bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macau gambling industry's quick V-shape rebound from 2014 to 2019
Authors: Liu Matthew Tingchi , Dong Shiying , Chang Sara Kit Peng , Tan Francis
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to summarize the factors that result in V-shape rebound of Macau gambling industry's from 2014 to 2019. Both internal and external factors are examined and discussed by representatives from academia, industry and government.

Design/methodology/approach

Practitioners from the gambling industry offered their cutting-edged analysis and viewpoints with observation and comments from scholars and government representatives in gambling domain.

Findings

Internally, actions are taken by both the Macau government and Macau casino operators to rebrand Macau with nongambling elements and to adjust the strategies to attract more tourists from a wider range. Externally, global economic upturn and support from the China government also enhance Macau's quick rebound. A total of nine key factors are finally recognized.

Originality/value

This study provides answers and sense-making explanations to why Macau gambling industry can recover in such a short time after a big drop in Gross Gambling Revenue in 2014. This work reveals that Macau, by learning the lessons from the dramatic decline, conducts various self-rescue action plans which contribute to the quick V-shape rebound. This study is also a self-examination of Macau gambling industry from the firsthand perspectives of scholars, government representatives and casino management.
The mediating role of employee commitment in the relationship between quality of work life and the intention to stay
Authors: Agus Arawati , Selvaraj Rajni
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between quality of work life (QWL), employee commitment and the intention to stay of nurses in private hospitals in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. Primary data were collected through self-administered questionnaires with nurses as the respondents from four private hospitals in the states of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Out of 300 questionnaires distributed, 202 valid responses were received. Statistical analyses employed were descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The strongest QWL construct that contributed significantly to the intention to stay among respondents is work context, followed by work world, work design and work life/home life. The findings further indicate that employee commitment partially mediates the relationship between QWL and the intention to stay. In conclusion, if employees are contented with their QWL, the stronger will the employee commitment be in the organization and ultimately their intention to stay.

Originality/value

This study provides robust evidence for private hospital administrators to enhance their employees' QWL, especially if they are opting to ensure that the turnover of the staff is contained.
Revisiting the mediating effect of normative commitment in B2B bank relationships in Nigeria
Authors: Ojeme Mark , Robson Julie
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study examines the mediating effect of normative commitment, that is, a customer's feeling of moral obligation to stay in a relationship based on the psychological feeling that it is the right thing to do. Previous studies have neglected normative commitment due to its complexity and poor fit with predominantly Western individualistic cultures.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted in the collectivist culture of Nigeria, West Africa. The unit of analysis was the business-to-business (B2B) relationship between small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their bank.

Findings

This study arrived at two key findings. First, normative commitment is insignificant in acting as the mediator of a relationship in both overall satisfaction and social bonding on advocacy. Second, overall satisfaction and social bonding are positively significant in predicting normative commitment and advocacy.

Research limitations/implications

This study focussed solely on an SME's perception of their relationship with their bank and does not consider the dyadic nature of such relationships, that is, the bank's perception of this relationship.

Practical implications

This research demonstrates that the SME/bank relationship can be developed based on satisfaction and social bonding as background variables. Caution should be exercised for relationships developed on the basis of a moral obligatory commitment.

Originality/value

Regardless of a collectivist cultural setting, normative commitment was found to be ineffective in enhancing relationships in a business-oriented setting in Nigeria, contrary to emerging propositions within the literature.
Mobile banking service quality: a new avenue for customer value co-creation
Authors: Mostafa Rania B.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper attempts to investigate the potential effect of mobile banking (m-banking) service quality dimensions (ease of use, usefulness, security/privacy and enjoyment) on customers’ value co-creation intention (CVCCI) in the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was administered with a sample of 301 respondents from Egypt. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed to explore the role of m-banking service quality, attitude toward using m-banking (ATT-m-banking) and bank trust in shaping CVCCI.

Findings

The empirical evidence confirms the potential role of m-banking service quality dimensions, the ATT-m-banking, and customer trust in developing CVCCI. In addition, the mediation effect of ATT-m-banking in the m-banking service quality dimensions and CVCCI link was demonstrated. Interestingly, trust was not found to have a moderating effect between the ATT-m-banking and CVCCI.

Practical implications

Outcomes of the study will benefit bank managers to allocate resources when developing an m-banking platform, which helps in effectively promoting value co-creation in the banking sector.

Originality/value

This paper is a pioneering study to move the m-banking literature forward beyond the extensively studied m-banking adoption by exploring a longer-term outcome of customer engagement with m-banking, which is CVCCI.
Generalizing motivation measurement indexes: the case of Midi Music Festival volunteers
Authors: Vinnicombe Thea , Wu Yu Chen
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To date, researchers examining the motivations of volunteers at festivals and events have used a range of measurement indexes, most of which appear to have common antecedents in the psychology literature. It is not clear if different events actually require different scales, or if individual scales are more generalizable than is currently recognized so that the proliferation of scales is largely an academic exercise. The current study takes a preliminary step in exploring this issue by using an existing scale developed to measure the motivations of volunteers at western sporting events to examine the motivations of volunteers at a music festival in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The Volunteer Motivation Scale for International Sporting Events (VMS-ISE) is administered to volunteers at the Midi Music Festival in China. The 467 respondents are divided into two subgroups. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is applied to the first subsample to explore the factor structure of the index. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is then applied to the second subsample to test the factor structure of the resolved scale.

Findings

The results of the EFA are promising, yielding a resolved factor structure, which is very close to the hypothesized index. The resolved scale is reasonably well supported by the subsequent CFA.

Originality/value

The findings suggest it may be possible for researchers to use a smaller number of scales on a larger range of festivals leading to a better understanding of similarities and differences in motivations across event volunteers. The results should also be helpful to festival organizers in their continuing efforts to recruit volunteers.
Inter-organizational collaboration challenges and preconditions in industrial engineering projects
Authors: Saukko Laura , Aaltonen Kirsi , Haapasalo Harri
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to achieve an understanding of the challenges and preconditions for inter-organizational collaborative project practices in industrial engineering projects. A framework for identifying the challenges and preconditions for inter-organizational collaboration is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The adopted research method is qualitative, and empirical data were collected from the industrial engineering project sector in Finland. The literature related to industrial engineering projects and inter-organizational collaborative project management practices is summarized, informing the qualitative design of the study.

Findings

By analyzing empirical data from industrial engineering projects, the challenges for inter-organizational collaboration are identified in each industrial engineering project stage. A framework of preconditions for inter-organizational collaboration is identified, in which investors are advised to pay attention when deciding on the use of collaborative project management methods.

Practical implications

The findings of this study help practitioners deal effectively with mechanisms aimed at fostering and hindering inter-organizational collaborative practices. The identified preconditions for inter-organizational collaboration provide support for decision-making in every phase of an engineering project and can be used as guidelines throughout the process.

Originality/value

Inter-organizational collaborative project management practices have recently been attracting attention in the industrial engineering project setting. This research is an attempt to identify the underlying forces supporting and preventing inter-organizational collaboration in industrial engineering projects. This study offers a framework that can help academics and project management practitioners deal with the challenges affecting inter-organizational collaboration at each project stage and consider preconditions for inter-organizational collaboration in industrial engineering project settings.
Business case effectiveness: the critical role of the organization
Authors: Einhorn Frank , Meredith Jack , Marnewick Carl
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Literature indicates that the business case for projects is difficult to use and suggests that there are organizational factors that can facilitate effective use of the business case. This paper aims to identify such facilitators, measure their presence and importance, and relate them to the actual practice of business case processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross sectional quantitative method was used, with data on facilitators and business case process usage gathered through an online questionnaire.

Findings

The findings for the 43 organizational facilitators are that each one is considered more important than its presence in the respondents' organizations. High correlations emerge between the presence of the facilitators and the use of business case processes, indicating the pivotal role of the facilitators.

Research limitations/implications

The research was conducted for business IT projects implemented by organizations based in South Africa. It furthers our understanding of project business cases and suggests additional research avenues in this area.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that organizations could improve key facilitators at an affordable cost. Such improvement would enable more effective use of the business case throughout the project's lifetime – from initial concept until planned benefits have been substantially realized. Better use of the business case would also support governance and increase the success rate of business IT projects.

Originality/value

Organizational facilitators of business case processes are identified and categorized for the first time, leading to measurements of their perceived importance and presence in organizations. Hence, the relationship between these facilitators and actual business case usage is determined, suggesting areas of optimum impact.
An unstructured big data approach for country logistics performance assessment in global supply chains
Authors: Kinra Aseem , Hald Kim Sundtoft , Mukkamala Raghava Rao , Vatrapu Ravi
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential for the development of a country logistics performance assessment approach based upon textual big data analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs design science principles. Data were collected using the Global Perspectives text corpus that describes the logistics systems of 20 countries from 2006–2014. The extracted texts were processed and analysed using text analytic techniques, and domain experts were employed for training and developing the approach.

Findings

The developed approach is able to generate results in the form of logistics performance assessments. It contributes towards the development of more informed weights of the different country logistics performance categories. That said, a larger text corpus and iterative classifier training is required to produce a more robust approach for benchmarking and ranking.

Practical implications

When successfully developed and implemented, the developed approach can be used by managers and government bodies, such as the World Bank and its stakeholders, to complement the Logistics Performance Index (LPI).

Originality/value

A new and unconventional approach for logistics system performance assessment is explored. A new potential for textual big data analytic applications in supply chain management is demonstrated. A contribution to performance management in operations and supply chain management is made by demonstrating how domain-specific text corpora can be transformed into an important source of performance information.
Dealing with “abnormal” business growth by leveraging local area common goods: an outside-in stakeholder collaboration perspective
Authors: Bianchi Carmine , Vignieri Vincenzo
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how for a business located in a local area that does not portray the characteristics of the “Silicon Valley” stereotype, developing a strategy that pretends to autonomously set its boundary spanning may lead to unsustainable growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This work suggests Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) as a method to implement an outcome-based view of sustainable development of small- and micro-sized organizations in their own context. A case study shows how collaboration between the public and the business sector may improve local area's outcomes and develop common goods in the context.

Findings

Among the “abnormally-grown” small-and-micro businesses, this paper identifies “dwarf” and “small giant” firms as examples of context-based organizations, where an outside-in perspective may support sustainable development. To enable such firms to build up a capability to survive and grow in their contexts, local area common goods can be leveraged to pursue collaborative strategies and generate value. To this end, education may play a crucial role. Results from a fieldwork focused on the design and use of an educational package are illustrated.

Practical implications

A change in decision-makers mental models is a prerequisite to introduce the use of “lean” DPM systems as a method to implement an “outside-in” perspective to pursue sustainable development in such organizations.

Originality/value

This work has a multidisciplinary track; it uses a simulation-based methodology to understand performance dynamics, to assess policy's sustainability, and to foster a learning-oriented perspective to planning.
E-profiling R&D involvement/earnings of researchers: a G2E tool for performance management at CSIR–NML
Authors: Kumari Beena , Madhukar Anuradha , Chattoraj Indranil
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR–NML) has launched a number of initiatives in different perspectives of e-Government. The “Mandays-Involvement” website was implemented by the laboratory in Government-to-Employee (G2E) perspective i.e. facilitating its research and development (R&D) manpower by providing data with respect to their own performance parameters through a single window. The development and implementation of the website had two major objectives : (1) to provide a system to the researchers for tracking and improving their own performance with respect to mandays and external cash flow generation and (2) to equip the management with a tool to enhance the organizational performance and enable optimum employee utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

Software Development Life Cycle approach was followed for the web-based system development and iterative model was used. Open source web development tools i.e. Php, My-Sql and CSS were used for the system development.

Findings

The new system helped in detailed profiling of current and future assignment of the researchers so as to have a check over preference-based allocation of work and providing equal opportunities of work to all.

Research limitations/implications

The percentage average mandays utilization was stabilized after the implementation of the website. The percentage under and over engagements of researchers in R&D projects was controlled and reduced.

Practical implications

The system outputs are utilized for R&D Team formation, Project approvals and Annual Performance Evaluations.

Originality/value

This new information system acts as a decision support system that helps the management to align its organizational policies toward the Future Research Projects and R&D manpower.
Understanding uncertainty dimensions and Internet stock trading service in China from a social cognitive perspective
Authors: Khan Safeer Ullah , Liu Xiang-dong , Liu Cheng , Khan Ikram Ullah , Hameed Zahid
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the effects of different uncertainties on Internet stock trading (IST) adoption intentions of individual investors in China and aims to determine the interaction effects of trust and perceived benefits in the relationship between uncertainty dimensions and IST adoption intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured questionnaire, a survey of 353 experienced stock traders was conducted in China. The proposed uncertainty-trust-perceived benefits framework was examined through structural equation modelling using Smart PLS 3.0.

Findings

The study found significant negative effects of perceived technology uncertainty, perceived regulatory uncertainty and perceived information asymmetry on the IST adoption intentions of individual investors. Perceived service intangibility was found to have only insignificant effects on IST adoption intentions. In terms of interaction results, trust significantly moderates the relationship between IST adoption intentions and, respectively, perceived technology uncertainty and perceived information asymmetry. Similarly, perceived benefits significantly moderate the relationship between intentions to adopt IST and both perceived technology uncertainty and perceived regulatory uncertainty.

Practical implications

The regulators for IST development in China could utilise the results of this study as guidelines for strategies to increase the use of IST among existing and potential investors.

Originality/value

Using social cognitive theory, this research investigates the effects of various uncertainties on IST adoption intentions of individual investors in China; these effects have not been explored by previous literature. Furthermore, few studies other than this one have investigated the interaction effects of factors which counteract the negative effect of other factors.
Unlocking the smart home: exploring key factors affecting the smart lock adoption intention
Authors: Mamonov Stanislav , Benbunan-Fich Raquel
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study examines the factorial structure of salient user beliefs associated with smart locks. We also examine the predictive value of the identified constructs on the smart lock adoption intention and we evaluate gender differences in the predictive value of the identified constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study assumes pragmatic epistemological stance and it leverages mixed-methods research design. The research progresses through three stages: belief elicitation, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis within a nomological network. New groups of participants were recruited for each stage of the study.

Findings

We find that while potential adopters express a broad range of perceived benefits and concerns associated with smart locks, only the perceived relative advantage of smart locks vis-à-vis conventional locks in providing safety and security is significantly correlated with adoption intention for both genders. We also find that perceived novel benefits are a significant predictor of the smart lock adoption intention for women, but not for men.

Research limitations/implications

Our results indicate that perceived relative advantage can be the singular critical consideration in the adoption of smart home technologies that replace incumbent solutions. The results also demonstrate that gender-specific models can better capture gender effects that influence technology adoption and use.

Practical implications

Smart home technology vendors would need to convince prospective users that new technology is better than the incumbent solutions on the core affordances of the incumbent technology. Men and women differ in the consideration of novel benefits afforded by novel technologies.

Originality/value

This is among the first studies to examine salient beliefs that affect smart home technology adoption. The findings suggest that the traditional models (TAM, UTAUT) do not capture the key salient beliefs that can influence innovative smart home technology adoption. The study also suggests that gendered models are needed to understand technology adoption in contexts where technology adoption intersects with gender roles.
BSC and long-term deployment: an actors' perspective
Authors: Bescos Pierre-Laurent , Deville Aude , Foulquier Philippe
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper examines the roles of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in a long-term perspective and with a large deployment along numerous hierarchical levels. For this purpose, we use a longitudinal analysis of an implementation in a mutual insurance company.

Design/methodology/approach

We combine actor–network theory (ANT) with interventionist research (IVR) to analyze the interrelation between human and non-human actors. Our study is based on various materials like interviews, meeting reports, graphs and so on.

Findings

The BSC is considered as a non-human actor which influences the human actors and provides specific benefits from a long-term use, due to various roles played by this tool (a mediator role, completed by a role of translator and revealer).

Research limitations/implications

Research based on larger cross-sectional studies are necessary to more deeply validate our results based on a single case study.

Practical implications

This paper gives some insights on processes and on actors an organization can mobilize to maintain the benefits provided by a large BSC use in the long run.

Originality/value

In line with the ANT concepts, our main contribution is to explain the outcomes of an innovation in management accounting by the consequences of adaptation mechanisms grounded on actors, translations, alliances and trials of strength.
The value of values in business purchase decisions
Authors: Anwer Ehtisham , Deshpande Sameer , Derry Robbin , Basil Debra Z.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a theoretical framework to examine business purchase decisions using the concept of “values” (personal values (PV), organizational values (OV) and values-congruency).

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the study were collected from members of the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada. The relationships between perceived PV/OV/ values-congruency (IVs) and perceived role values played in business purchase decisions (DV) were hypothesized. Three factors, namely, humanity, bottomline and convention were identified using exploratory factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested using polynomial regression, which is a preferred method for measuring congruency or fit (Edwards, 1994).

Findings

Perceived humanity (humaneness or benevolence) values of an organization were found to have a positive relationship with the perceived role that humanity and convention (risk aversion or compliance) values played in business purchase decisions. Perceived purchase function formalization within buying organizations was also found to have a positive relationship with the perceived role of humanity, bottomline and convention values played in business purchase decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The study drew a relatively small convenience sample from a single industry association/country with a low response rate. It used the perceived role of values instead of behavioral intention or actual behavior to measure business purchasing behavior. McDonald and Gandz’s (1991; 1993) list of values may be more suitable to measure OV than PV. The study only considered the buyer side of purchase decisions and values to have positive characteristics.

Practical implications

Buying organizations may consider formalizing their purchase functions, clarifying their humaneness/benevolence and risk aversion/compliance values to their employees and vendors and incorporating them in the purchasing criteria/process. Similarly, selling organizations may benefit from considering these values of customers to position their products and services for better sales outcomes and business relationships.

Originality/value

The study explores the role of values in business purchase contexts by proposing and testing a theoretical framework. The study has implications for practitioners and academics in the field and identifies several areas for future research.
Promoting Islamic financial ecosystem to improve halal industry performance in Indonesia: a demand and supply analysis
Authors: Utomo Setiawan Budi , Sekaryuni Ratih , Widarjono Agus , Tohirin Achmad , Sudarsono Heri
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and explore the role of Islamic financing in supporting development of halal industry in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is divided into two studies. The first study uses survey-based quantitative method and the second study uses focus group discussion (FGD) method. Using a purposive and proportional sampling technique in the first study, this research collected 1,985 samples of Islamic financial products of business owners (demand-side) from all parts of Indonesia. The data were analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling approach. The authors also conducted FGDs, involving 35 participants from government, financial, social and education institutions (supply-side) as well as business owners (demand-side) in three separated times.

Findings

In the first study, it can be identified that literacy on Islamic finance, attitude and awareness strongly affect business owners’ intention to use Islamic financial products. It is also found that subjective norm significantly influences literacy, attitude and awareness. Interestingly, religiosity does not significantly affect attitude toward Islamic financial products. According to the FGD in the second study, this research generates several factors motivating business owners’ preference to choose conventional rather than Islamic financial products, including expensive pricing, less developed technology, bad service quality and the halal status of the products. The reason for insignificant results of religiosity on attitude in the first study is explained in the second study. Most users are utilitarians who mainly perceived the products based on the sought benefits provided by the products.

Practical implications

This research offers the government a road map showing the strategy to build Islamic financial ecosystem in Indonesia. The road map integrates supply-side, which includes government, financial industries, social and education institutions and scientific organizations, and demand-side, which includes business owners or entrepreneur associations.

Originality/value

This research provides a wide range of samples derived from business owners’ respondents of halal industry in all representative islands in Indonesia. Therefore, it gives more holistic and representative findings. In addition, the analysis in this research covers not only the demand-side but also the supply-side perspective. Lastly, this research provides an Islamic financial ecosystem model that integrates all stakeholders to improve halal industry performance as a whole.
Implicit followership theories from the perspective of followers
Authors: Yang Yongyong , Shi Wendian , Zhang Beina , Song Youming , Xu Dezhen
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the structure, implicit attitude and consequences of followers' implicit followership theories in the Chinese cultural context through three studies. Study 1 explores the structure of followers' implicit followership theories. Study 2 examines the implicit attitude of followers towards followers' implicit followership theories. Study 3 verifies the impact of followers' implicit followership theories on the quality of collegial relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for study 1 (n = 321) and study 3 (n = 243) were collected through an online self-report questionnaire, and the data for study 2 (n = 30) were collected through the go/no-go association task.

Findings

The structure of followers' implicit followership theories includes two dimensions: positive followership prototypes and negative followership prototypes. Followers' implicit attitudes were more likely to match positive followership prototypes than negative followership prototypes. Positive followership prototypes had a significantly positive impact on the quality of collegial relationships, whereas negative followership prototypes had a significantly negative impact on the quality of collegial relationships.

Research limitations/implications

The psychology and behaviour of employees can be better understood by exploring followers' implicit followership theories.

Practical implications

Employees hold a relatively positive implicit attitude towards followers. Therefore, managers should provide positive feedback to improve employees' positive self-cognition so that employees can better serve the organization and better promote its development.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the few studies to explore followers' implicit followership theories in the Chinese cultural context.
Multilayer ferrite inductors for the use at high temperatures
Authors: Bartsch Heike , Thiele Sebastian , Mueller Jens , Schabbel Dirk , Capraro Beate , Reimann Timmy , Grund Steffen , Töpfer Jörg
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the usability of the nickel copper zinc ferrite with the composition Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe1.98O3.99 for the realization of high-temperature multilayer coils as discrete components and integrated, buried function units in low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC).

Design/methodology/approach

LTCC tapes were cast and test components were produced as multilayer coils and as embedded coils in a dielectric tape. Different metallization pastes are compared. The properties of the components were measured at room temperature and higher temperature up to 250°C. The results are compared with simulation data.

Findings

The silver palladium paste revealed the highest inductance values within the study. The measured characteristics over a frequency range from 1 MHz to 100 MHz agree qualitatively with the measurements obtained from toroidal test samples. The inductance increases with increasing temperature and this influence is lower than 10%. The characteristic of embedded coils is comparable with this of multilayer components. The effective permeability of the ferrite material reaches values around 130.

Research limitations/implications

The research results based on a limited number of experiments; therefore, the results should be verified considering higher sample sizes.

Practical implications

The results encourage the further investigation of the material Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe1.98O3.99 for the use as high-temperature ferrite for the design of multilayer coils with an operation frequency in the range of 5-10 MHz and operation temperatures up to 250°C.

Originality/value

It is demonstrated for the first time, that the material Ni0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe1.98O3.99 is suitable for the realization of high-temperature multilayer coils and embedded coils in LTCC circuit carriers with high performance.
Positive language and virtuous leadership: walking the talk
Authors: Meyer Marcel , Hühn Matthias P.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the advantages and challenges of using virtuous language in business.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a theoretical exploration based on a literature review and philosophical analysis that uses a quantitative study from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as its starting point.

Findings

This study argues that neo-Aristotelian leadership and positive leadership explain why companies whose financial filings use value-laden language that stresses the higher purpose of the organisation to outperform companies whose reports use the language of profit maximisation. While neo-Aristotelian leadership is based on Aristotle’s Rhetoric, positive leadership is primarily influenced by research results from Positive Psychology and Positive Organizational Scholarship. The two approaches to leadership highlight something that conventional business research largely ignores, namely, the role of values as drivers of human behavior and the importance of character in leadership. Both research streams indicate that it is possible for organisations to do well and do good because they are seen as groups of value-driven individuals. Thus, using virtuous/positive communication is a possible means to do well financially and to (re-)humanize the business world of tomorrow.

Research limitations/implications

The BHI study investigates the outcomes of written language only; thus, it does not consider oral communication. Moreover, there is no “perfect level” of virtuous language in corporate environments. We should not expect the same precision in ethics as in mathematics.

Practical implications

By way of explaining how to best use virtuous language in a business context, this study helps business practitioners to do good and well.

Social implications

This study offers a pathway to (re-)humanize tomorrow’s world of business, which is once again subjugating humanity to imagined technological imperatives.

Originality/value

By deliberating the benefits and possible downsides of using virtuous language in a business environment, this paper advances a topic that has recently gained considerable attention but is still in need for more research.
The use of social media in the B2B sales process: a meta synthesis
Authors: Rodrigues Graziela Perretto , Takahashi Adriana Roseli Wünsch , Prado Paulo Henrique Muller Henrique
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how business-to-business organizations use social media during the sales process.

Design/methodology/approach

The meta-synthesis steps methodology (Hoon, 2013) was applied.

Findings

This study presents a theoretical framework and contributes to improved understanding of how business can use social media in the sales process stages. The results allow identifying stages, discussing the integration between marketing and sales and generating benefits for the organization.

Originality/value

The proposed framework helps in understanding the previously performed fragmented studies. This study shows that social media use not only influences the sales process stages and increases the benefits to the business but also works as a mediator in the relation between sales process stages and identified benefits.
Chromosome‐level reference genome assembly and gene editing of the dead‐leaf butterfly Kallima inachus
Authors: Yang Jie , Wan Wenting , Xie Meng , Mao Junlai , Dong Zhiwei , Lu Sihan , He Jinwu , Xie Feiang , Liu Guichun , Dai Xuelei , Chang Zhou , Zhao Ruoping , Zhang Ru , Wang Shuting , Zhang Yiming , Zhang Wei , Wang Wen , Li Xueyan
Published: May 2020

The leaf resemblance of Kallima (Nymphalidae) butterflies is an important ecological adaptive mechanism that increases their survival. However, the genetic mechanism underlying ecological adaptation remains unclear owing to a dearth of genomic information. Here, we determined the karyotype (n = 31) of the dead‐leaf butterfly Kallima inachus, and generated a high‐quality, chromosome‐level assembly (568.92 Mb; contig N50: 19.20 Mb). We also identified candidate Z and W chromosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on these aspects of this species. In the assembled genome, 15,309 protein‐coding genes and 49.86% repeat elements were annotated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that K. inachus diverged from Melitaea cinxia (no leaf resemblance), both of which are in Nymphalinae, around 40 million years ago. Demographic analysis indicated that the effective population size of K. inachus decreased during the last interglacial period in the Pleistocene. The wings of adults with the pigmentary gene ebony knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9 showed phenotypes in which the orange dorsal region and entire ventral surface darkened, suggesting its vital role in the ecological adaption of dead‐leaf butterflies. Our results provide important genome resources for investigating the genetic mechanism underlying protective resemblance in dead‐leaf butterflies and insights into the molecular basis of protective coloration.
CAPN1 promotes malignant behavior and erlotinib resistance mediated by phosphorylation of c‐Met and PIK3R2via degrading PTPN1 in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Yichuan , Tang Jingqun , Lu Ting , Liu Fang
Published: May 2020

Background

Calpain 1 (CAPN1) has been found to be a promoter of cancer progression. PTPN1 as a physiological target molecule of CAPN1 plays a dephosphorylated role on multiple receptor tyrosine kinases. This study aimed to reveal the effects of CAPN1/PTPN1 on malignant phenotype and EGFR‐TKI resistance of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells.

Methods

A total of 84 primary LUAD tissues and paired paracancerous normal tissues were collected. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods were used to measure the expression of CAPN1 and PTPN1 in tissues. qRT‐PCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of CAPN1, PTPN1, c‐Met and PIK3R2 in cell lines. Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), colony formation and transwell assay were carried out to evaluate cell erlotinib resistance, proliferation, migration and invasion. Co‐IP assay was used to verify the interaction between proteins. Cycloheximide (CHX) was applied to block protein synthesis.

Results

CAPN1, c‐Met and PIK3R2 were significantly upregulated and the correlation was positive in LUAD, while PTPN1 was decreased. EGFR‐sensitive mutation was related to CAPN1/PTPN1. in vitro studies showed that PTPN1 can mediate dephosphorylation of c‐Met and PIK3R2 by binding with both, thereby weakening cell proliferation, metastasis and erlotinib resistance, while CAPN1 could enhance the degradation of PTPN1 protein as a cancer promoter.

Conclusions

CAPN1 enhances the malignant behavior and erlotinib resistance of LUAD cells via degrading PTPN1 and then activating c‐Met/PIK3R2, which suggests CAPN1/PTPN1 may serve as tumor markers or potential targets for diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

Superior CAPN1 and inferior PTPN1 were related to activation of c‐Met/PIK3R2 in lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, regulations of CAPN1 and PTPN1 induced the changes of malignant behavior and erlotinib resistance.

What this study adds

Our findings confirmed that CAPN1/PTPN1 play crucial roles on proliferation, metastasis and erlotinib resistance of LUAD cells as c‐Met/PIK3R2 regulators, and validated the regulatory mechanism of CAPN1 on PTPN1 in tumor model for the first time.
PhyloMCL: Accurate clustering of hierarchical orthogroups guided by phylogenetic relationship and inference of polyploidy events
Authors: Zhou Shengyu , Chen Yamao , Guo Chunce , Qi Ji
Published: May 2020

Identification of homology relationships is essential for inferring gene functions, detecting phylogeny of gene families, discovering evolutionary history of life, and usually, is the first step of many genetic and genomic studies. However, the presence of gene duplicates, variation on evolutionary rates of homologs, fusion and fission of genes, can lead to misidentification of evolutionary relationships among homologs.

Here we provide a Markov clustering based method called PhyloMCL to accurately detect hierarchical orthogroups (HOGs) including orthologs and paralogs, which derived from duplications subsequent to speciation of involved species, by considering both phylogenetic relationship of organisms and effects of polyploidy events.

Its performance, evaluated by a list of benchmark gene families, when applying to the clustering of HOGs from 12 Metazoan genomes, reaches up to 87.8% and 83.2% on recall and precision rates respectively. Further application of PhyloMCL on classification of tens of thousands of paralogs, yielded by multiple polyploidy events during evolution of seed plants, successfully identifies the majority of in‐/out‐paralogs at different taxonomic levels.

Benefiting from the strategy of Markov clustering and guidance of species tree, PhyloMCL can accurately classify millions of homologous genes with affordable time, meeting the challenge of phylogenomic studies upon rapid increasing of sequenced genomes.
Brokers and Breakers of War Stories in Acholiland, Northern Uganda
Authors: Finnström Sverker
Published: May 2020

This article describes the tension that built up between two European journalists who had teamed up to shoot a documentary on the entanglement of war and humanitarian interventions in Acholiland, northern Uganda, with the fieldworking anthropologist as the local broker of the documentary project. The article also examines a parallel disconnect developing between the journalists and the Ugandans they encountered. From the perspective of the broker/anthropologist, it is argued that research ethics and the methods of data collection interact in ways that have real consequences and that a scrutiny of this interface exposes a paradoxical vulnerability of research as such.
Depression in people with skin conditions: The effects of disgust and self‐compassion
Authors: Clarke Elaine N. , Thompson Andrew R. , Norman Paul
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Skin conditions can be accompanied by significant levels of depression; there is therefore a need to identify the associated psychological factors to assist with the development of appropriate interventions. This study sought to examine the effects of disgust propensity, disgust sensitivity, self‐focused/ruminative disgust, and self‐compassion on depression in people with skin conditions.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey with follow‐up survey.

Methods

Dermatology outpatients (N = 147) completed self‐report measures of disgust traits, self‐compassion, and depression. At three‐month follow‐up, participants (N = 80) completed the depression measure again.

Results

Multiple regression analyses revealed that disgust propensity, disgust sensitivity, self‐focused/ruminative disgust, and self‐compassion each explained significant amounts of variance in baseline depression. Self‐compassion also explained a significant amount of variance in depression at follow‐up, after accounting for baseline depression. In addition, self‐compassion moderated the effect of disgust propensity on depression at baseline, such that at high levels of self‐compassion, disgust propensity no longer had a positive relationship with depression.

Conclusions

Disgust traits contribute to depression in people with skin conditions, while being self‐compassionate may be protective against depression. High self‐compassion also buffers the effects of disgust propensity on depression in people with skin conditions. The findings indicate the potential of compassion‐focused interventions for depression in people with skin conditions.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

People with skin conditions can experience depression that is not well explained by condition severity.

Skin conditions can elicit disgust reactions that, in turn, may contribute to the development of depression.

Self‐compassion is negatively associated with depression.

What does this study add?

Disgust traits explain significant variance in depression in people with skin conditions.

Self‐compassion may protect against depression through main and moderation effects.

Disgust and self‐compassion may provide important targets for interventions.
Sector and importer determinants of prices for traded intermediates
Authors: Bekkers Eddy , Francois Joseph , Manchin Miriam
Published: May 2020

While the literature on traded goods prices emphasizes final goods prices and related consumer theory to explain variation in goods prices with importer characteristics, trade in intermediates actually constitutes about two thirds of total trade. We propose a mechanism for explaining variations in the prices of intermediates as a function of importer characteristics, wherein production is vulnerable to failure and the probability of failure declines in the quality of intermediates. Higher wages mean a greater opportunity cost of failure, leading to a stronger demand for high‐quality intermediates where firms face higher wages. We find empirical support for this mechanism in the case of intermediate goods using IV regressions. In addition, our findings indicate that while the cost of labour explains about one fifth of variation in imported intermediate prices, it is a non‐significant determinant of imported final goods prices.
Identification of catalytic and non‐catalytic activity inhibitors against PRC2‐EZH2 complex through multiple high‐throughput screening campaigns
Authors: Zhou Yan , Du Dao‐Hai , Wang Jia , Cai Xiao‐Qing , Deng Alicia X. , Nosjean Olivier , Boutin Jean A. , Renard Pierre , Yang De‐Hua , Luo Cheng , Wang Ming‐Wei
Published: May 2020

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) along with embryonic ectoderm development (EED) and suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12), which implements transcriptional repression mainly by depositing trimethylation marks at lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3). Its catalytic activity is closely correlated with the stability of PRC2, and somatic activating mutation of EZH2 Y641F within the catalytic SET domain drives tumor aggressiveness, drug resistance, and poor prognosis. Here, we report two high‐throughput screening (HTS) campaigns targeting EZH2 Y641F and EZH2‐EED interaction, respectively. For the EZH2 Y641F mutant, the HTS campaign involved a library of 250,000 compounds using a homogenous time‐resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay and identified 162 hits, while 60,160 compounds were screened against EZH2‐EED interaction with a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay resulting in 97 hits. Among the 162 EZH2 Y641F inhibitors, 38 also suppressed EZH2‐EED interaction and 80 showed inhibitory effects on the wide‐type (WT) EZH2. Meanwhile, 10 of the 97 EZH2‐EED interaction inhibitors were active against WT EZH2. These hit compounds provide useful tools for the development of novel PRC2‐EZH2 inhibitors targeting its catalytic and non‐catalytic activities.