bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MARGE:Mutation Analysis for Regulatory Genomic Elements
Authors: Link Verena M. , Romanoski Casey E. , Metzler Dirk , Glass Christopher K.
Published: February 2018

Cell-specific patterns of gene expression are determined by combinatorial actions of sequence-specific transcription factors atcis-regulatory elements. Studies indicate that relatively simple combinations of lineage-determining transcription factors (LDTFs) play dominant roles in the selection of enhancers that establish cell identities and functions. LDTFs require collaborative interactions with additional transcription factors to mediate enhancer function, but the identities of these factors are often unknown. We have shown that natural genetic variation between individuals has great utility for discovering collaborative transcription factors. Here, we introduce MARGE (MutationAnalysis ofRegulatoryGenomicElements), the first publicly available suite of software tools that integrates genome-wide genetic variation with epigenetic data to identify collaborative transcription factor pairs. MARGE is optimized to work with chromatin accessibility assays (such as ATAC-seq or DNase I hypersensitivity), as well as transcription factor binding data collected by ChlP-seq. Herein, we provide investigators with rationale for each step in the MARGE pipeline and key differences for analysis of datasets with different experimental designs. We demonstrate the utility of MARGE using mouse peritoneal macrophages, liver cells, and human lymphoblastoid cells. MARGE provides a powerful tool to identify combinations of cell type-specific transcription factors while simultaneously interpreting functional effects of non-coding genetic variation.
Rapid proteotyping reveals cancer biology and drug response determinants in the NCI-60 cells
Authors: Guo Tiannan , Luna Augustin , Rajapakse Vinodh N , Koh Ching Chiek , Wu Zhicheng , Menden Michael P , Cheng Yongran , Calzone Laurence , Martignetti Loredana , Ori Alessandro , Iskar Murat , Gillet Ludovic , Zhong Qing , Varma Sudhir , Schmitt Uwe , Qiu Peng , Sun Yaoting , Zhu Yi , Wild Peter J , Garnett Mathew J , Bork Peer , Beck Martin , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Reinhold William C. , Sander Chris , Pommier Yves , Aebersold Ruedi
Published: February 2018

We describe the rapid and reproducible acquisition of quantitative proteome maps for the NCI-60 cancer cell lines and their use to reveal cancer biology and drug response determinants. Proteome datasets for the 60 cell lines were acquired in duplicate within 30 working days using pressure cycling technology and SWATH mass spectrometry. We consistently quantified 3,171 SwissProt proteotypic proteins across all cell lines, generating a data matrix with 0.1% missing values, allowing analyses of protein complexes and pathway activities across all the cancer cells. Systematic and integrative analysis of the genetic variation, mRNA expression and proteomic data of the NCI-60 cancer cell lines uncovered complementarity between different types of molecular data in the prediction of the response to 240 drugs. We additionally identified novel proteomic drug response determinants for clinically relevant chemotherapeutic and targeted therapies. We anticipate that this study represents a landmark effort toward the translational application of proteotypes, which reveal biological insights that are easily missed in the absence of proteomic data.
ThePseudomonas aeruginosaLasR quorum-sensing receptor balances ligand selectivity and sensitivity
Authors: McCready Amelia R. , Paczkowski Jon E. , Henke Brad R. , Bassler Bonnie L.
Published: February 2018

Quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication process that bacteria use to orchestrate group behaviors. Quorum sensing is mediated by extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers. Autoinducers are often structurally similar, raising questions concerning how bacteria distinguish among them. Here, we use thePseudomonas aeruginosaLasR quorum-sensing receptor to explore receptor sensitivity and selectivity. Alteration of LasR amino acid S129 increases ligand selectivity and decreases ligand sensitivity. Conversely, the L130F mutation enhances LasR sensitivity while reducing selectivity. We solve crystal structures of LasR ligand binding domains complexed with non-cognate autoinducers. Comparison to existing structures reveals that ligand selectivity/sensitivity is mediated by a flexible loop adjacent to the ligand binding site. We show thatP. aeruginosaharboring LasR variants with modified selectivity or sensitivity exhibit altered quorum-sensing responses. We suggest that an evolutionary trade-off between ligand selectivity and sensitivity enables LasR to optimally regulate quorum-sensing traits.
Probing Clostridium difficile infection in innovative human gut cellular models
Authors: Anonye Blessing O. , Hassall Jack , Patient Jamie , Detamornrat Usanee , Aladdad Afnan M. , Schüller Stephanie , Rose Felicity R.A.J. , Unnikrishnan Meera
Published: February 2018

Interactions of anaerobic gut bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, with the intestinal mucosa have been poorly studied due to challenges in culturing anaerobes with the oxygen-requiring gut epithelium. Although gut colonization by C. difficile is a key determinant of disease outcome, precise mechanisms of mucosal attachment and spread remain unclear. Here, using human gut epithelial monolayers co-cultured within dual environment chambers, we demonstrate that C. difficile adhesion to gut epithelial cells is accompanied by a gradual increase in bacterial numbers. Prolonged infection causes redistribution of actin and loss of epithelial integrity, accompanied by production of C. difficile spores, toxins and bacterial filaments. This 2-D dual chamber system was used to examine C. difficile interactions with the commensal Bacteroides dorei, and interestingly, C. difficile growth is significantly reduced in presence of B. dorei. Furthermore, in novel multilayer and 3-D gut models containing a myofibroblast layer, C. difficile adheres more efficiently to epithelial cells, as compared to the 2-D model, leading to a quicker destruction of the epithelium. Our study describes new controlled environment human gut models that enable host-anaerobe and pathogen-commensal interaction studies in vitro.
Rifampicin or capreomycin induced remodelling of theMycobacterium smegmatismycolic acid layer is mitigated in synergistic combinations with cationic antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Man DeDe Kwun-Wai , Kanno Tokuwa , Manzo Giorgia , Robertson Brian D. , Lam Jenny K.W. , Mason A. James
Published: February 2018

The mycobacterial cell wall affords natural resistance to antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) modify the surface properties of mycobacteria and can act synergistically with antibiotics from differing classes. Here we investigate the response ofMycobacterium smegmatisto the presence of rifampicin or capreomycin, either alone or in combination with two synthetic, cationic, α-helical AMPs; distinguished by the presence (D-LAK120-HP13) or absence (D-LAK120-A) of a kink-inducing proline. Using a combination of high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR of bacteria, diphenylhexatriene (DPH) fluorescence anisotropy and laurdan emission spectroscopy we show thatM. smegmatisresponds to challenge with rifampicin or capreomycin by substantially altering its metabolism and, in particular, by remodelling the cell envelope. In NMR spectra of bacteria, reductions in intensity for mycolic acid lipid −(CH2)-, -CH3, R2CH-COOH, R2CH-OH and also -CH2-(CH==CH)- and -CH=CH- resonances were observed following challenge with rifampicin and capreomycin, while the latter also caused an increase in trehalose. These changes are consistent with a reduction of trehalose dimycolate and increase of trehalose monomycolate and are associated with an increase in rigidity of the mycolic acid layer observed following challenge by capreomycin but not rifampicin. Challenge with D-LAK120-A or D-LAK120-HP13 induced no or modest changes respectively in these metabolites and did not induce a significant increase in rigidity of the mycolic acid layer. Further, the response to rifampicin or capreomycin was significantly reduced when these were combined respectively with D-LAK120-HP13 and D-LAK120-A, suggesting a possible mechanism for the synergy of these combinations. The remodelling of the mycomembrane inM. smegmatisis therefore identified as an important countermeasure deployed against rifampicin or capreomycin, but this can be mitigated, and rifampicin or capreomycin efficacy potentiated, by combining with AMPs.
Social capital, relational learning, and performance of suppliers
Authors: Sukoco Badri Munir , Hardi Hardi , Qomariyah Alfiyatul
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The relationship between buyers and suppliers over the years – social practices – facilitate the development of social capital (SC), and it contributes to the relationship performance (RP) for both parties. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mechanisms that transform SC into RP. By exercising the relationship learning (joint sense-making, information sharing, and knowledge integration), this paper proposes that SC will transform into RP.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative study was employed in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to first-tier supplier of Astra Group (Astra International) in Indonesia. In total, 211 questionnaires were used for data analysis in this study.

Findings

The results exhibit that cognitive and structural SC contribute to the development of relational SC. Further, relational SC was positively associated with joint sense-making, which then goes through information sharing, knowledge integration, and finally RP.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional data in a specific context (a firm) in Indonesia serve as a major limitation of this study. The development of SC and learning as a social process might not be captured well by using the current method – surveys. Furthermore, a major problem is caused by a one-sided survey that depends on the suppliers’ perceptions and judgments of relationship learning and performance.

Practical implications

The results suggest that managers and other relationship actors would benefit from the competency to develop practices and activities with suppliers regarding developing trust. The trust development is facilitated by having common understanding and interactions regularly, either by participating in formal and/or informal activities with suppliers. Building consensus – joint sense-making, between buyers and suppliers are crucial practices in relationship learning before knowledge sharing and knowledge integration practices are in place. And finally, managers should actively integrate this knowledge in order to increase their RP.

Originality/value

This study empirically tests the supply chain practice view as a new theoretical perspective in the supply chain management literature. It also extends the utilization of social practices – SC – since it is crucial in a buyer-supplier relationship. It also presents that relationship learning is a mechanism that could transform SC into RP, and thus bridge the SC and collaborative learning theory. Finally, this study indicates that inside relational learning, there are sequences of joint sense-making-information sharing-knowledge integration, before it moves on to RP.
External terms-of-trade and labour market imperfections in developing countries
Authors: Chaudhuri Sarbajit , Biswas Anindya
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Some recent empirical studies have found that developing countries are more prone to external terms-of-trade shocks compared to developed nations. With this background, the purpose of this paper is to the question of whether developing countries possess any built-in mechanism that can cope with external terms-of-trade (TOT) shocks both theoretically and empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a two-sector, full-employment general equilibrium model with endogenous labour market distortion to conduct its theoretical analysis and then uses an annual panel dataset of 13 small developing countries over the recent time period of 2000-2012 to substantiate its theoretical findings.

Findings

Theoretically, this study finds that developing countries possess an inherent shock-absorbing mechanism that stems from their peculiar institutional characteristics and can lessen the gravity of detrimental welfare consequence of exogenous TOT movements. This analytical result has been found to be empirically valid based on a panel dataset of 13 countries from 2000-2012.

Originality/value

The authors’ analyses suggest that that the developing countries should take utmost caution before adopting the policy of labour market reform because these might impair the effectiveness of their in-built shock-absorbing mechanism against adverse international price movements.
Natural disasters, PC supply chain and corporate performance
Authors: Gunessee Saileshsingh , Subramanian Nachiappan , Ning Kun
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide quantitative evidence of natural disasters’ (NDs) effect on corporate performance and studies the mechanisms through which the supply chain moderates and mediates the link.

Design/methodology/approach

Using two major NDs as quasi-experiment, namely the 2011 Japanese earthquake-tsunami (JET) and Thai flood (TF), and data over the period 2010Q1-2013Q4, effect of these events on end assemblers’ performance is studied, with a focus on the personal computer (PC) supply chain. The moderating influence of delivery and sourcing – as supply chain flexibility and agility – are examined through end assemblers’ and suppliers’ inventory. The suppliers’ mediating role is captured as disruption in obtaining PC components through their sales.

Findings

Only JET had any negative effect, further quantified as short-term and long-term. The TF instead portrays an insignificant but positive aftermath, which is construed as showing learning from experience and adaptability following JET. Inventory matters, but differently for the two events, and suppliers only exhibit a moderating influence on the assemblers’ disaster-performance link.

Originality/value

NDs, as catastrophic vulnerabilities, are distinct from other vulnerabilities in that they are hard to predict and have significant impact. Since little is known about the impact of NDs on firm performance and how supply chain mechanisms moderate or mediate their impact, they should be distinctly modelled and empirically studied from other vulnerabilities. This paper sheds light on supply chain resilience to such events with the role of dynamic capabilities.
An empirical examination of the relationship between globalization, integration and sustainable innovation within manufacturing networks
Authors: Golini Ruggero , Gualandris Jury
Published: February 2018

Purpose

While controlling for supply chain effects, the purpose of this paper is to investigate if globalization and collaborative integration within a firm-wide manufacturing network have significant implications for the adoption of sustainable production (SP) and sustainable sourcing (SS) practices at the plant level.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conceptualize SP and SS as process innovations with moderate degrees of innovativeness and apply “Organizational integration and process innovation” theory to build our conceptual model. Then, the authors use primary survey data from 471 assembly manufacturing plants operating in the US, Europe and Asia to test our hypotheses rigorously.

Findings

This research finds that the adoption of SP practices at the plant level is significantly and positively associated with globalization and integration of the firm-wide manufacturing network. On the contrary, the adoption of SS practices is more strongly affected by integration in the external supply chain and benefits from the manufacturing network only indirectly, through the association with SP practices.

Originality/value

Operations management literature devoted to sustainability has studied sustainable practices mostly from a risk management angle. Also, there exists contrasting evidence in the operations strategy literature about the positive and negative effects that globalization of a manufacturing network may have on the adoption of sustainable practices at the plant level. Moreover, several studies show how integration with supply chain partners helps manufacturing plants transition into more SP and SS practices; however, related literatures have neglected that collaborative integration within a firm-wide manufacturing network may also help to develop, or adapt to, new sustainable practices. This research represents a first attempt to resolve discordance and unveil the positive effects that manufacturing networks may have on sustainable innovations at the plant level.
Knowledge creation through industry chain in resource-based industry: case study on phosphorus chemical industry chain in western Guizhou of China
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Wenrui
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a theoretical frame and practical experience for understanding and improving knowledge creation in the RIC. This paper proved through an empirical study that knowledge transfer, knowledge assimilation and knowledge sharing between firms in a resource-based industry chain (RIC) have positive influence on knowledge creation.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model covering knowledge transfer, knowledge assimilation, knowledge sharing and knowledge creation is established in this paper. The research object is the phosphorus chemical industry chain in central Guizhou.

Findings

The findings of this paper provide a theoretical frame and practical experience for understanding and improving knowledge creation in the RIC.

Research limitations/implications

The subjective measures of knowledge capacities present a serious limitation. Another limitation is that the authors examined knowledge creation within the context of RIC. The cross-sectional design prevented the authors from studying causal relationships among the variables.

Originality/value

First, it contributes to the knowledge creation of inter-organization literature. Second, it contributes to the studies of knowledge creation in supply chains. Third, this study demonstrates the importance of investigating the strong network embeddedness and industry property of RIC, which have a critic effect on the capabilities of knowledge sharing, transfer and assimilation.
Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for experience grounded tacit knowledge sharing in Chinese software organisations
Authors: Chen Hui , Baptista Nunes Miguel , Ragsdell Gillian , An Xiaomi
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and explain the role of individuals’ awareness and motivation in facilitating knowledge sharing (KS) in the real world of practice, as well as to establish areas of convergence between theory and practice that can be of use to both academics and practitioners involved in knowledge intensive organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used Grounded Theory (GT) as an inductive methodology to collect, analyse and interpret data from multiple case-studies. 44 participants from Chinese software organisations were selected on the basis of their role in SW design and development and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview script. The data analysis followed a Straussian approach to coding, which consists of open coding, axial coding and selective coding. The analysis focused on the impact of individuals’ awareness and motivation to share knowledge.

Findings

The findings of this research show that the motivation for KS – a time consuming and demanding activity – is indeed related to awareness by managers and developers of the benefits of KS in their professional practice. Practitioners shared their experiences and tacit knowledge with others, partly because it was required by their companies, but also because they have a sound awareness of the need to share knowledge both inside and outside their organisations.

Research limitations/implications

As a typical social science inductive study, this research is bounded by the context in which the theory proposed emerged from. Further research should be conducted into a richer variety of organisational and national contexts, as suggested by good theoretical sampling practice, which could provide further insights or contrasts.

Originality/value

Despite a number of theoretical propositions found in the literature, there is a clear lack of implementation strategies and models that explain the role of awareness and motivation in facilitating KS in the world of practice. This issue of applicability of theoretical propositions is now recognised as one of the fundamental key issues in KS. This study provides new and practice grounded insights in this area and is of interest to both practitioners and theoreticians as it explains and bridges the individuals’ awareness and motivation for tacit KS.
Communities of practice to improve public health outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Barbour Liza , Armstrong Rebecca , Condron Patrick , Palermo Claire
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Communities of practice (CoPs) exist to enable people to share knowledge, innovate and progress a common field of practice. This paper aims to identify whether CoPs have a measured impact on public health practice and the tools used to measure the impact and potential barriers and facilitators that may have been identified during the implementation of these CoPs.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Searches of six databases, Google Scholar and a citation search were completed. Included studies were from 1986 to 2016, involved the public health workforce and an evaluation of a CoP -like intervention. A narrative synthesis of the findings was conducted.

Findings

From 3,021 publications, 12 studies met inclusion criteria and described the impact of ten CoPs amongst public health practitioners from America, Canada, Australasia and the United Kingdom. CoPs support the prevention workforce to change their practice when they provide structured problem-solving, reflective practice and networking opportunities. None of the studies described the impact of CoPs on public health outcomes.

Practical implications

CoPs that provide structured problem-solving, reflective practice and diverse networking may effectively support the public health workforce. Existing methods used to evaluate CoPs lack rigour; thus, the true impact of CoPs on population health remains unknown.

Originality/value

This is the first known systematic review that has measured the impact of CoPs on the preventative health workforce and the conditions in which they have an impact.
Investigating the impact of information systems on knowledge sharing
Authors: Mirzaee Somayyeh , Ghaffari Ali
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Knowledge is the key factor and the strategic resource for acquiring assets and intangible organizational capabilities, which can lead to further growth and development, creation of value and the advantage of competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of information systems (ISs) on knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical society and the intended population of this study were the experts of the registry office in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for collecting data. Also, SMART-partial least square was used for testing the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The results gained in this study revealed that IS dimensions, i.e. service quality, system quality and technology, play a significant role in sharing knowledge among the personnel of an organization.

Practical implications

Nowadays, knowledge is regarded as a notable component of knowledge management process, which contributes to the growth and development of organizations. Sharing knowledge can be considered as a vital phenomenon in managing organizational knowledge. One of the remarkable tasks of ISs is to share information as a key factor. Sharing information can result in fast information distribution and efficient and effective organizational operations and enhanced internal and external performance of the organization.

Originality/value

This paper is aimed at introducing and presenting functional dimensions for optimizing the efficacy of ISs. Implementing an effective IS can accelerate the speed of information exchange among the personnel and the improvement of their capabilities.
How to deal with knowledge management misalignment: a taxonomy based on a 3D fuzzy methodology
Authors: Centobelli Piera , Cerchione Roberto , Esposito Emilio
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new three-dimensional (3D) fuzzy logic methodology to evaluate the level of misalignment between an enterprise’s knowledge and the knowledge management systems (KMSs) it adopts.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology was implemented by means of a field analysis based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews involving a sample of 61 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in high-tech and/or complex industries.

Findings

The paper highlights that while there is generally a high level of misalignment between an enterprise’s knowledge and the KMSs adopted, there are also a broad variety of behaviours. The paper identifies a taxonomy able to bring together the various types of behaviour associated with how an enterprise’s knowledge is related to KMS selection. Specifically, four behaviour patterns were identified, and the enterprises were then categorised accordingly as being guideposts, practice laggards, tool laggards or latecomers.

Practical implications

The proposed taxonomy provides an operational tool that can be used by enterprises and policy makers alike. The paper shows how enterprises can use this tool to understand which category they belong to and support decision-making to introduce changes leading to improved levels of alignment. Policy makers, on the other hand, can use the proposed taxonomy to identify measures to support the competitiveness of local systems by improving management processes and knowledge sharing among enterprises.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the difficulties that SMEs experience in adopting KMSs that are truly aligned with their knowledge and proposes a methodology to improve alignment.
Leanness assessment of organizational performance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Sangwa Narpat Ram , Sangwan Kuldip Singh
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review various themes of leanness, leanness assessment approaches, leanness assessment areas, and their evolution by a systematic literature review (SLR).

Design/methodology/approach

The eight types of literature review methodologies are identified and compared. The SLR is selected after critically analyzing the eight types of literature reviews. A four-phased SLR (i.e. plan, do, analyze/synthesize, and propose) has been carried out based on the peer-reviewed journal and conference articles on leanness assessment.

Findings

The existing literature on leanness assessment shows the lack of review-based papers on lean assessment. This study attempts to build a two-fold contribution to the field of leanness assessment: first, various types of themes, approaches, and assessment areas are identified; second, a framework for leanness assessment is proposed. The study shows that the research on leanness assessment is mainly empirical using qualitative judgment. The paper traces the changes in scope, areas, and approaches to leanness assessment. The scope of leanness assessment broadened from manufacturing process assessment to whole supply chain assessment including manufacturing process. The focus of earlier assessment was manufacturing and financial areas which now includes human resource, administration, new product development, suppliers, and customers also. Tool and technique based assessment has given way to outcome-based assessment using non-financial and qualitative parameters.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of the study is that literature search was mainly focused on peer-reviewed articles published in English language only; therefore, some papers in others languages may have been missed. Apart from this, the SLR has been conducted for the manufacturing sector only.

Practical implications

The study is expected to be useful for the lean practitioners to identify the causes of reported lean failures. Moreover, the authors also expect that the conducted SLR will provide the passage to the practitioners for not only fostering the concepts on leanness assessment but also provide the vital and significant knowledge about the leanness assessment to the managers for enhancing organizational performance.

Originality/value

As per the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SLR on leanness assessment. It is expected that this paper will help the researchers working in the area of lean manufacturing to identify new areas of research.
Who am I if you can’t see me? The “self” of young travellers as driver of eWOM in social media
Authors: Ek Styvén Maria , Foster Tim
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse factors influencing the propensity to share travel experiences in social media during a trip, across a sample of Millennial and Generation Z consumers in three different countries.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was sent to consumers between 16 and 30 years in Sweden, UK and India. Structural equation modelling and multigroup analysis was conducted to compare results between countries and generations.

Findings

Young travellers’ need for uniqueness (NFU) and opinion leadership (OL) with regard to travel tends to increase their propensity to share travel experiences in social media during a trip. Reflected appraisal of self is strongly related to NFU and OL and may therefore indirectly influence the propensity to share. Some differences were found between generations and countries.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could consider comparisons between travellers from younger and older generations. The hypotheses formulated in this study could be tested in other countries. Further adaptions or extensions of existing NFU scales to fit in the travel and tourism context are suggested.

Practical implications

Millennial and Gen Z consumers will constitute an increasing part of travellers and visitors in the future. Through a better understanding of their behaviour, tourism managers can design strategies to engage them and increase electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM).

Originality/value

This study contributes by addressing the lack of research on “self”-related drivers of eWOM in general social media during the trip, and by providing an international perspective through cross-cultural comparisons.
Assessing the innovation capability of small- and medium-sized enterprises using a non-parametric and integrative approach
Authors: Castela Bernardo M.S. , Ferreira Fernando A.F. , Ferreira João J.M. , Marques Carla S.E.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The aftermath of the recent financial crisis has shown that the ability to innovate is a vital management skill and that the methodologies used to evaluate innovation capability within small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be as holistic and integrative as possible. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue through the combined use of cognitive mapping and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Design/methodology/approach

Cognitive mapping and multiple criteria decision analysis have proved over the years to be effective in handling a wide range of complex decision problems. Following a socio-technical approach, a non-parametric method of evaluating SME innovation capability – based on the results of group meetings with a panel of information technology entrepreneurs and SME chief executive officers – was created, tested and validated.

Findings

The methodological processes adopted in this study provide promising results for decision makers seeking to identify the most innovative SMEs. Furthermore, the sensitivity analyses carried out also supported the findings.

Research limitations/implications

This study confirms the usefulness of integrating cognitive mapping and the AHP to facilitate evaluations of SME innovation capability. However, due to the process-oriented nature of the research, extrapolations without proper adjustments are not recommended.

Practical implications

The panel members who participated in this study consider the proposal extremely versatile and see great potential for further applications in the measurement of SME innovation capability.

Originality/value

The combined use of cognitive mapping and the AHP offers a holistic and well-informed perspective on the issue in question. The authors know of no prior work reporting this approach in the same research context.
Investing in the healthcare sector: mutual funds or ETFs
Authors: Chen Haiwei , Estes James , Pratt William
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how healthcare funds differ from healthcare exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in terms of delivering positive alpha, beta, and hedging against a market downturn risk. The authors consider which vehicle is more effective in providing diversification within the healthcare sector and to what extent can investors gain by diverting a portion of their holdings in the S&P 500 index fund into either a value-weighted healthcare fund portfolio or ETFs.

Design/methodology/approach

Pooled and individual regressions are employed to estimate single and four-factor models of 132 healthcare mutual funds and 43 healthcare ETFs over the past four decades. The authors performed additional regressions to test the performance of mutual funds and ETFs relative to market volatility, market downturns, and policy influence.

Findings

The authors find that both healthcare funds and ETFs provide significantly positive average alpha and hedge against a market downturn risk. Holding an all-stock portfolio such as the S&P 500 index fund can be improved by simply adding a value-weighted healthcare portfolio, resulting in both a higher return and a lower standard deviation. However, returns for these funds and ETFs perform poorly in a very volatile market. ETF returns increased with the passing of the Obamacare. Healthcare sector funds and ETFs declined with the recent criticism from Donald Trump since he became the apparent GOP nominee in July of 2016.

Originality/value

Extending the literature in both sample size and scope of issues, this paper provides investors and financial advisors with practical guidance for achieving higher portfolio return while lowering standard deviation. Additionally, this study documents policy influence on the returns of healthcare mutual funds and healthcare ETFs.
Valuation effects of REIT mergers and the role of diversification
Authors: Alexander John C. , Springer Thomas M.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Merging two real estate investment trusts (REITs) consolidates two real estate portfolios. The purpose of this paper is to provide further evidence on the market’s valuation of property type and geographic diversification of REITs by looking at the diversification impact of mergers involving domestic REITs in the Modern REIT era (post 1992).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors classify equity REIT mergers according to whether they maintain portfolio focus or alter their focus with respect to the geography and property type distribution of the underlying real estate. Then, using a domestic REIT index, the authors examine abnormal returns around the merger announcement to ascertain how portfolio changes affect value.

Findings

Although the results show no abnormal returns to the combined REIT for the 126 mergers in the sample, mergers that maintain geographic focus and alter the property focus contribute positively to the abnormal returns. Acquiring REITs show negative abnormal returns for mergers that either diversify geography or maintain property focus. Target REITs earn positive abnormal returns no matter the diversification impact of the merger.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that changes to the composition of the REIT’s property portfolio have valuation implications. The results suggest that during the modern REIT Era, property diversification created positive wealth effects for the acquirer.

Originality/value

This research adds to the evidence on how REIT investors value changes in the diversification of the underlying properties, and implies that the investor perception of portfolio effects from mergers may vary over time as the REIT industry expands and consolidates.
Revisiting “Can the subaltern speak?”: introduction
Authors: Darder Antonia , Griffiths Tom G.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a sense of the perspectives that guide the collection of articles.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an introductory essay regarding the contributions and critics associated with Spivak’s work.

Findings

In addition, the contents lay out brief descriptions of the articles included in the collection.

Originality/value

The notion of revisiting “Can the subaltern speak?” provides authors with innovative and provocative ideas to guide their submissions.
Growth‐competition‐herbivore resistance trade‐offs and the responses of alpine plant communities to climate change
Authors: Pellissier Loïc , Descombes Patrice , Hagen Oskar , Chalmandrier Loïc , Glauser Gaétan , Kergunteuil Alan , Defossez Emmanuel , Rasmann Sergio
Published: February 2018

Climate change is expected to modify current ecological conditions sustaining the coexistence of species within cold‐adapted plant communities. It will primarily act upon the existing structure of communities, whose response should depend on the functional differences governing coexistence among alpine species. We postulated that a possible trade‐off between (1) plant growth in response to temperature, (2) plant competition and (3) resistance to herbivory, modulates the rate of plant community turnover under climate change.

We reviewed the literature investigating functional traits variability within communities along elevation gradients. Despite environmental filtering, our review indicates that interspecific plant functional variation within communities does not necessarily decrease with elevation. While the diversity of traits related to abiotic affinities or competition are well documented, the variability in species resistance to herbivory within communities is poorly known.

Using a Lotka–Volterra‐based model, we simulated the impact of climate change on plant communities through (1) a direct effect on plant growth and competition and (2) an indirect effect via an increase in herbivore pressure. We showed that different shapes of trade‐offs between temperature‐related growth, competition and resistance to herbivory modulate community turnover under climate change.

We documented the existence of two independent trade‐offs axes using a detailed dataset of functional traits within two alpine grasslands in the European Alps. Plant competitive traits (i.e. leaf area and height) where negatively associated to cold tolerance, whereas traits of the leaf economic spectrum were associated to traits related to the physical resistance to herbivory.

We propose that the immediate effect of climate change on alpine plant communities will depend on existing functional variability and how functional axes trade‐off with each other. Documenting ecological constraints between plant functional axes should provide indications to anticipate winners and losers in alpine plant communities.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Life in the intertidal: Cellular responses, methylation and epigenetics
Authors: Clark Melody S. , Thorne Michael A. S. , King Michelle , Hipperson Helen , Hoffman Joseph I. , Peck Lloyd S.
Published: February 2018

Phenotypic plasticity is essential for the persistence of organisms under changing environmental conditions but the control of the relevant cellular mechanisms including which genes are involved and the regulation of those genes remains unclear. One way to address this issue is to evaluate links between gene expression, methylation and phenotype using transplantation and common garden experiments within genetically homogeneous populations.

This approach was taken using the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna. In this species, two distinct phenotypes are associated with the intertidal and subtidal zones. The in situ gene expression and methylation profiles of intertidal and subtidal cohorts were directly compared before and after reciprocal transplantation as well as after a common garden acclimation to aquarium conditions for 9 months.

Expression profiles showed significant modulation of cellular metabolism to habitat zone with the intertidal profile characterised by transcription modules for antioxidant production, DNA repair and the cytoskeleton reflecting the need to cope with continually fluctuating and stressful conditions including wave action, UV irradiation and desiccation.

Transplantation had an effect on gene expression. The subtidal animals transplanted to the intertidal zone modified their gene expression patterns towards that of an intertidal profile. In contrast, many of the antioxidant genes were still differentially expressed in the intertidal animals several weeks after transplantation into the relatively benign subtidal zone.

Furthermore, a core of genes involved in antioxidation was still preferentially expressed in intertidal animals at the end of the common garden experiment. Thus, acclimation in an aquarium tank for 9 months did not completely erase the intertidal gene expression profile.

Significant methylation differences were measured between intertidal and subtidal animals from the wild and after transplantation, which were reduced on common garden acclimation. This suggests that epigenetic factors play an important role in physiological flexibility associated with environmental niche.

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Environmental disturbance alters the ecological impact of an invading shrimp
Authors: Candolin Ulrika , Bertell Elina , Kallio Jarkko
Published: February 2018

Alien species are altering ecosystems around the globe. To predict and manage their impacts, the underlying mechanisms need to be understood. This is challenging in ecosystems undergoing multiple disturbances as unexpected interactions can alter the impact of individual disturbances. Such interactions are likely to be common in disturbed ecosystems, but have so far received little attention.

We investigated whether interactions between an invading shrimpPalaemon elegansand another human‐induced disturbance, the population growth of a native mesopredator, the threespine stickleback, influences a third human‐induced disturbance, the increase in biomass of filamentous algae. Increases in both the native mesopredator population and algal biomass have been promoted by eutrophication and a trophic cascade triggered by declining predatory fish stocks.

We used mesocosm and field enclosure experiments, combined with analyses of long‐term trends in the abundance of the invader and the native mesopredator, to dissect the influence of the two species on algal biomass when alone and when co‐occurring.

The impact of the invader on algal biomass depended on the native mesopredator; shrimp on their own had no effect on algal growth, but mitigated algae accumulation when competing with the stickleback for resources. Competition caused the shrimp to shift its diet from grazers to algae, and its habitat choice from open to vegetated habitats. The native mesopredator, in contrast, increased algal biomass irrespective of the presence of the invader, by preying on grazers and inducing a trophic cascade.

Our results show that the presence of a native mesopredator causes an invader to alter its behaviour and thereby its ecological impact. This demonstrates that interactions between invaders and other anthropogenic disturbances can alter the ecological impact of invaders, and, notably, that the impact of invaders can be positive and stabilize disturbed ecosystems. These results stress the importance of considering interactions among disturbances when investigating the ecological impact of alien species.

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Application of synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms to estimate the reservoir fluid mobility
Authors: Xue Ya‐Juan , Cao Jun‐Xing , Zhang Gu‐Lan , Cheng Guang‐Hui , Chen Hui
Published: February 2018

This paper presents a new methodology for estimating reservoir fluid mobility using synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms. Synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms, which adopts a reassignment method, can improve the temporal and spatial resolutions of conventional time‐frequency transforms. The synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms‐based fluid mobility estimation requires the favourable selection of sensitive low‐frequency segment and more accurate estimation of the change rate of the low frequency segment in the spectrum. The least‐squares fitting method is employed in the synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms‐based fluid mobility estimation for improving the precision of the estimation of change rate of the low‐frequency segment in the spectrum. We validate our approach with a model test. Two field examples are used to illustrate that the fluid mobility estimation using the synchrosqueezed wavelet transforms‐based method gives a better reflection of fluid storage space and monitors hydrocarbon‐saturated reservoirs well.
RasGRP3, a Ras guanyl releasing protein 3 that contributes to malignant proliferation and aggressiveness in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Ziteng , Ma Ming , Hu Ronghang , Xu Baobin , Zong Ling , Wei Haixiang , Meng Yanhong
Published: February 2018

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide; however, clinical and pathological parameters have limited ability in discriminating between clinically significant and indolent ESCC. Since RasGRP3 transcript levels have prognostic value in discriminating ESCC with different clinical aggressiveness, we decided to investigate its putative oncogenic role in ESCC. We found that RasGRP3 was highly expressed in ESCC cells. Suppression of endogenous RasGRP3 expression in esophageal cell lines reduced Ras‐GTP formation as well as AKT phosphorylation. RasGRP3 suppression also inhibited cell invasion and migration and reduced proliferation, demonstrating the importance of RasGRP3 for the transformed phenotype of melanoma cells. Suppression of RasGRP3 expression in these cells inhibited downstream RasGRP3 responses and suppressed cell growth and migration, confirming the functional role of RasGRP3 in the altered behaviour of these cells. This suggests that RasGRP3 may function as a Ras activator in the phosphoinositide signalling pathway and may potentially serve as a new therapeutic target.