bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of managerial coaching on salesperson's relationship behaviors: new evidence from frontline bank employees in China
Authors: Pousa Claudio , Liu Yunling , Aman Asad
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to test the effect of relationship managerial behavior (i.e. managerial coaching) on frontline employee performance (i.e. sales performance) and the mediating effect of employee's relationship behaviors (i.e. customer orientation and adaptive selling) in a Chinese banking environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a survey from 242 frontline employees working at a large commercial bank in Dalian (China). Measures on managerial coaching, customer orientation, adaptive selling and sales performance were adapted from the literature. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in AMOS 26.

Findings

Results indicate that (1) managerial coaching positively affects employee customer orientation, (2) employee customer orientation positively affects employee adaptive selling behavior and (3) adaptive selling behavior positively affects sales performance. Bootstrap analysis confirmed the significance and stability of all the direct paths (suggesting that every mediator fully mediates the effect of its antecedent on the criterion) but none of the indirect paths found support (full mediation model).

Research limitations/implications

The study makes a contribution to the nomological network of managerial coaching by introducing a construct that has not been used previously (i.e. employee adaptive selling behavior) and testing its relevance in a commercial setting.

Practical implications

The results suggest that (1) managerial coaching is a central managerial behavior for companies that would like to implement a relationship marketing strategy because it helps promote specific employee relationship behaviors like customer orientation and adaptive selling, (2) there seems to be little cultural differences in the banking industry between the Chinese and the Western banks, suggesting that coaching and other management tools can be transferable from one culture to the other and (3) that coaching is an effective tool to help employees achieve higher sales performance.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on the use of managerial coaching in commercial areas to increase frontline employee relationships behaviors. The identification of adaptive selling as a mediator is an original contribution because it has received little attention in scientific research. Additionally, the use of a Chinese sample of bank employees responds to recent call for more research in cross-cultural settings.
How contextual is destructive leadership? A comparison of how destructive leadership is perceived in usual circumstances versus crisis
Authors: Fors Brandebo Maria
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the differences between destructive leadership in two different contexts: crisis management and usual circumstances. The specific research questions are as follows: What is the relationship between destructive leadership behaviours in usual circumstances and destructive leadership behaviours in crisis management? Are destructive leadership behaviours in usual circumstances or in crisis management the best predictors of trust in the leader and subordinate performance?

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire responses were obtained from 337 individuals who had experience from handling various societal crises, such as terror attacks and forest fires. The respondents represented four different organisations: municipalities, county administrative boards, the police and the emergency service.

Findings

The results from the study reveal that there is a strong association between destructive leadership in usual circumstances and destructive leadership during crisis management. The study indicates that everyday leadership matters the most. It is above all behaviours in usual circumstances that show the strongest associations with trust in the leader and subordinate performance. The results also show that it is especially task-related, passive forms of destructive leadership behaviours that show the strongest association with the studied outcome variables.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations related to measurements and self-reported data are discussed.

Practical implications

The study emphasises the importance of paying attention to leaders’ task- and strategic-oriented behaviour as well as the importance of building trusting relationships with the subordinates.

Originality/value

The need for industry-specific studies of destructive leadership has been highlighted and this study contributes with knowledge from the crisis management context.
Protection motivation theory and brick-and-mortar salespeople
Authors: Good Megan C. , Hyman Michael R.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply protection motivation theory (PMT) to brick-and-mortar salespeople's responses to customers' fear appeals.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to develop a conceptual model for the effect of customers' fear appeals on brick-and-mortar salespeople.

Findings

PMT relates to the influence of customers' fear appeals on brick-and-mortar salespeople's behaviours. The salesperson's decision whether to follow a retail manager's suggestion about ways to mitigate a customer's fear appeal depends on believed threat severity, believed threat susceptibility, response efficacy, self-efficacy and response costs.

Research limitations/implications

PMT is applied to a new domain: brick-and-mortar salespeople. Although a powerful yet universal emotion, only limited research has examined fear within this group.

Practical implications

Understanding salespeople's fears will help retail managers identify strategies for encouraging adaptive behaviours and deterring maladaptive behaviours by salespeople.

Originality/value

A model relating customers' fear appeals to salespeople's behaviours is introduced.
M-Tour: A new socio-technological design application for destination competitiveness in Egypt
Authors: Nyaboro Joseck , Park Kwangsoo , Park Jaehyun
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The study explores how the comparative tourism destination could incorporate the merits of the competitive tourism destination by implementing a socio-technical design application for smart tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this issue researchers have conducted a case study in Egypt, because Egypt is one of the most popular tourism comparative destination. It includes two field studies and qualitative interviews conducted in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt.

Findings

Egypt has diverse comparative advantages in terms of touristic features; however, the dysfunctional flow of information among the stakeholders was a hindrance to be a competitive destination. Based on this problem statement, the researchers synthesized “M-Tour” as a new socio-technical design application, moving toward the competitive destination from the comparative ones.

Originality/value

The present study makes two contributions. First, it theoretically conceptualizes an integrated model of how a tourism comparative destination can incorporate the competitive advantages by a socio-technical design application called M-Tour. Second, it empirically explores the tourists' latent requirements in Egypt by two field studies in order to develop a smart tourism design application as a new socio-technology.
Measuring labour tax avoidance and undeclared work: evidence from tax-avoidant offending firms
Authors: Ravenda Diego , Valencia-Silva Maika Melina , Argiles-Bosch Josep Maria , García-Blandón Josep
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper develops novel proxies for labour tax avoidance (LTAV) and tests their validity within a sample of 189 labour tax-avoidant offending firms (LTAOFs) accused of evading social security contributions (SOCs) by public authorities.

Design/methodology/approach

LTAV proxies are based on abnormal values of SOCs paid, reported in the income statements of a sample of 857,790 Spanish firm-years for the period 2001–2015, estimated through two-stage least square panel data regressions with firm fixed effects.

Findings

The results reveal that proxies specifically built to signal both conforming and non-conforming LTAV can provide evidence of abnormally low SOCs as expenses within the sample of LTAOFs. Furthermore, firm-specific financial variables as well as macroeconomic variables significantly influence LTAV.

Research limitations/implications

This study could foster further research on the efficacy of the LTAV proxies and on the drivers and sustainability implications of LTAV for firms and their stakeholders in different socio-economic and institutional contexts.

Practical implications

These LTAV proxies could integrate other methods applied to estimate the undeclared work and its trends. Furthermore, they may assist tax authorities to direct their inspections, detect labour tax evasion and then strengthen the social protection of the employees from employers' illegal exploitation practices, as well as reducing tax revenue shortfalls and related sustainability concerns in the social security systems.

Originality/value

This study proposes a novel methodology to examine LTAV and its determinants through accounting information. This methodology may support researchers to provide a more comprehensive picture of tax planning strategies pursued by companies, that include LTAV, and in this way integrate the extant mature literature on income tax avoidance.
Relationship dynamics in customer loyalty to online banking services
Authors: Garepasha Akram , Aali Samad , Bafandeh Zendeh Ali Reza , Iranzadeh Soleyman
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of service quality and relationship quality on customer loyalty in different stages of the relationship life cycle in online banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 651 Iranian online banking customers participated in the research by completing questionnaires. The research hypotheses were tested using structural modeling technique.

Findings

The results showed that the relationship quality on customer loyalty in online banking services is affected by the relationship life cycle. The results also showed that online service quality, in the form of Utilitarian quality and Hedonic quality, has a positive effect both directly and indirectly on customer loyalty through online relationship quality.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the relationship dynamics was achieved through adding the relationship life cycle variable to the model. However, the study was a cross-sectional research and different results might be obtained if data was collected longitudinally.

Practical implications

In an online banking service, the role of relationship quality in the prediction of customer loyalty is reduced as the relationship ages. Therefore, marketers need to consider other marketing actions to continue their relationship with the customer in the long run.

Originality/value

This paper examines customer loyalty to online banking services from dynamic perspective by introducing relationship life cycle as a moderating variable for the first time. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to develop the relationship marketing literature in the field of relationship dynamics and to challenge the effectiveness of relationship marketing in the long run.
Managing strategic paradoxes: the influence of demographic characteristics of decision-makers
Authors: Glińska-Neweś Aldona , Escher Iwona , Józefowicz Barbara , Łuka Alicja
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Together with increasing ambiguity and frequency of changes, management becomes full of seemingly conflicting choices, i.e. paradoxes, coming up in the process of decision-making. Successful management of paradoxes, i.e. treating them as “both/and” constructs leads to innovative solutions and better overall organizational performance. In response to a significant research gap regarding antecedents of managing paradoxes, the aim of the paper is to investigate how individual characteristics of strategic decision-makers, specifically their age, tenure and educational background, affect the ability to combine contradictions in their strategic choices.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted among 201 managers representing furniture companies in Poland. The CATI technique with an interview questionnaire was adopted in order to identify respondents' opinions on the main features, traits and dimensions of the strategy implemented in their companies. Participants' tenure, age and education were measured by single items.

Findings

The study suggests that the ability to manage paradoxes increases with age and tenure in a company and at a current position. At the same time economic/business educational background appears to be unsupportive in this regard.

Originality/value

While the issue of managing paradoxes energizes researchers in various disciplines, we still do not know much about antecedents of the process. The study shed light on effects that managers' demographics have on their ability of managing paradoxes. It contributes to the theory on strategic paradoxes as well as theory on the influence of decision-makers' individual characteristics on their decisions.
Unravelling SMEs’ participation and success in public procurement
Authors: Di Mauro Carmela , Ancarani Alessandro , Hartley Tara
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the Canadian public procurement, by seeking to identify barriers and supporting factors of MSMEs’ participation and success in public tenders.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis builds on a unique survey run by the Canadian federal government, which addressed firms either participating or not participating in public tenders. Model estimation on the survey data relies on sample selection methodologies, which allow separating determinants of MSMEs’ decision to participate from determinants of success.

Findings

Results provide evidence that costs stemming from asset specificity and uncertainty (e.g. costs of bidding, requirements for participation, bundling of contracts and award rules based on minimum price) affect participation in public procurement. Within MSMEs, micro-firms are the most discouraged from participating. However, after controlling for factors affecting participation, micro-firms emerge as having a higher success rate, possibly because of high specialization and joint participation with larger firms.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the cross-sectional nature of the data used for hypotheses testing, endogeneity may arise if ex post variables affect ex ante decisions. This may apply if participation in procurement feeds on success in past tenders.

Social implications

Findings may inform policies for the inclusion of smaller firms in the public marketplace.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempting to disentangle determinants of participation in public tenders from determinants of success. Separating the two aspects helps fine-tune SME-friendly public procurement policies, by identifying actions that effectively facilitate success of MSMEs in public tenders.
Brand reputation and customer voluntary sharing behavior: the intervening roles of self-expressive brand perceptions and status seeking
Authors: Choi Laee , Burnham Thomas
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Prior research studying the mechanisms by which brand reputation influences consumer behaviors has largely relied on respondent measures of brand reputation, resulting in an inability to ascertain the causal direction of relationships. Using third party measures, this paper aims to study the effects of brand reputation, via self-expressive brand perceptions, on both firm-directed and other customer-directed customer voluntary sharing behaviors (CVSB). It then assesses the moderating effect of consumer status-seeking on the relationships studied.

Design/methodology/approach

To prevent common method bias and substantiate causality claims, a third-party brand reputation measure is combined with a consumer survey. Process is used to test the hypotheses using 359 consumer responses collected via Amazon MTurk.

Findings

The results indicate that higher inner-self and social-self expressive perceptions derived from strong brand reputations increase consumer knowledge sharing and social influence behaviors. The effect of social-self expressive brand perceptions on CVSB is positively moderated by consumer status-seeking.

Practical implications

Firms should leverage existing brand reputation investments to strengthen customer perceptions of their brands as self-expressive and facilitate greater social and knowledge-sharing engagement by status-seeking consumers.

Originality/value

This study identifies a new mechanism linking brand reputation and CVSB: consumer perceptions of the self-expressiveness of brands. Moreover, it distinguishes the effects of two dimensions of brand self-expressiveness and substantiates the customer engagement behavior value of investing in brand reputation as measured by third parties.
Restaurants and social media: rethinking organizational capabilities and individual competencies
Authors: Dossena Claudia , Mochi Francesca , Bissola Rita , Imperatori Barbara
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The research and practice agree that social media are reshaping strategy and organization rules across industries. Nevertheless, how social media can become a source of competitive advantage remains under-investigated and there is no evidence about which capabilities and competencies can effectively and strategically exploit social media. By merging the literature on social media management and hospitality, the authors develop and test a theoretical framework that identifies the most relevant capabilities and competencies for using social media in the food service sector. The paper aims to map them and understand which ones are relevant according to different strategic choices of social media use.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews to managers or owners of 14 restaurants in a big city in Northern Italy.

Findings

The theoretical framework suggests that social media could be strategically used for different aims by relying on specific capabilities and competencies. The authors tested it and found that, though nowadays restaurant managers mainly focus on a narrow set of social media competencies linked to relational and marketing capabilities, some also rely on social media to promote organizational change and innovation.

Originality/value

The authors propose a theoretical framework and preliminary evidence on capabilities and competencies declined for the food service sector. The model considers different uses of social media and related capabilities and competencies by mapping them accordingly to their strategic use. The authors preliminarily validate our framework and highlight the competencies possessed by the restaurant managers of our sample and their alignment with the strategic use of social media.
Assessing supply chain risk for apparel production in low cost countries using newsfeed analysis
Authors: Handfield Robert , Sun Hang , Rothenberg Lori
Published: June 2020

Purpose

With the growth of unstructured data, opportunities to generate insights into supply chain risks in low cost countries (LCCs) are emerging. Sourcing risk has primarily focused on short-term mitigation. This paper aims to offer an approach that uses newsfeed data to assess regional supply base risk in LCC’s for the apparel sector, which managers can use to plan for future risk on a long-term planning horizon.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper demonstrates that the bulk of supplier risk assessments focus on short-term responses to disruptions in developed countries, revealing a gap in assessments of long-term risks for supply base expansion in LCCs. This paper develops an approach for predicting and planning for long-term supply base risk in LCC’s to address this shortfall. A machine-based learning algorithm is developed that uses the analysis of competing hypotheses heuristic to convert data from multiple news feeds into numerical risk scores and visual maps of supply chain risk. This paper demonstrates the approach by converting large amounts of unstructured data into two measures, risk impact and risk probability, leading to visualization of country-level supply base risks for a global apparel company.

Findings

This paper produced probability and impact scores for 23 distinct supply base risks across 10 countries in the apparel sector. The results suggest that the most significant long-term risks of supply disruption for apparel in LCC’s are human resource regulatory risks, workplace issues, inflation costs, safety violations and social welfare violations. The results suggest that apparel brands seeking suppliers in the regions of Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Brazil and Vietnam should be aware of the significant risks in these regions that may require mitigative action.

Originality/value

This approach establishes a novel approach for objectively projecting future global sourcing risk, and yields visually mapped outcomes that can be applied in forecasting and planning for future risks when considering sourcing locations in LCC’s.
Brand personality in cultural tourism through social media
Authors: Peco-Torres Francisco , Polo-Peña Ana I. , Frías-Jamilena Dolores M.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the effect of the use of social media on the perception of brand personality and to identify its effect on customer brand engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted an exploratory approach, adapting Aaker's brand personality scale (1997) to the context of cultural tourism before carrying out a quantitative study resorting to a structural equation modeling to obtain empirical evidence to identify these relationships.

Findings

The findings reveal that the use of social media has a positive effect on the perception of brand personality and that brand personality, likewise, has a positive effect on customer brand engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study indicates that transmission of an attractive brand personality according to the desires of the public, combined with dissemination through social media, is a valid strategy to improve customer brand engagement.

Originality/value

This study represents an advance in the specialized literature on the value that consumers place on information transmitted through social media. Specifically, it sheds light on how the transmission of brand personality through social media affects customer brand engagement.
Molecular characterization of rotaviruses obtained from patients with rotavirus‐associated encephalitis/encephalopathy
Authors: Ihira Masaru , Kawamura Yoshiki , Miura Hiroki , Hattori Fumihiko , Higashimoto Yuki , Sugata Ken , Ide Tomihiko , Komoto Satoshi , Taniguchi Koki , Yoshikawa Tetsushi
Published: June 2020

Group A rotavirus (RVA) rarely causes severe complications such as encephalitis/encephalopathy. However, the pathophysiology of this specific complication remains unclear. Next‐generation sequence analysis was used to compare the entire genome sequences of RVAs detected in patients with encephalitis/encephalopathy and gastroenteritis. This study enrolled eight patients with RVA encephalitis/encephalopathy and 10 with RVA gastroenteritis who were treated between February 2013 and July 2014. Viral RNAs were extracted from patients' stool, and whole‐genome sequencing analysis was carried out to identify the specific gene mutations in RVA obtained from patients with severe neurological complications. Among the eight encephalitis/encephalopathy cases, six strains were DS‐1‐like G1P[8] and the remaining two were Wa‐like G1P[8] (G1‐P[8]‐I1‐R1‐C1‐M1‐A1‐N1‐T1‐E1‐H1). Meanwhile, eight of the 10 viruses detected in rotavirus gastroenteritis patients were DS‐1‐like G1P[8], and the remaining two were Wa‐like G1P[8]. These strains were further characterized by conducting phylogenetic analysis. No specific clustering was demonstrated in RVAs detected from encephalitis/encephalopathy patients. Although the DS‐1‐like G1P[8] strain was predominant in both groups, no specific molecular characteristics were detected in RVAs from patients with severe central nervous system complications.
Mercury spatial distribution characteristics and its exposure of the endangered Jankowski's bunting
Authors: Feng Zhili , Xiao Tingting , Zhang Gang , Zhang Lishi , Cui Yufei , Jiang Yunlei
Published: June 2020

Mercury (Hg) exposure is a potential reason for the endangered status of birds such as Jankowski's bunting. We measured mercury levels in the feathers and blood of the endangered bird Jankowski's bunting, along with mercury contents in the bird's food sources, nesting plants, nonfood plants, soil and air. Total mercury in feathers ranged from 162 to 489 ng/g (mean: 255 ± 104 ng/g). We observed significant bioaccumulation in the food chain from plants and grasshoppers to birds. The biological magnification factors were similar between four habitats, but significant differences were observed between trophic levels (p < .05). At all sampling sites, concentrations of total mercury in grasshoppers, nesting plants and food plants correlated with total mercury in bird feathers (p < .05). A nearby copper‐molybdenum mine influenced Hg exposure and distance from the mine was negatively correlated with mercury levels. Our study establishes the levels of mercury in Jankowski's bunting and in the birds' typical habitats.
Strategy emergence in service delivery networks: Network‐oriented human resource management practices at German airports
Authors: Sydow Jörg , Wirth Carsten , Helfen Markus
Published: June 2020

Organisational restructuring towards vertical disintegration and the accompanying rise of service delivery network (SDN) calls for closer attention, studying whether and how work and employment are strategically managed across organisational boundaries. In this paper, we adopt a “strategy‐as‐practice” approach to explain the emergence of an Human Resource Management (HRM) strategy which is geared towards managing work across organisational boundaries. Based on a comparison of two German major hub airports, we find that differences in network‐oriented HRM strategising in areas such as recruiting, remuneration and training result from micro‐political game playing. In this piecemeal process, management as well as external and internal stakeholders such as workers' representatives, and local and federal politicians participate by using their inter‐organisational relationships and institutionalised power resources to shape a network‐oriented HRM practice. With these findings, we contribute not only to HRM research from a strategy‐as‐practice perspective that is sensitive to institutions, but also to research on inter‐organisational collaboration that has neglected issues of HRM so far, by and large.
PD‐1/PD‐L1 negative schwannoma mimicking obstructive bronchial malignancy: A case report
Authors: Zhou Daibing , Xing Xiaoyan , Fan Jie , Zhang Youzhi , Liu Jie , Gong Yi
Published: June 2020

Schwannomas are homogeneous tumors of schwann cells and occur at peripheral and cranial nerves on the upper limbs, the head and neck area. Rarely, a bronchial schwannoma may appear in the lung and be misdiagnosed as lung neoplasms. Here, we report a 56‐year old woman with a 5.8 × 7.0 × 2.8 cm lesion in her right upper lobe bronchus. The lesion had a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 8.5 by 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET). Bronchoscopy showed a mass obstructing the bronchus that bled easily. Despite repeated biopsies, a lung malignancy could not be excluded, and surgical resection was subsequently performed. Pathological examination demonstrated a primary bronchial schwannoma that was positive for molecular markers S‐100 and SOX‐10, negative for immune checkpoint marker PD‐1/PD‐L1 but also demonstrated certain uncommon pathological features. This case highlights the heterogeneity of bronchial masses and the diagnostic challenge for differentiating benign and malignant tumors in the thorax.

Key points

Rare bronchial schwannoma mimics lung malignancy and poses a diagnostic challenge.

This case of bronchial schwannoma, unlike peripheral schwannoma, lacks PD‐L1. Pathological features indicate autonomic nerve origin for pulmonary schwannomas.
Alcohol use disorder and the gut
Authors: Haber Paul S. , Kortt Nicholas C.
Published: June 2020

Acute and chronic gastrointestinal problems are common in the setting of excessive alcohol use, and excessive alcohol use is associated with injury to all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There is mounting evidence of gastrointestinal injury and increased cancer risk even from moderate alcohol consumption. The major causes of alcohol‐related morbidity and mortality within the gastrointestinal system are liver disease, pancreatitis and gastrointestinal cancer. Other alcohol‐related intestinal dysfunction is common but not life‐threatening, leading to diarrhoea, malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies. This review describes non‐neoplastic and neoplastic alcohol‐related disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, omitting the liver, which has been reviewed elsewhere.
Genome‐wide association study of milk production traits in a crossbred dairy sheep population using three statistical models
Authors: Li H. , Wu X.‐L. , Tait R.G. , Bauck S. , Thomas D.L. , Murphy T.W. , Rosa G.J.M.
Published: June 2020

Milk production is one of the most important characteristics of dairy sheep, and the identification of genes affecting milk production traits is critical to understanding the genetics and improve milk production in future generations. Three statistical techniques, namely GWAS, ridge‐regression BLUP and BayesC

, were used to identify SNPs in significant association with three milk production traits (milk yield, fat yield and protein yield) in a crossbred dairy sheep population. The results suggested that chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 11 were likely to harbor genes important to milk production because these chromosomes had the greatest top‐100‐SNP variance contributions on the three milk production traits. The GWAS analysis identified between 74 and 288 genome‐wide significant SNP (P < 0.05) whereas the BayesCπ model revealed between six and 63 SNPs, each with >95% posterior probability of inclusion as having a non‐zero association effect on at least one of the three milk production traits. Positional candidate genes for milk production in sheep were searched, based on the sheep genomic assembly OAR version 3.1, such as those which map position coincided with or was located within 0.1 Mbp of a genome‐wide suggestive or significant SNP. These identified SNPs and candidate genes supported some previous findings and also added new information about genetic markers for genetic improvement of lactation in dairy sheep, but keeping in mind that the majority of these positional candidate genes are not necessarily true causative loci for these traits and future validations are thus necessary.
Haplotype‐based genome‐wide association studies reveal new loci for haematological and clinical–biochemical parameters in Large White pigs
Authors: Bovo S. , Ballan M. , Schiavo G. , Gallo M. , Dall’Olio S. , Fontanesi L.
Published: June 2020

We report haplotype‐based GWASs for 33 blood parameters measured in 843 Italian Large White pigs. In the single‐trait analysis, a total of 30 QTL for number of basophils, six erythrocyte traits (haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume and red blood cell count) and two clinical–biochemical traits (alkaline phosphatase and Ca2+ contents) were identified. In the multiple‐trait analysis, a total of five QTL affected three different clusters of traits. Only four of these QTL were already reported in the single‐marker and multi‐marker GWASs we previously carried out on the same pig population. QTL on SSC11 and SSC17 showed effects on multiple traits. These results further dissected the genetic architecture of parameters that could be used as proxies in breeding programmes for more complex traits. In addition, these results might help to better define the pig as an animal model for several blood‐related biological functions.
Use of multispectral satellite datasets to improve ecological understanding of the distribution of Invasive Alien Plants in a water‐limited catchment, South Africa
Authors: Mtengwana Bhongolethu , Dube Timothy , Mkunyana Yonela P. , Mazvimavi Dominic
Published: June 2020

Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) pose major threats to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services. The availability of moderate resolution satellite data (e.g. Sentinel‐2 Multispectral Instrument and Landsat‐8 Operational Land Imager) offers an opportunity to map and monitor the occurrence and spatial distribution of IAPs. The use of two multispectral remote sensing data sets to map and monitor IAPs in the Heuningnes Catchment, South Africa, was therefore investigated using the maximum likelihood classification algorithm. It was possible to identify areas infested with IAPs using remote sensing data. Specifically, IAPs were mapped with a higher overall accuracy of 71%, using Sentinel‐2 MSI as compared to using Landsat 8 OLI, which produced 63% accuracy. However, both sensors showed similar patterns in the spatial distribution of IAPs within the hillslopes and riparian zones of the catchment. This work demonstrates the utility of the two multispectral data sets in mapping and monitoring the occurrence and distribution of IAPs, which contributes to improved ecological modelling and thus to improved management of invasions and biodiversity in the catchment.
Diagnosis and management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions in Coronavirus disease 19: An EAACI Position Paper
Authors: Gelincik Aslı , Brockow Knut , Çelik Gülfem E. , Doña Inmaculada , Mayorga Cristobalina , Romano Antonino , Soyer Özge , Atanaskovic‐Markovic Marina , Barbaud Annick , Torres Maria Jose
Published: June 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), a respiratory tract infection caused by a novel human coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, leads to a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild and severe symptoms, with or without pneumonia. Given the huge influence caused by the overwhelming COVID‐19 pandemic affecting over three million people worldwide, a wide spectrum of drugs is considered for the treatment in the concept of repurposing and off‐label use. There is no knowledge about the diagnosis and clinical management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions that can potentially occur during the disease. This review brings together all the published information about the diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions due to current and candidate off‐label drugs and highlights relevant recommendations. Furthermore, it gathers all the dermatologic manifestations reported during the disease for guiding the clinicians to establish a better differential diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions in the course of the disease.
Antidepressant effects of 3‐(3,4‐methylenedioxy‐5‐trifluoromethyl phenyl)‐2E‐propenoic acid isobutyl amide involve TSPO‐mediated mitophagy signalling pathway
Authors: Wei Qiang , Zhou Wangyi , Zheng Ji , Li Dongmei , Wang Mingyang , Feng Lu , Huang Wei , Yang Nan , Han Min , Ma Xiaohui , Liu Yanyong
Published: June 2020

Piper laetispicum C. DC is one of the Chinese herbal medicines used for alleviating depressive disorders. G11‐5 [3‐(3, 4‐methylenedioxy‐5‐trifluoromethyl phenyl)‐2E‐propenoic acid isobutyl amide] is synthesized based on the chemical structure of an active integrant of Piper laetispicum C. DC. The present study assessed the antidepressant effect of G11‐5 and investigated the underlying mechanism with learned helplessness (LH) and social defeat stress (SDS) mice model of depression. In the LH model, mice were exposed to 60 inescapable electric shocks once a day for three consecutive days followed by 2‐week drug administration and helpless behaviour assessment. In the SDS model, mice were subjected to repeated social defeat by an aggressive CD‐1 mouse once a day for consecutive 10 days. Following oral administration for 2 weeks, the mice were subjected to a series of behavioural tests including social interaction test. G11‐5 significantly decreased the number of escape failures induced by LH paradigm, meanwhile increased the social interaction ratio and shortened the immobility time in forced swimming test for the SDS‐exposed mice, suggesting remarkable antidepressant effect. Moreover, G11‐5 ameliorated the changes in mitophagy‐related proteins induced by two stress exposures and restored retrograde axonal transport and neurotransmitter release. Our findings suggested that G11‐5 exhibited an obvious antidepressant through TSPO‐mediated mitophagy pathway.
Acute myeloid leukemia with NPM1 mutation and favorable European LeukemiaNet category: outcome after preemptive intervention based on measurable residual disease
Authors: Bataller Alex , Oñate Guadalupe , Diaz‐Beyá Marina , Guijarro Francesca , Garrido Ana , Vives Susana , Tormo Mar , Arnan Montserrat , Salamero Olga , Sampol Antònia , Coll Rosa , Vall‐Llovera Ferran , Oliver‐Caldés Aina , López‐Guerra Mònica , Pratcorona Marta , Zamora Lurdes , Villamon Eva , Roué Gaël , Blanco Adoración , Nomdedeu Josep F. , Colomer Dolors , Brunet Salut , Sierra Jorge , Esteve Jordi ,   Grupo Cooperativo Para el Estudio y Tratamiento de las Leucemias Agudas y Mielodisplasias (CETLAM)
Published: June 2020

In the European LeukemiaNet favourable risk category, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is not indicated in first complete remission for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with NPM1 mutations (ELNfav NPM1 AML), although a proportion of these patients will relapse. Given the prognostic importance of measurable residual disease (MRD), CETLAM‐12 considered a pre‐emptive intervention in patients with molecular failure (MF). We analyzed 110 ELNfav NPM1 AML patients achieving complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. Two‐year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), overall survival (OS) and leukaemia‐free survival (LFS) were 17%, 81·5% and 82%, respectively. Forty‐six patients required additional therapy for MF (n = 33) or haematological relapse (HemR; n = 13), resulting in a molecular LFS (molLFS) and a cumulative incidence of MF at two years of 61% and 38% respectively. Two‐year OS for these 46 patients was 66%, with a different outcome between patients with MF (86%) and HemR (42%) (P = 0·002). Quantitative NPM1 detection at different timepoints was predictive of molLFS; an MRD ratio (NPM1mut/ABL1 × 100) cut‐off of 0·05 after first consolidation identified two cohorts with a two‐year molLFS of 77% and 40% for patients below and above 0·05, respectively. In conclusion, MRD‐based pre‐emptive intervention resulted in a favourable outcome for ELNfav NPM1 AML patients.
R&D Information sharing in a mixed duopoly and incentive subsidy for research joint venture competition
Authors: Lee Sang‐Ho , Muminov Timur K.
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the incentives for R&D (research and development) information sharing in a mixed duopoly and finds a contrasting result that public firm chooses full sharing while private firm enjoys free‐riding. We then devise an agreement‐based incentive R&D subsidy scheme for RJV (research joint venture) competition, which can internalize R&D spillovers between firms and induce them to earn higher payoffs through full sharing of their R&D information. We also discuss welfare loss of the proposed R&D subsidy scheme, compare with production subsidy and provide some policy‐relevant implications on privatization.
Buyer power, product assortment and asymmetric retail formats
Authors: Fauli‐Oller Ramon , Sandonís Joel
Published: June 2020

We consider two manufacturers producing two symmetric and independent goods. They sell them through two undifferentiated retailers (homogeneous retailers). Manufacturers propose linear contracts. Before supply contracts are set by producers, retailers decide whether to be a multi‐product retailer by carrying the two goods or a single product retailer and sell only one good. In this symmetric setting, we find asymmetric retail formats in equilibrium, which results in lower total welfare compared to a situation where both retailers would be multi‐product retailers.
High‐dose biotin restores redox balance, energy and lipid homeostasis, and axonal health in a model of adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Fourcade Stéphane , Goicoechea Leire , Parameswaran Janani , Schlüter Agatha , Launay Nathalie , Ruiz Montserrat , Seyer Alexandre , Colsch Benoit , Calingasan Noel Ylagan , Ferrer Isidre , Beal M. Flint , Sedel Frédéric , Pujol Aurora
Published: June 2020

Biotin is an essential cofactor for carboxylases that regulates the energy metabolism. Recently, high‐dose pharmaceutical‐grade biotin (MD1003) was shown to improve clinical parameters in a subset of patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. To gain insight into the mechanisms of action, we investigated the efficacy of high‐dose biotin in a genetic model of chronic axonopathy caused by oxidative damage and bioenergetic failure, the Abcd1− mouse model of adrenomyeloneuropathy. High‐dose biotin restored redox homeostasis driven by NRF‐2, mitochondria biogenesis and ATP levels, and reversed axonal demise and locomotor impairment. Moreover, we uncovered a concerted dysregulation of the transcriptional program for lipid synthesis and degradation in the spinal cord likely driven by aberrant SREBP‐1c/mTORC1signaling. This resulted in increased triglyceride levels and lipid droplets in motor neurons. High‐dose biotin normalized the hyperactivation of mTORC1, thus restoring lipid homeostasis. These results shed light into the mechanism of action of high‐dose biotin of relevance for neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.
Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid alleviates collagen‐induced arthritis: Role of PPARγ and CB1 receptors
Authors: Palomares Belén , Garrido‐Rodriguez Martín , Gonzalo‐Consuegra Claudia , Gómez‐Cañas María , Saen‐oon Suwipa , Soliva Robert , Collado Juan A. , Fernández‐Ruiz Javier , Morello Gaetano , Calzado Marco A. , Appendino Giovanni , Muñoz Eduardo
Published: June 2020

Background and Purpose

Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9‐THCA‐A), the precursor of Δ9‐THC, is a non‐psychotropic phytocannabinoid that shows PPARγ agonist activity. Here, we investigated the ability of Δ9‐THCA‐A to modulate the classic cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors and evaluated its anti‐arthritis activity in vitro and in vivo.

Experimental Approach

Cannabinoid receptors binding and intrinsic activity, as well as their downstream signalling, were analysed in vitro and in silico. The anti‐arthritis properties of Δ9‐THCA‐A were studied in human chondrocytes and in the murine model of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Plasma disease biomarkers were identified by LC‐MS/MS based on proteomic and elisa assays.

Key Results

Functional and docking analyses showed that Δ9‐THCA‐A can act as an orthosteric CB1 receptor agonist and also as a positive allosteric modulator in the presence of CP‐55,940. Also, Δ9‐THCA‐A seemed to be an inverse agonist for CB2 receptors. In vivo, Δ9‐THCA‐A reduced arthritis in CIA mice, preventing the infiltration of inflammatory cells, synovium hyperplasia, and cartilage damage. Furthermore, Δ9‐THCA‐A inhibited expression of inflammatory and catabolic genes on knee joints. The anti‐arthritic effect of Δ9‐THCA‐A was blocked by either SR141716 or T0070907. Analysis of plasma biomarkers, and determination of cytokines and anti‐collagen antibodies confirmed that Δ9‐THCA‐A mediated its activity mainly through PPARγ and CB1 receptor pathways.

Conclusion and Implications

Δ9‐THCA‐A modulates CB1 receptors through the orthosteric and allosteric binding sites. In addition, Δ9‐THCA‐A exerts anti‐arthritis activity through CB1 receptors and PPARγ pathways, highlighting its potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Quercus ilex pollen allergen, Que i 1, responsible for pollen food allergy syndrome caused by fruits in Spanish allergic patients
Authors: Pedrosa María , Guerrero‐Sanchez Víctor M. , Canales‐Bueno Natalia , Loli‐Ausejo David , Castillejo Maria Ángeles , Quirce Santiago , Jorrin‐Novo Jesús V. , Rodriguez‐Perez Rosa
Published: June 2020

Background

Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) related to PR10 from vegetables is common in northern Europe, whereas in Mediterranean countries PFAS has been preferentially associated with profilins. However, there are pollen‐allergic patients reactive to Bet v 1 in birch‐free regions. Since it cannot be the primary sensitizer, there has to be another culprit. Quercus ilex is a good candidate as it belongs to the order Fagales. This order includes trees with highly sensitizing pollen such as alder, hazel, hornbeam, oak and chestnut because of the presence of PR10 allergens. PR10 allergens have indeed been described in other Quercus species.

Objective

Our goals were to determine the rate of sensitization to Q. ilex in central Spain and the associated frequency of PFAS; secondly to identify and clone the Q. ilex allergen PR10.

Methods

We included 224 allergic patients with respiratory symptoms to estimate the rate of sensitization. A skin prick test (SPT) and ImmunoCAP were performed. A total of 38 Q. ilex‐sensitized patients were tested using Western blotting to determine the rate of Que i 1. Peptides from Que i 1 were analysed by MALDI‐TOF/TOF and Orbitrap LC‐MSMS. The Que i 1 sequence was first obtained from the Holm oak transcriptome then cloned and expressed in bacteria.

Results

59.8% of pollen‐allergic children were sensitized to Q. ilex. We described and cloned the Q. ilex PR10, Que i 1, which has a sensitization rate of 60.5% and was recognized by 65.4% patients reporting PFAS.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

Sensitization to Q. ilex pollen has increased significantly since 1995. This sensitization could be important, as the presence of PFAS in this population is higher than in patients not sensitized to Q. ilex. The first Q. ilex allergen has been described and is related to PFAS in Spanish patients sensitized to PR10 but not exposed to birch pollen.