bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haplotype-resolved and integrated genome analysis of the cancer cell line HepG2
Authors: Zhou Bo , Ho Steve S. , Greer Stephanie U. , Spies Noah , Bell John M. , Zhang Xianglong , Zhu Xiaowei , Arthur Joseph G. , Byeon Seunggyu , Pattni Reenal , Saha Ishan , Huang Yiling , Song Giltae , Perrin Dimitri , Wong Wing H. , Ji Hanlee P. , Abyzov Alexej , Urban Alexander E.
Published: July 2018

The HepG2 cancer cell line is one of the most widely-used biomedical research and one of the main cell lines of ENCODE. Vast numbers of functional genomics and epigenomics datasets have been produced to characterize its biology. However, the correct interpretation such data requires an understanding of the cell line’s genome sequence and genome structure. Using a variety of sequencing and analysis methods, we identified a wide spectrum of HepG2 genome characteristics: copy numbers of chromosomal segments, SNVs and Indels (corrected for aneuploidy), phased haplotypes extending to entire chromosome arms, loss of heterozygosity, retrotransposon insertions, structural variants (SVs) including complex and somatic genomic rearrangements. We also identified allele-specific expression and DNA methylation genome-wide and assembled an allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9 targeting map.

SIGNIFICANCE

Haplotype-resolved and comprehensive whole-genome analysis of a widely-used cell line for cancer research and ENCODE, HepG2, serves as an essential resource for unlocking complex cancer gene regulation using a genome-integrated framework and also provides genomic context for the analysis of ~1,000 functional datasets to date on ENCODE for biological discovery. We also demonstrate how deeper insights into genomic regulatory complexity are gained by adopting a genome-integrated framework.
Explore or reset? Pupil diameter transiently increases in self-chosen switches between cognitive labor and leisure in either direction
Authors: Algermissen Johannes , Bijleveld Erik , Jostmann Nils B. , Holland Rob W.
Published: July 2018

When people invest effort in cognitive work, they often keep an eye open for rewarding alternative activities. Previous research suggests that the norepinephrine (NE) system regulates such trade-offs between exploitation of the current task and exploration of alternative possibilities. Here we examine the possibility that the NE-system is involved in a related trade-off, i.e., the trade-off between cognitive labor and leisure. We conducted two pre-registered studies (total N = 62) in which participants freely chose to perform either a paid 2-back task (labor) vs. a non-paid task (leisure), while we tracked their pupil diameter—which is an indicator of the state of the NE system. In both studies, consistent with prior work, we found (a) increases in pupil baseline and (b) decreases in pupil dilation when participants switched from labor to leisure. Unexpectedly, we found the same pattern when participants switched from leisure back to labor. Both increases in pupil baseline and decreases in pupil dilation were short-lived. Collectively, these results are more consistent with a role of norepinephrine in reorienting attention and task switching, as suggested by network reset theory, than with a role in motivation, as suggested by adaptive gain theory.
Perceptual grouping in the cocktail party: contributions of voice-feature continuity
Authors: Kreitewolf Jens , Mathias Samuel R. , Trapeau Régis , Obleser Jonas , Schönwiesner Marc
Published: July 2018

Cocktail parties pose a difficult yet solvable problem for the auditory system. Previous work has shown that the cocktail-party problem is considerably easier when all sounds in the target stream are spoken by the same talker (thevoice-continuity benefit).The present study investigated the contributions of two of the most salient voice features — glottal-pulse rate (GPR) and vocal-tract length (VTL) — to the voice-continuity benefit. Twenty young, normal-hearing listeners participated in two experiments. On each trial, listeners heard concurrent sequences of spoken digits from three different spatial locations and reported the digits coming from a target location. Critically, across conditions, GPR and VTL either remained constant or varied across target digits. Additionally, across experiments, the target location either remained constant (Experiment 1) or varied (Experiment 2) within a trial. In Experiment 1, listeners benefited from continuity in either voice feature, but VTL continuity was more helpful than GPR continuity. In Experiment 2, spatial discontinuity greatly hindered listeners’ abilities to exploit continuity in GPR and VTL. The present results suggest that selective attention benefits from continuity in target voice features, and that VTL and GPR play different roles for perceptual grouping and stream segregation in the cocktail party.
Genome-scale sequence disruption following biolistic transformation in rice and maize
Authors: Liu Jianing , Nannas Natalie J. , Fu Fang-fang , Shi Jinghua , Aspinwall Brooke , Parrott Wayne A. , Dawe R. Kelly
Published: July 2018

We biolistically transformed linear 48 kb phage lambda and two different circular plasmids into rice and maize and analyzed the results by whole genome sequencing and optical mapping. While some transgenic events showed simple insertions, others showed extreme genome damage in the form of chromosome truncations, large deletions, partial trisomy, and evidence of chromothripsis and breakage-fusion bridge cycling. Several transgenic events contained megabase-scale arrays of introduced DNA mixed with genomic fragments assembled by non-homologous or microhomology-mediated joining. Damaged regions of the genome, assayed by the presence of small fragments displaced elsewhere, were often repaired without a trace, presumably by homology-dependent repair (HDR). The results suggest a model whereby successful biolistic transformation relies on a combination of end joining to insert foreign DNA and HDR to repair collateral damage caused by the microprojectiles. The differing levels of genome damage observed among transgenic events may reflect the stage of the cell cycle and the availability of templates for HDR.
Divalent cation and chloride ion sites of chicken acid sensing ion channel 1a elucidated by x-ray crystallography
Authors: Yoder Nate , Gouaux Eric
Published: July 2018

Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated ion channels that are members of the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel superfamily and are expressed throughout central and peripheral nervous systems. ASICs have been implicated in multiple physiological processes and are subject to numerous forms of endogenous and exogenous regulation that include modulation by Ca2+ and Cl− ions. However, the mapping of ion binding sites as well as a structure-based understanding of the mechanisms underlying ionic modulation of ASICs have remained elusive. Here we present ion binding sites of chicken ASIC1a in resting and desensitized states at high and low pH, respectively, determined by anomalous diffraction x-ray crystallography. The acidic pocket serves as a nexus for divalent cation binding at both low and high pH, while we observe divalent cation binding within the central vestibule on the resting channel at high pH only. Moreover, neutralization of residues positioned to coordinate divalent cations via individual and combined Glu to Gln substitutions reduced, but did not extinguish, modulation of proton-dependent gating by Ca2+. Additionally, we demonstrate that anion binding at the canonical thumb domain site is state-dependent and present a previously undetected anion site at the mouth of the extracellular fenestrations on the resting channel. Our results map anion and cation sites on ASICs across multiple functional states, informing possible mechanisms of modulation and providing a blueprint for the design of therapeutics targeting ASICs.
Evolution of neocortical folding: A phylogenetic comparative analysis of MRI from 34 primate species
Authors: Heuer Katja , Gulban Omer Faruk , Bazin Pierre-Louis , Osoianu Anastasia , Valabregue Romain , Santin Mathieu , Herbin Marc , Toro Roberto
Published: July 2018

We conducted a comparative analysis of primate cerebral size and neocortical folding using magnetic resonance imaging data from 65 individuals belonging to 34 different species. We measured several neocortical folding parameters and studied their evolution using phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results suggest that the most likely model for neuroanatomical evolution is one where differences appear randomly (the Brownian Motion model), however, alternative models cannot be completely ruled out. We present estimations of the ancestral primate phenotypes as well as estimations of the rates of phenotypic change. Based on the Brownian Motion model, the common ancestor of primates may have had a folded cerebrum similar to that of a small lemur such as the aye-aye. Finally, we observed a non-linear relationship between fold wavelength and fold depth with cerebral volume. In particular, gyrencephalic primate neocortices across different groups exhibited a strikingly stable fold wavelength of about 12 mm (± 20%), despite a 20-fold variation in cerebral volume. We discuss our results in the context of current theories of neocortical folding.
PBLR: an accurate single cell RNA-seq data imputation tool considering cell heterogeneity and prior expression level of dropouts
Authors: Zhang Lihua , Zhang Shihua
Published: July 2018

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful tool to determine precise expression patterns of tens of thousands of individual cells, decipher cell heterogeneity and cell subpopulations and so on. However, scRNA-seq data analysis remains challenging due to various technical noise, e.g., the presence of dropout events (i.e., excess zero counts). Taking account of cell heterogeneity and structural effect of expression on dropout rate, we propose a novel method named PBLR to accurately impute the dropouts of scRNA-seq data. PBLR is an effective tool to recover dropout events on both simulated and real scRNA-seq datasets, and can dramatically improve low-dimensional representation and recovery of gene-gene relationship masked by dropout events compared to several state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, PBLR also detect accurate and robust cell subpopulations automatically, shedding light its flexibility and generality for scRNA-seq data analysis.
Association Between Rare Copy Number Variation and Response to Social Skills Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Tammimies Kristiina , Li Danyang , Rabkina Ielyzaveta , Stamouli Sofia , Becker Martin , Nicolaou Veronika , Berggren Steve , Coco Christina , Falkmer Torbjörn , Jonsson Ulf , Choque-Olsson Nora , Bölte Sven
Published: July 2018

Challenges in social communication and interaction are core symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for which social skills group training (SSGT) is a commonly used intervention. SSGT has shown modest but heterogeneous effects in clinical trials, and therefore identification of effect moderators could enable more precise intervention decisions. One of the major genetic risk factors in ASD are rare copy number variation (CNV). However, limited information exists whether rare CNVs profiles can be used to aid in intervention decisions. Therefore, we conducted the first study to date analyzing rare CNVs as genetic moderators in the outcome of SSGT in ASD. For this, we analyzed rare genic CNV carrier status of 207 children of which 105 received SSGT and 102 standard care as part of a recent randomized clinical trial for 12-weeks SSGT. We used mixed linear models to assess the association of being a CNV carrier, grouped by the effect and size of the CNVs and the primary response to SSGT, the parent-report Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) measured at post-intervention and 3-months follow-up. Additionally, we analyzed the secondary outcome assessments included parent-rated adaptive behaviors (ABAS-II) and trainer-rated clinical global impression (CGI). We show that being a carrier of any size rare genic CNV did not impact on the SSGT outcome. However, when stratifying the groups by size of the CNVs, we identified that carriers of large CNVs (>500 kb) showed inferior SRS outcomes at post-intervention (β = 15.35, 95% CI 2.86-27.84, P=0.017) and follow-up (β = 14.19, 95% CI 1.68-26.70, P=0.028). Similar results were shown for the parent-rated secondary outcome. In contrast, the carriers of small CNVs had better outcome at post-intervention (β = −1.20, 95 % CI - 2.0 - −0.4 P = 0.003) but not at follow-up for the trainer-rated secondary outcome CGI. These results remained when we tested the specificity of the effect by including the standard care group and adjusting for IQ levels. While our study suggests that being a carrier of any size rare genic CNV did not impact the outcome, it provides preliminary evidence that carriers of high-risk CNVs might not benefit on SSGT as much as non-carriers. Our results indicate that genetic information eventually might help guide personalized intervention planning in ASD. We additionally highlight that more research is needed to understand the intervention needs of autistic individuals with specified molecular alterations.
Quantifying GC-biased gene conversion in great ape genomes using polymorphism-aware models
Authors: Borges Rui , Szöllősi Gergely , Kosiol Carolin
Published: July 2018

As multi-individual population-scale data is becoming available, more-complex modeling strategies are needed to quantify the genome-wide patterns of nucleotide usage and associated mechanisms of evolution. Recently, the multivariate neutral Moran model was proposed. However, it was shown insufficient to explain the distribution of alleles in great apes. Here, we propose a new model that includes allelic selection. Our theoretical results constitute the basis of a new Bayesian framework to estimate mutation rates and selection coefficients from population data. We employ the new framework to a great ape dataset at we found patterns of allelic selection that match those of genome-wide GC-biased gene conversion (gBCG). In particular, we show that great apes have patterns of allelic selection that vary in intensity, a feature that we correlated with the great apes’ distinct demographies. We also demonstrate that the AT/GC toggling effect decreases the probability of a substitution, promoting more polymorphisms in the base composition of great ape genomes. We further assess the impact of CG-bias in molecular analysis and we find that mutation rates and genetic distances are estimated under bias when gBGC is not properly accounted. Our results contribute to the discussion on the tempo and mode of gBGC evolution, while stressing the need for gBGC-aware models in population genetics and phylogenetics.
Osteoblastic PLEKHO1 contributes to joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: He Xiaojuan , Liu Jin , Liang Chao , Badshah Shaikh Atik , Zheng Kang , Dang Lei , Guo Baosheng , Li Defang , Lu Cheng , Guo Qingqing , Fan Danping , Bian Yanqin , Feng Hui , Xiao Lianbo , Pan Xiaohua , Xiao Cheng , Zhang BaoTing , Zhang Ge , Lu Aiping
Published: July 2018

Osteoblasts participating in the inflammation regulation gradually obtain concerns. However, its role in joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is largely unknown. Pleckstrin homology domain-containing family O member 1 (PLEKHO1) was previously identified as a negative regulator of osteogenic lineage activity. Here we demonstrated that PLEKHO1 was highly expressed in osteoblasts of articular specimens from RA patients and inflammatory arthritis mice. Genetic deletion of osteoblastic Plekho1 ameliorated joint inflammation in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and K/BxN serum-transfer arthritis (STA), whereas overexpressing Plekho1 only within osteoblasts in CIA and STA mice demonstrated exacerbated local inflammation. Furtherin vitrostudies indicated that PLEKHO1 was required for TRAF2-mediated RIP1 ubiquitination to activate NF-kB for inducing inflammatory cytokines production in osteoblasts. Moreover, osteoblastic PLEKHO1 inhibition improved joint inflammation and attenuated bone formation reduction in CIA mice and non-human primate arthritis model. These data strongly suggest that highly expressed PLEKHO1 in osteoblast mediates joint inflammation in RA. Targeting osteoblastic PLEKHO1 may exert dual therapeutic action of alleviating joint inflammation and promoting bone formation in RA.
Suppressor analysis uncovers that MAPs and microtubule dynamics balance with the Cut7/Kinesin-5 motor for mitotic spindle assembly inSchizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Yukawa Masashi , Yamada Yusuke , Toda Takashi
Published: July 2018

The Kinesin-5 motor Cut7 inSchizosaccharomyces pombeplays essential roles in spindle pole separation, leading to the assembly of bipolar spindle. In many organisms, simultaneous inactivation of Kinesin-14s neutralizes Kinesin-5 deficiency. To uncover the molecular network that counteracts Kinesin-5, we have conducted a genetic screening for suppressors that rescue thecut7-22temperature sensitive mutation, and identified 10 loci. Next generation sequencing analysis reveals that causative mutations are mapped in genes encoding α-, β-tubulins and the microtubule plus-end tracking protein Mal3/EB1, in addition to the components of the Pkl1/Kinesin-14 complex. Moreover, the deletion of various genes required for microtubule nucleation/polymerization also suppresses thecut7mutant. Intriguingly, Klp2/Kinesin-14 levels on the spindles are significantly increased incut7mutants, whereas these increases are negated by suppressors, which may explain the suppression by these mutations/deletions. Consistent with this notion, mild overproduction of Klp2 confers temperature sensitivity. Surprisingly, treatment with a microtubule-destabilizing drug not only suppressescut7temperature sensitivity but also rescues the lethality resulting from the deletion ofcut7,though a singleklp2deletion per se cannot compensate for the loss of Cut7. We propose that microtubule assembly and/or dynamics antagonize Cut7 functions, and that the orchestration between these two factors is crucial for bipolar spindle assembly.
Clownfishes are a genetic model of exceptional longevity and reveal molecular convergence in the evolution of lifespan
Authors: Sahm Arne , Almaida-Pagan Pedro , Bens Martin , Mutalipassi Mirko , Lucas-Sanchez Alejandro , Ruiz Jorge de Costa , Görlach Matthias , Cellerino Alessandro
Published: July 2018

Standard evolutionary theories of aging postulate that reduced extrinsic mortality leads to evolution of longevity. Clownfishes of the genus Amphiprion live in a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones that provide protection from predation. We performed a survey and identified at least two species with lifespan of over 20 years. Given their small size and ease of captive reproduction, clownfishes lend themselves as experimental models of exceptional longevity.

To identify genetic correlates of exceptional longevity, we sequenced the transcriptomes of Amphiprion percula and A. clarkii and performed a scan for positively-selected genes (PSGs). These were compared with PSGs detected in long-lived mole rats and short-lived killifishes revealing convergent evolution in processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis. Among individual genes, the Mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 1 (MTERF1), was positively-selected in all three clades, whereas the Glutathione S-Transferase Kappa 1 (GSTK1) was under positive selection in two independent clades. For the latter, homology modelling strongly suggested that positive selection targeted enzymatically important residues.

These results indicate that specific pathways were recruited in independent lineages evolving an exceptionally extended or shortened lifespan and point to mito-nuclear balance as a key factor.
Single-cell RNA-seq analysis identifies markers of resistance to targeted BRAF inhibitors in melanoma cell populations
Authors: Ho Yu-Jui , Anaparthy Naishitha , Molik David , Mathew Grinu , Aicher Toby , Patel Ami , Hicks James , Hammell Molly Gale
Published: July 2018

Single-cell RNA-seq's (scRNA-seq) unprecedented cellular resolution at a genome-wide scale enables us to address questions about cellular heterogeneity that are inaccessible using methods that average over bulk tissue extracts. However, scRNA-seq data sets also present additional challenges such as high transcript dropout rates, stochastic transcription events, and complex population substructures. Here, we present a single-cell RNA-seq analysis and klustering evaluation (SAKE), a robust method for scRNA-seq analysis that provides quantitative statistical metrics at each step of the analysis pipeline. Comparing SAKE to multiple single-cell analysis methods shows that most methods perform similarly across a wide range of cellular contexts, with SAKE outperforming these methods in the case of large complex populations. We next applied the SAKE algorithms to identify drug-resistant cellular populations as human melanoma cells respond to targeted BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi). Single-cell RNA-seq data from both the Fluidigm C1 and 10x Genomics platforms were analyzed with SAKE to dissect this problem at multiple scales. Data from both platforms indicate that BRAF inhibitor-resistant cells can emerge from rare populations already present before drug application, with SAKE identifying both novel and known markers of resistance. These experimentally validated markers of BRAFi resistance share overlap with previous analyses in different melanoma cell lines, demonstrating the generality of these findings and highlighting the utility of single-cell analysis to elucidate mechanisms of BRAFi resistance.
The history of accounting standards in French-speaking African countries since independence
Authors: Degos Jean-Guy , Levant Yves , Touron Philippe
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on circumvolutions taken by the accounting standard-setting process in French-speaking African countries which have delayed convergence toward IFRS standards and to identify how different factors shape accounting standards in a context in which post-colonial hysteresis interact with globalization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses archival data and interviews with key individual actors. Two case studies from two successive periods are contrasted: the design of the OCAM accounting standards in the 1970s, and the development of the SYSCOA/OHADA accounting standards during the 1990s before the partial adoption of IFRS.

Findings

The study shows the convergence toward international accounting standards in French-speaking African countries emerged from a complex, multimodal process mingling competition with collaboration and negotiation. They have followed a different path from most English-speaking African countries, where convergence to IAS/IFRS took place earlier and faster. The evidence indicates the significance of the interaction between the ex-colonization and the indigenous accounting standards, the importance of key actors and the level of the educational institutions.

Research limitations/implications

No African written sources were located. Most of the sources used were French.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the standards setting in developing countries. The examination of the development of accounting rules in French-speaking African countries between 1960 and 2010 shows the complexity of the accounting standards’ diffusion dynamic.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights over a 30-year period of accounting standards in French-speaking African countries. This research explains why IFRS have not yet adopted in French-speaking African countries as it was in English-speaking African countries.
Stakeholder interactions and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices
Authors: Phiri Obby , Mantzari Elisavet , Gleadle Pauline
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically explore the interactions of key stakeholders and their impact upon corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the Zambian copper mining sector. In particular, the authors examine the power dynamics that emerge in the stakeholder interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse the stakeholder interactions based on the varying degrees of stakeholder salience and critical collaboration potential, and draw on rich evidence from 43 interviews with multiple stakeholders involved in CSR in the Zambia mining sector.

Findings

This paper finds stark power asymmetries in the relationship between the state, the civil society and mining companies which are exacerbated by a number of factors, including divisions within these key stakeholders themselves. Apart from power imbalances within and between stakeholders, the potential for critical collaboration at the local level is further challenged by the lack of commonly accepted social and environmental frameworks, transparency and accountability of the leadership of stakeholder groups. However, despite these power asymmetries some limited agency is possible, as civil society in particular co-opts previously dormant stakeholders to increase its own salience and, more importantly, that of the state.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on the key stakeholders’ interactions shaping CSR in developing countries by exploring these issues in a critical industry, the Zambian copper mining sector, on which the state economy is so heavily dependent.
The impact of order imbalance on returns, liquidity, and volatility in agricultural commodity markets
Authors: Volkenand Steffen , Filler Guenther , Odening Martin
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and compare the impact of order imbalance on returns, liquidity and price volatility in agricultural futures markets on an intraday basis. The authors examine whether order imbalance is more powerful to explain variations in asset prices compared to other indicators of trading activity, particularly trading volume.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Chicago Mercantile Exchange best bid best offer data, the impact of order imbalance is analyzed via regression analyses. The analyses are carried out for corn, wheat, soy, live cattle and lean hogs in March 2008 and March 2016.

Findings

Results confirm the positive relation between order imbalance and returns as well as between order imbalance and price volatility as suggested by market microstructure models. Order imbalance, however, does not generally outperform trading volume as an explanatory variable.

Practical implications

For some contracts, returns can be predicted using lagged order imbalance. This offers the opportunity to derive profitable trading strategies.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first attempts to explore the relationship between order imbalance and returns, liquidity and volatility for agricultural commodity futures on an intraday basis, accounting for the increased trading volume and for the high speed at which new information enters the market in an electronic trading environment.
The impact of social security policies on farmland reallocation in rural China
Authors: Huang Li , Tan Rong
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the causality between social security policies and farmland reallocation in rural China.

Design/methodology/approach

It quantitatively analyzes the impact of each ongoing social security policy on farmland reallocation based on a data set from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011).

Findings

The study finds that the inclination of a village farmers’ collective to reallocate farmland due to changes in the village population increased if social security policies do not effectively cover the village because farmers rely primarily on income from farmland to cover their basic living expenses. However, if social security policies provide adequate coverage, then farmers do not rely entirely on on-farm income and the likelihood of farmland reallocation decreases. Furthermore, the effectiveness of social security policies includes not only coverage but also the sufficiency of the security policies provided.

Research limitations/implications

First, the authors use only cross-sectional data in this study, which may result in biased estimation and also limit temporal examination of the impact of social security systems, farmland reallocation and related policy variables. This limitation may be especially important in China because the country is undergoing a rapid socioeconomic transition. However, the research is constrained by the available data. Furthermore, there could be endogeneity problems that are difficult to address, given the current data set. These problems could involve the impacts of village-level economic, natural and social variables, the implementation of related public policies (land development and consolidation, land expropriation, etc.) and other economic variables.

Practical implications

These findings may provide implications for related policy reform in the near future.

Originality/value

These findings may facilitate a recognition and understanding of the causality between social security policies and farmland reallocation in rural China.
A process model of how interpersonal interaction leads to effectiveness of the expatriate-host country national relationship
Authors: Wang Chun-Hsiao , Varma Arup
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and present a conceptual model of expatriate–host country national (HCN) interaction that explains how organizations can help increase cooperation between expatriates and HCNs by facilitating interaction between expatriates and HCNs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw upon intergroup contact theory to develop a process model which describes the processes critical to “the effectiveness of the expatriate–HCN relationship,” from both the expatriate and HCN perspectives.

Findings

HCN–expatriate interactions are critical to the success of both expatriates and HCNs, but such interactions should not be left to chance – instead, organizations should intervene and facilitate conditions that foster such interactions, which can lead to better understanding and appreciation of each other. This would ensure that both expatriates and HCNs have a better understanding of the critical role played by the other party, and thus be willing to offer relevant and necessary support at the right time.

Practical implications

Prior research reveals that most expatriate–HCN interactions are left to the individuals themselves and are thus subject to stereotypes, misperceptions and even unfulfilled expectations. By intervening in this process, and providing relevant information about each other to both parties, organizations can facilitate higher quality interactions, help reduce or remove stereotypes and increase the chances that both parties receive required and relevant information on a timely basis from each other.

Originality/value

The authors specifically discuss how interpersonal expatriate–HCN interactions allow the two parties to become acquainted with each other, when the effects of such interactions can be strengthened, and what the resultant effects are in terms of expatriate–HCN relationships.
Employee voice and silence in multinational corporations in the mobile telecommunications industry in Nigeria
Authors: Emelifeonwu Jude Chukwuemeka , Valk Reimara
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore employee voice and silence in the mobile telecommunication industry in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative case study methodology was employed in this study. Participant selection was done through a purposeful intensity sampling technique, which resulted in 30 employees from two different multinational organizations and an indigenous organization taking part in in-depth interviews.

Findings

Findings show the presence of fear of victimization in the Nigerian workplace embellished by the Sub-Saharan culture and the state of the labor market, which resulted in employee silence. The study revealed that the implementation of culturally adapted employee voice mechanisms within organizations in the mobile telecommunication industry in Nigeria promotes employee voice and organizational performance, whereas a lack thereof results in organizational failure.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is that the purposive sample of employees from three organizations in the mobile telecommunications industry only permits theoretical and analytic generalization.

Practical implications

A focus on the co-creation of a high-performance work environment and the development of a powerful employee value proposition would foster employee voice.

Social implications

It will enable multinationals operating in Nigeria understand better how to operate employee voice in order to obtain optimal performance from workers in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on employee/industrial relations by showing that a high-power-distance national culture and a high unemployment rate affect employee voice and silence, which brings to the fore the importance of adequate employee voice mechanisms through which employees express their voice in order to arrive at beneficial individual and organizational outcomes.
Unconscious bias: thinking without thinking
Authors: Oberai Himani , Anand Ila Mehrotra
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Unconscious biases are often ignored in organizations; thus, it becomes more important to identify them so that we can build strong and competent organizations. In present dynamic and competitive business situations, you need to be well aware about those concerns of the organizations where these biases exist.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identifies various types of unconscious biases prevailing at workplace. It also identifies different strategies which can be used to avoid them so that we can gain a competitive edge over others in market.

Findings

Unconscious biases are a fact of life; no one can deny them. Thus, it is important to identify them so that they can be eliminated, and our businesses can avoid their detrimental effects.

Research limitations/implications

Unconscious biases narrow down the pool of people in an organization and ultimately destabilize an organization’s base.

Practical implications

Unconscious biases narrow down the pool of people in the organization and ultimately destabilize an organization’s base.

Originality/value

This paper can help managers and executives to highlight the areas where these biases lie so that they can be removed easily.
Customers’ emotions in real time: measuring affective responses to service and relationship quality at the reception desk
Authors: Nordhorn Christian , Scuttari Anna , Pechlaner Harald
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore customers’ emotions during a host–guest interaction at the reception desk of a hotel. Guests’ emotional responses are analyzed in real time to understand their link to behavior and levels of service and relationship quality.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this aim, 225 random customers experience six different types of interactions (scenarios) at a staged reception desk, representing a high/low service or relationship quality. The emotions provoked within guests are (video) recorded and analyzed with the help of SHORETM, a facial recognition software that processes four basic emotions derived from human muscular activity and calculates average emotional scores per scenario.

Findings

Results reveal that customers respond more positively to service than to relationship quality. Informal approaches to interacting with guests are mixed; they can both excite or irritate customers. As with existing evidence in service marketing research, the results found out through this study demonstrate that a good service recovery process seems to immediately generate more satisfied customers than do constant high-quality standards.

Research limitations/Implications

The main limitations are related to the semi-staged nature of social interactions, which might cause distortions in measuring emotions and limitations in the comparability of cases.

Practical Implications

Practical implications are directed to service designers and managers in hospitality to improve service design and ensure effective service recoveries.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a novel approach for assessing host–guest interactions in tourism based on a real-time emotional assessment of service and relationship quality in hospitality. Technologically advanced observation techniques enable in-depth analyses of actions and emotional responses between hosts and guests across time. New insights concerning service design and service recovery management are gained for practitioners and for future research.
ICT-based system for Malaysian residential maintenance projects – literature review
Authors: Ismail Zul-Atfi
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the different system approach that is equipped with decision making processes. Presently, most maintenance organisations are still implementing conventional methods rather than fully integrated information and communication technology (ICT) to manage the information database on maintenance of residential building. The significant factor to select an ICT is much more advantageous than just a way to improve interfirm communication and cooperation on maintenance management processes and be able to perform the task needed without stressing the budget. ICT could be a pillar of fundamental importance for the implementation of an effective and efficient maintenance management on residential building and facility.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a review of recent publications on the topic regarding residential maintenance systems, which also takes into consideration the heritage structures, due to their same maintenance requirements and processes.

Findings

The findings reveal the need for ICT tools and techniques specific to the needs of reducing poor service delivery, inadequate financial support, poor maintenance plan and maintenance backlogs.

Originality/value

The paper concludes with a comprehensive research framework of ICT-based system as the basis for further progress in the development of the residential maintenance schemes of system.
Obese models’ effect on fashion brand attractiveness
Authors: Aagerup Ulf , Scharf Edson Roberto
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of obese models vs normal weight models on fashion brands’ attractiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was carried out in which 1,225 university students in Sweden and Brazil rated the attractiveness of a fashion brand worn by a normal weight model and an obese model.

Findings

The overall effect of obese models’ effect on fashion brand attractiveness was insignificant. Furthermore, neither culture nor the consumer’s own weight had a significant effect. There was, however, a significant effect of the participant’s own gender; women rate fashion brands worn by obese models significantly higher on attractiveness than they did fashion brands worn by normal weight models. Men displayed the inverse response.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of the model’s ethnicity was beyond the scope of the experiment, and the brand attractiveness scale captured only one aspect of brand character, leaving other potential brand effects for future studies.

Practical implications

Companies can use obese models with no overall brand attractiveness penalty across markets and for marketing to women of all sizes. Given men’s negative reactions, such models might however be unsuitable for the male-to-female gift market.

Social implications

The results support the use of obese models, which can lead to greater representation of larger women in the media, and consequently, reduced fat stigma.

Originality/value

The study validates the theory of user imagery, and it extends the theory by examining how different target consumers react to user imagery traits and thus provides evidence for gender bias toward obese models.
Developing a knowledge management strategy for data analytics and intellectual capital
Authors: Harlow Harold D.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to build on current analytics and Big Data definitions and strategies from the literature to develop an overall strategic model connecting knowledge management strategy (KMS) for intellectual capital (IC) acquisition and business use. It also extends the IC research stages to a fifth stage of IC research including IC strategic intent.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review highlights the connections among strategic intent, firm strategy, KMS and a data analytics strategy aligned with firm and KMS strategic intent. An extended model of the interrelationships is developed from the prior research.

Findings

A model framework was developed from the literature that connects Big Data to achieve the goals of a firm KMS and demonstrates how Big Data analytics (BDA) needs to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic knowledge management tool directed by the overall strategy and strategic intent of the firm.

Research limitations/implications

The model presented needs to be empirically tested over a sample of companies and periods to determine if performance improves using this model.

Practical implications

Use of this model proposes that strategic intent will be enhanced and improve the capture of intellectual property derived from advanced analytics and increase sustainable advantages at firm.

Social implications

The social implications of lack of strong privacy laws coupled with the possible elimination of millions of knowledge worker jobs creates a pressing need for more research into and identification of firm’s and government’s Big Data strategic use for both good and perhaps evil.

Originality/value

The research in this paper extends current models of IC development and adds strategic intent and collective intelligence as the fifth stage of IC research and presents an overall KMS/BDA model.
Museums creating value and developing intellectual capital by technology
Authors: Romanelli Mauro
Published: July 2018

Purposes

The aim of this study is to provide a conceptual framework to explain how museums sustain intellectual capital and promote value co-creation moving from designing virtual environments to introducing and managing Big Data.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on archival and qualitative data considering the literature related to the introduction of virtual environments and Big Data within museums.

Findings

Museums contribute to sustaining intellectual capital and in promoting value co-creation developing a Big Data-driven strategy and innovation.

Practical implications

By introducing and managing Big Data, museums contribute to creating a community by improving knowledge within cultural ecosystems while strengthening the users as active participants and the museum’s professionals as user-centred mediators.

Originality/value

As audience-driven and knowledge-oriented organisations moving from designing virtual environments to following a Big data-driven strategy, museums should select organisational and strategic choices for driving change.
Adoption of environmental management tools: the dynamic capabilities contributions
Authors: Essid Moez , Berland Nicolas
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the organizational capabilities involved in the adoption of environmental management tools in eight large French firms. The analysis also examines the antecedents that contributed to the emergence of those capabilities and the consequences of their involvement in terms of environmental management.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the organizational capabilities deployed when environmental management tools are adopted, this paper takes an exploratory approach based on a qualitative study of eight large French firms.

Findings

The findings show how organizational capabilities, dynamic and ordinary, are operationalized in the adoption of environmental management tools. This operationalization is made possible by internal and external antecedents and simple and complex routines. The findings also identify two possible configurations of organizational capabilities, each one leading to a specific form of environmental management. The first configuration leads to stand-alone environmental management systems, while the second succeeds in engendering integrated management systems. This study shows that this difference is explained by heterogeneous endowments in terms of antecedents across firms.

Practical implications

The study provides useful information for managers about the conditions that favor and facilitate adoption of environmental management tools and the ways these conditions operate.

Social implications

The study illustrates the impact of society on large firms’ adoption of certain environmental management practices. It shows that external visibility – which has created strong societal pressure – is one of the external antecedents that led eight large French firms to develop specific organizational capabilities.

Originality/value

In analyzing the antecedents, routines and capabilities involved in the adoption of environmental management tools, the study adds some original, innovative contributions to current knowledge on the conditions for adoption of such tools.
Microbial anaerobic Fe(II) oxidation – Ecology, mechanisms and environmental implications
Authors: Bryce Casey , Blackwell Nia , Schmidt Caroline , Otte Julia , Huang Yu‐Ming , Kleindienst Sara , Tomaszewski Elizabeth , Schad Manuel , Warter Viola , Peng Chao , Byrne James M. , Kappler Andreas
Published: July 2018

Iron is the most abundant redox‐active metal in the Earth's crust. The one electron transfer between the two most common redox states, Fe(II) and Fe(III), plays a role in a huge range of environmental processes from mineral formation and dissolution to contaminant remediation and global biogeochemical cycling. It has been appreciated for more than a century that microorganisms can harness the energy of this Fe redox transformation for their metabolic benefit. However, this is most widely understood for anaerobic Fe(III)‐reducing or aerobic and microaerophilic Fe(II)‐oxidizing bacteria. Only in the past few decades have we come to appreciate that bacteria also play a role in the anaerobic oxidation of ferrous iron, Fe(II), and thus can act to form Fe(III) minerals in anoxic settings. Since this discovery, our understanding of the ecology of these organisms, their mechanisms of Fe(II) oxidation and their role in environmental processes has been increasing rapidly. In this article, we bring these new discoveries together to review the current knowledge on these environmentally important bacteria, and reveal knowledge gaps for future research.