bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and corporate social responsibility disclosure
Authors: Musallam Sami R.M.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in Palestine.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes a panel data of 31 Palestinian listed companies from 2010 to 2016. It also utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) model.

Findings

The results of SEM model find a significant positive relationship of the existence of risk management, audit committee meeting and audit committee size with CSR disclosure. However, audit committee financial expertise has a significant negative relationship with CSR disclosure. The results also find a significant relationship of audit committee meeting and audit committee financial expertise with CSR disclosure through the existence of risk management.

Practical implications

This study is important to policymakers, accounting professionals and shareholders on the extent to which audit committee related to such committee efficiency in monitoring CSR disclosure.

Social implications

This study adds to the existing literature by investigating the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and CSR disclosure in Palestine as one of the youngest market in region that assists to test the validity of agency theory in a young and small emerging market context.

Originality/value

It is the first study to investigate the direct and indirect effect of the existence of risk management on the relationship between audit committee and CSR disclosure in Palestine.
Enterprise risk management in the bus market of the city of São Paulo
Authors: Federico Neto Paschoal , Santos Ricardo Fernandes , Oliva Fábio Lotti
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the identification, evaluation and treatment of risks, as well as the appetite and corporate maturity in relation to enterprise risk management in the urban bus market of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study was formulated in two stages: the first one includes an interview with a bus market specialist and the second stage comprehends eight interviews with executives from bus chassis and coachwork manufacturers and bus fleet operators of this market.

Findings

The results show that larger companies tend to manage their risks in a more structured way when compared with smaller ones, although there are some exceptions. The most critical risks evaluated concerns to the political type followed by the economic/financial, strategic, environmental, social, operational, technological, image and ethical types; and the risk appetites are generally consistent with the risks criticality level.

Practical implications

This case study of an important sector in the economy can be emblematic for the adoption of good practices of risk management by managers.

Originality/value

Risk appetites are generally consistent with criticality and the main forms of treatment are to reduce, share and follow, linked to participation in representative associations.
The impact of Big Data analytics and data security practices on service supply chain performance
Authors: Fernando Yudi , Chidambaram Ramanathan R.M. , Wahyuni-TD Ika Sari
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of Big Data analytics, data security and service supply chain innovation capabilities on services supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the relational view of resource-based theory to propose a theoretical model. The data were collected through survey of 145 service firms.

Findings

The results of this study found that the Big Data analytics has a positive and significant relationship with a firm’s ability to manage data security and a positive impact on service supply chain innovation capabilities and service supply chain performance. This study also found that most service firms participating in this study used Big Data analytics to execute existing algorithms faster with larger data sets.

Practical implications

A main recommendation of this study is that service firms empower a chief data officer to establish the data needed and design the governance of data in the company to eliminate any security issues. Data security was a concern if a firm did not have ample data governance and protection as the information was shared among members of service supply chain networks.

Originality/value

Big Data analytics are a useful technology tool to forecast market preference based on open source, structured and unstructured data.
Business process model patterns: state-of-the-art, research classification and taxonomy
Authors: Fellmann Michael , Koschmider Agnes , Laue Ralf , Schoknecht Andreas , Vetter Arthur
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Patterns have proven to be useful for documenting general reusable solutions to a commonly occurring problem. In recent years, several different business process management (BPM)-related patterns have been published. Despite the large number of publications on this subject, there is no work that provides a comprehensive overview and categorization of the published business process model patterns. The purpose of this paper is to close this gap by providing a taxonomy of patterns as well as a classification of 89 research works.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed 280 research articles following a structured iterative procedure inspired by the method for taxonomy development from Nickerson et al. (2013). Using deductive and inductive reasoning processes embedded in concurrent as well as joint research activities, the authors created a taxonomy of patterns as well as a classification of 89 research works.

Findings

In general, the findings extend the current understanding of BPM patterns. The authors identify pattern categories that are highly populated with research works as well as categories that have received far less attention such as risk and security, the ecological perspective and process architecture. Further, the analysis shows that there is not yet an overarching pattern language for business process model patterns. The insights can be used as starting point for developing such a pattern language.

Originality/value

Up to now, no comprehensive pattern taxonomy and research classification exists. The taxonomy and classification are useful for searching pattern works which is also supported by an accompanying website complementing the work. In regard to future research and publications on patterns, the authors derive recommendations regarding the content and structure of pattern publications.
How organizations learn: models uncovering the black box
Authors: Sharma Shubham , Lenka Usha
Published: November 2018

Purpose

As contemporary organizations’ focus shifts from knowledge orientation to learning orientation, this paper aims to articulate the need for models that describe the learning process in organizations. Simply assuming that organizations learn without any support of tangible framework or models highlights this need. The paper presents limitations of two prevalent themes of organizational learning, i.e. learning by adapting to environmental disturbances and learning from organizational members.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review on organizational learning, studies that depict the mechanism of organizational learning were selected. These were grouped into two categories: one that focuses on how organizations learn from its environment and other on how organization learn from its members.

Findings

This paper suggests the need for developing models and frameworks that eloquently describe the learning process in organizations. The literature focuses on organizational learning from individuals and adapting to the environment. Organizations tend to attribute the cause of failure to environmental shocks. Then, instead of the environment being a source of learning, it becomes a cause of failure. If individuals are agents of organization through which the latter learns, how this tacit knowledge becomes institutionalized in organizational memory is unknown.

Originality/value

This paper is a retrospective view on organizational learning. It attempts to question the black box of organizational learning, i.e. how the learning of individuals is transferred to organizational memory, or simply put, how the organizational learning mechanism works. There is a dearth of studies that address this question, and it has been simply assumed that somehow organizations do learn, but how?
Naturo products – sales and distribution management
Authors: Krishnamurthy Rajeshwari
Published: November 2018

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: understand the factors that go into the assessment of a distributor performance; understand the criteria that may be useful to distributors while choosing distributorship of a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company; understand the various parameters that define a distributor performance; and understand the critical aspects that sales force consider while staying with an organization on the long term.

Case overview/synopsis

This case is about how a FMCG Company in India – Patanjali Products is handling its sales and distribution management strategies. The FMCG segment in India is very competitive and is dominated by big multi- national players such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble as well as other Indian players such as Marico, Dabur, Cavinkare and Himalaya herbal. This industry is characterized by frequent product launches and the trade/ distributors play a key role in providing reach and visibility to the end users. Patanjali Products is a relative new entrant but has rapidly found success in this category. Through a product range that is positioned on “naturalness”, the company has achieved a turnover of US$735m in a span of six years. The case is written from the perspective of Anil Gupta, one of the distributors of the company. He is currently faced with the challenge of evaluating whether he should continue with the distributorship or go back to his old company Himalaya herbal. With this background, the case intends to elaborate on the specific aspects of distributor management and sales management. Some key questions discussed in the case are as follows: What are the aspects that determine the performance of a distributor? What are the parameters that a distributor needs to take into account while selecting a company? How does one calculate the financial return on investment for a FMCG distributor business? What are the elements that contribute to sales force loyalty?

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate and Post Graduate students of management Sales workshops Corporate training on sales management Particularly it can be taught under the course “Sales and Distribution Management”. The other courses where it can be a part of are: Retail Management, FMCG Sales and Marketing, Channel Management

Supplementary materials

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

Subject code

Marketing
Towards developing an adaptive time stepping for compressible unsteady flows
Authors: Kalkote Nikhil , Assam Ashwani , Eswaran Vinayak
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve unsteady compressible Navier–Stokes equations without the commonly used dual-time loop. The authors would like to use an adaptive time-stepping (ATS)-based local error control instead of CFL-based time-stepping technique. Also, an all-speed flow algorithm is implemented with simple low dissipation AUSM convective scheme, which can be computed without preconditioning which in general destroys the time accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

In transient flow computations, the time-step is generally determined from the CFL condition. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the usefulness of ATS based on local time-stepping previously used extensively in ordinary differential equations (ODE) integration. This method is implemented in an implicit framework to ensure the numerical domain of dependence always contains the physical domain of dependence.

Findings

In this paper, the authors limit their focus to capture the unsteady physics for three cases: Sod’s shock-tube problem, Stokes’ second problem and a circular cylinder. The use of ATS with local truncation error control enables the solver to use the maximum allowable time-step, for the prescribed tolerance of error. The algorithm is also capable of converging very rapidly to the steady state (if there is any) after the initial transient phase. The authors present here only the first-order time-stepping scheme. An algorithmic comparison is made between the proposed adaptive time-stepping method and the commonly used dual time-stepping approach that indicates the former will be more efficient.

Originality/value

The original method of ATS based on local error control is used extensively in ODE integration, whereas, this method is not so popular in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) community. In this paper, the authors investigate its use in the unsteady CFD computations. The authors hope that it would provide CFD researchers with an algorithm based on an adaptive time-stepping approach for unsteady calculations.
Effect of thickness and thermal conductivity of metal foams filled in a vertical channel – a numerical study
Authors: Kotresha Banjara , Gnanasekaran N.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss about the two-dimensional numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transfer through high thermal conductivity metal foams filled in a vertical channel using the commercial software ANSYS FLUENT.

Design/methodology/approach

The Darcy Extended Forchheirmer model is considered for the metal foam region to evaluate the flow characteristics and the local thermal non-equilibrium heat transfer model is considered for the heat transfer analysis; thus the resulting problem becomes conjugate heat transfer.

Findings

Results obtained based on the present simulations are validated with the experimental results available in literature and the agreement was found to be good. Parametric studies reveal that the Nusselt number increases in the presence of porous medium with increasing thickness but the effect because of the change in thermal conductivity was found to be insignificant. The results of heat transfer for the metal foams filled in the vertical channel are compared with the clear channel in terms of Colburn j factor and performance factor.

Practical implications

This paper serves as the current relevance in electronic cooling so as to open up more parametric and optimization studies to develop new class of materials for the enhancement of heat transfer.

Originality/value

The novelty of the present study is to quantify the effect of metal foam thermal conductivity and thickness on the performance of heat transfer and hydrodynamics of the vertical channel for an inlet velocity range of 0.03-3 m/s.
Robust trajectory tracking control for parameter perturbation power cable mobile operation robot system
Authors: Jiang Wei , Yan Yu , Yu Lianqing , Li Hong Jun , Du Lizhen , Chen Wei
Published: November 2018

Purpose

In the high-altitude, high-voltage electromagnetic interference operation environment, due to the parameters perturbation for robot control model caused by uncertainties and disturbances, and with the poor effective of the conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control to parameters perturbation system, the mathematical model of power cable live operation robot joint PID closed-loop control system is established.

Design/methodology/approach

The corresponding joint motion robust PID control method is also proposed based on Kharitonov theory, the system robust stability conditions including the sufficient and necessary conditions are deduced and obtained and the solving process of robust PID control parameters stability region is provided.

Findings

Finally, the simulation research on robot joint motion PID control system is also launched in MATLAB environment based on Kharitonov theory. The results show that the conventional PID control obtains better control effect only to nominal model but is ineffective to parameter perturbation system, while robust PID obtains sound control effect to parameter perturbation system. Compared with H8 robust PID, the Kharitonov robust PID has better control effect which meet the system design requirements of joint motor quickly response, high tracking accuracy and sound stability. Finally, the validity and engineering practicability are verified by 220-kV living replacing damper operation experiment.

Originality/value

This paper has described the development of a damper replacement power cable live maintenance robot experimental prototype, which greatly improves operation efficiency and deals with the safety problem of operation in a high-voltage environment. A general manipulator motion control model of the power cable robot is established; the Kharitonov theory-based parameter perturbation robust motion control method of damper replacement robot is also obtained. Through the simulation comparison, it is verified that the Kharitonov control has more superiority for dealing with the parameter perturbation systems under the premise of ensuring the stability motion. The field experiment has further confirmed the engineering practicability.
Speed dating or marriage? Brazilian business fairs according to a sample of metal/mechanic companies
Authors: Locatelli Débora Regina Schneider , Silveira Marco Antonio Pinheiro da , Mourão Paulo
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on Brazilian business fairs primarily attended by metalworking companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative and exploratory approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews answered by exhibitor companies from two of the most relevant Brazilian states in this industrial sector: Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

Findings

The results recognize the four pillars of the interorganizational relationship developed among exhibitors at business fairs and launch serious implications for the effective development of business fairs as spaces of interorganizational relationship and of value creation.

Originality/value

This is the first study discussing the trade fairs of the Brazilian emerging industry related to the metal-mechanic sector of two of the most significant states in the country: Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
An investigation of magnet effect via overnight returns: the Malaysian case
Authors: Sifat Imtiaz , Mohamad Azhar , Hamid Zarinah
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Magnet effect entails a hypothesis in market microstructure entailing a systemic likelihood of prices being sucked toward the theoretical threshold. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of magnet effect in Bursa Malaysia via overnight returns.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the existence of magnet effect via overnight returns in Bursa Malaysia by utilizing historical daily price data from 1994 to 2017 by probabilistic regression approaches. The authors divide the study period into three distinct regimes based on regulatory limit mechanisms.

Findings

Based on demarcated regimes, the authors find evidence of magnet effect in Bursa Malaysia throughout all regimes, with a heightened magnitude detected between 2002 and 2013. Moreover, upper limit scenarios exhibit a greater propensity for magnet effect. The authors end the paper with implications of the findings for portfolio managers, intraday traders, and policymakers.

Originality/value

The research is the first of its kind in attempting to measure the magnet effect in Malaysia via overnight jumps.
Selective crowdsourcing with various type task: models and analysis
Authors: Gou Qinglong , Deng Fangdi , He Yanyan
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Selective crowdsourcing is an important type of crowdsourcing which has been popularly used in practice. However, because selective crowdsourcing uses a winner-takes-all mechanism, implying that the efforts of most participants except the final winner will be just in vain. The purpose of this paper is to explore why this costly mechanism can become a popularity during the past decade and which type of tasks can fit this mechanism well.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a game model between a sponsor and N participants. The sponsor is to determine its reward and the participants are to optimize their effort-spending strategy. In this model, each participant's ability is the private information, and thus, all roles in the system face incomplete information.

Findings

The results of this paper demonstrate the following: whether the sponsor can obtain a positive expected payoff are determined by the type of tasks, while the complex tasks with a strong learning effect is more suitable to selective crowdsourcing, as for the other two types of task, the sponsor cannot obtain a positive payoff, or can just gain a rather low payoff; besides the task type, the sponsor's efficiency in using the solutions and the public's marginal cost also influence the result that whether the sponsor can obtain a positive surplus from the winner-takes-all mechanism.

Originality/value

The model presented in this paper is innovative by containing the following characteristics. First, each participant's ability is private information, and thus, all roles in the system face incomplete information. Second, the winner-takes-all mechanism is used, implying that the sponsor's reward will be entirely given to the participant with the highest quality solution. Third, the sponsor's utility from the solutions, as well as the public's cost to complete the task, are both assumed as functions just satisfying general properties.
Sustainability knowledge and training: outcomes and firm performance
Authors: Birou Laura M. , Green Kenneth W. , Inman R. Anthony
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of sustainability training and knowledge on sustainable supply chain practices (SSCP) and the resulting impact on sustainable supply chain outcomes (SSCO) and firm performance. It also provides a valid and reliable measure of SSCO.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 129 manufacturing managers are analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation modeling methodology. Manufacturing managers provide data reflecting the degree to which their organizations improved sustainability training and knowledge, utilize SSCP, the degree to which SSCO result, and the subsequent operational performance (OPP) and environmental economic performance (EEP).

Findings

Organizational sustainability training and knowledge positively impacts SSCP, and the utilization of SSCP results in SSCO which favorably impact OPP and EEP.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to manufacturing organizations.

Practical implications

Practitioners are encouraged to improve organizational learning and training and are provided with a valid and reliable scale for measuring the outcomes of their sustainable practices. Combined with the work of others, this provides a framework for evaluating different aspects of sustainability with a firm.

Social implications

Improved green manufacturing practices improves the environment by eliminating all forms of waste and provides eco-friendly products and services.

Originality/value

A sustainable supply chain training and knowledge model is proposed and empirically assessed. The results of this investigation support the proposition that sustainability training and knowledge support the implementation of sustainability supply chain practices which, in turn, improve sustainability outcomes and operational and EEP.
Institutional aspects of competence-based integration of retired military officers into the civilian labour market
Authors: Tūtlys Vidmantas , Winterton Jonathan , Liesionienė Odeta
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight systemic factors of competence-based integration of retired military officers into the civilian labour market in terms of the perspective of the institutions and institutional settings of competence involved in the formation and deployment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 25 retired military officers in Lithuania.

Findings

The main institutional problems and challenges of the competence-based labour market integration of retired military officers involve are concentrated in the fields of deployment of skills in the military service, and as well as in the adjustment of acquired skills to the requirements of the civilian labour market.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the research is the absence of perspectives and attitudes of other stakeholders such as policy makers, employers and providers of education and training.

Practical implications

Research identified expectations of retired military officers concerning improvement of training and labour market integration services.

Originality/value

The paper is focused on the institutional aspects of competence-based labour market integration of the retired military officers from their perspective.
Quantifying accuracy of a concept laser metal additive machine through the NIST test artifact
Authors: Weaver Jason M. , Barton T.J. , Linn John , Jenkins Derrik , Miles Michael P. , Smith Robert
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a test artifact proposed by NIST to quantify the dimensional accuracy of a metal additive manufacturing process. Insights from this paper are given concerning both the performance of the machine, a concept laser Mlab cusing machine, and the applicability of the NIST test artifact in characterizing accuracy. Recommendations are given for improving the artifact and standardizing a process for evaluating dimensional accuracy across the additive manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Three builds of the NIST additive manufacturing test artifact were fabricated in 316 stainless steel on a concept laser Mlab cusing machine. The paper follows the procedure described by NIST for characterizing dimensional accuracy of the additive process. Features including pins, holes and staircase flats of various sizes were measured using an optical measurement system, a touch probe and a profilometer.

Findings

This paper describes the accuracy of printed features’ size and position on the test artifact, as well as surface finish on flat and inclined surfaces. Trends in variation of these dimensions are identified, along with possible root causes and remedies. This paper also describes several strengths and weaknesses in the design of the test artifact and the proposed measurement strategy, with recommendations on how to improve and standardize the process.

Originality/value

This paper reviews a previously proposed design and process for measuring the capabilities of additive manufacturing processes. It also suggests improvements that can be incorporated into future designs and standardized across the industry.
Environmental worldview beliefs and CSR advertising
Authors: Magee Robert G.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to show how environment-related worldview beliefs, in addition to specific persuasion knowledge, can influence how a consumer responds to ads about corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Two experiments manipulated ad copy and consumers’ persuasion knowledge to examine the effects of consumers’ environmental worldview beliefs on their judgments of a firm’s CSR reforestation project.

Findings

When an ad presented ambiguous information, both consumers’ persuasion knowledge and their environmental worldview influenced the attribution of the firm’s motives. When an ad presented environment-specific information, however, consumers’ worldview did not influence their attribution of motives. Attributions, in turn, predicted attitudes toward the ad and attitudes toward the brand and were associated with intentions for information-seeking and referral behavior.

Research limitations/implications

A consumer’s core beliefs can play an important role in understanding the application of persuasion knowledge, and the reinforcement-of-meaning principle expands the persuasion knowledge model’s explanatory power.

Practical implications

Marketing communications that involve social responsibility projects must take into account how core beliefs can influence the way consumers respond to projects.

Social implications

This research demonstrates the importance of worldview beliefs in communication that takes place in the public sphere.

Originality/value

The experiments’ results contribute to a more robust understanding of the persuasion knowledge model, particularly as it applies to CSR messages and introduces the reinforcement-of-meaning principle.
An Analysis of Value Capture Instruments
Authors: Abelson Peter
Published: November 2018

Value capture means capturing in some way the value of an investment in public infrastructure. Value capture methods include five forms of property‐related taxes: a tax on land value uplift, a broad‐based land tax, selective land tax, property taxes and transaction taxes. They may also include three forms of user charges: developer charges, consumer charges and sale of development rights. The paper assesses these options against three standard policy objectives of efficiency, equity and practicality. The paper finds that all three main forms of user charges meet these criteria. Special area land and property taxes may be appropriate in limited cases. Pure betterment taxes on land value uplift are rarely practical.
Prognosis of metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma over the last 30 years
Authors: Gnanasekaran Tharsiga , Low Hubert , Gupta Ruta , Gao Kan , Clark Jonathan
Published: November 2018

Background

Head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HNcSCC) is one of the most common malignancies in Australia and consequently it is important to know whether patient outcomes have improved with time.

Methods

All patients with metastatic HNcSCC treated with curative intent were identified from the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute database (1987–2016). Patients were grouped into 10‐year blocks from 1987, and disease‐specific survival (DSS) and overall survival were analysed. Estimated survivals were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression.

Results

Since 1987, there has been an increase in the proportion of elderly patients (>75 years, P = 0.006) and the rate of adverse prognostic features including median node size (P = 0.047) and number of involved nodes (P < 0.001). Whereas the rate of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and comprehensive neck dissection has decreased (P = 0.014 and P < 0.001, respectively). Despite this, 5‐year DSS improved over the last 30 years from 57% during 1987–1996 to 88% during 2007–2016 (P < 0.001). This was particularly evident in patients treated with surgery followed by RT (P = 0.001), patients with extracapsular spread or soft tissue deposits (P < 0.001) and in patients with a single positive node (DSS, P = 0.007). On multivariable analysis, DSS has improved over time (hazard ratio 0.466 per 10 years bracket, 95% confidence interval 0.324–0.672, P < 0.001) after adjusting for the effect of age, presence of extracapsular spread or soft tissue deposits and adjuvant RT.

Conclusion

Medical advances have enabled us to treat older patients and more advanced metastatic HNcSCC and their prognosis appears to have improved over the past 30 years.
Fifty years of Area: Taking stock, looking forward
Authors: Kraftl Peter , Datta Kavita , Bryant Robert , Nash Fiona
Published: November 2018

The year 2018 marks Area's 50th anniversary. The past 50 years have witnessed profound shifts in the nature of higher education, in research practices and priorities, and in academic publishing. In this Editorial, we look both to the journal's past and to its future. Firstly, we examine some significant publishing trends in Area between 1998−2018. Secondly, we use these data – and the occasion of the journal's 50th anniversary – to map out possible future priorities for the journal and, indeed, for geography as a discipline. Looking forward, our vision is for a renewed focus on multiple forms of collaboration, co‐production and the building of alliances as we seek to retain and sharpen our commitment to publishing cutting‐edge geographical research, and to hosting lively, provocative and generative debates about geography as a discipline.
MKP‐1 promotes anti‐inflammatory M(IL‐4/IL‐13) macrophage phenotype and mediates the anti‐inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids
Authors: Pemmari Antti , Paukkeri Erja‐Leena , Hämäläinen Mari , Leppänen Tiina , Korhonen Riku , Moilanen Eeva
Published: November 2018

Macrophage polarization refers to the ability of these cells to adopt different functional phenotypes according to their environment. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase‐1 (MKP‐1) is known to regulate the classical lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced pro‐inflammatory macrophage activation and the inflammatory response. Here, we investigated the effects of MKP‐1 on the anti‐inflammatory and healing‐promoting macrophage phenotype induced by cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐13 and examined the potential mediator role of MKP‐1 in glucocorticoid effects on the two macrophage phenotypes. In MKP‐1‐deficient macrophages treated with IL‐4 and IL‐13 to induce the anti‐inflammatory phenotype, the expression of phenotypic markers arginase 1, Ym‐1 and FGF2 was reduced as compared to wild‐type cells. In contrast, LPS‐induced expression of the pro‐inflammatory factors IL‐6 and iNOS was significantly higher in MKP‐1‐deficient macrophages. Dexamethasone suppressed the pro‐inflammatory phenotype and enhanced the anti‐inflammatory phenotype. Interestingly, both of these glucocorticoid effects were attenuated in macrophages from MKP‐1‐deficient mice. Accordingly, dexamethasone increased MKP‐1 expression in both LPS‐ and IL4+13‐treated wild‐type cells. In conclusion, the findings support MKP‐1 as an endogenous mechanism able to shift macrophage activation from the classical pro‐inflammatory state towards the anti‐inflammatory and healing‐promoting phenotype. In addition, MKP‐1 was found to mediate the anti‐inflammatory effects of dexamethasone in a dualistic manner: by suppressing the pro‐inflammatory macrophage activation and by enhancing the healing‐promoting macrophage phenotype.
Log-Ratio Lasso: Scalable, Sparse Estimation for Log-Ratio Models
Authors: Bates Stephen , Tibshirani Robert
Published: November 2018

Positive-valued signal data is common in the biological and medical sciences, due to the prevalence of mass spectrometry other imaging techniques. With such data, only the relative intensities of the raw measurements are meaningful. It is desirable to consider models consisting of the log-ratios of all pairs of the raw features, since log-ratios are the simplest meaningful derived features. In this case, however, the dimensionality of the predictor space becomes large, and computationally efficient estimation procedures are required. In this work, we introduce an embedding of the log-ratio parameter space into a space of much lower dimension and use this representation to develop an efficient penalized fitting procedure. This procedure serves as the foundation for a two-step fitting procedure that combines a convex filtering step with a second non-convex pruning step to yield highly sparse solutions. On a cancer proteomics data set, the proposed method fits a highly sparse model consisting of features of known biological relevance while greatly improving upon the predictive accuracy of less interpretable methods.
Maternal Parenting Stress, Child Exuberance, and Preschoolers’ Behavior Problems
Authors: Tsotsi Stella , Broekman Birit F.P. , Shek Lynette P. , Tan Kok Hian , Chong Yap Seng , Chen Helen , Meaney Michael J. , Rifkin‐Graboi Anne E.
Published: November 2018

This study investigated whether child exuberance, an aspect of temperament related to emotion regulation, moderates the well‐documented association between high parenting stress and increased risk for internalizing and externalizing problems during the preschool years. At 42 months of age child exuberance was observed in 256 children (47% girls) and maternal self‐reports on parenting stress were obtained. At 48 months internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed through reports from both parents. Indeed, higher maternal parenting stress increased the risk for internalizing problems, and this association was more pronounced among children with high levels of exuberance. Existent emotion regulation difficulties in highly exuberant children may further heighten the risk conveyed by an unfavorable caregiving environment for developing internalizing problems.
Temporal area approach for distributional data in biogeography
Authors: Dowding Elizabeth M. , Ebach Malte C. , Mavrodiev Evgeny V.
Published: November 2018

A structural approach to temporality in distributional data for use in palaeobiogeography is described herein. Pre‐established areas in the distributional data matrix are split temporally, allowing a single geographical space to have multiple iterations [e.g. Area A (Lower Devonian), Area A (Middle Devonian)]. The resulting temporal matrix will allow the representation and capture of any differing relationships through time. Designed primarily for Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) and biotic similarity analyses, this approach simply structures distributional data within a temporal partition, meaning that numerical methods can be used to assess relationships between areas to find a branching diagram. Created through the application of the temporal matrix to a given analysis, Temporal Area Approach (TAAp) is a structural approach that facilitates exploration of the data rather than being a hypothesis‐driven model following analysis. Understanding the behaviour of non‐phylogenetic palaeobiogeographical data and reducing the prevalence of temporal artefacts will lead to more robust area classifications.
Outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected recipients of heart transplants
Authors: Chen Chao , Wen Xuerong , Yadav Anju , Belviso Nicholas , Kogut Stephen , McCauley Jerry
Published: November 2018

Background

With the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), growing evidence has shown human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may no longer be an absolute contraindication for solid organ transplantation. This study compares outcomes of heart transplantations between HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative recipients using SRTR transplant registry data.

Methods

Patient survival, overall graft survival and death‐censored graft survival were compared between HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative recipients. Multivariate Cox regression and Cox regression with a disease risk score (DRS) methodology were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios among heart transplant recipients (HTRs).

Results

In total, 35 HTRs with HIV+ status were identified. No significant differences were found in patient survival (88% vs 77%; P = 0.1493), overall graft survival (85% vs 76%; P = 0.2758), and death‐censored graft survival (91% vs 91%; P = 0.9871) between HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative HTRs in 5‐year follow‐up. No significant differences were found after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions

This study supports the use of heart transplant procedures in selected HIV‐positive patients. This study suggests that HIV‐positive status is not a contraindication for life‐saving heart transplant as there were no differences in graft, patient survival.
Novel flavagline‐like compounds with potent Fli‐1 inhibitory activity suppress diverse types of leukemia
Authors: Song Jialei , Yuan Chunmao , Yang Jue , Liu Tangjingjun , Yao Yao , Xiao Xiao , Gajendran Babu , Xu Dahai , Li You‐Jun , Wang Chunlin , Liu Wuling , Wen Min , Spaner David , Filmus Jorge , Zacksenhaus Eldad , Zhang Yiguo , Hao Xiaojiang , Ben‐David Yaacov
Published: November 2018

E26 transformation‐specific (ETS) gene family contains a common DNA‐binding domain, the ETS domain, responsible for sequence‐specific DNA recognition on target promoters. The Fli‐1 oncogene, a member of ETS gene family, plays a critical role in hematopoiesis and is overexpressed in diverse hematological malignancies. This ETS transcription factor regulates genes controlling several hallmarks of cancer and thus represents an excellent target for cancer therapy. By screening compounds isolated from the medicinal plant Dysoxylum binectariferum in China, we identified two chemically related flavagline‐like compounds including 4′‐demethoxy‐3′,4′‐methylenedioxyrocaglaol and rocaglaol that strongly inhibited Fli‐1 transactivation ability. These compounds altered expression of Fli‐1 target genes including GATA1, EKLF, SHIP1, and BCL2. Consequently, the flavagline‐like compounds suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis, and promoted erythroid differentiation of leukemic cells in culture. These compounds also suppressed erythroleukemogenesis in vivo in a Fli‐1‐driven mouse model. Mechanistically, the compounds blocked c‐Raf‐MEK‐MAPK/ERK signaling, reduced phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), and inhibited Fli‐1 protein synthesis. Consistent with its high expression in myelomas, B‐cell lymphoma, and B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL), pharmacological inhibition of Fli‐1 by the flavagline‐like compounds or genetic knock‐down via shRNA significantly hindered proliferation of corresponding cell lines and patients’ samples. These results uncover a critical role of Fli‐1 in growth and survival of various hematological malignancies and point to flavagline‐like agents as lead compounds for the development of anti‐Fli‐1 drugs to treat leukemias/lymphomas overexpressing Fli‐1.
Secreted d‐aspartate oxidase functions in C. elegans reproduction and development
Authors: Saitoh Yasuaki , Katane Masumi , Miyamoto Tetsuya , Sekine Masae , Sakamoto Taro , Imai Hirotaka , Homma Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

d‐Aspartate oxidase (DDO) is a degradative enzyme that acts stereospecifically on free acidic D‐amino acids such as d‐aspartate and d‐glutamate. d‐Aspartate plays an important role in regulating neurotransmission, developmental processes, hormone secretion, and reproductive functions in mammals. In contrast, the physiological role of d‐glutamate in mammals remains unclear. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the enzyme responsible for in vivo metabolism of d‐glutamate is DDO‐3, one of the three DDO isoforms, which is also required for normal self‐fertility, hatching, and lifespan. In general, eukaryotic DDOs localize to subcellular peroxisomes in a peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1)‐dependent manner. However, DDO‐3 does not contain a PTS1, but instead has a putative N‐terminal signal peptide (SP). In this study, we found that DDO‐3 is a secreted DDO, the first such enzyme to be described in eukaryotes. In hermaphrodites, DDO‐3 was secreted from the proximal gonadal sheath cells in a SP‐dependent manner and transferred to the oocyte surface. In males, DDO‐3 was secreted from the seminal vesicle into the seminal fluid in a SP‐dependent manner during mating with hermaphrodites. In both sexes, DDO‐3 was secreted from the cells where it was produced into the body fluid and taken up by scavenger coelomocytes. Full‐length DDO‐3 transgene rescued all phenotypes elicited by the deletion of ddo‐3, whereas a DDO‐3 transgene lacking the putative SP did not. Together, these results indicate that secretion of DDO‐3 is essential for its physiological functions.
Inulin‐based emulsion‐filled gel as a fat replacer in prebiotic‐ and PUFA‐enriched dry fermented sausages
Authors: Glisic Marija , Baltic Milan , Glisic Milica , Trbovic Dejana , Jokanovic Marija , Parunovic Nenad , Dimitrijevic Mirjana , Suvajdzic Branko , Boskovic Marija , Vasilev Dragan
Published: November 2018

In order to produce fermented sausages with prebiotic fibre and improved fatty acid composition, 16% of pork back fat was replaced with inulin gelled suspension (I) and inulin linseed oil gelled emulsion (IO). Physico‐chemical analysis, fatty acid profiles, lipid oxidation, microbiological, textural, colour and sensory analysis were carried out. The fat content was lower in I (31.38%) and IO (35.36%) modified sausages compared to control (44.37%) (P < 0.05). IO sausages had lower SFA and MUFA and higher PUFA content with an improved n‐6/n‐3 ratio (2.23) (P < 0.05) and α‐linolenic acid increment (5.74 g per 100 g). Reformulation led to decrease in springiness, chewiness and hardness and increase in adhesiveness of the sausages. Modified sausages had lower L* and higher a* values, while b* values of I sausages did not differ compared to control sausages. Modified sausages were acceptable regarding all sensory attributes. Lipid oxidation parameters showed higher susceptibility to oxidation and lipolysis in IO sausages.
Improved function of bamboo shoot fibre by high‐speed shear dispersing combined with enzyme treatment
Authors: Yang Mo , Wu Liangru , Cao Chongjiang , Wang Suya , Zhang Dongmei
Published: November 2018

With the increase in global welfare, metabolic syndrome‐related diseases seriously disrupt our quality of life. Balanced diet with low calories, low glycaemic index, and high dietary fibre such as bamboo shoot fibre is needed. Functional properties of dietary fibre can be improved by processing methods. Therefore, we compared the effect of three processing methods (high‐speed shear dispersing, enzyme treatment and combined treatment) on the characteristics and functions of bamboo shoot fibres. Combined treatment resulted in high SDF content (10.15%), adsorption capacity of glucose (4.45–18.18 mmol g−1), nitrite ion (505.49 μg g−1 [pH 2.0]), and cholesterol (333.72 μg g−1 [pH 2.0]). FTIR revealed that hydroxyl groups, sugar methylene and benzene rings of aromatic compounds existed in the treated bamboo shoots. The particle size (D50) decreased from 383.90 to 30.65 μm. Honeycomb‐like structure was also observed through SEM. Thus, proper processing of bamboo shoot fibres can improve their functions as food ingredients.