bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual domestication, diversity, and differential introgression in Old World cotton diploids
Authors: Grover Corrinne E. , Arick Mark A. , Thrash Adam , Sharbrough Joel , Hu Guanjing , Yuan Daojun , Miller Emma R. , Ramaraj Thiruvarangan , Peterson Daniel G. , Udall Joshua A. , Wendel Jonathan F.
Published: October 2021

Domestication in the cotton genus is remarkable in that it has occurred independently four different times at two different ploidy levels. Relatively little is known about genome evolution and domestication in the cultivated diploid species Gossypium herbaceum and G. arboreum, because of the absence of wild representatives for the latter species, their ancient domestication, and their joint history of human-mediated dispersal and interspecific gene flow. Using in-depth resequencing of a broad sampling from both species, we confirm their independent domestication, as opposed to a progenitor-derivative relationship, showing that diversity (mean π = 2.3×10-3) within species is similar, and that divergence between species is modest (weighted FST=0.4430). Individual accessions were homozygous for ancestral SNPs at over half of variable sites, while fixed, derived sites were at modest frequencies. Notably, two chromosomes with a paucity of fixed, derived sites (i.e., chromosomes 7 and 10) were also strongly implicated in introgression analyses. Collectively, these data demonstrate variable permeability to introgression among chromosomes, which we propose is due to divergent selection under domestication and/or the phenomenon of F2 breakdown in interspecific crosses. Our analyses provide insight into the evolutionary forces influencing diversity and divergence in the diploid cultivated species, and establish a foundation for understanding the contribution of introgression and/or strong parallel selection to the extensive morphological similarities shared between species.

Significance statement

The cotton genus (Gossypium) contains four different species that were independently domesticated at least 4,000 years ago. Relatively little is understood about diversity and evolution in the two diploid African-Asian sister-species G. herbaceum and G. arboreum, despite their historical importance in the region and contemporary cultivation, largely in the Indian subcontinent. Here we address questions regarding the relationship between the two species, their contemporary levels of diversity, and their patterns of interspecific gene flow accompanying their several millennia history of human-mediated dispersal and contact. We validate independent domestication of the two species and document the genomic distribution of interspecific genetic exchange.
The Polo kinase Cdc5 is regulated at multiple levels in the adaptation response to telomere dysfunction
Authors: Coutelier Héloïse , Ilioaia Oana , Peillet Jeanne Le , Hamon Marion , D’Amours Damien , Teixeira Maria Teresa , Xu Zhou
Published: October 2021

Telomere dysfunction activates the DNA damage checkpoint to induce a cell cycle arrest. After an extended period of time, however, cells can bypass the arrest and undergo cell division despite the persistence of the initial damage, a process called adaptation to DNA damage. The Polo kinase Cdc5 inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeis essential for adaptation and for many other cell-cycle processes. How the regulation of Cdc5 in response to telomere dysfunction relates to adaptation is not clear. Here, we report that Cdc5 protein level decreases after telomere dysfunction in a Mec1-, Rad53- and Ndd1-dependent manner. This regulation of Cdc5 is important to maintain long-term cell cycle arrest but not for the initial checkpoint arrest. We find that both Cdc5 and the adaptation-deficient mutant protein Cdc5-ad are heavily phosphorylated and several phosphorylation sites modulate adaptation efficiency. The PP2A phosphatases are involved in Cdc5-ad phosphorylation status and contribute to adaptation mechanisms. We finally propose that Cdc5 orchestrates multiple cell cycle pathways to promote adaptation.
Sponge contribution to the silicon cycle of a diatom-rich shallow bay
Authors: López-Acosta María , Maldonado Manuel , Grall Jacques , Ehrhold Axel , Sitjà Cèlia , Galobart Cristina , Leynaert Aude
Published: October 2021

In coastal systems, planktonic and benthic silicifiers compete for the pool of dissolved silicon, a nutrient required to make their skeletons. The contribution of planktonic diatoms to the cycling of silicon in coastal systems is often well characterized, while that of benthic silicifiers such as sponges has rarely been quantified. Herein, silicon fluxes and stocks are quantified for the sponge fauna in the benthic communities of the Bay of Brest (France). A total of 45 siliceous sponge species living in the Bay account for a silicon standing stock of 1215 tons, while that of diatoms is only 27 tons. The silicon reservoir accumulated as sponge skeletons in the superficial sediments of the Bay rises to 1775 tons, while that of diatom skeletons is only 248 tons. These comparatively large stocks of sponge silicon were estimated to cycle two orders of magnitude slower than the diatom stocks. Sponge silicon stocks need years to decades to be renewed, while diatom turnover lasts only days. Although the sponge monitoring over the last 6 years indicates no major changes of the sponge stocks, our results do not allow to conclude if the silicon sponge budget of the Bay is at steady state, and potential scenarios are discussed. The findings buttress the idea that sponges and diatoms play contrasting roles in the marine silicon cycle. The budgets of these silicon major users need to be integrated and their connections revealed, if we aim to reach a full understanding of the silicon cycling in coastal ecosystems.
Systematic expression profiling of dprs and DIPs reveals cell surface codes in Drosophila larval peripheral neurons
Authors: Wang Yupu , Lobb-Rabe Meike , Ashley James , Chatterjee Purujit , Anand Veera , Bellen Hugo J. , Kanca Oguz , Carrillo Robert A.
Published: October 2021

In complex nervous systems, neurons must identify their correct partners to form synaptic connections. The prevailing model to ensure correct recognition posits that cell surface proteins (CSPs) in individual neurons act as identification tags. Thus, knowing what cells express which CSPs would provide insights into neural development, synaptic connectivity, and nervous system evolution. Here, we investigated expression of dprs and DIPs, two CSP subfamilies belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF), in Drosophila larval motor neurons (MNs), sensory neurons (SNs), peripheral glia and muscles using a collection of GAL4 driver lines. We found that dprs are more broadly expressed than DIPs in MNs and SNs, and each examined neuron expresses a unique combination of dprs and DIPs. Interestingly, many dprs and DIPs are not robustly expressed, but instead, are found in gradient and temporal expression patterns. Hierarchical clustering showed a similar expression pattern of dprs and DIPs in neurons from the same type and with shared synaptic partners, suggesting these CSPs may facilitate synaptic wiring. In addition, the unique expression patterns of dprs and DIPs revealed three uncharacterized MNs - MN23-Ib, MN6-Ib (A2) and MN7-Ib (A2). This study sets the stage for exploring the functions of dprs and DIPs in Drosophila MNs and SNs and provides genetic access to subsets of neurons.
Arabidopsis PROTODERMAL FACTOR2 binds lysophosphatidylcholines and transcriptionally regulates phospholipid metabolism
Authors: Wojciechowska Izabela , Mukherjee Thiya , Knox-Brown Patrick , Hu Xueyun , Khosla Aashima , Mathews Graham L. , Thompson Kyle A. , Peery Seth T. , Szlachetko Jagoda , Thalhammer Anja , Hincha Dirk K. , Skirycz Aleksandra , Schrick Kathrin
Published: October 2021

Plant homeodomain leucine-zipper IV (HD-Zip IV) transcription factors (TFs) contain an evolutionarily conserved steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)-related lipid transfer (START) domain. The START domain is required for TF activity; however, its presumed role as a lipid sensor is not well understood. Here we used tandem affinity purification from Arabidopsis cell cultures to demonstrate that PROTODERMAL FACTOR2 (PDF2), a representative family member which controls epidermal differentiation, recruits lysophosphatidylcholines in a START-dependent manner. In vitro assays with recombinant protein verified that a missense mutation in a predicted ligand contact site reduces lysophospholipid binding. We additionally uncovered that PDF2 controls the expression of phospholipid-related target genes by binding to a palindromic octamer with consensus to a phosphate (Pi) response element. Phospholipid homeostasis and elongation growth were altered in pdf2 mutants according to Pi availability. Cycloheximide chase experiments further revealed a role for START in maintaining protein levels, and Pi limitation resulted in enhanced protein destabilization, suggesting a mechanism by which lipid binding controls TF activity. We propose that the START domain serves as a molecular sensor for membrane phospholipid status in the epidermis. Overall our data provide insights towards understanding how the lipid metabolome integrates Pi availability with gene expression.
Adrenergic signaling controls early transcriptional programs during CD8+ T cell responses to viral infection
Authors: Estrada Leonardo D. , Çobanoğlu Didem Ağaç , Wise Aaron , Maples Robert W. , Çobanoğlu Murat Can , Farrar J. David
Published: October 2021

Viral infections drive the expansion and differentiation of responding CD8+ T cells into variegated populations of cytolytic effector and memory cells. While pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell surface immune receptors play a key role in guiding T cell responses to infection, T cells are also markedly influenced by neurotransmitters. Norepinephrine is a key sympathetic neurotransmitter, which acts to suppress CD8 + T cell cytokine secretion and lytic activity by signaling through the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2). Although ADRB2 signaling is considered generally immunosuppressive, its role in regulating differentiation of effector T cells in response to infection has not been investigated. Using an adoptive transfer approach, we compared the expansion and differentiation of wild type (WT) to Adrb2-/- CD8 + T cells throughout the primary response to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in vivo. We measured the dynamic changes in transcriptome profiles of antigen-specific CD8 + T cells as they responded to VSV. Within the first 7 days of infection, WT cells out-paced the expansion of Adrb2-/- cells, which correlated with reduced expression of IL-2 and the IL-2Rα in the absence of ADRB2. RNASeq analysis identified over 300 differentially expressed genes that were both temporally regulated following infection and selectively regulated in WT vs Adrb2-/- cells. These genes contributed to major transcriptional pathways including cytokine receptor activation, signaling in cancer, immune deficiency, and neurotransmitter pathways. By parsing genes within groups that were either induced or repressed over time in response to infection, we identified three main branches of genes that were differentially regulated by the ADRB2. These gene sets were predicted to be regulated by specific transcription factors involved in effector T cell development, such as Tbx21 and Eomes. Collectively, these data demonstrate a significant role for ADRB2 signaling in regulating key transcriptional pathways during CD8 + T cells responses to infection that may dramatically impact their functional capabilities and downstream memory cell development.
Regulatory variants active in iPSC-derived pancreatic progenitor cells are associated with Type 2 Diabetes in adults
Authors: Nguyen Jennifer P. , D’Antonio-Chronowska Agnieszka , Fujita Kyohei , Salgado Bianca M. , Matsui Hiroko , Arthur Timothy D. ,   iPSCORE Consortium, Donovan Margaret K.R. , D’Antonio Matteo , Frazer Kelly A.
Published: October 2021

Pancreatic progenitor cells (PPC) are an early developmental multipotent cell type that give rise to mature endocrine, exocrine, and ductal cells. To investigate the extent to which regulatory variants active in PPC contribute to pancreatic complex traits and disease in the adult, we derived PPC from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of nine unrelated individuals and generated single cell profiles of chromatin accessibility (snATAC- seq) and transcriptome (scRNA-seq). While iPSC-PPC differentiation was asynchronous and included cell types from early to late developmental stages, we found that the predominant cell type consisted of NKX6-1+ progenitors. Genetic characterization using snATAC-seq identified 86,261 regulatory variants that either displayed chromatin allelic bias and/or were predicted to affect active transcription factor (TF) binding sites. Integration of these regulatory variants with 380 fine-mapped type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk loci identified regulatory variants in 209 of these loci that are functional in iPSC-PPC, either by affecting transcription factor binding or through association with allelic effects on chromatin accessibility. The PPC active regulatory variants in 65 of these loci showed strong evidence of causally underlying the association with T2D. Our study shows that studying the functional associations of regulatory variation in iPSC-PPC enables the identification and characterization of causal SNPs for adult Type 2 Diabetes.
Microplastic pollution of commercial fishes from coastal and offshore waters, Japan
Authors: Yagi Mitsuharu , Kobayashi Tsunefumi , Maruyama Yutaka , Hoshina Sota , Masumi Satoshi , Aizawa Itaru , Uchida Jun , Kinoshita Tsukasa , Yamawaki Nobuhiro , Aoshima Takashi , Morii Yasuhiro , Shimizu Kenichi
Published: October 2021

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a worldwide issue in the marine environment. There is growing concern of consuming MPs through fish, yet the current contamination status of fish collected from the deep sea surrounding Japan remains limited. We present baseline data on MPs in commercially important fishes from the coastal and offshore waters near Kyushu, Japan (East China Sea). We examined the MPs in the digestive tracts of two pelagic (n = 150 in total) and five demersal species (n = 235 in total). The fish were caught by pole and line, and bottom trawl at different geographical positions. The MPs in pelagic fish (39.1 %) were higher than demersal fish (10.3 %) and of larger sizes. The MPs correlated with habitat depth and type. There was species variation in the shape and polymer composition of MPs. These results increase our understanding of the heterogeneous uptake of MPs by fishes.
Unravelling the Graded Millisecond Allosteric Activation Mechanism of Imidazole Glycerol Phosphate Synthase
Authors: Calvó-Tusell Carla , Maria-Solano Miguel A. , Osuna Sílvia , Feixas Ferran
Published: October 2021

Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of enzymatic allosteric regulation requires the structural characterization of key functional states and also their time evolution toward the formation of the allosterically activated ternary complex. The transient nature and usually slow millisecond timescale interconversion between these functional states hamper their detailed experimental and computational characterization. Here, we design a computational strategy tailored to reconstruct millisecond timescale events to describe the graded allosteric activation of imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS) in the ternary complex. IGPS is a heterodimeric bienzyme complex responsible for the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate in the HisH subunit and delivering ammonia for the cyclase activity in HisF. Despite significant advances in understanding the underlying allosteric mechanism, essential molecular details of the long-range millisecond allosteric activation pathway of wild-type IGPS remain hidden. Without using a priori information of the active state, our simulations uncover how IGPS, with the allosteric effector bound in HisF, spontaneously captures glutamine in a catalytically inactive HisH conformation, subsequently attains a closed HisF:HisH interface, and finally forms the oxyanion hole in HisH for efficient glutamine hydrolysis. We show that effector binding in HisF dramatically decreases the conformational barrier associated with the oxyanion hole formation in HisH, in line with the experimentally observed 4500-fold activity increase in glutamine production. The formation of the allosterically active state is controlled by time-evolving dynamic communication networks connecting the effector and substrate binding sites. This computational strategy can be generalized to study other unrelated enzymes undergoing millisecond timescale allosteric transitions.
Aerodynamic coefficients modeling using Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm and network
Authors: Wang Zhigang , Li Aijun , Wang Lihao , Zhou Xiangchen , Wu Boning
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new aerodynamic parameter estimation methodology based on neural network and output error method, while the output error method is improved based on particle swarm algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the algorithm approximates the dynamic characteristics of aircraft based on feedforward neural network. Neural network is trained by extreme learning machine, and the trained network can predict the aircraft response at (k + 1)th instant given the measured flight data atkth instant. Secondly, particle swarm optimization is used to enhance the convergence of Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm, and the improved LM method is used to substitute for the Gauss Newton algorithm in output error method. Finally, the trained neural network is combined with the improved output error method to estimate aerodynamic derivatives.

Findings

Neither depending on the initial guess of the parameters to be estimated nor requiring numerical integration of the aircraft motion equation, the proposed algorithm can be used for unstable aircraft and is successfully applied to extract aerodynamic derivatives from both simulated and real flight data.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed method requires iterative calculation and can only identify parameters offline.

Practical implications

The proposed method is successfully applied to estimate aircraft aerodynamic parameters and can also be used as a new algorithm for other optimization problems.

Originality/value

In this study, the output error method is improved to reduce the dependence on the initial value of parameters and expand its application scope. It is applied in aircraft aerodynamic parameter identification together with neural network.
Determination of fuel consumption and pollutant emissions with the real-time engine running data of aircrafts in the taxi-out period
Authors: Akyüz Mehmet Kadri
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to calculate the fuel consumption and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) in the taxi-out period of aircraft at the International Diyarbakir Airport in 2018 and 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

Calculations were performed by determining the engine operating times in the taxi-out period with the flight data obtained from the airport authority. In the analyses, aircraft series and aircraft engine types were determined, and the Engine Exhaust Emission Databank of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) were used for the calculation.

Findings

Total fuel consumption in the taxi-out period in 2018 and 2019 was calculated as 525.64 and 463.69 tons, respectively. In 2018, HC, CO and NOx emissions caused by fuel consumption were found to be 1,109, 10,668 and 2,339 kg, respectively. In 2019, the total HC, CO and NOx emissions released to the atmosphere during the taxi-out phase are 966, 9,391 and 2,126 kg, respectively. B737 Series aircraft have the largest share in total fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.

Practical implications

This study explains the importance of determining fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by considering engine operating times in the taxi-out period. The study provides aviation authorities with scientific methods to follow in calculating fuel consumption and emissions from aircraft operations.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is the calculation of fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by determining real-time engine running times in the taxi-out period. In addition, calculations were made with real engine operating times determined in the taxi-out period using real flight data.
Research productivity of management faculty: job demands-resources approach
Authors: Barney Chet E. , Clark Brent B. , da Motta Veiga Serge P.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study was to examine which job resources are most valuable for research productivity, depending on varying teaching demands.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 324 management faculty at research, balanced and teaching (i.e. respectively low-, moderate- and high-teaching demands) public universities in the United States.

Findings

Results showed that no single job resource predicted research productivity across all three types of schools. At research schools (i.e. low-teaching demands), productivity was positively associated with job resources including summer compensation, level of protection for untenured faculty and number of research assistant hours, while negatively associated with travel funding. At balanced schools (i.e. moderate-teaching demands), research output was positively associated with time allocated to research, grant money, travel funding and conference attendance, while negatively associated with amount of consulting hours. At teaching schools (i.e. high-teaching demands), the only significant resource was time allocated to research.

Practical implications

This paper can help management faculty and business school leaders understand what resources are most appropriate given the teaching demands associated with the specific institution, and by further helping these institutions attract and retain the best possible faculty.

Originality/value

This study extends prior work on academic research performance by identifying resources that can help faculty publish given different levels of teaching demands. This is important as teaching demands tend to be relatively stable within an institution, while they can vary greatly across types of institutions.
Risk perception, health stressors and reduction in sharing cannabis products during the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Rosenberg Dennis , Sznitman Sharon
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to understand the extent to which cannabis-related risk perception and COVID-19-related health worries were associated with the reported reduction in sharing cannabis smoking products to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus transmission or infection. This association was tested in two different periods in terms of toughness of national lockdown policy imposed in the first months of the pandemic in Israel.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population included adult recreational cannabis users who completed one of the two online cross-sectional surveys dedicated to COVID-19 and the cannabis use situation in Israel in the first half of the 2020. The two surveys were conducted six weeks apart. One survey was conducted in the period when strict lockdown measures were in place (N1 = 376). The other survey was conducted in the period when many lockdown measures were lifted (N2 = 284). Differences between the samples regarding risk perception, health stressors and reduction in sharing cannabis products were assessed using t-test. Regression analysis was used to test the independent correlates of reported reduction in sharing cannabis products.

Findings

Means of risk perception, health stressors and reported reduction in sharing cannabis products were higher in the sample surveyed in the period of the strict lockdown measures than in the sample surveyed in the period of eased lockdown measures. Risk perception was associated with reported reduction in sharing cannabis products only in the sample surveyed in the period of strict lockdown measures. In contrast, health stressors were related to reported reduction in sharing cannabis products in both samples.

Social implications

Health stressors may represent a more stable mechanism by which cannabis users engage in protective behavior during the pandemic than risk perceptions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current research is one of the first studies that examine the associations among risk perception, primary stressors and protective behavior in recreational cannabis users while referring to cannabis-related behavior other than use.
Ethical considerations of disaster research in conflict-affected areas
Authors: Mena Rodrigo , Hilhorst Dorothea
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Debates on the ethics of disaster and humanitarian studies concern unequal relations in research (among research institutes/researchers/stakeholders); the physical and psychological well-being of research participants and researchers; and the imposition of western methods, frameworks and epistemologies to the study of disasters. This paper focuses on everyday ethics: how they need to be translated throughout the everyday practices of research and how researchers can deal with the ethical dilemmas that inevitably occur.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the process of addressing ethics-related dilemmas from the first author's experiences researching disaster governance in high-intensity conflict settings, in particular drawing from 4 to 6 months of fieldwork in South Sudan and Afghanistan. In addition, ethical issues around remote research are discussed, drawing on the example of research conducted in Yemen. It is based on the personal notes taken by the first author and on the experience of both authors translating guidelines for research in remote and hazardous areas into research practices.

Findings

The paper concerns translating ethics into the everyday practices of research planning, implementation and communication. It argues for the importance of adaptive research processes with space for continuous reflection in order to advance disaster studies based on (1) equitable collaboration; (2) participatory methodologies wherever possible; (3) safety and security for all involved; (4) ethical approaches of remote research and (5) responsible and inclusive research communication and research-uptake. Openness about gaps and limitations of ethical standards, discussions with peers about dilemmas and reporting on these in research outcomes should be embedded in everyday ethics.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to discussions on everyday ethics, where ethics are integral to the epistemologies and everyday practices of research.
Topology optimization of structures subject to self-weight loading under stress constraints
Authors: Batista dos Santos Renatha , Gomes Lopes Cinthia
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach for structural weight minimization under von Mises stress constraints and self-weight loading based on the topological derivative method. Although self-weight loading topology has been the subject of intense research, mainly compliance minimization has been addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

The resulting minimization problem is solved with the help of the topological derivative method, which allows the development of efficient and robust topology optimization algorithms. Then, the derived result is used together with a level-set domain representation method to devise a topology design algorithm.

Findings

Numerical examples are presented, showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach in solving a structural topology optimization problem under self-weight loading and stress constraint. When the self-weight loading is dominant, the presence of the regularizing term in the formulation is crucial for the design process.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research work lies in the use of a regularized formulation to deal with the presence of the self-weight loading combined with a penalization function to treat the von Mises stress constraint.
A rapid review of practices to support people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19
Authors: Oudshoorn Abe , Benjamin Tanya , Smith-Carrier Tracy A. , Benbow Sarah , Marshall Carrie Anne , Kennedy Riley , Hall Jodi , Caxaj C. Susana , Berman Helene , Befus Deanna
Published: October 2021

Purpose

People experiencing homelessness are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of a pandemic, such as COVID-19. Therefore, governments across Canada have been implementing a patchwork of responses to address the needs of those who are homeless at this time. The purpose of this study is to both compile and assess the varying responses by exploring the breadth of actions presented in print and social media.

Design/methodology/approach

Rapid review methodology is a means of compiling a breadth of information to compare and contrast policy implementations. Herein, the authors provide a comprehensive rapid review of responses to homelessness considered through a health equity lens.

Findings

Based on policy implementations to date, the authors offer eight recommendations of potentially promising practices among these responses. Situated within a capabilities approach, the authors call upon governments to provide a full breadth of responses to ensure that both health and housing are better protected and obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first comprehensive review of local government responses to homelessness in the context of COVID-19.
Customer pressure and restaurant employee green creative behavior: serial mediation effects of restaurant ethical standards and employee green passion
Authors: Cho Meehee , Yoo Joanne Jung-Eun
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Today’s consumers are aware of restaurants’ effects on the environment and pressure them to implement green practices. As restaurant success largely depends on how employees meet customer expectations, employee green creative behavior (EGCB) is critical. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how to enhance EGCB by integrating a comprehensive set of three-dimensional components: external, organizational and individual factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Data analysis was conducted using responses from full-time employees in the US restaurant industry. The PROCESS macro was used to test the direct and indirect relationships between the study variables. A series of mediation analyzes were conducted to investigate the mediation effects of “restaurant ethical standards” and “employee green passion” on their relationships to “customer pressure” and EGCB.

Findings

The results verified a direct effect of “customer pressure” on “restaurant ethical standards” and EGCB. The study also demonstrated positive direct relationships of “restaurant ethical standards” – “employee green passion” and “employee green passion” – EGCB. The result showed that “restaurant ethical standards” and “employee green passion” sequentially explained the partial impact of “customer pressure” on EGCB.

Practical implications

The study recommends that restaurant managers acknowledge growing customer environmentalism and prepare to address their customers’ stricter green requirements. Restaurants need to review their ethical standards on a regular basis to meet rising customer pressure. The study also offers empirical evidence regarding the importance of selecting employees who are passionate about sustainability and empowering them to encourage their green creative behavior.

Originality/value

Although past studies have introduced various determinants of employee creative behavior, they have mainly focused on organizational and individual-level factors but have ignored a critical external factor, which is customer pressure. The study addresses this research gap by investigating the interrelationships between customer pressure and EGCB through restaurant ethical standards (organizational-level) and employee green passion (individual-level).
A system of values and economic behaviour models of young entrepreneurs
Authors: Gurieva Svetlana D. , Zashchirinskaia Oksana V.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of values with individual economic behaviour, identifies the correlation between personality values that are conditioned upon the culture, and evaluations of economic behaviour situations on the example of Russian culture.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved 222 people of Russian nationality, young entrepreneurs employed in the commercial field, developing their own business. The following methods were used in the study: the methodology for measuring the values of an individual and cultural level; Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire, a scenario methodology for economic behaviour, which is a short behavioural scenario (model of behaviour), taken from real life. The statistical processing of experimental data was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21 software package.

Findings

The values with correlated progressive and regressive economic forms of behaviour were identified for modern Russian society. The correlation of factors with progressive and regressive economic behaviour was also identified.

Practical implications

The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the results obtained not only in the system of economic education but also in programs to support the business activity of young entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The value of this study is determined by the fact that it can be placed in a broader context of research into the relationship between the levels of human consciousness and his behaviour.
The role of organizational and individual-level factors for the inclusion of women managers in Japan
Authors: Saitova Elza , Di Mauro Carmela
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyze and contrast the role of organizational and individual level factors in influencing the effective participation of women managers in decision-making in Japanese business organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study based on 21 in-depth interviews with women and men in managerial positions in Japanese organizations is adopted.

Findings

Results show that gender equality structures and practices are not effectively institutionalized within Japanese organizations. In particular, corporate social responsibility programs are perceived by women respondents to be formally adopted to gain legitimacy in the eyes of foreign investors. However, they lack effectiveness in giving the woman manager a “voice” in business decisions. Organizational practices such as leadership development and mentoring are generally not evident in the organizations analyzed. Conversely, the personal traits of the woman manager, such as determination, self-confidence and “being able to confront men colleagues” are the factors perceived to be crucial in influencing women’s participation in decisions.

Social implications

The study suggests that to increase the weight of women managers in Japanese organizations’ decision-making, action is still needed within organizations to create a true diversity-culture. Additionally, action at the educational level has to remove women’s own self-segregation.

Originality/value

The study offers novel evidence on the “glass ceiling” in Japanese businesses by investigating whether women’s access to management positions corresponds to effective decision power. The study also highlights the key enabling factors, therefore contributing to the analysis of how to create more effective gender “diversity” within Japanese businesses.
Forecasting sovereign risk perception of Brazilian bonds: an evaluation of machine learning prediction accuracy
Authors: de Oliveira Diego Silveira Pacheco , Montes Gabriel Caldas
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Given the importance of credit rating agencies’ (CRAs) assessment in affecting international financial markets, it is useful for policymakers and investors to be able to forecast it properly. Therefore, this study aims to forecast sovereign risk perception of the main agencies related to Brazilian bonds through the application of different machine learning (ML) techniques and evaluate their predictive accuracy in order to find out which one is best for this task.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on monthly data from January 1996 to November 2018, we perform different forecast analyses using the K-Nearest Neighbors, the Gradient Boosted Random Trees and the Multilayer Perceptron methods.

Findings

The results of this study suggest the Multilayer Perceptron technique is the most reliable one. Its predictive accuracy is relatively high if compared to the other two methods. Its forecast errors are the lowest in both the out-of-sample and in-sample forecasts’ exercises. These results hold if we consider the CRAs classification structure as linear or logarithmic. Moreover, its forecast errors are not statistically associated with periods of changes in CRAs’ opinion of any sort.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the performance of ML methods in the task of predicting sovereign credit news, including not only the sovereign ratings but also the outlook and credit watch status. In addition, the authors investigate whether the forecasts errors are statistically associated with periods of changes in sovereign risk perception.
Determinants of frugal innovation for firms in emerging markets: the roles of leadership, knowledge sharing and collaborative culture
Authors: Le Phong Ba
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Due to the vital role of frugal innovation (FI) for firms in developing and emerging economies, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of transformational leadership (TL) and knowledge sharing (KS) on FI of firms in supply chains. This study aims to bring deeper insight on the correlation among the constructs by exploring and analyzing the moderating effect of collaborative culture (CC) in the KS-FI relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used the quantitative approach and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the relationship among the latent factors in the proposed research model using data collected from 381 participants in 116 manufacturing and service firms.

Findings

The findings revealed that TL might be an important precursor to induce significant influences on FI directly or indirectly through its effect on active and passive KS processes in supply chains. In addition, the paper highlights the moderating role of CC in strengthening the impact of KS processes on FI.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a valuable understanding and novel approach for managers to improve firms' FI capability through leadership practice and KS processes. The research findings support the idea that FI capability of firms in developing and emerging nations will be significantly enhanced if leaders are interested in practicing TL style and fostering a climate of collaboration within organization.

Originality/value

This study contributes to bridging research gaps in the literature and advancing the insights of how TL directly and indirectly fosters FI via mediating roles of active and passive KS processes in supply chains under the climate of collaboration.
Corporate compliance capability of EMNEs: a prerequisite for overcoming the liability of emergingness in advanced economies
Authors: Wang Liang , Xie Zaiyang , Zhang Hongjuan , Yang Xiaohua , Tan Justin
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The literature on how emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) overcome the liability of emergingness/origin has sidestepped a prerequisite for any efforts to overcome liability, namely, corporate compliance. The authors argue that EMNEs build corporate compliance capability as a knowledge-based firm-specific advantage (FSA) to adapt to institutional norms in advanced economies. In this study, the authors empirically examine the intricate relationships between corporate compliance capability and performance in the US subsidiaries of Chinese firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors use survey data to empirically examine the intricate relationships between corporate compliance capability and performance in the US subsidiaries of Chinese firms.

Findings

The findings reveal a positive relationship between corporate compliance capability and subsidiary performance, as mediated by local financing.

Originality/value

The study suggests that corporate compliance capability helps a subsidiary gain legitimacy, which leads to local resource acquisition and utilization. Corporate compliance capability thus serves as a source of a knowledge-based FSA for EMNEs in developed economies.
Psychological beliefs and financial well-being among working adults: the mediating role of financial behaviour
Authors: She Long , Rasiah Ratneswary , Turner Jason James , Guptan Vinitha , Sharif Nia Hamid
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the impact of psychological beliefs (subjective financial knowledge, financial attitude and locus of control) on financial well-being, as well as the mediating role of financial behaviour in the relationship between psychological beliefs and financial well-being among working adults in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based questionnaire was used to elicit information from a total of 500 working adults from Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to assess the measurement model and the proposed mediation model.

Findings

The results showed that subjective financial knowledge, financial attitude and locus of control have a positive impact on both financial behaviour and financial well-being. The results also showed that financial behaviour mediates the relationships between financial attitude and financial well-being, as well as between locus of control and financial well-being.

Originality/value

Given the anticipated global economic recession, a better understanding of how individuals manage their finances becomes ever more crucial. The findings from this research inform policymakers, practitioners and academics on the importance of psychological factors and financial management practices on financial well-being, addressing an identified gap in the current literature.
The influence of supervisor proactivity on perceived job demands and job outcomes among information technology subordinates in IT-related service projects
Authors: Lin Ying-Lien , Wang Wei-Tsong
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study explores how the relationship between supervisor's proactivity, job demands and job outcomes is based on dyadic interpersonal interaction based on the literature of the job demands-resources model and conservation of resources theory.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, valid data from 272 participants (241 information technology subordinates and 31 project managers) in professional service firms are used in measurement and structural analyses based on a cross-level research framework. Additionally, the hierarchical linear modeling technique and a cross-sectional dataset were used to evaluate the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that supervisor proactivity is a critical resource during the execution of professional service projects and is significantly related to perceptions of job demands on the part of subordinates while positively moderating the relationship between job demands and job satisfaction and job demands organizational commitment.

Originality/value

The answer to the question as to whether extensive use of job resources (i.e. supervisor proactivity) in service projects is beneficial and inconclusive in the current information technology (IT) industry literature. Currently, the IT industry continues to experience rapid growth and is a dynamic sector in the global economy that results in increased demands on supervisors because of the specific characteristics of their positions. Consequently, it is necessary further to examine both the direct and moderating effects of resource crossover driven by supervisor proactivity on subordinate behavior, including job demands, job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Although proactivity is a relatively mature concept, some issues related to the negative effects of proactivity on factors, such as job demands, technostress and addiction, need to be further addressed. However, studies specifically focus on investigating this issue are missing from the literature. The findings of this paper thus address these research gaps by validating the direct and moderating relationships of such factors using the proposed cross-level research model.
Understanding host marketing strategies on Airbnb and their impact on listing performance: a text analytics approach
Authors: Chung Yeojin , Sarnikar Surendra
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation sharing has become a significant part of the travel and lodging industry, allowing homeowners to engage in entrepreneurial activity via sharing of resources. However, there is limited understanding of how hosts can use listing descriptions to better match their offerings to different consumer segments. The purpose of this paper is to understand the use of listing descriptions by Airbnb hosts and the impact of such descriptions on sales performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a deep learning-based sentence-level aspect mining approach is used to extract various aspects from host-provided listing descriptions. Then a regression-based approach is used to understand the impact of various aspects of listing descriptions on listing performance.

Findings

It was found that aspects for which listing descriptions are the sole source of information have the greatest influence on listing performance. The authors also find that the impact of an aspect on listing performance varies by listing type, and that there is a mismatch between the most included aspects by hosts in their listing descriptions and the most influential aspects that impact sales.

Originality/value

The impact of consumer reviews in the context of Airbnb has been extensively studied. A novel aspect of this study is the exploration of P2P accommodations from a supplier perspective, by understanding the use and impact of host-provided textual descriptions on sales. The findings of this study can help better market properties from a practice perspective and better understand consumer information consumption from a theoretical perspective. The authors also demonstrate a new approach for exploring social phenomena by performing quantitative analysis on textual data using deep-learning and regression-based techniques.