bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Radical’ differences between two FLIM microscopes affect interpretation of cell signaling dynamics
Authors: Mukherjee Sravasti , Klarenbeek Jeffrey , Oualid Farid El , Broek Bram van den , Jalink Kees
Published: August 2023

Emerging evidence suggests that cell signaling outcomes depend not only on the signal strength but also on its temporal progression. Our lab employs Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Resonance Energy Transfer (FLIM/FRET) biosensors to study intracellular signaling dynamics. We studied activation of β1 receptors by Isoproterenol, which triggers cAMP signaling via the G protein Gαs, using two different FLIM microscopes: a widefield frequency domain FLIM (fdFLIM) setup and a fast confocal Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) setup.

When comparing results from each FLIM setup, unexpectedly we obtained distinctively different cAMP kinetics: fdFLIM recording of cAMP in HeLa and Cos7 cells yielded transient responses, reminiscent of rapid receptor desensitization, while TCSPC recordings exhibited sustained responses lasting over 30 minutes. We initially suspected phototoxicity due to the intense light locally in the laser focus spot in confocal microscopy to interfere with normal termination of signal transduction and set out to map photosensitive steps in the signaling cascade in detail. We find no evidence for light-sensitivity in either generation or breakdown of cAMP, but rather, our findings show that the kinetic differences are due to selective degradation of β1 agonists on the fdFLIM setup. Agonist degradation appeared due to the commercial FluoroBrite medium, even though this has been specifically advertised to lower phototoxicity and reduce autofluorescence. Mass spectrometry identified Folic acid, an undisclosed constituent of FluoroBrite, as the culprit leading to artifacts in fdFLIM measurements.

In all, our study underscores the impact of subtle phototoxicity effects on experimental outcome, and it shows that in this case confocal TCSPC provides the more reliable data needed to study response kinetics. This work also emphasizes the it is crucial that scientific vendors fully disclose chemical formulations.
Endothelial Lipase Variant, T111I, Does Not Alter Inhibition by Angiopoietin-like Proteins
Authors: Sylvers-Davie Kelli L. , Bierstedt Kaleb C. , Schnieders Michael J. , Davies Brandon S. J.
Published: August 2023

High levels of HDL-C are correlated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL-C levels are modulated in part by the secreted phospholipase, endothelial lipase (EL), which hydrolyzes the phospholipids of HDL and decreases circulating HDL-C concentrations. A 584C/T polymorphism inLIPG, the gene which encodes EL, was first identified in individuals with increased HDL levels. This polymorphism results in a T111I point mutation the EL protein. The association between this variant, HDL levels, and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans has been extensively studied, but the findings have been inconsistent. In this study, we took a biochemical approach, investigating how the T111I variant affected EL activity, structure, and stability. Moreover, we tested whether the T111I variant altered the inhibition of phospholipase activity by angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), two known EL inhibitors. We found that neither the stability nor enzymatic activity of EL was altered by the T111I variant. Moreover, we found no difference between wild-type and T111I EL in their ability to be inhibited by ANGPTL proteins. These data suggest that any effect this variant may have on HDL-C levels or cardiovascular disease are not mediated through alterations in these functions.
Membrane binding and pore formation is Ca2+-dependent for theClostridioides difficilebinary toxin
Authors: Abeyawardhane Dinendra L. , Sevdalis Spiridon E. , Adipietro Kaylin A. , Godoy-Ruiz Raquel , Varney Kristen M. , Nawaz Izza F. , Spittel Alejandro X. , Rustandi Richard R. , Silin Vitalii I. , des Georges Amedee , Cook Mary E. , Pozharski Edwin , Weber David J.
Published: August 2023

TheC. difficilebinary toxin (CDT) enters host cells via endosomal delivery like many other ‘AB’-type binary toxins. In this study, the cell-binding component of CDT, termed CDTb, was found to bind and form pores in lipid bilayers upon depleting free Ca2+ion concentrations, and not by lowering pH, as found for other binary toxins (i.e., anthrax). Cryoelectron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, CDT toxicity studies, and site directed mutagenesis show that dissociation of Ca2+from a single site in receptor binding domain 1 (RBD1) of CDTb is consistent with a molecular mechanism in which Ca2+dissociation from RBD1 induces a “trigger” via conformational exchange that enables CDTb to bind and form pores in endosomal membrane bilayers as free Ca2+concentrations decrease during CDT endosomal delivery.

One-Sentence Summary

Ca2+dissociation and unfolding of a receptor binding domain in CDTb activates pore-formation by theC. difficilebinary toxin.
Causal role of the angular gyrus in insight-driven memory reconfiguration
Authors: Grob Anna-Maria , Heinbockel Hendrik , Milivojevic Branka , Doeller Christian F. , Schwabe Lars
Published: August 2023

Maintaining an accurate model of the world relies on our ability to update memory representations in light of new information. Previous research on the integration of new information into memory mainly focused on the hippocampus. Here, we hypothesized that the angular gyrus, known to be involved in episodic memory and imagination, plays a pivotal role in the insight-driven reconfiguration of memory representations. To test this hypothesis, participants received continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the left angular gyrus or sham stimulation before gaining insight into the relationship between previously separate life-like animated events in a narrative-insight task. During this task, participants also underwent EEG recording and their memory for linked and non-linked events was assessed shortly thereafter. Our results show that cTBS to the angular gyrus decreased memory for the linking events and reduced the memory advantage for linked relative to non-linked events. At the neural level, cTBS targeting the angular gyrus reduced centro-temporal coupling with frontal regions and abolished insight-induced neural representational changes for events linked via imagination, indicating impaired memory reconfiguration. Further, the cTBS group showed representational changes for non-linked events that resembled the patterns observed in the sham group for the linked events, suggesting failed pruning of the narrative in memory. Together, our findings demonstrate a causal role of the left angular gyrus in insight-related memory reconfigurations.
Comprehensive Interrogation of Synthetic Relationships in the Human DNA Damage Response
Authors: Fielden John , Siegner Sebastian M , Gallagher Danielle N , Schröder Markus S , Dello Stritto Maria Rosaria , Kobel Lena , Schlapansky Moritz F , Cejka Petr , Jost Marco , Corn Jacob E
Published: August 2023

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a multi-faceted network of pathways that preserves genome stability. Unraveling the complementary interplay between these pathways remains a challenge. Here, we comprehensively mapped genetic interactions for all core DDR genes using combinatorial CRISPRi screening. We discovered myriad new connections, including interactions between cancer genes and small molecule targets. We focused on two of the strongest interactions:FEN1/LIG1:WDR48andFANCM:SMARCAL1. First, we found that WDR48 works with USP1 to restrain overactive translesion synthesis in FEN1/LIG1-deficient cells, and that a preclinical inhibitor of USP1 specifically kills FEN1-deficient cells. Second, we found that SMARCAL1 and FANCM suppress DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation at TA-rich repeats in late replicating regions that otherwise escape into mitosis and cause nuclear fragmentation. We present fundamental insights into genome maintenance processes and our dataset provides a springboard for mechanistic investigations into connections between DDR factors and suggests multiple interactions that could be exploited in cancer therapy.
Endogenous BAX and BAK form mosaic rings of variable size and composition on apoptotic mitochondria
Authors: Schweighofer Sarah Vanessa , Jans Daniel C. , Keller-Findeisen Jan , Folmeg Anne , Bates Mark , Jakobs Stefan
Published: August 2023

One hallmark of apoptosis is the oligomerization of BAX and BAK to form a pore in the mitochondrial outer membrane, which mediates the release of pro-apoptotic intermembrane space proteins into the cytosol. Cells overexpressing BAX or BAK fusion proteins are a powerful model system to study the dynamics and localization of these proteins in cells. However, it is unclear whether overexpressed BAX and BAK form the same ultrastructural assemblies following the same temporal hierarchy as endogenously expressed proteins. Combining live– and fixed-cell STED super-resolution microscopy, we show that overexpression of BAK results in novel BAK structures, which are virtually absent in non-overexpressing apoptotic cells. We further demonstrate that in wildtype cells, BAK is recruited to apoptotic pores before BAX. Both proteins together form unordered, mosaic rings on apoptotic mitochondria in immortalized cell culture models as well as in human primary cells. In BAX– or BAK-single-knockout cells, the remaining protein is able to form rings independently. The heterogeneous nature of these rings corroborates the toroidal apoptotic pore model.
LiaX is a surrogate marker for cell-envelope stress and daptomycin non-susceptibility inEnterococcus faecium
Authors: Axell-House Dierdre B. , Simar Shelby R. , Panesso Diana , Rincon Sandra , Miller William R. , Khan Ayesha , Pemberton Orville A. , Valdez Lizbet , Nguyen April H. , Hood Kara S. , Rydell Kirsten , DeTranaltes Andrea M. , Jones Mary N. , Atterstrom Rachel , Reyes Jinnethe , Sahasrabhojane Pranoti V , Suleyman Geehan , Zervos Marcus , Shelburne Samuel A. , Singh Kavindra V. , Shamoo Yousif , Hanson Blake M. , Tran Truc T. , Arias Cesar A.
Published: August 2023

Daptomycin (DAP) is often used as a first line therapy to treat vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faecium(VREfm) infections but emergence of DAP non-susceptibility threatens the effectiveness of this antibiotic. Moreover, current methods to determine DAP MICs have poor reproducibility and accuracy. In enterococci, DAP resistance is mediated by the LiaFSR cell membrane stress response system and deletion ofliaRencoding the response regulator results in hypersusceptibility to DAP and antimicrobial peptides. The main genes regulated by LiaR are a cluster of three genes, designatedliaXYZ. InEnterococcus faecalis, LiaX is surface exposed with a C-terminus that functions as a negative regulator of cell membrane remodeling and an N-terminal domain that is released to the extracellular medium where it binds DAP. Thus, inE. faecalis, LiaX functions as a sentinel molecule recognizing DAP and controlling the cell membrane response, but less is known about LiaX inE. faecium. Here, we found thatliaXis essential inE. faecium(Efm) with an activated LiaFSR system. UnlikeE. faecalis,EfmLiaX is not detected in the extracellular milieu and does not appear to alter phospholipid architecture. We further postulated that LiaX could be used as a surrogate marker for cell envelope activation and non-susceptibility to DAP. For this purpose, we developed and optimized a LiaX ELISA. We then assessed 86 clinicalE. faeciumBSI isolates for DAP MICs and used whole genome sequencing to assess for substitutions in LiaX. All DAP-R clinical strains ofE. faeciumexhibited elevated LiaX levels. Strikingly, 73% of DAP-S isolates by standard MIC determination had elevated LiaX ELISAs above the established cut-off. Phylogenetic analyses of predicted amino acid substitutions showed 12 different variants of LiaX without a specific association with DAP MIC or LiaX ELISA values. Our findings also suggest that manyEfmisolates that test DAP susceptible by standard MIC determination are likely to have an activated cell stress response that may predispose to DAP failure. As LiaX appears to be essential for the cell envelope response to DAP, its detection could prove useful to improve the accuracy of susceptibility testing by anticipating therapeutic failure.
Cis-regulatory modes ofUltrabithoraxinactivation in butterfly forewings
Authors: Tendolkar Amruta , Mazo-Vargas Anyi , Livraghi Luca , Hanly Joseph J. , Van Horne Kelsey C. , Gilbert Lawrence E. , Martin Arnaud
Published: August 2023

Hoxgene clusters encode transcription factors that drive regional specialization during animal development:e.g.the Hox factor Ubx is expressed in the insect metathoracic (T3) wing appendages and differentiates them from T2 mesothoracic identities.Hoxtranscriptional regulation requires silencing activities that prevent spurious activation and regulatory crosstalks in the wrong tissues, but this has seldom been studied in insects other thanDrosophila, which shows a derivedHoxdislocation into two genomic clusters that disjoinedAntennapedia(Antp) andUltrabithorax(Ubx). Here we investigated howUbxis restricted to the hindwing in butterflies, amidst a contiguousHoxcluster. By analysing Hi-C and ATAC-seq data in the butterflyJunonia coenia, we show that a Topologically Associated Domain (TAD) maintains a hindwing-enriched profile of chromatin opening aroundUbx. This TAD is bordered by a Boundary Element (BE) that separates it from a region of joined wing activity around theAntplocus. CRISPR mutational perturbation of this BE releases ectopicUbxexpression in forewings, inducing homeotic clones with hindwing identities. Further mutational interrogation of two non-coding RNA encoding regions and one putativecis-regulatory module within theUbxTAD cause rare homeotic transformations in both directions, indicating the presence of both activating and repressing chromatin features. We also describe a series of spontaneous forewing homeotic phenotypes obtained inHeliconiusbutterflies, and discuss their possible mutational basis. By leveraging the extensive wing specialization found in butterflies, our initial exploration ofUbxregulation demonstrates the existence of silencing and insulating sequences that prevent its spurious expression in forewings.
Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and Hirshfeld surface characterization of nine-membered-ring-containing 9-methoxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]azonine-2,7-dione and its parent tetrahydrocarbazole
Authors: Flores Maritza J. , Mai Brandon , Tanski Joseph M.
Published: August 2023

9-Methoxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]azonine-2,7-dione, C13H15NO3, (I), and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole, C13H15NO, (II), represent the structures of a benzoazonine that contains a nine-membered ring and its parent tetrahydrocarbazole. The molecules of (I) pack together via strong amide N—H...O hydrogen bonding and weak C—H...O interactions, whereas the parent tetrahydrocarbazole (II) packs with C/N—H...π interactions, as visualized by Hirshfeld surface characterization.
Investments, subsidies and financial constraints in Estonian agriculture
Authors: Aleksandrova Olha , Fertő Imre , Viira Ants-Hannes
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of investment decisions of Estonian farms after the transition to market economy and accession to the European Union (EU), in the period 2006–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs Estonian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) individual farm-level data from the period 2006–2019, and standard and augmented accelerator investment models. Generalised methods of moments (GMM) and bias-corrected least-squares dummy variables (LSDVC) regressions were used to estimate parameters of these models.

Findings

In the considered period, farm investments were positively affected by sales growth, investment subsidies and the cash flow. Decomposition of cash flow into volatile, market income related part, and more stable, farm subsidies related part indicated that investments do not depend on market income part of cash flow. Instead, the stable part of the cash flow (farm subsidies) had a significant and positive effect on investments. This suggests that credit rationing could be present in the EU agriculture, and it depends on the farm subsidies not market income of farms.

Originality/value

Despite the wealth of literature on the investment behaviour of farmers, this article is the first attempt to decompose farm cash flow into stable (farm subsidies) and volatile (market income) parts to explain the role of subsidies as a part of cash flow in credit rationing.
Packaging of ready-to-eat products: a mix research approach for exploring aesthetic element influence on brand preference
Authors: Dave Anupama Chirag
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Packaging design has the power to convey persuasive and functional benefits, thereby inducing the brand preference as per empirical studies, but not much has been studied in detail about aesthetic aspects of packaging. This study is a careful attempt to understanding the influence of aesthetic elements—colour, illustrations/images/pictures and information representation’s influence on consumer brand preference for ready-to-eat (RTE) product category of pav bhaji.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study have been collected in two phases; phase 1 was a quantitative research where structure Google form was used while in order to elite consumer responses regarding their preferences structured interview was conducted in phase 2. Twenty-five respondents were selected using snowball sampling, who were approached for understanding how aesthetic element influenced their brand preference.

Findings

This research could help in identifying various underlying subthemes within the three major themes of aesthetic element in packaging. By utilising these, packaging modifications could be made to increase brand preference.

Originality/value

In case of RTE segment, in-store decisions are mostly take in spurn of minutes, hence making it one of essential topics of research. The findings of this research can contribute in placement of correct element in appropriate position to grab consumers’ interest leading to brand preference.
Incentive contract design and selection for inhibiting unethical collusion in construction projects
Authors: Cui Lei
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The construction industry has long been criticized for unethical conduct. The owner usually manages the contractor's opportunistic behaviors by employing a professional supervisor, but there is a risk of covert collusion between the supervisor and contractor. Based on the principal–agent theory and collusion theory, this paper aims to investigate optimal collusion-proof incentive contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a game-theoretic framework comprising an owner, supervisor and contractor, who interact and pursue maximized self-profits. Built upon the fixed-price incentive contract, cost-reimbursement contract, and revenue-sharing contract, different collusion-proof incentive contracts are investigated. A real project case is used to validate the developed model and derived results.

Findings

This paper shows that the presence of unethical collusion undermines the owner's interests. Especially, the possibility of agent collusion may induce the owner to abandon extracting quality information from the supervisor. Furthermore, information asymmetry significantly affects the construction contract selection, and the application conditions for different incentive contracts are provided.

Research limitations/implications

This study still has some limitations that deserve further exploration. First, this study explores contractor–supervisor collusion but ignores the possibility of the supervisor abusing authority to extort the contractor. Second, to focus on collusion, this paper ignores the supervision costs. What's the optimal supervision effort that the owner should induce the supervisor to exert? Finally, this paper assumes that the colluders involved always keep their promises. However, what if the colluders may break their promises?

Practical implications

Several collusion-proof incentive contracts are explored in a project management setting. The proposed incentive contracts can provide the project owner with effective and practical tools to inhibit covert collusion in construction management and thus safeguard construction project quality.

Originality/value

This study expands the organization collusion theory to the field of construction management and investigates the optimal collusion-proof incentive contracts. In addition, this study is the first to investigate the effects of information asymmetry on contract selection.
Mentors as instructional coaches for new teachers: lessons learnt from the early career framework in England
Authors: Daly Caroline , Glegg Polly , Stiasny Beth , Hardman Mark , Taylor Becky , Pillinger Claire , Gandolfi Haira
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The paper provides analysis of the use of instructional coaching (IC) as a prevalent trend supporting new teachers in the English system and aims to inform ongoing policy development and implementation. The qualitative study examines mentors' conceptualisations and enactment of the role of instructional coach and the readiness of mentors to assume mentors' key stakeholder roles in the professional education of early career teachers (ECTs).

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews with 37 mentors explored mentors' understandings and experiences of becoming instructional coaches as part of a pilot support initiative to support ECTs in England. Two rounds of interviews were conducted to generate data related to the first six months of mentoring on the programmes. Thematic analysis identified seven semantic themes which describe manifest content found within the data and identify mentors' perceptions of their role and practice as instructional coaches. Three latent themes were developed from mentors' accounts which indicate challenges in becoming an instructional coach in this context.

Findings

Concern to apply IC “correctly” according to the programme models was a strong feature amongst both novice and experienced mentors. A key finding is the lack of explicit knowledge of professional learning pedagogies amongst mentors and insecure understanding of how new teachers learn. Assuming the role of instructional coach presented both benefits of having a “model” to follow and disadvantages in fostering limited and over-prescribed concepts and practices related to the learning of new teachers.

Research limitations/implications

The study investigated mentors during the first six months of a pilot programme and the paper reports on analysis of one type of data. The research results may lack generalisability, and a longitudinal study is necessary to further explore the validity of the findings.

Practical implications

Sustained, high-quality professional learning for mentors is crucial to mentors' role as instructional coaches to enable mentors to develop deep, critical understanding of how IC might support new teachers and how to exercise professional judgement in working with “models”. Judicious use of time and resource is needed to enable mentors to fulfil the potential of national mentoring programmes.

Originality/value

The study is timely in its examination of mentors that assume the role of instructional coach as one response to national policy development that makes support for ECTs mandatory. Such strategies have wide international relevance where the retention of new teachers is a policy priority.
Making supply chains great again: examining structural changes to US manufacturing supply chains
Authors: Chakkol Mehmet , Johnson Mark , Karatzas Antonios , Papadopoulos Georgios , Korfiatis Nikolaos
Published: August 2023

Purpose

President Trump's tenure was accompanied by a series of protectionist measures that intended to reinvigorate US-based production and make manufacturing supply chains more “local”. Amidst these increasing institutional pressures to localise, and the business uncertainty that ensued, this study investigates the extent to which manufacturers reconfigured their supply bases.

Design/methodology/approach

Bloomberg's Supply Chain Function (SPLC) is used to manually extract data about the direct suppliers of 30 of the largest American manufacturers in terms of market capitalisation. Overall, the raw data comprise 20,100 quantified buyer–supplier relationships that span seven years (2014–2020). The supply base dimensions of spatial complexity, spend concentration and buyer dependence are operationalised by applying appropriate aggregation functions on the raw data. The final dataset is a firm-year panel that is analysed using a random effect (RE) modelling approach and the conditional means of the three dimensions are plotted over time.

Findings

Over the studied timeframe, American manufacturers progressively reduced the spatial complexity of their supply bases and concentrated their purchase spend to fewer suppliers. Contrary to the aims of governmental policies, American manufacturers increased their dependence on foreign suppliers and reduced their dependence on local ones.

Originality/value

The research provides insights into the dynamics of manufacturing supply chains as they adapt to shifting institutional demands.
Military-experienced senior executives, corporate earnings quality and firm value
Authors: Li Zhe , Liu Xinrui , Wang Bo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Accounting scandals and earnings management problems at large firms such as Global Crossing and Enron have resulted in lots of wealth loss not only to corporate investors but also led tremendous damage to societies. Hence, policymakers and academic researchers have started to explore mechanisms to prevent improprieties in financial reporting and further enhance firm value. Using data from United States (US)-listed companies between 2000 and 2018, this article explores the effect of ex-military executives on earnings quality, the role of financial analysts in their interplay and the firm value implication of earnings quality driven by ex-military executives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a firm fixed-effects model to validate the main conjecture and adopts the weighted least squares, Granger causality analysis, instrumental variable approach, propensity score matching, entropy balancing approach and dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to address robustness and endogeneity issues.

Findings

Authors reveal that companies run by ex-military senior executives exhibit lower levels of accruals-based and real earnings management than those without. The effect of management military leadership on constraining earnings management is more prominent for companies with low analyst coverage, suggesting that the military experience of executives could be a substitute for external monitoring. Authors also find that these ethical managers alleviate the negative impact of earnings management on firm value and that companies managed by these managers exhibit higher firm performance.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of the intrinsic motivation behind the effect of military experience on senior managers' personalities and offers essential stakeholder-related implications regarding the effect of military experience. The military experience of senior managers helps facilitate the attainment of broader corporate governance and economic objectives.

Originality/value

This article adds new insights to the literature on the role of managerial military experience in decision-making processes, financial reporting outcomes and firm performance by employing the upper echelons and imprinting theoretical perspectives.
Does following an “excellent” candidate in the objective structured clinical examination affect your checklist score?
Authors: Brown Craig , Nath Mintu , Watson Wendy , Macleod Mary Joan
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The OSCE is regarded as the gold standard of competence assessment in many healthcare programs, however, there are numerous internal and external sources of variation contributing to checklist marks. There is concern amongst organisers that candidates may be unfairly disadvantaged if they follow an “excellent” preceding candidate. This study assessed if average checklist scores differed depending on who a candidate follows accounted for different sources of variation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined assessment data from final year MBChB OSCEs at the University of Aberdeen and categorised candidates into three levels dependent on examiner awarded global scores of preceding candidates for each station. Data were modelled using a linear mixed model incorporating fixed and random effects.

Findings

A total of 349 candidates sat the OSCEs. The predicted mean (95% CI) score for students following an “excellent” candidate was 21.6 (20.6, 22.6), followed “others” was 21.5 (20.5, 22.4) and followed an “unsatisfactory” student was 22.2 (21.1, 23.3). When accounted for individual, examiner and station levels variabilities, students following an “excellent” candidate did not have different mean scores compared to those who followed “other” (p = 0.829) or “unsatisfactory” candidates (p = 0.162), however, students who followed an “unsatisfactory” student scored slightly higher on average compared to those who followed “other” (p = 0.038).

Originality/value

There was weak evidence that candidate's checklist variations could be attributed to who they followed, particularly those following unsatisfactory students; the difference in predicted mean scores may be of little practical relevance. Further studies with multiple centres may be warranted assuring perceived fairness of the OSCE to candidates and educators.
Modelling spatio-temporal patterns of Chinese foreign direct investment under the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Ardianto Rifan , Chhetri Prem , Oktriana Bonita , Lee Paul Tae-Woo , Lee Jun Yeop
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the spatio-temporal patterns of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 as an extended version of geographically weighted regression.

Design/methodology/approach

The panel data are used to examine spatial and temporal dynamics of the magnitude and the direction of China's outward FDI stock and its flow from 2011 to 2015 at a country level. Using the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR), spatio-temporal distribution of FDI is explained through Logistic Performance Index, the size of gross domestic product (GDP), Shipping Linear Connectivity Index and Container Port Throughput.

Findings

A comparative analysis between participating and non-participating countries in the BRI shows that the size of GDP and Container Port Throughput of the participating countries have a positive effect on the increases of China's outward FDI Stock to Asia especially after 2013, while non-participating countries, such as North America, Western Europe and Western Africa, have no significant effect on it before and after the implementation of the BRI.

Research limitations/implications

The findings, however, will not necessarily provide insight into the needs of China's outward FDI in certain countries to develop their economy. The findings provide the evidence to inform policy making to help identify the winners and losers of the investment, scale and direction of investment and the key drivers that shape the distributive investment patterns globally.

Practical implications

The study provides the empirical evidence to inform investment policy and strategic realignment by quantifying scale, direction and drivers that shape the spatio-temporal shifts of China's FDI.

Social implications

The analysis also guides the Chinese government improve bilateral trade, build infrastructure and business partnerships with preferential countries participating in the BRI.

Originality/value

There is an urgent need to adopt a new perspective to unfold the spatial temporal complexity of FDI that incorporates space and time dependencies, and the drivers of the situated context to model their effects on FDI. The model is based on GTWR and an extended geographically weighted regression (GWR) allowing the simultaneous analysis of spatial and temporal decencies of exploratory variables.
Enhance or impair: how does downstream complexity influence supply chain resilience with reconciling effects of intelligent manufacturing?
Authors: Chen Jinliang , Liu Guoli , Wang Yu
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nuanced effects of downstream complexity on supply chain resilience, based on portfolio theory and normal accident theory. Intelligent manufacturing is considered to clarify their boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The ordinary least squares regression was conducted, based on the data collected from 136 high-tech firms in China.

Findings

Horizontal downstream complexity has a positive effect on supply chain resilience significantly, while the negative impact of vertical downstream complexity on supply chain resilience is not significant. Contingently, intelligent manufacturing plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between horizontal downstream complexity and supply chain resilience, while it positively moderates the relationship between vertical downstream complexity and supply chain resilience.

Originality/value

This study disentangles the nuanced effects of both horizontal and vertical downstream complexity on supply chain resilience, based on portfolio theory and normal accident theory. It also clarifies their boundary conditions by considering the focal firm's intelligent manufacturing level as the contingent factor.
What happens with the host during reshoring? An exploration of the host company's response in China
Authors: Zhang Lei , Lockhart James , Macpherson Wayne
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Research studies on offshoring and reshoring have predominantly focused on the home company, widely ignoring the offshored company in the host country. The host company's influence and contribution have been unseen. This research explores how the host company responds to the home company's location decisions to maintain the dyadic relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study in China was conducted to examine the host company's response to reshoring. The case company has two Japanese parent companies that acted for the emergence of reshoring drivers. Primary and secondary data were collected and analysed through thematic analysis. The host company's response strategies to the home company's relocation decisions were identified and explored.

Findings

The findings reveal that four strategies, identified here as being cost control, market expansion, knowledge seeking and relationship bonding, were implemented by the host company. The importance of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and knowledge transfer is also emphasised within these strategies.

Practical implications

This research identified active and practical strategies conducted by the host company to maintain a cooperative relationship with the home company(ies). Instead of encountering a passive response from the host company, the home company may consider working with the host to overcome difficulties caused by emerging reshoring drivers and create an outcome beneficial to both.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research to study manufacturing reshoring from the perspective of the host company. It provides a new perspective to understanding this phenomenon.
A model for integrating microgames in teaching primary education for sustainable development
Authors: Saimon Musa , Lavicza Zsolt , Houghton Tony , Rahmadi Imam
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a model for integrating microgames in teaching primary Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and illustrate the application of the proposed model in teaching integrated mathematics, arts, technology and language in primary ESD.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was based on conceptual mapping from the reviewed literature and reflection from their teaching experience.

Findings

The model and the related teaching-learning activities have been proposed.

Originality/value

The proposed model enhances the use of microgames in an interdisciplinary teaching framework.
Live streaming commerce: a compulsive buying perspective
Authors: Sun Ying , Bao Zheshi
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Live streaming commerce becomes increasingly popular, and some special shopping behaviors existing in traditional e-commerce also emerge in this new context. The current research mainly focuses on determinants of compulsive buying in live streaming commerce by taking fear of missing out (FOMO) and social influence into account.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the data collected from 242 experienced consumers in live streaming commerce, the proposed model was empirically assessed by partial least squares based structural equation model.

Findings

The results show that both informational and normative social influences have positive effects on FOMO, which in turn exert an influence on compulsive buying. In addition, informational social influence also directly and positively affects compulsive buying.

Originality/value

This study provides a deeper understanding of FOMO and social influence in the process of compulsive buying. It offers a new avenue to analyze the mechanism regarding why compulsive buying occurs in live streaming commerce.
Gendered COVID-19 discussions on Twitter: a Norwegian case
Authors: Arora Sanjana , Debesay Jonas , Eslen-Ziya Hande
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has resurfaced challenges to gender equality and gender relations both worldwide and in Norway. There have been massive public discussions on social media platforms, highlighting the potential of analysing public discourses in a non-reactive manner (Rauchfleisch et al., 2021). Further, discourses from social media may affect cultural representations and broad discourses in society (Rambukkana, 2015), such as that related to gender. In this article, by studying the Norwegian Twitter users' discussion on gender as related to COVID-19 pandemic, the authors will examine the everyday gendered discourses.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this project were collected from the social media platform Twitter. The authors conducted the search on 16th November 2020, and that resulted in a total of 485 results, inclusive of both original tweets and replies. The data were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis.

Findings

The thematic analysis of the tweets revealed three main categories which were mirrored in recognisable and widespread discourses about gender: (1) stereotypical gendered behaviours, (2) construction of masculinities and (3) othering. The authors argued that the stereotypes on gendered behaviour, traits and ideology together attribute to the maintenance of unequal gender structures.

Originality/value

This article explored discourses on gender on Twitter, the networked public sphere of Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that discourses both reflect and shape social configurations, they have the power to shape gender realities. With the transcendence of social media across geographic boundaries, the authors’ findings are relevant both for Norway and globally.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-08-2022-0482
The impact of financial fair play on the financial performance of Spanish professional football: do the biggest clubs behave better?
Authors: Martín-Magdalena Jorge , Martínez-de-Ibarreta Carlos , Gonzalo-Angulo Jose Antonio , García Domonte Aurora
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to the analysis of the impact of financial control or “financial fair play” (FFP) regulations on the financial performance of the Spanish professional football league (LaLiga) by examining the moderating role of club size. The authors argue that introducing FFP positively impacted the financial performance of small clubs but increased the economic gap between large and small clubs.

Design/methodology/approach

A 12-year dataset covering 22 football clubs is used to test the hypotheses. Panel regression models are estimated for eight measures of financial performance indicators, comprising three financial dimensions: profitability, liquidity and solvency. The Gini index is applied to clubs' economic and sports variables to determine the degree of economic imbalance between the largest and smallest clubs.

Findings

The results show that FFP significantly and positively impacted the profitability of small clubs and the solvency of medium-sized clubs but has not impacted the largest clubs' financial performance. After these regulations, economic inequality in Spanish LaLiga increased.

Originality/value

The authors find evidence that club size moderates the effect of FFP on financial performance. The moderating role of club size may explain the mixed results found in previous research. The authors’ findings contribute to improving the literature on the impact of FFP on the financial performance of European football clubs.
Implementing Lean Six Sigma in a multispecialty hospital through a change management approach
Authors: Samanta Alok Kumar , Varaprasad G. , Gurumurthy Anand , Antony Jiju
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Many healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, have recently implemented quality improvement initiatives such as Lean Six Sigma (LSS). However, only a few have sustained the initiatives and remained successful. One of the main reasons for the failure of LSS implementation is that managers tend to view LSS as individual projects. Managers lack a Change Management (CM) focus during the implementation. The primary purpose of this study is to document the implementation of LSS through a CM approach to improve sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control (DMAIC) and the Awareness-Desire-Knowledge-Ability-Reinforcement (ADKAR), a popular CM approach, are combined to propose a new framework. The usefulness of the proposed framework is demonstrated using a case study in a multispeciality hospital located in southern India.

Findings

The study found that several factors are responsible for the high Length of Stay (LOS) for patients in the Emergency Department (ED). By implementing this proposed model to implement LSS and taking corrective actions, the average LOS was reduced from 267 to 158 min (a 40% reduction approximately).

Practical implications

The complete step-by-step approach is explained, and the LOS was considerably reduced during the pilot project. The findings will provide valuable insights for healthcare practitioners to understand the steps involved in the combined DMAIC-ADKAR model. The findings would also give healthcare practitioners the confidence to identify suitable tools and implement LSS in organisations where the practitioners work.

Originality/value

According to the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that synergises two models (DMAIC and ADKAR) into a single framework to implement in a hospital.
Mapping the TQM implementation approaches and their impact on realizing leadership in Indian tyre manufacturing industry
Authors: Kumar Vimal , Mittal Ankesh , Verma Pratima , Antony Jiju
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper attempts to investigate the approaches used for implementing total quality management (TQM) practices and study its impact on ABC India Limited (Name changed), a tyre manufacturing industry for realizing leadership in the Indian market. The other objectives are to explore the key issues faced by the company before TQM and study the benefits achieved after TQM implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual case study research methodology has been utilized in this paper. The industry was facing some major business challenges such as low productivity, financial issues and low market presence since 1996. To overcome these issues, the top management of the industry adopted TQM as a business improvement tool and started its implementation in 2008.

Findings

A good number of improvement initiatives under four TQM approaches such as management approach, development approach, improvement approach and involvement approach were performed systematically and strategically. As a result of the successful implementation of TQM initiatives, the industry received the most prestigious quality award namely Deming Prize in 2017.

Research limitations/implications

With the implementation of the TQM philosophy in the industry, it gained the top market position, the customer satisfaction score increased from 75 to 81, market presence increased from 7.2% to 26.3% and the percentage participation of employees increased by 73.5% within a period from 2009 to 2016.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is to consider a case-based approach that will be helpful in promoting the utilization of the TQM philosophy in other industries for gaining competitive advantages.
Co‐parasitism in the face of predation: Effects of natural enemies on a neotropical mockingbird
Authors: Herman Jordan M. , Fiorini Vanina D. , Crudele Ignacio , Reboreda Juan C. , Pladas Shawn A. , Watson André P. , Bush Sarah E. , Clayton Dale H.
Published: August 2023

Co‐parasitism is ubiquitous and has important consequences for the ecology and evolution of wild host populations. Studies of parasite co‐infections remain limited in scope, with few experimental tests of the fitness consequences of multiple parasites, especially in natural populations.

We measured the separate and combined effects of Philornis seguyi nest flies and shiny cowbirds Molothrus bonariensis on the fitness of a shared host, the chalk‐browed mockingbird (Mimus saturninus) in Argentina.

Using a two‐factor experimental approach, we manipulated the presence of nest flies and cowbirds in mockingbird nests and assessed their effects on mockingbird haemoglobin levels, begging and provisioning rates, body size, and fledging success. We also monitored rates of nest predation in relation to parasitism by flies and cowbirds.

Nest flies reduced the haemoglobin concentration, body size, and fledging success of mockingbirds, likely because mockingbirds did not compensate for parasitism by begging more or feeding their nestlings more. Cowbirds also reduced the fledging success of mockingbirds, even though they had no detectable effect on haemoglobin or body size. Nests with cowbirds, which beg more than mockingbirds, attracted more nest predators. There was no significant interaction between the effects of flies and cowbirds on any component of mockingbird fitness. The combined effects of nest flies and cowbirds were strictly additive.

In summary, we show that nest flies and cowbirds both reduce host fitness, but do not have interactive effects in co‐parasitized nests. Our results further suggest that predators exacerbate the effects of nest flies and cowbirds on their hosts. Our study shows that the fitness consequences of co‐parasitism are complex, especially in the context of community‐level interactions.