bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incomplete information about the partner affects the development of collaborative strategies in joint action
Authors: Chackochan Vinil T. , Sanguineti Vittorio
Published: July 2018

Physical interaction with a partner plays an essential role in our life experience and is the basis of many daily activities. When two physically coupled humans have different and partly conflicting goals, they face the challenge of negotiating some type of collaboration. This requires that both subjects understand their opponent’s state and current actions. But, how would the collaboration be affected if information about their opponent were unreliable or incomplete? Here we show that incomplete information about the partner affects not only the speed at which a collaborative strategy is achieved (less information, slower learning), but also the modality of the collaboration. In particular, incomplete or unreliable information leads to an interaction strategy characterized by alternating leader-follower roles. In contrast, more reliable information leads to a more synchronous behavior, in which no specific roles can be identified. Simulations based on a combination of game theory and Bayesian estimation suggested that synchronous behaviors denote optimal interaction (Nash equilibrium). Roles emerge as sub-optimal forms of interaction, which minimize the need to know about the partner. These findings suggest that physical interaction strategies are shaped by the trade-off of between the task requirements and the uncertainty of the information available about the opponent.

Author summary

Many activities in daily life involve physical interaction with a partner or opponent. In many situations they have conflicting goals. Therefore, they need to negotiate some form of collaboration. Although very common, these situations have rarely been studied empirically. In this study, we specifically address what is a ‘optimal’ collaboration and how it can be achieved. We also address how developing a collaboration is affected by uncertainty about the partner. Through a combination of empirical studies and computer simulations based on game theory, we show that subject pairs (dyads) are capable of developing stable collaborations, but the learned collaboration strategy depends on the reliability of the information about the partner. High-information dyads converge to the optimal strategies in game-theoretic sense. Low-information dyads converge to strategies that minimize the need to know about the partner. These findings are consistent with a game theoretic learning model which relies on estimates of partner actions, but not partner goals. This similarity sheds some light on the minimal computational machinery which is necessary to an intelligent agent in order to develop stable physical collaborations.
Mitochondrial proline catabolism activates Ras1/cAMP/PKA-induced filamentation inCandida albicans
Authors: Silao Fitz Gerald S. , Ward Meliza , Ryman Kicki , Wallström Axel , Brindefalk Björn , Udekwu Klas , Ljungdahl Per O.
Published: July 2018

Amino acids are among the earliest identified inducers of yeast-to-hyphal transitions inCandida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. Here, we show that the morphogenic amino acids arginine, ornithine and proline are internalized and metabolized in mitochondria via aPUT1- andPUT2-dependent pathway that results in enhanced ATP production. Elevated ATP levels correlate with Ras1/cAMP/PKA pathway activation and Efg1-induced gene expression. The magnitude of amino acid-induced filamentation is linked to glucose availability; high levels of glucose repress mitochondrial function thereby dampening filamentation. Furthermore, arginine-induced morphogenesis occurs more rapidly and independently of Dur1,2-catalyzed urea degradation, indicating that mitochondrial-generated ATP, not CO2, is the primary morphogenic signal derived from arginine metabolism. The important role of the SPS-sensor of extracellular amino acids in morphogenesis is the consequence of induced amino acid permease gene expression, i.e., SPS-sensor activation enhances the capacity of cells to take up morphogenic amino acids, a requisite for their catabolism.C. albicanscells engulfed by murine macrophages filament, resulting in macrophage lysis. Phagocytosedput1-/-andput2-/- cells do not filament and do not lyse macrophages, consistent with a critical role of mitochondrial proline metabolism in virulence.
Rationally derived inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) p7 channel activity reveal prospect for bimodal antiviral therapy
Authors: Shaw Joseph , Gosein Rajendra , Kalita Monoj Mon , Foster Toshana L. , Kankanala Jayakanth , Mahato D. Ram , Scott Claire , King Barnabas J. , Brown Emma , Bentham Matthew J. , Wetherill Laura , Bloy Abigail , Samson Adel , Harris Mark , Mankouri Jamel , Rowlands David , Macdonald Andrew , Tarr Alexander W. , Fischer Wolfgang B. , Foster Richard , Griffin Stephen
Published: July 2018

Since the 1960s, a single class of agent has been licensed targeting virus-encoded ion channels, or “viroporins”, contrasting the success of channel blocking drugs in other areas of medicine. Although resistance arose to these prototypic adamantane inhibitors of the influenza A virus (IAV) M2 proton channel, a growing number of clinically and economically important viruses are now recognised to encode essential viroporins providing potential targets for modern drug discovery.

We describe the first rationally designed viroporin inhibitor with a comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR). This step-change in understanding not only revealed a second biological function for the p7 viroporin from hepatitis C virus (HCV) during virus entry, but also enabled the synthesis of a labelled tool compound that retained biological activity. Hence, p7 inhibitors (p7i) represent a unique class of HCV antiviral targeting both the spread and establishment of infection, as well as a precedent for future viroporin-targeted drug discovery.
mRNA compartmentalisation spatially orients tissue morphogenesis
Authors: Costa Guilherme , Bradbury Joshua , Tarannum Nawseen , Herbert Shane P.
Published: July 2018

Polarised targeting of diverse mRNAs to motile cellular protrusions is a hallmark of cell migration1–3. Although a widespread phenomenon, definitive functions for endogenous targeted mRNAs and their relevance to modulation of in-vivo tissue dynamics remain elusive. Here, using single-molecule analysis, endogenous gene-edited mRNAs and zebrafish in-vivo live-cell imaging, we report that mRNA polarisation acts as a molecular compass that orients motile cell polarity and spatially directs tissue movement. Clustering of protrusion-derived RNAseq datasets defined a core 192 bp localisation element underpinning precise mRNA targeting to incipient sites of filopodia formation at cell protrusions. Such targeting of the small GTPase, RAB13, generated tight spatial coupling of mRNA localisation, translation and protein activity, achieving precise subcellular compartmentalisation of RAB13 protein function to create a polarised domain of filopodia extension. Consequently, genomic excision of this localisation element and specific perturbation of endogenous RAB13 targeting – but not translation – depolarised filopodial dynamics in motile endothelial cells and induced miss-patterning of nascent blood vessels in-vivo. Hence, mRNA polarisation, not expression, is the primary spatial determinant of the site of RAB13 action, preventing ectopic functionality at inappropriate subcellular loci and orienting tissue morphogenesis. Considering the unexpected spatial diversity of other polarised mRNA clusters we identified, mRNA-mediated compartmentalisation of protein function at distinct subcellular sites likely coordinates broad aspects of in-vivo tissue behaviour.
Gene-Based Analysis in HRC Imputed Genome Wide Association Data Identifies Three Novel Genes For Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Baker Emily , Sims Rebecca , Leonenko Ganna , Frizzati Aura , Harwood Janet , Grozeva Detelina ,   GERAD/PERADES,   IGAP consortia, Morgan Kevin , Passmore Peter , Holmes Clive , Powell John , Brayne Carol , Gill Michael , Mead Simon , Heun Reiner , Bossù Paola , Spalletta Gianfranco , Goate Alison , Cruchaga Carlos , van Duijn Cornelia , Maier Wolfgang , Ramirez Alfredo , Jones Lesley , Hardy John , Ivanov Dobril , Hill Matthew , Holmans Peter , Allen Nicholas , Morgan Paul , Williams Julie , Escott-Price Valentina ,   GERAD Consortium,   ADGC Consortium,   CHARGE Consortium,   EADI Consortium
Published: July 2018

A novel POLARIS gene-based analysis approach was employed to compute gene-based polygenic risk score (PRS) for all individuals in the latest HRC imputed GERAD (N cases=3,332 and N controls=9,832) data using the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project summary statistics (N cases=13,676 and N controls=27,322, excluding GERAD subjects) to identify the SNPs and weight their risk alleles for the PRS score. SNPs were assigned to known, protein coding genes using GENCODE (v19). SNPs are assigned using both 1) no window around the gene and 2) a window of 35kb upstream and 10kb downstream to include transcriptional regulatory elements. The overall association of a gene is determined using a logistic regression model, adjusting for population covariates.

Three novel gene-wide significant genes were determined from the POLARIS gene-based analysis using a gene window; PPARGC1A, RORA and ZNF423. The ZNF423 gene resides in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-specific protein network which also includes other AD-related genes. The PPARGC1A gene has been linked to energy metabolism and the generation of amyloid beta plaques and the RORA has strong links with genes which are differentially expressed in the hippocampus. We also demonstrate no enrichment for genes in either loss of function intolerant or conserved noncoding sequence regions.
Fast Optical Sectioning for Widefield Fluorescence Mesoscopy with the Mesolens based on HiLo Microscopy
Authors: Schniete Jan , Franssen Aimee , Dempster John , Bushell Trevor , Amos William Bradshaw , McConnell Gail
Published: July 2018

We present here a fast optical sectioning method for optical mesoscopy based on HiLo microscopy, which makes possible imaging of specimens of up to 4.4 mm × 3 mm × 3 mm in volume in under 17 hours (estimated for a z-stack comprising 1000 images excluding computation time) with subcellular resolution throughout. Widefield epifluorescence imaging is performed with the Mesolens using a high pixel-number camera capable of sensor-shifting to generate a 259.5 Megapixel image, and we have developed custom software to perform HiLo processing of the very large datasets. Using this method, we obtain comparable sectioning strength to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), with sections as thin as 6.8±0.2 μm and raw acquisition speed of 1 minute per slice which is up to 30 times faster than CLSM on the full field of view (FOV) of the Mesolens of 4.4 mm with lateral resolution of 0.7 μm and axial resolution of 7 μm. We have applied this HiLo mesoscopy method to image fixed and fluorescently stained hippocampal neuronal specimens and a 5-day old zebrafish larva.
Heat-stress triggers MAPK crosstalk to turn on the hyper-osmotic response pathway
Authors: Dunayevich Paula , Baltanás Rodrigo , Clemente José , Couto Alicia , Sapochnik Daiana , Colman-Lerner Alejandro
Published: July 2018

Cells make decisions based on a combination of external and internal signals. In yeast, the high osmolarity response (HOG) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway that responds to a variety of stimuli, and it is central to the general stress response. Here we studied the effect of heat-stress (HS) on HOG. Using live-cell reporters and genetics, we show that HS promotes Hog1 phosphorylation and gene expression, exclusively via the Sln1 phosphorelay branch, and that the strength of the activation is larger in yeast adapted to high external osmolarity. HS stimulation of HOG is indirect. First, we found that it depends on the operation of a second MAPK pathway, the cell-wall integrity (CWI), a well-known mediator of HS. Second, we show that HS causes glycerol loss via the channel Fps1, and that strictly requires the CWI MAPK Slt2. Third, blocking glycerol efflux also blocks HOG activation, strongly suggesting that it is the resulting loss of turgor by the loss of the accompanying water what causes HOG stimulation. Thus, taken together, our findings highlight a central role for Fps1, and the metabolism of glycerol, in the communication between the yeast MAPK pathways, essential for survival and reproduction in changing environments.
ReaDDy 2: Fast and flexible software framework for interacting-particle reaction dynamics
Authors: Hoffmann Moritz , Fröhner Christoph , Noé Frank
Published: July 2018

Interacting-particle reaction dynamics (iPRD) combines the simulation of dynamical trajectories of interacting particles as in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with reaction kinetics, in which particles appear, disappear, or change their type and interactions based on a set of reaction rules. This combination facilitates the simulation of reaction kinetics in crowded environments, involving complex molecular geometries such as polymers, and employing complex reaction mechanisms such as breaking and fusion of polymers. iPRD simulations are ideal to simulate the detailed spatiotemporal reaction mechanism in complex and dense environments, such as in signalling processes at cellular membranes, or in nano- to microscale chemical reactors. Here we introduce the iPRD software ReaDDy 2, which provides a Python interface in which the simulation environment, particle interactions and reaction rules can be conveniently defined and the simulation can be run, stored and analyzed. A C++ interface is available to enable deeper and more flexible interactions with the framework. The main computational work of ReaDDy 2 is done in hardware-specific simulation kernels. While the version introduced here provides single- and multi-threading CPU kernels, the architecture is ready to implement GPU and multi-node kernels. We demonstrate the efficiency and validity of ReaDDy 2 using several benchmark examples. ReaDDy 2 is available at the https://readdy.github.io/ website.
Contrasting patterns of divergence at the regulatory and sequence level in EuropeanDaphnia galeatanatural populations
Authors: Ravindran Suda Parimala , Herrmann Maike , Cordellier Mathilde
Published: July 2018

Understanding the genetic basis of local adaptation has long been a focus of evolutionary biology. Recently there has been increased interest in deciphering the evolutionary role ofDaphnia’s plasticity and the molecular mechanisms of local adaptation. Using transcriptome data, we assessed the differences in gene expression profiles and sequences in four EuropeanDaphnia galeatapopulations. In total, ~33% of 32,903 transcripts were differentially expressed between populations. Among 10,280 differentially expressed transcripts, 5,209 transcripts deviated from neutral expectations and their population-specific expression pattern is likely the result of local adaptation processes. Furthermore, a SNP analysis allowed inferring population structure and distribution of genetic variation. The population divergence at the sequence-level was comparatively higher than the gene expression level by several orders of magnitude and consistent with strong founder effects and lack of gene flow between populations. Using sequence information, the candidate transcripts were annotated using a comparative genomics approach. Thus, we identified candidate transcriptomic regions for local adaptation in a key species of aquatic ecosystems in the absence of any laboratory induced stressor.
Protein Structural Biology Using Cell-Free Platform from Wheat Germ
Authors: Novikova Irina V. , Sharma Noopur , Moser Trevor , Sontag Ryan , Liu Yan , Collazo Michael J. , Cascio Duilio , Shokuhfar Tolou , Hellmann Hanjo , Knoblauch Michael , Evans James E.
Published: July 2018

One of the biggest bottlenecks for structural analysis of proteins remains the creation of high yield and high purity samples of the target protein. Cell-free protein synthesis technologies are powerful and customizable platforms for obtaining functional proteins of interest in short timeframes while avoiding potential toxicity issues and permitting high-throughput screening. These methods have benefited many areas of genomic and proteomics research, therapeutics, vaccine development and protein chip constructions. In this work, we demonstrate a versatile and multistage eukaryotic wheat-germ cell-free protein expression pipeline to generate functional proteins of different sizes from multiple host organism and DNA source origins. We also developed a robust purification procedure, which can produce highly-pure (>98%) proteins with no specialized equipment required and minimal time invested. This pipeline successfully produced and analyzed proteins in all three major geometry formats used for structural biology including single particle analysis, and both two-dimensional and three-dimensional protein crystallography. The flexibility of the wheat germ system in combination with the multiscale pipeline described here provides a new workflow for rapid generation of samples for structural characterization that may not be amenable to other recombinant approaches.
Determining the orientation of parent β grain from one α variant in titanium alloys
Authors: Zhao Z. B. , Wang Q. J. , Wang H. , Liu J. R. , Yang R.
Published: July 2018

The relationship between the crystallographic orientation and habit plane normal of transformed α laths in titanium alloys is discussed according to the Burgers orientation relationship and the three-dimensional structure of the α lath. A new method (orientation–trace method) is developed to determine the orientation of the parent β phase using the orientation of the α lath, which was measured by electron backscatter diffraction, and the microstructural morphology of that α variant. This approach is validated in a near-α titanium alloy. Moreover, the habit plane normal direction of the transformed α lath can be obtained from the crystallographic orientations of the α lath itself and its parent β grain. The verification and the corresponding discussion show the reliability of this approach.
Analysis of small-angle scattering data using model fitting and Bayesian regularization
Authors: Larsen Andreas Haahr , Arleth Lise , Hansen Steen
Published: July 2018

The structure of macromolecules can be studied by small-angle scattering (SAS), but as this is an ill-posed problem, prior knowledge about the sample must be included in the analysis. Regularization methods are used for this purpose, as already implemented in indirect Fourier transformation and bead-modeling-based analysis of SAS data, but not yet in the analysis of SAS data with analytical form factors. To fill this gap, a Bayesian regularization method was implemented, where the prior information was quantified as probability distributions for the model parameters and included via a functional S. The quantity Q = χ2 + αS was then minimized and the value of the regularization parameter α determined by probability maximization. The method was tested on small-angle X-ray scattering data from a sample of nanodiscs and a sample of micelles. The parameters refined with the Bayesian regularization method were closer to the prior values as compared with conventional χ2 minimization. Moreover, the errors on the refined parameters were generally smaller, owing to the inclusion of prior information. The Bayesian method stabilized the refined values of the fitted model upon addition of noise and can thus be used to retrieve information from data with low signal-to-noise ratio without risk of overfitting. Finally, the method provides a measure for the information content in data, N
g, which represents the effective number of retrievable parameters, taking into account the imposed prior knowledge as well as the noise level in data.
Influence of inlet boundary conditions in computations of turbulent jet flames
Authors: Lewandowski Michał T. , Płuszka Paweł , Pozorski Jacek
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the sensitivity of numerical simulation results of turbulent reactive flow to the formulation of inlet boundary conditions. The analysis concerns the profiles of the mean velocity the turbulence kinetic energy k and its dissipation rate ϵ. It is intended to provide guidance to the determination of inlet conditions when only global flow data are available. This situation can be met both in simple laboratory experiments and in industrial full-scale applications, when measurements are either incomplete or infeasible, resulting in lack of detailed inlet data.

Design/methodology/approach

Two turbulence–chemistry interaction models were studied: eddy dissipation concept and partially stirred reactor. Three different velocity profiles and related turbulence statistics were applied to present feasible scenarios and their consequences. Simulations with the most appropriate inlet data were accompanied with profiles of turbulent quantities obtained with a proposed method. This method was contrasted to other approaches popular in the literature: the pre-inlet pipe and the separate cold flow simulations of a burner. The methodology was validated on two laboratory-scale jet flames: Delft Jet-in-Hot-Coflow and Sandia CHN B. The simulations were carried out with open source code OpenFOAM.

Findings

The proposed relations for turbulence kinetic energy and its dissipation rate at the inlet are found to provide results comparable to those obtained with the use of experimental data as inlet boundary conditions. Moreover, from a certain location downstream the jet, weakly dependent on the Reynolds number, the influence of inlet conditions on flow statistics was found to be negligible.

Originality/value

This work reveals the consequences of the use of rather crude assumptions made for inlet boundary conditions. Proposed formulas for the profiles for k and epsilon are attractive alternatives to other approaches aiming to determine the inlet boundary conditions for turbulent jet flows.
The influence of information technology strategy and management support to the internal business process, competitive advantage, financial and non-financial performance of the company
Authors: Astuti Endang , Suhadak  , Rahayu Sri Mangesti , Wilopo
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a research to analyze and to explain the influence of information technology strategy (ITS) and management support (MS) on internal business processes (IBPs), competitive advantage (CA) and financial performance (FP) and non-financial performance (NFP) of a company.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative approach and is included in an explanatory research. This study belongs to the category of perceptive research, and the unit of analysis is an individual (Singarimbun and dan Effendi, 1989). The study population is Carrefour executives/managers. The unit of analysis in this study is an individual who is a Carrefour manager and who becomes the sample. This study is conducted throughout the Carrefour chains in Indonesia. Method of data analysis uses descriptive analysis and inferential statistic, using partial least square.

Findings

This study found that ITS has no significant effect on FP, but it has a significant effect on NFP. It also found that MS has a significant effect on IBP CA and FP and NFP. This study found that IBPs have no significant effect on FP but have a significant effect on NFP and CA. CA has no significant effect on FP, but it has a significant effect on NFP. Further, NFP has a significant effect on FP.

Originality/value

This research is important to understand comprehensively the relationship between information technology and IBPs, CA and company performance. The difference between this study and previous studies is that this study examines the relationship between MS and IBP to CA, NFP and corporate FP.
Using news to predict Chinese medicinal material price index movements
Authors: Yu Miao , Guo Chonghui
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach for predicting the movements of Chinese medicinal material price indexes using news based on text mining.

Design/methodology/approach

A research framework and three major methods, namely, domain dictionary construction, market convergence time calculation and dimensionality reduction integrating semantic analysis, are proposed for the approach. The proposed approach is applied in practice for predicting the price index movements of the top ten Chinese medicinal materials that receive the greatest media attention.

Findings

A set of experiments performed herein show that a predictive relationship exists between the news and the commodity market and that each of the three major methods improves the forecasting performance.

Research limitations/implications

Because the field of Chinese medicinal materials lacks a corpus that can be used for sentiment analysis, the accuracy of a trained automatic sentiment classifier is lower than obtained by a manual method, which can cause the calculated convergence result to be inaccurate, thus affecting the final prediction model. The manual method of having people label news decreases the proposed method’s aspects of being intelligent and automatic.

Practical implications

Using the method proposed herein to predict the trends in Chinese medicinal materials prices helps farmers arrange a reasonable planting plan to pursue their best interests.

Social implications

The method proposed herein to predict the trends in the prices of Chinese medicinal materials is conducive to the government arranging planned drug availabilities in order to avoid disasters in which herbs are looted.

Originality/value

The produced prediction result is meaningful in supporting farmers and investors to make better decisions in growing and trading Chinese medicinal material, which leads to financial returns on investments and the avoidance of severe losses.
Financial health and management practices: a multi-year cross country analysis of PLCs
Authors: Hasan Md Shamimul , Omar Normah , Hassan ABM Rashedul
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between financial strength or condition and managerial practices in preparing financial statements of public limited companies. The objectives of this study are threefold – to measure the financial strength, to measure integrity index and to examine the relationship between management practices and financial strength.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial ratios, Altman’s Z-Score, integrity index, ranking approach and chi-square test are used to achieve the objectives. A multi-year cross-country analysis is done by considering sample of seven Asian countries, namely, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Japan.

Findings

The study catches the relationship between management practices and financial strength across sample countries. Management practices is one of the responsible factors for this relationship. They use discretionary power in preparing financial statements to control the trading results. The principles of accounting do not support the alteration of financial data to look the company better on paper. The cost of financial statement fraud is higher than other occupational fraud.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not cover factors other than management practices and further study could be conducted to look for the other reasons that may also responsible for the deviations.

Practical implications

Conflict of interest between shareholders and board of directors is not a new phenomenon. Auditing system is introduced to minimize this conflict of interest, but they failed to uphold their position in reality. Management also needs to prove their integrity in financial statements. Ethical consideration is the highest priority.

Social implications

Stakeholders, especially regulators, professional bodies and academics, should concentrate on the issue on ‘how to reduce the manipulation in financial statements’ to create a safe investments avenue for the nation.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidences regarding the influence of management practices on financial statements and financial strength of listed companies across countries. The culture, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, etc., are different from country to country. The aim is to contribute empirical evidence about the relationship between management practices and financial health in different settings. This study is first of its kind.
Ascertaining the effectiveness of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in tackling corruptions in Nigeria
Authors: Umar Ibrahim , Samsudin Rose Shamsiah , Mohamed Mudzamir bn
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of their role in tackling systemic corruptions and to associate how institutional and organizational factors influence the performance of the EFCC.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, non-participatory observations and documentary analysis.

Findings

The results of the integrative analysis show that the EFCC has apparently been ineffective, and further improvization of the organization is needed. Poor performance of the EFCC was associated with factors such as lack of commitment, inefficient judiciary, insufficient budgets and incompetent personnel.

Practical implications

This study recommends further improvements in the form of a greater political will, improved legal process and also elevated budgetary funds and recruitment of personnel to the EFCC.

Originality/value

The study adopted a descriptive, qualitative case study approach to describe the current state of the EFCC in Nigeria.
Internal control and employees’ occupational fraud on expenditure claims
Authors: Nawawi Anuar , Salin Ahmad Saiful Azlin Puteh
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the weaknesses of internal control in expenditure claim procedure and to identify the opinions of employees regarding an occupational fraud. This study also attempts to examine the most popular occupational fraud committed by the employee and whether a company’s working environment contributed to the fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was adopted to investigate and analyse the weaknesses of the internal control and occupational fraud incidents. A mixed method of data collection, specifically, survey questionnaire and document analysis were used.

Findings

This study found that the internal control of the expenditure claim procedure was weak and needed improvement. This study also found that a strong internal control and a better remuneration paid to the employees could reduce the risk of the occupational fraud committed in the company. In terms of fraud types, this study discovered that claims on mileage, followed by petrol, accommodation and suppliers’ invoice were the most popular occupational frauds committed by the employees. Finally, employee dissatisfaction and poor working-environment culture influence occupational fraud’s level in the organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The results provide further confirmation of the fraud triangle theory on the causes of fraud, i.e. opportunity because of a weak internal control and financial pressure because of low and non-standardized salary. This study, however, was conducted only on one company.

Practical implications

This study provides some recommendations to overcome the weak internal control and improve employees’ satisfaction which lead to better working environment. Thus, opportunities for fraud in the company can be reduced.

Originality/value

This study is original, as it focusses specifically on occupational fraud which is rare in fraud literature, particularly for a study that is conducted in developing markets like Malaysia. It also has examined various related sensitive documents and reports of employee frauds that are generally difficult to be accessed by researchers.
The gendering of fraud: an international investigation
Authors: Hilliard Theresa , Neidermeyer Presha E.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Changing workplace demographics reflect a rising number of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of business. The purpose of this study is to investigate how upwardly mobile women may impact the commission and type of white-collar crime, contributing to the scarce literature on gender distinctions in criminal behavior while comparing criminal trends globally. Women’s increased representation in positions of power in business provides them with increased fraud opportunities prompting the authors to ask: in their areas of opportunity, do women and men commit the same types of white-collar crime and at the same rates, and how does this phenomena vary globally?

Design/methodology/approach

Using a database from the Institute for Fraud Prevention, 5,441 fraud cases are examined from 93 nations for the annual periods from 2002 until 2011. Ordinal logistic regression methods are used to test for differences in gendered criminal behavior by fraud offense type controlling for age, position, education, compensation level and country context.

Findings

Internationally, results from the study indicate that female fraudsters are three times more likely than male fraudsters to commission crimes of asset misappropriation in the workplace. Upon further investigation, stratifying the data by geographical region, findings from the study demonstrate that female fraudsters are more likely than male fraudsters to commit asset misappropriation in the following geographical regions: Africa (three times as likely), Asia (twice as likely), Canada (three times as likely), China (five times as likely), Europe (twice as likely), the Middle East (four times as likely), Oceania (four times as likely), the United Kingdom (eight times as likely) and the United States of America (twice as likely).

Originality/value

Evidence from this study should be of importance to multinational enterprises, auditors and fraud examiners, as asset misappropriation constitutes 87 per cent of all fraud cases globally. Further, these findings prompt the need for researchers to develop this area of research.
Asymmetric influence of corruption distance on FDI
Authors: Burböck Birgit , Macek Anita , Podhovnik Edith , Zirgoi Christian
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the influence of corruption distance (CD) on foreign direct investment (FDI) with the characteristics of the value function from the Prospect Theory (PT) such as loss aversion and diminishing sensitivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are derived from Transparency International and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and tested on the countries China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain and the UK and are analysed with a natural log (LN) regression model.

Findings

The findings indicate a negative asymmetric relationship for China, Germany, Korea, Spain and Russia. This means that negative performance on CD will not have greater impact on FDI outflows than positive performance on CD in the same country. Loss aversion, as well as diminishing sensitivity, as suggested by the PT, cannot be supported with the empirical results.

Originality/value

Its originality lies in contributing and extending knowledge on CD on FDI in several ways. First, it analyses the data of emerging and industrialized countries, namely, Russia, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and the UK. Second, a potential asymmetric impact is explained by the characteristics of the hypothetical value function of the PT. Third, it seeks empirical evidence by applying an econometric model developed to analyse the variables CD and FDI.
The role of proto-institutions within the change of service ecosystems
Authors: Kleinaltenkamp Michael , Corsaro Daniela , Sebastiani Roberta
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of proto-institutions that are new institutional subsystems that subsequently affect the current institutional arrangements in the evolution of service ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

To shed light on the mode of action of proto-institutions, the authors investigate the changes of three service ecosystems in Italy: the health care ecosystem, the food-supply ecosystem and the urban mobility ecosystem.

Findings

First, the paper elucidates how changes of service ecosystems are triggered by megatrends that are external to specific service ecosystems. Second, the study empirically shows how service ecosystems and their institutional settings change through the establishment of proto-institutions.

Originality/value

Responding to recent calls to investigate in more detail how actors challenge dominant social patterns and to conduct research to better understand how changes at the level of individual actors may lead to shifts within overall service ecosystems, this paper is one of the first to empirically study the relationships between phenomena that are external to service ecosystems, the emergence of proto-institutions and the resulting changes of institutional arrangements.
Oceans of opportunity: a review of Canadian aquaculture
Authors: Noakes Donald J.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The world’s population is expected to increase by 30 percent to 10bn people by 2050 and with 70 percent of the earth’s surface covered by water aquaculture will play an important role in producing food for the future. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

While Canada has the longest coastline in the world by far (202,080 km) with 80,000 km of marine coastline capable of supporting aquaculture and fisheries, it ranks only 25th in terms of world aquaculture production. The reasons are many and varied, and this review examines statistical reports and publications to trace the beginnings of the aquaculture sector in Canada, and highlights some areas of strength and potential, and the challenges for future growth and expansion.

Findings

Currently, less than 1 percent of the 3.8m hectares of freshwater and marine areas that are considered suitable for seafood (i.e. finfish, shellfish and aquatic plants) production are being farmed so Canada has an ocean of opportunity to be a leader in world aquaculture production in the future.

Originality/value

The review highlights the need for a national strategic plan to increase aquaculture production in Canada and the need to simplify the current complex regulatory framework that has resulted in significant uncertainties and delays that have limited growth in this sector. The review highlights the potential and interest to triple current production while fostering greater involvement of First Nation communities.
Teacher’s feedback in teaching science in a bilingual Bruneian primary classroom
Authors: Roslan Roslinawati , Panjang Siti Munawirah , Yusof Norashikin , Shahrill Masitah
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of feedback to students by a primary teacher teaching the science topic “Life Cycle” in a Year 5 bilingual Bruneian science classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a discourse analysis of one primary science teacher’s use of feedback to his students when teaching the topic “Life Cycle.” The participant was a male primary science teacher who taught a Year 5 science class in one of the government schools in the Brunei-Muara district. Direct observations and video recordings of the teacher’s three consecutive lessons on the topic “Life Cycle” were collected. The transcripts were developed from the teacher–student interactions in the three lessons. The “Questioning-based Discourse” approach (Chin, 2006) was used to analyze the different types of feedback, and the students’ cognitive processes that emerged from the lesson transcripts. The frequencies of the feedback and students’ cognitive processes were calculated using percentages.

Findings

The findings from the three lesson observations indicate that the teacher’s feedback showed a range of strategies which consisted mostly of accepting students’ answers and feedback to elicit, to focus, to probe, to clarify and to extend, respectively. The findings also reveal that the cognitive processes of the students ranged from recalling, predicting, hypothesizing, evaluating and explaining. The analysis shows that the teacher only practiced low-level questioning and the feedback given to the students was mostly for accepting the students’ answers rather than challenging students’ ideas.

Practical implications

The findings reported in this study provide useful insights into the importance of teacher–student interactions in the teaching and learning of science. The “Questioning-based Discourse” analytical framework is worthwhile to analyze the science teacher’s talk and consequently to improve teachers” skills in giving feedback that fosters productive students’ responses.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the need for science teachers to analyze their classroom talk and it recommends how to give useful feedback to students to promote higher cognitive processes amongst students. Brunei has been described as a country where there is a linguistic divide determined by the quality of the school that a student attends (Deterding and Salbrina, 2013). Improving the quality of interaction between teacher and students in such circumstances is essential.
Getting lost to be found: the insider–outsider paradoxes in relational ethnography
Authors: Yeo Roland , Dopson Sue
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on the direct experience of a practitioner undertaking real-time research in his organization to offer insights into the dual role of practical insider and theoretical outsider. The duality helps the researcher to live “in” and think “out” of the research context to develop a theory for practice and then transpose it to a practice for theory through the collaboration of an external theoretical insider.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a theoretical account of the reflexive experience of the practitioner reintroducing relational ethnography, where the researcher regards processes and spaces as the objects of analysis rather than bounded groups and places. It emphasizes the relational significance of the researcher, researched, and theoretical insider in exploring the structures of relations and meanings in the field of professional practice.

Findings

The paper argues that understanding the complementariness and paradoxes of the dual role helps the researcher to identify knowledge gaps and contest commonsense knowledge in search of critical knowledge and theoretical insights. The transition between the bounded (restrained) and unbounded (unrestrained) selves occurs in the holding space of research, influencing the position from which the researcher views himself, his subjects, and his social world.

Originality/value

The paper extends the dimension of ethnographic research, which de-centers the authority and control of the researcher to that of the relationship between the researcher and informants, by focusing on the relational significance between the researcher, researched, and theoretical insider. This perspective gives rise to a deeper understanding of relational ethnography, seen largely in sociological research, as relevant to organizational research, where structures of relations and actions explored in real time could account for the configuration, conflict, and coordination of work practices.
Organizational access in qualitative research
Authors: Alexander Benjamin Nathan , Smith Anne D.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

While organizational access is central to much qualitative research, little is known about how researchers secure it. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic assessment of this critical methodological step.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review was conducted to establish how researchers gained access to organizations for qualitative research. Access type was identified and explanatory indicators were inductively developed to illuminate how access was obtained in a sample of 216 qualitative articles published inAdministrative Science QuarterlyandAcademy of Management Journalbetween 1986 and 2013. A supplemental review of 306 articles published inOrganization Studiesover the same period augmented the primary analysis with a broader view of published accounts of access.

Findings

Learning prior to entering organizations, researchers’ backgrounds, organizational insiders, and outside contacts facilitated access. The role of these factors, which served as indicators of legitimacy, varied with the type of access. In addition, the authors found that many articles provide little information about how the researchers gained access, regardless of a publication’s domicile.

Originality/value

This study furthers the understanding of how researchers gain access to organizations to conduct qualitative research and discusses the implications of the limited access accounts in published studies. In addition, this research provides practical guidance for authors, editors, and reviewers.
Exploring city image: residents’ versus tourists’ perceptions
Authors: Cassia Fabio , Vigolo Vania , Ugolini Marta Maria , Baratta Rossella
Published: July 2018

Purpose

City image has been defined as the sum of beliefs, ideas and impressions people hold regarding a city. While abundant literature has explored city image from tourists’ perspectives, few studies have explored residents’ perceptions, and even fewer have compared city image as perceived by tourists and residents. In addition, very few studies have compared tourists’ and residents’ perceptions of city image in small- to medium-sized destinations. Considering these research gaps, the purpose of this paper is to address city image in a medium-sized destination, Verona, in northern Italy with three specific objectives: to examine residents’ perceptions of the city of Verona’s image; to examine tourists’ perceptions of the city of Verona’s image and to compare the perceptions of the two groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted through questionnaires collected among residents and tourists in Verona. Questionnaires were based on a multi-item scale addressing four dimensions of the city image.

Findings

The findings show that residents and tourists hold similar perceptions of city image regarding services and leisure, security and entertainment. The only significant difference in city image concerns the municipal facilities. Specifically, residents are more critical than tourists about this dimension of city image.

Practical implications

The research provides useful implications for policy makers and destination management organisations, and shows some strengths and weaknesses of Verona.

Originality/value

The study addresses the image of a medium-sized city that is typical in the Italian context, thus enhancing knowledge about city image. In addition, by testing and enhancing a scale previously used only to measure residents’ perceptions, the study provides a common measurement instrument to compare tourists’ and residents’ perceptions.