bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibody longevity and cross-neutralizing activity following SARS-CoV-2 wave 1 and B.1.1.7 infections
Authors: Dupont Liane , Snell Luke B. , Graham Carl , Seow Jeffrey , Merrick Blair , Lechmere Thomas , Hallett Sadie R. , Charalampous Themoula , Alcolea-Medina Adela , Huettner Isabella , Maguire Thomas J. A. , Acors Sam , Almeida Nathalia , Cox Daniel , Dickenson Ruth E. , Galao Rui Pedro , Jimenez-Guardeño Jose M. , Kouphou Neophytos , Lista Marie Jose , Pickering Suzanne , Ortega-Prieto Ana Maria , Wilson Harry , Winstone Helena , Fairhead Cassandra , Su Jia , Nebbia Gaia , Batra Rahul , Neil Stuart , Shankar-Hari Manu , Edgeworth Jonathan D. , Malim Michael H. , Doores Katie J.
Published: June 2021

As SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge globally, a major challenge for COVID-19 vaccination is the generation of a durable antibody response with cross-neutralizing activity against both current and newly emerging viral variants. Cross-neutralizing activity against major variants of concern (B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.351) has been observed following vaccination, albeit at a reduced potency, but whether vaccines based on the Spike glycoprotein of these viral variants will produce a superior cross-neutralizing antibody response has not been fully investigated. Here, we used sera from individuals infected in wave 1 in the UK to study the long-term cross-neutralization up to 10 months post onset of symptoms (POS), as well as sera from individuals infected with the B.1.1.7 variant to compare cross-neutralizing activity profiles. We show that neutralizing antibodies with cross-neutralizing activity can be detected from wave 1 up to 10 months POS. Although neutralization of B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 is lower, the difference in neutralization potency decreases at later timepoints suggesting continued antibody maturation and improved tolerance to Spike mutations. Interestingly, we found that B.1.1.7 infection also generates a cross-neutralizing antibody response, which, although still less potent against B.1.351, can neutralize parental wave 1 virus to a similar degree as B.1.1.7. These findings have implications for the optimization of vaccines that protect against newly emerging viral variants.
Systemic ligand-mimicking bioparticles cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce growth of intracranial triple-negative breast cancer using the human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) to mediate both routes
Authors: Alonso-Valenteen Felix , Sances Sam , Wang HongQiang , Mikhael Simoun , Sims Jessica , Taguiam Michael , Srinivas Dustin , Serrano Erik , Ondatje Briana , Teh James , Wong Michelle , Nguyenle Kimngan , Miao Tianxin , Benhaghnazar Rebecca , Yu John , Svendsen Clive , Abrol Ravinder , Medina Kauwe LK
Published: June 2021

Crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reaching intracranial tumors is a significant clinical challenge for targeted therapeutics and contributes to the poor prognosis for most patients with brain malignancies. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a high propensity for metastasis to the brain and lacks cell surface markers that can be recognized by current targeted therapies used in the clinic, thus limiting therapeutic options. The human epidermal growth factor receptor HER3 (or ErbB3) has emerged as a biomarker of therapeutic resistance and metastasis in a growing range of tumor types and may serve as a possible therapeutic target for TNBC. Accordingly, we have developed HER3-targeted biological particles (bioparticles) that assume polyhedral capsid shapes when encapsulating nucleic acid cargo, forming nano-nucleocapsids (NNCs). The NNCs exhibit systemic homing to resistant and metastatic breast tumors, including TNBC, due to the high cell surface densities of HER3 on these tumors. Here we describe our discovery that HER3 is also prominently expressed on the brain endothelium and can mediate the passage of HER3-targeted NNCs across the BBB and into triple-negative breast tumors localized in the brain. Our findings show that HER3 is present at high levels on the vasculature (but not extravascular parenchyma) of both mouse and human adult brain specimens and associates with the extravasation of systemic HER3-targeted NNCs in mice and in a human model of the BBB (BBB chip). Furthermore, systemically delivered NNCs carrying tumoricidal agents reduced the growth of intracranial TNBC tumors in mice (representing metastatic breast tumors that have established in the brain) and exhibited improved therapeutic profile compared to current therapeutic interventions (liposomal doxorubicin) used in the clinic. This study addresses the major clinical problem of systemically delivering targeted therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and demonstrates a new route for not only accomplishing this but also for reaching tumors localized in the brain.
BSCL2/Seipin Deficiency in Heart Causes Energy Deficit and Heart Failure via Inducing Excessive Lipid Catabolism
Authors: Zhou Hongyi , Li Jie , Su Huabo , Li Ji , Lydic Todd A. , Young Martin E , Chen Weiqin
Published: June 2021

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of death world-wide and is associated with cardiac metabolic perturbations. Human Type 2 Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy (BSCL2) disease is caused by mutations in the BSCL2 gene. Global lipodystrophic Bscl2−/− mice exhibit hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Whether BSCL2 plays a direct role in regulating cardiac substrate metabolism and/or contractile function remains unknown. Here we show that mice with cardiac-specific deletion of Bscl2 (Bscl2cKO) developed dilated HF. Myocardial BSCL2 deletion led to elevated ATGL expression and FA oxidation (FAO) along with reduced cardiac lipid contents. Cardiac dysfunction in Bscl2cKO mice was independent of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, but associated with decreased metabolic reserve and ATP levels. Importantly, heart failure in Bscl2cKO mice could be partially reversed by pharmacological inhibition of FAO, or prevented by high fat diet (HFD) feeding. Lipidomic analysis further identified markedly reduced glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, NEFA and acylcarnitines in Bscl2cKO hearts, which were partially normalized by FAO inhibition or HFD. Our study reveals a new form of HF with excessive lipid catabolism, and identifies a crucial cardiomyocyte-specific role of BSCL2 in controlling cardiac lipid catabolism, energy state and contractile function. It also provides novel insights into metabolically treating energy-starved HF using FAO inhibitor or HFD.
Cell-specific chromatin landscape of human coronary artery resolves regulatory mechanisms of disease risk
Authors: Turner Adam W. , Hu Sheng’en , Mosquera Jose Verdezoto , Ma Wei Feng , Hodonsky Chani J. , Wong Doris , Auguste Gaëlle , Sol-Church Katia , Farber Emily , Kundu Soumya , Kundaje Anshul , Lopez Nicolas G. , Ma Lijiang , Ghosh Saikat Kumar B. , Onengut-Gumuscu Suna , Ashley Euan A. , Quertermous Thomas , Finn Aloke V. , Leeper Nicholas J. , Kovacic Jason C. , Björkgren Johan L.M. , Zang Chongzhi , Miller Clint L.
Published: June 2021

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex inflammatory disease involving genetic influences across several cell types. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 170 loci associated with CAD, where the majority of risk variants reside in noncoding DNA sequences impacting cis-regulatory elements (CREs). Here, we applied single-cell ATAC-seq to profile 28,316 cells across coronary artery segments from 41 patients with varying stages of CAD, which revealed 14 distinct cellular clusters. We mapped ~320,000 accessible sites across all cells, identified cell type-specific elements, transcription factors, and prioritized functional CAD risk variants via quantitative trait locus and sequence-based predictive modeling. We identified a number of candidate mechanisms for smooth muscle cell transition states and identified putative binding sites for risk variants. We further employed CRE to gene linkage to nominate disease-associated key driver transcription factors such as PRDM16 and TBX2. This single cell atlas provides a critical step towards interpreting cis-regulatory mechanisms in the vessel wall across the continuum of CAD risk.
Reducing susceptibility distortion related image blurring in diffusion MRI EPI data
Authors: Clark Ian A. , Callaghan Martina F. , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Maguire Eleanor A. , Mohammadi Siawoosh
Published: June 2021

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an increasingly popular technique in basic and clinical neuroscience. One promising application is to combine diffusion MRI with myelin maps from complementary MRI techniques such as multi-parameter mapping (MPM) to produce g-ratio maps that represent the relative myelination of axons and predict their conduction velocity. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) can process both diffusion data and MPMs, making SPM the only widely accessible software that contains all the processing steps required to perform group analyses of g-ratio data in a common space. However, limitations have been identified in its method for reducing susceptibility-related distortion in diffusion data. More generally, susceptibility-related image distortion is often corrected by combining reverse phase-encoded images (blip-up and blip-down) using the arithmetic mean (AM), however, this can lead to blurred images. In this study we sought to (1) improve the susceptibility-related distortion correction for diffusion MRI data in SPM; (2) deploy an alternative approach to the AM to reduce image blurring in diffusion MRI data when combining blip-up and blip-down EPI data after susceptibility-related distortion correction; and (3) assess the benefits of these changes for g-ratio mapping. We found that the new processing pipeline, called consecutive Hyperelastic Susceptibility Artefact Correction (HySCO) improved distortion correction when compared to the standard approach in the ACID toolbox for SPM. Moreover, using a weighted average (WA) method to combine the distortion corrected data from each phase-encoding polarity achieved greater overlap of diffusion and more anatomically faithful structural white matter probability maps derived from minimally distorted multi-parameter maps as compared to the AM. Third, we showed that the consecutive HySCO WA performed better than the AM method when combined with multi-parameter maps to perform g-ratio mapping. These improvements mean that researchers can conveniently access a wide range of diffusion-related analysis methods within one framework because they are now available within the open-source ACID toolbox as part of SPM, which can be easily combined with other SPM toolboxes, such as the hMRI toolbox, to facilitate computation of myelin biomarkers that are necessary for g-ratio mapping.
A Computational Model of Phosphene Appearance for Epiretinal Prostheses
Authors: Granley Jacob , Beyeler Michael
Published: June 2021

Retinal neuroprostheses are the only FDA-approved treatment option for blinding degenerative diseases. A major outstanding challenge is to develop a computational model that can accurately predict the elicited visual percepts (phosphenes) across a wide range of electrical stimuli. Here we present a phenomenological model that predicts phosphene appearance as a function of stimulus amplitude, frequency, and pulse duration. The model uses a simulated map of nerve fiber bundles in the retina to produce phosphenes with accurate brightness, size, orientation, and elongation. We validate the model on psychophysical data from two independent studies, showing that it generalizes well to new data, even with different stimuli and on different electrodes. Whereas previous models focused on either spatial or temporal aspects of the elicited phosphenes in isolation, we describe a more comprehensive approach that is able to account for many reported visual effects. The model is designed to be flexible and extensible, and can be fit to data from a specific user. Overall this work is an important first step towards predicting visual outcomes in retinal prosthesis users across a wide range of stimuli.
Adaptive reprogramming during early seed germination requires temporarily enhanced fermentation – a critical role for alternative oxidase (AOX) regulation that concerns also microbiota effectiveness
Authors: Revuru Bharadwaj , Noceda Carlos , Gunasekaran Mohanapriya , Kumar Sarma Rajeev , Lima Thiers Karine Leitão , Costa José Hélio , Macedo Elisete Santos , Kumari Aprajita , Gupta Kapuganti Jagadis , Srivastava Shivani , Adholeya Alok , Oliveira Manuela , Velada Isabel , Sircar Debabrata , Sathishkumar Ramalingam , Arnholdt-Schmitt Birgit
Published: June 2021

Plants respond to environmental cues via adaptive cell reprogramming that can affect whole plant and ecosystem functionality. Microbiota constitutes part of plant’s inner and outer environment. This Umwelt underlies steady dynamics, due to complex local and global biotic and abiotic changes. Hence, adaptive plant holobiont responses are crucial for continuous metabolic adjustment at systems levels. Plants require oxygen-dependent respiration for energy-dependent adaptive morphology, such as, germination, root and shoot growth, formation of adventitious, clonal and reproductive organs, fruits and seeds. Fermentative paths can help in acclimation and, to our view the role of alternative oxidase (AOX) in coordinating complex metabolic and physiologic adjustments is underestimated.

Cellular level of sucrose is an important sensor of environmental stress. We explored the role of exogenous sucrose and its interplay with AOX during early seed germination. We found that sucrose-dependent initiation of fermentation during the first 12 hours after imbibition (HAI) was beneficial to germination. However, parallel enhanced AOX expression was essential to control negative effects by prolonged sucrose treatment. Early down-regulated AOX activity until 12 HAI improved germination efficiency in the absence of sucrose, but suppressed early germination in its presence. Our results also suggest that seeds-inoculated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can buffer sucrose stress during germination to restore normal respiration more efficiently.

Following this approach, we propose a simple method to identify organic seeds and low-cost on-farm perspectives for early selection on disease tolerance, predicting plant holobiont behavior and improving germination. Furthermore, our research strengthens the view that AOX can serve as powerful functional marker source for seed hologenomes.
A new organic–inorganic compound, ethylenediammonium hexachloridostannate(IV) p-anisaldehyde disolvate
Authors: Ndiolene Adrienne , Diop Tidiane , Boye Mouhamadou Sembène , Diasse-Sarr Aminata , Englert Ulli
Published: June 2021

The asymmetric unit of the title organic–inorganic hybrid complex [systematic name: ethane-1,2-diaminium hexachloridostannate(IV)–4-methoxybenzaldehyde (1/2)], (C2H10N2)[SnCl6]·2C8H8O2, contains one half of an ethylenediammonium cation, one half of an [SnCl6]2− anion and one p-anisaldehyde molecule. Both the organic cation and the quasi-regular octahedral inorganic anion are located about inversion centres. The organic cations and [SnCl6]2− anions lie in layers parallel to the ac plane with p-anisaldehyde molecules occupying the space between the layers. A network of classical N—H...Cl and N—H...O hydrogen bonds exists between the ethylenediammonium cations and the [SnCl6]2− anions and p-anisaldehyde molecules. These interactions, together with non-classical C—H...O interactions between the ethylenediammonium cations and the p-anisaldehyde molecules, serve to hold the structure together. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.
catena-Poly[[bis(quinolin-8-amine-κ2
N,N′)cadmium(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2
N:C-[dicyanidonickel(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2
C:N]
Authors: Khelfa Selma , Touil Marwa , Setifi Zouaoui , Setifi Fatima , Al-Douh Mohammed Hadi , Glidewell Christopher
Published: June 2021

In the title compound, [CdNi(C9H8N2)2(CN)4]
n
, the Cd and Ni atoms both lie on centres of inversion in space group P21/c. The Cd atom is coordinated by two bidentate quinolin-8-amine ligands and by the N atoms of two cyano ligands, while the square planar Ni atom is coordinated by the C atoms of four cyano ligands. These units form a one-dimensional coordination polymer containing an (–NC—Ni—CN—Cd–)
n
backbone, and the coordination polymer chains are linked into a three-dimensional array by a combination of N—H...N and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, augmented by a π–π stacking interaction.
Synergy effect of nutritional labelling on purchase intention of sugar-sweetened beverages
Authors: Teng Hsu-Ju , Lo Chi-Feng , Ni Jia-Jen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how combined nutrition labelling influences consumer attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and purchase intention for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a mixed method research, quasi-experimental design with 406 valid Taiwanese samples to evaluate the possible effects of combined nutrition labelling on SSB purchase intention; two focus group interviews with four nutritional experts and 12 students were conducted to explain how and why consumers perceived different types of combined nutritional labels.

Findings

Combined labels including sugar type/gram with the guideline daily amounts and traffic light display were perceived by consumers as high-quality and reliable, which improved consumer attitude and SSB purchase intention. Consumers perceived the traffic light display and warning claim as a sugar over-consumption message, which reduced SSB purchase intention through subject norms.

Practical implications

Governments should be aware that concrete nutritional information (NIP) leads to the worst SSB consumption. Moreover, the authors suggest that policymakers emphasise the effectiveness of warning claims on SSB products with “sufficient” sugar information to trigger consumers' concern, remind SSB manufacturers of their moral obligation to consumers.

Originality/value

This study identified that the combined effects of nutritional attributes and parts of meanings might be enhanced, eliminated or even separated from their original meaning. Although the label messages were delivered simultaneously, the consumer's psychological perceptions proved to be more complicated than a single attribute and sequentially affected consumer attitudes, subject norms and SSB purchase intention.
The impact of media on entrepreneurship participation: a cross-country panel data analysis
Authors: Arshad Muhammad , Saleem Sharjeel , Raoof Rabeeya , Sultana Naheed
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Unlike the previous studies that examined the direct relationship between media attention on entrepreneurship (MAE) and entrepreneurship participation, this paper aims to examine the mediated link through entrepreneurial intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The cognitive theory of media provides the foundation for predictions that primary outcome of MAE is the entrepreneurial intention which in turn affects the different types of entrepreneurship participation (early-stage startup activities, new product development [NPD] activities and informal investment activities). The test of the hypothesized model relies on panel data for 2010–2015 on 40 developing and developed countries taken from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report of 2015.

Findings

MAE has an indirect effect on two types of entrepreneurship participation (early-stage startup activities and informal investment activities) via entrepreneurial intention, whereas there is no direct or indirect effect of MAE on NPD activities. The findings also suggest when the entrepreneurial intention is added as a mediator in the model; the direct effect of MAE on early-stage entrepreneurial activities becomes insignificant.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in its nature which established the relationship between MAE and entrepreneurial intention. In addition, this study also explained the mediation mechanism between the relationship of MAE and entrepreneurship participation by using the panel data.
The bright and dark sides of green customer integration (GCI): evidence from Chinese manufacturers
Authors: Feng Taiwen , Sheng Hongyan , Li Minghui
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Based on resource dependence theory and transaction cost economics this study explores how green customer integration (GCI) affects financial performance via information sharing and opportunistic behavior, and the moderating effects of dependence and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a theoretical model and tests it using data from two-waved survey data of 206 Chinese manufacturers. The hypotheses were tested using hierarchical linear regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that GCI has a significant and positive impact on information sharing, but its impact on opportunistic behavior is insignificant. Notably, information sharing has a significant and positive impact on financial performance, while opportunistic behavior has an insignificant impact on financial performance. In addition, dependence negatively moderates the impact of GCI on information sharing and positively moderates the impact of GCI on opportunistic behavior. Trust negatively moderates the impact of GCI on opportunistic behavior.

Originality/value

Although GCI has received widespread attention, how it affects a firm's performance remains unclear. Most previous studies have focused only on its bright side and ignored its dark side. This study highlights how GCI affects financial performance through information sharing and opportunistic behavior, and the moderating effects of dependence and trust. This enriches the understanding of how and under what conditions GCI affects a firm's performance.
Perceived organizational support, graduate research supervision and research completion rate
Authors: Wanyama Seperia Bwadene , Eyamu Samuel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims at examining graduate research supervisors' perceptions of organizational and job supervisors' support and their influence on research completion rate. While research supervision has been mainly examined from pedagogical perspectives, little emphasis has been placed on the human resource management (HRM) activity for academics. This review paper draws from organizational support and social exchange theories (SET) to examine the influence of perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived supervisor support (PSS) in research supervision work.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a narrative literature review of identified relevant readings on organizational support and social exchange, research supervisors' perceived support and their implications for research.

Findings

Research supervisors examine their perceptions of administrative, professional, financial and socio-emotional support from their universities and job supervisors. They in turn feel obligated to reciprocate, for example, through commitment, engagement and performance, towards meeting their goals with the organization, the job supervisor and the student.

Research limitations/implications

The study relied on a literature review; hence, the findings may not reflect actual expressions of research supervisors' perceptions.

Practical implications

The paper shows the application of organizational support and social exchange theories in academic work. It emphasizes the importance of support, perception and reciprocation through an exchange relationship. The research support framework is a guide to managing the relationships among the parties involved in research work.

Originality/value

The paper considers research supervisors as key human resources (HRs) that espouse supportive HRM practices from both the organization and the job supervisor. This is unlike most studies that have employed only pedagogical approaches in explaining research. It further develops a research supervision support framework.
The gateway bug to edible insect consumption: interactions between message framing, celebrity endorsement and online social support
Authors: Legendre Tiffany S. , Baker Melissa A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Climate change and global population growth are threatening the sustainability of hospitality food systems. Foodservice organizations are seeking an optimal solution for this problem. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization proposed edible insects as a solution, yet the “yuck” factor discourages consumers from actively endorsing this option. Thus, this study aims to find ways to increase consumer acceptance of edible insects.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (message framing: hedonic vs utilitarian) × 2 (celebrity endorsement: absence vs presence) × 2 (social support: low vs high) between-subjects factorial design experiment was conducted.

Findings

The significant three-way interaction effects show that when celebrity endorsement is absent, there is no difference in restaurant advocacy (RA) and experience satisfaction between utilitarian and hedonic message framing, regardless of low (vs high) social support. However, when celebrity endorsement is present and social support is not lacking, a hedonic (vs a utilitarian) message had more significant effects on dependent variables. Conversely, when celebrity-endorsed messages receive high social support, utilitarian (vs hedonic) messages had a more substantial effect on the outcome variables.

Originality/value

This study contributes to alternative protein and associated consumer psychology and hospitality marketing literature by introducing marketing strategies for edible insects. By demonstrating the three-way interaction effects of message framing, celebrity, endorsement and social support on RA and experience satisfaction, this study could demonstrate some boundary conditions to consider when applying celebrity endorsement strategies (e.g. message framing and social support). Also, by addressing the effects of social support, this study builds upon the lack of hospitality literature on online social support.
Open innovation and performance in the service sector
Authors: Vincenzi Ticiana Braga De , da Cunha João Carlos
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Organizations that decide to invest in innovation must define how this will be done: internally, externally or in a hybrid way, developing internal research and establishing partnerships with other agents of the innovation system. This paper aims to analyze whether the service companies’ intensity of openness and innovation efforts are related to their innovative and financial performances. Open innovation assumes that organizations should use external and internal resources as they develop new technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data from the survey of technological innovation (Pintec). As regards innovations, it was considered the commercial and operational innovation performances and the innovative novelty performance. As regards financial performance, it was considered the overall net sales per employee. The intensity of open innovation was measured by the combination of breadth and depth (diversity and importance of the interfaces). The innovative effort was measured by spending on innovation activities. Regressions were applied to evaluate a set of hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that companies with a greater orientation toward open innovation presented better scores. The results also lead to the conclusion that foreign firm ownership structure and being part of a corporate group were the factors that caused the greatest impact on financial performance in the service sector.

Practical implications

The study provides empirical data on the importance of open innovation in improving organizations' performance, especially the breadth of open innovation.

Originality/value

The study contributes to expanding the research field addressing the relationship between service innovation and performance.
Doctor recommendation on healthcare consultation platforms: an integrated framework of knowledge graph and deep learning
Authors: Yuan Hui , Deng Weiwei
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Recommending suitable doctors to patients on healthcare consultation platforms is important to both the patients and the platforms. Although doctor recommendation methods have been proposed, they failed to explain recommendations and address the data sparsity problem, i.e. most patients on the platforms are new and provide little information except disease descriptions. This research aims to develop an interpretable doctor recommendation method based on knowledge graph and interpretable deep learning techniques to fill the research gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

This research proposes an advanced doctor recommendation method that leverages a health knowledge graph to overcome the data sparsity problem and uses deep learning techniques to generate accurate and interpretable recommendations. The proposed method extracts interactive features from the knowledge graph to indicate implicit interactions between patients and doctors and identifies individual features that signal the doctors' service quality. Then, the authors feed the features into a deep neural network with layer-wise relevance propagation to generate readily usable and interpretable recommendation results.

Findings

The proposed method produces more accurate recommendations than diverse baseline methods and can provide interpretations for the recommendations.

Originality/value

This study proposes a novel doctor recommendation method. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the method in generating accurate and interpretable recommendations. The research provides a practical solution and some managerial implications to online platforms that confront information overload and transparency issues.
The Pransky interview: Dr Gary Guthart, chief executive officer, Intuitive
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The following paper is a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry turned successful business leader, regarding the commercialization and challenges of bringing technological inventions to market while overseeing a company. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviewee is Dr Gary Guthart, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Intuitive Surgical, Inc., and a member of the Board of Directors, both roles he has held since 2010. Guthart discusses his journey to becoming the CEO and also shares some of his lessons learned and challenges faced.

Findings

Guthart received a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from California, Berkeley. He earned an MS and a PhD in engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Guthart’s first scientific experience came early in his career in a Human Factors Lab at NASA, supporting a team studying human performance assessment of pilots. Guthart was then part of the core team developing foundational technology for computer-enhanced surgery at SRI International. While at SRI, he also developed algorithms for vibration and acoustic control of large-scale systems. Guthart joined Intuitive Surgical as part of the first engineering team in 1996 as a Control Systems Analyst. He was promoted to Vice President of Engineering in 2002 and was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in 2008.

Originality/value

Under Dr Gary Guthart’s leadership and his more than 25 years of medical technology, engineering, scientific and management experience, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., the world’s most successful medical robotics company, has grown to: more than 8,000 employees; nearly 6,000 da Vinci systems sold; more than 8.5 million procedures performed and an increase in stock (NASDAQ: ISRG) of more than 600%. Guthart is also on the Board of Directors for Illumina, Inc., and a member of the Board of Directors for the Silicon Leadership Group.
Influence of new product development best practices on performance: an analysis in innovative Brazilian companies
Authors: Araujo Tiago Ribeiro de , Jugend Daniel , Pimenta Marcio Lopes , Jesus Gessica Mina Kim , Barriga Gladys Dorotea Dorotea Cacsire , Toledo José Carlos de , Mariano Ari Melo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose and test a research framework for analyzing the relationship between new product development (NPD) best practices and performance in companies that belong to innovative industries in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey was conducted, involving several industries, including agricultural machinery, automotive and pharmaceutical. Data was analyzed through multiple linear regression.

Findings

Among the best practices investigated, the main results show that “innovative culture” and “project climate” are factors that significantly affect the performance of the NPD.

Research limitations/implications

The choice of best practices can be considered a major limitation of this study, as this is a dynamic concept depending on a continuous analysis that must take into account the economic and technological environment.

Practical implications

This study highlights a relationship between an innovative culture and performance. Some practices may be adopted to address an innovative culture, such as stimulating employee creativity, acceptance and partnership with external actors for the joint development of technologies and employee involvement with NPD.

Originality/value

The findings expand the debate on best practices in NPD and innovation management by presenting results on the topic in an emerging country, in this case, Brazil.
Disharmony within harmony: contrasting views between incumbents and successors on the selection criterion adopted for family business successions
Authors: Udomkit Nuntana , Kittidusadee Puttipong , Schreier Claus
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the attributes a subsequent successor in family business should possess and to examine differences in expected attributes in the eyes of the incumbent and a successor-to-be.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the classic framework of Chrisman et al. (1998), 60 in-depth interviews were conducted with family business predecessors and successors-to-be in Thailand.

Findings

The attributes of competence and personality traits were prominent in this research; while the importance of current involvement with family business, relationship with incumbent, the relationship with family members, along with family standing, appears to be less important than expected in the context of an Asian collectivistic society. This research highlights the divergent gaps in the attributes desired by the incumbents and successors-to-be. 28 significant gaps between incumbents and successors-to-be have been found in 56.67% of the firms in this research. A majority of the gaps have been, surprisingly, found in the attributes of competence, incumbent relationship and family standing.

Research limitations/implications

To increase its reliability, a study with a greater number of family businesses should be conducted, thereby increasing the amount of empirical data on this topic.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the under explored research area of differences in expected attributes in the eyes of the incumbent and a successor-to-be. They can be indicators for potential intra-family conflicts and unsmoothed transition.
Application of fuzzy TOPSIS framework for selecting complex project in a case company
Authors: Shamsuzzoha Ahm , Piya Sujan , Shamsuzzaman Mohammad
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a method known as the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (fuzzy TOPSIS) for complex project selection in organizations. To fulfill study objectives, the factors responsible for making a project complex are collected through literature review, which is then analyzed by fuzzy TOPSIS, based on three decision-makers’ opinions.

Design/methodology/approach

The selection of complex projects is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) process for global organizations. Traditional procedures for selecting complex projects are not adequate due to the limitations of linguistic assessment. To crossover such limitation, this study proposes the fuzzy MCDM method to select complex projects in organizations.

Findings

A large-scale engine manufacturing company, engaged in the energy business, is studied to validate the suitability of the fuzzy TOPSIS method and rank eight projects of the case company based on project complexity. Out of these eight projects, the closeness coefficient of the most complex project is found to be 0.817 and that of the least complex project is found to be 0.274. Finally, study outcomes are concluded in the conclusion section, along with study limitations and future works.

Research limitations/implications

The outcomes from this research may not be generalized sufficiently due to the subjectivity of the interviewers. The study outcomes support project managers to optimize their project selection processes, especially to select complex projects. The presented methodology can be used extensively used by the project planners/managers to find the driving factors related to project complexity.

Originality/value

The presented study deliberately explained how complex projects in an organization could be select efficiently. This selection methodology supports top management to maintain their proposed projects with optimum resource allocations and maximum productivity.
Branding’s academic–practitioner gap: managers’ views
Authors: Alpert Frank , Brown Mark , Ferrier Elizabeth , Gonzalez-Arcos Claudia Fernanda , Piehler Rico
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate marketing managers’ views on the existence and nature of the academic–practitioner gap in the branding domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a purposive sampling method, the researchers conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 experienced marketing managers from a wide range of industries and organisations, whose roles are focussed on the planning, implementation and management of broad marketing and branding strategies.

Findings

Branding practitioners have little or no contact with academics and their theories-in-use with regard to brand management suggest they do not consider academic research relevant to their work.

Research limitations/implications

The process of describing and explaining the gap provides valuable insights into bridging the gap; it provides actionable branding strategies that include raising awareness, building relationships, improving the benefits offer and communicating more effectively.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for branding academics. The interviewed practitioners confirm the gap, viewing it as academics’ (not practitioners’) problem and responsibility. They characterise it as a branding problem that academics can overcome using branding strategies, to establish themselves as credible sources of branding expertise for practitioners. Key areas for increasing collaboration stem from practitioners’ desire for independent, credible, ethical and timely third-party advice on branding issues; relevant, timely and shorter professional branding education across their organisations; and closer connections with universities to identify new branding talent and ideas.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to empirically examine and recommend solutions to the academic-practitioner gap in the branding domain by studying marketing professionals with branding responsibilities, using in-depth interviews.
Entrepreneurship and fintech development: comparing reward and equity crowdfunding
Authors: Troise Ciro , Matricano Diego , Candelo Elena , Sorrentino Mario
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Starting from the state-of-the-art of Fintech development, this study aims to propose some research propositions comparing reward-crowdfunding (RCF) and equity-crowdfunding (ECF). In this sense, the present research provides a comprehensive analysis of fintech development and – to conceptualize the comparison between RCF and ECF – it focuses on campaigns’ characteristics, aims and post-campaigns scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

All the research propositions related to the comparison between RCF and ECF are rooted in dedicated literature. The methodological approach adopted in the present paper can be referred to theorizing.

Findings

This study suggests that five key elements characterize the development of fintech: regulation, infrastructure, technologies, finance and innovations. The research provides nine propositions: four related to the campaigns’ characteristics; two related to the use of crowdfunding models by entrepreneurs; and three related to the performance of crowdfunded companies.

Practical implications

By offering nine research propositions, this study is expected to foster and support the investigation of fintech development from an entrepreneurial and managerial point of view.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to explore the fintech development and to propose a comparative approach between RCF and ECF. This research contributes to the current debate on fintech development as well as on the comparison between crowdfunding models.
Workplace deviance in the virtual workspace
Authors: Shrivastava Shweta , Singh Kavita
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss ways in which working in the virtual space can give rise to negative norm violating behaviours of employees in organizations. Further, it describes some of the measures that can be taken by organizations to manage such behaviour such that organizational and individual goals are met.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the impact and importance of managing deviant behaviour of employees. Using relevant examples procured from secondary sources, this paper further provides a glance at how organizations can minimize such behaviour and maintain a productive and supportive work environment.

Findings

In today’s scenario when remote working has become a norm, organizations can prevent employees from engaging in deviant behaviour by providing supportive work environment, recalibrating their policies as per the situation and by adopting a top-down approach of communication.

Originality/value

This paper aims to provide a glance at the people-related challenges that the shift to virtual working may have given rise to. It provides measures that organizations can adopt to keep their employees focussed and prevent them from engaging in deviant behaviours.
Using visual curriculum materials to “bear witness”
Authors: Matherson Lisa H. , Haag Sydney Armour
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this notable trade book lesson plan is to utilize the novel, Ghost Boys, in an upper elementary/middle school education application. This lesson plan utilizes visual curriculum materials to engage students in a powerful exploration of “bearing witness.” Through the exploration of text, photographs, music and dance, students will be given opportunities to engage with the visual materials, think critically about relevant societal issues and participate in affective learning. The students will interpret visual historical evidence to develop “a sense of otherness” or empathy, and engage with the inquiry process (Barton and Levstik, 2004, pp. 210–211). Historical empathy proves an important aspect to students' historical thinking because affective learning allows students to connect with historical figures and gain new perspectives understanding difficult situations (Endacott, 2010, p. 6).

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this notable trade book lesson plan is a multimodal analysis of art forms (photography, music and dance choreography) which culminates in the students taking informed action to create a personal mural to “bear witness” to an issue of their selection.

Findings

This is a National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) notable trade book lesson plan. After engaging with this lesson, students will gain skills in visual decoding, empathy, critical thinking and collaboration. The students will use higher-order thinking to take informed action by creating a mural to “bear witness” to injustice.

Originality/value

The value of this lesson plan is the ability to integrate written themes from the text, visual learning and hands-on learning in a meaningful and authentic way to students. Allowing the students to take informed action using the knowledge gained about “bearing witness” proves crucial for young students learning how to actively participate in America's multi-cultural democracy.
Strategic Withholding and Imprecision in Asset Measurement
Authors: BERTOMEU JEREMY , CHEYNEL EDWIGE , CIANCIARUSO DAVIDE
Published: June 2021

Does managing the production of information add value in economic environments where a manager may claim to be uninformed and withhold unfavorable news? We examine this question by nesting an optimal persuasion mechanism, controlling how evidence is organized, within a voluntary disclosure framework. Information has productive consequences because the firm uses it to make a continuous operating decision. The optimal reporting strategy features coarse information at the most unfavorable reported event if and only if the firm bears penalties for nondisclosure or positive disclosure costs. The model demonstrates the optimality of imprecise information over bad news in a voluntary disclosure environment, and that such imprecision increases the quality of public signals after considering strategic disclosure effects.
Is there any relationship between agronomic traits, soil properties and essential oil profile of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) treated by fertiliser treatments and irrigation regimes?
Authors: Keshavarz‐Mirzamohammadi Hamed , Tohidi‐Moghadam Hamid Reza , Hosseini Seyyed Jaber
Published: June 2021

One of the greatest challenges in recent years is providing enough food to feed the increasing world population, with limited freshwater resources. However, effective fertiliser management also has a fundamental role to improve yield quality and quantity. Organic fertiliser not only supplements nutrients but also improves physicochemical and biological soil properties. A 2‐year field experiment was conducted to examine the influence of urea and vermicompost fertiliser on oil phytochemical properties of peppermint pH, soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and organic carbon of experimental site under three irrigation regimes in 2018 and 2019. The experiments had three water deficit regimes (no stress, moderate, and severe drought stress) as a main plot. The subplot division consisted of six fertiliser treatments: unfertilised (control); 140 kg urea ha−1; 105 kg urea ha−1 + 3.3 ton vermicompost ha−1; 70 kg urea ha−1 + 6.6 ton vermicompost ha−1; 35 kg urea ha−1 + 10 ton vermicompost ha−1; and 13.5 ton vermicompost ha−1. The maximum leaf area index (4.29) and dry matter weight (3,803 kg ha−1) were observed in control irrigation, while the highest essential oil content (0.97%) could be seen under mild water deficit stress. Additionally, the highest organic carbon and CEC were obtained under well‐watered conditions at 1.20% and 6.41 (meq 100 g soil−1), respectively. Dry matter weight and essential oil content increased considerably in response to increasing vermicompost in fertiliser treatments, and the highest content of these traits were observed in 2019 and with 13.5 ton vermicompost ha−1. The menthol content increases in response to deficit irrigation and integrated fertiliser. These data indicate that mild drought stress can increase the synthesis of medical compounds and vermicomposting can alleviate the impact of drought by conserving soil moisture as an acclimation mechanism to improve nutrient uptake and avoid yield losses.