bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic Analysis of Clavibacter michiganensis Reveals Insight Into Virulence Strategies and Genetic Diversity of a Gram-Positive Bacterial Pathogen
Authors: Thapa Shree P. , Pattathil Sivakumar , Hahn Michael G. , Jacques Marie-Agnès , Gilbertson Robert L. , Coaker Gitta
Published: July 2017

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is a gram-positive bacterial pathogen that proliferates in the xylem vessels of tomato, causing bacterial canker disease. In this study, we sequenced and assembled genomes of 11 C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains isolated from infected tomato fields in California as well as five Clavibacter strains that colonize tomato endophytically but are not pathogenic in this host. The analysis of the C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis genomes supported the monophyletic nature of this pathogen but revealed genetic diversity among strains, consistent with multiple introduction events. Two tomato endophytes that clustered phylogenetically with C. michiganensis strains capable of infecting wheat and pepper and were also able to cause disease in these plants. Plasmid profiles of the California strains were variable and supported the essential role of the pCM1-like plasmid and the CelA cellulase in virulence, whereas the absence of the pCM2-like plasmid in some pathogenic C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains revealed it is not essential. A large number of secreted C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis proteins were carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Glycome profiling revealed that C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis but not endophytic Clavibacter strains is able to extensively alter tomato cell-wall composition. Two secreted CAZymes found in all C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains, CelA and PelA1, enhanced pathogenicity on tomato. Collectively, these results provide a deeper understanding of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis diversity and virulence strategies.
Limitations of rotational manoeuvrability in insects and hummingbirds: evaluating the effects of neuro-biomechanical delays and muscle mechanical power
Authors: Liu Pan , Cheng Bo
Published: July 2017

Flying animals ranging in size from fruit flies to hummingbirds are nimble fliers with remarkable rotational manoeuvrability. The degrees of manoeuvrability among these animals, however, are noticeably diverse and do not simply follow scaling rules of flight dynamics or muscle power capacity. As all manoeuvres emerge from the complex interactions of neural, physiological and biomechanical processes of an animal's flight control system, these processes give rise to multiple limiting factors that dictate the maximal manoeuvrability attainable by an animal. Here using functional models of an animal's flight control system, we investigate the effects of three such limiting factors, including neural and biomechanical (from limited flapping frequency) delays and muscle mechanical power, for two insect species and two hummingbird species, undergoing roll, pitch and yaw rotations. The results show that for animals with similar degree of manoeuvrability, for example, fruit flies and hummingbirds, the underlying limiting factors are different, as the manoeuvrability of fruit flies is only limited by neural delays and that of hummingbirds could be limited by all three factors. In addition, the manoeuvrability also appears to be the highest about the roll axis as it requires the least muscle mechanical power and can tolerate the largest neural delays.
CO2-induced ocean acidification does not affect individual or group behaviour in a temperate damselfish
Authors: Kwan Garfield Tsz , Hamilton Trevor James , Tresguerres Martin
Published: July 2017

Open ocean surface CO2levels are projected to reach approximately 800 µatm, and ocean pH to decrease by approximately 0.3 units by the year 2100 due to anthropogenic CO2emissions and the subsequent process of ocean acidification (OA). When exposed to these CO2/pH values, several fish species display abnormal behaviour in laboratory tests, an effect proposed to be linked to altered neuronal GABAA­receptor function. Juvenile blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) are social fish that regularly experience CO2/pH fluctuations through kelp forest diurnal primary production and upwelling events, so we hypothesized that they might be resilient to OA. Blacksmiths were exposed to control conditions (pH ∼ 7.92;pCO2 ∼ 540 µatm), constant acidification (pH ∼ 7.71;pCO2 ∼ 921 µatm) and oscillating acidification (pH ∼ 7.91,pCO2 ∼ 560 µatm (day), pH ∼ 7.70,pCO2 ∼ 955 µatm (night)), and caught and tested in two seasons of the year when the ocean temperature was different: winter (16.5 ± 0.1°C) and summer (23.1 ± 0.1°C). Neither constant nor oscillating CO2-induced acidification affected blacksmith individual light/dark preference, inter-individual distance in a shoal or the shoal's response to a novel object, suggesting that blacksmiths are tolerant to projected future OA conditions. However, blacksmiths tested during the winter demonstrated significantly higher dark preference in the individual light/dark preference test, thus confirming season and/or water temperature as relevant factors to consider in behavioural tests.
Nonlinear disease tolerance curves reveal distinct components of host responses to viral infection
Authors: Gupta Vanika , Vale Pedro F.
Published: July 2017

The ability to tolerate infection is a key component of host defence and offers potential novel therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases. To yield successful targets for therapeutic intervention, it is important that the analytical tools employed to measure disease tolerance are able to capture distinct host responses to infection. Here, we show that commonly used methods that estimate tolerance as a linear relationship should be complemented with more flexible, nonlinear estimates of this relationship which may reveal variation in distinct components such as host vigour, sensitivity to increases in pathogen loads, and the severity of the infection. To illustrate this, we measured the survival ofDrosophila melanogastercarrying either a functional or non-functional regulator of the JAK-STAT immune pathway (G9a) when challenged with a range of concentrations ofDrosophilaC virus (DCV). While classical linear model analyses indicated thatG9aaffected tolerance only in females, a more powerful nonlinear logistic model showed thatG9amediates viral tolerance to different extents in both sexes. This analysis also revealed thatG9aacts by changing the sensitivity to increasing pathogen burdens, but does not reduce the ultimate severity of disease. These results indicate that fitting nonlinear models to host health–pathogen burden relationships may offer better and more detailed estimates of disease tolerance.
Trigonal curves and algebro-geometric solutions to soliton hierarchies II
Authors: Ma Wen-Xiu
Published: July 2017

This is a continuation of a study on Riemann theta function representations of algebro-geometric solutions to soliton hierarchies. In this part, we straighten out all flows in soliton hierarchies under the Abel–Jacobi coordinates associated with Lax pairs, upon determining the Riemann theta function representations of the Baker–Akhiezer functions, and generate algebro-geometric solutions to soliton hierarchies in terms of the Riemann theta functions, through observing asymptotic behaviours of the Baker–Akhiezer functions. We emphasize that we analyse the four-component AKNS soliton hierarchy in such a way that it leads to a general theory of trigonal curves applicable to construction of algebro-geometric solutions of an arbitrary soliton hierarchy.
Piecewise affine stress-free martensitic inclusions in planar nonlinear elasticity
Authors: Conti S. , Klar M. , Zwicknagl B.
Published: July 2017

We consider a partial differential inclusion problem which models stress-free martensitic inclusions in an austenitic matrix, based on the standard geometrically nonlinear elasticity theory. We show that for specific parameter choices there exist piecewise affine continuous solutions for the square-to-oblique and the hexagonal-to-oblique phase transitions. This suggests that for specific crystallographic parameters the hysteresis of the phase transformation will be particularly small.
Error bounds for the asymptotic expansion of the Hurwitz zeta function
Authors: Nemes G.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we reconsider the large-
a
asymptotic expansion of the Hurwitz zeta function
ζ
(
s
,
a
). New representations for the remainder term of the asymptotic expansion are found and used to obtain sharp and realistic error bounds. Applications to the asymptotic expansions of the polygamma functions, the gamma function, the Barnes
G
-function and the
s
-derivative of the Hurwitz zeta function
ζ
(
s
,
a
) are provided. A detailed discussion on the sharpness of our error bounds is also given.
Distance-dependent pattern blending can camouflage salient aposematic signals
Authors: Barnett James B. , Cuthill Innes C. , Scott-Samuel Nicholas E.
Published: July 2017

The effect of viewing distance on the perception of visual texture is well known: spatial frequencies higher than the resolution limit of an observer's visual system will be summed and perceived as a single combined colour. In animal defensive colour patterns, distance-dependent pattern blending may allow aposematic patterns, salient at close range, to match the background to distant observers. Indeed, recent research has indicated that reducing the distance from which a salient signal can be detected can increase survival over camouflage or conspicuous aposematism alone. We investigated whether the spatial frequency of conspicuous and cryptically coloured stripes affects the rate of avian predation. Our results are consistent with pattern blending acting to camouflage salient aposematic signals effectively at a distance. Experiments into the relative rate of avian predation on edible model caterpillars found that increasing spatial frequency (thinner stripes) increased survival. Similarly, visual modelling of avian predators showed that pattern blending increased the similarity between caterpillar and background. These results show how a colour pattern can be tuned to reveal or conceal different information at different distances, and produce tangible survival benefits.
The importance of offshore origination revealed through ophiuroid phylogenomics
Authors: Bribiesca-Contreras Guadalupe , Verbruggen Heroen , Hugall Andrew F. , O'Hara Timothy D.
Published: July 2017

Our knowledge of macro-evolutionary processes in the deep sea is poor, leading to much speculation about whether the deep sea is a source or sink of evolutionary adaptation. Here, we use a phylogenetic approach, on large molecular (688 species, 275 kbp) and distributional datasets (104 513 records) across an entire class of marine invertebrates (Ophiuroidea), to infer rates of bathymetric range shift over time between shallow and deep water biomes. Biome conservation is evident through the phylogeny, with the majority of species in most clades distributed within the same bathome. Despite this, bathymetric shifts have occurred. We inferred from ancestral reconstructions that eurybathic or intermediate distributions across both biomes were a transitional state and direct changes between shallow and deep sea did not occur. The macro-evolutionary pattern of bathome shift appeared to reflect micro-evolutionary processes of bathymetric speciation. Results suggest that most of the oldest clades have a deep-sea origin, but multiple colonization events indicate that the evolution of this group conforms neither to a simple onshore–offshore hypothesis, nor the opposite pattern. Both shallow and deep bathomes have played an important role in generating the current diversity of this major benthic class.
The evolution of climatic niches in squamate reptiles
Authors: Pie Marcio R. , Campos Leonardo L. F. , Meyer Andreas L. S. , Duran Andressa
Published: July 2017

Despite the remarkable diversity found in squamate reptiles, most of their species tend to be found in warm/dry environments, suggesting that climatic requirements played a crucial role in their diversification, yet little is known about the evolution of their climatic niches. In this study, we integrate climatic information associated with the geographical distribution of 1882 squamate species and their phylogenetic relationships to investigate the tempo and mode of climatic niche evolution in squamates, both over time and among lineages. We found that changes in climatic niche dynamics were pronounced over their recent squamate evolutionary history, and we identified extensive evidence for rate heterogeneity in squamate climatic niche evolution. Most rate shifts involved accelerations, particularly over the past 50 Myr. Most squamates occupy similar regions of the climatic niche space, with only a few lineages diversifying into colder and humid climatic conditions. The changes from arid to mesic conditions in some regions of the globe may have provided opportunities for climatic niche evolution, although most lineages tended to remain near their ancestral niche. Variation in rates of climatic niche evolution seems common, particularly in response to the availability of new climatic conditions over evolutionary time.
Acclimatization of symbiotic corals to mesophotic light environments through wavelength transformation by fluorescent protein pigments
Authors: Smith Edward G. , D'Angelo Cecilia , Sharon Yoni , Tchernov Dan , Wiedenmann Joerg
Published: July 2017

The depth distribution of reef-building corals exposes their photosynthetic symbionts of the genus
Symbiodinium
to extreme gradients in the intensity and spectral quality of the ambient light environment. Characterizing the mechanisms used by the coral holobiont to respond to the low intensity and reduced spectral composition of the light environment in deeper reefs (greater than 20 m) is fundamental to our understanding of the functioning and structure of reefs across depth gradients. Here, we demonstrate that host pigments, specifically photoconvertible red fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs), can promote coral adaptation/acclimatization to deeper-water light environments by transforming the prevalent blue light into orange-red light, which can penetrate deeper within zooxanthellae-containing tissues; this facilitates a more homogeneous distribution of photons across symbiont communities. The ecological importance of pcRFPs in deeper reefs is supported by the increasing proportion of red fluorescent corals with depth (measured down to 45 m) and increased survival of colour morphs with strong expression of pcRFPs in long-term light manipulation experiments. In addition to screening by host pigments from high light intensities in shallow water, the spectral transformation observed in deeper-water corals highlights the importance of GFP-like protein expression as an ecological mechanism to support the functioning of the coral–
Symbiodinium
association across steep environmental gradients.
Chronic exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide makes toad larvae more toxic
Authors: Bókony Veronika , Mikó Zsanett , Móricz Ágnes M. , Krüzselyi Dániel , Hettyey Attila
Published: July 2017

Chemical pollutants can exert various sublethal effects on wildlife, leading to complex fitness consequences. Many animals use defensive chemicals as protection from predators and diseases, yet the effects of chemical contaminants on this important fitness component are poorly known. Understanding such effects is especially relevant for amphibians, the globally most threatened group of vertebrates, because they are particularly vulnerable to chemical pollution. We conducted two experiments to investigate how exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides, the most widespread agrochemicals worldwide, affects the production of bufadienolides, the main compounds of chemical defence in common toads (
Bufo bufo
). In both experiments, herbicide exposure increased the amount of bufadienolides in toad tadpoles. In the laboratory, individuals exposed to 4 mg a.e./L glyphosate throughout their larval development had higher bufadienolide content at metamorphosis than non-exposed tadpoles, whereas exposure for 9 days to the same concentration or to 2 mg a.e./L throughout larval development or for 9 days had no detectable effect. In outdoor mesocosms, tadpoles from 16 populations exhibited elevated bufadienolide content after three-weeks exposure to both concentrations of the herbicide. These results show that pesticide exposure can have unexpected effects on non-target organisms, with potential consequences for the conservation management of toxin-producing species and their predators.
Physiological tolerance of the early life history stages of fresh water prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergiiDe Man, 1879) to environmental stress
Authors: John Jojy , Siva Vinu S , Kumar Amit , Ebenezer Vinitha , Raika Philimon , Khalifa Umer , Thanumalya Subramoniam , Sanjeevi Prakash
Published: July 2017

Global climate change is transforming life on earth, causing widespread effects on all ecosystems. Among marine ecosystems, estuaries are considered as nursery grounds for marine and fresh water species.M. rosenbergii, a euryhaline species, migrate to the estuaries for breeding and spawning. The subsequent larval rearing takes place by experiencing variations in temperature and salinity conditions. The present study examines the effect of different temperature and salinity on the larval development and survival by observations on stored yolk utilization, cardiac performance, as well as changes in the rate of growth in body appendages and larval activity. The larvae showed 100% mortality at higher temperature (33.5 ± 0.5 °C) in all the salinity conditions (12 PPT, 15 PPT, and 20 PPT). The survival rate varied between 76-96 % on exposure to lesser temperature conditions. Likewise, the post-embryonic yolk lasted for 4 days at ambient temperature (29 °C); whereas, at 33.5 ± 0.5 °C, it lasted only for 2-3 days. There was an increase in total length of larvae, when exposed to higher temperature and salinity, independently or in combination, but at 33.5 ± 0.5 °C under all salinity conditions the larvae died on the 5thday. For the cardiac performance, larval heart beat (fH) significantly increased for higher temperature and salinity conditions (20 PPT; 33.5 °C) and lowered at ambient condition 12 PPT; 29°C. Larval stroke volumeVs, and Cardiac output Q□ were higher in ambient conditions and lowest in higher temperature and salinity conditions. However, temperature and salinity together did not show any significant effect on cardiac performance. On the other hand, the larval activity decreased significantly at higher temperature and salinity conditions, compared to ambient conditions but the interactive effect did not show any change. Thus, the physiological responses to temperature and salinity by the early life stages ofM. rosenbergiicould restrain the tolerance capability of the organism, thereby interfering in the successful completion of the larval development under the altered climatic conditions.
ShapeRotator: an R tool for standardised rigid rotations of articulated Three-Dimensional structures with application for geometric morphometrics
Authors: Vidal-García Marta , Bandara Lashi , Keogh J. Scott
Published: July 2017

The quantification of complex morphological patterns typically involves comprehensive shape and size analyses, usually obtained by gathering morphological data from all the structures that capture the phenotypic diversity of an organism or object. Articulated structures are a critical component of overall phenotypic diversity, but data gathered from these structures are difficult to incorporate in to modern analyses because of the complexities associated with jointly quantifying 3D shape in multiple structures.

While there are existing methods for analysing shape variation in articulated structures in Two-Dimensional (2D) space, these methods do not work in 3D, a rapidly growing area of capability and research.

Here we describe a simple geometric rigid rotation approach that removes the effect of random translation and rotation, enabling the morphological analysis of 3D articulated structures. Our method is based on Cartesian coordinates in 3D space so it can be applied to any morphometric problem that also uses 3D coordinates (e.g. spherical harmonics). We demonstrate the method by applying it to a landmark-based data set for analysing shape variation using geometric morphometrics.

We have developed an R tool (ShapeRotator) so that the method can be easily implemented in the commonly used R packagegeomorphandMorphoJsoftware. This method will be a valuable tool for 3D morphological analyses in articulated structures by allowing an exhaustive examination of shape and size diversity.
Evidence of compensation in the brain networks of Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Peraza Luis R. , Cromarty Ruth , Kobeleva Xenia , Firbank Michael J. , Killen Alison , Graziadio Sara , Thomas Alan J. , O’Brien John T. , Taylor John-Paul
Published: July 2017

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) require differential management despite presenting with symptomatic overlap. A human electrophysiological difference is a decrease of dominant frequency (DF) −the highest power frequency between 4-15Hz– in DLB; a characteristic of Parkinsonian diseases. We analysed electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from old adults: healthy controls (HCs), AD, DLB and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) patients. Brain networks were assessed with the minimum spanning tree (MST) within six EEG bands: delta, theta, high-theta, alpha, beta and DF. Patients showed lower alpha band connectivity and lower DF than HCs. Lewy body dementias showed a randomised MST compared with HCs and AD in high-theta and alpha but not within the DF. The MST randomisation in DLB and PDD reflects decreased brain efficiency as well as impaired neural synchronisation. However, the lack of network topology differences at the DF indicates a compensatory response of the brain to the neuropathology.
CRISPR/Cas9-APEX-mediated proximity labeling enables discovery of proteins associated with a predefined genomic locus in living cells
Authors: Myers Samuel A , Wright Jason , Zhang Feng , Carr Steven A
Published: July 2017

The activation or repression of a gene’s expression is primarily controlled by changes in the proteins that occupy its regulatory elements. The most common method to identify proteins associated with genomic loci is chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). While having greatly advanced our understanding of gene expression regulation, ChIP requires specific, high quality, IP-competent antibodies against nominated proteins, which can limit its utility and scope for discovery. Thus, a method able to discover and identify proteins associated with a particular genomic locus within the native cellular context would be extremely valuable. Here, we present a novel technology combining recent advances in chemical biology, genome targeting, and quantitative mass spectrometry to develop genomic locus proteomics, a method able to identify proteins which occupy a specific genomic locus.
Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Authors: Kohl Thomas O. , Ascoli Carl A.
Published: July 2017

The indirect competitive ELISA (indirect cELISA) pits plate-immobilized antigen against antigens in solution for binding to antigen-specific antibody. The antigens in solution are in the test sample and are first incubated with antigen-specific antibody. These antibody–antigen complexes are then added to microtiter plates whose wells have been coated with purified antigen. The wells are washed to remove unbound antigen–antibody complexes and free antigen. A reporter-labeled secondary antibody is then added followed by the addition of substrate. Substrate hydrolysis yields a signal that is inversely proportional to antigen concentration within the sample. This is because when antigen concentration is high in the test sample, most of the antibody is bound before adding the solution to the plate. Most of the antibody remains in solution (as complexes) and is thus washed away before the addition of the reporter-labeled secondary antibody and substrate. Thus, the higher the antigen concentration in the test sample, the weaker the resultant signal in the detection step. The indirect cELISA is often used for competitive detection and quantification of antibodies against viral diseases in biological samples.
Chemostat Culture for Yeast Physiology and Experimental Evolution
Authors: Dunham Maitreya J. , Kerr Emily O. , Miller Aaron W. , Payen Celia
Published: July 2017

Continuous culture provides many benefits over the classical batch style of growing yeast cells. Steady-state cultures allow for precise control of growth rate and environment. Cultures can be propagated for weeks or months in these controlled environments, which is important for the study of experimental evolution. Despite these advantages, chemostats have not become a highly used system, in large part because of their historical impracticalities, including low throughput, large footprint, systematic complexity, commercial unavailability, high cost, and insufficient protocol availability. However, we have developed methods for building a relatively simple, low-cost, small footprint array of chemostats that can be run in multiples of 32. This “ministat array” can be applied to problems in yeast physiology and experimental evolution.
Strategic orientation and strategies to manage organisational knowledge and creativity
Authors: Carmona-Osorio Catalina , Ángel-Gallego Santiago , Arias-Pérez José
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the direct effects of strategic orientation in innovation and competition on personalisation and codification type knowledge management (KM) strategies and their organisational creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors counter-checked the hypothesis model with a sample of 169 companies in emerging markets that adopt technology: a country such as Colombia. To do so, the authors used structural equations with the least squares model.

Findings

The data indicate that both KM strategies positively influence creativity; however, personalisation has a greater effect. Additionally, SG for innovation has a positive effect on both KM strategies; however, for competition, KM only has an influence on codification.

Originality/value

The relation between KM strategies and creativity has been approached on a strictly theoretical level; therefore, this paper provides empirical evidence on the subject. It also establishes the direct effect that SG has on KM strategies, which have so far only been tangentially analysed. In so doing, it goes further than the limitations in the literature regarding analysis of the KM-creativity relationship, but it does not consider business strategy implications.
Ecosystem for the emergence of spin-offs from the family business
Authors: Lozano Melquicedec
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the minimum conditions for the formation of an ecosystem that favours the emergence of spin-offs whose parent company is a family business.

Design/methodology/approach

Three family companies that have experienced processes supporting the creation of new companies led by family members were used for this exploration.

Findings

The findings show that it is possible to form an ecosystem with five basic components from which other factors of a different kind are derived, and that would favour the minimum conditions for new companies to emerge from the family business.

Originality/value

Spin-off companies have received valuable recognition in recent years. The vast majority of research on spin-offs considers those arising under the protection of a private innovation centre, a corporation, or university. This research gives more breadth to this coverage, by studying the emergence of spin-offs that rely on the family business as the parent company.
Is organizational learning culture a good bet?
Authors: Rebelo Teresa , Gomes Adelino Duarte
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Interest in the relationship between organizational culture and performance is not new but it still attracts considerable attention from researchers. In the literature on organizational learning, organizational culture is mainly conceived as an essential condition to facilitate and support learning and consequently as an important feature in achieving organizational performance nowadays. In the scope of this research topic, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of organizational learning culture on two organizational outcomes – profitability and customer satisfaction, and the mediation effect of total quality management (TQM) in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 107 firms and the technique used for data analysis was structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results reveal a positive direct impact of organizational learning culture on organizational profitability and a positive indirect effect, through TQM, on customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

These findings support to a body of literature that claims the relevance of developing a cultural orientation toward learning in organizations in order to contribute to organizational success. This study also takes into account some methodological features in order to increase the quality of culture-performance research.
Market power and audit market collusion: the Spanish case
Authors: Rodriguez Castro Paula Isabel , Ruiz Barbadillo Emiliano , Biedma López Estíbaliz
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether the major international audit firms reach collusive agreements in Spain, in order to exercise market power and impose higher prices than those of competitors. According to the traditional theory of oligopoly, the ability to achieve these agreements is dependent primarily on the high level of market concentration, so that multiple studies have analysed the relationship between concentration and prices. However, the concentration has serious limitations to infer collusion and therefore the exercise of market power (Dedman and Lennox, 2009).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an alternative current of the theory of industrial organisation, the authors use measures of industrial mobility as a measure of collusion or rivalry of firms in oligopolistic markets.

Findings

The results reveal that international audit firms do not reach collusive agreements to limit competition between them.

Social implications

According to the empirical evidence obtained, the measures taken by the regulatory bodies to avoid market concentration would not be necessary or efficient and they would have significant costs for the audit market (GAO, 2003, 2008; FRC, 2009; European Commission, 2010; Competition Commission, 2013).

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to introduce mobility measures to explain market collusion and the exercise of market power in the audit market.
The meaning of work dimensions according to organizational status: does gender matter?
Authors: Sharabi Moshe
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Over the course of time, more and more women have been joining the labor force, achieving meaningful roles and managerial positions. The purpose of this paper is to examine contemporary meaning of work (MOW) among men and women in different organizational statuses and the impact of other demographic factors on the MOW dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Out of 1,201 participants that filled out the MOW questioner, 908 were employed in organizations as middle managers (118 men and 67 women) or junior managers (120 men and 97 women) and workers (208 men and 298 women).

Findings

No differences were found between men and women middle managers regarding MOW dimensions. It was found that the higher the organizational status, the higher the work centrality and intrinsic orientation and the lower the economic orientation, among both men and women. Regression analysis reveals that demographic variables have a low impact on the MOW dimensions and hardly explain the differences among men and women.

Practical implications

The understanding of contemporary MOW similarities and differences among men and women according to organizational status and the impact of varied demographic variables on those differences can influence the way organizations consider men’s and women’s (both managers and workers) needs in their working life, with implications for their satisfaction and productivity.

Originality/value

While there are various studies about gender differences regarding work values and the MOW, not a single study focusing on the differences in the MOW between managers and workers according to gender was found.
“How has the dark knight risen?” Chronicle of union revitalization from India
Authors: Balasubramanian Girish , Sarkar Santanu
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to delve into some of the key internal and external factors that led to the choice of specific strategies for union revitalization using the theoretical framework built upon framing perspectives, the strategic action field (SAF), and the strategic choice theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a stringent definition and corresponding operationalization of trade union revitalization. The present research has been carried out on a registered industrial union within the context of Global South, specifically in India.

Findings

Evidence was found for the trade union adopting a mix of strategies for revitalization, namely, union organizing, social movement unionism, and union restructuring. A mix of both internal and external factors identified informed the choice of revitalization strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Specific limitations include the subjectivity of the inference in spite of taking due precautions, and lack of generalizability of the findings based on a single case study.

Practical implications

A strong identity, coupled with structural vitality and optimum use of resources enables trade unions to frame the need of a strategy for revival in order to counter the strategic action of employers resulting in union revitalization.

Originality/value

The theoretical novelty of this research stems from the amalgamation of collective action frames, SAF, and strategic choice framework to understand the union revitalization in the context of Global South.
A review on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy consumption in building based on occupant behavior
Authors: Asadi Iman , Mahyuddin Norhayati , Shafigh Payam
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the concept of occupant behavior and its relation with indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and building energy consumption. The behavior is referred to any direct or indirect action, which is selected by an occupant to manage the unpleasant indoor environmental conditions. Thermal comfort, indoor air quality, aural comfort and visual comfort are the key factors of IEQ evaluation. Human behavior significantly interacts with energy consumption in buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

Each IEQ parameter was reviewed separately and the overall IEQ acceptance was considered. In addition, this paper reviews the methods that were used to measure and simulate the IEQ factors, energy consumption and human behavior. Finally, the lack of knowledge in this field is based on the review demonstrated.

Findings

Most studies considered one or two IEQ factors to evaluate IEQ acceptance in buildings. Further, weakness of simulating all IEQ factors at the same time is the deficiency of IEQ simulation, based on reviews. In the case of occupant behavior simulation, the uncertainly of human psychological parameter is a drawback to predict behavior.

Originality/value

Energy consumption, occupant health and productivity are related to IEQ. Human behavior affects building energy consumption directly. Simulation software and methods can predict IEQ factors and human behavior. Therefore, reviewing the existing studies is critical to find new methods for measuring and simulating IEQ, energy consumption and human behavior in buildings.
Are green offices better than conventional?
Authors: M. Zaid Suzaini , Kiani Rad Amir , Zainon Nurshuhada
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Global warming and climate change is one of the biggest issues facing humanity in this century; its effects are felt on the highest peaks of Mount Everest to the low-lying islands in the India Ocean. This century marked the highest amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted, breaking records of the past 650,000 years, and we have pushed the climate to “a point of no return”. Much of the climate contribution has been linked to humanity’s thirst for higher living standards and lifestyle, which has led to higher consumerism, depletion of earth’s resources, production of massive waste and carbon emissions. Fast forward from the sustainability agenda of Brundtland set in 1987 and the increasing demand for energy consumption to cater for the current global inhabitants, many “green” efforts have been taken by the building industry to reduce the overall environmental impact. This purpose of this study is to compare energy performance of a conventional office building with a green certified building.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tries to bridge the performance gap by comparing measured operational energy consumption and carbon emission of Green Building Index (GBI)-certified office buildings in Kuala Lumpur, to determine whether “green buildings” are performing as intended in reducing their environmental impact.

Findings

This paper highlighted and compared operational energy consumption and carbon emissions of a GBI-certified office with a conventional office building in Malaysia. The paper also discusses the performance gap issue and its common causes, and aims to compare predicted energy and operational energy performance of buildings.

Originality/value

Initiatives such as “green” or “sustainable” design have been at the forefront of architecture, while green assessment tools have been used to predict the energy performance of a building during its operational phase. There is still a significant performance gap between predicted or simulated energy measurements to actual operational energy consumption. The need to measure actual performance of these so-called “green buildings” is important to investigate if there is a performance gap and whether these buildings can perform better than conventional buildings. Understanding why the performance gap occurs is a step in reducing actual and predicted energy performance in buildings.
Data quality control for survey instrument of office investors in rationalising green office building investment in Kuala Lumpur by the application of Rasch analysis
Authors: Isa Mona , Abu Bakar Mazlan , Hasim Mohamad Sufian , Anuar Mohd Khairul , Sipan Ibrahim , Mohd Nor Mohd Zali
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to verify the quality of the survey instrument of office investors in rationalising green office building investment in the city of Kuala Lumpur using the Rasch measurement method. It investigates whether the quality of the data obtained from the survey is statistically acceptable and aims to ensure that the scales used are based on the same measurement model and fit with the Rasch model.

Design/methodology/approach

In achieving this objective, a questionnaire survey was developed consisting of six sections. Some 394 questionnaires were distributed, and in total, 106 responses were received from office investors who own and lease office buildings in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The data obtained from this survey were entered into Rasch software, and the analysis aims to consider three main parameters, specifically: point measure correlation 0.32 < x < 0.8; outfit mean squared 0.5 < y < 1.5; and outfit z-standard −2 < z < 2. It also provides a separable or independent measurement instrument for the parameters of the research object.

Findings

The analysis performed using the Rasch model confirmed that all items in the questionnaire construct were statistically reliable and valid. The Rasch analysis consists of, namely, the summary statistics; item unidimensionality to provide interval measures of item endorsements and fit statistics on persons involved; and items for further investigation. Unidimensionality, as a pre-requisite to the Rasch analysis, provides statistics on whether the items are on the same latent variable intended by the instrument. The results were also supported by Cronbach’s alpha at 0.91 which showed excellent reliability for person data. The results showed that the summary statistics, unidimensionality and item fit analysis were excellent.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the application of the Rasch analysis as a provision for a new dimension and technique in examining data reliability and validity of the instrument.
Influence of humidity and temperature on the deterioration of the building stones
Authors: Messaoud Hamiane , Cherifa Assafsaf
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of humidity and temperature on the deterioration of the building stones of the Imedghassen Mausoleum located in Batna, Algeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Thermo-hygro buttons were used to control the microclimate of the monument (humidity and temperature).

Findings

The obtained results on the variations in temperature, humidity and also the dew point enabled the confirmation of the relationship between these factors and the origin of the stone deterioration and the degradation state of the monument.

Research limitations/implications

Scientific research approach in this work is to find a relationship between the factors of degradation and the state of conservation of the monument, using, for the first time, thermos-hygro buttons in situ to follow with great precision the microclimate.

Practical implications

These results can be extrapolated to all new and old houses having the same environment.

Social implications

The use of thermo-hygro buttons as an in-situ logger that can monitor and control humidity and temperature (microclimate) is of great importance for the preservation of cultural heritage monuments.

Originality/value

Thermo-hygro buttons are used for the first time to monitor and control the temperature and humidity on site. Their use makes a great contribution in the field of control degradation of building materials by moisture and temperature.
Touching the void
Authors: Van Kerrebroeck Helena , Willems Kim , Brengman Malaika
Published: July 2017

Purpose

A major factor hampering the continuing and explosive rise of e-commerce, particularly for experience goods, is the lack of tactile information that could help to reduce uncertainty in consumer purchase decision making online. The purpose of this paper is to identify the specific touch-related properties worthwhile to enable in online retailing and the type of customer value that can be provided, as well as the drivers and barriers for consumer acceptance toward touch-enabling technologies for online shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of consumer focus groups, the authors address the research questions regarding touch-related properties, their value to consumers, and the drivers and barriers for consumer acceptance by taking into consideration two specific touch-enabling technologies.

Findings

The study reveals that touch-enabling technologies can provide utilitarian and hedonic value to consumers, mainly at the pre-purchase stages in the path-to-purchase. Valuable applications conceived by consumers primarily pertain to offering information on material and geometric product properties. A hurdle for consumer adoption seems to be the necessity of a dedicated output device, such as a glove.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the early development stage of the new technologies under investigation, this study is exploratory in nature. The findings should be validated in the future, once these technologies actually get introduced for online marketing purposes.

Practical implications

This study aims to raise awareness among online retailers about marketing opportunities comprised of touch-enabling technology.

Originality/value

The authors provide a first outlook with regard to future consumer acceptance of touch-enabling technologies in online shopping and how and when such technologies can provide consumer value.
Tracking customer behaviour in fashion retail using RFID
Authors: Landmark Andreas D. , Sjøbakk Børge
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how tracking of products by the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology may describe customer behaviour in real-time.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted as a field experiment, where a commercially available RFID platform was deployed in the fitting rooms of a fashion retail store.

Findings

The study demonstrates an application of in-store RFID tracking to describe customer behaviour, and some practical challenges of utilising such technology. An example typology of four fitting room traits was constructed based on the data collected.

Practical implications

Different customer types most likely require and respond differently to attention from the personnel operating the fitting room area. By identifying customer behaviour in real-time, it is possible to deliver “best practice” shop stewardship and create a more personalised retail experience.

Originality/value

The study is based on real-life retail settings, rather than anecdotal management observations or economic and demographic indicators. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, few contributions combine RFID and consumer behaviour outside conceptual work or laboratory experiments.
Do channel integration efforts pay-off in terms of online and offline customer loyalty?
Authors: Frasquet Marta , Miquel Maria-José
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of multichannel integration (MCI) on customer loyalty. The specific objectives are to provide an appropriate reliable measure of the construct, and to analyse the impact of MCI on offline and online loyalty, both directly and by mediation of customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focusses on the retail apparel sector of Spain and the UK. The authors applied a scale development process and tested the model with data of 761 multichannel apparel shoppers. The proposed theoretical model was estimated through EQS 6.1 and a mediation test was calculated.

Findings

The findings show, first, that the construct of channel integration has two dimensions: reciprocity, which refers to the possibility of crossing the channels while shopping, and coordination, which refers to the alignment of offline and online offers. Second, that MCI affects positively both offline and online loyalty both directly and through satisfaction, which partially mediates the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Culture might play a moderating role in the relationships found that are not analysed.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for the managers of multichannel retail companies as they help to understand the benefits of channel integration in creating a loyal customer base both online and offline.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on multichannel retailing in two main ways: first, by developing a scale to measure MCI, and second, by demonstrating that MCI has strong effects on customer satisfaction and loyalty.