bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge and Attitudes of Nurses Toward Pressure Injury Prevention
Authors: Barakat-Johnson Michelle , Barnett Catherine , Wand Timothy , White Kathryn
Published: May 2018

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses on pressure injury prevention and determine if there was a relationship between knowledge, attitude, and years of experience following an unexplained increase in reported hospital-acquired pressure injuries across 1 health district in Sydney, Australia.

DESIGN:

Multisite cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Registered and enrolled nurses working in acute, medical, and rehabilitation units in 4 hospitals and 5 community health centers across a local health district.

METHODS:

Using a modified version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and the Staff Attitude Scale, nurses were invited to complete the survey online or on paper.

RESULTS:

A total of 3123 surveys were distributed and 998 were returned yielding a response rate of 32%. Approximately one-third of nurse respondents who participated in the survey had been practicing for 5 to 10 years. Almost 80% of participants scored 33/47 or more (70% or more correct) on the knowledge survey; the mean score was 35.21. The mean score for the attitudes test was 44.43 ± 4.77, out of 55 (80.7%), indicating a positive attitude toward pressure injury prevention. There was a significant positive correlation between nurses' years of experience and attitudes, but there was no correlation between years of experience and knowledge. Knowledge and attitudes were also significantly positively correlated.

CONCLUSIONS:

Nurses had sound knowledge and held positive attitudes toward pressure injury prevention. Positive attitudes were associated with greater time spent in the workforce. Additional research is required to examine relationships between knowledge of and attitude toward pressure injury prevention and clinical practice. Further research is also needed to determine if improving knowledge and attitudes results in a sustained reduction of hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
Intraspecific Polymorphism for the Presence and Absence of Entire Mitochondrial Chromosomes
Authors: Wu Zhiqiang , Sloan Daniel B.
Published: May 2018

Although mitochondrial genomes are typically thought of as single circular molecules, these genomes are fragmented into multiple chromosomes in many eukaryotes, raising intriguing questions about inheritance and (in)stability of mtDNA in such systems. A previous comparison of mitochondrial genomes from two different individuals of the angiosperm speciesSilene noctiflorafound variation in the presence of entire mitochondrial chromosomes. Here, we expand on this work with a geographically diverse sampling of 25S. noctiflorapopulations. We also included the closely related speciesS. turkestanicaandS. undulata, with the latter exhibiting a surprising phylogenetic placement nested within the diversity ofS. noctifloramitochondrial haplotypes. Using a combination of deep sequencing and PCR-based screening for the presence of 22 different mitochondrial chromosomes, we found extensive variation in the complement of chromosomes across individuals. Much of this variation could be attributed to recent chromosome loss events. Despite the fragmented structures of these mitochondrial genomes and the evidence for occasional biparental inheritance in otherSilenespecies, we did not find any indication of recombination between distinct mitochondrial haplotypes either within or among mitochondrial chromosomes, which may reflect the extreme paucity of nucleotide sequence polymorphism and/or the high selfing rate in this species. These results suggest that the massively expanded and fragmented mitochondrial genomes ofS. noctifloramay have entered a phase of genome reduction in which they are losing entire chromosomes at a rapid rate.
SATurn: A modular bioinformatics framework for the design of robust maintainable web-based and standalone applications
Authors: Damerell David R. , Strain-Damerell Claire , Garsot Sefa , Joyce Stephen , Barrett Paul , Marsden Brian D.
Published: May 2018

SATurn is a modular, open-source, bioinformatics platform designed to specifically address the problems of maintenance and longevity commonly associated with the development of simple tools funded by academic research grants. Applications developed in SATurn can be deployed as web-based tools, standalone applications, or hybrid tools which have the benefits of both. Within the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) we have utilized SATurn to create a bioinformatics portal which routinely supports a diverse group of scientists including those interested in structural biology, cloning, glycobiology & chemicalbiology.

Supplementary information:
Inactivation ofPpp1r15aminimises weight gain and insulin resistance during caloric excess in mice
Authors: Patel Vruti , Bidault Guillaume , Chambers Joseph E. , Carobbio Stefania , Everden Angharad J. T. , Garcés Concepción , Dalton Lucy E. , Gribble Fiona M. , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Marciniak Stefan J.
Published: May 2018

Phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α within the mediobasal hypothalamus is known to suppress food intake, but the role of the eIF2α phosphatases in regulating body weight is poorly understood. Mice deficient in active PPP1R15A, a stress-inducible eIF2α phosphatase, are healthy and more resistant to endoplasmic reticulum stress than wild type controls. We report that whenPpp1r15amutant mice are fed a high fat diet they gain less weight than wild type littermates owing to reduced food intake. This results in healthy leanerPpp1r15amutant animals with reduced hepatic steatosis and improved insulin sensitivity, albeit with a modest defect in insulin secretion. By contrast, no weight differences are observed between wild type andPpp1r15adeficient mice fed a standard diet. We conclude that mice lacking the C-terminal PP1-binding domain of PPP1R15A show reduced dietary intake and preserved glucose tolerance. Our data indicate that this results in reduced weight gain and protection from diet-induced obesity.
SQuIRE: Software for Quantifying Interspersed Repeat Elements
Authors: Yang Wan R. , Ardeljan Daniel , Pacyna Clarissa N. , Payer Lindsay M. , Burns Kathleen H.
Published: May 2018

Transposable elements are interspersed repeat sequences that make up much of the human genome. Conventional approaches to RNA-seq analysis often exclude these sequences, fail to optimally adjudicate read alignments, or align reads to interspersed repeat consensus sequences without considering these transcripts in their genomic contexts. As a result, repetitive sequence contributions to transcriptomes are not well understood. Here, we present Software for Quantifying Interspersed Repeat Expression (SQuIRE), an RNA-seq analysis pipeline that integrates repeat and genome annotation (RepeatMasker), read alignment (STAR), gene expression (StringTie) and differential expression (DESeq2). SQuIRE uniquely provides a locus-specific picture of interspersed repeat-encoded RNA expression. SQuIRE can be downloaded at (github.com/wyang17/SQuIRE).
Intracellular absorption underlies collective bacterial tolerance towards an antimicrobial peptide
Authors: Wu Fan , Tan Cheemeng
Published: May 2018

The collective tolerance towards antimicrobial peptides (APs) is thought to occur primarily through mechanisms associated with live bacterial cells. In contrast to the focus on live cells, we discover that the LL37 antimicrobial peptide kills Escherichia coli, forming a subpopulation of dead cells that absorbs the remaining LL37 into its intracellular space. Combining mathematical modeling with population and single-cell experiments, we show that bacteria absorb LL37 at a timing that coincides with the permeabilization of their cytoplasmic membranes. Furthermore, we show that one bacterial strain can absorb LL37 and protect another strain from killing by LL37. Finally, we demonstrate that the intracellular absorption of LL37 can be reduced using a peptide adjuvant. In contrast to the existing collective tolerance mechanisms, we show that the dead-bacterial absorption of APs is a dynamic process that leads to emergent population behavior, and the work suggests new directions to enhance the efficacy of APs.
crisprQTL mapping as a genome-wide association framework for cellular genetic screens
Authors: Gasperini Molly , Hill Andrew J. , McFaline-Figueroa José L. , Martin Beth , Trapnell Cole , Ahituv Nadav , Shendure Jay
Published: May 2018

Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are powerful paradigms for mapping the determinants of gene expression and organismal phenotypes, respectively. However, eQTL mapping and GWAS are limited in scope (to naturally occurring, common genetic variants) and resolution (by linkage disequilibrium). Here, we present crisprQTL mapping, a framework in which large numbers of CRISPR/Cas9 perturbations are introduced to each cell on an isogenic background, followed by single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq). crisprQTL mapping is analogous to conventional human eQTL studies, but with individual humans replaced by individual cells; genetic variants replaced by unique combinations of ‘unlinked’ guide RNA (gRNA)-programmed perturbations per cell; and tissue-level RNA-seq of many individuals replaced by scRNA-seq of many cells. By randomly introducing gRNAs, a single population of cells can be leveraged to test for association between each perturbation and the expression of any potential target gene, analogous to how eQTL studies leverage populations of humans to test millions of genetic variants for associations with expression in a genome-wide manner. However, crisprQTL mapping is neither limited to naturally occurring, common genetic variants nor by linkage disequilibrium. As a proof-of-concept, we applied crisprQTL mapping to evaluate 1,119 candidate enhancers with no strong a priori hypothesis as to their target gene(s). Perturbations were made by a nuclease-dead Cas9 (dCas9) tethered to KRAB, and introduced at a mean ‘allele frequency’ of 1.1% into a population of 47,650 profiled human K562 cells (median of 15 gRNAs identified per cell). We tested for differential expression of all genes within 1 megabase (Mb) of each candidate enhancer, effectively evaluating 17,584 potential enhancer-target gene relationships within a single experiment. At an empirical false discovery rate (FDR) of 10%, we identify 128 cis crisprQTLs (11%) whose targeting resulted in downregulation of 105 nearby genes. crisprQTLs were strongly enriched for proximity to their target genes (median 34.3 kilobases (Kb)) and the strength of H3K27ac, p300, and lineage-specific transcription factor (TF) ChIP-seq peaks. Our results establish the power of the eQTL mapping paradigm as applied to programmed variation in populations of cells, rather than natural variation in populations of individuals. We anticipate that crisprQTL mapping will facilitate the comprehensive elucidation of the cis-regulatory architecture of the human genome.
Lysyl oxidase inhibition drives the transdifferentiation from lung adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma in mice
Authors: Yao Shun , Han Xiangkun , Tong Xinyuan , Li Fuming , Qin Zhen , Huang Hsin-Yi , Hongbin Ji
Published: May 2018

LKB1is frequently mutated in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) andLkb1deletion in mice triggered the lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transdifferentiation (AST) through lysyl oxidase (LOX)-dependent extracellular matrix remodeling. Here we show that pharmacological inhibition of lysyl oxidase inKrasG12D/Trp53L/Lmouse model, which is known to produce lung ADC only, triggers the ADC-to-SCC transdifferentiation independent ofLKB1status. Treatments of two different inhibitors of lysyl oxidase decrease collagen deposition and promote redox accumulation, and eventually trigger the AST. Importantly, these transited SCC show strong resistance to lysyl oxidase inhibition in stark contrast to ADC. Collectively, these findings establish a new AST mouse model independent ofLKB1inactivation status.
Choline monooxygenase transcript expression triggers glycine betaine accumulation in Suaeda maritima when subjected to a salt concentration optimal for its growth
Authors: Kuttan Sindhu , Sankararamasubramanian H.M. , Parida Ajay Kumar
Published: May 2018

Suaeda maritima(L.) Dumort, an annual halophyte known to be a salt-accumulator is also known for the accumulation of the osmolyte, glycine betaine (GB). This study is an attempt to understand the growth and GB accumulation under optimal concentration of 200 mM NaCl in S. maritima. Salt treatment with 200 mM NaCl showed a significant increase in shoot growth after two weeks. The shoots appeared succulent and turgid after two weeks of salt treatment compared to that of the control which appeared slender and wilted. The treated seedlings also exhibited a significant increase in GB content after two weeks of salt treatment. In order to determine the molecular basis of GB accumulation, qRT PCR of three key genes involved in the pathway, choline monooxygenase, betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase and phospho-ethanolamine N-methyl transferase was performed. Transcript level expression of the three genes revealed a high up-regulation of choline monooxygeanse transcripts when compared to that of the other two transcripts at two days of salt treatment. The results indicate that S. maritima requires salt for its growth and is a natural accumulator of GB. Although all the three genes were salt inducible, the high up-regulation of choline monooxygenase greatly contributes to the accumulation of GB under optimal growth as well as NaCl concentration.

Abbreviations

BADH

betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase

CMO

choline monooxygenase

GB

glycine betaine

PEAMT

phosphoethanolamine N-methyl transferase
Novel antimicrobial peptide discovery using machine learning and biophysical selection of minimal bacteriocin domains
Authors: Fields Francisco R. , Freed Stephan D. , Carothers Katelyn E. , Hamid Md Nafiz , Hammers Daniel E. , Ross Jessica N. , Kalwajtys Veronica R. , Gonzalez Alejandro J. , Hildreth Andrew D. , Friedberg Iddo , Lee Shaun W.
Published: May 2018

Bacteriocins are ribosomally produced antimicrobial peptides that represent an untapped source of promising antibiotic alternatives. However, inherent challenges in isolation and identification of natural bacteriocins in substantial yield have limited their potential use as viable antimicrobial compounds. In this study, we have developed an overall pipeline for bacteriocin-derived compound design and testing that combines sequence-free prediction of bacteriocins using a machine-learning algorithm and a simple biophysical trait filter to generate minimal 20 amino acid peptide candidates that can be readily synthesized and evaluated for activity. We generated 28,895 total 20-mer peptides and scored them for charge, α-helicity, and hydrophobic moment, allowing us to identify putative peptide sequences with the highest potential for interaction and activity against bacterial membranes. Of those, we selected sixteen sequences for synthesis and further study, and evaluated their antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, and hemolytic activities. We show that bacteriocin-based peptides with the overall highest scores for our biophysical parameters exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Our combined method incorporates machine learning and biophysical-based minimal region determination, to create an original approach to rapidly discover novel bacteriocin candidates amenable to rapid synthesis and evaluation for therapeutic use.
Use of selenocysteine, the 21st amino acid, in the fungal kingdom
Authors: Mariotti Marco , Salinas Gustavo , Gabaldón Toni , Gladyshev Vadim N.
Published: May 2018

Selenoproteins are a diverse class of proteins containing selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid, incorporated into proteins during translation through a unique recoding mechanism. Selenoproteins fulfil essential roles in several lineages, including vertebrates; yet, they are not ubiquitous across the tree of life. In particular, the fungal kingdom was thought to lack selenoproteins, a paradigm that we defy here. We show that the genetic machinery for Sec utilization is present in the genomes of five species belonging to diverse early-branching fungal phyla (Chytridiomycota, Zoopagomycota, and Mucoromycota). We identified several selenoprotein genes in each of these genomes, and we detected canonical Sec insertion RNA structures (SECIS elements) for some of them. The identified selenoproteins are known or predicted oxidoreductases, some of which are conserved in mammals. Phylogenetic analyses support a scenario of vertical inheritance of the Sec trait within eukaryotes and fungi. Sec was then lost in numerous independent events in various fungal lineages, even within Sec-containing phyla. Notably, Sec was lost at the base of Dikarya, resulting in the absence of this trait in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other well studied fungi. Our results indicate that, despite scattered occurrence, selenoproteins are found in all kingdoms of life.
ATTENTION! The following preprint should no longer be cited as the manuscript and data in their present form are no longer valid!
Authors: Brunner Nikolaus , Groeger Stephan , Canelas Raposo Joao , Bruckmaier Rupert M. , Gross Josef J.
Published: May 2018

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) and periparturient diseases considerably account for economic and welfare losses in dairy cows. The majority of scientific reports investigating the prevalence of SCK and production diseases are based on empirical studies conducted in Western Europe and North America. The present study surveyed the prevalence of SCK and production-related clinical diseases in early lactating cows in various countries across the world other than those in North America and Western Europe. Twelve countries of South and Central America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico), Africa (South Africa), Asia (Thailand, China), Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine), Australia and New Zealand were assessed, and data from a total of 8,902 cows kept at 541 commercial dairy farms were obtained. A minimum of 5 cows per farm were blood sampled and examined once after parturition up to day 21 of lactation. Blood concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was measured (threshold for SCK: 1.2 mmol/l) and the presence of production-related diseases such as milk fever, retained placenta, mastitis, metritis, displaced abomasum, claw disease and clinical ketosis was recorded. More than 95% of all cows were examined in their second week of lactation. Across all investigated countries, the SCK prevalence was 24.1%, ranging from 8.3% up to 40.1%. The prevalence of production-related diseases detected during the first 21 days of lactation was relatively low (< 5%). Calculated odds ratios did not indicate an elevated risk for production diseases in cows with SCK. Despite differences in production systems across countries and variation between individual farms within a region, the present study data on SCK prevalence align with observations in Western European and North American dairy herds. At the very early stage of sampling and clinical examination for detection of SCK, it cannot be excluded that certain production diseases such as DA, lameness and mastitis have developed later.
First person experience of threat modulates cortical network encoding human peripersonal space
Authors: de Borst A.W. , Sanchez-Vives M.V. , Slater M. , de Gelder B.
Published: May 2018

Peripersonal space is the area directly surrounding the body, which supports object manipulation and social interaction, but is also critical for threat detection. In the monkey, ventral premotor and intraparietal cortex support initiation of defensive behavior. However, the brain network that underlies threat detection in human peripersonal space still awaits investigation. We combined fMRI measurements with a preceding virtual reality training from either first or third person perspective to manipulate whether approaching human threat was perceived as directed to oneself or another. We found that first person perspective increased body ownership and identification with the virtual victim. When threat was perceived as directed towards oneself, synchronization of brain activity in the human peripersonal brain network was enhanced and connectivity increased from premotor and intraparietal cortex towards superior parietal lobe. When this threat was nearby, synchronization also occurred in emotion-processing regions. Priming with third person perspective reduced synchronization of brain activity in the peripersonal space network and increased top-down modulation of visual areas. In conclusion, our results showed that after first person perspective training peripersonal space is remapped to the virtual victim, thereby causing the fronto-parietal network to predict intrusive actions towards the body and emotion-processing regions to signal nearby threat.
The metabolic redox regime ofPseudomonas putidatunes its evolvability towards novel xenobiotic substrates
Authors: Akkaya Özlem , Pérez-Pantoja Danilo R. , Calles Belén , Nikel Pablo I. , de Lorenzo Victor
Published: May 2018

During evolution of biodegradation pathways for xenobiotic compounds, the transition towards novel substrates of Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases borne by environmental bacteria is frequently associated with faulty reactions. Such reactions release reactive oxygen species (ROS), endowed with high mutagenic potential. The present work studies how the operation of a given metabolic network by a bacterial host may either foster or curtail the still-evolving biochemical pathway for catabolism of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT). To this end, the genetically tractable strainPseudomonas putidaEM173 was chromosomally implanted with a Tn7 construct carrying the whole genetic complement (recruited from the environmental isolateBurkholderiasp. R34) necessary for complete biodegradation of 2,4-DNT. By using reporter technology and direct measurements of ROS formation, we observed that the engineeredP. putidastrain experienced oxidative stress when catabolizing the nitroaromatic substrate. However, ROS was neither translated into significant activation of the SOS response to DNA damage nor resulted in a mutagenic regime (unlikeBurkholderiasp. R34, the original host of the pathway). To inspect whether the tolerance ofP. putidato oxidative insults could be traced to its characteristic reductive redox regime, we artificially lowered the pool of NAD(P)H by conditional expression of a water forming, NADH-specific oxidase. Under the resulting low-NAD(P)H status, 2,4-DNT triggered a conspicuous mutagenic and genomic diversification scenario. These results indicate that the background biochemical network of environmental bacteria ultimately determines the evolvability of metabolic pathways. Moreover, the data explains the efficacy of some bacteria such as Pseudomonads to host and evolve new catabolic routes.

IMPORTANCE

Some environmental bacteria evolve new capacities for aerobic biodegradation of chemical pollutants by adapting pre-existing redox reactions to recently faced compounds. The process typically starts by co-option of enzymes of an available route to act on the chemical structure of the substrates-to-be. The critical bottleneck is generally the first biochemical step and most of the selective pressure operates on reshaping the initial reaction. In Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases, the interim uncoupling of the novel substrate to the old enzymes results in production of highly mutagenic ROS. In this work, we demonstrate that the background metabolic regime of the bacterium that hosts an evolving catabolic pathway (e.g. biodegradation of the xenobiotic 2,4-DNT) determines whether the cells would either adopt a genetic diversification regime or a robust ROS-tolerant state. These results expose new perspectives to contemporary attempts for rational assembly of whole-cell biocatalysts, as pursued by present-day metabolic engineering.
Exact analytical solution of the extensible freely jointed chain model
Authors: Fiasconaro Alessandro , Falo Fernando
Published: May 2018

Based on classical statistical mechanics, we calculate analytically the length extension under a pulling force of a polymer modeled as a freely jointed chain with extensible bonds, the latter being considered as harmonic springs. We obtain an exact formula for the extension curve, as well as an independent high force approximation. These formulas can reproduce with high precision the experimental extension/force curves also at low values of the elastic constant of the spring, where previous proposals differ substantially. We successfully validate the analytical results together with the phenomenological expressions used in the literature by analyzing the precision of their fit on data obtained from Langevin simulations.
The effect of supervised work experience on the acquisition of employability skills among Malaysian students
Authors: Kamaliah Sharifah , Roslan Samsilah , Bakar Ab Rahim , Ghiami Zeinab
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The vocational education and training (VET) system needs a future change in order to be more accountable to employers (and their associations) for training outcomes that match employer expectations. As part of this, an important focus is employability skills that go beyond work-related technical and interpersonal skills to include employer-preferred values, attitudes and personality dimensions. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of supervised work experiences (SWEs), among other factors, on undergraduate vocational trainees’ acquisition of employability skills.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 138 respondents ranging in age from 17 to 24 years who successfully completed their two years program awarded with Malaysian Skill Certificate were included. They were divided into two sub-populations, trainees participating and trainees not participating in the SWE. Descriptive analysis, Correlation and ANCOVA were applied for data analysis.

Findings

The results showed that participating students achieved a moderately higher level of employability skills compared to students not participating in the SWE. The findings also revealed other factors contributing to the acquisition of employability skills, including gender, age, work experience, self-concept and achievement motivation. However, achievement motivation was found to be significantly related to the acquisition of employability skills. Therefore, participation of vocational trainees in the SWE influences the acquisition of employability skills which are identified as career success skills and could facilitate youth in transition from school to work.

Research limitations/implications

Although the research has reached the aims, there were a few limitations which may effect on generalization of the findings. Because of the limit access to students from all majors in vocational training, this study focused on six types of skills. In addition, the number of participants from different courses was not equal.

Practical implications

The research findings also imply several practical implications. First, based on the finding, it can be suggested that industries provide students’ vocational training under supervision of expert in their course area in order to enrich the level of trainees’ acquisition of employability skills. Second, referring to the finding, focusing on the key aspects of employability skills, industries can improve the trainees learning process and producing workers with abilities to allow them to interact with job duties in the organization of workplace.

Originality/value

This study can serve as a model for evaluation when implementing school to work programs.
Human capital and labor: the effect of entrepreneur characteristics on venture success
Authors: Lee Byungku
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a unique perspective on the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work for the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture success. To this end, this study examined whether entrepreneurs with high human capital work harder than entrepreneurs with low human capital, the effect of entrepreneurs’ hard work on venture performance, and whether entrepreneurs’ hard work mediates the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In this explorative study, the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work as a mediator that transfers entrepreneur human capital into venture success was examined in a sample of 2,648 single-founder startups in the USA and 21,184 observations during the period of 2004-2011.

Findings

The effect of entrepreneurs’ industry experience on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly positive, while the effect of entrepreneurs’ general education on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly negative. Moreover, entrepreneurs’ hard work was a significant predictor of venture success. Finally, the results showed that entrepreneurs’ hard work partially mediates the positive relationship between entrepreneurs’ industry experience and venture success.

Originality/value

On one hand, the link between human capital and firm performance has been studied thoroughly and findings so far support the positive link between them. On the other hand, there has been continuous criticism that human capital gained much of its attention at the expense of human labor. There is a paucity of research, however, that investigating the dynamics of the relationships between human capital and human labor. This study provides an empirical explanation of such dynamics of the relationships of human characteristics in the context of entrepreneurship.
Site specific assessment of wind characteristics and determination of wind loads effects on wind turbine components and energy generation
Authors: Wei Jiang , Hulio Zahid Hussain , Rashid Haroon
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze wind characteristics and their effects on wind turbine components and energy generation at the candidate site.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology covered the detailed investigation of wind characteristics using Weibullkandcparameters and standard deviation at 30 m above the ground level (AGL). The wind shear coefficient and air density were also studied. The weight model was developed to determine the effects on wind turbine components and energy generation. At last, an economic assessment was carried out to determine the pre- and post-effects of the weight model on the cost of energy per kilowatt-hour.

Findings

The mean standard deviation, Weibullkparameter and Weibullcparameter were found to be 2.157, 2.617 and 6.087 m/s, respectively, at 30 m for a period of a year. The mean wind shear coefficient was found to be 0.176 for a year. The calculated results showed that site-specific midrange and amplitude force were 40.95 per cent and 37.75 per cent on wind turbine mechanical components, respectively. The average rise in force and drop in energy was found to be 35.50 per cent and 47.55 per cent, respectively. The lift coefficient, drag coefficient and pitching moment considering values (a, 0.1 and 0.2) showed an increase in force on wind turbine components that resulted in a drop in energy. The cost assessment results showed that the cost of energy was increased from US$0.032/kWh to 0.0466/kWh for wind turbineA.

Practical implications

An accurate determination of the weight factor is necessary for near-reality assessment of wind energy yield and rise of force on the wind turbine. The results paved the way for site-specific design optimization of wind turbines.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the site-specific wind characteristic-based weight model to determine the effects of wind loads on wind turbine components and energy generation and compared with the specified design standard. The lift coefficient, drag coefficient and pitching moment coefficient show a rise in the force while considering the weight factor values. The results show that the site has the potential to generate energy at the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour, but it needs wind turbine design adjustments according to site-specific wind characteristics. If site-specific wind characteristics are considered, it would lead to maximum energy generation and high reliability of wind turbine components.
Winery website loyalty: the role of sales promotion and service attributes
Authors: Pelet Jean-Eric , Lecat Benoît , Khan Jashim , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn , Lee Linda W. , Ellis Debbie , Wolf Marianne McGarry , Kavoura Androniki , Katsoni Vicky , Wegmann Anne Lena
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between feelings toward buying wine on mobile phones and m-commerce website loyalty by examining the mediating role of sales promotion and the moderating role of service attributes of the m-commerce websites in influencing the mediation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 3,318 completed surveys were collected. Drawing on a large non-probability criterion-based purposive sample across six countries (France, Germany, Greece, South Africa, USA and Canada), mediation analysis was performed to examine the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Results show that sales promotion mediates the relationship between feelings toward buying wine on mobile phones and m-commerce website loyalty. Moderated mediation reveals that the indirect pathways (sales promotion) through which feelings toward buying wine over mobile exert its effect on m-commerce website loyalty are dependent on the value of service (wine delivery) attributes of the website. The results demonstrate that sales promotion and service are of paramount importance to wineries and wine marketers.

Research limitations/implications

Wine producers and retailers should consider the use of sales promotion to enhance sales and loyalty to m-commerce websites.

Practical implications

Wine producers and retailers should consider use sales promotion (such as SMS or push notifications) to enhance sales and influence consumer feelings and hence their loyalty.

Originality/value

Wine m-commerce studies are limited, especially with an international perspective comparing six different countries: three from the old world (France, Germany and Greece) and three from the new world (North America with USA and Canada; and South Africa). Altogether, these six countries represent around 40 per cent of the world’s wine consumption.
The effects of online trust-building mechanisms on trust and repurchase intentions
Authors: Liu Yi , Tang Xinlin
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the current literature on trust-building mechanisms in e-commerce and provide a comprehensive view of how the perceived usefulness of three types of online trust-building mechanisms affects trust in the e-seller and trust in the e-marketplace, which, in turn, shape the customer repurchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 193 eBay customers to test the proposed research model.

Findings

The study found that the perceived usefulness of seller-based mechanism affects both trust in the e-marketplace and trust in the e-seller. Meanwhile, the perceived usefulness of experience-based mechanism only influences trust in the e-seller and the perceived usefulness of institution-based mechanism (IBM) only affects trust in the e-marketplace. Furthermore, this study found that trust in the e-marketplace can substitute for the effect of trust in the e-seller on customer repurchase intentions.

Practical implications

In an e-marketplace like eBay that does not involve much in the transaction process, e-sellers should invest more resources in building attractive and informative websites about their products and organizations. Moreover, e-marketplace owners should provide guidelines and enforce policies to improve the perceived usefulness of an IBM to increase an e-marketplace’s credibility. While such e-marketplace credibility does not affect customer repurchase intentions directly, it reduces customer concerns about individual e-sellers, which makes it easier for e-sellers to retain customers.

Originality/value

This study delineates how the perceived usefulness of three types of online trust-building mechanisms imposes different effects on trust in the e-marketplace and trust in the e-seller. Moreover, this study reveals the intertwined relationship between trust in the e-marketplace and trust in the e-seller that is different from extant studies conducted in marketplaces like Amazon.
Governance for intelligent organizations: a cybernetic contribution
Authors: Schwaninger Markus
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to revisit the viable system model (VSM) discussing it from both the theoretical and the empirical standpoints, and ascertaining its relevance for organizational governance.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of theoretical and empirical components is used: introduction to theory and critique on the one hand; case studies and a large sample empirical study on the other.

Findings

The VSM has proved to be a powerful means of governance for organizations in turbulent times. It conveys a durable, reliable knowledge. This has been corroborated in both case studies and a large-scale empirical study.

Practical implications

Application of the model under study can activate a huge potential for the improvement of organizations.

Originality/value

This contribution tests the VSM in an unseen fashion – qualitatively and quantitatively. The results suggest that a high confidence in the model is justified. It conveys to managers and leaders an unconventional, superior approach to both diagnosis and design of their organizations.
Academia and the World Brain
Authors: Bula German Ulises , González Sebastián Alejandro
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the role of academia in broader society. What is academia’s role beyond being a business and providing qualified professionals to other businesses? What kind of organization and ethos is consistent with academia’s proper role in society, considered as a higher-order cognitive system?

Design/methodology/approach

Society as a whole is modeled as a viable system, with subsystems dedicated to self-production in the here and now (systems 1-3) and subsystems engaged in exploring the outside and future of the system and in consolidating an identity and an ethos (systems 4 and 5). The role, ethos and proper organization of academia are derived from this model and from cybernetic considerations on the proper architecture of system 4 and system 5 cognitive systems.

Findings

To fulfill its role as part of society’s system 4 and system 5, academia must include areas that are sometimes considered redundant or an expensive luxury, such as the humanities or basic research. The humanities must strive to catalyze broad community participation as part of their contribution to system 5 and must strive to produce bridge languages between communities and disciplines to increase the connectivity of the World Brain. The publish-or-perish ethos of academia must be replaced by an erotic spirituality, understood as desire for otherness.

Originality/value

This paper integrates broad philosophical considerations on the role of academia with the use of cybernetic models of viable systems and of distributed cognition, yielding practical guidelines for the organization of academia.
Entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance: the mediating role of functional performances
Authors: Rezaei Jafar , Ortt Roland
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Earlier studies have generally shown a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and the overall performance of the firm. The purpose of this paper is to understand in more detail how EO influences firm performance. It adds to the literature by distinguishing performances of different functions in a firm and by exploring how the dimensions of EO influence these functional performances and, in turn, overall firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined the relationship between three dimensions of EO (innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking), three types of functional performances of firms (R&D performance, production performance, marketing and sales performance) and the overall performance of firms. The data are collected from 279 high-tech small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using a postal survey. The proposed hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results indicate that the dimensions of (EO) are related in different ways to the performance of functions in a firm. A positive relationship is observed between innovativeness and R&D performance and between proactiveness and marketing and sales performance. A negative relationship exists between risk-taking and production performance. The results also show a sequential positive relationship from R&D via production and marketing and sales to overall performance of firms. Therefore, it is concluded that the R&D, production and marketing and sales functions reinforce each other in a logic order and are complementary in their effect on overall firm performance.

Practical implications

The results imply that the three functions, R&D, production and marketing and sales, in a firm play different roles, both in the firm’s EO and in their contribution to overall performance. Managers can use the findings to monitor and influence the performance of different functions in a firm to increase overall firm performance.

Originality/value

The first contribution of this study is that it unravels (i) which dimensions of EO have an effect on the performance of separate functions in a firm, indicating that functions contribute in different ways to entrepreneurial orientation of the firm. A second contribution is assessing how the performance of these functions influence the firm’s overall performance. This paper fills a gap in the literature by exploring internal firm variables mediating the relationship between EO and overall firm performance and contributes to the discussion on the contradictory results regarding the relationship between risk-taking and firm performance.
Tenure Security and Farm Efficiency Analysis Correcting for Biases from Observed and Unobserved Variables: Evidence from Benin
Authors: Lawin Kotchikpa G. , Tamini Lota D.
Published: May 2018

We analyse the impact of land tenure security on the technical efficiency of a sample of smallholder farmers in Benin, based on an output‐oriented stochastic distance function. We use propensity score matching to correct for selection bias from observed variables. The Greene () sample selection model is used to correct for selection bias due to unobserved variables. We estimate meta‐frontiers to analyse agricultural productivity and efficiency differences between landowners and non‐owners. Our results show that non‐owners have consistently higher levels of technical efficiency and productivity.
Role of long non‐coding RNA in drug resistance in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Leirong , Ma Leina , Xu Fei , Zhai Wenxin , Dong Shenghua , Yin Ling , Liu Jia , Yu Zhuang
Published: May 2018

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐associated death, and non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases. Many drugs have been used to treat NSCLC in order to improve patient prognosis. Platinum‐based chemotherapy is the first‐line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic patients. For patients with activating EGFR mutations, tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the best treatment choice. NSCLC initially exhibits an excellent response to treatment; however, acquired resistance has been observed in many patients, leading to ineffective treatment. Clinical resistance is an impediment in the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. Many sequencing technologies have shown that long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) is expressed differently between drug‐resistant and drug‐sensitive lung cancer cells. We review the literature on lncRNA in drug resistance of NSCLC. The aim of this review is to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance, mainly focusing on the role of lncRNA in NSCLC.
Extracellular vesicles generated by placental tissues ex vivo: A transport system for immune mediators and growth factors
Authors: Fitzgerald Wendy , Gomez‐Lopez Nardhy , Erez Offer , Romero Roberto , Margolis Leonid
Published: May 2018

Problem

To study the mechanisms of placenta function and the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in pregnancy, it is necessary to develop an ex vivo system that retains placental cytoarchitecture and the primary metabolic aspects, in particular the release of EVs and soluble factors. Here, we developed such a system and investigated the pattern of secretion of cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles by placental villous and amnion tissues ex vivo.

Methods of Study

Placental villous and amnion explants were cultured for 2 weeks at the air/liquid interface and their morphology and the released cytokines and EVs were analyzed. Cytokines were analyzed with multiplexed bead assays, and individual EVs were analyzed with recently developed techniques that involved EV capture with magnetic nanoparticles coupled to anti‐EV antibodies and flow cytometry.

Results

Ex vivo tissues (i) remained viable and preserved their cytoarchitecture; (ii) maintained secretion of cytokines and growth factors; (iii) released EVs of syncytiotrophoblast and amnion epithelial cell origins that contain cytokines and growth factors.

Conclusion

A system of ex vivo placental villous and amnion tissues can be used as an adequate model to study placenta metabolic activity in normal and complicated pregnancies, in particular to characterize EVs by their surface markers and by encapsulated proteins. Establishment and benchmarking the placenta ex vivo system may provide new insight in the functional status of this organ in various placental disorders, particularly regarding the release of EVs and cytokines. Such EVs may have a prognostic value for pregnancy complications.
PregOMICS—Leveraging systems biology and bioinformatics for drug repurposing in maternal‐child health
Authors: Goldstein Jeffery A. , Bastarache Lisa A. , Denny Joshua C. , Pulley Jill M. , Aronoff David M.
Published: May 2018

Obstetric diseases remain underserved and understudied. Drug repurposing—utilization of a drug whose use is accepted in one condition for a different condition—could represent a rapid and low‐cost way to identify new therapies that are known to be safe. In diseases of pregnancy, the known safety profile is a strong additional incentive. We describe the techniques and steps used in the use of ‘omics data for drug repurposing. We illustrate these techniques using case studies of published drug repurposing projects. We provide a set of available databases with low barriers to entry which investigators can use to perform their own projects. The promise of ‘omics techniques is unbiased screening, either of all drug targets or of all patients using particular drugs to find which are likely to alter disease risk or progression. However, we caution that reproducibility across the underlying studies, and thus the drugs suggested for repurposing, can be poor. We suggest that improved nosology, for example correlating patient clinical conditions with placental pathology, could yield more robust associations. We conclude that ‘omics‐driven drug repurposing represents a potential fruitful path to discover new, safe treatments of obstetric diseases.