bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Silico Identification and Experimental Validation of Novel KPC-2 β-lactamase Inhibitors
Authors: Klein R. , Linciano P. , Celenza G. , Bellio P. , Papaioannou S. , Blazquez J. , Cendron L. , Brenk R. , Tondi D.
Published: August 2018

Bacterial resistance has become a worldwide concern, particularly after the emergence of resistant strains overproducing carbapenemases. Among these, the KPC-2 carbapenemase represents a significant clinical challenge, being characterized by a broad substrate spectrum that includes aminothiazoleoxime and cephalosporins such as cefotaxime. Moreover, strains harboring KPC-type β-lactamases are often reported as resistant to available β-lactamase inhibitors (clavulanic acid, tazobactam and sulbactam). Therefore, the identification of novel non β-lactam KPC-2 inhibitors is strongly necessary to maintain treatment options. This study explored novel, non-covalent inhibitors active against KPC-2, as putative hit candidates. We performed a structure-based in silico screening of commercially available compounds for non-β-lactam KPC-2 inhibitors. Thirty-two commercially available high-scoring, fragment-like hits were selected for in vitro validation and their activity and mechanism of action vs the target was experimentally evaluated using recombinant KPC-2. N-(3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)-3-fluorobenzamide (11a), in light of its ligand efficiency (LE = 0.28 kcal/mol/non-hydrogen atom) and chemistry, was selected as hit to be directed to chemical optimization to improve potency vs the enzyme and explore structural requirement for inhibition in KPC-2 binding site. Further, the compounds were evaluated against clinical strains overexpressing KPC-2 and the most promising compound reduced the MIC of the β-lactam antibiotic meropenem by four fold.
Comparative Multi-scale Hierarchical Structure of the Tail, Plantaris, and Achilles Tendons in the Rat
Authors: Lee Andrea H. , Elliott Dawn M.
Published: August 2018

Rodent tendons are widely used to study human pathology, such as tendinopathy and repair, and to address fundamental physiological questions about development, growth, and remodeling. However, how the gross morphology and the multi-scale hierarchical structure of rat tendons, such as the tail, plantaris, and Achillles tendons, compare to that of human tendons are unknown. In addition, there remains disagreement about terminology and definitions. Specifically, the definition of fascicle and fiber are often dependent on the diameter size and not their characteristic features, which impairs the ability to compare across species where the size of the fiber and fascicle might change with animal size and tendon function. Thus, the objective of the study was to select a single species that is widely used for tendon research (rat) and tendons with varying mechanical functions (tail, plantaris, Achilles) to evaluate the hierarchical structure at multiple length scales. This study was designed including, histology, SEM, and confocal imaging. We confirmed that rat tendons do not contain fascicles, and thus the fiber is the largest tendon subunit in the rat. In addition, we provided a structurally-based definition of a fiber as a bundle of collagen fibrils that is surrounded by elongated cells, and this definition was supported by both histologically processed and unprocessed tendons. In all rat tendons studied, the fiber diameters were consistently 10-50 µm, and this diameter appears to be conserved across larger species. Specific recommendations were made for the strengths and limitations of each rat tendon as tendon research models. Understanding the hierarchical structure of tendon can advance the design and interpretation of experiments and development of tissue engineered constructs.
Computational performance and accuracy of Sentieon DNASeq variant calling workflow
Authors: Kendig Katherine I. , Baheti Saurabh , Bockol Matthew A. , Drucker Travis M. , Hart Steven N. , Heldenbrand Jacob R. , Hernaez Mikel , Hudson Matthew E. , Kalmbach Michael T. , Klee Eric W. , Mattson Nathan R. , Ross Christian A. , Taschuk Morgan , Wieben Eric D. , Wiepert Mathieu , Wildman Derek E. , Mainzer Liudmila S.
Published: August 2018

As reliable, efficient genome sequencing becomes more ubiquitous, the need for similarly reliable and efficient variant calling becomes increasingly important. The Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK), maintained by the Broad Institute, is currently the widely accepted standard for variant calling software. However, alternative solutions may provide faster variant calling without sacrificing accuracy. One such alternative is Sentieon DNASeq, a toolkit analogous to GATK but built on a highly optimized backend. We evaluated the DNASeq single-sample variant calling pipeline in comparison to that of GATK. Our results confirm the near-identical accuracy of the two software packages, showcase perfect scalability and great speed from Sentieon, and describe computational performance considerations for the deployment of Sentieon DNASeq.
Differences in bank profit persistence in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Sarpong-Kumankoma Emmanuel , Abor Joshua , Aboagye Anthony Q.Q. , Amidu Mohammed
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in determinants of bank profit persistence among Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Using system generalized method of moments and data from four SSA countries during the period 2006–2012, this study considers differences in determinants of bank profit persistence across countries.

Findings

Efficiency in cost management is a major determinant of profit persistence in all the countries. However, concentration is found to be insignificant in all the estimations, suggesting that efficiency may be a more important determinant of profit persistence than concentration. Economic freedom associates negatively with profit persistence in Ghana, but its effect is insignificant in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. Lending specialization translates into less profit persistence in South Africa, but greater persistence in Tanzania. Higher levels of financial development result in lower profit persistence in Kenya and Ghana, but does not matter in Tanzania and South Africa.

Practical implications

The level of profit persistence gives an indication of the effectiveness of competition policies, and the differences observed in their determinants in this study suggest the need for tailor-made policy responses in the different countries.

Originality/value

This study improves the understanding of why some banking market competition policies have not achieved the desired outcomes in some countries. It is evident that blanket rules or wholesale importation of policies from other countries may not work in different contexts.
Study on farmers land consolidation adaptation intention
Authors: Gessesse Abrham Tezera , Li Houjian , He Ge , Berhe Araya Alemie
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of media and social network in the development of farmers land consolidation (LC) awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A face-to-face interview was carried out with randomly selected farmers from three districts (Neijiang, Ya’an and Dujiangyan) of Sichuan province, China. A structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to test the conceptual framework of this study. The SEM was set to confirmatory factor analysis of the measurement and structural models for maximum likelihood estimate by means of IBM-AMOS to capture the models goodness-of-fit.

Findings

The result indicates that social network contributes a significant role in the development of farmers LC awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions than media. The total (direct and indirect) effect of social network and media toward the farmers LC adaptation intention is 56.7 and 14 percent, respectively. When farmers are aware and perceived of LC and rehabilitation program, their adaptation intention improves significantly. Therefore, social network is a useful tool in improving the awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions of Sichuan farmers compared to media.

Originality/value

This study tests the applicability of SEM techniques to understand the farmers LC adaptation intentions; and synthesizes the impact of social network and media in the development of the farmers LC awareness, perception as well as adaptation intentions. This study serves as an outline for assessing the adaptation intention of farmers toward sustainable land management.
Thermal breakdown in high voltage direct current cable insulations due to space charges
Authors: Jörgens Christoph , Clemens Markus
Published: August 2018

Purpose

In high voltage direct current (HVDC), power cables heat is generated inside the conductor and the insulation during operation. A higher amount of the generated heat in comparison to the dissipated one, results in a possible thermal breakdown. The accumulation of space charges inside the insulation results in an electric field that contributes to the geometric electric field, which comes from the applied voltage. The total electric field decreases in the vicinity of the conductor, while it increases near the sheath, causing a possible change of the breakdown voltage.

Design/methodology/approach

Here, the thermal breakdown is studied, also incorporating the presence of space charges. For a developed electro-thermal HVDC cable model, at different temperatures, the breakdown voltage is computed through numerical simulations.

Findings

The simulation results show a dependence of the breakdown voltage on the temperature at the location of the sheath. The results also show only limited influence of the space charges on the breakdown voltage.

Research limitations/implications

The study is restricted to one-dimensional problems, using radial symmetry of the cable, and does not include any aging or long-term effect of space charges. Such aging effect can locally increase the electric field, resulting in a reduced breakdown voltage.

Originality/value

A comparison of the breakdown voltage with and without space charges is novel. The chosen approach allows for the first time to assess the influence of space charges and field inversion on the thermal breakdown.
Open factory events as triggers of interactive learning in organizations
Authors: Brunetti Federico , Bonfanti Angelo , Castellani Paola , Giaretta Elena
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss an unconventional approach for developing organizational learning inside companies. The subject of this paper is the interactive mode of organizational learning – involving shared understanding and sense-making – which has proven useful in the current turbulent era and complex competitive environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an inductive and phenomenon-driven approach. The data collection method consists of interviews with involves informants. The empirical context of the research is Open Factory – the largest open-door event for industrial manufacturing in Italy.

Findings

Companies participating in Open Factory gained several benefits in terms of interactive learning. In particular, intra-organizational knowledge sharing, staff motivation, and more focused organizational identity were reported as the most relevant advantages.

Practical implications

Companies eager to enhance their interactive mode of organizational learning should seriously consider taking part in events such as Open Factory or should strive to create a similar event.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to describe and analyze open-door events for manufacturing companies as a source of organizational learning.
Enhancing resilience against floods in the Lower Motowoh community, Limbe, Southwest Cameroon
Authors: Wung Gaston Buh , Tongwa Aka Festus
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Floods and landslide threats were addressed under the Frontline process in the city of Limbe, Southwestern Cameroon. The purpose of this paper is to present actions undertaken through building local community resilience to floods which are a major threat in the city, with impacts on the local community ranging from death to complete destruction of services and livelihoods.

Design/methodology/approach

The actions carried out were informed by the GNDR-supported Frontline survey conducted in 2015 in which the Lower Motowoh community rated floods as an important threat. A series of reflection and learning sessions with the community members was carried out to better understand the problem. Scoping studies on the causes and extent of floods along river Njengele were undertaken by GEADIRR and the community team.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicated that the main problem resulted from river channel blockage caused by indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the waterway and sediment deposition from upstream. Further reflection and action planning led to preparatory meetings between GEADIRR and ten community leaders. The unanimous action adopted was to dredge the river. Dredging was carried out in late April and early May of 2016 using a hired bulldozer.

Social implications

Follow-up shows that after many years of misery from floods, often associated with the loss of loved ones and property, about 500 community residents who benefited from the action did not go through this dreadful ordeal again during the rains of 2016 and 2017. People are currently rebuilding on the reclaimed land which was previously abandoned due to flooding.

Originality/value

Current challenges include changing the mindset of community members about the adverse effects of indiscriminate dumping of household waste into the waterway. It was also a big challenge convincing some members of the community who felt that floods are a natural phenomenon unstoppable by man.
Fire officer leadership strategies for cost management
Authors: Sedlmeyer Leo R. , Dwyer Rocky J.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore leadership strategies of fire officers used by fire office leaders to manage costs associated with hazardous operations.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed in this study was a qualitative method using a case study design. The participants in this research study comprised 13 randomly selected fire officers from fire stations within a major metropolitan area located in the USA who had five or more years hazardous operations experience. In addition to interviews, workplace practices, policies and procedures related to hazardous operations and cost management were analyzed. Limitations of this study include both the sample size, and the geographic area, which impacts the ability to generalize the results of the study.

Findings

Four central themes emerged from the study, namely, servant leadership, partnership, accountability and creative staffing, which are crucial strategies to manage costs associated with hazardous operations. The findings of this study further indicate fire officers must distinguish between the most appropriate action for any given situation to achieve the fire department goals and objectives.

Practical implications

Managing cost effective hazardous operations through sound leadership strategies reduced injuries and saved lives, which results in cost savings in fire departmental budgets, labor costs and health care costs, which can further support the redirection of funds to critical areas of fire operations.

Originality/value

The value of identifying leadership strategies related to hazardous operations cost management may reduce injuries, save lives and ensure adequate budget allocations for fire departments. Social implications include innovative leadership strategies, which may enable fire officers to promote positive social change through saving lives of fire fighters and the citizens they serve.
Improving employment outcomes of career and technical education students
Authors: Venkatraman Sitalakshmi , de Souza-Daw Tony , Kaspi Samuel
Published: August 2018

Purpose

In this rapidly changing world, we are experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, known as “Industry 4.0,” that requires education systems to redesign qualifications in order to meet the needs of an individual and the workplace of the digitized economy. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the relatively new approaches being explored mainly in the UK and Australia within the higher education (HE) sector and to propose a framework with selected career training pathways for the tertiary education system within the Australian context. The implementation plan postulated from the reports of recent studies conducted in England’s apprenticeship system is intended as a guideline for facilitating a sustainable career and technical education (CTE) with three pillars of innovation, integration and collaboration in order to improve employment outcomes required for the digitized economy in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a descriptive, pragmatic research methodology to review and analyze education methods found in contemporary degree and vocation programs, particularly the degree apprenticeships adopted in England. This approach is used to explore, explain and develop a framework for student-centric apprenticeship options in CTE with graduate outcomes in the re-designed HE programs to successfully meet the needs of Industry 4.0 workplaces in Australia.

Findings

A student-centric framework is designed for HE programs with a proposal to include practical variations in apprenticeships to embrace flexible structures and industry responsiveness. The paper develops tactical plans and implementation flowcharts for the proposed framework with four CTE pathways, such as degree apprenticeships, start-up focus degrees, tailored studies and multiple majors that are designed for tertiary education programs to meet the dynamically changing employment needs of industry.

Originality/value

This proposal is a relatively new approach to improve employment outcomes of students undergoing degrees and vocational education with a focus on apprenticeship in four different forms. The strength of this pragmatic approach is in providing an insight into “what works” through a set of flexible, sustainable and practical implementation plan for the proposed CTE pathway framework in order to meet the future need of re-skilling and training for the digital economy.
Catastrophic healthcare expenditures among Iranian households: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rezaei Satar , Woldemichael Abraha , Hajizadeh Mohammad , Kazemi Karyani Ali
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Protecting households against financial risks of healthcare services is one of the main functions of health systems. The purpose of this paper is to provide a pooled estimate of the prevalence of catastrophic healthcare expenditures (CHE) among households in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

Both international (PubMed, Scopus and Clarivate Analytics (previously known as the Institute for Scientific Information)) and Iranian (Scientific Information Database, Iranmedex and Magiran) scientific databases were searched for published studies on CHE among Iranian households. The following keywords in Persian and English language were used as keywords for the search: “catastrophic healthcare costs,” “catastrophic health costs,” “impoverishment due to health costs,” “fair financial contribution,” “prevalence,” “frequency” and “Iran” with and without “health system”. The I2-test and χ2-based Q-test suggested heterogeneity in the reported prevalence among the qualified studies; thus, a random-effects model was used to estimate the overall prevalence of CHE among households in Iran.

Findings

A total of 24 studies with a cumulative sample of 301,097 households were included in the study. The estimated pooled prevalence of CHE among households was 7 percent (95 percent confidence interval: 6–8 percent). Meta-regression analysis indicated that the prevalence of CHE was inversely related to the sample size (p<0.05). The results did not suggest a significant association between the prevalence of CHE and the year of data collection.

Originality/value

The findings revealed that the prevalence of CHE among Iranian households is significantly higher than 1 percent, which is the goal set out in Iran’s fourth five-year development plan. This warrants further policy interventions to protect households from incurring CHE in Iran.
Stakeholders’ roles in field experience: some empirical evidence
Authors: Cheng Eddie W.L. , Yu Christina W.M. , Sin L.S. , Ma Carol S.M.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Field experience (FE) has long been a crucial component of the process of teacher education. Clearly, a range of stakeholders can affect student-teachers’ achievements in FE. Given the importance of these stakeholders in FE, it may be possible to improve FE practices by clarifying the involvement of different parties in the FE process. Since student-teachers are the major beneficiaries in FE, their voices should not be ignored. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore student-teachers’ perceptions of the roles played by different stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

In a qualitative research design, 18 student-teachers took part in this study. Content analysis was used to classify and compress the large amount of text provided by the informants into a manageable number of categories to track trends, patterns, frameworks and typologies.

Findings

In addition to those of the five major stakeholders of FE (i.e. student-teachers, cooperating teachers, institute supervisors, schools and institutes), this study identified the roles of three other stakeholders (i.e. students, other student-teachers and parents) that had not been widely focused in previous studies.

Originality/value

The present research took the first step to investigate the roles played by different parties in FE from the perspective of student-teachers and offered insights for enhancing student-teachers’ performance in FE.
“Why not use it more?” Sources of self-efficacy in researchers’ use of social media for knowledge sharing
Authors: Alshahrani Hussain , Rasmussen Pennington Diane
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the sources of self-efficacy that researchers rely on when using social media for knowledge sharing and to explore how these sources impact their use.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed 30 semi-structured interviews with researchers at a major Scottish university. The authors analysed the interview transcriptions using directed content analysis.

Findings

The researchers relied on the four sources of self-efficacy proposed by Bandura (1977) when using social media for knowledge sharing. These sources lead researchers to use social media effectively and frequently for sharing knowledge, although some may discourage its use.

Research limitations/implications

It extends the self-efficacy integrative theoretical framework of Bandura (1977) by presenting the relative amount of the influence of these sources for researchers to share their ideas, experiences, questions and research outputs on social media. While the participants included academic staff, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students, the majority were PhD students.

Practical implications

The findings can help universities understand how to promote productive use of social media. For example, academic staff who have high personal mastery experience could mentor those who do not.

Originality/value

This is the first known study to investigate the sources of self-efficacy that impact researchers’ use of social media for knowledge sharing.
The inhospitable vulnerability
Authors: Chen Hsiangting Shatina , Fiscus Joseph
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to underline several issues related to cybersecurity in the hospitality industry; address the importance of evaluating cyber risks, vulnerabilities and capabilities; and provide suggestions for hospitality operators to minimize the damage that cyberattacks could cause. Future research addressing cyber threats is a call to action.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the occurrence and the impact of information security, the researchers reviewed the previous research regarding information security and used the database from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and collected 76 information security incidents in the US hospitality industry since 2006.

Finding

The increasing frequency of data breach incidents from 2006 to 2017 indicates that the issue of cybercrimes has become more critical in the hospitality industry.

Originality/value

This conceptual paper sheds light on the issues of cybersecurity in risk assessment and heightens the necessity of discussing data breach issues in future hospitality research.
Curvilinear effect of transformational leadership on innovative behavior among R&D teams in South Korea
Authors: Chung Dong Seop , Li Jinxi Michelle
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential consequences of transformational leadership on follower innovative behavior as well as to investigate the moderating effect of team learning on the relationship. It is argued that an excessive level of transformational leadership may even decrease the subordinates’ innovative behavior due to their negative emotions derived from the leadership, while an appropriate level of transformational leadership can positively influence innovative behavior. Furthermore, the situational factor of team learning, which reinforces the positive feelings of team members through their improved competency, can amplify the positive impact and diminish the negative impact of transformational leadership on innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from R&D teams of large- and mid-sized companies in Korean industries. Survey data from 307 team members and 51 team leaders from 51 project teams were tested using hierarchical linear modeling analysis. Team members evaluated the transformational leadership of their team leaders as well as the perceived level of learning in their teams, and team leaders evaluated the innovative behavior of their team members.

Findings

Multi-level analysis confirmed a non-linear relationship (an inverted U shape) between transformational leadership of team leaders and innovative behavior of team members. It means innovative behavior was negatively related to excessive transformational leadership and positively related to a modest level of the leadership. Furthermore, statistical analysis confirmed the positive multi-level moderating effect of team learning.

Research limitations/implications

The core dimension of transformational leadership, charisma, was the only measurement of the leadership in this study. Most South Korean companies adopted performance-based compensation systems and charisma is a prevailing leadership behavior at emerging market of the nation. As such, other dimensions of transformational leadership such as “individualized consideration” or “intellectual stimulation” are relatively neglected in most companies of South Korea. Future research needs to consider these other dimensions for the generalization in research.

Practical implications

Leaders in emerging markets, such as project team leaders or R&D team leaders, should avoid immoderate transformational leadership and should maintain a proper level of transformational leadership. The contemporary leaders also need to utilize team learning to maximize innovative behavior.

Originality/value

These findings illustrate the disadvantage of excessive transformational leadership and highlight the neutralization effect of team learning on the negative impact of the excessive leadership. Team learning has the potential to enhance members’ innovative behaviors, and it could moderate the perceptions of excessive transformational leadership.
Trust recovery tactics after double deviation: better sooner than later?
Authors: Pacheco Natalia Araujo , Pizzutti Cristiane , Basso Kenny , Van Vaerenbergh Yves
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine when (i.e. after a shorter or longer length of time) organizations should offer an apology or a promise of non-recurrence of a failure to recover trust following a failed service recovery (a double deviation).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports the results of a pilot study with a convenience sample and two experiments with samples from different populations, students and employees of a financial institution in one study and workers recruited through Mechanical Turk in the other.

Findings

An apology was most effective to recover trust when offered shortly after the double deviation (e.g. Study 1: after two days; Study 2: immediately and after two days), while making a promise was most effective when offered at a later time after the double deviation (e.g. Study 1: after 30 days; Study 2: after 15 days). Consumers consider an apology offered shortly after the double deviation as a sign of integrity and a promise communicated sometime after the double deviation as a sign of competence.

Originality/value

This paper complements prior research that demonstrates the effectiveness of apology and promise as trust recovery tactics. The findings show that managers should carefully consider the time at which they use these tactics to recover trust following a double deviation.
Internet of Things and its applications in libraries: a literature review
Authors: Liang Xueling
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that draws academia and industry attention in the past few years. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research on IoT in library operation, and report the future trends and research challenges as well.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct this research, the literature on IoT and its application in libraries was retrieved from major databases such as Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Inspec for the period between 2010 and 2018.

Findings

This study identifies IoT potential impact on libraries, and excavates some valuable literature on IoT and its application in libraries from managerial perspective, especially focuses on library service innovation in IoT era.

Originality/value

The IoT application in libraries is a new subject. This study provides an overview of IoT application in libraries. The findings of this study contribute to the research on IoT and its role in library management.
Integrating corporate social responsibility and financial performance
Authors: Bilbao-Terol Amelia , Arenas-Parra Mar , Alvarez-Otero Susana , Cañal-Fernández Verónica
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) rating agencies have arisen with the aim of providing external and reliable information about business behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-criteria methodology for integrating CSR valuations with the financial performance of companies in a unique measure of global sustainability performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a hybrid TOPSIS methodology on transformed scores of both the CSR valuations and the financial ratios. The “attribute-specific evaluation” approach into Multi-attribute Prospect Theory (PT) has been applied and the Design of Experiments (DoE) is used with the TOPSIS value of the firm as the response variable.

Findings

The proposal has been applied to 118 companies evaluated by Vigeo and Covalence CSR agencies. The authors also have considered five financial ratios of the companies in order to assess their financial performance. Consistent aggregation for firms has been achieved. Relationships between the different rankings, both those of Vigeo and Covalence and the ones constructed in this research, have been analysed. All top 10 Global sustainable firms rank among the top 10 positions in at least one of the remaining rankings. The results show that Vigeo and Covalence provide different information about the CSR behaviour of the companies.

Research limitations/implications

Another interesting question is to study the discrepancies between Vigeo and Covalence, for example, in which areas there is the greatest divergence between the two agencies and what could be the reasons for this.

Practical implications

The results of this research could be of interest for both investors who want a global picture of companies in their selection process and stakeholders concerned with CSR issues who want to take advantage of different CSR ratings.

Originality/value

The application of PT softens the compensatory behaviour of the classical TOPSIS that may prove unsuitable for social evaluation. The DoE allows the aggregation of the weight sets from various decision markers. The combined methodology facilitates the scoring of new firms and the rank reversal problem can be mitigated with this methodology.
Understanding social networking sites continuance
Authors: Chang Chun-Ming
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model to investigate the determinants of continuance intention toward social networking sites (SNSs) by integrating the perspectives of the uses and gratifications theory, perceived interactivity and network externalities.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 255 Facebook users in Taiwan were used to test the proposed model. The partial least squares method was used to test the measurement model and the structural model.

Findings

The findings reveal that emotional gratifications and social gratifications are the key predictors of users’ continuance intention toward SNSs. Further, the results indicate that perceived network size, perceived complementarity, machine interactivity and person interactivity influence information gratifications significantly, while perceived complementarity, machine interactivity and person interactivity exert positive effects on emotional gratifications. Finally, the results show that machine interactivity and person interactivity impact social gratifications positively, whereas perceived network size and perceived complementarity affect machine interactivity and person interactivity significantly.

Originality/value

This study is one of the earliest research inquiries to examine the effects of various types of gratifications on continuance intention. It is also one of the earliest studies to identify the antecedents of gratifications from social factors and technological attributes simultaneously.
Collaborative story production with bereaved family carers of people who died in advanced age
Authors: Moeke-Maxwell Tess Huia , Wiles Janine , Black Stella , Williams Lisa , Gott Merryn
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Is collaborative story production (CSP) a useful method to collaborate with bereaved families to record their reflections on the end of life circumstances and care of people of advanced age? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from Te Pākeketanga, a bicultural study involving 58 bereaved Māori and non-Māori families on behalf of 52 older relatives, the authors describe the CSP method. Researchers and participants co-created personalised written stories about the older person and their end of life experiences, supported with photographs of family, friends and memorabilia. The authors aimed to uplift the status of the older person and their family by tangibly reflecting the significance and magnitude of what had been shared and to strengthen the research analysis.

Findings

CSP supported member checking, promoted a robust understanding of participants’ narratives and increased the trustworthiness of data and strengthened the Kaupapa Māori and social constructivist analysis. However, some participants experienced difficulty revisiting painful memories when reading their story. CSP took longer than anticipated, was labour intensive and required a highly skilled and resourced team to ensure participants benefitted.

Originality/value

Using the CSP method with a bicultural cohort of bereaved families who had provided care to someone over the age of 80 was very helpful in assisting the researchers to gather narrative information and present it back to participants in a story format for their comment and feedback. The method contributed a useful way to partner with bereaved family caregivers following the death of an older family member. The authors needed a way to record the participants’ narratives of the older person’s end of life circumstances and end of life care experiences. This was very important, particularly for grieving families and indigenous families who may have felt vulnerable engaging with research, and with the research processes. The approach provided a helpful and non-intrusive member-checking process. The unique bicultural study approach deliberately utilised the CSP method to assist the researchers to work safely with bereaved families as the participants reflected upon and explored not only the end of life circumstances of the older person, but they also focused on the “death” and their own bereavement experiences. CSP also provided a helpful member-checking method; the authors were working with highly sensitive information and wanted to ensure that the authors as researchers understood and interpreted the families’ narrative data correctly, according to their perspectives.
Generating team PsyCap through transformational leadership
Authors: Rebelo Teresa , Dimas Isabel Dórdio , Lourenço Paulo Renato , Palácio Ângela
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to contribute to a deeper understanding of the effects of transformational leadership on team performance, examining the role of team psychological capital (team PsyCap) and team learning behaviours as intervening mechanisms in that relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. The sample was composed of 82 teams from 57 Portuguese companies. Hypotheses were tested through structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results revealed that transformational leadership is positively related to team PsyCap, which, in turn, is positively related to team learning behaviours. Moreover, the study’s findings supported the indirect influence of transformational leadership on team performance, through the role played by team PsyCap and team learning behaviours.

Originality/value

This is the first study that considers the mediating role of team PsyCap and team learning behaviours in the relationship between transformational leadership and team performance. In this manner, the present research contributes to the body of research on leadership, highlighting the way through which leadership might translate into team performance. Moreover, it contributes also to the positive organisational behaviour literature, identifying both antecedents and consequents of team PsyCap. The study’s findings encourage organisations to develop ways of reinforcing transformational leadership behaviours and psychological capital among teams.
Development of reference material with assigned value for human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 quantitative PCR in Japan
Authors: Kuramitsu Madoka , Okuma Kazu , Nakashima Makoto , Sato Tomoo , Sasaki Daisuke , Hasegawa Hiroo , Umeki Kazumi , Kubota Ryuji , Sasada Keiko , Sobata Rieko , Matsumoto Chieko , Kaneko Noriaki , Tezuka Kenta , Matsuoka Sahoko , Utsunomiya Atae , Koh Ki‐Ryang , Ogata Masao , Ishitsuka Kenji , Taki Mai , Nosaka Kisato , Uchimaru Kaoru , Iwanaga Masako , Sagara Yasuko , Yamano Yoshihisa , Okayama Akihiko , Miura Kiyonori , Satake Masahiro , Saito Shigeru , Watanabe Toshiki , Hamaguchi Isao
Published: August 2018

Quantitative PCR (qPCR) of human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) provirus is used for HTLV‐1 testing and for assessment of risk of HTLV‐1‐related diseases. In this study, a reference material was developed for standardizing HTLV‐1 qPCR. Freeze‐dried TL‐Om1 cells diluted with Jurkat cells were prepared and an assigned value for proviral load (PVL) of 2.71 copies/100 cells was determined by digital PCR. Nine Japanese laboratories using their own methods evaluated the PVLs of this reference material as 1.08–3.49 copies/100 cells. The maximum difference between laboratories was 3.2‐fold. Correcting measured PVLs by using a formula incorporating the assigned value of this reference material should minimize such discrepancies.
Higher Education a Market Like Any Other?
Authors: Ahlburg Dennis A.
Published: August 2018

The Department for Education is attempting to use lessons from economics to spur competition in higher education in the UK, in order to improve access and quality and reduce price. Laudable as these goals are, in this paper it is argued that there are aspects of higher education that are unlike other markets and which may make standard solutions to non‐competitive price behaviour ineffective. New insights into decision making from behavioural sciences, which challenge the notion of rationality in many students’ higher education choices, are also discussed. Recent research has suggested some interventions that may nudge students towards decisions that help achieve the objectives for higher education set out by the Department for Education. It is argued that the Department for Education might be more successful in reaching its objectives if it focused more on these behavioural insights and interventions, and less on trying to make HE function like the competitive market that it is not.
Millennial Bugs. A Review of the Resolution Foundation's Intergenerational Commission Final Report
Authors: Prabhakar Rajiv
Published: August 2018

What obligations do the old owe the young? This question is at the core of the Resolution Foundation's Intergenerational Commission report that was published on May 2018. A novelty of this report is that it invokes Edmund Burke in support of efforts to boost intergenerational fairness. But, this paper suggests that Burke is only a very limited guide for closing the wealth gap between the generations. Taxing the wealth of baby boomers is likely to be central for any efforts to close the wealth gap. However, Burke was a strong supporter of inherited wealth. Burke might be more useful in a more limited sense of allowing debates to be opened up about home ownership.
It's messy but real: a pilot study of the implementation of a social engagement intervention for children with autism in schools
Authors: Locke Jill , Kang‐Yi Christina , Pellecchia Melanie , Mandell David S.
Published: August 2018

Social impairment represents one of the most challenging core deficits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and greatly affects children's school experiences; however, few evidence‐based social engagement programs have been implemented and sustained in schools. This pilot study examined the implementation and sustainment of a social engagement intervention, Remaking Recess, for four elementary‐aged children with ASD and four school personnel in two urban public schools. The improved peer engagement and social network inclusion outcomes suggest that Remaking Recess can be feasibly implemented in under resourced public schools with fidelity and has the potential to improve child outcomes for children with ASD.
Epidemiological Survey of Patients With Hemodialysis Complicated by Hepatitis C in Japan
Authors: Okubo Tomomi , Atsukawa Masanori , Tsubota Akihito , Koeda Mai , Yoshida Yuji , Arai Taeang , Nakagawa‐Iwashita Ai , Itokawa Norio , Kondo Chisa , Fujimori Shunji , Tsuruoka Shuichi , Iwakiri Katsuhiko
Published: August 2018

Nowadays, interferon‐free direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment is the standard of care for chronic hepatitis C patients. Some DAA regimens are highly effective and safe even for those with renal dysfunction/failure including those receiving HD. However, it remains unclear to what extent HD specialists gain knowledge about advances in anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. To clarify the current situation and identify problems in the treatment of HD patients with chronic hepatitis C, we performed a questionnaire survey at 36 HD facilities between June 2016 and September 2017. In a total of 3418 HD patients, 179 (5.2%) were positive for anti‐HCV antibody, and among these patients, 110/125 (88.0%) were positive for serum HCV RNA. Of the latter, only 42/110 (38.2%) patients received antiviral therapy. Moreover, HCV serotyping or genotyping was performed in 23/110 (20.9%) patients. In 26/49 (53.1%) of the remaining 68 untreated patients, “HD specialists do not know any HCV‐specific treatments” and “HD specialists have no opportunity to consult with a hepatologist” were the reasons cited for the lack of anti‐HCV treatment. This epidemiological study found that some HD patients with chronic hepatitis C had not yet received antiviral treatment despite the emergence of DAAs. To overcome such undesirable circumstances, medical cooperation between HD specialists and hepatologists should be required.
The nitrogen regulator PipX acts in cis to prevent operon polarity
Authors: Cantos Raquel , Labella Jose I. , Espinosa Javier , Contreras Asunción
Published: August 2018

Cyanobacteria, phototrophic organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis, must adapt their metabolic processes to important environmental challenges, like those imposed by the succession of days and nights. Not surprisingly, certain regulatory proteins are found exclusively in this phylum. One of these unique factors, PipX, provides a mechanistic link between signals of carbon/nitrogen and of energy, transduced by the signalling protein PII, and the control of gene expression by the global nitrogen regulator NtcA. Here we report a new regulatory function of PipX: enhancement in cis of pipY expression, a gene encoding a universally conserved protein involved in amino/keto acid and Pyridoxal phosphate homeostasis. In Synechococcus elongatus and many other cyanobacteria these genes are expressed as a bicistronic pipXY operon. Despite being cis‐acting, polarity suppression by PipX is nevertheless reminiscent of the function of NusG paralogues typified by RfaH, which are non‐essential operon‐specific bacterial factors acting in trans to upregulate horizontally‐acquired genes. Furthermore, PipX and members of the NusG superfamily share a TLD/KOW structural domain, suggesting regulatory interactions of PipX with the translation machinery. Our results also suggest that the cis‐acting function of PipX is a sophisticated regulatory strategy for maintaining appropriate PipX–PipY stoichiometry.