bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Principles of assembly and regulation of condensates of Polycomb repressive complex 1 through phase separation
Authors: Brown Kyle , Chew Pin Yu , Ingersoll Steven , Espinosa Jorge R , Aguirre Anne , Kutateladze Tatiana , Guevara Rosana Collepardo , Ren Xiaojun
Published: December 2022

PRC1 (Polycomb repressive complex 1) plays a significant role in cellular differentiation and development by repressing lineage-inappropriate genes. PRC1 proteins phase separate to form Polycomb condensates (bodies) that are multi-component hubs for silencing Polycomb target genes; however, the molecular principles that underpin the condensate assembly and biophysical properties remain unknown. Here, by using biochemical reconstitution, cellular imaging, and multiscale molecular simulations, we show that PRC1 condensates are assembled via a scaffold-client liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) model by which Chromobox 2 (CBX2) is the scaffold and other subunits of the CBX2-PRC1 complex act as clients. The clients induce a reentrant phase transition of CBX2 condensates in a concentration-dependent manner. The composition of the multi-component, heterotypic LLPS systems directs the assembly and biophysical properties of CBX2-PRC1 condensates and selectively promotes the formation of CBX4-PRC1 condensates, but specifically dissolves condensates of CBX6-, CBX7-, and CBX8-PRC1. Additionally, the composition of CBX2-PRC1 condensates controls the enrichment of CBX4-, CBX7-, and CBX8-PRC1 into condensates but the exclusion of CBX6-PRC1 from condensates. Our results show the composition- and stoichiometry-dependent scaffold-client assembly of multi-component PRC1 condensates and supply a conceptual framework underlying the molecular basis and dynamics of Polycomb condensate assembly.
Enhanced antibody-antigen structure prediction from molecular docking using AlphaFold2
Authors: Gaudreault Francis , Corbeil Christopher R. , Sulea Traian
Published: December 2022

Predicting the structure of antibody-antigen complexes has tremendous value in biomedical research but unfortunately suffers from a poor performance in real-life applications. AlphaFold2 (AF2) has provided renewed hope for improvements in the field of protein-protein docking but has shown limited success for the medically relevant class of antibody-antigen complexes due to the lack of co-evolutionary constraints. Some research groups have demonstrated the usefulness of the AF2 confidence metrics for assessing the plausibility of protein folding models. In this study, we used physics-based protein docking methods for building decoy sets consisting of low-energy docking solutions that were either geometrically close to the native structure (positives) or not (negatives). The docking models were then fed into AF2 to assess their confidence with a novel composite score based on the pLDDT and pTMscore metrics. We show benefits of the AF2 composite score for rescoring docking poses in two scenarios: (1) a more trivial experiment based on the bound conformations of the antibody and antigen backbone structures, and (2) a more realistic test employing the unbound backbone conformations of the binding partners. Docking success rates improved after AF2 rescoring with particular emphasis on early enrichment of positives at the very top of the re-ranked list of decoys. The AF2 rescoring markedly improved classification of positives and negatives in most systems. Docking models of at least medium quality present in the decoy set, but not necessarily highly ranked by docking methods, benefitted most from AF2 rescoring by experiencing large advances towards the top of the reranked list of models. These improvements, obtained without any calibration or novel methodologies, led to a notable level of performance in antibody-antigen unbound docking that was never achieved previously.
Simultaneous visualization of cells and marker genes from scRNA-seq studies
Authors: Bhattacharya Namrata , Chakraborti Swagatam , Gupta Krishan , Mittal Aayushi , Sinha Debajyoti , Nelson Colleen , Chakraborty Tanmoy , Ahuja Gaurav , Sengupta Debarka
Published: December 2022

The complexity of scRNA-sequencing datasets highlights the urgent need for enhanced clustering and visualization methods. Here, we propose Stardust, an iterative, force-directed graph layouting algorithm that enables the simultaneous embedding of cells and marker genes. Stardust, for the first time, allows a single-stop visualization of cells and marker genes on a single 2D map. While Stardust provides its own visualization pipeline, it can be plugged in with state-of-the-art methods such as Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (tSNE). We benchmarked Stardust against popular visualization and clustering tools on both scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics datasets. In all cases, Stardust performs competitively in identifying and visualizing cell types in an accurate and spatially coherent manner.
Calcium signals tune AMPK activity and mitochondrial homeostasis in dendrites of developing neurons
Authors: Hatsuda Akane , Kurisu Junko , Fujishima Kazuto , Kawaguchi Ayano , Ohno Nobuhiko , Kengaku Mineko
Published: December 2022

The growth of dendritic arbors in developing neurons is known to be regulated by neuronal activity, which is thought as one of the mechanisms of neural circuit optimization. Here we demonstrate that activity-dependent calcium signaling controls mitochondrial homeostasis and dendritic outgrowth via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in developing hippocampal neurons. AMPK deficiency phenocopies the inhibition of neuronal activity, inducing dendritic hypotrophy with abnormally elongated mitochondria. In growing dendrites, AMPK is activated by neuronal activity and dynamically oscillates in synchrony with calcium spikes, and this AMPK oscillation is inhibited by CaMKK2 knockdown. AMPK activation leads to phosphorylation of MFF and ULK1, which initiate mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, respectively. Dendritic mitochondria in AMPK-depleted neurons exhibit impaired fission and mitophagy and display multiple signs of dysfunction. Thus, AMPK activity is finely tuned by the calcium-CaMKK2 pathway and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis by facilitating removal of damaged components in rapidly growing neurons during normal brain development.
CoBeL-RL: A neuroscience-oriented simulation framework for complex behavior and learning
Authors: Diekmann Nicolas , Vijayabaskaran Sandhiya , Zeng Xiangshuai , Kappel David , Menezes Matheus Chaves , Cheng Sen
Published: December 2022

Reinforcement learning (RL) has become a popular paradigm for modeling animal behavior, analyzing neuronal representations, and studying their emergence during learning. This development has been fueled by advances in understanding the role of RL in both the brain and artificial intelligence. However, while in machine learning a set of tools and standardized benchmarks facilitate the development of new methods and their comparison to existing ones, in neuroscience, the software infrastructure is much more fragmented. Even if sharing theoretical principles, computational studies rarely share software frameworks, thereby impeding the integration or comparison of different results. Machine learning tools are also difficult to port to computational neuroscience since the experimental requirements are usually not well aligned. To address these challenges we introduce CoBeL-RL, a closed-loop simulator of complex behavior and learning based on RL and deep neural networks. It provides a neuroscience-oriented framework for efficiently setting up and running simulations. CoBeL-RL offers a set of virtual environments, e.g. T-maze and Morris water maze, which can be simulated at different levels of abstraction, e.g. a simple gridworld or a 3D environment with complex visual stimuli, and set up using intuitive GUI tools. A range of RL algorithms, e.g. Dyna-Q and deep Q-network algorithms, is provided and can be easily extended. CoBeL-RL provides tools for monitoring and analyzing behavior and unit activity, and allows for fine-grained control of the simulation via interfaces to relevant points in its closed-loop. In summary, CoBeL-RL fills an important gap in the software toolbox of computational neuroscience.
A toolkit for converting Gal4 into LexA and Flippase transgenes inDrosophila
Authors: Karuparti Sasidhar , Yeung Ann T. , Wang Bei , Guicardi Pedro F. , Han Chun
Published: December 2022

Drosophilahas been a powerful model system for biological studies due to the wide range of genetic tools established for it. Among these tools, Gal4 is the most abundant, offering unparalleled tissue- and developmental stage-specificity for gene manipulation. In comparison, other genetic reagents are far fewer in choices. Here we present a genetic toolkit for converting Gal4 strains into LexA and Flippase transgenes through simple genetic crosses and fluorescence screening. We demonstrate the proof-of-principle by converting ten Gal4 lines that exhibit diverse tissue specificities and examined the activity patterns of the converted LexA and Flippase lines. Gal4-to-LexA and Flp conversion is fast and convenient and should greatly expand the choices of LexA and Flp for binary expression and FRT-based mosaic analysis, respectively, inDrosophila.
The intracellular auxin homeostasis regulators PIN5 and PIN8 have a divergent membrane topology inArabidopsis thalianaroot cells
Authors: Seifu Yewubnesh Wendimu , Rýdza Nikola , Zwiewka Marta , Pukyšová Vendula , Nodzyński Tomasz
Published: December 2022

PIN proteins establish the auxin concentration gradient, which coordinates plant growth. PIN1-4 and 7 localized at the plasma membrane (PM) and facilitate polar auxin transport while the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localized PIN5 and PIN8 maintain the intracellular auxin homeostasis. Although an antagonistic activity of PIN5 and PIN8 proteins in regulating the intracellular auxin homeostasis and other developmental events have been reported, how the two proteins which localize at the same intracellular compartment antagonize each other remains unclear. Combining immunolocalization, pH-dependent fluorescent quenching, and topology prediction programs, we mapped the membrane topology of PIN5 and PIN8 inArabidopsis thalianaroot cells. Our results indicate that, except for the similarities in the orientation of the N-terminus, PIN5 and PIN8 have an opposite orientation of the central hydrophilic loop and the C-terminus, as well as an unequal number of transmembrane domains (TMDs). PIN8 has ten TMDs with groups of five alpha-helices separated by the central hydrophilic loop (HL) residing in the ER lumen, and its N- and C-terminals are positioned in the cytoplasm. However, topology of PIN5 comprises nine TMDs. Its N-terminal end and the central HL face the cytoplasm while its C-terminus resides in the ER lumen. Overall, the divergent membrane topology of PIN5 and PIN8 provides a possible explanation for the mutually opposing activity of these intracellular auxin homeostasis regulators.
Distinction between slow waves and delta waves sheds light to sleep homeostasis and their association to hippocampal sharp waves ripples
Authors: El-Kanbi Karim , de Lavilléon Gaëtan , Bagur Sophie , Lacroix Marie , Benchenane Karim
Published: December 2022

Cortical slow waves and delta waves are hallmarks of NREM sleep and key elements in physiological processes such as memory consolidation and sleep homeostasis. However, no clear distinction has been made between the two types of electrophysiological events. We introduce a new distinction between slow waves, large amplitude waves on filtered LFP cortical signals, and delta waves, characterized by an inversion between deep and superficial layers and the co-occurrence with a cortical down state. Detection of slow waves, as large amplitude waves during NREM sleep, reveals that a large portion of them does not share the properties of delta waves and does not co-occur with cortical down states. Therefore, we distinguish type-1 slow waves, that are associated to a down state, from type-2 slow waves. We show that 1) only type-1 slow waves undergo strong homeostatic regulations and 2) type-2 slow waves create confusion about the temporal link with hippocampal sharp-wave ripples. Thus, we confirm that delta waves detected with our new method can be used as a proxy for down state. Altogether, this confirms the importance of a robust and accurate definition of delta waves to understand the fine neurophysiological mechanisms at stake during NREM sleep.
Mapping variation in the morphological landscape of human cells with optical pooled CRISPRi screening
Authors: Labitigan Ramon Lorenzo D. , Sanborn Adrian L. , Hao Cynthia V. , Chan Caleb K. , Belliveau Nathan M. , Brown Eva M. , Mehrotra Mansi , Theriot Julie A.
Published: December 2022

The contributions of individual genes to cell-scale morphology and cytoskeletal organization are challenging to define due to the wide intercellular variation of these complex phenotypes. We leveraged the controlled nature of image-based pooled screening to assess the impact of CRISPRi knockdown of 366 genes on cell and nuclear morphology in human U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Screen scale-up was facilitated by a new, efficient barcode readout method that successfully genotyped 85% of cells. Phenotype analysis using a deep learning algorithm, the β-variational autoencoder, produced a feature embedding space distinct from one derived from conventional morphological profiling, but detected similar gene hits while requiring minimal design decisions. We found 45 gene hits and visualized their effect by rationally constrained sampling of cells along the direction of phenotypic shift. By relating these phenotypic shifts to each other, we construct a quantitative and interpretable space of morphological variation in human cells.
Regional impacts of rural credit and rural insurance policies on crop area and productivity: evidence from São Paulo state, Brazil (2008 and 2017)
Authors: de Sousa Leite Francisca Nathalia , Castro Eduardo Rodrigues de , Tateishi Henrique Ryosuke
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Constrained input use and lower productivity of rural establishments may be associated with restricted or concentrated access to financial resources, especially in developing countries. Meanwhile, agricultural activity entails risks associated with the volatility of net cash flows and external events, which may discourage riskier but higher return investments (e.g. technology). As rural credit can alleviate the former, and rural insurance may help alleviate the latter, the combination of both policies might endorse each other. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of rural credit and rural insurance policies with respect to productivity and crop area, in São Paulo state, Brazil, using farmer's microdata from two surveys realized in 2007/08 and 2016/17.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses propensity score matching and the entropy balance approaches in a complementary way. This study compared three policy treatments – rural credit, rural insurance and both policies combined, against establishments that received neither one. The analysis considered sugarcane, grain and grape crops separately and employed farmer's microdata. Moreover, the analysis was stratified into two categories: establishments owned by family farmers and those that did not.

Findings

Rural credit policy is related to higher productivity and larger cultivated area for grains and only to larger area for grape crops in the last analyzed period (2016/17). Rural insurance, as a unique policy or combined with credit, is related to higher productivity and cultivated areas, for all analyzed crops, only in the second period (2016/17), as the policy became more accessible to farmers. Heterogeneity regarding crops and farmers might influence the effectiveness of these policies. Despite rural insurance being related to a better performance regarding the outcome variables, it still reaches a small share of farmers, especially when combined with credit.

Originality/value

Many studies about the effectiveness of rural credit in Brazil have been conducted throughout the years, while there have been fewer studies regarding rural insurance since it became an important policy in the mid-2000s. However, few studies have conducted an analysis comparing its individual and interactive influences, with such level of disaggregation, on a farm-level database, considering the heterogeneity of the data and the different categories of farmers.
Toward a sustainable career perspective on contingent work: a critical review and a research agenda
Authors: Retkowsky Jana , Nijs Sanne , Akkermans Jos , Jansen Paul , Khapova Svetlana N.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis of the contingent work field and to advocate a sustainable career perspective on contingent work.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a broader review approach allowed to synthesize the contingent work literature across contingent work types (temporary agency work, gig work and freelance work) and develop a sustainable career perspective on contingent work. The authors searched for empirical, conceptual and review articles published from 2008 to December 2021. In total, the authors included 208 articles.

Findings

The authors advocate a sustainable career perspective that allows for organizing and synthesizing the fragmented contingent work literature. Adopting a sustainable career perspective enables to study contingent work from a dynamic perspective transcending one single organization.

Originality/value

The field is suffering from fragmentation and most importantly from an oversight of how contingent work experiences play a role in a persons’ career. This paper addresses this problem by adopting a sustainable career perspective on contingent work.
How technological relatedness influences inter-firm collaborative performance: an empirical study on 5 high-tech fields of scientific and technological achievements
Authors: Zhu Guilong , Sai Fu , Qin Zitao
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of two dimensions of technological relatedness, namely technological similarity and complementarity, on collaborative performance, plus the mediating role of collaboration network stickiness and the moderating role of partner expertise and geographical distance in interfirm collaboration contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes Chinese Scientific and Technological Achievements (STA) of inter-firm collaboration in five high-tech fields in 2010–2020 as the sample and uses OLS regression to test the hypothesis.

Findings

Technological similarity and complementarity positively affect collaborative performance. Partner expertise negatively moderates the relationship between similarity, complementarity and collaborative performance. Geographical distance positively moderates the relationship between similarity and collaborative performance while negatively moderates that between complementarity and collaborative performance. Collaboration network stickiness partly mediates the relationship between similarity and collaborative performance.

Originality/value

This study expands literature on inter-firm collaboration, especially research on the antecedents of collaborative performance. Moreover, this study not only compensates for lack of empirical analysis in partner selection research, but also utilizes second-hand data to enhance the objectivity of analysis. Additionally, we enrich the research on the moderating role of partner expertise and geographical distance as well as the mediating role of collaboration network stickiness.
A bibliometrics analysis of research on teachers' satisfaction from 1956 to 2022
Authors: Hoang Anh-Duc
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This research study aims to capture the movement of research focus and to highlight notable authors, journals and documents on teachers' satisfaction from 1956 to 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzed the bibliographic metadata associated with 720 Clarivate Web of Science indexed articles on this topic, using descriptive, co-occurrence and thematic analyses.

Findings

The study first identified the growth trajectory of literature on this topic over time and found a steady increasement since 2016. The findings also revealed four sub-topics that scholars often investigate when studying teachers' satisfaction, which are: leadership, engagement, self-efficacy and retention, as well as the scholars' research focus on those sub-topics across different periods. In recent years, scholars have been paying more attention to exploring the influence of various leadership styles and teachers' professional identities on job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This paper is the first bibliometric review on this topic. The results of this study showed that there was little collaboration between authors across countries and territories. Therefore, there is a considerable demand for comparative studies on this topic, which can expose untapped insights from various cultures and societies. Finally, by featuring the most influential authors, documents and journals on teachers' satisfaction, this work might serve as an introduction for scholars who are new to this topic.
Examining teachers' learning through a project-based learning lesson study: a case study in China
Authors: Qi Chunxia , Lai Mun Yee , Liu Lizhe , Zuo Siyu , Liang Haili , Li Ruisi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study explored how teachers change, what teachers learn and how they learn during the implementation of project-based learning through lesson study.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, three university researchers, one doctoral student and six mathematics school teachers formed a lesson study team. Using a qualitative research method, this study employed a locally integrating networking strategy to combine the modified Interconnected Model of Teacher Professional Growth (IMTPG) and Bannister's framework to describe the teachers' knowledge change when participating in a lesson study on project-based learning.

Findings

The research revealed that the school teachers' knowledge about authenticity and assessment in the context of project-based learning was changed after the lesson study and how the changes were triggered.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates how the networking of two different theories—modified IMTPG and Bannister's framework—contributes to a better understanding of the process of teachers' collective practice, as well as the knowledge change in PjBL. This networking was done by combining the two theories, which were superimposed at the domain of practice.
Forecasting VaR and ES using the joint regression combined forecasting model in the Chinese stock market
Authors: Lu Xunfa , Sheng Kang , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to better jointly estimate Value at Risk (VaR) and expected shortfall (ES) by using the joint regression combined forecasting (JRCF) model.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining different forecasting models in financial risk measurement can improve their prediction accuracy by integrating the individual models’ information. This paper applies the JRCF model to measure VaR and ES at 5%, 2.5% and 1% probability levels in the Chinese stock market. While ES is not elicitable on its own, the joint elicitability property of VaR and ES is established by the joint consistent scoring functions, which further refines the ES’s backtest. In addition, a variety of backtesting and evaluation methods are used to analyze and compare the alternative risk measurement models.

Findings

The empirical results show that the JRCF model outperforms the competing models. Based on the evaluation results of the joint scoring functions, the proposed model obtains the minimum scoring function value compared to the individual forecasting models and the average combined forecasting model overall. Moreover, Murphy diagrams’ results further reveal that this model has consistent comparative advantages among all considered models.

Originality/value

The JRCF model of risk measures is proposed, and the application of the joint scoring functions of VaR and ES is expanded. Additionally, this paper comprehensively backtests and evaluates the competing risk models and examines the characteristics of Chinese financial market risks.
The long-run stock performance following announcements of sustainable supply chain management initiatives
Authors: Dang Thi-Ha-Trang , Chang Shao-Chi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine and analyze the determinants of the stock market performance after firms announce sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on the long-run stock performance of firms announcing SSCM investments. The authors collected a sample of 280 SSCM announcements from 2010 to 2017 and estimated the buy-and-hold abnormal stock returns up to three years following the announcements. Numerous analyses were conducted to analyze the effect of environmental and social sustainability on long-run stock returns.

Findings

The findings show a significantly positive stock performance in the three-year period after announcements. Moreover, the evidence indicates that the post-announcement abnormal stock return has an inverted-U relationship with corporate environmental sustainability but not with corporate social sustainability. Finally, whether firms expand the firms' corporate sustainability strength to SSCM practices or not, firms secure long-run wealth as long as SSCM programs are carried out.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses on the stock performance of USA public firms to draw conclusions about firms' market performance. This research leaves out the private and born-sustainable firms.

Practical implications

The findings offer firms incentives to invest in SSCM and suggest the magnitude of value provided by each sustainability type to help firms set firms' supply chain (SC) sustainable investment level.

Originality/value

The study is the first to investigate the long-run stock performance of firms announcing SSCM practices and the contribution of different sustainability types to stock performance.
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and related factors among female prisoners in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Farhoudi Behnam , Shahmohamadi Elnaz , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Rostam Afshar Zohreh , Parmoon Zohal , Mirzapour Pegah , Nadji SeyedAlireza , Golsoorat Pahlaviani Fatemeh , Tashakorian Mehrzad
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. STIs lead to substantial morbidity and mortality and affect many different aspects of human life, including quality of life, sexual health, reproductive health and even the health of newborns and children. Despite of high rates of STIs in prisons, there are not sufficient screening, prevention and treatment programs to control STIs transmission among prisoners in Iran. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of STIs among incarcerated women in Iran for the first time, using the active case finding strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 438 incarcerated women in a prison in Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. A total of 438 prisoners were screened by active case findings for STI symptoms, then evaluated by complete genital and anal examination, followed by molecular testing.

Findings

A total of 189 (43.2%) prisoners announced vaginal discharge, while 194 (44.3%) individuals had vaginal discharge in the genital examination. In the cervical examination, 137 individuals (31.3%) had abnormal findings, of which 83 (18.9%) individuals had cervicitis, 40 (9.1%) individuals had cervical erosion, 38 (8.7%) individuals had cervical prolapse and 17 (3.9%) individuals had bleeding originated from the cervix.

Originality/value

This study showed that it is possible to set up a system in which the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of prisoners with STIs can be actively performed. Educating prisoners about signs and symptoms, risk behaviors and prevention routes of STIs, as much as regular screening of prisoners, and adequate treatment can help control the STIs prevalence among prisoners and in the general population.
An empirical investigation of the impact of influencer live-streaming ads in e-commerce platforms on consumers’ buying impulse
Authors: Yan Mian , Kwok Alex Pak Ki , Chan Alan Hoi Shou , Zhuang Yu Sheng , Wen Kang , Zhang Kai Chao
Published: December 2022

Purpose

E-commerce live streaming is a new influencer advertising method that allows influencers to interact directly with consumers on e-commerce platforms. Although evidence suggests that influencer live-streaming advertisements (ads) on social media can increase consumers’ buying impulses, little research examined how this similar but new advertising method on e-commerce platforms may influence consumers’ urge to buy impulsively. This study explores the role of influencer credibility, celebrity effect, perceived entertainment, trust and perceived usefulness on consumers’ attitudes toward influencer ads and their urge to buy impulsively.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire containing seven constructs was developed and distributed to participants using a convenient sample and snowball sampling approach. The constructs were measured based on validated measurement items from the literature and adjusted according to this study’s focus. A total of 236 valid responses were obtained from the survey and used for data analysis. A partial least squares structural equation modeling approach was employed for parameter estimation and model testing.

Findings

The empirical results show that all constructs influenced consumers’ urge to buy impulsively via attitude toward influencer ads. The proposed research model explains 61.7% of the variance in attitude toward influencer ads and 19.4% of the urge to buy impulsively.

Originality/value

This is an early study investigating the relationship between influencer advertising and impulse buying. The results provide valuable insights into improving the design of influencer ads and marketing strategies.

Highlights

I-eIB model tests the mechanism of influencer ads on consumers’ buying impulse.

Consumers’ attitude towards influencer ads affects their urge to buy impulsively.

Influencer credibility affects consumer attitude via celebrity effect as a mediator.

Trust affects consumer attitude via perceived usefulness as a mediator.

Entertaining ads help develop favorable consumer attitude.
Effects of external and internal drivers of individual behavior voice on the moral courage and internal auditors’ effectiveness
Authors: Ebrahimi Ali , Safari Gerayli Mehdi , Valiyan Hasan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

An important part of the effectiveness of a company is related to the stimuli of the organizational voice, which provides the context for participation and the emergence of moral courage in performing organizational tasks. Although individual voice stimulation cannot be easily generalized because of the wide range of criteria affecting it, but in a general category, individual voice stimuli can be separated into internal and external criteria. Therefore, this research first aims to examine internal and external stimuli on individual voice and then examines the effect of individual voice on internal auditors’ moral courage and effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The target population in this study were internal auditors of capital market companies that were examined in the period of 2020. The research tool was a questionnaire and partial least squares analysis was used to fit the model and test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results of testing the hypotheses show that self-efficacy (hope and resilience) as internal drivers and independence of internal audit performance and perceived supervisor support (external drivers) have a positive effect on moral courage and effectiveness of the internal auditor.

Originality/value

These conclusions suggest that if behavioral incentives are considered, auditors’ level of behavioral audacity in more realistically disclosing the financial performance of their companies can be expected to increase. It should also be noted that the results of this study can increase the level of effectiveness of internal auditors’ functions and their behavioral knowledge in the direction of professional functions.
Sustainable competitiveness practices of SMEs: a strategic framework using integrated DEMATEL-NK model
Authors: Ghag Nikhil Suryakant , Acharya Padmanav , Khanapuri Vivekanand
Published: December 2022

Purpose

It is critical for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to review and monitor sustainability performance indicators across three dimensions: economic, environmental and social to attain long-term competitiveness. SMEs lack a holistic perspective on sustainability; they are frequently hindered from contemplating environmentally favorable investments beyond what is legally needed. The purpose of this paper is to present a joint Decision-making trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and NK methodology for developing a process model for introducing and implementing sustainable competitiveness practices for SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study addresses the issue by adopting a sustainable competitiveness practices framework and applying a novel method that integrates DEMATEL and NK model for evaluating and developing the implementation path model for Indian manufacturing SMEs.

Findings

This paper also demonstrates that not only the relational practice itself but also the order in which the relational practices are implemented can be related to performance. According to the authors' preliminary findings, organizations in this study should first implement a social dimension, which includes sustainable leadership, knowledge sharing, etc., then an economic dimension like quality, sustainable innovations, etc., and finally environmental dimensions like green marketing, solid waste reduction, etc., with their management for competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

These findings offer some preliminary information as well as advice for managers and policymakers looking to integrate sustainable efforts.

Practical implications

This study asserts that not only the interdependent practice but also the sequence of implementation is important and can relate to the performance. The path result shows that the organization develops first sustainable design and product development (economic), sustainable leadership (social) and solid waste reduction (environmental) practices.

Originality/value

There is no such study that develops a process model for introducing and implementing sustainable competitiveness of SMEs which assesses and analyzes the interdependencies across relational behaviors, to the best of authors’ knowledge. The novelty of this work lies in integrating DEMATEL-NK model approach.
Push-pull factors and means-end chain framework of cyberloafing: a soft laddering study using LadderUX
Authors: Batabyal Sauvik Kumar , Bhal Kanika Tandon
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Previous studies on cyberloafing have so far not focused on the interlinkages among push factors, pull factors, consequences of actions and value orientations of the employees in a comprehensive manner. The purpose of this study is to close that gap by integrating push-pull theory with means-end chain framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a soft-laddering technique, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Indian employees from various organizations with prior written consent. After performing the content analysis and preparation of ladders, an implication matrix and a hierarchical value map were constructed using the LadderUX tool.

Findings

“Upholding conversational conformity,” “achieving efficiency through noise cancellation,” “addressing occasional requirements,” “social networking as a coping mechanism,” “staying informed and sharing opinions,” “attempting job or profile alteration” and “fulfilling transactional obligations” turned out to be the seven prominent means-end chain patterns, with their respective push-pull factors, consequences and value orientations. This study also suggested the multifaceted character of cyberloafing in a continuum, from “serious-destructive” to “minor-positive” to “facilitative-productive.”

Research limitations/implications

This study has been conducted by focusing on cyberloafing at physical workplaces and not in the context of distributed work environments.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will enable organizations to frame an appropriate set of guidelines to control this behavior.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to integrate the push-pull theory and means-end chain framework to explore the nuances of cyberloafing among employees.
Antecedents and consequences of consumer hope for digital payment apps services
Authors: Bapat Dhananjay , Khandelwal Rahul
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of customer brand value dimensions on relationship marketing dimensions through consumer hope in the context of digital payment applications (apps) services. The study considers the role of consumer engagement using a moderated mediation, and applies customer perceived value, affect theory of social exchange and relationship marketing theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on data collected from 301 digital payment app users. Structural equation modeling results were analyzed using Smart PLS. The authors performed moderated mediation, with different levels of customer engagement as a moderating variable, using Model 8 of PROCESS. The authors considered customer perceived value dimensions, digital quality value, perceived value, hedonic value and social value as antecedents to consumer hope and explored the role of trust, commitment and continued usage as a consequence of consumer hope.

Findings

Three levels of perceived consumer value, digital quality, price value and social value, positively influenced consumer hope, which has positively influenced trust, commitment and continuance usage. Using moderated mediation analysis, consumer hope influenced continuance usage through trust at different levels of engagement, but consumer hope did not influence continuance usage through commitment at different levels of engagement.

Originality/value

The study highlights the role of consumer hope in linking customer value dimensions with relationship marketing dimensions. The study can guide managers to ensure continued usage of digital payment apps, which is a strategic objective. The results are relevant for the digital setting.
Well-being creation by senior volunteers in a service provider context
Authors: Shirahada Kunio , Wilson Alan
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Given the importance of senior volunteers in an ageing society, this study aims to deepen the understanding of how seniors create well-being by volunteering as service providers in terms of motivations for volunteer participation and value co-creation/co-destruction in service provision.

Design/methodology/approach

Focussing on senior volunteers acting as service providers in the tourism sector, this study conducted a programme of qualitative research with 15 senior volunteer tour guides in Japan and the UK through the purposive sampling method. The data were analysed by the Gioia method to identify data structure and create a conceptual model.

Findings

Seniors start with a mixture of different motivations, not only symbolic and health ones. However, after a certain period of training, they become more aware of their volunteer role as service providers and may strive to maximise the benefits to their clients. The overall performance of such a role supports their well-being. They may also experience episodes of value co-destruction; such negative experiences may be overcome by building good relationships with their colleagues in the organisation.

Practical implications

The paper identifies organisational support ideas for senior service provider volunteers aimed at overcoming negative experiences and achieving well-being, in terms of training and improved communication between organisation members.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the transformative service research literature by constructing a model to showcase the relationship amongst expectations of volunteering as a service provider, service delivery and well-being creation. This paper also discusses the positive and negative effects of volunteer service delivery on senior volunteers' well-being.
The challenges foreign banks face in developing markets: an exploratory study
Authors: Alomar Najla , Sathey Milind , Graham Peter
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the challenges faced by foreign banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It is important to explore the challenges as extant literature provides limited guidelines about this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was used by canvassing 71 questionnaires and 36 semi-structured interviews. The sample included senior managers of foreign bank branches working in the Saudi market by the end of 2019. The quantitative data were analyzed using the distribution fitting algorithmic approach, and it is supported by the qualitative data analyzed using the thematic analysis method.

Findings

Results indicate that foreign banks encounter various challenges including government policies and regulations, the Saudi legal system, high “Saudization” ratio of the workforce, technological advances, high competition and overall economic change (oil price change). It seems that these challenges represent the KSA’s specific business environment.

Originality/value

This study will advance the extant literature on foreign bank entry with evidence from a unique context. This study could also help regulators, policymakers and bankers to better understand foreign banks’ entry into emerging and developing markets.
The green office environment: New Zealand workers' perception of IEQ
Authors: Rasheed Eziaku Onyeizu , Rotimi James Olabode Bamidele
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Achieving an appropriate indoor environment quality (IEQ) is crucial to a green office environment. Whilst much research has been carried out across the globe on the ideal IEQ for green offices, little is known about which indoor environment New Zealand office workers prefer and regard as most appropriate. This study investigated New Zealand office workers' preference for a green environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Workers were conveniently selected for a questionnaire survey study from two major cities in the country – Wellington and Auckland. The perception of 149 workers was analysed and discussed based on the workers' demographics. The responses to each question were analysed based on the mean, standard deviation, frequency of responses and difference in opinion.

Findings

The results showed that workers' preferences for an ideal IEQ in green work environments depend largely on demographics. New Zealand office workers prefer work environments to have more fresh air and rely on mixed-mode ventilation and lighting systems. Also New Zealand office workers like to have better acoustic quality with less distraction and background noise. Regarding temperature, workers prefer workspaces to be neither cooler nor warmer. Unique to New Zealand workers, the workers prefer to have some (not complete) individual control over the IEQ in offices.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted in the summer season, which could have impacted the responses received. Also the sample size was limited to two major cities in the country. Further studies should be conducted in other regions and during different seasons.

Practical implications

This study provides the opportunity for more studies in this area of research and highlights significant findings worthy of critical investigations. The results of this study benefit various stakeholders, such as facilities managers and workplace designers, and support proactive response approaches to achieving building occupants' preferences for an ideal work environment.

Originality/value

This study is the first research in New Zealand to explore worker preferences of IEQ that is not limited to a particular building, expanding the body of knowledge on workers' perception of the ideal work environment in the country.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and firm performance in India
Authors: Maji Santi Gopal , Lohia Prachi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on the firm performance of select Indian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper is a cross-section study based on secondary data with a sample of 222 Indian firms. The ESG performance for Indian companies is based on the Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) ESG score, and the financial data are extracted from the ACE Equity database. Both accounting- and market-based measures of firm performance are used. Ordinary least squares and simultaneous quantile regression models are used for empirical investigation.

Findings

The study reveals that Indian firms focus much more on governance and social parameters than environmental ones. The results indicate that ESG performance and its components are positively associated with firm performance. The results of quantile regression show that the impact of ESG is different at different locations of the conditional distribution of firm performance and the positive impact is more pronounced at upper quantiles.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in India based on the CRISIL ESG score for analyzing the ESG and firm performance relationship. Furthermore, in the Indian context, a modest attempt is made to study the influence of ESG performance at different locations of the distribution of firm performance by using quantile regression.
Endotoxin concentration and persistent eczema in early childhood
Authors: Irahara Makoto , Yamamoto‐Hanada Kiwako , Sato Miori , Saito‐Abe Mayako , Miyaji Yumiko , Yang Limin , Nishizato Minaho , Kumasaka Natsuhiko , Mezawa Hidetohi , Ohya Yukihiro ,   Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) Group
Published: December 2022

Although endotoxin concentration in the environment is negatively associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) onset in early childhood, the association between endotoxin concentration in the environment and eczema resolution in children with preexisting eczema is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between endotoxin concentration in house dust and eczema persistence in young children. The authors used data from children participating in JECS (Japan Environment and Children's Study). In children who had AD or AD‐like lesions at the age of 1 year, the authors investigated the association between the prevalence of eczema at the age of 3 years and endotoxin concentration (categorized by quartiles) in the dust on children's mattresses at the ages of 1.5 and 3 years. This study included 605 children. Eczema was significantly less prevalent among children whose mattresses were in the second and third quartiles of endotoxin concentration when they were 18 months old than among children whose mattresses were in the first quartile (adjusted odds ratio, 0.57 [95% confidence interval, 0.35‐0.93] and adjusted odds ratio, 0.49 [95% confidence interval, 0.29–0.83], respectively). Moreover, of the children with eczema at age 3 years, those whose mattresses had endotoxin concentrations in the first quartile had significantly worse sleep disturbance caused by itchy rash (>1 time per week) than did those whose mattresses were in the third and fourth quartiles (20.0% vs 3.3% and 3.7%, both p values < 0.01). The findings indicate that low endotoxin exposure is associated with a higher prevalence of persistent eczema during early childhood.