bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-based transmission modelling separates imported tuberculosis from recent transmission within an immigrant population
Authors: Ayabina Diepreye , Ronning Janne O. , Alfsnes Kristian , Debech Nadia , Brynildsrud Ola B. , Arnesen Trude , Norheim Gunnstein , Mengshoel Anne-Torunn , Rykkvin Rikard , Dahle Ulf R. , Colijn Caroline , Eldholm Vegard
Published: September 2018

In many countries the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is low and is largely shaped by immigrant populations from high-burden countries. This is the case in Norway, where more than 80 % of TB cases are found among immigrants from high-incidence countries. A variable latent period, low rates of evolution and structured social networks make separating import from within-border transmission a major conundrum to TB control efforts in many low-incidence countries. Clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates belonging to an unusually large genotype cluster associated with people born in the Horn of Africa have been identified in Norway over the last two decades. We modelled transmission based on whole-genome sequence data to estimate infection times for individual patients. By contrasting these estimates with time of arrival in Norway, we estimate on a case-by-case basis whether patients were likely to have been infected before or after arrival. Independent import was responsible for the majority of cases, but we estimate that about one-quarter of the patients had contracted TB in Norway. This study illuminates the transmission dynamics within an immigrant community. Our approach is broadly applicable to many settings where TB control programmes can benefit from understanding when and where patients acquired TB.
Biofilm thickness matters: Deterministic assembly of different functions and communities in nitrifying biofilms
Authors: Suarez Carolina , Piculell Maria , Modin Oskar , Langenheder Silke , Persson Frank , Hermansson Malte
Published: September 2018

Microbial biofilms are important in natural ecosystems and in biotechnological applications. Biofilm architecture influences organisms’ spatial positions, who their neighbors are, and redox gradients, which in turn determine functions. We ask if and how biofilm thickness influences community composition, architecture and functions. But biofilm thickness cannot easily be isolated from external environmental factors. We designed a metacommunity system in a wastewater treatment plant, where either 50 or 400 µm thick nitrifying biofilms were grown simultaneously on biofilm carriers in the same reactor. Model simulations showed that the 50 µm biofilms could be fully oxygenated whereas the 400 µm biofilms contained anaerobic zones. The 50 and 400 µm biofilms developed significantly different communities. due to deterministic factors were stronger than homogenizing dispersal forces in the reactor, despite the fact that biofilms experienced the same history and external conditions. Relative abundance of aerobic nitrifiers was higher in the 50 µm biofilms, while anaerobic ammonium oxidizers were more abundant in the 400 µm biofilms. However, turnover was larger than the nestedness component of between-group beta-diversity, i.e. the 50 µm biofilm was not just a subset of the thicker 400 µm biofilm with reduced taxa richness. Furthermore, the communities had different nitrogen transformation rates. The study shows that biofilm thickness has a strong impact on community composition and ecosystem function, which has implications for biotechnological applications, and for our general understanding of biofilms.

IMPORTANCE

Microorganisms colonize all surfaces in water and form biofilms. Diffusion limitations form steep gradients of energy and nutrient sources from the water phase into the deeper biofilm parts, influencing community composition through the biofilm. Thickness of the biofilm will affect diffusion gradients, and is therefore presumably important for biofilm composition. Since environmental factors determine thickness, studies of how thickness influences biofilm functions and community assembly, have been difficult to perform. We studied biofilms for wastewater treatment with fixed thicknesses of 50 and 400 µm during otherwise similar conditions and history. Despite growing in the same wastewater reactor, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and confocal microscopy showed the formation of two different communities, performing different ecosystem functions. Using statistical methods, we show for the first time, how biofilm thickness influences community assembly. The results help our understanding of the ecology of microbial biofilms, and in designing engineered systems based on ecological principles.
Akt kinases are required for efficient feeding by macropinocytosis inDictyostelium
Authors: Williams Thomas D. , Peak-Chew Sew-Yeu , Paschke Peggy , Kay Robert R.
Published: September 2018

Macropinocytosis is an actin-driven process of large-scale, non-specific fluid uptake used for feeding by some cancer cells and the macropinocytosis model organismDictyosteliumdiscoideum. InDictyostelium, macropinocytic cups are organised by ‘macropinocytic patches’ in the plasma membrane. These contain activated Ras, Rac and PI(3,4,5)P3 and direct actin polymerisation to their periphery. Here, we show that a classical (PkbA) and a variant (PkbR1) Akt protein kinase acting downstream of PI(3,4,5)P3 are together are near-essential for fluid uptake. This pathway enables the formation of larger macropinocytic patches and macropinosomes, thereby dramatically increasing fluid uptake. Akt targets identified by phosphoproteomics were highly enriched in small G-protein regulators, including the RhoGAP GacG. GacG knockout mutants make few macropinosomes but instead redeploy their cytoskeleton from macropinocytosis to motility, moving rapidly but taking up little fluid. The function of Akt in cell feeding through control of macropinosome size has implications for cancer cell biology.

Summary statement

Dictyosteliumamoebae feed by macropinocytosis in a PIP3 dependent manner. In the absence of PI3-kinases or the downstream Akt protein kinases, cells have smaller macropinosomes and nearly abolished fluid uptake.
T vector velocity: A new ECG biomarker for identifying drug effects on cardiac ventricular repolarization
Authors: Bystricky Werner , Maier Christoph , Gintant Gary , Bergau Dennis , Kamradt Kent , Welsh Patrick , Carter David
Published: September 2018

We present a new family TrX of ECG biomarkers based on the T vector velocity (TVV) for assessing drug effects on ventricular repolarization. Assuming a link between the TVV and the instantaneous change of the cellular action potentials, drugs accelerating repolarization by blocking inward (depolarizing) ion currents cause a relative increase of the TVV, while drugs delaying repolarization by blocking outward ion currents cause a relative decrease of the TVV.

Evaluating the published data from two FDA funded studies, the TrX effect profiles indicate increasingly delayed electrical activity over the entire repolarization process for drugs solely reducing outward potassium current (dofetilide, moxifloxacin). For drugs eliciting block of the inward sodium or calcium currents (mexiletine, lidocaine), the TrX effect profiles were consistent with accelerated electrical activity in the initial repolarization phase. For multichannel blocking drugs (ranolazine) or drug combinations blocking multiple ion currents (dofetilide + mexiletine, dofetilide + lidocaine), the overall TrX effect profiles indicate a superposition of the individual TrX effect profiles.

The parameter Tr40c allows separating pure potassium channel blocking drugs from multichannel blocking drugs with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of 0.90, CI = [0.88 to 0.92]. This is significantly larger than the performance of J-Tpeakc (0.81, CI = [0.78 to 0.84]) using the published data from the second FDA study. Further performance improvement was achieved by combining the ten parameters Tr10c to Tr100c in a logistic regression model, resulting in an AUC value of 0.94.

The TVV based approach substantially improves assessment of drug effects on cardiac repolarization, providing a plausible and improved mechanistic link between drug effects on ionic currents and overall ventricular repolarization reflected in the body surface ECG. TVV may contribute to a better assessment of the proarrhythmic risk of drugs beyond QTc prolongation and JTpeakc.
Functional composition has stronger impact than species richness on carbon gain and allocation in experimental grasslands
Authors: Roscher Christiane , Karlowsky Stefan , Milcu Alexandru , Gessler Arthur , Bachmann Dörte , Jesch Annette , Lange Markus , Mellado-Vázquez Perla , Strecker Tanja , Landais Damien , Ravel Olivier , Buchmann Nina , Roy Jacques , Gleixner Gerd
Published: September 2018

Numerous experiments have shown positive diversity effects on plant productivity, but little is known about related processes of carbon gain and allocation. We investigated these processes in a controlled environment (Montpellier European Ecotron) applying a continuous 13CO2 label for three weeks to 12 soil-vegetation monoliths originating from a grassland biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment) and representing two diversity levels (4 and 16 sown species). Plant species richness did not affect community- and species-level 13C abundances neither in total biomass nor in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Community-level 13C excess tended to be higher in the 16-species than in the 4-species mixtures. Community-level 13C excess was positively related to canopy leaf nitrogen (N), i.e. leaf N per unit soil surface. At the species level shoot 13C abundances varied among plant functional groups and were larger in legumes and tall herbs than in grasses and small herbs and correlated positively with traits as leaf N concentrations, stomatal conductance and shoot height. The 13C abundances in NSC were larger in transport sugars (sucrose, raffinose-family oligosaccharides) than in free glucose, fructose and compounds of the storage pool (starch) suggesting that newly assimilated carbon is to a small portion allocated to storage. Our results emphasize that the functional composition of communities is key in explaining carbon assimilation in grasslands.
The Synergistic Effect of Antioxidant Interaction between Luteolin and Chlorogenic Acid in Lonicera japonica
Authors: Hsieh Meng Hsuen , Hsieh Meng Ju , Wu Chi-Rei , Peng Wen-Huang , Hsieh Ming-Tsuen , Hsieh Chia-Chang
Published: September 2018

Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a flower that is used in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent the common cold. The two primary active compounds of the flower bud are luteolin, a flavonoid, and chlorogenic acid, a phenolic acid. Both active compounds have demonstrated antioxidant activity. The interactions between chemicals in a plant heavily influences its total antioxidant activity. We attempted to investigate the antioxidant interactions between the two chemicals in the plant. This study aims to investigate if the antioxidants luteolin and chlorogenic acid have a synergistic effect to inhibit free radicals when combined. A 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) assay was performed. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of luteolin and chlorogenic acid were first determined and then combined at a 1:1 ratio. The combined inhibition capacity was then compared with the sum of the individual inhibition capacities. The IC50 of luteolin is 26.304 μg·ml-1 ± 0.120 μg·ml-1 while the IC50 of chlorogenic acid is 85.529 μg·ml-1 ± 4.482 μg·ml-1. The combined solution produced a free radical percentage inhibition of 77.617% ± 5.470%, more than the percentage inhibition of the separate solutions. The experiment shows that luteolin and chlorogenic acid have a synergistic effect in inhibiting DPPH free radicals.
On simulating cold stunned turtle strandings on Cape Cod
Authors: Xiaojian Liu , Manning James , Prescott Robert , Huimin Zou , Faherty Mark
Published: September 2018

Kemp’s ridley turtles were on the verge of extinction in the 1960s. While they have slowly recovered, they are still endangered. In the last few years, the number of strandings on Cape Cod Massachusetts beaches has increased by nearly an order of magnitude relative to preceding decades. This study uses a combination of ocean observations and a well-respected ocean model to investigate the causes and transport of cold-stunned animals in Cape Cod Bay. After validating the model using satellite-tracked drifters and local temperature moorings, ocean currents were examined in the Cape Cod Bay in an attempt to explain stranding locations as observed by volunteers and, for some years, backtracking was conducted to examine the potential source regions. The general finding, as expected, is that sub 10.5°C water temperatures in combination with persistent strong wind stress (>0.4Pa) will result in increased strandings along particular sections of the coast dependent on the wind direction. However, it is still uncertain where in the water column the majority of cold stunned turtles reside and, if many of them are on the surface, considerable more work will need to be done to incorporate the direct effects of wind and waves on the advective processes.
Interaction of inhibitory and facilitatory effects of conditioning trials on long-term memory formation
Authors: Hosono Shouhei , Matsumoto Yukihisa , Mizunami Makoto
Published: September 2018

Animals learn through experience and consolidate the memories into long-time storage. Conditioning parameters to induce protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory (LTM) have been the subject of extensive studies in many animals. Here we found a case in which a conditioning trial inhibits or facilitates LTM formation depending on the intervals from preceding trials. We studied the effects of conditioning parameters on LTM formation in olfactory conditioning of maxillary-palpi extension response with sucrose reward in the cockroach Periplaneta americana. We found, at first, that translation- and transcription-dependent LTM forms 1 h after training, the fastest so far reported in insects. Second, we observed that multiple-trial training with an intertrial interval (ITI) of 20 or 30 sec, often called massed training, is more effective than spaced training for LTM formation, an observation that differs from the results of most studies in other animals. Third, we found that a conditioning trial inhibits LTM formation when the intervals from preceding trials were in the range of 10–16 min. This inhibitory effect is pairing-specific and is not due to decreased motivation for learning (overtraining effect). To our knowledge, no similar inhibition of LTM formation by a conditioning trial has been reported in any animals. We propose a model to account for the effects of trial number and ITIs on LTM formation. Olfactory conditioning in cockroaches should provide pertinent materials in which to study neuronal and molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory and facilitatory processes for LTM formation.
A new ZnII coordination polymer based on 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic and formic acids: in-situ synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties
Authors: Luo Fuming , Tang Guodong , Zhang Jinfang
Published: September 2018

The title compound, poly[(μ2-formato-κ3
O,O′:O)[μ2-4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ3
N:O,O′]zinc(II)], [Zn(C12H8NO2)(HCOO)]
n
, has been synthesized in situ and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses. The polymer contains two independent structural units in the asymmetric unit. These are constructed from Zn2+ ions, 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoate (4-pbc) bridges and in-situ-generated formate ligands, forming two similar two-dimensional (2D) layer structures. These similar 2D layers are arranged alternately and are linked with each other by dense C—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular framework. The crystal is pseudomerohedrally twinned about [201]. Compared with free 4-Hpbc, the polymer exhibits a red shift and significantly enhanced solid-state luminescence properties.
[Bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato-κO]pentakis(methanol-κO)manganese bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate methanol trisolvate
Authors: Minyaev Mikhail E. , Tavtorkin Alexander N. , Korchagina Sof'ya A. , Nifant'ev Ilya E. , Churakov Andrei V. , Dmitrienko Artem O. , Lyssenko Konstantin A.
Published: September 2018

The title compound, [Mn(C24H34O4P)(CH3OH)5](C24H34O4P)·3CH3OH, was formed in the reaction between a hydrate of a manganese(II) salt [either Mn(NO3)2(H2O)6 or MnCl2(H2O)4] with a methanol solvate of lithium bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate, {Li[OOP(O-2,6-
i
Pr2C6H3)2]·(CH4O)3}·CH4O, in methanol. The structure has monoclinic (Cc) symmetry at 150 K. The complex consists of an [Mn{OOP(O-2,6-
i
Pr2C6H3)2}(CH3OH)5]+ cation, an [OOP(O-2,6-
i
Pr2C6H3)2]− anion and three non-coordinating methanol molecules. The anion demonstrates disorder of an isopropyl group [occupancy ratio is 0.57 (4):0.43 (4)]. The diarylphosphate ligand in the cation exhibits a κ1
O terminal coordination mode. The Mn atom is in a nearly unperturbed octahedral environment. The [Mn{OOP(O-2,6-
i
Pr2C6H3)2}(CH3OH)5]+ cation exhibits one intramolecular O—H...O bond, and is coordinated via two intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds to the [OOP(O-2,6-
i
Pr2C6H3)2]− anion. The cations, anions and non-coordinating methanol molecules are linked into infinite chains along the c-axis direction via 0—H...O hydrogen bonding. The complex is of interest as a possible inhibitor for the thermal decomposition of polydimethylsiloxane. The crystal studied was refined as an inversion twin with a domain ratio of 0.47 (3):0.53 (3).
(3E)-3-{(2E)-3-[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]prop-2-enylidene}-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-one
Authors: Biruntha K. , Reuben Jonathan D. , Mohamooda Sumaya U. , Dravida Thendral E. R. A. , Usha G.
Published: September 2018

In the title compound, C20H19NO2, the (dimethylamino)phenyl ring and the chromanone ring system are linkedviaan α-β unsaturated carbon bridge. The dihedral angle between the two terminal phenyl rings is 29.66 (6)°. The tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4 one ring in the chromanone moiety adopts a sofa conformation. The crystal packing is stabilized only by van der Waals forces.
6-Methoxy-2-(2-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-chromen-4-one
Authors: Sung Jiha
Published: September 2018

In the title compound, C21H16O4, the methoxy-substituted naphthalene ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.007 Å) is almost orthogonal to the 4H-chromenone skeleton (r.m.s. deviation = 0.012 Å) with a dihedral angle of 83.16 (4)° between them. In the crystal, inversion dimers are linked by pairs of C—H...O hydrogen bonds that generate R
2
2(18) loops and additional C—H...O interactions connect the dimers into double chains of molecules along the b-axis direction.
Autistic spectrum disorder and offending behaviour – a brief review of the literature
Authors: Ali Salma
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to synthesise much of the existing research on autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and offending behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

It considers three key areas, namely, first, a discussion about the nature of ASD and how it might be related to offending behaviour; second, a brief commentary about the prevalence of this population; and, finally, an exploration of the effective management and possible treatment outcomes.

Findings

Methodological limitations have resulted in variable findings which has hindered our understanding of this population. Some of the research is based on small, highly specialist samples making prevalence difficult to measure. The link between ASD and offending is still not well understood, and despite advances in staff training, awareness amongst practitioners remains an underdeveloped area, thus yielding variable treatment outcomes.

Originality/value

This review continues to demonstrate the urgent need for robust research in order to better understand the link between ASD and offending behaviour, to provide tailored, needs-led interventions, and reduce the risk of offending amongst this group as a whole.
Stopping over-medication of people with intellectual disability, Autism or both (STOMP) in England part 1 – history and background of STOMP
Authors: Branford David , Gerrard David , Saleem Nigget , Shaw Carl , Webster Anne
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The programme – Stopping the over-medication of people with an intellectual disability, Autism or Both (STOMP) is a three-year programme supported by NHS England. Concern about the overuse of antipsychotic drugs has been a constant theme since the 1970s. However, despite a multitude of guidelines the practice continues. The report into the events at Winterbourne View not only raised concerns about the overuse of antipsychotic drugs but of antidepressants and multiple psychotropic drug use. The purpose of this paper is twofold: Part 1 is to present the history and background to the use of psychotropic drugs in intellectual disabilities, autism or both; and Part 2 presents the progress with the STOMP programme.

Design/methodology/approach

The review tracks the various concerns, guidelines and attempts to tackle the issue of over medication of people with intellectual disability autism or both.

Findings

The review identifies that despite the many studies and guidelines associated with the prescribing of psychotropic drugs for people with an intellectual disability, autism or both the practice is common. Programmes that minimise the use of psychotropic drugs involve a full use of the multidisciplinary team and an availability of alternative methods of managing challenging behaviours.

Originality/value

STOMP is part of an English national agenda – Transforming care. The English Government and leading organisations across the health and care system are committed to transforming care for people with intellectual disabilities, autism or both who have a mental illness or whose behaviour challenges services. This review identifies many studies, programmes and guidelines associated with psychotropic drug use for people with an intellectual disability, autism or both.
A novel serial structure repetitive control strategy for shunt active power filter
Authors: Chen Dongdong , Chen Hao , Hu Yaowei , Chen Guozhu
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel serial structure repetitive control scheme for shunt active power filter (SAPF) to improve the steady-state accuracy and dynamic performance of SAPF. The novelty of this scheme lies in the reconfiguration of the pole of repetitive control internal model, so that the dynamic response of the repetitive control is improved greatly.

Design/methodology/approach

By analyzing the mathematical model of repetitive control, the repetitive control delay can reduce by giving up the needless poles of the internal model, and the general mk + i repetitive control can be designed through the pole configuration method. The controller can track a set of specific order harmonics.

Findings

The experimental results are coincident with the theoretical analyses, which prove the effectiveness of the proposed method on harmonic suppression and great performance in dynamic response.

Practical implications

An APF prototype has been designed with the serial structure repetitive control proposed in this paper, and it can successfully eliminate the harmonics current of nonlinear load with faster dynamic response. Moreover, the proposed controller can be applied to any three-phase system for fast dynamic response and high tracking accuracy.

Originality/value

In this paper, the mathematical model of the repetitive control for specific set of harmonica is developed. A novel serial structure repetitive control is designed, so that the SAPF can eliminate the fundamental reactive current and specific order harmonics and speed up the dynamic response of the repetitive control.
BIM coordinators: a review
Authors: Jacobsson Mattias , Merschbrock Christoph
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role, practices and responsibilities of building information modeling (BIM) coordinators (BCs).

Design/methodology/approach

The aim is achieved through a review of existing publications (n=183) in which the term “BIM coordinators” has been described and discussed (n=78), complemented by interviews with four Norwegian BIM experts.

Findings

The findings from the review indicate that the core responsibilities of BCs involve clash detection, managing information flows and communication flows, monitoring and coordinating design changes, supporting new working procedures and technical development and acting as a boundary spanner. The complementary interview study extends these findings with two additional practices and a reflection on the experienced challenges, obstacles and potential future development of the role. In essence, the authors propose that the role of BCs can be defined as being responsible for external/internal alignment and coordination of actor needs, and engaged in product-, process- and system-oriented practices of BIM.

Research limitations/implications

Given that this study is primarily an integrative literature review of BCs, it has the limitations common with such an approach. Therefore, future studies should preferably extend presented findings through either a survey, further in-depth interviews with BCs or reviews of closely related BIM specialist roles such as BIM managers or BIM technicians.

Practical implications

With BCs seemingly being central to information management and knowledge domain integration within the architecture, engineering and construction industry, an understanding of their importance and role should be of interest to anyone seeking to tap into the potential of BIM. This paper outlines specific implications for construction manager, educators and BCs.

Originality/value

The value of this study lies primarily in the fact that it is the first thorough investigation of the role, practices and responsibilities of BCs.
Impacts of strategic orientations on new product development and firm performances
Authors: Aloulou Wassim J.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between strategic orientations as well as the role played by them to impact the performance of industrial firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper formulates some hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 292 randomly selected firms operating in several industrial sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Findings

The findings of this study showed the importance of these strategic orientations in enhancing the performance of Saudi industrial firms and emphasized the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationships of market orientation and technology orientation to new product development performance and firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study discusses the findings and advances certain limitations and research and managerial implications for future research avenues. It proposes some recommendations to help Saudi firms to choose more than one orientation simultaneously and adopt an appropriate configuration of orientations. Future research has to consider the interplay between these strategic orientations and the impacts of environmental turbulence in terms of market and technology turbulence on strategic orientations – performance relationship.

Practical implications

The study suggests that managers of Saudi industrial firms should utilize a mix of aspects from several strategic orientations such as market and technology through entrepreneurial capabilities and resources that enhance higher levels of performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship and strategic management by showing the reliability of scales used and the confirmatory of the factor structure. It also contributes to business practices by showing the importance for Saudi firms to combine different strategic orientations and provide more attention to the interplay of these orientations in order to perform better in such a transitional context.
Employer–employee relations in a state-owned power sector undertaking: an analysis
Authors: Sahoo Rojalin , Sahoo Chandan Kumar
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significant predictors that have an impact on cultivating an environment of positive employer–employee relations in power sector organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were gathered by administering a structured questionnaire among 154 respondents (executives and non-executives) of a state-owned power sector of India. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were employed for statistical analysis of the data using SPSS (version 20).

Findings

The analysis used a total of 17 independent variables, and only three factors were extracted, namely organizational justice (OJ), employee empowerment (EE) and conflict management (CM), and established as the significant predictors of employee relation (ER). The proposed hypotheses were found to be statistically significant.

Practical implications

This scholarly endeavor provides plausible insights regarding the predictors vital for nurturing harmonious ER in power sector undertakings. It becomes highly imperative for both managers and academicians for developing strategies to cultivate a facilitative work environment to generate contented and competent workforce that can confront the challenging business world.

Originality/value

This work is a distinct manifestation of exhibiting quality relationships among the organizational entities by integrating the association of OJ, EE and CM for flourishing cordial employee relations (ERs) in the new perspective of power sector.
Needs of patient with advanced stages of cancer in a Thai community
Authors: Krongyuth Panita , Silpasuwan Pimpan , Viwatwongkasem Chukiat , Campbell Cathy
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the needs of people with cancer in advanced stages and to analyze factors that influence them.

Design/methodology/approach

A concurrent mixed-method design was used. Descriptive design was conducted in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. Data were collected from a convenience sample of patients with advanced cancer of any tissue or organ. Questionnaires were completed by 110 patients aged 60 years and above (response rate 110/130=84.6 percent). In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of eight patients. Content analysis of semi-structured interviews of a sub-sample was subsequently performed to better understand the real needs of patients with advanced stages of cancer at home setting.

Findings

The majority (77.5 percent) reported a preference to spend their final days at home. The four most common palliative care needs were more information about disease and medical treatment (98.2 percent), more treatment for pain (97.3 percent), health education for family caregivers (95.5 percent) and health volunteers visit at home (95.5 percent). Content analysis of the qualitative data suggested that patient needs health care providers to deliver open communication, pain management and provide psychosocial supports.

Originality/value

The result showed that patients-related variables are associated with the palliative care needs in patients with advanced stages of cancer. Communication skills and pain management are the key components to support the need for palliative care at home and to benefit the quality of life in terminally ill patients.
Optimizing the liquidity parameter of logarithmic market scoring rules prediction markets
Authors: Lekwijit Suparerk , Sutivong Daricha
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Prediction markets are techniques to aggregate dispersed public opinions via market mechanisms to predict uncertain future events’ outcome. Many experiments have shown that prediction markets outperform other traditional forecasting methods in terms of accuracy. Logarithmic market scoring rules (LMSR) is one of the most simple and widely used market mechanisms; however, market makers have to confront crucial design decisions including the setting of the parameter “b” or the “liquidity parameter” in the price functions. As the liquidity parameter has significant effects on the market performance, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive basis for the setting of the parameter.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses include the effects of the liquidity parameter on the forecast standard error and the amount of time for the market price to converge to the true value. These experiments use artificial prediction markets, the proposed simulation models that mimic real prediction markets.

Findings

The simulation results indicate that prediction market’s forecast standard error decreases as the value of the liquidity parameter increases. Moreover, for any given number of traders in the market, there exists an optimal liquidity parameter value that yields appropriate price adaptability and leads to the fastest price convergence.

Originality/value

Understanding these tradeoffs, the market makers can effectively determine the liquidity parameter value under various objectives on the standard error, the time to convergence and cost.
Coordination through cooperative advertising in a two-period supply chain with retail competition
Authors: Xu Qingyun , Xu Bing , Bo Qiushi , He Yi
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Most firms in the fashion industry frequently design and promote new products, which leads to a two-period phenomenon in product sales. This study aims to examine the optimal advertising efforts of each channel member and the subsidy strategies of the manufacturer with retail competition in a two-period supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

By utilizing the game theory, this study developed a cooperative advertising model that considers the element of retailer competition in a two-period supply chain.

Findings

The main results of this study are as follows. An increase in the subsidy rate of one retailer’s advertising cost will lead to a decrease in the share of the other. When a manufacturer’s marginal profit from one retailer is considerably larger than that from the other, the manufacturer will share more advertising cost with the former. This study demonstrates that a bilateral participation contract can achieve supply chain coordination and increases the likelihood of retailers to participate in this contract when competition effect is small.

Research limitations/implications

First, product price is not a decision variable in this model. This concern can be studied in future work. Second, the one-manufacturer and two-retailer supply chain can be expanded to competitive manufacturers.

Practical implications

This study provides some decision references for the manufacturer and retailer on advertising strategies. The manufacturer can also gain insights into cooperative advertising strategy when facing a competitive retail environment.

Originality/value

Most previous studies related to cooperative advertising focused on a single-period supply chain. This study investigates cooperative advertising strategy with retail competition in two-period sales and explores the potential coordinating power of a bilateral participation contract.
Firm- and country-level antecedents of corporate governance compliance and disclosure in MENA countries
Authors: Sarhan Ahmed A. , Ntim Collins G.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations and the firm- and country-level factors that can explain discernible differences in the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations in a number of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the widely used content analysis technique to examine the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations in a sample of listed corporations in MENA countries. In addition, the authors use the ordinary least square multiple regression analysis technique to examine the firm- and country-level antecedents of the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations. The findings are generally robust to different types of firm- and country-level factors, alternative measures and potential endogeneity problems.

Findings

The findings of this study are two-fold. First, the level of voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations among MENA listed corporations is low and differs substantially across firms. Second, the evidence suggests that firm- and country-level factors, including religiosity, national governance quality and macroeconomic factors, have a positive and significant impact on voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine both the potential firm- and country-level factors affecting voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations among MENA listed corporations from a neo-institutional theoretical perspective. The results of our study provide regulators and policymakers with the impetus to encourage greater efforts towards pursuing reforms that seek to improve national governance quality, economic environment and positive religious practices.
Investigating the link between foreign ownership and firm performance – an endogenous threshold approach
Authors: Driffield Nigel , Sun Kai , Temouri Yama
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between foreign ownership and firm performance, using an approach which the authors show is more advanced than existing methods, and more aligned with accepted theory and conceptual frameworks developed in international business. The authors demonstrate that simply relying on a binary distinction between foreign and domestic firms ignores much of the information regarding the importance of ownership structure and is disconnected from the wider literature on ownership structure, motivations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors illustrate this by using a threshold estimation method to endogenously uncover the level of foreign ownership up to which the transfer of foreign firm advantage from the parent company to the affiliate is the strongest.

Findings

The results show that for Germany, Poland, Italy and the UK, there are significantly different thresholds of foreign ownership over the period, 2001-2010. Due to non-linearities and different thresholds, the authors argue that before one can entertain secondary considerations concerning foreign firm impact on host countries, one needs to apply the appropriate approach.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that uses an endogenous threshold approach on a large firm level data set to show that there are significant differences and non-linearities in the relationship between foreign ownership and productivity.
Killing ‘em softly: terminating projects in a video game studio
Authors: Dubois Louis-Etienne
Published: September 2018

Synopsis

Killing ‘em softly: terminating projects within a video game studio is a case study on human resource management (HRM) and project management in a creative setting. This disguised case is based on a real situation that was documented through individual and group interviews at a major video game studio. Several HRM and project management concepts can be discussed through this case including employee retention, planning and staffing and intracompany communication. It seeks to help students develop a multi-level, interdisciplinary and critical analysis of a common HRM situation in project-based creative sectors and invites them to devise action and communication plans to handle the termination of a project.

Research methodology

This disguised case is based on real events and depicts tensions as they unfolded within a Canadian major video game company. Data for this case were collected through eight individual interviews followed by two group interviews with the employees involved. Early drafts of this case were also presented to respondents in order to ensure the validity of the case. Follow-up interviews, as well as the analysis of company documents were later used to complete the case’s final edits.

Relevant courses and levels

This case can be used in HRM, project management and creativity management courses/modules at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is relevant for business students in an HRM major, as well as for general administration students who plan to work in creative sectors. The case is also suitable for students in arts programs who aspire to manage creative teams or projects. It can be used as a take-home individual or group assignment, or as an in-class group activity.
Development and evaluation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess nutrient intakes of adult women in New Zealand
Authors: Beck Kathryn L. , Houston Zara L. , McNaughton Sarah A. , Kruger Rozanne
Published: September 2018

Aim

In New Zealand, there are few adequate food frequency questionnaires for assessing dietary intake. This study aimed to develop and assess the relative validity of a multi‐nutrient, culturally appropriate, semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in young adult New Zealand women (the New Zealand Women's Food Frequency Questionnaire (NZWFFQ)).

Methods

Women (n = 110) aged 16–45 years of Māori, Pacific or European ethnicity completed a NZWFFQ assessing dietary intake over the previous month, and a 4‐day weighed food record. Relative validity was evaluated by comparing nutrient intakes from the NZWFFQ with the food record using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, cross‐classification, the weighted kappa statistic and Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

Nutrient intake was higher from the NZWFFQ compared with the food record for all nutrients (range: 1%–64% difference) except alcohol (−16% difference). Energy‐adjusted correlations ranged from 0.23 to 0.67 (average 0.48). Correct classification into same and adjacent quartiles was over 70% for all nutrients except folate and vitamin D. Gross misclassification into opposite quartiles ranged from 1% (monounsaturated fat, magnesium, calcium) to 10% (iron). The weighted kappa showed poor agreement for vitamin D and folate, fair agreement for most nutrients, and moderate agreement for fibre, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus.

Conclusions

The NZWFFQ overestimated intake of nearly all nutrients. While not suitable for assessing absolute intake, the NZWFFQ is suitable for ranking individuals based on nutrient intake demonstrating reasonable relative validity for this purpose.
The nuclear receptor RXRA controls cellular senescence by regulating calcium signaling
Authors: Ma Xingjie , Warnier Marine , Raynard Clotilde , Ferrand Mylène , Kirsh Olivier , Defossez Pierre‐Antoine , Martin Nadine , Bernard David
Published: September 2018

Calcium signaling is emerging as a key pathway controlling cellular senescence, a stable cell proliferation arrest playing a fundamental role in pathophysiological conditions, such as embryonic development, wound healing, cancer, and aging. However, how calcium signaling is regulated is still only partially understood. The inositol 1, 4, 5‐trisphosphate receptor type 2 (ITPR2), an endoplasmic reticulum calcium release channel, was recently shown to critically contribute to the implementation of senescence, but how ITPR2 expression is controlled is unclear. To gain insights into the regulation of ITPR2 expression, we performed an siRNA screen targeting 160 transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Interestingly, we discovered that the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA), which belongs to the nuclear receptor family, represses ITPR2 expression and regulates calcium signaling though ITPR2 and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). Knockdown of RXRA induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage via the ITPR2‐MCU calcium signaling axis and consequently triggers cellular senescence by activating p53, whereas RXRA overexpression decreases DNA damage accumulation and then delays replicative senescence. Altogether, our work sheds light on a novel mechanism controlling calcium signaling and cellular senescence and provides new insights into the role of nuclear receptors.
Imagining Christian Sex: Reproductive Governance and Modern Marriage in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Ramirez Michelle , Everett Margaret
Published: September 2018

A large body of scholarship examines how Pentecostal and evangelical churches alter gender relations in Latin America. Some argue that these churches reform even the most liberation‐resistant social structures—the domestic sphere—by fundamentally reordering the relative participation of women and men in this realm. What has received less attention are the sexual responsibilities assigned to women that are a recommended part of Pentecostal gender reforms. In a longitudinal ethnographic study examining Pentecostal healing in Oaxaca, the authors observed companionate marital training where women are warned not to put their children before their husbands, as women's conjugal relationships are portrayed to be more central to their gender identity than motherhood. We examine the history of companionate marriage in Mexico and discover parallel commitments of various state institutions and religious actors to reform key aspects of gender in Mexico. We employ the theory of reproductive governance to understand how moral regimes directed toward reproductive behaviors and practices are fully entangled with political, economic, and modernizing projects. By examining the history of this particular modernity project, we hope to contribute to ongoing debates about women's participation in evangelical Christianity in Latin America. [gender, sexuality, Pentecostalism, Mexico]
Mastering Submission: Palestinian Poets Measuring Sounds of “Freedom”
Authors: Furani Khaled
Published: September 2018

This article examines how Palestinian poets experience “freedom” when they compose with traditional rhythms in Arabic verse. In analyzing narratives by poets on their introduction to, training in, and mastery of metrical discipline, I argue that these seemingly “technical” practices host an exercise of “freedom” strikingly at odds with dominant liberal modalities, which pit freedom against submission. In contrast with modernizing poets who posit sovereignty of the self as a prerequisite for freedom, poets who vindicate metrical composition measure their sounds in an aliberal space of “freedom,” which then enables them to contest various forms of authority in society. This study illustrates the analytical possibilities that become available to an ethnographic inquiry into “freedom” when surrendering normative liberal paradigms of self‐sovereignty. [freedom, poetry, ethics, liberalism, Palestine]