bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pleiotropy of Bcl-2 family proteins is an ancient trait in the metazoan evolution
Authors: Popgeorgiev Nikolay , Jabbour Lea , Nguyen Trang Thi Minh , Ralchev Nikola , Gadet Rudy , Manon Stéphen , Osigus Hans-Jürgen , Schierwater Bernd , Rimokh Ruth , Gillet Germain
Published: October 2019

In the animal kingdom, proteins of the Bcl-2 family are widely recognized as regulators of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), leading to apoptotic cell death. These proteins were recently also shown to control IP3-dependent calcium fluxes at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the origin and evolution of these pleiotropic functions remain elusive. Here, we molecularly characterized the four members of the Bcl-2 family (trBcl-2L1 to -2L4) in the most primitive metazoan, namely Trichoplax adhaerens. Primary structure and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that all four trBcl-2 homologs belong to the multidomain Bcl-2 group and presented a conserved C-terminus transmembrane (TM) domain. TrBcl-2L1 and trBcl-2L2 are highly divergent proteins clustering with the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members, whereas trBcl-2L3 and trBcl-2L4 were homologous to the pro-apoptotic Bax (trBax) and Bak (trBak). Interestingly, at the functional level, trBak operates as a BH3 only sensitizer repressing the anti-apoptotic activities of trBcl-2L1 and trBcl-2L2, whereas trBax leads to MOMP, similarly to the well-known indirect model of Bax activation. Finally, we found that trBcl-2L1 had a dual ER and mitochondrial subcellular localization and was able to bind to IP3R. By generating two TM domain mutants we demonstrated that trBcl-2L1 targeted to the ER was able to control IP3-dependent calcium fluxes, whereas Mito-trBcl-2L1 represses trBax-dependent MOMP, suggesting that Bcl-2 pleiotropy appeared early and was conserved throughout metazoan evolution.
Interaction between myricetin aggregates and lipase under simplified intestinal conditions
Authors: Bustos Atma-Sol , Håkansson Andreas , Linares-Pastén Javier A. , Nilsson Lars
Published: October 2019

Myricetin, a flavonoid found in the plant kingdom, has previously been identified as a food molecule with beneficial effects against obesity. This property has been related with its potential to inhibit lipase, the enzyme responsible of fat digestion. In this study we investigate the interaction between myricetin and lipase under simplified intestinal conditions from a colloidal point of view. The results show that myricetin form aggregates in aqueous medium and under simplified intestinal condition, where it was found that lipase is in its monomeric form. Although lipase inhibition by myricetin at a molecular level has been reported previously, the results of this study suggest that myricetin aggregates inhibit lipase by a sequestering mechanism as well. The size of these aggregates was determined to be in the range of a few nm to >200 nm.
Vibriopore-forming leukocidin activates pyroptotic cell death via the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Baram Noam , Cohen Hadar , Edry-Botzer Liat , Salomon Dor , Gerlic Motti
Published: October 2019

Cell death mechanisms are central to combat infectious microbes and to drive pathological inflammation. One such mechanism, the inflammasome, controls infection through either activation of caspase-1 and the subsequent secretion of the mature pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), or by stopping the dissemination of intracellular pathogens by inducing pyroptotic cell death in infected cells. Hemolysins, which are pore-forming toxins (PFTs), target the host cell plasma membrane by producing pores with different diameters. These pores alter the permeability of the target membrane, often leading to cell death. We previously discovered a functional and potent pore-forming, leukocidin domain-containing hemolysin produced by the Gram-negative marine bacteriumVibrio proteolyticus(V. proteolyticus), termed VPRH. Although leukocidin domains are found in other known PFTs, VPRH constitutes a distinct, understudied class within the leukocidin superfamily. Since PTFs of other pathogens were shown to induce cell death by activating the inflammasome pathway, we hypothesized that VPRH-induced cell death is mediated by direct activation of the inflammasome in mammalian immune host cells. Indeed, we found that VPRH induced a two-step cell death in primary macrophages. The first, a rapid step, was mediated by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to caspase-1 activation and GSDMD cleavage that resulted in IL-1β secretion and pyroptotic cell death. The second step was independent of the inflammasome; however, its mechanism remains unknown. This study sets the foundation for better understanding the immunological consequences of inflammasome activation by a new leukocidin class of toxins.
Quantile normalization of single-cell RNA-seq read counts without unique molecular identifiers
Authors: Townes F. William , Irizarry Rafael A.
Published: October 2019

Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) profiles gene expression of individual cells. Unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) remove duplicates in read counts resulting from polymerase chain reaction, a major source of noise. For scRNA-seq data lacking UMIs, we propose quasi-UMIs: quantile normalization of read counts to a compound Poisson distribution empirically derived from UMI datasets. When applied to ground-truth datasets having both reads and UMIs, quasi-UMI normalization has higher accuracy than alternatives such as census counts. Using quasi-UMIs enables methods designed specifically for UMI data to be applied to non-UMI scRNA-seq datasets.
Developmental variability drives mouse molar evolution along an evolutionary line of least resistance
Authors: Hayden Luke , Lochovska Katerina , Sémon Marie , Renaud Sabrina , Delignette-Muller Marie-Laure , Vilcot Maurine , Peterkova Renata , Hovorakova Maria , Pantalacci Sophie
Published: October 2019

Developmental systems may preferentially produce certain types of variation and, thereby, bias phenotypic evolution. This is a central issue in evolutionary developmental biology, albeit somewhat understudied. Here we focus on the shape of the first upper molar which shows a clear, repeated tendency for anterior elongation at different scales from within mouse populations to between species of the Mus genus. In contrast, the lower molar displays more evolutionary stability. We compared upper and lower molar development of mouse strains representative of this fine variation (DUHi: elongated molars and FVB: short molars). Using a novel quantitative approach to examine small-scale developmental variation, we identified temporal, spatial and functional differences in tooth signaling centers between the two strains, likely due to different tuning of the activation-inhibition mechanisms ruling signaling center patterning. Based on the spatio-temporal dynamics of signaling centers and their lineage tracing, we show an intrinsic difference in the fate of signaling centers between lower and upper jaw of both strains. This can explain why variations in activation-inhibition parameters between strains are turned into anterior elongation in the upper molar only. Finally, although the “elongated” DUHi strain was inbred, first molar elongation was variable in adults, and we found high levels of intra-strain developmental variation in upper molar development. This is consistent with the inherent developmental instability of the upper molar system enabling the morphological variability of the tooth phenotype.

In conclusion, we have uncovered developmental properties that underlie the molar’s capacity for repeated phenotypic change, or said differently, that underlie a “line of least resistance”. By focusing on the developmental basis of fine phenotypic variation, our study also challenges some common assumptions and practices in developmental and evolutionary developmental biology.
The subgenomes show asymmetric expression of alleles in hybrid lineages of Megalobrama amblycephala × Culter alburnus
Authors: Ren Li , Li Wuhui , Qin Qinbo , Dai He , Han Fengming , Xiao Jun , Gao Xin , Cui Jialin , Wu Chang , Yan Xiaojing , Wang Guoliang , Liu Guiming , Liu Jia , Li Jiaming , Wan Zhong , Yang Conghui , Zhang Chun , Tao Min , Wang Jing , Luo Kaikun , Wang Shi , Hu Fangzhou , Zhao Rurong , Li Xuming , Liu Min , Zheng Hongkun , Zhou Rong , Shu Yuqin , Wang Yude , Liu Qinfeng , Tang Chenchen , Duan Wei , Liu Shaojun
Published: October 2019

Hybridization drives rapid speciation by shaping novel genotypic and phenotypic profiles. Genomic incompatibility and transcriptome shock have been observed in hybrids, although this is rarer in animals than in plants. Using the newly sequenced genomes of the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala [BSB]) and the topmouth culter (Culter alburnus [TC]), we focused on the sequence variation and gene expression changes in the reciprocal intergeneric hybrid lineages (F1–F3) of BSB × TC. A genome-wide transcriptional analysis identified 145–974 expressed recombinant genes in the successive generations of hybrid fish, suggesting the rapid emergence of allelic variation following hybridization. Some gradual changes of gene expression with additive and dominance effects and various cis and trans regulations were observed from F1 to F3 in the two hybrid lineages. These asymmetric patterns of gene expression represent the alternative strategies for counteracting deleterious effects of the subgenomes and improving adaptability of novel hybrids. Furthermore, we identified positive selection and additive expression patterns in transforming growth factor, beta 1b (tgfb1b), which may account for the morphological variations of the pharyngeal jaw in the two hybrid lineages. Our current findings provide insights into the evolution of vertebrate genomes immediately following hybridization.
Single-pollen-cell sequencing for gamete-based phased diploid genome assembly in plants
Authors: Shi Dongqing , Wu Jun , Tang Haibao , Yin Hao , Wang Hongtao , Wang Ran , Wang Runze , Qian Ming , Wu Juyou , Qi Kaijie , Xie Zhihua , Wang Zhiwen , Zhao Xiang , Zhang Shaoling
Published: October 2019

Genome assemblies from diploid organisms create mosaic sequences alternating between parental alleles, which can create erroneous gene models and other problems. In animals, a popular strategy to generate haploid genome-resolved assemblies has been the sampling of (haploid) gametes, and the advent of single-cell sequencing has further advanced such methods. However, several challenges for the isolation and amplification of DNA from plant gametes have limited such approaches in plants. Here, we combined a new approach for pollen protoplast isolation with a single-cell DNA amplification technique and then used a “barcoding” bioinformatics strategy to incorporate haploid-specific sequence data from 12 pollen cells, ultimately enabling the efficient and accurate phasing of the pear genome into its A and B haploid genomes. Beyond revealing that 8.12% of the genes in the pear reference genome feature mosaic assemblies and enabling a previously impossible analysis of allelic affects in pear gene expression, our new haploid genome assemblies provide high-resolution information about recombination during meiosis in pollen. Considering that outcrossing pear is an angiosperm species featuring very high heterozygosity, our method for rapidly phasing genome assemblies is potentially applicable to several yet-unsequenced outcrossing angiosperm species in nature.
A chromosome-level assembly of the Atlantic herring genome—detection of a supergene and other signals of selection
Authors: Pettersson Mats E. , Rochus Christina M. , Han Fan , Chen Junfeng , Hill Jason , Wallerman Ola , Fan Guangyi , Hong Xiaoning , Xu Qiwu , Zhang He , Liu Shanshan , Liu Xin , Haggerty Leanne , Hunt Toby , Martin Fergal J. , Flicek Paul , Bunikis Ignas , Folkvord Arild , Andersson Leif
Published: October 2019

The Atlantic herring is a model species for exploring the genetic basis for ecological adaptation, due to its huge population size and extremely low genetic differentiation at selectively neutral loci. However, such studies have so far been hampered because of a highly fragmented genome assembly. Here, we deliver a chromosome-level genome assembly based on a hybrid approach combining a de novo Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) assembly with Hi-C-supported scaffolding. The assembly comprises 26 autosomes with sizes ranging from 12.4 to 33.1 Mb and a total size, in chromosomes, of 726 Mb, which has been corroborated by a high-resolution linkage map. A comparison between the herring genome assembly with other high-quality assemblies from bony fishes revealed few inter-chromosomal but frequent intra-chromosomal rearrangements. The improved assembly facilitates analysis of previously intractable large-scale structural variation, allowing, for example, the detection of a 7.8-Mb inversion on Chromosome 12 underlying ecological adaptation. This supergene shows strong genetic differentiation between populations. The chromosome-based assembly also markedly improves the interpretation of previously detected signals of selection, allowing us to reveal hundreds of independent loci associated with ecological adaptation.
A mail-in and user facility for X-ray absorption near-edge structure: the CEI-XANES laboratory X-ray spectrometer at the University of Washington
Authors: Ditter Alexander S. , Jahrman Evan P. , Bradshaw Liam R. , Xia Xiaojing , Pauzauskie Peter J. , Seidler Gerald T.
Published: October 2019

There are more than 100 beamlines or endstations worldwide that frequently support X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) measurements, thus providing critical enabling capability for research across numerous scientific disciplines. However, the absence of a supporting tier of more readily accessible, lower-performing options has caused systemic inefficiencies, resulting in high oversubscription and the omission of many scientifically and socially valuable XAFS applications that are incompatible with the synchrotron facility access model. To this end, this work describes the design, performance and uses of the Clean Energy Institute X-ray absorption near-edge structure (CEI-XANES) laboratory spectrometer and its use as both a user-present and mail-in facility. Such new additions to the XAFS infrastructure landscape raise important questions about the most productive interactions between synchrotron radiation and laboratory-based capabilities; this can be discussed in the framework of five categories, only one of which is competitive. The categories include independent operation on independent problems, use dictated by convenience, pre-synchrotron preparatory use of laboratory capability, post-synchrotron follow-up use of laboratory capability, and parallel use of both synchrotron radiation and laboratory systems.
Throughput and resolution with a next-generation direct electron detector
Authors: Mendez Joshua H. , Mehrani Atousa , Randolph Peter , Stagg Scott
Published: October 2019

Direct electron detectors (DEDs) have revolutionized cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) by facilitating the correction of beam-induced motion and radiation damage, and also by providing high-resolution image capture. A new-generation DED, the DE64, has been developed by Direct Electron that has good performance in both integrating and counting modes. The camera has been characterized in both modes in terms of image quality, throughput and resolution of cryo-EM reconstructions. The modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) were determined for both modes, as well as the number of images per unit time. Although the DQE for counting mode was superior to that for integrating mode, the data-collection throughput for this mode was more than ten times slower. Since throughput and resolution are related in single-particle cryo-EM, data for apoferritin were collected and reconstructed using integrating mode, integrating mode in conjunction with a Volta phase plate (VPP) and counting mode. Only the counting-mode data resulted in a better than 3 Å resolution reconstruction with similar numbers of particles, and this increased performance could not be compensated for by the increased throughput of integrating mode or by the increased low-frequency contrast of integrating mode with the VPP. These data show that the superior image quality provided by counting mode is more important for high-resolution cryo-EM reconstructions than the superior throughput of integrating mode.
ACr(C2O4)2(H2O)4(A= Li or Na): two new coordination polymers of low dimensionality with different hydrogen-bond networks
Authors: Kherfi Hamza , Benhacine Mohamed Al Amine , Hamadène Malika , Balegroune Fadila
Published: October 2019

Single crystals of two new bimetallic oxalate compounds with the formula [ACr(C2O4)2(H2O)4]n(A= Li or Na), namelycatena-poly[[diaqualithium(I)]-μ-oxalato-κ4O1,O2:O1′,O2′-[diaquachromium(III)]-μ-oxalato-κ4O1,O2:O1′,O2′], (I), andcatena-poly[[diaquasodium(I)]-μ-oxalato-κ4O1,O2:O1′,O2′-[di-aquachromium(III)]-μ-oxalato-κ4O1,O2:O1′,O2′], (II), have been synthesized, characterized and their crystal structures elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis and compared. The compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space groupC2/mfor (I) and in the triclinic space groupP\overline{1} for (II); however, they have somewhat similar features. In the asymmetric unit of (I), the Li and Cr atoms both have space-group-imposed 2/msite symmetry, while only half of the oxalate ligand is present and two independent water molecules lie on the mirror plane. The water O atoms around the Li atom are disordered over two equivalent positions separated by 0.54 (4) Å. In the asymmetric unit of (II), the atoms of one C2O42−ligand and two independent water molecules are in general positions, and the Na and Cr atoms lie on an inversion centre. Taking into account the symmetry sites of both metallic elements, the unit cells may be described as pseudo-face-centred monoclinic for (I) and as pseudo-centred triclinic for (II). Both crystal structures are comprised of one-dimensional chains of alternatingtrans-Cr(CO)4(H2O)2andtrans-A(CO)4(H2O)2units μ2-bridged by bis-chelating oxalate ligands. The resulting linear chains are parallel to the [101] direction for (I) and to the [11\overline{1}] direction for (II). Within the two coordination polymers, strong hydrogen bonds result in tetramericR44(12) synthons which link the metal chains, thus leading to two-dimensaional supramolecular architectures. The two structures differ from each other with respect to the symmetry relations inside the ligand, the role of electrostatic forces in the crystal structure and the molecular interactions of the hydrogen-bonded networks. Moreover, they exhibit the same UV–Vis pattern typical of a CrIIIcentrosymmetric geometry, while the IR absorption shows some differences due to the oxalate-ligand conformation. Polymers (I) and (II) are also distinguished by a different behaviours during the decomposition process, the precursor (I) leading to the oxide LiCrO2, while the residues of (II) consist of a mixture of sodium carbonate and CrIIIoxide.
Predicting FinTech innovation adoption in South Africa: the case of cryptocurrency
Authors: Mazambani Last , Mutambara Emmanuel
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Financial technology innovation within the developed world is driving financial markets, yet its adoption is lagging among consumers in emerging markets. At the same time, most African economies continue to be at the tail end of global financial innovations adoption. Given lagging consumer adoption of cryptocurrency in South Africa, the purpose of this paper is to apply the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict behavioural intention to adopt cryptocurrency.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument based on the TPB was used to collect quantitative data for predicting adoption from adult distance students at the Mancosa, Cape Town campus. For data analysis, the two-step structural equation modelling approach was used.

Findings

The findings indicate that attitude and perceived behavioural control positively impact the intention to adopt cryptocurrency. Subjective norm showed a negative non-significant influence. Overall, the results of the study show that the model has a good model fit and can be used to explain the theory.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study may not be generalisable to the wider population as it is only based on a cross-sectional study of a sample of adult students at a single institute in South Africa.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is threefold: it is one of a few studies on the behavioural intention to adopt cryptocurrency in South Africa using the TPB model, it contributes towards the use of predictive behavioural economics models in understanding consumer behaviour critical to accelerating the adoption of financial innovations, and the results of the study also inform behaviour change strategies that can be applied by practitioners or policymakers to improve adoption. Studies of this nature may lead to the development of financial innovation in emerging markets through a nuanced understanding of consumer behaviour.
Enabling supply chain agility through process integration and supply flexibility
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Wang Mingzheng , Akhtar Naeem
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the underlying mechanism through which firms can achieve supply chain agility and augment business performance from the vendor’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on dynamic capability view and contingency theory, the study conceptualizes a moderated mediation model to investigate the underlying influence of process integration (PI), supply flexibility and product-related complexity on supply chain agility and the subsequent effect of supply chain agility on firm’s business performance. Survey data from a sample of 148 firms, in the garment manufacturing industry, in Pakistan were analyzed using partial least square methods.

Findings

The results revealed that supply flexibility (i.e. volume and mix) mediates the effect of PI on supply chain agility. Supply chain agility, in turn, influences a firm’s business performance. Furthermore, the competence‒capability framework is not consistent across the varying degrees of product complexity such as product complexity hinders the effect of supply flexibility on supply chain agility, whereas it amplifies the impact of PI on supply chain agility. The conditional indirect effects suggest that the indirect effect of PI on supply chain agility through supply flexibility becomes stronger when product complexity is high.

Originality/value

The study is novel in the context of an emerging economy to educate fashion vendors to tune their competencies and capabilities to regain the market share in the global market place.
Big data analytics for investigating Taiwan Line sticker social media marketing
Authors: Liao Shu-Hsien , Hsu Szu-Yu
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Line sticker, a social media, it allows users to exchange multimedia files and engage in one-to-one and one-to-many communication with text, pictures, animation and sound. The purpose of this paper is to examine various Taiwan user experiences in the Line sticker use behaviors. Further, this research looks at how the situations of Line sticker proprietors and their affiliates are disseminated for formulating social media marketing (SMM) in its business model concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the experience of various Taiwanese Line stickers users utilizing a market survey, a total of 1,164 valid questionnaire data, and the questionnaire is divided into five sections with 30 items in terms of the database design. All questions use nominal and order scales. This study develops a big data analytics approach, including cluster analysis and association rules, based on a big data structure and a relational database.

Findings

The authors divide Taiwan Line sticker users into three clusters by their profiles and then find each group’s social media utilization and online purchase behaviors for investigating the Line sticker SMM and business models.

Originality/value

This is the first study to offer a big data analytics to investigate and analyze the varieties in the use of Line sticker by exploring users’ behaviors for further SMM and business model development.
Cross-culture product hybridization in pre-communist China (1912–1949)
Authors: Yan Tony , Hyman Michael R.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Studies on cross-culture marketing often focus on either localization or globalization strategies. Based on data from pre-communist China (1912–1949), product hybridization – defined as a process or strategy that generates symbols, designs, behaviors and cultural identities that blend local and global elements – emerges as a popular intermediate strategy worthy of further inquiry. After examining the mechanisms and processes underlying this strategy, a schema for classifying product hybridization strategies is developed and illustrated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Critical historical research method is applied to historical data and historical “traces” from pre-communist China’s corporate documents, memoirs, posters, advertisements, newspapers and secondhand sources.

Findings

Strategic interactions between domestic and foreign companies in pre-communist China fostered products and a city (Shanghai) containing Chinese and non-Chinese elements. Informed by historical traces and data from pre-communist China (1912-1949), a 2 × 2 classification schema relating company type (i.e. foreign or domestic) to values spectrum endpoint (i.e. domestic vs foreign) was formulated. This schema reflects the value of communication, negotiation and cultural (inter)penetration that accompanies cross-culture product flows.

Research limitations/implications

Cross-culture marketing strategies meant to help companies satisfy diverse marketplace interests can induce a mélange of product design elements. Because product hybridization reflects reciprocity between domestic and foreign companies that embodies multiple interests and contrasting interpretations of product meanings, researchers should examine globalization and localization synergistically.

Practical implications

Strategies adopted by domestic and foreign companies in pre-communist China (1912–1949) can help contemporary companies design effective cross-culture marketing strategies in a global marketplace infused with competing meanings and interests.

Originality/value

Examining historical strategies adopted in pre-communist China (1912–1949) can inform contemporary marketers’ intuitions. Understanding product hybridization in global marketplaces can improve marketing efficiency.
Chief accounting officers and audit efficiency
Authors: Hsu Hsiao-Tang , Khan Sarfraz
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles of chief accounting officer (CAO) on the efficiency of auditing process and to empirically examine the association between separate CAO appointment and audit report lag (ARL).

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs firms listed in the US market from 2004 to 2012. The firm year having a CAO who does not simultaneously take other executive position is specifically identified. Firm years with job titles similar to CAO, such as chief accounting executive, vice president of accounting or corporate accounting executive, are categorized into the CAO group.

Findings

The presence of a separate CAO significantly reduces ARL. With the appointment of a new auditor, the presence of a separate CAO is associated with lower ARL, suggesting the moderating effect of separate CAOs on the relationship between auditor change and audit delay.

Practical implications

This study shows the importance of CAO, an executive who is specifically responsible for carrying out accounting functions. The findings suggesting the positive effects of separate CAO on external audit process and the timeliness of information should be of interest to firms, financial reporting users, auditors and regulators.

Originality/value

While few studies address CAO-related issues, the roles of a CAO are not widely explored and how a separate CAO affects external audit process remains an open question. This study fills this gap and further documents the contribution of separate CAO in external audit work to enrich literature in executive roles and audit efficiency at the same time.
Auditor rotations and audit quality
Authors: Kalanjati Devi Sulistyo , Nasution Damai , Jonnergård Karin , Sutedjo Soegeng
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between audit rotation – at the audit partner and audit firm level – and audit quality. As mentioned in the literature, audit rotation has several benefits, and one of them is it can bring a fresh look to audit tasks and subsequently improve audit quality. Moreover, audit itself can help a client to improve its financial reporting. However, ineffective communication between predecessor and successor audit partners or audit firms, and pseudo-rotation can hamper that benefit.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses multivariate regression analysis to test its hypotheses. Using data from companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, the sample consists of 688 company-year observations covering the period 2003–2016.

Findings

This study finds that the cumulative number of audit partner rotations is positively associated with audit quality, indicating that rotations at the audit partner level will enhance audit quality. Conversely, it finds that the cumulative number of audit firm rotations is negatively associated with audit quality.

Practical implications

The study’s findings may assist regulators in crafting standards regarding audit rotation. As the findings show, audit partner rotation will improve audit quality, but the audit firm rotation will decrease audit quality. As this study tries to explain the decreasing audit quality from audit firm rotation could be a consequence of ineffective communication or pseudo audit firm rotation. Regulators should try to tackle these problems.

Originality/value

Instead of using tenure as a proxy for a rotation, this study creates a new proxy named the cumulative number of audit partner and audit firm rotations to provide evidence on the benefits of audit rotation.
Disasters, deaths and the Sendai Framework’s target one
Authors: Ray-Bennett Nibedita S. , Shiroshita Hideyuki
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically propose a complex perspective as the third way to understand disasters which is used to describe the Hiroshima landslide disaster 2014 in Japan. In the first half of the paper the complex perspective is explained in detail with comparison to two conventional perspectives on disasters, i.e. hazard approach and vulnerability approach. According to the complex perspective, deaths in disasters are avoidable. In the second half of the paper, Hiroshima landslide disaster is analyzed in line with the complex perspective. Also, how will Hiroshima not repeat such landslide disaster is suggested.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop the case study for Hiroshima, a desk-based literature review, a field site visit and five key informant interviews were conducted by the authors in 2016. The authors’ initial analysis based on newspaper reports indicated a failure in the early warning system, evacuation and severity of the hazard. Based on this, the broader literature on traditional perspectives on risk, vulnerability and complexity were mined to understand and theorize the failure in Hiroshima. Then the interviews were conducted in the city of Hiroshima to analyze the disaster from complex perspective.

Findings

The authors demonstrated that the Hiroshima Landslide disaster 2014 and its deaths could be explained by complex perspective. Complex perspective brings us the following suggestions not to repeat landslide disaster in Hiroshima. Political leaders at national and local levels must take up responsibilities to set a “goal” for the disaster management system to “reduce deaths.” Also, governmental and non-governmental organizations should make efforts to engage proactively with community through disaster education or through community awareness program to shift the mind set from hito-goto to jibun-no-koto (their story to our story).

Originality/value

Reducing deaths by disasters is essential for the world thus it is UN’s Sendai Goal One. As most contemporary sciences are based on reductionism, disasters have been described as a combination of the related components such as hazards, vulnerability. Although the great contributions from the reductionism to disaster studies, it has been said that integrated disaster management is needed since the reductionism usually give the partially optimized solution to disaster reduction. This study proposes complex approach to find comparatively total optimized solution to disaster reduction, in particular reducing deaths. Although it is based on merely one case study, this paper describes the possibility of different way to reduce deaths by disasters.
Career adaptability and university-to-work transition
Authors: Monteiro Sílvia , Taveira Maria do Céu , Almeida Leandro
Published: October 2019

Purpose

In a socioeconomic context that is undergoing continuous change, career adaptability emerges as a central construct for understanding the employability of graduates. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to analyze intra-individual differences in career adaptability among graduates between the end of graduation (time 1) and integration into the labor market 18 months later (time 2); and second, to analyze the effect of career adaptability on graduates’ employment status 18 months after completing graduation.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 183 graduates in four different study fields (Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities and Law) completed the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale at two different points in time: when they graduated and 18 months after graduation. To assess intra-individual differences over time and the effect of career adaptability on graduates’ employment status, a repeated measures design was used.

Findings

The obtained results confirmed a positive association of the four dimensions of career adaptability, with higher scores for the group of employed graduates, in the two measurement times. No statistical differences emerged within personal variables.

Practical implications

This study evidences the relation of career adaptability and employability and demonstrates that it is possible to identify those students who are more vulnerable in terms of career adaptability resources before university-to-work transition and, on this basis, to outline specific interventions to promote their employability.

Originality/value

By adopting a design with two repeated measures of career adaptability, this study offers new insights about the specific role of adaptability in a university-to-work transition period.
Taboo news about Sweden: the transnational assemblage of a racialized spatial imaginary
Authors: Titley Gavan
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the construction of Sweden as a racialised spatial imaginary in the emerging transnational networks of far-right media production. Departing from President Donald Trump’s widely reported remarks, in 2017, as to “what happened last night in Sweden”, it examines the racializing discourses through which Sweden is constructed as a dark future to be averted; a failed social experiment in immigration and multiculturalism symbolised by the “no-go zones” held to be dotted, yet denied, in its major cities. While the symbolic production of “problem areas” is a familiar dimension of the politics of immigration, the paper explores why Sweden-as-nation is so insistently and intimately associated with its putative no-go zones in what are termed the “revenge fantasies” of the far-right. Further, it argues that these modes of representation cannot be understood without examining the value of Sweden as a news commodity in the expansive far-right media environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis offers the idea of “taboo news” to conceptualise putatively “alternative” news about Sweden which is confirmed through its denial in the mainstream.

Findings

It argues that examining the increasing importance of “taboo news” as a commodity form must be integrated into a reading of how these racializing narratives are produced and circulated.

Originality/value

In so doing, it examines the shaping of this racialised imaginary as a digital assemblage taking shape as a commodity in a newly emerging and under-researched field of communicative and ideological action.
Exploring the factors responsible in predicting entrepreneurial intention among nascent entrepreneurs
Authors: Tiwari Preeti , Bhat Anil K. , Tikoria Jyoti , Saha Kaustav
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the entrepreneurial intention (EI) among nascent entrepreneurs in the Indian context by using Shapero’s theory of entrepreneurial event as the research framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A 34-item questionnaire was responded to 250 nascent entrepreneurs who are engaged in executing the new business idea or creating new ventures and enroled in the universities in India. The questions measured perceived desirability, perceived feasibility, entrepreneurial educational background, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, perceived social pressure and previous work experience in entrepreneurial activities towards entrepreneurship intention. The data were collected by employing a systematic random sampling method. The sample represents 174 male and 76 female nascent entrepreneurs belonging to various disciplines. Structural equation modelling has been used for data analysis.

Findings

The results show that the proposed model in the present study explains 51 per cent of the variance, explaining the entrepreneurship intention. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy was found to be the strongest predictor of EI (β=0.397 at p<0.001) followed by previous experience in entrepreneurial activities (β=0.285 at p<0.001).

Research limitations/implications

More than limitation this research study adds to the existing literature of the EI by using a different set of the sample. Mostly EI studies used student sample to measure intentions. Kolvereid and Isaksen used a sample of entrepreneurs to measure EI and achieved very different results. Therefore, this research study extends the work of Kolvereid and Isaksen by using a sample of nascent social entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

The finding of this research study will facilitate policy makers and educators to promote entrepreneurial activities at the university level. Based on the results and findings of the study, the educators may improve upon the support system to help and motivate students to opt for social entrepreneurship as their career choice.

Originality/value

Ajzen (1988) emphasised that the relative significance of the antecedents of intention will vary depending on which stage of intention is under scrutiny. This is one of its kinds of research study that used a sample of nascent entrepreneurs in the Indian context. Findings of this research will be helpful in predicting how the intention process of nascent entrepreneurs works especially in developing countries.
Justification of synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM using fuzzy-based simulation model
Authors: Kaur Mandeep , Singh Kanwarpreet , Singh Doordarshi
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of significant factors in the success of supply chain management (SCM) implementation and in synergistic approach (SCM-TQM) terms of business performance of Indian medium- and large-scale manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper deploys the fuzzy inference system (fuzzy logic tool box) to evaluate the success of SCM and synergistic approach’s implementation. For this purpose, significant factors for each SCM approach as well as synergistic approach are identified from relevant literature and validated by industry experts.

Findings

The results of fuzzy rule viewer and surface view tool of fuzzy tool box in MATLAB have highlighted that synergistic approach is better as compared to SCM approach. Furthermore, top management support and leadership role, SCM issues and total quality management (TQM) issues have emerged as significant predictor variables for successful synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM in Indian industries.

Originality/value

TQM and SCM are considered as performance improvement techniques by the manufacturing organizations. The present research work establishes that combined (TQM-SCM) initiatives have contributed more as compared to only SCM approach in the business performance of Indian manufacturing industry. So, the study stresses upon the need for improving coordination between various manufacturing parameters as well as competitive dimensions of TQM and SCM paradigms to enjoy higher potential of business performance.
Surface‐wave analysis for static corrections in mineral exploration: A case study from central Sweden
Authors: Papadopoulou Myrto , Da Col Federico , Mi Binbin , Bäckström Emma , Marsden Paul , Brodic Bojan , Malehmir Alireza , Socco Laura Valentina
Published: October 2019

In mineral exploration, increased interest towards deeper mineralizations makes seismic methods attractive. One of the critical steps in seismic processing workflows is the static correction, which is applied to correct the effect of the shallow, highly heterogeneous subsurface layers, and improve the imaging of deeper targets. We showed an effective approach to estimate the statics, based on the analysis of surface waves (groundroll) contained in the seismic reflection data, and we applied it to a legacy seismic line acquired at the iron‐oxide mining site of Ludvika in Sweden. We applied surface‐wave methods that were originally developed for hydrocarbon exploration, modified as a step‐by‐step workflow to suit the different geologic context of hard‐rock sites. The workflow starts with the detection of sharp lateral variations in the subsurface, the existence of which is common at hard‐rock sites. Their location is subsequently used, to ensure that the dispersion curves extracted from the data are not affected by strong lateral variations of the subsurface properties. The dispersion curves are picked automatically, windowing the data and applying a wavefield transform. A pseudo‐2D time‐average S‐wave velocity and time‐average P‐wave velocity profile are obtained directly from the dispersion curves, after inverting only a reference curve. The time‐average P‐wave velocity profile is then used for the direct estimation of the one‐way traveltime, which provides the static corrections. The resulting P‐wave statics from the field data were compared with statics computed through conventional P‐wave tomography. Their difference was mostly negligible with more than 91% of the estimations being in agreement with the conventional statics, proving the effectiveness of the proposed workflow. The application of the statics obtained from surface waves provided a stacked section comparable with that obtained by applying tomostatics.
Changes in key traits versus depth and latitude suggest energy‐efficient locomotion, opportunistic feeding and light lead to adaptive morphologies of marine fishes
Authors: Myers Elisabeth M. V. , Anderson Marti J. , Eme David , Liggins Libby , Roberts Clive D.
Published: October 2019

Understanding patterns and processes governing biodiversity along broad‐scale environmental gradients, such as depth or latitude, requires an assessment of not just taxonomic richness, but also morphological and functional traits of organisms. Studies of traits can help to identify major selective forces acting on morphology. Currently, little is known regarding patterns of variation in the traits of fishes at broad spatial scales.

The aims of this study were (a) to identify a suite of key traits in marine fishes that would allow assessment of morphological variability across broad‐scale depth (50–1200 m) and latitudinal (29.15–50.91°S) gradients, and (b) to characterize patterns in these traits across depth and latitude for 144 species of ray‐finned fishes in New Zealand waters.

Here, we describe three new morphological traits, namely fin‐base‐to‐perimeter ratio, jaw‐length‐to‐mouth‐width ratio, and pectoral‐fin‐base‐to‐body‐depth ratio. Four other morphological traits essential for locomotion and food acquisition that are commonly measured in fishes were also included in the study. Spatial ecological distributions of individual fish species were characterized in response to a standardized replicated sampling design, and morphological measurements were obtained for each species from preserved museum specimens.

With increasing depth, fishes, on average, became larger and more elongate, with higher fin‐base‐to‐perimeter ratio and larger jaw‐length‐to‐mouth‐width ratio, all of which translates into a more eel‐like anguilliform morphology. Variation in mean trait values along the depth gradient was stronger at lower latitudes for fin‐base‐to‐perimeter ratio, elongation and total body length. Average eye size peaked at intermediate depths (500–700 m) and increased with increasing latitude at 700 m.

These findings suggest that, in increasingly extreme environments, fish morphology shifts towards a body shape that favours an energy‐efficient undulatory swimming style and an increase in jaw‐length vs. mouth width for opportunistic feeding. Furthermore, increases in eye size with both depth and latitude indicate that changes in both the average ambient light conditions as well as seasonal variations in day‐length can act to select ecomorphological adaptations in fishes.
Stream Temperature Modeling Using Functional Regression Models
Authors: Boudreault Jérémie , Bergeron Normand E. , St‐Hilaire André , Chebana Fateh
Published: October 2019

Stream temperature is one of the most important environmental variables in lotic habitats as it has important and direct impacts on the ecosystem. Given the continuous nature of this variable, the aim of this paper was to introduce functional regression for the air‐stream temperature relation, being capable to model an entire seasonal or annual curve of temperatures as one entity, rather than multiple daily or weekly values in classical models. Three types of functional models were explored in the study and compared to two classical models (Generalized Additive Model and Logistic Model) for six rivers from the United States The results show the functional models have the best performance for all the considered rivers. When comparing functional models between them, one variant of the historical functional model performs better than the two other models and is the most parsimonious. Functional regression leads to encouraging results to model the complete annual stream temperature curve as one entity compared to other classical approaches.