bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-throughput automatic training system for odor-based cognitive behaviors in head-fixed mice
Authors: Han Zhe , Zhang Xiaoxing , Zhu Jia , Chen Yulei , Li Chengyu T.
Published: January 2018

Understanding neuronal mechanisms of cognitive behaviors requires efficient behavioral assays. We designed a high-throughput automatic training system (HATS) for olfactory behaviors in head-fixed mice. The hardware and software were constructed to enable automatic training with minimal human intervention. The integrated system was composed of customized 3D-printing supporting components, an odor-delivery unit with fast response, Arduino based hardware-controlling and data-acquisition unit. Furthermore, the customized software was designed to enable automatic training in all training phases, including lick-teaching, shaping, and learning. Using HATS, we trained mice to perform delayed non-match to sample (DNMS), delayed paired association (DPA), Go/No-go (GNG), and GNG reversal tasks. These tasks probed cognitive functions including sensory discrimination, working memory, decision making, and cognitive flexibility. Mice reached stable levels of performance within several days in the tasks. HATS enabled an experimenter to train eight mice simultaneously, therefore greatly enhanced the experimental efficiency. Combined with causal perturbation and activity recording techniques, HATS can greatly facilitate our understanding of the neural-circuitry mechanisms underlying cognitive behaviors.
Estimating variance components in population scale family trees
Authors: Shor Tal , Geiger Dan , Erlich Yaniv , Weissbrod Omer
Published: January 2018

The rapid digitization of genealogical and medical records enables the assembly of extremely large pedigree records spanning millions of individuals and trillions of pairs of relatives. Such pedigrees provide the opportunity to investigate the sociological and epidemiological history of human populations in scales much larger than previously possible. Linear mixed models (LMMs) are routinely used to analyze extremely large animal and plant pedigrees for the purposes of selective breeding. However, LMMs have not been previously applied to analyze population-scale human family trees. Here, we presentSparseCholesky factorIzation LMM (Sci-LMM), a modeling framework for studying population-scale family trees that combines techniques from the animal and plant breeding literature and from human genetics literature. The proposed framework can construct a matrix of relationships between trillions of pairs of individuals and fit the corresponding LMM in several hours. We demonstrate the capabilities of Sci-LMM via simulation studies and by estimating the heritability of longevity and of reproductive fitness (quantified via number of children) in a large pedigree spanning millions of individuals and over five centuries of human history. Sci-LMM provides a unified framework for investigating the epidemiological history of human populations via genealogical records.

Author Summary

The advent of online genealogy services allows the assembly of population-scale family trees, spanning millions of individuals and centuries of human history. Such datasets enable answering genetic epidemiology questions on unprecedented scales. Here we present Sci-LMM, a pedigree analysis framework that combines techniques from animal and plant breeding research and from human genetics research for large-scale pedigree analysis. We apply Sci-LMM to analyze population-scale human genealogical records, spanning trillions of relationships. We have made both Sci-LMM and an anonymized dataset of millions of individuals freely available to download, making the analysis of population-scale human family trees widely accessible to the research community. Together, these resources allow researchers to investigate genetic and epidemiological questions on an unprecedented scale.
On a Robust, Sensitive Cell – Free Method for Pseudomonas Sensing and Quantification
Authors: Seto Jong , Buske P.J. , Laurie Matthew
Published: January 2018

Cell – free lysates have found a utility in performing cellular functions and providing biologically-relevant metabolic products without the optimal biological conditions for growth and proliferation. By teasing out the biological components and constructing artificial conditions that enable for biological transcription and translation processes to occur, specific cell - like functions can be reconstituted in vitro without requiring the entire cell and milieu of cellular organelles. This enables for optimization of biological circuits, either by concentration or on/off switches, simply through the addition or removal of genetic components (plasmids, inducers, or repressors) of regulatory elements. Here, we demonstrate an application of cell – free process that is robust and portable, independent of a substrate, to apply for sensing and reporting functions of a quorum sensing molecule N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12HSL) found crucial for pathological Pseudomonas infections. Using droplet microfluidics to integrate cell – free related functions into hydrogel scaffolds, we show that these cell - free circuits can be encapsulated, delivered, and activated in most environments—even in conditions with very little hydration.
Computational modelling of atherosclerosis: developing a community resource
Authors: Parton Andrew , McGilligan Victoria , O’Kane Maurice , Watterson Steven
Published: January 2018

Rationale

Atherosclerosis is a dynamical process that emerges from the interplay between lipid metabolism, inflammation and innate immunity. The arterial location of atherosclerosis makes it logistically and ethically difficult to study in vivo. To improve our understanding of the disease, we must find alternative ways to investigate its progression. There is currently no computational model of atherosclerosis openly available to the research community for use in future studies and for refinement and development.

Objective

Here we develop the first predictive computational model to be made openly available and demonstrate its use for therapeutic hypothesis generation.

Methods and Results

We compiled a dataset of relevant interactions from the literature along with available parameters. These were used to build a network model describing atherosclerotic plaque development. A visual map of the network model was produced using the Systems Biology Graphical Notation (SBGN) and a dynamic mathematical description of the network model that enables us to simulate plaque growth was developed and is made available using the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML). We used this model to investigate whether multi-drug therapeutic interventions could be identified that stimulate plaque regression. The model produced comprised 20 cell types and 41 proteins with 89 species in total. The visual map is available for reuse and refinement using the SBGN Markup Language standard format and the mathematical model is available using the SBML standard format. We used a genetic algorithm to identify a multi-drug intervention hypothesis comprising five drugs that comprehensively reverse plaque growth within the model.

Conclusions

We have produced the first predictive mathematical and computational model of atherosclerosis that can be reused and refined by the cardiovascular research community. We demonstrated its potential as a tool for future studies of cardiovascular disease by using it to identify multi-drug intervention hypotheses.

Subject Codes

Atherosclerosis, Computational Biology, Lipids and Cholesterol, Cell Signaling/Signal Transduction, Cardiovascular Disease
Bend-Induced Twist Waves and the Structure of Nucleosomal DNA
Authors: Skoruppa Enrico , Nomidis Stefanos K. , Marko John F. , Carlon Enrico
Published: January 2018

Recent work indicates that twist-bend coupling plays an important role in DNA micromechanics. Here we show that this coupling induces standing twist waves in bent DNA, and we provide an analytical solution of the minimum-energy shape of a bent double-helical molecule. This solution is in excellent agreement with both coarse-grained simulations of DNA minicircles and experimental structural data for nucleosomal DNA, which is bent and wrapped around histone proteins in a superhelical conformation. Our analysis shows that the observed twist oscillation in nucleosomal DNA, so far attributed to the interaction with the histone proteins, is an intrinsic feature of free bent DNA, and should be observable in other protein-DNA complexes.
Social behavior and anxiety contribute to nicotine self-administration in adolescent outbred rats
Authors: Wang Tengfei , Han Wenyan , Chitre Apurva , Polesskaya Oksana , Solberg Woods Leah C. , Palmer Abraham A. , Chen Hao
Published: January 2018

Both emotional and social traits interact with genetic factors to influence smoking behavior. We previously established a socially acquired nicotine intravenous self-administration model where social learning of a nicotine-associated odor cue reversed conditioned flavor aversion and promoted nicotine intake. In this study, we first phenotyped ~ 800 adolescent heterogeneous stock rats in open field, novel object interaction, social interaction, elevated plus maze, and marble bury behaviors. These rats were then phenotyped on socially acquired nicotine self-administration. We found 243 significant correlations between different behavioral tests. Principal component regression analysis found that ~ 10–20% of the variance in nicotine-related measures, such as intake during the first or the last three fixed-ratio sessions, the progressive ratio session, and reinstatement behavior, can be explained by variations in behavioral traits. Factors corresponding to social behavior and anxiety were among the strongest predictors of nicotine intake and reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior. We also found many sex differences in behavioral measures. These data indicated that the genetic diversity of this population, in combination with social behavior and anxiety, are significant contributors to the divergent nicotine self-administration behavior and indicated a high probability of discovering sex-specific genetic mechanisms for nicotine intake in future genome-wide association studies.
Unexpected conformational variations of the human centromeric chromatin complex
Authors: Thakur Jitendra , Henikoff Steven
Published: January 2018

We combined classical salt fractionation with chromatin immunoprecipitation to recover human centromeric chromatin under native conditions. We found that >85% of the total centromeric chromatin is insoluble under conditions typically used for native chromatin extraction. To map both soluble and insoluble chromatin in situ, we combined CUT&RUN (cleavage under targets and release using nuclease), a targeted nuclease method, with salt fractionation. Using this approach, we observed unexpected structural and conformational variations of centromere protein A (CENP-A)-containing complexes on different α-satellite dimeric units within highly homogenous arrays. Our results suggest that slight α-satellite sequence differences control the structure and occupancy of the associated centromeric chromatin complex.
9-(4-Formylphenyl)-3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-3,4,5,6,7,9-hexahydro-1H-xanthene-1,8(2H)-dione
Authors: Kalaivanan R. , Sughanya V. , Sureshbabu N.
Published: January 2018

In the title compound, C24H26O4, the central 4H-pyran ring adopts a flattened boat conformation, with the mean and maximum deviations of the ring being 0.0582 (6) and 0.1012 (3) Å, respectively. The two cyclohexenone rings on opposite sides of the pyran ring each adopt an envelope conformation; the C atom bearing a dimethyl substituent is the flap atom in each case. The mean planes of the pyran ring and the substituent benzene ring subtend a dihedral angle of 86.45 (2)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked into inversion dimers via pairs of C—H...O hydrogen bonds.
Relationship between money lenders and farmers
Authors: Balachandran Rakhe P. , Dhal Sarat Chandra
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The dependence of farmers on money lenders for agricultural credit despite the penetration of the formal financial sector with subsidized interest rates remains an economic puzzle. The purpose of this paper is to revisit the relationship between money lenders and farmers in the presence of trade-loan nexus.

Design/methodology/approach

The study provides a theoretical framework supported by empirical evidence. It uses primary survey data of farmers in a major potato producing district of West Bengal, India. For the empirical analysis, apart from descriptive statistics, the authors use a logit regression model to derive insights from some testable hypotheses.

Findings

The study finds that trade-loan nexus increases defaults on agricultural loans through two channels: first, by increasing loan requirement and repayment obligations through high input prices and interest rates, respectively; and second, by reducing income of farmers by setting low prices for the output.

Research limitations/implications

The functioning of money lenders in rural areas, including their sources of finance and political control over local economy, and the existing social hierarchies in the rural context will have to be studied in detail to understand the complexities of the issue.

Practical implications

The findings of the study underline the need for policy initiatives to break the trade-loan nexus to reduce the dependence of farmers on money lenders.

Social implications

The higher defaults help the money lender to sustain in the rural agricultural loan market as the formal sector becomes reluctant to lend in the presence of pervasive defaults.

Originality/value

The study is entirely original based on primary survey data of seven blocks of a major potato producing district in West Bengal, India. It could be the first such study on the subject. The findings are fresh and expected to contribute to development economics and agriculture finance literature and policy making.
Factorial analysis of capacity-building needs of small- and medium-scale building contractors in developing countries
Authors: Asante Joseph , Kissi Ernest , Badu Edward
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The needs assessment is the heart of any capacity-building strategy since it determines the design of any intervention, and also helps to prioritise the allocation of resources. Whereas there is a considerable amount of literature on the challenges faced by small- and medium-scale building contractors (SMBCs), very little is known about the needs (support) required by SMBCs. But given the critical role played by SMBCs in the construction industry demands, an understanding of how this sector can be assisted is required. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature relative to capacity building of SMBCs by exploring and examining the needs with the objective to extend the understanding on how to promote and sustain SMBCs to continue their infrastructural delivery at the local and rural areas in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire with five-point Likert scale is administered to 416 respondents, including local government authorities, consultants, first-class contractors and SMBCs using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data generated from the survey are analysed using mean score ranking and principal component analysis, thus enabling the findings of the study to be examined under six thematic areas.

Findings

The SMCs needs identified include anti-corruption measures, job accessibility, technical and technological assistance, favourable fiscal policy, business development support and financial assistance. The findings of the study bring to the attention of policy makers the critical areas that required support by the assistance of SMBCs. In the interim, the study recommends the extension of business advisory services to the SMBCs by National Board of Small-Scale Industries, whilst in the long term, the government must create the necessary business operating environment to promote SMBCs pertaining to the industrial sector of the economy. The SMBCs must also factor the needs into their business operations that can be addressed from within.

Originality/value

The study suggests the need of SMBCs in building a robust construction industry in developing countries.
How to optimize sales flyers – novel experiment design
Authors: Pentus Kristian , Ploom Kerli , Kuusik Andres , Mehine Tanel
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how analysing sales flyers with a combination of eye tracking, measurement of emotions, interview and content analysis can give an in-depth understanding on how different design aspects influence sales flyers’ effectiveness as a communication tool. The paper shows the relationship between different sales flyer design principles and a person’s preference towards it, as well as the intent to read it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper chose for pilot study using eye tracking and emotions measurement to analyse retail sales flyers. In addition, interviews and content analysis were conducted to fully understand which aspects of sales flyer design influenced consumers.

Findings

The paper’s main findings are that sales flyers that evoke more positive emotions are prone to be chosen, and the attention and the view time of content pages is related to the number of elements on the page, page coherence and the location of the offers.

Research limitations/implications

This research uses eye tracking were sales flyers are shown on screen, which is not a natural way to read sales flyers. Future research should aim to test this methodology and prepositions in the natural environment.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for designing better sales flyers.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, sales flyers have never been studied with a research design combining eye tracking, measurement of emotions, interview, content analysis and preferences.
Online learning during post-earthquake school closures
Authors: Baytiyeh Hoda
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the impacts of earthquakes on schools and education services and demonstrate the critical role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play in supporting the continuity of education delivery during temporary school closures after seismic events.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper relies on a conceptual analysis that shows the potential role of the online educational environment during post-earthquake school closures by relying on the available ICT tools.

Findings

This paper proposes a pro-active strategy for schools that transforms traditional education into an online learning environment to restore education delivery during school closures after earthquake which disrupts face-to-face teaching and denies students and staffs access to schools.

Originality/value

The sustainability of education delivery in the aftermath of earthquakes presents a challenge to governments, schools, people and communities. This paper contributes to the literature by demonstrating the role of online learning in sustaining educational delivery services after moderate earthquakes.
Smallholder farmers’ compliance with GlobalGAP standard: the case of Ghana
Authors: Baah Annor Prince
Published: January 2018

Subject area

Agricultural Trade, Farm Management, Economics of Food Safety

Study level/applicability

Both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics.

Case overview

The pineapple production sector plays a very significant role in the Ghanaian horticultural industry. Production and export of fresh pineapple has been Ghana’s most developed high-value supply chain. However, the introduction of the GlobalGAP food safety standard in 2007 resulted in a fall in smallholder farmers’ participation in exportable pineapple production and subsequently led to declining trends in pineapple exports. The Ghanaian horticultural industry received quite a number of interventions over the years aimed at revitalizing the horticultural export sector and enhancing international competitiveness. However, the pineapple export sub-sector is still constrained with production and market access challenges meaning the sector struggles to survive.

Expected learning outcomes

The GlobalGAP standard compliance case is an appropriate way of explaining how smallholder farmers make informed decisions concerning the adoption of new farm practices. The case presents a careful evaluation of technical, institutional and socio-economic factors influencing a farmer’s decision to comply or not to comply with the GlobalGAP standard. Students should be able to apply farm management decision-making concepts and tools such as profit maximization and binary choice modelling techniques to explain a farmers’ final decisions on GlobalGAP standard compliance. This case should enable students to appreciate key factors constraining agricultural export trade performance in developing countries. The case should also contribute to students’ understanding of smallholder farmers’ decisions on food safety standards compliance, particularly GlobalGAP, and the challenges associated with the entire compliance process. Moreover, this case should provide students with possible policy considerations geared towards making food safety standards compliance easier, effective and sustainable in developing countries so as to enhance market access while ensuring food quality and safety along high-value food supply chains.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 7 Management Science
Conspicuous political brand interactions on social network sites
Authors: Marder Ben , Marchant Caroline , Archer-Brown Chris , Yau Amy , Colliander Jonas
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Acquiring “Likes” for a political party or candidate’s Facebook pages is important for political marketers. For consumers, these “Likes” are conspicuous, making their political affiliation visible to their network. This paper aims to examine the roles of the undesired social-self and visibility (conspicuous vs inconspicuous) in predicting consumers’ intention to “Like” political brands. The authors extend knowledge on the undesired social-self and transference of theory from general marketing to a political domain and provide practical advice for political marketers engaging social network sites.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gather data from two surveys run with Facebook using electorates in the run up to the UK 2015 and US 2016 elections (n= 1,205) on their intention to “Like” political brands under different visibility conditions.

Findings

Data support the theorized relationship of the undesired social-self with social anxiety intention to “Like” when “Liking” is conspicuous. However, data also indicate that all users – irrespective of proximity to the undesired social-self – prefer to “Like” inconspicuously.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the generalizability of the specific context and the use of self-report measures.

Practical implications

Political marketers should reconsider promoting conspicuous consumption for that which is more inconspicuous.

Originality/value

The authors provide the first examination of the undesired social-self in driving behaviour under different visibility conditions. Furthermore, the authors challenge the extension of existing knowledge of the self-concept within political marketing, based on the “norm” for consumers’ to avoid disclosing political views publically.
Understanding olfaction and emotions and the moderating role of individual differences
Authors: Lin Meng-Hsien (Jenny) , Cross Samantha N.N. , Childers Terry L.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating role of emotions in processing scent information in consumer research, using event-related potential (ERP)-based neuroscience methods, while considering individual differences in sense of smell.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior research on olfaction and emotions in marketing has revealed mixed findings on the relationship between olfaction and emotion. The authors review earlier studies and present a neuroscience experiment demonstrating the benefits of ERP methods in studying the automatic processing of emotions.

Findings

Results demonstrate how emotional processes occurring within 1s of stimulus exposure differ across individuals with varying olfactory abilities. Findings reveal an automatic suppression mechanism for individuals sensitive to smell.

Research limitations/implications

Scent-induced emotions demonstrated through the use of ERP-based methods provide insights for understanding automatic emotional processes and reactions to ambient scents by consumers in the marketplace.

Practical implications

Findings show an automatic suppression of emotions triggered by scent in individuals sensitive to smell. Marketers and retailers should consider such reactions when evaluating the use of olfactory stimuli in promotional and retail strategies.

Originality/value

The authors review past literature and provide an explanation for the disparate findings in the olfaction–emotion linkage, by studying individual differences in response to scent in the marketplace. This is one of the first papers in marketing to introduce the application of ERP in studying consumer-relevant behavior and provide technical and marketing-specific considerations for both academic and market researchers.
Trust me if you can – neurophysiological insights on the influence of consumer impulsiveness on trustworthiness evaluations in online settings
Authors: Hubert Marco , Hubert Mirja , Linzmajer Marc , Riedl René , Kenning Peter
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how consumer personality trait impulsiveness influences trustworthiness evaluations of online-offers with different trust-assuring and trust-reducing elements by measuring the brain activity of consumers. Shoppers with high degrees of impulsiveness are referred to as hedonic shoppers, and those with low degrees are referred to as prudent consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the differences between neural processes in the brains of hedonic and prudent shoppers during the trustworthiness evaluation of online-offers, the present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and region-of-interest analysis to correlate neural activity patterns with behavioral measures of the study participants.

Findings

Drawing upon literature reviews on the neural correlates of both trust in online settings and consumer impulsiveness and using an experimental design that links behavioral and fMRI data, the study shows that consumer impulsiveness can exert a significant influence on the evaluation of online-offers. With regard to brain activation, both groups (hedonic and prudent shoppers) exhibit similar neural activation tendencies, but differences exist in the magnitude of activation patterns in brain regions that are closely related to trust and impulsiveness such as the dorsal striatum, anterior cingulate, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula cortex.

Research limitations/implications

The data provide evidence that consumers within the hedonic group evaluate online-offers differently with regard to their trustworthiness compared to the prudent group, and that these differences in evaluation are rooted in neural activation differences in the shoppers’ brains.

Practical implications

Marketers need to be made aware of the fact that neurological insights can be used for market segmentation, because consumers’ decision-making processes help explain behavioral outcomes (here, trustworthiness evaluations of online-offers). In addition, consumers can learn from an advanced understanding of their brain functions during decision-making and their relation to personal traits such as impulsiveness.

Originality/value

Considering the importance of trust in online shopping, as well as the fact that personality traits such as impulsiveness influence the purchase process to a high degree, this study is the first to systematically investigate the interplay of online trustworthiness perceptions and differences in consumer impulsiveness with neuroscientific methods.
Creating a competence profile of a new profession: social service agents in welfare centers
Authors: Forsten-Astikainen Riitta , Heilmann Pia
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study examines in detail how a new occupational group in a field creates and defines its professional competences. The background of the study refers to a new way of organizing social and health care services that requires new type of expertise. The authors examine the professionals of this new sector – service agents and the competences – they need in a multi-professional networking organization. The goal of this organizational pilot project is to gather both experience and practical knowledge of how the “gatekeeper” model can work between the customer and the service provider. The purpose of this paper is to learn the service agents’ perspective on their own work, namely, how they create their work, what their visions of the future are, and what can be learned from the new organizing model.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data collection and small-scale exploratory study of a new profession: eight service agents and their two supervisors were interviewed to raise awareness of what professional competences these new job contents require, how service agents can influence the content of their work, and what competence needs will emerge in the future.

Findings

The key findings indicate that service agents lack the courage to modify their own mission. When a new profession is created, they are uncertain about how to create self-content on their own terms. They assume they need a certain degree and to know something more than they already know. They do not dare define their own new professional territory, but rather wait for that definition to come from their organization or society. However, the results also show that some service agents have a hidden willingness to be creative even when there is a lack of courage. There is a need to take more initiative and for agents to think freely outside the box in this new situation.

Research limitations/implications

The number of interviewees is small and the context specific. However, the study gives an indication of the factors that need to be taken into account when the dissemination of the model starts.

Originality/value

The paper describes the results of the pilot project of a new profession and a customer-oriented model in the social and health care sector.
Structuring collective change agency internally
Authors: Wylie Nick , Sturdy Andrew
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, describe and evaluate the different ways in which formal collective change agency is structured in specialist units inside 25 diverse organisations. As such it is oriented towards a range of practitioners operating in HR, project management or with responsibility for delivering change in public and private sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative design, exploratory interview and case study research was conducted in organisations across the UK public and private sectors to explore how different change agency units operate within organisational structures.

Findings

Four dominant types of internal change agency unit are identified, varying in terms of their change impact scope and degree of structural embeddedness in the organisation. These units are described as transformers, enforcers, specialists and independents and share key concerns with securing client credibility and added value, effective relationship management and the use of consulting tools. Their roles and the tensions they experience are outlined along with hybrid forms and dynamic shifts from one type to another.

Research limitations/implications

The study could be extended outside of the UK and conducted longitudinally to help identify outcomes more precisely in relation to context.

Practical implications

Each of the four types of change agency unit identified is shown to be suited to certain conditions and to present particular challenges for collective change agency and for specialist management occupations engaged in such work. The analysis could usefully inform organisation design decisions around internal change agency.

Originality/value

The authors extend debates around the nature of internal change agency which has typically focussed on comparisons with external change agents at the level of the individual. Developing the work of Caldwell (2003), the authors reveal how emergent, team-based or collective approaches to change agency can be formalised, rather than informal, and that structural considerations of change need to be considered along with traditional concerns with change management.
Towards a digitised process-wheel for historic building repair and maintenance projects in Scotland
Authors: McGibbon Scott , Abdel-Wahab Mohamed , Sun Ming
Published: January 2018

Purpose

With the increasing demand for high-quality economical and sustainable historic building repair and maintenance (R&M) allied with the perennial problem of skills shortages (project management (PM) and on-site practice) investment in new technologies becomes paramount for modernising training and practice. Yet, the historic R&M industry, in particular small- and medium-sized enterprises have yet to benefit from digital technologies (such as laser scanning, virtual reality and cloud computing) which have the potential to enhance performance and productivity. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative participatory action research approach was adopted. One demonstration project (Project A) exhibiting critical disrepair, showcasing the piloting of a five phased digitised “process-wheel” intended to provide a common framework for facilitating collaboration of project stakeholders thereby aiding successful project delivery is reported. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry employers to facilitate the process-wheel concept development.

Findings

Implementing only Phase 1 of the digitised “process-wheel” (e-Condition surveying incorporating laser scanning) resulted in an estimated 25-30 per cent cost and time savings, when compared to conventional methods. The accrued benefits are twofold: provide a structured standardised data capturing approach that is shared in a common project repository amongst relevant stakeholders; inform the application of digital technologies to attain efficiencies across various phases of the process-wheel.

Originality/value

This paper has provided original and valuable information on the benefits of modernising R&M practice, highlighting the importance of continued investment in innovative processes and new technologies for historic building R&M to enhance existing practice and in form current training provision. Future work will focus on further piloting and validation of the process-wheel in its entirety on selected demonstration projects with a view of supporting the industry to digitise its workflows and going fully digital to realise optimum process efficiencies.
Opportunities for slow fashion retail in temporary stores
Authors: Overdiek Anja
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to further theorize the concept of the “sustainable temporary store” and explore benefits and challenges for slow fashion retailers using temporary stores to promote a new value proposition and develop a business model.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical part combines the findings from marketing and human geography literature to theorize pop-up retailing from the slow fashion SME perspective. The empirical part uses a critical case study and a qualitative method approach (primary sources, half standardized interviews, ethnographic observation).

Findings

The study provides theoretical insights into five success criteria for the “sustainable temporary store” across geographies. Empirical findings allow for further conclusions about challenges in regards to spatial requirements and business modeling for slow fashion retail entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the study are the geographical scope of exiting literature on the global north and the restricted sample size. However, by selecting a critical case, careful geographically restricted generalizations can be made.

Practical implications

The study provides useful information for slow fashion entrepreneurs who want to use cheap temporary space to develop their retail business model.

Social implications

The results show that there is placemaking value (social value creation) in temporary slow fashion retailing.

Originality/value

The study provides a relevant contribution to the theory of pop-up retailing and more precisely to the concept of the “sustainable temporary store.” It also delivers a replicable empirical research design for other geographies.
Practitioners’ views on intellectual capital and sustainability
Authors: Massaro Maurizio , Dumay John , Garlatti Andrea , Dal Mas Francesca
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and sustainability using practitioners’ perspectives and by developing an analysis of comments and practices published in 1,651 blog posts in one of the leading sources of sustainability research: CSRwire.com.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,651 posts, containing more than 1.5 million words, published by experts in the field of sustainability are analysed using Leximancer and content analysis.

Findings

The results reveal IC and sustainability to be complex topics under active discussion by practitioners, and several links to the IC literature are identified and compared. The findings focus on the managerial practices applied by leading companies, as discussed by practitioners, that show IC and sustainability influence each other in answering a plurality of demands or logics.

Research limitations/implications

First, the authors identify the need to study the managerial practices proposed by practitioners, rather than their company reports. Second, the authors propose developing a trading zone for IC researchers and practitioners. Third, the authors reflect on the role of new communication tools, such as integrated reporting, to connect IC and sustainability. Finally, the authors conclude that the relationship between IC and sustainability could benefit from a fifth stage of IC research that considers justifications of the worth of IC and sustainability practices.

Originality/value

The paper is novel because it addresses concerns about the relationship between IC and sustainability by examining messages posted by practitioners, rather than examining company disclosures. This leads to an understanding of the impact of practices rather than the desires motivating practice. The results support the view that it is time to remove the boundaries of IC research and work towards reconciling the worth of IC to different people in different contexts. The authors argue that practitioners require scholars to reduce the ambiguity between IC and its expected results. This would open the door to a potentially productive way of understanding IC and the complexity of economic, social, and environmental value. In short, researchers should change their research questions from, “What is IC worth to investors, customers, society, and the environment?” to “Is managing IC a worthwhile endeavour?”
The impact of knowledge management factors in organizational sustainable competitive advantage
Authors: Torres Ana Isabel , Ferraz Silvana Santos , Santos-Rodrigues Helena
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the relations among different knowledge management (KM) factors, such as human capital (HC), processes and information systems (IS) on organizational sustainable competitive advantage (CA), within the SMEs context.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured questionnaires were distributed to CEOs and managers of Portuguese organizations through an electronic survey. Partial least squares software was utilized to analyze the data.

Findings

The measurement model results identify and validate the dimensions of HC, processes and IS representing the KM construct. The structural model results demonstrate that HC and processes have a direct and significant impact on organizational CA, on the customer and financial dimensions, respectively. IS indirectly and significantly influence organizational CA, mediated by HC and processes.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size includes mostly service business and SMEs. Other organizations sectors, such as industry, should be analyzed in order to develop a comparative cross-sectorial study.

Practical implications

This study establishes suggestions for managers to make legitimate decisions concerning investments on knowledge assets and organizational capabilities that can foster business growth and sustainable CA within a SMEs context.

Originality/value

The authors propose a mediation mechanism showing that the relationship between IS and sustainable CA is not direct, but it is mediated by HC and processes. This mechanism points out some critical issues for the strategic knowledge and intellectual capital assets, as a source of organizational CA.
An integrated interpretive structural modeling and a graph-theoretic approach for measuring the supply chain complexity in the Indian automotive industry
Authors: E.G. Kavilal , Prasanna Venkatesan Shanmugam , Sanket Joshi
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Easily employable quantitative supply chain complexity (SCC) measures considering the significant dimensions of complexity as well as the drivers that represent those dimensions are limited in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and a graph-theoretic approach to quantify SCC by a single numerical index considering the interdependence and the inheritance of the SCC drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 18 SCC drivers identified from the literature are clustered according to the significant dimensions of complexity. The interdependencies established through ISM and inheritance values of SCC drivers are mapped into a Variable Permanent Matrix (VPM). The permanent function of this VPM is then computed and the resulting single numerical index is the measure of SCC.

Findings

A scale is proposed by computing the minimum and maximum threshold values of SCC with the help of expert opinions of the Indian automotive industry. The complexity of commercial and passenger vehicle sectors within the automotive industry is measured and compared using the proposed scale. From the results, it is identified that the number of suppliers, increase in spare-parts due to shortened product life-cycle and demand uncertainties increase the SCC of the passenger vehicle sector, while number of parts, products and processes, variety of products and process and unreliability of suppliers increase the complexity of the commercial vehicle sector. The result indicates that various SCC drivers have a different impact on determining the SCC level of these two sectors.

Originality/value

The authors propose an integrated method that can be readily applied to measure and quantify SCC considering the significant dimensions of complexity as well as the interdependence and the inheritance of the SCC drivers that contribute to those dimensions. This index further helps to compare the complexity of the supply chain which varies between industries.
Activating multiple roles of customer-firm relationships in service failures
Authors: Sajtos Laszlo , Chong Yit Sean
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Scholars have proposed that the negative effects of service failures can be countered by developing and maintaining high quality customer-company relationships or by providing excellent service recovery to customers. While both strategies have been proposed as ways to overcome the negative effects of service failures, there are only a limited number of studies that have examined their joint effects. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by investigating the impact of these two strategies jointly on rumination (brooding and reflection), anger and customer forgiveness (revenge, avoidance and benevolence).

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental design used in this study is an adaptation of Mattila’s (2001) research design, which manipulated both the level of service recovery and relationship. A total of 677 respondents were assigned randomly to one of the six experimental conditions. Multi-group structural equation modeling was employed to estimate the proposed model across three relational conditions.

Findings

This study suggests that the buffering effects are directly triggered by the impact of relationships, whereas, the magnifying effects are primarily related to the customer’s cognitive processes. This study reveals multiple forms of concurrent buffering and magnifying effects in service failures.

Originality/value

The findings of the study led to a classification system of the various forms of buffering and magnifying effects of relationships in the event of service failures. The four active roles of relationships are identified as damage control, benefit catalyst, benefit attenuator and damage catalyst. This proposed typology breaks new ground for theorizing about relationship utilization in negative incidents.
Life after death: acquired fund performance
Authors: Lapatto Anni , Puttonen Vesa
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study how the target fund in mutual fund mergers performed compared to the acquiring funds had they not been merged but continued on their own as buy-and-hold portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a novel approach to examine post-merger wealth effects. The authors’ study how the target portfolios would have performed compared to the funds acquiring them had they not been merged but continued on their own as passive portfolios. The data set consists of 793 merging US equity funds from January 2003 to December 2014.

Findings

The authors find that the target portfolio shareholders would have been better off if the target fund had been converted from an actively managed fund to a passively managed fund that maintained their current holdings.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are the opposite to many previous studies who view target fund shareholders as the major beneficiaries in mutual fund mergers.

Practical implications

Investors receiving notification of their fund merging should reconsider their investment strategy. If they wish to maintain the original strategy of their fund, they should oppose the merger. Alternatively they may withdraw their money from the (soon-to-be) merged fund, replicate the latest portfolio of their fund, and buy-and-hold that portfolio.

Originality/value

The authors develop a novel approach to examine post-merger wealth effects.