bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural Evolution of Genetic Heritability
Authors: Uchiyama Ryutaro , Spicer Rachel , Muthukrishna Michael
Published: June 2020

Behavioral genetics and cultural evolution have both revolutionized our understanding of human behavior, but largely independently of each other. Here we reconcile these two fields using a dual inheritance approach, which offers a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between genes and culture, and a resolution to several long-standing puzzles. For example, by neglecting how human environments are extensively shaped by cultural dynamics, behavioral genetic approaches systematically inflate heritability estimates and thereby overestimate the genetic basis of human behavior. A WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic) gene problem obscures this inflation. Considering both genetic and cultural evolutionary forces, heritability scores become less a property of a trait and more a moving target that responds to cultural and social changes. Ignoring cultural evolutionary forces leads to an over-simplified model of gene-to-phenotype causality. When cumulative culture functionally overlaps with genes, genetic effects become masked, or even reversed, and the causal effect of an identified gene is confounded with features of the cultural environment, specific to a particular society at a particular time. This framework helps explain why it is easier to discover genes for deficiencies than genes for abilities. With this framework, we predict the ways in which heritability should differ between societies, between socioeconomic levels within some societies but not others, and over the life course. An integrated cultural evolutionary behavioral genetics cuts through the nature–nurture debate and elucidates controversial topics such as general intelligence.
Gene Regulatory Network Inference as Relaxed Graph Matching
Authors: Weighill Deborah , Guebila Marouen Ben , Lopes-Ramos Camila , Glass Kimberly , Quackenbush John , Platig John , Burkholz Rebekka
Published: June 2020

Gene regulatory network inference is instrumental to the discovery of genetic mechanisms driving diverse diseases, including cancer. Here, we present a theoretical framework for PANDA, an established method for gene regulatory network inference. PANDA is based on iterative message passing updates that resemble the gradient descent of an optimization problem, OTTER, which can be interpreted as relaxed inexact graph matching between a gene-gene co-expression and a protein-protein interaction matrix. The solutions of OTTER can be derived explicitly and inspire an alternative spectral algorithm, for which we can provide network recovery guarantees. We compare different solution approaches of OTTER to other inference methods using three biological data sets, which we make publicly available to offer a new application venue for relaxed graph matching in gene regulatory network inference. We find that using modern gradient descent methods with superior convergence properties solving OTTER outperforms state-of-the-art gene regulatory network inference methods in predicting binding of transcription factors to regulatory regions.
Phylogeographic structure of the dunes sagebrush lizard, an endemic habitat specialist
Authors: Chan Lauren M. , Painter Charles W. , Hill Michael T. , Hibbitts Toby J. , Leavitt Daniel J. , Ryberg Wade A. , Walkup Danielle , Fitzgerald Lee A.
Published: June 2020

Phylogeographic divergence and population genetic diversity within species reflect the impacts of habitat connectivity, demographics, and landscape level processes in both the recent and distant past. Characterizing patterns of differentiation across the geographic range of a species provides insight on the roles of organismal and environmental traits, on evolutionary divergence, and future population persistence. This is particularly true of habitat specialists where habitat availability and resource dependence may result in pronounced genetic structure as well as increased population vulnerability. We use DNA sequence data as well as microsatellite genotypes to estimate range-wide phylogeographic divergence, historical population connectivity, and historical demographics in an endemic habitat specialist, the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus). This species is found exclusively in dune blowouts and patches of open sand within the shinnery oak-sand dune ecosystem of southeastern New Mexico and adjacent Texas. We find evidence of phylogeographic structure consistent with breaks and constrictions in suitable habitat at the range-wide scale. In addition, we find support for a dynamic and variable evolutionary history across the range ofS. arenicolus. Populations in the Monahans Sandhills have deeply divergent lineages consistent with long-term demographic stability. In contrast, populations in the Mescalero Sands are not highly differentiated, though we do find evidence of demographic expansion in some regions and relative demographic stability in others. Phylogeographic history and population genetic differentiation in this species has been shaped by the configuration of habitat patches within a geologically complex and historically dynamic landscape. Our findings identify regions as genetically distinctive conservation units as well as underscore the genetic and demographic history of different lineages ofS. arenicolus.
FlyBrainLab: Accelerating the Discovery of the Functional Logic of theDrosophilaBrain in the Connectomic/Synaptomic Era
Authors: Lazar Aurel A. , Liu Tingkai , Turkcan Mehmet Kerem , Zhou Yiyin
Published: June 2020

In recent years, a wealth ofDrosophilaneuroscience data have become available. These include cell type, connectome and synaptome datasets for both the larva and adult fly. To facilitate integration across data modalities and to accelerate the understanding of the functional logic of the fly brain, we developed an interactive computing environment called FlyBrainLab.

FlyBrainLab is uniquely positioned to accelerate the discovery of the functional logic of theDrosophilabrain. Its interactiveopen sourcearchitecture seamlessly integrates and brings together computational models with neuroanatomical, neurogenetic and electrophysiological data, changing the organization of neuroscientific fly brain data from a group of seemingly disparate databases, arrays and tables, to a well structured data and executable circuit repository.

The FlyBrainLab User Interface supports a highly intuitive and automated work-flow that streamlines the 3D exploration and visualization of fly brain circuits, and the interactive exploration of the functional logic of executable circuits created directly from the explored and visualized fly brain data. Furthermore, efficient comparisons of circuit models are supported, across models developed by different researchers, across different developmental stages of the fruit fly and across different datasets.

The FlyBrainLab Utility Libraries help untangle the graph structure of neural circuits from raw connectome and synaptome data. The Circuit Libraries facilitate the exploration of neural circuits of the neuropils of the central complex and, the development and implementation of models of the adult and larva fruit fly early olfactory systems.

Seeking to transcend the limitations of the connectome, FlyBrainLab provides additional libraries for molecular transduction arising in sensory coding in vision and olfaction. Together with sensory neuron activity data, these libraries serve as entry points for discovering circuit function in the sensory systems of the fruit fly brain. They also enable the biological validation of developed executable circuits within the same platform.
Dopa decarboxylase is a genetic hub of parental control over offspring behavior
Authors: Bonthuis Paul J. , Steinwand Susan , Huang Wei-Chao , Stacher Hörndli Cornelia N. , Emery Jared , Kravitz Stephanie , Ferris Elliott , Gregg Christopher
Published: June 2020

Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) regulates the synthesis of monoaminergic neurotransmitters and is linked to psychiatric and metabolic disorders.Ddcexhibits complex genomic imprinting effects that have not been functionally studied. Here, we investigate different noncanonical imprinting effects at the cellular level with a focus onDdc. Using allele-specific reporter mice, we foundDdcexhibits dominant expression of the maternal allele in subpopulations of cells in 14 of 52 brain regions, and dominant paternal or maternal allele expression in adrenal cell subpopulations. Maternal versus paternalDdcallele null mutations differentially affect offspring social, foraging and exploratory behaviors. Machine learning analyses of naturalistic foraging inDdc−/+and+/−offspring uncovered finite behavioral sequences controlled by the maternal versus paternalDdcalleles. Additionally, parentalDdcgenotype is revealed to affect behavior independent of offspring genotype. Thus,Ddcis a hub of maternal and paternal influence on behavior that mediates diverse imprinting and parental effects.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) allelic expression resolved at the cellular level

Cells differentially express maternal versus paternalDdcalleles

Maternal and paternalDdcalleles control distinct behavioral sequences

ParentalDdcgenotype affects offspring independent of mutation transmission

eTOC

Allelic reporter mice and machine learning analyses reveal dopa decarboxylase is affected by diverse imprinting and parental effects that shape finite behavioral sequences in sons and daughters.
Sensitivity of different RT-qPCR solutions for SARS-CoV-2 detection
Authors: Alcoba-Florez Julia , Gil-Campesino Helena , de Artola Diego García-Martínez , González-Montelongo Rafaela , Valenzuela-Fernández Agustín , Ciuffreda Laura , Flores Carlos
Published: June 2020

Objective

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues imposing a demand for diagnostic screening. In anticipation that the recurrence of outbreaks and the measures for lifting the lockdown worldwide may cause supply chain issues over the coming months, we assessed the sensitivity of a number of one-step retrotranscription and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) solutions to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

We evaluated six different RT-qPCR alternatives for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis based on standard RNA extractions. That of best sensitivity was also assessed with direct nasopharyngeal swab viral transmission medium (VTM) heating, overcoming the RNA extraction step.

Results

We found a wide variability in the sensitivity of RT-qPCR solutions that associated with a range of false negatives from as low as 2% (0.3-7.9%) to as much as 39.8% (30.2-50.2). Direct preheating of VTM combined with the best solution provided a sensitivity of 72.5% (62.5-81.0), in the range of some of the solutions based on standard RNA extractions.

Conclusions

We evidenced sensitivity limitations of currently used RT-qPCR solutions. Our results will help to calibrate the impact of false negative diagnoses of COVID-19, and to detect and control new SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and community transmissions.
Knowledge about COVID-19 and patients’ beliefs about and use of herbal products during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alyami Hamad S. , Orabi Mohamed A. A. , Aldhabbah Fahad M. , Alturki Hamad N. , Aburas Wejdan I. , Alfayez Abdulrahman I. , Alharbi Abdullah S. , Almasuood Rawan A. , Alsuhaibani Njood A.
Published: June 2020

The lack of treatment options for COVID-19 has raised many concerns among populations worldwide, which has led to many attempts to find alternative options to prevent the transmission of the disease or to alleviate the progression of the infection, including focusing more on preventive measures (to prevent transmission to other individuals) and the use of natural products and herbal extracts to increase immunity and decrease the probability of getting infected. This study explored the knowledge of the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) about COVID-19 preventive measures and their belief about the consumption of herbal products for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. A total of 5,258 individuals participated in this study. Participants’ knowledge about the appropriate COVID-19 preventive measures in terms of handwashing procedures, self-quarantine and social distancing was moderate, with a mean score of 5.5 (SD: 1.7) out of 10 (representing around 55.0% of the total score). About 22.1% (n= 1,161) of the participants reported that they have used herbal products or nutritional supplements during the pandemic period, to protect themselves from the disease. Social media and the Internet (39.4%, n= 372) were the main motivators for the participants to try herbal products. Vitamin C was the most commonly used food supplement to increase immunity and reduces the chance of contracting COVID-19. Our study demonstrated that the general population in Saudi Arabia has a moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19 transmission and preventive measures. A considerable proportion of the population reported the use of herbal products or food supplements in order to protect themselves from the disease. Policymakers are suggested to provide further educational campaigns that increase population knowledge about the disease transmission routes and preventive measures. In addition, the use of herbal products should be evidence-based to ensure patient safety.
How Previous Epidemics Enable Timelier COVID-19 Responses: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Organizational Memory Theory
Authors: Tsuei Sian Hsiang-Te
Published: June 2020

Introduction

There has been little systematic exploration of what affects timeliness of epidemic response, despite the potential for earlier responses to be more effective. Speculations have circulated that exposure to major epidemics helped health systems respond more quickly to COVID-19. This study leverages organizational memory theory to test whether health systems with any, more severe, more recent exposure to major epidemics enacted timelier COVID-19 policy responses.

Methods

A dataset was constructed cataloguing 846 policies across 178 health systems in total, 37 of which had major epidemics within the last twenty years. Hypothesis testing used OLS regressions with WHO region fixed effects, controlling for several health system expenditure and political variables.

Results

Results show that exposure to any major epidemics was significantly associated with providing earlier response in any category or for surveillance / response, distancing, and international travel policies when tested alone or with total number of cases. The effect was about six to ten days earlier response. The significance was largely nullified with additional independent variables. Both total cases and years since previous epidemics showed no statistical significance.

Conclusion

This study suggests that health systems may learn from past major epidemics. Policymakers ought to institutionalize lessons from COVID-19. Future studies can examine specific generalizable lessons and whether timelier responses correlated with lower health and economic impacts.

What is already known about this subject?

There has been little systematic exploration into what affects the timeliness of response to epidemics. For COVID-19, there has been speculation that previous exposure to major epidemics may have spurred timelier responses.

What are the new findings?

Applying organizational memory theory, this study identified policy response timeliness to COVID-19 was significantly associated with any past exposure to major epidemics within the last 20 years.

What are the recommendations for policy and practice?

The fact that any exposure to past epidemics is significantly associated with timelier responses suggest that health systems do learn from past mistakes. Institutionalizing the learnings through more permanent policies. Once COVID-19 fades, health systems may wish to revitalize the organizational memory through various exercises.
Optimization of fastener pattern in airframe assembly
Authors: Lupuleac Sergey , Pogarskaia Tatiana , Churilova Maria , Kokkolaras Michael , Bonhomme Elodie
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The authors consider the problem of optimizing temporary fastener patterns in aircraft assembly. Minimizing the number of fasteners while maintaining final product quality is one of the key enablers for intensifying production in the aerospace industry. The purpose of this study is to formulate the fastener pattern optimization problem and compare different solving approaches on both test benchmarks and rear wing-to-fuselage assembly of an Airbus A350-900.

Design/methodology/approach

The first considered algorithm is based on a local exhaustive search. It is proved to be efficient and reliable but requires much computational effort. Secondly, the Mesh Adaptive Direct Search (MADS) implemented in NOMAD software (Nonlinear Optimization by Mesh Adaptive Direct Search) is used to apply the powerful mathematical machinery of surrogate modeling and associated optimization strategy. In addition, another popular optimization algorithm called simulated annealing (SA) was implemented. Since a single fastener pattern must be used for the entire aircraft series, cross-validation of obtained results was applied. The available measured initial gaps from 340 different aircraft of the A350-900 series were used.

Findings

The results indicated that SA cannot be applicable as its random character does not provide repeatable results and requires tens of runs for any optimization analysis. Both local variations (LV) method and MADS have proved to be appropriate as they improved the existing fastener pattern for all available gaps. The modification of the MADS' search step was performed to exploit all the information the authors have about the problem.

Originality/value

The paper presents deterministic and probabilistic optimization problem formulations and considers three different approaches for their solution. The existing fastener pattern was improved.
Design and implementation of power and area optimized AES architecture on FPGA for IoT application
Authors: P. Rajasekar , H. Mangalam
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The growing trends in the usage of hand held devices necessitate the need to design them with low power consumption and less area design. Besides, information security is gaining enormous importance in information transmission and data storage technology. In addition, today’s technology world is connected, communicated and controlled via the Internet of Things (IoT). In many applications, the most standard and widely used cryptography algorithm for providing security is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This paper aims to design an efficient model of AES cryptography for low power and less area.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the main issues related to less area and low power consumption in the AES encryption core are addressed. To implement optimized AES core, the authors proposed optimized multiplicative inverse, affine transforms and Xtime multipliers functions, which are the core function of AES’s core. In addition, to achieve the high throughput, it uses the multistage pipeline and resource reuse architectures for SBox and Mixcolumn of AES.

Findings

The results of optimized AES architecture have revealed that the multistage pipe line and resource sharing are optimal design model in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation. It could provide high security with low power and area for IoT and wireless sensors networks.

Originality/value

This proposed optimized modified architecture has been implemented in FPGA to calculate the power, area and delay parameters. This multistage pipeline and resource sharing have promised to minimize the area and power.
Ability to identify extent of information need and access information as correlates of utilization of digital library resources by lecturers
Authors: Ikenwe Joy Iguehi , Anaehobi Sebastian Egbuna
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between lecturers’ ability to identify the extent of information need, access information and utilization of digital library resources in Federal Universities, Southern Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Correlational research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 6,653 lecturers’ with a sample size of 665 selected through proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Instruments for data collection were cognitive test and questionnaire used for utilization of digital library resources. Kuder–Richardson method was used to establish the internal reliability coefficient, yielding the score 0.77, 0.78, respectively, and Cronbach alpha for questionnaire yielding 0.81. Data collected were analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. In testing the hypotheses,p-value was used to determine the level of significance at the 0.05 alpha level.

Findings

The results show low positive relationship between abilities to identify the extent of information, access information in the utilization of digital library resources. The hypotheses were rejected, indicating a positive relationship between abilities to identify extent of information need, access information and utilization of digital library resources.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide novel facts that help to clarify existing uncertainties and ambiguity in the link between some elements of information literacy and the use of digital library resources in developing economies such as Nigeria.
Diversity in India: addressing caste, disability and gender
Authors: Haq Rana , Klarsfeld Alain , Kornau Angela , Ngunjiri Faith Wambura
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the diversity and equality perspectives from the national context of India and introduce a special issue about equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This special issue consists of six articles on current EDI issues in India. The first three of the contributions are focused on descriptions of diversity challenges and policies regarding caste and disabilities, while the remaining three papers address gender diversity.

Findings

In addition to providing an overview of this issue's articles, this paper highlights developments and current themes in India's country-specific equality and diversity scholarship. Drawing on the special issue's six papers, the authors show the relevance of Western theories while also pointing to the need for reformulation of others in the context of India.

Research limitations/implications

The authors conclude with a call to further explore diversity in India and to develop locally relevant, culture-sensitive theoretical frameworks. Religious and economic diversity should receive more attention in future diversity management scholarship in the Indian context.

Originality/value

How does India experience equality and diversity concepts? How are India's approaches similar or different from those experienced in other countries? How do theoretical frameworks originated in the West apply in India? Are new, locally grounded frameworks needed to better capture the developments at play? These questions are addressed by the contributions to this special issue.
Solar energy analysis in use and implementation in Mexico: a review
Authors: Silva Jorge Alejandro , Andrade María Antonieta
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how solar energy is harnessed and implemented in Mexico. This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the divergent literature presented into the subject with the themes being divided substantially.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used at least five methods in the identification of the studies with the first being the use of the SCImago Institution Ranking followed by the use of Scopus for journal evaluation. SCImago was used to determine the efficiency of the journals with the Newcastle Ottawa scale allowing for the evaluation of the different case study articles presented on Mexico. The fourth tool was a 21-item STROBE checklist after which the Web of Science was used to determine the authenticity levels of the identified articles.

Findings

The implementation of solar energy technologies is still novel in Mexico with private and public entities working together towards building sustainable options. In addition, it cites the divergent merits that might stem from the use of solar energy technologies.

Originality/value

A myriad of articles has been presented concerning solar energy in Mexico, but no attempt has been made to synthesize the evidence and arguments made in this significant body of research. The subsequent review is original with its findings being valuable for current and future research.
Key factors of carbon footprint in the UK food supply chains: a new perspective of life cycle assessment
Authors: Ferguson Aikins Emmanuel , Ramanathan Usha
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify key factors of UK food supply chains (SCs) that significantly contribute to CO2emissions (CO2e) taking into account the life cycle assessment (LCA). The UK food supply chain includes imports from other countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This research develops a conceptual framework from extant literature. Secondary data obtained from ONS and FAOSTAT covering from 1990 to 2014 are analysed using Multilinear Regression (MLR) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to identify the factors relating to CO2emissions significance, and the efficient contributions that are being made to their reduction in the UK food supply chains.

Findings

The study results suggest that Transportation and Sales/Distribution are the two key factors of CO2emissions in UK food supply chains. This is confirmed by two multivariate methods, MLR and SFA. MLR results show that transportation increases UK CO2emissions by 10 tonnes of CO2emissions from one tonne of fruits and vegetables imports from overseas to the UK Sales and Distribution reduces the UK CO2emissions by 1.3 tonnes of CO2emissions due to improved, technological operation activities in the UK. In addition, the SFA results confirm that the key factors are sufficient to predict an increase or decrease in CO2emissions in the UK food supply chains.

Research limitations/implications

This study has focused on the LCA of the UK food supply chain from limited data. Future studies should consider Sustainability Impact Assessment of the UK food supply chain, identifying the social, economic, regulatory and environmental impacts of the food supply chain using a re-defined LCA (all-inclusive assessment) tool.

Practical implications

This research suggests that food supply chain professionals should improve efficiency, e.g. the use of solar energy and biogas, and also integrate low-carbon policies and practices in food supply chain operations. Furthermore, governments should encourage policies such as mobility management programmes, urban redevelopment and privatisation to enhance better transportation systems and infrastructure to continuously reduce CO2e from the food trade.

Originality/value

Although logistics play a major role in CO2emissions, all logistics CO2emissions for other countries are not included in the ONS data. This research reveals some important insights into the UK food supply chains. Logistics and other food supply chain processes of importing countries significantly contribute to CO2emissions which are yet to be considered in the UK food SCs.
Q-Bot, the Quarantine Robot: Joint-media engagement between children and adults about quarantine living experiences
Authors: Tiwari Sonia
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Information about the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine can be challenging to communicate to children. The purpose of this study is to understand how a children’s eBook can help facilitate conversations between children, families and educators about the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A children’s eBook Q-Bot: The Quarantine Robot was shared by the researcher with parents and teachers through social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). The story provides information (based on CDC guidelines) on the best health and hygiene practices to avoid catching the virus, while also drawing attention to the hardworking people who are helping us through this experience. Data was collected as public comments on the eBook. Secondary data included other children’s eBooks available on the same theme and their public reviews.

Findings

Through open coding of comments, the researcher found that the children’s eBook helped in facilitation of discussion between children, parents and teachers; around the pandemic’s effects on health and hygiene practices; and remote learning experiences. A content analysis of other children’s books on this theme revealed a set of guidelines for designing helpful eBooks for pandemic quarantine situations in general.

Research limitations/implications

Education, media and health researchers may find this study helpful in understanding the potential of children’s eBooks as probes, prompts or communication tools.

Practical implications

Experts in pandemic-related issues, educators, illustrators and authors may find this study helpful in understanding guidelines for creating educational children’s eBooks for similar situations in the future.

Originality/value

Both theoretical and practical values are addressed through this study, as it provides helpful literature from past research, offers new insights from current study and guidelines for future work in narrative media design for the pandemic and other similar situations.
Promoting individual and group regulation through social connection: strategies for remote learning
Authors: MacMahon Stephanie , Leggett Jack , Carroll Annemaree
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In a classroom, the teacher and other students play an important role in regulating individual and group learning. However, the sudden shift to remote and online learning, as a result of social isolation during COVID-19, has created a social disconnect, making these immediate regulatory supports less accessible. A need was identified for strategies to support collaborative learning regulation when learning remotely and online.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on models of self-, co, and socially shared learning regulation, a series of resources were developed for students, teachers and parents to support effective online collaborative learning. These strategies embedded evidence-based principles of learning drawn from the learning sciences, including elaboration, retrieval, dual coding and concrete examples.

Findings

A set of ten student resources have been developed, accompanied by supporting information and strategies for teachers and families. These resources have been shared with schools across Australia.

Originality/value

These evidence-based strategies are valuable, as they are addressing an identified urgent community need. Based on the science of learning, these strategies are original in synthesising effective learning techniques with the three forms of learning regulation to encourage student connection and collaboration in online and remote learning.
Effects of enterprise social media usage on task performance through perceived task structure: the moderating role of perceived team diversity
Authors: Deng Manting , Liu Hefu , Huang Qian , Ding Guanqi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Organisations have widely adopted enterprise social media (ESM) to improve employees' task performance. This study aims to explore the mediating role of perceived task structure on the relationship between ESM usage and employee task performance. The authors investigate the moderating effects of perceived team diversity on the relationship between ESM usage and perceived task structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a questionnaire survey in China on 251 working professionals who use social media in their respective organisations.

Findings

Results showed that employees' perception of task structure considerably mediates the relationship between ESM usage and task performance. Findings also confirmed that perceived team diversity negatively affects the relationship between ESM usage and perceived task interdependence.

Research limitations/implications

Practitioners and/or managers should pay attention to the effect of ESM usage on employee's perceived task structure. Furthermore, they should focus on the level of team diversity when adopting ESM to enhance task performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the knowledge of perceived task structure in explaining the effect of ESM usage on task performance based on communication visibility theory. This work presents the relationship among ESM usage, perceived task structure, perceived team diversity and task performance. Moreover, this research enriches the literature on ESM usage by investigating the moderating roles of perceived team diversity whilst presenting the negative effects of perceived team diversity.
Artificial and real income smoothing around corporate governance reforms: further evidence from Egypt
Authors: Ibrahim Awad Elsayed Awad , Abdelfattah Tarek , Hussainey Khaled
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The authors examine whether managers switch from artificial income smoothing using discretionary accruals to real income smoothing around corporate governance reform in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprises 61 non-financial companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange for the years 2004–2011. The authors use discretionary accruals as a proxy for artificial income smoothing and income/loss from asset sales as a proxy for real income smoothing.

Findings

The authors offer a significant contribution to accounting literature by providing new empirical evidence on the trade-off between real smoothing technique (e.g. income/loss from asset sales) and discretionary accruals around governance reform in a developing country.

Research limitations/implications

This study suffers from some limitations. First, the study sample is limited to only 338 observations. However, this is due to collecting the data manually and to the small number of listed firms during the study period. Second, the study period ended in 2011 due to the unprecedented political instability after the 2011 Egyptian people revolution. Third, although this study examines the effect of corporate governance, not all the governance aspects have been examined in the study models due to the lack of data.

Practical implications

First, the results of the total samples reveal that managers prefer real income smoothing than accruals income smoothing. This result may confirm the literature arguments on the advantages of REM methods over AEM methods. Cohenet al.(2008) find that firms switch to manage earnings using REM methods and explain that REM methods are harder to detect because they depend on operating decisions (Schipper, 1989). REM can be undertaken anytime during the year (Gunny, 2010). Besides, REM could not be deemed a violation of accounting standards or regulations (MyVay, 2006).

Originality/value

The authors offer a significant contribution to accounting literature by providing new empirical evidence on the trade-off between real smoothing technique (e.g. income/loss from asset sales) and discretionary accruals around governance reform in a developing country.
Goods and services related brand image and B2B customer loyalty: effects of construal level
Authors: Kittur Prathamesh , Chatterjee Swagato
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Though extant literature has identified goods-based brand image (GBBI) and services-based brand image (SBBI) as drivers of business-to-business (B2B) loyalty, their relative importance has remained unexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have used a retrospective sampling-based methodology to collect data from B2B customers via an offline survey with a sample size of 125 purchase managers.

Findings

The authors found that both GBBI and SBBI have positive relationships with B2B loyalty, with customer satisfaction being the mediator. Using the construal level theory (CLT), the authors argue that the B2B purchase term, vendor–customer relationship strength and physical accessibility of the vendor are associated with the construal level of the purchase context. Further, the authors show that B2B customers give higher importance to GBBI in lower construal level and higher importance to SBBI in higher construal level. The authors have also found the moderated mediation effect of customer satisfaction in GBBI–loyalty and SBBI–loyalty relationships with construal level as moderator.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to extant literature of B2B branding and purchase decision-making by bringing in concepts of CLT. It also extends the literature of the GBBI–SBBI–loyalty relationship by bringing in newer results, which reassure the coexistence of goods-dominant and service-dominant logic in the B2B marketplace.

Practical implications

Important managerial implications have been discussed to help B2B managers in brand building, product–service design and relationship management.

Originality/value

This paper is a pioneer in using the CLT in the B2B purchase contexts. It also provides a theoretical and psychological underpinning of goods–service dilemmas in the B2B context, which is also noble.
Limited edition packaging: objectives, implementations and related marketing mix decisions of a scarcity product tactic
Authors: Dörnyei Krisztina Rita
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Marketing practitioners consider packaging as a promising marketing tool, but current academic research covers mostly regular packages. Filling this gap, this paper aims to analyze why and how companies use limited edition packaging (LEP), which is defined as a scarcity product tactic, using the package exclusively to create a limited offer.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a grounded theory methodology and used a qualitative collective case study design by analyzing 175 LEP launches in the beverage sector between 2000 and 2019.

Findings

The empirical-based conceptualization of LEP tactics provided here describes the crucial marketing dimensions in which strategic decisions are made regarding objective of release, implementation and related marketing mix decisions. Results show that LEP tactics serve parallel brands, sales and product strategy-related goals; LEPs are characterized by intensity, theme (occasion) and design characteristics, such as typicality, and marketers use various marketing mix combinations (i.e., pricing, distribution and advertising) in relation to the LEP offer.

Originality/value

To the best of author’s knowledge, it is the first conceptualization of this special type of scarcity tactic. This study also assists academics by providing an agenda for future research in this domain.
ICT adoption, competition and innovation of informal firms in West Africa: a comparative study of Ghana and Nigeria
Authors: Karakara Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel , Osabuohien Evans
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how ICT adoption enhances the innovativeness of informal firms in West Africa, using the cases of Ghana and Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the World Bank Enterprise Survey data 2014 for Ghana and Nigeria with binary logistic regression analysis to achieve this. Four different innovations are modelled. They include: first, whether a firm has innovated based on producing a new product or significantly improved product; second, whether a firm has innovated in its methods of production or services; third, whether a firm has innovated in terms of its organisational structure; and fourth, whether a firm has introduced a new and improved marketing method.

Findings

The results show that the use of email, cellphone and website has a positive impact on the four types of innovations modelled. However, these effects varied markedly between Ghana and Nigeria. Firms’ spending on research and development (R&D), firm giving its employees the chance to develop their ideas and when firm competes with others; all positively impact the four types of innovations. Thus, the study recommends that policies should be geared towards making firms have more access to ICTs to enable them to be more innovative to serve clients and the economy.

Originality/value

This study differs by concentrating on how the adoption of ICTs could help firms to introduce innovations into their companies in two West African countries, namely, Ghana and Nigeria. Thus, it complements literature on informal firms’ innovation efforts in West Africa.
Innovative scenario planning of petrochemical enterprises in the Iranian community
Authors: Ziyae Babak , Jusoh Rosnani , Madadian Hamidreza
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Research studies on futures studies have recently gained significant attention to create a desirable future based on the environmental change. Futures studies follow discovery, invention, presentation, test and evolution of possible, feasible and desirable futures. The purpose of this study is to examine some important aspects of the relationship between futures studies and planning and to present a model where futures scenarios have been developed as an integral part of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the lens of dynamic capabilities theory and creative system theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on interpretive structural modeling and Delphi technique, the most important trends, proponents and uncertainties of the future of 10 Iranian petrochemical SMEs is identified and related innovative scenarios are presented.

Findings

The findings show four scenarios on the petrochemical industry including attracting investment, the presence of the private sector, attracting people's capital and sustainable development of the petrochemical industry.

Originality/value

The paper undertakes a first of its kind cross-disciplinary conceptual analysis to design Innovative Scenario Planning for SMEs. Despite the importance of scenario planning in SMEs, theories for understanding the nexus of entrepreneurial future studies remain underdeveloped. Therefore, there is still a theoretical gap and lack of research; hence, the current study tries to shed light on the topic and fill the gap in the entrepreneurship literature.
Unraveling the impact of cultural distance on IT outsourcing success – insights from three major sourcing reconfigurations
Authors: Könning Michael , Strahringer Susanne , Westner Markus
Published: June 2020

Purpose

IT outsourcing (ITO) has developed into an established practice for organizations but the interorganizational and oftentimes international collaboration it involves comes at a price: Reports from academia and practice suggest that more than 25% of all ITO projects fail, many because of cultural differences between client and provider organizations. Against this background, this paper analyzes the complex nature of cultural distance and its multi-faceted effect on ITO success.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds upon extant literature on culture on the national, organizational and team level, conceptualizes its effect on relationship quality and ITO success, and hypothesizes a model on potential moderators and management techniques to offset culture-induced challenges. It then evaluates and refines the model by means of an interpretive qualitative research design for an in-depth single-case study of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE (P7S1), a leading European media company that reconfigured its IT sourcing model three times in 10 years.

Findings

The results from interviews with top managers from client and provider organizations represent one of the first integrated views on the critical importance of cultural compatibility on multiple levels, provide manifold examples for its complex effect on ITO success, as well as moderators and potential management techniques to promote ITO success.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes relevant empirical insights to the growing body of literature on culture and its underestimated role in ITO success. It builds on tentative theory that is confirmed and refined.

Practical implications

The paper helps in substantiating the complex and intangible nature of culture and demonstrates means for its effective management.

Originality/value

The results from interviews with top managers from client and provider organizations represent one of the first integrated views on the critical importance of cultural compatibility on multiple levels, provide manifold examples for its complex effect on ITO success, as well as moderators and potential management techniques to promote ITO success.
Student selectivity and higher education institutions credit ratings
Authors: Gottesman Aron , Ismailescu Iuliana
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relation between the creditworthiness of US institutions of higher education and their student selectivity (i.e. demand and quality).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors study whether the impact of student selectivity differs across public vs private universities; across the credit quality of the given public university’s state; and across the level of state appropriations for the given public university.

Findings

The authors find that student quality and demand measures are significantly associated with their corresponding institution’s creditworthiness, especially for private universities.

Originality/value

For public universities the association is weak and, contrary to the expectations, does not depend on the state credit quality or level of state funding. The findings are robust to the inclusion of control variables.
Role of FATF in spearheading AML and CFT
Authors: Murrar Firas , Barakat Khaled
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to define the role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) that combat money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) by measuring how well some Arab countries have complied with FATF’s “Forty Recommendations” with respect to the regulatory framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines the comparative analysis methodology with a descriptive analytical approach to compare three member countries of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF). It uses secondary data sources, namely, theoretical literature on the subject and FATF reports on mutual evaluation reports (MERs).

Findings

This study examined the variations in compliance with FATF standards among three member countries of MENAFATF: Bahrain, Morocco and Jordan. While Bahrain has almost completely fulfilled these standards, Morocco and Jordan have only partially fulfilled them. These variations in compliance are mainly attributed to the uneven level of readiness in the countries’ commitment to the legislative and regulatory requirements before the process of mutual evaluation.

Originality/value

Researchers can find several studies on the role of FATF and FSRBs in combating ML and TF. However, no studies have focussed on the application levels of FATF standards, which are relevant to the regulatory frameworks of member countries. This study makes a unique and vital contribution, as it demonstrates the effectiveness of applying the FATF standards.