bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yield Response to Orange Cane Blotch of Blackberry Grown in the Georgia Coastal Plain
Authors: Browne Frances B. , Brannen Phillip M. , Scherm Harald , Richardson Elizabeth A. , Taylor Jeremy R.
Published: July 2019

Orange cane blotch (OCB), an algal disease on commercial blackberry plants in the southeastern United States, has been an increasing concern among producers. The causal agent, Cephaleuros virescens, produces brightly colored green to orange lesions on blackberry stems, but proof of actual damage and impact on crop yield has not been documented. Naturally infected stem sections were viewed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate cane damage. Surface abrasions, intercellular growth, and occasional intracellular growth were observed on the surface and epidermal layers. Field studies at four commercial sites over 2 years were conducted to assess the impact of OCB on yield in ‘Ouachita’ blackberry plants not treated with algicidal chemicals. Neither cane diameter nor berry size was impacted by severity of OCB; however, berry number decreased with increasing OCB intensity in a nonlinear manner, thereby resulting in reduced yields.
Carriage duration of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a hospital cohort - implications for infection control measures
Authors: Mo Yin , Hernandez-Koutoucheva Anastasia , Musicha Patrick , Bertrand Denis , Lye David , Tek Ng Oon , Fenlon Shannon N. , Chen Swaine L. , Lin Ling Moi , Tang Wen Ying , Barkham Timothy , Nagarajan Niranjan , Cooper Ben S , Marimuthu Kalisvar
Published: July 2019

Carriage duration of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is uncertain. We followed 21 CPE carriers over one year. Mean carriage duration was 86 (95%CrI= [60, 122]) days, with 98.5% (95%CrI= [95.0, 99.8]) probability of decolonization in one year. Antibiotic consumption was associated with prolonged carriage. CPE-carriers’ status should be reviewed yearly.
TANGLED1 mediates interactions between microtubules that may promote spindle organization and phragmoplast guidance to the division site in maize
Authors: Martinez Pablo , Dixit Ram , Balkunde Rachappa S. , O’Leary Seán E. , Brakke Kenneth A. , Rasmussen Carolyn G.
Published: July 2019

The microtubule cytoskeleton serves as a dynamic structural framework for mitosis in eukaryotic cells. TANGLED1 (TAN1) is a microtubule-binding protein that localizes to the division site and mitotic microtubules and plays a critical role in division plane orientation in plants. Here, in vitro experiments demonstrate that TAN1 directly binds microtubules, mediating microtubule zippering or end-on microtubule interactions, depending on their contact angle. Maizetan1mutant cells improperly position the preprophase band (PPB), which predicts the future division site. However, cell-shape-based modeling indicates that PPB positioning defects are likely a consequence of abnormal cell shapes and not due to TAN1 absence. Spindle defects in thetan1mutant suggest that TAN1-mediated microtubule zippering may contribute to metaphase spindle organization. In telophase, co-localization of growing microtubules ends from the phragmoplast with TAN1 at the division site suggests that TAN1 interacts with microtubule tips end-on. Together, our results suggest that TAN1 contributes to spindle and phragmoplast microtubule organization to ensure proper division plane orientation.
Collagen Production and Niche Engineering: A Novel Strategy for Cancer Cells to Survive Acidosis and Evolve
Authors: Damaghi Mehdi , Byrne Samantha , Xu Liping , Tafreshi Narges , Fang Bin , Koomen John M. , Karolak Aleksandra , Chen Tingan , Johnson Joseph , Gallant Nathan D. , Marusyk Andriy , Gillies Robert J.
Published: July 2019

Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an avascular disease characterized by profound acidosis. Pre-malignant cells within this niche must adapt to acidosis to survive and thrive. A component of this acid-adaptation involves extracellular matrix remodeling leading to niche construction and remodeling. Using discovery proteomics, we identified that collagen producing enzyme PLODs are upregulated in acid-adapted breast cancer cells. Second harmonic generation microscopy showed significant collagen deposition within DCIS lesions of patients. In vitro analyses identified that acid-adaptation involves production of rare collagens that can be regulated by Ras and SMAD pathway. Secretome analysis showed upregulation ECM remodeling enzymes such as TGM2 and LOXL2. Comparison of acid induced collagens in vitro and in patient data showed correlation between rare collagens production and survival of patients. We conclude acidosis induces collagen production by cancer cells and promote growth independent of basal membrane attachment. The independently produced collagen can be used for niche construction and engineering as an adaptation strategy of cancer cells to survive and evolve.
Informatics investigations into anti-thyroid drug induced agranulocytosis associated with multiple HLA-B alleles
Authors: Ramsbottom Kerry A , Carr Daniel F , Rigden Daniel J , Jones Andrew R
Published: July 2019

Adverse drug reactions have been linked with HLA alleles in different studies. These HLA proteins play an essential role in the adaptive immune response for the presentation of self and non-self peptides. Anti-thyroid drugs methimazole and propylthiouracil have been associated with drug induced agranulocytosis (severe lower white blood cell count) in patients with B*27:05, B*38:02 and DRB1*08:03 alleles in different populations: Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Han Chinese and Caucasian.

In this study, informatics methods were used to investigate if any sequence or structural similarities exist between the two associated HLA-B alleles, compared with a set of “control” alleles assumed not be associated, which could help explain the molecular basis of the adverse drug reaction. We demonstrated using MHC Motif Viewer and MHCcluster that the two alleles do not have a propensity to bind similar peptides, and thus at a gross level the structure of the antigen presentation region of the two alleles are not similar. We also performed multiple sequence alignment to identify polymorphisms shared by the risk but not by the control alleles and molecular docking to compare the predicted binding positions of the drug-allele combinations.

Two residues, Cys67 and Thr80, were identified from the multiple sequence alignments to be unique to these risk alleles alone. The molecular docking showed the poses of the risk alleles to favour the F-pocket of the peptide binding groove, close to the Thr80 residue, with the control alleles generally favouring a different pocket. The data are thus suggestive that Thr80 may be a critical residue in HLA-mediated anti-thyroid drug induced agranulocytosis, and thus can guide future research and risk assessment.
Social networks with strong spatial embedding generate non-standard epidemic dynamics driven by higher-order clustering
Authors: Haw David J. , Pung Rachael , Read Jonathan M. , Riley Steven
Published: July 2019

Some directly transmitted human pathogens such as influenza and measles generate sustained exponential growth in incidence, and have a high peak incidence consistent with the rapid depletion of susceptible individuals. Many do not. While a prolonged exponential phase typically arises in traditional disease-dynamic models, current quantitative descriptions of non-standard epidemic profiles are either abstract, phenomenological or rely on highly skewed offspring distributions in network models. Here, we create large socio-spatial networks to represent contact behaviour using human population density data, a previously developed fitting algorithm, and gravity-like mobility kernels. We define a basic reproductive numberR0for this system analogous to that used for compartmental models. Controlling forR0, we then explore networks with a household-workplace structure in which between-household contacts can be formed with varying degrees of spatial correlation, determined by a single parameter from the gravity-like kernel. By varying this single parameter and simulating epidemic spread, we are able to identify how more frequent local movement can lead to strong spatial correlation and thus induce sub-exponential outbreak dynamics with lower, later epidemic peaks. Also, the ratio of peak height to final size was much smaller when movement was highly spatially correlated. We investigate the topological properties of our networks via a generalized clustering coefficient that extends beyond immediate neighbourhoods, identifying very strong correlations between 4th order clustering and non-standard epidemic dynamics. Our results motivate the joint observation of incidence and socio-spatial human behaviour during epidemics that exhibit non-standard incidence patterns.

Author Summary

Epidemics are typically described using a standard set of mathematical models that do not capture social interactions or the way those interactions are determined by geography. Here we propose a model that can reflect social networks influenced strongly by the way people travel and we show that they lead to very different epidemic profiles. This type of model will likely be useful for forecasting.
L1EM: A tool for accurate locus specific LINE-1 RNA quantification
Authors: McKerrow Wilson , Fenyö David
Published: July 2019

Motivation

LINE-1 elements are retrotransposons that are capable of copying their sequence to new genomic loci. LINE-1 derepression is associated with a number of disease states, and has the potential to cause significant cellular damage. Because LINE-1 elements are repetitive, it is difficult to quantify RNA at specific LINE-1 loci and to separate transcripts with protein coding capability from other sources of LINE-1 RNA.

Results

We provide a tool, L1-EM that uses the expectation maximization algorithm to quantify LINE-1 RNA at each genomic locus, separating transcripts that are capable of generating retrotransposition from those that are not. We show the accuracy of L1-EM on simulated data and against long read sequencing from HEK cells.

Availability

L1-EM is written in python. The source code along with the necessary annotations are available athttps://github.com/FenyoLab/L1EMand distributed under GPLv3.

Contact

wilson.mckerrow@nyulangone.org,david@fenyolab.org
Changes in gene expression during female reproductive development in a colour polymorphic insect
Authors: Willink B. , Duryea M. C. , Wheat C. , Svensson E. I.
Published: July 2019

Pleiotropy (multiple phenotypic effects of single genes) and epistasis (gene interaction) have key roles in the development of complex phenotypes, especially in polymorphic taxa. The development of discrete and heritable phenotypic polymorphisms often emerges from major-effect genes that interact with other loci and have pleiotropic effects on multiple traits. We quantified gene expression changes during ontogenetic colour development in a polymorphic insect (damselfly:Ischnura elegans), with three heritable female morphs, one being a male mimic. This female colour polymorphism is maintained by male mating harassment and sexual conflict. Using transcriptome sequencing andde novoassembly, we demonstrate that all three morphs downregulate gene expression during early colour development. The morphs become increasingly differentiated during sexual maturation and when developing adult colouration. These different ontogenetic trajectories arise because the male-mimic shows accelerated (heterochronic) development, compared to the other female morphs. Many loci with regulatory functions in reproductive development are differentially regulated in the male-mimic, including upstream and downstream regulators of ecdysone signalling and transcription factors potentially influencing sexual differentiation. Our results suggest that long-term sexual conflict does not only maintain this polymorphism, but has also modulated the evolution of gene expression profiles during colour development of these sympatric female morphs.
Lipid Droplets Mediate Salt Stress Tolerance in Parachlorella kessleri
1
Authors: You Zaizhi , Zhang Qi , Peng Zhou , Miao Xiaoling
Published: July 2019

Microalgae are known to respond to salinity stress via mechanisms that include accumulation of compatible solutes and synthesis of antioxidants. Here, we describe a salinity-tolerance mechanism mediated by lipid droplets (LDs). In the alga Parachlorella kessleri grown under salt-stress conditions, we observed significant increases in cell size and LD content. LDs that were closely grouped along the plasma membrane shrank as the plasma membrane expanded, and some LDs were engulfed by vacuoles. Transcriptome analysis showed that genes encoding lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPLATs) and phospholipase A2 were significantly up-regulated following salt stress. Diacylglycerol kinase and LPLAT were identified in the proteome of salt-induced LDs, alongside vesicle trafficking and plastidial proteins and histone H2B. Analysis of fatty acid composition revealed an enrichment of C18:1 and C18:2 at the expense of C18:3 in response to salt stress. Pulse-chase experiments further suggested that variations of fatty acid composition were associated with LDs. Acetate stimulation research further confirmed a positive role of LDs in cell growth under salt stress. These results suggest that LDs play important roles in salt-stress tolerance, through harboring proteins, participating in cytoplasmic component recycling, and providing materials and enzymes for membrane modification and expansion.
Three new acidM+arsenates and phosphates with multiply protonated As/PO4groups
Authors: Schwendtner Karolina , Kolitsch Uwe
Published: July 2019

The crystal structures of caesium dihydrogen arsenate(V) bis[trihydrogen arsenate(V)], Cs(H2AsO4)(H3AsO4)2, ammonium dihydrogen arsenate(V) trihydrogen arsenate(V), NH4(H2AsO4)(H3AsO4), and dilithium bis(dihydrogen phosphate), Li2(H2PO4)2, were solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. NH4(H2AsO4)(H3AsO4), which was hydrothermally synthesized (T= 493 K), is homeotypic with Rb(H2AsO4)(H3AsO4), while Cs(H2AsO4)(H3AsO4)2crystallizes in a novel structure type and Li2(H2PO4)2represents a new polymorph of this composition. The Cs and Li compounds grew at room temperature from highly acidic aqueous solutions. Li2(H2PO4)2forms a three-dimensional (3D) framework of PO4tetrahedra sharing corners with Li2O6dimers built of edge-sharing LiO4groups, which is reinforced by hydrogen bonds. The two arsenate compounds are characterized by a 3D network of AsO4groups that are connected solelyviamultiple strong hydrogen bonds. A statistical evaluation of the As—O bond lengths in singly, doubly and triply protonated AsO4groups gave average values of 1.70 (2) Å for 199 As—OH bonds, 1.728 (19) Å for As—OH bonds in HAsO4groups, 1.714 (12) Å for As—OH bonds in H2AsO4groups and 1.694 (16) Å for As—OH bonds in H3AsO4groups, and a grand mean value of 1.667 (18) Å for As—O bonds to nonprotonated O atoms.
Effect of pH on the construction of CdII coordination polymers involving the 1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(3,5-dicarboxylatopyridinium) ligand
Authors: Shao Zhi-Chao , Meng Xiang-Ru , Hou Hong-Wei
Published: July 2019

Changing the pH value of a reaction system can result in polymers with very different compositions and architectures. Two new coordination polymers based on 1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(3,5-dicarboxylatopyridinium) (L
2−), namely catena-poly[[[tetraaquacadmium(II)]-μ2-1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(3,5-dicarboxylatopyridinium)] 1.66-hydrate], {[Cd(C22H14N2O8)(H2O)4]·1.66H2O}
n
, (I), and poly[{μ6-1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(3,5-dicarboxylatopyridinium)}cadmium(II)], [Cd(C22H14N2O8)]
n
, (II), have been prepared in the presence of NaOH or HNO3 and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In polymer (I), each CdII ion is coordinated by two halves of independent L
2− ligands, forming a one-dimensional chain structure. In the crystal, these chains are further connected through O—H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. In polymer (II), each hexadentate L
2− ligand coordinates to six CdII ions, resulting in a three-dimensional network structure, in which all of the CdII ions and L
2− ligands are equivalent, respectively. The IR spectra, thermogravimetric analyses and fluorescence properties of both reported compounds were investigated.
Design and analysis of output feedback constraint control for antilock braking system based on Burckhardt’s model
Authors: He Youguo , Lu Chuandao , Shen Jie , Yuan Chaochun
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve vehicles’ brake stability, the problem of constraint control for an antilock braking system (ABS) with asymmetric slip ratio constraints is concerned. A nonlinear control method based on barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is proposed not only to track the optimal slip ratio but also to guarantee no violation on slip ratio constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

A quarter vehicle braking model and Burckhardt’s tire model are considered. The asymmetric BLF is introduced into the controller for solving asymmetric slip ratio constraint problems.

Findings

The proposed controller can implement ABS zero steady-state error tracking of the optimal wheel slip ratio and make slip ratio constraints flexible for various runway surfaces and runway transitions. Simulation and experimental results show that the control scheme can guarantee no violation on slip ratio constraints and avoid self-locking.

Originality/value

The slip rate equation with uncertainties is established, and BLF is introduced into the design process of the constrained controller to realize the slip rate constrained control.
Legitimacy theory
Authors: Deegan Craig Michael
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the contributions made to the social and environmental accounting literature by papers that comprised a 2002 Special Issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) entitled social and environmental reporting and its role in maintaining or creating organisational legitimacy. This paper will also provide insights into the origins of legitimacy theory as used in the social and environmental accounting literature as well as providing reflections about the strengths, and shortcomings, of the theory. Suggestions are made with respect to the ongoing application, and development, of legitimacy theory.

Design/methodology/approach

As a commentary, this paper utilises a review of the social and environmental accounting and institutional literature across a number of decades to reveal insights about the development and use of legitimacy theory as a basis to explain social and environmental reporting practices. Citation data are also used to indicate the potential impact that the papers in the 2002 Special Issue had upon subsequent research.

Findings

This commentary shows that the 2002 Special Issue is the most highly cited issue in the history of AAAJ. It also shows that individually, some of the papers in the Special Issue represent some of the most highly cited papers in the social and environmental accounting literature. The commentary provides arguments to suggest that the development of legitimacy theory is in need of further refinement, and suggests a way in which this refinement might take place.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is largely based on the opinions of one researcher, and the evidence presented in the paper is selected on the basis that it is deemed sufficient to support the opinions being projected. The paper also relies on citation data as an indicator of “impact”. The implication of the research is that it identifies a “way forward” for the development of theory applicable to the understanding of organisational social and environmental reporting practices.

Originality/value

The study provides evidence to show that the 2002 Special Issue was significant within the context of AAAJ, and also within the context of the evolution of the social and environmental accounting literature. The description of the history of the development of legitimacy theory, and of the theory’s subsequent application, provides a solid impetus for future refinements to the theory.
Corrosion behavior of N80 steel in CO2-saturated formation water
Authors: Qiu Zhichao , Xiong Chunming , Ye Zhengrong , Zhou Xiang , Wang Rui , Lin Xueqiang , Sui Pengfei
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the influence of CO2 partial pressure, flow rate and water cut on N80 steel corrosion behaviors in the displacement process of oil in glutenite reservoir by CO2 injection.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-made 3 L high-temperature and high-pressure autoclave was used to conduct corrosion simulation experiments of N80 steel in different CO2 partial pressures, flow rates and water cut (the independently developed oil and water mixing approach can ensure the uniform mixing of oil and water in experiments). Techniques like weight loss and surface analysis were used to analyze the corrosion behaviors of N80 steel under different conditions.

Findings

Results showed that the average corrosion rate of N80 steel accelerated at varying degrees with the increase of CO2 partial pressure, flow rate and water cut. Excluding that the samples showed uniform corrosion under the two conditions of 0.5MPa CO2 partial pressure and static corrosion, they displayed mesa attack corrosion under other conditions. Besides, with the increase of CO2 partial pressure, the pH value of solution dropped and the matrix corrosion speed rose, hence leading to the increased Fe2+ and CO32− concentration. Meanwhile, a lowered pH value improved the FeCO3 critical supersaturation, thereby leading to an increased nucleation rate/growth rate and ultimately causing the decrease of the dimension of FeCO3 crystallites formed on the surface of the samples.

Originality/value

The results can be helpful in targeted anti-corrosion measures for CO2/oil/water corrosive environment.
Job satisfaction in the global MNE: does distance matter?
Authors: Edwards Gwyneth , Chikhouni Abdulrahman , Molz Rick
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the relative institutional distance of the subsidiary from the multinational enterprise (MNE) headquarters influences job satisfaction in the subsidiary. The authors argue that job satisfaction in the MNE subsidiary will be influenced by the institutional distance between the firm’s home (headquarter) and host (subsidiary) countries, such that the greater the institutional distance, the less satisfied the subsidiary employees. The authors also argue that the degree of function interdependence (global vs local roles) will moderate this relationship, such that high interdependence will result in lower job satisfaction as distance increases.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a global high-tech Canadian MNE, consisting of over 15,000 employees located in 19 subsidiaries, the research undertakes an empirical investigation that identifies if and how job satisfaction varies between countries and tests the influence of subsidiary-level institutional distance from the headquarters on subsidiary-level job satisfaction, using a multilevel model.

Findings

The results demonstrate that subsidiary distance from the headquarters has a complex effect on subsidiary-level job satisfaction; in some distances, no effect is found, while in others, either some or all job satisfaction facets are affected (depending on the distance and facet) in both positive and negative ways. Unlike much of the past research on distance, which has treated distance as a barrier to be overcome or reduce (Stahlet al., 2016), the paper’s finding demonstrate that “negative” distance operates independently (and at varying strengths and significance) than “positive” distance, due to underlying mechanisms.

Research limitations/implications

There is a real opportunity to push ahead on linking international business strategy research with organizational theory and organizational behavior research. To do so, it requires not only a positive organizational scholarship approach (Stahlet al., 2016) but also methods that will allow researchers to study the influence of distance on mechanisms and processes, as opposed to stand-alone variables. The authors therefore suggest that future work in this area pursue qualitative methods as called for by Chapmanet al.(2008).

Practical implications

Findings are surprising, in that results vary across job facets and distances. Practitioners need to therefore focus on the mechanisms that influence job satisfaction, not just differences and their potential negative impact.

Originality/value

The firm-level study provides a rich perspective on the complex way in which country-level differences influence subsidiary-level job satisfaction.
Simulating induction heating processes using harmonic balance FEM
Authors: Roppert Klaus , Toth Florian , Kaltenbacher Manfred
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a solution strategy for coupled nonlinear magnetic-thermal problems and apply it to the heating process of a thin moving steel sheet. Performing efficient numerical simulations of induction heating processes becomes ever more important because of faster production development cycles, where the quasi steady-state solution of the problem plays a pivotal role.

Design/methodology/approach

To avoid time-consuming transient simulations, the eddy current problem is transformed into frequency domain and a harmonic balancing scheme is used to take into account the nonlinear BH-curve. The thermal problem is solved in steady-state domain, which is carried out by including a convective term to model the stationary heat transport due to the sheet velocity.

Findings

The presented solution strategy is compared to a classical nonlinear transient reference solution of the eddy current problem and shows good convergence, even for a small number of considered harmonics.

Originality/value

Numerical simulations of induction heating processes are necessary to fully understand certain phenomena, e.g. local overheating of areas in thin structures. With the presented approach it is possible to perform large 3D simulations without excessive computational resources by exploiting certain properties of the multiharmonic solution of the eddy current problem. Together with the use of nonconforming interfaces, the overall computational complexity of the problem can be decreased significantly.
A non-smooth Newton method for the solution of magnetostatic field problems with hysteresis
Authors: Willerich Stephan , Herzog Hans-Georg
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The use of gradient-based methods in finite element schemes can be prevented by undefined derivatives, which are encountered when modeling hysteresis in constitutive material laws. This paper aims to present a method to deal with this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Non-smooth Newton methods provide a generalized framework for the treatment of minimization problems with undefined derivatives. Within this paper, a magnetostatic finite element formulation that includes hysteresis is presented. The non-linear equations are solved using a non-smooth Newton method.

Findings

The non-smooth Newton method shows promising convergence behavior when applied to a model problem. The numbers of iterations for magnetization curves with and without hysteresis are within the same range.

Originality/value

Mathematical tools like Clarke's generalized Jacobian are applied to magnetostatic field problems with hysteresis. The relation between the non-smooth Newton method and other methods for solving non-linear systems with hysteresis like the M(B)-iteration is established.
Magnetic coupling of mechanical modes in MRI systems
Authors: Stroehlein Christopher , Landes Hermann , Krug Andreas , Dietz Peter
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate magneto-mechanical coupling occurring in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The authors study influence of the strength of the background field on the coupling of mechanically isolated, conductive cylindrical structures and the so-called shields. This coupling has a strong impact on frequency-dependent thermal losses occurring in the shield structures which are of high importance in MRI systems.

Design/methodology/approach

In the investigations, numerical methods are applied. First, finite element methods taking into account the full magneto-mechanical coupling are used to investigate the coupled physical phenomena. As these calculations may be time-consuming, several approximate predictive methods are derived. Modal expansion factors and participation factors are based on combinations of structural eigenmode calculations and eddy current calculations using Biot–Savart representations of the dynamic gradient field. In addition, a parallelism factor expressed in terms of the shield vibrations is defined to measure the coupling between the distinct cylinders.

Findings

It is found that the strength of the background field strongly influences the coupling of the distinct shields, which strongly increases the parallelism of the shield vibrations. Furthermore, modal expansion and participation factors are significantly influenced, caused by frequency shifts due to magnetic stiffening and increased magnetic coupling.

Research limitations/implications

The current work is limited to the modal expansions of a single shield. This needs to be extended in the future as comparison of modal expansion factors and finite element simulation indicate.

Originality/value

The defined factors estimating parallelism and modal participation in magneto-mechanical coupling are original work and studied for the first time.
The effects of students’ entrepreneurial characteristics on their propensity to become entrepreneurs in Malaysia
Authors: Che Embi Nor Azizan , Jaiyeoba Haruna Babatunde , Yussof Sheila Ainon
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the data collected from Malaysian students to investigate the effects of students’ entrepreneurial characteristics (need for achievement, locus of control, propensity to take risk, self-confidence, tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty, and leadership) on their propensity to become entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

As a quantitative study, various analyses, such as exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling, were conducted to analyze the data collected from 257 students known to have participated in entrepreneurship course and programmes.

Findings

The results show that leadership skill, need for achievement, tolerance of ambiguity, and risk-taking propensity are positively and significantly associated with students’ intention to initiate entrepreneurial activities in Malaysia.

Originality/value

The researchers have used data from the perspective of Malaysian students to increase the readers’ understanding on students’ entrepreneurial characteristics that could enhance their likelihood to become entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
Multi-objective optimization of high carbon steel (EN-31) and low carbon steel (SAE-1020) using Grey Taguchi method in rotary friction stir welding
Authors: Singh Kanwal Jit
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, a rotary friction welding method is accepted in many industries, particularly for joining dissimilar materials as a mass production process. It is due to advantages like less material waste, low production time and low energy expenditure. The effect of the change in carbon contents in steel is studied experimentally in the rotary friction welding process, and a statistical model is developed. The Grey Taguchi method gives the single parameters optimization for all output responses. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental setup was designed and produced to achieve the multi-response in single optimum parameters through Grey relational analysis. A continuous/direct drive rotary friction welding process is chosen in which transition from friction to the forging stage can be achieved automatically by applying a break. In this experimentation, high carbon and low carbon work-pieces with different carbon percentage were welded with rotary friction welding. Response tensile strength and micro-hardness of the design of the experiment are used to analyze the results.

Findings

The optimization of parameters has been performed with Grey relational analysis, and optimum parameters are friction pressure 40 kg/cm2, forging pressure 100 kg/cm2 and speed 1,120 rpm. GRA optimum parameters give 56.04 and 82.16 percent improvement in Tensile strength and micro-hardness, respectively.

Practical implications

High carbon steel (En-31) and low carbon steel (SAE-1020) are used in so many industrial applications. These materials are mostly used in the process like manufacturing, metallurgy, machinery, agricultural, etc. These practical applications have brought forward definite and notable economic benefits.

Originality/value

It provides a new framework to investigate the problems where multiple input machining variables and various output responses are obtained in single optimized parameters.
The moderating impact of gender on the acceptance of peer-to-peer mobile payment systems
Authors: Kalinić Zoran , Liébana-Cabanillas Francisco J. , Muñoz-Leiva Francisco , Marinković Veljko
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the significant antecedents of peer-to-peer (P2P) m-payment acceptance and explore the moderating effects of gender on the influence of these predictors with regards to intention of using the system.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted on a sample comprised of 701 Spanish smartphone users. A multi-group structural equation modeling analysis was used to test the moderating effect of gender with a particular focus on the relationships between the latent variables of the research model.

Findings

The study identified significant differences between the two observed groups – the results show that men are more likely to use mobile payments than women and are therefore less influenced by the potential risks involved. In addition, men are more easily influenced by their social environment, whereas women are more influenced by their personal innovativeness.

Originality/value

The study proposes a three-level model, based on an extended TAM model. It is a pioneering study, exploring the effects of gender on P2P m-payment acceptance. Due to its novel value and the potential involved, the results of the study may be of great importance for m-payment providers, particularly in marketing strategy planning and customer segmentation.
The effect of climate information in pastoralists’ adaptation to climate change
Authors: Nkuba Michael , Chanda Raban , Mmopelwa Gagoitseope , Kato Edward , Mangheni Margaret Najjingo , Lesolle David
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of using indigenous forecasts (IFs) and scientific forecasts (SFs) on pastoralists’ adaptation methods in Rwenzori region, Western Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a household survey from 270 pastoralists and focus group discussions. The multivariate probit model was used in the analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that pastoralists using of IF only more likely to be non-farm enterprises and livestock sales as adaptation strategies. Pastoralists using both SF and IF were more likely to practise livestock migration.

Research limitations/implications

Other factors found to be important included land ownership, land tenure, gender, education level, non-farm and productive assets, climate-related risks and agricultural extension access.

Practical implications

Increasing the number of weather stations in pastoral areas would increase the predictive accuracy of scientific climate information, which results in better adaptive capacity of pastoralists. Active participation of pastoral households in national meteorological dissemination processes should be explored.

Social implications

A two-prong approach that supports both mobile and sedentary pastoralism should be adopted in rangeland development policies.

Originality/value

This study has shown the relevance of IFs in climate change adaptation methods of pastoralists. It has also shown that IFs compliment SFs in climate change adaptation in pastoralism.
Choice of emergency shelter: valuing key attributes of emergency shelters
Authors: Asgary Ali , Azimi Nooreddin
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine people’s preferences for some of the key attributes of emergency shelters, including type, privacy level, location, spatial arrangement and pet-friendliness.

Design/methodology/approach

Choice experiment (CE) method was used in this study. A standard CE questionnaire was designed and completed by a sample of 293 residents of the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario (Canada), during the winter of 2015.

Findings

When using publicly provided shelters, people prefer to stay in hotels, places of worship and then community shelters, in that order. These findings correspond to the values that they place for various attributes through the CE survey. Findings show that responders place the highest values for emergency shelters that provide more privacy, located close to their home, and are pet friendly. Type of shelter and the “arrangement” attributes were not found to be as important and valuable.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses a convenient sampling method as such may not fully represent the study population.

Practical implications

Emergency shelter provision by local, regional and national governments cost significant amount of money and thus it is important that the society get the maximum benefit from it. This will be possible when users’ preferences are considered in planning, design, and operation of emergency shelters. The findings enable emergency managers to perform cost-benefit analysis an increase the efficiency of emergency shelters.

Originality/value

While previous studies have examined emergency-shelter types, characteristics and user-satisfaction levels, this is a novel study because it uses a choice experiment method to extract monetary values for key emergency-shelter attributes.
Exploring the link between sexual orientation, work-life balance satisfaction and work-life segmentation
Authors: Dilmaghani Maryam
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to, using several cycles of the Canadian General Social Survey (GSS) covering 2010–2015, examine the patterns of work-life balance (WLB) satisfaction and work-life segmentation by sexual orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, multivariate regression analysis is used.

Findings

The analysis shows that men living with a male partner are more satisfied with their WLB than their heterosexual counterparts. No statistically significant difference is found between women who live with a female partner and their heterosexual counterparts, in WLB satisfaction. Work-life segmentation is operationalized by the odds of being at the top levels of the life satisfaction scale without being satisfied with the circumstances of one’s job. Controlling for a wide range of characteristics, working Canadians living with a same-sex partner, regardless of their genders, are found more likely to have segmented their work and life domains than their heterosexual counterparts.

Originality/value

The paper, for the first time, investigates how sexual orientation relates to WLB satisfaction and work-life segmentation. This study exploits a unique opportunity offered by the Canadian GSSs in which WLB satisfaction is directly surveyed, all the while partnered sexual minorities are identifiable.
Perception of sustainability competencies amongst Spanish pre-service secondary school teachers
Authors: Cebrián Gisela , Pascual David , Moraleda Álvaro
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results from a questionnaire distributed to a group of Spanish postgraduate teacher students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Education. The aims of the administered questionnaire were to identify students’ perceptions of the development of sustainability competencies; to analyse the relationship between students’ perceived level of competence and the subject area, previous teaching experience and previous participation in sustainability projects; and to explore the strengths and limitations of the assessment tool used.

Design/methodology/approach

An ad hoc questionnaire of 18 items was designed to analyse students’ self-conception of the development of four sustainability competencies. A set of six units of competence were identified and three levels of acquisition for each unit Knowledge (referred to conceptual learning), Knowhow (related to practical skills) and Do (linked to the demonstration in action and its transferability to real-life situations). The sample included 183 postgraduate secondary teacher students from different disciplines and subject areas.

Findings

The findings of this study show that students positioned themselves for the four sustainability competencies in a medium level of competence. No statistical significant differences exist between the subject areas and the level of sustainability competence. A statistically significant difference was found between previous teaching experience and participation in sustainability projects in relation to their perceived level of sustainability competencies. Participation in sustainability projects is clearly shown as a differentiating factor in the levels of sustainability competencies.

Originality/value

An empirical study has been conducted to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions on the self-development of four sustainability competencies, considering three levels of acquisition (Know, Knowhow and Do). This study provides insights into ESD teaching and learning approaches and the assessment of Education for Sustainable Development outcomes. It also points out the importance of conceptualising sustainability competencies and operationalising these competencies in assessment tools that can help measure sustainability competencies’ development.
Fiscal sustainability in developing Asia – new evidence from panel correlated common effect model
Authors: Bui Duy-Tung
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem of fiscal sustainability for a panel of developing Asian economies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, cross-section dependence and heterogeneity are controlled while estimating the fiscal reaction function, which shows how governments react to the accumulation of public debt. The study employs the common correlated effects mean group estimator in Pesaran (2006) for a panel of 22 developing Asian economies for the period 1999‒2017.

Findings

It is found that the fiscal sustainability issue in the region is not so benign as in previous studies. Overall, fiscal policy is unsustainable, even for the nonlinear fiscal rule. Country-specific long-run coefficients are also examined in the study.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show that many developing economies in the region could not satisfy the intertemporal budget constraint, which raises concerns about debt sustainability in the area, especially for the post-crisis period.

Originality/value

This study investigates whether governments can maintain the sustainability of public finances in the long-run, if the ratios of public debt over GDP and primary deficit over GDP continue their recent problematic trends. Another novelty is controlling for heterogeneous effects among the countries in the region to give a more precise picture of debt sustainability. The empirical evidence also supports that insolvency risk can occur at low levels of public debt.
Herding behaviour of Chinese A- and B-share markets
Authors: Ju Xin-Ke
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence of herding phenomenon, spill-over effects related to herding and whether herding is driven by fundamentals or non-fundamentals for various sub-periods and sub-samples.

Design/methodology/approach

The cross-sectional absolute deviation model is applied to China’s A- and B-share markets in combination with fundamental information.

Findings

Herding is prevalent on both A- and B-share markets. In detail, investors on A-share market herd for small and growth stock portfolios irrespective of market states while they only herd for large or value stocks in down market, therefore leading the whole herding behaviour to be pronounced in down market. Comparatively, on B-share market, herding is robust for various investment styles (small or large, value or growth) or market situations. Additionally, spill-over effects related to herding do not exist no matter from A-shares to B-shares or from B-shares to A-shares. Moreover, investors on B-share markets tend to herd as the response to non-fundamental information more frequently during financial crisis.

Originality/value

Investors on A- and B-share markets tend to herd as the response to non-fundamental information more frequently during financial crisis. Analysing the herding behaviours could be helpful in controlling the financial risk.
Workplace spirituality, work-family conflict and intention to stay
Authors: Aboobaker Nimitha , Edward Manoj , Zakkariya K.A.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Teaching is generally seen as a calling, rather than just a formal profession. In the context of commercialization of higher education, with increased workloads and lack of community relationships, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of employees’ experience of workplace spirituality on intention to stay with the organization, mediated through work–family conflict. The study seeks to add to theory development in the area of workplace spirituality and its outcomes, by examining the theoretical framework through the lens of self-determination theory of motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

This descriptive study was conducted among a sample of 350 teachers, working in the private sector higher educational institutes in India, selected through purposive sampling. Validated and widely accepted tests were administered among the respondents and structural equation modeling was done to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that amongst the current generation of teachers, experience of workplace spirituality and work–family conflict (WFC) plays a significant role in predicting intention to stay with the organization. Employees’ experience of dimensions of workplace spirituality had varying influences on WFC and intention to stay with the organization. WFC mediated the relationships between two dimensions of workplace spirituality (meaningful work and sense of community) and intention to stay, but not the relationship between alignment with organizational values and intention to stay.

Originality/value

This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing a theoretical model linking workplace spirituality, work–family conflict and intention to stay, particularly through the self-determination motivational theory perspective. To improve employees’ intention to stay with the organizations, managers need to devise strategies aimed at facilitating connectedness and lowered WFC. Personalized work–family policies might be the need of the hour, as to contain the inherent WFC in contemporary organizations.