bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diverse transcriptomic signatures across human tissues identify functional rare genetic variation
Authors: Ferraro Nicole M. , Strober Benjamin J. , Einson Jonah , Li Xin , Aguet Francois , Barbeira Alvaro N. , Castel Stephane E. , Davis Joe R. , Hilliard Austin T. , Kotis Bence , Park YoSon , Scott Alexandra J. , Smail Craig , Tsang Emily K. , Ardlie Kristin G. , Assimes Themistocles L. , Hall Ira , Im Hae Kyung ,   GTEx Consortium, Lappalainen Tuuli , Mohammadi Pejman , Montgomery Stephen B. , Battle Alexis
Published: October 2019

Rare genetic variation is abundant in the human genome, yet identifying functional rare variants and their impact on traits remains challenging. Measuring aberrant gene expression has aided in identifying functional, large-effect rare variants. Here, we expand detection of genetically driven transcriptome abnormalities by evaluating and integrating gene expression, allele-specific expression, and alternative splicing from multi-tissue RNA-sequencing data. We demonstrate that each signal informs unique classes of rare variants. We further develop Watershed, a probabilistic model that integrates multiple genomic and transcriptomic signals to predict variant function. Assessing rare variants prioritized by Watershed in the UK Biobank and Million Veterans Program, we identify large effects across 34 traits, and 33 rare variant-trait combinations with both high Watershed scores and large trait effect sizes. Together, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomic impact of rare variation and a framework to prioritize functional rare variants and assess their trait relevance.

One-sentence summary

Integrating expression, allelic expression and splicing across tissues identifies rare variants with relevance to traits.
Differential antitumor activity of compounds targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cells
Authors: Rausch Jessica L. , Ali Areej A. , Lee Donna M. , Gebreyohannes Yemarshet K. , Mehalek Keith R. , Agha Aya , Patil Sneha S. , Tolstov Yanis , Wellens Jasmien , Dhillon Harbir S. , Makielski Kathleen R. , Debiec-Rychter Maria , Schöffski Patrick , Wozniak Agnieszka , Duensing Anette
Published: October 2019

The majority of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are driven by oncogenic KIT signaling and can therefore be effectively treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib mesylate. However, most GISTs develop imatinib resistance through secondaryKITmutations. The type of resistance mutation determines sensitivity to approved second-/third-line TKIs but shows high inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that target KIT independently of the mutational status are intriguing. Inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery with bortezomib is effective in GIST cells through a dual mechanism ofKITtranscriptional downregulation and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic histone H2AX but clinically problematic due to the drug’s adverse effects. We therefore tested second-generation inhibitors of the 20S proteasome (delanzomib, carfilzomib and ixazomib) with better pharmacologic profiles as well as compounds targeting regulators of ubiquitination (b-AP15, MLN4924) for their effectiveness and mechanism of action in GIST. All three 20S proteasome inhibitors were highly effectivein vitroandin vivo, including in imatinib-resistant models. In contrast, b-AP15 and MLN4924 were only effective at high concentrations or had mostly cytostatic effects, respectively. Our results confirm 20S proteasome inhibitors as promising strategy to overcome TKI resistance in GIST, while highlighting the complexity of the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery as a therapeutic target.
Noncoding RNAs endogenously rule the cancerous regulatory realm while proteins govern the normal
Authors: Wang Anyou , Hai Rong
Published: October 2019

All cancers share a commonality in genome activation regulated by a systems endogenous network distinct from normal tissue, but such a network remains elusive. Here, we unearth a systems regulatory network endogenous for all types of cancers and normal human respectively from massive data, including all RNAseq data available from SRA and TCGA, and reveal distinctive systems realm for cancer and normal. In the cancerous realm, noncoding RNAs, especially pseudogenes, dominate endogenous network modules and centrality, and they work as the strongest systems inducers that cis-regulate their targets. However in the normal realm proteins dominate the entire endogenous network centrally controlled by ribosomal proteins and they trans-regulate their targets. Our finding establishes a systems picture of an endogenous mechanism overlooking the cancerous and normal realm, in which noncoding RNAs rule the overall cancer realm while proteins govern the normal one. This fundamentally refreshes the conventional concept of cancerous mechanism.
Repository-based plasmid design Cost-optimal Gibson Assembly with repository DNA selection and primer generation
Authors: Timmons Joshua J. , Densmore Doug
Published: October 2019

There was an explosion in the amount of commercially available DNA in sequence repositories over the last decade. The number of such plasmids increased from 12,000 to over 300,000 among three of the largest repositories: iGEM, Addgene, and DNASU. The challenge in biodesign remains how to use these and other repository-based sequences effectively, correctly, and seamlessly. This work describes an approach to plasmid design where a plasmid is specified as a DNA sequence or list of features. The proposed software then finds the most cost-effective combination of synthetic and PCR-prepared repository fragments to build the plasmid via Gibson Assembly. It finds existing DNA sequences in user-specified and public DNA databases: iGEM, Addgene, and DNASU. Such a software application is introduced and characterized against all post-2005 iGEM composite parts and all Addgene vectors submitted in 2018 and found to reduce costs by 34% versus a purely synthetic plasmid design approach. The described software will improve current plasmid assembly workflows by shortening design times, improving build quality, and reducing costs.
Maximizing the Reusability of Public Gene Expression Data by Predicting Missing Metadata
Authors: Lung Pei-Yau , Pang Xiaodong , Li Yan , Zhang Jinfeng
Published: October 2019

Reusability is part of the FAIR data principle, which aims to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. One of the current efforts to increase the reusability of public genomics data has been to focus on the inclusion of quality metadata associated with the data. When necessary metadata are missing, most researchers will consider the data useless. In this study, we develop a framework to predict the missing metadata of gene expression datasets to maximize their reusability. We propose a new metric called Proportion of Cases Accurately Predicted (PCAP), which is optimized in our specifically-designed machine learning pipeline. The new approach performed better than pipelines using commonly used metrics such as F1-score in terms of maximizing the reusability of data with missing values. We also found that different variables might need to be predicted using different machine learning methods and/or different data processing protocols. Using differential gene expression analysis as an example, we show that when missing variables are accurately predicted, the corresponding gene expression data can be reliably used in downstream analyses.
Plasmodium falciparumimmunodominant IgG epitopes in subclinical malaria
Authors: Azcárate Isabel G. , Marín-García Patricia , Abad Paloma , Pérez-Benavente Susana , Paz-Artal Estela , Reche Pedro A. , Fobil Julius N. , Rubio José M. , Diez Amalia , Puyet Antonio , Bautista José M.
Published: October 2019

Incomplete non-sterile immunity to malaria is attained in endemic regions after recurrent infections by a large percentage of the adult population, who carry the malaria parasite asymptomatically. Although blood-stagePlasmodium falciparumrapidly elicits IgG responses, the target antigens of partially protective and non-protective IgG antibodies as well as the basis for the acquisition of these antibodies remain largely unknown. We performed IgG-immunomics to screen forP. falciparumantigens and to identify epitopes associated with exposure and clinical disease. Sera from malaria cases identified five prevalent antigens recognized by all analyzed patients’ IgGs. For further epitope mapping, peptide microarrays designed to cover their sequences were probed with a set of 38 sera samples from adult individuals of an endemic malaria region in Ghana. Eight 20-mer peptides with the highest affinity and frequency of recognition among the population were subsequently validated with 16 sera from the same region, segregated into patients with positive or negative subclinical detection ofP. falciparum. Significant binding specificity for two immunodominant antigenic regions was uncovered within the START-related lipid transfer protein and the protein disulfide isomerase PDI8. These 20-mer peptides challenged with sera samples from children under 5 years old displayed specific IgG binding in those with detectable parasitemia, even at subclinical level. These results suggest that the humoral response against START and PDI8 antigens may be triggered even at submicroscopic parasitemia levels in children and may eventually be used to differentially diagnose subclinical malaria in children.

Significance

Malaria in Africa is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The reservoirs of the malaria parasite are asymptomatic patients who carry it subclinically. Identifying the parasite antigens and its fragments that trigger the most common immunity response by immunoglobulin G that partially protect people can have profound implications for both, development of a malaria vaccine and diagnosis of the subclinical parasite carriers. Antigen discovery and mapping, validated with sera from subclinical carriers, showed that immunoglobulin G responses in children against parasite’s START and PDI8 may eventually be used to differentially diagnose non-infected from subclinical cases. Furthermore, anti-START and anti-PDI8 endemic immunodominance provides association of these antigens with long-term acquired immunity and immune evasion to malaria.
Chemogenetic Inhibition of Infralimbic Prefrontal Cortex GABA-ergic Parvalbumin Interneurons Attenuates Chronic Stress Adaptions in Male Mice
Authors: Nawreen Nawshaba , Morano Rachel , Mahbod Parinaz , Cotella Evelin M. , Dalal Khushali , Fitzgerald Maureen , Martelle Susan , Packard Benjamin A. , Moloney Rachel D. , Herman James P.
Published: October 2019

Hypofunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) contributes to stress-related neuropsychiatric illnesses. Mechanisms leading to prefrontal hypoactivity remain to be determined. Prior evidence suggests that enhanced activity of parvalbumin (PV) expressing GABAergic interneurons (INs) play a role in chronic stress related pathologies. In this study, the role of PFC PV INs in stress related phenotypes were explored using Cre inducible inhibitory DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs). Mice were first tested in the tail suspension test (TST) to determine the effects of PV IN inhibition during acute stress. Following this, the long term impact of PV IN inhibition during chronic variable stress (CVS) was tested in the forced swim test (FST). Acute PV IN inhibition reduced active (struggling) and increased passive coping behaviors (immobility) in the TST. In contrast, inhibition of PV INs during CVS increased active and reduced passive coping behaviors in the FST. Moreover, chronic inhibition of PV INs attenuated CVS-induced changes in Fos expression in the prelimbic cortex, basolateral amygdala and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and also prevented adrenal hypertrophy and body weight loss associated with chronic stress. Our results suggest differential roles of PV INs to acute vs chronic stress, indicative of distinct biological mechanisms underlying acute vs. chronic stress responses. Our results also indicate a role for PV INs in driving chronic stress adaptation and support literature evidence suggesting cortical GABAergic interneurons as a therapeutic target in stress related diseases.

SIGNIFICANCE

Stress related diseases are associated with prefrontal hypoactivity, the mechanism of which is currently not known. In this study we showed that by inhibiting prefrontal GABA-ergic Parvalbumin interneurons (PV INs) using DREADDs, we can attenuate some of chronic stress related phenotypes. Additionally, we showed that modulation of PV IN activity during acute vs chronic stress had opposing effects on stress coping strategies, suggesting different underlying mechanisms behind acute vs chronic stress paradigms. Our findings indicate that GABA-ergic PV INs may be involved in driving stress related phenotypes and thereby an important target for treatment of stress-related illnesses. Our data suggest that reducing PV IN activity to promote prefrontal output may be an effective treatment strategy for stress related disorders.
Differential degradation of RNA species by autophagy related pathways in plants
Authors: Hickl D. , Drews F. , Girke C. , Zimmer D. , Mühlhaus T. , Hauth J. , Nordström K. , Trentmann O. , Neuhaus H.E. , Fehlmann T. , Keller A. , Simon M. , Möhlmann T.
Published: October 2019

An important function of the plant vacuole is the recycling of the delivered proteins and RNA by autophagy. We provide the first plant vacuolar small RNome by isolation of intact vacuoles from Barley and Arabidopsis, subsequent RNA purification and Next Generation Sequencing. In these vacuolar sRNomes, all types of cellular RNAs were found including those of chloroplast origin, suggesting a bulk-type of RNA transfer to, and breakdown in vacuoles. ATG5 is a major representative of autophagy genes and the vacuolar RNA composition in corresponding knockout plants differed clearly from controls as most chloroplast derived RNA species were missing. Moreover, the read length distribution of RNAs found in ATG5 mutants differed to control samples, indicating altered RNA processing. In contrast, vacuolar RNA length and composition of plants lacking the vacuolar RNase2 (rns2-2), involved in cellular RNA homeostasis, showed minor alterations, only. Our data therefore suggests that mainly autophagy components are responsible for selective transport and targeting of different RNA species into the vacuole for degradation. In addition, mature miRNAs were detected in all vacuolar preparations, however in ATG5 mutants at much lower frequency, indicating a new biological role for vacuolar miRNAs apart from becoming degraded.
Absolute structure of the chiral pyrrolidine derivative (2S)-methyl (Z)-5-(2-tert-butoxy-1-cyano-2-oxoethylidene)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate, a compound with low resonant scattering
Authors: Wang Ai , Englert Ulli
Published: October 2019

The enantiopure monopyrrolidine derivative (2S)-methyl (Z)-5-(2-tert-butoxy-1-cyano-2-oxoethylidene)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate, C13H18N2O4, (1), represents a potential ligand and an attractive intermediate for the synthesis of chiral metal complexes. At the molecular level, the compound features an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond; neighbouring molecules interact via N—H...N contacts to form chains along [100]. Due to its elemental composition, resonant scattering of the target compound is entirely insignificant for diffraction experiments with Mo Kα and small even for Cu Kα radiation. A preliminary study with the harder radiation type confirmed the chiral space group and the suitability of the single crystal chosen; as expected, the results concerning the absolute structure remained completely inconclusive. A second data collection with the longer wavelength gave satisfactory quality indicators for the correct handedness of the molecule, albeit with high standard uncertainties. The absolute configuration has been assessed independently: CD spectra for both enantiomers of the target molecule were calculated and the spectrum for the S-configured stereoisomer was in agreement with the experiment. The Cotton effect of (1) may be ascribed to π–π* transitions from HOMO to LUMO and from HOMO to LUMO+1. As both independent techniques agree with respect to the handedness of the target molecule, the absolute structure may be assigned with a high degree of confidence.
The impact of financial leverage on farm technical efficiency during periods of price instability
Authors: Gadanakis Yiorgos , Stefani Gianluca , Lombardi Ginerva Virginia , Tiberti Marco
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between capital structure and technical efficiency (TE) for Italian cereal farms during the 2008–2014 period. Emphasis is given in the understanding of the relationship between the level of financial leverage for cereal farms and their production performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods employed in this research article are based on non-parametric techniques in order to derive TE estimates for a sample of Italian cereal farms based on available Farm Accountancy Data Network data to explore in depth the relationship amongst the financial exposure of the sector and the capacity to utilise an efficient and effective production technology. Furthermore, subsidies are considered in the model as a non-discretionary variable and therefore, as an input that farmers cannot directly influence within the production function. Hence, the non-discretionary Data Envelopment Analysis model is a more appropriate framework since it is not penalising farms at a lower level of Pillar I payments when benchmarked with farms that receive a higher level of payments.

Findings

The results show that significant improvements could be achieved for most of the farms in the sample by improving production and management practices. Furthermore, results provide an empirical support of the adjustment theory by showing a negative impact of debt to asset ratio to TE.

Originality/value

This research article provides a first insight on the evolution of the Italian cereal farms debt-TE relationship in periods where high price instability has been observed.
Credit sources, access and factors influencing credit demand among rural livestock farmers in Nigeria
Authors: Silong Asenath Kotugan Fada , Gadanakis Yiorgos
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Rural farmers’ access to farm credit in Nigeria has been very low, which affects farm performance, and credit providers have blamed for the problem in the sector. While this general perception persists the fact may be the case of credit demand, rather than just the risk-averse attitudes of credit providers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate significant factors influencing farmers’ credit demand to ensure efficient credit provision.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted mixed methods for an in-depth investigation into the problem. There were 216 research participants split into equal halves of men and women from six local government areas of Nasarawa State. Data collection methods employed structured interviews, focus group discussions, close/open-ended and key informant interviews. Analytical tools involved descriptive statistics, the logit and multinomial logit models to determine participants’ socio-economic characteristics, sources of credit, access, factors influencing credit demand generally and from the various sources of credit identified.

Findings

Findings reveal only 47.6 per cent of the participants accessed credit, with fewer women accessing than men. The most accessed forms of credit are from the semi-formal sources, with more men accessing from formal sources and more women from non-formal sources. Factors having significant influence on credit demand generally are education, group membership and household size. And from formal, semi-formal and non-formal credit sources are education, information on sources of credit, deposits, household size and marital status; education, deposits, group membership, household size, flock size; and education, group membership, and gender from the non-formal credit providers, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

Due to time constraint, this study data were collected concurrently with both quantitative and qualitative methods and did not allow for the interrogation of findings from one method with the other. In addition, the research categorised the agency of women based on marital status only as single or married and did not interrogate the agency of women further, this may be a limitation as some of the female participants are from polygamous homes.

Originality/value

Unlike the current concentration of Nigerian research of this kind with quantitative methods alone, this research contributes particularly to Nigerian research output and experience by triangulating both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore farmers sources of credit, access and factors determining access to credit in the study area.
Awareness and compliance with feed quality standards: the case of chicken feeds in Tanzania
Authors: Longo Joseph Adam , Akyoo Adam Meshack , Sørensen Olav Jull
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of awareness of and compliance with chicken feed standards among chicken farmers in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 107 respondents in two regions were selected through simple random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression approaches were used in data analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that the level of awareness of standards is low and the compliance level is even lower at the same time as the data indicated a positive relation between awareness and compliance. Attending seminars, knowledge dissemination by extension agents, farmers’ awareness of the existence of other standards and health consciousness have a significant and positive influence on awareness of feed standards while the age of the farm and dependence on farm formulated feeds have a significant negative influence on awareness of standards. On the other hand; knowledge dissemination by TBS, awareness of chicken feed standards and awareness of the existence of other standards apart from chicken feed standards, have a significant positive influence on compliance with feed standards.

Research limitations/implications

These findings indicate that regulators should invest more in awareness creation campaigns to enhance compliance with feed standards at the same time as feed processors should develop closer knowledge and learning links to farmers.

Originality/value

The findings of the study are expected to positively contribute to performance of chicken industry in Tanzania by promoting production of products that are of quality accepted domestically and abroad.
Considerations for collecting Japanese anime for academic libraries
Authors: Masuchika Glenn
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Too often, academic library selectors of DVDs purchase Japanese animation (anime) for their popularity without any further concern of their important contributions to the combined wealth of researches of an academic library. The purpose of this paper is to offer considerations for an academic selector to ponder before adding this particular type of animation. These considerations do not necessary pertain to the collection development considerations for selectors at public libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper will discuss the major problems of actively adding anime to an academic library, the present areas of concern, and will offer warnings and suggestions based on a conceptual framework of anime having true academic value.

Findings

Anime cannot be chosen independently as if it has any apparently intrinsic value sui generis. Anime must be added concomitantly according to the collection development policies with other resources, especially DVDs, to create a full, rich and useful collection to scholars.

Originality/value

Academic studies concerning anime and collection development for academic libraries are usually comprised of only long lists of suggested anime, with no further discussions about its implications to the general worth of an academic library. This paper offers no such lists. Instead, it offers considerations selectors must take into account before investing time and money adding anime to an academic library collection.
Structure behind principles: social selection mechanisms in corporate governance networks
Authors: Kacanski Slobodan
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to show that social relations in a corporate governance platform between members of supervisory boards and between members of supervisory and executive board tiers can serve as an alternative viewpoint for understanding mechanisms of social selection in corporate governance networks. The study shows that through the lenses of social network analysis, it is possible to identify and understand how the process of corporate governance member selection unfolds within companies and how that selection process may have been potentially influenced by the cross-board relations, such as interlocking directorships.

Design/methodology/approach

To estimate network parameters and attribute effects of network tie emergence, this study has used exponential random graph models (ERGMs) on corporate governance data of Danish publicly listed companies. Econometric models are applied to estimate parameter statistics which serve further to explain tendencies of tie emergence.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that the process of selection of both supervisory boards and executive directors is interdependent. Also, the study showed that board members are more likely to select popular supervisory board members and top managers who have their expertise gained through multiple companies affiliated with multiple industries. However, these conditions for CEO selection apply only to the extent to which they have their experience gained from multiple companies but not multiple industries.

Originality/value

On one hand, this study demonstrates that being a dynamic practitioner who is exposed to diverse corporate environments by being affiliated with different companies belonging to different industries generally increases practitioners visibility in the corporate governance network, and therefore their attractiveness to boards of directors. On the other hand, the results show that the research on board assemblage, nowadays, should be rather observed through the methodology of social network analysis as the method gives an opportunity to understand structures through relations, from which the executive tier should not be exempted as well.
Missing “society” in institutional approaches as social value creation in India and China
Authors: Oh Chang Hoon
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This viewpoint aims to discuss some potential problems of institutional approaches such as social value creation in India and China.

Design/methodology/approach

In this viewpoint, institutional approaches as social value creation in India and China have been discussed and compared.

Findings

Government-driven institutional approaches may not be efficient because the involvement of political interests would prevail in countries with low institutional quality, firms focusing on international markets need to adopt global guidelines and regulatory guidelines set by governments and private sectors could ignore the differences and needs of various stakeholders.

Originality/value

This viewpoint argues the importance of communications and collaborations among governments, private sectors and other stakeholders in creating social values.
Building an integrated enhanced virtual research environment metadata catalogue
Authors: Remy Laurent , Ivanović Dragan , Theodoridou Maria , Kritsotaki Athina , Martin Paul , Bailo Daniele , Sbarra Manuela , Zhao Zhiming , Jeffery Keith
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to boost multidisciplinary research by the building of an integrated catalogue or research assets metadata. Such an integrated catalogue should enable researchers to solve problems or analyse phenomena that require a view across several scientific domains.

Design/methodology/approach

There are two main approaches for integrating metadata catalogues provided by different e-science research infrastructures (e-RIs): centralised and distributed. The authors decided to implement a central metadata catalogue that describes, provides access to and records actions on the assets of a number of e-RIs participating in the system. The authors chose the CERIF data model for description of assets available via the integrated catalogue. Analysis of popular metadata formats used in e-RIs has been conducted, and mappings between popular formats and the CERIF data model have been defined using an XML-based tool for description and automatic execution of mappings.

Findings

An integrated catalogue of research assets metadata has been created. Metadata from e-RIs supporting Dublin Core, ISO 19139, DCAT-AP, EPOS-DCAT-AP, OIL-E and CKAN formats can be integrated into the catalogue. Metadata are stored in CERIF RDF in the integrated catalogue. A web portal for searching this catalogue has been implemented.

Research limitations/implications

Only five formats are supported at this moment. However, description of mappings between other source formats and the target CERIF format can be defined in the future using the 3M tool, an XML-based tool for describing X3ML mappings that can then be automatically executed on XML metadata records. The approach and best practices described in this paper can thus be applied in future mappings between other metadata formats.

Practical implications

The integrated catalogue is a part of the eVRE prototype, which is a result of the VRE4EIC H2020 project.

Social implications

The integrated catalogue should boost the performance of multi-disciplinary research; thus it has the potential to enhance the practice of data science and so contribute to an increasingly knowledge-based society.

Originality/value

A novel approach for creation of the integrated catalogue has been defined and implemented. The approach includes definition of mappings between various formats. Defined mappings are effective and shareable.
The street party: pleasurable community practices and placemaking
Authors: Stevenson Nancy
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore spatial and social practices associated with a community street party through the lens of literature on encounter, conviviality and placemaking, considering its role developing a place-based sense of community.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based upon a case study of a street party in London. Data sources include interviews, a questionnaire, observation and a literature review.

Findings

The conviviality associated with partying disrupts mundane social relations and engages diverse communities in placemaking. People playfully engage with one another, performing and reinforcing community and place values in the environment outside their homes.

Practical implications

This paper aims to engender understanding and encourage urban policy makers to support activities which combine pleasure and play to develop a place-based sense of community. It identifies practices which actively engage people at a grassroots level and enable them to articulate and perform community values.

Social implications

Developing a sense of community in rapidly changing and diverse urban areas presents challenges for urban policy makers. Grassroots activities such as street parties often fall outside of funding streams, debates and formal policy making for cities but it is argued here that they enable people to engage in pleasurable and playful interaction and have an important role in disrupting mundane interactions and connecting people.

Originality/value

This paper progresses discussion of community events from a social perspective through an original study, identifying specific practices which contribute to a place-based sense of community.
Influence of situational factors on household’s energy consumption behaviour
Authors: Kuhe Aondoyila , Bisu Danladi Yusufu
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a systematic scoping review of the influences of some situational factors on the energy consumption behaviour of households. Household’s energy choice and manner of utilization define its energy consumption behaviour; it is a key factor in determining the energy efficiency of households. Despite the energy-efficient technological innovations and awareness on environmental/health implications of using certain energy sources and technologies, households still use inefficient, traditional energy sources and technologies. Some researchers have attempted to use economic and psychological theories to explain the situation with the hope of achieving a change in behaviour towards sustainable energy utilization but to no avail. This is because the theories fail to consider situations beyond individuals or households. A clear understanding of situational factors and how they influence household energy behaviour will provide information that will aid deeper research and policy formulation towards sustainable energy behaviour of households.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping systematic review of available literature regarding real-life cases in both developed and developing countries was carried out to determine the possibility of situational factors affecting household energy choices and utilization.

Findings

The result of the review showed that situational factors have a significant influence on household’s energy consumption. The main policy implications observed are the need for laws that will encourage energy-saving renovations in houses, make compulsory the provision of recreational facilities in residential areas to reduce in-home energy consumption. The need for increased access to electricity and other efficient energy sources and cooking technologies has also been observed. Intensive awareness campaigns are required to disabuse the minds of people about cultural issues that mitigate improved cook stove adoption.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on the influence of some of the factors, which affect energy consumption in households, which fluctuate depending on the current situation of the consumer and are time-bound (situational factors). The information will help policymakers and regulators to understand the influence of situational factors on household energy consumption, thereby enabling them to make policies that will enhance sustainable energy consumption.
Social capital and career growth
Authors: Kang Dae-seok , Gold Jeff , Kim Jeongeun , Kim Ilsoo
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the instrumental use of social capital regarding career growth within an organization, focusing on the mediating role of perceived competence mobilization and the moderating role of two situational variables: perceived external prestige and job insecurity climate.

Design/methodology/approach

Relationships among the constructs are predicted based on relevant literature, and are tested using survey results from 324 employees working in 14 leading corporations in Korea.

Findings

Results show that social capital positively influenced, via perceived competence mobilization, each of two career growth dimensions (i.e. the personal efforts to develop a career and the experience of being rewarded by the organization). In contrast, moderated path analysis indicated that perceptions of external prestige and job insecurity climate failed to moderate the indirect effect of social capital on career growth.

Practical implications

In light of the instrumental use of social capital and the ensuring mechanism of competence mobilization, a detailed understanding of this effect on career growth cannot only neutralize the fears of brain drain, but is also helpful in providing possibilities for building new career development strategies.

Originality/value

Although social capital has become an influential concept in social sciences, little evidence has been presented on the above relationship, particularly from the perspective of careerist orientation. This may be the first research examining how and when the influence of social capital becomes instrumental with respect to career attainment within an organization.
Healthcare marketing
Authors: Rawwas Mohammed Y.A. , Javed Basharat , Iyer Karthik N.S. , Zhao Baochun
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the process of the use of management’s positivity and negativity sources and their mediation on pharmaceutical members’ satisfaction that, in turn, enable a health-care organization to meet its business objectives with more agility.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a survey of 106 pharmaceutical members regarding their relationships with management.

Findings

The results of LISREL analysis revealed that the use of positivity variables such as reward enhanced each of referent, expert and positive conflict; in addition, referent boosted satisfaction. However, the use of negativity variables such as opportunism enhanced power, but weakened each of referent, expert and legitimate power sources. The use of coercion enhanced power too, but produced dissatisfaction. Further, the prevalence of negative conflict caused dissatisfaction.

Originality/value

This study also reported major contributions when it examined the effect of the mediation of the use of positivity intrinsic power sources on satisfaction. It found that referent power functioned as a full mediator by dropping the amount of the relationship between the use of reward and satisfaction to zero and as a partial mediator by dropping the amount of the relationship between the use of coercion and satisfaction. In addition, the use of referent power mediated the joint effect of both the use of coercion and reward power sources, triggering a positive effect on satisfaction. Several managerial implications were discussed.
Are farmers in Ethiopia ready to embrace cost-sharing agricultural extension approach?
Authors: Wordofa Muluken Gezahegn
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions of smallholder farmers toward the cost-sharing agricultural extension service provision.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data from a cross-sectional survey, key informants interviews and focused group discussions conducted on 384 farm households from six Kebeles of Eastern Ethiopia.

Findings

The authors find that flexibility and credibility, ability of development agents to address neglected aspects in agricultural production, and reaching diversified groups of farmers as the perceived advantages of the cost-sharing approach. Furthermore, improved knowledge and attitude, enhanced research–extension–farmer linkages, and improved food security and poverty reduction are found to be the three most important impact areas associated with the approach. On the contrary, poor economic status of farmers, high cost of administration and absence of a clear guideline/legislation are found to be the most important constraints. The authors find that increasing farmers’ awareness about the cost-sharing approach and preparing a clear definition of the form, modalities and principles of the cost-sharing extension approach can be a part of the practical solutions to overcome the challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The current research is limited to the investigation of farmers’ perceptions toward paid extension services. The willingness to pay for extension services – using discrete choice experiments – is dealt with in another paper.

Originality/value

The first of its kind in the country, the paper tried to assess farmers’ readiness to try a new extension service delivery. The findings have important implications for policy makers and local level implementers of extension programs.
Tourist profiles and attitudes: a comparison between cities in a different phase of the life cycle
Authors: Valls Giménez Josep-Francesc , Pipoli Gina , Rita Paulo , Labairu-Trenchs Itziar
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the different typologies of tourists that appear in cities that are in a different position within the destination life cycle. Barcelona and Lisbon, two urban destinations, with a strong growth of tourists in the last two decades, which are in advanced stages of their life cycle, and Lima, which has also expanded in the last ten years, but is in less advanced phases, have been chosen. The approach of the study is to analyse if urban tourists modify their attitude in some way in the face of the advancement of the life cycle of the city and what attitudes are expressed by them.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, an analysis of main components was performed via factor analysis to reduce the number of dimensions of the 11 descriptive variables and the counterpart of tourist attitudes, following Schwartz’s (2006) research. From the four clusters that emerged – authenticity; innovative and cultural hard; relaxation and not innovative – four attitude variables were selected since they were considered relevant to be analysed according to the life cycle of the city: culture and entertainment; authenticity and online social exhibition; and expensive and cheap price.

Findings

The results obtained do not allow to straightforwardly conclude that as the life cycle of these three cities advances, the attitude evolves from culture to entertainment, from authenticity towards online social exhibition or from the most expensive to the cheapest. The tourists from Barcelona are mostly associated with entertainment, those from Lisbon are associated with culture and those from Lima are split. However, in the face of authenticity, travellers are prone to it. Regarding the price, those in Barcelona are almost divided equally, whereas those in Lisbon, and especially those in Lima, consider it to be mostly cheap.

Originality/value

From this study, it can be drawn that the attitude of travellers to these three cities is not conditioned by the life cycle. Globalization and digitalisation put pressure on the traveller by configuring a universal model of behaviour before the urban offer that is associated with other factors, but not with the life cycle of the city.
Cryptocurrencies: applications and investment opportunities
Authors: Inci A. Can , Lagasse Rachel
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This study investigates the role of cryptocurrencies in enhancing the performance of portfolios constructed from traditional asset classes. Using a long sample period covering not only the large value increases but also the dramatic declines during the beginning of 2018, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more complete analysis of the dynamic nature of cryptocurrencies as individual investment opportunities, and as components of optimal portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The mean-variance optimization technique of Merton (1990) is applied to develop the risk and return characteristics of the efficient portfolios, along with the optimal weights of the asset class components in the portfolios.

Findings

The authors provide evidence that as a single investment, the best cryptocurrency is Ripple, followed by Bitcoin and Litecoin. Furthermore, cryptocurrencies have a useful role in the optimal portfolio construction and in investments, in addition to their original purposes for which they were created. Bitcoin is the best cryptocurrency enhancing the characteristics of the optimal portfolio. Ripple and Litecoin follow in terms of their usefulness in an optimal portfolio as single cryptocurrencies. Including all these cryptocurrencies in a portfolio generates the best (most optimal) results. Contributions of the cryptocurrencies to the optimal portfolio evolve over time. Therefore, the results and conclusions of this study have no guarantee for continuation in an exact manner in the future. However, the increasing popularity and the unique characteristics of cryptocurrencies will assist their future presence in investment portfolios.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies that examine the role of popular cryptocurrencies in enhancing a portfolio composed of traditional asset classes. The sample period is the largest that has been used in this strand of the literature, and allows to compare optimal portfolios in early/recent subsamples, and during the pre-/post-cryptocurrency crisis periods.
Stock market liberalization: implications on cost of capital in emerging Islamic countries
Authors: İlhan Bilal
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Most of the major Islamic countries’ stock exchanges have not been able to perform at the same pace with the major emerging countries’ stock exchanges since the mid of 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of stock market liberalization on cost of capital as one of the crucial driver to stock market development and physical investment growth in emerging Islamic countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs static panel data techniques on the sample of seven emerging Islamic countries over the years 1989-2008.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that stock market liberalization significantly reduces cost of capital in the stock markets of sample Islamic countries, which carries policy-oriented implications. Reduction in the cost of capital increases the number of exchange-traded companies, profitability of projects and aggregate investment level; therefore, the study findings are highly concerned by the economic policymakers, corporations and investors alike.

Research limitations/implications

In the literature, different proxies are employed to measure stock market liberalization and cost of capital as well. Due to data limitations, this study could not employ different proxies for both, especially for stock market liberalization, for robustness purpose. That limitation further restricted the coverage of Islamic stock markets and time period. Therefore, generalization of the study results for overall Islamic stock markets can be slightly drawn.

Originality/value

The paper provides further understanding regarding the effects of SML on cost of capital, thereby indirectly on the stock market development, in the context of EIC.