bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The variation of promoter strength in different gene contexts
Authors: Tran Tam T. , Charles Trevor C. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundPromoter engineering has been employed as a strategy to enhance and optimize the production of bio-products. There have been many effortless studies searching the best promoter for biological application. However, whether promoter strengths stay unchanged in different gene contexts remains unknown.ResultsSix consecutive promoters at different strength levels were used to construct six different versions of plasmid backbone pTH1227, followed by inserted genes encoding two polymer-producing enzymes. Some of promoter strengths in the presence of inserted sequences did not correspond to the reported strengths in a previous study. When removing the inserted sequences, the strengths of these promoters returned to their reported strengths. These changes were further confirmed to occur at transcriptional levels. Polymer production using our newly constructed plasmids showed polymer accumulation levels relatively corresponding to the promoter strengths reported in our study.ConclusionOur study revealed the essence of re-assessing promoter strength in a specific gene context. Different gene contexts could result in the variation of promoter strengths, hence this might lead to different outcomes in downstream applications.
The relationship between management characteristics and financial statement readability
Authors: Seifzadeh Maryam , Salehi Mahdi , Abedini Bizhan , Ranjbar Mohammad Hossien 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThe present study attempts to assess the relationship between management characteristics (managerial entrenchment, CEO narcissism and overconfidence, managers' myopia, real and accrual-based earnings management) and financial statement readability of listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange. In other words, this paper seeks to answer the question that “whether management characteristics have a favorable effect on financial statement readability or not.”Design/methodology/approachMultivariate regression model is used to meet the purpose of this study and research hypotheses are also examined using a sample of 1,050 listed observations on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2012–2017 and by employing multiple regression patterns based on panel data technique and fixed effects model. Moreover, exploratory factor analysis of six variables (tenure, board independence, CEO duality, CEO ownership, board compensation and CEO change) is used for calculating managerial entrenchment and the FGO index is used for measuring readability.FindingsThe obtained results show that there is a negative and significant relationship between managerial entrenchment and accrual-based earnings management and a positive and significant relationship between real earnings management, managers' myopia, managers' narcissism and overconfidence and financial statement readability.Originality/valueSince the present study is the first paper to investigate such a topic in the emerging markets, it provides useful information about intrinsic and acquisitive characteristics of management for accounting information users, analysts and legal institutions that contribute greatly to financial statement readability. Besides, the results of this study aid the development of science and knowledge in this field and fill the existing gap in the literature.
Effect of information technology-enabled supply chain integration on firm's operational performance
Authors: Ganbold Odkhishig , Matsui Yoshiki , Rotaru Kristian 
Published: July 2020

PurposeUsing the assumptions of the resource-based view, relational view and swift, even flow theories and the overarching principles of supply chain management, the study aims to test the role of information technology (IT) capability (cross-functional application, supply chain application and data consistency) in enabling supply chain integration (SCI; internal, customer and supplier integration) and the impact of SCI on firm's operational performance in terms of quality, delivery, production cost, inventory level, customer service and product-mix flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThe structural equation modeling approach is used to test theoretical predictions underlying the relationship among dimensions of IT capability, SCI and operational performance based on data obtained from senior executives of 108 large manufacturing firms listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange.FindingsThe results suggest that IT capability has positive impact on SCI, except for data consistency, which is found to have negative impact on internal integration. The results further indicate that SCI, especially customer integration, has positive and significant impact on all operational performance indicators.Practical implicationsThe findings inform future initiatives associated with the SCI improvement via specific IT capabilities. When undertaking such initiatives, managers are advised to consider the differential impact of the following IT capabilities on SCI: cross-functional applications, supply chain applications, and data consistency capability.Originality/valueThe study makes an empirical contribution to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the value of the multidimensional representation and analysis of IT capability, SCI, and operational performance given a differential and even opposed influence by some of the dimensions in specific business contexts.
Forty years of research on human resource management in family firms: analyzing the past; preparing for the future
Authors: Flamini Giulia , Gnan Luca , Pellegrini Massimiliano Matteo 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThis paper explores the field of human resource management (HRM) in family firms, assessing the evolution of this research through a four-domain model that reflects the relationships between cognitions, actions and performances associated with organizational choices.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have performed a bibliometric review of 363 peer-reviewed papers from over the past four decades (1976–2016) in order to provide activity indicators for the overall phenomenon and systemize the entire body of literature into specific HRM strategy domains or practices, using a double-entered pivot table.FindingsThe study framework provides managerial implications with regard to the HRM decisions made when attempting to improve human capital in family firms. Accordingly, the authors view HRM-centered decisions and strategies in family firms as ways to scan for and appraise contingent dimensions, make sense of the current environment, make good choices and achieve high performance levels.Originality/valueThe authors offer this four-domain theoretical scheme as a framework through which the field can be interpreted, proposing some potential avenues for moving forward.
Determining and assessing the risks of commercial and recreational complex building projects in developing countries: a survey of experts in Iran
Authors: Khosravi Mojtaba , Sarvari Hadi , Chan Daniel W.M. , Cristofaro Matteo , Chen Zhen 
Published: July 2020

Purpose
As construction of commercial and recreational complex building projects (CRCBPs) is one of the most important issues in many developing countries and requires a very high cost of implementation, it is important to identify and prioritize the risks of such projects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify and rank the risks of CRCBPs by studying the case of the “Hamedanian Memorial,” a CRCBP in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach
To pursue this aim, a descriptive-survey method was used. The statistical population of the study consists of 30 experienced experts (consultants, contractors and employers) of the “Hamedanian Memorial” project selected according to the Cochran formula and minimum population census. A questionnaire was used as the data collection tool, administered in all stages of risk identification and evaluation, and was devised by using library and field methods based on the literature and research background, as well as interviewing experts in the risk identification and evaluation stages. Kendall’s coefficient of agreement was used to validate the experts’ opinions in the risk identification stage. The ranking in qualitative evaluation was done based on the risk intensity and the cumulative risk index.

Findings
The results show that the risks are associated with exchange rate fluctuation, inflation fluctuation, access to skilled workers, contractors’ claims and foreign threats from international relations.

Originality/value
The results and findings of the present study can be of interest to the executives of large commercial, leisure, public and private projects in developing and developed countries; understanding risks can significantly improve the decision-making process of CRCBPs.
Co-location of R&D and production in fashion industry
Authors: Lica Denada , Di Maria Eleonora , De Marchi Valentina 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze how important is co-location of R&D and production for firms originated from high-cost countries and to provide evidence of the relationship between the different strategies of location choices and co-location.Design/methodology/approachIn order to investigate the relationship between R&D/design-production co-location and strategies of location choices for production, this paper uses a cluster analysis of 37 Italian firms that operate in fashion industry.FindingsThis article finds that co-location results in a dominant strategy for firms under the following conditions: high level of product customization, coordination difficulties between R&D and production, rapid change in production process technologies and product complexity difficult to be coded.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper presents some limitations in that it focuses only on fashion industry without considering other sectors.Practical implicationsThis paper has some managerial implication in that offers some insight on decision making in organization. In particular offers some insights of how important is having an internal R&D/design function rather than collaborating with external designers in order to achieve competitive advantage in terms of product quality, product design and also brand name reputation.Originality/valueThis paper suggests that the co-location of R&D and production may improve the firms' performance considering the need for constant interaction between the two units. Moreover, it suggests that the co-location of R&D and production both within and external (within the firms' region and/or within the country) to the firms might be important. Furthermore, larger firms in terms of turnover have a greater preference to locate the R&D function close to the production function.
Workplace disability inclusion in India: review and directions
Authors: Suresh Vasanthi , Dyaram Lata 
Published: July 2020

Purpose
This study aims to review the extant literature on workplace disability inclusion in the organised sector in India and presents an integrated model based on emergent themes in indigenous studies.

Design/methodology/approach
The review is directed by the following foci: In what contexts was workplace disability inclusion in India empirically investigated? How was workplace disability inclusion examined (method)? What important themes emerge from the studies? Towards this, empirical scholarly studies in India, published between 2011–2019, is reviewed to identify the evolutionary trends.

Findings
Prominent themes have been identified at three levels – organization, group and individual. At an organization level, the focus is on inclusive strategy and practices. Country-specific contextual factors such as legislation, accessibility and external eco-system influence an organization’s inclusive strategy, which addresses how organizations engage with persons with disability (PwD), job mapping, accessibility and targeted recruitment. Inclusive practices span across various phases of the employee life cycle, namely, recruitment, onboarding, development and retention. At the group level, the themes highlight group boundaries, PwD-supervisor interaction, PwD-co-worker interaction and PwD-PwD interaction. At an individual level, PwD experiences are categorized as physical, job-related and psychological. Workplace treatment and experiences of PwD vary from discrimination to inclusion and along with other outcomes, are influenced by contextual factors.

Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the development of workplace disability inclusion theory, by presenting an integrated model of prominent themes, offering greater clarity and avenues for extending the literature. The paper discusses themes that can help organizations facilitate inclusion, thereby improving employment opportunities for PwD.

Originality/value
In a first, the study provides an integrated account of inclusion of PwD in organized sector in India.
Expert saying and doing in dealing with domestic violence: reflections on a case of legal aid in an antiviolence center
Authors: Parolin Laura Lucia 
Published: July 2020

PurposeThis article sheds light on the legal services offered by antiviolence centers through a discursive practice-based analysis of women who have experienced domestic violence and the lawyers who volunteer in the center.Design/methodology/approachUsing a practice-based framework, the article utilizes a case study of the first legal meeting between a lawyer and a woman who has experienced violence. The case study illustrates how the legal advisors' expertise is deployed in the use of “discursive practices” in dealing with women who have experienced domestic violence. Through a systematic analysis of the verbatim narrative, the case shows how the lawyer performs her legal help through expert “discursive practices” which are situated in recognition of the texture of practices experienced by women in the legal system.FindingsThe case study shows how a practice-based approach is able to account for lawyers' discursive and interactional knowledge in dealing with domestic violence. This expert doing and saying includes the ability to read the complexities of abusive situations, using “professional vision” to identify, highlight and codify clues and patterns of a partners' violent behavior; the mastery of “co-implication” with women to support the development of a narrative of the abuse as a crime recognizable both by the victim and the legal system.Originality/valueThe analysis shows that practice-based approaches to knowing and learning in investigating discourse practices can provide insights on practitioners' interactional expertise as well as the relevance of the service. While a close look at the actual practices illustrates the lawyer's interactional mechanisms, the crucial role of legal aid in the antiviolence center can be appreciated by contextualizing within the texture of practices that characterizes women's experiences with violence.
Exploring sustainability of affordability initiatives: a library case study
Authors: Hoover Jeanne , Shirkey Cindy , Barricella Lisa Sheets 
Published: July 2020

Purpose
The cost of textbooks continues to rise for college students along with the cost of tuition. These costs can impact student success. In response to the rising costs, higher education institutions have started affordability initiatives. These initiatives are frequently housed in academic libraries. Joyner Library at East Carolina University (ECU) addresses affordability through three initiatives: Course-Adopted Textbook program, Alternative Textbook Mini-Grant program and Streaming Video licensing.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper will explore the above-mentioned three programs in-depth and perform a sustainability analysis on each program.

Findings
After reviewing the affordability initiatives discussed in the case study, the authors found that there were varying degrees of sustainability for the programs.

Originality/value
ECU is not alone in addressing affordability through multiple initiatives, and this case study paper will address long-term sustainability of these initiatives, especially during a time when libraries are experiencing shrinking budgets.
Current status of Panton–Valentine leukocidin‐positive methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with skin and soft tissue infections in Japan
Authors: Nakaminami Hidemasa , Ozawa Kazuya , Sasai Nao , Ikeda Masami , Nemoto Osamu , Baba Naoko , Matsuzaki Yasushi , Sawamura Daisuke , Shimoe Fumiko , Inaba Yoichi , Kobayashi Yoko , Kawasaki Satoru , Ueki Toru , Funatsu Sakae , Shirahama Shigeho , Noguchi Norihisa 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe USA300 clone, which produces Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL), is a major pathogenic community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) clone that causes intractable skin infections. Recently, PVL‐positive CA‐MRSA, including USA300 clones, have emerged in both communities and hospitals in Japan. To prevent an outbreak of PVL‐positive MRSA, infected patients should be treated with effective antimicrobial agents at community clinics. Herein, we investigate molecular epidemiological characteristics of PVL‐positive MRSA isolated from outpatients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), which are common community‐onset infectious diseases. The detection rate of MRSA was 24.9% (362 strains) out of 1455 S. aureus strains isolated between 2013 and 2017. Among the MRSA strains, 15.5% (56 strains) were PVL‐positive strains and associated with deep‐seated skin infections. Molecular epidemiological analyses of PVL‐positive MRSA showed that USA300 was the predominant clone (53.6%, 30 strains) and was identified in Kanto (18 strains), Kagawa (nine strains), Tohoku (two strains) and Hokkaido (one strain). Notably, minocycline and fusidic acid were effective against all PVL‐positive MRSA strains. Hence, our data reveals the current status of PVL‐positive MRSA isolated from patients with SSTI in Japan. Continuous surveillance of CA‐MRSA is necessary to monitor latest prevalence rates and identify effective antimicrobial agents for PVL‐positive MRSA strains.
Structural and physicochemical characteristics of lyophilized Chinese sturgeon protein hydrolysates prepared by using two different enzymes
Authors: Noman Anwar , Ali Abdelmoneim H. , AL‐Bukhaiti Wedad Q. , Mahdi Amer Ali , Xia Wenshui 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe structural and physicochemical characteristics of protein hydrolysates prepared from Chinese sturgeon through the enzymatic hydrolysis process were evaluated. Two different enzymes including papain and alcalase 2.4L were used in the hydrolysis process. The papain enzyme significantly increased the degree of hydrolysis (20.62%) and decreased the ζ‐potential (12.4 ± 1.31 mV) as compared to the alcalase enzyme, which represented 15.55% and 15.53 ± 0.77 mV, respectively. Alcalase 2.4L hydrolysate exhibited smaller particle size (822.047 ± 61.26 nm) than papain hydrolysate (1425.39 ± 44.82 nm). Hydrolysis by papain and alcalase 2.4L enzymes decreased the molecular weights (MW ≤ 1,000 Da) to 98.27% and 86.84%, respectively. The surface hydrophobicity and turbidity of the hydrolysates significantly affected by enzyme type and protein concentrations. By using the X‐ray diffraction analysis, the papain hydrolysate showed a higher relative crystallinity degree (30.33%) than alcalase 2.4L hydrolysate (29.40%), whereas the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed more clearly peaks for the amide bands of alcalase hydrolysate. The thermal properties also affected by enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, since the melting temperatures were 159.17 and 149.58 °C, whereas the rate of mass loss was 67.04% and 62.8%, for papain and alcalase hydrolysates, respectively.Practical ApplicationThe enzymatic hydrolysis process of proteins is employed to obtain the nutritionally and functionality important peptides that result during the preparation of fish protein hydrolysate. The objective of this study was to investigate the structural and physicochemical characteristics of protein hydrolysate prepared from Chinese sturgeon. This study showed that these characteristics were affected by enzymatic hydrolysis conditions especially enzyme type. The finding of this study may be useful in terms of providing new information on the properties of the protein hydrolysate and the structural changes resulting from controlled enzymatic hydrolysis conditions. Overall, these conditions could potentially alter the secondary structure of the protein hydrolysates or peptides and enhance their functional properties.
The Rising Costs of Fossil‐Fuel Extraction: An Energy Crisis That Will Not Go Away
Authors: Kreps Bart Hawkins 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn biophysical terms, such as energy return on investment (EROI), energy sources for the global economy have grown more expensive over the last few decades. This trend is likely to be more pronounced in the near‐term future as conventional oil and gas are depleted and difficult‐to‐extract unconventional oil and gas become a larger part of the fossil‐fuel supply. On the one hand, this will lead to “energy sprawl”—the growth of the energy sector, as this sector consumes a much larger portion of the energy it extracts—leaving less energy surplus for other sectors. On the other hand, we will see an unsustainable imbalance between the fuel prices that fossil‐fuel companies will need to meet their costs and the fuel prices that the larger economy can afford to pay. This article reviews the historical role of inexpensive energy in economic growth, discusses the declining availability of conventional oil resources, and examines the increasing reliance on expensive, unconventional petroleum resources such as shale oil in the United States.
Consumer Food Co‐ops in the Age of Grocery Giants
Authors: Steinman Jon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAs the primary purveyors of food within most neighborhoods, food retailers—particularly grocery stores—are key determinants of health. Grocery stores are also an important venue for food producers to access their customers. Over the previous 100 years—and more rapidly over the previous 40 years—ownership among grocery retailers has become concentrated in fewer firms. As a consequence, grocery stores have emerged as food system “gatekeepers.” On one side of the gate are consumers, who depend on these firms to access the food supply. On the other side are the food producers: farmers, ranchers, fishers, processors, and manufacturers. As concentration in the grocery retail sector increases, so too have the grocery giants’ practices enabled them to assume much stronger positions in the buyer‐supplier relationship. With a focus on the United States and Canada, this article examines the history and rise to dominance of the largest grocery retailers and the impacts this dominance has had on the food system. Whereas most food retailers are structured under private or publicly traded models of ownership, the cooperative business model—specifically, the consumer‐cooperative model—is presented as an important alternative. Cooperatives are a democratic form of ownership that enables the people who most depend on the grocery store (shoppers) to become equal owners in the business along with thousands of others in their community. The importance of consumer‐food cooperatives (food co‐ops) is examined, including specific case studies of small and large urban centers where food co‐ops are providing substantial benefits to the communities they operate in.