bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The HSV-1 immediate early protein ICP22 is a J-like protein required for Hsc70 reorganization during lytic infection
Authors: Adlakha Mitali , Livingston Christine M. , Bezsonova Irina , Weller Sandra K.
Published: June 2019

Molecular chaperones and co-chaperones are the most abundant cellular effectors of protein homeostasis, assisting protein folding and preventing aggregation of misfolded proteins. We have previously shown that HSV-1 infection results in the drastic spatial reorganization of the cellular chaperone Hsc70 into nuclear domains called VICE (VirusInducedChaperoneEnriched) domains and that this recruitment is dependent on the viral immediate early protein ICP22. In this paper, we present several lines of evidence supporting the notion that ICP22 functions as a virally encoded co-chaperone (J-protein/Hsp40) functioning together with its Hsc70 partner to recognize and manage aggregated and misfolded proteins. We show that ICP22 results in (i) nuclear sequestration of non-native proteins, (ii) reduction of cytoplasmic aggresomes in cells expressing aggregation-prone proteins and (iii) thermoprotection against heat-inactivation of firefly luciferase. (iv) Sequence homology analysis indicated that ICP22 contains an N-terminal J-domain and a C-terminal substrate binding domain, similar to type II cellular J-proteins. ICP22 may, thus, be functionally similar to J-protein/Hsp40 co-chaperones that function together with their HSP70 partners to prevent aggregation of non-native proteins. This is not the first example of a virus hijacking a function of a cellular chaperone, as SV40 T Antigen was previously shown to contain a J-domain; however, this the first known example of the acquisition of a complete J-like protein by a virus and suggests that HSV has taken advantage of the adaptable nature of J-proteins to evolve a multi-functional co-chaperone that functions with Hsc70 to promote lytic infection.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses have evolved a variety of strategies to succeed in a hostile environment. The HSV immediate early protein ICP22 plays several roles in the virus life cycle including down-regulation of cellular gene expression, up-regulation of late viral gene expression, inhibition of apoptosis, prevention of aggregation of non-native proteins and the recruitment of a cellular heat shock protein, Hsc70, to nuclear domains. We present evidence that ICP22 resembles a cellular J-protein/HSP40 family co-chaperone, interacting specifically with Hsc70. This is the first known example of the acquisition of a complete J-like protein by a virus and suggests that HSV has evolved to manipulate the host proteostatic machinery during the establishment of lytic infection.
A new tool CovReport generates easy-to-understand sequencing coverage summary for diagnostic reports
Authors: Gorokhov Mark , Cerino Mathieu , Bartoli Marc , Krahn Martin , Gorokhova Svetlana
Published: June 2019

In order to properly interpret the results of a diagnostic gene panel sequencing test, gene coverage needs to be taken into consideration. If coverage is too low, an additional re-sequencing test is needed to make sure that a pathogenic variant is not missed. To facilitate the interpretation of coverage data, we designed CovReport, a novel easy-to-use visualization tool. CovReport generates a concise coverage summary that allows one-glance assessment of the sequencing test performance. Both gene-level and exon-level coverage can be immediately appreciated and taken into consideration for further medical decisions. CovReport does not require complex installation and can thus be easily implemented in any diagnostic laboratory setting. A user-friendly interface generates a graphic summary of coverage that can be directly included in the diagnostic report. In addition to a stand-alone version, we also provide a command line version of CovReport that can be integrated into any bioinformatics pipeline. This flexible tool is now part of routine sequencing analysis at the Department of Medical Genetics at La Timone Hospital (Marseille, France).

Availability and implementation

CovReport is available at http://jdotsoft.com/CovReport.php. It is implemented in Java and supported on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Abstract Figure
Two contrasting classes of nucleolus-associated domains in mouse fibroblast heterochromatin
Authors: Vertii Anastassiia , Ou Jianhong , Yu Jun , Yan Aimin , Pagès Hervé , Liu Haibo , Zhu Lihua Julie , Kaufman Paul D.
Published: June 2019

In interphase eukaryotic cells, almost all heterochromatin is located adjacent to the nucleolus or to the nuclear lamina, thus defining nucleolus-associated domains (NADs) and lamina-associated domains (LADs), respectively. Here, we determined the first genome-scale map of murine NADs in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) via deep sequencing of chromatin associated with purified nucleoli. We developed a Bioconductor package called NADfinder and demonstrated that it identifies NADs more accurately than other peak-calling tools, owing to its critical feature of chromosome-level local baseline correction. We detected two distinct classes of NADs. Type I NADs associate frequently with both the nucleolar periphery and the nuclear lamina, and generally display characteristics of constitutive heterochromatin, including late DNA replication, enrichment of H3K9me3, and little gene expression. In contrast, Type II NADs associate with nucleoli but do not overlap with LADs. Type II NADs tend to replicate earlier, display greater gene expression, and are more often enriched in H3K27me3 than Type I NADs. The nucleolar associations of both classes of NADs were confirmed via DNA-FISH, which also detected Type I but not Type II probes enriched at the nuclear lamina. Type II NADs are enriched in distinct gene classes, including factors important for differentiation and development. In keeping with this, we observed that a Type II NAD is developmentally regulated, and present in MEFs but not in undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells.
Systematic evaluation of the helicopter rotor blades: design variables and interactions
Authors: Shahmiri Farid , Sargolzehi Maryam , Shahi Ashtiani Mohammad Ali
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The effects of rotor blade design variables and their mutual interactions on aerodynamic efficiency of helicopters are investigated. The aerodynamic efficiency is defined based on figure of merit (FM) and lift-to-drag responses developed for hover and forward flight, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to couple a general flight dynamic simulation code, previously validated in the time domain, with design of experiment (DOE) required for the response surface development. DOE includes I-optimality criteria to preselect the data and improve data acquisition process. Desirability approach is also implemented for a better understanding of the optimum rotor blade planform in both hover and forward flight.

Findings

The resulting system provides a systematic manner to examine the rotor blade design variables and their interactions, thus reducing the time and cost of designing rotor blades. The obtained results show that the blade taper ratio of 0.3, the point of taper initiation of about 0.64 R within a SC1095R8 airfoil satisfy the maximum FM of 0.73 and the maximum lift-to-drag ratio of about 5.5 in hover and forward flight.

Practical implications

The work shows the practical possibility to implement the proposed optimization process that can be used for the advanced rotor blade design.

Originality/value

The work presents the rapid and reliable optimization process efficiently used for designing advanced rotor blades in hover and forward flight.
Miniature as a way of representation in design studio: a case study
Authors: Zeybekoglu Senem , Sadri Hossein
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Learning from traditional miniature painting and from recent studies on their modern and creative applications, the purpose of this paper is to identify the key qualifications of miniature and possible ways for using miniature in urban design studios. Following discussions on the pedagogical and professional effects of using miniature in a design studio, the paper introduces De-Urban Design Studio’s philosophy and its experience in employing miniature as a way of representation as the case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Different from the urban design’s professional role which materialized in conventional architectural presentation, miniature appears as a representation way in the search for the appropriate media for the de-urban design’s activist model.

Findings

Expressing the philosophy of transition design and de-urbanization, and studying some of the miniatures produced in the De-Urban Design studio, this paper sheds light on the possibilities created by the usage of miniature in urban design studio as a communication medium in making the processes of design more inclusiveness, participatory and democratic.

Originality/value

The term miniatecture is used for the first time as a representation technique developed in the De-Urban Design Studio co-instructed by the authors of this paper.
An improved immune clonal selection algorithm for bi-objective robotic assemble line balancing problems considering time and space constraints
Authors: Zhou Binghai , Wu Qiong
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The extensive applications of the industrial robots have made the optimization of assembly lines more complicated. The purpose of this paper is to develop a balancing method of both workstation time and station area to improve the efficiency and productivity of the robotic assembly lines. A tradeoff was made between two conflicting objective functions, minimizing the number of workstations and minimizing the area of each workstation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research proposes an optimal method for balancing robotic assembly lines with space consideration and reducing robot changeover and area for tools and fixtures to further minimize assembly line area and cycle time. Due to the NP-hard nature of the considered problem, an improved multi-objective immune clonal selection algorithm is proposed to solve this constrained multi-objective optimization problem, and a special coding scheme is designed for the problem. To enhance the performance of the algorithm, several strategies including elite strategy and global search are introduced.

Findings

A set of instances of different problem scales are optimized and the results are compared with two other high-performing multi-objective algorithms to evaluate the efficiency and superiority of the proposed algorithm. It is found that the proposed method can efficiently solve the real-world size case of time and space robotic assembly line balancing problems.

Originality/value

For the first time in the robotic assembly line balancing problems, an assignment-based tool area and a sequence-based changeover time are took into consideration. Furthermore, a mathematical model with bi-objective functions of minimizing the number of workstations and area of each station was developed. To solve the proposed problem, an improved multi-objective immune clonal selection algorithm was proposed and a special coding scheme is designed.
Pedagogical strategies for developing interpretive language about images
Authors: Ravelli Louise
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on pedagogical strategies which support the teaching of critical analysis of visual and multimodal texts in a tertiary-level course for Arts students.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes strategies which focus on developing students’ abilities to express interpretive critique, as opposed to mere description. These strategies give students strong scaffolding towards success in their interpretive writing. The course in question is a tertiary-level Arts course which teaches Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) approach to “reading images” in relation to contemporary media texts. The basic structure of the course is described, along with the macro steps which underpin the pedagogy. Examples of highly successful and less successful student writing are compared to reveal the key components of effective interpretive answers.

Findings

In addition to the normal expectations regarding essay structure and style, and in addition to mastery of the technicality of the course, successful and less successful student writing depends on their mastery of a specific set of moves within the essay. These moves integrate textual observations with clear explanations and a strong relation to interpretation.

Practical implications

While the course and strategies discussed are for tertiary-level students, the strategies described are adaptable to primary and secondary levels also. Multimodal texts are an integral part of the English curriculum, and all teachers need to explore strategies for enabling their students’ critical engagement with such texts.

Originality/value

Visual and multimodal texts are an exciting and also challenging part of English curricula, and new analytical frameworks and pedagogical strategies are needed to tackle these texts. In particular, the gap between simply describing visual resources (applying the tools) and critical analysis (using the tools) is vast, and specific pedagogical strategies are needed to help students develop the necessary interpretive language.
Consumer behaviour towards pharmaceutical products: a model development
Authors: Ting Chuo Yew , Ismail Mazlan Bin , Ting Hiram , Bahri Salmah Binti , Sidek Affarizan Bin , Idris Siti Fatimah Bt , Tan Robin Tiow Heng , Abu Seman Sareh Safwan Bin , Sethiaram Mogan Ram A_L , Md Ghazali Mohd Hazwan Bin , Lim Qin Hui , Mohd Zaki Mohamad Soliheen Bin , Sohot Mohammad Shamil Bin
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Despite the extant literature on purchasing behaviour, little is known about why and how consumers purchase and use pharmaceutical products in Malaysia. This paper aims to develop a holistic model that articulates the factors underlying pharmaceutical product purchase and use and their relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews and analysis on the basis of theoretical saturation were conducted. Enumerators, trained to perform interviews, the transcription and content analysis, sampled 120 Malaysian consumers in the first phase and 40 in the second. ATLAS.ti was used to assist the coding and analytical process.

Findings

The findings largely support extant literature on purchasing decisions. Particularly, the evaluation of product attributes was found to be an immediate determinant of purchase and use. The effect, in turn, was moderated by personal factors and facilitating conditions. The need for healthcare products and the knowledge about them were constructed as antecedents in the model. The study also highlights that consumers’ purchase and use of pharmaceutical products could be better understood and managed with a holistic view of the decision-making process.

Originality/value

This study proposes the conbe-hepro model to explicate the antecedents and determinants of consumers’ purchase and use of pharmaceutical products in the Malaysian context. It provides a theoretical grounding that enriches our knowledge of the changing behaviour of consumers in healthcare literature. It also yields practical insights to the government bodies and the healthcare providers in Malaysia and other developing countries.
Non-clinical rounds in hospital settings: a scoping review
Authors: Angelopoulou Paraskevi , Panagopoulou Efharis
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically describe the types of non-clinical rounds implemented in hospital settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This scoping review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA. The review followed the four stages of conducting scoping review as defined by Arskey and O’Malley (2005).

Findings

Initially, 978 articles were identified through database search from which only 24 studies were considered relevant and included in the final review. Overall, eight types of non-clinical rounds were identified (death rounds, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences, multidisciplinary rounds, patient safety rounds, patient safety huddles, walkarounds and Schwartz rounds) that independently of their format, goal, participants and type of outcomes aimed to enhance patient safety and improve quality of healthcare delivery in hospital settings, either by focusing on physician, patient or organizational system.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge this is the first review that aims to provide a comprehensive summary to the types of non-clinical rounds that has been applied in clinical settings.
Competencies for effective public middle managers
Authors: Sudirman Iman , Siswanto Joko , Monang Joe , Aisha Atya Nur
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a set of competencies that characterizes effective public middle managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 20 middle managers from several public agencies were interviewed in person using the behavioral event interview technique. In all, 80 stories were deductively coded based on the existing National Civil Service Agency’s managerial competency dictionary and inductively examined through a thematic analysis to discover new themes.

Findings

This study’s findings suggest that communication, organizing, information seeking, analytical thinking and planning competencies are common competencies, but essential for effective public middle managers. Conversely, achievement orientation, leadership, directiveness, persuasiveness and innovation are competencies that characterize effective public middle managers and distinguish them from average performers. In addition, some other new competencies inductively obtained using a thematic analysis are also important for effective public managers: adherence to laws and regulations, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and technical competencies (technology management, human resource management and financial management).

Research limitations/implications

The research was undertaken using 20 samples divided into superior and average performers; thus, it is limited to developing competency levels to new competencies.

Originality/value

This study identifies the competencies necessary for effective middle managers within the public sector context. Conducting behavioral event interviews with two distinct groups provides empirically unique behavioral evidence of competencies that characterize effective public middle managers and enables to discover new competencies.
Platforms as entrepreneurial incubators? How online labor markets shape work identity
Authors: Bellesia Francesca , Mattarelli Elisa , Bertolotti Fabiola , Sobrero Maurizio
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the process of work identity construction unfolds for gig workers experiencing unstable working relationships in online labor markets. In particular, it investigates how digital platforms, intended both as providers of technological features and online environments, affect this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an exploratory field study and collected data from 46 interviews with freelancers working on one of the most popular online labor markets and from online documents such as public profiles, job applications and archival data.

Findings

The findings reveal that the online environment constrains the action of workers who are pushed to take advantage of the platform’s technological features to succeed. This interplay leads workers to add new characteristics to their work-self and to and to develop an entrepreneurial an entrepreneurial orientation.

Practical implications

The study offers insights to platform providers interested in improving workers’ experiences in online labor markets, highlighting mechanisms for uncertainty reduction and diversifying a platform’s services according to gig workers’ identities and orientations.

Originality/value

The study expands the authors’ knowledge on work identity construction processes of gig workers, detailing the relationship between work identity and IT, and documents previously unexplored antecedents of entrepreneurial orientation in non-standard working contexts.
Consumer relationship with pro-environmental apparel brands: effect of knowledge, skepticism and brand familiarity
Authors: Copeland Lauren , Bhaduri Gargi
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The apparel industry is often scrutinized for its lack of environmental stewardship, and thus pro-environmental initiatives have been of significant consideration among apparel brands in recent years. However, one personality trait of specific concern to brand marketers is consumer skepticism toward climate change, which has the potential to negatively impact the success of brands’ pro-environmental initiatives. In this light, research indicates that knowledge of the environmental impact of products can lead to lower skepticism (Tobler et al., 2012) and ultimately higher purchase intentions of such products. Thus, this study investigates the impact of consumers’ knowledge about environmental impact of apparel, climate change skepticism on their evaluation of brands’ pro-environmental initiatives (shared value and perceived benefit) and ultimately their relationship with the brand (perceived trust, commitment), leading to purchase intention for both familiar and unfamiliar brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Two separate studies were conducted for familiar and unfamiliar brands. Data for online surveys were collected from two US nationwide samples and analyzed using path analyses.

Findings

Consumers’ intention to purchase from a pro-environmental brand was influenced by knowledge and skepticism. Particularly, the obtained shared value perceptions and perceived benefits of consumers influenced their relationship with the brand through trust and commitment, which eventually impacted their intention to purchase from the brand. Differences were observed for familiar and unfamiliar brands.

Practical implications

Findings of this study will help brand managers design effective pro-environmental marketing messages. Both familiar and unfamiliar brands would benefit from educating consumers about the true environmental impact of their apparel choices, as well as the personal benefits and values earned when purchasing/consuming pro-environmental apparel. This, in turn, reduces consumer skepticism toward climate change, leading to favorable evaluations of the brand’s pro-environmental initiatives and improvement of long-term brand relations.

Originality/value

This study extended the social exchange theory by understanding antecedents of consumers’ shared value and perceived benefits, namely, their knowledge about the environmental impact of apparel and their skepticism toward climate change, with the final outcome variable being consumers’ patronage intention of pro-environmental brands.
Brand management in the era of fake news: narrative response as a strategy to insulate brand value
Authors: Mills Adam J. , Robson Karen
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Brand value is increasingly threatened by fake news stories; the purpose of this paper is to explain how narrative response can be used to mitigate this threat, especially in situations where the crisis is severe and consumers are highly involved.

Design/methods

This conceptual paper derives recommendations and guidance for the use of narrative response based on storytelling and brand management literature.

Findings

This paper highlights authenticity and emotional engagement as keys to effective storytelling.

Practical implications

Current managerial approaches to dealing with misinformation are insufficient, as they presuppose an audience that can be convinced based on facts; this paper can be used to help brand managers respond to fake news stories when rational appeals fail.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into brand management strategies in the era of fake news.
Knowledge management practices
Authors: V Nair Balakrishnan , Munusami Chandramalar
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate KM practices that may be in place in the higher education institutions (HEIs) and whether the KM practices are made known to the employees for improving the teaching and learning environment provided at the Malaysian higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a personal administrated method made available to private higher education institutions academic members in five states with 30 or more employees. A total of 1,100 survey questionnaires were handed out, out of which 273 were collected and were usable (24.8 per cent response rate). The sample was checked for response and non-response bias. Results were tested using SPSS application and questionnaire tools.

Findings

It was essential to establish the knowledge management (KM) capacity in key areas such as the ability to recognise experts within the institution, leadership’s innovation, knowledge sharing and knowledge acquiring work culture, and technology usage. KM tools and techniques would help the institutions to meet their competitive goals; therefore, it is vital for HEIs to create KM awareness among the employees.

Research limitations/implications

Similar to most studies, it is anticipated that the participants’ awareness of KM practices at their HEIs is very high. The samples were collected to evaluate the general view of KM awareness and how participants perceived KM practices. The total samples received for this study were expected; however, they were sufficient to study the impact.

Practical implications

This paper provides support for the importance of KM practices and employees awareness at HEIs to enhance innovation and performance teaching and learning environment.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first papers to find empirical support for the role of KM practices at HEIs. Further, the positioning of KM practices as a competitive tool can be considered as an influential factor to competitive advantage.
Resource allocation based on overall equipment effectiveness using cooperative game
Authors: Mousavi-Nasab Seyed Hadi , Safari Jalal , Hafezalkotob Ashkan
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Resource allocation has always been a critical problem with significant economic relevance. Many industries allocate the resources based on classical methods such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). The lack of OEE factors’ weight, how it is defined, analyzed, interpreted and compared in OEE and selection of unrealistic weights, self-appraisal and disability of complete ranking in DEA are challenges that are possible to occur. These defects may result in unfair allocation of the resources. This study aims to overcome the mentioned weaknesses.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, an approach using a set of various DEA models and Nash bargaining solution (NBS) is designed to solve the resource allocation problem based on OEE, among a set of comparable and uniform DMUs (decision-making units) in a fair way.

Findings

The results show that a unique Pareto optimal allocation solution is obtained by the proposed DEA–NBS model among the DMUs. This allocation is more acceptable for players, because the allocation results are commonly determined by all DMUs rather than a specific one. Furthermore, the rankings achieved by the utilized methods and TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) are compared by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to validate the resource allocation plan. The findings indicate that the DEA–NBS method has the best correlation with the TOPSIS approach.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, no research has considered the use of DEA and NBS with OEE.
Factors affecting students’ engagement with online content in blended learning
Authors: Dwivedi Alka , Dwivedi Prasoom , Bobek Samo , Sternad Zabukovšek Simona
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education has, along with other consequences, shifted the context from teacher-centric to student-centric. These changes pose fresh challenges to the prevalent education systems all over the world, which already have fallen short of the expectations. The purpose of this study is to show that e-learning is not only about ICT following a holistic approach to learning which embeds systemic approach and learning loops but also about students and teacher’s actions in ICT-enabled learning environment. This study investigates the importance of engagement of students and teachers in blended learning with a focus on factors which affect this engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on systems theory and socio-technological approach to e-learning, the paper documents an experiment which was carried out in a higher education institution. Postgraduate students of one course were divided into two groups. Instructor of the first group was not required to engage with the online content and had to deliver his course in a traditional face-to-face format. Instructor of the second group continuously spent time on the learning management system (LMS), developing more content, participating in online discussions and responding to students. LMS tracked the online activity of both the instructors, and semi-structured interviews of students were conducted.

Findings

Based on behaviour of 152 students of a postgraduate programme, students’ time spent online is directly proportional to the instructor’s online time, promptness of instructor’s response to online activities queries of students increased student engagement, the students’ engagement increases if the online content is related to the syllabus but engagement is not the same as the face-to-face lectures in the class.

Research limitations/implications

The research was conducted in India and is based on the behaviour of instructors and students in India. It was focussed on engagement issues of blended learning, while other issues of blended learning have not been in the focus of the research.

Practical implications

The research is important for the practice of higher education, and the result of the study can be taken into consideration while developing online courses for students enrolled in higher education.

Social implications

If higher education institutions take a strategic decision to use ICT in e-learning, engagements of participants and factors affecting engagement are crucial for the better quality of education. In such a way, blended learning fulfils requirements of a holistic approach to learning.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that e-learning as a way to deliver academic content has been extensively researched, there are not many studies focussed on engagement issues in blended learning, and even fewer studies have been conducted in an experimental way which allow in-depth research.
How to improve parenting in Hong Kong by training: the 6As Positive Parenting Program
Authors: Yip Fiona W.L. , Zelman Diane , Low Adrian
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Research suggests that children in Hong Kong are at an elevated risk of emotional problems. Authoritarian parenting, a common parenting style in Hong Kong, is a critical factor associated with childhood mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6As Positive Parenting Program (6As) in modifying parenting attitudes, reduction of parenting stress and increasing self-efficacy in positive parenting, among a sample of 82 Hong Kong parents. 6As focuses on prevention by instilling positive parenting beliefs and principles, thereby reducing reliance on authoritarian and related parenting styles.

Design/methodology/approach

The program was evaluated using a controlled pre-post-treatment design. Outcome measures were the Chinese Child-rearing Beliefs Questionnaire, Parental Stress Scale, Parenting Self-efficacy Scale and participant feedback. ANOVA and correlation were utilized to detect treatment effects and relationships between the degree of change among measures and subscales.

Findings

Relative to the control group, the 6As Positive Parenting Program significantly changed parents’ parenting attitudes, reduced parenting stress and increased self-efficacy in positive parenting. In sum, 97.6 percent of the participants agreed that the program is a good fit for the Hong Kong culture.

Research limitations/implications

A larger sample would have been desirable for this study. One factor that limited analyzable data was that some of the participating organizations enrolled participants into the program who did not meet research inclusion criteria. Furthermore, the size of groups varied from 5 to 16 participants, which may have produced different group dynamics that added variability to outcomes. Future 6As parenting program research should attempt to standardize group size or to directly compare the effectiveness of smaller vs larger groups. Furthermore, as noted earlier, the research was conducted during the primary school application period, which may have heightened the parenting stress for parents of younger children.

Practical implications

The results suggest that an enhanced belief in authoritative, autonomy and training strategies could reduce parental stress and shift parents’ attitude toward a more positive approach in child-rearing.

Social implications

There is considerable need for a holistically designed parenting training that is culturally credible and sensitive.

Originality/value

Findings suggest that positive parenting can enhance the parent–child relationship and reduce parental stress. The results support governmental, non-governmental organizational and community focus on positive practices for parenting training in Hong Kong.
Validity and reliability of the questionnaire that evaluates factors associated with perceived environmental behavior and perceived ecological purchasing behavior in Peruvian consumers
Authors: Lopez-Odar Dennis , Alvarez-Risco Aldo , Vara-Horna Aristides , Chafloque-Cespedes Raquel , Sekar M. Chandra
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the metric properties of a questionnaire that evaluates environmental and ecological purchasing behavior, environmental personal norms, environmental identity and environmental social influence.

Design/methodology/approach

The validity and reliability of the scales of the questionnaires were determined in a sample of 2445 consumers from Lima (Peru), selected through non-probabilistic sampling by quotas and by factorial analysis based on Classical Theory of Tests (CTT) and Structural Equations of Variance with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS).

Findings

The results support the construct and discriminant validity of the instrument, as well as the internal consistency of all the subscales (Cronbach’s alpha between 0.662 and 0.8887 – composite reliability between 0.815 and 0.917).

Research limitations/implications

Customers evaluated were only from Lima city. It would be important to evaluate, in future research, customers from other cities in Peru.

Practical implications

Although a large number of instruments have been designed, not all are based on integral theoretical models, and their metric properties were determined with methodological criteria that restrict their applicability. Therefore, there is a need to have valid and reliable instruments for the identification of environmental behavior and ecological purchasing.

Social implications

This “new questionnaire” integrates the exploration of environmental behavior and ecological purchasing, along with the measurement of personal environmental norms, environmental identity and the social influence received from peers and teachers, to provide a comprehensive picture of the consumer behavior.

Originality/value

This research constitutes a theoretical and practical contribution to the understanding and evaluation of ecological behavior and some of its associated factors. Its main contribution is the adaptation of this instrument to the Peruvian context and the validation of an instrument that evaluates environmental and ecological purchasing behavior, personal environmental standards, environmental identity and environmental social influence.
Regional differences in impact investment: a theory of impact investing ecosystems
Authors: Roundy Philip T.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Impact investing, a type of values-based investing that combines financial investment with philanthropic goals, is receiving heightened scholarly and practitioner attention. The geography of impact investing, however, is largely unexamined, and it is not clear why some regional impact-investing communities are more vibrant than other communities. Regional differences in entrepreneurial activities are increasingly explained by differences in the vitality of entrepreneurial ecosystems, the set of interconnected forces that promote and sustain regional entrepreneurship. The purpose of this paper is to leverage insights from entrepreneurial ecosystems studies to understand the dynamics of communities that encourage and support impact investing.

Design/methodology/approach

To explain inter-regional differences in the prevalence and intensity of impact investing, this conceptual paper draws from research on entrepreneurial ecosystems and impact investment to theorize about the ecosystem attributes and components that drive vibrant impact investing communities.

Findings

It is theorized that vibrant impact investing ecosystems have three system-level attributes – diversity, cohesion and coordination – that are influenced by the core components of the ecosystems, including the characteristics of investors, the presence of social impact support organizations and cultural values that promote blending logics.

Originality/value

The theoretical model contributes to research on impact investing and hybrid organizing, produces concrete implications for ecosystem builders and sets an agenda for future research.
Genomic expertise in action: molecular tumour boards and decision‐making in precision oncology
Authors: Bourret Pascale , Cambrosio Alberto
Published: June 2019

The recent development of cancer precision medicine is associated with the emergence of ‘molecular tumour boards’ (MTBs). Attended by a heterogenous set of practitioners, MTBs link genomic platforms to clinical practices by establishing ‘actionable’ connections between drugs and molecular alterations. Their activities rely on a number of evidential resources – for example databases, clinical trial results, basic knowledge about mutations and pathways – that need to be associated with the clinical trajectory of individual patients. Experts from various domains are required to master and align diverse kinds of information. However, rather than examining MTBs as an institution interfacing different kinds of expertise embedded in individual experts, we argue that expertise is the emergent outcome of MTBs, which can be conceptualised as networks or ‘agencements’ of humans and devices. Based on the ethnographic analysis of the activities of four clinical trial MTBs (three in France and an international one) and of two French routine‐care MTBs, the paper analyses how MTBs produce therapeutic decisions, centring on the new kind of expertise they engender. The development and activities of MTBs signal a profound transformation of the evidentiary basis and processes upon which biomedical expertise and decision‐making in oncology are predicated and, in particular, the emergence of a clinic of variants.
An important step forward for the future development of an easy and fast procedure for identifying the most dangerous wine spoilage yeast,Dekkera bruxellensis,in wine environment
Authors: Branco Patrícia , Candeias António , Caldeira Ana Teresa , González‐Pérez Marina
Published: June 2019

Dekkera bruxellensisis the main reason for spoilage in the wine industry. It renders the products unacceptable leading to large economic losses. FluorescenceIn SituHybridization (FISH) technique has the potential for allowing its specific detection. Nevertheless, some experimental difficulties can be encountered whenFISHtechnique is applied in the wine environment (e.g. matrix and cells’ autofluorescence, fluorophore inadequate selection and probes’ low specificity to the target organisms). An easy and fast in‐suspensionRNA‐FISHprocedure was applied for the first time for identifyingD. bruxellensisin wine. A previously designedRNA‐FISHprobe to detectD. bruxellensis(26S D. brux.5.1) was used, and the matrix and cells’ fluorescence interferences, the influence of three fluorophores inFISHperformance and the probe specificity were evaluated. The results revealed that to applyRNA‐FISHtechnique in the wine environment, a red‐emitting fluorophore should be used. Good probe performance and specificity were achieved with 25% of formamide. The resultingRNA‐FISHprotocol was applied in wine samples artificially inoculated withD. bruxellensis. This spoilage microorganism was detected in wine at cell densities lower than those associated with phenolic off‐flavours. Thus, theRNA‐FISHprocedure described in this work represents an advancement to facilitate early detection of the most dangerous wine spoilage yeast and, consequently, to reduce the economic losses caused by this yeast to the wine industry.
Comparative study of esophagectomy, endoscopic therapy, and radiotherapy for cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer in elderly patients: A SEER database analysis
Authors: Qin Jianjun , Peng Yinjie , Chen Weipeng , Ma Haibo , Zheng Yan , Li Yin , Wang Jun
Published: June 2019

Background

The number of patients diagnosed with early stage disease (T1a or T1b) has been increasing. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of esophagectomy (ES), endoscopic therapy (ET), and radiotherapy (RT) on long‐term survival in elderly patients with cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer.

Methods

We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify the records of elderly patients (≥ 75 years) with cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer between 2004 and 2014. Patient demographics and esophageal cancer parameters were compared among ES, ET, and RT groups. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard modeling were used to compare long‐term survival.

Results

Data from 954 esophageal cancer patients (ES: n = 196; ET: n = 224; RT: n = 534) were identified. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that five‐year survival in the ET and ES groups was significantly higher than in the RT group. After propensity score matching, we found no difference in five‐year survival between ES and ET.

Conclusion

Using SEER data, we identified a significant survival advantage with the use of ES and ET compared to RT in patients with cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer aged > 75 years, while the long‐term survival of patients after ET and ES was not significantly different.
On the “Realities” of Investor‐Manager Interactivity: Baudrillard, Hyperreality, and Management Q&A Sessions
Authors: Bamber Matthew , Abraham Santhosh
Published: June 2019

This paper draws on extensive fieldwork to explore the nature, scope, and implications of management preparations for the question and answer session (Q&A) that occurs during a firm's results presentation. Prior literature has associated the value of this encounter with investor‐manager interactivity. As such, it is assumed that there are high levels of managerial authorship, ownership, and spontaneity as executives face questions from analysts. Following on, it is generally assumed that this translates into an increased risk of unintended disclosure, through verbal and nonverbal messaging. However, our data indicate that management engages in vast preparatory work to mitigate the risks associated with real (“original,” natural, spontaneous, un‐staged) interactivity. Instead, the Q&A is carefully planned, organized, scripted, and rehearsed. As such, the event is transformed into a hyperreal encounter in the Baudrillardian sense. Despite this, the value of the Q&A is not necessarily impaired. Instead, these managerial backstage preparations arguably make the encounter realer than real. We suggest that the Q&A that we observe (the “copy”) is more useful than the original might have been. Our work provides evidence and discussion of two interconnected paradoxes: perfection and self‐reference. This study not only raises important questions, challenges, and opportunities for researchers interested in the study of investor‐manager interactions but also speaks to those with an interest in workplace meetings and Q&A more broadly.
Improving Auditors' Consideration of Evidence Contradicting Management's Estimate Assumptions
Authors: Austin Ashley A. , Hammersley Jacqueline S. , Ricci Michael A.
Published: June 2019

Auditors have difficulty evaluating the assumptions underlying management's estimates. One source of these problems is that auditors appear to dismiss evidence contradicting management's assumptions because their initial preference to support management's accounting biases their preliminary conclusions and, thus, their interpretation of evidence. We experimentally examine whether auditors with a balanced focus (i.e., a focus on documenting evidence that supports and contradicts their preliminary conclusion) are less likely to dismiss evidence that contradicts management's assumptions than auditors with a supporting focus (i.e., a focus on documenting evidence that supports their preliminary conclusion). We expect and find that, compared with auditors with a supporting focus, auditors with a balanced focus create documentation that is less dismissive of evidence contradicting management's estimate. Importantly, a balanced focus changes auditors' cognition and affects how auditors interpret contradicting evidence rather than merely increasing their documentation of this evidence. The effects of reduced dismissiveness persist to improve auditors' evaluations of a biased estimate and subsequent actions, improving audit quality in an important and difficult area.
Analysis of ROH patterns in the Noriker horse breed reveals signatures of selection for coat color and body size
Authors: Grilz‐Seger G. , Druml T. , Neuditschko M. , Mesarič M. , Cotman M. , Brem G.
Published: June 2019

Overlapping runs of homozygosity (ROH islands) shared by the majority of a population are hypothesized to be the result of selection around a target locus. In this study we investigated the impact of selection for coat color within the Noriker horse on autozygosity and ROH patterns. We analyzed overlapping homozygous regions (ROH islands) for gene content in fragments shared by more than 50% of horses. Long‐term assortative mating of chestnut horses and the small effective population size of leopard spotted and tobiano horses resulted in higher mean genome‐wide ROH coverage (SROH) within the range of 237.4–284.2 Mb, whereas for bay, black and roan horses, where rotation mating is commonly applied, lower autozygosity (SROH from 176.4–180.0 Mb) was determined. We identified seven common ROH islands considering all Noriker horses from our dataset. Specific islands were documented for chestnut, leopard spotted, roan and bay horses. The ROH islands contained, among others, genes associated with body size (ZFAT, LASP1 and LCORL/NCAPG), coat color (MC1R in chestnut and the factor PATN1 in leopard spotted horses) and morphogenesis (HOXB cluster in all color strains except leopard spotted horses). This study demonstrates that within a closed population sharing the same founders and ancestors, selection on a single phenotypic trait, in this case coat color, can result in genetic fragmentation affecting levels of autozygosity and distribution of ROH islands and enclosed gene content.