bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biophysical characterization of the inactivation ofE. colitransketolase by aqueous co-solvents
Authors: Morris Phattaraporn , García-Arrazola Ribia , Rios-Solis Leonardo , Dalby Paul A.
Published: June 2020

Transketolase (TK) has been previously engineered, using semi-rational directed evolution and substrate walking, to accept increasingly aliphatic, cyclic and then aromatic substrates. This has ultimately led to the poor water solubility of new substrates, as a potential bottleneck to further exploitation of this enzyme in biocatalysis. Here we used a range of biophysical studies to characterise the response of bothE. coliapo- and holo-TK activity and structure to a range of commonly used polar organic co-solvents: acetonitrile (MeCN),n- butanol (nBuOH), ethyl acetate (EToAc), isopropanol (iPrOH), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The mechanism of enzyme deactivation was found to be predominantly via solvent-induced local unfolding. Holo-TK is thermodynamically more stable than apo-TK and yet for four of the five co-solvents it retained less activity than apo-TK after exposure to organic solvents, indicating that solvent tolerance was not correlated to global conformational stability. The co-solvent concentrations required for complete enzyme inactivation was inversely proportional to co-solvent log(P), while the unfolding rate was directly proportional, indicating that the solvents interact with and partially unfold the enzyme through hydrophobic contacts. Aggregation was not found to be the driving mechanism of enzyme inactivation, but was in some cases an additional impact of solvent-induced local or global unfolding.

TK was found to be tolerant to 15% (v/v) iPrOH, 10% (v/v) MeCN, or 6% (v/v) nBuOH over 3 hours. This work indicates that future attempts to engineer the enzyme to better tolerate co-solvents should focus on increasing the stability of the protein to local unfolding, particularly in and around the cofactor-binding loops.
The Profiling of Bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) Modification in Human Amniotic Membrane by Glycomic and Glycoproteomic Analyses
Authors: Chen Qiushi , Zhang Yuanliang , Zhang Keren , Liu Jie , Pan Huozhen , Wang Xinran , Li Siqi , Hu Dandan , Lin Zhilong , Zhao Yun , Hou Guixue , Guan Feng , Li Hong , Liu Siqi , Ren Yan
Published: June 2020

It is acknowledged that the bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) structure, a GlcNAc linked to the core β-mannose residue via a β1,4 linkage, represents a special type of N-glycosylated modification and has been reported to be involved in various biological processes, such as cell adhesion and fetal development. Clark et al. has found that the majority of N-glycans in human trophoblasts bearing a bisecting GlcNAc. This type of glycan has been reported to help trophoblasts get resistant to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and this would provide a possible explanation for the question how could the mother nourish a fetus within herself without rejection. Herein, we hypothesized that human amniotic membrane which is the last barrier for the fetus may also express bisecting type glycans to protect the fetus. To test this hypothesis, glycomic analysis of human amniotic membrane was performed, and the bisecting N-glycans with high abundance were detected. In addition, we re-analyzed our proteomic data with high fractionation and amino acid sequence coverage from human amniotic membrane, which had been released for the exploration of human missing proteins. The presence of bisecting GlcNAc peptides was revealed and confirmed. A total of 41 glycoproteins with 43 glycopeptides were found to possess a bisecting GlcNAc, 25 of which are for the first time to be reported to have this type of modification. These results provide the profiling of bisecting GlcNAc modification in human amniotic membrane and benefit to the function studies of glycoproteins with bisecting GlcNAc modification and the function studies in immune suppression of human placenta. The mass spectrometry placenta data are available via ProteomeXchange (PXD010630).
Signature of N-terminal domain (NTD) structural re-orientation in NPC1 for proper alignment of cholesterol transport: Molecular dynamics study with mutation
Authors: Yoon Hye-Jin , Jeong Hyunah , Lee Hyung Ho , Jang Soonmin
Published: June 2020

The lysosomal membrane protein NPC1 (Niemann-Pick type C1) and NPC2 (Niemann-Pick type C2) are main players of cholesterol control in lysosome and it is known that mutation on these proteins leads to cholesterol trafficking related disease, called Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) disease. The mutation R518W or R518Q on NPC1 is one of such disease-related mutations, causing reduced cholesterol transport by half, resulting in accumulation of cholesterol and lipids in late endosomal/lysosomal region of the cell. Even though there has been significant progress in understanding cholesterol transport by NPC1 in combination with NPC2, especially after the structural determination of full length NPC1 in 2016, many details such as interaction of full length NPC1 with NPC2, molecular motions responsible for cholesterol transport during and after this interaction, and structure and function relations of many mutations are still not well understood.

We report the extensive molecular dynamics simulations to gain insight into the structure and motions of NPC1 lumenal domain for cholesterol transport and disease behind the mutation (R518W). It is found that the mutation induces structural shift of NTD (N-terminal domain), toward the loop region in MLD (middle lumenal domain), which is believed to play central role in interaction with NPC2 protein, such that the interaction with NPC2 protein might be less favorable compare to wild NPC1. Also, the simulation indicates the possible re-orientation of the NTD, aligning to form an internal tunnel, after receiving the cholesterol from NPC2 with wild NPC1 unlike the mutated one, a possible pose for further action in cholesterol trafficking. We believe the current study can provide better understanding on the cholesterol transport by NPC1, especially the role of NTD of NPC1, in combination with NPC2 interaction.

Synopsis

modeling study of cholesterol binding protein NPC1
Conflict detection in a sequential decision task is associated with increased cortico-subthalamic coherence and prolonged subthalamic oscillatory response in the beta band
Authors: Patai Zita Eva , Foltynie Tom , Limousin Patricia , Akram Harith , Zrinzo Ludvic , Bogacz Rafal , Litvak Vladimir
Published: June 2020

Making accurate decisions often involves the integration of current and past evidence. Here we examine the neural correlates of conflict and evidence integration during sequential decision making. Patients implanted with deep-brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes and age-matched healthy controls performed an expanded judgement task, in which they were free to choose how many cues to sample. Behaviourally, we found that while patients sampled numerically more cues, they were less able to integrate evidence and showed suboptimal performance. Using recordings of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and local field potentials (LFP, in patients) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN), we found that beta oscillations signalled conflict between cues within a sequence. Following cues that differed from previous cues, beta power in the STN and cortex first decreased and then increased. Importantly, the conflict signal in the STN outlasted the cortical one, carrying over to the next cue in the sequence. Furthermore, after a conflict, there was an increase in coherence between the dorsal premotor cortex and subthalamic nucleus in the beta band. These results extend our understanding of cortico-subcortical dynamics of conflict processing, and do so in a context where evidence must be accumulated in discrete steps, much like in real life. Thus, the present work leads to a more nuanced picture of conflict monitoring systems in the brain and potential changes due to disease.
Small scale variability in soil moisture drives infection of vulnerable juniper populations by invasive forest pathogen
Authors: Donald Flora , Green Sarah , Searle Kate , Cunniffe Nik J. , Purse Bethan V.
Published: June 2020

The oomycete plant pathogen,Phytophthora austrocedri, is an aggressive killer of cypress trees causing severe mortality of Chilean cedar (Austrocedrus chilensis) in Argentina since the 1940s and now common juniper (Juniperus communiss.l.) in the UK. Rapid mortality of key UK juniper populations was first observed in the early 2000s; the causal agent of mortality was confirmed asP. austrocedriin 2012 and the pathogen has now been widely detected - but is not ubiquitous - in juniper populations across Scotland and England. Although juniper has a broad distribution across the northern hemisphere, the UK incidence ofP. austrocedriremains the only confirmed infection of juniper populations globally. Juniper is an important species for biodiversity, so it is imperative to understand the abiotic and biotic drivers of emergentP. austrocedriinfection to inform detection, containment and conservation strategies to manage juniper populations across the full extent of its range.

As management of UK juniper populations is primarily conducted at a local level, we investigated field scale drivers of disease – in three, geographically separate populations with different infection histories. Variation in the proportion of juniper showing symptoms - discoloured or dead foliage – was measured using stratified sampling across along key environmental gradients within each 100-hectare population, including juniper density identified from aerial imagery. Potential predictors of infection included altitude, slope, distance to nearest watercourse, soil moisture (mean percentage volumetric water content), area of red deer browsing damage and area of commonly associated vascular plant species. We assessed support in the data for alternative models explaining the spatial distribution ofP. austrocedrisymptoms using full subset covariate selection and Deviance Information Criteria (DIC). Despite differences in environmental gradients and infection histories between populations, area of juniper symptomatic forP. austrocedriincreased with waterlogging, increasing with soil moisture in sites where soils had higher peat or clay contents, and decreasing with proximity to watercourses where sites had shallower, sandier soils. These results are consistent with key drivers identified at both local and landscape scale in Chilean cedar. Our approach enables identification of site-specific disease management strategies including prioritisation of inspections in microsites with high soil moisture and promoting conservation measures such as creation of sites for natural regeneration in drier microsites to minimise pathogen spread and maximise the resilience of existing juniper populations.
Martial arts training is related to implicit intermanual transfer of visuomotor adaptation
Authors: Werner Susen , Hasegawa Koki , Kanosue Kazuyuki , Strüder Heiko K. , Göb Tobias , Vogt Tobias
Published: June 2020

Recent work identified an explicit and implicit transfer of motor learning with one limb to the other untrained limb. Here we pursue the idea that different individual factors differently contribute to the amount of explicit and implicit intermanual transfer of sensorimotor adaptation. In particular we tested a group of judo athletes who show enhanced right-hemispheric involvement in motor control and a group of equally trained athletes as control participants. After adaptation to a 60° visual rotation, we estimated awareness of the perturbation and transfer to the untrained, non-dominant left hand in two experiments. We measured the total amount of intermanual transfer (explicit plus implicit) by telling the participants to repeat what was learned during adaptation and the amount of implicit transfer by instructing the participants to refrain from using what was learned but to perform movements as during baseline. We found no difference between the total intermanual transfer of judokas and running experts, with mean absolute transfer values of 42.4° and 47.0°. Implicit intermanual transfer was very limited but larger in judo than in general sports athletes, with mean values of 5.2° and 1.6°. A multiple linear regression analysis further revealed that total intermanual transfer, which largely represents the explicit transfer, is related to awareness of the perturbation while implicit intermanual transfer can be predicted by judo training, amount of total training, speed of adaptation and handedness scores. The findings are discussed in relation to neuronal mechanisms such as hemispheric interactions and functional specialization underlying intermanual transfer of motor learning.
The mRNA translation landscape in the synaptic neuropil
Authors: Glock Caspar , Biever Anne , Tushev Georgi , Bartnik Ina , Nassim-Assir Belquis , Dieck Susanne tom , Schuman Erin M.
Published: June 2020

To form and modify synaptic connections and store information, neurons continuously remodel their proteomes. The impressive length of dendrites and axons imposes unique logistical challenges to maintain synaptic proteins at locations remote from the transcription source (the nucleus). The discovery of thousands of mRNAs near synapses suggested that neurons overcome distance and gain autonomy by producing proteins locally1. It is not known, however if, how and when localized mRNAs are translated into protein. To investigate the translational landscape in neuronal subregions, we performed simultaneous RNA-seq and Ribo-seq from microdissected rodent brain slices to identify and quantify the transcriptome and translatome in cell bodies as well as dendrites and axons (neuropil). More than 4800 transcripts were translated in synaptic regions. Thousands of transcripts were differentially translated between somatic and synaptic regions, with scaffold and signaling molecules mostly arising from local sources. Furthermore, specific mRNA features were identified that regulate the efficiency of mRNA translation. The findings overturn the view that local translation is a minor source of synaptic protein2and indicate that on-site translational control is an important mechanism to control synaptic strength.
RAD54 is essential for RAD51-mediated repair of meiotic DSB in Arabidopsis
Authors: Sanchez-Rebato Miguel Hernandez , Bouatta Alida M. , Gallego Maria E. , White Charles I. , Da Ines Olivier
Published: June 2020

An essential component of the homologous recombination machinery in eukaryotes, the RAD54 protein is a member of the SWI2/SNF2 family of helicases with dsDNA-dependent ATPase, DNA translocase, DNA supercoiling and chromatin remodelling activities. It is a motor protein that translocates along dsDNA and performs multiple functions in homologous recombination. In particular, RAD54 is an essential cofactor for regulating RAD51 activity. It stabilizes the RAD51 nucleofilament, remodels nucleosomes, and stimulates homology search and strand invasion activity of RAD51. Accordingly, deletion of RAD54 has dramatic consequences on DNA damage repair in mitotic cells. In contrast, its role in meiotic recombination is less clear.

RAD54 is essential for meiotic recombination in Drosophila andC. elegans, but plays minor roles in yeast and mammals. We present here characterization of the roles of RAD54 in meiotic recombination in the model plantArabidopsis thaliana. Absence of RAD54 has no detectable effect on meiotic recombination in otherwise wild-type plants but RAD54 becomes essential for meiotic DSB repair in absence of DMC1. In Arabidopsis,dmc1mutants have an achiasmate meiosis, in which RAD51 repairs meiotic DSBs. Absence of RAD54 indmc1mutants leads to meiotic chromosomal fragmentation. The action of RAD54 in meiotic RAD51 activity is thus downstream of the role of RAD51 in supporting the activity of DMC1. Equivalent analyses show no effect on meiosis of combiningdmc1with the mutants of the RAD51-mediators RAD51B, RAD51D and XRCC2.

RAD54 is thus required for repair of meiotic DSBs by RAD51 and the absence of meiotic phenotype inrad54plants is a consequence of RAD51 playing a RAD54-independent supporting role to DMC1 in meiotic recombination.

Author Summary

Homologous recombination is a universal pathway which repairs broken DNA molecules through the use of homologous DNA templates. It is both essential for maintenance of genome stability and for the generation of genetic diversity through sexual reproduction. A central step of the homologous recombination process is the search for and invasion of a homologous intact DNA sequence that will be used as template. This key step is catalysed by the RAD51 recombinase in somatic cells and RAD51 and DMC1 in meiotic cells, assisted by a number of associated factors. Among these, the chromatin-remodelling protein RAD54 is a required cofactor for RAD51 in mitotic cells. Understanding of its role during meiotic recombination however remains elusive. We show here that RAD54 is required for repair of meiotic double strand breaks by RAD51 in the plantArabidopsis thaliana, and this function is downstream of the meiotic role of RAD51 in supporting the activity of DMC1. These results provide new insights into the regulation of the central step of homologous recombination in plants and very probably also other multicellular eukaryotes.
Initial sample processing can influence the soil microbial metabarcoding surveys, revealed byLeucocalocybe mongolicafairy ring ecosystem
Authors: Duan Mingzheng , Bau Tolgor
Published: June 2020

In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of soil preservation approaches, especially cryopreservation and high temperature-drying on the sequencing quality of its microbial community and the background microbial diversity information of fairy ring soil fromLeucocalocybe mongolica. Through DNA metabarcoding surveys based on 16S rDNA and ITS barcodes, we observed that the bacterial abundance was notably changed when the soil samples were exposed in room temperature for 4 hours, whereas the fungal composition was not significantly changed. Moreover, the soil samples preserved their major microbial structures even after high temperature-drying for 12 hours, whereas their microbial diversity was influenced. Overall, a total of 9283 and 1871 OTUs were obtained from soil bacteria and fungi, respectively, and we observed that Chthoniobacteraceae and Tricholomataceae were the dominant bacterial and fungal families in the fairy ring soil, respectively. Our study reveals the impact of soil processing methods on the microbial community compositions and contributes to the understanding of fairy ring ecology.
STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAESEROTYPE 22F INFECTION IN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTED NEONATAL LAMBS ENHANCES MORBIDITY
Authors: Alnajjar Sarhad , Sitthicharoenchai Panchan , Gallup Jack , Ackermann Mark , Verhoeven David
Published: June 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the primary cause of viral bronchiolitis resulting in hospitalization and a frequent cause of secondary respiratory bacterial infection, especially byStreptococcus pneumoniae(Spn) in infants. While murine studies have demonstrated enhanced morbidity during a viral/bacterial co-infection, human meta-studies have conflicting results. Moreover, little knowledge about the pathogenesis of emergingSpnserotype 22F, and especially the co-pathologies between RSV andSpnis known. Here, colostrum-deprived neonate lambs were divided into four groups. Two of the groups were nebulized with RSV M37, and the other two groups mock nebulized. At day 3 post-infection, one RSV group (RSV/Spn) and one mock-nebulized group (Spn only) were inoculated withSpnintratracheally. At day 6 post-infection, bacterial/viral loads were assessed along with histopathology and correlated with clinical symptoms. Lambs dually infected with RSV/Spnhad higher RSV titers, but lowerSpn. Additionally, lung lesions were observed to be more intense in the RSV/Spngroup characterized by increased interalveolar wall thickness accompanied by neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration. Despite lowerSpnin lungs, co-infected lambs had more significant morbidity and histopathology, which correlated with a different cytokine response. Thus, enhanced disease severity during dual infection may be due to lesion development and altered immune responses rather than bacterial counts.
Generation of Rapid Sequences by Motor Cortex
Authors: Zimnik Andrew J. , Churchland Mark M.
Published: June 2020

Rapid execution of motor sequences is believed to depend upon the fusing of movement elements into cohesive units that are executed holistically. We sought to determine the contribution of motor cortex activity to this ability. Two monkeys performed highly practiced two-reach sequences, interleaved with matched reaches performed alone or separated by a delay. We partitioned neural population activity into components pertaining to preparation, initiation, and execution. The hypothesis that movement elements fuse makes specific predictions regarding all three forms of activity. We observed none of these predicted effects. Instead, two-reach sequences involved the same set of neural events as individual reaches, but with a remarkable temporal compression: preparation for the second reach occurred as the first was in flight. Thus, at the level of motor cortex, skillfully executing a rapid sequence depends not on fusing elements, but on the ability to perform two computations at the same time.
The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 is essential for Dengue virus infection
Authors: Huerta Vivian , Martin Alejandro M. , Sarría Mónica , Guirola Osmany , Yero Alexis , Ramos Yassel , Pupo Dianne , Martin Dayron , Marcello Alessandro , Chinea Glay
Published: June 2020

Dengue virus (DENV) causes the most prevalent and rapidly spreading arboviral disease of humans. It enters human cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Numerous cell surface proteins have been proposed as DENV entry factors. Among these, the phosphatidylserine receptor TIM-1 is the only one known to mediate virus internalization. However, several cellular models lacking TIM-1 are permissive to DENV infection, suggesting that other receptors exist. Here we show that the Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) binds DENV virions by interacting with the DIII of the viral envelope glycoprotein. DENV infection is effectively inhibited by the purified receptor at 5×10−8mol/L and the interaction of the envelope protein with LRP1 is also blocked by a natural ligand of LRP1. Depletion of LRP1 causes 100-fold lower production of infectious virus than controls. Our results indicate that LRP1 is another DENV receptor thus, becoming an attractive target to evaluate for the development of effective antiviral drugs against DENV.

Author summary

Dengue virus (DENV) is a complex of four related viruses, recognized as serotypes, designated as DENV1-4. Any of the four DENV serotypes can cause a self-limited disease of mild flu-like symptoms known as dengue or its life threatening form, severe dengue, with hemorrhagic manifestations, organ impairment and shock. This disease is widely spread in tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide, where the incidence of severe dengue has been increasing steadily. So far, efforts that target components of the viral replication machinery in order to develop a specific antiviral drug for dengue disease patients have failed. Thus, identifying the cell surface receptors used by DENV to enter host cells would provide a new molecular target to develop inhibitory drugs. Here, we evaluate the Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) as a putative DENV receptor. We present evidence demonstrating that LRP1 binds DENV through the viral envelope protein. We show that the production of infective virus is impaired on cells lacking LRP1, and that purified LRP1 is a potent blocker of DENV infection. These results are consistent with LRP1 playing an important role on DENV entry, making this receptor a molecule of interest on the investigation for medical treatments of dengue/severe dengue disease.
1.8 Å resolution structure of β-galactosidase with a 200 kV CRYO ARM electron microscope
Authors: Merk Alan , Fukumura Takuma , Zhu Xing , Darling Joseph E. , Grisshammer Reinhard , Ognjenovic Jana , Subramaniam Sriram
Published: June 2020

We report the determination of the structure of Escherichia coli β-galactosidase at a resolution of ∼1.8 Å using data collected on a 200 kV CRYO ARM microscope equipped with a K3 direct electron detector. The data were collected in a single 24 h session by recording images from an array of 7 × 7 holes at each stage position using the automated data collection program SerialEM. In addition to the expected features such as holes in the densities of aromatic residues, the map also shows density bumps corresponding to the locations of hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen densities are useful in assigning absolute orientations for residues such as glutamine or asparagine by removing the uncertainty in the fitting of the amide groups, and are likely to be especially relevant in the context of structure-guided drug design. These findings validate the use of electron microscopes operating at 200 kV for imaging protein complexes at atomic resolution using cryo-EM.
Shifting the focus of sustainability accounting from impacts to risks and dependencies: researching the transformative potential of TCFD reporting
Authors: O'Dwyer Brendan , Unerman Jeffrey
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper problematizes TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) reporting in a way that demonstrates areas where academic research can contribute towards realizing the transformative potential of this unique form of sustainability accounting in its early stages of development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a number of research agendas for impactful interdisciplinary research into new forms of corporate reporting of sustainability risks, opportunities and dependencies.

Findings

There are several major challenges that both reporting corporations and investors need to address in realizing the potential of TCFD style risks, opportunities and dependencies reporting. Key among these is developing new practices of climate-related scenario analysis and reporting.

Practical implications

There is potential for many different academic research studies to provide solid evidence in helping improve the practical impact of TCFD style sustainability reporting. These impacts may assist in moving corporate policies and actions towards zero carbon.

Originality/value

This is the first agenda-setting paper that addresses the need for, and opportunities of, academic research into TCFD reporting and its potential to transform corporate accounting and reporting of sustainability.
The interplay between home and host logics of accountability in multinational corporations (MNCs): the case of the Fundão dam disaster
Authors: Safari Maryam , Bicudo de Castro Vincent , Steccolini Ileana
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The major purpose of this paper is to answer the overarching questions of how multinational corporations (MNCs) address the multiple institutional logics of accountability and pressures of the field in which they operate and how the dominant logic changes and shifts in response to such pressures pre- and post-disaster situation.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interpretive textual analyses of multiple longitudinal data sets are conducted to study the case of the Fundão dam disaster. The data sources include historical documents, academic articles and public institutional press releases from 2000 to 2016, covering the environment leading to the case study incident and its aftermath.

Findings

The findings reveal how MNCs' plurality of and, at times, conflicting institutional logics shape the organizational behaviors, actions and nonactions of actors pre-, peri- and post-disaster. More specifically, the predominance bureaucracy embedded in the state-corporatist logic of the host country before a disaster allows the strategic subunit of an MNC to continue operating while causing various forms of environmental damage until a globally visible disaster triggers a reversal in the dominant logic toward the embrace of wider, global, emergent social and environmental accountability.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to discussions regarding the need to explore in depth of how MNCs respond to multiple institutional pressures in practice. This study extends the literature concerning disaster accountability, state-corporatism and logic-shifting by exploring how MNCs respond to the plurality of institutional logics and pressures over time and showing how, in some cases, logics not only reinforce but also contrast with each other and how a globally exposed disaster may trigger a shift in the dominant logic governing MNCs' responses.
The limits of environmental accounting disclosure: enforcement of regulations, standards and interpretative strategies
Authors: Senn Juliette , Giordano-Spring Sophie
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The objective of this study is to provide insights into insiders' perspectives on environmental accounting disclosures, which is relatively under-investigated. Based on insights from key managers, we provide information on company decisions and practices related to the data disclosed in annual reports. More specifically, we explore how regulation guidance affects and shapes disclosure strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the normativity framework, our research design involves a multiple-case study focusing on eight French listed firms in sensitive industries. We primarily build our investigation on the analysis of annual reports. Semi-structured interviews with 20 key managers belonging to these same firms provide interpretative explanations of the disclosed (and un-disclosed) figures.

Findings

Our main findings show that the disclosure of environmental accounting information (EAI) is still in its infancy. Weak definitions and poor guidance in regulations explain the limitations in disclosure and induce interpretative strategies depending on the type of data to be disclosed in the companies' annual reports. We document that separate logics drive environmental expenditure and environmental liability disclosures in many respects.

Practical implications

This study should be useful for regulators because environmental accounting standards are currently subject to change and helpful for users because of the careful consideration of disclosures.

Originality/value

Our research is timely and adds to the growing body of research on regulation. We document how a common regulation may lead to interpretative strategies by different actors and networks of actors, thereby contributing to shaping EAI norms.
Issues and future directions for Korean childcare policy
Authors: Lee Yoon Hyung , Lee Joo-Yeon
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The paper attempts to closely look into childcare regime in South Korea as well as Korean parents' childcare preference and usage across their young's early years. Through ascertaining Korean family needs in childcare while considering their cultural and social context, directions for future childcare policy development are offered. In so doing, it is hoped to inform Korea and other Asian countries going through similar social and economic changes of ways to build upon childcare policy while taking into account their individual context.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review took place using theoretical frameworks of poststructuralism and institutionalized individualization. First, further attention to “problems” on Korean childcare policy is paid while considering the nation's situated cultural and social context. Also, individual families are viewed with autonomy and responsibility in undertaking childcare duties; thus, further individualized childcare service is proposed for the integration of the nation throughout the paper.

Findings

It was found there has been a mismatch between the nation's childcare policy regime and culture. The state exclusively provides defamilialistic childcare service provision, while many Korean families uphold familialism in meeting their childcare demands. In order to meet the sociocultural needs of Korean families, therefore, the enactment of complementary childcare service provision and the establishment of generous parental leave policies were proposed.

Originality/value

Many Asian countries work toward resembling egalitarian societies implementing Western policies and values. However, in reality, little change has shown especially in the paradigm of family, family values and family responsibilities in Korea. Therefore, this paper suggests that policymakers should take a careful evaluation of current childcare provisions and strive for gradual improvement rather than radical changes in childcare policy regime.
Cognitive proximity and innovation performance: are collaborators equal?
Authors: O' Connor Mari , Doran Justin , McCarthy Nóirín
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper combines the concepts of search depth and cognitive proximity to investigate the impact of intense collaboration with different external agents on firms' innovation performance. It empirically tests whether firms that draw deeply on cognitively proximate collaborative partners are more innovative than those collaborating intensively with cognitively distant partners. It explores whether the impact of each external agent is equally important in determining the innovation output of firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the Irish Community Innovation Survey 2012–2014, this paper employs a probit model to empirically test the impact of collaboration with cognitively proximate and distant sources of external knowledge to establish whether their impact on innovation performance is uniform.

Findings

The results show that not all collaborators equally impact firm innovation performance. Firms who indicate that knowledge sourced from backward linkages with suppliers is highly important are more likely to engage in both product and process innovation, with the effect more pronounced for the former. The extent of this is greatest for backward linkages compared to forward, horizontal and public linkages. Public linkages have the weakest impact on innovation output which raises questions from a policy perspective given the focus on university–industry collaboration for innovation. The findings indicate that collaboration with cognitively proximate sources of knowledge benefits firms' innovation output.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical evidence on the role of intense collaboration with cognitively proximate and distant external knowledge sources to explore their impact on the subsequent innovation performance of firms. The results can be used to help shape firm-level innovation policy, and indeed national policy, to promote innovation performance.
Brand negativity: a relational perspective on anti-brand community participation
Authors: Dessart Laurence , Veloutsou Cleopatra , Morgan-Thomas Anna
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the phenomena of negative brand relationships and emotions to evidence how such relationships transpose into the willingness to participate in collective actions in anti-brand communities.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was carried out, targeting Facebook anti-brand communities, dedicated to sharing negativity toward technology products. A total of 300 members of these communities participated in the study.

Findings

The study shows that the two dimensions of negative brand relationship (negative emotional connection and two-way communication) lead to community participation in anti-brand communities, through the mediating role of social approval and oppositional loyalty. Anti-brand community growth is supported by members’ intentions to recommend the group and is the result of their participation.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s focus on technology brands calls for further research on other brand types and categories and the inclusion of other independent variables should be considered to extend understanding of collective negativity in anti-brand communities.

Practical implications

The paper provides insight to brand managers on the ways to manage negativity around their brand online and understand the role that brand communities play in this process.

Originality/value

The paper proposes the first integrative view of brand negativity, encompassing emotions and behaviors of consumers as individuals and as members of a collective, which allows the understanding of the dynamics of anti-branding and highlights the mechanisms that facilitate anti-brand community expansion.
Tapping into the assets of first-generation students during times of transition
Authors: Hands Africa S.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present research on the assets of first-generation college students and offer asset-based practices that can be implemented to support students during emergency transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the literature related to first-generation college students and cultural wealth and then details practices for implementation by librarians working to enhance the transition to online learning for this student group.

Findings

The author identified in the literature six assets of first-generation college students: reflexivity, optimism, academic resilience, goal-orientation, civic-mindedness and proactivity. These assets coupled with Yosso’s concept of community cultural wealth provide a frame of reference for examining and implementing services and programs to enhance the educational experience of first-generation college students during emergency transitions.

Originality/value

Whereas existing literature on first-generation college students assumes a deficit lens, this paper puts forth the cultural assets of this population that may be leveraged by librarians. Student assets are positioned alongside forms of capital that also may be utilized to guide the work of librarians.
The effects of chairmen's social network heterogeneity on cooperative marketing innovation: evidence from Sichuan province in China
Authors: Liu Yu , Li Houjian
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, based on first-hand data from 255 chairmen of planting cooperatives in Sichuan province, is threefold: to understand their social network heterogeneity; to understand the significance for members of marketing innovation in farmers' cooperatives and to understand the effects of chairmen's social network heterogeneity on cooperative marketing innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs an empirical survey of the chairmen of planting cooperatives in rural Sichuan province. The researchers use the ordinary least squares method to conduct regression on the data and the generalized linear model to process the data and avoid errors in the model setting. In the study, the following two hypotheses are examined: (1) The heterogeneity of chairmen's social networks has positive effects on cooperative marketing innovation; (2) The effects of heterogeneous external and internal social networks on cooperative marketing innovation are different.

Findings

The results show that both external and internal social network heterogeneity has positive effects on cooperative marketing innovation, and the effects of internal heterogeneity are greater than that of external heterogeneity.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to improving the income of farmers, the innovation of farmers' cooperatives and the development of agriculture in China. It provides a new way of managing and serving members to enable the long-term sustainable development of farmers' cooperatives.
Determinants of solo and employer entrepreneurship in Visegrád countries: findings from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia
Authors: Dvouletý Ondřej , Orel Marko
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to extend the existing body of literature on the individual-level determinants of self-employed persons with (employer entrepreneurs) and without employees (solo self-employed individuals) from the perspective of four post-communist economies (i.e. Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia).

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach is based on the three harmonised waves (2005, 2010 and 2015) of the European Survey on Working Conditions (EWCS). Multi-variate logistic regression models are used to determine the individual-level differences among employees, solo self-employed individuals and job creators in the selected group of countries.

Findings

The results show significant differences among employees, solo self-employed individuals and job creators, especially when it comes to the role of age, gender, education, previous experience, number of working hours and their determination. Job creators in Visegrád countries have, on average, more years of experience, and higher levels of education (tertiary), than wage-employees.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a series of recommendations for future research on the role of family- and household-related characteristics, entrepreneurship-specific education and migration background.

Originality/value

The previous research on individual determinants of entrepreneurial engagement in Visegrád region was mainly based on the data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. This study offers a novel perspective based on the EWCS data.
Competencies development for women edupreneurs community – an integrated AHP-TOPSIS approach
Authors: Dixit Jitendra Kumar , Agrawal Vivek , Agarwal Sucheta , Gerguri-Rashiti Shqipe , Said Dina Sabry
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Education is the most promising and prominent domain for entrepreneurs who are willing to infuse innovation and creation to initiate the change in existing educational practices. These changing agents are known as edupreneurs. Educational domain generates an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to balance work and life, both. However, women edupreneurs community needs to enhance their competencies and capacities to handle diverse issues and challenges posed by stakeholders. This paper aims to explore competencies helpful in designing a customized leadership development program, especially for women edupreneurs community.

Design/methodology/approach

From the extensive literature, a number of competencies for women's edupreneurs were found and 12 competencies were selected in this study after experts’ opinions. These competencies were analyzed by an integrated analytical hierarchy process (AHP)-TOPSIS approach.

Findings

The study has extracted competencies (visionary, delegative, inquisitive, learning agility, cognitive ability, self-reflection, tolerance, decisive, self-development, receptive to feedback, building partnership networks and save face) to be included in leadership development program specially designed for women edupreneurs community engage in operating child care, pre-school, primary-elementary schools and secondary-high schools, addressing the problems and issues related to students and parents community.

Practical implications

Future leadership development programs designed for women edupreneurs can include these competencies and trainers, educators and policymakers can follow the suggested structure for execution purpose.

Originality/value

This study is an initial attempt to set a benchmark for improving competencies of women edupreneurs.
Modelling the knowledge transfer process between founder and successor in Vietnamese family businesses succession
Authors: Bell Robin , Pham Thanh Trung
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The transfer of knowledge has been identified as an important part of the family business succession process. This paper examines the knowledge transfer process from the founder to the successor to understand and model the factors that influence the knowledge transfer process in the Vietnamese family business context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts an inductive qualitative approach, conducting face-to-face semi-structured interviews with five father-son succession pairs. The interviews with founders and successors, ten in total, formed the basis of five case studies. The cases were all at an advanced stage of the process of business knowledge transfer and family business succession.

Findings

A contextualized model was developed, highlighting the main factors that influence the knowledge transfer process from the founder to the successor in a Vietnamese family business context. This model identifies the influence of factors, some of which are not commonly presented in western family business literature. These include the importance of the role of the mother in mediating the relationship quality between the founder and the successor and the successor pursuing education and external work experience to improve their cognitive and reflective abilities. The need for the affinity between family members is also highlighted as important.

Originality/value

In Vietnam, most family-run businesses are still under the control of the founder. This research provides insight into the succession process in Vietnam. This research addresses calls for further exploration into the factors that influence the transfer of knowledge in the family business succession process and to research this process in a collectivist society, both of which remain under-researched.
Capital structure of family firms: the effect of debt and equity market timing
Authors: Muhammad Mushtaq , Ei Yet Chu , Tahir Muhammad , Nasir Abdul Majid
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the timing behavior affects the capital structure decisions of South Asian family firms. A strand of literature is available based on the capital structure of firms in general but inconsistent with family businesses framework and not from market timing outlook. This study looks at the issues from the market timing perspectives of both equity and debt market timing.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of the study is the listed family firms of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The firm-level data are collected from Thomson Reuters' DataStream and the ownership data collected from the countries' stock exchanges and financial statements of the family firms.

Findings

The results show that there is strong support for the market timing in the family firms' capital structure. Moreover, the financial crisis of 2007–2009 surprisingly had a positive effect on the capital structure of South Asian family business.

Originality/value

This study looks at the issues from the market timing perspectives of both equity and debt market timing. It provides evidence for supporting the equity and debt market timing effect on the capital structure and financing decision of family firms. It also addresses the impact of the 2007–2009 financial crisis on the capital structure of family firms.