bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperative changes in solvent exposure identify cryptic pockets, conformational switches, and allosteric coupling
Authors: Porter Justin R. , Moeder Katelyn E. , Sibbald Carrie A. , Zimmerman Maxwell I. , Hart Kathryn M. , Greenberg Michael J. , Bowman Gregory R.
Published: May 2018

Proteins are dynamic molecules that undergo conformational changes to a broad spectrum of different excited states. Unfortunately, the small populations of these states make it difficult to determine their structures or functional implications. Computer simulations are an increasingly powerful means to identify and characterize functionally-relevant excited states. However, this advance has uncovered a further challenge: it can be extremely difficult to identify the most salient features of large simulation datasets. We reasoned that many functionally-relevant conformational changes are likely to involve large, cooperative changes to the surfaces that are available to interact with potential binding partners. To examine this hypothesis, we introduce a method that returns a prioritized list of potentially functional conformational changes by segmenting protein structures into clusters of residues that undergo cooperative changes in their solvent exposure, along with the hierarchy of interactions between these groups. We term these groups exposons to distinguish them from other types of clusters that arise in this analysis and others. We demonstrate, using three different model systems, that this method identifies experimentally-validated and functionally-relevant conformational changes, including conformational switches, allosteric coupling, and cryptic pockets. Our results suggest that key functional sites are hubs in the network of exposons. As a further test of the predictive power of this approach, we apply it to discover cryptic allosteric sites in two different β-lactamase enzymes that are widespread sources of antibiotic resistance. Experimental tests confirm our predictions for both systems. Importantly, we provide the first evidence for a cryptic allosteric site in CTX-M-9 β-lactamase. Experimentally testing this prediction did not require any mutations, and revealed that this site exerts the most potent allosteric control over activity of any pockets found in β-lactamases to date. Discovery of a similar pocket that was previously overlooked in the well-studied TEM-1 β-lactamase demonstrates the utility of exposons.
An Atomistic view of Short-chain Antimicrobial Biomimetic peptides in Action
Authors: Mondal Jagannath , Ghosh Pushpita , Zhu Xiao
Published: May 2018

Amphiphilicβ-peptides, which are rationally designed synthetic oligomers, are established biomimetic alternatives of natural antimicrobial peptides. The ability of these biomimetic peptides to form helical amphiphilic conformation using small number of residues provides a greater synthetic advantage over the naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides, which is reflected in more potent antimicrobial activity ofβ-peptides than its naturally occurring counterparts. Here we address whether the distinct molecular architecture of short-chain and rigid synthetic peptides compared to relatively long and flexible natural antimicrobial peptides translates to a distinct mechanistic action with membrane. By simulating the interaction of membrane with antimicrobial 10-residueβ-peptides at diverse range of concentrations we reveal spontaneous insertion ofβ-peptides in the membrane interface at a low concentration and occurrence of partial water leakage in the membrane at a high concentration. Intriguingly, unlike prototypical natural antimicrobial peptides, the water molecules leaked inside the membrane by these biomimetic peptides do not span entire membrane, as supported by free energy analysis. As a major advancement, this work brings into lights the key distinction in the membrane-activity of short synthetic biomimetic oligomers relative to the natural long-chain antimicrobial peptides.
Effects on cell viability, growth and morphology ofC. albicansSC5314 biofilms after kINPen®09 plasma treatment
Authors: Handorf O. , Weihe T. , Bekeschus S. , Graf A. C. , Schnabel U. , Riedel K. , Ehlbeck J.
Published: May 2018

Microorganisms are predominantly organized in biofilms, where cells live in dense communities and are more resistant to external stresses compared to their planktonic counterparts. Within vitroexperiments, the susceptibility ofCandida albicansbiofilms to a non-thermal plasma treatment (plasma source kINP®09), in terms of growth, survival, and cell viability was investigated. Behind that background, theC. albicansstrain SC5314 (ATCC® MYA-2876™) was plasma treated for different time periods (30 s, 60 s, 120 s, 180 s, 300 s). The results of experiments embracing colony forming units, fluorescence LIVE/DEAD assays, and XTT assays revealed a negative influence of the plasma treatment on the proliferation ability, vitality, and the metabolism ofC. albicansbiofilms, respectively. Morphological analysis of plasma-treated biofilms using atomic force microscopy supported the indications for lethal plasma effects concomitant with membrane disruptions and the loss of intracellular fluid. Controversial to other publications, fluorescence- and confocal laser scanning-microscopic inspection of plasma-treated biofilms indicated, that an inactivation of cells mainly appeared on the bottom side of the biofilms. If this inactivation leads to a detachment of the biofilms from the overgrown surface, it might offer completely new approaches in the plasma treatment of biofilms. Because of its biochemical-mechanical mode of action, resistances of microbial cells against plasma are unknown at this state of research.
Novel Insights into Selection for Antibiotic Resistance in Complex Microbial Communities
Authors: Murray Aimee K. , Zhang Lihong , Yin Xiaole , Zhang Tong , Buckling Angus , Snape Jason , Gaze William H.
Published: May 2018

Recent research has demonstrated selection for antibiotic resistance occurs at very low antibiotic concentrations in single species experiments, but the relevance of these findings when species are embedded in complex microbial communities is unclear. We show the strength of selection for naturally occurring resistance alleles in a complex community remains constant from low sub-inhibitory to above clinically relevant concentrations. Selection increases with antibiotic concentration before reaching a plateau where selection remains constant over a two order magnitude concentration range. This is likely to be due to cross-protection of the susceptible bacteria in the community following rapid extracellular antibiotic degradation by the resistant population, shown experimentally through a combination of chemical quantification and bacterial growth experiments. Metagenome and 16S rRNA analyses on sewage-derived bacterial communities evolved under cefotaxime exposure show preferential enrichment forblaCTX-Mgenes over all other beta-lactamase genes, as well as positive selection and co-selection for antibiotic resistant, opportunistic pathogens. These findings have far reaching implications for our understanding of the evolution of antibiotic resistance, by challenging the long-standing assumption that selection occurs in a dose-dependent manner.
TERribly Difficult: Searching for Telomerase RNAs in Saccharomycetes
Authors: Waldl Maria , Thiel Bernhard C. , Ochsenreiter Roman , Holzenleiter Alexander , de Araujo Oliveira João Victor , Walter Maria Emília M. T. , Wolfinger Michael T. , Stadler Peter F.
Published: May 2018

The telomerase RNA in yeasts is large, usually > 1,000 nt, and contains functional elements that have been extensively studied experimentally in several disparate species. Nevertheless, they are very difficult to detect by homology-based methods and so far have escaped annotation in the majority of the genomes of Saccharomycotina. This is a consequence of sequences that evolve rapidly at nucleotide level, are subject to large variations in size, and are highly plastic with respect to their secondary structures. Here we report on a survey that was aimed at closing this gap in RNA annotation. Despite considerable efforts and the combination of a variety of different methods, it was only partially successful. While 27 new telomerase RNAs were identified, we had to restrict our efforts to the subgroup Saccharomycetacea because even this narrow subgroup was diverse enough to require different search models for different phylogenetic subgroups. More distant branches of the Saccharomycotina still remain without annotated telomerase RNA.
Speed of time-compressed forward replay flexibly changes in human episodic memory
Authors: Michelmann Sebastian , Staresina Bernhard P. , Bowman Howard , Hanslmayr Simon
Published: May 2018

Remembering information from continuous past episodes is a complex task. On the one hand, we must be able to recall events in a highly accurate way that often includes exact timing; on the other hand, we can ignore irrelevant details and skip to events of interest. We here track continuous episodes, consisting of different sub-events, as they are recalled from memory. In behavioral and MEG data, we show that memory replay is temporally compressed and proceeds in a forward direction. Neural replay is characterized by the reinstatement of temporal patterns from encoding. These fragments of activity reappear on a compressed timescale. Herein, the replay of sub-events takes longer than the transition from one sub-event to another. This identifies episodic memory replay as a dynamic process in which participants replay fragments of fine-grained temporal patterns and are able to skip flexibly across sub-events.
Manganese acquisition is essential for virulence ofEnterococcus faecalis
Authors: Colomer-Winter C , Flores-Mireles AL , Baker SP , Frank KL , Lynch AJL , Hultgren SJ , Kitten T , Lemos JA
Published: May 2018

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient that is not readily available to pathogens during infection due to an active host defense mechanism known as nutritional immunity. To overcome this nutrient restriction, bacteria utilize high-affinity transporters that allow them to compete with host metal-binding proteins. Despite the established role of Mn in bacterial pathogenesis, little is known about the relevance of Mn in the pathophysiology ofE. faecalis. Here, we identified and characterized the major Mn acquisition systems ofE. faecalis. We discovered that the ABC-type permease EfaCBA and two Nramp-type transporters, named MntH1 and MntH2, work collectively to promote cell growth under Mn-restricted conditions. The simultaneous inactivation of EfaCBA, MntH1 and MntH2 (ΔefaΔmntH1ΔmntH2strain) led to drastic reductions (>95%) in intracellular Mn content, severe growth defects in body fluids (serum and urine)ex vivo, significant loss of virulence inGalleria mellonella, and virtually complete loss of virulence in rabbit endocarditis and murine catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) models. Despite the functional redundancy ofEfaCBA,MntH1andMntH2underin vitroorex vivoconditions and in the invertebrate model, dual inactivation ofefaCBAandmntH2(ΔefaΔmntH2strain) was sufficient to prompt maximal sensitivity to calprotectin, a Mn- and Zn-chelating host antimicrobial protein, and for the loss of virulence in mammalian models. Interestingly, EfaCBA appears to play a prominent role during systemic infection, whereas MntH2 was more important during CAUTI. The different roles of EfaCBA and MntH2 in these sites could be attributed, at least in part, to the differential expression ofefaAandmntH2in cells isolated from hearts or from bladders. Collectively, this study demonstrates that Mn acquisition is essential for the pathogenesis ofE. faecalisand validates Mn uptake systems as promising targets for the development of new antimicrobials.
An insulin, AMPK, and steroid hormone-mediated metabolic switch regulates the transition between growth and diapause inC. elegans
Authors: Penkov Sider , Raghuraman Bharath Kumar , Erkut Cihan , Oertel Jana , Galli Roberta , Ackerman Eduardo Jacobo Miranda , Vorkel Daniela , Verbavatz Jean-Marc , Koch Edmund , Fahmy Karim , Shevchenko Andrej , Kurzchalia Teymuras V.
Published: May 2018

The balance between growth and quiescence depends on the global metabolic state. The dauer larva ofC. elegans,a developmentally arrested stage for survival under adverse environment, undergoes a major metabolic transition. Here, we show that this switch involves the concerted activity of several regulatory pathways. Whereas the steroid hormone receptor DAF-12 controls dauer morphogenesis, the insulin pathway maintains low energy expenditure through DAF-16/FoxO, which also requires AAK-2/AMPKα. DAF-12 and AAK-2 separately promote a shift in the molar ratios between competing enzymes at two key branch points within the central carbon metabolic pathway. This way, carbon atoms are diverted from the TCA cycle and directed to gluconeogenesis. When both AAK-2 and DAF-12 are suppressed, the TCA cycle is active and the developmental arrest is bypassed. Hence, the metabolic status of each developmental stage is defined by stoichiometric ratios within the constellation of metabolic enzymes and controls the transition between growth and quiescence.
CardiacProfileR: An R package for extraction and visualisation of heart rate profiles from wearable fitness trackers
Authors: Djordjevic Djordje , Cawood Beni K. , Rispin Sabrina K. , Shah Anushi , Yim Leo H. H. , Hayward Christopher S. , Ho Joshua W. K.
Published: May 2018

A person’s heart rate profile, which consists of resting heart rate, increase of heart rate upon exercise and recovery of heart rate after exercise, is traditionally measured by electrocardiography during a controlled exercise stress test. A heart rate profile is a useful clinical tool to identify individuals at risk of sudden death and other cardiovascular conditions. Nonetheless, conducting such exercise stress tests routinely is often inconvenient and logistically challenging for patients. The widespread availability of affordable wearable fitness trackers, such as Fitbit and Apple Watch, provides an exciting new means to collect longitudinal heart rate and physical activity data. We reason that by combining the heart rate and physical activity data from these devices, we can construct a person’s heart rate profile. Here we present an open source R package CardiacProfileR for extraction, analysis and visualisation of heart rate dynamics during physical activities from data generated from common wearable heart rate monitors. This package represents a step towards quantitative deep phenotyping in humans. CardiacProfileR is available via an MIT license at https://github.com/VCCRI/CardiacProfileR.
Fusion surface structure, function, and dynamics of gamete fusogen HAP2
Authors: Feng Juan , Dong Xianchi , Pinello Jennifer F. , Zhang Jun , Lu Chafen , Iacob Roxana E. , Engen John R , Snell Wiliam J. , Springer Timothy A.
Published: May 2018

HAP2 is a class II gamete fusogen in many eukaryotic kingdoms. A crystal structure ofChlamydomonasHAP2 shows a trimeric fusion state. Domains D1, D2.1 and D2.2 line the 3-fold axis; D3 and a stem pack against the outer surface. Surprisingly, hydrogen-deuterium exchange shows that surfaces of D1, D2.2 and D3 closest to the 3-fold axis are more dynamic than exposed surfaces. Three fusion helices in the fusion loop of each monomer expose hydrophobic residues at the trimer apex that are splayed from the 3-fold axis, leaving a solvent-filled cavity between the fusion loops in each monomer. At the base of the long fusion loop, Arg185 docks in a carbonyl cage. Comparisons to other structures, dynamics, and the greater effect onChlamydomonasgamete fusion of mutation of axis-proximal than axis-distal fusion helices suggest that the apical portion of each monomer could tilt toward the 3-fold axis with merger of the fusion helices into a common fusion surface.
K-Ras G-domain binding with signaling lipid phosphoinositides: PIP2 association, orientation, function
Authors: Cao Shufen , Chung Stacey , Kim SoonJeung , Li Zhenlu , Manor Danny , Buck Matthias
Published: May 2018

Ras genes are potent drivers of human cancers, with mutated K-Ras4B being the most abundant isoform. Targeted inhibition of oncogenic gene products is considered the holy grail of present-day cancer therapy, and recent discoveries of small molecule inhibitors for K-Ras4B greatly benefited from a deeper understanding of the protein structure and dynamics of the GTPase. Since interactions with biological membranes are key for Ras function, the details of Ras - lipid interactions have become a major focus of study, especially since it is becoming clear that such interactions not only involve the Ras C-terminus for lipid anchoring, but also the G-protein domain. Here we investigated the interaction between K-Ras4B with the signaling lipid phosphatidyl inositol (4,5) phosphate (PIP2) using NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, complemented by biophysical and cell biology assays. We discovered that the β2 and β3 strands as well as helices 4 and 5 of the GTPase G-domain bind to PIP2, and that these secondary structural elements employ specific residues for these interactions. These likely occur in two orientation states of the protein relative to the membrane. Importantly, we found that some of these residues, which are known to be oncogenic when mutated (D47K, D92N, K104M and D126N), are critical for K-Ras-mediated transformation of fibroblast cells, while not substantially affecting basal and assisted nucleotide hydrolysis and exchange. We further showed that mutation K104M can indeed abolish localization of mutant K-Ras to the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that specific G-domain residues play an important, previously-unknown role in regulating Ras function by mediating interactions with membrane PIP2 lipids. Thus, a detailed description of the novel K-Ras-PIP2 binding surfaces is likely to inform the future design of therapeutic reagents.
The propagation of active-passive interfaces in bacterial swarms
Authors: Patteson Alison E. , Gopinath Arvind , Arratia Paulo E.
Published: May 2018

Propagating interfaces are ubiquitous in nature, underlying instabilities and pattern formation in biology and material science. Physical principles governing interface growth are well understood in passive settings; however, our understanding of interfaces in active systems is still in its infancy. Here, we study the evolution of an active-passive interface using a model active matter system, bacterial swarms. We use ultra-violet light exposure to create compact domains of passive bacteria withinSerratia marcescensswarms, thereby creating interfaces separating motile and immotile cells. Post-exposure, the boundary re-shapes and erodes due to self-emergent collective flows. We demonstrate that the active-passive boundary acts as a diffuse interface with mechanical properties set by the flow. Intriguingly, interfacial velocity couples to local swarm speed and interface curvature, suggesting that an active analogue to classic Gibbs-Thomson-Stefan conditions controls boundary propagation. Our results generalize interface theories to mixing and segregation in active systems with collective flows.
BiFET: A Bias-free Transcription Factor Footprint Enrichment Test
Authors: Youn Ahrim , Marquez Eladio J. , Lawlor Nathan , Stitzel Michael L. , Ucar Duygu
Published: May 2018

Transcription factor (TF) footprinting uncovers putative protein-DNA binding via combined analyses of chromatin accessibility patterns and their underlying TF sequence motifs. TF footprints are frequently used to identify TFs that regulate activities of cell/condition-specific genomic regions (target loci) in comparison to control regions (background loci) using standard enrichment tests. However, there is a strong association between the chromatin accessibility level and the GC content of a locus and the number and types of TF footprints that can be detected at this site. Traditional enrichment tests (e.g., hypergeometric) do not account for this bias and inflate false positive associations. Therefore, we developed a novel method, Bias-free Footprint Enrichment Test (BiFET), that corrects for the biases arising from the differences in chromatin accessibility levels and GC contents between target and background loci in footprint enrichment analyses. We applied BiFET on TF footprint calls obtained from human EndoC-βH1 ATAC-seq samples using three different algorithms (CENTIPEDE, HINT-BC, and PIQ) and showed BiFET’s ability to increase power and reduce false positive rate when compared to hypergeometric test. Furthermore, we used BiFET to study TF footprints from human PBMC and pancreatic islet ATAC-seq samples to show its utility to identify putative TFs associated with cell-type-specific loci.
Detection of immune system activation in hemolymph of Drosophila larvae exposed to chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles
Authors: Vela Doris , Rondal Jonathan , Debut Alexis , Vizuete Karla , Pilaquinga Fernanda
Published: May 2018

Drosophila melanogaster hemolymph cells are confirmed as a model to study the activation of immune system due to foreign stimuli like iron nanoparticles. The toxicity of nanoparticles is a cause for concern due to their effect on human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to detect the activation of cellular immune response in Drosophila larvae through the observation of hemolymph composition, DNA damage and larval viability, after the exposure to 500 ppm and 1000 ppm chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles for 24 hours. Our results showed activation of cellular immune response after exposure to the nanoparticles owing to the increment of hemocytes, the emergence of lamellocytes and the presence of apoptotic hemocytes. In addition, chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles produce DNA damage detected by comet assay as well as low viability of larvae. No DNA damage is showed at 500 ppm. The cellular toxicity is directly associated with 1000 ppm.
Adherence to prescribing restrictions for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in Australia: a national population-based observational study (2001-2016)
Authors: Daniels Benjamin , Girosi Federico , Tervonen Hanna , Kiely Belinda E , Lord Sarah J , Houssami Nehmat , Pearson Sallie-Anne
Published: May 2018

Background
Targeted cancer therapy is often complex, involving multiple agents and chemotherapeutic partners. In Australia, prescribing restrictions are put in place to reflect existing evidence of cost-effectiveness of these medicines. As therapeutic options continue to expand, these restrictions may not be perceived to align with best practice and it is not known if their use in the real-world clinic adheres to these restrictions. We examined the treatment of women receiving trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (HER2+MBC) to determine the extent to which treatment adhered to national prescribing restrictions.

Methods and findings
Our population-based, retrospective cohort study used dispensing records for every Australian woman initiating trastuzumab for HER2+MBC between 2001-2013, followed through 2016. We used group-based trajectory models (GBTMs) to cluster patients, first on their patterns of trastuzumab exposure, and then on their patterns of lapatinib and chemotherapy exposure. We described the characteristics of patients within each cluster, and examined their treatments and combinations of treatments to determine restriction adherence.
Of 5,052 patients initiating trastuzumab, 1,795 (36%) received at least one non-adherent HER2-targeted treatment. The most common non-adherent treatments were trastuzumab combinations involving vinorelbine (24% of non-adherent treatments); capecitabine (24%); and anthracyclines (10%). Non-adherent lapatinib use was observed in 4% of patients. GBTM identified three trastuzumab exposure clusters, each containing three further sub-clusters. The largest proportions of non-adherent treatments were in sub-clusters with longer trastuzumab exposure and more non-taxane chemotherapy. Patients in these sub-clusters were younger than those in sub-clusters with less non-adherent treatment.

Conclusions
Our study highlights that, even during the relatively simpler treatment era of our study period, a substantial amount of treatment did not adhere to prescribing restrictions. As more trials are conducted exploring pertuzumab and T-DM1 in combination with different chemotherapies and other HER2-targeted therapies, the regulation and funding of HER2-targeted treatment will become more challenging.
Are you suppressed? Viral load test coverage for people living with HIV in Mutare District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, 2015-2017 Investigators
Authors: Uzande Charles , Edwards Jeffery , Owiti Philip , Maravanyika Admire Tatenda , Mashizha Simba , Mafaune Patron Titsha
Published: May 2018

Background:

The third 90-90-90 UNAIDS goal require that 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) achieve viral load (VL) suppression. This study assessed the proportion of VL suppression and related factors among PLHIV on 1st and 2nd line ART in Mutare District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe between 2015-2017.

Methods:

A retrospective study using routine HIV programme data from the electronic monitoring system for nine health facilities in Mutare District. VL suppression was defined as < 1,000 copies/ml.

Results:

Of 16,590 registered patients, 15,566(94%) were on first-line and 1024(6%) on second-line ART. Of those on 1st-line ART, 2856(18%) had a VL test result documented, while 367(36%) of 2nd-line ART patients had VL results. VL suppression rates were 86% among those on 1st-line and 45% in 2nd-line ART. Independent risk factors associated with VL non-suppression for those on 1st-line ART were age 0-9 years (adjusted relative risk, aRR=2.9; 95% confidence interval, CI=1.7-4.8;P<0.001), 10-19 years (aRR=2.2;95%CI=1.4-3.2,P<0.001) compared to those 20-49 years, concurrent TB (aRR=9; CI=3.0-29.7,P<0.001) and male gender (aRR=1.5,95%CI=1.1-2.1;P=0.02). There were no significant risk factors associated with VL non-suppression for 2nd-line ART patients.

Conclusion:

For PLHIV on 1st-line ART in Mutare district, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, the frequency of reported VL results were only 18% among those on 1st-line ART, while the rate of VL suppression was near 90%. Viral Load testing coverage appears to be lagging behind current Zimbabwe goals and increased support is needed to improve the quality of HIV care and help reduce the threat of possible HIV drug resistance in the future.
Hierarchical modulation of auditory prediction error signaling is independent of attention
Authors: Kompus K. , Volehaugen V. , Westerhausen R.
Published: May 2018

The auditory system is tuned to detect rhythmic regularities or irregularities in the environment which can occur on different timescales, i.e. regularities in short (local) and long (global) timescale which could conflict or converge. While MMN and P3b are thought to index local and global deviance, respectively, it is not clear how these hierarchical levels interact and to what extent attention modulates this interaction. We used a hierarchical oddball paradigm with local (sequence-level) and global (block-level) violations of regularities in 5-tone sequences, in attended and unattended conditions. Amplitude of negativity in the N2 timeframe and positivity in the P3b timeframe elicited by the final tone in the sequence were analyzed in a 2*2*2 factorial model (local status, global status, attention condition). We found a significant interaction between the local and global status of the final tone on the N2 amplitude (p<.001, ηp2= .55), while there was no significant three-way interaction with attention (p > .05), together demonstrating that lower-level prediction error is modulated by detection of higher-order regularity but expressed independently of attention. Regarding P3b amplitude, we found significant main effect of global status (p<.001, ηp2= .42), and an interaction between global status and attention (p < .001, ηp2= .70). Thus, higher-level prediction error, indexed by P3b, is sensitive to global regularity violations if the auditory stream is attended. The results demonstrate the capacity of our auditory perception to rapidly resolve conflicts between different levels of predictive hierarchy as indexed by MMN modulation, while P3b represents a different, attention-dependent system.
Development of accounting regulatory institutions in Libya (1951-2006)
Authors: Alferjani Mansour , Mirshekary Soheila , Dellaportas Steven , Mihret Dessalegn Getie , Yaftian Ali
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explain the driving forces behind the development of accounting regulatory institutions in post-colonial Libya.

Design/methodology/approach

The historical method is used to interpret relevant documentary evidence in the development of accounting in Libya vis-à-vis developments in the country’s post-colonial political-economic history.

Findings

The development of accounting regulation in Libya is traced to post-colonial political-economic history that occurred independent of the country’s colonial past. The immediate aftermath of colonialism (1951-1968) showed that Western accounting practices used by Western businesses operating in Libya were imbued by pro-Western ideology. Basic legislative requirements for accounting and auditing emerged during this period through legislation. Two distinct epochs surfaced during Muammar Gaddafi’s rule: initially, the state advocated a centrally planned economy, but in the 1980s, an ideological shift occurred, which opened the Libyan economy to the global market. The first epoch saw the formation of accounting regulatory agencies consistent with the state-centred organisation of society, and the second epoch engendered the development of accounting standards consistent with the developments in market-centred societies during the era of globalisation.

Originality/value

The study offers unique historical evidence on the development of accounting regulation in a developing country independent of its colonial history. The study enhances our understanding of how the interplay between the political economy and the ideological basis of the state determines the historical path of accounting as a basis for predicting the possible future direction of accounting development.
The impact of audit committee effectiveness on audit fees and non-audit service fees
Authors: Ali Muhammad Jahangir , Singh Rajbans Kaur Shingara , Al-Akra Mahmoud
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of audit committee effectiveness on audit fees and non-audit service (NAS) fees in a less regulatory environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors construct a composite audit committee effectiveness measure incorporating audit committee independence, diligence, size, financial expertise and the chairperson’s accounting expertise.

Findings

The authors find that audit committee effectiveness has a positive significant impact on both audit fees and NAS fees. This suggests that effective audit committees can hold auditors accountable resulting in better audit quality and consequently higher audit fees.

Originality/value

The link between more effective audit committees with higher NAS purchases can be explained in light of the difference in regulatory requirements providing audit committees with decision rights on the use of NASs, therefore approving more NAS and increasing NASF. Additional tests and robustness analyses confirm the results.
Linking continuous improvement to manufacturing performance
Authors: Iwao Shumpei , Marinov Mihail
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that inhibit and facilitate the contribution of continuous improvement activities to advance performance in “lean” factories.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of the routine dynamics theory, this paper considers the possibility of changes in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) made in the course of continuous improvement activities being ignored by employees. This paper builds a hypothesis predicting that firms where employees ignore changes in the SOP cannot achieve the intended improvement effect of these changes. This hypothesis is confirmed with comparative case studies of Toyota and Matsuo.

Findings

At Toyota there is an incentive to perform operations according to the SOP, while at Matsuo this incentive is not present. This difference means that process improvement activities at Toyota generate changes in manufacturing operations, while at Matsuo, although the SOP has been changed, workers continue to perform operations according to the old SOP and fail to advance performance. This paper argues that the presence/absence of an incentive to perform operations according to the SOP is dependent on whether the responsibility of the performance lies with the SOPs or employees. Additionally, this paper finds that the SOP not only limits employees’ creativities but also supports creative activities for the development of continuous improvement as an organizational activity.

Research limitations/implications

The generalization of our findings requires statistical support for which an extensive subsequent sampling survey including non-Japanese firms is necessary.

Originality/value

This study makes a new suggestion regarding the theory of routine dynamics and the fields of operations management: adequate management of consistency between the three aspects (material, ostensive and performative) of organizational routines is important for lean manufacturing.
Effects of corporate sustainability practices on performance: the case of the MENA region
Authors: El-Khalil Raed , El-Kassar Abdul-Nasser
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Sustainability focuses on the effect of present actions on societies, environments and ecosystems of the future. The purpose of this paper is to discover to what extent the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region corporations carry out various aspects of corporate sustainability. This paper studies corporate sustainability practices and examines the association between corporate sustainability practices and performance in the MENA region.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough literature review was conducted. The findings indicate six key categories/constructs that can be used as indicators for measuring corporate sustainability and performance. Based on the literature review, a theoretical framework was constructed and tested. Data for this quantitative and explanatory study were obtained through a self-administered survey which was distributed to senior managers at corporations in the MENA region.

Findings

The findings of this study show that the corporations operating in the MENA region are underachieving in all aspects of sustainability except for the energy management facet. Larger-sized companies tend to be more involved in corporate sustainability practices in the categories of internal and external education, external health and resources and energy management. This study finds the existence of a strong positive relationship between each sustainability category and each performance category.

Originality/value

Most studies on sustainability focus on North America, Europe and East Asia, not the MENA region. The findings will help corporations in the MENA region become aware of the importance of increasing their engagement in the sustainability aspects that they lack, as this will lead to a boost of their overall performance.
Identification, analysis and treatment of risks in the introduction of new technologies by start-ups
Authors: Teberga Pedro Marins Freire , Oliva Fábio Lotti
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Innovation, digital solutions and scalability are some of the integral distinctive elements of start-ups. Due to these factors, the management of risks for businesses of this nature demands a specific approach. The purpose of this paper is to propose the identification, analysis and treatment of risks in the introduction of new technologies by Catarse, the biggest site for crowdfunding in Latin America, founded with the vision of net present value adjusted to the risk of developing a new product (NPVR) and enterprise risks in the environment of value, aiming to provide the guidelines for the improvement of this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical research realized in this study is of a qualitative nature and was conducted using the case study method, which had its data collected through interviews with key managers and documents provided by the organizations. Data analysis was based on Mileset al.’s (2014) model, whereby data were condensed and visualized, and conclusions were developed and checked.

Findings

Among the main results, there is the proposition of a deductive-inductive analysis of risks in start-ups by means of calculation of the net present value adjusted to the risk of developing a new product (NPVR), analysis of the decisions made by the entrepreneur and the processes of business communication and development of the product.

Practical implications

The authors propose the identification of important factors for the management of uncertainties and risks in start-ups.

Social implications

The authors present an important case study in Latin America, Catarse, which helps entrepreneurs to develop their start-ups.

Originality/value

As the main contribution, this paper proposes the identification of elements for the management of uncertainties and risks in start-ups, which brings elements to provide the calculation of the net present value adjusted to the risk of developing a new product (NPVR), process or service, as well as the contribution of the level of risk management maturity of the studied company.
Reverse logistics
Authors: Pacheco Emerson D. , Kubota Flávio I. , Yamakawa Eduardo K. , Paladini Edson P. , Campos Lucila M.S. , Cauchick-Miguel Paulo A.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Increased competition and access to information are forcing companies to provide quality to their products and services, aligned with a growing society pressure for less harmful environmental practices. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the adoption of reverse logistics (RL) may contribute to the generation of competitive advantage and improved quality in a part substitution process of a household appliance company.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper carried out a single case study in a household appliance company. The study collected data through semi-structured interviews in addition to document analysis and observation.

Findings

The implemented practices enhanced service maintenance and customer services and provided a more effective monitoring of defective parts. Moreover, such practices reduced unnecessary part substitutions, consumer dissatisfaction and undesired disposal in the environment. RL in the studied company has offered a potential contribution to the company quality strategies by providing more part returns, assuring cost savings, and reducing time to solve field problems.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to a single case study. Thus, the study findings are not subject to generalization for other similar organizations.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few studies on RL in a household company in the context of an emerging economy. Such feature denotes in a singular scenario in RL investigations about recovering defective parts.
Justice and fairness in the workplace: a trajectory for managing diversity
Authors: Dahanayake Pradeepa , Rajendran Diana , Selvarajah Christopher , Ballantyne Glenda
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that diversity management (DM) interventions, underpinned by principles of justice and fairness, create a powerful force that drives sustainable outcomes. Further, the authors argue that justice and fairness should be embedded at the core of DM.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study methodology was used to ascertain how four organizations approached critical issues regarding diversity. Justice and fairness principles were used as a framework to evaluate each organization’s DM interventions. Different approaches adopted by the case study organizations were compared using a cross-case analysis.

Findings

Justice and fairness principles provide a useful framework to evaluate DM interventions. The findings show that justice and fairness principles have an effect across the continuum of DM, including identifying dimensions of diversity, executing DM programs and realizing outcomes of DM.

Research limitations/implications

The current study is limited to four case studies using qualitative methods.

Practical implications

The findings demonstrate the importance of integrating justice and fairness benchmarks when implementing DM programs.

Originality/value

The findings shed light on the link between DM and justice and fairness, an area lacking empirical studies. It also presents a new area for empirical enquiry—the application of social justice principles in evaluating organizational interventions in DM.
HPWS and climate for inclusion: a moral legitimacy lens
Authors: Harrison Jennifer A. , Boekhorst Janet A. , Yu Yin
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply insights from the moral legitimacy theory to understand how climate for inclusion (CFI) is cultivated at the individual and collective levels, thereby highlighting the influence of employee perceptions of inclusion-oriented high-performance work systems (HPWS) on CFI.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-level conceptual framework is introduced to explain how employee perceptions develop about the moral legitimacy of inclusion-oriented HPWS and the subsequent influence on CFI.

Findings

CFI is theorized to manifest when employees perceive inclusion-oriented HPWS as morally legitimate according to four unit-level features. Employees with a strong moral identity will be particularly attuned to the moral legitimacy of each of the unit-level HPWS features, thereby strengthening the perceived HPWS and CFI relationship at the individual level. The convergence of individual-level perceptions of CFI to the collective level will be strongest when climate variability is low for majority and minority groups.

Practical implications

Organizations seeking to develop CFI should consider the role of HPWS and the perceived moral legitimacy of such systems. This consideration may involve policy amendments to include a broadened scope of HPWS.

Originality/value

This paper explores how employee perceptions of the moral legitimacy of HPWS can help or hinder CFI, thereby offering a novel framework for future inclusion and human resource management research.
Slovenia: neo-corporatism under the neo-liberal turn
Authors: Stanojevic Miroslav
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the formation and development of Slovenia’s neo-corporatist industrial relations system in the 1990s, and its change which overlaps with Slovenia’s accession to the EU and the eurozone.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is based on the presumption that the transitional processes engaged in by the societies of “real socialism” were merely part of a larger and deeper transition – the great recommodification of the post-war decommodified societies of European democratic capitalism.

Findings

Already by the mid-1990s, the Slovenian industrial relations system contained all key features of the neo-corporatist regimes emerging after the Second World War in the European systems of democratic capitalism. Like those systems, in the 1990s Slovenia also saw a system being formed of political exchanges based on wage restraint policy. The combination of this wage policy and appropriate national monetary policy facilitated the Slovenian economy’s competitiveness and above-average growth. Slovenia was a success story.

Originality/value

The Slovenian system started to change in the middle of the last decade. The trigger of this change was Slovenia’s entry to the eurozone. Since then, Slovenian neo-corporatism has been subject to systematic deregulation. Despite this, the analysis suggests the Slovenian industrial relations system still contains a coordinating mechanism that distinguishes it from other “post-communist”, and, generally speaking, liberal market economies.
International actors and trade unions during postsocialism and after: the case of Romania
Authors: Adăscăliței Dragoș , Guga Ștefan
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain why, in spite having a relatively powerful labour movement at the start of the economic transformation, Romania ended up with a highly deregulated system of industrial relations in the aftermath of the global economic crisis of 2009 and with trade unions which seem incapable to defend their interests.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors trace the changing role that Romanian trade unions had in national policy making and show that the beginning of 2000s represents a critical point for the power loss sustained by organised labour.

Findings

The authors argue that a key element for explaining labour’s decline is the growing pressure exercised by various international organisations for the adoption of deregulatory labour market reforms. While during the 1990s this pressure was circumvented by successive governments which peddled back and forth between union wage pressure and fiscal austerity measures, beginning with 2000s, EU accession conditionalities coupled with IMF and World Bank policy recommendations enabled the international deregulation agenda to be implemented without much opposition.

Originality/value

The paper brings new evidence on the impact of international actors on the Romanian collective bargaining and labour market institutions.