bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Plasma Nitrite, l-Arginine and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine With Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
Authors: Hansen Marco B. , Rasmussen Lars S. , Garred Peter , Pilely Katrine , Wahl Anna M. , Perner Anders , Madsen Martin B. , Hedegaard Elise R. , Simonsen Ulf , Hyldegaard Ole
Published: September 2017

Background:

The nitric oxide system could play an important role in the pathophysiology related to necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI). Accordingly, we investigated the association between plasma nitrite level at admission and the presence of septic shock in patients with NSTI. We also evaluated the association between nitrite, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), l-arginine, l-arginine/ADMA ratio, and outcome.

Methods:

We analyzed plasma from 141 NSTI patients taken upon hospital admission. The severity of NSTI was assessed by the presence of septic shock, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), amputation, and 28-day mortality.

Results:

No difference in nitrite levels was found between patients with and without septic shock (median 0.82 μmol/L [interquartile range (IQR) 0.41–1.21] vs. 0.87 μmol/L (0.62–1.24), P = 0.25). ADMA level was higher in patients in need of RRT (0.64 μmol/L (IQR 0.47–0.90) vs. (0.52 μmol/L (0.34–0.70), P = 0.028), and ADMA levels correlated positively with SAPS II (rho = 0.32, P = 0.0002) and SOFA scores (rho = 0.22, P = 0.01). In a logistic regression analysis, an l-arginine/ADMA ratio below 101.59 was independently associated with 28-day mortality, odds ratio 6.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.41–25.84), P = 0.016. None of the other analyses indicated differences in the NO system based on differences in disease severity.

Conclusions:

In patients with NSTI, we found no difference in baseline nitrite levels according to septic shock. High baseline ADMA level was associated with the use of RRT and patients with a low baseline l-arginine/ADMA ratio were at higher risk of dying within 28 days after hospital admission.
HIV positive patient with GBS-like syndrome
Authors: Shepherd Samantha J. , Black Heather , Thomson Emma C. , Gunson Rory N.
Published: September 2017

Introduction.Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy which can occur post-infection. Criteria of diagnosis of GBS include areflexia with progressive bilateral weakness in arms and legs. GBS can lead to severe respiratory and cardiac complications. The fatality rate can be up to 5 % in patients, depending on the severity of the symptoms. HIV can cause a range of neurological disorders including, on rare occasions, GBS. GBS can occur at any stage of HIV infection, highlighting the complexity of diagnosis of GBS within HIV patients.

Case presentation.A 57 year old female with lumbar back pain radiating to the legs, poor mobility and tiredness, with reports of a viral-like illness four days previously, was initially diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection and discharged. Seventeen days later the patient was readmitted to hospital with progressive lower and upper limb weakness, areflexia and sensory loss. She was diagnosed with GBS and was unexpectedly discovered to be HIV-positive. HIV avidity was low indicating a recently acquired HIV infection. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin for five days for the GBS and commenced antriretrovirals for HIV. The patient was discharge from hospital 53 days after admission with walking aids and regular physiotherapy follow-up.

Conclusion.This case highlighted the need for all clinicians to be aware that patients with symptoms of GBS, regardless of clinical history should be offered an HIV test. GBS can be the first sign a patient is HIV-positive.
Neck abscess due to Salmonella Choleraesuis: case study and literature review
Authors: Sugimoto Ryoji , Suzuki Hirotaka , Nei Takahito , Tashiro Ayaka , Washio Yohei , Sonobe Kazunari , Nakamura Yuzo , Wakayama Nozomu , Inai Shunta , Izumiya Hidemasa
Published: September 2017

Introduction. We herein describe a case with a neck abscess due to non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS). NTS habitually reside in our environment and colonize all animals including mammals. Colonizations of pigs, chickens, cows and sheep are important because food poisoning episodes in human are often associated with meat. Extra-intestinal infection due to NTS has numerous presentations and complications, with aortic aneurysms being common.

Case presentation. A 26-year-old Japanese male complaining of left-sided neck swelling was referred to our hospital for a suspected deep neck abscess. An enhanced computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a low density lesion in the left-sided deep neck area, and consequently the patient underwent urgent incision and drainage. After this urgent operation, Salmonella Choleraesuis was isolated from a greyish-white abscess. The patient ultimately recovered with antimicrobial administration, though re-incision for lymphadenectomy was necessary. The neck abscess may have developed because he had eaten raw meat. Furthermore, untreated diabetes mellitus was diagnosed at presentation.

Conclusion.
Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis infections are rare in Japan. NTS are generally recognized as important pathogens in food poisoning globally, and attention is required to avoid the development of extra-intestinal infections. In Japan, the increasing lifestyle diversity in recent years highlights the importance of recognizing rare infections.
Cellomics approach for high-throughput functional annotation ofCaenorhabditis elegansneural network
Authors: Aoki Wataru , Matsukura Hidenori , Yamauchi Yuji , Yokoyama Haruki , Hasegawa Koichi , Shinya Ryoji , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: September 2017

Even inCaenorhabditis elegans, which has only 302 neurons, relationships between behaviors and neural networks are not easily elucidated. In this study, we proposed a novel cellomics approach enabling high-throughput and comprehensive exploration of the functions of a single neuron or a subset of neurons in a complex neural network on a particular behavior. To realize this, we combined optogenetics and Brainbow technologies. Using these technologies, we established aC. eleganslibrary where opsin is labeled in a randomized pattern. Behavioral analysis on this library under light illumination enabled high-throughput annotation of neurons affecting target behaviors. We applied this approach to the egg-laying behavior ofC. elegansand succeeded in high-throughput confirmation that hermaphrodite-specific neurons play an important role in the egg-laying behavior. This cellomics approach will lead to the accumulation of neurophysiological and behavioral data of theC. elegansneural network, which is necessary for constructing neuroanatomically grounded models of behavior.
How asbestos drives the tissue towards tumors: YAP activation, macrophage and mesothelial precursor recruitment, RNA editing and somatic mutations
Authors: Rehrauer Hubert , Wu Licun , Blum Walter , Pecze Lazslo , Henzi Thomas , Serre-Beinier Véronique , Aquino Catherine , Vrugt Bart , de Perrot Marc , Schwaller Beat , Felley-Bosco Emanuela
Published: September 2017

Chronic exposure to intraperitoneal asbestos triggered a marked response in the mesothelium well before tumor development. Macrophages, mesothelial precursor cells, cytokines and growth factors accumulated in the peritoneal lavage. Transcriptome profiling revealed YAP/TAZ activation in inflamed mesothelium with further activation in tumors, paralleled by increased levels of cells with nuclear YAP/TAZ.Arg1was one of the highest upregulated genes in inflamed tissue and tumor. Inflamed tissue showed increased levels of single nucleotide variations, with an RNA-editing signature, which were even higher in the tumor samples. Subcutaneous injection of asbestos-treated, but tumor-free mice with syngeneic mesothelioma tumor cells resulted in a significantly higher incidence of tumor growth when compared to naïve mice supporting the role of the environment in tumor progression.

Highlights

Asbestos increases levels of cytokines and growth factors in mesothelium environment

Recruitment of macrophages and mesothelial precursor cells prior to tumor development

YAP/TAZ signaling upregulated in pre-neoplastic tissues and cancer

Increased RNA-editing and somatic mutations as early steps in tumor development
Unsupervised learning of DNA sequence features using a convolutional restricted Boltzmann machine
Authors: Kopp Wolfgang , Schulte-Sasse Roman
Published: September 2017

Transcription factors (TFs) are important contributors to gene regulation. They specifically bind to short DNA stretches known as transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), which are contained in regulatory regions (e.g. promoters), and thereby influence a target gene’s expression level. Computational biology has contributed substantially to understanding regulatory regions by developing numerous tools, including for discoveringde novomotif. While those tools primarily focus on determining and studying TFBSs, the surrounding sequence context is often given less attention. In this paper, we attempt to fill this gap by adopting a so-calledconvolutional restricted Boltzmann machine(cRBM) that captures redundant features from the DNA sequences. The model uses an unsupervised learning approach to derive a rich, yet interpretable, description of the entire sequence context. We evaluated the cRBM on a range of publicly available ChIP-seq peak regions and investigated its capability to summarize heterogeneous sets of regulatory sequences in comparison with MEME-Chip, a popular motif discovery tool. In summary, our method yields a considerably more accurate description of the sequence composition than MEME-Chip, providing both a summary of strong TF motifs as well as subtle low-complexity features.
The statistical nature of geometric reasoning
Authors: Hart Yuval , Dillon Moira R. , Marantan Andrew , Cardenas Anna L. , Spelke Elizabeth , Mahadevan L.
Published: September 2017

Geometric reasoning has an inherent dissonance: its abstract axioms and propositions refer to infinitesimal points and infinite straight lines while our perception of the physical world deals with fuzzy dots and curved stripes. How we use these disparate mechanisms to make geometric judgments remains unresolved. Here, we deploy a classically used cognitive geometric task - planar triangle completion - to study the statistics of errors in the location of the missing vertex. Our results show that the mean location has an error proportional to the side of the triangle, the standard deviation is sub-linearly dependent on the side length, and has a negative skewness. These scale-dependent responses directly contradict the conclusions of recent cognitive studies that innate Euclidean rules drive our geometric judgments. To explain our observations, we turn to a perceptual basis for geometric reasoning that balances the competing effects of local smoothness and global orientation of extrapolated trajectories. The resulting mathematical framework captures our observations and further predicts the statistics of the missing angle in a second triangle completion task. To go beyond purely perceptual geometric tasks, we carry out a categorical version of triangle completion that asks about the change in the missing angle after a change in triangle shape. The observed responses show a systematic scale-dependent discrepancy at odds with rule-based Euclidean reasoning, but one that is completely consistent with our framework. All together, our findings point to the use of statistical dynamic models of the noisy perceived physical world, rather than on the abstract rules of Euclid in determining how we reason geometrically.
Detection and accurate False Discovery Rate control of differentially methylated regions from Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing
Authors: Korthauer Keegan D. , Chakraborty Sutirtha , Benjamini Yuval , Irizarry Rafael A.
Published: September 2017

With recent advances in sequencing technology, it is now feasible to measure DNA methylation at tens of millions of sites across the entire genome. In most applications, biologists are interested in detecting differentially methylated regions, composed of multiple sites with differing methylation levels among populations. However, current computational approaches for detecting such regions do not provide accurate statistical inference. A major challenge in reporting uncertainty is that a genome-wide scan is involved in detecting these regions, which needs to be accounted for. A further challenge is that sample sizes are limited due to the costs associated with the technology. We have developed a new approach that overcomes these challenges and assesses uncertainty for differentially methylated regions in a rigorous manner. Region-level statistics are obtained by fitting a generalized least squares (GLS) regression model with a nested autoregressive correlated error structure for the effect of interest on transformed methylation proportions. We develop an inferential approach, based on a pooled null distribution, that can be implemented even when as few as two samples per population are available. Here we demonstrate the advantages of our method using both experimental data and Monte Carlo simulation. We find that the new method improves the specificity and sensitivity of list of regions and accurately controls the False Discovery Rate (FDR).
Spectrophotometric Analysis of Ethanol and Glucose Concentrations in Yeast Culture Media
Authors: Caudy Amy A.
Published: September 2017

Fermentative growth on glucose is one of the most widely studied conditions of yeast growth in the laboratory. The production of ethanol from sugars is relevant to the wine, beer, and bread industries and to production of biofuels. Assaying the levels of glucose and ethanol in yeast growth medium allows the experimenter to determine the consumption of the carbon source glucose and the production of ethanol. This protocol describes enzyme-coupled assays for determination of glucose and ethanol concentrations in a sample of cell-free culture medium. Enzymes convert glucose or ethanol into other compounds through chemical reactions that reduce NAD(P)+ to NAD(P)H, and the production of NAD(P)H is measured using a spectrophotometer. The methods presented are highly sensitive, with a detection limit of ∼0.4 mg/L of glucose and 50 mg/L of ethanol, and also have the advantage of high specificity. For example, glucose and fructose have identical chemical formulas and thus cannot be distinguished by a mass spectrometer, but the enzyme assay presented here is specific for glucose. The glucose assay can be coupled to other assays to determine the quantity of additional carbohydrates such as fructose, trehalose, and glycogen.
A Simple Method to Induce Meiosis and Sporulation Semisynchronously in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Yamashita Akira , Sakuno Takeshi , Watanabe Yoshinori , Yamamoto Masayuki
Published: September 2017

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells initiate a sexual differentiation program, which comprises meiosis and spore formation, on nitrogen starvation. This protocol describes a simple procedure to induce meiosis and sporulation semisynchronously in heterozygous diploid S. pombe cells. The procedure is appropriate for a variety of applications, including fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and northern and western blotting. Zygotic meiosis can also be induced by the same procedure, although less synchronously.
Preparation of Genomic DNA from Mouse Tails and Other Small Samples
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: September 2017

This protocol is used for extracting DNA from fragments of tissue for genotyping transgenic and knockout mice. Digestions of mouse tail fragments are performed overnight at 55°C. Each tail snippet generates 50–100 µg of DNA that can be used in dot or slot blotting to detect a transgene of interest, in Southern hybridization to detect DNA fragments that are <20 kb in size, and, more expediently, as a template in polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
Isolation, Propagation, and Differentiation of Radial Glia-Like Neural Progenitor Cells in Adherent Cultures
Authors: Varga Balazs , Nagy Andras
Published: September 2017

This protocol describes the isolation of radial glia-like neural progenitors (RGLs) from embryonic and adult mouse brain. Their propagation as an adherent monolayer is greatly supported by use of the AK-cyclo(RGDfC) adhesive peptide-conjugate that allows the application of fully defined culture conditions in which epidermal growth factor (EGF) represents the only growth factor supplement. RGL cells maintained that way can be efficiently differentiated into the three major CNS cell types: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Charge-transport properties of 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)aniline salicylaldehyde hydrazone: tight-packing induced molecular `hardening'
Authors: Ma Huipeng , Chai Shuo , Chen Dengyi , Huang Jin-Dou
Published: September 2017

Based on first-principles calculations, the relationship between molecular packing and charge-transport parameters has been investigated and analysed in detail. It is found that the crystal packing forces in the flexible organic molecule 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)aniline salicylaldehyde hydrazone (A) can apparently overcome the dynamic intramolecular rotations and the intramolecular steric repulsion, effectively enhancing the molecular rigidity and decreasing the internal reorganization energy. The conducting properties ofAhave also been simulated within the framework of hopping models, and the calculation results show that the intrinsic electron mobility inAis much higher than the corresponding intrinsic hole mobility. These theoretical investigations provide guidance for the efficient and targeted control of the molecular packing and charge-transport properties of organic small-molecule semiconductors and conjugated polymeric materials.
Single-particle cryo-EM using alignment by classification (ABC): the structure ofLumbricus terrestrishaemoglobin
Authors: Afanasyev Pavel , Seer-Linnemayr Charlotte , Ravelli Raimond B. G. , Matadeen Rishi , De Carlo Sacha , Alewijnse Bart , Portugal Rodrigo V. , Pannu Navraj S. , Schatz Michael , van Heel Marin
Published: September 2017

Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can now yield near-atomic resolution structures of biological complexes. However, the reference-based alignment algorithms commonly used in cryo-EM suffer from reference bias, limiting their applicability (also known as the `Einstein from random noise' problem). Low-dose cryo-EM therefore requires robust and objective approaches to reveal the structural information contained in the extremely noisy data, especially when dealing with small structures. A reference-free pipeline is presented for obtaining near-atomic resolution three-dimensional reconstructions from heterogeneous (`four-dimensional') cryo-EM data sets. The methodologies integrated in this pipeline includea posterioricamera correction, movie-based full-data-set contrast transfer function determination, movie-alignment algorithms, (Fourier-space) multivariate statistical data compression and unsupervised classification, `random-startup' three-dimensional reconstructions, four-dimensional structural refinements and Fourier shell correlation criteria for evaluating anisotropic resolution. The procedures exclusively use information emerging from the data set itself, without external `starting models'. Euler-angle assignments are performed by angular reconstitution rather than by the inherently slower projection-matching approaches. The comprehensive `ABC-4D' pipeline is based on the two-dimensional reference-free `alignment by classification' (ABC) approach, where similar images in similar orientations are grouped by unsupervised classification. Some fundamental differences between X-ray crystallographyversussingle-particle cryo-EM data collection and data processing are discussed. The structure of the giant haemoglobin fromLumbricus terrestrisat a global resolution of ∼3.8 Å is presented as an example of the use of the ABC-4D procedure.
Crystallographic features of the martensitic transformation and their impact on variant organization in the intermetallic compound Ni50Mn38Sb12studied by SEM/EBSD
Authors: Zhang Chunyang , Zhang Yudong , Esling Claude , Zhao Xiang , Zuo Liang
Published: September 2017

The mechanical and magnetic properties of Ni–Mn–Sb intermetallic compounds are closely related to the martensitic transformation and martensite variant organization. However, studies of these issues are very limited. Thus, a thorough crystallographic investigation of the martensitic transformation orientation relationship (OR), the transformation deformation and their impact on the variant organization of an Ni50Mn38Sb12alloy using scanning electron microscopy/electron backscatter diffraction (SEM/EBSD) was conducted in this work. It is shown that the martensite variants are hierarchically organized into plates, each possessing four distinct twin-related variants, and the plates into plate colonies, each containing four distinct plates delimited by compatible and incompatible plate interfaces. Such a characteristic organization is produced by the martensitic transformation. It is revealed that the transformation obeys the Pitsch relation ({0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}A// {2{\overline 2}{\overline 1}}Mand 〈0{\overline 1}1〉A// 〈{\overline 1}{\overline 2}2〉M; the subscripts A and M refer to austenite and martensite, respectively). The type I twinning planeK1of the intra-plate variants and the compatible plate interface plane correspond to the respective orientation relationship planes {0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}Aand {0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}Aof austenite. The three {0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}Aplanes possessed by each pair of compatible plates, one corresponding to the compatible plate interface and the other two to the variants in the two plates, are interrelated by 60° and belong to a single 〈11{\overline 1}〉Aaxis zone. The {0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}Aplanes representing the two pairs of compatible plates in each plate colony belong to two 〈11{\overline 1}〉Aaxis zones having one {0{\overline 1}{\overline 1}}Aplane in common. This common plane defines the compatible plate interfaces of the two pairs of plates. The transformation strains to form the variants in the compatible plates are compatible and demonstrate an edge-to-edge character. Thus, such plates should nucleate and grow simultaneously. On the other hand, the strains to form the variants in the incompatible plates are incompatible, so they nucleate and grow separately until they meet during the transformation. The results of the present work provide comprehensive information on the martensitic transformation of Ni–Mn–Sb intermetallic compounds and its impact on martensite variant organization.
Production, crystallization and structure determination of a mycobacterial glucosylglycerate hydrolase
Authors: Cereija Tatiana Barros , Alarico Susana , Empadinhas Nuno , Pereira Pedro José Barbosa
Published: September 2017

Glucosylglycerate hydrolase is highly conserved among rapidly growing mycobacteria and has been found to be involved in recovery from nitrogen starvation by promoting the rapid mobilization of the glucosylglycerate that accumulates under these conditions. Here, the production, crystallization and structure determination of glucosylglycerate hydrolase fromMycobacterium hassiacumusing two-wavelength anomalous diffraction of selenomethionine-substituted crystals are described. The monoclinic (space groupP21) crystals diffracted to ∼2.0 Å resolution at a synchrotron-radiation source and contained four molecules in the asymmetric unit, corresponding to a Matthews coefficient of 3.07 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 59.9%. The quality of the experimental phases allowed the automated building of 1677 of the 1792 residues in the asymmetric unit.
Real-time detection and resolution of atom bumping in crystallographic models
Authors: Liu Yu
Published: September 2017

A basic principle in crystal structure determination is that there should be proper distances between adjacent atoms. Therefore, detection of atom bumping is of fundamental significance in structure determination, especially in the direct-space method where crystallographic models are just randomly generated. Presented in this article is an algorithm that detects atom bonding in a unit cell based on the sweep and prune algorithm of axis-aligned bounding boxes and running in theO(n log n) time bound, wherenis the total number of atoms in the unit cell. This algorithm only needs the positions of individual atoms in the unit cell and does not require any prior knowledge of existing bonds, and is thus suitable for modelling of inorganic crystals where the bonding relations are often unknowna priori. With this algorithm, computation routines requiring bonding information,e.g.anti-bumping and computation of coordination numbers and valences, can be performed efficiently. As an example application, an evaluation function for atom bumping is proposed, which can be used for real-time elimination of crystallographic models with unreasonably short bonds during the procedure of global optimization in the direct-space method.
A revision of Hofstede’s model of national culture: old evidence and new data from 56 countries
Authors: Minkov Michael
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Hofstede’s model of national culture has enjoyed enormous popularity but rests partly on faith. It has never been fully replicated and its predictive properties have been challenged. The purpose of this paper is to provide a test of the model’s coherence and utility.

Design/methodology/approach

Analyses of secondary data, including the World Values Survey, and a new survey across 56 countries represented by nearly 53,000 probabilistically selected respondents.

Findings

Improved operationalizations of individualism-collectivism (IDV-COLL) suggest it is a robust dimension of national culture. A modern IDV-COLL index supersedes Hofstede’s 50 year-old original one. Power distance (PD) seems to be a logical facet of IDV-COLL, rather than an independent dimension. Uncertainty avoidance (UA) lacks internal reliability. Approval of restrictive societal rules and laws is a facet of COLL and is not associated with national anxiety or neuroticism. UA is not a predictor of any of its presumed main correlates: importance of job security, preference for a safe job, trust, racism and xenophobia, subjective well-being, innovation, and economic freedom. The dimension of masculinity-femininity (MAS-FEM) lacks coherence. MAS and FEM job goals and broader values are correlated positively, not negatively, and are not related to the MAS-FEM index. MAS-FEM is not a predictor of any of its presumed main correlates: achievement and competition orientation, help and compassion, preference for a workplace with likeable people, work orientation, religiousness, gender egalitarianism, foreign aid. After a radical reconceptualization and a new operationalization, the so-called “fifth dimension” (CWD or long-term orientation) becomes more coherent and useful. The new version, called flexibility-monumentalism (FLX-MON), explains the cultural differences between East Asian Confucian societies at one extreme and Latin America plus Africa at the other, and is the best predictor of national differences in educational achievement.

Research limitations/implications

Differences between subsidiaries of a multinational company, such as IBM around 1970, are not necessarily a good source of knowledge about broad cultural differences. A model of national culture must be validated across a large number of countries from all continents and its predictions should withstand various plausible controls. Much of Hofstede’s model (UA, MAS-FEM) fails this test while the remaining part (IDV-COLL, PD, LTO) needs a serious revision.

Practical implications

Consultancies and business schools still teach Hofstede’s model uncritically. They need to be aware of its deficiencies.

Originality/value

As UA and MAS-FEM are apparently misleading artifacts of Hofstede’s IBM data set, a thorough revision of Hofstede’s model is proposed, reducing it to two dimensions: IDV-COLL and FLX-MON.
The bright side of social categorization
Authors: Harush Raveh , Lisak Alon , Glikson Ella
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Using social categorization perspective, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of global identity, perceived proximity, and team interdependence on relational conflict in multicultural distributed teams.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 317 MBA students in 83 multicultural distributed project teams. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap methods were used to test the study model.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the indirect effect of global identity on relational conflict, through the pathway of perceived proximity, is moderated by team interdependence. More specifically, global identity leads to higher perceived proximity and lower relational conflict levels under low, rather than high, interdependence levels.

Research limitations/implications

The particular study context (multicultural distributed MBA student project teams) may limit the extent of the generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings presented here can help practitioners in global organizations to defuse relational conflicts in multicultural distributed teams by embracing a global cultural approach and relying on shared global identity in team building, personnel selection, and development. Additionally, managers should be conscientious when they use the practice of facilitating interdependence between team members and assess the need for other interventions.

Originality/value

This study advances multicultural distributed team research by highlighting the role of global identity in reducing relational conflict, identifying the mediation mechanism of perceived proximity, and the boundary conditions of team interdependence levels under which this attenuation effect prevails.
Learning lab on disaster risk management for sustainable development (DRM-SD)
Authors: Ahmad Shabudin Ahmad Firdaus , Syed Azhar Sharifah Nurlaili Farhana , Ng Theam Foo
Published: September 2017

Purpose

A series of “learning lab” projects on disaster risk management for sustainable development (DRM-SD) have been accomplished from 2014 to 2016 in Malaysia, Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia by the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies. The project is designed for professionals from the disaster risk management field to encourage integration of sustainable development (SD) concerns into the larger planning framework for DRM. As a case study for capacity building (CB) evaluation, the central purpose of this study is to explore the approaches, feedbacks and implications of the DRM-SD CB project that have been developed and carried out.

Design/methodology/approach

Three methods have been used which are participation observations, surveys and document analysis. The results show that the project had successfully applied seven different tools to enhance analytical skills and professional knowledge of development practitioners in specific areas of DRM-SD.

Findings

Based on the survey, the project received positive response and valuable information from participants for future project development. Regarding the perspective of outcomes, the result indicates that south–south, ASEAN regional and triangular cooperation and role of higher education in DRM-SD are significant impacts from this project which can bring several benefits and should be promoted as an approach for the DRM-CB project as a whole.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this study will serve as a transfer learning initiative to provide approach guidelines and innovative mechanisms for DRM practitioners who will have the know-how and potential for leadership in DRM-SD.
Antecedents of low carbon emissions supply chains
Authors: Luo Zongwei , Gunasekaran Angappa , Dubey Rameshwar , Childe Stephen J. , Papadopoulos Thanos
Published: September 2017

Purpose

A low-carbon economy is the pressing need of the hour. Despite several efforts taken by the government and large corporations, there is still research to be conducted exploring the role of top management commitment in translating external pressures into responses that help to build low-carbon emissions in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have grounded their framework in institutional theory, agency theory and contingency theory. On the basis of existing literature, four hypotheses were drawn. To test these hypotheses, a questionnaire was developed and pre-tested. Finally, statistical analyses were performed to test the research hypotheses using 176 samples gathered using a pre-tested questionnaire following Dillman’s (2007) total design test method.

Findings

The results suggest that coercive pressures and mimetic pressures under the mediating effect of top management commitment have a significant influence on organizational response to low-carbon emissions. The authors further note that supply base complexity has moderating effects on the link between top management commitment and organizational response towards low-carbon emissions.

Originality/value

This study offers valuable insights to those managers and environmental consultants who view supply base complexity as a limitation. However, the results indicate that supply base complexity may help to enhance the effectiveness of the top management commitment on organizational response towards low-carbon emissions.
Supporting a 1:1 program with a student technology team
Authors: Peterson Lana , Scharber Cassandra
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the practice of using student technology teams (STTs) offered at a high school within a 1:1 district.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative case study (Merriam, 1998, 2009) documents how an STT program functioned in 2015-2016 academic year.

Findings

Findings show the STT provided a rich and authentic learning opportunity for students interested in information technology. The district benefits greatly through both cost savings and personnel support related to its 1:1 initiative.

Originality/value

As there is no current research on K-12 STTs, this study serves as a foundation for a practice that is growing within schools.
The effect of cross-cultural training on expatriates’ adjustment
Authors: Okpara John O. , Kabongo Jean D.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

One of the most important issues multinational corporations (MNCs) face in their global operations is expatriate failure. It is estimated that between 10 and 80 percent of expatriates sent on overseas assignments return home early. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of cross-cultural training (CCT) on different facets of expatriate managers’ adjustment in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 212 western expatriate managers working in Nigeria was surveyed. Respondents were selected from four cities where they had been working for at least one year.

Findings

The main finding of this study was that expatriates’ adjustment could be predicted from different types of CCT. The findings of this research confirm the view expressed by researchers over the last two decades that both conventional and specific experimental CCT have positive effect on the facets of cross-cultural adjustment.

Research limitations/implications

Given that the authors did not collect their data over time, the cross-sectional nature of the design limits them from making definitive causal statements. In the future, more resources and efforts could be applied to safeguard larger samples of respondents, thus potentially resulting in better statistical power. A longitudinal approach could be used; such an approach may have generated a richer data source, where different patterns of adjustment could have been identified and compared over time. Data for the study were collected through questionnaire, thus any observed relations might be due in part to common method effects. Since the data were collected from four cities, there may be some concern as to the generalizability of the findings to expatriates working in other cities in Nigeria.

Practical implications

MNCs should pay more attention to CCT and management development. Ineffective CCT and management development have an adverse impact on MNCs’ effectiveness. Developing CCT programs could add value to corporations and employees especially employees who are destined for foreign assignments. In addition, developing CCT for expatriates’ spouses and children would facilitate adjustment process and may reduce failure rate.

Originality/value

Once corroborated by further studies, this exploratory research may contribute to the understanding of the adjustment of western expatriates in Nigeria. Few, if any, prior studies, have examined CCT and expatriate adjustment in Nigeria.
Unpacking the combined effects of job scope and supervisor support on in-role performance
Authors: Mushtaq Rabia , Raja Usman , Khan Mohammad Bashir
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the relationship between job scope and in-role performance is contingent upon the level of social support (i.e. supervisor support) received in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 640 questionnaires were distributed to employees of Pakistani companies, yielding 328 useable responses for analysis. Regression analysis was used to test for both hypotheses.

Findings

The results support the role of supervisor support as a moderator in the relationship between in-role performance, a dimension of job performance and job scope. The findings show that a higher job scope would facilitate higher job performance from employees who receive high levels of supervisor support.

Practical implications

The results provide useful insights for managers and consultants, especially HR professionals involved in job design and redesign. Organizations that encourage high levels of social support can help employees improve their job performance as they foster an environment where employees can get direct assistance and advice from their supervisors.

Originality/value

This paper makes three key contributions to the literature on job design. First, this inquiry shows that a strong link does exist between job scope and job performance; previous studies have failed to find a strong relationship. Second, it highlights how social context, especially in highly challenging work settings, can shape employees’ proficiencies and behaviors. Third, this paper offers a novel perspective in job design research by incorporating a contextual moderator (i.e. supervisor support).
Does team orientation matter? Linking work engagement and relational psychological contract with performance
Authors: Rahman Ubaid Ur , Rehman Ch. Abdul , Imran M. Kashif , Aslam Usman
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The cultural transformation introduces team orientation as a powerful tool to reconfigure the human capital to become more productive. The purpose of this paper is to try to uncover two folds: first is to check the direct effects of employees’ work engagement and rational psychological contract on contextual performance and job satisfaction and second is to investigate the moderating effect of team orientation in-between above-stated relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The self-administrated questionnaires and simple random sampling are used to collect data from 380 employees of banking and insurance sector.

Findings

The findings reveal that work engagement and relational psychological contract have positive relationships with employees’ contextual performance and job satisfaction. Furthermore, the presence of team orientation has strengthened effect on direct existing relationships.

Practical implications

This study adds the body of knowledge by providing insights into team orientation in different avenues. For practice side, it is important to discourse the work engagement of employee and their relational psychological contract to enhance the contextual performance. Moreover, high work engagement leads to high commitment level and ultimately increases the level of job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The contemporary research is lacking with respect to the empirical investigation of team orientation, more particularly, in relationship to human psychology factors. This unique model is addressing the real time issue by providing insights to relational psychological contract, employees work engagement, contextual performance and job satisfaction.
De/motivations in housing microfinance delivery in Ghana
Authors: Bondinuba Francis K. , Hedidor Devine , Opoku Alex , Teye Alfred L.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the de/motivation variables in the delivery of housing microfinance (HMF) in the low-income housing market in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relied on a survey of 125 respondents of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to understand the interactions and effects of these variables on HMF delivery in Ghana. Descriptive and bivariate statistical methods were used to analyse the data.

Findings

The findings revealed that both internal and external variables motivate MFIs to engage in the low-income housing market. These variables are: MFIs desire for expansion, the potential size of the low-income housing market, the market potential for MFIs growth, the availability of local resources, unique features and products of the market, low-income housing offering an opportunity for leveraging resources and the preference for homeownership than rental among individuals in the low-income segment of the population. However, variables such as capital lock-up in HMF delivery, high-interest rates in the country, high cost and land prices, high cost and price of building materials, lack of sufficient collaterals and the different interest rates required on HMF loans also served as demotivation in the low-income housing market in Ghana.

Research limitations/implications

The paper findings are limited in context to Ghana.

Practical implications

The paper, although limited to Ghana, contributes to the much-needed body of knowledge on low-income housing finance in developing countries.

Originality/value

The paper is the first of its kind in using empirical data to explore the motivational and demotivational variables in the delivery of HMF in a developing country context such as Ghana.
A commentary on pop up shops in the UK
Authors: Jones Peter , Comfort Daphne , Hillier David
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the origins and nature of the pop up retail phenomenon, examine the development and characteristics of pop up shops within the UK and offer some reflections on the impact of pop up shops within the UK’s town and city centres and on the role of pop up shops within the wider retail economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a brief review of the pop up retail phenomenon and this is followed by an examination of the development and characteristics of pop up shops in the UK. The information on which the paper is based is drawn from the corporate websites of pop up shop operators and property management companies and agencies.

Findings

The paper reveals that pop up shops have been developed in a variety of formats and locations within the UK and a number of factors driving pop up shop development are identified including high retail vacancy rates in shopping centres, relaxations in planning regulations, the opportunity for retailers and entrepreneurs to market test products and brands and changes in customer behaviour and consumer culture. Looking to the future pop up shops may make but a small physical contribution to increasing the number of retail units on the High Street but by enhancing the experiential environment for consumers, they may make an important contribution to the quality of shopping.

Originality/value

The paper provides an accessible review of the origins, development and possible impact of pop up shops within the UK and as such will interest property professionals, academics and students interested in changes in the retail environment.
Proximal nail plate destruction in subungual melanoma could be a possible predictor of invasiveness thicker than 1.25 mm
Authors: Kim Jun Young , Kim Moon‐Bum , Park Byung Cheol , Chung Kee Yang , Kim You Chan , Yun Sook Jung , Won Chong Hyun , Han Man‐Hoon , Lee Won Kee , Lee Seok‐Jong
Published: September 2017

Various patterns of nail plate destruction are common features in subungual melanoma (SUM), but there has been no reports regarding their clinical significance according to the pattern of nail plate destruction in terms of tumor thickness. We tried to find a relationship between dermal invasion of SUM and proximal nail plate destruction (PNPD). Clinical information of patients with SUM was reviewed retrospectively from seven dermatology training hospitals in Korea. The PNPD was defined as a visible loss of full thickness of nail plate touching the eponychium at the most proximal part of it. We evaluated whether there are correlations between patients' age, sex, location of SUM, Breslow thickness (BT) and the presence of PNPD. Among 93 patients with SUM, 36 (38.7%) showed PNPD. Sex and BT showed significant correlations with the presence of PNPD in univariate analysis (P < 0.05). BT, age and sex showed significant correlations with the presence of PNPD in multivariate analysis (P < 0.05). Among them, BT showed the strongest correlation with the presence of PNPD (area under the curve, 0.722) and the cut‐off value was 1.25 mm. In conclusion, we suggest that PNPD in SUM could be a possible predictor of invasiveness of more than 1.25 mm BT.
Measuring Economic Change in the Illawarra, New South Wales: An Integrated Framework
Authors: Masouman Ashkan , Harvie Charles
Published: September 2017

Merging input–output (IO) and econometric (EC) models has gained increased attention in regional science literature because it combines the dynamic characteristics of time series with the detailed intersectoral disaggregation of IO to model the time path of the economy. It provides more accuracy in representing economic structure and structural shifts within an economy. This article applies IO analysis and integrated IO–EC modelling to analyse the Illawarra economy. The integrated framework is found to be superior based on its forecasting abilities and impact analysis accuracy. It is applied to forecast the effects of BlueScope Steel shutdown in the Illawarra.
An Introduction to Data Cleaning Using Internet Search Data
Authors: Greenwood‐Nimmo Matthew , Shields Kalvinder
Published: September 2017

This article considers the issue of data cleaning. We use state‐level data on internet search activity in the United States to illustrate several common data cleaning tasks, including frequency conversion and data scaling as well as methods for handling sampling uncertainty and accommodating structural breaks and outliers. We emphasise that data cleaning relies on informed judgement and so it is important to maintain transparency through careful documentation of data cleaning procedures.