental conservation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the management preferences, approaches and practices of farm communities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (VNP).

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data collected from 191 farmers were used. A choice experiment on current and potential park management practices and utilization levels was conducted along with a survey on socioeconomic, farm and institutional behavior characteristics.

Findings

Results show that farmers prefer preserving VNP resources for the production of agribusiness crops that are low input and environmental friendly and provide high income to farmers in addition to handcraft production to enhance cultural, plant and wild animal tourism development. Farmers highly value integrated stakeholder participatory decision making about the parks natural resources. High-income farmers prefer to restore traditional cultural heritage park sites for recreation, and ancestral intellectual and cultural property rights.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size limited the analysis to a conditional logit model.

Originality/value

This is the first study to assess the management preferences of farm communities in the VNP area.
Leveraging board talent for innovation strategy
Authors: Valenti Alix , Horner Stephen V.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Human capital has been traditionally viewed in terms of how an individual’s investment in knowledge, skills and abilities can lead to higher pay or promotions. More recently, human capital has been regarded as a unit-level resource using the term “human capital resources” to consider the aggregate effects of human capital. The purpose of this paper is to examine the collective human capital present in a firm’s board of directors as a valuable resource leading to superior firm outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examined the effects on firm innovation of the scientific expertise of corporate directors, average board tenure and the presence of a firm’s founder on the board. Data from a sample of pharmaceutical firms were analyzed with the dependent variable, innovation, measured as patent applications and both individual and unit-level human capital measures of the predictor variables.

Findings

The results show that the presence of a founder-director is positively related to innovation and more pronounced when combined with the board’s scientific expertise. Board tenure shows a relationship to innovation and is more evident in combination with the board’s aggregate level of scientific expertise. The effect of directors’ scientific expertise is also greater when measured at the board level of scientific expertise.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should examine these relationships within a broader context extending the research to other industries thereby incorporating wider variation in both the antecedents and measures of innovation. In addition, future studies might investigate a likely non-monotonic relationship of board tenure with strategic outcomes, recognizing the non-linear nature of effects of board tenure.

Practical implications

In addition to the theoretical and empirical implications, this research may also inform practicing managers charged with constituting their boards of directors and provide some guidance for the recruitment and retention of board members. The research may also assist top managers and investors in knowing when the presence of a founder on the board is useful and supportive of the firm’s strategic direction.

Originality/value

The study extends scholarly understanding of human capital theory beyond the top management team to boards of directors demonstrating the importance not only of directors’ individual capital but also how it combines with that of other directors. Moreover, it enhances understanding of board characteristics beyond the bounds of demographic characteristics to show that additional qualities affect firm strategy. This research also informs managers, boards and investors how boards might be more effectively constituted to impact firm strategy.
Coworking as a model for conscious business
Authors: Orel Marko , Kubátová Jaroslava
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to cross-reference the defining perspectives of coworking as an emerging integral model of conscious business.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological framework is built on transdisciplinary research of spatial scale of existence by using the qualitative approach of participant observations and interviews.

Findings

The empirical data suggest that independently organized and self-financed coworking spaces can be categorized as conscious businesses.

Research limitations/implications

Coworking spaces are evolving and hybridizing. While a conscious business model can be cross-referenced with independently run coworking spaces that target the self-employed as their user group, this is not certain for larger, franchise-based coworking centers as a larger sample would need to be researched and analyzed.

Originality/value

No attempts have been made previously for identifying cross-references between the concept of conscious business and the coworking model.
The state of the responsible research and innovation programme
Authors: Ogoh George Inyila , Fairweather N. Ben
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Many of the ethical issues of additive manufacturing (AM) are not well known or understood, and there remains a policy vacuum that needs to be addressed. This paper aims to describe an approach that has been applied successfully to other emerging technologies, referred to as the responsible research and innovation (RRI) framework programme. A case is then made for the application of this approach in the AM industry with an illustration of how it might be used.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses an RRI approach referred to as AREA, an acronym for Anticipate, Reflect, Engage and Act, to assess the ethical implications of AM. For the anticipation phase, horizon scanning was done to explore the ethical issues of AM based on extant literature, while reflective analysis was carried out all through the work to reflect on the data being collected and the research process. The engage phase involved interviews with five participants from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in 3D printing.

Findings

The findings indicate that although AM appears to pose a threat to intellectual property rights, many in the industry do not care about this issue. As AM becomes mainstream, intellectual property will likely become a big problem. Also, very little is known about the health impacts of AM. This study shows that AM can be hazardous.

Research limitations/implications

Only users at SME level were sampled. Other researchers might test the usefulness of AREA at the enterprise level.

Practical implications

The research demonstrates how the AREA framework may be useful in information systems and social science research by enabling a more anticipatory and reflective research process.

Originality/value

The paper responds to the need for a novel approach to identifying ethical issues of AM.
A closer look at politically connected corporations: evidence from Citizens United
Authors: Newton Ashley N. , Uysal Vahap B.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of political connections surrounding an exogenous Supreme Court decision (Citizens United) that lifted long-standing restrictions on corporate political contributions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines key characteristics of politically connected firms compared to non-politically connected firms, including their market reaction to Citizens United, as well as cash holdings levels and governance characteristics before vs after the landmark decision.

Findings

The results indicate a significant negative market reaction to politically connected firms surrounding the announcement of Citizens United. Additionally, there is a significant increase in the cash holdings of politically connected firms relative to before the event and relative to non-politically connected firms. For politically connected firms, this result is exacerbated by poor corporate governance quality. Collectively, these findings are consistent with a positive association between agency costs and political connections.

Originality/value

This study provides novel evidence by exploiting an exogenous enhancement in the implications of political connections that accompanied the Citizens United decision. The use of this quasi-natural experiment offers an ideal research setting to extract fresh insights into the effects of corporate political connections.
Assessing best practices in crime labs structure, processes, and performance
Authors: Shadwick Joshua T. , King William R. , Zhang Yan , Matusiak Matthew C. , Campbell Bradley A.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Forensic crime labs play an important role in the criminal justice system’s response to violent gun crimes in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods of firearms analysis including ballistics imaging and proposed best practices for investigating gun crimes. A separate line of research has begun to explore the structure of forensic labs and how structure impacts lab performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To date, however, proposed best practices in firearms investigation have not been empirically tested within crime labs. The authors address this gap in the literature by using a mediation model examining organizational correlates of a limited number of tasks (identified by Peter Gagliardi’s 13 Critical Tasks) believed to enhance our final dependent measures, forensic crime lab outcomes (NIBIN acquisitions and hits). The authors examine, therefore, the relationship between organizational correlates, collected from a sample of publicly funded labs in the USA, on several of Gagliardi’s tasks and then explore the relationship of those tasks on our outcome variables: NIBIN acquisitions and hits.

Findings

Results indicate agency size and number of agencies serviced by a lab are significant factors associated with our mediating variables (Gagliardi’s tasks). Communication was identified as a significant task associated with achieving NIBIN acquisitions and hits. In general, this study underscores the importance of communication between labs and other institutional constituents for increasing ballistics imaging outputs. Furthermore, findings provide partial support for Gagliard’s tasks, by highlighting the role of enhanced communication on organization-based performance outcomes.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the mediating effect of Gagliardi’s tasks on the organizational performance of ballistics imaging systems within crime labs. In addition, this study examines the influence of organizational correlates on these mediating tasks.
A critical discourse problematization framework for (disability) policy analysis
Authors: Van Aswegen Jennifer , Hyatt David , Goodley Dan
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a composite framework for critical policy analysis drawing from discourse analysis and post-structuralist analysis. Drawing on an interpretive paradigm (Yanow, 2014), this paper provides a thick description (Geertz, 1973) of the processes involved in the application of these tools in a critical policy analysis project, focusing on disability policy within the Irish context. Methodologically, this is a resourceful cross-fertilization of analytical tools to interrogate policy, highlighting its potential within critical disability policy analysis and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

Merging a critical discourse analysis framework and a policy problematization approach, the combination of tools presented here, along with their associated processes, is referred to as the critical discourse problematization framework.

Findings

Potentially, the framework can also be employed across a number of cognate social policy fields including education, welfare and social justice.

Practical implications

The value of this paper lies in its potential to be used within analytical practice in the field of critical (disability) policy work by offering an evaluation of the analytical tools and theoretical framework deployed and modeled across an entire research process.

Social implications

The framework has the potential and has been used successfully as a tool for disability activism to influence policy development.

Originality/value

The analytical framework presented here is a methodically innovative approach to the study of policy analysis, marrying two distinct analytical tools to form a composite framework for the study of policy text.
Species‐specific size vulnerabilities in a competitive arena: Nutrient heterogeneity and soil fertility alter plant competitive size asymmetries
Authors: Brown Charlotte , Oppon Kenneth J. , Cahill James F.
Published: April 2019

The size dependence of competitive interactions is starting to be highlighted as an important driver of species diversity within communities; however, it is still unknown whether all species are equally impacted by size‐asymmetric competition and what resources drive it.

Here, we test species‐specific responses to size‐asymmetric competition under various soil environments by manipulating plant size as well as soil fertility, nutrient heterogeneity and the initial suppression of microbial communities within a three‐species community.

Competition was primarily size‐asymmetric; however, the degree to which competition was size‐asymmetric was species‐specific, where three out of five soil treatments resulted in size‐asymmetric competition in some species but size‐symmetric competition in others.

Overall, soil fertility and nutrient heterogeneity altered the degree of size‐asymmetric competition, while the initial suppression of microbial communities had no effect. Contrary to past predictions, when they had an effect, increased soil fertility and the presence of a high‐quality patch reduced the degree of size‐asymmetric competition, while the presence of a low‐quality patch increased it. This suggests that the role nutrient heterogeneity plays on the degree of size‐asymmetric competition is dependent on the quality and location of the patch relative to an individual's neighbours.

These findings challenge the current understanding that competition for soil resources is always size‐symmetric and demonstrate that species within the same community may not experience the same degree of size‐dependent competition. These differential responses suggest we must consider variations in tolerance and suppression between species during size‐dependent plant–plant interactions, which may promote species coexistence as all small individuals may not be negatively impacted during size‐dependent competition.

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Insectivorous bats integrate social information about species identity, conspecific activity and prey abundance to estimate cost–benefit ratio of interactions
Authors: Lewanzik Daniel , Sundaramurthy Arun K. , Goerlitz Holger R.
Published: April 2019

Animals can use inadvertent social information to improve fitness‐relevant decisions, for instance about where to forage or with whom to interact. Since bats emit high‐amplitude species‐specific echolocation calls when flying, they provide a constant flow of inadvertent social information to others who can decode that acoustic information. Of particular interest is the rate of feeding buzzes—characteristic call sequences preceding any prey capture—which correlates with insect abundance.

Previous studies investigating eavesdropping in bats yielded very different and in part contradictory results likely because they commonly focused on single species only, differed substantially in playback buzz rate and did usually not account for (baseline) conspecific activity. Our goal was to overcome these limitations and systematically test which inadvertent social information bats integrate when eavesdropping on others and how this integration affects space use and both intra‐ and interspecific interactions, respectively.

We used a community‐wide approach and investigated the effects of a broad range of playback feeding buzz rates and conspecific activity on eavesdropping responses in 24 bat species combinations in the wild.

For the first time, we reveal that finely graded and density‐dependent eavesdropping responses are not limited to particular foraging styles or call types, but instead are ubiquitous among insectivorous bats. All bats integrated social information about calling species identity, prey abundance and conspecific activity to estimate the cost–benefit ratio of prospective interactions, yet in a species‐specific manner. The effect of buzz rate was multifaceted, as bats responded differently to different buzz rates, and responses were additionally modulated by heterospecific recognition. Conspecific activity, in contrast, had a negative effect on the eavesdropping responses of all bats.

These findings can explain the inconsistent results of previous studies and advance our understanding of the complex nature of conspecific and heterospecific interactions within bat communities. A comprehensive understanding of how bats incorporate social information into their decision‐making will help researchers to explain species distribution patterns and eventually to unravel mechanisms of species coexistence.