bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Revised testing procedures do not elicit magnetoreceptive behavior in C. elegans
Authors: Landler Lukas , Nordmann Gregory C. , Nimpf Simon , Hochstoeger Tobias , Kagerbauer Daniel , Keays David A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA diverse range of species is known to rely on the Earth’s magnetic field for spatial information. Vidal-Gadea et al. claimed that C. elegans are magneto-sensitive, exploiting the magnetic field to guide their burrowing behavior [1]. Our attempts to replicate their findings were unsuccessful [2], which Vidal-Gadea attributed to the satiety of the animals and the environment in which they were raised. Here, we report our repeated experiments, having adopted several suggestions proposed by Vidal-Gadea et al. [3]. We find that shortening the length of the behavioral assay and raising the animals in a Faraday cage does not result in magnetotactic behavior. We reluctantly conclude that the assays employed by Vidal-Gadea are not robust or C. elegans are not magneto-sensitive.
Vascular defects ofDYRK1Aknockouts are ameliorated by modulating calcium signaling in zebrafish
Authors: Cho Hyun-Ju , Lee Jae-Geun , Kim Jong-Hwan , Kim Seon-Young , Huh Yang Hoon , Kim Hyo-Jeong , Lee Kyu-Sun , Yu Kweon , Lee Jeong-Soo 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTDYRK1Ais a major causative gene in Down syndrome (DS). Reduced incidence of solid tumors and vascular anomalies in DS patients suggests a role ofDYRK1Ain angiogenesis, butin vivoevidence is lacking. Here, we used zebrafishdyrk1aamutant embryos to understandDYRK1Afunction in the cerebral vasculature formation. Zebrafishdyrk1aamutants exhibited cerebral hemorrhage and defects in angiogenesis of central arteries in the developing hindbrain. Such phenotypes were rescued by wild-typedyrk1aamRNA, but not by a kinase-dead form, indicating the importance of DYRK1A kinase activity. Chemical screening using a bioactive small molecule library identified a calcium chelator, EGTA, as one of the hits that most robustly rescued the hemorrhage. Vascular defects of mutants were also rescued by independent modulation of calcium signaling by FK506. Furthermore, the transcriptomic analyses supported the alterations of calcium signaling networks indyrk1aamutants. Together, our results suggest thatdyrk1aaplays an essential role in angiogenesis and in maintenance of the developing cerebral vasculature via regulation of calcium signaling, which may have therapeutic potential forDYRK1A-related vascular diseases.
Integrated reporting as a test of worth
Authors: Vesty Gillian Maree , Ren Chao , Ji Sophia 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide practical insights into a senior manager’s engagement with integrated reporting (IR). This paper theorises IR as an accounting compromise and test of worth in an Australian IR pilot organisation.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews with the chairman of the IR pilot organisation are analysed in the context of Boltanski and Thévenot’s (1991, 2006) economies of worth (EW). A personal narrative approach was used to privilege the voice of an individual actor at the heart of decision making.FindingsIn contributing to van Bommel’s (2014) use of EW to examine IR as an accounting compromise, the authors find that ambiguity in IR does not mean that reporting is getting harder to operationalise. Instead, IR is getting harder to justify. The relativism issues that IR has revealed suggest that if all views are met, any significant contributions would not stand out. Interviews reveal that the challenge for IR is to provide the means to report on the organisation’s broader societal impacts, which go beyond measures of IR value creation.Practical implicationsThis paper contributes to the accounting academy with practical insights on a dual-purpose organisation’s experiences with IR. The authors demonstrate how a chairman of the board uses accounting to navigate competing priorities and justify management decisions.Originality/valueThis study offers unique insights from the chairman of an IR pilot organisation. A personal narrative approach contributes to the limited empirical literature in accounting using EW as a micro-level analytic.
Quantitative tool for market sector strategic analysis
Authors: dos Santos Morais Rogério , Camello Lima Carlos Roberto 
Published: June 2018

PurposeA competitive business strategy with a greater chance of success depends on an accurate quantitative analysis of business strategic factors prevailing in a company. The purpose of this paper is to conduct the latter to determine the level of competitiveness in a sector.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops a tool based on literature classics and tested in the telecommunications industry to determine market segment competitiveness, market attractiveness and the relative ability of companies to generate profits.FindingsThe proposed tool allows managers to quantify each strategic factor and, thus, identify positive factors leading to a competitive advantage and weaknesses leading to vulnerability, which enables an improvement in daily strategic decision making.Practical implicationsImplementing the tool can enable managers to both quantify each strategic factor and improve strategic decision making.Originality/valueThis methodology employed here is novel. As such, this study provides new insights into how to compete in the telecommunications industry and discusses useful implications for academia, new entrepreneurs, buyers and suppliers.
Benchmarking manufacturing industries based on green practices
Authors: Sangwan Kuldip Singh , Choudhary Kailash 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to develop a statistically reliable and valid model of performance measures (PMs) to observe the environmental behavior of different enterprises; second, at benchmarking the enterprises based on their green practices.

Design/methodology/approach
A PM model has been proposed using an empirical analysis of manufacturing industry. The developed model has been tested using structural equation modeling technique. The level of green manufacturing (GM) performance in different sectors and sizes of Indian manufacturing industry has been studied and benchmarked using hierarchical cluster analysis with one-way ANOVA.

Findings
The results indicate that top management commitment and product design are the root PMs for the success of GM practices. It has been found that chemical, automotive, food and pharmaceutical industries are the high performing sectors. It has also been found that large scale enterprises are performing better than medium-sized enterprises which are doing better than small and micro enterprises in GM practices.

Research limitations/implications
The indicators/variables in questionnaire are subjective in nature and collected data are from Indian manufacturing organizations only.

Practical implications
The governments, trade bodies and NGOs can use the proposed model for measurement of green performance of any manufacturing industry. The benchmarking can be used by the different policy influencing and making agencies to develop future policies for the improvement. The industry can also use the benchmarking for its peer performance improvement.

Originality/value
The major novelty of the paper is benchmarking the green performance of manufacturing industries based on the different sectors and sizes using empirical investigation. The level of GM performance in different sectors and sizes of industries has been studied and benchmarked using hierarchical cluster analysis with one-way ANOVA.
“My choice was not to become a tradesman, my choice was to go to uni”
Authors: Stahl Garth D. , Loeser Cassandra 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the first-year university experience as an agent for the (re)learning and (re)making of masculine identity as it intersects with other categories of identity. Historically, male students from working-class backgrounds have often struggled with identity issues and many leave school early for vocational employment where their masculinity is reinforced and validated. A small percentage, however, re-enrol in higher education later in life. This paper explores how “Deo”, a tradesperson who became a university student, reconstructed his identity during this transition.

Design/methodology/approach
The primary methodology for this case study is semi-structured interviews.

Findings
Deo articulated his transition in terms of “change” and “transformation”, in which a theme of risk was central. He also drew attention to cultural practices that regulate hierarchies of masculinity as they intersect with the identities of age, sexuality, ethnicity and socio-economic status within his work and study.

Research limitations/implications
This study focusses on one student’s experience in an Australian public university, so findings may not be generalisable. However, single stories are an important means of illustrating the intersection of shared socio-cultural practices.

Originality/value
Within adult education literature there is limited engagement with intersecting cultural narratives that shape experiences, inequalities and barriers in learners’ lives. Deo’s story gives voice to socio-cultural narratives around masculinity, age, ethnicity, sexuality and socio-economic status, highlighting their central significance to learning, being and belonging.
Development and validation of a multivendor ATM adoption model in India
Authors: Hota Jyotiranjan , Mishra Sasmita 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to find out the adoption level of multivendor ATM technology among customers and second, to develop and validate a model to explain the multivendor ATM usage in India.

Design/methodology/approach
First, a conceptual model on adoption of multivendor ATM technology was developed by referring relevant literature. Scale items for each construct of the model were culled from relevant literature sources. A pilot survey was conducted to validate the constructs. The survey was conducted online using Surveymonkey that garnered response from 136 respondents. The pilot survey data were analyzed to find the reliability and validity of the scales, based on which few items were dropped to improve the construct’s validity. The revised instrument was used to conduct the final survey, which was closed after collection of 543 responses. On screening for completeness, and normality test, 372 responses were retained for data analysis.

Findings
The major findings from analysis of the screened 372 responses were: awareness emerged as a significant factor influencing usage behavior and other perceptual factors; perception of personalized features influenced the attitude as well as usage behavior of the customers; personal control dimensions such as outcome desirability and controllability influenced both perceptual variables and usage behavior; and no relationship was found among attitude, intention and usage behavior, which contradicted findings of some studies in this area, thus creating the ground to understand multivendor ATM usage behavior. The findings have been discussed further.

Practical implications
The findings of the study can be useful for banks and suppliers in understanding the adoption of their ATM technology by their customers that would help them initiate activities to enhance the adoption of the technology and increase their customer base. The findings will also encourage suppliers and banks to add more personalized features in this technology.

Originality/value
Multivendor technology is at its nascent stage in India and this study is the first of its kind. The model developed here is an extension of technology acceptance model (TAM) with the introduction of some new variables such as perception of personalized features and personal control. This study also reveals that some of the hypotheses of original TAM model may not fit in the context of the technology where usage behavior is habitual and lifestyle oriented.
Perceived overall service quality and customer satisfaction
Authors: Moghavvemi Sedigheh , Lee Su Teng , Lee Siew Peng 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
Foreign and local banks in Malaysia are competing in terms of skilled staff, innovative products and services, rendering quality services and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to examine the overall service quality and customer satisfaction of both foreign and local banks.

Design/methodology/approach
The data used to test the hypothesis were collected from 748 foreign and local bank customers in Malaysia. The research model was analysed using a structural equation modelling technique.

Findings
Results show that knowledge and staff competencies, as well as convenience of the bank is more significant for local bank customers while bank image and internet banking are important components for foreign bank customers. The results also reveal that foreign bank customers have higher satisfaction as compared to local bank customers.

Research limitations/implications
No analysis is undertaken of any difference in the service quality dimensions between banks of different size. Further research on banking services could usefully test services quality dimensions across banks of different sizes.

Practical implications
The findings serve as a valuable reference for local banks understand service quality challenges they may face from foreign banks in this competitive industry. Findings suggest that, to provide high-quality services, financial institutions need to heighten customer satisfaction differentiation strategies.

Originality/value
The outcomes of this study enhance the knowledge on the performance of both local and foreign banks in Malaysia as well as customer satisfaction, which are invaluable to all bank managers and industry players in improving their services.
A review and analysis of service level agreements and chargebacks in the retail industry
Authors: Chen Chun-Miin (Jimmy) 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine service level agreements (SLAs) in the retail industry and uses empirical data to draw conclusions on the relationships between SLA parameters and retailer financial performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on prior SLA theories, hypotheses about the impacts of SLA confidentiality, choice of chargeback mechanisms and chargeback penalty on retailer inventory turnover are tested.FindingsRetailer inventory turnover could vary by the level of SLA confidentiality, and the variation of retailer inventory turnovers could be explained by chargeback penalty.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings may not be readily applicable to SLAs outside of the retail industry. Also, most conclusions were drawn from publicly available SLAs.Practical implicationsThe significant relationships between SLA parameters and retailer inventory turnover imply that a retailer could improve its financial performance by leveraging its SLA design.Originality/valueNot only does this study contribute to the understanding of retail SLA design in practice, but it also extends prior theories by investigating the implications of SLA design on the retailer inventory turnover.
How do avatar characteristics affect avatar friendliness and online gamer loyalty? Perspective of the theory of embodied cognition
Authors: Li Kai , Nguyen Huynh Van , Cheng T.C.E. , Teng Ching-I 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
As technology-created gamers’ representations, avatars are influential in communication among online gamers. However, there is scant research on how avatars’ characteristics impact gamers’ friendly behaviour via avatars, i.e., avatar friendliness, and how avatar friendliness is related to online gamer loyalty. The purpose of this paper is to develop a research model grounded in the theory of embodied cognition to examine the impacts of perceived avatar appearance agreeableness, attractiveness and height on avatar friendliness and online gamer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors collect 1,384 responses from online gamers and use structural equation modelling for hypothesis testing.

Findings
The authors find that perceived avatar appearance agreeableness and attractiveness are positively related to avatar friendliness, while perceived avatar height is negatively related to avatar friendliness. Avatar friendliness, in turn, is positively related to online gamer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications
This study assessed gamers’ perceptions using a cross-sectional design. Future works could use a big data approach to collect behavioural and longitudinal data. Moreover, future works could measure avatar height using pixels.

Originality/value
The authors contribute to the e-commerce literature by inventing the new constructs of perceived avatar appearance agreeableness and avatar friendliness, and conducting the first study of using avatar friendliness to explain the impacts of the three avatar characteristics on online gamer loyalty. The findings also provide novel insights for e-commerce managers to effectively build a loyal gamer base.
Building stronger hospitality brands through online communities
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Bilgihan Anil , Kandampully Jay , Lu Can 
Published: June 2018

PurposeCompanies increasingly rely on online communities for social customer support, to develop and nurture relationships with customers, and to generate product and service development ideas. As yet, few studies have established the relationship between online communities and branding strategies. Therefore, the impact of online communities on branding requires investigation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence brand relationships developed through online communities.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model was developed based on marketing literature and tested using structural equation modeling with a sample size of 253 respondents.FindingsFindings present the underlying reasons why and how online communities build stronger brand relationships with consumers. Online communities have been found to cultivate consumers’ sense of collectiveness with shared values conveyed through brand engagement; enhance consumers’ trust, leading to the establishment of a trustworthy image of the brand; and increase enjoyment and enrich consumers’ experience with the brand through participation and engagement.Originality/valueThis study provides insights to understand the direct relationship between online communities and brand performance. The findings of the study provide practical implications for brand relationship management and online community design.研究目的公司越来越依靠网上社区来提供社交式的消费者服务支持, 以建立和巩固与消费者的关系, 并且以获得产品、服务研发的新想法。至今为止, 很少的著作致力于研究网上社区与品牌战略的关系。因此, 网上社区对于品牌扩展的影响作用值得研究。本论文的研究目的即是研究通过网上社区建立起来的消费者品牌关系的诸多因素。.研究设计/方法/途径本论文的理论模型是以营销理论为基础而建立的。本论文采用结构方程模型, 253份样本数据, 来验证建立的理论模型。.研究结果各种通过网上社区建立更强消费者品牌关系的因素得以分析和整理。网上社区能够通过使消费者与品牌更贴近的各种活动, 以培养消费者对于品牌的认知和集体意识, 从而使消费者与品牌有一致的价值认知。此外, 网上社区还能增强消费者对于品牌的信任, 增强了消费者与品牌互动过程的愉悦感和体验感。.研究原创性/价值本论文对于网上社区和品牌表现之间的直接关系进行梳理和研究。其研究结果对于品牌关系管理和网上社区设计等方面有着很深的实际启示作用。.
Taxation, corporate governance and dividend policy in Brazil
Authors: Zagonel Timóteo , Terra Paulo Renato Soares , Pasuch Diogo Favero 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
This study aims to analyze the influence of taxes and corporate governance on the dividend policy of Brazilian companies.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors identify the changes of the tax legislation in Brazil in the period 1986-2011 and check their effect on corporate dividend policies for preferred and common shares. The authors use panel data Probit and Tobit estimation to verify the probability of companies to pay dividends under different tax regimes. The final sample comprises 672 companies, 1,159 traded stocks and 30,134 observations

Findings
The authors’ results suggest that changes in the tax legislation have a significant influence on dividend payments. Also, firms do not follow target payout ratios, but dividends are moderately dependent on past payments. Dividend payouts are affected by stock voting rights, privatization and dividend deductibility. Changes in regulation that reduce the agency problems among shareholders affect positively payout ratios.

Practical implications
For managers, maximizing shareholders’ value requires taking into account the consequences of the taxation when designing financial policies for the firm. For investors, stock portfolio selection should take into account payout behavior and how changes in dividend taxation affect stocks’ value. For policymakers, the effects of changes in the tax code on corporate behavior are of utmost importance to stimulate private investment and economic growth.

Originality/value
There are several tax law changes in Brazil within the period analyzed, creating a good opportunity to study the effect of taxation on dividend policy and its dynamics over time.
Microenvironment and functional‐trait context dependence predict alpine plant community dynamics
Authors: Blonder Benjamin , Kapas Rozalia E. , Dalton Rebecca M. , Graae Bente J. , Heiling Jacob M. , Opedal Øystein H. 
Published: June 2018

Abstract

Predicting the structure and dynamics of communities is difficult. Approaches linking functional traits to niche boundaries, species co‐occurrence and demography are promising, but have so far had limited success.

We hypothesized that predictability in community ecology could be improved by incorporating more accurate measures of fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity and the context‐dependent function of traits. We tested these hypotheses using long term whole‐community demography data from an alpine plant community in Colorado.

Species distributions along microenvironmental gradients covaried with traits important for below‐ground processes. Positive associations between species distributions across life stages could not be explained by abiotic microenvironment alone, consistent with facilitative processes. Rates of growth, survival, fecundity and recruitment were predicted by the direct and interactive effects of trait, microenvironment, macroenvironment and neighbourhood axes.

Synthesis. Context‐dependent interactions between multiple traits and microenvironmental axes are needed to predict fine‐scale community structure and dynamics.
Continuity of Care among People Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Illness: Does Community Follow‐up Reduce Rehospitalization?
Authors: Currie Lauren B. , Patterson Michelle L. , Moniruzzaman Akm , McCandless Lawrence C. , Somers Julian M. 
Published: June 2018

ObjectiveTo examine whether timely outpatient follow‐up after hospital discharge reduces the risk of subsequent rehospitalization among people experiencing homelessness and mental illness.Data SourcesComprehensive linked administrative data including hospital admissions, laboratory services, and community medical services.Study DesignParticipants were recruited to the Vancouver At Home study based on a‐priori criteria for homelessness and mental illness (n = 497). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between outpatient care within 7 days postdischarge and subsequent rehospitalization over a 1‐year period.Data ExtractionData were extracted for a consenting subsample of participants (n = 433) spanning 5 years prior to study enrollment.Principal FindingsMore than half of the eligible sample (53 percent; n = 128) were rehospitalized within 1 year following an index hospital discharge. Neither outpatient medical services nor laboratory services within 7 days following discharge were associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of rehospitalization within 2 months (AOR = 1.17 [CI = 0.94, 1.46]), 6 months (AOR = 1.00 [CI = 0.82, 1.23]) or 12 months (AOR = 1.24 [CI = 1.02, 1.52]).ConclusionsIn contrast to evidence from nonhomeless samples, we found no association between timely outpatient follow‐up and the likelihood of rehospitalization in our homeless, mentally ill cohort. Our findings indicate a need to address housing as an essential component of discharge planning alongside outpatient care.