bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
blockCV: an R package for generating spatially or environmentally separated folds for k-fold cross-validation of species distribution models
Authors: Valavi Roozbeh , Elith Jane , Lahoz-Monfort José J. , Guillera-Arroita Gurutzeta
Published: June 2018

When applied to structured data, conventional random cross-validation techniques can lead to underestimation of prediction error, and may result in inappropriate model selection.

We present the R package blockCV, a new toolbox for cross-validation of species distribution modelling.

The package can generate spatially or environmentally separated folds. It includes tools to measure spatial autocorrelation ranges in candidate covariates, providing the user with insights into the spatial structure in these data. It also offers interactive graphical capabilities for creating spatial blocks and exploring data folds.

Package blockCV enables modellers to more easily implement a range of evaluation approaches. It will help the modelling community learn more about the impacts of evaluation approaches on our understanding of predictive performance of species distribution models.
Grey matter biomarker identification in Schizophrenia: detecting regional alterations and their underlying substrates
Authors: Chatzi V. , Teixeira R.P. , Shawe-Taylor J. , Altmann A. , O’Daly O. , Christiaens D. , Schrouff J. , Tournier J.-D.
Published: June 2018

State-of-the-art approaches in Schizophrenia research investigate neuroanatomical biomarkers using structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging. However, current models are 1) voxel-wise, 2) difficult to interpret in biologically meaningful ways, and 3) difficult to replicate across studies. Here, we propose a machine learning framework that enables the identification of sparse, region-wise grey matter neuroanatomical biomarkers and their underlying biological substrates by integrating well-established statistical and machine learning approaches. We address the computational issues associated with application of machine learning on structural MRI data in Schizophrenia, as discussed in recent reviews, while promoting transparent science using widely available data and software. In this work, a cohort of patients with Schizophrenia and healthy controls was used. It was found that the cortical thickness in left pars orbitalis seems to be the most reliable measure for distinguishing patients with Schizophrenia from healthy controls.

Highlights

We present a sparse machine learning framework to identify biologically meaningful neuroanatomical biomarkers for Schizophrenia

Our framework addresses methodological pitfalls associated with application of machine learning on structural MRI data in Schizophrenia raised by several recent reviews

Our pipeline is easy to replicate using widely available software packages

The presented framework is geared towards identification of specific changes in brain regions that relate directly to the pathology rather than classification per se
Tissue embedding in a silica hydrogel for functional investigations
Authors: Miazzi Fabio , Kaltofen Sabine , Bello Jan E. , Hansson Bill S. , Wicher Dieter
Published: June 2018

Embedding procedures can be challenging for delicate specimens. We present a method based on a sodium metasilicate (waterglass) gel to embed tissue samples for acute physiological studies. We show that the application of such a colloidal gel has minimal effects on the properties of buffered solutions and cell activity, allowing functional investigations on sensitive cells such as ciliated insect olfactory neurons.
Genetic heterogeneity in Anopheles darlingi related to biting behavior in western Amazon
Authors: Campos Melina , Alonso Diego Peres , Conn Jan E. , Vinetz Joseph M. , Emerson Kevin J. , Ribolla Paulo Eduardo Martins
Published: June 2018

In the Amazon Basin, Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi is the most aggressive and effective malaria vector. In endemic areas, behavioral aspects of anopheline species such as host preference, biting time and resting location after a blood meal have a key impact on malaria transmission dynamics and transmission control strategies. An. darlingi present a variety in behavior throughout its broad distribution including blood feeding related. To investigate the genetic basis of its biting behaviors, host-seeking An. darlingi were collected in two settlements (Granada and Remansinho) in Acre, Brazil. Mosquitoes were classified by captured location (indoors or outdoors) and time (dusk or dawn). Genome-wide SNPs were used to assess the degree of genetic diversity and structure in these groups. There was evidence of genetic component of biting behavior regarding both location and time in this species. This study supports that An. darlingi blood-feeding behavior has a genetic component. Additional ecological and genomic studies may help to understand the genetic basis of mosquito behavior and address appropriate surveillance and vector control.

Author Summary

Malaria is a disease caused by parasite of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. In the Amazon Basin, the main malaria vector is Anopheles darlingi, which is present in high densities in this region. Egg development requires that females of this mosquito seek hosts for blood meals. Anopheles females blood feeding may occur indoor or outdoor the houses and typically from the sunset to dawn. Anopheles darlingi in particular present great variability regarding its behaviour, presenting variety of peak biting times and patterns. This work shows that there is a genetic component that partially explains these two behaviors: location of the blood meal (inside or outside the houses) and time of feeding. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) scattered throughout the genome of Anopheles darlingi showed genetic diversity and structure in these groups. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis for mosquito behaviour may support innovative vector surveillance and control strategies.
Changes in temperature alter susceptibility to a virus following a host shift
Authors: Roberts Katherine E. , Hadfield Jarrod D. , Sharma Manmohan D. , Longdon Ben
Published: June 2018

Host shifts - where a pathogen jumps between different host species - are an important source of emerging infectious disease. With ongoing climate change there is an increasing need to understand the effect changes in temperature may have on emerging infectious disease. We investigated whether species’ susceptibilities change with temperature and ask if susceptibility is greatest at different temperatures in different species. We infected 45 species of Drosophilidae with an RNA virus and measured how viral load changes with temperature. We found the host phylogeny explained a large proportion of the variation in viral load at each temperature, with strong phylogenetic correlations between viral loads across temperature. The variance in viral load increased with temperature, whilst the mean viral load did not, such that as temperature increased the most susceptible species become more susceptible, and the least susceptible less so. We found no significant relationship between a species’ susceptibility across temperatures and proxies for thermal optima; critical thermal maximum and minimum or basal metabolic rate. These results suggest that whilst the rank order of species susceptibilities can remain the same with changes in temperature, the likelihood of host shifts into a given species may increase or decrease.

Author Summary

Emerging infectious diseases are often the result of a host shift, where a pathogen jumps from one host species into another. Understanding the factors underlying host shifts is a major goal for infectious disease researchers. This effort has been further complicated by the fact that host-parasite interactions are now taking place in a period of unprecedented global climatic warming. Here, we ask how host shifts are affected by temperature by carrying out experimental infections using an RNA virus across a wide range of related species, at three different temperatures. We find that as temperature increases the most susceptible species become more susceptible, and the least susceptible less so. This has important consequences for our understanding of host shift events in a changing climate, and suggests that temperature changes may affect the likelihood of a host shift into certain species.
Crystallographic orientation relationships in the α→γ′ martensitic transformation in an Fe–Mn–Al–Ni system
Authors: Vallejos Juan Manuel , Sobrero César Enrique , Ávalos Martina , Signorelli Javier Walter , Malarría Jorge Alberto
Published: June 2018

The Fe43.5Mn34Al15Ni7.5 (at.%) alloy exhibits outstanding pseudoelastic behaviour over a wide range of temperatures. This alloy undergoes an unusual martensitic transformation from a disordered body-centred cubic (α) parent phase to a face-centred cubic (γ′) product phase. In the present work, the orientations of the parent and product phases for quenched samples were analysed by electron backscatter diffraction. Bain, Kurdjumow–Sachs, Pitsch, Nishiyama–Wassermann and Greninger–Troiano orientation relationships between the parent and product phases were compared with experimental results. The Pitsch relationship appears to be the most suitable to describe the α→γ′ martensitic transformation. This result provides experimental support to the dislocation-based heterogeneous Bogers–Burgers type transformation mechanism. No indications of variant selection were detected in the thermally activated transformations.
Form factor of rounded objects: the sections method
Authors: Croset Bernard
Published: June 2018

An analytical method, the sections method, is developed to build a close link between the singularities of the surface of a body and the asymptotic behaviour of its amplitude form factor at large scattering vector, q. In contrast with a sphere, for which the asymptotic behaviour is in q
−2, surface singularities lead to both narrow regions, for which the amplitude form factor exhibits trailing behaviour, and extended regions, for which it exhibits a rapid decrease. A numerical study of a simple example, the fourfold truncated sphere, illustrates the usefulness of these analytical predictions.
Intercalation of lithium into disordered graphite in a working battery
Authors: Johnsen Rune E. , Norby Poul , Leoni Matteo
Published: June 2018

The structural transformations occurring during the intercalation of lithium into disordered graphite in a working battery were studied in detail by operando X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). By using a capillary-based micro-battery cell, it was possible to study the stacking disorder in the initial graphite as well as in lithiated graphites. The micro-battery cell was assembled in its charged state with graphite as positive electrode and metallic lithium as counter electrode. The battery was discharged until a stage II compound (LiC12) was formed. The operando XRPD data reveal that the graphitic electrode material retains a disordered nature during the intercalation process. A DIFFaX+ refinement based on the initial operando XRPD pattern shows that the initial graphite generally has an intergrown structure with domains of graphite 2H and graphite 3R. However, the average stacking sequence of the initial graphite also contains a significant concentration of AA-type stacking of the graphene sheets. DIFFaX+ was further used to refine structure models of a stage III type compound and the final stage II compound. The refinement of the stage II compound showed that it is dominated by AαAAαA-type stacking, but that it also contains a significant concentration of AαABβB-type slabs in the average stacking sequence.
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of tetraaquabis(isonicotinamide-κN
1)cobalt(II) succinate
Authors: Kansiz Sevgi , Malinkin Sergey , Dege Necmi
Published: June 2018

The reaction of CoCl2 with succinic acid and isonicotinamide in basic solution produces the title complex [Co(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)4](C4H4O4). The cobalt(II) ion of the complex cation and the succinate anion are each located on an inversion centre. The CoII ion is octahedrally coordinated by four O atoms of water molecules and two N atoms of isonicotinamide molecules. The two ions are linked via Owater—H...Osuccinate hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [001]. In the crystal, these hydrogen-bonded chains are linked into a three-dimensional framework by further O—H...O hydrogen bonds and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The framework is reinforced by C—H...O hydrogen bonds. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots have been used to analyse the intermolecular interactions present in the crystal.
IT capabilities, firm performance and the mediating role of ISRM
Authors: Kala Kamdjoug Jean Robert , Nguegang Tewamba Harold Junior , Fosso Wamba Samuel
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a research model that looks at the direct impact of information technology (IT) capabilities on firm performance and the mediating effects of the information security management system (ISMS) on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a hypothetico-deductive approach based on quantitative data collected from 136 surveyed professionals in the field of IS, IT and the related security environment.

Findings

The results confirm the direct impact of IT capabilities on firm performance and the mediating effects of ISMS on this relationship.

Originality/value

The study draws on the resource-based view theory to develop a model that assesses the direct impact of IT capabilities on firm performance and the mediating effects of ISMS on this relationship in Cameroon, a developing country in Africa.
Understanding and measuring scalability in disaster risk reduction
Authors: Vaughan-Lee Hannah , Moriniere Lezlie Caro , Bremaud Isabelle , Turnbull Marilise
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Despite increased attention to, and investment in, scaling up of disaster risk reduction (DRR), there has been little detailed discussion of scalability. The purpose of this paper is to respond to this critical gap by proposing a definition of scaling up for DRR, what effective scaling up entails, and how to measure and plan for scalability.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of debates, case studies and good practices in DRR and parallel sectors (i.e. education, health and the wider development field) unveiled and enabled the weighting of key concepts that inform scalability. The mixed methods research then developed, validated and employed a scalability assessment framework to examine 20 DRR and five non-DRR initiatives for which a minimum set of evidence was accessible.

Findings

Support from national, regional and/or local authorities strongly influenced the scalability of all initiatives assessed. Currently, insufficient to support effective scaling up, monitoring and evaluation were also found to be critical to both identify potential for and measure scalability.

Originality/value

The paper ends with a scalability assessment and planning tool to measure and monitor the scalability potential of DRR initiatives, highlighting areas for corrective action that can improve the quality and effectiveness of DRR interventions.
Numerical simulation of the anisotropic properties of a columnar jointed rock mass under triaxial compression
Authors: Yan Long , Xu Weiya , Wang Rubin , Meng Qingxiang
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the anisotropic characteristics of the special structure of a columnar jointed rock masses and provide reference to forecast the behavioral characteristics of real samples.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used FLAC3D numerical software to simulate the mechanical behavior of columnar jointed rock masses with different columns angles (ß) under different stress conditions. The peak strength, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio were obtained to investigate the strength, deformation characteristics and failure modes of the rock masses under conventional and true triaxial compression.

Findings

The results showed that the compressive strength of the specimens presents a U-shape under different joint inclinations. The strength of the specimens reaches a maximum value when ß = 90°, and the value for ß = 0° is slightly lower and reaches a minimum value when ß = 50°. The elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the samples are obviously anisotropic, the anisotropic coefficient decreases with increasing confining pressure. When σ2 ≠ σ3, the peak strengths of the samples are related to the direction of the minor principal stress, and the failure modes of the samples are related to the confining pressure and joint inclination.

Originality/value

The present paper uses a numerical simulation method to examine the strength and deformation characteristics of a columnar jointed rock mass under conventional and true triaxial compression. The aim is to provide a reference to forecast the mechanical characteristics of test samples in the laboratory.
Understanding themushārakah mutanāqiṣahof Koperasi Pembiayaan Syariah Angkasa (KOPSYA)
Authors: Abdul Jabar Norbaizurah , Ramli Razli , Abidin Sazali
Published: June 2018

Purpose

In Malaysia, both Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) and Islamic co-operatives (ICs) providemushārakah mutanāqiṣah(diminishing partnership) (MM) financing. It was initially a preferred contract as it is deemed to be more Sharīʿah-compliant and free from the element ofribā(interest) in comparison to other Sharīʿah-compliant sale contracts. Nevertheless, MM is now considered less appealing to IFIs due to its existing challenges. This paper aims to emphasise on MM as practiced by ICs which will highlight approaches to default, pricing of rental rates, profit sharing method and early settlement which differ to the practice of MM by IFIs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on Koperasi Pembiayaan Syariah Angkasa (KOPSYA), an IC based in Malaysia, which the authors concurred as being an ideal organisation to study on the matter due to its strong stance in promoting Sharīʿah-compliant financing products.

Findings

The research highlights the flexibility of MM implementation in KOPSYA to provide some insights on the rationale behind MM operations in KOPSYA.

Originality/value

The authors are hopeful that this paper will aspire further interest by giving the readers better understanding on the implementation of MM in KOPSYA and how it will benefit the customers.
Financing agricultural activities in Afghanistan: a proposedsalam-based crowdfunding structure
Authors: Saiti Buerhan , Afghan Muhibullah , Noordin Nazrul Hazizi
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore the potentials of adoptingsalam-based crowdfunding for financing the agricultural sector in Afghanistan.

Design/methodology/approach

It adopts a triangulation approach, consisting of a number of methods used in gathering relevant information about Afghanistan’s agricultural sector, the concept of crowdfunding andsalam(forward sale) contract. These methods include library research, reviewing documents provided by Afghanistan’s banks and semi-structured interviews with Islamic finance experts.

Findings

This study finds thatsalam-based crowdfunding is a viable Sharīʿah-compliant investment platform, which may offer some advantages for both potential investors and farmers or entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper lies in the proposed structure ofsalam-based crowdfunding.
Modeling the lean barriers for successful lean implementation: TISM approach
Authors: Chaple Anup Prabhakarrao , Narkhede Balkrishna Eknath , Akarte Milind M. , Raut Rakesh
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Companies have been implementing lean manufacturing to improve their business performances. However, many of them have difficulties in the implementation because of various barriers, thus encountering failures. This paper aims to prioritize and analyze the lean barriers for better understanding and interpretation for successful lean implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive literature review has been carried out to identify the lean barriers. Subsequently, total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) has been adopted where lean experts’ inputs have been sought to obtain the self-interaction and reachability matrix. Further, driving power and dependence of lean barriers have been derived, and TISM-based lean barrier model has been developed.

Findings

Insufficient management time, insufficient supervisory skills and insufficient senior management skills are the significant barriers with highest driving power and lowest dependence. With low driving power, cost- and funding-related barriers such as cost of the investment, internal funding and external funding are found to be less important barriers.

Practical implications

This model provides a more realistic approach to the problems faced by practitioners during lean implementation. Thus, it provides a roadmap to implement lean by focusing on reducing or eliminating important barriers.

Originality/value

The paper not only provides a TISM-based model of contextual relationships among lean barriers but also describes the validation of this model.
Learning organization and firm performance
Authors: Siddique C. Muhammad
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify organizational resources that may enhance the performance outcomes of a learning culture; this study was undertaken in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an emerging economy in the Arabian Gulf region.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was used to collect data on a sample of 254 firms from the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The target respondents included middle to senior managers working in logistics, operations, finance and general management positions.

Findings

The data revealed a positive relationship between learning organization (LO) initiatives and four measures of firm performance considered in the study: employee skills development, product/service innovation, cost-effectiveness and growth in revenues. This relationship was moderated by strategic orientation of the human resource management function and perceived organizational support. Effective HRM strategies and organizational support systems were identified as critical resources that can add substantial value to the performance outcomes of an LO culture. These findings suggest that investing in the development of an LO culture makes a good business sense.

Research limitations/implications

Use of perceptual measures was one of the major limitations of the present study.

Practical implications

The largely positive impact of LO-related programs underscores the strategic importance of the LO concept to maintain superior performance outcomes in the emerging knowledge economy of UAE.

Originality/value

The paper represents an initial effort at making a business case for the LO concept in a non-western context. It brings into focus the role of organizational support and strategically oriented human resource management initiatives in optimizing the performance impact an LO culture.
The building blocks of political risk research: a bibliometric co-citation analysis
Authors: Jiménez Alfredo , Bjorvatn Torbjørn
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the core literature on political risk and to suggest avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying bibliometric analysis as a starting point, this systematic review identifies the current core body of literature on political risk and uncovers the theoretical building blocks of the research field.

Findings

A synthesis of the key literature reveals three broad analytical foci: the sources of political risk; the effects of political risk; and actors’ (countries, industries, firms and projects) vulnerabilities, capabilities and responses to political risk.

Research limitations/implications

The authors propose a unifying conceptual framework for political risk research.

Practical implications

The paper provides managers with a tool kit to analyse political risk. Moreover, it aids policy-makers in addressing political risk in a comprehensive manner.

Originality/value

The paper represents the first systematic review of the political risk literature in over 30 years. By offering an integrated theoretical framework, it paves the way for new insights into an increasingly topical field.
Campus bottled water bans, not always the solution
Authors: Choate Beth , Davis Brittany Y. , Verrecchia Jacqueline
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify how to reduce bottled water use on our campus, given that the majority of students were bringing it onto campus from outside sources. Bottled water bans have been implemented on several college and university campuses in an effort to reduce the consumption of bottled water and the associated waste. Observations on the campus of Allegheny College demonstrated that while bottled water was being consumed, students were not purchasing those bottles on campus.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify methods to reduce bottled water prevalence on campus, alter negative perceptions of local tap water and create behavioral changes among student, an environmental science class surveyed the student body. Students were asked about their preferred type of drinking water and why they preferred one type to another, as well as additional questions about reusable bottle ownership and usage.

Findings

The data identified that disposable bottled water was most commonly consumed by first year students, with rates of use decreasing the longer students are on campus. Many students were concerned about the safety of tap water and did not like the taste.

Originality/value

As a result of this survey, Allegheny College has increased the number of filtered, bottle refill stations throughout campus and provides a high-quality, metal water bottle to all students upon beginning their first year. Students are also provided information about the safety of Meadville tap water, as well as the environmental and social benefits of choosing tap water over bottled water.
Is consumption-Laffer curve hump-shaped? The VAT evasion channel
Authors: Vasilev Aleksandar
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show a standard RBC model, when augmented with a VAT evasion channel, where evasion depends on the consumption tax rate, can produce a hump-shaped consumption-Laffer curve.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is in the spirit of modern quantitative macroeconomic literature.

Findings

The model with VAT evasion can generate a peaking consumption tax revenue curve, which is a little discussed result in the taxation literature.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the public finance literature by providing evidence for the importance of the evasion mechanism, while at the same time adding to the debate about the existence of a peak tax rate for consumption tax revenue.

Practical implications

Contrary to popular belief, raising VAT rate as a cheap way (being a tax on demand) to finance government expenditure, is still not a free lunch, and raising the rate, especially in a country with substantial VAT evasion, quickly leads to a drop in the revenue associated with that category.

Originality/value

This is the first study that provides a tractable model of VAT evasion, and a setup where consumption tax revenue curve is peaking.
A wavelet technique for the study of economic socio-political situations in a textual analysis framework
Authors: Abdessalem Habiba , Benammou Saloua
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply the wavelet thresholding technique in order to analyze economic socio-political situations in Tunisia using textual data sets. This technique is used to remove noise from contingency table. A comparative study is done on correspondence analysis and classification results (using k-means algorithm) before and after denoising.

Design/methodology/approach

Textual data set is collected from an electronic newspaper that offers actual economic news about Tunisia. Both the hard and the soft-thresholding techniques are applied based on various Daubechies wavelets with different vanishing moments.

Findings

The results obtained have proved the effectiveness of wavelet denoising method in textual data analysis. On one hand, this technique allowed reducing the loss of information generated by correspondence analysis, ensured a better quality of representation of the factorial plan, neglected the interest of lemmatization in textual analysis and improved the results of classification by k-means algorithm. On the other hand, the proximities provided by the factorial visualization validate the economic situation of Tunisia during the studied period showing mainly a stable situation before the revolution and a deteriorated one after the revolution.

Originality/value

The results are the first to analyze economic socio-political relations using textual data. The originality of this paper comes also from the joint use of correspondence analysis and wavelet thresholding in textual data analysis.
Thailand’s trade balance with each of her 15 largest partners: an asymmetry analysis
Authors: Bahmani-Oskooee Mohsen , Kanitpong Tatchawan
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on Thailand’s trade balances.

Design/methodology/approach

The design methodology is based on the nonlinear ARDL approach of Shin et al. (2014).

Findings

The authors find strong support for the asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on the Thailand trade balance with most partners, including the three largest partners, China, Japan and the USA.

Research limitations/implications

The long-run asymmetric effects revealed that while baht depreciation will hurt Thailand’s trade balance with China, it will improve its trade balance with the USA and has no effects with Japan.

Practical implications

The trade balance of different partners reacts differently to currency depreciation.

Social implications

A currency depreciation that improves the trade balance by promoting exports also helps to reduce the rate of unemployment.

Originality/value

No study has assessed the asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on the Thailand’s trade balance with its major partners.
Communication and ritual at the comic book shop
Authors: Herrmann Andrew F.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the rituals and communicative practices that simultaneously create community, out-groups and perceptions of stigma at a local comic book retail organization through autoethnography. As such this piece explores personal identity, comic book culture and how this comic book shop acts as important third place as defined by Oldenburg.

Design/methodology/approach

Autoethnography allows for the simultaneous research into self, organizations and culture. As a layered account, this autoethnography uses narrative vignettes to examine a local comic book retail organization from the first person perspective of a collector, a cultural participant and geek insider.

Findings

The term geek, once brandished as an insult to stigmatize, is now a sense of personal and cultural pride among members. Various rituals including the “white whale” moment and the specialized argot use help maintain community in the comic book shop creating a third place as categorized by Oldenburg. However, these shared communication practices and shared meanings reinforce the hegemonic masculinity of the store, leading the author to wonder if it can maintain its viability going forward.

Originality/value

This autoethnography was performed at a local comic book shop, connecting communicative and ritual practices to organizational culture, hegemonic masculinity, geek culture and personal identity. It also argues that one need not be an embedded organizational insider to perform organizational autoethnography.
Legitimated consumption: a socially embedded challenge for entrepreneurs’ value creation
Authors: Niemi Laura , Kantola Jenni
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to address the general lack of detailed attention to the value co-creation process which happens in the consumers’ social environment. The purpose of the paper is to extend prior understanding on new ways of creating value within an uncertain and complex small business environment where consumers are increasingly collaborating and constructing value within their own social environment that is not always visible to entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected in-depth data from craft beer consumers who detail consumers’ perspectives on value co-creation within their social context. Discourse analysis is used to examine the ways in which consumers create value within their social environment. Discourses are generated through in-depth, semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The findings reveal that a significant part of value creation happens outside the entrepreneurs’ control. Consumers seek to have social experiences which they want to experience individually but not alone. Accordingly, the legitimacy of a certain type of consumption creates a basis for consumers’ self-presentations and situational selves, on which value can be built.

Originality/value

This study offers new insights into how contemporary consumers work together to co-create value. In addition, this study answers the call for scholarly attention to consumer-to-consumer value linkages to gain new understandings of socially constructed value and contemporary consumption behaviour and reveals how entrepreneurs can benefit from this.
Back to the future of intellectual capital research: a systematic literature review
Authors: Pedro Eugénia , Leitão João , Alves Helena
Published: June 2018

Purpose

For better mapping the path of intellectual capital (IC) research, the purpose of this paper is to selectively review empirical studies of IC published, and identify theories, components and three dimensions of analysis: national IC (NIC), regional IC (RIC) and organizational IC (OIC).

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic literature review (SLR) subject to analysis is based on empirical studies made between 1960 and 2016, and focuses on three dimensions of analysis: NIC, RIC and OIC. Four research questions were designed, using the following databases, namely, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, for data collection purposes.

Findings

The SLR unveils a multidimensional taxonomy for measuring and classifying the type of IC applicable to the different levels of analysis and provides some recommendations for future studies of NIC, RIC and OIC, by outlining the need for clear definitions of components and measures of IC and identifying strengths, limitations and future research avenues.

Originality/value

In order to fill the gap found in the literature and the non-existence of a study clarifying the multiple dimensions of analysis of IC, this SLR makes a twofold, original contribution to the literature on management: providing an SLR of the main empirical studies dealing with different units of analysis; and identifying a multidimensional taxonomy for measuring and classifying the type of IC applicable to the different levels of analysis.
Role of financial risk attitude and financial behavior as mediators in financial satisfaction
Authors: Saurabh Kumar , Nandan Tanuj
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between financial knowledge, socialization and financial satisfaction with financial risk attitude and financial behavior as a mediator after demonetization and introduction of GST.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted responses of 286 individuals from the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India and making financial decisions for the household for at least last two years. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and mediation regression analysis.

Findings

All sub-scales used to measure constructs had satisfactory reliabilities and internal consistencies. It was found that financial risk attitude and financial behavior both mediate the relationship between financial socialization and financial satisfaction as well as between financial knowledge and financial satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based upon survey method and voluntary participation. Hence one can question generalization of findings to larger samples. Moreover, the study is limited to a restricted geographical region which could affect the generalization of findings.

Practical implications

Results provide insights into the antecedents of financial satisfaction of individuals from tier II city of India. Financial planners may utilize this study for enhancement of financial satisfaction of their clients and hence retention of the same.

Originality/value

A majority of researchers use survey without evaluation validity of instruments in the selected context and sample. This research contributed to the literature and practice by testing validation of constructs of financial satisfaction in India.
Rituals and routines
Authors: Jouxtel Pascal
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The terms rituals and routines are often conflated in everyday speech about teams, which betrays a common ontology. Yet these concepts have long been researched in two segregated currents of thought: one stemming from sociology and anthropology, focused on the quality of togetherness and the other from evolutionary economics, focused on market performance. The common ontology is nevertheless present in the processual nature of rituals and routines, the underlying shared reference to the “structure-action-artifact” triad and the statement that both are sources of change as well as stability. This paper aims to assess the pertinence of a joint approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a historical and contrasted view on the two concepts. A comprehensive field observation of two teams in mid-term organizational change contexts, focused on collective “doings”, is reported. The tentative “binocular lens” was made of two chosen sets of variables, drawn from the theoretical fields of rituals and organizational routines.

Findings

The distinction between rituals and routines in people’s perception, though largely confused, nonetheless reveals the tension between variable and opposing demands for both change and stability from the team side and from the organization side. Their joint action is effective in enhancing the team’s feelings of confidence and control over its own performance and its future within the organization.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is supported by a comparison of only two teams, leaving room for further empirical research about the effects of endogenous rituality and localized routines on autonomy, efficiency and pride.

Originality/value

This paper offers a new theoretical joint view on the two concepts and explores an endogenous potential for organizational change feeding on emotional and symbolic aspects of team work.
Identification of a missense mutation causing exon skipping in a neurofibromatosis type 1 patient
Authors: Fu Ying , Zhang Jia‐qi , Jiang Chun‐lai , Wang Hui‐yan
Published: June 2018

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), caused by germ line mutations of the NF1 tumor‐suppressor gene, is one of the most common autosomal dominant disorders. Here, we reported a NF1 patient with the mutation NF1 c.4367+1G>C. This sequence change locates at the first nucleotide of NF1 intron 32 within the consensus splice site. Compared with NF1 c.4367G>C predicted to potentially damage the wild‐type donor site at c.4367, the NF1 c.4367+1G>C potentially abolishes this wild‐type donor site by in silico analysis. In vitro minigene assay revealed that the NF1 c.4367+1G>C may cause exon 32 skipping. Our result provides further evidence for its clinical significance of NF1 c.4367+1G>C in clinical practise.
Prolonged growth of infantile hemangioma after pulsed dye laser and oral propranolol treatment
Authors: Kagami Shinji , Kaneko Masahide , Kishi Akiko , Katori Tatsuo
Published: June 2018

Infantile hemangiomas are the most common tumor of childhood and undergo rapid growth during early infancy followed by gradual involution. After involution, residual lesions sometimes remain. Oral propranolol usually induces earlier involution and redness reduction of infantile hemangiomas. However, the optimal treatment duration is unknown and infantile hemangiomas sometimes recur after cessation of treatment. We report three Japanese patients with recurrent infantile hemangiomas on their cheek. These patients were a 1‐month‐old female baby with a superficial infantile hemangioma, a 3‐month‐old female baby with a mixed infantile hemangioma and a 4‐month‐old male baby with a mixed infantile hemangioma. Two of them also received pulsed dye laser treatment. They did not reach complete or nearly complete resolution of infantile hemangiomas at week 25. These patients experienced regrowth of their infantile hemangioma after 20 months of age and took propranolol after the age of 24 months. There were no severe adverse effects. Propranolol may not only be therapeutic but also prophylactic. Patients with infantile hemangiomas who have taken oral propranolol should be followed up at least 6 months after cessation of treatment, especially infantile hemangiomas on the cheek, and those with partial response to propranolol may require close attention in prolonged growth.
Numerous plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration in HIV‐associated psoriasis relieved only with antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Kuwatsuka Sayaka , Koike Yuta , Asai Misachi , Sato Yukie , Murota Hiroyuki
Published: June 2018

The onset of psoriasis is often seen in HIV infection, called HIV‐associated psoriasis. Although HIV‐associated psoriasis is usually refractory, there are some cases relieved only by antiretroviral therapy. In those cases, the pathogenesis may be formed differently from psoriasis vulgaris. We present the case of a 42‐year‐old Japanese man with HIV‐associated psoriasis. The patient developed a systemic scaly eruption, especially on the soles. Histopathological examination showed typical psoriatic findings and plasma cell infiltration into the dermis. The eruption dramatically remitted with antiretroviral therapy alone, without systemic treatment for psoriasis. In immunohistological findings, few CD4+ cells were seen in the patient's skin. In addition, immunofluorescent staining revealed more BDCA‐2 and CD123 double‐positive plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration into the dermis than that of psoriasis vulgaris. We suggest that the immune response to HIV including plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration may involve in the development and remission of HIV‐associated psoriasis.
When Many Davids Collaborate with One Goliath: How Inter‐organizational Networks (Fail to) Manage Size Differentials
Authors: Fortwengel Johann , Sydow Jörg
Published: June 2018

How do organizations of vastly different size collaborate in order to achieve a common goal? While this poses less of a problem when the network is orchestrated by a classic lead firm, in networks exhibiting a shared governance mode, where leadership responsibilities are more or less equally distributed, size differentials present a critical management challenge. In this paper, we contribute to the literature on coordination in and of inter‐organizational arrangements by emphasizing the so far largely neglected role of size for managing close collaborative relationships. We study the case of Apprenticeship Network, a network that originally consisted of seven small and medium‐sized enterprises, but which then accepted a very large multinational firm as a new member. By unpacking how the network coordinated its endeavour over time to achieve accountability, predictability and a common understanding as critical conditions for effective coordination, we explore how coordination effectiveness may deteriorate and result in the failure of the collaborative effort. We pay special attention to the role of size in these processes, and we theorize how the strategic front and back‐staging of agreed‐upon rules and norms facilitates the formation, maintenance and deletion of a tie, thus producing important network dynamics.
Planned and Unplanned Hospital Admissions and Their Relationship with Social Factors: Findings from a National, Prospective Study of People Aged 76 Years or Older
Authors: Dahlberg Lena , Agahi Neda , Schön Pär , Lennartsson Carin
Published: June 2018

Objective

To examine the relationship between social factors and planned and unplanned hospital admissions among older people.

Data Sources/Study Setting

2011 data from the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD) and data from the Swedish National Patient Register until December 31, 2012.

Study Design

The study had a prospective design. Data were analyzed via Cox proportional hazard regressions with variables entered as blocks (social factors, sociodemographic and ability factors, health factors).

Data Collection

Data were collected via interviews with people aged 76+ (n = 931).

Principal Findings

Living in institutions was negatively associated with planned admissions (hazard ratio (HR): 0.29; confidence interval (CI): 0.09–0.88), while being in receipt of home help was positively associated with unplanned admissions (HR: 1.57; CI: 1.15–2.14). Low levels of social contacts and social activity predicted unplanned admissions in bivariate analyses only. Higher ability to deal with public authorities was positively associated with planned admissions (HR: 1.77; CI: 1.13–2.78) and negatively associated with unplanned admissions, although the latter association was only significant in the bivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Hospital admissions are not only due to health problems but are also influenced by the social care situation and by the ability to deal with public authorities.
Circulating miR‐338‐5p is a potential diagnostic biomarker in colorectal cancer
Authors: Bilegsaikhan Enkhnaran , Liu Hai Ning , Shen Xi Zhong , Liu Tao Tao
Published: June 2018

OBJECTIVE

The expression of miR‐338‐5p has been reported to be upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. Clinicopathological features indicate that miR‐338‐5p overexpression correlates with the metastatic status of CRC. This study was aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of serum miR‐338‐5p for CRC.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 210 participants, including 80 patients with CRC, 50 with colorectal polyps and 80 healthy controls. Serum miR‐338‐5p was quantified by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to estimate the diagnostic value of miR‐338‐5p, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the combination of these two biomarkers.

RESULTS

Serum miR‐338‐5p levels (fold change) in patients with CRC and colorectal polyps, and controls were 4.94 ± 1.13, 4.12 ± 0.75 and 3.07 ± 0.75, respectively. Significant differences were observed between the groups (P < 0.001). The AUROC of miR‐338‐5p was 0.923 (95% CI 0.882–0.964) and 0.845 (95% CI 0.792–0.898), respectively, for distinguishing CRC from healthy controls or from those without CRC. The AUROC of the combination of miR‐338‐5p and CEA was 0.932 (95% CI 0.882–0.964), with a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 88.8% at a cut‐off value of 8.16.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating miR‐338‐5p may serve as a potential noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for detecting CRC. The combination of miR‐338‐5p and CEA exhibits the highest diagnostic value in our study.