bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Outcome and Patient Satisfaction After Laparoscopic Uterosacral Ligament Hysteropexy for Anterior and Apical Prolapse
Authors: Haj Yahya Rani , Chill Henry H. , Herzberg Shmuel , Asfour Alaa , Lesser Steven , Shveiky David
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine anatomical and clinical cure, as well as patient satisfaction in uterine-preserving laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension (LUSLS) in women with anterior and apical prolapse.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study including all women who underwent LUSLS for anterior and apical prolapse between January 2012 and December 2015 at a tertiary-care university hospital. All women had LUSLS hysteropexy and anterior colporrhaphy. Pre- and postoperative pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) measurements were taken. Prolapse symptoms were queried via standardized history. Patient satisfaction was measured by the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I).

Results

Fifty-three women underwent the procedure during the study period. Follow-up data were available for 48 women. The mean preoperative POP-Q Ba point was 2.7 ± 1.6 and C point was −0.8 ± 2.8. At a mean follow-up of 17.5 ± 16.0 months with a median of 12 months (range, 1–54 months), there was a significant improvement of POP-Q points Ba, C, and Bp (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Anatomical cure, defined as no prolapse of any POP-Q point at or below 1 cm above the hymen (−1), was 85.4%. Clinical cure, defined as a composite outcome of no prolapse outside the hymen, C point above total vaginal length/2, no prolapse symptoms, and no need for further treatment, was 95.8%. At a mean of 22.2 ± 12.4 months postoperatively, patient satisfaction was high, with 95.5% stating their condition was very much better (PGI-I-A) or much better (PGI-I-B).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension is a valid uterine-preserving option for women with anterior and apical prolapse, with high anatomical and clinical cure rates and patient satisfaction.
The UK National Registry of ABO and HLA Antibody Incompatible Renal Transplantation: Pretransplant Factors Associated With Outcome in 879 Transplants
Authors: Pankhurst Laura , Hudson Alex , Mumford Lisa , Willicombe Michelle , Galliford Jack , Shaw Olivia , Thuraisingham Raj , Puliatti Carmelo , Talbot David , Griffin Sian , Torpey Nicholas , Ball Simon , Clark Brendan , Briggs David , Fuggle Susan V. , Higgins Robert M.
Published: June 2017

Background

ABO and HLA antibody incompatible (HLAi) renal transplants (AIT) now comprise around 10% of living donor kidney transplants. However, the relationship between pretransplant factors and medium-term outcomes are not fully understood, especially in relation to factors that may vary between centers.

Methods

The comprehensive national registry of AIT in the United Kingdom was investigated to describe the donor, recipient and transplant characteristics of AIT. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare survival of AIT to all other compatible kidney transplants performed in the United Kingdom. Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was used to determine which pretransplant factors were associated with transplant survival in HLAi and ABOi separately. The primary outcome was transplant survival, taking account of death and graft failure.

Results

For 522 HLAi and 357 ABO incompatible (ABOi) transplants, 5-year transplant survival rates were 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66-75%) for HLAi and 83% (95% CI, 78-87%) for ABOi, compared with 88% (95% CI, 87-89%) for 7290 standard living donor transplants, and 78% (95% CI, 77-79%) for 15 322 standard deceased donor transplants (P < 0.0001). Increased chance of transplant loss in HLAi was associated with increasing number of donor specific HLA antibodies, center performing the transplant, antibody level at the time of transplant, and an interaction between donor age and dialysis status. In ABOi, transplant loss was associated with no use of IVIg, cytomegalovirus seronegative recipient, 000 HLA donor-recipient mismatch; and increasing recipient age.

Conclusions

Results of AIT were acceptable, certainly in the context of a choice between living donor AIT and an antibody compatible deceased donor transplant. Several factors were associated with increased chance of transplant loss, and these can lead to testable hypotheses for further improving therapy.
A portable magneto-optical trap with prospects for atom interferometry in civil engineering
Authors: Hinton A. , Perea-Ortiz M. , Winch J. , Briggs J. , Freer S. , Moustoukas D. , Powell-Gill S. , Squire C. , Lamb A. , Rammeloo C. , Stray B. , Voulazeris G. , Zhu L. , Kaushik A. , Lien Y.-H. , Niggebaum A. , Rodgers A. , Stabrawa A. , Boddice D. , Plant S. R. , Tuckwell G. W. , Bongs K. , Metje N. , Holynski M.
Published: June 2017

The high precision and scalable technology offered by atom interferometry has the opportunity to profoundly affect gravity surveys, enabling the detection of features of either smaller size or greater depth. While such systems are already starting to enter into the commercial market, significant reductions are required in order to reach the size, weight and power of conventional devices. In this article, the potential for atom interferometry based gravimetry is assessed, suggesting that the key opportunity resides within the development of gravity gradiometry sensors to enable drastic improvements in measurement time. To push forward in realizing more compact systems, techniques have been pursued to realize a highly portable magneto-optical trap system, which represents the core package of an atom interferometry system. This can create clouds of 10
7
atoms within a system package of 20 l and 10 kg, consuming 80 W of power.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Quantum technology for the 21st century’.
Harnessing temporal modes for multi-photon quantum information processing based on integrated optics
Authors: Harder G. , Ansari V. , Bartley T. J. , Brecht B. , Silberhorn C.
Published: June 2017

In the last few decades, there has been much progress on low loss waveguides, very efficient photon-number detectors and nonlinear processes. Engineered sum-frequency conversion is now at a stage where it allows operation on arbitrary temporal broadband modes, thus making the spectral degree of freedom accessible for information coding. Hereby the information is often encoded into the temporal modes of a single photon. Here, we analyse the prospect of using multi-photon states or squeezed states in different temporal modes based on integrated optics devices. We describe an analogy between mode-selective sum-frequency conversion and a network of spatial beam splitters. Furthermore, we analyse the limits on the achievable squeezing in waveguides with current technology and the loss limits in the conversion process.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Quantum technology for the 21st century’.
FOXS1 is a Master Regulator of Pathological Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Human Epithelia
Authors: Blenkinsop Timothy A , Swigut Tomasz , Boles Nathan , Srinivasan Rajini , Rada-Iglesias Alvaro , Wang Qingjie , Stern Jeffrey H , Wysocka Joanna , Temple Sally
Published: June 2017

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process involved in normal tissue morphogenesis and also in disease pathology. It causes dramatic alterations in cell morphology, migration, proliferation, and phenotype. We captured the global transcriptional and epigenetic programs elicited when polarized, cobblestone human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were stimulated to undergo EMT, a process associated with several retinal pathologies. The reorganization of chromatin landscapes occurred preferentially at distal enhancers, rather than promoter regions, accompanied by 3136 significantly changing genes. Of the 95 significantly changing transcription factors, FOXS1 was most upregulated. Loss and gain of function experiments demonstrated that FOXS1 is upstream of canonical EMT regulators, and can stimulate EMT in RPE and other epithelia. Inhibition of p38, stimulated by combined action of the EMT-inducing factors, TGFβ1 and TNFα, dampened FOXS1 expression. An increase of FOXS1 in several cancers indicates it has a role in several EMT-involved pathologies.
General sexual desire, but not desire for uncommitted sexual relationships, tracks changes in women’s hormonal status
Authors: Jones Benedict C , Hahn Amanda C , Fisher Claire I , Wang Hongyi , Kandrik Michal , DeBruine Lisa M
Published: June 2017

Several recent longitudinal studies have investigated the hormonal correlates of both young adult women’s general sexual desire and, more specifically, their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Findings across these studies have been mixed, potentially because each study tested only small samples of women (Ns = 43, 33, and 14). Here we report results from a much larger (N = 375) longitudinal study of hormonal correlates of young adult women’s general sexual desire and their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Our analyses suggest that within-woman changes in general sexual desire are negatively related to progesterone, but are not related to testosterone or cortisol. We observed some positive relationships for estradiol, but these were generally only significant for solitary sexual desire. By contrast with our results for general sexual desire, analyses showed no evidence that changes in women’s desire for uncommitted sexual relationships are related to their hormonal status. Together, these results suggest that changes in hormonal status contribute to changes in women’s general sexual desire, but do not influence women’s desire for uncommitted sexual relationships.
Hydra, a model system for deciphering the mechanisms of aging and resistance to aging
Authors: Schenkelaars Quentin , Tomczyk Szymon , Wenger Yvan , Ekundayo Kazadi , Girard Victor , Buzgariu Wanda , Austad Steve , Galliot Brigitte
Published: June 2017

The freshwater cnidarian polyp namedHydra, which can be mass-cultured in the laboratory, is characterized by a highly dynamic homeostasis with a continuous self-renewal of its three adult stem cell populations, the epithelial stem cells from the epidermis, the epithelial stem cells from the gastrodermis, and the multipotent interstitial stem cells, which provide cells of the nervous system, gland cells and germ cells. Two unusual features characterize these stem cells that cannot replace each other, they all avoid G1 to pause in G2, and the two epithelial populations are concomitantly multifunctional and stem cells.H. vulgaristhat does not show any signs of aging over the years, resists to weeks of starvation and adapts to the loss of neurogenesis, providing a unique model system to study the resistance to aging. By contrast some strains of a distinct species namedH. oligactisundergo a rapid aging process when undergoing gametogenesis or when placed in stress conditions. The aging phenotype is characterized by the rapid loss of somatic interstitial stem cells, the progressive reduction in epithelial stem cell self-renewal, the loss of regeneration, the disorganization of the neuro-muscular system, the loss of the feeding behavior, and the death of all animals within about three months. We review here the possible mechanisms that helpH. vulgaristo sustain stem cell self-renewal and thus bypass aging processes. For this, FoxO seems to act as a pleiotropic actor, regulating stem cell proliferation, stress response and apoptosis. InH. oligactis,the regulation of the autophagy flux differs between aging-sensitive and aging-resistant animals, pointing to a key role for proteostasis in the maintenance of a large pool of active and plastic epithelial stem cells.
Molecular analysis of the midbrain dopaminergic niche during neurogenesis
Authors: Toledo Enrique M. , Manno Gioele La , Cervo Pia Rivetti di Val , Gyllborg Daniel , Islam Saiful , Villaescusa Carlos , Linnarsson Sten , Arenas Ernest
Published: June 2017

Midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons degenerate in Parkinson’s disease and are one of the main targets for cell replacement therapies. However, a comprehensive view of the signals and cell types contributing to mDA neurogenesis is not yet available. By analyzing the transcriptome of the mouse ventral midbrain at a tissue and single-cell level during mDA neurogenesis we found that three recently identified radial glia types 1-3 (Rgl1-3) contribute to different key aspects of mDA neurogenesis. While Rgl3 expressed most extracellular matrix components and multiple ligands for various pathways controlling mDA neuron development, such as Wnt and Shh, Rgl1-2 expressed most receptors. Moreover, we found that specific transcription factor networks explain the transcriptome and suggest a function for each individual radial glia. A network controlling neurogenesis was found in Rgl1, progenitor maintenance in Rgl2 and the secretion of factors forming the mDA niche by Rgl3. Our results thus uncover a broad repertoire of developmental signals expressed by each midbrain cell type during mDA neurogenesis. Cells identified for their emerging importance are Rgl3, a niche cell type, and Rgl1, a neurogenic progenitor that expressesARNTL,a transcription factor that we find is required for mDA neurogenesis.
CRISPR-Cpf1 mediates efficient homology-directed repair and temperature-controlled genome editing
Authors: Moreno-Mateos Miguel A. , Fernandez Juan P. , Rouet Romain , Lane Maura A. , Vejnar Charles E. , Mis Emily , Khokha Mustafa K. , Doudna Jennifer A. , Giraldez Antonio J.
Published: June 2017

Cpf1 is a novel class of CRISPR-Cas DNA endonucleases, with a wide range of activity across different eukaryotic systems. Yet, the underlying determinants of this variability are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that LbCpf1, but not AsCpf1, ribonucleoprotein complexes allow efficient mutagenesis in zebrafish andXenopus. We show that temperature modulates Cpf1 activity by controlling its ability to access genomic DNA. This effect is stronger on AsCpf1, explaining its lower efficiency in ectothermic organisms. We capitalize on this property to show that temporal control of the temperature allows post-translational modulation of Cpf1-mediated genome editing. Finally, we determine that LbCpf1 significantly increases homology-directed repair in zebrafish, improving current approaches for targeted DNA integration in the genome. Together, we provide a molecular understanding of Cpf1 activityin vivoand establish Cpf1 as an efficient and inducible genome engineering tool across ectothermic species.
Cofilin Drives Rapid Turnover and Fluidization of Entangled F-actin
Authors: McCall Patrick M. , MacKintosh Frederick C. , Kovar David R. , Gardel Margaret L.
Published: June 2017

The shape of most animal cells is controlled by the actin cortex, a thin, isotropic network of dynamic actin filaments (F-actin) situated just beneath the plasma membrane. The cortex is held far from equilibrium by both active stresses and turnover: Myosin-II molecular motors drive deformations required for cell division, migration, and tissue morphogenesis, while turnover of the molecular components of the actin cortex relax stress and facilitate network reorganization. While many aspects of F-actin network viscoelasticity are well-characterized in the presence and absence of motor activity, a mechanistic understanding of how non-equilibrium actin turnover contributes to stress relaxation is still lacking. To address this, we developed a reconstituted in vitro system wherein the steady-state length and turnover rate of F-actin in entangled solutions are controlled by the actin regulatory proteins cofilin, profilin, and formin, which sever, recycle, and nucleate filaments, respectively. Cofilin-mediated severing accelerates the turnover and spatial reorganization of F-actin, without significant changes to filament length. Microrheology measurements demonstrate that cofilin-mediated severing is a single-timescale mode of stress relaxation that tunes the low-frequency viscosity over two orders of magnitude. These findings serve as the foundation for understanding the mechanics of more physiological F-actin networks with turnover, and inform an updated microscopic model of single-filament turnover. They also demonstrate that polymer activity, in the form of ATP hydrolysis on F-actin coupled to nucleotide-dependent cofilin binding, is sufficient to generate a form of active matter wherein asymmetric filament disassembly preserves filament number in spite of sustained severing.

Significance Statement

When an animal cell moves or divides, a disordered network of actin filaments (F-actin) plays a central role in controlling the resulting changes in cell shape. While it is known that continual turnover of F-actin by cofilin-mediated severing aids in reorganization of the cellular cytoskeleton, it is unclear how the turnover of structural elements alters the mechanical properties of the network. Here we show that severing of F-actin by cofilin results in a stress relaxation mechanism in entangled solutions characterized by a single-timescale set by the severing rate. Additionally, we identify ATP hydrolysis and nucleotide-dependent cofilin binding as sufficient ingredients to generate a non-equilibrium steady-state in which asymmetric F-actin disassembly preserves filament number in spite of sustained severing.
ALPK3 gene mutation in a patient with congenital cardiomyopathy and dysmorphic features
Authors: Çağlayan Ahmet Okay , Sezer Rabia Gonul , Kaymakçalan Hande , Ulgen Ege , Yavuz Taner , Baranoski Jacob F. , Bozaykut Abdulkadir , Harmanci Akdes Serin , Yalcin Yalim , Youngblood Mark W. , Yasuno Katsuhito , Bilgüvar Kaya , Gunel Murat
Published: June 2017

Primary cardiomyopathy is one of the most common inherited cardiac diseases and harbors significant phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Because of this, genetic testing has become standard in treatment of this disease group. Indeed, in recent years, next-generation DNA sequencing has found broad applications in medicine, both as a routine diagnostic tool for genetic disorders and as a high-throughput discovery tool for identifying novel disease-causing genes. We describe a male infant with primary dilated cardiomyopathy who was diagnosed using intrauterine echocardiography and found to progress to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after birth. This proband was born to a nonconsanguineous family with a past history of a male fetus that died because of cardiac abnormalities at 30 wk of gestation. Using whole-exome sequencing, a novel homozygous frameshift mutation (c.2018delC; p.Gln675SerfsX30) in ALPK3 was identified and confirmed with Sanger sequencing. Heterozygous family members were normal with echocardiographic examination. To date, only two studies have reported homozygous pathogenic variants of ALPK3, with a total of seven affected individuals with cardiomyopathy from four unrelated consanguineous families. We include a discussion of the patient's phenotypic features and a review of relevant literature findings.
Crystal structure of (−)-(S)-4-[(2S,3S,4S,Z)-3-hydroxy-4-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]-1,3-dioxolan-2-one
Authors: Morales-Rivera Keyla F. , Piñero Cruz Dalice M. , Prieto Jose A.
Published: June 2017

The title compound, C11H18O4, consists of ananti,anti,anti-stereotetrad with a 1,2-carbonate and an alkene motif. The molecule displays a common zigzag conformation. The five-membered ring has a twisted conformation on the C—C bond. In the crystal, a strong intermolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and the carboxylate moiety from an adjacent molecule forms chains propagating along theb-axis direction. The absolute structure of the molecule in the crystal was determined by resonant scattering [Flack parameter = 0.05 (6)].
An exploratory study of job insecurity in relation to household registration, employment contract, and job satisfaction in Chinese state-owned enterprises
Authors: Shi Bing
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the household registration and of employment contract on employee job insecurity in the Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The relationships between job satisfaction and the two components of job insecurity are also analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses original data collected through a questionnaire survey in six Chinese SOEs. In all, 309 samples are analysed mainly using hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The research finds household registration is a predictor of job insecurity while employment contract is not. Job satisfaction is found to be positively related to one of the components of job insecurity: the perceived severity of job loss.

Social implications

To improve job security of the employees who are in vulnerable positions, improving the equality of social safety net is significant. In China, household registration causes unequal access to social welfare and employment opportunities; improving the equality may be more significant than seeking for permanent employment.

Originality/value

The research suggests two levels of factors influencing job insecurity: the macro-level factors that include the institutional configurations of social safety net; and the micro-level factors that include employment contract. The macro-level factors have fundamental influence while the micro-level factors are more apparent. The micro-level factors may manifest their influence only when the macro-level factors equally cover all the employees. The macro-level factors may also intermediate the relationship between job insecurity and satisfaction.
Zoona mobile money: investing for impact (cases A and B)
Authors: Bazley John , Rayner Cynthia Schweer , Power Aunnie Patton
Published: June 2017

Subject area

Impact investing, Social enterprise.

Study level/applicability

MBA, EMBA, Executive Education.

Case overview

Zoona mobile money: investing for impact details a slightly altered version of the real events that occurred in late 2011 with the series A round of investment in Zoona, a mobile money business in Zambia. The focus is on the decisions that have to be made by the management team of a socially innovative tech start-up (Zoona) providing mobile money and financial services to previously unbanked consumers in Zambia.

Expected learning outcomes

By the end of this case, the student should be able to: understand the basics of term sheets and be able to perform a high level analysis and comparison of two distinct term sheets; identify investor objectives, ultimately recognising the general differences between private equity and venture capital investors; identify and weigh the costs and benefits of term sheets, as well as identify negotiating points and necessary trade-offs in the investment process; and identify and understand the “soft” benefits of investors and weigh these in relation to a term sheet analysis.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.
Big data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani banks: a case study
Authors: Saxena Stuti , Ali Said Mansour Al-Tamimi Tariq
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to underline the significance of invoking Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani Banks. Opportunities and challenges are also being discussed in the case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Four Omani banks representative of local, international, Islamic and specialized banks are being studied in terms of their social networking presence on Facebook and their e-banking facilities. Also, impetus is laid upon the aggregation of internal data and vast amounts of semi-structured external data from public sources, including social media.

Findings

The case study shows that Big Data analytics and IoT technologies may be utilized by the Omani banks for facilitating them in “forecasting” and “nowcasting”. Besides, customers may be better managed with better and efficient services. However, there are challenges in tapping these technologies such as security, infrastructure, regulatory norms, etc.

Practical implications

Banks in Oman need to appreciate the utility of Big Data and IoT technologies, and for this, a robust IT infrastructure should be institutionalized.

Originality/value

The case study is a major step in integrating Big Data and IoT technologies in Omani banks across four variants of national, international, Islamic and specialized banks. This is the first study where such integration has been emphasized in the Omani banking sector.
Forecasting the total energy consumption in China using a new-structure grey system model
Authors: Zeng Bo , Luo Chengming
Published: June 2017

Purpose

China is by far the world’s largest energy consumer and importer. Reasonably forecasting the trend of China’s total energy consumption (CTEC) is of great significance. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new-structure grey system model (NSGM (1, 1)) to forecast CTEC.

Design/methodology/approach

Two matrices for computing the parameters of NSGM (1, 1) were defined and the specific calculation formula was derived. Since the NSGM (1, 1) model increases the number of its background values, which improves the smoothness effect of the background value and weakens the effects of extreme values in the raw sequence on the model’s performance; hence it has better simulation and prediction performances than traditional grey models. Finally, NSGM (1, 1) was used to forecast China’s total energy consumption during 2016-2025. The forecast showed CTEC will grow rapidly in the next ten years.

Findings

Therefore, in order to meet the target of keeping CTEC under control at 4.8 billion tons of standard coal in 2020, Chinese government needs to take necessary measures such as transforming the economic development pattern and enhancing the energy utilization efficiency.

Originality/value

A new-structure grey forecasting model, NSGM (1, 1), is proposed in this paper, which improves the smoothness and weakens the effects of extreme values and has a better structure and performance than those of other grey models. The authors successfully employ the new model to simulate and forecast CTEC. The research findings could aid Chinese government in formulating energy policies and help energy exporters make rational energy yield plans.
Climate change policy-making process in Kenya: deliberative inclusionary processes in play
Authors: Njoroge Joseph M. , Ratter Beate M.W. , Atieno Lucy
Published: June 2017

Purpose

There is a growing recognition in Kenya that citizens should play a role in contributing to policy formation. This is a shift from a conventional approach where the elite in society or selected few would largely define policy problems and determine actions. One of the approaches that underpins such views is deliberative inclusionary processes (DIPs). DIPs emerged in the 1980s with the rise of civil societies that challenged various approaches by governments and authorities. While most countries have embarked on developing climate change policies, this paper aims to discuss DIPs and report on a study of the Kenya Climate Bill 2014 policy-making process.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain valuable information from stakeholders. The study aims at understanding how policy space and outcomes are shaped by policy discourses and narratives; actors, networks and institutions; and politics and interests.

Findings

The Kenyan case of a policy-making process represents a typical DIP. However, it had a unique start from social movement action to government ownership which was characterized by serious problems of inclusion and exclusion, relations, conflict of interests and a real play of power and control of the policy process. The findings underscore how politics and interests; actors, networks and institutions; and narratives and discourses are among the elements that shape policy outcomes.

Originality/value

Kenya being among the first countries to have a policy document on climate change, this study provides an insight for future policymakers and practitioners and a basis for comparative studies.
Energy performance certificates in the Turin real estate market
Authors: Fregonara Elena , Rolando Diana , Semeraro Patrizia
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on the Italian real estate market, focusing on old buildings. The contribution of EPC labels to house prices and to market liquidity was measured to analyze different aspects of the selling process.

Design/methodology/approach

A traditional hedonic model was used to explain the variables of listing price, transaction price, time on the market and bargaining outcome. In addition to EPC labels, the building construction period and the main features of apartments were included in the model. A sample of 879 transactions of old properties in Turin in 2011-2014 was considered.

Findings

A first hedonic model let us suppose that low EPC labels (E, F and G) were priced in the market although EPC labels explained only 6-8 per cent of price variation. A second full hedonic model, which included apartment characteristics, revealed that EPC labels had no impact on prices.

Originality/value

In Italy EPC has been mandatory for house transactions since 2009, so there are few studies on the effect of EPC on the Italian real estate market at least to our knowledge. Furthermore, unusually for the Italian context, in this paper also transaction prices were analyzed, in addition to the more frequently used listing prices.
Intelligent assignment in clusters to enhance collaboration and innovation
Authors: Ucler Caglar
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Small organizations within profit maximization supply chains form industrial clusters to share resources. They mainly deliver products and services in a reactive manner, where the cluster is only facilitating. However, the cluster management can lead business development and assign work packages intelligently to appropriate cluster members by respecting collaboration and innovation. This upgrade of the cluster management requires a systematic approach. Therefore, the intelligent Cluster Assignment Tool concept is developed and an illustrative example is given. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews and workshops were used to isolate the hierarchy of the assignment model, supported by a literature research. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method was applied to determine weights, consolidating data delivered by members of a Turkish aviation and defence cluster. The approach was discussed at the IEEE 2016 ICE Conference in Norway with experts to assess regional restrictions.

Findings

Cluster members are actively looking for possibilities to enhance innovation potential that they are ready to participate in systematic approaches. Cluster organizations can differ by leading their members actively, when respecting all isolated dimensions of assignment. This can lead towards a cooperation base enhancing the potential for innovation and new product development (NPD).

Research limitations/implications

The illustrative example indicates a good fit to clusters without a dominant anchor firm. The generic framework was deliberated on cross-sectional perspective as satisfactory to be applied to different sectors in developing economies.

Practical implications

This paper helps clusters and small organizations to upgrade for innovation. Furthermore, it delivers a strategic tool supporting organizational transformation, preventing the price trap as well.

Originality/value

This approach is focussing on multi-criteria assignment across cluster members, upgrading it to a united organization. It delivers a strategic framework for cluster management, building a collaboration environment leading to innovation and NPD.
Linking product design to flexibility in an assembly system: a case study
Authors: Asadi Narges , Jackson Mats , Fundin Anders
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The recent shift towards accommodating flexibility in manufacturing companies and the complexity resulting from product variety highlight the significance of flexible assembly systems and designing products for them. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design from the assembly system’s standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

To fulfil the purpose of the paper, a literature review and a case study were performed. The case study was conducted with an interactive research approach in a global market leader company within the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry.

Findings

The findings indicate that common assembly sequence, similar assembly interfaces, and common parts are the main requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design which reduce complexity and facilitate various flexibility dimensions. Accordingly, a model is proposed to broaden the understanding of these requirements from the assembly system’s standpoint.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the overlapping research area of flexible assembly systems and product design.

Practical implications

The proposed model is largely based on practical data and clarifies the role of product design in facilitating flexibility in an assembly system. It can be used by assembly managers, assembly engineers, and product designers.

Originality/value

The key originality of this paper compared to the previous studies lies in presenting a novel assembly-oriented design model. The model enhances understanding of a flexible assembly system’s requirements for product design with regard to reducing complexity and managing variation in a flexible assembly system. These requirements can be applied to product design across various product families within a company’s product portfolio.
The effect of clustering on competitiveness improvement in Hebron
Authors: Awad Ibrahim M. , Amro Alaa A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to map the cluster in the leather and shoes sector for improving the competitiveness of the firms. Toward this end, the study is organized to examine the impact of clustering on competitiveness improvement. The influence of competitive elements and performance (Porter’s diamond) and balanced score card was utilized.

Design/methodology/approach

A random sample of 131 respondents was chosen during the period from May 2016 to July 2016. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was applied to investigate the research model. This approach was chosen because of its ability to test casual relationships between constructs with multiple measurement items. Researchers proposed a two-stage model-building process for applying SEM. The measurement model was first examined for instrument validation, followed by an analysis of the structural model for testing associations hypothesized by the research model.

Findings

The main findings show that there is a unidirectional causal relationship between improvements of performance and achieve competitiveness and also reveal that the Palestinian shoes and leather cluster sector is vital and strong, and conclude that clustering can achieve competitiveness for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Research limitations/implications

Future research can examine the relationship between clustering and innovation. The effect of clustering using other clustering models other than Porter’s model is advised to be used for future research.

Practical implications

The relationships among clustering and competitiveness may provide a practical clue to both, policymakers and researchers on how cluster enhances economic firms such as a skilled workforce, research, development capacity, and infrastructure. This is likely to create assets such as trust, synergy, collaboration and cooperation for improved competitiveness.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide background information that can simultaneously be used to analyze relationships among factors of innovation, customer’s satisfaction, internal business and financial performance. This study also identified several essential factors in successful firms, and discussed the implications of these factors for developing organizational strategies to encourage and foster competitiveness.
The “silver bullet” to good policing: a mirage
Authors: Roché Sebastian , Roux Guillaume
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Procedural justice (PJ) during police-citizen interactions has often been portrayed as a “silver bullet” to good policing, as it could function as a means to gain trust, voluntary obedience and public cooperation. PJ research is based on the assumption that there exists “true fairness.” However, it is still unclear what people actually mean when they evaluate the police as “fair” in surveys. By focusing the analysis to underexplored aspects of PJ, namely, the identity and political antecedents of the attribution of procedural fairness, the authors highlight the social and ideological reasons that influence people’s perceptions of police fairness. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explain the attribution of fairness of police, the study comprises a range of independent variables organized into five overarching domains: prior experience with police, victimization, socioeconomic status and (disadvantaged) context of residence, ethnicity and political attitudes and punitive values. The analysis is based on a representative sample of France, as well as a booster sample of a deprived, urban province (Seine-Saint-Denis) in order to better incorporate ethnic effects into the model (March 2011; n=1.498, 18+).

Findings

The present study finds support for the notion that aggressive policing policies (police-initiated contacts, e.g. identification checks, road stops) negatively impacts attributions of fairness to police. In addition, the findings show that attributions of fairness are not only interactional (i.e. related to what police do in any given situation) or related to individual cognitive phenomena, but for the most part pertain to broader social and political explanations. Political and ethnic cleavages are the key to understanding how police are judged by the public. The findings therefore question the nature of what is actually measured when fairness is attributed to police, finding that more punitive and conservative respondents tend to assess the police as fair. The authors find that the attribution of fairness seems to correspond to upholding the existing social order.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations inherent to any cross-sectional survey and the findings pertain only to a single country (France). Furthermore, the authors did not analyze all possible confounding variables to perceived fairness.

Social implications

The findings pose a practical problem for police and government to implement, as the authors ultimately find that there is no single recipe, or “silver bullet,” for being deemed fair across all social, ethnic and political groups – and, of course, the expectations of one group might conflict with those of another.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that existing theory needs to better incorporate those explanations of fairness which extend beyond interactional processes with police, and refer instead to the social and political cleavages in society.
I can’t get no satisfaction
Authors: Gevrek Deniz , Spencer Marilyn , Hudgins David , Chambers Valrie
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of salary raises and employees’ perception of these salary raises on their intended retention and turnover. By using a survey data set from a representative American public university, this study investigates a novel hypothesis that faculty perceptions of salary raises, relative to their perceptions of other faculty members’ assessments of the raises, influence their intended labor supply.

Design/methodology/approach

Using both ordered probit and OLS modeling frameworks, the authors focus on the impact of salary raises and the relative perception of these raises on intended labor supply behavior. They explore a hypothesis that a mismatch between one’s ranking of the salary raise and the perception of others’ rankings causes dissatisfaction.

Findings

The results provide evidence that salary raises themselves are effective monetary tools to reduce intended turnover; however, the results also suggest that relative deprivation as a comparison of one’s own perceptions of a salary raise with others affects employee intended retention. The authors find that employees who have less favorable perceptions of salary adjustments, compared to what they believe their colleagues think, are more likely to consider another employer, holding their own perception of raises constant. Conversely, more favorable views of salary raises, compared to how faculty members think other’s perceived the salary raises, does not have a statistically significant impact on intended retention.

Originality/value

This is the first study that explores an employee’s satisfaction with salary raises relative to perceptions of other employees’ satisfaction with their own salary raises, and the resulting intended labor supply in an American university. The results indicate that monetary rewards in the form of salary raises do impact faculty intended retention; however, perception of fairness of these salary raises is more important than the actual raises. Given the high cost of job turnover, these findings suggest that employers may benefit from devoting resources toward ensuring that salary- and raise-determining procedures are generally perceived by the vast majority of employees as being fair.
Subsidiary responses to the institutional characteristics of the host country
Authors: Zhang Mike Mingqiong , Zhu Cherrie Jiuhua , Dowling Peter , Fan Di
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the strategic responses of multinational enterprise (MNE) subsidiaries in China toward a unique institutional characteristic – the structural discrimination against rural migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on surveys of 181 firms and 669 rural migrant workers, as well as a case study of eight firms in Jiangsu and Shanghai, the authors examined and compared the human resource management (HRM) policies of MNE subsidiaries and domestic Chinese firms toward rural Chinese migrant workers.

Findings

This study found that MNE subsidiaries are more likely to accept local discriminatory HRM practices when managing migrant workers. In response to the institutional environments of host countries, MNE subsidiaries tend to share similar behavioral characteristics with local firms and are reluctant to show leadership in initiating institutional change in host countries.

Originality/value

This study is important since it enables investigation of some prevailing assumptions in the literature. Contrary to common wisdom that MNEs are change agents that proactively engage in institutional entrepreneurship in host countries, this study found that MNEs’ responses to the institutional environment of host countries are shaped by their entry modes and the institutional environment in their home countries. MNEs are as diverse as their home countries and far from forming a unified organizational field with similar behavioral characteristics.
Capital structure of Islamic banks: a critical review of theoretical and empirical research
Authors: Sakti Muhammad Rizky Prima , Tareq Mohamad Ali , Saiti Buerhan , Akhtar Tahir
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to critically evaluate theoretical and empirical research into capital structure practices in Islamic banks (IBs) from four perspectives, namely, theoretical aspect and its nature, determinants of capital structure in IBs, links between capital structure and risk management and nexus between capital structure and performance of IBs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors will review and examine past studies on IBs’ capital structure from both theoretical and empirical research.

Findings

The paper concludes that most of the literature on IB capital structure is largely theoretical than empirical. The existing studies on IB capital structure have various limitations, which suggest a need for detailed empirical work. Detailed empirical research in the field of capital structure will support bank managers and policymakers in making decisions about improving capital structure.

Originality/value

This research will make several noteworthy contributions to address literature gaps for IB capital structure. Furthermore, this paper will identify areas for future research into capital structure practices and IB financing decisions. Lastly, this paper will equip regulators with guidelines for establishing sound capital requirements for IB.
Nectar bacteria affect life history of a generalist aphid parasitoid by altering nectar chemistry
Authors: Lenaerts Marijke , Goelen Tim , Paulussen Caroline , Herrera‐Malaver Beatriz , Steensels Jan , Van den Ende Wim , Verstrepen Kevin J. , Wäckers Felix , Jacquemyn Hans , Lievens Bart
Published: June 2017

Nectar is a crucial energy resource that strongly mediates the interactions between plants and animal pollinators or plant defenders. Previous research has shown that nectar is frequently colonized by microorganisms, most commonly bacteria and yeasts, which can have a strong impact on nectar chemistry. However, at present little is known about the effects of microorganisms on the fitness of animals feeding on nectar.

We used three nectar bacteria representing different metabolic groups (Asaia sp., Lactococcus sp. and Rosenbergiella sp.) and the common generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi (Haliday; Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to test the hypothesis that different nectar‐dwelling bacteria affect nectar consumption and insect longevity differently by altering the chemistry of nectar.

Bacteria significantly affected nectar chemistry by altering its acidity, sugar and amino acids composition/concentration and by adding compounds synthesized by the microbes. Although inoculation with bacteria did not affect nectar consumption, a significant difference in insect longevity was observed. The impact on longevity was species specific, with Lactococcus being beneficial and Asaia having a detrimental effect.

Bacteria have a strong impact on nectar chemistry and changes in nectar chemistry may not only influence the foraging behaviour of flower‐visiting animals and impact on plant fitness, but also influence the fitness of nectar‐consuming organisms. As effects were species dependent, changes in nectar chemistry induced by different bacteria may have contrasting effects on the interactions between plants and insects. It is therefore essential to know how different microbes alter nectar chemistry to understand the relationships between plants, nectar‐inhabiting microbes and nectar‐consuming animals.

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Early evacuation is the best bushfire risk mitigation strategy for south‐eastern Australia
Authors: Venn Tyron J. , Quiggin John
Published: June 2017

Given the large and increasing bushfire threat to lives and property in Australia, there is a need for economic evaluation of risk mitigation policies that can be implemented by governments and homeowners. Three broad policies applicable for existing at‐risk communities are evaluated: expanded use of landscape‐scale prescribed fire; home ignition zone treatment (bushfire defence sprinklers); and early evacuation when a bushfire is burning on extreme or catastrophic fire danger days. Early evacuation is the only option that yields net economic benefits relative to existing policy.