bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human VMPFC encodes early signatures of confidence in perceptual decisions
Authors: Gherman Sabina , Philiastides Marios G.
Published: November 2017

Choice confidence, an individual’s internal estimate of judgment accuracy, plays a critical role in adaptive behaviour. Despite its importance, the early (decisional) stages of confidence processing remain underexplored. Here, we recorded simultaneous EEG/fMRI while participants performed a direction discrimination task and rated their confidence on each trial. Using multivariate single-trial discriminant analysis of the EEG, we identified a stimulus- and accuracy-independent component encoding confidence, appearing prior to subjects’ choice and explicit confidence report. The trial-to-trial variability in this EEG-derived confidence signal was uniquely associated with fMRI responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), a region not typically associated with confidence for perceptual decisions. Furthermore, we showed that the VMPFC was functionally coupled with regions of the prefrontal cortex that support neural representations of confidence during explicit metacognitive report. Our results suggest that the VMPFC encodes an early confidence readout, preceding and potentially informing metacognitive evaluation and learning, by acting as an implicit value/reward signal.
Common risk variants identified in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Grove Jakob , Ripke Stephan , Als Thomas D. , Mattheisen Manuel , Walters Raymond , Won Hyejung , Pallesen Jonatan , Agerbo Esben , Andreassen Ole A. , Anney Richard , Belliveau Rich , Bettella Francesco , Buxbaum Joseph D. , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Bækved-Hansen Marie , Cerrato Felecia , Chambert Kimberly , Christensen Jane H. , Churchhouse Claire , Dellenvall Karin , Demontis Ditte , De Rubeis Silvia , Devlin Bernie , Djurovic Srdjan , Dumont Ashle , Goldstein Jacqueline , Hansen Christine S. , Hauberg Mads Engel , Hollegaard Mads V. , Hope Sigrun , Howrigan Daniel P. , Huang Hailiang , Hultman Christina , Klei Lambertus , Maller Julian , Martin Joanna , Martin Alicia R. , Moran Jennifer , Nyegaard Mette , Nærland Terje , Palmer Duncan S. , Palotie Aarno , Pedersen Carsten B. , Pedersen Marianne G. , Poterba Timothy , Poulsen Jesper B. , St Pourcain Beate , Qvist Per , Rehnström Karola , Reichenberg Avi , Reichert Jennifer , Robinson Elise B. , Roeder Kathryn , Roussos Panos , Saemundsen Evald , Sandin Sven , Satterstrom F. Kyle , Smith George D. , Stefansson Hreinn , Stefansson Kari , Steinberg Stacy , Stevens Christine , Sullivan Patrick F. , Turley Patrick , Walters G. Bragi , Xu Xinyi ,   Autism Spectrum Disorders Working Group of The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, BUPGEN, Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, 23andMe Research Team, Geschwind Daniel , Nordentoft Merete , Hougaard David M. , Werge Thomas , Mors Ole , Mortensen Preben Bo , Neale Benjamin M. , Daly Mark J. , Børglum Anders D.
Published: November 2017

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable and heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental phenotypes diagnosed in more than 1% of children. Common genetic variants contribute substantially to ASD susceptibility, but to date no individual variants have been robustly associated with ASD. With a marked sample size increase from a unique Danish population resource, we report a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 18,381 ASD cases and 27,969 controls that identifies five genome-wide significant loci. Leveraging GWAS results from three phenotypes with significantly overlapping genetic architectures (schizophrenia, major depression, and educational attainment), seven additional loci shared with other traits are identified at equally strict significance levels. Dissecting the polygenic architecture we find both quantitative and qualitative polygenic heterogeneity across ASD subtypes, in contrast to what is typically seen in other complex disorders. These results highlight biological insights, particularly relating to neuronal function and corticogenesis and establish that GWAS performed at scale will be much more productive in the near term in ASD, just as it has been in a broad range of important psychiatric and diverse medical phenotypes.
Nonclassical phase diagram for virus bacterial co-evolution mediated by CRISPR
Authors: Han Pu , Deem Michael W.
Published: November 2017

CRISPR is a newly discovered prokaryotic immune system. Bacteria and archaea with this system incorporate genetic material from invading viruses into their genomes, providing protection against future infection by similar viruses. The conditions for coexistence of prokaryots and viruses is an interesting problem in evolutionary biology. In this work, we show an intriguing phase diagram of the virus extinction probability, which is more complex than that of the classical predator-prey model. As the CRISPR incorporates genetic material, viruses are under pressure to evolve to escape the recognition by CRISPR. When bacteria have a small rate of deleting spacers, a new parameter region in which bacteria and viruses can coexist arises, and it leads to a more complex coexistence patten for bacteria and viruses. For example, when the virus mutation rate is low, the virus extinction probability changes non-montonically with the bacterial exposure rate. The virus and bacteria co-evolution not only alters the virus extinction probability, but also changes the bacterial population structure. Additionally, we show that recombination is a successful strategy for viruses to escape from CRISPR recognition when viruses have multiple proto-spacers, providing support for a recombination-mediated escape mechanism suggested experimentally. Finally, we suggest that the reentrant phase diagram, in which phages can progress through three phases of extinction and two phases of abundance at low spacer deletion rates as a function of exposure rate to bacteria, is an experimentally testable phenomenon.
Static and dynamic measures of human brain connectivity predict complementary aspects of human cognitive performance
Authors: Ramos-Nuñez Aurora I. , Fischer-Baum Simon , Martin Randi , Yue Qiuhai , Ye Fengdan , Deem Michael W.
Published: November 2017

In cognitive network neuroscience, the connectivity and community structure of the brain network is related to cognition. Much of this research has focused on two measures of connectivity – modularity and flexibility – which frequently have been examined in isolation. By using resting state fMRI data from 52 young adults, we investigate the relationship between modularity, flexibility and performance on cognitive tasks. We show that flexibility and modularity are highly negatively correlated. However, we also demonstrate that flexibility and modularity make unique contributions to explain task performance, with modularity predicting performance for simple tasks and flexibility predicting performance on complex tasks that require cognitive control and executive functioning. The theory and results presented here allow for stronger links between measures of brain network connectivity and cognitive processes.
The standard genetic code facilitates exploration of the space of functional nucleotide sequences
Authors: Tripathi Shubham , Deem Michael W.
Published: November 2017

The standard genetic code is well known to be optimized for minimizing the phenotypic effects of single nucleotide substitutions, a property that was likely selected for during the emergence of a universal code. Given the fitness advantage afforded by high standing genetic diversity in a population in a dynamic environment, it is possible that selection to explore a large fraction of the space of functional proteins also occurred. To determine whether selection for such a property played a role during the emergence of the nearly universal genetic code, we investigated the number of functional variants of theEscherichia coliPhoQ protein explored at different time scales under translation using different genetic codes. We found that the standard genetic code is highly optimal for exploring a large fraction of the space of functional PhoQ variants at intermediate time scales as compared to random codes. Environmental changes, in response to which genetic diversity in a population provides a fitness advantage, are likely to have occurred at these intermediate time scales. Our results indicate that the ability of the standard code to explore a large fraction of the space of functional sequence variants arises from a balance between robustness and flexibility and is largely independent of the property of the standard code to minimize the phenotypic effects of mutations. We propose that selection to explore a large fraction of the functional sequence space while minimizing the phenotypic effects of mutations contributed towards the emergence of the standard code as the universal genetic code.
A Computational Model for the Evaluation of Complement System Regulation under Homeostasis, Disease, and Drug Intervention
Authors: Zewde Nehemiah , Morikis Dimitrios
Published: November 2017

Highlights

Computational model describing dynamics of complement system activation pathways

Complement dysregulation leads to deviation from homeostasis and to inflammatory diseases

Model identifies biomarkers to quantify the effects of complement dysregulation

Known drugs restore impaired dynamics of complement biomarkers under dysregulation

Disease-specific models are suitable for diagnosis and patient-specific drug treatment

The complement system is a part of innate immunity that rapidly removes invading pathogens and impaired host-cells. Activation of the complement system is balanced under homeostasis by regulators that protect healthy host-cells. Impairment of complement regulators tilts the balance, favoring activation and propagation that leads to inflammatory diseases. The most potent regulator of the complement system is Factor H (FH), and its impairment induces improper complement activation that leads to inflammatory diseases, such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and age related macular degeneration. To understand the dynamics involved in the pivotal balance between activation and regulation, we have developed a comprehensive computational model of the alternative and classical pathways of the complement system. The model is composed of 290 ordinary differential equations with 142 kinetic parameters that describe the state of complement system under homeostasis and disorder through FH impairment. We have evaluated the state of the system by generating concentration-time profiles for the biomarkers C3, C3a-desArg, C5, C5a-desArg, Factor B (FB), Ba, Bb, and fC5b-9 that are influenced by complement dysregulation. We show that FH-mediated disorder induces substantial levels of complement activation compared to homeostasis, by generating reduced levels of C3 and FB, and to a lesser extent C5, and elevated levels of C3a-desArg, Ba, Bb, C5a-desArg, and fC5b-9. These trends are consistent with clinically observed biomarkers associated with complement-mediated diseases. Furthermore, we introduced therapy states by modeling known drugs of the complement system, a compstatin variant (C3 inhibitor) and eculizumab (a C5 inhibitor). Compstatin demonstrates strong restorative effects for early-stage biomarkers, such as C3a-desArg, FB, Ba, and Bb, and milder restorative effects for late-stage biomarkers, such as C5a-desArg and fC5b-9, whereas eculizumab has strong restorative effects on late-stage biomarkers, and negligible effects on early-stage biomarkers. These results highlight the need for patient-specific therapies that target early complement activation at the C3 level, or late-stage propagation of the terminal cascade at the C5 level, depending on the specific FH-mediated disease and the manifestations of a patient’s genetic profile in complement regulatory function.
Common lizards break Dollo’s law of irreversibility: genome-wide phylogenomics support a single origin of viviparity and re-evolution of oviparity
Authors: Recknagel Hans , Kamenos Nick , Elmer Kathryn R.
Published: November 2017

Dollo’s law of irreversibility states that once a complex trait has been lost in evolution, it cannot be regained. It is thought that complex epistatic interactions and developmental constraints impede the re-emergence of such a trait. Oviparous reproduction (egg-laying) requires the formation of an eggshell and represents an example of such a complex trait. In reptiles, viviparity (live-bearing) has evolved repeatedly but it is highly disputed if oviparity has re-evolved. Here, using up to 194,358 SNP loci and 1,334,760 bp of sequence, we reconstruct the phylogeny of viviparous and oviparous lineages of common lizards and infer the evolutionary history of parity modes. Our phylogeny strongly supports six main common lizard lineages that have been previously identified. We find very high statistical support for a topological arrangement that suggests a reversal to oviparity from viviparity. Our topology is consistent with highly differentiated chromosomal configurations between lineages, but disagrees with previous phylogenetic studies in some nodes. While we find high support for a reversal to oviparity, more genomic and developmental data are needed to robustly test this and assess the mechanism by which a reversal might have occurred.
Gene expression response to sea lice in Atlantic salmon skin: an RNA-Seq comparison between resistant and susceptible animals
Authors: Robledo Diego , Gutiérrez Alejandro P. , Barría Agustín , Yáñez José M. , Houston Ross D.
Published: November 2017

Background

Sea lice are parasitic copepods that cause large economic losses to salmon aquaculture worldwide. Frequent chemotherapeutic treatments are typically required to control this parasite, and alternative measures such as breeding for improved host resistance are desirable. Insight into the host-parasite interaction and mechanisms of host resistance can lead to improvements in selective breeding, and potentially novel treatment targets. In this study, RNA sequencing was used to study the skin transcriptome of Atlantic salmon parasitized with sea lice (C. rogercresseyi). The overall aims were to compare the transcriptomic profile of skin at louse attachment sites and ‘healthy’ skin, and to assess differences between animals with varying levels of resistance to the parasite.

Results

Atlantic salmon were challenged with C. rogercresseyi, growth and lice count measurements were taken for each fish. 21 animals were selected and RNA-Seq was performed on skin from a louse attachment site, and skin distal to attachment sites for each animal. These animals were classified into family-balanced groups according to the traits of resistance (high vs low lice count), and growth during infestation (an indication of tolerance). Overall comparison of skin from louse attachment sites versus healthy skin showed that 4,355 genes were differentially expressed, indicating local up-regulation of several immune pathways and activation of tissue repair mechanisms. Comparison between resistant and susceptible animals highlighted expression differences in several immune response and pattern recognition genes, and also myogenic and iron availability factors. Genomic regions showing signs of differentiation between resistant and susceptible fish were identified using an Fst analysis.

Conclusions

Comparison of the skin transcriptome between louse attachment sites and healthy skin has yielded a detailed profile of genes and pathways with putative roles in the local host immune response to C. rogercresseyi. The difference in skin gene expression profile between resistant and susceptible animals led to the identification of several immune and myogenic pathways potentially involved in host resistance. Components of these pathways may be targets for studies aimed at improved or novel treatment strategies, or to prioritise candidate functional polymorphisms to enhance genomic selection for host resistance in commercial salmon farming.
Zika virus infection preferentially counterbalances human peripheral monocyte and/or NK-cell activity
Authors: Lum Fok Moon , Lee David , Chua Tze-Kwang , Tan Jeslin J.L. , Lee Cheryl Y.P. , Liu Xuan , Fang Yongxiang , Lee Bernett , Yee Wearn-Xin , Rickett Natasha Y. , Chia Po-Ying , Lim Vanessa , Leo Yee-Sin , Matthews David A. , Hiscox Julian A. , Ng Lisa F.P.
Published: November 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) has re-emerged in the population and caused unprecedented global outbreaks. Here, the transcriptomic consequences of ZIKV infection were studied systematically firstly in human peripheral blood CD14+monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages with high density RNA-sequencing. Analyses of the ZIKV genome revealed that the virus underwent genetic diversification and differential mRNA abundance was found in host cells during infection. Notably, there was a significant change in the cellular response with crosstalk between monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells as one of the highly identified pathway. Immune-phenotyping of peripheral blood from ZIKV-infected patients further confirmed the activation of NK cells during acute infection. ZIKV infection in peripheral blood cells isolated from healthy donors led to the induction of IFNγ and CD107a — two key markers of NK-cell function. Depletion of CD14+monocytes from peripheral blood resulted in a reduction of these markers and reduced priming of NK cells during infection. This was complemented by the immunoproteomic changes observed. Mechanistically, ZIKV infection preferentially counterbalances monocyte and/or NK-cell activity, with implications for targeted cytokine immunotherapies.
Proof of concept continuous event logging in living cells
Authors: Shur Andrey , Murray Richard M.
Published: November 2017

Cells must detect and respond to molecular events such as the presence or absence of specific small molecules. To accomplish this, cells have evolved methods to measure the presence and concentration of these small molecules in their environment and enact changes in gene expression or behavior. However, cells don’t usually change their DNA in response to such outside stimuli. In this work, we have engineered a genetic circuit that can enact specific and controlled genetic changes in response to changing small molecule concentrations. Known DNA sequences can be repeatedly integrated into a genomic array such that their identity and order encodes information about past small molecule concentrations that the cell has experienced. To accomplish this, we use catalytically inactive CRISPR-Cas9 (dCas9) to bind to and block attachment sites for the integrase Bxb1. Therefore, through the co-expression of dCas9 and guide RNA, Bxb1 can be directed to integrate one of two engineered plasmids, which correspond to two orthogonal small molecule inducers that can be recorded with this system. We identified the optimal location of guide RNA binding to the Bxb1 attP integrase attachment site, and characterized the detection limits of the system by measuring the minimal small molecule concentration and shortest induction time necessary to produce measurable differences in array composition as read out by Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing technology.
Automated detection of sleep-boundary times using wrist-worn accelerometry
Authors: O’Donnell Johanna , Hollowell Sven , Salimi-Khorshidi Gholamreza , Velardo Carmelo , Sexton Claire , Rahimi Kazem , Johansen-Berg Heidi , Tarassenko Lionel , Doherty Aiden
Published: November 2017

Objective

Current polysomnography-validated measures of sleep status from wrist-worn accelerometers cannot be used in fully automated analysis as they rely on self-reported sleep-onset and -end (sleep-boundary) information. We set out to develop an automated, data-driven approach to sleep-boundary detection from wrist-worn accelerometer data.

Methods

On three separate occasions, participants were asked to wear a GENEActiv® wrist-worn accelerometer for nine days and concurrently complete sleep diaries with lights-off, asleep and wake-up information. We developed and evaluated three data-driven methods for sleep-boundary detection: a change-point detection based method, a thresholding method and a random forest classifier based method. Mean absolute errors between automatically-derived and self-reported sleep-onset and wake-up times were recorded in addition to kappa statistics for the minute-by-minute performance of each of the methods.

Results

46 participants provided 972 days of accelerometer recordings with corresponding self-reported sleep information. The three sleep-boundary detection methods resulted in mean absolute errors in sleep-onset and wake-up times per individual of 36 min, 34 min and 33 min and kappa statistics of 0.87, 0.89 and 0.89, respectively.

Conclusion

Our methods provide a data-driven approach to detect sleep-onset and -end times without the need for self-reported sleep-boundary information. The methods are likely to be of particular use for large-scale studies where the collection of self-reported sleep diaries is impractical.

Significance

Objective measures of sleep are needed to reliably detect associations with health outcomes. This work lays the foundation for studies of objectively measured sleep duration and its health consequences in large studies.
Effect of migration and environmental heterogeneity on the maintenance of quantitative variation: a simulation study
Authors: McDonald Tegan Krista , Yeaman Sam
Published: November 2017

The paradox of high genetic variation observed in traits under stabilizing selection is a longstanding problem in evolutionary theory, as mutation rates are 10-100 times too low to explain observed levels of standing genetic variation under classic models of mutation-selection balance. Here, we use individual-based simulations to explore the effect of various types of environmental heterogeneity on the maintenance of genetic variation (VA) for a quantitative trait under stabilizing selection. We find that VAis maximized at intermediate migration rates in spatially heterogeneous environments, and that the observed patterns are robust to changes in population size. Spatial environmental heterogeneity increased variation by as much as 10-fold over mutation-selection-balance alone, whereas pure temporal environmental heterogeneity increased variance by only 45% at max. Our results show that some combinations of spatial heterogeneity and migration can maintain considerably more variation than mutation-selection balance, potentially reconciling the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and empirical observations. However, given the narrow regions of parameter space required for this effect, this is unlikely to provide a general explanation for the maintenance of variation. Nonetheless, our results suggest that habitat fragmentation may affect the maintenance of VAand thereby reduce the adaptive capacity of populations.
Sales technology usage
Authors: Upadhyay Ashwani Kumar , Khandelwal Komal , Nandan Tanuj , Mishra Prashant
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to model the key influencers or predictors for usage of technology by sales professionals in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the effect of individual, organizational and social factors on the use of technology. The method used for primary research is survey, and data have been collected from 556 sales professionals from across four industries in India. The empirical analysis consists of confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Confirmatory factor analysis has been used to validate the constructs, namely, peer usage, support service, perceived usefulness, attitude, usage and performance. Based on the results, it has been concluded that attitude and peer usage have a direct effect on the use of technology. Support service affects peer usage and perceived usefulness affects attitude. This model helps us understand the direct and indirect predictors of use of sales technology (ST), and its effect on sales performance.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that data pertain to India only.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper will help sales managers and organizations develop strategies to increase the acceptance and use of new technologies, and also strengthen their arguments for convincing the various stakeholders about the benefits and relevance of the ST.

Originality/value

The paper attempts to build and validate a parsimonious model taking into account peer usage (social factor) and support service (organizational factor) in addition to perceived usefulness and attitude.
Designing a demand chain management framework under dynamic uncertainty
Authors: Ye Ying , Lau Kwok Hung
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to put forward a demand chain management (DCM) framework underpinned by the alignment theory and applies it to investigate the fashion apparel (FA) industry in China under the impacts of the latest economic transition.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory multiple case study methodology involving five Chinese FA firms, each with a different business model and ownership type, was employed. Semi-structured interviews, onsite observations and review of company documents were conducted to collect information for analysis.

Findings

Using a conceptual DCM framework as a guide for analysis, the study finds that companies with a higher level of alignment with the external market situation and among the three internal DCM dimensions, namely, market management, supply chain management (SCM), and organization management, appear to perform better under the rapidly changing economic conditions in China.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to knowledge by reviewing thoroughly the literature on SCM evolution and develops a DCM framework based on alignment theory that represents the state of the art in this area. By extending the administration-integration-production-development (A-I-P-D) logic set adopted in the alignment theory, this study has also equipped the proposed framework with an empirical tool to measure alignment.

Practical implications

By applying the framework to examine the Chinese apparel industry under the impacts of the latest economic transition, this study provides practitioners in the industry with a framework to help formulate strategies and a tool to measure alignment. The findings of the case study also offer insights to the industry to thrive in the rapidly changing businesses environment with dynamic uncertainties.

Originality/value

This study extends the application of the A-I-P-D logic set under the alignment theory to the SCM field. This endeavor successfully transforms the proposed DCM framework from a theoretical concept to a practical tool to help evaluate empirically the alignment and strategic fit of a firm and potential relationship with firm performance. As the Chinese FA market has increasingly evolved under the impact of the globalization, the findings of this study not only assist the local FA companies in coping with the dynamic uncertainties but also shed light on the future developments of the global FA industry. Besides, the alignment measurement tool embedded in the proposed DCM framework can help enhance the chances of business success during implementation.
Management design as a strategic lever to add value to corporate reputation competitiveness in higher education institutions
Authors: Maduro Soraia , Fernandes Paula O. , Alves Albano
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to aid the convergence of design and management as a strategic lever and innovative tool to improve corporate reputation in higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly in the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal (IPB).

Design/methodology/approach

SWOT analysis is used to identify strengths and weaknesses in the context of an organization’s internal competencies (identity) and opportunities and threats in an analysis of the organization’s external competitive context (image). Quantitative analysis was used based on questionnaires conducted with IPB community to analyse if differences exist between identity (staff) and image (students) and where there are design structures (website, visual identity, advertising and environment. Corporate character scale developed by Davies et al. (2003, 2004) was used.

Findings

With the SWOT analysis, it is possible to outline IPB performance strategies that meet a positive reputation. A positive corporate reputation was found in IPB with the study of corporate character scale. It has been realized where there are differences from the point of view of identity and image, and thus, it is possible to indicate ideas of improvement to increase the competitiveness of HEIs.

Research limitations/implications

The study is restricted to five schools of IPB. It would also be pertinent to broaden the scope of the stakeholders, encompassing the external community of the IPB that is extending the study to the external public, such as parents, companies, suppliers and secondary students.

Practical implications

HEI competitiveness implies student recruitment and public policies. A positive reputation implies a positive brand image. Design competencies of the public higher education sector can go much further acting at the strategic level, establishing its directives of action in the markets where it operates to reflect its corporate reputation in a positive way in the mind of the consumer. Intangible assets such as identity, image and corporate reputation, appear as very valuable elements, presenting an increasing importance in the management of universities that entered a market context where sustainability requires the adoption of more entrepreneurial management guidelines.

Originality value

The paper is useful for the professionals and academics in perceiving the importance of use management and strategical tools to identify HEI communication and reputation difficulties for a thorough design thinking that delineates solutions that leverage the competitiveness of service organizations such as HEIs.
Small scale entrepreneurship – understanding behaviors of aspiring entrepreneurs in a rural area
Authors: Gretzinger Susanne , Fietze Simon , Brem Alexander , Ogbonna Tochukwu (Toby) Ugonna
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Networking and being a part of an established business network supports the process of translating new ideas into marketable solutions and acquiring customers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how aspiring entrepreneurs in a Danish rural area setting manage to get embedded into relevant business networks. Before the literature background on social capital and regional development, the authors use the embeddedness approach in explaining whether weak or strong ties are most beneficial to get the business started and how lacking strong ties can be compensated.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes an economic sociology perspective on social capital and is empirically based on a case study. The sample consists of a group of young aspiring entrepreneurs, living in the rural area of Southern Jutland, who are all committed to an organization which supports regional start-ups.

Findings

The authors found that aspiring entrepreneurs have different needs depending on their development status and type of innovation. Founders, who are developing or have developed new product innovations, seem to have an increased need for “strong ties” with consultants and those with knowledge about building up a professional network. Founders, who are developing or have developed a significantly improved service, have strong ties with former fellow students and researchers at the university.

Originality/value

This study illustrates that aspiring entrepreneurs connected to a regional entrepreneurship center gained access to a wider relevant network. Depending on their level of embeddedness, they could build new strong relationships and exploit information stemming from new “weak ties” and as such harness more benefits. The study shows that less privileged start-ups can substitute strong ties, especially through the support of professional managers of startup-supporting organizations. Finally, a model explaining the impact of social capital on the entrepreneurial sphere of regional business networks and on its innovativeness is deduced.
Case-based modeling for learning: socially constructed skill development
Authors: Lyons Paul , Bandura Randall P.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Grounded on components of experiential learning theory (ELT) and self-regulation of learning (SRL) theory, augmented by elements of action theory and script development, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the case-based modeling (CBM) instructional approach that stimulates learning in groups or teams. CBM is related to individual and group learning, reflective practices, and the growth mindset. The whole instructional approach is explained in detail as well as unintended consequences and benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

The important features of ELT and SRL are presented as well as details of the use of cases (case studies, scenarios, and stories), the creation of case material, and the dynamics of script development. A detailed presentation of the CBM approach with attendant explanation of how the various theories are connected to the steps of the approach is offered. Empirical evidence of the efficacy of CBM is expressed.

Findings

The CBM approach may be used effectively in collegiate instruction, employee training and problem solving (in groups), and in other settings. The outputs of the instruction and its processes should result in malleable performance (behavioral) scripts intended to improve both learning and performance. The approach requires high-level involvement and attention to detail.

Originality/value

The paper details the confluence of two important learning theories: experiential learning and SRL that result in a formal instructional model. Activities require learning on the individual and group level. The entire instructional model is presented in a way that a practitioner may implement the model. In addition, substantial detail is provided on the construction of case material and the sources of case material.
Changing the emergency response culture: case of Korea
Authors: Ha Kyoo-Man
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Culture does matter in the field of emergency response. The purpose of this paper is to examine how to change the negative emergency response culture in Korea by relying on people’s awareness and the president’s leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative content analysis is used as the methodology. The irresponsibility culture, including public officials’ ranking, factionalism, lack of emergency response principles, and social corruption, is contrasted with the responsibility culture, including ability of public officials, egalitarianism, use of emergency response principles, and cleanup of corruption.

Findings

The major tenet is that Korea must not miss the opportunity to change its current irresponsibility culture into a responsibility culture under its own environment.

Originality/value

Many researchers have raised the necessity of cultural change in the emergency response in Korea during these days. In this regard, this paper studies the Korean emergency response culture more rigorously than did previous studies.
Symposium on theories of public organization: International perspectives
Authors: Denhardt Robert B. , Nelissen N. J. M.
Published: November 2017

This symposium was designed to provide a survey of theories of public organization throughout the world. Each review provides insight into the approaches different countries and cultures take toward Public Administration. It is apparent that no society is autonomous and that all are dramatically affected by changes of all types, including the change to a more global society. This fact leads to the obvious but often overlooked conclusion: that in the field of public administration, it is most important that findings be shared internationally if progress is to continue. In the end, by sharing what we learn, we are all better off, wherever we might reside.
Theorizing public organisation: An australian perspective
Authors: Colebatch H. K.
Published: November 2017

There is a widespread critique of government, in Australia and elsewhere, which raises questions about the conceptual frame mobilised by analysts and practitioners to make sense of public organisation. This article examines the practice and the analysis of public organisation in Australia, and identifies three distinct patterns of theorising it, which it labels "traditional", "modern" and "post-modern". The discussion of these alternative patterns raises questions about how public organisation is theorised, and about the relationship between the theorisation and the practice.
Strategic decision making in the quasi-governmental sector: the illinois soybean program operating board
Authors: Fisher Donna K. , Sonka Steven T. , Westgren Randall E.
Published: November 2017

This paper reports on an intervention for improving the strategic decision making and strategic planning in a specific quasi-public organization: the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board and on how decision support systems can alter perceptions of the decision making environment, which in turn affect strategic planning. The study hypothesis is that if the use of a sophisticated 3-D modeling tool, the Protein Consumption Dynamics (PCD) model, broadens perspectives to include a more global and long-term outlook, then the quality of planning should be enhanced. Before and after questionnaires are used to capture the changes in 121 soy industry decision- makers' perceptions of the decision making environment. The perceptions of soybean industry decision makers change to reflect more long-term thinking about the industry, indicating that the PCD model's visualized presentation of complex information did influence strategic behavior.
Critical theory and the role of citizen involvement in environmental decision making: A re-examination
Authors: Ventriss Curtis , Kuentzel Walter
Published: November 2017

Much of the administrative literature on public participation in environmental decision making assumes that citizen involvement contributes to reflexive deliberations, communication, effective representation, and consensus building in the public sphere. We will argue that for all the intuitive appeal of public participation, it may ironically limit the boundaries of possible change all under the normative guise of democracy and fair and open deliberations concerning environmental issues. In particular, we critically examine the citizen as a stakeholder as one mechanism that obscures as much as it reveals about public participation. To explore some of the implications of this critical approach, Jurgen Habermas and David Harvey’s ideas will be examined, who, from their own differing perspectives, contend that the forces of social conflict and change cannot be so easily contained under a public participative approach to environmental decision making.
A framework in strategy and competition using alliances: application to the automotive industry
Authors: Chalhoub Michel Soto
Published: November 2017

Competition is a major driver of industry consolidation, pushing firms towards mergers or alliances. This paper discusses growing competitive challenges that make business partnering a core component of company strategy. We develop two frameworks for resource sharing using two dimensions: operational integration, and knowledge transferability. We analyze critical interface points at three levels in organizational design: corporate, business unit, and functional, and show that mergers could succeed without high level of integration. Large groups such as Renault and Ford witness such industry pressures from globalization, lower government protectionism, and shifts in buyer tastes. The framework illustrates preservation, incubation, osmosis, and full absorption as post-merger firm relationships, each requiring alignment with corporate strategy. The frameworks are illustrated using the Renault-Nissan relationship, the motivation behind it, its benefits, and its challenges.
Searching for cross-cultural, moral and ethical reality: A case of bribery in an international and entrepreneurial context
Authors: Aupperle Kenneth E. , Camarata Michael
Published: November 2017

Through the use of an international business example where contract negotiations are involved, the authors illustrate how legal, perceptual, and cultural differences influence the ethical and moral reality confronting global business leaders. Absolutism and situational ethics are scrutinized within a case context to demonstrate how opposing views of ethical and moral reality can arise, particularly in a situation involving bribery. An extensive and intensive debate occurs between a purchasing VP of a large Korean company and the sales director of a small, entrepreneurial firm from the heartland of USA. Personal and cultural values are counterpoised through these two corporate agents in order to challenge the absolutist position of “right and wrong or black and white.”
Collaborative watershed governance in lake tahoe: an institutional analysis
Authors: Kauneckis Derek , Imperial Mark T.
Published: November 2017

This paper examines the emergence of collaborative watershed management in Lake Tahoe by focusing on how institutions managing coordination and conflict have changed over time. It begins by describing the evolution of watershed governance and examines the extent to which the institutional arrangement demonstrates the eight design principles proposed by Elinor Ostrom for successful common pool resource (CPR) management. The paper then develops the concept of a complex environmental commons (CEC) to differentiate the situation of Lake Tahoe from the simpler CPR dilemmas frequently discussed in the CPR literature. We then propose five additional principles that contribute to collaborative management of a CEC.
You say you want A revolution?
Authors: Stout Margaret
Published: November 2017

Confidence in government continues to plague our field. Based on a dissertation inquiry, this essay offers a theoretical critique of public service through the lens of democratic legitimacy, suggesting many role conceptualizations promoted in the field conflict with powerful characteristics of the U.S. political economy. Beyond the traditional bureaucrat accountable to the Executive as dictated by the Constitution, role conceptualizations call for a variety of reinterpretations that contest our system of separated powers and representation through election. Furthermore, roles that promote social and economic justice conflict with many capitalist interests. While concurring that a facilitative role in pursuit of democratic social and economic justice is appropriate, this transformation must be undertaken using methods appropriate to what it actually represents: a revolution.
Organizational learning: modeling an intervention in a foster care system
Authors: Pokharel Mohan P. , Dudley Larkin S.
Published: November 2017

This paper maps the organizational learning processes in a policy intervention program. A state department of social services designed an intervention for local agencies and implemented it with a university. A closer observation of patterns detected organizational learning in local agencies by the increase in the penetration rate-a ratio of federal to state funding. An organizational learning model is constructed to understand the organizational learning process in this particular instance. The model includes learning modes and the roles that the policy knowledge instigators had played in the process. Each mode and role is defined and the model is refined based on in-depth interviews with participants in the learning process.
Technology adoption and organizational culture in public organizations
Authors: Melitski James , Gavin David , Gavin Joanne
Published: November 2017

Organization culture and technology adoption are two of the most critical issues facing organizations in a global society. Increasingly, organizations operate in uncertain, networked, decentralized environments, where adoption and use of information technology has become central to fulfilling organizational missions. To examine the influence of organization culture on individual willingness to adopt technology, this work began by examining theories of behavioral intent, technology adoption, and organization culture and then proposed a model for examining technology adoption in public organizations. The research was based on the responses from an online survey of government, nonprofit, and social service workers from around the United States. The study found that there is a relationship between individual perception of organization culture and individual willingness to adopt technology. Finally, we addressed the limitations of the study design and propose future research.
Governance, law, religion and culture
Authors: Haggard Dana L. , Haggard Stephen
Published: November 2017

We proposed a model in which culture plays a dominant role, along with religion and legal origin, in determining the quality of governance in a country. We examined four dimensions of culture and four measurements of governance quality across 71 countries. Our empirical results demonstrated the dominant role played by culture, over and above religion and legal origin, in explaining governance quality. As culture is persistent and unlikely to be easily changed, efforts to improve governance quality might be doomed to failure in nations with cultural values that are hostile to good governance.
The impact of perceived organizational commitment and leader commitment on organizational citizenship behaviour
Authors: Pohl Sabine , Paillé Pascal
Published: November 2017

Prior studies have shown that commitment to the organization is related to organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). The target of organizational commitment is the organization itself. So the organizational citizenship behaviour most likely to be influenced by this commitment is OCB-oriented organization (Masterson, Lewis, Goldman & Taylor, 2000; Cohen, 1999). Given that workers are the targets of supervisor commitment and work group commitment, the behaviour most likely to be affected by this commitment is supervisor and worker-oriented behaviour. The results provide support for the idea that organizational commitment is associated with OCB-oriented organization.
Innovation management in local government: an empirical analysis of suburban municipalities
Authors: Nelson Kimberly L. , Wood Curtis H. , Gabris Gerald T.
Published: November 2017

The authors surveyed city administrators in the six-county Chicago region to test an innovation management capacity process model. Innovation management capacity is conceptualized as the function of council-staff functionality, managerial leadership capacity, and staff team management. The empirical results from 220 city administrators in 53 cities support the hypothesis that the number of municipal innovations is positively correlated with innovation management capacity, controlling for structural, socioeconomic, and demographic variables. However, this study does not find a statistical relationship between innovation effectiveness and innovation management capacity. The authors posit two possible explanations for these results and propose an alternative innovation management capacity process model for testing in future research.