bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Employment requirements in Swedish construction procurement – institutional perspectives
Authors: Troje Daniella , Kadefors Anna 
Published: July 2018

PurposeToday, social procurement and requirements to create employment for disadvantaged groups in particular, are increasingly used in the construction sector. The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of employment requirements and its organizational implications in Sweden, and to suggest a possible theoretical approach for studying this phenomenon in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on written sources describing influential Swedish cases where employment requirements have been used, as well as on interviews with central actors in industry and society.FindingsDue to the increased use of employment requirements, the construction industry may currently be experiencing the initial stages of a process of institutional change. This implies that a traditional logic, where value is perceived as a function of the cost and quality of the physical product, is increasingly co-existing and competing with a logic where social value plays an important role.Practical implicationsAn institutional perspective could enable a rich explication of processes, practices and roles, which might help individual practitioners and organizations to more purposefully work towards a more informed and effective use of employment requirements.Originality/valueThis study takes a first step towards increased theorization of the emergent practice of including employment requirements in construction procurement and its organizational implications. Thereby, research on this phenomenon may be more closely related to and informed by relevant developments in the wider academic community.
Factors driving contractors to implement energy management strategies in construction projects
Authors: Enshassi Adnan , Ayash Abed , Mohamed Sherif 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors driving Palestinian construction contractors to implement energy management strategies during the execution of construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach
The study was conducted by administering a questionnaire that comprised 26 drivers for adopting energy management strategies. Data were collected from 67 contractors in the Gaza Strip. Factor analysis was adopted to explore the underlying relationships among the identified drivers.

Findings
Drivers were grouped into one of the four categories: economic and financial, institutional and legal, organisational and managerial and educational and informational. The results revealed that the majority of the respondents were of the view that economic and financial factors were the most important factors driving the adoption of energy management strategies by construction companies in the Gaza Strip. Of the economic and financial drivers, the cost savings derived from the adoption of energy management strategies was considered the most important item. Energy management education and training programmes are scarce in the Gaza Strip, and local contractors have no formal energy management education and training. The government needs to allocate sufficient funds for policy implementation and regulation enforcement.

Research limitations/implications
Difficulties in accessing energy management data are deemed as a limitation to this study, as the topic of energy management in the construction has received no or very little academic attention so far.

Practical implications
This study provides a valuable reference for studying ongoing research in the practice of energy management development in other industries and locations. The priority of the drivers for energy management will help the local contracting companies to focus on weak and strong points of the company for energy use development to remove these weak points and invest in strong points. This paper results can increase the encouragement for greater social responsibility of the contracting organisations towards energy use. Government and concerned organisations can get benefits from the identified factors in encouraging contractors to adopt energy management strategy in their projects.

Originality/value
This study is the first investigation of energy management aspects in a local construction industry, especially from contracting organisations.
Digital relational capital of a company
Authors: Molodchik Mariia , Paklina Sofiia , Parshakov Petr 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to examine how a company can build and develop its relational capital in a digital environment. It searches for proxy-indicators for digital relational capital and explores their impact on company performance.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper is designed to sit in the cross-section of two concepts – Big Data and Intellectual Capital. We analyze eight metrics of digital relational capital (SEMrush rank, Trust flow, Domain authority, MozRank, Number of pages indexed in Yandex and Google, Thematic Citation Index by Yandex, Alexa Rank) and examine their impact on company performance by conducting a two-stage fixed-effect regression. The empirical part of the paper is based on a database of more than 1,000 Russian public companies from 2010-2016.

Findings
The study justifies eight Big Data-based metrics that enable the estimation of the digital relational capital of a company. Empirical evidence of a significant impact on corporate performance is provided. Moreover, a U-shaped configuration of obtained relationships allows for a better understanding of the phenomenon of digital relational capital and has managerial implications.

Originality/value
Companies can indirectly influence the proposed metrics. The study gives specific recommendations regarding these metrics to allow companies to optimize their performance. In addition, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical research on relational capital through Big Data in Russia.
Integrated or non-integrated reports: French listed companies at a crossroads?
Authors: Zinsou Kuassi M. Charles 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of integration of reference documents (RD) produced by French CAC 40 listed companies to determine whether they have initiated the adoption of an integrated reporting (IR) approach. In particular, the author has examined how the French regulation shapes the integration of sustainable development issues within the business practices of these companies.

Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of content analysis of 279 RD over nine years (2006-2014), the author has examined the extent and the quality of the IR practice with the help of three criteria (strategy, governance and commitment of stakeholders). Evidence of the existence of an integration practice is thus sought using 34 CAC 40 companies having the obligation, according to various regulations, to include in their management report information relating to questions of sustainable development (SD).

Findings
There is a variation between the CAC 40 companies regarding integration of SD issues in the core business. As a result of the analysis, the author has observed that 41% of companies in our sample integrate issues of SD to more than 90%, whereas other companies consider concerns relating to SD as subsidiary. All of the companies (100%) have put in place policies to manage the environmental and social governance aspects, assuming recognition of the importance of these issues for the companies. Yet only a few (41%) went further than the mere declaration of intent and have revised their business processes to reflect the taking into account of all the factors which contribute to the process of value creation. On the whole, the principle of connectivity that perfectly defines the integrated character of a report is only moderately respected by the companies in the sample.

Practical implications
The methodology deployed in this study to identify the integration practices of listed companies in France can be replicated by other researchers who would endeavor to assess the IR practices of companies from other countries. For regulatory agencies, this study provides evidence on how the various regulations that make up a national business system shape company reporting and allow informing different categories of stakeholders.

Originality/value
This research provides the empirical result of a longitudinal study of the degree of integration of RDs in the context of an environment regulating non-financial reporting. The construction of a set of criteria characterizing the degree of integration of SD issues at the heart of businesses is another innovative approach of this study.
The index of economic freedom: methodological matters
Authors: Dialga Issaka , Vallée Thomas 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to deal with methodological issues in the Index of Economic Freedom (IEF) building by using principal components analysis (PCA) and benefit of the doubt (BOD) methods to generate component- and country-specific weights in computing the scores.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses endogenous model and country-specific weight system to generate country-specific score unlike the equal weight used by the Heritage Foundation.FindingsThe PCA and BOD analyses provide consistent results that differ dramatically with the baseline ones (results using equal weights).Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of the paper is that the results change depending on the method used.Practical implicationsGiven results provided by the PCA and BOD analysis, the IEF would receive broad legitimacy basing the calculation of its scores on endogenous weighting models.Social implicationsAs composite indicators are essential in public debates and policies, their construction must be objective and well-known by a large public, making the methodological matters in composite indexes building one of the big challenge to researchers and a major democratic issue.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper is to use endogenous approach to generate weights and countries’ scores.
Riskiness of Real Estate Development: A Perspective from Urban Economics and Option Value Theory
Authors: Geltner David , Kumar Anil , Van de Minne Alex M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn this article, we define a new construct for urban economic and investment analysis, which revisits the conventional wisdom that investment in real estate development is riskier than investment in stabilized property assets. This new construct, referred as a “development asset value index” (DAVI), is a value index for newly developed properties (only) in a given geographical property market. It tracks longitudinal changes in the highest and best use (HBU) value of locations, and it reveals developer and landowner behavior taking advantage of the optionality inherent in land ownership. In particular, the DAVI reflects developers' use of flexibility in the exercise of the call option to (re)develop the property to any legal use and density. We empirically estimate a DAVI for commercial property (i.e., central locations) and compare it with a corresponding traditional transaction‐price‐based property asset price index (PAPI) corrected for depreciation. We believe that the difference primarily reflects the realized value of flexibility in land development. We find that the DAVIs display greater value growth and are smoother over time and less cyclical than their corresponding PAPIs for the same locations. This suggests that developers successfully use flexibility, and that development may be riskier than stabilized property investment due primarily only to leverage effects (construction costs). Practical implications are also discussed.
Development of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Brazilian athletes
Authors: Godois Allan da Mata , Coelho‐Ravagnani Christianne de Faria , Raizel Raquel , Verly‐Junior Eliseu 
Published: July 2018

AimUntil recently most dietary survey methods have been developed for non‐athletic populations. In this study, we aimed to develop a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to assess the regular dietary intake of Brazilian athletes.MethodsWe interviewed 141 athletes (23.36 ± 7.77 years old) for their dietary intake using 24‐hour recalls. After grouping conceptually similar food items into 113 food items, percentage contribution analysis and stepwise regression models were used to highlight foods contributing to at least 90% of the between‐person variability of key nutrients.ResultsThe developed FFQ contained 59 foods which were important predictors of the variance in nutrient intake. Vitamin C and pyridoxine had the lowest number of selected foods. Conversely, 13 food items were required to explain the between‐person variation for energy, carbohydrate and magnesium intake.ConclusionsUsing a multiple regression analysis we developed a 59‐food item questionnaire, which includes culturally specific food items and may represent an important dietary tool to analyse athletic populations. Reproducibility and validity of this FFQ will be verified in future research.
Nutritional Quality and Antioxidant Activity of Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) Unwrap by Proteome Profiling and DPPH and FRAP assays
Authors: Parit Santosh B. , Dawkar Vishal V. , Tanpure Rahul S. , Pai Sandeep R. , Chougale Ashok D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPrecious contribution of plants in the field of medicine is very well known. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds and seedlings are an important source of food and feed due to the presence of various health‐promoting compounds. Proteomic analysis of three seed developmental stages (0, 8, and 16 days after germination [DAG]) of wheat was carried out using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. A total of 297 proteins were identified and their functional annotation revealed that a majority of them were involved in preventing many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy related mechanisms. Particularly to mention, peroxidases, superoxide dismutases, and cytochromes are abundantly present in wheatgrass. In the ferric‐reducing antioxidant power assay, antioxidant activity was increased by 1.55 times after 16 DAG as compared to 0 DAG, however it was decreased after 8 DAG. The antioxidant activity of the plant extracts by DPPH had an increasing trend after all the three time points. The percent radical scavenging activity of extract by DPPH was 15, 22, and 30 after 0, 8, and 16 DAG, respectively. Observations obtained revealed that antioxidant power of the plants is directly proportional to the age of seedlings. Data attained on wheatgrass showing that it can be a strong antioxidant agent due to its free radical scavenging activity and could be used in stress and nourishing human health.Practical ApplicationWheatgrass contains minerals, phytochemicals, active enzymes, and vitamins that can be easily absorbed. The consumption of wheatgrass juice can give better health benefits. Information about beneficial properties of wheat grass juice is clearly mentioned in this work. Proteins found in wheatgrass are known to be involved in preventing many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy‐related mechanisms. Results of this work revealed that Triticum aestivum seedlings can act as an antioxidant agent due to their free radical scavenging activity and can be constructive to control or treat many health complications. From all these results we believed that wheatgrass can be used for the nourishment of humans.
RNA‐seq‐based monitoring of gene expression changes of viable but non‐culturable state of Vibrio cholerae induced by cold seawater
Authors: Xu Tingting , Cao Hengchun , Zhu Wei , Wang Min , Du Yuhui , Yin Zhiqiu , Chen Min , Liu Yutao , Yang Bin , Liu Bin 
Published: July 2018

Summary
Vibrio cholerae O1 is a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments and causes the acute diarrheal disease cholera. Entry into a viable but non‐culturable (VBNC) state is a survival strategy by which V. cholerae withstands natural stresses and is important for the transition between the aquatic and host environments during the V. cholerae life cycle. In this study, the formation of VBNC V. cholerae induced by cold seawater exposure was investigated using RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq). The analysis revealed that the expression of 1420 genes was changed on VBNC state formation. In the VBNC cells, genes related to biofilm formation, chitin utilization and stress responses were upregulated, whereas those related to cell division, morphology and ribosomal activity were mainly downregulated. The concurrent acquisition of a carbon source and the arrest of cell division in cells with low metabolic activity help bacteria increase their resistance to unfavourable environments. Moreover, two transcriptional regulators, SlmA and MetJ, were found to play roles in both VBNC formation and intestinal colonization, suggesting that some genes may function in both processes. This acquired knowledge will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and may help control future cholera infections and outbreaks.
What Predicts What? Self‐Reported and Behavioral Impulsivity and High‐Risk Patterns of Alcohol Use in Spanish Early Adolescents: A 2‐Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Fernández‐Artamendi Sergio , Martínez‐Loredo Víctor , Grande‐Gosende Aris , Simpson Ian C. , Fernández‐Hermida Jose Ramón 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundThe directionality of the relationship between impulsivity and heavy drinking patterns remains unclear. Recent research suggests it could be reciprocal and depends on different facets of impulsivity and different patterns of drinking. The aim of this study was to analyze this potential reciprocal relationship between self‐reported and behavioral measures of impulsivity and sensation seeking with specific patterns of heavy drinking in a sample of Spanish adolescents across 2 years.MethodsThe study has a cross‐lagged prospective design in which participants were evaluated 3 times over 2 years (once a year). Participants were 1,430 adolescents (53.9% male; mean age at study commencement = 13.02, SD = 0.51) from 22 secondary schools in Spain. Computerized versions of the following instruments were used: 2 subscales of Impulsive Sensation Seeking, 2 behavioral measures (Stroop Test and Delay Discounting [DD] task), frequency of intoxication episodes (IE), and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index to evaluate alcohol‐related problems (ARP). Random intercepts cross‐lagged panel models of reciprocal relationships between impulsivity measures and alcohol use outcomes were used.ResultsIndividual levels of self‐reported impulsivity and sensation seeking significantly predicted prospective involvement in IE and ARP. Performance in behavioral measures (Stroop Test and DD) did not predict subsequent heavy drinking or alcohol problems. No measure of drinking was found to be a significant predictor of prospective changes in impulsivity.ConclusionsWithin‐person levels of self‐reported impulsivity and sensation seeking significantly predicted further heavy drinking from as early as 13 years old, whereas behavioral measures were not predictive. In our study, neither IE nor ARP predicted prospective changes in impulsivity. Further studies should address additional specific relationships between facets of impulsivity and specific outcomes of heavy drinking.
ARE LAC COOPERATIVE AND COMMERCIAL BANKS SO DIFFERENT IN THEIR MANAGEMENT OF NON‐PERFORMING LOANS?
Authors: JIMÉNEZ‐HERNÁNDEZ Ignacio , PICAZO‐TADEO Andrés J. , SÁEZ‐FERNÁNDEZ Francisco J. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTThis paper assesses technical efficiency in the management of non‐performing loans (NPLs) in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) banking industry. To that end, Data Envelopment Analysis techniques are employed with data from the years 2013 to 2016 on a sample of 307 LAC cooperative and commercial banks. Our main contribution to existing literature is that differences of efficiency between cooperative banks and commercial banks are assessed as the result of the different capacities of their managers – managerial efficiency – and the so‐called programme efficiency, which represents differences in the technology used by these two categories of entities. Our principal result suggests that the technology used by cooperative banks in the management of NPLs is more efficient than the technology of commercial banks.
Patient characteristics of olfactory neuroblastoma: experience from a tertiary cancer centre 2000–2016 covering Eastern Denmark
Authors: Gram Signe Buhl , Grønhøj Christian , Mann Henriette , Jakobsen Kathrine Kronberg , Kiss Katalin , Bilde Anders , von Buchwald Christian 
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to report incidence and patient characteristics of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) at a tertiary cancer institution during a 16‐year period. A retrospective review was conducted on patients with ONB treated at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen from 2000 to 2016 covering Eastern Denmark. Patient demographics, symptoms, stage, pathology‐reports, treatment, and outcome were extracted from the patient records and the Danish pathology register. The tumours were graded both histologically and clinically using Hyam's and Kadish classifications, respectively. We identified a total of 14 patients (ten males, four females, median age 57 years, range 17–81 years). Four patients were in Kadish stage A, one stage B, and seven stage C. According to Hyam's classification, two tumours were grade I, nine grade II, and three grade III. All patients were treated with surgery, eight in combination with radiotherapy, where one received proton therapy, and one a combination with chemotherapy. At a median follow‐up time of 58 months, the 5‐year overall survival was 90% (95% CI 61; 99). ONB is a rare disease; complete radical surgery alone or combined with radiotherapy offered good oncologic control and outcome. Long‐term follow‐up of ONB should be mandatory.
Porphyromonas gingivalis‐induced inflammatory responses in THP1 cells are altered by native and modified low‐density lipoproteins in a strain‐dependent manner
Authors: Jayaprakash Kartheyaene , Demirel Isak , Khalaf Hazem , Bengtsson Torbjörn 
Published: July 2018

Strong epidemiological evidence supports an association between cardiovascular and periodontal disease and furthermore, the periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis has been identified in blood and from atheromatous plaques. Blood exposed to P. gingivalis shows an increased protein modification of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL). In this study, we investigate the inflammatory responses of THP1 cells incubated with P. gingivalis and the effects of native or modified LDL on these responses. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and IL‐1β were observed in THP1 cells following infection with P. gingivalis ATCC33277 and W50. Caspase 1 activity was quantified in THP1 cells and correlated with IL‐1β accumulation. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) induced IL‐1β release and CD36 expression on THP1 cells. Modified LDL co‐stimulated with ATCC33277 exhibited regulatory effects on caspase 1 activity, IL‐1β release and CD36 expression in THP1 cells, whereas W50 induced more modest responses in THP1 cells. In summary, we show that P. gingivalis is capable of inducing pro‐inflammatory responses in THP1 cells, and native and modified LDL could alter these responses in a dose‐ and strain‐dependent manner. Strain‐dependent differences in THP1 cell responses could be due to the effect of P. gingivalis proteases, presence or absence of capsule and proteolytic transformation of native and modified LDL.