bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disrupted social memory ensembles in the ventral hippocampus underlie social amnesia in autism-associated Shank3 mutant mice
Authors: Tao Kentaro , Chung Myung , Watarai Akiyuki , Huang Ziyan , Wang Mu-Yun , Okuyama Teruhiro
Published: June 2021

The ability to remember conspecifics is critical for adaptive cognitive functioning and social communication, and impairments of this ability are hallmarks of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although hippocampal ventral CA1 (vCA1) neurons are known to store social memories, how their activities are coordinated remains unclear. Here we show that vCA1 social memory neurons, characterized by enhanced activity in response to memorized individuals, were preferentially reactivated during sharp-wave ripples (SPW-Rs). Spike sequences of these social replays reflected the temporal orders of neuronal activities within theta cycles during social experiences. In ASD model Shank3 knockout mice, the proportion of social memory neurons was reduced, and neuronal ensemble spike sequences during SPW-Rs were disrupted, which correlated with impaired discriminatory social behavior. These results suggest that SPW-R-mediated sequential reactivation of neuronal ensembles is a canonical mechanism for coordinating hippocampus-dependent social memories and its disruption underlies the pathophysiology of social memory defects associated with ASD.
Chemical mapping exposes the importance of active site interactions in governing the temperature dependence of enzyme turnover
Authors: Winter SD , Jones HBL , Răsădean DM , Crean RM , Danson MJ , Pantoş GD , Katona G , Prentice E , Arcus VL , van der Kamp MW , Pudney CR.
Published: June 2021

Uncovering the role of global protein dynamics in enzyme turnover is needed to fully understand enzyme catalysis. Recently, we have demonstrated that the heat capacity of catalysis, ΔCP‡, can reveal links between the protein free energy landscape, global protein dynamics and enzyme turnover, suggesting that subtle changes molecular interactions at the active site can affect long range protein dynamics and link to enzyme temperature activity. Here we use a model promiscuous enzyme (Glucose dehydrogenase from Sulfolobus Solfataricus) to chemically map how individual substrate interactions affect the temperature dependence of enzyme activity and the network of motions throughout the protein. Utilizing a combination of kinetics, REES spectroscopy and computational simulation we explore the complex relationship between enzyme-substrate interactions and the global dynamics of the protein. We find that changes in ΔCP‡ and protein dynamics can be mapped to specific substrate-enzyme interactions. Our study reveals how subtle changes in substrate binding affect global changes in motion and flexibility extending throughout the protein.
Efficient prestimulus network integration of FFA biases face perception during binocular rivalry
Authors: Rassi Elie , Wutz Andreas , Peatfield Nicholas , Wiesz Nathan
Published: June 2021

Ongoing fluctuations in neural excitability and connectivity influence whether or not a stimulus is seen. Do they also influence which stimulus is seen? We recorded magnetoencepahlography data while participants viewed face or house stimuli, either one at a time or under bi-stable conditions induced through binocular rivalry. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed common neural substrates for rivalrous vs. non-rivalrous stimuli with an additional delay of ~36ms for the bi-stable stimulus and poststimulus signals were source-localized to the fusiform face area (FFA). Prior to stimulus onset followed by a face-vs. house-report, FFA showed stronger connectivity to primary visual cortex and to the rest of the cortex in the alpha frequency range (8-13 Hz) but there were no differences in local oscillatory alpha power. The pre-stimulus connectivity metrics predicted the accuracy of post-stimulus decoding and the delay associated with rivalry disambiguation suggesting that perceptual content is shaped by ongoing neural network states.
Prophages in the infant gut are largely induced, and may be functionally relevant to their hosts
Authors: Redgwell Tamsin A. , Thorsen Jonathan , Petit Marie-Agnes , Deng Ling , Vestergaard Gisle A. , Russel Jakob , Bisgaard Hans , Nielsen Dennis S. , Sørensen Søren , Stokholm Jakob , Shah Shiraz A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, and are key components of any ecosystem they are present in. The gut virome is increasingly being implicated in disease states although these studies largely focus on lytic phages in adults. Here we identify prophages from a large infant cohort and investigate their potential functions.

Results

We identified 10645 vOTUs from 662 metagenomes. No core virome was found: the most prevalent vOTU was identified in 70% of the samples. The most abundant and prevalent group of phages are a novel group closely related to Bacteroides phage Hanky p00’. Functional annotation of this group revealed the presence of genes in the dDTP-L-rhamnose pathway, possibly involved in the production of capsular polysaccharides. We also found an abundance of diversity generating retroelements in the phages. Additionally, paired virome data allowed us to show that the majority of prophages are induced in at least one sample and that this is not affected by the use of antibiotics in the 4 weeks prior to sampling.

Conclusions

Prophages in the infant gut are largely unique to the individual and not shared. Most of them appear to be induced and so may be key drivers in shaping the bacterial microbiome. The most abundant group of phages are novel, and possess elements that may allow them to maintain differentially susceptible subpopulations of their host bacterium; whilst also containing diversity generating retroelements that could expand their host range. Prophages are important components of the infant gut that may have far reaching influences on the composition and function of the microbiome.
Inter- and intrapopulational heterogeneity of characteristic markers in adult human neural crest-derived stem cells
Authors: Windmöller Beatrice A. , Höving Anna L. , Greiner Johannes F.W.
Published: June 2021

Adult human neural crest-derived stem cells (NCSCs) are found in a variety of adult tissues and show an extraordinary broad developmental potential. NCSCs are therefore promising candidates for applications in regenerative medicine, although increasing evidence suggest a remaining niche-dependent variability between different NCSC-populations regarding their behavior and expression signatures. In the present study, we extended the view on heterogeneity of NCSCs by identifying heterogeneous expression levels and protein amounts of characteristic markers even between NCSCs from the same niche of origin. In particular, populations of neural crest-derived inferior turbinate stem cells (ITSCs) isolated from different individuals showed significant variations in characteristic NCSC marker proteins Nestin, S100 and Slug in a donor-dependent manner. Notably, increased nuclear protein amounts of Slug were accompanied by a significantly elevated level of nuclear NF-κB-p65 protein, suggesting an NF-κB-dependent regulation of NCSC-makers. In addition to this interpopulational genetic heterogeneity of ITSC-populations from different donors, single ITSCs also revealed a strong heterogeneity regarding the protein amounts of Nestin, S100, Slug and NF-κB-p65 even within the same clonal culture. Our present findings therefor strongly suggest ITSC-heterogeneity to be at least partly based on an interpopulational genetic heterogeneity dependent on the donor accompanied by a stochastic intrapopulational heterogeneity between single cells. We propose this stochastic intrapopulational heterogeneity to occur in addition to the already described genetic variability between clonal NCSC-cultures and the niche-dependent plasticity of NCSCs. Our observations offer a novel perspective on NCSC-heterogeneity, which may build the basis to understand heterogeneous NCSC-behavior and improve their clinical applicability.
Cryo-EM structure of the transcription termination factor Rho from Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals mechanism of resistance to bicyclomycin
Authors: Saridakis Emmanuel , Vishwakarma Rishi , Lai-Kee-Him Josephine , Martin Kevin , Simon Isabelle , Cohen-Gonsaud Martin , Coste Franck , Bron Patrick , Margeat Emmanuel , Boudvillain Marc
Published: June 2021

The bacterial Rho factor is a ring-shaped motor triggering genome-wide transcription termination and R-loop dissociation. Rho is essential in many species, including in Mycobacterium tuberculosis where rho gene inactivation leads to rapid death. Yet, the M. tuberculosis Rho [MtbRho] factor displays poor NTPase and helicase activities, and resistance to the natural Rho inhibitor bicyclomycin [BCM] that remain unexplained. Here, we address these unusual features by solving the cryo-EM structure of MtbRho at 3.3 Å resolution, providing a new framework for future antibiotic development. The MtbRho hexamer is poised into a pre-catalytic, open-ringed state wherein specific contacts stabilize ATP in intersubunit ATPase pockets, thereby explaining the cofactor preference of MtbRho. We reveal a leucine-to-methionine substitution that creates a steric bulk in BCM binding cavities near the positions of ATP γ-phosphates, and confers resistance to BCM at the expense of motor efficiency.
PyPhase – a Python package for X-ray phase imaging
Authors: Langer Max , Zhang Yuhe , Figueirinhas Diogo , Forien Jean-Baptiste , Mom Kannara , Mouton Claire , Mokso Rajmund , Villanueva-Perez Pablo
Published: June 2021

X-ray propagation-based imaging techniques are well established at synchrotron radiation and laboratory sources. However, most reconstruction algorithms for such image modalities, also known as phase-retrieval algorithms, have been developed specifically for one instrument by and for experts, making the development and diffusion of such techniques difficult. Here, PyPhase, a free and open-source package for propagation-based near-field phase reconstructions, which is distributed under the CeCILL license, is presented. PyPhase implements some of the most popular phase-retrieval algorithms in a highly modular framework supporting its deployment on large-scale computing facilities. This makes the integration, the development of new phase-retrieval algorithms, and the deployment on different computing infrastructures straightforward. Its capabilities and simplicity are presented by application to data acquired at the synchrotron source MAX IV (Lund, Sweden).
One- and two-dimensional PbII compounds resulting from reaction of PbBr2 and Pb(SCN)2 with pyrimidine-2-thione
Authors: Schwade Vânia Denise , Tirloni Bárbara
Published: June 2021

Pyrimidine-2-thione (HSpym) reacts with lead(II) thiocyanate and lead(II) bromide in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to form poly[(μ-isothiocyanato-κ2
N:S)(μ4-pyrimidine-2-thiolato-κ6
N
1,S:S:S:S,N
3)lead(II)], [Pb(C4H3N2S)(NCS)]
n
or [Pb(Spym)(NCS)]
n
, (I), and the polymeric one-dimensional (1D) compound catena-poly[[μ4-bromido-di-μ-bromido-(μ-pyrimidine-2-thiolato-κ3
N
1,S:S)(μ-pyrimidine-2-thione-κ3
N
1,S:S)dilead(II)] N,N-dimethylformamide monosolvate], {[Pb2Br3(C4H3N2S)(C4H4N2S)]·C3H7NO}
n
or {[Pb2Br3(Spym)(HSpym)]·DMF}
n
, (IIa), respectively. Poly[μ4-bromido-di-μ3-bromido-(μ-pyrimidine-2-thiolato-κ3
N
1,S:S)(μ-pyrimidine-2-thione-κ3
N
1,S:S)dilead(II)], [Pb2Br3(C4H3N2S)(C4H4N2S)]
n
or [Pb2Br3(Spym)(HSpym)]
n
, (IIb), could be obtained as a mixture with (IIa) when using a lesser amount of solvent. In the crystal structures of the pseudohalide/halide PbII stable compounds, coordination of anionic and neutral HSpym has been observed. Both Spym− (in the thiolate tautomeric form) and NCS− ligands were responsible for the two-dimensional (2D) arrangement in (I). The Br− ligands establish the 1D polymeric arrangement in (IIa). Eight-coordinated metal centres have been observed in both compounds, when considering the Pb...S and Pb...Br interactions. Both compounds were characterized by FT–IR and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, as well as by powder X-ray diffraction. Compound (IIa) and its desolvated version (IIb) represent the first structurally characterized PbII compounds containing neutral HSpym and anionic Spym− ligands. After a prolonged time in solution, (IIa) is converted to another compound due to complete deprotonation of HSpym. The structural characterization of (I) and (II) suggests HSpym as a good candidate for the removal of PbII ions from solutions containing thiocyanate or bromide ions.
Bis(2-methylpyridinium) tetrachloridocuprate(II): synthesis, structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
Authors: Mehmood Tahir , Bhosale Rajesh S. , Reddy J. Prakasha
Published: June 2021

The title compound, (C6H8N)2[CuCl4], crystallizes in the monoclinic space group I2/c. The coordination around the copper atom is a distorted tetrahedron. The 2-methylpyridinium ion (C6H8N+) interacts with the tetrachlorocuprate anion through N—H...Cl and C—H(phenyl)...Cl contacts, forming a hydrogen-bonded layer-like structure. The supramolecular structure is further stabilized by C—H(methyl)...Cl interactions between the layers.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of ethyl 6′-amino-2′-(chloromethyl)-5′-cyano-2-oxo-1,2-dihydrospiro[indoline-3,4′-pyran]-3′-carboxylate
Authors: Naghiyev Farid N. , Grishina Maria M. , Khrustalev Victor N. , Akkurt Mehmet , Huseynova Afet T. , Akobirshoeva Anzurat A. , Mamedov İbrahim G.
Published: June 2021

The molecular conformation of the title compound, C17H14ClN3O4, is stabilized by an intramolecular C—H...O contact, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, the molecules are connected by N—H...O hydrogen-bond pairs along the b-axis direction as dimers with R
2
2(8) and R
2
2(14) ring motifs and as ribbons formed by intermolecular C—H...N hydrogen bonds. There are weak van der Waals interactions between the ribbons. The most important contributions to the surface contacts are from H...H (34.9%), O...H/H...O (19.2%), C...H/H...C (11.9%), Cl...H/H...Cl (10.7%) and N...H/H...N (10.4%) interactions, as concluded from a Hirshfeld surface analysis.
Crystal structure of the two-dimensional coordination polymer poly[di-μ-bromido-bis(μ-tetrahydrothiophene)dicopper(I)]
Authors: Knorr Michael , Viau Lydie , Rousselin Yoann , Kubicki Marek M.
Published: June 2021

The polymeric title compound, [Cu2Br2(C4H8S)2]
n
, CP1, represents an example of a two-dimensional coordination polymer resulting from reaction of CuBr with tetrahydrothiophene (THT) in MeCN solution. The two-dimensional layers consist of two different types of rhomboid-shaped dinuclear Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu secondary building units (SBUs); one with a quite loose Cu...Cu separation of 3.3348 (10) Å and a second one with a much closer intermetallic contact of 2.9044 (9) Å. These SBUs are interconnected through bridging THT ligands, in which the S atom acts as a four-electron donor bridging each Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu unit in a μ2-bonding mode. In the crystal, the layers are linked by very weak C—H...·Br hydrogen bonds with H...Br distances of 2.95 Å, thus giving rise to a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Tetraammonium bis(metforminium) di-μ6-oxido-tetra-μ3-oxido-tetradeca-μ2-oxido-octaoxidodecavanadium(V) hexahydrate
Authors: Polito-Lucas J. Alberto , Núñez-Ávila José A. , Bernès Sylvain , Pérez-Benítez Aarón
Published: June 2021

The title compound, (NH4)4(C4H12N5)2[V10O28]·6H2O, crystallizes with the decavanadate anion placed on an inversion centre in space group P\overline{1}. This anion is surrounded by a first shell of ammonium cations and water molecules, forming efficient N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. A second shell includes metforminium monocations with a twisted geometry, also forming numerous intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The complex three-dimensional network of non-covalent interactions affords a crystal structure in which the cations and anions are densely packed.
Free vibration analysis of a rotating double tapered beam with flexible root via differential quadrature method
Authors: Yavuz Mustafa Tolga Tolga , Özkol İbrahim
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop the governing differential equation and to analyze the free vibration of a rotating non-uniform beam having a flexible root and setting angle for variations in operating conditions and structural design parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

Hamiltonian principle is used to derive the flapwise bending motion of the structure, and the governing differential equations are solved numerically by using differential quadrature with satisfactory accuracy and computation time.

Findings

The results obtained by using the differential quadrature method (DQM) are compared to results of previous studies in the open literature to show the power of the used method. Important results affecting the dynamics characteristics of a rotating beam are tabulated and illustrated in concerned figures to show the effect of investigated design parameters and operating conditions.

Originality/value

The principal novelty of this paper arises from the application of the DQM to a rotating non-uniform beam with flexible root and deriving new governing differential equation including various parameters such as rotary inertia, setting angle, taper ratios, root flexibility, hub radius and rotational speed. Also, the application of the used numerical method is expressed clearly step by step with the algorithm scheme.
Charting sustained usage toward mobile social media application: the criticality of expected benefits and emotional motivations
Authors: Le Xuan Cu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Zalo is a Vietnam social media platform attracting over 100 m users worldwide. The work aims to ascertain how to boost users' satisfaction, habit and continuance intention toward Zalo based on the expectation confirmation theory (ECT) and its extension through the impacts of expected benefits and emotional motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected via an online survey on a convenience sample of 356 Zalo users. Statistical analysis is performed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) to test proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that confirmation positively influences expected benefits (i.e. pervasiveness, socialization, and self-discovery) and satisfaction. Moreover, satisfaction and habit are jointly stimulated by expected benefits and emotional motivations. Outcomes also reveal that satisfaction is a motivator of habit, which in turn surmises evidently to continuance intention.

Practical implications

Findings assist practitioners to develop their business trajectories by improving beneficial services of Zalo and positive emotions. This fulfills user satisfaction and habit, and promotes continuance behavior accordingly.

Originality/value

Confirmation and expected benefits are acknowledged as the drivers of satisfaction, but existing literature remains inconclusive about dimensions of expected benefits influencing satisfaction and habit in social media. Furthermore, this study, by an extended ECT, explores emotional motivations for satisfaction and habit. Ultimately, habit is uncovered to foster prolonged usage.
Do consumer ethnocentrism and animosity affect the importance of country-of-origin in dairy products evaluation? The moderating effect of purchase frequency
Authors: Yang Rongbin , Ramsaran Roshnee , Wibowo Santoso
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of consumer ethnocentrism and animosity on the importance of country-of-origin in food product evaluation. It also tested the moderating effect of purchase frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from dairy consumers residing in China. The research model was tested using structural equation modelling with AMOS.

Findings

The results indicated that the importance of country-of-origin in product evaluation is not necessarily driven by consumer ethnocentrism or animosity. Only among frequent purchasers, a higher level of consumer ethnocentrism or animosity can be associated with more importance of country-of-origin in product evaluation.

Originality/value

Despite the significant role of purchase frequency, this factor has been less considered in the existing literature on consumer ethnocentrism and animosity. This study represented an initial attempt to the role of purchase frequency in the effects of consumer ethnocentrism and animosity on food product evaluation. It revealed that purchase frequency should be adopted as a moderating factor in future studies in this field.
Entrepreneurship education and training in Indian higher education institutions: a suggested framework
Authors: Chhabra Meghna , Dana Leo-Paul , Malik Sahil , Chaudhary Narendra Singh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study aims to evaluate the components of entrepreneurship education and training (EET) in India. The paper proposes a framework for an effective EET regime for amalgamating entrepreneurship education as fundamental to mainstream higher education in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study utilises a qualitative research technique, that is, the narrative inquiry methodology based on in-depth interviews. The study respondents included sixteen educators who are actively engaged in EET and related activities for a minimum of ten years.

Findings

The study identified five broad “meaning units” or “themes,” that is, “incremental pedagogical efficiency and flexible evaluation systems,” “entrepreneurial experience of the faculty,” “extended support,” “holistic mentoring” and “experiential learning” as components of an effective EET regime.

Originality/value

The study will help the policymakers and higher education institutions (HEIs) revisit their policy frameworks and practices to promote entrepreneurial capacity and entrepreneurial intentions among students. The study will also help to gain deeper insights into EET components and will propose a framework for an effective EET regime based on its findings.
Analysis of approaches to the formation of economic mechanisms of supply chain management
Authors: Saenko Natalya , Nyanga Gakosso Chancelvie , Mezhlumyan Nelli , Smirnov Artem , Rogulin Rodion
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to substantiate the influence of approaches to the economic mechanisms formation for managing supply chains on export and import volumes as well as local cargo transportation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study outlines that the information technology use, in particular, highly specialized supply chain management (SCM) software, is necessary for the effective functioning of global supply chains (GSCs). For the purposes of the one-factor regression models of the relationship between the signs for the analyzed factors, volume of external cargo transportation, volume of internal cargo transportation and amount of investment in SCM software were built, and the correlation coefficients were also determined. The research was based on data of the Russian Federation, China and Germany.

Findings

According to the results, for local cargo transportation for all three counties (Russian Federation: R² = 0.3679, China: R² = 0.441, Germany: 0.441), the correlation coefficients indicated no connection between the factors under study, while for external ones, they denoted a strong direct relationship: Russian Federation: R² = 0.906, China: R² = 0.8692, Germany: 0.926. It is statistically confirmed that external transportations are carried out by enterprises involved in GSCs, while the local ones are mainly performed by the domestic market-oriented companies.

Originality/value

The study presents a model for the formation of economic mechanisms of SCM from the perspective of a systemic approach. It allows for structural analysis of the SCM strategy’s impact on the functioning of participants within three management levels (corporate, business and functional). The study contributes to the practical domain of SCM: the results of the study can be applied by top managers of companies in developing SCM strategies, as well as by officials in developing and implementing governmental supply chain-related policies. In terms of scientific contribution, the research can also be of use: its methods and results can be applied by scientists in researching approaches to the economic mechanisms formation for managing supply chains on export and import volumes, as well as local cargo transportation in various countries and regions.
A collaborative approach for national cybersecurity incident management
Authors: Oriola Oluwafemi , Adeyemo Adesesan Barnabas , Papadaki Maria , Kotzé Eduan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Collaborative-based national cybersecurity incident management benefits from the huge size of incident information, large-scale information security devices and aggregation of security skills. However, no existing collaborative approach has been able to cater for multiple regulators, divergent incident views and incident reputation trust issues that national cybersecurity incident management presents. This paper aims to propose a collaborative approach to handle these issues cost-effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A collaborative-based national cybersecurity incident management architecture based on ITU-T X.1056 security incident management framework is proposed. It is composed of the cooperative regulatory unit with cooperative and third-party management strategies and an execution unit, with incident handling and response strategies. Novel collaborative incident prioritization and mitigation planning models that are fit for incident handling in national cybersecurity incident management are proposed.

Findings

Use case depicting how the collaborative-based national cybersecurity incident management would function within a typical information and communication technology ecosystem is illustrated. The proposed collaborative approach is evaluated based on the performances of an experimental cyber-incident management system against two multistage attack scenarios. The results show that the proposed approach is more reliable compared to the existing ones based on descriptive statistics.

Originality/value

The approach produces better incident impact scores and rankings than standard tools. The approach reduces the total response costs by 8.33% and false positive rate by 97.20% for the first attack scenario, while it reduces the total response costs by 26.67% and false positive rate by 78.83% for the second attack scenario.
Differing career expectations in the hospitality industry: a cross-cultural study
Authors: Kim Young Hoon , Spears Daniel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study is to examine hospitality and tourism undergraduate students' attitudes to work and career expectations as they prepare to enter the workforce in the hospitality industry in both the United States and South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

The measurement instrument was developed from previous studies (Chen and Shen, 2012; Kong, 2013) and included questions related to job attitudes, job satisfaction, job motivations, job involvement, and career expectations and aspirations upon graduation. T-tests were conducted first for the mean values of the constructs between the United States and South Korea to ensure the comparison of two different cultural groups.

Findings

First, students from the United States (US) have more and better work attitude than those students from South Korea. Second, students from South Korea appear to be less motivated to work and less satisfied with their current jobs and earnings than students from the US. Third, the results also have managerial implications for both countries. It is very important to know that higher grade point average is not an answer to find the right person but more likely, positive attitudes to work and higher levels of job involvement are more likely to have higher job expectations and aspirations for employment in the industry.

Originality/value

This study adds to the hospitality literature by examining the different perspectives of hospitality and tourism undergraduate students from the US and South Korea, specifically examining their attitudes toward work, job satisfaction, work involvement and job expectations as they prepare for careers in the industry. The results of this study help stakeholders (i.e. students, educators and practitioners) in the hospitality and tourism industry gain a better understanding of their undergraduate students as they prepare for careers in the industry. In addition, the study contributed to understanding cultural differences present among hospitality and tourism students from individualist and collectivist cultures.
Consumer’s preferences among low-calorie food alternatives in casual dining restaurants
Authors: Sun Xiaodi , Almanza Barbara , Behnke Carl , Ghiselli Richard , Byrd Karen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine consumers’ preferences among four calorie-reducing approaches – resizing, reformulation, substitution and elimination – and to understand what motivates consumers to order low-calorie food using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a model.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed based on the TPB with an additional construct of food choice motives. A total of 467 responses were collected. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression and ANOVA were used in the data analysis.

Findings

Consumers have a clear preference for substitution and elimination. The pattern that ingredients with higher calories were modified at a higher priority indicated that consumers might improve food decisions based on calorie information.

Practical implications

Restaurants should allow substitution or elimination of certain ingredients from menu items. Including more low-calorie sides will cost restaurants less than changing the main dish. A menu item on an entrée form is more amenable to modification for decreased calorie content as consumers have high taste expectations for popular traditional foods (e.g. burgers and pizza).

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate consumers’ preferences among the four popular calorie-reducing approaches. A novel “Build Your Own Meal” approach was used in the questionnaire to allow the participants to choose from more than 150 ingredients, which compensated for personal preferences, thus mitigating possible limitations associated with studies of this kind, and was a good indicator of the participants’ actual ordering behavior.
Analysis of agricultural sector productivity improvement strategies through cooperative institutions
Authors: S. Purbayu BudI , Roessali Wiludjeng , R. Tri Wahyu , Darwanto Darwanto , Hendarto Mulyo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the productivity improvement strategies of the agricultural sector based on the problems faced by the agricultural sector in Central Java, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is done through interviews, literature studies and analytical hierarchy process data processing aids.

Findings

The results show that the strategy for developing the agricultural sector in Central Java needs to be focused on institutional factors to organize the field agricultural sector institutions. The ideal institution for the development of the agricultural sector in Central Java is cooperatives that can be accompanied by the Islamic Microfinance Institutions (LKMS).

Originality/value

This paper will contribute new knowledge specifically about the productivity improvement strategy through the cooperative institution.
Lubricated friction behaviour of thermal spray steel coated cylinder bores studied using a long-stroke reciprocating tribometer
Authors: Lou Ming , T. Alpas Ahmet
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effectiveness of using thermal spray (TS) coated bores in reducing friction under the mixed lubrication (ML) and elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) regimes.

Design/methodology/approach

A reciprocating tribometer with a stroke length of 100 mm, was built to measure the coefficient of friction (COF) at the mid-stroke and ring reversal positions and to conduct sliding tests at a speed range of 0.31–3.14 m/s. Samples taken from fine-honed TS coated bores and also from cast iron (CI) liners that underwent a standard-honing process were tested against ring segments coated with chromium nitride (CrN) and diamond-like carbon.

Findings

Construction of Stribeck curves demonstrated that TS coatings showed a transition from ML to EHL at a lower speed (0.94 m/s) compared with CI (1.26 m/s) regardless of the counterfaces used. Lower COFs of 0.05–0.08 in ML was measured for TS coatings compared with those of 0.06–0.09 for CI in ML. Once EHL was reached, the COF of TS coatings decreased to 0.02–0.03 similar to those of CI. Examination of wear patterns suggested that the low roughness combined with high oil retention capability might be responsible for the reduced transition speed and the expanded EHL region for the TS coated surfaces.

Originality/value

With the EHL friction captured in a bidirectional sliding mode using a long-stroke tribometer, this work contributes to the understanding of the low-friction behaviour of TS coatings.
Supply chain quality management for product innovation performance: insights from small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Lee Voon-Hsien , Foo Pik-Yin , Tan Garry Wei-Han , Ooi Keng-Boon , Sohal Amrik
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This research aims to examine the relationships between supply chain quality management (SCQM), organizational learning capability (OLC) and product innovation performance (PIP) among small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs) in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study in which 163 valid responses were empirically collected from SMMEs in Malaysia via self-administered structured questionnaires.

Findings

Performing a partial least squares–structural equation modelling analysis, the findings revealed that the relationships between SCQM, OLC and PIP are positive and significant. Moreover, OLC partially mediates the relationship between SCQM and product innovation. Serving as a practical guideline, the results of this study stress the fact that managers of SMMEs need to look into the role-specific context of the firm before determining which practices would be effective for their companies.

Originality/value

The value-added additional testing of the mediating effect of OLC is the highlight of this study. This research represents another leap towards redefining and advancing SCQM, especially for SMMEs in the Asian context.
Healthcare utilisation: a mixed-method study among tea garden workers in Indian context
Authors: Rajput Sonalee , Hense Sibasis , Thankappan K.R.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study examined the utilisation patterns of healthcare services among tea garden workers and analysed the factors influencing utilisation in an Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a mixed-method approach and an explanatory sequential design for the study. A survey was conducted in the beginning followed by in-depth interviews in a north-eastern state of India (Assam). Andersen health behaviour model was used to explore the factors influencing healthcare utilisation. The sample size for the survey and in-depth interviews were 300 and 19, respectively, recruited employing multistage random and purposive sampling techniques.

Findings

Out of 300 workers surveyed, 169 (56.3%) were females, 257 (85.7%) were married, 77 (25.7%) were illiterates and 229 (76.3%) had monthly household income less than 100 US$. The survey also found that 47.3% and 15.3% had non-communicable and communicable disease respectively. Most of the workers (67.3%) utilised government facilities, and close to one third (28.7%) utilised tea garden hospitals. About 63.3% had health insurance, but a majority (78.9%) did not use it previously. The analyses of interviews explored the need, enabling, predisposing factors under three important themes influencing utilisation of healthcare services among the workers.

Practical implications

The study generates evidence to strengthen the Indian Plantation Labour Act, 1951 for tea garden worker's welfare protection and warrants transition from colonial-era policies to contemporary industry realities in order to improve their living, employment, nutritional and health conditions.

Originality/value

The research adds to the existing literature on overall healthcare services utilisation (including coverage and utilisation of health insurance) among blue collar workers who usually lack access to healthcare facilities and explores important factors that determine utilisation in the Indian context.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brings regulation FD enforcement action against AT&T Inc.
Authors: Barnum Lee T. , Groskaufmanis Karl A. , Love Nicole R.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To explain and analyze the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission’s complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against AT&T Inc. alleging repeated violations of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure), and against three of AT&T’s Investor Relations executives for aiding and abetting those violations.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Describes the SEC’s allegations and AT&T’s response and recommends practice points that issuers and their legal counsel can draw from the enforcement action.

Findings

The SEC’s suit against AT&T and its three IR executives serves as an important reminder that the SEC remains committed to ensuring the full and fair disclosure of information by issuers and is willing to litigate Regulation FD-based enforcement actions when it deems necessary.

Practical Implications

Every public company must develop systems to manage selective disclosure risks in its investor relations program.

Originality/Value

Practical guidance from experienced corporate governance, litigation, capital markets, securities enforcement and regulation lawyers.
Use of ePortfolios for making hiring decisions: a comparison of the results from representatives of large and small businesses
Authors: Holtzman Diane M. , Kraft Ellen M. , Small Emmanuel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to determine if representatives of small and large businesses in New Jersey believe portfolios would be valuable for evaluating applicants as part of the hiring process and whether portfolios would help applicants in the hiring process.

Design/methodology/approach

Representatives from 109 small and 71 large businesses in New Jersey were surveyed about using portfolios in the hiring process.

Findings

Representatives from both small and large businesses believe that the submission of a portfolio of exemplary work may help the applicant and the employer in the hiring process.

Research limitations/implications

The study limitations are that the respondents had different definitions of ePortfolio, it was a convenience survey, and the researchers used two sets of data. For future research, conducting a study in a major region of the world would be a significant contribution to learning about the views of business representatives globally regarding the use of ePortfolios in the hiring decision process.

Practical implications

The authors recommend that educational institutions encourage students to create portfolios as part of their career preparation to gain an edge as applicants in the job market. EPortfolios are an emerging tool to help employers in the hiring decision process.

Social implications

EPortfolios would provide evidence of the employee's fit to the position, thus eliminating a mismatch of the employee's skill set and qualifications to the job. The ePortfolio aids the employer in seeing the candidate's skills for the position.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the limited research about the emergence of ePortfolios having a role in human resource decision making.
Visualizing knowledge for decision-making in Lean Production Development settings. Insights from the automotive industry
Authors: Canonico Paolo , De Nito Ernesto , Esposito Vincenza , Fattoruso Gerarda , Pezzillo Iacono Mario , Mangia Gianluigi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The paper focuses on how knowledge visualization supports the development of a particular multiobjective decision-making problem as a portfolio optimization problem in the context of interorganizational collaboration between universities and a large automotive company. This paper fits with the emergent knowledge visualization literature because it helps to explain decision-making related to the development of a multiobjective optimization model in Lean Product Development settings. We investigate how using ad hoc visual tools supports knowledge translation and knowledge sharing, enhancing managerial judgment and decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical case in this study concerns the setting up of a multiobjective decision-making model as a portfolio optimization problem to analyze and select alternatives for upgrading the lean production process quality at an FCA plant.

Findings

The study shows how knowledge visualization and the associated tools work to enable knowledge translation and knowledge sharing, supporting decision-making. The empirical findings show why and how knowledge visualization can be used to foster knowledge translation and sharing among individuals and from individuals to groups. Knowledge visualization is understood as both a collective and interactional process and a systematic approach where different players translate their expertise, share a framework and develop common ground to support decision-making.

Originality/value

From a theoretical perspective, the paper expands the understanding of knowledge visualization as a system of practices that support the development of a multiobjective decision-making method. From an empirical point of view, our results may be useful to other firms in the automotive industry and for academics wishing to develop applied research on portfolio optimization.
Indirect financial distress costs in non-financial firms: evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Noor Amna , Qureshi Shahzadah Fahed , Bhutta Zahra Masood
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyse 508 financially distressed firm-year observations for the period 2010–2018 of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) listed firms to examine the magnitude of indirect financial distress costs (IFDC) and to investigate which firm-specific variable is relatively important in explaining these indirect costs. This will not only enrich empirical literature but also helpful in cross-country comparison.

Design/methodology/approach

Optimal model selection along with panel data analysis technique is used to select the most optimal model to observe the findings. Financial distress is measure through Altman’s Z-score and firm-specific variables cover leverage, level of intangible assets, investment policy, tangible assets, firm’s size, level of liquid assets and Tobin’s Q of sample firms.

Findings

The findings of this study show that the average size of IFDC for the sample observations is 6.70%. In addition to this, finding further suggest that leverage, the level of intangible assets and changes in investment policy have positive while the size of the firm and Tobin’s Q have a significant negative impact on IFDC. Further, this paper argues that the level of tangible assets and liquid assets are statistically unimportant in observing the IFDC for PSX financially distressed firm-year observations.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide more insight to corporate managers and investors about the association between firm-specific financial characteristics and IFDC concerning Pakistani firms. Furthermore, this study contributes to the existing literature by adding new evidence from developing countries such as Pakistan which are helpful for regulatory bodies and policymakers in the formulation of long-term strategies to manage the financial distress costs.

Originality/value

The study extends the body of existing literature on IFDC regarding Pakistan. The results suggest that policymakers may pay special attention to the quality of a firm’s capital structure strategies while predicting corporate financial distress costs.
Financial distress and COVID-19: evidence from working individuals in India
Authors: Goyal Kirti , Kumar Satish , Rao Purnima , Colombage Sisira , Sharma Ankit
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of the containment measures during COVID-19 on individuals’ finances, financial resilience during such distress and identifying the most financially vulnerable among them. Tracing such impact during the pandemic has been challenging due to a lack of representative data. This paper addresses this gap in the present study.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey has been conducted using a structured questionnaire containing various items that portray the impact on income, spending, saving, investment, borrowing, insurance and retirement. The sample consists of 699 respondents and purposive and snowball sampling has been used for data collection. The results are presented and analyzed using infographics and frequency distributions. This study conducts an analysis of variance and Chi-square tests for significance.

Findings

This paper finds a fall in income and limited ability to cope with the current economic conditions. The survey highlights inadequate savings and insurance, weak retirement planning, outstanding loans and under-diversified investments inhibiting financial resilience even among the higher-income group. Particularly, lower-income strata, women and not much educated are most financially vulnerable. Further, no substantial financial benefits have been received from the government and people rely on their usual income sources.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that measures the pandemic’s impact on personal finances, especially in connection with a developing economy like India. Policy interventions are critical to the millions for whom financial literacy is required now more than ever.