bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social predation in electric eels
Authors: Bastos Douglas A. , Zuanon Jansen , Py-Daniel Lúcia Rapp , de Santana Carlos David
Published: August 2020

Social predation, when groups of predators coordinate actions to find and capture prey, is a common tactic among mammals but comparatively rare in fishes. We report the unexpected social predation by electric eels, an otherwise solitary predator in the Amazon rainforest. Observations made in different years and recorded on video show electric eels herding, encircling shoals of small nektonic fishes, and launching joint predatory high-voltage strikes on the prey ball. These findings challenge the hypothesis that electric eels may have a single foraging strategy, and extend our knowledge on social predation to an organism that employs high-voltage discharge for hunting, thereby offering a novel perspective for studies on the evolutionary interplay between predatory and escape tactics.
SDC3 acts as a timekeeper of myogenic differentiation by regulating the insulin/AKT/mTOR axis in muscle stem cell progeny
Authors: Jones Fiona K. , Phillips Alexander , Jones Andrew R. , Pisconti Addolorata
Published: August 2020

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are indispensable for muscle regeneration. A multitude of extracellular stimuli direct MuSC fate decisions from quiescent progenitors to differentiated myocytes. The activity of these signals is modulated by coreceptors such as syndecan-3 (SDC3). We investigated the global landscape of SDC3-mediated regulation of myogenesis using a phosphoproteomics approach which revealed, with the precision level of individual phosphosites, the large-scale extent of SDC3-mediated regulation of signal transduction in MuSCs. We then focused on INSR/AKT/mTOR as a key pathway regulated by SDC3 during myogenesis and mechanistically dissected SDC3-mediated inhibition of insulin signaling in MuSCs. SDC3 interacts with INSR limiting insulin signal transduction via AKT/mTOR. Both knockdown of INSR and inhibition of AKT rescueSdc3-/-MuSC differentiation to wild type levels. Since SDC3 is rapidly downregulated at the onset of differentiation, our study suggests that SDC3 acts a timekeeper to restrain proliferating MuSC response to insulin and prevent premature differentiation.
The role of prolines and glycine in the transmembrane domain of LAT
Authors: Glatzová Daniela , Mavila Harsha , Saija Maria Chiara , Chum Tomáš , Cwiklik Lukasz , Brdička Tomáš , Cebecauer Marek
Published: August 2020

LAT is a critical regulator of T cell development and function. It organises signalling events at the plasma membrane. However, the mechanism, which controls LAT localisation at the plasma membrane is not fully understood. Here, we studied the impact of helix-breaking amino acids, two prolines and one glycine, in the transmembrane segment on localisation and function of LAT. Using in silico analysis, confocal and superresolution imaging and flow cytometry we demonstrate that central proline residue destabilises transmembrane helix by inducing a kink. The helical structure and dynamics is further regulated by glycine and another proline residue in the luminal part of LAT transmembrane domain. Replacement of these residues with aliphatic amino acids reduces LAT dependence on palmitoylation for sorting to the plasma membrane. However, surface expression of these mutants is not sufficient to recover function of non-palmitoylated LAT in stimulated T cells. These data indicate that geometry and dynamics of LAT transmembrane segment regulate its localisation and function in immune cells.
Myogenin is an Essential Regulator of Adult Myofibre Growth and Muscle Stem Cell Homeostasis
Authors: Ganassi Massimo , Badodi Sara , Wanders Kees , Zammit Peter S. , Hughes Simon M.
Published: August 2020

Growth and maintenance of skeletal muscle fibres depend on coordinated activation and return to quiescence of resident muscle stem-cells (MuSCs). The transcription factor Myogenin (Myog) regulates myocyte fusion during development, but its role in adult myogenesis remains unclear. In contrast to mice,myog−/−zebrafish are viable, but have hypotrophic muscles. By isolating adult myofibres with associated MuSCs we found thatmyog−/−myofibres have severely reduced nuclear number, but increased myonuclear domain size. Expression of fusogenic genes is decreased,pax7upregulated, MuSCs are fivefold more numerous and mis-positioned throughout the length ofmyog−/−myofibers instead of localising at myofibre ends as in wild-type. Loss of Myog dysregulates mTORC1 signalling, resulting in an ‘alerted’ state of MuSCs, which display precocious activation and faster cell cycle entry ex vivo, concomitant withmyodupregulation. Thus, beyond controlling myocyte fusion, Myog influences the MuSC:niche relationship, demonstrating a multi-level contribution to muscle homeostasis throughout life.
Structure-function analyses of dual-BON domain protein DolP identifies phospholipid binding as a new mechanism for protein localisation
Authors: Bryant J. A. , Morris F. C. , Knowles T. J. , Maderbocus R. , Heinz E. , Boelter G. , Alodaini D. , Colyer A. , Wotherspoon P. J. , Staunton K. A. , Jeeves M. , Browning D. F. , Sevastsyanovich Y. R. , Wells T. J. , Rossiter A. E. , Bavro V. N. , Sridhar P. , Ward D. G. , Chong Z-S. , Icke C. , Teo A. , Chng S-S. , Roper D. I. , Lithgow T. , Cunningham A. F. , Banzhaf M. , Overduin M. , Henderson I. R.
Published: August 2020

The Gram-negative outer membrane envelops the bacterium and functions as a permeability barrier against antibiotics, detergents and environmental stresses. Some virulence factors serve to maintain the integrity of the outer membrane, including DolP (formerly YraP) a protein of unresolved structure and function. Here we reveal DolP is a lipoprotein functionally conserved among Gram-negative bacteria and that loss of DolP increases membrane fluidity. We present the NMR solution structure for DolP, which is composed of two BON domains that form an interconnected opposing pair. The C-terminal BON domain binds to anionic phospholipids through an extensive membrane:protein interface providing evidence of subcellular localization of these phospholipids within the outer membrane. This interaction is essential for DolP function and is required for sub-cellular localization of the protein to the cell division site. The structure of DolP provides a new target for developing therapies that disrupt the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope.
The interplay of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and constraints imposed by the structure and functionality of its proteins
Authors: Jaroszewski Lukasz , Iyer Mallika , Alisoltani Arghavan , Sedova Mayya , Godzik Adam
Published: August 2020

Fast evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus provides us with unique information about the patterns of genetic changes in a single pathogen in the timescale of months. This data is used extensively to track the phylodynamic of the pandemic’s spread and its split into distinct clades. Here we show that the patterns of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations along its genome are closely correlated with the structural features of the coded proteins. We show that the foldability of proteins’ 3D structures and conservation of their functions are the universal factors driving evolutionary selection in protein-coding genes. Insights from the analysis of mutation distribution in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins’ structures and functions have practical implications including evaluating potential antigen epitopes or selection of primers for PCR-based COVID-19 tests.
On the complexity of haplotyping a microbial community
Authors: Nicholls Samuel M. , Aubrey Wayne , De Grave Kurt , Schietgat Leander , Creevey Christopher J. , Clare Amanda
Published: August 2020

Motivation

Population-level genetic variation enables competitiveness and niche specialization in microbial communities. Despite the difficulty in culturing many microbes from an environment, we can still study these communities by isolating and sequencing DNA directly from an environment (metagenomics). Recovering the genomic sequences of all isoforms of a given gene across all organisms in a metagenomic sample would aid evolutionary and ecological insights into microbial ecosystems with potential benefits for medicine and biotechnology. A significant obstacle to this goal arises from the lack of a computationally tractable solution that can recover these sequences from sequenced read fragments. This poses a problem analogous to reconstructing the two sequences that make up the genome of a diploid organism (i.e. haplotypes), but for an unknown number of individuals.

Results

The problem of single individual haplotyping (SIH) was first formalised by Lanciaet alin 2001. Now, nearly two decades later, we discuss the complexity of “haplotyping” metagenomic samples, with a new formalisation of Lanciaet al‘s data structure that allows us to effectively extend the single individual haplotype problem to microbial communities. This work describes and formalizes the problem of recovering genes (and other genomic subsequences) from all individuals within a complex community sample: which we term the metagenomic individual haplotyping (MIH) problem. We also provide software implementations of our proposed pairwise single nucleotide variant (SNV) co-occurrence matrix and greedy graph traversal algorithm.

Availability and implementation

Our reference implementation of the described pairwise SNV matrix (Hansel) and greedy haplotype path traversal algorithm (Gretel) are open source, MIT licensed and freely available online atgithub.com/samstudio8/hanselandgithub.com/samstudio8/gretel, respectively.

Contacts.nicholls.1@bham.ac.uk
Crystal structures of Arabidopsis and Physcomitrella CR4 reveal the molecular architecture of CRINKLY4 receptor kinases
Authors: Okuda Satohiro , Hothorn Ludwig A. , Hothorn Michael
Published: August 2020

Plant-unique receptor kinases harbor conserved cytoplasmic kinase domains and sequence-diverse ectodomains. Here we report crystal structures of CRINKLY4-type ectodomains from Arabidopsis ACR4 andPhyscomitrella patensPpCR4 at 1.95 Å and 2.70 Å resolution, respectively. Monomeric CRINKLY4 ectodomains harbor a N-terminal WD40 domain and a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) connected by a short linker. The WD40 domain forms a seven-bladed β-propeller with the N-terminal strand buried in its center. Each propeller blade is stabilized by a disulfide bond and contributes to the formation of a putative ligand binding groove. The CRD forms a β-sandwich structure stabilized by six disulfide bonds and shares low structural homology with tumor necrosis factor receptor domains. Quantitative binding assays reveal that ACR4 is not a direct receptor for the peptide hormone CLE40. An ACR4 variant lacking the entire CRD can rescue the knownacr4-2mutant phenotype, as can expression of PpCR4. Together, an evolutionary conserved signaling function for CRINKLY4 receptor kinases is encoded in its WD40 domain.
Identifiability analysis for stochastic differential equation models in systems biology
Authors: Browning Alexander P , Warne David J , Burrage Kevin , Baker Ruth E , Simpson Matthew J
Published: August 2020

Mathematical models are routinely calibrated to experimental data, with goals ranging from building predictive models to quantifying parameters that cannot be measured. Whether or not reliable parameter estimates are obtainable from the available data can easily be overlooked. Such issues ofparameter identifiabilityhave important ramifications for both the predictive power of a model, and the mechanistic insight that can be obtained. Identifiability analysis is well-established for deterministic, ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, but there are no commonly-adopted methods for analysing identifiability in stochastic models. We provide an accessible introduction to identifiability analysis and demonstrate how existing ideas for analysis of ODE models can be applied to stochastic differential equation (SDE) models through four practical case studies. To assessstructural identifiability, we study ODEs that describe the statistical moments of the stochastic process using open-source software tools. Using practically-motivated synthetic data and Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, we assess parameter identifiability in the context of available data. Our analysis shows that SDE models can often extract more information about parameters than deterministic descriptions. All code used to perform the analysis is available on Github.
Facultative chemosynthesis in a deep-sea anemone from hydrothermal vents in the Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California
Authors: Goffredi Shana K , Motooka Cambrie , Fike David A. , Gusmão Luciana C , Tilic Ekin , Rouse Greg W , Rodríguez Estefanía
Published: August 2020

Background

Numerous deep-sea invertebrates have formed symbiotic associations with internal chemosynthetic bacteria in order to harness inorganic energy sources typically unavailable to most animals. Despite success in nearly all marine habitats and their well-known associations with photosynthetic symbionts, Cnidaria remain one of the only phyla without a clear dependence on hydrothermal vents and reliance on chemosynthetic bacterial symbionts specifically.

Results

A new chemosynthetic symbiosis between the sea anemoneOstiactis pearseae(Daly & Gusmão, 2007) and intracellular bacteria was discovered at ~3700 m deep hydrothermal vents in the southern Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California. Unlike most sea anemones observed from chemically-reduced habitats, this species was observed in and amongst vigorously venting fluids, side-by-side with the chemosynthetic tubewormOasisiaaff.alvinae.Individuals ofO. pearseaedisplayed carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur tissue isotope values (average δ13C −29.1‰, δ15N 1.6‰, and δ34S −1.1‰) suggestive of a distinct nutritional strategy from conventional Actiniaria suspension feeding or prey capture. Molecular and microscopic evidence confirmed the presence of intracellular SUP05-related bacteria housed in the tentacle epidermis ofO. pearseaespecimens collected from 5 hydrothermally-active structures within two vent fields ~2 km apart. SUP05 bacteria dominated theO. pearseaebacterial community (64-96% of the total bacterial community based on 16S rRNA sequencing), but were not recovered from other nearby anemones, and were generally rare in the surrounding water (< 7% of the total community). Further, the specificOstiactis-associated SUP05 phylotypes were not detected in the environment, indicating a specific association. Two unusual candidate bacterial phyla (the OD1 and BD1-5 groups) also appeared to associate exclusively withO. pearseaeand may play a role in symbiont sulfur cycling.

Conclusion

Ostiactis pearseaerepresents the first member of Cnidaria described to date to have a physical and nutritional alliance with chemosynthetic bacteria. The facultative nature of this symbiosis is consistent with the dynamic relationships formed by both the SUP05 bacterial group and Anthozoa. The advantages gained by appropriating metabolic and structural resources from each other presumably contribute to their striking abundance in the Pescadero Basin, at the deepest known hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean.
Metabolomics dissection of depression heterogeneity and related cardiometabolic risk
Authors: Alshehri Tahani , Mook-Kanamori Dennis O , van Dijk Ko Willems , Dinga Richard , Penninx Brenda WJH , Rosendaal Frits R , Cessie Saskia le , Milaneschi Yuri
Published: August 2020

Background

A recent hypothesis postulates the existence of an “immune-metabolic depression” (IMD) dimension characterized by metabolic dysregulations. Combining data on metabolomics and depressive symptoms, we aimed to identify depressions associated with an increased risk of adverse metabolic alterations.

Method

Clustering data were from 1094 individuals with current major depressive disorder and measures of 149 metabolites from a 1H-NMR platform and 30 depressive symptoms (IDS-SR30). Canonical correlation analyses (CCA) were used to identify main independent metabolite-symptom axes of variance. Then, for the replication, we examined the association of the identified dimensions with metabolites from the same platform and cardiometabolic endpoints in an independent population-based cohort (n=6572).

Results

CCA identified an overall depression dimension and a dimension resembling IMD, in which symptoms such as sleeping too much, increased appetite, and low energy level had higher relative loading. In the independent sample, the overall depression dimension was associated with lower levels of metabolites linked to cardiometabolic risk, such as HOMA-1B −0.09 (95% CI:-0.13--0.06), and visceral adipose tissue −0.15 cm2 (95% CI:-0.20--0.10). In contrast, the IMD dimension was associated with well-known adverse cardiometabolic metabolites such as higher visceral adipose tissue 0.11 cm2 (95% CI:0.06-0.16), HOMA-1B 0.08 (95% CI: 0.05-0.12), and lower HDL levels −0.04 mmol/L (95% CI:-0.07--0.01).

Conclusions

Combining metabolomics and clinical symptoms we identified a replicable depression dimension associated with adverse metabolic alterations, in line with the IMD hypothesis. Patients with IMD may be at higher cardiometabolic risk and may benefit from specific treatment targeting underlying metabolic dysregulations.
An investigation of hydrogen embrittlement of 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel by slow strain rate tests and first-principles calculation
Authors: Kang Qin , Fan Yicheng , Zhang Kun , Chen Xiaolang , San Hongyu , Chen Yiqing , Zhao Heming
Published: August 2020

Purpose

With excellent mechanic properties and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) resistance, 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel is suitable to make hot-wall hydrogenation reactors. However, longtime exposure to a harsh environment of high-pressure hydrogen at medium temperature in practical application would still induce severe hydrogen uptake and eventually damage the mechanical properties of the steel. The study aims to evaluate the HE resistance of the steel under different tensile strain rates after hydrogen charging and analyze the hydrogen effect from atomic level.

Design/methodology/approach

This research studied the HE properties of 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel by slow strain rate tests. Meanwhile, the effect of hydrogen on the structures and the mechanical properties of the simplified models of the steel was also investigated by first-principle calculations.

Findings

Experimental results showed that after hydrogen pre-charging in this work, hydrogen had little effect on the microstructure of the steel. The elongations and reduction of cross-sectional area of the samples reduced a lot, by contrast, the yield and tensile strengths changed slightly. The 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel was not very susceptible to HE with a maximum embrittlement index of about 20.00%. First principles calculation results showed that after H dissolution, lattice distortion occurred and interstitial H atoms would preferentially occupy the tetrahedral interstitial site in bcc-Fe crystal and increase the stability of the supercells. With the increase of H atoms added into the simplified model, the steel still possessed a good ductility and toughness at a low hydrogen concentration, while the material would become brittle as the concentration of hydrogen continued to increase.

Originality/value

These finds can provide valuable information for subsequent HE studies on this steel.
Phosphate-doped polyaniline/Al2O3 nanocomposite coating for protection of stainless steel
Authors: Hermas Abou-Elhagag A. , Wahdan Mostafa H. , Ahmed Eatemad M.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This work aims to prepare and characterize of protective anticorrosion phosphate-doped polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite coatings for stainless steel (SS) in chloride solution.

Design/methodology/approach

PANI composite coatings were electrodeposited from aqueous sulfuric acid solution containing monomer and Al2O3 nanoparticles using cyclic voltammetry technique. Doping by phosphate was done by aging the coated steels for different periods (1–168 h) in phosphate solution. The polymer film composite was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Potential-time, anodic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the protection efficiency of the coatings.

Findings

The Al2O3 nanoparticles were incorporated into the deposited PANI layer but they decreased the deposition of polymer. The nanoparticles and the phosphate anions enhanced the protective PANI layer for passivation and protection of SS in the chloride solution.

Originality/value

The replacement of counter anions by phosphate ions improved significantly the PANI and its nanocomposite as protective coating of SS in chloride solution.
Worldwide role of women entrepreneurs in economic development
Authors: Sajjad Muhammad , Kaleem Nishat , Chani Muhammad Irfan , Ahmed Munir
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The contribution of women entrepreneurs is still invisible and needs to be properly investigated. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this relationship by measuring women entrepreneurship and economic development at global level.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data has been retrieved from Female Entrepreneurship Index Report 2015, Human Development Report 2015 and KOF Index of Globalization 2015. Cross-sectional data is used from 69 countries of the world. Multiple regression is applied to estimate the data.

Findings

The results explained the significant impact of women entrepreneurship on the economies of the world. It was observed that women participation in entrepreneurial activities not only supports to their family income but also plays a significant role in economic development and social well-being of the society.

Research limitations/implications

There is no information about total output of women entrepreneurs in terms of new enterprises setups and established businesses of women except for year 2015. So, to measure the real contribution of women entrepreneurs around the globe is still a challenge.

Practical implications

It is reality that when women would be empowered as entrepreneurs then whole society gets benefits from it, as women entrepreneurs are beneficial for not only economic development but also social development of society.

Originality/value

This study uniquely addresses the contribution of women entrepreneurs in the world economy which is still an unseen but a powerful benefactor of development.
Improving clients’ satisfaction in construction projects: the case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshihre Fawaz , Chinyio Ezekiel , Nzekwe-Excel Chinny , Daniel Emmanuel I.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Clients’ satisfaction is often associated with performance in the construction industry. Organisations that achieve very high ratings of clients’ satisfaction improve their positions in the marketplace. Many clients are often dissatisfied with their project outcomes. Hence, a research study was carried out to examine the ways project managers and/or contractors perceive the subject of clients’ satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applied qualitative research methods and followed the interpretivist paradigm and inductive research approach. A total of 30 interviews were conducted with construction project managers and evaluated by a thematic analysis.

Findings

The study identified five prominent factors which the project managers perceived to impact on clients’ satisfaction, which are as follows: effective financial management; use of skilled workers; use of advanced technology; customer relation and time management. Other contributors to clients’ satisfaction include effective team leadership, project monitoring, communication and adequate knowledge and skills.

Research limitations/implications

Data collection was limited to Saudi Arabia, but the general methodology used and some of the findings may be applicable beyond this country.

Practical implications

The findings provide a more informed basis of attaining greater clients’ satisfaction by contractors, especially within and possibly beyond Saudi Arabia. Also, contractors can directly enquire from clients about their satisfaction following project completion.

Originality/value

A project manager's perspective and Saudi Arabian orientation of clients’ satisfaction are presented. Also, insight into the multifaceted nature of the factors influencing clients’ satisfaction is provided.
Access to justice as a human right, organizational entitlement and precursor to diversity and inclusion
Authors: Roberson Quinetta
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In the wake of the death of George Floyd in the United States, many corporate leaders have released statements condemning racism and police brutality and committed their organizations to focus on diversity and inclusion. While such statements, intentions, and goals are laudable, they evade the phenomenon at the crux of the current social movement: access to justice.

Design/methodology/approach

This essay draws upon theory and research across a variety of disciplines to examine the accessibility of justice for African Americans in society and in work organizations.

Findings

As corporate leaders have made statements decrying racism and police brutality and offered their support to civil rights groups and organizations fighting for racial justice, there is a need for that same level of scrutiny and support within their own organizations. As a precursor to diversity and inclusion initiatives, corporate leaders need to take actions to ensure the fairness of outcomes, policies and practices, and treatment by others for African Americans within their organizations.

Practical implications

Strategies for reviewing and revising organizational policies and practices to preserve fairness in the work experiences of African Americans and for creating and maintaining cultures of fairness are offered.

Originality/value

The author integrates historical documents, research, opinion, and literary devices to understand the meaning and practice of justice in society and organizations.
Value co-production made easy: the role of fantastical thinking
Authors: Addis Michela , Miniero Giulia , Ricotta Francesco
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the role individual fantastical thinking (FT) plays in increasing the returns of value co-production by using technology-based services (TBSs).

Design/methodology/approach

This research combines 3 laboratory experimental studies with a survey, collecting data from 373 participants in total. An ad hoc customization Web-based tool – TBS - was created for the purpose of the studies.

Findings

FT increases the outcomes of value co-production via a chain reaction, as follows: FT increases the perceived ease of value-production; perceived ease of value coproduction increases enjoyment; enjoyment increases a broad range of key outcome variables of value co-production, namely, attitude and purchase intention toward the co-designed products; the number of interactions and time of interaction in the value co-production process, which measure its efficiency; expert perceived quality and novelty of the co-designed products; ordinary perceived quality and novelty, satisfaction and willingness to pay for the co-designed products.

Research limitations/implications

The procedure to activate FT requires relatively long training for participants, which might reduce the applicability of the procedure in other settings.

Practical implications

This study suggests a way to prevent failures in value co-production at the design stage mediated by TBSs. The proposed framework supports a decrease in task complexity for the consumer, thus reducing the stress experienced by participants. As a side effect, this study presents a useful framework to better highlight the benefits and costs associated with value co-production, thus making the return on investment measurement easier to perform.

Originality/value

The relevance of the findings to existing marketing literature lies in the advancement of knowledge related to value co-production processes by introducing the role of FT, a cognitive process designed specifically for consumer research and marketing.
Time-aware query suggestion diversification for temporally ambiguous queries
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Jiang Xixi , Qin Jiewen
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to generate diversified results for temporally ambiguous queries and the candidate queries are ensured to have a high coverage of subtopics, which are derived from different temporal periods.

Design/methodology/approach

Two novel time-aware query suggestion diversification models are developed by integrating semantics and temporality information involved in queries into two state-of-the-art explicit diversification algorithms (i.e. IA-select and xQuaD), respectively, and then specifying the components on which these two models rely on. Most importantly, first explored is how to explicitly determine query subtopics for each unique query from the query log or clicked documents and then modeling the subtopics into query suggestion diversification. The discussion on how to mine temporal intent behind a query from query log is also followed. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposal, experiments on a real-world query log are conducted.

Findings

Preliminary experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can significantly outperform the existing state-of-the-art methods in terms of producing the candidate query suggestion for temporally ambiguous queries.

Originality/value

This study reports the first attempt to generate query suggestions indicating diverse interested time points to the temporally ambiguous (input) queries. The research will be useful in enhancing users’ search experience through helping them to formulate accurate queries for their search tasks. In addition, the approaches investigated in the paper are general enough to be used in many domains; that is, experimental information retrieval systems, Web search engines, document archives and digital libraries.
Bullying in Korean hotel restaurant kitchens: why is everybody always picking on me?
Authors: Kim Ki Ho , Roh Eugene Y. , Kim Young Joong , Spralls Samuel A.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The primary purpose of this article is to develop and test a model of the antecedents and consequences (Cho et al., 2016) of bullying in Korean hotel kitchens.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 288 kitchen workers at 12 upscale Korean hotels. Proposed path models were tested using Hayes' (2013) PROCESS syntax in SPSS for mediation and moderated mediation analyses.

Findings

The empirical results indicated that an employee's acquiescent silence behavior increases the likelihood of being bullied. As a result, bullied employees are more likely to respond by engaging in a person-related counterproductive work behavior (CWB-P) or in defensive silence out of fear with temporary employees reacting less aggressively compared to regular employees.

Research limitations/implications

Cross-sectional design and self-report data risk common method variance and attributions of causality. Future research should use longitudinal designs to avoid common method bias and make causal inferences. Theoretical and practical implications for kitchen productivity are presented. The study should offer valuable insights for prospective employers to develop on-going training and create a positive working environment within the organization.

Originality/value

While bullying is a widespread and even an epidemic problem for the commercial kitchen environment, research into abusive behavior among chefs has been limited. By utilizing a specific segment of the hospitality industry, this research identified different behavioral aspects of bulling between temporary and regular employees in the commercial kitchen environment.
Public-sector resource allocation since the financial crisis
Authors: Elliott Robert , Kopasker Daniel , Skåtun Diane
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Distinguishing what employers in different areas of Great Britain need to pay to attract and retain labour has been a central component of public-sector resource allocation decisions. This paper examines how changes in the pattern of spatial wage differentials following the global financial crisis have impacted on the formulae which allocate government funding to local government and health providers in the NHS.

Design/methodology/approach

Using employer-reported data on earnings, we examine spatial patterns of private-sector wages in Great Britain between 2007 and 2017. The method permits the analysis of finely defined geographical areas and controls for differences in industry and workforce composition to distinguish those differences that are attributable from unmeasured characteristics, such as differences between areas in the cost of living and amenities. These standardised spatial wage differentials (SSWDs) underpin the funding allocation formulae.

Findings

The analysis shows that since 2007 private-sector wage dispersion, both within and between regions, has reduced: lower paid areas have experienced a relative increase in wages and higher paid a relative decline. Over the period, there was a significant reduction in the London wage premium.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the importance of ensuring established policies are applied using contemporary data. The SSWDs used to distribute government funds have not been re-estimated for some time. As a result, the current resource allocation model has overcompensated the London region and undercompensated others during this period.
Integration of Waqf towards enhancing financial inclusion and socio-economic justice in Nigeria
Authors: Zauro Nurudeen Abubakar , Saad Ram Al Jaffri , Ahmi Aidi , Mohd Hussin Mohd Yahya
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the role of Waqf as a means of enhancing financial inclusion and socio-economic justice in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology in this paper is that the data were elicited from secondary sources such as the Al-Qur’an, Hadiths and other empirical studies in the existing literature. The Tawhidi epistemology (Islamic world view) also has been obtained to deliver better understanding on the findings.

Findings

The paper implores Islamic societies to take advantages of integrating Waqf to support the financing needs of disadvantaged members of the Muslims communities, especially the Muslims, dominated northern Nigeria with a high level of financial exclusion. The Waqf funds if integrated and institutionalized will support the region by making the fewer privilege members of that community-engaged thereby economically and enhancing the financial inclusion. This will also lead to economic growth and socio-economic development of Nigeria.

Practical implications

The paper concludes by suggesting the establishment of Waqf funds to supports the less privileged people through Islamic Microfinance as means of enhancing socio-economic justice in Nigeria’s Muslims’ communities, which is negatively affected by the high rate of financial exclusion and poverty. This paper also provides critical suggestions on the ways the integration of Waqf funds will contribute significantly towards assisting Nigeria in achieving its vision of reducing the financial exclusion rate and may foster inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Originality/value

This paper is a conceptual study and, therefore, limited to the content of the existing literature. Hence, the future researchers may replicate and test it empirically for a more scientific justification regarding the roles of Waqf towards enhancing financial inclusion in Nigeria.
How sales promotion display affects customer shopping intentions in retails
Authors: Gorji Mohammadbagher , Siami Sahar
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of sales promotion display on customer intentions to purchase and repurchase, focusing on the moderating roles of perceived product quality and price fairness.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a descriptive, quantitative, non-experimental research method using a cross-sectional design with a self-administered questionnaire. In total, 415 department store customers responded to the survey through an online research panel provider in Australia.

Findings

The results indicated that sales promotion display significantly affects the purchase and repurchase intentions. The findings also highlight the moderating role of perceived product quality and price fairness on customer shopping intentions. Lastly, it is confirmed that the joint moderating effects of perceived product quality and price fairness in the relationship between sales promotion display, purchase and repurchase intentions are significant.

Practical implications

Based on the study findings, managers could drive customer purchase and repurchase intentions using suitable visual objects in sales promotion and their appropriate in-store placement.

Originality/value

The present study introduced sales promotion display as a new dimension of store physical environment. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between sales promotion display and customer shopping intentions and incorporates customers' cognitive perceptions of price and quality in the conditioned effect of sales promotion display on shopping intentions. Moreover, this study brings up new insight into retailing literature by applying the classical conditioning theory in examining the links between sales promotion display and customer shopping intentions.
Islamic finance merging public finance within public–private partnership
Authors: Kociemska Hanna
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe cooperation between public and private market players from different legal and religious orders. The author argues that such public–private partnerships (PPPs) enable the development of a possible convergence between selected areas of mainstream public finance and the Islamic moral economy (IME).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the theory of both mainstream finance and the IME, and using deductive reasoning from axioms, develops the assumptions of a theoretical approach to heterodox PPP. The proposed method affects the ability to find common platforms between mainstream public finance and the IME, through the example of public–private investment projects.

Findings

This endeavour is subject to trade-offs between profit maximisation and social justice values on the basis of long-term PPP contracts. The author shows the assumptions under which this compromise would be beneficial to public entities, multicultural societies and conventional and Islamic investors. It is proposed to distribute profit to the owners up to a predetermined value, above which the PPPs would finance public services for persons otherwise excluded from them.

Originality/value

The success of this approach must depend on a compromise between profit maximisation as the sole investment objective and investment guided by social justice values. Private investors can achieve a capped level of profit on a long-term contract basis, and public partners can obtain long-term contracts for providing public goods. Both would undertake a project with a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility, with particularly large opportunities in developing Islamic countries.
Consumers’ choice of the services of Islamic banks in dual banking system
Authors: Quadir Abdul
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how the Islamic banks fix their mark-up for Murabaha contract strategically when traditional banks also co-exist in a country. This study also aims to investigate what role the varying degree of Iman (faith) plays in shaping the preferences of the consumers to choose between the services of Islamic banks and the traditional banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs a mathematical model like the Bertrand competition in neo-classical economic theory. A religiosity parameter for the consumers has been inserted into their demand functions for their products. A simple optimization technique from mathematics has been used to arrive at the results.

Findings

This paper applies game theory to analyze how Islamic banks determine their mark-up when they are facing competition with traditional banks. It considers the demand functions of the consumers for the products of Islamic banks and traditional banks. The demand functions depend on the mark-up, as well as on the interest rate with the difference that they also depend on the religiosity of the consumers. The paper shows that Islamic, as well as the conventional banks charge lower prices for their loans if there is consideration of religiosity aspect of the consumers. Further, it shows that as religiosity increases in a country, the lending rates decrease. The theoretical result is also consistent with the real practices of the banks. Therefore, the dual banking system is welfare enhancing for the customers.

Research limitations/implications

The Islamic banks can leverage the religiosity aspect of the consumers and expand their business competitively by charging them lower mark-up. The adherence of religious customers to the services of Islamic banks creates some kind of loyalty premium for them. This could lead to the reduction of mark-up price triggering competition between both types of banks to attract more customers. Therefore, it is prudent for the government to develop a system for furthering the quality of honesty that is an integral part of Islam.

Originality/value

To the best of author’s knowledge, this is the first paper where it has been analyzed theoretically how the Islamic banks determine their mark-up for Murabaha contract strategically. This approach explains why the rate of return of Islamic banks hinges on the interest rates of traditional banks. One of the novel feature of this paper is that religiosity character of the consumer is good for banks because religiosity prohibits the people to default on their loans.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the entrepreneurship education community
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Covid-19 (coronavirus) has significantly affected education communities particularly in terms of the massive shift towards online learning. This has meant a quick transformation of the curriculum and learning styles to a digital platform. Despite the dramatic change, there is a lack of understanding about what this means particularly for the community of entrepreneurship educators in the higher education sector that rely on practical and immersive training for learning requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a literature review that discusses how communities of entrepreneurship education practitioners can deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. A review of the current literature on Covid-19 and entrepreneurship education is conducted that highlights the need to incorporate a community approach. This enables a better understanding about how communities of educational stakeholders including teachers, students and institutions can facilitate a more proactive and positive attitude.

Findings

The paper finds that managing the Covid-19 crisis is difficult for entrepreneurship educations due to the need for practical and real life examples. This means the use of augmented reality and artificial intelligence is needed to simulate the real environment. This will enable a more community orientated approach to the study and practice of entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to suggest how this change has taken place and what it means for educational management, thereby providing a unique and timely commentary about how coronavirus has altered in positive and negative ways entrepreneurship education.
The impact of corporate social responsibility on stock price volatility of the US banks: a moderating role of tax
Authors: Tasnia Mashiyat , Syed Jaafar AlHabshi Syed Musa , Rosman Romzie
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is considered one of the crucial branding and promotional tools for banks to legitimise their role in society to become socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CSR on stock price volatility of the US banks. This study further examined the moderating role of tax on the relationship between CSR and stock price volatility.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the random-effects panel regression estimation technique to test the hypotheses. The authors include a sample of 37 US banks from 2013 to 2017 with 144 bank-years observation. The authors consider the environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores from Refinitiv as a proxy for CSR. The financial data are also collected from the Refinitiv Datastream database.

Findings

This study finds a significant and positive relationship between CSR and stock price volatility, which indicates that shareholders of the US banks may not prefer excess concentration on CSR because of the additional cost of investment associated with implementing CSR. Also, tax payments and stock price volatility show a significant positive association, which implies that there is a higher possibility of an increase in stock price volatility if the tax rate increases. Generally, shareholders are not interested in paying more taxes, so they may swap the market instead of paying more tax. On the other hand, the authors find a non-significant moderating effect of tax payment on CSR-volatility nexus.

Originality/value

Previous studies mainly focussed on CSR and financial performance of banks. Conversely, studies focussing on CSR and stock volatility are limited. This study will fill the gap in the literature by considering the effect of CSR on the stock price volatility of the US banks.
Diversification, corporate governance, regulation and bank risk-taking
Authors: Hunjra Ahmed Imran , Hanif Mahnoor , Mehmood Rashid , Nguyen Loi Viet
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of diversification, corporate governance and capital regulations on bank risk-taking in Asian emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied the generalized method of moments to analyze a sample of 116 listed banks of ten Asian emerging economies for the years 2010–2018.

Findings

The authors found that diversification, board size, CEO duality and board independence, block holders and capital regulations significantly affect bank risk-taking. In particular, nontraditional income sources such as noninterest income and adoption of diversification strategies minimize bank risk-taking.

Practical implications

It is expected that the outcomes of this study can be used by banks in Asian emerging economies that seek to reduce risk-taking by managing the diversification of their income streams and managing the impacts of capital regulation and implementing sound corporate governance features in monitoring their operations. This study suggests practical risk minimizing strategies for banks. First is the sourcing of nontraditional income and adoption of diversification strategies. Second, maintaining nonexecutive directors on the board would enhance monitoring of business activities. Third, maintaining deposit insurance would reduce bank’s risk. Government provides insurance to depositors to motivate them to deposit their funds into the banks. This, in return, facilitates banks to overcome risk. However, banks need to be cautious of any increase in capital ratio, as channeling funds into risky investments would increase risk.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate the impacts of corporate governance, diversification and regulation on bank’s risk-taking in a cross-country setting of ten Asian emerging economies.