bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of adrenergic β1-AR/Gαs signaling promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation through activation of RhoA-YAP axis
Authors: Sakabe Masahide , Thompson Michael , Chen Nong , Verba Mark , Hassan Aishlin , Lu Richard , Xin Mei 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe regeneration potential of the mammalian heart is incredibly limited, as cardiomyocyte proliferation ceases shortly after birth. β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) blockade has been shown to improve heart functions in response to injury; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we inhibited β-AR signaling in the heart using a cardiomyocyte specific β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) blocker (metoprolol) to examine its role in heart maturation and regeneration at the neonatal stage. We found that metoprolol robustly enhanced cardiomyocyte proliferation and promoted cardiac regeneration post myocardial infarction, resulting in reduced scar formation and improved cardiac function. Moreover, the increased cardiomyocyte proliferation was also induced by the genetic deletion of Gnas, the gene encoding G protein alpha subunit (Gαs), a downstream effector of β-AR. Genome wide transcriptome analysis revealed that the cardiomyocytes of β-blocker treated and Gnas cKO hearts maintained an immature proliferating status even at the young-adult age, and that the loss of Gαs function enhanced the activity of the Hippo-effector YAP, which is associated with immature cardiomyocyte proliferation. Moreover, the increased YAP activity is modulated by RhoA signaling. Our pharmacological and genetic studies reveal a previously unrecognized β1-AR-Gαs-YAP signaling axis for regulating cardiac regeneration. These results suggest that inhibiting β-AR-Gαs signaling promotes the regenerative capacity and extends the cardiac regenerative window in mice by activating YAP-mediated transcriptional programs. Thus, targeting β-AR-Gαs signaling may serve as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic heart.
Willingness to pay for traditional ready-to-eat food packaging: examining the interplay between shape, font and slogan
Authors: Suci Afred , Maryanti Sri , Hardi Hardi , Sudiar Nining 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis paper investigates how to design traditional ready-to-eat food packaging by manipulating its shape, font and slogan to promote consumer buying intention and willingness to pay (WTP).Design/methodology/approachTwo package designs, interplaying the square shapes (vertical vs horizontal), font formality (formal vs less formal/casual) and slogans (ethno-positioning vs short and catchy), were created and tested in an online experiment with 483 participants.FindingsThe results revealed that the differed package designs elicited relatively equal levels of attractiveness to consumers and their buying intentions. However, the designs significantly differentiated consumers' WTP. The results further show the significant direct and indirect effects on WTP of packaging attractiveness when it is moderated by package designs and mediated by buying intention. However, the varied package designs did not have significant direct or indirect impacts on WTP when mediated by packaging attractiveness and buying intention.Practical implicationsThe vertical square-shaped packaging, written in a less formal font and highlighting a short and catchy slogan, is more financially promising for marketers to get a better price for local food products perceived as hedonic and bought impulsively on casual occasions. Furthermore, besides prominent package design elements such as font, color, size, material and picture, packaging designers or marketing practitioners should consider other supporting factors, such as shelf efficiency.Originality/valueThis study complements existing studies of “cue utilization theory” and “packaging design theory” by demonstrating the importance of extrinsic packaging cues, such as shape, font style and slogan, in improving consumers' WTP for traditional food products. The study also fills some gaps in the literature by exploring the direct, mediating and moderating relationships between package design, packaging attractiveness, buying intention and WTP, especially in an emerging market such as Indonesia.
The optimal subsidy scheme and technology innovation strategy considering consumers' green premium
Authors: Wang Manman , Chen Menghan , Yang Feng 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis paper investigates how a regulator pursuing social welfare maximization designs an optimal subsidy scheme to stimulate technology innovation in the presence of a consumer green premium. Specifically, the authors solve the following questions: (1) Does the consumers' green premium affect the design of the subsidy scheme? (2) How should the firm choose a green technology innovation strategy under the optimal subsidy scheme? (3) Does technology innovation bring higher social welfare and lower environmental impact?Design/methodology/approachThe authors first develop a game model to explore the impact of subsidy schemes on social welfare without considering technology innovation. Then the authors investigate two innovation strategies, in-house innovation and external introduction, under the optimal subsidy scheme. Finally, they illustrate the optimal choices of innovation strategy for the firm, consumers and regulators.FindingsThe results reveal that the subsidy scheme will not always increase social welfare, which depends on the environmental improvement coefficient of the unit green level. The optimal subsidy level increases with the green premium, but it is not related to the size of the consumer green segment. Moreover, the success rate of in-house innovation will raise the optimal green level, but the company benefits from an increased success rate of in-house innovation only when the green segment is large enough. The green segment size and external green level jointly determine the choice of technology innovation strategy.Originality/valueThis research is the first to analyze this problem while considering the green demand and subsidy scheme simultaneously as drivers of a firm's technology innovation, thereby providing new managerial implications for decisions by the regulator and firms.
Does board capital increase firm performance in the Chinese tourism industry?
Authors: Yousaf Umair Bin , Ullah Irfan , Wang Man , Junyan Li , Rehman Ajid Ur 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between board capital and firm performance in the Chinese tourism industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study’s sample includes firms from the Chinese hotel, air transportation/travel and catering industries. This study explores the governance environment in tourism industries. This study estimates three dimensions of the board, including education, expertise and directors interlock. These dimensions are further grouped as human capital (i.e. education and expertise), social capital (interlocks) and board capital (sum of social and human capital). Ordinary least square regressions with multiple robustness tests are used to investigate the effect of board capital on firm value in Chinese listed tourism firms during 2005–2018.FindingsThis study finds that board capital positively impacts firm performance in its dimensions of human and social capital. This study also highlights the two important ownership contexts, namely, institutional investors and state-ownership, that shape the board capital-firm performance association in the Chinese tourism industry.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that board capital plays a significant role in corporate decisions. The results illustrate that higher board capital improves both governance mechanisms and resource provision roles of the board, resulting in higher firm value. The results further offer implications for managers and shareholders of tourism firms when electing directors as shareholders’ representatives.Originality/valueThe study has two important contributions. First, it extends the prior literature of firm value by considering the board’s human and social dimensions in the tourism sector. Second, contrary to prior research on board, this study takes three facets of board capital, education, expertise and interlocks that improve governance mechanisms and bring new resources in the shape of skills, knowledge and expertise.
Workforce localization, women workers and gendered power relations in Saudi Arabian private sector workplaces
Authors: Albelali Saja , Williams Steve 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe paper investigates the implications for gendered power relations at work ofNitaqat, a workforce localization policy operating in Saudi Arabia which, by regulating the employment of Saudi nationals in private sector firms, has stimulated greater feminization of employment.Design/methodology/approachBased on an interpretivist, phenomenological research approach, rich qualitative data were collected in two case study organizations – a retail company and an architectural firm. The mixed-method design involved in-depth interviews with managers and women workers and extensive non-participant observation.FindingsIn exploring gendered power relations in Saudi private sector workplaces under theNitaqatregime, the paper highlights the importance of patriarchal power. However, increased feminization of employment provides women workers with access to power resources of their own, producing complexity and variation in gendered workplace power relations.Originality/valueDrawing on Bradley's (1999) relational conception of gendered power, the paper illuminates how aNitaqat-inspired feminization of employment, by increasing firms' dependency on women workers, has influenced the dynamics of gendered power relations in Saudi workplaces.
“Wearing Only Our Skin”: the multimodal literacies classroom as a living arrangement
Authors: Zapata Angie , Kleekamp Monica C. 
Published: October 2021

PurposeLiteracy research exploring multimodal composition and justice-oriented children’s literature each have rich landscapes and histories. This paper aims to add to both of these bodies of scholarship through the emerging assemblage of Studio F, a fifth-grade classroom. The authors share poststructural analytic encounters with attention to the unexpected multimodal relationships and the justice-oriented talk and texts that emerged, as well as the classroom conditions that produce them.Design/methodology/approachThe authors think with assemblage theory to examine the newness that emerged as one small group of students wrestled with the emerging instances of racism present in Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles.FindingsTogether, the living arrangement of bodies, materials and discourses created openings for students’ explorations of race and racism.Originality/valueThis paper offers teachers and researchers space to rethink what is possible in the literacy classroom when the authors re-envision classrooms as vibrant assemblages, support emergent multimodal composing processes and follow students’ critical encounters toward justice-oriented literacies.
A blockchain-based information management system for academic institutions: a case study of international students’ workflow
Authors: Chen Weiru , Bohloul Seyed Mahdi , Ma Yifang , Li Ling 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study aims to explore the impact of applying a blockchain-based information system in the international students’ administrative workflow in the context of a public research university in the USA.Design/methodology/approachSpecifically, a prototype of the blockchain-based information system was developed and tested. The system has the potential advantages of being more efficient, more transparent, faster and safer.FindingsThe results show that digital registration could increase student registration efficiency with a blockchain-based application.Research limitations/implicationsThere are also some limitations of this study. As an early exploration of the use of blockchain technology in higher education, this study could be further extended in several aspects: different institutions (e.g. private vs public school) may have different operational strategies towards international student affairs. The different administrative processes should be discussed in the context of different institutions, and thus the proposed system should be tested and evaluated based on the requirements of different institutions. Use experience and feedback from different users such as university administrators and students should be considered and investigated with respect to the necessary improvement of the proposed system. The extensibility and scalability of the system should be assessed to accommodate any potential modifications of the administrative process.Originality/valueThe findings show that a blockchain-based information management system has the potential to improve data transmission efficiency and protect information privacy.
The value of public business education in Australia: challenges and opportunities for decision makers
Authors: Hogan Owen , Charles Michael B. , Kortt Michael A. 
Published: October 2021

PurposeWith their former role as “cash cows” under threat owing to COVID-19, Australian business schools are fighting not only to maintain their status but also their survival. This study aims to look at how the sector might best approach these challenges.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews the recent literature on business and management education in Australia and compares that with emerging trends and policy directions.FindingsThis analysis of current and emerging trends suggests that business education needs to find alternative arguments for legitimacy, and that business schools in public universities can no longer be regarded automatically as the “keepers of knowledge”.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contends that public resources would be better channelled towards fit-for-purpose business and management education, with this being administered by an array of entities, some of which would include private providers, public–private partnerships or public entities other than “business schools”.Practical implicationsThe study articulates the current and emerging challenges faced by decision and policy makers in the field of public business education and contends that the largely homogeneous business education provided by public universities in Australia is not always in the public interest.Social implicationsThe value of business education provided by public institutions is becoming increasingly contested, with many stakeholders, including employers, questioning the utility of contemporary business education.Originality/valuePrevious studies have looked at the aspects of the future of business and management education, but no overview has hitherto synthesised the findings of such studies and drawn out the practical implications.
Designing employee performance evaluation model in Isfahan municipality: an interorganizational experience
Authors: Hassanpour Neda , Shaemi Barzoki Ali , Moshref Javadi Mohammad Hossein , Safari Ali 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study aimed at developing and testing a model to evaluate employee performance in Isfahan municipality.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method design is applied in this study. To extract the model, a semi-structured interview based on the thematic analysis approach was employed. The qualitative data were obtained using a researcher-made questionnaire from a sample of 12 municipal experts selected based on purposive sampling. In the quantitative phase, the sample consisted of 76 managers and interim managers. The validity of the questionnaire was determined by the content validity index, while the structural validity was tested based on structural equation modeling using SmartPLS software. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability indices.FindingsThe factors obtained in the qualitative model included performance evaluation criteria, the desired time interval for performance evaluation, results announcement, performance evaluation approach, performance evaluation method and evaluator-related variables. There should have been an agreement between evaluators and those who were evaluated in all components of the model. In the quantitative section, performance evaluation criteria, evaluators, the evaluation method and time interval were confirmed with coefficients of 0.871, 0.815, 0.646 and 0.615, respectively.Practical implicationsThe novelty of this study is that it uses a mixed-method research approach to extract a performance evaluation model that is specific to the Isfahan municipality.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study is that it uses a mixed-method research approach to extract a performance evaluation model that is specific to the Isfahan municipality.
The interplay of word-of-mouth and customer value on B2B sales performance in a digital platform: an expectancy value theory perspective
Authors: Mai Enping (Shirley) , Liao Ying 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
Building on the expectancy value theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of word-of-mouth (WOM) and customer value (i.e. functional value and ease-of-doing-business value) on B2B business performance in the B2B sales process.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a framework to understand how B2B WOM and customer value influence supplier sales performance. This model was tested using structural equation modeling with a sample of 220 suppliers on Alibaba.com.

Findings
The empirical findings demonstrate that B2B WOM valence and volume have positive influences on the number of quotations and the number of transactions, respectively. Additionally, B2B WOM volume mediates the relationship between operational performance and the number of transactions. Response rate mediates the relationships between response time and both the number of quotations and the number of transactions, respectively.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the industrial marketing of B2B sales on the digital platform by investigating two influencers on sales performance: WOM and customer value.
Information technology and E-accounting: some determinants among SMEs
Authors: Thottoli Mohammed Muneerali , Ahmed Essia Ries 
Published: October 2021

PurposeBased on the importance of E-accounting, the purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants influencing information technology and E-accounting among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachA survey method was used to select the sample among SMEs in Oman. Using descriptive statistics, the impact of the determinants on E-accounting practices in SMEs in Oman were tested.FindingsThe findings reveal that except information technology (IT) cost, all other possible determinants (IT risk, employee IT skills and employee theoretical knowledge) has a significant influence on E-accounting practice among SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsThe link between variables of this study was not analyzed in Oman. Moreover, this study only concentrated on the impact of the fourth determinants, while in reality, there must be other determinants that should also be investigated by other researchers.Practical implicationsThis study has added to the literature by examining the E-accounting practices while evaluating the effect of IT determinants on the relationship. Besides, this might add benefits to many SMEs relating to their current accounting practice that might lead to adopting E-accounting practice to ensure application of applicable accounting standards to show fair financial statements to its stakeholders.Originality/valueThis current study is one of the first works in the context of Oman. It has added a new discussion to the body of knowledge in light of the IT determinants and their relationship with E-accounting practices; hence, an approach that is not widely discussed in the literature. Furthermore, conducting such research in the field of accounting provides new insight into the literature among both emerging and developed economies including Oman.
Environmental corporate social responsibility initiatives and green purchase intention: an application of the extended theory of planned behavior
Authors: Vu Dang Manh , Ha Ngoc Thang , Ngo Thi Viet Nga , Pham Huong Thao , Duong Cong Doanh 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This study aims to integrate the perspective of consumer social responsibility with the theory of planned behavior to explore the impact of environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) initiatives on intention to buy environmentally friendly products among Vietnamese consumers. Also, the moderating role of gender on the associations of antecedents and green purchase intention is tested in this study.

Design/methodology/approach
The data of 823 consumers using the tool of the mall-intercept survey recruited from several big cities in Vietnam. Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis has been used to test the reliability and validity of scales; then, structural equation modeling and PROCESS approach was used to test the fitness of the research model, formulated hypotheses and the indirect associations.

Findings
This study presented that ECSR initiatives were strongly and positively correlated with attitude towards green products, subjective norms, perceived behavioral and green purchase intention. Perceived behavioral control was found to be a partial mediator in the link between ECSR initiatives and intention to engage in pro-environmental consumption while the meditating roles of attitude towards green products and subjective norms in this linkage were not statistically significant. Additionally, this study illustrated that the impacts of subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and ECSR initiatives on green purchase intention were stronger for females than males.

Practical implications
This study provides several useful insights for policymakers and administrators to foster pro-environmental behavior of consumers as well as to inspire corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of firms.

Originality/value
Even though there is a growing interest in investigating the impacts of CSR activities on consumers’ purchase behaviors, there is a lack of studies considering the aspect of consumer social responsibility on their sustainable consumption behavior. There is a need to enrich one’s knowledge about the effect of ECSR initiatives on consumer’ green purchase intention.
Teaching playground behavioural expectations to secondary age students with intellectual disabilities attending a special school
Authors: Simó-Pinatella David , Carvalho Marisa 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
School-wide positive behaviour support (SWPBS) is a proactive behavioural support system that fosters behaviour change in individuals in a school setting. This article aims to present a case example of teaching and reinforcing behavioural expectations in a special school.

Design/methodology/approach
This case study reflects different steps and materials used before and during the intervention in a special education school with 61 secondary students with intellectual disabilities. An AB design (A – baseline; B – intervention) was used to collect and analyze data.

Findings
Results suggest that teaching behavioural expectations as a universal measure may be feasible and positively impact school climate. Suggestions and recommendations for implementing SWPBS within a school are provided.

Originality/value
This case study provides a step-by-step guide illustrating the process of teaching and reinforcing behavioural playground expectations to young adults with intellectual disabilities attending a special school.