bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methanofervidicoccus abyssi gen. nov., sp. nov., a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, isolated from a hydrothermal vent chimney in the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center, the Caribbean Sea
Authors: Sakai Sanae , Takaki Yoshihiro , Miyazaki Masayuki , Ogawara Miyuki , Yanagawa Katsunori , Miyazaki Junichi , Takai Ken
Published: March 2019

A novel hydrogenotrophic methanogen, strain HHBT, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney sample collected from Beebe Vent Field at the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center, Caribbean Sea. The cells were non-motile regular to irregular cocci possessing several flagella. The novel isolate grew at 60–80 °C, pH 5.0–7.4 and with 1–4 % of NaCl (w/v). The isolate utilized H2/CO2 as the only substrates for growth and methane production. The results of phylogenetic analyses of both 16S rRNA and mcrA gene sequences and comparative genome analysis indicated that HHBT represented a member of the order

Methanococcales

, and was closely related to the members of the genera

Methanothermococcus

and

Methanotorris

. The most closely related species were Methanothermococcus okinawensis IH1T and

Methanotorris
igneus Kol 5T in comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences (each with 93 % identity), and

Methanotorris formicicus

Mc-S-70T in the case of deduced amino acid sequence similarity of mcrA genes (92 % similarity). The ANI and AAI values between HHBT and the members of the genera

Methanothermococcus

and

Methanotorris

were 69–72 % and 66–70 %, respectively. Although many of the morphological and physiological characteristics were quite similar between HHBT and the species of the genera

Methanothermococcus

and

Methanotorris

, they were distinguishable by the differences in susceptibility to antibiotics, formate utilization, growth temperature and NaCl ranges. On the basis of these phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic properties, we propose that strain HHBT represents a novel species, of a novel genus, Methanofervidicoccus abyssi gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is HHBT (=JCM 32161T=DSM 105918T).
Robust Hierarchical Density Estimation and Regression for Re-stained Histological Whole Slide Image Co-registration
Authors: Jiang Jun , Larson Nicholas B. , Prodduturi Naresh , Flotte Thomas J. , Hart Steven N.
Published: March 2019

For many disease conditions, tissue samples are colored with multiple dyes and stains to add contrast and location information for specific proteins to accurately identify and diagnose disease. This presents a computational challenge for digital pathology, as whole-slide images (WSIs) need to be properly overlaid (i.e. registered) to identify co-localized features. Traditional image registration methods sometimes fail due to the high variation of cell density and insufficient texture information in WSIs – particularly at high magnifications. In this paper, we proposed a robust image registration strategy to align re-stained WSIs precisely and efficiently. This method is applied to 30 pairs of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains and their hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) counterparts. Our approach advances the existing methods in three key ways. First, we introduce refinements to existing image registration methods. Second, we present an effective weighting strategy using kernel density estimation to mitigate registration errors. Third, we account for the linear relationship across WSI levels to improve accuracy. Our experiments show significant decreases in registration errors when on matching IHC and H&E pairs, enabling subcellular-level analysis on stained and re-stained histological images. We also provide a tool to allow users to develop their own registration benchmarking experiments.
Methods for Analyzing Imaging Mass Cytometry Data with Tellurium Probes
Authors: Bassan Jay , Nitz Mark
Published: March 2019

Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) is a technique allowing visualization and quantification of over 40 biological parameters in a single experiment with subcellular spatial resolution, however most IMC experiments are limited to endpoint analysis with antibodies and DNA stains. Small molecules containing tellurium are promising probes for IMC due to their cell permeability, synthetic versatility, and most importantly their application to sequential labelling with isotopologous probes (SLIP) experiments. SLIP experiments with tellurium-containing probes allow quantification of intracellular biology at multiple timepoints with IMC. Despite the promise of tellurium in IMC, there are unique challenges in image processing associated with tellurium IMC data. Here, we address some of these issues by demonstrating the removal of xenon background signal, combining channels to improve signal-to-noise ratio, and calculating isotope transmission efficiency biases. These developments add accuracy to the unique temporal resolution afforded by tellurium IMC probes.
A comparison of DNA stains and staining methods for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
Authors: Hall Andie C.
Published: March 2019

Nucleic acid stains are necessary for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis (AGE). The commonly used but mutagenic Ethidium Bromide is being usurped by a range of safer but more expensive alternatives. These safe stains vary in cost, sensitivity and the impedance of DNA as it migrates through the gel. Modified protocols developed to reduce cost increase this variability. In this study, five Gel stains (GelRed™, GelGreen™, SYBR™ safe, SafeView and EZ-Vision®In-Gel Solution) two premixed loading dyes (SafeWhite, EZ-Vision®One) and four methods (pre-loading at 100x, pre-loading at 10x, precasting and post-staining) are evaluated for sensitivity and effect on DNA migration. GelRed™ was found to be the most sensitive while the EZ-Vision® dyes and SafeWhite had no discernible effect on DNA migration. Homemade loading dyes were as effective as readymade ones at less than 4% of the price. This method used less than 1% of the dye needed for the manufacturer recommended protocols. Thus, with careful consideration of stain and method, Gel stain expenditure can be reduced by over 99%.
A hierarchical approach to model decision making: a study in chemotactic behavior ofEscherichia coli
Authors: Vafadar Safar , Kavousi Kaveh , Safdari Hadiseh , Kalirad Ata , Sadeghi Mehdi
Published: March 2019

Reducing the complex behavior of living entities to its underlying physical and chemical processes is a formidable task in biology. Complex behaviors can be characterized as decision making: the ability to process the incoming information via an intracellular network and act upon this information to choose appropriate strategies. Motility is one such behavior that has been the focus many modeling efforts in the past. Our aim is to reduce the chemotactic behavior in E. coli to its molecular constituents in order to paint a comprehensive and end-to-end picture of this intricate behavior. We utilize a hierarchical approach, consisting of three layers, to achieve this goal: at the first level, chemical reactions involved in chemotaxis are simulated. In the second level, the chemical reactions give rise to the mechanical movement of six independent flagella. At the last layer, the two lower layers are combined to allow a digital bacterium to receive information from its environment and swim through it with verve. Our results are in concert with the experimental studies concerning the motility of E. coli cells. In addition, we show that our detailed model of chemotaxis is reducible to a non-homogeneous Markov process.
Differential requirements of cyclase associated protein (CAP) for actin turnover during the lytic cycle of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Hunt Alex , Wagener Jeanette , Kent Robyn , Carmeille Romain , Russell Matt , Peddie Christopher , Collinson Lucy , Heaslip Aoife , Ward Gary E. , Treeck Moritz
Published: March 2019

Toxoplasma gondii contains a limited subset of actin binding proteins. Here we show that ablation of the putative actin regulator cyclase-associated protein (TgCAP) leads to significant defects in some but not all actin dependent processes, including a defect in cell-cell communication, but surprisingly not synchronicity of division. Two CAP isoforms originate from alternative translational start sites and are beneficial for parasite fitness while a single isoform is sufficient for virulence in mice. Examination of the mutant parasites by 3D electron microscopy reveals that loss of CAP results in a defect to form a normal residual body, but all parasites remain connected within the vacuole. This dissociates synchronicity of division and parasite rosetting and reveals that establishment and maintenance of the residual body may be more complex than previously thought. These results highlight the different spatial requirements for actin turnover in Toxoplasma, controlled by a reduced subset of actin binding proteins.
Towards next generation diagnostics for tuberculosis: identification of novel molecular targets by large-scale comparative genomics
Authors: Goig Galo A. , Torres-Puente Manuela , Mariner-Llicer Carla , Villamayor Luis M. , Chiner-Oms Álvaro , Gil-Brusola Ana , Borrás Rafa , Comas Iñaki
Published: March 2019

Tuberculosis remains one of the main causes of death worldwide. The long and cumbersome process of culturingMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC) bacteria has encouraged the development of specific molecular tools for detecting the pathogen. Most of these tools aim to become novel tuberculosis diagnostics, and big efforts and resources are invested in their development, looking for the endorsement of the main public health agencies. Surprisingly, no study had been conducted where the vast amount of genomic data available is used to identify the best MTBC diagnostic markers. In this work, we use large-scale comparative genomics to provide a catalog of 30 characterized loci that are unique to the MTBC. Some of these genes could be targeted to assess the physiological status of the bacilli. Remarkably, none of the conventional MTBC markers is in our catalog. In addition, we develop a qPCR assay to accurately quantify MTBC DNA in clinical samples.
Distinct defense strategies allow different grassland species to cope with root herbivore attack
Authors: Hervé Maxime R , Erb Matthias
Published: March 2019

Root-feeding insect herbivores are of substantial evolutionary, ecological and economical importance. Plants can resist insect herbivores through a variety of tolerance and resistance strategies. To date, few studies have systematically assessed the prevalence and importance of these strategies for root-herbivore interactions across different plant species.

Here, we characterize the defense strategies used by three different grassland species to cope with a generalist root herbivore, the larvae of the European cockchafer Melolontha melolontha.

Our results reveal that the different plant species rely on distinct sets of defense strategies. The spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) resists attack by dissuading the larvae through the release of repellent chemicals. White clover (Trifolium repens) does not repel the herbivore, but reduces feeding, most likely through structural defenses and low nutritional quality. Finally, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) allows M. melolontha to feed abundantly but compensates for tissue loss through induced regrowth.

Synthesis: Three co-occurring plant species have evolved different solutions to defend themselves against attack by a generalist root herbivore. The different root defense strategies may reflect distinct defense syndromes.
A robotic platform for fluidically-linked human body-on-chips experimentation
Authors: Novak Richard , Ingram Miles , Clauson Susan , Das Debarun , Delahanty Aaron , Herland Anna , Maoz Ben M. , Jeanty Sauveur S. F. , Somayaji Mahadevabharath R. , Burt Morgan , Calamari Elizabeth , Chalkiadaki Angeliki , Cho Alexander , Choe Youngjae , Chou David Benson , Cronce Michael , Dauth Stephanie , Divic Toni , Fernandez-Alcon Jose , Ferrante Thomas , Ferrier John , FitzGerald Edward A. , Fleming Rachel , Jalili-Firoozinezhad Sasan , Grevesse Thomas , Goss Josue A. , Hamkins-Indik Tiama , Henry Olivier , Hinojosa Chris , Huffstater Tessa , Jang Kyung-Jin , Kujala Ville , Leng Lian , Mannix Robert , Milton Yuka , Nawroth Janna , Nestor Bret A. , Ng Carlos F. , O’Connor Blakely , Park Tae-Eun , Sanchez Henry , Sliz Josiah , Sontheimer-Phelps Alexandra , Swenor Ben , Thompson Guy , Touloumes George J. , Tranchemontagne Zachary , Wen Norman , Yadid Moran , Bahinski Anthony , Hamilton Geraldine A. , Levner Daniel , Levy Oren , Przekwas Andrzej , Prantil-Baun Rachelle , Parker Kevin K. , Ingber Donald E.
Published: March 2019

Here we describe of an ‘Interrogator’ instrument that uses liquid-handling robotics, a custom software package, and an integrated mobile microscope to enable automated culture, perfusion, medium addition, fluidic linking, sample collection, andin situmicroscopic imaging of up to 10 Organ Chips inside a standard tissue culture incubator. The automated Interrogator platform maintained the viability and organ-specific functions of 8 different vascularized, 2-channel, Organ Chips (intestine, liver, kidney, heart, lung, skin, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and brain) for 3 weeks in culture when fluidically coupled through their endothelium-lined vascular channels using a common blood substitute medium. When an inulin tracer was perfused through the multi-organ Human Body-on-Chips (HuBoC) fluidic network, quantitative distributions of this tracer could be accurately predicted using a physiologically-based multi-compartmental reduced order (MCRO)in silicomodel of the experimental system derived from first principles. This automated culture platform enables non-invasive imaging of cells within human Organ Chips and repeated sampling of both the vascular and interstitial compartments without compromising fluidic coupling, which should facilitate future HuBoc studies and pharmacokinetics (PK) analysisin vitro.
Human motor fatigability as evoked by repetitive movements results from a gradual breakdown of surround inhibition
Authors: Bächinger Marc , Lehner Rea , Thomas Felix , Hanimann Samira , Balsters Joshua Henk , Wenderoth Nicole
Published: March 2019

Motor fatigability emerges when demanding tasks are executed over an extended period of time. Here, we used repetitive low-force movements that cause a gradual reduction in movement speed (or “motor slowing”) to study the central component of fatigability in healthy adults. We show that motor slowing is associated with a gradual increase of net excitability in the motor network and, specifically, in primary motor cortex (M1), which results from overall disinhibition. Importantly, we link performance decrements to a breakdown of surround inhibition in M1, which is associated with high coactivation of antagonistic muscle groups. This is consistent with the model that a loss of inhibitory control might broaden the tuning of population vectors such that movement patterns become more variable, ill-timed and effortful. We propose that the release of inhibition in M1 is an important mechanism underpinning motor fatigability and, potentially, also pathological fatigue as frequently observed in patients with brain disorders.
Genome-wide association analysis for resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus identifies candidate genes involved in viral replication and immune response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Rodríguez Francisco H. , Flores-Mara Raúl , Yoshida Grazyella M. , Barría Agustín , Jedlicki Ana M. , Lhorente Jean P. , Reyes-López Felipe , Yáñez José M.
Published: March 2019

Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a viral disease with considerable negative impact on the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture industry. The aim of the present work was to detect genomic regions that explain resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) in rainbow trout. A total of 2,278 fish from 58 full-sib families were challenged with IPNV. Of the challenged fish, 768 individuals were genotyped (488 resistant and 280 susceptible), using a 57K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) panel Axiom®, Affymetrix®. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the phenotypes time to death (TD) and binary survival (BS), along with the genotypes of the challenged fish using a Bayesian model (Bayes C). Heritabilities for resistance to IPNV estimated using pedigree information, were 0.39 and 0.32 for TD and BS, respectively. Heritabilities for resistance to IPNV estimated using genomic information, were 0.50 and 0.54 for TD and BS, respectively. The Bayesian GWAS detected a SNP located on chromosome 5 explaining 18% of the genetic variance for TD. A SNP located on chromosome 23 was detected explaining 9% of the genetic variance for BS. The proximity of Sentrin-specific protease 5 (SENP5) to a significant SNP makes it a candidate gene for resistance against IPNV. However, the moderate-low proportion of variance explained by the detected marker leads to the conclusion that the incorporation of all genomic information, through genomic selection, would be the most appropriate approach to accelerate genetic progress for the improvement of resistance against IPNV in rainbow trout.
RhizoVision Crown: An Integrated Hardware and Software Platform for Root Crown Phenotyping
Authors: Seethepalli Anand , Guo Haichao , Liu Xiuwei , Griffiths Marcus , Almtarfi Hussien , Li Zenglu , Liu Shuyu , Zare Alina , Fritschi Felix B. , Blancaflor Elison B. , Ma Xue-Feng , York Larry M.
Published: March 2019

Root crown phenotyping measures the top portion of crop root systems and can be used for marker-assisted breeding, genetic mapping, and understanding how roots influence soil resource acquisition. Several imaging protocols and image analysis programs exist, but they are not optimized for high-throughput, repeatable, and robust root crown phenotyping. The RhizoVision Crown platform integrates an imaging unit, image capture software, and image analysis software that are optimized for reliable extraction of measurements from large numbers of root crowns. The hardware platform utilizes a back light and a monochrome machine vision camera to capture root crown silhouettes. RhizoVision Imager and RhizoVision Analyzer are free, open-source software that streamline image capture and image analysis with intuitive graphical user interfaces. RhizoVision Analyzer was physically validated using copper wire and features were extensively validated using 10,464 ground-truth simulated images of dicot and monocot root systems. This platform was then used to phenotype soybean and wheat root crowns. A total of 2,799 soybean (Glycine max) root crowns of 187 lines and 1,753 wheat (Triticum aestivum) root crowns of 186 lines were phenotyped. Principal component analysis indicated similar correlations among features in both species. The maximum heritability was 0.74 in soybean and 0.22 in wheat, indicating differences in species and populations need to be considered. The integrated RhizoVision Crown platform facilitates high-throughput phenotyping of crop root crowns, and sets a standard by which open plant phenotyping platforms can be benchmarked.
Complex interaction networks of cytokines after transarterial chemotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Jekarl Dong Wook , Lee Seungok , Kwon Jung Hyun , Nam Soon Woo , Jang Jeong Won , Kim Myungshin , Kim Yonggoo
Published: March 2019

Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment influences all stages of HCC development and progression as well as the anti-cancer response by immune system. In this study, we studied cytokine networks before and after transarterial chemotherapy (TACE). Serum samples obtained from 203 HCC patients treated with TACE were analyzed for inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Cytokine concentrations were measured at day 0 (D0, baseline), day3 (D3), day7 (D7), and day 60 (D60) after TACE. Network analysis revealed that modules within cytokine network at D0 were lost by D60 and modularity value (Mc) was decreased from 0.177 at D0 to −0.091 at D60. D60 had the lowest network heterogeneity and lower diameter, clustering coefficient, network density and recruited nodes. Degree correlation revealed that assortative network turned to disassortative network by D60 indicating that the network gained scale free feature. CRP, IL-2 were components of modules related with adverse outcome and IL-13, favorable outcome. Median survival month of patient group with high and low values with P-values were as follows: D0 CRP, 9.5 month (M), 54.2M (P<0.0001); D0 IL-2, 39.9M, 56.1M (P=0.0084); D3 CRP, 31.3M, 55.1 M (P=0.0056); D7 CRP, 28.7M, 50.7M (P=0.0065); IL-13, 51.9M, 33.6M (P=0.06). Network modularity decreased with temporal changes. Components of modules that included CRP, IL-2 and IL-6 were associated with adverse outcome and short overall survival. These modules were dissolved by D60 after TACE. Degree correlation decreased by D60, indicating that the cytokine network gained the scale free network property as in other biological network. TACE treatment converted cytokine network from that with inflammatory module to that with scale free network feature and without modules. Further studies are required to verify temporal changes of cytokine network in HCC patients after TACE.
Asymmetric Division Promotes Therapeutic Resistance in Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Authors: Hitomi Masahiro , Chumakova Anastasia P. , Silver Daniel J. , Knudsen Arnon M. , Pontius W. Dean , Murphy Stephanie , Anand Neha , Kristensen Bjarne W. , Lathia Justin D.
Published: March 2019

Asymmetric cell division (ACD) enables the maintenance of a stem cell population while simultaneously generating differentiated progeny. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) undergo multiple modes of cell division during tumor expansion and in response to therapy, yet the functional consequences of these division modes remain to be determined. Using a fluorescent reporter for cell surface receptor distribution during mitosis, we found that ACD in glioblastoma CSCs generated a daughter cell with enhanced therapeutic resistance and increased co-inheritance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). Stimulation of both receptors maintained self-renewal under differentiation conditions. While p75NTR knockdown did not compromise CSC maintenance, therapeutic efficacy of EGFR inhibition was enhanced, indicating that co-inheritance of p75NTR and EGFR promotes resistance to EGFR inhibition through a redundant mechanism. These data demonstrate that ACD produces progeny with co-enriched growth factor receptors, which contributes to the generation of a more therapeutically resistant CSC population.

Graphical abstract
Bone marrow transplantation rescues monocyte recruitment defect and improves cystic fibrosis in mice
Authors: Fan Zhichao , Miller Jacqueline , Herro Rana , Ehinger Erik , Conrad Douglas J. , Mikulski Zbigniew , Zhu Yanfang Peipei , Marcovecchio Paola M. , Hedrick Catherine C. , Ley Klaus
Published: March 2019

One Sentence Summary

In this study, we demonstrate that correcting the monocyte adhesion defect in CFTRΔF508mice (CF mice) by bone marrow transplantation significantly improved survival and reduced inflammation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited life-threatening disease accompanied by repeated lung infections and multi-organ inflammation that affects tens of thousands of people worldwide. The causative gene, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), is mutated in CF patients. Monocytes from CF patients show a deficiency in integrin activation and adhesion. Since monocytes play critical roles in controlling infections, defective monocyte function may contribute to CF progression. In this study, we demonstrate that monocytes from CFTRΔF508mice (CF mice) show defective adhesion under flow. Transplanting CF mice with wild-type bone marrow after sublethal irradiation replaced most (60-80%) CF monocytes with wild-type monocytes, significantly improved survival, and reduced inflammation. Wild-type/CF mixed bone marrow chimeras directly demonstrated defective CF monocyte recruitment to the bronchoalveolar lavage and the intestinal lamina propria in vivo. Our findings show that providing wild-type monocytes by bone marrow transfer rescues gastrointestinal (GI) mortality in CF mice, suggesting that wild-type bone marrow stem cells might mitigate CF inflammation.
Foresight for online shopping behavior: a study of attribution for “what next syndrome”
Authors: Sharma Gunjan , Bajpai Naval , Kulshreshtha Kushagra , Tripathi Vikas , Dubey Prince
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The online shopping behavior is the outcome of the variety of attribution from product/ service offering to internet experience. The present study attempts to develop a complete product/service offering by exploring and examining the different combinations of online shopping attributes to provide the customized experience. Therefore, this study aims to fill the gap of customer desired experience and present scenario in online shopping behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploration of attributes pertaining to online shopping behavior was done by seeking theoretical support from different technology adoption theories/models and the Delphi technique, exercised with active participants of online and offline shopping. The theoretical and experience shared attributes were devised and social desirability scale (SDS) was used for eliminating the social desirability bias. Further, the questionnaire was administered online and offline during mall intercept. The Conjoint analysis was used to investigate the relative importance and utilities of the attributes and its levels individually and compositely at different levels.

Findings

In the context, brand loyalty, online reputation management and Web interactivity were found most relavant followed by e-WOM, perceived risk and price. The specific levels of attributes such as taking consumer advice, search engine optimization (SEO), perception-based interactivity, consumer message boards, product risk and discount pricing were the crucial in motivating the customers for online shopping. This research affords the avenue for the marketers to motivate and delight consumers to retribalize by the way of “e-tribalizing.”

Research limitations/implications

The current study was conducted in confined geographical locations and limited in sample size; thus, the issue of generalization may prevail, but forthcoming researchers may exercise the techniques with better probabilistic sampling technique. The mass customization of the website features by comparing attribute orientation of customers around websites was recommended with the third-party certification to reduce the consumers’ perceived risk during online shopping. Finally, the different levels, such as Facebook fan page in ORM and Everyday Low Price (EDLP) in pricing may be considered for the future research work.

Originality/value

The research studies on online shopping behavior with Web interactivity, e-WOM, perceived risk, brand loyalty, ORM and price using a decompositional technique are scant. This study persuades the customers to go for online shopping by putting them in the almost real-time purchasing scenario. The study confirmed the need of people to retribalize through e-tribalization by the way of customization for the masses in the context of online shopping.
Working capital management and firm’s valuation, profitability and risk
Authors: Le Ben
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of working capital management on firm valuation, profitability and risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a panel data set of 497 firms covering the period 2007 to 2016. The authors test the effects of working capital management on firm valuation, profitability and risk using the panel data methodology that includes firm and year fixed effects regressions.

Findings

The authors find a significantly negative relationship between net working capital (NWC) and firm valuation, profitability and risk. The results suggest that, in managing working capital, firm managers must make a trade-off between their objectives for profitability and risk control. Working-capital management is of particular importance in firms with less access to capital; it is also important when firms are expanding their investments during periods of economic recovery.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature in several ways. First, to my knowledge, it provides the most comprehensive investigation, to date, on the relationship between working capital management and firm valuation, profitability and risk in an emerging market. Second, this study documents the existence of an optimal level of NWC in an emerging market. Third, firm performance, as measured in both market and accounting value, can be improved with efficient working capital management. Finally, the study includes the impact of the business cycle in an analysis of the effects of working capital management on firm performance.
Working capital financing, firm performance and financial constraints
Authors: Altaf Nufazil , Ahmad Farooq
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between working capital financing and firm performance for a sample of 437 non-financial Indian companies. In addition, this study examines the impact of financial constraints on working capital financing–performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on secondary financial data of 437 non-financial Indian companies obtained from Capitaline database, pertaining to a period of 10 years (2007–2016). This study employs two-step generalized method of moments techniques to arrive at results.

Findings

Results of the study confirm the inverted U-shape relationship between working capital financing and firm performance. In addition, the authors also found that the firms that are likely to be less financially constrained can finance greater proportion of working capital using short-term debt.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the scant existing literature by testing the impact of financial constraints on the relationship between working capital financing and firm performance, representing a typical emerging market in India.
Emerging stock market co-movements in South Asia: wavelet approach
Authors: Das Debojyoti , Manoharan Kannadhasan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the co-movement and market integration dynamics of the emerging/frontier stock markets in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) with a portfolio management perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Scholars in the past have documented the limitation of standard econometric techniques such as co-integration analysis to capture this phenomenon. The other econometric technique widely used in integration and comovement literature is dynamic conditional correlation-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity. This method captivates the time-varying correlations, although frequency information is absent. The wavelet-based analysis decomposes the time-series data in a time-frequency domain, which is largely useful to fund managers and policy makers. This study examines the regional integration in selected South Asian markets using wavelet analysis.

Findings

The results suggest some degree of market integration, however weak as compared to regional integrations in developed markets. Pakistan and India were found to be the potential leaders at varying time scales in the region. Weaker co-movement phenomena may offer ample arbitrage opportunities to investors in this region. In addition, the authors also find that the structure of correlation changes after some of the major macroeconomic events.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to examine co-movement and integration of stock returns in a time-frequency domain for South Asia. In addition, the authors also highlight weak integration in these markets, which may be beneficial for portfolio diversification.
Assessing the vulnerability of military theater distribution routes
Authors: Muckensturm Joshua R. , Longhorn Dave C.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper introduces a new heuristic algorithm that aims to solve the military route vulnerability problem, which involves assessing the vulnerability of military cargo flowing over roads and railways subject to enemy interdiction.

Design/methodology/approach

Graph theory, a heuristic and a binary integer program are used in this paper.

Findings

This work allows transportation analysts at the United States Transportation Command to identify a relatively small number of roads or railways that, if interdicted by an enemy, could disrupt the flow of military cargo within any theater of operation.

Research limitations/implications

This research does not capture aspects of time, such as the reality that cargo requirements and enemy threats may fluctuate each day of the contingency.

Practical implications

This work provides military logistics planners and decision-makers with a vulnerability assessment of theater distribution routes, including insights into which specific roads and railways may require protection to ensure the successful delivery of cargo from ports of debarkation to final destinations.

Originality/value

This work merges network connectivity and flow characteristics with enemy threat assessments to identify militarily-useful roads and railways most vulnerable to enemy interdictions. A geographic combatant command recently used this specific research approach to support their request for rapid rail repair capability.
Brand avoidance: underlying protocols and a practical scale
Authors: Odoom Raphael , Kosiba John Paul , Djamgbah Christian Tetteh , Narh Linda
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The increased practitioner and academic interest in negative brand phenomena highlight the need for the development of practical scales to be used for empirical investigations. Therefore, this paper aims to draw on existing conceptualisations to provide a theoretically grounded yet practically oriented scale for examining brand avoidance and its protocols.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample of 575 consumers from two developing countries to create a parsimonious brand avoidance scale. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data through a systematic formative measurement approach

Findings

This paper finds brand avoidance to be a multidimensional, second-order construct with five first-order dimensions: moral avoidance, identity avoidance, deficit–value avoidance, experiential avoidance and advertising-related avoidance. The paper further validates this scale by testing with non-purchase intention and identifies its positive relationship with brand avoidance.

Originality/value

This study fulfils the calls in the literature to provide a measurable scale for studying negative brand phenomena in consumer–brand relationship research.
How brand personality and failure-type shape consumer forgiveness
Authors: Hassey Roseann Viscomi
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact of an overlooked variable, brand personality, as a basis for brand forgiveness and recovery following brand failures.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via three on-line surveys using Amazon Mechanical Turk, including a total of 475 respondents (125, 113 and 237) and using a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design.

Findings

Results show that a brand’s dominant personality (warm vs competent) elicits different expectations regarding brand performance, and that surprisingly, consumers more readily forgive, rather than censure, brand failures which violate their expectations. Further, this effect exists independent of the consumer’s relationship with the brand. These findings occur across different brands (both fictitious and real), manipulations of brand personality and brand failure-type and indices for brand forgiveness. Results indicate the interactive effect of brand personality and failure-type was mediated by brand credibility, while consumers’ desire to re-evaluate the brand served as a moderator.

Practical implications

This research demonstrates that while brand failures are largely considered from a negative perspective, brand personality can serve to bolster consumer perceptions of brands post-failure. Further, and separate from strong consumer-brand relationships, brand personality serves as an important signal for consumer expectations and plays a pivotal role in post-failure forgiveness and behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by introducing and testing the role brand personality plays, independent of an existing and strong consumer-brand relationship, in consumer response to brand failure. Further, the mediator of and a moderator for this effect are identified.
Noise and emission characterization of off-grid diesel-powered generators in Nigeria
Authors: Giwa Solomon O. , Nwaokocha Collins N. , Adeyemi Hezekiah O.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Nigeria, a prominent country in Sub-Sahara Africa, is plagued with a protracted, erratic and low power supply. The purpose of this paper is to present an experimental investigation of the noise levels and pollutants’ (CO, CO2 and particulate matter (PM2.5)) concentrations associated with the prevalent use of diesel-powered generators in the country. It is aimed to provide information on the level of gaseous, particulate and noise pollutants that are related to diesel-powered generators that could assist in policy formulation and create public awareness on the possible health risks.

Design/methodology/approach

Diesel-fueled generators (105) with age and installed capacity ranging from 0.5 to 14 years and 10 to 500 kVA, respectively, were engaged in this work at Sango area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Standard measuring instruments were placed at 1 m from the diesel-powered generators to determine the noise levels and concentrations of CO, CO2 and PM2.5.

Findings

Ranges of 72.6–115.6 dB, 19–198 ppm, 501–5,805 ppm and 221–492 µg/m3 for the noise level, CO, CO2 and PM2.5 concentrations, respectively, were obtained. Both the averages and ranges of the noise levels and pollutants’ concentrations were considerably higher than the recommended maximum limits. Thus, this study substantiated the pollution of ambient noise and air because of the operation of diesel-fueled generators. Furthermore, the health risks connected to the exposure to CO and PM2.5 as implied via the evaluation of the air quality index revealed very unhealthy and hazardous conditions, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The measurement of the pollutants’ concentrations at the tips of the exhaust pipes of the diesel-powered generators was desirable but could not be achieved using manually logged devices. Nonetheless, adequate pollutants’ concentration data that satisfactorily represent the level of air pollution associated with diesel-fueled generators’ operations were obtained at around 1 m from the exhaust pipes.

Practical implications

The study provided additional knowledge on the levels of noise and pollutants, and the public health risks connected to the operations of diesel-powered generators that will be beneficial to the public and policymakers.

Originality/value

The results revealed a considerably high level of noise and air pollution, and the inherent environmental and public health problems connected to diesel-powered generators’ usage in Nigeria. This could serve as a viable tool for formulating environmental policy and providing the necessary societal awareness in this regard.
A laddering study of motivational complexities in mobile shopping
Authors: Park Ha Eun , Yap Sheau Fen Crystal , Makkar Marian
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the motivational tensions underlying mobile shopping (m-shopping) behaviours. The authors focus on consumer motivations and the pursuit of life end goals with respect to m-shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the means-end chain theory, hard-laddering approach was used to elicit associations between attributes, consequences and values from 251 online participants. Content analysis was used to develop a hierarchical value map “mapping” these associations to uncover underlying values for m-shopping.

Findings

Mobile shoppers are motivated by their self-actualisation needs (self-focused) and/or social needs (other-focused). Participants’ response contradictions reflected internal complexities and ambivalences during their purchasing decisions. Decisions are based on their concerns around security, time, technological or financial.

Practical implications

This study provides managerial insights into retail marketing and strategies. Marketers should consider creating user-friendly applications by researching the customer journey experience, heightening security measures and ensuring that added-value offers are clearly communicated to meet consumers’ personal values and motivations.

Originality/value

The paper presents an original conceptual contribution of personal values related to m-shopping as desires for self-empowerment, altruism and relationships with others, self-fulfilment and hedonism and possible consumer internal conflicts.
Normalizing covert surveillance: the subterranean world of policing
Authors: Loftus Bethan
Published: March 2019

In this article, I draw on data derived from an ethnographic field study of covert policing in the United Kingdom to demonstrate that the deployment of covert surveillance has become normalized, both in policing thought and operational practice. In a break with earlier patterns, the methods of covert surveillance are used extensively and are no longer regarded as a tactic of last resort. Covert policing is well anchored within organizational arrangements, empowered by a series of internal rationales mobilized to justify the expansion of covert tactics over and above more traditional, overt forms. The building of intrusive and exceptional policing practices within mundane contexts, I argue, is one of the ways the police have adapted to a broader policing environment characterized by public scepticism and distrust. Policing relies on the invisibility and low profile that comes with covert work, in order to govern contemporary concerns of crime and insecurity without the conflicts which can accompany – and trouble – overt policing practices. As mainstream policing becomes an increasingly extroverted enterprise, introverted forms of policing have come to the fore.
A scalable model of vegetation transitions using deep neural networks
Authors: Rammer Werner , Seidl Rupert
Published: March 2019

In times of rapid global change, anticipating vegetation changes and assessing their impacts is of key relevance to managers and policy makers. Yet, predicting vegetation dynamics often suffers from an inherent scale mismatch, with abundant data and process understanding being available at a fine spatial grain, but the relevance for decision‐making is increasing with spatial extent.

We present a novel approach for scaling vegetation dynamics (SVD), using deep learning to predict vegetation transitions. Vegetation is discretized into a large number (103–106) of potential states based on its structure, composition and functioning. Transition probabilities between states are estimated via a deep neural network (DNN) trained on observed or simulated vegetation transitions in combination with environmental variables. The impact of vegetation transitions on important ecological indicators is quantified by probabilistically linking attributes such as carbon storage and biodiversity to vegetation states.

Here, we describe the SVD approach and present results of applying the framework in a meta‐modelling context. We trained a DNN using simulations of a process‐based forest landscape model for a complex mountain forest landscape under different climate scenarios. Subsequently, we evaluated the ability of SVD to project long‐term vegetation dynamics and the resulting changes in forest carbon storage and biodiversity. SVD captured spatial (e.g. elevational gradients) and temporal (e.g. species succession) patterns of vegetation dynamics well, and responded realistically to changing environmental conditions. In addition, we tested the computational efficiency of the approach, highlighting the utility of SVD for country‐ to continental scale applications.

SVD is the—to our knowledge—first vegetation model harnessing deep neural networks. The approach has high predictive accuracy and is able to generalize well beyond training data. SVD was designed to run on widely available input data (e.g. vegetation states defined from remote sensing, gridded global climate datasets) and exceeds the computational performance of currently available highly optimized landscape models by three to four orders of magnitude. We conclude that SVD is a promising approach for combining detailed process knowledge on fine‐grained ecosystem processes with the increasingly available big ecological datasets for improved large‐scale projections of vegetation dynamics.
Dapsone‐ and nitroso dapsone‐specific activation of T cells from hypersensitive patients expressing the risk allele HLA‐B*13:01
Authors: Zhao Qing , Alhilali Khetam , Alzahrani Abdulaziz , Almutairi Mubarak , Amjad Juwaria , Liu Hong , Sun Yonghu , Sun Lele , Zhang Huimin , Meng Xiaoli , Gibson Andrew , Ogese Monday O. , Kevin Park B. , Liu Jianjun , Ostrov David A. , Zhang Furen , Naisbitt Dean J.
Published: March 2019

Background

Research into drug hypersensitivity associated with the expression of specific HLA alleles has focussed on the interaction between parent drug and the HLA with no attention given to reactive metabolites. For this reason, we have studied HLA‐B*13:01‐linked dapsone hypersensitivity to (a) explore whether the parent drug and/or nitroso metabolite activate T cells and (b) determine whether HLA‐B*13:01 is involved in the response.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six patients were cultured with dapsone and nitroso dapsone, and proliferative responses and IFN‐γ release were measured. Dapsone‐ and nitroso dapsone‐specific T‐cell clones were generated and phenotype, function, HLA allele restriction, and cross‐reactivity assessed. Dapsone intermediates were characterized by mass spectrometry.

Results

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six patients and cloned T cells proliferated and secreted Th1/2/22 cytokines when stimulated with dapsone (clones: n = 395; 80% CD4+ CXCR3hiCCR4hi, 20% CD8+CXCR3hiCCR4hiCCR6hiCCR9hiCCR10hi) and nitroso dapsone (clones: n = 399; 78% CD4+, 22% CD8+ with same chemokine receptor profile). CD4+ and CD8+ clones were HLA class II and class I restricted, respectively, and displayed three patterns of reactivity: compound specific, weakly cross‐reactive, and strongly cross‐reactive. Nitroso dapsone formed dimers in culture and was reduced to dapsone, providing a rationale for the cross‐reactivity. T‐cell responses to nitroso dapsone were dependent on the formation of a cysteine‐modified protein adduct, while dapsone interacted in a labile manner with antigen‐presenting cells. CD8+ clones displayed an HLA‐B*13:01‐restricted pattern of activation.

Conclusion

These studies describe the phenotype and function of dapsone‐ and nitroso dapsone‐responsive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from hypersensitive patients. Discovery of HLA‐B*13:01‐restricted CD8+ T‐cell responses indicates that drugs and their reactive metabolites participate in HLA allele‐linked forms of hypersensitivity.