bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modularity, criticality, and evolvability of a developmental gene regulatory network
Authors: Verd Berta , Monk Nicholas AM , Jaeger Johannes
Published: September 2018

The existence of discrete phenotypic traits suggests that the complex regulatory processes which produce them are functionally modular. These processes are usually represented by networks. Only modular networks can be partitioned into intelligible subcircuits able to evolve relatively independently. Traditionally, functional modularity is approximated by detection of modularity in network structure. However, the correlation between structure and function is loose. Many regulatory networks exhibit modular behaviour without structural modularity. Here we partition an experimentally tractable regulatory network—the gap gene system of dipteran insects—using an alternative approach. We show that this system, although not structurally modular, is composed of dynamical modules driving different aspects of whole-network behaviour. All these subcircuits share the same regulatory structure, but differ in components and sensitivity to regulatory interactions. Some subcircuits are in a state of criticality while others are not, which explains the observed differential evolvability of the various expression features in the system.
Visual deprivation independent shift of ocular dominance induced by cross-modal plasticity
Authors: Teichert Manuel , Isstas Marcel , Liebmann Lutz , Hübner Christian A. , Wieske Franziska , Winter Christine , Bolz Jürgen
Published: September 2018

There is convincing evidence that the deprivation of one sense can lead to adaptive neuronal changes in the spared primary sensory cortices. However, the repercussions of late-onset sensory deprivations on functionality of the remaining sensory cortices are poorly understood. Using repeated intrinsic signal imaging we investigated the effects of whisker or auditory deprivation (WD or AD, respectively) on responsiveness of the binocular primary visual cortex (V1) in fully adult mice. The binocular zone of mice is innervated by both eyes, with the contralateral eye always dominating V1 input over ipsilateral eye input, the normal ocular dominance (OD) ratio. Strikingly, we found that 3 days after WD or AD there was a transient shift of OD, which was mediated by a potentiation of V1 input through the ipsilateral eye. This cross-modal effect was accompanied by strengthening of V1 layer 4 synapses, required visual experience through the ipsilateral eye and was mediated by an increase of the excitation/inhibition ratio in V1. Finally, we demonstrate that both WD and AD induced a long-lasting improvement of visual performance. Our data provide evidence that the deprivation of a non-visual sensory modality cross-modally induces experience dependent V1 plasticity and improves visual behavior, even in adult mice.
Cytoskeleton mechanics determine resting size and activation dynamics of platelets
Authors: Mathur Aastha , Correia Sandra Raquel , Dmitrieff Serge , Gibeaux Romain , Kalinina Iana , Quidwai Tooba , Ries Jonas , Nedelec Francois
Published: September 2018

Platelets are cell fragments of various size that help maintain hemostasis. The way platelets respond during a clotting process is known to depend on their size, with important physiological consequences. We characterized the cytoskeleton of platelets as a function of their size. In resting Human and Mice platelets, we find a quadradic law between the size of a platelet and the amount of microtubule polymer it contains. We further estimate the length and number of microtubules in the marginal band using Electron and Super-resolution microscopy. In platelets activated with ADP, the marginal band coils as a consequence of cortical contraction driven by actin. We observe that this elastic coiling response is accompanied by a reversible shortening of the marginal band. Moreover, larger platelets have a higher propensity to coil. These results establish the dynamic equilibrium that is responsible for platelet size and differential response on a more quantitative level.

Highlights

Platelet size scales consistently with amount of polymerized tubulin in both mouse and human.

Polymerized actin is required for ADP-induced marginal band coiling.

Upon activation, the marginal band exhibits a reversible visco-elastic response involving shortening.

Larger marginal bands have a higher propensity to coil than shorter ones.

In brief

The cytoskeleton is adapted to platelet size and its mechanical properties determine propensity of a platelet to undergo morphological changes in response to agonists.
Parental Allele-Specific Protein Expression in Single CellsIn Vivo
Authors: Lo Chiu-An , Chen Brian E.
Published: September 2018

Allelic expression from each parent-of-origin is important as a backup and to ensure that enough protein products of a gene are produced. Thus far, it is not known how each cell throughout a tissue differs in parental allele expression at the level of protein synthesis. Here, we measure the expression of the Ribosomal protein L13a (Rpl13a) from both parental alleles simultaneously in single cells in the living animal. We use genome-editedDrosophilathat have a quantitative reporter of protein synthesis inserted into the endogenousRpl13alocus. We find that individual cells can have large (>10-fold) differences in protein expression between the two parental alleles. Cells can produce protein from only one allele oftentimes, and time-lapse imaging of protein production from each parental allele in each cell showed that the imbalance in expression from one parental allele over the other can invert over time.

One sentence summary

Parental allele-specific protein expression varies widely across cells and over time.

Highlights

We used genome editing to insert a quantifiable protein translation reporter into the endogenousRibosomal protein L13agene and thus track the protein expression of both parental alleles simultaneously in every single cell in the awake animal.

Cells can have a large difference in protein expression for one parental allele over the other, and this can invert over time, and can occur in clusters of cells within a tissue.

We demonstrate the highly variable nature of heterozygous and homozygous definitions across single cells, and over time.

Our study demonstrates a new paradigm that can be used to examine inherited epigenetic control of expression from a specific parent-of-origin allele across single clonal cells from a common progenitorin vivo.
Fascetto Interacting Protein (FIP) Regulates Fascetto (PRC1) to Ensure Proper Cytokinesis and Ploidy
Authors: Swider Zachary T. , Ng Rachel K. , Varadarajan Ramya , Fagerstrom Carey J. , Rusan Nasser M
Published: September 2018

Cell division is critical for development, organ growth, and tissue repair. The later stages of cell division include the formation of the microtubule (MT)-rich central spindle in anaphase, which is required to properly define the cell equator, guide the assembly of the acto-myosin contractile ring, and ultimately ensure complete separation and isolation of the two daughter cells via abscission. Much is known about the molecular machinery that forms the central spindle, including proteins needed to generate the antiparallel overlapping interzonal MTs. One critical protein that has garnered great attention is Protein Regulator of Cytokinesis 1 (PRC1), or Fascetto (Feo) inDrosophila, which forms a homodimer to crosslink interzonal MTs, ensuring proper central spindle formation and cytokinesis. Here, we report on a new direct protein interactor and regulator of Feo we named Fascetto Interacting Protein (FIP). Loss of FIP results in a significant reduction in Feo localization, rapid disassembly of interzonal MTs, and several cytokinesis defects. Simultaneous reduction in Feo and FIP results in tumor-like, DNA-filled masses in the brain. In aggregate our data show that FIP functions upstream of, and acts directly on, Feo to ensure fully accurate cell division.
Stem-cell niche self-restricts the signaling range via receptor-ligand degradation
Authors: Ladyzhets Sophia , Antel Matthew , Simao Taylor , Gasek Nathan , Inaba Mayu
Published: September 2018

Stem-cell niche signaling is short-range in nature, such that only stem cells but not their differentiating progeny experience self-renewing signals. At the apical tip of the Drosophila testes, 8 to 10 germline stem cells (GSCs) surround the hub, a cluster of somatic cells that function as the major component of the stem cell niche. We have shown that GSCs form microtubule-based nanotubes (MT-nanotubes), which project into the hub cells, serving as the platform for niche signal reception: the receptor Tkv expressed by GSCs localizes to the surface of MT-nanotubes, where it receives the hub-derived ligand Decapentaplegic (Dpp), ensuring the reception of the ligand specifically by stem cells but not by differentiating cells.

Here we show that receptor (Tkv)-ligand (Dpp) interaction at the surface of MT-nanotubes serves a second purpose of dampening the niche signaling: we found that the receptor Tkv and the ligand Dpp are internalized into hub cells and are degraded in the hub cell lysosomes. Perturbation of hub lysosomal function or MT-nanotube formation leads to excess receptor retention within germ cells as well as excess Dpp that diffuses out of the hub, leading to ectopic activation of niche signal in differentiating germ cells. Our results demonstrate that MT-nanotubes plays dual roles in ensuring the short-range nature of the niche signaling by 1) providing exclusive interphase of the niche ligand-receptor interaction and 2) limiting the amount of available ligand-receptor via their degradation.
The zebrafish orthologue of familial Alzheimer’s disease genePRESENILIN2 is required for normal adult melanotic skin pigmentation
Authors: Jiang Haowei , Newman Morgan , Lardelli Michael
Published: September 2018

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of age-related dementia. At least 15 mutations in the human genePRESENILIN 2(PSEN2) have been found to cause familial Alzheimer’s disease (fAD). Zebrafish possess an orthologous gene,psen2, and present opportunities for investigation ofPRESENILINfunction related to Alzheimer’s disease. The most prevalent and best characterized fAD mutation inPSEN2isN141I. The equivalent codon in zebrafishpsen2is N140. We used genome editing technology in zebrafish to target generation of mutations to the N140 codon. We isolated two mutations:psen2N140fs, (hereafter “N140fs”), causing truncation of the coding sequence, andpsen2T141_L142delinsMISLISV, (hereafter “T141_L142delinsMISLISV”), that deletes the two codons immediately downstream of N140 and replaces them with seven codons coding for amino acid residues MISLISV. Thus, like almost every fAD mutation in thePRESENILINgenes, this latter mutation does not truncate the gene’s open reading frame. Both mutations are homozygous viable althoughN140fstranscripts are subject to nonsense-mediated decay and lack any possibility of coding for an active γ-secretase enzyme.N140fshomozygous larvae initially show grossly normal melanotic skin pigmentation but subsequently lose this as they grow while retaining pigmentation in the retinal pigmented epithelium.T141_L142delinsMISLISVhomozygotes retain faint skin melanotic pigmentation as adults, most likely indicating that the protein encoded by this allele retains weak γ-secretase activity. Null mutations in the humanPRESENILINgenes do not cause Alzheimer’s disease so these two mutations may be useful for future investigation of the differential effects of null and fAD-likePRESENILINmutations on brain aging.

Financial Disclosure Statement

This research was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, GNT1061006 and GNT1126422, and by funds from the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Adelaide. HJ is supported by an Adelaide Scholarship International from the University of Adelaide.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Axenic Biofilm Formation and Aggregation bySynechocystisPCC 6803 is Induced by Changes in Nutrient Concentration, and Requires Cell Surface Structures
Authors: Allen Rey , Rittmann Bruce E. , Curtiss Roy
Published: September 2018

Phototrophic biofilms are key to nutrient cycling in natural environments and bioremediation technologies, but few studies describe biofilm formation by pure (axenic) cultures of a phototrophic microbe. The cyanobacteriumSynechocystissp. PCC 6803 (hereafterSynechocystis) is a model micro-organism for the study of oxygenic photosynthesis and biofuel production. We report here that wild-type (WT)Synechocystiscaused extensive biofilm formation in a 2000 liter outdoor non-axenic photobioreactor under conditions attributed to nutrient limitation. We developed a biofilm assay and found that axenicSynechocystisforms biofilms of cells and extracellular material, but only when induced by an environmental signal, such as by reducing the concentration of growth medium BG11. Mutants lacking cell surface structures, namely type IV pili and the S-layer, do not form biofilms.

To further characterize the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell binding bySynechocystis, we also developed a rapid (8 hour) axenic aggregation assay. Mutants lacking Type IV pili were unable to aggregate, but mutants lacking a homolog to Wza, a protein required for Type 1 exopolysaccharide export inEscherichia coli, had a super-binding phenotype. In WT cultures, 1.2x BG11 induced aggregation to the same degree as 0.8x BG11. Overall, our data support that Wza-dependant exopolysaccharide is essential to maintain stable, uniform suspensions of WTSynechocystiscells in unmodified growth medium, and this mechanism is counter-acted in a pili-dependent manner under altered BG11 concentrations.

Importance

Microbes can exist as suspensions of individual cells in liquids, and also commonly form multicellular communities attached to surfaces. Surface-attached communities, called biofilms, can confer antibiotic resistance to pathogenic bacteria during infections, and establish food webs for global nutrient cycling in the environment. Phototrophic biofilm formation is one of the earliest phenotypes visible in the fossil record, dating back over 3 billion years. Despite the importance and ubiquity of phototrophic biofilms, most of what we know about the molecular mechanisms, genetic regulation, and environmental signals of biofilm formation comes from studies of heterotrophic bacteria. We aim to help bridge this knowledge gap by developing new assays forSynechocystis, a phototrophic cyanobacterium used to study oxygenic phototsynthesis and biofuel production. With the aid of these new assays, we contribute to the development ofSynechocystisas a model organism for the study of axenic phototrophic biofilm formation.
Inhibitor of the spindle assembly checkpoint surpasses apoptosis sensitizer in synergy with taxanes
Authors: Han Teng-Long , Jiang Zhi-Xin , Li Yun-Tian , Wu Deng-Shan , Ji Jun , Lin Hu , Hu Bin , Sha Hang
Published: September 2018

The antitumor effect of taxanes have been attributed to their ability to induce mitotic arrest through activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Cell death following prolonged mitotic arrest is mediated by the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Thus, apoptosis sensitizers which inhibit antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins has been shown to enhance taxanes-induced cell death. By contrast, spindle checkpoint disruption facilitates mitotic slippage and is thought to promote taxanes resistance. Notably, other modes of cell death also contribute to treatment outcomes. Here we show that inhibition of the spindle checkpoint suppresses taxanes induced apoptosis but increases terminal growth arrest of tumor cells with features of cellular senescence. By using clonogenic assay which measures the net result of multiple forms of cell death and is more reflective of therapeutic response, our finding suggests apoptosis is not a major determinant of antitumor efficacy of taxanes, whereas spindle checkpoint inhibitor displays a long-term advantage over apoptosis sensitizer in blocking colony outgrowth of tumor cells when combined with different microtubule toxins, therefore represents a superior therapeutic strategy.

SIGNIFICANCE

Apoptosis has long been regarded as the primary mechanism of anti-cancer efficacy of taxanes, while the role of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) in treatment response to taxanes has been controversial. Either apoptosis sensitizer or inhibitor of SAC has been reported to synergize with taxanes. While inhibitor of antiapoptotic proteins potentiates taxanes induced apoptosis, inhibitor of SAC suppresses apoptosis by facilitating mitotic slippage, that is why it is implicated in taxanes resistance. By demonstrating that apoptotic rates are not associate with long-term treatment response, not only do we find that inhibitor of SAC displays a long-term advantage over apoptosis sensitizer in combination with taxanes, but we also resolve the dispute around the role of SAC in cellular response to taxanes.
Chronic Staphylococcus aureus lung infection correlates with proteogenomic and metabolic adaptations leading to an increased intracellular persistence
Authors: Tan Xin , Coureuil Mathieu , Ramond Elodie , Euphrasie Daniel , Dupuis Marion , Tros Fabiola , Meyer Julie , Nemanzny Ivan , Chhuon Cerina , Guerrera Ida Chiara , Ferroni Agnes , Sermet-Gaudelus Isabelle , Nassif Xavier , Charbit Alain , Jamet Anne
Published: September 2018

Background

Chronic lung infection of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by Staphylococcus aureus is a well-established epidemiological fact. Indeed, S. aureus is the most commonly identified pathogen in the lungs of CF patients. Strikingly the molecular mechanisms underlying S. aureus persistency are not understood.

Methods

We selected pairs of sequential S. aureus isolates from 3 patients with CF and from one patient with non-CF chronic lung disease. We used a combination of genomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches with functional assays for in-depth characterization of S. aureus long-term persistence.

Results

For the first time, we show that late S. aureus isolates from CF patients have an increased ability for intracellular survival in CFBE-F508del cells compared to ancestral early isolates. Importantly, the increased ability to persist intracellularly was confirmed for S. aureus isolates within the own patient F508del epithelial cells. An increased ability to form biofilm was also demonstrated.

Furthermore, we identified the underlying genetic modifications inducing altered protein expression profiles and notable metabolic changes. These modifications affect several metabolic pathways and virulence regulators that could constitute therapeutic targets.

Conclusions

Our results strongly suggest that the intracellular environment might constitute an important niche of persistence and relapse necessitating adapted antibiotic treatments.

S. aureus persists for years in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis despite antibiotic therapies. We demonstrate that S. aureus adaptation leads to increased intracellular persistence suggesting a key role for intracellular niche during S. aureus chronic lung infection.
Hippocampal-entorhinal transformations in abstract frames of reference
Authors: Kaplan Raphael , Friston Karl J
Published: September 2018

Knowing how another’s preferences relate to our own is a central aspect of everyday decision-making, yet how the brain performs this transformation is unclear. Here, we ask whether the putative role of the hippocampal-entorhinal system in transforming relative and absolute spatial coordinates during navigation extends to transformations in abstract decision spaces. During fMRI scanning, subjects learned a stranger’s preference for an everyday activity – relative to one of three personally known individuals – and subsequently decided how the stranger’s preference relates to the other two individuals’ preferences. We found that entorhinal cortex/subiculum signals exhibited reference frame-sensitive responses to the absolute distance between the ratings of the stranger and the familiar choice options. In contrast, striatal signals increased when accurately determining the ordinal position of choice options in relation to the stranger. Paralleling its role in navigation, these data implicate the entorhinal/subicular region in assimilating relatively coded knowledge within abstract metric spaces.
New Drosophila long-term memory genes revealed by assessing computational function prediction methods
Authors: Kacsoh Balint Z. , Barton Stephen , Jiang Yuxiang , Zhou Naihui , Mooney Sean D. , Friedberg Iddo , Radivojac Predrag , Greene Casey S. , Bosco Giovanni
Published: September 2018

A major bottleneck to our understanding of the genetic and molecular foundation of life lies in the ability to assign function to a gene and, subsequently, a protein. Traditional molecular and genetic experiments can provide the most reliable forms of identification, but are generally low-throughput, making such discovery and assignment a daunting task. The bottleneck has led to an increasing role for computational approaches. The Critical Assessment of Functional Annotation (CAFA) effort seeks to measure the performance of computational methods. In CAFA3 we performed selected screens, including an effort focused on long-term memory. We used homology and previous CAFA predictions to identify 29 keyDrosophilagenes, which we tested via a long-term memory screen. We identify 11 novel genes that are involved in long-term memory formation and show a high level of connectivity with previously identified learning and memory genes. Our study provides first higher-order behavioral assay and organism screen used for CAFA assessments and revealed previously uncharacterized roles of multiple genes as possible regulators of neuronal plasticity at the boundary of information acquisition and memory formation.
Population structure, genetic connectivity, and adaptation in the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) along the west coast of North America
Authors: Silliman Katherine
Published: September 2018

Effective management of threatened and exploited species requires an understanding of both the genetic connectivity among populations and local adaptation. The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida), patchily distributed from Baja California to the central coast of Canada, has a long history of population declines due to anthropogenic stressors. For such coastal marine species, population structure could follow a continuous isolation-by-distance model, contain regional blocks of genetic similarity separated by barriers to gene flow, or be consistent with a null model of no population structure. To distinguish between these hypotheses inO. lurida, 13,444 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to characterize rangewide population structure, genetic connectivity, and adaptive divergence. Samples were collected across the species range on the west coast of North America, from southern California to Vancouver Island. A conservative approach for detecting putative loci under selection identified 288 SNPs across 129 GBS loci, which were functionally annotated and analyzed separately from the remaining neutral loci. While strong population structure was observed on a regional scale in both neutral and outlier markers, neutral markers had greater power to detect fine-scale structure. Geographic regions of reduced gene flow aligned with known marine biogeographic barriers, such as Cape Mendocino, Monterey Bay, and the currents around Cape Flattery. The outlier loci identified as under putative selection included genes involved in developmental regulation, sensory information processing, energy metabolism, immune response, and muscle contraction. These loci are excellent candidates for future research and may provide targets for genetic monitoring programs. Beyond specific applications for restoration and management of the Olympia oyster, this study lends to the growing body of evidence for both population structure and adaptive differentiation across a range of marine species exhibiting the potential for panmixia. Computational notebooks are available to facilitate reproducibility and future open-sourced research on the population structure ofO. lurida.
Miro ubiquitination is critical for efficient damage-induced PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy
Authors: López-Doménech Guillermo , Covill-Cooke Christian , Howden Jack H. , Birsa Nicol , Morfill Corinne , Brandon Nicholas J. , Kittler Josef T.
Published: September 2018

Clearance of mitochondria following damage is critical for neuronal homeostasis. Here, we investigate the role of Miro proteins in mitochondrial turnover by the PINK1 / Parkin mitochondrial quality control systemin vitroandin vivo. We find that upon mitochondrial damage, Miro is promiscuously ubiquitinated on multiple lysine residues. Combined knockout of both Miro1 and Miro2 or block of Miro ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, lead to slowed mitophagy. In cultured neurons, Miro1 knockout also leads to delayed Parkin translocation onto damaged mitochondria and reduced mitochondrial clearance.In vivo, postnatal knockout of Miro1 in hippocampus and cortex disrupts mitophagy and leads to a dramatic age dependent upregulation of the mitofusin mitochondrial fusion machinery. Fluorescence imaging of aged neurons conditionally knocked out for Miro1 and expressing mitoDendra to label mitochondriain vivo, reveals that Mfn1 / Mfn2 upregulation leads to enlarged and hyperfused somatic mitochondria. Our results provide new insights into the role of Miro in PINK1/Parkin dependent mitophagy and further suggest that disruption of this regulation may be implicated in human neurological pathology.
Crystal structure of ethyl 4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carboxylate
Authors: Steiger Scott A. , Li Chun , Natale Nicholas R.
Published: September 2018

In the title racemic compound, ethyl 4-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carboxylate, the common structural features in this type of compound, such as the flat-boat conformation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) ring, the envelope conformation of the fused cyclohexanone, and the substituted phenyl ring at the pseudo-axial position and orthogonal to the 1,4-DHP ring, are present. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaN—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the (10\overline1) plane.
Bis[(4-chlorophenoxy)acetato-κO](ethylenediamine-κ2
N,N′)zinc
Authors: Ashurov Jamshid Mengnorovich , Ibragimov Aziz Bakhtiyarovich , Ibragimov Bakhtiyar Tulyaganovich
Published: September 2018

The mononuclear title complex, [Zn(C8H6ClO3)2(C2H8N2)], was obtained by the reaction of zinc(II) acetate dihydrate with p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (pCPA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) in a water/ethanol mixture. The ZnII cation has a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere involving two carboxylate O atoms of two monodentate pCPA ligands and two N atoms of one chelating EDA ligand. The pCPA ligands coordinate asymmetrically to the ZnII cation with two different Zn—O distances of 1.967 (3) and 1.978 (3) Å. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating parallel to [100]. These chains are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, C—H...π stacking and Cl...Cl interactions, generating a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Capturing value-based leadership in practice
Authors: Bäckström Ingela , Ingelsson Pernilla , Snyder Kristen , Hedlund Christer , Lilja Johan
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss the results from the appreciative inquiry (AI)-inspired interviews to explore the underlying values held by top managers and to identify soft aspects of leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

Top managers were interviewed as a part of a research project with the aim to support the development of value-based leadership that integrates company values, organizational culture, customer needs and sustainable development. A structured interview guide, inspired by AI, was developed and used to pinpoint their motivation and vision of a good organization to understand the values that the managers had and to identify soft aspects of leadership. The interviews were analyzed in workshops with the whole research team and structured and visualized through affinity diagrams.

Findings

The results showed the underlying values held by top managers and identified soft aspects of leadership.

Practical implications

The presented interview guide can be used to identify the top managers’ underlying values, and the presented results from the interviews can be used to inspire other managers and leaders to develop their leadership in their striving of good leadership and effective organizations.

Originality/value

The paper explains how to apply an AI-inspired interview guide in finding out value-based leadership and soft aspects of leadership for enhancing organizational culture.
Tribological characteristics of SCM 440 bearing steel under gas and oil lubricant in the cylinder block tractor engine
Authors: Adiyanto Okka , Pratama Pandu Sandi , Choi Wonsik
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the friction coefficient and wear rate characteristics of SCM 440 bearing steel used in the cylinder block of a tractor engine with gas lubrication and oil lubrication.

Design/methodology/approach

Friction tests were performed using a pin-on-disc tester with loads of 2 to 10 N and sliding velocities of 0.06 to 0.34 m/s. The experiment was done with and without nitrogen, and paraffin oil lubricant was used to prevent wear during process.

Findings

The nondimensional characteristic number from the Stribeck curves indicated that the lubrication regime is hydrodynamic. As the velocity and load increased, the friction coefficient of the SCM 440 increased and greater applied load resulted in a smaller friction coefficient. The range of the friction coefficient was 0.017001 to 0.092904 with paraffin oil lubrication and 0.01614 to 0.4555 with nitrogen lubrication. Nitrogen is effective in reducing the friction coefficient of materials that are in contact and subjected to a load and velocity.

Originality/value

The experiments confirm that nitrogen is effective for reducing the friction coefficient of SCM 440 materials that are in contact with each other and subjected to a load and velocity.
Developing and deploying marketing agility in an emerging economy: the case of Blue Skies
Authors: Osei Collins , Amankwah-Amoah Joseph , Khan Zaheer , Omar Maktoba , Gutu Mavis
Published: September 2018

Purpose

In almost every large business, there is a growing recognition of the importance of organisational agility in improving their marketing responsiveness and business survival. However, limited insights have been offered by scholars on multinational enterprises and their marketing agility in emerging markets context. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various manifestations of agility and the various strategies adopted to sustain agility by an emerging economy multinational enterprise (EMNE) which started in the late 1990s as a small firm operating within the fresh fruit and juice industry in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilised empirical qualitative data from an emerging African economy to develop a three-stage model of how agility manifests overtime.

Findings

The authors find that successful development and deployment of international marketing agility strategy adopted by an EMNE from emerging markets hinge on building relationships, being socially responsible and being innovative in standardisation and adaptation in response to, and in anticipation of, the rapidly changing business environment.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on data from one organisation. Future research can consider using multiple cases from different countries to further understand marketing agility in emerging markets and when such firms internalise into developed markets.

Originality/value

This paper extends research on standardisation/adaptation debate and research on agility, to address the gap on international marketing agility. Hitherto, there was no significant research on marketing agility in emerging markets which focused on highly perishable products such as fruits. This research provides unique insight into how marketing agility could be developed, deployed and sustained in emerging African markets.
How market orientation contributes to innovation and market performance: the roles of business analytics and flexible IT infrastructure
Authors: Ashrafi Amir , Zare Ravasan Ahad
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Market orientation (MO) (intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination and responsiveness) is known as one of the key concepts in marketing literature. Although prior research has widely focused on the meaning and application of MO, few attempts have been made to explore how market-oriented firms lead to innovation and market performance and what factors actually moderate this relationship. To fill this gap, the present study aims to explore the relationship between MO, innovation and market performance. This study also attempts to examine the intervening role of IT infrastructure, business analytics (BA) capabilities and market turbulence in the proposed model.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a questionnaire-based survey was undertaken to test the proposed hypotheses. To verify the proposed theoretical model, partial least squares (PLS)/structured equation modeling (SEM) was performed with 114 valid survey data.

Findings

Despite prior studies which postulated innovation performance as the final outcome of MO (Han et al., 1998; Song et al., 2015), this study focused on innovation performance as a mediating outcome which finally leads to market performance. The statistical results approve the putative relationship which means managers would be able to realize the paramount role of innovation as an integral part of achieving higher market performance. In addition, no support was found for the relationship between intelligence generation and responsiveness. This finding shows that not all obtained information can help managers in the decision-making process.

Originality/value

This study aims to enrich literature by developing a conceptual model to test the link between MO, innovation and market performance. The value of this study is to investigate the roles of flexible IT infrastructure, BA capabilities and market turbulence as the potential moderators in the proposed model. The results advance the understanding of the influence of BA capabilities on the link between intelligence dissemination and responsiveness. Findings also show innovation performance as remarkable and deemed valuable capability, leading to higher performance in marketing-related activities, particularly in highly turbulent markets.
Motives, processes and practices of sustainable sourcing: a literature review
Authors: Ambekar Sudhir , Kapoor Rohit , Prakash Anand , Patyal Vishal Singh
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to attempt to examine pressures, incentives, processes and practices used for sustainable sourcing. Further, it also proposes a framework to provide a composite method for monitoring and controlling the sustainability aspects of supply management. This would enable suppliers to consider buyers’ requirements, translate these into suitable strategies, assess suppliers’ capabilities and also judge the impact of these strategies on suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study opts for literature review as a method. In total, 150 research papers in peer-reviewed English language journals were reviewed to examine the pressures, incentives, processes and practices used for sustainable sourcing.

Findings

This study attempts to answer the “why”-, “what”- and “how”-related questions about sustainable sourcing. It is observed that research in sustainable sourcing is multileveled and involves various functional departments in a firm. It is diverse and fragmented and is more concentrated on certain geographic areas, industries and methodologies.

Practical implications

This study can be helpful to both researchers and practicing managers. It provides a snapshot of the work done on sustainable sourcing, which can be used as a base for research addressing specific aspects of sustainable sourcing or for building strategies related to sustainable sourcing.

Originality/value

This study takes the present reviews available in the literature forward and provides a generic view of sustainable sourcing and proposes a composite method for monitoring and controlling the sustainability aspects of supply management. It attempts to consolidate the diverse literature presently available on sustainable sourcing.
Cultural branding in India: the case of Godrej “Storwel” cupboards (1944-1991)
Authors: Alladi Harini
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the marketing history of the Godrej Storwel steel cupboard before India’s economic liberalisation in 1991 to find possible reasons for the brand’s iconic status and strong presence in the Indian public memory.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses archival material, secondary sources and the idea of cultural branding to analyse the marketing strategies used at various points in the history of Godrej Storwel.

Findings

Godrej Storwel found cultural context in the two decades following India’s independence (1947) as a product that addressed the social and economic anxieties of the country, as well as embodied its aspirations at the time. In the following decades up to 1991, the product did not find similar cultural resonance with its consumers.

Research limitations/implications

The unavailability of sales records of the Godrej steel cupboards meant that certain conclusions could not be made concrete.

Social implications

Because Godrej Storwel has had such a long lifespan, it serves as a useful medium through which changing trends in marketing in India can be viewed. The paper is a good point of reference for those researching the steel industry, storage product histories and marketing in India and could encourage corporates to archive their histories.

Originality/value

While a lot of nostalgia surrounds the Godrej Storwel in India, this is the first work that attempts to place the product and its marketing strategies in the context of Indian industry, culture and consumption.
A qualitative investigation into consumption of halal cosmetic products: the evidence from India
Authors: Shahid Shadma , Ahmed Faheem , Hasan Uzma
Published: September 2018

Purpose

India accounts for the third-largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. The previous studies about halal consumption have focused on the “food and money industry” only. Muslim consumers are prohibited from using alcohol, pork and other items in any form; the rising awareness among Muslims has led to the rapid growth in demand of halal cosmetic products around the globe. This paper aims to present a framework of halal consumers’ purchase and explores the factors that Indian consumers consider while buying halal cosmetics.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out qualitative research (focus group discussion and in-depth interviews) in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad to gain deeper insight from the respondents.

Findings

The study found that religiosity and increasing awareness about halal products acts as an influencer for individuals’ halal products consumption along with halal certification and growing education level of Muslim consumers.

Originality/value

The paper has been developed based on the original research work carried out among the halal Muslim consumers in the major Muslim population in metropolitan cities of Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi over the past year.
The dynamic role of Italian energy strategies in the worldwide scenario
Authors: Marseglia Guido , Rivieccio Elisa , Medaglia Carlo Maria
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out ideas regarding a systematic approach that defines the Italian National energy strategies, considering the standards imposed from European Union.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework to estimate a model to define the energy policies for different sectors in the Italian case is underlined. The aims of Italian energy strategy in the worldwide scenario are discussed. The authors have considered the relations between the environment and the human impact on the energy conversion process by means of a conceptual method.

Findings

The actions considered to reach the aims of energy policies objectives are highlighted. This research aims to inform future development in the topic area, considering future perspectives and socio-economical implications for Italy.

Originality/value

The paper will be of interest to firm managers, ecologists and policymakers with a particular interest in energy policies, considering socio-technical implications. The framework can be applied for facilitating discussions or for scenario planning.
Tolerance analysis in scale-free social networks with varying degree exponents
Authors: Chui Kwok Tai , Shen Chien-wen
Published: September 2018

Purpose

There are many complex networks like World-Wide Web, internet and social networks have been reported to be scale-free. The major property of scale-free networks is their degree distributions are in power law form. Generally, the degree exponents of scale-free networks fall into the range of (2, 3). The purpose of this paper is to investigate other situations where the degree exponents may lie outside the range.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, analysis has been carried out by varying the degree exponents in the range of (0.5, 4.5). In total, 243 scenarios have been generated with varying network size of 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000, and degree exponents in the range of (0.5, 4.5) using interval of 0.05.

Findings

The following five indicators have been investigated: average density, average clustering coefficient, average path length, average diameter and average node degree. These indicators vary with the network size and degree exponent. If certain indicators do not satisfy with the user requirement using degree exponents of (2, 3), one can further increase or decrease the value with tradeoff. Results recommend that for degree exponents in (0.5, 2), 26 possible scale-free networks can be selected whereas for (3, 4.5), 41 possible scale-free networks can be selected, assuming a 100 percent deviation on the network parameters.

Originality/value

A tolerance analysis is given for the tradeoff and guideline is drawn to help better design of scale-free network for degree exponents in range of (0.5, 2) and (3, 4.5) using network size 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000. The methodology is applicable to any network size.
Women on corporate boards and allocation of capital raised through IPOs
Authors: Badru Bazeet Olayemi , Ahmad-Zaluki Nurwati A. , Wan-Hussin Wan Nordin
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the differences in men and women, such as risk aversion in decision making, can influence the amount of capital that the board of directors can allocate for investment opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study sampled 212 IPOs over the period of 2005–2015 and employed the OLS and the quantile regression techniques to examine the impact of female directors on capital allocation.

Findings

The results show that women on corporate boards have a positive influence on the amount of capital an IPO company can allocate for investment opportunities. These findings suggest that the investment strategies of women in an emerging financial market, like Malaysia, may differ from women in other financial markets.

Practical implications

The presence of women on corporate boards plays an important role in board involvement in a company’s strategic decision at the time of the IPO. Therefore, regulators and IPO issuers should pay close attention to the corporate governance structure of a company at the time of an IPO. In addition, investors and other stakeholders of a company may consider women on corporate boards as an important factor in financing and investment decisions.

Originality/value

Despite several studies that have examined the influence of women on corporate boards on corporate outcomes, globally, the presence of women on corporate boards and their influence on corporate decision-making related to allocation of capital to investment opportunities, have not been fully explored in the IPO literature.
Secrets to success: human capital management strategy
Authors: Tucker Elissa
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail four elements that drive human capital management (HCM) strategies that get business results.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of APQC’s Open Standards Benchmarking® data and human capital management best practices case studies reveals how to establish the groundwork and successfully execute an HCM strategy.

Findings

A successful HCM strategy requires specific groundwork and execution to support workforce performance. In terms of groundwork, HR must display strategic competence and business insight. Then, HR must establish a solid implementation infrastructure and follow-up with a comprehensive results assessment.

Originality/value

Many HR professionals understand what needs to go into an HCM plan for compensation and benefits, long-term workforce strategy, succession, diversity, learning, retention and HR technology updates and upgrades. This paper details how best-practice organizations successfully build and implement such plans and what tangible results an HR function can expect from adopting the four detailed best practices.
Sustainability in wildlife tourism: challenging the assumptions and imagining alternatives
Authors: Bertella Giovanna
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This study raises and discusses questions concerning the assumptions of sustainability to uncover aspects that might lead to new critical ways of understanding it. More specifically, the aim of this study is to discuss the adoption of the sustainability approach in wildlife tourism and challenge its underlying anthropocentric assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach adopted is one of animal ethics, more precisely Ecofeminism.

Findings

The discussion ends by highlighting the possibility for new thinking. In particular, the concept of entangled empathy is presented as a potentially central element for re-thinking wildlife tourism.

Research limitations/implications

This study raises critical questions and starts the conceptualization of a non-anthropocentric approach in wildlife tourism. This can be viewed as a mental exercise that should be developed further and translated into practical suggestions.

Originality/value

This study views innovation as a process of re-thinking sustainability through the adoption of the animal ethics lens.