bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometric mixing
Authors: Arrieta Jorge , Cartwright Julyan H. E. , Gouillart Emmanuelle , Piro Nicolas , Piro Oreste , Tuval Idan
Published: August 2020

Mixing fluids often involves a periodic action, like stirring one’s tea. But reciprocating motions in fluids at low Reynolds number, in Stokes flows where inertia is negligible, lead to periodic cycles of mixing and unmixing, because the physics, molecular diffusion excepted, is time reversible. So how can fluid be mixed in such circumstances? The answer involves a geometric phase. Geometric phases are found everywhere in physics as anholonomies, where after a closed circuit in the parameters, some system variables do not return to their original values. We discuss the geometric phase in fluid mixing: geometric mixing.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Stokes at 200 (part 2)’.
Hymenobacter artigasi sp. nov., isolated from air sampling in maritime Antarctica
Authors: Roldán Diego M. , Kyrpides Nikos , Woyke Tanja , Shapiro Nicole , Whitman William B. , Králová Stanislava , Sedláček Ivo , Busse Hans-Jürgen , Menes Rodolfo Javier
Published: August 2020

A rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain, 1BT, was isolated from an air sample collected at King George Island, maritime Antarctica. Strain 1BT is strictly aerobic, psychrophilic, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive and non-motile. Growth of strain 1BT is observed at 0–20 °C (optimum, 10 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and in the presence of 0–1.0% NaCl (optimum, 0.5 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences places strain 1BT within the genus

Hymenobacter

and shows the highest similarity to

Hymenobacter antarcticus

VUG-A42aaT (97.5 %). The predominant menaquinone of strain 1BT is MK-7 and the major fatty acids (>10 %) comprise summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c; 32.5 %), iso-C15 : 0 (17.6 %) and anteiso C15 : 0 (12.3 %). The polar lipid profile consists of the major compounds phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, two unidentified aminolipids and one unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content based on the draft genome sequence is 61.2 mol%. Based on the data from the current polyphasic study, 1BT represents a novel species of the genus

Hymenobacter

, for which the name Hymenobacter artigasi sp. nov. is suggested. The type strain is 1BT (=CCM 8970T=CGMCC 1.16843T).
The atlas of RNase H antisense oligonucleotide distribution and activity in the CNS of rodents and non-human primates following central administration
Authors: Jafar-nejad Paymaan , Powers Berit , Soriano Armand , Zhao Hien , Norris Daniel A. , Matson John , DeBrosse-Serra Beatrice , Watson Jamie , Narayanan Padmakumar , Mazur Curt , Kordasiewicz Holly , Swayze Eric E. , Rigo Frank
Published: August 2020

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have emerged as a new class of drugs to treat a wide range of diseases, including neurological indications. Spinraza, an ASO that modulates splicing of SMN2 RNA, has shown profound disease modifying effects in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients, energizing the field to develop ASOs for other neurological diseases. While SMA specifically affects spinal motor neurons, other neurological diseases affect different central nervous system (CNS) regions, neuronal, and non-neuronal cells. Therefore, it is critically important to characterize ASO distribution and activity in all major CNS structures and cell types to have a better understanding of which neurological diseases are amenable to ASO therapy. Here we present for the first time the atlas of ASO distribution and activity in the CNS of mice, rats, and non-human primates (NHP), species commonly used in preclinical therapeutic development. Following central administration of an ASO to rodents, we observe widespread distribution and robust activity throughout the CNS in neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia. This is also the case in NHP, despite a larger CNS volume and more complex neuroarchitecture. Our results demonstrate that ASO drugs are well suited for treating a wide range of neurological diseases for which no effective treatments are available.
Injectable Myocardial Matrix Hydrogel Mitigates Negative Left Ventricular Remodeling in a Chronic Myocardial Infarction Model
Authors: Diaz Miranda D. , Tran Elaine , Wassenaar Jean W. , Spang Martin , Gaetani Roberto , Luo Colin G. , Braden Rebecca , Hill Ryan C. , Hansen Kirk C. , DeMaria Anthony N. , Christman Karen L.
Published: August 2020

A first-in-man clinical study on a myocardial-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel yielded evidence for potential efficacy in ischemic heart failure (HF) patients. However, little is understood about the mechanism of action in chronic myocardial infarction (MI). In this study we investigated efficacy and mechanism by which the myocardial matrix hydrogel can mitigate negative left ventricular (LV) remodeling in a chronic model of MI. Assessment of cardiac function via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated preservation of LV volumes and apical wall thickening. Differential gene expression analyses showed the matrix is able to prevent worsening HF in a small animal chronic MI model through modulation of the immune response, downregulation of pathways involved in HF progression and fibrosis, and upregulation of genes important for cardiac muscle contraction.
Immunomodulatory Contribution of Mast Cells to the Regenerative Biomaterial Microenvironment
Authors: Wang Raymond M. , Mesfin Joshua M. , Ungerleider Jessica L. , Kawakami Yu , Kawakami Yuko , Kawakami Toshiaki , Christman Karen L.
Published: August 2020

Bioactive immunomodulatory biomaterials have shown promise for influencing the immune response to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Macrophages and T cells have been associated with this response; however, other immune cell types have been traditionally overlooked. In this study, we investigated the role of mast cells in the regulation of the immune response to decellularized biomaterial scaffolds using a subcutaneous implant model. In mast cell-deficient mice, there was dysregulation of the expected M1 to M2 macrophage transition typically induced by the biomaterial scaffold. Polarization progression deviated in a sex specific manner with an early transition to an M2 profile in female mice, while the male response was unable to properly transition past a pro-inflammatory M1 state. Both were reversed with adoptive mast cell transfer. Further investigation of the later stage immune response in male mice determined a greater sustained pro-inflammatory gene expression profile including the IL-1 cytokine family, IL-6, alarmins, and chemokines. These results highlight mast cells as another important cell type that influences the immune response to pro-regenerative biomaterials.
Hematopoietic stem cells fail to regenerate following inflammatory challenge
Authors: Bogeska Ruzhica , Kaschutnig Paul , Fawaz Malak , Mikecin Ana-Matea , Büchler-Schäff Marleen , Paffenholz Stella , Asada Noboru , Frauhammer Felix , Buettner Florian , Ball Melanie , Knoch Julia , Stäble Sina , Walter Dagmar , Petri Amelie , Carreño-Gonzalez Martha J. , Wagner Vinona , Brors Benedikt , Haas Simon , Lipka Daniel B. , Essers Marieke A.G. , Holland-Letz Tim , Mallm Jan-Philipp , Rippe Karsten , Frenette Paul S. , Rieger Michael A. , Milsom Michael D.
Published: August 2020

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are canonically defined by their capacity to maintain the HSC pool via self-renewal divisions. However, accumulating evidence suggests that HSC function is instead preserved by sustaining long-term quiescence. Here, we study the kinetics of HSC recovery in mice, following an inflammatory challenge that induces HSCs to exit dormancy. Repeated inflammatory challenge resulted in a progressive depletion of functional HSCs, with no sign of later recovery. Underlying this observation, label retention experiments demonstrated that self-renewal divisions were absent or extremely rare during challenge, as well as during any subsequent recovery period. While depletion of functional HSCs held no immediate consequences, young mice exposed to inflammatory challenge developed blood and bone marrow hypocellularity in old age, similar to elderly humans. The progressive, irreversible attrition of HSC function demonstrates that discreet instances of inflammatory stress can have an irreversible and therefore cumulative impact on HSC function, even when separated by several months. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the role of inflammation as a mediator of dysfunctional tissue maintenance and regeneration during ageing.
Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent localization of TmaR, a novelE. colipolar protein that controls activity of the major sugar regulator by polar sequestration
Authors: Szoke Tamar , Albocher Nitsan , Govindarajan Sutharsan , Nussbaum-Shochat Anat , Amster-Choder Orna
Published: August 2020

The poles ofE. colicells are emerging as hubs for major sensory systems, but the polar determinants that allocate their components to the pole are largely unknown. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel protein, TmaR, which localizes to theE. colicell pole when phosphorylated on a tyrosine residue. TmaR is shown here to control the subcellular localization of the general PTS protein Enzyme I (EI) by preventing it from exerting its activity by binding and polar sequestration, thus regulating sugar uptake and metabolism. Depletion or overexpression of TmaR results in EI release from the pole or enhanced recruitment to the pole, which leads to increasing or decreasing the rate of sugar consumption, respectively. Notably phosphorylation of TmaR is required to release EI and enable its activity. Like TmaR, the ability of EI to be recruited to the pole depends on phosphorylation of one of its tyrosines. In addition to hyperactivity in sugar consumption, the absence of TmaR also leads to detrimental effects on the ability of cells to survive in mild acidic conditions. Our results argue that this survival defect, which is sugar- and EI-dependent, reflects the difficulty of cells lacking TmaR to enter stationary phase. Our study identifies TmaR as the firstE. coliprotein reported to localize in a tyrosine-dependent manner and to control the activity of other proteins by their polar sequestration and release.

SIGNIFICANCE

In recent years, we have learnt that bacterial cells have intricate spatial organization despite the lack of membrane-bounded organelles. The endcaps of rod-shaped bacteria, termed poles, are emerging as hubs for sensing and responding, but the underlying mechanisms for positioning macromolecules there are largely unknown. We discovered a novel protein, TmaR, whose polar localization depends on a phospho-tyrosine modification. We show that TmaR controls the activity of EI, the major regulator of sugar metabolism in most bacteria, by polar sequestration and release. Notably, TmaR is essential for survival in conditions thatE. colioften encounters in nature. Hence, TmaR is a key regulator that connects tyrosine phosphorylation, spatial regulation, sugar metabolism and survival in bacteria and the first protein reported to recruit proteins to theE. colicell poles.
Expansion Segments in Bacterial and Archaeal 5S Ribosomal RNAs
Authors: Stepanov Victor G. , Fox George E.
Published: August 2020

The large ribosomal RNAs of eukaryotes frequently contain expansion sequences that add to the size of the rRNAs but do not affect their overall structural layout and are compatible with major ribosomal function as an mRNA translation machine. The expansion of prokaryotic ribosomal RNAs is much less explored. In order to obtain more insight into the structural variability of these conserved molecules, we herein report the results of a comprehensive search for the expansion sequences in prokaryotic 5S rRNAs. Overall, 89 expanded 5S rRNAs of 15 structural types were identified in 15 archaeal and 36 bacterial genomes. Expansion segments ranging in length from 13 to 109 residues were found to be distributed among 17 insertion sites. The strains harboring the expanded 5S rRNAs belong to the bacterial ordersClostridiales,Halanaerobiales,Thermoanaerobacterales, andAlteromonadalesas well as the archael orderHalobacterales. When several copies of 5S rRNA gene are present in a genome, the expanded versions may co-exist with normal 5S rRNA genes. The insertion sequences are typically capable of forming extended helices, which do not seemingly interfere with folding of the conserved core. The expanded 5S rRNAs have largely been overlooked in 5S rRNA databases.
Emergence of Non-Linear Mixed Selectivity in Prefrontal Cortex after Training
Authors: Dang Wenhao , Jaffe Russell J. , Qi Xue-Lian , Constantinidis Christos
Published: August 2020

Neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are typically activated by different cognitive tasks, and also by different stimuli and abstract variables within these tasks. A single neuron’s selectivity for a given stimulus dimension often changes depending on its context, a phenomenon known as nonlinear mixed selectivity (NMS). It has previously been hypothesized that NMS emerges as a result of training to perform tasks in different contexts. We tested this hypothesis directly by examining the neuronal responses of different PFC areas before and after monkeys were trained to perform different working memory tasks involving visual stimulus locations and/or shapes. We found that training induces a modest increase in the proportion of PFC neurons with NMS exclusively for spatial working memory, but not shape working memory tasks, with area 9/46 undergoing the most significant increase in NMS cell proportion. We also found that increased working memory task complexity, in the form of simultaneously storing location and shape combinations, does not increase the degree of NMS for stimulus shape with other task variables. Lastly, in contrast to the previous studies, we did not find evidence that NMS is predictive of task performance. Our results thus provide critical insights on the representation of stimuli and task information in neuronal populations, which may pave the way to a greater understanding of neural selectivity in working memory.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

How multiple types of information are represented in working memory remains a complex computational problem. It has been hypothesized that nonlinear mixed selectivity allows neurons to efficiently encode multiple stimuli in different contexts, after subjects have been trained in complex tasks. Our analysis of prefrontal recordings obtained before and after training monkeys to perform working memory tasks only partially agreed with this prediction, in that nonlinear mixed selectivity emerged for spatial but not shape information, and mostly in mid-dorsal PFC. Nonlinear mixed selectivity also displayed little modulation across either task complexity or correct performance. These results point to other mechanisms, in addition to nonlinear mixed selectivity, to represent complex information about stimulus and context in neuronal activity.
Cells of origin of lung cancers: lessons from mouse studies
Authors: Ferone Giustina , Lee Myung Chang , Sage Julien , Berns Anton
Published: August 2020

As one of the most common forms of cancer, lung cancers present as a collection of different histological subtypes. These subtypes are characterized by distinct sets of driver mutations and phenotypic appearance, and they often show varying degrees of heterogenicity, aggressiveness, and response/resistance to therapy. Intriguingly, lung cancers are also capable of showing features of multiple subtypes or converting from one subtype to another. The intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity of lung cancers as well as incidences of subtype transdifferentiation raise the question of to what extent the tumor characteristics are dictated by the cell of origin rather than the acquired driver lesions. We provide here an overview of the studies in experimental mouse models that try to address this question. These studies convincingly show that both the cell of origin and the genetic driver lesions play a critical role in shaping the phenotypes of lung tumors. However, they also illustrate that there is far from a direct one-to-one relationship between the cell of origin and the cancer subtype, as most epithelial cells can be reprogrammed toward diverse lung cancer fates when exposed to the appropriate set of driver mutations.
Alternative splicing and cancer: insights, opportunities, and challenges from an expanding view of the transcriptome
Authors: Cherry Sara , Lynch Kristen W.
Published: August 2020

Over the past decade there has been increased awareness of the potential role of alternative splicing in the etiology of cancer. In particular, advances in RNA-Sequencing technology and analysis has led to a wave of discoveries in the last few years regarding the causes and functional relevance of alternative splicing in cancer. Here we discuss the current understanding of the connections between splicing and cancer, with a focus on the most recent findings. We also discuss remaining questions and challenges that must be addressed in order to use our knowledge of splicing to guide the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
FoxA factors: the chromatin key and doorstop essential for liver development and function
Authors: Heslop James A. , Duncan Stephen A.
Published: August 2020

Pioneer factors are transcriptional regulators with the capacity to bind inactive regions of chromatin and induce changes in accessibility that underpin cell fate decisions. The FOXA family of transcription factors is well understood to have pioneer capacity. Indeed, researchers have uncovered numerous examples of FOXA-dependent epigenomic modulation in developmental and disease processes. Despite the presence of FOXA being essential for correct epigenetic patterning, the need for continued FOXA presence postchromatin modulation has been debated. In a recent study in this issue of Genes & Development, Reizel and colleagues (pp. 1039–1050) show that the tissue-specific ablation of FOXA1/2/3 in the adult mouse liver results in the collapse of the epigenetic profile that maintains the hepatic gene expression profile. Thus, FOXA functions as a key, opening regions of chromatin during development, and as a doorstep, maintaining the established euchromatic structure in adult tissue.
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Authors: DeCaprio James , Kohl Thomas O.
Published: August 2020

Chromatin immunoprecipitation, commonly referred to as ChIP, is a powerful technique for the evaluation of in vivo interactions of proteins with specific regions of genomic DNA. Formaldehyde is used in this technique to cross-link proteins to DNA in vivo, followed by the extraction of chromatin from cross-linked cells and tissues. Harvested chromatin is sheared and subsequently used in an immunoprecipitation incorporating antibodies specific to protein(s) of interest and thus coprecipitating and enriching the cross-linked, protein-associated DNA. The cross-linking process can be reversed, and protein-bound DNA fragments of optimal length ranging from 200 to 1000 base pairs (bp) can subsequently be purified and measured or sequenced by numerous analytical methods. In this protocol, two different fixation methods are described in detail. The first involves the standard fixation of cells and tissue by formaldehyde if the target antigen is highly abundant. The dual cross-linking procedure presented at the end includes an additional preformaldehyde cross-linking step and can be especially useful when the target protein is in low abundance or if it is indirectly associated with chromatin DNA through another protein.
Fixing Attached Cells for Staining
Authors: Rodig Scott J.
Published: August 2020

For cell staining, fixation methods decrease generally into two classes, organic solvents and cross-linking reagents. Organic solvents such as alcohols and acetone remove lipids and dehydrate the cells, precipitating the proteins on the cellular architecture. Cross-linking reagents such as paraformaldehyde form intermolecular bridges, normally through free amino groups, thus creating a network of linked antigens. Choosing between fixation in organic solvents or cross-linking agents is empirical. There are no general rules to decide between the two and both procedures are described here. Both methods may denature protein antigens, and for this reason, antibodies prepared against denatured proteins may be more useful for cell staining. In some instances, anti-denatured-protein antibodies are the only ones that can work. Fixation in protein cross-linking reagents such as paraformaldehyde or glutaraldehyde preserves cell structure better than organic solvents but may reduce the antigenicity of some cell components. Simple fixation with paraformaldehyde or glutaraldehyde does not allow the antibody to access the specimen and therefore is followed by a permeabilization step using an organic solvent or nonionic detergent. Using the organic solvent is easy, but it can destroy certain elements of the cell architecture, although prior fixation with paraformaldehyde does help to preserve the cellular structure. If preservation of cell structure is important, the best first choice would be to use a nonionic detergent.
Dephosphorylation of DNA Fragments with Alkaline Phosphatase
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: August 2020

The removal of 5′ phosphates from nucleic acids is used to enhance subsequent labeling with [γ-32P]-ATP, reduce the circularization of plasmid vectors in ligation reactions, and render DNA susceptible or resistant to other enzymes that act on nucleic acids (e.g., λ exonuclease). Essentially, any nucleotide phosphatase (e.g., bacterial alkaline phosphatase, calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase [CIP], placental alkaline phosphatase, shrimp alkaline phosphatase [SAP], or several acid phosphatases such as sweet potato and prostate acid phosphatase) will catalyze the removal of 5′ phosphates from nucleic acid templates. In fact, these enzymes prefer small substrates such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) and the exposed 5′ phosphates of nucleic acids to bulky globular protein substrates.
Operational matrix of two dimensional Chebyshev wavelets and its applications in solving nonlinear partial integro-differential equations
Authors: Rostami Yaser
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a new method for the approximate solution of two-dimensional nonlinear Volterra–Fredholm partial integro-differential equations with boundary conditions using two-dimensional Chebyshev wavelets.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, an operational matrix of product and integration of the cross-product and differentiation are introduced that essentially of Chebyshev wavelets. The use of these operational matrices simplifies considerably the structure of the computation used for a set of the algebraic system has been obtained by using the collocation points and solved.

Findings

Theorem for convergence analysis and some illustrative examples of using the presented method to show the validity, efficiency, high accuracy and applicability of the proposed technique. Some figures are plotted to demonstrate the error analysis of the proposed scheme.

Originality/value

This paper uses operational matrices of two-dimensional Chebyshev wavelets and helps to obtain high accuracy of the method.
Study on the integration effect of multiple vehicles’ delayed velocities on traffic stability in intelligent transportation system environment
Authors: Zhang Geng , Ma Qinglu , Pan Dongbo , Zhang Yu , Huang Qiaoli , Jiang Shan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In an intelligent transportation system (for short, ITS) environment, a vehicle’s motion is affected by the information in a large scale. The purpose of this paper is to study the integration effect of multiple vehicles’ delayed velocities on traffic flow.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructed a new car-following model to study the integration effect of multiple vehicles’ delayed velocities on traffic flow. The new model is analyzed by linear and nonlinear perturbation method theoretically and also verified by simulation.

Findings

It is found out that the integration of preceding vehicles’ delayed velocities affect the stability of traffic flow importantly, and three preceding vehicles’ delayed velocities information should be considered in real traffic.

Originality/value

The new car-following model by considering the integration effect of multiple vehicles’ delayed velocities is firstly proposed in this paper. The research result shows that three preceding vehicles’ delayed velocities information is the best choice to stabilizing traffic flow.
Application of a novel grey forecasting model with time power term to predict China's GDP
Authors: Liu Chong , Xie Wanli , Lao Tongfei , Yao Yu-ting , Zhang Jun
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Gross domestic product (GDP) is an important indicator to measure a country's economic development. If the future development trend of a country's GDP can be accurately predicted, it will have a positive effect on the formulation and implementation of the country's future economic development policies. In order to explore the future development trend of China's GDP, the purpose of this paper is to establish a new grey forecasting model with time power term to forecast GDP.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the shortcomings of the traditional grey prediction model with time power term are found out through analysis, and then the generalized grey prediction model with time power term is established (abbreviated as PTGM (1,1, α) model). Secondly, the PTGM (1,1, α) model is improved by linear interpolation method, and the optimized PTGM (1,1, α) model is established (abbreviated as OPTGM (1,1, α) model), and the parameters of the OPTGM (1,1, α) model are solved by the quantum genetic algorithm. Thirdly, the advantage of the OPTGM (1,1, α) model over the traditional grey models is illustrated by two real cases. Finally the OPTGM (1,1, α) model is used to predict China's GDP from 2020 to 2029.

Findings

The OPTGM (1,1, α) model is more suitable for predicting China's GDP than other grey prediction models.

Originality/value

A new grey prediction model with time power term is proposed.
Moment of dialogic leadership in Finnish IT organisation
Authors: Lemmetty Soila , Collin Kaija
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the construction of leadership through authentic dialogues at work and leaders’ actions as contributors to dialogic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected the data by recording the organisation’s meetings and discussions and used content analysis of dialogic leadership and typifying of critical moments as analytical methods.

Findings

On the basis of the findings, this paper suggests that dialogic leadership begins with a startup critical moment and progresses through the different positions by manager and employees through democratic interaction. Individual and collective level learning of participants and the formation of new knowledge were used in decision- or conclusion-making. The manager promoted the construction of dialogic leadership in conversation by creating important critical moments, which enabled a dialogue to start or contributed to already ongoing dialogue.

Originality/value

The study proposes concrete actions that can be applied in working life. This study provides a new understanding of the leader’s activities in promoting dialogue.
Reducing the resource acquisition costs for returnee entrepreneurs: role of Chinese national science parks
Authors: Xia Senmao , Xiong Yu , Zhang Min , Cornford James , Liu Yipeng , Lim Ming K. , Cao Dongmei , Chen Fengwen
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the mechanisms through which Chinese National Science Parks' (NSPs) services facilitate returnee entrepreneurs' (REs) acquisition of resources for their new ventures. Resource acquisition is crucial for new ventures, but it inevitably leads to significant costs increase. Although the NSPs offer various services to REs to reduce these costs, they still struggle to find the right mix of services.

Design/methodology/approach

From the transaction cost's perspective, an exploratory multiple-case study was conducted with data collected from six NSPs in China.

Findings

The results reveal that four types of NSP services (mentoring and training, social event, promotion of REs and accreditation of resource holders (RHs)) have both individual and joint effects on reducing REs' resource acquisition costs. Specifically, the “accreditation of RHs” service directly helps REs reduce search costs. The combination of “accreditation of RHs”, “promotion of REs” and “social event” services help REs and RHs to establish guanxi. Further, guanxi, working along with the “mentoring and training” service, helps REs to reduce contracting, monitoring and enforcement costs.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to explore the matching mechanisms between science parks’ services and entrepreneurs' cost reduction. This helps reconcile the inconsistent findings on science parks' effect by explaining why some NSPs are able to provide strong support to REs while others are less successful. In addition, the findings are useful for NSPs to develop the right mix of tailored services for REs. Finally, REs will find this study useful to evaluate which NSP is a more suitable location for their new ventures.
Muḍārabah and mushārakah as micro-equity finance: perception of Selangor’s disadvantaged women entrepreneurs
Authors: Islam Reazul , Ahmad Rubi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to gain the perception of Selangor’s disadvantaged women on the Sharīʿah (Islamic law) rules on two micro-equity financing instruments, namely, muḍārabah (profit sharing) and mushārakah (profit-and-loss sharing) (M&M).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out in the rural area of Selangor district in Malaysia by administering a self-generated structured questionnaire. A total of 330 completed questionnaires were retrieved from the members of an Islamic microfinance institution (IsMFI), namely, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). The data were analysed by using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The female borrowers of AIM perceive the Sharīʿah rules of M&M requiring high moral and ethical values and diligent repayment performance. They are aware of some other underlying provisions such as business liquidation, share transfer, information discloser and business termination. The overall findings of this study suggest that the perceived Sharīʿah rules are akin to those that are commonly used in general partnership businesses between Muslims. It also indicates that disadvantaged entrepreneurs would accept the rules that are easy to comprehend as well as favourable to their interests. It further suggests that respondents’ experiences of microfinance and business operation do not have a significant influence on their perception of M&M instruments.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to Selangor. So, the perception of Muslim women surveyed may not represent the views of all women in Malaysia. However, it can offer a primary understanding of the said issue.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can help IsMIFs take initiatives to offer M&M as micro-equity finance to poor women entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

So far, limited studies have been carried out on M&M-based microfinancing. This paper offers new insights presenting disadvantaged women entrepreneurs’ perception of these financing instruments.
Perspectives on smokefree prison policy among people in custody in Scotland
Authors: Brown Ashley , Eadie Douglas , Purves Richard , Mohan Andrea , Hunt Kate
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore smokefree prison policy, from the perspective of people in custody in Scotland.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 77 people in custody in Scotland were interviewed in the period leading up to implementation of a nationwide prison smokefree policy. Data were thematically analysed to identify the diversity of views and experiences.

Findings

Participants described a widespread awareness in prisons of plans to implement a smokefree policy from 30 November 2018. Opinions about smokefree prisons varied among participants based on perceptions of the fairness, and anticipated positive and negative consequences of removing tobacco from prisons. At the time of the interviews, people in custody were responding to the impending smokefree policy, either by proactively preparing for the smokefree rule change or by deploying avoidance strategies. Participants described opportunities and challenges for implementing smokefree policy in prisons across three main themes: the role of smoking in prison, prison smoking cessation services and motivations for quitting smoking among people in custody.

Originality/value

This study exploring smokefree prisons from the perspectives of people in custody has several novel features which extend the evidence base. The findings highlight measures for jurisdictions to consider when planning to prohibit smoking in their prisons in the future. These include the need for evidence-based smoking cessation support in advance of smokefree policy, effective communication campaigns, consideration of broader structural determinants of health in prison and ongoing measures to reduce rates of return to smoking post release.
Is more really better? Performance measure variety and environmental uncertainty
Authors: Rikhardsson Pall , Wendt Stefan , Arnardóttir Auður Arna , Sigurjónsson Throstur Olaf
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper asks the question of whether more environmental uncertainty affects the design of performance measurement systems in terms of a greater variety of performance measures and whether this leads to more management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and improved firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Information processing theory is used to frame the hypotheses and findings. A questionnaire was sent to the 300 largest companies in Iceland, where environmental uncertainty has been prevalent.

Findings

The results indicate that increased uncertainty leads to a larger variety of non-financial performance measures, such as customer measures. A positive relationship is found between management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and firm performance. However, the variety of performance measures was not linked to management satisfaction or firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that managers increase the variety of performance measures when uncertainty increases. However, it is not the variety itself that increases management satisfaction or improves firm performance.

Practical implications

Performance measurement design is affected by environmental uncertainty. Managers focus on important stakeholder groups such as customers under such conditions and can consult research and practice for the purpose of customer relationship management and customer profitability measurement to improve measurement selection.

Originality/value

This work focusses on performance measurement system design, examining the use of more than 50 different performance measures, and differentiates between small and medium-sized firms and between service and non-service firms.
Knowledge transfer mechanisms in franchise network
Authors: Iddy Judith Jacob
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of knowledge transfer (KT) mechanisms in a franchise network.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses qualitative and grounded theory techniques to collect and analyze data from a franchise network based in Africa. This approach enables the triangulation of data from different sources including field visits, observation, interviews and company reports.

Findings

The findings suggest that training is the most preferred mechanisms for transferring localized knowledge. The results highlight the importance of identifying franchisees’ training needs for transferring relevant knowledge according to experience and market profile of franchisees. Additionally, a collaborative environment within the network facilitates the sharing of best practices.

Research limitations/implications

Data/insight from Africa in this study provides both theoretical and practical implications. Propositions presented can help advance KT and franchise research.

Originality/value

Franchising and knowledge management research in emerging markets especially in Africa is rare. This paper provides valuable insights for understanding KT practices in the African franchise market.
Demystifying the differences in the impact of training and incentives on employee performance: mediating roles of trust and knowledge sharing
Authors: Lee Yuk Ling Angie , Malik Ashish , Rosenberger III Philip J. , Sharma Piyush
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the differences in the mediating roles of trust and knowledge sharing (formal vs informal) in the process by which training and incentives influence organizational performance (sales increase and labor productivity).

Design/methodology/approach

The data from an online survey of Senior Managers from 119 firms in Hong Kong’s clothing industry (HKCI) was analyzed using SmartPLS software.

Findings

Trust has a stronger mediating impact in the effects of incentives (vs training) on both formal and informal knowledge sharing. Informal (vs formal) knowledge sharing has a stronger mediating impact in the effects of trust on sales increase and labor productivity.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may consider different dimensions such as knowledge donating and collecting behaviors, as well as motives, such as self-enjoyment, reciprocity or social interaction ties to study knowledge sharing behavior.

Practical implications

This study shows that incentives are more likely than training to help build a trusting environment in an organization and that informal knowledge sharing has a stronger influence on organizational performance than formal knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The study’s distinctive contribution is the under-researched context of HKCI for investigating the mediating effects of trust and formal and informal knowledge sharing between ability and motivational practices on performance.
Designing place brand architecture: the potential of a sub-brands strategy
Authors: Zelenskaya Elena , Elkanova Elena
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem of place brand architecture. Despite being a well-established research domain in the field of product and services marketing, brand architecture remains an under-explored phenomenon in relation to places. The paper aims to discuss a new approach to a sub-brands strategy that builds on both the supply and the demand sides, and explores the benefits and challenges of the suggested strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a case study of St Petersburg, Russia, using both secondary and primary data. The primary data consists of in-depth interviews with stakeholders involved in city branding and applies thematic analysis.

Findings

The results demonstrate that place brand architecture helps to design a differentiated system of sub-brands that are customer-focused and reflect the complexity of a place. The paper outlines the benefits (such as, flexibility of the sub-brands strategy and the increased credibility of the brand) and the challenges for strategy implementation (such as, higher promotional expenditure and communication risk and stakeholder misalignment).

Practical implications

This paper will be helpful for place brand and tourism managers who seek to attract new target groups and avoid various problems, such as the overcrowding of popular sights.

Originality/value

While the existing literature on place brand architecture is mainly approached from a geographical perspective, this paper proposes a new target-group-specific approach that incorporates the supply and demand sides.
Executive director remuneration and company performance: panel evidence from South Africa for the years following King III
Authors: Padia Nirupa , Callaghan Chris William
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In the wake of certain corporate scandals, many stakeholders are questioning if current high levels of executive remuneration, world-wide, are in fact related to company performance. After the implementation of King III in 2010, there has been an expectation that governance has improved in South African companies. If so, empirical testing should find executive remuneration to be positively related to forms of performance that reflect an increase in company value, like Tobin's Q, or return on assets, rather than measures such as total revenue.

Design/methodology/approach

Agency theory predicts that if executive remuneration is not carefully designed to maximise the value of the company, executive directors will tend to maximise revenue instead. To test this prediction, hand-collected panel data from Johannesburg Stock Exchange company reports are linked to company performance data to test this prediction, across the years 2010–2017, post King III.

Findings

Results challenge certain important assumptions. Generalised method of moments tests find total revenue, rather than value added measures of performance such as Tobin's Q or return on assets, to predict executive director remuneration. This is notwithstanding the significance of Tobin's Q in testing based on ordinary least squares. Implications of these findings for the field are derived and discussed.

Originality/value

Unique findings suggest that complacency about the relationships between executive director compensation and company performance is unwarranted. In light of a decline in the country's international rankings on the quality of its corporate governance, a renewed focus on the effectiveness of human resource compensation strategy may be necessary in this context.
Sustainability efforts in the fast fashion industry: consumer perception, trust and purchase intention
Authors: Neumann Hannah L. , Martinez Luisa M. , Martinez Luis F.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to test for factors affecting environmental sustainability and purchase intention in the fashion industry. Accordingly, the authors developed a framework that depicts the relationships between perceptions of social responsibility, consumer attitude, trust, purchase intention and perceived consumer effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with an internationally diverse sample of 216 consumers. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results indicated that perceptions of social responsibility directly affect consumers’ attitudes towards these fashion brands, as well as trust and perceived consumer effectiveness. Also, consumers need to perceive sustainability efforts of these brands as altruistic, and trust was found to be a direct predictor of purchase intention. However, both consumer attitude and perceived consumer effectiveness did not predict purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was primarily distributed to young people. Therefore, a generalisation of the findings to other age groups might be limited.

Practical implications

Practicing managers should emphasise the fact that environmental sustainability and fast fashion brands could be sustainable to increase trust among consumers.

Social implications

When it comes to environmental issues, positive perceptions regarding the companies’ social responsibility efforts are vital to enhance both consumers’ trust towards the brands and their individual feeling of empowerment.

Originality/value

This study intends to shed light on the key elements that shape consumers’ attitudes and willingness to purchase green apparel.
Perceptions of HPWS and performance: cross-level effects of team psychological contracts
Authors: Schreuder Frits , Schalk René , Batistič Sasa
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This present study aims to examine how experiences of high-performance work systems (HPWS) in work teams affect employee’s work attitudes and performance. At the team level, the study explored the role of supervisory support in the relationship experienced HPWS -team performance. In explaining employee attitudes and behaviours at the individual level, such as organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), the study adopted a psychological contract approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The moderating role of supervisory support was investigated at the team level while exploring mediation effects of psychological contract beliefs in work teams in cross-level relationships with individual attitudes and behaviours.

Findings

Results indicate partial mediation of fulfilment of psychological contracts in work teams in the experienced HPWS-OCB relationship. At the team level, supervisory support perceptions moderate the effects of shared experiences of HPWS on product and service innovation in work teams.

Originality/value

The focus on the employee perspective of HPWS, the factor-analytic approach of measuring HPWS experiences and the role of team psychological contracts in employee attitudes and behaviours represent the main contributions of this study to HR research.
An investigation of knowledge protection practices in inter-organisational collaboration: protecting specialised engineering knowledge with a practice based on grey-box modelling
Authors: Kaiser Rene , Thalmann Stefan , Pammer-Schindler Viktoria
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to report an interview study investigating knowledge protection practices in a collaborative research and innovation project centred around the semi-conductor industry. The authors explore which and how knowledge protection practices are applied and zoom in on a particular one to investigate the perspective of three stakeholders which collaborate: the SUPPLIER of a specialised machine, the APPLIER of this machine and a SCHOLAR who collaborates with both, in an effort to develop a grey-box model of the machine and its operation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 33 interviews have been conducted in two rounds: 30 interviews explore knowledge protection practices applied across a large project. Qualitative content analysis is applied to determine practices not well covered by the research community. A total of three follow-up interviews inspect one specific collaboration case of three partners. Quotes from all interviews are used to illustrate the participants’ viewpoints and motivation.

Findings

SCHOLAR and APPLIER communicate using a data-centric knowledge protection practice, in that concrete parameter values are sensitive and hidden by communicating data within a wider parameter range. This practice balances the benefit that all three stakeholders have from communicating about specifics of machine design and operations. The grey-box model combines engineering knowledge of both SUPPLIER and APPLIER.

Practical implications

The line of thought described in this study is applicable to comparable collaboration constellations of a SUPPLIER of a machine, an APPLIER of a machine and a SCHOLAR who analyses and draws insights out of data.

Originality/value

The paper fills a research gap by reporting on applied knowledge protection practices and characterising a data-centric knowledge protection practice around a grey-box model.