bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial flagellar motor PL-ring disassembly Sub-complexes are widespread and ancient
Authors: Kaplan Mohammed , Sweredoski Michael J. , Rodrigues João P.G.L.M. , Tocheva Elitza I. , Chang Yi-Wei , Ortega Davi R. , Beeby Morgan , Jensen Grant J.
Published: October 2019

The bacterial flagellar motor is an amazing nanomachine. Understanding how such complex structures arose is crucial to our understanding of cellular evolution. We and others recently reported that in several Gammaproteobacterial species, a relic sub-complex comprising the decorated P- and L-rings persists in the outer membrane after flagellum disassembly. Imaging nine additional species with cryo-electron tomography, here we show that this sub-complex persists after flagellum disassembly in other phyla as well. Bioinformatic analyses fail to show evidence of any recent horizontal transfers of the P- and L-ring genes, suggesting that this sub-complex and its persistence is an ancient and conserved feature of the flagellar motor. We hypothesize that one function of the P- and L-rings is to seal the outer membrane after motor disassembly.
Population Dynamics and Biological Feasibility of Sustainable Harvesting as a Conservation Strategy for Tropical and Temperate Freshwater Turtles
Authors: Rachmansah Angga , Norris Darren , Gibbs James P.
Published: October 2019

Background

Conservation strategies are urgently needed for tropical turtles. Studies conducted exclusively in the temperate zone have revealed that the suite of life history traits that characterizes turtles and includes delayed sexual maturity and high adult survivorship makes sustainable harvest programs an unviable strategy for turtle conservation. However, most turtles are tropical in distribution and the tropics have higher, more constant and more extended ambient temperature regimes that, in general, are more favorable for population growth.

Methods

To estimate the capacity of freshwater turtle species from temperate and tropical regions to sustain harvest we synthesized life history traits from 165 freshwater turtle species in 12 families (Carettochelydae, Chelidae, Chelydridae, Dermatemydidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae, Pelomedusidae, Platysternidae, Podocnemididae, Staurotypidae and Trionychidae). The influence of climate variables and latitude on freshwater turtle life history traits (clutch size, clutch frequency, age at sexual maturity, and annual adult survival) were examined using Generalized Additive Models. The biological feasibility of sustainable harvest in temperate and tropical species was evaluated using a sensitivity analysis of population growth rates obtained from stage structured matrix population models.

Results

Turtles at low latitudes (tropical zones) exhibit smaller clutch sizes, higher clutch frequency, and earlier age at sexual maturity than those at high latitudes (temperate zone). Adult survival increased weakly with latitude and declined significantly with increasing bioclimatic temperature (mean temperature of warmest quarter). A modeling synthesis of these data indicates that the interplay of life history traits does not create higher harvest opportunity in adults of tropical species. Yet we found potential for sustainable exploitation of eggs in tropical species.

Conclusions

Sustainable harvest as a conservation strategy for tropical turtles appears to be as biologically problematic as in temperature zones and likely only possible if the focus is on limited harvest of eggs. Further studies are urgently needed to understand how the predicted population surplus in early life stages can be most effectively incorporated into conservation programs for tropical turtles increasingly threatened by unsustainable exploitation, climate change and deforestation.
Deposition of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) into Northern Ontario Lake Sediments
Authors: Colby Graham A.
Published: October 2019

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants that are produced through incomplete combustion of modern biomass and fossil fuels. In aquatic systems PAHs are absorbed by suspended matter and ultimately deposited into sediments. PAH fluxes to sediments have been declining in North American since the mid 1960s. Improving technology and regulations were expected to contribute to declining PAH concentrations; however, in some urban sediment there are recent increases in deposition. Trends in concentrations of pyrogenic PAHs and perylene were determined in the sediment of two lakes, in central Ontario. Intact piston cores that preserve the depositional history were collected from each site, sliced into 1 cm intervals and analyzed using gas-chromatography/ mass-spectrometry. Pyrogenic PAH trends at each site displayed unique characteristics suggesting differing extents of influence from various atmospheric sources. The upper core profile (above 8.5 cm) in the more remote site had decreasing PAH concentrations consistent with observations from Siskitwit Lake. The more urban site (above 3.5 cm) had increasing PAH concentrations suggesting modern anthropogenic activities have a larger influence in this region. Perylene fluxes at both sites do not correlate with the observed PAH fluxes, increasing in concentration with depth, thus indicating separate sources for this PAH, likely diagenesis within the sediments. Both sites had PAH concentrations exceeding the interim sediment quality guidelines in the uppermost sediment deposits. This study provides insights into the differential atmospheric deposition in Ontario and may aid in establishing strategies for reducing or mitigating the production of PAHs.
A window into lysogeny: Revealing temperate phage biology with transcriptomics
Authors: Owen Siân V. , Canals Rocío , Wenner Nicolas , Hammarlöf Disa L. , Kröger Carsten , Hinton Jay C. D.
Published: October 2019

Integrated phage elements, known as prophages, are a pervasive feature of bacterial genomes. Prophages can enhance the fitness of their bacterial hosts by conferring beneficial functions, such as virulence, stress tolerance or phage resistance, which are encoded by accessory loci. Whilst the majority of phage-encoded genes are repressed during lysogeny, accessory loci are often highly expressed. However, novel prophage accessory loci are challenging to identify based on DNA sequence data alone. Here, we use bacterial RNA-seq data to examine the transcriptional landscapes of five Salmonella prophages. We show that transcriptomic data can be used to heuristically enrich for prophage features that are highly expressed within bacterial cells and often represent functionally-important accessory loci. Using this approach we identify a novel anti-sense RNA species in prophage BTP1, STnc6030, which mediates superinfection exclusion of phage BTP1 and immunity to closely-related phages. Bacterial transcriptomic datasets are a powerful tool to explore the molecular biology of temperate phages.
Listeriaphages induce Cas9 degradation to protect lysogenic genomes
Authors: Osuna Beatriz A. , Karambelkar Shweta , Mahendra Caroline , Christie Kathleen A. , Garcia Bianca , Davidson Alan R. , Kleinstiver Benjamin P. , Kilcher Samuel , Bondy-Denomy Joseph
Published: October 2019

Bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems employ RNA-guided nucleases to destroy foreign DNA. Bacteriophages, in turn, have evolved diverse “anti-CRISPR” proteins (Acrs) to counteract acquired immunity. InListeria monocytogenes, prophages encode 2-3 distinct anti-Cas9 proteins, withacrIIA1always present; however, its mechanism is unknown. Here, we report that AcrIIA1 binds with high affinity to Cas9 via the catalytic HNH domain and, inListeria, triggers Cas9 degradation. AcrIIA1 displays broad-spectrum inhibition of Type II-A and II-C Cas9s, including an additional highly-divergedListeriaCas9. During lytic infection, AcrIIA1 is insufficient for rapid Cas9 inactivation, thus phages require an additional “partner” Acr that rapidly blocks Cas9-DNA-binding. The AcrIIA1 N-terminal domain (AcrIIA1NTD) is dispensable for anti-CRISPR activity; instead it is required for optimal phage replication through direct transcriptional repression of the anti-CRISPR locus. AcrIIA1NTDis widespread amongstFirmicutes, can repress anti-CRISPR deployment by other phages, and has been co-opted by hosts potentially as an “anti-anti-CRISPR.” In summary,Listeriaphages utilize narrow-spectrum inhibitors of DNA binding to rapidly inactivate Cas9 in lytic growth and the broad-spectrum AcrIIA1 to stimulate Cas9 degradation for protection of theListeriagenome in lysogeny.
Spatiotemporal patterns of neocortical activity around hippocampal sharp-wave ripples
Authors: Abadchi J. Karimi , Nazari-Ahangarkolaee M. , Gattas S. , Bermudez-Contreras E. , Luczak A. , McNaughton B.L. , Mohajerani M. H.
Published: October 2019

A prevalent model is that sharp-wave ripples (SWR) arise ‘spontaneously’ in CA3 and propagate recent memory traces outward to the neocortex to facilitate memory consolidation there. Using voltage and extracellular glutamate transient recording over widespread regions of mice dorsal neocortex in relation to CA1 multiunit activity (MUA) and SWR, we find that the largest SWR-related modulation occurs in retrosplenial cortex; however, contrary to the unidirectional hypothesis, neocortical activation exhibited a continuum of activation timings relative to SWRs, varying from leading to lagging. Thus, contrary to the model in which SWRs arise ‘spontaneously’ in the hippocampus, neocortical activation often precedes SWRs and may thus constitute a trigger event in which neocortical information seeds associative reactivation of hippocampal ‘indices’. This timing continuum is consistent with a dynamics in which older, more consolidated memories may in fact initiate the hippocampal-neocortical dialog, whereas reactivation of newer memories may be initiated predominantly in the hippocampus.
Cell-specific targeting byClostridium perfringensβ-toxin unraveled: the role of CD31 as the toxin receptor
Authors: Bruggisser Julia , Tarek Basma , Wyder Marianne , Witz Guillaume , Enzmann Gaby , Deutsch Urban , Engelhardt Britta , Posthaus Horst
Published: October 2019

Clostridium perfringensβ-toxin (CPB) is a highly active hemolysin β-pore forming toxin and the essential virulence factor for a severe, necro-hemorrhagic enteritis in animals and humans.In vivoandin vitroit exerts a remarkable cell type specificity towards endothelial cells, platelets and some leucocytic cell lines. The target cell specificity of CPB is, however, poorly understood and a receptor explaining this selective toxicity has not been identified. This has hampered further research into the pathogenesis ofC. perfringenstype C induced enteritis. Here we identify Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (CD31 or PECAM-1) as the specific membrane receptor for CPB on endothelial cells. CD31 expression is essential for CPB toxicity in endothelial cells and lethality in mice and sufficient to render previously resistant cells highly susceptible to the toxin. We further demonstrate, that the extracellular membrane proximal Ig6 domain of CD31 is required for the interaction with CPB and that expression of CD31 corresponds with the specificity of the toxin towards cultured cell lines. Our results thus provide an explanation for the cell type specificity of CPB and can be linked to the characteristic lesions observed a devastating enteric disease in animals and humans.
Cardiac function modulates endocardial cell dynamics to shape the cardiac outflow tract
Authors: Sidhwani Pragya , Boezio Giulia L.M. , Yang Hongbo , Chi Neil C. , Roman Beth L. , Stainier Didier Y.R. , Yelon Deborah
Published: October 2019

Physical forces are important participants in the cellular dynamics that shape developing organs. During heart formation, for example, contractility and blood flow generate biomechanical cues that influence patterns of cell behavior. Here, we address the interplay between function and form during the assembly of the cardiac outflow tract (OFT), a crucial connection between the heart and vasculature that develops while circulation is underway. In zebrafish, we find that the OFT expands via accrual of both endocardial and myocardial cells. However, when cardiac function is disrupted, OFT endocardial growth ceases, accompanied by reduced proliferation and reduced addition of cells from adjacent vessels. The TGFβ receptor Acvrl1 is required for addition of endocardial cells, but not for their proliferation, indicating distinct regulation of these essential cell behaviors. Together, our results suggest that cardiac function modulates OFT morphogenesis by triggering endocardial cell accumulation that induces OFT lumen expansion and shapes OFT dimensions.
TSUNAMI: Translational Bioinformatics Tool Suite For Network Analysis And Mining
Authors: Huang Zhi , Han Zhi , Wang Tongxin , Shao Wei , Xiang Shunian , Salama Paul , Rizkalla Maher , Huang Kun , Zhang Jie
Published: October 2019

Gene co-expression network (GCN) mining identifies gene modules with highly correlated expression profiles across samples/conditions. It helps to discover latent gene/molecular interactions, identify novel gene functions, and extract molecular features from certain disease/condition groups, thus help to identify disease biomarkers. However, there lacks an easy-to-use tool package for users to mine GCN modules that are relatively small in size with tightly connected genes that can be convenient for downstream Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, as well as modules that may share common members. To address this need, we develop a GCN mining tool package TSUNAMI (Tools SUite for Network Analysis and MIning) which incorporates our state-of-the-art lmQCM algorithm to mine GCN modules in public and user-input data (microarray, RNA-seq, or any other numerical omics data), then performs downstream GO and enrichment analysis based on the modules identified. It has several features and advantages: (i) user friendly interface and the real-time co-expression network mining through web server; (ii) direct access and search of GEO and TCGA databases as well as user-input expression matrix (microarray, RNA-seq, etc.) for GCN module mining; (iii) multiple co-expression analysis tools to choose with highly flexible of parameter selection options; (iv) identified GCN modules are summarized to eigengenes, which are convenient for user to check their correlation with other clinical traits; (v) integrated downstream Enrichr enrichment analysis and links to other GO tools; (vi) visualization of gene loci by Circos plot in any step. The web service is freely accessible through URL: http://spore.ph.iu.edu:3838/zhihuan/TSUNAMI/. Source code is available at https://github.com/huangzhii/TSUNAMI/.
HIGD2A is required for assembly of the COX3 module of human mitochondrial complex IV
Authors: Hock Daniella H. , Reljic Boris , Ang Ching-Seng , Mountford Hayley S. , Compton Alison G. , Ryan Michael T. , Thorburn David R. , Stroud David A.
Published: October 2019

Assembly factors play a critical role in the biogenesis of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I-IV where they assist in the membrane insertion of subunits, attachment of co-factors, and stabilization of assembly intermediates. The major fraction of complexes I, III and IV are present together in large molecular structures known as respiratory chain supercomplexes. A number of assembly factors have been proposed as required for supercomplex assembly, including the hypoxia inducible gene 1 domain family member HIGD2A. Using gene-edited human cell lines and extensive steady state, translation and affinity enrichment proteomics techniques we show that loss of HIGD2A leads to defects in the de novo biogenesis of mtDNA-encoded COX3, subsequent accumulation of complex IV intermediates and turnover of COX3 partner proteins. Deletion of HIGD2A also leads to defective complex IV activity. The impact of HIGD2A loss on complex IV was not altered by growth under hypoxic conditions, consistent with its role being in basal complex IV assembly. While in the absence of HIGD2A we show that mitochondria do contain an altered supercomplex assembly, we demonstrate it to harbor a crippled complex IV lacking COX3. Our results redefine HIGD2A as a classical assembly factor required for building the COX3 module of complex IV.
A secreted LysM effector protects fungal hyphae through chitin-dependent homodimer polymerization
Authors: Sánchez-Vallet Andrea , Tian Hui , Rodriguez-Moreno Luis , Valkenburg Dirk-Jan , Saleem-Batcha Raspudin , Wawra Stephan , Kombrink Anja , Verhage Leonie , de Jonge Ronnie , van Esse H. Peter , Zuccaro Alga , Croll Daniel , Mesters Jeroen R. , Thomma Bart P.H.J.
Published: October 2019

Plants trigger immune responses upon recognition of fungal cell wall chitin, followed by the release of various antimicrobials, including chitinase enzymes that hydrolyze chitin. In turn, many fungal pathogens secrete LysM effectors that prevent chitin recognition by the host through scavenging of chitin oligomers. We previously showed that intrachain LysM dimerization of theCladosporium fulvumeffector Ecp6 confers an ultrahigh-affinity binding groove that competitively sequesters chitin oligomers from host immune receptors. Additionally, particular LysM effectors are found to protect fungal hyphae against chitinase hydrolysis during host colonization. However, the molecular basis for the protection of fungal cell walls against hydrolysis remained unclear. Here, we determined a crystal structure of the single LysM domain-containing effector Mg1LysM of the wheat pathogenZymoseptoria triticiand reveal that Mg1LysM is involved in the formation of two kinds of dimers; a chitin-dependent dimer as well as a chitin-independent homodimer. In this manner, Mg1LysM gains the capacity to form a supramolecular structure by chitin-induced oligomerization of chitin-independent Mg1LysM homodimers, a property that confers protection to fungal cell walls against host chitinases.
Electroacupuncture at Governor Vessel improves neurobehavioral function via reduction of complexin1
Authors: Xu Yang , Liu Jia , Zhao Xiaoming , Zhou Lei , Xiong Liuling , Li Cuiyun , Jiang Ya , Wang Yangyang , Wang Tinghua
Published: October 2019

Electroacupuncture at Governor Vessel (GV), as a traditional chinese medicine, has been proved that it can reduce scar and promote axon regeneration. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Herein, complexin1 (CPLX1), as a candidate protein, was found using protein chip. Therefore, using a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout approach, we deleted CPLX1 specifically in the SD rats to assess the role of CPLX1 in GV treatment. Additionally, eIF5A1 stimulate the translation of CPLX1 with PPG sequence, we attempt to uncover whether eIF5A1 play a role in the GV treatment. In fact, GV can reduce scar and promote axon regeneration after SCC. CPLX1−/+ SCC rats demonstrated that decreased CPLX1 improved the microenvironment of injured area via reducing the components of fibrotic scar and further enhanced the synaptic plasticity, which benefit the regeneration of axons. And eIF5A1 could regulate the expression of CPLX1 in the process of GV treatment. Therefore, GV contributes to axon regeneration and synapse plasticity via eIF5A1 regulating CPLX1 following SCC, providing a convincible mechanism for improving the therapeutic efficacy of GV for SCC.
Changes in the expression of interleukin-10 in myocardial infarction and its relationship with macrophage activation and cell apoptosis
Authors: Yang Wenqi , Li Shuming , Zhao Yang , Sun Ying , Huang Yuling , Diao Zengli , Xing Cainai , Yang Fang , Liu Wenbo , Zhao Xuan , Shang Xiaoming
Published: October 2019

Currently, the role of IL-10 as an anti-inflammatory factor in the occurrence and development of heart disease is still unclear. This study aimed to observe the dynamic changes in the expression of IL-10 in serum and myocardial tissues, as well as to investigate the relationship of IL-10 expression with macrophage activation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis during the occurrence of myocardial infarction. Mice models with myocardial infarction were prepared by ligating anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. The animals were classified into sham operation group (the control group), as well as groups of myocardial infarction based on days 1, 7, 14 and 28. On days 7 and 14, the cells with positive IL-10 expression were largely distributed in the infarct areas, while cells with positive IL-10 expression were decreased on day 28. Serum IL-10 was significantly positively correlated with IL-10 protein expression in myocardial tissues. Moreover, Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in myocardial tissues, as well as the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax proteins were gradually elevated with prolonged time of infarction. There were positive correlations between IL-10 and Arginase expressions, and between the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. After the occurrence of myocardial infarction, the expression of IL-10 was firstly increased and then decreased in serum and myocardial tissues, and this might affect macrophage activation, phenotypic transformation and the occurrence of cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
iScore: an MPI supported software for ranking protein-protein docking models based on a random walk graph kernel and support vector machines
Authors: Renaud Nicolas , Jung Yong , Honavar Vasant , Geng Cunliang , Bonvin Alexandre M.J.J. , Xue Li C.
Published: October 2019

Computational docking is a promising tool to model three-dimensional (3D) structures of protein-protein complexes, which provides fundamental insights of protein functions in the cellular life. Singling out near-native models from the huge pool of generated docking models (referred to as the scoring problem) remains as a major challenge in computational docking. We recently published iScore, a novel graph kernel based scoring function. iScore ranks docking models based on their interface graph similarities to the training interface graph set. iScore uses a support vector machine approach with random-walk graph kernels to classify and rank protein-protein interfaces.

Here, we present the software for iScore. The software provides executable scripts that fully automatize the computational workflow. In addition, the creation and analysis of the interface graph can be distributed across different processes using Message Passing interface (MPI) and can be offloaded to GPUs thanks to dedicated CUDA kernels.
Solar powered UAV model on MATLAB/Simulink using incremental conductance MPPT technique
Authors: Sener Eralp , Turk Irem , Yazar Isil , Karakoç Tahir Hikmet
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The aviation industry has started environment friendly and also conventional energy independent alternative energy dependent designs to reduce negative impacts on the nature and to maintain its future activities in a clear, renewable and sustainable way. One possible solution proposed is solar energy. Solar-powered aerial vehicles are seen as key solutions to reduce global warming effects. This study aims to simulate a mathematical model of a solar powered DC motor of an UAV on MATLAB/Simulink environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a critical term in photovoltaic (PV) array systems to provide the maximum power output to the related systems under certain conditions. In this paper, one of the popular MPPT techniques, “Incremental Conductance”, is simulated with solar-powered DC motor for an UAV design on MATLAB/Simulink.

Findings

The cascade structure (PV cell, MPPT, buck converter and DC motor models) is simulated and tested under various irradiance values, and results are compared to the DC motor technical data. As a result of that, mathematical model simulation results are overlapped with motor technical reference values in spite of irradiance changes.

Practical implications

It is suggested to be used in real time applications for future developments.

Originality/value

Different from other solar-powered DC motor literature works, a solar-powered DC motor mathematical model of an UAV is designed and simulated on MATLAB/Simulink environment. To adjust the maximum power output at the solar cell, incremental conductance MPPT technique is preferred and a buck converter structure is connected between MPPT and DC motor mathematical model. It is suggested to be used in solar-powered UAV designs for future developments.
Stakeholder engagement toward value co-creation in the F&B packaging industry
Authors: Giacomarra Marcella , Crescimanno Maria , Sakka Georgia , Galati Antonino
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how a food and beverage packaging company manages internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable innovation outcomes, as well as to contribute to the spread of sustainability paths along the supply chain, on which it operates.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was chosen and applied multiple methods of semi-structured interviews and a documentation review.

Findings

Results reveal a structured stakeholder relationship management, according to which the packaging company acts through a stakeholder engagement process to both acquire and share new knowledge to address stakeholder pressure. Co-creation models result in a winning strategy to exploit knowledge, above all in a supply chain context, where actors should act as a part of a strictly interlinked system, involving external stakeholders (also suppliers) and internal stakeholders in joint eco-innovation projects. The case study shows the potential strategic role of a packaging company in affecting relevant actors of the supply chain through the promotion of a sustainability culture.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation is linked to the chosen case study approach, which does not allow for results to be generalized. Future works could arrange panel data analysis to investigate in depth the behavior of several packaging companies regarding stakeholder relationship management.

Practical implications

Managerial implications mainly underline that, to fully address market stakeholder pressure, managers should recognize the relevance of acquiring and sharing new knowledge from external sources, without underestimating the need to integrate it with internal stakeholders (employees) for its exploitation.

Originality/value

The present work is original for the food and beverage industry, with specific attention on the packaging sector, which, until today, has been widely investigated regarding food and waste loss reduction strategies, but less often from the perspective of stakeholder relationship management in addressing sustainability.
Energy load forecasting: Bayesian and exponential smoothing hybrid methodology
Authors: Khorsheed Eman
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a hybrid approach to model and predict long-term energy peak load using Bayesian and Holt–Winters (HW) exponential smoothing techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

Bayesian inference is administered by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling techniques. Machine learning tools are used to calibrate the values of the HW model parameters. Hybridization is conducted to reduce modeling uncertainty. The technique is applied to real load data. Monthly peak load forecasts are calculated as weighted averages of HW and MCMC estimates. Mean absolute percentage error and the coefficient of determination (R2) indices are used to evaluate forecasts.

Findings

The developed hybrid methodology offers advantages over both individual combined techniques and reveals more accurate and impressive results with R2 above 0.97. The new technique can be used to assist energy networks in planning and implementing production projects that can ensure access to reliable and modern energy services to meet the sustainable development goal in this sector.

Originality/value

This is original research.
Lead by example? The dissemination of ethical values through authentic leader inspiration
Authors: Hattke Fabian , Hattke Judith
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose that leaders who promote ethical values authentically will be more effective in inspiring followers to behave ethically than inauthentic leaders. It further hypothesizes that authentic ethical inspiration by leaders will transform followers’ prosocial motivation so that they internalize their leader’s values and act accordingly.

Design/methodology/approach

The study tests this moderated-mediation model based on survey data from 741 officers in the Federal Armed Forces Germany who are leaders and follower simultaneously.

Findings

Leader authenticity moderates the relationship between leader ethical influence and follower ethical behaviors. The effect is significant and substantial. Leader ethical influence has a significant, yet marginal effect on follower prosocial motivation, which, in turn, strongly relates to follower ethical behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Although leader authenticity is a value in itself, it says little about the contents of leaders’ ethical values. Thus, future research should not confound authentic leadership with ethical leadership. Prosocial motivation is a comparatively stable characteristic of individuals, which is rather resilient against leader influence.

Practical implications

“Softer” means of leader influence are effective in the coercive context of public command-and-control organizations. By cascading down the hierarchy, ethical values disseminate throughout the organization. The study draws these conclusions within the limitations of a cross-sectional analysis.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate the moderating role of perceived leader authenticity in the relationship between leader ethical inspiration and follower ethical behaviors.
Port marketing as manifestation of sustainable marketing in a B2B context
Authors: Lavissière Alexandre , Mandják Tibor , Hofmann Julian , Fedi Laurent
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Previous literature dealing with sustainable marketing in a B2B context is mostly limited to spot measures on an environmental, economic or social layer. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to exemplify how seaports as powerful economic business networks can facilitate multi-layered sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors integrate multiple case studies to pursue an inductive research approach to derive general patterns based on empirical observations.

Findings

Operationalizing the concept of a port community enables the authors to show how seaports not only facilitate multi-layered sustainability but also mutually interact. Hence, port sustainability can be achieved through and by a port community.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptualization of the interplay between port community and multi-layered sustainability contributes to the business and industrial marketing literature in general and to the yet hitherto scarce port marketing literature in particular. Future research should go beyond this initial conceptualization by gathering further empirical research.

Practical implications

The study outlines how strengthening interactions among port management stakeholders (i.e. business and non-business actors such as port authorities and policymakers) might lead to higher economic success and societal welfare by pooling yet hitherto independent resources.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to define how the concept of a holistic port community can facilitate sustainability acted out on its three pillars and how both concepts interact.
Fixing another firm’s mistake: how should recovering firms react?
Authors: Bahmani Navid , Jin Zhenyu , Ghose Sanjoy
Published: October 2019

Purpose

While within-firm service failure and recovery have been studied extensively, the context in which a service failure at one firm “spills over” and provides an opportunity for an external firm (a subsequent service provider) to recover (compensate) a customer has received limited attention. This study aims to examine how the extent of a service failure plays a role in how external firms should shape their recovery efforts, and how customers’ evaluations of the recovering firm and their feelings of unhappiness are affected.

Design/methodology/approach

A pretest conducted on MTurk gauged participants’ perceptions of equitability of the external firm’s recovery effort. In the main study, a 3 × 3 between-subjects experiment examined the effects of failure extent and external recovery type on evaluations of the recovering firm and reduced feelings of unhappiness.

Findings

It is found that equity judgments remain consistent in the external recovery context; transferred negative affect is able to be mitigate only in low-failure scenarios, and customers’ evaluations of the external firm increase only in high-failure scenarios.

Research limitations/implications

The use of hypothetical scenarios, as opposed to the employment of a field study, is the primary limitation of the study.

Originality/value

This research finds that external firms can reap the benefits of another firm’s service failure by offering no-cost recoveries, rather than ones that carry some form of cost.
A hierarchical typology of scholarly information units: based on a deduction-verification study
Authors: Yu Liangzhi , Fan Zhenjia , Li Anyi
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to lay a theoretical foundation for identifying operational information units for library and information professional activities in the context of scholarly communication.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a deduction-verification approach to formulate a typology of units for scholarly information. It first deduces possible units from an existing conceptualization of information, which defines information as the combined product of data and meaning, and then tests the usefulness of these units via two empirical investigations, one with a group of scholarly papers and the other with a sample of scholarly information users.

Findings

The results show that, on defining an information unit as a piece of information that is complete in both data and meaning, to such an extent that it remains meaningful to its target audience when retrieved and displayed independently in a database, it is then possible to formulate a hierarchical typology of units for scholarly information. The typology proposed in this study consists of three levels, which in turn, consists of 1, 5 and 44 units, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The result of this study has theoretical implications on both the philosophical and conceptual levels: on the philosophical level, it hinges on, and reinforces the objective view of information; on the conceptual level, it challenges the conceptualization of work by IFLA’s Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records and Library Reference Model but endorses that by Library of Congress’s BIBFRAME 2.0 model.

Practical implications

It calls for reconsideration of existing operational units in a variety of library and information activities.

Originality/value

The study strengthens the conceptual foundation of operational information units and brings to light the primacy of “one work” as an information unit and the possibility for it to be supplemented by smaller units.
Reframing integration
Authors: Bronstein Jenny
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a different perspective about the role that information plays in the integration process of migrant workers by exploring the views and opinions of individuals and organizations that work with these communities on a daily basis. The study proposes a new perspective of Ager and Strang’s framework of integration by looking at its different elements through the perspective provided by Gibson and Martin’s (2019) concept of information marginalization and Dervin’s sense-making notion of resistance.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten intermediaries working with migrants were interviewed using semi-structure interviews. They were analyzed using an integrative approach of deductive and inductive content analysis and rendered categories drawn from the theoretical frameworks and categories that emerged from the data.

Findings

The content analysis of the data revealed that information marginalization is characterized by the lack of cultural knowledge and lack of language proficiency that impact the migrants abilities to fulfill their everyday needs, experience a safe and stable environment. Information marginalization results in migrants experiencing self-protective behaviors such as secrecy and an inability to trust information sources that are not contextualized by insiders. Findings show that information resistance can be overcome by making information available in relevant formats and distributed through trusted sources.

Social implications

The study revises the notion of information marginalization by trying to understand the social and cultural gap that from both sides of the issues of integration.

Originality/value

The study presents a different perspective of the role of information in the integration process of migrants by examining the views and opinions of intermediaries working with these populations. Also, the study reframes existing notions of information marginalization and resistance by addressing both sides of the cultural and social gap embodies marginalization.
From hindrance to challenge
Authors: Li Ying , Pan Ting , Zhang Nan (Andy)
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper is to investigate how employees respond to information security policies (ISPs) when they view the policies as a challenge rather than a hindrance to work. Specifically, the authors examine the roles of challenge security demands (i.e. continuity and mandatory) and psychological resources (i.e. personal and job resources) in influencing employees’ ISP non-compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying a hypothetical scenario-based survey method, the authors tested our proposed model in six typical ISPs violation scenarios. In sum, 347 responses were collected from a global company. The data were analyzed using partial least square-based structural equation model.

Findings

Findings indicated that continuity and mandatory demands increased employees’ level of perseverance of effort, which, in turn, decreased their ISPs non-compliance intention. In addition, job resources, such as the trust enhancement gained from co-workers and the opportunities for professional development, enhanced the perseverance of effort.

Practical implications

The findings offer implications to practice by suggesting that organizations should design training programs to persuade employees to understand the ISPs in a positive way. Meanwhile, organizations should encourage employees to invest more personal resources by creating a trusting atmosphere and providing them opportunities to learn security knowledge and skills.

Originality/value

This study is among the few to empirically explore how employees respond and behave when they view the security policies as challenge stressors. The paper also provides a novel understanding of how psychological resources contribute to buffering ISP non-compliance.
The reduction of production lead time using holonic manufacturing: experiment and analysis
Authors: Torres-Palacio Patricio
Published: October 2019

Purpose

In modern industrial processes, the need of reducing lead time is imperious. This goal is pursued by “Holonic” structures, which are systems based on a network of collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to appraise the possible benefits, in terms of production duration, of such organizations compared to non-holonic arrangements. In addition, this analysis represents virtual teams, which are a significant and strategic attribute of holonic manufacturing systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment performed in this paper is a simulation of an automobile assembly process under both a holonic and a non-holonic structure to observe lead times and the distinctive characteristics of each organization. Other targets of this research are to monitor the advantages that either strategy may offer in terms of efficiency and to examine a possible model of how virtual teams can be used in holonic networks.

Findings

The findings are unexpected. An initial expectation might lead to the belief that, given the better coordination and communication of holonic networks, lead times would be diminished. This experiment, utilizing virtual teams of university students, indicated otherwise.

Research limitations/implications

It should be noticed, however, that future experiments in real manufacturing assembly processes are recommended to complement the findings of this study.

Originality/value

The management of lead times is indeed a complex task that includes a diversity of variables. Holonic structures should balance several factors that might play a role in lead times and ultimately in the success of a project. An original experiment with the participation of many universities in different countries is presented in this study. The exposure of global characteristics of modern manufacturing structures constitutes the main value of this research.
Proximities at the aerospace complex of São José dos Campos (Brazil)
Authors: Cintra Paulo Roberto , Costa Janaina , Sica de Campos André Luiz
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The formation of an aerospace complex in São José dos Campos (SP-Brazil) reflects a process of path dependence, which has favored sectorial technological development and innovation. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the pattern of relationships established between Embraer, the Technological Institute of Aeronautics, the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) and the institutes linked to the Aerospace Technical Center (CTA).

Design/methodology/approach

Using patents as a proxy for inventive activity, the authors carried out social networks analysis based on collaboration maps elaborated considering co-assignees in institutional patents.

Findings

Over time, Embraer became the main inventor of patentable technologies and a central player in the network of the aerospace complex at São José dos Campos.

Research limitations/implications

Several public institutions analyzed pertain to the Brazilian Ministry of Defence. Therefore, inventive activity may be confidential, which implies a limitation in the analysis.

Originality/value

With acquisition of Embraer by the US company Boeing, there could be a loss of the company's technical capacity in product development. The paper argues that the aerospace complex itself might also be impacted, considering that Embraer is the most relevant inventor of patentable knowledge locally in recent decades.
Shape-driven control of layer height in robotic wire and arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Xu Bohao , Tan Xiaodong , Gu Xizhi , Ding Donghong , Deng Yuelin , Chen Zhe , Xu Jing
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Once an uneven substrate is aligned, traditional control theories and methods can be used on it, so aligning is of great significance for the development of wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). This paper aims to propose a shape-driven control method for aligning a substrate with slopes to expand the application of WAAM.

Design/methodology/approach

A substrate with slopes must be aligned by depositing weld beads with slopes. First, considering the large height differences of slopes, multi-layer deposition is needed, and the number of layer of weld beads must be ascertained. Second, the change in the deposition rate is controlled as a ramp function to generate weld beads with slopes. Third, the variation of the deposition rate must be fine-tuned to compensate for the deviation between the actual and theoretical layer heights at the deposition of each layer. Finally, the parameters of the ramp functions at the deposition of each layer are determined through an optimization method.

Findings

First, to model the response function of layer height to deposition rate, the experiments are conducted with the deposition rate jumping from 4 to 8 mm/s and from 8 to 4 mm/s. When the deposition rate jumps from 4 to 8 mm/s and from 8 to 4 mm/s, the difference in the height of each layer decreases as the number of layer increases. Second, the variation of the deposition rate can be fine-tuned based on the deviation between the measured and theoretical layer heights because the variation of the deposition rate is proportional to the layer height when the initial and end deposition rates are near 4 or 8 mm/s, respectively. Third, the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for single-layer aligning and aligning a substrate with one or more slopes.

Originality/value

The proposed method can expand the application of WAAM to an uneven substrate with slopes and lays the foundation for aligning tasks focused on uneven substrates with more complex shapes.
Strategic source evaluation: addressing the container conundrum
Authors: Russo Alyssa , Jankowski Amy , Beene Stephanie , Townsend Lori
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper argues that information containers provide valuable context clues that can help students make choices about how to engage with information content. The authors present a strategic approach to source evaluation rooted in format and authority threshold concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a source evaluation strategy with the objective of deciding whether to trust an information source. This strategy involves a set of cues to help readers mindfully engage with both the container and content of a given source.

Findings

When conducting research, non-experts are asked to evaluate content in the absence of relevant subject expertise. The cues presented in this paper offer practical tactics informed by the concepts of authority (to help make an accessible judgment of intellectual trust) and format (to help make more informed decisions about the content they find in a browser).

Originality/value

While librarians have produced many evaluative models and checklists to help students evaluate information, this paper contributes a unique strategic approach grounded in two information literacy threshold concepts – format and authority – and enacted through a series of actions drawn from website evaluation models, fact-checking, and metacognitive exercises.