bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of (1′S,2′S,3S)-1′-benzoyl-2′-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2′,5′,6′,10b′-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin]-2-one
Authors: Selvaraj Janet Priyavathani , Mary Stella , Dhruba Jyoti Boruah , Huidrom Birkumar Singh , Panneerselvam Yuvaraj , Piskala Subburaman Kannan
Published: September 2020

In the title spiro compound, C34H30N2O3, the central pyrrolidine ring is fused with the tetrahydroisoquinoline ring, both having distorted envelope conformations, with the flap atoms being C and N, respectively. The methoxyphenyl group is attached to the pyrrolidine ring, and is disordered over two positions, with refined occupancies of 0.638 (6):0.362 (6) Å. The central pyrrolidine ring is inclined relative to the tetrahydroisoquinoline group, such that the dihedral between the non-flap atoms of each ring system is 11.29 (7)°. The spiro-linkage creates a dihedral angle of 83.26 (5)° between the indolinone ring and the non-flap atoms of the pyrrolidine ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked via C—H...O hydrogen bonds. For the major disorder component, these form C(11) chains that propagate parallel to the a axis.
Crystal structures of [μ2-(Ra
,Sa
,3aR,7aR)-1,3-bis(2,7-dicyclohexylnaphthalen-1-yl)octahydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazolidin-2-ylidene]chlorido(η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)iridium dichloromethane monosolvate and [μ2-(Sa
,Sa
,3aR,7aR)-1,3-bis(2,7-dicyclohexylnaphthalen-1-yl)octahydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazolidin-2-ylidene]chlorido(η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)iridium
Authors: Moggach Stephen A. , Skelton Brian W. , Foster Daven J.
Published: September 2020

The title compounds, [Ir(C51H64N2)Cl(C8H12)]·CH2Cl2, (I), and [Ir(C51H64N2)Cl(C8H12)], (II), represent the first two examples of hexahydrobenzoimidazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) iridium complexes. The diastereomeric complexes differing only in their axial chirality, which could be separated via column chromatography, show noticeable differences in their 1H NMR spectra. Compound (I) crystallizes in the monoclinic system (P21) with two independent complexes and two half-occupied dichloromethane molecules in the asymmetric unit, while compound (II) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (P212121) with one complex in the asymmetric unit. The fused five-membered N-heterocycles of NHCs show unusually high backbone torsion angles of −34.1 (5) and −30.9 (5)° for (I) and −31.5 (7)° for (II), but the Ir—Ccarbene bond lengths of 2.046 (6) and 2.021 (6) Å for (I) and 2.045 (8) Å for (II) present typical NHC—Ir bond lengths. The solvent molecule in the crystal of (I) was found to be highly disordered and its contribution to the scattering was masked using the solvent-masking routine smtbx.mask in OLEX2 [Dolomanov et al. (2009). J. Appl. Cryst.
42, 339–341]. The solvent contribution is not included in the reported chemical formula and other crystal data.
Synthesis and crystal structure of triethylammonium hexabromidouranate(IV) dichloromethane monosolvate
Authors: Deubner Holger Lars , Koester Marcel , Haenisch Carsten von , Kraus Florian
Published: September 2020

Triethylammonium hexabromidouranate(IV) dichloromethane monosolvate, [(C2H5)3NH]2[UBr6]·CH2Cl2, was obtained in the form of dark-brown crystals from the reaction of uranium pentabromide with NEt3 and ethylene glycol in dichloromethane at low temperature. During the progress of the reaction, the reduction of uranium(V) to uranium(IV) was observed, whose associated oxidation product could not be identified. The uranium atom of the [UBr6]2– anion is coordinated by six bromido ligands in the shape of an octahedron. Between cations, anion and solvent molecules of crystallization, numerous C—H...Hal hydrogen-bond-like interactions are present, leading to a three-dimensional network structure.
5,5-Dichloro-6-hydroxydihydropyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione: molecular and crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and the new route for synthesis with Mg(ReO4)2 as a new catalyst
Authors: Novikov Anton P. , Ryagin Sergey N. , Grigoriev Mikhail S. , Safonov Alexey V. , German Konstantin E.
Published: September 2020

The molecular and crystal structures of the title compound, C4H4Cl2N2O3, were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and a Hirshfeld surface analysis. The title compound was synthesized by a new type of reaction using Mg(ReO4)2 as a new catalyst and a possible mechanism for this reaction is proposed. The six-membered ring adopts a half-chair conformation. In the crystal, hydrogen bonds connect the molecules into double layers, which are connected to each other by halogen bonds. The Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from O...H/H...O (35.8%), Cl...Cl (19.6%), Cl...H/H...Cl (17.0%), H...H (8.3%), C...O/O...C (4.3%), Cl...O/O...Cl (4.2%) and O...O (4.1%) contacts.
Synthesis and characterization of a tert-butyl ester-substituted titanocene dichloride:
t-BuOOCCp2TiCl2
Authors: McCarthy Jackson S. , McMillen Colin D. , Pienkos Jared A. , Wagenknecht Paul S.
Published: September 2020

Bis[η5-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)cyclopentadienyl]dichloridotitanium(IV), [Ti(C10H13O2)2Cl2], was synthesized from LiCpCOOt-Bu using TiCl4, and was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The distorted tetrahedral geometry about the central titanium atom is relatively unchanged compared to Cp2TiCl2. The complex exhibits elongation of the titanium–cyclopentadienyl centroid distances [2.074 (3) and 2.070 (3) Å] and a contraction of the titanium–chlorine bond lengths [2.3222 (10) Å and 2.3423 (10) Å] relative to Cp2TiCl2. The dihedral angle formed by the planes of the Cp rings [52.56 (13)°] is smaller than seen in Cp2TiCl2. Both ester groups extend from the same side of the Cp rings, and occur on the same side of the complex as the chlorido ligands. The complex may serve as a convenient synthon for titanocene complexes with carboxylate anchoring groups for binding to metal oxide substrates.
Structures of dipotassium rubidium citrate monohydrate, K2RbC6H5O7(H2O), and potassium dirubidium citrate monohydrate, KRb2C6H5O7(H2O), from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data and DFT calculations
Authors: Cigler Andrew J. , Kaduk James A.
Published: September 2020

The crystal structures of the isostructural compounds dipotassium rubidium citrate monohydrate, K2RbC6H5O7(H2O), and potassium dirubidium citrate monohydrate, KRb2C6H5O7(H2O), have been solved and refined using laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. The compounds are isostructural to K3C6H5O7(H2O) and Rb3C6H5O7(H2O), but exhibit different degrees of ordering of the K and Rb cations over the three metal-ion sites. The K and Rb site occupancies correlate well to both the bond-valence sums and the DFT energies of ordered cation systems. The MO6 and MO7 coordination polyhedra share edges to form a three-dimensional framework. The water molecule acts as a donor in two strong charge-assisted O—H...O hydrogen bonds to carboxylate groups. The hydroxyl group of the citrate anion forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond to one of the central carboxylate oxygen atoms.
Structures of disodium hydrogen citrate monohydrate, Na2HC6H5O7(H2O), and diammonium sodium citrate, (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, from powder diffraction data
Authors: Hong Jerry , Bhaskar Shivang , Golab Joseph T. , Kaduk James A.
Published: September 2020

The crystal structures of disodium hydrogen citrate monohydrate, Na2HC6H5O7(H2O), and diammonium sodium citrate, (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, have been solved and refined using laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. In NaHC6H5O7(H2O), the NaO6 coordination polyhedra share edges, forming zigzag layers lying parallel to the bc plane. The hydrophobic methylene groups occupy the interlayer spaces. The carboxylic acid group makes a strong charge-assisted hydrogen bond to the central carboxylate group. The hydroxyl group makes an intramolecular hydrogen bond to an ionized terminal carboxylate oxygen atom. Each hydrogen atom of the water molecule acts as a donor, to a terminal carboxylate and the hydroxyl group. Both the Na substructure and the hydrogen bonding differ from those of the known phase Na2HC6H5O7(H2O)1.5. In (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, the NaO6 coordination octahedra share corners, making double zigzag chains propagating along the b-axis direction. Each hydrogen atom of the ammonium ions acts as a donor in a discrete N—H...O hydrogen bond. The hydroxyl group forms an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond to a terminal carboxylate oxygen atom.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-N-(4-propyloxybenzylidene)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine
Authors: Sheakh Mohamad Ropak A. , Hamad Wali M. , Aziz Hashim J. , Dege Necmi
Published: September 2020

The title compound, C17H16N2OS, was synthesized by a condensation reaction between 2-amino benzothiazole and 4-N-propoxybenzaldehyde. The benzo[d]thiazole ring system is nearly planar (r.m.s. deviation 0.0088 Å) and makes a dihedral angle of 3.804 (12)° with the phenyl ring. The configuration about the C=N double bond is E. In the crystal structure, pairs of C—H...N hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions link the molecules into inversion dimers with an R
2
2(16) ring motif. These dimers are additionally linked by weak π–π stacking interactions between the phenyl rings, leading to a layered arrangement parallel to (010). Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the packing arrangement are from H...H (47.9%) and C...H/H...C (25.6%) interactions.
Tetrakis(dicyclohexylamido)zirconium(IV)
Authors: Frerichs Nils , Schmidtmann Marc , Beckhaus Rüdiger
Published: September 2020

The reaction of ZrCl4 with three equivalents of LiNCy2 (Cy is cyclohexyl) resulted in the formation of tris(dicyclohexylamido)zirconium chloride and the title compound, [Zr(C12H22N)4]. The latter is isotypic with its cerium(IV) analogue and crystallizes with three independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. One molecule is located about a twofold rotation axis, and the other two on fourfold inversion axes. In each molecule, the ZrIV atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment. The crystal under investigation was twinned by inversion in a 1:1 ratio.
Brazilian Natura & Co: creating cosmetic powerhouse. Empirical evidence of competence-based synergies in M&A processes
Authors: čirjevskis Andrejs
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to operationalize and to test the ARCTIC (A – Advantage, R – Relatedness, C – Complexity of Competence, T – Time of Integration, I – Implementation Plan, C – Cultural Fit) framework to assess the prerequisites of competence-based synergy in the acquisition process. The current research provides new analyses of recent acquisitions in the global beauty industry where the ARCTIC framework was satisfied and where the ARCTIC model was NOT satisfied by decisive factors to get the acquisition's synergies. It allows readers to contrast two case studies and grasp how the framework works in greater detail.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research relies on an extensive archival search that included financial statements, annual reports, internal documents, industry publications and CEO statements to get at a micro-level understanding. This boosts research data and the operationalization of the ARCTIC framework.

Findings

The research identified four steps for investigating whether core competence transfer in an acquisition process would be a source of competence-based synergies. The incorporation of real options into the synergy valuation measures market value-added arising from M&A deals.

Originality/value

The current paper contributes to theoretical and practical issues of global M&As as part of the existing literature of international business and strategic management. The impact on reciprocal synergies of agency problems, external interaction between CEOs in M&A deals, corporate governance systems and an executive compensation theory are promising areas of future research.
Strengthening risk-informed decision-making: scenarios for human vulnerability and exposure to extreme events
Authors: Birkmann Joern , Sauter Holger , Jamshed Ali , Sorg Linda , Fleischhauer Mark , Sandholz Simone , Wannewitz Mia , Greiving Stefan , Bueter Bjoern , Schneider Melanie , Garschagen Matthias
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Enhancing the resilience of cities and strengthening risk-informed decision-making are defined as key within the Global Agenda 2030. Implementing risk-informed decision-making also requires the consideration of scenarios of exposure and vulnerability. Therefore, the paper presents selected scenario approaches and illustrates how such vulnerability scenarios can look like for specific indicators and how they can inform decision-making, particularly in the context of urban planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study uses the example of heat stress in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and adopts participatory and quantitative forecasting methods to develop scenarios for human vulnerability and exposure to heat stress.

Findings

The paper indicates that considering changes in future vulnerability of people is important to provide an appropriate information base for enhancing urban resilience through risk-informed urban planning. This can help cities to define priority areas for future urban development and to consider the socio-economic and demographic composition in their strategies.

Originality/value

The value of the research study lies in implementing new qualitative and quantitative scenario approaches for human exposure and vulnerability to strengthen risk-informed decision-making.
Antecedents and consequences of brand hate: empirical evidence from the telecommunication industry
Authors: Pinto Olavo , Brandão Amélia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to place the antecedents and consequences of brand hate in the context of negative consumer–brand relationship in the telecommunication industry. It provides a response to the existing gap in the research on brand hate in consumer behavior in service brands.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based data was modeled after theory that aims to apply concepts to the telecommunications industry. With a solid model grounded and context-adapted, a mediation analysis of the role of brand hate in negative antecedents and consequences toward brands was performed.

Findings

Brand hate was found to mediate all the negative relationships proposed, while showing to be especially significant in mediating negative word of mouth. This model appropriately fits the services' marketing brand and revealed new insights into the function of brand hate in negative relationships that are specific to service marketing consumer brands.

Research limitations/implications

Branding theory may benefit from deeper insights into the negative side of consumer–brand relationships. A broader illustration of its constituents in different industries and the recovery of the management approach to these circumstances bring innovation and a richer understanding, specially to the role of brand hate in the mediation context as seen in the literature (Hegner et al., 2017; Zarantonello et al., 2016)

Practical implications

Managerial implications include assessing brands in analyzing and relating to different emotions and concepts from customers, allowing to prioritize and mapping the customer relationship touchpoints.

Originality/value

The present study presents a first insight of brand hate in the context of the service industry of telecommunications in southern Europe while testing brand hate as a mediator involving negative predictors leading to negative outcomes in consumer–brand relationships.
Expect the unexpected: toward a theory of the unintended consequences of sustainable supply chain management
Authors: Carter Craig R. , Kaufmann Lutz , Ketchen David J.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theorization of the unintended consequences of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors integrate extant theory of unintended consequences, sustainable supply chain management and paradox theory to develop a typology of the unintended consequences of SSCM initiatives and a conceptual model of the antecedents of these unintended consequences.

Findings

The authors advance a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive typology of the unintended consequences of SSCM initiatives. These unintended consequences include trade-offs as well as synergies in the form of positive spillover. The authors’ conceptual model identifies multiple levels of stakeholders, multiple performance dimensions, multiple time horizons and the interplay with social construction as antecedents to the unintended consequences of SSCM initiatives.

Practical implications

The authors’ typology suggests that managers must move beyond simply assessing whether the intended consequences of an SSCM initiative have been achieved. Managers must also, to the extent they can, assess the potential for unintended consequences to arise. The authors’ typology provides an initial roadmap for managers to continue, discontinue or further consider an SSCM initiative, based on the resulting unintended consequences. The authors’ theorization also provides guidance about how managers can more successfully bring SSCM initiatives to fruition and start cycles of learning.

Originality/value

There largely has been a focus in the operations and supply chain management literature on trade-offs between economic performance on the one hand and social or environmental performance on the other. The authors advocate that this focus needs to shift to interactions within and between social and environmental performance. Further, trade-offs are only one type of unintended consequence. By developing a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive typology, the authors introduce a much clearer conceptualization of the unintended consequences of an SSCM initiative and a much better understanding of how to manage SSCM initiatives, both prior to and postimplementation.
Critical analysis of mental health research among construction project professionals
Authors: Tijani Bashir , Xiaohua Jin , Osei-Kyei Robert
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Mental ill-health among construction project professionals (CPPs) is a significant, persistent and unresolved problem that sparked the proliferation of literature worldwide. Despite the diverse research publications, a systematic review to reveal forms of mental ill-health, cause of mental ill-health and coping is lacking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to systematically reviews the existing body of knowledge on mental health in the construction project by analyzing 60 papers published between 1989 and 2020 (years inclusive) using the preferred reporting item for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Academic journals between 1989 and 2020 were selected for this study because the first published paper on the mental health of construction managers commenced in 1989 and current studies are published in 2020.

Findings

The findings show that stress, job burnout, depression, anxiety and substance use disorder (SUD) are prominent forms of mental ill-health among CPPs, with an absence of project-related measuring scales for evaluating the mental ill-health symptoms. Moreover, generic stressors including long working hours, time pressure and work overload were used to establish the root causes of mental ill-health by ignoring construction project related stressors for mental ill-health. Problem-focused coping is more efficient than emotional focused coping in mitigating work stress, job burnout, depression, anxiety, but little is known on the influence of coping strategies on SUD. Knowledge gaps and future research directions were identified. This research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the implications of mental health management on construction projects.

Originality/value

The findings of this study contribute toward understanding the need to investigate individual mental ill-health as against the existing practices of considering all forms of mental ill-health as one umbrella. It also challenges limitations in the utilization of generic stressors to determines factors for mental ill-health by the introduction of the Swisse cheese theoretical model.
The germ of capitalism (Roman business through slave as the primordium of private enterprise). Part II. A counterpart of corporation
Authors: Petrosyan Armen E.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to expose the nature, pattern and mechanism of Roman private enterprise as the rudimentary form of capitalistic business. In the second part, it is shown why and how the directorship of slaves in private enterprise appeared and what shape it took.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of historical analysis and theoretical reconstruction, the author reveals the pattern and mechanism of business through slaves as the primordial form of private enterprise.

Findings

A comprehensive view of public and private entrepreneurship at the end of Republic and the beginning of Empire is presented. The origin and advantages of Roman public enterprise acknowledged by the state are brought to light. The way the benefits the corporate status affords were adjusted to a business framework allowed by law is demonstrated. It is just business through slaves that, combining peculium with free administration, secured limited liability for owners and turned the slaves to whom a business was entrusted into a kind of director. This construction enabled masters to become the proprietor of many formally separate enterprises at once, thereby expanding their business into something like a holding.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained allow historians to retrace the origins of modern private enterprise to classical antiquity, and economists and managers to better understand the nature of private enterprise and organizational status of those owning and managing it.

Practical implications

Leaders and executives can draw from the paper an object lesson of how to make, within the existing political system, legal regulation and economic traditions, a radical innovation whose true meaning and social potential are so immense and far-reaching that show up in full measure evident many centuries later. The findings and conclusions the author comes to may be used in educational courses on economics, entrepreneurship, management, business history and so on.

Social implications

The paper provides an instructive model of conciliation of interests (social “compromise”). “Directors” – those organizing and managing a business but not owning it – were held subject to proprietors but within legally regulated relations with them. The state created incentives for initiative and competent businessmen in subjection to well-offs, to work hard, on one hand, and made their masters to use these incentives to public and their own profits. The benefits of all parties were taken into account, though, of course, not to the same degree.

Originality/value

The structure and “engine” of Roman private enterprise as well as the functions and organizational status of its “director” are demonstrated in relief for the first time.
System dynamics applications in performance measurement research: progress and challenges
Authors: Oladimeji Olufunke , Cross Jennifer , Keathley-Herring Heather
Published: September 2020

Purpose

A systematic literature review (SLR) was used to identify and analyze literature related to use of system dynamics (SD) applications in organizational performance measurement (PM) research. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a thematic analysis (TA) conducted to synthesize existing empirical evidence, investigate trends and evaluate developments in the research area.

Design/methodology/approach

A SLR was conducted resulting in a dataset of 97 articles in this research area. Using TA, major themes/subthemes were inductively synthesized to explore the current development and emerging trends and provide guidance for future research.

Findings

The TA resulted in seven themes in the research area – Enhancing knowledge, Approaches to operationalizing PM systems, Utilizing simulation models, Improving organizational outcomes, Achieving strategic alignment, Applying systems thinking and Identifying critical variables. The analysis suggests that although SD has the potential to improve PM systems, there are many limitations and challenges that must be addressed to improve implementation and practical applications. In addition, the results showed that much of the work is exploratory and many fail to fully validate their models suggesting that this research is still in an relatively early phase of development.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are limited to the 97 articles identified using the SLR protocol. Although the search was designed to be comprehensive, there may be other relevant literature that was excluded. Further, the TA was limited to addressing the research questions.

Practical implications

A key insight for managers is that these tools would support decision-makers in understanding performance behaviors and identifying performance drivers for improvement. This suggests that stakeholders can adopt the approach to improve understanding and effectiveness of PM, and to enhance strategic decision-making.

Originality/value

This study provides a distinct and thorough analysis of this research area by conducting an inductive synthesis of developments and challenges and guidance for future research and practice. The resulting thematic model, identified code definitions and proposed framework of strategies to overcome challenges, provide a general overview and resource to support future studies in the research area and facilitate practical use of SD capabilities to support PM.
The dual drivetrain model of digital transformation: role of industrial big-data-based affordance
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Wei , Zhang Zuopeng (Justin)
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To better understand the role of industrial big data in promoting digital transformation, the authors propose a theoretical framework of industrial big-data-based affordance in the form of an illustrative metaphor – what the authors call the “organizational drivetrain.”

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the effective use of industrial big data in the process of digital transformation based on the technology affordance–actualization theoretical lens. A software platform and services provider with more than 4,000 industrial enterprise clients in China was selected as the case study object for analyzing the digital affordance and actualization driven by industrial big data.

Findings

Drawing on a revelatory case study, the authors identify three affordances of industrial big data in the organization, namely developing data-driven customized projects, provisioning equipment-data-driven life cycle services, establishing data-based trust and determining affordance actualization actions driven by technology and market. In addition, the authors reveal the underlying drivetrain mechanisms to advance industrial big data affordance and actualization: stabilizing, enriching and pioneering.

Originality/value

This study builds a drivetrain model on digital transformation by industrial big data affordance actualization. The authors also provide practical implications that can help practitioners to implement digital transformation effectively and extract value from their investment.
Managing climate risks through social capital in agrifood supply chains
Authors: Ali Imran , Gölgeci Ismail
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Despite several contributions to greenhouse gas emission and carbon footprint reduction, the literature lacks empirical insights into the business impact of climate risks, when they materialize, and techniques to manage them. This study aims to devise a model delving into critical climate risks and the role of consortia and social capital to mitigate these risks.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was used, including qualitative and quantitative data from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an Australian agrifood supply chain (AFSC).

Findings

The qualitative analysis uncovers four critical climate risks and a repertoire of relational, structural, and cognitive social capital accrued by SMEs of AFSC through consortia. The quantitative analysis corroborates that the SMEs that accumulate higher social capital through active engagement within consortia are able to respond more effectively to climate risks than to others. The authors, therefore, find that climate risk mitigation in SMEs is the function of both association (consortia) membership and the accrual of higher social capital through active involvement and collaboration within networks.

Originality/value

This is the first study in using a moderated-moderation model that simultaneously investigates the business impact of climate risks and how the moderating impact of consortia (a primary moderator) is further moderated by social capital (a secondary moderator) in explaining SMEs performance. The paper addresses the lack of adequate empirical research, particularly mixed-methods, in supply chain risk management literature.
Virtual reality and gamification in marketing higher education: a review and research agenda
Authors: Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia , Bilro Ricardo Godinho , Angelino Fernando José de Aires
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review studies on the use of virtual reality (VR) and gamification to engage students in higher education for marketing issues to identify the research topics, the research gaps and to prepare a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is performed based on two search terms applied to Web of Science, resulting in a final pool of 115 articles. A text-mining approach is used to conduct a full-text analysis of papers related to VR and gamification in higher education. The authors also compare the salient characteristics presented in the articles.

Findings

From this analysis, five major research topics are found and analysed, namely, teaching methodologies and education, experience and motivation, student engagement, applied theories in VR and gamification. Based on this and following the theory concept characteristics methodology framework, the paper provides directions for future research.

Originality/value

There is no comprehensive review exploring the topics, theories, constructs and methods used in prior studies concerning VR and gamification applied to higher education services based on all the articles published in well-regarded academic journals. This review seeks to provide deeper insights, to help scholars contribute to the development of this research field.
Organizations are people: reflections, obstacles and learning opportunities
Authors: Robinson Graham
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to place the idea of the learning organization in a historical, multidisciplinary context with the aim of identifying obstacles and opportunities for its greater realization in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Marking the 30th anniversary of publication of Peter Senge's “The Fifth Discipline”, the paper reflects on approaches to the study and analysis of organizations over the past century from German sociology, human relations, organization development, the learning organization to responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Findings

It is suggested that distributed leadership is critical to the realization of organizational learning and its absence is a major inhibitor of such learning. Following Argyris, it is argued that high levels of skill (personal mastery) may, in some circumstances, provide a barrier to organizational learning in the face of contextual uncertainty and change.

Research limitations/implications

While no specific areas of research are proposed, questions are raised which may only be answered in the wake of appropriate (interdisciplinary) research.

Practical implications

The reflective nature of the paper suggests that significant reform is required in the legislation that encourages short-term thinking on the part of institutional investors to the detriment of strategic thinking and long-term planning.

Social implications

The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have provided an opportunity to redress a perceived imbalance between traditional organizational thinking and opportunities demonstrated by effective community action, for reappraisal of organizations as communities of people as well as being formalized structures, systems and processes.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to synthesize diverse theories of organization with the aim of stimulating further innovation in approaches to organizational learning.
Fact Checking and Information in the Age of Covid
Authors: Seaton Jean , Sippitt Amy , Worthy Ben
Published: September 2020

The Covid‐19 pandemic has revealed and accelerated an information crisis as well as a health one. What we discover about Covid 19, how it spreads, to whom and why and how best to mitigate it—all depend on information. The essays in this special section, which this article introduces, explore the importance of information and the fundamental role of fact checkers in understanding how information flows, why mistakes are made, and how to counteract them. Fact checking as an idea and a practice emerged in the early twenty‐first century, developed as a positive beacon to counteract a growing sense that information could no longer be trusted. Now, more than a decade after its creation, fact checking sits within a far more complex and chaotic media context, and its expertise and understanding has never been so important. We need to understand what fact checkers do because they are grappling with how to tether us to reality.
An Uncertain Fate for the EU Pig Sector: Potential Consequences of the 2019 African Swine Fever Outbreak in East Asia
Authors: Jongeneel Roel , Gonzalez‐Martinez Ana , Hoste Robert
Published: September 2020

The presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) and its impacts on the global pig meat market has been gaining increased attention in recent times. Although more than 2,400 ASF events have been observed across the world since 2016, none of them have had the unprecedented consequences of the current outbreak in China. In an attempt to control the disease that has been spreading through East Asia since 2018, massive slaughtering has been taking place, with important consequences for both Chinese and international pork prices. With around half of the Chinese herd having to be slaughtered, a number of questions arise with regard to the prospects for the pork market and the uncertainties about the paths that prices will follow in responding to long‐term market fundamentals. This article focuses on the impact of the ASF outbreak in East Asia on the European pig sector. In particular it analyses potential global pork market developments under two different recovery paths, employing a combination of an Equilibrium Displacement Model and the AGMEMOD modelling system, to provide results at EU and global levels to 2030. Our simulation results point to a short to medium‐term expansion of production capacity in response to higher market prices.
Implementation of a peer review program using the validated DIET‐COMMS tool to assess dietitians' communication skills in the workplace
Authors: Notaras Stephanie , Smythe Kylie , Mak May , Whitehead Kirsten
Published: September 2020

Aims

Communication is the main method used by dietitians to conduct their practice. Yet, few evidence‐based tools are available to assess dietitians' communication skills to guide skill development. Further, workplace peer review programs for assessment of communication skills are not standard practice. DIET‐COMMS is a validated tool to assess dietitians' communication skills in patient consultations. The aims of this study were to implement a workplace peer review program using the DIET‐COMMS tool, assess dietitians' communication skills, evaluate inter‐rater reliability and dietitian satisfaction.

Methods

Single site study within Australian hospital dietetics department. Training for DIET‐COMMS usage was undertaken with assessors (senior dietitians) and dietitians being assessed using an online training package and face‐to‐face group sessions. The peer review process consisted of two rounds, occurring four to six months apart. The first round was undertaken with two assessors to evaluate inter‐rater reliability. An online survey was conducted to evaluate dietitian satisfaction.

Results

Seventeen dietitians completed the program. In the first round, 13 of 17 dietitians scored 76% to 100% on the DIET‐COMMS tool (median = 85%, interquartile range [IQR] = 77‐93). All dietitians scored 76‐100% (median = 98%, IQR = 94‐100) in the second round, with significantly higher scores compared to the first (98% vs 85%; P‐value <.001). The intra‐class correlation coefficient was 0.86 (95% confidence interval = 0.64‐0.95), indicating good‐excellent inter‐rater reliability. All dietitians reported the tool measured the nutrition care process adequately and was applicable to practice.

Conclusions

The peer review program using DIET‐COMMS was successfully implemented within a workplace environment. Widespread implementation of peer review programs using DIET‐COMMS is recommended as a standard practice for the profession.
The potential application of the protein hydrolysates of three medicinal plants: cytotoxicity and functional properties
Authors: Taghizadeh Mohammad Sadegh , Niazi Ali , Moghadam Ali , Afsharifar Ali Reza
Published: September 2020

Functional evaluation of encrypted bioactive peptides in protein structure helps to better understand those for using in pharmacy and food sciences. For this purpose, the total protein was extracted from Matricaria chamomilla, Ziziphora clinopodioides, and Cressa cretica, and partially purified with ammonium sulfate. Protein hydrolysates were obtained from pancreatin hydrolysis for 240 min and the enzyme hydrolysis was confirmed using the determination of hydrolysis degree and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) followed by the physicochemical and sensory properties were investigated. The results showed that all hydrolysates had both cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. Specifically, C. cretica hydrolysates represented cytotoxic activity against the MCF‐7 cell line with the IC50 of 135.21 µg/mL, while showed no significant growth inhibition effect on the HEK293 cell line. Besides, M. chamomilla hydrolysates showed the lowest bitterness value (1.125 ± 0.52). From the perspective of color investigation, M. chamomilla hydrolysates indicated the highest L* and the lowest a* factors. The highest turbidity and surface tension, and 10‐fold more cancer cell killing effect under gastrointestinal digestion conditions were observed for M. chamomilla hydrolysates. Therefore, bioactive peptides might be formulated in designing of novel anticancer drugs or could be used in promising protocols for the production of food products with beneficial health effects.
Effects of epoxy stearic acid on lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells
Authors: Liu Ying , Li Jinwei , Liu Yuanfa
Published: September 2020

In the present study, effects of cis‐9,10‐epoxystearic acid (ESA) generated by the thermal oxidation of oleic acid on HepG2 cells, including intracellular lipid accumulation, fatty acid composition, and lipid metabolism, were investigated. Our results revealed that ESA increased the number and size of cellular lipid droplets. Intracellular triacylglycerol and total cholesterol content demonstrated that ESA induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Results of fatty acid composition further indicated that ESA could lead to intracellular lipid accumulation. Our results also revealed that ESA may suppress the fatty acid oxidation in peroxisomes and mitochondria, including PPARα, Cpt1α, and Acox1, whereas the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis, including Srebp‐1c and Scd1, was enhanced. These findings provide critical information on the effects of ESA on HepG2 cells, particularly lipid accumulation and metabolism, which is important for evaluating the biosafety of the oxidative product of oleic acid.

Practical Application

The administration of cis‐9,10‐epoxystearic acid to HepG2 cells could lead to disorder of lipid metabolism of cells by enhancing the intracellular lipid content, as well as suppressing the fatty acid oxidation in peroxisomes and mitochondria. These findings could provide information for the evaluation of the biosafety of the oxidative product of oleic acid.
Dietary Alaska pollock protein alters insulin sensitivity and gut microbiota composition in rats
Authors: Hosomi Ryota , Nishimoto Ayano , Kobayashi Toshihiro , Ikeda Yuki , Mitsui Megumi , Shimono Takaki , Kanda Seiji , Nishiyama Toshimasa , Yoshida Munehiro , Fukunaga Kenji
Published: September 2020

Fish protein is not only nutritional but also promotes health by improving insulin sensitivity and hypercholesterolemia. Few studies have examined the relationship between gut microbiota and the enhanced insulin sensitivity due to the intake of Alaska pollock protein (APP). Hence, we assessed the glycolytic enzyme inhibitory activity of APP in in vitro study and the alteration of blood glucose level in insulin tolerance test (ITT) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) and gut microbiota following APP intake in the in vivo study. In initial experiments, the glycolytic enzyme (α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and sucrase) inhibitory activities of APP and its digest were not drastically altered compared with that of casein and its digests. In further experiments, rats fed an AIN‐93G diet containing 20% (w/w) casein or APP for 8 weeks, and the composition of fecal microbiota analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequence analysis. In addition, at 6 and 7 weeks of administration of experimental diet, insulin and glucose tolerance tests were evaluated, respectively. Compared with dietary casein, dietary APP has blood glucose‐lowering activity as evident in the ITT and GTT. Moreover, APP group altered the structure of fecal microbiota, and area under the curves of the ITT and GTT and the relative abundance of Blautia, which is associated with glucose metabolism, tended to be positively correlated (P = 0.08 and 0.10, respectively). This study illustrates a novel finding that APP intake could alter the composition of gut microbiota and improve insulin sensitivity.

Practical Application

Studies in animals and humans have shown that Alaska pollock protein (APP) intake improves insulin sensitivity, allowing the body to utilize blood glucose more effectively, thereby keeping blood sugar levels under control. Microorganisms residing in the human gut are associated with glucose metabolism. This study shows that the relative APP intake alters the composition of these gut microorganisms, more than casein intake and therefore might prevent hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes.
Metabolomic profiling of food matrices: Preliminary identification of potential markers of microbial contamination
Authors: Carraturo Federica , Libralato Giovanni , Esposito Rodolfo , Galdiero Emilia , Aliberti Francesco , Amoresano Angela , Fontanarosa Carolina , Trifuoggi Marco , Guida Marco
Published: September 2020

The research aimed to generate an early warning system highlighting in real‐time bacterial contamination of meat matrices and providing information which could support companies in accepting or rejecting batches. Current microorganisms’ detection methods rely on techniques (plate counting), which provide retrospective values for microbial contamination. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the ability of the headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methodologies to detect volatile organic carbons (VOCs), which may be associated to a peculiar microbiological contamination of food. The disposal of fast headspace gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC/MS) able to accurately and rapidly (30 min per sample) detect pathogens in raw meat could replace the traditional and time‐consuming (3 to 4 days) standardized microbiological analysis required by regulations. Experiments focused on qualitative and quantitative evaluations of VOCs produced by Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni, and Staphylococcus aureus in different types of raw meat (beef, pork, chicken). HS‐SPME‐GC/MS allowed to use smaller sample volumes compared to traditional methods with no sample processing and the potentiality for its application on various food matrices for the detection of a wide variety of pathogens. Data analysis showed the identification of unique VOCs’ profiles being possible markers of meat contamination due to their association to specific pathogens. The identification of VOCs markers in association to selected bacterial pathogens and their metabolites could support the rapid determination of specific meat samples contamination. Further research is required to outline‐specific metabolic profiles for each microorganism responsible of meat contamination and prevent false positives.
Lycopene protects neuroblastoma cells against oxidative damage via depression of ER stress
Authors: Ou Shanshan , Fang Yinchao , Tang Hai , Wu Tong , Chen Lizhi , Jiang Mei , Zhou Lingqi , Xu Jie , Guo Kaihua
Published: September 2020

Lycopene is a pigment derived from tomatoes and other red fruits, and has potent antioxidant and antitumor effects. However, its potential role in alleviating oxidative damage in neuronal cells is not well defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of lycopene on H2O2‐induced damage in neuroblastoma cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Exposure to H2O2 markedly decreased the viability of SH‐SY5Y cells and increased LDH release, both of which were reversed by lycopene pretreatment. Lycopene also ameliorated H2O2‐induced damage and reduced the expression of apoptotic markers, such as Bcl‐2, Bax, and cleaved caspase 3. In addition, the H2O2‐induced oxidative markers, including MDA, 8‐OHdG, and protein carbonyls, were also downregulated by lycopene. Exogenous H2O2 activated the GRP78/PERK/eIF2α signaling pathway, which was inhibited by pretreatment with lycopene. Finally, lycopene significantly ameliorated ER stress‐induced activation and nuclear translocation of CHOP. Overexpression of CHOP markedly reversed the antiapoptotic effects of lycopene, indicating that it is essential for the latter's protective effects. Taken together, lycopene protects neuroblastoma cells from oxidative stress and ER stress‐induced damage by inhibiting the PERK‐CHOP signaling pathway, which is a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.

Practical Application

Lycopene demonstrated antioxidative damage properties in protecting the neural system in vitro. The present study provides a novel preventive strategy against neurodegenerative diseases. Increased consumption of lycopene‐based products and lycopene‐rich fruits and vegetables may result in a lower risk for neurodegenerative diseases.