bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serial dependence transfers between perceptual objects
Authors: Huffman Greg , Pratt Jay , Honey Christopher J.
Published: July 2017

Judgments of the present visual world are affected by what came before. When judgments of visual properties such as orientation are biased in the direction of preceding stimuli, this is called visual serial dependence. Visual serial dependence is thought to arise from mechanisms that support perceptual continuity: because physical properties of an object usually vary smoothly in time, perception might be accurately stabilized by smoothing the perceived features in time. However, mechanisms that support perceptual continuity should be object-specific, because the orientation of one object is more related to its own past than to the past of a distinct object. Thus, we tested the perceptual continuity explanation by comparing the magnitude of serial dependence between objects and within objects. Across three experiments, we manipulated objecthood by varying the color, the location, and both the color and the location of Gabor patches. We observed a serial dependence effect in every experiment but did not observe an effect of objecthood in any experiment. We further observed serial dependence even when the orientations of two successive stimuli were nearly orthogonal. These data are inconsistent with explanations of serial dependence based on visual continuity. We hypothesize that serial dependence arises from a combination of perceptual features and internal response variables, which interact within a common task or decisional context.
Analysis of Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Data using Integrative Data Analysis Platform: 1. Data Processing, Fitting, and Model Selection
Authors: Kovrigin Evgenii L.
Published: July 2017

This manuscript describes a workflow for analysis of transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy data using Integrative Data Analysis Platforms (IDAP) software package. Time-dependent spectral series are analyzed through evaluation of the isosbestic point and kinetics of excited state and ground-state bleach decays. Model fitting and selection based on Akaike’s Information Criterion is discussed. As a practical example, we analyze excitation decays of a common protein label, Alexa Fluor 647.
ssbio: A Python Framework for Structural Systems Biology
Authors: Mih Nathan , Brunk Elizabeth , Chen Ke , Catoiu Edward , Sastry Anand , Kavvas Erol , Monk Jonathan M. , Zhang Zhen , Palsson Bernhard O.
Published: July 2017

Working with protein structures at the genome-scale has been challenging in a variety of ways. Here, we presentssbio, a Python package that provides a framework to easily work with structural information in the context of genome-scale network reconstructions, which can contain thousands of individual proteins. Thessbiopackage provides an automated pipeline to construct high quality genome-scale models with protein structures (GEM-PROs), wrappers to popular third-party programs to compute associated protein properties, and methods to visualize and annotate structures directly in Jupyter notebooks, thus lowering the barrier of linking 3D structural data with established systems workflows.

Availability and Implementation

ssbiois implemented in Python and available to download under the MIT license athttp://github.com/SBRG/ssbio. Documentation and Jupyter notebook tutorials are available athttp://ssbio.readthedocs.io/en/latest/. Interactive notebooks can be launched using Binder athttps://mybinder.org/v2/gh/SBRG/ssbio/master?filepath=Binder.ipynb.

Contact

nmih@ucsd.edu

Supplementary Information

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
Pseudopaline, a staphylopine-like metallophore involved in zinc and nickel uptake inPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Lhospice Sébastien , Gomez Nicolas Oswaldo , Ouerdane Laurent , Brutesco Catherine , Ghssein Ghassan , Hajjar Christine , Liratni Ahmed , Wang Shuanglong , Richaud Pierre , Bleves Sophie , Ball Geneviève , Borezée-Durant Elise , Lobinski Ryszard , Pignol David , Arnoux Pascal , Voulhoux Romé
Published: July 2017

Metal uptake is vital for all living organisms. In metal scarce conditions, a common bacterial strategy consists in the biosynthesis of metallophores, their export in the extracellular medium and the recovery of a metal-metallophore complex through dedicated membrane transporters. Staphylopine is a recently described metallophore distantly related to plant nicotianamine that contributes to the broad-spectrum metal uptake capabilities ofStaphylococcus aureus. Here, we characterize a four genes operon (PA4837–PA4834) inPseudomonas aeruginosainvolved in the biosynthesis and trafficking of a staphylopine-like metallophore named pseudopaline. Pseudopaline differs from staphylopine with regard to the stereochemistry of its histidine moiety associated to an alpha ketoglutarate moiety instead of pyruvate.In vivo, the pseudopaline operon is regulated by zinc through the Zur repressor. The metal-uptake property of the pseudopaline system appears different from that of staphylopine with a predominant effect on nickel uptake, and on zinc uptake in metal scarce conditions mimicking a chelating environment, thus reconciling the regulation of thecntoperon by zinc with its function as a zinc importer under metal scarce conditions.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Zinc is an essential micronutrients for bacteria, particularly important at the host-pathogen interface where the host tends to sequester metals in a so called nutritional immunity framework, and the pathogenic bacterium increases its metal uptake efforts in order to keep up with its metal requirements. Here we reveal a novel metallophore, named pseudopaline, which is synthesized and exported byPseudomonas aeruginosaand serves for the uptake of nickel in metal poor media, and for the uptake of zinc in metal scarce conditions that mimic the chelating environment that presumably prevails within a host.
Extent of adaptation is not limited by unpredictability of the environment in laboratory populations ofEscherichia coli
Authors: Karve Shraddha , Bhave Devika , Dey Sutirth
Published: July 2017

Environmental variability is on the rise in different parts of the earth and the survival of many species depend on how well they cope with these fluctuations. Our current understanding of how organisms adapt to unpredictably fluctuating environments is almost entirely based on studies that investigate fluctuations among different values of a single environmental stressor like temperature or pH. However, in nature multiple stresses often exist simultaneously. How would unpredictability in environmental fluctuations affect adaptation under such a scenario? To answer this question, we subjected laboratory populations ofEscherichia colito selection over ~260 generations. The populations faced predictable and unpredictable environmental fluctuations across qualitatively different selection environments, namely, salt and acidic pH. We show that predictability of environmental fluctuations does not play a role in determining the extent of adaptation. Interestingly, the extent of ancestral adaptation, to the chosen selection environments, is of key importance. Integrating the insights from two previous studies, our results suggest that it is the simultaneous presence of multiple environmental factors that poses a bigger constraint on extent of adaptation, rather than unpredictability of the fluctuations.
The Influence of Pesticide Use on Amphibian Chytrid Fungal Infections Varies with Host Life Stage
Authors: Rumschlag Samantha L. , Rohr Jason R.
Published: July 2017

Aim

Pesticides are widespread and may alter host-pathogen interactions, ultimately influencing pathogen distributions across landscapes. Previous laboratory research supports two hypotheses regarding the effects of pesticides on interactions between amphibians and the predominately aquatic fungal pathogenBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Bd): 1) pesticides can be directly toxic to Bd reducing infection risk of aquatic larval amphibians, and 2) exposure to pesticides at formative stages of amphibian development can have long-term consequences on defenses, increasing disease risk after metamorphosis. It remains equivocal whether these laboratory patterns are consistent across amphibian species and occur in the field across broad spatial scales. The aim of this research is to address this research gap on the impact of pesticides on Bd distributions.

Location

Contiguous United States.

Time Period

1998-2009.

Major Taxa Studied

Amphibian hosts and Bd.

Methods

Our data included 3,946 individuals evaluated for Bd infection across 49 amphibian species, at 126 locations, which resulted in 199 estimates of Bd prevalence in populations. We used species distribution models and multimodel inference to assess the influence of 1) total pesticide use, 2) pesticide use by type (herbicide, insecticide, fungicide), and 3) the most commonly used pesticide compounds on Bd infection prevalence in amphibian populations across life stages, controlling for several factors previously documented to affect Bd's distribution.

Results

Consistent with laboratory findings, our results indicate 36 that exposure to multiple herbicide compounds is associated with lowered infection risk in the aquatic larval stage but higher risk in the terrestrial post-metamorphic stage.

Main Conclusions

Our study highlights the complex nature of the effects that pesticides can have on disease distributions and suggests that pesticides should be strongly considered at broad scales and across host species, especially in environments in which exposure is widespread. Accurate predictions of disease distributions may lead to more effective management strategies to limit disease spread.
Effects of agrochemicals on disease severity ofAcanthostomum burminisinfections (Digenea: Trematoda) in the Asian common toad,Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Authors: Jayawardena Uthpala A. , Rohr Jason R. , Amerasinghe Priyanie H. , Navaratne Ayanthi N. , Rajakaruna Rupika S.
Published: July 2017

Background

Agrochemicals are widely used in many parts of the world posing direct and indirect threats to organisms. Xenobiotic-related disease susceptibility is a common phenomenon and a proposed cause of amphibian declines and malformations. For example, parasitic infections combined with pesticides generally pose greater risk to both tadpoles and adult frogs than either factor alone. Here, we report on experimental effects of lone and combined exposures to cercariae of the digenetic trematodeAcanthostomum burminisand ecologically relevant concentrations of (0.5 ppm) four pesticides (insecticides: chlorpyrifos, dimethoate; herbicides: glyphosate, propanil) on the tadpoles and metamorphs of the Asian common toad,Duttaphrynus melanostictus.

Results

All 48 cercaraie successfully penetrated each host suggesting that the pesticides had no short-term detrimental effect on cercarial penetration abilities. When the two treatments were provided separately, both cercariae and pesticides significantly decreased the survival of tadpoles and metamorphs and increased developmental malformations, such as scoliosis, kyphosis, and skin ulcers. Exposure to cercariae and the two insecticides additively reduced host survival. In contrast, mortality associated with the combination of cercariae and herbicides was less than additive. The effect of cercariae on malformation incidence depended on the pesticide treatment; dimethoate, glyphosate, and propanil reduced the number of cercarial-induced malformations relative to both the control and chlorpyrifos treatments.

Conclusions

These results show that ecologically relevant concentrations of the tested agrochemicals had minimal effects on trematode infections, in contrast to others studies which showed that these same treatments increased the adverse effects of these infections on tadpoles and metamorphs of the Asian common toad. These findings reinforce the importance of elucidating the complex interactions among xenobiotics and pathogens on sentinel organisms that may be indicators of risk to other biota.
Cooperating yet distinct brain networks engaged during naturalistic paradigms: A meta-analysis of functional MRI results
Authors: Bottenhorn Katherine L. , Flannery Jessica S. , Boeving Emily R. , Riedel Michael C. , Eickhoff Simon B. , Sutherland Matthew T. , Laird Angela R.
Published: July 2017

Cognitive processes do not occur by pure insertion and instead depend on the full complement of co-occurring mental processes, including perceptual and motor functions. As such, there is limited ecological validity to human neuroimaging experiments that use highly controlled tasks to isolate mental processes of interest. However, a growing literature shows how dynamic, interactive tasks have allowed researchers to study cognition as it more naturally occurs. Collective analysis across such neuroimaging experiments may answer broader questions regarding how naturalistic cognition is biologically distributed throughout the brain. We applied an unbiased, data-driven, meta-analytic approach that usesk-means clustering to identify core brain networks engaged across the naturalistic functional neuroimaging literature. Functional decoding allowed us to, then, delineate how information is distributed between these networks throughout the execution of dynamical cognition in realistic settings. This analysis revealed six recurrent patterns of brain activation, representing sensory, domain-specific, and attentional neural networks that support the cognitive demands of naturalistic paradigms. Though gaps in the literature remain, these results suggest that naturalistic fMRI paradigms recruit a common set of networks that that allow both separate processing of different streams of information and integration of relevant information to enable flexible cognition and complex behavior.
Chemotherapeutic dose scheduling based on tumor growth rates:the case for low dose metronomic high entropy therapies
Authors: West Jeffrey , Newton Paul K.
Published: July 2017

We extend classical tumor regression models, such as the Norton-Simon hypothesis, from instantaneous regression rates (i.e. the derivative) to the cumulative effect (i.e. the integral) over one (or many) cycles of chemotherapy. To achieve this end, we use a stochastic Moran process model of tumor cell kinetics, coupled with a prisoner’s dilemma game-theoretic cell-cell interaction model to design chemotherapeutic strategies tailored to different tumor growth characteristics. Using the Shannon entropy as a novel tool to quantify the success of dosing strategies, we contrast maximum tolerated dose (MTD) strategies as compared with low dose, high density metronomic strategies (LDM) for tumors with different growth rates. Our results show that LDM strategies can outperform MTD strategies in total tumor cell reduction (TCR). The advantage is magnified for fast growing tumors that thrive on long periods of unhindered growth without chemotherapy drugs present and is not evident after a single cycle of chemotherapy, but grows after each subsequent cycle of repeated chemotherapy. The model supports the concept of designing different chemotherapeutic schedules for tumors with different growth rates and develops quantitative tools to optimize these schedules for maintaining low volume tumors. The evolutionary model we introduce in this paper is compared with regression data from murine models and shown to be in good agreement.

Major Findings

Model simulations show that metronomic (low dose, high density) therapies can outperform maximum tolerated dose (high dose, low density) therapies. This is due to the fact that tumor cell reduction is more sensitive to changes in dose density than changes in dose concentration, especially for faster growing tumors. This effect is negligible after a single cycle of chemotherapy, but magnified after many cycles. The model also allows for novel chemotherapeutic schedules and quantifies their performance according to tumor growth rate.
Double cone of eigendirections in optically active ethylenediammonium selenate crystals
Authors: Martin Alexander T. , Nichols Shane M. , Li Sichao , Tan Melissa , Kahr Bart
Published: July 2017

Circular birefringence (CB) is generally responsible for only a small perturbation to the state of light polarization in crystals that also exhibit linear birefringence (LB). As such, the magnetoelectric tensor of gyration, which gives rise to CB and optical activity, is less well determined than the electric permittivity tensor in optical models of the Mueller matrix. To visualize the effect of the magnetoelectric tensor on polarimetric measurements, reported here are experimental mappings of the Mueller matrix and of the CB in a new chiral crystal with accidental null LB at an accessible optical frequency. Single crystals of ethylenediammonium selenate (EDSeO4) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mueller matrix measurements in transmission and reflection. The crystals are isomorphous with the corresponding sulfate salt. They are tetragonal, space groupP41(3)212. The constitutive relations of EDSeO4were recovered using a partial wave summation of incoherent reflections. The extraordinary and ordinary refractive indices cross at 364 nm (3.41 eV), a scenario commonly called the `isotropic point' or `iso-index point'. At this wavelength, the magnetoelectric tensor fully describes the polarization transformation, giving rise to a double cone of eigendirections.
Tailoring morphology, structure and photoluminescence properties of anodic TiO2nanotubes
Authors: Einollahzadeh-Samadi M. , Dariani R. S. , Paul A.
Published: July 2017

TiO2nanotube (TNT) structures were grown perpendicular to fluorine-doped tin-oxide-coated glass substrates by anodic oxidation of titanium films. The morphology, crystal structure and optical properties of the TNTs were shown to be dependent on the thickness of the titanium film, which acts as an electrode in electrochemical anodization. Field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements revealed that an increase in titanium thickness from 1.5 to 2.7 µm caused a considerable increase in both inner diameter and tube length, which in turn increases the porosity and the physical surface of the TNTs per unit area. Grazing-incidence small-angle scattering was used to infer the statistical lateral ordering of the TNTs over macroscopic length scales. X-ray diffraction data show an increase in the texture coefficient for the (004) plane as well as theI004/I101intensity ratio with titanium film thickness. All these factors lead to a significant improvement in the photoluminescence intensity from titania nanotubes, which is about five times more than from titania nanoporous materials under similar circumstances.
X-ray focusing properties of doubly bent crystals
Authors: Askari Germi Golamreza , Pestehe Sayyed Jalal , Rastkar Ebrahimzadeh Alireza
Published: July 2017

The focusing properties of several bent crystal geometries, including the newly introduced Pestehe & Askari general point-focusing system [Pestehe & Askari Germi (2012),Opt. Soc. Am. A,29, 68–77; Pestehe & Askari Germi (2012),J. Appl. Cryst.45, 890–901], on an arbitrarily positioned detector plane are investigated and illustrated. The properties of the focal points and the generated images are theoretically related to the local, ℓ, and directional, γ, positions of the detector plane for a given position of a point source on the Rowland circle. A general relation is derived for the detector positioning to obtain a specially focused image. This formula for the polar position of the detector plane, given by the two ℓ and γ variables, enables the exact determination of the system astigmatism and the exact calculation of the sagittal and meridional image positions for the spectrometer under study. The astigmatisms of the above-mentioned bent crystal geometries have been studied, and their sagittal and meridional focal positions and characteristics have been obtained and are illustrated. It is also shown that there is a possibility of designing a spectrometer to focus rays from a linear source onto a point on the Rowland circle.
Inrush current computations using an optimised analytical hysteresis model
Authors: Renhart Werner , Bíró Oszkár , Magele Christian , Preis Kurt , Rabel Alexander
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the modelling and estimation of inrush currents while energising power devices under no load conditions. An analytical representation of the nonlinear B-H curve serves for considering the hysteresis behaviour in the numerical model.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is implemented into a standard finite element formulation to compute transient problems.

Findings

Inrush currents behave like faults in power distribution facilities. Its prior estimation helps to distinguish between operating conditions and faults.

Research limitations/implications

The magnetic cores may become extremely magnetised. At such high material saturations, the material characteristics are not measurable accurately. Hence, the results depend on the extrapolation of the B-H curves.

Originality/value

The use of first-order reversal curves within the major hysteresis loops helps in a convenient way to estimate peak and shape of the inrush currents.
Temporary contracts, participation in decision making and job satisfaction in European workers
Authors: Goñi-Legaz Salomé , Ollo-López Andrea
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish to what extent temporary contract and participation in decision making impact on employees job satisfaction and to propose a model whereby participation in decision making mitigates against the negative impact that temporary work has on job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data for a representative sample of 14,778 employees in 23 European countries. In order to test the hypotheses, the authors use regression models and the Chow test.

Findings

The results show that while temporary contracts decreases job satisfaction, participation in decision making increases it. However, autonomous teams, job autonomy, and job involvement buffer against the negative effect that temporary contract has on job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The use of secondary data and the non-longitudinal nature of the data set.

Practical implications

The effect of participation in decision making in job satisfaction is greater for temporary workers than for permanents. Participation in decision making should not be restricted to permanent workers.

Originality/value

Participation in decision making and temporary contracts has been considered incompatible practices. The paper contributes to enrich the understanding of the relationship between these practices and job satisfaction. Sample representatives support the results obtained.
Self-efficacy and work engagement: test of a chain model
Authors: Chan Xi Wen , Kalliath Thomas , Brough Paula , O’Driscoll Michael , Siu Oi-Ling , Timms Carolyn
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating roles of work and family demands and work-life balance on the relationship between self-efficacy (to regulate work and life) and work engagement. Specifically, it seeks to explain how self-efficacy influences employees’ thought patterns and emotional reactions, which in turn enable them to cope with work and family demands, and ultimately achieve work-life balance and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling (SEM) of survey data obtained from a heterogeneous sample of 1,010 Australian employees is used to test the hypothesised chain mediation model.

Findings

The SEM results support the hypothesised model. Self-efficacy was significantly and negatively related to work and family demands, which in turn were negatively associated with work-life balance. Work-life balance, in turn, enabled employees to be engaged in their work.

Research limitations/implications

The findings support the key tenets of social cognitive theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory and demonstrate how self-efficacy can lead to work-life balance and engagement despite the presence of role demands. Study limitations (e.g. cross-sectional research design) and future research directions are discussed.

Originality/value

This study incorporates COR theory with social cognitive theory to improve understanding of how self-efficacy enhances work-life balance and work engagement through a self-fulfilling cycle in which employees achieve what they believe they can accomplish, and in the process, build other skills and personal resources to manage work and family challenges.
Do you get what you ask? The gender gap in desired and realised wages
Authors: Meriküll Jaanika , Mõtsmees Pille
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study gender differences in wage bargaining by comparing the unexplained wage gap in desired, realised and reservation wages.

Design/methodology/approach

The notion of desired wages is applied, which shows workers’ first bet to potential employers during the job-search process. A large job-search data set is drawn from the main Estonian electronic job-search site CV Keskus.

Findings

It is found that the unexplained gender wage gap is around 20 per cent in desired wages and in realised wages, which supports the view that the gender income gap in expectations compares well with the realised income gap. The unexplained gender wage gap is larger in desired wages than in reservation wages for unemployed individuals, and this suggests that women ask for wages that are closer to their reservation wages men do. Occupational and sectoral mobility is unable to explain a significant additional part of the gender wage gap.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the scarce empirical evidence on the role of the non-experimental wage negotiation process in the gender wage gap. In addition, the authors seek to explain one of the largest unexplained gender wage gaps in Europe, the one in Estonia, by introducing a novel set of variables for occupational and sectoral mobility from a lengthy retrospective panel.
Gender gap in upward mobility: what is the role of non-cognitive traits?
Authors: Chu Yu-Wei Luke , Linz Susan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find whether non-cognitive traits contribute to the gender gap in supervisory status and promotion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a large employer-employee matched data set collected from six former socialist countries to assess the link between non-cognitive traits and upward mobility.

Findings

Controlling for workplace heterogeneity, the authors find that gender differences in locus of control, the preference for challenge vs affiliation, and adherence to work ethic together can explain about 7-18 percent of the gender gap in supervisory status and promotion.

Originality/value

Overall, non-cognitive traits provide an important, though modest, explanation for the gender gap in upward mobility.
Variations in user-oriented elderly care: a multilevel approach
Authors: Kazemi Ali , Kajonius Petri
Published: July 2017

Purpose

National Board of Health and Welfare claims that the quality of elderly care services differ considerably between municipalities in Sweden. This study aims to analyze to what extent these variations can be accounted for by the older person’s municipality affiliation (i.e. receiving elderly care in a certain municipality).

Design/methodology/approach

Addressing this issue, national survey data from 78,538 older respondents receiving elderly care services in Sweden were analyzed using multilevel modeling (MLM).

Findings

The results showed that municipality affiliation only marginally explained the variance in satisfaction with care, i.e. its variations were larger within than between municipalities. Instead, user-oriented care accounted for the variation in satisfaction with care. Specifically, the way the care workers behave toward the older person proved to be much more crucial for satisfaction with care than municipality affiliation. Moreover, random effects analyses revealed that the effects of user-oriented care on satisfaction with care varied across municipalities. Care setting (i.e. home care or nursing home) only marginally accounted for its variance.

Practical implications

Developing care quality should start and primarily be discussed at the interpersonal care level, and not, as is customary, at the municipality level.

Originality/value

The present research is the first in its kind to quantitatively investigate the sources of variation in perceived quality of Swedish elderly care using MLM.
Researching telecare: the importance of context
Authors: Hamblin Kate , Yeandle Sue , Fry Gary
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a research method which offers insights into the factors which affect the optimal use and implementation of telecare, or which may lead to its rejection by older people with support needs – factors pertinent to those involved in the design and delivery of both telecare research studies and of services.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology outlined, influenced by Chicago School and Science and Technology Studies, emphasises the importance of context when examining social phenomena, such as the use of technology. The multi-method approach identified key patterns which provide insights into how telecare was used by a sample of older adults, including information on its suboptimal use and rejection.

Findings

The study of telecare use in real-life situations – and the investigation of other complex social interventions – requires an approach which fully considers the importance of context in explaining social phenomena. The main value of the method and findings lies in the insights offered to designers of larger studies which seek to generalise results, including telecare randomised control trials, as well as for those involved in the delivery of telecare services to achieve optimal adoption and use.

Originality/value

The study methods described combined ethnographic, longitudinal and qualitative methodologies and creative research tools in an innovative way to allow exploration of how context affects the uptake and use of telecare.
Measuring the intellectual capital of Italian listed companies
Authors: Forte William , Tucker Jon , Matonti Gaetano , Nicolò Giuseppe
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC), measured in terms of the market to book (MTB) ratio, and potential key determinants of IC value such as intangible assets (IA) and a range of other factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is conducted for a sample of 140 Italian corporations over the period 2009-2013. Applying a holistic market-based approach, the relationship between IC value and selected determinants from the extant literature is tested. Five hypotheses are tested using a pooled OLS regression model, while controlling for time. ROE is employed as a useful firm profitability indicator from the perspective of an equity investor. Moreover, four robustness tests are undertaken.

Findings

The results show that IA, profitability, leverage, industry type, auditor type, and family ownership positively affect IC value, whereas SIZE and AGE negatively affect IC value. Moreover, the findings of the robustness tests suggest that all firms, and not just knowledge-intensive business service industry firms, manage knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The validity of the findings is limited to the Italian context, as the study focuses on a sample of companies listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, all of which prepare their individual financial statements according to IFRS. Further limitations are related to the use of market value in the short term, as it is influenced by market volatility. The study may allow academic researchers to investigate the impact of other non-accounting sources of information on market value within a multidisciplinary perspective.

Practical implications

This paper also has implications for managers and practitioners. The findings suggest that managers should not take for granted that firm growth (an increase in SIZE) alone will lead to an increase in IC value, in the absence of a consistent IC-oriented investment strategy. Managers should also avoid smoothing their IC investment as the company grows, in order to maintain a stable MTB ratio. Further, standard setters should seek to explore better means of disclosing non-accounting information relating to IC value.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the IC literature as it is the first study which applies the market capitalization approach to analyze IC value determinants in the Italian context, within the framework of IFRS. The findings reveal some interesting relationships between the MTB ratio and recognized intangible investments, which are found to be insignificant in previous studies, confirming that, through the holistic effect, the MTB ratio may be a good proxy for IC.
A European empirical study of the relationship between firms’ intellectual capital, financial performance and market value
Authors: Sardo Filipe , Serrasqueiro Zélia
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between firms’ intellectual capital (IC), financial performance (FP) and market value (MV) as well as the relationship between ownership concentrations on IC performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A large sample of non-financial listed firms belonging to 14 countries in Western Europe, for the period between 2004 and 2015, was investigated using the GMM system (1998) dynamic estimator and the effect of lagged explanatory variables on firm’s FP and MV.

Findings

The results reveal that IC is an important resource for firms’ value creation. Human capital is found to be a key factor of firms’ wealth. Results show that capital employed efficiency positively impacts on firms’ FP in the short run. The impact of IC components on firms’ MV may not be immediate. The structural capital positively affects firms’ FP in the long run. Also, the results reveal that ownership concentration and owners’ management involvement constrain firms’ IC performance.

Originality/value

The current study contributes to IC research by exploring a large sample of firms across countries in Western Europe using econometric modeling. Considering that the effect of IC on firms’ FP needs time to be realized, thus to be measured, the effect of lagged explanatory variables on performance was tested, using dynamic panel estimators, specifically the GMM system (1998) dynamic estimator.
Engineering students and faculty perceptions of academic dishonesty
Authors: Tabsh Sami W. , Abdelfatah Akmal S. , El Kadi Hany A.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to survey students and faculty from the College of Engineering at an American university in the United Arab Emirates about their perception on different issues related to academic dishonesty. Opinions were sought on plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, cheating on exams, copyright violations and complicity in academic dishonesty. Reasons for students to commit dishonest acts and ways to reduce academic misconduct were also included.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving 11 questions with multiple choice answers was developed and distributed to engineering students and faculty at the institution to get their perception of the considered issues.

Findings

Results of the study showed that while faculty and students were generally in agreement in their perception of the frequency of academic dishonesty among students, they greatly differed on the courses of action needed to reduce them. Most faculty members favored applying tougher penalties and using more proctors in exams. On the other hand, students preferred softer approaches such as educating them on academic integrity issues, applying lenient deadlines for assignments and reducing the difficulty of exams.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions and recommendations of the study are applicable to colleges of higher education having similar characteristics and culture to the surveyed institution.

Practical implications

The findings can be used to understand students’ behavior and faculty’s attitude toward academic dishonesty, and to assess the effectiveness of current strategies addressing the issue at similar universities in the region.

Originality/value

The conducted literature review indicated that this work is believed to be a pioneering case study in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Student’s perceptions of quality learning in a Malaysian university – a mixed method approach
Authors: Choy S. Chee , Yim Joanne Sau-Ching , Tan Poh Leong
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine students’ perceptions of quality learning using a mixed-methods approach in a Malaysian university, with an aim to fill existing knowledge gaps in the literature on relationships among relevant quality variables. The study also assesses the extent to which detailed results from a few participants can be generalised to a larger sample from the population.

Design/methodology/approach

A sequential, mixed-methods approach was used to obtain a more meaningful and balanced analysis of the data. In total, 12 students were purposively selected and interviewed in Phase 1, to gain insights into their perceptions of quality learning at a selected university. The results of the qualitative analysis were used to develop hypotheses for a quantitative survey of 1,490 students in Phase 2. The samples consisted of students enrolled in full-time bachelor’s degree programmes. The survey data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to confirm a series of hypotheses about pathways of influence of key quality constructs.

Findings

The results of the study showed strong positive relationships between student perceptions of learning outcomes, curriculum, instructional delivery and support, learning environment and quality learning. The overall findings suggest that the influences of these quality variables on the perceived quality of learning experiences of students may be complex.

Practical implications

All Malaysian higher education providers are currently concerned with providing high-quality education that caters to students’ needs. The results generate useful evidence for governors, administrators and other stakeholders regarding the students’ perceptions of quality learning. The results provide insights for supporting diverse students served by these providers.

Originality/value

The sequential, mixed-methods research design of the study contributed a rich contextual description of students’ perceptions of quality learning. It also fills the knowledge gap mentioned.
Vocal and gestural productions of 24‐month‐old children with sex chromosome trisomies
Authors: Zampini Laura , Draghi Lara , Silibello Gaia , Dall'Ara Francesca , Rigamonti Claudia , Suttora Chiara , Zanchi Paola , Salerni Nicoletta , Lalatta Faustina , Vizziello Paola
Published: July 2017

Background

Children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCT) frequently show problems in language development. However, a clear description of the communicative patterns of these children is still lacking.

Aims

To describe the first stages of language development in children with SCT in comparison with those in typically developing (TD) children. The purpose was to verify the existence of possible differences in communicative skills (in both vocal and gestural modality) and identify the presence of possible early predictors (i.e., low vocabulary size and low gesture production) of later language impairment in children with SCT.

Methods & Procedures

Fifteen 24‐month‐old children with SCT (eight males with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and seven females with triple X syndrome (TX)) and fifteen 24‐month‐old TD children (eight males and seven females) participated in the study. Their spontaneous communicative productions were assessed during a semi‐structured play session in interaction with a parent. In addition, their vocabulary size was assessed using a parental report (the Italian version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories).

Outcomes & Results

With regards to their vocabulary size, 60% of children with SCT (75% of children with KS and 43% of children with TX) were at risk for language impairments (i.e., they had a vocabulary size smaller than 50 words). In addition, TD children showed better lexical and syntactic skills than children with SCT in their spontaneous communicative productions. However, the production of communicative gestures was higher in children with SCT than in TD children. Boys with KS appeared to differ from TD males in more aspects of communication than girls with TX differed from TD females.

Conclusions & Implications

The study showed the importance of early detection of language risk factors in children with SCT, while also considering the use of compensatory strategies (e.g., the use of communicative gestures).
Too Big, Too Small, or Just Right? Cost‐Efficiency of Environmental Inspection Services in Connecticut
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey P. , Checko Patricia J.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To assess optimal activity size/mix of Connecticut local public health jurisdictions, through estimating economies of scale/scope/specialization for environmental inspections/services.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Connecticut's 74 local health jurisdictions (LHJs) must provide environmental health services, but their efficiency or reasons for wide cost variation are unknown. The public health system is decentralized, with variation in organizational structure/size. We develop/compile a longitudinal dataset covering all 74 LHJs, annually from 2005 to 2012.

Study Design

We estimate a public health services/inspections cost function, where inputs are translated into outputs. We consider separate estimates of economies of scale/scope/specialization for four mandated inspection types.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We obtain data from Connecticut Department of Public Health databases, reports, and other publicly available sources. There has been no known previous utilization of this combined dataset.

Principal Findings

On average, regional districts, municipal departments, and part‐time LHJs are performing fewer than the efficient number of inspections. The full‐time municipal departments and regional districts are more efficient but still not at the minimum efficient scale. The regional districts' elasticities of scale are larger, implying they are more efficient than municipal health departments.

Conclusions

Local health jurisdictions may enhance efficiency by increasing inspections and/or sharing some services.
High‐dose palliative radiotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Foroudi Farshad , Smith Jennifer G , Putt Faye , Wada Morikatsu
Published: July 2017

Introduction

High‐dose radiotherapy to the hemithorax for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma is a controversial treatment. Between 2003 and 2013 our institution had a policy of giving hemithoracic radiotherapy to at least 45 Gy. This retrospective study reports survival, progression and toxicity associated with this policy.

Methods

Seventy‐one patients with pleural mesothelioma were irradiated with doses of 45–60 Gy. Conformal radiotherapy (3D‐CRT) to the lower hemithorax was used for 17 and intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the whole hemithorax for 54 patients. All patients have been followed up for at least 2 years from commencement of radiotherapy.

Results

Sixty‐four patients (90%) completed planned radiotherapy and seven stopped early, usually due to progressive disease. Median overall survival was 9.5 months (95% CI: 7.7–12.4) and median progression‐free survival was 4.9 months (95% CI: 4.4–5.8). Eighty‐seven per cent of patients progressed or died within 2 years: 25% in‐field, 49% outside the RT field and 13% died without progression. Severe toxicity (grade 3–5) was observed in 53% of 3D‐CRT and 78% of IMRT patients, most commonly pulmonary fibrosis 27%, radiation dermatitis 18%, dyspnoea 11%, GGT increased 11%, pneumonitis 10%, pleuritic pain 8% and fatigue 8%. There were two, possibly three, treatment‐related deaths.

Conclusion

High‐dose radiotherapy to the hemithorax caused significant toxicity to most patients with no improvement in survival. Lower doses of radiotherapy to limited volumes may be useful for palliative purposes.
Digestibility of common reed (Pharagmites communis Trin.) silage as ruminant feed and effects of inclusion levels in the diet of breeding cows on feed intake, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites
Authors: Asano Keigo , Ishikawa Takahiro , Ishida Motohiko
Published: July 2017

To examine the digestibility of common reed (Pharagmites communis Trin.) silage and effects of inclusion levels in the diet of breeding cows on nutrient intakes, ruminal fermentation and nutrient status, two digestion trials using four sheep and cows, respectively, at the maintenance stage were conducted. In the trial using sheep, common reed silage contained 20% crude protein (CP) and 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis. In the trial using cows, treatments were the control (92.4% Sudangrass hay and 7.6% soybean meal) and CS25, CS50 and CS80 (replacing 25%, 50%, and 80% of the control with silage, respectively). The intake and sufficiency rate of CP increased by increasing the silage level in the diet (P < 0.05), and the CP requirements of cows at maintenance was satisfied in CS80. In contrast, the sufficiency rate of TDN decreased in CS80, although it was 99.8%. Ruminal pH and NH3‐N concentration changed among the treatments (P < 0.05); however, the blood metabolites were not affected by silage. The results indicated that including common reed silage of up to 80% in the diet of breeding cows was possible and did not have adverse effects on the blood metabolites.
Sacral neuromodulation for combined faecal and urinary incontinence following obstetric anal sphincter injury
Authors: Rydningen M. B. , Riise S. , Wilsgaard T. , Lindsetmo R. O. , Norderval S.
Published: July 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in the treatment of faecal incontinence and concomitant urinary incontinence in women with a history of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS).

Method

In this prospective study, consecutive women with faecal incontinence following OASIS accepted for SNM were screened for concomitant urinary incontinence. The primary outcome was the change in urinary incontinence score on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence, Short Form (ICIQ‐UI‐SF), between baseline and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included the change in St Mark's score, sexual function and quality of life, change in grade of urinary incontinence and disappearance of urgency.

Results

From March 2012 to September 2014, 39 women with combined faecal incontinence and urinary incontinence received SNM. Thirty‐seven women were available for analysis after 12 months. The mean reduction in the ICIQ‐UI‐SF score between the baseline and 12 months was 5.8 (95% CI 3.7–8.0, P < 0.001). ICIQ‐UI‐SF was reduced in 29 (78%) women, urinary incontinence resolved in 13/37 (35%, 95% CI 20%–50%) patients, and urgency disappeared in 14/33 (42%, 95% CI 26%–59%). The mean reduction in the St Mark's score was 10.6 (95% CI 8.6–12.7, P < 0.001). Disease‐specific quality of life, Euroqual 5‐dimension visual analogue scale (EQ‐5D VAS) and several areas of sexual function changed significantly for the better.

Conclusion

More than three‐quarters of the women with combined faecal and urinary incontinence following OASIS reported a successful outcome with reduction in ICIQ‐UI‐SF at 12 months after SNM.