bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inference based PICRUSt accuracy varies across sample types and functional categories
Authors: Sun Shan , Jones Roshonda B. , Fodor Anthony A.
Published: May 2019

Background

Despite recent decreases in the cost of sequencing, shotgun metagenome sequencing remains more expensive compared with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Methods have been developed to predict the functional profiles of microbial communities based on their taxonomic composition, and PICRUSt is the most widely used of these techniques. In this study, we evaluated the performance of PICRUSt by comparing the significance of the differential abundance of functional gene profiles predicted with PICRUSt to those from shotgun metagenome sequencing across different environments.

Results

We selected 7 datasets of human, non-human animal and environmental (soil) samples that have publicly available 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenome sequences. As we would expect based on previous literature, strong Spearman correlations were observed between gene compositions predicted with PICRUSt and measured with shotgun metagenome sequencing. However, these strong correlations were preserved even when the sample labels were shuffled. This suggests that simple correlation coefficient is a highly unreliable measure for the performance of algorithms like PICRUSt. As an alternative, we compared the performance of PICRUSt predicted genes to metagenome genes in inference models associated with metadata within each dataset. With this method, we found reasonable performance for human datasets, with PICRUSt performing better for inference on genes related to “house-keeping” functions. However, the performance of PICRUSt degraded sharply outside of human datasets when used for inference.

Conclusion

We conclude that the utility of PICRUSt for inference with the default database is likely limited outside of human samples and that development of tools for gene prediction specific to different non-human and environmental samples is warranted.
A Compositional Model to Assess Expression Changes from Single-Cell Rna-Seq Data
Authors: Ma By Xiuyu , Korthauer Keegan , Kendziorski Christina , Newton Michael A.
Published: May 2019

On the problem of scoring genes for evidence of changes in the distribution of single-cell expression, we introduce an empirical Bayesian mixture approach and evaluate its operating characteristics in a range of numerical experiments. The proposed approach leverages cell-subtype structure revealed in cluster analysis in order to boost gene-level information on expression changes. Cell clustering informs gene-level analysis through a specially-constructed prior distribution over pairs of multinomial probability vectors; this prior meshes with available model-based tools that score patterns of differential expression over multiple subtypes. We derive an explicit formula for the posterior probability that a gene has the same distribution in two cellular conditions, allowing for a gene-specific mixture over subtypes in each condition. Advantage is gained by the compositional structure of the model, in which a host of gene-specific mixture components are allowed, but also in which the mixing proportions are constrained at the whole cell level. This structure leads to a novel form of information sharing through which the cell-clustering results support gene-level scoring of differential distribution. The result, according to our numerical experiments, is improved sensitivity compared to several standard approaches for detecting distributional expression changes.
VSEPRnet: Physical structure encoding of sequence-based biomolecules for functionality prediction: Case study with peptides
Authors: Rath Siddharth , Francis-Landau Jonathan , Lu Ximing , Nakano-Baker Oliver , Rodriguez Jacob , Ustundag Burak Berk , Sarikaya Mehmet
Published: May 2019

Predicting structure-dependent functionalities of biomolecules is crucial for accelerating a wide variety of applications in drug-screening, biosensing, disease-diagnosis, and therapy. Although the commonly used structural “fingerprints” work for biomolecules in traditional informatics implementations, they remain impractical in a wide range of machine learning approaches where the model is restricted to make data-driven decisions. Although peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides have sequence-related propensities, representing them as sequences of letters, e.g., in bioinformatics studies, causes a loss of most of their structure-related functionalities. Biomolecules lacking sequence, such as polysaccharides, lipids, and their peptide conjugates, cannot be screened with models using the letter-based fingerprints. Here we introduce a new fingerprint derived from valence shell electron pair repulsion structures for small peptides that enables construction of structural feature-maps for a given biomolecule, regardless of the sequence or conformation. The feature-map introduced here uses a simple encoding derived from the molecular graph - atoms, bonds, distances, bond angles, etc., that make up each of the amino acids in the sequence, allowing a Residual Neural network model to take greater advantage of information in molecular structure. We make use of the short peptides binding to Major-Histocompatibility-Class-I protein alleles that are encoded in terms of their extended structures to predict allele-specific binding-affinities of test-peptides. Predictions are consistent, without appreciable loss in accuracy between models for different length sequences, marking an improvement over the current models. Biological processes are heterogeneous interactions, which justifies encoding all biomolecules universally in terms of structures and relating them to their functionality. The capabilities facilitated by the model expands the paradigm in establishing structure-function correlations among small molecules, short and longer sequences including large biomolecules, and genetic conjugates that may include polypeptides, polynucleotides, RNAs, lipids, peptidoglycans, peptido-lipids, and other biomolecules that could be implemented in a wide range of medical and nanobiotechnological applications in the future.
Mitochondrial Genome Diversity in the Central Siberian Plateau with Particular Reference to Prehistory of Northernmost Eurasia
Authors: Dryomov S. V. , Nazhmidenova A. M. , Starikovskaya E. B. , Shalaurova S. A. , Rohland N. , Mallick S. , Bernardos R. , Derevianko A. P. , Reich D. , Sukernik R.
Published: May 2019

The Central Siberian Plateau was last geographic area in Eurasia to become habitable by modern humans after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Through comprehensive mitochondrial DNA genomes retained in indigenous Siberian populations, the Ket, Tofalar, and Todzhi - we explored genetic links between the Yenisei-Sayan region and Northeast Eurasia over the last 10,000 years. Accordingly, we generated 218 new complete mtDNA sequences and placed them into compound phylogenies along with 7 newly obtained and 70 published ancient mt genomes. Our findings reflect the origins and expansion history of mtDNA lineages that evolved in South-Central Siberia, as well as multiple phases of connections between this region and distant parts of Eurasia. Our result illustrates the importance of jointly sampling modern and prehistoric specimens to fully measure the past genetic diversity and to reconstruct the process of peopling of the high latitudes of the Siberian subcontinent.
A reversible memory switch for plant synthetic biology based on the phage PhiC31 integration system
Authors: Joan Miquel Bernabé-Orts , Alfredo Quijano-Rubio , Javier Mancheño-Bonillo , Victor Moles-Casas , Sara Selma , Antonio Granell , Diego Orzaez
Published: May 2019

Plant synthetic biology aims to contribute to global food security by engineering plants with new or improved functionalities. In recent years, synthetic biology has rapidly advanced from the setup of basic genetic devices to the design of increasingly complex gene circuits able to provide organisms with novel functions. While many bacterial, fungal and mammalian unicellular chassis have been extensively engineered, this progress has been delayed in plants due to their complex multicellular nature and the lack of reliable DNA devices that allow an accurate design of more sophisticated biological circuits. Among these basic devices, gene switches are crucial to deploying new layers of regulation into the engineered organisms. Of special interest are bistable genetic toggle switches, which allow a living organism to exist in two alternative states and switch between them with a minimal metabolic burden. Naturally occurring toggle switches control important decision-making processes such as cell fate and developmental events. We sought to engineer whole plants with an orthogonal genetic toggle switch to be able to regulate artificial functions with minimal interference with their natural pathways. Here we report a bistable toggle memory switch for whole plants based on the phage PhiC31 serine integrase and its cognate recombination directionality factor (RDF). This genetic device was designed to control the transcription of two genes of interest by inversion of a central DNA regulatory element. Each state of the device is defined by one transcriptionally active gene of interest, while the other one remains inactive. The state of the switch can be reversibly modified by the action of the recombination actuators, which were administered externally (e.g. via agroinfiltration), or produced internally in response to an inducible chemical stimulus. We extensively characterized the kinetics, memory, and reversibility of this genetic switch in Nicotiana benthamiana through transient and stable transformation experiments using transgenic plants and hairy roots. Finally, we coupled the integrase expression to an estradiol-inducible promoter as a proof of principle of inducible activation of the switch.
Yet another de novo genome assembler
Authors: Vaser Robert , Šikić Mile
Published: May 2019

Advances in sequencing technologies have pushed the limits of genome assemblies beyond imagination. The sheer amount of long read data that is being generated enables the assembly for even the largest and most complex organism for which efficient algorithms are needed. We present a new tool, called Ra, for de novo genome assembly of long uncorrected reads. It is a fast and memory friendly assembler based on sequence classification and assembly graphs, developed with large genomes in mind. It is freely available at https://github.com/lbcb-sci/ra.

This work has been supported in part by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project Single genome and metagenome assembly (IP-2018-01-5886), and in part by the European Regional Development Fund under the grant KK.01.1.1.01.0009 (DATACROSS). In addition, M.Š. is partly supported by funding from A*STAR, Singapore.
Factors affecting the biology of Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)
Authors: Bezerra Da Silva Cherre S. , Price Briana E. , Soohoo-Hui Alexander , Walton Vaughn M.
Published: May 2019

Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae is a parasitoid of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii) in the U.S. Few studies have addressed interactions between these two species and little is known about the potential of this parasitoid as a biocontrol agent of SWD. Here, we investigated the impact of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on life-history traits of P. vindemmiae. Both constant (entire adulthood) and limited (30 minutes) supply of water + honey, honey, or host increased parasitoid survival compared to controls (water or fasting). Water + honey caused the highest parasitoid survivals (35-60 days), independent of supply period, sex, and host availability. Females were intrinsically more resistant to water and honey scarcity than males, and host-feeding elevated such resistance even higher. Constant supply of honey supported the highest host-killing capacity (ca. 600 SWD pupae/wasp). However, in young females (4-9 days old), such honey effect was insignificant while water deprivation (either with or without honey) resulted in the highest host-killing potential. This indicate that although sugar becomes a critical nutritional resource as females age, young females depend more on water than sugar. No effect of water nor honey was observed on the sex ratio of young females, but when we considered the entire adulthood honey supply produced the lowest proportion of females (0.50), independent of water availability. Such reduction derived from sperm depletion, likely caused by both lack of re-mating and higher fecundity in honey-fed wasps. Neither water nor honey affected parasitoid emergence rate (0.97), independent of female age. Based on survival and host-killing capacity, we conclude that P. vindemmiae has a tremendous biocontrol potential against SWD. Both limited and constant supply of water, sugar, and host increase parasitoid survival, while constant supply of water and/or honey enhance its host-killing potential and decrease sex ratio depending on mother age.
Interpreting neural decoding models using grouped model reliance
Authors: Valentin Simon , Harkotte Maximilian , Popov Tzvetan
Published: May 2019

The application of machine learning algorithms for decoding psychological constructs based on neural data is becoming increasingly popular. However, there is a need for methods that allow to interpret trained decoding models, as a step towards bridging the gap between theory-driven cognitive neuroscience and data-driven decoding approaches. The present study demonstrates grouped model reliance as a model-agnostic permutation-based approach to this problem. Grouped model reliance indicates the extent to which a trained model relies on conceptually related groups of variables, such as frequency bands or regions of interest in electroencephalographic (EEG) data. As a case study to demonstrate the method, random forest and support vector machine models were trained on within-participant single-trial EEG data from a Sternberg working memory task. Participants were asked to memorize a sequence of digits (0–9), varying randomly in length between one, four and seven digits, where EEG recordings for working memory load estimation were taken from a 3-second retention interval. Present results confirm previous findings in so far, as both random forest and support vector machine models relied on alpha-band activity in most subjects. However, as revealed by further analyses, patterns in frequency and particularly topography varied considerably between individuals, pointing to more pronounced inter-individual differences than reported previously.

Author summary

Modern machine learning algorithms currently receive considerable attention for their predictive power in neural decoding applications. However, there is a need for methods that make such predictive models interpretable. In the present work, we address the problem of assessing which aspects of the input data a trained model relies upon to make predictions. We demonstrate the use of grouped model-reliance as a generally applicable method for interpreting neural decoding models. Illustrating the method on a case study, we employed an experimental design in which a comparably small number of participants (10) completed a large number of trials (972) over multiple electroencephalography (EEG) recording sessions from a Sternberg working memory task. Trained decoding models consistently relied on alpha frequency activity, which is in line with existing research on the relationship between neural oscillations and working memory. However, our analyses also indicate large inter-individual variability with respect to the relation between activity patterns and working memory load in frequency and topography. Taken together, we argue that grouped model reliance provides a useful tool to better understand the workings of (sometimes otherwise black-box) decoding models.
Crystal structure of N,N′-bis[3-(methylsulfanyl)propyl]-1,8:4,5-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide
Authors: Park Juhyeon , Lee Seung Heon , Choi Myong Yong , Moon Cheol Joo , Kim Tae Ho
Published: May 2019

The title compound, C22H22N2O4S2, was synthesized by the reaction of 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride with 3-(methylsulfanyl)propylamine. The whole molecule is generated by an inversion operation of the asymmetric unit. This molecule has an anti form with the terminal methylthiopropyl groups above and below the aromatic diimide plane, where four intramolecular C—H...O and C—H...S hydrogen bonds are present and the O...H...S angle is 100.8°. DFT calculations revealed slight differences between the solid state and gas phase structures. In the crystal, C—H...O and C—H...S hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains along the [2\overline20] direction. adjacent chains are interconnected by π–π interactions, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. Each two-dimensional layer is further packed in an ABAB sequence along the c-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that van der Waals interactions make important contributions to the intermolecular contacts. The most important contacts found in the Hirshfeld surface analysis are H...H (44.2%), H...O/O...H (18.2%), H...C/C...H (14.4%), and H...S/S...H (10.2%).
Contesting commensuration
Authors: Gerdin Jonas , Englund Hans
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how actors subjected to public performance evaluations may “contest commensuration,” i.e. may seek to influence how such ratings and rankings will be construed among important stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of press releases, and interviews with department heads, is used as a basis for the analysis.

Findings

The empirically derived taxonomy of public responses to a state-initiated performance evaluation of educational programs shows that actors may mobilize an array of commensuration management tactics so as to maintain or improve one’s relative positional status. Such tactics may have at least three different foci, namely, on the comparison object (i.e. on the new grouping of actors), the comparison dimension (i.e. the standardized format for comparison) and the comparison rate (i.e. the rate received), respectively. The authors also find that not only are threats to positional status likely to spur commensuration management tactics, but also the opportunity to exploit a good rate.

Originality/value

The paper augments recent research that has problematized the so-called “reactive conformance thesis” by focusing on how evaluated organizations may directly try to influence external stakeholders through public responses. The study is also one of the first that analytically disentangles how they may skillfully exploit different forms of “plasticity” that are inherent in any type of commensuration.
Rethinking performativity
Authors: Baker Max , Modell Sven
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance a critical realist perspective on performativity and use it to examine how novel conceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have performative effects.

Design/methodology/approach

To illustrate how the authors’ critical realist understanding of performativity can play out, the authors offer a field study of an Australian packaging company and engage in retroductive and retrodictive theorising.

Findings

In contrast to most prior accounting research, the authors advance a structuralist understanding of performativity that pays more systematic attention to the causal relationships that underpin performative tendencies. The authors explain how such tendencies are conditioned by pre-existing, social structures, conceptualised in terms of multiple, intersecting norm circles. The authors illustrate their argument empirically by showing how specific conceptions of CSR, centred on the notion of “shared value”, were cemented by the interplay between the causal powers embedded in such norm circles and how this suppressed alternative conceptions of this phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

The findings draw attention to the structural boundary conditions under which particular conceptions of CSR can be expected to become performative. Greater attention to such boundary conditions, denoting the social structures that reinforce and counteract performative tendencies, is required to further cumulative, yet context-sensitive, theory development on this topic.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to adopt a critical realist perspective on performativity in the accounting literature. This perspective strikes a middle path between the highly constructivist ontology, adopted in most accounting research concerned with performativity and realist criticisms of this ontological position for de-emphasising the influence of pre-existing, objective realities on performativity.
Poverty alleviation through microcredit in Sub-Saharan Africa revisited
Authors: Buchenrieder Gertrud , Nguefo Gnilachi Josephine , Benjamin Emmanuel Olatunbosun
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of microcredit on per capita income of farm households in Cameroon. It discusses short- and long-term implications of access to microcredit on income poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors interviewed rural households with agriculture being either their first or second income-creating activity. All sampled households are clients of a Cameroonian village bank. The authors used a balanced panel with a treatment and a control group, the latter not having had a village bank microcredit yet. The results were reaffirmed using bootstrapping.

Findings

This paper argues that microcredit has had a significant positive impact on per capita income in the short run, but the long-term effect was negative, albeit not significant. In the long run, absolute income poverty had further decreased in the treatment group, however, not as much as in the control group. Because the treatment group had been shifting back to the informal financial sector and had diverted part of the microcredit for consumption, this may have led to lower marginal income effects. Productivity of credit financed inputs by the treatment group remained constant, which also explains why the treatment group fell back over time.

Research limitations/implications

The balanced panel data set was relatively small due to attrition over time. This was accounted for using bootstrapping. Nevertheless, research results must be interpreted with care. Furthermore, the discussion is not exhaustive.

Practical implications

Despite tremendous methodological advancements regarding the impact analysis of microcredit on income poverty, findings remain controversial and inconsistent. Frequently, fungibility is a confounding issue. Microcredit policy ought to consider more long-term effects.

Originality/value

There is much discourse amongst development economists about the impact of microcredit on poverty. Research based on panel data may clarify some of the controversial issues. This research paper uses a rather unique panel data set from Cameroonian farm households that are clients of a private sector village bank. The issue of sample size limitation is dealt with using bootstrapping. The authors base the empirical analysis on a comprehensive and theoretically founded economic farm household model.
Agribusiness value impacts from highly pathogenic avian influenza
Authors: Thompson Jada M. , Trejo-Pech Carlos J.O. , Pendell Dustin L.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of 2014–2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the largest animal health emergency in US history to date, on agribusinesses’ market values.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the 2014–2015 HPAI outbreaks in US commercial poultry, event study analysis of meat processing and marketing companies is conducted to estimate the effects HPAI had on firm value and how these effects differed across meat marketing firms over distinct disease event dates. The analyses include an overall aggregate event study, chronological outbreak studies, and an analysis that separated firms specifically marketing poultry products from those marketing all other types of meat.

Findings

By tracing abnormal stock returns through the event dates, the results show heterogeneity of investors responses based on the nature of the event (i.e. backyard vs commercial flocks affected), timing of the event over the course of the entire HPAI outbreak, and if a firm marketed poultry products. Overall, negative abnormal returns, ranging from 2 to 4 percent of publicly traded meat processors’ equities, are predominant post-disease event. These negative effects are slightly higher, above 5 percent, for firms marketing poultry products.

Originality/value

This study is the first to analyze the effects of an HPAI outbreak on the market value of US agribusiness firms.
Solo economy in Taiwan: a quality study of click-and-mortar malls
Authors: Liang Chih-Chin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The rapid growth of the solo economy in the Asia-Pacific area indicates an economic transition. In East Asia, solitary households are growing along with low marital rates and birth rates under high economic pressure. Because of these population changes, malls must provide good quality service to meet the specific needs of solitary households and social households. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction (CS), perceived value, corporate image and customer loyalty were compared between social and solitary customers of Taiwan click-and-mortar malls. The effects of five service quality dimensions on CS and customer loyalty were investigated by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The analytical results show that all hypothesized relationships among factors were supported with the exception of the impact of perceived value on satisfaction and the impact of the corporate image on satisfaction. Additionally, the comparison between solitary and social customers showed that service quality, corporate image and customer loyalty have strong relationships without differences between both kinds of customers. Solitary and social customers only differed in the impact of perceived value on loyalty.

Practical implications

The managerial implication of this study is that, to satisfy both social and solitary customers and to increase their loyalty, Click-and-mortar malls (CAM malls) should apply different service quality strategies for social and solitary customers. To satisfy both types of customers, a strategy for increasing visible cares should be applied in social customers, and a strategy for increasing the perception of reliability, assurance and visible cares should be applied in solitary customers. To enhance the loyalty of solitary customers, a CAM mall should enhance the value perceived by solitary customers, which can help CAM malls increase the loyalty of solitary customers in the solo economy.

Originality/value

The solo economy is a hot topic in East Asia because the issue of solo economy impacts the market. A CAM mall must evolve its business to attract solitary customers. However, no studies compared perceived quality, satisfaction, perceived value, corporate image and loyalty between solitary customers and social customers. This study is the first study investigated the business model of CAM malls.
The effect of anti-consumption lifestyle on consumer’s attitude and purchase intention toward commercial sharing systems
Authors: Lee HeeJung
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study describes anti-consumption lifestyles and the effects of such lifestyles on the acceptance of commercial sharing systems (CSS). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the different types of anti-consumption lifestyles and their influence on consumer’s attitudes and purchase intentions toward CSS, and to verify the moderating effect of the variety-seeking tendency.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling is used with data collected from 537 consumers. The chosen types of CSS are the corporations of Socar (a car sharing service in Korea) and Airbnb (a global accommodation sharing service).

Findings

The results indicate that the anti-consumption lifestyles consist of frugality, voluntary simplicity, environmental protection, small luxury and tightwadism; anti-consumption lifestyles affect the acceptance of CSS; and the effects differed according to the variety-seeking tendency. These results suggest that anti-consumption lifestyles differently influence consumer’s behaviors toward using CSS, and there is a moderating effect partially depending upon the variety-seeking tendency.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is that it verifies the different types of anti-consumption lifestyles and their effects on consumer’s attitudes and purchase intentions toward CSS, which is an area that has remained unexamined in the literature. Marketers will be able to use the knowledge obtained herein on the various types of anti-consumption lifestyles to motivate consumers to use sharing services, and will also be able to establish a consumer strategy in sharing business practice.
Do identity-based perceptions lead to brand avoidance? A cross-national investigation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Asif , Ashraf Rohail , Malik Aneela
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of identity-based consumer perceptions on the brand avoidance of foreign brands across multiple markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Focussing on general product category brands, the study was conducted across two countries, i.e. New Zealand (Study 1) and Pakistan (Study 2), using online surveys. Study 1 explores the perceptions of university students, whereas Study 2 evaluates the perceptions of a more heterogeneous population across the country. Partial least squares–structural equation modelling was used to analyse the model.

Findings

First, the results confirm that individual-level identity-based drivers (undesired self-congruence and negative social influence) consistently predict brand avoidance for foreign brands across both markets, whereas country-level drivers (consumer ethnocentrism and animosity) have inconsistent effects across the markets. Second, the study demonstrates that avoidance attitude fully mediates the relationship between antecedences and intentions to avoid foreign brands.

Practical implications

The finding that undesired self-congruence is the strongest predictor of brand avoidance across the markets reinforces the importance of brand image congruence with the target audience. Considering the negative effect of social influence, especially on social media (i.e. Facebook and Twitter), this finding cautions managers to constantly monitor the prevailing negative word of mouth (online or offline) about the brand to mitigate its potential effect.

Originality/value

Drawing on social identity theory, this study explores the identity-based pre-purchase determinants of brand avoidance at the country level and at the individual level. These determinants have never been explored yet in the context of brand avoidance.
Performance relevance of environmental and social disclosures
Authors: Saini Neha , Singhania Monica
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between environmental‒social disclosure scores and corporate financial performance. The authors tried to investigate the relevance of assurance practice (whether or not companies’ assessment policies are subject to individual assessment for the given period) and value relevance in foreign-owned firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on accounting-based valuation model proposed by Berthelotet al.(2003), considering the market value of equity as the function of book value and other financial indicators including Return of Assets and Return on Capital Employed. Environmental and social disclosure scores are extracted from Bloomberg database as the measure of company’s transparency in reporting value relevance information and sustainable development. The study considers the sample period of 8 years (2008‒15) and uses static (fixed effects and random effects) and dynamic (generalised methods of moments (GMM)) panel data estimations for analysing and concluding results.

Findings

The results support the evidence of environmental disclosure score as performance relevance indicator. Environmental disclosure score highlights the positive and significant relationship with different performance indicators. The interaction between foreign ownership and environmental disclosure represents a negative association, implying that foreign ownership is incubating more on profit making rather than environmental protection initiatives. However, in the context of the social disclosure score, a positive association with economic performance is found. But interaction term between foreign ownership and social disclosure represented a negative coefficient.

Originality/value

Value relevance disclosures are investigated with performance indicators that create an incentive for stakeholders. Also, the effect of foreign ownership and value relevance interaction term on firm’s financial performance is determined. To the best of authors’ understanding, previous literature is silent about this dimension. The authors also tried to incorporate the solution to the endogeneity issue by using GMM.
Relationship between country brand and internationalization: a literature review
Authors: Montanari Maria Gabriela , Giraldi Janaina de Moura Engracia , Galina Simone Vasconcelos Ribeiro
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain a possible relationship between the country brand and internationalization topics, searching in the literature the possible connections between them.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative literature review of the past 15 years of research (2003–2017) was acquired using the well-known databases Web of Science and Scopus.

Findings

Studies linking country brand and internationalization are new, often quantitative, descriptive and focused on emerging markets. In terms of content, it was shown first that a country brand, when well-managed, is not only essential to attract foreign direct investment into the country, but it can also help the outflows of investments. Referring specifically to outflows of foreign investment, internationalization affects the country brand, generating positive attitudes toward the brand in international markets. However, it is also affected by the country brand because the country image influences the entry modes of business and the country of origin affects the performance of multinationals abroad.

Research limitations/implications

With the strengths and deficiencies of a body of literature exposed in this paper, a better understanding of the topic through synthesis can be provided.

Practical implications

Findings show that internationalization can influence country brand and country image. The internationalization process might positively affect the attitude toward a place brand. In terms of country image, when a company rebranding is entering international markets, it can integrate the brand of its products with the country brand and its image, generating positive effects in relation to brand in the new market. However, this relationship is not clear and should be explored by new studies.

Originality/value

This paper contributes both to the literature through an overview of the relationship between the two topics and a research agenda for future studies; and to governments and companies by providing information that enables them to become more competitive in the international market.
An integral GSCM index for assessment of environmental performance in manufacturing companies
Authors: Trujillo-Gallego Mariana , Sarache William
Published: May 2019

Purpose

From the green supply chain management (GSCM) approach, the purpose of this paper is to propose a green index as a benchmarking tool to assess environmental performance in manufacturing companies. The index involves 10 green practices and 46 performance dimensions, which were identified by way of an exhaustive literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

The GSCM index was designed as follows: survey design; experts group selection; relationship identification and green practice weighting (DEMATEL method); and GSCM index construction. The proposed GSCM index was validated at a set of ten Colombian manufacturing companies, which belong to different industrial subsectors.

Findings

The structural relationships between both green practices and performance dimensions (cause group vs effect group) were determined. Consequently, a set of green practices and performance dimensions on which managers must focus their environmental efforts (cause group), in order to positively affect the system as a whole, was identified. The environmental performance of a set of manufacturing companies was established.

Practical implications

As a decision support tool, the GSCM index provides a baseline for the deployment of environmental improvement plans. It also permits the comparison of environmental performance between companies from different industrial sectors. Further, it can be used to monitor internal operations and collaboration programs in each echelon of the supply chain.

Originality/value

This publication contributes to the field of environmental performance measurement by introducing a new index, from the GSCM perspective. In contrast with the existing green indicators, the proposed index is the first to consider causal relationships between green practices and between their performance dimensions.
Dual effects of self-focused and other-focused power on sexual harassment intentions
Authors: Stockdale Margaret S. , Gilmer Declan O. , Dinh Tuyen K.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine two forms of power construal – self-focused and other-focused power – on effects of increasing or decreasing sex-based harassment (SBH) tendencies through feeling states triggered by imagining these different types of power. In addition, dispositional traits associated with either self- and other-focused power were tested as moderators of these paths.

Design/methodology/approach

An online experiment was conducted with 549 US adults (58 percent men) who were randomly assigned to imagine themselves with self-focused power, other-focused power or control. Dispositional measures were completed before priming; and feelings of sexiness, powerfulness and communalism were completed after priming. Then, participants completed either modified versions of Pryor’s (1987) Likelihood to Sexually Harass Scale or Williamset al.’s (2017) Workplace Crush Scenario.

Findings

Moderated indirect effects indicated that self-focused power increased participants’ feelings of sexiness and powerfulness, which, in turn, increased either measure of SBH. However, these indirect effects were only significant for individuals low in Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy). Surprisingly, other-focused power priming indirectly increased SBH tendencies through communal feelings.

Research limitations/implications

Moral licensing may explain the unexpected effect of other-focused power on SBH. Organizational leaders should monitor the damaging effects of both forms of power.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine how both negative and positive power construals affect harassment tendencies and to document potential nefarious effects for both types of power.
Can a replacing sponsor benefit?
Authors: Carrillat François Anthony , Grohs Reinhard
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the common situation where the sponsor of an event is replaced and the impact of this situation on consumers’ behavioral intentions toward the new sponsor.

Design/methodology/approach

An original conceptual framework was developed to account for consumers’ reactions toward a new sponsor in the context of a sponsorship change, depending on whether the former and new sponsors are competitors, the duration of the relationship between the former sponsor and the event (tenure length), and the level of congruence between the new and the former sponsor and the event. This framework, based on consumer motive attributions, was tested by means of three completely randomized experiments.

Findings

The results of the first experiment show that if the former and new sponsors are competitors, consumers’ behavioral intentions toward the new sponsor are more positive if the former sponsor’s tenure duration was short. When the former and the new sponsors are not competitors, the former sponsor’s tenure duration does not impact behavioral intentions. The second experiment demonstrates that consumers’ altruistic motive attributions are the underlying mechanism that explains these effects. Finally, the third experiment identifies a boundary condition, that is, these effects occur only if the new and the former sponsor are congruent with the sponsored property.

Research limitations/implications

This research has not considered the situation where the former and new sponsors have different levels of congruence with the event (e.g. when the former sponsor is congruent but the new sponsor is incongruent with the event) and has examined only sponsorship tenure durations of one versus 15 years.

Practical implications

Sponsorship managers learn that replacing a sponsor that was supporting the event for a short rather than a long period of time is more beneficial, but only if replacing a competitor that is congruent with the sponsored property. The reason is that such a replacement triggers more altruistic motive attributions compared with contexts where the former sponsor is not a competitor or incongruent with the sponsored property. Suggestions of sponsorship activation strategies known to increase perceptions of altruism are provided to enhance sponsorship effectiveness for new sponsors.

Originality/value

This study is the first to look at how consumer responses to a new sponsor vary depending on the former sponsor’s tenure length, competitor status and event congruency.
The impact of representation media on customer engagement in tourism marketing among millennials
Authors: Willems Kim , Brengman Malaika , Van Kerrebroeck Helena
Published: May 2019

Purpose

As online travel marketing is evermore gaining importance, in particular regarding the pre-purchase presentation of travel destinations, it is imperative to examine how various media can engage consumers. The purpose of this paper is to identify how three prominent virtual representation media in tourism marketing differ regarding their potential in engaging customers. In particular, the authors examine whether they differ in the levels of interactivity, vividness and telepresence they elicit; and the impact of these dimensions on flow, enjoyment and online purchase intentions. The authors hereby focus specifically on millennials, who represent an important target market for the travel industry and are hard to reach via traditional media.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a between-subjects experimental design comparing three virtual representation media portraying New York City, namely, photographs, 360° video and virtual reality (VR). The findings are analysed with ANCOVA analysis and PLS path modelling.

Findings

The findings reveal that various media indeed generate different levels of customer engagement. In particular, VR scores the highest on all dimensions, with interactivity having the largest effect on consumers’ perception of telepresence. Such higher levels of telepresence in turn positively affect purchase intentions via mediation through flow and enjoyment.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should examine whether these findings are impacted by moderators, like consumer characteristics (e.g. socio-demographics, personality traits) and destination types.

Practical implications

This study provides guidelines for tourism providers seeking to promote their sites in innovative and effective ways, in the anticipatory stage of the customer journey.

Originality/value

This study identifies interactivity as the most important driver for consumers’ perception of telepresence in the context of pre-travel tourism information. Moreover, the findings also reveal the mechanisms behind enhanced customer engagement via various media.
Contribution of mobile phones in expanding human capabilities in selected rural districts of Tanzania
Authors: Msoffe Grace E.P. , Lwoga Edda Tandi
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the use of mobile phones in enhancing human capabilities and agricultural development among small-scale farmers in selected rural districts of Tanzania. The study assessed the potential capabilities acquired by farmers, factors that influence farmers in building their capabilities and achieving development outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used Sen’s capability approach as a guiding framework to investigate the link between mobile phones and agricultural development. A case study design was employed whereby focus group discussions were used to collect data.

Findings

The use of mobile phone services enabled rural farmers to build their financial, human and social capabilities. Rural farmers faced personal and non-personal conversion factors that influenced them in building capabilities and achieving development outcomes. The use of mobile phones led to various development outcomes. The typical development outcomes were related to access to information and communication services and reduction of transport costs. Rural farmers experienced family conflicts due to protectiveness exercised by couples through the use of mobile phones, criminal incidences such as theft and the fear of being recorded when making a phone call.

Originality/value

The study findings have the potential of influencing policy and practice. The findings are useful in promoting the value of mobile phones usage in empowering rural farmers and communities. The telecommunication sector and other key stakeholders can use the study findings in setting the basis for prioritising the improvement of telecommunication infrastructure in the rural areas.
Contracting school meals in a rural Florida district
Authors: Traynor Mark , Chen Can , Kitterlin Miranda
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the decision to contract school meal services and the associated nutritional and financial impacts on school districts. Given the increase in the use of competitive contracting of public school meal services and the critical role that school meal services play in public health, this is an important subject to investigate.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was performed using one US school district with privatized food service. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with school food service decision makers. Other data collection included the analysis of public documents such as the school district’s budgets and financial statement reports (the cost per lunch and breakfast meals, the cost for labor, contract, transport, supplies and food expenses) and school food service policies (contract policies). Supplementary data pertaining to district social-demographic profiles and full-time equivalent enrollment figures were also collected from state departments.

Findings

Analysis of interviews revealed that positive financial motivations and impacts were dominant factors related to contracting food services in the district. A significant finding was the relatively short turnaround in the district’s negative financial situation as a result of contracting out the food services. These findings provide valuable insight and support for rural school districts in similar negative financial situations seeking to contract out food services.

Originality/value

Many studies have examined contracting out of technical services, such as transport and waste management, and social services, such as correctional services and health; however, there is a lack of studies documenting the effects of contracting out of school meal services.