bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The TMEM106B rs1990621 protective variant is also associated with increased neuronal proportion
Authors: Li Zeran , Farias Fabiana G. , Dube Umber , Del-Aguila Jorge L. , Mihindukulasuriya Kathie A. , Fernandez Maria Victoria , Ibanez Laura , Budde John P. , Wang Fengxian , Lake Allison M. , Deming Yuetiva , Perez James , Yang Chengran , Bradley Joseph , Davenport Richard , Bergmann Kristy , Benitez Bruno A. , Dougherty Joseph D. , Harari Oscar , Cruchaga Carlos
Published: March 2019

Background

In previous studies, we observed decreased neuronal and increased astrocyte proportions in AD cases in parietal brain cortex by using a deconvolution method for bulk RNA-seq. These findings suggested that genetic risk factors associated with AD etiology have a specific effect in the cellular composition of AD brains. The goal of this study is to investigate if there are genetic determinants for brain cell compositions.

Methods

Using cell type composition inferred from transcriptome as a disease status proxy, we performed cell type association analysis to identify novel loci related to cellular population changes in disease cohort. We imputed and merged genotyping data from seven studies in total of 1,669 samples and derived major CNS cell type proportions from cortical RNAseq data. We also inferred RNA transcript integrity number (TIN) to account for RNA quality variances. The model we performed in the analysis was: normalized neuronal proportion ∼ SNP + Age + Gender + PC1 + PC2 + median TIN.

Results

A variant rs1990621 located in the TMEM106B gene region was significantly associated with neuronal proportion (p=6.40×10−07) and replicated in an independent dataset. The association became more significant as we combined both discovery and replication datasets in multi-tissue meta-analysis (p=9.42×10−09) and joint analysis (p=7.66×10−10). This variant is in high LD with rs1990622 (r2 = 0.98) which was previously identified as a protective variant in FTD cohorts. Further analyses indicated that this variant is associated with increased neuronal proportion in participants with neurodegenerative disorders, not only in AD cohort but also in cognitive normal elderly cohort. However, this effect was not observed in a younger schizophrenia cohort with a mean age of death < 65. The second most significant loci for neuron proportion was APOE, which suggested that using neuronal proportion as an informative endophenotype could help identify loci associated with neurodegeneration.

Conclusion

This result suggested a common pathway involving TMEM106B shared by aging groups in the present or absence of neurodegenerative pathology may contribute to cognitive preservation and neuronal protection.
Comparative thermal performance ofOrbicella franksiat its latitudinal range limits
Authors: Silbiger Nyssa J. , Goodbody-Gringley Gretchen , Bruno John F. , Putnam Hollie M.
Published: March 2019

Temperature drives biological responses that scale from the cellular to ecosystem levels and thermal sensitivity will shape organismal functions and population dynamics as the world warms. Reef building corals are sensitive to temperature due to their endosymbiotic relationship with single celled dinoflagellates, with mass mortality events increasing in frequency and magnitude. The purpose of this study was to quantify the thermal sensitivity of important physiological functions of a Caribbean reef-building coral,Orbicella franksithrough the measurement of thermal performance curves (TPCs). We compared TPC metrics (thermal optimum, critical maximum, activation energy, deactivation energy, and rate at a standardized temperature) between two populations at the northern and southern extent of the geographic range of this species. We further compared essential coral organismal processes (gross photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification) within a site to determine which function is most sensitive to thermal stress using a hierarchical Bayesian modeling approach. We found evidence for differences in thermal performance, which could be due to thermal adaptation or acclimatization, with higher TPC metrics (thermal optimum and critical maximum) in warmer Panama, compared to cooler Bermuda. We also documented the hierarchy in thermal sensitivity of essential organismal functions within a population, with respiration less sensitive than photosynthesis, which was less sensitive than calcification. Understanding thermal performance of corals is essential for projecting coral reef futures, given that key biological functions necessary to sustain coral reef ecosystems are thermally-mediated.

Summary statement

We apply a thermal performance curve approach to a variety of fitness related parameters in a reef building coral across its geographic range and various functions to improve our understanding of the inherent variability in thermal tolerance.
SULTA4A1 modulates synaptic development and function by promoting the formation of PSD-95/NMDAR complex
Authors: Culotta Lorenza , Terragni Benedetta , Vinci Ersilia , Sessa Alessandro , Broccoli Vania , Mantegazza Massimo , Verpelli Chiara
Published: March 2019

Sulfotransferase 4A1 (SULT4A1) is a cytosolic sulfotransferase, that is highly conserved across species and extensively expressed in the brain. However, the biological function of SULT4A1 is unclear. SULT4A1 has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and schizophrenia. Here, we investigate the role of SULT4A1 within neuron development and function. Our data demonstrate that SULT4A1 modulates neuronal branching complexity and dendritic spines formation. Moreover, we show that SULT4A1, by negatively regulating the catalytic activity of Pin1 towards PSD-95, facilitates NMDAR synaptic expression and function. Finally, we demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of Pin1 reverses the pathological phenotypes of SULT4A1 knockdown neurons by specifically restoring dendritic spine density and rescuing NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Together, these findings identify SULT4A1 as a novel player in neuron development and function by modulating dendritic morphology and synaptic activity.
Chemical degumming increases larvae size and facilitates the commercial production of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) eggs
Authors: Pooley Craig , Berwick Mia , Leaniz Carlos Garcia de
Published: March 2019

Many fishes produce adhesive eggs that confer protection from currents and predators in the wild, but that are more difficult to disinfect and aerate under aquaculture conditions. Removing egg adhesiveness (‘degumming’) has proved beneficial in the culture of many fish, and a recent gap analysis identified this as a potential way of increasing hatching success and minimize the risk of infectious diseases in the culture of lumpfish (Cyclopteurs lumpus), a novel species to aquaculture. We tested the efficacy of the enzyme alcalase (0.02%, 0.2%, 2%) as a degumming agent for lumpfish eggs, and examined its effects on hatching success, survival, and larvae size under laboratory and commercial conditions. A five-minute exposure to 0.2% and 2% alcalase decreased chorion thickness by 14% and resulted in 61-75% degumming rates, without any negative effects on hatching rate, larval survival, or incidence of embryo malformations. Degummed eggs hatched earlier than controls and resulted in larger larvae, which may confer some benefits under aquaculture conditions. A cost-benefit analysis indicates that the benefits of egg degumming compensate the costs of chemical treatment under most conditions, and that the optimal alcalase concentration is around 0.2%. We therefore recommend egg degumming as a way of making the lumpfish industry more efficient and sustainable.

Statement of relevance

Improving the commercial production of lumpfish
Inhibition of Osteoblast Proliferation and Migration by Exogenous and Endogenous Formaldehyde
Authors: Teng Xu , Huang Wei , Yu Hefeng , Wang Pei , Li Weishi , Chen Zhongqiang , Fan Dongwei
Published: March 2019

Exogenous and endogenous formaldehyde (FA) plays an important role in cell growth and migration; however, its potential role in osteoblasts remains largely unclear. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and wound healing assays revealed that FA exposure at naturally occurring concentrations inhibited the proliferation and migration of mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that FoxO1 signaling pathway components displayed distinct expression patterns upon FA exposure, reflected through significant enrichment of cell migration. In particular, FoxO1 Sirt1 and FA-induced related protein expression which were closely with cell proliferation and migration were confirmed by western blotting. The present results indicate that the FoxO1 pathway is involved in FA-induced inhibition of cell growth and migration.
A normative study of modified spatial context memory test in middle and older individuals
Authors: Wang Hsuan-Min , Huang Yo-Ping , Kuo Hsun-Yu , Kuo Hung-Chou
Published: March 2019

In view of the spatial context memory function of hippocampus complex region, we designed a modified spatial context memory test (SCMT) and try to early identify amnesic mild cognitive impairment.

All participants with non-dementia were recruited and divided 2 age groups (55-65 years and 66-75 years) and 3 education levels (6-9 years, 10-12 years and more than 12 years). The mini-mental state examination, visual associative memory test, visual construction retention test, and logical memory subtest of the Wechsler memory scale-III were used to evaluate the cognition state of the individuals. Spatial-context memory test version I with combination of a spatial memory paradigm and a real-life event included 3 subtests of navigation, scene-event association and people-object association.

A total of 147 individuals were confirmed to be normal in cognition in the assessment of the neuropsychological test battery. Regardless of age or level of education, there was no significance in perseveration errors and the retrieval of learned-well navigation information. In the Scene-Event Association test, the subjects with a low level of education seemed to have relative difficulty to quickly classify new information and establish the effective cues to retrieval. The subjects with a high level of education, the performance of spatial-context memory were negative correlation to the age. In the People-Object association test, the subjects in all six groups made no perseveration errors, but older subjects required more time to retrieval, and this situation was more prominent in the subjects with high level education.

We establish a normal age‐ and education‐adjusted SCMT score in the middle and elder individuals.
Microbial metabolite deoxycholic acid shapes microbiota againstCampylobacter jejunichicken colonization
Authors: Alrubaye Bilal , Abraha Mussie , Almansour Ayidh , Bansal Mohit , Wang Hong , Kwon Young Min , Huang Yan , Hargis Billy , Sun Xiaolun
Published: March 2019

Despite reducing the prevalent foodborne pathogenCampylobacter jejuniin chickens decreases campylobacteriosis, few effective approaches are available. The aim of this study was to use microbial metabolic product bile acids to reduceC. jejunichicken colonization. Broiler chicks were fed with deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The birds were also transplanted with DCA modulated anaerobes (DCA-Anaero) or aerobes (DCA-Aero). The birds were infected with human clinical isolateC. jejuni81-176 or chicken isolateC. jejuniAR101. Notably,C. jejuni81-176 was readily colonized intestinal tract at d16 and reached an almost plateau at d21. Remarkably, DCA excludedC. jejunicecal colonization at 100, 99.997, and 100% at 16, 21, and 28 days of age. Neither chicken ages of infection nor LCA or UDCA alteredC. jejuniAR101 chicken colonization level, while DCA reduced 91% of the bacterium in chickens at d28. Notably, DCA diet reduced phylum Firmicutes but increased Bacteroidetes compared to infected control birds. Importantly, DCA-Anaero attenuated 93% ofC. jejunicolonization at d28 compared to control infected birds. In conclusion, DCA shapes microbiota composition againstC. jejunicolonization in chickens, suggesting a bidirectional interaction between microbiota and microbial metabolites.
Unveiling functional motions based on point mutations in biased signaling systems: A normal mode study on Nerve Growth Factor bound to TrkA
Authors: De Resende Lara Pedro Túlio , Perahia David , Scott Ana Lígia , Braz Antonio Sergio Kimus
Published: March 2019

Many receptors elicit signal transduction by activating multiple intracellular pathways. This transduction may be triggered by a nonspecific ligand, which simultaneously activates all receptor’s signaling paths. In addition, the binding of a biased ligand preferentially elicits one path over another, in a process called biased signaling. Identifying the functional motions related to each one of these distinct pathways have direct impact in the development of new efficient and specific drugs. Here we show how to detect functional motions considering the case of the NGF/TrkA-Ig2 complex. TrkA receptors activation mediated by NGF depends on specific structural motions that trigger neuronal growth, development and survival in nervous system. R221W mutation in the ngf gene impairs the nociceptive signaling. Here we show the wide spread structural effects of this mutation in the NGF/TrkA-Ig2 complex, leading to the deletion of collective motions important to TrkA activation of nociceptive signaling. Our results suggest that subtle changes in the interaction network within neurotrophic factors due to the point mutation are sufficient to inhibit necessary conformational changes for TrkA receptors activation. The methodological approach presented in this article based conjunctively on normal mode analysis and the experimentally observed functional alterations due to point mutations provides an essential tool for unveiling the structural changes and motions related to the disease, that in turn could be important for a drug design study.
Multiplexing cell-cell communication
Authors: Sexton John T. , Tabor Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2019

The engineering of advanced multicellular behaviors, such as the programmed growth of biofilms or tissues, requires cells to communicate multiple aspects of physiological information. Unfortunately, few cell-cell communication systems have been developed for synthetic biology. Here, we engineer a genetically-encoded channel selector device that enables a single communication system to transmit two separate intercellular conversations. Our design comprises multiplexer and demultiplexer sub-circuits constructed from a total of 12 CRISPRi-based transcriptional logic gates, an acyl homoserine lactone-based communication module, and three inducible promoters that enable small molecule control over the conversations. Experimentally-parameterized mathematical models of the sub-components predict the steady state and dynamical performance of the full system. Multiplexed cell-cell communication has applications in synthetic development, metabolic engineering, and other areas requiring the coordination of multiple pathways amongst a community of cells.

One Sentence Summary

We have engineered a synthetic genetic system that enables bacteria to have two separate conversations over a single chemical “wire” by separating the conversations in time.
Adaptive introgression as a driver of local adaptation to climate in European white oaks
Authors: Leroy Thibault , Louvet Jean-Marc , Lalanne Céline , Le Provost Grégoire , Labadie Karine , Aury Jean-Marc , Delzon Sylvain , Plomion Christophe , Kremer Antoine
Published: March 2019

Latitudinal and elevational gradients provide valuable experimental settings for studies of the potential impact of global warming on forest tree species. The availability of long-term phenological surveys in common garden experiments for traits associated with climate, such as bud flushing, for sessile oaks (Quercus petraea), provides an ideal opportunity to investigate this impact.

We sequenced 18 sessile oak populations, and used available sequencing data for three other closely related European white oak species (Q. pyrenaica, Q. pubescens, Q. robur), to explore the evolutionary processes responsible for shaping the genetic variation across latitudinal and elevational gradients in extant sessile oaks. We used phenotypic surveys in common garden experiments and climatic data for the population of origin, to perform genome-wide scans for population differentiation, genotype-environment (GEA) and genotype-phenotype associations (GPA).

The inferred historical relationships betweenQ. petraeapopulations suggest that interspecific gene flow occurred betweenQ. roburandQ. petraeapopulations from cooler or wetter areas. A genome-wide scan of differentiation betweenQ. petraeapopulations identified SNPs displaying strong interspecific relative divergence between these two species. These SNPs followed genetic clines along climatic or phenotypic gradients, providing further support for the likely contribution of introgression to the adaptive divergence ofQ. petraeapopulations.

Overall, the results of this study indicate that adaptive introgression ofQ. roburalleles has occurred. We discuss the results of this study in the framework of the post-glacial colonization scenario, in which introgression and diversifying selection have been proposed as essential drivers ofQ. petraeamicroevolution.
Adaptive optics allows 3D STED-FCS measurements in the cytoplasm of living cells
Authors: Barbotin Aurélien , Galiani Silvia , Urbančič Iztok , Eggeling Christian , Booth Martin
Published: March 2019

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in combination with super-resolution stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED-FCS) is a powerful tool to investigate molecular diffusion with sub-diffraction resolution. It has been of particular use for investigations of two dimensional systems like cell membranes, but has so far seen very limited applications to studies of three-dimensional diffusion. One reason for this is the extreme sensitivity of the axial (3D) STED depletion pattern to optical aberrations. We present here an adaptive optics-based correction method that compensates for these aberrations and allows STED-FCS measurements in the cytoplasm of living cells.
Chimeric LuxR Transcription Factors Rewire Natural Product Regulation
Authors: Mukherji Ruchira , Chowdhury Somak , Stallforth Pierre
Published: March 2019

LuxR-type transcriptional activator proteins frequently flank bacterial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) where they play a crucial role in regulating natural product formation. Only few bacterial BGCs are expressed under standard culturing conditions, thus modulation of flanking LuxRs is a powerful approach to activate silent clusters. Here, we show that exploiting the modular nature LuxR proteins and constructing chimeric LuxRs enables the activation of BGCs.
Long-term iron deficiency and iron supplementation exacerbate acute DSS-induced colitis and are associated with significant dysbiosis
Authors: Mahalhal Awad , Burkitt Michael D. , Duckworth Carrie A. , Hold Georgina L. , Campbell Barry J. , Pritchard D. Mark , Probert Chris S.
Published: March 2019

Patients taking oral iron supplementation often suffer from gastrointestinal side effects. We have previously shown that acute alterations in oral iron exacerbate dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced colitis and are associated with dysbiosis. As patients take iron supplementation for long periods, we asked whether this too would influence colitis and the microbiome. We assessed the impact of long-term changes in dietary iron, by feeding chow containing 100ppm, 200ppm and 400ppm (reflecting a deficient, normal or supplemented diet, respectively) for up to 9 weeks to female wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) mice in presence or absence of chronic colitis, or acute colitis induced after 8 weeks, induced by DSS. Assessment was made based on (i) clinical and histological severity of colitis, and (ii) faecal microbial diversity, as assessed by sequencing the V4 region of16SrRNA. In mice with long term changes to their dietary iron, reduced iron intake (100ppm iron diet) was associated with increased weight loss and histology scoring in the acute colitis model. Chronic colitis was not influenced by altering dietary iron however there was a clear change in the faecal microbiome in the 100 and 400ppm iron DSS-treated groups and in controls consuming the 400ppm iron diet. Proteobacteria levels increased significantly at day-63 compared to baseline and Bacteroidetes levels decreased in the 400ppm iron DSS group at day-63 compared to baseline; mirroring our previously published work in acute colitis. Long term dietary iron alterations clearly affects gut microbiota signatures but do not appear to exacerbate chronic colitis. However, acute colitis is exacerbated by changes in dietary iron. More work is needed to understand the impact of iron supplementation of the pathologenesis of IBD and rise that possiblity that the change in the microbiome, in patients with colitis, is a consequence of the increase in luminal iron and not simply the presence of colitis.
Mutational profiling of lipomas
Authors: Kanojia Deepika , Dakle Pushkar , Mayakonda Anand , Parameswaran Rajeev , Puhaindran Mark E , Min Victor Lee Kwan , Madan Vikas , Koeffler H Phillip
Published: March 2019

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors with a high prevalence rate, mostly found in adults but have a good prognosis. Until now, reason for lipoma occurrence not been identified. We performed whole exome sequencing to define the mutational spectrum in ten lipoma patients along with their matching control samples. We identified 412 somatic variants including missense mutations, splice site variants, frameshift indels, and stop gain/lost. Kinase genes and transcriptions factors were among the validated mutated genes critical for cell proliferation and survival. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of calcium, Wnt and phospholipase D signaling in patients. Whole exome sequencing in lipomas identified mutations in genes with a possible role in development and progression of lipomas.

Author Summary

We presented genomic insight into the development of lipomas, the most common benign tumor of soft tissue. Until date, no one knows the cause of lipoma development and its progression. Our group for the first time profiled ten lipoma patients’ samples and their matching normal controls to delineate the somatic mutation pattern using whole exome sequencing. Interestingly, exome-profiling results highlighted the potential role of important kinase genes and transcription factors in lipoma development. In addition, calcium, Wnt and phospholipase D signaling pathway speculated to be involve in pathogenesis of this disease.
The Long Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) Suppresses Immunity to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by Negatively Regulating Th17 Response
Authors: Gupta Gaurav , Jia Ping , Sharma Rohit , Zayats Romaniya , Viana Sayonara M. , Shan Lianyu , Mou Zhriong , Barral Aldina , Boaventura Viviane S. , Murooka Thomas T. , Soussi-Gounni Abdel , de Oliveira Camila I. , Uzonna Jude E.
Published: March 2019

The long Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a soluble pattern recognition molecule, plays a critical role in inflammation, tissue repair and wound healing. Here, we show that PTX3 regulates disease pathogenesis in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). PTX3 expression is increased in active skin lesions in patients and mice during CL, with higher levels being expressed in individuals with severe disease. PTX3 deficient (PTX3-/-) mice were highly resistant toL. majorinfection and the enhanced resistance was associated with increased IL-17 response. Neutralization of IL-17A abolished this enhanced resistance while treatment with recombinant PTX3 resulted in reduced IL-17A response and increased susceptibility toL. majorinfection. Naïve CD4+T cells from PTX3-/-mice displayed increased differentiation into Th17 cells, which was reversed in the presence of recombinant PTX3. The enhanced Th17 response observed in PTX3-/-cells was associated with increasedLeishmaniaspecific IL-6 production from dendritic cells along with enhanced expression of Th17-specific transcription factors including RORγt, AhR and STAT3. Addition of recombinant PTX3 significantly inhibited the expression of Th17-specific transcription factors and dramatically reduced the frequency of Th17 cells in Th17-polarizing cultures of PTX3-/-CD4+T cells. Collectively, our results show that PTX3 contributes to the pathogenesis of CL by suppressing Th17 differentiation and IL-17A production.

Author Summary

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is caused by several species ofLeishmania. Currently, there is no approved vaccine against human CL because of the poor understanding of the mechanisms that regulate disease pathogenesis and correlates of protective immunity. Because the long pentraxin 3 (PTX3, a soluble pattern recognition molecule that forms an integral part of the host innate immunity), regulates inflammation and tissue repair, which are critical physiological events associated with resolution of skin lesions during CL, we investigated its role in disease pathogenesis.

Here, we show that PTX3 levels were elevated in skin-lesions in patients and mice during CL. Using a loss of function approach, we showed that PTX3 contributes to pathogenesis, and this was associated with increased IL-17A responses. Neutralization and recombinant cytokine treatment studies showed that the increased resistance of PTX3 deficient mice toL. majoris due to enhanced Th17 response in these mice. We further show that PTX3 negatively regulates IL-6 production by dendritic cells and the expression of IL-17A-specific transcription factors (including RORγT, STAT3, IRF4, BATF and AhR) in CD4+T cells. Collectively, these findings show that PTX3 is a negative regulator of Th17 response and protective immunity duringL. majorinfection.
A catalog of CasX genome editing sites in common model organisms
Authors: Roberson Elisha D.O.
Published: March 2019

DpbCasX, also called Cas12e, is an RNA-guided DNA endonuclease isolated from Deltaproteobacteria. In this paper I characterized the CasX-compatible genome editing sites in the reference genomes of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), flatworms (Caenorhabditis elegans), flies (Drosophila melanogaster), zebrafish (Danio rerio), mouse (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus norvegicus), and humans (Homo sapiens). Across those genomes there were >27,000 CasX sites per megabase on average. More than 90% of genes in each genome had at least one unique site overlapping an exon, with median unique sites per gene of 6 – 45. I also annotated sites in the GRCm38 reference and 15 additional mouse strain genomes. The presence of specific guide sequences varied amongst the strains, with CAST/EiJ and PWK/PhJ showing the greatest divergence from the reference strain. The high density of CasX sites and number of exon overlapping sites suggests that CasX has the potential to be used as a common genome editor.
Strategic orientations and firm innovativeness: a necessary condition analysis
Authors: Tho Nguyen Dinh
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to decipher the levels of three strategic orientations – learning orientation, entrepreneurial orientation (proactiveness and risk taking) and marketing orientation (responsiveness to customers, responsiveness to competitors, responsiveness to the macro-environment and business relationship quality) – that are necessary for firm innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of 316 firms in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) was employed to examine the net effects of seven factors (learning orientation, proactiveness, risk taking, responsiveness to customers, responsiveness to competitors, responsiveness to changes in the macro-environment and business relationship quality) on firm innovativeness. Necessary condition analysis (NCA) was then employed to discover the level of these factors as necessary conditions for firm innovativeness.

Findings

The results produced by MRA show that learning orientation, proactiveness, responsiveness to customers and responsiveness to competitors have positive effects on firm innovativeness. The results from the NCA reveal that six out of seven conditions exhibit varying necessary levels for firm innovativeness.

Practical implications

The findings are relevant to senior managers and suggest that the levels of strategic orientations necessary for firm innovativeness vary. Firms therefore should pay attention not only to the net effects (beta weights) but also to their necessary levels. Based on their resources and capabilities, firms should take into account the necessary level of each strategic orientation in order to achieve their innovativeness goal.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to decipher the levels of three strategic orientations (learning orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and marketing orientation) that are necessary for firm innovativeness.
Business value of integrated BIM-based asset management
Authors: Munir Mustapha , Kiviniemi Arto , Jones Stephen W.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Currently, building information modelling (BIM) is largely seen as a 3D model, not as an information model or information management tool. This wrong perception of BIM and low interest in 3D asset management (AM) is one of the major reasons for the slow adoption by clients in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the techniques and strategies of streamlining AM systems for BIM-based integration, and how the information is captured from physical assets towards BIM-based integration for clients to derive value from BIM investments.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study strategy was used to study the strategic implementation process of integrating BIM with AM systems and the business value of BIM in AM by a large asset owner in the UK.

Findings

The paper identifies key strategies in the adoption of BIM-based processes by an asset owner, the implementation process, the challenges and the benefits attained. Several barriers were identified as the challenges of adopting BIM-based processes in AM: complexity and cost associated with BIM; irrelevance of 3D geometric data in AM processes; nature of asset ownership structure; managing the asset handover process; managing change within the organisation. Organisations will have to consider the following issues in streaming asset information with BIM: the development for a clear strategy prior to adoption; connecting the strategy to the business goals; and conducting the discovery exercise to identify organisational information needs.

Originality/value

The research addresses a significant gap in the development of techniques and strategies for asset owners to streamline BIM with AM systems and derive business value from such integration. The research context is a case study involving a large owner-operator in the UK that has been able to derive value from BIM systems in their AM processes. The key value of the paper is improving asset owners’ understanding of BIM in AM by demonstrating the implementation strategies, linkage to organisational objectives, challenges, value management process and business value of BIM in AM. Another contribution of the paper is improving the understanding of BIM, which is usually viewed as 3D models and that 3D geometric data do not have much value for AM tasks.
Multi academy trusts in England: a scenario of cooperation with universities
Authors: Massoud Hiba K. , Ayoubi Rami M. , Loutfi Mohamed
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the authors’ views of university–multi academy trusts’ (MATs) opportunities for future interconnectivity that could support successful partnerships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a matrix of university–MATs partnerships that could help identifying potential scenarios of collaboration between universities and MATs.

Findings

Four potential scenarios of collaborations are proposed (board membership, academic supervision, recruitment support and academic support).

Research limitations/implications

Scholars in the field can further investigate the four proposed scenarios in the matrix in future studies.

Practical implications

The matrix will be useful for universities and MATs management for potential cooperation in the future.

Originality/value

The study proposes four scenarios of cooperation between MATs and universities.
Principal resilience and vitality in extremis
Authors: Simon Susan , Gibson Mark T.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

High-stakes accountability and continuous multi-faceted pressures of the principalship require leaders to develop a broad range of personal qualities including resilience and personal vitality. Scant research exists on what happens to school principals when careers abruptly and involuntarily end, and the purpose of this paper is sought to hear principals’ accounts of their experiences and to identify whether these personal qualities assist recovery and career re-identification.

Design/methodology/approach

A collaborative English and Australian study of former principals aimed to evaluate effects of involuntary job loss from their own perspectives. In total, 12 case studies involved one-on-one interviews during a two-year period revealing impact of job loss, coping strategies, resilience and personal vitality.

Findings

Successful management indicators were found: personal qualities, including the ability to retain a perspective and big picture view of career journey; an enduring love of teaching; health and fitness; study; getting another suitable post; and psychological and medical support. Time taken to regain pre-existing levels of personal vitality varied significantly based on resilience and contextual circumstances, whilst psychological and social support from family and professional colleagues was invaluable for recovery.

Originality/value

This international study presents an original insight into effects of principals’ sudden job loss – a perspective which has imposing pastoral relevance for employing authorities, professional associations and collegial networks. Aspiring and current principals may feel, “There but for the grace of God, go I”, and it is they who may need ultimately to be prepared for what is an increasingly common occurrence in schools across the world.
Empirical analysis of residential submarket conceptualisation in Ghana
Authors: Gavu Emmanuel Kofi , Owusu-Ansah Anthony
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test for submarket existence based on an understanding of the residential rental housing market in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on extant literature and market observations, the authors provide key concepts and an overview of the residential rental market dynamics in Ghana. Reseachers appreciate that submarkets may exist in the Ghanaian rental market but have ignored the empirical testing for submarket existence due to data asymmetries. Based on real estate experts and stakeholder consultations,a prioridelineation of submarkets are constructed based on spatial, structural and a nested approach. Submarket existence is tested using the Kruskal–Wallis H test and Hedonic modelling techniques.

Findings

By using fieldwork data from Accra rental market, the analysis provides credence to the conceptualisation of submarkets and how to empirically test for same. It is argued that researchers should use alternative methods to compare results to make far-reaching conclusions.

Research limitations/implications

Examining the hypothesis that differential rental values exists for submarkets has implications for policy decisions to target submarket constructs differently to improve market maturity.

Practical implications

The research provides stakeholder investors in the rental space an understanding of market dynamics for profit maximisation, and end-users to maximise utility in deciding where to live – and as such households could benefit from making informed investment decisions on housing.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first attempts to empirically identify and test for submarkets existence in Ghana’s residential rental housing market.
Duoethnography: a mechanism for higher education faculty mentoring
Authors: DeCino Daniel A. , Strear Molly M.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

New faculty often encounters myriad professional and personal challenges during their first year of employment. In order to foster connection, support and critical dialogue throughout this potentially taxing transition, the authors utilized duoethnography to establish a peer mentorship relationship. The purpose of this paper is to describe how duoethnography can cultivate peer mentorship and further understand the experiences of first-year faculty.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study used duoethnography as a mechanism for peer mentoring for two first-year faculty located within the Midwest and Western regions of the USA. Data sources included an online journal with multiple author entries and e-mail correspondence.

Findings

The analysis revealed that duoethnography was helpful for maintaining peer mentorship for two counselor education faculty, as they critically evaluated their experiences transitioning into higher education through an online journal. Several key moments of mentoring emerged from the data including navigating tenure, holding hope, balancing and finding place.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the authors found the use of duoethnography to be helpful for peer mentorship as the authors navigated unfamiliar settings and established the professional identities as educators. Future studies utilizing duoethnography for peer mentorship may provide insight into experiences in higher education to support faculty professional development.

Originality/value

Although prior research has examined the experiences of faculty and traditional mentorship, the authors are unaware of research examining the use of duoethnography to establish peer mentorship for new, tenure-track faculty. This manuscript provides higher education faculty a tool for promoting mentorship, critical dialogue, collaboration and transformation through duoethnography.
Examining timely graduation rates of undergraduate students
Authors: Tentsho Kelzang , McNeil Nittaya , Tongkumchum Phattrawan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Graduation rates are commonly used to assess the quality of higher educational institutions. While universities strive to produce as many graduates as possible, maintaining the right balance between the number of new students enrolled and the number who graduate each year has become a challenge in the past few decades. Timely graduation is often disregarded because a large majority of the students do not graduate within the stipulated time. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors associated with timely degree attainment.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were obtained from records maintained by Registrar Office, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, Thailand. The final sample comprised 1,330 undergraduate students enrolled at four major faculties in 2009. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to explain the effects of independent variables on timely graduation.

Findings

About 81.0 percent had completed their degree program within the stipulated time. The results indicated that faculty, first-semester grade point average, gender and place of residence were significantly associated with timely graduation.

Originality/value

Findings from this study may serve as a guide to higher educational institutions in identifying the underlying factors, and accordingly develop programs to enhance on time degree completion rates.
Latest research on brand relationships: introduction to the special issue
Authors: Fetscherin Marc , Guzman Francisco , Veloutsou Cleopatra , Cayolla Ricardo Roseira
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to outline the role of brands as relationship builders and to offer a better understanding of the recent developments and key literature in the area of consumer–brand relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an editorial based mainly on a literature review on consumer–brand relationships. It uses the sentiment range and passion intensity to position various brand relationship constructs. This work follows the same bibliometric-analysis approach used by Fetscherin and Heinrich (2014) and looked for publications in the Web of Science on brand relationships, with reference to Fournier’s (1998) seminal work and data collected for the period between January 2010 and November 2018.

Findings

First, this work presents the key consumer–brand relationship terms and positions the work on brand love, brand like, brand hate, brand dislike and brand indifference. In addition, the bibliometric analysis offers a number of insights into the current state of the academic research in the area of consumer–brand relationships, including a clear indication that the research on consumer–brand relationships is increasing.

Originality/value

This work and the whole special issue together help in the understanding of brands as relationship builders, clearly explaining the continuum from strong positive or negative relationships with brands to no relationship with brands and the current state of research in the area.
Compensation for disturbance in New South Wales: value vs cost
Authors: Parker David
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore compensation for compulsorily acquired businesses in the pre-statutory value to the owner regime compared to the post-statutory cost and loss to the owner regime.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved researching decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court and appellate courts in the pre- and post-statutory regimes. It also involved the identification of value to owner compensation in pre-statutory decisions and comparison with costs and loss to owner compensation in post-statutory decisions.

Findings

The study found that the few post-statutory decisions on disturbance compensation for compulsorily acquired businesses appear inconsistent with the provisions of the statute; however, the value vs cost debate has not yet been fully tested in the courts.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the number and types of cases brought before the primary court and the number and types of cases then brought before the appellate courts.

Practical implications

With recent decisions in the post-statutory regime adopting a more clinical interpretation of the Act concerning other heads of claim for disturbance, future cases before the courts may be expected to have a greater focus on the value vs cost issue for compensation claims for compulsorily acquired businesses.

Social implications

Compensation based on a clinical interpretation of cost or loss arising from the compulsory acquisition of a business in the post-statutory regime may result in inequitable compensation to the acquired party, failing the primary provision of the Act to justly compensate for the acquisition.

Originality/value

While conceptual differences between cost and value were considered and distinguished long ago in the valuation discipline in Australia and overseas, this is the first time they have emerged in the legal discipline in Australia through specific statutory wording.
Time-based responsive logistics for a maintenance service network
Authors: Manikas Ioannis , Sundarakani Balan , Iakimenko Vera
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main reasons for spare parts logistics failures and address logistics distribution design in order to achieve the desired level of after-sales maintenance service.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on an empirical case study on a large corporation providing worldwide with retail banking hardware, software and services. The case study focuses on the automated teller machine (ATM) part of activities, with a focus on the spare parts distribution and after-sales service network in the Eastern Europe.

Findings

The proposed network solution of multiple distribution centers with short-cut distance saving approach will enable the case study company to redesign their spare part logistics architecture in order to achieve short response time. Research findings reveal possible spare parts delivery delays and thus the service-level agreement failures with clients in the case study company.

Research limitations/implications

This research covers a particular supply chain environment and identified research gaps. It discusses a time-based responsive logistics problem and develops a conceptual framework that would help researchers to better understand logistics challenges of installed equipment maintenance and after-sales service.

Originality/value

This case study research shows the “big picture” of spare parts logistics challenges as vital part of installed equipment after-sales and maintenance service network, as well as emphasizes how the unique context of a market like Russian Federation can set-up a distribution network efficiently. Strategies applied to handle such service-level failures, reverse logistics aspects of repairable and non-repairable spare parts to such large ATM after-sales service network based on this longitudinal case offer value for similar scale companies.
Do more structural holes lead to more risk propagation in R&D networks?
Authors: Song Yue , Yang Naiding , Zhang Yanlu , Wang Jingbei
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore how the number of structural holes influences the possibility of risk propagation in R&D networks; and second, to investigate how the specific context of tie strength and common cognition moderate the association between structural holes and risk propagation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on how structural holes influence risk propagation under the specific context of relationship and cognitive dimension by drawing on social capital theory. Risk sharing and risk perception as mediating variables are employed in the proposed conceptual model. The authors issued questionnaires to managers and R&D personnel participating in R&D projects and collaboration in Shanghai and Jiangsu province through e-mail and face to face. The data were used to carry out multiple regression analysis to test hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that relationship between structural holes and risk propagation of R&D network is U-shaped. Risk perception and risk sharing partially mediate the relationship between structural holes and risk propagation. Tie strength significantly moderates the relationship between structural holes and risk sharing, but insignificantly moderates the association between structural holes and risk perception. Common cognition significantly moderates the associations between structural holes and risk sharing, and structural holes and risk perception, respectively.

Originality/value

This study provides a distinctive theoretical perspective for social capital and risk management. It also offers managers a clear understanding of how to reduce or to avoid risk propagation by jointly leveraging the number of structural holes, tie strength and common cognition.