bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal use of COVID19 Ag-RDT screening at border crossings to prevent community transmission: a modeling analysis
Authors: Chevalier Joshua M , Sy Karla Therese L , Girdwood Sarah J , Khan Shaukat , Albert Heidi , Toporowski Amy , Hannay Emma , Carmona Sergio , Nichols Brooke E
Published: April 2021

Background

Countries around the world have implemented restrictions on mobility, especially cross-border travel to reduce or prevent SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. Rapid antigen testing (Ag-RDT), with on-site administration and rapid turnaround time may provide a valuable screening measure to ease cross-border travel while minimizing risk of local transmission. To maximize impact, we developed an optimal Ag-RDT screening algorithm for cross-border entry.

Methods

Using a previously developed mathematical model, we determined the daily number of imported COVID-19 cases that would generate no more than a relative 1% increase in cases over one month for different effective reproductive numbers (Rt) of the recipient country. We then developed an algorithm- for differing levels of Rt, arrivals per day, mode of travel, and SARS-CoV-2 prevalence amongst travelers-to determine the minimum proportion of people that would need Ag-RDT testing at border crossings to ensure no greater than the relative 1% community spread increase.

Findings

When daily international arrivals and/or COVID-19 prevalence amongst arrivals increases, the proportion of arrivals required to test using Ag-RDT increases. At very high numbers of international arrivals/COVID-19 prevalence, Ag-RDT testing is not sufficient to prevent increased community spread, especially for lower levels of Rt. In these cases, Ag-RDT screening would need to be supplemented with other measures to prevent an increase in community transmission.

Interpretation

An efficient Ag-RDT algorithm for SARS-CoV-2 testing depends strongly on Rt, volume of travel, proportion of land and air arrivals, test sensitivity, and COVID-19 prevalence among travelers.

Funding

USAID, Government of the Netherlands
Phylogenomics Sheds Light on the population structure ofMycobacterium bovisfrom a Multi-Host Tuberculosis System
Authors: Reis Ana C. , Salvador Liliana C.M. , Robbe-Austerman Suelee , Tenreiro Rogério , Botelho Ana , Albuquerque Teresa , Cunha Mónica V.
Published: April 2021

Molecular analyses ofMycobacterium bovisbased on spoligotyping and Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) brought insights into the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis (TB) in Portugal, showing high genotypic diversity of circulating strains that mostly cluster within the European 2 clonal complex. The genetic relatedness ofM. bovisisolates from cattle and wildlife have also suggested sustained transmission within this multi-host system. However, while previous surveillance highlighted prevalent genotypes in areas where livestock and wild ungulates are sympatric and provided valuable information on the prevalence and spatial occurrence of TB, links at the wildlife-livestock interfaces were established mainly via genotype associations. Therefore, evidence at a local fine scale of transmission events linking wildlife hosts and cattle remains lacking. Here, we explore the advantages of whole genome sequencing (WGS) applied to cattle, red deer and wild boar isolates to reconstruct the evolutionary dynamics ofM. bovisand to identify putative pathogen transmission events. Whole genome sequences of 44 representativeM. bovisisolates, obtained between 2003 and 2015 from three TB hotspots, were compared through single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant calling analyses. Consistent with previous results combining classical genotyping with Bayesian population admixture modelling, SNP-based phylogenies support the branching of thisM. bovispopulation into five genetic clades, three with geographic specificities, as well as the establishment of a SNPs catalogue specific to each clade, which may be explored in the future as phylogenetic markers. The core genome alignment of SNPs was integrated within a spatiotemporal metadata framework to reconstruct transmission networks, which together with inferred secondary cases, further structured thisM. bovispopulation by host species and geographic location.

WGS ofM. bovisisolates from Portugal is reported for the first time, refining the spatiotemporal context of transmission events and providing further support to the key role of red deer and wild boar on the persistence of animal TB in this Iberian multi-host system.
Endophytic microbiome variation at the level of a single plant seed
Authors: Bintarti AF , Sulesky-Grieb A , Stopnisek N , Shade A
Published: April 2021

Like other plant compartments, the seed harbors a microbiome. The members of the seed microbiome are the first to colonize a germinating seedling, and they initiate the trajectory of microbiome assembly for the next plant generation. Therefore, the members of the seed microbiome are important for the dynamics of plant microbiome assembly and the vertical transmission of potentially beneficial symbionts. However, it remains challenging to assess the microbiome at the individual seed level (and, therefore, for the future individual plant) due to low endophytic microbial biomass, seed exudates that can select for particular members, and high plant and plastid contamination of resulting reads. Here, we report a protocol for extracting metagenomic DNA from an individual seed (common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with minimal disruption of host tissue, which we expect to be generalizable to other medium-and large-seed plant species. We applied this protocol to quantify the 16S rRNA V4 and ITS2 amplicon composition and variability for individual seeds harvested from replicate common bean plants grown under standard, controlled conditions to maintain health. Using metagenomic DNA extractions from individual seeds, we compared seed-to-seed, pod-to-pod, and plant-to-plant microbiomes, and found highest microbiome variability at the plant level. This suggests that several seeds from the same plant could be pooled for microbiome assessment, given experimental designs that apply treatments at the maternal plant level. This study adds protocols and insights to the growing toolkit of approaches to understand the plant-microbiome engagements that support the health of agricultural and environmental ecosystems.
A massively parallel reporter assay reveals focused and broadly encoded RNA localization signals in neurons
Authors: Mikl Martin , Eletto Davide , Lee Minkyoung , Lafzi Atefeh , Mhamedi Farah , Sain Simona Baghai , Handler Kristina , Moor Andreas E.
Published: April 2021

Asymmetric subcellular localization of mRNA is a common cellular phenomenon that is thought to contribute to spatial gene regulation. In highly polar neurons, subcellular transcript localization and translation are thought to enhance cellular efficiency and timely responses to external cues. Although mRNA localization has been observed in many tissues and numerous examples of the functional importance of this process exist, we still lack a systematic understanding of how the transcript sorting machinery works in a sequence-specific manner.

Here, we addressed these gaps by combining subcellular transcriptomics and rationally designed sequence libraries. We developed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) for mRNA localization and tested ~50,000 sequences for their ability to drive RNA localization to neurites of neuronal cell lines. By scanning the 3’UTR of >300 genes we identified many previously unknown localization regions and mapped the localization potential of endogenous sequences. Our data suggest two ways the localization potential can be encoded in the 3’UTR: focused localization motifs and broadly encoded localization potential based on small contributions.

We identified sequence motifs enriched in dendritically localized transcripts and tested the potential of these motifs to affect the localization behavior of an mRNA. This assay revealed sequence elements with the ability to bias localization towards neurite as well as soma. Depletion of RNA binding proteins predicted or experimentally shown to bind these motifs abolished the effect on localization, suggesting that these motifs act by recruiting specific RNA-binding proteins.

Based on our dataset we developed machine learning models that accurately predict the localization behavior of novel sequences. Testing this predictor on native mRNA sequencing data showed good agreement between predicted and observed localization potential, suggesting that the rules uncovered by our MPRA also apply to the localization of native transcripts.

Applying similar systematic high-throughput approaches to other cell types will open the door for a comparative perspective on RNA localization across tissues and reveal the commonalities and differences of this crucial regulatory mechanism.
Mapping differences in mammalian distributions and diversity using environmental DNA from rivers
Authors: Broadhurst Holly A. , Gregory Luke M. , Bleakley Emma K. , Perkins Joseph C. , Lavin Jenna V. , Bolton Polly , Browett Samuel S. , Howe Claire V. , Singleton Natalie , Tansley Darren , Sales Naiara Guimarães , McDevitt Allan D.
Published: April 2021

Aim

Finding more efficient ways to monitor, and estimate the diversity of, mammalian communities is a major step towards their management and conservation. Environmental DNA (eDNA) from river water has recently been shown to be a viable method for biomonitoring mammalian communities. Yet, most of the studies to date have focused on the potential for eDNA to detect individual species, with little focus on describing patterns of community diversity and structure. In this study, we focus on the sampling effort required to reliably map the diversity and distribution of semi-aquatic and terrestrial mammals and allow inferences of community structure surrounding rivers.

Location

Southeastern England

Methods

We used eDNA metabarcoding on water samples collected along two rivers and a beaver enclosure over two days, targeting terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammals. Mammalian community diversity and composition was assessed based on species richness and β-diversity. Differences between river communities were calculated and partitioned into nestedness and turnover, and the sampling effort required to rapidly detect semi-aquatic and terrestrial species was evaluated based on species accumulation curves and occupancy modelling.

Results

eDNA metabarcoding efficiently detected 25 wild mammal species from five orders in two days of sampling, representing the vast majority (82%) of the species expected in the area. The required sampling effort varied between orders, with common species (generally rodents, deer and lagomorph species) more readily detected, with carnivores detected less frequently. Measures of species richness differed between rivers (both overall and within each mammalian order) and patterns of β-diversity revealed the importance of species replacement in sites within each river, against a pattern of species loss between the two rivers.

Main conclusions

eDNA metabarcoding demonstrated its capability to rapidly detect mammal species, allowing inferences of community composition that will better inform future sampling strategies for this Class. Importantly, this study highlights the potential use of eDNA data for investigating mammalian community dynamics over different spatial scales.
tdLanYFP, a yellow, bright, photostable and pH insensitive fluorescent protein for live cell imaging and FRET-based sensing strategies
Authors: Bousmah Yasmina , Valenta Hana , Bertolin Giulia , Singh Utkarsh , Nicolas Valérie , Pasquier Hélène , Tramier Marc , Merola Fabienne , Erard Marie
Published: April 2021

Yellow fluorescent proteins (YFP) are widely used as optical reporters in Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensors. Although great improvements have been done, the sensitivity of the biosensors is still limited by the low photostability and the poor fluorescence performances of YFPs at acidic pHs. Here, we characterize the yellow fluorescent protein, tdLanYFP, derived from the tetrameric protein from the cephalochordateB. lanceolatum, LanYFP. With a quantum yield of 0.92 and an extinction coefficient of 133 000 mol−1.L.cm−1, it is, to our knowledge, the brightest dimeric fluorescent protein available. Contrasting with EYFP and its derivatives, tdLanYFP has a very high photostabilityin vitroand in live cells. As a consequence, tdLanYFP allows imaging of cellular structures with sub-diffraction resolution using STED nanoscopy and is compatible with the use of spectro-microscopies in single molecule regimes. Its very low pK1/2of 3.9 makes tdLanYFP an excellent tag even at acidic pHs. Finally, we show that tdLanYFP is valuable FRET partner either as donor or acceptor in different biosensing modalities. Altogether, these assets make tdLanYFP a very attractive yellow fluorescent protein for long-term or single-molecule live cell imaging including FRET experiments at acidic pH.
Long read sequencing reveals novel isoforms and insights into splicing regulation during cell state changes
Authors: Wright David J , Hall Nicola , Irish Naomi , Man Angela L , Glynn Will , Mould Arne , De Los Angeles Alejandro , Angiolini Emily , Swarbreck David , Gharbi Karim , Tunbridge Elizabeth M , Haerty Wilfried
Published: April 2021

Alternative splicing (AS) is a key mechanism underlying cellular differentiation and a driver of complexity in mammalian neuronal tissues. However, understanding of which isoforms are differentially used or expressed and how this affects cellular differentiation remains unclear. Long read sequencing allows full-length transcript recovery and quantification, enabling transcript-level analysis of AS processes and how these change with cell state. Here, we utilise Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing to produce a custom annotation of a well-studied human neuroblastoma cell line and to characterise isoform expression and usage across differentiation. We identify many previously unannotated features, including a novel transcript of the voltage-gated calcium channel subunit gene,CACNA2D2. We show differential expression and usage of transcripts during differentiation, and identify a putative molecular regulator underlying this state change. Our work highlights the potential of long read sequencing to uncover previously unknown transcript diversity and mechanisms influencing alternative splicing.
Genomic characterization of a lumpy skin disease virus isolated in southeast China
Authors: Ma Jun , Yuan Yaoxian , Shao Jianwei , Sun Minghui , Huang Weinan , Zhang Xu , He Wei , Huang Chunhua , Xu Wencheng , Qi Nanshan , Lin Junwei , Chen Jiming , Sun Mingfei , Liu Quan
Published: April 2021

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript due to lack of relevant authorizations for data use. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding authors.
Sustained coevolution of phage Lambda andEscherichia coliinvolves inner as well as outer membrane defenses and counter-defenses
Authors: Burmeister Alita R. , Sullivan Rachel M. , Gallie Jenna , Lenski Richard E.
Published: April 2021

Bacteria often evolve resistance to phage through the loss or modification of cell-surface receptors. InEscherichia coliand phage λ, such resistance can catalyze a coevolutionary arms race focused on host and phage structures that interact at the outer membrane. Here, we analyze another facet of this arms race involving interactions at the inner membrane, wherebyE. colievolves mutations in mannose permease-encoding genesmanYandmanZthat impair λ’s ability to eject its DNA into the cytoplasm. We show that thesemanmutants arose concurrently with the arms race at the outer membrane. We tested the hypothesis that λ evolved an additional counter-defense that allowed them to infect bacteria with deletedmangenes. The deletions severely impaired the ancestral λ, but some evolved phage grew well on the deletion mutants, indicating they regained infectivity by evolving the ability to infect hosts independently of the mannose permease. This coevolutionary arms race fulfills the model of an inverse-gene-for-gene infection network. Taken together, the interactions at both the outer and inner membranes reveal that coevolutionary arms races can be richer and more complex than is often appreciated.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Laboratory studies of coevolution help us understand how host defenses and pathogen counter-defenses change over time, which is often essential for predicting the future dynamics of host-pathogen interactions. One particular model, termed “inverse-gene-for-gene” coevolution, predicts that coevolution proceeds through alternating steps, whereby hosts lose the features exploited by pathogens, and pathogens evolve to exploit alternative features. Using a classic model system in molecular biology, we describe the nature and timing of a previously overlooked step in the coevolution ofE. coliand bacteriophage lambda. Our work demonstrates that this mode of coevolution can profoundly re-shape the interactions between bacteria and phage.
Robust and annotation-free analysis of alternative splicing across diverse cell types in mice
Authors: Benegas Gonzalo , Fischer Jonathan , Song Yun S.
Published: April 2021

Although alternative splicing is a fundamental and pervasive aspect of gene expression in higher eukaryotes, it is often omitted from single-cell studies due to quantification challenges inherent to commonly used short-read sequencing technologies. Here, we undertake the analysis of alternative splicing across numerous diverse murine cell types from two large-scale single-cell datasets—theTabula Murisand BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network—while accounting for understudied technical artifacts and unannotated isoforms. We find strong and general cell-type-specific alternative splicing, complementary to total gene expression but of similar discriminatory value, and identify a large volume of novel isoforms. We specifically highlight splicing variation across different cell types in primary motor cortex neurons, bone marrow B cells, and various epithelial cells; and show that the implicated transcripts include many genes which do not display total expression differences. To elucidate the regulation of alternative splicing, we build a custom predictive model based on splicing factor activity, recovering several known interactions while generating new hypotheses, including potential regulatory roles for novel alternative splicing events in critical genes includingKhdrbs3andRbfox1. We make our results available using public interactive browsers to spur further exploration by the community.
Why narcissistic individuals engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior. Testing a moderated mediation model
Authors: Toirova Munisa , Baek Yoonjung
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the current research is to study the relationship between narcissism and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), and also examine whether status striving mediates the relationship between narcissism and UPB among individuals with high organizational identification.

Design/methodology/approach

Data that was used to test the research model were collected from five companies in the trading sector in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The final sample included 200 responses, among all participants 29.5% were in a leadership position.

Findings

The current research found that narcissism leads individuals to exhibit a willingness to engage in UPB. Furthermore, status striving mediates the relationship between narcissism and UPB among individuals with high organizational identification.

Research limitations/implications

Research did not use actual reported UPB but measured employees' willingness to engage in UPB.

Practical implications

Organizations should develop special ethics guidance to change the employee's perceptions of UPB from the act of helping or protecting the organization to undesirable behavior in the organization. Moreover, the organization may develop an ethical counseling program, by which individuals may perceive that ethical behavior is valuable for the organization.

Originality/value

Current study examines the relationship between narcissism and UPB. Moreover, it provides empirical support for the notion that the relationship between narcissism and UPB is mediated by status striving among individuals with high organizational identification.
Exploring the influence of supply chain collaboration on supply chain visibility, stakeholder trust, environmental and financial performances: a partial least square approach
Authors: Baah Charles , Acquah Innocent Senyo Kwasi , Ofori Daniel
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The need to stay competitive amidst ever-changing business environment has shifted competitive strategies from firms to supply chains. Managers are now basing competitive strategies on supply chains acknowledging that supply chains present competitive advantages among other resources. The purpose of the study is to explore the predictive relevance of supply chain collaboration and the extent to which it influences supply chain visibility, stakeholder trust, environmental and financial performances. This study focused on manufacturing firms due to their supplier relationships, consumption of resources, energy and emissions of greenhouse gasses.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a survey research design, a quantitative approach and partial least square structural equation modelling technique in making data analysis and interpretations due to its suitability for predictive research models as is the case in this study.

Findings

The study hypothesized that supply chain collaboration positively and significantly interacts with supply chain visibility, stakeholder trust, environmental and financial performances. The study results confirmed supply chain collaboration as a significant, positive and a robust influence on supply chain visibility, stakeholder trust, environmental and financial performances thereby projecting win-win scenarios for firms that engage in collaborative supply chain practices.

Originality/value

The study is among the few to indicate findings in relation to the scope of supply chain collaboration's potency in influencing performance from the perspective of manufacturing firms operational in an emerging economy. Thus, this study contributes to understanding the wider scope of supply chain collaboration, its interactions with other firm variables and how it informs decisions of managers, scholars and supply chain partners.
Integrated thinking, earnings manipulation and value creation: Malaysian empirical evidence
Authors: Mohammed Nor Farizal , Sutainim Nor Aqilah , Islam Md. Shafiqul , Mohamed Norhayati
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Prior literature proposes that integrated reporting (IR) drives integrated thinking (IT), enabling an organisation to create value for stakeholders in both quantitative (economic performance) and qualitative manners (beyond financially-oriented information). Fraud triangle theory also predicts that earnings manipulation may also affect the creation of value. Thus, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between IT, earnings manipulation and value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

This data sample comprises of 497 observations from 2014 to 2018 of the top 100 market capitalisation of Malaysian public listed companies (PLCs) in Bursa Malaysia. This study used an index score for IT variable and Beneish’s M-score as a proxy to detect earnings manipulations and to classify the companies into non-manipulators and manipulator companies. Value creation measurements consist of four variables under shareholder's value creation and one variable represents value creation through innovation.

Findings

The findings show that IT is significantly related to value creation, whereas earnings manipulation had no significant relationship with value creation except for value creation measured using Tobin's Q ratio. The alarming finding is that a fraud predictor, namely earning manipulation, measured by Beneish-M, is not a predictor of whether companies are creating better or less value.

Originality/value

This study is among the early literature that provides empirical evidence of the relationship between IT and value creation. Furthermore, this paper adds to look at the association of earning manipulation and value creation.
Strategy on development of innovative ecosystem in customer values
Authors: Wang Xinxin
Published: April 2021

Purpose

In a fierce competition environment in which product prices fall sharply or even tend to be free, only by realizing differentiated customer value through continuous innovation can companies respond quickly and effectively to changes and enhance their core competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The innovation ecosystem takes the enterprise as the core, based on stakeholders such as partners, customers and intermediaries, and is highly concentrated in an industry or a region to form close horizontal and vertical links with each other[4]. With the goal of continuously creating differentiated customer value, the internal resources of the collaborative system are integrated, and through the rapid flow of knowledge, material and value between the various entities, the overall value-added ability is continuously improved.

Findings

The innovation ecosystem is the core for users to create expected and dream experience. It combines different knowledge systems of groups and individuals with different characteristics and backgrounds to create an environment where various ideas can effectively collide and recombine and integrate resources through multiple channels to form an organism.

Originality/value

Ecological factors in the production and application of technology diffusion and knowledge in the process of mutual influence, in the process of dynamic interactive learning and self-reinforcing, identify and understand the customer value, coordinated development of the overall operation of product and service system, to form a consistent brand and improve customer loyalty and ultimately improve the innovation ecosystem value.
A novel methodology for optimum energy consumption in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Abbas Mohamed , Otayf Nasser
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to minimize energy usage by maximizing network life in the creation of applications and protocols

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel methodology for optimum energy consumption in wireless sensor networks. The proposed methodology introduces some protocols and logarithms that effectively contributed to reducing energy consumption in these types of networks.

Findings

The results of that comparison showed the ability of those logarithms and protocols to reduce that energy but in varying proportions. It can be concluded that a significant reduction in energy consumption approximately 50% could be obtained by the proposed methodology.

Originality/value

Here, a novel methodology for optimum energy consumption in wireless sensor networks has been introduced.
Exchange rate appreciation, trade competition and technology transaction: evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Dingping , Gan Sumei
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is mainly to investigate the stimulating effect on technology transactions of trade competition resultant from RMB appreciation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses Chinese provincial panel data from 1998 to 2015 and utilizes GMM method to estimate the stimulating effect of RMB appreciation on technical transactions through trade competition.

Findings

The results demonstrate that RMB appreciation can encourage enterprises to make use of domestic technology market resources for innovation. Specifically, the increase in imports due to the appreciation of RMB can generate technology spill-over and significantly promote technology trade. The export competition resultant from RMB appreciation can also encourage domestic and foreign enterprises to enhance export competitiveness through increased technology transactions.

Originality/value

The current research investigates the impact of exchange rate on independent innovation, but this study demonstrates the influence of exchange rate on technology transactions. In addition, the data in this study cover 1998–2015 in China and thus contributes to determining the effects of exchange rate appreciation in emerging countries.
Psychological safety and individual performance: the mediating effect of intrapreneurial behavior
Authors: Mahmoud Mahmoud Ahmad , Ahmad Shuhymee , Poespowidjojo Donny Abdul Latief
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to extend the extant literature on the relationship between psychological safety (PS) and individual performance (IP) through the mediating influence of intrapreneurial behavior (IB). Therefore, the social exchange theory (SET) and psychological entrepreneurship theory (PET) are integrated to achieve this objective.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey method of data collection was engaged through self-administered questionnaire. The sample of 355 medium enterprises (MEs) production/operations managers was analyzed by means of partial least square (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The result shows that PS has a significant direct relationship with both IP and IB; likewise, IB has a significant positive influence on IP. The mediating influence of IB on the PS–IP relationship was also confirmed.

Practical implications

The result suggests that PS–IP relationship will be better explained when IB is fortified among managers. Therefore, MEs could stimulate production/operations manager performance by encouraging IB through PS–IP relationship.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to study the influence of individual-level PS on the complete individual-level IB and the mediating influence of individual IB on PS–IP relationship. Moreover, the intraprenerurship literature is relatively lacking expressly among developing countries and precisely Nigeria. As such, the attention of researchers is important on the role of individual-level IB in MEs against the assumption that entrepreneurial events are limited to firm-level concerns.
Dynamic capabilities: antecedents and implications for firms' performance
Authors: Correia Ricardo Jorge , Teixeira Mário Sérgio , Dias José G.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a new causal link between learning, market and entrepreneurial orientations and firms' performance by introducing dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages as mediator variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The mediating role of dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages is tested using a sample of 1,190 Portuguese firms, and structural equation models.

Findings

It is shown that dynamic capabilities mediate the relationship between the three orientations–learning, market and entrepreneurial–and competitive advantages of differentiation and cost leadership, and both competitive advantages lead to firm's performance. It is also shown that learning orientation is an antecedent of market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation.

Practical implications

This research shows that firm's performance depends on the capacity of firms to learn, innovate, be proactive, take risks and collect the best market data. Indeed, by optimizing the internal management and knowledge dissemination, firms will develop a set of capabilities and competitive advantages that lead to an appropriate response to market challenges.

Originality/value

This study tests the relationship between strategic orientations and firm's performance by taking the mediating effects of dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages into account. This research was conducted in Portugal.
Remittances, electricity consumption and electric power losses in Jamaica
Authors: Das Anupam , McFarlane Adian
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of remittance inflows (remittances) on electricity consumption and electric power losses in Jamaica.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use annual data from 1976 to 2014 and apply vector error correction modelling, Granger causality testing and impulse response analysis.

Findings

First, the authors find that there is co-integration between remittances and the energy variables, namely electricity consumption and electric power losses. Second, short-run Granger causality exists between the energy variables and remittances. This causality is bidirectional between the energy variables and positive changes in remittances, but it is unidirectional running from the energy variables to negative movements in remittances. Third, the authors find that in the long-run remittances have a negative relationship with electric power losses and a positive relationship with the consumption of electricity.

Practical implications

Findings from this paper will help to elucidate the relationship between electricity consumption, and electric power losses, and remittances.

Social implications

The problem of electric power losses is acute in Jamaica and it is mostly due to theft. At the same time, Jamaica receives significant remittances. Social policy could have a role to encourage the use of remittances to help stem the theft of electricity.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines the relationships between remittances, electricity consumption and electric power losses.
Demand-pull vs supply-push strategy: the effects of organizational structure on supply chain integration and response capabilities
Authors: Chiang Ai-Hsuan , Huang Ming-Yuan
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Rapid response is often the cornerstone of success in many industries, especially manufacturing. In the authors’ opinion, organizational structure will also affect the construction of a fast-response supply chain system. The main purpose of this research examines whether different levels of organizational structure have different effects on the relationship between external integration and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied questionnaires to collect data. This study collected 818 questionnaires from manufacturers in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to verify our proposed model using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results show that response speed perfectly mediates the relationship between external integration and firm performance. Different levels of organizational structure will also affect external integration. Strict organizational structure requires customer integration, while loose organizational structure requires supplier integration to quickly meet customer needs.

Practical implications

Companies can probably determine whether their organizational structure is higher or lower than that of their competitors. If firms can determine that their organization structure is high or low, they can adopt suitable external integrations to enhance quick response and operational performance.

Originality/value

In the relationship between supply chain integration and performance, we consider a mediating variable and moderating variable together. Results explain the reason that the relationship between supply chain integration and performance are inconsistent in previous studies. We have addressed external integration in alignment with organizational structure to provide better service and enhance performance by providing empirical evidence.
Tailor the message and change will happen? An experimental study of message tailoring as an effective communication strategy for organizational change
Authors: Haumer Florian , Schlicker Laura , Murschetz Paul Clemens , Kolo Castulus
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study strives to improve one’s understanding of tailored messaging as an organizational communication strategy that amplifies processes of organizational change at an individual level of personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

A scientific experiment was conducted to test the effects of tailored messages on self-reported employee engagement during an organizational change process.

Findings

The results show that tailored messaging improves employee engagement for change when messages fit the specific needs of different personality types. Conversely, message tailoring can lower employee engagement when messages do not match personality types. Further, message tailoring has different impacts at different stages of a change project.

Research limitations/implications

An employee's ability to change as a function of his professional skill set as well as the project type (e.g. digital transformation project, post-merger integration project, leadership change project) should not be neglected in an overall model that aims to explain the success factors of change management.

Practical implications

Obviously, proper targeting, timing, as well as the implementation of a valid, legal and feasible method for identifying an employee's personality as well as other individual characteristics are equally important and challenging to improve change management outcomes.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the discussion on the efficacy of message tailoring as a communication strategy for organizational change.
Why low-income people have difficulty accessing to obtain public cultural services? Evidence from an empirical study on representative small and medium-sized cities
Authors: Wanyan Dengdeng , Wang Zijian
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This article aims to provide reference for government departments and public cultural institutions in strengthening the provision of public cultural services for low-income groups, improving services methods and fostering their cultural awareness and cultural rights.

Design/methodology/approach

Evidence from an empirical study on representative small and medium-sized cities.

Findings

This paper defines the specific aspects of the difficulties faced by urban low-income people in obtaining public cultural services, and it is no longer limited to analyze the causes behind these difficulties from a specific perspective.

Originality/value

The difficulties faced by urban low-income people in obtaining public cultural services are mainly reflected in the following four aspects: external condition pressure, individual condition limitations, service supply difference and feedback mechanism failure.
Library collections promotion for preadolescents using social media marketing strategies
Authors: Wu Ko-Chiu , Yang Tsung-Ying
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore preadolescents' opinions of the social media marketing strategies hosted by libraries to promote collections.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental Facebook page was created with posts containing interesting animations, games and book recommendations. A questionnaire survey was administered to 262 preadolescents between 11 and 13 years old to seek their opinions about the posts, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure their acceptance of the marketing strategies.

Findings

The authors examined the effects of five marketing strategies: word-of-mouth marketing, buzz marketing, event marketing, viral marketing and gamification marketing. In terms of sharing, word-of-mouth marketing proved the most popular, followed by buzz marketing. Participants were least accepting of viral marketing. The authors found that gamification marketing resulted in higher engagement than did event marketing. The preadolescent participants preferred engagement marketing strategies over information sharing strategies.

Originality/value

According to the uses and gratification theory, preadolescents seek, share and engage with information in ways that differ from other age groups. With specific reference to hedonic engagement by preadolescents, the authors built a two-fold model to describe the information-seeking behaviors of preadolescents from the perspective of marketing strategies. The study findings indicate that librarians who use Facebook to promote library collections should first employ gamification and word-of-mouth marketing to build trust with preadolescent users. Event and buzz marketing will then be more effective when applied within the context of this trust.
Bibliometric analysis of ecopreneurship using VOSviewer and RStudio Bibliometrix, 1989–2019
Authors: Guleria Deepa , Kaur Gurvinder
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This article offers a bibliometric analysis and explores the relationships among the documents on ecopreneurship by using relational techniques. The results highlight the publication trends; most cited documents, top contributing authors, countries and institutions with highest productivity and most contributing journals to the research field.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, 216 documents were retrieved from the Thompson Reuters Web of Science Core Collection database with three document types: articles, review and book review. All the documents were considered for the analysis. Then VOSviewer and bibliometric analysis using R with an inbuilt utility Biblioshiny were used together for co-word analysis, co-citation network analysis, generating collaboration networks and also generating a unique three-field plot to analyze the evolution of a research field.

Findings

The results highlight the publication trends: most cited documents, top contributing authors, countries and institutions with highest productivity and most contributing journals to the research field. The network analysis of co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence and bibliographic coupling reveals most prominent relationships between authors, documents, co-cited references, sources and countries for the available documents on the research field.

Research limitations/implications

The study helps not only in expansion of knowledgebase on the research topic but also in understanding the evolution of the ecopreneurship to provide research support further in this area.

Originality/value

Ecopreneurship is an emerging field of research connecting ecology and entrepreneurship together, making it a potential research area. The contributions made to this research field from 1989 to 2019 serve as a core for conducting this analysis. The study is an effort to help in coordinating research network across countries, authors and affiliating universities.
E-waste-word of mouth (EW-WOM) generation: a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA)
Authors: Rezaei Sajad , Ho Ree Chan
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the asymmetrical relationships among information-sharing desire, moral attitudes, lack of concern, relative advantage, market maven tendency and complexity as the antecedents of E-waste-word of mouth (EW-WOM) generation.

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain a holistic view and the interrelationships between conditions, the configural analysis was conducted to assess the asymmetrical relationships using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA). In addition, construct validity, reliability and symmetrical relationships between antecedent conditions (i.e. exogenous constructs) and outcome conditions (i.e. endogenous constructs) are examined using variance-based structural equation modeling (VB-SEM) technique.

Findings

Results imply that market maven tendency accounts for 86.8% of the sum of the memberships in EW-WOM generation. In total, 11 configurations show sufficiency in constructing EW-WOM generation. The configuration of relativeadvanta*moralattitudes*marketmaventend shows the highest consistency value (0.939684) in producing EW-WOM generation (outcome condition). The ∼relativeadvanta *moralattitudes*complexity*∼lackfconcern with raw coverage of 0.626757 and consistency value of 0.864088 show the most sufficient configuration path in producing the outcome.

Originality/value

Product review and recommendation are easily shared in various communication formats and consumers are prone to disseminate information and their experiences with other market segments. However, the role and phenomena of such viral communication in preventing environmental issues caused by electronic and electrical devices (i.e. E-waste) are not well understood. This study is among a few attempts at understanding consumer's decision-making process to engage in E-waste activities such as the reduction of garbage, recycling, compositing and the reuse of electronic or electrical devices.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2019-0343
Developing a comprehensive framework for analyzing national scientific and technical information policy: application of HeLICAM in Iran
Authors: Namdarian Leila , Alidousti Sirous , Rasuli Behrooz
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Strengthening and improving Scientific and Technical Information (S&Ti) flow in all nations require an effective national S&Ti policy (NS&TiP). The very first step in developing an integrated NS&TiP is clarifying its scope and dimensions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the dimensions of NS&TiP, in the form of an analytical framework, and to show how to apply it.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study adopted a qualitative method, called the framework approach, and proposed HeLICAM, a comprehensive framework including different dimensions for NS&TiP. Afterward, Iran's science and technology documents were analyzed based on the proposed framework.

Findings

HeLICAM framework includes (1) human resources, (2) laws and regulations, (3) ICT infrastructure, (4) connections, (5) activities and (6) information market. The results obtained from the application of HeLICAM in the analysis of Iran's science and technology policy documents indicated that the various dimensions of NS&TiP have mostly been overlooked. Although several policies have been developed for science and technology in Iran, the efforts have not been comprehensive and effective enough.

Originality/value

This study proposes the normative analytical framework called HeLICAM. The purpose of HeLICAM is to provide a draft of NS&TiP dimensions to policymakers that will be useful in NS&Ti policymaking because this framework helps to answer questions like “what dimensions have been considered in writing the policy document?” and “What it lacks?”, “What are its strengths and weaknesses?”, and “How can it be improved?”

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2020-0493