bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual Reality Model of the Three-Dimensional Anatomy of the Cavernous Sinus Based on a Cadaveric Image and Dissection
Authors: Qian Zeng-hui , Feng Xu , Li Yang , Tang Ke
Published: October 2017

Objective:

Studying the three-dimensional (3D) anatomy of the cavernous sinus is essential for treating lesions in this region with skull base surgeries. Cadaver dissection is a conventional method that has insurmountable flaws with regard to understanding spatial anatomy. The authors’ research aimed to build an image model of the cavernous sinus region in a virtual reality system to precisely, individually and objectively elucidate the complete and local stereo-anatomy.

Methods:

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed on 5 adult cadaver heads. Latex mixed with contrast agent was injected into the arterial system and then into the venous system. Computed tomography scans were performed again following the 2 injections. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed again after the cranial nerves were exposed. Image data were input into a virtual reality system to establish a model of the cavernous sinus. Observation results of the image models were compared with those of the cadaver heads.

Results:

Visualization of the cavernous sinus region models built using the virtual reality system was good for all the cadavers. High resolutions were achieved for the images of different tissues. The observed results were consistent with those of the cadaver head. The spatial architecture and modality of the cavernous sinus were clearly displayed in the 3D model by rotating the model and conveniently changing its transparency.

Conclusion:

A 3D virtual reality model of the cavernous sinus region is helpful for globally and objectively understanding anatomy. The observation procedure was accurate, convenient, noninvasive, and time and specimen saving.
HDL Cholesterol Efflux is Impaired in Older Patients with Early Sepsis: A Subanalysis of a Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Guirgis Faheem W. , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Grijalva Victor , Bowman Jennifer , Kalynych Colleen , Moldawer Lyle , Moore Frederick A. , Reddy Srinivasa T.
Published: October 2017

Background:

Proper functioning of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is necessary for protection against sepsis. However, previous work has demonstrated that HDL becomes oxidized and dysfunctional (Dys-HDL) during sepsis. Older (aged >65 years) patients are at particularly high risk of sepsis and poor outcomes from sepsis.

Study objective:

The aim of the study was to compare functional properties of HDL (cholesterol efflux capacity and paraoxonase enzyme 1 [PON-1] activity) and Dys-HDL between older (aged >65 years) sepsis patients and older healthy volunteers.

Methods:

This was a subanalysis of a prospective study in which patients with sepsis were prospectively enrolled from the emergency department within the first 24 h. Serum and plasma samples were drawn from septic patients and age- and sex-matched control subjects. Percent cholesterol efflux, HDL inflammatory index, and PON1 activity were measured. Data were analyzed using Student t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results:

Ten sepsis and 10 healthy controls were analyzed. Mean age of sepsis patients (80 ± 2 years [SD]) and control subjects (77 ± 2 years) was similar (P = 0.31). Mean systolic blood pressures were significantly different in sepsis patients (113 ± 8 mmHg) compared with controls (133 ± 6 mmHg) (P = 0.049). Median SOFA scores for sepsis patients were 5.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 4–9). Mean percent cholesterol efflux was significantly reduced in sepsis (24.1 ± 1.2%) compared with controls (31.5 ± 1.0%) (P < 0.001). HDL inflammatory index was also significantly elevated in septic patients (1.63, IQR 1.3–2.34) compared with controls (0.62, IQR 0.56–0.67) (P < 0.001). However, PON1 activity was not significantly different between septic patients (70.3 ± 16.3 nmol/min/mL) and control subjects (88.8 ± 18.3 nmol/min/mL).

Conclusions:

Cholesterol efflux capacity seems to be significantly impaired in sepsis patients who also exhibited a higher index of Dys-HDL. The findings suggest that HDL function may be impaired in older individuals with sepsis.
Low heritability of nest construction in a wild bird
Authors: Järvinen Pauliina , Kluen Edward , Brommer Jon E.
Published: October 2017

In birds and other taxa, nest construction varies considerably between and within populations. Such variation is hypothesized to have an adaptive (i.e. genetic) basis, but estimates of heritability in nest construction are largely lacking. Here, we demonstrate with data collected over 10 years from 1010 nests built by blue tits in nest-boxes that nest size (height of nest material) and nest composition (proportion of feathers in the nest) are repeatable but only weakly (12–13%) heritable female traits. These findings imply that nest construction may evolve but only if subjected to strong and consistent selection pressures.
Stressful city sounds: glucocorticoid responses to experimental traffic noise are environmentally dependent
Authors: Davies Scott , Haddad Nicole , Ouyang Jenny Q.
Published: October 2017

A major challenge in urban ecology is to identify the environmental factors responsible for phenotypic differences between urban and rural individuals. However, the intercorrelation between the factors that characterize urban environments, combined with a lack of experimental manipulations of these factors in both urban and rural areas, hinder efforts to identify which aspects of urban environments are responsible for phenotypic differences. Among the factors modified by urbanization, anthropogenic sound, particularly traffic noise, is especially detrimental to animals. The mechanisms by which anthropogenic sound affects animals are unclear, but one potential mechanism is through changes in glucocorticoid hormone levels. We exposed adult house wrens,
Troglodytes aedon
, to either traffic noise or pink noise (a non-traffic noise control). We found that urban wrens had higher initial (pre-restraint) corticosterone than rural wrens before treatment, and that traffic noise elevated initial corticosterone of rural, but not urban, wrens. By contrast, restraint stress-induced corticosterone was not affected by noise treatment. Our results indicate that traffic noise specifically contributes to determining the glucocorticoid phenotype, and suggest that glucocorticoids are a mechanism by which anthropogenic sound causes phenotypic differences between urban and rural animals.
O brother, where art thou? Investment in siblings for inclusive fitness benefits, not father absence, predicts earlier age at menarche
Authors: Smith Daniel
Published: October 2017

Numerous studies have indicated that father absence is associated with earlier age at menarche, with many evolutionary theories assuming that father absence is a causal factor that accelerates reproductive development. However, an alternative interpretation suggests that offspring may reproduce earlier in the presence of half- or step-siblings as the indirect fitness benefits to investing in them are lower, relative to delaying reproduction and investing in full siblings. From this perspective, father absence may perform no causal role in facilitating the onset of menarche. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, I find that individuals with only half- or step-siblings reach reproductive age earlier than those with only full siblings, with no independent effect of father absence. These results suggest that inclusive fitness benefits to investing in siblings, rather than father absence, may predict variation in age at menarche. These results provide a greater understanding of the adaptive mechanisms involved in reproductive decision-making, as well as potential implications for human life-history evolution and cooperative breeding more broadly.
Systemic Rasamsonia piperina infection in a German shepherd cross dog
Authors: Lodzinska Joanna , Cazzini Paola , Taylor Claire S. , Harris Jenifer , Kilpatrick Scott , Liuti Tiziana , Paterson Gavin K.
Published: October 2017

Introduction. Infection with the Rasamsonia argillacea species complex represents an emerging problem in human and veterinary medicine with systemic mycoses presenting with significant clinical complications and being a cause of death.

Case presentation. In this report, a case of systemic Rasamsonia piperina infection discovered in a 3-year-old male neutered, German shepherd cross dog is described together with the clinical presentation, the course of the disease and diagnosis. This report describes the first case of veterinary mycosis due to R. piperina in Europe and the first case in humans or animals in the UK.

Conclusion. Although seemingly rare, R. argillacea species complex infection should be a differential diagnosis for dogs, especially German shepherds with the described presenting signs, and radiographic and ultrasonographic findings.
QuASAR: Quality Assessment of Spatial Arrangement Reproducibility in Hi-C Data
Authors: Sauria Michael EG , Taylor James
Published: October 2017

Hi-C has revolutionized global interrogation of chromosome conformation, however there are few tools to assess the reliability of individual experiments. Here we present a new approach, QuASAR, for measuring quality within and between Hi-C samples. We show that QuASAR can detect even tiny fractions of noise and estimate both return on additional sequencing and quality upper bounds. We also demonstrate QuASAR's utility in measuring replicate agreement across feature resolutions. Finally, QuASAR can estimate resolution limits based on both internal and replicate quality scores. QuASAR provides an objective means of Hi-C sample comparison while providing context and limits to these measures.
An internal sensor detects dietary amino acids and promotes food consumption in Drosophila
Authors: Yang Zhe , Huang Rui , Fu Xin , Wang Gaohang , Qi Wei , Shen Wei , Wang Liming
Published: October 2017

Adequate protein intake is crucial for animals. Despite the recent progress in understanding protein hunger and satiety in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, how fruit flies assess prospective dietary protein sources and ensure protein consumption remains elusive. We show here that three specific amino acids, L-glutamate (L-Glu), L-alanine (L-Ala), and L-aspartate (L-Asp), rapidly promote food consumption in fruit flies when present in food. The effect of dietary amino acids to promote food consumption is independent of mating experience and internal nutritional status. Genetic analysis identifies six brain neurons expressing diuretic hormone 44 (DH44) as a sensor of dietary amino acids. DH44+ neurons can be directly activated by these three amino acids, and are both necessary and sufficient for dietary amino acids to promote food consumption. By conducting single cell RNAseq analysis, we also identify an amino acid transporter, CG13248, which is highly expressed in DH44+ neurons and is required for dietary amino acids to promote food consumption. Therefore, these data suggest that dietary amino acids may enter DH44+ neurons via CG13248 and modulate their activity and hence food consumption. Taken together, these data identify an internal amino acid sensor in the fly brain that evaluate food sources post-ingestively and facilitates adequate protein intake.
Light-Activated Cell Identification and Sorting (LACIS): A New Method to Identify and Select Edited Clones on a Microfluidic Device
Authors: Mocciaro Annamaria , Roth Theodore L. , Bennett Hayley M. , Soumillon Magali , Shah Abhik , Hiatt Joseph , Chapman Kevin , Marson Alexander , Lavieu Gregory
Published: October 2017

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has revolutionized cell engineering and promises to open new doors in gene and cell therapies. Despite improvements in the CRISPR-editing molecular toolbox in cell lines and primary cells, identifying and purifying properly edited clones remains slow, laborious and low-yield. Here, we establish a new method that uses cell manipulation on a chip with Opto-Electronic Positioning (OEP) technology to enable clonal isolation and selection of edited cells. We focused on editing CXCR4 in primary human T cells, a gene that encodes a co-receptor for HIV entry. T cells hold significant potential for cell-based therapy, but the gene-editing efficiency and expansion potential of these cells is limited. We describe here a method to obviate these limitations. Briefly, after electroporation of cells with CXCR4-targeting Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), single T cells were isolated on a chip, where they proliferated over time into well-resolved colonies. Phenotypic consequences of genome editing could be rapidly assessed on-chip with cell-surface staining for CXCR4. Furthermore, independent of phenotype, individual colonies could be identified based on their specific genotype at the 5-10 cell stage. Each colony was split and sequentially exported for immediate on-target sequencing and validation, and further off-chip clonal expansion of the validated clones. We were able to assess single-clone editing efficiencies, including the rate of monoallelic and biallelic indels or precise nucleotide replacements. This new method will enable identification and selection of perfectly edited clones within 10 days from Cas9-RNP introduction in cells based on the phenotype and/or genotype.
TASEP modelling provides a parsimonious explanation for the ability of a single uORF to upregulate downstream ORF translation during the Integrated Stress Response
Authors: Andreev Dmitry E , Arnold Maxim , Loughran Gary , Rachinskii Dmitrii , Baranov Pavel V
Published: October 2017

Translation initiation is the rate limiting step of protein synthesis that is downregulated during Integrated Stress Response (ISR). In our previous work (Andreev, O’Connor et al 2015), we demonstrated that most human mRNAs resistant to this inhibition possess translated uORFs and in some cases a single uORF is sufficient for the resistance. Here we developed a computational model of Initiation Complexes Interference with Elongating Ribosomes (ICIER) to gain insight into the mechanism. We explored the relationship between the flux of scanning ribosomes upstream and downstream of a single uORF depending on uORF features. Paradoxically our analysis predicts that reducing ribosome flux upstream of certain uORFs increases initiation downstream. The model reveals derepression of downstream translation as general mechanism of uORF-mediated stress resistance. It predicts that stress resistance can be achieved with long or slowly translated uORFs that do not favor high levels of translation re-initiation and start with non-leaky initiators.
Placeholder nucleosomes underlie germline-to-embryo DNA methylation reprogramming
Authors: Murphy PJ , Wu SF , James CR , Wike CL , Cairns BR
Published: October 2017

The fate and function of epigenetic marks during the germline-to-embryo transition is a key issue in developmental biology, with relevance to stem cell programming and trans-generational inheritance. In zebrafish, DNA methylation (DNAme) patterns are programmed in transcriptionally-quiescent cleavage embryos; remarkably, paternally-inherited patterns are maintained, whereas maternal patterns are reprogrammed to match the paternal. Here we provide the mechanism, by demonstrating that ‘Placeholder’ nucleosomes, containing histone H2A variant H2A.Z(FV) and H3K4me1, occupy virtually all regions lacking DNAme in both sperm and cleavage embryos, and resides at promoters encoding housekeeping and early embryonic transcription factors. Upon genome-wide transcriptional onset, genes with Placeholder become either active (H3K4me3) or silent (H3K4me3/K27me3). Importantly, functional perturbation causing Placeholder loss confers DNAme accumulation, whereas acquisition/expansion of Placeholder confers DNA hypomethylation and improper gene activation. Thus, during transcriptionally-quiescent gametic and embryonic stages, an H2A.Z(FV)/H3K4me1-containing Placeholder nucleosome deters DNAme, poising parental genes for either gene-specific activation or facultative repression.

Highlights: four, 85 characters each

Placeholder nucleosomes bear H3K4me and the histone variant H2A.Z(FV)

Placeholders occupy all DNA hypomethylated loci in zebrafish sperm and early embryos

At ZGA, Placeholders resolve into either active or poised (bivalent) nucleosomes

Placeholder localization excludes DNAme, and regulates embryonic transcription
p53 is required for female germline stem cell maintenance inP-element hybrid dysgenesis
Authors: Tasnim Sadia , Kelleher Erin S.
Published: October 2017

Hybrid dysgenesis is a sterility syndrome resulting from the mobilization of certain transposable elements in theDrosophilagermline. Particularly extreme is the hybrid dysgenesis syndrome caused byP-element DNA transposons, in which dysgenic female ovaries often contain few or no germline cells. Those offspring that are produced from dysgenic germlines exhibit high rates ofde novomutation and recombination, implicating transposition-associated DNA damage as the cause of germline loss. However, how this loss occurs, in terms of the particular cellular response that is triggered (cell cycle arrest, senescence, or cell death) remains poorly understood. We demonstrate that two components of the DNA damage response, Checkpoint kinase 2 and its downstream target p53, are determine the frequency of ovarian atrophy that is associated withP-element hybrid dysgenesis. We further show that p53 is strongly induced in the germline stem cells (GSCs) of dysgenic females, and is required for their maintenance. Our observations support the critical role for p53 in conferring tolerance of transposable element activity in stem cells.
The BXD Mouse Strains are a Model System for Studying Optic Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Wang Jiaxing , Li Ying , King Rebecca , Struebing Felix L. , Geisert Eldon E.
Published: October 2017

The present study is designed to identify the influences of genetic background to optic nerve regeneration using the two parental strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J and 7 BXD recombinant inbred strains. To study regeneration in the optic nerve, Pten was knocked down in the retinal ganglion cells using AAV, and a mild inflammatory response was induced by an intravitreal injection of zymosan with CPT-cAMP, and the axons were damaged by optic nerve crush (ONC). Regenerating axons were labeled by Cholera Toxin B and quantified 14 days after ONC. The number of axons at 0.5 mm and 1 mm from the crush site were counted. In addition, we measured the distance that 5 axons had grown down the nerve and the longest distance a single axon reached. Results showed a considerable amount of differential axonal growth across all 9 BXD strains. There was a significant difference (P=0.014 Mann-Whitney U test) in the regenerative capacity in the number of axons reaching 0.5 mm from a low of 1487.6 ± 264.9 axons in BXD102 to a high of 4175.8 ± 648.6 axons in BXD29. There were also significant differences (P=0.014 Mann-Whitney U test) in the distance axons traveled, looking at a minimum of 5 axons with the shortest distance was 787.2 ± 46.5µm in BXD102 to a maximum distance of 2025.5 ± 223.3µm in BXD29. These results reveal that genetic background can modulate axonal regeneration and that the BXD strains are a particularly well-suited model system.
Structural basis for recognition of diverse antidepressants by the human serotonin transporter
Authors: Coleman Jonathan A. , Gouaux Eric
Published: October 2017

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are clinically prescribed antidepressants that act by increasing the local concentration of neurotransmitter at synapses and in extracellular spaces via blockade of the serotonin transporter. Here we report x-ray structures of engineered thermostable variants of the human serotonin transporter bound to the antidepressants sertraline, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine. The drugs prevent serotonin binding by occupying the central substrate binding site and stabilizing the transporter in an outward-open conformation. These structures explain how residues within the central site orchestrate binding of chemically diverse inhibitors and mediate transporter-drug selectivity.
A map of gene expression in neutrophil-like cell lines
Authors: Rincón Esther , Rocha-Gregg Briana , Collins Sean R.
Published: October 2017

Background

Human neutrophils are central players in innate immunity, a major component of inflammatory responses, and a leading model for cell motility and chemotaxis. However, primary neutrophils are remarkably short-lived, limiting their experimental usefulness in the laboratory. Thus, human myeloid cell lines have been established and characterized for their ability to undergo neutrophil-like differentiationin vitro. The HL-60 cell line and its PLB-985 sub-line are commonly used as a model for human neutrophil behavior, but how closely gene expression in differentiated cells resembles that of primary neutrophils has remained unclear.

Results

In the present study, we compared the effectiveness of differentiation protocols and used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to compare the transcriptomes of HL-60 and PLB-985 cells with published data for human and mouse primary neutrophils. Among commonly used differentiation protocols for neutrophil like cell lines, addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) gave the best combination of cell viability and expression of markers for differentiation. However, combining DMSO with the serum-free-supplement Nutridoma resulted in an increased chemotactic response and cell surface expression of the neutrophil markers FPR1 and CD11b without a cost in viability. RNA-seq analysis of HL-60 and PLB-985 cells before and after differentiation showed that differentiation broadly increases the similarity in gene expression between the cell lines and primary neutrophils. Furthermore, the gene expression pattern of the differentiated cell lines correlated slightly better with that of human neutrophils than the mouse neutrophil pattern did. Finally, we created a publicly available gene expression database that is searchable by gene name and by protein domain content, where users can compare gene expression in HL-60, PLB-985 and primary human and mouse neutrophils.

Conclusions

Our study verifies that a DMSO-based differentiation protocol for HL-60 and PLB-985 cell lines gives superior differentiation and cell viability relative to other common protocols, and indicates that addition of Nutridoma may be preferable for studies of chemotaxis. Our neutrophil gene expression database will be a valuable tool to identify similarities and differences in gene expression between the cell lines and primary neutrophils, to compare expression levels for genes of interest, and to improve the design of tools for genetic perturbations.
A symmetric toggle switch explains the onset of random X inactivation in different mammals
Authors: Mutzel Verena , Okamoto Ikuhiro , Dunkel Ilona , Saitou Mitinori , Giorgetti Luca , Heard Edith , Schulz Edda G.
Published: October 2017

Gene-regulatory networks control establishment and maintenance of alternative gene expression states during development. A particular challenge is the acquisition of opposing states by two copies of the same gene, as it is the case in mammals for Xist at the onset of random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). The regulatory principles that lead to stable mono-allelic expression of Xist remain unknown. Here, we uncovered the minimal Xist regulatory network, by combining mathematical modeling and experimental validation of central model predictions. We identified a symmetric toggle switch as the basis for random mono-allelic Xist up-regulation, which reproduces data from several mutant, aneuploid and polyploid murine cell lines with various Xist expression patterns. Moreover, this toggle switch explains the diversity of strategies employed by different species at the onset of XCI. In addition to providing a unifying conceptual framework to explore X-chromosome inactivation across mammals, our study sets the stage for identifying the molecular mechanisms required to initiate random XCI.
The slip-and-slide algorithm: a refinement protocol for detector geometry
Authors: Ginn Helen Mary , Stuart David Ian
Published: October 2017

Geometry correction is traditionally plagued by mis-fitting of correlated parameters, leading to local minima which prevent further improvements. Segmented detectors pose an enhanced risk of mis-fitting: even a minor confusion of detector distance and panel separation can prevent improvement in data quality. The slip-and-slide algorithm breaks down effects of the correlated parameters and their associated target functions in a fundamental shift in the approach to the problem. Parameters are never refined against the components of the data to which they are insensitive, providing a dramatic boost in the exploitation of information from a very small number of diffraction patterns. This algorithm can be applied to exploit the adherence of the spot-finding results prior to indexing to a given lattice using unit-cell dimensions as a restraint. Alternatively, it can be applied to the predicted spot locations and the observed reflection positions after indexing from a smaller number of images. Thus, the indexing rate can be boosted by 5.8% using geometry refinement from only 125 indexed patterns or 500 unindexed patterns. In one example of cypovirus type 17 polyhedrin diffraction at the Linac Coherent Light Source, this geometry refinement reveals a detector tilt of 0.3° (resulting in a maximal Z-axis error of ∼0.5 mm from an average detector distance of ∼90 mm) whilst treating all panels independently. Re-indexing and integrating with updated detector geometry reduces systematic errors providing a boost in anomalous signal of sulfur atoms by 20%. Due to the refinement of decoupled parameters, this geometry method also reaches convergence.
Determinants of brand resurrection movements
Authors: Davari Arezoo , Iyer Pramod , Guzmán Francisco
Published: October 2017

Purpose

There is a growing trend of brand resurrections that are driven by consumer power. Millennials play a critical role in initiating most of these brand resurrection movements using social media. This study aims to explore the factors that drive consumers’ participation in brand resurrection movements – an outcome of brand cocreation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using self-administered survey. This study uses the partial least squares-structural equation modeling to empirically examine the factors that motivate consumers to participate in brand resurrection movements.

Findings

The results indicate that consumers’ beliefs about the functional and value-expressive utilities, and their judgments of the perceived brand superiority of the defunct brand are significantly associated with brand resurrection movements. Nostalgia moderates the relationship between social-adjustive utility and brand resurrection movement, which shows that consumers’ social-adjustive utility becomes relevant when triggered with a strong sense of the past.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to literature on reviving defunct brands. This study also identifies additional factors that determine the success of brands that are being relaunched.

Practical implications

From a managerial perspective, the study provides insights into when and how organizations can consider bringing back defunct brands. Future studies should introduce additional variables to the model such as product category involvement that may be associated with consumers’ willingness to bring back defunct brands.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that empirically examines the motivations behind consumer participation in bringing back defunct brands. The importance of this study is highlighted in the fact that several defunct brands are being revived by organizations due to consumer-brand co-creation movements.
Assessing the effect of narrative transportation, portrayed action, and photographic style on the likelihood to comment on posted selfies
Authors: Farace Stefania , van Laer Tom , de Ruyter Ko , Wetzels Martin
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the effect of narrative transportation, portrayed action and photographic style on viewers’ likelihood to comment on posted consumer photos.

Design/methodology/approach

Integrating visual semiotics and experiments, this research examines the influence of consumer photos on viewers’ likelihood to comment on the visualised narrative. One pilot, three experimental and a content analysis involve photos varying in their narrative perspective (selfie vs elsie) and portrayed content (no product, no action or directed action). The authors also test for the boundary condition of the role of the photographic style (snapshot, professional and “parody” selfie) on the likelihood to comment on consumer photos.

Findings

Viewers are more likely to comment on photos displaying action. When these photos are selfies, the effect is exacerbated. The experience of narrative transportation – a feeling of entering a world evoked by the narrative – underlies this effect. However, if a snapshot style is used (primed or manipulated) – namely, the photographic style appears genuine, unconstructed and natural – the superior effect of selfies disappears because of greater perceived silliness of the visualised narrative.

Practical implications

Managers should try to motivate consumers to take selfies portraying action if their aim is to encourage electronic word-of-mouth.

Social implications

Organisations can effectively use consumer photos portraying consumption for educational purpose (e.g. eating healthfully and reducing alcohol use).

Originality/value

This research links consumer photos and electronic word-of-mouth and extends the marketing literature on visual narratives, which is mainly focused on company rather than user-generated content.
How brand loyal shoppers respond to three different brand discontinuation scenarios
Authors: Hebblethwaite Denisa , Parsons Andrew G. , Spence Mark T.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Retailers may respond to a manufacturer discontinuing a brand or product range in three ways: not offering an alternative, thus reducing the assortment size; replacing it with a substitute; or introducing a rebranded product by the same manufacturer, if such an option is available. This study aims to evaluate all three scenarios and assess the extent to which total category sales are affected; how these discontinuations affect alternative offerings within the product category; and whether usage levels moderate within category switching behaviour. Shoppers did not have the option of switching stores to acquire the discontinued brand – their preferred brand/product range ceased to exist.

Design/methodology/approach

All three studies are quasi-experiments using scanner panel data. The product discontinuations examined are real events that took place within the major supermarket chain in New Zealand.

Findings

In all the three scenarios, average category sales decreased for the three-month period following the discontinuation. In Study 1, where a preferred brand of milk was discontinued with no replacement, overall category sales decreased but competing brands gained sales; introducing a replacement corn chip range (Study 2) successfully captured the spend on the discontinued range, but other brands lost sales; and rebranding a cereal (Study 3) decreased both brand sales and category sales. With the exception of Study 1, near-substitute product offerings did not capture a greater proportion of the spend from the discontinued brand as compared to less similar substitutes. Expectations were that heavy users would have a greater propensity to shift to near alternatives than would medium/light users; however, none of the studies lend support.

Originality/value

This is the first research effort to use scanner panel data to explore the reactions by brand loyal customers to three different brand discontinuation scenarios initiated by the manufacturer.
Luxury advertising and recognizable artworks
Authors: Peluso Alessandro M. , Pino Giovanni , Amatulli Cesare , Guido Gianluigi
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This research advances current knowledge about art infusion, which is the ability of art to favorably influence the assessment of consumer products. In particular, the research aims to investigate the effectiveness of artworks that evoke their creators’ most recognizable style in luxury advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

The research encompasses three studies – two conducted online and one in a real consumption situation. The first study explores the effect that a recognizable vs non-recognizable painter’s style has on consumers’ judgments about luxury products. The second and third studies explore the moderating roles of desire to signal status and desire for distinction, respectively, which are relevant to advertisers interested in targeting these individual differences.

Findings

Advertisements that incorporate artworks that evoke a painter’s most recognizable style enhance the advertised products’ perceived luxuriousness. Consumers with a higher desire to signal status exhibit greater purchasing intention in response to recognizable artworks. By contrast, consumers with a higher desire for distinction exhibit greater purchasing intention when the painter’s style in the featured artwork is less recognizable.

Practical implications

The results provide marketers with suggestions on how to select and incorporate visual artworks into luxury brand communication: they could focus on recognizable vs non-recognizable artworks based on whether their main goal is to communicate status or distinctiveness.

Originality/value

This research offers novel insights into the practical value of art infusion by showing when and for whom the beneficial effects of pairing art with luxury products are more likely to occur.
The critical success factors for stakeholder management in the restoration of built heritage assets in the UK
Authors: Nwachukwu Chijindu V. , Udeaja Chika , Chileshe Nicholas , Okere Chimene E.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Built heritage or historic assets (BHAs) constructed in the pre-nineteenth century in the UK are perceived to have certain characteristics which instill cultural significance in them and have seen them become valuable to the economy of the country. The heritage sector makes significant contributions to the UK economy through provision of tourist attractive sites, construction and servicing of heritage assets, heritage conservation, research, and commercial activities carried out within and around heritage assets. These benefits have seen them draw considerable interests from diverse stakeholders within and outside the heritage sector. Hence, a lot of attention is drawn toward restoration of such assets, from stakeholders of different interests, ranging from advocacies for no alteration to complete alteration of the heritage assets. As with construction projects, conflict of interests amongst stakeholders affect the outcome of restoration projects and the purpose of this paper is to examine the critical success factors (CSFs) for managing the stakeholders to achieve the projects’ objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the views and experiences of practitioners in the heritage sector who have been involved with BHA restoration projects. A total of 32 CSFs for stakeholder management, obtained through rigorous reviews of literature, were subjected to a severe scrutiny with eight restoration experts to determine the importance of the CSFs in restoration projects. The outcome of the exercise was a modified list of 20 CSFs which were further tested on 52 restoration practitioners in the UK using a structured questionnaire to determine the degree of importance of each of the CSFs in restoration projects and their relationships as perceived by the practitioners.

Findings

The results of the analyses performed on the data show that most of the CSFs were perceived by restoration practitioners as truly critical and vital for successful management of stakeholders in restoration of BHAs. The results also indicate that there is a strong consensus amongst over 50 percent of the practitioners on the rankings of the CSFs.

Practical implications

The identified CSFs could be used by the restoration practitioners as a “road map” for the development of appropriate solutions for successfully managing stakeholders associated with the promotion and BHAs restoration assets.

Originality/value

Although CSFs for stakeholder management in construction have been studied by many scholars, no specific research could be identified prior to this study to have been done in defining the CSFs for stakeholder management in restoration projects.
Appraisal of reward packages in construction firms
Authors: Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Ibironke Olajide Timothy , Bayegun Osuolale Adelani
Published: October 2017

Purpose

A major requirement and practice in human resource management of an organisation is the award of appropriate reward packages to employees. This paper aims to examine the importance attached to reward packages by personnel of quantity surveying firms (QSFs) and the level of adoption of the packages with a view to develop important ones that can enhance quality of performance and reliability of the employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered on registered quantity surveyors employed in QSFs in the study area, which was Lagos State, Nigeria. Mean item score and chi-square were used to examine the significance of importance attached to available reward packages by employees, whereas factor analysis was used to highlight and group identified available reward packages.

Findings

Basic pay, that is salary and wages, is the most important and mostly used reward package, whereas the least are service recognition and profit sharing. Most of the reward packages were found to be important to the development of QSFs, and the variables were extracted and grouped into eight components.

Originality/value

As much as basic pay is a global and traditional reward system, managers and directors of QSFs should ensure that personnel with long-term commitment to the mission and vision of the company are duly recognised and rewarded accordingly. More so, profit from the proceed and benefits of the company should be shared in an appropriate manner, especially if employees are involved in securing jobs from clients.
Analysing the benefits, techniques, tools and challenges of knowledge management practices in the Malaysian construction SMEs
Authors: Yap Jeffrey Boon Hui , Lock Anna
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Knowledge management (KM) is the central know how for the construction industry. However, the delivery of construction projects is often plagued by schedule delays and cost overruns due to lack of working knowledge of project personnel. Hence, the need to appraise the practices of knowledge management in the construction industry has become all the more germane. This paper aims to determine the awareness of KM practices in Malaysia-based construction small and medium enterprises, and to investigate the benefits, tools and techniques, and challenges associated with knowledge management implementation so that effective measures can be devised to address them.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data were gathered using a structured questionnaire survey disseminated in the Klang Valley region in Malaysia. Responses were collected from 107 industry practitioners. The quantitative data are subjected to descriptive statistics, and the ranking with category of significance of the hypothesised variables is determined using the relative importance index (RII) technique.

Findings

The key benefits of KM practices are predominantly raising efficiency, quality, productivity and decision-making. The most preferred KM techniques are “face-to-face interaction”, “mentoring” and “documents and reports”. The highly significant tools are “groupware” and “telephone”. The major organisational issue hampering the implementation of knowledge management practices is “lack of motivation” while the critical cultural issue is relating to “bureaucracy and hierarchical”, and the vital people issue concerns “lack of trust”.

Research limitations/implications

The respondents were limited to only small and medium construction enterprises located in the Klang Valley region in Malaysia, which makes generalisation challenging.

Practical implications

KM provides not only a pragmatic but also a proactive approach to raising the competitive edge and capabilities of a construction company. Identification of the critical attributes of KM provides the basis for project managers in formulating KM strategies to enhance the chances of successful delivery of future projects.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the debate on the knowledge agenda in the construction industry, particularly from a fast developing economy’s perspective, where an effective KM can further contribute to realising a reasonable level of competitiveness operation.
Understanding customers’ compliance behaviour to frontline employees’ fuzzy requests
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Zhang Shengliang , Wang Chuang , Guo Xinshuai
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Due to interactive fluctuations during service encounters, fuzzy requests frequently occur from either frontline employees or customers. While such requests from customers have been drawn wide attention, there exists a lack of research on frontline employees’ fuzzy requests and possible outcomes (e.g. compliance or refusal). The purpose of this study is thus to identify the underlying mechanism and enacting variables that influence customers’ compliance behaviour (i.e. positive outcome) to fuzzy requests.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of ten express service companies in southeast China. The proposed model was empirically tested among 309 customers and further analysed through structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results indicated that expected technical quality, perceived reasonableness and perceived convenience are positively associated with compliance behaviour, whereas the effects of inertia and negative emotional response on compliance behaviour are significantly negative. The findings also demonstrated that negative emotional response partially mediates the impacts of expected technical quality, perceived reasonableness and inertia on compliance behaviour.

Originality/value

This study investigates an under-researched phenomenon, namely, frontline employees’ fuzzy requests in the service context. The underlying mechanism of customers’ compliance behaviours to fuzzy requests is articulated through an integration of three beliefs with emotional response. As an early exploration of employees’ fuzzy requests, this study provides important theoretical and managerial implications.
Bricks or clicks? Understanding consumer usage of retail mobile apps
Authors: Newman Christopher L. , Wachter Kathleen , White Allyn
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Mobile apps represent an emergent self-service technology that has greatly contributed to the rise of mobile shopping. However, the existing services and marketing literature offer little insight on consumer app usage. Further, little is known about how this app usage might affect important outcomes such as consumers’ intentions to use and recommend an app, their channel preferences (in-store vs app), or their purchasing behavior with the app. Thus, the purpose of this research is to examine if, and how, consumers’ actual experiences using retailers’ apps affected these outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a series of online surveys of adult consumers based on their prior experiences with retailers’ apps. The hypothesized relationships were tested using regression analyses.

Findings

Results highlight perceived ease of use as a critical app attribute that fosters consumers’ personal connections to apps. These connections in turn influence their purchase channel preferences (app vs in-store) and actual purchasing behavior with the app, as well as their future intentions to purchase with the app and recommend it to others. App usage frequency is shown to moderate these effects.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide needed managerial insight into consumer usage of brick-and-click retailers’ apps. Specifically, the results inform service providers’ mobile commerce strategies – particularly with respect to app design, channel management and customer segmentation. Future opportunities exist to explore and compare consumer usage of other types of service providers’ apps, such as “pure play” providers that do not have physical stores.

Originality/value

This research moves beyond initial app adoption to instead focus on consumers’ actual app usage experiences and their implications. Of note, the findings suggest that firms may be paradoxically driving consumers away from their physical stores as they continue to devote considerable resources to creating and providing customers with easy-to-use mobile apps.
Assistive technologies in libraries and the classroom
Authors: Oyelude Adetoun A.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to review the literature on assistive technologies used in libraries and in schools, as portrayed on blogs, wikis and the internet, of the past year to highlight new trends.

Design/methodology/approach

Reports from blogs, internet sources and databases of the past year on the topic were read by dealing with practical examples of assistive technologies in libraries and the education sector.

Findings

Assistive technologies are used to aid persons with disabilities to make them more productive. The technologies can be either low- or high-tech, depending on the use as well as on information on new improvements and augmentative technologies being employed.

Originality/value

This paper presents an overview of the past year and the current trends in the use of assistive technologies in libraries and schools worldwide.
Learning strategies for a changing workforce
Authors: Hoyle Robin
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint is to highlight the generational difference in the workplace and how blanket learning strategies no longer work.

Design/methodology/approach

Working with four generations of the same family may be only a mathematical possibility in real life, as the generations usually defined when discussing workplace age diversity relate to demographic categories. However, these categories are much loved by marketers and those who favour broad stereotypes over a more thoughtful understanding of differing needs, characteristics and aspirations.

Findings

The authors cannot define what will work on the basis of generational generalisations. Understanding the “three justs” requires them to understand their learners as individuals who want to do their job to the best of their abilities.

Originality/value

Exclusive commentary and angle by Robin Hoyle, Head of Learning Innovation at Huthwaite International, which – having trained 30 of the FTSE 100 companies – is one of the world’s leading sales and negotiation training providers.