bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sufficiency analysis of estrogen responsive enhancers using synthetic activators
Authors: Ginley-Hidinger Matthew , Carleton Julia B. , Rodriguez Adriana C. , Berrett Kristofer C. , Gertz Jason
Published: November 2018

Multiple regulatory regions bound by the same transcription factor have been shown to simultaneously control a single gene’s expression. However, it remains unclear how these regulatory regions combine to regulate transcription. Here we test the sufficiency of promoter-distal estrogen receptor α (ER)-binding sites (ERBS) for activating gene expression by recruiting synthetic activators in the absence of estrogens. Targeting either dCas9-VP16(10x) or dCas9-p300(core) to ERBS induces H3K27ac and activates nearby expression in a manner similar to an estrogen induction, with dCas9-VP16(10x) acting as a stronger activator. The sufficiency of individual ERBS is highly correlated with their necessity, indicating an inherent activation potential that is associated with the binding of RNA polymerase II and several transcription factors. By targeting ERBS combinations, we found that ERBS work independently to control gene expression when bound by synthetic activators. The sufficiency results contrast necessity assays that show synergy between these ERBS, suggesting that synergy occurs between ERBS in terms of activator recruitment, whereas directly recruiting activators leads to independent effects on gene expression.
miRNA activity contributes to accurate RNA splicing inC. elegansintestine and body muscle tissues
Authors: Kotagama Kasuen , Schorr Anna L , Steber Hannah S , Mangone Marco
Published: November 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to modulate gene expression, but their activity at the tissue-specific level remains largely uncharacterized. In order to study their contribution to tissue-specific gene expression, we developed novel tools to profile miRNA targets in theC. elegansintestine and body muscle.

We validated many previously described interactions, and identified ~3,500 novel targets. Many of the miRNA targets curated are known to modulate the functions of their respective tissues. Within our datasets we observed a disparity in the use of miRNA-based gene regulation between the intestine and body muscle. The intestine contained significantly more miRNA targets than the body muscle highlighting its transcriptional complexity. We detected an unexpected enrichment of RNA binding proteins targeted by miRNA in both tissues, with a notable abundance of RNA splicing factors.

We developedin vivogenetic tools to validate and further study three RNA splicing factors identified as miRNA targets in our study (asd-2,hrp-2andsmu-2), and show that these factors indeed contain functional miRNA regulatory elements in their 3’UTRs that are able to repress their expression in the intestine. In addition, the alternative splicing pattern of their respective downstream targets (unc-60,unc-52,lin-10andret-1) is dysregulated when the miRNA pathway is disrupted.

A re-annotation of the transcriptome data inC. elegansstrains that are deficient in the miRNA pathway from past studies supports and expands on our results. This study highlights an unexpected role for miRNAs in modulating tissue-specific gene isoforms, where post-transcriptional regulation of RNA splicing factors associates with tissue-specific alternative splicing.
Base editing generates substantial off-target single nucleotide variants
Authors: Zuo Erwei , Sun Yidi , Wei Wu , Yuan Tanglong , Ying Wenqin , Steinmetz Lars M. , Li Yixue , Yang Hui
Published: November 2018

Genome editing tools including CRISPR/Cas9 and base editors hold great promise for correcting pathogenic mutations. Unbiased genome-wide off-target effects of the editing in mammalian cells is required before clinical applications, but determination of the extent of off-target effects has been difficult due to the existence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in individuals. Here, we developed a method named GOTI (Genome-wide Off-target analysis by Two-cell embryo Injection) to detect off-target mutations without interference of SNPs. We applied GOTI to both the CRISPR-Cas9 and base editing (BE3) systems by editing one blastomere of the two-cell mouse embryo and then compared whole genome sequences of progeny-cell populations at E14.5 stage. Sequence analysis of edited and non-edited cell progenies showed that undesired off-target single nucleotide variants (SNVs) are rare (average 10.5) in CRISPR-edited mouse embryos, with a frequency close to the spontaneous mutation rate. By contrast, BE3 editing induced over 20-fold higher SNVs (average 283), raising the concern of using base-editing approaches for biomedical application.
A theory for how the antigen presentation profile influences the timing of T-cell detection
Authors: Carignano Alberto , Dalchau Neil
Published: November 2018

T-cells are activated when their receptor molecules recognize complexes of MHC proteins bound to peptides on the surface of neighbouring cells. Each T-cell expresses one variant of many possible receptor molecules, which are generated through a partially random process that culminates in approximately 107 possible T-cell receptors. As the peptide sequence bound to an MHC molecule is also highly variable, the optimal strategy of an antigen-presenting cell for displaying peptide-MHC complexes is not obvious. A natural compromise arises between aggressive peptide filtering, displaying a few peptides with high stability MHC binding in high abundance and regularity, and promiscuous peptide binding, which can result in more diverse peptides being presented, but in lower abundance. To study this compromise, we have combined a model of MHC class I peptide filtering with a simple probabilistic description of the interactions between antigen presenting cells (APCs) and cytotoxic Tcells (CTLs). By asking how long it takes, on average, for an APC to encounter a circulating CTL that recognises one of the peptides being presented by its MHC molecules, we found that there often exists an optimal degree of peptide filtering, which minimises this expected time until first encounter. The optimal degree of filtering is often in the range of values that the chaperone molecule tapasin confers on peptide selection, but varies between MHC class I molecules that have different peptide binding properties. Our model-based analysis therefore helps to understand how variations in the antigen presentation profile might be exploited for vaccine design or immunotherapies.
Cell-specific CRISPR/Cas9 activation by microRNA-dependent expression of anti-CRISPR proteins
Authors: Hoffmann Mareike D. , Aschenbrenner Sabine , Grosse Stefanie , Rapti Kleopatra , Domenger Claire , Fakhiri Julia , Mastel Manuel , Eils Roland , Grimm Dirk , Niopek Dominik
Published: November 2018

The rapid development of CRISPR/Cas technologies brought a personalized and targeted treatment of genetic disorders into closer reach. To render CRISPR-based therapies precise and safe, strategies to confine the activity of Cas(9) to selected cells and tissues are highly desired. Here, we developed a cell type-specific Cas-ON switch based on miRNA-regulated expression of anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins. We inserted target sites for miR-122 or miR-1, which are abundant specifically in liver and muscle cells, respectively, into the 3’UTR of Acr transgenes. Co-expressing these with Cas9 and sgRNAs resulted in Acr knockdown and correspondingly in Cas9 activation solely in hepatocytes or myocytes, while Cas9 was efficiently inhibited in off-target cells. We demonstrate control of genome editing and gene activation using a miR-dependent AcrIIA4 in combination with different Streptococcus pyogenes (Spy)Cas9 variants (full-length Cas9, split-Cas9, dCas9-VP64). Finally, to showcase its modularity, we adapted our Cas-ON system to the smaller and more target-specific Neisseria meningitidis (Nme)Cas9 orthologue and its cognate inhibitors AcrIIC1 and AcrIIC3. Our Cas-ON switch should facilitate cell-specific activation of any CRISPR/Cas orthologue, for which a potent anti-CRISPR protein is known.
Wellbore anti-corrosion technique research in B block on the right bank of Amu Darya river sour gas field
Authors: Qiu Zhichao , Xiong Chunming , Ye Zhengrong , Yi Ran , Zhang Na
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the tubing corrosion problem of B Block on the Right Bank of Amu Darya river sour gas field.

Design/methodology/approach

By using four-point-bending method, the tubing’s ability to resist sulfide-stress cracking was tested. Simulating the wellbore corrosive environment, the corrosion inhibitor which was suitable for gas filed had been screened. According to the characteristic of Amu Darya river gas field, the corrosion monitor system had been designed.

Findings

From the feedback of wellbore corrosion monitor result, the corrosion rate was lower than 0.076 mm/a.

Originality/value

This anti-corrosion technique provides security for the development of gas field.
A spatiotemporal analysis of fire incidents in Manila from 2011-2016
Authors: Bringula Rex , Balahadia Francis
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of spatiotemporal analysis of the 3,506 fire incidents in the city of Manila from 2011 to 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

A spatiotemporal and statistical analysis was carried out to determine the pattern of fire incidents in the city of Manila.

Findings

Fire incidence in Manila did not exhibit any pattern in terms of time, day of the week or month of the year. However, fire incidence did exhibit a pattern in terms of location. Faulty electrical connections are the major cause of fires throughout the year and throughout the 14 municipalities of Manila. Thus, the null hypothesis stating that spatiotemporal characteristics of cases of fire in the city of Manila do not exhibit a pattern is partially rejected.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies may investigate the influence of building maintenance, government control, and cooking and cigarette-disposal behaviors on fire occurrence. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other cities of Metro Manila.

Practical implications

Based on the causes and the spatiotemporal characteristics of fires, stakeholders (e.g. government, Bureau of Fire Protection, local government units (LGUs), communities and residents) can be informed about how to prevent fires. LGUs and government agencies can utilize the findings of this study in developing fire prevention programs for the municipalities with the highest incidence of fires.

Originality/value

These findings can serve as a basis for policy formulation and as a reference for the allocation of fire prevention resources and for the literature on strategic planning for fire prevention in Manila.
Building conditions in Norwegian local governments: trends and determinants
Authors: Hopland Arnt O. , Kvamsdal Sturla
Published: November 2018

Purpose

In light of evidence of low levels of maintenance of public buildings, this paper aims to investigate trends and determinants of public building conditions in Norwegian local governments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider data from surveys and public records in regression analyses.

Findings

On average, the condition of Norwegian local public facilities has improved slightly in the period 2004-2016. The survey data suggest substantial fluctuations in building conditions and a negative relationship between building conditions in 2004 and 2016. Local governments with poor building conditions in 2004 had higher investment in the following years. The authors find no systematic relationship between the conditions in 2004 and maintenance expenditures in subsequent years. They conclude that if maintenance levels are too low, the results suggest that investment levels are too high. Further, they find that both political and fiscal factors are important in explaining building conditions.

Originality/value

The authors provide insight into determinants and trends of building conditions in Norwegian local governments. The results hint at an unhealthy balance between maintenance spending and public investments.
Rogue waves, homoclinic breather waves and soliton waves for a (3 + 1)-dimensional non-integrable KdV-type equation
Authors: Mao Jin-Jin , Tian Shou-Fu , Zhang Tian-Tian
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find the exact solutions of a (3 + 1)-dimensional non-integrable Korteweg-de Vries type (KdV-type) equation, which can be used to describe the stability of soliton in a nonlinear media with weak dispersion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the extended Bell polynomial approach, Hirota’s bilinear method and the homoclinic test technique to find the rogue waves, homoclinic breather waves and soliton waves of the (3 + 1)-dimensional non-integrable KdV-type equation. The used approach formally derives the essential conditions for these solutions to exist.

Findings

The results show that the equation exists rogue waves, homoclinic breather waves and soliton waves. To better understand the dynamic behavior of these solutions, the authors analyze the propagation and interaction properties of the these solutions.

Originality/value

These results may help to investigate the local structure and the interaction of waves in KdV-type equations. It is hoped that the results can help enrich the dynamic behavior of such equations.
Considering the effectiveness of philanthropic collective action: a community ecology perspective
Authors: Hwang Hyunseok , Young Tiffany Amorette
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between social capital and collective action at the county level in the US while incorporating the moderating effects of community racial diversity and urbanity and to find the changing effects of social capital on philanthropic collective action for community education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a quantitative research design. The dependent variable measures philanthropic collective action for community education while the independent variable for social capital is measured as a community level index. Moderating variables include a community racial diversity index and urbanity. This analysis tests and interprets interaction effects using moderated multiple regression (MMR), with the baselines of MMR being grounded to multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Analyses are carried out in the context of the USA during 2006 and 2010, with US counties employed as the unit of analysis.

Findings

The effects of social capital on philanthropic contributions decline in counties with low- and mid-levels of racial diversity. On the contrary, the effects of social capital increase in highly racially diverse counties. The three-way interaction model result suggests that racial diversity positively moderates social capital on philanthropic collective action for community education where the effect of social capital is strong and positive in highly racially diverse urban communities.

Originality/value

This research complicates the notion that social capital and racial diversity are negatively associated when exploring collective action and community education, and suggests effects of social capital varies with moderating effects on philanthropic collective action for community education.
Analysis of tweets to find the basis of popularity based on events semantic similarity
Authors: Mudgal Rajat Kumar , Niyogi Rajdeep , Milani Alfredo , Franzoni Valentina
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose and experiment a framework for analysing the tweets to find the basis of popularity of a person and extract the reasons supporting the popularity. Although the problem of analysing tweets to detect popular events and trends has recently attracted extensive research efforts, not much emphasis has been given to find out the reasons behind the popularity of a person based on tweets.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors introduce a framework to find out the reasons behind the popularity of a person based on the analysis of events and the evaluation of a Web-based semantic set similarity measure applied to tweets. The methodology uses the semantic similarity measure to group similar tweets in events. Although the tweets cannot contain identical hashtags, they can refer to a unique topic with equivalent or related terminology. A special data structure maintains event information, related keywords and statistics to extract the reasons supporting popularity.

Findings

An implementation of the algorithms has been experimented on a data set of 218,490 tweets from five different countries for popularity detection and reasons extraction. The experimental results are quite encouraging and consistent in determining the reasons behind popularity. The use of Web-based semantic similarity measure is based on statistics extracted from search engines, it allows to dynamically adapt the similarity values to the variation on the correlation of words depending on current social trends.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the proposed method for finding the reason of popularity in short messages is original. The semantic set similarity presented in the paper is an original asymmetric variant of a similarity scheme developed in the context of semantic image recognition.
Climate change risk perceptions among green conscious young consumers: implications for green commodity marketing
Authors: Perera Chamila , Hewege Chandana
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore how young adults understand the climate change problem. It also explores whether environmental paradigms explain how young adults perceive climate change risks in their everyday green conscious behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This interpretive research draws on in-depth interviews with 20 young Australians (aged between 19-25 years) who engage in green conscious behavior.

Findings

Three thematic categories (“non-local” climate change risk, oscillation between environmental paradigms and anthropocentric environmentalism) emerged from the data. The study finds that “non-local” climate change risk perceptions and environmental paradigms inform green conscious behavior. However, no association between environmental paradigms and climate change risk perceptions is found. The study postulates a skeletal theoretical framework for understanding the green conscious behavior of young adults.

Practical implications

Recommendations are provided on how to sustain young adults’ interest in environmental wellbeing and in promoting green commodities in young consumer markets. Suggestions include creating a clear awareness of climate change with a constructive or positive appeal resolving ‘non-local’ climate change risk perceptions and position green commodities as “pro-actions” or “solutions”, as opposed to “reactions”, when reaching young consumer markets.

Originality/value

A high level of green consciousness among young adults is recorded in recent global surveys. This green conscious young consumer segment, however, appears to be largely ignored by green commodity marketers. This study provides green commodity marketers with necessary insights to explore the opportunities that might arise in this unique market segment.
Does digitalization create or reduce perceived global value?
Authors: Abaidi Ibtissame , Vernette Eric
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The internet has made it possible to diffuse totally digitized products on a very large scale. The newspaper business is one of the sectors that has been most affected by this technological revolution. Given such products’ uneven commercial success, an analysis of the literature suggests that these mixed results could be explained by the digitized nature of the product combined with a price judged too high. Both these elements reduce the perceived global value of the digital support compared with the print version on paper. To test this proposition, the authors have constructed an experimental design, manipulating the format (digital newspaper vs. print newspaper) and the price (high vs low). The results show that newspaper digitization significantly reduces perceived global value for the consumer compared with the print format. The authors also show that the perceived intangibility of the product exerts a more complex effect on perceived global value: this effect depends on both the nature of the intangibility (mental vs physical) and the cost and benefit analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental study was conducted with two factors: digitalization (print vs digital format) and price (low vs high). The authors carried out a mixed-factor variance analysis and follow Preacher and Hayes procedure to test the hypothesis. A sample of 387 undergraduate students was interviewed in laboratory.

Findings

The results show that newspaper digitization significantly reduces (i.e. destroys) perceived global value for the consumer (i.e. it destroys value), compared to the print format. The reuslts also show that the perceived intangibility of the product exerts a more complex effect on perceived global value: this effect depends at the same time on the nature of the intangibility (mental vs physical) and the account taken of costs and benefits.

Originality/value

One major result is the fact that digitizing newspaper strongly destroys its perceived global value for the consumer, compared to the physical alternative. To explain this phenomenon, the product’s perceived intangibility had been considered, as well as how this is related to the perceived costs and benefits. It appears that it has an overall direct negative effect on perceived value; therefore, the more a newspaper format is perceived as physically intangible, the more its perceived global value decreases. Results shows that this loss of value can be counteracted in two different ways, through the indirect effects of costs and benefits.
Entrepreneurial education program motivations in shaping engineering students’ entrepreneurial intention
Authors: Kim Minjung , Park Min Jae
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to draw on Piaget’s theory of assimilation and accommodation (absorptive capacity) as having mediating roles to examine the effect of motivational factors in entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention among engineering students. In addition, this relationship is analyzed along with the moderating effect of the home environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural equation model was applied to a sample of university students (736 respondents) engaged in an entrepreneurship education program in South Korea.

Findings

The findings highlight that the motivations of personal achievement, social welfare and social relationship were associated with assimilated students, and the motivations of personal achievement and cognitive interest were associated with accommodated students fostering entrepreneurial intention in their entrepreneurship education.

Originality/value

This finding contributes to the theoretical implications of absorptive capacity (assimilation and accommodation) in the learning process and has wider practical implications for course instructors in educational institutions who wish to promote the effectiveness of developing entrepreneurship knowledge and skills among engineering students.
Managing career lengthening in France: why such inertia?
Authors: Hamiot Jean-Yves
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand to what extent the analysis of career scripts explains the inertia in implementing mandatory interviews designed to anticipate career lengthening in France.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory approach is based on 26 interviews of French cadres (a mix of managers and professionals) aged 45 and over in the media agency sector.

Findings

Two career scripts – one for the majority who perceive themselves in a dead end, and the other, more optimistic for those who experience job mobility – show several commonalities. Moreover, their combination suggests an entanglement with the previous business model of media agencies.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was conducted on a non-random sample in a radically changing sector. However, the entanglement may explain the inertia with regard to changes in career scripts and agencies’ business model.

Practical implications

As these cadres need to work longer and move from traditional media expertise to cross-functional consulting capacity, mandatory interviews should be integrated into a human resources management strategy that fosters intra-organizational dynamics.

Social implications

The lengthening of the professional life in France appears as a paradigm shift. The study of career sustainability in contexts becomes a critical research field for management development.

Originality/value

The institutional approach of managers’ careers is well developed, but there is a gap in understanding the entanglement of career scripts and business models. This may help address inertia in change processes.
Do global brands contribute to the economy of their country of origin? A dynamic spatial approach
Authors: Kucharska Wioleta , Flisikowski Karol , Confente Ilenia
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Brand positioning based on the brand’s country of origin is at the centre of attention in international marketing. It is evident that global brands constitute critical intangible assets for businesses and places. However, it is not clear how they contribute to national economies. This paper aims to discuss the significance of brands as contributing to the value of their companies but also helping to leverage national economies. Although global brands can be produced and purchased in multiple countries, their influence on the economy of the country where their owner’s seat is located can be more meaningful than in other economies included in the “global factory”.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 500 Brandirectory, the Most Valuable Global Brands 2011-2015 rankings powered by Brand Finance, the authors observed a spatial-economic autocorrelation which exemplifies the potential interdependency between gross domestic product (GDP) and brand value. This relationship has become a starting point for designing a spatial regression model.

Findings

The findings support the hypothesis that assumptive spatial dependencies have a significant influence on the examined relationship of brand value and GDP.

Originality/value

The presented study is the first to examine the potential interdependence between brand values and GDP of the countries of origin using a dynamic spatial approach.
The four-factor model of product design: scale development and validation
Authors: Gilal Naeem Gul , Zhang Jing , Gilal Faheem Gul
Published: November 2018

Purpose

In the modern era, the significance of product design has increased because customers’ priorities in the evaluation of products have changed from product price to product design. Companies consider product design to be one of the most important sources of competitive advantage and standards for evaluating their performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop and validate a new scale to measure product design along with its dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review and consumer interviews and surveys were conducted to generate an initial item pool. Exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce the initial item pool, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed for measurement validation. A total of four separate studies were conducted for the conceptualization and operationalization of a product design scale.

Findings

Using data from three samples, the authors develop and validate a new scale to measure product design along affective, cognitive, ergonomic and reflective dimensions. Furthermore, the results provide strong evidence of the reliability, discriminant validity, measurement invariance and nomological validity of the four product design dimensions. Finally, the effects of these product design dimensions on harmonious and obsessive brand passion were assessed. The results show that the affective and reflective dimensions appear to be prominent for capturing the obsessive brand passion, whereas the cognitive and ergonomic dimensions are capable of increasing harmonious brand passion.

Originality/value

This is the first study that develops and validates the measurement of product design as a four-dimensional construct that can be transferred to a scale and applied across a wide range of product categories.
Fractional ownership – an alternative residential property investment vehicle
Authors: Lowies Braam , Whait Robert Brenton , Viljoen Christa , McGreal Stanley
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the profile of the typical online fractional residential property investor in Australia. This study also seeks to understand the motives for engaging with and investing in alternative residential property investments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a survey-based design via an online questionnaire to gather information on investor age, gender, type, education levels, time horizons and investment history and risk and return expectations. It also gathers information regarding investors’ financial literacy including tax implications of fractional property investment.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest amongst others, that fractional property investors tend to be younger, although the platform also attracts older investors including older females. The study also found that investors do not select alternative investment platforms in anticipation of super-normal investment returns. Return expectations are realistic and are based on a balance between capital growth and income.

Practical implications

This study indicates that alternative investment platforms lowers the barriers of entry into residential property for first time investors. It therefore creates opportunities to allow many first time individual investors to invest in property, often as an alternative to bank savings or investing in the stock market.

Originality/value

This study enhances our understanding of the influence of alternative investment platforms on investment decision-making. More specifically, it contrasts fractional property investment with more traditional investment opportunities to understand the motives of investors for diversifying into online investment vehicles.
Dynamic problem in piezo-electric microstretch thermoelastic medium under laser heat source
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Ailawalia Praveen
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the thermal and mechanical disturbances in a piezo-electric microstretch thermoelastic medium due to the presence of ultra-short laser pulse as input heat source.

Design/methodology/approach

The medium is subjected to normal force, tangential force and thermal source. The solution of the problems is developed in terms of normal modes. Mathematical expressions have been obtained for normal stress, tangential stress, microstress, dielectric displacement vector and temperature change.

Findings

The numerically computed results are shown graphically. The effect of time and laser radius on temperature distribution is also shown graphically and comparison to theoretical results has been discussed. A mathematical model has been developed for the system of equations and various stress quantities have been analyzed. Some computer programs have also been written for this study. Two particular cases are also derived from the present investigation.

Originality/value

The effect of laser heat source is studied in piezo-electric microstretch thermoelastic medium. It is observed from the figures that the laser heat source has significant role on the values of coupled tangential stress.
Investigation of FEF process liquid phase migration using orthogonal design of experiments
Authors: Yan Cunfu , Li Shujuan , Yang Leipeng , He Longfei
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of parameters on the liquid phase migration (LPM) during the freeze-form extrusion fabrication (FEF) process.

Design/methodology/approach

To carry out this study, three factors were systematically investigated using orthogonal design of experiments. These three parameters are the extrusion velocity, the extrusion interval time and the extrusion head length. An orthogonal array with nine test units was selected for the experiments. Range analysis and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data obtained by the orthogonal experiments to identify the order of significant factors on LPM.

Findings

It was found that the LPM decreased with the increase of extrusion velocity and increased with the lengthening of extrusion interval time and the length of the extrusion nozzle. The order of significant factors for the LPM were found to be extrusion velocity > extrusion nozzle length > extrusion interval time.

Practical implications

Using an orthogonal design of experiments and a statistical analysis method, the liquid content of extrudate can be predicted and appropriate process parameter values can be selected. This leads to the minimization of LPM during the FEF process. Also, this analysis method could be used to study the LPM in other paste extrusion processes.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that the factors have significant impact on LPM during FEF process. The following analysis in this paper is useful for FEF users when prediction of LPM is needed. This methodology could be easily applied to different materials and initial conditions for optimization of other FEF-type processes. The research can also help to get better understanding of LPM during the FEF process.
Burdens and benefits of diversity work: emotion management in STEM doctoral students
Authors: Porter Kamaria B. , Posselt Julie R. , Reyes Kimberly , Slay Kelly E. , Kamimura Aurora
Published: November 2018

Purpose

As part of the broader effort to diversify higher education in the USA, many science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctoral programs are deeply engaged in diversity work – an array of formal activities and practices meant to boost the representation of women and students of color. This paper aims to examine how underrepresented doctoral students in high-diversity STEM PhD programs contribute to diversity work in their programs.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was used to understand the nature of diversity work in four STEM doctoral programs that have enrolled and graduated women and/or underrepresented students of color at rates significantly higher than their disciplines, despite being located in states with affirmative action bans. This study analyzes qualitative data from 24 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with students from across the four departments.

Findings

Data reveal that underrepresented students are simultaneously positioned as representatives of progress and uncompensated consultants in their departments’ ongoing equity and diversity efforts. As a result, student contributions to diversity work are experienced as an ongoing process of emotional labor in which institutional ethos and/or feeling rules in the department shape how students manage their internal and external emotions.

Originality/value

Although diversity-related work is widespread and growing within colleges and universities, this study shows how student engagement in diversification efforts can lead to significant emotional burdens that go unnoticed and uncompensated. In highlighting the invisibility of emotional labor and the skew of its distribution toward minoritized groups, this research calls attention to how tacit feeling rules can undermine the ultimate goal of diversity initiatives within graduate departments and programs.
Global Value Chains and the Governance of ‘Embedded’ Food Commodities: The Case of Soy
Authors: Heron Tony , Prado Patricia , West Chris
Published: November 2018

In recent decades, soy has emerged as one of the world's most significant food‐related commodities and is strongly linked to deforestation and habitat loss, especially in Latin America. However, only a very small proportion of soy is consumed directly as food by humans with the rest crushed to produce animal feed, oils, biofuel and other industrial products. We argue that the peculiar (but not necessarily unique) structural and institutional characteristics of the soy supply chain raises crucial questions about the promotion of sustainability in complex, non‐consumer facing global value chains (GVCs). The particular way that soy is ‘embedded’ in the food system has meant that consumer‐facing firms have been shielded from the externalities of its production and trade to a much larger degree than is the case for comparable food commodities. This, in turn, helps to explain the widely perceived inadequacies of the private certification of ‘sustainable soy’ – and ongoing and wider political struggles around land, labour and the environment – for more comprehensive and inclusive forms of governance.
Global Value Chains, Firm Preferences and the Design of Preferential Trade Agreements
Authors: Eckhardt Jappe , Lee Kelley
Published: November 2018

The conventional view in the literature is that only the largest and most productive firms in a country benefit, and hence support the signing of preferential trade agreements (PTAs), as they are able to take advantage of the key benefits such agreements offer. In this paper we argue that such firms may indeed be generally supportive ofPTAs, but that their preferences often differ when it comes to the exact design ofPTAs. These different preferences stem from the ways that firms have organized their value chains. We focus on one crucial issue where firms may hold different preferences, depending on the organization of their value chains: Rules of Origin (RoO). We test the plausibility of our argument through a detailed analysis of the preferences and political strategies of tobacco firms in the context of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations.
Introduction: Bringing Institutions Back in the Study of Global Value Chains
Authors: Eckhardt Jappe , Poletti Arlo
Published: November 2018

This article introduces and summarizes the key questions and findings of this special issue of Global Policy on the role of domestic and international institutions in the study of global value chains (GVCs). The article starts by briefly introducing the concept of GVCs and the state‐of‐the‐art of the existing literature focusing on the political implications of these landmark changes in the global economy. Then, we make a case for grounding this emerging literature more strongly into an ‘institutionalist’ perspective. More specifically, we argue that while a great deal of attention has been paid to intra‐chain governance modes – that is, the different ways in which firms organize their cross‐border production arrangements – the role external institutional forces play in structuring chain dynamics remains surprisingly under‐researched. These observations invite an analytical perspective that brings institutions back into the study of GVCs. The contributions to the special issue focus on multiple causal pathways linking GVCs and various types of domestic‐ and international institutions. Altogether, these contributions underscore that the politics engendered by GVCs, as well as how they evolve, can only be fully understood by paying attention to the external institutional context in which they are embedded.
Application of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided‐fine needle aspiration combined with cyst fluid analysis for the diagnosis of mediastinal cystic lesions
Authors: Zhao Yuchong , Wang Ronghua , Wang Yun , Chen Qian , Chen Liangkai , Hou Wei , Liu Limin , Gao Wei , Cheng Bin
Published: November 2018

Background

Mediastinal cystic lesions account for approximately 15–20% of all mediastinal masses and are difficult to differentiate because of similar imaging manifestation. The aim of this study was to differentiate mediastinum cystic lesions through endoscopic ultrasound‐guided‐fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) and parameters from cyst‐fluid analysis.

Methods

Over a period of eight years, 37 patients suspected with mediastinal cystic lesions were assessed. Cyst fluid was collected via EUS‐FNA and further examined using cytological and biochemical techniques. Definitive diagnosis was established based on cytology, surgical pathology, and/or clinical follow‐up.

Results

Based on the final pathological reports or long‐term follow‐up, 19 patients were diagnosed with benign cysts, 14 with benign or malignant tumors, 2 with tuberculosis, 1 with an abscess, and 1 with a pancreatic pseudocyst. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging mistakenly distinguished eight cases as solid masses (27.03%), but EUS revealed cystic characteristics. Carcinoembryonic antigen and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were evaluated from the cyst fluid obtained by EUS‐FNA. There was no statistically significant difference in carcinoembryonic antigen values between benign and malignant cysts; however the average LDH value in the malignancy group was significantly higher than in the benign group.

Conclusion

EUS‐FNA showed great potential for differentiating mediastinal lesions by combining imaging manifestation and cytological examination. The elevated LDH value from cyst fluid chemical analysis could be used as an auxiliary indicator for diagnosing malignancy.
An Incomplete Audit at the Earnings Announcement: Implications for Financial Reporting Quality and the Market's Response to Earnings
Authors: Marshall Nathan T. , Schroeder Joseph H. , Yohn Teri Lombardi
Published: November 2018

There has been a substantial increase, since 2004, in the number of firms that announce annual earnings before audit completion as opposed to after audit completion. In this study, we argue that earnings announced before audit completion are associated with lower financial reporting quality and investor perceptions that earnings are more likely to be overstated. Consistent with this expectation, we document that the market places more (less) weight on good (bad) earnings news for earnings announced after audit completion relative to earnings announced before audit completion. We continue to find this differential market response when we expand the returns window to include the 10‐K filing date, suggesting that the differential response is not driven by investors' temporary concerns about earnings revisions between the earnings announcement and the 10‐K filing date or by differential GAAP disclosures in the earnings announcement, as suggested in prior research. Finally, as a direct test of financial reporting quality, we show that earnings announced with a completed audit are less likely to be restated in the future, are less likely to meet or beat expectations, and are associated with fewer income‐increasing discretionary accruals than those announced with an incomplete audit.
Evaluation of Surgical Wound Healing in Orthopedic Patients with Impaired Tissue Integrity According to Nursing Outcomes Classification
Authors: Menna Barreto Luciana Nabinger , Silva Marcos Barragan da , Engelman Bruna , Figueiredo Manoela Schmarczek , Rodríguez‐Acelas Alba Luz , Cañon‐Montañez Wilson , Almeida Miriam de Abreu
Published: November 2018

PURPOSE

To assess the surgical wound (SW) healing in orthopedic patients with Impaired tissue integrity according to the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).

METHODS

A prospective longitudinal study performed with 24 patients. Data collection was performed through an instrument containing the NOC indicators.

FINDINGS

The indicators skin approximation, drainage, surrounding skin erythema, periwound edema, increased skin temperature, and foul wound odor presented a statistically significant increase when compared the means between the first and the last day of evaluation.

CONCLUSION

The NOC indicators allowed to monitor the SW healing indicating an improvement.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The NOC can favor an earlier identification of the degree of commitment for each patient and enables implementation of care to achieve target outcomes.
Marching for Assimilation: Indigenous Identity, Sport, and Politics
Authors: Phillips Murray G. , Osmond Gary
Published: November 2018

The policy of assimilation of Aboriginal people in Australia had its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. The Australian states, which were primarily responsible for Aboriginal affairs, adopted many different forms of assimilation. In Queensland, assimilation was predominantly carried out through the extensive system of missions and settlements that the state had heavily invested in since the late colonial era. This paper examines the role of extra‐curricular activities, particularly sport, that emerged out of Queensland's Aboriginal institutions in the government‐driven strategies to promote assimilation. The focal point is the women's only sport of Marching Girls and the marching teams that were formed at the government settlement of Cherbourg, north‐west of Brisbane. Using spatial history and document analysis, the Marching Girls are a case study to examine the complexity of assimilation as the policy was filtered through the Queensland government apparatus, to investigate the intersection between sport, gender and assimilation, and to explore how women's participation in extra‐curricular activities provides insights into the assimilation project at local, state and even national levels.
Narco‐Cattle Ranching in Political Forests
Authors: Devine Jennifer A. , Wrathall David , Currit Nate , Tellman Beth , Langarica Yunuen Reygadas
Published: November 2018

In Central America, drug traffickers are deforesting the region's remaining forests and protected areas through a process known asnarco‐ganadería, narco‐cattle ranching. Drawing on the case study of Laguna del Tigre National Park, this article argues that narco‐cattle ranching is a key driver of deforestation in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve. Using ethnographic and remote‐sensing methods, we describe narco‐cattle ranching's money‐laundering practices, its territorial dynamics, and its environmental impacts. We draw on theorisations of “political forests” to explain how drug trafficking organisations transform land use in the reserve, and along the way, remake its ecology, territories and subjects. Our work illustrates that drug policy is inextricably linked to conservation policy in the Americas. More specifically, we argue that community‐based resource management improves forest and protected area residents’ abilities to resist drug‐trafficking related land use change by strengthening local governance and land tenure regimes.
A novel power supply system for puborectalis‐like artificial anal sphincter
Authors: Zhou Zerun , Yan Guozheng , Wang Zhiwu , Wu Changjian , Hua Fangfang
Published: November 2018

Puborectalis‐like artificial anal sphincter (PAAS) is an innovative new type of artificial anal sphincter (AAS). It overcomes many drawbacks and inadequacies of various previous AASs, and it has successfully been implanted in vivo for almost 3 weeks. During in vivo testing, PAAS shows its ability to retain continence with low risk of ischemia necrosis, and somehow truly helps to remodel rectal perception. However, there are still many defects that influence the long‐term implantation of PAAS, especially in the power supply system (PSS). This article presents a new designed PSS which includes a new transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system, a heat reduction system, and a safety usage system. The new PSS reduces the total size of PAAS by at least 30%. Newly designed TET system can satisfy the Qi standard, and render a power of 3W to fulfill the requirement of fast charging and normal use of PAAS at the distance of 15.5 mm when frequency of TET system is 110 kHz, which previous TET systems can hardly achieve. Heat reduction system helps to reduce the heat generated during TET charging. It can reduce heat by 40% during the same period of time of TET charging. Safety usage system helps the user control PAAS more properly which can reduce the rate of failure of PAAS system.