bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural basis for prodrug recognition by the SLC15 family of proton coupled peptide transporters
Authors: Minhas Gurdeep S. , Newstead Simon
Published: October 2018

A major challenge in drug development is the optimisation of intestinal absorption and cellular uptake. A successful strategy has been to develop prodrug molecules, which hijack solute carrier (SLC) transporters for active transport into the body. The proton coupled oligopeptide transporters, PepT1 and PepT2, have been successfully targeted using this approach. Peptide transporters display a remarkable capacity to recognise a diverse library of di‐ and tri-peptides, making them extremely promiscuous and major contributors to the pharmacokinetic profile of several important drug classes, including beta-lactam antibiotics, anti-viral and antineoplastic agents. Of particular interest has been their ability to recognise amino acid and peptide-based prodrug molecules, thereby providing a rational approach to improving drug transport into the body. However, the structural basis for prodrug recognition has remained elusive. Here we present crystal structures of a prokaryotic homologue of the mammalian transporters in complex with the antiviral prodrug valacyclovir and the peptide based photodynamic therapy agent, 5-aminolevulinic acid. The valacyclovir structure reveals that prodrug recognition is mediated through both the amino acid scaffold and the ester bond, which is commonly used to link drug molecules to the carrier’s physiological ligand, whereas 5-aminolevulinic acid makes far fewer interactions compared to physiological peptides. These structures provide a unique insight into how peptide transporters interact with xenobiotic molecules and provide a template for further prodrug development.
Stochastic models of the growth dynamics of some dendritic cells
Authors: El-Said El-Nadi Khairia Khairia
Published: October 2018

Different models of tumor growth are considered. Some mathematical methods are developed to analyze the dynamics of mutations enabling cells in cancer patients to metas-tize. The mathematical models consist of some stochastic dynamical systems describing tumor cells and immune effectors. It is also considered a method to find the ideal outcome of some treatments. Some different types of dendritic cells are considered. The obtained results will help to find some suitable treatments,which can be successful in returning an aggressive tumor to its passive,non-immune evading state. The principle goal of this paper is to find ways to treat the cancer tumors before they can reach an advanced stage devel-opmen.

AMS Subject Classifications

92B05, 37C45.
Neural dynamics at rest associated with patterns of ongoing thought
Authors: Karapanagiotidis Theodoros , Vidaurre Diego , Quinn Andrew J. , Vatansever Deniz , Poerio Giulia L. , Jefferies Elizabeth , Margulies Daniel S. , Nichols Thomas E. , Woolrich Mark W. , Smallwood Jonathan
Published: October 2018

Conscious experience is dynamic, and its fluidity is particularly marked when attention is not occupied by events in the external world and our minds are free to wander. Our study used measures of neural function, and advanced analyses techniques to examine how unconstrained neural state transitions relate to patterns of ongoing experience. Neural activity was recorded during wakeful rest using functional magnetic resonance imaging and Hidden Markov modelling identified recurrent patterns of brain activity constituting functional dynamic brain states. Individuals making more frequent transitions between states subsequently described experiences highlighting problem solving and lacking unpleasant intrusive features. Frequent switching between states also predicted better health and well-being as assessed by questionnaire. These data provide evidence that the fluidity with which individuals shift through dynamic neural states has an impact on the nature of ongoing thought, and suggest that greater flexibility at rest is an important indicator of a healthy mind.
Validation of a low-cost, carbon dioxide-based cryoablation system for percutaneous tumor ablation
Authors: Surtees Bailey , Young Sean , Hu Yixin , Wang Guannan , McChesney Evelyn , Kuroki Grace , Acree Pascal , Thomas Serena , Blair Tara , Rastogi Shivam , Kraitchman Dara L. , Weiss Clifford , Sukumar Saraswati , Harvey Susan C. , Durr Nicholas J
Published: October 2018

Breast cancer rates are rising in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet there is a lack of accessible and cost-effective treatment. As a result, the cancer burden and death rates are highest in LMICs. In an effort to meet this need, our work presents the design and feasibility of a low-cost cryoablation system using widely-available carbon dioxide as the only consumable. This system uses an 8-gauge outer-diameter needle and Joule-Thomson expansion to percutaneously necrose tissue with cryoablation. Bench top experiments characterized temperature dynamics in ultrasound gel demonstrated that isotherms greater than 2 cm were formed. Further, this system was applied to mammary tumors in anin vivorat model and necrosis was verified by histopathology. Finally, freezing capacity under a large heat load was assessed with anin vivoporcine study, where volumes of necrosis greater than 1.5 cm in diameter confirmed by histopathology were induced in a highly perfused liver after two 7-minute freeze cycles. These results demonstrate the feasibility of a carbon-dioxide based cryoablation system for improving solid tumor treatment options in resource-constrained environments.
Genome-wide association analysis of excessive daytime sleepiness identifies 42 loci that suggest phenotypic subgroups
Authors: Wang Heming , Lane Jacqueline M , Jones Samuel E , Dashti Hassan S , Ollila Hanna , Wood Andrew R , van Hees Vincent T. , Brumpton Ben , Winsvold Bendik S , Kantojärvi Katri , Cade Brian E , Sofer Tamar , Song Yanwei , Patel Krunal , Anderson Simon G , Bechtold David A , Bowden Jack , Emsley Richard , Kyle Simon D , Little Max A , Loudon Andrew S , Scheer Frank AJL , Purcell Shaun M , Richmond Rebecca C , Spiegelhalder Kai , Tyrrell Jessica , Zhu Xiaofeng , Kristiansson Kati , Sulkava Sonja , Paunio Tiina , Hveem Kristian , Nielsen Jonas B , Willer Cristen J , Zwart John-Anker , Strand Linn B , Frayling Timothy M , Ray David , Lawlor Deborah A , Rutter Martin K , Weedon Michael N , Redline Susan , Saxena Richa
Published: October 2018

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) affects 10-20% of the population and is associated with substantial functional deficits. We identified 42 loci for self-reported EDS in GWAS of 452,071 individuals from the UK Biobank, with enrichment for genes expressed in brain tissues and in neuronal transmission pathways. We confirmed the aggregate effect of a genetic risk score of 42 SNPs on EDS in independent Scandinavian cohorts and on other sleep disorders (restless leg syndrome, insomnia) and sleep traits (duration, chronotype, accelerometer-derived sleep efficiency and daytime naps or inactivity). Strong genetic correlations were also seen with obesity, coronary heart disease, psychiatric diseases, cognitive traits and reproductive ageing. EDS variants clustered into two predominant composite phenotypes - sleep propensity and sleep fragmentation - with the former showing stronger evidence for enriched expression in central nervous system tissues, suggesting two unique mechanistic pathways. Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that higher BMI is causally associated with EDS risk, but EDS does not appear to causally influence BMI.
scBFA: modeling detection patterns to mitigate technical noise in large-scale single cell genomics data
Authors: Li Ruoxin , Quon Gerald
Published: October 2018

Technical variation in feature measurements such as gene expression and locus accessibility is a key challenge of large-scale single cell genomic datasets. We show that this technical variation in both scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq datasets can be mitigated by performing analysis on feature detection patterns alone and ignoring feature quantification measurements. This result holds when datasets have low detection noise relative to quantification noise. We demonstrate state-of-the-art performance of detection pattern models using our new framework, scBFA, for both cell type identification and trajectory inference. Performance gains can also be realized in one line of R code in existing pipelines.
Active membrane conductances and morphology of a collision detection neuron broaden its impedance profile and improve membrane synchrony
Authors: Dewell Richard , Gabbiani Fabrizio
Published: October 2018

Brains processes information through the coordinated efforts of billions of individual neurons, each encoding a small part of the overall information stream. Central to this is how neurons integrate and transform complex patterns of synaptic inputs. The neuronal membrane impedance sets the gain and timing for synaptic integration, determining a neuron's ability to discriminate between synaptic input patterns. Using single and dual dendritic recordings in vivo, pharmacology, and computational modeling, we characterized the membrane impedance of a collision detection neuron in the grasshopper, Schistocerca americana. We examined how the cellular properties of the lobula giant movement detector (LGMD) neuron are tuned to enable the discrimination of synaptic input patterns key to its role in collision detection. We found that two common active conductances gH and gM, mediated respectively by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels and by muscarine sensitive M-type K+ channels, promote broadband integration with high temporal precision over the LGMD's natural range of membrane potentials and synaptic input frequencies. Additionally, we found that the LGMD's branching morphology increased the gain and decreased delays associated with the mapping of synaptic input currents to membrane potential. We investigated whether other branching dendritic morphologies fulfill a similar function and found this to be true for a wide range of morphologies, including those of neocortical pyramidal neurons and cerebellar Purkinje cells. These findings further our understanding of the integration properties of individual neurons by showing the unexpected role played by two widespread active conductances and by dendritic morphology in shaping synaptic integration.
Post-translational modification localizes MYC to the nuclear pore basket to regulate a subset of target genes involved in cellular responses to environmental signals
Authors: Su Yulong , Pelz Carl , Huang Tao , Torkenczy Kristof , Wang Xiaoyan , Cherry Allison , Daniel Colin J. , Liang Juan , Nan Xiaolin , Dai Mu-Shui , Adey Andrew , Impey Soren , Sears Rosalie C.
Published: October 2018

The transcription factor MYC (also c-Myc) induces histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and the release of paused RNA polymerase to broadly regulate transcription. MYC is subject to a series of post-translational modifications that affect its stability and oncogenic activity, but how these control MYC's function on the genome is largely unknown. Recent work demonstrates an intimate connection between nuclear compartmentalization and gene regulation. Here, we report that Ser62 phosphorylation and PIN1-mediated isomerization of MYC dynamically regulate the spatial distribution of MYC in the nucleus, promoting its association with the inner basket of the nuclear pore in response to proliferative signals, where it recruits the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 to bind and regulate local gene acetylation and expression. We demonstrate that PIN1-mediated localization of MYC to the nuclear pore regulates MYC target genes responsive to mitogen stimulation that are involved in proliferation and migration pathways. These changes are also present at the chromatin level, with an increase in open regulatory elements in response to stimulation that is PIN1-dependent and associated with MYC chromatin binding. Taken together, our study indicates that post-translational modification of MYC controls its spatial activity to optimally regulate gene expression in response to extrinsic signals in normal and diseased states.
LMI1 homeodomain protein regulates organ proportions by spatial modulation of endoreduplication
Authors: Vuolo Francesco , Kierzkowski Daniel , Runions Adam , Hajheidari Mohsen , Mentink Remco A. , Gupta Mainak Das , Zhang Zhongjuan , Vlad Daniela , Wang Yi , Pecinka Ales , Gan Xiangchao , Hay Angela , Huijser Peter , Tsiantis Miltos
Published: October 2018

How the interplay between cell- and tissue-level processes produces correctly proportioned organs is a key problem in biology. In plants, the relative size of leaves compared with their lateral appendages, called stipules, varies tremendously throughout development and evolution, yet relevant mechanisms remain unknown. Here we use genetics, live imaging, and modeling to show that in Arabidopsis leaves, the LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 (LMI1) homeodomain protein regulates stipule proportions via an endoreduplication-dependent trade-off that limits tissue size despite increasing cell growth. LM1 acts through directly activating the conserved mitosis blocker WEE1, which is sufficient to bypass the LMI1 requirement for leaf proportionality.
Requirement for NF-κB in maintenance of molecular and behavioral circadian rhythms in mice
Authors: Hong Hee-Kyung , Maury Eleonore , Ramsey Kathryn Moynihan , Perelis Mark , Marcheva Biliana , Omura Chiaki , Kobayashi Yumiko , Guttridge Denis C. , Barish Grant D. , Bass Joseph
Published: October 2018

The mammalian circadian clock is encoded by an autoregulatory transcription feedback loop that drives rhythmic behavior and gene expression in the brain and peripheral tissues. Transcriptomic analyses indicate cell type-specific effects of circadian cycles on rhythmic physiology, although how clock cycles respond to environmental stimuli remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that activation of the inducible transcription factor NF-κB in response to inflammatory stimuli leads to marked inhibition of clock repressors, including the Period, Cryptochrome, and Rev-erb genes, within the negative limb. Furthermore, activation of NF-κB relocalizes the clock components CLOCK/BMAL1 genome-wide to sites convergent with those bound by NF-κB, marked by acetylated H3K27, and enriched in RNA polymerase II. Abrogation of NF-κB during adulthood alters the expression of clock repressors, disrupts clock-controlled gene cycles, and impairs rhythmic activity behavior, revealing a role for NF-κB in both unstimulated and activated conditions. Together, these data highlight NF-κB-mediated transcriptional repression of the clock feedback limb as a cause of circadian disruption in response to inflammation.
The wave optical whole process design of the soft X-ray interference lithography beamline at SSRF
Authors: Xue Chaofan , Meng Xiangyu , Wu Yanqing , Wang Yong , Wang Liansheng , Yang Shumin , Zhao Jun , Tai Renzhong
Published: October 2018

A new spatially coherent beamline has been designed and constructed at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Here, the design of the beamline is introduced and the spatial coherence is analyzed throughout the whole process by wave optics. The simulation results show good spatial coherence at the endstation and have been proven by experiment results.
On the wave zone of synchrotron radiation
Authors: Bagrov V. G.
Published: October 2018

The extension of the wave zone of synchrotron radiation is studied.
Subpixel resolution in CdTe Timepix3 pixel detectors
Authors: Khalil Mohamad , Dreier Erik Schou , Kehres Jan , Jakubek Jan , Olsen Ulrik Lund
Published: October 2018

Timepix3 (256 × 256 pixels with a pitch of 55 µm) is a hybrid-pixel-detector readout chip that implements a data-driven architecture and is capable of simultaneous time-of-arrival (ToA) and energy (ToT: time-over-threshold) measurements. The ToA information allows the unambiguous identification of pixel clusters belonging to the same X-ray interaction, which allows for full one-by-one detection of photons. The weighted mean of the pixel clusters can be used to measure the subpixel position of an X-ray interaction. An experiment was performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France, using a 5 µm × 5 µm pencil beam to scan a CdTe-ADVAPIX-Timepix3 pixel (55 µm × 55 µm) at 8 × 8 matrix positions with a step size of 5 µm. The head-on scan was carried out at four monochromatic energies: 24, 35, 70 and 120 keV. The subpixel position of every single photon in the beam was constructed using the weighted average of the charge spread of single interactions. Then the subpixel position of the total beam was found by calculating the mean position of all photons. This was carried out for all points in the 8 × 8 matrix of beam positions within a single pixel. The optimum conditions for the subpixel measurements are presented with regards to the cluster sizes and beam subpixel position, and the improvement of this technique is evaluated (using the charge sharing of each individual photon to achieve subpixel resolution) versus alternative techniques which compare the intensity ratio between pixels. The best result is achieved at 120 keV, where a beam step of 4.4 µm ± 0.86 µm was measured.
In situ observation of phase changes of a silica-supported cobalt catalyst for the Fischer–Tropsch process by the development of a synchrotron-compatible in situ/operando powder X-ray diffraction cell
Authors: Hoffman Adam S. , Singh Joseph A. , Bent Stacey F. , Bare Simon R.
Published: October 2018

In situ characterization of catalysts gives direct insight into the working state of the material. Here, the design and performance characteristics of a universal in situ synchrotron-compatible X-ray diffraction cell capable of operation at high temperature and high pressure, 1373 K, and 35 bar, respectively, are reported. Its performance is demonstrated by characterizing a cobalt-based catalyst used in a prototypical high-pressure catalytic reaction, the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, using X-ray diffraction. Cobalt nanoparticles supported on silica were studied in situ during Fischer–Tropsch catalysis using syngas, H2 and CO, at 723 K and 20 bar. Post reaction, the Co nanoparticles were carburized at elevated pressure, demonstrating an increased rate of carburization compared with atmospheric studies.
Crystal structure of 1-butyl-3-{2-[(indan-5-yl)amino]-2-oxoethyl}-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride
Authors: Zende Vidya , Girase Tejpalsingh Ramsingh , Chrysochos Nicolas , Kapdi Anant Ramakant , Schulzke Carola
Published: October 2018

In the cation of the title molecular salt, C18H24N3O+·Cl−, an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond stabilizes the almost coplanar orientation of the aromatic ring of the indane unit and the amide plane. In the crystal, the packing is dominated by intermolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen-bonding interactions that result in the formation of slab-like structures propagating along [010]. The slabs are linked by weak C—H...O interactions, forming layers lying parallel to (100). The methylene carbon atom of the indanyl substituent is disordered over two positions with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.84 (2):0.16 (2). The crystal studied was refined as a twin with matrix [1 0 0.9, 0 \overline{1} 0, 0 0 \overline{1}]; the resulting BASF value is 0.30.
Synthesis and structural characterization of four dichloridobis(cyclopropylalkynylamidine)metal complexes
Authors: Wang Sida , Liebing Phil , Engelhardt Felix , Hilfert Liane , Busse Sabine , Edelmann Frank T.
Published: October 2018

Deliberate hydrolysis of lithium cyclopropylalkynylamidinates, Li[c-C3H5—C[triple-bond]C(NR′)2] [R′ =
i
Pr, Cy = cyclohexyl)], afforded the hitherto unknown neutral cyclopropylalkynylamidine derivatives c-C3H5—C[triple-bond]C—C(NR′)(NHR′) [R′ =
i
Pr (1), Cy (2)]. Subsequent reactions of 1 or 2 with metal(II) chlorides, MCl2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co), provided the title complexes dichloridobis(3-cyclopropyl-N,N′-diisopropylprop-2-ynamidine)manganese(II), [MnCl2(C12H20N2)2], (3), dichloridobis(3-cyclopropyl-N,N′-diisopropylprop-2-ynamidine)iron(II), [FeCl2(C12H20N2)2], (4), dichloridobis(N,N′-dicyclohexyl-3-cyclopropylprop-2-ynamidine)iron(II), [FeCl2(C18H28N2)2], (5), and dichloridobis(N,N′-dicyclohexyl-3-cyclopropylprop-2-ynamidine)cobalt(II), [CoCl2(C18H28N2)2], (6), or more generally MCl2[c-C3H5—C[triple-bond]C—C(NR′)(NHR′)]2 [R′ =
i
Pr, M = Mn (3), Fe (4); R′ = Cy, M = Fe (5), Co (6)] in moderate yields (30–39%). Besides their spectroscopic data (IR and MS) and elemental analyses, all complexes 3–6 were structurally characterized. The two isopropyl-substituted complexes 3 and 4 are isotypic, and so are the cyclohexyl-substituted complexes 5 and 6. In all cases, the central metal atom is coordinated by two Cl atoms and two N atoms in a distorted-tetrahedral fashion, and the structure is supported by intramolecular N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds.
Constrained control of helicopter vibration to reduce motion blur
Authors: Oktay Tugrul , Celik Harun , Turkmen Ilke
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the success of constrained control on reducing motion blur which occurs as a result of helicopter vibration.

Design/methodology/approach

Constrained controllers are designed to reduce the motion blur on images taken by helicopter. Helicopter vibrations under tight and soft constrained controllers are modeled and added to images to show the performance of controllers on reducing blur.

Findings

The blur caused by vibration can be reduced via constrained control of helicopter.

Research limitations/implications

The motion of camera is modeled and assumed same as the motion of helicopter. In model of exposing image, image noise is neglected, and blur is considered as the only distorting effect on image.

Practical implications

Tighter constrained controllers can be implemented to take higher quality images by helicopters.

Social implications

Recently, aerial vehicles are widely used for aerial photography. Images taken by helicopters mostly suffer from motion blur. Reducing motion blur can provide users to take higher quality images by helicopters.

Originality/value

Helicopter control is performed to reduce motion blur on image for the first time. A control-oriented and physic-based model of helicopter is benefited. Helicopter vibration which causes motion blur is modeled as blur kernel to see the effect of helicopter vibration on taken images. Tight and soft constrained controllers are designed and compared to denote their performance in reducing motion blur. It is proved that images taken by helicopter can be prevented from motion blur by controlling helicopter tightly.
A state-wise performance appraisal of the Indian roads using PROMETHEE-GIS approach
Authors: Chakraborty Shankar , Ranjan Rajeev , Mondal Poulomi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

A road network provides arterial arrangement to facilitate business, transport, social integration and economic progress of any nation. During the last seven decades after independence, road transport infrastructure in India has expanded manifold, both in terms of spread (total length and density of road) and capacity (number of on-road registered vehicles, and volume of passenger and freight traffic handled). But, with the enrichment of road transport network in India, the number of traffic accidents and total cost for maintaining the road infrastructure also keeps on increasing. It becomes necessary to evaluate state-wise performance of the Indian roads using some mathematical tools. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, using preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE) and geometrical analysis for interactive aid (GAIA) approaches, an attempt is made to appraise the state-wise performance of Indian roads based on 12 critically important criteria. A geographic information system method and a hue-saturation-value color coding scheme are also employed to identify the influence of individual criterion on the overall rank of 29 Indian states.

Findings

It is observed that amongst all the considered states, the road conditions in the states of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are really satisfactory, whereas Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the lagging states requiring governmental intervention and support to enhance their road network infrastructure.

Practical implications

This analysis would help the decision makers to identify the strengths and deficiencies of each Indian state with respect to its road conditions so that proper promotional and growth actions can be implemented.

Originality/value

From the review of the existing literature, it is quite evident that till date, no research work has been conducted in order to evaluate the performance of roads, and their conditions and characteristic features in the Indian context. In this paper, the state-wise performance of the Indian roads is appraised based on several identified parameters using a combined PROMETHEE-GAIA approach.
Service quality function deployment by the C-shaped QFD 3D matrix
Authors: Hassani Maryam , Shahin Arash , Kheradmandnia Manouchehr
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of C-shaped QFD 3D Matrix in comparing process characteristics (PC), performance aspects (PA) and customer requirements, simultaneously and to prioritize the first two sets, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A three dimensional matrix has been developed with three sets of PC, PA and customers’ requirements and C-shaped matrix has been applied for simultaneous comparison of the dimensions and prioritization of the subsets of PC and PA. The proposed approach has been examined in a post bank.

Findings

Findings confirm the possibility of simultaneous comparison and prioritization of the three sets of dimensions of this study in post bank services. In addition, “growth and learning” and “bilateral relationship with suppliers” had the first priorities among PA and PC, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

While the proposed approach has many advantages, filling the matrixes is time-consuming. Since illustrating the 3D matrix was not possible, the matrix was separated into five two-dimensional matrixes.

Originality/value

Compared to the studied literature, the proposed approach is practically new in the post bank services.
Numerical investigation for endoscopic and Soret-Dufour effects on MHD peristaltic activity of Carreau fluid
Authors: Hayat Tasawar , Akram Javaria , Zahir Hina , Alsaedi Ahmad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize on the impact of endoscope in MHD peristaltic flow of Carreau fluid. Heat and mass transfer phenomena are comprised of Soret and Dufour effects. Influences of mixed convection and viscous dissipation are also accounted. Wall properties and convective boundary conditions are used.

Design/methodology/approach

The Navier–Stokes and energy equations used the lubrication approach. The reduced system of equations is executed numerically. The graphical illustration of velocity, temperature, concentration and heat transfer coefficient for various emerging parameters is discussed.

Findings

The response of Weissenberg number and power law index is decaying toward velocity and temperature. Moreover impression of Soret and Dufour number on temperature is quite reverse to that of concentration.

Originality/value

The titled problem with the various considered effects has not been solved before, and it is of special importance in various industries. The problem is original.
Enhancing reading skills through adaptive e-learning
Authors: Villesseche Julie , Le Bohec Olivier , Quaireau Christophe , Nogues Jeremie , Besnard Anne-Laure , Oriez Sandrine , De La Haye Fanny , Noel Yvonnick , Lavandier Karine
Published: October 2018

Purpose

E-learning is part of instructional design and has opened a whole world of new possibilities in terms of learning and teaching. The purpose of this paper is to develop an adaptive e-learning platform that enhances skills from primary school to university learners. Two purposes converge here: a pedagogical one – offering new possibilities, especially in terms of teaching scenarios (blended learning); and a research one – confirming the effectiveness of an adaptive e-learning tool in the case of individualized cross-disciplinary competences, such as comprehension of implicit information in written texts (French).

Design/methodology/approach

The case study presented here concerns primary-school learners using the Implicit module of TACIT adaptive e-learning tool over the 2016-2017 academic year.

Findings

This paper gives a first positive answer to the effectiveness of such a tool in this specific context. This pedagogical effectiveness is more pronounced for low-level pupils, especially for girls and for older pupils (CM1/CM2, respectively, fourth/fifth grade).

Originality/value

In this case study, the module comes from an existing platform, created by the TACIT research group. The adaptive environment was created by using the Item Response Theory models and, more precisely, the Rasch model.
The importance of customer’s perception of salesperson’s empathy in selling
Authors: Delpechitre Duleep , Rutherford Brian Nicholas , Comer Lucette B.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of salesperson empathy, both cognitive and affective, on business-to-business buyer-salesperson relational outcomes. Specifically, the direct impact of empathy is examined in relation to both the salesperson’s communication ability and customer-oriented behavior. The impact of empathy is then examined as a direct and indirect influencer of satisfaction with the salesperson and commitment to the salesperson.

Design/methodology/approach

To attain the objective of this research, an empirical study was conducted using 248 business-to-business purchasing agents.

Findings

The study found that cognitive empathy and affective empathy had a positive relationship with customer-oriented behaviors, information communication ability and commitment to the salesperson. However, only cognitive empathy was found to have a positive relationship with customer’s satisfaction with the salesperson.

Originality/value

Although empathy has found to have a positive effect on sales, sales research has yet to provide conclusive evidence on whether cognitive empathy and affective empathy would have a similar effect on a salesperson-customer relationship. This study provides evidence that not all facets of empathy influence relational outcomes the same way and differ in magnitude. This provides strong support for the importance of studying the impact of empathy from a faceted viewpoint rather than a uni-dimensional perspective when examining the influence on buyer-seller relational outcomes.
The impact of transaction costs in portfolio optimization
Authors: Chavalle Luc , Chavez-Bedoya Luis
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the impact of transaction costs in portfolio optimization in Peru. The study aims to compare the transaction costs structure applied in Peru with respect to the ones applied in the USA, and over a few dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an empirical study analyzing the cost of rebalancing portfolios over a set period and dimensions. Stocks have been carefully selected using Bloomberg terminals, and portfolio designed then rebalanced using VBA programming. Over a few dimensions as type and number of stocks, holding period and trading strategy, the behavior of these different transaction costs has been compared. The analysis has been done for four different portfolios.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about how a retail investor actively trading in Peru can pay up to 14 times more in transaction costs than trading the same portfolio in the USA. These comparatively high transaction costs prevent retail investors to trade in the Peruvian stock market while fueling illiquidity to this market.

Research limitations/implications

The paper deals with a limited amount of Peruvian stocks. Researchers are encouraged to test the proposition further, including other dimensions.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for any retail investor that wants to invest in Peruvian stocks, giving an insight about how expensive it is to actively rebalance a portfolio in Peru.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how much it costs to actively invest on the stock market in Peru.
Navigating the tension between scale and school context in digital college guidance
Authors: Corwin Zoe , Maruco Tattiya J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the potential of digital tools to address the significant challenge of increasing access to college and outline challenges and opportunities in effectively implementing a digital intervention across an entire school.

Design/methodology/approach

The study encompasses a randomized control trial and comparative case studies. This paper highlights qualitative data focused on implementation.

Findings

Findings illustrate impediments and strategies for implementing a school-wide digital intervention.

Research limitations/implications

Research focused on one particular intervention and is thus limited in scope.

Practical implications

The study has the potential to assist practitioners in better serving students from low-income and minoritized communities through digital tools.

Social implications

The study has implications for increasing the number of first-generation and minoritized youth who apply to and enroll in college. The study highlights digital equity issues often overlooked in ed-tech sectors.

Originality/value

Few studies exist that examine the implementation of digital interventions at the school level. Focusing on digital equity in the college access space (academic and practice) is novel.
Evasive knowledge hiding in academia: when competitive individuals are asked to collaborate
Authors: Hernaus Tomislav , Cerne Matej , Connelly Catherine , Poloski Vokic Nina , Škerlavaj Miha
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Academic knowledge work often presumes collaboration among interdependent individuals. However, this work also involves competitive pressures to perform and even outperform others. While knowledge hiding has not yet been extensively examined in the academic environment, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the personal (individual-level) and situational (job-related) factors that affect evasive knowledge hiding (EKH) within academia.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study was conducted on a nation-wide sample of 210 scholars from both public and private business schools in a European Union member state. A series of paired samplet-tests were followed by hierarchical regression analyses to test moderation using the PROCESS macro.

Findings

The results suggest that scholars hide more tacit than explicit knowledge. The findings also indicate a consistent pattern of positive and significant relationships between trait competitiveness and EKH. Furthermore, task interdependence and social support buffer the detrimental relationship between personal competitiveness and evasive hiding of explicit knowledge, but not tacit knowledge.

Originality/value

The research provides insights into several important antecedents of EKH that have not been previously examined. It contributes to research on knowledge transfer in academia by focusing on situations where colleagues respond to explicit requests by hiding knowledge. The moderating role of collaborative job design offers practical solutions on how to improve knowledge transfer between mistrusted and competitive scholars. The collaboration–competition framework is extended by introducing personal competitiveness and relational job design, and suggesting how to manage the cross-level tension of differing collaborative and competitive motivations within academia.
Linking employer branding and internal branding: establishing perceived employer brand image as an antecedent of favourable employee brand attitudes and behaviours
Authors: Hoppe Daniel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the symbolic facet of perceived employer brand image (PEBI) as an antecedent of favourable brand-related identification and employee behaviours, namely, corporate brand identification (CBI) and brand citizenship behaviours (BCB).

Design/methodology/approach

A standardized questionnaire was used. Data collection occurred at a maximum care hospital in Germany (N= 366). Structural equation modelling was used in the data analysis.

Findings

A direct link between PEBI and BCB was theoretically derived from social exchange theory and could be empirically confirmed. In addition to a direct relationship, a mediated relationship based on social identity theory was outlined. PEBI influences BCB via CBI. The mediated pathway accounts for 70 per cent of the variance.

Practical implications

Understanding the impact of symbolic job offerings on favourable brand-related employee attitudes and behaviours should lead practitioners to focus on increasing employees’ perceptions of the employer’s prestige and sincerity, for example, by strengthening employee target group-oriented communications about corporate social responsibility or increasing out-group salience when communicating organizational achievements.

Originality/value

This paper transfers the concept of organizational attractiveness, organizational identification and favourable employee behaviours to a corporate brand focus. It is the first integration of the symbolic dimension of the instrumental-symbolic framework in an internal branding context.
Multiresolution layered manufacturing
Authors: Fernandez Jose David , de Coninck Joel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Two-photon polymerization (TPP) has become one of the most popular techniques for stereolithography at very high resolutions. When printing relatively large structures at high resolutions, one of the main limiting factors is the printing time. The purpose of this paper is to present a new slicing algorithm to minimize printing times.

Design/methodology/approach

Typically, slicing algorithms used for TPP do not take into account the fact that TPP can print at a range of resolutions (i.e. with different heights and diameters) by varying parameters such as exposure time, laser power, photoresist properties and optical arrangements. This work presents multiresolution layered manufacturing (MLM), a novel slicing algorithm that processes 3D structures to separate parts manufacturable at low resolution from those that require a higher resolution.

Findings

MLM can significantly reduce the printing time of 3D structures at high resolutions. The maximum theoretical speed-up depends on the range of printing resolutions, but the effective speed-up also depends on the geometry of each 3D structure.

Research limitations/implications

MLM opens the possibility to significantly decrease printing times, potentially opening the use of TPP to new applications in many disciplines such as microfluidics, metamaterial research or wettability.

Originality/value

There are many instances of previous research on printing at several resolutions. However, in most cases, the toolpaths have to be manually arranged. In some cases, previous research also automates the generation of toolpaths, but they are limited in various ways. MLM is the first algorithm to comprehensively solve this problem for a wide range of true 3D structures.
Corporate social responsibility practices and disclosures in Thailand
Authors: Issarawornrawanich Panya , Wuttichindanon Suneerat
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the patterns of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and disclosures of firms listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 43 CSR indices under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s nine CSR components were used to quantify the CSR disclosures. The nine CSR components are good governance, environment, consumer protections, fair business practices, human rights, labor standards, community and society, innovation and anti-corruption. The common patterns of the CSR disclosures were subsequently identified using factor analysis.

Findings

The factor analysis identified four domains of the CSR disclosures of the SET-listed firms: employee relations, environment, anti-corruption and philanthropic efforts. Importantly, an increasing number of Thai firms are now attaching greater significance to the employee relations aspect of CSR, as opposed to in the past. In addition, an increasing number of the Thai companies have either initiated or participated in the anti-corruption campaigns.

Originality/value

The research offers an insight into the current development in CSR practices and disclosures in Thailand, as compared to a decade ago. To that end, this research conducted a survey on the CSR disclosures in relation to the nine CSR components, and factor analysis was used to establish the patterns of CSR practices. The findings are of great use to regulators in formulating legal frameworks and strategies to engage companies in CSR and also provide further evidence on the CSR practices in an emerging economy. Furthermore, the findings offer businesses and industries a disclosure benchmark, against which firms decide on the nature and extent of CSR information to disclose in the annual statements.
Board composition, ownership structure and corporate social responsibility disclosure: the case of Jordan
Authors: Abu Qa’dan Mohammad Bassam , Suwaidan Mishiel Said
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the extent and nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the context of Jordan. It also empirically examines the impact of board composition variables (size, independent [non-executive] directors, CEO/chairman duality, age and gender) and ownership structure variables (board ownership concentration, institutional ownership and foreign ownership) on CSR disclosure level.

Design/methodology/approach

A CSR disclosure index is constructed, and content analysis is used to analyze the extent and nature of CSR disclosure in the annual reports of Jordanian manufacturing companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period (2013-2015). Regression analysis using panel data is undertaken to analyze the potential impact of board composition and ownership structure on CSR disclosure level.

Findings

The results reveal that, on average, a listed Jordanian manufacturing company has disclosed 30.8 per cent of the 42 items of CSR information included in the disclosure index. In addition, there was a very slight improvement in the CSR disclosure over the study period. These results suggest there is considerable room for improvement in CSR disclosure. The regression analysis identified board size to be significantly and positively associated with CSR disclosure level. On the other hand, the percentage of independent (non-executive) directors on the board, duality of CEO and chairman positions, director’s age, board ownership concentration and the percentage of shares outstanding held by institutional shareholders were found to have had a significant negative impact on CSR disclosure level.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on CSR practice and disclosure in various ways. First, it demonstrates the extent to which listed companies in developing countries, such as Jordan, take their social role seriously. Second, the study adds to the existing literature on the potential impact of board composition and ownership structure on CSR disclosure by using new variables that have not been tested before using Jordanian data. Third, the study is anticipated to provide feedback to Jordanian regulators in the Jordan Securities Commission and the ASE on the adequacy of current regulations on corporate disclosure requirements in Jordan. Finally, the study raises some issues of interest to other researchers who are currently or intend to conduct research in this area.
Towards a more ethical market: the impact of ESG rating on corporate financial performance
Authors: Landi Giovanni , Sciarelli Mauro
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper fits in a research field dealing with the impact of Corporate Ethics Assessment on Financial Performance. The authors argue how environmental, social and governance (ESG) paradigm, meant to measure corporate social performance by rating issuance, can impact on abnormal returns of Italian firms listed on Financial Times Stock Exchange Milano Indice di Borsa (FTSE MIB) Index, developing a panel data analysis which runs from 2007 to 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims at exploring whether socially responsible investors outperform an excess market return on Italian Stock Exchange because of their investment behavior, testing statistically the relationship between the yearly ESG assessment issued by Standard Ethics Agency on FTSE MIB’s companies and their abnormal returns. To verify the impact of an ESG Rating on a company’s abnormal return, the authors developed a panel data analysis through a Fixed Effects Model. They measured abnormal returns via Fama–French approach, running a yearly Jensen’s Performance Index for each company under investigation.

Findings

The empirical results denote in Italy both a growing interest to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability by managers over the past decade, as well as an improving quality in ESG assessments because of a reliable corporate disclosure. Thus, despite investors have been applying ESG criteria in their stock – picking operations, the authors found a not positive and statistically significant impact in terms of market premium, when they have been undertaking a socially responsible investment (SRI).

Practical implications

The findings described above show that ethics is not yet a reliable fundraising tool for Italian-listed companies, despite SRIs having a positive growth rate over past decade. Investors seem to be not pricing CSR on Stock Exchange Market; therefore, listed companies cannot be rewarded with a premium price because of their highly stakeholder oriented behavior.

Originality/value

This paper explores, for the first time in Italy, when market extra-returns (if any) are related to corporate social performance and how managers leverage ethics to build capital added value.