bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal resolution of global gene expression and DNA methylation changes in the final phases of reprogramming towards induced pluripotency
Authors: Bartoccetti Michela , Luo Xinlong , van der Veer Ben , Khoueiry Rita , Janiszewski Adrian , Xu Jiayi , Verfaillie Catherine , Pasque Vincent , Thienpont Bernard , Peng Koh Kian 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) involves activation of the endogenous pluripotency circuitry and global DNA demethylation late in reprogramming, but temporal resolution of these events using existing markers is insufficient. Here, we generated murine transgenic lines harboring dual fluorescent reporters reflecting cell-state specific expression of the master pluripotency factorOct4and the 5-methylcytosine dioxygenaseTet1. By assessing reprogramming intermediates based on dual reporter patterns, we identified a sequential order ofTet1andOct4gene activation at proximal and distal regulatory elements following pluripotency entry. Full induction ofTet1marks a pivotal late intermediate stage occurring after a phase of global gene repression, and preceding full activation ofOct4along with late naive pluripotency and germline-specific genes. Sequential activation ofTet1further distinguishes two waves of global DNA demethylation, targeting distinct genomic features and largely uncoupled from transcriptional changes, with dynamics unique to iPSC reprogramming. Moreover, we demonstrate that loss ofTet1is compatible with reprogramming towards fullOct4gene activation, but generates iPSCs with aberrant DNA methylation, chromosomal instability during lineage priming and defective differentiation potential. Therefore, the transcriptional logic ofTet1expression signals a deterministic epigenetic roadmap towards generation of high quality iPSCs.
Interneuronal correlations dynamically adjust to task demands at multiple time-scales
Authors: Ben Hadj Hassen S. , Gaillard C. , Astrand E. , Wardak C. , Ben Hamed S. 
Published: February 2019

SummaryFunctional neuronal correlations between pairs of neurons are thought to play an important role in neuronal information processing and optimal neuronal computations during attention, perception, decision-making and learning. Here, we report dynamic changes in prefrontal neuronal noise correlations at multiple time-scales, as a function of task contingencies. Specifically, we record neuronal activity from the macaque frontal eye fields, a cortical region at the source of spatial attention top-down control, while the animals are engaged in tasks of varying cognitive demands. First, we show that noise correlations decrease as cognitive engagement and task demands increase, both across tasks and within-trials. Second, we demonstrate, for the first time, rhythmic modulations of noise correlations in the alpha and beta frequency ranges that account both for overt behavioral performance and for layer specific modulations in spike-field coherence. All this taken together demonstrates a strong functional role of noise correlations in cognitive flexibility.
Scalable multiple whole-genome alignment and locally collinear block construction with SibeliaZ
Authors: Minkin Ilia , Medvedev Paul 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMultiple whole-genome alignment is a challenging problem in bioinformatics. Despite many successes, current methods are not able to keep up with the growing number, length, and complexity of assembled genomes, especially when computational resources are limited. Approaches based on compacted de Bruijn graphs to identify and extend anchors into locally collinear blocks have potential for scalability, but current methods do not scale to mammalian genomes. We present an algorithm, SibeliaZ-LCB, for identifying collinear blocks in closely related genomes based on analysis of the de Bruijn graph. We further incorporate this into a multiple whole-genome alignment pipeline called SibeliaZ. SibeliaZ shows run-time improvements over other methods while maintaining accuracy. On sixteen recently-assembled strains of mice, SibeliaZ runs in under 16 hours on a single machine, while other tools did not run to completion for eight mice within a week. SibeliaZ makes a significant step towards improving scalability of multiple whole-genome alignment and collinear block reconstruction algorithms on a single machine.
Determinants of credit rationing among rural farmers in developing areas
Authors: Kofarmata Yusuf Ibrahim , Danlami Abubakar Hamid 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to model credit rationing among farmers in rural developing areas, based on micro level data of Kano State, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA total of 835 households and 45 microfinance banks were utilized as the samples of the study which were selected using multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Multinomial logit model was used to estimate the factors that determine credit rationing among the rural farmers in Nigeria.FindingsThe result of the discrete choice model shows that farmers who are either being engaged in subsistence farming or trading have a significant effect on credit rationing with the greatest impacts found on the farm profit and farmers’ location.Research limitations/implicationsThis study failed to carry out a dynamic analysis regarding agricultural credit rationing. Also, it is well known that formal credit interacts with informal credit sector; nevertheless, this interaction was unaccounted for in this study. Therefore, future studies can expand the scope of this research to account for this interaction. In fact, investigating heterogeneity among credit providers will be an important topic in the future.Practical implicationsClear and sound policies are required for the establishment of new agencies and financial institutions devoted to agricultural sector. Similarly, an integrated system of forward-looking policies based on tax and subsidy-regimes to augment desired incentives for private financial sector and NGOs to lend money to the farmers are needed.Originality/valueConsistent with risk-balancing theory, the good story for farmers is that profit making farmers are less likely to be among the constrained borrowers. It turned out from the credit rationing model that urban farmers had a greater chance of being successful applicants in the Nigerian agricultural credit market. In comparison to farmers at periphery, urban residents are less likely to be associated with being constrained borrowers.
Entrepreneurial state vs liberal market
Authors: Malik Tariq H. , Huo Chunhui 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to assess the comparative position of the national innovation system of Chinese state entrepreneurship versus liberal market entrepreneurship. Based on the comparative institutional framework, it asks whether Chinese state entrepreneurship has a comparative disadvantage because of its incoherent institutions in liberal or coordinated economies. Hence, does the Chinese institutional system of innovation lag behind that of US or liberal countries of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies in the transformation of national science into economic products measured as high-technology exports?

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses panel data analysis based on 29 OECD economies and the Chinese economy over 23 years. Regarding national science productivity (explorative capabilities), it includes published and patented science streams; regarding technological transformation (exploitative capabilities), it measures the percentage of high-technology exports in gross domestic product (GDP). The interactions between the types of entrepreneurship and national science institutions serve as predictors in the design.

Findings
The results show that Chinese state entrepreneurship has a comparative advantage over liberal economies in published science. However, Chinese state entrepreneurship has a comparative disadvantage compared to liberal entrepreneurship in patent science. Regarding the dyadic level of comparability between the national economies, there are mixed results in the transformation of national science.

Research limitations/implications
This study supports the three following theoretical points: national institutions differ regardless of the pressure of convergence through globalization; national science contingencies influence different paths of the transformation of national science to technology; and mixed economies, such as state entrepreneurship, can achieve high performance without fully conforming to liberal markets.

Practical implications
This study emphasizes institutional mechanisms for future research to support the innovation of incoherent institutions and suggests the benefit of cross-pollination of senior managers between state and private organizations for a defined duration.

Originality/value
Theoretically, this research combines an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional level of analysis, and in so doing, it deals with the transformation of national science in scientific publications and patents in the vertical value chain. Empirically, this study links the national published and patented science with the national economic artifacts in high-technology sectors. This novel approach to assess the national and discipline-level interaction sets a context for the future research in other settings. It also informs policy decisions regarding the growth of science, innovation and development.
Customer engagement, non-transactional behaviors and experience in services
Authors: Moliner-Tena Miguel Angel , Monferrer-Tirado Diego , Estrada-Guillén Marta 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the central role of bank customers’ engagement as a mediating variable between customer experience and two non-transactional customer behaviors (advocacy and attitudinal loyalty).Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothesis, a model was designed with two antecedents of bank customer engagement (satisfaction and customer emotions), and two non-transactional behaviors (attitudinal loyalty and customer advocacy). The model was tested on a sample of 1,790 customers of two Spanish banks.FindingsResults confirm bank customer engagement as the mediating variable between customer experience outcomes and non-transactional behaviors.Practical implicationsBanks should design physical spaces with an atmosphere that will have a positive impact on their customers, and pay particular attention to interactions with contact personnel and other customers present at that moment of truth. The new concept of the branch now being introduced looks to the future, transforming it into a place to attend to and advise customers, and designed to encourage and facilitate a more personal and enduring relationship. This transformation includes longer opening hours and a concept that appears to draw from the store model. Its design is more accessible, more agile, more welcoming and more digital, conceived to attract the customer’s attention from the first moment.Originality/valueThe contribution of this research is related to the analysis from a theoretical and empirical perspective of the mediating impact of customer engagement between customer experience outcomes (satisfaction and emotions during the service) and non-transactional behaviors (advocacy and attitudinal loyalty).
Exploring and validating social identification and social exchange-based drivers of hospitality customer loyalty
Authors: Rather Raouf Ahmad , Hollebeek Linda D. 
Published: February 2019

PurposeDespite growing academic interest in social identification (e.g. customer brand identification) and social exchange (e.g. commitment/loyalty), little remains known regarding the theoretical interface of these concepts in hospitality sector. Building on this research gap, the purpose of this study is to develop and test a model that explores the effects of brand identification, satisfaction, commitment and trust on customer loyalty toward four and five-star hotels. The authors also explore the mediating role of commitment, satisfaction and trust in the association of brand identification and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the objectives of this study, the authors deployed a convenience sample of 345 consumers from four- and five-star hotels in the emerging markets context. Data analysis consisted of confirmatory factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that customer brand identification, trust, commitment and satisfaction exert a positive impact on loyalty. Brand identification also exerts a favorable impact on customer trust, commitment and satisfaction. Specifically, satisfaction was found to exert the largest effect on commitment, trust and loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings may have limited applicability in contexts other than four- and five-star hotels in the emerging market context. Theoretically, this study adds insight into the dynamics characterizing focal social identification and social exchange-based theoretical relationships as observed in the hospitality sector.Originality/valueThe authors adopt an under-explored hybrid social identity/social exchange theoretical perspective to identify the nature and strength of associations among a set of relational, social identity/exchange-based constructs and discuss their key implications for academicians and hospitality managers.
Cross-cultural collaboration for inclusive global value chain: a case study of rattan industry
Authors: Pratono Aluisius Hery 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how the cross-cultural collaboration between developed market and emerging economies promotes an inclusive global value chain (GVC) through innovation and technology transfer. Drawing on global rattan industry, this paper identifies the three typologies and social mechanism of cross-cultural collaboration in GVC.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a qualitative method with a case study of rattan industry. The case study analysis covers the linkages between upstream industries in emerging economies and downstream industries in developed countries.FindingsThe result shows that innovation and technology transfer play an essential role in the cross-cultural collaboration through presenting the creative value-adding process beyond the simple trade of rattan. This study identifies the social mechanism of cross-cultural collaboration in three GVC typologies of rattan industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was undertaken between 2015 and 2017. The observed value chain in rattan industry context demonstrates the selected business network from Indonesia to the European countries.Practical implicationsThere were some activities that worked well for decades, such as creative innovation and technology transfer from multinational corporations to small businesses. The initiative to promote brand seemed to work less well for the local designers in developing countries from being part of the GVC. The creative innovation and technology transfer from multinational corporations to rattan farmers continued to struggle.Originality/valueThis study draws a distinction between the typologies of GVC, where cross-cultural collaboration has developed slowly and those where it comes about quickly. This extends the discussion about creative value between players in developed and developing countries, including the social mechanism of cross-cultural collaboration in GVC.
Westernization or localization of human resource management practices in CIS countries? Evidence from Kazakh firms
Authors: Latukha Marina , Malko Konstantin 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the peculiarities of human resource management (HRM) practices in Kazakh firms and identify the factors that influence them. Attention is paid to analysis of the country-specific environment, which shapes the peculiarities of HRM and provides discussion on the respective Westernization or localization perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThe paper argues that HRM practices are influenced by a number of factors, some of which are rather specific to Kazakhstan and some are common in a Commonwealth of Independent States’ context. The study uses exploratory research which includes the conduction of a survey, consisting of blocks of questions, for data collection.FindingsThe results show that despite dynamic economic growth of Kazakhstan’s economy, HRM practices are still in transition from those of Soviet heritage to ones that exist in Western multinational corporations. They cannot fully match the country’s needs for HRM development. Several recommendations for the future development of HRM in Kazakhstan are made.Originality/valueThe study examines the adaptation of HRM practices to the business environment in Kazakhstan.
Triangular cyclic accelerated degradation zero-failure test plan
Authors: Srivastava Preeti Wanti , Manisha Manisha 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
Zero-failure reliability testing aims at demonstrating whether the product has achieved the desired reliability target with zero failure and high confidence level at a given time. Incorporating accelerated degradation testing in zero-failure reliability demonstration test (RDT) facilitates early failure in high reliability items developed within short period of time to be able to survive in fiercely competitive market. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
The triangular cyclic stress uses one test chamber thus saving experimental cost. The parameters in model are estimated using maximum likelihood methods. The optimum plan consists in finding out optimum number of cycles, optimum specimens, optimum stress change point(s) and optimum stress rates.

Findings
The optimum plan consists in finding out optimum number of cycles, optimum specimens, optimum stress change point(s) and optimum stress rates by minimizing asymptotic variance of estimate of quantile of the lifetime distribution at use condition subject to the constraint that total testing or experimental cost does not exceed a pre-specified budget. Confidence intervals of the design parameters have been obtained and sensitivity analysis carried out. The results of sensitivity analysis show that the plan is robust to small deviations from the true values of baseline parameters.

Originality/value
For some highly reliable products, even accelerated life testing yields little failure data of units in a feasible amount of time. In such cases accelerated degradation testing is carried out, wherein the failure termed as soft failure is defined in terms of performance characteristic of the product exceeding its critical (threshold) value.
The interrelationships among organizational culture and service quality under different levels of competitive intensity
Authors: Karakasnaki Maria , Psomas Evangelos , Bouranta Nancy 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the interrelationships among organizational culture and service quality by applying the SERVQUAL instrument under different levels of competitive intensity in the shipping industry context.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the questionnaire investigation method to evaluate the hypothesized relationships. The authors utilized widely accepted and validated instruments as identified in the literature to measure the constructs under examination. The sample consisted of 684 shipping organizations located in Greece. The factorial structures of the constructs were identified through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, while the examined relationships were established through regression analyses.FindingsThe findings argue in favor of a parsimonious three-dimensional structure of the SERVQUAL instrument in the shipping industry context, illustrate the associations among the different types of organizational culture and the dimensions of service quality and explicate how the former impacts the latter. Moreover, the findings showed that the above-mentioned interrelationships are conditioned by the varying levels of competitive intensity.Originality/valueAlthough much research and writing has occurred on the topics of service quality and organizational culture, relatively less is known about their interrelationships, that is how a company’s culture relates to the service quality offered especially under different levels of competitive intensity. Thus, the current study aims to fill in this gap in the literature and empirically address the need to look at the interrelationships among the theoretical constructs under examination.
A complete modeling for fish robots with actuators
Authors: Chen Yung-Hsiang , Chen Yung-Yue , Chen Qi-Xian , Tsai Yi-Lin 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
For precisely presenting the swimming behavior of fish robots underwater and the practical implementation purpose, this paper aims to investigate a well-formulated fish robot model which integrates the nonlinear rigid body dynamics, kinematics and models of actuators.

Design/methodology/approach
This fish robot model is mainly built up by three basic parts: a balance mechanism, a four-links vibrator and a caudal fin. In the fish robot’s head, there is a balance mechanism used to control the rotations in pitch and roll directions of the fish robot by moving two movable masses. The four-links vibrator with three active joints actuated by DC motors is designed to vibrate the fish’s body. In the end of the fish robot body, a caudal fin which connects with the passive joint is developed to generate hydrodynamic thrust forces to propel the fish robot.

Findings
From the real stability tests and control verification, it is obvious that this proposed model can precisely present the swimming behavior of fish robots and possesses the potential to develop a fish-like robotic prototype.

Originality/value
A well-formulated model with dynamics of actuators is integrated for presenting the swimming behavior of carangiform locomotion type fish robots in this investigation. From the simulation results and the practical test of a real fish robot, the feasibility of this proposed model for building up real fish robots can be proven, and this proposed model is accurate enough to effectively present the swimming behavior of fish robots.