bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term changes in polysaccharide utilization mechanisms of marine bacterioplankton during a spring phytoplankton bloom
Authors: Reintjes Greta , Fuchs Bernhard M. , Scharfe Mirco , Wiltshire Karen H. , Amann Rudolf , Arnosti Carol
Published: January 2020

Spring phytoplankton blooms in temperate environments contribute disproportionately to global marine productivity. Bloom-derived organic matter, much of it occurring as polysaccharides, fuels biogeochemical cycles driven by interacting autotrophic and heterotrophic communities. We tracked changes in the mode of polysaccharide utilization by heterotrophic bacteria during the course of a diatom-dominated bloom in the German Bight, North Sea. Polysaccharides can be taken up in a ‘selfish’ mode, where initial hydrolysis is coupled to transport into the periplasm, such that little to no low molecular weight (LMW) products are externally released to the environment. Alternatively, polysaccharides hydrolyzed by cell-surface attached or free extracellular enzymes (external hydrolysis) yield LMW products available to the wider bacterioplankton community. In the early bloom phase, selfish activity was accompanied by low extracellular hydrolysis rates of a few polysaccharides. As the bloom progressed, selfish uptake increased markedly, and external hydrolysis rates increased, but only for a limited range of substrates. The late bloom phase was characterized by high external hydrolysis rates of a broad range of polysaccharides, and reduced selfish uptake of polysaccharides, except for laminarin. Substrate utilization mode is related both to substrate structural complexity and to the bloom-stage dependent composition of the heterotrophic bacterial community.

Originality statement

The means by which heterotrophic bacteria cooperate and compete to obtain substrates is a key factor determining the rate and location at which organic matter is cycled in the ocean. Much of this organic matter is high molecular weight (HMW), and must be enzymatically hydrolyzed to smaller pieces to be processed by bacterial communities. Some of these enzyme-producing bacteria are ‘selfish’, processing HMW organic matter without releasing low molecular weight (LMW) products to the environment. Other bacteria hydrolyze HMW substrates in a manner that releases LMW products to the wider bacterial community. How these mechanisms of substrate hydrolysis work against a changing background of organic matter supply is unclear. Here, we measured changing rates and mechanisms of substrate processing during the course of a natural phytoplankton bloom in the North Sea. Selfish bacteria generally dominate in the initial bloom stages, but a greater supply of increasingly complex substrates in later bloom stages leads to external hydrolysis of a wider range of substrates, increasing the supply of LMW hydrolysis products to the wider bacterial community.
Three Rules Explain Transgenerational Small RNA Inheritance inC. elegans
Authors: Houri-Ze’evi Leah , Antonova Olga , Rechavi Oded
Published: January 2020

Life experiences trigger transgenerational small RNA-based responses inC. elegansnematodes. Dedicated machinery ensures that heritable effects would re-set, typically after a few generations. Here we show that isogenic individuals differ dramatically in the persistence of transgenerational responses. By examining lineages composed of >20,000 worms we reveal 3 inheritance rules: (1) Once a response is initiated, each isogenic mother stochastically assumes an “inheritance state”, establishing a commitment that determines the fate of the inheritance. (2) The response that each mother transfers is uniform in each generation of her descendants. (3) The likelihood that an RNAi response would transmit to the progeny increases the more generations the response lasts, according to a “hot hand” principle. Mechanistically, the different parental “inheritance states” correspond to global changes in the expression levels of endogenous small RNAs, immune response genes, and targets of the conserved transcription factor HSF-1. We show that these rules predict the descendants’ developmental rate and resistance to stress.
A silent disco: Differential effects of beat-based and pattern-based temporal expectations on persistent entrainment of low-frequency neural oscillations
Authors: Bouwer Fleur L. , Fahrenfort Johannes J. , Millard Samantha K. , Kloosterman Niels A. , Slagter Heleen A.
Published: January 2020

The brain uses temporal structure in the environment, like rhythm in music and speech, to predict the timing of events, thereby optimizing their processing and perception. Temporal expectations can be grounded in different aspects of the input structure, such as a regular beat or a predictable pattern. One influential account posits that a generic mechanism underlies beat-based and pattern-based expectations, namely entrainment of low frequency neural oscillations to rhythmic input, while other accounts assume different underlying neural mechanisms. Here, we addressed this outstanding issue by examining EEG activity and behavioral responses during silent periods following rhythmic auditory sequences. We measured responses outlasting the rhythms both to avoid confounding the EEG analyses with evoked responses, and to directly test whether beat-based and pattern-based expectations persist beyond stimulation, as predicted by entrainment theories. To properly disentangle beat-based and pattern-based expectations, which often occur simultaneously, we used non-isochronous rhythms with a beat, a predictable pattern, or random timing. In Experiment 1 (N = 32), beat-based expectations affected behavioral ratings of probe events for two beat-cycles after the end of the rhythm. The effects of pattern-based expectations reflected expectations for one interval. In Experiment 2 (N = 27), using EEG, we found enhanced spectral power at the beat frequency for beat-based sequences both during listening and silence. For pattern-based sequences, enhanced power at a pattern-specific frequency was present during listening, but not silence. Moreover, we found a difference in the evoked signal following pattern-based and beat-based sequences. Finally, we show how multivariate pattern decoding and multi scale entropy – measures sensitive to non-oscillatory components of the signal – can be used to probe temporal expectations. Together, our results suggest that the input structure used to form temporal expectations may affect the associated neural mechanisms. We suggest climbing activity and low-frequency oscillations may be differentially associated with pattern-based and beat-based expectations.
UDP-glucose dehydrogenase Ugd inE. coliis activated by Gmd and RffD, is inhibited by CheY, and regulates swarming
Authors: Rodionova Irina A. , Zhang Zhongge , Aboulwafa Mohammad , Saier Milton H.
Published: January 2020

The two most common mechanisms of polymyxin resistance in bacteria involve glycosylation of the outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and production of the exocapsular polysaccharide, colanic acid (CA). UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, Ugd, is required for both CA biosynthesis and LPS modification. We here show that Ugd is activated by the GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (Gmd, YefA, YefN), UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosamine dehydrogenase (RffD, WecC), and ribonuclease HII (RnhB). The former two enzymes are involved in Lipid A and colanic acid biosyntheses, respectively, while RnhB cleaves RNA in RNA:DNA hybrids. Moreover, CheY inhibits the phosphorylated, activated form of Ugd (Ugd-P). Finally, Ugd is involved in the regulation of swarming, since augdmutant has an increased swarming rate, while Ugd overproduction inhibits swarming. Two-hybrid bacterial assays reveal direct interaction of Ugd with RssB (an anti-RpoS factor) and CheY in vivo.
Exploring the functional meaning of head shape disparity in aquatic snakes
Authors: Segall Marion , Cornette Raphaël , Godoy-Diana Ramiro , Herrel Anthony
Published: January 2020

Phenotypic diversity, or disparity, can be explained by simple genetic drift or, if functional constraints are strong, by selection for ecologically relevant phenotypes. We here studied phenotypic disparity in head shape in aquatic snakes. We investigated whether conflicting selective pressures related to different functions have driven shape diversity and explore whether similar phenotypes may give rise to the same functional output (i.e. many-to-one mapping of form to function). We focused on the head shape of aquatically foraging snakes as they fulfil several fitness-relevant functions and show a large amount of morphological variability. We used 3D surface scanning and 3D geometric-morphometrics to compare the head shape of 62 species in a phylogenetic context. We first tested whether diet specialization and size are drivers of head shape diversification. Next, we tested for many-to-one mapping by comparing the hydrodynamic efficiency of head shapes characteristic of the main axis of variation in the dataset. We 3D printed these shapes and measured the forces at play during a frontal strike. Our results show that diet and size explain only a small amount of shape variation. Shapes did not functionally converge as more specialized aquatic species evolved a more efficient head shape than others. The shape disparity observed could thus reflect a process of niche specialization under a stabilizing selective regime.
ALeptosphaeria maculansset of isolates characterised on all available differentials and used as control to identify virulence frequencies in a current French population
Authors: Bousset L. , Ermel M. , Delourme R.
Published: January 2020

The characterization of virulence frequencies has to be regularly updated to identify which genes are currently efficient and use this information to advise gene deployment by choosing varieties depending on the current composition of local pathogen population. InL. maculansonBrassica napus, because different genes were characterized by different teams, because new interactions are continuously identified and seed of differentials are difficult to obtain, we today still lack isolates characterized on all current resistance genes. On the one hand, we assembled a set of 12 isolates characterized on 13 of the 17 described resistance genes, having clearly compatible and clearly incompatible isolates for each interaction. This set can be used to characterize theL. maculans–B. napusinteraction at cotyledon stage. Expanding the set of isolates with clearly virulent ones allowed us to detect inconsistent behaviour or intermediate (avirulent) phenotypes. On the other hand, we used this set of isolates as controls to identify virulence frequencies in a current FrenchL. maculanspopulation sampled in 2018 at Le Rheu. We provide the current status for 13 avirulence frequencies, includingLepR1,LepR2andLepR3available in near isogenic lines of spring canola but not yet documented in France. Avirulence frequencies on the genesRlm1,Rlm2,Rlm3,Rlm4,Rlm7,Rlm9andLepR3were low, indicating the lack of efficacy of these genes against the current population. In the opposite, all or most of isolates were avirulent for the genesRlm5,Rlm6,Rlm10,Rlm11,LepR1andLepR2. An optimistic point of view could conclude that there are ample resources for oilseed rape breeding. However, as compared to previous studies, so far all the resistance genes used on significant acreage without additional management practices have lost efficacy and only avirulences corresponding to resistance genes not deployed in France retain efficacy. While the call to wisely manage the available host resistance genes is not recent, it is still relevant. Adding, management practices to the deployment of resistance genes in order to reduce inoculum carry-over from one growing season to the next and to lower population sizes is key to maintain their efficacy over time.
Hap2–Ino80-facilitated transcription promotes de novo establishment of CENP-A chromatin
Authors: Singh Puneet P. , Shukla Manu , White Sharon A. , Lafos Marcel , Tong Pin , Auchynnikava Tatsiana , Spanos Christos , Rappsilber Juri , Pidoux Alison L. , Allshire Robin C.
Published: January 2020

Centromeres are maintained epigenetically by the presence of CENP-A, an evolutionarily conserved histone H3 variant, which directs kinetochore assembly and hence centromere function. To identify factors that promote assembly of CENP-A chromatin, we affinity-selected solubilized fission yeast CENP-ACnp1 chromatin. All subunits of the Ino80 complex were enriched, including the auxiliary subunit Hap2. Chromatin association of Hap2 is Ies4-dependent. In addition to a role in maintenance of CENP-ACnp1 chromatin integrity at endogenous centromeres, Hap2 is required for de novo assembly of CENP-ACnp1 chromatin on naïve centromere DNA and promotes H3 turnover on centromere regions and other loci prone to CENP-ACnp1 deposition. Prior to CENP-ACnp1 chromatin assembly, Hap2 facilitates transcription from centromere DNA. These analyses suggest that Hap2–Ino80 destabilizes H3 nucleosomes on centromere DNA through transcription-coupled histone H3 turnover, driving the replacement of resident H3 nucleosomes with CENP-ACnp1 nucleosomes. These inherent properties define centromere DNA by directing a program that mediates CENP-ACnp1 assembly on appropriate sequences.
Reverse mentoring: a review of extant literature and recent trends
Authors: Garg Neha , Singh Pankaj
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Reverse mentoring though widely discussed and adopted in practice, scholarly research on the same is scarce. This paper thus attempts to provide an overview of the extant literature and highlights the developments taking place in the practical arena so as to reveal the research-practice gap and identify new avenues with respect to the expanding role of reverse mentoring.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the review of important developments in research and practice related to reverse mentoring.

Findings

Despite the multi-faceted benefits of reverse mentoring observed by practitioners, the academic literature is not only scarce but also confined to its vignettes and anecdotes. This review highlights how reverse mentoring has much more to offer than being just a tech-savvy tool.

Research limitations/implications

This review calls for abandoning the single-faceted outlook (of a tech-savvy tool) towards reverse mentoring by exploring the concept from a broader lens.

Originality/value

The insights covered in the review highlight the expanding scope of reverse mentoring and present future pathways both for researchers and practitioners. It inspires the readers to re-visit the concept and explore how it can deliver valuable outcomes especially with regards to the multi-generational workforce.
The role of curiosity in workplace automation
Authors: Horstmeyer Alison
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper describes the ways automation and artificial intelligence are shifting the business landscape and how learning professionals can use curiosity to enhance their own and their organizations' success.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of theory and research on automation and artificial intelligence, curiosity, and learning and development challenges was conducted.

Findings

Although technological advancements are already transforming the workplace, the optimal benefits of these technologies will be realized only in collaboration with human capital. In particular, as certain manual and technical skills are replaced by automation, the jobs that remain will require more highly developed social and cognitive skills such as creative problem solving, interpersonal skills and empathy, and adaptability and continuous learning.

Practical implications

Learning professionals are encouraged to use strategies that leverage the power of curiosity to cultivate the soft skills critical for success in technologically advanced workplaces.

Originality/value

Technological advancement creates an ever-changing organizational and learning landscape for employees and development professionals. Cost-effective strategies are needed to close the growing skill gaps that result. Curiosity is a helpful tool for growing needed competencies.
Leveraging augmented reality for training transfer: a case of healthcare service providers in ophthalmology
Authors: Dixit Ramnath , Sinha Vinita
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this case study is to highlight the efficacy of Augmented Reality (AR) as an effective tool to facilitate training transfer of behavioral skills and knowledge imparted during the training program, back on the job.

Design/methodology/approach

Insights were gathered through qualitative assessments in the form of post-training depth interviews with participants, with the objective of investigating the success of AR as an effective training transfer tool.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed encouraging results related to the application of AR towards training transfer at the workplace. The learners revealed positive impact of AR on training transfer and found the experience to be highly enriching.

Practical implications

The study offers insights in the domain of technology enabled tools such as AR to drive transfer of training through an immersive and engaging learning environment.

Social implications

AR as a training transfer tool can bridge the gap between training delivery and training implementation in behavioral trainings for several key industries, thus eliminating geographic and language barriers for learners.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind and promises further inquiry in the domain of organizational learning and development. Insights revealed in this case are gathered through personal experience and offer a new perspective towards training transfer at the workplace.
Sustainability and universal design aspects in heritage building refurbishment
Authors: Kristl Živa , Temeljotov Salaj Alenka , Roumboutsos Athena
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the refurbishment of heritage buildings with special emphasis on sustainability and universal design. Findings of the study are the basis for further research and development of enhanced strategies for retrofitting and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in the framework of sustainability and universal design.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research focusses on literature review analysis of specific elements of the refurbishment of heritage buildings with the aim to discover the characteristics/indicators of sustainability and universal design, which are usually used in refurbishment project and the gaps. In this paper, the latest state-of-art in the mentioned fields has been assessed, and the developments along with research gaps and potential future research focusses have been identified. The literature was collected mainly through Science Direct, World Wide Science and Emerald, especially focussed on publications from 2000 to 2019 written in English and the Web for regulatory and recommendation publications. Other sources, such as actual projects, might shed additional light on the specific issues of the studied topics.

Findings

This review shows that the current research related to heritage building renovation and reuse does not address sustainability and universal design issues comprehensively. Typically, in research, the topics of heritage, sustainability and inclusiveness are considered separately. In real situations, however, they are interconnected and influence each other, forming an indivisible whole. The needs of persons with disabilities (PWD) in correlation to the built heritage are not well studied. This is why it is important to consider these topics not only separately but also in an interrelated way.

Research limitations/implications

The need for cross-disciplinary problem-solving method, based on a holistic approach, to form the base for implementation of universal design principles into refurbishing of heritage buildings is seen.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates the need for usable procedures for various stakeholders in their everyday practice.

Originality/value

The combined subjects of sustainability, heritage buildings and universal design are not well covered by research. Lack of appropriate literature for this specific area is forming a significant gap that hinders the development of relevant information and methods that could be applied in actual projects. This paper, albeit in a partial way, intends to fill this gap and opts to provide a comprehensive summary of the sustainability factors affecting adaptive reuse of heritage buildings with special emphasis on users, specifically PWD.
Measuring energy heating performance of apartment buildings in Kosovo built after 2003
Authors: Hoxha Visar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to quantify the energy heating performance of apartment buildings in Kosovo built after 2003 and compare it against the energy heating performance of buildings in member states of EU and selected European countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes a case study approach focussed on the assessment of the heating energy performance of the building. This approach facilitated a detailed calculation of the selected materials’ energy performance used in a representative building structure in Kosovo comparing with passive buildings standard and energy heating performance of buildings in member states of EU and selected European countries.

Findings

Results of quantitative research find that the energy heating performance of apartment buildings in Kosovo built after 2003 is far higher than that of passive buildings standard and is better than the average annual energy heating performance of apartment buildings in member states of the EU and selected European countries.

Research limitations/implications

The research provides new knowledge regarding energy heating performance in new residential buildings in Kosovo and compares the findings with earlier research and energy consumption in other selected European countries. The research provides great benefits for researchers and practitioners working in the field of energy management as it compares the energy performance of residential buildings across Europe.

Originality/value

This paper provides a perspective on investigating the energy performance of a building structure of a residential apartment building in Prishtina, Kosovo. By unveiling the level of energy consumption of a residential apartment building in Kosovo representative of the new construction period can help the facility managers to acknowledge the standards they must achieve to refurbish the old building stock to achieve at least the same standard as the buildings in the new construction period.
Project management resources and outcomes: a confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Perkins David , Mathur Gita , Jugdev Kam
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on the resource-based view of the firm from strategic management and apply it to a study of competitive advantage in the project management context. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to examine the factors that constitute strategic characteristics of project management resources and outcomes of the project management process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study gathered data from 437 North American project management professionals using an existing survey tool from prior research involving a smaller sample.

Findings

The final model derived from CFA demonstrated construct validity, meaning acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. It showed only minor differences from a prior exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The final model consisted of two factors representing valuable project management characteristics, one factor representing rare project management characteristics, one factor representing inimitable project management characteristics, three factors representing organizational support for project management assets, one factor representing project-level performance and one factor representing firm-level performance.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the study include self-report bias and the use of a panel for data collection.

Practical implications

This study draws managerial attention to project management characteristics that constitute a source of competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The study validates a survey tool from previous research, reflects few deviations from factor structure of the prior EFA, and sets the stage for future research to elaborate on the conceptual model. It extends understanding of the characteristics of project management assets that lead to a firm’s competitive advantage.
Influence of pre-crisis reputation and COO on diminishing a product-harm crisis
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Parsad Chandan , Bamel Umesh Kumar , Prashar Sanjeev , Parashar Archana
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to report the results of an experiment undertaken to investigate the effect of country of origin (COO) in shielding the company’s image and retaining the trust and supportive behavioural intentions when it faces a crisis and the interactive effect of COO and the company’s pre-crisis reputation in shielding the company’s image.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental study was undertaken to test the proposed hypotheses. Specifically, a two (pre-crisis reputation: low versus high) × two (country of origin: Indian versus Non-Indian) between-subjects factorial experimental design is configured and operationalized.

Findings

The results demonstrate that COO of a company fails to protect trust and supportive behaviour on its own, but, in the presence of a high pre-crisis reputation, it shields trust in the company more effectively. However, the interaction of COO and reputation does not induce supportive behaviour for the company during a crisis.

Originality/value

The findings of this research may help organizations to enhance trust/supportive behaviour toward their brand/company using attributes such as COO and pre-crisis reputation of the company.
Workplace spirituality as a source for competitive advantage: an empirical study
Authors: Saadatyar Fahime Sadat , Poursalimi Mojtaba , Al-Tabbaa Omar , Iannotta Michela
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to theorize and empirically examines the role of perceived spirituality in developing organization competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a quantitative approach, where the structural equation modeling approached was applied to analyze a unique dataset collected from 550 health-care staff in two international hospitals in Iran.

Findings

The results show that although the workplace spirituality (WS) can indirectly enhance the development of competitive advantages by affecting the level of organizational commitment; however, the direct relationship of WS and competitive advantage has a higher path coefficient than its indirect one. Also, interestingly, it is found that, although WS affects the three dimensions of organizational commitment (affective, continuance and normative commitment), but only WS by mediating role of affective commitment can affect the competitive advantage at understudied hospitals.

Originality/value

This study makes important theoretical contributions by conceptualizing and validating the effect of WS on the development of organization competitive advantage. As such, the authors explicate the commitment-related paths through which WS can affect organization overall performance.
Understanding the exchange rate pass-through to consumer prices in Vietnam: the SVAR approach
Authors: Vo Anh The , Ho Chi Minh , Vo Duc Hong
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) to the consumer price index (CPI) at both aggregated and disaggregated levels in Vietnam. Updated data of the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) and bilateral exchange rate (BiER) have been utilized in this study for the comparison purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Advanced time-series approaches such as a structural vector autoregressive framework, structural impulse response functions (SIRFs), and structural forecast-error variance decomposition (SFEVD) are utilized in this paper.

Findings

Empirical findings from this paper present an incomplete degree of the ERPT to the aggregated CPI. The ERPT based on the BiER is observed to have substantially larger magnitude than the NEER-based pass-through. For the disaggregated level, the degree of the ERPT varies considerably across sub-components of the CPI, with a higher magnitude of the ERPT elasticity being found from the BiER estimations. The index of housing and construction materials has the largest ERPT based on the BiER, followed by the food and foodstuffs (1.00 and 0.56, respectively). The macroeconomic and financial environments as well as an economic integration into the global market may be the main causes of a higher ERPT in Vietnam in comparison with other ASEAN countries.

Research limitations/implications

The significant and incomplete pass-through of the exchange rate in Vietnam can affect firms’ and households’ budget planning, savings and profits. This finding generally implies that the cost of devaluation of the domestic currency affects the society as the whole in terms of welfare. The State Bank of Vietnam should carefully consider the overall effect of welfares when formulating and implementing strategies of currency devaluation. In addition, the Vietnamese economy becomes more sensitive to external vulnerabilities via changes of the exchange rate during an increasingly economic integration into the global market. In order to maintain inflation stability, it is vitally important to reduce the impact of exchange rate movements on the domestic prices, both aggregated and disaggregated levels, by pursuing either monetary policy credibility or inflation targeting.

Originality/value

Previous studies on the ERPT literature in the Asia region or for emerging countries focus mainly on the aggregated data of the CPI. Previous studies were conducted before the global financial crisis in 2008/2009. The current paper is the first of its kind to examine the pass-through from exchange rates to consumer prices in Vietnam using both aggregated and disaggregated data.
IPSAS for European Union member states as starting points for EPSAS
Authors: Polzer Tobias , Reichard Christoph
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The European Commission is pursuing an initiative to establish European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS) as a common mandatory set of rules for financial reporting of all member states of the European Union (EU). As a basis for developing EPSAS, the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) are being used. The purpose of this paper is to structure and analyze the discussion around EPSAS, with particular emphasis on the arguments that were brought forward by governments and other stakeholders of various EU countries regarding the suitability of IPSAS.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on several schools of thought in new institutional theory, how the prevailing institutional contexts in countries influence the debates is explored. Empirically, this research investigates the responses to a consultation on the suitability of IPSAS for EU member states and takes a closer look, via document analysis, at France and Germany as two critical cases.

Findings

It is found that, first, the majority of arguments from respondents are framed in a rational choice way. Second, skeptics of IPSAS tend to make arguments rather from positions closer to historical and/or sociological institutionalism.

Research limitations/implications

The paper illustrates that while technical matters around EPSAS seem solvable, political, historical and cultural differences go deeper, and need to be addressed by change agents. Regarding limitations of the research, first, the analysis concentrates on financial reporting and does not deal with the implications for more reliable and comparable national accounts in the context of the European System of Accounts (ESA, 2010). Second, it is focused on debates in the context of the EPSAS proposal, and there is a need for an evaluation after the changes have gone live.

Originality/value

The study looks at a text genre that has so far received less attention in public sector accounting research: responses to consultations. The paper contributes to the literature by showing how institutional contexts matter in settings characterized by contestation of reform contents.
Modelling complex measurement processes for measurement uncertainty determination
Authors: Mueller Tobias , Huber Meike , Schmitt Robert
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Measurement uncertainty is present in all measurement processes in the field of production engineering. However, this uncertainty should be minimized to avoid erroneous decisions. Present methods to determine the measurement uncertainty are either only applicable to certain processes and do not lead to valid results in general or require a high effort in their application. To optimize the costs and benefits of the measurement uncertainty determination, a method has to be developed which is valid in general and easy to apply. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a new technique for determining the measurement uncertainty of complex measurement processes. The approximation capability of artificial neural networks with one hidden layer is proven for continuous functions and represents the basis for a method for determining a measurement model for continuous measurement values.

Findings

As this method does not require any previous knowledge or expertise, it is easy to apply to any measurement process with a continuous output. Using the model equation for the measurement values obtained by the neural network, the measurement uncertainty can be derived using common methods, like the Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. Moreover, a method for evaluating the model performance is presented. By comparing measured values with the output of the neural network, a range in which the model is valid can be established. Combining the evaluation process with the modelling itself, the model can be improved with no further effort.

Originality/value

The developed method simplifies the design of neural networks in general and the modelling for the determination of measurement uncertainty in particular.
Sustainability management control systems in higher education institutions from measurement to management
Authors: Roos Nicolas , Guenther Edeltraud
Published: January 2020

Purpose

As social institutions, higher education institutions (HEIs) play a key role in the distribution of knowledge and skills for sustainable development and societal structures. To fulfill this task, the institutionalization of sustainability within the organization’s structures is essential. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the status quo of environmental management performance (EMP) in HEIs and conclusions for the application of management control systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Within a systematic literature review, 56 international publications were analyzed along a qualitative thematic content analysis. The coding followed the dimensions of EMP by Trumpp et al.

Findings

Structuring environmental sustainability efforts along the concept of EMP reveals a major weakness in environmental sustainability management of HEIs. Therefore, the study proposes a model for a processual integration of steering mechanisms for management bodies to systemize appropriate efforts to gain excellence in operations.

Originality/value

By applying the concept of EMP by Trumpp et al., this systematic review provides an overview of the status quo of environmental management performance at HEIs and proposes a model for the implementation of advanced top-down steering striving a whole institution approach.
Understanding the role of visual attention on wines’ purchase intention: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Monteiro Patrícia , Guerreiro João , Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Wine bottles compete for consumers’ attention in the shelf during the decisive moment of choice. This study aims to explore the role that visual attention to wine labels has on the purchase decision and the mediating role of quality perceptions and desire on such purchase behaviours. Wine awards and consumption situation are used as moderators..

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in Portugal and 36 individuals participated in a 2 × 2 within subjects design (awarded/not awarded × self-consumption/social-consumption). For each scenario, individuals’ attention, perceptions of quality, desire and purchase intentions were recorded.

Findings

Data from eye-tracking shows that, during the purchase process, the amount of attention given to a bottle is determinant of individuals’ purchase intentions, a relationship that increases in significance for bottles with awards and for when consumers are buying wine for a consumption situation involving a social environment. In addition, both quality perceptions and desire are confirmed to positively influence wines’ purchase intentions.

Originality/value

By using an eye monitoring method, this paper brings new insights into the wine industry by highlighting the impact that wines’ labels and different consumption situations have on individuals’ attention and purchase intention. Wine producers and retailers may benefit from the insights provided by the current study to refine their communication strategies by either highlighting product characteristics and pictorial elements, as it is the case of the awards, or communicating about their products for different consumption situations.
Motivational virtual agent in e-learning: the roles of regulatory focus and message framing
Authors: Tan Su-Mae , Liew Tze Wei , Gan Chin Lay
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of a learner’s regulatory focus orientation and message frame of a motivational virtual agent in an e-learning environment.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of quasi-experimental design, university sophomores (n= 210) categorized as chronic promotion-focus, chronic prevention-focus or neutral regulatory focus interacted with either an agent that conveyed gain-frame message or an agent that conveyed loss-frame message to persuade learners to engage with the e-learning content. Statistical analyses assessed the effects of regulatory focus and message frame on agent perception, motivation and cognitive load.

Findings

The results of this paper did not support the hypotheses that chronic promotion-focus learners will benefit more with gain-frame agent than a loss-frame agent, and that chronic prevention-focus learners will benefit more with loss-frame agent than a gain-frame agent. There were main effects of message frame (albeit small effects) – the loss-frame agent was perceived to be more engaging, induced higher motivation and prompted higher germane load than the gain-frame agent. With gain-frame agent, chronic promotion-focus learners had higher motivation toward the e-learning task than other learners.

Originality/value

Prior studies have examined regulatory focus and message frame with agents simulating virtual health advocates. This paper extended on this by examining these roles with a persuasive agent simulating virtual tutor in an e-learning environment.
The influence of halal orientation strategy on financial performance of halal food firms
Authors: Zailani Suhaiza , Iranmanesh Mohammad , Jafarzadeh Shima , Foroughi Behzad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Although the halal orientation strategy (HOS) plays a key role in protecting the halal status of any product, research on the impacts of HOS on the financial performance of halal firms is lacking in the literature. As the main objective of all companies is to maximize their profit, this study aims to examine the influence of HOS on the financial performance of halal food firms with respect to halal culture as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a survey of 154 halal food firms in Malaysia and were analyzed using the partial least squares technique.

Findings

The results indicate that halal materials and halal storage and transportation positively affect financial performance, whereas the halal production process negatively affects financial performance. It is also interesting to observe that halal culture moderates the relationship between the production process and the financial performance of the firm.

Practical implications

The findings can help managers of halal food firms to enhance the financial performance of their respective firms by investing in HOS and giving attention to halal culture. It also helps decision makers to understand the importance of revising requirements for halal certification.

Originality/value

This study also contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the relationship between HOS and the financial performance of halal food firms.
Sustainability change agents: leveraging political skill and reputation
Authors: Gallagher Vickie Coleman , Porter Tracy H. , Gallagher Kevin P.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Sustainability initiatives are important considerations for twenty-first century institutions. Employees, customers and other stakeholders expect responsible business practices that focus on people, profit and planet in unison. Sustainability efforts require a strong advocate who can champion relevant business practices and embed new practices within the culture and across the entire organization. The purpose of this paper is to explain the tangible actions described as necessary by change agents in order to move sustainability initiatives forward in their organizations. This research employs the narrative provided by these agents in interviews – to inform the activities outlined in an established model of political skill and reputation building. This analysis enables the model to illustrate the sequential patterns and process of events, i.e. antecedents and consequences that are simply assumed in the existing variance models.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on in-depth qualitative interviews with the sustainability managers from a variety of organization and industry contexts (e.g. building products, hospitals, banking, energy, environmental and manufacturing).

Findings

The exploration of sustainability initiatives reveals the importance of the change agent’s reputation for building trust in their organizations. Reputation is fostered through political skill and persuasion, while leveraging social capital.

Research limitations/implications

The research is rich in the depth of individual-level phenomena, thereby highlighting the skills necessary to enact change within a variety of industries. However, given the limited sample size, macro-level issues cannot be addressed.

Practical implications

Political skill is a teachable skill that is enhanced through mentoring and coaching. Sustainability initiatives and their organizations can benefit from leveraging persons with strong reputations to facilitate change. When lacking, persons with content knowledge can be groomed to grow their reputation, network, persuasion and political skills.

Social implications

Sustainability is vital to the future of our earth and humanity. Business and society would benefit from the growth of this phenomenon.

Originality/value

The authors aim to help change agents achieve their objectives through consideration of not just the goals, but the process as well.
Opportunities for ethnographic methodologies in B2B service research
Authors: Keränen Joona , Prior Daniel D.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper highlights the suitability, application and fruitful opportunities for ethnographic methodologies in contemporary B2B service research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a literature review and conceptual analysis of ethnographic research methodology and B2B service literatures.

Findings

This paper discusses the central features of ethnographic research methodologies, their key differences to other qualitative methodologies, key trends in contemporary B2B service research and opportunities for ethnographic research methodologies in selected priority areas.

Research limitations/implications

This paper highlights the opportunities, unique strengths and specific advantages of ethnographic research methodologies to advance B2B service research and theory development.

Practical implications

This paper encourages B2B firms to undertake ethnographic field projects to better understand customers’ roles, experiences and usage processes that relate to B2B services.

Originality/value

Ethnographic research approaches have been largely overlooked or neglected in B2B service research. This paper highlights their potential, suggests areas for application and encourages B2B service researchers to adopt ethnographic approaches to delve deeper into the social and cultural aspects of B2B services
Shared or different realities
Authors: Hasson Henna , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica , Tafvelin Susanne
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the consequences of self–other agreement (SOA) between leaders and subordinates on constructive and passive leadership behaviors for employee well-being, performance and perception of learning climate.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire ratings of 76 leaders and 211 subordinates in a forest industrial company on full-range leadership and subordinate ratings of well-being, work performance and learning climate have been used in this paper. The data were analyzed using polynomial regression with response surface analysis.

Findings

SOA on constructive leadership (transformational leadership and contingent reward) was related to subordinates’ perception of a positive learning climate. SOA on passive leadership (management-by-exception passive) reduced subordinates’ performance, while disagreement reduced their well-being.

Practical implications

It is important to give leaders feedback on their own and their subordinates’ ratings of not only constructive leadership behaviors but also passive behaviors.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates how SOA on leaders’ constructive and passive leadership behaviors impacts employees’ well-being, performance and work climate.