bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who needs to be “more equal” and why? Doing gender equality in male-dominated industries
Authors: Ringblom Lisa , Johansson Maria
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to deepen the understanding of inequality regimes in male-dominated industries, specifically in Swedish forestry and mining, by exploring how conceptions of gender, class and place are articulated and intertwined when doing gender equality in these organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws on empirical material from four research and development projects inspired by a feminist action research methodology.

Findings

This paper shows how gender equality works in these male-dominated organizations simultaneously constructing gender, class and place. When men are at the focal point of gender equality, our empirical findings suggest that blue-collar workers in rural areas are described as “being the problem” for gender inequality in these organizations. Addressing specific groups such as women or blue-collar workers in rural areas is not enough to challenge the inequality regimes that exist in these organizations, since a unilateral focus on certain groups leads to skewed problem formulations.

Originality/value

Research on gender equality work and its relation to intersectionality in male-dominated industries is limited, and by focusing on men and masculinities, this paper contributes to knowledge concerning gender equality in male-dominated industrial organizations.
Factors discourage Kuwaiti employees to participate in the private sector labour force (Kuwaitization)
Authors: Al-Mutairi Abdulla , Naser Kamal , Fayez Fatema
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify factors discouraging Kuwaiti nationals from participating in the private sector labour force (Kuwaitization).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of Kuwaiti nationals to identify the main reasons that prevent them from joining the private sector labour force.

Findings

The study revealed that low expectations of private sectors’ employers regarding Kuwaiti nationals discourage them from joining the sector. Kuwaiti nationals believe that the private sector employers look for high standards of communication and computing skills. They avoid working for the private sector because some jobs require working for two shifts and long working hours, and they cannot obtain frequent leave. Other factors that appeared to affect Kuwaiti nationals’ participation in the private sector labour force were lack of job security, fewer holidays, difficulty to obtain special pay leave or early retirement at lucrative terms, uncertainty about the prospect of promotion and job insecurity.

Research limitations/implications

The current study targets Kuwaiti national employees. To formulate a clear picture about the main factors that influence the success or otherwise of the Kuwaitization policy, it is of paramount importance to explore the opinion of the private sector employers.

Practical implications

The outcome of this study would be used by policymakers to promote Kuwaitization and increase Kuwaiti nationals’ participation in the private sector labour force. This will increase the country’s reliance on its national labour force and ensure sustainable economic and social development.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study is expected to assist the Kuwaiti authorities in reformulating the current Kuwaitization policies to achieve its objectives. The study is expected to draw some lessons applicable to other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Stress–strength reliability models involving generalized gamma and Weibull distributions
Authors: Nojosa Ronald , Rathie Pushpa Narayan
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper deals with the estimation of the stress–strength reliability R = P(X < Y), when X and Y follow (1) independent generalized gamma (GG) distributions with only a common shape parameter and (2) independent Weibull random variables with arbitrary scale and shape parameters and generalize the proposal from Kundu and Gupta (2006), Kundu and Raqab (2009) and Ali et al. (2012).

Design/methodology/approach

First, a closed form expression for R is derived under the conditions (1) and (2). Next, sufficient conditions are given for the convergence of the infinite series expansions used to calculate the value of R in case (2). The models GG and Weibull are fitted by maximum likelihood using Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) quasi-Newton method. Confidence intervals and standard errors are calculated using bootstrap. For illustration purpose, two real data sets are analyzed and the results are compared with the existing recent results available in the literature.

Findings

The proposed approaches improve the estimation of the R by not using transformations in the data and flexibilize the modeling with Weibull distributions with arbitrary scale and shape parameters.

Originality/value

The proposals of the paper eliminate the misestimation of R caused by subtracting a constant value from the data (Kundu and Raqab, 2009) and treat the estimation of R in a more adequate way by using the Weibull distributions without restrictions in the parameters. The two cases covered generalize a number of distributions and unify a number of stress–strength probability P(X < Y) results available in the literature.
Work–life balance in Europe: institutional contexts and individual factors
Authors: Stoilova Rumiana , Ilieva-Trichkova Petya , Bieri Franziska
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how individual and macro-level factors shape the work–life balance of young men and women across European countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines macro-level data from the official statistics with individual-level data from the Work, Family and Wellbeing (2010/2011) module of the European Social Survey. The study uses multilevel modelling to explore the factors which shape the work–life balance of men and women aged 15–34 across 24 European countries.

Findings

The findings show both differences and similarities between young men and women in how education shapes work–life balance. Higher education increases the likelihood of considering work–life balance as important in work selection for men, while lower education decreases the odds of considering this balance for women. More education is associated with lower acceptance of the traditional norm, for both men and women, and less time spent on housework. Higher share of family benefits decreases the importance of work–life balance, more so for men than for women. Work–life balance is more important for men living in conservative, Mediterranean and post-socialist welfare regimes compared to those from social-democratic regimes.

Social implications

The policy implications are to more closely consider education in the transformation of gender-sensitive norms during earlier stages of child socialization and to design more holistic policy measures which address the multitude of barriers individuals from poor families and ethnic/migrant background face.

Originality/value

The study contributes to existing literature by applying the capability approach to the empirical investigation of work–life balance. The analytical model contains three dimensions – norms about paid/unpaid work, considering work–life balance in the choice of employment and time spent on unpaid work. Through this approach, we are able to uncover the agency inequality of young people taking into account individual level characteristics, including gender, education, ethnicity and macro-level factors.
Impact of 3D-printing structure on the tribological properties of polymers
Authors: Hanon Muammel M. , Marczis Róbert , Zsidai László
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of three-dimensional (3D)-printing process settings (particularly print orientation) on the tribological properties of different polymers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, fused deposition modelling 3D-printing technology was used for fabricating the specimens. To evaluate the influence of print orientation, the test pieces were manufactured horizontally (X) and vertically (Z). The tribological properties of various printed polymers, which are polylactide acid, high tensile/high temperature-polylactide acid and polyethylene terephthalate-glycol have been studied. The tribological tests have been carried out under reciprocating sliding and dry condition.

Findings

The results show that the presence of various orientations during the 3D-printing process makes a difference in the coefficient of friction and the wear depth values. Findings suggest that printing structure in the horizontal orientation (X) assists in reducing friction and wear.

Originality/value

To date, there has been very limited research on the tribology of objects produced by 3D printing. This work was made as an attempt to pave the way for future research on the science of tribology of 3D-printed polymers.
Motivations of employees' communicative behaviors on social media
Authors: Lee Yeunjae
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Given that an increasing number of social media platforms allow employees to share company-related information, the present study seeks to understand their complicated motivations for social media behaviors. Specifically, this study explores the antecedents of employees' positive and negative company-related information-sharing intentions on two distinctive social media platforms, personal (e.g. Facebook) and anonymous social networking sites (e.g. Glassdoor).

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with 419 full-time employees in the United States from various industry sectors.

Findings

Individual (enjoyment, venting negative feelings, and self-enhancement), interpersonal (bonding and bridging ties), and organizational (organization–employee relationship and perceived external prestige) factors are considerably and distinctly associated with employees' behavioral intentions on different social media platforms.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to understand employees' communicative behaviors on social media (sECB) by linking diverse levels of motivational factors: individual, interpersonal, and organizational using a theoretical framework of socioecological model (SEM). This study also provides significant practical guidelines for organizational leaders and platform operators by explicating the dynamics of employee motives in engaging in a variety of social media platforms.
Interconnected business models: present debates and future agenda
Authors: Jocevski Milan , Arvidsson Niklas , Ghezzi Antonio
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a review of the emergent literature to advance the current understanding of the business model (BM) concept in a context in which more than one actor is actively involved in the development and delivery of a joint offer based on information and communication technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a systematic literature review approach. The review is based on 25 systematically selected publications published from 2000 to 2018 and retrieved from bibliographic databases and through a process of snowballing.

Findings

The authors found several alternative conceptualizations of a BM at a network level, which highlighted different elements as core components. Based on this, authors’ findings suggest the literature has a fragmented view of what the BM concept entails at a network level, and of which actors are relevant. Conversely, there is a consensus that a single-firm view is inadequate for describing and studying joint value architectures because of its inability to consider all involved actors and their activities and resources. Therefore, a network-oriented view, as a relational aggregator, is seen as a possible way forward.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the current understanding of a BM concept at a network level and suggests three viewpoints from which to interpret value architectures at different levels of analysis: single-firm view, dyadic-level view and network-oriented view. Furthermore, the authors highlight several gaps to be studied and provide avenues for future research opportunities for scholars.
Better than sex: further development and validation of the consumption gender scale
Authors: Pohlmann Attila , Chen Qimei
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Biological sex is an important segmenting variable in marketing. Yet its ability to meaningfully distinguish beyond the female/male dichotomy is limited. With traditional gender roles continuously shifting and contemporary fluid conceptualizations of gender altering the consumption mainstream, the diverse and multi-faceted behaviours related to gender elude market segment distinctions that are based on biological sex alone. Thus far, researchers have had only limited success applying the concept of gender identity and gender schema theory to inform marketing research and management. The purpose of this study is to further develop a consumer decision-oriented scale that addresses this gap by providing a more sensitive method of segmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

The scale was validated according to common psychological scale development techniques.

Findings

Not only does the Consumption Gender Scale predict the behaviours and media preferences of traditional, gender-schematic male and female consumer segments, but it also accounts for the variance in the behaviours of gender-aschematic non-traditional men and women. We demonstrate the scale’s predictive power in two experimental studies and discuss its potential to serve as an intermediary variable that can predict product attitudes and purchase intentions on social media.

Research limitations/implications

The Consumption Gender Scale was based on surveys and experiments conducted in the USA. Future research could examine the suitability of the scale in other cultural contexts.

Practical implications

The Consumption Gender Scale provides a finer taxonomy for organizations to use in segmenting their target market on the basis of consumption-relevant gender rather than biological sex. Consequently, it also provides opportunities for managers to fine-tune their media-planning efforts.

Originality/value

Biological sex as the main segmenting variable has become inadequate because of ongoing shifts in gender roles and changes in associated consumption behaviours. To address the shortcomings of traditional methods, we advocate for and validate a continuous measurement scale.
Measuring European cultural and creative cities efficiency: a metafrontier DEA approach
Authors: De Jorge-Moreno Justo , De Jorge-Huertas Virignia
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a benchmark analysis of European cities based on the estimation of a composite index of efficiency from the dimensions of the Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor 2017 (CCCM). The study helps to initiate a new exploration path based on this information, using a segmentation criterion of countries according to their economic and demographic characteristics, in search of greater comparative homogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the metafrontier methodological proposal with data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been used to compare the groups of cities individually with their joint reference.

Findings

The results obtained indicate, from a greater control of heterogeneity, through the segmentation of the sample of cities and the metafrontier methodology, that the composite index (IEC3) through the enveloping data analysis methodology (DEA) is more robust than that obtained with the arbitrary assignment of CCCM weights. The analyses carried out make it possible to study and conduct more real and rigorous comparisons of the cities that experience the best practices, unlike other more distant ones. Reference to cities such as Paris, Louvain and Cork could serve as a basis for possible improvements.

Originality/value

It is important to bear in mind that the possible urban policies of a city and the creative strategies and their derived impact are different, because of the diversity in each city. These new comparability possibilities could serve as a tool for economic policy makers, companies and local managers to carry out learning and simulation processes in the improvement of creative cities.
Towards the proposition of a Lean Automation framework
Authors: Tortorella Guilherme , Sawhney Rapinder , Jurburg Daniel , de Paula Istefani Carisio , Tlapa Diego , Thurer Matthias
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The objective of this research is twofold. First, we aim at identifying the pairwise relationships between Lean Production (LP) practices and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. Second, based on these results, we propose a framework for Lean Automation (LA) implementation, in which I4.0 technologies are integrated into LP practices.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve that, a cross-sector survey was performed with 147 manufacturers that are undergoing a LP implementation aided by novel information and communication technologies from I4.0. Multivariate data analysis was applied in order to underpin the proposed framework for LA.

Findings

Findings indicate that I4.0 technologies are positively correlated with LP practices, providing evidence to bear the proposition of a LA framework that can potentially overcome traditional barriers and challenges of a LP implementation.

Originality/value

As previous studies have approached LA implementation from a narrow perspective or including a limited set of LP practices and I4.0 technologies, the proposition of an integrated framework unfolds a wider range of synergistic implementations that may corroborate to a holistic approach for continuous improvement in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.
A history of brand misdefinition – with corresponding implications for mismeasurement and incoherent brand theory
Authors: Gaski John F.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to dissect conceptual and semantic issues surrounding the word “brand.” Theoretical, operational and practical concerns resulting from the term’s use and misuse are exposed, some derived managerial problems are highlighted, and alternatives for resolving the confusing and dysfunctional brand nomenclature are offered.

Design/methodology/approach

Comprehensive literature review, i.e. review of an entire population of literature, incorporating content analysis.

Findings

A large fraction of empirical brand literature is ambiguous because the definition, meaning and therefore measurement of the focal construct, brand, is unclear. In other words, empirical results throughout the brand literature may apply to “brand” – by one definition or another – but there is no way of knowing which brand interpretation is in use.

Originality/value

A large part of the marketing field does not know what the word “brand” means anymore, a lapse that is widely unrecognized. This paper illuminates the lost knowledge condition and proposes resolution. The present state of theoretical and empirical ambiguity is untenable because so many empirical findings throughout the literature are vitiated.
Understanding household waste separation in South Africa
Authors: Issock Issock Paul Blaise , Roberts-Lombard Mornay , Mpinganjira Mercy
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the motives behind the separation of household waste (or the lack of such separation) on the basis of the theory of interpersonal behaviour. The aim of this paper is to broaden and deepen the understanding of key determinants of household waste separation (or the lack of such separation). This study proposes a conceptual model based on the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative method was applied to investigate the views of 350 heads of households in the Johannesburg metropolitan area through an administered questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypothesised structural relationships in the proposed model.

Findings

The results indicate that household waste separation intention is influenced by cognition of the consequences and by injunctive and personal normative pressures. Separation intention and past habits were found to have a direct influence on actual separation behaviour.

Originality/value

While the theory of planned behaviour is ubiquitous in the recycling literature, this study presents a different, broader framework for a better understanding of the drivers of household waste separation. This is achieved by applying the theory of interpersonal behaviour in combination with the focus theory of normative conduct. The findings provide insights that could help municipalities in emerging markets to promote household waste separation for better management of the environment.
A meta-analytic examination of the relationship between family firm generational involvement and performance
Authors: Kosmidou Vasiliki
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between family firm generational involvement and performance. Although researchers have studied this relationship extensively, a complete understanding of its true magnitude and sign is still lacking.

Design/methodology/approach

This meta-analysis sheds new light on this relationship, integrating the findings of 43 studies with 51 independent samples and 18,802 family firms.

Findings

The results reveal a small and negative relationship indicating that later-generation family firms perform worse compared to first-generation ones. The authors also show that the relationship is stronger for younger than older and for private than public firms. Finally, the measurements of both variables influence the relationship yielding critical research implications.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that future researchers examining the effects of generational involvement on family firm performance should conduct their analysis using multiple measures of both variables to ensure the accuracy of their results. It also highlights the need of family business scholars to converge to the use of a universal family firm definition, as findings differ significantly in strength and direction depending on which definition is used.

Practical implications

From a practitioners’ perspective, the findings imply that owners of young and private family firms should consider professionalizing and adopting a balanced top management team composition consisting of both family and non-family members as a way to mitigate the negative effects of “familiness” on performance.

Originality/value

This study empirically demonstrates the importance of adopting a generational perspective when examining differences in family firm performance.
Supply chain MFCA implementation: emphasizing evidence on coordination
Authors: Higashida Akira
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to clarify systematically the contribution of material flow cost accounting (MFCA) to green supply chain management (GSCM) by examining the coordination mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

Two qualitative case studies are conducted in a major Japanese manufacturing company, which introduced MFCA in two different supply chains. The concept of coordination mechanisms in supply chain management is used to consolidate the understanding on the usefulness of MFCA in GSCM.

Findings

The study’s findings reveal the significant role played by MFCA in coordinating material flows and eliminating sub-optimization in the supply chain from both economic and environmental perspectives. Furthermore, the focal company in the chain has an important role as the MFCA leader in implementing MFCA in the chain. In particular, the environmental department can eliminate suppliers’ concerns regarding opportunistic buyer behaviors and focus on material flows across the supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

The study highlights the possibility of reviewing existing transactions by coordinating material flows. This is a new direction for the adoption of MFCA in GSCM. In addition, although the study highlights the importance of the environmental department as an MFCA leader, future research is necessary to establish this aspect with greater precision.

Practical implications

The two case studies discussed in this paper demonstrate the usefulness of MFCA expansion into the supply chain, as well as information sharing and progression, in the development of GSCM.

Social implications

This study will contribute to enhance the green supply chain by implementing MFCA.

Originality/value

This study indicates that MFCA can potentially reveal the material losses caused by sub-optimization and provide information to avoid sub-optimization in decision-making. Moreover, it highlights the importance of the environmental department as an MFCA leader.
The changing postdoc and key predictors of satisfaction with professional training
Authors: Van Benthem Kathleen , Nadim Adi Mohamad , Corkery Christopher T. , Inoue Jiro , Jadavji Nafisa M.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The postdoctoral position was originally created as a short training period for PhD holders on the path to becoming university professors; however, the single-purpose paradigm of training has evolved considerably over time. The purpose of this paper is to report on the opportunities and challenges faced by postdocs as they navigate this complex training period.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand the changes in postdoctoral training the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars – l’Association Canadienne des Stagiaires Postdoctoraux (CAPS-ACSP) conducted three professional national surveys of postdocs working in Canada and Canadian postdocs working internationally. Using the data from each survey, the authors investigated demographics, career goals and mental health and developed a theory-based path model for predicting postdoctoral training satisfaction, using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The analysis revealed that during their training postdocs face mental health symptoms, which play a role in job satisfaction. Additionally, predictors of satisfaction with career training were opportunities for skills development and encouragement from supervisors. Predictors of satisfaction with compensation were salary, skills training, mental health and encouragement from supervisors.

Originality/value

This first in-depth analysis of mental health symptoms illuminates the postdoc experience in academia. The study highlights the need for substantive changes to address the challenges facing postdoctoral training in the current research model in North America.
Bottom‐up when it is not top‐down: Predators and plants control biomass of grassland arthropods
Authors: Welti Ellen A. R. , Prather Rebecca M. , Sanders Nathan J. , de Beurs Kirsten M. , Kaspari Michael
Published: March 2020

We investigate where bottom‐up and top‐down control regulates ecological communities as a mechanism linking ecological gradients to the geography of consumer abundance and biomass. We use standardized surveys of 54 North American grasslands to test alternate hypotheses predicting 100‐fold shifts in the biomass of four common grassland arthropod taxa—Auchenorrhyncha, sucking herbivores, Acrididae, chewing herbivores, Tettigoniidae, omnivores, and Araneae, predators.

Bottom‐up models predict that consumer biomass tracks plant quantity (e.g. productivity and standing biomass) and quality (nutrient content) and that ectotherm access to food increases with temperature. Each of the focal trophic groups responded differently to these drivers: the biomass of sucking herbivores and omnivores increased with plant biomass; that of chewing herbivores tracked plant quality; and predator biomass did not depend on plant quality, plant quantity or temperature.

The Exploitation Ecosystem Hypothesis is a top‐down hypothesis that predicts a shift from resource limitation of herbivores when plant production is low, to predator limitation when plant production is high. In grasslands where spider biomass was low, herbivore biomass increased with plant biomass, whereas bottom‐up structuring was not evident when spiders were abundant. Furthermore, neither predator biomass nor trophic position (via stable isotope analysis) increased with plant biomass, suggesting predators themselves are top‐down limited.

Stable isotope analysis revealed that trophic position of the chewing herbivore and omnivore increased significantly with plant biomass, suggesting these groups increased scavenging and meat consumption in grasslands with higher carbohydrate availability.

Taken together, our snapshot sampling documents gradients of food web structure across 54 grasslands, consistent with multiple hypotheses of bottom‐up and top‐down regulation.
Recovery from infection is more likely to favour the evolution of migration than social escape from infection
Authors: Shaw Allison K. , Binning Sandra A.
Published: March 2020

Pathogen and parasite infections are increasingly recognized as powerful drivers of animal movement, including migration. Yet, infection‐related migration benefits can result from a combination of environmental and/or social conditions, which can be difficult to disentangle.

Here, we focus on two infection‐related mechanisms that can favour migration: moving to escape versus recover from infection. By directly comparing the evolution of migration in response to each mechanism, we can evaluate the likely importance of changing abiotic conditions (linked to migratory recovery) with changing social conditions (linked to migratory escape) in terms of infection‐driven migration.

We built a mathematical model and analysed it using numerically simulated adaptive dynamics to determine when migration should evolve for each migratory recovery and social migratory escape.

We found that a higher fraction of the population migrated under migratory recovery than under social migratory escape. We also found that two distinct migratory strategies (e.g. some individuals always migrate and others only occasionally migrate) sometimes coexisted within populations with social migratory escape, but never with migratory recovery.

Our results suggest that migratory recovery is more likely to promote the evolution of migratory behaviour, rather than escape from infected conspecifics (social migratory escape).
Effect of in‐package atmospheric cold plasma discharge on microbial safety and quality of ready‐to‐eat ham in modified atmospheric packaging during storage
Authors: Yadav Barun , Spinelli Ana Claudia , Misra N. N. , Tsui Ying Y. , McMullen Lynn M , Roopesh M.S.
Published: March 2020

Listeria monocytogenes is often responsible for postprocessing contamination of ready‐to‐eat (RTE) products including cooked ham. As an emerging technology, atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) has the potential to inactivate L. monocytogenes in packaged RTE meats. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of treatment time, modified atmosphere gas compositions (MAP), ham formulation, and post‐treatment storage (1 and 7 days at 4 °C) on the reduction of a five‐strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes and quality changes in ham subjected to in‐package ACP treatment. Initial average cells population on ham surfaces were 8 log CFU/cm2. The ACP treatment time and gas composition significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the inactivation of L. monocytogenes, irrespective of ham formulations. When MAP1 (20% O2 + 40% CO2 + 40% N2) was used, there was a significantly higher log reduction (>2 log reduction) in L. monocytogenes on ham in comparison to MAP2 (50% CO2 + 50% N2) and MAP3 (100% CO2), irrespective of ham formulation. Addition of preservatives (that is, 0.1% sodium diacetate and 1.4% sodium lactate) or bacteriocins (that is, 0.05% of a partially purified culture ferment from Carnobacterium maltaromaticum UAL 307) did not significantly reduce cell counts of L. monocytogenes after ACP treatment. Regardless of type of ham, storage of 24 hr after ACP treatment significantly reduced cells counts of L. monocytogenes to approximately 4 log CFU/cm2. Following 7 days of storage after ACP treatment, L. monocytogenes counts were below the detection limit (>6 log reduction) when samples were stored in MAP1. However, there were significant changes in lipid oxidation and color after post‐treatment storage. In conclusion, the antimicrobial efficacy of ACP is strongly influenced by gas composition inside the package and post‐treatment storage.

Practical Application

Surface contamination of RTE ham with L. monocytogenes may occur during processing steps such as slicing and packaging. In‐package ACP is an emerging nonthermal technology, which can be used as a postpackaging decontamination step in industrial settings. This study demonstrated the influence of in‐package gas composition, treatment time, post‐treatment storage, and ham formulation on L. monocytogenes inactivation efficacy of ACP. Results of present study will be helpful to optimize in‐package ACP treatment and storage conditions to reduce L. monocytogenes, while maintaining the quality of ham.
Mapping the TYR gene reveals novel and previously reported variants in Eastern Indian patients highlighting preponderance of the same changes in multiple unrelated ethnicities
Authors: Ganguly Kausik , Dutta Tithi , Saha Arpan , Sarkar Devroop , Sil Asim , Ray Kunal , Sengupta Mainak
Published: March 2020

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of congenital autosomal recessive disorders with seven known subtypes (OCA1–OCA7) characterized by loss or absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA1, caused by pathogenic variations in the tyrosinase (TYR) gene, has been documented to be the most prevalent subtype across the world including India. In the present study, we recruited 53 OCA‐affected individuals from 45 unrelated families belonging to 20 different marriage groups/ethnicities of 15 different districts of West Bengal. We took a targeted sequencing‐based approach to find the causal variations in the TYR gene. We report here identification of two novel potentially pathogenic variations [NM_000372.4:c.614C>T, NP_000363.1:p.(Pro205Leu), and NM_000372.4:c.1036+1=/G>T], one novel synonymous TYR variant [NM_000372.4:c.204=/A>G, NP_000363.1:p.(Gln68=)], two pathogenic variations documented for the first time in Indian OCA cases [NM_000372.4:c.1147G>A, NP_000363.1:p.(Asp383Asn), and NM_000372.4:c.585G>A, NP_000363.1:p.(Trp195*)], along with nine previously reported pathogenic variants in 36 out of 53 (∼68%) patients recruited. We report common haplotype backgrounds for the two most prevalent variations [NM_000372.4:c.124G>A, NM_000372.4:c.832C>T] in cases belonging to different marriage/ethnic groups, suggesting a possible founder effect. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive genetic study on OCA1 from India, firmly establishing OCA1 as the commonest form of albinism in this part of the world.
Giraffe translocations: A review and discussion of considerations
Authors: Muller Zoe , Lee Derek E. , Scheijen Ciska P. J. , Strauss Megan K. L. , Carter Kerryn D. , Deacon Francois
Published: March 2020

Giraffe populations have declined dramatically in the last three decades. Giraffe translocations are likely to increase as wildlife managers seek to augment or re‐establish populations. Currently, formal practical guidance for giraffe translocations is limited. Here, we present a review of translocation guidelines emphasising planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and we review giraffe behaviour and ecology to provide recommendations specific to the translocation of giraffes. We also aim to stimulate discussion about best practices for giraffe translocations and further research into the ethical and practical considerations of moving giraffes.
Baseline predictors for visual acuity loss during observation in diabetic macular oedema with good baseline visual acuity
Authors: Busch Catharina , Okada Mali , Zur Dinah , Fraser‐Bell Samantha , Rodríguez‐Valdés Patricio J. , Cebeci Zafer , Lupidi Marco , Fung Adrian T. , Gabrielle Pierre‐Henry , Giancipoli Ermete , Chaikitmongkol Voraporn , Laíns Inês , Santos Ana Rita , Kunavisarut Paradee , Sala‐Puigdollers Anna , Chhablani Jay , Ozimek Malgorzata , Hilely Assaf , Degenhardt Valentin , Loewenstein Anat , Iglicki Matias , Rehak Matus ,   For the International Retina Group
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To investigate clinical baseline characteristics and optical coherence tomography biomarkers predicting visual loss during observation in eyes with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and good baseline visual acuity (VA).

Methods

A sub‐analysis of a 12‐month, retrospective study, including patients with baseline VA ≤0.1 logMAR (≥20/25 Snellen) and centre‐involving DMO. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between baseline characteristics and VA loss ≥10 letters during follow‐up.

Results

A total of 249 eyes were included in the initial study, of which 147 eyes were observed and 80 eyes received anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment at baseline. Visual acuity (VA) loss ≥10 letters occurred in 21.8% (observed cohort) and in 24.3% (treated cohort), respectively. Within observed eyes, presence of hyperreflective foci [HRF; odds ratio (OR): 3.18, p = 0.046], and disorganization of inner retina layers (DRIL; OR: 2.71, p = 0.026) were associated with a higher risk of VA loss ≥10 letters. In observed eyes with a combined presence of HRF, DRIL and ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, the risk of VA loss was further increased (OR: 3.86, p = 0.034). In eyes with combined presence of DRIL, HRF and EZ disruption, risk of VA loss was 46.7% (7/15 eyes) in the observed cohort, and 26.3% (5/19 eyes) in the treated cohort (p = 0.26).

Conclusion

Patients with DMO and good baseline VA, managed by observation, are of increased risk for VA loss if DRIL, HRF and EZ disruption are present at baseline. Earlier treatment with anti‐VEGF in these patients may potentially decrease the risk of VA loss at 12 months.
Posttraumatic stress in organizations: Types, antecedents, and consequences
Authors: Williams Scott David , Williams Jonathan
Published: March 2020

Research indicates that the well‐being and productivity of over 100 million people in the global workforce may be compromised by posttraumatic stress (PTS). Given that work‐related experiences are often the source of the trauma that leads to PTS, and that PTS due to any cause can interfere with employees’ job performance, organizations would do well to consider the antecedents and consequences of PTS. This review of research—primarily within fields adjacent to business—on the types, antecedents, consequences, and organizational implications of PTS is presented to advance inquiry within the field of business. The definition of PTS requires attention to the new classification of complex posttraumatic stress disorder that can result from threats that are not life‐threatening such as bullying and sexual harassment. PTS antecedents include organizational and extraorganizational traumas, and risk and resilience factors. Absenteeism, impaired cognitive functioning, strained relationships, and growth are among the consequences of PTS. Organizations can assist through disaster planning, empathetic leaders, mental health literacy initiatives, and employee assistance programs. Many research questions arise that, when answered, will allow organizations to better understand how they can improve employee productivity and well‐being by attending to PTS.
Firms behaving badly? Investor reactions to corporate social irresponsibility
Authors: Kanuri Vamsi K. , Houston Reza , Andrews Michelle
Published: March 2020

Corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) and other questionable business incidents that appear to harm stakeholders frequently afflict firms yet draw disparate investor reactions. We address this disparity by investigating the association between firm legal orientation and investor reactions to CSI. We hypothesize the proportion of board members and top management team (TMT) executives with law degrees affects investor perceptions of firm foresight, and in turn, their judgment of blame and consequent punishment. Based on abnormal returns to 629 announcements of CSI and 308 publicly traded S&P 500 firms, we find that both too small and too large a proportion of board of directors and TMT members with law degrees lead investors to mete out harsher punishment. This inverted u‐shaped link is further affected by firm size, firm risk, and industry competition. Our investigation sheds light on the link between executive education and financial performance in the context of CSI and investor perceptions of foresight.
Epstein‐Barr virus‐positive gastric cancer involves enhancer activation through activating transcription factor 3
Authors: Asakawa Yuta , Okabe Atsushi , Fukuyo Masaki , Li Wenzhe , Ikeda Eriko , Mano Yasunobu , Funata Sayaka , Namba Hiroe , Fujii Takahiro , Kita Kazuko , Matsusaka Keisuke , Kaneda Atsushi
Published: March 2020

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is associated with particular forms of gastric cancer (GC). We previously showed that EBV infection into gastric epithelial cells induced aberrant DNA hypermethylation in promoter regions and silencing of tumor suppressor genes. We here undertook integrated analyses of transcriptome and epigenome alteration during EBV infection in gastric cells, to investigate activation of enhancer regions and related transcription factors (TFs) that could contribute to tumorigenesis. Formaldehyde‐assisted isolation of regulatory elements (FAIRE) sequencing (‐seq) data revealed 19 992 open chromatin regions in putative H3K4me1+ H3K4me3− enhancers in EBV‐infected MKN7 cells (MKN7_EB), with 10 260 regions showing increase of H3K27ac. Motif analysis showed candidate TFs, eg activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), to possibly bind to these activated enhancers. ATF3 was considerably upregulated in MKN7_EB due to EBV factors including EBV‐determined nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), EBV‐encoded RNA 1, and latent membrane protein 2A. Expression of mutant EBNA1 decreased copy number of the EBV genome, resulting in relative downregulation of ATF3 expression. Epstein‐Barr virus was also infected into normal gastric epithelial cells, GES1, confirming upregulation of ATF3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation‐seq analysis on ATF3 binding sites and RNA‐seq analysis on ATF3 knocked‐down MKN7_EB revealed 96 genes targeted by ATF3‐activating enhancers, which are related with cancer hallmarks, eg evading growth suppressors. These 96 ATF3 target genes were significantly upregulated in MKN7_EB compared with MKN7 and significantly downregulated when ATF3 was knocked down in EBV‐positive GC cells SNU719 and NCC24. Knockdown of ATF3 in EBV‐infected MKN7, SNU719, and NCC24 cells all led to significant decrease of cellular growth through an increase of apoptotic cells. These indicate that enhancer activation though ATF3 might contribute to tumorigenesis of EBV‐positive GC.
Honneth and positive identity formation in residential care
Authors: Marshall Gerry , Winter Karen , Turney Danielle
Published: March 2020

Nurturing, maintaining, and supporting positive identity formation for children and young people in residential child care are an underresearched area. Reasons for this are varied not least the fact that residential child care is still often not perceived as a positive choice for children and young people. Concerns about cost, value for money, the quality, and effectiveness of care have been exacerbated by findings from recent national and international government commissioned inquiries into allegations of historical abuse experienced by children and young people in residential child care. Their findings raise serious questions about whether residential care can ever be a positive choice, whether it can offer high‐quality care that promotes social, emotional, and psychological well‐being, and in particular whether it can nurture and support positive identity formation. Using an adaptation of Honneth's recognition theory and applying it to residential child care practice, this paper contributes to the growing body of work, which argues that residential child care is a positive choice and that it has a key role to play in positive identity formation. The paper ends with some thoughts regarding implications for policy and practice.
Elective neck dissection for salvage total laryngectomy: A systematic review, meta‐analysis and “decision‐to‐treat” approach
Authors: Davies‐Husband Cameron R. , Drinnan Michael , King Emma
Published: March 2020

Introduction

The authors provide an updated, systematic and comprehensive summary of the literature concerning management of the N0 neck in patients for whom primary irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx has been unsuccessful and salvage surgery in the form of total laryngectomy (TL) advocated.

Methods

Bibliographic databases MEDLINE, Cochrane, PubMed and Embase were searched from inception to April 2019, with no language restrictions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Risk of bias was defined using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Outcome measures were defined as the impact of END on locoregional control, complication rate, disease‐specific and overall survival (DSS and OS).

Results

The primary search identified 19 eligible articles, comprising 1353 patients, (1552 ENDs). The overall risk of occult metastases was 14% (9% of ENDs). The relative risk (RR) of developing complications was 1.29 when END was performed, compared to observation of the neck (CI 0.86‐1.92). Contrariwise, patients in whom the neck was managed with neck dissection had a decreased risk of developing regional recurrence (RR 0.62, CI 0.35‐1.08). There was no statistically significant variation between DSS and OS between END and neck observation groups, respectively.

END during salvage TL may reduce the rate of regional recurrence, but not at the expense of improving DSS or OS. Rates of occult metastases, regional recurrence and “cure” through salvage neck dissection are not equivalent. Significant bias in all collated manuscripts should encourage the reader to interpret conclusions with caution. Patients should be fully involved in the decision‐making process and their performance status and co‐morbidities taken carefully into account when deciding to increase the extent of surgery, which we believe should remain limited to TL in the majority of cases.