bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical interactions in bacterial colonies and the surfing probability of beneficial mutations
Authors: Farrell Fred F. , Gralka Matti , Hallatschek Oskar , Waclaw Bartlomiej
Published: January 2017

Bacterial conglomerates such as biofilms and microcolonies are ubiquitous in nature and play an important role in industry and medicine. In contrast to well-mixed, diluted cultures routinely used in microbial research, bacteria in a microcolonv interact mechanically with one another and with the substrate to which they are attached. Despite their ubiquity, little is known about the role of such mechanical interactions on growth and biological evolution of microbial populations. Here we use a computer model of a microbial colony of rod-shaped cells to investigate how physical interactions between cells determine their motion in the colony, this affects biological evolution. We show that the probability that a faster-growing mutant “surfs” at the colony’s frontier and creates a macroscopic sector depends on physical properties of cells (shape, elasticity, friction). Although all these factors contribute to the surfing probability in seemingly different ways, they all ultimately exhibit their effects by altering the roughness of the expanding frontier of the colony and the orientation of cells. Our predictions are confirmed by experiments in which we measure the surfing probability for colonies of different front roughness. Our results show that physical interactions between bacterial cells play an important role in biological evolution of new traits, and suggest that these interaction may be relevant to processes such asde novoevolution of antibiotic resistance.
The neutral frequency spectrum of linked sites
Authors: Ferretti Luca , Klassmann Alexander , Raineri Emanuele , Ramos-Onsins Sebastián E. , Wiehe Thomas , Achaz Guillaume
Published: January 2017

We introduce the conditional Site Frequency Spectrum (SFS) for a genomic region linked to a focal mutation of known frequency. An exact expression for its expected value is provided for the neutral model without recombination. Its relation with the expected SFS for two sites, 2-SFS, is discussed. These spectra derive from the coalescent approach of Fu (1995) for finite samples, which is reviewed. Remarkably simple expressions are obtained for the linked SFS of a large population, which are also solutions of the multiallelic Kolmogorov equations. These formulae are the immediate extensions of the well known single siteθ/fneutral SFS. Besides the general interest in these spectra, they relate to relevant biological cases, such as structural variants and introgressions. As an application, a recipe to adapt Tajima’sDand other SFS-based neutrality tests to a non-recombining region containing a neutral marker is presented.
It’s okay to be green: Draft genome of the North American bullfrog (Rana [Lithobates] catesbeiana)
Authors: Hammond S. Austin , Warren René L. , Vandervalk Benjamin P. , Kucuk Erdi , Khan Hamza , Gibb Ewann A. , Pandoh Pawan , Kirk Heather , Zaho Yongjun , Jones Martin , Mungall Andrew J. , Coope Robin , Pleasance Stephen , Moore Richard A. , Holt Robert A. , Round Jessica M. , Ohora Sara , Walle Branden V. , Veldhoen Nik , Helbing Caren C. , Birol Inanc
Published: January 2017

Frogs play important ecological roles as sentinels, insect control and food sources. Several species are important model organisms for scientific research to study embryogenesis, development, immune function, and endocrine signaling. The globally-distributed Ranidae (true frogs) are the largest frog family, and have substantial evolutionary distance from the model laboratoryXenopusfrog species. Consequently, the extensiveXenopusgenomic resources are of limited utility for Ranids and related frog species. More widely applicable amphibian genomic data is urgently needed as more than two-thirds of known species are currently threatened or are undergoing population declines.

Herein, we report on the first genome sequence of a Ranid species, an adult male North American bullfrog (Rana [Lithobates] catesbeiana). We assembled high-depth Illumina reads (66-fold coverage), into a 5.8 Gbp (NG50 = 57.7 kbp) draft genome using ABySS v1.9.0. The assembly was scaffolded with LINKS and RAILS using pseudo-long-reads from targeteddenovoassembler Kollector and Illumina Synthetic Long-Reads, as well as reads from long fragment (MPET) libraries. We predicted over 22,000 protein-coding genes using the MAKER2 pipeline and identified the genomic loci of 6,227 candidate long noncoding RNAs (IncRNAs) from a composite reference bullfrog transcriptome. Mitochondrial sequence analysis supportedLithobatesas a subgenus ofRana.RNA-Seq experiments identified ~6,000 thyroid hormone– responsive transcripts in the back skin of premetamorphic tadpoles; the majority of which regulate DNA/RNA processing. Moreover, 1/6thof differentially-expressed transcripts were putative lncRNAs. Our draft bullfrog genome will serve as a useful resource for the amphibian research community.
Effects of time and isolation on plant diversity: testing island biogeography theory with an eco-evolutionary model
Authors: Sarmento Cabral Juliano , Whittaker Robert J. , Wiegand Kerstin , Kreft Holger
Published: January 2017

abstract

Aims

The General Dynamic Model of oceanic island biogeography (GDM) predicts how biogeographical rates, species richness, and endemism vary depending on island age, area, and isolation, based on the interplay of colonization, extinction, and speciation. Here, we used a simulation model to test whether GDM predictions may arise from individual- and population-level processes.

Location

Hypothetical hotspot islands.

Methods

Our model (i) considers an idealized island ontogeny, (ii) metabolic constraints, and (iii) stochastic, spatially-explicit, and niche-based processes at the level of individuals and populations (plant demography, dispersal, competition, mutation, and speciation). Isolation scenarios involved varying dispersal ability and distances to mainland.

Results

Humped temporal trends were obtained for species richness, endemic richness, proportion of cladogenetic endemic species, number of radiating lineages, number of species per radiating lineage, and biogeographical rates. The proportion of anagenetic endemics and of all endemics steadily increased over time. Extinction rates of endemic species peaked later than for non-endemic species. Species richness and the number of anagenetic endemics decreased with isolation as did rates of colonization, anagenesis, and extinction. The proportion of all endemics and of cladogenetic endemics, the number of cladogenetic endemics, of radiating lineages, and of species per radiating lineage, and the cladogenesis rate all increased with isolation.

Main conclusions

The results confirm most GDM predictions related to island ontogeny and isolation, but predict an increasing proportion of endemics throughout the experiment: a difference attributable to diverging assumptions on late island ontogeny. New insights regarding the extinction trends of endemics further demonstrate how simulation models focusing on low ecological levels provide tools to test biogeographical-scale predictions and to develop more detailed predictions for further empirical tests.
Telomere elongation and Telomerase activity in Normal and Cancer cell lines: HEK-293, HeLa and A549
Authors: Patel Ankur , Joshi Grishma , Fu Yunke , Shaju Sherwin , Messina Angelo
Published: January 2017

Telomerase, an eukaryotic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex, consists of an essential RNA template and a reverse transcriptase termed as human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). By using this reverse transcriptase enzyme, telomerase RNP maintains its telomeric length in all cancer cells and in few stem cells. As cells age, telomerase level decreases and telomere get shorten, leading to senescence. Presence of telomerase helps delay the senescence due to active production of telomere, leading to cell turning malignant and eventually cancerous. In this experiment, we would investigate the telomerase activity tested using q PCR and telomerase level using western blot in three different cell lines, HEK-293, HeLa and A549.

Hypothesis

Where HEK-293 cells have longer telomeres and higher telomerase activity, HeLa and A549 cell lines will have varied length of telomere but higher telomerase activity.
A systematic comparison of error correction enzymes by next-generation sequencing
Authors: Lubock Nathan B. , Zhang Di , Church George M. , Kosuri Sriram
Published: January 2017

Gene synthesis, the process of assembling gene-length fragments from shorter groups of oligonucleotides (oligos), is becoming an increasingly important tool in molecular and synthetic biology. The length, quality, and cost of gene synthesis is limited by errors produced during oligo synthesis and subsequent assembly. Enzymatic error correction methods are cost-effective means to ameliorate errors in gene synthesis. Previous analyses of these methods relied on cloning and Sanger sequencing to evaluate their efficiencies, limiting quantitative assessment and throughput. Here we develop a method to quantify errors in synthetic DNA by next-generation sequencing. We analyzed errors in a model gene assembly and systematically compared six different error correction enzymes across 11 conditions. We find that ErrASE and T7 Endonuclease I are the most effective at decreasing average error rates (up to 5.8-fold relative to the input), whereas MutS is the best for increasing the number of perfect assemblies (up to 25.2-fold). We are able to quantify differential specificities such as ErrASE preferentially corrects C/G → G/C transversions whereas T7 Endonuclease I preferentially corrects A/T → T/A transversions. More generally, this experimental and computational pipeline is a fast, scalable, and extensible way to analyze errors in gene assemblies, to profile error correction methods, and to benchmark DNA synthesis methods.
Planarity of benzoylthiocarbazate tuberculostatics. III. Diesters of 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)dithiocarbazic acid
Authors: Szczesio Małgorzata , Olczak Andrzej , Mazerant Ida , Gobis Katarzyna , Foks Henryk , Główka Marek L.
Published: January 2017

Searches for new tuberculostatic agents are important considering the occurrence of drug-resistant strains ofMycobacterium tuberculosis. The structures of three new potentially tuberculostatic compounds, namely isopropyl methyl (2-hydroxybenzoyl)carbonohydrazonodithioate, C12H16N2O2S2, (Z)-benzyl methyl (2-hydroxybenzoyl)carbonohydrazonodithioate, C16H16N2O2S2, and dibenzyl (2-hydroxybenzoyl)carbonohydrazonodithioate propan-2-ol monosolvate, C22H20N2O2S2·C3H8O, were determined by X-ray diffraction. The mutual orientation of the three main fragments of the compounds, namely an aromatic ring, a dithioester group and a hydrazide group, can influence the biological activity of the compounds. In all three of the structures studied, the C(=O)NH group is in theanticonformation. In addition, the presence of the hydroxy group in theorthoposition of the aromatic ring in all three structures leads to the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilizing the planarity of the molecules.
Environmental liabilities and diversity in practice under international financial reporting standards
Authors: Schneider Thomas , Michelon Giovanna , Maier Michael
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encourage accounting regulators to address diversity in practice in the reporting of environmental liabilities. When Canada changed to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2011, Canadian regulators asked the IFRS Interpretations Committee to interpret whether the discount rate to value environmental liabilities should be a risk-free discount rate. Old Canadian GAAP, and current US GAAP, allow for a higher discount rate, resulting in commensurately lower liabilities. International regulators refused to address this issue expecting no diversity in practice in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus is on a sample of Canadian oil and gas and mining firms. These domestic industries play a major role internationally and have significant environmental liabilities. The method is empirical archival, tracking firm characteristics and discount rate choice on transition to IFRS.

Findings

There is significant diversity in practice. About one-third of the sample firms choose a higher discount rate, avoiding a major increase in environmental liabilities on transition to IFRS. The evidence suggests that these firms have relatively larger environmental liabilities and that the discount rate decision is a strategic choice.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is based on one country and may only be reflecting local anomalies that have no broader implications.

Practical implications

Diversity in practice in accounting for environmental liabilities is not acceptable. Accounting regulators should act to create consistent and comparable reporting practice.

Social implications

Firms and managers facing larger environmental liabilities can choose to minimize environmental liabilities under IFRS, while it is the general public and society at large that bear the ultimate risk.

Originality/value

The paper pushes forward the debate on whether recognized environmental liabilities should reflect the interests of equity investors, or if other investors and stakeholders should be taken into account.
Rhetorical impression management in the letter to shareholders and institutional setting
Authors: Aerts Walter , Yan Beibei
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Using composite style measures of the letter to shareholders, the purpose of this paper is to elaborate dominant rhetorical profiles and qualify them from an impression management (IM) perspective. In addition, the paper examines how institutional differences affect rhetorical profiles by comparing intensity and contingencies of rhetorical profiles of UK and US companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use automated text analysis to capture linguistic style characteristics of a panel of UK and US companies and employ factor analysis to determine rhetorical profiles. Next, the authors investigate company-level and country-level determinants of a company’s rhetorical stance.

Findings

The authors document three prominent rhetorical profiles: an emphatic acclaiming stance, a cautious plausibility-based framing position, and a logic-based rationalizing orientation. The profiles represent distinct self-presentational logics and have different readability effects. Rhetorical IM is stronger in US companies, but higher expected scrutiny in the US institutional environment affects sensitivity of rhetorical postures to message credibility and litigation risk, while marginally increasing the less litigation-sensitive defensive framing style in US letters.

Originality/value

The authors develop replicable archival-based measures of prominent rhetorical IM traits of the shareholder letter, based on composite style features. The authors argue that they are qualitatively different from content-based IM proxies. The authors investigate their institutional and organizational relevance by examining how company features and country-level differences affect incentives and constraints for style-based rhetorical IM.
The adoption and success of contemporary management accounting practices in the public sector
Authors: Nuhu Nuraddeen Abubakar , Baird Kevin , Bala Appuhamilage Appuhami
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between the interactive and diagnostic use of MCSs with the extent of adoption of contemporary management accounting practices, and the subsequent impact on the success of such practices in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through the distribution of a mail survey of 740 questionnaires to public sector organisations in Australia, and analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The study found that both the interactive and diagnostic approaches to using MCSs exhibit a positive association with the adoption of contemporary management accounting practices, both as a package and individually. In addition, while the level of success of contemporary management accounting practices was moderate, it was found that the extent of adoption of the practices enhanced their success.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that by intensifying the use of MCSs in a more interactive and diagnostic manner, public sector organisations are more likely to adopt contemporary management to a greater extent, with the subsequent increase in the extent of adoption of such practices to exacerbate their success.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the MCS contingency-based research by highlighting the interrelationship between two aspects of MCSs, the use of controls and the adoption and success of management accounting practices.
Gastronomic festivals: attitude, motivation and satisfaction of the tourist
Authors: López-Guzmán Tomás , Uribe Lotero Claudia Patricia , Pérez Gálvez Jesús Claudio , Ríos Rivera Ingrid
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the segmentation of the tourists who visit a gastronomic festival in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, in accordance with their perceptions with respect to gastronomy.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this objective, the methodology used in this research has been the application of a multivariate technique of grouping items and the realisation of a post hoc single variate ANOVA analysis.

Findings

The principal conclusions resulting from this research are focussed on the segmentation of the tourists in three different groups and how the travellers’ interest in gastronomy leads to greater satisfaction with the destination.

Practical implications

The main practical implications are centred on better understanding of the key factors of how gastronomy can reinforce a tourist destination and produce greater satisfaction for the traveller.

Originality/value

Gastronomy is used as a source of inspiration in tourist destinations. This research reinforces this theme, taking on the study of a gastronomic festival in an important business destination, such as the city of Guayaquil, in a geographic area, Latin America, characterised by a recognised gastronomy but still little studied in the scientific literature.
Evaluation of performance index in resilient supply chain: a fuzzy-based approach
Authors: Sahu Anoop Kumar , Datta Saurav , Mahapatra S.S.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a multi-level hierarchical framework (evaluation index system) toward evaluating an “appraisement index” from the prospectus of measuring and monitoring resilient performance of the candidate industry.

Design/methodology/approach

In this reporting, vagueness, imprecision, as well as inconsistency associated with subjective evaluation information (aligned with ill-defined assessment indices of SC resilience performance), has been tackled by the application of fuzzy theory.

Findings

Subjective evaluation information (expressed in linguistic term) acquired from the committee of decision makers (called expert group), against different resilience indices/metrics, has been fruitfully explored through the proposed fuzzy-based resilience performance appraisement module. Finally, a case study from an Indian automobile company has been conducted from the perspective of checking effectiveness of the proposed methodology for evaluation of appraisement index indicating SC resilience extent.

Originality/value

This methodology might be successfully applied to help other decision-making problems from the perspective of performance appraisal and benchmarking of candidate alternatives/choices under predefined criteria and subjective evaluation circumstances.
Risk analysis and mitigation for perishable food supply chain: a case of dairy industry
Authors: Prakash Surya , Soni Gunjan , Rathore Ajay Pal Singh , Singh Shubhender
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to analyze the risks present in perishable food supply chain and to determine the most effective risk mitigation strategies. It is achieved by understanding the dynamics between various risks in perishable food supply chain and modeling them using interpretive structural modeling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

Four categories and 17 types of risk are established from literature and conducting brainstorming sessions with managers/engineers in Indian dairy firms. A methodology is proposed using ISM, risk priority number and risk mitigation number to prioritize risk mitigation strategy decisions for the dairy industry.

Findings

For a perishable food supply chain, risk positioned at lower levels (levels 1 or 2) in the hierarchy should be targeted first, while formulating mitigation strategies. To investigate further, risk- enabling factors which are identified for an Indian dairy firm for these levels 1 and 2 risks and mitigation strategy prioritization show that supplier side risks are more dominant followed by market risks and process risks.

Research limitations/implications

This proposed methodology has not been statistically validated or empirically tested, and factors taken are in the Indian context, but the authors believe that the study is highly relevant to other markets as well because the ISM-based analysis is for generic perishable food supply chain environment.

Practical implications

This study provides a useful approach to managers/decision makers to identify, analyze and prioritize risk in the supply chain. It also provides insights into the mutual relationships of supply chain risks which would help them to focus on the effective risk mitigation strategies formulation. The study provides the insights to benchmark and risk management in the dairy industry environment with priority considerations.

Originality/value

This paper provides an integrated approach to identifying, quantify, analyze, evaluate and mitigate the risks of perishable food (in the dairy environment) in the Indian context.
International performance benchmarking in winemaking
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G. , Lazareva Natalia
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study winemaking efficiency with the help of international performance benchmarking and to finding ways for its improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, three models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and other tools of international performance benchmarking are used to analyse the efficiency of wine companies. Return to scale (RTS) and scale efficiency, labour and capital productivity and some other indicators are examined. The research is based on a sample of 36 wine companies from 15 countries.

Findings

International benchmarking expands performance improvement for domestic companies. The most efficient wine companies are originated from Germany, USA and New Zeeland. Scale inefficiency and increasing RTS for most of the wine companies was identified. Only three wine companies have decreasing RTS (those from UK, Australia and France). To increase relative efficiency, these companies need to reduce the output and sales as their costs are growing faster than the revenues. A huge potential for cost reduction and efficiency growth within Ukrainian wine companies was revealed.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to a single industry. This is explained by the requirement of technology (product, service) homogeneity while using DEA tools.

Practical implications

Study results include the data and recommendations to develop winemaking. These results can be used by wine companies’ management, present and potential investors and proprietors, regulative public authority, e.g. to improve efficiency in winemaking.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that adapts various DEA models to measure efficiency in the wine industry of Ukraine and the tools of international performance benchmarking for wine companies around the world.
Non-executive director’s motivation to continue serving on boards: a self-determination theory perspective
Authors: Walther Axel , Möltner Hannah , Morner Michèle
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to identify distinct motivation profiles among non-executive directors and explores the reasons why non-executive directors continue to serve on boards of directors.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a multiple case study in the context of German supervisory boards. The authors develop their primary insights from semi-structured interviews with 53 non-executive directors.

Findings

The findings indicate that non-executive director motivation revolves around material incentives, reputation, meaningfulness, congruence with firm goals and enjoyment. Three distinct motivation profiles emerge from the analysis, with each profile exhibiting a set of unique reasons to continue serving on boards.

Research limitations/implications

Future research needs to test for the statistical representativeness of the findings and their performance implications, preferably in a shareholder-oriented governance context.

Originality/value

The study introduces a psychological angle to the debate about non-executive director motivation. The contributions include going beyond a bi-polar distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and draw attention to how motivation profiles relate to non-executive director’s intention to continue serving on boards.
Structuring supervisory board for an anti-corruption strategy: a new application of a compliance system
Authors: Previtali Pietro , Cerchiello Paola
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine a relevant innovation in terms of how corporate supervisory boards are structured for an effective measure of anti-corruption that concerns a new application of Italian Legislative Decree No. 231/2001 in compliance with the obligations set out by OECD Convention of 17 September 1997 on the fight against corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

The research hypotheses which lead the study are based on an empirical analysis of 119 nursing homes with the aim of investigating the state-of-the art of this innovative application especially regarding the composition, effectiveness and functioning of the supervisory board in the unique case when this compliance system becomes compulsory.

Findings

The results show how, even though a certain level of uncertainty and ambiguity have led to great variance in the ways the compliance system is drafted, was possible to identify a positive relation between supervisory board composition and performance – that is the effectiveness of anti-corruption system – and a negative relation between board size and performance. Finally, the results suggest the relevance of supervisory board in fostering knowledge as mediating role.

Research limitations/implications

The authors believes that future work using inter-temporal modelling could build upon and extend the insights presented here. A second area arises from those contrasts in board characteristics that are present across countries and/or across company’s size, small- and medium-sized enterprises or multinational companies and/or across industrial sectors.

Practical implications

The authors offers a more nuanced understanding of the linkages between corporate governance and anti-corruption. In particular, the paper suggests that for an effective anti-corruption strategy, larger supervisory board sizes are associated with weaker performance, and a greater external composition is preferable to an internal one.

Originality/value

The paper depicts a first and relevant step toward the identification of best practices of corporate governance as anti-corruption system, relating to an innovative and unique – to the date – application of a compliance system based on the supervisory board.
Managing brand identity: effects on the employees
Authors: Bravo Rafael , Buil Isabel , de Chernatony Leslie , Martínez Eva
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand the brand identity management process from the employees’ perspective. Specifically, it explores how the different dimensions of brand identity management influence employees’ attitudinal and behavioural responses.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was carried out to test the proposed model. The sample consisted of 297 employees in the UK financial services sector. Hypothesis testing was conducted using partial least square regression.

Findings

Results indicate that effective brand identity management can increase employees’ identification with their organisations. Specifically, the most influential dimension is the employee-client focus. Results also show that organisational identification is a key variable to explain job satisfaction, word-of-mouth and brand citizenship behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

This study focusses on the UK financial sector. To explore the generalisability of results, replication studies among other sectors and countries would be useful. The cross-sectional nature of the study also limits its causal inference.

Practical implications

This study shows the importance of brand identity management to foster positive employee attitudes and actions that go beyond their job responsibilities. The model developed may help organisations analyse the impact of managerial actions, monitoring the potential effects of changes in brand identity management amongst employees.

Originality/value

Although numerous conceptual frameworks highlight the importance of brand identity management, empirical studies in this area are scarce. The current work extends previous research by empirically analysing the effects of the dimensions of brand identity management from the employees’ perspective.
Revisiting Environmental Kuznets Curve in Sub-Sahara Africa
Authors: Ogundari Kolawole , Ademuwagun Adebola Abimbola , Ajao Olajide Abraham
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to revisit the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries by focusing on two indicators of environmental change (EC), namely rate of deforestation (RD) and all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture (Agric_GHG) with aim of addressing two key objectives in the study. First, to investigate whether the EKC hypothesis exists for both indicators considered in the region. Second, to examine the effects of macroeconomic and institutional variables on both indicators in the study.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a balanced panel data covering 43 countries from 1990-2009 in the study. Subsequently, the study uses serial correlation/autoregressive order one corrected cross-section time series model based on Feasible Generalized Least Square method.

Findings

The empirical results show that the EKC exists (i.e. as inverted U-shaped) only for all GHG emissions from agriculture. Agricultural production and trade openness increase significantly both indicators of EC considered in the study. Other results show that, population growth reduces significantly Agric_GHG, while economic growth increases significantly RD in SSA.

Originality/value

This is the very first study to investigate the applicability of EKC hypothesis to emissions from non-oil sector such as agriculture (i.e. all GHG emissions from agriculture) in the region.
Translating heritage into museums: two architectural strategies inside Lisbon Castle
Authors: Barranha Helena , Caldas João Vieira , Silva Rita Nobre Neto da
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of contemporary architecture in heritage protection, reinterpretation and reuse, an issue that has become increasingly relevant due to the recognition of architectural heritage as a key factor for cultural and economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

In Portugal, as elsewhere in Europe, cultural heritage management has often been associated with the creation of new museum spaces, namely, within national monuments and archaeological sites. Drawing on restoration theories and international charters, this paper analyses and compares two parallel interventions recently built inside São Jorge Castle, in Lisbon: the Museum Centre (Victor Mestre and Sofia Aleixo, 2007-2008) and the Archaeological Site (João Luís Carrilho da Graça, 2008-2010). This approach offers insight on the complexity of addressing and reconfiguring the profusion of past transformations within a single monument.

Findings

These two complementary museum spaces are representative of different attitudes towards heritage appropriation, substantiating the thesis that musealizing always entails the creation of narratives, which translate history and heritage into architectural and curatorial discourses. Besides meeting the functional requirements of specific museum programmes, such interventions frequently deal with the challenge of opening up new perspectives on the past.

Originality/value

Considering the central role of communication in contemporary museums, this paper discusses how heritage musealization can contribute to the translation of historical evidence into updated iconographies, narratives and dialogues. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of this twofold case study can provide an insightful contribution for a broader debate on the reinterpretation of iconic monuments and sites.
Students’ awareness and attitudes toward archaeological conservation: Bujang Valley
Authors: Barghi Rabeeh , Zakaria Zuraini , Jaafar Mastura , Hamzah Aswati
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Like other components of cultural heritage, the preservation of archaeological sites is important because they constitute a unique and irreplaceable legacy, something that has been received from the ancestors and that should be passed on to future generations. The purpose of this paper is to explore how well secondary school students in Bujang Valley, Malaysia, understand the concept and value of archaeology and to what extent they are interested in archaeology.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was administered to 110 students, aged 14 and 15 years, from secondary schools in the Bujang Valley area.

Findings

The results showed that most of the students were interested in archaeology and had a moderately accurate understanding of what archaeology entailed. Their main information sources included museum visits and participating in local archaeological projects. Participants demonstrated a sense of archaeological responsibility in objecting to the illegal trafficking of artefacts.

Practical implications

Moreover, these findings have significant implications for heritage and education authorities in the Bujang Valley in terms of planning for educational programmes to raising the awareness of local communities.

Originality/value

These findings expand upon the knowledge of students’ attitudes towards archaeology.
Enriching and enhancing digital cultural heritage through crowd contribution
Authors: Gupta Dinesh K. , Sharma Veerbala
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the status of digitization of manuscripts in India and to give suggestions to transcribe these manuscripts easily, effortlessly and expeditiously.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the analytical study of the literature available on global efforts in respect of documentation, preservation, conservation and digitization of manuscripts with special emphasis on the efforts of “namami” (acronym for National Manuscript Mission) for Indian manuscripts.

Findings

Meticulous analysis of literature and case studies give an overview of the diverse practices of public participation/crowd collaboration to transcribe and tagging of the rare and old historical documents around the globe. However, Indian libraries are far behind in adopting such practices.

Practical implications

India has a very rich cultural, educational and research heritage preserved in the form of manuscripts. These thousands of manuscripts are significant source of knowledge base for many researchers, however, despite their heritage value, these remain inaccessible to the researchers because of their being scattered and unpublished form. Moreover, even the digitized manuscripts remain difficult to use by the researchers because of immense linguistic diversity and scripts. Documentation and digitization of these manuscripts will not only preserve the invaluable heritage of India but also will enable their easy and vast access by the researchers globally. With the rapid growth in digital information and web-based technology, galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) around the world encourage and engage public participation in various digitization projects to enrich and enhance their digital collections and place them on the web. However, Indian GLAM still refrains to accept and adopt such practices. Thus this paper will encourage and motivate the Indian GLAM to expedite their digitization and uploading them on web for tagging and transcribing.

Originality/value

This is an original paper and has great implementation value. During the study enormous literature was available on digitization of Indian manuscripts. However, not even a single study could be found on tagging and transcription of these manuscripts, specifically crowd contribution in this area. Hence, the paper, by presenting the evidences of crowd participation for the tagging and transcription of manuscripts globally, proposes the Indian GLAM to exploit the benefits of this practice for Indian manuscripts also in order to expedite the tagging process to enhance their usage.
Modified sales comparison method: valuing under (un)certainty
Authors: Jansen van Vuuren David
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to suggest a modified sales comparison model that is scalable and adaptable to value under conditions of certainty and uncertainty. The model can potentially be applied to residential property, non-residential property and large item plant and machinery in determining the value, rental or capitalisation rate. The second purpose is to address practitioner and end user bias, which if unaddressed can lead to potentially inconsistent valuation results.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature was reviewed on decision theory, specifically cognitive limitations, heuristics and biases. A qualitative approach is followed in the paper although the output of the proposed model itself is quantitative.

Findings

The paper argues that practitioners and end users alike tend to avoid advanced statistical techniques when valuing under conditions of certainty, while advanced statistical techniques would not be possible under conditions of uncertainty. In addition, practitioners can, due to the representative heuristic, be over-confident in their ability, skill or knowledge when performing valuations under conditions of certainty. When valuing under conditions of uncertainty, practitioners tend to avoid simple rule models as they consider the process too unique to be standardised. The combined effect is inconsistent valuation results unless it can potentially be addressed through an integrated and modified sales comparison model that takes into account varying degrees of certainty and uncertainty.

Practical implications

The proposed modified sales comparison model is an integrated model that can be adopted by practitioners in valuing residential, non-residential and large plant and machinery. It can potentially be used to value under conditions of certainty and uncertainty and improve valuation consistency. End users such as mortgage lenders and investors can benefit from the adoption of this model.

Originality/value

The aim of this paper is to propose an integrated and modified sales comparison model for valuing under conditions of certainty, normal uncertainty and abnormal uncertainty. The integrated model can value based on direct comparison under conditions of certainty and uncertainty while addressing the in practice avoidance of advanced statistical techniques and the implications of the representative heuristic and halo effect as cognitive biases on valuation consistency.
The moderating influence of market potential and prior experience on the governance quality-equity participation relationship
Authors: Lahiri Somnath
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theorize and examine how target country governance quality, target country market potential and acquirer’s prior experience impacts equity participation in cross-border acquisitions.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesized effects are tested using a sample of 1,447 acquisitions undertaken over an 11-year time by US-based multinational enterprises (MNEs) in four emerging markets: Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC).

Findings

Analysis suggests that target country governance quality (government effectiveness, rule of law and control of corruption) strongly influences equity participation, and market potential moderates the influence of governance quality on equity participation. Further, findings demonstrate that acquirer’s target country acquisition experience amplifies the positive influence of market potential on governance quality-equity participation relationship.

Originality/value

This study adds to the existing knowledge of equity participation in cross-border acquisitions (CBAs) undertaken by foreign MNEs in BRICs. This understanding is important since MNEs across the globe invest in BRIC utilizing CBA, and related research remains limited.
Union is strength
Authors: Martí-Ballester Carmen Pilar , Simon Alexandra
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the management systems (MSs) field by addressing whether the implementation of an integrated management system (IMS) and the integration level of its elements bring benefits and/or challenges to companies and whether these are related to corporate financial performance (CFP).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a Spanish sample of 76 organizations with at least an environmental and a quality MS, the authors perform a partial least squares (PLS) analysis.

Findings

The results showed evidence of a positive relationship of the integration benefits with respect to the integration level of MS documentation and the integration level of MS procedures that overweights the negative significant effect of difficulties of integration in relation to the integration level of MS documentation and the integration level of MS procedures. The authors also found new evidence on this topic, related to a positive significant relationship between the integration level of MS procedures and CFP that overweights the negative significant effect of integration level of MS documentation on CFP.

Research limitations/implications

This study used cross-sectional data from interviewees who are Catalan managers. Furthermore, the mail survey was answered in 2010 at the beginning of the economic crisis from which results should be taken with caution given that the situation might have changed due to the continuation of the Spanish economic crisis.

Practical implications

The findings could allow companies’ managers to understand the extent to which the integration of quality management practices and environmental management practices influences some of the most relevant firms’ financial performance dimensions.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, there are not empirical studies that address the relationship of IMS with a measure of performance such as CFP.
CEO duality and bribery: the roles of gender and national culture
Authors: Tuliao Kristine Velasquez , Chen Chung-wen
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cross-cultural impact of CEO-Chair’s gender to the likelihood of CEO duality firm’s bribery.

Design/methodology/approach

Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze data of 5,837 CEO duality firms from 21 countries.

Findings

Firms with male CEO-Chairs were found to have higher propensity to bribe than their female counterparts. Moreover, cultural values of institutional collectivism and performance orientation strengthened gender’s impact to bribery. In contrast, future orientation weakened the gender-bribery relationship, as opposed to the proposed effect.

Practical implications

Key findings of this study can be utilized to increase awareness and widen perspective on the roles of CEO-Chair’s gender and national culture on bribery. These can also be useful in the selection of CEO-Chair, design of educational programs on ethics as well as government and non-governments’ programs and policies to minimize incidents of bribery.

Originality/value

There are no existing studies on CEO duality firm’s bribery which performed cross-cultural analysis on the impact of CEO-Chair’s gender, making the study a novel contribution to business ethics, organizational structure, corporate governance, management decision, transparency, and accountability.
Symbolic Management and the Glass Cliff: Evidence from the Boardroom Careers of Female and Male Directors
Authors: Main Brian G. M. , Gregory‐Smith Ian
Published: January 2017

This paper uses archival board data to demonstrate that women who take positions as directors of UK companies have shorter tenures than their male counterparts. The authors show that female directors face a much higher risk of dismissal as they approach nine years of service on the board, when their long service deprives them of the all‐important classification as ‘independent’. At this point, their position on the board becomes precarious. Male directors do not suffer the same increase in boardroom exit. This gender‐specific difference is clearly shown to be linked to the independence status. It is argued that these observations are consistent with the notion that female directors are being used in the symbolic management of corporate governance and that, at nine years, when the cloak of independence disappears, women directors are then exposed to the biases that arise from role congruity issues.
The impact of CES1 genotypes on the pharmacokinetics of methylphenidate in healthy Danish subjects
Authors: Stage Claus , Jürgens Gesche , Guski Louise Schow , Thomsen Ragnar , Bjerre Ditte , Ferrero‐Miliani Laura , Lyauk Yassine Kamal , Rasmussen Henrik Berg , Dalhoff Kim ,   The INDICES Consortium
Published: January 2017

Aims

This study investigated the influence of CES1 variations, including the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs71647871 (G143E) and variation in copy number, on the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of 10 mg methylphenidate.

Methods

CES1 genotype was obtained from 200 healthy Danish Caucasian volunteers. Based on the genotype, 44 (19 males and 25 females) were invited to participate in an open, prospective trial involving six predefined genotypes: three groups with two, three and four CES1 copies, respectively; a group of carriers of the CES1 143E allele; a group of individuals homozygous for CES1A1c (CES1VAR); and a group having three CES1 copies, in which the duplication, CES1A2, had increased transcriptional activity. Plasma concentrations of methylphenidate and its primary metabolites were determined at scheduled time points.

Results

Median AUC of d‐methylphenidate was significantly larger in the group carrying the 143E allele (53.3 ng ml−1 h−1, range 38.6–93.9) than in the control group (21.4 ng ml−1 h−1, range 15.7–34.9) (P < 0.0001). Median AUC of d‐methylphenidate was significantly larger in the group with four CES1 copies (34.5 ng ml−1 h−1, range 21.3–62.8) than in the control group (P = 0.01) and the group with three CES1 copies (23.8 ng ml−1 h−1, range 15.3–32.0, P = 0.03). There was no difference between the groups with two and three copies of CES1.

Conclusions

The 143E allele resulted in an increased AUC, suggesting a significantly decreased CES1 enzyme activity. Surprisingly, this was also the case in subjects with homozygous duplication of CES1, perhaps reflecting an undiscovered mutation affecting the activity of the enzyme.