bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genetic legacy of continental scale admixture in Indian Austroasiatic speakers
Authors: Tätte Kai , Pagani Luca , Pathak Ajai K. , Kõks Sulev , Duy Binh Ho , Ho Xuan Dung , Nahar Sultana Gazi Nurun , Sharif Mohd Istiaq , Asaduzzaman Md , Behar Doron M. , Hadid Yarin , Villems Richard , Chaubey Gyaneshwer , Kivisild Toomas , Metspalu Mait
Published: September 2018

Surrounded by speakers of Indo-European, Dravidian and Tibeto-Burman languages, around 11 million Munda (a branch of Austroasiatic language family) speakers live in the densely populated and genetically diverse South Asia. Their genetic makeup holds components characteristic of South Asians as well as Southeast Asians. The admixture time between these components has been previously estimated on the basis of archaeology, linguistics and uniparental markers. Using genome-wide genotype data of 102 Munda speakers and contextual data from South and Southeast Asia, we retrieved admixture dates between 2000 – 3800 years ago for different populations of Munda. The best modern proxies for the source populations for the admixture with proportions 0.78/0.22 are Lao people from Laos and Dravidian speakers from Kerala in India, while the South Asian population(s), with whom the incoming Southeast Asians intermixed, had a smaller proportion of West Eurasian component than contemporary proxies. Somewhat surprisingly Malaysian Peninsular tribes rather than the geographically closer Austroasiatic languages speakers like Vietnamese and Cambodians show highest sharing of IBD segments with the Munda. In addition, we affirmed that the grouping of the Munda speakers into North and South Munda based on linguistics is in concordance with genome-wide data.
Physicochemical mechanotransduction alters nuclear shape and mechanics via heterochromatin formation
Authors: Stephens Andrew D. , Liu Patrick Z. , Kandula Viswajit , Chen Haimei , Almassalha Luay M. , Backman Vadim , O’Halloran Thomas , Adam Stephen A. , Goldman Robert D. , Banigan Edward J. , Marko John F.
Published: September 2018

The nucleus houses, organizes, and protects chromatin to ensure genome integrity and proper gene expression, but how the nucleus adapts mechanically to changes in the extracellular environment is poorly understood. Recent studies have revealed that extracellular chemical or physical stresses induce chromatin compaction via mechanotransductive processes. We report that increased extracellular multivalent cations lead to increased heterochromatin levels through mechanosensitive ion channels. This increase in heterochromatin results in increased chromatin-based nuclear rigidity, which suppresses nuclear blebbing in cells with perturbed chromatin or lamins. Furthermore, transduction of elevated extracellular cations rescues nuclear morphology in model and patient cells of human diseases, including progeria and the breast cancer model cell line MDA-MB-231. We conclude that nuclear mechanics and morphology, including abnormal phenotypes found in human diseases, can be modulated by cell sensing of the extracellular environment and consequent changes to histone modification state and chromatin-based nuclear rigidity, without requiring direct mechanical perturbations to the cell interior.
An epi-evolutionary model to predict spore-producing pathogens adaptation to quantitative resistance in heterogeneous environments
Authors: Fabre Frédéric , Burie Jean-Baptiste , Ducrot Arnaud , Lion Sébastien , Richard Quentin , Djidjou-Demasse Ramsès
Published: September 2018

We model the evolutionary epidemiology of spore-producing plant pathogens in heterogeneous environments sown with several cultivars carrying quantitative resistances. The model explicitly tracks the infection-age structure and genetic composition of the pathogen population. Each strain is characterized by pathogenicity traits describing its infection efficiency and a time-varying sporulation curve taking into account lesion ageing. We first derive a general expression of the basic reproduction number ℛ0for fungal pathogens in heterogeneous environments. We show that evolutionary attractors of the model coincide with local maxima of ℛ0only if the infection efficiency is the same on all host types. We then study how three basic resistance characteristics (pathogenicity trait targeted, resistance effectiveness, and adaptation cost) in interaction with the deployment strategy (proportion of fields sown with a resistant cultivar) (i) lead to pathogen diversification at equilibrium and (ii) shape the transient dynamics from evolutionary and epidemiological perspectives. We show that quantitative resistance impacting only the sporulation curve will always lead to a monomorphic population, while dimorphism (i.e. pathogen diversification) can occur with resistance altering infection efficiency, notably with high adaptation cost and proportion of R cultivar. Accordingly, the choice of quantitative resistance genes operated by plant breeders is a driver of pathogen diversification. From an evolutionary perspective, the emergence time of the evolutionary attractor best adapted to the R cultivar tends to be shorter when the resistance impacts infection efficiency than when it impacts sporulation. In contrast, from an epidemiological perspective, the epidemiological control is always higher when the resistance impacts infection efficiency. This highlights the difficulty of defining deployment strategies of quantitative resistance maximising at the same time epidemiological and evolutionary outcomes.
Split-miniSOG for detecting and localizing intracellular protein-protein interactions: application to correlated light and electron microscopy
Authors: Boassa Daniela , Lemieux Sakina P. , Lev-Ram Varda , Hu Junru , Xiong Qing , Phan Sebastien , Mackey Mason , Ramachandra Ranjan , Adams Stephen R. , Tsien Roger Y. , Ellisman Mark H. , Ngo John T.
Published: September 2018

A protein complementation assay (PCA) for detecting and localizing intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs) was built by bisection of miniSOG, a fluorescent flavoprotein derived from the light, oxygen, voltage (LOV)-2 domain of Arabidopsis phototropin. When brought together by interacting proteins, the fragments reconstitute a functional reporter that permits tagged protein complexes to be visualized by fluorescence light microscopy (LM), and then by standard as well as “multicolor” electron microscopy (EM) imaging methods via the photooxidation of 3-3’-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and its lanthanide-conjugated derivatives.
Re-refinement ofPlasmodium falciparumorotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase provides a clearer picture of an important malarial drug target
Authors: Novak Walter R. P. , West Korbin H. J. , Kirkman Lucy M. D. , Brandt Gabriel S.
Published: September 2018

The development of antimalarial drugs remains a public health priority, and the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase fromPlasmodium falciparum(PfOMPDC) has great potential as a drug target. The crystallization of PfOMPDC with substrate bound represents an important advance for structure-based drug-design efforts [Tokuokaet al.(2008),J. Biochem.143, 69–78]. The complex of the enzyme bound to the substrate OMP (PDB entry 2za1) would be of particular utility in this regard. However, re-refinement of this structure of the Michaelis complex shows that the bound ligand is the product rather than the substrate. Here, the re-refinement of a set of three structures, the apo enzyme and two versions of the product-bound form (PDB entries 2za1, 2za2 and 2za3), is reported. The improved geometry and fit of these structures to the observed electron density will enhance their utility in antimalarial drug design.
X-ray structure of Arthrobacter globiformis M30 ketose 3-epimerase for the production of D-allulose from D-fructose
Authors: Yoshida Hiromi , Yoshihara Akihide , Gullapalli Pushpa Kiran , Ohtani Kouhei , Akimitsu Kazuya , Izumori Ken , Kamitori Shigehiro
Published: September 2018

The X-ray structure of ketose 3-epimerase from Arthrobacter globiformis M30, which was previously reported to be a D-allulose 3-epimerase (AgD-AE), was determined at 1.96 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to the hexagonal space group P6522, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 103.98, c = 256.53 Å. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the structure of Mesorhizobium loti L-ribulose 3-epimerase (MlL-RE), which has 41% sequence identity, as a search model. A hexagonal crystal contained two molecules in the asymmetric unit, and AgD-AE formed a homotetramer with twofold symmetry. The overall structure of AgD-AE was more similar to that of MlL-RE than to the known structures of D-psicose (alternative name D-allulose) 3-epimerases (D-PEs or D-AEs), although AgD-AE and MlL-RE have different substrate specificities. Both AgD-AE and MlL-RE have long helices in the C-terminal region that would contribute to the stability of the homotetramer. AgD-AE showed higher enzymatic activity for L-ribulose than D-allulose; however, AgD-AE is stable and is a unique useful enzyme for the production of D-allulose from D-fructose.
Crystal structure and synthesis of 3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propanone
Authors: Gibbons Dáire , Emandi Ganapathi , Senge Mathias O.
Published: September 2018

The title compound, C11H9NOS, was obtained in an improved yield compared to previous literature methods. The molecule is essentially planar with a maximum deviation of 0.085 Å from the mean plane through all non-H atoms. There is directive intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the form of N—H...O hydrogen bonds with a distance of 2.889 (3) Å between the pyrrole amine and the ketone carbonyl O atom. The resulting hydrogen-bonding network defines a ribbon parallel to the a axis. These ribbons form offset stacks along the b axis.
The crystal structure of bis{3,5-difluoro-2-[4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)pyridin-2-yl]phenyl}(picolinato)iridium(III) and its 4-tert-butylpyridin-2-yl analogue
Authors: Sanner Robert D. , Young Victor G.
Published: September 2018

The crystal structures of bis{3,5-difluoro-2-[4-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)pyridin-2-yl]phenyl-κ2
N,C
1}(picolinato-κ2
N,O)iridium(III), [Ir(C20H16F2N)2(C6H4NO2)], 1, and bis[2-(4-tert-butylpyridin-2-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl-κ2
N,C
1](picolinato-κ2
N,O)iridium(III), [Ir(C15H14F2N)2(C6H4NO2)], 2, are presented herein. These phosphorescent cyclometallated iridium(III) compounds have been structurally investigated in order to better understand the nature of their blue-shifted emssions while maintaining high quantum yields. Compound 1 exhibits substantial twisting of the mesitylene rings out of the plane of the attached pyridine ring, with dihedral angles of 67.0 (1) and 78.7 (1)° between the best mean planes. For both compounds, the contribution of disordered solvent molecule(s) was removed using the SQUEEZE [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18] routine in PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. These solvent molecules are not considered in the given chemical formula and other crystal data.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N,N′-bis(2-nitrophenyl)glutaramide
Authors: Salian Akshatha R. , Foro Sabine , Kumar S. Madan , Thimme Gowda B.
Published: September 2018

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C17H16N4O6, contains two independent molecules (A and B). The two benzene rings are twisted by an angle of 79.14 (7)° in molecule A, whereas, in molecule B, they are inclined by 19.02 (14)°. The conformations of the molecules are stabilized by intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amide nitrogen atom and the O atom of the ortho-nitro substituent on the phenyl ring, enclosing an S(6) ring motif. In the amide and aliphatic segments, all the N—H, C=O and C—H bonds are anti to each other. In the crystal, the A and B molecules are linked by intermolecular amide-to-amide N—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in chains running along the b-axis direction. The intermolecular interactions were analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis. The two-dimensional fingerprint plots of the intermolecular contacts indicate that the major contributions are from H...H and O...H interactions.
8,9-Dimethoxybenzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene
Authors: Hemanathan K. , Raja R. , Murugesan K. Sakthi
Published: September 2018

In the title compound, C18H14O2S, the system of four fused rings is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.022 Å). The C atoms of the methoxy groups deviate from the mean plane of the ring system by 0.373 (2) and −0.104 (2) Å. In the crystal, very weak aromatic π–π stacking interactions [shortest centroid–centroid separation = 3.9286 (10) Å] may help to establish the packing.
cis-Bromidobis(ethylene-1,2-diamine)(2-methylpropan-1-amine)cobalt(III) dibromide
Authors: Manjunathan M. , Anbalagan K. , Sambathkumar K. , Govindan E.
Published: September 2018

In the title compound, [CoBr(C2H8N2)2(C4H11N)]Br2, the cobalt(III) ion has a distorted octahedral coordination environment and is ligated by three N atoms and a bromine ion in the equatorial plane, and by two N atoms occupying the axial positions. In the crystal, the complex cation and the two Br− counter-anions are linked by N—H...Br hydrogen bonds, forming a supramolecular framework.
Revision of the crystal structure of `bis(glycine) squaric acid'
Authors: Seidel Rüdiger W.
Published: September 2018

The crystal structure of `bis(glycine) squaric acid' [Tyagi et al. (2016). RSC Adv. 6, 24565–24576], is revised. Re-refinement of the structure against the original X-ray intensity data after correct placement of the donor H atoms proves that the compound is in fact the previously reported diglycinium squarate [systematic name: bis(carboxymethanaminium) 3,4-dioxocyclobut-1-ene-1,2-diolate; Anioła et al. (2014). New J. Chem.
38, 3556–3568]. The findings are consistent with the pKa
rule.
Investigating the corrosion resistance of spark plasma sintered copper with ruthenium powder
Authors: Zaba Winnie , Van der Merwe Josias Willem
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The corrosion resistance of copper and copper-ruthenium alloys produced by powder metallurgy (spark plasma sintering process) and exposed in 2M sulphuric acid at 45°C and 65°C was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and potentiodynamic polarisation technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The small additions of ruthenium (0.5, 1 and 2 Wt.%) to the copper resulted in improved corrosion resistance of the copper alloy by up to 90 per cent when compared to casted copper.

Findings

All the sintered copper and copper alloys proved to have increased the corrosion resistance in all the temperatures.

Originality/value

Powder metallurgy was used in achieving these improvements.
Mutual inductance and forces between two non-coaxial co-planar circular thin-wall air coils
Authors: Compter John
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present new analytical expressions for the mutual inductance and forces between non-coaxial co-planar circular thin-wall air coils.

Design/methodology/approach

The expressions are based on an integration method found in the literature, so far used only to describe mutual inductances. It is new to apply this method as a starting point to get the forces between non-coaxial co-planar rings and coils. The approach is further extended to include non-coaxial co-planar thin-wall cylindrical coils.

Findings

This new method enables interaction modelling between coils by solving integrals numerically, covering fully, partially and non-overlapping coils in a single form. The expressions are verified by comparing the results with alternatives methods.

Research limitations/implications

The forces and mutual inductances of non-coaxial co-planar circular coils are obtained with analytical expressions, fitted well for optimization studies. The study is limited to coils in free air.

Practical implications

A typical application is the interaction between coils in a wireless energy transfer system (as applied for battery loading for mobile phones and automotive). The expressions can be used to also predict the forces between two non-coaxial disk or ring magnets as used in magnetic levitation systems.

Originality/value

Maxwell described the coupling between two coaxial co-planar rings, and steadily more and more equations describing the interaction between circular coils became available in the past decades. The target of this study is to obtain compact equations for non-coaxial co-planar circular coils. This is realized with the combination of existing literature and mathematical modelling tools.
Consumer responses to corporate cause-related marketing
Authors: Yang Hsin-Ti , Yen Ghi-Feng
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to adopt the perspectives of cognition and emotions to investigate whether the interdependent self-construal of consumers in a Chinese collectivist culture, along with empathy and moral identity, evokes direct and indirect responses to corporate cause-related marketing (CRM).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 901 valid questionnaires were retrieved, and PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the multiple mediation and serial mediation hypotheses. The structural equation modeling was also used to confirm the results.

Findings

The empirical results showed that consumer self-construal exerts a positive influence on consumer responses to corporate CRM through empathy. The results also suggest that CRM events provoke empathetic responses in consumers and trigger their moral identity, which in turn affects their evaluations on CRM corporations and their purchase intentions for CRM goods.

Research limitations/implications

The present study targeted the relatively affordable CRM events in convenience stores to investigate consumer responses; the results may not be applicable to CRM events in other industries. Besides that, as this study is focused on CRM activity, respondents may have more positive evaluation.

Practical implications

Corporations are advised to improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication strategies. These should rely on factual, sincere, easy-to-understand and appropriate communication to trigger moral identity in consumers. Because empathy is regarded as the core of human moral and emotional systems, corporations are advised to associate their charitable events with social emotions to strengthen consumer perceptions, enhance moral identity and promote prosocial behaviors.

Originality/value

This study verified the serial multiple mediating effect of empathy and moral identity in the relationship between consumer self-construal and responses to corporate CRM. Corporations are advised to improve their CSR communication strategies and public expression of moral actions to raise consumer empathy and moral identity, so as to improve consumer responses to CRM.
Gender diversity and its impact on high-tech SMEs’ organizational leadership
Authors: Garcia-Solarte Monica , Garcia-Perez de Lema Domingo , Madrid-Guijarro Antonia
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This study aims to empirically identify the relationship between gender diversity and organizational leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A multifactor questionnaire, Form 6-S, developed by Bass and Avolio (1992), is used to measure leadership. The results are derived from univariate and multivariate analyses conducted through ordinary least square linear regression. This study uses a base consisting of 142 small and medium enterprises in Cali (Colombia); men manage 111 of which, whereas women manage 31. The data came from a project performed by the Humanism and Management research group of the Administration Sciences Department of Valley University (Universidad del Valle). Fieldwork was conducted between November 2013 and April 2014.

Findings

The results show that companies with greater gender diversity (mostly women on the board of directors and in management) develop a transformational organizational style orientated towards organizational change through the transformation of followers.

Originality/value

There is no previous study combining these variables in Colombian context.
Sponsorship and social identity in advancement of women leaders in South Africa
Authors: Scheepers Caren Brenda , Douman Anastasia , Moodley Preya
Published: September 2018

Purpose

In South Africa, women in senior management positions experience social identity dilemmas, necessitating more research into this domain. While research has been conducted into coaching and mentoring of these women, limited scholarly attention has been paid to sponsorship. This paper aims to explore the social identity of women at senior management levels and sponsorship as a proposed mechanism to develop talented women.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research included two studies using two sample groups, both of which included executive-level respondents in corporate organisations. One study focussed on sponsorship; here, the 29-strong sample included 14 male and 15 female executives, of whom 15 were White; 9 were African and 5 were Indian. The second study, consisting of only African, coloured and Indian (ACI) female executives (23 interviewees), focussed more broadly on their development path to the C-suite.

Findings

A common theme across the two studies was the inclination to give developmental support, in turn, once supported. There were prerequisites in this support-giving, however. For example, sponsors identified criteria that protégés had to meet. Despite evident gender inequality at senior management levels in South Africa, this paper reveals that in the Study 1 sample, gender and race were ostensibly irrelevant when choosing a sponsor or who to sponsor. A closer examination revealed a gender-based expectation, embedded in the South African context. Study 2 showed that ACI women above 50 years of age were more inclined to mentor others; even when they themselves were not mentored, some purposefully developed other ACI women. This paper thus suggests age as an important additional diversity dimension in relation to the career development of ACI women towards the C-suite. The findings have implications for the career development of individual ACI women and for organisations in reaching equality.

Research limitations/implications

Gender differences with regard to perceptions also revealed that male respondents perceived sponsorship more as task-based actions, whereas female respondents focussed on relational elements. The paper concludes with recommendations on how individual ACI women and organisations can proactively develop talented women.

Originality/value

The paper offers insight into the gendered expectations of sponsors and gendered perceptions around merit in identifying protégés worthy of sponsorship. ACI women’s social identity changed when they joined the C-suite to identify more with their roles as executives and became less associated with their original ACI women group.
IoT adoption in agriculture: the role of trust, perceived value and risk
Authors: Jayashankar Priyanka , Nilakanta Sree , Johnston Wesley J. , Gill Pushpinder , Burres Reed
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the antecedents of Internet of Things (IoT) adoption among farmers and determine how trust in the technology influences its adoption when mediated by perceived value and risk. Through the conceptualization of trust and perceived risk, the authors factor in farmers’ perceptions of agricultural technology providers and discuss different forms of perceived value, spanning economic, green and epistemic value.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a distinctive research design, drawing on elements of the value-based adoption and technology acceptance models. By linking different elements of perceived value with IoT technology, the authors also apply the service-dominant logic to this study. They study how trust affects perceived value and risk and then determine how perceived value and risk, in turn, affect IoT adoption. The authors test the hypotheses by developing a structural equation model to analyze the results of a survey, wherein 492 farmers from Iowa, the USA, participated.

Findings

The results show a positive relationship between trust and perceived value and a negative relationship between trust and perceived risk. Perceived value had a positive impact on IoT adoption, whereas perceived risk had a negative impact on IoT adoption.

Practical implications

The research findings on trust and perceived value and risk are timely and relevant for business-to-business (B2B) marketing practitioners and agricultural stakeholders, especially in an era where farmers are expressing growing concerns about data handling risk posed by IoT technology adoption.

Originality/value

The research findings signal a transition in focus from the goods-dominant logic to the service-dominant logic in agriculture, whereby farmers are drawn to IoT technology because of perceived economic, green and epistemic value and as a result, can differentiate themselves on how well they deploy operant resources. This paper not only provides a unique conceptualization of perceived value but also pave the way for a richer conceptualization of IoT core functions that enable farmers to fulfill green and epistemic goals. This is the first B2B marketing paper discussing the antecedents of IoT adoption in agriculture, such as farmers’ perceptions of both monetary and non-monetary forms of value and perceived data handling risk.
Case-method teaching: advantages and disadvantages in organizational training
Authors: Radi Afsouran Naghi , Charkhabi Morteza , Siadat Seyed Ali , Hoveida Reza , Oreyzi Hamid Reza , Thornton III George C.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce case-method teaching (CMT), its advantages and disadvantages for the process of organizational training within organizations, as well as to compare its advantages and disadvantages with current training methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a systematic literature review to define, identify and compare CMT with current methods.

Findings

In CMT, participants get involved with real-world challenges from an action perspective instead of analyzing them from a distance. Also, different reactions of the participants to the same challenge aid instructors to identify the individual differences of participants toward the challenge. Although CMT is still not considered as a popular organizational training method, the advantages of CMT may encourage organizational instructors to further apply it. Improving the long-term memory, enhancing the quality of decision making and understanding the individual differences of individuals are the advantages of CMT.

Research limitations/implications

A lack of sufficient empirical researchers and the high cost of conducting this method may prevent practitioners to apply it.

Originality/value

The review suggested that CMT is able to bring dilemmas from the real world into training settings. Also, it helps organizations to identify the individual reactions before they make a decision.
Stock liquidity and free float: evidence from the UK
Authors: El-Nader Ghaith
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interactions between free float and stock liquidity in the UK stock market over the period 2002–2016.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conducted using cross-sectional data regression analysis. The sample consists of 15,650 firm-level observations from the UK stock market.

Findings

The findings suggest that stocks with higher levels of free float are associated with higher levels of liquidity. This relation is significant regardless of the liquidity measure used, and is evident even after controlling for firm characteristics.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing literature by presenting further evidence on the significance of free float in capital markets and its effect on stock liquidity, particularly for UK firms as the minimum free float requirements as announced by the FTSE group in 2011 increased from 15 to 25 percent.
Impact of Brownian motion and thermophoresis on bioconvective flow of nanoliquids past a variable thickness surface with slip effects
Authors: K. Anantha Kumar , V. Sugunamma , N. Sandeep , J.V. Ramana Reddy
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the heat and mass transfer attributes of three-dimensional bio convective flow of nanofluid across a slendering surface with slip effects. The analysis is carried out subject to irregular heat sink/source, thermophoresis and Brownian motion of nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, proper transmutations are pondered to metamorphose the basic flow equations as ODEs. The solution of these ODEs is procured by the consecutive application of Shooting and Runge-Kutta fourth order numerical procedures.

Findings

The usual flow fields along with density of motile microorganisms for sundry physical parameters are divulged via plots and scrutinized. Further, the authors analyzed the impact of same parameters on skin friction, heat and mass transfer coefficients and presented in tables. It is discovered that the variable heat sink/source parameters play a decisive role in nature of the heat and mass transfer rates. The density of motile microorganisms will improve if we add Al-Cu alloy particles in regular fluids instead of Al particles solely. A change in thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters dominates heat and mass transfer performance.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, no author made an attempt to investigate the flow of nanofluids over a variable thickness surface with bio-convection, Brownian motion and slip effects.
Nanofluid flow and heat simultaneously induced by two stretchable rotating disks using Buongiorno’s model
Authors: Muthtamilselvan M. , Renuka A.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nanofluid flow and heat transfer induced by two co- axially rotating disks using Buongiorno’s model. This model took into account the Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis effects due to the presence of nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing partial differential equation was transformed into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using similarity transformation and solved numerically using shooting techniques.

Findings

The present work is a comparison study of Maxwell-Garnett model and modified Maxwell model for the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. The effects of different involved parameters on velocity and temperature profile are examined graphically. Numerical values of skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are computed and studied.

Originality/value

It is found that the results of azimuthal velocity profile are an increasing function of upper disk stretching parameter. The radial and axial velocity profile is enlarged for a large value of lower stretching parameter. Fluid temperature decays for large values Reynolds number and lower disk stretching parameter.
Tattoos in policing: a survey of state police policies
Authors: McMullen Sara M. , Gibbs Jennifer
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Policing agencies across the USA have cited difficulty recruiting qualified applicants, thus leaving many employment vacancies unfilled. One reason for this challenge may be that those who would make exceptional police officers are barred from employment because of their body art. Varying appearance policies exist concerning tattoos, yet little is known about these policies. The purpose of this paper is to survey the tattoo policies of policing agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The tattoo policies of all 50 state-level policing agencies were reviewed to explore similarities and state-level correlates.

Findings

The majority, but not all, of state police have some type of appearance policy targeting tattoos. State policing agencies that have a “no visibility” policy regarding tattoos more often were in states with a low percentage of millennial residents, high percentage of young veterans, men and non-Hispanic white citizens, and low crime; t-tests indicate “no visibility” policy states significantly differed from other states in the percentage of non-Hispanic whites and crime. Further, state policing agencies with a “no visibility” policy tended to be in northeastern states, with southern states having the fewest state policing agencies with such policies, although the χ2 test was non-significant.

Originality/value

Despite the ubiquity of tattoos in the American society, the literature is scant with studies of police appearance policies regarding tattoos. This study provides a partial summary of tattoo policies at the state policing level.
What influences organisational evolution of modern sport: the case of skateboarding
Authors: Batuev Mikhail , Robinson Leigh
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the processes that influence the evolution of a modern sport. It focusses on the case of international skateboarding: the sport that was recently included into the Olympic Games.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive research strategy was informed by the notions of evolution of modern sport, prolympism and new institutionalism. The primary data were collected through a series of interviews and supplemented by the analysis of documents, press and social media.

Findings

The paper analysed how the organisation of international skateboarding has changed to date and identified three major determinants of its evolution: values of the activity, commercial interests and the Olympic movement. The following recurring discussion themes emerged: the link between commercialism and legitimisation of sport; bureaucratisation under the Olympic movement; and tensions between prolympism and values of skateboarding.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the case study method is that any conclusions refer to this particular sport and their applicability to other sports lies within analytical generalisation. Still sport governing bodies and policy makers can learn from the evolution of international skateboarding and analyse potential issues and consequences for other emerging sports. In terms of theoretical implications, the study highlights legitimisation as one the key characteristics of evolution of modern sport, which should be considered along with previously established criteria, such as bureaucratisation, commercialisation and professionalisation.

Originality/value

The study extends the existing research on evolution of modern sports by examining a very rich contemporary case of skateboarding, the internationally growing sport with unique organisational arrangements. It contributes to knowledge of the evolution towards legitimisation of emerging sports, but also towards sportification of popular culture and society.
The role of UTAUT, DOI, perceived technology security and game elements in internet banking adoption
Authors: Rahi Samar , Abd. Ghani Mazuri
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The increasing innovation and urgent need of up-to-date and convenient information systems have gained high importance in financial sector. Several banks have deployed internet banking in order to reduce cost while improving customer services. Therefore, the growth of internet banking is limited and in many cases fallen short of expectations. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated model that combines technology, innovative and environmental factors altogether in order to understand customer’s intention to adopt, and intention to recommend internet banking in social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 398 valid responses were collected from customers of commercial banks, using convenience sampling approach. Data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings show that integrated model has good explanatory power (78.3 percent) to predict customer’s intention to adopt internet banking. Findings also revealed that the interaction effect of gamification between user’s intention to adopt and user’s intention to recommend internet banking will be stronger when gamification effect is higher. Importance performance matrix analysis (IPMA) revealed that innovativeness and perceived technology security were the most important factors in order to determine user’s intention with regard to adoption of internet banking.

Practical implications

For policy-makers, it is suggested that they should focus on innovative characteristics and must ensure the possible environment for carrying out internet banking transaction. Advertising about new technology with adequate information may produce positive influence on user’s intention. Enjoyable internet banking website with reward system will help to improve user’s intention to adopt and intention to recommend internet banking with others, thus developers should introduce game features on internet banking website.

Originality/value

This study provides basis for further refinement of individual technology acceptance models and enrich the e-commerce literature adding innovative and game elements in interne banking adoption context. Additionally, the proposed model makes an important contribution in emerging e-commerce literature especially in the context of innovative and gamified internet banking.
America Gerrymanders on—For the Moment?
Authors: Johnston Ron
Published: September 2018

Gerrymandering has long characterised the electoral cartography of the United States and a sequence of cases seeking to outlaw the practice have all failed before the Supreme Court. Its judgement in a 2006 case indicated that although the Court recognised the practice, it could identify no formal means of evaluating whether any particular map of Congressional or State electoral districts was a gerrymander that violated a constitutional provision. This encouraged those who drew up new district maps in many states after publication of the 2010 census data, most of which favoured the Republican party and were more egregious than previous such cartographies. A minority judgement in that case did suggest ways in which a gerrymander could be proved, however, and these were followed in a case brought regarding new State Assembly districts for Wisconsin. A lower court found in favour of the plaintiffs but this was over‐turned by a unanimous Supreme Court which found that the plaintiffs had no standing to challenge a state‐wide map. A concurrent decision by a minority of the Justices did suggest ways in which standing could be established and gerrymanders countered, and this may stimulate further cases—although it is uncertain whether a majority on the Court will accept such arguments. Meanwhile, America gerrymanders on.
Institutions as constraints and resources: Explaining cross‐national divergence in performance management
Authors: Doellgast Virginia , Marsden David
Published: September 2018

This article compares performance management practices in call centres from four telecommunications firms in the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, and Germany. Findings show that different combinations of institutional constraints, such as strong job security protections, and participation resources supporting worker voice were influential in shaping choices among policies to motivate and discipline workers. Performance management most closely approached a high‐involvement model where both constraints and resources were high, where worker representatives were able both to restrict management's use of sanctions and to establish procedures that improved the perceived fairness of incentives. Findings contribute to debates concerning the role of contextual factors in the design and effectiveness of HRM.
Linking of metabolomic biomarkers with cardiometabolic health in Chinese population
Authors: Sun Liang , Li Huaixing , Lin Xu
Published: September 2018

Due to rapid nutrition transitions, the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, has been increasing at an alarming rate in the Chinese population. Moreover, Asians, including Chinese, have been hypothesized to have a higher susceptibility to cardiometabolic diseases than Caucasians. Early prediction and prevention are key to controlling this epidemic trend; to this end, the identification of novel biomarkers is critical to reflect environmental exposure, as well as to reveal endogenous metabolic and pathophysiologic mechanisms. The emerging “omics” technologies, especially metabolomics, offer a unique opportunity to provide novel signatures or fingerprints to understand the effects of genetic and non‐genetic factors on cardiometabolic health. During the past two decades, metabolomic approaches have been increasingly used in various epidemiological studies, primarily in Western populations. Although the field is still in its early stages, some studies have tried to identify novel compounds or confirm their metabolites and associations with cardiometabolic diseases in Chinese populations, including amino acids, fatty acids, acylcarnitines and other metabolites. Despite major efforts to discover novel biomarkers for disease prediction or intervention, the limits in current study design, analytical platforms, and data processing approaches are challenges in metabolomic research worldwide. Therefore, future research with more advanced technologies, rigorous study designs, standardized detection and analytic approaches, and integrated data from multiomics approaches are essential to evaluate the feasibility of using metabolomics in clinical settings. Finally, the functional roles and underlying biological mechanisms of metabolomic biomarkers should be elucidated by future mechanistic research.
Ventilation perfusion single photon emission computed tomography: Referral practices and diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism in the quaternary clinical setting
Authors: Lawrence Natalie C , Kyle Samuel
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Ventilation perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (V/Q SPECT) and CTPA are the two leading imaging studies used to investigate acute pulmonary embolism. V/Q SPECT is often the first line investigation for pregnant patients and young females. Historically, V/Q Planar studies have high rates of indeterminate findings resulting in a preference for CTPA studies. The purpose of this research is to examine current V/Q SPECT referral practices in the quaternary clinical setting and to confirm V/Q SPECT studies have low rates of equivocal findings.

Methods

Retrospective study of a 6‐month period of all completed V/Q SPECT studies (± LDCT) indicated for investigation of acute PE. V/Q SPECT studies were reported using the European Association of Nuclear Medicine guidelines. Patient demographic data and V/Q SPECT findings were recorded. CTPA and Doppler Ultrasound report findings were included if performed 48 hours prior to, or following V/Q SPECT study. Standard descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken.

Results

Ninety‐nine percent of V/Q SPECT studies had reports positive or negative for acute PE, with 1% inconclusive. Twenty‐two percent of patients had either CTPA or Doppler Ultrasound studies within a 48‐ hour period prior to, or following V/Q SPECT, with the majority having a negative Doppler ultrasound prior to negative V/Q SPECT. Sixty‐eight percent of patients referred for V/Q SPECT were females under the age of 55, 40% of whom were pregnant.

Conclusions

Ventilation perfusion single photon emission computed tomography has low rates of equivocal findings with referral practices indicating pregnant patients and young women are considered to most benefit from V/Q SPECT as a first line investigation for acute PE.
The effect of bariatric surgery on intraocular pressure
Authors: Viljanen Antti , Hannukainen Jarna C. , Soinio Minna , Karlsson Henry K. , Salminen Paulina , Nuutila Pirjo , Vesti Eija
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Study purpose was to investigate the effects of bariatric surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) and other ophthalmic parameters in a prospective observational follow‐up study.

Methods

Ophthalmic examination was performed on 22 obese women before and 6 months after bariatric surgery. A control group of 15 non‐obese age‐matched women were studied twice 6 months apart. IOP was measured with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer (PDCT). None of the subjects had glaucoma.

Results

Average weight loss 6 months after bariatric surgery was 25 ±8 kg, (p < 0.05). Visual acuity (VA), pachymetry and systolic as well as diastolic blood pressures did not differ between the obese and control groups and no change between the visits was detected. At baseline, IOP was significantly higher in the obese group than in the controls (16.6 ± 3.0 mmHg GAT and 18.1 ± 2.2 mmHg PDCT compared with 14.3 ± 1.5 mmHg GAT and 16.5 ± 1.9 mmHg PDCT respectively). After bariatric surgery, IOP was significantly lower (15.2 ± 2.7 mmHg GAT and 16.5 ± 2.0 mmHg PDCT, p < 0.05) and no significant difference was detected between the operated and control groups. In the whole data at baseline, IOP correlated with weight, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat per cent and systolic blood pressure values.

Conclusion

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is significantly higher in obese women than in non‐obese age‐matched controls. Obese subjects had a decrease in IOP after bariatric surgery with no change in IOP in the control group. This change in obese group may be related to weight loss. Different measures of obesity correlated with IOP at baseline.
Schlemm's canal measured by optical coherence tomography and correlation study in a healthy Caucasian child population
Authors: Fernández‐Vigo José Ignacio , Kudsieh Bachar , De‐Pablo‐Gómez‐de‐Liaño Lucía , Almorín‐Fernández‐Vigo Ignacio , Fernández‐Vigo Cristina , García‐Feijóo Julián , Fernández‐Vigo José Ángel
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To measure the Schlemm's canal (SC) in vivo by Fourier‐domain optical coherence tomography (FD‐OCT) in a Caucasian paediatric population.

Methods

Participants of this cross‐sectional study were 290 healthy children. In the right eye of each child, SC cross‐sectional diameter and area measurements were made with the FD‐OCT instrument RTVue® (Optovue Inc, Fremont, CA, USA) in the nasal and temporal quadrants. These SC variables were then assessed for correlation with the factors age, gender, refractive error, anterior chamber angle and trabecular meshwork (TM) metrics. Finally, the reproducibility of the SC measurements was assessed in 30 of the participants.

Results

Mean participant age was 10.7 ± 3.4 years (range 3–18). SC diameters could be measured in both quadrants in 70.6% and 70.4% of subjects, respectively. Mean SC diameters were similar (p = 0.125) for the temporal and nasal quadrants: 266.7 ± 84.1 μm (range 131–509) and 273.2 ± 77.3 μm (range 124–486), respectively. Mean SC areas were also similar (p = 0.167) for the two quadrants: 9975 ± 3514 μm2 (range 4000–23 000) versus 9688 ± 3297 μm2 (range 3000–24 000). No differences were detected in SC measurements according to gender, refractive error or angle and TM measurements (R ≤ 0.116; p ≥ 0.125). The exception was age which was directly correlated with SC size (p ≤ 0.041). The reproducibility of the SC measurements was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.936).

Conclusion

FD‐OCT allows the identification of the SC in children. Our data indicate an increase in SC size produced with age.