bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancer transcription identifies cis-regulatory elements for photoreceptor cell types
Authors: Nadadur Rangarajan D. , Perez-Cervantes Carlos , Lonfat Nicolas , Smith Linsin A. , Hughes Andrew E. O. , Wang Sui , Corbo Joseph C. , Cepko Connie , Moskowitz Ivan P.
Published: January 2019

Identification of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) that regulate gene expression in specific cell types is critical for defining the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that control normal physiology and disease states. We previously utilized non-coding RNA (ncRNA) profiling to define CREs that comprise a GRN in the adult mouse heart1. Here, we applied ncRNA profiling to the mouse retina in the presence and absence of Nrl, a rod photoreceptor-specific transcription factor required for rod versus cone photoreceptor cell fate. Differential expression of Nrl-dependent ncRNAs positively correlated with differential expression of Nrl-dependent local genes. Two distinct Nrl-dependent regulatory networks were discerned in parallel: Nrl-activated ncRNAs were enriched for accessible chromatin in rods but not cones whereas Nrl-repressed ncRNAs were enriched for accessible chromatin in cones but not rods. Furthermore, differential Nrl-dependent ncRNA expression levels quantitatively correlated with photoreceptor cell type-specific ATAC-seq read density. Direct assessment of Nrl-dependent ncRNA-defined loci identified functional cone photoreceptor CREs. This work supports differential ncRNA profiling as a platform for identifying context-specific regulatory elements and provides insight into the networks that define photoreceptor cell types.
Extracellular mycobacterial DNA drives disease progression by triggering Caspase-11-dependent pyroptosis of infected macrophages
Authors: Varela Monica , van der Vaart Michiel , Groenewoud Arwin , Meijer Annemarie H.
Published: January 2019

Deregulated inflammation seriously complicates life-threatening microbial infections, including tuberculosis (TB). Assembly of multiprotein inflammasome complexes is an important trigger of inflammation, but how this impacts TB progression remains unknown. Here,in vivoimaging in the zebrafish TB model revealed that mycobacterial expansion in TB granulomas is driven by inflammasomes and ensuing pyroptotic cell death of infected macrophages. We show that an Asc-independent pathway induces macrophage pyroptosis and impairs host resistance, in contrast to host-protective roles of Asc-dependent inflammasome activation and Il1b secretion. Using ASC-deficient murine macrophages, we demonstrate extracellular bacterial DNA to induce CASP11-dependent pyroptosis in a manner dependent on phagosome permeabilization. Finally, we propose that mycobacteria induce pyroptosis to escape cell-in-cell structures, formed within granulomas when living infected cells are engulfed by neighbor cells. This study provides new insight into the role of pyroptosis in TB pathogenesis and reveals a novel link between nucleic acid sensing and CASP11-dependent pyroptosis.
The role of hippocampal spatial representations in contextualization and generalization of fear
Authors: de Voogd Lycia D. , Murray Yannick P. J. , Barte Ramona M. , van der Heide Anouk , Fernández Guillén , Doeller Christian F. , Hermans Erno J.
Published: January 2019

Using contextual information to predict aversive events is a critical ability that protects from generalizing fear responses to safe contexts. Animal models have demonstrated the importance of spatial context representations within the hippocampal formation in contextualization of fear learning. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is known to play an important role in safety learning, possibly also through the incorporation of context information. However, if contextual representations are related to context-dependent expression of fear memory in humans remains unclear. Twenty-one healthy participants underwent functional MRI combined with a cue-context conditioning paradigm within a self-navigated virtual reality environment. The environment included two buildings (Threat and Safe context), which had distinct features outside but were identical inside. Within each context, participants saw two cues (CS+, CS−). The CS+ was consistently (100% reinforcement rate) paired with an electric shock in the Threat context, but never in the Safe context. The CS− was never paired with a shock. We found robust differential skin conductance responses (SCRs; CS+ > CS−) in the Threat context, but also within the Safe context, indicating fear generalization. Within the Safe context, vmPFC responses to the CS+ were larger than those in the Threat context. We furthermore found environment-specific representations for the two contexts in the training paradigm (i.e., before conditioning took place) in the hippocampus to be related to fear expression and generalization. Namely, participants with a weak context representation (z-score < 1.65) showed stronger fear generalization compared to participants with a strong context representation (z-score > 1.65). Thus, a low neural representation of spatial context may explain overgeneralization of memory to safe contexts. In addition, our findings demonstrate that context-dependent regulation of fear expression engages ventromedial prefrontal pathways suggesting this involves a similar mechanism that is known to be involved in retrieval of extinction memory.
Frequency of mutations in 21 hereditary breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes among high-risk Chinese individuals
Authors: Shao Di , Cheng Shaomin , Guo Fengming , Yuan Yuying , Hu Kunling , Wang Zhe , Meng Xuan , Jin Xin , Xiong Yun , Chai Xianghua , Li Hong , Zhang Yu , Zhang Hongyun , Liu Jihong , Ye Mingzhi
Published: January 2019

To determine the prevalence and clinical prediction factors associated with deleterious mutations among 882 high-risk Chinese individuals who underwent multigene panel testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) risk assessment. Subjects were selected from individuals referred for genetic testing using a 21-gene panel (Oseq-BRCA) between January 2015 and March 2018. The distribution and prevalence of deleterious mutations were analyzed for the full cohort as well as subtypes. Overall, 176 deleterious mutations were observed in 19.50% (n = 172) individuals. Of these, 26 mutations are not reported in public databases and literatures. In the ovarian cancer only subgroup, 115 deleterious mutations were identified in 429 patients (48.6%). Patients with ovarian cancer with mutations were enriched for a family history of breast or ovarian cancers (p < 0.05). In the breast cancer only subgroup, 31 deleterious mutations were identified in 261 patients. Most mutations occurred inBRCA1(8; 25.8%) andBRCA2(11; 35.5%). An additional 12 deleterious mutations (38.7%) were found in 7 other susceptibility genes. An increased frequency of mutation rate (57.9%) was observed in the subgroup of subjects with histories of both breast and ovarian cancer. Taken together, 19.50% of individuals carried a deleterious mutation in HBOC susceptibility genes in our cohort. Subgroup of subjects with histories of both breast and ovarian cancer had the highest prevalence of mutations. Our results highlighted the genetic heterogeneity of HBOC and the efficiency of multigene panel in performing risk assessment.
Cortisol associated with hypometabolism across the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum
Authors: Wirth Miranka , Lange Catharina , Huijbers Willem ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2019

Objective

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) dysregulation is proposed as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This cross-sectional study assessed relationships between plasma cortisol levels and neuroimaging biomarkers, specifically brain glucose metabolism and gray matter volume, across the AD spectrum.

Methods

Cognitively normal older adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD dementia were included from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Participants (n = 556) were selected based on availability of baseline measures of plasma cortisol levels and gray matter volume, as estimated with magnetic resonance imaging. Within a subsample (n = 288), we examined brain glucose metabolism (n = 288) as with positron emission tomography. Relationships between plasma cortisol and AD neuroimaging biomarkers were assessed using regions-of-interest and voxel-wise analyses.

Results

Across the entire cohort, higher plasma cortisol was also related to lower gray matter volume, most notably in the left lateral temporal-parietal-occipital regions. Importantly, higher plasma cortisol concentration was also related to hypometabolism, especially in lateral temporo-parietal and medial parietal regions. When stratified by diagnosis, these negative associations were most pronounced in MCI and AD patients.

Interpretation

High plasma cortisol was associated with hypometabolism predominantly in AD-sensitive regions. Our results indicate that HPA axis activation could influence brain metabolism and exacerbate existing AD pathological processes. This is consistent with a notion that stress is a conceivable target for intervention to slow down AD progression. Future studies should delineate underlying pathological mechanisms and investigate if clinical or lifestyle interventions could alleviate negative actions of stress on AD.
Planar differential growth rates determine the position of folds in complex epithelia
Authors: Tozluo◻lu Melda , Duda Maria , Kirkland Natalie J. , Barrientos Ricardo , Burden Jemima J. , Muñoz José J. , Mao Yanlan
Published: January 2019

Folding is a fundamental process shaping epithelial sheets into 3D architectures of organs. Initial positioning of folds is the foundation for the emergence of correct tissue morphology. Mechanisms forming individual folds have been studied, yet the precise positioning of the folds in complex, multi-folded epithelia is an open question. We present a model of morphogenesis, encompassing local differential growth, and tissue mechanics to investigate tissue fold positioning. We useDrosophila melanogasterwing imaginal disc as our model system, and show that there is spatial and temporal heterogeneity in its planar growth rates. This planar differential growth is the main driver for positioning the folds. Increased stiffness of the apical layer and confinement by the basement membrane drive fold formation. These influence fold positions to a lesser degree. The model successfully predicts the emergent morphology ofwingless spademutantin vivo, via perturbations solely on planar differential growth ratesin silico.
Connectivity of variants in eQTL networks dictates reproducibility and functionality
Authors: Gaynor Sheila M. , Fagny Maud , Lin Xihong , Platig John , Quackenbush John
Published: January 2019

Network analyses are a natural approach for identifying genetic variants and genes that work together to drive disease phenotypes. The relationship between SNPs and genes, captured in expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis, can be represented as a network with edges connecting SNPs and genes. Existing network methods treat such edges as fixed and known when they are most often thresholded estimates from eQTL regression. We consider various characterizations of an essential feature of nodes of eQTL networks, their degree centrality, that retains different data on eQTLs. We define the network metric of degree to be estimated by false discovery rates, test statistics, and p-values of the eQTL regressions in order to represent how central and potentially influential a SNP is to the network. We calculate degree metrics for data from 21 tissues from the GTEx project to assess the reproducibility, correlation across tissues, and, functional importance of degree.
StormGraph: A graph-based algorithm for quantitative clustering analysis of diverse single-molecule localization microscopy data
Authors: Scurll Joshua M. , Abraham Libin , Zheng Da Wei , Tafteh Reza , Chou Keng C. , Gold Michael R. , Coombs Daniel
Published: January 2019

Clustering of proteins is crucial for many cellular processes and can be imaged at nanoscale resolution using single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). Ideally, molecular clustering in regions of interest (ROIs) from SMLM images would be assessed using computational methods that are robust to sample and experimental heterogeneity, account for uncertainties in localization data, can analyze both 2D and 3D data, and have practical computational requirements in terms of time and hardware. While analyzing surface protein clustering on B lymphocytes using SMLM, we encountered limitations with existing cluster analysis methods. This inspired us to develop StormGraph, an algorithm using graph theory and community detection to identify clusters in heterogeneous sets of 2D and 3D SMLM data while accounting for localization uncertainties. StormGraph generates both multi-level and single-level clusterings and can quantify cluster overlap for two-color SMLM data. Importantly, StormGraph automatically determines scale-dependent thresholds from the data using scale-independent input parameters. This makes identical choices of input parameter values suitable for disparate ROIs, eliminating the need to tune parameters for different ROIs in heterogeneous SMLM datasets. We show that StormGraph outperforms existing algorithms at analyzing heterogeneous sets of simulated SMLM ROIs where ground-truth clusters are known. Applying StormGraph to real SMLM data in 2D, we reveal that B-cell antigen receptors (BCRs) reside in a heterogeneous combination of small and large clusters following stimulation, which suggests for the first time that two conflicting models of BCR activation are not mutually exclusive. We also demonstrate application of StormGraph to real two-color and 3D SMLM data.
Multiplexed electron microscopy by fluorescent barcoding allows screening for ultrastructural phenotype
Authors: Bykov Yury S. , Cohen Nir , Gabrielli Natalia , Manenschijn Hetty , Welsch Sonja , Chlanda Petr , Kukulski Wanda , Patil Kiran R. , Schuldiner Maya , Briggs John A.G.
Published: January 2019

Genetic screens performed using high-throughput fluorescent microscopes have generated large datasets that have contributed many insights into cell biology. However, such approaches typically cannot tackle questions requiring knowledge of ultrastructure below the resolution limit of fluorescent microscopy. Electron microscopy (EM) is not subject to this resolution limit, generating detailed images of cellular ultrastructure, but requires time consuming preparation of individual samples, limiting its throughput. Here we overcome this obstacle and describe a robust method for screening by high-throughput electron microscopy. Our approach uses combinations of fluorophores as barcodes to mark the genotype of each cell in mixed populations, and correlative light and electron microscopy to read the fluorescent barcode of each cell before it is imaged by electron microscopy. Coupled with an easy-to-use software workflow for correlation, segmentation and computer image analysis, our method allows to extract and analyze multiple cell populations from each EM sample preparation. We demonstrate the method on several organelles with samples that each contain up to 15 different yeast variants. The methodology is not restricted to yeast, can be scaled to higher-throughput, and can be utilized in multiple ways to enable electron microscopy to become a powerful screening methodology.
TCF7L2 regulates postmitotic differentiation programs and excitability patterns in the thalamus
Authors: Lipiec Marcin Andrzej , Koziński Kamil , Zajkowski Tomasz , Bem Joanna , Urban-Ciećko Joanna , Dąbrowski Michał , Chakraborty Chaitali , Szewczyk Łukasz Mateusz , Toval Angel , Ferran José Luis , Nagalski Andrzej , Wiśniewska Marta Barbara
Published: January 2019

Neuronal phenotypes are controlled by terminal selector transcription factors in invertebrates, but few examples of such regulators have been provided in vertebrates. TCF7L2 has been identified as a regulator of efferent outgrowth in the thalamus and habenula. We used a complete and conditional knockout ofTcf7l2in mice to investigate the hypothesis that TCF7L2 plays a dual role in thalamic neuron differentiation and functions as a terminal selector. Connectivity and cell clustering was disrupted in the thalamo-habenular region inTcf7l2-/-embryos. The expression of subregional thalamic and habenular transcription factors was lost and region-specific cell migration and axon guidance genes were downregulated. In mice with postnatalTcf7l2knockout, the induction of genes that confer terminal electrophysiological features of thalamic neurons was impaired. Many of these genes proved to be TCF7L2 direct targets. The role of TCF7L2 in thalamic terminal selection was functionally confirmed by impaired firing modes in thalamic neurons in the mutant mice. These data corroborate the existence of master regulators in the vertebrate brain that maintain regional transcriptional network, control stage-specific genetic programs and induce terminal selection.

Statement

The study describes a role of TCF7L2 in neuronal differentiation of thalamic glutamatergic neurons at two developmental stages, highlighting its involvement in the postnatal establishment of critical thalamic electrophysiological features.
Comprehensive biodiversity analysis via ultra-deep patterned flow cell technology: a case study of eDNA metabarcoding seawater
Authors: Singer GAC , Fahner N , Barnes J , McCarthy A , Hajibabaei M
Published: January 2019

1

The characterization of biodiversity is a crucial element of ecological investigations as well as environmental assessment and monitoring activities. Increasingly, amplicon-based environmental DNA metabarcoding (alternatively, marker gene metagenomics) is used for such studies given its ability to provide biodiversity data from various groups of organisms simply from analysis of bulk environmental samples such as water, soil or sediments. The Illumina MiSeq is currently the most popular tool for carrying out this work, but we set out to determine whether typical studies were reading enough DNA to detect rare organisms (i.e., those that may be of greatest interest such as endangered or invasive species) present in the environment. We collected sea water samples along two transects in Conception Bay, Newfoundland and analyzed them on the MiSeq with a sequencing depth of 100,000 reads per sample (exceeding the 60,000 per sample that is typical of similar studies). We then analyzed these same samples on Illumina’s newest high-capacity platform, the NovaSeq, at a depth of 7 million reads per sample. Not surprisingly, the NovaSeq detected many more taxa than the MiSeq thanks to its much greater sequencing depth. However, contrary to our expectations this pattern was true even in depth-for-depth comparisons. In other words, the NovaSeq can detect more DNA sequence diversity within samples than the MiSeq, even at the exact same sequencing depth. Even when samples were reanalyzed on the MiSeq with a sequencing depth of 1 million reads each, the MiSeq’s ability to detect new sequences plateaued while the NovaSeq continued to detect new sequence variants. These results have important biological implications. The NovaSeq found 40% more metazoan families in this environment than the MiSeq, including some of interest such as marine mammals and bony fish so the real-world implications of these findings are significant. These results are most likely associated to the advances incorporated in NovaSeq especially patterned flow cell, which prevents similar sequences that are neighbours on the flow cell (common in metabarcoding studies) from being erroneously merged into single spots by the sequencing instrument. This study sets the stage for incorporating eDNA metabarcoding in comprehensive analysis of oceanic samples in a wide range of ecological and environmental investigations.
Urinary proteome of dogs with kidney injury during babesiosis
Authors: Winiarczyk D. , Michalak K. , Adaszek L. , Winiarczyk M. , Madany J. , Winiarczyk S.
Published: January 2019

This study aimed to identify proteins found in the urine of dogs with renal dysfunction leading to acute injury during the natural course of babesiosis (n=10) and to compare them with proteins of a control group (n=10) to reveal any potential biomarkers of renal damage. Pooled urine samples of both groups were separated by 2D electrophoresis (two dimensional electrophoresis), followed by the identification of all proteins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight). In total, 176 proteins were identified in the urine samples from healthy dogs, and 403 proteins were identified in the urine samples from dogs with babesiosis. Of the 176 proteins, 146 were assigned exclusively to healthy dogs, and 373 of the 403 proteins were assigned exclusively to dogs with babesiosis; 30 proteins were common to both groups. Characteristic analysis of the 373 proteins found in dogs with babesiosis led to the isolation of 8 proteins associated with 10 metabolic pathways that were attributed to immune and inflammatory response development. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition might play an important role in mechanisms underlying pathological renal tissue changes during babesiosis, as indicated by a causal relationship network built by combining 5 of the 10 selected metabolic pathways and 4 of the 8 proteins associated with these pathways. These included cadherins, gonadotropin releasing hormone receptors, inflammatory responses mediated by chemokine and cytokine signalling pathways, integrins, interleukin and TGF-β (transforming growth factor β) pathways. These pathways were linked by interleukin-13, bone morphogenetic protein 7, α2(1) collagen, and FER tyrosine kinase, which are potential damage biomarkers during babesiosis in dogs that might be assigned to early renal injury.
Castration-resistant prostate cancer: Androgen receptor inactivation induces telomere DNA damage, and damage response inhibition leads to cell death
Authors: Reddy Vidyavathi , Iskander Asm , Hwang Clara , Divine George , Menon Mani , Barrack Evelyn R. , Reddy G. Prem-Veer , Kim Sahn-Ho
Published: January 2019

Telomere stability is important for cell viability, as cells with telomere DNA damage that is not repaired do not survive. We reported previously that androgen receptor (AR) antagonist induces telomere DNA damage in androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells; this triggers a DNA damage response (DDR) at telomeres that includes activation of ATM, and blocking ATM activation prevents telomere DNA repair and leads to cell death. Remarkably, AR antagonist induces telomere DNA damage and triggers ATM activation at telomeres also in 22Rv1 castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells that are not growth inhibited by AR antagonist. Treatment with AR antagonist enzalutamide (ENZ) or ATM inhibitor (ATMi) by itself had no effect on growth in vitro or in vivo, but combined treatment with ENZ plus ATMi significantly inhibited cell survival in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. By inducing telomere DNA damage and activating a telomere DDR, an opportunity to inhibit DNA repair and promote cell death was created, even in CRPC cells. 22Rv1 cells express both full-length AR and AR splice variant AR-V7, but full-length AR was found to be the predominant form of AR associated with telomeres and required for telomere stability. Although 22Rv1 growth of untreated 22Rv1 cells appears to be driven by AR-V7, it is, ironically, expression of full-length AR that makes them sensitive to growth inhibition by combined treatment with ENZ plus ATMi. Notably, this combined treatment approach to induce telomere DNA damage and inhibit the DDR was effective in inducing cell death also in other CRPC cell lines (LNCaP/AR and C4-2B). Thus, the use of ENZ in combination with a DDR inhibitor, such as ATMi, may be effective in prolonging disease-free survival of patients with AR-positive metastatic CRPC, even those that co-express AR splice variant.
Crystal structures of the complex of a kallikrein inhibitor fromBauhinia bauhinioideswith trypsin and modeling of kallikrein complexes
Authors: Li Mi , Srp Jaroslav , Gustchina Alla , Dauter Zbigniew , Mares Michael , Wlodawer Alexander
Published: January 2019

Structures of a recombinant Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor fromBauhinia bauhinioides(BbKI) complexed with bovine trypsin were determined in two crystal forms. The crystal structure with the L55R mutant of BbKI was determined in space groupP64at 1.94 Å resolution and that with native BbKI in the monoclinic space groupP21at 3.95 Å resolution. The asymmetric unit of the latter crystals contained 44 independent complexes, thus representing one of the largest numbers of independent objects deposited in the Protein Data Bank. Additionally, the structure of the complex with native BbKI was determined at 2.0 Å resolution fromP64crystals isomorphous to those of the mutant. Since BbKI has previously been found to be a potent inhibitor of the trypsin-like plasma kallikrein, it was also tested against several tissue kallikreins. It was found that BbKI is a potent inhibitor of human tissue kallikrein 4 (KLK4) and the chymotrypsin-like human tissue kallikrein 7 (KLK7). Structures of BbKI complexed with the catalytic domain of human plasma kallikrein were modeled, as well as those with KLK4 and KLK7, and the structures were analyzed in order to identify the interactions that are responsible for inhibitory potency.
Connecting the dots between brand logo and brand image
Authors: Kaur Harsandaldeep , Kaur Kanwalroop
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Although the prominence of brand logo for companies is widely acknowledged, a close examination of the literature reveals lack of empirical research pertaining to effect of brand logo on consumer perception toward brand. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in marketing studies concerning the effect of a logo on consumer evaluations. The research addresses two questions: first, how brand logo favorability helps to increase brand image; and second, how brand logo form consumer perceptions toward brand through brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity?

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 816 respondents using mall-intercept technique. Structural equation modeling via AMOS was conducted to test the proposed model to gain insight into the various relevant influences and relationships.

Findings

The findings revealed the importance of the company’s brand logo in enhancing the brand image. The results further highlighted that brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity mediate the relationship between brand logo and brand image.

Practical implications

The study offers managers a new perspective for building strong brand identity with the help of logos along with the brand personality dimensions and brand familiarity to enhance brand image.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights on the impact of brand logo on brand image. This is the first study to determine the mediating role of brand personality in the relationship between brand logo and brand image. It thereby adds to the literature of visual identity by developing the sphere of influence of brand logo and its effects toward brands.
Socially responsible procurement
Authors: Murphy Martina , Eadie Robert
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Socially responsible procurement (SRP) utilises government expenditure on construction procurement as a means of generating social value from construction activities. The paper proposes that SRP is a type of innovation delivering social value in the form of employment opportunities to local communities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of SRP in Northern Ireland procurement and align the findings with existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-stage approach was employed, namely, first, a review of innovation and SRP literature; second, a survey of 50 Northern Ireland construction organisations to extract perceptions of SRP in practice; and third, qualitative analysis of the literature with the empirical insights.

Findings

Findings show that SRP is being driven by social legislation and being delivered by contractors as part of their contractual obligations. SRP represents a significant shift from standard construction practice which makes it challenging to implement using traditional processes and systems. It is found that SRP is generating social benefits through employment creation and the feedback from employees is largely positive. However, it is proposed that contractors need to adopt a more person-centric approach to the implementation of SRP to sustain the benefits being currently evidenced.

Originality/value

The study suggests that there is an urgent need for more holistic measurement of impacts and outcomes of SRP to ensure social targets are appropriate for the communities in which projects are being constructed.
Driving factors of merger momentum in China: empirical evidence from listed companies
Authors: Fu Lei , Wang Qian
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study merger momentum and its driving factors in China by sampling 376 listed bidders from 2008 to 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical model captures the dependency of market reaction on recent merger and stock market states. The independent variables are designed from two dimensions, i.e. at the level of market-wide as an integral and bidder-specific as individuals. Furthermore, both the market and bidding firms contain merger momentum and market momentum, respectively.

Findings

The empirical results show that there is merger momentum in the market. Particularly, merger momentum is significant both in short run and long run for the mergers with cash payment, which supports the synergy effect. It also implicates the mergers with stock driven by investor sentiment. Besides, investors’ over-optimism is significant in the bull markets while managerial hubris is found in the bear markets.

Research limitations/implications

The driving factors for merger momentum in China are complex. Three impacts with different effects interact with one another. They are investor sentiment and managerial hubris with negative effects resulting in reversal abnormal return in the long run, and synergies with positive shocks resulting in no reverse at all. The limitation of the paper is insufficient analysis of the mergers financed by stocks, which will be the focus for future study.

Practical implications

The conclusions of the study help to intensify the understanding of the immature and unnormalized capital market in China. The empirical analyses give some inspiration and suggestions to three parties in the market, i.e. investors, bidding firms and regulators, respectively.

Originality/value

There are three contributions. The first one is to provide a novel model to identify how these different effects work on the merger momentum. The second one is the measurement of investor sentiment from different perspectives. The last but most important one is the new findings with novel explanations, which proves that the impacts on merger momentum are complex.
The relationship of personal innovativeness, quality of digital resources and generic usability with users’ satisfaction
Authors: Khan Asad , Masrek Mohamad Noorman , Mahmood Khalid
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In addition to instrumental assumptions, behavioural researchers suggest the study of individual traits such as personal innovativeness (PI), users’ satisfaction and other theoretical beliefs for example quality and general usage patterns as the latent determinants of early and post-adoptions of technological innovations. In the context of Higher Education Commission digital library of Pakistan, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of PI, quality of digital resources and generic usability of digital libraries (DL) with users’ satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

To guide the conceptual model of this study, five hypothesized relationships were formulated. Adopting a quantitative approach, snowball sampling techniques were used. A total of 464 users of DL enrolled in different programs of study in the universities of Pakistan participated and responded to the survey. For data analyses, partial least squares, a method in the structural equation modeling was used.

Findings

Analyses reveal positive and strong relationships of PI, quality of digital resources and generic usability of DL with users’ satisfaction. Thus, the findings of this study established personal traits as the significant determinants of intention to adopt DL.

Research limitations/implications

The decision of effective adoption is manipulated by the extent of users’ willing (PI), level of satisfaction, the image of quality and users’ past experience with the use of related innovations. Thus, librarians in addition to the system features should also focus on individual characteristics and quality of resources that probably influence adequate adoption of DL.

Originality/value

In the Pakistani context, this study is the first attempt that examined the relationship of PI, the usability of DL and quality of digital resources with users’ satisfaction. Research model of this study can be used in future research. Also, this study extended the scope of theories of adoption towards DL.
Model calibration of locally nonlinear dynamical systems
Authors: Hu Xiaoyu , Chodora Evan , Prabhu Saurabh , Gupte Akshay , Atamturktur Sez
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present an approach for calibrating the numerical models of dynamical systems that have spatially localized nonlinear components. The approach implements the extended constitutive relation error (ECRE) method using multi-harmonic coefficients and is conceived to separate the errors in the representation of the global, linear and local, nonlinear components of the dynamical system through a two-step process.

Design/methodology/approach

The first step focuses on the system’s predominantly linear dynamic response under a low magnitude periodic excitation. In this step, the discrepancy between measured and predicted multi-harmonic coefficients is calculated in terms of residual energy. This residual energy is in turn used to spatially locate errors in the model, through which one can identify the erroneous model inputs which govern the linear behavior that need to be calibrated. The second step involves measuring the system’s nonlinear dynamic response under a high magnitude periodic excitation. In this step, the response measurements under both low and high magnitude excitation are used to iteratively calibrate the identified linear and nonlinear input parameters.

Findings

When model error is present in both linear and nonlinear components, the proposed iterative combined multi-harmonic balance method (MHB)-ECRE calibration approach has shown superiority to the conventional MHB-ECRE method, while providing more reliable calibration results of the nonlinear parameter with less dependency ona prioriknowledge of the associated linear system.

Originality/value

This two-step process is advantageous as it reduces the confounding effects of the uncertain model parameters associated with the linear and locally nonlinear components of the system.
Top management team gender diversity and productivity: the role of board gender diversity
Authors: Luanglath Nalongded , Ali Muhammad , Mohannak Kavoos
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Based on the significance of context, the purpose of this paper is to investigate a positive top management team (TMT) gender diversity–productivity relationship derived from the upper echelons theory, and a moderating effect of board gender diversity on the TMT gender diversity–productivity relationship derived from the relational framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were tested in 172 organisations listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. This research uses archival data from multiple secondary sources, with a one-year time lag between the predictor and outcome.

Findings

The findings indicate a positive effect of TMT gender diversity on employee productivity and a strong positive TMT gender diversity–employee productivity relationship in organisations with a low level of board gender diversity.

Originality/value

This study provides pioneering evidence for a positive effect of TMT gender diversity on employee productivity and for a moderating effect of board gender diversity.
It’s complicated: a multi-method approach to broadening participation in STEM
Authors: Hardcastle Valerie Gray , Furst-Holloway Stacie , Kallen Rachel , Jacquez Farrah
Published: January 2019

Purpose

A lot is known about systemic barriers to broadening participation (BP) in STEM. Empirical research has demonstrated the existence and impact of implicit bias, stereotype threat, and micro-aggressions on a sense of belonging, organizational productivity and leadership opportunities. We also know that achieving greater participation of women and faculty of color in the STEM disciplines is complicated and depends on altering complex and multi-layered interactions between activities and actors. Further, because researcher and institutional goals vary as a function of target population and context, generalizable models can struggle in the face of larger BP efforts. Through the authors experience as an NSF ADVANCE-IT awardee, the authors believe that a dynamic, multi-scaled and organizational level approach is required to reflect the reciprocal dialogue among research questions, best practices, tailored applications and quantifiable goals. The authors describe several examples of research, programming activities and program evaluation that illustrate this approach. In particular, the authors describe both the programming successes and challenges, with the aim of helping others to avoid common mistakes by articulating very broad and, the authors’ hope, generalizable “lessons learned.” The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand the barriers for women in STEM, the authors utilized an iterative methodology. Specifically, the authors conducted a social network analysis, an exit survey of departed faculty, longitudinal analysis of career trajectories and research productivity, and a survey on the interaction between values and climate.

Findings

The analyses suggest three strategies better retain women in STEM: improve women’s professional networks; re-aling policy documents and departmental practices to better reflect faculty values; and improve departmental climate.

Practical implications

The pay-off for using this more complex research approach to triangulate onto specific challenges is that the interventions are more likely to be successful, with a longer-lasting impact.

Originality/value

With continuous institutional research, metric refinement, and program evaluation the authors are better able to develop targeted programming, policy reform, and changes in institutional practice. The interventions should result in permanent institutional and systemic change by integrating multi-method qualitative and quantitative research into BP practices, which the authors couple with longitudinal analysis that can quantify success of the authors’ efforts.
The employment multiplier in the European hospitality industry: a gender approach
Authors: Campos Soria Juan Antonio , Robles Teigeiro Luis
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to estimate the capacity of the predominant activity of the Hotel and Restaurant (H&R) sector to create female employment in European Union (EU) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used was conducted in two stages. First, a branch employment multiplier was calculated using the Leontief input-output tables (IOTs), which show the direct and indirect capacity of the activity to generate female employment. Second, a regression model was estimated to explain the determinants of the female employment multiplier in the H&R sector. It should be noted that the reliability and simplicity of the proposed model allows countries without IOTs, but with gender-disaggregated labor statistics, to easily estimate their own female employment multiplier.

Findings

The results show that the job-creation capacity of the H&R sector significantly varies across the EU countries, especially in relation to the female employment multiplier. Although international differences in gender wage gaps help to explain such multipliers, institutional factors and feminization rate also play a key role.

Research limitations/implications

The results may contribute to improving the actions of member states to stimulate the sustainable development of the tourism sector.

Originality/value

Based on previous literature, the finding that higher tourism expenditure may result in increases in tourism employment gives rise to another set of interesting questions. The most fundamental of these may concern the nature of the economic underpinnings of the growth of female employment. This paper contributes to this issue by conducting a specific analysis across EU countries using a homogenous and comparable methodology.
Personality and gender differences in revealed risk preference: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Twumasi Baffour Priscilla , Mohammed Ibrahim , Abdul Rahaman Wassiuw
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in risk aversion and determine the effect of personality traits on risk aversion from an African country context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study combined both descriptive and analytical designs, and employed t-test, Pearson’s χ2 and binary logistic regression as the main analytical techniques. Data for the analysis were obtained from the World Bank’s Skills toward Employment and Productivity survey on Ghana.

Findings

Results of the study revealed systematic differences in personality and gender and their associations with risk aversion. Specifically, women were found to be more risk averse than men. Differences in personality also showed that females reported higher levels of personality in all but one of the Big Five personality traits – extraversion. In addition to gender, age and education, the personality traits of conscientiousness and stability were the main predictors of the likelihood of being risk averse. Although personality differences existed between male and female, the interaction terms between gender and personality factors were not statistically significant.

Originality/value

The paper departs from the extant literature on developed countries and western cultures to add to the understanding on how individual differences account for variation in revealed risk preferences.
Understanding growth slowdown dynamics in India’s sub-national economies
Authors: Tan Khee Giap , Luu Nguyen Trieu Duong , Yoong Wei Cher Sangiita
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The paper offers the first systematic and comprehensive analysis of dynamics of economic growth slowdown for India at the sub-national level covering the period 1993–2013. In light of India’s regional diversity and variation in terms of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita, the purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the growth dynamics at the sub-national level. The paper aims to answer two questions: first, are determinants of economic slowdown likely to differ across income groups? Second, what are the probabilities that the sub-national economies in India will experience a growth slowdown in the near future?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis of growth slowdown for 106 Asian developing economies encompassing the national economies in ASEAN and the sub-national economies in Greater China, Indonesia and India. To be sure, the authors are not making any direct comparison to countries at different stages of economic development; rather, the comparison is between economies/sub-national economies that fall in the same income category. The authors construct income group-specific logistic model to identify the relevant determinants of growth slowdown and use Bayesian model averaging techniques as a robustness check. The authors also compute economy-specific predictive probabilities of growth slowdown over the period 2012–2017.

Findings

The empirical results show that a growth slowdown in various income groups tends to be associated with different sets of determinants, although broadly, across all income groups, the occurrence of growth slowdown is positively associated with higher GRDP per capita. The average predictive probability of growth slowdown for India’s sub-national economies is 0.43, indicating that, on average, India’s sub-national economies have a 43 per cent chance of experiencing growth slowdown in the 2012–2017 period. Overall, the prospects of the sub-national economies of India are less worrying than that of Greater Chinese economies but bleaker than the outlook for economies in ASEAN and Indonesia.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the understandings of growth dynamics, especially the issue of growth slowdown, in India. This paper differs from the existing literature on growth dynamics by being India centric and analysing the issue of growth slowdown at the sub-national level. Despite a steady increase in the level of GRDP per capita for the sub-national economies of India since 1993, significant disparities still exist across economies. Identifying determinants of growth slowdown and subsequently computing predictive probabilities serves as early warning signs for policy-makers and generates insights on how development policy can be shaped.
A review on risk-taking in tournaments
Authors: Li Zejun , Wang Chengyuan , Wang Qiong , Luo Biao
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize antecedents and consequences of risk-taking in tournaments and show the development of tournament optimization considering risk-taking. Moreover, further expansion expectations related to antecedents and consequences of risk-taking in tournaments and tournament optimization considering risk-taking are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive bibliographic retrieval and further literature review and systematics re-organization are used to build the framework with respect to risk-taking in tournaments. Then, qualitative analysis is used to present conclusions of existing research.

Findings

By summarizing various antecedents, different consequences and tournament optimizations with regard to risk-taking in tournaments of existing research, the authors present a series of research opportunities regarding risk-taking in tournaments that can propel the advancement of tournament theory.

Originality/value

The studies on risk-taking in tournament have been recently received wide attention and are growing vigorously. Based on the summary and re-organization, the framework of literature studying risk-taking in tournaments is built. This literature review also helps researchers learn the advance of risk-taking in tournament and provides fruitful direction for future research on this topic.