bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virus-host coexistence in phytoplankton through the genomic lens
Authors: Sheree Yau , Krasovec Marc , Rombauts Stephane , Groussin Mathieu , Benites L. Felipe , Vancaester Emmelien , Aury Jean-Marc , Derelle Evelyne , Desdevises Yves , Escande Marie-Line , Grimsley Nigel , Guy Julie , Moreau Hervé , Sanchez-Brosseau Sophie , van de Peer Yves , Vandepoele Klaas , Gourbiere Sebastien , Piganeau Gwenael
Published: January 2019

Phytoplankton-virus interactions are major determinants of geochemical cycles in the oceans. Viruses are responsible for the redirection of carbon and nutrients away from larger organisms back towards microorganisms via the lysis of microalgae in a process coined the ‘viral shunt’. Virus-host interactions are generally expected to follow ‘boom and bust’ dynamics, whereby a numerically dominant strain is lysed and replaced by a virus resistant strain. Here, we isolated a microalga and its infective nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA virus (NCLDV) concomitantly from the environment in the surface NW Mediterranean Sea,Ostreococcus mediterraneus, and show continuous growth in culture of both the microalga and the virus. Evolution experiments through single cell bottlenecks demonstrate that, in the absence of the virus, susceptible cells evolve from one ancestral resistant single cell, and vice–versa; that is that resistant cells evolve from one ancestral susceptible cell. This provides evidence that the observed sustained viral production is the consequence of a minority of virus-susceptible cells. The emergence of these cells is explained by low-level phase switching between virus-resistant and virus-susceptible phenotypes, akin to a bet hedging strategy. Whole genome sequencing and analysis of the ~14 Mb microalga and the ~200 kb virus points towards ancient speciation of the microalga within theOstreococcusspecies complex and frequent gene exchanges between prasinoviruses infectingOstreococcusspecies. Re-sequencing of one susceptible strain demonstrated that the phase switch involved a large 60 Kb deletion of one chromosome. This chromosome is an outlier chromosome compared to the streamlined, gene dense, GC-rich standard chromosomes, as it contains many repeats and few orthologous genes. While this chromosome has been described in three different genera, its size increments have been previously associated to antiviral immunity and resistance in another species from the same genus. Mathematical modelling of this mechanism predicts microalga–virus population dynamics consistent with the observation of continuous growth of both virus and microalga. Altogether, our results suggest a previously overlooked strategy in phytoplankton–virus interactions.
The interplay between multisensory integration and perceptual decision making
Authors: Mercier Manuel R. , Cappe Celine
Published: January 2019

Facing perceptual uncertainty, the brain combines information from different senses to shape optimal decision making and to guide behavior. Despite overlapping neural networks underlying multisensory integration and perceptual decision making, the process chain of decision formation has been studied mostly in unimodal contexts and is thought to be supramodal. To reveal whether and how multisensory processing interplay with perceptual decision making, we devised a paradigm mimicking naturalistic situations where human participants were exposed to continuous cacophonous audiovisual inputs containing an unpredictable relevant signal cue in one or two modalities. Using multivariate pattern analysis on concurrently recorded EEG, we decoded the neural signatures of sensory encoding and decision formation stages. Generalization analyses across conditions and time revealed that multisensory signal cues were processed faster during both processing stages. We further established that acceleration of neural dynamics was directly linked to two distinct multisensory integration processes and associated with multisensory benefit. Our results, substantiated in both detection and categorization tasks, provide evidence that the brain integrates signals from different modalities at both the sensory encoding and the decision formation stages.
TargetSeeker-MS: A Computational Method for Drug Target Discovery using Protein Separation Coupled to Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Lavallée-Adam Mathieu , Pelletier Alexander , Diedrich Jolene K. , Low William , Pinto Antonio F. M. , Martínez-Bartolomé Salvador , Petrascheck Michael , Moresco James J. , Yates John R.
Published: January 2019

When coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), energetics-based protein separation (EBPS) techniques, such as thermal shift assay, have shown great potential to identify the targets of a drug on a proteome scale. Nevertheless, the computational analyses assessing the confidence of drug target predictions made by these methods have remained rudimentary and significantly differ depending on the protocol used to produce the data. To identify drug targets in datasets produced using different EBPS-MS techniques, we have developed a novel flexible computational approach named TargetSeeker-MS. We showed that TargetSeeker-MS reproducibly identifies known and novel drug targets inC. elegansand HEK293 samples that were treated with the fungicide benomyl and processed using two different EBPS techniques. We also validated a novel benomyl target in vitro. TargetSeeker-MS, which is available online, allows for the confident identification of targets of a drug on a proteome scale, thereby facilitating the evaluation of its clinical viability.
Therapeutic potential of inhibition of the neuroinflammation induced cathepsin X:in vivoevidence
Authors: Pišlar Anja , Tratnjek Larisa , Glavan Gordana , Zidar Nace , Živin Marko , Kos Janko
Published: January 2019

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with unknown cause, but it has been postulated that chronic neuroinflammation may play a role in its pathogenesis. Microglia-derived lysosomal cathepsins have been increasingly recognized as important inflammatory mediators. Here, we analyzed the regional distribution and cellular localization of the cathepsin X in the rat brain with neuroinflammation-induced neurodegeneration. Unilateral injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the striatum induced strong upregulation of cathepsin X expression and its activity in the ipsilateral striatum. In addition to the striatum, cathepsin X overexpression was detected in other areas such as cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, subventricular zone and external globus pallidus mainly restricted to glial cells. Moreover, continuous administration of the cathepsin X specific inhibitor AMS36 showed protective effects against LPS-induced striatal degeneration, as seen by the decreased extent of striatal lesion and decreased expression of neuroinflammation marker. These results demonstrate that glial upregulated cathepsin X may play a role as a potential pathogenic factor in PD. Inhibition of cathepsin X enzymatic activity thus may be useful in preventing neuroinflammation-induced neurodegeneration.
An EEG study of Detection without Localisation in Change Blindness
Authors: Scrivener Catriona L. , Malik Asad , Marsh Jade , Lindner Michael , Roesch Etienne B.
Published: January 2019

Previous studies of change blindness have suggested a distinction between detection and localisation of changes in a visual scene. Using a simple paradigm with an array of coloured squares, the present study aimed to further investigate differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) between trials in which participants could detect the presence of a colour change but not identify the location of the change (sense trials), versus those where participants could both detect and localise the change (localise trials). Individual differences in performance were controlled for by adjusting the difficulty of the task in real time. Behaviourally, reaction times for sense, blind, and false alarm trials were distinguishable when comparing across levels of participant certainty. In the EEG data, we found no significant differences in the visual awareness negativity ERP, contrary to previous findings. In the N2pc range, both awareness conditions (localise and sense) were significantly different to trials with no change detection (blind trials), suggesting that this ERP is not dependent on explicit awareness. Within the late parietal positivity range, all conditions were significantly different. These results suggest that changes can be ‘sensed’ without knowledge of the location of the changing object, and that participant certainty scores can provide valuable information about the perception of changes in change blindness.
The antimicrobial peptide Defensin cooperates with Tumour Necrosis Factor to drive tumour cell death in Drosophila
Authors: Parvy Jean-Philippe , Yu Yachuan , Dostalova Anna , Kondo Shu , Kurjan Alina , Bulet Philippe , Lemaitre Bruno , Vidal Marcos , Cordero Julia B.
Published: January 2019

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small cationic molecules best known as mediators of the innate defence against microbial infection. While in vitro and ex vivo evidence suggest AMPs’ capacity to kill cancer cells, in vivo demonstration of an anti-tumour role of endogenous AMPs is lacking. Using a Drosophila model of tumourigenesis, we demonstrate a role for the AMP Defensin in the control of tumour progression. Our results reveal that Tumour Necrosis Factor mediates exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), which makes tumour cells selectively sensitive to the action of Defensin remotely secreted from tracheal and fat tissues. Defensin binds tumour cells in PS-enriched areas, provoking cell death and tumour regression. Altogether, our results provide the first in vivo demonstration for a role of an endogenous AMP as an anti-cancer agent, as well as a mechanism that explains tumour cell sensitivity to the action of AMPs.
Craniofacial allometry is a rule in evolutionary radiations of placentals
Authors: Andrea Cardini
Published: January 2019

It has been suggested that larger species of mammals tend to become long-faced when they diverge in size during an evolutionary radiation. However, whether this allometric pattern, reminiscent of ontogenetic changes in skull proportions, is indeed a rule has yet to be thoroughly tested. Using ~6000 adult specimens from 14 phylogenetically well separated and ecomorphologically distinctive lineages, 11 orders, and all superorders of the placentals, I tested each group for positive craniofacial allometry (CREA). The evidence supporting CREA is overwhelming, with virtually all analyses showing proportionally longer faces in bigger species. This corroborates previous studies in other groups, consolidates CREA as a pervasive morphological trend in placental evolution and opens important research avenues for connecting micro- and macro-evolution. If found in even more lineages of non-placental mammals, confirmed in birds, and possibly discovered in other tetrapods, CREA could become one of the most general rules of morphological evolution in land vertebrates.
Pain sensitivity and athletic performance
Authors: Zeller Lior , Shimoni Nadav , Vodonos Alina , Sagy Iftach , Barski Leonid , Buskila Dan
Published: January 2019

Purpese

To determine whether higher pain thresholds are associated with better performance in long-distance runners.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Seventy participants, divided into groups of fast and non-fast runners according to peak results in a 10km run. Main Outcome Measures, Cold pressor test.

Results

Of the 70 subjects, 28 were in the fastest group (less than 39 minutes in a 10km run) and 42 in the non-fast group. The faster group was characterized with older age (34.0±8.5 vs. 29.5±5.7, p=0.01), greater mean weekly running time (5.5 (0-17) vs. 2 (0- 10), p<0.001), and more years of running [10 (1.5-34.0) vs. 7 (0-20, p=0.05)]. In a multivariable analysis longer cold pressor time was associated with faster 10Km run (O.R 1.01, 95% C.I 1.00-1.01).

Conclusions

It seems that higher pain thresholds play an important role in the superior ability of long distance runners.
First report of enhanced contents of nine macro- and micronutrients in gymnosperms via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Franco Alicia , Pérez-Moreno Jesús , Sánchez Gabriela , Cerdán Carlos R. , Almaraz Juan J. , Cetina Víctor M. , Alarcón Alejandro
Published: January 2019

Traditionally, it is thought that arbuscular mycorrhizae establish a mutualist symbiosis only with the roots of angiosperm plants. In this mutualism, fungi receive carbon from the plants, and angiosperms receive nutrients through the external mycelium of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the enhanced contents of macro- and micronutrients in gymnosperm plants, and therefore the mutualistic relationship, with AMF has not been reported so far. The present work evaluated whether arbuscular mycorrhizae were able to establish and enhance 9 nutrient contents in the neotropical Pinaceae species Pinus greggii. The tree seedlings were inoculated with three consortia of AMF isolated from an agricultural site, a forest of Cupressus lusitanica and a forest of Pinus hartwegii. The effect of AMF inoculation on plant growth and nutrient enhancement, in addition to colonization, was evaluated. There was evidence of enhancement of plant growth and 9 macro- and micronutrients in plants inoculated with the three evaluated consortia. After 7 months, the translocation was greater for Mg, Mn and Zn in plants inoculated with the consortium of AMF from pine forest. The presence of hyphae, vesicles and arbuscules was detected in the roots of the Pinus greggii plants inoculated with the AMF consortia. In addition to these positive effects, colonization of 10 to 15% and 20 to 38% was observed depending on the AMF consortia after 2 and 7 months, respectively. The presence of arbuscules which is the translocation structure among involved symbionts was also recorded; and photographed for the first time. In the present work, we report for the first time that arbuscular mycorrhiza affects the mobilization of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B in gymnosperms, indicating that this mycorrhizal symbiosis is more complex than previously believed.
Systematic interrogation of human promoters
Authors: Weingarten-Gabbay Shira , Nir Ronit , Lubliner Shai , Sharon Eilon , Kalma Yael , Weinberger Adina , Segal Eran
Published: January 2019

Despite much research, our understanding of the architecture and cis-regulatory elements of human promoters is still lacking. Here, we devised a high-throughput assay to quantify the activity of approximately 15,000 fully designed sequences that we integrated and expressed from a fixed location within the human genome. We used this method to investigate thousands of native promoters and preinitiation complex (PIC) binding regions followed by in-depth characterization of the sequence motifs underlying promoter activity, including core promoter elements and TF binding sites. We find that core promoters drive transcription mostly unidirectionally and that sequences originating from promoters exhibit stronger activity than those originating from enhancers. By testing multiple synthetic configurations of core promoter elements, we dissect the motifs that positively and negatively regulate transcription as well as the effect of their combinations and distances, including a 10-bp periodicity in the optimal distance between the TATA and the initiator. By comprehensively screening 133 TF binding sites, we find that in contrast to core promoters, TF binding sites maintain similar activity levels in both orientations, supporting a model by which divergent transcription is driven by two distinct unidirectional core promoters sharing bidirectional TF binding sites. Finally, we find a striking agreement between the effect of binding site multiplicity of individual TFs in our assay and their tendency to appear in homotypic clusters throughout the genome. Overall, our study systematically assays the elements that drive expression in core and proximal promoter regions and sheds light on organization principles of regulatory regions in the human genome.
refnx: neutron and X-ray reflectometry analysis in Python
Authors: Nelson Andrew R. J. , Prescott Stuart W.
Published: January 2019

refnxis a model-based neutron and X-ray reflectometry data analysis package written in Python. It is cross platform and has been tested on Linux, macOS and Windows. Its graphical user interface is browser based, through aJupyternotebook. Model construction is modular, being composed from a series of components that each describe a subset of the interface, parameterized in terms of physically relevant parameters (volume fraction of a polymer, lipid area per moleculeetc.). The model and data are used to create an objective, which is used to calculate the residuals, log-likelihood and log-prior probabilities of the system. Objectives are combined to perform co-refinement of multiple data sets and mixed-area models. Prior knowledge of parameter values is encoded as probability distribution functions or bounds on all parameters in the system. Additional prior probability terms can be defined for sets of components, over and above those available from the parameters alone. Algebraic parameter constraints are available. The software offers a choice of fitting approaches, including least-squares (global and gradient-based optimizers) and a Bayesian approach using a Markov-chain Monte Carlo algorithm to investigate the posterior distribution of the model parameters. The Bayesian approach is useful for examining parameter covariances, model selection and variability in the resulting scattering length density profiles. The package is designed to facilitate reproducible research; its use inJupyternotebooks, and subsequent distribution of those notebooks as supporting information, permits straightforward reproduction of analyses.
Microbatch under-oil salt screening of organic cations: single-crystal growth of active pharmaceutical ingredients
Authors: Babor Martin , Nievergelt Philipp P. , Čejka Jan , Zvoníček Vít , Spingler Bernhard
Published: January 2019

Multicomponent solid forms of active pharmaceutical ingredients represent a modern method of tuning their physicochemical properties. Typically, salts are the most commonly used multicomponent solid form in the pharmaceutical industry. More than 38% are formulated as organic cations. Salt screening is an essential but demanding step when identifying the most appropriate formulation. The microbatch under-oil crystallization technique of proteins has been combined with the previously developed high-throughput vapour-diffusion screening for use as a novel method of primary salt screening of organic cations. The procedure allows the set up of about 100 crystallization experiments per 30 min. This requires between 17 and 564 mg of screened cationic active pharmaceutical ingredients, which were of moderate to very high water solublity. Five distinct organic salts, three of them diverse active pharmaceutical compounds or the other enantiomer thereof, in the form of chloride salts were tested. The screening was extremely successful; at least two new single-crystal structures could be obtained for each particular compound and many more salts as single crystals were formed compared with our previous vapour-diffusion method.
Factors that influence individuals’ intentions to purchase family takaful mediating role of perceived trust
Authors: Aziz Shahab , Md Husin Maizaitulaidawati , Hussin Nazimah , Afaq Zahra
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect one’s attitude and intentions towards family takaful schemes, apart from evaluating the mediating role of perceived trust in the relationship between perceived religiosity and attitude towards family takaful. Most prior studies have considered religiosity as an individual’s tendency to be religious. However, the present study employed perceived religiosity as one’s perception regarding shariah compliance practices of family takaful schemes. Moreover, this study examines the direct relationship between perceived religiosity and attitude and the indirect relationship between perceived religiosity and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 224 salaried individuals was selected with an age range of 24–50. Variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed for data analysis.

Findings

The results showed that knowledge and perceived usefulness (PU) had significantly positive relationships with attitude towards family takaful schemes. Perceived trust completely mediated the relationship between perceived religiosity and attitude towards family takaful. Attitude was positively related to purchase intention regarding family takaful.

Practical implications

The findings of the study are important for Islamic financial institutions, especially for takaful companies to revamp their marketing strategies. With enhanced understanding regarding consumer behaviour, takaful companies can sell their products in a more effective manner to increase their market share.

Originality/value

Behavioural aspects regarding the purchase of Islamic insurance products have yet to be profoundly explored in the literature. The indirect relationship between perceived religiosity and trust is established in this study. The study contributes to the field of consumer behaviour and marketing of Islamic financial products.
Co-creation and co-destruction of experiential value: a service perspective in projects
Authors: Fuentes Marcos E.G.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

One way in which to induce an advantageous position is to improve the value outcomes experienced from commissioned projects. The purpose of this paper is to consider project stakeholders, such as end-users, as active co-creators of value. This may be achieved by taking into account interactive capabilities and service design practices. This may influence experiential and financial value outcomes for a range of project stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case displayed as a pilot study helps to establish the transferability of the co-creation and the service experience to the construction context.

Findings

Findings show that project managers pay insufficient attention to the service experience. The analysis demonstrates users are treated as destroyers of value, rather than as co-creators of value. In addition to this, the findings suggest contextual aspects, such as unethical behaviour, misalignment of values, power asymmetry and lack of contextual awareness, may ultimately affect the project outcomes.

Practical implications

The implication for the construction context is to create awareness of interactive capabilities and service design practices, which permit the enhancement of experimental value outcomes.

Originality/value

Service-dominant logic is used as a variant perspective to analyse the project usefulness and benefits for a range of stakeholders. The originality comes from the initial exploration of how benefits could be collaboratively configured through interactive capabilities and service design practices with a range of stakeholders.
Severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome: review of the literature
Authors: Benson George , Roberts Nicola , McCallum Jacqueline , McPherson Andrew
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify published literature from a general hospital setting that may highlight variables implicated in the development of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (SAWS) in patients who have alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS).

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was carried out using the electronic databases: MEDLINE, Medline in Process, Cinahl, Embase and PsycINFO from 1989 to 2017. The focus of this search was on English language studies of individuals over 16 years admitted to general hospital with ADS, delirium tremens (DTs), alcohol-related seizure (ARS) or alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).

Findings

Of the 205 studies screened, eight met the criteria for inclusion. Six studies were quantitative retrospective cohort and two were retrospective case-control. Six studies investigated risk factors associated with DTs, one examined SAWS and one alcohol kindling. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise the empirical evidence from studies were 22 statistically significant risk factors were found; including the reason for admission to hospital, daily alcohol consumption, previous DTs and prior ARS. The last two factors mentioned appeared in two studies.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should consider the quality and completeness of the alcohol history data and competence of staff generating the data in retrospective studies.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that the factors linked to SAWS development from the literature may not fully explain why some individuals who have ADS develop SAWS, and others do not.
Investigating the links between resilience, perceived HRM practices, and retirement intentions
Authors: Salminen Hanna , von Bonsdorff Mikaela , von Bonsdorff Monika
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Human resource management (HRM) scholars’ interest in older employees’ resilience has only recently started to emerge. Little is known about how resilience and perceived HRM are linked to different retirement intentions. Drawing on the conservation of resources and social exchange theories, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the links between perceived HRM practices, resilience and retirement intentions. Additionally, the paper examines the possible mediating role of resilience in the relationship between perceived HRM practices and retirement intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted among older (50+) nursing professionals working in a Finnish university hospital. Statistical methods, including mean comparisons and linear and logistic regression analyses, were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results indicated that resilience partly mediated the relationship between perceived HRM practices and early retirement intentions, and fully mediated the association between perceived HRM practices and intentions to continue working after retirement age.

Originality/value

This study produces new knowledge regarding the links between resilience, perceived High involvement work practices and retirement intentions.
Predicting entrepreneurial intention across the university
Authors: Bell Robin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the relative importance of four key entrepreneurial characteristics identified in the literature (proactiveness, attitude to risk, innovativeness and self-efficacy) in predicting students’ entrepreneurial intention (EI) across a range of faculties offering different subjects at a UK higher education institution (HEI). This approach will help to identify whether there are variations across the faculties in the predictors of EI. This enables recommendations to be made with regard to the development of educational delivery and support to encourage and develop the specific predictors of EI within the different subject areas.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a 40-item questionnaire to obtain information on students’ demographics, entrepreneurial characteristics and EI, based on a five-point Likert-type scale. Principle component analysis, correlation analysis and multiple hierarchical regression analysis are used to analyse the data from 1,185 students to develop models which predict EI for each of the six faculties.

Findings

Individual models which predict EI are developed for each of the six faculties showing variations in the makeup of the predictors across faculties in the HEI. Attitude to risk was the strongest predictor in five of the six faculties and the second strongest predictor in the sixth. The differences, together with the implications, for educational approaches and pedagogy are considered.

Originality/value

This research breaks down the level of analysis of EI to the individual faculty level in order to investigate whether different entrepreneurial characteristics predict EI in different academic disciplines across a UK HEI. This enables entrepreneurship educational approaches to be considered at a faculty level rather than a one size fits all approach.
English language and graduate employability
Authors: Zainuddin Siti Zaidah Binti , Pillai Stefanie , Dumanig Francisco Perlag , Phillip Adriana
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perspectives of Malaysian employers and students on the need for English language proficiency and skills for employment.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with employers from various organisations. Additionally, questionnaires were disseminated to undergraduates at four public universities in Malaysia. These were done to ascertain the perspectives of different stakeholders on the importance of English in securing employment, the effect of a marked regional accent or dialect on employability and industry’s expectations and requirements for new employees.

Findings

Employers and students agree that English plays a major role in employability. Whilst there was general agreement by both parties that good grammar and a wide range of vocabulary are important, the findings indicated several mismatches in terms of students’ perceptions and employers’ expectations. Among them is the use of the colloquial form of English at the workplace which was not favoured by employers. Employers also generally felt that knowledge of different types of writing styles could be learnt on-the-job. Furthermore, employers pointed out other essential skills for employability: the ability to communicate in other languages, confidence and a good attitude.

Practical implications

Cognisant of the fact that English is essential in improving employability, initiatives to improve the level of English among Malaysian students must continue to be put in place. University students should be made aware of the different language skills sought by employers early in their university education. The mismatches between the perceptions of university students and the expectations of employers should be considered when planning English language courses and degree programmes. More structured feedback from industry on both would help to better prepare students for the world of work and to ease the transition from campus to career.

Social implications

In relation to graduate employability, these English-language elite groups would have an advantage in securing employment especially in multinational companies, and this will, in a long run, create a larger gap between students from the international and public schools.

Originality/value

With the standpoint of two important parties, employers and students, a more comprehensive idea of the effect of English language on employability has been obtained.
Group-level motives for alcohol consumption in a young adult sample
Authors: McAndrew Ryan , Drennan Judy , Russell-Bennett Rebekah , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Collective motives for alcohol consumption represent a nascent field, with individual-level attributes, peer pressure and broad-level environmental elements being at the forefront of research. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of friendships in the context of alcohol consumption and determine what group-level motives exist for alcohol consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants aged 18–30, these discussed the role the participant’s friendship group played in alcohol consumption and helped to elucidate what collective and group-level motives existed.

Findings

Group-level motives can steer a collective’s alcohol consumption by either endorsing it or degrading it, the findings revealed four group-level motives: these were, competition, conformity, hedonism, with opportunity cost receptiveness acting as a buffer.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample and qualitative nature of the study means external validity still needs to be established to generalize the research to other audiences.

Practical implications

By unpacking group-level motives researchers can develop group-level strategies and match specialized interventions with the right priority group.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to address group-level motives for alcohol consumption and makes an important contribution to understanding how group-level factors can impact individuals.
Personality traits and theory of planned behavior comparison of entrepreneurial intentions between an emerging economy and a developing country
Authors: Munir Hina , Jianfeng Cai , Ramzan Sidra
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the existing literature on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) by employing the integrated model of personality traits and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). It further examines the mediating role of TPB’s dimensions between personality traits and EIs of final-year university students in two diverse economies: China and Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a survey method for data collection, administered both in electronic and paper form. The authors use structural equation modeling and the partial least square (PLS) method on a sample of 1,016 students and present PLS path modeling, mediation analysis and multigroup analysis.

Findings

Results reveal several differences regarding personality traits and TPB on EIs across the two countries. The impact of TPB was positive and significant in both countries; however, TPB demonstrated more explaining power in China’s student sample. Using three personality traits (risk-taking propensity, proactive personality and internal locus of control) as antecedents to TPB, the results reveal a stronger influence of personality traits among Chinese students. The mediation of three dimensions of TPB also revealed differences between country samples.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind to compare and contrast the differences between EIs in terms of personality and the determinants of planned behavior among university students in two diverse economies. The integrated model is original, supports both TPB and personality factors and provides a valuable perspective through its findings on two culturally diverse Asian countries. By applying the model in two different cultures, this study distinguishes the results for the two economies from those conducted in other economies.
Time-optimal control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles with human control input
Authors: Han Tao , Xiao Bo , Zhan Xi-Sheng , Wu Jie , Gao Hongling
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate time-optimal control problems for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to achieve predefined flying shape.

Design/methodology/approach

Two time-optimal protocols are proposed for the situations with or without human control input, respectively. Then, Pontryagin’s minimum principle approach is applied to deal with the time-optimal control problems for UAV systems, where the cost function, the initial and terminal conditions are given in advance. Moreover, necessary conditions are derived to ensure that the given performance index is optimal.

Findings

The effectiveness of the obtained time-optimal control protocols is verified by two contrastive numerical simulation examples. Consequently, the proposed protocols can successfully achieve the prescribed flying shape.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a solution to solve the time-optimal control problems for multiple UAV systems to achieve predefined flying shape.
Emotional intelligence and conflict management styles
Authors: Chen Helen X. , Xu Xuemei , Phillips Patrick
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to use a multi-level approach to examine the effects of emotional intelligence (EI) components on conflict management styles of Chinese managers when the respondents were in conflicts with their subordinates, peers or superiors.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary research was conducted in Dalian, China, via a personal survey resulting in 885 usable observations for analysis. EI was measured using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS; Wong and Law, 2002), which is made up of 16 questions measuring four dimensions. The conflict management component was measured via Rahim’s (1983) five conflict management styles, which are avoidance, dominating, collaboration, compromise and integration.

Findings

The data analyses suggested that managers at different levels possess different EI and adopt different conflict management styles when dealing with their subordinates, peers and superiors. Specifically, when subordinates were involved in a conflict, junior managers and female managers were more likely to use the dominating style, while when peers were involved in a conflict, male managers were more likely to use the dominating style. When peers were involved in a conflict, managers working in public sectors were more likely to adopt the integrating, avoiding, obliging and compromising style. The Chinese managers were found to regulate their emotions and use of their emotions effectively in conflict with their peers and supervisors and thus they tended to adopt the avoiding, integrating and obliging style. Self-emotions appraisal and others emotions appraisal were significant to the adoption of the obliging style to handle conflict with their peers and supervisors. Use of emotions effectively was significant for the Chinese managers adopting the compromising style in conflicts with their peers, superiors and subordinates.

Research limitations/implications

The authors could only reach employees working and living in one city, which affects the generalizability of the paper.

Practical implications

Training should be provided to managers at different levels on the awareness of the impact of EI on conflict management at workplace.

Originality/value

There is little existing research on how employees across different levels within organisations in China moderate their EI according to the party they are interacting with. The objective of this paper is to stimulate further debate on the matter, thereby improving the understanding of EI moderation.
Competency profiles for lean professionals – an international perspective
Authors: Kregel Ingo , Ogonek Nadine , Matthies Benjamin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Requirements for business improvement professionals depend on different job characteristics. By focussing on lean management, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a comprehensive conceptualisation of competencies relevant for lean professionals by comparing them to an existing project management competency framework; and second, to identify their similarities and differences in three different analysed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates 2,701 online published job advertisements in the USA, UK and Germany by means of a content analysis to compare and contrast the respective job profiles.

Findings

Main findings are similarities and differences in the specification and perception of lean professional’s roles among the three countries. Strikingly, four out of eight considered competency categories comprise 74 per cent of the profiles’ most relevant keywords. Additionally, with the help of a latent semantic analysis, 16 specific competencies can be summarised in a lean professional’s competency taxonomy.

Research limitations/implications

The collected data only represent a snapshot of lean professionals’ advertisements. Also, text mining results from job profiles could largely differ from other techniques like recruiter interviews or company surveys. Further research could use different methods or combine them to construct a more complete model.

Practical implications

Lean education and training as well as the respective candidate selection processes can benefit from these studies’ results.

Originality/value

Requirements and job contents for lean professionals have not been empirically researched on a comparable in-depth level before, even though their expertise is in high demand in any kind of business sector.
US Decennial Census return rates: the role of social capital
Authors: Hotchkiss Julie L.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether additional information about a community’s level of social capital can help to better predict a return rate from that area, in order to better target resources to improve mail-in responses.

Design/methodology/approach

Two-sample two-stage least squares is used to apply determinants of six different measures of social capital from the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey to observations in the Decennial Census (DC) which are then aggregated to the census tract level. The probability of a census tract having a high level of each social capital measure is estimated. Multivariate regression is used to identify the importance of high community social capital for predicting census mail-in return rates.

Findings

The analysis reveals that a higher level of trust contributes the most to increasing return rates and a high level of political activism decreases return rates. Additionally, higher levels of sociability contribute negatively to DC return rates, which is consistent with sociability being linked to a more insular (i.e. family and friends) focus.

Practical implications

While contributing statistically significantly to the predictability of census tract response rates, the cost of acquiring measures of social capital for each census tract may not to be viewed worth the gain in predictive power.

Social implications

Higher levels of trust contribute positively to survey participation, suggesting that any social, economic or political environment that diminishes trust will undercut civic engagement. Political activism and (insular) sociability decrease participation.

Originality/value

This paper combines non-public and public data to obtain measures of social capital along more dimensions than are typically studied, and finds that not all types of social capital are related to feelings of social integration in the same way.
Moderators affecting the relationship between coopetition and company performance
Authors: Crick James M.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating factors that could affect the relationship between coopetition (the interplay between cooperation and competition) and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Under the relational view and resource-based theory, key articles surrounding coopetition were reviewed. A conceptual framework (with six research propositions) was developed to understand the nature of the relationship between coopetition and company performance.

Findings

While the coopetition – company performance relationship has been well-studied, this link could be moderated by the competitive business environment, organizational resources and capabilities, and trust between rivals. Further, most authors have explored the linear relationship between coopetition and company performance; however, in this paper, the non-linear (inverted U-shaped) link is also conceptualized, whereby firms might experience “too little” and “too much” coopetition in their business strategies.

Practical implications

Management teams should engage in an “optimal-level” of coopetition by sharing resources and capabilities with rival firms, but not to the extent where they depend on such competitors. If firms rarely collaborate with their competitors, they risk not being able to achieve their performance objectives. Likewise, if businesses engage in excessive degrees of coopetition, there could be tensions between the rival companies involved. Also, practitioners should be aware of the factors that can improve or reduce their performance when they implement coopetition activities. By taking: the competitive business environment, organizational resources and capabilities, and trust between rivals into consideration, the themes of this paper should be used to help managers to maximize company performance (considered in multiple capacities).

Originality/value

This paper is used to help scholars and practitioners to understand the factors that could help or hinder the performance outcomes of coopetition activities. By appreciating the moderating roles of the competitive business environment, organizational resources and capabilities, and trust between rivals, managers are anticipated to provide themselves with scope to alter their coopetition activities to improve their performance. This article ends with a series of managerial implications, alongside some limitations and avenues for future research.
Residents’ perceptions of a World Heritage property: a multivariate analysis
Authors: Lourenço-Gomes Lina , Rebelo João Fernandes , Ribeiro Cristina
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of a World Heritage site (WHS) nomination as perceived by a specific group in a community, namely, the residents of the Alto Douro Wine Region.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary data were gathered through a face-to-face questionnaire, and the data analysis was performed using multivariate statistical methodologies (categorical principal components and cluster analysis) and the multinomial logit model.

Findings

Since the UNESCO nomination, the economic return was perceived as higher for almost half of the owners within the viticulture activity, for over half (56 per cent) within the tourism activity sector, and for 38 per cent in commerce. The general benefits mainly contributed to the residents’ positive view of the UNESCO’s classification. The viticulture activity negatively influences the perceived impact of listing on economic revenue. This is a very interesting and disturbing conclusion, since it suggests that not all grape-growers are feeling positive effects from the UNESCO nomination.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the WHS perceived effects by local residents. Methodologically, the paper presents a more refined analysis compared to most existing studies. By performing group segmentation, the paper provides more generalised information on community perceptions, bringing forward detailed knowledge about the interests of distinct groups such as wine makers, residents employed in tourism industry and commerce.