bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Huanglongbing and Foliar Applications of Copper on Growth and Nutrient Acquisition of Citrus sinensis cv. Valencia
Authors: Ebel Robert C. , Hamido Said , Morgan Kelly T.
Published: March 2019

The following study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 to determine the impact of frequent foliar copper (Cu) applications on Huanglongbing (HLB)-affected Citrus sinensis cv. Valencia orange. The experiment was conducted in a psyllid-free greenhouse with HLB-positive and non-HLB control trees grown in an Immokalee fine sand soil. The trees were well-maintained to promote health. Cu was applied to the foliage at 0x, 0.5x, 1x, and 2x the commercially recommended rates, which were 0, 46, 92, and 184 mm, respectively, with applications made 3x in both 2016 and 2017. The impact of HLB and Cu treatments on leaf and root Cu concentrations, vegetative growth, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLasiaticus) genome copy number, and acquisition of other essential nutrients were determined. HLB caused the roots to acidify the soil more than non-HLB controls, which promoted Cu availability and promoted greater Cu concentrations in leaves and roots. HLB and Cu application treatments suppressed leaf area and total root length observable in rhizotron tubes such that, by the end of the experiment, leaf, stem, root, and whole-plant dry weights were reduced. HLB reduced foliar concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and possibly iron (Fe), but HLB did not affect root concentrations of these same essential nutrients. Cu application treatments did not affect leaf or root concentrations of other essential nutrients except foliar concentration of Fe, which may have been suppressed. Foliar applications of Cu are used to suppress Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri (Xcc) the causal agent of citrus canker, and the frequency of its use may need to be reconsidered in commercial groves.
Efficient Isolation of High-quality Total RNA from Strawberry
Authors: Ishibashi Misaki , Nabe Takeshi , Nitta Yoko , Uno Yuichi
Published: March 2019

Sufficient yields of high-quality RNA are needed for next-generation sequencing and high-throughput real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. In the case of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) fruits, successful RNA isolation requires removal of abundant inhibitory substances (polysaccharides and polyphenols) that greatly reduce quality and yield. In this study, we applied various combinations of RNA isolation protocols directed at reproductive organs. The best manual isolation method involved nonionic polymer and modified acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform treatments followed by phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol extraction. Compared with other methods, this approach gave significantly higher yields [84.0 µg/g fresh weight (FW)] of RNA of greater purity (A260/A280 = 1.99; A260/230 = 1.51). Better-quality RNA (A260/230 = 2.11) was obtained using an automated method, but the yield was lower (18.1 µg/g FW) than that obtained manually. This automated method consisted of pretreatment with nonionic polymer followed by a silica-based system extraction. Although RNA of sufficient quality [RNA Integrity Number (RIN) ≥ 6.5 and 28S/18S ≥ 1.0] for RNA sequencing was obtained from receptacles using both automated and manual methods, the manual method yielded high-quality RNA from achenes and anthers. The automatic method features 6-fold faster high-throughput capacity, whereas the manual method has wider applicability to different tissues.
Rooting Ability of Hardwood Cuttings in Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Using Different Indole-butyric Acid Concentrations
Authors: An Haishan , Meng Jiajia , Xu Fangjie , Jiang Shuang , Wang Xiaoqing , Shi Chunhui , Zhou Boqiang , Luo Jun , Zhang Xueying
Published: March 2019

Vegetative propagation by cuttings is a very popular method. However, blueberry propagation using cuttings is still a main factor limiting its expansion because its results can vary according to the blueberry cultivar and environmental factors. This study aimed to evaluate the rooting abilities of hardwood cuttings for six blueberry cultivars (O’Neal, Misty, Diana, Biloxi, Bluebeauty, and Coville) using three different exogenous indole-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations (1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm), and to determine if the cutting position (basal, central, apical) affects rooting performance. A control treatment (0 ppm IBA) was also performed. After 90 days of each treatment, rooting percentage, average root length, and average root number per cutting were assessed and used to calculate rooting index, which is a measure of rooting ability. The rooting percentages of hardwood cuttings differed largely among cultivars and were highest for ‘Bluebeauty’ (68.55%), followed by ‘Biloxi’ (68.01%). The rooting index values of these two cultivars (33.59 and 35.18, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the other four cultivars. The rooting response of blueberry hardwood cuttings to IBA concentrations was quadratic, and 1000 and 2000 ppm IBA were sufficient to express the maximum rooting percentage in most cultivars. The rooting abilities of basal, central, and apical cuttings were similar with treatments with high IBA concentrations. The effects of the cultivar, IBA concentration, and interaction between them on rooting percentage, average root length, and average root number were significant; however, the effects of the cutting position on the rooting percentage and average root length were not. This suggested that the rooting abilities of blueberry hardwood cuttings were significantly influenced by the cultivar and IBA concentration rather than by the cutting position.
Micropropagation of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium L.)
Authors: Hawkins Susan M. , Robacker Carol D.
Published: March 2019

Native grasses are increasingly used in the landscape. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium L.), a perennial bunchgrass native to most of the United States, has ornamental traits, such as variation in leaf color, differences in growth morphology, and attractive seed heads. Traditionally, cultivars of little bluestem are propagated by division, which limits the production of new plants. Our objective in this study was to develop an improved micropropagation protocol for little bluestem that would produce true-to-type plants. In 2016, we cultured immature inflorescences of eight genotypes of little bluestem on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with four combinations of kinetin (1.0 or 2.0 mg·L−1) and 2,4-D (0.5 or 1.0 mg·L−1) under three levels of light (dark, semilight, full light) to initiate callus. Cultures were evaluated 30 days after initiation and those that had initiated callus were subcultured. Media for subculturing and rooting contained either 0.1 mg·L−1 or no 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Light level had no effect on callus initiation. Initiation media with 1.0 mg·L−1 kinetin and either level of 2,4-D induced callus at almost twice the rate of media with 2.0 mg·L−1 kinetin, and cultures initiated on those media also produced almost twice the number of rooted plants over all genotypes. Genotype affected the number of rooted plants produced. The addition of NAA to medium for subculturing and rooting did not increase the number of rooted plants. In 2017, we cultured immature inflorescences of four genotypes of little bluestem on MS medium with 0.5 mg·L−1 2,4-D and either 1.0 mg·L−1 kinetin or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) under full light. Cultures were evaluated 30 days after initiation. Cultures that had initiated callus were subcultured onto MS medium with the same growth regulators as the initiation medium but without 2,4-D. Cultures were cycled between subculture medium with growth regulator and subculture medium with no additional growth regulator until rooted. Cultures initiated and subcultured on medium with BAP initiated two to three times more callus than those on kinetin and produced twice as many rooted plants. Our recommendation for rapid micropropagation of little bluestem is to initiate cultures on MS medium with 1.0 mg·L−1 BAP and 0.5 mg·L−1 2,4-D. After callus initiation, cultures should be subcultured to medium with BAP but no 2,4-D, alternating with medium with no additional growth regulators, until rooted.
Development and Characterization of Genic Microsatellites for the Ornamental Plant Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Authors: Nowicki Marcin , Schilling Edward E. , Boggess Sarah L. , Houston Logan C. , Huff Matthew L. , Staton Margaret E. , Lampley Jayne A. , Trigiano Robert N.
Published: March 2019

The genus Chrysogonum is native to the eastern United States. Three entities have been recognized—either as three varieties of Chrysogonum virginianum or as two species, one of them with two varieties. The current study suggests that a fourth entity should be recognized. Several forms of the complex are in commercial trade as ornamentals. As very limited molecular information on Chrysogonum is available, we developed a set of genic simple sequence repeat markers (eSSRs) from de novo transcriptome sequencing. We tested a set of 17 eSSRs on a collection of C. virginianum genomic DNA samples from the three botanical varieties, and a new putative type observed in Tennessee, dubbed “Ocoee-type” for its geographic origin. The polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis analyses with downstream population genetics tools verified the usefulness of the eSSRs. By applying this approach, we showed recognizable variation within Chrysogonum, although it did not correspond exactly to previous infraspecific classifications. Finally, as demonstrated for the commercial cultivar Pierre included in the study, the eSSRs can be used for enhancing the future breeding or hybridization efforts of this ornamental plant.
Phase diagram and conformal string excitations of square ice using gauge invariant matrix product states
Authors: Tschirsich Ferdinand , Montangero Simone , Dalmonte Marcello
Published: March 2019

We investigate the ground state phase diagram of square ice — a U(1)
lattice gauge theory in two spatial dimensions — using gauge invariant
tensor network techniques. By correlation function, Wilson loop, and
entanglement diagnostics, we characterize its phases and the transitions
between them, finding good agreement with previous studies. We study the
entanglement properties of string excitations on top of the ground
state, and provide direct evidence of the fact that the latter are
described by a conformal field theory. Our results pave the way to the
application of tensor network methods to confining, two-dimensional
lattice gauge theories, to investigate their phase diagrams and
low-lying excitations.
Dispersion trading: an empirical analysis on the S&P 100 options
Authors: Ferrari Pierpaolo , Poy Gabriele , Abate Guido
Published: March 2019

This study provides an empirical analysis back-testing the implementation of a dispersion trading strategy to verify its profitability. Dispersion trading is an arbitrage-like technique based on the exploitation of the overpricing of index options, especially index puts, relative to individual stock options. The reasons behind this phenomenon have been traced in literature to the correlation risk premium hypothesis (i.e., the hedge of correlations drifts during market crises) and the market inefficiency hypothesis. This study is aimed at evaluating whether dispersion trading can be implemented with success, with a focus on the Standard & Poor’s 100 options. The risk adjusted return of the strategy used in this empirical analysis has beaten a buy-and-hold alternative on the S&P 100 index, providing a significant over-performance and a low correlation with the stock market. The findings, therefore, provide an evidence of inefficiency in the US options market and the presence of a form of “free lunch” available to traders focusing on options mispricing.
Determinants of nurse performance in accredited Indonesian private hospitals
Authors: Roro Lia Chairina Raden , Andi Sularso Raden , Sulianti K Tobing Diana , Irawan Bambang
Published: March 2019

This study analyzes the effect of transformational leadership on nurse performance using intervening variables of social competence, self-efficacy, and burnout. The partial least square data analysis method with an explanatory research type is used. Primary data are obtained via a questionnaire. A nurse population of 160 from five private hospitals in Indonesia’s East Java Region was analyzed using proportional random sampling. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares (PLS). The result of this study proved that transformational leadership has no significant effect on nurse performance, however, it affects significantly on social competence, self-efficacy, and has significant negative effect on burnout. The low performance of nurse was caused by the main job that is providing service for patient and doing administration work for BPJS, which require plenty of time, that the inseparable part of a nurse life is burnout, regarding the high mobility in providing service for patient. Social competence has a significant positive effect on nurse performance, self-efficacy has a significant positive effect on burnout, self-efficacy has a significant positive effect on nurse performance, and burnout has a significant negative effect on nurse performance. Novelty of this study is self-efficacy that has a significant positive effect on social competence.
Bioregulatory drugs in osteoarthritis management
Authors: Shavlovskaya O. A.
Published: March 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease. Modern theories consider various structural (cartilage destruction) and biophysical disorders (matrix loss of glycosaminoglycans) as the basis of acute and chronic pain syndrome. The main aim of OA therapy is pain relief and functional improvement. To manage pain syndrome in OA it is reasonable to use complex bioregulatory drugs (CBD) (Traumeel S, Zeel T, Discus compositum) both in monotherapy and in combined treatment. The effectiveness of CBD is comparable to that of NSAIDs and CS.
Causes and classification of EMD mode mixing
Authors: Xu Baochun , Sheng Yunlong , Li Peijuan , Cheng Qihua , Wu Jingqiu
Published: March 2019

At present, the lack of insight into the problem of mode mixing in Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) hinders the development of solutions to the problem. Starting with the phenomenon that the EMD decomposition cannot be accomplished when the number of signal extrema is abnormal, the causes of mode mixing were investigated and the conclusion was reached that there are only two basic types of mode mixing. In light of this finding, the mechanisms of the three typical mode mixing solutions and their limitations were analyzed. It was found from the analysis process and results that the findings of this study regarding the causes and types of mode mixing were correct.
A modified technique for studying the automotive vibrations based on Jourdain’s principle
Authors: Nguyen Van Liem , Le Van Quynh , Jiao Renqiang
Published: March 2019

This study proposes a combined method of the multi-body system theory and the Jourdain’s principle to study the automotive vibration. A 3D dynamic model of the automotive is built based on the multi-body system theory, the vibration equations are described based on two methods including a method of the Jourdain’s principle and the traditional method of the Newton-Euler’s principle. Matlab/Simulink software is used to solve the vibration equations under the excitation of the step road. The results show that the acceleration responses of the vertical, pitch and roll vibrations of the vehicle’s body with the Jourdain’s method are similarly in comparison with the traditional method. Therefore, the Jourdain’s method not only is applied for studying the kinetic and dynamic model of multi-body systems but also can be applied for studying the automotive vibration. Especially, nonlinear properties of objects in the vibration model can be clearly described by the Jourdain’s method via the recursive Jacobian matrices.
Probability weighted four-point arc imaging algorithm for time-reversed lamb wave damage detection
Authors: Cao Shuhao , Lu Yu , Zhang Hanfei , Xia Qingwei , Liu Yanyan , Ma Shiwei
Published: March 2019

Damage imaging based on scattering signals of ultrasonic Lamb waves in plate structure is considered as one of the most effective ways for structural health monitoring area. To improve location accuracy and reduce the impact of artifacts, a probability weighted four-point arc imaging algorithm for time reversal Lamb wave damage detection is proposed in this paper. By taking the defect as a secondary wave source, the four-point arc positioning method is used to calculate the propagation time of the signal from transducer to defect. And the amplitude of damage signal corresponding to the time of flight is used for imaging. In order to eliminate the artifacts, a damage probability weighting is combined with four-point circular arc imaging algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimentally verified in aluminum plate. Experimental results indicate that damage location accuracy and imaging quality has been improved in both single-flaw and double-flaw samples compared with conventional delay-and-sum method.
Research on quantitative mechanism of Kirchhoff diffraction acoustical holography
Authors: Wang Rujia
Published: March 2019

In the method of far-field acoustic holographic noise identification, the Kirchhoff formula has been widely used. Achievement of reconstruction is the outstanding advantage of acoustical holography over the widely-used beam-forming method. In this paper, the mechanism of acoustical holography based on finite Kirchhoff diffraction is established, the relationship between holographic aperture angle and the quantitative accuracy is revealed. With simulations for known sound source, the quantitative mechanism is validated successfully.
Numerical simulation analysis of micro-hole based on abrasive flow polishing
Authors: Liu Hongbo , Li Junye , Zhang Hongwei , Zhou Zengwei , Wang Xinpeng , Zhang Xinming
Published: March 2019

In order to study the performance of abrasive flow polishing on the micro-holes, the polishing process of abrasive flow with different abrasive particle sizes was carried out by using computational fluid dynamics. The distribution of fluid turbulence intensity and abrasive particle velocity, fluid turbulence dissipation rate and kinetic energy of abrasive particles were obtained and analyzed. The simulation reveal that the material removal rate is proportional to the size of abrasive particle size, while the surface quality is inversely proportional to it. Therefore, the appropriate size of abrasive particle should be selected according to the initial surface roughness of the workpiece. The research results have certain guiding significance for practical production.
Simulation analysis of timing belt movement characteristics based on RecurDyn
Authors: Yang Guang , Yang Lan , Cao Meng
Published: March 2019

The timing belt drive is composed of a closed ring-shaped adhesive tape with corresponding teeth on the inner peripheral surface and corresponding pulleys. During exercise, the toothed teeth mesh with the pulley to transmit motion and power. The vibration problem of belt drive has always been a hot research topic. In order to analyze the vibration problem caused by belt drive, this paper makes use of the multi-body dynamics software RecurDyn belt drive simulation model. Through the model displacement sensor and the system simulation results, the various movement characteristics of the belt are analyzed.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Mefloquine-Based Analogs Against Sensitive and Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains
Authors: da Silva Araújo Adriele , Moraes Adriana M. , Lourenço Maria C.S. , Pessoa Cláudia O. , da Silva Emerson T. , de Souza Marcus V.N.
Published: March 2019

Background and Introduction:

Mefloquine, a drug used to prevent and treat malaria is described possessing activity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as well as against multidrugresistant tuberculosis (MDR) and other types of bacteria. Despite their importance, few compounds based on the Mefloquine nucleus have been synthesized and evaluated against TB.

Materials and Methods:

For the synthesis of all the compounds based on the Mefloquine nucleus we used a synthetic route which utilized the key derivative 4-methoxy-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinoline 2 as starting material. The compounds 3 (a-c), 4 (a-b) were synthesized after one step by reaction of 2 with appropriate amines substituted. The chloro derivatives 5 and 6 were obtained from compounds 4b and 4a by treatment with SOCl2 in CH2Cl2 at reflux in 75 and 80% yield, respectively. The analogue 6 was converted to 7 after treatment with ethanolamine under heating at 90oC in 64% yield and to the azido derivative 8 in 56% after reaction with sodium azide in MeOH at reflux for 2 h. The analogue 9 was obtained after reaction of 5 with ethanolamine at 90oC for 1 h in 90% yield. All the new compounds were identified by detailed spectral data, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high resolution mass spectra. All the compound were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis ATCC 27294, using the microplate Alamar Blue assay (MABA). The more active compounds 3c, 7, and 9 were also evaluated against resistant strain SR 2571/0215 (resistant to Rifampicin and Isoniazid) by above method. All compounds were tested against three cancer cell lines: SF-295 (glioblastoma), HCT-116 (colon) and PC-3 (prostate) using the MTT assay.

Results:

All the planned ten compounds were synthetically obtained in good global yield, displaying activity against sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, with exception of one, with MIC values between 37.2 and 154.8 µM. The compounds 3c (37.2 µM), 7 (68.1 µM) and 9 (65.6 µM) showed the highest activity in this series with MIC values similar when compare to the standard Mefloquine (30 – 60 µM), being 3c the most potent. The more active compounds 3c, 7, and 9 were also evaluated against resistant strain, displaying MIC of 37.2, 136.2 and 65.6 µM, respectively. All compounds were tested against three cancer cell lines and showed low cytotoxicity.

Conclusion:

All synthesized compounds, with the exception of 5, exhibited activity against the Mtb. Compound 3c was the most potent against resistant and sensitive Mtb in this series, with MIC value of 37.2 µM. All compounds showed low cytotoxicity. These findings could be considered a good model to develop possible lead compounds in the fight against TB based on Mefloquine nucleus.
On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: The State of the Art
Authors: Cuminetti Giovanni , Bonadei Ivano , Vizzardi Enrico , Sciatti Edoardo , Lorusso Roberto
Published: March 2019

Background:

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the standard of care for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Debate exists concerning several factors, which include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs. CABG, single vs. bilateral mammary artery grafts, radial artery vs. saphenous vein grafts, right internal mammary artery vs. radial artery grafts, endoscopic vs. open vein-graft harvesting, and on-pump vs. off- pump surgery.

:

Moreover, challenging is the management of diabetic patients with CAD undergoing CABG. This review reports current indications, practice patterns, and outcomes of CABG.

Methods:

Randomized controlled trials comparing CABG to other therapeutical strategies for CAD were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and proceedings of international meetings.

Results:

Large multicenter randomized and observational studies (SYNTAX, BEST, PRECOMBAT, ASCERT) have reported excellent outcomes in CABG patients, with always fewer rates of operative mortality and major morbidity, than PCI. The 10-year follow-up of ARTS II trial showed no difference between single and bilateral mammary artery. BARI 2D, MASS II, CARDia, FREEDOM trials showed that CABG is the best choice for diabetic patients.

Conclusion:

CABG still represents one of the most widespread major surgeries, with well-known benefits on symptoms and prognosis in patients with CAD. However, further studies and follow-up data are needed to validate these evidences.
Adaptive Elman Model of Gene Regulation Network Based on Time Series Data
Authors: Cao Shengxian , Wang Yu , Tang Zhenhao
Published: March 2019

Background:

Time series expression data of genes contain relations among different genes, which are difficult to model precisely. Slime-forming bacteria is one of the three major harmful bacteria types in industrial circulating cooling water systems.

Objective:

This study aimed at constructing gene regulation network(GRN) for slime-forming bacteria to understand the microbial fouling mechanism.

Methods:

For this purpose, an Adaptive Elman Neural Network (AENN) to reveal the relationships among genes using gene expression time series is proposed. The parameters of Elman neural network were optimized adaptively by a Genetic Algorithm (GA). And a Pearson correlation analysis is applied to discover the relationships among genes. In addition, the gene expression data of slime-forming bacteria by transcriptome gene sequencing was presented.

Results:

To evaluate our proposed method, we compared several alternative data-driven approaches, including a Neural Fuzzy Recurrent Network (NFRN), a basic Elman Neural Network (ENN), and an ensemble network. The experimental results of simulated and real datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach has a promising performance for modeling Gene Regulation Networks (GRNs). We also applied the proposed method for the GRN construction of slime-forming bacteria and at last a GRN for 6 genes was constructed.

Conclusion:

The proposed GRN construction method can effectively extract the regulations among genes. This is also the first report to construct the GRN for slime-forming bacteria.
Inhibition of Polo-Like Kinase 1 by BI2536 Reverses the Multidrug Resistance of Human Hepatoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Li Hui Y. , Luo Fei , Li Xiao Y. , Fu Xi F. , He Jie F. , Tian Yan Z. , Zhu Jun J. , Chu Xin Y. , Zhao Hao L.
Published: March 2019

Background:

Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) is the phenomenon that cancers develop resistance to
majority of chemotherapy drugs and is a serious obstacle to the treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase associated with tumor growth and clinical prognosis in
HCC and BI2536 is its potent inhibitor with IC50 of 0.83nM.

Aims:

To test whether the down-regulation of PLK1 by its inhibitor BI2536 would have beneficial effects on the
reversal of MDR in HCC cells.

Methods:

The CCK-8 assay was used to determine the viability of HepG2/ADM and SMMC7721/ADM cells
and their parental cells treated with BI2536. Then animal model studies were performed. Cell invasion assay and
wound healing assay were used to determine the invasion ability and motility. Flow cytometric was used to test
the apoptosis induced by BI2536. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to test the
change of expression of MDR and apoptosis-related gene.

Results:

BI2536 down-regulated the expression of PLK1 protein and mRNA specifically. BI2536 can significantly
reduce IC50 for ADM and other drugs in ADM-resistant HCC cells. Meanwhile, it inhibited cell viability,
proliferation, and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells with MDR.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 can re-sensitize HCC cancer cell with MDR
through induction of apoptosis. Thus, PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 may act as an effective chemotherapeutic drug in
the clinical treatment of HCC patients with MDR.
Vietnamese Young Graduate Employees’ Evaluation of Sources of Self-efficacy at Work
Authors: Bui Thi Hong Thai , Nguyen Thi Anh Thu , Nguyen Thi Mui
Published: March 2019

Background:

Self-efficacy at work is considered to be one of the factors affecting employees’ quality of work life and professional development. Understanding the sources of employees’ self-efficacy at work is essential, especially in the context of Viet Nam’s Doi Moi (Renovation) policy that has led to wide-reaching socio-economic changes in Viet Nam, including the workplace over the past 30 years.

Methods:

This article is based on a quantitative study of 166 Vietnamese graduates with less than 2-year working experience at their organizations, followed by 11 interviews. The study seeks to demonstrate their evaluation of the sources of self-efficacy at work.

Findings:

The results show that “physiological and emotional states”, “vicarious experiences” and “verbal persuasion” have a significantly positive correlation with self-efficacy at work while no remarkable association is observed for “mastery experiences”. In addition, the content of the interviews further clarifies the above-mentioned results.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest the important role of cultural-social factors and the characteristics of the workforce in Viet Nam in interpreting employee’s self-efficacy.
Convergence of Canonical and Non-Canonical Wnt Signal: Differential Kat3 Coactivator Usage
Authors: Lai Keane K.Y. , Nguyen Cu , Lee Kyung-Soon , Lee Albert , Lin David P. , Teo Jia-Ling , Kahn Michael
Published: March 2019

Background:

The ancient and highly evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathway is critical in nearly all tissues and organs for an organism to develop normally from embryo through adult. Wnt signaling is generally parsed into “canonical” or Wnt-β-catenin-dependent or “non-canonical” β-catenin-independent signaling. Even though designating Wnt signaling as either canonical or noncanonical allows for easier conceptual discourse about this signaling pathway, in fact canonical and non-canonical Wnt crosstalk regulates complex nonlinear networks.

Objective:

In this perspective, we discuss the integration of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling via differential Kat3 (CBP and p300) coactivator usage, thereby regulating and coordinating gene expression programs associated with both proliferation and cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.

Methods:

Pharmacologic inhibitors, cell culture, real-time PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, protein immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, reporter-luciferase, protein purification, site-directed mutagenesis, in vitro phosphorylation and binding assays, and immunofluorescence were utilized.

Conclusion:

Coordinated integration between both canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways appears to be crucial not only in the control of fundamental morphologic processes but also in the regulation of normal as well as pathologic events. Such integration between both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling is presumably effected via reversible phosphorylation mechanism (e.g., protein kinase C) to regulate differential β -catenin/Kat3 coactivator usage in order to coordinate proliferation with differentiation and adhesion.
Focus on the Different Projects of Telemedicine Centered on the Elderly In France
Authors: Zulfiqar Abrar A. , Hajjam Amir , Andrès Emmanuel
Published: March 2019

Telemedicine is now in vogue, allowing computer and communication tools to be deployed
in different fields of health, such as Cardiology, Dermatology, areas in which it has received
interest, and in international studies. As the population ages, older people are increasingly concerned
about this innovative practice. This is a narrative review of both the literature and Internet
pertaining to telemedicine projects within the field of geriatric subjects in France. Since the beginning
of the 2000’s, several telemedicine projects and trials focused on chronic heart failure have
been developed in the elderly, and also in the field of dermatology. The potential contribution of
second-generation telemedicine projects in terms of mortality, morbidity, and the number of hospitalizations
avoided is currently under study. Their impact in terms of health economics is likewise
being investigated, taking into account that the economic and social benefits brought up by telemedicine
solutions were previously validated by the original telemedicine projects. We take a look
at telemedicine projects in France concerning the elderly.
„Pięćdziesiątnica pogan” w ujęciu Dziejów Apostolskich (Dz 10, 1–11, 18). Casus Korneliusza i jego domu
Authors: Pilarczyk Krzysztof
Published: March 2019

Badanie początków chrześcijaństwa metodą historyczną sprawia dużo trudności, głównie z powodu znikomej ilości źródeł. Do jednych z najciekawszych należy kanoniczna księga Dziejów Apostolskich, która w Nowym Testamencie jest unicum tak pod względem genologicznym, jak i treściowym. Dostarcza ona dość szczególnego obrazu powstania i rozwoju Kościoła. Autor artykułu pyta, jaki to obraz – historyczny, mityczny, teologiczny czy teologiczno-polemiczny? W badaniach koncentruje się na jednym tylko wątku ukazanym w tej księdze, to jest na przełomowym dla dziejów misji ewangelizacyjnej skierowaniu jej od pogan. Najpierw sytuuje interesującą go perykopę w koncepcji całej księgi, a następnie przypomina w skrócie historię jej egzegezy oraz poddaje ją krytyce historycznej, by w końcu odkryć w niej ważną kartę mitu wczesnochrześcijańskiego. Nie negując jego historycznego zakorzenienia, wskazuje na teologiczne jej przesłanie niezwykle ważne dla społeczności chrześcijan z początku drugiego wieku.
Relevance of Activity Tracking With Mobile Devices in the Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Satisfaction With Physical Fitness in Older Adults: Representative Survey (Preprint)
Authors: Schlomann Anna , Seifert Alexander , Rietz Christian
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Physical activity has been shown to positively affect many aspects of life, and the positive relationship between physical activity levels and health is well established. Recently, research on the interrelationship between physical activity levels and subjective experiences has gained attention. However, the underlying mechanisms that link physical activity levels with subjective experiences of physical fitness have not been sufficiently explained.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the role of physical activity tracking (PAT) in the relationship between physical activity levels and satisfaction with physical fitness in older adults. It is hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity are associated with a higher satisfaction with physical fitness in older adults and that this positive association is stronger for older people who use mobile devices for PAT.

METHODS

As part of this study, 1013 participants aged 50 years or older and living in Switzerland were interviewed via computer-assisted telephone interviews. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied. The interaction effects between physical activity levels and PAT were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Descriptive analyses showed that 719 participants used at least 1 mobile device and that 136 out of 719 mobile device users (18.9%) used mobile devices for PAT. In the multivariate regression analysis, frequent physical activity was found to have a positive effect on satisfaction with physical fitness (beta=.24, P<.001). A significant interaction effect between physical activity levels and PAT (beta=.30, P=.03) provides some first evidence that the positive effects of physical activity on satisfaction with physical fitness can be enhanced by PAT.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate the potential of PAT to enhance the physical fitness of older adults. However, the results also raise new issues in this context. Recommendations for further research and practice include the acquisition of longitudinal data, a more detailed observation of durations of use, and the development of devices for PAT considering health psychology and gerontology theories.
Organización obrera y políticas laborales en las minas de cobre de México y Chile, 1900-1940
Authors: Vasquez Montaño Rosario Margarita
Published: March 2019

En el artículo se analiza la conformación y el desarrollo de la minería de cobre en México y Chile durante la primera mitad del siglo XX. Es una exploración no acabada y responde a la necesidad de estudiar los procesos históricos regionales, desde la perspectiva comparada, para reconocer periodos ligados a procesos económicos y políticos más amplios. A través de la historia de la organización sindical, la cultura obrera y las políticas laborales de los gobiernos de la época es posible advertir similitudes entre las experiencias en los minerales de los dos países. Asimismo, se reconocen los caminos diferenciados respecto al activismo sindical, las influencias ideológicas y políticas y las formas de negociación de los trabajadores con el Estado. La condición multinacional de las mineras en México y Chile permitió la conformación de los enclaves, con características similares en su conformación primaria, pero con diferencias al ser trasformados por los trabajadores en su diálogo y confrontación con las empresas y el Estado.
Florida en el fiel de la balanza: El Sunshine State en las elecciones presidenciales estadunidenses
Authors: Domínguez López Ernesto
Published: March 2019

En este artículo se estudian los procesos electorales presidenciales en el estado de Florida. Se propone un grupo de criterios para definir la condición de estado pendular, y se observa que Florida los cumple desde comienzo de los noventa y se pondera su impacto a partir del crecimiento de su colegio electoral. Su transformación en estado pendular se interpreta como expresión a escala estadual del realineamiento derivado de la transición de los setenta-ochenta. Se observa una tendencia sostenida al cambio de la composición nacional de las comunidades latinas, y a variaciones en sus comportamientos electorales. Esas tendencias y los datos registrados, dentro de los marcos de un proceso nacional de transición, indican la existencia de condiciones para un nuevo realineamiento político en el estado, como parte del realineamiento a escala nacional. La configuración emergente del sistema político en ese estado resulta indeterminada.
Corporate governance and earnings management in family firms
Authors: Gürünlü Meltem
Published: March 2019

Earnings management is practice of considering the impression of stakeholders when deciding on the allocation of accruals of non-cash items in the statement of profit or loss. There are many empirically linked studies of earnings management to accrual decisions that lead to high debts and particularly earnings. The debt hypothesis related to earnings management states that debt level enhances earnings management activities. In this study, it is aimed to find out if existence of internal capital markets in group enterprises reduce this motivation or not. In this study, it is predicted that as the internal capital market funds increase as a result of the increase in profitability in the group enterprises, the firm with a higher debt of the business group will be less exposed to the risk of non-repayment and thus less incentive to manage its earnings. The aim of this article is to show whether the advantages of the internal capital market lead to decrease in the earnings management or not. This study using a panel data analysis of non-financial firms in Istanbul Stock Exchange provides evidence that internal capital markets in pyramidal ownership structure help to reduce the earnings management caused by having higher debt
Audit committees and financial reporting quality: An examination of status in Greek companies
Authors: Filos John
Published: March 2019

It has been compulsory by the Greek legal framework that audit committees are established and operating in all listed in the Athens Stock Exchange companies as well as in other Public Interest Companies (PIEs). Beyond the obligations defined clearly by the law, there is also various proposed ‘soft law’ material, such as a Code of Corporate Governance issued by the Body of Corporate Governance. At the same time, the supervising authorities are working on proposing new and stricter provisions in the corporate law and especially for the listed companies (i.e. Capital Market Committee) and on evaluating the status on listed companies (i.e. External Auditors’ Supervisory Committee), both by faster steps, after a large accounting scandal revealed in Greece in May 2018. In this research, after the framework is described and commented, the status of both Audit Committees (synthesis, rules of operation etc.) and Financial Reporting Quality (according to IFRS and other provisions) are examined
Earnings management practices in the banking industry: The role of bank regulation and supervision
Authors: Ceccobelli Giacomo , Giosi Alessandro
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this research is to investigate earnings management purposes in the banking industry via loan loss provisions using a sample of 156 banks from 19 European countries under the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) over the period 2006-2016. Using regression analysis, banks are tested for income smoothing, capital management, and signaling purposes. This study contributes to the literature exploring the relationship between accounting quality and earnings management objectives by analyzing which one of the latter is the most important determinant. The hypothesis of income smoothing and signaling are strongly approved since loan loss provisions consist as a tool for smoothing the amount of net profit and to convey private information to the market; on the contrary, the capital management purpose is not supported. Additionally, the analysis finds that non-discretionary components of loan loss provisions (essentially non-performing loans) have played an important role, especially during the financial crisis. Furthermore, the research is aimed at investigating the peculiar regulatory and supervisory environment in the banking industry on the basis of a set of indexes included in the “Bank Regulation and Supervision Survey”, carried out by the World Bank. Differently, from previous literature, this study takes into account the last release of the survey, emphasizes the role of an on-site inspection as a main supervisory tool and extends the analysis of the interaction between bank regulation and supervision and earnings management. The results demonstrate that such controls can influence the behavior of bank managers in terms of income smoothing and signaling practices. Therefore they can be considered as effective instruments able at reducing banks’ management accounting discretion, making financial statements more reliable
Corporate governance, CSR and financial performances: What types of relationships exist between these dimensions?
Authors: Tutino Marco , Mattei Giorgia , Paoloni Niccolò , Santolamazza Valentina
Published: March 2019

Starting from the assumption that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performances and financial performances are the results of the plan of actions of companies and depend on the financial and sustainability policies, the aim of this paper is to understand, thanks to a traditional literature review, what kind of relationship exists between the companies’ strategy and the composition of the corporate governance, already identified from scholars. From this, it is possible to hypothesize, thank the support of the literature, others types of relations not yet test, enclosing these in a framework that will be used in a following part of the present research.
The association between board diversity, earnings management and firm performance in Kuwait: A research agenda
Authors: Alqatan Ahmad
Published: March 2019

This paper aims to examine the consequences of board diversity. The objectives are to measure the impact of gender, age, national diversity on earnings management (EM). This research study raises the following questions: Does board diversity affect earnings management and firm performance? Has the 2013 Kuwait Corporate Governance Code impacted on board diversity on earnings management, beside firm performance? The research uses data from 103 non-financial Kuwaiti listed companies in the period from 2010 to 2017. The data is collected from the companies’ data from secondary sources such as their annual reports. The data analysis methods are correlation, multi-regression and robust regression. Earnings management was measured using the model modified by Jones (1995) and Kothari et al. (2005). Firm performance measured by ROA, ROE, Tobin’s Q and total shareholder return. The independent variables are gender diversity, age diversity, nationality diversity, board size, board independent and role duality. Control variables are firm size, industry type, total debt, total revenue, oil price, percentage change oil price, gold price, the percentage change of gold price and, ROA
A comparative study of banking sector performance before and after merger & acquisition: Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Hussain , Waqas Muhammad , Migliori Stefania
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this study is to make a comparative analysis of banking sector performance before and after the Merger and Acquisition (M&A). The analysis is based on the accounting measures to test the impact of pre and post M&A on the financial performance of banks in Pakistan during the period 2004-2015. The results reveal that liquidity, profitability and investment ratios of the banks are positively and significantly increased the performance after M&A. However, it also indicates that the solvency ratios are not statistically significant after M&A. In the light of these results, this study suggests implications for both theory and practice and also recommends ideas for future research
Football, corporate ownership, and conflicts of interest: Dark spaces and black boxes
Authors: Faraudello Alessandra , Gelmini Lorenzo
Published: March 2019

The paper takes the move from the recent (2018) essay by the global study jointly undertaken by the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) in partnership with the ICSS INSIGHT and the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). Shockingly, the preliminary findings of that study reveal that only three countries have a dedicated body that has specific oversight of investment and ownership in its football clubs and only two nations are able to fully track and monitor the money behind club investments and ownership. Meanwhile, the vast majority of countries do not have any mechanism in which to understand the source of a club’s investment and rely on generic laws with most ‘assuming’ that any financial scrutiny falls under the country’s existing club licensing system. On the premises of the above, the paper traces the case of Italy Serie A and it develops some considerations regarding the negative consequences of the lack of transparency (e.g., purchasing clubs for non-sporting reasons, such as transforming them into vehicles for money laundering, third-party investment funds and sports betting fraud).
Corporate governance and blockchain: Some preliminary results by a survey
Authors: Esposito De Falco Salvatore , Cucari Nicola , Canuti Emanuele , Modena Stefano
Published: March 2019

Blockchain technology can influence various aspects of the business even if empirical studies are still lacking to estimate the effective application of technology on corporate governance. Beyond its scientific-practical trendiness, blockchain should not be a matter of “if”, but a matter of “how” organizations are willing and able to integrate blockchain practices into their vision of the future, with ways to manage shareholders issues down to regular operations reaching and managing different levels of activism. It seems almost paradoxical that still not all companies subscribe to the “next best practice”. Therefore, this paper aims to answer the following research question: What is the expected impact of blockchain technology on corporate governance? The purpose of this study is to provide a starting point for research that can be used for further examination of these aspects