bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing mitochondrial maintenance in extended neuronal projections
Authors: Agrawal Anamika , Koslover Elena F.
Published: September 2020

Neurons rely on localized mitochondria to fulfill spatially heterogeneous metabolic demands. Mitochondrial aging occurs on timescales shorter than the neuronal lifespan, necessitating transport of fresh material from the soma. Maintaining an optimal distribution of healthy mitochondria requires an interplay between a stationary pool localized to sites of high metabolic demand and a motile pool capable of delivering new material. Interchange between these pools can occur via transient fusion / fission events or by halting and restarting entire mitochondria. Our quantitative model of neuronal mitostasis identifies key parameters that govern steady-state mitochondrial health at discrete locations. Very infrequent exchange between stationary and motile pools optimizes this system. Exchange via transient fusion allows for robust maintenance, which can be further improved by selective recycling through mitophagy. These results provide a framework for quantifying how perturbations in organelle transport and interactions affect mitochondrial homeostasis in neurons, a key aspect underlying many neurodegenerative disorders.

Author summary

Neurons contain long projections termed axons and dendrites and a small central body that is responsible for much of cellular biosynthesis. Mitochondria, the energy hubs of a cell, are synthesized in the soma and actively transported to distant sites of high energy demand. Given the extreme distances between these sites and the soma, maintaining distal mitochondrial health poses a substantial challenge. Defects in mitochondrial transport and maintenance are associated with several neurological disorders.

Fortunately, mitochondria stationed at distant sites can be ‘serviced’ by passing mitochondria that emerge from the soma and move around the neuron, as well as through low levels of local protein synthesis. We develop mathematical models for two strategies of mitochondrial maintenance: one with direct protein exchange between moving and stationary mitochondria (‘Space Station’) and the other with moving mitchondria occasionally replacing stationary ones at the demand sites (‘Changing of the Guard’). We find that only a few servicing events and a small motile pool form optimal conditions for maintaining mitochondrial health. The system can be improved further by selectively removing and recycling some unhealthy mitochondria. Our results are consistent with observations of mitochondrial behavior in neurons and form a basis for future quantitative study of mitochondrial maintenance.
Modulation of cAMP metabolism for CFTR potentiation in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Nguyen Jenny P. , Bianca Matthew , Huff Ryan D. , Tiessen Nicholas , Inman Mark D. , Hirota Jeremy A.
Published: September 2020

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease characterized by CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) dysfunction. With over 2000 CFTR variants identified, in addition to known patient to patient variability, there is a need for personalized treatment. The discovery of CFTR modulators has shown efficacy in certain CF populations, however there are still CF populations without valid therapeutic options. With evidence suggesting that single drug therapeutics are insufficient for optimal management of CF disease, there has been an increased pursuit of combinatorial therapies. Our aim was to test cyclic AMP (cAMP) modulation, through ATP Binding Cassette Transporter C4 (ABCC4) and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibition, as a potential add-on therapeutic to a clinically approved CFTR modulator, VX-770, as a method for increasing CFTR activity. Human airway epithelial cells (Calu-3) were used to test the efficacy of cAMP modulation by ABCC4 and PDE-4 inhibition through a series of concentration-response studies. Our results showed that cAMP modulation, in combination with VX-770, led to an increase in CFTR activity via an increase in sensitivity when compared to treatment of VX-770 alone. Our study suggests that cAMP modulation has potential to be pursued as an add-on therapy for the optimal management of CF disease.
Expression of varicella-zoster virus VLT-ORF63 fusion transcript induces broad viral gene expression during reactivation from neuronal latency
Authors: Ouwendijk Werner J. D. , Depledge Daniel P. , Rajbhandari Labchan , Rovis Tihana Lenac , Jonjic Stipan , Breuer Judith , Venkatesan Arun , Verjans Georges M. G. M. , Sadaoka Tomohiko
Published: September 2020

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) establishes lifelong neuronal latency in most humans world-wide, reactivating in one-third to cause herpes zoster and occasionally chronic pain. How VZV establishes, maintains and reactivates from latency is largely unknown. Latent VZV gene expression is restricted to VZV latency-associated transcript (VLT) and open reading frame 63 (ORF63) in naturally VZV-infected human trigeminal ganglia (TG). Notably, these transcript levels positively correlated suggesting co-regulated transcription during latency. Here, we used direct RNA-sequencing to identify fusion transcripts that combine VLT and ORF63 loci (VLT-ORF63) and are expressed during both lytic and latent VZV infections. Furthermore, real-time PCR, RNAin situhybridization and 5’ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) all confirmed VLT-ORF63, but not canonical ORF63, expression in human TG. During lytic infection, one of the two major VLT-ORF63 isoforms encodes a novel fusion protein combining VLT and ORF63 proteins (pVLT-ORF63).In vitro, VLT is transcribed in latently VZV-infected human sensory neurons, whereas VLT-ORF63 expression is induced by reactivation stimuli. Moreover, the pVLT-ORF63-encoding VLT-ORF63 isoform induced transcription of lytic VZV genes. Collectively, our findings show that VZV expresses a unique set of VLT-ORF63 transcripts, potentially involved in the transition from latency to lytic VZV infection.
Regulation of Hippocampal Excitatory Synapses by the Zdhhc5 Palmitoyl Acyl Transferase
Authors: Shimell Jordan J. , Globa Andrea , Sepers Marja D. , Wild Angela R. , Matin Nusrat , Raymond Lynn A. , Bamji Shernaz X.
Published: September 2020

Palmitoylation is the most common post-translational lipid modification in the brain; however, the role of palmitoylation and palmitoylating enzymes in the nervous system remains elusive. One of these enzymes, Zdhhc5, has previously been shown to regulate synapse plasticity. Here, we report that Zdhhc5 is also essential for the formation of excitatory, but not inhibitory synapses bothin vitroandin vivo. We demonstratein vitrothat this is dependent on Zdhhc5’s enzymatic activity, its localization at the plasma membrane, and its C-terminal domain which has been shown to be truncated in a patient with schizophrenia. Loss of Zdhhc5 in mice results in a decrease in the density of excitatory hippocampal synapses accompanied by alterations in membrane capacitance and synaptic currents, consistent with an overall decrease in spine number and silent synapses. These findings reveal an important role for Zdhhc5 in the formation and/or maintenance of excitatory synapses.
GW182 Proteins Restrict Extracellular Vesicle Mediated Selective Export of Used miRNAs In Mammalian Cancer Cells
Authors: Ghosh Souvik , Chakrabarty Yogaditya , Mukherjee Kamalika , Ghoshal Bartika , Bhattacharyya Suvendra N.
Published: September 2020

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNAs of relatively long half-life in non-proliferative human cells. However, in cancer cells the half-lives of miRNAs are comparatively short. To understand the mechanism of rapid miRNA turn over in cancer cells, we explored the effect of “usage” of specific miRNAs for translation repression of their targets on the abundance of that miRNA. We have noted an accelerated extracellular vesicle mediated export of “used” miRNAs in mammalian cells and the miRNA-export process get retarded by Ago2 interacting protein GW182B. The GW182 group of proteins are localized to GW182 Bodies or RNA Processing Bodies in mammalian cells and GW182B dependent retardation of miRNA export depends on GW-body integrity and is independent of HuR mediated auxiliary pathway of miRNA export. Our data thus support existence of a HuR independent pathway of miRNA export in human cells that can be targeted to increase cellular miRNA levels in cancer cells to induce senescence.

Graphical Abstract

Key Points

Usage of miRNA is proportional with its export and turnover

GW182 proteins cause phase separation of Ago2 to P-bodies and restrict miRNA export via extracellular vesicles (EVs)

HuR driven auxiliary path of miRNA export is independent of GW182 controlled main path of miRNA exclusion
MTFR2 regulates mitochondrial fission and impacts spindle integrity during mitosis
Authors: Luo Yibo , Liu Song-Tao
Published: September 2020

Previously we reported that mitochondrial fission regulator 2 (MTFR2, also termed DUFD1 or FAM54A) is co-transcribed with core centromere/kinetochore components, indicating a possible role in mitosis regulation. Here we show that human MTFR2 is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein and participates in DRP1 dependent mitochondrial fission. MultipleMTFR2variants identified in cancer samples are defective in triggering mitochondrial fission. InducibleMTFR2depletion caused prolonged mitotic duration and increased chromosome mis-segregation, resulting in multi-nucleated daughter cells.MTFR2knockout cells accumulated spindle defects, producing either multipolar spindles or short oscillating spindles due to loss of astral microtubules. MTFR2 is phosphorylated during mitosis. The phosphorylation mutant, as well as the cancer variants, failed to correct the prolonged mitotic duration.MTFR2knockout also rendered cells more resistant to apoptosis caused by taxol treatment. As overexpressing MFN1 or DRP1-K38A also caused spindle defects, we conclude that mitochondrial fragmentation during mitosis ensures spindle integrity and chromosomal stability, and MTFR2 plays a critical role in bridging proper mitochondrial fission and chromosome segregation.
A Fully Functional ROP Fluorescent Fusion Protein Reveals Roles for This GTPase in Subcellular and Tissue-Level Patterning
Authors: Cheng Xiaohang , Mwaura Bethany W. , Chang Stauffer Sophia R. , Bezanilla Magdalena
Published: September 2020

Rho of Plants (ROPs) are GTPases that regulate polarity and patterned wall deposition in plants. As these small, globular proteins have many interactors, it has been difficult to ensure that methods to visualize ROP in live cells do not affect ROP function. Here, motivated by work in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), we generated a fluorescent moss (Physcomitrium [Physcomitrella] patens) ROP4 fusion protein by inserting mNeonGreen after Gly-134. Plants harboring tagged ROP4 and no other ROP genes were phenotypically normal. Plants lacking all four ROP genes comprised an unpatterned clump of spherical cells that were unable to form gametophores, demonstrating that ROP is essentially for spatial patterning at the cellular and tissue levels. The functional ROP fusion protein formed a steep gradient at the apical plasma membranes of growing tip cells. ROP also predicted the site of branch formation in the apical cell at the onset of mitosis, which occurs one to two cell cycles before a branch cell emerges. While fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies demonstrated that ROP dynamics do not depend on the cytoskeleton, acute depolymerization of the cytoskeleton removed ROP from the membrane only in recently divided cells, pointing to a feedback mechanism between the cell cycle, cytoskeleton, and ROP.
Practitioner experience of the impact of humanistic methods on autism practice: a preliminary study
Authors: Robinson Anna , Galbraith Ian , Carrick Lorna
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Autistic people are subject to having their behaviour shaped from a variety of practitioners predominantly using behaviourist methodologies. Little is known about how learning alternative humanistic methodologies impacts practitioner experiences of relational encounters with autistic people. This paper aims to develop an understanding of practitioner experiences of using person-centred counselling (PCC) skills and contact reflections (CR) when engaging with autistic people.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study used an interpretive approach to help elucidate perceptions of changing practice. It involved a framework analysis of 20 practitioner’s experiential case study accounts.

Findings

An overarching theme emerged: subtle transformations resulted from shifting practice paradigms. Four broad themes were identified: “A different way of being”; “Opening heightened channels of receptivity”; “Trust in self-actualising growth” and “Expanding relational ripples”. The findings suggest that PCC and CRs skills training shows promise in providing practitioners with a different way of being with autistic people that enhances their capacity towards neurotypical-neurodivergent intersubjectivity.

Social implications

The authors speculate on the power dynamics of care relationships and those who may identify as possessing autism expertise. The authors are curious as to whether this humanistic skills training can truly penetrate practitioner core values and see this as a fundamental issue which requires further investigation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to provide a qualitative account of autism practitioner reflections following training in humanistic methodologies. It challenges the concept of autism expertise, guided by a pathologiSing model, focused on fixing a problem located in the person, which conceals the removal of personhood.
Assessing the effect of playing games on the behavior of ASD and TD children
Authors: Alkhayat Laila Saud , Ibrahim Mohamed
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Previous researches point that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show particular interests in computers and other multimedia electronics (Mazurek et al., 2012). Experts in pediatric care contemplate the possibility of exploiting this relationship to inform the interventions among children with Autism. This paper aims to explore how video games can be used to aid the cognitive and social development among children with ASD and typically developing children (TDC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study design used was experimental, with 112 children as the main participants. The researchers watched the behaviors of the children through controlled observation as they compared the behaviors with their established models. In this case, the structured models worked as the control group in the experiment. To understand the relationship between the variables: exposure to video games and children's social interactions, the researchers used multiple linear regression analysis, ANOVA and correlation coefficients

Findings

The predictor model was effective because it accounted for at least 26% of the variation in the dependent variables at a statistical significance level ofp< 0.000. Other than the structured models, there were also individual predictors, which also established that when families played games with children, the children tended to calm down their negative behaviors. Hence, family playing games with children can help ease the symptoms of children with ASD and TDC at (t = 2.631, 4.180 and 0.024,p= 0.05). However, the duration of watching or playing the games did not contribute to children negative behavior such as poor school performance, failing to complete homework, playing games past bedtime and feeling agitated or isolated.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is original, and it is first to report the findings of this type of study. This research used unique sample sizes and variables, though within the existing theoretical framework of social science experiments. All borrowed ideas have properly been cited to original owners’ efforts.
Is internationalisation really an available choice for micro firms producing cava and Prosecco Superiore? A cross-country, entrepreneurial action perspective
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel , Kok Seng Kiat
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine pathways towards, and the rationale behind internationalisation from the perspectives of micro firms' operators involved in the globally competitive wine industry. Moreover, drawing from entrepreneurial action theory, the study developed a theoretical framework to help understanding micro approaches and rationale for internationalisation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through interviews with 19 micro winery owners and managers operating in the Prosecco Superiore (Italy) and cava industry (Spain).

Findings

Aligned with entrepreneurial action theory, uncertainty in participants' environment, coupled with the associated need to diversify through exports, were predominant drivers of internationalisation. However, internationalisation also emerged through non-deliberate channels, including through growth of wine tourism and increasing foreign wine enthusiasts. Thus, while entrepreneurial action through deliberate means triggered a stronger focus on internationalisation, other passive interventions beyond the control or influence of micro firms, but rather emerge serendipitously, can similarly spur direct action.

Originality/value

The study demonstrated its originality and value in various ways, fundamentally, addressing three knowledge gaps, thereby contributing to practical and theoretical discourses with corresponding value, including managerially. First, it extended literature focussing on micro firms, which as compared to small and medium enterprise research is much more limited. Second, it provided a comparative component, which is much rarer in contemporary research discussing internationalisation amongst micro firms. Third, the study proposed a theoretical framework stemming from the chosen inductive approach, thus, addressing concerns regarding the lack of theoretical rigour or depth in internationalisation activities amongst micro firms.
Investigating justice and bullying among healthcare workers
Authors: Medina-Craven Michele N. , Ostermeier Kathryn
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between workplace bullying, organizational justice dimensions and intentions to leave. The authors posit that workplace bullying is positively related to intentions to leave, and that this effect is transmitted through lower justice perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 146 healthcare workers, using factor analysis and the Preacher and Hayes (2008) PROCESS macro to test their hypotheses.

Findings

The study results indicate that workplace bullying is positively associated with intentions to leave. This effect is transmitted through lower entity-based distributive justice perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

The study sample was cross-sectional and collected at a single point in time. Future research should examine these relationships in a longitudinal method.

Practical implications

The study results suggest that when a healthcare worker experiences bullying in the workplace, they begin to perceive their organization as more unfair. These negative feelings toward their organization lead to a desire to permanently separate from the organization. These results suggest that workplace bullying has serious ramifications for turnover, and that healthcare organizations can mitigate these negative effects by increasing perceptions of organizational justice through being transparent about their decisions and the process going into this decision-making.

Originality/value

These findings extend existing research by empirically testing the effects of workplace bullying on intentions to leave within the healthcare industry.
Tax deed sales and land banking to reuse vacant and abandoned properties
Authors: Fujii Yasuyuki
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Tax sales intersect with the market, housing policy and socioeconomic matters, but the topic in this context is understudied. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and how land banking is more effective in fostering positive property outcomes than tax lien sales and what market-based measures can be combined with land banking to reuse tax delinquent, vacant and abandoned properties.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the consequences of tax lien sales and land banking in Indianapolis, Indiana, the USA. Various local data sources are used.

Findings

This paper finds that land banking, when compared to tax lien sales, results in less tax delinquency, less vacancy and abandonment, more increase in assessed value and fewer ownership changes after sales. Also, this paper shows the contributions of non-profit and for-profit developers as business partners to land banks.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates the utility of the land banks that have become prevalent in some states in the USA over the past 20 years. The results of this paper recommend the realistic approach of combining government intervention and market forces.

Social implications

This paper sheds light on the US practice of tax lien sales. It goes largely unnoticed, but malpractice risks harming the vulnerable members of community.

Originality/value

Housing policy needs to find common ground with the market. It is a dilemma, more or less, for every country. The results of this paper suggest a harmonized public policy approach that includes land banking and the market can be effective in combatting with troubled properties.
Social support and life satisfaction among entrepreneurs: a latent growth curve modelling approach
Authors: Alshibani Safiya Mukhtar , Volery Thierry
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Social support has been identified as a valuable resource that could help entrepreneurs maintain goal directness in their endeavours and increase their life satisfaction. However, to date, scant research has examined the effect of perceived social support on life satisfaction during the transition from paid employment to self-employment. This paper uses the job demand resource model (JD–R) as a theoretical lens to investigate this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the household income and labour dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we use latent growth curve modelling (LGCM) to investigate the trajectories of entrepreneurs' perceived social support and life satisfaction (n = 1,303) up to five years after their transition into self-employment.

Findings

Results suggest that entrepreneurs experience a boost in life satisfaction in the transition phase, followed by a declining trend in the years that follow. We find that both the initial perception and the evolution of perceived social support are positively related to life satisfaction over time across gender groups. However, we find that females may benefit more from early social support soon after the transition into self-employment to forestall declines in life satisfaction over the long-term.

Research limitations/implications

The generalisability of the research findings beyond the Australian context is undefined. Future research needs to examine to what extent these results can generalize to other samples within different cultural and institutional frameworks.

Practical implications

Since perceived social support is a strong buffering mechanism that helps mitigate job demands, entrepreneurs need to be proactive in building a strong network. Individuals who switch to self-employment should carefully map and build a strong social network that can help them weather the challenges and setbacks in their new job.

Originality/value

This study extends the JD–R literature by examining the transition into self-employment, considered an “active job” characterised by high demands and high decision latitude. LGCM modelling captures how both initial levels and changes in social support affect life satisfaction during entrepreneurship entry and over time.
Designing the best avatar to reach millennials: gender differences in a restaurant choice
Authors: Gonzales-Chávez Miguel Angel , Vila-Lopez Natalia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The two major purposes of this paper are as follows: first, to identify those appropriate key attributes that a commercial avatar promoting a leisure service must have in terms of likeability, expertise, credibility and attractiveness, with the final purpose of stimulating millennials' acceptance (emotions, buying intentions and electronic word of mouth [eWOM]) and second, to compare if men and women expect the same attributes in a successful avatar.

Design/methodology/approach

A three avatar designs were prepared for this experiment. Then, they were presented to the respondents to be evaluated changing the order of appearance for avoiding biases: (attractive/likeable, expert/credible and normal/basic avatars). The participants were recruited using an online procedure. The final sample size was 104 consumers. They provided 302 valid responses about the three different avatars. A restaurant chain Chili's in Peru was used to define this experiment.

Findings

Findings of the study indicated that the design attributes of an avatar and the desired effects were related terms. Second, an expert/credible avatar worked better than an atractive/likeable one and also better than a common avatar, especially among the feminine target.

Originality/value

This paper tries to develop a guide for executives or entrepreneurs immersed in the gastronomic field in Peru, to enable them to make appropriate decisions regarding the definition of an attractive and disruptive web page design with an innovative tool: efficient commercial avatars.
TQM factors and organisational results in the EFQM excellence model framework: an explanatory and predictive analysis
Authors: Calvo-Mora Arturo , Blanco-Oliver Antonio , Roldán José L. , Periáñez-Cristóbal Rafael
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Within the framework of Total Quality Management (TQM) and the EFQM Excellence Model (EEM), the main objective of this paper is to develop a causal-predictive analysis of the relationships between soft and strategic-hard EFQM factors and the organisational results (customers, people, society and key results).

Design/methodology/approach

From a causal-predictive perspective, four EEM models, designed for each organisational result, are compared applying partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and using a sample with 225 Spanish organisations.

Findings

The results confirm that soft and strategic-hard EFQM factors constitute a socio-technical system in which there are multiple direct and indirect relationships, between these factors and the results. Finally, the predictive nature of the proposed models is confirmed, highlighting the predictive performance of the people results model.

Practical implications

The results can lead to an improvement in organisational performance, as the developed models enable managers to anticipate the effects of their management decisions on those results concerning customers, people, society and key business results.

Originality/value

First, a novel way of grouping TQM enabler factors has been proposed within the EEM framework. Second, four research models have been generated, which allow carrying out an in-depth study of the direct and indirect relationships, between soft and strategic-hard EFQM factors and result variables. Finally, this contribution has applied the most updated techniques in order to assess the prediction performance of the four research models posited.
Fintech in financial reporting and audit for fraud prevention and safeguarding equity investments
Authors: Roszkowska Paulina
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the audit-related causes of financial scandals and advice on how emerging technologies can provide solutions thereto. Specifically, this study seeks to look at the facilitators of financial statement fraud and explain specific fintech advancements that contribute to financial information reliability for equity investments.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the case studies of Enron and Arthur Andersen to document the evidence of audit-related issues in historical financial scandals. Then, a comprehensive and interdisciplinary literature review at the intersection of business, accounting and engineering, provides a foundation to propose technology advancements that can solve identified problems in accounting and auditing.

Findings

The findings show that blockchain, internet of things, smart contracts and artificial intelligence solutions have different functionality and can effectively solve various financial reporting and audit-related problems. Jointly, they have a strong potential to enhance the reliability of the information in financial statements and generally change how companies operate.

Practical implications

The proposed and explained technology advancements should be of interest to all publicly listed companies and investors, as they can help safeguard equity investments, thus build investors’ trust towards the company.

Social implications

Aside from implications for capital markets participants, the study findings can materially benefit various stakeholder groups, the broader company environment and the economy.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that seeks solutions to financial fraud and audit-related financial scandals in technology and not in implementing yet another regulation. Given the recent technology advancements, the study findings provide insights into how the role of an external auditor might evolve in the future.
Celebrity endorsement in social media contexts: understanding the role of parasocial interactions and the need to belong
Authors: Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Labrecque Lauren I.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

As celebrity endorsements have extended from traditional media to social media, the role of celebrities has been amplified and celebrities have been able to establish unprecedentedly close relationships through interacting with consumers. This study, grounded in the theory of parasocial interactions and celebrity endorsement, aims to propose a framework of antecedents and outcomes of parasocial interactions with celebrities on social media.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental survey-based approach, this study collected 270 usable responses, and data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study found that parasocial interactions fully mediate the relationship between social media interaction and celebrity attachment, celebrity attachment influences purchase intention directly and indirectly through both cognitive (brand credibility) and affective (brand attractiveness) elements, the need to belong moderates the relationship between social media interaction and parasocial interactions and the need to belong moderates the relationship between celebrity attachment and brand attractiveness. An exploratory analysis uncovers whether different types of social platforms may be more conducive to establishing parasocial interactions.

Originality/value

This study explores the mechanisms by which celebrity interactions on social media can impact the brands they endorse and the role that parasocial interactions and the need to belong play in these interactions and outcomes.
Management tools in corporate communication: a survey about tool use and reflections about the gap between theory and practice
Authors: Volk Sophia Charlotte , Zerfass Ansgar
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to introduce the research field of management tools to communication management scholarship and open up new avenues for the field.

Design/methodology/approach

The first part examines established knowledge from the strategic management literature about management tools as a means to support and facilitate organizational decision-making. The second part reports on a survey among 125 communication practitioners in corporate communication departments about the use of 32 tools for the analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation of communication.

Findings

The study sheds light on the perceived relevance and benefits of tools, as well as on knowledge and satisfaction and on general patterns of tool use. The findings demonstrate that tools are gaining in importance, but there is a lack of understanding, training and documentation of tools. Tools for planning and implementing communication are most widely spread, reflecting the operational focus of corporate communication.

Practical implications

Practitioners find value in the compilation of the most popular tools and implications on how to reflect about tool usage and outcomes.

Originality/value

The article provides directions for future research and reflects about tools as a means to bridge the divide between theory and practice.
Substitutability of hotels and peer-to-peer accommodations in Shanghai
Authors: Hudik Marek
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to determine to what extent hotels and peer-to-peer (P2P) facilities are substitutes for travelers. It then examines whether hotels target business travelers and P2P facilities target leisure travelers.

Design/methodology/approach

The author collected characteristics of Shanghai hotels and P2P facilities from websites to determine on what basis the two accommodation types compete. The author then conducted a modified importance-performance analysis (IPA) to determine the relationship between accommodations' provision of these characteristics and their importance to Chinese business and leisure travelers.

Findings

The characteristics of hotels and P2P facilities systematically differ, and travelers perceive these differences as important. While the differences are significant across all price ranges, they are smaller for budget hotels than for high-end hotels. The modified IPA indicates that P2P facilities appeal more to leisure travelers than to business travelers. Yet hotels better satisfy the requirements of both types of travelers.

Practical implications

The findings imply that P2P facilities can target lower- and middle-income vacationing families by charging lower prices. High-end hotels can compete by providing more diverse services and greater value to business travelers and higher-income leisure travelers. Budget hotels can reduce costs by not providing non-essential characteristics.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the discussion of the competition between hotels and P2P facilities by focusing on the Shanghai market. It uses the modified IPA to derive implications for lodging market segmentation.
Risk committee, corporate risk-taking and firm value
Authors: Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Cheema Muhammad A. , Man Yimei
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The authors empirically examine the impact of the stand-alone risk committee on corporate risk-taking and firm value.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors argue that the existence of a stand-alone risk committee enhances the quality of corporate governance, which reduces corporate risk-taking and strengthens the firm value that might improve investor protection.

Findings

The authors find corporate risk-taking decline significantly for firms that have a stand-alone risk committee compared with firms that have a joint audit and risk committee. The authors also find that the presence of a stand-alone risk committee is positively associated with firm value.

Practical implications

The evidence is consistent with the proposition that firms with a stand-alone risk committee can effectively evaluate potential risks and implement a proper risk management system.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that investigates the association between the existence of a stand-alone risk committee and firm risk-taking in a multi-industry setting. Also, our research extends the association between a stand-alone risk committee and firm value.
Regional differences in gang member identification methods among law enforcement jurisdictions in the United States
Authors: Scott Daniel
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare gang member identification methods across regions in the United States as reported by law enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through surveys with various law enforcement jurisdictions in both urban and rural communities across the United States. Methods of gang member identification were compared across the United States. Region through the use of Ordinal Logistic Regression and Multiple Imputation.

Findings

The results reveal that there are systematic variations in methods of gang member identification across regions in the United States. Specifically, the West is significantly more likely to identify gang members through associations or arrests with known gang members, symbols and self-nomination compared to other regions. The South, Northeast and Midwest regions are significantly more likely to identify gang members through a reliable informant compared to the West.

Originality/value

Research has not compared gang member identification methods across region in the United States or examined how variations in gang member identification methods potentially impact the accuracy of reported gang problems and prevalence.
Select the Mr. Right: the interaction effect between implicit leadership and implicit followership on employees' workplace behaviors
Authors: Kong Ming , Xin Li , Chen Mengyuan , Li Haonan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Based on role theory, from the perspective of workplace behaviors (proactive behavior, in-role behavior and organizational citizenship behavior), this paper provides a perspective of matching process on the importance of fit in personnel selection.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 231 leader–employee dyadic in a two-wave survey, the hypotheses were demonstrated with hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

The results presented that: (1) Employees' perceptions of implicit leadership prototype fit and leaders' perceptions of implicit followership prototype fit were positively related to employees' workplace behaviors; (2) Employees' perceptions of implicit leadership prototype fit and leaders' perceptions of implicit followership prototype fit increased person-supervisor fit; (3) The influence of the interaction between employees' perceptions of implicit leadership prototype fit and leaders' perceptions of implicit followership prototype fit on employees' workplace behaviors will be mediated, first by person-supervisor fit and then by work engagement.

Originality/value

This study introduces the perspective of matching process that reflects the relative importance of fit in personnel selection. The results also enriched role theory from the perspective of implicit prototype fit, which provides an important basis for managers to effectively use managerial cognition and inspire employees' positive workplace behaviors.
How do changes in human resource programs lead to innovation: an organizational entrainment perspective on the temporal mechanisms in HRM
Authors: Huang Xiaoyu , Zhang Lihua , Feng Cailing , Seal Craig Richard
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the temporal mechanisms in HRM systems by focusing on how HRM systems evolve over time and how such changes affect organizational innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on organizational entrainment theory to examine how pace of change in employee involvement programs (EIPs) influences innovation via data from an eight-year longitudinal survey collected by Statistics Canada. The final sample includes 15,679 workplace–year observations.

Findings

This research shows that the effects of HRM programs on performance are more than just the mean effect – the pace of change by which changes are implemented in HRM programs matters in the long run. The optimal level of change pace occurs when the EIPs are changing at a pace that entrains (or synchronizes) with organizational rhythm of strategic changes. Results suggest that change pace in EIPs has an inverted-U-shaped relationship with both pace and quality of innovation. The curvilinear effect is more pronounced for organizations with relatively lower mean level of EIPs.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study captures only key measures of the EIPs and may not be generalizable to other dimensions of the HR systems. Second, the results of this paper should be interpreted at the HR program level or bundles of HR practices – the findings may not be generalizable to lower levels of analysis. Third, as a result of annual measurement, this study cannot capture short-lived minor dynamic HR misfits where workplaces quickly adjust to regain alignment. Fourth, to attain meaningful and consistent measures of strategic HR change, this study only includes surviving workplaces with at least five years of observations.

Practical implications

This paper provides insights to managers and business leaders on how to implement strategic changes in HRM systems effectively to attain sustained innovation outcomes in the long run. To achieve an optimal level of innovation, organizations need to consider not only what and how many EIPs should be used but also how to strategically change EIPs to meet dynamic internal and external changes.

Originality/value

The current research introduces organizational entrainment theory to explain and empirically test the conflicting predictions of the universalist and contingency perspectives on the effects of strategic changes in HRM.
Bad or good neighbours: a spatial financial contagion study
Authors: Foglia Matteo , Ortolano Alessandra , Di Febo Elisa , Angelini Eliana
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the evolution of financial contagion between Eurozone banks, observing the credit default swaps (CDSs) market during the period 2009–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a dynamic spatial Durbin model that enables to explore the direct and indirect effects over the short and long run and the transmission channels of the contagion.

Findings

The results show how contagion emerges through physical and financial market links between banks. This finding implies that a bank can fail because people expect other related financial institutions to fail as well (self-fulfilling crisis). The study provides statistically significant evidence of the presence of credit risk spillovers in CDS markets. The findings show that equity market dynamics of “neighbouring” banks are important factors in risk transmission.

Originality/value

The research provides a new contribution to the analysis of EZ banking risk contagion, studying CDS spread determinants both under a temporal and spatial dimension. Considering the cross-dependence of credit spreads, the study allowed to verify the non-linearity between the probability of default of a debtor and the observed credit spreads (credit spread puzzle). The authors provide information on the transmission mechanism of contagion and, on the effects among the largest banks. In fact, through the study of short- and long-term impacts, direct and indirect, the paper classify banks of systemic importance according to their effect on the financial system.
The securitization of refugees in Hong Kong: government, members of the legislative council and Chinese newspapers (2005 to June 2019)
Authors: Choy Wai Ching
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper explores how the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) securitizes internal security, cultural identity and welfare system through refugee policy instruments. It also aims to explore the roles of members of the Legislative Council (Legco) and Chinese newspapers in the securitization process.

Design/methodology/approach

The author analyzed 6 landmark verdicts, 342 related documents of the Legco, 2,386 news coverages and 408 editorials/ column articles from 6 selected Chinese newspapers from 2005 to mid-2019. While documents of the Legco were collected from the Legco archives, news reports, editorials and column articles were gathered on Wisenews with the keywords, namely, refugees, asylum seekers, torture claims and non-refoulement claims.

Findings

The author argues that the advanced comprehensive security approach helps to comprehend the securitization process in Hong Kong. The HKSARG, Legco members of the pro-government camp and pro-government Chinese newspapers perform as securitizing actors who regard refugees as an existential threat to the referent objects, i.e. internal security, cultural identity and welfare system.

Research limitations/implications

There are two significant limitations, namely, the coverage of newspapers and the absence of poll data. This paper merely selected six Chinese newspapers, which do not cover English newspapers and some other Chinese newspapers in Hong Kong. It may neglect some important data. Additionally, owing to the absence of longitudinal poll data, the author chose not to examine the related materials.

Originality/value

This paper intends to be the first study to provide a longitudinal examination of the transformations of current refugee policies in Hong Kong.
Robust numerical method for a singularly perturbed problem arising in the modelling of enzyme kinetics
Authors: Miller John J. H. , O'Riordan Eugene
Published: September 2020

A system of two coupled nonlinear initial value equations, arising in the mathematical modelling of enzyme kinetics, is examined. The system is singularly perturbed and one of the components will contain steep gradients. A priori parameter explicit bounds on the two components are established. A numerical method incorporating a specially constructed piecewise-uniform mesh is used to generate numerical approximations, which are shown to converge pointwise to the continuous solution irrespective of the size of the singular perturbation parameter. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the computational performance of the numerical method. The numerical method is also remarkably simple to implement.?