bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
N-glycolylneuraminic acid serum biomarker levels are elevated in breast cancer patients at all stages of disease
Authors: Shewell Lucy K. , Day Christopher J. , Kutasovic Jamie R. , Abrahams Jodie L. , Wang Jing , Poole Jessica , Niland Colleen , Ferguson Kaltin , Saunus Jodi M. , Lakhani Sunil R. , von Itzstein Mark , Paton James C. , Paton Adrienne W. , Jennings Michael P
Published: June 2021

Background

Normal human tissues do not express glycans terminating with the sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), yet Neu5Gc-containing glycans have been consistently found in human tumor tissues, cells and secretions and have been proposed as a cancer biomarker. We engineered a Neu5Gc-specific lectin called SubB2M, and previously reported elevated Neu5Gc biomarkers in serum from ovarian cancer patients using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based assay. Here we report an optimized SubB2M SPR-based assay and use this new assay to analyse sera from breast cancer patients for Neu5Gc levels.

Methods

To enhance specificity of our SPR-based assay, we included a non-sialic acid binding version of SubB, SubBA12, to control for any non-specific binding to SubB2M, which improved discrimination of cancer-free controls from early-stage ovarian cancer. We analysed 96 serum samples from breast cancer patients at all stages of disease compared to 22 cancer-free controls using our optimized SubB2M-A12-SPR assay. We also analysed a collection of serum samples collected at 6 monthly intervals from breast cancer patients at high risk for disease recurrence or spread.

Results

Analysis of sera from breast cancer cases revealed significantly elevated levels of Neu5Gc biomarkers at all stages of breast cancer. We show that Neu5Gc serum biomarker levels can discriminate breast cancer patients from cancer-free individuals with 98.96% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Analysis of serum collected prospectively, post-diagnosis, from breast cancer patients at high risk for disease recurrence showed a trend for a decrease in Neu5Gc levels immediately following treatment for those in remission.

Conclusions

Neu5Gc serum biomarkers are a promising new tool for early detection and disease monitoring for breast cancer that may complement current imaging- and biopsy-based approaches.
Genetics of tibia bone properties of crossbred commercial laying hens in different housing systems
Authors: Johnsson Martin , Wall Helena , Pinto Fernando A Lopes , Fleming Robert H. , McCormack Heather A. , Benavides-Reyes Cristina , Dominguez-Gasca Nazaret , Sanchez-Rodriguez Estefania , Dunn Ian C. , Rodriguez-Navarro Alejandro B. , Kindmark Andreas , de Koning Dirk-Jan
Published: June 2021

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are a severe problem for the welfare of laying hens, with genetics and environment, such as housing system, each making substantial contributions to bone strength. In this work, we performed genetic analyses of bone strength, bone mineral density and bone composition, as well as body weight, in 860 commercial crossbred laying hens from two different companies, kept in either furnished cages or floor pens. We compared bone traits between housing systems and crossbreds, and performed a genome-wide association study of bone properties and body weight.

As expected, the two housing systems produced a large difference in bone strength, with layers housed in floor pens having stronger bones. These differences were accompanied by differences in bone geometry, mineralisation and chemical composition. Genome-scans either combining or independently analysing the two housing systems revealed no genome-wide significant loci for bone breaking strength. We detected three loci for body weight that were shared between the housing systems on chromosomes 4, 6 and 27 (either genome-wide significant or suggestive when the housing systems were analysed individually) and these coincide with associations for bone length.

In summary, we found substantial differences in bone strength, content and composition between hens kept in floor pens and furnished cages that could be attributed to greater physical activity in pen housing. We found little evidence for large-effect loci for bone strength in commercial crossbred hens, consistent with a highly polygenic architecture for bone strength in the production environment. The lack of consistent genetic associations between housing systems in combination with the differences in bone phenotypes support gene-by-environment interactions with housing system.
Apoptotic Find-me Signals are an Essential Driver of Stem Cell Conversion To The Cardiac Lineage
Authors: Fort Loic , Gama Vivian , Macara Ian G.
Published: June 2021

Pluripotent stem cells can be driven by manipulation of Wnt signaling through a series of states similar to those that occur during early embryonic development, transitioning from an epithelial phenotype into the cardiogenic mesoderm lineage and ultimately into functional cardiomyocytes 1–4. Strikingly, we observed that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) undergo widespread apoptosis upon Wnt activation, followed by a synchronous epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT requires induction of transcription factors SNAI1/SNAI2 downstream of MESP1 expression, and double knock-out of SNAI1/2, or loss of MESP1 in iPSCs blocks EMT and prevents cardiac differentiation. Remarkably, blockade of early apoptosis chemically or by ablation of pro-apoptotic genes also completely prevents the EMT, suppressing even the earliest events in mesoderm conversion, including EOMES, TBX6, and MESP1 induction. Conditioned medium from WNT-activated WT iPSCs overcomes the block to EMT by cells incapable of apoptosis (Apop-), suggesting the involvement of soluble factors from apoptotic cells in mesoderm conversion. Treatment with a purinergic P2Y receptor inhibitor or addition of apyrase demonstrated a requirement for nucleotide triphosphate signaling. ATP was sufficient to induce a partial EMT in Apop- cells treated with WNT activator. We conclude that nucleotides, in addition to acting as chemo-attractants for clearance of apoptotic cells can, unexpectedly, function as essential paracrine signals in mesoderm specification.
CDK9 and PP2A regulate RNA polymerase II transcription termination and coupled RNA maturation
Authors: Tellier Michael , Zaborowska Justyna , Neve Jonathan , Nojima Takayuki , Hester Svenja , Fournier Marjorie , Furger Andre , Murphy Shona
Published: June 2021

Abstract

CDK9 is a kinase critical for the productive transcription of protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II (pol II). As part of P-TEFb, CDK9 phosphorylates the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of pol II and elongation factors, which allows pol II to elongate past the early elongation checkpoint (EEC) encountered soon after initiation. We show that, in addition to halting pol II at the EEC, loss of CDK9 activity causes premature termination of transcription across the last exon, loss of polyadenylation factors from chromatin, and loss of polyadenylation of nascent transcripts. Inhibition of the phosphatase PP2A abrogates the premature termination and loss of polyadenylation caused by CDK9 inhibition, indicating that this kinase/phosphatase pair regulates transcription elongation and RNA processing at the end of protein-coding genes. We also confirm the splicing factor SF3B1 as a target of CDK9 and show that SF3B1 in complex with polyadenylation factors is lost from chromatin after CDK9 inhibition. These results emphasize the important roles that CDK9 plays in coupling transcription elongation and termination to RNA maturation downstream of the EEC.
Cell adhesions link subcellular actomyosin dynamics to tissue scale force production during vertebrate convergent extension
Authors: Huebner Robert J. , Weng Shinuo , Lee Chanjae , Sarıkaya Sena , Papoulas Ophelia , Cox Rachael M. , Marcotte Edward M. , Wallingford John B.
Published: June 2021

Axis extension is a fundamental biological process that shapes multicellular organisms. The design of an animal’s body plan is encoded in the genome and execution of this program is a multiscale mechanical progression involving the coordinated movement of proteins, cells, and whole tissues. Thus, a key challenge to understanding axis extension is connecting events that occur across these various length scales. Here, we use approaches from proteomics, cell biology, and tissue biomechanics to describe how a poorly characterized cell adhesion effector, the Armadillo Repeat protein deleted in Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome (Arvcf) catenin, controls vertebrate head-to-tail axis extension. We find that Arvcf catenin is required for axis extension within the intact organism but is not required for extension of isolated tissues. We then show that the organism scale phenotype is caused by a modest defect in force production at the tissue scale that becomes apparent when the tissue is challenged by external resistance. Finally, we show that the tissue scale force defect results from dampening of the pulsatile recruitment of cell adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins to cell membranes. These results not only provide a comprehensive understanding of Arvcf function during an essential biological process, but also provide insight into how a modest cellular scale defect in cell adhesion results in an organism scale failure of development.
Evaluating the cost of pharmaceutical purification for a long-duration space exploration medical foundry
Authors: McNulty Matthew J. , Berliner Aaron J. , Negulescu Patrick G. , McKee Liber , Hart Olivia , Yates Kevin , Arkin Adam P. , Nandi Somen , McDonald Karen A.
Published: June 2021

There are medical treatment vulnerabilities in longer-duration space missions present in the current International Space Station crew health care system with risks, arising from spaceflight-accelerated pharmaceutical degradation and resupply lag times. Bioregenerative life support systems may be a way to close this risk gap by leveragingin situresource utilization (ISRU) to perform pharmaceutical synthesis and purification. Recent literature has begun to consider biological ISRU using microbes and plants as the basis for pharmaceutical life support technologies. However, there has not yet been a rigorous analysis of the processing and quality systems required to implement biologically-produced pharmaceuticals for human medical treatment. In this work, we use the equivalent system mass (ESM) metric to evaluate pharmaceutical purification processing strategies for longer-duration space exploration missions. Monoclonal antibodies, representing a diverse therapeutic platform capable of treating multiple space-relevant disease states, were selected as the target products for this analysis. We investigate the ESM resource costs (mass, volume, power, cooling, and crew time) of an affinity-based capture step for monoclonal antibody purification as a test case within a manned Mars mission architecture. We compare six technologies (three biotic capture methods and three abiotic capture methods), optimize scheduling to minimize ESM for each technology, and perform scenario analysis to consider a range of input stream compositions and pharmaceutical demand. We also compare the base case ESM to scenarios of alternative mission configuration, equipment models, and technology reusability. Throughout the analyses, we identify key areas for development of pharmaceutical life support technology and improvement of the ESM framework for assessment of bioregenerative life support technologies.
Targeting activated macrophages intracellular milieu to augment anti-inflammatory drug potency
Authors: Gouveia Virgínia M. , Rizzello Loris , Vidal Bruno , Nunes Claudia , Poma Alessandro , Lopez-Vasquez Ciro , Scarpa Edoardo , Brandner Sebastian , Oliveira António , Fonseca João E. , Reis Salette , Battaglia Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

We present pH-responsive phosphorylcholine polymersomes ability to target activated macrophages via scavenger receptors, enter them via endocytosis, and escape from early endosomes enabling the intra-cellular drug delivery. Using an arthritis experimental model and the gold standard disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug, methotrexate, we prove that polymersomes augments therapeutic efficacy, while minimizing the off-target effect. First, we demonstrate the selective accumulation of polymersomes within the inflamed synovial tissues and cells, including macrophages. Second, we show the beneficial therapeutic effect of methotrexate loaded polymersomes in preventing both joint inflammation and further damage. Hence, we prove the therapeutic potential of polymersomes in enhancing the complete prevention of arthritis progression, which makes it a promising nanotherapy for arthritis treatment as well as other inflammatory disorders.

Teaser

We show that the effective targeting and delivery of drugs to the main inflammation actors, the macrophages, enhances arthritis therapy.
ROPIUS0: A deep learning-based protocol for protein structure prediction and model selection and its performance in CASP14
Authors: Margelevičius Mindaugas
Published: June 2021

Protein structure prediction has recently been revolutionized when AlphaFold2 [1] predicted protein structures with near-experimental accuracy in the latest CASP14 season of critical assessment of methods of protein structure prediction (CASP). Among numerous implications, this breakthrough has led to a rapidly growing number of high-quality structural models [2]. We present a protocol ROPIUS0 for protein structure prediction and model selection and discuss its benefits in the new era of structure prediction. At the core of the ROPIUS0 protocol is the deep learning module developed for the selection of protein structural models. It is shown that the direct use of predicted inter-residue distances may be sufficient to discriminate between correct and incorrect protein folds, considering only a small fraction of predicted distances. We extensively tested the protocol: In the latest CASP14 prediction season, a ROPIUS0 variant based on model selection ranked 13th in the category of tertiary structure prediction. Its performance is on par with top-performing automated prediction servers when tested on the CASP13 dataset, and it performs similarly on a CAMEO dataset. The results suggest ways to improve searching for structurally similar and homologous proteins without considerably increasing speed. Our new open-source threading tool based on comparing a subset of inter-residue distances demonstrates the effectiveness and application of the deep learning module of the ROPIUS0 protocol.
Does the fundamental indexation portfolio perform better? An Indian investigation
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Tiwari Ranjit
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to compare the fundamental indexation (FI) portfoliovis-à-visthe cap-weighted index (CWI). It also explored the return-generating attributes of the FI portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

This study extracted relevant data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s Prowess database from March 1996 to March 2017 from a sample of National Stock Exchange (NSE) 500 companies. The FI portfolios were constructed with First_50 and Next_50 stocks using the latest and five years of trailing average aggregations. Further, the regression technique was used to identify the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios.

Findings

It was found that the FI portfolios based on First_50 and Next_50 stocks outperformed the CWI (i.e. NSE_First_50 and NSE_Next_50) in the Indian capital market, and between the two, the FI portfolios based on Next_50 stocks were superior to the FI portfolios based on First_50 stocks. The cross-sectional superiority of FI portfolios is obvious if they are sorted according to four fundamentals, namely, total income, sales, operating cash flows and profit before depreciation interest tax and amortisation. The return-generating process of FI portfolios is well-explained by market premium followed by value premium and investment premium.

Practical implications

This study may enable portfolio managers and investors to measure FI portfolios’ superiority in the Indian capital market and identify the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios so that the loadings can be switched amongst different priced factors for higher yield. Further, this study extends the FI literature, providing evidence from one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is amongst the first few studies to explore the performance of FI portfoliosvis-à-visCWIs in India, and to use Fama and French (2015) asset pricing models to understand the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios. It is also novel in the sense that it considers the FI portfolios for a longer duration, predating 1997 and coinciding with the inception of CWIs, namely, NSE_First_50 (inception: 1995) and NSE_Next_50 (inception: 1996), reducing the apprehensions of data-snooping biases.
Non-vegan consumers buying vegan food: the moderating role of conformity
Authors: Martinelli Elisa , De Canio Francesca
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Non-vegan consumers are increasingly shifting their food habits and lifestyles towards vegan food. Thus, in addition to traditional, though poorly studied, ethical motives (i.e. animal, environmental, spiritual, health concerns), other factors may influence the purchase of vegan food. Within this context, the paper investigates the moderating role of conformity in enticing consumers to buy vegan food products, together with the main traditional consumers' concerns influencing their attitude towards vegan food. The study also considers the role of the willingness to pay a premium price as a direct driver of the intention to buy vegan.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was performed in Italy on a number of major Facebook thematic pages. A dataset based on 250 Italian non-vegans was used to implement a structural equation model.

Findings

Findings show that spiritual and animal concerns are direct drivers of non-vegan buyers' attitude towards vegan food. Attitude, then, strongly influences the intention to buy vegan foods. Though less impactful, non-vegans' willingness to pay a premium price is a motive positively influencing their intention to buy vegan food. The positive and significant moderating effect exerted by conformity on the attitude-intention path confirms the amplifying role played by trends and lifestyles on consumers' food buying choices.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the food and consumer behaviour literature in being the first exploring the moderating role played by conformity in inducing non-vegan consumers to buy vegan food. Environmental, animal, spiritual and health concerns are investigated from the non-vegan perspective.
A repurchase intention model of Indonesian herbal tea consumers: integrating perceived enjoyment and health belief
Authors: Astrini Nidya , Bakti I Gede Mahatma Yuda , Rakhmawati Tri , Sumaedi Sik , Yarmen Medi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This research seeks to develop a model to predict repurchase intention based on the modified theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Design/methodology/approach

This research is quantitative study involving 150 respondents from five major cities in Indonesia. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Data analysis used confirmatory factor analysis–structural equation modeling (CFA–SEM).

Findings

The research instrument and the proposed model were fit. However, health belief was not proven to have a significant impact on attitude. The perceived behavioral control (PBC) also did not significantly affect repurchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

Future research that utilizes TPB should incorporate emotional belief as part of the attitude variable.

Practical implications

In the designing and marketing process, managers of herbal teas companies should consider the health benefits of their products and the feeling of joy it might incite.

Originality/value

The TPB was initially constructed from three variables: subjective norm, attitude and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Unlike previous research, this study considered cognitive and emotional beliefs as the factors that affected attitude.
Investigating consumers' behavioral intentions toward suboptimal produce: an extended theory of planned behavior – a cross-cultural study
Authors: Adel Ahmed M. , Dai Xin , Roshdy Rana S.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) through the inclusion of motivating variables for suboptimal produce preference (i.e. environmental concern, food waste awareness, and familiarity), and demotivating variables (i.e. health consciousness and risk perception) to investigate behavioral intentions toward suboptimal produce.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research methodology using the online survey technique is employed to collect cross-cultural data from respondents from China (n = 430) and Egypt (n = 441). Structural equation modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS v.3.2.9 is used to analyze data.

Findings

The proposed extended TPB model could enhance predicting consumers' behavioral intentions toward suboptimal produce except for “environmental concern” since it has been found that environmental concern has a nonsignificant effect on consumers' attitudes and behavioral intentions toward suboptimal produce in both countries. The results also reveal that the proposed extended TPB constructs could predict 79.9% of intentions to purchase suboptimal produce and 65.3% of the variance in intentions to recommend such produce for others.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few attempts that investigates the suboptimal food consumption based on a theoretical lens by extending the TPB model. Previous studies on suboptimal food do not pay attention to the demotivating variables such as health consciousness and risk perception, and thus, this thesis represents the first effort that sheds light on such variables. Moreover, prior investigation on such issues in Egypt and China as a cross-cultural research has not existed.
The conquest of gender prejudices over sales negotiations: which will prevail?
Authors: Unler Ela , Yildiz Didem
Published: June 2021

Study level/applicability

Students from undergraduate and graduate levels.

Subject area

Leadership, implicit leadership theories, decision-making, gender stereotypes and discrimination.

Case overview

Defne was working as a sales manager in Diel Turkey, an international technology company. Diel focuses on software, hardware, network and business consultancy services. Defne had worked as a computer engineer before starting to work in the sales department. In her leadership, she gave importance to long-term relationships and justice. Defne had two meetings this week. The first one was with T&X, a big scale fast moving consumer goods company; and the other one was with Q-Coding, a medium-scale technology company. Defne had negotiated with T&X two years ago, and the project got canceled. Defne worked on T&X new contract very cautiously, as this time she wanted to finish the project and make the deal. Defne had to deal with prejudices during the T&X meeting. Implicit beliefs are grounded in the cultural background of the country, which determines the perceptual framework for the society. Male-dominated countries have implicit beliefs that women’s priorities should be their families, thus being successful at work is not expected. Defne faced male-oriented stereotypes, which challenged her in doing business. Even though she was a successful manager, these subjective beliefs made her perform poorly. During the meeting with Q-Coding, Defne discussed the prejudice for women leaders with a women entrepreneur Suzan.

Expected learning outcomes

This case is trying to achieve two main objectives: first, to make all students be aware of implicit leadership theories and beliefs, which are rooted in the countries’ cultural background; second, to make female students be aware of these dysfunctional coping behaviors and increase their self-efficacy without thinking about their gender roles.

Subject code

CSS 7: Management science
Exploring international markets: unique quality heads to Kenya
Authors: Laryea Esther , Avetsi Mawunyo , Duse Herman
Published: June 2021

Study level/applicability

The case is targeted at undergraduate students in international finance, international business, entrepreneurship and strategic marketing classes.

Subject area

At the broadest level, the case represents an opportunity for students to discuss internationalisation of local firms. It focusses on getting students to analyse the costs and benefits associated with the foreign entry decision as well as the strategies for foreign entry.

Case overview

The Exploring International Markets: Unique Quality Heads to Kenya case study provides a chronological report of how Unique Quality, a cereal production company, grew locally up until the point when it considers internationalisation. It details the key considerations the firm makes as it considers its foreign entry decision. Unique Quality is a cereal production company in Ghana, which operates within the agriculture industry. The industry operates at almost all the points along the value chain including coordinating the growing of the cereal until it is harvested, packaged and marketed for sale. The company which started operations in 2013 has made great gains in penetrating the Ghanaian market. Salma, who is currently at the helm of affair at the company, together with the board is considering entering into Kenya. This decision is one that must not be taken lightly and has left Salma in a dilemma.

Expected learning outcomes

The expected learning outcomes of the case are:To enable students:a) identify the reasons why firms go international;b) identify opportunities for cost-cutting benefits or revenue maximisation opportunities for Unique Quality in Kenya;c) understand and identify the various sources of country risk that Unique Quality could face in its attempt to enter the Kenyan market; andd) identify and analyse the various foreign entry strategy options available to Unique Quality.

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.
The transition to greener ways at Parsa’s
Authors: Farooq Mir Insha , Gupta Parul
Published: June 2021

Learning outcomes

The aim is to make students deliberate on the prospects and challenges of green practices and developing an understanding of the significance of the decision to be taken by marketers and how data can help even in small-sized entrepreneurial decision-making. Upon completion of this case study, the students will be in a position to achieve the following: • Identify factors that are essential for organizations to think of including planet while formulating strategies. • Understanding the significance of research in studying green consumer behavior and the research process. • Interpreting and critically evaluating the survey. • Suggesting measures how to improve the survey so conducted and recommending solutions.

Case overview/synopsis

Parsa’s is a case about a quick-service restaurant in an Indian emerging market, which faces the harsh realities of environmental degradation. In a very short span of time, Parsa’s has evolved as a reputed brand – steadily growing with around 16 outlets across different parts of India, most of them in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The Indian subcontinent’s landmass is getting buried under its own garbage with the country adding more than 15 million metric tonnes of waste every day. This unmanageable waste generation, which is piling up, adds to the pollution of land, air and water. To curb this menace, India’s Government came up with a one-time plastic ban on October 2nd, 2019. At Parsa’s, Javeed – its owner, had envisioned in 2018 to transit to greening their business activities. The organization’s greening was providing a unique selling proposition. However, they were still in early transition. Indian market being an emerging one, is yet to adopt green practices. In addition, J&K is no different from the rest of the nation. However, Parsa’s had to now think beyond the plastic ban, which was mandatory to all and this strategy will no more provide a competitive advantage. Both the partners were unsure whether the consumers were ready or they need more awareness. Javeed, a management graduate, suggested to conduct a survey in the Kashmir region as their quick-service restaurant had a good holding in most of the districts of Kashmir.

Complexity academic level

This case is most suitable for graduate and post-graduate level program, ideally in the following courses offered: • and in areas of marketing research, where the students can develop an understanding of how research can help marketers in studying consumer behavior • in strategic management concerning a bigger ambit of sustainability; this case can cover the issues about decisions regarding going green strategies.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.
The antecedents and consequences of brand personality: a systematic review
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Rashid , Burki Umar , Ali Raza , Dahlstrom Robert , Zameer Hashim
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The topic of brand personality (BP) has received extensive research attention in the last 2 decades, with a particular focus on examining its antecedents and consequences. This study, therefore, systematically reviews and synthesizes extant research on antecedents and consequences of BP of consumer products.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review approach is used to identify and analyze relevant studies from five major databases and a search engine. This review identified 62 articles from 43 journals published during 1997–2018. The relevant literature germane to the research objectives is extracted from these articles.

Findings

This study identifies and classifies antecedents and consequences of BP of consumer products, along with key mediators and moderators underlying these relationships. Additionally, the study reveals pertinent characteristics of BP literature, including conceptualizations, measurements, methods, theories and research settings. Finally, this study develops an integrative conceptual model and presents avenues for future research.

Practical implications

This study provides insight to practitioners that create and develop brand personalities. The study would inform managers concerning the outcomes of BP.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first systematic review that synthesizes existing empirical research on antecedents and consequences of BP of consumer products.
Physical–numerical parameters in turbulent simulations of natural convection on three-dimensional square plates
Authors: Verdério Júnior Sílvio Aparecido , Scalon Vicente Luiz , Oliveira Santiago del Rio , Ito Mario Cesar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study, experimentally validate and select the main physical and numerical parameters of influence in computational numerical simulations to evaluate mean heat flux by natural convection on square flat plates.

Design/methodology/approach

Several numerical models were built to study the influence of physical and numerical parameters about the predictions of the natural convection heat transfer rates on the surface of a flat plate with aspect ratio = 1, in isothermal conditions, turbulent regime and using the free and open-source software OpenFOAM®. The studied parameters were: boundary conditions (using or not using wall functions in properties ε, κ, νt and ω), degree of mesh refinement, refinement layers and turbulence models [κ – ε and κ – ω Shear Stress Transport (SST)]. From the comparison of the values of the mean Nusselt number, obtained from numerical simulations and literature experimental results, the authors evaluated the precision of the studied parameters, validating and selecting the most appropriate to the analyzed problem situation.

Findings

The validation and agreement of the numerical results could be proven with excellent precision from experimental references of the technical scientific literature. More refined meshes with refinement layers were not suitable for the studies developed. The κ – ε and κ – ω SST turbulence models, in meshes without refinement layers, proved to be equivalent. Whether or not to use wall functions in turbulent boundary conditions proved to be irrelevant as to the accuracy of results for the problem situation studied.

Practical implications

Use of the physical and numerical parameters is studied and validated for various applications in natural convection heat transfer of technology and industry areas.

Social implications

Use of free and open-source software as a research tool in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) area, especially in conditions without large financial resources or state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is yet not available in existing literature.
Human actions in supply chain management: the interplay of institutional work and institutional logics in the Russian Arctic
Authors: Tsvetkova Antonina
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study explores how human actions affect existing supply chain management (SCM) practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a narrative approach, this qualitative in-depth case study looks at micro-human activities in SCM practices in the Russian Arctic. Data from personal observations, 13 semi-structured interviews and archival materials are interpreted through the concepts of institutional work and institutional logics.

Findings

The study reveals how human actions and institutions affect each other and change existing SCM practice constrained by institutional order and logics. The findings identify two forms of institutional work, initiated by the presence of conflicts of interest between practitioners engaged in different organisational routines, that become an essential driver for logic change. Social action, often invisible in practice, is indicated by finding compromises and informal arrangements that shape interactive activity among practitioners. The findings show that changes enacted by human actions in SCM practice have envisioned new forms of collaboration among supply chain members, thereby making supply chains in the Russian Arctic more integrated than before.

Research limitations/implications

This study involves a limited number of supply chain practitioners, making it imperative to study larger samples, specifically from various empirical contexts.

Originality/value

This study suggests an alternative approach focusing on SCM practice as consistent patterns of human actions, to reflect on supply chain integration problems. It provides an understanding of how practitioners are influenced by and active in producing institutional change. An issue of practitioners' responsibility and morality regarding the consequences of their decisions when exerting change in existing SCM practice is further emphasised.
Unraveling the links between active and passive social media usage and seniors' loneliness: a field study in aging care communities
Authors: Yang Shufang , Huang Lin , Zhang Yanli , Zhang Pengzhu , Zhao Yuxiang Chris
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The literature reports inconsistent findings about the effects of social media usage (SMU). Researchers distinguish between active and passive social media usage (ASMU and PSMU), which can generate different effects on users by social support and social comparison mechanisms, respectively. Drawing on social presence theory (SPT), this study integrates an implicit social presence mechanism with the above two mechanisms to explicate the links between SMU and seniors' loneliness.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a field study by interviewing seniors living in eight aging care communities in China. Loneliness, social media activities and experiences with social media in terms of online social support (OSS), upward social comparison (USC) and social presence (SP) were assessed. Factor-based structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

OSS can mediate the relationship between ASMU and seniors' loneliness. Moreover, SP mediates between ASMU, PSMU, and seniors' loneliness, and between OSS, USC and seniors' loneliness. OSS mediates the relationship between ASMU and SP, and USC mediates the relationship between PSMU and SP.

Practical implications

This study shows that social media can alleviate seniors' loneliness, which could help relieve the pressures faced by health and social care systems. Social presence features are suggested to help older users interact with social health technologies in socially meaningful ways.

Originality/value

This study not only demonstrates that SP can play a crucial role in the relationship between both ASMU and PSMU and loneliness, but also unravels the links between SP and OSS, as well as USC.
Moderating role of religion in the relationship between SERVQUAL dimensions and hotel guest satisfaction
Authors: Ezeh Precious Chikezie , Okeke Titus Chukwuemezie , Nkamnebe Anayo D.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Religion is one of the factors that are considered in developing marketing strategy. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of religion (Islam and Christianity) in the relationship between SERVQUAL dimensions and satisfaction of hotel guest in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study was collected from 400 hotel customers in Nigeria (Zamfara and Anambra), and was analyzed using structural equation modeling technique (Amos). Also, composite reliability and average variance extracted were used to test the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Findings

The study found that religion has a significant moderating effect on the service quality dimensions and hotel guest satisfaction. In other words, there is significant difference on how Muslim and Christian hotel guests evaluate service quality dimensions and satisfaction. Moreover, the result shows that the empathy and assurance dimensions are the most important significant predictors of guest satisfaction. Moreover, religion has significant positive effect on guest satisfaction.

Practical implications

The study shows that religion significantly moderate the service quality dimensions. Therefore, the hotel management should focus on providing training programs that will enable the employees to offer superior personalized services to strengthen and nurture long-term guest relationships.

Originality/value

The inclusion of moderating effect of religion made this study very unique. Furthermore, the peculiarity and religious sentiments of the Nigeria business environment made this work outstanding.
Making or breaking the business case of digital transformation initiatives: the key role of learnings
Authors: Colli Michele , Stingl Verena , Waehrens Brian V.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The research aims to investigate how firms can develop their sensing capabilities for Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technology adoption through reframing their opportunity perceptions related to learnings from I4.0 initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows a design science research approach. Following the case of I4.0 technology introduction at a large food manufacturer, the paper develops a theoretical framework (artefact) and validates the applicability and efficacy of the framework within the case study.

Findings

The theoretical framework highlights the different temporal (short-term/long-term) and locational (direct/indirect) value dimensions of I4.0 opportunities. The findings show that the use of the framework can shift managers’ perception regarding the business value of an I4.0 technology implementation. Specifically, the framework reversed initially negative perceptions around a narrowly scoped business case towards an opportunity-oriented attitude exploring further potentials of the technology.

Research limitations/implications

The research adds to the debate when and why firms engage in, and sustain their I4.0 initiatives by providing a novel perspective on firms’ sensing capabilities. As a single-case study, the framework requires further validation in practice.

Practical implications

The proposed framework provides practitioners with an extended view concerning the potential value of digital transformation projects and serves as a conversational tool.

Originality/value

The presented wider frame for evaluating digital transformation projects, taking into account the more “intangible” value of their learnings, tackles the fundamental issue of translating explorative innovation efforts into exploitative value – a key challenge when dealing with innovation and one of the main barriers for the digital transformation.
Why and when do employees become more proactive under humble leaders? The roles of psychological need satisfaction and Chinese traditionality
Authors: Chen Hui , Liang Qiaozhuan , Feng Chao , Zhang Yue
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Drawing on self-determination theory, this study explored how leader humility affected employees' proactive behavior through satisfying their psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. Furthermore, based on a contingency view, this paper suggested Chinese traditionality as a significant boundary condition for the effects of leader humility.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 465 employees and 111 direct supervisors in China using a three-wave, two-source design. Hierarchical regression analyses and Hayes' PROCESS macro were applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicated that leader humility positively affected employee proactive behavior through the mediating mechanisms of psychological need satisfaction (i.e. autonomy, competence and relatedness). Furthermore, these positive effects were stronger among employees with lower Chinese traditionality beliefs.

Originality/value

Although prior research has examined the relationship between leadership and proactive behavior, most extant studies have focused on “top-down” leadership approaches, ignoring the effect of leader humility. Drawing on self-determination theory, the present study makes contributions to both the leader humility research and proactivity literature by identifying psychological need satisfaction as the mechanism and Chinese traditionality as the moderator.
How non-executive strategy professionals in multi-business firms strategize
Authors: Wadström Pontus
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper expands theory on strategists by investigating how non-executive strategy professionals in multi-business firms strategize. In focus is the strategizing of two groups of non-executive strategy professionals: a corporate strategy team and eleven business strategists employed in each of the incorporated units.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study design was employed to explore privileged accessed data to gain first-hand in-depth qualities of strategists' work. The design was characterized by phenomenon driven immersed participatory insider research with retrospective reflection and theorizing. Data includes strategies, interview data, calendars, meeting minutes, workshop material and observational field notes.

Findings

Non-executive strategy professionals in multi-business firms are either employed at the corporate center or in the peripheral businesses. Based on this location and their individual experiences they assume an exclusive content or an inclusive process strategizing orientation. In practice, the groups strategize tightly together.

Research limitations/implications

Case studies are useful in explorative research providing thick descriptions. While empirically rich, the results of this study are limited by the context of one single case. Future research is encouraged to confirm, contradict and refine the results presented.

Practical implications

The insights from this study can help organizations regarding how to employ strategy professionals in multi-business firms.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to a recognized need to explore strategists' work. In contrary to the majority of existing research, focusing on senior management and/or strategy formulation, this paper highlighted non-executive strategy professionals' strategizing.
A knowledge visualization approach to identify and discovery inner areas: a pilot application in the province of Lecce
Authors: Moretto Valentino , Elia Gianluca , Schirinzi Sara , Vizzi Roberto , Ghiani Gianpaolo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to propose a knowledge visualization approach and algorithm to support public decision makers to define the inner areas, which represents a strategic topic in the European debate about territorial inequality and development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has been developed by following the design science research, which includes six steps: problem identification and motivation; identification of the objectives for a solution; design and development; demonstration; evaluation; and communication. As for the design and development step, the proposed approach and algorithm ground on association mining to discover hidden relationships existing among municipalities. They have been applied to analyse the 97 municipalities of the Lecce province, and each municipality has been described through 30 multi-domain indicators organized into seven categories, whose data have been collected from institutional datasets, local sources or web-scraping process.

Findings

A set of complementary analyses has been generated through the construction of dynamic and interactive knowledge maps that show “similar” municipalities according to the indicators selected.

Originality/value

The approach and algorithm proposed allow discovering similarities existing among distinct municipalities, based on the analysis of a set of multi-domain indicators. The approach may complement or completely substitute the existing ones used to define inner areas, thus overcoming both the methodological limits of the “top-down” line imposed by the central legislator, and the “bottom-up” paradox consisting in the illusion that single (and often small) towns have the economic and cognitive resources necessary to implement effective territorial mapping and development strategies. In such a way, policy makers can be aware on similarities existing among distinct towns and can thus share cognitive and financial resources to define a common plan and a set of practices for territorial development.
Awe, consumer conformity and social connectedness
Authors: Yang Yan , Hu Jing , Nguyen Bang
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of the feeling awe on individuals' endorsement of conformist attitudes in consumption choices and the mediating role of social connectedness in generating this effect.

Design/methodology/approach

We test our hypotheses across three studies. Study 1 used an online survey. Study 2 and 3 conducted two laboratory experiments to induce awe and measured consumer conformity in two consumption choice tasks.

Findings

This research shows that both dispositional awe and induced awe can increase individuals' preferences for majority-endorsed vs. minority-endorsed choice alternatives in subsequently unrelated consumption situations, and this effect is mediated by perceptions of social connectedness with other decision-makers.

Practical implications

Marketers can promote the sales of mass-market products through inducing awe.

Social implications

Public regulators could utilize people's incidental awe as an effective policy intervention to nudge individual cooperation in some cases.

Originality/value

The research is the first to demonstrate a novel consequence of awe on consumer decision-making. It also highlights the significance of desire for social connectedness that explains why the feeling of awe develops conformity to the opinions of unknown people.