bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dormant phages communicate to control exit from lysogeny
Authors: Aframian Nitzan , Bendori Shira Omer , Hen Stav , Guler Polina , Stokar-Avihail Avigail , Manor Erica , Msaeed Kholod , Lipsman Valeria , Grinberg Ilana , Mahagna Alaa , Eldar Avigdor
Published: September 2021

Temperate bacterial viruses (phages) can transition between lysis - replicating and killing the host, and lysogeny - existing as dormant prophages while keeping the host viable. It was recently shown that upon invading a naïve cell, some phages communicate using a peptide signal, termed arbitrium, to control the decision of entering lysogeny. Whether communication can also serve to regulate exit from lysogeny (known as phage induction) remains unclear. Here we show that arbitrium-coding prophages continue to communicate from the lysogenic state by secreting and sensing the arbitrium signal. Signaling represses DNA-damage dependent phage induction, enabling prophages to reduce induction rate when surrounded by other lysogens. We show that the mechanism by which DNA damage and communication are integrated differs between distantly related arbitrium-coding phages. Additionally, signaling by prophages tilts the decision of nearby infecting phages towards lysogeny. Altogether, we find that phages use small molecule communication throughout their entire life-cycle to measure the abundance of lysogens in the population, thus avoiding wasteful attempts at secondary infections when they are unlikely to succeed.
Opening the side exit pores of ClpP by lowering the pH of proteolytic chamber coupled with substrate hydrolysis
Authors: Kim Leehyeon , Lee Byung-Gil , Kim Min Kyung , Kwon Do Hoon , Kim Hyunmin , Brötz-Oesterhelt Heike , Roh Soung-Hun , Song Hyun Kyu
Published: September 2021

The ClpP serine peptidase is a tetradecameric degradation machine involved in many physiological processes. It becomes a competent ATP-dependent protease with Clp-ATPases. Small chemical compounds, acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs), are known to cause dysregulation and activation of ClpP without ATPases, and have potential as novel antibiotics. Previously, structural studies of ClpP from various species revealed the structural details, conformational changes, and activation mechanism. Although product release by the side exit pores has been proposed, the detailed driving force for product release remains elusive. Here, we report crystal structures of ClpP from Bacillus subtilis (BsClpP) in unforeseen ADEP-bound states. Cryo-electron microscopy structures revealed various conformational states at different pH conditions. To understand the conformational change for product release, we investigated the relationship between substrate hydrolysis and the pH lowering process. Our data, together with previous findings, provide insight into the molecular mechanism of product release by ClpP self-compartmentalizing protease.
SARS-CoV-2 preS dTM vaccine booster candidates increase functional antibody responses and cross-neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in non-human primates
Authors: Pavot Vincent , Berry Catherine , Kishko Michael , Anosova Natalie G. , Huang Dean , Tibbitts Tim , Raillard Alice , Gautheron Sylviane , Gutzeit Cindy , Koutsoukos Marguerite , Chicz Roman , Lecouturier Valerie
Published: September 2021

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that partly evade neutralizing antibodies has raised concerns of reduced vaccine effectiveness and increased infection. We previously demonstrated in preclinical models and in human clinical trials that our SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine adjuvanted with AS03 (CoV2 preS dTM-AS03) elicits robust neutralizing antibody responses in naïve subjects. Here, the objective was to document the potency of various booster vaccine formulations in macaques previously vaccinated with mRNA or protein subunit vaccine candidates.

We show that one booster dose of AS03-adjuvanted CoV2 preS dTM, D614 (parental) or B.1.351 (Beta), in monovalent or bivalent (D614 + B.1.351) formulations, significantly boosted pre-existing neutralizing antibodies and elicited high and stable cross-neutralizing antibodies covering the four known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta) and, unexpectedly, SARS-CoV-1, in primed macaques. Interestingly, the non-adjuvanted CoV2 preS dTM B.1.351 vaccine formulation also significantly boosted and broadened the neutralizing antibody responses.

Our findings show that these vaccine candidates used as a booster have the potential to offer cross-protection against a broad spectrum of variants. This has important implications for vaccine control of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and informs on the benefit of a booster with our vaccine candidates currently under evaluation in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials (NCT04762680 and NCT04904549).
A genetic compensatory mechanism regulated by c-Jun and Mef2d modulates the expression of distinct class IIa HDACs to ensure peripheral nerve myelination and repair
Authors: Velasco-Aviles Sergio , Patel Nikiben , Casillas-Bajo Angeles , Frutos-Rincón Laura , Velasco-Serna Enrique , Gallar Juana , Arthur-Farraj Peter , Gomez-Sanchez Jose A. , Cabedo Hugo
Published: September 2021

The class IIa histone-deacetylases (HDACs) have pivotal roles in the development of different tissues. Of this family, Schwann cells express HDAC4, 5 and 7 but not HDCA9. Here we show that a transcription factor regulated genetic compensatory mechanism within this family of proteins, blocks negative regulators of myelination ensuring peripheral nerve developmental myelination and remyelination after injury. Thus, when HDAC4 and 5 are knocked-out from Schwann cells, a c-Jun dependent mechanism induces the compensatory overexpression of HDAC7 permitting, although with a delay, the formation of a myelin sheath. When HDAC4,5 and 7 are simultaneously removed, the Myocyte- specific enhancer-factor d (Mef2d) binds to the promoter and induces the de novo expression of HDAC9, and although several melanocytic- lineage genes are mis- expressed and Remak bundle structure is disrupted, myelination proceeds after a long delay. Thus, our data unveil a finely tuned compensatory mechanism within the class IIa HDAC family, coordinated by distinct transcription factors, that guarantees the ability of Schwann cells to myelinate during development and remyelinate after nerve injury.
A simple immunoassay for extracellular vesicle liquid biopsy in microliters of non-processed plasma
Authors: Campos-Silva Carmen , Cáceres-Martell Yaiza , Sánchez-Herrero Estela , Condado Amaia Sandúa , Beneitez-Martínez Alexandra , Hernández Álvaro González , Provencio Mariano , Romero Atocha , Jara Ricardo , Yáñez-Mó María , Valés-Gómez Mar
Published: September 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by most cell types, provide an excellent source of biomarkers in biological fluids. Here we describe a method that, using just a few microliters of patient’s plasma, identifies tumour markers exposed on EVs. Studying physico-chemical properties of EVs in solution, we demonstrate that they behave as stable colloidal suspensions and therefore, in immunocapture assays, many of them are unable to interact with a stationary functionalised surface. Using flocculation methods, like those used to destabilize colloids, we demonstrate that cationic polymers increase EV ζ-potential, diameter, and sedimentation coefficient and thus, allow a more efficient capture on antibody-coated surfaces by both ELISA and bead-assisted flow cytometry. These findings led to optimization of a protocol in microtiter plates allowing effective immunocapture of EVs, directly in plasma without previous ultracentrifugation or other EV enrichment. The method, easily adaptable to any laboratory, has been validated using plasma from lung cancer patients in which the epithelial cell marker EpCAM has been detected on EVs. This high throughput, easy to automate, technology allows screening of large numbers of patients to phenotype tumour markers in circulating EVs, breaking barriers for the validation of proposed EV biomarkers and the discovery of new ones.
Acoustic Force Spectroscopy Reveals Subtle Differences in Cellulose Unbinding Behavior of Carbohydrate-Binding Modules
Authors: Hackl Markus , Contrada Edward V. , Ash Jonathan E. , Kulkarni Atharv , Yoon Jinho , Cho Hyeon-Yeol , Lee Ki-Bum , Yarbrough John M. , Chundawat Shishir P. S.
Published: September 2021

To rationally engineer more efficient cellulolytic enzymes for cellulosic biomass deconstruction into sugars for biofuels production, it is necessary to better understand the complex enzyme-substrate interfacial interactions. Carbohydrate binding modules (CBM) are often associated with microbial surface-tethered cellulosomal or freely secreted cellulase enzymes to increase substrate accessibility. However, it is not well known how CBM recognize, bind, and dissociate from polysaccharide surfaces to facilitate efficient cellulolytic activity due to the lack of mechanistic understanding of CBM-substrate interactions. Our work outlines a general approach to methodically study the unbinding behavior of CBMs from model polysaccharide surfaces using single-molecule force spectroscopy. Here, we apply acoustic force spectroscopy (AFS) to probe a Clostridium thermocellum cellulosomal scaffoldin protein (CBM3a) and measure its dissociation from nanocellulose surfaces at physiologically relevant, low force loading rates. An automated microfluidic setup and methodology for uniform deposition of insoluble polysaccharides on the AFS chip surfaces is demonstrated. The rupture forces of wild-type CBM3a, and its Y67A mutant, unbinding from nanocellulose surface suggests distinct CBM binding conformations that can also explain the improved cellulolytic activity of cellulase tethered to CBM. Applying established dynamic force spectroscopy theory, the single-molecule unbinding rate at zero force is extrapolated and found to agree well with bulk equilibrium unbinding rates estimated independently using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. However, our results highlight the limitations of applying classical theory to explain the highly multivalent CBM-cellulose interactions seen at higher cellulose-CBM bond rupture forces (>15pN).

Significance Statement

Cellulases are multi-modular enzymes produced by numerous microbes that catalyze cellulose hydrolysis into glucose. These enzymes play an important role in global carbon cycling as well as cellulosic biofuels production. CBMs are essential components of cellulolytic enzymes involved in facilitating hydrolysis of polysaccharides by tethered catalytic domains (CD). The subtle interplay between CBM binding and CD activity is poorly understood particularly for heterogeneous reactions at solid-liquid interfaces. Here, we report a highly multiplexed single-molecule force spectroscopy method to study CBM dissociation from cellulose to infer the molecular mechanism governing substrate recognition and dissociation. This approach can be broadly applied to study multivalent protein-polysaccharide binding interactions relevant to other carbohydrates such as starch, chitin, or hyaluronan to engineer efficient biocatalysts.
DNA metabarcoding Uncover the Diet of Subterranean Rodents in China
Authors: Zhang Xuxin , Zou Yao , Nan Xiaoning , Han Chongxuan
Published: September 2021

Objective

In the past, the zokor, which lived in northern China, caused great harm to agriculture and forestry production due to its large and sophisticated diet. Since the rat lives underground for most of its life, researchers know little about its dietary habits. Further understanding of its diet in the field is of important meaning for developing green and sustainable control strategies for the rat.

Methods

Longde County in Liupan Mountain area of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was selected as the interest area to capture zokor and investigate the species of habitat plants.We selected chloroplast trnL gene and eukaryotic internal transcription spacer 1 (ITS 1) primers to amplify DNA from the gastric contents of zokor,and then sequenced on Illumina Miseq PE300 platform.

Results

The gastric contents of Eospalax smithii (n=16) and E.cansus(n=9) were analyzed by operational taxonomic units (OTU) clustering and amplicon sequence variants(ASVs).The OTU clustering method obtained 2,995 OTUs, and the ASV method obtained 4,657 ASVs. The ASV method was better than the OTU clustering method, and the ASV method was adopted in the subsequent analysis. The food list of 32 families, 80 genera and 154 species was obtained by ASV method after the error was removed. The food composition of zokor was evaluated by relative abundance(%RA) method and frequency of occurrence(%ROO) method. At the Family level, it was found that zokor mainly fed on Asteraceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Pinaceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae, etc. At the Genus level, they are mainlyEchinops, Littledalea,Artemisia,Picea, Cirsium, Elymus and so on. The diet alpha diversity of E.cansus was slightly higher than that of E.smithii (P > 0.05). The correlation coefficient between Sobs index of alpha diversity and body weight of zokor was −0.382 (P = 0.059). The diet beta diversity proved that most zokors (22/25) clustered together, with low heterogeneity. They fed positively on Calamagrostis, Cirsium, Echinops, Medicago, Sanguisorba and Taraxacum. We found that zokor mainly fed on the roots of perennial herbs(PH), which were rich in water, carbohydrate, fat and protein, which provided an important energy source for its survival.

Conclusion

High-throughput sequencing(HTS) based DNA metabarcoding technology has well revealed the diet of zokor, which are generalist.
Crystal structure determination of the armadillo repeat domain of Drosophila SARM1 using MIRAS phasing
Authors: Gu Weixi , Luo Zhenyao , Vonrhein Clemens , Jia Xinying , Ve Thomas , Nanson Jeffrey D. , Kobe Bostjan
Published: September 2021

The crystal structure determination of the armadillo repeat motif (ARM) domain of Drosophila SARM1 (dSARM1ARM) is described, which required the combination of a number of sources of phase information in order to obtain interpretable electron-density maps. SARM1 is a central executioner of programmed axon degeneration, a common feature of the early phase of many neurodegenerative diseases. SARM1 is held in the inactive state in healthy axons by its N-terminal auto-inhibitory ARM domain, and is activated to cleave NAD upon injury, triggering subsequent axon degeneration. To characterize the molecular mechanism of SARM1 activation, it was sought to determine the crystal structure of the SARM1 ARM domain. Here, the recombinant production and crystallization of dSARM1ARM is described, as well as the unconventional process used for structure determination. Crystals were obtained in the presence of NMN, a precursor of NAD and a potential activator of SARM1, only after in situ proteolysis of the N-terminal 63 residues. After molecular-replacement attempts failed, the crystal structure of dSARM1ARM was determined at 1.65 Å resolution using the MIRAS phasing technique with autoSHARP, combining data from native, selenomethionine-labelled and bromide-soaked crystals. The structure will further the understanding of SARM1 regulation.
Structural characterization of human peptidyl-arginine deiminase type III by X-ray crystallography
Authors: Rechiche Othman , Lee T. Verne , Lott J. Shaun
Published: September 2021

The Ca2+-dependent enzyme peptidyl-arginine deiminase type III (PAD3) catalyses the deimination of arginine residues to form citrulline residues in proteins such as keratin, filaggrin and trichohyalin. This is an important post-translation modification that is required for normal hair and skin formation in follicles and keratocytes. The structure of apo human PAD3 was determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.8 Å. The structure of PAD3 revealed a similar overall architecture to other PAD isoforms: the N-terminal and middle domains of PAD3 show sequence and structural variety, whereas the sequence and structure of the C-terminal catalytic domain is highly conserved. Structural analysis indicates that PAD3 is a dimer in solution, as is also the case for the PAD2 and PAD4 isoforms but not the PAD1 isoform.
Crystal structure of hexakis(N,N-dimethylformamide-κO)iron(III) μ-chlorido-bis(trichloridocadmium)
Authors: Vassilyeva Olga Yu. , Kokozay Vladimir N. , Petrusenko Svitlana , Sobolev Alexandre N.
Published: September 2021

The title compound, [Fe(C3H7NO)6][Cd2Cl7], crystallizes in the trigonal space group R\overline{3} and is assembled from discrete [Fe(DMF)6]3+ cations (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) and [Cd2Cl7]3− anions. In the cation, the iron(III) atom, located on a special position of \overline{3} site symmetry, is coordinated by six oxygen atoms from DMF ligands with all Fe—O distances being equal [2.0072 (16) Å]. A slight distortion of the octahedral environment of the metal comes from the cis O—Fe—O angles deviating from the ideal value of 90° [86.85 (7) and 93.16 (7)°] whilst all the trans angles are strictly 180°. The central Cl atom of the [Cd2Cl7]3− anion is also located on a special position of \overline{3} site symmetry and bridges two corner sharing, tetrahedrally coordinated CdII atoms. The two Cd atoms and the central Cl atom are colinear. The two sets of terminal chloride ligands on either side of the dumbbell-like anion are rotated relative to each other by 30°. In the crystal, the cations and anions, stacked one above the other along the c-axis direction, are held in place principally by electrostatic interactions. There are also C—H...Cl and C—H...O interactions, but these are rather weak. Of the six crystal structures reported to date for ionic salts of [Fe(DMF)6]
n+ cations (n = 2, 3), five contain FeII ions. The title compound is the second example of a stable compound containing the [Fe(DMF)6]3+ cation. The existence of both [Fe(DMF)6]2+ and [Fe(DMF)6]3+ cations shows that the DMF ligand coordination sphere can accommodate changes in the charge and spin states of the metal centre.
Exploring information seeking of rural older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lund Brady , Ma Jinxuan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the types and sources of information sought by older adults along with their motivations in the Midwestern United States.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 30 older adults residing in rural communities around the Midwestern United States during late-summer (July/August) 2020, using a protocol based on Dervin's Sense-Making Methodology. The resulting data was analyzed using standard content analysis procedures, guided by the theoretical frameworks based on Dervin's Sense-Making and Williamson's Ecological Model of Information Behavior. Implications of COVID-19 for the normative behaviors described in these models are discussed.

Findings

Findings show that older adults were concerned primarily with health and political information during this period, but that this information was not necessarily sought only to address an informational need, but also to satisfy the need to maintain social and emotional connections in coping with isolation and loneliness. Sources of information that allowed for social interaction with people were favored. Wider personal networks (community members) were strained by the social distancing measures and closures. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for considering the impact of social restrictions on information seeking behaviors of older adults in a time of crisis.

Originality/value

This study is the first, known to the authors, that applied the two adopted theoretical frameworks to explore information seeking behaviors of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The characteristics and evolution of business model for green buildings: a bibliometric approach
Authors: Zhao Xiaojing , Pan Wei
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The wide uptake of green building is hindered by factors such as limited market demand and high up-front cost despite substantial policy incentives. Successful business models (BMs) help facilitate the diffusion of sustainable innovation and have attracted increasing attention. However, little attention has been paid to examining the adoption of green building from the perspective of BM. This paper aims to identify the characteristics of BM that companies adopted to deliver green building projects and examine the evolution path of BM for green buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 744 interdisciplinary bibliographic records related to BM and green buildings from the Web of Science Core Collection database have been identified from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed through co-author analysis, co-word analysis and co-citation analysis.

Findings

BM research mainly focuses on five subjects, namely, environmental science, engineering, business, economics, science and technology. Keywords “strategy”, “capability”, “perspective” and “design” receive the highest centrality index, which suggests that the strategy design and corporate capability are indispensable elements when designing or innovating a company's BM. “BM canvas” and “resource based view” received the burst citations in the recent decade. Twelve research clusters are identified, including performance evaluation, waste management, energy efficiency, BM, project business, professional capital, leadership and product innovation. These topics highlight three evolution direction for green building projects, i.e. life cycle-oriented value proposition, collaborative value delivery and innovative cost and revenue structure.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to a systematic understanding of the underlying mechanisms of BM for green buildings and illuminate the development trend of business strategies for sustainability.
Improving women's energy access, rights and equitable sustainable development: a Ghanaian perspective
Authors: Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Sackey David Mensah , Osei-Asibey Dickson , Kyerewah Agyapong Rachelle , John Edwards David
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the challenges in improving women's energy access, rights and equitable sustainable development from a Ghanaian perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilizes a mixed method. A qualitative in-depth exploratory design was chosen to understand how gender is mainstreamed within Ghana's energy sector. This included semi-structured interviews with key managers, experience policy experts and focus groups. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis (TCA).

Findings

The study reveals that the National Energy Policy of 2010, as the main energy policy regulating the energy sector in Ghana, does make provision for gender equality, safety especially women, in line with Ghana's sustainable development goals. The energy policy aims to empower women and create gender parity in the sector. Nevertheless, the study also found major challenges to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector, including poor analysis in formulating energy policies, inadequate financial resources, and poor monitoring and evaluation.

Originality/value

The paper exposes gender equity challenges associated with the energy sector in Ghana. It also offers a new policy angle which connects gender mainstreaming to sustainable development. The research describes how women are included in developing energy policies and in addressing gender challenges in the energy sector.
The influence of altruistic leadership behavior and learning culture on work–family relationship in Chinese SMEs
Authors: Xie Lei , Qiu Shaoping , Biggs Mary Jo Garcia
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between supervisor’s altruistic leadership behavior (ALB) and family-to-work development (FWD) in the context of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and test the mediation effect of learning organization culture (LOC) between ALB and FWD.

Design/methodology/approach

A non-experimental, quantitative, cross-sectional survey research approach was applied. A structural equation modeling technique was used to test all hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicated that ALB is positively and significantly correlated with FWD. Additionally, the relationship between ALB and FWD is mediated by LOC.

Practical implications

This study suggests that building and maintaining an effective LOC requires leaders to champion, human resource (HR) professionals to strengthen and employees to support learning as a system. Thus, HR professionals should implement altruistic leadership mentoring and coaching programs. In the case of Chinese SMEs, altruistic leaders are especially instrumental in generating followers’ positive outcomes in both work and family domains.

Originality/value

This study looks into the influence of organizational factors on the direction of FWD. In particular, this study seeks to examine organizational factors that relate to spillover from family to work.
Impact of anthropomorphic features of artificially intelligent service robots on consumer acceptance: moderating role of sense of humor
Authors: Zhang Mengying , Gursoy Dogan , Zhu Zhangyao , Shi Si
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of both physical and personality-related anthropomorphic features of an artificial intelligence service robot on the cognitive and affective appraisals and acceptance of consumers during service delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypotheses that investigate the effects of service robots’ physical appearance on the emphasis consumers place on each evaluation criteria they use in determining their willingness to accept the use of service robots in service delivery and the moderating role of sense of humor are tested by conducting two studies using scenario-based experiments.

Findings

The results show that humanlike appearance leads to higher performance expectancy, mascot-like appearance generates higher positive emotions and machine-like appearance results in higher effort expectancy. The effects of humanlike and mascot-like appearances on consumer acceptance are moderated by the sense of humor of service robots. However, the sense of humor effect is attenuated with a machine-like appearance owing to the lack of anthropomorphism.

Practical implications

This study provides crucial insights for hospitality managers who plan to use service robots in service delivery. The findings highlight the key roles of appearance type and sense of humor of service robots in influencing the appraisals and acceptance of consumers regarding the use of service robots in service delivery.

Originality/value

This study focuses on comparing the effects of traditional and mascot-like appearances of service robots on consumer appraisals and identifies sense of humor as a cute anthropomorphized personality trait of service robots.
Logistics service quality in an emergent market in Latin America
Authors: Michalski Marek , Montes-Botella José Luis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to determine how the level of logistics service quality facilitates logistics performance in emerging markets. The authors chose Ecuador because it is an emerging economy with relatively stable economic development, making it an attractive research platform in a challenging environment for logistics services. The authors empirically test the influence on performance and one another of five dimensions of service quality: reliability, responsiveness, empathy, assurance and tangibility.

Design/methodology/approach

SERVQUAL and partial least squares structural equation modeling was undertaken to test the proposed relationships empirically.

Findings

The performance was positively related to assurance, tangibility and reliability but negatively related to the responsiveness and empathy dimensions. The findings suggest the order of priority for improvement actions. The findings highlight that the existing relationships in developed markets do not apply in the same manner in emerging markets.

Research limitations/implications

Although representative, data were only collected in one specific market.

Practical implications

The results reveal a mix of activities that managers should develop to improve the services they provide, relationships with customers and performance.

Originality/value

Few other works have explored logistics service quality in South America's emerging markets. According to contingency theory, various combinations of service quality dimensions can influence performance, suggesting that managers should aim for optimal fit between dimensions according to internal and external situations. An efficient and effective combination in one case may be unsuccessful in another. The approaches presented can improve relationships within global supply chains, especially regarding logistics management.
Agency perspective in Islamic political treatises: implications for contemporary management research
Authors: Ceyhan Semih , Barca Mehmet
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Classical assumptions of agency theory (AT) fall short of providing satisfactory answers to modern management and organizational knowledge (MOK) problems, and there is a need for extending the scope of the field. This article aims to compare modern AT assumptions with the agency perspective of Islamic historical political treatises (namely, siyasetnamas) and point out how AT can be furthered.

Design/methodology/approach

This article applies content analysis method to find out agency perspectives in Islamic political treatises and then compare them with those of the basic AT assumptions to find out similarities and differences between them in explaining agency problems.

Findings

The agency perspective in siyasetnamas are based on the following assumptions which could contribute to the development of AT with their emphasis on (1) responsibilities beyond contracts, (2) entrustment rather than ownership, (3) shared societal responsibility rather than conflicting individual interests, (4) importance of self-control for both principals and agents and (5) trust discourse which emphasizes inner virtues rather than control discourse.

Originality/value

Agency perspectives cannot be considered independent of cultural imprints. By introducing siyasetnamas' agency perspective, this article makes an effort to suggest implications for how to further modern MOK based overwhelmingly on individualistic cultural assumptions to rediscuss agency problems from the viewpoint of specifically the emerging markets in which collectivist culture plays an important role in social and economic life. In this respect, siyasetnamas' agency perspective based on the notion of entrustment seems, arguably, to be a better fit to the contextual realities and managerial practices of emerging markets.
Maintenance scheduling of a cheddar cheese manufacturing plant based on RAM analysis
Authors: Tsarouhas Panagiotis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to calculate and enhance the cheese cheddar manufacturing plant efficiency under actual workplace conditions by measuring reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) indices. The authors highlight how RAM analysis is important in determining periodic maintenance and in scheduling and managing the appropriate maintenance policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The current work is conducted using statistical approaches to evaluate failure and repair statistics. The RAM estimation was calculated on the basis of quantitative data obtained over a span of 32 months. Descriptive statistics, Pareto analysis, as well as the presumption of independence were ensured through trend and serial correlation tests. In addition, the reliability and maintainability of the cheddar cheese processing plant and its machines were calculated at various mission periods.

Findings

The primary goal of the implementation approach is to understand the fault patterns and the accurate quantitative assessment of the reliability and maintainability of the cheddar production plant. The findings revealed the essential aspects of the line, which need improvement by an appropriate maintenance program.

Originality/value

This study is intended to serve to highlight the RAM assessment and its impact on the performance of the real-time system. The benefit of the technique is the continual control of the manufacturing process by means of acceptable indexes, whose use corresponds to a continuous improvement process.
Problem-solving by total productive maintenance swift teams: communication network structure, media choice and team effectiveness
Authors: Colazo Jorge
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to look at the performance, communication structure and media choice for swift teams (STs) formed with the purpose of recovering from operational emergencies in manufacturing. The problem-solving process associated with these ad hoc teams include an early stage, where the main goal is to restore the process to working conditions, and a later stage, longer in duration, where the root cause of the problem is found and eliminated.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on field data from an industrial manufacturing operation, the authors test hypotheses by means of regression models.

Findings

It was found that in the evolution from early to later stage, media usage shifts from highly synchronous to asynchronous and the structural characteristics of the teams' collaboration networks mutate as well. These effects are different when comparing high- vs low-performing teams.

Research limitations/implications

The study contains data for only one company, limiting the external validity of the conclusions. The sample was predominantly male. Participant attrition and other potential covariates not included in the study can be additional limitations.

Practical implications

More successful teams adapt their communication patterns more rapidly, going from an initially decentralized organization to a more centralized one. These changes in network patterns open a new view of ST’s success, based on network characteristics rather than on aggregate measures. The conclusions yield insights for interventions that may increase the success rates of these teams and reduce production line downtime.

Originality/value

The two stages in the operational emergency problem-solving process have to the authors’ knowledge not been addressed simultaneously in previous research, which is attempted in this paper as its main theoretical contribution. Moreover, previous studies dealing with ST’s success have only looked at aggregated measures impacting effectiveness and never to how their communication networks evolve along the path to problem resolution. The network view of the evolution of the ST from a relatively disorganized impromptu agglomeration of individuals to an effective problem-solving organization is to the authors’ knowledge first presented.
Luxury fashion retailers' localised marketing strategies in practice – evidence from China
Authors: Bai Huifeng , McColl Julie , Moore Christopher
Published: September 2021

Purpose

From an international retailing perspective, this empirical study aims to examine luxury fashion retailers' changing marketing strategies in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using case studies of 14 luxury fashion retailers, qualitative data were collected via 31 semi-structured executive interviews.

Findings

Both standardised global and localised multinational marketing strategies were found to have initially been employed by luxury fashion retailers entering into China. Subsequently, localised multinational strategies became increasingly important for their post-entry operations and business development, particularly in terms of their product strategies. More specifically, as well as the introduction of Chinese brand names, product design has been adapted according to Chinese market conditions, and product portfolios have been adapted to satisfy regional differences. However, localised product sourcing in China is far less common.

Research limitations/implications

As the findings are generated from China, they may not explain luxury fashion retailers' marketing strategies in other markets. Despite the relatively small sample size, the 14 luxury fashion retailer case studies originate from across a wide range of countries, retail formats and ownership structures and are therefore considered to be varied enough to represent the market.

Practical implications

The study offers practitioners insights into the success that can be generated by the manipulation of marketing strategies, particularly product strategies, within the world's second biggest luxury market.

Originality/value

This paper extends the current international retailing literature by examining and comparing the motives and practices of luxury fashion retailers and the increasing localisation of their marketing strategies in China as they move from initial market entry into their post-entry operations.
Why am I seeing this? Deconstructing algorithm literacy through the lens of users
Authors: Shin Donghee , Rasul Azmat , Fotiadis Anestis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

As algorithms permeate nearly every aspect of digital life, artificial intelligence (AI) systems exert a growing influence on human behavior in the digital milieu. Despite its popularity, little is known about the roles and effects of algorithmic literacy (AL) on user acceptance. The purpose of this study is to contextualize AL in the AI environment by empirically examining the role of AL in developing users' information processing in algorithms. The authors analyze how users engage with over-the-top (OTT) platforms, what awareness the user has of the algorithmic platform and how awareness of AL may impact their interaction with these systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed multiple-group equivalence methods to compare two group invariance and the hypotheses concerning differences in the effects of AL. The method examined how AL helps users to envisage, understand and work with algorithms, depending on their understanding of the control of the information flow embedded within them.

Findings

Our findings clarify what functions AL plays in the adoption of OTT platforms and how users experience algorithms, particularly in contexts where AI is used in OTT algorithms to provide personalized recommendations. The results point to the heuristic functions of AL in connection with its ties in trust and ensuing attitude and behavior. Heuristic processes using AL strongly affect the credibility of recommendations and the way users understand the accuracy and personalization of results. The authors argue that critical assessment of AL must be understood not just about how it is used to evaluate the trust of service, but also regarding how it is performatively related in the modeling of algorithmic personalization.

Research limitations/implications

The relation of AL and trust in an algorithm lends strategic direction in developing user-centered algorithms in OTT contexts. As the AI industry has faced decreasing credibility, the role of user trust will surely give insights on credibility and trust in algorithms. To better understand how to cultivate a sense of literacy regarding algorithm consumption, the AI industry could provide examples of what positive engagement with algorithm platforms looks like.

Originality/value

User cognitive processes of AL provide conceptual frameworks for algorithm services and a practical guideline for the design of OTT services. Framing the cognitive process of AL in reference to trust has made relevant contributions to the ongoing debate surrounding algorithms and literacy. While the topic of AL is widely recognized, empirical evidence on the effects of AL is relatively rare, particularly from the user's behavioral perspective. No formal theoretical model of algorithmic decision-making based on the dual processing model has been researched.
Exploring the synergy between nano-influencers and sports community: behavior mapping through machine learning
Authors: Yadav Jitendra , Misra Madhvendra , Rana Nripendra P. , Singh Kuldeep
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the influence of cybersecurity on the semantic orientation of the sports consumers. Focusing on both sport and esports, this study finds the social media factors contributing in the sentiment formation and commenting behavior on Twitter and proposes a scheme for attitude modulation through identification of highly engaged nano-influencers.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental design was used as the research methodology. Data mining from Twitter using RStudio software was conducted using the keyword “cybersecurity” during the time of pandemic. Final corpus of 31,891 tweets were considered for the study. Initial sentiment analysis has been conducted to explore the consumer's emotional inclination towards cybersecurity. Further through generalized equation modeling the impact of social media attributes over the consumer's posting behavior has been analyzed.

Findings

The research findings reveal that users are inherently positive towards cybersecurity adoption in sports and the factors such as number of tweets, number of positive words contained in these tweets and the authenticity of the information source boost the pre-established tweeting behavior. However, the influx of information from non-organizational sources such as trending topics and discussions have negative impact over the users.

Originality/value

This study is first to explore the role of nano-influencers as communication moderators over digital social platforms. This study offers a new understanding of key contributing attributes of sentiments formation over social media and offers a scheme of selection of nano-influencers to modulate the pre-established sentiments of the users. Finally, the current study offers valuable insights into social media engagements and selection of nano-influencers for practicing marketing managers.
Can technology readiness predict farmers’ adoption intention of the e-AgriFinance app?
Authors: Omar Quistina , Yap Ching Seng , Ho Poh Ling , Keling William
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This research aims to examine the effect of the two dimensions of technology readiness – motivator and inhibitor on behavioural intention to adopt a mobile agricultural finance app called e-AgriFinance app among the farmers in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 337 farmers who cultivated the 4 major crops in Sarawak – oil palm, rubber, cocoa and pepper using a face-to-face questionnaire survey. Collected data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling with R plspm package.

Findings

The research found that both motivator and inhibitor dimensions of technology readiness predicted the farmers’ behavioural intention to adopt the e-AgriFinance app, with the former had a relatively stronger positive effect and the latter had a relatively weaker negative effect.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted in the context of rural farmers in an emerging economy. As such, modern farmers in developed countries may have different adoption behaviour of mobile agricultural finance app. The data were collected from farmers of the four major crops – oil palm, rubber, cocoa and pepper, and thus it may not be representative of the whole population of farmers in Sarawak.

Originality/value

This research served as one of the few studies that focused on the relationship between technology readiness and mobile app adoption among farmers from the perspective of an emerging economy.
The era of consumer entitlement: investigating entitlement after a perceived brand failure
Authors: Melancon Joanna Phillips , Gardner Mary Jane , Dalakas Vassilis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents of consumer entitlement among loyal consumers in response to a perceived brand failure, as well as the effect of consumer entitlement on satisfaction and behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire asked 226 Game of Thrones viewers about their reactions to the final season of the series. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was the analysis method for testing the hypotheses.

Findings

Investment, perceived justice and collective fairness are all predictors of entitlement. Fan identification increases feelings of investment. Entitlement has a negative relationship with satisfaction, and satisfaction is positively related to relational behaviors.

Practical implications

Loyal, highly entitled consumers can make life difficult for a brand in customer service encounters, on social media and financially. The manuscript offers managers an understanding of which consumers and situations may elicit entitlement and how to mitigate entitlement.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to attempt to model antecedents of consumer entitlement and to study entitlement among highly loyal consumers in response to a perceived brand failure. The study furthers existing research by pointing out the effect of entitlement on the relationship with the brand and consequences for the brand, as opposed to past studies, which have largely explored the effects of working with entitled consumers on front-line employees.
The effect of business uncertainty on IT governance
Authors: Siregar Sylvia Veronica , Harahap Siti Nurwahyuningsih
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of business uncertainty on the information technology (IT) governance of listed firms in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The samples are listed firms in Indonesia Stock Exchange for the years 2015–2018. Total observations are 1,215 firm years. The authors used the random effect panel regression to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that business uncertainty has a significant positive association with IT governance, consistent with the prediction. Companies with higher business uncertainty are in higher demand for implementing IT governance.

Originality/value

The authors have not found previous studies that examine business uncertainty as to the determinant of IT governance. The authors also examined the IT governance in Indonesia, one of the emerging countries. Most previous studies on IT governance were conducted in developed countries, which results may not be generalized to emerging countries.
Managing the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19
Authors: Zighan Saad
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to answer the question of how firms can deal with the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19?

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory research method has been adopted and evidence was collected based on 41 online interviews.

Findings

The study finds that the bullwhip effect is caused by the sudden changes in customers purchasing behaviour during the pandemic and the businesses’ inaccurate anticipation of the situation. Managing the bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19 requires situation awareness, localisation and an intelligent supply chain. Situation awareness is a vital concept in emergency response, knowing what is going to figure out what should be done. Furthermore, reducing the geographical distances between the firm and other parties in the supply chain, which equates to supply chain localisation, enforces just-in-time inventory. Finally, supply chain digitalisation is no longer an option; implementing such a solution enables end-to-end visibility, collaboration, flexibility and optimisation of orchestration of the supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents indicators explaining how organisations can deal with the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19.

Originality/value

The ongoing outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges for supply chain management, and this study contributes to the body of knowledge and proposes a model of reducing the bullwhip effects.