bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic confirmation and modelling of two lensed quadruple quasars in the Dark Energy Survey public footprint
Authors: Spiniello C , Sergeyev A V , Marchetti L , Tortora C , Napolitano N R , Shalyapin V , Agnello A , Getman F I , Vaccari M , Serjeant S , Koopmans L V E , Baker A J , Jarrett T H , Covone G , Vernardos G
Published: March 2019

Quadruply lensed quasars are extremely rare objects, but incredibly powerful cosmological tools. Only few dozen are known in the whole sky. Here we present the spectroscopic confirmation of two new quadruplets WG0214-2105 and WG2100-4452 discovered by Agnello & Spiniello (2018) within the Dark Energy Survey public footprints. We have conducted spectroscopic follow-up of these systems with the Southern African Large Telescope as part of a program that aims at confirming the largest possible number of strong gravitational lenses in the equatorial and Southern hemisphere. For both systems, we present the sources spectra that allowed us to estimate their redshifts and unambiguously confirm their lensing nature. For the brighter deflector (WG2100-4452) we measure the spectroscopic redshift and the stellar velocity dispersion from optical absorption lines in the spectrum. For the other system we infer the lens redshift from photometry, being the quality of the spectra not good enough. We obtain photometry for both lenses, directly from multiband images, isolating the lenses from the quasars. One of the quadruplets, WG0214-2105, was also observed by Pan-STARRS, allowing us to estimate the apparent brightness of each quasar image at two different epochs, and thus to find evidence for flux variability. This result could suggest a microlensing event for the faintest components, although intrinsic variability cannot be excluded with only two epochs. Finally, we present simple lens models for both quadruplets, obtaining Einstein radii, singular isothermal ellipsoid velocity dispersions, ellipticities, and position angles of the lenses, as well as time-delay predictions assuming a concordance cosmological model.
Private foundations and the conflict of laws
Authors: Goldsworth John Graham
Published: March 2019

The straightforward nature of private foundations compared with trusts may not be apparent where a private foundation is formed under one jurisdiction’s laws but administered elsewhere if the lex fori introduces concepts that are unforeseen at the time that the private foundation is entered into. This possibility should be guarded against by an examination both of the private foundation’s constitutional documents and the conflict of law rules of a likely forum to hear disputes.
MglA functions as a three-state GTPase to control movement reversals of Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: Galicia Christian , Lhospice Sébastien , Fernández Varela Paloma , Trapani Stefano , Zhang Wenhua , Navaza Jorge , Mignot Tâm , Cherfils Jacqueline
Published: March 2019

In Myxococcus xanthus, directed movement is controlled by inter-dependent pole-to-pole oscillations of the small GTPase MglA, its GAP MglB and the RomR protein. However, these proteins have strikingly different oscillatory regimes such that MglA is segregated from MglB and RomR at reversal activation. The molecular mechanism whereby information is exchanged between the lagging and leading poles resulting in MglA detachment from the leading pole during reversals has remained unknown. Here, we show that MglA has two GTP-bound forms, one of which is insensitive to MglB (MglA-GTP*) and is re-sensitized to MglB by a feedback mechanism operated by MglA-GDP. By identifying the region of MglB that is critical for its association to the lagging pole, we demonstrate that MglA-GTP* is functional in vivo. These data suggest that MglA-GDP acts as a soluble messenger to convert polar MglA-GTP* into a diffusible MglA-GTP species, explaining MglA re-localization to the opposite pole during reversals.
Monosodium Iodoacetate delays regeneration and inhibits hypertrophy in skeletal muscle cells in vitro
Authors: Rimington Rowan P. , Player Darren J. , Martin Neil R.W. , Lewis Mark P.
Published: March 2019

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disease which contributes to severe morbidity. The monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) rodent model of OA is now well established, however the effect of MIA on surrounding tissues post injection has not been investigated and as such the impact on phenotypic development is unknown. The aim of this investigation was to examine the impact of MIA incubation on skeletal muscle cells in vitro, to provide an indication as to the potential influence of MIA administration of skeletal muscle in vivo.

Methods

C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes were treated with either 4.8μM MIA or 10μM Dexamethasone (DEX, positive atrophic control) up to 72hrs post differentiation and sampled for morphological and mRNA analyses.

Results

Significant morphological effects (fusion index, number of myotubes and myotube width, p<0.05) were evident, demonstrating a hypertrophic phenotype in control (CON) compared to a hyperplasic phenotype in MIA and DEX. Increases in MAFbx mRNA were also evident between conditions, with post-hoc analysis demonstrating significance between CON and DEX (p<0.001), but not between CON and MIA (p>0.05).

Conclusions

These data indicate a significant impact of both DEX and MIA on regeneration and hypertrophy in vitro and suggest differential activating mechanisms. Future investigations should determine whether skeletal muscle regeneration and hypertrophy is affected in the in vivo rodent model and the potential impact this has on the OA phenotypic outcome.
Chemokine signaling links cell cycle progression and cilia formation for left-right symmetry breaking
Authors: Liu Jingwen , Zhu Chengke , Ning Guozhu , Yang Liping , Cao Yu , Huang Sizhou , Wang Qiang
Published: March 2019

Zebrafish dorsal forerunner cells (DFCs) undergo vigorous proliferation during epiboly and then exit cell cycle to generate Kupffer’s vesicle (KV), a ciliated organ necessary for establishing left-right (L-R) asymmetry. DFC proliferation defects are often accompanied by impaired cilia elongation in KV, but the functional and molecular interaction between cell-cycle progression and cilia formation remains unknown. Here we show that chemokine receptor Cxcr4a is required for L-R laterality by controlling DFC proliferation and KV ciliogenesis. Functional analysis revealed that Cxcr4a accelerates G1/S transition in DFCs and stabilizes Foxj1a, a master regulator of motile cilia, by stimulating Cyclin D1 expression through ERK1/2 signaling. Mechanistically, Cyclin D1-CDK4/6 drives G1/S transition during DFC proliferation and phosphorylates Foxj1a, thereby disrupting its association with Psmd4b, a 19S regulatory subunit. This prevents the ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of Foxj1a. Our study uncovers a role for Cxcr4 signaling in L-R patterning and provides fundamental insights into the molecular linkage between cell-cycle progression and ciliogenesis.

Author summary

During the organogenesis of zebrafish L-R organizer named KV, DFCs proliferate rapidly during epiboly and then exit the cell cycle to differentiate into ciliated epithelial KV cells. Cell cycle defects in DFCs are often accompanied by an alteration in KV cilia elongation. However, whether the cell cycle and cilia formation are mechanistically linked remains as an open question. In this study, we report that Cxcr4 signaling is required for DFC proliferation and KV ciliogenesis. We reveal that Cxcl12b/Cxcr4a signaling activates ERK1/2, which then promotes Cyclin D1 expression. Cyclin D1-CDK4/6 accelerates the G1/S transition in DFCs, while also facilitates cilia formation via stabilization of Foxj1a. Notably, Foxj1 undergoes proteasomal degradation via Ub-independent pathway during KV organogenesis. Our study further demonstrates that CDK4 phosphorylates and stabilizes Foxj1a by disrupting its association with Psmd4b, a 19S regulatory subunit. In summary, Cxcl12b/Cxcr4a chemokine signaling links cell cycle progression and cilia formation for L-R symmetry breaking via regulating Cyclin D1 expression.
Fog signaling has diverse roles in epithelial morphogenesis in insects
Authors: Benton Matthew A. , Frey Nadine , da Fonseca Rodrigo Nunes , von Levetzow Cornelia , Stappert Dominik , Hakeemi Muhammad S. , Conrads Kai H. , Pechmann Matthias , Panfilio Kristen A. , Lynch Jeremy A. , Roth Siegfried
Published: March 2019

TheDrosophilaFog pathway represents one of the best-understood signaling cascades controlling epithelial morphogenesis. During gastrulation, Fog induces apical cell constrictions that drive the invagination of mesoderm and posterior gut primordia. The cellular mechanisms underlying primordia internalization vary greatly among insects and recent work has suggested that Fog signaling is specific to the fast mode of gastrulation found in some flies. On the contrary, here we show in the beetleTribolium, whose development is broadly representative for insects,that Fog has multiple morphogenetic functions. It modulates mesoderm internalization and controls a massive posterior infolding involved in gut and extraembryonic development. In addition, Fog signaling affects blastoderm cellularization, primordial germ cell positioning and cuboidal-to-squamous cell shape transitions in the extraembryonic serosa. Comparative analyses with two other distantly related insect species reveals that Fog’s role during cellularisation is widely conserved and therefore might represent the ancestral function of the pathway.
Inducible overexpression of zebrafishmicroRNA-722suppresses chemotaxis of human neutrophil like cells
Authors: Hsu Alan Y. , Liu Sheng , Brasseale Kent A. , Syahirah Ramizah , Wan Jun , Deng Qing
Published: March 2019

Neutrophil migration is essential for battling against infections but also drives chronic inflammation. Since primary neutrophils are terminally differentiated and not genetically tractable, leukemia cells such as HL-60 are differentiated into neutrophil-like cells to study mechanisms underlying neutrophil migration. However, constitutive overexpression or inhibition in this cell line does not allow the characterization of the genes that affect the differentiation process. Here we apply the tet-on system to induce the expression of zebrafishmiR-722in differentiated HL-60. Overexpression ofmiR-722reduced the mRNA level of genes in the chemotaxis and inflammation pathways, includingRAC2. Consistently, cell migration is significantly inhibited upon inducedmiR-722overexpression. Together,miR-722is an evolutionarily conserved suppressor for neutrophil migration and signaling in zebrafish and human.
Oncogenic hijacking of a developmental transcription factor evokes therapeutic vulnerability for ROS-induction in Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Marchetto Aruna , Ohmura Shunya , Orth Martin F. , Li Jing , Wehweck Fabienne S. , Knott Maximilian M. L. , Stein Stefanie , Saucier David , Arrigoni Chiara , Gerke Julia S. , Baldauf Michaela C. , Musa Julian , Dallmayer Marlene , Hölting Tilman L. B. , Moretti Matteo , Amatruda James F. , Romero-Pérez Laura , Cidre-Aranaz Florencia , Kirchner Thomas , Sannino Giuseppina , Grünewald Thomas G. P.
Published: March 2019

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive childhood cancer likely originating from mesenchymal stem cells or osteo-chondrogenic progenitors. It is characterized by fusion oncoproteins involving EWSR1 and variable members of the ETS-family of transcription factors (in 85% FLI1). EWSR1-FLI1 can induce target genes by using GGAA-microsatellites (mSats) as enhancers.

Here, we show that EWSR1-FLI1 hijacks the developmental transcription factor SOX6 – a physiological driver of proliferation of osteo-chondrogenic progenitors – by binding to an intronic GGAA-mSat, which promotes EwS growthin vitroandin vivo. Through integration of transcriptome-profiling, published drug-screening data, and functionalin vitroandin vivoexperiments, we discovered that SOX6 interferes with the antioxidant system resulting in constitutively elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels that create a therapeutic vulnerability toward the ROS-inducing drug Elesclomol.

Collectively, our results exemplify how aberrant activation of a developmental transcription factor by a dominant oncogene can promote malignancy, but provide opportunities for targeted therapy.
Li20Mg6Cu13Al42: a new ordered quaternary superstructure to the icosahedral T-Mg32(Zn,Al)49 phase with fullerene-like Al60 cluster
Authors: Pavlyuk Nazar , Dmytriv Grygoriy , Pavlyuk Volodymyr , Ehrenberg Helmut
Published: March 2019

The new quaternary aluminide Li20Mg6Cu13Al42 was synthesized from the elements in a sealed tantalum crucible. The crystal structure was studied by single crystal and confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. Li20Mg6Cu13Al42 {cI162, Im{\overline 3}, a = 13.8451 (2), R[F
2 > 2σ(F
2)] = 0.023} crystallizes as an ordered version of Mg32(Al,Zn)49 and Li—Cu—X (X = Al, Ga, Si) periodic crystals containing icosahedral clusters. The Li20Mg6Cu13Al42 structure can also be described as three-shell icosahedral clusters of [CuAl12@Li20Cu12@Al60], enclosed inside a distorted triacontahedron. The electronic structure calculations were performed by means of the TB-LMTO-ASA program and confirm the core–shell packing of these clusters. The isostructural compound of Li20Mg6Cu13Ga42 was found in a Li–Mg–Cu–Ga quaternary system.
Using powder XRD and pair distribution function to determine anisotropic atomic displacement parameters of orthorhombic tridymite and tetragonal cristobalite
Authors: Lee Seungyeol , Xu Huifang
Published: March 2019

Determination of the crystal structures of low-temperature tridymite and cristobalite using single-crystal XRD has been challenging because they generally occur as metastable fine-grained crystals in the geological environment. Therefore, using powder diffraction and scattering techniques is critical to study the low-temperature crystals. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair distribution function (PDF) and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the structure of orthorhombic tridymite with C2221 symmetry and tetragonal cristobalite with P41212 symmetry, including their anisotropic atomic displacement parameters (ADPs). Rietveld refinement was used to determine the unit-cell parameters, fractional coordinates and isotropic atomic displacement parameters (U
iso) of the tridymite and cristobalite. The PDF method was used to determine ADPs for each atom. The results suggest that the crystal structure with high quality ADP values can be obtained using the combined methods of XRD and PDF analyses. The method can be used for characterizing crystals that are not suitable for single-crystal XRD.
Thermal, spectroscopic and structural analysis of a thermosalient phase transformation in tapentadol hydrochloride
Authors: Gaztañaga Pablo , Baggio Ricardo , Halac Emilia , Vega Daniel R.
Published: March 2019

Presented herein are detailed optical, thermal, spectroscopic and structural analyses of the phase transformation occurring in tapentadol hydrochloride (C14H24NO+·Cl−), a phenomenon already reported [Fischer et al. (2006); Patent: WO 2006000441 A2]. The thermal behaviour of the compound was studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman scattering measurements. The compound undergoes a first-order reversible phase transition at T
heat = 318.0 (1) K, T
cool = 300.0 (1) K, as assessed by the coexistence of both phases in the vicinity of the transition and the abrupt changes observed in the unit-cell parameters with temperature. The process is accompanied by clear thermosalient behaviour, with a conspicuous movement of the samples. On cooling, the transformation leads from a P212121 symmetry (Z′ = 1) to P21, with an abrupt change in β [90 ↔ 94.78 (1)°] and duplication of the asymmetric unit contents (Z′ = 2). The main structural differences observed across the transition are extremely small, with almost no changes in the stronger, non-covalent interaction scheme involving the `conventional' (N—H...Cl, O—H...Cl) hydrogen bonds.
Crystal structure of strontium perchlorate anhydrate, Sr(ClO4)2, from laboratory powder X-ray diffraction data
Authors: Hyoung Jooeun , Lee Hyeon Woo , Kim So Jin , Shin Hong Rim , Hong Seung-Tae
Published: March 2019

The crystal structure of strontium perchlorate anhydrate, Sr(ClO4)2, was determined and refined from laboratory powder X-ray diffraction data. The material was obtained by dehydration of Sr(ClO4)2·3H2O at 523 K for two weeks. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca and is isotypic with Ca(AlD4)2 and Ca(ClO4)2. The asymmetric unit contains one Sr, two Cl and eight O sites, all on general positions (Wyckoff position 8c). The crystal structure consists of Sr2+ cations and isolated ClO4
− tetrahedra. The Sr2+ cation is coordinated by eight O atoms from eight ClO4
− tetrahedra. The validity of the crystal structure model for Sr(ClO4)2 anhydrate was confirmed by the bond valence method.
Crystal structure of bis(μ2-triphenylacetato-κO:κO′)bis(diisobutylaluminium)
Authors: Vinogradov Alexander A. , Minyaev Mikhail E. , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Nifant'ev Ilya E.
Published: March 2019

Single crystals of the title compound, [Al(iBu)2(O2CCPh3)]2 or [Al2(C4H9)4(C20H15O2)2], have been formed in the reaction between tris(tetrahydrofuran)tris(triphenylacetato)neodymium, [Nd(Ph3CCOO)3(THF)3], and triisobutylaluminium, Al(iBu)3, in hexane followed by low-temperature crystallization (243 K) from the reaction mixture. The structure has triclinic (P\overline{1}) symmetry at 120 K. The dimeric complex [Al(iBu)2(O2CCPh3-μ-κO:κO′)]2 is located about an inversion centre. The triphenylacetate ligand displays a μ-κO:κO′-bridging coordination mode, leading to the formation of an octagonal Al2O4C2 core. The complex displays HPh...CPh intermolecular interactions.
Dibromidobis(3-bromobenzyl-κC)(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′)tin(IV)
Authors: Bhaskar C. , Chandrasekar S. , Mohandas T. , Butcher Ray J.
Published: March 2019

In the title compound, [SnBr2(C7H6Br)2(C24H16N2)], the Sn atom is coordinated to a 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, two 3-bromobenzyl and two bromide ligands, leading to a six-coordinate C2Br2N2 donor set. The bromobenzyl ligands are trans to each other, while the Br anions are in a cis arrangement. One of the two 3-bromobenzyl ligands is disordered over two similar conformations, with occupancies of 0.7078 (18) and 0.2922 (18). In the crystal, molecules are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by Br...Br halogen bonds [3.5972 (12) Å], which are linked into a supramolecular layer in the ac plane by weak intermolecular C—H...Br interactions.
Prospects for research in architecture and urbanism
Authors: Salama Ashraf M.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of the latest developments of Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research while introducing ephemeral observations on the papers published in Vol. 13 No. 1, March 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a classification of topical contents and an identification of the procedures employed in the studies published in this edition, a reflective narrative on emerging concepts and themes is developed to acknowledge and briefly outline these studies.

Findings

The discussion conveys the multiplicity and diversity in architectural and urban research where seven themes are identified from 13 papers contributed by researchers from academic institutions in eight countries. Themes include spheres of inquiry; autism and the spatial environment; communication dynamics and professional practice; assemblage aesthetic and place attachment; housing and urbanity in Istanbul; placemaking and sustainability in the Gulf; and from the Doric order to State mosques.

Originality/value

Establishing key characteristics of various types of research and the originality and values involved would enable engaged and enhanced contributions in architectural and urban research. The identification of themes stimulates the re-thinking of responsive concepts and issues of concerns while invigorating future research endeavors.
AirAsia Berhad’s accounting in the spotlight
Authors: Abdul Malak Siti Seri Delima , Wan Hussin Wan Nordin B
Published: March 2019

Learning outcomes

The case is appropriate for courses in financial accounting and reporting, audit and assurance, forensic accounting, accounting practice and regulations and corporate governance. After studying the case, students should be able to explain the concept of control and power under IFRS; explain the concept of economic; discuss audit committee and external auditor independence issues and ways to strengthen auditor’s independence; assess the usefulness of the new extended audit report; and evaluate the role of gatekeepers such as financial analysts, audit committee, external auditor, institutional investors and regulators in enhancing the quality of financial reporting.

Case overview/synopsis

This case focuses on the accounting policy choices of the foreign associates of AirAsia Berhad. AirAsia Berhad is a phenomenal success, from a debt laden company to having been voted as World’s Best Low-Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for eight consecutive years from 2009 to 2016 and the World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline in the annual World Travel Awards for four consecutive years from 2013 to 2016. In June 2015, an analyst report was leaked, and it led to heated discussion and exchanges in the market. The report questioned the non-consolidation of AirAsia Berhad associates. The share market also reacted. Various players in the market came into foray with their statements and opinions on the merit of the accounting policy choice by AirAsia Berhad. Whose views actually reflect the nature of accounting policy choice that is true and fair? Are these gatekeepers attesting to the accounting crux of substance over form?

Complexity academic level

Senior undergraduates; MBA; EMBA

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS: 1: Accounting and Finance
Evaluation of an entrepreneurship training programme: a proposal for new guidelines
Authors: Galvão Anderson , Marques Carla Susana , Ferreira João
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate an entrepreneurship training and education programme, which has already had five editions in the Sabor region of Portugal’s northern interior. This evaluation was conducted in order to propose new guidelines to improve the Sabor Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP).

Design/methodology/approach

The research included primary data collection using mixed methods (i.e. quantitative and qualitative). Questionnaires were distributed to 103 entrepreneurs who participated in the SEP, and interviews were conducted with entities involved in developing this programme. The data were processed using cross-sectional content analysis of the interviews and descriptive analysis of the completed questionnaires in order to ascertain the opinions of all the parties involved in the SEP.

Findings

The results show that the SEP has been modified throughout the five editions, which has contributed to better performance. Based on the findings, new guidelines were proposed for the programme, such as the implementation of new phases and improvement of various methods used. The proposed phases include the validation and full development of business ideas, management decision training for entrepreneurs, help with financing solutions and support during new companies’ first three years. The results also indicate that the SEP needs to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes public policies and the involvement of other local entities that are active in the region and that have the skills entrepreneurs need.

Originality/value

This study’s findings have theoretical and practical implications, which provide empirical evidence of how evaluating entrepreneurship education and training programmes can make them more effective and efficient. In addition, the results contribute to the evolution of the existing knowledge about entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Funding structure and technical efficiency
Authors: Ofori-Sasu Daniel , Abor Joshua Yindenaba , Mensah Lord
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of funding structure on technical efficiency of banks in Ghana, between 2011 and 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the random-effect and the truncated panel data of 25 banks, the results present new evidence.

Findings

The findings reveal that Ghanaian banks are less technically efficient, as the average efficiency scores generated is below the threshold of 1. Furthermore, the results show that banks in Ghana finance their operations mainly with deposit source of funding. The results reveal a significantly positive relationship between funding structure and technical efficiency. However, internally generated source of funds was negatively linked with technical efficiency. This is not surprising because banks that rely on external funds attract higher costs than internally generated funds, and this puts pressure on managers to perform. The results are relevant to emerging economies when the authors use additional macroeconomic factors.

Research limitations/implications

Thus, a proportionally larger deposit base funding would typically lead to an overall increase in technical efficiency of banks in Ghana. Shareholders should put pressure on managers to plough back earnings in order to increase the use of internally generated funds, thus, increasing technical efficiency. Banks that are inefficient should make some adjustments to their weights of inputs and/or outputs combinations by following their benchmark banks (efficient banks) to improve their efficiency.

Practical implications

The results of this study have important implications for regulators, investors and policy makers, particularly an emerging economy. The implication of the study to investors is that investors should be able to identify an appropriate source of funds that can be used efficiently to maximize their wealth in emerging markets. It is important for regulators and managers of banks to improve technical efficiency by considering the role that macroeconomic and monetary environment play when identifying and using various sources of funds as a strategy to improve bank efficiency.

Social implications

Consequently, future research should investigate the impact of funding structure on technical efficiency for other regions and considering their interactions with institutional quality, macroeconomic factors and financial stability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is the first to fulfill an urgent need to explore a robust approach of measuring technical efficiency and funding structure within the context of banks over six-year period, prompting insightful avenues to the survival, growth and performance of financiers in emerging economy.
Transformational leadership and project team members’ silence: the mediating role of feeling trusted
Authors: Zhu Fangwei , Wang Linzhuo , Yu Miao , Müller Ralf , Sun Xiuxia
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Silencing behavior among project team members (PTM) poses a potential threat to project results. Hence, breaking silence in projects is critical to motivate team members and beneficial for project outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) of project manager (PM) and silence behavior of PTMs. It proposes a mediating role of feeling trusted (FT) to fill this gap by conducting an empirical research.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model was developed and a series of hypotheses were proposed based on existing literature. Then, regression analysis was conducted on a sample of 219 team members of a diverse set of projects in China.

Findings

The paper empirically shows that TL of PM is significantly negatively related to team members’ defensive and prosocial silence (PS), but not with their acquiescence silence. In addition, the study also discovered that team members’ FT mediates the effects of TL on team members’ defensive and PS.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributed to the project management literature by showing that feeling trusted link the relationship between TL of PM and PTMs’ silence. The studies’ findings also contribute to the silence theory in project context through discussions of the rationale behind the main effects. Practical implication is provided for PMs that making the most of TL can reduce the silence of PTM, through building trusted feelings. The limitation to this study is the research setting regarding culture-related issues that focused only on projects in China.

Originality/value

This research is one of the early studies that address the issue of silence behavior in project context, which is a contribution to the coordination and communication in project management.
Balancing control, usability and visibility of linked open government data to create public value
Authors: Hitz-Gamper Benedikt Simon , Neumann Oliver , Stürmer Matthias
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Linked data is a technical standard to structure complex information and relate independent sets of data. Recently, governments have started to use this technology for bridging separated data “(silos)” by launching linked open government data (LOGD) portals. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of LOGD as a smart technology and strategy to create public value. This is achieved by enhancing the usability and visibility of open data provided by public organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, three different LOGD governance modes are deduced: public agencies could release linked data via a dedicated triple store, via a shared triple store or via an open knowledge base. Each of these modes has different effects on usability and visibility of open data. Selected case studies illustrate the actual use of these three governance modes.

Findings

According to this study, LOGD governance modes present a trade-off between retaining control over governmental data and potentially gaining public value by the increased use of open data by citizens.

Originality/value

This study provides recommendations for public sector organizations for the development of their data publishing strategy to balance control, usability and visibility considering also the growing popularity of open knowledge bases such as Wikidata.
Public value of e-government services through emerging technologies
Authors: Valle-Cruz David
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that generate public value in e-government services through emerging technologies and to answer the following question: Which are the factors that generate public value, in the e-government services, through emerging technologies?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a multivariate linear regression model, the author tests the public value of e-government services through emerging technologies in the metropolitan area of the Toluca Valley. Five factors are evaluated to understand public value: anti-corruption strategies, access to public information, transparency platforms, social media and service kiosks.

Findings

Smart strategies and technologies must be guided by the generation of public value through anti-corruption strategies, open data, access to information and data privacy. The efforts of governments should focus on avoiding corruption, making government transparent, opening data and correct handling of information privacy. Technology is an important mechanism to boost public value generation.

Research limitations/implications

Mexico is a developing country, and there are very few emerging technologies implemented in e-Government.

Practical implications

The results are important to identify good practices for the generation of public value in the e-Government area.

Originality/value

The study of emerging technologies is a new area in government, and this paper studies the generation of public value through emerging technologies in a developing country.
Determinants of local public employee attitudes toward government innovation
Authors: Nam Taewoo
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify individual level perception-based determinants influencing participation in government innovation and to examine the moderating effect of innovation cynicism upon those determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on the case of Government 3.0, a Korean National Government innovation initiative, this study analyzes survey data regarding local public employee perceptions of the initiative through ordered logistic regression.

Findings

Multiple theoretical correlates of perceived desirability, perceived efficacy, performance expectancy, facilitating leadership, peer influence and demonstrable symbols have positive influences on participation in Government 3.0. Surprisingly, cynics of government innovation reported more active participation in Government 3.0 than non-cynics. While cynicism negatively moderates the influence of perceived desirability, performance expectancy and peer influence on Government 3.0 participation, the expected negative moderating effect does not correspond with the influence of perceived efficacy on innovation participation.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of innovation cynics, who are probably neither skeptics nor pessimists regarding recent changes but rather are concerned about recurring rhetoric and poor performance of government innovation.
Suicide attempt trends leading up to and following gun lock changes in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act
Authors: Anestis Michael D. , Daruwala Samantha E. , Carey Neil
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Firearms account for the majority of suicide deaths in the US military and general population. The percentage of suicides resulting from firearms is higher in the military, however, and as such, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts is lower in the military than in the general population. In 2013, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which facilitated a Department of Defense (DoD) shift toward allowing commanding officers and clinicians to inquire about personal firearms with service members perceived as being at risk and also began giving free cable locks to firearm-owning military personnel. The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary understanding of the effectiveness of this change, the authors examined trends in firearm suicide attempts within the US military and general population from 2010 to 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on non-lethal and lethal suicide attempts overall and within specific methods were extracted from the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (2011–2015).

Findings

Contrary to expectations, firearms were not utilized in a smaller proportion of suicide attempts within the military post-law change. Consistent with expectations, however, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts increased, particularly after the change in law, with the ratio in the military converging somewhat with that of the general population.

Originality/value

Overall, results were mixed, with only limited and tangential evidence that the change in law has proven effective. More precise data collection will be required in order to fully evaluate such laws.
Learn to be good or bad? Revisited observer effects of punishment: curvilinear relationship and network contingencies
Authors: Xiao Zhenxin , Dong Maggie Chuoyan , Zhu Xiaoxuan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Although supplier-initiated punishment is widely used to manage distributors’ opportunism, its spillover effect on unpunished distributors (i.e. observers) within the same distribution network remains under-researched. Specifically, this paper aims to investigate the curvilinear effect of punishment severity on an observer’s opportunism, and how such an effect is contingent on the observer’s network position.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses regression analysis with survey data gathered from 218 distributors in China’s automobile industry.

Findings

Punishment severity has an inverted U-shaped effect on the observers’ opportunism, and such effect is weakened by both the observers’ network centrality and their degree of dependence on the supplier.

Practical implications

The findings should encourage suppliers to focus more on the spillover effects of punishment on observers. To this end, the supplier must deliberately initiate the appropriate level of punishment severity against its distributors because an inappropriate level of punishment severity (e.g. too lenient) may unexpectedly raise the unpunished observers’ level of opportunism. Moreover, the supplier should be fully aware that observers’ specific network positions may produce varying spillover effects of the punishment.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature on channel governance by revealing the curvilinear mechanism through which punishment severity influences observers’ opportunism. By applying social learning theory to channel punishment research, this study unveils both the inhibitive learning and the imitative learning forces inherent in a single punishment event, and it delineates their joint effect on an observer’s opportunism. In addition, this study outlines the observer’s vertical and horizontal relationships within the distribution network and explores their contingent roles in determining the spillover effects of punishment.
Bridging the gap between culture, identity and image: a structurationist conceptualization of place brands and place branding
Authors: Pedeliento Giuseppe , Kavaratzis Mihalis
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Although place branding is increasingly popular in research as well as in local, regional and national political agendas, the theoretical foundations of the place branding discipline are still underdeveloped. By embracing the stream of identity-based studies, this paper aims to attempt to demonstrate that place brands can be usefully approached through an emphasis of their cultural traits and the practical connection between culture, identity and image.

Design/methodology/approach

In constructing its theoretical arguments, the paper challenges the place branding model propounded by Kavaratzis and Hatch (2013), and uses practices as units of analysis. The paper conducts a brief review of the principal tenets of practice theory(IES) and uses structuration theory as a theoretical device to demonstrate how this theory can provide a (still lacking) theoretical anchorage for the place branding process.

Findings

The usefulness of structuration theory for understanding the place branding process is analysed at both the strategic and tactical levels by means of two illustrative examples. Structuration theory proves to be a solid theory which links the constitutive elements of the place branding process, i.e. culture, identity and image, and to inspire further theoretical elaborations and empirical efforts grounded on this theory.

Originality/value

This is the first paper which uses practice theory(ies) in general and structuration theory in particular to explain the place branding process. The theoretical arguments advanced provide valuable guidance for further theoretical elaborations and empirical applications.
An emoji-based metric for monitoring consumers’ emotions toward brands on social media
Authors: Moussa Salim
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and test a new emoji-based metric that could be used to monitor consumers’ emotions toward brands on social media.

Design/methodology/approach

To test this new metric, 720 consumer tweets were retrieved from official Twitter accounts of 18 leading global brands representing 6 product categories/markets. In order to check its validity, the emoji-based metric was correlated with two measures: the percentage of positive emojis from Brandwatch’s (2018) Emoji Report and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2017.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate that consumers tend to use more (vs less) positive emojis when expressing their feelings toward Coca-Cola (vs Taco Bell). They also show that the new metric is highly and positively associated with the ACSI, hence supporting its validity.

Research limitations/implications

The new metric is only applicable to brands that have a social media presence.

Practical implications

The proposed metric is easy to implement and interpret by almost every researcher and manager.

Originality/value

While all extant brand sentiment analyses focus on analyzing the words in brand-related user-generated content, this paper considers an alternative source of information about emotions, that is, emojis. Beyond being valid, the proposed emoji-based metric is unique, easy to implement and interpret, and generalizable.
The gladiatorial sponsorship arena: how ambushing impacts memory
Authors: Kelly Sarah J. , Cornwell Bettina , Singh Kiran
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The practice whereby a non-official sponsor brand attempts to “ambush” an official sponsor’s rights continues to threaten sporting events. A key motivator of the ensuing regulatory response is grounded in the ambiguity that ambush marketing generates, namely, by obscuring public awareness of the legitimate sponsor. However, the cognitive processes underpinning sponsorship identification have only recently been investigated empirically. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of ambush advertising on sponsorship memory.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (brand advertising: sponsorship-linked vs non-sponsorship-linked) × 2 (ambush advertisement: ambush advertisement vs filler) experimental design was used to test the impact of exposure on sponsor recall and recognition.

Findings

The results indicate that exposure to ambush advertising has adverse effects cognitively. When presented with a sponsorship-linked advertisement and an ambush advertisement, the participants had diminished recall of who the legitimate sponsor was, and were less likely to recognize them.

Research limitations/implications

This work has important theoretical implications in that it draws together the existing literature on sponsorship, advertising and cognitive fields. Moreover, on a practical level, this work informs the debate on increased regulatory intervention into ambushing practices, which is centered on tensions between balancing fair marketing practice with the rights of sponsors and event organizers.

Originality/value

To date, there is a paucity of research that examines the effects of ambushing in a sports sponsorship context. The unique contribution of this study is that it shows the process through which ambushing advertising adversely impacts sponsors’ rights.
Companion shopping: the influence on mall brand experiences
Authors: Merrilees Bill , Miller Dale
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of a shopping companion on mall brand experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative multi-group structural equation model study contrasts three shopper types: those shopping alone; those shopping with friends; and those shopping with family. Two categories are shoppers in a group. Nine hypotheses evaluate the impact of shopping with a companion.

Findings

The results show that companions enhance the emotional brand experience. Further, shoppers with family companions are most able to enhance brand evaluation from mall brand experience. Shopping companions help co-create the shopping brand experience.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are limited to Australian shoppers and contrast with Canadian studies, emphasizing friends. Alone shoppers place priority on price and only the alone shoppers are price-sensitive. The findings help address the gap in the literature, namely, understanding focal retail consumers in a group situation.

Practical implications

Retailers and mall managers in planned shopping centers could consider developing different retail strategies and brand experiences, which address the specific types of customer groups or alone shoppers.

Social implications

The paper is explicitly about social influences.

Originality/value

This original research contributes new perspectives to understanding the role of companion shoppers as co-creators of the focal shopper’s mall brand experience.
Trade and financial openness and their impact on financial development
Authors: Arif Imtiaz , Rawat Amna Sohail
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of trade and financial sector openness and their simultaneous openness on financial development of South Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

To serve the purpose, a panel data set of four South Asian economies, namely, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, was constituted for the period spanning from 1996 to 2015. Along with the conventional panel unit root test and co-integration test, pooled mean group estimations were used to formulate the empirical findings.

Findings

The findings suggested a significant negative impact of financial openness and significant positive impact of trade openness on the financial development of South Asia. The empirical evidence did not support simultaneous openness of trade and financial sector for the studied region.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the effect of trade and financial openness on financial development of South Asia. The study provides substantial evidence to the stakeholders for formulating policies that can boost financial development of the region.
(Mis)representation of Latinxs in Florida social studies standards
Authors: Davis Erika
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how frequently Latinxs and Latin Americans and/or topics related to these groups are represented in the Florida K-12 social studies standards and in what contexts. Drawing from critical race theory (CRT), this study further questions to what extent these contexts account for intersectionality among Latinxs and Latin Americans, challenge dominant narratives and stereotypes through counter-perspectives or reinforce whiteness as property.

Design/methodology/approach

All Florida social studies benchmarks relevant to Latinxs and/or Latin Americans were extracted and the frequency of representation and percentage of coverage were calculated. As a mixed-methods study, the context of representation was accounted for through a textual analysis of all extracted benchmarks which were grouped into emerging themes based on CRT tenets and principles.

Findings

Three contextual themes developed: political conflict/war, immigration and suppression or absence. Findings from this critical analysis of Florida social studies standards illuminate the continued racial and ethnic disparities in educational standards, curriculum and materials that leave some students and their histories out of the discourse.

Practical implications

Florida social studies standards require large-scale reform with input from Latinx communities and scholars to create an accurate and inclusive narrative and basis for social studies education.

Originality/value

This paper underscores the importance of culturally relevant and nuanced representations of Latinxs and Latin Americans in educational discourses.