bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of positive and negative selection and TCR signaling during thymic T cell development by capicua
Authors: Kim Soeun , Park Guk-Yeol , Park Jong Seok , Park Jiho , Hong Hyebeen , Lee Yoontae
Published: July 2021

Central tolerance is achieved through positive and negative selection of thymocytes mediated by T cell receptor (TCR) signaling strength. Thus, the dysregulation of the thymic selection process often leads to autoimmunity. Here, we show that capicua (CIC), a transcriptional repressor that suppresses autoimmunity, controls the thymic selection process. Loss of CIC prior to T-cell lineage commitment impaired both positive and negative selection of thymocytes. CIC deficiency attenuated TCR signaling in CD4+CD8+double-positive (DP) cells, as evidenced by a decrease in CD5 and phospho-ERK levels and calcium flux. We identifiedSpry4,Dusp4,Dusp6,andSpred1as CIC target genes that could inhibit TCR signaling in DP cells. Furthermore, impaired positive selection and TCR signaling were partially rescued inCicandSpry4double mutant mice. Our findings indicate that CIC is a transcription factor required for thymic T cell development and suggest that CIC acts at multiple stages of T cell development and differentiation to prevent autoimmunity.
Altered costimulatory signals and hypoxia support chromatin landscapes limiting the functional potential of exhausted T cells in cancer
Authors: Ford B. Rhodes , Rittenhouse Natalie L. , Scharping Nicole E. , Vignali Paolo D. A. , Frisch Andrew T. , Peralta Ronal , Delgoffe Greg M. , Poholek Amanda C.
Published: July 2021

Immunotherapy has changed cancer treatment with major clinical successes, but response rates remain low due in part to elevated prevalence of dysfunctional, terminally exhausted T cells. However, the mechanisms promoting progression to terminal exhaustion remain undefined. We profiled the histone modification landscape of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells throughout differentiation, finding terminally exhausted T cells possessed chromatin features limiting their transcriptional potential. Active enhancers enriched for bZIP/AP-1 transcription factor motifs lacked correlated gene expression, which were restored by immunotherapeutic costimulatory signaling. Epigenetic repression was also driven by an increase in histone bivalency, which we linked directly to hypoxia exposure. Our study is the first to profile the precise epigenetic changes during intratumoral differentiation to exhaustion, highlighting their altered function is driven by both improper costimulatory signals and environmental factors. These data suggest even terminally exhausted T cells remain poised for transcription in settings of increased costimulatory signaling and reduced hypoxia.
Genetic slippage after sex maintains diversity for parasite resistance in a natural host population
Authors: Ameline Camille , Vögtli Felix , Andras Jason , Dexter Eric , Engelstädter Jan , Ebert Dieter
Published: July 2021

Although parasite-mediated selection is thought to be a major driver of host evolution, its influence on genetic variation for parasite resistance is not yet well understood. We monitored a large population of the planktonic crustaceanDaphnia magnaover eight years, as it underwent yearly epidemics of the bacterial pathogenPasteuria ramosa. We observed a cyclical pattern of resistance evolution: resistant phenotypes increased in frequency throughout the epidemics, but susceptibility was restored each spring when hosts hatched from sexual resting stages, a phenomenon described as genetic slippage in response to sex. Collecting and hatchingD. magnaresting stages across multiple seasons showed that largely resistant host populations can produce susceptible offspring through recombination. Resting stages produced throughout the planktonic season accurately represent the hatching population cohort of the following spring. A genetic model of resistance developed for this host–parasite system, based on multiple loci and strong epistasis, is in partial agreement with these findings. Our results reveal that, despite strong selection for resistance in a natural host population, genetic slippage after sexual reproduction has the potential to maintain genetic diversity of host resistance.
Evolutionary footprints of a cold relic in a rapidly warming world
Authors: Wolf Eva M. , Gaquerel Emmanuel , Scharmann Mathias , Yant Levi , Koch Marcus A.
Published: July 2021

With accelerating global warming, understanding the evolutionary dynamics of plant adaptation to environmental change is increasingly urgent. Here we reveal the enigmatic history of the genusCochlearia(Brassicaceae), a Pleistocene relic that originated from a drought-adapted Mediterranean sister genus during the Miocene.Cochleariarapidly diversified and adapted to circum-Arctic regions and other cold-characterized habitat types during the Pleistocene. This rapid change in ecological preferences was accompanied by a highly complex, reticulate polyploid evolution, which was apparently triggered by the impact of repeated Pleistocene glaciation cycles. Our results illustrate that two early diversified arctic-alpine diploid gene pools contributed differently to the evolution of this young polyploid genus now captured in a cold-adapted niche. Metabolomics revealed ancestral central carbon metabolism responses to cold in diverse ecotypes, likely due to continuous connections to cold habitats that we hypothesize facilitated widespread parallel adaptation to alpine and subalpine habitats, and which we speculate were coopted from existing drought adaptations. Given the growing scientific interest in adaptive evolution of temperature-related traits, our results provide much-needed taxonomic and phylogenomic resolution of a model system as well as first insights into the origins of its adaptation to cold.
Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness
Authors: Ke Ruian , Martinez Pamela P. , Smith Rebecca L. , Gibson Laura L. , Mirza Agha , Conte Madison , Gallagher Nicholas , Luo Chun Huai , Jarrett Junko , Conte Abigail , Liu Tongyu , Farjo Mireille , Walden Kimberly K.O. , Rendon Gloria , Fields Christopher J. , Wang Leyi , Fredrickson Richard , Edmonson Darci C. , Baughman Melinda E. , Chiu Karen K. , Choi Hannah , Scardina Kevin R. , Bradley Shannon , Gloss Stacy L. , Reinhart Crystal , Yedetore Jagadeesh , Quicksall Jessica , Owens Alyssa N. , Broach John , Barton Bruce , Lazar Peter , Heetderks William J. , Robinson Matthew L. , Mostafa Heba H. , Manabe Yukari C. , Pekosz Andrew , McManus David D. , Brooke Christopher B.
Published: July 2021

The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding in humans remain poorly understood. We captured the dynamics of infectious virus and viral RNA shedding during acute infection through daily longitudinal sampling of 60 individuals for up to 14 days. By fitting mechanistic models, we directly estimate viral reproduction and clearance rates, and overall infectiousness for each individual. Significant person-to-person variation in infectious virus shedding suggests that individual-level heterogeneity in viral dynamics contributes to superspreading. Viral genome load often peaked days earlier in saliva than in nasal swabs, indicating strong compartmentalization and suggesting that saliva may serve as a superior sampling site for early detection of infection. Viral loads and clearance kinetics of B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 viruses in nasal swabs were indistinguishable, however B.1.1.7 exhibited a significantly slower pre-peak growth rate in saliva. These results provide a high-resolution portrait of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics and implicate individual-level heterogeneity in infectiousness in superspreading.
The co-evolution of the genome and epigenome in colorectal cancer
Authors: Heide Timon , Househam Jacob , Cresswell George D , Spiteri Inmaculada , Lynn Claire , Mossner Max , Kimberley Chris , Fernandez-Mateos Javier , Chen Bingjie , Zapata Luis , James Chela , Barozzi Iros , Chkhaidze Ketevan , Nichol Daniel , Berner Alison , Schmidt Melissa , Lakatos Eszter , Baker Ann-Marie , Costa Helena , Mitchinson Miriam , Jansen Marnix , Caravagna Giulio , Ramazzotti Daniele , Shibata Darryl , Bridgewater John , Rodriguez-Justo Manuel , Magnani Luca , Graham Trevor A , Sottoriva Andrea
Published: July 2021

Colorectal malignancies are a leading cause of cancer death. Despite large-scale genomic efforts, DNA mutations do not fully explain malignant evolution. Here we study the co-evolution of the genome and epigenome of colorectal tumours at single-clone resolution using spatial multi-omic profiling of individual glands. We collected 1,373 samples from 30 primary cancers and 9 concomitant adenomas and generated 1,212 chromatin accessibility profiles, 527 whole-genomes and 297 whole-transcriptomes. We found positive selection for DNA mutations in chromatin modifier genes and recurrent chromatin changes in regulatory regions of cancer drivers with otherwise no mutation. Genome-wide alterations in transcription factor binding accessibility involvedCTCF, downregulation of interferon, and increased accessibility forSOXandHOX, indicating developmental genes reactivation. Epigenetic aberrations were heritable, distinguishing adenomas from cancers. Mutational signature analysis showed the epigenome influencing DNA mutation accumulation. This study provides a map of (epi)genetic tumour heterogeneity, with fundamental implications for understanding colorectal cancer biology.
Serotonin GPCR-based biosensing modalities in yeast
Authors: Lengger Bettina , Hoch-Schneider Emma E. , Jensen Christina N. , Jakočiūnas Tadas , Jensen Emil D. , Jensen Michael K.
Published: July 2021

Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter involved in numerous physiological processes and serves as an important precursor for manufacturing bioactive indoleamines and alkaloids used in the treatment of human pathologies. In humans, serotonin sensing and signaling can occur by 12 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) coupled to G proteins. To systematically assess serotonin GPCR signaling, we characterized reporter gene expression of a 144-sized library encoding all 12 human serotonin GPCRs in combination with 12 different Gα proteins in yeast exposed to serotonin. For the 5-HT4 receptor, we observe 25- and 64-fold changes in EC50 values and dynamic reporter gene outputs, respectively. Furthermore, we show that optimal biosensing designs enable high-resolution sensing of serotonin produced in yeast, as well as provide a platform for characterization of 19 serotonin GPCR polymorphisms found in human populations. Taken together, our study highlights serotonin biosensing modalities of relevance to both biotechnological and human health applications.

Highlights

Human serotonin G protein-coupled receptors display promiscuous Gα coupling in yeast

Gα-coupled serotonin receptors display up to 64-fold changes in reporter expression output

Differences in Gα protein evokes 25- and 2-fold difference in EC50 and sensitivity, respectively

Serotonin receptor 5-HT4 and human SNP variants display physiologically relevant EC50 values in yeast

5-HT4 can be applied for high-resolution biosensing of serotonin produced from yeast
The mediating role of social informal learning in the relationship between learning climate and employability
Authors: Crans Samantha , Gerken Maike , Beausaert Simon , Segers Mien
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study examines whether learning climate relates to employability competences through social informal learning (i.e. feedback, help and information seeking).

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple regression analyses and structural equation modeling were used to test direct and indirect effects in a sample of 372 employees working in two Dutch governmental institutes.

Findings

The analyses confirmed that learning climate has an indirect effect on employability competences through feedback, help and information seeking. More specifically, the findings suggest that learning climate is important for employees' engagement in proactive social informal learning activities. Engaging in these learning activities, in turn, relates to a higher level of employability.

Originality/value

This study employs an integrative approach to understanding employability by including the organization's learning climate and employees' social informal learning behavior. It contributes to the extant literature on professional development by unraveling how proactive social informal learning relates to employability competences. It also provides new insights on learning climate as a determinant for social informal learning and employability.
Comparative study on Vietnam’s and Philippines' COVID-19 response using historical institutionalism
Authors: Del Rosario Peter Jerome B. , Ofilada Francesca Mitchel , Vicente Rose Ann D.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper analyzed the healthcare systems of the Philippines and Vietnam prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their strategies on mass testing, contact tracing, quarantine procedures and information dissemination about the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Steinmo's (2008) historical institutionalism approach was used in this paper. Secondary data gathering, document analysis and comparative process tracing were employed.

Findings

The findings revealed that Vietnam's implementation of its Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases in 2007, its relatively low-cost healthcare system, its efficient mass testing and contact tracing strategies and its science-based decisions are contributory to its success in handling the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Philippines failure to enact its Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act in 2013, its costly and dominantly private healthcare system, its heavy focus on strict, long lockdowns and its militarist methods to control the spread of the pandemic were found to be insufficient.

Research limitations/implications

Detailed study on the delivery of healthcare services in marginal areas, healthcare spending for COVID-19 positive individuals and information dissemination strategies about the pandemic were not explored.

Practical implications

Health institutions can redesign their governance mechanisms by ensuring a cost-effective healthcare system and maximizing resource utilization to ensure efficient management of future pandemics. Moreover, national governments should not compromise their country's healthcare system over the economy during a pandemic.

Originality/value

This paper analyzed the countries' history of healthcare governance and its influence in handling COVID-19 compared to previous studies which only focused on the countries' strategies during the pandemic.
Literacy instructional coaching for inservice teachers through a community-engaged partnership
Authors: Karkar Esperat Tala Michelle
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to provide an example of instructional coaching for inservice teachers within the context of community-engaged scholarship (CEP), involving professional learning communities (PLCs). This study seeks to encourage policymakers to allocate budgets for instructional coaches, as well as resources for schools.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study design was used to examine the factors that contributed to the partnership and how the PLC sessions impacted the inservice teachers' practices. Data sources included interviews, focus groups, written reflections, observations of grade-level teachers' meetings and administrative meetings.

Findings

The study uncovered important factors that impacted the community-engaged partnership (CEP) positively, such as partners having a unified agenda, a common focus on the school's needs and an understanding of the culture of the school. Principals are the gatekeepers in such partnerships.

Research limitations/implications

This study yielded the description of a model of instructional coaching within a CEP that other universities around the world could replicate. The limitations of this study include the length of the study and the time frame in which the PLC content was planned. The study was conducted over 1 year to limited funding. The instructional coach developed the PLC content during the ongoing academic year and that impacted the teachers' initial perceptions and their commitment to the PLCs.

Originality/value

This study offers a new coaching model for CEPs that focuses on closing the gap between theory and practice by integrating PLCs, content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and face-to-face visual support.
Cross-cutting best practices for new product development (NPD) in turbulent environments: the effects of integration and co-creation
Authors: Panizzon Mateus , Vidor Gabriel , Camargo Maria Emília
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Continuous understanding of the best practices associated with new product development is a constant research opportunity to advance knowledge in the field, as far as changes in the business environment and the increasing turbulence level in different market segments create and reposition the importance of practices over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a systematic review, the study aimed to analyze the 100 most relevant articles published in international journals on new product development (NDP), identifying new patterns on the best practices for new product development and the types of relationship involved in NPD.

Findings

Among the several practices observed in the literature, the analysis point to a larger group of studies that converge on the identification of a positive and significant relationship in integration – simultaneously – between supplier, company, customers and strategic alliances and the performance of NPD.

Research limitations/implications

These results support integration as a cross-cutting and structural best practice for NPD, as long as it is constituted as a capacity, mainly applied in highly turbulent environments. This approach supported the proposition of a new framework.

Practical implications

Organizations will be able to implement the proposed framework to NPD strategy in order to prioritize resources in best practices, aiming to increase the performance of new product development.

Social implications

The adoption of integration and co-creation practices for the development of new products expands the possibilities of economic and social development, based on the involvement of the actors in this network.

Originality/value

This model had not yet been proposed in the literature, filling a gap in the agenda for future studies.
Demographic factors have little effect on aesthetic perceptions of icons: a study of mobile game icons
Authors: Jylhä Henrietta , Hamari Juho
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Customization by segmenting within human–computer interaction is an emerging phenomenon. Appealing graphical elements that cater to user needs are considered progressively important, as the way a graphic is visually represented can greatly contribute to the interaction. However, aesthetic perceptions are subjective and may differ by target group. Understanding variations in user perceptions may aid in design processes; therefore, we set out to investigate the effects of demographic differences relating to perceptions of graphical user interface (GUI) element (i.e. game app icon) aesthetics.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a vignette experiment with random participant (n = 513) assignment to evaluate 4 icons from a total of 68 pre-selected mobile game icons using semantic differential scales. This resulted in a total of 2052 individual icon evaluations. Regression analyses were performed with the effects of age, gender and time using graphical user interfaces (i.e. app stores) and the interactions of these variables relating to perceptions of GUI element aesthetics.

Findings

The results indicate that, overall, demographic factors have relatively little effect on how icons are perceived. Significant relations suggest that experienced users, younger audiences and women are more critical in their perception of aesthetic excellence, and that perceptions change for younger women. The implications of the findings are discussed via adaptive decision-making theory.

Originality/value

In the context of graphical user interface element aesthetics, demographic differences have received minimal attention as moderating variables regardless of their relevance in design and development. Hence, it merits further research.
Understanding how embedded peer comments affect student quiz scores, academic writing and lecture note-taking accuracy
Authors: Zhang Han , Southam Ashleigh , Fanguy Mik , Costley Jamie
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to better understand the relationship between peer feedback in the context of online collaborative note-taking and how comments impacted student performance and understanding.

Design/methodology/approach

This one sample investigation was of graduate students participating in an academic writing class working collaboratively online. Data was gathered on student feedback during note-taking activity to test for its effects on student performance and understanding.

Findings

The use of peer comments in online note-taking was found to impact student quiz scores and academic writing skills positively. However, no significance was found between comments and the completeness of their notes taken, suggesting its limits to promote deeper understanding.

Research limitations/implications

The level and detail about the comments made and how accurately they recall the important details from the video lectures is not known. The average number of comments made weekly by each group was also low.

Practical implications

Designers and teachers using online collaborative activities could benefit by understanding the nature in which peer comments can enhance student learning, bearing in mind the need for explicit guidance in how to comment and at what level of knowledge their comments should target.

Social implications

Online collaboration, peer editing and commenting is widely used by educators and the public. A better understanding of how these elements operate might improve the quality of knowledge artefacts such as academic writing and research notes.

Originality/value

Existing literature focuses mainly on peer feedback on writing or other artefacts; this paper seeks to find out more about the impact of comments in particular on collaborative note-taking.
Community sentence with Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR); an exploration into offenders’ experience of psychological therapy
Authors: Butler Lauren , Ledwith Sue
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore service users’ experience of psychological therapy as part of a community sentence with a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) in Birmingham Courts between January and December 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

All service users that had therapy in this period were telephoned a month after ending and offered a semi-structured telephone interview. Seven service users agreed to be recorded. This data was then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to gain a richer understanding of their lived experience.

Findings

Themes identified were: Is the MHTR for me? Opening up, enlightening connections and personal change. Service users initially questioned the relevance and burden of the order for them; the experience of therapy allowed them to trust and talk about things unsaid in the past; this helped them to review and reconsider their understanding of themselves and their life choices and what further support they might need.

Research limitations/implications

Interviews were not completed by an independent interviewer. Experience of working with offender manager supervision additionally available throughout the sentence was not explored.

Practical implications

What is included in the MHTR information and support needs to be informed by the service user’s perspective, including this can improve engagement.

Social implications

Therapy was seen as a “a cog in the machine” and wider social inequalities may need to be addressed within the sentence.

Originality/value

This report focusses on experience of a therapeutic intervention – a key part of a community sentence with an MHTR.
Active disturbance rejection-based industrial cascade control plant with cloud monitoring
Authors: Bhaskarwar Tushar Vikas , Aole Sumit Suhas , Chile Rajan Hari
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide benefits for companies or organizations, which deal with fewer input-outputs and wanted to control their industrial processes remotely with a robust control strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) strategy is used for the two tank level process plant and it is remotely monitored with the industrial internet of things technology. The disturbances in a primary and secondary loop of the cascade process, which are affecting the overall settling time (ts) of the process, are eliminated by using the proposed, ADRC-ADRC structure in the cascade loop. The stability of the proposed controller is presented with Hurwitz’s stability criteria for selecting gains of observers. The results of the proposed controller are compared with the existing active disturbance rejection control-proportional (ADRC-P) and proportional-integral derivative-proportional (PID-P)-based controller by experimental validation.

Findings

It is observed that the settling time (ts) in the case of the proposed controller is improved by 60% and 55% in comparison to PID-P and ADRC-P, respectively. The level process is interfaced with an industrial controller and real-time data acquired in matrix laboratory (MATLAB), which acted as a remote monitoring platform for the cascade process.

Originality/value

The proposed controller is designed to provide robustness against disturbance and parameter uncertainty. This paper provides an alternate way for researchers who are using MATLAB and ThingSpeak cloud server as a tool for the implementation.
Is procrastination a “friend or foe”? Building the relationship between fear of the failure and entrepreneurs’ well-being
Authors: Soomro Bahadur Ali , Shah Naimatullah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In the present era, entrepreneurs’ well-being is considered a significant factor owing to its strong relationship with entrepreneurship. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between fear of failure and entrepreneurs’ well-being through the mediating effect of procrastination.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is descriptive, with cross-sectional data obtained through a survey questionnaire distributed randomly in Pakistan. Overall, data from 346 valid cases were used to achieve suitable study outcomes.

Findings

This study’s empirical findings highlight the negative effect of fear of failure on subjective well-being. Fear of failure is found to have a significant positive effect on procrastination. Furthermore, procrastination has a negative effect on subjective well-being. Finally, procrastination has a negative role in mediating the relationship between fear of failure and subjective well-being.

Practical implications

The conceptualization of the fear of failure and procrastination (direct and indirect) in relation to subjective well-being may offer a novel contribution in terms of a framework, policymaking and practice. Policymakers, top management and the government may consider the hindering effects of procrastination and fear of failure on entrepreneurs’ well-being and ventures’ success. The study findings may also enrich views in the literature on entrepreneurship and management, particularly in the developing country context.

Originality/value

This study could be helpful in eradicating the traps of procrastination and fear of failure, raising entrepreneurs’ confidence and levels of activity.
Community participation in environmental sustainability: a case study of proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, Malaysia
Authors: Jaafar Mastura , Ebekozien Andrew , Mohamad Diana
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Globally, several studies have shown that biosphere reserves faced severe threats related to climate and human changes. Community participation in environmental sustainability may mitigate these threats in biosphere reserve destinations. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the community perceptions regarding the proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve with the support of Community Readiness Theory to the framework via qualitative research.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this, 13 face-to-face interviews were conducted that covered major communities within the hill and validated via secondary sources. Phenomenological type of qualitative research and a combination of purposeful and snowball type of non-probability sampling techniques were used.

Findings

This paper found that Penang Hill Corporation does collaborate with communities around the hill in matters connected with hill conservation.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to investigating community perceptions regarding the proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve. Future research is needed to further investigate the framework and the supporting theory (Community Readiness Theory).

Practical implications

This paper recommended that Penang Hill Corporation should build more effective communication capacity for the communities around the hill via coordinated synergy within the various agencies and communities. Also, the act that established the corporation should be reviewed to capture the provision of liaison offices for agencies controlling various sections of the hill.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that positive community engagement will enhance environmental sustainability and possibly facilitate recognition by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme.
Association between distribution centre design and contextual characteristics
Authors: Guimarães Marina Cardoso , Tortorella Guilherme , Taboada Carlos Manoel , Godinho Filho Moacir , Martinez Felipe
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the main decisions for designing distribution centers (DCs) and the contextual characteristics of the distribution networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Experts were surveyed and responses analyzed quantitatively through multivariate data techniques. This study considered four contextual characteristics that were deemed as influential for DC design: types of routes in the distribution network, quantity of DCs, distribution network levels and company size.

Findings

This paper evidenced which decisions are affected by each contextual characteristic encompassed in this study. This paper identified that the characteristic types of route in the distribution network must be carefully considered, as it had the greatest amount of associations with the decisions for designing a DC.

Originality/value

Despite its importance, most studies on design of DCs disregard the effect of the context in which DCs are inserted. This research provides arguments to support decision-making process of DCs design, increasing assertiveness of their planning. This work fulfills a literature gap by empirically examining the effect of contextual variables on the decisions related to DC design. Regarding practice, this paper addressed a fundamental issue for managers looking to design a DC, as it evidenced how contextual characteristics impact the decision-making.
Towards liminality competence: a migrant's talent identity narratives for re-imagining global talent management
Authors: Chen Gwen Kuan-Wen , Tansley Carole , Chou Robert Chang-Chih
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer two research questions: How does a self-initiated migrant (SiM)'s talent identity work operate in relation to their culture, the societies in which they live, their interpersonal relationships and their tacit knowledge development? and how can global talent management be re-imagined in light of this?

Design/methodology/approach

This co-constructed autoethnography is produced from reflexive, dyadic interviews and text “conversations” with an SiM doing “global talent identity work” and uses narrative analysis to investigate how liminal competence is developed across the life cycle.

Findings

This study shows how talent identity work is rooted in the lived, meaningful experiences of individual talent, from childhood to adult life in a pandemic. The authors add to knowledge about COVID-19 experiences of SiMs, uncover poignant examples of the role of migrant ethnic and knowledge discrimination and identify lessons for managerial practice in engendering liminality competence by combining global talent management and knowledge management.

Practical implications

Lessons are drawn for global talent management strategies that appreciate and support individual talent ethnic and knowledge inclusion of underappreciated migrant talent.

Originality/value

Examining the connection between talent identity work and liminality competence, the authors show how an individual's talent might be wasted through different forms of discrimination and highlight how ethnic discrimination during a pandemic points the way to positive changes in talent knowledge management initiatives. This study suggests ways in which ethnic and knowledge discrimination might be addressed through talent management strategies.
Customer engagement and value co-creation/destruction: the internal fostering and hindering factors and actors in the tourist/hotel experience
Authors: Nangpiire Clement , Silva Joaquim , Alves Helena
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The customer as an active and engaged value co-creator raises new challenges for theory and practice, especially in the hospitality industry. However, the connection between engagement and co-creation is little studied in the hotel/tourism literature. This paper proposes a connection between customer engagement (CE) and value co-creation frameworks to ascertain and depict the internal actors' activities and factors that foster or hinder guests' co-creation and destruction of value.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers used qualitative methods (35 in-depth interviews, document analysis and four observation sessions) in seven regions of Ghana to explore the customer's perspective. Data were analyzed with NVivo11 within a thematic analysis framework.

Findings

The findings suggest that positive and negative engagement fosters or hinders guests' interactions, which lead to value co-creation or destruction. The research also discovered that negative interactions occasioned by any factor or actor trigger value destruction at multiple stages of the experience journey.

Practical implications

Industry players can use the framework developed to assess their businesses, explore and reflect on the proposed value they aim to generate, and thus be more aware of how they can better facilitate value co-creation with their consumers and avoid value destruction.

Originality/value

This research proposes a novel connection between customer interactions, engagement and value co-creation to ascertain and depict the internal actors' activities and factors that foster or hinder customers' experience in the hotel/tourism industry.
It makes a difference! Impact of social and personal message appeals on engagement with sponsored posts
Authors: Zimand Sheiner Dorit , Kol Ofrit , Levy Shalom
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Grounded in uses and gratifications (U&G) theory and relying on the congruence/incongruence approaches, the current research aims to contribute to the study of interactive marketing by measuring the effectiveness of social and personal sponsored post message appeals on consumer psychological and behavioral engagement. A conceptual framework is suggested.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected during a field experiment conducted on Facebook, consisting of two sponsored Facebook post campaigns, followed by a survey distributed to consumers who were exposed to the experiment.

Findings

A structural path model suggests that the congruence of the social message appeal of sponsored Facebook posts leads directly to psychological engagement that follows affective response. This path elevates an indirect effect toward behavioral engagement. Additionally, it was found that the incongruence of the personal message appeal of sponsored Facebook posts leads directly to behavioral engagement.

Originality/value

The novelty of the current research focuses on the unexplored subject of sponsored Facebook post message appeal effectiveness. Based on U&G theory applied to social media and the (in)congruence approaches, the study suggests a new dichotomy of message appeal for digital advertising, i.e. social vs. personal message strategies. Consumer engagement with the two appeals adds value to theory and practice by conceptualizing the effect of sponsored post content strategies on consumer engagement in Facebook while incorporating ad content with a hierarchical process.
Robots in service experiences: negotiating food tourism in pandemic futures
Authors: Fusté-Forné Francesc , Ivanov Stanislav
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This research discusses the role of service robots in gastronomic and dining experiences in a post–coronavirus disease (COVID) world.

Design/methodology/approach

The research note draws on secondary data to analyse the use of robots as an important mechanism to address the impacts of global disease outbreaks on the food industry, as related to hospitality and tourism.

Findings

Hospitality and tourism services are highly affected by the current travel bans, lockdowns and health-related rules that have emerged to manage the current pandemic (COVID-19). This research showcases the role of service robots in food encounters in hospitality and tourism as agents that contribute to safe and innovative experiences.

Originality/value

This research note explores how the use of robots in tourism futures will not only transform food experiences, but it is also critical to sustainable development of communities and destinations in a future that will continuously have to deal with disease outbreaks and pandemics with continued travel mobilities.
Use of cloud model to evaluate corporate social responsibility of pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Wan An Xia , Zhong Zhaoqiang , Zheng Chaoyu , Zhao Xuan , Elahi Ehsan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Based on the perspective of stakeholders, this paper aims to construct the corporate social responsibility (CSR) evaluation system, aiming at encouraging enterprises to actively undertake social responsibility, formulating targeted countermeasures to improve the performance level of social responsibility and realizing its sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 2014 to 2018 of pharmaceutical companies in China to estimate the CSR system. Based on the analytic hierarchy process, the coefficient of variation uses to determine the weight of each index. Moreover, the cloud model uses for empirical evaluation.

Findings

The results reveal that social responsibility evaluation of pharmaceutical companies is poor to average to good and it maintains a good development trend. The order of the weight of corporate stakeholders is shareholders, employees, consumers, creditors, suppliers and government. The importance of internal stakeholders is higher than that of external stakeholders. The comprehensive cloud evaluation value of the social responsibility evaluation of pharmaceutical companies are “ordinary,” and the effect of comprehensive social responsibility performance is not good.

Originality/value

The current study not only considers the uncertainty of the concept of CSR but also reflects the connection between the randomness of pharmaceutical companies and the ambiguity of CSR. Moreover, this study develops a three-dimensional evaluation of “enterprise-year-indicator” by studying the data of multiple companies in different years. In terms of the modeling concept, the two-way cognition between the connotation and conceptual extension of the cloud model is fully used to realize the uncertainty mapping between the evaluation set and the indicator set.
“It doesn’t stop when you get to 18”: experiences of self-harm in adults
Authors: Boyce Melanie
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Self-harm can affect people of all ages, yet the high prevalence rate in adolescents and the potential risk factor of suicide in adults 60 years and above has meant research has tended to focus within these areas. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the experiences of self-harm in people from early adulthood to late middle age to gain greater insight and understanding in this underexplored area.

Design/methodology/approach

An online open-ended survey was used to collect the data from a UK user-led moderated online forum that supports people who self-harm.

Findings

Thematic data analysis indicates that feelings of shame and guilt were intensified, due to the double stigma participants face as adults that self-harm. Although most participants had seen a reduction in the frequency of their self-harm many experienced an increase in the severity of harm. In not fitting the assumed typical profile of someone that self-harm participants often struggled to gain formal support.

Research limitations/implications

This was a small-scale online survey; hence, it is not possible to generalise the findings to all adults who self-harm.

Practical implications

The findings from this research provide evidence that greater recognition needs to be given to the reality that self-harm can affect people of all ages. As a result, access to support needs to be widened as a means of supporting those who do not fit the typical profile of someone who self-harms.

Originality/value

This exploratory online study provides insights around the tensions and challenges facing adults that self-harm, which remains an under-researched and largely ignored area.
A material-based computation framework for parametric design education
Authors: Abdelmohsen Sherif , Massoud Passaint
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Material-based computation has been recently introduced in architectural education, where parameters and rules related to materials are integrated into algorithmic thinking. The authors aim to identify affordances of material-based computation in terms of supporting the understanding of parametric design, informing the process of parametric form finding in an educational setup and augmenting student learning outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a material-informed holistic systems design framework for parametric form finding. The authors develop a pedagogical approach that employs material-based computation focusing on the interplay between the physical and the digital in a parametrically driven façade design exercise. The approach comprises two phases: (1) enabling physical exploration with different materials to arrive at the design logic of a panel prototype and (2) deducing embedded and controlled parameters, based on the interplay of materials and deriving strategies for pattern propagation of the panel on a façade composition using variation and complexity.

Findings

The results confirmed the initial hypothesis, where the more explicit the material exploration and identification of physical rules and relations, the more nuanced the parametrically driven process, where students expressed a clear goal oriented generative logic and utilized parametric design to inform form finding as a bottom-up approach.

Originality/value

Most precedent approaches developed to teach parametric design concepts in architectural education have focused on universal strategies that often result in fixating students on following standard blindly followed scripts and procedures, thus defying the purpose of a bottom-up form finding framework. The approach expands the pedagogical strategies employed to address parametric design as a form finding process.
Professional learning and development framework for postdoctoral scholars
Authors: Nowell Lorelli , Dhingra Swati , Kenny Natasha , Jacobsen Michele , Pexman Penny
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Many postdoctoral scholars are seeking professional learning and development (PLD) opportunities to prepare for diverse careers, roles and responsibilities. This paper aims to develop an evidence-informed framework for PLD of postdoctoral scholars that speaks to these changing career paths.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used an integrated knowledge translation approach to synthesize and extend previous work on postdoctoral scholars’ PLD. The authors engaged in consultations with key stakeholders and synthesized findings from literature reviews, surveys and semi-structured interviews to create a framework for PLD.

Findings

The PLD framework consists of four major domains, namely, professional socialization; professional skills; academic development; and personal effectiveness. The 4 major domains are subdivided into 16 subdomains that represent the various skills and competencies that postdoctoral scholars can build throughout their postdoctoral fellowships.

Originality/value

The framework can be used to support postdoctoral scholars, postdoctoral supervisors and higher education institutions in developing high quality, evidence-informed PLD plans to meet the diverse career needs of postdoctoral scholars.
Frying eggs or making a treatment plan? Frictions between different modes of caring in a community mental health team
Authors: Muusse Christien , Kroon Hans , Mulder Cornelis L. , Pols Jeannette
Published: July 2021

In this article, we conduct an empirical ethics approach to unravel the different perspectives on good care that are present in a community mental health team (CMHT) in Utrecht. With the deinstitutionalisation of mental health care, the importance of a close collaboration between the social and medical domains of care on the level of the local community is put in the foreground. Next to organisational thresholds or incentives, this collaboration is shaped by different notions of what good mental health care should entail. Using the concept of modes of ordering care (Moser 2005), we describe five modes of ordering mental health care that are present in the practice of the CMHT: the medical specialist, the juridical, the community, the relational and the bureaucratic perspective. These different modes of ordering care lead to frictions and misunderstandings, but are mutually enhancing at other times. Unravelling these different modes of ordering care can facilitate collaboration between professionals of different care domains and support a mutual understanding of what needs to be done. More so, the analysis foregrounds that ordering care from a relational approach is important in daily practice, but is in need of stronger legitimation.
Islands and the Ocean: Three Models of the Relationship between EU Market Regulation and National Private Law
Authors: Cherednychenko Olha O.
Published: July 2021

EU regulatory measures in the field of private law have been compared to islands in the ocean of national private law. This article reconceives the relationship between the two, focusing on how national private law today responds and should respond to EU market regulation given the tension between the instrumentalist rationality of EU private law and its own relational rationality. It identifies three main models of this relationship: separation, substitution, and complementarity. These models reflect elements of the current legislative and judicial practices in a variety of jurisdictions across different areas of EU private law and provide an analytical framework for assessing such practices in terms of their ability to reconcile the competing rationalities of EU and national private law. Each model has a bearing on the ability of EU measures to achieve their regulatory objectives, and the overall shape of European integration more generally.