bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular basis for Ras suppressor-1 recruitment to focal adhesions and stabilization of consensus adhesome complex
Authors: Fukuda Koichi , Lu Fan , Qin Jun
Published: February 2021

Ras suppressor-1 (Rsu-1) is a leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing protein that is crucial for regulating fundamental cell adhesion processes and tumor development. Rsu-1 interacts with a zinc-finger type multi LIM domain-containing adaptor protein PINCH-1 involved in the integrin-mediated consensus adhesome but not with highly homologous isoform PINCH-2. However, the structural basis for such specific interaction and regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Here, we determined the crystal structures of Rsu-1 and its complex with the PINCH-1 LIM4-5 domains. Rsu-1 displays an arc-shaped solenoid architecture with eight LRRs shielded by the N- and C-terminal capping modules. We show that a large conserved concave surface of the Rsu-1 LRR domain recognizes the PINCH-1 LIM5 domain, and that the C-terminal non-LIM region of PINCH-2 but not PINCH-1 sterically disfavors the Rsu-1 binding. We further show that Rsu-1 can be assembled, via PINCH-1-binding, into a tight hetero-pentamer complex comprising Rsu-1, PINCH-1, ILK, Parvin, and Kindlin-2 that constitute a major consensus integrin adhesome crucial for focal adhesion assembly. Consistently, our mutagenesis and cell biological data consolidate the significance of the Rsu-1/PINCH-1 interaction in focal adhesion assembly and cell spreading. Our results provide a crucial molecular insight into Rsu-1-mediated cell adhesion with implication on how it may regulate tumorigenic growth.
Vesicular stomatitis virus chimeras expressing the Oropouche virus glycoproteins elicit protective immune responses in mice
Authors: Stubbs Sarah Hulsey , Pontelli Marjorie Cornejo , Mishra Nischay , Zhou Changhong , de Paula Souza Juliano , Mendes Viana Rosa Maria , Lipkin W. Ian , Knipe David M. , Arruda Eurico , Whelan Sean P. J.
Published: February 2021

Oropouche virus (OROV) infection of humans is associated with a debilitating febrile illness that can progress to meningitis or encephalitis. First isolated from a forest worker in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, the arbovirus OROV has since been detected throughout the Amazon basin with an estimated 500,000 human infections. Like other members of the family Peribunyaviridae, the viral genome exists as 3 single-stranded negative-sense RNA segments. The medium sized segment encodes a viral glycoprotein complex (GPC) that is proteolytically processed into two viral envelope proteins Gn and Gc responsible for attachment and membrane fusion. There are no therapeutics or vaccines to combat OROV infection, and we have little understanding of protective immunity to infection. Here we generated a replication competent chimeric vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), in which the endogenous glycoprotein was replaced by the GPC of OROV. Serum from mice immunized with VSV-OROV specifically neutralized wild type OROV, and using peptide arrays we mapped multiple epitopes within an N-terminal variable region of Gc recognized by the immune sera. VSV-OROV lacking this variable region of Gc was also immunogenic in mice producing neutralizing sera that recognize additional regions of Gc. Challenge of both sets of immunized mice with wild type OROV shows that the VSV-OROV chimeras reduce wild type viral infection and suggest that antibodies that recognize the variable N-terminus of Gc afford less protection than those that target more conserved regions of Gc.

Importance

Oropouche virus (OROV), an orthobunyavirus found in Central and South America, is an emerging public health challenge that causes debilitating febrile illness. OROV is transmitted by arthropods, and increasing mobilization has the potential to significantly increase the spread of OROV globally. Despite this, no therapeutics or vaccines have been developed to combat infection. Using vesicular stomatitis (VSV) as a backbone, we developed a chimeric virus bearing the OROV glycoproteins (VSV-OROV) and tested its ability to elicit a neutralizing antibody response. Our results demonstrate that VSV-OROV produces a strong neutralizing antibody response that is at least partially targeted to the N-terminal region of Gc. Importantly, vaccination with VSV-OROV reduces viral loads in mice challenged with wildtype virus. This data provides the first evidence that targeting the OROV glycoproteins may be an effective vaccination strategy to combat OROV infection.
Four large indels detected by cpTILLING in barley chloroplast mutator seedlings
Authors: Lencina F. , Landau A.M. , Pacheco M.G. , Kobayashi K. , Prina A.R.
Published: February 2021

In a previous work, a polymorphism detection strategy based on mismatch digestion was applied to the chloroplast genome of barley seedlings that carried the chloroplast mutator (cpm) genotype through many generations. Sixty-two different one- or two-nucleotide-polymorphisms were detected along with four large indels: an insertion of 15 bp in the intergenic region between tRNAHis and rps19 genes, a deletion of 620 bp in the psbA gene, a deletion of 79 bp in the intergenic region between rpl33 and rps18 genes and a deletion of 45 bp in the rps3 gene. In the present investigation, we analyzed direct repeats located at the borders of those four large indels. Furthermore, we investigated the consequences of protein expression of large indels located in coding regions. The deletion of 620 bp in the psbA gene was lethal at the second leaf stage when homoplastomic. The deletion of 45 bp in the rps3 gene, which eliminates 15 amino acids, did not affect the viability of the seedlings in homoplastomy. Interestingly, the deleted segment is also lacking in the wild type version of the rps3 gene of maize and sorghum. The presence of direct repeats at the borders of the four large indels suggests that they could have originated by illegitimate recombination. This would be in agreement with a previous hypothesis that the Cpm gene product would correspond to a mismatch repair (MMR) protein devoted to maintain plastome stability by playing fundamental roles in mismatch repair during replication and avoiding illegitimate recombination.
The action of Con-ikot-ikot toxin on single AMPA-type glutamate receptors
Authors: Baranovic Jelena , Braunbeck Sebastian , Zaki Nikolai , Minniberger Sonja , Chebli Miriam , Plested Andrew J.R.
Published: February 2021

Conotoxins are a large group of naturally occurring toxic peptides produced by the predatory sea snails of the genus Conus. Many of these toxins target ion channels, often with high specificity and affinity. As such, they have proven to be invaluable for basic research as well as acting as leads for therapeutic strategies. Con-ikot-ikot is the only conotoxin so far identified that targets AMPA-type glutamate receptors, the main mediators of excitatory neurotransmission in the vertebrate brain. Here, we describe how the toxin modifies the activity of AMPA receptors at the single-channel level. The toxin binds to the AMPA receptor with high affinity (EC50 = 5 nM) and once bound, takes minutes to wash out. As shown previously, it effectively blocks desensitization of AMPA receptors, however, compared to other desensitisation blockers, it is a poor stabiliser of the open channel because toxin-bound AMPA receptors undergo frequent, brief closures. We propose this is a direct consequence of the toxin’s unique binding mode to the ligand binding domains. Unlike other blockers of desensitization, which stabilise individual dimers within an AMPA receptor tetramer, the toxin immobilizes all four ligand binding domains of the tetramer. This result further emphasises that quaternary reorganization of independent LBD dimers is essential for the full activity of AMPA receptors.
Designing efficient genetic code expansion in Bacillus subtilis to gain biological insights
Authors: Stork Devon A. , Squyres Georgia R. , Kuru Erkin , Gromek Katarzyna A. , Rittichier Jonathan , Jog Aditya , Burton Briana M. , Church George M. , Garner Ethan C. , Kunjapur Aditya M.
Published: February 2021

Bacillus subtilis is a model Gram-positive bacterium, commonly used to explore questions across bacterial cell biology and for industrial uses. To enable greater understanding and control of proteins in B. subtilis, we demonstrate broad and efficient genetic code expansion in B. subtilis by incorporating 20 distinct non-standard amino acids within proteins using 3 different families of genetic code expansion systems and two choices of codons. We use these systems to achieve click-labelling, photo-crosslinking, and translational titration. These tools allow us to demonstrate differences between E. coli and B. subtilis stop codon suppression, validate a predicted protein-protein binding interface, and begin to interrogate properties underlying bacterial cytokinesis by precisely modulating cell division dynamics in vivo. We expect that the establishment of this simple and easily accessible chemical biology system in B. subtilis will help uncover an abundance of biological insights and aid genetic code expansion in other organisms.
Interacting brains revisited: A cross-brain network neuroscience perspective
Authors: Gerloff C. , Konrad K. , Bzdok D. , Büsing C. , Reindl V.
Published: February 2021

Elucidating the neural basis of social behavior is a long-standing challenge in neuroscience. Such endeavors are driven by attempts to extend the isolated perspective on the human brain by considering interacting persons’ brain activities, but a theoretical and computational framework for this purpose is still in its infancy. Here, we posit a comprehensive framework based on bipartite graphs for interbrain networks and address whether they provide meaningful insights into the neural underpinnings of social interactions. First, we show that the nodal density of such graphs exhibits nonrandom properties. While the current analyses mostly rely on global metrics, we encode the regions’ roles via matrix decomposition to obtain an interpretable network representation yielding both global and local insights. With Bayesian modeling, we reveal how synchrony patterns seeded in specific brain regions contribute to global effects. Beyond inferential inquiries, we demonstrate that graph representations can be used to predict individual social characteristics, outperforming functional connectivity estimators for this purpose. In the future, this may provide a means of characterizing individual variations in social behavior or identifying biomarkers for social interaction and disorders.
The halo effect of biofortification claims on taste inference and purchase intention
Authors: Chen Tong , Gabrielyan Gnel , Shimizu Mitsuru , Qing Ping
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate how biofortification claims impact consumer food taste inference and purchase intention. Based on the halo effect, the authors propose that food products with biofortification claims are inferred to taste better than regular foods. Due to this inference, biofortification claims subsequently improve purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine these predictions, the authors conducted three between-subject design lab experiments featuring three staple foods: corn soup (β-carotene biofortification claim present or not), cooked rice (zinc biofortification claim present or not) and uncooked rice (zinc biofortification claim present or not). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two bioproduction claim conditions (present vs absent). Then, taste inference, purchase intention, consumer characteristics and confounding variables were measured.

Findings

In Experiment 1, the results showed that biofortification claims indeed appeared to evoke a heuristic halo effect, in which foods with biofortification claims were inferred to taste better than regular food. In Experiment 2, the results showed that participants had more intention to purchase foods with biofortification claims than regular food. The mediation effect of taste inference between biofortification claims and purchase intention was examined. In Experiment 3, the data further showed that this halo effect was more pronounced when consumers held a higher preference (vs lower preference) for the enriched nutritional element.

Originality/value

Biofortification claims have commonly been viewed solely as information about nutrition value for consumers. However, little is known about how biofortification claims impact hedonic consumer expectations. In this paper, the authors find that biofortification claims alone can impact consumer food taste inference, as nutritional information is not related to actual food taste. These findings extend the authors’ understanding of the psychological mechanism behind consumer attitudes towards biofortification.
Modeling of moisture sorption isotherm and evaluation of net isosteric heat for spray-dried fortified coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) powder
Authors: Lucas Aguirre Juan Carlos , Giraldo Giraldo German Antonio , Cortés Rodríguez Misael
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In order to understand interactionsawvs equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in fortified coconut powder, moisture sorption isotherms were constructed under different storage conditions in order to predict the changes in their physical, chemical and microbiological properties that occur during storage and processing, which are unique to each food.

Design/methodology/approach

For which the moisture sorption isotherms were determined at three different temperatures (15, 25 and 35 °C), in a range of water activity from 0.1 to 0.90. Nine models, namely, the GAB, BET, Oswin, Smith, Halsey, Henderson, Chung and Pfost, Peleg and Caurie equations, were fitted to the sorption data. Various statistical tests were adopted as criteria to evaluate the fit performance of the models.

Findings

Of the models tested, the Peleg model gave the best fit to experimental data (R2 = 0.997;RMSE = 0.276), across the full range of water activities and at different temperatures. Humidity of the monolayer (mo) was found between 2.54 and 2.34%, a fundamental parameter to define the storage and control conditions, given that it is considered the value at which the product is more stable. The net sorption isosteric heat (Qst) increased to maximum and then diminished with increased moisture content (Xw); maximum values were obtained in theXwinterval between 0.48 and 2.87% (db), being between 35.72 and 99.26 kJ/mol, where the maximum value indicates coverage of the strongest bond sites and higher adsorbate-adsorbent interaction.

Originality/value

These results provide reliable experimental data on water absorption isotherms of the CP + FAC important to determine optimal processing, storing and packaging conditions.
Recursive readings and reckonings: kindergarteners’ multimodal transactions with a nonfiction picturebook
Authors: Shimek Courtney
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Our world had always been multimodal, but studying how young children enact and embody literacy practices, especially reading, has often been overlooked. The purpose of this study was to examine how young children respond to nonfiction picturebooks in multimodal ways. This paper aims to answer the question: What multimodal resources do readers use to respond to and construct meaning from nonfiction picturebooks?

Design/methodology/approach

Undergirded by Rosenblatt’s transactional theory of reading and social semiotic multimodality, a 9-min video clip of three boys making sense of one nonfiction picturebook during reading workshop was analyzed using Norris’ approach to multimodal data analysis. This research stemmed from a five-month-long case study of one kindergarten class’s multimodal and collective responses to nonfiction picturebooks.

Findings

Findings demonstrate how readers use gesture, gaze and proxemics in addition to language to signal agreement with one another, explain new ideas or concepts to one another and incorporate their background knowledge. In addition to reading images, the children learned to read each other.

Originality/value

This research indicates that reading is inherently multimodal, recursive and complex and provides implications for teachers to reconsider what kinds of responses they prioritize in their classrooms. Additionally, this research establishes the need to better understand how readers respond to nonfiction books and a broader examination of multimodality in the literacy curriculum.
An institutional approach to the SHE’-E-O plight: evidence from organizational legitimacy and SHE’-E-O dismissal
Authors: Zhang Ying , Yang Morgan X.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how regulatory legitimacy and moral legitimacy influence biased performance evaluations on female chief executive officers’ (CEOs) dismissal.

Design/methodology/approach

The final sample contains 10,780 firm-year observations from 2004 to 2013.

Findings

This paper finds that the negative relationship between firm performance and CEO dismissal is weakened when the firm has a female CEO. In addition, the regulatory legitimacy pressure and moral legitimacy pressure can disrupt the biased performance evaluations in the board.

Originality/value

This study enriches female leadership literature regarding gender stereotype issues by incorporating institutional approach and organizational legitimacy literature. By focusing on regulatory legitimacy and moral legitimacy, this work also helps to further understand gender-related organizational behaviors and outcomes.
The effects of social media usage on loneliness and well-being: analysing friendship connections of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Authors: Ye Shaoyu , Ho Kevin K.W. , Zerbe Andre
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to clarify the effects of different patterns of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram usage on user loneliness and well-being in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on responses to a self-report questionnaire in Japan, 155 university students were separated into 4 groups: users of Twitter only, users of Twitter and Facebook, users of Twitter and Instagram and users of all three social media. The effects of social media usage on loneliness and well-being for each group were analysed.

Findings

No social media usage effects on loneliness or well-being were detected for those who used only Twitter or both Twitter and Instagram. For those using both Twitter and Facebook, loneliness was reduced when users accessed Twitter and Facebook more frequently but was increased when they posted more tweets. Users of all three social media were lonelier and had lower levels of well-being when they accessed Facebook via PC longer; whereas their their access time of Facebook via smartphones helped them decrease loneliness and improve their levels of well-being.

Originality/value

The findings reported here provide possible explanations for the conflicting results reported in previous research by exploring why users choose different social media platforms to communicate with different groups of friends or acquaintances and different usage patterns that affect their loneliness and well-being.
The unit effect from a performance management perspective
Authors: Ahn Heinz , Clermont Marcel , Hesping Jens
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The subjective interpretation of numerical information can induce the so-called unit effect, i.e. the scale and unit chosen to quantify such information might influence a person's judgment. Although this bias is well-known, until now, it has been difficult to obtain an overview of the respective research. There are a variety of versions of the unit effect, different terms are used for the same kind of effect and proposals for grouping such effects lack a straightforward typology.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is conducted using a systematic literature search design. We address the following questions: (1) What knowledge exists about the unit effect? (2) What is a suitable concept for structuring the findings? (3) What ideas can be deduced for future research focusing on performance management?

Findings

A total of 11 versions of the unit effect and 27 moderating variables are identified and grouped into four contexts in which the effects occur. Structured according to these contexts, research ideas are depicted. They include suggestions for studies adapted to the field of performance management to scrutinize the main effects and moderators addressed in the literature to date as well as to consider additional potential moderators.

Originality/value

Few publications explicitly address the unit effect from the perspective of performance management. As one of the core objectives of this business function is to enable rational decision-making based on numerical information, it can be assumed that corresponding research will be very fruitful.
Determinants of corporate environmental disclosures in Sri Lanka: the role of corporate governance
Authors: Nuskiya M.N.F. , Ekanayake Athula , Beddewela Eshani , Meftah Gerged Ali
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study explores the levels of and trends in corporate environmental disclosure (CED) among a sample of Sri Lankan listed companies from 2015 to 2019. Furthermore, this article examines the firm-level determinants of CED, including corporate governance (CG) mechanisms, in Sri Lanka from a multi-theoretical perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 205 firm-year observations, this paper distinctively applies a panel quantile regression (PQR) model to examine the determinants of CED in Sri Lanka. This method was supported by estimating a two-step generalized method of moment (GMM) model to tackle any possible existence of endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The authors’ findings indicate an increasing trend in CED practice among the sampled companies (i.e. 41 firms, the only adopters of the GRI framework) in Sri Lanka from 2015 to 2019. However, it is still considered at an early stage compared with other developed counterparts. Furthermore, this study suggests that board size, board independence, board meetings, industry type, profitability and firm size are positively associated with CED level. In contrast, and consistent with our expectation, CEO duality is negatively attributed to the disclosed amount of environmental information in the Sri Lankan context.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ empirical evidence reiterates the crucial need to propagate and promote further substantive CG reforms, mandating CED in Sri Lanka.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings provide much-needed insights for indigenous companies, operating across similar emerging economies, to understand how CED can be incorporated into their reporting process based on the GRI framework in order to enhance their firm value, reduce legitimacy gaps and mitigate other operational risks.
Enabling formal MCS design and use: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research
Authors: Janka Marc
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to synthesize qualitative research in the accounting and management literature that builds on the concept of enabling formalization. The framework for the meta-synthesis integrates formal management control system (MCS) design applying the package typology and two modes of MCS use, namely, diagnostic and interactive.

Design/methodology/approach

The meta-synthesis is based on 34 case studies gathered by a systematic literature search. Qualitative research mining software (Leximancer) was used to facilitate an initial analysis, upon which an in-depth manual analysis was conducted.

Findings

The findings indicate that the generic features of enabling formalization – specifically, flexibility and repair – help employees better deal with inevitable contingencies in their daily work through continuous self-improvement. In many circumstances, there is a need to change common organizational practices, which sometimes requires realignment to direct employee behavior toward goal congruence. The (temporary) coercion of employees does not seem to cause dysfunctional behavior or resistance as long as the broader MCS package follows the design features of enabling formalization – specifically, transparency. The interactive use of personnel/cultural controls appears to play a crucial role within the whole MCS package in balancing tensions between coercion and enabling formalization.

Originality/value

This study adds to the understanding of formal MCS design characteristics perceived by managers and employees as enabling. Furthermore, it shows how managers of these organizations use formal MCS under enabling formalization.
Dry stone constructions – intangible cultural heritage and sustainable environment
Authors: Jiménez de Madariaga Celeste
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how safeguarding intangible cultural heritage contributes to environmental conservation and favours sustainable development of natural landscapes. To do so, the authors will focus on a study of dry stone constructions, which have been recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been carried out through three methodologies: the search and review of archives (historical and administrative documents), ethnographic methodology (field work and interviews) and case studies.

Findings

The abandonment of dry stone constructions is placing rural zones at risk, as they assume a strategic role in environmental conservation efforts. This article seeks to highlight the importance of safeguarding this cultural heritage.

Research limitations/implications

The art of dry stone walling has its origins in ancient times and can be found in numerous regions around the world. The main ideas of this paper may be applied to many of the places where this vernacular architecture can be found.

Practical implications

Some stakeholders may apply the results of this study to identify new uses for heritage resources that allow maintenance of ecosystems while at the same time safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Social implications

This paper stresses the importance of raising public awareness of cultural heritage and vernacular architecture, its link with traditional activities such as farming and livestock raising, the rural landscape and reinforcement of cultural identity and historical memory.

Originality/value

This study illustrates the actions taken by UNESCO to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and the effects of those actions. It also considers dry stone constructions from the perspective of environmental sustainability, an area that has been subject to limited study.
Profitability determinants of infrastructure public private partnerships (PPPs): empirical evidence from Indian data
Authors: Kumar Ashish , Srivastava Vikas , Tabash Mosab I. , Chawda Divyanshi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the variables having an impact on profitability of public private partnerships (PPPs) in India using a balanced panel data of 171 unlisted PPPs from different infrastructure sectors such as road, power generation, real estate and ports.

Design/methodology/approach

Estimations were done using Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data estimation and seemingly unrelated regression models on a balanced panel data of 855 firm-years for 171 unlisted PPPs in India. To further test the estimation robustness, panel-corrected standard errors model was used.

Findings

The study findings indicate that in firm-specific factors, leverage, size, non-debt tax shield, growth and risk have significant positive impact on PPPs’ profitability, whereas in macroeconomic factors, only inflation has significant positive relationship. Although the relationship of all determinants is in sync with various theories and approaches, but these are not significant. Using the robustness test, the results are found to be robust and consistent with resource-based view and strategy-structure-performance approaches.

Practical implications

As PPPs are gaining prominence in the development of infrastructural resources, their profitability is of significant importance to drive private investments in infrastructure development, the identification of factors which determine profitability is critical for researchers, practitioners, policymakers and fund providers such as equity investors and debt providers.

Originality/value

The empirical literature on profitability determinants is focused on various sectors including small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) and micro firms, but to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study, in both developed and developing economies, to empirically investigate the determinants of profitability for PPPs.
The generation Z audience for in-app advertising
Authors: Graham Charles , Young Ffion , Marjan Ammarah
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The audience for in-app mobile advertising is comparable in size and viewing rate to that for TV but divides its attention across a highly fragmented selection of apps, each competing for advertiser revenue. In market, the assumption is that this audience is deeply segmented, allowing individuals to be contextually targeted on the apps that define their interests and needs. But that assumption is not supported by the Laws of Double Jeopardy and Duplication of Viewing which closely predict usage in most mass media. The purpose of this study is to benchmark in-app audiences against these laws to better understand market structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected nearly 3,000 h of screen time data from a panel of Generation Z respondents and tested the predictive validity of two models against observed interactions with 23 popular apps in six categories over a week.

Findings

Results show that contrary to industry assumptions, audience for in-app advertising is not segmented. Engagement on individual apps and audience sharing rates between apps and app formats is predicted well.

Research limitations/implications

Optimising in-app advertising for short-term activation only limits its potential for brand building. These findings encourage advertisers to schedule online campaigns for brand reach as well as sales lift, by advancing current understanding of audience behaviour.

Originality/value

Many authors have called for consistency in metrics to compare on- and off-line media performance. This study bridges that gap, demonstrating how reach and frequency measures could inform digital scheduling.
Knowledge management and firm innovative performance with the moderating role of transformational leadership
Authors: Ting Irene Wei Kiong , Sui Hai Juan , Kweh Qian Long , Nawanir Gusman
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of knowledge management on firm innovative performance and the moderating effect of transformational leadership in the relationship between knowledge management and firm innovative performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 200 managers of participating Malaysian public listed service companies responded to a self-report set of the survey questionnaire. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling technique is used to estimate the main effects of knowledge management, particularly its infrastructures and processes, on firm innovative performance and the moderating effects of transformational leadership on the relationship.

Findings

Knowledge management infrastructures and knowledge management processes both have statistically significant and positive effects on firm innovative performance. In addition, transformational leadership significantly and negatively moderates the relationships.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can be a reference for the Malaysian public listed service companies to understand how and why managing well knowledge management infrastructures and processes can improve firm innovative performance. Moreover, this study highlights the role of transformational leaders in the context of knowledge management.

Originality/value

This study brings about managerial viewpoints of the relationship between knowledge management and firm innovative performance, with the moderating role of transformational leadership.
The financial action taskforce and money laundering: critical analysis of the Panama papers and the role of the United Kingdom
Authors: Al-Emadi Aisha Hassan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effectiveness of the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations in the UK in an attempt to combat the laundering of proceeds of corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

A desk review of secondary resources was conducted to analyze available literature to examine the research topic.

Findings

The leakage of 11.5 million documents, known as the Panama papers, has revealed that the UK functioned as a safe haven for illicit and corrupt money. In an attempt to address this, the country called for a public registry of beneficial owners to disclose the identities of the owners of the incorporated corporations and to extend them to individuals abroad holding UK property. The FATF report recognizes the UK’s far-reaching regulation. Despite the measures taken, UK still faces serious risks with regard to the laundering of criminal proceeds, which demonstrates that technical compliance with FATF rules is not enough to effectively curb money laundering.

Originality/value

This study suggests that FATF rules’ effectiveness in identifying instances of laundering the proceeds of corruption is limited because of the deeply rooted system vulnerabilities and the rapid changes in money laundering trends.
Leveraging Internet capabilities for international business relationships: a comparison between Australian, Chilean and Taiwanese exporting SMEs
Authors: Mathews Shane , Perks Keith J. , Bianchi Constanza , Chen Hsiu-Li , Glavas Charmaine
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how Internet capabilities influence international business relationships using the resource-based view and capabilities perspective. Many studies highlight the importance of the Internet in helping smaller firms internationalize. However, few studies actually test how this is happening. The central purpose of this research was to examine and test the impact of Internet capabilities on international information availability, international strategic orientation and international business relationships in a sample of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia, Chile and Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a structural equation modeling process so as to test the Internet capabilities on international business networks. The empirical research is based on an analysis of a sample of internationalizing SMEs in three export-intensive markets in Australia (215), Chile (204) and Taiwan (130) to test a conceptual model.

Findings

The results demonstrate that Internet capabilities have a distinct effect on the development of international business relationships for SMEs in the three countries. That is, Internet capabilities have a positive impact on a firm's international business relationships, but this varies across Australian and Taiwanese and Chilean SMEs.

Originality/value

These studies give empirical validation on the way in which smaller firms are using Internet capabilities for leveraging networks in internationalization and how this varies across countries. The results demonstrate that Internet capabilities have a distinct and positive impact on the development of international business relationships for SMEs in the three countries. However, there are specific differences between countries in how the Internet is being leveraged for the development of international business networks. Something currently not highlighted in the body of knowledge.
Political animosity in cross-border acquisitions: EMNCs’ market and nonmarket strategy in a developed market
Authors: Liou Ru-Shiun , Brown Lee Warren , Hasija Dinesh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Many multinational corporations that originate from emerging economies (emerging market multinational corporations (EMNCs)) opt for acquiring a target firm in a developed market to expediently upgrade their strategic capabilities. To successfully achieve their strategic goals in the developed markets, EMNCs may use market actions and nonmarket actions to mitigate the potential risk derived from the national political differences between their home emerging economy and host developed economy. This paper aims to extend the legitimacy-based view of political risk to study the influence of political animosity – defined as misalignment of the host-home countries’ national interests – on the EMNCs’ market and nonmarket strategy in a developed market.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we examine all EMNCs that made cross-border acquisitions of the USA targets from 2005 to 2011. The final sample consists of 252 acquisitions originating from 25 emerging markets. This paper used Tobit regression analysis to test the direct and moderating hypotheses.

Findings

Facing a high level of political animosity between their home country and the host developed economy, EMNCs use a market strategy by acquiring less ownership stake in the developed market, as well as engage in a nonmarket strategy by increasing lobbying activities. In addition, because of the heightened legitimacy concerns of developed market shareholders, cross-listed EMNCs have a greater tendency than non-cross-listed EMNCs to improve their legitimacy through their market and nonmarket strategy.

Originality/value

The current paper sheds light on EMNCs’ international strategy in developed markets by examining both market and nonmarket actions. EMNCs are shown to be strongly motivated to engage in acquisitions in developed markets so they can acquire invaluable strategic resources, such as brands and distribution channels, to compete with the developed market multinationals. A sophisticated ownership strategy and corporate political activities are invaluable for EMNCs to catch up with developed market multinationals.
Disentangling temporal food web dynamics facilitates understanding of ecosystem functioning
Authors: Kortsch Susanne , Frelat Romain , Pecuchet Laurene , Olivier Pierre , Putnis Ivars , Bonsdorff Erik , Ojaveer Henn , Jurgensone Iveta , Strāķe Solvita , Rubene Gunta , Krūze Ēriks , Nordström Marie C.
Published: February 2021

Studying how food web structure and function vary through time represents an opportunity to better comprehend and anticipate ecosystem changes. Yet, temporal studies of highly resolved food web structure are scarce. With few exceptions, most temporal food web studies are either too simplified, preventing a detailed assessment of structural properties or binary, missing the temporal dynamics of energy fluxes among species.

Using long‐term, multi‐trophic biomass data coupled with highly resolved information on species feeding relationships, we analysed food web dynamics in the Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea) over more than three decades (1981–2014). We combined unweighted (topology‐based) and weighted (biomass‐ and flux‐based) food web approaches, first, to unravel how distinct descriptors can highlight differences (or similarities) in food web dynamics through time, and second, to compare temporal dynamics of food web structure and function.

We find that food web descriptors vary substantially and distinctively through time, likely reflecting different underlying ecosystem processes. While node‐ and link‐weighted metrics reflect changes related to alterations in species dominance and fluxes, unweighted metrics are more sensitive to changes in species and link richness. Comparing unweighted, topology‐based metrics and flux‐based functions further indicates that temporal changes in functions cannot be predicted using unweighted food web structure. Rather, information on species population dynamics and weighted, flux‐based networks should be included to better comprehend temporal food web dynamics.

By integrating unweighted, node‐ and link‐weighted metrics, we here demonstrate how different approaches can be used to compare food web structure and function, and identify complementary patterns of change in temporal food web dynamics, which enables a more complete understanding of the ecological processes at play in ecosystems undergoing change.
Western Australia's Local Government Act 25 years on and under review: A qualitative study of local government Chief Executive Officers
Authors: Hirst Tracey M. , Carpini Joseph A. , Timming Andrew R. , Notebaert Lies
Published: February 2021

TheLocal Government Act 1995 (WA), which prescribes local governments’ (LGs) powers and responsibilities in Western Australia (WA), is undergoing a major review. This is likely to have significant impact on LGs and the communities they serve. Qualitative data from 43 (31%) WA LG Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) were obtained and analysed to inform the review. Structural issues emerged across three points of conjunction: the interfaces between (i) state–local government, (ii) councillors–CEO and (iii) councillors–community. The state–local government conjuncture related to the perceived need for state government to address harassment towards LGs and staff. The councillors–CEO interface revealed interconnected issues that predisposed these political–administrative branches to conflict. The principle conflict was the statutory requirement for CEOs to report councillors for legislative breaches (whistleblowing) while depending on councillors for their employment. Other interconnected issues related to the recruitment, performance management, and job security of CEOs and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of councillors regarding human resource management. The councillors–community interface related to the lack of role clarity regarding councillors’ responsibilities. Overall, the key concern was the tension at the councillors–CEO interface. Practical recommendations include structural and legislative changes to reconcile identified issues. This research provides useful insights that may improve the functioning of LGs.
Age‐associations in British politics: Implications for the sociology of aging
Authors: Fletcher James Rupert
Published: February 2021

Debates regarding the status of age in social analysis are foundational to the sociology of aging, with scholars continually questioning the role of age as a social force. The contemporary politicization of age in British politics sheds useful light on this debate. During the past decade, age has emerged as a potent predictor of political preference in the United Kingdom, encompassing numerous intertwined political economic developments. At face value, the emergence of age as a key political variable substantiates the status of age in social analysis. However, I argue that it is articulations of age‐stratified politics, as much as the associations themselves, that should be of principle concern for the sociology of aging, because such articulations are reformulating age, aging and intergenerational relations. The sociology of aging should, therefore, engage with the contemporary politicization of age as a new answer to foundational debates.
Stability of oil‐in‐water emulsion influenced by the interaction of modified tapioca starch and milk protein
Authors: Thaiwong Numphon , Thaiudom Siwatt
Published: February 2021

The interaction effect of acetylated or octenyl succinic acid (OSA) starch and milk protein (skim milk powder: SMP; sodium caseinate: NaC; or whey protein concentrate: WPC) on the stability of oil‐in‐water emulsion with variable fat content was determined. The types of milk protein, starch and fat content in emulsions influenced the creaming index of emulsion. Creaming was found in emulsions containing SMP > WPC > NaC, respectively. The interaction of NaC‐OSA provided the highest emulsion stability. The type of modified starch with whey protein did not affect the creaming, but the fat content did. The results will benefit colloidal and emulsion industrial manufacturers.
Dietary pectic substances enhance gut health by its polycomponent: A review
Authors: Wu Dongmei , Ye Xingqian , Linhardt Robert J. , Liu Xuwei , Zhu Kai , Yu Chengxiao , Ding Tian , Liu Donghong , He Qiaojun , Chen Shiguo
Published: February 2021

Pectic substances, one of the cell wall polysaccharides, exist widespread in vegetables and fruits. A surge of recent research has revealed that pectic substances can inhibit gut inflammation and relieve inflammatory bowel disease symptoms. However, physiological functions of pectins are strongly structure dependent. Pectic substances are essentially heteropolysaccharides composed of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan backbones substituted by various neutral sugar sidechains. Subtle changes in the architecture of pectic substances may remarkably influence the nutritional function of gut microbiota and the host homeostasis of immune system. In this context, developing a structure–function understanding of how pectic substances have an impact on an inflammatory bowel is of primary importance for diet therapy and new drugs. Therefore, the present review has summarized the polycomponent nature of pectic substances, the activities of different pectic polymers, the effects of molecular characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of pectic substances. The immunomodulated property of pectic substances depends on not only the chemical composition but also the physical structure characteristics, such as molecular weight (Mw) and chain conformation. The potential mechanisms by which pectic substances exert their protective effects are mainly reversing the disordered gut microbiota, regulating immune cells, enhancing barrier function, and inhibiting pathogen adhesion. The manipulation of pectic substances on gut health is sophisticated, and the link between structural specificity of pectins and selective regulation needs further exploration.
Retrospective validation of a risk stratification tool developed for the management of patients with blunt chest trauma (the STUMBL score)
Authors: Mukerji Saptarshi , Tan Eunicia , May Charlotte , Micanovic Christina , Blakemore Paul , Phelps Kelly , Melville Hannah , Jones Peter
Published: February 2021

Objective

To assess validity of the STUMBL score in New Zealand for complications of blunt chest trauma without multi‐trauma and immediate life‐threatening injuries.

Methods

A multi‐centre, retrospective observational study was carried out in five EDs. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated for all, early and late complications and ethnic sub‐groups. Youden Index generated for each ROC was used to indicate cut scores for risks of complication, ICU admission, prolonged length of stay (LOS) and mortality.

Results

A total of 445 patients were included. AUROC for all complications composite were (0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68–0.77), mortality (0.92, 95% CI 0.89–0.94), ICU admissions (0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.81) and prolonged LOS (0.80, 95% CI 0.76–0.83) were calculated. The score performed better in the New Zealand European (Pākehā) sub‐group compared to Māori and Pasifika (AUROC [95% CI]: 0.80 [0.73–0.85], 0.69 [0.56–0.79], 0.66 [0.46–0.82], respectively). Patients with scores >12 were at risk of complications from blunt chest trauma, >15 at risk of prolonged LOS and >18 at risk of ICU admission and mortality.

Conclusions

The STUMBL score at a cut‐off of <12 did not predict all complications sufficiently well to recommend for general use in our population. However, a score >15 predicted prolonged LOS and a score >18 predicted mortality sufficiently to be clinically useful for these outcomes. The score is more accurate in New Zealand Pākehā and needs to be used with caution in Māori and Pasifika populations. A larger prospective validation is required to further assess the score.