bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Image Quality in Unenhanced Dual-Layer CT of the Head Using Virtual Monoenergetic Images Compared With Polyenergetic Single-Energy CT
Authors: Neuhaus Victor , Abdullayev Nuran , Große Hokamp Nils , Pahn Gregor , Kabbasch Christoph , Mpotsaris Anastasios , Maintz David , Borggrefe Jan
Published: April 2017

Objectives

The aims of this study were to compare virtual monoenergetic images and polyenergetic images reconstructed from unenhanced dual-layer detector computed tomography (DLCT) of the head and to determine kiloelectron volt levels that optimize image quality, particularly the gray-white matter contrast, and reduce beam hardening artifacts caused by the skull.

Materials and Methods

Institutional review board approval was obtained. Forty patients that received DLCT were included in this retrospective study; of these patients, 22 were women and 18 were men. The average age was 61.5 ± 14.3 years. Virtual monoenergetic images were reconstructed from spectral base images at 40 keV to 120 keV. To calculate signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio, attenuation and standard deviation of supratentorial gray and white matter were measured in virtual monoenergetic and polyenergetic images. Beam hardening artifacts were detected close to the calvarium and in the posterior fossa. Two radiologists rated the assessment of gray-white matter differentiation and of the subcalvarial space, as well as the artifacts caused by the skull and image noise. Student t test and Wilcoxon test were used to determine significance.

Results

Compared with polyenergetic images, superior signal-to-noise ratio and superior contrast-to-noise ratio of gray and white matter were observed in virtual monoenergetic images at low kiloelectron volt levels (P < 0.0001). Subcalvarial artifacts were significantly lower at 120 keV (P < 0.02). Artifacts measured in the posterior fossa were generally lower at high kiloelectron volt levels; however, no statistical significance was detected. Virtual monoenergetic images were rated superior to polyenergetic images in regard to all 4 criteria (P < 0.0001). The observers reported an optimal radiological assessment of gray-white matter differentiation at 65 keV and optimal assessment of subcalvarial space at 120 keV.

Conclusions

In comparison to polyenergetic images, virtual monoenergetic images reconstructed from unenhanced DLCT of the head at 65 keV and 120 keV allow to optimize gray-white matter contrast and reduce beam hardening artifacts caused by the skull, respectively.
Clinical Robustness of Accelerated and Optimized Abdominal Diffusion-Weighted Imaging
Authors: Taron Jana , Weiß Jakob , Martirosian Petros , Seith Ferdinand , Stemmer Alto , Bamberg Fabian , Notohamiprodjo Mike
Published: April 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the robustness of an accelerated and optimized diffusion-weighted sequence in clinical routine abdominal imaging using the simultaneous multislice (SMS) technique for scan time reduction and 3-dimensional (3D) diagonal diffusion mode to optimize image quality.

Materials and Methods

One hundred fifty consecutive patients received clinically indicated magnetic resonance imaging for abdominal imaging including an optimized SMS diffusion-weighted sequence (DWIOPT: diffusion mode 3D diagonal; SMS factor 2; scan time 1:44 minutes). A subgroup of 41 patients additionally received a standard diffusion-weighted sequence as reference (DWISTD: diffusion mode 4-scan trace; scan time 2:35 minutes). Qualitative and quantitative image parameters of DWISTD and DWIOPT were assessed and compared interindividually within the subgroup using dedicated statistics.

Results

In all patients, image quality ratings in DWIOPT were rated very high (overall image quality, 4.6 [4–5]; contour sharpness of right/left hepatic lobe, 4.6 [4–5]/4.4 [4–5]; and lesion conspicuity, 4.5 [4.5–5]). Interindividually, DWIOPT proved superior to DWISTD in comparison of overall image quality (4.6 [4.6–4.7] vs 4.2 [4.1–4.2]; P = 0.025) and contour sharpness of the right/left hepatic lobe (4.6 [4.5–4.7]/4.3 [4.0–4.3] vs 4.3 [4.1–43]/4.0[3.0–4.0]; each P = 0.045); lesion conspicuity was comparable in DWIOPT and DWISTD (4.0 [4.8–5] vs 4.4 [4–5]; P = 0.461), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values showed no statistically significant difference (ADCOPT vs ADCSTD: right hepatic lobe, P = 0.084; kidney, P = 0.445). Interreader agreement was substantial with a kappa value of 0.78 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the abdomen can be considerably accelerated and optimized integrating the SMS technique and a 3D diagonal diffusion mode. In a large patient cohort, this approach proved of superior image quality while maintaining similar ADC values compared with standard DWI. This technique seems applicable for daily clinical routine.
The Williams syndrome prosociality gene
GTF2I
mediates oxytocin reactivity and social anxiety in a healthy population
Authors: Procyshyn Tanya L. , Spence Jason , Read Silven , Watson Neil V. , Crespi Bernard J.
Published: April 2017

The neurohormone oxytocin plays a central role in human social behaviour and cognition, and oxytocin dysregulation may contribute to psychiatric disorders. However, genetic factors influencing individual variation in the oxytocinergic system remain poorly understood. We genotyped 169 healthy adults for a functional polymorphism in
GTF2I
(
general transcription factor II-I
), a gene associated with high prosociality and reduced social anxiety in Williams syndrome, a condition reported to involve high oxytocin levels and reactivity. Participants’ salivary oxytocin levels were measured before and after watching a validated empathy-inducing video. Oxytocin reactivity, defined as pre- to post-video percentage change in salivary oxytocin, varied substantially and significantly between individuals with different
GTF2I
genotypes, with, additionally, a trend towards an interaction between genotype and sex. Individuals with more oxytocin-reactive genotypes also reported significantly lower social anxiety. These findings suggest a model whereby
GTF2I
has a continuum of effects on human sociality, from the extreme social phenotypes and oxytocin dysregulation associated with gene deletion in Williams syndrome, to individual differences in oxytocin reactivity and sociality associated with common polymorphisms in healthy populations.
Distribution of genotype network sizes in sequence-to-structure genotype–phenotype maps
Authors: Manrubia Susanna , Cuesta José A.
Published: April 2017

An essential quantity to ensure evolvability of populations is the navigability of the genotype space. Navigability, understood as the ease with which alternative phenotypes are reached, relies on the existence of sufficiently large and mutually attainable genotype networks. The size of genotype networks (e.g. the number of RNA sequences folding into a particular secondary structure or the number of DNA sequences coding for the same protein structure) is astronomically large in all functional molecules investigated: an exhaustive experimental or computational study of all RNA folds or all protein structures becomes impossible even for moderately long sequences. Here, we analytically derive the distribution of genotype network sizes for a hierarchy of models which successively incorporate features of increasingly realistic sequence-to-structure genotype–phenotype maps. The main feature of these models relies on the characterization of each phenotype through a prototypical sequence whose sites admit a variable fraction of letters of the alphabet. Our models interpolate between two limit distributions: a power-law distribution, when the ordering of sites in the prototypical sequence is strongly constrained, and a lognormal distribution, as suggested for RNA, when different orderings of the same set of sites yield different phenotypes. Our main result is the qualitative and quantitative identification of those features of sequence-to-structure maps that lead to different distributions of genotype network sizes.
Population dynamics and threats to an apex predator outside protected areas: implications for carnivore management
Authors: Williams Samual T. , Williams Kathryn S. , Lewis Bradley P. , Hill Russell A.
Published: April 2017

Data on the population dynamics and threats to large carnivores are vital to conservation efforts, but these are hampered by a paucity of studies. For some species, such as the leopard (
Panthera pardus
), there is such uncertainty in population trends that leopard trophy hunting has been banned in South Africa since 2016 while further data on leopard abundance are collected. We present one of the first assessments of leopard population dynamics, and identify the key threats to a population of leopards outside of protected areas in South Africa. We conducted a long-term trap survey between 2012 and 2016 in the Soutpansberg Mountains, and drew on a previous estimate of leopard population density for the region from 2008. In 24 sampling periods, we estimated the population density and assessed population structure. We fitted eight leopards with GPS collars to assess threats to the population. Leopard population density declined by 66%, from 10.73 to 3.65 leopards per 100 km
2
in 2008 and 2016, respectively. Collared leopards had a high mortality rate, which appeared to be due to illegal human activity. While improving the management of trophy hunting is important, we suggest that mitigating human–wildlife conflict could have a bigger impact on carnivore conservation.
Predictors and immunological correlates of sublethal mercury exposure in vampire bats
Authors: Becker Daniel J. , Chumchal Matthew M. , Bentz Alexandra B. , Platt Steven G. , Czirják Gábor Á. , Rainwater Thomas R. , Altizer Sonia , Streicker Daniel G.
Published: April 2017

Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive heavy metal that often enters the environment from anthropogenic sources such as gold mining and agriculture. Chronic exposure to Hg can impair immune function, reducing the ability of animals to resist or recover from infections. How Hg influences immunity and susceptibility remains unknown for bats, which appear immunologically distinct from other mammals and are reservoir hosts of many pathogens of importance to human and animal health. We here quantify total Hg (THg) in hair collected from common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), which feed on blood and are the main reservoir hosts of rabies virus in Latin America. We examine how diet, sampling site and year, and bat demography influence THg and test the consequences of this variation for eight immune measures. In two populations from Belize, THg concentrations in bats were best explained by an interaction between long-term diet inferred from stable isotopes and year. Bats that foraged more consistently on domestic animals exhibited higher THg. However, relationships between diet and THg were evident only in 2015 but not in 2014, which could reflect recent environmental perturbations associated with agriculture. THg concentrations were low relative to values previously observed in other bat species but still correlated with bat immunity. Bats with higher THg had more neutrophils, weaker bacterial killing ability and impaired innate immunity. These patterns suggest that temporal variation in Hg exposure may impair bat innate immunity and increase susceptibility to pathogens such as bacteria. Unexpected associations between low-level Hg exposure and immune function underscore the need to better understand the environmental sources of Hg exposure in bats and the consequences for bat immunity and susceptibility.
Exact solution for the Poisson field in a semi-infinite strip
Authors: Cohen Yossi , Rothman Daniel H.
Published: April 2017

The Poisson equation is associated with many physical processes. Yet exact analytic solutions for the two-dimensional Poisson field are scarce. Here we derive an analytic solution for the Poisson equation with constant forcing in a semi-infinite strip. We provide a method that can be used to solve the field in other intricate geometries. We show that the Poisson flux reveals an inverse square-root singularity at a tip of a slit, and identify a characteristic length scale in which a small perturbation, in a form of a new slit, is screened by the field. We suggest that this length scale expresses itself as a characteristic spacing between tips in real Poisson networks that grow in response to fluxes at tips.
Individual variation in local interaction rules can explain emergent patterns of spatial organization in wild baboons
Authors: Farine D. R. , Strandburg-Peshkin A. , Couzin I. D. , Berger-Wolf T. Y. , Crofoot M. C.
Published: April 2017

Researchers have long noted that individuals occupy consistent spatial positions within animal groups. However, an individual's position depends not only on its own behaviour, but also on the behaviour of others. Theoretical models of collective motion suggest that global patterns of spatial assortment can arise from individual variation in local interaction rules. However, this prediction remains untested. Using high-resolution GPS tracking of members of a wild baboon troop, we identify consistent inter-individual differences in within-group spatial positioning. We then apply an algorithm that identifies what number of conspecific group members best predicts the future location of each individual (we call this the individual's
neighbourhood size
) while the troop is moving. We find clear variation in the most predictive neighbourhood size, and this variation relates to individuals' propensity to be found near the centre of their group. Using simulations, we show that having different neighbourhood sizes is a simple candidate mechanism capable of linking variation in local individual interaction rules—in this case how many conspecifics an individual interacts with—to global patterns of spatial organization, consistent with the patterns we observe in wild primates and a range of other organisms.
Interactive effects of temperature, food and skeletal mineralogy mediate biological responses to ocean acidification in a widely distributed bryozoan
Authors: Swezey Daniel S. , Bean Jessica R. , Ninokawa Aaron T. , Hill Tessa M. , Gaylord Brian , Sanford Eric
Published: April 2017

Marine invertebrates with skeletons made of high-magnesium calcite may be especially susceptible to ocean acidification (OA) due to the elevated solubility of this form of calcium carbonate. However, skeletal composition can vary plastically within some species, and it is largely unknown how concurrent changes in multiple oceanographic parameters will interact to affect skeletal mineralogy, growth and vulnerability to future OA. We explored these interactive effects by culturing genetic clones of the bryozoan
Jellyella tuberculata
(formerly
Membranipora tuberculata
) under factorial combinations of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO
2
), temperature and food concentrations. High CO
2
and cold temperature induced degeneration of zooids in colonies. However, colonies still maintained high growth efficiencies under these adverse conditions, indicating a compensatory trade-off whereby colonies degenerate more zooids under stress, redirecting energy to the growth and maintenance of new zooids. Low-food concentration and elevated temperatures also had interactive effects on skeletal mineralogy, resulting in skeletal calcite with higher concentrations of magnesium, which readily dissolved under high CO
2
. For taxa that weakly regulate skeletal magnesium concentration, skeletal dissolution may be a more widespread phenomenon than is currently documented and is a growing concern as oceans continue to warm and acidify.
Estimating Autoantibody Signatures To Detect Autoimmune Disease Patient Subsets
Authors: Wu Zhenke , Casciola-Rosen Livia , Shah Ami A. , Rosen Antony , Zeger Scott L.
Published: April 2017

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by highly specific immune responses against molecules in self-tissues. Different autoimmune diseases are characterized by distinct immune responses, making autoantibodies useful for diagnosis and prediction. In many diseases, the targets of autoantibodies are incompletely defined. Although the technologies for autoantibody discovery have advanced dramatically over the past decade, each of these techniques generates hundreds of possibilities, which are onerous and expensive to validate. We set out to establish a method to greatly simplify autoantibody discovery, using a pre-filtering step to define subgroups with similar specificities based on migration of radiolabeled, immunoprecipitated proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels and autoradiography [GelElectrophoresis and band detection onAutoradiograms (GEA)]. Human recognition of patterns is not optimal when the patterns are complex or scattered across many samples. Multiple sources of errors - including irrelevant intensity differences and warping of gels - have challenged automation of pattern discovery from autoradiograms.

In this paper, we address these limitations using a Bayesian hierarchical model with shrinkage priors for pattern alignment and spatial dewarping. The Bayesian model combines information from multiple gel sets and corrects spatial warping for coherent estimation of autoantibody signatures defined by presence or absence of a grid of landmark proteins. We show the pre-processing creates more clearly separated clusters and improves the accuracy of autoantibody subset detection via hierarchical clustering. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the proposed methods with GEA data from scleroderma patients.
A posteriori evaluation of molecular divergence dates using empirical estimates of time-heterogeneous fossilization rates
Authors: Gunkel Simon , Rust Jes , Wappler Torsten , Mayer Christoph , Niehuis Oliver , Misof Bernhard
Published: April 2017

The application of molecular clock concepts in phylogenetics permits estimating the divergence times of clades with an incomplete fossil record. However, the reliability of this approach is disputed, because the resulting estimates are often inconsistent with different sets of fossils and other parameters (clock models and prior settings) in the analyses. Here, we present the λ statistic, a likelihood approach fora posteriorievaluating the reliability of estimated divergence times. The λ statistic is based on empirically derived fossilization rates and evaluates the fit of estimated divergence times to the fossil record. We tested the performance of this measure with simulated data sets. Furthermore, we applied it to the estimated divergence times of (i) Clavigeritae beetles of the family Staphylinidae and (ii) all extant insect orders. The reanalyzed beetle data supports the originally published results, but shows that several fossil calibrations used do not increase the reliability of the divergence time estimates. Analyses of estimated inter-ordinal insect divergences indicate that uniform priors with soft bounds marginally outperform log-normal priors on node ages. Furthermore,a posteriorievaluation of the original published analysis indicates that several inter-ordinal divergence estimates might be too young. The λ statistic allows the comparative evaluation of any clade divergence estimate derived from different calibration approaches. Consequently, the application of different algorithms, software tools, and calibration schemes can be empirically assessed.
Estimated costs of implementing an open access policy at a private foundation
Authors: Strasser Carly , Khare Eesha
Published: April 2017

Background

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF) was interested in understanding the potential effects of a policy requiring open access to peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research the foundation funds.

Methods

We collected data on more than 2000 publications in over 500 journals that were generated by GBMF grantees since 2001. We then examined the journal policies to establish how two possible open access policies might have affected grantee publishing habits.

Results

We found that 99.3% of the articles published by grantees would have complied with a policy that requires open access within 12 months of publication. We also estimated the maximum annual costs to GBMF for covering fees associated with “gold open access” to be between $400,000 and $2,600,000 annually.

Discussion

Based in part on this study, GBMF has implemented a new open access policy that requires grantees make peer-reviewed publications fully available within 12 months.
Not by systems alone: replicability assessment of disease expression signals
Authors: Ballouz Sara , Dörfel Max , Crow Megan , Crain Jonathan , Faivre Laurence , Keegan Catherine E. , Kitsiou-Tzeli Sophia , Tzetis Maria , Lyon Gholson J. , Gillis Jesse
Published: April 2017

In characterizing a disease, it is common to search for dysfunctional genes by assaying the transcriptome. The resulting differentially expressed genes are typically assessed for shared features, such as functional annotation or co-expression. While useful, the reliability of these systems methods is hard to evaluate. To better understand shared disease signals, we assess their replicability by first looking at gene-level recurrence and then pathway-level recurrence along with co-expression signals across six pedigrees of a rare homogeneous X-linked disorder,TAF1syndrome. We find most differentially expressed genes are not recurrent between pedigrees, making functional enrichment largely distinct in each pedigree. However, we find two highly recurrent “functional outliers” (CACNA1IandIGFBP3), genes acting atypically with respect to co-expression and therefore absent from a systems-level assessment. We show this occurs in re-analysis of Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Our results suggest a significant role for genes easily missed in systems approaches.
Long, elliptically bent, active X-ray mirrors with slope errors <200 nrad
Authors: Nistea Ioana T. , Alcock Simon G. , Kristiansen Paw , Young Adam
Published: April 2017

Actively bent X-ray mirrors are important components of many synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser beamlines. A high-quality optical surface and good bending performance are essential to ensure that the X-ray beam is accurately focused. Two elliptically bent X-ray mirror systems from FMB Oxford were characterized in the optical metrology laboratory at Diamond Light Source. A comparison of Diamond-NOM slope profilometry and finite-element analysis is presented to investigate how the 900 mm-long mirrors sag under gravity, and how this deformation can be adequately compensated using a single, spring-loaded compensator. It is shown that two independent mechanical actuators can accurately bend the trapezoidal substrates to a range of elliptical profiles. State-of-the-art residual slope errors of <200 nrad r.m.s. are achieved over the entire elliptical bending range. High levels of bending repeatability (ΔR/R = 0.085% and 0.156% r.m.s. for the two bending directions) and stability over 24 h (ΔR/R = 0.07% r.m.s.) provide reliable beamline performance.
Structural features of NS3 ofDengue virusserotypes 2 and 4 in solution and insight into RNA binding and the inhibitory role of quercetin
Authors: Pan Ankita , Saw Wuan Geok , Subramanian Manimekalai Malathy Sony , Grüber Ardina , Joon Shin , Matsui Tsutomu , Weiss Thomas M. , Grüber Gerhard
Published: April 2017

Dengue virus(DENV), which has four serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), is the causative agent of the viral infection dengue. DENV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) comprises a serine protease domain and an RNA helicase domain which has nucleotide triphosphatase activities that are essential for RNA replication and viral assembly. Here, solution X-ray scattering was used to provide insight into the overall structure and flexibility of the entire NS3 and its recombinant helicase and protease domains forDengue virusserotypes 2 and 4 in solution. The DENV-2 and DENV-4 NS3 forms are elongated and flexible in solution. The importance of the linker residues in flexibility and domain–domain arrangement was shown by the compactness of the individual protease and helicase domains. Swapping of the174PPAVP179linker stretch of the relatedHepatitis C virus(HCV) NS3 into DENV-2 NS3 did not alter the elongated shape of the engineered mutant. Conformational alterations owing to RNA binding are described in the protease domain, which undergoes substantial conformational alterations that are required for the optimal catalysis of bound RNA. Finally, the effects of ATPase inhibitors on the enzymatically active DENV-2 and DENV-4 NS3 and the individual helicases are presented, and insight into the allosteric effect of the inhibitor quercetin is provided.
Crystal structure of the novel amino-acid racemase isoleucine 2-epimerase fromLactobacillus buchneri
Authors: Hayashi Junji , Mutaguchi Yuta , Minemura Yume , Nakagawa Noriko , Yoneda Kazunari , Ohmori Taketo , Ohshima Toshihisa , Sakuraba Haruhiko
Published: April 2017

Crystal structures ofLactobacillus buchneriisoleucine 2-epimerase, a novel branched-chain amino-acid racemase, were determined for the enzyme in the apo form, in complex with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), in complex withN-(5′-phosphopyridoxyl)-L-isoleucine (PLP-L-Ile) and in complex withN-(5′-phosphopyridoxyl)-D-allo-isoleucine (PLP-D-allo-Ile) at resolutions of 2.77, 1.94, 2.65 and 2.12 Å, respectively. The enzyme assembled as a tetramer, with each subunit being composed of N-terminal, C-terminal and large PLP-binding domains. The active-site cavity in the apo structure was much more solvent-accessible than that in the PLP-bound structure. This indicates that a marked structural change occurs around the active site upon binding of PLP that provides a solvent-inaccessible environment for the enzymatic reaction. The main-chain coordinates of theL. buchneriisoleucine 2-epimerase monomer showed a notable similarity to those of α-amino-∊-caprolactam racemase fromAchromobactor obaeand γ-aminobutyrate aminotransferase fromEscherichia coli. However, the amino-acid residues involved in substrate binding in those two enzymes are only partially conserved inL. buchneriisoleucine 2-epimerase, which may account for the differences in substrate recognition by the three enzymes. The structures bound with reaction-intermediate analogues (PLP-L-Ile and PLP-D-allo-Ile) and site-directed mutagenesis suggest that L-isoleucine epimerization proceeds through abstraction of the α-hydrogen of the substrate by Lys280, while Asp222 serves as the catalytic residue adding an α-hydrogen to the quinonoid intermediate to form D-allo-isoleucine.
Quantifying SWOT analysis for the Indian coal mining industry using Fuzzy DEMATEL
Authors: Khaba Sorokhaibam , Bhar Chandan
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for the Indian coal mining industry using Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory.

Design/methodology/approach

After obtaining 17 factors from literature and expert opinion, an interview questionnaire was designed and tested to assure the content validity of questionnaire. A group of 15 qualified experts consisting of 4 professors from academic institutions and 11 management professionals from mining sector with substantial experience were consulted.

Findings

The result from causal relationship implied that the decision makers should focus on improving the ability of exploitation and production using quality improvement initiative such as lean production, developing research and development units for clean coal technology and working with strong exporters. This study also finds that foreign investment in mining sector is also a main factor that highly influences other factors.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on personal judgments and the shortage of respondents limits the study to ensure the validity.

Practical implications

The stated strategies both for the government and industry through SWOT analysis could facilitate improved productivity of the Indian coal industry if adopted.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates a process for quantitative SWOT analysis for the Indian coal mining industry that can be performed even when there is dependence among factors.
Multi-sector framework for benchmarking in facilities management
Authors: Adewunmi Yewande Adetoro , Iyagba Reuben , Omirin Modupe
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Benchmarking in FM practice although understood and applied globally, little is known about the practice in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework to guide the use of benchmarking.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires on FM organizations in Lagos metropolis, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The results of the survey were supplemented with interviews with FM unit heads in the study areas. The framework was validated using a focus group discussion with ten FM industry experts.

Findings

A framework which serves as a guide for the use of best practice benchmarking was developed. It showed that there is a relationship between best practice benchmarking and location.

Research limitations/implications

The evaluation of the framework was limited by the number of participants involved and being that it has not been put to use.

Originality/value

This study develops a multi-sector framework to guide the use of best practice benchmarking in facilities management (FM). The framework explains the relationship between organizational characteristics and best practice benchmarking. In addition, there are limited empirical benchmarking frameworks in FM literature.
Self-help groups: a seed for intrinsic empowerment of Indian rural women
Authors: Mathur Pallavi , Agarwal Parul
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of self-help groups (SHGs) in providing an environment for the empowerment of Indian rural women. The authors argue that the SHG empowerment strategy paves the way for the process of development of bottom-up empowerment of women. The authors argue that SHG is a systematic strategy and is not solely based on credit, but also incorporates many other dimensions necessarily required for developing an empowerment process.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study was the choice of design due to the inherent inability of the structured surveys to understand women empowerment (Mayoux, 1998), as this study was basically interested in the women’s perception of their own empowerment. To explore their experience, a series of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted.

Findings

The authors stand by the application of SHG empowerment strategy in India and go against the rhetoric statements that “top to bottom” approach does not lead to a significant bottom-up empowerment.

Originality/value

The survey was conducted by the authors in the vicinity of rural Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Moreover, during the survey, it was found out that participation in SHG facilitates women to know the current state of disempowerment and provides them strength, capacity to come out from the status of drudgery, poverty and seclusion.
Indigenous perspectives on work-life enrichment and conflict in Canada
Authors: Julien Mark , Somerville Karen , Brant Jennifer
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Indigenous perspectives of work-life enrichment and conflict and provides insights to better support Indigenous employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 56 Indigenous people from six Canadian provinces. In total, 33 of the respondents were female and 23 were male. The interview responses were transcribed and entered in NVivo10. Thematic analysis was used.

Findings

The authors’ respondents struggled with feeling marginalized and felt frustrated that they could not engage in their cultural and family practices. The respondents spoke of putting family needs ahead of work and that many respondents paid a price for doing so.

Research limitations/implications

The results are not generalizable to all Indigenous peoples, however these results do fill a void in the literature.

Practical implications

Employers must consider revising policies including providing more supervisor support in the form of educating supervisors on various Indigenous cultural practices and examine ways of providing more flexibility with respect to cultural and family practices.

Social implications

Indigenous peoples have been marginalized since the advent of colonialism. This research addresses a gap in the literature by presenting how a group of Indigenous respondents frames work-life enrichment and conflict.

Originality/value

Very few studies have examined Indigenous perspectives on work-life enrichment and conflict using a qualitative research design. It also aligns with one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.
Construction of real estate price indices for developing housing markets
Authors: Owusu-Ansah Anthony , Adolwine William Mark , Yeboah Eric
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether temporal aggregation matters when constructing hedonic house price indices for developing markets using Ghana as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Monthly, quarterly, semi-yearly and yearly hedonic price indices are constructed and six null hypotheses are tested using the F-ratios to examine the temporal aggregation effect.

Findings

The results show that temporal aggregation may not be a serious issue when constructing hedonic house price indices for developing markets as a result of the smaller sample size which these markets normally have. At even 10 per cent significance level, none of the F-ratios estimated is statistically significant. Analysis of the mean returns and volatilities reveal that indices constructed at the lower level of temporal aggregation are very volatile, suggesting that the volume of transactions can affect the level of temporal aggregation, and so, the temporal aggregation level should not be generalised, as is currently observed in the literature.

Originality/value

The diversification importance of real estate and the introduction of real estate derivatives and home equity insurance as financial products call for the construction of robust and accurate real estate indices in all markets. While almost all empirical research recommends real estate price indices to be conducted at the lower level of temporal aggregation, these studies are largely conducted in developed markets where transactions take place frequently and large transaction databases exist. Unfortunately, little is known about the importance of temporal aggregation effect when constructing indices for developing real estate markets. This paper contributes to fill these gaps.
House price drivers in Dubai: nonlinearity and heterogeneity
Authors: Worku Genanew Bekele
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine house price drivers in Dubai, addressing nonlinearity and heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies a combination of linear and nonlinear, as well as quantile regression, specifications to address these concerns and better explain the real-world phenomenon.

Findings

The study shows the double-log quantile regression approach is an overarching description of house price drivers, confirming that not only the price of housing and its determinants are non-linearly related but also that their relationship is heterogeneous across house price quantiles. The findings reveal the prevalence of sub-market differentials in house price sensitivity to house attributes such as size (in square meters), location and type of house, as well as government laws. The study also identifies the peaks and deflation, as well as the rebounding nature of the house price bubble in Dubai.

Research limitations/implications

The data used are limited, in that information on only a few house attributes was available. Future research should include data on other house attributes such as house quality, zip codes and composition.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are expected to suggest results with significant ramifications for researchers, practitioners and policy makers. From a policy perspective, there is an obvious interest in understanding whether the price of housing is affected by different attributes differently along its distribution.

Social implications

This study allows policy makers, developers and buyers of higher-priced houses to behave differently from buyers of lower-priced or medium-priced houses.

Originality/value

Methodologically, it demonstrates alternative linear and nonlinear, as well as quantile regression, specifications to address two increasing concerns in the house price literature: nonlinearity and heterogeneity. Unlike most other studies, this study used a rich data (140,039 day-to-day transactions of 10 years’ pooled data). The Dubai housing market presents an interesting case. UAE (Dubai, in particular) is named as the second-hottest marketplace for global residential property investors, ahead of Singapore, the UK and Hong Kong (Savills plc, 2015).
The capital structure dynamics of Malaysian firms: timing behavior vs adjustment toward the target
Authors: Abdeljawad Islam , Mat Nor Fauzias
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the timing behavior and the adjustment toward the target of capital structure interact with each other in the capital structure decisions. Past literature finds that both timing and targeting are significant in determining the leverage ratio which is inconsistent with any standalone framework. This study argues that the preference of the firm for timing behavior or targeting behavior depends on the cost of deviation from the target. Since the cost of deviation from the target is likely to be asymmetric between overleveraged and underleveraged firms, the direction of the deviation from the target leverage is expected to alter the preference toward timing or targeting in the capital structure decision.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the GMM system estimators with the Malaysian data for the period of 1992-2009 to fit a standard partial adjustment model and to estimate the speed of adjustment (SOA) of capital structure.

Findings

This study finds that Malaysian firms, on average, adjust their leverage at a slow speed of 12.7 percent annually and this rate increased to 14.2 percent when the timing variable is accounted for. Moreover, the SOA is found to be significantly higher and the timing role is lower for overleveraged firms compared with underleveraged firms. Overleveraged firms seem to find less flexibility to time the market as more pressure is exerted on them to return to the target regardless the timing opportunities because of the higher costs of deviation from the target leverage. Underleveraged firms place lower priority to rebalance toward the target compared with overleveraged firms as the costs of being underleveraged are lower and hence, these firms have more flexibility to time the market.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study support that firms consider both targeting and timing in their financing decisions. No standalone theory can interpret the full spectrum of empirical results. The empirical work is based on partial adjustment model of leverage; however, this model has been criticized by inability to distinguish between active adjustment behavior and mechanical mean reversion. This is an avenue for future research.

Originality/value

This study investigates if targeting and timing behaviors are mutually exclusive as theoretically expected or they can coexist. A theoretical explanation and an empirical investigation support the conclusion that firms consider both targeting and timing in their financing decisions. This study provides evidence from Malaysian firms that are characterized by concentrated ownership structure and separation of cash flow rights and control rights of the firm due to pyramid ownership structure. Therefore, it provides evidence on how environmental characteristics may affect the capital structure determinants of the firm.
Distributing wine globally: financial and environmental trade-offs
Authors: Varsei Mohsen , Christ Katherine , Burritt Roger
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Given that currently around ten billion litres of wine are transported long distances to overseas consumers per year, the purpose of this paper is to provide a foundation for understanding the trade-offs between cost, water usage and carbon emissions in decisions about the location of wine bottling plants in a global supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case-based analytical modelling study and employs actual data from one of Australia’s major wine companies. A descriptive analytical model is developed for assessing wine supply chain scenarios using three indicators of economic and environmental impacts – supply chain cost, risk-weighted water usage and carbon emissions.

Findings

The research highlights trade-offs required when considering optimal supply chain design, and finds possibilities for reshaping a global wine supply chain in order to improve the selected economic and environmental impacts.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in its analytical focus on examining the interplay between supply chain cost, risk-weighted water usage and carbon emissions in a global supply chain, which has not previously been addressed.
Sport team brand-equity index: a new measurement
Authors: Yousaf Anish , Gupta Anil , Mishra Abhishek
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Sport teams not only compete with other teams for the ultimate prize but also for a share of customer mind space. For winning fan loyalty and resultant economic success, management of sport teams need to focus on team-branding, and thus, developing and measuring a team’s brand equity becomes essential, which is the core purpose of this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Current work builds upon previous efforts to develop a reliable and, more importantly, a parsimonious sport team brand-equity (STBE) index, as opposed to the usual multi-dimensional reflective scales, too complicated and not of much use to practitioners.

Findings

The authors propose that the STBE index having eight indicators is enough to capture the full domain of the concept and provide a snapshot about the ability of a team’s administration to create strong emotional bonds with its fans.

Research limitations/implications

Apart from demographics of the respondents, an important drawback is that the STBE index is from the perspective of television or online viewers and not those watching live in stadiums. This work contributes to extant sports brand equity literature by proposing a simpler scale made of casual variables, as opposed to reflective scales running into large number of similar items, a first of its kind in this domain. The authors also are able to forward the growing call for developing more of such scales through this effort.

Practical implications

Not only can the present scale be easily used by sport-marketers and researchers, it will be especially useful for marketing managers who want to associate their brands with sport teams, as it affects performance of their own brand.

Originality/value

The work represents a novel effort for developing a team-based brand equity and, to the authors’ knowledge, has not been attempted in this literature before.
Knowledge management, problem solving and performance in top Italian firms
Authors: Giampaoli Daniele , Ciambotti Massimo , Bontis Nick
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the link between knowledge management practices, problem-solving processes and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses survey data from 112 leading Italian companies. To test the structural relations of the research model, we used the partial least squares method.

Findings

Results show a strong relationship between knowledge management practices and intermediate activities of creative problem solving and problem-solving speed. In addition, creative problem solving has a direct impact on both organizational and financial performances, whereas problem-solving speed has a direct effect only on financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The focus on top Italian firms limits the generalizability of results.

Practical implications

This study provides empirical evidence of the importance of knowledge management practices for problem-solving activities and firm performance.

Originality/value

The present paper fills an important gap in the extant literature by conceptualizing and empirically testing the relationship between knowledge management, problem-solving processes (creative problem solving and problem-solving speed) and firm performance. This study is the first ever to study these relationships within the Italian context.
How gamification of an enterprise collaboration system increases knowledge contribution: an affordance approach
Authors: Suh Ayoung , Wagner Christian
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine how gamification increases employees’ knowledge contribution to the place of work. It develops and tests the conjecture that gamification adds hedonic value to the use of an enterprise collaboration system (ECS), which, in turn, increases in both the quality and quantity of knowledge contribution.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the framework of successful gamification against a backdrop of affordance theory, this study develops and tests a theoretical model that explains the effects of gamification affordances on knowledge contribution via the use of an ECS. Empirical data were gathered from 166 employees at a global company that used a gamified ECS designed to aid knowledge sharing.

Findings

Results using structural equation modeling showed that three gamification affordances – rewardability, competition and visibility of achievement – jointly influenced employees’ perceived hedonic value of the ECS, which, in turn, increased knowledge contribution.

Practical implications

The results indicate that designing affordances that can increase hedonic value is central to facilitating employees’ knowledge contribution. However, simply incorporating game artifacts does not guarantee increased hedonic value of an ECS. Instead, assessing, monitoring and diagnosing what affordances users perceive from the use of a gamified system are important.

Originality/value

By conceptualizing gamification affordances rather than specifying the design features of enterprise applications, this study provides meaningful insights into how the benefits of gamification can be harnessed for knowledge management in organizations.
Employees’ online knowledge sharing: the effects of person-environment fit
Authors: Pee L.G. , Min Jinyoung
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Various individual and environmental factors influencing employees’ online knowledge sharing have been identified, but the understanding regarding these has been mostly limited because of their independent and direct effects our understanding has been mostly limited to their independent and direct effects. This study aims to propose that the fit between employees and their environments (PE fit) matters. A model explaining how PE fit and misfit affect employees’ knowledge sharing behavior through influencing their affective commitment is developed and assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was assessed with data collected in a survey of 218 employees.

Findings

Results indicate that PE fit in the norm of collaboration, innovativeness and skill variety leads to the development of stronger affective commitment and, therefore, more knowledge sharing behavior than when they are in shortfall or excess in the environment (i.e. PE misfit).

Originality/value

The findings indicate a new direction for knowledge sharing research that focuses on PE fit and suggest that knowledge sharing can be improved more proactively in practice by assessing PE fit during recruitment.