bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B Virus Inhibits Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Release by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Autophagy
Authors: Hu Shengnan , Liu Xiaowen , Gao Ying , Zhou Rongfang , Wei Muyun , Yan Huili , Zhao Yueran
Published: May 2018

Neutrophils, an important component of the innate immune system, release extracellular traps (NETs) to eliminate invaded pathogens by trapping and killing microbes. A dysfunctional innate immune response is a major cause of persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV has been shown to reduce neutrophil responses. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether HBV influenced NETs release and to identify the underlying mechanisms. Primary neutrophils and circulating blood samples were collected from 40 patients with a chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and 40 healthy controls to detect NETs release using a Quant-iT Pico Green dsDNA assay and to determine the levels of HBV-DNA and HBV markers. NETs release was decreased in patients with a CHB infection, and hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B core antibody levels negatively correlated with NETs release. The Quant-iT Pico Green dsDNA assay and western blotting were used to examine the effect of HBV proteins (HBV X protein, HBV C protein, HBV E protein and HBV S protein) on NETs releasein vitro. Based on the flow cytometry and western blot data, HBV C protein and HBV E protein inhibited NETs release by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and autophagy. Overall, HBV may inhibit NETs release by modulating ROS production and autophagy to escape the immune system and promote the establishment of a chronic infection.
The RASSF6 tumor suppressor protein regulates apoptosis and the cell cycle progression via Retinoblastoma protein
Authors: Hossain Shakhawoat , Iwasa Hiroaki , Sarkar Aradhan , Maruyama Junichi , Arimoto-Matsuzaki Kyoko , Hata Yutaka
Published: May 2018

RASSF6 is a member of the tumor suppressor Ras-association domain family (RASSF) proteins. RASSF6 is frequently suppressed in human cancers and its low expression is associated with poor prognosis. RASSF6 regulates cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and plays a tumor suppressor role. Mechanistically, RASSF6 blocks MDM2-mediated p53 degradation and enhances p53 expression. However, RASSF6 also induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the p53-negative background, which implies that the tumor suppressor function of RASSF6 does not depend solely on p53. In this study, we have revealed that RASSF6 mediates cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via pRb. RASSF6 enhances the interaction between pRb and protein phosphatase. RASSF6 also enhances P16INK4A and P14ARF expression through suppressing BMI1. In this way, RASSF6 increases unphosphorylated pRb and augments the interaction between pRb and E2F1. Moreover, RASSF6 induces TP73-target genes via pRb and E2F1 in the p53-negative background. Finally, we confirmed that RASSF6 depletion induces polypoid cells in p53-negative HCT116 cells. In conclusion, RASSF6 behaves as a tumor suppressor in cancers with the loss-of-function of p53, and pRb is implicated in this function of RASSF6.
Attenuated beta rebound to proprioceptive afferent feedback in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Vinding Mikkel C. , Tsitsi Panagiota , Piitulainen Harri , Waldthaler Josefine , Jousmäki Veikko , Ingvar Martin , Svenningsson Per , Lundqvist Daniel
Published: May 2018

Motor symptoms are defining traits in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). A crucial component in motor function and control of movements is the integration of efferent signals from the motor network to the peripheral motor system, and afferent proprioceptive sensory feedback. Previous studies have indicated abnormal movement-related cortical oscillatory activity in PD, but the role of the proprioceptive afference on abnormal oscillatory activity in PD has not been elucidated. In the present study, we examine the role of proprioception by studying the cortical processing of proprioceptive stimulation in PD patients, ON/OFF levodopa medication, as compared to that of healthy controls (HC). We used a proprioceptive stimulator that generated precisely controlled passive movements of the index finger and measured the induced cortical oscillatory responses following the proprioceptive stimulation using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Both PD patients and HC showed a typical initial mu/beta-band (8–30 Hz) desynchronization during the passive movement. However, the subsequent beta rebound after the passive movement that was apparent in HC was much attenuated and almost absent in PD patients. Furthermore, we found no difference in the degree of beta rebound attenuation between patients ON and OFF levodopa medication. Our results hence demonstrate a disease-related deterioration in cortical processing of proprioceptive afference in PD, and further suggest that such disease-related loss of proprioceptive function is due to processes outside the dopaminergic system affected by levodopa medication.
Variation in expression of the HECT E3 ligase UPL3 modulates LEC2 levels, gene expression, seed size and crop yields in Brassica napus
Authors: Miller Charlotte , Wells Rachel , McKenzie Neil , Trick Martin , Ball Joshua , Fatihi Abdelhak , Debreuq Bertrand , Chardot Thierry , Lepiniec Loic , Bevan Michael W
Published: May 2018

Identifying genetic variation that increases crop yields is a primary objective in plant breeding. We have used association analyses of Brassica napus (oilseed rape/canola) accessions to identify variation in the expression of a HECT E3 ligase gene, BnaUPL3.C03, that influences seed size and final yield. We establish a mechanism in which UPL3 mediates the proteasomal degradation of LEC2, a master regulator of seed maturation. Reduced UPL3 expression increases LEC2 protein levels and prolongs expression of lipid biosynthetic genes and seed maturation. Natural variation in BnaUPL3.C03 expression has not yet been exploited in current Brassica napus breeding lines and can therefore be used as a new approach to maximize future yields in this important oil crop.
Fluorescence-detected XAS with sub-second time resolution reveals new details about the redox activity of Pt/CeO2 catalyst
Authors: Guda Alexander A. , Bugaev Aram L. , Kopelent Rene , Braglia Luca , Soldatov Alexander V. , Nachtegaal Maarten , Safonova Olga V. , Smolentsev Grigory
Published: May 2018

A setup for fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) with sub-second time resolution has been developed. This technique allows chemical speciation of low-concentrated materials embedded in highly absorbing matrices, which cannot be studied using transmission XAS. Using this setup, the reactivity of 1.5 wt% Pt/CeO2 catalyst was studied with 100 ms resolution during periodic cycling in CO- and oxygen-containing atmospheres in a plug-flow reactor. Measurements were performed at the Pt L
3- and Ce L
3-edges. The reactivity of platinum and cerium demonstrated a strong correlation. The oxidation of the catalyst starts on the ceria support helping the oxidation of platinum nanoparticles. The new time-resolved XAS setup can be applied to various systems, capable of reproducible cycling between different states triggered by gas atmosphere, light, temperature, etc. It opens up new perspectives for mechanistic studies on automotive catalysts, selective oxidation catalysts and photocatalysts.
Structure of russellite (Bi2WO6): origin of ferroelectricity and the effect of the stereoactive lone electron pair on the structure
Authors: Okudera Hiroki , Sakai Yuka , Yamagata Kentaro , Takeda Hiroaki
Published: May 2018

The structure of the low-temperature polar (orthorhombic) phase of russellite (Bi2WO6) was examined on artificial specimens with precise single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The final atomic arrangement thus obtained was identical to that reported by Knight [Miner. Mag. (1992), 56, 399–409] with powder neutron diffraction. The residual density attributable to a stereochemically-active lone pair of electrons of bismuth was prominent at approximately the centre of a larger cap of BiO8 square antiprisms, that is on the line from the Bi sites to an adjacent WO4
2− slab along the b-axis direction. Quite uneven Bi—O distances and the formation of a vacant coordination hemisphere (within 3 Å) should, therefore, be ascribed to the strong demand of bismuth to form shorter Bi—O bonds to use up its electrostatic charge within its coordination environment. The shift of bismuth along −c propagates via the correlated shift of the W site and these cooperative shifts cause ferroelectricity in the compound. This propagation was easily effected by the intrusion of molecules such as acetone into the structure.
Crystal structure analysis of a star-shaped triazine compound: a combination of single-crystal three-dimensional electron diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction
Authors: Gorelik Tatiana E. , van de Streek Jacco , Meier Herbert , Andernach Lars , Opatz Till
Published: May 2018

The solid-state structure of star-shaped 2,4,6-tris{(E)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)-phenyl]ethenyl}-1,3,5-triazine is determined from a powder sample by exploiting the respective strengths of single-crystal three-dimensional electron diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction data. The unit-cell parameters were determined from single crystal electron diffraction data. Using this information, the powder X-ray diffraction data were indexed, and the crystal structure was determined from the powder diffraction profile. The compound crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric space group,P212121. The molecular conformation in the crystal structure was used to calculate the molecular dipole moment of 3.22 Debye, which enables the material to show nonlinear optical effects.
A crystallographic and thermal study of pridinol mesylate and its monohydrated solvate
Authors: Gaztañaga Pablo , Baggio Ricardo , Vega Daniel Roberto
Published: May 2018

Herein are reported the crystal and molecular structures of the pridinol mesylate salt (C20H25NO+·CH3O3S−) (I) and its monohydrated solvate form (C20H25NO+·CH3O3S−·H2O) (II). A comparison of both with the already reported structure of pure pridinol [1,1-diphenyl-3-piperidino-1-propanol, C20H25NO; Tacke et al. (1980). Chem. Ber.
113, 1962–1980] is made. Molecular structures (I) and (II) are alike in bond distances and bond angles, but differ in their spatial conformation, and, more relevant still, in their hydrogen-bonding motifs. This gives rise to quite different packing schemes, in the form of simple dimers in (I) but water-mediated hydrogen-bonded chains in (II). The dehydration behaviour of form (II) is highly dependent on the heating rate, with slow rates leading to a clear endothermic dehydration step, towards anhydrous (I), with subsequent melting of this latter phase. Increased heating rates result in a more unclear behaviour ending in a structural collapse (melting of the hydrated phase), at temperatures significantly lower than the melting point of the anhydrous phase. The eventual relevance of the water link in the structure of (II) is discussed in regard to this behaviour.
Hydrophobic dipeptides: the final piece in the puzzle
Authors: Görbitz Carl Henrik
Published: May 2018

The crystal structure of L-valyl-L-leucine acetonitrile solvate presented here adds to 24 previously reported structures of dipeptides constructed from the five nonpolar amino acids L-alanine, L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine and L-phenylalanine. It thus constitutes the final piece in the 5 × 5 puzzle of hydrophobic dipeptide structures. This opportunity is taken to review the crystal packing arrangements and hydrogen-bonding preferences of a rather unique group of substances, with updated information on the various hydrogen-bonding patterns and the associated peptide conformations.
Electron diffraction data processing withDIALS
Authors: Clabbers Max T. B. , Gruene Tim , Parkhurst James M. , Abrahams Jan Pieter , Waterman David G.
Published: May 2018

Electron diffraction is a relatively novel alternative to X-ray crystallography for the structure determination of macromolecules from three-dimensional nanometre-sized crystals. The continuous-rotation method of data collection has been adapted for the electron microscope. However, there are important differences in geometry that must be considered for successful data integration. The wavelength of electrons in a TEM is typically around 40 times shorter than that of X-rays, implying a nearly flat Ewald sphere, and consequently low diffraction angles and a high effective sample-to-detector distance. Nevertheless, theDIALSsoftware package can, with specific adaptations, successfully process continuous-rotation electron diffraction data. Pathologies encountered specifically in electron diffraction make data integration more challenging. Errors can arise from instrumentation, such as beam drift or distorted diffraction patterns from lens imperfections. The diffraction geometry brings additional challenges such as strong correlation between lattice parameters and detector distance. These issues are compounded if calibration is incomplete, leading to uncertainty in experimental geometry, such as the effective detector distance and the rotation rate or direction. Dynamic scattering, absorption, radiation damage and incomplete wedges of data are additional factors that complicate data processing. Here, recent features ofDIALSas adapted to electron diffraction processing are shown, including diagnostics for problematic diffraction geometry refinement, refinement of a smoothly varying beam model and corrections for distorted diffraction images. These novel features, combined with the existing tools inDIALS, make data integration and refinement feasible for electron crystallography, even in difficult cases.
Identifying do’s and don’ts using the integrated business process management framework
Authors: Malinova Monika , Mendling Jan
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The authors observe that actionable guidelines are missing from many reference works on business process management (BPM). Also, success factors are mostly not contextualized in the different phases and concerns of a BPM initiative. The purpose of this paper is to address this research gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design builds on a literature survey for building an integrated framework for BPM that is referred to as integrated BPM. It integrates lifecycle phases, capability areas and governance aspects. Then, the authors consolidate insights from expert interviews.

Findings

As a result, the authors provide a list of various activities that are associated with the different elements of BPM. Furthermore, the authors describe pitfalls for each of the elements that have been avoided in order to make the BPM initiative a success.

Research limitations/implications

The findings emphasize the potential to study BPM success and its factors on a more fine-granular activity level.

Practical implications

The list of activities and the list of pitfalls are directly applicable for practitioners.

Originality/value

The research on the integrated BPM framework consolidates insights from prior research and extends it with an expert perspective on pitfalls.
Brand gender-bending
Authors: Azar Salim L. , Aimé Isabelle , Ulrich Isabelle
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Mixed-target brands with strong gender identities, whether it be feminine or masculine, are not always successful at targeting both men and women, particularly in symbolic product categories. While attempting to maximize their sales for both targets, managers often struggle to capitalize on a single brand, and they hesitate between different naming strategies. This paper aims to build on brand gender literature and understand these brands’ (i.e. brands targeting both men and women) potential to adopt an endorsed brand strategy rather than a branded house strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a before/after experimental design to examine the effect that introducing a gender-incongruent endorsed brand (i.e. feminine endorsed brand name of masculine master brands and masculine endorsed brand name of feminine master brands) can have on consumers’ brand attitude.

Findings

First, adopting an endorsed brand strategy increases the perceived brand femininity of masculine master brands, but there is no increase in feminine master brands’ perceived brand masculinity. Second, this strategy has a negative impact on consumer attitude toward the master brand, with a stronger negative effect for feminine master brands than for masculine master brands, which is mediated by the brand gender perception change. Third, a negative feedback effect on the brand’s gender-congruent users is revealed.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this work is that the focus is on one sole extrinsic brand characteristic (i.e. brand name) in our experimental design, which artificially influences the relative brand name importance for consumers. Moreover, the studies offered a short text to introduce the renaming. This may have made the respondents focus on the brand more than they would have in real-world conditions.

Practical implications

This research provides many insights for masculine or feminine mixed-target brands managers in symbolic product categories, as it shows that changing from a branded house strategy to an endorsed brand strategy appears to be unsuccessful in the short run, regardless of master brand’s gender. Moreover, the study reveals negative feedback effects on the attitude toward the initial master brand, following its renaming, in the short run.

Originality/value

This research provides a warning to managers trying to gender-bend their existing brands because it can lead to brand dilution. It also emphasizes the asymmetrical evaluation of masculine vs feminine master brands, as manipulating a brand’s perceived masculinity appears very difficult to do successfully.
High-performance teams and job involvement: exploring the linkage to augment quality in Indian education and research
Authors: Paul Happy , Bamel Umesh Kumar , Stokes Peter
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Indian higher education (HE) is arguably “in the doldrums.” Conformity to minimum standards and requirements combined with ever-eroding quality is the serious threats. Many researchers have suggested adopting a functional approach in universities and developing greater autonomy and accountability to improve the situation. The purpose of this paper is to deliberate on the introduction of an integrated way of making teachers more involved in their profession with the intention of enhancing the quality of education and research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper’s argument conceptualizes the possibilities of the Indian HE system benchmarking the concept of high-performance teams (HTPs) as practiced in the industry.

Findings

Taking the support from the extant literature, it is proposed that working in HTPs have the potential to elevate the involvement level of the faculty. Furthermore, it is suggested that through the implementation of HTPs in educational settings, teachers would also be able to develop their competencies in relation to research activities.

Originality/value

The model presented in the study has the potential to be empirically tested for its validity and reliability, which opens vistas for future research.
The influence of stadium environment on attendance intentions in spectator sport
Authors: Cho Heetae , Lee Hyun-Woo , Pyun Do Young
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of perceived environmental quality of the stadium on fans’ future intentions to attend a game by highlighting the moderating effect of team loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using latent moderated structural equations modeling, this study tested the direct impacts of stadium factors on consumers’ desire to stay and revisit intentions and the moderation effects of team loyalty based on Mehrabian and Russell’s environmental psychology behavioral model.

Findings

The results showed significant direct effects of team loyalty and desire to stay on revisit intentions. The stadium environment influenced desire to stay and revisit intentions only by the interactions with team loyalty. More specifically, higher loyalty led to higher desire to stay and revisit intentions, whereas fans’ positive experience of stadium environment intensified the effect.

Originality/value

The authors highlight the significant role of desire to stay on revisit intentions by incorporating the cognitive-affective system of human behavior. In addition, this study provides essential information for identifying the interaction effects of environmental factors and team loyalty on consumer behavior in sport settings.
Performance implication of market orientation and use of management accounting systems
Authors: Nguyen Nguyen Phong
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Drawing upon the resource-based view and the contingency theory, the purpose of this paper is to build and test a framework of: the interaction between market orientation (MO) and accountants’ participation in strategic decision making; and its subsequent effect on the use of management accounting systems (MASs), which, in turn, enhances firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were empirically tested using partial least square-structural equation modeling with survey data from 171 large business firms in Vietnam. The standardized root mean squared residual value of the composite model was also examined using SmartPLS3 to test the model fit. The marker-variable technique was employed to test common method bias.

Findings

This study has two key findings: first, the use of MAS (in terms of broad scope, timeliness, aggregation, and integration) mediates the effect of MO on firm performance. Second, the degree of accountants’ participation in strategic decision making elevates the positive relationship between MO and the use of MAS.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first empirical attempts to test the contingent roles of accountants’ participation in strategic decision making and the use of MAS information in driving performance of market-oriented firms in the context of a transition market.
Emerging themes in creative higher education pedagogy
Authors: Robinson Derrick , Schaap Ben M. , Avoseh Mejai
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore emerging themes in which creativity, or creative pedagogy (CP), is aligned with the practices of higher education instruction. The componential theory of creativity (Amabile, 2012) was used as the lens for examining CP of the study’s participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an exploratory case study of institutionally recognized effective teachers at a flagship university in the upper mid-western region of the USA, researchers sought to see which themes emerge and align with the four components of CP. Researchers used semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and artifact data to support thematic development.

Findings

Four themes emerge from the study to align with CP: administrative support; praxis and environment; content learning; and student independence. Of the four themes, praxis and environment are found to be most dominant in the study. Within each theme, surrounding environment and creative-relevant components of CP emerge as the most dominant. In all, it can be concluded that effective teachers position themselves toward themes and components that offer the most impact for students.

Originality/value

Applying Amabile’s (2012) components of creativity to analyze the pedagogical practices of institutionally recognized teachers of excellence encourages deeper observation of pedagogical practices on higher education faculty and institutional impact on pedagogy. Recommendations are offered for both institutions of higher education and its faculty.
Independent and digital reading among undergraduates: the case of the University of Mauritius
Authors: Rabaud Caroline , Mamode Khan Naushad , Rampat Smita
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Undeniably, the growing influence of technology has had a significant impact on the reading process of undergraduate students and it is thus of priority interest now to understand the factors influencing independent and digital reading. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 231 questionnaires were administered among undergraduates at the University of Mauritius. A factor analysis was carried out and it was revealed that the attitude toward reading was mainly influenced by six aspects termed “Entertaining and Important,” “Lack of Interest,” “Convenience of Digital Reading,” “Utilitarian Purposes,” “Difficult Access to Reading Materials” and the “Compulsory Aspect.” This paper focuses also on determinants which could influence the behavior of undergraduates toward independent reading. In this sense, a binary logistic regression was performed.

Findings

Factors such as gender, the motivation to read and the time spent reading for academic purposes were found to be significant predictors. Also, given the impact of technology on the lifestyle, it was important to determine whether the respondents had adopted digital reading over printed reading by taking into consideration their preferred reading format. This query was taken care by a multinomial regression analysis where gender, faculty belonging and internet connection on mobile were found to influence the preferred method of reading by undergraduates.

Originality/value

The objectives are to analyze the reading habits and attitude of the undergraduates toward reading, evaluate factors which influence a student to engage in independent reading, determine factors that are likely to encourage students to prefer digital reading given the innovation in the e-reading field and to explore a possible relationship between independent reading and digital reading.
Researching sensitive topics for the police – insights from the UK
Authors: Rogers Colin
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how practical research can be undertaken into sensitive issues within the criminal justice system having cognisance of the needs of those subject to the research process.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods design which was complicated due to the subject matter being explored, that of historical reporting of sexual offences. Confidential questionnaires and focus group method utilised, but in constant contact with specialised victim support service to ensure rights of victims understood and interwoven into the design.

Findings

Even though there are some very sensitive areas within the criminal justice system where it is believed research is difficult to undertake, it can be achieved by constant reference to the needs of the victim and strict confidentiality. Given the right circumstances and approach, research into what has been previously considered areas of difficulty can be researched effectively.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the research methods explored an utilised, a template for research methodology can be seen which can be transferred into any other sensitive topic that requires research. In addition, by undertaking this method, previously unheard voices of victims of historical crimes can be utilised to inform official policy and practice. However, a limitation of the approach can be the low number of respondents wishing to take part.

Practical implications

Victims have an opportunity to influence public policy. The methods utilised “opens up” the possibility for replication of research into other sensitive areas of the CJS. The methods utilised involved a number of Criminal Justice Agencies which assisted in maximising their understanding of victims experiences thorough the partnership approach. The research methods and results influencing training methods of the police as first responders to such incidents.

Social implications

The social implications of this paper are that it will encourage other researchers not to be afraid of what appears to be “hard to reach” and sensitive topics in terms of social science research. This will allow for greater numbers of marginalised individuals and victims to engage and influence the criminal justice system, thereby influencing public policy and improving the way victims of crime are treated.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few, if any, that explores ethical problems and sensitive topics such as historical reporting of sexual offences. It will have resonance for those who wish to undertake similar types of research.
Real sector consequences of bank diversification: evidence across US industries and states
Authors: Ghosh Amit
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the consequences of banks asset, funding and income diversification on regional economic stability in the USA by using data on all 50 states and Washington, DC for 17 industries and their disaggregated constituent categories.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a panel dataset across industries and states in the USA, the author explains sector-specific state-level variation in average GDP growth during 2008-2009 using the average bank diversification during 2006-2007, as well as pre-crisis level growth rates in GDP, multifactor productivity in each industry and pre-crisis period state-specific key banking conditions.

Findings

The author finds banks’ pre-crisis level of diversification to have a positively significant impact on sector-specific state-level GDP growth during the Great Recession. The positive impact of banks diversification activities on industry-specific output growth across states is most pronounced for funding diversification.

Practical implications

The results indicate that bank diversification activities could be used as a measure to resuscitate an ailing economy and enhance the resilience of the real sector to financial sector distress. The same applies for banks capitalization and profitability.

Originality/value

Although a burgeoning body of literature has examined different aspects of banks income diversification, focusing mainly on its effects on risk and returns, the real sector implications of bank diversification activities have been rarely studied, especially in the US context.
Risk, uncertainty and stock returns predictability – a case of emerging equity markets
Authors: Kumar Rakesh
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the predictability of stock returns under risk and uncertainty of a set of 11 emerging equity markets (EEMs) during the pre- and post-crash periods.

Design/methodology/approach

Listed indices are considered to serve the proxy of stock markets with a structural break in data for the period: 2000-2014. As preliminary results highlight the significant autocorrelations in stock returns, Threshold-GARCH (1,1) model is used to estimate the conditional volatility, which is further decomposed into expected and unexpected volatility.

Findings

Results highlight that the volatility has symmetric impact on stock returns during the pre-crash period and asymmetric impact during the post-crash period. While testing the relationship of stock returns, a significant positive (negative) relationship is found with expected volatility during the pre-crash (post-crash) periods. The stock returns are found positively related to unexpected volatility.

Research limitations/implications

Business, political and other market conditions of sample stock markets are fundamentally different. These economies were liberalized in different years, which may affect the degree of integration with international equity markets.

Practical implications

The findings highlight that investors consider the impact of expected volatility in forecasting of stock returns during the growth period. They realize returns in commensurate to risk of their portfolios. However, they significantly reduce their investments in response to expected volatility during the recession period. The positive relationship between stock returns and unexpected volatility highlights the fact that investors realize extra returns for exposing their portfolios to unexpected volatility.

Originality/value

Pioneer efforts are made by using T-GARCH (1,1) procedure to analyse the problem. Given the emergence of emerging equity markets, new insight in dynamics of stock returns provide interesting findings for portfolio diversification under risk and uncertainty.
Reviewing cognitive distortions in managerial decision making
Authors: Abatecola Gianpaolo , Caputo Andrea , Cristofaro Matteo
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Why and how do cognitive distortions in managerial decision making occur? All organizations are imperfect systems (Katz and Kahn, 1966), with wrong decisions often just round the corner. As a consequence, addressing these important questions continues to be particularly lively in the management development area, especially in terms of its intended contribution to the de-biasing activity. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide the current scientific dialogue on the topic with updated lenses, which can also be innovative from some aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

The review framework is based on the recent, impactful article on biases in managerial decision making by Kahneman et al. (2011), and on Bazerman and Moore’s (2013) perspective on emanating heuristics, considered as the causes of biases. Accordingly, the authors derive four intertwined thematic clusters of heuristics, through which the authors systematically group and critically analyze the management literature mostly published on the topic since 2011.

Findings

From the analyzed clusters the authors propose an integrative framework of emanating heuristics, which focuses on the co-evolving relationships and potentially self-reinforcing processes in and between them.

Originality/value

The value of the contribution is threefold: from a methodological perspective, to the authors’ knowledge, the studies adopted as the basis of the analysis have not yet been simultaneously used as a comprehensive ground for updated reviews on this topic; from a conceptual perspective, the emerging integrative co-evolutionary framework can help explain the dangerous connections among cognitive traps and emanating heuristics; and from a practical perspective, the resulting framework can also be helpful for future de-biasing attempts in the business arena.
Maintenance policy selection: a fuzzy-ANP approach
Authors: Hemmati Narges , Rahiminezhad Galankashi Masoud , Imani Din Mohammad , Farughi Hiwa
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) model to select the maintenance policy of an acid manufacturing company.

Design/methodology/approach

Four maintenance strategies of Corrective Maintenance (CM), Time-Based Maintenance (TBM), Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and Shutdown Maintenance (SM) are investigated to be considered for seven equipment of the case study. These equipment are almost new and include boiler, molten sulfur ponds, cooling towers, absorption tower, converter, sulfur fuel furnace and heat exchanger. Chang’s extended analysis has been employed to deal with fuzzy data and analyze the fuzzy decision matrices. The proposed approach is applied to a sulfuric acid production plant and the suitable maintenance policy is found for all seven equipment of the company.

Findings

Based on the obtained results, the CBM policy is appropriate for high-risk (cooling tower) and high added value equipment (absorption tower). In addition, TBM is selected for boiler and converters while SM is selected for molten sulfur ponds. Finally, high-cost, low-risk and low added value equipment (sulfur fuel furnace and heat exchanger) are more appropriate with CM policy.

Originality/value

This research presents a novel idea to consider cost, risk and added value in the context of maintenance policy selection. From the methodological and theoretical features, this research offers new insights in this area since, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no comparable study has been conducted before.
A DEMATEL approach for evaluating barriers for sustainable end-of-life practices
Authors: K. Sivakumar , R. Jeyapaul , K.E.K. Vimal , Ravi Pratthosh
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Sustainable end-of-life (Sus-EoL) practices can be achieved through manufacturing of sustainable products, and recovery and recycling after the use phase. To achieve Sus-EoL, the manufacturing organizations should handle their products after their EoL. The recovery of used products is achieved through the design of the collection location. However, the first step is to understand and identify the barriers (e.g. lack of awareness among people, lack of technology, etc.) which prevent the implementation of Sus-EoL practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is about the 18 barriers responsible for the poor success of Sus-EoL practices of used plastic parts. By applying the DEMATEL method and by incorporating experts’ knowledge, a prominence and causal relationship diagram was developed through which the influential strength among barriers was studied.

Findings

The α value is computed as 0.068, and the values lower than α were eliminated to obtain the digraph. Poor curbside pick is identified as the most dominant barrier in implementation of Sus-EoL practices in plastic parts with an influential score of 3.96.

Research limitations/implications

The research is conducted in the Indian scenario which could be extended to global context by selecting the suitable barriers.

Practical implications

The results from the study can be used by the managers of organizations to enhance the possibility of Sus-EoL practices by incorporating suitable strategies which is the significant contribution of this study.

Originality/value

In the past, few authors discussed about the barriers of Sus-EoL practices; however, the analysis of complex interrelationship does not exist. Thus, the global and group interrelationship has been studied which is expected to pave way for future research in the direction of elimination of barriers and so on.
Paternalistic leadership and knowledge sharing with outsiders in emerging economies
Authors: Lee Jeoung Yul , Jang Seung Hoon , Lee Sang Youn
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge sharing with external partners within the China context, demonstrating that paternalistic leadership combined with the resulting reciprocal relations between leaders and employees are accountable for knowledge transfer with external partners based on social exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data at two time-points and obtained 391 usable observations for hypothesis testing using questionnaire surveys administered to the managers of major Chinese companies.

Findings

Empirical analysis of employees at major Chinese firms shows that paternalistic leadership may encourage perceived reciprocal support from employees that results in smooth knowledge sharing with outsiders in the form of voluntary helping behaviors.

Originality/value

This study expects that both scholars and practitioners will gain answers on how to best encourage employees into contributing toward relationships with external stakeholders within the China context. One valuable point in this study is demonstrating that Chinese firms’ benevolent leadership promotes human relationships and thereby long-term relationships with alliance partners, while their moral leadership promotes ethical trust between alliance partners. These factors may accordingly further increase knowledge sharing opportunities with external partners.
Enriching individual absorptive capacity
Authors: Tian Amy Wei , Soo Christine
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an understanding of the development and consequence of absorptive capacity (AC) at the individual level of analysis. The authors assess how perception of organizational commitment to learning and intrinsic motivation affects individual potential AC, and employee creativity and job performance as the key outcomes of individual AC. Furthermore, the authors examined the dual role of realized AC as a mediator in the potential AC-creativity relationship, and a moderator on the creativity-job performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws from 125 paired supervisor-employee survey data, where supervisors rated subordinates’ creativity and job performance. Hierarchical regression was used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results confirm that both perception of organizational commitment to learning and intrinsic motivation contribute to the development of individual potential AC (above and beyond extrinsic motivation). Individual realized AC mediated the potential AC-creativity relationship. Employee creativity was positively related to job performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study speaks directly to the question of how an organization can encourage its employees to absorb new knowledge, and the benefits of employee learning activities on their creativity and job performance.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to offer a more nuanced understanding of the development and consequences of individual AC – a level of analysis has been lack of empirical studies. It further point out how individual characteristic and perceptions can influence their learning capacity, and in turn, their performance.
Supporting multimodal literacy in library instruction
Authors: Carlito M. Delores
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Students interact with information in many ways throughout the day, code switching between modes depending on their needs. Educators are finally realizing that composing in more than one mode is not only important, but also necessary. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of the academic library, the ACRL Framework and information literacy instruction in creating ethical, inspired users.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper looks at previously published work on multimodal discourse, how libraries have supported modes in the past and how the ACRL Information Literacy Framework highlights the need to teach students and faculty how to compose in many modes.

Findings

Librarians are already well-versed in many literacies, including information, visual and media. They are familiar with multimodal tools and the ethical issues related to the use of images, videos and sound files. While professors are proficient in subject matter, librarians are experts in the paradigm shift from print to multiple modes; therefore, by teaching faculty and students to locate, evaluate, use ethically and cite various modes, librarians become the primary resource on campus for creating multimodal artifacts. The strata used by Kress and Van Leeuwen, coupled with the ACRL Framework, are a model for future instructional design.

Originality/value

While much has been written on visual literacy, little is written on library support of multimodal discourse or combining several modes in one argument. This paper is alone in reviewing the past support of multimodal literacy in libraries and gives some sample activities for use in the academic library.
The impact of climate change on labour demand in the plantation sector: the case of tea production in Sri Lanka
Authors: Gunathilaka Rajapaksha P. D. , Smart James C. R. , Fleming Christopher M. , Hasan Syezlin
Published: May 2018

Limited opportunities for crop switching and lengthy preharvesting periods make the plantation sector particularly vulnerable to climate change. Surprisingly, however, the economic consequences of climate change on plantation crops are seldom analysed. Drawing on a unique primary panel data set from a representative cross section of 35 tea estates in Sri Lanka over the period 2002–2014, this study implements a structural model of estate profit maximisation to estimate the elasticity of labour demand with respect to different components of weather. Results indicate a negative relationship between labour demand and rainfall in the south‐west monsoon, the north‐east monsoon and the second inter‐monsoon. A positive relationship is found between labour demand and rainfall in the first inter‐monsoon. Overall, predicted changes in rainfall by 2050 are anticipated to reduce labour demand by approximately 1,175,000 person‐days per year across Sri Lanka's tea plantation sector. This is likely to have considerable social and welfare implications, particularly for the Indian Tamil women who comprise the majority of the sector's workforce.
Decomposing Mortality Disparities in Urban and Rural U.S. Counties
Authors: Spencer Jennifer C. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Rotter Jason S. , Holmes George M.
Published: May 2018

Objective

To understand the role of county characteristics in the growing divide between rural and urban mortality from 1980 to 2010.

Data Source

Age‐adjusted mortality rates for all U.S. counties from 1980 to 2010 were obtained from the CDC Compressed Mortality File and combined with county characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Area Health Resources File, and the Inter‐University Consortium for Political and Social research.

Study Design

We used Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition to assess the extent to which rural–urban mortality disparities are explained by observed county characteristics at each decade.

Principal Findings

Decomposition shows that, at each decade, differences in rural/urban characteristics are sufficient to explain differences in mortality. Furthermore, starting in 1990, rural counties have significantly lower predicted mortality than urban counties when given identical county characteristics. We find changes in the effect of characteristics on mortality, not the characteristics themselves, drive the growing mortality divide.

Conclusions

Differences in economic and demographic characteristics between rural and urban counties largely explain the differences in age‐adjusted mortality in any given year. Over time, the role these characteristics play in improving mortality has increased differentially for urban counties. As characteristics continue changing in importance as determinants of health, this divide may continue to widen.
Genome editing in Bombyx mori: New opportunities for silkworm functional genomics and the sericulture industry
Authors: Ma San‐Yuan , Smagghe Guy , Xia Qing‐You
Published: May 2018

In recent years, research in life sciences has been remarkably revolutionized owing to the establishment, development and application of genome editing technologies. Genome editing has not only accelerated fundamental research but has also shown promising applications in agricultural breeding and therapy. In particular, the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology has become an indispensable tool in molecular biology owing to its high efficacy and simplicity. Genome editing tools have also been established in silkworm (Bombyx mori), a model organism of Lepidoptera insects with high economic importance. This has remarkably improved the level and scope of silkworm research and could reveal new mechanisms or targets in basic entomology and pest management studies. In this review, we summarize the progress and potential of genome editing in silkworm and its applications in functional genomic studies for generating novel genetic materials.