bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood transcriptional module repertoire analysis and visualization using R
Authors: Rinchai Darawan , Roelands Jessica , Hendrickx Wouter , Altman Matthew C. , Bedognetti Davide , Chaussabel Damien
Published: July 2020

Transcriptional modules have been widely used for the analysis, visualization and interpretation of transcriptome data. We have previously described the construction and characterization of generic and reusable blood transcriptional module repertoires. The third and latest version that we have recently made available comprises 382 functionally annotated gene sets (modules) and encompasses 14,168 transcripts. We developed R scripts for performing module repertoire analyses and custom fingerprint visualization. These are made available here along with detailed descriptions. An illustrative public transcriptome dataset and corresponding intermediate output files are also included as supplementary material. Briefly, the steps involved in module repertoire analysis and visualization include: First, the annotation of the gene expression data matrix with module membership information. Second, running of statistical tests to determine for each module the proportion of its constitutive genes which are differentially expressed. Third, the results are expressed “at the module level” as percent of genes increased or decreased and plotted in a fingerprint grid format. A parallel workflow has been developed for computing module repertoire changes for individual samples rather than groups of samples. Such results are plotted in a heatmap format. The use case that is presented illustrates the steps involved in the generation of blood transcriptome repertoire fingerprints of septic patients at both group and individual levels.
Temporally integrated single cell RNA sequencing analysis of controlled and natural primary human DENV-1 infections
Authors: Waickman Adam T. , Friberg Heather , Gromowski Gregory D. , Rutvisuttinunt Wiriya , Li Tao , Siegfried Hayden , Victor Kaitlin , McCracken Michael K. , Fernandez Stefan , Srikiatkhachorn Anon , Ellison Damon , Jarman Richard G. , Thomas Stephen J. , Rothman Alan L. , Endy Timothy , Currier Jeffrey R.
Published: July 2020

Controlled dengue human infection studies present an opportunity to address many longstanding questions in the field of flavivirus biology. However, limited data are available on how the immunological and transcriptional response elicited by an attenuated challenge virus compares to that associated with a wild-type DENV infection. To bridge this knowledge gap, we utilized scRNAseq to analyze PBMC from individuals enrolled in a DENV-1 controlled human challenge study and from individuals experiencing a natural primary DENV-1 infection. While both controlled and natural DENV infection resulted in overlapping patterns of inflammatory gene upregulation, natural DENV infection was accompanied with a more pronounced suppression in gene products associated with protein translation and mitochondrial function, principally in monocytes. This suggests that the immune response elicited by controlled and natural primary DENV infection are similar, but that natural DENV infection has a more pronounced impact on basic cellular processes to induce a multi-layered anti-viral state
Longitudinal analysis of the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD in convalescent plasma donors
Authors: Perreault Josée , Tremblay Tony , Fournier Marie-Josée , Drouin Mathieu , Beaudoin-Bussières Guillaume , Prévost Jérémie , Lewin Antoine , Bégin Philippe , Finzi Andrés , Bazin Renée
Published: July 2020

Héma-Québec, the blood supplier in the Province of Quebec, Canada, collects and tests convalescent plasma used in a clinical trial to determine the clinical efficacy of this product for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. So far, we have collected 1159 plasma units from 282 COVID-19 convalescent donors. The presence of antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in convalescent donors was established at the first donation. Seropositive donors were asked to donate additional plasma units every six days. Until now, 15 donors have donated at least four times and, in some cases, up to nine times. This allowed us to perform a longitudinal analysis of the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific antibodies in these repeat donors, with the first donation occurring 33-77 days after symptoms onset and donations up to 71-114 days after symptoms onset thereafter. In all donors, the level of antibodies remained relatively stable up to about 76 days after symptoms onset but then started to decrease more rapidly to reach, in some convalescent donors, a seronegative status within 100-110 days after symptoms onset. The decline in anti-RBD antibodies was not related to the number of donations but strongly correlated with the numbers of days after symptoms onset (r = 0.821). This suggests that de novo secretion of SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibodies by short-lived plasma cells stopped about 2-3 months after disease onset, an observation that has important implications for convalescent plasma collection and seroprevalence studies undertaken several months after the peak of infection.
Vector dynamics influence spatially imperfect genetic interventions against disease
Authors: Yuksel Mete K , Remien Christopher H , Karki Bandita , Bull James J , Krone Stephen M
Published: July 2020

Background and objectives

Genetic engineering and similar technologies offer promising new approaches to controlling human diseases by blocking transmission from vectors. However, in spatially structured populations, imperfect coverage of the vector will leave pockets in which the parasite can persist. Yet movement by humans may disrupt this local persistence and facilitate eradication when these pockets are small, essentially distributing parasite reproduction out of unprotected areas and into areas that block its reproduction.

Methodology

We develop formal mathematical models of this process similar to standard Ross-Macdonald models, but (i) specifying spatial structure of two patches, with transmission blocked in one patch but not in the other, (ii) allowing temporary human movement (travel instead of migration), and (iii) considering two different modes of mosquito biting.

Results

We find that there is no invariant effect of disrupting spatial structure with travel. For both biting models, travel out of the unprotected patch has different consequences than travel by visitors into the patch, but the effects are reversed between the two biting models.

Conclusions and implications

Overall, the effect of human travel on the maintenance of vector-borne diseases in structured habitats must be considered in light of the actual biology of mosquito abundances and biting dynamics.

Lay summary

Genetic interventions against pathogens transmitted by insect vectors are promising methods of controlling infectious diseases. These interventions may be imperfect, leaving pockets where the parasite persists. How will human movement between protected and unprotected areas affect persistence? Mathematical models developed here show that the answer is ecology-dependent, depending on vector biting behavior.
Towards More Reliable Unsupervised Tissue Segmentation Via Integrating Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Hematoxylin-Erosin Stained Histopathological Image
Authors: Guo Ang , Chen Zhiyu , Li Fang , Li Wenbo , Luo Qian
Published: July 2020

Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) provides a useful tool to divide a tissue section into sub-regions with similar molecular profiles, namely tissue segmentation. However, owing to the lack of ground truth, there is no reliable evaluation approach to assess the validity of unsupervised segmentation outcomes of MSI. We propose a novel solution grounded on a presumption that a segmentation is reliable if it can be reproduced using distinct bio-information extracted from independent sources. Specifically, besides molecular information from MSI data, we also obtain morphological information over a tissue section from its Hematoxylin-Erosin (H&E) stained histopathological image. MSI has high molecular specificity but low spatial resolving power, the H&E image has no molecular specificity but it can capture microscopic details of the tissue with a spatial resolution two magnitudes higher than MSI. The whole H&E image is split into an array of small patches, which correspond to the spatial pixels of MSI. A spectrum of informative morphological features is computed iteratively for each patch and spatial segmentation can be generated by clustering the patches based on their morphological similarities. Adjusted Mutual Information (AMI) score measures the degree of agreement between MSI-based and H&E image-based segmentation outcomes, which is defined by us as an objective and quantitative evaluation metric of segmentation validity. We investigated various candidate morphological features: a combination of Deep Convolution Neural Network (DCNN) features and handcrafted Threshold Adjacency Statistics (TAS) features finally stood out. The most appropriate number of tissue segments was also determined according to AMI score. Moreover, we introduced Co-Clustering algorithm to MSI data to simultaneously group m/z variables and spatial pixels, so potential biomarkers associated to each sub-region were discovered without the need of further analysis. Eventually, by integrating the segmentation outcomes based on MSI and H&E image data, the confidence level of the segment assignment was displayed for each pixel, which offered a much more informative and compelling way to present the segmentation results.
Crystal structure of a novel one-dimensional zigzag chain-like cobalt(II) coordination polymer constructed from 4,4′-bipyridine and 2-hydroxybenzoate ligands
Authors: Saelim Thawanrat , Chainok Kittipong , Kielar Filip , Wannarit Nanthawat
Published: July 2020

A novel one-dimensional zigzag chain-like CoII coordination polymer constructed from 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) and 2-hydroxybenzoate (2-OHbenz) ligands, namely, catena-poly[[(4,4′-bipyridine-κN)(μ-2-hydroxybenzoato-κ2
O:O′)(2-hydroxybenzoato-κ2
O,O′)cobalt(II)]-μ-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2
N:N′-[aquahemi(μ-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2
N:N′)(2-hydroxybenzoato-κO(2-hydroxybenzoato-κ2
O:O′)cobalt(II)], [Co2(C7H5O3)4(C10H8N2)2.5(H2O)]
n
, has been synthesized by reacting cobalt(II) nitrate trihydrate, 4,4′-bpy and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid in a mixture of water and methanol at room temperature. There are two independent CoII centers, Co1 and Co2, in the asymmetric unit, revealing a distorted octahedral geometry with chromophore types of [CoN2O4] and [CoN2O3O′], respectively. The Co1 ions are doubly bridged by 2-OHbenz ligands with syn–anti coordination mode, generating a dinuclear unit. The bridging 4,4′-bpy ligands connect these dinuclear units and the mononuclear Co2 chromophores, providing a one-dimensional alternating zigzag chain-like structure. In the crystal, intermolecular hydrogen bonds, C—H...π and π–π stacking interactions are observed and these help to consolidate the packing. In addition, the physical properties of the title compound are reported.
Tris[N,N-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)dithiocarbamato-κ2
S,S′]-μ3-sulfido-tris-μ2-disulfido-triangulo-trimolybdenum(IV) iodide
Authors: Chen Yueli , Wang Bo , Fontenot Patricia , Donahue James P.
Published: July 2020

The title compound, [Mo3(C31H46NS2)3S7]I, crystallizes on a threefold rotational axis in P31c (space group No. 159). The [Mo3S7(S2CN(CH2C6H3-3,5-
t
Bu2)2)3]+ cations are arrayed in sheets in the ab plane with interligand hydrophobic interactions between tert-butyl groups guiding the packing arrangement. These cations form stacks parallel to the c axis with a separating distance of 10.9815 (6) Å (the c axis length) between the Mo3 centroids. On the underside of the cluster, opposite the μ3-S2− ligand, the iodide counteranion forms close contacts of 3.166 (2) Å with the sulfur atoms of the μ2-S2
2− ligands. These contacts are less than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the atoms (1.8 and 2.1 Å for S and I, respectively), thus indicating an appreciable degree of covalency to the [Mo3S7(S2CN(CH2C6H3-3,5-
t
Bu2)2)3]+...I− interactions.
Corporate communication and media coverage of abnormal returns – evidence from the Portuguese capital market
Authors: Alves Carlos Francisco , Silva Ana Luísa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Investor relations literature reports that after an era that “the higher the stock price, the better”, currently investor relations entered into a new era where “overvaluation is perhaps as bad as undervaluation” (Laskin, 2018a, p. 19). This paper searches for evidence on whether news coverage around abnormal returns indicates that corporate communication effectively seek fair value prices.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data of the Portuguese market, it investigates if the news coverage and the investor relations' influence on such coverage (namely as a source of the news) are symmetrical before and after extreme abnormal positive or negative returns. This paper uses event study methodology, performs content analysis and applies statistical and econometric analyses.

Findings

The findings are consistent with the idea that companies communicate differently in face of positive and negative abnormal returns. Particularly, before the event, companies are more frequently cited as a source of the news for positive events. This indicates that companies seek to capitalize the positive impact of the favourable subsequent disclosures. After the occurrence of abnormal returns, companies are more often a source of the news for negative cases, seeking to mitigate their impact. Additionally, after negative events companies are more frequently mentioned in the news with a positive content than they are mentioned before.

Social implications

The new approach of this study allows the companies' information stakeholders (namely investors and regulators) to become more informed and critical in the analysis of news coverage and its sources.

Originality/value

As far as the authors of the paper know, this is the first study that addresses the question of eventual asymmetric behaviour of companies’ communication in face of positive and negative abnormal returns.
Pricing of illicit drugs on darknet markets: a conceptual exploration
Authors: Zaunseder Andreas , Bancroft Angus
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Trading illicit drugs on cryptomarkets differs in many ways from material retail markets. This paper aims to contribute to existing studies on pricing by studying the relationship between price changes in relation to changes in nominal value of the cryptocurrency. To this, the authors qualitatively study product descriptions and images to expand the knowledge on price formation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed 15 samples based on visual and textual scrapes from two major drug markets – for Dream Market between January 2014 and July 2015 and for Tochka between January 2015 and July 2015. This longitudinal study relates changes in process to variations in the Bitcoin exchange rate and selling strategies. The analysis of the marketing of drugs online also addressed the development of the vendor profile and product offers.

Findings

Product prices change in relation to variations in the Bitcoin exchange rate. This points to the application of mechanisms for automatic price adaptations on the market level. Real prices of the drug offers constantly increase. The authors assert that there is a bidirectional relationship. Vendors structure price and discounts to encourage feedback. And feedback in combination with signals of commitment and authenticity inform pricing. Product descriptions are an important feature in the successful marketization of goods, whereas product images are predominantly used as an aspect of recognisability and feature of the vendor’s identity.

Research limitations/implications

Findings suggest that there is great potential for further qualitative research into the relationship between the online and offline identity of drug vendors, as well as price setting when entering the market and subsequent changes for offered products.

Practical implications

Findings also suggest that further investigation into the constitution and management of vendor’s identity on the cryptomarkets would allow a better understanding of vendors and their interactions on cryptomarkets.

Social implications

A better understanding of drug trading on cryptomarkets helps to more effectively address potentials for harm in the online drug trade. Also targetting crime would benefit from a better understanding of vendor idenities and pricing.

Originality/value

The findings represent a valuable contribution to existing knowledge on drug trading on cryptomarkets, particularly in view of pricing and vending strategies.
The relationship between cooperative and competitive behavioral tendencies and trust in coworkers
Authors: Ömüriş Ece , Erdem Ferda , Özen Aytemur Janset
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between cooperative and competitive behavioral tendencies and trust of coworkers in organizations. Two main hypotheses were developed. The first hypothesis was that cooperativeness and trust in coworkers is positively correlated. The second hypothesis was that competitiveness and trust in coworkers is negatively correlated.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample was 442 Turkish tourism sector employees in a labor-intensive industry. Two scales were used to measure trust in coworkers and cooperativeness/competitiveness. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to understand how individuals' behavioral tendency affects their coworkers' trust in them.

Findings

The findings strongly supported the first hypothesis, in that cooperativeness was positively correlated with trust in coworkers. The second hypothesis was only partially supported because there was no significant relationship between competitiveness and the competency and trustworthiness dimensions of trust. Unselfishness aspect of trust, however, was negatively correlated with competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The main contribution of this study is to show that employee cooperativeness and competitiveness can affect trust in coworker relations. However, the measurement of competitiveness and cooperativeness measurement had limitations due to differences in the culture-specific meanings of cooperation and competition. Future research employing mixed methods research is needed to further explain the content of the two tendencies and the relationship between the concepts.

Originality/value

The literature on trust and employee relations tends to focus more on the issue of trust between managers and subordinates while neglecting the complex and multifaceted structure of trust in employee–employer relations. However, new working forms mean that horizontal relations are increasingly important. Therefore, more research is needed to address the tendencies and structures that affect trust in coworkers. This study draws attention to the potential role of cooperative and competitive behaviors in trust in horizontal employee relations.
A higher order scheme for singularly perturbed delay parabolic turning point problem
Authors: Yadav Swati , Rai Pratima
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to construct and analyze a parameter uniform higher-order scheme for singularly perturbed delay parabolic problem (SPDPP) of convection-diffusion type with a multiple interior turning point.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors construct a higher-order numerical method comprised of a hybrid scheme on a generalized Shishkin mesh in space variable and the implicit Euler method on a uniform mesh in the time variable. The hybrid scheme is a combination of simple upwind scheme and the central difference scheme.

Findings

The proposed method has a convergence rate of order

O(N−2L2+Δt). Further, Richardson extrapolation is used to obtain convergence rate of order two in the time variable. The hybrid scheme accompanied with extrapolation is second-order convergent in time and almost second-order convergent in space up to a logarithmic factor.

Originality/value

A class of SPDPPs of convection-diffusion type with a multiple interior turning point is studied in this paper. The exact solution of the considered class of problems exhibit two exponential boundary layers. The theoretical results are supported via conducting numerical experiments. The results obtained using the proposed scheme are also compared with the simple upwind scheme.
Qué Centralizar Y Qué No Centralizar: Esa Es La Cuestión En El Contexto De Una Escuela De Administración
Authors: Rivas Luz Maria , Correa Stefania
Published: July 2020

Learning outcomes

Comprender el dilema gerencial sobre la centralización y la descentralización. Reconocer las particularidades de un centro de servicios compartidos 3. Decidir qué procesos centralizar en un centro de servicios compartidos;

Case overview/synopsis

Centralizar o no centralizar es un dilema gerencial frecuente. Este es un reto que se aborda no solo desde la gerencia sino desde distintas áreas de nivel corporativo con responsabilidad de administrar conjuntamente varios negocios. La asignación de recursos y capacidades es un proceso fundamental para la ejecución de la estrategia, en particular la estrategia corporativa que debe responder a la pregunta ¿Cómo administrar conjuntamente los negocios? Los servicios compartidos son una estrategia colaborativa que tiene como propósito el incremento de la eficiencia por la centralización de algunos procesos asociados a la administración conjunta de varias unidades de negocio. Mario, Decano de la Escuela de Administración de la Universidad Empresarial en Medellín, Colombia, se propone optimizar la asignación de recursos de la escuela de manera que haya un apoyo más equitativo entre los diferentes programas académicos. Para ello ha pensado crear un centro de servicios compartidos (CSC) pues es una práctica que ha visto en empresas destacadas de la ciudad. Su idea es empezar a operar el CSC a inicios de 2018, sin embargo, el carácter particular de una escuela de administración lo lleva a preguntarse: Qué centralizar y qué no centralizar.

Complexity academic level

Este caso de decisión (Ellet, 2007; Sánchez et al., 2013) puede ser utilizado para promover el aprendizaje de estudiantes de cursos de estrategia tanto en niveles avanzados de pregrado como en programas de posgrado. Así mismo, se puede utilizar en talleres con ejecutivos y personal administrativo de empresas que enfrentan el dilema centralizar-descentralizar. Este tipo de temas son objeto de estudio tanto de los teóricos de la estrategia corporativa que se ocupa de la pregunta sobre cómo administrar conjuntamente los negocios (Menz et al., 2015; Michael Porter, 1987) y consultores (Deloitte, 2012). Es deseable, aunque no es obligatorio, que los estudiantes tengan algún conocimiento o experiencia en temas de estrategia y retos asociados a la administración de empresas conformadas por varios negocios (empresas multinegocios).

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS: 11: Strategy.
Grey linear programming: a survey on solving approaches and applications
Authors: Darvishi Davood , Liu Sifeng , Yi-Lin Forrest Jeffrey
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to survey and express the advantages and disadvantages of the existing approaches for solving grey linear programming in decision-making problems.

Design/methodology/approach

After presenting the concepts of grey systems and grey numbers, this paper surveys existing approaches for solving grey linear programming problems and applications. Also, methods and approaches for solving grey linear programming are classified, and its advantages and disadvantages are expressed.

Findings

The progress of grey programming has been expressed from past to present. The main methods for solving the grey linear programming problem can be categorized as Best-Worst model, Confidence degree, Whitening parameters, Prediction model, Positioned solution, Genetic algorithm, Covered solution, Multi-objective, Simplex and dual theory methods. This survey investigates the developments of various solving grey programming methods and its applications.

Originality/value

Different methods for solving grey linear programming problems are presented, where each of them has disadvantages and advantages in providing results of grey linear programming problems. This study attempted to review papers published during 35 years (1985–2020) about grey linear programming solving and applications. The review also helps clarify the important advantages, disadvantages and distinctions between different approaches and algorithms such as weakness of solving linear programming with grey numbers in constraints, inappropriate results with the lower bound is greater than upper bound, out of feasible region solutions and so on.
Feedback trading strategies in international real estate markets
Authors: Balomenou Chrysanthi , Babalos Vassilios , Vortelinos Dimitrios , Koulakiotis Athanasios
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Motivated by recent evidence that securitized real estate returns exhibit higher levels of predictability than stock market returns and that feedback trading (FT) can induce returns autocorrelation and market volatility, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of FT strategies on long-term market volatility of eight international real estate markets (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong).

Design/methodology/approach

Assuming that the return autocorrelation may vary over time and the impact of positive feedback trading (PFT) or negative feedback trading (NFT) could be a function of return volatility, the authors use a combination of a FT model and a fractionally integrated Generalized AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model.

Findings

The results are mixed, revealing that both PFT and NFT strategies persist. Specifically, the authors detect PFT in the real estate markets of France, Hong Kong and Italy as opposed to the real estate markets of Australia, Germany, Japan and Sweden where NFT was present. A noteworthy exception is the UK real estate market, with important and rational FT strategies to sustain. With respect to the long-term volatility persistence, this seems to capture the mean reversion of real estate returns in the UK and Hong Kong markets. In general, the results are not consistent with those reported in previous studies because NFT dominates PFT in the majority of real estate markets under consideration.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is the investigation of the link between short-term PFT or NFT and long-term volatility in eight international real estate markets, symmetrically. Particular attention has been given to the link between short-term FT and long-term volatility, by means of a fractionally integrated GARCH approach, a symmetric one. Moreover, investigating the relationship between returns’ volatility and investors’ strategies based on FT entails significant implications because real estate assets offer a good alternative investment for many investors and speculators.
An improved rank criterion-based NLOS node detection mechanism in VANETs
Authors: Janakiraman Sengathir
Published: July 2020

Purpose

An Improved Rank Criterion-based NLOS node Detection Mechanism (IRC-NLOS-DM) is proposed based on the benefits of a reputation model for effective localization of NLOS nodes during the dynamic exchange of emergency messages in critical situations.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed IRC-NLOS-DM scheme derives the benefits of a reputation model that influentially localizes the NLOS nodes under dynamic exchange of emergency messages. This proposed IRC-NLOS-DM scheme is an attempt to resolve the issues with the routing protocols that aids in warning message delivery of vehicles that are facing NLOS situations with the influence of channel contention and broadcast storm. It is developed for increasing the warning packet delivery rate with minimized overhead, delay and channel utilization.

Findings

The simulation results of the proposed IRC-NLOS-DM scheme confirmed the excellence of the proposed IRC-NLOS-DM over the existing works investigated based on the channel utilization rate, neighborhood prediction rate and emergency message forwarding rate.

Practical implications

It is proposed for reliable warning message delivery in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) which is referred as the specialized category of mobile ad hoc network application that influences Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and wireless communications. It is proposed for implementing vehicle safety applications for constructing a least cluttered and a secure environment on the road.

Originality/value

It is contributed as a significant mechanism for facilitating reliable dissemination of emergency messages between the vehicular nodes, which is essential in the critical environment to facilitate a risk-free environment. It also aids in creating a reliable environment for accurate localization of Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) nodes that intentionally introduces the issues of broadcasting storm and channel congestion during the process of emergency message exchanges.
An empirical study on expatriation success of MNCs: evidence from Japan
Authors: Zhou Yanghua
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address the research gap and quantitatively examine how the psychological contracts (PCs) between Japanese expatriates and Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) influence the expatriation success of both Japanese expatriates and Japanese MNCs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study constitutes exploratory research, using a quantitative analysis as the main research method and a qualitative approach as a complement. A questionnaire survey was conducted, and data from 100 Japanese expatriate respondents were analyzed.

Findings

The results indicate that the fulfillment of PCs is indeed important for expatriation success. The age factor of expatriates also has significant impact on expatriation success. There is no complementary relationship between the fulfillment of Japanese expatriates and MNCs.

Research limitations/implications

Other organization variables may also be considered. Future research could also examine organizations' perceptions of Japanese expatriates' fulfillment of PCs. It is necessary for developing advanced methods to conduct increasingly precise research and provide improved methodological contributions.

Practical implications

The efforts of both individual expatriates and MNCs are therefore indispensable to achieve successful expatriation. Attention should be paid to the training and development of younger expatriates.

Originality/value

This study allows the author to address the gap in studies regarding the expatriation success of both Japanese MNCs and expatriates from the perspective of PCs. This study has created a scale to measure the expatriation success. This study explores the interaction effect of the fulfillment of PCs by expatriates and MNCs, which has not been addressed in the literature on expatriation success.
Service quality evaluation of automobile garages using a structural approach
Authors: James Ajith Tom , James Jasmin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the service quality automobile garages through development of a service quality index based on the factors influencing service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural methodology of graph theory and matrix approach is applied for developing the service quality index.

Findings

The automobile maintenance can be considered as a service industry and in order to sustain in the competitive business environment, the service providers must ensure quality in their services. There are several factors that influence the service quality. Each factor is comprised of several sub-factors. Moreover, the factors are interrelated with each other. Modelling of these factors and their interrelations with due consideration of their structure is accomplished through the graph theory. The directed graph (digraph) of the service quality is defined; the nodes of this symbolize the quality influencing factors, while the edges represent their degrees of interrelationships. An equivalent matrix developed from the digraph establishes a service quality function which leads to evaluation of service quality index (SQI). A greater value of the service quality index displays that the organization and functioning of the garage is adequate.

Practical implications

The methodology can be applied for evaluating as well as comparing service quality of different garages. The observations would be helpful to the managers the garages to make strategies for improving their service quality.

Originality/value

The paper establishes the interrelations among various factors that influence the service quality at automobile garages and develop a numeric index for the evaluation of the same.
The effectiveness of integrating technology in EFL/ESL writing: a meta-analysis
Authors: Al-Wasy Baleigh Qassem
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight a research on integrating technology into teaching and learning of second/foreign language writing.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 18 empirical studies, involving a total of 1,281 second and foreign language learners, have been reviewed. These studies are selected from the following two databases: Web of Science and Google Scholar. The meta-analysis investigates how effect sizes vary depending on these moderators as follows: stage of writing, language context, learners’ educational level and language proficiency level.

Findings

The findings of this meta-analysis have indicated that technology has a large effect on second/foreign language writing (d= 1.7217). These findings have also revealed that the two stages of writing, drafting and editing, have received most of the researchers’ concern. In addition, high school and university learners have achieved a larger effect size of using technology in writing learning; beginner learners have achieved the smallest effect size.

Originality/value

To sum, the previous meta-analyses and reviews tried to explore the effect of computer on writing skills. However, some of them were limited to special groups (Williams and Beam, 2019) and some others analyzed very few studies (Littleet al., 2018). Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the effect of implementing technology in writing skills is needed. The purpose of this study is to perform a meta-analysis of the primary studies about the integration of technology into writing skills. The primary goals of this meta-analysis were to: examine the overall effects of implementing technology in writing; synthesize the relationship between technology and a number of moderators such as stages of writing, language context, learners’ target language proficiency and learners’ educational level (school and university).
Examining the dynamics of industry–university collaborations in Ghana
Authors: Muparadzi Albertina , Caesar Livingstone Divine
Published: July 2020

Purpose

University–industry (UI) collaborations are now a crucial issue as universities explore innovative means to secure industry funding for research and improve the employability content of existing curricula. This paper explores the dynamics of the antecedents of UI collaborations in management education. It further investigates the moderating variables (motivation, national policy and institutional factors) that are likely to influence the positive relationship between the antecedents of collaboration and the intention to collaborate.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey sent to 300 participants in academia and industry in Ghana achieved an 83% response rate. The data was analysed using bivariate and multivariate techniques.

Findings

The results revealed a positive relationship between knowledge sharing, trust, communication and motivation for UI collaborations. Motivation did not have a moderating effect on the positive relationship between any of the five independent variables and UI collaborations. Institutional factors were found to moderate the positive relationship between knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Practical implications

Policy to encourage UI collaborations should build on reputational and intrinsic rather than purely financial motivations as academics are motivated by a complex mix of monetary and non-monetary factors.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the need for an intricate alignment of the interests of academia and practitioners to encourage UI collaboration efforts.
Unbundling interest rate and bank credit nexus on income inequality: structural break analysis from Nigeria
Authors: Adeleye Bosede Ngozi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Income inequality stalls economic growth with undesirable socio-economic consequences. Despite various measures targeted towards reducing the inequality gap, disparities in income distribution persist in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to explore a new line of argument to the finance mechanism in reducing income inequality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses time-series data on Nigeria from 1980 to 2015 with analysis conducted using the autoregressive distributed lag-error correction model approach of Pesaran et al. (2001).

Findings

The results show amongst others that the channel of real interest rate on income inequality is through bank credit, real interest rate has an indirect relationship to income inequality and bank credit has an equalising impact on income inequality when the model is augmented for a structural break. The results show amongst others, that, on average, ceteris paribus, a 1% point increase in the real lending interest rate is associated with a 0.45% decline in the volume of bank credit.

Originality/value

This paper engages a new line of argument by unbundling how financial intermediation impacts on income inequality. The extant literature submits that finance directly impacts income inequality, whereas this study investigates further to show that interest rate impacts income inequality through bank credit. That is, the transmission mechanism by which finance affects income inequality is modelled and analysed.
CSR perception and revisit intention: the roles of trust and commitment
Authors: Ahn Jiseon , Kwon Jookyung
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the essential marketing activities in the hotel industry, the effect of CSR perception on customer's revisit intention varies depending on mediators and contexts. Thus, this study aims to examine how hotel companies can effectively influence customers' patronage behaviors by leveraging overall customers' CSR perception, trust and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, an online survey is conducted among hotel customers in the USA. Partial least squares–structural equation modeling is utilized to analyze the collected data.

Findings

The results show that customers' perception toward CSR does not have a direct effect on customers' revisit intention. Interestingly, the authors find that customers' perception influences their revisit intention only via increasing trust and commitment. Also, trust appears to be highly critical for positive behavioral outcomes than commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the current research are that the different types of CSR activities and customers' demographics were not compared.

Practical implications

Customers' revisit intention is created when hotel companies provide not only CSR initiatives but also customers' perceived connection with the hotel brand.

Originality/value

Tourism and hospitality companies have focused on CSR activities because CSR activities are influential strategies to attract customers who want meaningful, responsible and sustainable experiences. By applying the cognitive consistency theory, the results of this study indicate that hotel companies can successfully use CSR activities to develop customers' revisit intention by enhancing their relational value.
The surveillance of a supreme audit institution on related party transactions
Authors: Cesário Gustavo , Cardoso Ricardo Lopes , Aranha Renato Santos
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse how the supreme audit institution (SAI) monitors related party transactions (RPTs) in the Brazilian public sector. It considers definitions and disclosure policies of RPTs by international accounting and auditing standards and their evolution since 1980.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on archival research on international standards and using an interpretive approach, the authors investigated definitions and disclosure policies. Using a topic model based on latent Dirichlet allocation, the authors performed a content analysis on over 59,000 SAI decisions to assess how the SAI monitors RPTs.

Findings

The SAI investigates nepotism (a kind of RPT) and conflicts of interest up to eight times more frequently than related parties. Brazilian laws prevent nepotism and conflicts of interest, but not RPTs in general. Indeed, Brazilian public-sector accounting standards have not converged towards IPSAS 20, and ISSAI 1550 does not adjust auditing procedures to suit the public sector.

Research limitations/implications

The SAI follows a legalistic auditing approach, indicating a need for regulation of related public-sector parties to improve surveillance. In addition to Brazil, other code law countries might face similar circumstances.

Originality/value

Public-sector RPTs are an under-investigated field, calling for attention by academics and standard-setters. Text mining and latent Dirichlet allocation, while mature techniques, are underexplored in accounting and auditing studies. Additionally, the Python script created to analyse the audit reports is available at Mendeley Data and may be used to perform similar analyses with minor adaptations.
Maestros and mythologies: some lockdown reflections
Authors: Lizieri Colin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The paper reflects upon the tendency of participants in the commercial real estate markets to give excess status to individuals in decision-making and to hold beliefs that are at best weakly supported empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is reflexive in nature, using experiential reflection to consider institutional processes in the real estate market. It is important to use “methodology” correctly and not as a synonym of “method”.

Findings

Using reflexive mode, the paper does not have “findings” as such: if the views expressed are accepted, then a research agenda to understand decision-making processes is implied.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of reflection is that it follows from the writer's experiential processes and interpretations. The reader may come from a different stance. Broadly accepting the propositions points to the need for a contextual analysis of decision-making processes in private real estate and consideration of the implications of privileging individual idiosyncratic decisions over analytic procedures.

Practical implications

Prior research has demonstrated the lack of a back-testing culture in real estate that would allow empirical analysis of the consequences of “gut feel” decisions overriding modelled analysis; further, entrenched beliefs about the drivers of market performance might result in misallocation of resources.

Social implications

Resource allocation in commercial real estate has important consequences for land use and urban and regional development.

Originality/value

The paper reflects the views and experience of the author based on over 30 years of research into commercial real estate.
Exploring the mediating role of work engagement between the linkages of job characteristics with organizational engagement and job satisfaction
Authors: Rai Alka , Maheshwari Sunil
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically test a hypothesized model establishing job characteristics as an antecedent of work engagement leading to job satisfaction and organizational engagement of employees working with public sector banks (PSBs) in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on responses to a survey questionnaire by a sample of 622 Scale I employees of Indian PSBs, the hypothesized mediation model was tested with SPSS macro (Preacher and Hayes, 2004).

Findings

The testing of hypotheses established that job characteristics positively influence work engagement, organizational engagement and job satisfaction. The full mediation by work engagement between the relationships of job characteristics with job satisfaction and organizational engagement is established after the testing of mediation hypotheses.

Practical implications

Jobs of banks (especially in the public sector) are recommended to be enriched with more emphasis on offering employees with identifiable and significant tasks that have autonomy in decision-making and feedback. PSBs should also focus on developing a positive perception of employees toward job design, to increase their levels of job satisfaction and organizational engagement through engaging them with work.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study should be understood in many ways. First, the study has introduced work engagement as a mediator in the study model (between job characteristics and job satisfaction) replacing the three psychological conditions (i.e. experienced meaningfulness, experienced responsibility and knowledge of results) of job characteristics model. Further, the main contribution of this study is the exploration of the linkage between work engagement and organizational engagement. The relationship between these two forms of engagement (i.e. work and organization) has been very rarely investigated in the literature. Finally, this study has attempted to hypothesize a model proposing work engagement as a mediator between the job characteristics and organization engagement which does not seem to be studied so far.
Exploring the Bi-directional relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in Indian context
Authors: Maqbool Shafat , Hurrah Shabir Ahmad
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance from the bi-directional perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The final sample for this study are 79 companies listed in the national stock exchange for a period of eight-years (2008–2015). Random effect panel regression was performed to examine the possible link.

Findings

The result shows that CSR has a positive impact on the contemporaneous and future financial performance of the selected companies. Further, the study shows that only social dimension has a positive and significant impact on concurrent and future financial performance. The results further validate slack resource theory as lagged financial performance has a positive and significant impact on CSR.

Practical implications

The strategic value of CSR indicates that it should be seen as a value-enhancing strategy, and therefore, incorporated with the broader corporate strategy of the company. Companies should not trade-off between CSR and financial performance, rather a strategic synchronization of CSR with corporate functioning is essential. This will pave a way to build a stakeholder-sense in the corporate entities.

Originality/value

The study comprehensively examines the relationship between CSR and financial performance from both “prospective” and “retrospective” framework. This bi-directional approach has received minimal attention in the Indian context.