bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent homology demarcates a leaf morphospace
Authors: Li Mao , An Hong , Angelovici Ruthie , Bagaza Clement , Batushansky Albert , Clark Lynn , Coneva Viktoriya , Donoghue Michael , Edwards Erika , Fajardo Diego , Fang Hui , Frank Margaret , Gallaher Timothy , Gebken Sarah , Hill Theresa , Jansky Shelley , Kaur Baljinder , Klahs Philip , Klein Laura , Kuraparthy Vasu , Londo Jason , Migicovsky Zoë , Miller Allison , Mohn Rebekah , Myles Sean , Otoni Wagner , Pires J. Chris , Riffer Edmond , Schmerler Sam , Spriggs Elizabeth , Topp Christopher , Van Deynze Allen , Zhang Kuang , Zhu Linglong , Zink Braden M. , Chitwood Daniel H.
Published: June 2017

Current morphometric methods that comprehensively measure shape cannot compare the disparate leaf shapes found in seed plants and are sensitive to processing artifacts. We explore the use of persistent homology, a topological method applied across the scales of a function, to overcome these limitations. The described method isolates subsets of shape features and measures the spatial relationship of neighboring pixel densities in a shape. We apply the method to the analysis of 182,707 leaves, both published and unpublished, representing 141 plant families collected from 75 sites throughout the world. By measuring leaves from throughout the seed plants using persistent homology, a defined morphospace comparing all leaves is demarcated. Clear differences in shape between major phylogenetic groups are detected and estimates of leaf shape diversity within plant families are made. This approach does not only predict plant family, but also the collection site, confirming phylogenetically invariant morphological features that characterize leaves from specific locations. The application of a persistent homology method to measure leaf shape allows for a unified morphometric framework to measure plant form, including shape and branching architectures.
Honey Bee(Apis mellifera)Exposomes and Biological Pathways Associated withNosema ceranaeInfection
Authors: Broadrup Robert L. , Mayack Christopher , Schick Sassicaia J. , Eppley Elizabeth J. , White Helen K. , Macherone Anthony
Published: June 2017

A pilot study was conducted to determine if exposome profiles of honey bees(Apis mellifera)are associated withNosema ceranaeinfection and whether xenobiotic exposures effect changes in known biological pathways of bees. Thirty stationary hives were selected from seven apiaries representing urban and suburban geographies. Foraging bees were harvested during the summer of 2015 and analyzed forNosema ceranaeinfection via semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (sq-PCR) and discovery-based exposome analysis via gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF). The resulting datasets were divided into case and control groups based on the prevalence ofN. ceranaeinfection. Xenobiotic burden was determined to be associated withN. ceranaeinfection, and co-variate analysis determined differentially expressed biological chemicals and naturally occurring chemicals in the bee exposomes. Biological pathways analyses putatively identified 10 dysregulated pathways as well as the presence of the P450 oxidative metabolism of naphthalene for detoxification. Based on these results, it is evident that the integration of genetic disease screening with discovery-based exposomics provides a promising multi-omic platform to identify adverse biological effects to bees occurring from exposures to chemicals and parasites. In addition, this approach will generate new hypotheses for targeted follow-up studies to examine bee health.
Born to be asocial: newly-hatched tortoises spontaneously avoid unfamiliar individuals
Authors: Versace Elisabetta , Damini Silvia , Caffini Matteo , Stancher Gionata
Published: June 2017

Individual recognition is important for modulating social interactions but it is not clear to what extent this ability depends on experience gained through repeated interactions with different individuals. In wild tortoises, evidence of social interactions is limited to behaviours performed years after hatching, in the context of mating. To investigate the presence of abilities of individual recognition at the onset of life in tortoises, we used hatchlings of two species (Testudo marginata,Testudo graeca) reared with a single conspecific as unique social experience. When located in a novel environment together with the familiar conspecific, tortoises reached the average distance expected by random trajectories. On the contrary, tortoises tested with an unfamiliar conspecific first explored the mate, then actively kept a distance significantly larger than expected by chance. These results show spontaneous abilities of individual recognition in a non-social species at the onset of life, and active avoidance of unfamiliar conspecifics. We suggest that this predisposed behaviour might be adaptive for young tortoises’ dispersal.
A ‘phenotypic hangover’ – the predictive adaptive response and multigenerational effects of altered nutrition on the transcriptome ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Osborne Amy J. , Dearden Peter K.
Published: June 2017

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis predicts that early-life environmental exposures can be detrimental to later-life health, and that mismatch between the pre- and postnatal environment may contribute to the growing non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic. Within this is an increasingly recognised role for epigenetic mechanisms; epigenetic modifications can be influenced by, e.g., nutrition, and can alter gene expression in mothers and offspring. Currently, there are no whole-genome transcriptional studies of response to nutritional alteration. Thus, we sought to explore how nutrition affects the expression of genes involved in epigenetic processes inDrosophila melanogaster.We manipulatedDrosophilafood macronutrient composition at the F0 generation, mismatched F1 offspring back to a standard diet, and analysed the transcriptome of the F0 – F3 generations by RNA-sequencing. At F0, the altered (high protein, low carbohydrate, HPLC) diet increased expression of genes involved in epigenetic processes, with coordinated downregulation of genes involved in immunity, neurotransmission and neurodevelopment, oxidative stress and metabolism. Upon reversion to standard nutrition, mismatched F1 and F2 generations displayed multigenerational inheritance of altered gene expression. By the F3 generation, gene expression had reverted to F0 (matched) levels. These nutritionally-induced gene expression changes demonstrate that dietary alteration can upregulate epigenetic genes, which may influence the expression of genes with broad biological functions. Further, the multigenerational inheritance of the gene expression changes in F1 and F2 mismatched generations suggests a predictive adaptive response (PAR) to maternal nutrition. Our findings may help to understand the interaction between maternal diet and future offspring health, and have direct implications for the current NCD epidemic.
Fine scale mapping of genomic introgressions within theDrosophila yakubaclade
Authors: Turissini David A. , Matute Daniel R.
Published: June 2017

The process of speciation involves populations diverging over time until they are genetically and reproductively isolated. Hybridization between nascent species was long thought to directly oppose speciation. However, the amount of interspecific genetic exchange (introgression) mediated by hybridization remains largely unknown, although recent progress in genome sequencing has made measuring introgression more tractable. A natural place to look for individuals with admixed ancestry (indicative of introgression) is in regions where species co-occur. In west Africa,D. santomeaandD. yakubahybridize on the island of São Tomé, whileD. yakubaandD. teissierihybridize on the nearby island of Bioko. In this report, we quantify the genomic extent of introgression between the three species of theDrosophila yakubaclade (D.yakuba, D. santomea),D. teissieri). We sequenced the genomes of 86 individuals from all three species. We also developed and applied a new statistical framework, using a hidden Markov approach, to identify introgression. We found that introgression has occurred between both species pairs but most introgressed segments are small (on the order of a few kilobases). After ruling out the retention of ancestral polymorphism as an explanation for these similar regions, we find that the sizes of introgressed haplotypes indicate that genetic exchange is not recent (>1,000 generations ago). We additionally show that in both cases, introgression was rarer onXchromosomes than on autosomes which is consistent with sex chromosomes playing a large role in reproductive isolation. Even though the two species pairs have stable contemporary hybrid zones, providing the opportunity for ongoing gene flow, our results indicate that genetic exchange between these species is currently rare.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Even though hybridization is thought to be pervasive among animal species, the frequency of introgression, the transfer of genetic material between species, remains largely unknown. In this report we quantify the magnitude and genomic distribution of introgression among three species ofDrosophilathat encompass the two known stable hybrid zones in this genetic model genus. We obtained whole genome sequences for individuals of the three species across their geographic range (including their hybrid zones) and developed a hidden Markov model-based method to identify patterns of genomic introgression between species. We found that nuclear introgression is rare between both species pairs, suggesting hybrids in nature rarely successfully backcross with parental species. Nevertheless, someD. santomeaalleles introgressed intoD. yakubahave spread from São Tomé to other islands in the Gulf of Guinea whereD. santomeais not found. Our results indicate that in spite of contemporary hybridization between species that produces fertile hybrids, the rates of gene exchange between species are low.
Reconstructing cancer karyotypes from short read data: the half full and half empty glass
Authors: Eitan Rami , Shamir Ron
Published: June 2017

Background

During cancer progression genomes undergo point mutations as well as larger segmental changes. The latter include, among others, segmental deletions duplications, translocations and inversions. The result is a highly complex, patient-specific cancer karyotype. Using high-throughput technologies of deep sequencing and microarrays it is possible to interrogate a cancer genome and produce chromosomal copy number profiles and a list of breakpoints (“jumps”) relative to the normal genome. This information is very detailed but local, and does not give the overall picture of the cancer genome. One of the basic challenges in cancer genome research is to use such information to infer the cancer karyotype.

We present here an algorithmic approach, based on graph theory and integer linear programming, that receives segmental copy number and breakpoint data as input and produces a cancer karyotype that is most concordant with them. We used simulations to evaluate the utility of our approach, and applied it to real data.

Results

By using a simulation model, we were able to estimate the correctness and robustness of the algorithm in a spectrum of scenarios. Under our base scenario, designed according to observations in real data, the algorithm correctly inferred 69% of the karyotypes. However, when using less stringent correctness metrics that account for incomplete and noisy data, 87% of the reconstructed karyotypes were correct. Furthermore, in scenarios where the data were very clean and complete, accuracy rose to 90%-100%. Some examples of analysis of real data, and the karyotypes reconstructed by our algorithm, are also presented.

Conclusion

While reconstruction of complete, perfect karyotype based on short read data is very hard, a large portion of the reconstruction will still be correct and can provide useful information.
Engineering Cell Sensing and Responses Using a GPCR-Coupled CRISPR-Cas System
Authors: Dingal P. C. Dave P. , Kipniss Nathan H. , Labanieh Louai , Gao Yuchen , Qi Lei S.
Published: June 2017

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse group of membrane receptors in eukaryotes, and detects a wide array of physiological cues in the human body. We describe a new molecular device that couples CRISPR-Cas9 programmed genome regulation to natural and synthetic extracellular signals via GPCRs. The design of our synthetic device, named CRISPR ChaCha, displays superior performance over an architecture proposed by the previously reported Tango system. Using a parsimonious mathematical model and gene-reporter assays, we find that CRISPR ChaCha can recruit and activate multiple Cas9 molecules for each GPCR molecule. We also characterize key molecular features that modulate CRISPR ChaCha performance. We adopt the design to diverse GPCRs that sense synthetic and natural ligands including chemokines, mitogens, and fatty acids, and observe efficient conversion of signals to customizable genetic programs in mammalian cells, including regulation of endogenous genes. The new class of CRISPR-coupled GPCRs provides a robust and efficient platform for engineering cells with novel behaviors in response to the diverse GPCR ligand repertoire.
The proBAM and proBed standard formats: enabling a seamless integration of genomics and proteomics data
Authors: Menschaert Gerben , Wang Xiaojing , Jones Andrew R. , Ghali Fawaz , Fenyö David , Olexiouk Volodimir , Zhang Bing , Deutsch Eric W. , Ternent Tobias , Vizcaíno Juan Antonio
Published: June 2017

On behalf of The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Proteomics Standards Initiative (PSI), we are here introducing two novel standard data formats, proBAM and proBed, that have been developed to address the current challenges of integrating mass spectrometry based proteomics data with genomics and transcriptomics information in proteogenomics studies. proBAM and proBed are adaptations from the well-defined, widely used file formats SAM/BAM and BED respectively, and both have been extended to meet specific requirements entailed by proteomics data. Therefore, existing popular genomics tools such as SAMtools and Bedtools, and several very popular genome browsers, can be used to manipulate and visualize these formats already out-of-the-box. We also highlight that a number of specific additional software tools, properly supporting the proteomics information available in these formats, are now available providing functionalities such as file generation, file conversion, and data analysis. All the related documentation to the formats, including the detailed file format specifications, and example files are accessible athttp://www.psidev.info/probamandhttp://www.psidev.info/probed.
Sex differences in gene regulation in the dorsal root ganglion after nerve injury
Authors: Stephens Kimberly E. , Zhou Weiqiang , Ji Zhicheng , He Shaoqiu , Ji Hongkai , Guan Yun , Taverna Sean D.
Published: June 2017

Pain is a subjective experience derived from complex interactions among biological, environmental, and psychosocial pathways. Sex differences in pain sensitivity and chronic pain prevalence are well established. However, the molecular causes underlying these sex dimorphisms are poorly understood particularly with regard to the role of the peripheral nervous system. Here we sought to identify shared and distinct gene networks functioning in the peripheral nervous systems that may contribute to sex differences of pain after nerve injury. We performed RNA-seq on dorsal root ganglia following chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in male and female rats. Analysis from paired naive and injured tissues showed that 1456 genes were differentially expressed between sexes. Appreciating sex-related gene expression differences and similarities in neuropathic pain models may help to improve the translational relevance to clinical populations and efficacy of clinical trials of this major health issue.
Combining semi-automated image analysis techniques with machine learning algorithms to accelerate large scale genetic studies
Authors: Atkinson Jonathan A. , Lobet Guillaume , Noll Manuel , Meyer Patrick E. , Griffiths Marcus , Wells Darren M.
Published: June 2017

Background

Genetic analyses of plant root system development require large datasets of extracted architectural traits. To quantify such traits from images of root systems, researchers often have to choose between automated tools (that are prone to error and extract only a limited number of architectural traits) or semi-automated ones (that are highly time consuming).

Findings

We trained a Random Forest algorithm to infer architectural traits from automatically-extracted image descriptors. The training was performed on a subset of the dataset, then applied to its entirety. This strategy allowed us to (i) decrease the image analysis time by 73% and (ii) extract meaningful architectural traits based on image descriptors. We also show that these traits are sufficient to identify Quantitative Trait Loci that had previously been discovered using a semi-automated method.

Conclusions

We have shown that combining semi-automated image analysis with machine learning algorithms has the power to increase the throughput in large scale root studies. We expect that such an approach will enable the quantification of more complex root systems for genetic studies. We also believe that our approach could be extended to other area of plant phenotyping.
Olfactory learning primes the heat shock transcription factor HSF-1 to enhance the expression of molecular chaperone genes inC. elegans
Authors: Ooi Felicia K. , Prahlad Veena
Published: June 2017

Learning, a process by which animals modify their behavior as a result of experience, allows organisms to synthesize information from their surroundings to acquire resources and predict danger. Here we show that prior encounter with the odor of pathogenic bacteria preparesCaenorhabditis elegansto survive actual exposure to the pathogen by increasing HSF-1-dependent expression of genes encoding molecular chaperones. Learning-mediated enhancement of chaperone gene expression requires serotonin. Serotonin primes HSF-1 to enhance the expression of molecular chaperone genes by promoting its localization to RNA polymerase II–enriched nuclear loci, even prior to transcription. HSF-1-dependent chaperone gene expression ensues, however, only if and when animals encounter the pathogen. Thus, learning equipsC. elegansto better survive environmental dangers by pre-emptively and specifically initiating transcriptional mechanisms throughout the whole organism. These studies provide one plausible basis for the protective role of environmental enrichment in disease.
Inferring single-trial neural population dynamics using sequential auto-encoders
Authors: Pandarinath Chethan , O’Shea Daniel J. , Collins Jasmine , Jozefowicz Rafal , Stavisky Sergey D. , Kao Jonathan C. , Trautmann Eric M. , Kaufman Matthew T. , Ryu Stephen I. , Hochberg Leigh R. , Henderson Jaimie M. , Shenoy Krishna V. , Abbott L. F. , Sussillo David
Published: June 2017

Neuroscience is experiencing a data revolution in which simultaneous recording of many hundreds or thousands of neurons is revealing structure in population activity that is not apparent from single-neuron responses. This structure is typically extracted from trial-averaged data. Single-trial analyses are challenging due to incomplete sampling of the neural population, trial-to-trial variability, and fluctuations in action potential timing. Here we introduce Latent Factor Analysis via Dynamical Systems (LFADS), a deep learning method to infer latent dynamics from single-trial neural spiking data. LFADS uses a nonlinear dynamical system (a recurrent neural network) to infer the dynamics underlying observed population activity and to extract ‘de-noised’ single-trial firing rates from neural spiking data. We apply LFADS to a variety of monkey and human motor cortical datasets, demonstrating its ability to predict observed behavioral variables with unprecedented accuracy, extract precise estimates of neural dynamics on single trials, infer perturbations to those dynamics that correlate with behavioral choices, and combine data from non-overlapping recording sessions (spanning months) to improve inference of underlying dynamics. In summary, LFADS leverages all observations of a neural population’s activity to accurately model its dynamics on single trials, opening the door to a detailed understanding of the role of dynamics in performing computation and ultimately driving behavior.
Striatal fast-spiking interneurons drive habitual behavior
Authors: O’Hare Justin K. , Li Haofang , Kim Namsoo , Gaidis Erin , Ade Kristen K. , Beck Jeffrey M. , Yin Henry H. , Calakos Nicole
Published: June 2017

Habit formation is a behavioral adaptation that automates routine actions. Habitual behavior correlates with broad reconfigurations of dorsolateral striatal (DLS) circuit properties that increase gain and shift pathway timing. The mechanism(s) for these circuit adaptations are unknown and could be responsible for habitual behavior. Here we find that a single class of interneuron, fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs), modulates all of these habit-predictive properties. Consistent with a role in habits, FSIs are more excitable in habitual mice compared to goal-directed and acute chemogenetic inhibition of FSIs in DLS prevents the expression of habitual lever pressing.In vivorecordings further reveal a previously unappreciated selective modulation of SPNs based on their firing patterns; FSIs inhibit most SPNs but paradoxically promote the activity of a subset displaying high fractions of gamma-frequency spiking. These results establish a microcircuit mechanism for habits and provide a new example of how interneurons mediate experience-dependent behavior.
m6A mRNA modifications are deposited in nascent pre-mRNA and are not required for splicing but do specify cytoplasmic turnover
Authors: Ke Shengdong , Pandya-Jones Amy , Saito Yuhki , Fak John J. , Vågbø Cathrine Broberg , Geula Shay , Hanna Jacob H. , Black Douglas L. , Darnell James E. , Darnell Robert B.
Published: June 2017

Understanding the biologic role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications in mRNA requires an understanding of when and where in the life of a pre-mRNA transcript the modifications are made. We found that HeLa cell chromatin-associated nascent pre-mRNA (CA-RNA) contains many unspliced introns and m6A in exons but very rarely in introns. The m6A methylation is essentially completed upon the release of mRNA into the nucleoplasm. Furthermore, the content and location of each m6A modification in steady-state cytoplasmic mRNA are largely indistinguishable from those in the newly synthesized CA-RNA or nucleoplasmic mRNA. This result suggests that quantitatively little methylation or demethylation occurs in cytoplasmic mRNA. In addition, only ∼10% of m6As in CA-RNA are within 50 nucleotides of 5′ or 3′ splice sites, and the vast majority of exons harboring m6A in wild-type mouse stem cells is spliced the same in cells lacking the major m6A methyltransferase Mettl3. Both HeLa and mouse embryonic stem cell mRNAs harboring m6As have shorter half-lives, and thousands of these mRNAs have increased half-lives (twofold or more) in Mettl3 knockout cells compared with wild type. In summary, m6A is added to exons before or soon after exon definition in nascent pre-mRNA, and while m6A is not required for most splicing, its addition in the nascent transcript is a determinant of cytoplasmic mRNA stability.
p53: master of life, death, and the epigenome
Authors: Laptenko Oleg , Prives Carol
Published: June 2017

Long understood as a bona fide tumor suppressor that safeguards the integrity of the genome via regulating numerous cellular outcomes, p53 may also exert its decisive and versatile functions by controlling DNA methylation. In this issue of Genes & Development, Tovy and colleagues (pp. 959–972) report that, in naïve mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), p53 controls DNA methylation homeostasis by regulating the expression of key counteracting components of the DNA methylation machinery. Their findings indicate that p53 may exert its “guardian of genome” duties at least in part via safeguarding the epigenome of ESCs.
Settling the m6A debate: methylation of mature mRNA is not dynamic but accelerates turnover
Authors: Rosa-Mercado Nicolle A. , Withers Johanna B. , Steitz Joan A.
Published: June 2017

Post-transcriptional modification of RNA nucleosides has been implicated as a pivotal regulator of mRNA biology. In this issue of Genes & Development, Ke and colleagues (pp. 990–1006) provide insights into the temporal and spatial distribution of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in RNA transcripts by analyzing different subcellular fractions. Using a recently developed biochemical approach for detecting m6A, the researchers show that m6A methylations are enriched in exons and are added to transcripts prior to splicing. Although m6A addition is widely thought to be readily reversible, they demonstrate in HeLa cells that once RNA is released from chromatin, the modifications are surprisingly static. This study integrates data from previous publications to clarify conflicting conclusions regarding the role of m6A in mRNA biogenesis and function. Ke and colleagues found that m6A methylation levels negatively correlate with transcript half-life but are not required for most pre-mRNA splicing events.
Investigating performance indicators disclosure in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana
Authors: Arthur Clement Lamboi , Wu Junjie , Yago Milton , Zhang Jinhua
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the degree, contents and trend development of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) performance indicators disclosed in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis methods are used to analyse 50 sustainability reports of ten large-scale mining companies in Ghana, covering the period 2008-2012.

Findings

The study finds that there has been a widening and increasing trend in the disclosure of performance indicators in sustainability reports of the large mining companies in Ghana, in accordance with GRI guidelines. The findings suggest that good progress in the strategic sector has been made in the voluntary adoption of the GRI guidelines to increase transparency, credibility and comparability in sustainability reporting. The findings also indicate areas to be improved.

Practical implications

The Government of Ghana and the Ghana Chamber of Mines could learn from the findings about the current status of this matter in order for them to formulate policies and regulations which would encourage the mining sector in moving forward in the adoption of international reporting standards.

Originality/value

This paper initializes investigation into the degree, contents and trends of performance indicators in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana using content analysis.
Corporate governance codes of Eurasian Economic Union countries: a comparative investigation
Authors: Nizaeva Mirgul , Uyar Ali
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to comparatively analyze the corporate governance codes of transition economies, particularly five Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) members (i.e. Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia). Specifically, the convergence or divergence of these countries’ corporate governance codes among themselves as well as relative to the best practices of the UK Corporate Governance Code (UK Code) and the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the existing literature on corporate governance with special focus on transition countries is reviewed. Afterwards, benchmarking the international best practices, based on main chapters and contents, the corporate governance codes of all countries in the sample are analyzed.

Findings

The paper finds that even though some principles of the corporate governance codes of the countries in the sample differ in some aspects, they do converge to some extent. However, high misalignments between the UK Code and the OECD Principles and the codes of selected countries in some aspects were found.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusion and implications of the study characterize the corporate governance of selected developing countries; thus, they might not be generalizable to other countries.

Practical implications

The codes of the countries in the sample should be revised, and more specifications regarding the stakeholder, board structure, its subcommittees, independence, diversity and transparency issues need to be addressed.

Originality/value

The paper comprehensively analyzes the contents of corporate governance codes of transition countries; from both practical and academic point of view, it was important gap that needed to be fulfilled.
On-work or off-work relationship? An engagement model of how and when leader–member exchange and leader–memberguanxipromote voice behavior
Authors: Song Xiaoling , Wu Wen , Hao Shengyue , Lu Xiaohua , Zhang Yihua , Liu Yuhuan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Drawing on engagement theory, this study aims to examine how leader–member relationships, including on-work relationship (leader–member exchange [LMX]) and off-work relationship (leader–memberguanxi[LMG]), influence employees’ promotive and prohibitive voice. Furthermore, the study uses procedural justice as the moderator to distinguish the effects of LMG and LMX on employees’ psychological states and voice through a mediated moderation model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a sample from a private and local company in Southern China to test their theoretical model.

Findings

The study finds that both LMG and LMX have positive effects on employees’ voice behavior through employees’ psychological states (psychological meaningfulness and psychological safety).

Research limitations/implications

In a Chinese context, leaders have a more direct and powerful influence on employees than their counterparts in the Western society. Thus, the findings of LMX and LMG may not be generalizable to a Western context. A possible extension is to examine and compare the effects of social context (e.g., off-work leader–member relationship) on voice between the East and the West.

Practical implications

One important implication is that off-work relationship should be used by managers to encourage employee voice.

Originality/value

This study enriches the antecedents of voice with a new dimension of leader–member relationship, namely, LMG.
The effect of structure centrality on employees’ performance: evidence from Chinese SMEs
Authors: Cai Meng , Du Haifeng
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The complicated social relationship in Chinese culture requires human resource management (HRM) practitioners to be aware of the implications of social network. This paper aims to disclose the relevance between social network structure and employees’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical research is exploited in this paper. Based on cluster sampling method, the authors collected 336 employees’ socio-demographic characteristic data and social network data by means of face-to-face interviews using the structured questionnaire. In addition, employees’ performance data were obtained from the financial department, to support subsequent correlation analysis, grey relational analysis and OLS regression analysis.

Findings

The informal network, rather than the formal network, was observed to contribute more toward employees’ individual performance. We further found that structure centrality has a distinct advantage in delineating an individual’s power and status in the network, success over degree centrality, thus predicting individual performance.

Practical implications

For the management practice of an organization, the present study’s empirical results demonstrate that informal relations have a more decisive influence on individual performance than formal relations. This research also found that the structure centrality, from the perspective of networks’ structure heterogeneity, is valuable in discovering crucial staff in social networks, especially those in informal network associations.

Originality/value

First, the relations between network structure and individual performance have been summarized. Second, the different influences between formal and informal networks on individual performance have been discussed. Third, a new index – structure centrality to recapitulate network structure for developing social network theory – introduced. Finally, this paper is an attempt to explore the associations between social network structure and employees’ performance from the perspective of the whole network.
Emergence of organizational routines in entrepreneurial ventures
Authors: Lin Haifen , Murphree Michael , Li Sali
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand the understanding of the process by which organizational routines emerge in entrepreneurial ventures. The emphasis is on the role of management and interaction in shaping shared schemata among members of the enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a longitudinal interpretive and exploratory case study based on semi-structured interviews, archival material and naturalistic observation at a startup enterprise in China.

Findings

Focusing on the process through which shared schemata emerge to lay the foundation for routines in new firms, the authors find shared schemata emerge through a three-stage process: individual schemata emergence, partially shared schemata emergence and organizationally shared schemata emergence. Analogical transfer, strong foundational leadership and horizontal interaction among employees facilitate the development of individual schemata and their evolution into the shared schemata underlying organizational routines.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the understanding of routine formation in entrepreneurial ventures by creating a framework of the stages of development of organizational routines, as well as the role management plays in each stage. This contribution fits within the emergent field of microfoundations, linking individual actions and cognition to organizational outcomes and adding to this the contribution of social interaction.

Practical implications

Managers in new Chinese enterprises could benefit from understanding the importance of routinization and the managerial approaches which facilitate routine formation. This will increase the likelihood of firm survival as well as the competitive strength of the firm.

Originality/value

To date, there has been little research on how routines arise in entrepreneurial ventures, and none on explicitly the role for management and interaction in fostering routinization.
Numerical simulations of non-stationary distributions of electrochemical potentials in SOFC
Authors: Muramatsu Mayu , Yashiro Keiji , Kawada Tatsuya , Tarada Kenjiro
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a simulation method to calculate non-stationary distributions of the chemical potential of oxygen in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) under operation.

Design/methodology/approach

The initial-boundary value problem was appropriately formulated and the appropriate boundary conditions were implemented so that the problem of non-stationary behavior of SOFC can be solved in accordance with actual operational and typical experimental conditions. The dependencies of the material properties on the temperature and partial pressure of oxygen were also elaborately introduced to realize actual material responses. The capability of the proposed simulation method was demonstrated under arbitrary operating conditions.

Findings

The steady state calculated with the open circuit voltage condition was conformable with the analytical solution. In addition, the transient states of the spatial distributions of potentials and currents under the voltage- and current-controlled conditions were successfully differentiated, even though they eventually became the same steady state. Furthermore, the effects of dense materials assumed for interconnects and current collectors were found to not be influential. It is thus safe to conclude that the proposed method enables us to simulate any type of transient simulations regardless of controlling conditions.

Practical implications

Although only uniaxial models were tested in the numerical examples in this paper, the proposed method is applicable for arbitrary shapes of SOFC cells.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that adequate numerical simulations by the proposed method properly captured the electrochemical transient transport phenomena in SOFC under various operational conditions, and that the applicability was confirmed by some numerical examples.
Modelling trajectories of solid particle motion in the cyclone
Authors: Baltrėnas Pranas , Leonavičienė Teresė
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This purpose of the paper is to examine the multi-channel cyclone created at the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Research Institute of Environmental Protection. The paper aims to predict the possible trajectories of solid particle motion in the cyclone with reference to the mechanical forces only.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical calculations were performed on the basis of experimental results. The system of differential equations describing particle motion in the cyclone is analysed and numerically solved using Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method. Research consists of three examples that illustrate the impact of particle density and velocity on collection and analyses the particle motion trajectories in the first and second channels of the cyclone.

Findings

Numerical calculations were performed according to the data from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Research Institute of Environmental Protection. The particulate matter of wood ash and granite were used. The collection of solid particles of different size was examined when the air inflow velocity varies from 10 to 20 m/s. The possible motion trajectories of the solid particles are defined and the parameters of collected particles have been discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The obtained results can be used for the analysis of air cleaning efficiency and particulate matter removal from air in a multi-channel cyclone.

Practical implications

The results lead us to improve the structure of the cyclone so as to effectively collect the solid particles of different size.

Originality/value

This paper presents the results obtained for the multi-channel cyclone created at the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Research Institute of Environmental Protection.
A new TRIZ-based patent knowledge management system for construction technology innovation
Authors: Ding Zhikun , Jiang Shuanglong , Ng Fungfai , Zhu Menglian
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The quantity of construction technology innovations in patent database grows at a high speed. More challenging technical problems require knowledge workers to make full use of the huge existing technology innovation knowledge base to propose new innovative solutions. Hence, it is critical to deliver the right knowledge to the right people at the right time. To improve innovation efficiency and effectiveness, this research explores the development of a new patent knowledge management system to satisfy the increasing demand of construction innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

TRIZ-based patent knowledge management system (TPKMS) development involves the integration of construction patent knowledge management, theory of inventive problem-solving (TRIZ) theory, database techniques and computer programing technology. The contradiction matrix in TRIZ theory serves as the patent knowledge extraction framework, while SQL Server 2000 database management system is employed to manage the extracted patent knowledge, TRIZ and user account information. Visual C++ 6.0 is adopted as the development tool.

Findings

The developed system to manage construction patent knowledge integrates TRIZ with the database design, enabling the system users to be more problem-focused, systematic and efficient. The system provides a heuristic environment to help improve the innovation effectiveness by motivating knowledge workers’ innovative thinking. Further development of the system is proposed in the context of the age of big data.

Originality/value

A new TRIZ-based patent knowledge management system for construction technology innovation was developed.
Investigation into the causes of delay in land acquisition for PPP projects in developing countries
Authors: Babatunde Solomon Olusola , Adeniyi Onaopepo , Awodele Oluwaseyi Alabi
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The land is a critical resource for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development. However, acquisition of land for PPP infrastructure projects implementation increasingly becomes problematic in developing countries. Yet, effort at investigating the factors causing a delay in land acquisition for PPP infrastructure projects through an empirical method in developing countries received scant attention. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify and critically assess the factors predisposing PPP projects implementation to land acquisition delay in Nigeria using an empirical approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted literature review and questionnaire survey. For instance, literature review was used to identify the factors causing delay in land acquisition for PPP projects in developing countries, which was used to design the questionnaire survey culminating in data analysis. To capture a broad perception, the questionnaires were administered to three different primary stakeholder groups comprised public sector authorities (i.e. ministries, department, agencies), concessionaires and lenders/banks involved in PPP projects implementation in Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using mean score, Kruskal–Wallis test and factor analysis.

Findings

The study revealed the mean score ranking of 22 identified factors causing a delay in land acquisition for PPP projects in Nigeria. The result of factor analysis grouped the 22 identified factors into 4 principal factors, namely, resettlement issues with political interference; non-availability of land with a higher cost of land transactions; weak planning institutions; and rehabilitation issues with extensive legal delays.

Practical implications

These study findings have implications for both policymakers considering PPP projects and private investors seeking to finance a PPP project in developing countries. Also, the study findings would be useful for the governments in Nigeria and other developing countries to formulate clear policies framework that facilitates the smooth acquisition of land for PPP projects.

Originality/value

The study will be beneficial to the potential local and foreign private investors and governments by broadening their awareness on impediments in land acquisition for PPP projects in Nigeria and developing countries at large. These study findings are crucial, as not many empirical studies have been conducted in Nigeria and many other developing countries.
Relating CEO leadership behavior and organization culture in the Indian context
Authors: Frantz Terrill L. , Jain Ajay K.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between CEO leadership behavior and the culture of the organization within the context of Indian organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Two five-scale questionnaires were completed by senior executives (n=485) who have interaction with their CEO. The first instrument captured the executives’ perspective of their CEO’s leadership behavior along six dimensions (People Centric, Global Ambitions, Opportunity Sensing, Visionary, Exemplary, and Dependable). The second instrument captured the executives’ perspective of their organization’s culture along six dimensions (Results Focused, Talent Development, Employee Empowerment, Equity and Fairness, Open Communication, and Decentralization). These data were analyzed using factor analysis, correlation analysis, and least-squares regression.

Findings

A correlation analysis indicates that a significant relationship exists between several aspects of CEO leadership behavior and characteristics of the organizational culture. Regression analysis indicated that the overall CEO leadership behavior prominently explains (R2=0.397) the organization’s culture. Notably, two CEO dimensions, People Centricity and Global Ambition, were found to have an exceptionally high degree of association with the culture of the organization.

Research limitations/implications

There is consistency between findings from western academic leader-culture research and the same in the Indian work setting.

Practical implications

Findings of this study can serve as a guidepost for the selection of leaders in an organization.

Originality/value

There is a scarcity of leader-organization research involving national culture features; the Indian context is fundamental to this study and is called for by the growing presence of India-born leadership in western organizations.
Management of alopecia areata: Updates and algorithmic approach
Authors: Lee Solam , Lee Won‐Soo
Published: June 2017

Alopecia areata is a chronic, recurrent and non‐scarring alopecia. The prognoses of patients are very diverse. The larger the area of hair loss, the poorer the treatment response and greater the probability of chronic disease progression. Numerous treatments have been introduced, but curative treatments have yet to be established. The long‐term efficacy of the current treatments is minimal, and the therapeutic response varies widely. Recent clinical trials have attempted to apply therapeutic metrics, such as the Severity of Alopecia Tool, and many have been designed as randomized controlled studies, enabling a more precise evaluation of existing treatments. There have been updates in practice, efficacy or indications of therapeutics that have been previously used. Moreover, the use of novel treatments such as biologics has recently been introduced. Commonly, the most important factor in determining the treatment modality for alopecia areata has been the extent of hair loss. However, if the disease activity is high and likely to progress, combination therapy with adjuvant modalities will be more desirable. This review will discuss the therapeutic effects of existing and newly‐introduced treatments based on their quantity, quality of evidence and expected complications. In addition, an algorithmic approach to management of alopecia areata is proposed according to clinical subtype, severity, onset and activity of the disease.