bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural stimuli drive concerted nonlinear responses in populations of retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Karamanlis Dimokratis , Khani Mohammad H. , Schreyer Helene M. , Zapp Sören J. , Mietsch Matthias , Gollisch Tim
Published: January 2023

The role of the vertebrate retina in early vision is generally described by the efficient coding theory, which predicts that the retina discards spatiotemporal correlations in natural scenes. It is unclear, however, whether the predicted decorrelation in the activity of ganglion cells, the retina’s output neurons, holds under gaze shifts, which dominate the natural visual input. We here show that species-specific gaze patterns in natural stimuli can drive strong and correlated spiking responses both within and across distinct types of ganglion cells in marmoset as well as mouse retina. These concerted responses violate efficient coding and signal fixation periods with locally high spatial contrast. Finally, novel model-based analyses of ganglion cell responses to natural stimuli reveal that the observed response correlations follow from nonlinear pooling of ganglion cell inputs. Our results reveal how concerted population activity can surpass efficient coding to detect gaze-related stimulus features.
Navigation and the Efficiency of Spatial Coding: Insights from Closed-Loop Simulations
Authors: Ghazinouri Behnam , Nejad Mohammadreza Mohagheghi , Cheng Sen
Published: January 2023

Spatial learning is critical for survival and its underlying neuronal mechanisms have been studied extensively. These studies have revealed a wealth of information about the neural representations of space, such as place cells and boundary cells. While many studies have focused on how these representations emerge in the brain, their functional role in driving spatial learning and navigation has received much less attention. We extended an existing computational modeling tool-chain to study the functional role of spatial representations using closed-loop simulations of spatial learning. At the heart of the model agent was a spiking neural network that formed a ring attractor. This network received inputs from place and boundary cells and the location of the activity bump in this network was the output. This output determined the movement directions of the agent. We found that the navigation performance depended on the parameters of the place cell input, such as their number, the place field sizes, and peak firing rate, as well as, unsurprisingly, the size of the goal zone. The dependence on the place cell parameters could be accounted for by just a single variable, the overlap index, but this dependence was nonmonotonic. By contrast, performance scaled monotonically with the Fisher information of the place cell population. Our results therefore demonstrate that efficiently encoding spatial information is critical for navigation performance.
Arabidopsis TRB proteins function in H3K4me3 demethylation by recruiting JMJ14
Authors: Wang Ming , Zhong Zhenhui , Gallego-Bartolomé Javier , Feng Suhua , Shih Yuan-Hsin , Liu Mukun , Zhou Jessica , Richey John Curtis , Ng Charmaine , Jami-Alahmadi Yasaman , Wohlschlegel James , Wu Keqiang , Jacobsen Steven E.
Published: January 2023

Arabidopsis telomeric repeat binding factors (TRBs) can bind telomeric DNA sequences to protect telomeres from degradation. TRBs can also recruit Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) to deposit tri-methylation of H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) over certain target loci. Here, we demonstrate that TRBs also associate and colocalize with JUMONJI14 (JMJ14) and trigger H3K4me3 demethylation at some loci. Thetrb1/2/3triple mutant and thejmj14-1mutant show an increased level of H3K4me3 over TRB and JMJ14 binding sites, resulting in up-regulation of their target genes. Furthermore, tethering TRBs to the promoter region of genes with an artificial zinc finger (TRB-ZF) successfully triggers target gene silencing, as well as H3K27me3 deposition, and H3K4me3 removal. Interestingly, JMJ14 is predominantly recruited to ZF off-target sites with low levels of H3K4me3, which is accompanied with TRB-ZFs triggered H3K4me3 removal at these loci. These results suggest that TRB proteins coordinate PRC2 and JMJ14 activities to repress target genes via H3K27me3 deposition and H3K4me3 removal.
Modeling and Analysis of a Cell-Free Gluconate Responsive Biosensor
Authors: Adhikari Abhinav , Murti Abhishek , Narayanan Anirudh M. , Lim Ha Eun , Varner Jeffrey D.
Published: January 2023

Cell-free synthetic systems are composed of the parts required for transcription and translation processes in a buffered solution. Thus, unlike living cells, cell-free systems are amenable to rapid adjustment of the reaction composition and easy sampling. Further, because cellular growth and maintenance requirements are absent, all resources can go toward synthesizing the product of interest. Recent improvement in key performance metrics, such as yield, reaction duration, and portability, has increased the space of possible applications open to cell-free systems and lowered the time required to design-build-test new circuitry. One promising application area is biosensing. This study describes developing and modeling a D-gluconate biosensor circuit operating in a reconstituted cell-free system. Model parameters were estimated using time-resolved measurements of the mRNA and protein concentration with and without the addition of D-gluconate. Sensor performance was predicted using the model for D-gluconate concentrations not used in model training. The model predicted the transcription and translation kinetics and the dose response of the circuit over several orders of magnitude of D-gluconate concentration. Global sensitivity analysis of the model parameters gave detailed insight into the operation of the sensor circuit. Taken together, this study reported an in-depth, systems-level analysis of a D-gluconate biosensor circuit operating in a reconstituted cell-free system. This circuit could be used directly to estimate D-gluconate or as a subsystem in a more extensive synthetic gene expression program.
Branched chain amino acid synthesis is coupled to TOR activation early in the cell cycle in yeast
Authors: Blank Heidi M. , Reuse Carsten , Schmidt-Hohagen Kerstin , Hammer Staci E. , Hiller Karsten , Polymenis Michael
Published: January 2023

How cells coordinate their metabolism with division determines the rate of cell proliferation. Dynamic patterns of metabolite synthesis during the cell cycle are unexplored. We report the first isotope tracing analysis in synchronous, growing budding yeast cells. Synthesis of leucine, a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), increased through the G1 phase of the cell cycle, peaking later during DNA replication. Cells lacking Bat1, a mitochondrial aminotransferase that synthesizes BCAAs, grew slower, were smaller, and were delayed in the G1 phase, phenocopying cells in which the growth-promoting kinase complex TORC1 was moderately inhibited. Loss of Bat1 lowered the levels of BCAAs and reduced TORC1 activity. Exogenous provision of BCAAs to cells lacking Bat1 promoted cell division and increased TORC1 activity. In wild-type cells, TORC1 activity was dynamic in the cell cycle, starting low in early G1 but increasing later in the cell cycle. These results suggest a link between BCAA synthesis from glucose to TORC1 activation in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
Hypoxia-inducing cryogels uncover key cancer-immune cell interactions in an oxygen-deficient tumor microenvironment
Authors: Colombani Thibault , Rogers Zachary J. , Bhatt Khushbu , Sinoimeri James , Gerbereux Lauren , Hamrangsekachaee Mohammad , Bencherif Sidi A.
Published: January 2023

Hypoxia, an important feature of solid tumors, is a major factor shaping the immune landscape, and several cancer models have been developed to emulate hypoxic tumors. However, to date, they still have several limitations, such as the lack of reproducibility, inadequate biophysical cues, limited immune cell infiltration, and poor oxygen (O2) control, leading to non-pathophysiological tumor responses. As a result, it is essential to develop new and improved cancer models that mimic key features of the tumor extracellular matrix and recreate tumor-associated hypoxia while allowing cell infiltration and cancer-immune cell interactions. Herein, hypoxia-inducing cryogels (HICs) have been engineered using hyaluronic acid (HA) as macroporous scaffolds to fabricate three-dimensional microtissues and model a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Specifically, tumor cell-laden HICs have been designed to deplete O2locally and induce long-standing hypoxia. This state of low oxygen tension, leading to HIF-1α stabilization in tumor cells, resulted in changes in hypoxia-responsive gene expression and phenotype, a metabolic adaptation to anaerobic glycolysis, and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, HIC-supported tumor models induced dendritic cell (DC) inhibition, revealing a phenotypic change in plasmacytoid B220+DC (pDC) subset and an impaired conventional B220−DC (cDC) response in hypoxia. Lastly, our HIC-based melanoma model induced CD8+ T cell inhibition, a condition associated with the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, increased expression of immunomodulatory factors, and decreased degranulation and cytotoxic capacity of T cells. Overall, these data suggest that HICs can be used as a tool to model solid-like tumor microenvironments and identify a phenotypic transition from cDC to pDC in hypoxia and the key contribution of HA in retaining cDC phenotype and inducing their hypoxia-mediated immunosuppression. This technology has great potential to deepen our understanding of the complex relationships between cancer and immune cells in low O2conditions and may pave the way for developing more effective therapies.
Virome analyses by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in chilli (Capsicum anuumL.) presented with diverse symptoms phenotype revealed the association of seven plant viruses
Authors: Reddy Netla Vamsidhar , Hiremath Shridhar , Muttappagol Mantesh , Vinay Kumar H. D. , Prasanna S. Koti , Mohan Kumar T. L , Jahir Basha C. R. , Shankarappa K. S. , Venkataravanappa V. , Lakshminarayana Reddy C. N.
Published: January 2023

Chilli is an important vegetable and spice crop, is known to be infected by several viruses. Techniques used in diagnosis of plant viral diseases before Next-generation sequencing (NGS) are having limitation of identifying the only known viruses. In the present study, virome analyses in infected chilli leaf samples was carried out using NGS to know the diversity of both known and unknown viruses associated with diseased symptoms. For virome profiling, samples from 19 fields were collected from chilli plants showing leaf curling, vein banding, mosaic, mottling, shoestring/rat tail/filiform/leathery and dull coloured leaves. Viral disease incidence in the surveyed fields varied from 26.66% to 47.50%. Total RNA was extracted from the 19 chilli leaf samples collected from fields and were pooled at equimolar concentration for virome profiling. From the rRNA-depleted pooled total RNA, mRNA and sRNA libraries were prepared and sequenced using Illumina NOVASEQ 6000 platform. Raw sequence data obtained wasde novoassembled using three approaches; mRNAome with Trinity, sRNAome with Velvet and whole transcriptome (WT) with SPAdes assembly. Chilli virome, pairwise sequence identity and phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of seven different viruses; chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) along with its associated alpha and betasatellites, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV), pepper cryptic virus-2 (PCV-2), pepper vein yellows virus (PeVYV), bell pepper alphaendornavirus (BPEV) and tobacco vein clearing virus (TVCV). From the virus associated contigs, complete/near-complete genomes for ChiLCV, CMV, PCV-2, PeVYV and BPEV and, partial genomes for GBNV and TVCV were reconstructed from the RNAome. Recombination breakpoint analyses revealed presence of recombination breakpoints in ChiLCV (coat protein and AC4 regions), CMV RNA2 (2a protein region) and P0, P3 and P5 protein regions of PeVYV. viruses identified in the current study are known to be originated from intra and interspecific recombination. Further, all the viruses detected in the pooled RNA sample were validated by PCR and loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using specific primers designed. Among the seven viruses identified in the study in chilli, PeVYV and BPEV are the first reports from India.
Organisms use mode-switching to solve the explore-vs-exploit problem
Authors: Biswas Debojyoti , Lamperski Andrew , Yang Yu , Hoffman Kathleen , Guckenheimer John , Fortune Eric S. , Cowan Noah J.
Published: January 2023

The inescapable link between sensing and movement generates a conflict between producing costly movements for gathering information (“explore”) versus using previously acquired information to achieve a goal (“exploit”). Determining the optimal balance between explore and exploit is a computationally intractable problem, necessitating the use of heuristics. We looked to nature to measure and model the solutions used by organisms. Here we show that the electric fishEigenmannia virescensuses a salience-dependent mode-switching strategy to solve the explore–exploit conflict during a refuge tracking task. The fish produced distinctive non-Gaussian (i.e., non-normal) distributions of movement velocities characterized by sharp peaks for slower, task-oriented “exploit” movements and broad shoulders for faster, “explore” movements. The measures of non-normality increased in relation to increased sensory salience. Data from ten phylogenetically diverse organisms, from amoebae to humans, revealed the same distinctive distribution of movement velocities that were also modulated in relation to sensory salience. We propose a state-uncertainty based mode-switching heuristic that (1) reproduces the distinctive velocity distribution, (2) rationalizes modulation by sensory salience, and (3) outperforms the classic persistent excitation approach while using less energy. This mode-switching heuristic provides insights to purposeful exploratory behaviors in organisms as well as a framework for more efficient state estimation and control of robots.
Social media marketing, value creation and firm's sustainability performance: a study among young consumers
Authors: Owusu Yeboah Adwoa Yeboaa , Kwarteng Michael Adu , Novak Petr
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Social media marketing (SMMT) is explored in the light of value creation (VC) and firms' sustainability performance. This research deals with the influence of both value co-creation (VCCR) and value co-destruction (VCDE) on SMMT and firm sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach is employed in this research. By means of structural equation modeling (SEM), specifically, PLS (partial least squares)-SEM, consumers' responses are analyzed.

Findings

The result confirms that SMMT influences firms' sustainability performance. Additionally, the study established a relationship between SMMT and VCCR and SMMT and VCDE. The study further showed that VCCR contributes to sustainability. Concerning the indirect relationships, the study indicates that VCDE influenced SMMT and sustainability performance.

Research limitations/implications

A theoretical basis for studying both VCCR and VCDE is provided. The current study especially encourages further study into VCDE.

Practical implications

This work informs businesses about using SMMT to enhance sustainability performance. This work also warns about the reality of VCDE when using SMMT.

Originality/value

This research empirically explores SMMT and firm sustainability performance (SPFM) and also has a model that includes both VCCR and VCDE.
Experiencing cinematic architecture: the impact of architecture on the audience emotional engagement
Authors: Abu-Obeid Natheer , Abuhassan Lama Bilal
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The goal of the study is to underline “Cinematic Architecture” as another source of architectural thinking and research. This study is also a response to the shortage in empirical research on architecture in the cinema. Moreover, the study introduces the architectural components that qualify the cinematic spaces to be influential cinematic experience. This is in addition to investigating the impact of these components on the viewers' cognitive and emotional experience of films.

Design/methodology/approach

In the reported study, an empirical experiment examined scenes from three different movies as experienced by a selected group of audience of movies fans (architects and laypersons). The audience was asked to report feelings the audience had about each scene using a questionnaire that was designed for this purpose, and the audience was asked to write down the aspects that affected the audience's emotions. The experiment evaluated selected emotional states and could specify the architectural features and/or objects that significantly contributed in inducing these emotions.

Findings

This study's findings concluded that emotions, which exist in the positive margin of the emotions “circumplex model,” were influenced by architectural components that were different from those that influenced emotions which lie in the negative margin of the model.

Research limitations/implications

As for filmmakers, the study contributes in developing filmmakers' knowledge about the role of architecture in scenic creation and thus how that knowledge enhances filmmakers' film narrative and the narrative's spatial imagery. As for academia, this study contributes in developing the knowledge about film cognition as related to architectural semiotics. In the context of behavioral approach to architectural design, a behavior setting which is the basic element in environmental design can be dramatized by applying a cinematic narrative to a human activity system within a milieu of architectural design elements.

Practical implications

This study is important for architects, as the study provides architects with an alternative tool for fictional experience and for testing architectural ideas through cinematic architecture. This study also helps in developing new venues for the practice of architecture into the world of fiction. This study also contributes in developing the trend that architectural design thinking can learn from cinematic thinking and practice.

Originality/value

This study introduces an empirical approach to evaluate architectural entities as part of cinematic experience. This study also comes as a response to the shortage in empirical research on architecture in the cinema.
How informational factors affect consumers when purchasing secondhand books online
Authors: A. Ellegood William , M. Riley Jason
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand how informational factors influence online purchase intention when considering secondhand books.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model linking book condition, description, delivery cost, picture, sellers’ rating and delivery date to purchase intention was developed and tested by using structural equation modeling. Survey data from 234 respondents was used to analyze both direct and mediating relationships.

Findings

The examination demonstrates how book condition, delivery cost and sellers’ rating influence consumers’ purchase intention. Book condition directly and indirectly influenced purchase intention, while delivery cost and sellers’ rating were significant only when including the mediating variable delivery date.

Originality/value

This work clarifies where resources should be allocated when offering secondhand books online. Sellers should dedicate time to include informational factors such as book condition, delivery cost and sellers’ rating. Contra wise, there is little value expounding on the book’s description or providing a high-quality picture when selling online.
Strategic planning of sustainable maintenance in heritage school buildings: Malaysia perspectives
Authors: Norazman Norsafiah , Salleh Naziah Muhamad , Mohd Nashruddin Siti Nurul Asma' , Wan Ismail Wan Norisma
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Retrofitting and rehabilitation are part of the conservation approach in Heritage Building Conservation Guideline 2016 in Malaysia. Heritage buildings can be retrofitted to preserve their culture and history while being given a new lease. Rehabilitation is a preservation requirement that is more flexible since it assumes that the structure has already deteriorated to the point where repairs are required to prevent further deterioration. Although the strategies of these two approaches are different, their combination resulted in sustainable heritage building maintenance. This long-term maintenance strategy is necessary, especially for Malaysia's numerous heritage schools, which have serious maintenance problems as a result of infrequent maintenance, repairs, and funding shortages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved secondary data from an intensive literature review along with a comparative study from articles review and context analysis. A comparative study was conducted to determine the typical issue with heritage school buildings and the best maintenance practice for these structures. Finally, it involved a SWOT analysis study of retrofitting and rehabilitating heritage school buildings will be discussed in this study as well.

Findings

The findings of this study will focus on developing a strategic planning framework and maintenance for heritage school buildings in Malaysia to achieve sustainable maintenance. It will also highlight sustainable maintenance best practices for heritage school buildings in Malaysia. Finally, SWOT analysis will go over the pros and cons of retrofitting and rehabilitation for these buildings.

Originality/value

This paper put forward the requirements of strategic planning in heritage school buildings and outlines the significance of sustainable maintenance for educational buildings. It is an alternative for cost savings that has not been extensively investigated in previous studies.
Application of flexible pressure sensor based on AgNWs in human motion detection
Authors: Zhang Huimei , Zhang Jiawen , Zhang Yan , Ye Xu , Li Yuanyuan , Wang Ping
Published: January 2023

Purpose

In this paper, a new flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor which uses non-woven fabric as the flexible substrate and sliver nanowires (AgNWs) as the conductive materials was reported.

Design/methodology/approach

The compression test of the pressure sensors was carried out at different compression frequencies and found that the sensors had more than 5,000 times reusability at high frequency.

Findings

When pressure sensors were applied to different parts of the human body, such as fingers, elbows, knees and throat, the sensors respond differently to different degrees of movement.

Originality/value

The proposed pressure sensor has broad application prospects in the human motion detection.
New teachers' risk for stress: associations with mentoring supports
Authors: Boyle Lauren H. , Mosley Kristen C. , McCarthy Christopher J.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Although mentoring is increasingly hailed as one of the most critical components of US teacher induction programs, the corresponding research base has failed to provide conclusive support for the effectiveness of teacher mentoring.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data from the 2015 to 2016 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) was used to empirically evaluate the relationship between school-based mentoring programs and US first-year teachers' occupational stress risk. NTPS items assessing teachers' workplace demands, resources and mentoring experiences were used to examine associations between stress risk and mentoring supports received. Multiple regression analysis and chi-square tests of independence were conducted to answer the study's three research questions.

Findings

Mentor status and study covariates statistically significantly predicted teacher stress risk, with mentor assignment being associated with decreased stress risk. Findings also revealed teachers who were not assigned a mentor were significantly more likely to experience greater stress risk and when assigned mentors, teachers with greater stress risk reported significantly different mentoring experiences than did teachers with less stress risk.

Originality/value

The current study addresses common limitations found in research on teacher mentoring and occupational stress, including the use of local, small samples and the absence of a comparison group and control variables. The associations between first-year teacher mentoring experiences and stress risk have not been firmly established and the current study provides needed evidence to support that mentored first-year teachers are more likely to report lower stress risk than their unmentored colleagues.
Blockchain technology adoption in Halal traceability scheme of the food supply chain: evidence from Indonesian firms
Authors: Sumarliah Eli , Li Tieke , Wang Bailin , Khan Safeer Ullah , Khan Sher Zaman
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The paper examines the intent to adopt blockchain-facilitated Halal traceability (BFHT) scheme in Indonesian firms' Halal food supply chain (SC). This study integrates Halal-focused attitude, innovation diffusion and institutional theories to construct the model.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection uses a simple random sampling method. Respondents are company leaders with experience and knowledge regarding Halal SC. The SEM-PLS approach was applied to test the hypothetical structure.

Findings

The intent to adopt BFHT is considerably affected by perceived attractiveness, as perceived attractiveness is considerably affected by institutional forces, which are significantly influenced by Halal-focused attitude. Firms that follow a completely Halal-focused attitude show higher awareness regarding institutional forces that motivate them to adopt a BFHT.

Originality/value

This research is among the initial works regarding Halal SCs that integrate Halal-focused attitude, innovation diffusion and institutional theories to recognise firms' intent to adopt a BFHT scheme.
Learning from entrepreneurial failure: examining attribution and contextual factors of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Munawaroh Munjiati , Indarti Nurul , Ciptono Wakhid Slamet , Nastiti Tur
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study's main objective is to examine the effect of learning from entrepreneurial failure on performance, with a type of failure as a moderator variable. Interactions between internal and external causes of failure and learning from entrepreneurial failure are also investigated, as well as entrepreneurs' aspects (i.e. age, experience and education) and organisational contextual factors (i.e. size, sector and location).

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a hypothetico-deductive approach through a survey of 250 purposively sampled entrepreneurs who had suffered business failures. The survey data were subjected to regression analysis and moderated regression using WarpPLS software and an independent sample t test for an in-depth analysis.

Findings

The results indicated that learning from entrepreneurial failure positively affected business performance, an effect moderated by the type of failure, particularly with large failures. Only perceived internal causes of failure exerted a positive effect on learning from entrepreneurial failure; the external causes did not. The effect of failure on business performance was stronger on entrepreneurs who were older and experienced, had non-university educations and operated small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) outside Java–Bali islands.

Originality/value

This study's findings provide empirical evidence that supports the experiential learning theory and attribution theory in explaining the interaction between learning and failure, its cause, its consequences and its magnitude as perceived by entrepreneurs of SMEs in Indonesia, where the rate of failure is relatively high. The authors’ study also emphasises the roles of the entrepreneur and organisational contextual factors, which matter in learning to improve performance.
Congruent internal marketing efforts to reduce turnover intentions among restaurant employees in the midst of COVID-19
Authors: Uludag Orhan , Oluwajana Dokun , Ekanem Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine the factors that influence turnover intentions by examining the effect of congruent internal marketing on turnover intentions among restaurant employees in North Cyprus. The study also integrates work immersion variables to factor in the reduction of turnover intentions of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative study employed questionnaires distributed to 150 participants at various restaurants throughout Northern Cyprus. The study's results were utilized to examine the effect of several components of congruent internal marketing on turnover intention, including work engagement, job satisfaction, coaching and employee development structural equation modelling.

Findings

The study confirmed a positive and significant relationship between congruent internal marketing and turnover intentions, work engagement, job satisfaction and management coaching. It is evident that congruent internal marketing is contingent on elements that minimize employees' turnover intentions. Given the increasing pace of voluntary and involuntary turnover, it is critical to provide concise research for both present and future analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The data collection for this study was limited to the cities of Northern Cyprus, as it focuses on small business operations. Additionally, the researchers were able to collect data from only 30 establishments during the pandemic. Quintessential implication of the current study posits how internal marketing efforts coupled with coaching and engagement practises helps to reduce turnover.

Originality/value

Recently, turnover intention has emerged as a major source of concern for business and organizational survivors, particularly during this COVID-19 pandemic. This had a detrimental effect on local and international enterprises, health, education, hotels and tourism. In essence, the current crisis has had a profound effect on both internal marketing and employee turnover intentions. Drawn from the POS and SET theories, the current study develops and tests parsimonious model in fostering avenues to reduce turnover.
The relationship between characteristics of the source of knowledge and knowledge transfer performance: moderated mediation examination of political skill
Authors: Hung Tsang-Kai , Tian Mu , Lee Shih-Liang
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore how knowledge source and knowledge recipient influence knowledge transfer performance through political skill and partnership quality, and in so doing to make up for the lack of research on the political skills of knowledge sources in the process of knowledge transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used paired-sample questionnaires to conduct a survey. One direct supervisor was paired with 1–4 subordinates; 224 other-reported questionnaires were sent out to supervisors and 896 self-reported questionnaires to subordinates. A total of 171 valid supervisor questionnaires and 511 valid subordinate questionnaires were collected. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to analyze the data.

Findings

This empirical research demonstrated that knowledge sources with political skills can promote partnership quality and influence the success of knowledge transfer.

Research limitations/implications

This study was a cross-sectional design. Therefore, in our future research, self-report and non-self-report data will be collected in the process of questionnaire administration, and a multi-group questionnaire method (time/field isolation method) will be adopted to avoid having the same source of data. Supervisors and employees will be divided into different groups to collect sources, and the results from two different sources will be used to reduce the negative impact of common method variance.

Practical implications

External knowledge sources with political skills can impact recipient' knowledge transfer performance in the workplace, which means that external knowledge sources can provide the organization with innovative ideas and implementation skills.

Originality/value

The study presents a valid model that comprises the antecedents (characteristics of the source of knowledge), mediators (partnership quality), moderators (political skill) and consequences of knowledge transfer performance of firms.
Effects of interface cracks on reliability of surface mount technology interconnection in service environment
Authors: Liu Shaoyi , Yao Songjie , Xue Song , Wang Benben , Jin Hui , Pan Chenghui , Zhang Yinwei , Zhou Yijiang , Zeng Rui , Ping Lihao , Min Zhixian , Zhang Daxing , Wang Congsi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Surface mount technology (SMT) is widely used and plays an important role in electronic equipment. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effects of interface cracks on the fatigue life of SMT solder joint under service load and to provide some valuable reference information for improving service reliability of SMT packages.

Design/methodology/approach

A 3D geometric model of SMT package is established. The mechanical properties of SMT solder joint under thermal cycling load and random vibration load were solved by 3D finite element analysis. The fatigue life of SMT solder joint under different loads can be calculated by using the modified Coffin–Manson model and high-cycle fatigue model.

Findings

The results revealed that cracks at different locations and propagation directions have different effect on the fatigue life of the SMT solder joint. From the location of the cracks, Crack 1 has the most significant impact on the thermal fatigue life of the solder joint. Under the same thermal cycling conditions, its life has decreased by 46.98%, followed by Crack 2, Crack 4 and Crack 3. On the other hand, under the same random vibration load, Crack 4 has the most significant impact on the solder joint fatigue life, reducing its life by 81.39%, followed by Crack 1, Crack 3 and Crack 2. From the crack propagation direction, with the increase of crack depth, the thermal fatigue life of the SMT solder joint decreases sharply at first and then continues to decline almost linearly. The random vibration fatigue life of the solder joint decreases continuously with the increase of crack depth. From the crack depth of 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm, the random vibration fatigue life decreases by 86.75%. When the crack width increases, the thermal and random vibration fatigue life of the solder joint decreases almost linearly.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the effects of interface cracks on the fatigue life and provides useful information on the reliability of SMT packages.
The role of gamification, social, hedonic and utilitarian values on e-commerce adoption
Authors: Kusumawardani Kunthi Afrilinda , Widyanto Hanif Adinugroho , Tambunan Jessica Eva Gloria
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing intention to continue using and spreading the word of mouth for e-commerce applications in the gamification context.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data from an online questionnaire, 219 users of e-commerce applications who played games on e-commerce platforms were gathered as the sample of the research and analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results showed that network exposure from gamification significantly influenced social influence, recognition and reciprocal benefit. However, only social influence and utilitarian shaped attitudes, leading to the intention to continue using the e-commerce platform and spread word of mouth. Recognition, reciprocal benefit and hedonic shopping motivation were not found to significantly influence attitude.

Practical implications

This study provides practical recommendations for e-commerce applications in implementing gamification into their platforms.

Originality/value

This study delivers a better understanding of the implementation of gamification in e-commerce by examining the in-game social interactions and the shopping behaviour in e-commerce to continue using the platform and spread the word of mouth about the gamification method.
Avian paramyxovirus serotype‐1 isolation from migratory birds and environmental water in southern Japan: An epidemiological survey during the 2018/19–2021/2022 winter seasons
Authors: Matsunaga Nonoka , Ijiri Moe , Ishikawa Kemi , Ozawa Makoto , Okuya Kosuke , Khalil Ahmed Magdy , Kojima Isshu , Esaki Mana , Masatani Tatsunori , Matsui Tsutomu , Fujimoto Yoshikazu
Published: January 2023

Newcastle disease caused by highly pathogenic viruses of avian paramyxovirus serotype‐1 (APMV‐1) is a highly contagious poultry disease. Although a large‐scale epidemic of Newcastle disease had occurred in Japan between the 1950s and the 2000s, there have been no outbreaks anywhere since 2010. In addition, there are no reports of epidemiological surveys of APMV‐1 in wild birds in Japan in the last 10 years. We conducted the first epidemiological survey of APMV‐1 in the Izumi plain, Kagoshima prefecture of southern Japan from the winter of 2018 to 2022. A total of 15 APMV‐1 strains were isolated, and isolation rates from roosting water and duck fecal samples were 2.51% and 0.10%, respectively. These results indicate that the isolation method from environmental water may be useful for efficient surveillance of APMV‐1 in wild birds. Furthermore, this is the first report on the success of APMV‐1 isolation from environmental water samples. Genetic analysis of the Fusion (F) gene showed that all APMV‐1 isolates were closely related to virus strains circulating among waterfowl in Far East Asian countries. All isolates have avirulent motifs in their cleavage site of F genes, all of which were presumed to be low pathogenic viruses in poultry. However, pathogenicity test using embryonated chicken eggs demonstrated that some isolates killed all chicken embryos regardless of viral doses inoculated (102–106 50% egg infectious dose). These results indicated that APMV‐1 strains, which are potentially pathogenic to chickens, are continuously brought into the Izumi plain by migrating wild birds.
Plant sex changes the outcome of ant–plant interactions in a facultative myrmecophytic cactus
Authors: Sandoval‐Molina Mario A. , García‐Franco José G. , Díaz‐Castelazo Cecilia , Janczur Mariusz Krzysztof
Published: January 2023

In exchange for extrafloral nectar, ants deter herbivores from the plants decreasing the herbivore damage, and increasing plant performance in terms of growth and survival. Plants of different sexes may exhibit differences in the investment of resources for defence, thereby differentially decreasing the amount of energy available to other physiological processes. In this context, little is known about sex‐related differences in the outcome of ant–plant interactions in plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs).

In the present study, we conducted ant‐exclusion experiments in the field to test for sex‐related differences in the outcome of ant–plant interactions in vegetative and reproductive buds of Opuntia robusta in individuals of different sexes in two populations: trioecious and dioecious. We applied tanglefoot to some plant and others were allowed ant access, and measured herbivory, relative growth rates and survival probabilities of buds during the growing season when EFNs are active. We counted the number of ants foraging in EFNs of flowers and cladodes of different sexes. We hypothesized that differences in resource investment to defence between sexes change the outcome of ant–plant interactions in terms of the number of ants foraging on EFNs, herbivory, growth, and survival probabilities.

Our results suggest sex‐specific strategies in the investment of resources for defence mediated by EFNs in O. robusta, wherein males, females and hermaphrodites from both populations respond differentially to ant presence and herbivores. These sex‐related differences affected the outcome of the ant–plant interactions, influencing changes in number of ants foraging on EFNs, and the resulting herbivory, growth and survival of flowers and cladodes among the different sexes and among populations. Our results suggest that the maintenance of EFNs in O. robusta is costly, reflecting some trade‐offs between growth/survival and defence. Buds visited by ants tended to grow slowly and survive worse in the trioecious population; in the dioecious population they grew slower but survived better. Overall, a greater number of ants visiting EFNs was related to lower herbivore damage, greater growth and survival of flowers and cladodes. Our study underscores the importance of considering plant sex in the outcome of ant–plant interactions.

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On the way out: Government revenues from fossil fuels in Australia
Authors: Burke Paul J.
Published: January 2023

Australia is moving from a fossil fuel‐dominated energy mix to one that is increasingly powered by solar and wind. Fossil fuel exports are also likely to decline given their poor compatibility with the net zero emission targets of key trading partners. There is the potential for a variety of new exports of zero carbon energy and products to emerge. This paper reviews implications of the ongoing energy transition for government revenues from fossil fuel extraction and use and discusses policy options in response. It concludes that the transition heightens the need for efficient government revenue‐raising mechanisms across the economy. Among the possible reforms, this paper reviews the potential for Australia's corporate income tax to be reoriented towards the taxation of above‐normal profits via an allowance for corporate equity approach. Other revenue‐raising options that are discussed include carbon pricing, electronic road user pricing, wider use of progressive royalties, the use of industry levies as applied in Australia's agricultural sector, and the generation of revenue from government co‐investments.
Cross‐Cultural Generalisation in Three Research Practices: Historicising, Comparing, and Theorising in the Study of Religion\s*
Authors: Brand Mattias
Published: January 2023

This article argues for a re‐appreciation of explicit and self‐reflective historicising, comparing, and theorising as three research practices that offer the best answers to the main challenges that the historical study of religion\s faces today. In examining these research practices, I stress the intersection of particularising and generalising tendencies. First, the practice of historicising requires a contextualisation of the historical object(s) and the historian's own situatedness; such a dual contextualisation dovetails with the relational paradigm that characterises current studies of religion\s. Second, comparative research practices make explicit what is often concealed: the methodological back‐and‐forth between the contemporary researcher's frameworks and the selected data set. Rather than delegitimising comparison, this awareness should lead to deeper scrutiny and an ambition to carefully generalise. Third, shifting to a processual notion of theorising rather than engaging solidified theory enables cross‐disciplinary collaboration on and public engagement with large themes in history and society. By illustrating these three research practices and highlighting several of their operational steps, I hope to contribute to the dialogue between historians and social‐scientific theory.
Do Ut Des – the Relation of Material History and Archaeology of Religion to the Study of Religions*
Authors: Rieger Anna‐Katharina
Published: January 2023

Archaeology as “material history” and the study of religions mutually reciprocate through their shared interest in the ability of people to establish memories and create imaginaries. Starting from this presupposition, the article evaluates the approaches used in archaeology to analyse the practices of past peoples. Because of the fragmented nature of the evidence, archaeological methods focus on detailed descriptions, chronologies and operationalising comparisons, all of which are also applicable to the study of religions. Beyond this, both employ theories from sociology as well as from economical, political, and cultural studies. In order to bring these tools to bear on the memory and the imaginary of (past) people, five analytical categories in which human activities can be discursively appropriated are distinguished: space, object, time, context, and practice. Memory and the imaginary converge in these categories, which can be investigated in both archaeology and the study of religions, making a reciprocal exchange between the disciplines possible. Archaeology can enrich the fields of religion and history and related societal discourses in a fruitful way by making clear similarities, differences, and changes in religions through their reflections in material culture, thus making religion more tangible, whereas archaeology benefits from the cross‐cultural and diachronic perspective present in the study of religions.
Soviet men, clothing and appearance in Leningrad in the 1950s and 1960s
Authors: Platonova Evgeniia
Published: January 2023

This article aims to discuss the conversations around men's clothing and appearance in Leningrad during the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1950s, fashion became an important ideological issue in the Soviet Union. The policy of isolationism of late Stalinism alongside the rise of youth subculture stiliagi produced the emergence of formal and informal mechanisms and regimes of regulation of appearance of the Soviet population for the next decade. The system of fashion houses aimed to provide Soviet citizens with contemporary and comfortable clothing and teach them the rules of ‘good taste’ and a proper appearance. The Leningrad Fashion House designed and produced clothing and discussed the variants of appearance of the city residents at official meetings and in fashion magazines. Although fashion was considered as woman's prerogative at the time, the fashion house took into account male customers’ needs and provided them with various clothing items. This article argues that the fashion house in Leningrad constructed its own vision of masculinity that was not significantly influenced by the authorities and to which most male citizens could not adhere.
Customer referencing and capital market benefits: Evidence from the cost of equity
Authors: Jing Jiao , Myers Linda A. , Ng Jeffrey , Su Lixin (Nancy)
Published: January 2023

Customer referencing is a strategy that firms can use to disclose their connections with reputable customers as a means of enhancing their own reputations. We study the capital market benefits of naming reputable nonmajor customers in firms' financial reports to provide empirical evidence on whether this form of customer referencing has important practical implications. We predict and find that firms enjoy a lower cost of equity when they engage in customer referencing in their financial reports, consistent with the argument that this form of voluntary disclosure increases investor attention and customer certification. In cross‐sectional analyses, we predict and find that the benefits of customer referencing are more pronounced for firms that (1) lack major customers or reputable major customers, (2) name customers whose reputations exceed their own, and (3) face higher competition. Overall, our study provides evidence that communicating certain interorganizational connections can generate capital market benefits for disclosing firms.