bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural intermediates observed only in intactEscherichia coliindicate a mechanism for TonB-dependent transport
Authors: Nilaweera Thushani D. , Nyenhuis David A. , Cafiso David S.
Published: March 2021

Outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters facilitate the uptake of trace nutrients and carbohydrates in Gram negative bacteria and are essential for pathogenic bacteria and the health of the microbiome. Despite this, their mechanism of transport is still unknown. Here, pulse EPR measurements were made in intact cells on the Escherichia coli vitamin B12transporter, BtuB. Substrate binding was found to alter the C-terminal region of the core and shift an extracellular substrate binding loop 2 nm towards the periplasm; moreover, this structural transition is regulated by an ionic lock that is broken upon binding of the inner membrane protein TonB. Significantly, this structural transition is not observed when BtuB is reconstituted into phospholipid bilayers. These measurements suggest an alternative to existing models of transport, where TonB binding alone is sufficient to produce allosteric rearrangements in the transporter. They also demonstrate the importance of studying outer membrane proteins in their native environment.
Lipocalin 2 promotes inflammatory breast cancer tumorigenesis and skin invasion
Authors: Villodre Emilly S. , Hu Xiaoding , Larson Richard , Finetti Pascal , Gomez Kristen , Balema Wintana , Stecklein Shane R. , Santiago-Sanchez Ginette , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Song Juhee , Su Xiaoping , Ueno Naoto T. , Tripathy Debu , Laere Steven Van , Bertucci Francois , Vivas-Mejía Pablo , Woodward Wendy A. , Debeb Bisrat G.
Published: March 2021

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of primary breast cancer characterized by rapid onset and high risk of metastasis and poor clinical outcomes. The biological basis for the aggressiveness of IBC is still not well understood and no IBC-specific targeted therapies exist. In this study we report that lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a small secreted glycoprotein belonging to the lipocalin superfamily, is expressed at significantly higher levels in IBC versus non-IBC tumors, independently of molecular subtype. LCN2 levels were also significantly higher in IBC cell lines and in their culture media than in non-IBC cell lines. High expression was associated with poor-prognosis features and shorter overall survival in IBC patients. Depletion of LCN2 in IBC cell lines reduced proliferation, colony formation, migration, and cancer stem cell populations in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth, skin invasion, and brain metastasis in mouse models of IBC. Analysis of our proteomics data showed reduced expression of proteins involved in cell cycle and DNA repair in LCN2-silenced IBC cells. Our findings support that LCN2 promotes IBC tumor aggressiveness and offer a new potential therapeutic target for IBC.
Analyzing Assay Specificity in Metabolomics using Unique Ion Signature Simulations
Authors: Shanthamoorthy Premy , Young Adamo , Rost Hannes
Published: March 2021

Targeted, untargeted and data-independent acquisition (DIA) metabolomics workflows are often hampered by ambiguous identification based on either MS1 information alone or relatively few MS2 fragment ions. While DIA methods have been popularized in proteomics, it is less clear whether they are suitable for metabolomics workflows due to their large precursor isolation windows and complex co-isolation patterns. Here, we quantitatively investigate the conditions necessary for unique metabolite detection in complex backgrounds using precursor and fragment ion mass-to-charge separation, comparing three benchmarked MS methods (MS1, MRM, DIA). Our simulations show that DIA outperformed MS1-only and MRM-based methods with regards to specificity by a factor of ~2.8-fold and ~1.8-fold, respectively. Additionally, we show that our results are not dependent on the number of transitions used or the complexity of the background matrix. Finally, we show that collision energy is an important factor in unambiguous detection and that a single collision energy setting per compound cannot achieve optimal pairwise differentiation of compounds. Our analysis demonstrates the power of using both high resolution precursor and high resolution fragment ion m/z for unambiguous compound detection. This work also establishes DIA as an emerging MS acquisition method with high selectivity for metabolomics, outperforming both DDA and MRM with regards to unique compound identification potential.
P2X7 receptor signaling is not required but can enhance Th17 differentiation
Authors: Yang Yin , Killeen Meaghan E. , Sumpter Tina L. , Mathers Alicia R.
Published: March 2021

The purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) is important in inflammasome activation and generally considered to favor proinflammatory Th17 immune responses. However, several studies utilizing P2rx7-/-mice did not observe impaired inflammation, on the contrary, these reports demonstrate that P2rx7-/-mice can have more sever inflammation compared to WT controls. To begin to clarify this discrepancy, the impact of P2X7R signaling on primary Th17 and Th1 cell responses was examined. Initially, utilizing a global knockout approach, we found that P2rx7-/-mice develop comparable Th17 and Th1 responses to those of WT mice. However, indepthin vitroandin vivoinvestigations revealed differences in the immune response outcome depending on which cell type expresses P2X7R. In this regard, DC-specific P2X7R deficient chimeras demonstrate a comparable Th17 differentiation pattern with that of WT chimeras but display a significantly enhanced Th1 response. However, P2rx7-/-T cells have a suppressed Th17 differentiation profile while developing a similarly enhanced Th1 response as observed in DC-specific P2X7R deficient chimeras. Finally, P2X7R expression induces more T cell deathin vivo, attributed to its cytotoxicity, which results in a similar total number of WT Th17 and P2rx7-/-Th17 cells and remarkably higher amounts of P2rx7-/-Th1 cells. Collectively, our findings establish that P2X7R expression on CD4+T cells is necessary for Th17 differentiation while inhibiting Th1 development.
CLEMSite, a software for automated phenotypic screens using light microscopy and FIB-SEM
Authors: Serra Lleti José M. , Steyer Anna M. , Schieber Nicole L. , Neumann Beate , Tischer Christian , Hilsenstein Volker , Holtstrom Mike , Unrau David , Kirmse Robert , Lucocq John M. , Pepperkok Rainer , Schwab Yannick
Published: March 2021

Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) combines two imaging modalities, balancing out the limits of one technique with the other. In recent years, Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) has emerged as a flexible method that enables semi-automated volume acquisition at the ultrastructural level. We present a toolset for adherent cultured cells that enables tracking and finding cell regions previously identified in light microscopy, in the FIB-SEM along with automatic acquisition of high-resolution volume datasets. We detect a grid pattern in both modalities (LM and EM), which identifies common reference points. The novel combination of these techniques enables complete automation of the workflow. This includes setting the coincidence point of both ion and electron beams, automated evaluation of the image quality and constantly tracking the sample position with the microscope’s field of view reducing or even eliminating operator supervision. We show the ability to target the regions of interest in EM within 5µm accuracy, while iterating between different targets and implementing unattended data acquisition. Our results demonstrate that executing high throughput volume acquisition in electron microscopy is possible.
The time-resolved hard X-ray diffraction endstation KMC-3 XPP at BESSY II
Authors: Rössle Matthias , Leitenberger Wolfram , Reinhardt Matthias , Koç Azize , Pudell Jan , Kwamen Christelle , Bargheer Matias
Published: March 2021

The time-resolved hard X-ray diffraction endstation KMC-3 XPP for optical pump/X-ray probe experiments at the electron storage ring BESSY II is dedicated to investigating the structural response of thin film samples and heterostructures after their excitation with ultrashort laser pulses and/or electric field pulses. It enables experiments with access to symmetric and asymmetric Bragg reflections via a four-circle diffractometer and it is possible to keep the sample in high vacuum and vary the sample temperature between ∼15 K and 350 K. The femtosecond laser system permanently installed at the beamline allows for optical excitation of the sample at 1028 nm. A non-linear optical setup enables the sample excitation also at 514 nm and 343 nm. A time-resolution of 17 ps is achieved with the `low-α' operation mode of the storage ring and an electronic variation of the delay between optical pump and hard X-ray probe pulse conveniently accesses picosecond to microsecond timescales. Direct time-resolved detection of the diffracted hard X-ray synchrotron pulses use a gated area pixel detector or a fast point detector in single photon counting mode. The range of experiments that are reliably conducted at the endstation and that detect structural dynamics of samples excited by laser pulses or electric fields are presented.
Crystal structure, hydrogen bonds and thermal transformations of superprotonic conductor Cs6(SO4)3(H3PO4)4
Authors: Makarova Irina , Selezneva Elena , Canadillas-Delgado Laura , Mossou Estelle , Vasiliev Aleksander , Komornikov Vladimir , Devishvili Anton
Published: March 2021

Crystals of Cs6(SO4)3(H3PO4)4belong to the family of alkali metal acid salts that show a high protonic conductivity at relatively low temperatures. Such properties make superprotonic crystals an excellent choice for the study of the influence of the hydrogen subsystem on the physicochemical properties and promising materials for energy-efficient technologies. Single crystals of Cs6(SO4)3(H3PO4)4were studied by neutron diffraction methods, optical polarization microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Neutron diffraction studies made it possible to determine the positions of all the atoms with high accuracy, including the H atom on a hydrogen bond characterized by a single-minimum potential, to confirm the chemical composition of the Cs6(SO4)3(H3PO4)4crystals and their cubic symmetry in low- and high-temperature phases, and to draw conclusions about the three-dimensional system of hydrogen bonds, which is fundamentally different in comparison with other superprotonic compounds. Based on the experimental data obtained, crystal transformations with temperature changes are reported, and the stability of the chemical composition is shown.
`Foxtrot' fumarate: a water-soluble salt of N,N-diallyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DALT)
Authors: Pham Duyen N. K. , Sammeta Vamshikrishna Reddy , Chadeayne Andrew R. , Golen James A. , Manke David R.
Published: March 2021

The title compound, bis(N,N-diallyl-5-methoxytryptammonium) (5-MeO-DALT) fumarate (systematic name: bis{N-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]- N-(prop-2-en-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-aminium} (E)-but-2-enedioate), 2C17H23N2O+·C4H2O4
2−, has a single tryptammonium cation and half of a fumarate dianion in the asymmetric unit. The tryptammonium and fumarate ions are held together in one-dimensional chains by a series of N—H...O hydrogen bonds. These chains are combinations of R
4
4(22) rings, and C
2
2(14) and C
4
4(28) parallel chains along [111].
Constructive schemes to spacecraft attitude control with low communication frequency using sampled-data and encryption approaches
Authors: Zhang Chengxi , Wu Jin , Huang Yulong , Jiang Yu , Dai Ming-zhe , Wang Mingjiang
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Recent spacecraft attitude control systems tend to use wireless communication for cost-saving and distributed mission purposes while encountering limited communication resources and data exposure issues. This paper aims to study the attitude control problem with low communication frequency under the sampled-data.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose constructive control system structures based on quantization and event-triggered methods for intra-spacecraft and multi-spacecraft systems, and they also provide potential solutions to shield the control system's data security. The proposed control architectures can effectively save communication resources for both intra-spacecraft and multi-spacecraft systems.

Findings

The proposed control architectures no longer require sensors with trigger-ing mechanism and can achieve distributed control schemes. This paper also provides proposals of employing the public key encryption to secure the data in control-loop, which is transmitted by the event-triggered control mechanism.

Practical implications

Spacecraft attempts to use wireless communication, yet the attitude control system does not follow up promptly to accommodate these variations. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed control structures can save communication resources of control-loop in multi-sections effectively, and systematically, by rationally configuring the location of quantization and event-triggered mechanisms.

Originality/value

This paper presents several new control schemes and a necessary condition for the employment of encryption algorithms for control systems based on event-based communication.
AMO perspectives on the well-being of neurodivergent human capital
Authors: Szulc Joanna Maria , Davies Julie , Tomczak Michał T. , McGregor Frances-Louise
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Existing management research and management practices frequently overlook the relationship between the above-average human capital of highly functioning neurodivergent employees, their subjective well-being in the workplace and performance outcomes. This paper calls for greater attention to the hidden human capital associated with neurodiversity by mainstreaming implementation of neurodiversity-friendly policies and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework, this conceptual paper integrates research on employee neurodiversity and well-being to provide a model of HR-systems level and human capital development policies, systems and practices for neurodivergent minorities in the workplace.

Findings

This paper illustrates that workplace neurodiversity, like biodiversity, is a natural phenomenon. For subjective individual psychological and organisational well-being, neurodivergent employees require an empathetic culture and innovative talent management approaches that respect cognitive differences.

Practical implications

The case is made for neurodivergent human capital development and policy-makers to promote inclusive employment and decent work in a context of relatively high unemployment for neurodivergent individuals.

Originality/value

This paper extends current debates on organisational equality, diversity and inclusion to a consideration of workplace well-being for highly functioning neurodivergent workers. It calls for more equitable and empathetic approaches to investing in employees with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities.
Developing entrepreneurial competencies in higher education: a structural model approach
Authors: Ferreras-Garcia Raquel , Sales-Zaguirre Jordi , Serradell-López Enric
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The aim of this article is to propose and test a structural model of relationships between generic and specific competencies and entrepreneurial competencies in order to assess students' learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out on a sample of 337 students enrolled on the entrepreneurship specialisation of the final bachelor's degree project course on the Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. A questionnaire was designed to gather information on students' perception of their level of acquisition of the different groups of competencies. The partial least squares (PLS) multivariate technique was used to analyse the model.

Findings

The results confirm that there are significant relationships between the different groups of competencies. Specifically, it shows that generic competencies influence specific competencies and that there is a strong relationship between systemic and professional competencies and entrepreneurial competencies. It also shows that the experience variable contributes positively to different competency groups, while the gender and age variables have no effect on the development of entrepreneurial competencies.

Practical implications

The study provides relevant information to the academic world on different factors that affect competency development.

Originality/value

The analysis provides an innovative research and contributes knowledge on entrepreneurial competency acquisition, providing an answer to whether generic and specific competencies influence entrepreneurial competencies.
Research on the influence of college students’ crowd decision-making on improving the content of public account tweets
Authors: Yang Xiangpeng , He Yi
Published: March 2021

Purpose

As human beings step into the age of information network, big data technology is constantly improving the intelligence level of various agents such as individuals and enterprises. The crowd decision-making of the intellectual community plays an important role in the active participation of many individuals and schools in giving their wisdom, effectively solve the problems of negative internet communication, single publicity media and unprofessional promotion team in WeChat public account.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to optimize the content and improve the effectiveness of network ideological and political education in universities. This study analyzes five highly popular WeChat public accounts at the Central University of Finance and Economics in 2019. It obtains the popularity index of tweets using the WeChat communication index algorithm and finds that the important factors that influence tweet popularity are release time and content value.

Findings

To improve the public account tweets, this study highlights the connection between the tweets’ value and students’ emotional needs, which enhances the value of tweet content in students’ life and provides more original and distinctive content.

Originality/value

This study found that the content and interest of college students are tweet time, tweet value and tweet content. Therefore, the public account of college ideological and political education should be improved from the following three aspects: realizing the connection between the value of tweet content and students’ emotional needs; enhancing the value of tweet content in students’ life and learning; and insisting on the original and distinctive original intention of tweet content.
The influence of technological interactivity and media sociability on sport consumer value co-creation behaviors via collective efficacy and collective intelligence
Authors: Lee Younghan , Kim Dae-eun
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The current study aims to explain the influence of technological interactivity and media sociability on sport consumer value co-creation behavior via collective efficacy and collective intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

Subjects were individuals who have a mobile smart device and experience of accessing sport-related community websites (n = 513). A face-to-face self-administered survey was employed based on the convenience sampling method. A structural equation modeling test was conducted to examine the relationships between the variables.

Findings

Technological interactivity and media sociability based on mobile smart devices improve sport consumers' collective efficacy, and media sociability positively affects collective intelligence. Also, perceived collective efficacy and collective intelligence in virtual communities induce consumers to engage in the value co-creation process more actively (i.e. consumer participation behavior and citizenship behavior). One of the key findings includes the significant role of media sociability in the process of value co-creation between consumers and sport organizations. Media sociability is more likely to contribute to improving sport consumers' collective efficacy and the development of intelligence than the properties of technological interactivity.

Originality/value

Research findings contribute to extending the body of knowledge in interactivity studies related to sport consumers' value co-creation behaviors in the virtual environment context.
Blockchain performance in supply chain management: application in blockchain integration companies
Authors: Hong Leo , Hales Douglas N.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Performance assessment of blockchain in the supply chain requires a systematic approach because of its interdisciplinary and multiobjective nature. Hence, four types of performance domains are identified, namely, environmental, economic, customer and information.

Design/methodology/approach

The following methodologies have been utilized: (1) literature review to find relevant factors, (2) factor analysis to validate factors and (3) DEMATEL theory to find the cause and effect relationships amongst performance measures.

Findings

An integrated holistic performance assessment model incorporating the 4 criteria and 25 subcriteria is applied.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to analyze blockchain performance in an industry setting.
Importing a management accounting concept into the Russian language: a case of resistance from Russian academics
Authors: Golyagina Alena
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the semantic field theory, the paper aims to uncover the challenges of importing and translating a management accounting concept into the Russian language and the semantic nature of resistance towards the imported management accounting concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the extensive literature review of the histories of accounting in the Soviet Union and the United States in the first part of the twentieth century and 17 interviews conducted with the Russian accounting academics.

Findings

We demonstrate the case of resistance in adopting the imported Anglo-Saxon management accounting concept. We also discuss historical underpinning and origins of this resistance in light of semantic field theory.

Research limitations/implications

The paper calls for more research in the non-Anglo-Saxon contexts problematizing conventional assumptions and beliefs about objectivity and universality of accounting language.

Practical implications

The study demonstrates the importance of understanding historical and cross-cultural developments of accounting language for accounting educators and practitioners. Critical awareness of the differences in semantic fields of accounting can help accounting researchers and educators to develop contextualized research projects and context-relevant teaching practices.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on translations of accounting concepts by demonstrating that accounting concepts are not understood in isolation, instead, they are interpreted in relation to each other. The present study demonstrates that the relationship between the management accounting concept (the signifier) and its meanings (signifieds) is fluid, culturally and historically contingent. To understand this relationship, we should attend to the historical development of semantic fields and associative relations between concepts.
Optimising building performance through integrating risk management and building information modelling during the design process
Authors: Othman Ayman Ahmed Ezzat , Alamoudy Fatma Othman
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a framework for optimising building performance through the integration between risk management (RM) and building information modelling (BIM) during the design process.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this aim, a research strategy consisting of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire is designed to accomplish four objectives. First, to examine the concepts of design process, building performance, RM and BIM; second, to present three case studies to explain the role of using RM and BIM capabilities towards optimising building performance; third, to investigate the perception and application of architectural design firms in Egypt towards the role of RM and BIM for enhancing building performance during the design process; and finally, to develop a framework integrating RM and BIM during the design process as an approach for optimising building performance.

Findings

Through literature review, the research identified 18 risks that hamper optimising building performance during the design process. In addition, 11 building performance values and 20 BIM technologies were defined. Results of data analysis showed that “Design budget overrun”, “Lack of considering life cycle cost” and “Inefficient use of the design time” were ranked the highest risks that affect the optimisation of building performance. Respondents ranked “Risk avoid” or “Risk transfer” as the most risk responses adopted in the Egyptian context. In addition, “BIM As Built” was ranked the highest BIM technology used for overcoming risks during the design process. These findings necessitated taking action towards developing a framework to optimising building performance.

Originality/value

The research identified the risks that affect optimising building performance during the design process. It focuses on improving the design process through using the capabilities of BIM technologies towards overcoming these risks during the design process. The proposed framework which integrates RM and BIM represents a synthesis that is novel and creative in thought and adds value to the knowledge in a manner that has not previously occurred.
Improved black widow-bear smell search algorithm (IBWBSA) for optimal planning and operation of distributed generators in distribution system
Authors: K. R. Sathish , Ananthapadmanabha T.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose, the multi-objective method for optimal planning and operation of distributed generators (DGs) on distribution system (DS) using hybrid technique is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hybrid technique denotes hybrid wrapper of black widow optimization algorithm (BWOA) and bear smell search algorithm (BSSA). BWOA accelerates the convergence speed with combination of the search strategy of BSSA; hence, it is named as improved black widow-bear smell search algorithm (IBWBSA) technique.

Findings

The multiple-objective operation denotes reducing generation cost, power loss, voltage deviation with optimally planning and operating the DS. For setting up the DG units on DS, IBWBSA technique is equipped to simultaneously reconfigure and find the optimal areas.

Originality/value

In this planning model, the constraints are power balance, obvious power flow limit, bus voltage, distribution substation’s capacity and cost. Then, proposed multiple-objective hybrid method to plan electrical distribution scheme is executed in the MATLAB/Simulink work site.
The effect of brand personality congruence, brand attachment and brand love on loyalty among HENRY's in the luxury branding sector
Authors: Shetty Khyati , Fitzsimmons Jason R.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to empirically investigate a hypothesized theoretical framework that captures the impact of brand personality congruence, brand love and brand attachment on brand loyalty in the luxury branding sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were gathered from 416 millennial shoppers with incomes from US$100,000 and above (High-Earners-Not–Rich-Yet). Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses of the framework developed for the study. Dubai is chosen as the context of the study based on the fact that the luxury brands sector is one of the leading industries in the country, and has a sizeable population of HENRY's.

Findings

The findings of this study revealed that brand personality congruence is a critical determinant of brand love and brand loyalty, suggesting congruence between the consumer's personality and the brand is essential to the luxury branding sector. The study also establishes a relationship between brand attachment and brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers new empirical support for the proposition that consumers' emotional aspects like brand personality congruence and brand love are critical for enhancing brand loyalty toward luxury. The findings from this study can provide brand managers with a guide to managing their branding strategies and understand the strategic role of these variables on communication strategies for a new emerging segment of the HENRY's customer segment.

Originality/value

This study contributes to luxury branding and a new segment of millennials by examining the relationship between brand personality congruence, brand love, brand attachment and its effect on brand loyalty in the luxury branding context.
The effectiveness of an integrated counseling program on emotional regulation among undergraduate students with depression
Authors: Ritkumrop Kwanjai , Surakarn Amaraporn , Ekpanyaskul Chatchai
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study investigated the effectiveness of a new counseling program integrating cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to promote emotional regulation (ER) among undergraduate students with depression.

Design/methodology/approach

An interventional mixed method design was employed with the development of a qualitative method-based program using experimental and qualitative research. The sample consisted of 792 third-year undergraduate students at a public university in Bangkok. A total of 34 students with depression voluntarily enrolled and were divided into 2 groups. The 17 students in the experimental group received integrated counseling, while those in the control group received brochures. The effectiveness was evaluated using the self-assessment section on the ER scale and the Beck Depression Inventory form before and after counseling. When the program ended, qualitative research was conducted using in-depth interviews. In terms of quantitative research, the data were analyzed using one-way MANOVA and the qualitative research data used content analysis.

Findings

The mean scores for ER and depression in the experimental group before and after counseling were significantly different (p-value <0.05). Results were also significantly different from the control group (p-value <0.05). Students with depression showed improvements in ER in all six components after joining the program, including awareness, clarity, acceptance, impulse, goals and strategies.

Originality/value

Integrated counseling is an effective program that can increase ER and reduce depression among adolescents and can be an alternative program for depressive patients or other mood-regulating problems to promote ER.
A model for lead conversions through cold calling in startup B2B services firms in India: a sense-making derivation
Authors: Raj Abishek Santhosh , Shagirbasha Shameem , Madhan Kumar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Cold calling being one of the most preferred modes of sales strategies in the past, with all digital platforms setting in, is it still the best option a B2B service firm has? To seek answer to this interesting question is the purpose of this paper. The study seeks to understand the contributions of both the sales force and the digital marketing team towards lead conversion. The paper also aims to derive a sense-making model for lead conversion based on a few propositions of the study.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have adopted mixed method approach. The authors have chosen a small enterprise offering B2B services to understand the sales process. The past one-year cold calling data were analyzed. In addition, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted among the managers and the executives of the firm. The study adopts the AIDA model of customer response and the stages of selling process to better map the sales process of the firm. Based on the analysis, a new model is proposed to aid lead conversions.

Findings

The findings suggest that cold calling is not an effective mode of sales strategies in this case as the firm experienced a very low conversion rate. However, with the integration of digital marketing efforts with sales process, the sales team could achieve higher conversion rate.

Originality/value

Very few studies in the literature examines the effectiveness of cold calling strategy integrated with digital marketing efforts. This is one of the few studies examining cold calling strategy in B2B service firm in India.
A hybrid model for ranking critical successful factors of Lean Six Sigma in the oil and gas industry
Authors: Yazdi Amir Karbassi , Hanne Thomas , Osorio Gómez Juan Carlos
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to find and prioritise multiple critical success factors (CSFs) for the implementation of LSS in the oil and gas industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a preselected list of possible CFSs, experts are involved in screening them with the Delphi method. As a result, 22 customised CSFs are selected. To prioritise these CSFs, the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) method is applied to find weights corresponding to the decision-making preferences. Since the regular permutation-based weight assessment can be classified as NP-hard, the problem is solved by a metaheuristic method. For this purpose, a genetic algorithm (GA) is used.

Findings

The resulting prioritisation of CSFs helps companies find out which factors have a high priority in order to focus on them. The less important factors can be neglected and thus do not require limited resources.

Research limitations/implications

Only a specific set of methods have been considered.

Practical implications

The resulting prioritisation of CSFs helps companies find out which factors have a high priority in order to focus on them.

Social implications

The methodology supports respective evaluations in general.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the very limited research on the implementation of LSS in the oil and gas industry, and, in addition, it suggests the usage of SWARA, a permutation method and a GA, which have not yet been researched, for the prioritisation of CSFs of LSS.
Relation between foreign ownership and firm value – Fixed-effect panel threshold regression analysis
Authors: Kansil Ruchi
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The paper examines the differential impact of various firm characteristics on firm value across various threshold levels of foreign ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a panel of 408 Indian publicly listed companies for the period during 2010–2018, a fixed-effect panel threshold regression model is adapted to study the threshold effects between foreign ownership and firm value. Tobin's Q is used as a proxy for firm value.

Findings

The study identifies three threshold levels, that is, four threshold regions in which foreign ownership changes its slope considerably. Various firm characteristics impact firm value differently in these four regions.

Research limitations/implications

The study employs observations of the past nine years on variables identified as firm characteristics impacting firm value. Some variables are dropped due to the problem of multicollinearity. The employed variables may not be exhaustive in nature.

Practical implications

The present study implies that there exists no impact of foreign ownership on the value of the firm. Foreign investors invest for financial considerations and not with the objective of governing the firms. The governance effect of foreign investments is negligible, so their activism in the firms needs to be encouraged.

Originality/value

The study employs a novel approach to study the impact of foreign ownership on firm value applying fixed effect panel data threshold regression, considering foreign ownership as a proxy of corporate governance.
Institutional Ownership and Firms’ Thrust to Compete
Authors: Andreou Panayiotis C. , Fiordelisi Franco , Harris Terry , Philip Dennis
Published: March 2021

This paper provides evidence on the impact of transient (short‐term) institutional investors on a firm's thrust to compete. A firm's thrust to compete, as an attribute of corporate culture, captures the relative importance of corporate values that push a firm to achieve shareholder value in the short term by emphasizing goal achievement, fast response to external information and enhanced competitiveness. We find that greater ownership by transient investors results in firms intensifying their future thrust to compete, suggesting that firms respond to these investors’ preferences and competitive pressures for achieving short‐term value creation. In line with our expectations, this effect is not observed for firms with greater ownership by long‐horizon institutional investors, who are incentivized to place their emphasis on long‐term firm value over short‐term gains. Our findings reveal that the composition of institutional ownership influences the organizational culture of firms in a non‐homogeneous way. As such, we provide significant empirical insights for the ongoing debate on the implications arising from the behind‐the‐scenes engagement of institutional investors with management.
Strategic translation: pollution, data, and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge
Authors: Blacker Sarah
Published: March 2021

This essay examines the role of data practices in the making and refuting of settler colonial environmental science. Investigating the epistemic contestation surrounding environmental contamination produced by the oil industry in Alberta, Canada, I discuss an alternative approach to toxicology: a community‐based monitoring programme that uses a ‘three‐track’ methodology to present data in three distinct forms. Using this method, First Nations communities engaged in strategic translation, balancing their aim of rendering Traditional Knowledge and community needs legible to policy‐makers against their desire to protect Traditional Knowledge from being assimilated into the dominant data paradigm. This translation, I argue, enacts a form of resistance in an era of relentless datafication: making‐things‐into‐data can reflect the exercise of agency rather than submission to external pressure. In this way, the three‐track methodology models how marginalized communities can leverage data's productive capacities for their own ends and produce scientific knowledge on their own terms.
Bacterial fermentation and isotope labelling optimized for amyloidogenic proteins
Authors: Vida István , Fazekas Zsolt , Gyulai Gergő , Nagy‐Fazekas Dóra , Pálfy Gyula , Stráner Pál , Kiss Éva , Perczel András
Published: March 2021

We developed a cost sensitive isotope labelling procedure using a fed‐batch fermentation method and tested its efficiency producing the 15N‐, 13C‐ and 15N/13C‐labelled variants of an amyloidogenic miniprotein (E5: EEEAVRLYIQWLKEGGPSSGRPPPS). E5 is a surface active protein, which forms amyloids in solution. Here, we confirm, using both PM‐IRRAS and AFM measurements, that the air–water interface triggers structural rearrangement and promotes the amyloid formation of E5, and thus it is a suitable test protein to work out efficient isotope labelling schemes even for such difficult sequences. E. coli cells expressing the recombinant, ubiquitin‐fused miniprotein were grown in minimal media containing either unlabelled nutrients, or 15N‐NH4Cl and/or 13C‐D‐Glc. The consumption rates of NH4Cl and D‐Glc were quantitatively monitored during fermentation and their ratio was established to be 1:5 (for NH4Cl: D‐Glc). One‐ and two‐step feeding schemes were custom‐optimized to enhance isotope incorporation expressing five different E5 miniprotein variants. With the currently optimized protocols we could achieve a 1.5‐ to 5‐fold increase of yields of several miniproteins coupled to a similar magnitude of cost reduction as compared to flask labelling protocols.
Moderators of the association between regular smoking exposure and motivation and attempts to quit: a repeat cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tattan‐Birch Harry , Brown Jamie , Kock Loren , Shahab Lion
Published: March 2021

Aims

To estimate the associations between regular exposure to smoking by other people and motivation and attempts to quit among current smokers. To examine whether socio‐demographic and other factors moderate these associations.

Design

A repeat nationally representative cross‐sectional survey. Data were collected monthly between November 2014 and February 2019.

Setting

England.

Participants

Current smokers ≥16 years of age from the Smoking Toolkit Study (n = 15 136).

Measurements

Participants were asked whether other people regularly smoke in their presence, how motivated they were to quit and whether they had made a quit attempt in the past year. Moderators assessed were occupation‐based social grade, housing tenure, urges to smoke, high‐risk alcohol consumption, and disability. Adjusted analyses included moderators, socio‐demographic (age/sex/ethnicity/sexual orientation/marital status/children in household) and seasonal (quarter/year) confounders.

Findings

Current smokers who were regularly exposed to other people smoking in their presence were less likely to be highly motivated to quit (OR = 0.88 [95% CI 0.80–0.97]), but were no less likely to have made a quit attempt in the past year (OR 1.04 [0.97–1.13], Bayes Factor (BF) = 0.05). The inverse relationship between regular smoking exposure and motivation to quit was moderated by urges to smoke, such that exposure was only associated with a reduction in motivation among those without strong urges to smoke (OR 0.83 [0.75–0.93] versus OR 1.04 [0.86–1.26]; P = 0.048). None of the other factors significantly moderated the association with motivation to quit, and none moderated the relationship between regular smoking exposure and quit attempts. All non‐significant interactions, except social grade (BF = 1.44) with quit attempts, had Bayes Factors that supported the hypothesis of no moderation (BF range: 0.12–0.21).

Conclusions

Among current smokers in England, regular exposure to other smokers appears to be associated with lower motivation to quit in people without strong urges to smoke, yet there appears to be no association with quit attempts in the previous year. Social grade, housing tenure, high‐risk alcohol consumption and disability do not moderate these associations.
Bromeliad habitat regulates the richness of associated terrestrial and aquatic fauna
Authors: Laviski Bianca Ferreira da Silva , Monteiro Ícaro de Moraes , de Pinho Luiz Carlos , Baptista Renner Luiz Cerqueira , Mayhé‐Nunes Antonio José , Racca‐Filho Francisco , Nunes‐Freitas André Felippe
Published: March 2021

Bromeliads harbour a great diversity of fauna species. The epiphytic habit of bromeliads is subject to higher temperatures and higher incidence of light than is the epigeic habit, so we expected individuals of the Vriesea neoglutinosa species to differ in terms of the composition, richness and abundance of their fauna associated with different bromeliad habits. We carried out a study in a restinga area on Marambaia Island, Brazil. We collected 32 bromeliads, of which 16 were epigeic and 16 were epiphytic, and found a total of 1125 individual animals of 88 morphospecies. Arthropods stood out in the sample, among which 68.2% were insects. Aquatic fauna was richer in epigeic bromeliads, and terrestrial fauna was richer in epiphytic bromeliads. As expected, species composition was different for aquatic and terrestrial fauna. The heterogeneity of the restinga environment and differences in the development stages of the fauna may be factors that influence its composition. Both bromeliad habits sustain fauna with several trophic guilds that compose a complex food web and depend on the bromeliad environment. As different habits lead to different fauna types, both epigeic and epiphytic bromeliads play a role in the maintenance of local biodiversity and are important for macrofauna conservation in restingas.
Population biology of the unusual thermoconforming lizards of the Andes Mountains of Peru (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)
Authors: Doan Tiffany M. , Sheffer Sara A. , Warmington Nicholas R. , Evans Eliot E.
Published: March 2021

Montane animals require different adaptations than lowland species because of more severe conditions. Proctoporus lizards of the Andes Mountains experience cold temperatures year‐round, which may affect their activity. Two species of this poorly known genus, P. unsaacae and P. sucullucu, have similar morphology and ecology, but had never been studied in detail. The purpose of this project was to compare the population biology of the two species and to ascertain whether they were more likely to share ecological similarities with phylogenetic relatives or with other unrelated lizards of the Andes. We established two permanent plots in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Cusco region, Peru, and examined the thermal ecology, movement, sex ratio, longevity, population sizes, growth patterns, reproduction and other factors over a period of 4 years. Proctoporus unsaacae and P. sucullucu were similar in most aspects of their ecology except that P. sucullcu was larger, had smaller population sizes, and fewer recaptures. Both species live exclusively under rocks and are strict thermoconformers who do not actively thermoregulate their body temperatures by basking, as other high Andean lizards do. The two species have reverse sexual dimorphism with P. unsaacae having larger females and P. sucullcu having larger males. The species are highly philopatric with average movement of less than 7 m in a lifetime. Both appear to be relatively long‐lived with an individual P. unsaacae living longer than 2 years 8 months. At both sites, populations age structures had few juveniles and we detected a declining population of P. unsaacae in Urubamba. This project lays the groundwork for more in‐depth studies of the ecology of both species and their high‐elevation habitats.
Pre‐emptive host‐specificity testing of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) reveals high parasitism levels against the endemic New Zealand alpine shield bug in laboratory no‐choice tests
Authors: Saunders Thomas E , Avila Gonzalo A , Holwell Gregory I
Published: March 2021

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a serious horticultural pest causing considerable damage to local production and international supply chains as it spreads around the world. The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), is well recognised as the most promising classical biological control against BMSB. The wasp has been conditionally approved for release in New Zealand in the event the stink bug establishes here. Previous host range testing showed that all available non‐target New Zealand pentatomids except a single exotic species were accepted for oviposition and that the parasitoid was capable of parasitising the eggs of two native pentatomids at proportions similar to BMSB. Only one New Zealand species of pentatomid, the endemic alpine shield bug Hypsithocus hudsonae, was not previously tested owing to the difficulty of collecting it from the field. Here we report the results of no‐choice oviposition tests between H. hudsonae and T. japonicus, conducted in containment, to complement previous physiological host range testing of this parasitoid in New Zealand. Parasitoids emerged from 14 out of 15 egg masses, and in total, from 78 out of 83 eggs (94%). The mean sex ratio was 89% female, and no males emerged from six egg masses. H. hudsonae is confirmed as a physiological host for T. japonicus, and this finding is discussed in relation to the strengths and limitations of physiological host range studies.