bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of dependencies between growth and division in budding yeast
Authors: Mayhew Michael B. , Iversen Edwin S. , Hartemink Alexander J.
Published: February 2017

Cell growth and division are processes vital to the proliferation and development of life. Coordination between these two processes has been recognized for decades in a variety of organisms. In the budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae, this coordination or ‘size control’ appears as an inverse correlation between cell size and the rate of cell-cycle progression, routinely observed in G1prior to cell division commitment. Beyond this point, cells are presumed to complete S/G2/M at similar rates and in a size-independent manner. As such, studies of dependence between growth and division have focused on G1. Moreover, in unicellular organisms, coordination between growth and division has commonly been analysedwithinthe cycle of a single cell without accounting for correlations in growth and division characteristicsbetweencycles of related cells. In a comprehensive analysis of three published time-lapse microscopy datasets, we analyse both intra- and inter-cycle dependencies between growth and division, revisiting assumptions about the coordination between these two processes. Interestingly, we find evidence (i) that S/G2/M durations are systematically longer in daughters than in mothers, (ii) of dependencies between S/G2/M and size at budding that echo the classical G1dependencies, and (iii) in contrast with recent bacterial studies, of negative dependencies between size at birth and size accumulated during the cell cycle. In addition, we develop a novel hierarchical model to uncover inter-cycle dependencies, and we find evidence for such dependencies in cells growing in sugar-poor environments. Our analysis highlights the need for experimentalists and modellers to account for new sources of cell-to-cell variation in growth and division, and our model provides a formal statistical framework for the continued study of dependencies between biological processes.
Parapatric speciation in three islands: dynamics of geographical configuration of allele sharing
Authors: Yamaguchi Ryo , Iwasa Yoh
Published: February 2017

We studied the time to speciation by geographical isolation for a species living on three islands connected by rare migration. We assumed that incompatibility was controlled by a number of quantitative loci and that individuals differing in loci by more than a threshold did not mix genetically with each other. For each locus, we defined the geographical configuration (GC), which specifies islands with common alleles, and traced the stochastic transitions between different GCs. From these results, we calculated the changes in genetic distances. As a single migration event provides an opportunity for transitions in multiple loci, the GCs of different loci are correlated, which can be evaluated by constructing the stochastic differential equations of the number of loci with different GCs. Our model showed that the low number of incompatibility loci facilitates parapatric speciation and that migrants arriving as a group shorten the waiting time to speciation compared with the same number of migrants arriving individually. We also discuss how speciation rate changes with geographical structure.
The Opiliones tree of life: shedding light on harvestmen relationships through transcriptomics
Authors: Fernández Rosa , Sharma Prashant P. , Tourinho Ana Lúcia , Giribet Gonzalo
Published: February 2017

Opiliones are iconic arachnids with a Palaeozoic origin and a diversity that reflects ancient biogeographic patterns dating back at least to the times of Pangea. Owing to interest in harvestman diversity, evolution and biogeography, their relationships have been thoroughly studied using morphology and PCR-based Sanger approaches to infer their systematic relationships. More recently, two studies utilized transcriptomics-based phylogenomics to explore their basal relationships and diversification, but sampling was limiting for understanding deep evolutionary patterns, as they lacked good taxon representation at the family level. Here, we analysed a set of the 14 existing transcriptomes with 40 additional ones generated for this study, representing approximately 80% of the extant familial diversity in Opiliones. Our phylogenetic analyses, including a set of data matrices with different gene occupancy and evolutionary rates, and using a multitude of methods correcting for a diversity of factors affecting phylogenomic data matrices, provide a robust and stable Opiliones tree of life, where most families and higher taxa are precisely placed. Our dating analyses using alternative calibration points, methods and analytical parameters provide well-resolved old divergences, consistent with ancient regionalization in Pangea in some groups, and Pangean vicariance in others. The integration of state-of-the-art molecular techniques and analyses, together with the broadest taxonomic sampling to date presented in a phylogenomic study of harvestmen, provide new insights into harvestmen interrelationships, as well as an overview of the general biogeographic patterns of this ancient arthropod group.
Correlations between quality indices and consumer acceptance in environment-friendly ‘Campbell early’ grapes
Authors: Lee Da Uhm , Bae Jeong Mi , Ku Kyung Hyung , Choi Jeong Hee
Published: February 2017

This study investigated the correlation between physicochemical (color, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), and firmness) and sensory (appearance, taste, odor, and texture) characteristics of environment-friendly ‘Campbell early’ grapes to identify quality indices. For analysis, samples of similar-sized grapes were collected from five orchards. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of CIE L*, CIE a*/b*, SSC, pH, TA, and firmness and the sensorial characteristics of color intensity, freshness of stem, odor, sourness, sweetness, and elasticity were different among groups. Correlation analysis results showed that an increase in sweetness and firmness and a decrease in sourness were associated with an increase in overall acceptance. Sourness and sweetness were positively correlated with CIE L* (r=0.88) and firmness (r=0.95), individually. In the principal component analysis results, component F1 and F2 explained 44.35% and 33.77%, respectively, of the total variance (78.12%). F1 represented firmness, sweetness, elasticity, hardness, grape odor, color intensity, sweet odor, sourness, and damage degree. F2 represented CIE L*, TA, CIE a*, CIE a*/b*, SSC/TA, SSC, and peel thickness. The results showed that consumer acceptance of ‘Campbell early’ grapes can be determined by assessing physicochemical attributes of firmness, CIE L*, TA, CIE a*, CIE a*/b*, SSC/TA, and SSC and various sensorial attributes including sweetness, fruit elasticity, fruit hardness, grape odor, and color intensity.
Quality characteristics of steamed rice cake with Schisandra chinensis powder or extract added prior to storage
Authors: Kim Dae-Hyun , Cho Jeong-Seok , Park Jung-Hoon , Kim Jae-Hwan , Moon Kwang-Deog
Published: February 2017

The purpose of this study was to improve the quality of the steamed rice cakes added with powder and extract of Schisandra chinensis (SC). Steamed rice cakes were prepared by adding SC using 1% hot-air dried SC powder (DP), hot-air dried SC extract (DE), freeze dried SC powder (FP) and, frozen SC extract (FE). After packaging with nylon/polyethylene films, the cakes were stored at 25°C for 5 days. The FE-treated steamed rice cake had the lowest pH value. The L* value of the control cakes was highest immediately after processing and decreased during storage. The a* values of FP- and FE-treated steamed rice cakes were higher than those of DP- and DE-treated cakes. The b* values of DP- and DE-treated steamed rice cakes were higher than those of FP- and FE-treated cakes. Total phenolic contents of DP and DE were lower than those of FP and FE. Anthocyanin contents of DPand DE-treated steamed rice cakes were lower than those of FP- and FE-treated cakes. Schisandrin contents of DP- and FP-treated steamed rice cakes were lower than those of DE- and FE-treated cakes. Ferric reducing antioxidant power assays revealed that DP and DE had lower antioxidant powers than those of FP and FE. The results of this study indicate that, among the treatments methods used, the steamed rice cake treated with FE had the highest functional component and antioxidant activity levels.
Developmental cognitive neuroscience using Latent Change Score models: A tutorial and applications
Authors: Kievit Rogier A. , Brandmaier Andreas M. , Ziegler Gabriel , van Harmelen Anne-Laura , de Mooij Susanne M. M. , Moutoussis Michael , Goodyer Ian , Bullmore Ed , Jones Peter B. , Fonagy Peter ,   the NSPN Consortium, Lindenberger Ulman , Dolan Raymond J.
Published: February 2017

Assessing and analysing individual differences in change over time is of central scientific importance to developmental neuroscience. However, the literature is based largely on cross-sectional comparisons, which reflect a variety of influences and cannot directly represent change. We advocate usinglatent change score(LCS) models in longitudinal samples as a statistical framework to tease apart the complex processes underlying lifespan development in brain and behaviour using longitudinal data. LCS models provide a flexible framework that naturally accommodates key developmental questions as model parameters and can even be used, with some limitations, in cases with only two measurement occasions. We illustrate the use of LCS models with two empirical examples. In a lifespan cognitive training study (COGITO, N=204 (N=32 imaging) on two waves) we observe correlated change in brain and behaviour in the context of a high-intensity training intervention. In an adolescent development cohort (NSPN, N=176, two waves) we find greater variability in cortical thinning in males than in females. To facilitate the adoption of LCS by the developmental community, we provide analysis code that can be adapted by other researchers and basic primers in two freely available SEM software packages (lavaan and Ωnyx).

Highlights

We describe Latent change score modelling as a flexible statistical tool

Key developmental questions can be readily formalized using LCS models

We provide accessible open source code and software examples to fit LCS models

White matter structural change is negatively correlated with processing speed gains

Frontal lobe thinning in adolescence is more variable in males than females
Consensus rank orderings of molecular fingerprints illustrate the ‘most genuine’ similarities between marketed drugs and small endogenous human metabolites, but highlight exogenous natural products as the most important ‘natural’ drug transporter substrates
Authors: O’Hagan Steve , Kell Douglas B.
Published: February 2017

We compare several molecular fingerprint encodings for marketed, small molecule drugs, and assess how theirrank ordervaries with the fingerprint in terms of the Tanimoto similarity to the most similar endogenous human metabolite as taken from Recon2. For the great majority of drugs, the rank order variesvery greatlydepending on the encoding used, and also somewhat when the Tanimoto similarity (TS) is replaced by the Tversky similarity. However, for a subset of such drugs, amounting to some 10% of the set and a Tanimoto similarity of ~0.8 or greater, the similarity coefficient is relatively robust to the encoding used. This leads to a metric that, while arbitrary, suggests that a Tanimoto similarity of 0.75-0.8 or greater genuinely does imply a considerable structural similarity of two molecules in the drug-endogenite space. Although comparatively few (<10% of) marketed drugs are, in this sense,robustlysimilar to an endogenite, there is often at least one encoding with which theyaregenuinely similar (e.g. TS > 0.75). This is referred to as the Take Your Pick Improved Cheminformatic Analytical Likeness or TYPICAL encoding, and on this basis some 66% of drugs are within a TS of 0.75 to an endogenite.

We next explicitly recognise that natural evolution will have selected for the ability to transportdietarysubstances, including plant, animal and microbial ‘secondary’ metabolites, that are of benefit to the host. These should also be explored in terms of their closeness to marketed drugs. We thus compared the TS of marketed drugs with the contents of various databases of natural products. When this is done, we find that some 80% of marketed drugs are within a TS of 0.7 to a natural product, even using just the MACCS encoding. For patterned and TYPICAL encodings, 80% and 98% of drugs are within a TS of 0.8 to (an endogenite or) an exogenous natural product. This implies strongly that it is theseexogeneous(dietary and medicinal) natural products that are more to be seen as the ‘natural’ substrates of drug transporters (as is recognised, for instance, for the solute carrier SLC22A4 and ergothioneine). This novel analysis casts an entirely different light on the kinds of natural molecules that are to be seen as most like marketed drugs, and hence potential transporter substrates, and further suggests that a renewed exploitation of natural products as drug scaffolds would be amply rewarded.
Strategic exploration in human adaptive control
Authors: Schulz Eric , Klenske Edgar D. , Bramley Neil R. , Speekenbrink Maarten
Published: February 2017

How do people explore in order to gain rewards in uncertain dynamical systems? Within a reinforcement learning paradigm, control normally involves trading off between exploration (i.e. trying out actions in order to gain more knowledge about the system) and exploitation (i.e. using current knowledge of the system to maximize reward). We study a novel control task in which participants must steer a boat on a grid, aiming to follow a path of high reward whilst learning how their actions affect the boat’s position. We find that participants explore strategically yet conservatively, exploring more when mistakes are less costly and practicing actions that will be required later on.
Comparative insights to the transportome ofNosema: a genus of parasitic microsporidians
Authors: Chetia Hasnahana , Kabiraj Debajyoti , Sharma Swagata , Bora Utpal
Published: February 2017

Nosema,a genus of parasitic microsporidia, causes pebrine disease in arthropods, including economically important silkworms and honeybees.Nosemahave gene-poor genomes shaped by loss of the metabolic pathways, as a consequence of continued dependence on host-derived substrates. As an act of counterbalance, they have developed an array of transporter proteins that allow stealing from their hosts. Here, we have identified the core set of twelve transporter families present inNosemagenus, viz.N. apis, N. bombycis, N. ceranaeandN. antheraeathroughin silicopipeline. Transportomes ofN. apis, N. bombycis, N. ceranaeandN. antheraeahave a dominant share of secondary carriers and primary active transporters. The comparatively rich and diverse transportome ofN. bombycisindicates the role of transporters in its remarkable capability of host adaptation. The core set of transporter families ofNosemaincludes ones that have a likely role in osmo-regulation, intra- and extra-cellular pH regulation, energy compensation and self-defence mechanism. This study has also revealed a set of ten species-specific transporter families within the genus. To our knowledge, this is the first ever intra-genus study on microsporidian transporters. Both these datasets constitutes a valuable resource that can aid in development of inhibitor-basedNosemamanagement strategies.
Gal4 activation domain 9aaTAD could be inactivated by adjacent mini-inhibitory domain and reactivated by distal re-activation domain
Authors: Piskacek Martin , Havelka Marek , Rezacova Martina , Knight Andrea
Published: February 2017

The characterisation of the activation domains started three decades ago with Gcn4 and Gal4 activators. The amorphous character of the activation domains strongly hindered their definition. Moreover, during the attempts to localise the Gal4 activation domain, the artificial peptides, an unintended consequence of cloning, were responsible for artificial transcriptional activity of the several Gal4 constructs. These artefacts produced enormous experimental bias and misconception. The presence of inhibitory domains in some Gal4 constructs made the misperception even worse. Previously, we reported that the nine amino acid transactivation domain, 9aaTAD, is the exclusive activation domain in the Gal4 protein. The activation domain 9aaTAD could be identified in Gal4 paralogs Oaf1, Pip2, Pdr1, Pdr3 and other activators p53, E2A and MLL. Surprisingly, the activation domain 9aaTAD was reported as misconception for Gal4 activator. Here we demonstrated that small region of 10 amino acids adjacent to the Gal4 activation domain 9aaTAD is an inhibitory domain, which the authors included in their constructs. Moreover, we identified Gal4 region, which was able to the reverse the inhibitory effect. The 9aaTAD re-activation domain was localized to the 13 amino acid long region. In this report we clarified the numerous confusions and rebutted supposed 9aaTAD misconception.

The activation domain 9aaTAD has decisive function in Gal4 activation. Gal4 activation domain 9aaTAD could be inhibited by adjacent region of 10 amino acids. The inhibited Gal4 activation domain 9aaTAD could be reactivated by 13 amino acid long Gal4 region. The activation domains 9aaTAD could be identified by our 9aaTAD prediction algorithm, especially in the Gal4 family.
The roles of deals and business networks in innovation processes
Authors: Olsen Per Ingvar , Håkansson Håkan
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the roles of deals in innovations processes, based on the definition of a deal as the interaction of social-material value-creating processes with money-handing processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a study of the historical emergence of transaortic valve implantation (TAVI) as an innovative new technology in the area of thoracic surgery in a global setting. The study is based on a combination of interviews and secondary data analysis.

Findings

The authors found that deals play important roles in innovation processes as critical junctions that mark entries to different phases and generate major shifts in location as well as combination of resources, activities and actors. These shifts include radical changes in control, where actors in possession of resources necessary to bring the project through the next phase, move in to take control – thereby expanding their businesses to new growth niches. Based on the analysis of seven deals, the authors argue that the innovation process is a combined push and pull process where later stage entrepreneurial interests play very significant roles. Deals may also represent radical turning points and moves of the projects that set the project off in a different direction, usually also associated with shifting ownership control rights through the innovation and scaling process. The authors also argue that inventions in the periphery will tend to move to the areas with the most competent relevant business networks capable of adopting and expanding the innovation to a global business operation. The innovation process is not primarily about creating new resources and activities, but about recombining existing resources, competencies and activities. Supplier networks play particularly important roles in these processes.

Research limitations/implications

The authors suggest that the study indicates that IMP researchers should turn more attention to studying business deals and financial flows and influences – in particular in studies of innovations and innovation processes – to investigate the mechanisms by which new innovations interact with and transform existing business networks.

Social implications

This work highlights why and how an innovation that may initiate anywhere in the periphery, will tend to move to the most competent and capable networks around the globe, that are the most relevant to the needs of the innovation project. Hence, the more powerful business networks and eco-systems will tend to pull interesting inventions in from their periphery, and grow them effectively.

Originality/value

The paper expands the efforts in IMP theorizing to include financial/monetary interactions more explicitly into business network theory. It also aims at clarifying core IMP arguments toward entrepreneurship research, in particular research on international new ventures.
Strategy from the perspective of contract manufacturers
Authors: Szalkai Zsuzsanna , Magyar Mária
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategy of contract manufacturers (CMs). The research question is the following: how can the strategy of CMs be explained? The purpose is to better understand this activity though using different theoretical approaches and analyzing two customer relationships of a Hungarian CM, Videoton Holding.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary theoretical background is the relational view of strategy, and the concept of the business model is used for the analysis. The authors confront the literature about this topic in strategic management using the industrial marketing and purchasing approach to strategy; namely, strategizing. Through the case study of Videoton the authors explore how the company became a highly developed CM from its origins as an original equipment manufacturer company.

Findings

Through comparing theory the authors have created a research framework which is adapted to the empirical findings. In the CM’s strategy it is crucial to understand how partners are able to synchronize key propositions, key resources and key actors while taking the network of the firms into consideration.

Originality/value

The paper is novel in that the authors investigate the strategy of a supplier from their own perspective, not that of a customer. Applying and contrasting different theoretical approaches to this particular topic may considered to be valuable as well.
Customer portfolios – challenges of internal and external alignment
Authors: Højbjerg Clarke Ann , Freytag Per Vagn , Zolkiewski Judith
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the discussion about customer portfolios beyond simple identification of models and how they can be used for balanced resource allocation to a discussion about how portfolios should take into account views from relationship partners and how they should be aligned in internal as well as a relational context.

Design/methodology/approach

The portfolio literature is reviewed (most recent, seminal, IMP related) and considered in the context of both the sales organization and the customers involved in the portfolio. A conceptual framework is introduced that helps improve the understanding of how customer portfolio models can actually be applied from a relational perspective.

Findings

The key aspects of the conceptual framework relate to how alignment of the relationships in the portfolio is achieved. Critical to this are the interaction spaces that facilitate communication relating to alignment and provide the context for the legitimacy of these actions to be discussed.

Research limitations/implications

This framework needs to be empirically explored.

Practical implications

Understanding of alignment and misalignment processes in customer portfolios gives managers a tool to help to cope with the dynamic aspects of the customer portfolio. Recognition of the importance of communication to the process, the development of trust and the role of legitimacy also provides areas that managers can focus upon in their relationship management processes.

Originality/value

This conceptualization moves the consideration of relationship/customer portfolios beyond simply that of a resource allocation tool into a process that facilitates the use of the portfolio in relational processes and thus aids their understanding of how portfolios can be usefully applied.
Total productive maintenance and manufacturing performance improvement
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan , Leong Tat Yuen
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the multidimensionality of total productive maintenance (TPM) and its relationship with manufacturing performance improvement in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. Specifically, this study evaluates the contribution of each TPM success factors in improving manufacturing performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 89 employees who participated in the survey were used to test the proposed research framework. A structured questionnaire adopted from Ahuja and Khamba (2006) was used to assess the Malaysian context.

Findings

The analytical results reveal that traditional maintenance initiatives and TPM implementation initiatives significantly affect manufacturing performance, but not top management leadership and maintenance organisation. Top management roles and commitment are critical in the early stage to determine the master plan and initiate the implementation of the whole programme. However, traditional maintenance and TPM implementation initiatives gradually enable engagement, proper planning, right execution and continuous improvement, ultimately improving the manufacturing performance indicators significantly. The findings further unveil that TPM is not sustainable in Malaysia’s manufacturing organisations in the long run.

Practical implications

This analysis is vital for senior managers of manufacturing organisations that have implemented TPM or are considering introducing TPM in their organisations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by examining beyond the introduction and stabilisation phase of TPM to provide an insight of whether TPM is sustainable in the long run.
Risk assessment of mining projects in Ghana
Authors: Amoatey Charles Teye , Famiyeh Samuel , Andoh Peter
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the critical risk factors affecting mining projects in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A purposive sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents for the study. These were practitioners working on mining projects in Ghana.

Findings

The study identified 22 risk factors contributing to mining project failure in Ghana. The five most critical mining project risk factors based on both probability of occurrence and impact were unstable commodity prices, inflation/exchange rate, land degradation, high cost of living and government bureaucracy for obtaining licenses. Mitigation measures for addressing the identified risk factors were identified.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to data collected from practitioners working on mining projects. Due to geographic and logistical constraints, the study did not include the perception of local communities in quantifying the risk factors.

Practical implications

This paper has documented the critical risk factor affecting the mining industry in Ghana. Though the identified risk types are also prevalent in other sectors of the construction industry, the key findings of this paper emphasize the need for a comprehensive risk management culture in the mining sector. From an academic research perspective, the paper contributes to a conceptual risk assessment framework.

Originality/value

The information gathered through this research can be utilized in identifying and understanding risks during the early stages of mining project implementation.
The European standards and guidelines for internal quality assurance
Authors: Manatos Maria J. , Sarrico Cláudia S. , Rosa Maria J.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The authors’ thesis statement is that the literature on quality management in higher education is evolving towards an idea of integration. Considering Part 1 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) (ENQA, 2009) to be a framework for the implementation of quality management practices in universities, the purpose of this paper is to understand whether the ESG represent a truly integrated quality management model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse the content of the ESG taking into account three levels of analysis: the process level, the organisational level and the quality management principles level.

Findings

The analysis shows that the ESG are a quality management model, covering different processes, organisational levels and quality management principles. This is despite not being a truly integrated quality management model. Indeed, the ESG are mainly focussed on teaching and learning and on support processes, neglecting other processes of universities, such as research and scholarship and the third mission. In addition, they leave aside quality management principles more directly linked with a systemic and holistic approach to quality, such as the system approach principle.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new analysis of a much discussed quality management model for higher education. It explores the ESG in the light of the concept of integration, discussed according to a new framework of analysis. It also highlights the importance of a broader reflection on these standards and of their integration in the management systems of institutions.
Risk-based thinking according to ISO 9001:2015 standard and the risk sources European manufacturing SMEs intend to manage
Authors: Chiarini Andrea
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theorize and prioritize the main categories of risk sources for the European manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 requirement “risk based thinking.” Furthermore, the research analyses how these organizations intend to manage the risks and their effects.

Design/methodology/approach

A first exploratory interview with 28 experts from international certification bodies and manufacturing companies which revealed 11 risk sources has been performed. Then, quality managers from European manufacturing SMEs were surveyed to determine whether or not they intended to manage the risk sources suggested by the experts. A 95 percent confidence interval was performed to evaluate the range of plausible values for the population. The quality managers were also asked to comment on each category of risk source.

Findings

The research shows that the most taken into account categories of risk sources were the internal production of nonconforming products followed by poorly trained workers with a lack of skills and awareness, supplier nonconforming products and lack of risk-based assessment. The least taken into account category was nonconforming technical results in the design process. The quality managers’ qualitative comments also brought to light interesting issues which represented avenues for new research.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this research lie in the first exploratory interview with the 28 experts. This process could be improved by means of a larger sample of experts. Furthermore, these experts could have included risk source categories which could fall outside of an ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) scope and application.

Practical implications

Quality managers in SMEs can now address the new ISO 9001:2015 requirement knowing what the priorities from a statistical point of view are. This implication is also relevant to QMS consultants who are implementing ISO 9001:2015 QMS together with their customers.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is that it has been tried for the first time to theorize what the main categories of risk sources in accordance with the risk-based thinking requirement are for European manufacturing SMEs.
Influence of Six Sigma on project success in construction industry of Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Fahim , Thaheem Muhammad Jamaluddin , Siddiqui Siddra Qayyum , Khurshid Muhammad Bilal
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of implementation of Six Sigma (SS) in the construction industry of Pakistan along with the current state of affairs and the challenges, and opportunities for a successful implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is purely exploratory in nature. Based on published work, critical success factors are gathered, and a number of questionnaire surveys and interviews are conducted to refine and quantify their impact. A system dynamics framework to assess the SS influence on project success is developed and case study project are simulated.

Findings

The construction industry of Pakistan is still functioning in a traditional way; marred with low level of awareness and ad hoc approaches, the findings point to a huge improvement opportunity. Further, when under planning projects are exposed to SS, the chances of project success improve better than under execution projects.

Research limitations/implications

The limited level of awareness possessed by the respondents constrains the possible outreach of this work in industrially developed contexts. However, this work may become an impetus for further research in managing quality in construction industry.

Practical implications

The findings can be used to improve the quality provision of construction projects.

Originality/value

This work may trigger an important debate over the research and implementation of SS in the construction industry of developing countries that may greatly benefit by improving the quality of their projects and rectify their diminishing reputation for project success.
Double plane‐wave reverse‐time migration
Authors: Zhao Zeyu , Sen Mrinal K. , Stoffa Paul L.
Published: February 2017

We develop a new time‐domain reverse‐time migration method called double plane‐wave reverse‐time migration that uses plane‐wave transformed gathers. Original shot gathers with appropriate data acquisition geometry are double slant stacked into the double plane‐wave domain with minimal slant stacking artefacts. The range of plane‐wave components needed for migration can be determined by estimating the maximum time dips present in shot gathers. This reduces the total number of input traces for migration and increases migration efficiency. Unlike the pre‐stack shot‐profile reverse‐time migration where the number of forward propagations is proportional to the number of shots, the number of forward propagations needed for the proposed method remains constant and is relatively small even for large seismic datasets. Therefore, the proposed method can improve the efficiency of the migration and be suitable for migrating large datasets. Double plane‐wave reverse‐time migration can be performed for selected plane‐wave components to obtain subsurface interfaces with different dips, which makes the migration method target oriented. This feature also makes the method a useful tool for migration velocity analysis. For example, we are able to promptly obtain trial images with nearly horizontal interfaces and adjust velocity models according to common image gathers. Seismic signal coming from steeply dipping interfaces can be included into the migration to build images with more detailed structures and higher spatial resolution as better velocity models become available. Illumination compensation imaging conditions for the proposed method are also introduced to obtain images with balanced amplitudes.
Resource availability modulates biodiversity‐invasion relationships by altering competitive interactions
Authors: Yang Tianjie , Wei Zhong , Friman Ville‐Petri , Xu Yangchun , Shen Qirong , Kowalchuk George A. , Jousset Alexandre
Published: February 2017

Community diversity affects the survival of newly introduced species via resource competition. Competitive interactions can be modulated by resource availability and we hypothesized that this may alter biodiversity‐invasion relationships. To study this, we assessed the growth of a bacterial invader, Ralstonia solanacearum, when introduced into communities comprised of one to five closely related resident species under different resource concentrations. The invader growth was then examined as a function of resident community richness, species composition and resource availability. We found that the relative density of the invader was reduced by increasing resident community richness and resource availability. Mechanistically, this could be explained by changes in the competitive interactions between the resident species and the invader along the resource availability gradient. At low resource availability, resident species with a high catabolic similarity with the invader efficiently reduced the invader relative density, while at high resource availability, fast‐growing resident species became more important for the invader suppression. These results indicate that the relative importance of different resident community species can change dynamically along to resource availability gradient. Diverse communities could be thus more robust to invasions by providing a set of significant species that can take suppressive roles across different environments.
Comparison Among Manual Facial Approximations Conducted by Two Methodological Approaches of Face Prediction
Authors: Herrera Lara Maria , Strapasson Raíssa Ananda Paim , Zanin Alice Aquino , da Silva Jorge Vicente Lopes , Melani Rodolfo Francisco Haltenhoff
Published: February 2017

This study verified the difference between two methods of forensic facial approximation (FFA) regarding recognition and resemblance rates. Three‐dimensional models of skulls were obtained from computerized tomography (CT) scans of two subjects (targets). Two manual FFAs were performed for each target, by applying two different guidelines for the facial structures (what we called “American method” (AM) and “Combined method” (CM)). Unfamiliar assessors evaluated the sculptures by recognition and resemblance tests. The AM was that which allowed more correct responses of recognition and higher resemblance's scores for the male target (p < 0.001). Regarding guidelines for modeling characteristics of the face, the ones that are practical and easily performed for sculptures, such as the length of the anterior nasal spine multiplied by 3 for nose prediction, may offer better results in terms of resemblance.
Morphological Features of Regurgitate and Defecatory Stains Deposited by Five Species of Necrophagous Flies are Influenced by Adult Diets and Body Size
Authors: Rivers David B. , McGregor Andrew
Published: February 2017

The morphological characteristics of artifacts from five species of necrophagous flies were examined following feeding on several types of diets. Four types of insect stains were produced by each species: regurgitate, defecatory, translocation, and tarsal tracks. Regurgitate was the most frequent type deposited (70.9 ± 2.4%), followed by defecatory (19.8 ± 4.0%), tarsal tracks (8.6 ± 1.2%), and translocation (0.7 ± 0.1%). Artifact shapes, sizes, and color were highly variable and species and diet specific. Calliphora vicina and Sarcophaga bullata consistently deposited the largest artifacts after feeding, whereas Chrysomya rufifacies and Ch. megacephala produced more tarsal tracks than the other species examined. Artifacts with tails were infrequently observed (4.1 ± 0.6% of all stains) but occurred as either defecatory or regurgitate stains. The widely variable morphologies of all types of fly artifacts underscores the view that insect stains cannot be distinguished from human bloodstains based on morphology alone.
X‐ray Diffraction and Rietveld Refinement in Deferrified Clays for Forensic Science
Authors: Prandel Luis V. , Melo Vander de F. , Brinatti André M. , Saab Sérgio da C. , Salvador Fábio A. S.
Published: February 2017

Soil vestiges might provide information about a crime scene. The Rietveld method with X‐ray diffraction data (RM‐XRD) is a nondestructive technique that makes it possible to characterize minerals present in the soils. Soil clays from the metropolitan region of Curitiba (Brazil) were submitted toDCBtreatment and analyzed usingXRDwith CuKαradiation in the step‐scan mode (0.02° 2θ/5 s). TheGSAS+EXPGUIsoftware was used forRMrefinement. TheRM‐XRDresults, together with the principal component analysis (PCA) (52.6% total variance), showed the kaolinite predominance in most analyzed samples and the highest quartz contents in “site 1.” Higher anatase, and gibbsite and muscovite contents influenced discrimination, mainly in “site 3” and “site 1,” respectively. These results were enough to discriminate clays of four sites and two horizons using a reduced amount of sample showing that the technique can be applied to the investigation into soil vestiges.
The physical properties of generic latanoprost ophthalmic solutions are not identical
Authors: Kolko Miriam , Koch Jensen Peter
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To compare various characteristics of Xalatan® and five generic latanoprost ophthalmic solutions.

Methods

Drop size, volume, pH values, buffer capacity, viscosity, hardness of bottles and costs were determined. Drop sizes were measured in triplicates by micropipettes, and the number of drops counted in three separate bottles of each generic product was determined. pH values were measured in triplicates by a calibrated pH meter. Buffer capacity was exploited by titrating known quantities of strong base into 2.5 ml of each brand and interpolated to neutral pH. Kinematic viscosity was determined by linear regression of timed gravity flow from a vertical syringe through a 21‐G cannula. The hardness of the bottles was evaluated by gradually increasing tension on a hook placed around each bottle until a drop was expelled reading the tension on an attached spring scale.

Results

Drop sizes and the number of drops in the bottles varied significantly between the generic drugs. The control value of pH in the brand version (Xalatan®) was markedly lower compared to the generic latanoprost products. Titration of Xalatan® to neutrality required substantially more NaOH compared to the generic latanoprost products. Finally, the viscosity revealed a significant variability between brands. Remarkable differences were found in bottle shapes, bottle hardness and costs of the latanoprost generics.

Conclusion

Generic latanoprost eye drops should not be considered identical to the original brand version as regards to drop size, volumes, pH values, buffer capacity, viscosity, hardness of bottles and costs. It is likely that these issues affect compliance and intraocular pressure (IOP)‐lowering effect. Therefore, re‐evaluation of the requirements for introducing generic eye drops seems reasonable.
FIJI Water, water everywhere: Global brands and democratic and social injustice
Authors: Jones Catherine , Murray Warwick E. , Overton John
Published: February 2017

Over recent decades, the demand for bottled water has grown exponentially at the global scale. In the marketing of such products, discourses of purity and paradise have often been invoked. Marketed as a ‘Taste of Paradise’, FIJI Water has gained enormous international success as an ostensibly clean and green product. Celebrity endorsements – reaching as high as US President Barack Obama – have abounded, driven in part by the belief that the corporation is both environmentally and socially responsible. This paper describes and analyses the rise of FIJI water and critically assesses the sources and impacts of its economic success. It goes on to explore its local social and environmental impacts in the context of a country that has been subject to waves of democratic crises where the fate of the polity has been influenced by FIJI Water's actions. FIJI Water has come to assume the role of development trustee in the villages most affected by the growth in exports. The democratic crises in Fiji has given FIJI Water profound developmental influence, and this has brought both costs and benefits at the local socio‐environmental scale.
Militantly ‘studying up’? (Ab)using whiteness for oppositional research
Authors: Clare Nick
Published: February 2017

This paper develops the idea of militantly ‘studying up’. Through a discussion of research into the relationship between migrants and social/labour movements in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it explores the way in which my positionality both helped and hindered the (militant) research process. As the possibility for militant research seemed to recede, by interrogating the antagonisms bound up in the disjuncture between my perceived and my performed positionality, I was able to retain a commitment to militant research/research militancy. The movement to a form of oppositional (auto)ethnography was underpinned by an (ab)use of my whiteness. This touched on new possibilities for militant research, and also afforded further reflection on the structuring power of whiteness itself. Situating itself against‐and‐beyond discussions of militant research, this paper explores not only the rich potential but also the difficulties and limitations of such a methodology. In this regard it foregrounds discussion of failure as a key reflexive strategy. Ultimately it argues that there is potentially value in ‘studying up’ within militant (migration) research, but that concerns surround the (re‐)reification of the very identities and structures that are intended to be deconstructed.
Evaluation of the immunogenicity of the dabigatran reversal agent idarucizumab during Phase I studies
Authors: Norris Stephen , Ramael Steven , Ikushima Ippei , Haazen Wouter , Harada Akiko , Moschetti Viktoria , Imazu Susumu , Reilly Paul A. , Lang Benjamin , Stangier Joachim , Glund Stephan
Published: February 2017

Aims

Idarucizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti‐dabigatran antibody fragment, is effective in emergency reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation. Pre‐existing and treatment‐emergent anti‐idarucizumab antibodies (antidrug antibodies; ADA) may affect the safety and efficacy of idarucizumab. This analysis characterized the pre‐existing and treatment‐emergent ADA and assessed their impact on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of idarucizumab.

Methods

Data were pooled from three Phase I, randomized, double‐blind idarucizumab studies in healthy Caucasian subjects; elderly, renally impaired subjects; and healthy Japanese subjects. In plasma sampled before and after idarucizumab dosing, ADA were detected and titrated using a validated electrochemiluminescence method. ADA epitope specificities were examined using idarucizumab and two structurally related molecules. Idarucizumab PK/PD data were compared for subjects with and without pre‐existing ADA.

Results

Pre‐existing ADA were found in 33 out of 283 individuals (11.7%), seven of whom had intermittent ADA. Titres of pre‐existing and treatment‐emergent ADA were low, estimated equivalent to <0.3% of circulating idarucizumab after a 5 g dose. Pre‐existing ADA had no impact on dose‐normalized idarucizumab maximum plasma levels and exposure and, although data were limited, no impact on the reversal of dabigatran‐induced anticoagulation by idarucizumab. Treatment‐emergent ADA were detected in 20 individuals (19 out of 224 treated [8.5%]; 1 out of 59 received placebo [1.7%]) and were transient in ten. The majority had specificity primarily toward the C‐terminus of idarucizumab. There were no adverse events indicative of immunogenic reactions.

Conclusion

Pre‐existing and treatment‐emergent ADA were present at extremely low levels relative to the idarucizumab dosage under evaluation. The PK/PD of idarucizumab appeared to be unaffected by the presence of pre‐existing ADA.