bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GalU) fromErwinia amylovora
Authors: Toccafondi Mirco , Cianci Michele , Benini Stefano
Published: August 2014

Glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase fromErwinia amylovoraCFPB1430 was expressed as a His-tag fusion protein inEscherichia coli. After tag removal, the purified protein was crystallized from 100 mMTris pH 8.5, 2 Mammonium sulfate, 5% ethylene glycol. Diffraction data sets were collected to a maximum resolution of 2.46 Å using synchrotron radiation. The crystals belonged to the hexagonal space groupP62, with unit-cell parametersa= 80.67,b= 80.67,c = 169.18. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the structure of theE. colienzyme as a search model.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the C-terminal fragment of Ski7 fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Lee Ji-Young , Park Si Hoon , Jeong Byung-Cheon , Song Hyun Kyu
Published: August 2014

Ski7 (superkiller protein 7) plays a critical role in the mRNA surveillance pathway. The C-terminal fragment of Ski7 (residues 520–747) fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaewas heterologously expressed inEscherichia coliand purified to homogeneity. It was successfully crystallized and preliminary X-ray data were collected to 2.0 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to a trigonal space group, eitherP3121 orP3221, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 73.5,c= 83.6 Å. The asymmetric unit contains one molecule of the C-terminal fragment of Ski7 with a corresponding crystal volume per protein mass (VM) of 2.61 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 52.8% by volume. The mergingRfactor is 6.6%. Structure determination by MAD phasing is under way.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Xaa-Pro dipeptidase fromXanthomonas campestris
Authors: Kumar Ashwani , Are Venkata Narayana , Ghosh Biplab , Agrawal Utsavi , Jamdar Sahayog N. , Makde Ravindra D. , Sharma Surinder M.
Published: August 2014

Xaa-Pro dipeptidase (XPD; prolidase; EC 3.4.13.9) specifically hydrolyzes dipeptides with a prolyl residue at the carboxy-terminus.Xanthomonasspp. possess two different isoforms of XPD (48 and 43 kDa) which share ∼24% sequence identity. The XPD of 43 kDa in size (XPD43) fromXanthomonasspp. is unusual as it lacks the strictly conserved tyrosine residue (equivalent to Tyr387 inEscherichia coliaminopeptidase P) that is suggested to be important in the proton-shuttle transfer required for catalysis in the M24B (MEROPS) family. Here, the crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of XPD43 fromX. campestris(GenBank accession No. NP_637763) are reported. Recombinant XPD43 was crystallized using the microbatch-under-oil technique. Diffraction data were collected on the recently commissioned protein crystallography beamline (PX-BL21) at the Indian synchrotron (Indus-2, 2.5 GeV) to 1.83 Å resolution with 100% completeness. The crystal belonged to space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 84.32,b= 105.51,c= 111.35 Å. Two monomers are expected to be present in the asymmetric unit of the crystal, corresponding to a solvent content of 58%. Structural analysis of XPD43 will provide new insights into the role of the conserved residues in catalysis in the M24B family.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of two variants of theEscherichia coliO157 ParE2–PaaA2 toxin–antitoxin complex
Authors: Sterckx Yann G. J. , Haesaerts Sarah , Van Melderen Laurence , Loris Remy
Published: August 2014

ThepaaR2–paaA2–parE2operon is a three-component toxin–antitoxin module encoded in the genome of the human pathogenEscherichia coliO157. The toxin (ParE2) and antitoxin (PaaA2) interact to form a nontoxic toxin–antitoxin complex. In this paper, the crystallization and preliminary characterization of two variants of the ParE2–PaaA2 toxin–antitoxin complex are described. Selenomethionine-derivative crystals of the full-length ParE2–PaaA2 toxin–antitoxin complex diffracted to 2.8 Å resolution and belonged to space groupP41212 (orP43212), with unit-cell parametersa=b= 90.5,c= 412.3 Å. It was previously reported that the full-length ParE2–PaaA2 toxin–antitoxin complex forms a higher-order oligomer. In contrast, ParE2 and PaaA213–63, a truncated form of PaaA2 in which the first 12 N-terminal residues of the antitoxin have been deleted, form a heterodimer as shown by analytical gel filtration, dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. Crystals of the PaaA213–63–ParE2 complex diffracted to 2.7 Å resolution and belonged to space groupP6122 (orP6522), with unit-cell parametersa=b= 91.6,c= 185.6 Å.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the PH-GRAM domain of human MTMR4
Authors: Lee Jee Un , Son Ji Young , Yoo Ki-Young , Shin Woori , Im Dong-Won , Kim Seung Jun , Ryu Seong Eon , Heo Yong-Seok
Published: August 2014

Phosphoinositide lipid molecules play critical roles in intracellular signalling pathways and are regulated by phospholipases, lipid kinases and phosphatases. In particular, phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate are related to endosomal trafficking events through the recruitment of effector proteins and are involved in the degradation step of autophagy. Myotubularin-related proteins (MTMRs) are a large family of phosphatases that catalyze the dephosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate at the D3 position, thereby regulating cellular phosphoinositide levels. In this study, the PH-GRAM domain of human MTMR4 was cloned, overexpressed inEscherichia coli, purified and crystallized by the vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to 3.20 Å resolution at a synchrotron beamline and belonged to either space groupP61orP65, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 109.10,c= 238.97 Å.
“Noids” in a nutshell: everything you (don’t) want to know about synthetic cannabimimetics
Authors: Papanti Duccio , Orsolini Laura , Francesconi Giulia , Schifano Fabrizio
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– “Spice” products are synthetic cannabimimetics (SC; also called “synthetic cannabinoids”)-based designer drugs used as a legal alternative to cannabis for their very strong tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-like effects. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of more recent clinical and pharmacology/toxicology findings relating to SC and describe how they could impact on health, with a particular focus on mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic search and descriptive analysis of the available evidence on psychopathological issues related to misuse was performed here, whilst taking into account the Pubmed/Medline databases, a range of conference proceedings and national/international agencies’ reports.

Findings

– While THC is a partial agonist, SC are full agonists on the cannabinoid receptors (CB-rs) and the administration of multiple SC can produce additive and/or synergistic agonistic interaction effects on the endocannabinoid system. These levels of strong CB-rs’ activation may be high enough to produce severe physiological and psychological disturbances. The available evidence suggests an existing relationship between SC use and psychosis (“Spiceophrenia”). The acute SC intoxication is usually characterized by tachycardia/hypertension; visual/auditory hallucinations; mydriasis; agitation/anxiety; tachypnoea; nausea/vomiting; and seizures.

Research limitations/implications

– The absence of clinical trials and longitudinal studies, together with the heterogeneity of SC compounds does not facilitate a precise assessment of the health risks related to their use, with long-term effects being of particular concern.

Originality/value

– Appropriate, non-judgemental, prevention campaigns with a special focus on the differences between SC and cannabis may need to be organized on a large scale. At the same time, clinicians need to be regularly updated about novel psychoactive substances, including SC, to promptly recognize signs/symptoms of intoxication.
Facilitators and barriers in dual recovery: a literature review of first-person perspectives
Authors: Ness Ottar , Borg Marit , Davidson Larry
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use problems is prevalent, and has been problematic both in terms of its complexity for the person and of the challenges it poses to health care practitioners. Recovery in co-occurring mental health and substance use problems is viewed as with multiple challenges embedded in it. As most of the existing literature on recovery tends to treat recovery in mental health and substance use problems separately, it is critical to assess the nature of our current understanding of what has been described as “complex” or “dual” recovery. The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss what persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems describe as facilitators and barriers in their recovery process as revealed in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The method used for this study was a small-scale review of the literature gleaned from a wider general view. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Psych info, Medline, Embase, SweMed+, and NORART.

Findings

– Three overarching themes were identified as facilitators of dual recovery: first, meaningful everyday life; second, focus on strengths and future orientation; and third, re-establishing a social life and supportive relationships. Two overarching themes were identified as barriers to dual recovery: first, lack of tailored help and second, complex systems and uncoordinated services.

Originality/value

– The recovery literature mostly focuses on recovery in mental health and substance use problems separately, with less attention being paid in the first-person literature to what helps and what hinders dual recovery.
A review of risk factors associated with suicide in adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Mollison Emma , Chaplin Eddie , Underwood Lisa , McCarthy Jane
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Suicide is one of the top three leading causes of death amongst those aged between 15 and 44 years; and tenth leading cause of death in the wider population. The base rates of suicide, suicide attempts and suicide-related behaviours are comparably low in the general population with between 17 and 68 per cent of individuals who successfully commit suicide having made a previous attempt to take their own life. As recently as the 1980's it was still a widely held belief that individuals with intellectual disability (ID) did not have the cognitive capacity to experience mental health problems and this acted as a “buffer” against suicidal behaviour. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The literature review covered the time period 1993-2013 and returned 117 studies, 77 of which related to individuals with ID, 37 of which related to adults. Following screening titles and abstracts 28 articles were removed. A total of nine studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in the review. A further two studies examining suicide in adolescents (up to adulthood) with ID were also considered. From the eligible studies the following information was considered: study design, sample size, strengths, limitations and the risk factors associated with an increased risk of suicide.

Findings

– The suicide risk factors identified during the review were found to be in keeping with the general population and included a diagnosis of clinical depression, history of self-harm, unemployment, loneliness, unemployment, an increased need for support from others, early onset mental illness and being treatment resistive.

Originality/value

– Suicide in individuals with ID is a topic that has not received a great deal of attention from professionals and clinicians alike. People with ID have higher rates of mental health problems and therefore it could be argued that they are more likely to be at risk. This study aims to look at risk factors specific to people with ID for clinicians to consider in their daily practice.
Inter-company learning: using the 5 E's to promote interaction
Authors: Reese Simon
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate steps that a manufacturer can deploy to improve social interaction, learning, and application while facilitating a system of learning across a wholesale distribution channel.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a model of how a manufacturer-improved social interaction, learning, and application with their wholesale distribution network using five simple and consistent steps: Excite, Engage, Experience, Execute, and Evaluate.

Findings

– The 5 E's provided a consistent method for the manufacturer to engage the wholesale distributor in social interactions centered around learning, the L&D practitioner should evaluate the use of the 5 E's as they integrate learning into sales and marketing initiatives.

Practical implications

– Using the 5 E's to create social interactions within the learning system allows the manufacturer to manage knowledge sharing and knowledge application with the wholesale distributor.

Originality/value

– The conceptual paper outlines the 5 E's utilized by a manufacturer and provides a checklist of practical elements in each step. The model and checklist provides the L&D professional methods which she can use to expand traditional learning environments across sales and marketing.
A modified genetic algorithm for UAV trajectory tracking control laws optimization
Authors: K. Wilburn Brenton , G. Perhinschi Mario , N. Wilburn Jennifer
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to gain trajectory-tracking controllers for autonomous aircraft are optimized using a modified evolutionary, or genetic algorithm (GA).

Design/methodology/approach

– The GA design utilizes real representation for the individual consisting of the collection of all controller gains subject to tuning. The initial population is generated randomly over pre-specified ranges. Alternatively, initial individuals are produced as random variations from a heuristically tuned set of gains to increase convergence time. A two-point crossover mechanism and a probabilistic mutation mechanism represent the genetic alterations performed on the population. The environment is represented by a performance index (PI) composed of a set of metrics based on tracking error and control activity in response to a commanded trajectory. Roulette-wheel selection with elitist strategy are implemented. A PI normalization scheme is also implemented to increase the speed of convergence. A flexible control laws design environment is developed, which can be used to easily optimize the gains for a variety of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control laws architectures.

Findings

– The performance of the aircraft trajectory-tracking controllers was shown to improve significantly through the GA optimization. Additionally, the novel normalization modification was shown to encourage more rapid convergence to an optimal solution.

Research limitations/implications

– The GA paradigm shows much promise in the optimization of highly non-linear aircraft trajectory-tracking controllers. The proposed optimization tool facilitates the investigation of novel control architectures regardless of complexity and dimensionality.

Practical implications

– The addition of the evolutionary optimization to the WVU UAV simulation environment enhances significantly its capabilities for autonomous flight algorithm development, testing, and evaluation. The normalization methodology proposed in this paper has been shown to appreciably speed up the convergence of GAs.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a flexible generalized framework for UAV control system evolutionary optimization. It includes specific novel structural elements and mechanisms for improved convergence as well as a comprehensive PI for trajectory tracking.
Multi-legged robot dynamics navigation model with optical flow
Authors: A. Martínez-García Edgar , Abril Torres-Méndez Luz , Rajesh Elara Mohan
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish analytical and numerical solutions of a navigational law to estimate displacements of hyper-static multi-legged mobile robots, which combines: monocular vision (optical flow of regional invariants) and legs dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study the authors propose a Euler-Lagrange equation that control legs’ joints to control robot's displacements. Robot's rotation and translational velocities are feedback by motion features of visual invariant descriptors. A general analytical solution of a derivative navigation law is proposed for hyper-static robots. The feedback is formulated with the local speed rate obtained from optical flow of visual regional invariants. The proposed formulation includes a data association algorithm aimed to correlate visual invariant descriptors detected in sequential images through monocular vision. The navigation law is constrained by a set of three kinematic equilibrium conditions for navigational scenarios: constant acceleration, constant velocity, and instantaneous acceleration.

Findings

– The proposed data association method concerns local motions of multiple invariants (enhanced MSER) by minimizing the norm of multidimensional optical flow feature vectors. Kinematic measurements are used as observable arguments in the general dynamic control equation; while the legs joints dynamics model is used to formulate the controllable arguments.

Originality/value

– The given analysis does not combine sensor data of any kind, but only monocular passive vision. The approach automatically detects environmental invariant descriptors with an enhanced version of the MSER method. Only optical flow vectors and robot's multi-leg dynamics are used to formulate descriptive rotational and translational motions for self-positioning.
Tip-over stability enhancement for omnidirectional mobile robot
Authors: Juhairi Aziz Safar Muhammad , Watanabe Keigo , Maeyama Shoichi , Nagai Isaku
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the stability behavior of the omnidirectional mobile robot with active dual-wheel caster (ADWC) assemblies and provide a stable trajectory without any tip-over incident. The omnidirectional mobile robot to be developed is for transporting cuboid-shaped objects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The omnidirectional transport mobile robot is designed using an ADWC assemblies structure, the tip-over occurrence is estimated based on the support forces of an active footprint, the tip-over direction is predicted, the tip-over stability is enhanced to prevent the tip-over occurrence and a fast traveling motion is provided.

Findings

– The omnidirectional mobile robot tends to tip-over more on the sides with small ranges of tip-over angle. The proposed method for estimating the tip-over occurrence and enhancing the stability using the gyroscopic torque device was feasible as the tip-over prevention system of the omnidirectional mobile robot with ADWC assemblies.

Originality/value

– The research addresses the study of the tip-over stability for the omnidirectional mobile robot that possesses an active footprint. It also addresses the prediction of the tip-over occurrence using the derived dynamical model together with force-angle stability measure and the tip-over stability enhancement method using a single-gimbal control moment gyro device.
Socially responsible stock funds in Brazil
Authors: Hartz Pinto Dimas , Funcia Lemme Celso , Pereira Câmara Leal Ricardo
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk-adjusted performance of Brazilian SRI stock funds.

Design/methodology/approach

– Risk-adjusted performance of 11 Brazilian socially responsible investment (SRI) funds relative to local index funds and matched pairs of funds.

Findings

– SRI funds performed as well as portfolios representing the broad market on a risk-adjusted basis, both before and during the global financial crisis. Independent investment houses are not interested in SRI funds. Large financial conglomerates may see these funds as part of their corporate social responsibility image strategy.

Research limitations/implications

– Brazilian SRI funds are a very small niche in the stock mutual fund universe of the country, thus, the small sample (universe) of SRI funds, as far as the author's knew. One cannot say that independent asset managers do not include SRI screening in their stock selection criteria. The use of SRI screening by the most prominent independent asset managers is a potential topic for future research.

Practical implications

– Brazilian SRI funds did not represent an extra screening filter cost to their investors. The majority of asset managers do not consider this strategy important enough to deserve an exclusive vehicle.

Social implications

– As SRI funds did not posit an extra screening cost, they may deserve a greater share of the mutual fund market, stimulating more SRI.

Originality/value

– The performance of Brazilian SRI stock funds had not been examined in the international literature. Brazil has vast natural resources, a very large economy and the fourth largest mutual fund industry in the world, but was overlooked.
Analysis of tilting-pad thrust bearing static instability and lubrication performance under the bistability
Authors: Wu Ouyang , Xiaoyang Yuan , Qian Jia
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the problems of tilting-pad thrust bearing static instability and lubrication performance under static bistability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The static equilibrium state of tilting-pad thrust bearing is analyzed, and key parameters are extracted from the general lubrication model. Then, a distribution area of bearing static equilibrium points is achieved by solving the model. The area is divided into three sub-areas which represent monostabillity, bistability and instability, and an unstable boundary of the area is discovered. By these findings, a reversible lubrication failure phenomenon is explained. A calculation method is proposed to obtain bearing lubrication performance under the bistability.

Findings

– The variation of working conditions can lead to migration of unstable boundary and static instability. After resuming the working conditions, unstable boundary will resume in situ, and the bearing will operate steadily again. Moreover, there is a big difference between the two groups of lubrication performance solutions under the bistability.

Practical implications

– The static stability acceptance test of tilting-pad thrust bearing should be implemented under start–stop, accidental excitation and other conditions before service to prevent such lubrication failure phenomenon. Moreover, fulcrum position of the bearing pad should be kept away from the bistable area.

Originality/value

– This paper has preliminarily revealed a static instability mechanism of tilting-pad thrust bearing, analyzed bistability lubrication performance and proposed some suggestions to improve the bearing stability.
Microstructure and tribological properties of gas tungsten arc clad TiC composite coatings on carbon steel
Authors: Peng De-Xing , Kang Yuan , Huang Yu-Jun
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the wear performance of carbon steel cladded with TiC powders by gas tungsten arc welding method. Because of poor wear resistance, carbon steels have limited industrial applications as tribological components.

Design/methodology/approach

– The cladding microstructures were characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer. The wear behavior of the clad layer was studied with a block-on-ring tribometer.

Findings

– The experimental results revealed that the metallurgical interface provided an excellent bond between the cladding and the carbon steel substrate. The cladding revealed no porosity or cracking, and particles were evenly distributed throughout the cladding layer. Hardness was increased from HRc 6.6 in the substrate to HRc 62 in the cladded layer due to the presence of the hard TiC phase.

Originality/value

– The experiments confirm that the cladding surfaces of TiC particles reduce wear rate and friction. Increasing TiC contents also improves hardness and wear resistance at room temperature and under dry sliding wear conditions.
Consumer segments in organic foods market
Authors: Aslihan Nasir V. , Karakaya Fahri
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to examine profiles of consumers in organic foods market segments and determine their attitudes toward organic food consumption. Consequently, we explore whether there are differences among these consumer segments in terms of their health orientation, socially responsible consumption, environmental responsibility and values and lifestyles.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 316 consumers were surveyed at supermarkets and malls in one of the largest metropolitan areas of a European city.

Findings

– The cluster analysis performed indicates that there are three segments based on consumer attitudes toward organic foods: favorable, neutral and unfavorable. The results show that the consumer segment with more favorable attitudes toward organic foods exhibits higher levels of health orientation and socially responsible consumption behavior when compared to other segments.

Practical implications

– It important for marketers to understand organic foods market segments so that they can target them with the appropriate marketing mix. For this reason, we attempt to identify consumer segments based on their attitudes and behavior concerning organic foods. In doing so, we examine the profiles of consumers in each organic food market segment and their attitudes toward organic food consumption.

Originality/value

– Organic food consumption is growing at a fast pace despite economic problems around the world. This study has identified three market segments (consumer profiles) with different attitudes and behavior towards organic foods.
The pragmatic importance of theory for marketing practice
Authors: Rotfeld Herbert Jack
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain that theories provide an important tool for practitioners in guiding decisions by explaining and predicting consumer decision making when new specific research data might be unavailable. This is true despite the problems caused by some academic journal articles’ use and abuse of theory development. The argument for this crucial role of theory in marketing practice explains reasons why many practitioners dislike academic research and related theory development, as well as points out where practitioners’ criticisms are valid.

Design/methodology/approach

– Delineation of problems in journal articles and some research notes the overall value of work for marketing practice and (indirectly) points out the important value of practitioner-focused research publications.

Findings

– While marketing practitioners are wrong to condemn all theory development as useless, too often in too many ways, researchers and journals deserve it. Yet, despite the problems, marketing practice needs marketing theory.

Originality/value

– This paper points out an ongoing common myopia of marketing practice, whereby practitioners miss out on the value of theory development.
Application of life cycle assessment and Monte Carlo simulation for enabling sustainable product design
Authors: Vinodh Sekar , Rathod Gopinath
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated technical and economic model to evaluate the reusability of products or components.

Design/methodology/approach

– Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is applied to obtain the product’s environmental performance. Monte Carlo simulation is utilized for enabling sustainable product design.

Findings

– The results show that the model is capable of assessing the potential reusability of used products, while the usage of simulation significantly increases the effectiveness of the model in addressing uncertainties.

Research limitations/implications

– The case study has been conducted in a single manufacturing organization. The implications derived from the study are found to be practical and useful to the organization.

Practical implications

– The paper reports a case study carried out for an Indian rotary switches manufacturing organization. Hence, the model is practically feasible.

Originality/value

– The article presents a study that investigates LCA and simulation as enablers of sustainable product design. Hence, the contributions of this article are original and valuable.
Assessing sovereign risk: the case of rich countries
Authors: Gaillard Norbert
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to shed new light on the inability of credit rating agencies (CRAs) to forecast the recent defaults and so-called quasi-defaults of rich countries. It also describes how Moody’s sovereign rating methodology has been modified – and could be further improved – to solve this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– After converting bond yields into yield-implied ratings, accuracy ratios are computed to compare the respective performances of CRAs and market participants. Then Iceland’s and Greece’s ratings at the beginning of the Great Recession are estimated while accounting for the parameters included in the new methodology implemented by Moody’s in 2013.

Findings

– Market participants outperformed Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s in terms of anticipating the sovereign debt crisis that hit several European countries starting in 2008. However, the new methodology implemented by Moody’s should lead to more conservative and accurate sovereign ratings.

Originality/value

– The chronic inability of CRAs to anticipate public debt crises in rich countries is dangerous because the countries affected – which are generally rated in the investment-grade category – are substantially downgraded, amplifying the sovereign debt crisis. This study is the first to demonstrate that Moody’s has learned from its recent failures. In addition, it recommends ways to detect serious threats to the creditworthiness of high-income countries.
Banking regulation and supervision: can it enhance stability in Europe?
Authors: Ben Bouheni Faten
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to find the effects of regulatory and supervisory policies on bank risk-taking. The same regulation and supervision have different effects on bank risk-taking depending on influence factors. These factors were considered and a sample of the largest European banks from France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain and Greece was used over the period 2005-2011.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the author analyses the effects of regulation and supervision on risk-taking. The author uses a sample of the biggest banks from six European countries (France, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece) over the period 2005-2011. Because the applicable entry of IFRS was in 2005, thus data of European banks are not available before this date. For each country in the sample, the 10 largest banks (defined by total assets) that lend money to firms were identified. The author does not include central banks or postal banks, which generally do not lend money to firms and are described as non-banking institutions (La Porta et al., 2002).

Findings

– It was found that restrictions on bank activities, supervisors’ power and capital adequacy decrease risk-taking. Thus, regulation and supervision enhance bank’s stability. While, deposit insurance increases the risk due to its association to moral hazard. Finally, it was found that strengthening regulatory and supervisory framework raises the risk-taking and weakens the stability of European banks.

Originality/value

– The author contributes to existing empirical analyses in three ways. First, the existing literature has drawn a lot of attention on US banks. However, the purpose of this paper is to examine the biggest banks of three European leaders (France, Germany and UK) and three more European countries influenced by the recent crisis (Spain, Italy and Greece) over the period 2005-2011. Second, most studies focus mainly on the relationship between regulation and profitability, yet seldom on the relationship between regulation, supervision and risk-taking. The author focuses on this relationship. Third, this study applies the two-step dynamic panel data approach suggested by Blundell and Bond (1998) and also uses dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) method to address potential problems. The two-step GMM estimator that the author uses is generally the most efficient.
Misunderstanding embeddedness: a response to Ferraris’ rethinking multiple embeddedness
Authors: Rašković Matevž
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address the misapplication of the embeddedness concept in Ferraris’s (2014) paper and show how it needs to be used as a cornerstone economic sociology concept within his proposed framework. This paper is a response to his paper in theMultinational Business Review“Rethinking the literature on ‘multiple embeddedness’ and subsidiary-specific advantages”.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper outlines the origin of the embeddedness concept and its evolution within the economic sociology literature. It addresses different types of embeddedness and continues with a critical analysis of Ferraris’s (2014) proposed framework of four main types of multinational enterprise (MNE) relationships. It provides suggestions for its improvement and application, as well as discusses the appropriate applications of embeddedness concept by international business (IB) scholars in MNE research.

Findings

– The paper shows how the embeddedness concept is mostly used as a metaphor and as a simple umbrella label for different types of connections between MNEs, their subsidiaries and different types of environments. The analysis of Ferraris’s (2014) proposed framework shows how MNE embeddedness is incorrectly understood as emanating from the balancing of local responsiveness and global integration within MNEs, where subsidiaries develop subsidiary-specific advantages (SSAs) by recombining home – host country-specific advantages and parent – subsidiary firm-specific advantages (FSAs).

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the existing IB understanding of MNEs’ multiple embeddedness and subsidiaries’ dual embeddedness through a wider and more structured economic sociology perspective. It provides an appropriate economic sociology-grounded typology of different types of embeddedness. A discussion of possible future research directions stresses how the embeddedness – dissembeddedness capability is a key source of MNE competitive advantage, which moderates the actual recombination process of producing FSAs and SSAs.
Inward foreign direct investment and constitutional change in Scotland
Authors: Young Stephen , Ross Duncan , MacKay Brad
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to undertake an analysis of the implications of potential Scottish independence for inward foreign direct investment (FDI), multinational enterprise strategies and the local economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper takes a multidisciplinary approach drawing on literature and evidence in the international business and management, political economy and economic geography fields to analyse the role and impact of inward FDI in Scotland following possible Scottish independence.

Findings

– Scotland continues as an attractive location for FDI, with greater diversity than hitherto. While the country’s comparative advantages in immobile natural resources provide some protection from uncertainty, weak embeddedness is a risk factor irrespective of independence. A range of transition costs of independence are identified, which could be high and of indeterminate duration, and some will be sector-specific. There are also new possibilities for tailoring of policies and potential reindustrialization opportunities in renewable technologies. The foreign investors most vulnerable to political risks and uncertainties are those whose market scope is the rest of the UK (rUK) either as exporters or value-chain integrators, in addition to the high political risk industries of energy, banking and financial services and defence. Scottish subsidiaries’ significance within their parent MNE groups will also be a major factor in determining responses to political risks and uncertainties.

Originality/value

– Specific focus on the impact of potential independence on the foreign-owned sector as a major contributor to the Scottish economy.
Opening research data: issues and opportunities
Authors: Childs Sue , McLeod Julie , Lomas Elizabeth , Cook Glenda
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the issues, the role of research data management (RDM) as a mechanism for implementing open research data and the role and opportunities for records managers. The open data agenda is premised on making as much data as possible open and available. However, in the context of open research data there are methodological, ethical and practical issues with this premise.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two collaborative research projects focusing on qualitative health data were conducted. “DATUM for Health” designed and delivered a tailored RDM skills training programme for postgraduate research students in health studies. “DATUM in Action” was an action research project between researchers from information sciences, health, mathematics and computing, looking at planning and implementing RDM.

Findings

– Three key issues emerged about what research data is appropriate to make open/accessible for sharing and reuse: re-using qualitative data conflicts with some of the epistemological and methodological principles of qualitative research; there are ethical concerns about making data obtained from human participants open, which are not completely addressed by consent and anonymisation; many research projects are small scale and the costs of preparing and curating data for open access can outweigh its value. In exploring these issues, the authors advocate the need for effective appraisal skills and researcher-focused RDM with records managers playing a useful role.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings come from two small-scale qualitative projects in health studies. Further exploration of these issues is required.

Practical implications

– Records managers have new crucial opportunities in the open data and RDM contexts, bringing their expertise and experience in managing a wider range of data and information. They can help realise the benefits of multiple perspectives (researcher, data manager, records manager and archivist) on open research data.

Social implications

– Researcher-focused RDM offers a mechanism for implementing open research data.

Originality/value

– It raises complex issues around open research data not found in the records management literature, highlights the need for researcher-focussed RDM and research data appraisal skills and a not yet fully recognised role for records managers.
Open data?
Authors: Borglund Erik , Engvall Tove
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The aim of the article is to investigate what characterizes the information constructs that the archival discourse and the open data discourse communicate in text, and what their similarities and differences are. This article proposes that it is possible to see the open data initiative and modern archival practice as two discourses that have used different terminology to express and communicate their messages in the literature. In this article, we have applied a hypothesis-like assumption that the information constructs used in open data are actually nothing other than records, as they are in the archival discourse.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article is based on a mixed method approach. A quantitative text analysis (word count) was carried out in a large set of documents representing the open data discourse and in the archival discourse. This was followed by a qualitative text analysis.

Findings

– It was found that both discourses did focus on records. However, the opendata discourse very seldom used the term record, but used information and data much more frequently. The archival discourse used the term information almost as often as record. A possible adaption of communication strategies can be identified, targeting a much wider audience through a user-centered approach. This could be an indication of a change in the archival discourse, which seems to be moving from a discourse that is very much regulated by law toward a discourse that is more focused on benefit and usability.

Originality/value

– This research indicates that it is possible to interpret both the open data and the archival discourse as one united discourse, an effect derived from working with e-government. There is an ongoing harmonization of the words used, and in the studied archival discourse, a more user- and business-oriented focus can be seen.
New motherhood: a moment of change in everyday shopping practices?
Authors: Burningham Kate , Venn Susan , Christie Ian , Jackson Tim , Gatersleben Birgitta
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to draw on data from 16 interviews (two each with eight women) to explore some of the ways in which everyday shopping may change as women become mothers. The meanings, practices and implications of the transition to motherhood have long been a topic for sociological inquiry. Recently, interest has turned to the opportunities offered by this transition for the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles. Becoming a mother is likely to lead to changes in a variety of aspects of everyday life such as travel, leisure, cooking and purchase of consumer goods, all of which have environmental implications. The environmental impacts associated with such changes are complex, and positive moves toward more sustainable activities in one sphere may be offset by less environmentally positive changes elsewhere.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on data from 16 interviews (two each with eight women) to explore some of the ways in which everyday shopping may change as women become mothers.

Findings

– This paper focuses on the ways in which modes and meanings of everyday shopping may shift through the transition to mother, and on indicating any potential sustainability implications. The paper explores the adoption of more structured shopping and of shifting the mode of grocery shopping online or offline. The paper draws attention to the way in which practices are embedded and interrelated and argue that more consideration needs to be given to the influence of all household members.

Originality/value

– The question here is not whether women purchase different products or consume more once they have a child, but rather how does the everyday activity of shopping for groceries and the meanings it has change with new motherhood and what sustainability implications might this have? In this context, this paper provides a novel addition to research on new mothers and consumption.
Nonmarket valuation in developing countries: incorporating labour contributions in environmental benefits estimates
Authors: Rai Rajesh K. , Scarborough Helen
Published: August 2014

There are limitations associated with the application of nonmarket valuation techniques, including choice experiments, in subsistence economies. In part, this is due to the concern that using money as a mode of contribution may not capture the potential contribution of low‐income households. To address this limitation, respondents in this study were provided with the option of contributing towards the management of invasive plants in labour terms if they were unwilling to contribute in monetary terms. The results show that the existing practice of using dollar values to estimate willingness to contribute may disproportionately exclude the concerns of some groups within the community. The analysis also indicates that allowing respondents to express their willingness to contribute in labour increases their participation in environmental decision‐making processes and hence increases the estimated value of forest ecosystem services. This study contributes to the limited empirical literature on the development of nonmarket valuation surveys, particularly choice experiments, in low‐income countries in general and rural areas in particular.
Are YouTube videos accurate and reliable on basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation?
Authors: Yaylaci Serpil , Serinken Mustafa , Eken Cenker , Karcioglu Ozgur , Yilmaz Atakan , Elicabuk Hayri , Dal Onur
Published: August 2014

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate reliability and accuracy of the information on YouTube videos related to CPR and BLS in accord with 2010 CPR guidelines.

Methods

YouTube was queried using four search terms ‘CPR’, ‘cardiopulmonary resuscitation’, ‘BLS’ and ‘basic life support’ between 2011 and 2013. Sources that uploaded the videos, the record time, the number of viewers in the study period, inclusion of human or manikins were recorded. The videos were rated if they displayed the correct order of resuscitative efforts in full accord with 2010 CPR guidelines or not.

Results

Two hundred and nine videos meeting the inclusion criteria after the search in YouTube with four search terms (‘CPR’, ‘cardiopulmonary resuscitation’, ‘BLS’ and ‘basic life support’) comprised the study sample subjected to the analysis. Median score of the videos is 5 (IQR: 3.5–6). Only 11.5% (n = 24) of the videos were found to be compatible with 2010 CPR guidelines with regard to sequence of interventions. Videos uploaded by ‘Guideline bodies’ had significantly higher rates of download when compared with the videos uploaded by other sources. Sources of the videos and date of upload (year) were not shown to have any significant effect on the scores received (P = 0.615 and 0.513, respectively). The videos' number of downloads did not differ according to the videos compatible with the guidelines (P = 0.832). The videos downloaded more than 10 000 times had a higher score than the others (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The majority of You‐Tube video clips purporting to be about CPR are not relevant educational material. Of those that are focused on teaching CPR, only a small minority optimally meet the 2010 Resucitation Guidelines.
Expression of recombinant anti‐breast cancer immunotherapeutic monoclonal antibody in baculovirus–insect cell system
Authors: Lee Jeong‐Hwan , Hwang Kyung‐A , Park SungSu , Choo Young‐Kug , Ko Kisung
Published: August 2014

The anti‐breast cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) BR55 was expressed in the baculovirus–insect cell expression system, which is advantageous because of its high production capacity, cell culture flexibility and glycosylation capability. The baculovirus–insect cell expression system was successfully established for production of mAb BR55 and mAb BR55 fused with the KDEL (Lys–Asp–Glu–Leu) endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal (mAb BR55K). The heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) genes of mAb BR55 were cloned under the control of the polyhedrin (PPH) and P10 promoters, respectively, in the pFastBacDual vector. The antibody gene‐expression cassettes carrying both the HC and LC genes were transferred into a bacmid in Escherichia coli (DH10Bac). The bacmid carrying the expression cassettes was transfected into Sf9 insect cells to generate baculovirus expressing mAb BR55 and BR55K. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of mAb BR55 and BR55K in baculovirus‐infected insect cells. Cell direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that both mAbs from insect cell lysates or cell culture medium bound to MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells. Both mAb BR55 and BR55K were successfully purified using a Protein A affinity column. Collectively, these results suggest that the anti‐breast cancer mAb BR55 can be expressed, properly assembled and purified from the baculovirus expression system, which can serve as an alternative system for antibody production.