bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competition amongGardnerellasubgroups from the human vaginal microbiome
Authors: Khan Salahuddin , Voordouw Maarten J. , Hill Janet E.
Published: July 2019

Gardnerellaspp. are hallmarks of bacterial vaginosis, a clinically significant dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome.Gardnerellahas four subgroups (A, B, C and D) based on cpn60 sequences. Multiple subgroups are often detected in individual women, and interactions between these subgroups are expected to influence their population dynamics and associated signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. In the present study, contact-independent and contact-dependent interactions between the fourGardnerellasubgroups were investigatedin vitro. The cell free supernatants of mono- and co-cultures had no effect on growth rates of theGardnerellasubgroups suggesting that there are no contact-independent interactions (and no contest competition). For contact-dependent interactions, mixed communities of 2, 3 or 4 subgroups were created and the initial (0 h) and final population sizes (48 h) were quantified using subgroup-specific PCR. Compared to the null hypothesis of additive interactions, most (69.3%) of the mixed communities exhibited competition (p < 0.0001). Competition reduced the growth rates of subgroups A, B and C. In contrast, the growth rate of subgroup D increased in the presence of the other subgroups (p < 0.0001). All subgroups were able to form biofilm alone and in mixed communities. Our study suggests that there is scramble competition amongGardnerellasubgroups, which likely contributes to the observed distributions ofGardnerellaspp. in vaginal microbiomes and the formation of the multispecies biofilms characteristic of bacterial vaginosis.
Vps4 triggers sequential subunit exchange in ESCRT-III polymers that drives membrane constriction and fission
Authors: Pfitzner Anna-Katharina , Mercier Vincent , Roux Aurélien
Published: July 2019

ESCRT-III is a ubiquitous complex which catalyzes membrane fission from within membrane necks via an as yet unknown mechanism. Here, we reconstituted in vitro the ESCRT-III complex onto membranes. We show that based on variable affinities between ESCRT-III proteins and the ATPase Vps4, subunits are recruited to the membrane in a Vps4-driven sequence that starts with Snf7 and ends with Did2 and Ist1 which, together, form a fission-active subcomplex. Sequential recruitment of ESCRT-III subunits is coupled to membrane remodeling. Binding of Did2 promoted the formation of membrane protrusions which later constricted and underwent fission mediated by the recruitment of Ist1. Overall, our results provide a mechanism to explain how a sequence of ESCRT-III subunits drives membrane deformation and fission.
Epidemiological survey of serum titers from adults against various Gram-negative bacterial V-antigens
Authors: Kinoshita Mao , Shimizu Masaru , Akiyama Koichi , Kato Hideya , Moriyama Kiyoshi , Sawa Teiji
Published: July 2019

The V-antigen, a virulence-associated protein, was first identified inYersinia pestismore than half a century ago. Since then, other V-antigen homologs and orthologs have been discovered and are now considered vital molecules for the toxic effects mediated by the type III secretion system in infections caused by various pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. After purifying recombinant V-antigen proteins including PcrV fromPseudomonas aeruginosa, LcrV fromYersinia, LssV fromPhotorhabdus luminescens, AcrV fromAeromonas salmonicida, and VcrV fromVibrio parahaemolyticus, we developed an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay to measure titers against each V-antigen in the sera collected from 186 adult volunteers. Different titer-specific correlation levels were determined for the five V-antigens. The anti-LcrV and anti-AcrV titers shared the highest correlation with each other, with a correlation coefficient of 0.84. The next highest correlation coefficient was between anti-AcrV and anti-VcrV titers at 0.79, while the lowest correlation was found between anti-LcrV and anti-VcrV titers, which were still higher than 0.7 Sera from mice immunized with one of the five recombinant V-antigens displayed cross-antigenicity with some of the other four V-antigens, supporting the results from the human sera. Thus, the serum anti-V-antigen titer measurement system could potentially be used for epidemiological investigations on various pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.
Gut microbiome shifts with urbanization and potentially facilitates a zoonotic pathogen in a wading bird
Authors: Murray Maureen H. , Lankau Emily W. , Kidd Anjelika D. , Welch Catharine N. , Ellison Taylor , Adams Henry C. , Lipp Erin K. , Hernandez Sonia M.
Published: July 2019

Microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract influence many aspects of host health, including metabolism and susceptibility to pathogen colonization. These relationships and the environmental and individual factors that drive them are relatively unexplored for free-living wildlife. We quantified the relationships between urban habitat use, diet, and age with microbiome composition and diversity for 82 American white ibises (Eudocimus albus) captured along an urban gradient in south Florida and tested whether gut microbial diversity was associated withSalmonella entericaprevalence. Shifts in community composition were significantly associated with urban land cover and, to a lesser extent, diets higher in provisioned food. The diversity of genera was negatively associated with community composition associated with urban land cover, positively associated with age class, and negatively associated withSalmonellashedding. Our results suggest that shifts in both habitat use and diet for urban birds significantly alter gut microbial composition and diversity in ways that may influence health and pathogen susceptibility as species adapt to urban habitats.
Robust calibration of hierarchical population models for heterogeneous cell populations
Authors: Loos Carolin , Hasenauer Jan
Published: July 2019

Cellular heterogeneity is known to have important effects on signal processing and cellular decision making. To understand these processes, multiple classes of mathematical models have been introduced. The hierarchical population model builds a novel class which allows for the mechanistic description of heterogeneity and explicitly takes into account subpopulation structures. However, this model requires a parametric distribution assumption for the cell population and, so far, only the normal distribution has been employed. Here, we incorporate alternative distribution assumptions into the model, assess their robustness against outliers and evaluate their influence on the performance of model calibration in a simulation study and a real-world application example. We found that alternative distributions provide reliable parameter estimates even in the presence of outliers, and can in fact increase the convergence of model calibration.

Highlights

Generalizes hierarchical population model to various distribution assumptions

Provides framework for efficient calibration of the hierarchical population model

Simulation study and application to experimental data reveal improved robustness and optimization performance
A bis-copper(II)–[D-βVal3,7]ascidiacyclamide complex enveloping two square pyramids and sharing an apex atom from a carbonate anion
Authors: Asano Akiko , Doi Mitsinobu
Published: July 2019

The four azole rings place structural restrictions on ascidiacyclamide (ASC). As a result, the structure of ASC exists in an equilibrium between two major forms (i.e.folded and square). [D-βVal3,7]Ascidiacyclamide (βASC) was synthesized by replacing two D-Val-Thz (Val is valine and Thz is thiazole) blocks with D-β-Valine (D-βVal-Thz). This modification expands the peptide ring; the original 24-membered macrocycle of ASC becomes a 26-membered ring. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that, in solution, the structural equilibrium is maintained with βASC, but the folded form is dominant. A copper complex was prepared, namely [[D-βVal3,7]ascidiacyclamide(2−)]aqua-μ-carbonato-dicopper(II) monohydrate, [Cu2(C38H54N8O6S2)(CO3)(H2O)]·H2O, to determine the effect of the change in ring size on the coordinated structure. The obtained bis-CuII–βASC complex contains two water molecules and a carbonate anion. Two CuIIions are chelated by three N-donor atoms of two Thz–Ile–Oxz (Ile is isoleucine and Oxz is oxazoline) units. An O atom of the carbonate anion bridges two CuIIions, forming two square pyramids. These features are similar to the previously reported structure of the CuII–ASC complex, but the two pyramids are enveloped inside the peptide and share one apex. In the CuII–ASC complex, the apex of each square pyramid is an O atom of a water molecule, and the two pyramids are oriented toward the outside of the peptide. The incorporated β-amino acids of βASC make the space inside the peptide large enough to envelop the two square pyramids. The observed structural changes in the bis-CuII–βASC complex arising from ring expansion are particularly interesting in the context of the previously reported structure of the CuII–ASC complex.
Structural properties of D-mannopyranosyl rings containing O-acetyl side-chains
Authors: Turney Toby , Zhang Wenhui , Oliver Allen G. , Serianni Anthony S.
Published: July 2019

The crystal structures of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranose, C16H22O11, and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→3)-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranose, C40H54O27, were determined and compared to those of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, methyl α-D-mannopyranoside and methyl α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-D-mannopyranoside to evaluate the effects of O-acetylation on bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles. In general, O-acetylation exerts little effect on the exo- and endocyclic C—C and endocyclic C—O bond lengths, but the exocyclic C—O bonds involved in O-acetylation are lengthened by ∼0.02 Å. The conformation of the O-acetyl side-chains is highly conserved, with the carbonyl O atom either eclipsing the H atom attached to a 2°-alcoholic C atom or bisecting the H—C—H bond angle of a 1°-alcoholic C atom. Of the two C—O bonds that determine O-acetyl side-chain conformation, that involving the alcoholic C atom exhibits greater rotational variability than that involving the carbonyl C atom. These findings are in good agreement with recent solution NMR studies of O-acetyl side-chain conformations in saccharides. Experimental evidence was also obtained to confirm density functional theory (DFT) predictions of C—O and O—H bond-length behavior in a C—O—H fragment involved in hydrogen bonding.
Refugees’ inclusion at work: a qualitative cross-level analysis
Authors: Knappert Lena , van Dijk Hans , Ross Veerle
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Refugees’ inclusion at work is critical for the individual, for employers and for the receiving societies. Yet, refugees are often disadvantaged in working life or are being excluded from the labor market altogether. The purpose of this paper is to examine barriers and facilitators to refugees’ inclusion at work at the individual, organizational and country level, and pay particular attention to how the three levels relate to each other in shaping inclusion and exclusion of refugees at work.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted 18 interviews with employed refugees, employers and experts from governmental and non-governmental institutions in the Netherlands.

Findings

Based on the theoretical structure, 13 themes emerged from the interview material – 5 themes at the individual level, 4 at the organizational level and 4 at the country level. The authors also found indicators for an interplay of barriers and facilitators across levels.

Research limitations/implications

This is a small study conducted in the Netherlands, providing several starting points for future research.

Practical implications

The authors provide recommendations for refugees, employers and policy makers aimed at addressing barriers and leveraging facilitators of refugees’ inclusion at work.

Originality/value

The organizational level, which diversity research has shown to affect minority group members’ inclusion at work, is rarely taken into account in refugee research. Based on the cross-level analysis, the authors identify patterns of interplay between the three levels and provide a relational framework of refugees’ inclusion at work.
Disruptive technologies and career transition strategies of middle-skilled workers
Authors: Chen Quan , Wang Jing-An , Ou Ruiqiu , Sun Junhua , Chang Li-Chung
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Disruptive technologies often disrupt the careers of middle-skilled workers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate career transition strategies of middle-skilled workers that partially continue or expand their careers under the condition of disruptive technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper established a conceptual framework of career transition strategies for middle-skilled workers by integrating the existing studies of disruptive technologies, technological trajectory transition, boundaryless and protean careers, and careers as repositories of knowledge.

Findings

The authors proposed three types of career transition strategies to partially prolong middle-skilled workers’ careers, namely, industry-oriented transition strategy which refers to a transfer to other occupations in the original industry, technology-oriented transition strategy which refers to a transfer to occupations with original technical skills in other industries, and comprehensive transition strategy which refers to a transfer to other occupations in the related industries. Further, this paper discusses the external conditions and individual competencies for each career transition strategy, and timing for implementing a career transition strategy from the perspective of the technology life cycle.

Originality/value

This paper focused on sustainable careers of middle-skilled workers under the condition of disruptive technologies, which received very little attention from the current literature. The findings also suggested for middle-skilled workers to develop a sustainable or long-term career in the current era of many disruptive technologies. The findings may also imply on how firms and government should contribute to help workers on handling scenarios of technological disruption.
Role context change and actionable career knowledge for practicing managers
Authors: Laud Robert , Arevalo Jorge , Johnson Matthew
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relevancy of traditional managerial role frameworks as perceived by practicing managers, and to identify emerging role requirements or skills required for career success.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was conducted including survey research, empirical analysis and semi-structured consensual qualitative research interviews with 259 managers from 200 organizations.

Findings

This study demonstrates a widening gap between entrenched organization role constructs and emerging practice-driven role skills. The empirical analysis indicated little to moderate relevancy of traditional role constructs by practicing managers while follow-up interviews revealed new role requirements driven by contemporary market realities and changing managerial motivations. The findings suggest that inclusion of new practice-driven role requirements or skills are likely to be mutually beneficial and influence career success.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may limit the ability to generalize without further comparative analysis in similar/dissimilar economies.

Practical implications

Individuals will benefit by the inclusion of revised role requirements and policies that are designed to support employee-driven needs and “employability” skills that are more consistent with a careerist orientation. The organization will also benefit by having a more highly skilled workforce in key areas of competitive advantage including networking, innovation and opportunity identification.

Originality/value

The value of this examination is twofold. First, it extends the understanding of the diminishing relevancy of traditional managerial roles within a context of major global and social transformation. Second, it underscores the growing importance of “employability” skill sets and capabilities for managerial career aspirants facing new market realities.
The importance of horizontal fit of university student jobs for future job quality
Authors: I.J.M. Van der Heijden Beatrice , Le Blanc Pascale M. , Hernandez Ana , Gonzalez-Roma Vicente , Yeves Jesus , Gamboa Juan P.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the antecedents of the quality of graduates’ jobs when they enter the job market after university graduation.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 173 Spanish bachelor and master’s degree university graduates at two time points (two months before and six months after graduation, approximately) were analyzed by means of path analysis.

Findings

A moderated mediation model was tested, where the relationship between the horizontal fit (HF) between the university degree subject and the student’s job and the quality of the graduate’s job after graduation is mediated by self-perceived employability and moderated by the time devoted to a student job. Results showed that the relationship between HF and job quality was partially mediated by self-perceived employability. However, contrary to the proposed hypothesis, this relationship did not depend on the time devoted to a student job.

Originality/value

This study contributes to improving the understanding about how and why university students’ work experience is related to the quality of their jobs as fresh graduates.
Physis, thaumazein and policy thinking: on another “time” to think educational policy
Authors: Chua Jude
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the mechanics of the neoliberal mindset is governed paradigmatically by a peculiar notion of “time,” which leads, in turn, to a kind of amoral consequentialism that projects meaninglessly and amorally into the future. The author proposes, in comparison, the pre-modern and ancient sense of the temporal which has the potential to yield moral insights for guiding policy thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

The author employs a philosophical approach and historical approach. The authors analyze philosophically the notion of the temporal in the consequentialist neoliberal agency, and draws on continental, ancient and medieval philosophical sources of temporality to develop an alternative.

Findings

The author argues that a rich notion of the temporal can be retrieved from medieval sources. This notion of the temporal is located in our experience of changing embodied beings, or physis, and gives rise to thuamazein or awe, which shows moral insights. The latter is a valuable source of guidance in policy thinking.

Research limitations/implications

This paper also suggests that epistemological commitment to an authority as numbers, feeding a policy as numbers, needs to be challenged. This paper does not draw on empirical data but nevertheless aspires to develop a thoughtful conceptual case on behalf of its conclusions.

Practical implications

A moral, neoliberal consequentialism is harmful to professional agencies. This paper offers a different way to think policy that puts what truly matters in front of us.

Social implications

Neoliberalism breeds the terrors of performativity that forgets what as a society we need to aim for on behalf of happiness, and instead drives us to compete without restraint after particular quantitative achievements. By challenging this paradigm, it is possible to offer policy thinking a different set of conceptual tools with which to think ourselves out of this performative irrationality.

Originality/value

This paper retrieves a medieval notion of time that is related with the showing of moral insights, opposed to amoral neoliberal consequentialism. In this way, there is a proposal of an alternative to neoliberalism, and not merely the worry of its damaging effects. It is also an original developmental study of Heidegger’s retrieval of ancient philosophy’s sense of temporality and its connection with ethics in the light of the resources in medieval philosophy.
The social representation of success in IT projects
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio , Melon Marcela
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to unveil the perception of information technology (IT) professionals in Brazil regarding the success of IT projects.

Design/methodology/approach

By using the social representation theory and the words evocation technique, data were collected from IT professionals in Brazil, being subsequently processed so as to identify the central nucleus of the social representation of the success of IT projects for IT professionals in Brazil.

Findings

IT professionals in Brazil perceive the central core of the social representation of the success of IT projects as formed by “satisfaction” and “scope.” Furthermore, while a considerable amount of IT professionals in Brazil still consider cost, quality and time as relevant factors for the success of IT projects, they do not consider them the most important factors. Moreover, these professionals overlook the financial dimension of the success of IT projects.

Research limitations/implications

Errors of inference may have been made during the categorization of the words evoked. Furthermore, the sample adopted refers exclusively to IT professionals in Brazil, which limits the universality of the work.

Practical implications

Organizations and project management associations must take into account the utmost importance of customer satisfaction for the success of IT projects. Besides, these associations must develop IT project success criteria that account for the financial, business and strategic impact of the success of IT projects in organizations.

Originality/value

IT project success is perceived by IT professionals in Brazil merely from the adherence to scope and customer satisfaction dimensions, leaving aside the importance of project profitability and the strategic impacts of same in the performance of organizations, as well as their future.
Self-efficacy and employee job performance
Authors: Na-Nan Khahan , Sanamthong Ekkasit
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Relationship between self-efficacy (SE) and employee job performance (EJP) is of vital importance for organizations but remains unclear. A more comprehensive understanding demonstrated that perceived workplace support (PWS), motivation to transfer (MT) and transfer of training (TT) had mediating effects on the relationship between SE and EJP. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were garnered from 250 alumni of the Engineering Faculty, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand through a questionnaire requesting 62 answers. A research outline was proposed, with structural equation modeling utilized to test the framework, determine the direct influence of SE on EJP and also any indirect influences on EJP through PWS, MT and TT variables.

Findings

SE increased EJP through enhancing PWS, MT and TT. In addition, PWS, MT and TT were determined as partial mediator factors of SE on EJP.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence was presented as two mechanisms that helped to explain the effect of SE on EJP. To enhance EJP, organizations should consider contributions associated with SE, PWS, MT and TT when designing and implementing transfer training for effective EJP.
Tool life prediction by RSM for cryogenic milling of inconel 718
Authors: Abdul Halim Nurul Hayati Binti , Che Haron Che Hassan , A. Ghani Jaharah , Azhar Muammar Faiq
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present the tool life optimization of carbide-coated ball nose milling inserts when high-speed milling of Inconel 718 under cryogenic CO2 condition. The main aims are to analyze the influence level of each cutting parameter on the tool life and to identify the optimum parameters that can lengthen the tool life to the maximum.

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental layout was designed using Box–Behnken RSM where all parameters were arranged without combining their highest and lowest values of each factor at the same time. A total of 29 milling experiments were conducted. Then, a statistical analysis using ANOVA was conducted to identify the relationship between the controlled factors on tool life. After that, a predictive model was developed to predict the variation of tool life within the predetermined parameters.

Findings

Results from the experimental found that the longest tool life of 22.77 min was achieved at Vc: 120 m/min, fz: 0.2 mm/tooth, ap: 0.5 mm and ae: 0.2 mm. ANOVA suggests the tool life of 23.4 min can be reached at Vc: 120.06 m/min, fz: 0.15 mm/tooth, ap: 0.66 mm and ae: 0.53 mm. All four controlled factors have influenced the tool life with the feed rate and radial depth of cut (DOC) as the major contributors. The developed mathematical model accurately represented the tool life at an average error of 8.2 per cent when compared to the actual and predicted tool life.

Originality/value

These experimental and statistical studies were conducted using Box–Behnken RSM method under cryogenic CO2 condition. It is a proven well-known method. However, the cooling method used in this study is a new technique and its effects on metal cutting, especially in the milling process of Inconel 718, has not yet been explored.
A cross-modal tactile sensor design for measuring robotic grasping forces
Authors: Fang Bin , Xue Hongxiang , Sun Fuchun , Yang Yiyong , Zhu Renxiang
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present a novel cross-modal sensor whose tactile is computed by the visual information. The proposed sensor can measure the forces of robotic grasping.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed cross-modal tactile sensor consists of a transparent elastomer with markers, a camera, an LED circuit board and supporting structures. The model and performance of the elastomer are analyzed. Then marker recognition method is proposed to determine the movements of the marker on the surface, and the force calculation algorithm is presented to compute the three-dimension force.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed tactile sensor can accurately measure robotic grasping forces.

Originality/value

The proposed cross-modal tactile sensor determines the robotic grasping forces by the images of markers. It can give more information of the force than traditional tactile sensors. Meanwhile, the proposed algorithms for forces calculation determine the superior results.
Library and information science and sustainable development: a structured literature review
Authors: Meschede Christine , Henkel Maria
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Awareness on and importance of sustainability in all aspects of our lives is becoming more and more important. The question arises, how – not if – scientists can contribute to a sustainable development. As information plays an important role for development, information scientists should be included in this debate. However, is there a sustainable information science or an information science of sustainability? The purpose of this paper is to perform a mapping of publications in library and information science (LIS) directly dealing with sustainability and sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review was conducted, enhanced by bibliometric analyses. For this purpose, 102 LIS journals and conferences were considered. The authors identified 81 publications dealing with sustainability and sustainable development and analyzed the concrete contents and methodological approaches of these.

Findings

A large proportion of articles could be found dealing with sustainable development and libraries. Other publications focus on information and communication technology or information systems. Only few articles deal with further topics like government, urban development or scientific output.

Research limitations/implications

Sustainability and sustainable development are complex topics. This work only considers literature whose title or keywords contain the string sustainab*.

Originality/value

The presented work helps to get an overview on sustainability research and activities in the LIS field and additionally, potential research gaps may be identified. The authors call for more research in this area and concrete ideas to help develop a sustainable future.
Information seeking abroad: an everyday-life study of international students
Authors: Hertzum Morten , Hyldegård Jette Seiden
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how four international students at a Danish university cope with their study-related and everyday information needs, behaviorally as well as affectively, and how their information seeking blends with their cross-cultural adaptation.

Design/methodology/approach

Each of the four participants contributed ten diaries and took part in three interviews during the first semester of their stay.

Findings

International students’ information needs and seeking behavior are shaped by their host university but also by cross-cultural, personal and situational issues. While the cross-cultural issues set international students apart from domestic students, the personal and situational issues create individual differences that call for more individually tailored support. The studied international students lacked information about both study-related and everyday issues. These two types of issues were intertwined and experienced as equally stressful. However, study-related information needs were more important, whereas everyday information needs were more difficult to resolve. In addition, participants tended to feel on their own when it came to finding needed information, but studying abroad also had elements of personal growth in meeting life’s challenges.

Research limitations/implications

More participants are needed to investigate how international students’ information seeking evolves over time.

Originality/value

This study contributes detailed information about international students’ study-related and everyday information seeking during their first semester abroad. The study has implications for everyday-life studies of international students’ information behavior and the international classroom in general.
Influences of technological attributes on sourcing of manufacturing technologies in developing countries
Authors: Cabrera Rony , González Domingo
Published: July 2019

Purpose

As part of a new focus on a better balance of investment in innovation activities in developing countries, this study aims to understand the effects of technological attributes (technological complexity and type of technology) on manufacturing technology sourcing (whether firms choose either internal development or external sources).

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple-case studies were conducted in the Peruvian manufacturing sector.

Findings

The authors found that, across Peruvian manufacturing firms, they develop a certain manufacturing technology related to their capabilities. However, when the total cost of acquisition is lower than internal costs of developing technologies, they will choose external sources, regardless of their capabilities and complexity of the technology. In addition, analysis of the type of technology indicated that the pursuit of simultaneous exploration and exploitation occurs when firms use external sources rather than internal.

Research limitations/implications

This study has the limitation that data have been collected years after the decision-making process; the results are based solely on the authors’ analysis using the case of Peruvian industry, and they do not track the impact on the performance of manufacturing technology decisions.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications for technology managers of South American manufacturing firms that are decision makers in the sourcing of new manufacturing technologies.

Originality/value

The results of this study provide literature with insights into technology sourcing strategy in developing countries and the importance of progress in transitioning to technological innovation and catchup.
A systematic literature review on working capital management – an identification of new avenues
Authors: Kayani Umar Nawaz , De Silva Tracy-Anne , Gan Christopher
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a review of the existing literature available on working capital (WC) and working capital management (WCM).

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) methodology is used to review 187 articles selected from referred journals, books and international conferences for the period 1980-2017.

Findings

This comprehensive review reveals that much of the focus in the existing literature is paid on investigating the empirical relationship between WCM and firm performance. Furthermore, the attention has been paid towards studying the WC practices. The behavioural aspects, qualitative studies, survey studies and systematic theory development have been ignored in most of the prior studies. These areas have a broader scope for future research.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on literature review and theoretical in nature. Therefore, it does not have any empirical results.

Practical implications

So far, a limited literature review studies have been conducted in WCM perspective. This review provides various emerging trends, which may be considered in future research for providing a deep understanding of WCM.

Originality/value

This is the first time a detailed review of WCM literature has been conducted by using SLR for the period of 1980-2017. This review will be useful for researchers, business policymaker, finance professionals and all other having direct or indirect concerns with WCM study.
Can non-CEO inside directors add value? Evidence from unplanned CEO turnovers
Authors: Krigman Laurie , Rivolta Mia L.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the roles of non-CEO inside directors (NCIDs) in the new CEO-firm matching process using the context of unplanned CEO departures when immediate CEO succession planning becomes a sole board responsibility. Although critics argue that inside directors decrease the monitoring effectiveness of a board, inside directors arguably possess superior firm-specific experience and knowledge that can be beneficial during the leadership transition.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a comprehensive, manually collected data set of unplanned CEO departures from 1993 to 2012.

Findings

The authors find that NCIDs play an important role in the CEO transitioning process. They help firms identify qualified inside replacements and provide stability as the new permanent or interim CEO. In addition, NCIDs facilitate the transfer of information and help the new external CEOs succeed. They show that the longer the NCID stays with the company, the longer the tenure of the new CEO. They also document that the presence of NCIDs improves operating and stock performance; especially when the new CEO is hired from outside of the firm.

Practical implications

The impact of NCIDs is particularly important when the firm hires an outsider as the new CEO. These results suggest that board composition affects frictions in the CEO labor market.

Originality/value

The literature has predominantly focused on the downside of having inside directors. Too many inside directors on a firm’s board is often associated with ineffective boards and entrenchment. To the contrary, the authors focus on a potential benefit of having inside directors.
Calcium‐dependent site‐switching regulates expression of the atypical iam pilus locus in Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Pu Meng , Storms Emily , Chodur Dan M. , Rowe‐Magnus Dean A.
Published: July 2019

The opportunistic human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus inhabits warm coastal waters and asymptomatically colonizes seafood, most commonly oysters. We previously characterized an isolate that exhibited greater biofilm formation, aggregation and oyster colonization than its parent. This was due, in part, to the production of a Type IV Tad pilus (Iam). However, the locus lacked key processing and regulatory genes required for pilus production. Here, we identify a pilin peptidase iamP, and LysR‐type regulator (LRTR) iamR, that fulfil these roles and show that environmental calcium, which oysters enrich for shell repair and growth, regulates iam expression. The architecture of the iam locus differs from the classical LRTR paradigm and requires an additional promoter to be integrated into the regulatory network. IamR specifically recognized the iamR promoter (PiamR) and the intergenic iamP‐iamA region (PiamP‐A). PiamR exhibited classical negative auto‐regulation but, strikingly, IamR inversely regulated the divergent iamP and iamA promoters in a calcium‐dependent manner. Moreover, expression of the c‐di‐GMP and calcium‐regulated, biofilm‐promoting brp exopolysaccharide was IamA‐dependent. These results support a scenario in which the calcium‐enriched oyster environment triggers IamP‐mediated processing of prepilin amassed in the periplasm for rapid pilin elaboration and subsequent BRP production to promote colonization.
Ensuring good science
Authors: Papageorghiou Aris T.
Published: July 2019

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Dr Aris T. Papageorghiou, discusses the latest thinking in women's health and highlights articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/august-editorial-2019
Variations in Newspaper Coverage on Water in the U.S. Intermountain West
Authors: Flint Courtney G. , Wynn Elizabeth , Paveglio Travis , Boyd Amanda , Bullock Cathy
Published: July 2019

Water is a salient issue in the Intermountain West of the United States (U.S.), with concerns ranging from water scarcity and drought to intermittent flooding and water quality risks. This paper investigates coverage of water issues across seven newspapers in the core of the U.S. Intermountain West region. Newspapers have the potential to set agendas and influence perceived salience of issues among consumers. The Intermountain West region shares common concerns about water supply and demand, climate change, and water quality. We investigate whether or not local daily newspaper coverage of water issues provides a more local or regional sensitivity. Findings from this exploratory study reveal differences in water coverage across local daily newspapers. The overall volume of water‐related articles differed across newspapers as did proportion of articles on specific water topics and connecting issues. Coverage of local issues was more dominant than might be expected given mass media trends, but water geography in articles extended across the U.S. and the world in every newspaper studied. Variations in newspaper coverage of water issues suggests more local nuance persists despite the experience of common water issues across the region.
Error Assessment for Height Above the Nearest Drainage Inundation Mapping
Authors: Godbout Lukas , Zheng Jeff Y. , Dey Sayan , Eyelade Damilola , Maidment David , Passalacqua Paola
Published: July 2019

Real‐time flood inundation mapping is vital for emergency response to help protect life and property. Inundation mapping transforms rainfall forecasts into meaningful spatial information that can be utilized before, during, and after disasters. While inundation mapping has traditionally been conducted on a local scale, automated algorithms using topography data can be utilized to efficiently produce flood maps across the continental scale. The Height Above the Nearest Drainage method can be used in conjunction with synthetic rating curves (SRCs) to produce inundation maps, but the performance of these inundation maps needs to be assessed. Here we assess the accuracy of the SRCs and calculate statistics for comparing the SRCs to rating curves obtained from hydrodynamic models calibrated against observed stage heights. We find SRCs are accurate enough for large‐scale approximate inundation mapping while not as accurate when assessing individual reaches or cross sections. We investigate the effect of terrain and channel characteristics and observe reach length and slope predict divergence between the two types of rating curves, and SRCs perform poorly for short reaches with extreme slope values. We propose an approach to recalculate the slope in Manning’s equation as the weighted average over a minimum distance and assess accuracy for a range of moving window lengths.
Aging induces cardiac mesenchymal stromal cell senescence and promotes endothelial cell fate of the CD90 + subset
Authors: Martini Hélène , Iacovoni Jason S. , Maggiorani Damien , Dutaur Marianne , Marsal Dimitri J. , Roncalli Jerome , Itier Romain , Dambrin Camille , Pizzinat Nathalie , Mialet‐Perez Jeanne , Cussac Daniel , Parini Angelo , Lefevre Lise , Douin‐Echinard Victorine
Published: July 2019

Aging is a major risk factor in the development of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Age‐related organ dysfunction is strongly associated with the accumulation of senescent cells. Cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells (cMSCs), deemed part of the microenvironment, modulate cardiac homeostasis through their vascular differentiation potential and paracrine activity. Transcriptomic analysis of cMSCs identified age‐dependent biological pathways regulating immune responses and angiogenesis. Aged cMSCs displayed a senescence program characterized by Cdkn2a expression, decreased proliferation and clonogenicity, and acquisition of a senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Increased CCR2‐dependent monocyte recruitment by aged cMSCs was associated with increased IL‐1ß production by inflammatory macrophages in the aging heart. In turn, IL‐1ß induced senescence in cMSCs and mimicked age‐related phenotypic changes such as decreased CD90 expression. The CD90+ and CD90‐ cMSC subsets had biased vascular differentiation potentials, and CD90+ cMSCs were more prone to acquire markers of the endothelial lineage with aging. These features were related to the emergence of a new cMSC subset in the aging heart, expressing CD31 and endothelial genes. These results demonstrate that cMSC senescence and SASP production are supported by the installation of an inflammatory amplification loop, which could sustain cMSC senescence and interfere with their vascular differentiation potentials.
Increased mortality from somatic multimorbidity in patients with schizophrenia: a Danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Kugathasan P. , Stubbs B. , Aagaard J. , Jensen S. E. , Munk Laursen T. , Nielsen R. E.
Published: July 2019

Objective

To investigate the association of single‐ and multimorbidity with mortality rates in patients with schizophrenia compared to the general population.

Method

A nationwide cohort study including residents in Denmark between 1995 and 2015. The cohort was dichotomously divided by a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Somatic diseases included infections, cancer, endocrine, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, skin, musculoskeletal, and urogenital diseases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated.

Results

The cohort included 30 210 patients with schizophrenia [mean age (SD) = 32.6 (11.4), males = 57.2%], and 5 402 611 from the general population [mean age (SD) = 33.0 (14.5), males = 50.4%]. All number of somatic diseases were associated with an increased mortality in schizophrenia [HR = 16.3 (95% CI = 15.4–17.3) for 1 disease to 21.0 (95% CI = 19.1–23.0) for ≥5 diseases], using the general population with no somatic disease as reference. Across all somatic diseases, patients with schizophrenia showed a HR > 2, compared to the general population, and respiratory (PAF = 9.3%), digestive (PAF = 8.2%), and cardiovascular (PAF = 7.9%) diseases showed largest contributions to death.

Conclusions

Patients with schizophrenia showed higher mortality on all levels of multimorbidity, and a doubled mortality rate across all somatic diseases, compared to the general population. The findings suggest that the clusters and trajectories of symptoms associated with schizophrenia is the main driver of the excess mortality.
Occurrence of complete heart block associated with acute renal infarction
Authors: Su Yi‐Ching , Hsu Chun‐Hsien
Published: July 2019

Complete heart block (CHB) and acute renal infarction (ARI) are both uncommon diseases and seldom encountered in the clinical practice. We describe a rare case of pre‐existing left bundle branch block, presenting simultaneously with CHB and ARI. The possible mechanism depends on prior presence of either CHB or ARI. If ARI occurs first, severe pain and embolism may enhance the vagal tone resulting in decrease in the heart rate and transient intraventricular conduction interruption, which subsequently causes CHB. The opposite scenario, CHB preceding ARI, is also possible. CHB can be physiologic and transient, with higher risk of development in the circumstance of pre‐existing conduction system disturbances. Patients with CHB are predisposed to formation of thrombi and thromboemboli, giving rise to ARI. In conclusion, awareness and timely identification of the clinical manifestations of these two diseases may facilitate early diagnosis and prompt management.
No interactions between heparin and atacicept, an antagonist of B cell survival cytokines
Authors: Kowalczyk‐Quintas Christine , Willen Daniela , Willen Laure , Golob Michaela , Schuepbach‐Mallepell Sonia , Peter Benjamin , Eslami Mahya , Vigolo Michele , Broly Hervé , Samy Eileen , Yalkinoglu Özkan , Schneider Pascal
Published: July 2019

Background and Purpose

The TNF family ligands, B cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF, also known as B lymphocyte stimulator, BLyS) and a proliferation‐inducing ligand (APRIL), share the transmembrane activator and calcium‐modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML)‐interactor (TACI) as one of their common receptors. Atacicept, a chimeric recombinant TACI/IgG1‐Fc fusion protein, inhibits both ligands. TACI and APRIL also bind to proteoglycans and to heparin that is structurally related to proteoglycans. It is unknown whether the portion of TACI contained in atacicept can bind directly to proteoglycans, or indirectly via APRIL, and whether this could interfere with the anti‐coagulant properties of heparin.

Experimental Approach

Binding of atacicept and APRIL to proteoglycan‐positive cells was measured by FACS. Activities of heparin and atacicept were measured with activated factor Xa inhibition and cell‐based assays. Effects of heparin on circulating atacicept was monitored in mice.

Key Results

Atacicept did not bind to proteoglycan‐positive cells, but when complexed to APRIL could do so indirectly via APRIL. Multimers of atacicept obtained after exposure to cysteine or BAFF 60‐mer bound directly to proteoglycans. Atacicept alone, or in complex with APRIL, or in a multimeric form did not interfere with heparin activity in vitro. Conversely, heparin did not influence inhibition of BAFF and APRIL by atacicept and did not change circulating levels of atacicept.

Conclusions and Implications

Lack of detectable interference of APRIL‐bound or free atacicept on heparin activity makes it unlikely that atacicept at therapeutic doses will interfere with the function of heparin in vivo.