bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mismatch Repair Deficiency in Endometrial Cancer: Immunohistochemistry Staining and Clinical Implications
Authors: Doghri Raoudha , Houcine Yoldez , Boujelbène Nadia , Driss Maha , Charfi Lamia , Abbes Imène , Mrad Karima , Sellami Rim
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency is associated with increased risk of developing several types of cancer and is the most common cause of hereditary endometrial cancer. Identification of the microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype in endometrial carcinoma is important given that such tumors are frequent.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC), a simple and fast technique, in detecting MSI status in endometrial carcinoma and evaluate the correlation between the MSI phenotype and the various anatomo-clinical parameters.

Methods:

IHC expression of 4 markers (MLH1, MSH2, PMS2, and MSH6) was studied. For all IHC markers, a combined score based on the intensity of nuclear labeling and the percentage of labeled cells was defined to establish a score. Correlation between MSI phenotype and different clinicopathologic parameters was evaluated using statistical analysis (software STATA and the Fisher exact test).

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 58.6 years. Positive staining was highly extended (score 3) with 79% to 100% of marked cells. Less than 10% of positive tumor cells were seen in 3% of cases for MSH6 and PMS2. Abnormal MMR IHC was detected in 10 cases (22.22%). Seven tumors showed loss of MLH1/PMS2. The loss of MSH2/MSH6 was observed in 1 case. The loss of MLH1 or PMS2 was seen only in 2 cases. The number of MSI positive status was 10 cases (22.7%). Correlation between clinicopathologic parameters showed MMR deficiency was significantly associated with low-grade tumor and localized stage. There was no positive correlation between age, histologic subtype, or myometrium invasion.

Conclusions:

In summary, detection of DNA MMR deficiencies by IHC can effectively diagnose the MSI phenotype in endometrial carcinoma. Correlation between clinicopathologic parameters showed MMR deficiency was significantly associated with low-grade tumor and localized stage.
Rapid diagnosis of invasive candidiasis: ready for prime-time?
Authors: Clancy Cornelius J. , Nguyen Minh-Hong
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

We review the performance of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs), including β-d-glucan (BDG), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and T2Candida, in diagnosing invasive candidiasis, their potential roles in patient management, and unintended consequences of testing.

Recent findings

In a recent multicenter trial, T2Candida was 90% sensitive and 98% specific for diagnosing candidemia. A new study provided the first data for T2Candida in diagnosing deep-seated candidiasis, demonstrating sensitivity/specificity of 45%/96%. Two studies showed that ongoing T2Candida-positivity is associated with poor prognosis. In several studies, serum BDG and T2Candida, targeted to patients at-risk for invasive candidiasis, were useful in guiding treatment decisions and antifungal stewardship. A randomized, multicenter trial of BDG-guided empiric antifungal treatment is underway among critically ill patients. PCR performance was highly variable for candidemia and deep-seated candidiasis in recent studies. CIDT results may overstate bloodstream infections, according to current National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions.

BDG and T2Candida are nearing prime-time status in the clinic. To be useful, testing must be directed to carefully chosen patients and specific clinical questions. Candida PCR is limited by a need for standardized methodologies and commercial assays. NHSN definitions of bloodstream infections must be revised in the era of CIDTs.
Antibiotics and adverse events: the role of antimicrobial stewardship programs in ‘doing no harm’
Authors: Bauer Karri A. , Kullar Ravina , Gilchrist Mark , File Thomas M.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat worldwide, with deaths associated with AMR infections projected to exceed 10 million per year by the year 2050. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is the primary driver of this resistance, with up to 50% of antibiotics prescribed in the hospital setting being either unnecessary or inappropriate. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs (ASPs) can mitigate some of this resistance, with the benefits well recognized; however, if we are to truly advance the state of AMS, the principles and practices should align with patient safety.

Recent findings

In a recent evaluation, among 1488 adult patients receiving systemic antibiotic therapy, 298 (20%) experienced at least one antibiotic-associated adverse drug event (ADE). Fifty-six (20%) nonclinically indicated antibiotic regimens were associated with an ADE. It is also well recognized that besides ADEs, the inappropriate use of antibiotics is associated the development of multidrug-resistant infections and Clostridium difficile infection.

Currently, there is a significant gap in ASPs correlating initiatives with patient safety goals, including reductions in antibiotic-associated ADEs and multidrug-resistant infections. Therefore, in this article, we provide the rationale for why ASPs are best suited to lead a collaborative effort to prevent antibiotic-associated ADEs and multidrug-resistant infections.
Word knowledge in six- to nine-month-old Norwegian infants? Not without additional frequency cues
Authors: Kartushina Natalia , Mayor Julien
Published: September 2019

The past 5 years have witnessed claims that infants as young as six months of age understand the meaning of several words. To reach this conclusion, researchers presented infants with pairs of pictures from distinct semantic domains and observed longer looks at an object upon hearing its name as compared with the name of the other object. However, these gaze patterns might indicate infants' sensibility to the word frequency and/or its contextual relatedness to the object regardless of a firm semantic understanding of this word. The current study attempted, first, to replicate, in Norwegian language, the results of recent studies showing that six- to nine-month-old English-learning infants understand the meaning of many common words. Second, it assessed the robustness of a ‘comprehension’ interpretation by dissociating semantic knowledge from confounded extra-linguistic cues via the manipulation of the contingency between words and objects. Our planned analyses revealed that Norwegian six- to nine-month-old infants did not understand the meaning of the words used in the study. Our exploratory analyses showed evidence of word comprehension at eight to nine months of age—rather than from six to seven months of age for English-learning infants—suggesting that there are cross-linguistic differences in the onset of word comprehension. In addition, our study revealed that eight- to nine-month-old infants cannot rely exclusively on single extra-linguistic cues to disambiguate between two items, thus suggesting the existence of early word-object mappings. However, these mappings are weak, as infants need additional cues (such as an imbalance in frequency of word use) to reveal word recognition. Our results suggest that the very onset of word comprehension is not based on the infants' knowledge of words
per se
. Rather, infants use a converging set of cues to identify referents, among which frequency is a robust (pre-semantic) cue that infants exploit to guide object disambiguation and, in turn, learn new words.
Cultivating river sediments into efficient denitrifying sludge for treating municipal wastewater
Authors: Hou Liangang , Li Jun , Zheng Zhaoming , Sun Qi , Liu Yitao , Zhang Kai
Published: September 2019

The river sediment contains a lot of pollutants in many cases, and needs to be treated appropriately for the restoration of water environments. In this study, a novel method was developed to convert river sediment into denitrifying sludge in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The river sediment was added into the reactor daily and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the reactor was gradually reduced from 8 to 4 h. The reactor achieved in the

N

O

3

 
–

N

removal efficiency of 85% with the

N

O

3

 
–

N

removal rate of 0.27 kg N m
−3
d
−1
. Response surface analysis represents that nitrate removal was affected mainly by HRT, followed by sediment addition. The denitrifying sludge achieved the highest activity with the following conditions:

N

O

3

 
–

N

50 mg l
−1
, HRT 6 h and adding 6 ml river sediments to 1 l wastewater of reactor per day. As a result, the cultivated denitrifying sludge could remove 80%

N

O

3

 
–

N

for real municipal wastewater, and the high-throughput sequence analysis indicated that major denitrifying bacteria genera and the relative abundance in the cultivated denitrifying sludge were
Diaphorobacter
(33.82%) and
Paracoccus
(24.49%). The river sediments cultivating method in this report can not only obtain denitrifying sludge, but also make use of sediment resources, which has great application potential.
Single-particle measurements of filamentous influenza virions reveal damage induced by freezing
Authors: Hirst Jack C. , Hutchinson Edward C.
Published: September 2019

Clinical isolates of influenza virus produce pleiomorphic virions, ranging from small spheres to elongated filaments. The filaments are seemingly adaptive in natural infections, but their basic functional properties are poorly understood and functional studies of filaments often report contradictory results. This may be due to artefactual damage from routine laboratory handling, an issue which has been noted several times without being explored in detail. To determine whether standard laboratory techniques could damage filaments, we used immunofluorescence microscopy to rapidly and reproducibly quantify and characterize the dimensions of filaments. Most of the techniques we tested had minimal impact on filaments, but freezing to −70 °C, a standard storage step before carrying out functional studies on influenza viruses, severely reduced their concentration, median length and the infectivity of the whole virion population. We noted that damage from freezing is likely to have affected most of the functional studies of filaments performed to date, and to address this we show that it can be mitigated by snap-freezing or incorporating the cryoprotectant DMSO. We recommend that functional studies of filaments characterize virion populations prior to analysis to ensure reproducibility, and that they use unfrozen samples if possible and cryoprotectants if not. These basic measures will support the robust functional characterizations of filaments that are required to understand their roles in natural influenza virus infections.
Prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shiferaw Wondimeneh Shibabaw , Yirga Tadesse , Work Yeshamble , Aynalem Yared Asmare
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a global health care problem and financially costly. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is common and frequent cause of morbidity and disability. Despite its serious complications, limited evidence is available on the magnitude of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among patient with diabetes mellitus. Hence, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among patients with diabetes mellitus in Africa.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Africa journal online, WHO afro library and Cochrane review were systematically searched online to retrieve related articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline was followed. Heterogeneity across the included studies was evaluated by inconsistency index (I2). Publication bias was examined by funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. The random-effect model was fitted to estimate the pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among diabetes mellitus patients. All statistical analysis was done using STATA version 14 software for windows.

Results

Twenty-three studies which comprises of 269,691 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 46% (95% CI:36.21-55.78%). Based on the subgroup analysis, the highest magnitude of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was reported in West Africa 49.4% (95% CI: 32.74, 66.06).

Conclusion

This study revealed that the overall prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is relatively high in Africa. Hence, diabetic peripheral neuropathy needs situation based intervention and preventive strategy depending on their country context. Furthermore, further meta-analysis study is needed to identify associated factors for the occurrence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Predictive Metagenomic Analysis of Autoimmune Disease Identifies Robust Autoimmunity and Disease Specific Microbial Signatures
Authors: Volkova Angelina , Ruggles Kelly V.
Published: September 2019

Within the last decade, numerous studies have demonstrated changes in the gut microbiome associated with specific autoimmune diseases. Due to differences in study design, data quality control, analysis and statistical methods, many results of these studies are inconsistent and incomparable. To better understand the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and autoimmunity, we have completed a comprehensive re-analysis of 42 studies focusing on the gut microbiome in twelve autoimmune diseases to identify a microbial signature predictive of multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and general autoimmune disease using both 16S rRNA sequencing data and shotgun metagenomics data. To do this, we used four machine learning algorithms, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), ridge regression and support vector machine with radial kernel and recursive feature elimination to rank disease predictive taxa comparing disease vs. healthy participants and pairwise comparisons of each disease. Comparing the performance of these models, we found XGBoost and random forest, tree-based methods capable of handling sparse multidimensional data, to consistently produce the best results. Through this modeling, we identified a number of taxa consistently identified as dysregulated in a general autoimmune disease model includingOdoribacter, Lachnospiraceae ClostridiumandMogibacteriaceaeimplicating all as potential factors connecting the gut microbiome and to autoimmune response. Further, we computed pairwise comparison models to identify disease specific taxa signatures highlighting a role forPeptostreptococcaceaeandRuminococcaceae Gemmigerin IBD andAkkermansia, Butyricicoccus and Mogibacteriaceaein MS. We then connected a subset of these taxa with potential metabolic alterations based on metagenomic/metabolomic correlation analysis, identifying 250 metabolites associated with autoimmunity-predictive taxa.
Neurocognitive development of inhibitory control and substance use vulnerability
Authors: Quach Alina , Tervo-Clemmens Brenden , Foran William , Calabro Finnegan J. , Chung Tammy , Clark Duncan B. , Luna Beatriz
Published: September 2019

Previous research indicates that risk for substance use is associated with poor inhibitory control. However, it remains unclear whether at risk youth use follow divergent patterns of inhibitory control development. As part of the longitudinal National Consortium on Adolescent Neurodevelopment and Alcohol (NCANDA) study, participants (N= 113, baseline age: 12-21) completed a rewarded antisaccade task during fMRI, with up to three time points. We examined whether substance use risk factors, including dimensional measures of psychopathology (externalizing, internalizing) and family history of substance use disorder, were associated with developmental differences in inhibitory control performance and BOLD activation at both the trial-level and within individual antisaccade epochs (cue, preparation, and response). Among substance use risk factors, only externalizing psychopathology predicted developmental differences in inhibitory control, where high externalizing predicted lower correct response rates and faster latencies were observed in early adolescence, but normalized by late adolescence. Neuroimaging results revealed high externalizing was associated with developmentally-stable hypo-activation in the left middle frontal gyrus (trial-level), but divergent developmental patterns of posterior parietal cortex activation (cue epoch). Developmental differences in inhibitory control associated with externalizing suggest early adolescence may be a unique period of substance use vulnerability via cognitive and phenotypic disinhibition.

Highlights

Characterized inhibitory control development in adolescents at-risk for substance use.

Externalizing psychopathology is associated with lower antisaccade correct response rate and faster latencies in early adolescence.

Externalizing performance differences normalize by late adolescence.

Externalizing is associated with prefrontal hypo-activation across development.

Externalizing moderates age-related increases in posterior parietal cortex activity.
Modulation of brain activity by selective attention to audiovisual dialogues
Authors: Leminen Alina , Verwoert Maxime , Moisala Mona , Salmela Viljami , Wikman Patrik , Alho Kimmo
Published: September 2019

In real-life noisy situations, we can selectively attend to conversations in the presence of irrelevant voices, but neurocognitive mechanisms in such natural listening situations remaiin largely unexplored. Previous research has shown distributed activity in the mid superior temporal gyrus (STG) and sulcus (STS) while listening to speech and human voices, in the posterior STS and fusiform gyrus when combining auditory, visual and linguistic information, as well as in lefthemisphere temporal and frontal cortical areas during comprehension. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated how selective attention modulates neural responses to naturalistic audiovisual dialogues. Our healthy adult participants (N = 15) selectively attended to video-taped dialogues between a man and woman in the presence of irrelevant continuous speech in the background. We modulated the auditory quality of dialogues with noise vocoding and their visual quality by masking speech-related facial movements. Both increased auditory quality and increased visual quality were associated with bilateral activity enhancements in the STG/STS. In addition, decreased audiovisual stimulus quality elicited enhanced fronto-parietal activity, presumably reflecting increased attentional demands. Finally, attention to the dialogues, in relation to a control task where a fixation cross was attended and the dialogue ignored, yielded enhanced activity in the left planum polare, angular gyrus, the right temporal pole, as well as in the orbitofrontal/ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate gyrus. Our findings suggest that naturalistic conversations effectively engage participants and reveal brain networks related to social perception in addition to speech and semantic processing networks.
Characterization of non-canonical G beta-like protein FvGbb2 and its relationship with heterotrimeric G proteins in Fusarium verticillioides
Authors: Yan Huijuan , Shim Won Bo
Published: September 2019

Fusarium verticillioides is a fungal pathogen that is responsible for maize ear rot and stalk rot diseases worldwide. The fungus also produces carcinogenic mycotoxins, fumonisins, on infested maize. Unfortunately, we still lack clear understanding of how the pathogen responds to host and environmental stimuli to trigger fumonisin biosynthesis. The heterotrimeric G protein complex, consisting of canonical Gα, Gβ, and Gγ subunits, is involved in transducing signals from external stimuli to regulate downstream signal transduction pathways. Previously, we demonstrated that Gβ protein FvGbb1 has direct impact on fumonisin regulation but no other physiological aspects in F. verticillioides. In this study, we identified and characterized a putative receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) homolog FvGbb2 as a putative Gβ-like protein in F. verticillioides. The mutant exhibited severe defects not only in fumonisin biosynthesis but also vegetative growth and conidiation. FvGbb2 was positively associated with carbon source utilization and stress agents but negatively regulated general amino acid control. While FvGbb2 does not interact with canonical G protein subunits, it may interact with diverse proteins in the cytoplasm to regulate vegetative growth, virulence, fumonisin biosynthesis, and stress response in F. verticillioides.
Replication gaps underlie BRCA-deficiency and therapy response
Authors: Panzarino Nicholas J. , Krais John , Peng Min , Mosqueda Michelle , Nayak Sumeet , Bond Samuel , Calvo Jennifer , Cong Ke , Doshi Mihir , Bere Matt , Ou Jianhong , Deng Bin , Zhu Lihua Julie , Johnson Neil , Cantor Sharon B.
Published: September 2019

Cancers that are deficient in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are hypersensitive to genotoxic agents, including platinums and other first-line chemotherapeutics. The established models propose that these cancers are hypersensitive because the chemotherapies block or degrade DNA replication forks and thereby create DNA double strand breaks, both of which require functional BRCA proteins to prevent or resolve by mechanisms termed fork protection (FP) or homologous recombination (HR). However, recent findings challenge this dogma because genotoxic agents do not initially cause DNA double strand breaks or stall replication forks. Here, we propose a new model for genotoxic chemotherapy in which ssDNA replication gaps underlie the hypersensitivity of BRCA deficient cancer, and we propose that defects in HR or FP do not. Specifically, we observed that ssDNA gaps develop in BRCA deficient cells because DNA replication is not effectively restrained in response to genotoxic stress. Moreover, we observe gap suppression (GS) by either restored fork restraint or by gap filling, both of which conferred resistance to therapy in tissue culture and BRCA patient tumors. In contrast, restored HR and FP were not sufficient to prevent hypersensitivity if ssDNA gaps were not eliminated. Together, these data suggest that ssDNA replication gaps underlie the BRCA cancer phenotype, “BRCAness,” and we propose are fundamental to the mechanism of action of genotoxic chemotherapies.
Rb2CaCu6(PO4)4O2, a novel oxophosphate with a shchurovskyite-type topology: synthesis, structure, magnetic properties and crystal chemistry of rubidium copper phosphates
Authors: Aksenov Sergey M. , Borovikova Elena Yu. , Mironov Vladimir S. , Yamnova Natalia A. , Volkov Anatoly S. , Ksenofontov Dmitry A. , Gurbanova Olga A. , Dimitrova Olga V. , Deyneko Dina V. , Zvereva Elena A. , Maximova Olga V. , Krivovichev Sergey V. , Burns Peter C. , Vasiliev Alexander N.
Published: September 2019

Single crystals of Rb2CaCu6(PO4)4O2 were synthesized by a hydrothermal method in the multicomponent system CuCl2–Ca(OH)2–RbCl–B2O3–Rb3PO4. The synthesis was carried out in the temperature range from 690 to 700 K and at the general pressure of 480–500 atm [1 atm = 101.325 kPa] from the mixture in the molar ratio 2CuO:CaO:Rb2O:B2O3:P2O5. The crystals studied by single-crystal X-ray analysis were found to be monoclinic, space group C2, a = 16.8913 (4), b = 5.6406 (1), c = 8.3591 (3) Å, β = 93.919 (3)°, V = 794.57 (4) Å3. The crystal structure of Rb2CaCu6(PO4)4O2 is similar to that of shchurovskyite and dmisokolovite and is based upon a heteropolyhedral open framework formed by polar layers of copper polyhedra linked via isolated PO4 tetrahedra. The presence of well-isolated 2D heteropolyhedral layers in the title compound suggests low-dimensional magnetic behavior which is masked, however, by the fierce competition between multiple ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. At T
C = 25 K, Rb2CaCu6(PO4)4O2 reaches a magnetically ordered state with large residual magnetization.
Comparing ANSYS Fluent® and OpenFOAM® simulations of Geldart A, B and D bubbling fluidized bed hydrodynamics
Authors: Venier Cesar Martin , Reyes Urrutia Andrés , Capossio Juan Pablo , Baeyens Jan , Mazza Germán
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of ANSYS Fluent® and OpenFOAM®, at their current state of development, to study the relevant bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) characteristics with Geldart A, B and D particles.

Design/methodology/approach

For typical Geldart B and D particles, both a three-dimensional cylindrical and a pseudo-two-dimensional arrangement were used to measure the bed pressure drop and solids volume fraction, the latter by digital image analysis techniques. For a typical Geldart A particle, specifically to examine bubbling and slugging phenomena, a 2 m high three-dimensional cylindrical arrangement of small internal diameter was used. The hydrodynamics of the experimentally investigated BFB cases were also simulated for identical geometries and operating conditions using OpenFOAM® v6.0 and ANSYS Fluent® v19.2 at identical mesh and numerical setups.

Findings

The comparison between experimental and simulated results showed that both ANSYS Fluent® and OpenFOAM® provide a fair qualitative prediction of the bubble sizes and solids fraction for freely-bubbling Geldart B and D particles. For Geldart A particles, operated in a slugging mode, the qualitative predictions are again quite fair, but numerical values of relevant slug characteristics (length, velocity and frequency) slightly favor the use of OpenFOAM®, despite some deviations of predicted slug velocities.

Originality/value

A useful comparison of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software performance for different fluidized regimes is presented. The results are discussed and recommendations are formulated for the selection of the CFD software and models involved.
The role of the organization in the entrepreneur–opportunity nexus
Authors: Zanella Gianluca , Castro Solano Dante B. , Hallam Cory R.A. , Guda Teja
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Entrepreneurial and strategic actions are crucial for wealth creation, and the business opportunity is a critical factor in this process. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of the firm’s strategic posture in the relationship between individual alertness and opportunity identification within an existing firm. This approach contributes to entrepreneurship theory building through a multilevel study.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative research focuses on understanding the mediating role of an organization’s strategic posture in the opportunity identification process. Using a sample of 276 firms, this study tests a two-level model to explain opportunity identification.

Findings

The findings provide empirical evidence that a firm’s strategic posture mediates the relationship between individual alertness and opportunity identification. Furthermore, this study finds differences in the mediating role of a firm’s strategic posture through which entrepreneurs and managers affect opportunity identification. Years after the creation of startup, the entrepreneurs still exhibit entrepreneurial characteristics that affect opportunity identification. The findings provide evidence that entrepreneurs foster an internal culture and set of values that are more favorable to radical innovation, compared to managers who favor incremental and less risky projects.

Practical implications

The findings suggest the possibility for new theory building that can improve the fields of entrepreneurship and management research. Moreover, the proposed model constitutes a new approach to analyze the mediating role of an organization’s strategic posture in the opportunity identification process.

Originality/value

This paper provides an original approach to literature in exploring the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and firm’s strategic posture in explaining the opportunity identification process. This work will help expand the theory building that explores differences between managers and entrepreneurs in organizations.
The university as an entrepreneurial learning space
Authors: Williams Middleton Karen , Padilla-Meléndez Antonio , Lockett Nigel , Quesada-Pallarès Carla , Jack Sarah
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explores the influence of socialization upon the constitution and integration of learning leading to the development of entrepreneurial competence while at university, from the learner perspective. Self-reported learning is analyzed to illustrate ways in which students make use of institutional and social contributions of the university context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates entrepreneurial journeys of 18 participants, either currently attending or recently graduated from three universities in three countries with both comparable and distinctive contextual elements. In depth analysis of individual life stories, focusing on self-identified critical incidents, is used to illustrate ways in which students, while at university, develop entrepreneurial competence for current and future practice.

Findings

Formal and non-formal learning remain important foundations for entrepreneurial competence development, delivered through designed content-centric structures. Informal learning – particularly mentor supported socialised learning – centring around the learner is key to solidifying learning towards entrepreneurial competence, through know-how and access to resources. The university emerges as an entrepreneurial learning space where students constitute and integrate learning gained through different forms.

Research limitations/implications

Cross-cultural analysis is limited as the paper emphasizes the individual’s learning experience relative to the immediate university context.

Practical implications

Universities play a critical role as entrepreneurial learning spaces beyond formal and non-formal learning. This includes dedicating resources to orchestrate informal learning opportunities and enabling interaction with the different agents that contribute to socialised situated learning, supporting entrepreneurial competence development. Universities need to take responsibility for facilitating the entirety of learning.

Originality/value

Socialised learning in combination with other forms of learning contributes to student development of entrepreneurial competence while situated in the university context.
Emotional intelligence and venture internationalization during economic recession
Authors: Quintillán Isabel , Peña-Legazkue Iñaki
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors related to entrepreneurs’ emotional intelligence that trigger the choice of venture internationalization after locally suffering the shock of an economic recession in a developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary survey data were collected from 226 Uruguayan entrepreneurs and included their psychological traits and human capital characteristics after the most recent global financial crash of 2008. Personal interviews were conducted, and a “Trait Meta-Mood Scale” instrument (i.e. TMMS-12) was specifically designed for the measurement of emotional intelligence. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

This study demonstrates that in disadvantaged environments, such as developing regions suffering from a severe global crisis, the early internationalization process of a new firm is mainly triggered by entrepreneurs’ emotional intelligence attributes rather than conventional human capital-related attributes. Moreover, social–emotional competences are more significant than personal–emotional competences to explain entrepreneurs’ exporting behaviour in such an adverse context.

Originality/value

The effect of emotional intelligence on venture internationalization is investigated in situations in which entrepreneurs are pressured to pursue risk-bearing strategies, pushed by a disrupting shock that weakens the national economic condition (e.g. an economic recession). While previous findings have highlighted the importance of entrepreneurs’ human capital attributes in their entering foreign markets, few studies have analysed how the emotional intelligence competences of entrepreneurs lead them to internationalize. This study fills this gap in the literature on entrepreneurial behaviour by focussing on the emotional, cognitive and psychological qualities of entrepreneurs to explain their exporting business decisions.
Equity market timing and capital structure: evidence on post-IPO firms in Indonesia
Authors: Ratih Dewi
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the impacts of equity market timing on corporate capital structure policies in Indonesia by apply Baker and Wurgler’s analytical approach to firms in Indonesia to see, first, if that approach applies to Indonesian firms and, second, if it can be generalized to other emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This study will focus on capital structure policies based on Market Timing Theory in developing countries, which uses the panel data of companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange after IPO. The companies used as research object are 70 firms in the non-financial/non-banking sector with the observation period of 2000–2015. The period of measurement is five years after IPO. Using a past market value in which equity market timing is measured in two-time measurements, i.e. yearly timing and long-term timing to prove its persistence.

Findings

Consistent with equity market timing theory, the results suggest that firms tend to issue equities when their market valuations are relatively higher than their book values and their past market values are high. As a consequence, the firms become underleveraged or have their debts reduced in the short run. The results of long-term measurement on equity market timing do not appear to affect the firms’ capital structure decisions due to the firms’ relatively quick adjustments of optimal capital structures. The conclusion is that equity market timing is an important element in the short run but not in the long run.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study describe how firms in Indonesia take advantage of temporary market share fluctuations through equity market timing in their capital structure policies before ultimately making adjustments to the directions they are targeting.

Practical implications

The use of equity market timing is more aimed at reducing the debt ratio and avoiding unfavorable conditions in the debt market, as well as taking advantage of the capital gains derived from the differences in their stock prices. This study also has practical implications on investment policies that need to consider the adaptation factor of the industrial environment when it comes to making capital structure decisions, including how the entity must take policy when uncertain economic conditions.

Social implications

Through the research behavior of capital structure more in-depth decision is expected to provide an overview for investors widely in determining investment policy. Thus, the investment strategy is more planned and can also anticipate unexpected conditions.

Originality/value

This research is the first study to analyze and to evaluate the impacts of equity market timing on corporate capital structure policies on post-IPO firms in Indonesia. This research is an empirical study that investigates the relevance of equity market timing considerations in the determination of debt-equity choices in the capital structure, included in the conditions of the global financial crisis.
The mediating impact of demonetisation on customer acceptance for IT-enabled banking services
Authors: Nagdev Kritika , Rajesh Anupama , Misra Richa
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating role of demonetisation in the usage of IT-enabled banking services (ITeBS). The study extends the theory of technology readiness (TR) (Parasuraman and Colby, 2015) by incorporating the behavioural intention and actual usage of ITeBS.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theory of TR and encompassing the impact of demonetisation, the study examines the functional relationship of TR, behavioural intention and actual usage. Structural equation modelling and mediation analysis are applied on a data set of 474 usable responses.

Findings

The study confirms that TR is a significant factor in customer’s intention to use ITeBS. The demonetisation variable fully mediates the relationship model, which implies a significant finding in the consumer acceptance literature.

Practical implications

The result of this study proposes three major implications. Primarily, the banks should focus on providing simple and user-friendly ITeBS interface and its uninterrupted access. It is necessary to educate the customers by giving them a trial of the service. Furthermore, social media platforms may be utilised as an effective and efficient tool to resolve customer complaints.

Originality/value

This study is first of the attempts to investigate government’s digital push in the technology adoption literature. The results indicate significant influence of demonetisation on the usage of ITeBS.
Modelling green customer loyalty and positive word of mouth
Authors: Issock Issock Paul Blaise , Mpinganjira Mercy , Roberts-Lombard Mornay
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of consumption values, green customer satisfaction and customer trust in energy-efficient labels on green customer loyalty and positive word of mouth (PWOM) towards energy-efficient products, and how environmental knowledge moderates these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was followed using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 440 consumers in South Africa, who used electronic home appliances that have energy efficiency labels. A structural equation model and a multigroup analysis were used to test the hypothesised relationships.

Findings

The results revealed that consumption values partially influence green customer satisfaction, which, in turn, affect green customer trust and loyalty, and PWOM. Environmental knowledge only marginally moderates the relationships in the model.

Practical implications

Green marketing practitioners should work on improving green customer satisfaction, which is central to a sustainable green consumption lifestyle.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution of this study is through the application of a multidimensional approach to testing the impact of consumption values on green customer satisfaction. Moreover, this paper provides greater clarity on the specific determinants of PWOM and examines the interplay between green customer loyalty and positive word of mouth towards green products. Furthermore, the moderating effect of environmental knowledge on the relationships in the proposed model is explained.
The impact of corporate political connections and executive’s international experience on Chinese firms’ initial public offerings in the USA
Authors: Amin Muhammad , Wu Jianfeng , Haque Md Ziaul
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Integrating social network theory with signaling theory, the purpose of this research is to examine the impact of corporate political connections and executive’s international experience on Chinese firms initial public offerings (IPOs) performance in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used Securities Data Company (SDC) New Issues database to identify all Chinese firms that went public in the USA between 2003 and 2014. Consistent with previous research, IPO firms excluded from the sample include merger or acquisitions, spin-offs and initial stage listed firms. The final sample size is of 142 Chinese foreign IPOs in the US markets.

Findings

This study finds that firms with political connections perform significantly poor than firms without political connections. It shows that US stock markets react to the signals of political connections of Chinese foreign IPOs. In response, the Chinese foreign IPOs can signal international work experience of top executives to US investors. The results show that the executives’ international work experience has significant positive relationships on foreign IPO performance of Chinese firms. Moreover, this study finds that the interaction between corporate political connections and international experience pursues positive effects on the performance of foreign IPOs.

Originality/value

This research intends to extend the knowledge of how corporate political connections and international work experience affects the performance of Chinese firms attempting to access US capital markets. To date, scholars have not investigated the influence of corporate political connections on the amount of capital raised by foreign IPOs.
Driving customer loyalty in the Malaysian fast food industry
Authors: Quoquab Farzana , Mohamed Sadom Nur Zulaikha , Mohammad Jihad
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Although the importance of halal logo in determining purchase intention has been recognized in the marketing literature, there is a dearth of study that has examined the impact of halal logo toward customer loyalty. To fulfill this gap, this study aims to shed some light on the impact of halal logo toward achieving customer loyalty in the context of fast food industry in Malaysia. More specifically, the objectives of this study are: to examine the direct and indirect effect of halal logo on customer loyalty; to examine the effect of halal logo on trust and perceived reputation; to examine the effect of halal logo and perceived reputation on customer loyalty; and to examine the mediating effect of trust and perceived reputation in the relationship between halal logo and customer loyalty among the fast food industry consumers in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory as the theoretical basis. The data were collected via self-administered survey questionnaire consisting 117 Muslim fast food consumers. Partial least square (SmartPLS, version 3) was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Results of this study revealed that halal logo, directly and indirectly affect customer loyalty. Moreover, perceived reputation and trust also found to be positively related to customer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected from Malaysian Muslim consumers. Future studies can consider non-Muslim consumers to compare the loyalty pattern among Muslim and non-Muslim consumers.

Practical implications

The findings from this study will benefit fast food industry marketers who are targeting Muslim consumer segment and also those marketers who are operating their franchise business in Muslim majority countries. The findings suggest that halal logo helps service providers to create positive perceived reputation and to build trust among consumers, which eventually lead customer loyalty. It is expected that the findings of this study will assist the halal fast food industry marketers to better strategize their marketing efforts in retaining the Muslim customer base.

Originality/value

Using S-O-R theory, this study examines halal logo as the key driver of customer loyalty, which is comparatively a new link. Moreover, this study examines the mediating effects of perceived reputation and trust in the relationship between halal logo and customer loyalty, which are not tested in previous literature in the field.
Mental health in substance misuse patients in Wales
Authors: Sims John Barry
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and report on the mental health needs of those attending substance misuse services (SMS) adhering to the diagnostic criteria as defined in DSM 5 with reference to common mental health disorders. It also examines differences in the numbers of appropriately trained cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) therapists and highlights the lack of provision of CBT reflected in the much smaller number of accredited therapists in Wales compared to other parts of the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This population was identified by way of an audit of data collected via the out-patient clinics conducted by the author.

Findings

The paper identifies a high proportion of patients who attended SMSs as having complex psychological need as a consequence of co-morbidity.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the audit may have limitations but the implications from the findings suggest potential value in looking more at clinical outcomes following evidence-based psychological interventions.

Practical implications

A conclusion from the findings is suggested value in a more structured approach to looking at clinical outcomes.

Originality/value

This audit was undertaken in North Wales. There is no IAPT or matrix-structured Level II CBT training programmes available in Wales. The audit identifies the need for more evidence-based psychological interventions such as CBT linked to the development of such services. The apparent lack of political will to change the status quo is also highlighted as a problem.
High-frequency trading and the weekly natural gas storage report
Authors: Brigida Matt , Pratt William R.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the quickness, and test the accuracy, of liquidity taking high-frequency traders (HFT). This gives us important insights into a class of market participant who has come to be very influential in present markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the weekly natural gas (NG) storage report for the test because the information contained in the release often has a large effect on prices. Moreover, the NG market is heavily traded and liquid, and prone to high volatility. These factors make trading in this market attractive to HFT. The authors test for the profitability of those who trade in the first milliseconds after the report’s release; and for information leakage prior to the report.

Findings

The authors find those who trade within the first 50 ms accurately incorporate the information contained in the storage report into prices, and earn the majority of profits. In fact, HFT profits are decreasing in the time it takes them to trade after the announcement (measured to 200 ms). Further tests find no evidence of informed trading prior to the release of the report, and so the HFT reaction to the report incorporates the information contained therein into prices.

Originality/value

This is one of the few analyzes of the profitability of liquidity-taking HFT, and the only analysis that uses millisecond NG data. The data used is the exchanges original FIX/FAST messages.
Constructing cointegrated cryptocurrency portfolios for statistical arbitrage
Authors: Leung Tim , Nguyen Hung
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a methodology for constructing cointegrated portfolios consisting of different cryptocurrencies and examines the performance of a number of trading strategies for the cryptocurrency portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a series of statistical methods, including the Johansen test and Engle–Granger test, to derive a linear combination of cryptocurrencies that form a mean-reverting portfolio. Trading systems are designed and different trading strategies with stop-loss constraints are tested and compared according to a set of performance metrics.

Findings

The paper finds cointegrated portfolios involving four cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Litecoin (LTC), and the corresponding trading strategies are shown to be profitable under different configurations.

Originality/value

The main contributions of the study are the use of multiple altcoins in addition to bitcoin to construct a cointegrated portfolio, and the detailed comparison of the performance of different trading strategies with and without stop-loss constraints.