bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Light-driven formation of high-valent manganese oxide by photosystem II supports evolutionary role in early bioenergetics
Authors: Chernev Petko , Fischer Sophie , Hoffmann Jutta , Oliver Nicholas , Burnap Robert L. , Zaharieva Ivelina , Nürnberg Dennis J. , Haumann Michael , Dau Holger
Published: March 2020

Water oxidation and concomitant O2-formation by the Mn4Ca cluster of oxygenic photosynthesis has shaped the biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. It has been hypothesized that at an early stage of evolution, before photosynthetic water oxidation became prominent, photosynthetic formation of Mn oxides from dissolved Mn(2+) ions may have played a key role in bioenergetics and possibly facilitated early geological manganese deposits. The biochemical evidence for the ability of photosystems to form extended Mn oxide particles, lacking until now, is provided herein. We tracked the light-driven redox processes in spinach photosystem II (PSII) particles devoid of the Mn4Ca clusters by UV-vis and X-ray spectroscopy. We find that oxidation of aqueous Mn(2+) ions results in PSII-bound Mn(III,IV)-oxide nanoparticles of the birnessite type comprising 50-100 Mn ions per PSII. Having shown that even today’s photosystem-II can form birnessite-type oxide particles efficiently, we propose an evolutionary scenario, which involves Mn-oxide production by ancestral photosystems, later followed by down-sizing of protein-bound Mn-oxide nanoparticles to finally yield today’s Mn4CaO5cluster of photosynthetic water oxidation.
Spindle position dictates division site during asymmetric cell division in moss
Authors: Kozgunova Elena , Yoshida Mari W. , Reski Ralf , Goshima Gohta
Published: March 2020

Asymmetric cell division (ACD) underlies the development of multicellular organisms. It is considered that the division site in land plants is predetermined prior to mitosis and that the localization of the mitotic spindle does not govern the division plane. This contrasts with animal ACD, in which the division site is defined by active spindle-positioning mechanisms. Here, we isolated a hypomorphic mutant of the conserved microtubule-associated protein TPX2 in the mossPhyscomitrium patensand observed abnormal spindle motility during cell division. This defect compromised the position of the division site and produced inverted daughter cell sizes in the first ACD of gametophore (leafy shoot) development. The phenotype was rescued by restoring endogenous TPX2 function and, unexpectedly, by depolymerizing actin filaments. Thus, we have identified an active spindle-positioning mechanism that, reminiscent of acentrosomal ACD in animals, involves microtubules and actin filaments and sets the division site in plants.
Mouse embryonic stem cells self-organize into trunk-like structures with neural tube and somites
Authors: Veenvliet Jesse V , Bolondi Adriano , Kretzmer Helene , Haut Leah , Scholze-Wittler Manuela , Schifferl Dennis , Koch Frederic , Pustet Milena , Heimann Simon , Buschow Rene , Wittler Lars , Timmermann Bernd , Meissner Alexander , Herrmann Bernhard G
Published: March 2020

Post-implantation embryogenesis is a highly dynamic process comprising multiple lineage decisions and morphogenetic changes inaccessible to deep analysisin vivo. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can form aggregates reflecting the post-occipital embryo (gastruloids), but lacking proper morphogenesis. Here we show that embedding of aggregates derived from mESCs in an extracellular matrix compound results in Trunk-Like-Structures (TLS) with a high level of organization comprising a neural tube and somites. Comparative single-cell RNA-seq analysis demonstrates that TLS execute gene-regulatory programs in an embryo-like order, and generate primordial germ cell like cells (PGCLCs). TLS lackingTbx6form ectopic neural tubes, mirroring the embryonic mutant phenotype. ESC-derived trunk-like structures thus constitute a novel powerfulin vitroplatform for investigating lineage decisions and morphogenetic processes shaping the post-implantation embryo.

One sentence summary

A platform for generating trunk-like-structures with precursors of spinal cord, bone and muscle from stem cells in a dish
Substrate Specificity of the TRAMP Nuclear Surveillance Complexes
Authors: Delan-Forino Clémentine , Spanos Christos , Rappsilber Juri , Tollervey David
Published: March 2020

During nuclear surveillance in yeast, the RNA exosome functions together with the TRAMP complexes. These include the DEAH-box RNA helicase Mtr4 together with an RNA-binding protein (Air1 or Air2) and a poly(A) polymerase (Trf4 or Trf5). To better determine how RNA substrates are targeted, we analyzed protein and RNA interactions for TRAMP components. Mass spectrometry identified three distinct TRAMP complexes formedin vivo. These complexes preferentially assemble on different classes of transcripts. Unexpectedly, on many substrates, including pre-rRNAs and pre-mRNAs, binding specificity was apparently conferred by Trf4 and Trf5. Clustering of mRNAs by TRAMP association showed co-enrichment for mRNAs with functionally related products, supporting the significance of surveillance in regulating gene expression. We compared binding sites of TRAMP components with multiple nuclear RNA binding proteins, revealing preferential colocalization of subsets of factors.TRF5deletion reduced Mtr4 recruitment and increased RNA abundance for mRNAs specifically showing high Trf5 binding.
Grain aphids (Sitobion avenae) with knockdown resistance (kdr) to insecticide exhibit fitness trade-offs, including increased vulnerability to the natural enemyAphidius ervi.
Authors: Little Damon , Malloch Gaynor , McNamara Louise , Jackson Gail E.
Published: March 2020

The development of insecticide-resistance mechanisms in aphids has been associated with inhibitory, pleiotropic fitness costs. Such fitness costs have not yet been examined in the UK’s most damaging cereal aphid,Sitobion avenae(grain aphid) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). This study aimed to evaluate the fitness trade-offs of the insecticide-resistantS. avenaeclone versus an insecticide-susceptibleS. avenaeclone. Additionally, the parasitoid,Aphidius ervi(Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was introduced to examine its potential as a biological control agent. This study found that insecticide-resistant clones had significantly lower population growth and individual relative growth rate. Furthermore, insecticide-resistant clones suffered from a significantly greater rate of parasitisation (mummification) compared to their insecticide-susceptible counterparts. The successfulness of the parasitoid as a biological control agent could prevent the spread of the insecticide-resistant genotype. However, for this to be possible, insecticide spraying regimes need to be moderated, and habitat modification and parasitoid manipulation must be considered.
Recombinant Protein IGF1-24 Stimulates Rat Cardiomyocytes Proliferation and Repairs Myocardial Injury
Authors: Wang Xing , Fu Manxue , Yi Qian , Feng Jianguo , Liao Yi , Xu Xichao , Chen Ying , Zhang Lu , Sun Huifang , Liu Piaoyang , Liang Yuanyuan , Tang Liling
Published: March 2020

Mammal cardiomyocytes lose their ability of regeneration shortly after birth. Reduced cardiomyocytes number caused by myocardial damage is unable to reverse in current clinical therapies. Therefore, it is important and urgent to find new approaches to stimulate cardiomyocytes regeneration. Here we design a recombinant protein IGF1-24 and show that it triggers cardiomyocytes proliferation in rat. 7 days after tail intravenous injection of IGF1-24, 6-7-weeks-old healthy rats showed marked improvements in cardiomyocytes proliferation. Next, we injured rats cardiac with isoproterenol and treated them with IGF1-24 injection. We found that it efficiently induced cell proliferation with significant improvements in heart histology. These results show that the recombinant IGF1-24 stimulates cardiomyocytes proliferation and can be used to achieve cardiac repair through stimulating endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation in rats. The IGF 1-24 could be a prospective medicine to heart repair because it has high efficiency in triggering cell proliferation and it can be easily applied to heart by intravenous injection
STK32A is a dual-specificity AGC kinase with a preference for acidic substrates
Authors: Sorrell Fiona J. , Miranda Fabrizio , Abdul Azeez Kamal R. , Chaikuad Apirat , Kettenbach Arminja N. , Gerber Scott A. , Knapp Stefan , Ahmed Ahmed A. , Elkins Jonathan M.
Published: March 2020

The STK32 kinases are a small subfamily of three uncharacterised serine/threonine kinases from the AGC kinase family whose functional role is so far unknown. Here, we analyse the consensus peptide sequence for STK32A phosphorylation, showing that STK32A is directed towards acidic substrate sequences and exhibits dual-specificity for serine/threonine and tyrosine residues. A crystal structure of STK32A reveals an overall structure typical of the AGC protein kinase family but with significant and unique features including an altered binding mode of the hydrophobic motif to the N-terminal lobe of the kinase domain, and a novel alpha-helix in between the turn motif and the hydrophobic motif. The crystal structure combined with phylogenetic analysis reveals the evolutionary conservation of the acidic substrate preference.In vitrobinding assays demonstrated that the STK32 kinases bind significant numbers of clinically used kinase inhibitors.
figureComposer: A web-based interactive multi-panel bio-infographic designing tool
Authors: Li Kejie , Hurt Jessica , Whelan Christopher D. , Challa Ravi , Lin Dongdong , Zhang Baohong
Published: March 2020

Background

Many fit-for-purpose bioinformatics tools generate plots to investigate data quality and illustrate findings. However, assembling individual plots in different formats from various sources into one high-resolution figure requires mastery of commercial tools or even programming skills. In addition, it is a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating process even for scientists with modest computational skills.

Results

We developed figureComposer, a web-based bioinformatics tool that interactively arranges high-resolution images in various formats, mainly SVG to produce one multi-panel publication-quality composite figure in both PDF and interactive HTML formats in a user-friendly matter, requiring no programming skills.

Conclusions

figureComposer is open-source and publicly available web tool that can be accessed online athttps://baohongz.github.io/figureComposerwhile the source code is provided athttps://github.com/baohongz/figureComposer.
Structural investigation of Mycobacterial protein complexes involved in the stationary phase stress response
Authors: Kirykowicz Angela M , Woodward Jeremy D
Published: March 2020

Large protein complexes play key roles in mediating biological processes in the cell. Little structural information is known on the protein complex mediators governing persistence in the host forMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb). We applied the ‘shotgun EM’ method for the structural characterisation of protein complexes produced after exposure to stationary phase stress for the model Mycobacterium,M smegmatis(Msm). We identified glutamine synthetase I, essential forMtbvirulence, in addition to bacterioferritin, critical forMtbiron regulation, and encapsulin, which produces a cage-like structure to enclose target proteins. Further investigation found that encapsulin carries dye-decolourising peroxidase (DyP), a potent protein antioxidant, as the primary cargo during stationary phase stress. Our ‘proof-of-concept’ application of this method offers insight into identifying potential key-mediators inMtbpersistence.
Loss of an H3K9me anchor rescues laminopathy-linked changes in nuclear organization and muscle function in an Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy model
Authors: Harr Jennifer C. , Schmid Christoph D. , Muñoz-Jiménez Celia , Romero-Bueno Raquel , Kalck Véronique , Gonzalez-Sandoval Adriana , Hauer Michael H. , Padeken Jan , Askjaer Peter , Mattout Anna , Gasser Susan M.
Published: March 2020

Mutations in the nuclear structural protein lamin A produce rare, tissue-specific diseases called laminopathies. The introduction of a human Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD)-inducing mutation into the C. elegans lamin (LMN-Y59C), recapitulates many muscular dystrophy phenotypes, and correlates with hyper-sequestration of a heterochromatic array at the nuclear periphery in muscle cells. Using muscle-specific emerin Dam-ID in worms, we monitored the effects of the mutation on endogenous chromatin. An increased contact with the nuclear periphery along chromosome arms, and an enhanced release of chromosomal centers, coincided with the disease phenotypes of reduced locomotion and compromised sarcomere integrity. The coupling of the LMN-Y59C mutation with the ablation of CEC-4, a chromodomain protein that anchors H3K9-methylated chromatin at the nuclear envelope (NE), suppressed the muscle-associated disease phenotypes. Deletion of cec-4 also rescued LMN-Y59C-linked alterations in chromatin organization and some changes in transcription. Sequences that changed position in the LMN-Y59C mutant, are enriched for E2F (EFL-2)-binding sites, consistent with previous studies suggesting that altered Rb-E2F interaction with lamin A may contribute to muscle dysfunction. In summary, we were able to counteract the dominant muscle-specific defects provoked by LMNA mutation by the ablation of a lamin-associated H3K9me anchor, suggesting a novel therapeutic pathway for EDMD.
The senotherapeutic drug ABT-737 disrupts aberrant p21 expression to restore liver regeneration in adult mice
Authors: Ritschka Birgit , Knauer-Meyer Tania , Gonçalves Daniel Sampaio , Mas Alba , Plassat Jean-Luc , Durik Matej , Jacobs Hugues , Pedone Elisa , Di Vicino Umberto , Cosma Maria Pia , Keyes William M.
Published: March 2020

Young mammals possess a limited regenerative capacity in some tissues, which is lost upon maturation. We investigated whether cellular senescence might play a role in such loss during liver regeneration. We found that following partial hepatectomy, the senescence-associated genes p21, p16Ink4a, and p19Arf become dynamically expressed in different cell types when regenerative capacity decreases, but without a full senescent response. However, we show that treatment with a senescence-inhibiting drug improves regeneration, by disrupting aberrantly prolonged p21 expression. This work suggests that senescence may initially develop from heterogeneous cellular responses, and that senotherapeutic drugs might be useful in promoting organ regeneration.
The head-to-head photodimer of indenoindene
Authors: Detert Heiner , Jacobs Nina , Schollmeyer Dieter
Published: March 2020

Irradiation of 1-(1-benzocyclobutenylidene)benzocyclobutene gives indenoindene and its head-to-head photodimer nonacyclo[9.7.7.72,10.01,11.02,10.03,8.012,17.019,24.026,31]dotriaconta-3,5,7,12,14,16,19,21,23,26,28,30-dodecaene, C32H24. The molecule is built from four essentially planar indane units attached to an elongated cyclobutane ring. In the crystal, C—H...π interactions connect molecules into layers parallel to the bc plane.
DBT and intellectual disabilities: the relationship between treatment fidelity and therapeutic adaptation
Authors: Patterson Christopher , Williams Jonathan , Jones Robert S.P.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

There is growing literature on the application of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs). To draw upon the evidence-base from mainstream approaches, adapted interventions must remain true to their theoretical foundations and retain key components. The purpose of this paper was to establish the extent to which DBT has been adapted for adults with ID, and whether existing adapted protocols can still be considered DBT.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical underpinnings and key components of DBT were identified. Six DBT studies were critiqued according to these criteria.

Findings

In terms of content, only one intervention comprised all necessary elements. All of the remaining interventions included a skills group; two included individual therapy and another two included group consultation. None of the remaining interventions provided 24-h telephone support. Furthermore, none of the studies explicitly described using dialectical strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to critically examine the evidence-base for the use of DBT in ID, particularly its fidelity.
A benchmarking framework for understanding bus performance in the US
Authors: Morse Lindsey , Trompet Mark , Barron Alexander , Anderson Richard , Graham Daniel J.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper describes a benchmarking framework applied to medium-sized urban public bus agencies in the United States, which has overcome the challenges of data quality, comparability, and understanding.

Design/methodology/approach

The benchmarking methodology described in this paper is based on lessons learned through seven years of development of a fixed-route key performance indicator (KPI) system for the American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG). Founded in 2011, the ABBG is a group of public medium-sized urban bus agencies that compare performance and share best practices with peers throughout the United States. The methodology is adapted from the process used within international benchmarking groups facilitated by Imperial College and consists of four main elements: peer selection, KPI system development, processes to achieve high-quality data, and processes to understand relative performance and change.

Findings

The four main elements of the ABBG benchmarking methodology consist of 18 subelements, which when applied overcome three main benchmarking challenges: comparability, data quality, and understanding. While serving as examples for the methodology elements, the paper provides specific insights into service characteristics and performance among ABBG agencies.

Research limitations/implications

The benchmarking approach described in this paper requires time and commitment and thus is most suitably applied to a concise group of agencies.

Practical implications

This methodology provides transit agencies, authorities, and benchmarking practitioners a framework for effective benchmarking. It will lead to high-quality comparable data and a strong understanding of the performance context to serve as a basis for organizational changes, whether for policy, planning, operations, stakeholder communication, or program development.

Originality/value

The methodology, while consistent with recommendations from literature, is unique in its scale, in-depth validation and analysis, and holistic and multidimensional approach.
IdeaChain: a conceptual proposal for blockchain-based STI policy development
Authors: Burmaoglu Serhat , Saritas Ozcan , Sesen Harun
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the possibility of setting up a platform for inclusive policymaking process drawing upon the blockchain concept. The study posits that blockchain also has great potentials in non-financial applications, such as in policymaking, where there is a need for bottom-up approaches with more decentralized, distributed and evidence-based processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study makes use of an analogy-based creative design methodology. The design science paradigm has its roots in engineering and the sciences of the artificial (Simon, 1996). As a problem-solving paradigm for solving complex engineering issues, design science seeks to create innovations that define the ideas, practices, technical capabilities and products through which the analysis, design, implementation and use of information systems can be effectively and efficiently accomplished. In the present study, the policy development theories and the logic of blockchain are synthesized to prepare a task model for the “IdeaChain” concept as a platform for creating, sharing and validating novel ideas as well as converting them into policies or new ventures through the funding mechanisms.

Findings

The IdeaChain concept is designed and demonstrated through its use in the domain of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, which can be extended to cover all innovative activities linking the whole process from their emergence, funding, development, implementation and impact upon policy.

Originality/value

Blockchain is mostly discussed in literature with its impact on financial sector. IdeaChain is the first attempt to explore the potentials of blockchain in STI policymaking.
Is there a place for gender questions in studies on entrepreneurship, or for entrepreneurship questions in gender studies?
Authors: Holmquist Carin , Sundin Elisabeth
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to add to the diversity of gender and entrepreneurship studies by presenting the (lived experience) perspective on the development of research on women as entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

An essay built on personal reflections on the development of the field since the 1980s.

Findings

Research on entrepreneurship has shifted toward quantitative studies and the paper format, leading to fragmented research. Research on gender shows another trend, where empirical data have become less central – “women” as individuals are to a large extent not discussed. The authors conclude that the field of gender and entrepreneurship, therefore, is a fruitful arena to perform research in as long as the physical women are not neglected.

Originality/value

Building on the lived experience for almost 40 years as researchers of women as entrepreneurs, the perspective contributes to the understanding of the development of the field.
Analyzing the formation of a paradoxical organizational identity
Authors: Felix Bruno
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to understand the construction process of an organizational identity in a hybrid organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The author developed a single case study based on in-depth interviews, non-participant observations and document analysis in a credit cooperative.

Findings

After periods of changes in organizational identity (from idealism to pragmatism), the formation of a paradoxical organizational identity was observed in which the core value became a central polarity between idealism and pragmatism; after periods when members engaged in actions that promoted resistance or change, they framed past events in a story of stable dynamics between idealism and pragmatism; and pro-distinctiveness and -similarity forces in relation to other organizations were reconciled in a quest for optimal distinctiveness that simultaneously enabled the development of uniqueness and adequacy.

Originality/value

This is the first study to adopt a paradox perspective to analyze the identity of a cooperative.
Research and improvement of fraud identification model of Chinese A-share listed companies based on M-score
Authors: Lu Wanting , Zhao Xiaokang
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to start with the background of the construction of the M-score model, find the variables that can represent the fraud characteristics of Chinese companies, and use the data of Chinese A-share listed companies to modify the M-score model.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the fraud behavior of Chinese enterprises that M-score cannot detect is summarized as the basis of adding variables. Then, based on the data of Chinese listed companies, a modified M-score model including nine variables is constructed by the logistic regression method based on Wald.

Findings

Based on the original 8 variables of M-score, this paper adds 10 new variables that can represent the fraud characteristics of Chinese listed companies, and finally, constructs a modified M-score model with 9 variables. Results indicated that indexes such as gross profit margin, fixed assets depreciation rate, equity concentration and audit opinion can characterize the financial fraud of Chinese listed companies.

Practical implications

The modified M-score model based on the characteristics of Chinese enterprises’ fraud is more suitable for Chinese market, which can help investors avoid fraud risks, protect their own rights and interests and reduce losses.

Originality/value

Starting from the background of the model, this paper looks for variables that can characterize the characteristics of fraud in Chinese listed companies. Then, subdivides the research samples into specific fiscal years in which fraud occurs, so that the modified M-score model can be more suitable for the Chinese market.
Does the efficiency of corporate governance and intellectual capital affect a firm's financial distress? Evidence from Egypt
Authors: Shahwan Tamer Mohamed , Habib Ahmed Mohamed
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Using data on 51 firms traded in the Egyptian Exchange from 2014 to 2016, this paper aimed to assess the efficiency of corporate governance (CG) and intellectual capital (IC) practices and to explore their influence on the probability of a firm's financial distress.

Design/methodology/approach

The relative efficiency of CG and IC practices has been measured under the Malmquist data envelopment analysis model. A modifiedZ-score model was applied to assess firms' financial distress.

Findings

The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed almost insignificant evidence regarding the improvement of CG and IC efficiency over the study period. The efficiency score of CG practices had no impact on the likelihood of financial distress. However, the efficiency score of IC negatively affected the probability of financial distress.

Research limitations/implications

The integration of data envelopment analysis with Tobit regression was required for identifying the significant drivers of efficient CG and IC.

Practical implications

The findings shed light on the role of CG and IC in alleviating the degree of financial distress in Egypt as an emerging market, especially the need to raise firms' compliance with the Egyptian CG code from a voluntary to mandatory status.

Originality/value

This study, using Malmquist data envelopment analysis, is among the first attempts to assess the relative efficiency of CG and IC practices and their effects on financial distress.
Antecedents and outcome of commitment in Islamic banking relationships – an emerging African market perspective
Authors: Roberts-Lombard Mornay
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the commitment of Islamic banking customers is influenced by trust, relationship expectations and conflict management. In turn, the influence of their commitment on future satisfaction is determined.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive research design was applied and responses were obtained from Islamic banking customers through the application of self-administered questionnaires. A total of 350 completed questionnaires were used in analysing the data. An exploratory factor analysis established the interrelationships of the scales used to measure the study’s constructs. In addition, both the measurement and structural models were evaluated.

Findings

Trust and relationship expectations significantly and positively influence customer commitment, while conflict management has no significant influence on the commitment of Islamic banking customers to their bank. In addition, commitment significantly and positively influences the satisfaction experiences of Islamic banking customers.

Research limitations/implications

The tested model validates the hypothesised relationships between the trust, relationship expectations, commitment and satisfaction of Islamic banking customers. However, the relationship between conflict management, commitment and satisfaction was not established. Commitment is linked to trust and relationship expectations, as well as its outcome, satisfaction. However, commitment could not be linked to antecedent conflict management.

Practical implications

The findings could assist retail banks servicing Islamic banking customers in offering in-depth knowledge of how trust and relationship expectations can foster customer commitment, eventually securing the positive satisfaction of customers.

Originality/value

The study focussed on Islamic banking customers and determined the interrelationships between commitment and related constructs. Few studies, however, have examined how commitment relates to its precursors and outcome from an Islamic banking perspective in an emergent African economy.
Journey of neuroscience: marketing management to organizational behavior
Authors: Chattopadhyay Rachana
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the advancement of neuroscience research works in the domains of marketing management and organizational behavior and its future scope for expansion in the area of organizational behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 77 neuroscience research articles in the area of marketing management and organizational behavior published between 2004 and 2017 were reviewed, and a possible future direction for neuroscience research in the area of organizational behavior was identified in this article.

Findings

Findings from neuroscience research works suggest that tools and techniques that are useful in the neuroscience domain are also quite powerful and reliable in the context of organizational behavior research. Here, it should be noted that not all of these are independently powerful. Therefore, in certain cases, it is desirable to use neuroscience techniques in association with existing methods.

Originality/value

Neuroscientific research works in the context of the marketing domain were started with the motivation to identify the neural signaling in association with different marketing initiatives. However, the research works have proceeded much deeper and entered into the field of consumer psychology. Further research shows that neuroscience techniques are quite useful in the understanding of consumer behavior and can be extended in the field of organizational behavior. In this study, the authors have provided the future direction of neuroscience research works in the area of organizational behavior.
Does corporate diversification enhance accrual quality?
Authors: Chou Shih-Chu , Chang Chunchia (Amy)
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between corporate diversification and accrual quality and test whether the diversification effect hypothesis, which predicts that measurement errors in accruals ultimately decline as firms become more diversified, or the measurement error hypothesis, which predicts that these errors increase, prevails.

Design/methodology/approach

This study modifies an existing empirical framework that uses the downward bias inherent in earnings persistence to measure accrual reliability and applies it to a sample of firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and NASDAQ from 1998 to 2016.

Findings

The results indicate a significantly positive association between firms’ diversification level and accrual reliability, which suggests that the diversification effect dominates the measurement errors effect, leading to an increase in firms’ accrual quality. The authors also found additional evidence suggesting that this positive association is more pronounced when a firm’s underlying operating activities among segments are less correlated, which is consistent with the fact that the diversification effect becomes more evident if a firm participates in diverse lines of business.

Originality/value

This study proposes that applying fewer sets of estimation methods or assumptions to a cluster of segments could yield more measurement errors in accruals. It fills a research gap by showing that the portfolio diversification effect mitigates the detrimental effect of measurement errors in consolidated financial reporting.
Manufacturing complex Al2O3ceramic structures using consumer-grade fused deposition modelling printers
Authors: Conzelmann Nicholas A. , Gorjan Lovro , Sarraf Fateme , Poulikakos Lily D. , Partl Manfred N. , Müller Christoph R. , Clemens Frank J.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to fabricate complex ceramic tetrahedron structures, which are challenging to produce by more conventional methods such as injection molding. To achieve this aim, thermoplastic-ceramic composite filaments were developed and printed with unmodified, consumer-grade, fused deposition modelling (FDM) printers instead.

Design/methodology/approach

Al2O3ceramic powder was mixed with ethylene vinyl acetate polymer as a binder (50 Vol.- per cent) to form a filament with a constant diameter of 1.75 mm. After the printing and thermal treatment stages, the shrinkage and mechanical properties of cuboid and tetrahedron structures were investigated.

Findings

The shrinkage of the parts was found to be anisotropic, depending on the orientation of the printing pattern, with an increase of 2.4 per cent in the (vertical) printing direction compared to the (horizontal) printing layer direction. The alignment of the ceramic particle orientations introduced by FDM printing was identified as a potential cause of the anisotropy. This study further demonstrates that using a powder bed during the thermal debinding process yields sintered structures that can withstand twice the compressive force.

Originality/value

Ceramic FDM had previously been used primarily for simple scaffold structures. In this study, the applicability of ceramic FDM was extended from simple scaffolds to more complex geometries such as hollow tetrahedra. The structures produced in this study contain dense parts printed from multiple contiguous layers, as compared to the open structures usually found in scaffolds. The mechanical properties of the complex ceramic parts made by using this FDM technique were also subjected to investigation.
“It’s not about me, it’s about us”: a narrative inquiry on living life as a social entrepreneur
Authors: Jeong Shinhee , Bailey Jeanne M. , Lee Jin , McLean Gary N.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to help us understand social entrepreneurs’ lived experiences, reflecting the comprehensive entrepreneurial processes that encompass their past, present and future.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative approach was used to explore the meaning of experiences in social entrepreneurs’ professional lives through the stories retold and restructured by social entrepreneurs. A total of 11 social entrepreneurs in the Midwest region of the USA were interviewed.

Findings

The authors identified three time-sequential themes: past (looking backward at the origin), present (living life as a social entrepreneur) and future (looking forward). Seven sub-themes emerged, revealing social entrepreneurs’ aspiration, self-knowledge, identity-defining moments, their sustainability-oriented leadership and how they build an organizational structure, partnership and handle the burden of work and the organization.

Practical implications

The findings offer useful information for future social entrepreneurs as they can learn from the perspectives of experienced social entrepreneurs in terms of what to prepare for and expect so they can achieve their full entrepreneurial potential. It can also aid in further development of social entrepreneur curricula in business and non-business schools.

Originality/value

The existing literature does not portray sufficient detail about how social entrepreneurs live the lives they have created and chosen to understand their lived experiences. This study also provides a comprehensive definition of social entrepreneurship, incorporating “collective perspective” with a mentality of “it’s not about me, it’s about us”.
Amazon and Whole Foods: adventures in grocery shopping
Authors: White Susan
Published: March 2020

Theoretical basis

This case focuses on valuation using various methods to price a firm. Students attempting this case should know the basics of how to value a company using discounted cash flow, comparable multiples and comparable transactions. Students will need to calculate the weighted average cost of capital using comparable companies and the capital asset pricing model and determine differences in value created by an acquisition vs a leveraged buyout (LBO). The case also discusses qualitative issues in mergers, such as fit between target and acquirer, integration issues, potential high debt from LBO.

Research methodology

This case was library-researched, using Amazon and Whole Foods public filings and business press papers.

Case overview/synopsis

Whole Foods Markets received a buyout offer from Amazon. Whole Foods could solicit offers from other firms, including firms more directly in the grocery business. Whole Foods also considered a management buyout or purchase by a private equity firm. Whole Foods had underperformed, with a falling stock price and reduced profitability. Amazon’s bid was attractive, a premium of about 40 per cent over Whole Foods’ pre-merger stock price. Whole Foods also wanted to consider issues such as culture. Whole Foods’ strategy was to sell organic foods at premium prices, while Amazon was a retail discounter with a largely online business.

Complexity academic level

This case is appropriate for graduate students at the end of their introductory course or for graduate or undergraduate students in a corporate finance elective, particularly a merger/restructuring elective. The case has been used in an advanced undergraduate finance elective, with a team presenting the case to the class, with remaining students in the class required to write case summaries and questions for the presenting group.
State of the organizational learning field in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Santos Jane Lucia Silva , Steil Andrea Valéria , Delgado-Hernández David Joaquin
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the main methods and themes used on organizational learning (OL) and learning organization (LO) research in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted by means of a broad and systematic strategy to locating, selecting and analyzing papers on OL/LO, written in different languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish). Systematic searches were carried out at the two databases (Web of Science’s Social Sciences Citation Index and Scopus), and 15 specific Latin American and Caribbean journals were identified as data sources for the review. A thematic analysis was carried out using NVivo and cluster analysis.

Findings

In all 79 papers published between 2000 and 2017 were included in the synthesis and results: 18 are theoretical papers and literature reviews and 61 are empirical papers (30 qualitative, 24 quantitative and 7 multiple methods). These empirical papers revealed the study of the OL/LO concepts in organizations located mainly in Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Costa Rica. Five topics represent the main themes addressed on OL/LO studies in Latin America and the Caribbean and are avenues for future research in the field: (i) knowledge and KM (i.e. knowledge management), (ii) culture and leadership, (iii) innovation and improvement, (iv) learning (for example, learning process, learning styles), and (v) entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper provides a summary of the research methods and themes used in the OL/LO field in Latin America and the Caribbean, suggesting insights for future research.
Decoupling between growth rate and storage remobilization in broadleaf temperate tree species
Authors: Piper Frida I.
Published: March 2020

Temperate trees rely on carbon (C) and nutrient remobilization from storage to resume growth after winter. Minimum storage levels during the growing season suggest that remobilization could signify that C availability is insufficient to meet growth demands; consequently, growth might be C and/or nutrient limited. However, it remains unclear whether higher growth demands are covered by higher remobilization. This study examined whether higher C and nutrient demands associated with fast growth or deciduousness rely on greater remobilization.

In 11 sympatric deciduous and evergreen angiosperm tree species from southern South America, the magnitude of seasonal remobilization of C and nutrient storage was assessed as the seasonal minimums (relative to seasonal maximums) of whole‐tree non‐structural carbohydrates (NSCs), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and pools. The basal area increment and stem wood density were determined for each tree, from which the biomass radial increment (BRI) was estimated. The effects of leaf habit and BRI on the seasonal minimum NSC and nutrient concentrations and pools were analysed using linear mixed effects models.

Radial growth was not related to seasonal minimum NSC or nutrient concentrations and pools in either the evergreens or deciduous angiosperms; thus, faster growth was not associated with greater remobilization of C or nutrient stores. Furthermore, larger trees grew faster than smaller ones, but did not have higher remobilization. Deciduous species had higher year‐round whole‐tree NSC and nutrient concentrations than evergreens; however, both groups had similar BRI and seasonal minimum concentrations and pools of NSCs and nutrients.

Neither growth rate nor leaf habit drove the magnitude of C and nutrient remobilization in the angiosperm trees examined here, indicating no C or nutrient limitation. This result contradicts the view that growth and storage strongly regulate one another, as proposed by a growth‐storage trade‐off.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Testing trait plasticity over the range of spectral composition of sunlight in forb species differing in shade tolerance
Authors: Wang Qing‐Wei , Robson Thomas Matthew , Pieristè Marta , Oguro Michio , Oguchi Riichi , Murai Yoshinori , Kurokawa Hiroko
Published: March 2020

Although sunlight is essential for plant growth and development, the relative importance of each spectral region in shaping functional traits is poorly understood, particularly in dynamic light environments such as forest ecosystems.

We examined responses of 25 functional traits from groups of 11 shade‐intolerant and 12 understorey shade‐tolerant forb species grown outdoors under five filter treatments differing in spectral transmittance: (a) transmitting c. 95% of solar radiation (280–800 nm); (b) attenuating ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B); (c) attenuating all UV; (d) attenuating all UV and blue light; (e) attenuating all UV, blue and green light.

Our results show that UV‐B radiation mainly affected the biochemical traits but blue light mainly affected the physiological traits irrespective of functional strategy, whereas green light affected both sets of traits. This would suggest that differentiation among suites of functional trait responses proceeds according to light quality. Biomass accumulation was significantly increased by UV‐A radiation (contrasting treatment [b] vs. [c]) among shade‐intolerant but decreased by blue light among shade‐tolerant species; green and red light affected whole‐plant morphological development differently according to functional groups. Shade‐tolerant species were more plastic than shade‐intolerant species in response to each spectral region that we examined except for UV‐B radiation.

Synthesis. Our results show that differences in the spectral composition of sunlight can drive functional trait expression irrespective of total irradiance received. The different responses of functional traits between functional groups imply that shade‐tolerant and intolerant species have adapted to utilize spectral cues differently in their respective light environments.
A Dominant SNP in a Unionist Scotland? The 2019 UK General Election in Scotland
Authors: Harvey Malcolm
Published: March 2020

The UK general election in December 2019 produced a resounding victory for Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, returning a majority government and the mandate for Brexit that he had campaigned for. The picture was less rosy for the Conservatives in Scotland, where his party lost half its seats to the SNP. This article reviews the election outcome in Scotland, considering the fortunes of each of the main parties, and projects forward to the devolved election in 2021, when the parties will once again debate the key constitutional question in Scotland.
‘You're basically calling doctors torturers’: stakeholder framing issues around naming intersex rights claims as human rights abuses
Authors: Crocetti Daniela , Arfini Elisa A. G. , Monro Surya , Yeadon‐Lee Tray
Published: March 2020

In this article we address activist, patient advocate and medic perspectives on framing intersex, variations of sex characteristics and disorders/differences in sex development medical treatment as human rights abuses. Problematic aspects of intersex medical treatment have increasingly been highlighted in national debates and international human rights bodies. Some intersex activists have framed aspects of intersex medical treatment as human rights abuses since the 1990s. Other stakeholders in shaping medical treatment, such as patient advocates and medical professionals, are not always content with human rights framing, or even the term intersex. In order to address the different perspectives in this arena we provide background on the primary rights claims that have arisen followed by key human rights framing of these claims. We provide a short discussion of activism styles, looking at pan‐intersex social movements and variation‐specific patient associations as different styles of health social movements. The analysis of stakeholder perspectives on the use of human rights strategy in health areas provides a useful case study for medical sociology and policy in general.
Maternal cardiac function in women at high risk for pre‐eclampsia treated with 150 mg aspirin or placebo: an observational study
Authors: Ling HZ , Jara PG , Bisquera A , Poon LC , Nicolaides KH , Kametas NA
Published: March 2020

Objective

To compare maternal haemodynamics in women at low and high risk for preterm pre‐eclampsia (PE), and between those at high risk who are randomised to aspirin or placebo.

Design

Prospective, longitudinal observational study.

Setting

Maternity units in six UK hospitals.

Population

Women participating in the Aspirin for Prevention of Preterm Pre‐eclampsia (ASPRE) trial. The population comprised three groups of women: low risk for preterm PE (n = 1362), high risk for preterm PE treated with aspirin (n = 208) and high risk for preterm PE on placebo (n = 220).

Methods

Women had four visits during pregnancy: 11–14, 19–24, 30–34, and 35–37 weeks’ gestation. Blood pressure was measured with a device validated for pregnancy, and PE and maternal haemodynamics were assessed with a bioreactance monitor at each visit. A multilevel linear mixed‐effects analysis was performed to examine longitudinal changes of maternal haemodynamic variables, controlling for demographic characteristics, past medical history and medication use.

Main outcome measures

Longitudinal changes of cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR).

Results

The low‐risk group demonstrated the expected changes with an increase in CO and reduction in MAP and PVR, with a quadratic change across gestation. In contrast, the high‐risk groups had a declining CO, and higher MAP and PVR during pregnancy. The administration of aspirin did not appear to affect maternal haemodynamics.

Conclusions

Women screened as high risk for preterm PE have a pathological cardiac adaptation to pregnancy and the prophylactic use of aspirin (150 mg oral daily from the first trimester) in this group may not alter this haemodynamic profile.

Tweetable abstract

In women at high risk of pre‐eclampsia, prophylactic use of aspirin may not alter the impaired maternal cardiac adaptation.