bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dispersion of functional gradients across the lifespan
Authors: Bethlehem Richard A.I. , Paquola Casey , Seidlitz Jakob , Ronan Lisa , Bernhardt Boris ,   Cam-CAN Consortium, Tsvetanov Kamen A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAgeing is commonly associated with changes to segregation and integration of functional brain networks, but, in isolation, current network-based approaches struggle to elucidate changes across the many axes of functional organisation. However, the advent of gradient mapping techniques to neuroimaging provides a new means of studying functional organisation in a multi-dimensional connectivity space. Here, we studied ageing and behaviourally-relevant differences in a three-dimensional connectivity space using the Cambridge Centre for Ageing Neuroscience cohort (n=643). Building on gradient mapping techniques, we developed a set of measures to quantify the dispersion within and between functional communities. We detected a strong shift of the visual network across the lifespan from an extreme to a more central position in the 3D gradient space. In contrast, the dispersion distance of transmodal communities (dorsal attention, ventral attention, frontoparietal and default mode) did not change. However, these communities were increasingly dispersed with increasing age, reflecting more dissimilar functional connectivity profiles within each community. Increasing dispersion of frontoparietal and ventral attention networks, in particular, was associated negatively with cognition, measured by fluid intelligence. By using a technique that explicitly captures the ordering of functional systems in a multi-dimensional hierarchical framework, we identified behaviorally-relevant age-related differences of within and between network organisation. We propose that the study of functional gradients across the lifespan could provide insights that may facilitate the development of new strategies to maintain cognitive ability across the lifespan in health and disease.
A benchmark of protein solubility prediction methods on UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases
Authors: Ghomi Fatemeh Ashari , Kittilä Tiia , Welner Ditte Hededam 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUDP-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are enzymes that glycosylate a wide variety of natural products, thereby modifying their physico-chemical properties, i.e. solubility, stability, reactivity, and function. To successfully leverage the UGTs in biocatalytic processes, we need to be able to screen and characterise themin vitro, which requires efficient heterologous expression in amenable hosts, preferablyEscherichia coli. However, many UGTs are insoluble when expressed in standard and attempted optimisedE. coliconditions, resulting in many unproductive and costly experiments. To overcome this limitation, we have investigated the performance of 11 existing solubility predictors on a dataset of 57 UGTs expressed inE. coli. We show that SoluProt outperforms other methods in terms of both threshold-independent and threshold-dependent measures. Among the benchmarked methods, only SoluProt is significantly better than random predictors using both measures. Moreover, we show that SoluProt uses a threshold for separating soluble and insoluble proteins that is optimal for our dataset. Hence, we conclude that using SoluProt to select UGT sequences forin vitroinvestigation will significantly increase the success rate of soluble expression, thereby minimising cost and enabling efficient characterisation efforts for biocatalysis research.
Being different matters! A closer look into product differentiation in specialty coffee family farms in Central America
Authors: Discua Cruz Allan , Centeno Caffarena Leonardo , Vega Solano Marcos 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThere is a growing interest in understanding the strategic behaviour of family firms producing international commodities such as coffee, particularly in contexts where decisions about what products to sell, where to commercialise them and how to promote them appear to be highly based on both business and family aspects. The purpose of this paper is to explore product differentiation strategies in family firms in the specialty coffee industry across Latin American countries. Whilst the socioeconomic relevance of coffee production in Central America is unequivocal, the approach and rationale of families that engage in specialty coffee production remain underexplored.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines product differentiation in specialty coffee family farms across countries in Central America: Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The study relies on in-depth interviews, case studies and an interpretative approach to unpick the dynamics of product differentiation by families in business dedicated to producing specialty coffee.FindingsThe findings show that product differentiation in specialty coffee family farms is influenced by both business and family aspects and driven by entrepreneurial stewards. Coffee-farming families can engage in product differentiation through a shared vision, a combination of traditional and specialised knowledge, and through the continuous development of an exchange network. The findings reveal a connection between families in business balancing family and business interests, and the strategic intention to build up their assets entrepreneurially over time.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on stewardship and strategic behaviour in family firms when families in business engage in differentiating their products in a highly competitive industry. More specifically, this study focuses on companies across countries where coffee is of crucial socioeconomic importance, and where the said companies are owned and managed by families. The study expands understanding of product differentiation in family-enterprise-first businesses and suggests that the family elements in differentiation can be explained through an entrepreneurial stewardship perspective.
Impact of instantaneous curvature on force and heat generation in manufacturing processes – a mathematical modelling
Authors: C. Sreerag , R. Gokul , J. Vinaykumar , G. Rajyalakshmi 
Published: February 2020

Purpose
In any machining process, the surface profile of the workpiece is continuously changing with respect to time and input parameters. In a conventional machining process, input parameters are feed and depth of cut whilst other parameters are considered to be constant throughout the process.

Design/methodology/approach
The direct and indirect participation of this instantaneous curvature can be used to optimize the strategy of cutting operation in terms of different parameters like heat generation-induced stresses, etc. The concepts of the metric tensor and Riemannian curvature tensor are made use in this study as a representation of curvature itself. The objective of this study is to create a mathematical methodology that can be implemented on a highly flexible machining process to find an optimum cutting strategy for a particular output parameter.

Findings
The study also includes different case studies for the validation of this newly introduced mathematical methodology.

Originality/value
The study will also find its position in other mechanical processes like forging and casting where instantaneous curvature affects various mechanical properties.
Supply chain data analytics and supply chain agility: a fuzzy sets (fsQCA) approach
Authors: Shamout Mohamed Dawood 
Published: February 2020

Purpose
Practitioners and researchers have reached a consensus that supply chain analytics is a strong determinant for desirable organizational outcomes such as supply chain performance and agility. The purpose of this paper is to examine a configural combination (i.e. causal recipes) subsuming supply chain data analytics, firmsize, age and annual sales to predict supply chain agility based on knowledge-based theory.

Design/methodology/approach
Survey data (n = 215) were obtained from firms operating in the United Arab Emirates. Consequently, fuzzy sets qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) technique was applied to the data to establish causal recipes that are necessary and sufficient to achieve high scores of supply chain agility.

Findings
Results from fsQCA support the major tenets of complexity theory that several configural combinations (i.e. supply chain data analytics, firm size, firm age and annual sales) are sufficient and necessary conditions for achieving higher scores of supply chain agility.

Originality/value
This study is first of its kind in understanding the association between supply chain data analytics and agility with fsQCA technique. This research also offers a headway for supply chain managers in identifying configural combinations of antecedents manifesting high scores for supply chain agility. Implications for theory and practice are illustrated as well as future research course.
Expanding higher education and wage inequality in Chile
Authors: Murakami Yoshimichi , Nomura Tomokazu 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the contribution of the expansion and diversification of higher education to Chile's increase in wage inequality from 1992 to 2000 and its subsequent decrease from 2000 to 2013.Design/methodology/approachThe wage equation for each year is estimated using data from the national household survey, Encuesta de Caracterización Socioeconómica Nacional (CASEN). Using the method proposed by Firpo et al. (2009), the evolution of wage changes is decomposed into composition and wage structure effects of each explanatory variable at different points of the wage distribution.FindingsThe results show that the positive composition effect of higher education, derived from the increasing share of both workers with university degrees and those with vocational degrees, is substantially larger at the upper quantiles and exceeds the negative wage structure effect, thereby contributing to increasing wage inequality from 1992 to 2000. By contrast, the negative wage structure effect of higher education, primarily derived from the decreasing return to university degrees, is substantially larger at the upper quantiles and exceeds the positive composition effect, thereby contributing to decreasing wage inequality from 2000 to 2013.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by showing that the expansion of higher education increased inequality in the 1990s and decreased it in the 2000s while the increasing supply of workers with vocational degrees decreased wage premiums for university degrees in the latter period.
Exploring the success of Thai advertising: historical perspective
Authors: Chantamas Marissa , Chaisuwan Bu-nga 
Published: February 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive record of the development of Thai advertising, which started as being heavily influenced by the West and subsequently evolved with a unique style that fits well with the global advertising trends.

Design/methodology/approach
The analysis was done based on literature review and content analysis of Thai advertising. In addition, ten in-depth interviews were conducted with executives of the Advertising Association of Thailand and academics.

Findings
Thai advertising progressed from being influenced by the growth of transnational advertising agencies. This resulted in strong creative foundations that blended well with the unique Thai emotional flair. In addition, consumer protection has grown in importance, leading to a strong commitment in pushing for self-regulation.

Research limitations/implications
Examination of Thai advertising shows that the strength of Thai advertising lies in its human resources. This exploration of challenges and success of Thai advertising has shed light on how the advertising industry can be developed for creativity leadership in the global arena. The limitation is that the paper misses interviews with digital agencies.

Practical implications
This paper provides a comprehensive presentation of Thai advertising history in terms of agency development, creativity, and self-regulation.

Originality/value
This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the Thai advertising industry based on agency ownership and growth, creativity development leading to the unique Thai emotional advertising and self-regulation.
Evidence on the impacts of business coaching
Authors: Wiginton James G. , Cartwright Phillip A. 
Published: February 2020

PurposeBased upon a survey of 87 companies having used the services of business coaches, this paper considers the extent to which coaching is likely to be beneficial to a leader's business success as well as that of the respective company.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology is mixed methods and survey-based combining quantitative Likert scaling with open-ended questions.FindingsAt the 99 percent confidence level, surveyed respondents believe that, on average, the coaching process has provided results above the investment required and has led to progress for them and their organizations. Of the six targeted areas, five showed a very positive relationship between the coaching experience and the results from its clients.Research limitations/implicationsAs the research is based on a convenience sample it has shortcomings relative to probability sampling. However, it is widely recognized that such samples can be attained more easily, more rapidly, and at less cost than probability-based samples. On the other hand, it is understood that inferences to broader populations of interest are limited.Practical implicationsThe results confirm findings from past research such as that reported by the Institute of Coaching (2018), that managers should not undervalue potential contributions to individual and company attributes from coaching.Originality/valueThe motivation for this paper is to bring together both academic and practitioner experience to provide more evidence and understanding related to the coaching definition, its implementation, and effectiveness. While not conclusive in the absolute sense, the original data original collected and analyzed for this research is based on known client contacts in close time proximity to the coaching engagement and delivers added insight to current research.
The quality movement's three operational paradigms: a text mining venture
Authors: Carnerud Daniel 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThis study aims to analyze four text-mining studies of quality management (QM) to illustrate and problematize how the research on quality has informed the quality paradigm since the 1980s. By understanding history, one can better manage current developments.Design/methodology/approachThe findings are based on a meta-analysis of four text-mining studies that explore and describe 11,579 research entries on quality between 1980 and 2017.FindingsThe findings show that the research on quality during the past 30 years form a research paradigm consisting of three operational paradigms: an operative paradigm of backend quality orbiting around QM, total QM (TQM) and service quality; an operative paradigm of middle-way quality, circling around the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), business excellence frameworks (BEFs) and quality awards; and an operative paradigm of frontend quality, revolving around reliability, costs and processes. The operative paradigms are interconnected and complementary; they also show a divide between a general management view of quality and a hands-on engineering view of quality. The findings indicate that the research on quality is a long-lived standalone paradigm, supporting the notion of quality being a genuine academic entity, not a fashion or fad.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical basis of the study is four text-mining studies. Consequently, the results and findings are based on a limited number of findings.OriginalityText-mining studies targeting research on quality are scarce, and there seem to be no prior models that depict the quality paradigm based on such studies. The perspectives presented here will advance the existing paradigmatic discourse. The new viewpoints aim to facilitate and deepen the discussion on current and future directions of the paradigm.
When does weather synchronize life‐history traits? Spatiotemporal patterns in juvenile body mass of two ungulates
Authors: Herfindal Ivar , Tveraa Torkild , Stien Audun , Solberg Erling J. , Grøtan Vidar 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Theory predicts that animal populations will be synchronized over large distances by weather and climatic conditions with high spatial synchrony. However, local variation in population responses to weather, and low synchrony in key weather variables or in other ecological processes may reduce the population synchrony.

We investigated to what extent temperature and precipitation during different periods of the year synchronized juvenile body mass of moose and reindeer in Norway. We expected high synchronizing effect of weather variables with a high and consistent explanatory power on body mass dynamics across populations, and a weaker synchronizing effect of weather variables whose effect on body mass varied among populations.

Juvenile body mass in both species was related to temperature and precipitation during several periods of the year. Temperature had the strongest explanatory power in both species, with a similar effect across all populations.

There was higher spatial synchrony in temperature compared to precipitation, and accordingly temperature had the strongest synchronizing effect on juvenile body mass. Moreover, periods with strong explanatory power had stronger synchronizing effect on juvenile body mass in both species. However, weather variables with large variation in the effects on body mass among populations had weak synchronizing effect.

The results confirm that weather has a large impact on the spatial structure of population properties but also that spatial heterogeneity, for instance, in environmental change or population density may affect how and to what extent populations are synchronized.
Does Cultural Difference Affect Investment–Cash Flow Sensitivity? Evidence from OECD Countries
Authors: Kashefi‐Pour Eilnaz , Amini Shima , Uddin Moshfique , Duxbury Darren 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe investigate the influence of national culture on corporate investment–cash flow sensitivity. We conjecture that national culture shapes managerial perceptions of information asymmetry and agency problems, thus impacting the investment–cash flow relationship. We document empirical evidence in support of our claim. By linking the investment–cash flow sensitivity to cultural differences, our findings show that, while collectivism has an attenuating influence, uncertainty avoidance, power distance and masculinity have a reinforcing effect on the relationship between cash flow and investment. Our results hold for a sample of 205,268 firm‐years across 24 OECD countries between 1990 and 2017, and are robust after accounting for alternative statistical approaches, sample compositions and measures of cultural dimensions, along with controls for institutional and governmental factors. In addition, by decomposing cash flow into uses and sources of funds in a dynamic multi‐equation model, where firms make financing and investment decisions jointly subject to the constraint that sources must equal uses of cash, we find that national culture shapes how firms react to changes in cash flow.
Phospholipase C gamma (PLCγ) regulates soluble trehalase in the 20E‐induced fecundity of Apolygus lucorum
Authors: Tan Yong‐An , Zhao Xu‐Dong , Sun Hou‐Jun , Zhao Jing , Xiao Liu‐Bin , Hao De‐Jun , Jiang Yi‐Pin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractApolygus lucorum is the dominant pathogenic insect attacking Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in China. Additionally, 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) has important functions in many biological processes, including insect reproduction. Phospholipase C (PLC), which is an essential enzyme for phosphoinositide metabolism, is involved in 20E signal transduction, but its function in 20E‐mediated reproduction in A. lucorum remains unclear. In this study, 20E increased AlPLCγ transcription as well as the abundance and activity of the encoded protein during molting and metamorphosis. The 20E treatment also induced the considerable accumulation of two second messengers, inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol. The expression levels of genes encoding vitellogenin (AlVg) and soluble trehalase (AlTre‐1) were similar to those of AlPLCγ, and were upregulated in response to 20E. The silencing of AlPLCγ resulted in downregulated expression of AlTre‐1 and AlVg. However, the silencing of AlTre‐1 and AlVg did not affect AlPLCγ expression. Moreover, the silencing of AlVg did not alter AlTre‐1 expression. Furthermore, an examination of the insect specimens indicated that AlPLCγ is required for female adult reproduction, and that downregulated expression of this gene is associated with decreases in fecundity, adult longevity, and egg hatching rate as well as delayed oocyte maturation. We propose that 20E regulates AlTre‐1 expression via AlPLCγ and affects Vg expression as well as ovary development to facilitate the reproductive activities of A. lucorum females.
Escalation in Failed Military Interventions: Saudi and Emirati Quagmires in Yemen
Authors: Darwich May 
Published: February 2020

AbstractExternal interventions are an enduring feature of international relationships. While the causes for interventions have been at the heart of studies on interventions, the dynamics of termination versus escalation have received little attention. This article poses the question: why do intervenors persist in failed military interventions despite diminishing prospects of victory? Whereas some scholars adhered to rational choice approaches, others focused on cognitive and emotional psychology to explain seemingly puzzling decisions at the origin of war continuation. This article builds on the emerging literature on status in IR to unravel the escalation of commitment to a failed war. It argues that when leaders engage their own status and that of their countries to an eventual success in a military intervention, persistence in the war becomes the only solution to salvage their status. Through this lens, this article presents an explanation for Saudi and Emirati escalations in what was planned as a brief operation in Yemen since 2015. Understanding the dynamics of persisting in failed wars has clear implications for the development of international relations theory, the conduct of regional powers in military interventions, and the practice of conflict resolution in the Middle East and beyond.