bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Measurements of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Brain are Associated with Retinal Microvascular Parameters in Older Community-Dwelling Subjects
Authors: Ballerini Lucia , McGrory Sarah , Valdés Hernández Maria del C. , Lovreglio Ruggiero , Pellegrini Enrico , MacGillivray Tom , Maniega Susana Muñoz , Henderson Ross , Taylor Adele , Bastin Mark E. , Doubal Fergus , Trucco Emanuele , Deary Ian J. , Wardlaw Joanna
Published: October 2019

Background

Perivascular Spaces (PVS) become increasingly visible with advancing age on brain MRI, yet their relationship to morphological changes in the underlying microvessels remains poorly understood. Retinal and cerebral microvessels share morphological and physiological properties. We compared computationally-derived PVS morphologies with retinal vessel morphologies in older people.

Methods

We analysed data from community-dwelling individuals who underwent multimodal brain MRI and retinal fundus camera imaging at mean age 72.55 years (SD=0.71). We assessed centrum semiovale PVS computationally to determine PVS total volume and count, and mean per-subject individual PVS length, width and size. We analysed retinal images using the VAMPIRE software suite, obtaining the Central Retinal Artery and Vein Equivalents (CRVE and CRAE), Arteriole-to-Venule ratio (AVR), and fractal dimension (FD) of both eyes. We investigated associations using general linear models, adjusted for age, gender, and major vascular risk factors.

Results

In 381 subjects with all measures, increasing total PVS volume and count were associated with decreased CRAE in the left eye (volume β=-0.170, count β=-0.184, p<0.001). No associations of PVS with CRVE were found. The PVS total volume, individual width and size increased with decreasing FD of the arterioles (a) and venules (v) of the left eye (total volume: FDa β=-0.137, FDv β=-0.139, p<0.01; width: FDa β=-0.144, FDv β=-0.158, p<0.01; size: FDa β=-0.157, FDv β=-0.162, p<0.01).

Conclusions

Increase in PVS number and size visible on MRI reflect arteriolar narrowing and lower retinal arteriole and venule branching complexity, both markers of impaired microvascular health. Computationally-derived PVS metrics may be an early indicator of failing vascular health and should be tested in longitudinal studies.
Association of Model Neurotransmitters with Lipid Bilayer Membranes
Authors: Josey B. , Heinrich F. , Silin V. , Lösche M.
Published: October 2019

Aimed to reproduce the results of electrophysiological studies of synaptic signal transduction, conventional models of neurotransmission are based on the specific binding of neurotransmitters to ligand-gated receptor ion channels. However, the complex kinetic behavior observed in synaptic transmission cannot be reproduced in a standard kinetic model without the ad hoc postulation of additional conformational channel states. On the other hand, if one invokes unspecific neuro-transmitter adsorption to the bilayer—a process not considered in the established models—the electrophysiological data can be rationalized with only the standard set of three conformational receptor states that also depend on this indirect coupling of neurotransmitters via their membrane interaction. Experimental verification has been difficult because binding affinities of neuro-transmitters to the lipid bilayer are low. We quantify this interaction with surface plasmon resonance to measure equilibrium dissociation constants in neurotransmitter membrane association. Neutron reflectometry on artificial membranes reveals the structural aspects of neurotransmitters association with zwitterionic and anionic bilayers. We establish that serotonin interacts non-specifically with the membrane at physiologically relevant concentrations whilst GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) does not. Surface plasmon resonance shows that serotonin adsorbs with millimolar affinity and neutron reflectometry shows that it penetrates the membrane deeply whereas GABA is excluded from the bilayer.

Significance

Receptor ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane and their neurotransmitter agonists enable fast communication between neuronal cells. Electrophysiology studies reveal surprisingly complex kinetics that apparently require a variety of protein conformational states for their quantitative interpretation, but an alternate hypothesis invoking neurotransmitter membrane association reduces the complexity of the underlying reaction schemes significantly. While their affinity may be low, and is hard to quantify experimentally, neurotransmitter membrane association can be relevant because of their large temporary concentration in the synaptic cleft. With thermodynamic and structural measurements we quantify membrane-bound states of serotonin, establishing this neurotransmitter as membrane-affine, whereas the affinity of the more hydrophilic GABA is too low to register in our sensitivity-optimized measurement techniques.
Long-read bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) genome and the genomic architecture of domestication
Authors: Matsumura Hideo , Hsiao Min-Chien , Toyoda Atsushi , Taniai Naoki , Tarora Kazuhiko , Urasaki Naoya , Anand Shashi S. , Dhillon Narinder P. S. , Schafleitner Roland , Lee Cheng-Ruei
Published: October 2019

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable and medicinal plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. Here we report a chromosome-level assembly, with highest contig N50 (close to 10 Mb) and proportion of sequences placed on chromosomes (96%) in Cucurbitaceae. Population resequencing revealed the divergence between wild and cultivars at about 6000 years ago. Different cultivar groups have distinct allelic compositions in loci associated with domestication traits, suggesting phenotypic changes were achieved by allele frequency shifts in independent loci. Noticeably, one candidate locus for fruit size locates within a region missing from a recent Illumina-based assembly. Despite breeding efforts to increase female flower proportion, the gynoecy locus exhibits high variation within and low differentiation between wild and cultivar groups, likely because artificial directional selection could not overwhelm natural balancing selection. Our study provides resources to further investigate the genetic architecture of bitter gourd as well highlights the importance of a well-assembled genome.
Actomyosin, vimentin and LINC complex pull on osteosarcoma nuclei to deform on micropillar topography
Authors: Wakhloo Nayana Tusamda , Anders Sebastian , Badique Florent , Eichhorn Melanie , Brigaud Isabelle , Petithory Tatiana , Vassaux Maxime , Milan Jean-Louis , Freund Jean-Noël , Rühe Jürgen , Davidson Patricia M. , Pieuchot Laurent , Anselme Karine
Published: October 2019

Cell deformation occurs in many critical biological processes, including cell extravasation during immune response and cancer metastasis. These cells deform the nucleus, its largest and stiffest organelle, while passing through narrow constrictions in vivo and the underlying mechanisms still remain elusive. It is unclear which biochemical actors are responsible and whether the nucleus is pushed or pulled (or both) during deformation. Herein we use an easily-tunable poly-L-lactic acid micropillar topography, mimicking in vivo constrictions to determine the mechanisms responsible for nucleus deformation. Using biochemical tools, we determine that actomyosin contractility, vimentin and nucleo-cytoskeletal connections play essential roles in nuclear deformation, but not A-type lamins. We chemically tune the adhesiveness of the micropillars to show that pulling forces are predominantly responsible for the deformation of the nucleus. We confirm these results using an in silico cell model and propose a comprehensive mechanism for cellular and nuclear deformation during confinement. These results indicate that microstructured biomaterials are extremely versatile tools to understand how forces are exerted in biological systems and can be useful to dissect and mimic complex in vivo behaviour.
Quantifying glioblastoma drug response dynamics incorporating resistance and blood brain barrier penetrance from experimental data
Authors: Massey Susan Christine , Urcuyo Javier C. , Marin Bianca Maria , Sarkaria Jann N. , Swanson Kristin R.
Published: October 2019

Many drugs investigated for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) have had poor clinical outcomes, as their efficacy is dependent on adequate delivery to sensitive tumor cell populations, which is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Further complicating evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, tumors can become resistant to anti-cancer drugs, and it can be difficult to gauge the extent to which BBB limitations and resistance each contribute to a drug’s failure. To address this question, we developed a minimal mathematical model to characterize these elements of overall drug response, informed by time-series bioluminescence imaging data from a treated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) experimental model. By fitting this mathematical model to a preliminary dataset in a series of nonlinear regression steps, we estimated parameter values for individual PDX subjects that correspond to the dynamics seen in experimental data. Using these estimates, we performed a parameter sensitivity analysis using Latin hypercube sampling and partial rank correlation coefficients. Results from this analysis combined with simulation results suggest that BBB permeability may play a slightly larger role in therapeutic efficacy than drug resistance. Our model and fitting technique to estimate parameters from data may be a useful tool in aiding further exploration of these challenges in future studies of drug efficacy with larger datasets.
Effect of temperature and agitation rate variation on the growth of NS0 cell line in monoclonal antibody production
Authors: Shetty Shamitha
Published: October 2019

The quality and yield of the monoclonal antibodies produced in a cGMP environment is heavily influenced by the bioprocess-related parameters which impact the cell growth and metabolism of the mammalian cell cultures. This research report describes a study conducted to examine the effects of varying temperature and RPM set points on viable cell density and viability of NS0 cultures. All cultures were grown in 250 mL shake flasks (working vol. 100 mL). To separately analyze the effects of temperature and agitation rate on NS0 cell metabolism, flask stage cultures were evaluated in triplicates at two cultivation temperatures (36 °C and 38 °C) and two agitation rates (120 RPM and 160 RPM) while controls were maintained at 37 °C and 140 RPM for both the conditions using an incubator. Flasks were sampled every 24 h and analyzed for viable cell density and % viability. Additional data was collected on pH, pO2, pCO2, osmolality, glucose, lactate, glutamate and glutamine levels in the culture. It was observed that variations in temperature has the greatest effect on viable cell density and viability and varying agitation rates had minimal effect on growth of cultures. A temperature set point of 38 °C is detrimental to the culture growth. The control set points proved to be optimal for this process.
Shared neural resources of rhythm and syntax: An ALE Meta-Analysis
Authors: Heard Matthew , Lee Yune S.
Published: October 2019

A growing body of evidence has highlighted behavioral connections between musical rhythm and linguistic syntax, suggesting that these may be mediated by common neural resources. Here, we performed a quantitative meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies using activation likelihood estimate (ALE) to localize the shared neural structures engaged in a representative set of musical rhythm (rhythm, beat, and meter) and linguistic syntax (merge movement, and reanalysis). Rhythm engaged a bilateral sensorimotor network throughout the brain consisting of the inferior frontal gyri, supplementary motor area, superior temporal gyri/temporoparietal junction, insula, the intraparietal lobule, and putamen. By contrast, syntax mostly recruited the left sensorimotor network including the inferior frontal gyrus, posterior superior temporal gyrus, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor area. Intersections between rhythm and syntax maps yielded overlapping regions in the left inferior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, and bilateral insula—neural substrates involved in temporal hierarchy processing and predictive coding. Together, this is the first neuroimaging meta-analysis providing detailed anatomical overlap of sensorimotor regions recruited for musical rhythm and linguistic syntax.
TGF-β signaling is critical for maintenance of the tendon cell fate
Authors: Tan Guak-Kim , Pryce Brian A. , Stabio Anna , Brigande John V. , Wang ChaoJie , Xia Zheng , Tufa Sara F. , Keene Douglas R. , Schweitzer Ronen
Published: October 2019

Studies of cell fate focus on specification, but little is known about maintenance of the differentiated state. We find that TGFβ signaling plays an essential role in maintenance of the tendon cell fate. To examine the role TGFβ signaling in tenocytes TGFβ type II receptor was targeted in the Scleraxis cell lineage. Tendon development was not disrupted in mutant embryos, but shortly after birth tenocytes lost differentiation markers and reverted to a more stem/progenitor state. Targeting of Tgfbr2 using other Cre drivers did not cause tenocyte dedifferentiation suggesting a critical significance for the spatio-temporal activity of ScxCre. Viral reintroduction of Tgfbr2 to mutants was sufficient to prevent and even rescue mutant tenocytes suggesting a continuous and cell-autonomous role for TGFβ signaling in cell fate maintenance. These results uncover the critical importance of molecular pathways that maintain the differentiated cell fate and a key role for TGFβ signaling in these processes.
STRIPAK directs PP2A activity toward MAP4K4 to promote oncogenic transformation
Authors: Kim Jong Wook , Berrios Christian , Kim Miju , Schade Amy E. , Adelmant Guillaume , Yeerna Huwate , Damato Emily , Iniguez Amanda Balboni , Swanson Selene K. , Florens Laurence , Washburn Michael P. , Stegmaier Kim , Gray Nathaniel S. , Tamayo Pablo , Gjoerup Ole , Marto Jarrod A. , DeCaprio James A. , Hahn William C.
Published: October 2019

Alterations involving serine-threonine phosphatase PP2A subunits occur in a range of human cancers and partial loss of PP2A function contributes to cell transformation. Displacement of regulatory B subunits by the SV40 Small T antigen (ST) or mutation/deletion of PP2A subunits alters the abundance and types of PP2A complexes in cells, leading to transformation. Here we show that ST not only displaces common PP2A B subunits but also promotes A-C subunit interactions with alternative B subunits (B’’’, striatins) that are components of the Striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex. We found that STRN4, a member of STRIPAK, is associated with ST and is required for ST-PP2A-induced cell transformation. ST recruitment of STRIPAK facilitates PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation of MAP4K4 and induces cell transformation through the activation of the Hippo pathway effector YAP1. These observations identify an unanticipated role of MAP4K4 in transformation and show that the STRIPAK complex regulates PP2A specificity and activity.
Mapping data between sample and detector conjugated spaces in Bragg coherent diffraction imaging
Authors: Yang David , Phillips Nicholas W. , Hofmann Felix
Published: October 2019

Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (BCDI) is a non-destructive, lensless method for 3D-resolved, nanoscale strain imaging in micro-crystals. A challenge, particularly for new users of the technique, is accurate mapping of experimental data, collected in the detector reciprocal space coordinate frame, to more convenient orthogonal coordinates, e.g. attached to the sample. This is particularly the case since different coordinate conventions are used at every BCDI beamline. The reconstruction algorithms and mapping scripts composed for individual beamlines are not readily interchangeable. To overcome this, a BCDI experiment simulation with a plugin script that converts all beamline angles to a universal, right-handed coordinate frame is introduced, making it possible to condense any beamline geometry into three rotation matrices. The simulation translates a user-specified 3D complex object to different BCDI-related coordinate frames. It also allows the generation of synthetic coherent diffraction data that can be inserted into any BCDI reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct the original user-specified object. Scripts are provided to map from sample space to detector conjugated space, detector conjugated space to sample space and detector conjugated space to detector conjugated space for a different reflection. This provides the reader with the basis for a flexible simulation tool kit that is easily adapted to different geometries. It is anticipated that this will find use in the generation of tailor-made supports for phasing of challenging data and exploration of novel geometries or data collection modalities.
Polymorphism of 3-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)- and 3-[5-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-2H-chromen-2-ones
Authors: Shishkina Svitlana V. , Konovalova Irina S. , Trostianko Pavlo V. , Geleverya Anna O. , Kovalenko Sergiy M. , Bunyatyan Natalya D.
Published: October 2019

This study of 3-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one, C17H10N2O3, 1, and 3-[5-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-2H-chromen-2-one, C16H9N3O3, 2, was performed on the assumption of the potential anticancer activity of the compounds. Three polymorphic structures for 1 and two polymorphic structures for 2 have been studied thoroughly. The strongest intermolecular interaction is stacking of the `head-to-head' type in all the studied crystals. The polymorphic structures of 1 differ with respect to the intermolecular interactions between stacked columns. Two of the polymorphs have a columnar or double columnar type of crystal organization, while the third polymorphic structure can be classified as columnar-layered. The difference between the two structures of 2 is less pronounced. Both crystals can be considered as having very similar arrangements of neighbouring columns. The formation of polymorphic modifications is caused by a subtle balance of very weak intermolecular interactions and packing differences can be identified only using an analysis based on a study of the pairwise interaction energies.
Emotion regulation and intervention in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a synthesis of the literature
Authors: Lim Jan Mei
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Emotion regulation is an ongoing multiprocess phenomenon and is a challenging developmental task to acquire in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have different neurobiological profiles and emotion regulation problems. The purpose of this paper is to review recent literature to understand the neurobiological and psychological perspective of emotion regulation in ASD, while converging themes of psychosocial interventions and existing best practices on emotion regulation within this heterogeneous population are reviewed and discussed in consideration of intellectual disability (ID).

Design/methodology/approach

Review of recent literature and common empirically supported interventions addressing emotional regulation implemented in individuals with and without ASD, and with and without ID were included in the electronic database search through PubMed, EBSChost, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, GALE and SAGE. Search terms used included autism, ID, cognitive control, executive function, sensory processing/intervention, emotion regulation, cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, social stories, positive behavior support and behavior therapy.

Findings

Neural systems governing emotion regulation can be divided into “top-down” and “bottom-up” processing. Prefrontal cortex, cognitive and attentional control are critical for effective emotion regulation. Individuals with ASD, and with ID show impairments in these areas have problems with emotion regulation. Targeted psychosocial intervention need to consider bottom-up and top-down processes of emotion regulation, and that standardized interventions require adaptations.

Originality/value

There are limited studies looking into understanding the neurobiological and psychological perspective of emotion regulation in ASD and linking them to interventions. This review highlights psychosocial interventions that are important for further research, investigation and development as treatment in this population is limited.
Improved DEA for motor’s model identification
Authors: Shi Jingzhuo , Huang Wenwen
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an improved differential evolution algorithm (DEA) suitable for motor’s model identification.

Design/methodology/approach

The mutation operation of the standard DEA is improved, and the adaptive coefficient is designed to adjust the optimization process.

Findings

The application of motor model identification shows that the proposed improved DEA is more robust, with higher modeling accuracy and efficiency, and is more suitable for motor identification modeling applications. Compared with the ultrasonic motor model established by using particle swarm algorithm, the model established in this paper has higher precision.

Originality/value

This paper explores an improved DEA suitable for motor identification modeling. The algorithm can not only obtain the optimal solution but also effectively reduce the iterative generations and time required in the process of optimization identification.
The impact of organizational support on employee performance
Authors: Chen Taibo , Hao Shuaikang , Ding Kaifang , Feng Xiaodong , Li Gendao , Liang Xiao
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Building on organizational support theory and social exchange theory, the purpose of this paper is to study the impact of organizational support on employee performance (EP) in the context of flexible manufacturing. In particular, the authors aimed to investigate the mediating role of employee attitude between organizational support and EP, and the moderating role of organizational justice (OJ).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 180 participants from 36 work teams employed in 7 large automotive manufacturing enterprises in China were surveyed using a questionnaire designed by the authors. Multiple linear regressions were used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results revealed four new performance indicators of frontline workers in the context of flexible manufacturing: continuous learning, teamwork, problem solving and active work. Organizational support can be divided into reinforcing support and inhibitive support. Reinforcing organizational support has a positive effect on new performance of frontline workers, and a sense of belonging plays a strong mediating role between them. Inhibitive organizational support plays an important role in the sense of awe (SA) of employees, but the SA has no influence on new performance of frontline workers. OJ plays a strong moderating role between organizational support and employee attitudes.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first attempts to explore the performance of frontline workers in the context of flexible manufacturing and contributes to the existing literature on the relationship between organizational support and EP.
Effects of employee benefits on affective and continuance commitment during times of crisis
Authors: Galanaki Eleanna
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Employee benefits represent a large proportion of operational costs in most sectors, but discussions of their outcomes have been inconclusive. The purpose of this paper is to decipher the effects of employee benefits on organizational commitment in a changing and largely uncertain environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Three repeated large-scale surveys in Greece during the recent recession are used (2012, 2013 and 2015, total n=3,498).

Findings

A new taxonomy of employee benefits based on employees’ subjective utility evaluations is developed and applied. Availability of benefits and changes in the allocation policies of benefits are found to significantly but not powerfully influence organizational commitment. The setting in which this exchange is realized is critical for the relationships developed.

Research limitations/implications

The study is conducted in a single country during the recession and trough phases of the business cycle and employee benefit allocation is measured with employee perceptions. Future research is called to couple present findings with international research at diverse phases of the business cycle and objective or company-provided measures of employee benefits.

Practical implications

Employers are advised to draft long-term employee benefit strategies, avoid frequent adjustments and provide multiple types of employee benefits, to increase affective organizational commitment.

Originality/value

This is the first time employee benefits are treated as a whole, and effects of their allocation and of changes in their allocation are explored at the employee level.
Corporate governance, foreign direct investment, and bank income smoothing in African countries
Authors: Pinto Inês , Gaio Cristina , Gonçalves Tiago
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of corporate governance mechanisms and foreign direct investment (FDI) to restrain or stimulate the use of loan loss provisions (LLPs) by managers to smooth earnings in African banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of 112 listed and non-listed banks from 20 African countries, covering the period 2011–2017. Models are estimated using the pooled ordinary least squares regression, as well as Blundell and Bond (1998) system GMM.

Findings

The results suggest that bank managers use LLPs to reduce income volatility and that ownership concentration increases income smoothing. The findings also show that FDI plays a fundamental role to restrain managerial discretion in developing countries, increasing corporate governance practices in the host country.

Practical implications

These findings are relevant for banking regulators and supervisors in order to determine which corporate governance mechanisms can be used in developing countries to increase the quality of financial reporting. A policy model that promotes FDI boosts financial reporting transparency, contributing to greater financial markets development.

Originality/value

The authors extend the existing literature on the influence of corporate governance mechanisms in limiting managerial discretion by focusing on the role that foreign shareholders may have in disciplining banks financial reporting quality in countries with weak institutional quality.
To greener pastures
Authors: Zarei Mohammad Hossein , Carrasco-Gallego Ruth , Ronchi Stefano
Published: October 2019

Purpose

While humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) inherently contribute to social sustainability by alleviating the suffering of afflicted communities, their unintended adverse environmental impact has been overlooked hitherto. This paper draws upon contingency theory to synthesize green practices for HSCs, identify the contingency factors that impact on greening HSCs and explore how focal humanitarian organizations (HOs) can cope with such contingency factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Deploying an action research methodology, two-and-a-half cycles of collaboration between researchers and a United Nations agency were completed. The first half-cycle developed a deductive greening framework, synthesizing extant green practices from the literature. In the second and third cycles, green practices were adopted/customized/developed reflecting organizational and contextual contingency factors. Action steps were implemented in the HSC for prophylactics, involving an operational mix of disaster relief and development programs.

Findings

First, the study presents a greening framework that synthesizes extant green practices in a suitable form for HOs. Second, it identifies the contingency factors associated with greening HSCs regarding funding environment, stakeholders, field of activity and organizational management. Third, it outlines the mechanisms for coping with the contingency factors identified, inter alia, improving the visibility of headquarters over field operations, promoting collaboration and resource sharing with other HOs as well as among different implementing partners in each country, and working with suppliers for greener packaging. The study advances a set of actionable propositions for greening HSCs.

Practical implications

Using an action research methodology, the study makes strong practical contributions. Humanitarian practitioners can adopt the greening framework and the lessons learnt from the implementation cycles presented in this study.

Originality/value

This is one of the first empirical studies to integrate environmental sustainability and HSCs using an action research methodology.
Mapping social economy discourses in Chile
Authors: Cid Beatriz , Letelier Araya Eduardo Antonio , Saravia Pablo , Vanhulst Julien , Carroza Nelson , Sandoval Daniel
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social economy discourses in four regions of Chile, characterized by their internal economic heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an intentional sample, semi-structured interviews were applied to 45 key informants from the public sector, universities, consultant enterprises, cooperatives and civil society organizations. Through a content analysis, thematic axes were identified that allowed to characterize and to recognize the narratives that key informants held about their initiatives, experiences or ventures.

Findings

The results allow us to understand the diversity of discourses and practices about alternative economies, being able to organize them from two axes: the tension between molar and molecular subjectivities; and the tension between reform and transformation (which refers to a transformative type of institutional and socio-material change). These axes propose an interpretative framework that integrates a diversity of distinctions and/or polarities and problematizes the homogeneity of formal economic discourse.

Research limitations/implications

The discourses analyzed by this paper offers representativeness by saturation. It do not allow to ponder for sure the relative presence of each of these discourses in the field of economic diversity. The analysis of what type of actors sustain each type of discourse remains pending.

Social implications

The high discourse heterogeneity makes it possible to foresee major difficulties in terms of political articulation and the visibility of various alternative economic experiences, initiatives or ventures as part of a social transformation movement.

Originality/value

Previous studies developed in Latin America about social and solidarity economy have been focused in objective dimensions as the volume of incomes, expenditures or jobs. This is the first study aimed at characterizing the subjective field of discourse held by different actors who recognize themselves as part of an alternative economy movement.
Does ambushing pay off?
Authors: Ertz Elias , Frey Cordes Regina Viola , Buettgen Marion
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Little is known about the comparative effectiveness of official sports event sponsorship, sports team sponsorship and ambush marketing (AM). The purpose of this paper is therefore to examine and compare the effectiveness of those three types of sports event-related marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws on a field experiment analyzing the effects the three types of sports event-related marketing during the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2014. To test the proposed main effects, the authors conducted a field experiment in two product categories (airlines and beer) testing for differences in brand attitude, customer-based brand equity and word-of-mouth (WOM), and testing moderating effects of advertisement creativity and sponsorship recognition.

Findings

Drawing on a field-experimental study on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup 2014, this research shows that team sponsorship has a stronger positive effect on consumers’ attitudes than AM and event sponsorship. Brand attitude emerges as a central mediator of the sponsorship effect on WOM and customer-based brand equity. The authors find, surprisingly, that sponsorship recognition does not significantly moderate the relationship between sponsorship and customer attitudes, whereas advertisement creativity even weakens the positive effect of sponsorship on brand attitude, WOM and customer-based brand equity.

Research limitations/implications

Consumers do not seem to form their brand attitude on the fact whether they recognize the particular brand as a sponsor or ambushing brand. This can be attributed to the theory of moralistic fallacy, which describes the phenomenon that makes individuals ignore the existence of something they perceive immoral, explaining the similar effectiveness of both.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature in several ways. First, it tests a causal model that examines brand attitude, customer-based brand equity and WOM -intentions as outcome variables of AM effectiveness. This goes far beyond the proxy-measure of “sponsorship awareness,” which previous studies used in order to quantify AM effectiveness. Second, taking into account and comparing the specific effects of event sponsorship, team sponsorship and AM, the study broadens the knowledge about the effectiveness of alternative sports event-related marketing approaches. Third, previous studies advised event sponsors to design humorous and creative advertisements to defend themselves against ambush marketers and beat them at their own game, which is tested by including ad creativity as a moderating variable.
Effect of grooved cylinder liner depths on the tribological performances of cylinder liner-piston ring
Authors: Yang Chao Zhen , Guo Zhiwei , Xu Changkun
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Frictions in cylinder liner-piston ring often cause an inevitable loss of energy loss in the diesel engine. This study aims at evaluating the effect of depths in the cylinder liner groove texture on friction, wear and sealing performances.

Design/methodology/approach

Five depths of groove texture cylinder liners (50, 100, 150, 200, 250 µm) were fabricated, and experiments were carried out using a special-purpose diesel engine tester. Comparative analyses of cylinder liner contact resistances, piston ring wear losses and surface appearances were conducted with respect to different surface textures and applied loads.

Findings

Under no-load conditions, the cylinder liner with a 100 deep thread groove can significantly improve sealing and optimize its lubrication performance. On the other hand, the sealing is highly correlated with the depth of groove and the load within the cylinder liner. Under loaded conditions, the thread groove has less effect on the sealing performance.

Originality/value

The findings can provide feasible basis for the tribological design and production of diesel engines.
Understanding “window” shopping and browsing experience on social shopping website
Authors: Chen Yanhong , Lu Yaobin , Gupta Sumeet , Pan Zhao
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Social shopping website (SSW) introduce the social side into the shopping process, thus making “window” shopping or browsing more interesting for customers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate customer online browsing experience and its antecedents (i.e. information quality and social interaction) and consequences (i.e. urge to buy impulsively and continuous browsing intention) in the context of SSW.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was distributed to visitors of online SSW to collect data, and partial least squares technology was used to test the research model.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that three types of web browsing, namely, utilitarian browsing, hedonic browsing and social browsing, take place in a SSW. The unique factors of SSW, namely, the quality of user generated contents and social interaction are critical for facilitating customers’ browsing experiences. Furthermore, the findings reveal that hedonic browsing experience is found to be the most salient factor influencing customers’ urge to buy impulsively and continuance intention.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that practitioners, such as designers and managers of SSW should give special attention to the benefits of browsing activity to convert web browsers into impulse purchasers and increase customers’ loyalty. Moreover, they should focus on improving the quality of user generated content and pay more attention to support and encourage social interaction to enhance browsing experiences on a SSW.

Originality/value

Existing studies about browsing behavior mostly focus on traditional online e-commerce website. This study represents the first step toward understanding browsing activity on SSW. Moreover, prior studies mainly focused on utilitarian and hedonic browsing experience; however, there is a lack of research on social browsing experience. The current study attempts to fill this research gap.
Better with age: financial reporting quality in family firms
Authors: Tommasetti Roberto , da Silva Macedo Marcelo Á. , Azevedo de Carvalho Frederico A. , Barile Sergio
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on financial reporting quality (FRQ) within family firms (FFs), assessing whether longevity can determine a different propensity to earning management (EM) behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample, composed by Italian and Brazilian listed family (and non-family) firms, is segregated into old and young. For each subsample, unsigned discretionary accruals are calculated, using two different EM models. A linear regression model is then proposed, together with some robustness tests, to confirm the research hypothesis.

Findings

The outcome is that, within FFs, the entrenchment effect seems to be diminishing with the company’s age, up to become lower than the alignment effect. With some caveat, research also demonstrates that old FFs are more propense to supply higher FRQ than any other subsample group.

Research limitations/implications

The authors demonstrated that, in terms of EM decision process, FFs become virtuous just with time. More research is needed to evaluate the impact of the share and management control separately and to analyze different generation segmentation.

Practical implications

This paper could help non-family stakeholders, as it shows that different company types (family vs non-family), at a different stage of the life-cycle (young vs old) have a different attitude toward FRQ. On the other hand, family owners could exploit the longevity as a value driver.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that agency theory and socio-emotional theory are complementary in explaining the family control role in earnings management decisions. The study also contributes to the debate of FF homogeneity and on risk behavior in FFs, often portrayed as having a patient capital.
Identification of success factors for sustainability in family businesses
Authors: Chirapanda Suthawan
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the important factors for sustainability in Japanese family businesses. Family businesses in Japan are well prepared in succession planning and have the greatest longevity of any in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 15 family businesses in Japan were explored in the food and beverage, confectionary, services, handicraft, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing sectors.

Findings

The important sustainability factors identified in this study, innovation, competitive advantage, leadership and team management, and establishing good relationships with the local community are the key steps for achieving family business succession.

Originality/value

Startups and new family businesses in other countries can learn how to run a company successfully based on the Japanese model by applying the keys to success.
The power of brand passion in sports apparel brands
Authors: Pourazad Naser , Stocchi Lara , Pare Vipul
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine if brand passion shapes attitudinal brand loyalty while driving a series of important brand-related outcomes (i.e. brand advocacy, social media following, sense of community, willingness to pay a premium price and alternative devaluation). These aspects are explored for sports apparel brands after considering the perceptions of Iranian consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the analysis of survey data gathered online and face-to-face from a sample of Iranian consumers of sports apparel brands that were analysed using partial least square path modelling.

Findings

The key empirical findings obtained confirm that brand passion underpins attitudinal brand loyalty and several important brand-related outcomes. Furthermore, the findings show that attitudinal brand loyalty explains the impact of brand passion on most of the outcomes considered, except for social media following.

Research limitations/implications

This study advances knowledge of brand passion by illustrating its “power” as a strong nuance of relationships between consumers and brands. In particular, this study highlights the importance of brand passion in shaping attitudinal brand loyalty, as well as a driver of several outcomes of theoretical and managerial relevance.

Practical implications

By establishing strategies aimed at enhancing brand passion, brand managers can increase attitudinal brand loyalty, attain important goals such as brand advocacy, premium price and social media following, as well as the devaluation of competing brands.

Originality/value

This study uses a unidimensional theorisation of brand passion to increase the understanding of its role as predictor of attitudinal brand loyalty and driver of relevant outcomes. It also examines the mediating effect of attitudinal brand loyalty, thus illustrating important conceptual links between brand passion and brand loyalty in the context of sports apparel brands in a growing economy (Iran).
Can reviewer reputation and webcare content affect perceived fairness?
Authors: Raju Amar
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effects of webcare content type and webcare source credibility on perceived fairness, in the presence of reputation of a reviewer as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment used a 2 (Webcare content type: Specific vs Vague) × 2 (Webcare source credibility: High vs Low) × 2 (Reviewer reputation: Good vs Bad) between-subjects design. ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

A significant main effect and interaction effect of independent variables was found on perceived fairness. The moderating role of reviewer reputation was also found significant in the relationship between content type and perceived fairness. However, reputation of the reviewer did not moderate the relationship between webcare source credibility and perceived fairness.

Practical implications

Marketers should respond to negative reviews by paying attention toward review and webcare attributes highlighted in the paper because doing so might satisfy the consumer.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to study a combination of webcare and review characteristics together on consumers' perceptions of fairness.
Board of directors’ effectiveness and monitoring costs
Authors: Omer Waddah Kamal Hassan , Al-Qadasi Adel Ali
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Responding to the call for research into the behavior of family companies to provide better understanding of corporate governance, this paper aims to examine the impact of boards’ effectiveness on the investment in monitoring costs (i.e. audit fees, internal audit function budget and executive remuneration) and how this relationship is moderated by family control.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 2,176 firm-year observations of Malaysian listed companies is used. The ordinary least square regression is used to examine the associations. Additional sensitivity tests are performed.

Findings

The study finds that there is no relationship between boards’ effectiveness and the demand for monitoring costs for the full sample. However, the findings of sub-samples (family and non-family companies) indicate that a family company with an effective board is less likely to invest more in monitoring, suggesting that the complementary association between the board’s effectiveness and investment in monitoring is a more dominant relationship than the substitution relationship in non-family companies. These findings show that the boards of directors of Malaysian family companies perform a deficient monitoring role, where the presence of family controlling shareholders in management may reduce their independence and efficiency in performing their monitoring role. The findings remain robust after performing additional sensitivity tests.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on corporate governance in a unique setting (family companies), where conflict of interest is created between controlling insiders and minority shareholders (Type II agency problem). It provides insight for Malaysian policymakers in assessing the issue of expropriation in family companies and enhancing the policy related to its boards.
Organisational learning in small and medium sized South African energy project organisations
Authors: Venkatachalam Senthilkumar , Marshall Alasdair , Ojiako Udechukwu , Chanshi Chamabondo Sophia
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore, using fine-grained exploratory multi-case studies, organisational learning practices – and associated constraints – impacting the performance of four small- and medium-sized project organisations which deliver energy efficiency projects in South Africa and whose learning practice mixes are of wider significance for the emerging project society in the region.

Design/methodology/approach

The unit of analysis is the Energy Efficiency Demand Side Management (EEDSM) programme; a US$104m grant funded the initiative directed at supporting energy efficient retro-fit projects across local municipalities in South Africa. Thematic analysis is undertaken, based on multiple exploratory interviews with project practitioners working for small- and medium-sized EEDSM project organisations.

Findings

Recognising the criticality of tacit knowledge as a focus for learning, within unstructured, novel, non-routine and technically specialised learning contexts in particular, the widespread lack of organisational harnessing through linkages to strategy and performance are noted, and advocacy is offered for the development of appropriate learning cultures linked to communities of practice that bring specialists together from across regional project societies.

Research limitations/implications

The socio-political context of the EEDSM programme, although briefly addressed for its organisational cultural implications, was not given detailed consideration in the exploratory interviews. This would have enhanced the idiographic complexity of the findings, while also reducing prospects for distilling generalisable organisational learning improvement opportunities for emerging project societies. However, the study does not seek to provide evidence for specific learning practice effects on performance as this was not something the interviewees felt able to comment on in significant detail.

Originality/value

Learning practice studies for small- and medium-sized project organisations remains sparse, so are studies of business environments within developing countries, in general, or sub-Saharan Africa, in particular. Looking beyond narrow individual project views of performance, the present study’s project society-based business environment is theorised as both constraining and benefiting from the project-learning practices discussed by the respondents.