bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasive grass causes biotic homogenization in wetland birds
Authors: Robichaud C.D. , Rooney R.C.
Published: July 2021

Plant invasions often lead to homogenization of the plant community, but the potential for plant invasions to cause homogenization of other trophic levels is under-studied in many systems. We tested whether the bird community in Phragmites australis-invaded marsh would exhibit spatial and temporal taxonomic homogenization compared to remnant cattail and meadow marsh. We compared the bird community using marsh invaded by P. australis and remnant, uninvaded marsh vegetation in a year with average water depths and a year with above-average water depths in the coastal marshes of a World Biosphere Reserve. Our results demonstrate strong evidence for spatial and temporal homogenization of the wetland bird community following P. australis invasion. The birds present in P. australis-invaded marsh were a nested subset of those present in remnant marsh, and total beta diversity decreased when water depths were above average. In contrast, total beta diversity was high in remnant marsh vegetation and stable between the two years. The distinctively structured vegetation zones in remnant (uninvaded) marsh yields structural complexity and habitat heterogeneity that supports greater taxonomic turnover in the bird community. Our study provides evidence that invasion by a plant has resulted in biological homogenization of the wetland bird community.
Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility
Authors: Dettinger Philip , Kull Tobias , Arekatla Geethika , Ahmed Nouraiz , Zhang Yang , Schneiter Florin , Wehling Arne , Schirmacher Daniel , Kawamura Shunsuke , Loeffler Dirk , Schroeder Timm
Published: July 2021

Liquid handling robots have the potential to automate many procedures in life sciences. However, they are not in widespread use in academic settings, where funding, space and maintenance specialists are usually limiting. In addition, current robots require lengthy programming by specialists and are incompatible with most academic laboratories with constantly changing small-scale projects. Here, we present the Pipetting Helper Imaging Lid (PHIL), an inexpensive, small, open-source personal liquid handling robot. It is designed for inexperienced users, with self-production from cheap commercial and 3D-printable components and custom control software. PHIL successfully automated pipetting for e.g. tissue immunostainings and stimulations of live stem and progenitor cells during time-lapse microscopy. PHIL is cheap enough for any laboratory member to have their own personal pipetting robot(s), and enables users without programming skills to easily automate a large range of experiments.
Functional characterisation of the Nep1-like protein effectors of the necrotrophic pathogen - Alternaria brassicae
Authors: Duhan Deepak , Gajbhiye Shivani , Jaswal Rajdeep , Singh Ravindra Pal , Sharma Tilak Raj , Rajarammohan Sivasubramanian
Published: July 2021

Alternaria brassicae is an important necrotrophic pathogen that infects the Brassicaceae family. Alternaria brassicae, like other necrotrophs, also secretes various proteinaceous effectors and metabolites that cause cell death to establish itself in the host. However, there has been no systematic study of A. brassicae effectors and their roles in pathogenesis. The availability of the genome sequence of A. brassicae in public domain has enabled the search for effectors and their functional characterisation. Nep1-like proteins are a superfamily of proteins that induce necrosis and ethylene biosynthesis. They have been reported from a variety of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. In this study, we identified two NLPs from A. brassicae viz. AbrNLP1 and AbrNLP2 and functionally characterised them. Although both AbrNLPs were found to be secretory in nature, they localised differentially inside the plant. AbrNLP2 was found to induce necrosis in both host and nonhost species, while AbrNLP1 could not induce necrosis in both species. Additionally, AbrNLP2 was shown to induce pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity in both host and nonhost species. Overall, our study indicates that AbrNLPs are functionally and spatially (subcellular location) distinct and may play different but important roles during the pathogenesis of A. brassicae.
Which Index Should I Use? A Comparison of Indices for Enclosure Use Studies
Authors: Brereton James E. , Fernandez Eduardo J.
Published: July 2021

Enclosure use assessments have gained popularity as one of the tools for animal welfare assessments and Post Occupancy Evaluations. There are now a plethora of studies and enclosure use indices available in published literature, and identification of the most appropriate index for each research question is often challenging. The benefits and limitations of four different enclosure use indices; Original and Modified Spread of Participation Index, Entropy, and Electivity Index were compared. Three artificial data sets were developed to represent the challenges commonly found in animal exhibits, and these indices were applied to these contrived enclosure settings. Three of the indices (Original SPI, Modified SPI, and Entropy) were used to assess a single measure of enclosure use variability. When zones within an exhibit were comparable in size, all three indices performed similarly. However, with less equal zone sizes, Modified SPI outperformed Original SPI and Entropy, suggesting that the Modified formula was more useful for assessing overall enclosure use variability under such conditions. Electivity Index assessed the use of individual zones, rather than the variability of use across the entire exhibit, and therefore could not be compared directly to the other three indices. This index is therefore most valuable for assessing individual resources, especially after exhibit modifications.
Naturalistic Audiovisual Stimulation Reveals the Topographic Organization of Human Auditory Cortex
Authors: Hedger Nicholas , Knapen Tomas
Published: July 2021

Despite the importance of audition in spatial, semantic, and social function, there is no consensus regarding the detailed organisation of human auditory cortex. Using a novel computational model to analyse a high-powered naturalistic audiovisual movie-watching dataset, we simultaneously estimate spectral tuning properties and category selectivity to reveal the modes of organisation and computational motifs that characterise human auditory cortex. We find that regions more remote from the auditory core exhibit more compressive, non-linear response properties and finely-tuned, speech-selective receptive fields in low frequency portions of the tonotopic map. These patterns of organisation mirror aspects of the visual cortical hierarchy, wherein tuning properties progress from a stimulus category-agnostic ‘front end’ towards more advanced regions increasingly optimised for behaviorally relevant stimulus categories.
Flexibility of Short-chain dehydrogenase is interconnected to its promiscuity for the reduction of multiple ketone intermediates
Authors: Shanbhag Anirudh P , Rajagopal Sreenath , Ghatak Arindam , Katagihallimath Nainesh , S. Ramswamy , Datta Santanu
Published: July 2021

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) are a convenient class of enzymes used to synthesize enantiopure alcohols. Several studies describe native or engineered SDRs for converting substrates of interest using cost and time-intensive high-throughput approaches. The classification of SDRs is based on chain length and cofactor binding site. Of these, the shorter ‘Classical’ and the longer ‘Extended’ enzymes participate in ketoreduction. However, comparative analysis of various modelled SDRs reveals a length independent conserved N-terminal Rossmann fold and a variable C-terminus region for both types. The general hypothesis is that the latter domain influences the enzyme’s flexibility that may affect the observed promiscuity of the enzyme. We have used a machine learning algorithm on this flexible domain to build a rationale to screen promiscuous candidates. We have built a data set consisting of physicochemical properties derived from the amino-acid composition of enzymes to select closely associated promiscuous mesophilic enzymes. The resulting in vitro studies on pro-pharmaceutical substrates illustrate a direct correlation between the C-terminal lid-loop structure, enzyme melting temperature and the turnover number. We present a walkthrough for exploring promiscuous SDRs for catalyzing enantiopure alcohols of industrial importance.
A chromatin phase transition protects mitotic chromosomes against microtubule perforation
Authors: Schneider Maximilian W. G. , Gibson Bryan A. , Otsuka Shotaro , Spicer Maximilian F.D. , Petrovic Mina , Blaukopf Claudia , Langer Christoph C. H. , Doolittle Lynda K. , Rosen Michael K. , Gerlich Daniel W.
Published: July 2021

Dividing eukaryotic cells package extremely long chromosomal DNA molecules into discrete bodies to enable microtubule-mediated transport of one genome copy to each of the newly forming daughter cells1–3. Assembly of mitotic chromosomes involves DNA looping by condensin4–8and chromatin compaction by global histone deacetylation9–13. While condensin confers mechanical resistance towards spindle pulling forces14–16, it is not known how histone deacetylation affects material properties and segregation mechanics of mitotic chromosomes. Here, we show how global histone deacetylation at the onset of mitosis induces a chromatin-intrinsic phase transition that endows chromosomes with specific characteristics necessary for their precise movement during cellular division. Deacetylation-mediated compaction of chromatin forms a structure dense in negative charge and allows mitotic chromosomes to resist perforation by microtubules as they are pushed to the metaphase plate. Hyperacetylated mitotic chromosomes lack a defined surface boundary, are frequently perforated by microtubules, and are prone to missegregation. Our study highlights the different contributions of DNA loop formation and chromatin-intrinsic phase separation to genome segregation in dividing cells.
Reversal of the renal hyperglycemic memory by targeting sustained tubular p21 expression
Authors: Al-Dabet Moh’d Mohanad , Shahzad Khurrum , Elwakiel Ahmed , Sulaj Alba , Kopf Stefan , Bock Fabian , Gadi Ihsan , Zimmermann Silke , Rana Rajiv , Krishnan Shruthi , Gupta Dheerendra , Nazir Sumra , Baber Ronny , Scholz Markus , Geffers Robert , Mertens Peter Rene , Nawroth Peter P. , Griffin John , Dockendorff Chris , Kohli Shrey , Isermann Berend
Published: July 2021

A major therapeutic obstacle in diabetes mellitus is the metabolic or hyperglycemic memory: the persistence of impaired organ function despite improvement of blood glucose. Therapies reversing the hyperglycemic memory and thus improving already established organ-dysfunction are lacking, but urgently needed considering the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus worldwide. Here we show that glucose-mediated changes in gene expression largely persist in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) despite reversing hyperglycemia. The senescence-associated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Cdkn1a) was the top hit among genes persistently induced by hyperglycemia and was associated with sustained induction of the p53-p21 pathway. Persistent p21 induction was confirmed in various animal models, in several independent human samples and in in vitro models. Tubular p21 expression and urinary p21-levels were associated with DKD severity and remained elevated despite improved blood glucose levels in humans, suggesting that p21 may be a biomarker indicating persistent (“memorized”) kidney damage. Glucose-mediated p21 induction and tubular senescence were enhanced in mice with reduced levels of the disease resolving protease activated protein C (aPC). Mechanistically, glucose-induced and sustained tubular p21 expression is linked with demethylation of its promoter and reduced DNMT1 expression. aPC reverses already established p21 expression independent of its anticoagulant function through receptor signaling. Accordingly, new pharmacological approaches specifically mimicking aPC signaling (3K3A-aPC, parmodulin-2) enabled the reversal of glucose-mediated sustained tubular p21 expression, tubular senescence, and DKD. Thus, p21-dependent tubular senescence contributes to the hyperglycemic memory but can be therapeutically targeted.

Single sentence summary

aPC signaling targets persistent p21 expression and tubular senescence and reverses the hyperglycemic memory in diabetic kidney disease.
The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Mindbomb1 controls zebrafish Planar Cell Polarity
Authors: Saraswathy Vishnu Muraleedharan , Sharma Priyanka , Kurup Akshai Janardhana , Polès Sophie , Poulain Morgane , Fürthauer Maximilian
Published: July 2021

Vertebrate Delta/Notch signaling involves multiple ligands, receptors and transcription factors. Delta endocytosis – a critical event for Notch activation – is however essentially controlled by the E3 Ubiquitin ligase Mindbomb1 (Mib1). Due to its position at a molecular bottleneck of the pathway, Mib1 inactivation is often used to inhibit Notch signaling. However, recent findings indicate that the importance of Mib1 extends beyond the Notch pathway. We report an essential role of Mib1 in Planar Cell Polarity (PCP).

mib1 null mutants or morphants display impaired gastrulation stage Convergence Extension (CE) movements. Comparison of different mib1 mutants and functional rescue experiments indicate that Mib1 controls CE independently of Notch. In contrast, Mib1-dependent CE defects can be rescued using the PCP downstream mediator RhoA. Mib1 regulates CE through the RING Finger domains that have been implicated in substrate ubiquitination, suggesting that Mib1 may control PCP protein trafficking. Accordingly, we show that Mib1 controls the endocytosis of the PCP component Ryk and that Ryk internalization is required for CE.

Numerous morphogenetic processes involve both Notch and PCP signaling. We show that Mib1, a known Notch signaling regulator, is also an essential PCP pathway component. Care should therefore be taken when interpreting Mib1 loss of function phenotypes.
Periosteum-derived podoplanin-expressing stromal cells regulate nascent vascularization during epiphyseal marrow development
Authors: Tamura Shogo , Mukaide Masato , Katsuragi Yumi , Fujii Wataru , Odaira Koya , Suzuki Nobuaki , Okamoto Shuichi , Suzuki Atsuo , Kanematsu Takeshi , Katsumi Akira , Takagi Akira , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue , Matsushita Tadashi , Kojima Tetsuhito , Hayakawa Fumihiko
Published: July 2021

Bone marrow development and endochondral bone formation occur simultaneously. During endochondral ossification, periosteal vasculatures and stromal progenitors invade the primary avascular cartilaginous anlage; this induces primitive marrow development. We previously determined that bone marrow podoplanin (PDPN)-expressing stromal cells exist in a perivascular microenvironment, and promote megakaryopoiesis and erythropoiesis. In this study, we aimed to examine the involvement of PDPN-expressing stromal cells in the postnatal bone marrow generation. We found that periosteum-derived PDPN-expressing stromal cells regulate vascularization during postnatal epiphyseal marrow development. Our findings suggest that these cells act as pericytes on the primitive vasculature of the nascent marrow. They invade the cartilaginous epiphysis and regulate marrow development and homeostasis by maintaining vascular integrity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively examine how PDPN-expressing stromal cells contribute to marrow development and homeostasis.
Transcriptomic response of Cinachyrella cf. cavernosa sponges to spatial competition
Authors: Deshpande Aabha , Rivera-Vicéns Ramón E. , Thakur Narsinh L. , Wörheide Gert
Published: July 2021

Spatial competition in the intertidal zones drives the community structure in marine benthic habitats. Organisms inhabiting these areas not only need to withstand fluctuations of temperature, water level, pH, and salinity, but also need to compete for the best available space. Sponges are key members of the intertidal zones, and their life history processes (e.g. growth, reproduction, and regeneration) are affected by competition. Here we used transcriptomics to investigate the effects of interspecific competition between the tetillid sponge Cinachyrella cf. cavernosa, the zoantharid Zoanthus sansibaricus, and the macroalgae Dictyota ciliolata. The analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that Z. sansibaricus was the most stressful competitor to C. cf. cavernosa, which showed an increased rate of cellular respiration under stress of competition. Similarly, an up-regulation of energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and the heat-shock protein (HSP) 70 was also observed along with an indication of a viral infection and decreased ability to synthesise protein. A down-regulation of purine and pyrimidine metabolism indicated reduction in physiological activities of the competing sponges. Moreover, a putative case of possible kleptocnidism, not previously reported in Cinachyrella cf. cavernosa was also observed. This study opens the door for more detailed investigations of marine organisms competing for spatial resources using transcriptome data.
Meta-analysis of tree diversity effects on the abundance, diversity and activity of herbivores’ enemies
Authors: Stemmelen A. , Jactel H. , Brockerhoff E.G. , Castagneyrol B.
Published: July 2021

The natural enemies hypothesis predicts that the abundance and diversity of antagonists such as predators and parasitoids of herbivores increases with the diversity of plants, which can lead to more effective top-down control of insect herbivores. However, although the hypothesis has received large support in agricultural systems, fewer studies have been conducted in forest ecosystems and a comprehensive synthesis of previous research is still lacking.

We conducted a meta-analysis of 65 publications comparing the diversity, abundance or activity of various groups of natural enemies (including birds, bats, spiders and insect parasitoids) in pure vs. mixed forest stands. We tested the effects of forest biome, natural enemy taxon and type of study (managed vs experimental forest).

We found a significant positive effect of forest tree diversity on natural enemy abundance and diversity but not on their activity. The effect of tree diversity on natural enemies was stronger towards lower latitudes but was not contingent on the natural enemy taxon level.

Overall, our study contributes toward a better understanding of the “natural enemies hypothesis” in forest systems and provides new insights about the mechanisms involved. Furthermore, we outline potential avenues for strengthening forest resistance to the growing threat of herbivorous insects.
Embigin deficiency leads to delayed embryonic lung development and high neonatal mortality
Authors: Talvi Salli , Jokinen Johanna , Sipilä Kalle , Rappu Pekka , Zhang Fu-Ping , Poutanen Matti , Rantakari Pia , Heino Jyrki
Published: July 2021

Embigin (gp70), a transmembrane glycoprotein, has been shown to regulate hematopoietic stem cell and progenitor cell niche. Still, little is known about its expression and function in other organ systems during development or adulthood. By combining immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing, and in vivo mouse models, we show that embigin is highly expressed during development and in adult lung, kidney, epididymis, skin, and testis. Adult Emb-/- mice have a normal lifespan and fertility without apparent pathologies. In contrast, the Emb-/- embryos are significantly smaller than their WT littermates. Markedly increased mortality of the Emb-/- embryos is seen especially during the neonatal period. Embigin is present in the placenta, but placental morphology and gene expression patterns stay unaltered. At E17.5, Emb-/- mice show defective morphogenesis of the lung, low alkaline phosphatase activity in amniotic fluid, and remarkable activation of genes involved in cell proliferation in the lungs. Thus, lung underdevelopment explains the high neonatal mortality. Our work demonstrates the crucial role of embigin during development, and it paves the way to further characterization of embigin in specific organ systems in development and homeostasis.

Summary statement

Embigin is a basigin-group transmembrane glycoprotein. In vivo mouse model shows that embigin is crucial for embryonic lung development and neonatal survival.
Insula to mPFC Reciprocal Connectivity Differentially Underlies Novel Taste Neophobic Response and Learning
Authors: Kayyal Haneen , Chandran Sailendrakumar Kolatt , Yiannakas Adonis , Gould Nathaniel , Khamaisy Mohammad , Rosenblum Kobi
Published: July 2021

To survive in an ever-changing environment, animals must detect and learn salient information. The anterior insular cortex (aIC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are heavily implicated in salience and novelty processing, and specifically, the processing of taste sensory information. Here, we examined the role of aIC-mPFC reciprocal connectivity in novel taste neophobia and memory formation, in mice. Using pERK and neuronal intrinsic properties as markers for neuronal activation, and retrograde AAV (rAAV) constructs for connectivity, we demonstrate a correlation between aIC-mPFC activity and novel taste experience. Furthermore, by expressing inhibitory chemogenetic receptors in these projections, we show that aIC-to-mPFC activity is necessary for both taste neophobia and its attenuation. However, activity within mPFC-to-aIC projections is essential only for the neophobic reaction but not for the learning process. These results provide an insight into the cortical circuitry needed to detect, react to- and learn salient stimuli, a process critically involved in psychiatric disorders.
The workplace culture in addiction psychiatry in Finland as described by healthcare personnel
Authors: Lyyra Eeva , Roos Mervi , Suominen Tarja
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the workplace culture and factors associated with it from the viewpoint of the personnel providing care to patients with dual diagnosis.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from six organizations using an electronic survey in 2019. The respondents (n = 75) worked in addiction psychiatry in specialized health care and provided care to patients. The data were statistically analyzed.

Findings

Workplace culture was evaluated as positive. Stress was experienced occasionally (Md = 2.58, Q1 = 1.96, Q3 = 3.03), job satisfaction levels were moderate (Md = 4.83, Q1 = 4.28, Q3 = 5.44) and the practice environment was evaluated as neutral (Md = 4.46, Q1 = 4.00, Q3 = 5.04). Gender, age in years, employment relationship, work time, staffing, number of patients and the participants’ experience in health care and experience in their current workplace had statistically significant associations with workplace culture.

Originality/value

In Finland, there have been attempts to reform service structures that also influence mental health and substance addiction services. Workplace culture is one approach to promote service development. Yet, there has been no research on workplace culture in the context of the care of patients with dual diagnosis. The results of this study bring knowledge about how health-care personnel perceives stress, job satisfaction and their practice environment in addiction psychiatry, which can be used to further develop services and workplace culture.
“I have a dream” the vividness effect in international business communication
Authors: Brunzel Johannes , von der Oelsnitz Dietrich
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The so-called vividness effect, painting a verbal picture to an audience and a key element of charismatic rhetoric, provides opportunities to make corporate communication more persuasive. The article seeks to provide evidence regarding: (1) the presence of the effect in written, international business communication and (2) whether vivid communication by top-level executives affects perception of their communication effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The article employs a qualitative, exploratory setting (focus groups) to examine the attitude of participants towards vivid communication of top-executives. The article also employs a computer-aided-content-analysis (CATA) in two of the most important stock indices (Deutsche Aktienindex and Dow Jones) from 2011 to 2015 to locate the presence of the rhetorical style in annual reports. Lastly, the article studies via a quasi-experimental approach whether this type of communication is perceived differently on the dimensions of communication effectiveness by Segars and Kohut (2001) using unique 485 responses from recruited US-citizens.

Findings

The article reveals empirically that companies make use of this type of communication across stock indices. The results of the conformational, quasi-experimental study (Study 3) suggests that vividness is perceived differently by an audience. Therefore, positive attributional effects are not univocally related to communication effectiveness but to the dimensions responsibility and customer commitment. The participants also attribute other desirable characteristics towards the speaker, thereby providing evidence for a partial positive effect of vividness on communication effectiveness.

Originality/value

The article employs an established measure of communication effectiveness and combines it with a key communication style from academia and industry. In addition, the article combines several methods to examine the construct (mixed-models).
The taming of the scoundrel: how to tempt European Millennials to engage in international work-related mobility
Authors: Koris Riina , Kollinger Iris
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This research identifies the factors which motivate (or not) European Millennial students to accept work-related mobility. Insight into preferred length of mobility is also provided.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative self-report survey among 617 Millennial students from Europe. Data analysis for the quantitative survey used exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

Reasons which add to as well as take from mobility willingness remain on the “personal” rather than “professional” side. The European Millennials would rather not accept long-term mobility, primarily for reasons related to family, friends and life in home country.

Practical implications

Organizations should design short-term assignments and enable flexibility for assignees to pursue personal interests while on mobility. Remuneration packages remain among the hygiene factors and organizations may have to adopt an individualized approach while creating mobility offers for the European Millennials.

Originality/value

This study shows which factors should be highlighted while designing work-related mobility offers to the European Millennials. As an original research, it offers highly practical value to organizations, thereby adding to their opportunity for flexibility during societal shifts.
Understanding design change propagation in complex engineering systems using a digital twin and design structure matrix
Authors: Chen Long , Whyte Jennifer
Published: July 2021

Purpose

As the engineering design process becomes increasingly complex, multidisciplinary teams need to work together, integrating diverse expertise across a range of disciplinary models. Where changes arise, these design teams often find it difficult to handle these design changes due to the complexity and interdependencies inherent in engineering systems. This paper aims to develop an innovative approach to clarifying system interdependencies and predicting the design change propagation at the asset level in complex engineering systems based on the digital-twin-driven design structure matrix (DSM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first defines the digital-twin-driven DSM in terms of elements and interdependencies, where the authors have defined three types of interdependency, namely, geospatial, physical and logical, at the asset level. The digital twin model was then used to generate the large-scale DSMs of complex engineering systems. The cluster analysis was further conducted based on the improved Idicula–Gutierrez–Thebeau algorithm (IGTA-Plus) to decompose such DSMs into modules for the convenience and efficiency of predicting design change propagation. Finally, a design change propagation prediction method based on the digital-twin-driven DSM has been developed by integrating the change prediction method (CPM), a load-capacity model and fuzzy linguistics. A section of an infrastructure mega-project in London was selected as a case study to illustrate and validate the developed approach.

Findings

The digital-twin-driven DSM has been formally defined by the spatial algebra and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema. Based on the definitions, an innovative approach has been further developed to (1) automatically generate a digital-twin-driven DSM through the use of IFC files, (2) to decompose these large-scale DSMs into modules through the use of IGTA-Plus and (3) predict the design change propagation by integrating a digital-twin-driven DSM, CPM, a load-capacity model and fuzzy linguistics. From the case study, the results showed that the developed approach can help designers to predict and manage design changes quantitatively and conveniently.

Originality/value

This research contributes to a new perspective of the DSM and digital twin for design change management and can be beneficial to assist designers in making reasonable decisions when changing the designs of complex engineering systems.
The behavior of managers handling digital business transformations: theoretical issues and preliminary evidence from firms in the manufacturing industry
Authors: Matricano Diego , Castaldi Laura , Sorrentino Mario , Candelo Elena
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Organizational culture plays a central role when dealing with the issue of digital business transformation (DBT). Managers handling a DBT and involved in digital strateging are expected to modify the organizational culture of firms to make it more fitting with the paradigm of digital economy and having more chance of success. Thus, it is noteworthy to inspect the role they can have over DBTs. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the behavior that managers assume when they approach DBTs by investigating whether they act as mentors/facilitators or entrepreneurs/innovators, as coordinators or decision makers.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the above purpose, ten case studies about manufacturing firms have been selected. Case studies, retrieved by the Digital Innovation Observatories of the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, are studied and analyzed by means of a qualitative content analysis on textual data. This allows getting specific insights into organizational culture before and after DBT and about the role played by managers.

Findings

Achieved results disclose that managers need to modify the organizational culture of their firms to handle a successful DBT. However, firms can assume different organizational culture and thus the role assumed by managers handling a DBT can change as well.

Originality/value

To the authors knowledge, this paper is among the first that aim to investigate the role that mangers assume when handling DBTs. In particular, originality lies in the fact that assumed roles are rebuilt in reference to their ability to modify organizational culture.
New media marketing as a driver of enterprise country of origin (COO) offer in international markets
Authors: Vrontis Demetris , Basile Gianpaolo
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to highlight the role of Web 2.0 in international marketing, shedding light on the relationships existing between the country of origin effect and consumer behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study, drawn on the country of the origin (COO)W literature and Web 2.0 diffusion data, investigates the relationships between country of origin – seen as an idiosyncratic entrepreneurial offer – and the consumer, within an international marketing framework. Specifically, the paper focuses on the increasing role of Web 2.0 and social media as tools enabling enterprises to create and maintain adaptive and networking capabilities and to implement international marketing strategies.

Findings

The findings presented here reveal that international marketing is becoming increasingly similar to domestic marketing because of social media development. In other words, it is becoming more and more difficult for international products to contain themselves within single markets as local issues seldom remain local.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the international marketing literature focusing on how social media, particularly in a pandemic era, can improve and enhance relationships between the product of origin and consumer behavior both in the assessment and in the actual purchase of products.
Acceptance of MOOCs as an alternative for internship for management students during COVID-19 pandemic: an Indian perspective
Authors: Singh Archana , Sharma Anuj
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to understand the benefits and utility of massive open online courses (MOOCs) as perceived by the student, vis-à-vis internship and determine the factors that influence student motivation and distraction in adoption of MOOCs.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study is conducted through a survey; data are collected through a structured questionnaire. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is used as the base framework. For data analysis, Statistical Product and Service Solutions–Analysis of Moment Structures (SPSS–AMOS) 24.0 is used.

Findings

The impact of context-specific distinctive features of MOOCs and characteristics of students on user satisfaction are examined through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. In the study, it is found that positive social influence and better facilitating conditions improve perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness leading to a better user satisfaction. Self-regulation positively influences self-efficacy among students while pursuing MOOCs. Contrary to the past researches, it is found that in the pandemic environment self-efficacy is not impacting perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and satisfaction.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will benefit MOOCs developers and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in deeper understanding the significant factors affecting MOOC usage in higher education.

Originality/value

The study is ingrained to find the causes which will lead to user satisfaction of MOOCs by post-graduation students of B-schools in India. This is an original research and primary data has been collected for decision-making.
Systems and mechanisms to develop health volunteers for the health of immigrant workforce in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Authors: Suvarnathong Preecha , Chai-Aroon Teeradej , Jiawiwatkul Uthaithip , Intoo-Marn Pasakorn
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the systems and mechanisms at provincial level to develop health volunteers to improve health of the immigrant workforce in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study collected data from document research and in-depth interviews with 22 concerned people who worked at policy and provincial levels to develop health volunteers to improve the health of immigrant workforce. Data were collected from May to July 2017. Then, content of the conceptual framework was analysed. The research objectives were examined and summary and induction analysis interpreted data from documents, observations and interviews.

Findings

Ubon Ratchathani has developed a Thai village health volunteer network to provide health care to immigrant workforce. This consisted of four systems and one supporting mechanism, namely, selection of health volunteer, knowledge management on primary health care, welfare management and moral enhancement and resource and budget support. Development is driven through the committee under the mechanisms of government agencies, i.e. the provincial public health office together with non-government organizations and network partners.

Originality/value

The findings from this study could help develop health volunteers to significantly improve the health of the immigrant workforce in the Thai health service system.
Memetic mapping and genealogy of Google’s organizational culture
Authors: Fesharaki Farzad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the culture of Google using memetic mapping.

Design/methodology/approach

Printed and online texts published about Google are coded, and 40 memes are discovered. Memes are placed into six levels of organizational culture, namely, basic assumptions, values, norms, artifacts, work procedures and human resources practices.

Findings

To understand the formation of Google’s culture in the course of history, genealogy method is applied. In this approach, parent of each meme (the culture from which the meme is adopted) is identified. In total, 85 cultures that had impacts on the emergence of Google’s culture are recognized and analyzed.

Practical implications

Practical implications are presented as memetic engineering technique, which is capable of diagnosing and treating defective memes to facilitate and enhance the internal dynamics of corporate members.

Social implications

The application of this approach for tackling the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed through a real-world example.

Originality/value

Memetic mapping is a powerful tool for managers, consultants and organizational researchers to explore the cultural phenomenon and change it to achieve higher performance.
Building social media-based knowledge ecosystems for enhancing business resilience through mass collaboration
Authors: Yu Ji , Pauleen David J. , Taskin Nazim , Jafarzadeh Hamed
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of COVID-19 is one of the most serious health events in recent times. In the business landscape, its effects may be more detrimental to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) because they tend to have limited financial and human resources to manage the challenges caused by COVID-19. To help MSMEs enhance their resilience, this paper aims to discuss how they can leverage mass collaboration to build social media-based knowledge ecosystems to manage interactions among internal and external stakeholders for knowledge creation and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a model for MSMEs to build an online knowledge ecosystem and a standalone text analytics tool to use the advanced data analytics, e.g. topic modeling, to analyze and aggregate collective insights. Design science research methodology is used to develop the model and the tool.

Findings

Through mass collaboration using social media and advanced data analytics technology, MSMEs can generate new business ideas, leading to enhanced resilience to meet the challenges caused by COVID-19 or other unexpected or extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters and financial crises.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first papers in social media adoption for knowledge creation and innovation research, providing detailed approaches for MSMEs to build a knowledge ecosystem on social media and to use advanced data analytics to mine the meaning of the generated data.
The interaction between supply networks and internal networks: performance implications
Authors: Chedid Fabienne , Kocabasoglu-Hillmer Canan , Ries Jörg M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The importance of the supply network to firm performance is well documented. Until now, the firm and its suppliers have been conceptualized as single entities. Yet, multinational corporations (MNCs) are composed of a complex, geographically dispersed internal network of subsidiaries. The supply and internal networks are inherently linked. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the interaction of these networks on firm-level financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on supply network, internal network and dual embeddedness research, the authors investigate the interaction of these networks using supply network data from FactSet and internal network data from Orbis. We assess the impact at the MNC level, using measures of firm-level financial performance, physical proximity between the two networks and geographic dispersion of the internal network.

Findings

The results show that the performance effect of physical proximity of the firm with its supply network is negatively moderated by the geographic dispersion of the firm's internal network. This effect can be traced back to the diminishing marginal profitability of a firm's assets. Moreover, the benefits of dual embeddedness to the individual subsidiary come at a cost at the firm-level due to the operational challenges of managing a complex subsidiary network.

Research limitations/implications

This study is the first to investigate the supply and internal networks of MNCs simultaneously.

Originality/value

The paper extends supply network literature by considering the internal network of the focal firm and its suppliers. This paper is one of the first studies that offer an understanding of the interaction between supply and internal networks of a focal firm and the effect on financial performance.
The state of the art in the incorporation of sustainable development goals in Nepalese Universities
Authors: Adhikari Dev Raj , Shah Bijaya Bikram
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the state of the art of quality of education, research and governance to incorporate sustainable development goal 4 (SDG 4) in Nepalese higher education institutions (HEIs). In particular, it raises questions to initiate a discourse on HEIs to achieve SDG 4.

Design/methodology/approach

The idea of undertaking this research is heavily borrowed from scientific literature and policy documents. It is an exploratory study that assesses the current status of quality of education, research and governance and suggests policy measures to inculcate SDGs culture in Nepalese HEIs. This study follows a qualitative approach. The analysis is based on the opinions of 113 HEIs stakeholders and high-ranked university officials. Discussions among stakeholders have been organized using online facilities such as Zoom and Team.

Findings

Nepalese universities had not incorporated SDGs in their policy, planning, budget and curriculum. The research finds that even after the government’s commitment to SDGs, HEIs are not honestly involved in academic discourse on these goals. From the conversation with university officials, it appears that Universities have understood it as a government policy for development, rather than incorporating it as their sectoral responsibility to ensure the quality of education for future generations.

Practical implications

This paper prescribes policies to inculcate SDGs culture practically throughout the university structure and operations and opens the floor to discourse on the sectoral role to reach SDG 4. Second, this research suggests activities and policies integrated toward the common good agenda.

Originality/value

The paper is the first of its type in the context of a least developed country, Nepal, to raise the issue of HEIs for SDGs. This paper also represents the situation of HEIs for SDGs of similar countries.
Unearthing the response pattern of COVID-19 research in social sciences
Authors: Singh Vibhav , Verma Surabhi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The sudden onset of COVID-19 has brought about a watershed moment in the current research across all disciplines. As it has impacted almost all aspects of human existence, academicians are aggressively trying to understand the phenomenon from multidisciplinary perspectives. In this regard, the present study attempts to provide an in-depth understanding of academia's response pattern in the field of social sciences using a grounded theory literature review and bibliometric analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study analyzed 395 research articles on the pandemic phenomenon, yielding five main themes and 11 sub-themes.

Findings

The emergent research themes are global impact on public health, the influence of COVID-19 on workplace functioning, global governance in COVID-19, research ethics in scholarly works and the influence of COVID-19 on demography.

Originality/value

Drawing from these themes, the authors provide propositions, policy implications and future research directions.
Immersive reading in virtual and augmented reality environment
Authors: Rau Pei-Luen Patrick , Zheng Jian , Guo Zhi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate “immersive reading,” which occurs when individuals read text while in a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) environment.

Design/methodology/approach

In Experiment 1, 64 participants read text passages and answered multiple-choice questions in VR and AR head-mounted displays (HMDs) compared with doing the same task on liquid crystal display (LCD). In Experiment 2, 31 participants performed the same reading tasks but with two VR HMDs of different display quality.

Findings

Compared with reading on LCD as the baseline, participants reading in VR and AR HMDs got 82% (VR) and 88% (AR) of the information accurately. Participants tended to respond more accurately and faster, though not statistically significant, with the VR HMD of higher pixel density in the speed-reading task.

Originality/value

The authors observed the speed and accuracy of reading in VR and AR environments, compared with the reading speed and accuracy on an LCD monitor. The authors also compared the reading performance on two VR HMDs that differed in display quality but were otherwise similar in every way.