bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ihtisab (Accountability) in Waqf Institutions: A Review and Synthesis of Literature
Authors: Assegaf Yasmin Umar , Sawarjuwono Tjiptohadi
Published: January 2017

Waqf is an Islamic philanthropy which has a very big maslahah for the ummah, but less understood by community due to the lack of socialization. Research findings show the weaknesses on accounting and accountability in waqf institutions that reduce waqf maslahah, the lost or
dormant of waqf assets. Most of nazhir (trustee) do not manage waqf assets accountably, efficiently, and effectively. In addition, they also do not present it properly in the financial statement and report it to the public. The situation is due to the unavailability of waqf accounting standard for nazhir. This study was conducted with the aim to synthesize the findings of ihtisab (accountability) studies as a basic theory building of accounting standard which is expected to improve performance of nazhir which, in turn,  will increase maslahah of waqf for the ummah. This study employed shuratic method with IIE (Interactive, Integrative and Evolutionary) process modified by meta-synthesis. The research process was carried out by interactive and integrative of individual findings of the same research topics to find an integrative theory of ihtisab as an evolutionary of Islamic science that is the basic of Ihtisab standard. Synthesizing published 20 ihtisab studies leads some basics of ihtisab standard as guidance for nazhir to be responsible by having good understanding of accounting and conducting dual Islamic accountability. To meet the responsibility, Nazhir
should be good in akhlak (moral) and bring his members into a good akhlak too as akhlak is a key success for Islamic institutions. Due to the fact that Synthesis of ihtisab research findings has not been done so far, it is expected that this synthesis of the studies can be the basis for subsequent researchers to continue and develop this findings on the other dimensions of theories and models by developing Islamic science and Islamic empirical methods in line with shariah.
CSR Practices at Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB): Managing CSR Fund
Authors: Bakar Fathiyyah Abu , Md Yusof Mohd 'Atef
Published: January 2017

The notion of CSR from Islamic perspective has been viewed as a comprehensive discourse when it is already embedded the element of spiritual (Tawhid and Taqwa), economics, ethics and legality. However, there is a black box in the process of managing CSR fund which is used to conduct the CSR initiatives. Thus, this study attempts to revisit the issues by discussing Islamic concept of CSR practices and to gain insights the process of managing various sources of CSR fund. By using case study approach, a group of key CSR players at Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad as well as the recipients of the initiatives have been interviewed. Moreover, an in-field observation and CSR documentations analysis have been employed to get the whole picture of managing the CSR activities and also the fund. The results show that he CSR initiatives at the bank are highly associated with religious obligations and the main source of CSR fund is derived from the zakat fund. In addition, donation, non-compliance Shariah income and purification fund have been used to fulfill various stakeholders' demands. Thus, these findings provide an avenue to conceptualize the concept and practices of CSR in Islamic view and encourage other business entities to manage their financial resources (CSR fund) systematically to support the CSR activities.
The Development of a Green Practice Index for the Malaysian Hotel Industry
Authors: Siti–Nabiha A. K. , George R. A. , Wahid N. Abdul , Amran A. , Mahadi R. , Abustan I.
Published: January 2017

In recent years, the hotel industry has recognized the need to have more environmentally friendly operations. The main focus, however, has been on improving environmental management practices in developed countries. Furthermore, most attempts to develop assessment tools for green practices have come from such countries as well, which have a different socioeconomic situation from developing countries. Therefore, to capture a
more accurate picture of environmental management practices from the developing country context, specifically a Malaysian context, the authors in this paper created an index to measure the level of green practices among
Malaysian hotels. Doing so, however, resulted in a search for green index development methods. This lead to the discovery that existing tools such as the Delphi method were not appropriate tools that could be used to develop a Malaysian green index. To address the above, the authors propose a green index development method that can be used for a  Malaysian and developing country context. Hence, in this paper, the method of developing a green practice index for the Malaysian hospitality industry, the differences and advantages of this method compared to the commonly used Delphi method and finally the Malaysian Green Practice Index for the hotel industry are presented.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Concerns in Nigeria: A Critical Focus on Oil Producing Communities
Authors: Dandago Kabiru Isa , Arugu Love Obiani
Published: January 2017

A well-known fact about the Nigerian Niger Delta region is incessant conflicts between the Oil Transnational Corporations and the oil producing communities. This could be attributed to the fact that the activities of Oil TNCs have continued to unleash untold devastation on the environment of the oil producing communities and its consequences on the local economy and by extension the total obliteration of the livelihood of the inhabitants of the area. Therefore, the Oil TNCs are increasingly becoming conscious of their devastating impact on the ecology of the area and their blatant disregard for the socio-economic development of the host communities. Consequently, the Oil TNCs have come to embrace the idea of executing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects as a vehicle to intervene meaningfully in order to mitigate the adverse effects of their operations on the environments of the host communities. This paper attempts to review and analyze CSR practices of the two major Oil TNCs in Bayelsa State: Shell and Agip in six host communities: Olugboboro, Olugbobiri, Ikebiri 1, Oporoma, Angiama, and Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw local government area. The key question explored in this study is: has the practice of CSR in the Nigerian Niger Delta region by Oil TNCs brought about socio-economic  development and drastic reduction in conflict between the host communities and the Oil TNCs? The paper argues that CSR projects of transnational oil corporations in Nigeria are driven by short-term expediency rather than the long term environmental developmental needs of host communities through the provision of poor quality social amenities to these communities in order to secure social license to operate. For transnational oil corporations to make positive impact in the Nigerian Niger Delta Region, their CSR projects should belong tern in nature, taking into consideration the sustainable development needs of the local communities. The CSR projects should be in the form of high quality social amenities and environmental rehabilitation and protection, which could serve the needs of the present and future generations.
Are Non-Financial (CSR) Reports Trustworthy? A Study of The Extent to Which Non-Financial Reports Reflect the Media’ Perception of The Company’s Behaviour
Authors: Ditlev-Simonsen Caroline D
Published: January 2017

This study examines the strategies companies have adopted in their CSR or non-financial reporting when responding to media criticism related to poor CSR performance.  Seven companies operation internationally and which have been criticized for irresponsible behavior (like environmental spills, child labor, poor working conditions, corruption, etc.) are identified. The Wilson response model, "Philosophy of Social Responsiveness," which suggests four distinct corporate responses to criticism (Reaction, Defense, Accommodation and Proaction), is applied. These four responses occupy a continuum with ‘low response’ on one end and ‘encompassing response’ on the other end. The findings reveal that, in contrast to the Wilson model, which proposes various degrees of response engagement, companies adopted an either/or response strategy (0-1). They either ignore the criticism (0) or, if they recognize the criticism (1), they respond in all four of the categories suggested by Wilson. Six of the companies chose the 1 approach. The remaining company chose the 0 response; ignoring the criticism. The 0 response strategy is not presented as an option in the Wilson model, but it is clearly an alternative that companies can take into consideration when evaluating and choosing strategies for non-financial reporting.
Exploring Environmental Disclosure in SelectedAustralian Multinationals under the GRI Guidelines
Authors: Al Farooque Omar , Kotey Bernice , Ahulu Helena
Published: January 2017

This paper explores changes in environmental reporting among Australian MNEs between 2004 and 2007, using the GRI guidelines, and explains how GRI transformation (from G2 to G3) leads to changes in environmental disclosure aspects along with their association with company size, profitability, industry sector. Applying Wilcoxon matched pair signed ranked and Spearman rank correlation tests, twenty companies from the Australian SAM Sustainability Index (AuSSI) are examined to identify the extent of changes on specific aspects of environmental disclosure. The findings of the paper document a significant increase in environmental reporting in Australian companies. In particular, reporting has increased for energy, emissions and environmental management followed by water, overall, materials, transport and product/services aspects. However, a shift in emphasis from compliance and biodiversity aspects associated with climate changes and resource preservation is also evident. Again, the majority of changes occurred in companies operating in environmentally sensitive industries with industry sector having significant relationship with a few environmental disclosure aspects, the study shows no significant effect of company size and profitability on different environmental disclosure aspects. These evidences indicate that external forces (such as, legislation, industry sensitiveness to environment, and stakeholder awareness and pressure) rather than internal factors are more effective to influence and determine environmental disclosure in Australian companies.
The Indonesian Executives Perspective of CSR Practices
Authors: Fauzi Hasan
Published: January 2017

The objective of this study is to investigate the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) practices after the issuance of the government regulation as the implementation guideline of the CSR as stipulated in the law no.40/2007 through business players’ interviews. Using the semi structured  interviews with Indonesian executives/informants of Indonesian companies, this study found that CSR practices have been viewed as philanthropic activities of companies with all the consequences that follow: shareholder as the most important stakeholder, reporting CSR practice as means to have public image and no need to have any standard to prepare CSR practice reporting. Given the findings, there is a need to redefine CSR based on the intention to maintain good relationship with stakeholders and to have the integrated management system to help management well interact with them in market and non- market mechanism.
The Influence of Talent Factors on Business Performance
Authors: Soewignyo Fanny , Soewignyo Tonny Irianto
Published: January 2017

To contribute to the debate concerning performance measurement, this study investigated some talent factors that can influence business performance of Indonesian finance industry and to provide a framework by which business leaders could assess their current management capabilities.
Using purposive sampling, 56 finance companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2012 were selected. Corporate governance aspects were measured by employing 12 talent factors and business performance was measured using profit per employee, revenue per employee, and market capitalization per employee. 12 hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis.  The authors concluded on 2 things. Firstly, the greater the number of audit committee members, the higher the profit per employee and secondly, higher remuneration for directors and commissioners induced better business performance, as measured by three indicators. However, larger number of employees worsens profit per employee, revenue per employee, and market capitalization per employee.
 
Proposed Model For Industrial Waste Management Practices and Its Impact on Organisational Performance
Authors: Noviyanti Suzy , Kus Noegroho Yefta Andi , Haryanto Jony Oktavian , Winata Lanita
Published: January 2017

Due to environment protection issue, waste management becomes one of important factors in maintaining organization sustainability. In developed country, a growing number of companies began to integrate the pro environment practices, such as waste management practices, into their business strategy. In contrast, the implementation of waste management practices by business organizations in developing country, like Indonesia, is still rare. Waste generated by industries is greater than the capacity to manage this volume of waste. This poses a problem that leads to improper disposal of waste and pollution. This study aims to design a research model which investigates the relation of institutional environment including cognitive, regulatory, and normative element; manager environmental attitudes, worker environmental attitudes, environmental policy, strategic waste management practices, and financial performance.
The Association between Organisational Commitment And Corporate Social Responsibility-Environmental Performance Within an Integrated Sustainability Balanced Scorecard Framework
Authors: Rae Kirsten , Sand John , Gadenne David
Published: January 2017

This study investigates whether organisational commitment is associated with organisations‘CSR performance within sustainability aspects of their internal process. A structural equation model (SEM) tested two sequential direct associations between: (1) senior management employees‘ affective and continuance organisational commitment and organisations‘ conventional value-creating internal processes; (2) conventional value-creating internal processes and organisations‘ CSR performance within sustainability value-creating internal process. The SEM results show an indirect association between affective commitment and CSR performance within sustainability value-creating internal process, which is mediated by the conventional value-creating internal processes. The findings support an integrated sustainability internal process within a sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) as depicted in Kaplan and Norton‘s strategy map. Organisations may develop internal processes that promote CSR outcome characteristics when employees possess higher levels of affective organisational commitment. Future research could investigate a broader  range of environmental outcomes within CSR performance.
A Critical Analysis of Social Responsibility Practices in Alcohol Advertising Campaigns
Authors: Best Sue-Ann
Published: January 2017

Culture plays a role in creating young alcoholics and has been at the center of debates about the impact of alcohol advertising on patterns of consumption. This research addressed the impact of alcohol advertising on local culture and its social implications in a developing economy. Stakeholders, including young people and marketing representatives from an alcohol producer in Country X, were examined to determine their perspectives of the use of alcohol advertising strategies. The findings were consistent with previous academic research and expectancy theory that indicate alcohol advertising can influence the normative behavior of young persons and their attitudes toward the use of alcohol. That is, alcohol producers can only claim to be socially responsible if their marketing strategies considers the concerns of the wider community. The Country X alcohol producer in this study, this claim requires organizational change to make the company more closely aligned to industry best practices.
DIREITO: MECANISMO DE GARANTIA À EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Ramalho Bruno Cefas Figueirôa de França
Published: January 2017

Espera-se com as argumentações aqui presentes, expor as noções jurídicas que envolvem a educação como um todo, justificando suas aplicações e apresentando parte do aparato estatal que legisla sobre elas na República Federativa do Brasil, valendo-se para isso de pesquisa qualitativa teórica de diferentes autores e fontes, mencionando normativas legais e teorias doutrinárias. O intuito também vem a ser a conscientização de que a educação é importante para a sociedade salientando os problemas causados por sua denegrição além das origens e meios de combate a estes, justificando, com isso, a existência do aparato jurídico que regula tal tema.
INDÚSTRIA CULTURAL, MÍDIA E CULTURA DE MASSAS: FORMAÇÃO E SEMIFORMAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL
Authors: Andrade Rafael Ademir Oliveira de , Rodrigues Okelea Marques
Published: January 2017

O estudo sobre a mídias visa mostara indústria cultural, mídia e cultura de massas: formação e semiformação educacional, com objetivos de descrever e analisar as relações que as crianças estabelecem com o que vêem nas midias, compreender o modo como as crianças lidam com os conteúdos dos produtos audiovisuais aos quais têm acesso cotidianamente, perceber e identificar os valores presentes nos produtosaudivisuais e como articulam esses valores aos queelas constroem na interação com outros espaços desocialização como família e escola. A mídia é um processo institucionalizado em diferentes espaços e atores que confrontam e buscam alcançar através das síntese de significados, ainda queprovisória, o repasse de ideias e informações. Nesse processo, o sentido das mensagens não é construído de forma unidirecional da mídia para o sujeito, mas na relação entre o universo particulardo sujeito e os produtos da mídia. Para fundamentar a pesquisa bibliográfica esta sendo compartilhada asfontes e informações dos teóricos sobre o tema, que configuram a indústria cultural, mídia e cultura de massas: formação e semiformação educacional como, Adorno, Pimenta, Libaneo, e Brandão.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE BOLO DE CENOURA ENRIQUECIDO DE FIBRAS
Authors: Souza Raimunda Roberto de , Oliveira Thatiana Wanessa de , Santos Inez Helena Vieira da Silva , Amaro Êmili Lima , Silva Deyzyanne Queiroz
Published: January 2017

A fibra alimentar é benéfica à saúde humana, está associada ao bom funcionamento intestinal pela formação adequada do bolo fecal e função prebiótica, desta forma contribui para o controle metabólico e prevenção de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. O bolo é uma preparação muito consumida pela população brasileira de todas as idades. O objetivo da pesquisa foi desenvolver um bolo de cenoura rico em fibras com cobertura de chocolate utilizando cereais e farinha de maracujá. Um produto voltado para indivíduos saudáveis e pessoas com restrições de gorduras totais e saturadas. Foi feita uma análise do rótulo nutricional deste produto. Para a determinação dos Valores Diários de Referência (VD%), utilizaram-se legislações RDC Nº 360 (BRASIL, 2003); RDC Nº 359 (BRASIL, 2003) e RDC Nº 54 (BRASIL, 2012) apontando fontes de nutrientes não contemplados no rótulo nutricional obrigatório. Para o cálculo dos macros e micronutrientes, foi utilizada a tabela TACO (NEPA, 2011). O produto deste estudo é uma opção de alimento rico em fibras, baixo teor de gorduras totais e saturadas, sendo considerado saudável. Podendo assim ser consumido por todos os grupos, especialmente para aqueles com restrição a gorduras totais, saturadas e que necessitam de maior aporte de fibras na dieta.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM CUPCAKE DIET COM APROVEITAMENTO INTEGRAL DO MARACUJÁ
Authors: Carvalho Jéssica Leine Maia de , Caminha Lidiane Pontes , Costa Tânia Regina Vedana , Monge Silvane Maziero , Santos Inez Helena Vieira da Silva
Published: January 2017

Um fator primordial na rotina humana é a alimentação, não somente por ser uma necessidade básica fisiológica, mas porque a falta ou o excesso tornou-se um problema de saúde pública, causando várias doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver um cupcake diet para portadores de Diabetes Mellitus (DM) e contribuir para melhorar a diversidade de alimentos para indivíduos nesta condição. O produto apresentado foi elaborado partindo-se da substituição da adição de sacarose por adoçante artificial. Utilizou-se também de aproveitamento integral do maracujá como fonte de pectina (fibra solúvel). Calculou-se a ficha técnica de preparo do cupcake para elaboração do Rótulo Nutricional. Para o cálculo dos macro e micronutrientes, foi utilizada a Tabela Brasileira de Composição dos Alimentos TACO (NEPA, 2011). O cupcake diet desenvolvido apresentou-se como um alimento de menor teor glicídico e calórico que o tradicional, constituindo-se como uma opção indicada para portadores de DM, pois é fonte de proteínas e de fibras alimentares que auxiliam no bom funcionamento do organismo e controle glicêmico, é pobre em sódio e tem custo viável.
Sectarianism, Revolutionary Subjectivity and War in Syria – the case of the peaceful movement
Authors: Brønd Thomas Vladimir
Published: January 2017

Les évènements qui se succèdent en Syrie depuis 2011 ont été trop souvent décrits comme étant simplement une « guerre de communautés religieuses ». Dans ce contexte, cet article s’intéresse à l’expérience révolutionnaire vécue par des Syriens engagés dans le mouvement révolutionnaire pacifique ainsi que dans les comités de coordination locaux. En adoptant une approche ethnographique du communautarisme, de l’action révolutionnaire et de la guerre, cet article montre comment les jeunes révolutionnaires renégocient leurs origines familiales et l’histoire des communautés religieuses face aux entreprises et discours communautaristes du régime. Les caractéristiques anti-communautaristes de l’action révolutionnaire menée par le mouvement pacifique non seulement contredisent le récit du régime mais offrent aussi une porte d’entrée pour observer la subjectivité et l’idéologie révolutionnaire, lesquelles sont l’expression de transformations sociales ayant lieu en Syrie dans un contexte de guerre dévastatrice et de destruction.
Rojava, d’un champ de cactus à un autre, deux récits
Authors: Youssef Amal
Published: January 2017

Les régions kurdes syriennes sont soumises aujourd’hui à un système de gouvernement, celui de l’« auto administration démocratique », ou « administration autonome locale », théorisé par le leader du PKK, Abdullah Ocalan. Ce système peut faire l’objet de deux récits : un récit militaire, qui met en évidence le rôle des « Unités de protection du peuple » (YPG) dans sa mise en place, et un récit institutionnel, qui met en valeur les institutions de cette administration, dans leurs différentes dimensions, sécuritaire, judiciaire, économique, symbolique. Mais cette administration autonome est en réalité soumise au contrôle des services de sécurité, et reproduit le modèle des régimes totalitaires 2 .
Les Syriens à Gaziantep : entre dynamisme et défis
Authors: Mahmud Rustum
Published: January 2017

Près de 300 000 Syriens sont réfugiés à Gaziantep, avec leurs entreprises, leurs cafés, leurs écoles, tandis que l’administration du gouvernement provisoire syrien y a élu domicile. Ils y ont bénéficié de la politique relativement accueillante des autorités du pays, malgré les frictions périodiques avec une population turque elle-même traversée de vives tensions. Ils sont néanmoins confrontés à de nombreux problèmes, chômage, salaires dérisoires, travail des enfants, faible scolarisation, et à l’hégémonie des courants islamistes. L’action des ONG internationales est insuffisante et entravée par la bureaucratie. Si nombre d’ONG syriennes sont dominées par le népotisme, d’autres font un travail remarquable, particulièrement dans le domaine de l’information et de la culture. 1
Réfugiés syriens en Jordanie : choc démographique, résiliences et vulnérabilités
Authors: Jaber Hana
Published: January 2017

L’étude se veut une lecture de la dimension démographique de l’exode syrien en Jordanie, au prisme de la notion de résilience, appliquée aussi bien à la société syrienne réfugiée qu’à la société d’accueil. Prise comme capacité de « résorber un choc et de s’y adapter », la notion de résilience met en lumière la mobilisation d’une mémoire régionale commune, antérieure aux indépendances : le nord de la Jordanie et la capitale profitent d’un souffle économique nouveau, du fait de la mise en circulation de capitaux et de compétences. Comme « indice de rupture lorsque la flexibilité d’un matériau atteint sa limite », la notion révèle des fissures politiques et urbaines dont les camps de réfugiés syriens sont l’expression. L’incertitude pesant sur l’avenir de la Syrie et dans la région met la Jordanie dans une situation comparable dans son ampleur à l’exode palestinien de 1948.
Nawar Bulbul : un artiste syrien sur les sentiers de la liberté
Authors: Vulin Vincent
Published: January 2017

Les raisons d’une victoire à la guerre ne se limitent pas à la puissance des armes utilisées. La communication et la créativité jouent un rôle essentiel. Les opposants syriens ont donc rapidement occupé l’Internet. Mais il fallait aussi que les messages qu’ils diffusaient soient pertinents. Nawar Bulbul est l’un des artistes ayant cherché à donner du sens à ce soulèvement, et ainsi tenter de remporter la bataille de l’influence.
Interacting in a context of war: Communication Spaces in Idlib
Authors: De Angelis Enrico , Badran Yazan
Published: January 2017

L’infrastructure traditionnelle de communication en Syrie s’est s’effondrée peu de temps après l’entrée dans le conflit civil en 2011. Dans ce contexte les Syriens ont été forcés d’expérimenter des moyens novateurs et créatifs en vue d’échanger des informations et de rester en contact les uns avec les autres. En particulier, ils combinent différentes technologies et outils, anciens et modernes, pour réaliser un espace de communication fonctionnel et efficace. Ces outils incluent tout, du courrier à la main aux transmissions par talkie-walkie, et de la communication face à face vers les radios communautaires. Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser, à travers une approche sociologique-ethnographique, les pratiques de communication en Syrie en se concentrant notamment sur la région d’Idlib.
The Clonal Invariant NKT Cell Repertoire in People with Type 1 Diabetes Is Characterized by a Loss of Clones Expressing High-Affinity TCRs
Authors: Tocheva Anna S. , Mansour Salah , Holt Tristan G. H. , Jones Samuel , Chancellor Andrew , Sanderson Joseph P. , Eren Efrem , Elliott Tim J. , Holt Richard I. G. , Gadola Stephan D.
Published: January 2017

Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in healthy people express iNKT-TCRs with widely varying affinities for CD1d, suggesting different roles for high- and low-affinity iNKT clones in immune regulation. However, the functional implications of this heterogeneity have not yet been determined. Functionally aberrant iNKT responses have been previously demonstrated in different autoimmune diseases, including human type 1 diabetes, but their relationship to changes in the iNKT clonal repertoire have not been addressed. In this study, we directly compared the clonal iNKT repertoire of people with recent onset type 1 diabetes and age- and gender-matched healthy controls with regard to iNKT-TCR affinity and cytokine production. Our results demonstrate a selective loss of clones expressing high-affinity iNKT-TCRs from the iNKT repertoire of people with type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, this bias in the clonal iNKT repertoire in type 1 diabetes was associated with increased GM-CSF, IL-4, and IL-13 cytokine secretion among Ag-stimulated low-affinity iNKT clones. Thus, qualitative changes of the clonal iNKT repertoire with the potential to affect the regulatory function of this highly conserved T cell population are already established at the early stages in type 1 diabetes. These findings may inform future rationales for the development of iNKT-based therapies aiming to restore immune tolerance in type 1 diabetes.
Prostaglandin E2 Inhibition of IL-27 Production in Murine Dendritic Cells: A Novel Mechanism That Involves IRF1
Authors: Hooper Kirsten M. , Yen Jui-Hung , Kong Weimin , Rahbari Kate M. , Kuo Ping-Chang , Gamero Ana M. , Ganea Doina
Published: January 2017

IL-27, a multifunctional cytokine produced by APCs, antagonizes inflammation by affecting conventional dendritic cells (cDC), inducing IL-10, and promoting development of regulatory Tr1 cells. Although the mechanisms involved in IL-27 induction are well studied, much less is known about the factors that negatively impact IL-27 expression. PGE2, a major immunomodulatory prostanoid, acts as a proinflammatory agent in several models of inflammatory/autoimmune disease, promoting primarily Th17 development and function. In this study, we report on a novel mechanism that promotes the proinflammatory function of PGE2. We showed previously that PGE2 inhibits IL-27 production in murine bone marrow–derived DCs. In this study, we show that, in addition to bone marrow–derived DCs, PGE2 inhibits IL-27 production in macrophages and in splenic cDC, and we identify a novel pathway consisting of signaling through EP2/EP4→induction of cAMP→downregulation of IFN regulatory factor 1 expression and binding to the p28 IFN-stimulated response element site. The inhibitory effect of PGE2 on p28 and irf1 expression does not involve endogenous IFN-β, STAT1, or STAT2, and inhibition of IL-27 does not appear to be mediated through PKA, exchange protein activated by cAMP, PI3K, or MAPKs. We observed similar inhibition of il27p28 expression in vivo in splenic DC following administration of dimethyl PGE2 in conjunction with LPS. Based on the anti-inflammatory role of IL-27 in cDC and through the generation of Tr1 cells, we propose that the PGE2-induced inhibition of IL-27 in activated cDC represents an important additional mechanism for its in vivo proinflammatory functions.
Monoclonal Antibodies against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Acquire an Ability To Kill Tumor Cells through Complement Activation by Mutations That Selectively Facilitate the Hexamerization of IgG on Opsonized Cells
Authors: Tammen Annalina , Derer Stefanie , Schwanbeck Ralf , Rösner Thies , Kretschmer Anna , Beurskens Frank J. , Schuurman Janine , Parren Paul W. H. I. , Valerius Thomas
Published: January 2017

Triggering of the complement cascade induces tumor cell lysis via complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and attracts and activates cytotoxic cells. It therefore represents an attractive mechanism for mAb in cancer immunotherapy development. The classical complement pathway is initiated by IgG molecules that have assembled into ordered hexamers after binding their Ag on the tumor cell surface. The requirements for CDC are further impacted by factors such as Ab epitope, valency, and affinity. Thus, mAb against well-validated solid tumor targets, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that effectively induces complement activation and CDC, are highly sought after. The potency of complement activation by IgG Abs can be increased via several strategies. We identified single-point mutations in the Fc domain (e.g., E345K or E430G) enhancing Fc:Fc interactions, hexamer formation, and CDC after Ab binds cell-surface Ag. We show that EGFR Abs directed against clinically relevant epitopes can be converted into mAb with unprecedented CDC activity. Alternative strategies rely on increasing the affinity of monomeric IgG for C1q by introduction of a quadruple mutation at the C1q binding site or via generation of an IgG1/IgG3 chimera. In this study we show that selective enhancement of C1q binding via avidity modulation is superior to the unattended increase in C1q binding via affinity approaches, particularly for target cells with reduced EGFR expression levels. Improving Fc:Fc interactions of Ag-bound IgG therefore represents a highly promising and novel approach for potentiating the anti-tumor activity of therapeutic mAb against EGFR and potentially other tumor targets.
Subclinical Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infections Provide Site-Specific Resistance to an Unrelated Pathogen
Authors: Rowe Alexander M. , Yun Hongming , Treat Benjamin R. , Kinchington Paul R. , Hendricks Robert L.
Published: January 2017

HSV-1 infections of the cornea range in severity from minor transient discomfort to the blinding disease herpes stromal keratitis, yet most patients experience a single episode of epithelial keratitis followed by re-establishment of a clear cornea. We asked whether a single transient episode of HSV-1 epithelial keratitis causes long-term changes in the corneal microenvironment that influence immune responses to subsequent corneal infection or trauma. We showed that C57BL/6 mouse corneas infected with HSV-1 KOS, which induces transient herpes epithelial keratitis without herpes stromal keratitis sequelae, possessed a significant leukocytic infiltrate composed primarily of CD4+ T cells and macrophages along with elevated chemokines and cytokines that persisted without loss of corneal clarity (subclinical inflammation). Chemokine and cytokine expression was CD4+ T cell dependent, in that their production was significantly reduced by systemic CD4+ T cell depletion starting before infection, although short-term (3-d) local CD4+ T cell depletion postinfection did not influence chemokine levels in cornea. Corneas with subclinical inflammation developed significantly greater trauma-induced inflammation when they were recipients of syngeneic corneal transplants but also exhibited significantly increased resistance to infections by unrelated pathogens, such as pseudorabies virus. The resistance to pseudorabies virus was CD4+ T cell dependent, because it was eliminated by local CD4+ T cell depletion from the cornea. We conclude that transient HSV-1 corneal infections cause long-term alterations of the corneal microenvironment that provide CD4-dependent innate resistance to subsequent infections by antigenically unrelated pathogens.
A New Path for Management Education in an Emerging Country
Authors: Çoban Kayacı Ayşe
Published: January 2017

Management education has a long history in Turkey, but it still has so many structural problems. Both scholars and practitioners complain about the inconsistencies with theoretical and practical sides of university education in management field. Lack of critical thinking and ethical values have become first hand problems of management education both globally and nationally. This study focuses on the evolution of management education and its historical problems in the light of global perspectives. Suggestions to solve intrinsic matters in university education for a better human resource quality and business life for Turkey have been made.
Usage of Social Media in City Marketing: A Research on 30 Metropolitan Municipalities in Turkey
Authors: Gümüş Niyazi
Published: January 2017

Rapid changes in information and communication technologies cause serious developments in marketing field similar to every sector. In parallel with these developments, the social media channels which appear as Web 2.0 applications have a number of advantages in comparison with traditional media channels. Social media gained a place in marketing activities because of its advantages. Social media is added on instruments in line with these developments that countries benefit in marketing activities for attracting more tourists, investment and becoming prominent against the other cities. Cities intensively benefit from social media because of social media’s properties like reaching the large masses, low marketing cost, interaction, receiving feedbacks rapidly, etc. Within this context, the purpose of this research is to determine the use statuses of social media by metropolitan municipalities as part of city marketing. In accordance with this purpose, official social media accounts of 30 metropolitan municipalities are investigated between the dates of 01/09/2016 and 30/09/2016, then their shares in social media channels are investigated in the context of city marketing.It is observed that two metropolitan municipalities do not have official Facebook accounts, four metropolitan municipalities do not have an official Twitter account as well. Again, it is found that 19 metropolitan municipalities do not have an official Instagram account and 17 metropolitan municipalities do not have official YouTube account. In consequence, it is observed that, our metropolitan municipalities do not benefit from social media effectively for city marketing activities.
Youth Motivations for Program Participation
Authors: McGuire Jenifer K. , Dworkin Jodi , Borden Lynne M. , Perkins Daniel , Russell Stephen T.
Published: January 2017

Through their participation in youth programs, young people have access to opportunities to learn and build important skills. A total of 214 youth between the ages of 10-19 (mean 15.5 years) completed an online survey about characteristics of youth programs they participated in, didn’t participate in, and had participated in but quit. We found that youth participated in activities that provided a benefit to meet personal goals or develop skills. However, our findings suggest that youth may leave activities, or never join them, based on different sets of motivations than the reasons they stay in activities. There was variability across demographic groups: Males reported more problems with past activities, sexual minority youth were more likely to endorse social problems with past and never joined activities, and ethnic minorities reported less support for personal goals and connection to adults in current activities and more logistic barriers for activities never joined.
Line Managers’ Devolution in Achieving Employee Engagement: Cracking the Code for Organizational Performance
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zeeshan
Published: January 2017

In this era of economic downturn, corporate and organizational progress does not necessarily translates into human and people development and thus due to the past decades, there is a growing competition all over the world and every business organization is seeking for ways on how to compete successfully in such an environment and this apparently would induce the corporate world to jump at the opportunity to promote productivity within an organization. In this context, the research discovered the need of the most significant and contemporary practice of organization called “Employee Engagement” that could easily foster organizational performance in the long run. Seen in this light, this piece of research identifies the root causes of engagement issues and processes. To put it in other way, this study significantly examines what the employees aspire in order to get involved and engaged within their job roles and also think about the implications of addressing the factors that Line Managers’ should espoused to enhance engagement in order to improve organizational performance. In fact, the primary research findings indicated the lack of engagement processes among employees within the firm and exhibit the importance of promoting pay, recognition, autonomy, social support, and relationships, transparent methods of recruitment & selection, and flexible work hours to engage employees.
Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma in the Forearm: A Case Report
Authors: Alshareef Hatim Mohammed A , Alhasan Ahmed Hassan A , Felemban Mohammed G. , Almalki Ashwaq Mohammed J , Alshareef Amer Mohammed A
Published: January 2017

Background: Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma [AFH] is a rare soft tissue tumor most commonly occurring in children, adolescents, and young adults. It is considered to be a tumor of intermediate malignancy because of its less aggressive course. The extremities are the most common site of involvement, followed by the trunk and head and neck.Case presentation: A 28-Year-old male presented with a right forearm mass that has been present for 2 years. There was no associated fever, no trauma, no night pain and no constitutional symptoms. On examination he had a forearm mass dorsally measuring 2x3 cm, firm, rounded, mobile with no skin changes and full range motion joint above and joint below. Lab and imaging studies done which showed soft tissue mass, multilobulated complex heterogeneous with increased vascularity. Patient underwent biopsy and surgical excision.Conclusion: Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a neoplasm of intermediate biologic potential. Most often, the extremities are the most common site of involvement, followed by the trunk and head and neck of children and young adults. Its rarity may lead to misdiagnosis as either a reactive lesion or a benign or higher-grade tumor. This tumor has a relatively rare metastasis and its overall clinical outcome is excellent. It is clinically important to accurately diagnose this tumor so that wide local excision may be performed and patients may be appropriately monitored and followed up.
A Landscape Never Goes Out of Style. Diachronic Lexical Variation in Exhibition Press Announcements
Authors: Lazzeretti Cecilia
Published: January 2017

The paper focuses on diachronic lexical variation in a professional textual genre which has gained growing importance over time in the fi eld of museum public relations and art discourse: exhibition press announcements (EPAs). The aim of the analysis is to investigate the language of EPAs from a diachronic perspective in order to identify word frequencies showing large increases or decreases, or stability in word frequencies. Baker’s (2011) method to distinguish variation over time across multiple corpora was applied and particular attention was placed on the presence of “lockwords”, i.e. words “relatively static in terms of frequency” (Baker 2011: 66). The analysis is carried out on a corpus of EPAs dating from 1950 to 2009 issued by American and British museums. The study reports on a number of trends relating to linguistic and cultural change of EPAs, including the emergence of new criteria in assessing the value of artists and artworks despite a certain consistency in terms of subjects, the shift from one-item to multi-item exhibitions and the preference for more vivid and straight-forward descriptions. For instance, the frequency of the noun landscape has remained stable over time, suggesting that this subject is particularly consistent in art displays, quite a sort of classic, that never grows old, while the artist's career  – a word showing a clear pattern of growth –  has become particularly valuable over time for museum professionals in charge of exhibitions.
Beatrice Fischer & Matilde Nisbeth Jensen (eds.) 2012. Translation and the Reconfi guration
Authors: Hvelplund Kristian Tangsgaard
Published: January 2017

No abstract.
Analyzing native membrane protein assembly in nanodiscs by combined non-covalent mass spectrometry and synthetic biology
Authors: Henrich Erik , Peetz Oliver , Hein Christopher , Laguerre Aisha , Hoffmann Beate , Hoffmann Jan , Dötsch Volker , Bernhard Frank , Morgner Nina
Published: January 2017

Membrane proteins frequently assemble into higher order homo- or hetero-oligomers within their natural lipid environment. This complex formation can modulate their folding, activity as well as substrate selectivity. Non-disruptive methods avoiding critical steps, such as membrane disintegration, transfer into artificial environments or chemical modifications are therefore essential to analyze molecular mechanisms of native membrane protein assemblies. The combination of cell-free synthetic biology, nanodisc-technology and non-covalent mass spectrometry provides excellent synergies for the analysis of membrane protein oligomerization within defined membranes. We exemplify our strategy by oligomeric state characterization of various membrane proteins including ion channels, transporters and membrane-integrated enzymes assembling up to hexameric complexes. We further indicate a lipid-dependent dimer formation of MraY translocase correlating with the enzymatic activity. The detergent-free synthesis of membrane protein/nanodisc samples and the analysis by LILBID mass spectrometry provide a versatile platform for the analysis of membrane proteins in a native environment.
Dissection of the host-pathogen interaction in human tuberculosis using a bioengineered 3-dimensional model
Authors: Tezera Liku B , Bielecka Magdalena K , Chancellor Andrew , Reichmann Michaela T , Shammari Basim Al , Brace Patience , Batty Alex , Tocheva Annie , Jogai Sanjay , Marshall Ben G , Tebruegge Marc , Jayasinghe Suwan N , Mansour Salah , Elkington Paul T
Published: January 2017

Cell biology differs between traditional cell culture and 3-dimensional (3-D) systems, and is modulated by the extracellular matrix. Experimentation in 3-D presents challenges, especially with virulent pathogens. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) kills more humans than any other infection and is characterised by a spatially organised immune response and extracellular matrix remodelling. We developed a 3-D system incorporating virulent mycobacteria, primary human blood mononuclear cells and collagen–alginate matrix to dissect the host-pathogen interaction. Infection in 3-D led to greater cellular survival and permitted longitudinal analysis over 21 days. Key features of human tuberculosis develop, and extracellular matrix integrity favours the host over the pathogen. We optimised multiparameter readouts to study emerging therapeutic interventions: cytokine supplementation, host-directed therapy and immunoaugmentation. Each intervention modulates the host-pathogen interaction, but has both beneficial and harmful effects. This methodology has wide applicability to investigate infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases and develop novel drug regimes and vaccination approaches.
Targeting of the Fun30 nucleosome remodeller by the Dpb11 scaffold facilitates cell cycle-regulated DNA end resection
Authors: Bantele Susanne CS , Ferreira Pedro , Gritenaite Dalia , Boos Dominik , Pfander Boris
Published: January 2017

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) can be repaired by either recombination-based or direct ligation-based mechanisms. Pathway choice is made at the level of DNA end resection, a nucleolytic processing step, which primes DSBs for repair by recombination. Resection is thus under cell cycle control, but additionally regulated by chromatin and nucleosome remodellers. Here, we show that both layers of control converge in the regulation of resection by the evolutionarily conserved Fun30/SMARCAD1 remodeller. Budding yeast Fun30 and human SMARCAD1 are cell cycle-regulated by interaction with the DSB-localized scaffold protein Dpb11/TOPBP1, respectively. In yeast, this protein assembly additionally comprises the 9-1-1 damage sensor, is involved in localizing Fun30 to damaged chromatin, and thus is required for efficient long-range resection of DSBs. Notably, artificial targeting of Fun30 to DSBs is sufficient to bypass the cell cycle regulation of long-range resection, indicating that chromatin remodelling during resection is underlying DSB repair pathway choice.