bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Passive Smoking and Disease Severity in Childhood Pneumonia Under 5 Years of Age
Authors: Sismanlar Eyuboglu Tugba , Aslan Ayse Tana , Kose Mehmet , Pekcan Sevgi , Hangul Melih , Gulbahar Ozlem , Cingirt Mehmet , Bedir Demirdag Tuga , Tezer Hasan , Budakoglu Isıl Irem
Published: November 2019

Objective

To objectively investigate the effect of passive smoking on pneumonia and disease severity in children aged less than 5 years by using cotinine as an indicator of passive smoking.

Methods

Between December 2015 and April 2016, children aged less than 5 years with pneumonia and age-matched healthy controls were included in this study, which was conducted at three tertiary pediatric pulmonology centers. A questionnaire was given to the parents regarding demographic data and smoking status at home. Urinary cotinine/creatinine ratio (CCR) was measured. The data from the pneumonia and control groups, as well as children with mild and severe pneumonia within the pneumonia group, were compared.

Results

A total of 227 subjects were included in the study; there were 74 children in the pneumonia group and 153 in the control group. The mean age of all the children was 33.4 ± 1.28 months. Of all subjects, 140 were male and 102 were exposed to passive smoking by their parents at home. There were statistically significant differences in age, number of people in the home, and mother’s and father’s age between the control and pneumonia groups (p < 0.05). No difference was found in the CCR in the control and pneumonia group (p > 0.05). Age and urinary CCR were significantly different between children with mild and severe pneumonia (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

We showed that passive smoking exposure was associated with the development of severe pneumonia in children. Further studies are needed to examine the underlying cause in detail.
Pseudidiomarina gelatinasegens sp. nov., isolated from surface sediment of the Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica
Authors: Li Anzhang , Zhang Mingxia , Xu Shuaishuai , Chen Meng , Yao Qing , Zhu Hong-Hui
Published: November 2019

Polyphasic taxonomic analysis was performed to characterize a novel bacterium, which was isolated from surface sediment of the Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, and designated as R04H25T. The cells of the isolate were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, slightly curved rods. Growth occurred at 4–42 °C, pH 7.0–9.5, and in 1–15 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R04H25T formed an independent lineage within the genus

Pseudidiomarina

and its nearest neighbours were

Pseudidiomarina donghaiensis

908033T (98.2 %),

Pseudidiomarina marina

PIM1T (98.1 %),

Pseudidiomarina woesei

W11T (97.8 %),

Pseudidiomarina maritima

908087T (97.1 %) and

Pseudidiomarina tainanensis

PIN1T (97.0 %). The average nucleotide identities between strain R04H25T and the nearest neighbours were 76.2–77.7 %. The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0, summed feature 9, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C11 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid, three unidentified glycolipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8. The genomic DNA G+C content was 48.2 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic results, we propose a novel species named as Pseudidiomarina gelatinasegens sp. nov. in the genus

Pseudidiomarina

, with the type strain R04H25T (=GDMCC 1.1503T=KCTC 62911T).
Chloroplast cold-resistance is mediated by the acidic domain of the RNA binding protein CP31A
Authors: Okuzaki Ayako , Lehniger Marie-Kristin , Muino Jose M , Lenzen Benjamin , Rühe Thilo , Leister Dario , Ohler Uwe , Schmitz-Linneweber Christian
Published: November 2019

Chloroplast RNA metabolism is characterized by long-lived mRNAs that undergo a multitude of post-transcriptional processing events. Chloroplast RNA accumulation responds to environmental cues, foremost light and temperature. A large number of nuclear-encoded RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are required for chloroplast RNA metabolism, but we do not yet know how chloroplast RBPs convert abiotic signals into gene expression changes. Previous studies showed that the chloroplast ribonucleoprotein 31A (CP31A) is required for the stabilization of multiple chloroplast mRNAs in the cold, and that the phosphorylation of CP31A at various residues within its N-terminal acidic domain (AD) can alter its affinity for RNAin vitro. Loss of CP31A leads to cold sensitive plants that exhibit bleached tissue at the center of the vegetative rosette. Here, by applying RIP-Seq, we demonstrated that CP31A shows increased affinity for a large number of chloroplast RNAsin vivoin the cold. Among the main targets of CP31A were RNAs encoding subunits of the NDH complex and loss of CP31A lead to reduced accumulation ofndhtranscripts. Deletion analyses revealed that cold-dependent RNA binding and cold resistance of chloroplast development both depend on the AD of CP31A. Together, our analysis established the AD of CP31A as a key mediator of cold acclimation of the chloroplast transcriptome.

One sentence summary

Cold exposure induces increased RNA association of the RRM protein CP31A, which mediates cold-resistance ofArabidopsis thalianavia its acidic domain
Stathmin-2 Mediates Glucagon Secretion from Pancreatic α-Cells
Authors: Asadi Farzad , Dhanvantari Savita
Published: November 2019

Inhibition of glucagon hypersecretion from pancreatic α-cells is an appealing strategy for the treatment of diabetes. Our hypothesis is that proteins that associate with glucagon within alpha cell secretory granules will regulate glucagon secretion, and may provide druggable targets for controlling abnormal glucagon secretion in diabetes. Recently, we identified a dynamic glucagon interactome within the secretory granules of the α cell line, αTC1-6, and showed that select proteins within the interactome could modulate glucagon secretion. In the present study, we show that one of these interactome proteins, the neuronal protein stathmin-2, is expressed in aTC1-6 cells and in mouse pancreatic alpha cells, and is a novel regulator of glucagon secretion. Stathmin-2 was co-secreted with glucagon in response to 55 mM K+, and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed co-localization of stathmin-2 with glucagon and the secretory granule markers chromogranin A and VAMP-2 in αTC1-6 cells. In mouse pancreatic islets, Stathmin-2 co-localized with glucagon, but not with insulin, indicating that it is an alpha cell protein. To show a function for stathmin-2 in regulating glucagon secretion, we showed that siRNA - mediated depletion of stathmin-2 in aTC1-6 cells caused glucagon secretion to become constitutive without any effect on proglucagon mRNA levels, while overexpression of stathmin-2 completely abolished both basal and K+-stimulated glucagon secretion. Overexpression of stathmin-2 increased the localization of glucagon into the endosomal-lysosomal compartment, while depletion of stathmin-2 reduced the endosomal localization of glucagon. Therefore, we describe stathmin-2 as having a novel role as an alpha cell secretory granule protein that modulates glucagon secretion via trafficking through the endosomal-lysosomal system. These findings describe a potential new pathway for the regulation of glucagon secretion, and may have implications for controlling glucagon hypersecretion in diabetes.
Background radiation impacts human longevity and cancer mortality: Reconsidering the linear no-threshold paradigm
Authors: David Elroei , Wolfson Marina , Fraifeld Vadim E.
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

The current linear-no-threshold paradigm assumes that any exposure to ionizing radiation carries some risk, thus every effort should be made to maintain the exposures as low as possible. Here, we examined whether background radiation impacts human longevity and cancer mortality.

METHODS

Our data covered the entire US population of the 3139 US counties, encompassing over 320 million people. The data on background radiation levels, the average of 5-year age-adjusted cancer mortality rates, and life expectancy for both males and females in each county, was extracted using publicly available tools from official sources, and analyzed with JMP®™ software.

RESULTS

We found for the first time that life expectancy, the most integrative index of population health, was approximately 2.5 years longer in people living in areas with a relatively high vs. low background radiation (≥ 180 mrem/year and ≤ 100 mrem/year, respectively; p < 0.005; 95% confidence interval [CI]). This radiation-induced lifespan extension could to a great extent be associated with the decrease in cancer mortality rate observed for several common cancers (lung, pancreas and colon cancers for both genders, and brain and bladder cancers for males only; p < 0.05; 95% CI).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to a high background radiation displays clear beneficial health effects in humans. These hormetic effects provide strong evidence for re-considering the linear no-threshold paradigm, at least within the natural range of low-dose radiation.
Varstation: a complete and efficient tool to support NGS data analysis
Authors: Faria ACO , Caraciolo MP , Minillo RM , Almeida TF , Pereira SM , Cervato MC , Filho JBO
Published: November 2019

Varstation is a cloud-based NGS data processor and analyzer for human genetic variation. This resource provides a customizable, centralized, safe and clinically validated environment aiming to improve and optimize the flow of NGS analyses and reports related with clinical and research genetics.

Availability and implementation

Varstation is freely available at http://varstation.com, for academic use.

Contact

contact@varstation.com

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Fibrotic human lung extracellular matrix as a disease-specific substrate for 3D in-vitro models of pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Germanguz Igal , Aranda Evelyn , Xiong Jennifer C. , Kissel Natalia , Nichols Alexandra , Gadee Eddie , O’Neill John D.
Published: November 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible and uniformly fatal lung disease marked by destruction and scarring of the lung parenchyma and progressive loss of respiratory function. IPF affects nearly 3 million people worldwide, and annual mortality in the US alone exceeds 40,000. Nintedanib and pirfenidone, the only drugs approved for the treatment of IPF, slow progression but do not cure the disease. Consequently, there is a pressing need for effective treatments beside lung transplantation. Unfortunately, predictive models of IPF are not available, underscoring the critical need for physiologically relevant in-vitro substrates that enable quantitative and mechanistic studies of human IPF. Here we report the development and characterization of a human pulmonary fibrosis-specific cell culture substrate comprised of intact fibrotic lung extracellular matrix that recapitulates the human IPF disease environment in vitro. We document the activation and disease-specific phenotype of human lung fibroblasts cultured in the IPF disease-specific substrate, and establish feasibility of testing antifibrotic agents using this substrate. Altogether, our results demonstrate the applicability of this fibrosis-specific substrate for 3D in-vitro models of IPF and cell-based assays in early-stage drug discovery.
A minimal synaptic model for direction selective neurons inDrosophila
Authors: Zavatone-Veth Jacob A. , Badwan Bara A. , Clark Damon A.
Published: November 2019

Visual motion estimation is a canonical neural computation. InDrosophila, recent advances have identified anatomical and functional circuitry underlying direction-selective computations. Models with varying levels of abstraction have been proposed to explain specific experimental results, but have rarely been compared across experiments. Here we construct a minimal, biophysically inspired synaptic model forDrosophila’s first-order direction-selective T4 cells using the wealth of available anatomical and physiological data. We show how this model relates mathematically to classical models of motion detection, including the Hassenstein-Reichardt correlator model. We used numerical simulation to test how well this synaptic model could reproduce measurements of T4 cells across many datasets and stimulus modalities. These comparisons include responses to sinusoid gratings, to apparent motion stimuli, to stochastic stimuli, and to natural scenes. Without fine-tuning this model, it sufficed to reproduce many, but not all, response properties of T4 cells. Since this model is flexible and based on straightforward biophysical properties, it provides an extensible framework for developing a mechanistic understanding of T4 neural response properties. Moreover, it can be used to assess the sufficiency of simple biophysical mechanisms to describe features of the direction-selective computation and identify where our understanding must be improved.
Suppression of Docetaxel induced apoptosis in Survivin-depleted cells due to failure of sustained mitotic block
Authors: Han Teng-Long , Sha Hang , Jiang Zhi-Xin
Published: November 2019

The antitumor effect of taxanes have been attributed to their ability to induce mitotic arrest through activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Cell death following prolonged mitotic arrest is mediated by the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, factors that influence the robustness of mitotic arrest or disrupt the apoptotic machinery might confer drug resistance. Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Its overexpression has been associated with resistance to multiple anticancer agents including taxanes, and its targeting led to drug sensitization. On the other hand, Survivin is a key regulator of mitosis, which is shown to be required for stable activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Since the sensitivity of taxanes depends on a functional spindle checkpoint, inhibition of Survivin may lead to drug resistance, which is the opposite effect of its anti-apoptotic function. Here we show that Survivin-depleted cells escape the mitotic block following Docetaxel treatment, thereby evading drug induced apoptosis. Moreover, Survivin depletion increases the level of mitotic catastrophe and cellular senescence induced by Docetaxel and enhanced its efficacy against clonogenic survival of tumor cells. Our finding suggests that inhibition of Survivin promotes non-apoptotic mechanisms following Docetaxel treatment rather than increases the sensitivity of apoptosis.
Crosstalk between Lys63- and Lys11-polyubiquitin signaling at DNA damage sites is driven by Cezanne
Authors: Wu Xiao , Liu Shichang , Sagum Cari , Chen Jianji , Singh Rajesh , Chaturvedi Apurva , Horton John R. , Kashyap Tanuja R. , Fushman David , Cheng Xiaodong , Bedford Mark T. , Wang Bin
Published: November 2019

The establishment of polyubiquitin conjugates with distinct linkages play important roles in the DNA damage response. Much remains unknown about the regulation of linkage-specific ubiquitin signaling at sites of DNA damage. Here we reveal that Cezanne (also known as Otud7B) deubiquitinating enzyme promotes the recruitment of Rap80/BRCA1-A complex by binding to Lys63-polyubiquitin and targeting Lys11-polyubiquitin. Using a ubiquitin binding domain protein array screen, we identify that the UBA domains of Cezanne and Cezanne2 (also known as Otud7A) selectively bind to Lys63-linked polyubiquitin. Increased Lys11-linkage ubiquitination due to lack of Cezanne DUB activity compromises the recruitment of Rap80/BRCA1-A. Cezanne2 interacts with Cezanne, facilitating Cezanne in the recruitment of Rap80/BRCA1-A, Rad18, and 53BP1, in cellular resistance to ionizing radiation and DNA repair. Our work presents a model that Cezanne serves as a “reader” of the Lys63-linkage polyubiquitin at DNA damage sites and an “eraser” of the Lys11-linkage ubiquitination, indicating a crosstalk between linkage-specific ubiquitination at DNA damage sites.
AIDE: annotation-assisted isoform discovery with high precision
Authors: Li Wei Vivian , Li Shan , Tong Xin , Deng Ling , Shi Hubing , Li Jingyi Jessica
Published: November 2019

Genome-wide accurate identification and quantification of full-length mRNA isoforms is crucial for investigating transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms of biological phenomena. Despite continuing efforts in developing effective computational tools to identify or assemble full-length mRNA isoforms from second-generation RNA-seq data, it remains a challenge to accurately identify mRNA isoforms from short sequence reads owing to the substantial information loss in RNA-seq experiments. Here, we introduce a novel statistical method, annotation-assisted isoform discovery (AIDE), the first approach that directly controls false isoform discoveries by implementing the testing-based model selection principle. Solving the isoform discovery problem in a stepwise and conservative manner, AIDE prioritizes the annotated isoforms and precisely identifies novel isoforms whose addition significantly improves the explanation of observed RNA-seq reads. We evaluate the performance of AIDE based on multiple simulated and real RNA-seq data sets followed by PCR-Sanger sequencing validation. Our results show that AIDE effectively leverages the annotation information to compensate the information loss owing to short read lengths. AIDE achieves the highest precision in isoform discovery and the lowest error rates in isoform abundance estimation, compared with three state-of-the-art methods Cufflinks, SLIDE, and StringTie. As a robust bioinformatics tool for transcriptome analysis, AIDE enables researchers to discover novel transcripts with high confidence.
Working capital management and firm performance in China
Authors: Ren Ting , Liu Nan , Yang Hongyan , Xiao Youzhi , Hu Yijun
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between working capital management (WCM) and firm performance in the context of the Chinese economy. Specifically, it investigates the effects of ownership structures as an internal factor and of institutional environments (IE) as an external factor shaping this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies two-way fixed effect regression models to a sample of Chinese listed manufacturing firms for the period of 2010 to 2017. WCM is measured by cash conversion cycles (CCC); profitability is measured by core profit ratios; ownership structures are classified based on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs; and IEs are measured from dimensions of factor markets (FM) and legal systems (LS).

Findings

First, the results show a negative relationship between CCC and firm performance. Second, the negative relationship between CCC and profitability is significant for non-SOEs but not for SOEs. Third, both the FM and LS strengthen the negative association between CCC and profitability. Fourth, the moderating effect of FMs and LSs is evident for non-SOEs only. The results hold when using alternative measures of WCM and profitability and while controlling for additional variables.

Originality/value

The current study shows that while WCM has a significant effect on the profitability of Chinese firms, such an effect greatly depends on the ownership structures and IE involved. The results thus offer important implications in helping the Chinese government create better IEs and in allowing manufacturing firms to improve upon their WCM practices.
Consumer acceptance of food obtained from olive by-products
Authors: Perito Maria Angela , Di Fonzo Antonella , Sansone Marcello , Russo Carlo
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the market potential of food obtained from olive by-products. The marketing of such by-products (e.g. olive leaves and pulp) is a challenging opportunity for the sustainable development of the sector. Yet, consumer demand is still poorly understood. The paper contributes to filling the knowledge gap with an empirical survey of a sample of Italian consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide an assessment of consumers’ willingness to accept (WTA) food from olive by-products. The authors collected structured questionnaire from a sample of 289 Italian consumers. The authors asked to consumers their willingness to try a variety of food products containing olive by-products, as a proxy for their WTA the products. In order to investigate the drivers of the average WTA, the authors used the information in the questionnaire to build four constructs of interest: technophobia, neophobia, perception of benefits and awareness about sustainable consumption. The choice of the constructs and the variables was driven by the existing literature.

Findings

The paper shows how the WTA food with olive by-products is a general attitude of the consumer, rather than product-specific choice. The results suggest that consumers perceive the use of olive by-products as a new technology for preparing well-known food products. The authors did not find statistical evidence of the wariness of olive by-products as new food products. Technophobia is the most important factor hampering the marketing of olive by-products.

Originality/value

The paper is a first attempt of exploring the topic of WTA food with olive by-products.
Use of sodium metabisulfite and ascorbic acid as anti-browning agents in processed potatoes
Authors: do Nascimento Revenli Fernanda , Canteri Maria Helene Giovanetti
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of sodium metabisulfite (SMB) and ascorbic acid (AA) either alone or in combination as anti-browning agents in industrially processed potatoes.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment was carried out in the production line of an agricultural industry located in the state of Paraná, Brazil, testing the following chemical treatments in the immersion process of the potatoes: T1 (control, without additives), T2 (0.5 percent AA), T3 (0.5 percent SMB), T4 (0.5 percent SMB + 0.5 percent AA) and T5 (0.25 percent SMB + 0.25 percent AA). The statistical significance of the difference between chemical treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) and storage periods (1, 5, 10 and 15 days) was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Additionally, multifactorial ANOVA was carried out in a 22 factorial experimental design with 3 central points to estimate the influence of independent variables on the results. The analyses performed on the samples of the different treatments were total soluble solids content, pH, total titratable acidity, instrumental color and browning index.

Findings

The tested antioxidants did not affect the content of total soluble solids and total titratable acidity but significantly influenced the pH, color and browning index. The treatment T3, containing only SMB (0.5 percent m/v), and the treatment T5, a combination of SMB (0.25 percent m/v) and AA (0.25 percent m/v), were the most effective in the controlling the browning reaction. In these treatments, the formation of brown color in potatoes after cooked was significantly reduced (p<0.05) using relatively lower concentration of antioxidants.

Originality/value

The novelty of the research is focused on reducing the use of chemical agents to control the browning of the processed potatoes (peeled, steamed, sterilized and vacuum packed) ready for consumption and widely marketed. During processing of this commercial potato, the tissue damage caused by mechanical processes, as well as the heat treatment employed during cooking, induces the development of enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning reactions. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the influence of industrially employed chemical agents in order to maintain the quality of this product, with stable color and the lowest possible concentration of additives. The reduction of chemical additives offers viable solutions to many of the problems the Sustainable Development Goals are meant to tackle, as they ensure healthy lives, availability and sustainable management of water and promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
Robustness evaluation of CSMM based finite element for simulation of shear critical hollow RC bridge piers
Authors: Polimeru Vijay Kumar , Laskar Arghadeep
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two-dimensional (2D) cyclic softened membrane model (CSMM)-based non-linear finite element (NLFE) model in predicting the complete non-linear response of shear critical bridge piers (with walls having aspect ratios greater than 2.5) under combined axial and reversed cyclic uniaxial bending loads. The effectiveness of the 2D CSMM-based NLFE model has been compared with the widely used one-dimensional (1D) fiber-based NLFE models.

Design/methodology/approach

Three reinforced concrete (RC) hollow rectangular bridge piers tested under reversed cyclic uniaxial bending and sustained axial loads at the National Centre for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) Taiwan have been simulated using both 1D and 2D models in the present study. The non-linear behavior of the bridge piers has been studied through various parameters such as hysteretic loops, energy dissipation, residual drift, yield load and corresponding drift, peak load and corresponding drift, ultimate loads, ductility, specimen stiffness and critical strains in concrete and steel. The results obtained from CSMM-based NLFE model have been critically compared with the test results and results obtained from the 1D fiber-based NLFE models.

Findings

It has been observed from the analysis results that both 1D and 2D simulation models performed well in predicting the response of flexure critical bridge pier. However, in the case of shear critical bridge piers, predictions from 2D CSMM-based NLFE simulation model are more accurate. It has, thus, been concluded that CSMM-based NLFE model is more accurate and robust to simulate the complete non-linear behavior of shear critical RC hollow rectangular bridge piers.

Originality/value

In this study, a novel attempt has been made to provide a rational and robust FE model for analyzing shear critical hollow RC bridge piers (with walls having aspect ratios greater than 2.5).
Defining the undefinable: an analysis of definitions of community archives
Authors: Welland Sarah , Cossham Amanda
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore definitions and notions of what a community archive is, and the tensions between different understandings of community archives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a critical analysis of community archives definitions and understanding from researchers and practitioners across the wider heritage information sector.

Findings

Community archives are a growing area of interest for researchers because of the archives’ intrinsic link to the community and their provision of the evidence of it. While discussion often focuses on a paradigm of transformative purpose, existing definitions around community archives continue to be tenuous, reflecting different real or perceived types and practices and the perspective of the author and the sector they work within. Variations in definition can also occur because of differences in perspective around theory and practice, with many practitioner-based definitions intrinsically bound with the community they represent. This can result in community archives being defined as “alternative” based on mainstream practice or “political” based on theoretical purview, or “meeting the needs of community” by the community archivists themselves.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is conceptual and does not attempt to provide one definition that covers the perceived extent of community archives. It is part of work in progress on the nature of community archives and the impact such discourse may have on archival theory and practice.

Originality/value

This paper provides an overview of some of the key issues and themes impacting a definition of community archives, and in doing so works towards a broader understanding the nature of community archives. In most cases, the concept of “community” seems to provide a common definitive element and practitioner definitions focus on addressing the needs of self-defined community to a greater or lesser extent.
ISPH method for MHD double-diffusive natural convection of a nanofluid within cavity containing open pipes
Authors: Raizah Zehba A.S. , M. Aly Abdelraheem
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to adopt incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method for studying magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) double-diffusive natural convection from an inner open pipe in a cavity filled with a nanofluid.

Design/methodology/approach

The Lagrangian description of the governing equations was solved using the current ISPH method. The effects of two pipe shapes as a straight pipe and V-pipe, length of the pipe LPipe (0.2-0.8), length of V-pipe LV (0.04-0.32), Hartmann parameter Ha (40-120), solid volume fraction ϕ (0-0.1) and Lewis number Le (1-50) on the heat and mass transfer of nanofluid have been investigated.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are increased by increment on the straight-pipe length, V-pipe length, Hartmann parameter, solid volume fraction and Lewis number. In addition, the variation on the open pipe shapes gives a suitable choice for enhancement heat and mass transfer inside the cavity. The control parameters of the open pipes can enhance the heat and mass transfer inside a cavity. In addition, the variation on the open pipe shapes gives a suitable choice for enhancement heat and mass transfer inside the cavity.

Originality/value

ISPH method is developed to study the MHD double-diffusive natural convection from the novel shapes of the inner heated open pipes inside a cavity including straight-pipe and V-pipe shapes.
Automated data-driven profiling: threats for group privacy
Authors: Mavriki Paola , Karyda Maria
Published: November 2019

Purpose

User profiling with big data raises significant issues regarding privacy. Privacy studies typically focus on individual privacy; however, in the era of big data analytics, users are also targeted as members of specific groups, thus challenging their collective privacy with unidentified implications. Overall, this paper aims to argue that in the age of big data, there is a need to consider the collective aspects of privacy as well and to develop new ways of calculating privacy risks and identify privacy threats that emerge.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on a collective level, the authors conducted an extensive literature review related to information privacy and concepts of social identity. They also examined numerous automated data-driven profiling techniques analyzing at the same time the involved privacy issues for groups.

Findings

This paper identifies privacy threats for collective entities that stem from data-driven profiling, and it argues that privacy-preserving mechanisms are required to protect the privacy interests of groups as entities, independently of the interests of their individual members. Moreover, this paper concludes that collective privacy threats may be different from threats for individuals when they are not members of a group.

Originality/value

Although research evidence indicates that in the age of big data privacy as a collective issue is becoming increasingly important, the pluralist character of privacy has not yet been adequately explored. This paper contributes to filling this gap and provides new insights with regard to threats for group privacy and their impact on collective entities and society.
New institutional economics: contributions to international business studies
Authors: Silva-Rêgo Bernardo Frossard , Figueira Ariane Roder
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main contributions of the new institutional economics to the international business (IB) arena. It also intends to show how the NIE is being incorporated to both eclectic paradigm and Uppsala school’s view, and how it is modifying them.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of IB articles, which contained an institutional view and also discussed the eclectic paradigm or the Uppsala school, provides the background to build a framework.

Findings

This paper proposes a framework showing the impact of the institutional variables on the internationalization of firms, by addressing both the OLI paradigm and Uppsala school. It also concludes that the institutional theory has been a point of intersection between the OLI paradigm and Uppsala school, since both have been renewed to understand the transaction costs borne by the firms in their international learning process and in the search for less asymmetrical information.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provided a brief discussion about the institutional components.

Practical implications

This study is a useful source of information for those who want to discuss the institutional impact in the IB arena and emerging markets.

Originality/value

This paper summarizes how the OLI paradigm and Uppsala school encompassed the institutional variables. It also presents a framework that allows new study possibilities since the understanding of the influence of institutional variables on the international movements of firms is still cloudy.
Productivity growth and job reallocation in the Vietnamese manufacturing sector
Authors: Khac Minh Nguyen , Lan Phung Mai , Khanh Pham Van
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure TFP growth and job reallocation in the Vietnamese manufacturing industry after the Doimoi period.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses firm-level panel data from Vietnam’s annual enterprise survey data for 2000–2016 period in the Vietnamese manufacturing industry using Olley–Pakes static and dynamic productivity decomposition methods.

Findings

The aggregate productivity estimated from the WRDG method increased 2.323 percent, of which over 40 percent is due to the reallocation toward more productive firms. Olley–Pakes dynamic decomposition according to ownership, scale and industry shows that the contribution of private and state-owned firms and the contribution of small and medium firms and large firms to the TFP growth are 133, −33 percent, 58.56 and 41.44 percent, respectively. The within-firm productivity and net entry components are the main reasons for TFP growth rather than reallocation. The results show that the composition of the aggregate TFPs, estimated from WRDG, OP, LP and ACF, is correlated very high (over 80 percent) except for net entry components.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of this study is that the authors compute an aggregate productivity index using actual employment-based shares (still misallocation in labor), rather than optimal employment-based shares (no misallocation in labor).

Originality/value

Job reallocation between industries is attracting attention in developing countries, especially transition economies. However, knowledge about job reallocation among industries is limited. This paper assesses the level of job reallocation among private and state-owned firms, small and medium firms and large firms in Vietnam.
Spiritual development in executive coaching
Authors: Allen Stuart , Fry Louis W.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Spiritual topics emerge in executive leadership coaching. However, the scholarly literature has emphasized the performance development aspects of executive coaching (EC) more than the development of executives’ inner lives, although there is some evidence of practitioners addressing spiritual topics. Executive leaders have spiritual needs and executive coaches may be well positioned to address the intersection of the leaders’ work and spiritual lives, provided coaches observe skill boundaries and the limitations of the coaching context. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the merits of including spiritual development (SDev) in EC and how executive coaches can incorporate it in their practice.

Design/methodology/approach

EC, SDev and spiritual direction are compared, drawing attention to conflicting and complementary aspects of SDev applied in EC. Organizations’, clients’ and coaches’ likely concerns about such integration are explored and addressed. Suitable contexts, principles, a basic developmental framework and practical steps for executive coaches considering the inclusion of SDev in EC are proposed.

Findings

The paper provides coaches, consultants, executives and those charged with executive development with a foundational understanding of the role of SDev in EC.

Originality/value

A framework is provided for professionals involved in executive management development to address executive leaders’ spiritual needs through EC.
Networks and alliances – business schools’ answer to mergers and acquisitions?
Authors: Pon Kevin , Duncan Anne-Laure
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the state of French medium sized business schools in the Grandes Ecole sector of education and how networks and alliances help business schools survive in an ever-changing and global environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The material for empirical research for this paper was gathered by using a case study method of four small to medium sized provincial Institutions of Management Education in France.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that all of the business schools studied rely on networks and alliances to face globalisation and internationalise their strategy and seems to follow the three typologies of mergers and acquisitions set down by Napier (1989): extension mergers, collaborative mergers and redesign mergers. At present, the networks and alliances are used on a marginal or peripheral way by networking only a part of the institution at one time.

Research limitations/implications

Further research at a later date needs to be carried out in order to observe if the pattern will remain or if there may be networks which will start from the core of the institution since the organisations will in the future have more of an international or global culture.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to demonstrate that medium-sized business schools can compensate their limited resources and compete in the global education market. Alliances and networks appear as key ways in achieving goals of sustainability and survival.
Variation in the structure and administration of student-managed investment funds
Authors: Boughton Charles M. , Jackson Katherine L.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the differences present in student-managed investment funds (SMIF).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses primary data collected by survey and interviews.

Findings

The findings of this paper suggest that research efforts need to be focused on the topical area and transparency in the field needs to be improved.

Research limitations/implications

Past research is validated and future research is needed.

Practical implications

The need to develop and disseminate best practices in the management of SMIF’s.

Social implications

Student-managed funds are widespread and growing but operate as independent entities.

Originality/value

The paper is original and based on primary research.
Charities’ new non-financial reporting requirements: preparers’ insights
Authors: Hooks Jill , Stent Warwick
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain insights from preparers on the new Performance Report requirements for New Zealand registered Tiers 3 and 4 charities, in particular the non-financial information included in the ‘Entity Information’ section and the ‘Statement of Service Performance’.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 interviewees, each involved with governance and reporting of one or more Tiers 3- or 4-registered charities. These interviews were analysed in terms of accountability and legitimacy objectives, which motivated the regulators to introduce the new reporting regime.

Findings

Key findings are summarised under three themes. Manageability relates to perceptions and suggestions regarding implementation of the new requirements. Scepticism concerns some doubts raised by interviewees regarding the motivations for performance reports and the extent to which they will be used. Effects include concerns about potentially losing good charities and volunteers because of new requirements making their work ‘too hard’, although an increased focus on outcomes creates the potential for continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The subjectivity that is inherent in thematic analysis is acknowledged and also that multiple themes may sometimes be present in the sentences and paragraphs analysed. The authors acknowledge too that early viewpoints may change over time.

Practical implications

Themes identified may assist regulators, professional bodies and support groups to respond to the views of preparers. Findings will also be of interest to parties in other jurisdictions who are considering the implementation of similar initiatives.

Originality/value

This paper provides early insights on new reporting requirements entailing significant changes for New Zealand registered charities for financial periods beginning on or after April 2015. The focus is on small registered charities (97 per cent of all New Zealand registered charities) and key aspects of the Performance Report: Entity Information and the Statement of Service Performance.
Pacific Market: invest, sell, or stay the same?
Authors: Gilinsky Jr Armand , Mallon Julia , Santana Adele
Published: November 2019

Theoretical basis

This case should be paired with textbook chapters that cover the important roles of leadership, staffing and corporate culture in the strategy implementation effort. The case can also be used to review textbook chapters covering competitive and industry analysis, differentiation strategies, goal setting and financial analysis. In advanced courses, readings on leadership and corporate social responsibility should be assigned to inform debates regarding Vasu’s style and his commitment to creating shared value. Alternatively, instructors in retail management courses could assign readings that investigate the linkages of human resource management, service quality and other behaviors to optimal supermarket performance.

Research methodology

The authors revised this case and Teaching Noes from an MBA student case writing project in Fall 2017. The student conducted focus groups with Pacific Market’s consumers, worked with Vasu and his consultant, Tom Scott, a former CEO of a local grocery chain, supplemented with secondary industry research and demographic information about the cities of Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. Meetings to develop the company mission statement and long-term goals took place over Fall 2017. Tom provided the operating information and trade area analysis used in the case, and Vasu provided financial statements and background information.

Case overview/synopsis

After a career as a turnaround specialist for Silicon Valley high-tech startups, Vasudev Narayanan (Vasu) acquired Pacific Market, a two-store chain in Sonoma County, California, in 2013. By Fall 2017, rival local chains had expanded, online vendors threatened in-store shopping, the Amazon-Whole Foods combination threatened disruption, and consumers increasingly insisted on “buying local.” Vasu aimed to grow revenues 50 percent by 2020, and fund Good Karma Foundation, a charity in his native India. Strategies to achieve these objectives included infrastructure investments, employee profit sharing, changing the mix of products and amenities or finding a buyer for the operation.

Complexity academic level

The Pacific Market case is intended for undergraduate or MBA-level strategic management courses. The case pairs well with coverage of how leaders approach the strategy implementation effort, a topic typically introduced toward the end of the course. The case gives students practice in applying strategy formulation concepts and frameworks, e.g. PESTEL analysis, Porter’s industry forces, key industry drivers, strategic group mapping, SWOT analysis, corporate social responsibility and financial ratio analysis. Instructors might also use this case to cover similar material in retail management courses. The case is highly suitable as a written assignment for an examination and/or for team presentations.
In pursuit of information: evaluating strategic plans
Authors: Baskici Cigdem , Ercil Yavuz
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a measuring system based on the information flow to carry out a more precise assessment of strategic plans.

Design/methodology/approach

An action research method is used with system dynamics. The indicators obtained from the strategic plans were assessed through information records.

Findings

The output of this study is a dynamic model which is produced by the workflows and processes in which decision-makers can apply experiments. By this means, it can be used as a measuring system based on information flows produced within the organization.

Practical implications

The first practical implication is that it can be possible to measure how much of the current workflows matched the strategic goals. Second, it can be possible to measure how much the budget allocated to the strategic plans corresponds to the amount of the total works. Third, it gets ability to managers to provide the opportunity to carry out experiments through the designed model.

Originality/value

As it uses information flows as measuring variable, this study is one of the novel approaches in strategy measurement systems. It also promises high efficiency and effectiveness because the assessment of goals and actions in strategic plans are sources of information which shed a light on the future strategic options to the decision-makers of the organizations.
Diet shapes cold‐water corals bacterial communities
Authors: Galand Pierre E. , Remize Marine , Meistertzheim Anne‐Leila , Pruski Audrey M. , Peru Erwan , Suhrhoff Tim Jesper , Le Bris Nadine , Vétion Gilles , Lartaud Franck
Published: November 2019

Different cold‐water coral (CWC) species harbour distinct microbial communities and the community composition is thought to be linked to the ecological strategies of the host. Here we test whether diet shapes the composition of bacterial communities associated with CWC. We compared the microbiomes of two common CWC species in aquaria, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, when they were either starved, or fed respectively with a carnivorous diet, two different herbivorous diets, or a mix of the 3. We targeted both the standing stock (16S rDNA) and the active fraction (16S rRNA) of the bacterial communities and showed that in both species, the corals' microbiome was specific to the given diet. A part of the microbiome remained, however, species‐specific, which indicates that the microbiome's plasticity is framed by the identity of the host. In addition, the storage lipid content of the coral tissue showed that different diets had different effects on the corals' metabolisms. The combined results suggest that L. pertusa may be preying preferentially on zooplankton while M. oculata may in addition use phytoplankton and detritus. The results cast a new light on coral microbiomes as they indicate that a portion of the CWC's bacterial community could represent a food influenced microbiome.