bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multipartite dark matter in SU(2)Nextension of Standard Model and signatures at the LHC
Authors: Barman Basabendu , Bhattacharya Subhaditya , Zakeri Mohammadreza
Published: September 2018

An SU(2)Nextension (Nstands for neutral) of the Standard Model (SM) is proposed with an additional U(1)=S′ global symmetry, which stabilizes the lightest of the vector boson (X,X̄) as dark matter (DM) through unbrokenS=T3N+S′. The field content of the model is motivated to address neutrino mass generation, a possible unification to SU(7), along with spontaneous symmetry breaking of SU(2)Nresulting in massive gauge bosons. None of the SM particles are charged under SU(2)Nand thereforeX,X̄ do not have a direct coupling to the visible sector besides a Higgs portal, which is tiny to avoid any conflict with Higgs data. We show that, a large kinematic region of this model allows the neutral component of SU(2)Nscalar triplet and heavy neutrinos introduced here to become additional DM components. In this paper we explore the viability of such multipartite DM parameter space, including non-zero DM-DM interactions, to comply with relic density and direct search constraints. We also demonstrate that the model may yield hadronically quiet single lepton and two lepton signatures with missing energy at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) that can be accessed with high luminosity.
On self-avoiding polygons and walks: The snake method via pattern fluctuation
Authors: Hammond Alan
Published: September 2018

For

d
≥
2

d \geq 2

and

n
∈

N

n \in \mathbb {N}

, let

W

n

\mathsf {W}_n

denote the uniform law on self-avoiding walks of length 

n
n

beginning at the origin in the nearest-neighbour integer lattice 

Z

d

\mathbb {Z}^d

, and write

Γ
\Gamma

for a

W

n

\mathsf {W}_n

-distributed walk. We show that in the closing probability

W

n

(

|
|

Γ
n

|
|
=
1

)

\mathsf {W}_n \big ( \vert \vert \Gamma _n \vert \vert = 1 \big )

that

Γ
\Gamma

’s endpoint neighbours the origin and is at most

n

−
1

/

2
+
o
(
1
)

n^{-1/2 + o(1)}

in any dimension

d
≥
2

d \geq 2

. The method of proof is a reworking of that in [Ann. Probab. 44 (2016), pp. 955–983], which found a closing probability upper bound of

n

−
1

/

4
+
o
(
1
)

n^{-1/4 + o(1)}

. A key element of the proof is made explicit and called the snake method. It is applied to prove the

n

−
1

/

2
+
o
(
1
)

n^{-1/2 + o(1)}

upper bound by means of a technique of Gaussian pattern fluctuation.
Integrating hypertension phenotype and genotype with hybrid non-negative matrix factorization
Authors: Luo Yuan , Mao Chengsheng , Yang Yiben , Wang Fei , Ahmad Faraz S , Arnett Donna , Irvin Marguerite R , Shah Sanjiv J
Published: September 2018

Motivation

Hypertension is a heterogeneous syndrome in need of improved subtyping using phenotypic and genetic measurements with the goal of identifying subtypes of patients who share similar pathophysiologic mechanisms and may respond more uniformly to targeted treatments. Existing machine learning approaches often face challenges in integrating phenotype and genotype information and presenting to clinicians an interpretable model. We aim to provide informed patient stratification based on phenotype and genotype features.

Results

In this article, we present a hybrid non-negative matrix factorization (HNMF) method to integrate phenotype and genotype information for patient stratification. HNMF simultaneously approximates the phenotypic and genetic feature matrices using different appropriate loss functions, and generates patient subtypes, phenotypic groups and genetic groups. Unlike previous methods, HNMF approximates phenotypic matrix under Frobenius loss, and genetic matrix under Kullback-Leibler (KL) loss. We propose an alternating projected gradient method to solve the approximation problem. Simulation shows HNMF converges fast and accurately to the true factor matrices. On a real-world clinical dataset, we used the patient factor matrix as features and examined the association of these features with indices of cardiac mechanics. We compared HNMF with six different models using phenotype or genotype features alone, with or without NMF, or using joint NMF with only one type of loss We also compared HNMF with 3 recently published methods for integrative clustering analysis, including iClusterBayes, Bayesian joint analysis and JIVE. HNMF significantly outperforms all comparison models. HNMF also reveals intuitive phenotype–genotype interactions that characterize cardiac abnormalities.

Availability and implementation

Our code is publicly available on github at https://github.com/yuanluo/hnmf.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
FA01.03: USE OF ‘NON-TUBE NO FASTING’ ERAS PROTOCOL IN PATIENTS AFTER MIE WITH LI’S ANASTOMOSIS: OUTCOMES IN THE FIRST 113 PATIENTS PERFORMED BY A SURGEON AFTER TRAINING COURSE
Authors: Zhang Ruixiang , Li Yin , Liu Shilei , Liu Xianben , Sun Haibo , Wang Zongfei , Zheng Yan , Chen Xiankai , Liu Qi , Zhu Zhengshuai , Xu Lei
Published: September 2018

Background

Use of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) protocol in the patients after esophagectomy is reported to be feasible and safe in recent studies. And in Prof. Yin Li's research, patients after minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE) with Li's anastomosis took oral feeding on the 1st day after operation (POD1). However, all the esophagectomy-procedures were proceeded by experienced experts. There was no report regarding whether ERAS protocol after MIE with Li's anastomosis could be safely proceeded by a young surgeon after training course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of ‘Non-Tube No Fasting’ ERAS Protocol in patients after MIE with Li's Anastomosis proceeded by a surgeon after the training course.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who underwent MIE for cancer from December 2015 to September 2017 by a new surgical team finished MIE training course in our department. During the study period, the new team performed Mckeown MIE with Li's anastomosis for 127 esophageal cancer patients. We analyzed the data of 113 patients who followed the protocol of ‘Non-tube No Fasting’ ERAS. The primary end-points were the incidence of anastomotic fistula, the injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve, pneumonia, and postoperative length of hospital-stay.

Results

All the 113 patients began oral feeding on POD1. Two patients exited the ERAS protocol on account of bucking caused by recurrent laryngeal nerve injury on POD3. The incidence of anastomotic fistula, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and pneumonia were 3.5% (4/113), 12.4%(14/113) and 18.5%(21/113). The average length of postoperative hospital-stay was 8.6 ± 6.9 days. Both of the in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were 0.

Conclusion

Our date indicated that it was feasible and safe for a selected surgeon after ‘Non-tube no fasting’ ERAS and MIE training courses to proceed the protocol. Of course, more clinical researches are needed to confirm this result.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Advancing Research on Psychosocial Stress and Aging with the Health and Retirement Study: Looking Back to Launch the Field Forward
Authors: Crosswell Alexandra D , Suresh Madhuvanthi , Puterman Eli , Gruenewald Tara L , Lee Jinkook , Epel Elissa S
Published: September 2018

Objectives

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was designed as an interdisciplinary study with a strong focus on health, retirement, and socioeconomic environment, to study their dynamic relationships over time in a sample of mid-life adults. The study includes validated self-report measures and individual items that capture the experiences of stressful events (stressor exposures) and subjective assessments of stress (perceived stress) within specific life domains.

Methods

This article reviews and catalogs the peer-reviewed publications that have used the HRS to examine associations between psychosocial stress measures and psychological, physical health, and economic outcomes.

Results

We describe the research to date using HRS measures of the following stress types: traumatic and life events, childhood adversity, caregiving and other chronic stressors, discrimination, social strain and loneliness, work stress, and neighborhood disorder. We highlight how to take further advantage of the longitudinal study to test complex biopsychosocial models of healthy aging.

Discussion

The HRS provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of psychosocial stress in existing population-based studies and offers the potential for a deeper understanding of how psychosocial factors are related to healthy aging trajectories. The next generation of research examining stress and trajectories of aging in the HRS should test complex longitudinal and mediational relationships, include contextual factors in analyses, and include more collaboration between psychologists and population health researchers.
The first complete genomic structure of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and its chromid
Authors: Rodríguez Hernáez Javier , Cerón Cucchi Maria Esperanza , Cravero Silvio , Martinez Maria Carolina , Gonzalez Sergio , Puebla Andrea , Dopazo Joaquin , Farber Marisa , Paniego Norma , Rivarola Máximo
Published: September 2018

Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens forms part of the gastrointestinal microbiome of ruminants and other mammals, including humans. Indeed, it is one of the most common bacteria found in the rumen and plays an important role in ruminal fermentation of polysaccharides, yet, to date, there is no closed reference genome published for this species in any ruminant animal. We successfully assembled the nearly complete genome sequence of B. fibrisolvens strain INBov1 isolated from cow rumen using Illumina paired-end reads, 454 Roche single-end and mate pair sequencing technology. Additionally, we constructed an optical restriction map of this strain to aid in scaffold ordering and positioning, and completed the first genomic structure of this species. Moreover, we identified and assembled the first chromid of this species (pINBov266). The INBov1 genome encodes a large set of genes involved in the cellulolytic process but lacks key genes. This seems to indicate that B. fibrisolvens plays an important role in ruminal cellulolytic processes, but does not have autonomous cellulolytic capacity. When searching for genes involved in the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids, no linoleate isomerase gene was found in this strain. INBov1 does encode oleate hydratase genes known to participate in the hydrogenation of oleic acids. Furthermore, INBov1 contains an enolase gene, which has been recently determined to participate in the synthesis of conjugated linoleic acids. This work confirms the presence of a novel chromid in B. fibrisolvens and provides a new potential reference genome sequence for this species, providing new insight into its role in biohydrogenation and carbohydrate degradation.
The 22q11 low copy repeats are characterized by unprecedented size and structure variability
Authors: Demaerel Wolfram , Mostovoy Yulia , Yilmaz Feyza , Vervoort Lisanne , Pastor Steven , Hestand Matthew S , Swillen Ann , Vergaelen Elfi , Geiger Elizabeth A. , Coughlin Curtis R. , Chow Stephen K. , McDonald-McGinn Donna , Morrow Bernice , Kwok Pui-Yan , Xiao Ming , Emanuel Beverly S. , Shaikh Tamim H. , Vermeesch Joris R
Published: September 2018

Low copy repeats (LCRs) are recognized as a significant source of genomic instability, driving genome variability and evolution. The chromosome 22 LCRs (LCR22s) are amongst the most complex regions in the genome and their structure remains unresolved. These LCR22s mediate non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) leading to the 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), causing the most frequent genomic disorder. Using fiber FISH optical mapping, we have de novo assembled the LCR22s in 33 cell lines. We observed a high level of variation in LCR22 structures, including 26 different haplotypes of LCR22A with alleles ranging from 250 Kb to over 2,000 Kb. An additional four haplotypes were detected using Bionano mapping. Further, Bionano maps generated from 154 individuals from different populations suggested significantly different LCR22 haplotype frequencies between populations. Furthermore, haplotype analysis in nine 22q11DS patients resulted in the localization of the NAHR site to a 160 Kb paralog between LCR22A and –D in seven patients and to a 31 Kb region in two individuals with a rearrangement between LCR22A and –B.. This 31 Kb region contains a palindromic AT-rich repeat known to be a driver of chromosomal rearrangements. Our study highlights an unprecedented level of polymorphism in the structure of LCR22s, which are likely still evolving. We present the most comprehensive map of LCR22 variation to date, paving the way towards investigating the role of LCR variation as a driver of 22q11 rearrangements and the phenotypic variability in 22q11DS patients as well as in the general population.
Prediction of malaria mosquito species and population age structure using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine learning
Authors: González-Jiménez Mario , Babayan Simon A. , Khazaeli Pegah , Doyle Margaret , Walton Finlay , Reedy Elliott , Glew Thomas , Viana Mafalda , Ranford-Cartwright Lisa , Niang Abdoulaye , Siria Doreen J. , Okumu Fredros O. , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Ferguson Heather M. , Baldini Francesco , Wynne Klaas
Published: September 2018

Despite the global efforts made in the fight against malaria, the disease is resurging. One of the main causes is the resistance that Anopheles mosquitoes, vectors of the disease, have developed to insecticides. Anopheles must survive for at least 12 days to possibly transmit malaria. Therefore, to evaluate and improve malaria vector control interventions, it is imperative to monitor and accurately estimate the age distribution of mosquito populations as well as total population sizes. However, estimating mosquito age is currently a slow, imprecise, and labour-intensive process that can only distinguish under-from over-four-day-old female mosquitoes. Here, we demonstrate a machine-learning based approach that utilizes mid-infrared spectra of mosquitoes to characterize simultaneously, and with unprecedented accuracy, both age and species identity of females of the malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis mosquitoes within their respective populations. The prediction of the age structures was statistically indistinguishable from true modelled distributions. The method has a negligible cost per mosquito, does not require highly trained personnel, is substantially faster than current techniques, and so can be easily applied in both laboratory and field settings. Our results show that, with larger mid-infrared spectroscopy data sets, this technique can be further improved and expanded to vectors of other diseases such as Zika and Dengue.
Modular mathematical analysis of the control of flagellar Ca2+-spike trains produced by CatSper and CaVchannels in sea urchin sperm
Authors: Priego-Espinosa D.A. , Darszon A. , Guerrero A. , González-Cota A.L. , Nishigaki T. , Martinez-Mekler G. , Carneiro J.
Published: September 2018

Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) is a basic, versatile and ubiquitous cellular signal controlling a wide variety of biological processes. A remarkable example is the steering of sea urchin spermatozoa towards the conspecific egg by a spatially and temporally orchestrated series of cytosolic [Ca2+]ispikes. Although this process has been an experimental paradigm for reproduction and sperm chemotaxis studies, the composition and regulation of the signalling network underlying the cytosolic calcium fluctuations are hitherto not fully understood. Here, we used a differential equations model of the signalling network to assess which set of channels can explain the characteristic envelop and temporal organisation of the [Ca2+]i-spike trains. The signalling network comprises an initial membrane hyperpolarisation/repolarisation produced by an upstream module triggered by the egg-released chemoattractant peptide, via receptor activation, cGMP synthesis and decay. Followed by downstream modules leading to pHi, voltage and [Ca2+]ifluctuations. The upstream module outputs were fitted to kinetic data on cGMP activity and early membrane potential changes measured in bulk cell populations. Two candidate modules featuring voltage-dependent Ca2+-channels link these outputs to the downstream dynamics and can independently explain the typical decaying envelop and the progressive spacing of the spikes. In the first module, [Ca2+]i-spike trains require the concerted action of a classical CaV-like channel and a potassium channel, BK (Slo1), whereas the second module relies on pHi-dependent, [Ca2+]i-inactivated CatSper dynamics alone. The model predicts that these two modules interfere with each other and produce unreasonable dynamics when present at similar proportions, which suggests that one may predominate over the otherin vivo. To assess these alternatives, several quantitative predictions were derived from each module and confronted to experimental observations. We show that the [Ca2+]Idynamics observed experimentally after sustained alkalinisation can be reproduced by a model featuring the CatSper module but not by one including the pH-independent CaVand BK module. We conclude in favour of the module containing CatSper.
A molecular model of the surface-assisted protein aggregation process
Authors: Pan Y.G. , Banerjee S. , Zagorski K. , Shlyakhtenko L.S. , Kolomeisky A.B. , Lyubchenko Y. L.
Published: September 2018

The importance of cell surfaces in the self-assembly of proteins is widely accepted. One biologically significant event is the assembly of amyloidogenic proteins into aggregates, which leads to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The interaction of amyloidogenic proteins with cellular membranes appears to dramatically facilitate the aggregation process. Recent findings indicate that, in the presence of surfaces, aggregation occurs at physiologically low concentrations, suggesting interaction with surfaces plays a critical role in the disease-prone aggregation process. However, the molecular mechanisms behind on-surface aggregation remain unclear. Here we provide a theoretical model that offers a molecular explanation. According to this model, monomers transiently immobilized to surfaces increase the local monomer protein concentration and thus work as nuclei to dramatically accelerate the entire aggregation process. This theory was verified by experimental studies, using mica surfaces, to examine the aggregation kinetics of amyloidogenic-synuclein protein (α-Syn) and non-amyloidogenic cytosine deaminase APOBEC3G (A3G).
Glutamate spillover inC. eleganstriggers repetitive behavior through presynaptic activation of MGL-2/mGluR5
Authors: Katz Menachem , Corson Francis , Keil Wolfgang , Singhal Anupriya , Bae Andrea , Lu Yun , Liang Yupu , Shaham Shai
Published: September 2018

Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter, and impaired glutamate clearance following synaptic release promotes spillover, inducing extra-synaptic signaling. The effects of glutamate spillover on animal behavior and its neural correlates are poorly understood. We developed a glutamate spillover model inCaenorhabditis elegansby inactivating the conserved glial glutamate transporter GLT-1. GLT-1 loss drives aberrant repetitive locomotory reversal behavior through uncontrolled oscillatory release of glutamate onto AVA, a major interneuron governing reversals. Repetitive glutamate release and reversal behavior require the glutamate receptor MGL-2/mGluR5, expressed in RIM and other interneurons presynaptic to AVA.mgl-2loss blocks oscillations and repetitive behavior; while RIM activation is sufficient to induce repetitive reversals inglt-1mutants. Repetitive AVA firing and reversals require EGL-30/Gαq, an mGluR5 effector. Our studies reveal that cyclic autocrine presynaptic activation drives repetitive reversals following glutamate spillover. That mammalian GLT1 and mGluR5 are implicated in pathological motor repetition suggests a common mechanism controlling repetitive behaviors.
Conformational aspects of polymorphs and phases of 2-propyl-1H-benzimidazole
Authors: Zuñiga Fco. Javier , Cruz-Cabeza Aurora J. , Aretxabaleta Xabier M. , de la Pinta Noelia , Breczewski Tomasz , Quesada-Moreno María Mar , Avilés-Moreno Juan Ramón , López-González Juan Jesús , Claramunt Rosa M. , Elguero Jose
Published: September 2018

This paper reports on the polymorphism of 2-propyl-1H-benzimidazole (2PrBzIm) induced by temperature change. Upon heating, an irreversible reconstructive-type phase transition atT= 384 K from the ordered formI(P212121) to a new polymorph, formIIHT(Pcam), was observed. The structural transformation between formsIandIIinvolves significant changes in the crystal packing, as well as a key conformational variation around the propyl chain of the molecule. After the first irreversible phase transition, theIIHTform undergoes two further (reversible) phase transitions upon cooling at 361 K (IIRT) and 181 K (IILT). All three phases (formsIIHT,IIRTandIILT) have almost identical crystal packing and, given the reversibility of the conversions as a function of temperature, they are referred to as formIItemperature phases. They differ, however, with respect to conformational variations around the propyl chain of 2PrBzIm. Energy calculations of the gas-phase conformational energy landscape of this compound about its flexible bonds allowed us to classify the observed conformational variations of all forms into changes and adjustments of conformers. This reveals that formsIandIIare related by conformational change, and that two of the formIIphases (HT and RT) are related by conformational adjustment, whilst the other two (RT and LT) are related by conformational change. We introduce the term `conformational phases' for different crystal phases with almost identical packing but showing changes in conformation.
Rural credit cooperatives’ contribution to agricultural growth: evidence from China
Authors: Nan Yongqing , Gao Yanyan , Zhou Qin
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Rural credit cooperatives (RCCs) have long dominated China’s rural credit market and met most of agricultural credit demands while the existing literature seldom examines their contribution to agricultural sector. The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the contribution of RCCs to agricultural growth, using China’s provincial panel data from 1997 to 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

Both static fixed effects models and two-step generalized method of moment dynamic panel data models, which control the endogeneity, are employed to identify the causality from RCC credit to agricultural growth in China.

Findings

The results show that the credit from RCCs increases the agricultural output significantly. A 1 percent increase in RCC credit leads to agricultural growth of about 0.08 percent, which is robust to various empirical specifications. Further study shows that the contribution of RCC credit to agricultural growth decreases from the most developed eastern region to the least developed western region and increases over time.

Research limitations/implications

The results imply that RCC credit is critical in financing agricultural activities by relaxing rural credit constraints and intense competition strengthens the contribution of RCCs to agricultural growth by improving managerial efficiency and developing diversified financial products to meet better rural credit demands.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is first empirical study on the effect of RCC credit on agricultural growth despite of many on the role of financial development in agricultural growth.
Entrepreneurship research in Latin America: a literature review
Authors: Lopez Tatiana , Alvarez Claudia
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the state of entrepreneurship research in the Latin American context, with special emphasis on international entrepreneurship research developed in this region. Therefore, the aim and contribution are to identify the main themes in the literature about entrepreneurship and show the evolution of entrepreneurship research in Latin America to stimulate the research and provide future research lines.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based in a systematic literature review, using 128 articles published between 2002 and 2018, in scientific journals in the region according to SCImago Journal & Country Rank.

Findings

The results show the evolution through the journals, authors, topics and methodologies used by the researchers. It is emphasized that there is a very low level of research in international entrepreneurship in Latin America. This result is coherent with higher levels of entrepreneurship in Latin American countries but very few oriented to international markets. This is one of the challenges considering the importance of this field.

Originality/value

Entrepreneurship is a field of study that has grown throughout history. Even so, in the Latin American context, research published in high impact journals is limited. This paper is the first systematic literature review and thematic analysis of research on the field of entrepreneurship in the Latin American context. In this way, it serves as encouragement for future research, providing possibilities and challenges within the field of study.
Assessment of procurement capacity challenges inhibiting public infrastructure procurement
Authors: Manu Patrick , Mahamadu Abdul-Majeed , Booth Colin , Olomolaiye Paul , Ibrahim Ahmed Doko , Coker Akinwale
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Public procurement capacity is composed of three facets: individual, organisational and an enabling national environment which encapsulates national legislation, policies and institutional arrangements that can facilitate or hamper the effectiveness of procurement. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which procurement capacity challenges in the national environment affect the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement by public agencies in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 30 procurement capacity challenges drawn from literature were operationalized in a survey of infrastructure procurement personnel in different tiers of public agencies (i.e. local and state government) in order to ascertain the critical challenges affecting the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement. The survey yielded 288 responses, which were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test and independent-samples t-test.

Findings

Challenges related to transparency, integrity and accountability are amongst the topmost challenges adversely affecting the effectiveness of public infrastructure procurement. There is limited difference in the extent to which the challenges affect the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement in different tiers of public agencies in Nigeria.

Originality/value

Whilst various procurement capacity challenges have been identified in the extent literature, this study has shown that an assessment of their effect on the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement could reveal valuable insights regarding the status of public infrastructure procurement within a country, particularly countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions where there is acute infrastructure deficits. Such insights could inform appropriate infrastructure procurement reforms by policy makers, procurement entities and infrastructure funders.
Post-migration labor market: prejudice and the role of host country education
Authors: Stangej Olga , Minelgaite Inga , Kristinsson Kari , Sigurdardottir Margret Sigrun
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how prejudice in a post-migration labor market can be mitigated, specifically, whether education received in the host country can serve as a signal of social integration for immigrant workers in employment settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an audit discrimination study, using an experimental setup to examine the interplay between prejudice and education as a signal of the social integration of immigrants in employment settings.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that signals of social integration, such as, qualifications acquired in the host country through education, counter prejudice against Polish immigrants in Iceland.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides evidence that immigrants are subjected to prejudice that can restrain their employment opportunities. The acquisition of education in the host country can mitigate this effect, but also diminishes the line between social integration and assimilation. However, the study is limited by a relatively small sample size and a single-country context.

Practical implications

The study offers insights for both countries and organizations worldwide that are facing the need to successfully embrace a mobile workforce and the challenge of a diverse workforce composition.

Originality/value

The study addresses the under-researched effects of education on human capital transferability in the host labor market. More specifically, it uncovers that the differentiation between education acquired in the home country and education acquired in the host country is a signal that can mitigate prejudice and its effects on the employment of immigrants in the host countries.
Multi-scale stochastic damage model for concrete and its application to RC shear wall structure
Authors: Feng De-Cheng , Yang Cheng-Dong , Ren Xiao-Dan
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a multi-scale stochastic damage model (SDM) for concrete and apply it to the stochastic response analysis of reinforced concrete shear wall structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed SDM is constructed at two scales, i.e. the macro-scale and the micro-scale. The general framework of the SDM is established on the basis of the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) at the macro-scale, whereas the detailed damage evolution is determined through a parallel fiber buddle model at the micro-scale. The parallel buddle model is made up of micro-elements with stochastic fracture strains, and a one-dimensional random field is assumed for the fracture strain distribution. To represent the random field, a random functional method is adopted to quantify the stochastic damage evolution process with only two variables; thus, the numerical efficiency is greatly enhanced. Meanwhile, the probability density evolution method (PDEM) is introduced for the structural stochastic response analysis.

Findings

By combing the SDM and PDEM, the probabilistic analysis of a shear wall structure is performed. The mean value, standard deviation and the probability density function of the shear wall responses, e.g., shear capacity, accumulated energy consumption and damage evolution, are obtained.

Originality/value

It is noted that the proposed method can reflect the influences of randomness from material level to structural level, and is efficient for stochastic response determination of shear wall structures.
Digital-physical product development: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Hendler Stine
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how digital and physical product development can be successfully coordinated and which new product development and contextual practices are suitable for the combined digital-physical product development process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a multiple-case study within one company with three digital-physical product development projects as the units of analysis. The data collection and analysis are guided by an existing research model. The case study is used deductively to illustrate the model.

Findings

When combining digital and physical development processes, one or both need to change. This may lead to sub-optimization of one or both of the processes but optimizes the combined digital-physical process. Various development and coordination practices as well as contextual measures must be put into place to improve fit to the digital-physical process characteristics and mixed materiality.

Research limitations/implications

The paper illustrates the research model with case evidence and suggests tentative theory in the form of propositions. Further research needs to explore the impact of the practices and contextual measures proposed.

Practical implications

This research proposes a range of conditions facilitating the successful development of digital-physical products.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to empirically explore the complex process of digital-physical product development. Taking a process perspective and focusing on organizational and managerial practices and the influence of context, organization theory is used as the theoretical lens.
“Grab gatorade!”: food marketing, regulation and the young consumer
Authors: Elliott Charlene
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine current regulatory initiatives on food marketing to young people and to highlight unique considerations when it comes to teenagers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrates the policy and public health literature with the literature on childhood studies and consumer studies.

Findings

Since the policy goal is to mitigate the impact of food marketing on young people’s attitudes and behaviours, it is necessary to recognize the consumer competencies of teenagers and consider the social and symbolic meanings of food for them. It is suggested that radical media literacy, coupled with food literacy, is essential to navigating a complex food environment filled with promotional messages for ultra-processed foods.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis has implications for policy development.

Practical implications

Consideration of age – in terms of different developmental competencies, motivating factors and additional initiatives to support healthy eating (such as teaching media literacy skills) – is necessary to policy development related to food marketing to children.

Originality/value

Little research integrates the literature on food policy/regulation with the critical work on consumer studies/childhood studies. This commentary also directs attention to novel areas of consideration related to teenagers and food marketing.
Wii are family: consumption, console gaming and family togetherness
Authors: Nash Cathriona , O’Malley Lisa , Patterson Maurice
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the relationship between family togetherness and consumption. This is important given the inherent tension permeating discourses of family consumption and a lack of a critical understanding about how togetherness is experienced, expressed and performed. The Nintendo Wii and Wii gaming were explicitly chosen to engage in a more nuanced understanding and to provide a route to access families in their natural consumption habitat.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive ethnographic methodology was utilised to investigate family consumption in context and used in conjunction with the biographical narrative interpretive method to capture reflective and detailed informants’ consumption experiences. Holistic content analysis was used to interpret and aid thematic development.

Findings

Opportunities for idealised family togetherness afforded by the Wii still appeal to family members. Idealised family togetherness is accessed through collective, “proper” Wii gaming but is ultimately unsustainable. Importantly, the authors see that relational togetherness and bonding is also possible, and as such, the lived experience, expression and performance of family togetherness are not prescriptive.

Originality/value

Family togetherness is a useful and important lens through which to understand the dynamic relationship between family, consumption and the marketplace. The authors suggest that current conceptualisations of togetherness are too idealised and prescriptive and should be open to critical rethinking and engagement by both academics and industry practitioners to communicate with and about families and to explore how to be part of relevant and meaningful family conversations.
Fluid flow and heat transfer for a particle-laden gas modeled as a two-phase turbulent flow
Authors: Gorman John , Sparrow Eph
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the physical processes experienced by a particle-laden gas due to various types of collisions, different heat transfer modalities and jet axis switching. Here, attention is focused on a particle-laden gas subjected to jet axis switching while experiencing fluid flow and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used to model and solve these complex problems is numerical simulation treated here as a two-phase turbulent flow in which the gas and the particles keep their separate identities. For the turbulent flow model, validation was achieved by comparisons with appropriate experimental data. The considered interactions between the fluid and the particles include one-way fluid–particle interactions, two-way fluid–particle interactions and particle–particle interactions.

Findings

For the fluid flow portion of the work, emphasis was placed on the particle collection efficiency and on independent variables that affect this quantity and the trajectories of the fluid and of the particles as they traverse the space between the jet orifice and the impingement plate. The extent of the effect depended on four factors: particle size, particle density, number of particles and the velocity of the fluid flow. The major effect on the heat transferred to the impingement plate occurred when direct heat transfer between the impinging particles and the plate was taken into account.

Originality/value

This paper deals with issues never before dealt with in the published literature: the effect of jet axis switching on the fluid mechanics of gas-particle flows without heat transfer and the effect of jet axis switching and the presence of particles on jet impingement heat transfer. The overall focus of the work is on the impact of jet axis switching on particle-laden fluid flow and heat transfer.
Development of a vortex method with penalization for modeling the complex fluid and moving/deforming solid interaction
Authors: Wang Chao , Sun Jinju , Cheng Zihao
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The present study aims to develop a vortex method capable for solving the complex vortical flows past the moving/deforming bodies.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve such a goal, some innovative work is conducted on the basis of vortex-in-cell (VIC) method that uses the improved semi-Lagrangian scheme. The penalization technique is incorporated with the VIC, which makes the complex boundaries of moving/deforming bodies readily treated. Iterative algorithm is further proposed for the penalization and used to solve the Poisson equation, which enhances the vorticity solution accuracy at the body boundary.

Findings

The developed method is used to simulate some distinct flows of different boundaries and features: the impulsively started circular cylinder flow represents the one-way coupling; the falling circular cylinder flow and ellipse leaf flow both represent the two-way coupling of moving boundary; the fish-like body flow represents the two-way fluid-structure interaction of deforming boundary. The vortical physics of the above flows are well revealed, and the developed method is proven capable in dealing with the complex fluid-structure interaction problems.

Originality/value

The penalization technique is incorporated with the semi-Lagrangian VIC method, which makes the complex boundaries of moving/deforming bodies readily treated. An iterative algorithm is further proposed for the penalization and used to solve the Poisson equation, which enhances the vorticity solution accuracy at the body boundary. The complex vortical physics of the moving/deforming body flows are well revealed, and the propulsive mechanism of fish-like swimmer is well illustrated with the present method.
The effect of institutional transition on entrepreneurial orientation of family businesses
Authors: Chakrabarti Amit Baran , Mondal Arindam
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the impact of family ownership on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of firms in an emerging market and the contingencies under which it is likely to be affected.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a panel data multiple regression using ordinary least square methodology on a sample of 51,972 observations belonging to 12,250 firms from India.

Findings

The study finds that family businesses have higher EO than non-family firms. However, it is likely to be affected during institutional transition due to environmental uncertainty. Furthermore, during institutional transition, there will be differences in the EO of family business groups and stand-alone family firms due to the former’s ubiquitous network-level resource advantages.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the literature on family business by reconciling the positive and negative views on the effect of family ownership on EO by arguing that the risk-taking behavior of family firms is contingent on the environmental conditions and the resource position of the firm.

Practical implications

This study will enable managers and other stakeholders to predict the entrepreneurial attitude of family-owned firms during environmentally stable as well as turbulent times.

Social implications

This study highlights the implication of institutional transition through reforms on a vital part of the economy. Policy makers have to be sensitive to repercussions on family business due to environmental turbulence.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers that investigate the influence of institutional transition and the resource position of Indian family firms on their EO.
Governance myths: a typology
Authors: Wachhaus Aaron
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Myths matter. They are one of the ways by which we seek to make sense of the world; understanding myths helps us understand not only the world around us but ourselves as well. Governance myths – myths that we tell about the state and our relationship to it or about the structures and figures making up our government and our relationships to them – can serve as a valuable means of gaining insight into civil society and for illuminating the goals and values of good governance. Categorizing governance myths can aid in that process. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a typology of governance myths, and then explores mythic types and their implications for governance.

Findings

A typology of myths facilitates systematic examination of fundamental stories told to explain and illustrate governance. Characteristics of myths at each level of governance may be used to better understand implicit expectations and assumptions about particular aspects of governance.

Originality/value

This typology can be used by scholars and practitioners to deconstruct stories told about governance and more effectively respond to citizens’ perceptions of the public sector.
The influence of institutional pressures and organization culture on Supplier Social Compliance Management Systems
Authors: Jajja Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq , Asif Muhammad , Montabon Frank L. , Chatha Kamran Ali
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use institutional theory to develop the constructs of institutional pressures for social compliance and argue for a positive relationship between institutional pressures and Supplier Social Compliance Management System (SSCMS). Moreover, the authors theorize that the impact of institutional pressures on SSCMS is moderated by the supplier’s organizational culture. This is done in a particularly salient context, which is apparel manufacturing in a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesized model is tested using data of 164 suppliers from the apparel manufacturing sector. PLS-based structural equation modeling is used to test the direct and multi-group moderation hypotheses.

Findings

Empirical examination provides evidence that institutional pressures have a positive impact on supplier social compliance and the types of organizational culture have varied moderation effects.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on cross-sectional data from one industry. Future research should collect data from diverse sectors in different countries.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that consistent pressures from various stakeholders can increase supplier social compliance. In addition, the partial evidence for moderation effect of organizational culture indicates that supplier’s internal value system’s alignment with social compliance pressures plays an important role in determining how supplier acts on social compliance initiatives.

Originality/value

The issue of suppliers’ adoption of social compliance management systems has become prominent as a consequence of the shifting of manufacturing to developing countries. However, comprehensive frameworks explaining antecedents of adoption of SSCMS using large-scale empirical data are limited. In addition, findings on the relationship between supplier social sustainability practices and their antecedents are inconsistent.
Quality and perceived value in career guidance e-services
Authors: Cobelli Nicola , Bonfanti Angelo , Cubico Serena , Favretto Giuseppe
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically examine career guidance services in terms of e-service quality, information quality and perceived value. It specifically examines students’ perceptions of quality to explore the effects of e-service quality and information quality on perceived value.

Design/methodology/approach

Students from the University of Verona participated in a quantitative survey, and 119 questionnaires were collected to assess the perceptions of respondents on e-service quality, information quality and perceived value about the career guidance e-service.

Findings

The results indicate that students perceive high value for the career guidance services; the perceived value depends on both service quality of the e-platform and information quality of the report; and efficiency is the most important dimension of e-service quality, while adequacy appears to be the most important dimension of the report.

Practical implications

These findings reveal that service organisations such as universities should invest in career guidance services, given that such services are appreciated by students and contribute to reducing the gap between education and job opportunities. In the design phase, service organisations should pay attention to students’ career development needs by developing e-platforms that are easy to use, appealing, efficient and with continuous system availability and reports that include relevant, understandable, reliable and adequate information. It is important to provide students with a report after they have completed a questionnaire.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research empirically evaluating the effects of perceived e-service quality and information quality on perceived value with specific reference to career guidance e-services.