bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A clinically validated human saliva metatranscriptomic test for global systems biology studies
Authors: Toma Ryan , Cai Ying , Ogundijo Oyetunji , Gline Stephanie , Demusaj Diana , Duval Nathan , Torres Pedro , Camacho Francine , Banavar Guruduth , Vuyisich Momchilo
Published: August 2021

We report here the development of a high throughput, automated, inexpensive, and clinically validated saliva metatranscriptome test that requires less than 100 microliters of saliva. The RNA in the samples is preserved at the time of collection. Samples can then be stored and transported at ambient temperatures for up to 28 days without significantly affecting the test results. Another important feature of the sample preservative is that it inactivates all classes of pathogens, enabling safe transportation globally. Given the unique set of convenience, low cost, safety, and technical performance, this saliva metatranscriptomic test can be integrated into longitudinal, global scale, systems biology studies that will lead to an accelerated development of precision medicine diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Method Summary

This report describes an important improvement to saliva transcriptome analysis. While current methods are complicated and expensive, the method reported here includes at-home sample collection, global shipping at ambient temperatures and pathogen inactivation at the point of collection; it uses fully automated, clinically validated and licensed laboratory and bioinformatic analyses.
High expression ofVRT2increases the number of rudimentary basal spikelets in wheat
Authors: Backhaus Anna E. , Lister Ashleigh , Tomkins Melissa , Adamski Nikolai M. , Simmonds James , Macaulay Iain , Morris Richard J. , Haerty Wilfried , Uauy Cristobal
Published: August 2021

Spikelets are the fundamental building blocks ofPoaceaeinflorescences and their development and branching patterns determine the various inflorescence architectures and grain yield of grasses. In wheat, the central spikelets produce the most and largest grains, while spikelet size gradually decreases acro- and basipetally, giving rise to the characteristic lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. The acropetal gradient correlates with the developmental age of spikelets, however the basal spikelets are developed first and the cause of their small size and rudimentary development is unclear. Here, we adapted G&T-seq, a low-input transcriptomics approach, to characterise gene expression profiles within spatial sections of individual spikes before and after the establishment of the lanceolate shape. We observed larger differences in gene expression profiles between the apical, central and basal sections of a single spike than between any section belonging to consecutive developmental timepoints. We found thatSVPMADS-box transcription factors, includingVRT-A2, are expressed highest in the basal section of the wheat spike and display the opposite expression gradient to flowering E-classSEP1genes. Based on multi-year field trials and transgenic lines, we show that higher expression ofVRT-A2in the basal sections of the spike is associated with increased numbers of rudimentary basal spikelets. Our results, supported by computational modelling, suggest that the delayed transition of basal spikelets from vegetative to floral developmental programmes results in the lanceolate shape of wheat spikes. This study highlights the value of spatially resolved transcriptomics to gain new insights into developmental genetics pathways of grass inflorescences.

One sentence summary

Large transcriptional gradients existwithina wheat spike and are associated with rudimentary basal spikelet development, resulting in the characteristic lanceolate shape of wheat spikes.
Uptake of Fe-fraxetin complexes, an IRT1 independent strategy for iron acquisition in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Robe Kevin , Stassen Max , Chamieh Joseph , Gonzalez Philippe , Hem Sonia , Santoni Véronique , Dubos Christian , Izquierdo Esther
Published: August 2021

Iron (Fe) is a micronutrient essential for plant growth and development. Iron uptake in alkaline soil is a challenge for most plants. In this study, we investigated the role of the catechol coumarins fraxetin and esculetin in plant Fe acquisition and their Fe chelating properties.

Mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis were used to characterize Fe-coumarin complexes. To understand the role of these complexes, genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches were deployed.

We demonstrated that catechol coumarins are taken up by Arabidopsis thaliana root via an ATP dependent mechanism and that plants defective in IRT1 activity (the main high affinity Fe importer) or bHLH121 (a key regulator of Fe deficiency responses) can be complemented by exogenous supply of fraxetin and to a lesser extent of esculetin. We also showed that Fe and fraxetin can form stable complexes at neutral to alkaline pH that can be taken up by the plant.

Overall, these results indicate that at high pH, fraxetin can improve Fe nutrition by directly transporting Fe(III) into the root, circumventing the FRO2/IRT1 system, in a similar way as phytosiderophores do in grasses. This strategy may explain how non-grass species can thrive in alkaline soils.
Clostridioides difficile binary toxin binding component (CDTb) increases virulence in a hamster model
Authors: Simpson Morgan , Bilverstone Terry , Leslie Jhansi , Donlan Alexandra , Uddin M Jashim , Petri William , Marin Natasha , Schwan Carsten , Kuehne Sarah , Minton Nigel P. , Petri William A.
Published: August 2021

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of hospital-acquired gastrointestinal infection, in part due to the existence of binary toxin (CDT)-expressing hypervirulent strains. We have previously shown that CDT interacts with the TLR2/6 heterodimer to induce inflammation, and in this study we further explore this interaction as well as the contribution of the separate components of CDT, CDTa and CDTb. We found that the binding component, CDTb, is capable of inducing inflammation. Additionally, complementation of a CDT-deficient C. difficile strain with CDTb alone restored virulence in a hamster model of C. difficile infection. Overall, this study demonstrates that the binding component of C. difficile binary toxin contributes to virulence during infection.
Crystal structure of the potato leafroll virus coat protein and implications for viral assembly
Authors: Adams Myfanwy C , Schiltz Carl J , Heck Michelle Lynn , Chappie Joshua S
Published: August 2021

Luteoviruses, poleroviruses, and enamoviruses are insect-transmitted, agricultural pathogens that infect a wide array of staple food crops. Previous cryo-electron microscopy studies of virus-like particles indicate that luteovirid viral capsids are built from a structural coat protein that organizes with T=3 icosahedral symmetry. Here we present the crystal structure of a truncated version of the coat protein monomer from potato leafroll virus at 1.57-Å resolution. In the crystal lattice, monomers pack into flat sheets that preserve the two-fold and three-fold axes of icosahedral symmetry and show minimal structural deviations when compared to the full-length subunits of the assembled virus-like particle. These observations have important implications in viral assembly and maturation, suggesting that the CP N-terminus and its interactions with RNA serve as a key driver for generating capsid curvature.
Excretion of triacylglycerol as a matrix lipid facilitating apoplastic accumulation of a lipophilic metabolite shikonin
Authors: Tatsumi Kanade , Ichino Takuji , Isaka Natsumi , Sugiyama Akifumi , Okazaki Yozo , Higashi Yasuhiro , Kajikawa Masataka , Fukuzawa Hideya , Toyooka Kiminori , Sato Mayuko , Ichi Ikuyo , Shimomura Koichiro , Ohta Hiroyuki , Saito Kazuki , Yazaki Kazufumi
Published: August 2021

Plants produce a large variety of lipophilic metabolites, many of which are secreted by cells and accumulated in apoplasts. The mechanism of secretion remains largely unknown, because hydrophobic metabolites, which may form oil droplets or crystals in cytosol, inducing cell death, cannot be directly secreted by transporters. Moreover, some secondary metabolic lipids react with cytosolic components leading to their decomposition. Lipophilic metabolites should thus be solubilized by matrix lipids and compartmentalized by membrane lipids. The mechanism of lipophilic metabolite secretion was assessed using shikonin, a red naphthoquinone lipid, in Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Cell secretion of shikonin also involved the secretion of about 30% of triacylglycerol (TAG), composed predominantly of saturated fatty acids. Shikonin production was associated with the induction of large amounts of the membrane lipid phosphatidylcholine. Together with in vitro reconstitution, these findings suggest a novel role for TAG as a matrix lipid for the secretion of lipophilic metabolites.
Barley guanine nucleotide exchange factorHvGEF14 is an activator of the susceptibility factorHvRACB and supports host cell entry byBlumeria graminisf.sp.hordei
Authors: Trutzenberg Adriana , Engelhardt Stefan , Hückelhoven Ralph
Published: August 2021

In barley (Hordeum vulgare), the function of ROPs appears central to polar cell development and the interaction outcome with parasitic fungi but little is known about ROP activation. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) facilitate the exchange of GDP with GTP and thereby turn ROPs into a signalling-activated ROP-GTP state. Plants possess a unique class of GEFs harbouring a plant specific ROP nucleotide exchanger domain (PRONE). We performed phylogenetic analyses and annotated barley PRONE GEFs.HvGEF14is expressed in leaf epidermal tissue and downregulated after inoculation withBlumeria graminisf.sp.hordei. Protein-protein interaction assays indicate thatHvGEF14 and the type I barley ROP proteinHvRACB can interact in yeast andin planta. Overexpression ofHvGEF14 further recruited the ROP-GTP downstream interactorHvRIC171 to the cell periphery and let to interaction ofHvRACB with an extended CRIB (Cdc42/Rac Interactive Binding motif) peptide ofHvRIC171 in a similar manner as constitutively activatedHvRACB. Finally, the over expression ofHvGEF14led to enhanced susceptibility to fungal entry whileHvGEF14RNAi provoked a trend to more penetration resistance.HvGEF14 might therefore play a role in the activation ofHvRACB in barley epidermal cells, which is crucial for fungal penetration success.

Highlight

The activated GTPaseHvRACB is a susceptibility factor of barley in response toBlumeria graminisf.sp.hordei. The newly discovered guanine nucleotide exchange factorHvGEF14 is aHvRACB activator.
Food waste: an exploratory investigation of causes, practices and consequences perceived by Brazilian supermarkets and restaurants
Authors: Watanabe Eluiza Alberto de Morais , Nascimento Caroline Rodrigues do , Freitas Michele Gasparoto Moreira Teixeira de , Viana Mayra Monteiro
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Sustainable food consumption is crucial to protect the environment and to promote a better quality of life. Our study analyses and compares the causes, perceived consequences of food waste and practices to mitigate it in supermarkets and restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted 17 semi-structured interviews with managers or other responsible persons with mastery of information about food waste of restaurants (self-service and à la carte) and supermarkets. The data were analysed via thematic content analysis.

Findings

The leading causes of food waste for the interviewed supermarkets and restaurants were improper handling by the staff, ineffective stock control management and lack of employee training. Supermarkets perceived other causes such as inadequate food packaging, refrigeration and temperature issues and dishonesty of carriers. The perceived consequences of food waste were mainly related to the economic aspect. Regarding adopting practices to reduce waste, some highlights are employee training, waste management by a specialized employee, assertive demand forecasting, meal preparation in the store and food donation. Just the supermarkets employ price reduction as a practice to reduce food waste. We concluded that, in general, supermarkets perceive more causes for waste than restaurants but do not necessarily present practices to mitigate these additional causes.

Originality/value

This research expanded the scope of studies about food waste and reveals procedures that those in charge can implement to reduce food waste. Our study analysed the causes, practices and consequences of food waste in two types of food channels (supermarkets and restaurants, in different formats). The literature does not clearly disclose aspects assigned to different food marketing channels, especially in emerging economies.
Critical predictors of burnout among civil engineers at construction sites: a structural equation modelling
Authors: Gumusburun Ayalp Gulden
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The construction industry has always been regarded as a stressful and task-driven industry with high levels of work pressure. When the stressful situations are prolonged, job burnout becomes unavoidable for construction professionals. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the critical predictors of burnout among civil engineers at construction sites in Turkey and identify the impact of those determined burnout predictors on various burnout dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The possible causes of burnout for civil engineers at construction sites were determined using an extensive literature review and were further studied using a questionnaire. The obtained data were analysed statistically using SPSS 22 and LISREL 8.7 software. Correlation analysis, exploratory and confirmatory analysis, and structural equation modelling were performed on this collected data, and a structural model was developed.

Findings

Three critical factors affecting burnout levels of civil engineers in construction sites were determined; among them “organisational injustice” and “competitive pricing and lack of contract management” were identified as the critical predictors of burnout in the emotional-exhaustion and cynicism dimensions. Based on these predictors, potential solutions and recommendations are proposed that are anticipated to decrease the burnout among civil engineers at construction sites.

Originality/value

Although there are several works of research regarding the burnout among construction professionals, there is limited research that has provided insight into the specific factors causing burnout among civil engineers. This research presents a structural model of the predictors obtained by a confirmatory factor analysis for decreasing the burnout level of civil engineers at construction sites. The current study represents the first comprehensive quantitative determination of the factors and predictors of burnout among civil engineers at construction sites in Turkey.
You deserve the bad (or good) service: the role of moral deservingness in observers’ reactions to service failure (or excellence)
Authors: Palmeira Mauricio , Koo Minjung , Sung Hyun-Ah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how observers evaluate a company that provides service failure (or excellence) to an immoral versus a moral customer. This study introduces the concept of deservingness to the service literature and suggests that observers appreciate when a company delivers “justice” – either bad service to an immoral customer or good service to a moral customer – and thus evaluate the company more favorably.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents three online studies using scenarios (ns = 205, 199 and 181) and one lab study (n = 89) using a confederate to manipulate customer morality.

Findings

Across four studies, this study finds that a service failure has a less negative impact on observers’ company evaluations when observers consider the target customer immoral, and thus deserving of the bad outcome. Conversely, the positive impact of observing service excellence is enhanced when observers consider the target customer to be moral, and thus deserving of a good outcome. This effect occurs because the perception of deservingness leads observers to experience more positive feelings about the service outcome and these positive feelings transfer over to observers’ evaluations of the service provider.

Research limitations/implications

The mechanism shares some similarities with the concept of immanent justice reasoning, whereby individuals draw a causal link between someone’s prior immoral behavior and an unrelated negative outcome. However, the studies go one step further by showing that such causal reasoning, at least on a moral level, can impact the judgments of the other party (in this case, the company involved in the service outcome).

Practical implications

Service providers need to be particularly attentive when serving customers who are viewed in a positive light, as an observed failure that affects a moral customer can be particularly damaging to company evaluations. Conversely, companies should make efforts to publicize when exceptional service is given to nice, admirable customers, as this is particularly effective at improving evaluations.

Originality/value

Researchers have examined how allocations of responsibility affect observers' evaluation of service encounters. This paper adds deservingness as an alternate mechanism and examines service excellence as well.
Loyal customers’ tipping points of spending for services: a reciprocity perspective
Authors: Teichmann Karin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Controversy exists about the shape of the relationship between loyalty and profitability. This paper aims to address the possibly nonlinear effects of behavioral loyalty (BLOY) on customer spending (as a proxy for profitability). Building on social exchange theory and the norm of reciprocity, it examines the asymmetries between BLOY and customer spending and the moderating influence of personal communication (PCOMM) as a social reward and dispositional positive reciprocity as process evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1a (n = 309) gathered customer data from four restaurants and Study 1b (n = 252) data from hotel guests after they checked out. Study 2 is an experimental study with two manipulated factors (BLOY and PCOMM). In total, 295 participants from a large German online panel completed the study.

Findings

The results indicate an inverted-U shaped relationship between BLOY and customer spending: after reaching a turning point, customers gradually curb spending as their BLOY further increases. High PCOMM acts as a reciprocal response while triggering additional customer spending particularly at higher levels of behavioral loyalty; positive reciprocity adjusts the differences in customer spending when social rewards such as PCOMM are present.

Research limitations/implications

The asymmetric relationship between BLOY and customer spending is tested only for hedonic service settings.

Practical implications

Not all loyal customers spend more – companies need to meet their reciprocal obligations before they can benefit from increased customer spending.

Originality/value

The present research re-considers the nature of the relationship between BLOY and customer spending and reveals an inverted-U shaped relationship, with a turning point beyond which greater customer loyalty decreases customer spending. It finds converging process evidence for the mechanism of reciprocity underlying this relationship. This study also details the financial impact of BLOY on the firm by investigating actual customer spending.
To empower or oppress: approaching duality in educational histories
Authors: Keynes Matthew R. , Marsden Beth
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper introduces key themes and debates in education and educational history that engage education's complicity in injustice and violence, as well as those that continue to position education as a vehicle for positive change and possibility. The paper introduces the papers that comprise the special issue “Challenges of Contested Spaces: Constructing Difference and its Legacies in Educational History”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper canvasses pertinent historiographical, theoretical and methodological debates that shed light on education's dual capacity to empower and oppress.

Findings

Papers in this collection reveal the many ways that agendas justified in the name of education, training and reform have often invoked that name as justification for actions that harmed, discriminated or oppressed, and yet also, how despite this, education can still be imagined as a space of possibility and transformation.

Originality/value

The paper offers a summative introduction to the themes and papers of the special issue.
Workplace affective well-being: gratitude and friendship in helping millennials to thrive at work
Authors: Badri Siti Khadijah Zainal , Yap Wai Meng , Ramos Hazel Melanie
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between gratitude and workplace friendship with affective well-being (AWB) at work amongst millennial employees. Specifically, it details the mediating effect of workplace friendship in explaining the linkages between gratitude and AWB at work.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a sample of 272 millennial workers in this study. A survey invitation was sent out to all of the respondents through email. A 20-item job-related AWB (Van Katwyk et al., 2000) scale was used to measure AWB. Workplace friendship was measured using six-items of the workplace friendship scale (Nielsen et al., 2000) and gratitude was measured using McCullough et al.’s (2002) six-item gratitude questionnaire (GQ-6).

Findings

The study found that gratitude and workplace friendship enhanced workplace AWB among millennial workers. Workplace friendship functioned as a mediator, which delivered the effect from gratitude towards workplace AWB. Gratitude was found to positively predict workplace friendship and subsequently workplace friendship positively predicted workplace AWB.

Practical implications

Nurturing positive feelings at work through excellent psychosocial resources and healthy work friendships would improve millennial workers well-being. Henceforth, encouraging millennial employees to cultivate workplace friendships, can help the manager to enhance millennial employees’ feeling of belongingness, and thus, promote better AWB.

Originality/value

Investment on employee’s human capital and values can be valuable resources to increase millennial employees’ performance at work. Millennial workers are a unique generation that put emphasis on the subjective experience. Hence, capitalising on their subjective experience can be one of the keys to better increase their well-being and performance at work.
Reaching hard-to-reach people through digital means – Citizens as initiators of co-creation in public services
Authors: Jalonen Harri , Kokkola Jussi , Laihonen Harri , Kirjavainen Hanna , Kaartemo Valtteri , Vähämaa Miika
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper considers the potential of social media for developing public services. The paper approaches social media as a context that can provide information that might otherwise be unattainable. The focus of analysis is on a special hard-to-reach group of marginalized youths who appear to have isolated themselves from society.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors answer the question: How can the experiences of socially withdrawn youth as shared on social media be used to enrich the knowledge base relating to the initiation phase of co-creation of public services? The data retrieved from the Finnish discussion forum are analyzed using the combination of unsupervised machine learning and discourse analysis.

Findings

The paper contributes by outlining a method that can be applied to identify expertise-by-experience from digital stories shared by marginalized youths. To overcome the challenges of making socially withdrawn youths real contributors to the co-creation of public services, this paper suggests several theoretical and managerial implications.

Originality/value

Co-creation assumes an interactive and dynamic relationship where value is created at the nexus of interaction. However, the evidence base for successful co-creation, particularly with digital technology, is limited. This paper fills the gap by providing findings from a case study that investigated how social media discussions can be a stimulus to enrich the knowledge base of the co-creation of public services.
An empirical investigation of buyer–supplier relationship typologies and their behavioral and performance outcomes
Authors: Li Jin , Chai Linlin , Tangpong Chanchai , Hong Michelle , Traub Rodney D.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine empirically the existence of four classical and four emerging buyer–supplier relationship (BSR) types and how they differ in terms of behavioral dynamics and performance measures.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an online survey to collect data from 371 purchasing managers in the USA.

Findings

A cluster analysis statistically supports the existence of five of these eight BSR types, including strategic/bilateral partnership, market/discrete, supplier-led collaboration, captive supplier/buyer dominant and captive buyer/supplier dominant BSRs. Further, ANOVA tests show that these five BSRs differ in terms of behavioral outcomes and performance measures.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on a cross-sectional survey so it cannot examine how these BSR types may evolve over time, and it is not suitable to examine some rare types of BSRs. In addition, this study does not consider contextual factors that may moderate the influence of BSR types on the behavioral dynamics and performance measures.

Practical implications

Managers should consider the potential to be able to develop and enhance a strategic/bilateral relationship with their supply chain partners, which in at least some circumstances can lead to superior performance results. Similar observations can be made with respect to supplier-led and, to a lesser degree, buyer-led collaboration.

Originality/value

Most existing research of the BSR types is largely a product of theoretical classifications, and there is also a lack of research of their performance implications. This study fills these gaps in the literature.
What small businesses in developing country think of cybersecurity risks in the digital age: Indonesian case
Authors: Yudhiyati Ratna , Putritama Afrida , Rahmawati Diana
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify and analyse the issues faced by internet-based small businesses in developing countries regarding cybersecurity and document how these businesses address the risks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the qualitative method. Respondents were internet-based small businesses selected by using theoretical sampling. Data were collected by using interviews and observations. The validity of the analysis was ensured by using triangulation and member checking.

Findings

This study reveals that small businesses managed to identify the loss of physical and monetary assets as possible damage. However, only a few businesses identified loss of intangible assets as possible cyber risks. Most small businesses had used basic cybersecurity measures to protect data access and some primary business activities. Unfortunately, they rarely take initiatives in preventing and early detecting cyber risks.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of this study cannot be generalised as it aims to obtain new insights and document unexplored findings. Thus, if this study’s findings are going to be generalised, it is necessary to conduct an additional study. Secondly, this study did not assess how far small business had fulfilled the relevant information security framework as assessment required additional research, and this study only aimed to map the current situation in small businesses.

Practical implications

This study emphasised the importance of identifying valuable assets or resources when implementing cybersecurity measures. Focusing on security measures to protect identified assets from cyber risk will make the efforts more efficient and effective than using standardised cybersecurity measures. Third-party developers can also use this study to understand small businesses’ current cybersecurity implementation and their characters to design online platforms that suit these needs. Governments can also design educational activities that address small businesses’ lack of knowledge.

Originality/value

Most studies which focus on small businesses and information technology (IT) usually only discuss how they use IT. This study also brings new contributions by focusing on developing countries and specifically addresses internet-based technology cyber risk faced by e-commerce businesses. The qualitative method is used as most studies in e-commerce adoption were positivistic in nature, and inductive-based studies were rarely found on the topic.
Mental health training for Australian undergraduate paramedic science students: a review
Authors: King Shannon C. , Rebar Amanda L. , Oliveri Paul , Stanton Robert
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present the current state of evidence regarding the mental health literacy of paramedics and student paramedics and whether mental health literacy affects the care that paramedics provide to their patients with mental illness.

Design/methodology/approach

Embase, PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar were searched for recent (2010–2020) English language published articles using the key phrases paramedic AND/OR ambulance AND mental health AND mental health literacy. Additional searches of the reference lists of included articles were undertaken. A descriptive thematic analysis was used to arrive at a narrative synthesis of the study findings.

Findings

The emergency medical services system has taken a primary role in the care of patients with mental illness but has limited capacity for non-emergency psychosocial situations. Negative and judgemental attitudes amongst paramedics towards patients with mental illness is a significant issue and remains a barrier to patients seeking medical care for mental illness. Improved care provision and patient engagement might result from specific education aimed to better enhance paramedics’ mental health literacy.

Originality/value

This literature review provides insights into the current practice of mental health training for Australian undergraduate paramedic science students and the implications for patient care. Recommendations for educational strategies are provided.
Money laundering or foreign contribution! The spirit of governance in NGOs of India
Authors: Goel Sandeep
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The present paper aims to discuss the “money laundering” aspect and related governance practices of third sector, non-government organizations (NGOs). In NGOs globally, foreign contributions are not an old story. But in NGOs, the spotlight on the vulnerability of money laundering in the name of foreign contribution(s) requires special attention. The study highlights the dimension of money laundering in an Indian NGO and related dominance of board leadership about governance issues by way of foreign contribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study uses case study method for enlightening the money laundering tussle in a non-government organization and its governance impact on the stakeholders’ interests at large.

Findings

The results stress upon the need for to have strong anti-money laundering practices in non-government organizations in the form of foreign contributions which are still struggling to have a sound governance system in place.

Practical implications

It is of significance to both policymakers and standards setters at the international level in the light of increasing global awareness about anti-money laundering practices of the third sector.

Social implications

There will be an improvement in the corporate management related to money-laundering of these organizations and infuse higher confidence among stakeholders and further lead to their effective regulatory framework.

Originality/value

It is an original paper which highlights the role and significance of money laundering practices in the third sector.
Balancing service inclusion for primary and secondary customers experiencing vulnerabilities
Authors: Leino Henna M. , Hurmerinta Leila , Sandberg Birgitta
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Secondary customers often experience secondary vulnerabilities that manifest in family-centred transformative services as other- and self-related customer needs. Yet, a relational perspective on primary and secondary customers’ needs is lacking. The study analyses secondary customers’ needs and their relationship to primary customers’ needs to enhance well-being in customer entities. The service inclusion lens is used to understand customers’ experiences of vulnerability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an exploratory approach. The data consists of ethnographic observations and interviews of elderly residents (primary customers), their family members (secondary customers) and nurses in two nursing homes.

Findings

Primary and secondary customers’ needs are interrelated (or unrelated) in four ways: they are separate, congruent, intertwined or discrepant. The vulnerability experiences fluctuate in intensity and over time, individually reflecting on these need dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to service research concerning customers’ experiences of vulnerability, secondary customers and their inclusion in services. Primary customers’ service inclusion may increase/decrease secondary customers’ service inclusion and their experience of vulnerability. Moreover, secondary customers’ inclusion is often necessary to foster primary customers’ inclusion and well-being.

Practical implications

Fostering service inclusion and well-being for primary and secondary customers requires balanced inclusion and acknowledging the needs of both groups. Service providers may need to act as moderators within customer entities if discrepant needs occur.

Originality/value

The study addresses the under-researched areas of family members’ customer needs, their relation to primary customers’ needs, experiences of secondary vulnerability and context-related vulnerability.
Influence of social media posts on service performance
Authors: Esmark Jones Carol , Waites Stacie , Stevens Jennifer
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Much research regarding social media posts and relevancy has resulted in mixed findings. Furthermore, the mediating role of relevancy has not previously been examined. This paper aims to examine the correlating relationship between types of posts made by hotels and the resulting occupancy rates. Then, the mediating role of relevancy is examined and ways that posts can increase/decrease relevancy of the post to potential hotel users.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the context of the hotel industry, three studies were conducted – one including hotel occupancy data from a corporate chain – to examine the impact of social media posts on relevancy and intentions to stay at the hotel. Experimental studies were conducted to explain the results of the real-world hotel data.

Findings

The findings show that relevancy is an important mediator in linking social media posts to service performance. A locally (vs nationally) themed post can decrease both the relevancy of a post and the viewer’s intentions to stay at a hotel. This relationship, however, can be weakened if a picture is included with the post, as a visual may increase self-identification with a post.

Originality/value

These results have important theoretical and practical implications as social media managers attempt to find the best ways to communicate to their customers and followers. Specifically, there are lower and upper limits to how many times a hotel should be posting to social media. The data also show many hotels post about local events, such as school fundraisers or a job fair, that can be harmful to stay intentions, likely due to the irrelevant nature of local posts to customers who are likely to stay in a hotel. National posts are seen as more relevant and likely to increase stay intentions, and the inclusion of a picture can help local posts seem more relevant.
Consumers experiencing vulnerability: a state of play in the literature
Authors: Riedel Aimee , Messenger Dana , Fleischman David , Mulcahy Rory
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a state-of-the-art review of research on consumers experiencing vulnerability to describe the current situation of the consumers experiencing vulnerability literature and develop an up-to-date synthesised definition of consumers experiencing vulnerability.

Design/methodology/approach

This systematic review, guided by the PRISMA framework, takes a multi-disciplinary approach to identify 310 articles published between 2010 and 2019 examining consumers experiencing vulnerability. Descriptive analysis of the data is undertaken in combination with a thematic and text mining approach using Leximancer software.

Findings

A definition of consumers experiencing vulnerability is developed- “unique and subjective experiences where characteristics such as states, conditions and/or external factors lead to a consumer experiencing a sense of powerlessness in consumption settings”. The findings reveal consumers experiencing vulnerability have often been classified using a uni-dimensional approach (opposed to a multi-dimensional), focussing on one factor of vulnerability, the most prevalent of these being economic and age factors. A lack of research has examined consumers experiencing vulnerability based upon geographical remoteness, gender and sexual exploitation.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to examine consumers experiencing vulnerability using a systematic approach and text mining analysis to synthesise a large set of articles, which subsequently reduces the potential for researchers’ interpretative bias. Further, it is the first to generate a data-driven definition of consumers experiencing vulnerability. It provides targeted recommendations to allow further scholarly, policy and practical contributions to this area.
A new approach to audience segmentation for vaccination messaging: applying the anger activism model
Authors: Jang Youjin , Turner Monique Mitchell , Heo Ruth Jinhee , Barry Rachel
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to use the anger activism model as an audience segmentation tool in the context of the anti-vaccination movement.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a national purposive sample (N = 438).

Findings

The group with high anger, strong efficacy (i.e. “activists”) was found to be more likely to engage in information seeking and was more accurate and defense-motivated when examining information about anti-vaxxers compared to other groups. Importantly, activists were more likely to engage in both low and high commitment behaviors to change vaccine policy.

Originality/value

As anti-vaxxers have proven to be difficult to change attitudinally, future campaigns are more likely to succeed if they leverage pro-vaccine audiences to fight for change. However, the understanding of the various segments within the pro-vaccination audience is limited. The data are discussed regarding leveraging high anger, strong efficacy audiences as change agents in future persuasive campaigns.
Audit committee ownership and the cost of equity capital
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Wu Julia Y.H.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether audit committee ownership (consisting of both equity holdings and option holdings) is associated with the cost of equity capital.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses regression analysis to examine the association between audit committee ownership and the cost of equity capital. The data set consists of 2,825 firm-year observations for companies listed on the ASX between 2001 and 2015. This paper also conducts tests to explore the mediating effects of financial reporting quality, firm performance and the risk of reporting problems, on the relation between audit committee ownership and cost of equity capital.

Findings

The analyses reveal that audit committee ownership reduces the firm’s cost of equity and, thereby, support the incentive alignment view. However, the association is driven primarily by audit committee equity ownership, with option holdings having an insignificant effect. This paper also finds that firm performance mediates the association between audit committee ownership and the cost of equity capital.

Practical implications

Findings of the existing corporate governance research relating to the cost of equity capital and audit committee ownership remain sparse in the context of “comply-or-explain” types of regulatory environment, like that of Australia. The findings indicate that principle-based discretionary governance arrangements, e.g. compensating audit committee members with company equity, may bring benefits to firms in terms of cheaper financing. Regulators, scholars and practitioners are invited to consider further the comprehensive implications of the structure and transparency of audit committee incentives on the effective functioning of security markets.

Originality/value

The effects of audit committee ownership on the cost of equity capital are an issue of direct economic consequence for equity investors. The main finding of this study, namely, that a firm with higher audit committee share ownership is likely to benefit from a lower cost of equity capital, therefore adds value to the limited extant literature.
Understanding integrated thinking: evidence from the field, the development of a framework and avenues for future research
Authors: Busco Cristiano , Granà Fabrizio , Achilli Giulia
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop a framework to systematize the emerging literature on integrated thinking and offers empirical insights on how integrated thinking has been practiced within an organization. The paper also introduces the contributions that compose the special issue “exploring integrated thinking in action: theoretical interpretations and evidence from the field” and outlines avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critically reviews the literature on integrated thinking and proposes a framework that classifies prior studies into three areas, namely, integrated thinking and sustainable strategies; integrating thinking in practice; the concept and measures of integrated thinking. The study also provides an illustration of the ways in which integrated thinking has been adopted by a European energy company to shape and execute its purpose-driven strategy, as well as the benefits that have emerged. The paper uses the framework developed from the literature to introduce the contributions of the special issue and to suggest future research opportunities.

Findings

The study shows that while the literature on integrated thinking is still in its infancy, the evidence emerging from contemporary organizations supports empirical-driven research and stimulates a variety of theoretical and empirical contributions that will enable the academic debate to move forward.

Originality/value

The theoretical and practical insights offered by this study, together with those provided by the papers of this Meditari Accountancy Research special issue, will foster future research on integrated thinking. In particular, the framework developed in this paper may be drawn upon by researchers to plan new research projects on integrated thinking and its adoption within organizations.
Performance of anode materials in electrochemical treatment system for indigo dyeing wastewater
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Mengdi , Huangfu Zhijie , Yao Jiming , Xie Yuan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore suitable anode materials used in the electrochemical system for indigo dyeing wastewater, to achieve optimal treatment performances.

Design/methodology/approach

The single factor experiment was used to explore the optimum process parameters for electrochemical decolorization of indigo dyeing wastewater by changing the applied voltage, electrolysis time and electrolyte concentration. At the voltage of 9 V, the morphology of flocs with different electrolytic times was observed and the effect of electrolyte concentration on decolorization rate in two electrolyte systems was also investigated. Further analysis of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate, anode weight loss and sediment quantity after electrochemical treatment of indigo dyeing wastewater were carried out.

Findings

Comprehensive considering the decolorization degree and COD removal rate of the wastewater, the aluminum electrode showed the best treatment effect among several common anode materials. With aluminum electrode as an anode, under conditions of applied voltage of 9 V, electrolysis time of 40 min and sodium sulfate concentration of 6 g/L, the decolorization percentage obtained was of 94.59% and the COD removal rate reached at 84.53%.

Research limitations/implications

In the electrochemical treatment of indigo dyeing wastewater, the aluminum electrode was found as an ideal anode material, which provided a reference for the choice of anodes. The electrodes used in this study were homogenous material and the composite material anode needed to be further researched.

Practical implications

It provided an effective and practical anode material choice for electrochemical degradation of indigo dyeing wastewater.

Originality/value

Combined with the influence of applied voltage, electrolysis time and electrolyte concentration and anode materials on decolorization degree and COD removal rate of indigo dyeing wastewater, providing a better electrochemical treatment system for dyehouse effluent.
Investigation on the relationship between bending angle of the overhanging surface and overhanging surface quality printed using selective laser melting
Authors: Duan Weipeng , Han Jitai , Xia Qingfneg , Wang Keqing , Wu Meiping , Song Dalei
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the increasing demand for lightweight parts, the quality of the inner structure gained growing attention from different kinds of fields. As the quality of the overhanging surface was one of the most important factors affecting inner structure formation, its quality still needs to improve. This paper aims to clarify the change of the overhanging surface quality caused by different bending angles.

Design/methodology/approach

The structure of the inner hole was redesigned according to the different performances of the overhanging and side inner surface. The experimental results revealed why different surface qualities can be seen under different bending angles. According to the experimental data, the inner structure was redesigned to increase its overall performance.

Findings

The results revealed that when the bending angle was small, the slope of the overhanging surface increased which lead to the decreasing length of the powder-supported layer. However, less space on bending angle resulted in the accumulation of unmelted powder which leads to the increasing of sinking distance. When the bending angle was too large, the slope of the overhanging surface decreased and the length of the molten pool which was supported by powder increased. It resulted in the sinking of the molten pool caused by the gravity of powder and its attachment.

Originality/value

This paper is the first work to study the relationship between bending angle and overhanging surface quality as far as the authors know. The different performances of left and right overhanging surfaces also have not been revealed in other research studies to the best of the knowledge.