bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A key region of molecular specificity orchestrates unique ephrin-B1 utilization by Cedar virus
Authors: Pryce Rhys , Azarm Kristopher , Rissanen Ilona , Harlos Karl , Bowden Thomas A. , Lee Benhur
Published: August 2019

The prototypic henipaviruses (HNV), Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV), are emergent zoonotic pathogens responsible for frequent and fatal outbreaks of severe disease in domestic animals and humans. The HNV attachment glycoprotein (G) is a critical determinant of host-species and cell-type tropism. Utilization of highly conserved B-type ephrin ligands as functional entry receptors engenders HNVs with a broad permissive host range, accounts for zoonotic spillover, and is closely aligned with observed disease pathologies. Recent studies have uncovered numerous divergent clades of HNVs globally. Cedar virus (CedV), the closest relative of HeV and NiV identified to date, can establish experimental infections, yet has not been observed to cause overt disease. While the apathogenic phenotype may be attributed to a lack of P-gene derived interferon antagonists, the V and W accessory proteins, additional determinants of differential HNV pathobiology could be involved. Here, through comparative functional and structural analysis of CedV-G, we characterize molecular interactions critical to viral entry. We demonstrate that CedV possesses a unique cellular entry receptor repertoire which, in addition to functional utilization of the common HNV receptor, ephrin-B2, includes the hitherto uncharacterized interaction with ephrin-B1. Crystal structures reveal a conserved recognition mode between diverse HNV-G proteins and their distinct ephrin receptors and identify a region of molecular specificity within CedV-G that is a key determinant of ephrin selectivity. This work provides a platform for understanding the functional diversity and varied receptor tropism characteristics of HNV glycoproteins that will facilitate assessment of the pathogenic potential and transmissibility of newly discovered and uncharacterized HNVs.
Evaluation of phenotyping errors on polygenic risk score predictions
Authors: Li Ruowang , Tong Jiayi , Duan Rui , Chen Yong , Moore Jason H.
Published: August 2019

Accurate disease risk prediction is essential in healthcare to provide personalized disease prevention and treatment strategies not only to the patients, but also to the general population. In addition to demographic and environmental factors, advancements in genomic research have revealed that genetics play an important role in determining the susceptibility of diseases. However, for most complex diseases, individual genetic variants are only weakly to moderately associated with the diseases. Thus, they are not clinically informative in determining disease risks. Nevertheless, recent findings suggest that the combined effects from multiple disease-associated variants, or polygenic risk score (PRS), can stratify disease risk similar to that of rare monogenic mutations. The development of polygenic risk score provides a promising tool to evaluate the genetic contribution of disease risk; however, the quality of the risk prediction depends on many contributing factors including the precision of the target phenotypes. In this study, we evaluated the impact of phenotyping errors on the accuracies of PRS risk prediction. We utilized electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network (eMERGE) data to simulate various types of disease phenotypes. For each phenotype, we quantified the impact of phenotyping errors generated from the differential and non-differential mechanism by comparing the prediction accuracies of PRS on the independent testing data. In addition, our results showed that the rate of accuracy degradation depended on both the phenotype and the mechanism of phenotyping error.
Take out the rubbish – Removing NUMTs and pseudogenes from theBemisia tabacicryptic species mtCOI database
Authors: Kunz Daniele , Tay Wee Tek , Elfekih Samia , Gordon Karl Heinrichs Julius , De Barro Paul John
Published: August 2019

Identification ofBemisia tabacicryptic whitefly species complex currently relies on molecular characterisation of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) partial gene, however, nuclear mitochondrial sequences (NUMTs), PCR-derived pseudogenes and/or poor sequence editing have hindered this effort. To-date,ca.5,175 partial (≥ 300bp) mtCOI sequences for species identification purposes have been reported. We reviewedca.10% of sequences representing the standardB. tabacispecies complex mtCOI dataset. We found that 333 sequences (64.9%) were NUMTs, pseudogenes and/or affected by poor sequence quality. Amino acid pattern analyses of high throughput sequencing-derived mtCOI gene from 24 ‘tabaci’ and ‘non-tabaci’ species enabled differentiation between NUMTs/pseudogene-affected and likely real mtCOI sequences, and that the SSA4, SSA5/SSA8, AsiaII-2 and AsiaII_4 species were NUMTs/pseudogenes artefacts. Intra-specific uncorrected nucleotide distances (p-dist) from our up-dated dataset ranged from 0-1.98%, inter-specificp-dist within phylogenetic clades ranged betweenca.2.5 and 8%, and 8 and >19% for species between phylogenetic clades. Differentiating between closely related species could therefore utilise an ‘average’p-dist of 2.5%. Despite the smallerB. tabacimtCOI dataset, six putative new species were identified. Adoption of our standardised workflow and up-dated mtCOI clean dataset could facilitate better diagnostics ofB. tabaciand ‘non-tabaci’ cryptic species.
Circular RNA hsa_circ_0068033 inhibits proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells through sponging miR-659
Authors: Yuan Pengfei , Lei Liangliang , Liu Dechun
Published: August 2019

Recently, dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been associated with the progression of numerous malignant tumors. However, the mechanism through which circRNAs participate in breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. This study was designed to illustrate the role of hsa_circ_0068033 in BC. A series of functional experiments were conducted to assess the function of hsa_circ_0068033 in the development of BC and the underlying mechanisms. The results suggested that the expression of hsa_circ_0068033 was downregulated in BC tissues, and markedly correlated with tumor size (P=0.021) and the Tumor, Node, and Metastasis stage (P=0.023). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that hsa_circ_0068033 testing yielded an area under the curve value of 0.8480 in discriminating BC from non-tumor controls. Functionally, overexpression of hsa_circ_0068033 could inhibit the growth, clone formation, invasion, and migration of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, while activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway to induce apoptosis. The xenograft experiment revealed that exogenous hsa_circ_0068033 is able to reduce the tumorigenic ability of MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice. Rescue assays further proved that hsa_circ_0068033 exerts biological functions by sponging miR-659. This study revealed for the first time that hsa_circ_0068033 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in BC, and the hsa_circ_0068033/miR-659 axis participates in the progression of BC.
The olfactory co-receptor IR8a governs larval-frass mediated competition avoidance in a hawkmoth
Authors: Zhang Jin , Bisch-Knaden Sonja , Fandino Richard A. , Yan Shuwei , Obiero George F. , Grosse-Wilde Ewald , Hansson Bill S. , Knaden Markus
Published: August 2019

Finding a suitable oviposition site is a challenging task for a gravid female moth. At the same time, it is of paramount importance considering the limited capability of most caterpillars to relocate to alternative host plants. The hawkmoth,Manduca sexta(Sphingidae), oviposits on solanaceous plants. Larvae hatching on a plant that is already attacked by conspecific caterpillars can face food competition, as well as an increased exposure to predators and induced plant defenses. Here, we show that frass from conspecific caterpillars is sufficient to deter a femaleM. sextafrom ovipositing on a plant and that this deterrence is based on the frass-emitted carboxylic acids 3-methylpentanoic acid and hexanoic acid. Using a combination of genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), electrophysiological recordings, calcium imaging and behavioral analyses we demonstrate that the ionotropic co-receptor IR8a is essential for acid-mediated frass avoidance in ovipositing hawkmoths.
JMJD6 Cleaves MePCE to Release P-TEFb
Authors: Lee Schuyler , Liu Haolin , Hill Ryan , Hong Xia , Liu Xinjian , Crawford Fran , Zhang Qianqian , Kingsley Molly , Chen Zhongzhou , Lengeling Andreas , Bernet Kathrin , Marrack Philippa , Kappler John , Hansen Kirk , Zhou Qiang , Li Chuan-Yuan , Zhang Gongyi
Published: August 2019

More than 30% of genes in higher eukaryotes are regulated by promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Phosphorylation of Pol II-CTD by positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb) is a necessary precursor event that enables productive transcription elongation. The exact mechanism on how the sequestered P-TEFb is released from the 7SK snRNP complex and recruited to Pol II-CTD remains unknown. In this report, we reveal methylphosphate capping enzyme (MePCE), a core component of the 7SK snRNP complex, as the cognate substrate for Jumonji domain-containing 6 (JMJD6)’s novel proteolytic function. Our evidences consist of a crystal structure of JMJD6 bound to methyl-arginine, enzymatic assays of JMJD6 cleaving MePCE in vivo and in vitro, binding assays, and downstream effects of Jmjd6 knockout and overexpression on Pol II-CTD phosphorylation. We propose that JMJD6 assists bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) to recruit P-TEFb to Pol II-CTD by disrupting the 7SK snRNP complex.
Reliability of an interneuron response depends on an integrated sensory state
Authors: Dobosiewicz May , Bargmann Cornelia I.
Published: August 2019

The central nervous system transforms sensory information into representations that are salient to the animal. Here we define the logic of this transformation in aCaenorhabditis elegansintegrating interneuron. AIA interneurons receive input from multiple chemosensory neurons that detect attractive odors. We show that reliable AIA responses require the coincidence of two sensory inputs: activation of AWA olfactory neurons that are activated by attractive odors, and inhibition of one or more chemosensory neurons that are inhibited by attractive odors. AWA activates AIA through an electrical synapse, while the disinhibitory pathway acts through glutamatergic chemical synapses. The resulting AIA interneuron responses have uniform magnitude and dynamics, suggesting that AIA activation is a stereotyped response to an integrated stimulus. Our results indicate that AIA interneurons combine sensory information using AND-gate logic, requiring coordinated activity from multiple chemosensory neurons. We propose that AIA encodes positive odor valence based on an integrated sensory state.
Dead-time correction for spectroscopic photon-counting pixel detectors
Authors: Blaj Gabriel
Published: August 2019

Modern photon-counting pixel detectors have enabled a revolution in applications at synchrotron light sources and beyond in the last decade. One of the limitations of the current detectors is their reduced counting linearity or even paralysis at high counting rates, due to dead-time which results in photon pile-up. Existing dead-time and pile-up models fail to reproduce the complexity of dead-time effects on photon-counting, resulting in empirical calibrations for particular detectors at best, imprecise linearization methods, or no linearization. This problem will increase in the future as many synchrotron light sources plan significant brilliance upgrades and free-electron lasers plan moving to a quasi-continuous operation mode. Presented here are the first models that use the actual behavior of the analog pre-amplifiers in spectroscopic photon-counting pixel detectors with constant current discharge (e.g. the Medipix and CPix families of detectors) to deduce more accurate analytical models and optimal linearization methods. In particular, for detectors with at least two counters per pixel, the need for calibration, or previous knowledge of the detector and beam parameters (dead-time, integration time, large sets of synchrotron filling patterns), is completely eliminated. This is summarized in several models of increasing complexity and accuracy. Finally, a general empirical approach is presented, applicable to any particular cases where the analytical approach is not sufficiently precise.
Towards quantitative treatment of electron pair distribution function
Authors: Gorelik Tatiana E. , Neder Reinhard , Terban Maxwell W. , Lee Zhongbo , Mu Xiaoke , Jung Christoph , Jacob Timo , Kaiser Ute
Published: August 2019

The pair distribution function (PDF) is a versatile tool to describe the structure of disordered and amorphous materials. Electron PDF (ePDF) uses the advantage of strong scattering of electrons, thus allowing small volumes to be probed and providing unique information on structure variations at the nano-scale. The spectrum of ePDF applications is rather broad: from ceramic to metallic glasses and mineralogical to organic samples. The quantitative interpretation of ePDF relies on knowledge of how structural and instrumental effects contribute to the experimental data. Here, a broad overview is given on the development of ePDF as a structure analysis method and its applications to diverse materials. Then the physical meaning of the PDF is explained and its use is demonstrated with several examples. Special features of electron scattering regarding the PDF calculations are discussed. A quantitative approach to ePDF data treatment is demonstrated using different refinement software programs for a nanocrystalline anatase sample. Finally, a list of available software packages for ePDF calculation is provided.
Structure solution and refinement of metal-ion battery cathode materials using electron diffraction tomography
Authors: Hadermann Joke , Abakumov Artem M.
Published: August 2019

The applicability of electron diffraction tomography to the structure solution and refinement of charged, discharged or cycled metal-ion battery positive electrode (cathode) materials is discussed in detail. As these materials are often only available in very small amounts as powders, the possibility of obtaining single-crystal data using electron diffraction tomography (EDT) provides unique access to crucial information complementary to X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. Using several examples, the ability of EDT to be used to detect lithium and refine its atomic position and occupancy, to solve the structure of materials ex situ at different states of charge and to obtain in situ data on structural changes occurring upon electrochemical cycling in liquid electrolyte is discussed.
The crystal structure of new quantum memory-storage material Sc1.368Y0.632SiO5
Authors: Iskhakova Liudmila D. , Ilyukhin Andrey B. , Kutovoi Sergey A. , Vlasov Victor I. , Zavartsev Yuri D. , Tarasov Valerii F. , Eremina Rushana M.
Published: August 2019

Monoisotopic scandium yttrium oxyorthosilicate crystals as a material for quantum memory storage with high optical quality were grown by the Czochralski method. This material, of composition Sc1.368Y0.632SiO5, is characterized by congruent melting and a melting point 60 K below the temperature for the ideal solid-solution series Y2SiO5–Sc2SiO5. The structure of the crystals was refined on the basis of high-quality single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Sc1.368Y0.632SiO5 belongs to B-type RE2SiO5 (space group C2/c). Scandium and yttrium cations are distributed among two 8f sites with coordination numbers 7 and 6 for which the occupancy parameters ratios Sc:Y and average bond lengths are, respectively, 0.473:0.527 and RE1—O = 2.305 (2) Å, and 0.895:0.105 and RE2—O = 2.143 (2) Å. It is shown that the character of the occupancy of the positions of the cations with coordination numbers (CN) 6 and 7 for these solid solutions can be approximated by a polynomial dependence, the magnitude of the coefficients of which depends on the difference in the ionic radii of the cations. A preliminary electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study shows that activator ions with a large ionic radius at a concentration less than 0.1% occupy a position with CN = 7.
Discursive framing in private and public communication by pro-nuclear corporate, political and regulatory actors following the Fukushima disaster
Authors: Beelitz Annika , Merkl-Davies Doris M.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a case of companies cooperating with the State to prevent a public controversy over nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster and achieve mutually beneficial policy outcomes. It analyses the private and public communication of pro-nuclear corporate, political and regulatory actors.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the political economy theory, the study examines how actors mobilised power by accessing an existing social network to agree a joint public communication strategy in order to ensure public support for the continuation of nuclear power generation in the UK. It traces discursive frames from their inception in private communication to their reproduction in public communication and their dissemination via the media.

Findings

The study provides evidence of pro-nuclear actors cooperating behind the scenes to achieve consistent public pro-nuclear messaging. It finds evidence of four discursive frames: avoiding knee-jerk reactions, lessons learned, safety and nuclear renaissance. In combination, they guide audiences’ evaluation of the consequences of the Fukushima disaster for the UK in favour of continuing the commercial use of nuclear energy.

Originality/value

The private e-mail exchange between pro-nuclear actors presents a unique opportunity to examine the mobilisation of less visible forms of power in the form of agenda setting (manipulation) and discursive framing (domination) in order to influence policy outcomes and shape public opinion on nuclear energy. This is problematic because it constitutes a lack of transparency and accountability on part of the State with respect to policy outcomes and restricts the civic space by curtailing the articulation of alternative interests and voices.
Supplier evaluation and classification in a Colombian motorcycle assembly company using data envelopment analysis
Authors: Restrepo Rodrigo , Villegas Juan G.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study in which data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to evaluate and classify the suppliers of a Colombian motorcycle assembly company. This tool allows the integration of several attributes into single performance measures (cross-efficiency and diversity efficiency) and subsequent classification based on the values obtained for these two metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The classification uses a methodology based on two main tools. The first is an input-oriented cross-efficiency DEA model with ordinal variables to evaluate the suppliers’ performance, and the second is a classification of these into categories that identifies those with good performance for features that make them outstanding.

Findings

The assembly company segments its suppliers according to supply frequency. The results show that suppliers working under a just-in-time system achieve superior performance with respect to other suppliers.

Practical implications

The application of this methodology in a real-world case illustrates how DEA can be a useful tool to support the evaluation and classification of suppliers (a process of increasing complexity given the current trend to include multiple strategic measures together with classical operational measures). Moreover, the methodology illustrated in the study can be adapted to other similar settings.

Originality/value

The main contributions of this paper are twofold. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to illustrate the use of DEA in a real case related to supplier evaluation. Second, the presence of ordinal variables (e.g. quality or environmental ratings) gives rise to DEA variants seldom used in this context.
Modern information warfare: analysis and policy recommendations
Authors: Lei Hanci
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Information warfare (IW) is a novel and poorly understood threat to the international community, which may be used more commonly as a foreign policy tool in the future. By identifying the key components of modern IW, this paper seeks to formulate policy recommendations for how best to deal with this new threat. The general overview of the topic that this paper provides contributes to current efforts to develop strategies to counter IW operations around the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The goal of this paper is to break down the components of modern IW and provide policy recommendations for domestic and international governance on the issue. These recommendations will be based in part of historical initiatives to counter IW and existing literature on cyber governance. Central to the framework used to analyze the cases of Russian and North Korean IW operations are the seven defining features of “strategic” IW established by a 1996 RAND Corporation report, modified to incorporate the importance of cyberspace to cases of IW in the modern day.

Findings

Modern IW presents a new, multifaceted threat to states. Because of the value of IW as a tool by weaker states to counter stronger ones and the weakness of existing legal and normative frameworks, use of IW can be expected to be increasingly common. States can take action to promote international governance on the issue and develop policy frameworks for protecting themselves against IW.

Practical implications

IW has historically been a very tricky tactic to define and identify. By analyzing IW’s basic features, this paper provides a framework for breaking down IW into its component parts, which reveals valuable policy implications. Preventative efforts against IW can help restore trust to global information networks and lower the risk of conflict.

Originality/value

Formal scholarship on modern IW and related subjects is lacking in comparison with higher visibility threats. Increased awareness of this issue, especially amongst civilian leaders, can augment global efforts to counter IW.
Oil price-inflation pass-through in OECD countries
Authors: Adekoya Oluwasegun Babatunde , Adebiyi Anthony Noah
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the relationship between oil price and inflation in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. This paper contributes to knowledge in a number of ways.

Design/methodology/approach

First, we carry out a comparative analysis between the developed and developing countries of the OECD. Second, we check if the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2008 altered the oil price–inflation relationship. We further extend our analysis to capture asymmetries using the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag model. Lastly, we use the Campbell and Thompson (2008) forecast evaluation test to comparatively assess the predictive ability of the symmetric (restricted) and asymmetric (unrestricted) models.

Findings

Our results show that asymmetries matter in the oil price–inflation nexus. Also, the effect of the GFC of 2008 is stronger for the developed countries in the short run, and the developing countries in the long run. Lastly, accounting for asymmetries in oil price yields a better forecast for inflation in both groups.

Originality/value

The paper adds some interesting innovations to the oil price–inflation relationship in the OECD countries. It is the study with the widest scope for such country group under two classifications of developed and developing countries. It also inculcates the role of asymmetries, financial crisis, as well as the predictive ability of oil price on inflation.
Environmental scanning, supply chain integration, responsiveness, and operational performance
Authors: Yu Wantao , Chavez Roberto , Jacobs Mark , Wong Chee Yew , Yuan Chunlin
Published: August 2019

Purpose

It remains unclear how environmental scanning (ES) can generate firm performance through supply chain management (SCM) practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of ES on operational performance through supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain responsiveness (SCR).

Design/methodology/approach

The scanning–interpretation–action–performance (SIAP) model and organization information processing theory (OIPT) are used to explain the ES–SCI–SCR–performance (S–I–A–P) relationships, which were tested by structural equation modeling of survey data of 329 manufacturing firms in China.

Findings

The results indicate that ES has a significant positive effect on SCI and SCR. SCI is significantly and positively related to SCR. SCR partially mediates the relationship between ES and operational performance, and fully mediates the relationship between SCI and operational performance.

Practical implications

Supply chain managers should collaborate with senior executives to obtain signals from ES activities, as input for building SCI and SCR and use SCI as a joint interpretation mechanism of ES signals for developing SCR to reap operational advantages in the rapidly changing business environment.

Originality/value

Strategic management academics and practitioners have explicitly emphasized the importance of ES in developing strategic plans but are unsure about the role of SCM in creating operational advantages through ES. Using the SIAP model, this study theorizes and demonstrates how SCI and SCR transform signals from ES into operational performance. In doing so, a more precise application of OIPT is explicated in the supply chain context.
Tacit knowledge transfer and spillover learning in ramp-ups
Authors: Letmathe Peter , Rößler Marc
Published: August 2019

Purpose

With shortening product life cycles and an increasing number of product variants, manufacturing firms perform more production ramp-ups. In this context, learning is crucially important to quickly achieve high production process quality and stability. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a laboratory experiment, this study analyzes spillover learning between consecutive ramp-ups and how this phenomenon is influenced by tacit knowledge transfer through observation and imitation.

Findings

The results prove the existence of spillover learning between consecutive ramp-ups. Moreover, they provide evidence how tacit knowledge transfer through observation and imitation enhances learning of new tasks in consecutive production ramp-ups.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could focus on the specific psychological processes driving tacit knowledge transfer and spillover learning, a topic which is only touched upon in this paper.

Practical implications

The findings show that manufacturing firms should not only aim at reaching a steep learning curve during a single production ramp-up, but should also take into account the effects of spillover learning with regard to future production ramp-ups. Furthermore, the paper provides novel insights concerning the allocation of workers to production tasks with regard to previous experience when introducing new personnel and during ramp-up phases.

Originality/value

Previous evidence on the existence and characteristics of spillover learning in production ramp-up situations is not conclusive. This paper provides new and unambiguous insights by considering different organizational settings.
Human capital inequality and economic growth: evidence with sub-national data from Thailand
Authors: Uddin Md Nasir , Sarntisart Saran
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find the effects of human capital inequality on economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Thailand Labor Force Survey has been used to generate provincial average years of schooling and Gini coefficient of years of schooling for the years 1995‒2012. Econometric techniques have been employed to identify the effects of human capital inequality on economic growth.

Findings

Economic growth is inversely affected by the distribution of human capital in Thailand. The coefficient of human capital inequality suggests that if Gini coefficient increases by 0.01 points, gross provincial product (GPP) decreases by about 2 percentage points in the long run. However, the effect of average years of schooling in GPP is not significant.

Research limitations/implications

There is a lack of strong theoretical background for the relationship between human capital inequality and economic growth to support the empirical study.

Practical implications

The findings of the study help to design and evaluate education policies in developing countries like Thailand and other low- and middle-income countries.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first attempts to analyze the effect of human capital inequality on economic growth with sub-national level annual data. In addition, it considers cross sectional dependence in panel model.
Job uncertainty and leaving the parental home in Italy
Authors: Bertolini Sonia , Goglio Valentina
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether and to what extent the labour market situation of young Italians affects their chances of exiting the parental home, differentiating between leaving parental home with or without a partner. The paper also considers whether contextual factors, such as the occurrence of the economic crisis and family-related characteristics, might play a moderating role. The main focus is to understand if new modes of becoming adult are emerging in a country in which leaving home occurs relatively late and where family ties are at the same time a source of protection and a source of reproduction of inequalities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses longitudinal data from European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions for the period 2007–2014 and applies Event History Analysis techniques for discrete time data. The analyses estimate the hazard rate of leaving the parental home for a sample of Italian individuals in the age range of 16–40 who, at the beginning of the observation period, were living with their parents.

Findings

The empirical analyses highlight a negative association between exclusion from the labour market and housing autonomy, robust and consistent across gender and across types of transition. On the contrary, a situation of objective job insecurity does not emerge as being associated to lower chances of housing autonomy, compared to individuals with job stability. Moreover, the educational background of the family of origin does not show any mediating role on the relative disadvantage of unemployed and inactive individuals, while the relative disadvantage of inactive individuals tends to further worsen in the period after the economic crisis (2010–2014).

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the study of transitions to housing autonomy by differentiating between two modes: in couple or alone. Moreover, by introducing information on the educational background of parents and the time effect, the paper aims to combine different traditions of research coming from the sociology of work, family and inequalities.
How students’ friendship network affects their GPA ranking
Authors: Li Yongli , Li Sihan , Wei Chuang , Liu Jiaming
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Due to the unintentional or even the intentional mistakes arising from a survey, the purpose of this paper is to present a data-driven method for detecting students’ friendship network based on their daily behaviour data. Based on the detected friendship network, this paper further aims to explore how the considered network effects (i.e. friend numbers (FNs), structural holes (SHs) and friendship homophily) influence students’ GPA ranking.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected the campus smart card data of 8,917 sophomores registered in one Chinese university during one academic year, uncovered the inner relationship between the daily behaviour data with the friendship to infer the friendship network among students, and further adopted the ordered probit regression model to test the relationship between network effects with GPA rankings by controlling several influencing variables.

Findings

The data-driven approach of detecting friendship network is demonstrated to be useful and the empirical analysis illustrates that the relationship between GPA ranking andFNpresents an inverted “U-shape”, richness inSHspositively affects GPA ranking, and making more friends within the same department will benefit promoting GPA ranking.

Originality/value

The proposed approach can be regarded as a new information technology for detecting friendship network from the real behaviour data, which is potential to be widely used in many scopes. Moreover, the findings from the designed empirical analysis also shed light on how to improve GPA rankings from the angle of network effect and further guide how many friends should be made in order to achieve the highest GPA level, which contributes to the existing literature.
Second-hand fashion market: consumer role in circular economy
Authors: Machado Maria Amália Dutra , Almeida Stefânia Ordovás de , Bollick Laura Chiattone , Bragagnolo Gabriela
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of consumer motivation in the context of the circular economy (CE) through the reuse of fashion products.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was employed through ethnographic as well as in-depth interviews with nine consumers who buy used fashion products in thrift stores and street fairs in Brazil.

Findings

The findings are based on interrelationships and overlaps found in the integration between the three-dimensional consumer motivations to buy second-hand fashion cited in the literature. A framework showing a virtuous circle of motivations involving the consumer in an active role in the CE is proposed as a result.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include participants’ selection and a single region data collection. Implications aim to help researchers to more fully understand a new and complex consumer behavior in a CE.

Practical implications

By highlighting consumers’ motivations for this kind of commerce, the practical implications of this work are the possibilities to inspire retailers to start second-hand fashion businesses. Also, policy makers can focus on engaging consumers in active roles that foster CE events.

Originality/value

This work is one of the first attempts to show the role of consumers in the CE and their motivations to engage in this active behavior.
Service strategies and pricing based on heterogeneity of service values and waitingcosts in queuing system
Authors: Ma Baomei , Liu Sifeng , Liu Jian , Wang Yuning
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to study the corresponding optimal service strategies and pricing in the styled non-preemptive M/M/1 service systems from different objectives, which consider both heterogeneous waiting costs of customers and service values in customer segmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors consider two service situations where customers cannot leave the service system (i.e. monopoly service system) and customers can leave the service system freely (i.e. non-monopoly service system), respectively. The authors study the following four different perspectives that are revenue, social welfare, social cost and utility of customers. The authors first build up a new model, then propose the related objective functions. Further, the authors optimize the corresponding functions and achieve the optimal results. Later, the authors propose the corresponding optimal strategies. Finally, the authors use a practical numerical case to verify the proposed results.

Findings

The results of this paper indicates that the service provider should adopt classification services to gain the maximum revenue, the maximum social welfare and the minimum social costs by charging a priority fee in above two service systems. However, the service provider should cancel customer classification and keep regular customer only to obtain maximum utility. In the monopoly service system, both the optimal proportion priority customers and the revenue decrease with the increasing of the service rate, while in a non-monopoly service system, both of them are increasing with the service rate improving.

Originality/value

This paper first considers both heterogeneity of service values and waiting costs in queuing system, then the author set up a new model based on this assumption. Moreover, the authors draw the corresponding management insights based on the optimal results, which were unavailable before.
Influence of the different times milk clotting in production artisanal Minas Frescal cheese
Authors: Resende Suzana Rodrigues , Silva Kamilla Soares , Machado André Luiz Borges , Peres Daiane Sousa , Soares Nayana Ribeiro , Garcia Lismaíra Gonçalves Caixeta , Viana Letícia Fleury , Santos Priscila Alonso dos
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the yield, physico-chemical and microbiological parameters during the shelf life of the Minas Frescal cheese hand-manufactured by family farms.

Design/methodology/approach

In the milk, analyses of total bacterial counts, somatic cell counts and centesimal composition were performed. The milk coagulation was analyzed, with different curd times (40, 80 and 120 min), with respect to the proximate composition, pH, titratable acidity, yield and microbiological counts. The means were compared using the Tukey test with a significance level of 5 per cent. The most probable number of microorganisms were also determined in water.

Findings

The results for milk quality were within the requirements established in Normative Instruction 62, except for total dry extract. It was found that curd time did not influence the protein and fat in dry matter contents; however, the ash content in cheese of 40 min of curd time (2.8 g/100g) is significantly higher (p = 0.02) than the values found for the other curd times. The same behavior was observed for moisture content (p = 0.04). The parameters determining the cheese quality were outside the standards for human consumption, but this result is directly related to the water conditions, which were outside of potability levels. To meet the requirements established in the legislation, dairy products must follow strict standards of quality hygiene, both the raw material (water, milk) and their employees who act directly in the process.

Originality/value

For the preparation of the Minas Frescal cheese, it takes several steps, from obtaining the milk to the product ready to be consumed, so the importance of doing this monitoring and evaluating its quality.
Helping behaviors convert negative affect into job satisfaction and creative performance
Authors: Chuang Yating , Chiang Hualing , Lin Anpan
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Drawing on mood regulation theories, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of employees’ coworker-helping behaviors (OCB-Is) on the relationships between prior negative affect and subsequent job satisfaction and creative performance. The authors hypothesize that employees’ work competence is a moderator of the relation between negative affect and OCB-Is.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by the experience sampling method of self-rating (twice per day) and coworker-rating (once per day) over two weeks by 120 administrative employees and their coworkers in a university; 743 available days were obtained.

Findings

Multilevel modeling showed that self-rated negative affect during the morning was associated with coworker-rated OCB-Is during the afternoon; OCB-Is were positively associated with self-rated job satisfaction and coworker-rated creative performance during the afternoon; based on an indirect effect, OCB-Is mediated the relationships between negative affect and job satisfaction, and negative affect and creative performance; and employees with high-level work competences tended to engage in OCB-Is more than employees with low-level work competences when experiencing negative affect.

Originality/value

These findings suggest that OCB-Is create a positive reaction by converting negative affect into positive job satisfaction and creative performance and that employees’ work competence is the boundary condition.
Flexibility and innovation: moderator effects of cooperation and dynamism
Authors: Martínez-Sánchez Ángel , Vela-Jimenez Maria-Jose , Abella-Garces Silvia , Gorgemans Sophie
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze simultaneously two moderator effects on a model of relationships between external human resource (HR) flexibility and innovation in a large sample of manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample consisted of 1,864 Spanish industrial firms in 2012 compiled from a large set of statements from the Survey of Business Strategies questionnaire. Logit and linear regressions tested the moderator effects of inter-organizational technology cooperation and environmental (market) dynamism in the relationship between external HR flexibility and innovation performance. To control for multicollinearity the Lance’s residual centering technique was used.

Findings

Process innovations seemed to be dependent on industry while innovative firms have developed a greater flexibility than non-innovative firms. Some moderator effects were found regarding inter-organizational cooperation while the market dynamism was negatively related to the measures of innovation with absence of moderator effects.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should integrate more moderator effects that may influence the relationship between external HR flexibility and the firm’s innovation performance. The results regarding the influences of external flexibility on innovation have to be differentiated as inter-organizational technological cooperation compensated the influence of external workplace flexibility on innovation.

Practical implications

Managers should use a right mix of external flexibility measures according to the inter-organizational cooperation but regardless the level of environmental dynamism.

Originality/value

This paper is original in the sense that it studies the relationship between external HR flexibility and innovation with the simultaneous moderator effect of inter-organizational technology cooperation and market dynamism. The value of the paper lies in the discussion of interrelated moderator effects in order to propose adequate strategies to develop external HR flexibility.
Husserl’s epoche and the way of the sword: exploring pathways into phenomenological inquiry
Authors: Roberts Bradley Edward
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Phenomenology is widely recognised for its power to generate nuanced understanding of lived experience and human existence. However, phenomenology is often made inaccessible to prospective researchers due to its specialised nomenclature and dense philosophical underpinnings. This paper explores the value of the researcher’s lived experience as a pathway into phenomenological inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to improve the accessibility of phenomenology as a method for qualitative analysis. It achieves this by aligning Husserl’s concept of phenomenological epoche, or bracketing of preconceptions, and the author’s lived experience as a practitioner of kendo, or Japanese fencing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs the narrative vignette as a means of illuminating the intersections between kendo practice and the application of phenomenological epoche as it applies to the understanding of embodied sensemaking. Reflections on the narrative vignette identified a suite of techniques from kendo practice that were applied to a phenomenological approach for critical incident interviews. These techniques were then applied to 30 critical incident, semi-structured interviews as part of a PhD research project into embodied sensemaking.

Findings

The results from these interviews suggest that the kendo-derived techniques were effective in generating thick narratives from participants during semi-structured interviews. Examination of the results provided insights into the linkage between phenomenology as a continental philosophy and eastern perspectives such as those found within the Zen traditions and other aesthetic practices.

Originality/value

This research suggests that lived experience such as kendo practice can provide a ready-to-hand pathway to phenomenological inquiry.
Exploring firm performance by institutional pressures driven green supply chain management practices
Authors: Ahmed Waqar , Najmi Arsalan , Arif Muhammad , Younus Muhammad
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Environmental concerns are rapidly increasing in the industries across the world. They are a more serious issue, especially, in the developing countries due to the prevalence of old practices and outdated technology. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of institutional pressure and environmental orientation of the firm in adopting green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, and thereon the effect of GSCM on the firm’s performance.

Design/methodology/approach

By employing survey methodology using purposive sampling technique, the data were collected from 229 respondents who were working as supply chain management professionals in various manufacturing firms. The hypotheses were tested through partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings reveal that both institutional pressures and environmental orientation significantly impact GSCM practices. The result further shows that GSCM practices have a positive effect on the environmental and economic performance as well as customer effectiveness.

Originality/value

Industries in the developing economies like Pakistan are reluctant to implement GSCM practices due to the perception of ambiguous financial implications. This study signifies that institutional pressures act as an effective driving force for change management and compliance.
Social impact of a corporate social responsibility initiative
Authors: Riggin Brendan , Danylchuk Karen , Gill Dawn , Petrella Robert
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the social impact of an initiative (Hockey FIT) aimed at improving the health and well-being of sport fans and their community.

Design/methodology/approach

Fans (n=80) participated in 12 weekly health promotion sessions hosted in local hockey club facilities. Objective health measurements, diet and physical activity levels of fans were measured at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months, to determine the intermediate, long-term, individual and community impact. Furthermore, one-on-one interviews with 28 program participants were conducted to further understand the program’s social impact.

Findings

The intermediate impact was noticed as improvements in weight loss, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (BP), steps per day, healthful eating, self-reported overall health and fatty food scores at 12 weeks. The long-term individual impact of Hockey FIT was realized as participants maintained or continued to improve their weight loss, waist circumference, healthful eating, systolic BP and diastolic BP 12 months after the program had been offered. The program was also reported to increase family bonding time and improved the diet, daily physical activity, and general awareness of health promotion programs and components for friends, family members and coworkers.

Originality/value

The positive health-related results from this study contradict prior research that has suggested there is minimal evidence of any substantial contributions from social programs in sport. Through a collective approach to corporate social responsibility, this research demonstrates the ability for sport organizations to contribute to meaningful social change and the positive role that they play within the community.