bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to overcome the ATRA resistance with the 9aaTAD activation domains in retinoic acid receptors
Authors: Piskacek Martin , Havelka Marek , Knight Andrea
Published: April 2018

In higher metazoa, the nuclear hormone receptors activate transcription trough their specific adaptors, nuclear hormone receptor cofactors NCoA, which are surprisingly absent in lower metazoa. In this study, we demonstrated that the 9aaTAD from NHR-49 receptor activates transcription as a small peptide. We showed, that the 9aaTAD domains are conserved in the human nuclear hormone receptors including HNF4, RARa, VDR and PPARg. The small 9aaTAD peptides derived from these nuclear hormone receptors also effectively activated transcription and that in absence of the NCoA adaptors. We identified adjacent inhibitory domains in the human HNF4 and RARa, which hindered their activation function.

In acute promyelocytic leukaemia (PML-RARa), the receptor mutations often caused all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistance. The fact that almost the entire receptor is needed for ATRA mediated receptor activation, this activation pathway is highly susceptible for loss of function when mutated. Nevertheless in the most of the reported mutants, the activation domains 9aaTAD are still intact. The release of activation 9aaTAD from its dormancy by a new drug might be the sound strategy in combat the ATRA resistance in PML leukaemia.

Graphical Abstract
Extensive cellular heterogeneity of X inactivation revealed by single-cell allele-specific expression in human fibroblasts
Authors: Garieri Marco , Stamoulis Georgios , Falconnet Emilie , Ribaux Pascale , Borel Christelle , Santoni Federico , Antonarakis Stylianos E.
Published: April 2018

In eutherian mammals, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) provides a dosage compensation mechanism where in each female cell one of the two X chromosomes is randomly silenced. However, some genes on the inactive X chromosome and outside the pseudoautosomal regions escape from XCI and are expressed from both alleles (escapees). Given the relevance of the escapees in biology and medicine, we investigated XCI at an unprecedented single-cell resolution. We combined deep single-cell RNA sequencing with whole genome sequencing to examine allelic specific expression (ASE) in 935 primary fibroblast and 48 lymphoblastoid single cells from five female individuals. In this framework we integrated an original method to identify and exclude doublets of cells. We have identified 55 genes as escapees including 5 novel escapee genes. Moreover, we observed that all genes exhibit a variable propensity to escape XCI in each cell and cell type, and that each cell displays a distinct expression profile of the escapee genes. We devised a novel metric, the Inactivation Score (IS), defined as the mean of the allelic expression profiles of the escapees per cell, and discovered a heterogeneous and continuous degree of cellular XCI with extremes represented by “inactive” cells, i.e., exclusively expressing the escaping genes from the active X chromosome, and “escaping” cells, expressing the escapees from both alleles. Intriguingly we found that XIST is the major genetic determinant of IS, and that XIST expression, higher in G0 phase, is negatively correlated with the expression of escapees, inactivated and pseudoautosomal genes. In this study we use single-cell allele specific expression to identify novel escapees in different tissues and provide evidence of an unexpected cellular heterogeneity of XCI driven by a possible regulatory activity of XIST.
A Single-Cell Atlas of Cell Types, States, and Other Transcriptional Patterns from Nine Regions of the Adult Mouse Brain
Authors: Saunders Arpiar , Macosko Evan , Wysoker Alec , Goldman Melissa , Krienen Fenna , de Rivera Heather , Bien Elizabeth , Baum Matthew , Wang Shuyu , Goeva Aleks , Nemesh James , Kamitaki Nolan , Brumbaugh Sara , Kulp David , McCarroll Steven A.
Published: April 2018

The mammalian brain is composed of diverse, specialized cell populations, few of which we fully understand. To more systematically ascertain and learn from cellular specializations in the brain, we used Drop-seq to perform single-cell RNA sequencing of 690,000 cells sampled from nine regions of the adult mouse brain: frontal and posterior cortex (156,000 and 99,000 cells, respectively), hippocampus (113,000), thalamus (89,000), cerebellum (26,000), and all of the basal ganglia – the striatum (77,000), globus pallidus externus/nucleus basalis (66,000), entopeduncular/subthalamic nuclei (19,000), and the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (44,000). We developed computational approaches to distinguish biological from technical signals in single-cell data, then identified 565 transcriptionally distinct groups of cells, which we annotate and present through interactive online software we developed for visualizing and re-analyzing these data (DropViz). Comparison of cell classes and types across regions revealed features of brain organization. These included a neuronal gene-expression module for synthesizing axonal and presynaptic components; widely shared patterns in the combinatorial co-deployment of voltage-gated ion channels by diverse neuronal populations; functional distinctions among cells of the brain vasculature; and specialization of glutamatergic neurons across cortical regions to a degree not observed in other neuronal or non-neuronal populations. We describe systematic neuronal classifications for two complex, understudied regions of the basal ganglia, the globus pallidus externus and substantia nigra reticulata. In the striatum, where neuron types have been intensely researched, our data reveal a previously undescribed population of striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) comprising 4% of SPNs. The adult mouse brain cell atlas can serve as a reference for analyses of development, disease, and evolution.
Implementing internal environmental management and voluntary environmental disclosure
Authors: Passetti Emilio , Cinquini Lino , Tenucci Andrea
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent the implementation of internal environmental management and voluntary environmental information is related to organisational change.

Design/methodology/approach

Organisational change literature provided a framework for the analysis of the materials which were collected through a mixed method. Data on internal environmental management were collected through a survey, while a quality disclosure index was used to assess the quality of the environmental voluntary disclosure. Interviews were used to enhance the quantitative results interpreted according to the four pathways proposed by Tilt (2006) and characterised by several levels of internal environmental management and voluntary disclosure.

Findings

The results indicated that companies implement more internal activities than external disclosure. Environmental planning and operational practices were the most important changes carried out. When environmental management accounting and environmental disclosure were also implemented, environmental aspects were more integrated within companies, thus revealing that a more structured integration of sustainability aspects within organisational values had taken place. The results underline the importance of primarily establishing a set of internal changes, driven by environmental planning, to promote organisational change.

Research limitations/implications

The study presents a larger empirical analysis of the organisational change pathways followed by companies, showing similarities and differences among the four pathways. The results underline the importance of both dimensions for studying organisational changes. The framework of Tilt has been enriched, considering a more precise explanation of the internal aspects and adding the concept of the quality of disclosure as proxy to assess organisational change.

Originality/value

Organisational change is investigated through an extensive analysis of internal and external aspects and collecting quantitative and qualitative evidence. The analysis complements previous sustainability accounting literature focussed on the analysis of internal environmental management and external disclosure.
Statistical analysis of the crowd dynamics in Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Ahmadi Hassan M. , Alhalabi Wael S. , Malkawi Rezqallah Hasan , Reza Imran
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the crowd dynamics of the visitors at Al-Masjid al-Nabawi during the most oversaturated period to characterize the most critical conditions and suggest technical solutions to accommodate visitors and provide them safe passage.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the time of entrance from the Al-Salam Gate to the tomb and from the tomb to the exit from the Al-Baqi’ Gate has been collected in the most oversaturated period. To be precise and to model the worst case, important crowd measures of effectiveness data are collected in the two holiest times considered by Muslims, during the holy month of Ramadan and the month of Dhul-Hijjah and during the busiest hours of the day to consider safety factors while proposing future solutions. The conventional manual head-counting method has been adopted to determine the crowd density and to carry out actual counting of the visitors from the recorded videos and photos captured by the legitimate authority.

Findings

The analyses revealed that the crowd dynamics in the month of Ramadan (peak) are statistically different from those for other times (off peak). In general, the crowd dynamics at all times on days other than Ramadan are almost identical.

Originality/value

The results of crowd characterization from this study are expected to help optimize crowd management in the Masjid at the most critical location and time. The data collected in this study could be used for future research to simulate similar crowd scenes or for even different crowd management scenarios in case of emergencies such as fire hazards or evacuation process.
Structural modelling of multi-thread fancy yarn
Authors: Alshukur Malek , Gong Hugh , Stylios George
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to mathematically model the structure of doubled fancy yarns made by combining together several threads.

Design/methodology/approach

It was assumed that such a structure may have two distinctive parts – sinusoidal and helical (i.e. sigmoidal). This model is based on calculating the length of the effect thread in relation to the core thread. The case of having several variants of such a structure was discussed to account for several types of doubled fancy yarns. The number of wraps of the binder, the overfed ratio, and heights of the fancy profiles in the different parts were the fundamental parameters of this model. The effects of changes in the number of wraps, the overfeed ratio or both simultaneously, on this model, were also considered. The shape factor of fancy yarn was also modelled depending on the basic model of the structure.

Findings

The model was tested and the correlation coefficient between the theoretical value and the real value of length of the effect thread was 0.90.

Originality/value

This model is useful for predicting the length of the effect component based on the type, dimension and number of the fancy profiles of doubled fancy yarn, and for understanding the changes of the multiple-thread structure of fancy yarn when the overfeed ratio and/or the number of wraps were to change.
Prevalence and determinants of food insecurity in migrant Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean households in Ottawa, Canada
Authors: Tarraf Diana , Sanou Dia , Blanchet Rosanne , Nana Constance P. , Batal Malek , Giroux Isabelle
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Food insecurity (FI) is an important social determinant of health and is linked with higher health care costs. There is a high prevalence of FI among recent migrant households in Canada. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence of FI in Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean migrants in Ottawa, and to explore determinants of FI in that population.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 190 mothers born in Sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean living in Ottawa and having a child between 6 and 12 years old. Health Canada’s Household Food Security Survey Module was used to evaluate participants’ food security in the past 12 months. χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to measure determinants of FI (n=182).

Findings

A very high rate of FI (45.1 percent) was found among participants. When numerous determinants of FI were included in a multivariate model, household FI was associated with Caribbean origin, low education attainment, lone motherhood, living in Canada for five years or less and reliance on social assistance.

Originality/value

These findings highlight the need for FI to be explicitly addressed in migrant integration strategies in order to improve their financial power to purchase sufficient, nutritious and culturally acceptable foods. Enhancing migrants’ access to affordable child care and well-paid jobs, improving social assistance programs and providing more affordable subsidized housing programs could be beneficial.
The 5S organizational agility framework: a dynamic capabilities perspective
Authors: Baškarada Saša , Koronios Andy
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Although there is widespread agreement that organizational agility is increasingly becoming critical to achieving sustained competitive advantage, there is little consensus on what exactly constitutes organizational agility, or how it may be assessed and improved. The purpose of this paper is to contribute toward operationalization of the organizational agility construct through a high-level conceptual framework grounded in dynamic capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that presents a new organizational agility framework, which draws from, and builds on, the existing literature.

Findings

This paper defines organizational agility as rapid, continuous and systematic evolutionary adaptation and entrepreneurial innovation directed at gaining and/or maintaining competitive advantage. The 5S Organizational Agility Framework proposes five dynamic capabilities (sensing, searching, seizing, shifting and shaping) underpinning organizational agility.

Originality/value

The framework presented in this paper contributes toward operationalization of the organizational agility construct.
Sustainability of indigenous folk tales, music and cultural heritage through innovation
Authors: Chan Clare Suet Ching
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The aim of producing Bah Luj Production, four folk tales books accompanied by a compact disc of its narration, dialogs and music is to revitalize the folk tales, music and cultural heritage of the indigenous Semai by condensing them into an innovative resource package, tailored to appeal to the current generation’s consumer interests and lifestyles. The targeted audiences for the product are Malaysians, in particular the Semai community, as well as other local and international consumers. The purpose of this paper is to examine a practice-led approach toward considering the empowerment of selected culture bearers assisted by the intervention of researchers from the academia in facilitating the sustainability of indigenous cultural traditions in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach is practice-led – Bah Luj Production was developed based on action, reflection, review and revision. This paper provides visibility to the research process, enabling readers to understand the issues, challenges and decision-making processes. The practice-led approach that was used for this project provides a realistic practical guide, bridging the gap between theory and practice. In the conclusion, the authors also bring forth ideas for improvement through reflection, on suggested approaches in ways this research did not manage to pursue.

Findings

This paper proposes three approaches in advocating for cultural sustainability through innovation: collaboration between selected culture bearers and researchers in the academia; indigeneity of cultural expressions and illustrations; and adaptability and relevance to current interests of indigenous people and consumers of indigenous music and literature. This paper argues that it is important for the researcher to navigate research with relevance to the context and situation.

Research limitations/implications

While many articles focus on presenting the outcomes of a research project, this paper guides the reader toward understanding the limitations, constraints and negotiations made by the research team during the research and production stages. Transparency in the process of decision making will enlighten readers on realistic, practical approaches as opposed to idealistic theoretical methods.

Practical implications

This paper argues for sustainability through innovation and posits that cultural heritage practices that continue to be performed are those that are adaptable, flexible to change and open to innovation – therefore maintaining relevance to time, context and consumers. This paper posits that researchers should be flexible and practical in their research actions and avoid generalizations that come out of recent and popular critical theories as the most, or only suitable, approaches for diverse communities.

Originality/value

The development of an alternate approach, theory/concept and guidelines toward sustainability through innovation make this study the first of its kind. This approach integrates tradition with creation.
Age differences in responsiveness to shocking prosocial campaigns
Authors: Albouy Jeanne , Décaudin Jean-Marc
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study age differences in responsiveness to shocking prosocial campaigns. It specifically investigates the differences between seniors and young adults regarding the persuasive effect of emotional charity campaigns, the intensity of negative emotions and empathy elicited, the affect-based persuasive process leading to the ad effectiveness and the role of perceived self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies are conducted on seniors (n1 = 173; n2 = 118) and young adults (n1 = 170; n2 = 123) exposed to appeals for “Action against Hunger” incorporating various levels of emotional content.

Findings

The results indicate that seniors are more receptive to emotional campaigns but only for higher emotional ads and only regarding intention to donate. Young adults report lower levels of empathy, and findings do not suggest major age differences in the reported negative emotions after exposure to low or high emotional appeals. The affect-based persuasion differs; young adults are particularly influenced by negative emotions, whereas the persuasive effect on the elderly stems from an empathetic reaction. Self-efficacy moderates the effect of negative emotions only among older participants.

Practical implications

Social marketers are advised to use vivid and realistic stimuli to reach young people and develop these appeals in social media. For an older target audience, however, marketers are advised to use creative components and media support designed to foster personalisation and proximity.

Originality/value

This study provides a better understanding of age-related effects on emotional persuasion, and addresses the specificity of prosocial appeals involving responsiveness to the suffering of others.
Benefits of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Alhouti Sarah , D’Souza Giles
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how consumers benefit from corporate social responsibility (CSR) and whether spiritual benefits are a stronger outcome of CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

Items for values are developed and tested prior to their inclusion in an experiment that manipulates the presence and absence of CSR. A structural equation model is used to test the mediation effect of perceived value on the relationship between CSR and consumer outcomes. A chi-square test is used to compare the magnitude of the significant effects.

Findings

CSR influences spiritual, status, efficiency and aesthetic benefits equally. Spiritual benefits is a stronger predictor of attitude and personal satisfaction than efficiency and status benefits.

Originality/value

Conceptual and qualitative findings in the literature demonstrate that CSR is associated with spiritual benefits. This study quantitatively tests not only how CSR influences various benefits but also how those effects compare to the relationship between CSR and spiritual benefits. The examination of the effect of CSR benefits on consumer outcomes reveals that the types of benefits do not have identical effects.
Subversive leadership and power tactics
Authors: Wang Fei
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Principals’ leadership has become a subversive activity that is carried out strategically to challenge and disrupt the status quo and resist policies and practices that are counterproductive to their work. The purpose of this paper is to reveal subversive tactics principals use in pursuit of justice and equity in schools and identify challenges and risks associated with their subversive leadership practices. Power tactics were used as a conceptual framework to guide the analysis of subversive activities by school principals.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study focuses on 18 elementary and secondary school principals from six district school boards in the Metro Vancouver area who participated in the semi-structured interviews on their practices that epitomize different tactics in response to increasing demand and accountability.

Findings

The power tactics identified in this study illuminate many of the dilemmas principals face in their work and demonstrate the various ways principals exercise their political acumen to “act strategically to determine which tactics to use, when, and with whom.” In exercising ethics of subversion and critique, participants are more likely to use soft, rational, and bi/multilateral rather than hard, non-rational, and unilateral power tactics. Such tendency reveals their concern about causing relational harm and shows their strategic avoidance of direct confrontation.

Research limitations/implications

Considering the limitations on the sample size and the research context, more research is needed to examine to what extent subversive practices are exercised and how they play out in different contexts.

Originality/value

The study shows that leadership involves upholding morals and values, even if this means having to use subversive practices to ensure inclusive, equitable, and just outcomes.
The Stopit! programme to reduce bullying and undermining behaviour in hospitals
Authors: Benmore Graham , Henderson Steven , Mountfield Joanna , Wink Brian
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The impact of bullying and undermining behaviours on the National Health Service on costs, patient safety and retention of staff was well understood even before the Illing report, published in 2013, that reviewed the efficacy of training interventions designed to reduce bullying and harassment in the outputs. The purpose of this paper is to provide an example of a good programme well evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology follows a broad realist approach, by specifying the underlying programme assumptions and intention of the designers. Three months after the event, Q-sort methodology was employed to group participants into one of three contexts – mechanism – output groups. Interviews were then undertaken with members of two of these groups, to evaluate how the programme had influenced each.

Findings

Q-sort identified a typology of three beneficiaries from the Stopit! workshops, characterised as professionals, colleagues and victims. Each group had acted upon different parts of the programme, depending chiefly upon their current and past experiences of bullying in hospitals.

Research limitations/implications

The paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using Q-sort method to identify relevant CMOs in a realist evaluation framework.

Practical implications

The paper considers the effectiveness of the programme to reduce bullying, rather than teach victims to cope, and how it may be strengthened based upon the research findings and Illing recommendations.

Social implications

Workplace bullying is invariably implicated in scandals concerning poor hospital practice, poor patient outcomes and staff illness. All too frequently, the sector responds by offering training in resilience, which though helpful, places the onus on the victim to cope rather than the employer to reduce or eliminate the practice. This paper documents and evaluates an attempt to change workplace practices to directly address bullying and undermining.

Originality/value

The paper describes a new programme broadly consistent with Illing report endorsements. Second, it illustrates a novel evaluation method that highlights rigorously the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes at the pilot stage of an intervention identifies contexts and mechanisms via factor analysis using Q-sort methodology.
Personal branding of artists and art-designers: necessity or desire?
Authors: Kucharska Wioleta , Mikołajczak Piotr
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Personal branding becomes a new in-demand skill for all professionals today. To be well-known helps to achieve success in the networked business environment. Personal relationships and a good reputation in the reality of network economy help young artists and art designers move up the career ladder. This paper aims to discuss a problem of artists who often find it difficult to define their artistic and self-distinction identities. The concept of personal brand and branding seems quite irrelevant, especially in reference to their own selves. People usually associate branding with marketing, which in our minds is usually the same as “pushy” and aggressive sales practices. Their find problematic to promote themselves. The purpose of this paper is to highlight that, based on existing theories, artistic identity creation in connection with the skill of personal branding is crucial for personal success in the profession of today’s young artists and art designers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted based on the data originally collected among artists, designers, architecture professionals and students. The data have been analyzed with the equal structural equation modeling method.

Findings

This paper presents empirical evidence that if artists view themselves as personal brands, it affects their personal performance in a positive way.

Practical implications

Authors claim that a teaching curriculum for young adult artists should include a personal branding program, to help them find and support their artistic identity and express their personal values and self-brand distinction, and leverage them to build their professional career.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to quantify the self-brand performance of young art designers as a benefit of being self-brand oriented.
When art meets mall: impact on shopper responses
Authors: Vukadin Ana , Wongkitrungrueng Apiradee , Assarut Nuttapol
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of artistic elements in a shopping mall’s experiential marketing strategy and the effects of artistic elements on customer shopping value (e.g. utilitarian, hedonic and symbolic) and shopper response (e.g. satisfaction, behavioural intention).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 300 shoppers in a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. A partial least square-structural equation model was used to examine the impact of the artistic elements along with other elements in the shopping mall on shopper response through perceived shopping value.

Findings

Empirical evidence shows that artistic elements in an artified mall have a positive effect on customer hedonic and symbolic value, which in turn leads to positive shopper response. Artistic elements perform better than other elements in predicting symbolic value.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that artistic elements should be considered a new source of mall differentiation and customer experience enhancement. Unique artistic elements add emotional and symbolic appeal to the mall, and mall managers should carefully choose artistic content that matches the position and target shoppers of their mall.

Originality/value

This paper proposed and empirically examined the effect of artistic elements as the new fourth atmospheric element. It extends the art infusion theory by applying it to the “non-luxury” shopping mall context to demonstrate the spillover effect of art on shopping value, which further influence shopper response.
Art as strategic branding tool for luxury fashion brands
Authors: Jelinek Julia-Sophie
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to understand the lasting relationship between luxury fashion and art. The purpose of the paper is to explore whether the application of art, the cooperation with artists, the implementation of experiential strategies focusing on retail spaces and shows embedded in the strategic concept of a luxury brand lead to a competitive advantage and to a sustained value creation for luxury brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature, the strategic role of art and the importance of experiential marketing for the value creation of European luxury fashion brands was explored through empirical data collection, consisting of 26 semi-structured in-depth interviews. The gained data have been analysed through a thematic analysis approach and triangulated to avoid bias.

Findings

The exploratory study revealed that when art is applied as a strategic tool, it is of relevance to achieve an authentic fit to the brand. When integrating art consistently and authentically within the whole value chain system, it leads to a higher brand equity.

Practical implications

The paper provides a guide for both academics and marketers as theoretical frameworks are examined, analysed and future recommendations are given, which are suited to be applied within the brand management principles.

Originality/value

The outcome contributes to a wider delineation regarding the future of luxury brands. The study reveals novel viewpoints concerning the integration of arts in luxury brand marketing and adds to existing literature.
Artist-brand alliances to target new consumers: can visual artists recruit new consumers to a brand?
Authors: Kim Pielah , Chang Hua , Vaidyanathan Rajiv , Stoel Leslie
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Increasing industry interest in visual artists and commercial brand collaborations has heightened the need for research on exactly how visual art can add meaning to brands in ways that enhance brand value to existing consumers and potentially reach new consumers. Consumers are known to select brands on the basis of how well these brands reflect their own personalities. The purpose of this research is to understand whether brand alliances with artists exhibiting distinct personalities can make brands more attractive to consumers whose personalities do not currently match the brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Two experiments are used to examine the impact of artists’ personality (in)congruence on consumers’ perceptions of the brand and purchase intentions of the brand’s products.

Findings

The results show that consumers whose personalities do not match the brand’s current personality are likely to alter their view of a brand when the brand partners with an artist whose personality matches with that of the consumers’. This happens without negatively affecting the brand personality perceptions of current consumers who already identify with the brand.

Practical implications

When seeking to attract a new target segment, brands can ally with visual artists who convey a personality that matches that of the new target segment.

Originality/value

This paper adds to a nascent literature on the power of artist–brand alliances, and demonstrates that these partnerships need not only be between artists and brands with consistent personalities but can also effectively be used to target new consumers.
Brand management and the world of the arts: collaboration, co-operation, co-creation, and inspiration
Authors: Baumgarth Carsten
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present historical examples of collaborations between brand strategists and artists; provide an extensive, structured overview of existing published research on such collaborations and their effects; present seven papers comprising this special issue; and discuss ideas for further research into brand–art collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an editorial based mainly on an extensive and broad literature review.

Findings

First, this editorial underpins the relevance of brand–art collaboration in the past and present by reference to real examples. Second, it structures the diverse literature into four key aspects of the topic: inspiration, insights, identity and image. Third, it provides a glimpse of the seven papers selected for this special issue. Fourth and finally, it identifies a total of 16 avenues for further research, on four levels (artist, brand owner, consumer and cooperation process).

Originality/value

This editorial and the entire special issue together represent the first anthology on the topic of the interface between brand management and arts. The collection and classification of the existing literature, the formulation of ideas for future research and the content of the seven papers are collectively excellent starting springboards for new and fresh brand research projects.
Exploring restorative potential of biophilic servicescapes
Authors: Purani Keyoor , Kumar Deepak S.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the biophilic stimuli present in the servicescape and restorative effects on psychological states among consumers. The research also examines moderating role of service contexts in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study applied a laboratory-like experimental design with one-shot treatment. About 566 usable responses were collected using six photographic images – three were biophilic environments and three were non-biophilic environments – for foura prioriservice contexts: hospital lobby, upscale restaurants, spa and bank lobby.

Findings

The tests of hypotheses confirm restorative effects of biophilic servicescapes on consumer’s psychological states, attention and mood, which, in turn, positively influence service preference. Further, the restorative effects of natural elements are found to vary across hedonic – utilitarian and experience – credence type service contexts.

Originality/value

Because of higher levels of natural stressors, consumers today likely have attention fatigue and depleted mood states, which, in turn, may have adverse effects on their service consumption behaviour. In this context, building upon theories from environmental psychology, findings of this study contribute by establishing restorative potential of biophilic servicescape. The study also establishes that natural elements in biophilic servicescapes influence service preference, which is mediated by consumers’ psychological states – attention and mood. Further, it demonstrates that consumers are more responsive with regards to such restorative effects of biophilic elements in contexts where they seek emotional, experiential value compared to rational, functional value.
Does corporate sustainability impact firm profitability? Evidence from India
Authors: Bodhanwala Shernaz , Bodhanwala Ruzbeh
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study whether corporate sustainability impacts profitability performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample under study consists of 58 Indian firms that are consistently a part of Thomson Reuters Asset 4 ESG database. An empirical multivariate panel data model is developed to analyse the impact of sustainability (environmental, social and governance) on firm profitability. Further, the study seeks to understand whether firms ranked high on sustainability parameters perform better compared to low-ranked firms. This has been tested by applying parametrict-test.

Findings

The study reveals a significant positive relationship between sustainability and firm performance measures (return on invested capital, return on equity, return on assets and earnings per share). Empirical evidence suggests that firms that practice remarkable sustainable development strategies report higher profitability and have substantially low gearing level.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides empirical support for the practitioners, policy makers and academicians emphasising strongly on the role played by deployment of sustainable environmental, social and governance efforts in enabling firms to achieve the profit maximisation objective. In the long term, strategies that take sustainability criteria into account have the capacity to create long-term value and provide firms with competitive advantage. The findings provide impetus to many mid- and large-capitalised Indian firms to initiate the adoption of sustainable measures in business policy formulation. The market valuation perception on sustainability practices followed by Indian firms leaves scope for future research.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence on the link between sustained sustainability efforts by corporates and their profitability from a developing nation context is limited. This paper provides much-needed evidence in the area of sustainability performance from India – one of the largest, rapidly developing economies in the world.
The contrasting moderating effect of exploration on the relationship between stock options/stock ownership and a firm’s long-term performance
Authors: Yu Gun Jea , Lee Joonkyum
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the contrasting moderating effect of a firm’s exploration on the relationship between the two types of long-term incentives (stock options/stock ownership) for the chief executive officers and a firm’s long-term performance. Even though the two types of incentives are designed to improve long-term performance, the degrees of impact on long-term performance differ. Based on behavioral agency theory, this study theoretically and empirically examines the role of a firm’s exploration on the above relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used three archival sources to obtain data on stock options, stock ownership, patents and exploration, financial measures, and others. Based on a sample of 1,963 firms in various industries from 1995 to 2006, this study tested the moderating effect of a firm’s exploration on the relationship between stock options/ownership and a firm’s performance.

Findings

This study reveals the contrasting moderating effect of a firm’s exploration on the relationship between stock options/ownership and a firm’s long-term performance: a positive moderating effect on the relationship between stock options and performance and a negative moderating effect on the relationship between stock ownership and performance. In addition, empirical evidence was added on the inverted U-shaped relationship between stock ownership and a firm’s long-term performance.

Originality/value

There is little research on a firm’s internal characteristics that strengthen or weaken the effects of stock options and stock ownership on firm performance. This study demonstrates the differential moderating effects of exploration on the relationship between stock options/stock ownership and long-term performance. Such effects of exploration come from the different risk features of stock options and stock ownership. The key implication is that stock options could be more effective than stock ownership to enhance a firm’s long-term performance when a firm has a strong exploration orientation.
Teenagers’ eWOM intentions: a nature vs nurture perspective
Authors: Mishra Anubhav , Maheswarappa Satish S. , Maity Moutusy , Samu Sridhar
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of parents (via family communication patterns) on teenagers’ electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intentions, via a serial mediation by internet usage and self-esteem, along with the moderating effect of online impression.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed based on the nature vs nurture perspective and theory of consumer socialization. Structural equation modeling was applied to investigate the interplay among proposed variables, using a sample of 797 teenage respondents in India.

Findings

The findings indicate that family communication, internet usage, and self-esteem are significant antecedents to eWOM intents of teenagers. Also, online impression is a strong moderator which influences whether teenagers would engage in eWOM activities or not.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents actionable items for marketers interested in teenage consumers in an emerging economy. Marketers can benefit by tailoring their online communication to influence parent’s attitude toward the internet and to enhance online impression of teenagers to substantially increase eWOM dispersion.

Originality/value

This study provides original insights about how parents and individual characteristics act as antecedents and impact teenagers’ eWOM intentions including the moderating effect of online impression.
Effect of the aligned magnetic field on the boundary layer analysis of magnetic-nanofluid over a semi-infinite vertical plate with ferrous nanoparticles
Authors: Ashwinkumar G.P. , Sulochana C. , Samrat S.P.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the momentum, heat and mass transfer characteristics of magnetic-nanofluid flow past a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium filled with ferrous nanoparticles. The analysis is carried out in the presence of pertinent physical parameters such as aligned magnetic field, thermal radiation, chemical reaction, radiation absorption, heat source/sink.

Design/methodology/approach

The flow governing PDEs are transformed into ODEs using appropriate conversions. Further, the set of ODEs is solved analytically using the perturbation technique. The flow quantities such as velocity, thermal and concentration fields are discussed under the influence of above-mentioned pertinent physical parameters with the assistance of graphical depictions. Moreover, the friction factor, local Nusselt and Sherwood number are discussed in tabular form.

Findings

The results indicate that flow and thermal transport phenomenon is more effective in the case of the aligned magnetic field as compared with the transverse magnetic field. Also, the nanoparticle volume fraction plays a vital role in controlling the wall friction and heat transfer performance. The validation of the obtained results is done by comparing them with the results of various numerical techniques, and hence found them in excellent agreement.

Originality/value

In present days, the external magnetic fields are very effective to set the thermal and physical properties of magnetic-nanofluids and regulate the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The strength of the applied magnetic field affects the thermal conductivity of magnetic-nanofluids and makes it aeolotropic. With this incentive, the authors investigated the flow and heat transfer characteristics of electrically conducting magnetic-nanofluids over a vertical surface embedded in a porous medium. The authors discussed the dual nature of ferrous-water nanofluid in the presence of aligned magnetic field and transverse magnetic field cases. The influence of several physical parameters on velocity, thermal and concentration field converses with the succour of graphs.
From social network to firm performance
Authors: Pratono Aluisius Hery
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a structural equation model to explain the complex relationship between social network and firm performance by introducing the mediating role of trust, selling capability and pricing capability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model with hypothesis development was derived based on the literature. To provide empirical evidence, this study carried out a survey in which the data were equated with a list of questionnaires with a random survey of 380 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Indonesian context.

Findings

This study indicates that the use of social media in management process will not affect the increasing firm performance, unless the firms build trust upon social networks. The social network with trust allows the firms to gain a pricing capability and a selling capability, which brings a positive impact on firm performance. The results also show that the selling and the pricing capabilities become essential following the utilizing the social media, which concerns on trust building.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on the small-to-medium context, which has conventionally provided an exemplary site for the development of social capital theory but raises issues of generalizability across different contexts.

Practical implications

To the managers, it is advisable to encourage their employees to consciously exploit the selling capability by enhancing the business networks via social media to achieve the firm performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the social capital theory by explaining the mediating role of trust in the complex relationship between social network and firm performance. This study provides evidence that trust plays a pivotal role in social networks, which enable the observed firms to achieve the performance.
The effects of historical satisfaction, provided services characteristics and website dimensions on encounter overall satisfaction
Authors: Laureti Tiziana , Piccarozzi Michela , Aquilani Barbara
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the real role of historical satisfaction (HSat), i.e., satisfaction only deriving from past experiences, excluding the most recent, in B2C service contexts when services are experienced offline, while the actual services are purchased online through the service providers’ website.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed conceptual framework was tested by focusing on a particular travel industry firm which is responsible for providing travel services as well as managing the website where these services are purchased. The study population included customers who had purchased at least two travel tickets during the last 12 months online. In order to reduce possible self-selection bias and to improve the generalizability of the web survey findings, post-stratification was applied. The measurement model was evaluated by using confirmatory factor analyses. The direct and indirect effects of HSat on encounter overall satisfaction (EOS) were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The direct effect of HSat on EOS was observed to be higher than its indirect effect through offline service dimensions and website dimensions. It was also observed that offline service dimensions have a direct impact on EOS, while they do not have an indirect impact since the website dimensions do not have a direct effect on EOS.

Research limitations/implications

Historical satisfaction is really important in building EOS for services purchased previously online but experienced offline.

Practical implications

The results could provide managers with useful tools for allocating resources and also build an even higher level of EOS. They also shed light on how HSat molds offline service perception for services sold online.

Originality/value

To the authors’s knowledge, only one empirical paper focused on “historical satisfaction,” while no studies have taken into consideration the fact that service offline dimensions and e-customer satisfaction could be indirectly linked by website quality dimensions, the issue studied in this paper.