bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive evaluation of computational cell-type quantification methods for immuno-oncology
Authors: Sturm Gregor , Finotello Francesca , Petitprez Florent , Zhang Jitao David , Baumbach Jan , Fridman Wolf H. , List Markus , Aneichyk Tatsiana
Published: November 2018

Motivation

The composition and density of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment profoundly influence tumor progression and success of anti-cancer therapies. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry staining, or single-cell sequencing is often unavailable such that we rely on computational methods to estimate the immune-cell composition from bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. Various methods have been proposed recently, yet their capabilities and limitations have not been evaluated systematically. A general guideline leading the research community through cell type deconvolution is missing.

Results

We developed a systematic approach for benchmarking such computational methods and assessed the accuracy of tools at estimating nine different immune- and stromal cells from bulk RNA-seq samples. We used a single-cell RNA-seq dataset of ∼11,000 cells from the tumor microenvironment to simulate bulk samples of known cell type proportions, and validated the results using independent, publicly available gold-standard estimates. This allowed us to analyze and condense the results of more than a hundred thousand predictions to provide an exhaustive evaluation across seven computational methods over nine cell types and ∼1,800 samples from five simulated and real-world datasets. We demonstrate that computational deconvolution performs at high accuracy for well-defined cell-type signatures and propose how fuzzy cell-type signatures can be improved. We suggest that future efforts should be dedicated to refining cell population definitions and finding reliable signatures.

Availability

A snakemake pipeline to reproduce the benchmark is available at https://github.com/grst/immune_deconvolution_benchmark. An R package allows the community to perform integrated deconvolution using different methods (https://grst.github.io/immunedeconv).

Contact

g.sturm@tum.de

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Architectural principles for Hfq/Crc-mediated regulation of gene expression
Authors: Pei Xue-Yuan , Dendooven Tom , Sonnleitner Elisabeth , Chen Shaoxia , Bläsi Udo , Luisi Ben F.
Published: November 2018

The global regulator Hfq facilitates the action of regulatory RNAs in post-transcription gene regulation in many Gram-negative bacteria.In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Hfq, in conjunction with the catabolite repression protein Crc, was shown to form a complex that directly inhibits translation of target transcripts during carbon catabolite repression. Here, we describe and validate high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the cooperative assembly of Hfq and Crc bound to a translation initiation site. The core assembly is formed through interactions of two cognate RNAs, two Hfq hexamers and a Crc pair. Additional Crc protomers can be recruited to form higher-order assemblies with demonstratedin vivoactivity. The structures indicate a distinctive RNA conformation and a pattern of repeating motifs that confer regulatory function. This study not only reveals for the first time how Hfq cooperates with a partner protein to regulate translation but also provides a novel structural basis to explain how an RNA code can guide global regulators to interact cooperatively and regulate many different RNA targets.
Abrogation of Stem Loop Binding Protein (Slbp) function leads to a failure of cells to transition from proliferation to differentiation, retinal coloboma and midline axon guidance deficits
Authors: Turner Kate , Hoyle Jacqueline , Valdivia Leonardo E , Cerveny Kara , Hart Wendy , Mangoli Maryam , Geisler Robert , Rees Michele , Houart Corinne , Poole Richard J. , Wilson Stephen W , Gestri Gaia
Published: November 2018

Through forward genetic screening for mutations affecting visual system development, we identified prominent coloboma and cell-autonomous retinal neuron differentiation, lamination and retinal axon projection defects ineisspalte(ele) mutant zebrafish. Additional axonal deficits were present, most notably at midline axon commissures. Genetic mapping and cloning of theelemutation showed that the affected gene isslbp, which encodes a conserved RNA stem-loop binding protein involved in replication dependent histone mRNA metabolism. Cells throughout the central nervous system remained in the cell cycle inelemutant embryos at stages when, and locations where, post-mitotic cells have differentiated in wild-type siblings. Indeed, RNAseq analysis showed down-regulation of many genes associated with neuronal differentiation. This was coincident with changes in the levels and spatial localisation of expression of various genes implicated, for instance, in axon guidance, that likely underlie specificelephenotypes. These results suggest that many of the cell and tissue specific phenotypes inelemutant embryos are secondary to altered expression of modules of developmental regulatory genes that characterise, or promote transitions in, cell state and require the correct function of Slbp-dependent histone and chromatin regulatory genes.

Author Summary

Congenital deficits of eye formation are common in humans and to help understand the genetic basic of such conditions, we are studying zebrafish with comparable eye defects. We identified defects in both the shaping of the eye and in its connections to the brain ineisspaltemutant fish. Further analyses revealed additional deficits in the brain, most notably a severe reduction in neurons and their connections. We find that this is due to an inability of the cells that generate neurons to transition from proliferation to neuronal differentiation. By using a sequencing approach to compare mutant embryos to their normal siblings, we identified the affected gene asslbp, which encodes a protein that binds the mRNAs of other genes important for cell proliferation. This sequencing approach revealed the full extent of changes in gene expression in the mutant, helping us to better understand why the nervous system defects occur. Our study suggests that in the absence of Slbp function, cells lose the ability to transition from the proliferative to the differentiated state and this leads to additional defects in the eyes and brain.
Chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2]-cycloadditions of thiocarbonyl ylides: crystal structures of trans-8-benzoyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-7-trifluoromethyl-5-thiaspiro[3.4]octan-2-one and trans-3-benzoyl-2,2-diphenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)tetrahydrothiophene
Authors: Linden Anthony , Mlostoń Grzegorz , Grzelak Paulina , Heimgartner Heinz
Published: November 2018

The title compounds, C19H21F3O2S and C24H19F3OS, were prepared via chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2]-cycloadditions of the respective thiocarbonyl ylides (thiocarbonyl S-methanides), generated in situ, with (E)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenylbut-2-en-1-one. The thiophene ring in the crystal structure of each compound has an envelope conformation. The largest differences between the two molecular structures is in the bond lengths about the quaternary C atom of the thiophene ring; in the spirocyclic structure, the C—C bonds to the spiro C atom in the cyclobutane ring are around 1.60 Å, although this is also observed in related structures. In the same structure, weak intermolecular C—H...X (X = S, O) interactions link the molecules into extended ribbons running parallel to the [001] direction. In the other structure, weak C—H...π interactions link the molecules into sheets parallel to the (010) plane.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (succinato-κO)[N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-κ5
O,N,N′,O′,O′′]nickel(II) tetrahydrate
Authors: Kansiz Sevgi , Dege Necmi , Topcu Yildiray , Atalay Yusuf , Gaidai Snizhana V.
Published: November 2018

In the title compound, [Ni(C10H24N2O4)(C4H4O4)]·4H2O, the NiII cation is octahedrally coordinated by one O atom of the succinate anion and three O atoms and two N atoms from an N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine molecule. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. Hirshfeld surface analyses and two-dimensional fingerprint plots were used to analyse the intermolecular interactions present in the crystal, indicating that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (63.3%) and H...O/O...H (34.5%) interactions.
Crystal structure of diaquatris(benzohydrazide-κ2
N,O)(isophthalato-κO)samarium(III) nitrate
Authors: Theppitak Chatphorn , Kielar Filip , Chainok Kittipong
Published: November 2018

The first benzohydrazide complex of a lanthanide is reported. In the title compound, [Sm(C8H4O4)(C7H8N2O)3(H2O)2]NO3, systematic name diaquatris(benzohydrazide-κ2
N,O)(isophthalato-κO)samarium(III) nitrate, the SmIII ion is nine-coordinated in a distorted tricapped trigonal–prismatic geometry by three oxygen atoms and three nitrogen atoms from three benzhydrazide (bzz) ligands, one oxygen atom from the isophthalate (itp2−) ligand, and two oxygen atoms from coordinated water molecules. The nitrate group is disordered over two sets of sites with occupancy factors of 0.310 (17) and 0.690 (17). In the crystal, adjacent molecules are linked into chains via pairs of O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the carboxylate acceptor and the coordinated water and amine NH2 donors. Molecules are further stacked by π–π interactions involving the benzene ring of the itp2− ligands, forming double chains that extend in the b-axis direction. These double chains are further linked into a three-dimensional supramolecular network via hydrogen bonds (O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O) between the complex molecule and the nitrate groups along with C—H...π and π–π interactions involving the benzene rings of the bzz and itp2− ligands.
Six tris(bipyridyl)iron(II) complexes with 2-substituted 1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropenide, perchlorate and tetrafluoridoborate anions; order versus disorder, hydrogen bonding and C—N...π interactions
Authors: Addala Abderezak , Setifi Zouaoui , Morimoto Yukio , Artetxe Beñat , Matsumoto Takashi , Gutiérrez-Zorrilla Juan M. , Glidewell Christopher
Published: November 2018

Structures are reported for six closely related salts of tris(bipyridyl)iron(II) cations, namely tris(2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) bis(1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-methoxypropenide) 0.776-hydrate, [Fe(C10H8N2)3](C8H3N4O)2.0.776H2O, (I), tris(2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-(propylsulfanyl)propenide perchlorate, [Fe(C10H8N2)3](C10H7N4S)(ClO4), (II), tris(5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-methoxypropenide tetrafluoridoborate ethanol 0.926-solvate, [Fe(C12H12N2)3](C8H3N4O)(BF4).0.926C2H2O, (III), tris(5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-ethoxypropenide tetrafluoridoborate, [Fe(C12H12N2)3](C9H5N4O)(BF4), (IV), tris(5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-(ethylsufanyl)propenide tetrafluoridoborate, [Fe(C12H12N2)3](C9H5N4S)(BF4), (V), and tris(5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-propoxypropenide tetrafluoridoborate, [Fe(C12H12N2)3](C10H7N4O)(BF4), (VI). In compound (I), one of the anions is disordered over two sets of atomic sites with equal occupancies while, in the second anion, just one of the C(CN)2 units is disordered, again over two sets of atomic sites with equal occupancies: the anionic components are linked by multiple C—H...N hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional framework. In compound (II), the polynitrile anion is disordered over two sets of atomic sites with occupancies in the approximate ratio 3:1, while the perchlorate anion is disordered over three sets of atomic sites: there are C—N...π interactions between the cations and the polynitrile anion. The polynitrile anion in compound (III) is fully ordered, but the tetrafluoridoborate anion is disordered over two sets of atomic sites with occupancies 0.671 (4) and 0.329 (4): the cations and the tetrafluoridoborate anions are linked by C—H...F interactions to form an interrupted chain. Compounds (IV) and (V) are isostructural and all of the ionic components are fully ordered in both of them: the cations and tetrafluoridoborate anions are linked into C
2
2(12) chains. The polynitrile anion in compound (VI) is disordered over two sets of atomic sites with approximately equal occupancies, and here the chains formed by the cations and the tetrafluoridoborate anions are of the C
2
2(13) type.
Aerodynamic and structural design for the development of a MALE UAV
Authors: Panagiotou Pericles , Giannakis Efstratios , Savaidis Georgios , Yakinthos Kyros
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary design of a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), focusing on the interaction between the aerodynamic and the structural design studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The classic layout theory was used, adjusted for the needs of unmanned aircraft, including aerodynamic calculations, presizing methods and CFD, to estimate key aerodynamic and stability coefficients. Considering the structural aspects, a combination of layout, finite element methods and custom parameterized design tools were used, allowing automatic reshapes of the skin and the internal structural parts, which are mainly made of composite materials. Interaction loops were defined between the aforementioned studies to optimize the performance of the aerial vehicle, maximize the aerodynamic efficiency and reduce the structural weight.

Findings

The complete design procedure of a UAV is shown, starting from the final stages of conceptual design, up to the point where the detail design and mechanical drawings initiated.

Practical implications

This paper presents a complete view of a design study of a MALE UAV, which was successfully constructed and flight-tested.

Originality/value

This study presents a complete, synergetic approach between the configuration layout, aerodynamic and structural aspects of a MALE UAV.
Cold flow studies in a vortex thrust chamber
Authors: T.N. Rajesh , Sarvoththama Jothi T.J. , T. Jayachandran
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the chamber pressure and flow behaviour in a vortex thrust chamber (VTC) during the cold flow with hydrogen and oxygen as propellants.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiments are carried out in a VTC with a different mixture ratio of hydrogen and oxygen. The pressures developed inside the VTC are measured. Numerical simulations are carried out to understand the flow patterns of fuel and oxidizer inside the VTC.

Findings

The chamber pressure is influenced by the type of injection of propellant and mixture ratio. Tangential injection of propellant is the key parameter for an increase of the chamber pressure of the VTC.

Research limitations/implications

The pressure measurements are carried out in cold flow conditions without combustion happening in the VTC.

Practical implications

The practical implication is that when the combustion in the VTC ceases, the thrust generated due to the propellants in cold flow conditions can be assessed.

Originality/value

The VTC with the tangential injection of propellant generates higher chamber pressure.
Combustion chamber design and reaction modeling for aero turbo-shaft engine
Authors: Marudhappan Raja , Udayagiri Chandrasekhar , Reddy Koni Hemachandra
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a structured approach to design an annular diffusion flame combustion chamber for use in the development of a 1,400 kW range aero turbo shaft engine. The purpose is extended to perform numerical combustion modeling by solving transient Favre Averaged Navier Stokes equations using realizable two equation k-e turbulence model and Discrete Ordinate radiation model. The presumed shape β-Probability Density Function (β-PDF) is used for turbulence chemistry interaction. The experiments are conducted on the real engine to validate the combustion chamber performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The combustor geometry is designed using the reference area method and semi-empirical correlations. The three dimensional combustor model is made using a commercial software. The numerical modeling of the combustion process is performed by following Eulerian approach. The functional testing of combustor was conducted to evaluate the performance.

Findings

The results obtained by the numerical modeling provide a detailed understanding of the combustor internal flow dynamics. The transient flame structures and streamline plots are presented. The velocity profiles obtained at different locations along the combustor by numerical modeling mostly go in-line with the previously published research works. The combustor exit temperature obtained by numerical modeling and experiment are found to be within the acceptable limit. These results form the basis of understanding the design procedure and opens-up avenues for further developments.

Research limitations/implications

Internal flow and combustion dynamics obtained from numerical simulation are not experimented owing to non-availability of adequate research facilities.

Practical implications

This study contributes toward the understanding of basic procedures and firsthand experience in the design aspects of combustors for aero-engine applications. This work also highlights one of the efficient, faster and economical aero gas turbine annular diffusion flame combustion chamber design and development.

Originality/value

The main novelty in this work is the incorporation of scoops in the dilution zone of the numerical model of combustion chamber to augment the effectiveness of cooling of combustion products to obtain the desired combustor exit temperature. The use of polyhedral cells for computational domain discretization in combustion modeling for aero engine application helps in achieving faster convergence and reliable predictions. The methodology and procedures presented in this work provide a basic understanding of the design aspects to the beginners working in the gas turbine combustors particularly meant for turbo shaft engines applications.
Chinese investment in the USA and US–China relations
Authors: Zhu Zhiqun
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the rationale, strategies and significance of Chinese investment in the USA and its impact on US–China relations.

Design/methodology/approach

Through empirical analysis, this preliminary study examines the rationale, strategies and impact of Chinese investment in the USA.

Findings

Chinese investment has promoted economic growth in both countries, but it faces several challenges including security concerns and cultural clashes.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first, comprehensive studies of the topic.
Information asymmetries and agricultural credit
Authors: Zegarra Luis Felipe
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the functioning of the rural credit market of Lima from 1825 to 1865, paying special attention to the effect of information asymmetries on the access to rural credit.

Design/methodology/approach

The article relies on primary sources for the study of the early credit market of Lima. In particular, the study relies on a sample of notarized loans for 1825–1865 and on property tax reports, collected from the National Archives of Peru, to determine the effect of information asymmetries, collateral and regional lending on access to credit. The article also analyzes the legal system of Peru during this period to determine whether property rights were well protected and so collateral could be used in the rural credit market.

Findings

A revision of the legislation shows that the legal system had some deficiencies, but allowed landlords and tenants to use their assets as collateral. Tax reports show that landlords and tenants owned valuable capital that could be used as collateral. Evidence from notarized loans shows that information asymmetries severely restricted inter-regional lending. In Lima, however, notaries played a role as financial intermediaries, providing the information about potential borrowers and allowing landlords and tenants to access credit. As a result, access to credit was significant for landlords and tenants.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few historical studies on the role of information asymmetries in the allocation of rural credit in Latin America. It contributes to our understanding of credit markets prior to the creation of banks.
The impact of intellectual capital and knowledge flows on incremental and radical innovation
Authors: Nguyen Duy Quoc
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical and empirical exploration of link between organization intellectual capital and knowledge flows with its incremental and radical innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts relevant literature of social capital and organizational learning to examine the impact of intellectual capital and knowledge flows on incremental and radical innovation based on surveying 95 firms. To test the research hypotheses, regression analysis is used.

Findings

Results of the study show that human capital and top-down knowledge flows significantly and positively influence both incremental and radical innovations. Social capital and bottom-up knowledge flows do not have any significant impact on incremental or/and radical innovation. Organizational capital has a positive impact on incremental innovation as expected.

Practical implications

The results offer several practical implications for business managers to harvest its knowledge bases resident in the firm’s different forms appropriately to make innovation successful. Particularly, knowledge resident in human capital and organizational capital is useful for making incremental innovation. Especially, new knowledge, new skills and new perspectives resident in human capital are crucial important for making radical innovation. Both incremental and radical innovations are positively influenced by dynamic managerial capabilities.

Originality/value

This study contributes to literature by providing new evidence linking organization intellectual capital and knowledge flows with its innovation performance. Especially, the missing link between top-down knowledge flows and radical innovation is empirically examined. Value of this study is that social capital and bottom-up knowledge flows are not universally beneficial for enhancing innovation and their impacts on innovation performance are context dependent and more sophisticated than it is recognized in the literature.
Model construction of engagement and outcomes in consumers food life
Authors: Sheikhesmaeili Saman , Hazbavi Sana
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of food-related lifestyle (FRL) and food-related personality traits (FRPTs) on customer satisfaction and loyalty so that sufficient evidence for forming a new pattern of predictors of customer satisfaction and loyalty can be explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method in this study was the descriptive type and was based on the goal of the applied research methods. Data were collected from 384 sample group consumers of chain stores in the city of Tehran. The hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

Final results of study showed the significant effects of FRL and FRPT on satisfaction and loyalty of consumers. This indicates that aforementioned variables can create customer satisfaction and loyalty toward food. The research conceptual model was confirmed with goodness of fit.

Research limitations/implications

First, the sample consisted of customers who use a wide range of food despite diverse motives and interests. While knowing that costumers’ specific traits about food would have provided a more detailed and comprehensive understanding, conducting research in a set of general food consumer without considering special foods category could be a limitation. Second, and more importantly, since the customer behavior in consumption choices is an unconscious and cognitive process, other factors and domain that are linked to customer satisfaction and loyalty would have been missed.

Practical implications

This study shows that understanding the behavioral aspects of food consumption can help food producing companies to adjust their production and specially to foresee changes. Marketers are advised to investigate customer traits to promote customer satisfaction and loyalty effectively. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge in food marketing.

Originality/value

The present study offers a unique and valuable insight into a customer’s behavior and deepens customer satisfaction and loyalty by incorporating FRL, food neophobia scale and food involvement scale as independent variables to contribute knowledge in the context of food marketing, and throws some light upon the predictive power of mentioned variables on customer behaviors.
Managerial choices in orchestrating dialogic performance management
Authors: Rajala Tomi , Laihonen Harri
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a definition for dialogic performance management and investigate the managerial choices that dialogic performance management necessitates from public managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research strategy was based on a narrative analysis grounded in relativism and constructivism. Multiple data collection methods were used in this case study to examine a local government in Finland.

Findings

The paper proposes a definition and provides practical illustrations of the concept of dialogic performance management. The empirical findings are a set of managerial choices used to orchestrate dialogic performance management.

Practical implications

The concept of dialogic performance management encourages practitioners to ask themselves whether their current performance management practices are based on managerial monologues, rather than dialogues that incorporate staff into the performance management. The results also show that managerial choices shape the form of dialogic performance management.

Originality/value

The previous accounting and performance management literature has not examined the managerial choices that are used to shape dialogic performance management. In this research, the authors identify these types of managerial choices in the case organisation. The research is valuable because only after explicating managerial choices can one start to examine why dialogic performance management either fails or succeeds when public managers orchestrate it.
Indigenous knowledge representation in mitigation process: a study of communities’ understandings of natural disasters in Aceh Province, Indonesia
Authors: Syahputra Hendra
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the case studies of communities’ understandings of natural disasters in Aceh Province, Indonesia, where a number of cultures and traditions which belong to the ancestral heritage continue to be used in a more modern context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a qualitative descriptive research paradigm in which the researcher attempted to describe or construct in-depth interview results for the research objects. The interviews were conducted in six disaster-prone areas in Aceh, i.e. Simeulue, Central Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, Pidie Jaya, North Aceh and dan Pidie. The interviewees were the informants in this research, which included traditional leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, headmen, youth figures and disaster victims. The technique for determining informants was through purposive sampling in which the sample is specified based on the need of the research.

Findings

Majority of the people in Aceh, especially those who live in earthquake- and tsunami-prone areas still practice this form of knowledge, as they have already realized that it makes a significant contribution to emergency management. They typically used their traditional knowledge to understand both the nature of local hazards and the risk reduction mechanism related to response mechanisms. In some events, they also used it as an alternative to recovery phase according to past information and experiences. This paper will discuss the contribution of traditional knowledge to emergency management by presenting some specific cases of indigenous stories in Aceh. The stories not only served as an early warning system but also can be used to develop more effective disaster risk reduction programmes to improve community awareness to deal with future threats.

Originality/value

On Simeulue Island, most of the indigenous people already possess the knowledge and value systems inherited through the generations, as a form of local wisdom “called smong” when encountering earthquakes and tsunamis. Beside smong, there is still considerable amount of other similar indigenous knowledge that originated amid traditional people, especially in rural areas, in Aceh. Thus, this paper attempts to identify the knowledge and its representation in the implementation of disaster mitigation efforts in Aceh.
Work-family enrichment and well-being: the role of occupational future time perspective
Authors: Henry Hélène , Desmette Donatienne
Published: November 2018

Purpose

In the context of workforce aging, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of occupational future time perspective (OFTP) in the relationship between work–family enrichment (WF-E) and two well-being outcomes (i.e. work engagement and emotional exhaustion). In addition, the moderating role of age on the relationship between WF-E and OFTP, and consequently, on the indirect effects of WF-E on work engagement and emotional exhaustion through OFTP, will be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional survey research (n=263) was conducted in a public sector company in Belgium. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap analyses were performed to investigate the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The dimension “remaining opportunities” of OFTP mediated the positive relationship between WFE and work engagement, and the negative relationship between WFE and emotional exhaustion. Chronological age moderated the positive relationship between WFE and the dimension “remaining time” of OFTP, with stronger effects among older workers.

Research limitations/implications

This research has confirmed that OFTP is influenced by WFE and that WFE matters, especially for older workers. Future research should continue to study the effects of the work–family interface on older workers.

Practical implications

Age management practices should take WFE into consideration when managing an aging workforce. In particular, older workers may benefit from WFE to increase their perception of remaining opportunities at work, which, in turn, increase well-being.

Originality/value

This study contributes evidence for the role of personal resources (i.e. remaining opportunities) in the relationship between WF-E and well-being at work.
Green leases and green leasing in theory and in practice: a state of the art review
Authors: Collins Dave
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the state of the art in Green Leases and Green Leasing in theory and practice, while also identifying how the roles and motivations of the stakeholders of “owner/landlord”, “lessee” and “facilities management” are different in a building that uses Green Leasing and Green Leases, as opposed to the one without.

Design/methodology/approach

Through existing literature and existing case studies from 1995 to the present day, this paper will identify the state of the art of Green Leases and Green Leasing and the extent to which literature-based discussions have played out in their practical application in the real estate sector. The roles of key stakeholders will be analysed and then compared to the interactions and roles identified in a theoretical model that describes the same stakeholders but from a more traditional stakeholder perspective. This will be achieved through using literature from journal papers mostly from the disciplines of built environment, facilities management, finance, investment, law, management and real estate.

Findings

The literature and case studies found in literature demonstrate a gradual move towards advancing Green Lease adoption and development. While the roles of key stakeholders do see a change in Green Leased buildings in terms of, for example, changing competencies for facilities managers (FMs) and more user engagement with their buildings sustainability, the literature indicated most of the changes are realised through a strengthening of existing interactions already evident in buildings without a Green Lease or Green Leasing.

Originality/value

This paper provides a state of the art review on the development of Green Leasing and Green Leases in theory and practice from a stakeholder perspective. It provides possibility to expand further on the changing roles of these stakeholders in Green buildings, which in turn could also positively affect the further development of Green Leases themselves, as well as sustainable certification methodologies such as Europe’s leading certification “Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method” (BREEAM).
Impact of partial slip on mixed convective flow towards a Riga plate comprising micropolar TiO2-kerosene/water nanoparticles
Authors: Zaib Aurang , Haq Rizwan Ul , Chamkha Ali J. , Rashidi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an inclusive study of the mixed convective flow involving micropolar fluid holding kerosene/water-based TiO2 nanoparticle towards a vertical Riga surface with partial slip. The outcomes are confined for opposing and assisting flows.

Design/methodology/approach

Similarity equations are acquired and then worked out numerically by the Keller box technique.

Findings

Impacts of significant parameters on microrotation velocity, temperature distribution, velocity profile together with the Nusselt number and the skin friction are argued with the help of graphs. Two solutions are achieved in opposing flow, while the solution is unique in assisting flow. It is also monitored that the separation of boundary layer delays because of micropolar parameter and accelerates because of volume fraction.

Originality/value

The authors trust that all these results are new and significant for researchers.
Predicting power for home appliances based on climatic conditions
Authors: Kaur Jasmeet , Bala Anju
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Power management in households has become the periodic issue for electric suppliers and household occupants. The number of electronic appliances is increasing day by day in every home with upcoming technology. So, it is becoming difficult for the energy suppliers to predict the power consumption for households at the appliance level. Power consumption in households depends on various factors such as building types, demographics, weather conditions and behavioral aspect. An uncertainty related to the usage of appliances in homes makes the prediction of power difficult. Hence, there is a need to study the usage patterns of the households appliances for predicting the power effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

Principal component analysis was performed for dimensionality reduction and for finding the hidden patterns to provide data in clusters. Then, these clusters were further being integrated with climate variables such as temperature, visibility and humidity. Finally, power has been predicted according to climate using regression-based machine learning models.

Findings

Power prediction was done based on different climatic conditions for electronic appliances in the residential sector. Different machine learning algorithms were implemented, and the result was compared with the existing work.

Social implications

This will benefit the society as a whole as it will help to reduce the power consumption and the electricity bills of the house. It will also be helpful in the reduction of the greenhouse gas emission.

Originality/value

The proposed work has been compared with the existing work to validate the current work. The work will be useful to energy suppliers as it will help them to predict the next day power supply to the households. It will be useful for the occupants of the households to complete their daily activities without any hindrance.
Loan tenor in project finance
Authors: Thierie Wouter , De Moor Lieven
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of the debt structuring of project finance (PF) loans and the main drivers affecting the maturity of bank loans in infrastructure deals. When banks grant loans to a project, they have two decision variables: the interest margin or the spread and the maturity of the loan. Although several studies analyze the drivers of the spread, few studies in the literature look at the maturity of bank loans. As infrastructure projects are typically highly leveraged, the structuring of bank lending is an important parameter in the financial viability of the project.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a regression analysis of the loan’s maturity on four categories: characteristics of the project, political risk of the country where the project is executed, the macro-economic setting and the regulatory framework. By using a new data set of InfraDeals containing data on bank loans of more than 1,800 infrastructure projects worldwide from 1997 to 2016, this paper reveals new insights on the debt structuring of banks for PF loans.

Findings

The results indicate that the maturity of bank loans granted to infrastructure deals is predominantly driven by political risk and regulation, rather than the structuring of the project. This implicates that the region where the deal is closed weighs more heavily than the specificities of the project itself.

Originality/value

The results have important policy implications. The paper allows to develop a better understanding on how political risk and new regulation, like Basel III, might affect the PF market. The paper is the first one finding empirical evidence of the impact of Basel III regulation on PF lending. By delving deeper into the political risk variable, the authors formulate several recommendations to mitigate political risk.
Stock market interlinkages among the BRIC
economies
Authors: Aggarwal Shalini , Raja Abhay
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the co-integration among the stock markets of BRIC
nations of Brazil, Russia, Indian and China to analyze if the series move
apart or they move together in the long term. and to examine the implied
volatility transmission between the Indian implied volatility index and
three international indices and vice-versa by using synchronized daily data
by using techniques such as generalized impulse response functions and
variance decompositions. More specifically, the authors investigate how
shock to one volatility index affects another volatility index and what is
the magnitude and sign of affect and how long does the effect persist?

Design/methodology/approach

Unit root tests are conducted to determine the order of integration for each
index. The cointegration analysis is used to evaluate the co-movement of a
long-term equilibrium relationship among the four stock market indices.
Variance decomposition test helps to explain that how much movement in the
dependent variable is explained due to its own shock vis-a-vis to the shock
of other variables under the study. Impulse response function is used to
find out the impact of the standard deviation of shock given to one variable
on the impact on the other variable.

Findings

There exists one long-run cointegrating relationship between the four stock
markets under study. The coefficient of VECM is −0.00031 which is
negative and highly significant at 1 per cent. This confirms the existence
of a stable long-run causal relationship between the variables. Variance
decomposition shows that indices of Brazil, China and Russia can explain on
average 4, 0.5 and 5 per cent, respectively, of the forecast error variance
of Indian index. On the other hand, Indian market can explain on an average
6.7, 5 and 3 per cent of the forecast error of Brazilian, Chinese and
Russian markets, respectively.

Originality/value

The research paper is an original work of the author.
Scarcity in the age of abundance: paradox and
remedies
Authors: Rafikov Ildus , Akhmetova Elmira
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the concepts of scarcity and abundance from an
interdisciplinary perspective. It argues that the idea of economics, as the
study of human behavior with regard to scarce resources and unlimited wants,
leads to competition, confrontation and conflict, whereas the nature of
humans is that of kindness, cooperation and sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses content analysis of texts from multiple disciplines, using
both deductive and inductive logic, to study the situation of scarcity and
abundance, explore reasons and offer remedies. The paper consists of seven
sections, five of which are the main discussion. Section 2 looks at the
concepts of scarcity and abundance. Section 3 presents reasons for scarcity:
economic and behavioral. Section 4 discusses the civilization perspective of
poverty and wealth. Section 5 briefly looks at sustainable development and
good governance. Section 6 argues in favor of simplicity and spirituality as
remedies for the problem of scarcity, and Section 7 concludes the paper.

Findings

The paper demonstrates the relativity of the concepts of scarcity and
abundance, points out the paradox of the modern consumer economies and
argues that simplicity, spirituality and universal values are necessary to
remedy the ills of overconsumption/overproduction, waste and inequality.

Originality/value

This paper offers spirituality and ethics-based remedies for the negative
consequences of neo-classical economics and social Darwinism.
Managing value co-creation in pharmacy
Authors: Caputo Francesco , Masucci Armando , Napoli Luigi
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the possible enablers and barriers of value co-creation processes in pharmacy, with the aim of enriching previous managerial and organisational contributions in the pharmacy management domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Building upon the interpretative contributions provided by the service logic and systems thinking approaches, this paper proposes a multi-disciplinary conceptual framework to analyse enablers and barriers in the value co-creation process. The findings are analysed using a semi-structured survey completed by employees involved in pharmacy management which were verified by structural equation modelling to allow us to determine the relevance of the findings in a changing social and economic environment, improve skills and capabilities and analyse competitors.

Findings

This paper offers an exploratory picture of the opinions of the employees involved in pharmacy management, focussing on possible enablers and barriers for value co-creation and their correlation with pharmacy revenues.

Research limitations/implications

The reflections and empirical research herein are the first of many studies investigating research pathways supplying both providers’ and users’ perceptions in the pharmacy domain about the value co-creation process.

Practical implications

The empirical evidence shows the relevance of some dimensions in defining opportunities and barriers for value co-creation process and – consequentially – pharmacy’s economic performances.

Originality/value

This paper combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to enrich the theoretical and practical contributions to the field of value co-creation processes.
Capital budgeting decision-making practices: evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Mubashar Afeera , Tariq Yasir Bin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current trends of capital budgeting practices (analysis techniques, discount rate estimations and risk assessment methods) among Pakistani listed firms and analyze the responses conditional on firms’ demographics and executive characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was sent via e-mail to top 200 non-financial firms (in terms of market capitalization) listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Findings

With a response rate of 35 percent, it is concluded that the theory–practice gap is low as Pakistani listed firms are using discounted cash flow methods of capital budgeting and preferring net present value over internal rate of return. Similarly, weighted average cost of capital is estimated using target value weights, and capital asset pricing model (with extra risk factors) is used to determine the cost of equity capital. For risk assessment, sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis are the dominant approaches; however despite the theoretical superiority, the use of real options is very low. Overall, investment decision responses significantly differ across firm’s demographics and executive characteristics.

Practical implications

Pakistani business schools need to address the low usage of advanced methods such as modified internal rate of return and real options among Pakistani listed firms.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive study on the topic in Pakistan and have highlighted the areas of capital budgeting where Pakistani firms’ practices deviates from finance theory.
Public interest and accrual accounting: are they aligned?
Authors: Sylvia  , Sukoharsono Eko Ganis , Prihatiningtias Yeney Widya , Roekhuddin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the merits of accrual-based accounting for the public in an Indonesian local government. It gives insights into the connection between the new practices and responses from government apparatus.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies genetic structuralism from Pierre Bourdieu to study the interrelation of habitus, field and capital in the accrual accounting implementation.

Findings

The result indicates a symbolic dominance of central government in the implementation of accrual-based accounting in the local government. Accrual accounting is considered to be a technique of government accountability which is independent from political and social situation.

Practical implications

The accrual accounting implementation preoccupies the government officials in their study of the preparation of financial statements while its utilization to increase the public welfare is still ignored.

Social implications

The government still prioritizes accountability and transparency for managerial and political purposes. Hence, the public interest is less superior compared with the formalities established between governments – the central government and local governments – and the regional legislator.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the evaluation of the alignment of government policy with the public interest.