bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A strategy for complete telomere-to-telomere assembly of ciliate macronuclear genome using ultra-high coverage Nanopore data
Authors: Wang Guangying , Chai Xiaocui , Zhang Jing , Yang Wentao , Jiang Chuanqi , Chen Kai , Miao Wei , Xiong Jie
Published: January 2020

Ciliates contain two kinds of nuclei: the germline micronucleus (MIC) and the somatic macronucleus (MAC) in a single cell. The MAC usually have fragmented chromosomes. These fragmented chromosomes, capped with telomeres at both ends, could be gene size to several megabases in length among different ciliate species. So far, no telomere-to-telomere assembly of entire MAC genome in ciliate species is finished. Development of the third generation sequencing technologies allows to generate sequencing reads up to megabases in length that could possibly span an entire MAC chromosome. Taking advantage of ultra-long Nanopore reads, we established a simple strategy for the complete assembly of ciliate MAC genomes. Using this strategy, we assembled the complete MAC genomes of two ciliate speciesTetrahymena thermophilaandTetrahymena shanghaiensis, composed of 181 and 214 chromosomes telomere-to-telomere respectively. The established strategy as well as the high-quality genome data will provide a useful approach for ciliate genome assembly, and a valuable community resource for further biological, evolutionary and population genomic studies.
Acute Stress Reduces Reward-Related Neural Activity: Evidence from the Reward Positivity
Authors: Burani Kreshnik , Gallyer Austin , Ryan Jon , Jordan Carson , Joiner Thomas , Hajcak Greg
Published: January 2020

Stress and blunted reward processing are risk factors for mood disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The experience of acute stress reduces fMRI correlates of reward-related neural activity; however, few studies have examined how acute stress impacts measures of reward derived from event-related potentials (ERPs). The current study examined the impact of an acute stressor on the Reward Positivity (RewP), an ERP that indexes reward sensitivity, in twenty-seven college students. Participants completed a monetary reward task while they placed their left hand in cold water set at 13 degrees Celsius (i.e., acute stress condition) and again while their hand was placed in room temperature water (i.e., control condition). These conditions were separated by one week and performed in a counter-balanced order across participants. The results revealed that the RewP amplitude was blunted in the acute stress condition compared to the control condition. Moreover, there was a trend toward this effect interacting with self-reported depressive symptoms: the RewP was only reduced among individuals who reported low depressive symptoms. The current study suggests that an acute stressor reduces the RewP, and that this effect might be moderated by current depressive symptoms. Future studies might examine the temporal association between reward processing and stress —and how they interact to predict depressive symptoms.
Cell autonomous versus systemic Akt isoform deletions uncovered new roles for Akt1 and Akt2 in breast cancer
Authors: Chen Xinyu , Ariss Majd M. , Ramakrishnan Gopalkrishnan , Nogueira Veronique , Blaha Catherine , Putzbach William , Islam Abul B. M. M. K. , Frolov Maxim V. , Hay Nissim
Published: January 2020

Studies in three mouse models of breast cancer identified profound discrepancies between cell autonomous and systemic Akt1 or Akt2 deletion on breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. First, unlike systemic Akt1 deletion, which inhibits metastasis, cell autonomous Akt1 deletion does not. Second, systemic Akt2 deletion does not inhibit mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis, but cell autonomous Akt2 deletion eliminates ErbB2 expressing cells in the mammary gland and prevents tumorigenesis. However, the elevation in insulin by Akt2 systemic deletion hyperactivates tumor Akt, enabling ErbB2 expression, and exacerbates mammary tumorigenesis. Decreasing insulin level inhibits accelerated tumorigenesis by systemic Akt2 deletion. Single cell mRNA sequencing revealed that systemic Akt1 deletion maintains the pro-metastatic cluster within primary tumors but ablates pro-metastatic neutrophils. Systemic Akt1 deletion inhibits metastasis by impairing the survival and mobilization of tumor-associated neutrophils. Importantly, neutrophil-specific deletion of Akt1 is sufficient to exert resistance to metastasis. The results underscore the importance of determining systemic effects rather than cell autonomous effects as a proof of concept for cancer therapy.
Bright and tunable far-red chemigenetic indicators
Authors: Deo Claire , Abdelfattah Ahmed S. , Bhargava Hersh K. , Berro Adam J. , Falco Natalie , Moeyaert Benjamien , Chupanova Mariam , Lavis Luke D. , Schreiter Eric R.
Published: January 2020

Functional imaging using fluorescent indicators has revolutionized biology but additional sensor scaffolds are needed to access properties such as bright, far-red emission. We introduce a new platform for ‘chemigenetic’ fluorescent indicators, utilizing the self-labeling HaloTag protein conjugated to environmentally sensitive synthetic fluorophores. This approach affords bright, far-red calcium and voltage sensors with highly tunable photophysical and chemical properties, which can reliably detect single action potentials in neurons.
Genomic structure, evolutionary origins, and reproductive function of a large amplified intrinsically disordered protein gene on the X chromosome (Laidx) in mice
Authors: Arlt Martin F. , Brogley Michele A. , Stark-Dykema Evan R. , Hu Yueh-Chiang , Mueller Jacob L.
Published: January 2020

Mouse sex chromosomes are enriched for co-amplified gene families, present in tens to hundreds of copies. Co-amplification ofSlx/Slxl1on the X chromosome andSlyon the Y chromosome are involved in dose-dependent genetic conflict, however the role of other co-amplified genes remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the co-amplified gene familySrsx, along with two additional partial gene annotations, is actually part of a larger transcription unit, which we nameLaidx.Laidxis harbored in a 229 kb amplicon that represents the ancestral state as compared to a 525 kb Y-amplicon containing the rearrangedLaidy.Laidxcontains a 25,011 nucleotide open reading frame, predominantly expressed in round spermatids, predicted to encode an 871 kDa protein.Laidxhas orthologous copies with the rat and also the 825-MY diverged parasitic Chinese liver fluke,Clonorchis sinensis, the likely result of a horizontal gene transfer of rodentLaidxto an ancestor of the liver fluke. To assess the male reproductive functions ofLaidx, we generated mice carrying a multi-megabase deletion of theLaidx-ampliconic region.Laidx-deficient male mice do not show detectable reproductive defects in fertility, fecundity, testis histology, and offspring sex ratio. We speculate thatLaidxandLaidyrepresent a now inactive X versus Y chromosome conflict that occurred in an ancestor of present day mice.
In silico analyses reveal new putative Breast Cancer RNA-binding proteins
Authors: Guerrero Santiago , Lopez-Cortes Andres , Garcia-Cardenas Jennyfer M. , Armendariz-Castillo Isaac , Zambrano Ana Karina , Indacochea Alberto , Perez-Villa Andy , Yumiceba Veronica , Guevara-Ramirez Patricia , Jacome-Alvarado Andrea , Leone Paola E. , Paz-y-Mino Cesar
Published: January 2020

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-associated death among women worldwide. Despite treatment efforts, advanced BC with distant organ metastases is considered incurable. A better understanding of BC molecular processes is therefore of great interest to identify new therapeutic targets. Although large-scale efforts, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), have completely redefined cancer drug development, diagnosis, and treatment, additional key aspects of tumor biology remain to be discovered. In that respect, post-transcriptional regulation of tumorigenesis represents an understudied aspect of cancer research. As key regulators of this process, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are emerging as critical modulators of tumorigenesis but only few have defined roles in BC. To unravel new putative BC RBPs, we have performed in silico analyses of all human RBPs in three major cancer databases (TCGA-Breast Invasive Carcinoma, the Human Protein Atlas, and the Cancer Dependency Map project) along with complementary bioinformatics resources (STRING protein-protein interactions and the Network of Cancer Genes 6.0). Thus, we have identified six putative BC progressors (MRPL13, SCAMP3, CDC5L, DARS2, PUF60, and PLEC), and five BC suppressors RBPs (SUPT6H, MEX3C, UPF1, CNOT1, and TNKS1BP1). These proteins have never been studied in BC but show similar cancer-associated features than well-known BC proteins. Further research should focus on the mechanisms by which these proteins promote or suppress breast tumorigenesis, holding the promise of new therapeutic pathways along with novel drug development strategies.
A novel transcriptional signalling pathway mediated by the trafficking protein Ambra1 via scaffolding Atf2 complexes
Authors: Schoenherr Christina , Byron Adam , Frame Margaret C
Published: January 2020

Previously, we reported that Ambra1 is a core component of a cytoplasmic trafficking network, acting as a spatial rheostat to control active Src and FAK levels in addition to its critical roles in autophagy during neurogenesis. Here we identify a novel nuclear scaffolding function for Ambra1 that controls gene expression. Ambra1 binds to nuclear pore proteins, to other adaptor proteins like FAK and Akap8 in the nucleus, as well as to chromatin modifiers and transcriptional regulators such as Brg1, Cdk9 and the cAMP-regulated transcription factor Atf2. Ambra1 contributes to their association with chromatin and we identified genes whose transcription is regulated by Ambra1 complexes, likely via histone modifications and phospho-Atf2-dependent transcription. Therefore, Ambra1 scaffolds protein complexes at chromatin, regulating transcriptional signalling in the nucleus; in particular, it recruits chromatin modifiers and transcriptional regulators to control expression of genes such asangpt1, tgfb2, tgfb3, itga8anditgb7that likely contribute to the role of Ambra1 in cancer cell invasion.
Regulating AMPKα and insulin level by Vinegar, Swimming and Refeeding on High-Fat Diet Rats to Rebuild Lipid Homeostasis
Authors: Yang Yuan , Zhang Feng , Xiao Xiao , Ma Chunlian , Liu Hua , Yang Yi
Published: January 2020

Our aims were to explore the effects of dietary and behavior interventions on lipometabolism caused by unhealthy high-fat diet and the best method to rebuild lipid homeostasis of this lifestyle. Apart from normal diet rats, 34 rats were fed with high-fat emulsion for 4 weeks before being divided into 4 groups and intervened for another 4 weeks. 8 of them were classified into high-fat control group and 9 were sorted into high-fat diet with rice vinegar group. Meanwhile, 10 were put into high-fat diet with swimming group and 7 were just for refeeding normal diet group. Then the data of body weight was recorded and analyzed. Serum, pancreas, liver, cardiac tissues and epididymis adipose were sampled as required. Indexes of serum were tested by kits. AMPKα, HNF1α, CTRP6 from tissues were detected by western blot. According to our experiments, Swimming and refeeding groups reflected a better regulation on lipid homeostasis mainly by up-regulating the expression of pancreas AMPKα. To be more specific, the refeeding rats showed lower T-CHO (P<0.001) and LDL-C (P<0.05), but higher weight gain (P<0.001),insulin level (P<0.01)and pancreas AMPKα (P<0.01)than high-fat control rats. Compared with rats experimented by swimming or rice vinegar, they showed higher weight gain (P<0.001),insulin level (P<0.01)and HNF1α, but lower of CTRP6. In summary, refeeding diet functioned better in regulating the lipometabolic level after high-fat diet. Whatever approach mentioned above we adopted to intervene, the best policy to keep the balance of lipid homeostasis is to maintain a healthy diet.
Ubiquitous overexpression of CXCL12 confers radiation protection and enhances mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Rajendiran Smrithi , Smith-Berdan Stephanie , Kunz Leo , Risolino Maurizio , Selleri Licia , Schroeder Timm , Forsberg E Camilla
Published: January 2020

C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12; aka SDF1α) is a major regulator of a number of cellular systems, including hematopoiesis where it influences hematopoietic cell trafficking, proliferation, and survival during homeostasis and upon stress and disease. A variety of constitutive, temporal, ubiquitous and cell-specific loss-of-function models have documented the functional consequences on hematopoiesis upon deletion ofCxcl12. Here, in contrast to loss-of-function experiments, we implemented a gain-of-function approach by generating a dox-inducible transgenic mouse model that enables spatial and temporal overexpression ofCxcl12. We demonstrated that ubiquitous CXCL12 overexpression led to an increase in multipotent progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen. The CXCL12+ mice displayed reduced reconstitution potential as either donors or recipients in transplantation experiments. Additionally, we discovered thatCxcl12overexpression improved hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell mobilization into the blood, and conferred radioprotection by promoting quiescence. Thus, this new CXCL12+ mouse model provided new insights on major facets of hematopoiesis and serves as a versatile resource for studying CXCL12 function in a variety of contexts.
Three dimensional parallelized RESOLFT nanoscopy for volumetric live cell imaging
Authors: Bodén Andreas , Pennacchietti Francesca , Testa Ilaria
Published: January 2020

The volumetric architecture of organelles and molecules inside cells can only be investigated with microscopes featuring sufficiently high resolving power in all three spatial dimensions. Current methods suffer from severe limitations when applied to live cell imaging such as long recording times and/or photobleaching. By introducing a novel optical scheme to switch reversibly switchable fluorescent molecules, we demonstrate volumetric nanoscopy of living cells with resolution below 100 nm in 3D, large field of view and minimal illumination intensities (W-kW/cm2).
The chromatin remodeler Snf2h is essential for oocyte meiotic cell cycle progression
Authors: Zhang Chunxia , Chen Zhiyuan , Yin Qiangzong , Fu Xudong , Li Yisi , Stopka Tomas , Skoultchi Arthur I. , Zhang Yi
Published: January 2020

Oocytes are indispensable for mammalian life. Thus, it is important to understand how mature oocytes are generated. As a critical stage of oocytes development, meiosis has been extensively studied, yet how chromatin remodeling contributes to this process is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor Snf2h (also known as Smarca5) plays a critical role in regulating meiotic cell cycle progression. Females with oocyte-specific depletion of Snf2h are infertile and oocytes lacking Snf2h fail to undergo meiotic resumption. Mechanistically, depletion of Snf2h results in dysregulation of meiosis-related genes, which causes failure of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) activation. ATAC-seq analysis in oocytes revealed that Snf2h regulates transcription of key meiotic genes, such as Prkar2b, by increasing its promoter chromatin accessibility. Thus, our studies not only demonstrate the importance of Snf2h in oocyte meiotic resumption, but also reveal the mechanism underlying how a chromatin remodeling factor can regulate oocyte meiosis.
Upon microbial challenge, human neutrophils undergo rapid changes in nuclear architecture and chromatin folding to orchestrate an immediate inflammatory gene program
Authors: Denholtz Matthew , Zhu Yina , He Zhaoren , Lu Hanbin , Isoda Takeshi , Döhrmann Simon , Nizet Victor , Murre Cornelis
Published: January 2020

Differentiating neutrophils undergo large-scale changes in nuclear morphology. How such alterations in structure are established and modulated upon exposure to microbial agents is largely unknown. Here, we found that prior to encounter with bacteria, an armamentarium of inflammatory genes was positioned in a transcriptionally passive environment suppressing premature transcriptional activation. Upon microbial exposure, however, human neutrophils rapidly (<3 h) repositioned the ensemble of proinflammatory genes toward the transcriptionally permissive compartment. We show that the repositioning of genes was closely associated with the swift recruitment of cohesin across the inflammatory enhancer landscape, permitting an immediate transcriptional response upon bacterial exposure. We found that activated enhancers, marked by increased deposition of H3K27Ac, were highly enriched for cistromic elements associated with PU.1, CEBPB, TFE3, JUN, and FOSL2 occupancy. These data reveal how upon microbial challenge the cohesin machinery is recruited to an activated enhancer repertoire to instruct changes in chromatin folding, nuclear architecture, and to activate an inflammatory gene program.
The effectiveness of using colors in L1 and L2 vocabulary development of autistic children
Authors: Altakhaineh Abdel Rahman Mitib , Mahmoud Hodan , Abukhater Alaa Y.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of using colors and learner’s intelligence quotient (IQ) in teaching new vocabulary in Arabic (L1) and English (L2) to children with autism spectrum disorder (henceforth, ASD).

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, 12 autistic children whose ages ranged between 7 and 12 were observed while they were being taught ten new words. The children were divided into two groups based on their IQ: Low (70–74) and High (76–79). The children were also divided into two groups: Group 1 studied the words written in a black font, whereas Group 2 studied the same words, but written in colors (each letter in the word in a different color), and an illustrative picture was provided with each word for both groups. The pictures were also different in color in the former group, while the picture was in black and white in the latter. The children involved in the study have a relatively slight ability to read letters based on an annual language assessment conducted by the center, and they learn a new word by learning its shape and by repetition. The experiment took place over a two-week period that involved teaching, revising and testing.

Findings

The results of the study showed that the children’s IQ played a crucial role in learning L1 and L2 vocabulary. The results also demonstrated that using colors had no significant impact on the children’s performance in the test. Finally, the results showed that teaching new words to children with ASD through repetition and drilling could be regarded as a useful technique. The study concludes with some recommendations for further studies.

Originality/value

The study shows that using pictures is a very useful tool in teaching L1 and L2 vocabulary to children with ASD.
Emotional intelligence strategies to achieve subjective career success: implications for learning and development in knowledge industry
Authors: Singh Nishant , Warrier Uma , Bharti Teena
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper exemplifies the role of emotional intelligence (EI) achieving subjective career success in the global knowledge industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Discussion based on the literature, report, and industry experts.

Findings

EI can be used as an effective tool to influence the attributes of subjective career success such as job satisfaction, new skill acquisition, work-life balance, healthy relationship with peers and pride in work. Employees feel empowered and successful in their careers if their social ability, emotionality, self-control, well-being and, expressed behavior are properly taken care of by their organizations.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a new factor expressed behavior in EI model and suggests various strategies to enhance EI and achieve subjective career success in the knowledge industry.
Magneto hydrodynamic convection in a nanofluid saturated enclosure with porous fins
Authors: Wang Lei , Cai Yang , Wang Wei-Wei , Liu Run-Zhe , Liu Di , Zhao Fu-Yun , Wang Hanqing
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to numerically investigate the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convection heat transfer of nanofluid inside a differentially heated enclosure with various fin morphologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The fluid flow within the cavity was governed by N-S equations while it within porous medium was solved by the non-Darcy model, called the Darcy–Forchheimer model based on representative element-averaging method. Empirical correlations from experimental data are used to evaluate the effective thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity. Relevant governing parameters, including thermal Rayleigh number (105-107), Hartmann number (0-50), Darcy number (10−6-10−1), thermal conductivity ratio of porous matrix (1-103), nanoparticles volume fraction (0-0.04) and topology designs of porous fins, are sensitively varied to identify their effects and roles on the fluid flow and heat transfer. Particularly, heatlines are used to investigate the mechanism of heat transport.

Findings

Numerical results demonstrate that the predictions of average Nusselt number are augmented by using more porous fins with high permeability, and this effect becomes opposite in tiny Darcy numbers. Particularly, for high Darcy and Rayleigh numbers, the shortest fins could achieve the best performance of heat transfer. In addition, the prediction of average Nusselt number reduces with an increase in Hartmann numbers. An optimal nanoparticles concentration also exists to maximize heat transfer enhancement. Finally, numerical correlations for the average Nusselt number were proposed as functions of these governing parameters.

Practical implications

Present work could benefit the thermal design of electronic cooling and thermal carriers in nanofluid engineering.

Social implications

Present work could benefit the thermal design of electronic cooling and thermal carriers in nanofluid engineering. In addition, optimum thermal removals could enhance the lifetime of electronics, therefore reducing the cost of energy and materials.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of authors, there are not any studies considering the synergetic effects of porous fins on MHD convection of nanofluids. Present work could benefit the thermal design of electronic cooling and thermal carriers in nanofluid engineering.
Towards a maturity model for health-care cloud security (M2HCS)
Authors: Akinsanya Opeoluwa Ore , Papadaki Maria , Sun Lingfen
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel maturity model for health-care cloud security (M2HCS), which focuses on assessing cyber security in cloud-based health-care environments by incorporating the sub-domains of health-care cyber security practices and introducing health-care-specific cyber security metrics. This study aims to expand the domain of health-care cyber security maturity model by including cloud-specific aspects than is usually seen in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The intended use of the proposed model was demonstrated using the evaluation method – “construct validity test” as the paper’s aim was to assess the final model and the output of the valuation. The study involved a literature-based case study of a national health-care foundation trust with an overall view because the model is assessed for the entire organisation. The data were complemented by examination of hospitals’ cyber security internal processes through web-accessible documents, and identified relevant literature.

Findings

The paper provides awareness about how organisational-related challenges have been identified as a main inhibiting factor for the adoption of cloud computing in health care. Regardless of the remunerations of cloud computing, its security maturity and levels of adoption varies, especially in health care. Maturity models provide a structure towards improving an organisation’s capabilities. It suggests that although several cyber security maturity models and standards resolving specific threats exist, there is a lack of maturity models for cloud-based health-care security.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the selected research method, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, future research studies can investigate the propositions further. Another is that the current thresholds were determined empirically, although it worked for the case study assessment. However, to establish more realistic threshold levels, there is a need for more validation of the model using more case studies.

Practical implications

The paper includes maturity model for the assessment management and improvement of the security posture of a health-care organisation actively using cloud. For executives, it provides a detailed security assessment of the eHealth cloud to aid in decision making. For security experts, its quantitative metrics support proactive and reactive processes.

Originality/value

The paper fulfils a recognised requirement for security maturity model focussed on health-care cloud. It could be extended to resolve evolving cyber settings.
Identifying HRM practices for disabling destructive deviance among public sector employees using content analysis
Authors: Malik Pooja , Lenka Usha
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify specific human resource management (HRM) practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees. Further, this study aims to rank the identified HRM practices in the order of their impact on destructive deviance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the technique of both inductive and quantitative content analyses to identify specific HRM practices and rank them in the order of their impact on destructive deviance. Data was collected from 30 executives employed in Indian public sector via unstructured interviews. Also, Krippendorff’s alpha reliability estimate was calculated to establish the reliability of the content analysis, which was 0.80.

Findings

This study identified ten HRM practices (human resource planning, job design, training and development, reward system, employment security, career advancement opportunities, performance management, employee participation, monitoring and control, work–life balance) in overcoming destructive deviance among public sector employees. Furthermore, based on their frequency distribution, the HRM practices were classified into three categories, i.e. most significant, significant and least significant.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the categorization of HRM practices into three categories, this study implies that to discourage employees from exhibiting deviant behaviour, organizations should focus on the implementation of most significant HRM practices followed by significant and least significant practices. HRM practices that function as a coherent and synergistic system act as a win-win strategy benefitting both employees and the organization.

Originality/value

In spite of the rising research interest in the deviant behaviour in the literature, still there is a dearth of research pertaining to the association between HRM practices and destructive deviance. Moreover, there is no consensus among researchers concerning the specific HRM practices that should be incorporated in the overall construct. Guided by these gaps in the literature, this study identifies ten HRM practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees using qualitative analysis.
Motivations and barriers that impact Lebanese Athletes’ achievements at the Olympics
Authors: Elia Jean , Khaddage-Soboh Nada , Chahine Layal , Hamieh Mona , Kassem Yasser
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In the presence of limited financial resources, developing countries such as Lebanon often allocate small budgets to the sports sector. Even more, the Lebanese Government lacks a strategic approach that is necessary for any nation to achieve elite sport success. This study aims to assess the motivations and barriers that impact Lebanese athletes’ achievements at the Olympics by addressing the factors that affect such participation. Two main aspects were put into the study: lack of governmental support and sponsorship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the barriers that hinder achievement by Lebanese Olympians in their International participation with an emphasis on the factors that affect their performance whether positively or negatively. The methodology consisted of a set of survey questions filled by 50 Lebanese athletes and 4 interviews conducted with Lebanese Olympians to make use of their experience and insight regarding such barriers and how to best boost motivation among young and potential talent.

Findings

The findings shed light on the limited Lebanese Olympic participation; out of the 17 participation (226 Olympians in total), only 4 Olympians won medals for the country; the past victory was 38 years ago. The reasons as reached are mainly due to the lack of government support and the inability of athletes to secure-related sponsors. Specifically, a lack of governmental support has a negative correlation with athletes’ achievements in international contests. Moreover, the inability of athletes to secure the financial support, in the form of sponsorship, necessary for the training, preparation and all the way to participation.

Research limitations/implications

The study revealed a lack of active participation from the government in nurturing skill and elevating talented athletes’ chance to achieve in the Olympics. The main factor that this study was able to identify is the lack of an official body to manage the nurturing, training, financial support up to participation of the athletes in the international events.

Practical implications

The study highlighted the importance of training camps and consistent improvement to performance. While these two require extensive investment and devotion, athletes on their own cannot afford to fulfill the requirements without the support of the government; the latter being almost absent.

Originality/value

The insights provided through this study address the importance of sponsorship and government support in athletes’ achievements. It shed light on areas that are nonexistent for the Lebanese case and provided practical recommendations that if applied, would increase the chances of Lebanon in competing effectively in the international arena.
Tacit knowledge seeking from teammates: unravelling the role of social capital
Authors: Mohammed Neethu , Kamalanabhan T.J.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine how the perception of social capital in work teams motivates individuals to proactively seek tacit knowledge from teammates and the subsequent impact on individual creative performance. In addition, it offers an empirical validation of interrelationships between the different sub-dimensions of social capital.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey was used, and data were collected from 437 professionals working in the information technology (IT) sector. Structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 22 was used for hypothesis testing.

Findings

As per the findings of the study, all social capital dimensions, except shared language and benevolence-based trust, demonstrate a significant positive influence on tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour of employees. The results also provide evidence that point to a significant positive relationship between tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour and the creative performance of employees. Further, a significant positive interrelationship between different social capital dimensions is confirmed.

Originality/value

As per the findings of the study, all social capital dimensions, except shared language and benevolence-based trust, demonstrate a significant positive influence on tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour of employees. The results also provide evidence that point to a significant positive relationship between tacit knowledge-seeking behaviour and the creative performance of employees. Further, a significant positive interrelationship between different social capital dimensions is confirmed.
Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy
Authors: Qureshi Saad Mahmood Qureshi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

By using experiential learning theory, this study aims to examine how students engage in sustainable living practices that can improve their sustainability literacy and behaviours. It also explores their motivations and enablers. In doing so, the research seeks to develop a curriculum model that may assist educators in designing learning activities for sustainable living.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study is conducted with 38 second-year undergraduate students on a sustainability-related module. Students are asked to engage in sustainable living practices for a six-week period. Descriptive statistics and inductive/thematic analysis are carried out on students’ reflective reports.

Findings

The results reveal five top sustainable living practices for students. The use of technology is revealed as an important enabler. Sustainable living motivations and approaches, and new skills are revealed. A sustainable living curriculum model is developed as a student-centric approach for fostering sustainability values.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for those teaching sustainability on the design of their learning content and activities by taking a student-centric approach to sustainable living. It also encourages active reflection throughout using an incremental learning process.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the existing literature by showing different choices and approaches for students’ sustainable living that can be considered when designing curriculum and educational activities to encourage maximum interaction in sustainable living. It develops a new curriculum model specific to sustainable living, and also builds on the concept of “learning by living”, an extension of learning by doing.
Reputation and relative price positioning of small wineries in Québec, Canada
Authors: Outreville Jean François
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In a highly competitive market, the price of wine is a variable controlled by suppliers to suggest a level of quality. An index of relative firm position in the market based on relative prices is calculated for a sample of wine producers. The purpose of the paper is to analyze some of the factors related to the characteristics of a firm and quality that may explain the price strategy of wine producers in a new and small wine region, i.e. Québec province in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on types of wines and prices are collected from a sample of 40 small wine producers in Québec, Canada for the selected years 2008, 2010 and 2015.

Findings

The authors demonstrate that a high price strategy is significantly related to the reputation of the vineyard rather than the age of the domain, the size or the number of wines produced.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis has been carried out based on a data set of only 40 firms for which the price-position index could be calculated. Unfortunately, only limited information is available on producers and production volumes.

Practical implications

This analysis is of particular relevance for small or new wine-producing regions, which lack an established reputation. Because wine quality and taste differ by geographic origin and variety, new wine-producing regions may have opportunities to define a wine’s image (or a winery image) and the producer must inform the market on quality of the wine by reflecting it on the final selling price.

Originality/value

Prior works on the analysis of the price-quality relationship give rise to various and sometimes contradictory results. This analysis is of particular relevance to explain the price strategy of small wine producers in a strongly competitive market where the price remains an obvious commercial argument to signal the quality of a wine.
Whose heritage? Determining values of modern public spaces in Canada
Authors: Déom Claudine , Valois Nicole
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the heritage value of modern public spaces designed by landscape architects in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-pronged research first aimed to verify if evaluation criteria currently used by heritage practitioners could apply to those public spaces. The second research area developed deals with social value. Here, the publicness of public spaces was used to broaden the scope of potential heritage values so as to include one that relates to the appreciation communicated by those who use them. Field enquiries were conducted to capture this social value.

Findings

The results of the enquiries demonstrate that identifying a social value can be a delicate process. Not only is it a lengthy endeavour, but opinions about the reasons why a place is important can differ amongst users. Public spaces provide us with a valuable reminder about the need to strike a balance between the evolution according to the needs and the desire of users and the conservation of traditional heritage values understood through historical associations and aesthetics.

Originality/value

This exploratory research was the opportunity to deepen the understanding of what is entailed when referring to social value in heritage conservation processes. It also helped to demonstrate the importance for landscape architects to integrate the field of heritage conservation. Landscape architects are natural allies with the field of heritage conservation’s new paradigm discussed in this paper by which human values are increasingly the focus of conservation instead of the fabric.
Improving the organizational knowledge sharing through online social networks
Authors: Yang Bo , Wang Lulu , Mohammed Bayan Omar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Social technologies can offer a strong means for organizations to manage their information flows and thus make changes on the organizational knowledge sharing, which may then be linked to employees’ productivity and performance enhancements. The purpose of this paper is to predict the impact of using the online social network on employee motivation and employee motivation effects on organizational knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

From employees of tax affairs organization, data are collected. For evaluating the model’s elements, a questionnaire was designed. It was revised by experts with significant experiences. For statistical analysis, SMART-PLS 3.2 is used.

Findings

Findings have confirmed the validity of the proposed model. The results also have indicated that online social networks, social trust and social goals have a positive and important impact on employee motivation. Furthermore, obtained results have revealed that organizational knowledge sharing is significantly influenced by employee motivation and organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the literature on organizational knowledge sharing and employee motivation in online social networking sites. Organizations could benefit from this knowledge by accepting that social networking sites must be considered as a critical component of the knowledge sharing, and precise targeting efforts could be directed for those users. Also, it could be exciting to study further factors affecting the development of organizational knowledge sharing in larger organizations.

Originality/value

The paper rises the understanding of what online social networking encompasses and how it can be utilized for the organization. The ideas and discussion are similarly applicable to libraries and may give them new visions into the delivery of social networking applications as part of their facilities to users.
Preparing anesthesiology residents to lead: a leadership seminar
Authors: Cobb Danielle , Martin Timothy W. , Vasilopoulos Terrie , Black Erik W. , Giordano Chris R.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a unique leadership curriculum developed at the University of Florida and its impact on the leadership skills and values of the anesthesiology residents since its conception. The authors instituted a voluntary anesthesiology residency leadership development program at their institution to fill a perceived gap in leadership training. Mounting evidence reveals that strong clinical leadership skills improve outcomes for patients and health-care institutions. Additionally, this growing body of literature indicates that optimal outcomes result from effective team behaviors and skills, which are directed through the requisite clinical leadership. Unfortunately, adding leadership training into the existing medical education curriculum is a formidable challenge regardless of the level of learner.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate learners, the authors used the Aspiring leaders in Healthcare-Empowering individuals, Achieving excellence, Developing talents instrument, which is a validated and reliable assessment of leadership competency in health-care professionals. In 2017, the authors surveyed the past five graduating classes from the department (classes of 2012-2016), using the two graduating classes before the program’s implementation as a historical control group.

Findings

The survey was sent to 96 people, of whom 70 responded (73 per cent). Those participants who usually or always participated in the program responded with higher leadership-readiness skills scores than those who occasionally, rarely or never participated in the program. Notably, those who had participated in another leadership development course at any time had higher skills scores than those who had never participated.

Originality/value

The study’s data provide evidence that residents who either, often or always participated in the leadership development program perceived themselves to be better equipped to become effective health-care leaders as opposed to residents who never, rarely or occasionally participated.
Non-founder CEOs, R&D investment and output
Authors: Xu Nan , Tian Hanyi , Cai Jing
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of non-founder CEO succession on firms’ research and development (R&D) decision, and further explore its mechanism and economic consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

Using founders’ personal-level information of entrepreneurial firms in the Chinese growth enterprise market from 2009 to 2015, the authors empirically investigate whether firms can be motivated to launch more R&D activities as the result of switching to non-founder CEOs. The author’s further test the impact of non-founder CEOs on R&D output to distinguish their motivation. Moreover, the authors use stepwise regression to explore the mechanism and possible channels.

Findings

The authors find that R&D investment significantly increases in firms with non-founder CEOs and the R&D output that comes in the form of patent exhibits an upward trending in numbers, too, ruling out non-founder CEOs’ incentive to chase private benefits. Specifically, the authors find that non-founder CEOs can promote R&D investment through their more professional human capital and better internal control. The authors also show mitigating effects under different circumstances on the relationship between non-founder CEOs and R&D investment.

Practical implications

This study helps the authors to understand the impact of non-founder CEO succession on R&D investment in emerging markets. It also indicates that human capital of non-founder CEOs is critical in driving firms’ innovation, proposing policy suggestions to improve formal intermediary labor market of professional CEOs.

Originality/value

This study provides elaborate theoretical analysis and empirical tests on the mechanism and economic consequences of (non-)founders’ impact on R&D activities.
Japanese guidance for use of biologics for psoriasis (the 2019 version)
Authors: Saeki Hidehisa , Terui Tadashi , Morita Akimichi , Sano Shigetoshi , Imafuku Shinichi , Asahina Akihiko , Komine Mayumi , Etoh Takafumi , Igarashi Atsuyuki , Torii Hideshi , Abe Masatoshi , Nakagawa Hidemi , Watanabe Akira , Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi , Ohtsuki Mamitaro ,   The Biologics Review Committee of the Japanese Dermatological Association for Psoriasis: Chair: Mamitaro Ohtsuki
Published: January 2020

As the first biologics for psoriasis in Japan, infliximab and adalimumab, anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α antibodies, became available in the field of dermatology in 2010, followed by ustekinumab, an anti‐interleukin (IL)‐12/IL‐23p40 antibody, which was launched in Japan in 2011. Since 2015, three IL‐17 inhibitors of secukinumab and ixekizumab, anti‐IL‐17A antibodies, and brodalumab, an anti‐IL‐17 receptor antibody, and two anti‐IL‐23p19 antibodies of guselkumab and risankizumab, have also been launched. It is important for physicians to select appropriate biologic therapy for each psoriatic patient after due consideration of disease factors, treatment factors and patient background factors, sharing such information with patients. The following can be listed as points to be considered for the selection of biologics: drug effects (e.g. strength of effectiveness, time to onset of effectiveness, effectiveness against arthritis, primary failure, secondary failure), safety (e.g. infections, administration‐related reactions and relationships with other comorbidities), convenience for patients (e.g. hospital visit intervals, self‐injection, maintenance therapy at clinics, feasibility of drug discontinuation/re‐administration) and payment (medical costs) borne by patients. This guidance has been prepared with the aim of allowing dermatologists experienced in the treatment of psoriasis to use biologics appropriately according to the circumstances of individual patients after consideration of the above‐mentioned factors.