bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nested Active Learning for Efficient Model Contextualization and Parameterization: Pathway to generating simulated populations using multi-scale computational models
Authors: Cockrell Chase , Ozik Jonathan , Collier Nick , An Gary
Published: May 2019

There is increasing interest in the use of mechanism-based multi-scale computational models (such as agent-based models) to generate simulated clinical populations in order to discover and evaluate potential diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The description of the environment in which a biomedical simulation operates (model context) and parameterization of internal model rules (model content) requires the optimization of a large number of free-parameters. In this work, we utilize a nested active-learning workflow to efficiently parameterize and contextualize an agent-based model (ABM) of systemic inflammation used to examine sepsis.

Methods

Contextual parameter space was examined using four parameters external to the model’s rule-set. The model’s internal parameterization, which represents gene expression and associated cellular behaviors, was explored through the augmentation or inhibition of signaling pathways for 12 signaling mediators associated with inflammation and wound healing. We have implemented a nested active learning approach in which the clinically relevant model environment space for a given internal model parameterization is mapped using a small Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The outer AL level workflow is a larger ANN which uses active learning to efficiently regress the volume and centroid location of the CR space given by a single internal parameterization.

Results

We have reduced the number of simulations required to efficiently map the clinically relevant parameter space of this model by approximately 99%. Additionally, we have shown that more complex models with a larger number of variables may expect further improvements in efficiency.
Automatic annotation of Cryo-EM maps with the convolutional neural network Haruspex
Authors: Mostosi Philipp , Schindelin Hermann , Kollmannsberger Philip , Thorn Andrea
Published: May 2019

In recent years, three-dimensional density maps reconstructed from single particle images obtained by electron cryo-microscopy (Cryo-EM) have reached unprecedented resolution. However, map interpretation can be challenging, in particular if the constituting structures require de-novo model building or are very mobile. Here, we demonstrate the potential of convolutional neural networks for the annotation of Cryo-EM maps: our network Haruspex has been trained on a carefully curated set of 293 experimentally derived reconstruction maps to automatically annotate protein secondary structure elements as well as RNA/DNA. It can be straightforwardly applied to annotate newly reconstructed maps to support domain placement or to supply a starting point for main-chain placement. Due to its high recall and precision rates of 95.1% and 80.3%, respectively, on an independent test set of 122 maps, it can also be used for validation during model building. The trained network will be available as part of the CCP-EM suite.
The structural unit of melanin in the cell wall of the fungal pathogenCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Camacho Emma , Vij Raghav , Chrissian Christine , Prados-Rosales Rafael , Gil David , O’Meally Robert N. , Cordero Radames J.B. , Cole Robert N. , McCaffery J. Michael , Stark Ruth E. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: May 2019

Melanins are synthesized macromolecules that are found in all biological kingdoms. These pigments have a myriad of roles that range from microbial virulence to key components of the innate immune response in invertebrates. Melanins also exhibit unique properties with potential applications in physics and material sciences, ranging from electrical batteries to novel therapeutics. In the fungi, melanins such as eumelanins, are components of the cell wall that provide protection against biotic and abiotic elements. Elucidation of the smallest fungal cell wall-asociated melanin unit that serves as a building block is critical to understand the architecture of these polymers, its interaction with surrounding components, and their functional versatility. In this study, we used isopycnic gradient sedimentation, NMR, EPR, high-resolution microscopy, and proteomics to analyze the melanin in the cell wall of the human pathogenic fungusCryptococcus neoformans. We observed that melanin is assembled into the cryptococcal cell wall in spherical structures of ∼200 nm in diameter, termed melanin granules, which are in turn composed of nanospheres of ∼30 nm in diameter, the fungal melanosomes. We noted that melanin granules are closely associated with proteins that may play critical roles in the fungal melanogenesis and the supramolecular structure of this polymer. Using this structural information, we propose a model forC. neoformansmelanization that is similar to the process used in animal melanization and is consistent with the phylogenetic relatedness of the fungal and animal kingdoms.
Calcium Sensing Receptor Common Variants Influence the Effects of Serum Calcium on Coronary Artery Disease Risks
Authors: Smelser Diane T. , Hannan Fadil M. , Metpally Raghu P.R. , Krishnamurthy Sarathbabu , Carey David J. , Thakker Rajesh V. , Breitwieser Gerda E. ,   on behalf of the Regeneron Genetics Center
Published: May 2019

Rationale

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) regulates serum calcium concentrations and common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a carboxyl terminal tri-locus haplotype block contribute to serum calcium variance in the general population. Altered serum calcium concentrations are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), but direct role for CaSR in CAD remains to be determined.

Methods

We evaluated the associations of serum calcium and common CASR SNPs or the tri-locus haplotype block with major diseases including CAD in 51,289 patients from the DiscovEHR cohort derived from a single US health care system.

Results

Serum calcium concentrations were positively associated with the risk of CAD, and this risk was modified by common CASR SNPs. The Ala986Ser SNP was positively associated with hypercalcemia. Carriers of Ala986Ser had a significantly increased CAD risk whereas Arg990Gly carriers had a reduced risk relative to the reference SNP, for those with albumin-corrected serum calcium from 8.5-9.5 mg/dL. In the context of the tri-locus haplotype, the reduced CAD risk conferred by Arg990Gly remained significant. Analysis of the association of common CASR SNPs with CAD risk factors showed Arg990Gly was negatively associated with the CAD risk factor of chronic kidney disease, but independent of alterations in lipids, hemoglobin A1c, or blood pressure.

Conclusions

This study compares the common approach of single SNP analysis with the impact of a common variant haplotype block and refocuses attention on the CaSR Arg990Gly SNP which reduces the risk of CAD over a specific range of median albumin-corrected calcium concentrations.

Précis

Clinical data and whole exome sequences from a cohort of 51,289 individuals (DiscovEHR) were used to assess the independent contributions of serum Ca2+ and CASR common variants to cardiovascular diseases including CAD.
Next-generation sequencing of double stranded RNA is greatly improved by treatment with the inexpensive denaturing reagent DMSO
Authors: Wilcox Alexander H. , Delwart Eric , Díaz Muñoz Samuel L.
Published: May 2019

Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the genetic material of important viruses and a key component of RNA interference-based immunity in eukaryotes. Previous studies have noted difficulties in determining the sequence of dsRNA molecules that have affected studies of immune function and estimates of viral diversity in nature. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used to denature dsRNA prior to the reverse transcription stage to improve RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. We systematically tested the utility of DMSO to improve sequencing yield of a dsRNA virus (Φ6) in a short-read next generation sequencing platform. DMSO treatment improved sequencing read recovery by over two orders of magnitude, even when RNA and cDNA concentrations were below the limit of detection. We also tested the effects of DMSO on a mock eukaryotic viral community and found that dsRNA virus reads increased with DMSO treatment. Furthermore, we provide evidence that DMSO treatment does not adversely affect recovery of reads from a single-stranded RNA viral genome (Influenza A/California/07/2009). We suggest that up to 50% DMSO treatment be used prior to cDNA synthesis when samples of interest are composed of or may contain dsRNA.

Data Summary

Sequence data was deposited in the NCBI Short Read Archive (accession numbers: PRJNA527100, PRJNA527101, PRJNA527098). Data and code for analysis is available on GitHub (https://github.com/awilcox83/dsRNA-sequencing/, doi:10.5281/zenodo.1453423). Protocol for dsRNA sequencing is posted on protocols.io (doi:10.17504/protocols.io.ugnetve).
Enrichment in conservative amino acid changes among fixed and standing missense variations in slow evolving proteins
Authors: Wang Mingrui , Wang Dapeng , Yu Jun , Huang Shi
Published: May 2019

Proteins were first used in the early 1960s to discover the molecular clock dating method and remain in common usage today in phylogenetic inferences based on neutral variations. To avoid substitution saturation, it is necessary to use slow evolving genes. However, it remains unclear whether fixed and standing missense changes in such genes may qualify as neutral. Here, based on the evolutionary rates as inferred from identity scores between orthologs in human and Macaca monkey, we found that the fraction of conservative amino acid mismatches between species was significantly higher in slow evolving proteins. We also examined the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using the 1000 genomes project data and found that missense SNPs in slow evolving proteins also had higher fraction of conservative changes, especially for common SNPs, consistent with more natural selection for SNPs, particularly rare ones, in fast evolving proteins. These results suggest that fixed and standing missense variations in slow evolving proteins are more likely to be neutral and hence better qualified for use in phylogenetic inferences.
Cartography of opportunistic pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in a tertiary hospital environment
Authors: Chng Kern Rei , Li Chenhao , Bertrand Denis , Qi Ng Amanda Hui , Kwah Junmei Samantha , Low Hwee Meng , Tong Chengxuan , Natrajan Maanasa , Zhang Michael Hongjie , Xu Licheng , Ki Ko Karrie Kwan , Pei Ho Eliza Xin , Av-Shalom Tamar V. , Pei Teo Jeanette Woon , Khor Chiea Chuen ,   MetaSUB Consortium, Chen Swaine L. , Mason Christopher E. , Oon Tek N , Marimuthu Kalisvar , Ang Brenda , Nagarajan Niranjan
Published: May 2019

There is growing attention surrounding hospital acquired infections (HAIs) due to high associated healthcare costs, compounded by the scourge of widespread multi-antibiotic resistance. Although hospital environment disinfection is well acknowledged to be key for infection control, an understanding of colonization patterns and resistome profiles of environment-dwelling microbes is currently lacking. We report the first extensive genomic characterization of microbiomes (428), common HAI-associated microbes (891) and transmissible drug resistance cassettes (1435) in a tertiary hospital environment based on a 3-timepoint sampling (1 week and >1 year apart) of 179 sites from 45 beds. Deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing unveiled two distinct ecological niches of microbes and antibiotic resistance genes characterized by biofilm-forming and human microbiome influenced environments that display corresponding patterns of divergence over space and time. To study common nosocomial pathogens that were typically present at low abundances, a combination of culture enrichment and long-read nanopore sequencing was used to obtain thousands of high contiguity genomes (2347), phage sequences (1693) and closed plasmids (5910), a significant fraction of which (>60%) are not represented in current sequence databases. These high-quality assemblies and metadata enabled a rich characterization of resistance gene combinations, phage diversity, plasmid architectures, and the dynamic nature of hospital environment resistomes and their reservoirs. Phylogenetic analysis identified multidrug resistant strains as being more widely distributed and stably colonizing across hospital sites. Further genomic comparisons with clinical isolates across multiple species supports the hypothesis that multidrug resistant strains can persist in the hospital environment for extended periods (>8 years) to opportunistically infect patients. These findings highlight the importance of characterizing antibiotic resistance reservoirs in the hospital environment and establishes the feasibility of systematic genomic surveys to help target resources more efficiently for preventing HAIs.
Using virtual reality and thermal imagery to improve statistical modelling of vulnerable and protected species
Authors: Leigh Catherine , Heron Grace , Wilson Ella , Gregory Taylor , Clifford Samuel , Holloway Jacinta , McBain Miles , Gonzalez Felipé , McGree James , Brown Ross , Mengersen Kerrie , Peterson Erin E.
Published: May 2019

Biodiversity loss and sparse observational data mean that critical conservation decisions may be based on little to no information. Emerging technologies, such as airborne thermal imaging and virtual reality, may facilitate species monitoring and improve predictions of species distribution. Here we combined these two technologies to predict the distribution of koalas, specialized arboreal foliovores facing population declines in many parts of eastern Australia. For a study area in southeast Australia, we complemented ground-survey records with presence and absence observations from thermal-imagery obtained using Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems. These field observations were further complemented with information elicited from koala experts, who were immersed in 360-degree images of the study area. The experts were asked to state the probability of observing a koala at sites they viewed and to assign each probability a confidence rating. We fit logistic regression models to the ground survey data and the ground plus thermal-imagery survey data and a beta regression model to the expert elicitation data. We then combined parameter estimates from the expert-elicitation model with those from each of the survey models to predict koala presence and absence in the study area. The model that combined the ground, thermal-imagery and expert-elicitation data substantially reduced the uncertainty around parameter estimates and increased the accuracy of classifications (koala presence vs absence), relative to the model based on ground-survey data alone. Our findings suggest that data elicited from experts using virtual reality technology can be combined with data from other emerging technologies, such as airborne thermal-imagery, using traditional statistical models, to increase the information available for species distribution modelling and the conservation of vulnerable and protected species.
Characteristic features of polytypism in compounds with the La18W10O57-type structure
Authors: Novikova Nataliya E. , Sorokin Timofei A. , Antipin Alexander M. , Bolotina Nadezhda B. , Alekseeva Olga A. , Sorokina Nataliya I. , Voronkova Valentina I.
Published: May 2019

Crystals with the La18W10O57-type structure (6H and 5H polytypes) were obtained by a self-flux method from high-temperature solutions. Some of the crystal samples were studied by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The diffraction patterns indicated that two phases co-exist in each sample. The hexagonal lattices have a common period of a ≈ 9.0 Å and are non-equal in length but have equally oriented superstructure periods 6c (phase I) and 5c (phase II), c ≈ 5.4 Å. The structures of phases I and II were solved in the symmetry groups P\overline{6}2c and P321, respectively, based on the X-ray data for crystals I and II, with predominant content of the first and second phase. The motif of isolated WO6 prisms with W atoms on the cell edges is common to both phases. WO6 octahedra, both isolated and joined by faces, are distributed along the c axis within the unit cells. Phase I contains extra layers of isolated WO6 octahedra compared to phase II. Tungsten sites in joined octahedra are disordered and partially occupied. Disordering is more expressed in phase II, which in return contains rather more W and O per atom of La. The refined chemical compositions are La18W10O57 for I and La15W8.5O48 for II.
Crystallization of a potassium ion channel and X-ray and neutron data collection
Authors: Langan Patricia S. , Vandavasi Venu Gopal , Sullivan Brendan , Harp Joel , Weiss Kevin , Coates Leighton
Published: May 2019

The mechanism by which potassium ions are transported through ion channels is currently being investigated by several groups using many different techniques. Clarification of the location of water molecules during transport is central to understanding how these integral membrane proteins function. Neutrons have a unique sensitivity to both hydrogen and potassium, rendering neutron crystallography capable of distinguishing waters from K+ ions. Here, the collection of a complete neutron data set from a potassium ion channel to a resolution of 3.55 Å using the Macromolecular Neutron Diffractometer (MaNDi) is reported. A room-temperature X-ray data set was also collected from the same crystal to a resolution of 2.50 Å. Upon further refinement, these results will help to further clarify the ion/water population within the selectivity filter of potassium ion channels.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of new polymorph of racemic 2-phenylbutyramide
Authors: Rigin Sergei , Armijo Beatrice , Krivoshein Arcadius V. , Fonari Marina , Timofeeva Tatiana
Published: May 2019

A new polymorph of the title compound, C10H13NO, was obtained by recrystallization of the commercial product from a water/ethanol mixture (1:1 v/v). Crystals of the previously reported racemic and homochiral forms of 2-phenylbutyramide were grown from water–acetonitrile solution in 1:1 volume ratio [Khrustalev et al. (2014). Cryst. Growth Des.
14, 3360–3369]. While the previously reported racemic and enantiopure forms of the title compound adopt very similar supramolecular structures (hydrogen-bonded ribbons), the new racemic polymorph is stabilized by a single N—H...O hydrogen bond that links molecules into chains along the c-axis direction with an antiparallel (centrosymmetric) packing in the crystal. Hirshfeld molecular surface analysis was employed to compare the intermolecular interactions in the polymorphs of the title compound.
The crystal structure of (RS)-7-chloro-2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one: two hydrogen bonds generate an elegant three-dimensional framework structure
Authors: Narasimhamurthy Kereyagalahally H. , Chandra  , Sagar Belakavadi K. , Rangappa Kanchugarakoppal S. , Yathirajan Hemmige S. , Glidewell Christopher
Published: May 2019

In the title compound, C61H15ClN2O3, the heterocyclic ring adopts an envelope conformation, folded across the N...N line, with the 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl unit occupying a quasi-axial site. There are two N—H...O hydrogen bonds in the structure: one hydrogen bond links molecules related by a 41 screw axis to form a C(6) chain, and the other links inversion-related pairs of molecules to form an R
2
2(8) ring. The ring motif links all of the chains into a continuous three-dimensional framework structure. Comparisons are made with the structures of some related compounds.
Shareholder rights, telecommunications and director attendance around the world
Authors: Nowland John
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study aims to document the variation in director attendance rates around the world and investigate the influence of cross-country differences in law and infrastructure on director attendance practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Director attendance data are hand-collected from company annual reports and are related to differences in shareholder rights, director liability and transportation and telecommunications infrastructure across countries.

Findings

Using a hand-collected data set of 4,344 directorships from 33 countries, the results indicate that director attendance is significantly lower in emerging markets and is positively related to the extent of shareholder rights and the quality of telecommunications infrastructure.

Originality/value

For policymakers and shareholders, the findings of this study indicate that there is substantial variation in director attendance practices around the world. Across all markets, director attendance is higher when the telecommunications infrastructure better enables the potential for virtual attendance, thereby allowing directors to participate in meetings when they cannot be physically present. In emerging markets, director attendance is also higher where there is a stronger emphasis on shareholder rights, highlighting an avenue for improved director attendance by strengthening shareholder involvement in major corporate decisions.
CEO power and labor productivity
Authors: Breit Emily , Song Xuehu (Jason) , Sun Li , Zhang Joseph
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how Chief Executive Officer (CEO) power affects firm-level labor productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors rely on regression analysis to examine the relation between CEO power and labor productivity.

Findings

Following prior research (i.e. the sequential rank order tournament theory), the authors predict that powerful CEOs lead to high labor productivity. They find a significant and positive relationship between CEO power and labor productivity. They further decompose labor productivity into labor efficiency and labor cost components and find a positive (negative) relationship between CEO power and labor efficiency (cost) component, suggesting that more powerful CEOs better manage labor efficiency and control labor cost. The results are also robust to various additional tests.

Originality/value

This study contributes to two streams of research: the CEO power literature in finance and the labor productivity and cost literature in accounting. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study that performs a direct empirical test on the relation between CEO power and labor productivity.
Is CSR performance related to disclosure tone in earnings announcements?
Authors: Lu Yu , Cahan Steven , Ma Diandian
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether the disclosure tone in earnings announcements is related to a firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the lower likelihood of earnings management conducted by CSR-conscious firms, and the significant market impact of the tone of disclosure in the earnings announcements, the study investigates whether firms with good CSR performance attempt to influence investors’ judgements through “soft information” and, thus, produce earnings announcements with more positive tone. Specifically, it examines whether CSR performance is positively related to the optimistic disclosure tone in earnings announcements.

Findings

The study finds that more socially responsible firms exhibit a more optimistic tone in earnings announcements. The findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests and data from different years. Furthermore, the study finds that the positive association between CSR performance and disclosure tone in the earnings announcement is particularly apparent in the manufacturing industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature in multiple ways.

Practical implications

These findings should assist regulators in better understanding the verbal components in earnings announcements.

Social implications

It is possible that firms might opportunistically engage in CSR activities to enhance their social image to exaggerate financial performance and influence investors’ 2019 decisions.

Originality/value

These results show that CSR performance is positively associated with the optimistic tone in earnings announcements. The findings are consistent with two alternative interpretations. First, even though CSR-conscious firms are unlikely to engage in earnings management, they may engage a more subtle form of impressions/tone management. Second, firms with better CSR performance may have better financial performance, and thus are more confident and optimistic, resulting in a more positive tone in their earnings announcements. As the study controls for financial performance and find a positive relation between CSR concerns and optimism in earnings announcements, it favors the previous explanation.
Managerial ownership, board independence and firm performance
Authors: Shan Yuan George
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The extant literature reports mixed and inconclusive findings concerning the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firm performance. To provide incremental insight, this paper aims to investigate whether the bi-directional relationships among managerial ownership, board independence and firm performance are determined.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a data set consisting of 9,302 firm-year observations of Australian listed companies during 2005-2015 and a three-stage least squares simultaneous equation model to test the bi-directional relationships.

Findings

The results indicate that both managerial ownership and board independence inversely affect firm performance and vice versa. In addition, board independence is negatively correlated with managerial ownership and vice versa.

Practical implications

The convergence-of-interests hypothesis can be achieved by manipulating managerial ownership through making contingent payments. Board independence, as a voluntary regime in Australia, can provide additional flexibility to corporate decision makers.

Originality/value

This study provides additional evidence by using the convergence-of-interests hypothesisvis-à-visthe entrenchment hypothesis to examine the relationship between managerial ownership and firm performance, and tests the association of board independence and firm performance using the explanation of agency theoryvis-à-visstewardship theory.
Team-based employee remuneration
Authors: Herath Hemantha S.B. , Bremser Wayne G. , Birnberg Jacob G.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to relate the balanced scorecard (BSC) to strategy and teams.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes deriving performance targets and weights using a multiparty collaborative decision model that can be integrated into team-based bonus formulas.

Findings

Cross-functional division managers face a more complex problem in setting goals for individual managers. The proposed approach is intended to develop such goals and link them for team-based incentives. An example illustrates the application of the proposed BSC model and the team-based pay formula.

Practical implications

The model can be used to determine group bonus.

Originality/value

The paper has two objectives: to relate the BSC to the team setting with a participative flavor rather than with imposed targets and weights, and to develop a better way of relating behaviors and outcomes to the team’s and/or the organization’s goals. Integrating the strategies of various units adds a new dimension that differs from rationalizing the superior’s and the subordinate’s goals. The proposed model considers input from all value chain functional managers involved in implementing an organizational strategy. A methodology is provided to operationalize (Hope and Fraser, 2003) beyond the budgeting model principles.
School-aged children and decisions for studying abroad in Canada
Authors: Tamtik Merli
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine parental and students’ decisions regarding participating in K-12 level study abroad programs in Manitoba, Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reports on data collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 18 international students and 14 parents.

Findings

The findings suggest that the key factors influencing decisions are perceptions of enhanced career prospects, changing global environments and broadened post-secondary education choices. Country-specific factors include quality and safety of the learning environment, multiculturalism and reputation associated with the country and people.

Research limitations/implications

The participants were primarily students and parents from the EU countries associated primarily with horizontal mobility. Experiences of students from the main sending countries (China, South Korea and Japan) might differ.

Practical implications

The results are relevant to educational managers in designing high-quality international programs and recruitment agents.

Originality/value

The study adds important empirical evidence to the limited research that has been conducted on study abroad experiences at the K-12 level. It is one of the first in the Canadian context. It provides unique perspectives in USA and Canada comparisons for study abroad of school-aged children.
High school managements resources allocation in an era of reforms
Authors: Tamir Emanuel , Arar Khalid
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine considerations employed in decision-making processes by Israeli high school leaders, when implementing the “Courage to Change” reform. The reform gave schools large supplementary resources in the form of “weekly instruction time” and they decided how to exploit these additional hours.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative analysis focused on data from interviews with staff from 19 high schools.

Findings

The research identified three types of consideration adopted by managerial staffs: “Hasty,” “Conservative” and “Path-breaking.” Findings contribute to theory concerning incremental decisions in schools concerning the allocation of resources, in line with the institutional approach, and also inform other schools coping with similar tasks.

Originality/value

The research is original both in its topic and context. Further conclusions and implications are discussed.
A measurement instrument for implementing total quality management in Greek primary and secondary education
Authors: Sfakianaki Eleni
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Primary and secondary education (P&SE) is fundamentally important for achieving a high-quality education system. P&SE delivers more extensive social returns than higher education and is perhaps the most important locus where core values are established and the foundation for educational super-systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop a structured approach for the implementation of total quality management (TQM) in P&SE and validate it empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

A 7-dimensioned and a 66-itemed instrument was developed and administered to education professionals at Greek P&SE institutions to measure TQM implementation at present and its potential for the future. The measures were tested for validity and reliability.

Findings

The findings confirmed that the instrument developed is both valid and reliable. The factors of TQM identified for P&SE were leadership, student focus, continuous improvement, process control and involvement, education and training, measurement and evaluation, and change management.

Practical implications

P&SE institutions can employ the instrument developed to guide their implementation of TQM practices. Researchers and practitioners can use it to build models to relate facilitating practices to quality performance while enhancing social empowerment and contributing to economic growth, particularly at times of economic difficulty.

Originality/value

The present study adds value to the existing literature by investigating the unexplored field of TQM in P&SE at a time of economic downturn by offering researchers and practitioners a starting point to identify areas that require further support and improvement or have potential efficiency gain.
Chinese students’ decisions to undertake postgraduate study overseas
Authors: Zhu Lei , Reeves Peter
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to surface themes which may influence Chinese students’ decision making in relation to postgraduate study in international universities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilises a semi-structured qualitative interview methodology (n=15).

Findings

The main findings are discussed according to the following themes: financial and time costs; employment prospects; postgraduate education as a cultural adventure; linguistics; visa issues; admissions; climate; influence of referents; and academic image and reputation.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is small, yet affords greater depth of data and discussion.

Practical implications

The research offers practitioners in universities who are managing postgraduate recruitment of Chinese students, some greater understanding of the reasons behind prospective Chinese postgraduate students’ choice; from which they can evaluate the effectiveness of their institutions’ recruitment strategies.

Originality/value

Extant research has tended to report reasons why Chinese students study overseas, whereas this study offers deeper insight and exploration of the reasoning of Chinese international students in the postgraduate context. The research is of value given the importance of postgraduate Chinese students to international university recruitment.
Disclosing the bright side of SNs in the workplace
Authors: Olfat Mohammad , Tabarsa Gholam Ali , Ahmadi Sadra , Shokouhyar Sajjad
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to document that employees’ use of social networks (SNs) does not necessarily bring negative consequences and can indirectly benefit organizations and second, to compare the roles of public SNs and enterprise social networks (ESNs) in bringing benefits to organizations. Consequently, this study, on the basis of stimulus‒organism‒response theory, directly investigated and compared the roles of public SNs and ESNs in promoting employees’ organizational commitment from affective, normative, and continuance dimensions with regard to the mediating role of job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, 240 employees of Asia-Tech Company, one of the high-speed internet service providers in Iran, who had joined Skype for Business ESN, were included in this study. Partial least squares (PLS) method was used to examine the validity of the measurement and structural models. To this end, Warp-PLS software (version 5.0) was employed.

Findings

The results of the study suggested that public SNs have a positive impact on affective and normative commitment; however, no significant impact was observed for continuance commitment. ESNs directly affect none of the dimensions of organizational commitment. Although both types of SNs have impacts on job satisfaction, the greater impact was found for the public SNs. Job satisfaction also has a positive effect on all three dimensions of organizational commitment.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, no study has directly investigated and compared the roles of ESNs and public SNs in promoting organizational commitment from affective, continuance and normative dimensions with regard to the mediating role of job satisfaction. The most important theoretical contribution of the present research was to document that the employees’ use of SNs does not necessarily entail the waste of resources and has various advantages, such as strengthening organizational commitment (in affective, normative and continuance dimensions) and job satisfaction. In fact, this study disclosed the bright side of SNs in the workplace.
Circular fashion supply chain through textile-to-textile recycling
Authors: Sandvik Ida Marie , Stubbs Wendy
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the drivers, inhibitors and enablers of creating a textile-to-textile recycling system in the Scandinavian fashion industry. It investigates the technology, innovation and systemic changes required to enable circular supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study uses a qualitative, interpretivist approach, drawing on in-depth semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the Scandinavian fashion industry.

Findings

The main inhibitors to textile-to-textile recycling systems in the Scandinavian fashion industry are: limited technology which creates a challenge for separating materials; high costs of research and development and building the supporting logistics; complexity of supply chains including the multitude of stakeholders involved in product development. The enablers are design and use of new materials, increased garment collection and collaboration. This research suggests that sorting and recycling technology can be enhanced with the use of digital technologies, as this would create transparency, traceability and automatisation.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by a small sample size and lack of representation of all key stakeholder groups, which limits the ability to generalise these findings. However, as an exploratory study, the findings provide insights that can be further tested in other contexts.

Originality/value

Understanding of textile-to-textile recycling is emerging both theoretically and practically, however, there is still much that is not understood. This research contributes to furthering understanding of how technology, collaboration and systemic change in the fashion industry can support opportunities for textile-to-textile recycling, thereby aligning with circular economy principles.
Hermeneutic analysis of the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival as a development communication medium in Lucban, Quezon, Philippines
Authors: Del Rosario Peter Jerome B.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Only few festival studies in the Philippines attempted to examine the capability of festivals as folk media to communicate development. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the development-oriented activities and messages in the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher conducted participant observation, ethnographic photography, key informant interview and record review. A historical analysis of the festival’s background, thematic analysis of its list of programs, visual analysis of the photographs guided by Barthes’ (1964) semiology and hermeneutics were employed.

Findings

Formerly a native ritual before the Hispanic rule in the country, the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival is currently held by the Local Government of Lucban, Quezon, primarily for touristic purposes. The festival’s activities in 2015 reflected the municipality’s dependence on agriculture and the residents’ religiosity, skills and creativity. The adornments during the said celebration likewise gave a glimpse of the residents’ social status, livelihood sources and reverence to Saint Isidore. Through hermeneutics, the researcher also found issues on the residents’ idolatry and their motivation to display their produce during the festival.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study can only hold true for the 2015 celebration of the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival. Despite this, the study finds hermeneutics and Barthes’ (1964) semiology useful for festival studies. It also appeals to folk media studies and postcolonial theories.

Originality/value

This research provides an unconventional methodology for festival studies, which contributes to the very limited hermeneutic tourism studies abroad and folk media studies in the Philippines.
The effect of job insecurity on employees’ job outcomes: the mediating role of job embeddedness
Authors: Safavi Homayoun Pasha , Karatepe Osman M.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Drawing on job embeddedness (JE) and reformulation of attitude theories, the purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model in which JE mediates the influence of job insecurity (JIS) on quitting intentions and service recovery performance (SRP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data came from 313 hotel service workers based on three waves through a two-week period in Iran. Service workers’ SRP was rated by their direct supervisors. The abovementioned linkages were gauged using structural equation modeling.

Findings

All hypotheses are supported. Specifically, JIS diminishes JE. Consistent with the study’s hypotheses, JE fosters SRP, while it reduces quitting intentions. As predicted, JE completely mediates the influence of JIS on propensity to quit and SRP.

Originality/value

What is known about how JIS can be mitigated is still scarce in the current literature. There is a paucity of evidence regarding the mechanism that links JIS to employee’s outcomes.
Corporate crime control in China: an observation from culture perspective
Authors: Lin Jing
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate role of penal approach in corporate crime control and to assess if compliance program can be accepted in China, the largest developing country with relatively little regulatory capacity and an immature financial market when compared to developed economies.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the general corporate crime control theory, a perspective from legal culture will be specially followed in studying control instruments.

Findings

This paper found that the criminal control approach has its limitations in corporate crime control in China and, therefore, argued that compliance programs are highly consistent with Asian legal cultures. However, unlike many developed economies, compliance programs have not been included in sentencing guidelines yet, which has been left to judges’ discretion.

Originality/value

The concept of compliance as a control instrument has been widely discussed in developed economies. Limited research observes areas such as China, which faces a notable dilemma, i.e. economics has been speedily booming, whereas regulation rules are relatively left behind.
EPIC‐GILSYM: Modelling crop‐pest insect interactions and management with a novel coupled crop‐insect model
Authors: Rasche Livia , Taylor Robin A. J.
Published: May 2019

Modern intensive agriculture relies heavily on pesticides to control weeds, pathogens and insect pests. Forecasting and managing the impact of pests and pesticides on crop production is challenging. Since pest control tactics not only affect the target pest, but also initiate feedbacks within the field community, proper modelling of pest management requires functions in at least two trophic levels.

To respond to this challenge, we integrated a process‐based insect population dynamics model and a process‐based crop model. The coupled model was then used to simulate eight field trials on five different sites across the US, testing the efficacy of five different pesticides against six different pests as well as the yield response.

The results showed that the model performed robustly on different sites (five plots across the US) and under different climatic conditions (8 years spanning a period from 1985 to 2014). For armyworm and black cutworm, the simulated yields per hectare, the number of insects per plant and the response to insecticide treatments closely matched the reported numbers. For the European corn borer, the number of insects per plant differed slightly between simulated and field data, but the response to the insecticide treatment showed an adequate match. Simulations for the bean leaf beetle and stalk borer yielded similar results. The comparison between simulated and measured adult potato leafhopper numbers revealed that even though numbers did not match exactly in two of three years, they were in the same range, and the measured and simulated impacts were almost identical for all three used insecticides.

Synthesis and applications. The novel coupled crop‐insect model EPIC‐GILSYM realistically simulates two trophic levels (insects and plants), their interactions, and the effect crop management has on both levels. It has been successfully tested against field trial data collected in eight different years on five plots in different parts of the US. With careful calibration and validation to other sites and climates, it may become a valuable tool in the assessment of insect pest impacts and appropriate control measures.
Two Pseudomonas aeruginosa clonal groups belonging to the PA14 clade are indigenous to the Churince system in Cuatro Ciénegas Coahuila, México
Authors: García‐Ulloa Manuel , Ponce‐Soto Gabriel‐Yaxal , González‐Valdez Abigail , González‐Pedrajo Bertha , Díaz‐Guerrero Miguel , Souza Valeria , Soberón‐Chávez Gloria
Published: May 2019

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely distributed environmental bacterium but is also an opportunistic pathogen that represents an important health hazard due to its high intrinsic antibiotic resistance and its production of virulence factors. The genetic structure of P. aeruginosa populations using whole genome sequences shows the existence of three clades, one of which (PA7 clade) has a higher genetic diversity. These three clades include clinical and environmental isolates that are very diverse in terms of geographical origins and isolation date. Here, we report the characterization of two distinct clonal P. aeruginosa groups that form a part of the PA14 clade (clade 2) sampled from the Churince system in Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (CCB). One of the clonal groups that we report here was isolated in 2011 (group 2A) and was displaced by the other clonal group (2B) in 2015. Both Churince groups are unable to produce pyoverdine but can produce other virulence‐associated traits. The existence of these unique P. aeruginosa clonal groups in the Churince system is of ecological and evolutionary significance since the microbiota of this site is generally very distinct from other lineages, and this is the first time that a population of P. aeruginosa has been found in CCB.
The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, family functioning, and mental health problems among children and adolescents: a systematic review
Authors: Scully Claudia , McLaughlin Jacintha , Fitzgerald Amanda
Published: May 2019

This article reports a systematic review of the literature examining the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), family functioning (FF) and mental health (MH) problems among children and adolescents. The current review aims to thoroughly investigate the relationship between ACEs, FF and MH, and to synthesise the findings in the literature. Three databases were searched, and a narrative synthesis of the final thirty‐four articles is presented. The results of the systematic review indicate that the association between FF and child/adolescent MH is mixed; ACEs and child/adolescent MH are related; ACEs and FF are related; and demographic factors impact on the association between the three main variables. The literature suggests a strong association between ACEs, child and adolescent MH problems, and FF, and some overlap between these variables is evident. This systematic review highlights the importance of family‐focused care and the value of asking children about their experience of adverse childhood experiences in clinical practice.

Practitioner points

The literature suggests a strong relationship between ACEs, FF, and MH problems

FF mediates the relationship between specific ACEs, and child/adolescent MH problems, although further research is warranted

Clinicians working with children and adolescents with MH problems should be mindful of family‐centred care and ask children about their experience of ACEs