bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of arterivirus RNA synthesis by cyclophilin inhibitors is counteracted by mutations in replicase transmembrane subunits
Authors: de Wilde Adriaan H. , Boomaars-van der Zanden A. Linda , de Jong Anja W. M. , Barcéna Montserrat , Snijder Eric J. , Posthuma Clara C.
Published: March 2019

Previously, the cyclophilin inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) and Alisporivir (ALV) were shown to inhibit the replication of diverse RNA viruses, including arteriviruses and coronaviruses, which both belong to the orderNidovirales. Here we aimed to identify arterivirus proteins involved in the mode-of-action of cyclophilin inhibitors and to investigate how these compounds inhibit arterivirus RNA synthesis in the infected cell. Repeated passaging of the arterivirus prototype equine arteritis virus (EAV) in the presence of CsA revealed that reduced drug sensitivity is associated with the emergence of adaptive mutations in nonstructural protein 5 (nsp5), one of the transmembrane subunits of the arterivirus replicase polyprotein. Introduction of singular nsp5 mutations (nsp5 Q21R, Y113H, or A134V) led to a ∼2-fold decrease in sensitivity to CsA treatment, whereas combinations of mutations further increased EAV’s CsA resistance. The detailed experimental characterization of engineered EAV mutants harboring CsA-resistance mutations implicated nsp5 in arterivirus RNA synthesis. Particularly, in anin vitroassay, EAV RNA synthesis was far less sensitive to CsA treatment when nsp5 contained the adaptive mutations mentioned above. Interestingly, for increased sensitivity to the closely-related drug ALV CsA-resistant nsp5 mutants required the incorporation of an additional adaptive mutation, which resided in nsp2 (H114R), another transmembrane subunit of the arterivirus replicase. Our study provides the first evidence for the involvement of nsp2 and nsp5 in the mechanism underlying the inhibition of arterivirus replication by cyclophilin inhibitors.

Importance

Currently, no approved treatments are available to combat infections with nidoviruses, a group of plus-stranded RNA viruses including important zoonotic and veterinary pathogens. Previously, the cyclophilin inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) and Alisporivir (ALV) were shown to inhibit the replication of diverse nidoviruses (both arteriviruses and coronaviruses), and may thus represent a class of pan-nidovirus inhibitors. Here, using the arterivirus prototype equine arteritis virus, we have established that resistance to CsA and ALV treatment is associated with adaptive mutations in two trans-membrane subunits of the viral replication complex, nonstructural proteins 2 and 5. This is the first evidence for the involvement of specific replicase subunits of nidoviruses in the mechanism underlying the inhibition of their replication by cyclophilin inhibitors. Understanding this mechanism of action is of major importance to guide future drug design, both for nidoviruses and other RNA viruses inhibited by these compounds.
Vesicle-associatedPseudomonas aeruginosaleucine aminopeptidase modulates bacterial biofilms grown on host cellular substrates
Authors: Esoda Caitlin N. , Kuehn Meta J.
Published: March 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, secretes a variety of virulence-associated proteases. These enzymes have been shown to contribute significantly toP. aeruginosapathogenesis and biofilm formation in the chronic colonization of CF patient lungs, as well as playing a role in infections of the cornea, burn wounds and chronic wounds. Our lab has previously characterized a secretedP. aeruginosapeptidase, PaAP, that is highly expressed in chronic CF isolates. This leucine aminopeptidase is not only secreted solubly, it also associates with bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), structures known for their contribution to virulence mechanisms in a variety of Gram-negative species and one of the major components of the biofilm matrix. With this in mind, we hypothesized that PaAP may play a role inP. aeruginosabiofilm formation. Using a lung epithelial cell/bacterial biofilm coculture model, we show that PaAP deletion in a clinicalP. aeruginosabackground leads to increased early biofilm formation. We additionally found that only native vesicle-bound PaAP, as opposed to its soluble forms, could reconstitute the original PaAP-mediated inhibition phenotype, and that the PaAP-containing vesicles could disperse preformed biofilm microcolonies ofKlebsiella pneumoniae, another lung pathogen. These data provide the basis for future work into the mechanism behind PaAP-OMV mediated bacterial microcolony dispersal and the application of these findings to clinical anti-biofilm research.
Global distribution of earthworm diversity
Authors: Phillips Helen R P , Guerra Carlos A , Bartz Marie L. C. , Briones Maria J. I. , Brown George , Ferlian Olga , Gongalsky Konstantin B. , Krebs Julia , Orgiazzi Alberto , Schwarz Benjamin , Bach Elizabeth M. , Bennett Joanne , Brose Ulrich , Decaëns Thibaud , De Vries Franciska T. , König-Ries Birgitta , Loreau Michel , Mathieu Jérôme , Mulder Christian , van der Putten Wim H. , Ramirez Kelly S. , Rillig Matthias C. , Russell David , Rutgers Michiel , Thakur Madhav P. , Wall Diana H. , Wardle David ,   Data Providers (see bulk upload sheet), Cameron Erin , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: March 2019

Soil organisms provide crucial ecosystem services that support human life. However, little is known about their diversity, distribution, and the threats affecting them. Here, we compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from over 7000 sites in 56 countries to predict patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We identify the environmental drivers shaping these patterns. Local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, while biomass peaked in the tropics, patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. Similar to many aboveground taxa, climate variables were more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings highlight that, while the environmental drivers are similar, conservation strategies to conserve aboveground biodiversity might not be appropriate for earthworm diversity, especially in a changing climate.

One sentence summary

Global patterns of earthworm diversity, abundance and biomass are driven by climate but patterns differ from many aboveground taxa.
STATegra: a comprehensive multi-omics dataset of B-cell differentiation in mouse
Authors: Gomez-Cabrero David , Tarazona Sonia , Ferreirós-Vidal Isabel , Ramirez Ricardo N. , Company Carlos , Schmidt Andreas , Reijmers Theo , Saint Paul Veronica von , Marabita Francesco , Rodríguez-Ubreva Javier , Garcia-Gomez Antonio , Carroll Thomas , Cooper Lee , Liang Ziwei , Dharmalingam Gopuraja , van der Kloet Frans , Harms Amy C. , Balzano-Nogueira Leandro , Lagani Vicenzo , Tsamardinos Ioannis , Lappe Michael , Maier Dieter , Westerhuis Johan A. , Hankemeier Thomas , Imhof Axel , Ballestar Esteban , Mortazavi Ali , Merkenschlager Matthias , Tegner Jesper , Conesa Ana
Published: March 2019

Multi-omics approaches use a diversity of high-throughput technologies to profile the different molecular layers of living cells. Ideally, the integration of this information should result in comprehensive systems models of cellular physiology and regulation. However, most multi-omics projects still include a limited number of molecular assays and there have been very few multi-omic studies that evaluate dynamic processes such as cellular growth, development and adaptation. Hence, we lack formal analysis methods and comprehensive multi-omics datasets that can be leveraged to develop true multi-layered models for dynamic cellular systems. Here we present the STATegra multi-omics dataset that combines measurements from up to 10 different omics technologies applied to the same biological system, namely the well-studied mouse pre-B-cell differentiation. STATegra includes high-throughput measurements of chromatin structure, gene expression, proteomics and metabolomics, and it is complemented with single-cell data. To our knowledge, the STATegra collection is the most diverse multi-omics dataset describing a dynamic biological system.
Modeling the ballistic-to-diffusive transition in nematode motility reveals variation in exploratory behavior across species
Authors: Helms Stephen J. , Rozemuller W. Mathijs , Costa Antonio Carlos , Avery Leon , Stephens Greg J. , Shimizu Thomas S.
Published: March 2019

A quantitative understanding of organism-level behavior requires predictive models that can capture the richness of behavioral phenotypes, yet are simple enough to connect with underlying mechanistic processes. Here we investigate the motile behavior of nematodes at the level of their translational motion on surfaces driven by undulatory propulsion. We broadly sample the nematode behavioral repertoire by measuring motile trajectories of the canonical lab strainC. elegansN2 as well as wild strains and distant species. We focus on trajectory dynamics over timescales spanning the transition from ballistic (straight) to diffusive (random) movement and find that salient features of the motility statistics are captured by a random walk model with independent dynamics in the speed, bearing and reversal events. We show that the model parameters vary among species in a correlated, low-dimensional manner suggestive of a common mode of behavioral control and a trade-off between exploration and exploitation. The distribution of phenotypes along this primary mode of variation reveals that not only the mean but also the variance varies considerably across strains, suggesting that these nematode lineages employ contrasting “bet-hedging” strategies for foraging.
A phenotypically plastic magic trait promoting reproductive isolation in sticklebacks?
Authors: Garduno Paz Monica V. , Huntingford Felicity A. , Garrett Sean , Adams Colin E.
Published: March 2019

This study identifies one possible mechanism whereby gene flow is interrupted in populations undergoing evolutionary divergence in sympatry; this is an important issue in evolutionary biology that remains poorly understood. Variation in trophic morphology was induced in three-spined stickleback by exposing them from an early age either to large benthic or to small pelagic prey. At sexual maturity, females given a choice between two breeding males, showed positive assortative mate choice for males raised on the same diet as themselves. The data indicate that this was mediated through a preference for males with trophic morphology similar to that of fish with which the females were familiar (from their pre-testing holding tanks). In trials where the female did not choose the most familiar male, the evidence suggests that either she had difficulty discriminating between two similar males or was positively choosing males with more extreme morphologies (more benthic-like or pelagic -like). This study has shown for the first time that expression of a plastic trait induced at an early age, not only results in specialisation for local foraging regimes but can also play a significant role in mate choice. This is equivalent to an environmentally induced, plastic version of the “magic traits” that promote ecologically-driven divergence in sympatry, hence the proposed descriptor “plastic magic trait”.
In vivo feasibility study of the use of porous polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane implants in partial laryngeal reconstruction
Authors: Birchall Martin A. , Herrmann Peggy , Sibbons Paul
Published: March 2019

Background

Loss of substantial volumes of laryngeal tissue after trauma or cancer significantly impairs quality of life. We hypothesised that repair of laryngeal defects with a candidate biomaterial, seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and epithelial cells, may offer a therapeutic approach to this unmet need.

Method

Moulded porous polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane polycarbonate-urea (POSS-PCU) scaffolds were seeded with human-derived MSC and epithelial cells, were implanted orthotopically into a defect created in the thyroid cartilage in eight pigs and monitoredin vivofor 2 months.In vivoassessments were performed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks post implantation. Histology was performed following termination.

Results

Implant operations were uncomplicated. One pig was terminated early (2 weeks post-implantation) following expectoration of its implant. No other mortality or morbidity was observed. Endoscopy showed partial extrusion of implants at two weeks and complete extrusion of all implants by termination.

Conclusions

POSS-PCU moulded laryngeal implants, in the present formulation, are extruded from the site of implantation between two- and eight-weeks post-surgery in pigs. In its present formulation and with the present, one-stage, protocol, this material does not appear to provide a suitable scaffold and vehicle for cells intended for partial laryngeal replacement in pigs.
Fully-sensitive Seed Finding in Sequence Graphs Using a Hybrid Index
Authors: Ghaffaari Ali , Marschall Tobias
Published: March 2019

Motivation

Sequence graphs are versatile data structures that are, for instance, able to represent the genetic variation found in a population and to facilitate genome assembly. Read mapping to sequence graphs constitutes an important step for many applications and is usually done by first finding exact seed matches, which are then extended by alignment. Existing methods for finding seed hits prune the graph in complex regions, leading to a loss of information especially in highly polymorphic regions of the genome. While such complex graph structures can indeed lead to a combinatorial explosion of possible alleles, the query set of reads from a diploid individual realizes only two alleles per locus—a property that is not exploited by extant methods.

Results

We present thePan-genomeSeedIndex (PSI), a fully-sensitive hybrid method for seed finding, which takes full advantage of this property by combining an index over selected paths in the graph with an index over the query reads. This enables PSI to find all seeds while eliminating the need to prune the graph. We demonstrate its performance with different parameter settings on both simulated data and on a whole human genome graph constructed from variants in the 1000 Genome Project data set. On this graph, PSI outperforms GCSA2 in terms of index size, query time, and sensitivity.

Availability

The C++ implementation is publicly available at:https://github.com/cartoonist/psi.
Bidirectional FtsZ filament treadmilling transforms lipid membranes via torsional stress
Authors: Ramirez-Diaz Diego A. , Merino-Salomon Adrian , Meyer Fabian , Heymann Michael , Rivas German , Bramkamp Marc , Schwille Petra
Published: March 2019

FtsZ is a key component in bacterial cell division, being the primary protein of the presumably contractile Z ring. In vivo and in vitro, it shows two distinctive features that could so far however not be mechanistically linked: self-organization into directionally treadmilling vortices on solid supported membranes, and shape deformation of flexible liposomes. In cells, circumferential treadmilling of FtsZ was shown to recruit septum-building enzymes, but an active force production remains elusive. To gain mechanistic understanding of FtsZ dependent membrane deformations and constriction, we designed an in vitro assay based on soft lipid tubes pulled from FtsZ decorated giant lipid vesicles (GUVs) by optical tweezers. FtsZ actively transformed these tubes into spring-like structures, where GTPase activity promoted spring compression. Operating the optical tweezers in lateral vibration mode and assigning spring constants to FtsZ coated tubes, we found that FtsZ rings indeed exerts 0.14 – 1.09 pN forces upon GTP hydrolysis, through torsional stress induced by bidirectional treadmilling. These directional forces could further be demonstrated to induce membrane budding with constricting necks on both, giant vesicles and E.coli cells devoid of their cell walls.
Multiscale analysis of acne connects molecular subnetworks with disease status
Authors: Hall Jacob B. , Divaraniya Aparna A. , Lee Hao-Chih , Becker Christine E. , McCauley Benjamin , Glowe Patricia K. , Sebra Robert , Pavel Ana B. , Singer Giselle , Nelson Amanda , Thiboutot Diane , Marmur Ellen , Schadt Eric E. , Zeichner Joshua , Guttman-Yassky Emma , Kidd Brian A. , Dudley Joel T.
Published: March 2019

Acne vulgaris affects millions of individuals and can lead to psychosocial impairment as well as permanent scarring. Previous studies investigating acne pathogenesis have either examined a targeted set of biological parameters in a modest-sized cohort or carried out high-throughput assays on a small number of samples. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of acne pathophysiology, we conducted an in-depth multi-omic study of 56 acne patients and 20 individuals without acne. We collected whole blood, skin punch biopsies, microbiota from skin follicles, and relevant clinical measurements to understand how multiple factors contribute to acne. We provide an integrative analysis of multi-omics data that results in a molecular network of acne. Comparisons of lesional and non-lesional skin highlighted multiple biological processes, including immune cell and inflammatory responses, response to stress, T cell activation, lipid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, keratinocytes, antimicrobial activity, epithelial cell differentiation, and response to wounding, that are differentially altered in acne lesions compared to non-lesions. Our results suggest baseline differences in the skin that may predispose individuals to develop acne. These datasets and findings offer a framework for new target identification and reference for future studies.
Increased genetic marker density reveals high levels of admixture between red deer and introduced Japanese sika in Kintyre, Scotland
Authors: McFarlane S. Eryn , Hunter Darren C. , Senn Helen V. , Smith Stephanie L. , Holland Rebecca , Huisman Jisca , Pemberton Josephine M.
Published: March 2019

Hybridization is a natural process at species range boundaries, but increasing numbers of species are hybridizing due to direct or indirect human activities. In such cases of anthropogenic hybridization, subsequent introgression can threaten the survival of native species. To date many such systems have been studied with too few genetic markers to assess the level of threat resulting from advanced backcrossing. Here we use 44,999 single nucleotide polymorphisms and the ADMIXTURE program to study two areas of Scotland where a panel of 22 diagnostic microsatellites previously identified introgression between native red deer (Cervus elaphus) and introduced Japanese sika (Cervus nippon). In Kintyre we reclassify 26% of deer from the pure species categories to the hybrid category whereas in the NW Highlands we only reclassify 2%. As expected, the reclassified individuals are mostly advanced backcrosses. We also investigate the ability of marker panels selected on different posterior allele frequency criteria to find hybrids assigned by the full marker set, and show that in our data, ancestry informative markers (i.e. those that are highly differentiated between the species, but not fixed) are better than diagnostic markers (those markers that are fixed between the species) because they are more evenly distributed in the genome. Diagnostic loci are concentrated on the X chromosome to the detriment of autosomal coverage.
Nilotinib, an approved leukemia drug, inhibits Smoothened signaling in Hedgehog-dependent medulloblastoma
Authors: Chahal Kirti K. , Li Jie , Kufareva Irina , Parle Milind , Durden Donald L. , Wechsler-Reya Robert J. , Chen Clark C. , Abagyan Ruben
Published: March 2019

Dysregulation of the seven-transmembrane (7TM) receptor Smoothened (SMO) and other components of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway contributes to the development of cancers including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma (MB). However, SMO-specific antagonists produced mixed results in clinical trials, marked by limited efficacy and high rate of acquired resistance in tumors. Here we discovered that Nilotinib, an approved inhibitor of several kinases, possesses an anti-Hh activity, at clinically achievable concentrations, due to direct binding to SMO and inhibition of SMO signaling. Nilotinib was more efficacious than the SMO-specific antagonist Vismodegib in inhibiting growth of two Hh-dependent MB cell lines. It also reduced tumor growth in subcutaneous MB mouse xenograft model. These results indicate that in addition to its known activity against several tyrosine-kinase-mediated proliferative pathways, Nilotinib is a direct inhibitor of the Hh pathway. The newly discovered extension of Nilotinib’s target profile holds promise for the treatment of Hh-dependent cancers.
The impact of support on growth in teacher-efficacy: a cross-cultural study
Authors: Jungert Tomas , Östergren Rickard , Houlfort Nathalie , Koestner Richard
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Perceived support from co-workers and managers is important for many organizational outcomes. However, the benefit of competence support from colleagues and school management on personal teacher efficacy has not been investigated. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the impact of competence support from colleagues and the school management on growth in teacher efficacy and second, to investigate cultural differences (Canada and Sweden).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors administered an inventory measuring support for competence and personal teacher efficacy to over 400 teachers in Canada and Sweden at 27 schools, at two times. Time 1 took place at the first week of a fall semester and Time 2 at the end of the same semester.

Findings

Structural equation modeling revealed that competence support from colleagues predicted growth in teacher efficacy, whereas competence support from school management did not. No differences in these relations emerged between Canadian and Swedish teachers.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for how schools organize teachers in teacher teams so that competence support from co-workers is promoted.

Originality/value

This study is the first cross-cultural study to empirically show that teachers’ self-efficacy is significantly benefitted by competence support from their teacher peers.
Quality of work life (QoWL) of faculty members in Saudi higher education institutions
Authors: Subbarayalu Arun Vijay , Al Kuwaiti Ahmed
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Higher education institutions understand the importance of the quality of work life (QoWL) since it directly impacts faculty members’ involvement in providing high-quality teaching. The purpose of this paper is to compare the QoWL of faculty members in undergraduate medical and undergraduate engineering programs offered at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study design was adopted and 100 faculty members from each program were selected. A pretested QoWL questionnaire was distributed among faculty members using the Questionpro online survey portal.

Findings

Results showed that there is no significant difference between the two programs with regard to the overall QoWL (p>0.05). However, a significant difference was observed with respect to dimensions such as “working condition/environment,” “psychosocial factors at work place” and “job satisfaction and job security.” Also, there is a positive relationship observed between all the dimensions of QoWL (p<0.05).

Originality/value

This study will help educational policy planners to understand the differences in QoWL of faculty members in different programs so as to develop appropriate strategies for its improvement.
Analyzing abusive school leadership practices through the lens of social justice
Authors: Khumalo Shuti Steph
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The present study contributes to the growing body of research on abusive supervision in school settings, particularly by principals. School leadership (principal) behavior has been a topical issue for decades in educational research. This paper attempts to add to scholarly knowledge in the area of school leadership and specifically the effect of abusive school leadership on organizational productivity and organization citizen behavior. Put succinctly, the purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of abusive school leadership on school performance and teacher behavior. Abusive leadership is attributable to behavior that is deviant, antisocial and counter-productive and that which is uncivil.

Design/methodology/approach

In examining abusive school leadership behavior and its effect on school performance and teacher behavior, this conceptual paper draws heavily from an in-depth analysis of extant scholarship and uses Rawls theory of social justice as a conceptual tool. Social justice theorists believe that social institutions are embedded with immense responsibility of dispensing justice, fairness and equity.

Findings

Building from these relevant literatures and grounding the argument from the Rawlsian perspective of social justice, it can be argued that abusive school leadership perpetuates unfair and unjust practices toward teachers, which negatively affects performance. Literature reviewed convincingly indicates that abusive tendencies are practiced in school by school leadership. Further, these abusive practices negatively impact on the following: teacher productivity, teacher turnover and, finally, staff members’ well-being and health. The findings confirm that these practices perpetuate social injustice. Schools are social institutions and have to ensure that justice is served on all members of the organization, and, for this reason, Rawls (1971) argues that justice is the first virtue of social institutions.

Practical implications

The findings of this study have a number of important implications for future practice. It is critical in this study to suggest that in trying to deal with scourge, tougher measures need to be taken by various education departments to ensure that the problem is dealt with effectively. One of the interventions that is suggested is tougher policy positions on matters related to abusive leadership. In education departments that have legislation regarding consequences regarding abusive school leadership practices, tougher action should be taken against leadership which practice abuse.

Originality/value

School leadership is a highly contested research space and this conceptual paper is of great value because it adds to the already existing insights and understanding in abusive leadership in educational settings. This paper is of great significance because it focuses on the effect of abusive school leadership on teachers’ behavior and school performance.
Exploring the link between climate change perceptions and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe
Authors: Mutandwa Edward , Hanyani-Mlambo Benjamine , Manzvera Joseph
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the association between smallholder farmer perceptions toward climate change and adaptation strategies at the household level in Chimanimani District of Zimbabwe.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 284 households mainly using a structured questionnaire. The Heckman probit selection model was used to first identify the underlying socio-economic factors that affect households’ recognition of climate change in the past 10 years, and the second model the factors that influence adaptation to the climate change phenomenon.

Findings

The majority of farmers (85 percent) perceived that climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and variability in rainfall patterns, has been occurring in the past ten years. As a response, farmers adapted using methods such as manuring and staggering of planting dates. Indigenous knowledge systems and non-governmental organizations increased the likelihood farmers’ recognition of climate change (p<0.05). The probability of adopting multiple adaptation strategies was influenced by household head’s education level, land tenure and access to public extension services.

Practical implications

Integrative extension methods that take into account socio-cultural values could be helpful in building resilience as farmers are better able to understand the climate change construct. There is a need to guarantee land tenure rights in resettlement areas to stimulate investment on farms.

Originality/value

This study showed that there is a link between farmers’ prior knowledge of climate change and the number of adaptive investments. The analysis proposed an educational and extension approach that is embedded in the socio-cultural and traditional setting of farmers.
Parent and peer behavior: fueling adolescent binge drinking intentions?
Authors: Knox Kathy , Dietrich Timo , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn , Connor Jason P.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Social marketing has been applied to alcohol education, changing adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes and intentions toward binge drinking for the better. However, there remains limited research in the social marketing literature examining multi-stream models considering social-contextual factors and individual differences in the applied context of adolescent drinking.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-group structural equation model approach was applied to analyze cross-sectional self-report data from 2,234 (mean age = 15.3 years, 48.7 per cent female) Australian adolescents. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the role of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control in adolescents’ binge drinking intentions were examined. Potential moderating effects of peer and parent drinking behaviors and drinking status were tested.

Findings

The model explained 47.3 per cent variance in intentions for drinkers and 31.6 per cent for non-drinkers. Subjective norms were more strongly related to intentions than attitudes. Peer and parent behavior modified those associations, and drinking status further moderated interaction effects. Under conditions of favorable norms and attitudes, family and friends’ behavior fuels adolescents’ binge drinking intentions. Conversely, exposure to modeling of non-drinking peers and parents can bolster negative binge drinking beliefs.

Practical implications

Social marketing programs seeking to change adolescent drinking culture should include peers and parents whose drinking behavior modified associations between attitudes, norms and intentions to binge drink.

Originality/value

This study investigated how social-contextual factors (midstream) and drinking status influence relationships between adolescents’ attitudes, norms and perceived behavioral control (downstream factors) and their intentions to binge drink. These moderating effects have not previously been examined within the theory of planned behavior framework, and limited previous research has examined multi-stream models.
An agency theory approach towards bribery
Authors: Johannes Teichmann Fabian Maximilian
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the role of agency theory in combatting bribery in multinational corporations. It is shown how a combination of bonus and malus payments could help to create the right incentives for agency.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the analysis of 15 formal and 15 informal expert interviews with both prevention experts and corrupt individuals, concrete ways of more effectively combatting bribery have been developed.

Findings

As a result, it is suggested that matrix systems could help to adjust incentives systems to take compliance issues into account. It is found that multinational corporations should eliminate.

Research limitations/implications

This study’s findings are limited to the perspectives of 30 interviewees. Hence, it is possible that a study with a larger sample conducted in different countries or at a different time would have led to different results.

Practical implications

The identification of the potential role of incentive systems in compliance mechanisms is meant to provide compliance officers and legislators with valuable insights into why the current prevention schemes are ineffective. This can help to both improve compliance mechanisms.

Originality/value

While the empirical findings are based in Europe, the results could be applied globally.
The effect of corporate governance practices on corporate social responsibility disclosure
Authors: Zaid Mohammad A.A. , Wang Man , Abuhijleh Sara T.F.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the deeply rooted relationships between corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure as two complementary mechanisms used by companies to reinforce the link with stakeholders and whether the extent of CSR disclosures made by Palestinian non-financial-listed companies during the period from 2013 to 2016 is associated with CG practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis technique was used to extract and measure CSR information from annual reports of 33 companies listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange (PEX). Therefore, CSR disclosure index was constructed using 32 items divided into four categories as a measure of the extent of CSR disclosure in the firm’s annual reports. OLS regression was performed to test the association between CG and the extent of CSR disclosure in this longitudinal study.

Findings

Panel data reveal that the level of CSR reporting has slightly increased over the study period. Further, the results also show that the level of CSR disclosure is positively and significantly affected by board size and independence, while gender diversity has a positive but statistically insignificant influence. Additionally, CEO duality is negatively and significantly correlated with CSR disclosures.

Research limitations/implications

The study designs are limited to the Palestinian non-financial-listed firms. Furthermore, the generalisation of the findings might be restricted solely to the listed companies working in similar socioeconomic status.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can draw policy-makers’ attention in developing countries, particularly in the Arab world, to meet the increasing need for updating the regulatory and institutional framework in the vein of CG reform and the related regulatory policies to promote the efficiency of CSR practices.

Social implications

More efforts should be made to strengthen the awareness of the Palestinian listed companies of the advantages of CSR reporting on social reality. Thus, from a management perspective, companies have to take equally into account the financial and social outcomes of CSR activities.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence on the nexus between CG and CSR disclosure from countries affected by socio-political instability is extremely limited. This study bridges this research gap and contributes theoretically and practically to the CSR literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing country with a unique business environment.
Networked individualism and learning in organizations
Authors: Schreurs Bieke , Van den Beemt Antoine , Moolenaar Nienke , De Laat Maarten
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent professionals from the vocational sector are networked individuals. The authors explore how professionals use their personal networks to engage in a wide variety of learning activities and examine what social mechanisms influence professionals’ agency to form personal informal learning networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a mixed-method approach to data collection. Social network data were gathered among school professionals working in the vocational sector. Ego-network analysis was performed. A total of 24 in-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were analyzed.

Findings

This study found that networked individualism is not represented to its full potential in the vocational sector. However, it is important to form informal learning ties with different stakeholders because all types of informal learning ties serve different learning purposes. The extent to which social mechanisms (i.e. proximity, trust, level of expertise and homophily) influence professionals’ agency to form informal learning ties differs depending on the stakeholder with whom the informal learning ties are formed.

Research limitations/implications

This study excludes the investigation of social mechanisms that shape learning through more impersonal virtual learning resources, such as social media or expert forums. Moreover, the authors only included individual- and dyadic-level social mechanisms.

Practical implications

By investigating the social mechanisms that shape informal learning ties, this study provides insights how professionals can be stimulated to build rich personal learning networks in the vocational sector.

Originality/value

The authors extend earlier research with in-depth information on the different types of learning activities professionals engage in in their personal learning networks with different stakeholders. The ego-network perspective reveals how different social mechanisms influence professionals’ agency to shape informal learning networks with different stakeholders.
The role of a new strength-based intervention on organisation-based self-esteem and work engagement
Authors: Costantini Arianna , Ceschi Andrea , Viragos Anna , De Paola Francesco , Sartori Riccardo
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between organisation-based self-esteem (OBSE) and work engagement during a new strength-based intervention over nine months.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 82 workers composed of 70 sales consultants and 12 area-managers working in an Italian pharmaceutical company received a one-day training based on the FAMILY approach, three times for nine months, with a three-month lag between each workshop. Self-reported measures of OBSE and work engagement were collected before and after each workshop.

Findings

Results showed that final levels of both OBSE and work engagement were significantly higher compared to baseline. Moreover, results from a multiple mediation analysis showed that the direct and indirect relationships between OBSE and work engagement changed at different time points, which may have been related to the different contents of the workshops.

Originality/value

This study provides initial evidence suggesting that organisations could leverage on medium-term interventions to provide employees active guidance on how to use their strengths at work, likely to boost higher employees’ positive perceptions of themselves as organisational members and work engagement.
Balancing organizational justice and leader–member exchange to engage workforce
Authors: Sarti Daria
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is, first, to examine the role of two key organizational determinants of work engagement among employees operating in human service organizations – organizational justice and leader–member exchange (LMX) – in nonprofit organizations – i.e. social cooperatives in Italy – and, second, whether any interaction effect exists between these two variables, more specifically if LMX plays a moderating role in the relationship between organizational justice perception and employees’ engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis was developed through the administration of a questionnaire to 290 employees operating in ten nonprofit human service organizations in Italy.

Findings

The results support the hypothesis of a positive relation between both distributive and procedural justice and work engagement. In addition, the aforesaid relation was moreover found to be stronger among employees experiencing high levels of LMX than those reporting little LMX.

Research limitations/implications

Despite some limitations, the paper has both theoretical and managerial implications.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the research on the important role of organizational justice in enhancing employees’ work engagement and the pivotal interacting role of the leader in boosting this relationship.
Logistics performance measurement framework for companies with multiple roles
Authors: Irfani Dian Prama , Wibisono Dermawan , Basri Mursyid Hasan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Companies with multiple roles, as both a profit generator and public service provider, have specific characteristics that differentiate them from single-role companies. However, literature suggests that no performance measurement framework exists to fully suit the characteristics of such companies. This study aims to develop a novel performance-measuring framework to manage logistics performance in multiple-role companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is developed by combining a literature review and a case study approach as applied to a company with multiple roles. The case study is conducted to identify the characteristics of multiple-role companies, the factors that potentially affect such companies’ logistics performance and criteria for a new framework. The literature review identifies the concepts, performance attributes and indicators from existing frameworks with the potential for incorporation and synthesis in the new framework.

Findings

This study identified several characteristics, performance drivers and criteria for a logistics performance-measuring framework for multiple-role companies. Additionally, this study successfully developed a new logistics performance-measuring framework that consists of eight performance management stages and an aggregated index to measure overall logistics performance.

Practical implications

The proposed logistics performance-measuring methodology provides useful guidance for stakeholders of multiple-role companies to plan, organize, execute and evaluate logistics performance.

Originality/value

This research fills a theoretical gap by explaining the characteristics of logistics systems in multiple-role companies, as well as the factors that may affect such companies’ logistics performance. Further, the proposed framework contributes to academia by integrating performance attributes from several available frameworks to manage objective conflicts, dynamism issues and the inconsistent performance evaluations that exist in companies with multiple roles.
Effect of pomegranate seed oil on the expression of PPAR-γ and pro-inflammatory biomarkers in obese type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Khajebishak Yaser , Payahoo Laleh , Hamishehkar Hamed , Alivand Mohammadreza , Alipour Mahdieh , Solhi Mohammad , Alipour Beitullah
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Diabetes is one of the most prevailed chronic diseases in the world. Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a key role in the type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) has potential anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the use of PSO on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), pro-inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profile levels in obese type 2 diabetic patients.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 52 patients were randomly assigned to the PSO (n = 26) and placebo (n = 26) groups. Subjects received daily PSO 3 g placebo (paraffin) in 1 g soft-gel capsules (along with breakfast, lunch and dinner meals) for eight weeks.

Findings

Serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS) decreased from 161.46 ± 34.44 to 143.50 ± 24.2 mg/dL (p = 0.008), IL-6 decreased from 5.17 ± 2.25 to 4.52 ± 1.90 (p = 0.049) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) significantly decreased from 9.17 ± 4.13 to 7.74 ± 2.44 pmol/mL in PSO group (p = 0.030). However, changes in the expression of PPAR-γ gene, serum levels of hs-CRP and lipid profile levels were not significant.

Research limitations/implications

Lack of PSO concentration measurements and the short duration of the study were the key limitations. Future randomized clinical trials with a longer period of follow-up are needed to assess the potential anti-diabetic effects of PSO.

Originality/value

Administration of PSO in obese type 2 diabetic patients reduced the levels of FBS, interleukin 6 and TNF-α; nevertheless, changes in the insulin, lipid profiles and hs-CRP were not significant.
Crowdfunding as a new collaborative process in the knowledge economy
Authors: Paoloni Paola , Paoloni Niccolò , Modaffari Giuseppe
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The transition from industrial to social economy and from knowledge produces a paradigm shift, which is the space in which new professions, new values and even new forms of financing are shaped. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the phenomenon of crowdfunding, and the specific focus is the small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) dimension, typical in startups firms. This work discusses the main thematic areas in the scientific literature on the phenomenon of crowdfunding (RQ1) and how is crowdfunding treated in SMEs’ dimension (RQ2).

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the literature, this study uses structure literature review methodology. To answer RQ1, the articles in the SCOPUS database on the theme of crowdfunding were surveyed. To RQ2, the analysis focused on the combined theme between the crowdfunding phenomenon and the SMEs’ dimension.

Findings

The study shows that from the scientific point of view, the treatment of the crowdfunding phenomenon is strongly developing in many research areas. The most recurrent are those that deal with studies linked to socio-geographical and institutional contexts and those that analyze individual behavior of investors and crowd funders. Residual area remains the one dedicated to SMEs, where this research has led to poor results.

Originality/value

This paper implements the studies on crowdfunding, a phenomenon that is rapidly expanding worldwide. Particular attention is paid to startup firms, and the business dimension was studied for SMEs, for which it was initially conceived and investigated. Future work will try to apply the results of this research into a case study about an Italian startup firm.
Tracing the Sources of South Australian Economic Slumps
Authors: Jiang Dou
Published: March 2019

This article quantitatively investigates economic fluctuations in South Australia from 1990–2014. In particular, the study applies the business cycle accounting method to decompose the economic fluctuations into their sources. The main findings suggest that the low efficiency wedge was the primary source of South Australian economic slumps. Moreover, it is shown that infrastructural and R&D expenditures are important factors in explaining the variation of the efficiency wedge. This conforms with the fact that the South Australian Government is keen to support its development through the economic stimulus plan. Trade openness may also be a contributor.
Short supply chain participation and market performance for vegetable farmers in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaoheng , Qing Ping , Yu Xiaohua
Published: March 2019

The fresh food supply chain in China has begun to reduce the number of intermediaries that connect producers and consumers. Using farm‐level data, this paper investigates the impacts of short supply chain participation on vegetable farmers’ market performance, including profits, productivity, production cost, price and price risk. The results show that the participation in a short supply chain is a profit‐maximising strategy and risk management tool for farmers. The increase in profit is attributed to productivity advantages, farm size expansion, and risk reduction rather than because of price premiums or cost savings. A policy implication is that short supply chain promotion has many benefits, but the government should be more concerned about the sustainability of short supply chains.