bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does human primary motor cortex represent sequences of finger movements?
Authors: Yokoi Atsushi , Arbuckle Spencer A. , Diedrichsen Jörn
Published: June 2017

Human primary motor cortex (M1) is an essential structure for the production of dexterous hand movements. While distinct sub-populations of neurons are activated during single finger movements, it remains unknown whether M1 also represents sequences of multiple finger movements. Using novel multivariate fMRI analysis techniques, we show here that even after 5 days of intense practice there was little or no evidence for a true sequence representation in M1. Rather, the activity patterns for sequences in M1 could be explained by linear combination of patterns associated with the constituent individual finger movements, with the strongest weight on the finger making the first response of the sequence. These results suggest that M1 only represents single finger movements, but receives increased input at the start of a sequence. In contrast, the reliable differences between different sequences in premotor and parietal areas could not be explained by a strong weighting of the first finger, supporting the view that these regions exhibit a true representation of sequences.
The Application of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks to Ultrasound for Modelling of Dynamic States within Human Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Cunningham Ryan J. , Harding Peter J. , Loram Ian D.
Published: June 2017

This paper concerns the fully automatic directin vivomeasurement of active and passive dynamic skeletal muscle states using ultrasound imaging. Despite the long standing medical need (myopathies, neuropathies, pain, injury, ageing), currently technology (electromyography, dynamometry, shear wave imaging) provides no general, non-invasive method for online estimation of skeletal intramuscular states. Ultrasound provides a technology in which static and dynamic muscle states can be observed non-invasively, yet current computational image understanding approaches are inadequate. We propose a new approach in which deep learning methods are used for understanding the content of ultrasound images of muscle in terms of its measured state. Ultrasound data synchronized with electromyography of the calf muscles, with measures of joint torque/angle were recorded from 19 healthy participants (6 female, ages: 30 ± 7.7). A segmentation algorithm previously developed by our group was applied to extract a region of interest of the medial gastrocnemius. Then a deep convolutional neural network was trained to predict the measured states (joint angle/torque, electromyography) directly from the segmented images. Results revealed for the first time that active and passive muscle states can be measured directly from standard b-mode ultrasound images, accurately predicting for a held out test participant changes in the joint angle, electromyography, and torque with as little error as 0.022°, 0.0001V, 0.256Nm (root mean square error) respectively.
Antidiabetic “gliptins” affect biofilm formation byStreptococcus mutans
Authors: De Arpan , Pompilio Arianna , Francis Jenifer , Sutcliffe Iain C. , Black Gary W. , Lupidi Giulio , Petrelli Dezemona , Vitali Luca A.
Published: June 2017

Streptococcus mutans, a dental caries causing odontopathogen, produces X-prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase (Sm-XPDAP, encoded bypepX), a serine protease known to have a nutritional role. Considering the potential of proteases as therapeutic targets in pathogens, this study was primarily aimed at investigating the role of Sm-XPDAP in contributing to virulence-related traits. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP IV), an XPDAP analogous enzyme found in mammalian tissues, is a well known therapeutic target in Type II diabetes. Based on the hypothesis that gliptins, commonly used as anti-human-DPP IV drugs, may affect bacterial growth upon inhibition of Sm-XPDAP, we have determined theirex vivoantimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity towardsS. mutans. All three DPP IV drugs tested reduced biofilm formation as determined by crystal violet staining. To link the observed biofilm inhibition to the human-DPP IV analogue present inS. mutansUA159, apepXisogenic mutant was generated. In addition to reduced biofilm formation, CLSM studies of the biofilm formed by thepepXisogenic mutant showed these were comparable to those formed in the presence of saxagliptin, suggesting a probable role of this enzyme in biofilm formation byS. mutansUA159. The effects of bothpepXdeletion and DPP IV drugs on the proteome were studied using LC-MS/MS. Overall, this study highlights the potential of Sm-XPDAP as a novel anti-biofilm target and suggests a template molecule to synthesize lead compounds effective against this enzyme.
Gut microbiota in the burying beetle,Nicrophorus vespilloides, provide colonization resistance against larval bacterial pathogens
Authors: Wang Yin , Rozen Daniel E.
Published: June 2017

Carrion beetles,Nicrophorus vespilloides, are reared on decomposing vertebrate carrion where larvae are exposed to high-density populations of carcass-derived bacteria. We previously showed that larvae do not become colonized with these bacteria, but instead are colonized with the gut microbiome of their parents. These results suggested that bacteria in the beetle microbiome outcompete the carcass derived species for colonization of the larval gut. Here we test this hypothesis directly and quantify the fitness consequences of colonization of theNicrophoruslarval gut with different bacterial symbionts, including the insect pathogenSerratia marcescens. First, we show that beetles colonized by their endogenous microbiome produce significantly heavier broods than those colonized with carcass-bacteria. Next, we show that bacteria from the endogenous microbiome, includingProvidencia rettgeriandMorganella morganii, are better colonizers of the beetle gut and can outcompete non-endogenous species, includingS. marcescens and Escherichia coli, duringin vivocompetition. Finally, we find thatProvidenciaandMorganellaprovide beetles with colonization resistance againstSerratiaand thereby reduceSerratia-induced larval mortality during co-inoculation. Importantly, this effect is eliminated in larvae first colonized by Serratia, suggesting that while competition within the larval gut is strongly determined by priority effects, these effects are less important for Serratia-induced mortality. Our work supports the idea that bacterial gut symbionts provide direct benefits to Nicrophorus larvae by outcompeting potential bacterial pathogens. They further suggest that one benefit of parental care inNicrophorus vespilloidesis the social transmission of the microbiome from caring parents to their offspring.
ICM conversion to epiblast by FGF/ERK inhibition is limited in time and requires transcription and protein degradation
Authors: Bessonnard Sylvain , Coqueran Sabrina , Vandormael-Pournin Sandrine , Dufour Alexandre , Artus Jerome , Cohen-Tannoudji Michel
Published: June 2017

Inner cell Mass (ICM) specification into epiblast (Epi) and primitive endoderm (PrE) is an asynchronous and progressive process taking place between E3.0 to E3.75 under the control of the FGF/ERK signaling pathway. Here, we have analyzed in details the kinetics of specification and found that ICM cell responsiveness to the up and down regulation of FGF signaling activity are temporally distinct. We also showed that PrE progenitors are generated later than Epi progenitors. We further demonstrated that, during this late phase of specification, a 4 hours period of FGF/ERK inhibition prior E3.75 is sufficient to convert ICM cells into Epi. Finally, we showed that ICM conversion into Epi in response to inhibition during this short time window requires both transcription and proteasome degradation. Collectively, our data give new insights into the timing and mechanisms involved in the process of ICM specification.
Machine learning analysis identifiesDrosophila Grunge/Atrophinas an important learning and memory gene required for memory retention and social learning
Authors: Kacsoh Balint Z , Greene Casey S. , Bosco Giovanni
Published: June 2017

High throughput experiments are becoming increasingly common, and scientists must balance hypothesis driven experiments with genome wide data acquisition. We sought to predict novel genes involved in Drosophila learning and long-term memory from existing public high-throughput data. We performed an analysis using PILGRM, which analyzes public gene expression compendia using machine learning. We evaluated the top prediction alongside genes involved in learning and memory in IMP, an interface for functional relationship networks. We identifiedGrunge/Atrophin(Gug/Atro), a transcriptional repressor, histone deacetylase, as our top candidate. We find, through multiple, distinct assays, thatGughas an active role as a modulator of memory retention in the fly and its function is required in the adult mushroom body. Depletion ofGugspecifically in neurons of the adult mushroom body, after cell division and neuronal development is complete, suggests thatGugfunction is important for memory retention through regulation of neuronal activity, and not by altering neurodevelopment. Our study provides a previously uncharacterized role forGugas a possible regulator of neuronal plasticity at the interface of memory retention and memory extinction.
Assay to visualize specific protein oxidation reveals spatio-temporal regulation of SHP2
Authors: Tsutsumi Ryouhei , Harizanova Jana , Stockert Rabea , Schröder Katrin , Bastiaens Philippe I. H. , Neel Benjamin G.
Published: June 2017

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced transiently in response to cell stimuli, and function as second messengers that oxidize target proteins. Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are important ROS targets, whose oxidation results in rapid, reversible, catalytic inactivation. Despite increasing evidence for the importance of PTP oxidation in signal transduction, the cell biological details of ROS-catalyzed PTP inactivation have remained largely unclear, due to our inability to visualize PTP oxidation in cells. By combining proximity ligation assay (PLA) with chemical labeling of cysteine residues in the sulfenic acid state, we visualize oxidized Src homology 2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2). We find that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) evokes transient oxidation on or close to RAB5+/EEA1-endosomes. SHP2 oxidation requires NADPH oxidases (NOXs), and oxidized SHP2 co-localizes with PDGF receptor and NOX1/4. Our data demonstrate spatially and temporally limited protein oxidation within cells, and suggest that PDGF-dependent “redoxosomes,” contribute to proper signal transduction.
Crystal structure ofYersinia pestisvirulence factor YfeA reveals two polyspecific metal-binding sites
Authors: Radka Christopher D. , DeLucas Lawrence J. , Wilson Landon S. , Lawrenz Matthew B. , Perry Robert D. , Aller Stephen G.
Published: June 2017

Gram-negative bacteria use siderophores, outer membrane receptors, inner membrane transporters and substrate-binding proteins (SBPs) to transport transition metals through the periplasm. The SBPs share a similar protein fold that has undergone significant structural evolution to communicate with a variety of differentially regulated transporters in the cell. InYersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, YfeA (YPO2439, y1897), an SBP, is important for full virulence during mammalian infection. To better understand the role of YfeA in infection, crystal structures were determined under several environmental conditions with respect to transition-metal levels. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and anomalous X-ray scattering data show that YfeA is polyspecific and can alter its substrate specificity. In minimal-media experiments, YfeA crystals grown after iron supplementation showed a threefold increase in iron fluorescence emission over the iron fluorescence emission from YfeA crystals grown from nutrient-rich conditions, and YfeA crystals grown after manganese supplementation during overexpression showed a fivefold increase in manganese fluorescence emission over the manganese fluorescence emission from YfeA crystals grown from nutrient-rich conditions. In all experiments, the YfeA crystals produced the strongest fluorescence emission from zinc and could not be manipulated otherwise. Additionally, this report documents the discovery of a novel surface metal-binding site that prefers to chelate zinc but can also bind manganese. Flexibility across YfeA crystal forms in three loops and a helix near the buried metal-binding site suggest that a structural rearrangement is required for metal loading and unloading.
Probing the structural basis of oxygen binding in a cofactor-independent dioxygenase
Authors: Li Kunhua , Fielding Elisha N. , Condurso Heather L. , Bruner Steven D.
Published: June 2017

The enzyme DpgC is included in the small family of cofactor-independent dioxygenases. The chemistry of DpgC is uncommon as the protein binds and utilizes dioxygen without the aid of a metal or organic cofactor. Previous structural and biochemical studies identified the substrate-binding mode and the components of the active site that are important in the catalytic mechanism. In addition, the results delineated a putative binding pocket and migration pathway for the co-substrate dioxygen. Here, structural biology is utilized, along with site-directed mutagenesis, to probe the assigned dioxygen-binding pocket. The key residues implicated in dioxygen trafficking were studied to probe the process of binding, activation and chemistry. The results support the proposed chemistry and provide insight into the general mechanism of dioxygen binding and activation.
Ethyl 1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-4-carboxylate
Authors: Filali Baba Yassir , Kandri Rodi Youssef , Hayani Sonia , Jasinski Jerry P. , Kaur Manpreet , Essassi El Mokhtar
Published: June 2017

The title compound, C13H13NO3, lies on a mirror plane with an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond enclosing anS(6) ring. In the crystal, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into zigzag chains along thea-axis direction and π–π interactions, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.7003 (2) Å, involving the pyridine and benzene rings of the oxoquinoline ring system, pack the molecules into parallel layers.
1-[(1-Benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-1H-1,3-benzodiazole
Authors: Sahbi Azzeddine , Fichtali Ismail , Mague Joel T. , Ben-Tama Abdeslem , El Hadrami El Mestafa , Kandri Rodi Youssef
Published: June 2017

The title molecule, C17H15N5, adopts a Z-shaped conformation, with the benzyl and benzodiazole substituents disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the triazole ring. A three-dimensional network is generated in the crystal by a combination of C—H...N hydrogen bonds and C—H...π(ring) interactions.
Fabrication and surface treatment of fine copper lines for HDI printed circuit board with modified full-additive method
Authors: He Huirong , Chen Jida , Zhang Shengtao , Liao Minhui , Li Lingxing , He Wei , Chen Yuanming , Chen Shijin
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a modified full-additive method (MFAM) to fabricate fine copper lines for high density interconnection (HDI) printed circuit boards (PCBs). In addition, the surface of the fine copper lines is treated with a brown oxidation process to obtain good adhesion between the copper and the dielectric resin.

Design/methodology/approach

Fine copper lines fabricated by MFAM were observed to evaluate the undercut quality, in comparison to undercut quality of copper lines fabricated by the semi-additive method and the subtractive method. The effect of the thickness of the dry film on the quality of the copper plating was investigated to obtain the regular shape of fine lines. The fine copper lines treated with the brown oxidation process were also examined to generate a coarse surface microstructure to improve the adhesion between the copper and the dielectric resin. The cross section and surface of as-fabricated fine copper lines were characterized using an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope.

Findings

MFAM has the potential to fabricate high-performance fine copper lines for HDI PCBs. Undercut of as-fabricated fine copper lines could be prevented to meet the design requirement of impedance. In addition, fine copper lines exhibit enough adhesive force to laminate with dielectric resin after the brown oxidation process.

Originality/value

MFAM, with the advantages of high efficiency and being a facile process, is developed to fabricate high-quality fine copper lines for industrial HDI PCB manufacture.
The impact of workplace spirituality on organizational commitment
Authors: Djafri Fares , Noordin Kamaruzaman
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Despite extensive studies on predictors and antecedents of organizational commitment, empirical research studies on the impact of workplace spirituality on organizational commitment remain scarce. This study aims to examine the impact of the dimensions of workplace spirituality on agents’ organizational commitment in Islamic insurance (Takaful) industry in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a positivist research approach, comprising a quantitative basis of enquiry, and gathered data via survey questionnaires. In total, 600 questionnaires were distributed and finally 395 usable cases were selected for analysis. Pearson’s correlation and stepwise multiple regressions analyses were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings indicated that spirituality in the workplace has a positive and significant effect on organizational commitment. The relationship between each and every component of workplace spirituality and organizational commitment was found to be substantial, positive and significant. The study findings will enable Islamic insurance companies to understand the importance of spirituality in the workplace and will further improve their function and performance by way of enhancing employees’ spirituality in the workplace. This study suggests developing more spiritual training, workshops, lectures and seminars on spirituality at the workplace which will help employees of takaful operators and agencies cope effectively with life problems, reduce stress, boost loyalty and enhance organizational commitment.

Originality/value

This study raises awareness on the importance of spirituality in the workplace and investigates the influence of its components to enhance organizational commitment, which will ultimately contribute to improving and sustaining human well-being and organizational performance.
Maqashid Al-Shari’ah-based performance measurement for the halal industry
Authors: Rahman Faried Kurnia , Tareq Mohammad Ali , Yunanda Rochania Ayu , Mahdzir Akbariah
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The halal industry is one of the most growing industries in the world. It refers to the industry in line with Islamic principles and requirements. The emergence of this industry aims to fulfil the requirement of Islamic-compliant products and services. Surprisingly, the industry has been growing in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Assessing the performance of the industry will be notable for ensuring that it obtains its objectives. The proper performance measurement should highlight business perspectives and religious aspects. This study aims to explore the current issues and challenges in developing Maqashid Al-Shari’ah-based performance measurement in the halal industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative research using in-depth interviews, and uses content analysis to interpret and explain the interview result. Interviews were conducted with experts in Maqashid Al-Shari’ah and Islamic capital markets.

Findings

The existence of the concept of Maqashid Al-Shari’ah is to create maslahah for all human beings. The development of Maqashid Al-Shari’ah performance measurement for the business is very important. It has only been developed for Islamic financial industry. Unfortunately, it is found that the development of Maqashid Al-Shari’ah performance measurement has not been carried out comprehensively in non-financial industry. The main issue is the absence of the applicable measurements. Therefore, collective decision is required to develop the appropriate measurements.

Practical implications

There is a necessity for regulator to produce standards on Maqashid Al-Shari’ah-based performance measurement. The government policy plays an important role in the development and implementation of Maqashid Al-Shari’ah -based measurement index.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the issue of the development of Maqashid Al-Shari’ah -based performance measurement in halal business and commerce which has not much discussed in prior studies.
The health conscious restaurant consumer
Authors: Jin Naehyun (Paul) , Line Nathaniel Discepoli , Lee Sang-Mook
Published: June 2017

Purpose

As consumers have begun to incorporate health-related values into their purchase decisions, it has become increasingly important for marketers to understand how these belief systems affect the consumption experience. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to better understand the effects of health concern on consumption behavior in full-service restaurants.

Methodology

Data were collected from 512 restaurant consumers in the USA. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that for health-conscious consumers, the availability of healthy food significantly affects the evaluation of the consumption experience in terms of both cognitive and affective response mechanisms.

Research implications

This paper identifies the mediating effects of emotion, perceived value and restaurant quality in the relationship between health concern and behavioral intention. By establishing the respective roles of quality and value, the results contribute a more complete account of the existing model of personal values and behavior, as it pertains to restaurant patronage.

Practical implications

This paper identifies the salience of health concern as a determinant of consumer behavior. Because health concern affects so many different aspects of the healthy dining experience, the results suggest that restaurant marketers need to consider their position in the market for healthy food.

Originality/value

This paper contributes an account of the effects of health concern on the value and quality perceptions that determine, at least in part, the health-conscious consumer’s evaluation of a full-service restaurant experience.
Consumer skepticism towards CSR messages
Authors: Zhang Lu , Hanks Lydia
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the joint effect of three factors – processing fluency, the individuals’ need for cognition (NFC) and mood – on consumer skepticism toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) messages.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Study 1 uses a 2 (fluency: high versus low) × 2 (NFC: high versus low) design. In Study 2, a three-way interaction between fluency, NFC and mood was explored.

Findings

Individuals high in need for cognition responded more positively after reading a CSR message that is difficult to process. On the other hand, people low in NFC exhibited a higher level of skepticism toward CSR messages with low processing fluency. In addition, such an effect was moderated by mood. Positive mood (versus negative mood) increased dopamine levels, which further reduced skepticism.

Practical implications

Hospitality marketers should not simply assume that all consumers process information in the same fashion and, therefore, design their CSR message using the “one size fits all” strategy. It is critical for them to understand the importance of how to present the CSR messages to communicate with customers more effectively.

Originality/value

CSR has been increasingly used as a marketing tool by firms because of its positive effect on company reputation and customers’ purchase intentions. However, one of the greatest challenges corporate marketers are facing with regard to CSR programs is consumer skepticism. No prior research investigated the impact of processing fluency, individuals’ need for cognition and mood on consumer skepticism. This study fills this gap in the hospitality literature.
Modelling Chinese consumer choice behavior with budget accommodation services
Authors: Yang Song , Huang Songshan (Sam) , Shen Gang
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to identify key factors influencing Chinese domestic travelers’ behaviors in hotel selection from a pool of budget hotel attribute-based factors and customer personal characteristics and determine the extent to which these factors impact on domestic Chinese travelers’ hotel selection preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a discrete choice experimental design and a multinomial logit model to examine the key influential factors contributing to Chinese domestic travelers’ choice behavior to budget hotels. Both hotel attribute-based and personal trait factors were tested.

Findings

Results indicate that location, price and business functions were factors influencing guest choice behavior. For budget hotels, being located in the traditional central business districts and having a restaurant would leverage guest preference to stay. Among consumers’ personal characteristics, income, occupation, purpose of travel, personal attitude and past experience were found to be determinants of guest choice behavior.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the understanding of Chinese domestic travelers’ choice behaviors toward budget hotels and offers insights for industry practitioners to better design budget hotel products and service.

Originality/value

This research is the first that integrates hotel attributes with travelers’ characteristics and quantitatively evaluate the determinants affecting hotel choice behavior in China. The insights are of value academically to our understanding of cognitive mechanism underlying choice behavior.
Decomposing the structure of wages into firm and worker effects
Authors: Rebollo-Sanz Yolanda F.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that for some key topics on labour economics such as the effect of seniority and job mobility in wages, it is important to explicitly consider firm fixed effects. The author also wants to test whether the importance of firm in explaining wage dispersion is higher or lower in Spain than in other European countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The author estimates an individual wage equation where firm and workers effects are considered and the estimation process control for censored wages. This exercise is performed for the Spanish economy over the course of a whole business cycle, i.e., 2000-2015.

Findings

The author demonstrates that Spanish firms contribute to explain around 27 per cent of the individual wage heterogeneity but more importantly around 74 per cent of inter-industry wage differentials. In both cases, this contribution is mainly related to large dispersion in firm’s wage policies. The process of positive sorting of workers across firms or industries does not play an important role. Interestingly, the importance of firm’s wage policies in explaining individual wage dispersion has increased over the current Big Recession.

Practical implications

The results confirm that firms set wages and, henceforth, are partially responsible for individual wage heterogeneity but more importantly for inter-industrial wage dispersion.

Originality/value

The exercise is performed under optimal conditions because the author uses a longitudinal matched employer-employee data set, observed wages are at a monthly frequency, and implements an estimation method suitable for censored models with two high-dimensional fixed effects. This is the first study that looks deeply into the role of firms in explaining wage heterogeneity at the individual and industry level in Spain and along the current Big Recession.
Does interaction between TQM practices and knowledge management processes enhance the innovation performance?
Authors: Yusr Maha Mohammed , Mokhtar Sany Sanuri Mohd , Othman Abdul Rahim , Sulaiman Yaty
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of applying total quality management (TQM) on enhancing knowledge management processes. It also examine the relationship between knowledge management and innovation performance in the Malaysian manufacturing sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a survey method to test the formulated hypotheses. Therefore, the adopted questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect the needed data. The population of the study consisted of 800 big and medium manufacturing companies listed in Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (2012).

Findings

The results of this paper support a positive and significant impact of TQM practice on knowledge management processes. Furthermore, the relationship between knowledge management and innovation performance has been a proved. However, further analysis on dimension level indicates that knowledge acquisition failed to show significant relationship with innovation performance.

Originality/value

This study addresses one of the recent issues within the Malaysian context of becoming a developed nation, which is innovation performance, specifically for manufacturing companies. To do so, the overlapping relationships among TQM practices, knowledge management, and innovation performance have been tested.
Identification of challenges and their ranking in the implementation of cloud ERP
Authors: Gupta Shivam , Misra Subhas C. , Singh Akash , Kumar Vinod , Kumar Uma
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical challenges in the implementation of cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP). The challenges identified were customization, organizational change, long-term costs, business complexity, loss of information technology competencies, legal issues, integration, data extraction, monitoring, migration, security, network dependency, limited functionality, awareness, performance, integrity of provider, perception, and subscription costs. Here the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large organizations were differentiated with respect to the challenges identified. This paper also suggested ranked lists of challenges both for SMEs and large organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted and data of 93 respondents were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically test the data. Here the SMEs and large organizations were differentiated with respect to the challenges identified.

Findings

This study shows that SMEs and large organizations differ from each other for most of the challenges except business complexity, integration, monitoring, security, limited functionality, performance, and integrity of provider. Also from the ranked list of challenges in cloud ERP, security was the top concern for both SMEs and large organizations.

Originality/value

The findings may help organizations to get a broad idea about the challenges which are critical for the implementation of cloud ERP.
Determinants of Islamic banks’ profitability: international evidence
Authors: Alharbi Ahmad T.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the determinants of Islamic banks’ profitability using longitudinal data from 1992 to 2008 of almost all Islamic banks in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

An unbalanced panel data fixed-effects regression model was used.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that capital ratio, other operating income, GDP per capita, bank size, concentration and oil prices affected Islamic banks positively. Insurance schemes, foreign ownership and real GDP growth affected Islamic banks negatively.

Research limitations/implications

This study did not include data beyond 2008 (the financial crisis), which can be considered a limitation to this study. However, evidence suggests that including data beyond 2008 would not have changed the outcome of the study[1].

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on the determinants of Islamic banks’ profitability for the reasons mentioned above. In addition, this study used a purified sample of Islamic banks (see the Data section for details). Furthermore, to the author’s knowledge, this is the first time deposit insurance has been included in a study related to Islamic banks’ profitability.
Transformative HR practices and employee task performance in high-tech firms
Authors: Bodla Ali Ahmad , Ningyu Tang
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of perceived transformative human resource (HR) practices and employee task performance. Drawing on evidence-based approach, the transformative HR practices intend to transform employees’ behavior to cope with organizational change. This study intends to answer how does the perceived transformative HR practices influence employees’ behavioral capability to enhance their task performance. This investigation proposes that the perceived transformative HR practices positively affect employees task performance, however, employee adaptivity mediates the relationship between them.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a random sample of 224 employees, from a large high-tech company in China, to test the hypotheses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the perceived transformative HR practices in the context of a high-tech firm. The authors performed multiple linear regression analysis to examine the proposed model.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that the perceived transformative HR practices positively influence employee adaptivity and task performance. Furthermore, employee adaptivity mediates the relationship between the perceived transformative HR practices and employee task performance. Therefore, employee adaptivity illuminates and explains the underlying mechanism of how the perceived transformative HR practices lead to employee task performance.

Research limitations/implications

Data collected from single firm may limit the generalizability of the findings and cross-sectional research design may raise the concern of common method bias. Future studies should test and validate the operationalization of the perceived transformative HR practices in different research contexts and with larger sample size. Organizations should design and implement transformative HR practices to cope with change. Furthermore, organizational managers should encourage and facilitate employee adaptivity to achieve better performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to change management and the HR literature by identifying and operationalizing the perceived transformative HR practices as a predictor of employee adaptivity and task performance. Through the underlying mechanism of employee adaptivity between the perceived transformative HR practices and employee task performance, this study provides a new perspective to look at the HR-performance relationship in the change process.
How do firms tackle strategic change? A theoretical model of the choice between dynamic capability-based and ad hoc problem-solving approaches
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Karen Yuan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical account of how firms make choices between dynamic capability-based and ad hoc problem-solving approaches toward strategic change.

Design/methodology/approach

A model has been developed to answer the questions of how and under what conditions firms develop appropriate approaches to handle strategic change.

Findings

Drawing upon structural inertia theory (SIT) and the resource-based view (RBV), the model predicts that firms, regardless of their age and size, are more likely to adopt an ad hoc problem-solving approach to handle change in both highly dynamic and low-dynamic environments. However, in moderately dynamic environments, a dynamic capability-based approach may be more appropriate, depending on which theoretical logic (SIT or RBV) the decision is made.

Originality/value

The paper builds on the useful distinction made by Winter (2003) in terms of the ways to handle organizational change and extends the recent research on temporary vs sustainable competitive advantages to investigate how firms tackle strategic change within the contexts of both environmental dynamism and organizational attributes.
One goal, two paths
Authors: Wang Donghan , Guo Hai , Liu Lu
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the following question: how managerial ties impact firm business model innovation (BMI) in the context of transition economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a conceptual model that links managerial ties, organizational learning (explorative and exploitative learning), opportunity recognition and BMI together.

Findings

This study finds that managerial ties take effect through two paths: one direct path and one indirect path. First, managerial ties can impact BMI directly through exploitative and explorative learning. Second, managerial ties can impact BMI indirectly through explorative learning and opportunity recognition.

Practical implications

First, firm managers from transition economies should learn to reinvent their business models by taking full advantage of managerial ties. Second, firm managers should take appropriate actions to transfer managerial ties into BMI.

Originality/value

This study contributes to existing literature in two major ways. First, this study enriches literature on the antecedents to BMI from a social network perspective. Second, this study opens the “black box” between managerial ties and BMI in the context of transition economies.
A study of female Middle Eastern entrepreneurs: a resource-based view
Authors: Khizindar Tariq M. , Darley William K.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Using the resource-focused view of the firm as a theoretical backdrop, this study aims to examine the relationships between entrepreneurial perceptions and two dependent measures (i.e. customer satisfaction outcomes and firm performance). Specifically, the study tests the boundary conditions of the resource-based view (RBV) performance relationship in a Middle Eastern context.

Design/methodology/approach

The data from 171 female Saudi entrepreneurs are analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The research results revealed that marketing capability and financial capability (i.e. financial capital access) have a positive significant effect on both dependent measures. Labor shortage also has a negative significant effect on both dependent variables, whereas operations capability does not show a significant effect on the two dependent measures. To a large extent, the results show that the RBV holds true in the Saudi context.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the knowledge about the effects of specific human and financial capital, as well as illuminates how marketing capability, financial capital access and labor shortage impact these dependent variables in the unique context of Saudi Arabia among female entrepreneurs, thereby extending the knowledge of the RBV in different contexts. Furthermore, it extends knowledge of the entrepreneurship literature, especially in the area of gender-based entrepreneurship research in developing countries.
Changes in Hospital Inpatient Utilization Following Health Care Reform
Authors: Pickens Gary , Karaca Zeynal , Cutler Eli , Dworsky Michael , Eibner Christine , Moore Brian , Gibson Teresa , Iyer Sharat , Wong Herbert S.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To estimate the effects of 2014 Medicaid expansions on inpatient outcomes.

Data Sources

Health Care Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases, 2011–2014; population and unemployment estimates.

Study Design

Retrospective study estimating effects of Medicaid expansions using difference‐in‐differences regression. Outcomes included total admissions, referral‐sensitive surgical and preventable admissions, length of stay, cost, and patient illness severity.

Findings

In 2014 quarter four, compared with nonexpansion states, Medicaid admissions increased (28.5 percent, p = .006), and uninsured and private admissions decreased (–55.1 percent, p = .001, and –6.6 percent, p = .052), whereas all‐payer admissions showed little change. Uninsured expansion effects were negative for preventable admissions (−24.4 percent, p = .068), length of stay (–9.3 percent, p = .039), total cost (−9.2 percent, p = .128), and illness severity (−4.5 percent, p = .397). Significant positive expansion effects were found for Medicaid referral‐sensitive surgeries (11.8 percent, p = .021) and patient illness severity (2.3 percent, p = .015). Private and all‐payer expansion effects for outcomes other than admission volume were small and mainly nonsignificant (p > .05).

Conclusion

Medicaid expansions did not change all‐payer admission volumes, but they were associated with increased Medicaid and decreased uninsured volumes. Results suggest those previously uninsured with greater needs for inpatient services were most likely to gain coverage. Compositional changes in uninsured and Medicaid admissions may be due to selection.
Linguistic Complexity in Firm Disclosures: Obfuscation or Information?
Authors: BUSHEE BRIAN J. , GOW IAN D. , TAYLOR DANIEL J.
Published: June 2017

Prior research generally interprets complex language in firms’ disclosures as indicative of managerial obfuscation. However, complex language can also reflect the provision of complex information; for example, informative technical disclosure. As a consequence, linguistic complexity commingles two latent components—obfuscation and information—that are related to information asymmetry in opposite directions. We develop a novel empirical approach to estimate these two latent components within the context of quarterly earnings conference calls. We validate our estimates of these two latent components by examining their relation to information asymmetry. Consistent with our predictions, we find that our estimate of the information component is negatively associated with information asymmetry while our estimate of the obfuscation component is positively associated with information asymmetry. Our findings suggest that future research on linguistic complexity can construct more powerful tests by separately examining these two latent components of linguistic complexity.
Pre‐Dialysis Neutrophil‐Lymphocyte Ratio, a Novel and Strong Short‐Term Predictor of All‐Cause Mortality in Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy: Results From a Single‐Center Study
Authors: Sato Hiroyuki , Takeuchi Yoichi , Matsuda Ken , Kagaya Saeko , Saito Ayako , Fukami Hirotaka , Ojima Yoshie , Nagasawa Tasuku
Published: June 2017

Neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammatory marker affecting the prognosis of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. This study aimed to evaluate NLR levels predicting all‐cause mortality in ESRD patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), which have not been evaluated. We recruited 151 isolated DN patients who started hemodialysis between January 2009 and December 2014 at the Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital. The primary outcomes were 1‐ and 3‐year survival rates. The association between NLR and survival rate was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Patients with an NLR ≥ 3.5 had a significantly higher mortality rate than did those with an NLR < 3.5 (log rank P = 0.02). The area under the curve (AUC) of 1‐year survival for NLR was significantly larger than that for other commonly used nutritional and inflammatory variables. NLR was a more accurate predictor than other well‐known markers.
THE LANGUAGE OF STIGMATIZATION AND THE MARK OF VIOLENCE: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE ON THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF CRIMINAL RECORD STIGMA
Authors: DENVER MEGAN , PICKETT JUSTIN T. , BUSHWAY SHAWN D.
Published: June 2017

After years of stagnation, labeling theory has recently gained new empirical support. Simultaneously, new policy initiatives have attempted to restructure criminal record stigma to reduce reintegration barriers, and subsequent recidivism, driven by labeling. For example, in a recent Department of Justice (DOJ) language policy, person‐first terms (e.g., “person with a conviction”) were substituted for crime‐first terms (e.g., “offender”). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has also issued guidelines to structure how decision‐makers use criminal records. Unfortunately, little is currently known about the social construction and use of criminal record stigma or the potential effects of such policy changes. In the current study, we provide two unique empirical tests. In study 1, we examine the social construction of stigma by testing DOJ's language policy with experimental data from a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 996). In study 2, we use a separate nationwide experiment (N = 1,540) to examine how the contextualization of criminal records influences social exclusion decisions. Across both studies, we find consistent evidence of a “mark of violence.” The public perceives that individuals with violent convictions are the most likely to commit future crimes, and it is more supportive of excluding these individuals from employment. Crime‐first terms exacerbate perceived recidivism risk for individuals with violent convictions.
The roles of the diffusion‐weighted imaging in orbital masses
Authors: Phuttharak Warinthorn , Boonrod Arunnit , Patjanasoontorn Natnicha , Peansukwech Udomlack , Sawanyawisuth Kittisak
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Causes of orbital masses can be either benign or malignant. An MRI with diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) may be helpful to differentiate causes of orbital masses. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic properties of an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in orbital masses.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with orbital masses who underwent DWI and had histopathological results. Orbital lesions were categorized as benign or malignant and compared with respect to the ADC and ADC ratio. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the ADC and ADC ratio threshold.

Results

The mean age of all 42 patients in this study was 36.31 years (S.D. 22.12) and 26 of the patients were male (61.9%). The malignant orbital masses accounted for 43% (18 patients). The most common cell type was meningioma (10 patients; 23.8%). There was no statistical difference between the ADC values of benign and malignant tumours (1.18 vs 0.99 ×10−3 mm2/s; P‐value 0.200). The myxoid tumours had significantly higher ADC values than the non‐myxoid (1.58 vs 0.99; P‐value 0.008) tumours. Non‐metastatic non‐myxoid tumours also had significantly lower ADC values than metastatic non‐myxoid tumours (0.73 vs 1.32; P‐values 0.006). The ADC cut‐off point of greater than or equal to 0.95 × 10−3 mm2/s was given a sensitivity of 87.50% for myxoid orbital masses, while the cut‐off point of greater than or equal to 1.01 × 10−3 mm2/s was given a sensitivity of 80.00% for metastatic, non‐myxoid malignant orbital masses.

Conclusions

Benign and malignant orbital masses cannot be distinguished by using the ADC values. However, the ADC values were useful in differentiating between myxoid vs non‐myxoid orbital masses and metastatic non‐myxoid vs non‐metastatic non‐myxoid orbital masses.