bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality characteristics of fresh beef during storage using cold chain containers
Authors: Kwon Ki-Hyun , Kim Jong-Hoon , Kim Byeong-Sam , Cha Hwan-Soo , Kim Ji-Young , Kim So-Hee
Published: February 2016

The efficacy of an experimentally designed cold chain container and a currently used styrofoam container was investigated with respect to important factors affecting the quality of fresh beef during storage under different conditions. The temperature in the TEPP-1 container was maintained at 5°C using a phase change material (PCM) during transport and delivery. During storage in the TEPP-1 container, no significant difference was observed in pH of beef, but color decreased slightly, which does not affect the desire to purchase. After storage for 7 days, the rate of VBN and TBA in the TEPP-1 container, was lower than that in the TEPP-2 container. Drip loss was lower in the TEPP-1 container (0.87%) than in the TEPP-2 container (1.78%). No significant changes were observed in microbal count until 4 days in either of the containers, but after storage for 7 days, the count increased significantly. Microbial count in TEPP-1 was 6.65 log CFU/mL and that in TEPP-2 was 7.62 log CFU/mL. The results of sensory evaluations indicated that the overall acceptability of beef after storage for 7 days was better in the TEPP-1 container than in the TEPP-2 container. The EPS container was inferior in comparison with TEPP-1 and TEPP-2. It was impossible to continue the experiment using the EPS container after 3 days. These results suggest that the experimentally designed TEPP-1 container can be used for beef transport and delivery for 7 days without significantly affecting the quality of beef.
Effect of temperature on photosynthetic capacity and influence of harvesting time on quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge
Authors: Seo Young-Jin , Kim Jong-Su , Kim Sun-Hwa , Kim Mi-Yeon , Jeong Yong-Jin , Seong Gi-Un , Chung Shin-Kyo
Published: February 2016

Salvia miltiorrhiza has been used for treating heart and liver disease. In the present study, the influences of temperature on photosynthetical capacity of S. miltiorrhiza under controlled cultivation environment using growth chamber were investigated because of providing information about growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. And effect of harvesting time on growth properties and constituents such as salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA were evaluated. Maximum photosynthesis rate (5.102 μmol CO2/m2/s) and net apparent quantum yield (0.147 μmol CO2/m2/s), stomatal conductance (0.035 mmol/m2/s) and water use efficiency (7.108 μmol CO2/mmol H2O) was highest at 20°C. Results of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that elevated temperature had contributed to reduce a quantum yield and electron flux in photosystem. This result demonstrated that favorable temperature condition was determined at 20°C. Contents of salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA was highest in root sample harvested at 20 March, whereas growth and yield of S. miltiorrhiza had no significant differences with harvesting time. Therefore, this study shows that temperature play an important role in photosynthetic activity and harvesting time have influence upon accumulation of constituents in root of S. miltiorrhiza.
Quality properties of rice cake containing Artemisia annua L. powder
Authors: Moon Eun Woo , Park Hun Jo , Park Jung Suk , Lee Mi Kyung , Na Hwan Sik
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum amount of Artemisia annua L. powder for adding rice flour. The A. annua powder was added to the rice flour at ratios of 1% (30 g/3 kg), 2% (60 g/3 kg), 3% (90 g/3 kg, w/w). As the amount of A. annua powder in rice cake dough increased, carbohydrate, ash content, total amino acid, and dietary fiber contents increased whereas the moisture content decreased. Hunter’s L value decreased as A. annua powder content increased. On the contrary, the a- and b values increased. The sensory score of the rice cakes containing 30 g of A. annua powder was the highest of all the rice cakes tested. Based on these results, adding A. annua powder could improve the quality and sensory characteristics of rice cake.
Antibacterial activity of isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables against pathogenic bacteria in olive flounder
Authors: Ko Mi-Ok , Ko Jeong-Yeon , Kim Mi-Bo , Lim Sang-Bin
Published: February 2016

The antimicrobial effects of ten isothiocyanates (ITCs) present in cruciferous vegetables and radish root hydrolysate were investigated against pathogenic bacteria from olive flounder. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were measured against two gram-positive bacterial strains (Streptococcus parauberis, S. iniae) and four gram-negative bacterial strains (Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio ichthyoenteri, V. harveyi, Photobacterium damselae) by using a broth microdilution technique. The antibacterial activity of ITCs was in the order sulforaphane > sulforaphene > phenylethyl ITC > erucin > benzyl ITC > iberin > I3C > allyl ITC > phenyl ITC > hexyl ITC. The susceptibility of fish pathogens to ITCs was in the order of V. harveyi > E. tarda > P. damselae > S. parauberis > S. iniae > V. ichthyoenteri. Antimicrobial activity (MIC) of radish root hydrolysate was 0.250 mg/mL against S. iniae, 0.438 mg/mL against S. parauberis, and 0.500 mg/mL against both E. tarda and V. harveyi. The aliphatic ITCs were potent inhibitors of the growth of fish pathogens, followed by aromatic ITCs and indolyl ITC. The presence of a double bond in the chemical structure of ITCs decreased antibacterial activity, while ITCs with a thiol (-S-) group and a longer carbon chain increased antibacterial activity. These results suggest that ITCs have strong antibacterial activities and may be useful in the prevention of fish pathogens.
Ecological factors rather than barriers to dispersal shape genetic structure of algal symbionts in horizontally-transmitting corals
Authors: Davies SW , Wham FC , Kanke MR , Matz MV
Published: February 2016

Many reef-building corals acquire their algal symbionts (Symbiodiniumsp.) from the local environment upon recruitment. This horizontal transmission strategy where hosts pair with locally available symbionts could serve to increase coral fitness across diverse environments, as long as hosts maintain high promiscuity and symbionts adapt locally. Here, we tested this hypothesis in two coral species by comparing host and symbiont genetic structures across different spatial scales in Micronesia. Each host species associated with two genetically distinctSymbiodiniumlineages, confirming high promiscuity in broadly dispersing hosts. However, contrary to our initial expectation, symbiont genetic structure was independent of physical barriers to dispersal between islands, unlike genetic structure of their hosts that was nearly perfectly explained by ocean currents. Instead,Symbiodiniumconsistently demonstrated genetic divergence among local reefs and between the two host species at each island, although not necessarily between distant islands. These observations indicate thatSymbiodiniumlineages disperse much more broadly than previously thought and continuously adapt to specific hosts and reef environments across their range, following the classical Baas Becking’s hypothesis: “Everything is everywhere, but the environment selects”. Overall, our findings confirm that horizontal transmission could be a mechanism for broadly dispersing coral species to enhance their local fitness by associating with locally adapted symbionts. Dramatic differences in factors driving the genetic structures of horizontally-transmitting corals and theirSymbiodiniumimply that viewing their combined genomes as a single entity (‘hologenome’) would not be useful in the context of their evolution and adaptation.
The role of isoforms in the evolution of cryptic coloration inPeromyscusmice
Authors: Mallarino Ricardo , Linden Tess A. , Linnen Catherine R. , Hoekstra Hopi E.
Published: February 2016

A central goal of evolutionary biology is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic adaptation. While the contribution of protein-coding andcis-regulatory mutations to adaptive traits have been well documented, additional sources of variation—such as the production of alternative RNA transcripts from a single gene, or isoforms—have been understudied. Here, we focus on the pigmentation geneAgouti, known to express multiple alternative transcripts, to investigate the role of isoform usage in the evolution of cryptic color phenotypes in deer mice (genusPeromyscus). We first characterize theAgoutiisoforms expressed in thePeromyscusskin and find two novel isoforms not previously identified inMus. Next, we show that a locally adapted light-colored population ofP. maniculatusliving on the Nebraska Sand Hills shows an up-regulation of a singleAgoutiisoform, termed 1C, compared to their ancestral dark-colored conspecifics. Usingin vitroassays, we show that this preference for isoform 1C may be driven by isoform-specific differences in translation. In addition, using an admixed population of wild-caught mice, we find that variation in overallAgoutiexpression maps to a region near exon 1C, which also has patterns of nucleotide variation consistent with strong positive selection. Finally, we show that the independent evolution of cryptic light pigmentation in a different species,P. polionotus, has been driven by a preference for the sameAgoutiisoform. Together, these findings present an example of the role of alternative transcript processing in adaptation and demonstrate molecular convergence at the level of isoform regulation.
Enhancer methylation dynamics contribute to cancer plasticity and patient mortality
Authors: Bell Rachel E. , Golan Tamar , Sheinboim Danna , Malcov Hagar , Amar David , Salamon Avi , Liron Tamar , Gelfman Sahar , Gabet Yankel , Shamir Ron , Levy Carmit
Published: February 2016

During development, enhancers play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression programs; however, their involvement in cancer progression has not been fully characterized. We performed an integrative analysis of DNA methylation, RNA-seq, and small RNA-seq profiles from thousands of patients, including 25 diverse primary malignances and seven body sites of metastatic melanoma. We found that enhancers are consistently the most differentially methylated regions (DMR) as cancer progresses from normal to primary tumors and then to metastases, compared to other genomic features. Remarkably, identification of enhancer DMRs (eDMRs) enabled classification of primary tumors according to physiological organ systems, and in metastasis eDMRs are the most correlated with patient outcome. To further understand the eDMR role in cancer progression, we developed a model to predict genes and microRNAs that are regulated by enhancer and not promotor methylation, which shows high accuracy with chromatin architecture methods and was experimentally validated. Interestingly, among all metastatic melanoma eDMRs, the most correlated with patient survival were eDMRs that “switched” their methylation patterns back and forth between normal, primary, and metastases and target cancer drivers, e.g., KIT. We further demonstrated that eDMR target genes were modulated in melanoma by the bone metastasis microenvironment, suggesting that eDMRs respond to microenvironmental cues in metastatic niches. Our findings that aberrant methylation in cancer cells mostly affects enhancers, which contribute to tumor progression and cancer cell plasticity, will facilitate development of epigenetic anticancer approaches.
The first phosphoramide–mercury(II) complex with a Cl2Hg–OP[N(C)(C)]3segment
Authors: Saneei Anahid , Pourayoubi Mehrdad , Crochet Aurelien , Fromm Katharina M.
Published: February 2016

Mercury(II) exhibits a strong preference for linear coordination which has been attributed to relativistic effects splitting the 6porbitals and promotingsphybridization. If the two ligands attached to the mercury(II) ion are weak donors, the metal ion can act as a good Lewis acid and expand its coordination number. Moreover, mercury has a special affinity for softer bases, such as S and N atoms, and has much less affinity for hard bases, such as those including an O atom. The asymmetric unit of dichlorido[tris(piperidin-1-yl)phosphane oxide-κO]mercury(II)–dichloridomercury(II) (2/1), [HgCl2{(C5H10N)3PO}]2·[HgCl2], is composed of one HgCl2{(C5H10N)3PO} complex and one half of a discrete HgCl2entity located on an inversion centre. The coordination environment around the HgIIcentre in the complex component is a distorted T-shape. Bond-valence-sum calculations confirm the three-coordination mode of the HgIIatom of the complex molecule. The noncovalent nature of the Hg...Cl and Hg...O interactions in the structure are discussed.
Criterion for the limit cycle free state-space digital filters with external disturbances and quantization/overflow nonlinearities
Authors: - Diksha , Kokil Priyanka , Kar Haranath
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a new criterion for the exponential stability and

H

∞performance of state-space digital filters under the influence of any combination of quantization/overflow nonlinearities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed criterion uses the

H

∞approach that is suitable for the design of discrete system in the presence of external disturbance. Analysis and synthesis in an

H

∞setting is advantageous as it proposes effective disturbance attenuation, less sensitivity to uncertainties and many practical applications.

Findings

– The criterion not only guarantees exponential stability but also reduces the effect of external interference. A numerical example demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method is given.

Originality/value

– The main result of the paper is reported for the first time and it is useful to ensure the stability of digital filters in the presence of external disturbance and any combination of quantization/overflow nonlinearities.
Large amplitude bending behaviour of laminated composite curved panels
Authors: Mahapatra Trupti Ranjan , Kar Vishesh Ranjan , Panda Subrata Kumar
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the nonlinear flexural behaviour of laminated curved panel under uniformly distributed load. The study has been extended to analyse different types of shell panels by employing the newly developed nonlinear mathematical model.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors have developed a novel nonlinear mathematical model based on the higher order shear deformation theory for laminated curved panel by taking the geometric nonlinearity in Green-Lagrange sense. In addition to that all the nonlinear higher order terms are considered in the present formulation for more accurate prediction of the flexural behaviour of laminated panels. The sets of nonlinear governing equations are obtained using variational principle and discretised using nonlinear finite element steps. Finally, the nonlinear responses are computed through the direct iterative method for shell panels of various geometries (spherical/cylindrical/hyperboloid/elliptical).

Findings

– The importance of the present numerical model for small strain large deformation problems has been demonstrated through the convergence and the comparison studies. The results give insight into the laminated composite panel behaviour under mechanical loading and their deformation behaviour. The effects of different design parameters and the shell geometries on the flexural responses of the laminated curved structures are analysed in detailed. It is also observed that the present numerical model are realistic in nature as compared to other available mathematical model for the nonlinear analysis of the laminated structure.

Originality/value

– A novel nonlinear mathematical model is developed first time to address the severe geometrical nonlinearity for curved laminated structures. The outcome from this paper can be utilized for the design of the laminated structures under real life circumstances.
Symplectic analysis for the effects of material distribution and relative density on dynamic properties of sandwich tubes with honeycomb cores
Authors: Zhang Kai , Deng Zichen , Meng Junmiao , Xu Xiaojian
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an efficient numerical solution for dynamic properties of sandwich tubes with honeycomb cores and investigate the effects of material distribution and relative density on the dynamic properties of the structure.

Design/methodology/approach

– By introducing dual variables and applying the variational principle, the canonical equations of Hamiltonian system are constructed. The precise integration algorithm and extended Wittrick-Williams algorithm are adopted to solve the equations and obtain the dispersion relations of sandwich tubes. The effects of the material distribution and the relative density on the non-dimensional frequencies of the sandwich tubes are investigated.

Findings

– The validity of the procedure and programs is verified by comparing with other works. Dispersion relations of the typical sandwich tubes are obtained. Dramatic differences are observed as the material distribution and relative density of the sandwich structures vary.

Originality/value

– The work gains insight into the role of symplectic analysis in the structural dynamic properties and expects to provide new opportunities for the optimal design of sandwich tubes with honeycomb cores in engineering applications.
Overlapped-coupling between spherical discrete elements and micropolar finite elements in one dimension using a bridging-scale decomposition for statics
Authors: Regueiro Richard , Duan Zheng , Yan Beichuan
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a concurrent multiscale computational method for granular materials in the quasi-static loading regime.

Design/methodology/approach

– Overlapped-coupling between a micropolar linear elastic one-dimensional (1D) mixed finite element (FE) model and a 1D chain of Hertzian nonlinear elastic, glued, discrete element (DE) spheres is presented. The 1D micropolar FEs and 1D chain of DEs are coupled using a bridging-scale decomposition for static analysis.

Findings

– It was found that an open-window DE domain may be coupled to a micropolar continuum FE domain via an overlapping region within the bridging-scale decomposition formulation for statics. Allowing the micropolar continuum FE energy in the overlapping region to contribute to the DE energy has a smoothing effect on the DE response, especially for the rotational degrees of freedom (dofs).

Research limitations/implications

– The paper focusses on 1D examples, with elastic, glued, DE spheres, and a linear elastic micropolar continuum implemented in 1D.

Practical implications

– A concurrent computational multiscale method for granular materials with open-window DE resolution of the large shearing region such as at the interface with a penetrometer skin, will allow more efficient computations by reducing the more costly DE domain calculations, but not at the expense of generating artificial boundary effects between the DE and FE domains.

Originality/value

– Open-window DE overlapped-coupling to FE continuum domain, accounting for rotational dofs in both DE and FE methods. Contribution of energy from micropolar FE in overlap region to underlying DE particle energy.
Boosting the effectiveness of channel governance options
Authors: Brown James R. , Weaven Scott K. , Dant Rajiv P , Crosno Jody L
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to explore possible contingent variables that might explain these twin contradictory effects of marketing channel governance. Franchisors govern their systems to limit opportunism and enhance performance. However, the exact opposite often occurs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper develops an integrative conceptual model of franchisor governance of its franchisees. This model is tested empirically with data collected from 197 Australian franchisees.

Findings

– Under strong relational norms, goal congruence and outcome monitoring limit franchisee opportunism; compliance enhances franchisee performance, while opportunism reduces it. With weaker norms, outcome monitoring facilitates compliance, and goal congruence boosts franchisee performance, as does franchisee opportunism. However, norms fail to mitigate behavioral monitoring’s negative impact on opportunism.

Research limitations/implications

– This research confirms the positive and negative effects of franchisor governance. It also shows that norms can reverse the positive link between franchisee opportunism and performance. It additionally illustrates how goal congruence and compliance can limit opportunism and boost performance. Future research should refine this study’s measures, incorporate additional constructs into the conceptual model and test the generalizability of these findings in lesser-developed economies.

Practical implications

– This research shows that monitoring has both positive and negative effects on franchisee opportunism and performance. To avoid monitoring’s adverse effects, franchisors are advised to enhance goal congruence, boost franchisee compliance and develop strong relational norms.

Originality/value

– This paper shows that goal congruence, as well as franchisor outcome monitoring, can mitigate the negative effects of franchisor behavioral monitoring on franchisee opportunism, as do relational norms.
The impact of emotional arousal levels and valence on product evaluations
Authors: Choi Nak Hwan , Jung Jae Min , Oyunbileg Tamir , Yang Pianpian
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the moderating roles of emotional arousal levels (elevated vs mild) and emotional valence (positive vs negative) stemming from outcomes of self-regulatory goal pursuit in understanding effectiveness of the product attribute type on product evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing on the literature on goals, emotions and behaviors, this research advances and tests hypotheses with two studies and an ANOVA.

Findings

– This study shows that when consumers experience positive emotions stemming from the success of self-regulatory goals (approach vs avoidance), the impact of product attribute type on product evaluations is primarily driven by the emotional arousal levels and that the type of regulatory goals does not matter. In contrast, when consumers experience negative emotions stemming from the failure of goal pursuit, the impact of product attribute type is determined not only by the emotional arousal levels but also by the type of goals.

Practical implications

– Marketing managers should use appropriate product attributes in advertisements that match with the consumers’ emotional arousal levels, emotional valence and regulatory goals by identifying customers’ specific emotional state and its source.

Originality/value

– This study shows that emotional valence moderates the impact of emotional arousal levels on the effectiveness of product attribute types in advertisements, and that the regulatory goals as the source of such emotions matter only under the elevated negative emotions. The major contribution of this research is that to understand the impact of emotions stemming from regulatory goal pursuit on product evaluations, not only emotional valence but also emotional arousal levels and regulatory goals should be taken into consideration.
Are consumers’ reasons for and against behaviour distinct?
Authors: Chatzidakis Andreas , Hibbert Sally , Winklhofer Heidi
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to add clarity to current conceptualisations of attitudes towards giving versus not giving and to identify an approach that better informs interventions that seek to promote particular types of pro-social consumer behaviour. Despite a considerable body of research that provides insights into why people give to charity, there is comparatively little understanding of the reasons why others decide not to give. More generally, existing applications of attitudinal models do not differentiate between decisions to perform and not to perform a behaviour. This paper challenges the assumption that attitudes towards performing and not performing a behaviour are logical opposites. Drawing on reasons theory, the paper examines the incremental and discriminant validity of attitudes for charitable giving versus attitudes against charitable giving, and the extent to which they correspond to different rather than opposite underlying reasons.

Design/methodology/approach

– A mixed-method approach with two different study stages was adopted. Stage 1 comprised an elicitation study that sought to identify reasons corresponding to a comprehensive range of motives for and barriers to charitable giving. This assisted in the development of a survey instrument that was used in Stage 2 to test the study’s hypotheses. The study used the Index of Multiple Deprivation with a view to provide a sample representative of the UK population (N= 243). Results were analysed through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and step-wise regressions.

Findings

– Results showed that reasons against charitable giving included logical opposites of reasons for charitable giving (complementarity assumption)as well as separate motivational factors. Attitudes for and against were in turn explained by distinct sets of reasons. The paper contributes by adding clarity to current conceptualisations of cognitions in relation to doing versus not doing. Identifying underlying reasons, rather than just attitudes, affords specific insight for marketing communications and public policy interventions.

Originality/value

– The paper introduces to the marketing and consumer behaviour literature the previously neglected non-complementarity assumption and provides a more complete test of this assumption in the context of charitable giving.
Conceptualisations of the consumer in marketing thought
Authors: Kennedy Ann-Marie , Laczniak Gene R
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper seeks to gain an understanding of how different consumer conceptualisations in marketing may lead to negative outcomes. Every profession has its grand vision. The guiding vision for most marketing professionals is customer orientation. Of course, reality is more complex and nuanced than a single unified vision. Organisations tout their consumer-centric marketing decisions, in that they use consumer research to make operational decisions about products, prices, distribution and the like. However, marketers’ treatment of consumers is often far from the customer’s best interests. It is proposed that by understanding the different conceptualisations of the consumer over time, we can explore their implications for putting authentic consumer-centric marketing into practise.

Design/methodology/approach

– A thematic analysis of marketing thought as reflected in the marketing literature.

Findings

– This review of the history of marketing thought bears out a diversity of opinions concerning the role of consumers in aiding marketing efficiency and effectiveness. Not all views of the customer are nurturing of the marketing concept nor predicated on a solicitous relationship with consumers. A demonstrable lack of consumer orientation can lead to a distrust of marketers as well as the extant marketing system. Often additional regulation of marketers and markets is a compensating result and sometimes the structure of the marketing system itself may require adjustment.

Originality/value

– This paper is intended to nudge marketing academics to more thoughtfully examine the pragmatic implications of how marketing managers conceive of the typical consumer. After conducting a thematic analysis of marketing thought, a normative ethical argument is then put forward concerning why an adherence to this fragile grand vision of marketing – genuine customer concern – is important for prudential marketing and the overall health of the marketing system.
Anthropomorphic packaging: is there life on “Mars”?
Authors: Triantos Alexandros , Plakoyiannaki Emmanuella , Outra Evaggelia , Petridis Nikolaos
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Anthropomorphism is the innate human tendency to attribute human or human-like characteristics to non-human entities or objects. Even though it is widely used by marketing practitioners, there is a scarcity of academic research that systematically attempts to capture this phenomenon. The aim of the current study is to investigate anthropomorphism in product packages of the 2010 Nielsen’s Top 100 grocery brands in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses a mixed-method design combining quantitative content analysis and correspondence analysis. The former methodology allowed for documentation of anthropomorphic package elements, whereas the latter facilitated the study of structural relationships between anthropomorphic cues and product-related attributes such as type, category and target market.

Findings

– The findings reveal that anthropomorphism is widely used in the packaging of grocery brands in the sample investigated. Moreover, the evidence shows that there appears to be an association between anthropomorphism and product-related attributes.

Research limitations/implications

– The current study contributes to both theory and practice. It illuminates the under-investigated interface of anthropomorphism and marketing by capturing anthropomorphic elements appearing in product packaging. The combination of anthropomorphic package elements and product-related attributes may assist managers in designing their packages to provide unique product experiences.

Originality/value

– This study serves as a roadmap for both academics and practitioners wishing to engage in a fruitful dialogue on the emerging area of anthropomorphic marketing.
Ethics as a catalyst for change in business education?
Authors: Huehn Matthias P
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to hypothesise that business theory and education suffer from having been systematically de-philosophised over the last 200 years. Viewed through this lens the economistic narrative can be understood and new and integrated solutions to theoretical and pedagogical problems can be debated.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is a theoretical exploration based on a literature review and philosophical analysis.

Findings

– Going back to a social science philosophy would fundamentally affect how management is conceptualised, done and taught. The paper focuses on outlining the impact a re-philosophisation would have on management education.

Practical implications

– If one agrees that philosophy plays a too small role in management, it would change how scholarship is currently defined and how management education functions. Business schools would have to fundamentally change in every respect.

Originality/value

– Current criticism of the management mainstream focuses on either the political/ethical or the epistemic level. The paper argues that the epistemic and the ethical are connected and by making an integrated argument the debate can be re-energised and solution strategies become obvious. I am not aware of any other contribution making this argument. Ghoshal (unwittingly) used the same reasoning but without using the clear frame of reference (philosophy) that this paper proposes.
Behavioral and attitudinal outcomes of psychological contract violation
Authors: Biswas Soumendu
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the interactive effects of psychological contract violation (PCV) and leader member exchange (LMX) on workplace behaviors and attitudes. Another purpose of this research was to contribute to the existing literature pertaining to PCV and organizational cynicism in the context of managerial employees working in India.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 237 managerial-level employees and 156 of their immediate supervisors of seven organizations in India. A questionnaire comprising 36 items pertaining to the study constructs was administered. The reliability of the instrument was verified through item analyses. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to establish the instrument’s construct validity. Study hypotheses were tested and competing models were compared using structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures.

Findings

– All scales were found to have acceptable reliability estimates. A CFA established that the manifest variables loaded significantly on their latent constructs and that the latter were empirically distinct. This established the scales’ construct validity. The results of the SEM procedures indicated that all study hypotheses could be accepted as statistically significant. Also, the moderator variable had a quasi-interactive impact on the criterion variables.

Originality/value

– This research is among the first of its kind to examine the variables of PCV and organizational cynicism among managerial employees working in India. It may also be one of the few meso-level investigations in extant literature examining the interaction between an individual (PCV) and a group (LMX) level variable and its impact on workplace behavior (organizational citizenship behavior) and attitudes (organizational cynicism).
Corporate social responsibility – from a mere concept to an expected business practice
Authors: Amin-Chaudhry Anjum
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– In the past hundred years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has seen a remarkable development with various notions of “what is the right thing to do” for the corporations in that era. This paper aims to highlight the journey of CSR staring from an “abstract concept” in the early twentieth century to a well-recognised and “expected business practice” in the present.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents a meta-analysis of the relevant CSR literature and finds 12 common themes emerging in different periods. This is presented in a chronological order starting from early 1920 to the present day for ease of understanding. The literature chosen is intentionally broad as not to miss a clear view of the times and the themes in CSR discourse.

Findings

– The concept of CSR was viewed as a “social obligation” in the earlier literature (1920s-1960s), as the businesses were thought to operate for the well-being of a community and not for the prosperity of the sole owner(s). A little later, in the 1960s and 1970s, only adoption of socially responsible activities and practices, which were voluntary and beyond legal obligation, were deemed CSR. The 1980s saw businesses trying to find a rational and financially quantifiable justification for adopting activities that were socially responsible, thus the emphasis of “corporate social performance”. The 1990s shifted the impetus on “reporting, transparency and accountability” with numerous reporting requirements. The 2000s sought a win-win situation through the development of “creating shared value” as a result of adopting CSR initiatives. The concept of CSR became an “accepted and expected business practice” in the decade of 2000, with various governments, global entities and organisations issuing their own understanding and definitions of CSR.

Originality/value

– This research paper provides an account of the evolution in the concept of CSR in the past century which has seen numerous changes in the manner businesses conduct their operations. The identified themes are reflective of the journey of CSR. This is an informative paper which is very topical in today’s climate of stakeholder scrutiny of business’ working.
Factors determining social and environmental reporting by Indian textile and apparel firms: a test of legitimacy theory
Authors: Nurhayati Ratna , Taylor Grantley , Rusmin Rusmin , Tower Greg , Chatterjee Bikram
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors determining the social and environmental reporting (SER) of Indian textile and apparel (TA) firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The 2010 annual reports of a sample of top 100 Indian TA firms listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange were examined to assess the extent of SER. SER was assessed based on the Global Reporting Initiative index applicable to the TA industry. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of SER.

Findings

– This study reports a low extent of SER in the annual reports of Indian listed TA firms, with a mean disclosure of 14 per cent. On average, firms reported more extensive environmental information, with a mean disclosure of 18.4 per cent, compared to social information, with a mean disclosure of 10.7 per cent. Most firms reported social information relating to “labour practices and decent work”, while the reporting of information relating to “human rights” was sparse. Overall, the SER patterns provide support for legitimacy theory. Consistent with legitimacy theory expectations, corporate size, brand development and audit committee size are significant factors determining the variation in SER. No significant relationship was found between board independence, level of ownership and SER.

Originality/value

– There is no existing study specifically on SER by TA firms in India. In fact, there is surprisingly little research on SER in the Indian context in general. Given the dearth in research on corporate social reporting in the Indian context, the study extends prior literature on corporate SER by concentrating on SER of TA firms in an emerging economy. The theoretical contribution of this study is the testing of legitimacy theory in the context of an emerging economy. This study contributes towards practice by delineating the relationship between governance structure and SER, particularly with regard to issues such as child labour. These findings have implications for the future development of reporting standards and regulations in regard to corporate governance in India. The dearth of social reporting by Indian TA firms has implications for foreign purchasers of branded products, as international companies have been implicated in sub-optimal social or environmental practices or incidents.
Corporate social responsibility diffusion by multinational subsidiaries in Indonesia: organisational dynamic and institutional effect
Authors: Famiola Melia , Adiwoso Siti Adiprigandari
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to explore the extent of relational and institutional pressures’ influence on both the motivation for and diffusion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries in the food industries in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses qualitative approach, and the data were collected by interviewing CSR managers and investigating the CSR practices and the annual reports of six subsidiaries of food-manufacturing MNCs in Indonesia.

Findings

– This study found that internal pressures within MNC organisations are the main drivers of their CSR practices. These finding were, then, refined to account for local cognitive and normative institutional pressures. It was also found that while regulation in a host country was critical to its subsidiary compliance, it did not contribute appreciably to the precise types of CSR practices. The (isomorphic) similarity of CSR patterns had less to do with the institutional pressures but more with sector- or field-level pressures in food manufacturing. Most MNC subsidiaries focused on issues such as agricultural or rural development (related to their supply chain) or health and nutrition (related to their core business).

Research limitations/implications

– This study focuses on a specific industrial sector (food and beverage manufacture); therefore, the isomorphic patterns could not be concluded as an influential effect of the institutional context of Indonesia; rather, they are due to sectoral- or field-level pressure in food and beverage manufacturing. To confirm this study results, a multi-sectoral involvement in future studies is suggested.

Originality/value

– This study uses organisational dynamics and institutional theory to explore CSR adoption in multinational subsidiaries in Indonesia.
Influence of Alternative Exposure Estimates in the Diesel Exhaust Miners Study: Diesel Exhaust and Lung Cancer
Authors: Crump Kenny S. , Van Landingham Cynthia , McClellan Roger O.
Published: February 2016

The landmark Diesel Exhaust in Miners Study (DEMS) studied the relationship between diesel exhaust exposure (DEE) and lung cancer mortality of workers at eight nonmetal mines who were followed from beginning of dieselization of the mines (1947–1967) through December 31, 1997. The original analyses quantified DEE exposures using exposure to respirable elemental carbon (REC) to represent DEE, and CO as a surrogate for REC. However, this use of CO data, and the CO data themselves, have numerous shortcomings. We developed new estimates of REC exposures using historical data on use of diesel equipment, diesel engine horsepower (HP), mine ventilation rates, and the documented reduction in particulate matter emissions per HP in diesel engines from 1975 through 1995. These new REC estimates were applied in a conditional logistic regression of the DEMS nested case‐control data very similar to the one applied in the original DEMS analyses. None of the trend slopes calculated using the new REC estimates were statistically significant (p > 0.05). Moreover, these trend slopes were smaller by roughly factors of five without control for radon exposure and factors of 12 with control for radon exposure compared to those estimated in the original DEMS analyses. Also, the 95% confidence intervals for these trend slopes had only minimal overlap with those for the slopes in the original DEMS analyses. These results underscore the uncertainty in estimates of the potency of diesel exhaust in causing lung cancer based on analysis of the DEMS data due to uncertainty in estimates of exposures to diesel exhaust.
A limit on dose reduction possible with CT reconstruction algorithms without prior knowledge of the scan subject
Authors: Hsieh Scott S. , Chesler David A. , Fleischmann Dominik , Pelc Norbert J.
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

To find an upper bound on the maximum dose reduction possible for any reconstruction algorithm, analytic or iterative, that result from the inclusion of the data statistics. The authors do not analyze noise reduction possible from prior knowledge or assumptions about the object.

Methods:

The authors examined the task of estimating the density of a circular lesion in a cross section. Raw data were simulated by forward projection of existing images and numerical phantoms. To assess an upper bound on the achievable dose reduction by any algorithm, the authors assume that both the background and the shape of the lesion are completely known. Under these conditions, the best possible estimate of the density can be determined by solving a weighted least squares problem directly in the raw data domain. Any possible reconstruction algorithm that does not use prior knowledge or make assumptions about the object, including filtered backprojection (FBP) or iterative reconstruction methods with this constraint, must be no better than this least squares solution. The authors simulated 10 000 sets of noisy data and compared the variance in density from the least squares solution with those from FBP. Density was estimated from FBP images using either averaging within a ROI, or streak‐adaptive averaging with better noise performance.

Results:

The bound on the possible dose reduction depends on the degree to which the observer can read through the possibly streaky noise. For the described low contrast detection task with the signal shape and background known exactly, the average dose reduction possible compared to FBP with streak‐adaptive averaging was 42% and it was 64% if only the ROI average is used with FBP. The exact amount of dose reduction also depends on the background anatomy, with statistically inhomogeneous backgrounds showing greater benefits.

Conclusions:

The dose reductions from new, statistical reconstruction methods can be bounded. Larger dose reductions in the density estimation task studied here are only possible with the introduction of prior knowledge, which can introduce bias.
Resting and gestating
Authors: Ju Yo-El
Published: February 2016

Sleep and inflammation may mediate the relationship between nutrition and gestational length.
Balance of nutrients: Is more better?
Authors: Suzuki Masako
Published: February 2016

Changes in maternal plasma folate concentrations affect genome-wide DNA methylation status of the fetus.
Acupuncture Regulates the Unfolded Protein Response and Inhibits Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Heroin Relapse
Authors: Zhang Yang , Cai Xing-Hui , Zhang Rong-Jun , Hou Xiao-Rong , Song Xiao-Ge , Wu Sheng-Bing , Yu Shuang , Cao Jiang-Peng
Published: February 2016

Object

To explore the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the hippocampus of rats undergoing heroin relapse and the mechanisms underlying the acupuncture-mediated inhibition of brain damage caused by heroin relapse.

Methods

60 Sprague-Dawley rats (30 females and 30 males) were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, Heroin group, Heroin+acupuncture group, and Heroin+methadone group (n=15 each). In the latter three groups, a model of heroin addiction was established by successive increments of intramuscular heroin injections for 8 days, according to the exposure (addiction)→detoxification method. A UPR RT2 Profiler PCR array was used to screen for differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining. The protein expression levels of the following three differentially expressed genes were detected by Western blot to validate the results of the PCR array: heat shock protein (HSP)70, HSP105, and valosin-containing protein (Vcp).

Results

The UPR RT2 Profiler PCR Array detection results indicated that acupuncture increased the expression levels of the molecular chaperones HSP70, HSP105, and Vcp. The degree of neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus of rats in the Heroin+acupuncture and Heroin+methadone groups was significantly reduced compared with the untreated Heroin group (p<0.01). Protein expression of HSP70, HSP105, and Vcp in the Heroin+acupuncture and Heroin+methadone groups was significantly higher than the Heroin group (p<0.01).

Conclusions

The positive effects of acupuncture on brain damage caused by heroin may be closely related to up-regulation of HSP70, HSP105, and Vcp, and reduced apoptosis.