bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The draft genome of the endangered, relictual plantKingdonia uniflora(Circaeasteraceae, Ranunculales) reveals potential mechanisms and perils of evolutionary specialization
Authors: Sun Yanxia , Deng Tao , Zhang Aidi , Moore Michael J. , Landis Jacob B. , Lin Nan , Zhang Huajie , Zhang Xu , Huang Jinling , Zhang Xiujun , Sun Hang , Wang Hengchang
Published: January 2020

Kingdonia uniflora, an alpine herb, has an extremely narrow distribution and represents a model for studying evolutionary mechanisms of species that have adapted to undisturbed environments for evolutionary long periods of time. We assembled a 1,004.7-Mb draft genome (encoding 43,301 genes) and investigated the evolutionary history ofK. uniflora, along with mechanisms related to its endangered status. Phylogenomic analyses based on 497 single copy genes confirmed the sister relationship betweenK. unifloraandCircaeaster agrestis, which were estimated to have diverged around 52 Mya. Proliferation of LTR retrotransposons inK. uniflorais estimated to occur around 2.7 Mya, coinciding with one recent uplift of the Hengduan Mountains between the late Miocene and late Pliocene. Across 12 species of monocots, early-diverging eudicots and core eudicots,K. uniflorashowed significant overrepresentation in gene families associated with DNA repair and underrepresentation in gene families associated with stress response. Most of the plastidndhgenes were found to be lost not only in the plastome but also in the nuclear genome ofK. uniflora. During the evolutionary process, the overrepresentation of gene families involved in DNA repair could help asexualK. uniflorareduce the accumulation of deleterious mutations, while at the same time, reducing genetic diversity which is important in responding to environment fluctuations. The underrepresentation of gene families related to stress response and functional loss ofndhgenes could be due to lack or loss of ability to respond to environmental changes caused by long-term adaptation to a relatively stable ecological environment.
The formation of microbial exoskeletons is driven by a controlled calcium-concentrating subcellular niche
Authors: Keren-Paz Alona , Cohen-Cymberknoh Malena , Kolodkin-Gal Dror , Peretz Shani , Karunker Iris , Wolf Sharon G. , Olender Tsviya , Kapishnikov Sergey , Brumfield Vlad , Dersch Simon , Kartvelishvily Elena , Green-Zelinger Peninnah , Isola-Adeyanju Damilola , Suissa Ronit , Shteinberg Michal , McLeod Daniel , Patrauchan Marianna , Zamir Gideon , Gal Assaf , Graumann Peter L. , Kerem Eitan , Kolodkin-Gal Ilana
Published: January 2020

In nature, bacteria reside in biofilms - multicellular differentiated communities held together by extracellular matrix. In this work, we identified a novel subpopulation essential for biofilm formation – mineral-forming cells. This subpopulation contains an intracellular calcium-accumulating niche, in which the formation of a calcium carbonate mineral is initiated. As the biofilm colony develops, this mineral grows in a controlled manner, forming a functional macrostructure that serves the entire community.

The molecular mechanisms promoting calcite scaffold formation were conserved between three distant phyla – the Gram-positiveBacillus subtilis, Gram-negativePseudomonas aeruginosaand the actinobacteriumMycobacterium abscessus. Biofilm development of all three species was similarly impaired by inhibition of calcium uptake and carbonate accumulation. Moreover, chemical inhibition and mutations targeting mineralization both significantly reduced the attachment ofP. aeruginosato the lung, as well as the subsequent damage inflicted by biofilms to lung tissues, and restored their sensitivity to antibiotics.

The evolutionary conserved cellular pathway controlling the fundamental feature of biofilm development uncovered in this work offers novel druggable targets for antibiotics to combat otherwise untreatable biofilm infections.
Vitamin B12is neuroprotective in experimental pneumococcal meningitis through modulation of hippocampal DNA methylation
Authors: Queiroz Karina Barbosa de , Cavalcante-Silva Vanessa , Lopes Flávia Lombardi , Rocha Gifone Aguiar , D’Almeida Vânia , Coimbra Roney Santos
Published: January 2020

Background

Bacterial meningitis (BM) causes apoptotic damage to the hippocampus and homocysteine (Hcy) accumulation to neurotoxic levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of children. The Hcy pathway controls bioavailability of methyl and its homeostasis can be modulated by vitamin B12, cofactor of the methionine synthase enzyme. Herein, the neuroprotective potential and the underlying mode of action of vitamin B12adjuvant therapy were assessed in an infant rat model of BM.

Methods

Eleven-day old rats were intracysternally infected withStreptococcus pneumoniaeserotype 3, or saline, treated with B12or placebo, and, 24h after infection, their hippocampi were analyzed for apoptosis in the dentate gyrus, sulfur amino acids content, global DNA methylation, transcription and proximal promoter methylation of candidate genes. Differences between groups were compared using 2-way ANOVA 2-way followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test. Correlations were tested with Spearman’s test.

Results

B12attenuated BM-induced hippocampal apoptosis in a Hcy dependent manner (r = 0.80,P< 0.05). BM caused global DNA hypomethylation, however B12restored this parameter. Accordingly, B12increased the methylation capacity of hippocampal cells from infected animals, as inferred from the ratio S-adenosyl methionine (SAM):S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) in infected animals. BM upregulated selected pro-inflammatory genes, and this effect was counteracted by B12, which also increased methylation of CpGs at the promoter ofCcl3of infected animals.

Conclusion

Hcy is likely to play a central role in hippocampal damage in the infant rat model of BM, and B12shows an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective action through methyl-dependent epigenetic mechanisms.
Bacterial carotenoids suppressCaenorhabditis eleganssurveillance and defense of translational dysfunction
Authors: Govindan J. Amaranath , Jayamani Elamparithi , Lelyveld Victor , Szostak Jack , Ruvkun Gary
Published: January 2020

Microbial toxins and virulence factors often target the eukaryotic translation machinery.Caenorhabditis eleganssurveils for such microbial attacks by monitoring translational competence, and if a deficit is detected, particular drug detoxification and bacterial defense genes are induced. The bacteriaKocuria rhizophilahas evolved countermeasures to animal translational surveillance and defense pathways. Here, we used comprehensive genetic analysis ofKocuria rhizophilato identify the bacterial genetic pathways that inhibitC. eleganstranslational toxin surveillance and defense.Kocuria rhizophilamutations that disrupt its ability to disable animal immunity and defense map to multiple steps in the biosynthesis of a 50-carbon bacterial carotenoid from 5 carbon precursors. Extracts of the C50carotenoid from wild typeK. rhizophilacould restore this bacterial anti-immunity activity toK. rhizophilacarotenoid biosynthetic mutant.Corynebacterium glutamicum,also inhibits theC. eleganstranslation detoxification response by producing the C50carotenoid decaprenoxanthin, andC. glutamicumcarotenoid mutants are defective in this suppression ofC. elegansdetoxification. Consistent with the salience of these bacterial countermeasures to animal drug responses, bacterial carotenoids sensitizeC. elegansto drugs that target translation and inhibit food aversion behaviors normally induced by protein translation toxins or mutations. The surveillance and response to toxins is mediated by signaling pathways conserved across animal phylogeny, suggesting that these bacterial carotenoids may also suppress such human immune and toxin responses.
Lack of intrinsic postzygotic isolation in haplodiploid male hybrids despite high genetic distance
Authors: Bendall Emily E. , Mattingly Kayla M. , Moehring Amanda J. , Linnen Catherine R.
Published: January 2020

Evolutionary biologists have long been interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying Haldane’s rule. The explanatory theories of dominance and faster-X, which are based on recessive alleles being expressed in the heterogametic sex, have been proposed as common mechanisms. These mechanisms predict that greater hemizygosity leads to both faster evolution and greater expression of intrinsic postzygotic isolation. Under these mechanisms, haplodiploids should evolve and express intrinsic postzygotic isolation faster than diploids because the entire genome is analogous to a sex chromosome. Here, we measure sterility and inviability in hybrids betweenNeodiprion pinetumandN. lecontei, a pair of haplodiplopids that differ morphologically, behaviorally, and genetically. We compare the observed isolation to that expected from published estimates of isolation in diploids at comparable levels of genetic divergence. We find that both male and female hybrids are viable and fertile, which is less isolation than expected. We then discuss several potential explanations for this surprising lack of isolation, including alternative mechanisms for Haldane’s rule and a frequently overlooked quirk of haplodiploid genetics that may slow the emergence of complete intrinsic postzygotic isolation in hybrid males. Finally, we describe how haplodiploids, an underutilized resource, can be used to differentiate between mechanisms of Haldane’s rule.
Data augmentation based on dynamical systems for the classification of brain states
Authors: Perl Yonatan Sanz , Pallavicini Carla , Ipiña Ignacio Perez , Kringelbach Morten , Deco Gustavo , Laufs Helmut , Tagliazucchi Enzo
Published: January 2020

The application of machine learning algorithms to neuroimaging data shows great promise for the classification of physiological and pathological brain states. However, classifiers trained on high dimensional data are prone to overfitting, especially for a low number of training samples. We describe the use of whole-brain computational models for data augmentation in brain state classification. Our low dimensional model is based on nonlinear oscillators coupled by the empirical SC of the brain. We use this model to enhance a dataset consisting of functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings acquired during all stages of the human wake-sleep cycle. After fitting the model to the average FC of each state, we show that the synthetic data generated by the model yields classification accuracies comparable to those obtained from the empirical data. We also show that models fitted to individual subjects generate surrogates with enough information to train classifiers that present significant transfer learning accuracy to the whole sample. Whole-brain computational modeling represents a useful tool to produce large synthetic datasets for data augmentation in the classification of certain brain states, with potential applications to computer-assisted diagnosis and prognosis of neuropsychiatric disorders.
An interaction network of RNA-binding proteins involved inDrosophilaoogenesis
Authors: Bansal Prashali , Madlung Johannes , Schaaf Kristina , Macek Boris , Bono Fulvia
Published: January 2020

DuringDrosophilaoogenesis, the localization and translational regulation of maternal transcripts relies on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Many of these RBPs localize several mRNAs and may have additional direct interaction partners to regulate their functions. Using immunoprecipitation from wholeDrosophilaovaries coupled to mass spectrometry, we examined protein-protein associations of 6 GFP-tagged RBPs expressed at physiological levels. Analysis of the interaction network and further validation in human cells allowed us to identify 26 previously unknown associations, besides recovering several well characterized interactions. We identified interactions between RBPs and several splicing factors, providing links between nuclear and cytoplasmic events of mRNA regulation. Additionally, components of the translational and RNA decay machineries were selectively co-purified with some baits, suggesting a mechanism for how RBPs may regulate maternal transcripts. Given the evolutionary conservation of the studied RBPs, the interaction network presented here provides the foundation for future functional and structural studies of mRNA localization across metazoans.
Inhibition of the polyamine synthesis enzyme ornithine decarboxylase sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy
Authors: Geck Renee C. , Foley Jackson R. , Stewart Tracy R. Murray , Asara John M. , Casero Robert A. , Toker Alex
Published: January 2020

Treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is limited by a lack of effective molecular targeted therapies. Recent studies have identified metabolic alterations in cancer cells that can be targeted to improve responses to standard-of-care chemotherapy regimens. We found that exposure of TNBC cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs leads to alterations in arginine and polyamine metabolites due to a reduction in the levels and activity of a rate-limiting polyamine biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). The reduction in ODC was mediated by its negative regulator, antizyme, targeting ODC to the proteasome for degradation. Treatment with the ODC inhibitor DFMO sensitized TNBC cells to chemotherapy, but this was not observed in receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Moreover, TNBC cell lines showed greater sensitivity to single-agent DFMO, and ODC levels were elevated in TNBC patient samples. Alterations in polyamine metabolism in response to chemotherapy, as well as preferential sensitization of TNBC cells to chemotherapy by DFMO, suggest that ODC may be a targetable metabolic vulnerability in TNBC.
MSIsensor-pro: fast, accurate and matched-normal-sample-free detection of microsatellite instability
Authors: Jia Peng , Yang Xiaofei , Guo Li , Liu Bowen , Lin Jiadong , Liang Hao , Sun Jianyong , Zhang Chengsheng , Ye Kai
Published: January 2020

We developed MSIsensor-pro (https://github.com/xjtu-omics/msisensor-pro), an open-source single sample microsatellite instability (MSI) scoring method for research and clinical applications. MSIsensor-pro introduces a multinomial distribution model to quantify polymerase slippages for each tumor sample and a discriminative sites selection method to enable MSI detection without matched normal samples. For samples of various sequencing depths and tumor purities, MSIsensor-pro significantly outperformed the current leading methods in terms of both accuracy and computational cost.
Discovery of a Novel Inhibitory Neuron Class, the L-Stellate Cells of the Cochlear Nucleus
Authors: Ngodup Tenzin , Romero Gabriel E. , Trussell Laurence O.
Published: January 2020

Auditory processing depends upon inhibitory signaling by interneurons, even at its earliest stages in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Remarkably, to date only a single subtype of inhibitory neuron has been documented in the VCN, a projection neuron termed the D-stellate cell. With the use of a transgenic mouse line, optical clearing and imaging techniques, combined with electrophysiological tools, we revealed a population of glycinergic cells in the VCN distinct from the D-stellate cell. These novel multipolar glycinergic cells were smaller in soma size and dendritic area, but over 10-fold more numerous than D-stellate cells. They were activated by auditory nerve fibers and T-stellate cells, and made local inhibitory synaptic contacts on principal cells of the VCN. Given their abundance, combined with their narrow dendritic fields and axonal projections, it is likely that these neurons, here termed L-stellate cells, play a significant role in frequency-specific processing of acoustic signals.
A single-cell atlas of the developing Drosophila ovary identifies follicle stem cell progenitors
Authors: Slaidina Maija , Banisch Torsten U. , Gupta Selena , Lehmann Ruth
Published: January 2020

Addressing the complexity of organogenesis at a system-wide level requires a complete understanding of adult cell types, their origin, and precursor relationships. The Drosophila ovary has been a model to study how coordinated stem cell units, germline, and somatic follicle stem cells maintain and renew an organ. However, lack of cell type-specific tools have limited our ability to study the origin of individual cell types and stem cell units. Here, we used a single-cell RNA sequencing approach to uncover all known cell types of the developing ovary, reveal transcriptional signatures, and identify cell type-specific markers for lineage tracing. Our study identifies a novel cell type corresponding to the elusive follicle stem cell precursors and predicts subtypes of known cell types. Altogether, we reveal a previously unanticipated complexity of the developing ovary and provide a comprehensive resource for the systematic analysis of ovary morphogenesis.
A study on the influence of street food authenticity and degree of their variations on the tourists’ overall destination experiences
Authors: Gupta Vikas , Sajnani Manohar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out how the overall destination experiences of the foreign tourists in India are influenced by the perceived authenticity of the street foods and the degree of their variation/modification. It will also discuss how these characteristics further influence the tourists’ behavioural intentions (intention to revisit and word-of-mouth).

Design/methodology/approach

Data have been collected from 263 foreign tourists visiting Delhi at various street food vending sites using location intercept technique through structured questionnaire. Different ad hoc scales were adapted based on previous studies for measuring the perception of authenticity, ability to adapt, cultural disparity and overall perceived experience. The partial least squares method was applied to achieve the dual estimation of the measurement and the structural model.

Findings

Result indicates that perceived authenticity and cultural disparity have a positive influence on the overall perceived experiences of the foreign tourists. It is also found that the degree of variation/modification in the street foods condenses the authenticity perception of the tourists. Findings reveal that the tourists are less influenced by the cultural disparity when they are able to adapt to diverse cultures and simultaneously authenticity have a larger effect on their overall destination experiences.

Originality/value

Although various studies have been conducted in the past related to the food experiences of tourists at various destinations, this will be the first attempt to find out how the overall destination experiences of the foreign tourists in India are influenced by the perceived authenticity of the street foods and the degree of their variation/adaptation. It will help the stakeholders to appropriately align the gastronomic product and enhance the tourists’ overall destination experiences.
Influence of digital learning orientation and readiness for change on innovative work behaviour: reflections from the higher education sector
Authors: Aboobaker Nimitha , K.A. Zakkariya
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the influence of students’ digital learning orientation on their readiness for change and innovative work behaviour. Elaborations are made on how these concepts can be utilized for strengthening the teaching-learning process in higher education institutions, and help them gain more cutting-edge competencies in areas of learning delivery and learning engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The respondents for this descriptive study were drawn through random sampling, from an end-semester student group, who had taken up post-graduate courses in science and technology streams of a prominent science and technology university. Data was collected by administering self-reporting questionnaires.

Findings

The study revealed that higher digital learning orientation is associated with improved attitude towards change and higher innovative behaviour. With conflicting results in exiting literature, regarding the influence of digital learning orientation on learning outcomes, this study adds to the body of knowledge by testing previously unexplored propositions in a student sample.

Originality/value

This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing the proposed model. The paper emphasizes the role of digital learning orientation, especially in the context of today’s students being referred to as ‘digital natives’. It is thus imperative to understand how the same can be translated into learning outcomes. The results of the study highlights the need for augmenting the role of digital orientation in the teaching-learning process, so as to transform educational institutions sustainable in producing graduates with readiness for change and innovative work behaviour, in the context of an emergent digital economy.
Librarian’s perspective for the implementation of big data analytics in libraries on the bases of lean-startup model
Authors: Ahmad Khurshid , JianMing Zheng , Rafi Muhammad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to propose a model based on philosophical thoughts of Dr S.R Ranganathan and the lean-startup method for the execution of big data analytics (BDA) in libraries. The research paves a way to understand the role and required competencies of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals for the implementation of BDA in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

In the BDA analytics context, a session with a proposed model was presented to the audience to get the response of librarians about the required competencies and skills. The research tool was developed based on the literature review to know the role of LIS professionals and their required competencies/skills for BDA. The questionnaire was distributed in the BDA session to collect the responses of the participating audience on the variables that focused on the role and core competencies of LIS professionals in BDA. In the analysis of results, the independent t-test was applied to know the mean value of the overall response rate.

Findings

The findings show that perceptions of LIS professionals in the understanding of BDA ranked high in data privacy, data availability, data organization and data literacy. Digital data curation, policies supervision and providing the data consultancy also showed a significant relationship among these variables. Besides, the correlation between the required skills for BDA, metadata skills, data ethics, data acquisition, data cleaning, data organization, data analysis, digital curation, data clustering, data protection rules and digital visualization also showed a beneficial relationship.

Originality/value

This study also helps to understand the perspective of LIS professionals for the implementation of BDA in libraries and to fill the literature gap in the respective.
Three-dimensional analysis of heat transfer in a channel provided with solid baffle, single and double perforation
Authors: Benzenine Hamidou , Saim Rachid , Abboudi Said , Öztop Hakan F. , Abu-Hamdeh Nidal
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of the laminar flow of air and the conjugate heat transfer in a pipe of rectangular cross-section with a solid or perforated deflector inserted on the lower wall.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, by using the finite volume method, the conservation equations for mass, momentum and energy are solved numerically. Two cases of “single and double” perforation were studied and compared with that of the solid case for a range of Reynolds numbers ranging from 140 to 840. The velocity and temperature profiles were plotted and interpreted on three different sections placed sequentially upstream, mid-stream and downstream of the deflector. Total heat exchange at the bottom wall, outlet fluid temperature, perforated PFE deflector performance and pressure loss is presented for different cases studied and for different Reynolds numbers.

Findings

The results show that although the perforated deflector improves the heat transfer, it also results in additional pressure losses; the study also showed the existence of a limiting velocity beyond which the perforation effect on the improvement of the heat exchange decreases until the same performance of the solid deflector is achieved.

Originality/value

The main originality of this work is to show a 3D analysis for a perforated baffle as heat exchanger application.
Exploring the relationship between leadership and followership of Chinese project managers
Authors: Li Haoran , Zhao Zhenzhi , Müller Ralf , Shao Jingting
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Followership is the free will recognition of leadership in the commitment toward realization of the collectively adopted organization vision and culture. The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationship between project managers’ leadership and their followership. Most project managers are both leaders and followers at the same time, but research typically investigates only their leadership. This ignores followership as an important aspect in understanding and predicting behavior, and further in the selection of project managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used for this paper is the explanatory in nature and a deductive approach, within which the above research hypothesis is tested through quantitative techniques. Data are collected through a nation-wide survey in China. Data analysis was done through factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that transformational leadership is positively correlated with transformational followership and transactional followership, and that transactional leadership is negatively correlated with transactional followership.

Research limitations/implications

The paper supports a deeper investigation into leadership and followership theories. A model for both leadership and followership is developed. The findings from this paper will guide organizations to choose the project managers.

Originality/value

The originality lies in the new way to examine the relationship between leadership and followership. It is the first study on the relationship of project managers. Its value is new insights, which introduced a new perspective to understand leadership and followership.
Does flexibility in project management in early project phases contribute positively to end-project performance?
Authors: Jalali Sohi Afshin , Bosch-Rekveldt Marian , Hertogh Marcel
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of project management flexibility in early project phases on end-project performance including its mediating role on the effect of complexity over project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Out of 13 hypotheses, 6 hypotheses regarding the relationships between areas of flexibility and project performance, 1 regarding the effect of complexity on performance and 6 other hypotheses regarding the mediating effect of six areas of flexibility were formulated. Statistical analysis was performed using partial least squares–structural equation modeling on data gathered from 111 surveys.

Findings

Research results revealed that flexibility of “how-attitude” and “how-organization” has positive significant effects on project performance. “How-attitude” contributes to the flexibility of project management processes by having an “open attitude,” “wide approach” and “proactive attitude” while “how-organization” put the emphasis of flexibility on “facilitate planning,” “outer organization” and “inner organization.” Moreover, this research confirmed that complexity has a negative effect on project performance. Among the six areas of flexibility, flexibility of “how-organization” mediates the effect of complexity on project performance.

Originality/value

The increased project complexity requires some degree of flexibility in project management to deal with project dynamics. However, whether such flexibility in early project phases has an effect on end-project performance has not been empirically investigated. This research contributes to filling the gap in literature about the relationship between project management flexibility and project performance. Such effect was investigated by studying the direct effect of flexibility on project performance and the mediating role of flexibility on the negative effect of project complexity on project performance.
Alleviating employee work-family conflict: role of organizations
Authors: Anand Anjni , Vohra Veena
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The study aims at exploring the constructive role that organizations can play in enabling their employees move from work-family conflict (WFC) to a more integrated work–life solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Being socially and culturally contextual by nature, a qualitative methodology that involved in-depth interviews with the respondents was chosen for the study. This facilitated the respondents to discuss in detail their WFC experiences and the expectations that they hold from their organizations.

Findings

The findings of the study suggested the importance of effective two-way communication between employees and top management, structural and cultural support from the organization and the importance of redesigning and restructuring jobs in an attempt to reduce work-role overload.

Practical implications

Organizations can foster initiatives that can lead to a healthier work–life balance of the employees, which can further result in a more creative, committed, satisfied and diverse workforce for them.

Social implications

A better work environment that facilitates smoother balance between work and non-work responsibilities can lead to better physical and psychological health of the employees and reduced instances of discord in work and family domains.

Originality/value

Most studies on WFC have focused on the adverse impact of WFC; the present study adopts a solution-oriented approach to finding ways in which resourceful entities such as big organizations can take steps in alleviating WFC experiences of their employees.
Beyond the “give back” equation
Authors: Bizri Rima M. , Hamieh Farida
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Extra-role behaviours have drawn much attention lately due to their instrumental role in improving organizational performance. Numerous studies have tried to investigate the antecedents of extra-role behaviours, suggesting several organizational practices, such as organizational support and justice, which are perceived positively by employees, and are observed to increase their extra-role behaviours. The purpose of this study is to investigate these relationships deeper, using the social exchange theory (SET) as a theoretical framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the quantitative approach in this study, using a survey to collect data from 169 front-line respondents in banking and tourism. The data were analyzed using structural equation management with SmartPLS (3).

Findings

This study investigates these relationships deeper, using the social exchange theoretical framework to explain how extra-role behaviours are undertaken by employees as a means of pay-back to the organization, taking into account the potential mediating effects of employee attitudes (work engagement and affective commitment), thereby explaining the dynamics of this process, and suggesting a resulting expanded pay-forward reciprocation cycle involving the organization, the employees and the customer.

Originality/value

The main extension to theory is captured through the depiction of a “pay forward” as opposed to “pay back” behaviour, demonstrating employees’ willingness to reciprocate by shifting their orientation towards the organization’s customers. This suggests that SET is operationalized not only through the reciprocal behaviour of employees but also through employees’ orientation toward the organization’s customers.
Building supplier innovation triads
Authors: Potter Antony , Paulraj Antony
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The past decade has seen substantial changes in how organizational leaders work with external stakeholders to improve innovation performance. As leaders have encouraged the extensive involvement of suppliers and customers into the innovation process this has led to the formation of supplier innovation triads that are often governed by a portfolio of strategic alliances. The purpose of this paper is to explore how leaders’ inter-firm relationships and strategic alliances influence the development of supplier innovation triads.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of firms in the Toyota supplier association is constructed from multiple data sets, including the Japan Patent Office, BoardEx and S&PCapitalIQ. The authors test the hypotheses using multivariate techniques, moderation analysis and endogeneity tests.

Findings

The results indicate that leadership relationships to Toyota and its suppliers have a positive effect on the formation of supplier innovation triads. The authors find that firm–external leadership relationships and alliance partner diversity have differential moderating effects on how customer and supplier leadership relationships could be used to build supplier innovation triads.

Research limitations/implications

The results focus on the firms within the Toyota supplier association, and this limits the paper’s generalizability. Although patent data provide a detailed information resource, it do not capture all collaborations.

Originality/value

The authors expand the leadership literature by undertaking one of the first studies of inter-firm leadership relationships and their differential effects on innovation triads. The authors contribute to the literature by exploring the antecedents and moderating factors that influence buyer–supplier–supplier triads within an innovation setting.
The transformation of the e-tailing field: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Altıntaş Murat Hakan , Kılıç Serkan , Akhan Can Efecan
Published: January 2020

Purpose

There is an increased interest in e-tailing research in the literature, along with the development of new technologies and e-tailing platforms based on consumer and industry perspective. The purpose of this paper is to examine the periodic changes within the content of e-tailing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set of this study includes academic papers cited in the Web of Science, which was published between 2000 and 2017. In this context, a co-word analysis was conducted using SciMat software based on the keywords, including “online retailing,” “e-tailing,” “e-store,” “online store,” “e-tail” and “online retail,” found in the titles of published academic articles.

Findings

In this study, three different periods of the e-tailing study field were examined, major and emerging themes for each period were determined with a comparative bibliometric analysis. In this regard, consumer acceptance, choice and satisfaction were found as the major themes in the conceptualization of e-tailing research.

Originality/value

Understanding the transition from traditional marketing channels to online channels is an essential factor for retailers as well as consumers’ use and the acceptance of new technologies. This study contributes to the effective execution of the e-tailing systems.
Universities talk, students walk: promoting innovative sustainability projects
Authors: Daub Claus-Heinrich , Hasler Marina , Verkuil Arie Hans , Milow Uta
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an innovative approach of integrating sustainability into the structures and processes of a business school without creating resistance.

Design/methodology/approach

A sustainable entrepreneurship competition was embedded as an independent programme in an already existing business plan competition at the School of Business FHNW. The paper shows, which structural elements of the competition had to be adapted to the needs of sustainable entrepreneurs.

Findings

The paper outlines aspects that need to be considered and steps that need to be taken to run a sustainable entrepreneurship competition supporting as many high-quality projects as possible. It describes the importance of developing an independent instrument that meets the specific needs of sustainable entrepreneurs in project planning. The sustainable innovation plan is explained.

Social implications

The student projects are developed at the School of Business FHNW as part of the entrepreneurship competition, which has been successfully carried out twice. They have numerous measurable positive social and ecological effects, which are described by the students in their sustainable innovation plans and are subsequently reflected in the realization of the projects.

Originality/value

Using the example of the Swiss Student Sustainability Challenge, the paper demonstrates under which conditions a sustainability project can be successfully integrated into the existing structures of an institution of higher education and develop into a beacon project of the university. Other universities can make use of these findings to launch comparable projects at their institutions.
Education for sustainability
Authors: Wamsler Christine
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Current approaches to sustainability science and education focus on (assessing and addressing) the external world of ecosystems, wider socio-economic structures, technology and governance dynamics. A major shortcoming of such approaches is the neglect of inner dimensions and capacities (which constrains education for sustainability as an end), and a limited capacity to facilitate reflection on the cognitive and socio-emotional processes underpinning people’s learning, everyday life choices and decision-taking (which constrains education for sustainability as a means). More integral approaches and pedagogies are urgently needed. The purpose of this paper is to advance related knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a reflexive case study of the development of an innovative course on “Sustainability and Inner Transformation” and associated interventions in the form of a practice lab and weekly councils.

Findings

The paper elaborates on the connections between sustainability and inner transformation in education, offers insights into the process of adapting contemplative interventions to sustainability education and concludes with some reflections on challenges, lessons learnt and future work needed to support more integral approaches. The findings show that inner dimensions and transformation can be a vehicle for critical, improved education for sustainability and how this can be achieved in practice.

Originality/value

It is only recently that the concept of the inner or personal (sphere of) transformation has received growing attention in sustainability science and education. Despite this interest, such new conceptualizations and heuristics have, to date, not been systematically connected to education for sustainability (neither as an end nor means). The paper presents a critical, reflexive case, which advances related knowledge. It sets a precedent, which other universities/training institutions could follow or learn from.
Coding schemes as lenses on collaborative learning
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Andrews Christopher D. , Hmelo-Silver Cindy E. , D'Angelo Cynthia
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is widely used in different levels of education across disciplines and domains. Researchers in the field have proposed various conceptual frameworks toward a comprehensive understanding of CSCL. However, as the definition of CSCL is varied and contextualized, it is critical to develop a shared understanding of collaboration and common definitions for the metrics that are used. The purpose of this research is to present a synthesis that focuses explicitly on the types and features of coding schemes that are used as analytic tools for CSCL.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected coding schemes from researchers with diverse backgrounds who participated in a series of workshops on collaborative learning and adaptive support in CSCL, as well as coding schemes from recent volumes of the International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative learning (ijCSCL). Each original coding scheme was reviewed to generate an empirically grounded framework that reflects collaborative learning models.

Findings

The analysis generated 13 categories, which were further classified into three domains: cognitive, social and integrated. Most coding schemes contained categories in the cognitive and integrated domains.

Practical implications

This synthesized coding scheme could be used as a toolkit for researchers to pay attention to the multiple and complex dimensions of collaborative learning and for developing a shared language of collaborative learning.

Originality/value

By analyzing a set of coding schemes, the authors highlight what CSCL researchers find important by making these implicit understandings of collaborative learning visible and by proposing a common language for researchers across disciplines to communicate by referencing a synthesized framework.
Professional development for teachers meeting cross-cultural challenges
Authors: Buxton Lisa Maree
Published: January 2020

Purpose

When providing professional development for teachers, certain factors should be considered and included to ensure it is effective and enhances teacher practice and outcomes for children in their classes. While this is achieved in many curriculum areas, there has been little written about effective professional development for teachers in relation to Aboriginal education in Australia, enhancing teacher confidence in meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This paper aims to describe a study concerned with the ongoing development of a professional learning framework empowering primary school teachers to infuse Aboriginal ways of seeing and being into their classroom practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Design-based methodology, using semi-structured interviews with teachers, allowed for iterative amendment and improvement of the professional learning experiences. A description is provided linking the elements of successful professional development for teachers to the implementation of this study’s professional learning.

Findings

Key findings are that if the elements noted in the literature pertaining to successful professional learning for teachers are included, change in practice does take place and is sustained, to the benefit of the children they teach. This study demonstrates the vital importance of ongoing collaboration and support for teachers undertaking professional development if they are going to change practice in the longer term.

Originality/value

The pedagogy described in this paper goes beyond content to an Aboriginal way of teaching children through modelling and how this can be infused into teaching practice.
Exploring the ZMET methodology in services marketing
Authors: Hancock Charles , Foster Carley
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how the Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique (ZMET) can be adopted in services marketing to provide deeper customer experience insights.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores how ZMET interviews, which use images selected by the participant to facilitate discussion, can be used by researchers. This paper draws upon a study of 24 student experiences at a UK university.

Findings

Adopting this qualitative method for services marketing can counter depth deficit when compared to other qualitative approaches, because it is participant led. However, the method requires competent interview skills and time for the interview and analysis. We find that ZMET has not been widely adopted in academia because of its commercial licenced use. The paper illustrates how to use the ZMET process step-by-step.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited to student experiences. Further research is necessary to understand how researchers could use ZMET in other areas of services marketing.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidance to researchers on how to use ZMET as a methodological tool. ZMET facilitates a deeper understanding of service experiences through using participant chosen images and thus enabling researchers to uncover subconscious hidden perceptions that other methods may not find.

Originality/value

ZMET has been used commercially to gain market insights but has had limited application in service research. Existing studies fail to provide details of how ZMET can be used to access the consumer subconscious. This paper makes a methodological contribution by providing step-by-step guidance on how to apply ZMET to services marketing.
Co-movement dynamics of sustainability indices: investigating the diversification opportunities through FTSE4Good index family and Borsa Istanbul sustainability index
Authors: Gok Ibrahim Yasar , Duranay Serhat , Uzunoglu Unlu Hande
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the international portfolio diversification opportunities provided by Turkish sustainable firms to international socially responsible investors.

Design/methodology/approach

The Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index (XUSRD) and FTSE4Good index family daily data for the period of 11/04/2014-12/31/2017 is used and the DCC-GARCH model is applied to explore the dynamic correlation linkages.

Findings

The results indicate that co-movements between XUSRD and FTSE4Good indices are time-varying and generally display a low level. While the highest average conditional correlation value was observed between XUSRD and Developed 100 index, the lowest one was between XUSRD and FTSE4Good Japan index.

Research limitations/implications

Since XUSRD was launched on 11/04/2014, there is no available data before this date. Additionally, because the study includes indices from the USA to Japan, it is not possible to use high-frequency stock index data due to lack of overlapping time series.

Practical implications

This study contributes implications for investors of sustainability assets to improve their diversification. Especially, it is identified that the diversification opportunities provided by Turkish sustainable firms are largely possible for Japanese and Australian socially responsible investors. Additionally, this research has contributions for policymakers.

Originality/value

Although the conventional stock market indices are widely examined in terms of their time-variant relationship, there are only a few studies in the literature focusing on sustainability indices. Socially responsible investments (SRI) are emerging as a new trend, and these investments are also in need of international portfolio diversification. Therefore, this study is expected to fill a gap in the SRI literature.