bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moxifloxacin efficacy againstMycobacterium abscessus in vivousing zebrafish model
Authors: Nie Wenjuan , Gao Shan , Teng Tianlu , Zhou Wenqiang , Shang Yuanyuan , Jing Wei , Shi Wenhui , Wang Qingfeng , Huang Xuerui , Cai Baoyun , Wang Jun , Wang Jing , Guo Ru , Ge Qiping , Nie Lihui , Han Xiqin , Du Yadong , Chu Naihui
Published: December 2019

Moxifloxacin (MFX) showed good activityin vitroagainstMycobacterium abscessus(M. abscessus) and was suggested as one of the antibiotic regimens for adults withM. abscessusdisease. However, some other studies showed that MFX showed less or none activity againstM. abscessus. In our study we aim to evaluate MFX activity againstM. abscessususing zebrafish (ZF) modelin vivo. MIC of each drugs were determined by broth microdilution method.M. abscessuslabeled by CM-DiI, were micro-injected into ZF. Survival curves were determined by recording dead ZF every day. After 4 days of incubation ZF were lysed. Colony-forming unit (CFU) were enumerated and results are expressed as mean log10 CFU per ZF. Bacteria dissemination and fluorescence intensity in ZF were observed and analyzed. Inhibition rate was also calculated. In our study MFX showed good activityin vitro. Butin vivoMFX showed limited restriction toM. abscessus. The association between increased survival and high dose of MFX is not significant. Same results were observed in bacterial fluorescence intensity and inhibition rates, with no significant difference when compared with no drug group (P > 0.05). However, significant difference was observed in azithromycin (AZM) group. MFX showed limited efficacy onMycobacterium abscessus in vivousing ZF model. MFX’s activityin vivoneed to be confirmed.
Inference and visualization of phenome-wide causal relationships using genetic data: an application to dental caries and periodontitis
Authors: Haworth Simon , Kho Pik Fang , Holgerson Pernilla Lif , Hwang Liang-Dar , Timpson Nicholas J. , Rentería Miguel E. , Johansson Ingegerd , Cuellar-Partida Gabriel
Published: December 2019

Background

Hypothesis-free Mendelian randomization studies provide a way to assess the causal relevance of a trait across the human phenome but can be limited by statistical power or complicated by horizontal pleiotropy. The recently described latent causal variable (LCV) approach provides an alternative method for causal inference which might be useful in hypothesis-free experiments.

Methods

We developed an automated pipeline for phenome-wide tests using the LCV approach including steps to estimate partial genetic causality, filter to a meaningful set of estimates, apply correction for multiple testing and then present the findings in a graphical summary termed a causal architecture plot. We apply this process to body mass index and lipid traits as exemplars of traits where there is strong prior expectation for causal effects and dental caries and periodontitis as exemplars of traits where there is a need for causal inference.

Results

The results for lipids and BMI suggest that these traits are best viewed as creating consequences on a multitude of traits and conditions, thus providing additional evidence that supports viewing these traits as targets for interventions to improve health. On the other hand, caries and periodontitis are best viewed as a downstream consequence of other traits and diseases rather than a cause of ill health.

Conclusions

The automated process is available as part of the MASSIVE pipeline from the Complex-Traits Genetics Virtual Lab (https://vl.genoma.io) and results are available in (https://view.genoma.io). We propose causal architecture plots based on phenome-wide partial genetic causality estimates as a way visualizing the overall causal map of the human phenome.

Key messages

The latent causal variable approach uses summary statistics from genome-wide association studies to estimate a parameter termedgenetic causality proportion.

Systematic estimation of genetic causality proportion for many pairs of traits provides an alternative method for phenome-wide causal inference with some theoretical and practical advantages compared to phenome-wide Mendelian randomization.

Using this approach, we confirm that lipid traits are an upstream risk factor for other traits and diseases, and we identify that dental diseases are predominantly a downstream consequence of other traits rather than a cause of poor systemic health.

The method assumes no bidirectional causality and no confounding by environmental correlates of genotypes, so care is needed when these assumptions are not met.

We developed an automated and accessible pipeline for estimating phenome-wide causal relationships and generating interactive visual summaries.
Biophysical analysis ofPlasmodium falciparumHsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein (PfHop) reveals a monomer that is characterised by folded segments connected by flexible linkers
Authors: Makumire Stanley , Zininga Tawanda , Vahokoski Juha , Kursula Inari , Shonhai Addmore
Published: December 2019

Plasmodium falciparumcauses the most lethal form of malaria. The cooperation of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 and 90 is important for folding of a select number of cellular proteins that are crucial for cyto-protection and development of the parasites. Hsp70 and Hsp90 are brought into a functional complex that allows substrate exchange by stress inducible protein 1 (STI1), also known as Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein (Hop).P. falciparumHop (PfHop) co-localises and occurs in complex with the parasite cytosolic chaperones, PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp90. Here, we characterised the structure of recombinant PfHop using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) and small-angle X-ray scattering. Structurally, PfHop is a monomeric, elongated but folded protein, in agreement with its predicted TPR domain structure. Using SRCD, we established that PfHop is unstable at temperatures higher than 40 °C. This suggests that PfHop is less stable at elevated temperatures compared to its functional partner, PfHsp70-1, that is reportedly stable at temperatures as high as 80 °C. These findings contribute towards our understanding of the role of the Hop-mediated functional partnership between Hsp70 and Hsp90.
A Homogeneous SIRPα-CD47 Cell-Based, Ligand-Binding Assay: Utility for Small Molecule Drug Development in Immuno-oncology
Authors: Burgess Teresa L. , Amason Joshua D. , Rubin Jeffrey S. , Duveau Damien Y. , Lamy Laurence , Roberts David D. , Farrell Catherine L. , Inglese James , Thomas Craig J. , Miller Thomas W.
Published: December 2019

CD47 is an immune checkpoint protein that downregulates both the innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune response via its counter receptor SIRPα. Biologics, including humanized CD47 monoclonal antibodies and decoy SIRPα receptors, that block the SIRPα-CD47 interaction, are currently being developed as cancer immunotherapy agents. However, adverse side effects and limited penetration of tumor tissue associated with their structure and large size may impede their clinical application. We recently developed a quantitative high throughput screening assay platform to identify small molecules that disrupt the binding of SIRPα and CD47 as an alternative approach to these protein-based therapeutics. Here, we report on the development and optimization of a cell-based binding assay to validate active small molecules from our biochemical screening effort. This assay has a low volume, high capacity homogenous format that relies on laser scanning cytometry (LSC) and associated techniques to enhance signal to noise measurement of cell surface binding. The LSC assay is specific, concentration dependent, and validated for the two major human SIRPα variants (V1 and V2), with results that parallel those of our biochemical data as well as published studies. The LSC assay also confirmed published studies, such as the inhibition of amino-terminal pyroglutamate formation in CD47 disrupts SIRPα binding. SIRPα-CD47 interaction could be quantitatively measured in live and fixed tumor cells. Use of fixed cells reduces the burden of cell maintenance and provides stable cell standards to control for inter- and intra-assay variations. We also demonstrate the utility of the assay to characterize the activity of the first reported small molecule antagonists of the SIRPα-CD47 interaction. This assay will support the screening of thousands of compounds to identify or validate active small molecules as hits, develop structure activity relationships and assist in the optimization of hits to leads by a typical iterative medicinal chemistry campaign.
An illustration of reproducibility in neuroscience research in the absence of selective reporting
Authors: Kong Xiang-Zhen ,   ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, Francks Clyde
Published: December 2019

The problem of poor reproducibility of scientific findings has received much attention over recent years, in a variety of fields including psychology and neuroscience. The problem has been partly attributed to publication bias and unwanted practices such as p-hacking. Low statistical power in individual studies is also understood to be an important factor. In a recent multi-site collaborative study, we mapped brain anatomical left-right asymmetries for regional measures of surface area and cortical thickness, in 99 MRI datasets from around the world, for a total of over 17,000 participants. In the present study, we re-visited these hemispheric effects from the perspective of reproducibility. Within each dataset, we considered that an effect had been reproduced when it matched the meta-analytic effect from the 98 other datasets, in terms of effect direction and uncorrected significance at p<0.05. In this sense, the results within each dataset were viewed as coming from separate studies in an ‘ideal publishing environment’, i.e. free from selective reporting and p hacking. We found an average reproducibility rate per dataset, over all effects, of 63.2% (SD = 22.9%, min = 22.2%, max = 97.0%). As expected, reproducibility was higher for larger effects and in larger datasets. There is clearly substantial room to improve reproducibility in brain MRI research through increasing statistical power. These findings constitute an empirical illustration of reproducibility in the absence of publication bias or p hacking, when assessing realistic biological effects in heterogeneous neuroscience data, and given typically-used sample sizes.
Inferring translational heterogeneity from ribosome profiling data
Authors: do Couto Bordignon Pedro , Pechmann Sebastian
Published: December 2019

Translation of messenger RNAs into proteins by the ribosome is the most important step of protein biosynthesis. Accordingly, translation is tightly controlled and heavily regulated to maintain cellular homeostasis. Ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) has revolutionized the study of translation by revealing many of its underlying mechanisms. However, equally many aspects of translation remain mysterious, in part also due to persisting challenges in the interpretation of data obtained from Ribo-seq experiments. Here, we show that some of the variability observed in Ribo-seq data has biological origins and reflects programmed heterogeneity of translation. To systematically identify sequences that are differentially translated (DT) across mRNAs beyond what can be attributed to experimental variability, we performed a comparative analysis of Ribo-seq data from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and derived a consensus ribosome density profile that reflects consistent signals in individual experiments. Remarkably, the thus identified DT sequences link to mechanisms known to regulate translation elongation and are enriched in genes important for protein and organelle biosynthesis. Our results thus highlight examples of translational heterogeneity that are encoded in the genomic sequences and tuned to optimizing cellular homeostasis. More generally, our work highlights the power of Ribo-seq to understand the complexities of translation regulation.
Vein Patterning by Tissue-Specific Auxin Transport
Authors: Govindaraju Priyanka , Verna Carla , Zhu Tongbo , Scarpella Enrico
Published: December 2019

Unlike in animals, in plants vein patterning does not rely on direct cell-cell interaction and cell migration; instead, it depends on the transport of the plant signal auxin, which in turn depends on the activity of the PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) auxin transporter. The current hypotheses of vein patterning by auxin transport propose that in the epidermis of the developing leaf PIN1-mediated auxin transport converges to peaks of auxin level. From those convergence points of epidermal PIN1 polarity, auxin would be transported in the inner tissues where it would give rise to major veins. Here we tested predictions of this hypothesis and found them unsupported: epidermal PIN1 expression is neither required nor sufficient for auxin-transport-dependent vein patterning, whereas inner-tissue PIN1 expression turns out to be both required and sufficient for auxin-transport-dependent vein patterning. Our results refute all vein patterning hypotheses based on auxin transport from the epidermis and suggest alternatives for future tests.
Learning from Synthetic Dataset for Crop Seed Instance Segmentation
Authors: Toda Yosuke , Okura Fumio , Ito Jun , Okada Satoshi , Kinoshita Toshinori , Tsuji Hiroyuki , Saisho Daisuke
Published: December 2019

Incorporating deep learning in the image analysis pipeline has opened the possibility of introducing precision phenotyping in the field of agriculture. However, to train the neural network, a sufficient amount of training data must be prepared, which requires a time-consuming manual data annotation process that often becomes the limiting step. Here, we show that an instance segmentation neural network (Mask R-CNN) aimed to phenotype the barley seed morphology of various cultivars, can be sufficiently trained purely by a synthetically generated dataset. Our attempt is based on the concept ofdomain randomization, where a large amount of image is generated by randomly orienting the seed object to a virtual canvas. After training with such a dataset, performance based on recall and the average Precision of the real-world test dataset achieved 96% and 95%, respectively. Applying our pipeline enables extraction of morphological parameters at a large scale, enabling precise characterization of the natural variation of barley from a multivariate perspective. Importantly, we show that our approach is effective not only for barley seeds but also for various crops including rice, lettuce, oat, and wheat, and thus supporting the fact that the performance benefits of this technique is generic. We propose that constructing and utilizing such synthetic data can be a powerful method to alleviate human labor costs needed to prepare the training dataset for deep learning in the agricultural domain.
Rac1/ROCK-driven membrane dynamics promote Natural Killer cell cytotoxicity via necroptosis
Authors: Zhu Yanting , Xie Jun , Shi Jue
Published: December 2019

Natural Killer (NK) cells play an important role in cancer immunosurveillance and therapy. However, the target selectivity of NK cell activity is still poorly understood. Here we used live-cell reporters to unravel differential epithelial cancer target killing by primary human NK cells. We found highly variable fraction of killing by distinct NK cell cytotoxic modes that was not determined by NK ligand expression. Rather, epithelial plasma membrane dynamics driven by ROCK-mediated blebs and/or Rac1-mediated lamellipodia promoted necrotic mode in preference to apoptotic mode of killing. Inhibition of granzyme and key necroptosis regulators RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL significantly attenuated necrotic killing, revealing a novel NK cytotoxic pathway by granzyme-induced necroptosis that conferred target selectivity. Our results not only elucidate a new NK cell effector mechanism but also suggest tissue microenvironment and oncogenic signaling pathways that promote membrane dynamics, e.g., Rac1 and Rho/ROCK, could be exploited to enhance proinflammatory NK cell killing.
Modelling heterogeneities in the cross-linked bacterial sacculus
Authors: Rani Garima , Patri Issan
Published: December 2019

Examining the design principles of biological materials, in particular the presence of inhomogeneities in their ultrastructure is the key to understanding the often remarkable mechanical properties possessed by them. In this work, motivated by the question of understanding the effect of variability in the material properties of the peptide cross-linkers on the bulk mechanical properties of the cell wall structure of bacteria, we study a spring system in which variability is encoded by assigning values of spring constants and rupture strengths of the constituent springs from appropriate probability distribution. Using analytical methods and computer simulations, we study the response of the spring system to shear loading and observe how heterogeneities inherent in the system can heighten the resistance to failure. We derive the force extension relation of the system and explore the effect that the disorder in values of spring constant and rupture strength has on load carrying capacity of the system and failure displacement. We also study a discrete step shear loading of the system, exhibiting a transition from quasi-brittle to brittle response controlled by the step size, providing possible framework to experimentally quantify the disorder in analogous structures. The model studied here will also be useful in general to understand fiber bundles exhibiting disorder in the elasticity and rupture strengths of constituent fibers.
CellCountCV – a web-application for accurate cell counting and automated batch processing of microscopy images using fully-convolutional neural networks
Authors: Antonets Denis , Russkikh Nikolai , Sanchez Antoine , Kovalenko Victoria , Bairamova Elvira , Shtokalo Dmitry , Medvedev Sergey , Zakian Suren
Published: December 2019

The in vitro cellular models are promising tools for studying normal and pathological conditions. One of their important applications is the development of genetically engineered biosensor systems to investigate the processes occurring in living cells in real time. Today, there are fluorescence protein based sensory systems for detecting various substances in living cells (for example, hydrogen peroxide, ATP, Ca2+ etc.) or for detecting processes such as endoplasmic reticulum stress. Such systems help to study mechanisms underlying the pathogenic processes and diseases and for screening potential therapeutic compounds. It is also necessary to develop new tools for processing and analysis of obtained microimages. Here we present our web-application CellCountCV for automation of microscopy cell images analysis which is based on fully-convolutional deep neural networks. This approach can efficiently deal with non-convex overlapping objects, that are virtually inseparable with conventional image processing methods. The cell counts predicted with CellCountCV were very close to expert estimates (the average error rate was < 4%). CellCountCV was used to analyse large series of microscopy images obtained in experimental studies and it was able to demonstrate the endoplasmic reticulum stress development and to catch the dose-dependent effect of tunicamycin.
(E)-1-(5-Methylthiophen-2-yl)-N-(4-nitrophenyl)methanimine
Authors: Alicea-Velázquez Nilda L. , Crundwell Guy
Published: December 2019

The title compound, C12H10N2O2S, was synthesized via the acid-catalyzed condensation of 4-nitroaniline and 5-methyl-2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde in a methanol–water solution. The dihedral angle between the benzene and thiophene rings is 54.62 (3)°. No directional interactions could be identified in the extended structure.
Risk mitigation in PFI/PPP project finance
Authors: Owolabi Hakeem , Oyedele Lukumon , Alaka Hafiz , Ajayi Saheed , Bilal Muhammad , Akinade Olugbenga
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Earlier studies on risk evaluation in private finance initiative and public private partnerships (PFI/PPP) projects have focussed more on quantitative approaches despite increasing call for contextual understanding of the bankability of risks. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of UK PFI financiers’ regarding the bankability of four critical risks (construction and completion risk, operations, supply and offtake risk) in PPP projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple case study strategy was adopted to investigate the phenomenon within real-life context of PFI/PPP projects in UK. Using purposive sampling approach, the study examined school and road PFI/PPP projects through interviews, documentations and focus group discussions.

Findings

Results from the study unravelled 36 suitable bankability criteria and some mitigation strategies for evaluating the four critical risks in PFI/PPP during due diligence appraisal. Further evidences from the study also show that, financiers’ bankability criteria, when paired along with corresponding risks and mitigation strategies within with a single framework, provides a quick and effective view of bankability of risks in PFI/PPP funding application.

Research limitations/implications

In order to ensure generalisability of findings, only projects with similar nature were selected from just two sectors of the UK economy (road and education sectors). The context of the study is also based on UK’s PFI/PPP and Construction Industry, as such, other geographical regions in Europe and beyond have not been contextualised in this study. Due to the significance of finance in PFI/PPP contracts, only the perspective of project financiers have been explored in this study.

Practical implications

This study provides a less complicated but useful understanding of how risks in PFI/PPP projects may be packaged in a bankable manner to secure the confidence of project financiers. By presenting a qualitative framework, the study addresses concerns of over quantification of risk analysis in PFI/PPP appraisals and provides a relatable approach useful for non-finance oriented PPP practitioners.

Social implications

This study addresses the social concerns of too much complexity and ambiguity in PFI/PPP structuring especially regarding factors that could make a project acceptable to lenders.

Originality/value

The study proposes a “Bankability and Risk Qualitative Framework”, which presents bankability information on critical risks in clear manner and represents critical parameters for winning financiers’ funding approvals for PFI/PPP projects.
Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited
Authors: Raghuram G
Published: December 2019

Delhi Metro Airport Express Line (AEL) from New Delhi Metro Station to Dwarka Sector 21 linked the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The line was operated by the Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Limited (DAMEPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra), the concessionaire of the line. The AEL was opened on February 23, 2011. Due to defects with the civil structure on the elevated section of the line, it was temporarily shut down on July 8, 2012. DAMEPL had been unable to run the AEL profitably ever since it started operations due to poor ridership and high operating costs. After three months in October, 2012 with the repairs nearly completed, RInfra had to take a call on the way forward.
Villgro Innovation Marketing Private Limited: Building last mile delivery model using entrepreneurs
Authors: Bhamoriya Vaibhav , Abhishek
Published: December 2019

Ashutosh Sinha is managing VIMPL as rural distribution business involving Villgro stores and village level entrepreneurs (VLE). After spending two years in evolving the business model which provides sustainable products to improve rural livelihood, he has recently started selling FMCG products through VIMPL network. As he decides to expand the business, he has to make choices about strategic path of horizontal expansion versus vertical expansion. The expansion decision is also linked with choosing the right type of VLEs. The case provides detailed description of VLE operations and examines the challenges in building last mile delivery models using entrepreneurs.
Innovative Always
Authors: Shruti Dave
Published: December 2019

Innovative Always (IA) is a small manufacturing unit which has implemented Standard Costing. It has five departments which are headed by five partners. For cost control monthly budgets are prepared. At the end of each month, actual are compared with budgets and variances are calculated. Performance of the five partners alongwith their respective departments have to be evaluated with the help of detailed variance analysis. The case also throws up some conceptual issues like Normal Output, Interdependence of Variances and Recalculation of certain variances for assigning clear cut responsibilities to concerned departments. A comprehensive case on Budgeting and Standard Costing, it showcases the importance of Flexible Budget and Variance Analysis for cost control and performance evaluation.
Lupin’s Foray into Japan
Authors: Jacob Joshy , Agarwalla Sobhesh Kumar , Chander Prem
Published: December 2019

The case described the issues faced by a mid-sized Indian generic pharmaceutical firm, in its attempt to acquire a small unlisted Japanese generics manufacturer. It showcases the strong motivation of a successful emerging market pharmaceutical firm to expand into the developed market, buoyed by its cost competitiveness. The case presents an opportunity to discuss the trade-offs involved with most of the dynamic decisions in a cross-border acquisition, such as estimation of synergies and value, bidding, and financing the acquisition. The case may be used in programmes on valuation, and mergers and acquisitions.
RentYourFashion.Com (A)
Authors: Tripathi Sanjeev , Agrawal Rahul
Published: December 2019

‘Fashion Destination’ was a prominent one-stop shop of clothing retail in Ahmedabad which has faced business slowdown in the last 5 years. Vishal, who had recently taken over the management wondered, would renting of premium clothing be a good business model to get back to the business. While pondering over the issue Vishal did some secondary research had found that the Indian retail industry is growing at a fast rate and that the online rental service is an upcoming trend in Indian market. Vishal hired an external market research agency ‘Wright & Company’, before changing the business model, to clarify certain doubts regarding renting clothes as a social stigma, willingness of people to rent clothes, requirement of physical store, about target consumers and product assortment.
Performance Evaluation System in Hassia Packaging Pvt. Ltd.
Authors: Vohra Neharika
Published: December 2019

The case describes the performance evaluation system that has been put in place by Ravi Kumar, the MD to ensure that Oystar Hassia is able to design, deliver, service, sell its packaging machines seamlessly in all parts of the world. The performance evaluation system is periodic, regular, able to take track the progress of the people within the system. The benefits accrued from performance evaluation system are also detailed in this case.
Solving dissociative group effects using construal level theory
Authors: McGowan Miriam , Hassan Louise May , Shiu Edward
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Consumers usually respond favourably to ingroups but negatively to dissociative groups and products linked to dissociative groups, termed the dissociative group effect. Despite important implications for branding, advertising and celebrity endorsement, little is known about how to attenuate the effect. This paper aims to introduce a mechanism which attenuates the dissociative group effect by drawing on construal level theory.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental approach was used which included two-part between-subjects designs.

Findings

High identifiers prefer products linked to their ingroup over ones linked to a dissociative group, however, the opposite is true for low identifiers. The difference in preference is attenuated for high and low identifiers when they are placed in an abstract mind-set. The underlying mechanism of this effect is similarity focus.

Research limitations/implications

The same context was used to ensure that the attenuating effect found was not due to contextual factors. However, further studies should replicate the findings in a wider variety of contexts.

Practical implications

This research offers practical recommendations on how to manage multiple customer segments in increasingly diverse marketplaces. By inducing an abstract mind-set in customers, for example, via advertising copy, website architecture or contextual factors such as pitch of the music, marketers can increase the effectiveness of identity-linking marketing for consumers’ high/low in identification.

Originality/value

This is one of the first empirical studies to evidence the applicability of construal level theory within identity marketing and offers a novel mechanism to attenuate the dissociative group effect. The findings shed new light on how low identifiers relate and respond to identity-linked marketing.
Effects of CeO2 on the microstructure and tribological properties of atmospheric plasma-sprayed Cr2O3-TiO2 coatings
Authors: Ding Qingjun , Zhao Gai
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanism and effect of rare earth oxides on the properties of Cr2O3-TiO2 coating.

Design/methodology/approach

Cr2O3-TiO2 coatings with different proportion of CeO2 were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying on aluminum alloy 7005. The mechanical, microstructure and tribological properties were studied.

Findings

The addition of CeO2 could improve the micro-hardness; decrease porosity, wear rate and surface roughness of the coating; and increase the bonding strength between the coating and substrate. The wear mechanism is a mixture of abrasive and adhesive wear.

Originality/value

The addition of CeO2 could refine microstructure, and promote the formation of solid solution structure, and then affect the properties of coatings.
The association between intellectual capital and financial performance in the Islamic banking industry
Authors: Ousama A.A. , Hammami Helmi , Abdulkarim Mustafa
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on the financial performance of Islamic banks operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study measures IC by the value added intellectual coefficient model. A regression analysis was used to assess the impact of IC on financial performance. The research sample consisted of Islamic banks operating in the GCC countries during the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Data originated from the annual reports of Islamic banks.

Findings

The results support the thesis that IC has a positive impact on the financial performance of Islamic banks. Even though the average IC is lower than that reported in other studies, the positive effect on financial performance is obvious. The findings also show that human capital (HC) is higher than capital employed (CE) and structural capital (SC). The study reveals that SC has an insignificant impact on the financial performance of the Islamic banks compared to CE and HC.

Practical implications

The findings provide empirical evidence that IC affects the Islamic banks’ financial performance. It helps Islamic banks in the GCC countries to understand how to use their IC efficiently, especially SC as it is yet to be used efficiently. Also, the findings benefit the relevant authorities (e.g. legislators and central banks) who could use them to emphasise strategic policy reforms whenever required.

Originality/value

The current research adds to the empirical studies in the GCC countries as it views the region as a collective as opposed to individual countries. It also extends the IC and performance measurement literature of Islamic banks in the GCC countries. Moreover, the current study enriches the limited literature on IC in the context of Islamic banking.
Economies of scale: the case of KiwiSaver fees
Authors: Gilbert Aaron , Scott Ayesha , Xu Shuohan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

International evidence of economies of scale in mutual funds is mixed. KiwiSaver offers an interesting opportunity to examine economies of scale given its growth from a new scheme with few members and low balances, where fund costs should be high, to a much larger scheme that should be cheaper to run. As a defined contribution superannuation scheme, fees play an important role in determining the eventual retirement savings members achieve. This paper aims to examine whether the anticipated economies of scale are passed onto members.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a sample of 267 KiwiSaver funds over 2013-2018 and relate fund fees to assets under management (AUM) and the number of participants using regression analysis and a translog cost function.

Findings

The authors find evidence to suggest funds are passing on cost savings. Specifically, the authors observe that fees increase slower as the number of members grows, suggesting economies of scale are driven by the number of members, but not the size of the assets being managed. All else held constant, a 1 per cent increase in fund participants increases fees by 0.93 per cent on average. In contrast, a 1 per cent increase in AUM results in effectively 1 per cent increase in fees, all else held constant.

Originality/value

While KiwiSaver has been an undeniable boost to the local funds management industry, regulators are increasingly under pressure to ensure fees are appropriate. In 11 years, New Zealand-based KiwiSaver has grown to over $50b in AUM, with over $400m in total fees per year. This paper provides evidence that economies of scale are partially present in the KiwiSaver sector, although not where it arguably counts: in the size of the AUM.
Perish in gossip? Nonlinear effects of perceived negative workplace gossip on job performance
Authors: Xie Jun , Huang Qihai , Wang Hongli , Shen Minghao
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the curvilinear relationship between perceived negative workplace gossip and target employee’s task performance, and the moderating roles of perceived organizational support (POS).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 275 supervisor–subordinate dyads in a two-wave survey, the authors adopted a hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results revealed that there is a U-shaped relationship between perceived negative workplace gossip and task performance. Moreover, POS moderated the curvilinear relationship such that the curvilinear relationship is more pronounced among those with lower POS.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not explore the mediating mechanism of how perceived negative gossip affects the target’s task performance. Moreover, as this research was conducted in a Chinese context, the question of the generalizability of the findings calls for more attention.

Practical implications

When the negative gossip is still in its early stages, managers should realize the potential threat to target employees and take measures to stop and minimize negative gossiping and rumormongering. Furthermore, managers should do their best to find the optimal levels of organizational support for target employees.

Originality/value

This study is among the first effort to understand how perceived negative gossip can influence the target employees’ performance by proposing and demonstrating a nonlinear relationship. Moreover, by illuminating how POS plays a role in the curvilinear relationship between negative gossip and task performance, the authors not only complement but also extend the literature on workplace gossip and organizational support.
Virtual reality experiences, attachment and experiential outcomes in tourism
Authors: Wu Hung-Che , Ai Chi-Han , Cheng Ching-Chan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the structural relationships between the dimensions of virtual reality (VR) experiences (immersion, interaction, usability and illusion), the dimensions of VR attachment (VR dependence, VR identity, VR affect and VR familiarity) and the dimensions of VR experiential outcomes (VR experiential satisfaction, VR experiential loyalty and VR experiential advocacy).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 490 visitors who tried 360 VR travel video games in the TripMoment VR were surveyed.

Findings

In this study, there are positive relationships between VR experiential satisfaction and immersion, interaction, illusion, as well as VR identity, VR affect and VR familiarity. In addition, VR experiential satisfaction has a positive relationship with VR experiential loyalty. In addition, VR experiential advocacy has a positive relationship with both VR experiential satisfaction and VR experiential loyalty.

Practical implications

The results show that tourism operators should focus on increasing VR experiential satisfaction and experiential loyalty to enable visitors to have intentions to advocate their VR experiences.

Originality/value

This paper provides the data that lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the dimensions of VR experiences, VR attachment and VR experiential outcomes in the tourism industry.
Epidemiological study on the relationship between toxin production and psm‐mec mutations in MRSA isolates in Thailand
Authors: Tabuchi Fumiaki , Lulitanond Aroonlug , Lulitanond Viraphong , Thunyaharn Sudaluck , Kaito Chikara
Published: December 2019

In this present study, we investigated the phenol‐soluble modulin (psm‐mec) mutations, the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types, and toxin production in 102 methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from the northeast and central regions of Thailand. The MRSA isolates carrying ‐7T>C psm‐mec in Type II SCCmec (n = 18) and the MRSA isolates carrying no psm‐mec in Type IV (n = 8) or Type IX SCCmec (n = 4) had higher hemolytic activity against sheep erythrocytes than MRSA isolates carrying intact psm‐mec in Type III SCCmec (n = 34), but MRSA isolates carrying no psm‐mec in Type I SCCmec (n = 27) did not.
Industrial Relations and the Limits of the State: Can a Left Labour Government Resurrect Comprehensive Sectoral Collective Bargaining and Restore Trade Union Power?
Authors: ACKERS PETER
Published: December 2019

Since 2017 the British Labour Party has proposed mandatory sectoral collective bargaining (SCB) as a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the trade union voice across the entire economy. The intellectual roots lie in the Institute of Employment Rights’ (IER) Manifesto for Labour Law (2016). First, this article explains the core IER approach, questioning its feasibility given current low levels of union membership and bargaining coverage and whether it would produce the stable and productive economy promised. Second, the article develops four social science objections to this state‐driven approach centred on industrial relations history; political sociology; economics; and political philosophy. The conclusion argues that while stronger voluntary trade unions could help, it is neither practicable nor desirable for the state to impose a trade union, single‐channel approach to employee voice. Instead, a ‘mixed economy of voice’ is proposed, perhaps including statutory works councils, which speaks directly to all employees—union and non‐union—and wins broader political, employer and public support.
Is there any correlation between spectral CT imaging parameters and PD‐L1 expression of lung adenocarcinoma?
Authors: Chen Mai‐Lin , Shi An‐Hui , Li Xiao‐ting , Wei Yi‐Yuan , Qi Li‐Ping , Sun Ying‐Shi
Published: December 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to explore whether spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging parameters are associated with PD‐L1 expression of lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Spectral CT imaging parameters (iodine concentrations [IC] of lesion in arterial phase [ICLa] and venous phase [ICLv], normalized IC [NICa/NICv]‐normalized to the IC in the aorta, slope of the spectral HU curve [λHUa/λHUv] and enhanced monochromatic CT number [CT40keVa/v, CT70keVa/v] on 40 and 70 keV images) were analyzed in 34 prospectively enrolled lung adenocarcinoma patients with common molecular pathological markers including PD‐L1 expression detected with immunohistochemistry. Patients were divided into two groups: positive PD‐L1 expression and negative PD‐L1 expression groups. Two‐sample Mann‐Whitney U test was used to test the difference of spectral CT imaging parameters between the two groups.

Results

The CT40keVa (127.03 ± 37.92 vs. −54.69 ± 262.04), CT40keVv (124.39 ± 34.71 vs. −45.73 ± 238.97), CT70keVa (49.56 ± 11.76 vs. −136.51 ± 237.08) and CT70keVv (46.13 ± 15.81 vs. −133.10 ± 230.72) parameters in the positive PD‐L1 expression group of lung adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than the negative PD‐L1 expression group (all P < 0.05). There was no difference detected in IC, NIC and λHU of the arterial and venous phases between both groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

CT40keVa, CT40keVv, CT70keVa and CT70keVv were increased in positive PD‐L1 expression. These parameters may be used to distinguish the PD‐L1 expression state of lung adenocarcinoma.
From back to front: A functional model for the cerebellar modulation in the establishment of conditioned preferences for cocaine‐related cues
Authors: Gil‐Miravet Isis , Melchor‐Eixea Ignasi , Arias‐Sandoval Edgar , Vasquez‐Celaya Lizbeth , Guarque‐Chabrera Julian , Olucha‐Bordonau Francisco , Miquel Marta
Published: December 2019

It is now increasingly clear that the cerebellum may modulate brain functions altered in drug addiction. We previously demonstrated that cocaine‐induced conditioned preference increased activity at the dorsal posterior cerebellar vermis. Unexpectedly, a neurotoxic lesion at this region increased the probability of cocaine‐induced conditioned preference acquisition. The present research aimed at providing an explanatory model for such as facilitative effect of the cerebellar lesion. First, we addressed a tracing study in which we found a direct projection from the lateral (dentate) nucleus to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that also receives Purkinje axons from lobule VIII in the vermis. This pathway might control the activity and plasticity of the cortico‐striatal circuitry. Then we evaluated cFos expression in different regions of the medial prefrontal cortex and striatum after a lesion in lobule VIII before conditioning. Additionally, perineuronal net (PNN) expression was assessed to explore whether the cerebellar lesion might affect synaptic stabilization mechanisms in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Damage in this region of the vermis induced general disinhibition of the mPFC and striatal subdivisions that receive dopaminergic projections, mainly from the VTA. Moreover, cerebellar impairment induced an upregulation of PNN expression in the mPFC. The major finding of this research was to provide an explanatory model for the function of the posterior cerebellar vermis on drug‐related memory. In this model, damage of the posterior vermis would release striatum‐cortical networks from the inhibitory tonic control exerted by the cerebellar cortex over VTA, thereby promoting drug effects.
SNP genotypes reveal breed substructure, selection signatures and highly inbred regions in Piétrain pigs
Authors: Gorssen W. , Meyermans R. , Buys N. , Janssens S.
Published: December 2019

The Piétrain pig originates from the Belgian village Piétrain some time between 1920 and 1950. Owing to its superior conformation, the Piétrain has spread worldwide since the 1960s. As initial population sizes were limited and close inbreeding was commonplace, the breed’s genetic diversity has been questioned. Therefore, this study examines Piétrain breed substructure, diversity and selection signatures using SNP data in comparison with Duroc, Landrace and Large White populations. Principal component analysis indicated three subpopulations, andFSTanalysis showed that US Piétrains differ most from European Piétrains. Average inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) segments larger than 4 Mb ranged between 16.7 and 20.9%. The highest chromosomal inbreeding levels were found on SSC8 (42.7%). ROH islands were found on SSC8, SSC15 and SSC18 in all Piétrain populations, but numerous population‐specific ROH islands were also detected. Moreover, a large ROH island on SSC8 (34–126 Mb) appears nearly fixed in all Piétrain populations, with a unique genotype. Chromosomal ROH patterns were similar between Piétrain populations. This study shows that Piétrain populations are genetically diverging, with at least three genetically distinct populations worldwide. Increasing genetic diversity in local Piétrain populations by introgression from other Piétrain populations seems to be only limited. Moreover, a unique 90 Mb region on SSC8 appeared largely fixed in the Piétrain breed, indicating that fixation was already present before the 1960s. We believe that strong selection and inbreeding during breed formation fixed these genomic regions in Piétrains. Finally, we hypothesize that independent coat color selection may have led to large ROH pattern similarities on SSC8 between unrelated pig breeds.
Is disability exclusion associated with experiencing an unmet need for health care?
Authors: Temple Jeromey B. , Stiles Jay A. , Utomo Ariane , Kelaher Margaret , Williams Ruth
Published: December 2019

Objective

To examine the association between disability exclusion and experiencing an unmet need for health care.

Methods

The 2015 Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers was used to measure the prevalence of unmet needs for health care stratified by measures of exclusion. Log‐Poisson models were fitted to examine the association between discrimination, avoidance and unmet needs for health care.

Results

Approximately 10% of respondents reported an unmet need to attend a GP, specialist or hospital and 25% reported an unmet need to obtain dental treatment. For those reporting an instance of discrimination in the last 12 months, the rates of experiencing unmet needs for health care were significantly higher (GP 29%, specialist 26%, dental 46%, hospital 18%). With controls included, discrimination or avoidance significantly increased the probability of reporting an unmet need for health care regardless of the context of previous experiences of exclusion.

Conclusion

Disability discrimination or avoidance is strongly associated with experiencing an unmet need for health care among older people with disabilities.
Drawing in the Dark: Seeing, Not Seeing, and Anthropological Insight
Authors: Hendrickson Carol
Published: December 2019

This article considers the ways that visual field notes can relate to issues of seeing, not seeing, and insights that arise synaptically when field observations, theoretical considerations, and personal experiences are brought into conversation and spark. The goal is to complicate the connection between drawing and seeing and, with this, to push for more hands‐on creation of images as part of field research and an active engagement with ideas via the visual.