bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A role for Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 in the pathogenesis ofNeisseria meningitidis
Authors: Azimi Sheyda , Wheldon Lee M. , Oldfield Neil J. , Ala’Aldeen Dlawer A. A. , Wooldridge Karl G.
Published: March 2018

Neisseria meningitidisremains an important cause of human disease. It is highly adapted to the human host – its only known reservoir. Adaptations to the host environment include many specific interactions with human molecules including iron-binding proteins, components of the innate and adaptive immune systems, and cell surface receptors such as the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Interaction of the meningococcus with EGFR has been elucidated in some detail and leads to intracellular signalling and cytoskeletal changes contributing to the pathogenesis of the organism. Here, we show that the meningococcus also recruits Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) onto the surface of human blood microvascular epithelial cells (HBMECs). Furthermore, meningococci internalised into these cells recruit the activated form of this receptor, and that expression and activation of FGFR1 is necessary for efficient internalisation of meningococci into HBMECs. We show thatNeisseria meningitidisinteracts specifically with the IIIc isoform of FGFR1.
Cytoplasmic sequestration of the RhoA effector mDiaphanous1 by Prohibitin2 promotes muscle differentiation
Authors: Saleh Amena , Subramaniam Gunasekaran , Raychaudhuri Swasti , Dhawan Jyotsna
Published: March 2018

Adhesion and growth factor dependent signalling control muscle gene expression through common effectors, coupling cytoskeletal dynamics to transcriptional activation. Earlier, we showed that mDiaphanous1, an effector of adhesion-dependent RhoA-signalling promotes MyoD expression in myoblasts, linking contractility to lineage determination. Here, we report that paradoxically, mDia1 negatively regulates MyoD function in myotubes. Knockdown of endogenous mDia1 during differentiation enhances MyoD and Myogenin expression, while over-expression of mDia1ΔN3, a RhoA-independent mutant, suppresses Myogenin promoter activity and expression. We investigated mechanisms that may counteract mDia1 to promote Myogenin expression and timely differentiation by analysing mDia1-interacting proteins. We report that mDia1 has a stage-specific interactome, including Prohibitin2, MyoD, Akt2, and β-Catenin, of which Prohibitin2 colocalises with mDia1 in cytoplasmic punctae and opposes mDia1 function in myotubes. Co-expression of mDia1-binding domains of Prohibitin2 reverses the anti-myogenic effects of mDia1ΔN3. Our results suggest that Prohibitin2 sequesters mDiaphanous1 to dampen its activity and finetune RhoA-mDiaphanous1 signalling to promote differentiation. Overall, we report that mDia1 is multi-functional signaling effector with opposing functions in different cellular stages, but is modulated by a differentiation-dependent interactome.

Summary statement

mDia1 has common and stage-specific functions in muscle cells. In myotubes, mDia1 is sequestered by an interacting protein Prohibitin2, which promotes Myogenin expression and mitigates mDia1’s inhibitory effects on differentiation.

Graphical abstract
Would an RRS by any other name sound as RAD?
Authors: Campbell Erin O , Brunet Bryan M T , Dupuis Julian R , Sperling Felix A H
Published: March 2018

Sampling markers throughout a genome with restriction enzymes emerged in the 2000s as reduced representation shotgun sequencing (RRS). Rapid advances in sequencing technology have since spurred modifications of RRS, giving rise to many derivatives with unique names, such as RADseq. But naming conventions have often been more creative than consistent, with unclear criteria for recognition as a unique method resulting in a proliferation of names characterized by ambiguity. We conducted a literature review to assess methodological and etymological relationships among 36 restriction enzyme-based methods, as well as rates of correct referencing of commonly-used methods. We identify several instances of methodological convergence or misattribution in the literature, and note that many published derivatives have modified only minor elements of parent protocols. We urge greater restraint in naming derivative methods, to strike a better balance between clarity, recognition of scientific innovation, and correct attribution.
Tychus: a whole genome sequencing pipeline for assembly, annotation and phylogenetics of bacterial genomes
Authors: Dean Christopher , Noyes Noelle , Lakin Steven , Rovira-Sanz Pablo , Yang Xiang , Belk Keith , Morley Paul S. , Meinersmann Rick , Abdo Zaid
Published: March 2018

Tychus is a tool that allows researchers to perform massively parallel whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis with the goal of producing a high confidence and comprehensive description of the bacterial genome. Key features of the Tychus pipeline include the assembly, annotation, alignment, variant discovery and phylogenetic inference of large numbers of WGS isolates in parallel using open-source bioinformatics tools and virtualization technology. All prerequisite tools and dependencies come packaged together in a single suite that can be easily downloaded and installed on Linux and Mac operating systems.

Availability

Tychus is freely available as an open-source package under the MIT license, and can be downloaded via GitHub (https://github.com/Abdo-Lab/Tychus).

Contact

zaid.abdo@colostate.edu
Functional Characterization of Enhancer Evolution in the Primate Lineage
Authors: Klein Jason C. , Keith Aidan , Agarwal Vikram , Durham Timothy , Shendure Jay
Published: March 2018

Background

Enhancers play an important role in morphological evolution and speciation by controlling the spatiotemporal expression of genes. Due to technological limitations, previous efforts to understand the evolution of enhancers in primates have typically studied many enhancers at low resolution, or single enhancers at high resolution. Although comparative genomic studies reveal large-scale turnover of enhancers, a specific understanding of the molecular steps by which mammalian or primate enhancers evolve remains elusive.

Results

We identified candidate hominoid-specific liver enhancers from H3K27ac ChIP-seq data. After locating orthologs in 11 primates spanning ∼40 million years, we synthesized all orthologs as well as computational reconstructions of 9 ancestral sequences for 348 “active tiles” of 233 putative enhancers. We concurrently tested all sequences (20 per tile) for regulatory activity with STARR-seq in HepG2 cells, with the goal of characterizing the evolutionary-functional trajectories of each enhancer. We observe groups of enhancer tiles with coherent trajectories, most of which can be explained by one or two mutational events per tile. We quantify the correlation between the number of mutations along a branch and the magnitude of change in functional activity. Finally, we identify 57 mutations that correlate with functional changes; these are enriched for cytosine deamination events within CpGs, compared to background events.

Conclusions

We characterized the evolutionary-functional trajectories of hundreds of liver enhancers throughout the primate phylogeny. We observe subsets of regulatory sequences that appear to have gained or lost activity at various positions in the primate phylogeny. We use these data to quantify the relationship between sequence and functional divergence, and to identify CpG deamination as a potentially important force in driving changes in enhancer activity during primate evolution.
Structural elements required for coupling ion and substrate transport in the neurotransmitter transporter homolog LeuT
Authors: Zhang Yuan-Wei , Tavoulari Sotiria , Sinning Steffen , Aleksandrova Antoniya A. , Forrest Lucy R. , Rudnick Gary
Published: March 2018

The coupled transport of ions and substrates allows transporters to accumulate substrates using the energy in transmembrane ion gradients and electrical potentials. During transport, conformational changes that switch accessibility of substrate and ion binding sites from one side of the membrane to the other must be controlled so as to prevent uncoupled movement of ions or substrates. In the Neurotransmitter:Sodium Symporter (NSS) family, Na+ stabilizes the transporter in an outward-open state, thus decreasing the likelihood of uncoupled Na+ transport. In a step essential for coupled transport, substrate binding must overcome the effect of Na+, allowing intracellular substrate and Na+ release from an inward-open state. However, it is unclear which specific elements of the protein mediate this conformational response to substrate binding. Previously, we showed that in the prokaryotic NSS transporter LeuT, the effect of Na+ on conformation occurs at the Na2 site, where it influences conformation by fostering interaction between two domains of the protein (JBC 291: 1456, 2016). Here, we identify a conserved tyrosine residue in the substrate binding site required for substrate to enable conversion to inward-open states by establishing an interaction between the two transporter domains. We further identify additional interactions between the two transporter domains in the extracellular pathway that are required. Together with our previous work on the conformational effect of Na+, these results identify mechanistic components underlying ion-substrate coupling in NSS transporters.
Disrupted structure and aberrant function of CHIP mediates the loss of motor and cognitive function in preclinical models of cerebellar CHIPopathy
Authors: Shi Chang-he , Rubel Carrie , Soss Sarah E. , Sanchez-Hodge Rebekah , Zhang Shuo , Stevens Donte A. , McDonough Holly , Page Richard C. , Chazin Walter J. , Patterson Cam , Mao Cheng-yuan , Willis Monte S. , Luo Hai-Yang , Tang Mi-bo , Du Pan , Wang Yao-he , Hu Zheng-wei , Xu Yu-ming , Schisler Jonathan C.
Published: March 2018

CHIP (carboxyl terminus of heat shock 70-interacting protein) has long been recognized as an active member of the cellular protein quality control system given the ability of CHIP to function as both a co-chaperone and ubiquitin ligase. Mutations in CHIP are the driver of spinocerebellar autosomal recessive 16 (SCAR16), or cerebellar CHIPopathy, as we initially discovered this disease was caused by a loss of CHIP ubiquitin ligase function. The initial mutation describing SCAR16 was a missense mutation in the ubiquitin ligase domain of CHIP (p.T246M). Using multiple biophysical and cellular approaches, we demonstrate that T246M mutation results in structural disorganization and misfolding of the CHIP U-box domain, promoting oligomerization, and increased proteasome-dependent turnover. CHIP-T246M has no ligase activity, but maintains interactions with chaperones and alters the co-chaperone function of CHIP. To establish preclinical models of SCAR16, we engineered T246M at the endogenous locus in both mice and rats. Animals homozygous for T246M had both cognitive and motor cerebellar dysfunction distinct from those observed in the CHIP null animal model, as well as deficits in learning and memory, reflective of the cognitive deficits reported in SCAR16 patients. We conclude that the T246M mutation is not equivalent to the total loss of CHIP, supporting the concept that disease-causing CHIP mutations have different biophysical and functional repercussions on CHIP function that may directly correlate to the spectrum of clinical phenotypes observed in SCAR16 patients. Our findings both further expand our basic understanding of CHIP biology and provide meaningful mechanistic insight underlying the molecular drivers of SCAR16 disease pathology, which may be used to inform the development of novel therapeutics for this devastating disease.
Salt forms of sulfadiazine with alkali metal and organic cations
Authors: Campbell Gemma , Fisher Rebecca , Kennedy Alan R. , King Nathan L. C. , Spiteri Rebecca
Published: March 2018

The structures of four salt forms of sulfadiazine (SDH) with alkali metal cations are presented. Three contain the deprotonated SD anion (C10H9N4O2S). These are the discrete complex diaqua{4-[(pyrimidin-2-ylazanidyl-κN
1)sulfonyl-κO]aniline}lithium(I), [Li(SD)(H2O)2], (I), and the coordination polymers poly[{μ3-4-[(pyrimidin-2-ylazanidyl)sulfonyl]aniline}sodium(I)], [Na(SD)]
n
, (II), and poly[diaqua{μ3-4-[(pyrimidin-2-ylazanidyl)sulfonyl]aniline}potassium(I)], [K(SD)(H2O)2]
n
, (III). Na complex (II) is a three-dimensional coordination polymer, whilst K complex (III) has two crystallographically independent [K(SD)(H2O)2] units per asymmetric unit (Z′ = 2) and gives a two-dimensional coordination polymer whose layers propagate parallel to the crystallographic ab plane. The different bonding modes of the SD anion in these three complexes is discussed. Structure (IV) contains protonated SDH2 cations {4-[(pyrimidin-2-yl)sulfamoyl]anilinium, C10H11N4O2S} and the Orange G dianion [OG, 7-oxo-8-(phenylhydrazinylidene)naphthalene-1,3-disulfonate, C16H10N2O7S2], namely, 4-[(pyrimidin-2-yl)sulfamoyl]anilinium tetraaqua[7-oxo-8-(phenylhydrazinylidene)naphthalene-1,3-disulfonato]sodium(I) sesquihydrate, (SDH2)[Na(OG)(H2O)4]·1.5H2O. The [Na(OG)(H2O)4]2 dimers have antiparallel naphthyl ring structures joined through two Na centres that bond to the hydrazone anions through the O atoms of the ketone and sulfonate substituents. The structures of the salts formed on reaction of SDH with 2-aminopyridine and ethanolamine are also presented as 2-aminopyridinium 4-[(pyrimidin-2-ylazanidyl)sulfonyl]aniline, [C5H7N2][SD], (V), and ethanolaminium 4-[(pyrimidin-2-ylazanidyl)sulfonyl]aniline monohydrate, [HOCH2CH2NH3][SD]·H2O, (VI), respectively. Structure (V) features a heterodimeric R
2
2(8) hydrogen-bond motif between the cation and the anion, whilst structure (VI) has a tetrameric core of two cations linked by a central R
2
2(10) hydrogen-bonded motif which supports two anions linked to this core by R
3
3(8) motifs.
2-Oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl 4-tert-butylbenzoate
Authors: Ouédraogo Mohammad , Abou Akoun , Djandé Abdoulaye , Ouari Olivier , Zoueu T. Jérémie
Published: March 2018

In the title compound, C20H18O4, the benzoate ring is oriented at an acute angle of 33.10 (12)° with respect to the planar (r.m.s deviation = 0.016 Å) coumarin ring system. An intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond closes an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, C—H...O contacts generate infinite C(6) chains along the b-axis direction. Also present are π–π stacking interactions between neighbouring pyrone and benzene rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7034 (18) Å] and C=O...π interactions [O...centroid = 3.760 (3) Å]. The data obtained from quantum chemical calculations performed on the title compound are in good agreement with the observed structure, although the calculated C—O—C—C torsion angle between the coumarin ring system and the benzoate ring (129.1°) is somewhat lower than the observed value [141.3 (3)°]. Hirshfeld surface analysis has been used to confirm and quantify the supramolecular interactions.
1-{2-Anilino-4-methyl-5-[5-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbonyl]thiophen-3-yl}ethanone
Authors: El-Hiti Gamal A. , Abdel-Wahab Bakr F. , Khidre Rizk E. , Mostafa Mohamed S. , Hegazy Amany S. , Kariuki Benson M.
Published: March 2018

In the title compound, C24H22N4O2S, the dihedral angle between the triazole and thiophene rings is 4.83 (14)°. The dihedral angles between the triazole and tolyl rings and between the thiophene and phenyl rings are 48.42 (16) and 9.23 (13)°, respectively. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond closes anS(6) loop. In the crystal, molecules are stacked parallel to thea-axis direction with weak π–π interactions between adjacent thiophenyl and triazolyl groups within the stack [centroid–centroid separation = 3.9811 (16) Å].
5-Methyl-N′-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbonyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazide
Authors: El-Hiti Gamal A. , Abdel-Wahab Bakr F. , Mostafa Mohamed S. , Khidre Rizk E. , Hegazy Amany S. , Kariuki Benson M.
Published: March 2018

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C20H18N8O2, comprises one complete molecule and a half molecule completed by crystallographic twofold symmetry leading toZ= 12. The dihedral angles between the planes of the linked phenyl and methyltriazolyl groups are 69.48 (5) and 44.85 (9)° for the first molecule and 42.88 (9)° for the second. The conformations of the diformyl hydrazyl groups of the molecules are similar as indicated by C—N—N—C torsion angles of −83.4 (2) and −86.4 (3)°. In the crystal, neighbouring molecules are linked by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form independent columns propagating parallel to thec-axis direction.
5-Bromo-1-(4-bromophenyl)isatin
Authors: El-Hiti Gamal A. , Smith Keith , Alamri Mesfer , Morris Ceri A. , Kille Peter , Kariuki Benson M.
Published: March 2018

In the title compound [systematic name: 5-bromo-1-(4-bromophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2,3-dione], C14H7Br2NO2, all of the atoms except the C—H groups in the bromobenzene ring lie on a (010) crystallographic mirror plane, with the benzene ring completed by reflection. The dihedral angle between the ring systems is constrained to be 90° by symmetry. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak C—H...Br interactions in the [001] direction and paired very weak C—H...O interactions to the same acceptor in the [100] direction, generating (010) sheets. Possible extremely weak π–π stacking occurs between the layers.
General inverse solution of six-degrees-of-freedom serial robots based on the product of exponentials model
Authors: Wang Haixia , Lu Xiao , Cui Wei , Zhang Zhiguo , Li Yuxia , Sheng Chunyang
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Developing general closed-form solutions for six-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) serial robots is a significant challenge. This paper thus aims to present a general solution for six-DOF robots based on the product of exponentials model, which adapts to a class of robots satisfying the Pieper criterion with two parallel or intersecting axes among its first three axes.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed solution can be represented as uniform expressions by using geometrical properties and a modified Paden–Kahan sub-problem, which mainly adopts the screw theory.

Findings

A simulation and experiments validated the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method (general resolution for six-DOF robots based on the product of exponentials model).

Originality/value

The Rodrigues rotation formula is additionally used to turn the complex problem into a solvable trigonometric function and uniformly express six solutions using two formulas.
Why do I conform to your ideas?
Authors: Qu Yongzheng , Wu Wen , Tang Fangcheng , Si Haijian , Xia Yuhuan
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to advance and test a new construct, harmony voice. Furthermore, according to the social influence theory, the relationship betweenzhongyong, an essential Confucian orientation mode and voice behavior, and the moderating role of coworker’s regulatory focus (promotion focus and prevention focus) has been examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study has been designed to test our hypotheses. We used samples of 291 employee–coworker dyads from a variety of organizations in China to test this study’s hypotheses.

Findings

The results of this empirical study show thatzhongyongis positively related to harmony voice. Coworkers’ promotion focus strengthens the positive effect ofzhongyongon harmony voice, and coworkers’ prevention focus weakens the positive effect ofzhongyongon harmony voice.

Research limitations/implications

Traditionally defined voice and harmony voice might cause different risks to the voicer. However, how and what kinds of risks may be differently caused by these two types of voice behaviors have not been examined in this study. Future empirical research can explore the different effects of traditionally defined voice and harmony voice.

Practical implications

Managers responsible for managing Chinese employees should notice the difference in some important ways of thinking between Easterners and Westerners. Specifically,zhongyongmay direct people to express issues related to work in ways that are different from those of their Western counterparts. Harmony voice can benefit the Chinese organization without disrupting organizational development.

Social implications

By examining the relationship betweenzhongyongand harmony voice, we contribute to identifying antecedents of voice by using an emic research perspective.

Originality/value

We made significant theoretical contributions to voice literature. We developed the construct of harmony voice, and we examined the relationship betweenzhongyongand voice.
Sleeping with competitors
Authors: Kraus Sascha , Klimas Patrycja , Gast Johanna , Stephan Tobias
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the specific types of coopetition between small and medium-sized craft breweries and related businesses, as well as its drivers and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was carried out using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 18 different small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) combined with site visits and secondary data analysis.

Findings

The results reveal that craft breweries are engaging in coopetition in several different ways. Mutual benefit, trust, commitment, and sympathy are the crucial drivers for coopetition; whereas innovation development, market reach and marketing, as well as firm growth represent the key shared outcomes of coopetition.

Research limitations/implications

This study suffers from two main limitations, including the focus on coopetition of craft breweries operating in German-speaking countries only and the risk of subjectivity in analysis and interpretation due to the qualitative, explorative nature of the research.

Originality/value

The findings reveal insights into the uniqueness of SMEs – specifically craft brewers – regarding coopetition, which is currently of strong cooperative nature. This study completes prior coopetition knowledge by revealing the importance of coopetition for small, micro and resource-constrained firms operating in dynamic and innovative but traditional (here craft) industries; presenting the cooperation-based type of coopetition as a good competition strategy under fierce competition from large, more established and global business rivals; and identifying sympathy as an important coopetition driver.
The talent paradox: talent management as a mixed blessing
Authors: Daubner-Siva Dagmar , Ybema Sierk , Vinkenburg Claartje J. , Beech Nic
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an inside-out perspective on the practices and effects of talent management (TM) in a multinational organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts an autoethnographic approach focusing on the experiences of the first author during her employment in a multinational organization. This approach contributes to the literature by providing an insider talent perspective that thus far has not been presented in TM research.

Findings

Applying autoethnography as a means to address the inside-out perspective in TM reveals a tension. The authors label this phenomenon the “talent paradox,” defined as the mix of simultaneously occurring opportunities and risks for individuals identified and celebrated as a talent.

Originality/value

The paper may be of value to TM scholars and practitioners, as well as to employees who have been identified as high potentials or talents in their organizations. In contrast with the TM literature’s optimism, the findings illuminate that being identified as a talent may paradoxically produce both empowerment and powerlessness. Attending to personal aspects of TM processes is relevant for organizations as well as for individuals as it enables reflection and sensemaking.
Manufacturing strategy process: the role of shop-floor communication
Authors: Alcaide-Muñoz Cristina , Bello-Pintado Alejandro , Merino-Diaz de Cerio Javier
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the link between manufacturing strategy formalization and manufacturing strategy implementation, considering the potential moderating role of shop-floor communication.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple linear regression models considering main and interaction effects of strategy formulation and shop-floor communication on strategy implementation were performed using data from the fourth round of the international HPM Project. This includes plants with more than 100 employees in the automotive, machinery and electronics industries from 10 different countries. Unlike other research studies, this research takes into account plant management’s and plant supervisors’ perceptions.

Findings

The findings show that formal strategic planning positively influences manufacturing strategy implementation. Furthermore, both feedback and instructive communication practices moderate the manufacturing strategy process, resulting in successful manufacturing strategy embeddedness, and prompt adaptation to change.

Practical implications

This study provides a better understanding of the manufacturing strategy process for scholars and practitioners. In addition, the results suggest that the adoption of some shop-floor communication practices can benefit firms through the strengthening of strategy implementation.

Originality/value

This paper provides empirical evidence to the emerging discussion on whether formal strategic planning helps to adopt a strategy or on the contrary make decision making inflexible.
Audit committee accounting expertise and forward-looking disclosures
Authors: Abad Cristina , Bravo Francisco
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how the accounting expertise of audit committee members is associated with the disclosure of forward-looking information.

Design/methodology/approach

Manual content analysis is used to analyze forward-looking information disclosed in annual reports as well as gather data about the accounting expertise of directors. Regression analysis is performed to study the association between the disclosure variables and the accounting expertise of audit committee members.

Findings

The results show that the accounting expertise of audit committee members is associated with forward-looking disclosure practices, particularly with information of a financial and strategic nature.

Practical implications

The evidence has direct implications for companies in the selection of directors, as stakeholders may demand nomination committees to appoint audit committees with the accounting experts. They may also request regulatory actions regarding the structure of the audit committee, as these add to the evidence on the benefits of selecting such experts.

Social implications

The evidence on the role of accounting expertise could also help the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to narrow the definition of financial expertise to specifically consider accounting expertise, as is already happening in the EU context.

Originality/value

This paper extends prior research on corporate governance and voluntary disclosure by showing the association between the company having at least one accounting expert in the audit committee and the level of disclosure of value-relevant information.
Examining the effect of eWOM on the customer purchase intention through value co-creation (VCC) in social networking sites (SNSs)
Authors: Kunja Sambashiva Rao , GVRK Acharyulu
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on the value co-creation (VCC) and purchase intentions of consumers in Facebook fan pages of smartphone brands in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 762 members from India present in the selected fan pages of smartphone brands in Facebook, and the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling.

Findings

This empirical study revealed a positive relationship among the three variables and provided new insights after analyzing the collected data. There was clear evidence of VCC being partially mediated by eWOM and purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The perspective of the study was to validate the proposed conceptual model by considering members’ perception of the product, as put forth on Facebook fan pages. The methods used in this study could be adapted to conduct further studies on other social networking sites like Instagram and Twitter.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature of eWOM, VCC and consumer behavior in social networking sites, and our findings will help marketers to develop a new method of disseminating product information to and within India through social networking sites.
The issue of gender and race in career progress and labor market
Authors: Silva Sandra Maria Cerqueira da , Lucas Angela
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The text is the result of research carried out at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. This think-box corresponds to a collection of ideas and reflections debated in a roundtable that discussed issues related to access and career limitations for women, especially for black women. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to present, analytically, data that demonstrate the unequal conditions by gender and race.

Design/methodology/approach

The selected approach was qualitative in a critical perspective.

Findings

The discussion elicits important social markers to establish difference, and thereby promote exclusion. Reflection on these issues needs to go beyond academic boundaries and reach the business community, perhaps worldwide, sensitizing them to the urgent need to revise biased methods and procedures that are crystallized. It is necessary to create conditions for a more balanced and humane look at women, especially black women. And, in this way ensure fairness in the treatment of people in all aspects, especially in educational spaces and the labor market.

Research limitations/implications

The difficulty in identifying some systematized data limits the condition of broadening our view to points that have been discussed in the text, such as where are the 6 percent of black executive women.

Practical implications

It is hoped that this paper may elicit reflections on the current social exclusionary context, and subsidize practices on a more equitable basis observing gender and race.

Social implications

Socially speaking, it is hoped that this discussion could guide actions to eliminate or reduce the gap, mainly through specific public policies to address the issues of women in Brazil.

Originality/value

It is the parallel discussion of gender and race in the business sector, where the subjects were scarcely explored, and the critical theory was used as a basis of analysis.
A parallel computing thin‐sheet inversion algorithm for airborne time‐domain data utilising a variable overburden
Authors: Boesen Tue , Auken Esben , Christiansen Anders Vest , Fiandaca Gianluca , Schamper Cyril
Published: March 2018

Accurate modelling of the conductivity structure of mineralisations can often be difficult. In order to remedy this, a parametric approach is often used. We have developed a parametric thin‐sheet code, with a variable overburden. The code is capable of performing inversions of time‐domain airborne electromagnetic data, and it has been tested successfully on both synthetic data and field data. The code implements an integral solution containing one or more conductive sheets, buried in a half‐space with a laterally varying conductive overburden. This implementation increases the area of applicability compared to, for example, codes operating in free space, but it comes with a significant increase in computational cost. To minimise the cost, the code is parallelised using OpenMP and heavily optimised, which means that inversions of field data can be performed in hours on multiprocessor desktop computers. The code models the full system transfer function of the electromagnetic system, including variable flight height. The code is demonstrated with a synthetic example imitating a mineralisation buried underneath a conductive meadow. As a field example, the Valen mineral deposit, which is a graphite mineral deposit located in a variable overburden, is successfully inverted. Our results match well with previous models of the deposit; however, our predicted sheet remains inconclusive. These examples collectively demonstrate the effectiveness of our thin‐sheet code.
Transient synchrony among populations of five foliage‐feeding Lepidoptera
Authors: Klapwijk Maartje J. , Walter Jonathan A. , Hirka Anikó , Csóka György , Björkman Christer , Liebhold Andrew M.
Published: March 2018

Studies of transient population dynamics have largely focused on temporal changes in dynamical behaviour, such as the transition between periods of stability and instability. This study explores a related dynamic pattern, namely transient synchrony during a 49‐year period among populations of five sympatric species of forest insects that share host tree resources. The long time series allows a more comprehensive exploration of transient synchrony patterns than most previous studies. Considerable variation existed in the dynamics of individual species, ranging from periodic to aperiodic.

We used time‐averaged methods to investigate long‐term patterns of synchrony and time‐localized methods to detect transient synchrony. We investigated transient patterns of synchrony between species and related these to the species' varying density dependence structures; even species with very different density dependence exhibited at least temporary periods of synchrony. Observed periods of interspecific synchrony may arise from interactions with host trees (e.g., induced host defences), interactions with shared natural enemies or shared impacts of environmental stochasticity.

The transient nature of synchrony observed here raises questions both about the identity of synchronizing mechanisms and how these mechanisms interact with the endogenous dynamics of each species. We conclude that these patterns are the result of interspecific interactions that act only temporarily to synchronize populations, after which differences in the endogenous population dynamics among the species acts to desynchronize their dynamics.
Delineating limits: Confronting predicted climatic suitability to field performance in mistletoe populations
Authors: Sangüesa‐Barreda Gabriel , Camarero J. Julio , Pironon Samuel , Gazol Antonio , Peguero‐Pina José Javier , Gil‐Pelegrín Eustaquio
Published: March 2018

Biotic stressors such as hemiparasites have a profound impact on forest functioning. However, predicting the future incidence of these stressors on forests remains challenging because climate‐based distribution does not consider tree–hemiparasite interactions or the impacts of extreme climate events on stressors’ performance.

We use species distribution models (SDMs) and ecophysiological and demographic field data to assess whether climatic suitability is a proxy for the performance of the hemiparasite mistletoe (Viscum album) in two forests with contrasting climatic conditions. Two host tree species representing wet‐cold (Scots pine) and dry‐warm (Aleppo pine) conditions were selected. We fitted SDMs based on climate variables, and measured different ecophysiological variables capturing cold‐ (photoinhibition) and drought tolerance (intrinsic water‐use efficiency, iWUE). We also assessed demographic variables related to seed germination and establishment rates of mistletoe through a translocation experiment.

Species distribution models showed a high climatic suitability of mistletoe in both forests. Mistletoes living in the Scots pines site presented a higher cold tolerance, while those inhabiting the Aleppo pine site showed a higher iWUE. Seedlings coming from local seeds showed a lower mortality than seedlings coming from translocated seeds. Germination and seedling establishment showed temporal mismatches when comparing local and translocated seeds.

Synthesis. Habitat suitability predicted by SDMs based on climate data and field performance were related in this mistletoe species. However, ecophysiological and demographic variables indicated a lower fitness of mistletoe in the dry‐warm site associated with drought stress. In conclusion, predicted climate suitability based on SDMs forecasts should be refined using field data on actual performance and considering plant‐to‐plant interactions and extreme climate events.
The environmental triangle of the Cerrado Domain: Ecological factors driving shifts in tree species composition between forests and savannas
Authors: Bueno Marcelo Leandro , Dexter Kyle G. , Pennington R. Toby , Pontara Vanessa , Neves Danilo Mesquita , Ratter James Alexander , de Oliveira‐Filho Ary Teixeira
Published: March 2018

The Cerrado Domain of central Brazil houses the largest extent of savanna in the Neotropics, but despite its simple characterization as a giant savanna, it contains considerable vegetation heterogeneity that is poorly understood.

We aimed to determine how vegetation types in the Cerrado diverge in their tree species composition and what role ecological factors play in driving compositional patterns.

We used a dataset of 1,165 tree species inventories spread across the Cerrado Domain, which come from six vegetation types that have a substantial arboreal component: woody savannas, dystrophic cerradão, mesotrophic cerradão, seasonally dry tropical forests, semideciduous forests and evergreen forests. We found three extremes in terms of tree species composition, with clear underlying ecological drivers, which leads us to propose a ternary model, the Cerrado Vegetation Triangle, to characterize woody vegetation in the Cerrado. At one extreme, we found that semideciduous and evergreen forests are indistinguishable floristically and are found in areas with high water availability. At another extreme lie seasonally dry tropical forests which are found on more fertile soils. At the third extreme, we found that all types of savanna, and dystrophic cerradão, are highly similar in tree species composition and are commonly found in areas of poor soils and high flammability. Mesotrophic cerradão is transitional in tree species composition between savannas and seasonally dry tropical forest.

The lack of variation in tree species composition attributed to climatic variables indicates that within homogeneous macroclimatic zones, many types of forest and savanna co‐exist due to complex mosaics of local substrate heterogeneity and fire history.

Synthesis. Our findings highlight the complexity of forest–savanna transitions in the Cerrado Domain, with relevance for understanding the future of Cerrado vegetation under environmental change. If nitrogen deposition is extensive, some savannas may be more likely to transition to mesotrophic cerradão or even seasonally dry tropical forest, whereas if water availability increases these same savannas may transition to semideciduous or evergreen forest. Our “Cerrado Vegetation Triangle” model offers a simple conceptual tool to frame discussions of conservation and management.
Reconfiguring labour value and the capital/labour relation in Italian global fashion
Authors: Yanagisako Sylvia
Published: March 2018

This essay draws on ethnographic research conducted from 2004 to 2012 among Italian firms involved in the manufacture and distribution of textiles and clothing in China to argue that the boundary between labour and capital cannot be assumed as fixed and stable, but rather is continually remade through particular, situated historical processes. I show how the Italian national legacy of capital/labour relations both set the stage for the outsourcing of manufacturing to China and shaped Italian firms’ investment and labour management strategies. As Chinese consumers became increasingly crucial to the European fashion industry, Italian firms reorganized their production and distribution processes to live up to the prestige value of ‘Made in Italy’.  This brought about an ironic twist in the fetishism of commodities in which the proclaimed immaterial value of Italian commodities was appropriated by Italian managers, enhancing their labour value.  At the same time, however, the dislocation of Italian managers impeded the process through which labour had been converted into capital in Italian industrial districts, hardening the boundary between capital and labour and altering the dynamic structure of capital/labour relations.
‘Making’ labour in Mexican artisanal workshops
Authors: Cant Alanna
Published: March 2018

The anthropology of art and craft has been reinvigorated by new theoretical approaches to materiality, creativity, and skill. While this research has been connected to larger political economic processes such as nationalism, identity, and consumerism, these approaches have not been wholly brought to bear on questions of labour. Based on ethnographic research in San Martín Tilcajete, a woodcarving village in Oaxaca, Mexico, this essay shows how labour is made in artisanal workshops through the social and material relations that take place within them. I argue that rather than ownership of the means of production, in San Martín relations of labour are generated by the intermingling of the art world's ideology of ‘authorship’ with the intimate relations of kinship. The art market locates the production of value in the work of those who are recognized as authors, eliding the labour of many of the workers who produce the carvings. Labourers who work for family members struggle to establish themselves independently in this market because of the multiple and socially salient relations of obligation and respect that are central to kinship and because their own creative work becomes subsumed into the general style of the workshop where they are employed.
Controlling denaturation and aggregation of whey proteins during thermal processing by modifying temperature and calcium concentration
Authors: Joyce Aoife M , Kelly Alan L , O'Mahony James A
Published: March 2018

Whey protein isolate solutions (8.00 g protein/100 g; pH 6.8) were treated for 2 min at 72, 85 or 85 °C with 2.2 mM added calcium Ca to produce four whey protein systems: unheated control (WPI‐UH), heated at 72 °C (WPI‐H72), heated at 85 °C (WPI‐H85) or heated at 85 °C with added Ca (WPI‐H85Ca). Total levels of whey protein denaturation increased with increasing temperature, while the extent of aggregation increased with the addition of Ca, contributing to differences in viscosity. Significant changes in Ca ion concentration, turbidity and colour on heating of WPI‐H85Ca, compared to WPI‐UH, demonstrated the role of Ca in whey protein aggregation.
Lubricant use during intercourse and time to pregnancy: a prospective cohort study
Authors: McInerney KA , Hahn KA , Hatch EE , Mikkelsen EM , Steiner AZ , Rothman KJ , Sørensen HT , Snerum TM , Wise LA
Published: March 2018

Objective

To assess the extent to which lubricant use during intercourse is associated with time to pregnancy (TTP).

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Denmark and North America.

Population

A total of 6467 women aged 18–49 years who were not using contraception or fertility treatment.

Methods

We pooled data from two continuing prospective cohort studies of pregnancy planners in Denmark (2011–2017) and North America (2013–2017). Female participants completed bimonthly questionnaires for 12 months or until they reported pregnancy. After restricting the study to women without a history of infertility who had been trying to conceive for six or fewer cycles at enrollment, 6467 women were retained for analysis. Self‐reported lubricant use was categorised as water‐based/not pH balanced, water‐based/pH balanced ‘fertility friendly’, silicone‐based, oil‐based, or a combination of these. We used proportional probability models to calculate fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between lubricant use and fecundability, after adjusting for cohort and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

Main outcome measure

Fecundability.

Results

At baseline, 17.5% of participants reported the use of lubricants, most commonly water‐based/not pH balanced (11.4%). Compared with non‐use of lubricants, FRs were 1.02 (95% CI 0.93–1.11) for water‐based/not pH‐balanced lubricant use, 1.01 (95% CI 0.86–1.18) for water‐based/pH balanced ‘fertility friendly’ lubricant use, 1.23 (95% CI 0.94–1.61) for oil‐based lubricant use, and 1.27 (95% CI 0.93–1.73) for silicone‐based lubricant use. Associations between oil‐based lubricant use and fecundability were inconsistent across subgroups of study cohort, age, parity, and intercourse frequency.

Conclusions

Lubricant use was not associated with reduced fecundability in the preconception cohorts of pregnancy planners studied.

Tweetable abstract

Lubricant use during intercourse was not associated with time to pregnancy in a study of pregnancy planners.
Impacts of farmer field schools on productivity of vegetable farming in Indonesia
Authors: Luther Gregory C. , Mariyono Joko , Purnagunawan Raden M. , Satriatna Ben , Siyaranamual Martin
Published: March 2018

This study assesses the impact of farmer field schools (FFS) on the productivity of vegetable farming in vegetable‐producing areas of East Java and Bali, Indonesia. The FFS have equipped over 3,000 vegetable farmers with integrated crop management knowledge applicable to chilies and tomatoes. The FFS are expected to enhance farmers’ capacity such that they can increase production. This study employs a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) method to overcome selection bias. A survey of 250 FFS‐graduated farmers and 250 non‐FFS farmers were purposively randomly selected from the overall community of farmers. Focus group discussion was used to support the survey. The results indicate that FFS were successful for enhancing farmers’ capability in vegetable farming. Farmers who participated in FFS have higher productivity than those who did not. Farmers also could adapt and adopt the knowledge gained from FFS as they underwent a process of learning by doing. The impacts of the increase in farmers’ capacity can be more evident if weaknesses during the FFS preparation and implementation can be overcome, to ensure more participation, flexibility to fit different conditions/needs and continuous learning.
The Fate of Mycotoxins During the Processing of Wheat for Human Consumption
Authors: Schaarschmidt Sara , Fauhl‐Hassek Carsten
Published: March 2018

Mycotoxins are a potential health threat in cereals including wheat. In the European Union (EU), mycotoxin maximum levels are laid down for cereal raw materials and final food products. For wheat and wheat‐based products, the EU maximum levels apply to deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the different mycotoxins and their legal limits and on how processing of wheat can affect such contaminants, from raw material to highly processed final products, based on relevant scientific studies published in the literature. The potential compliance with EU maximum levels is discussed. Of the four mycotoxins regulated in wheat‐based foods in the EU, most data are available for DON, whereas aflatoxins were rarely studied in the processing of wheat. Furthermore, available data on the effect of processing are outlined for mycotoxins not regulated by EU law—including modified and emerging mycotoxins—and which cover DON derivatives (DON‐3‐glucoside, mono‐acetyl‐DONs, norDONs, deepoxy‐DON), nivalenol, T‐2 and HT‐2 toxins, enniatins, beauvericin, moniliformin, and fumonisins. The processing steps addressed in this review cover primary processing (premilling and milling operations) and secondary processing procedures (such as fermentation and thermal treatments). A special focus is on the production of baked goods, and processing factors for DON in wheat bread production were estimated. For wheat milling products derived from the endosperm and for white bread, compliance with legal requirements seems to be mostly achievable when applying good practices. In the case of wholemeal products, bran‐enriched products, or high‐cereal low‐moisture bakery products, this appears to be challenging and improved technology and/or selection of high‐quality raw materials would be required.