bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of chronic thermal stress on the reproductive performance of male Octopus maya
Authors: López-Galindo Laura , Galindo-Sánchez Clara , Olivares Alberto , Avila-Poveda Omar Hernando , Díaz Fernando , Juárez Oscar E. , Lafarga Fabiola , Pantoja-Pérez Jordi , Caamal-Monsreal Claudia , Rosas Carlos 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn female Octopus maya the reproductive success has well-defined thermal limits; beyond which, spawning, number of eggs, fecundity, and the viability of the embryos are reduced. Observations of wild male O. maya suggest that temperatures below 27°C favour their reproductive performance. From these observations we hypothesize that, as in females, the temperature modulates the reproductive performance of adult O. maya males. The study was directed to evaluate the physiological condition, reproductive success, and histological damage in testis of male O. maya exposed to thermal stress, to determine the implications of ocean warming over their reproductive performance. High temperatures (28-30°C) negatively affect the growth and health of male O. maya. In octopuses maintained at 30°C, as a consequence of the thermal stress we observed an increment in the haemocytes number, a reduction in the oxygen consumption rate, and an inflammatory process in the testis. The number of spermatozoa per spermatophore was not affected by temperature, but higher spermatophores production was observed at 30°C. The paternity analysis showed that the offspring had multiple paternity with an average of 10 males contributing in a single spawn. The paternal contribution was affected by temperature with high, medium, or no paternal contribution in animals maintained at 24°C (control group), 28°C, and 30°C, respectively. The temperatures from 28°C to 30°C deeply affected the reproductive performance of Octopus maya males.
LimeSeg: A coarsed-grained lipid membrane simulation for 3D image segmentation
Authors: Machado Sarah , Mercier Vincent , Chiaruttini Nicolas 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBioimage analysis is an important preliminary step required for data representation and quantitative studies. To carry out these tasks, we developed LimeSeg, an easy-to-use, efficient and modular 3D image segmentation method. Based on the idea of SURFace ELements, LimeSeg resembles a highly coarse-grained simulation of a lipid membrane in which a set of particles, analogous to lipid molecules, are attracted to local image maxima. The particles are self-generating and self-destructing thus providing the ability for the membrane to evolve towards the contour of the object of interest. We characterize the emergent mechanical properties of this system and show how it can be used to segment many 3D objects from numerous types of image of biological samples (brain MRI, cell epithelium, cellular organelles). LimeSeg is available as a Fiji plugin that includes simple commands, a 3D visualizer, and customization options via ImageJ scripting.
The pharmacological perturbation of brain zinc impairs BDNF-related signalling and the cognitive performances of young mice
Authors: Frazzini Valerio , Granzotto Alberto , Bomba Manuela , Massetti Noemi , Castelli Vanessa , d’Aurora Marco , Punzi Miriam , Iorio Mariangela , Mosca Alessandra , Delli Pizzi Stefano , Gatta Valentina , Cimini Annamaria , Sensi Stefano L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractZinc (Zn2+) is a pleiotropic modulator of the neuronal and brain activity. The disruption of intraneuronal Zn2+levels triggers neurotoxic processes and affects neuronal functioning. In this study, we investigated how the pharmacological modulation of brain Zn2+affects synaptic plasticity and cognition in wild-type mice. To manipulate brain Zn2+levels, we employed the Zn2+(and copper) chelator 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline (clioquinol, CQ). CQ was administered for two weeks to 2.5-month-old (m.o.) mice, and effects studied on BDNF-related signalling, metalloproteinase activity as well as learning and memory performances. CQ treatment was found to negatively affect short- and long-term memory performances. The CQ-driven perturbation of brain Zn2+was found to reduce levels of BDNF, synaptic plasticity-related proteins and dendritic spine densityin vivo.Our study highlights the importance of choosing “when”, “where”, and “how much” in the modulation of brain Zn2+levels. Our findings confirm the importance of targeting Zn2+as a therapeutic approach against neurodegenerative conditions but, at the same time, underscore the potential drawbacks of reducing brain Zn2+availability upon the early stages of development.
Role of the novel endoribonuclease SLFN14 and its disease causing mutations in ribosomal degradation
Authors: Fletcher Sarah J. , Pisareva Vera P. , Khan Abdullah , Tcherepanov Andrew , Morgan Neil V. , Pisarev Andrey V. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTPlatelets are anucleate and mostly ribosome-free cells within the bloodstream, derived from megakaryocytes within bone marrow and crucial for cessation of bleeding at sites of injury. Inherited thrombocytopenias are a group of disorders characterized by alow platelet count and are frequently associated with excessive bleeding. SLFN14 is one of the most recently discovered genes linked to inherited thrombocytopenia where several heterozygous missense mutations in SLFN14 were identified to cause defective megakaryocyte maturation and platelet dysfunction. Yet, SLFN14 was recently described as a ribosome-associated protein resulting in rRNA and ribosome-bound mRNA degradation in rabbit reticulocytes. To unveil the cellular function of SLFN14 and the link between SLFN14 and thrombocytopenia, we examined SLFN14 (WT/mutants) in in vitro models. Here, we show that all SLFN14 variants co-localize with ribosomes and mediate rRNA endonucleolytic degradation and ribosome clearance. Compare dto SLFN14 WT, expression of mutants is dramatically reduced as a result of post-translational degradation due to partial misfolding of the protein. Moreover, all SLFN14 variants tend to form oligomers. These findings could explain the dominant negative effect of heterozygous mutation on SLFN14 expression in patients’ platelets. Overall we suggest that SLFN14 could be involved in ribosome degradation during platelet formation and maturation.
Spatial moment description of birth-death-movement processes incorporating the effects of crowding and obstacles
Authors: Surendran Anudeep , Plank Michael J. , Simpson Matthew J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBirth-death-movement processes, modulated by interactions between individuals, are fundamental to many cell biology processes. A key feature of the movement of cells within in vivo environments are the interactions between motile cells and stationary obstacles. Here we propose a multi-species model of individual-level motility, proliferation and death. This model is a spatial birth-death-movement stochastic process, a class of individual-based model (IBM) that is amenable to mathematical analysis. We present the IBM in a general multi-species framework, and then focus on the case of a population of motile, proliferative agents in an environment populated by stationary, non-proliferative obstacles. To analyse the IBM, we derive a system of spatial moment equations governing the evolution of the density of agents and the density of pairs of agents. This approach avoids making the usual mean-field assumption so that our models can be used to study the formation of spatial structure, such as clustering and aggregation, and to understand how spatial structure influences population-level outcomes. Overall the spatial moment model provides a reasonably accurate prediction of the system dynamics, including important effects such as how varying the properties of the obstacles leads to different spatial patterns in the population of agents.
Modelling the drivers for sustainable agri-food waste management
Authors: Chauhan Ankur , Debnath Roma Mitra , Singh Surya Prakash 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The waste of invaluable agri-food produce is the concern of United Nations Organisation and all countries across the world. The purpose of this paper is to identify and model the drivers of agri-food waste management in India.

Design/methodology/approach
The interpretive structural modelling method is used to model the drivers in this study. This method helps in understanding the driver-dependent relationships among various drivers/criteria which are selected for studying.

Findings
The findings of the study vividly shows that the drivers such as disaster management planning, information dissemination, and training and awareness programs for farmers are most vital for tackling the issue.

Research limitations/implications
This work would help the policy makers in developing the effective policies regarding the management of agri-food waste in a sustainable manner.

Practical implications
This work would be very helpful for deeply understanding the causes of occurring waste and carefully handling it scientifically with a managerial perspective. Hence, it has the potential to reduce the generation of waste and saving the food for society.

Social implications
With the help of this study, the people, society, and underprivileged will be benefited directly. The savings in agri-food waste will not only help in controlling the prices of it but also its more availability would be beneficial for all in beating the hunger.

Originality/value
The identification of drivers for the sustainable management of agri-food is the novelty of this research.
The effects of employee behaviours on customer participation in the service encounter
Authors: Zhao Yufei , Yan Li , Keh Hean Tat 
Published: February 2018

PurposeThere is considerable research examining the consequences and contingency factors of customer participation in the service encounter. In comparison, there is disproportionately less research examining the antecedents of customer participation. This paper aims to propose and test an appraisal-emotive framework of the effects of front-line employees’ in-role and extra-role behaviours on customer participation.Design/methodology/approachA survey on 583 customers of retail banks in China has been conducted to test the framework. Structural equation modelling and dominance analysis have been used for hypotheses testing.FindingsEmployees’ extra-role behaviour (i.e. organisational citizenship behaviour or OCB) has a stronger effect than their in-role behaviour (i.e. role-prescribed behaviour) in inducing customer participation. These effects are mediated by customer emotions. Specifically, the effect of employees’ in-role behaviour on customer participation was mediated by customers’ positive and negative emotions, whereas the effect of employees’ OCB was mediated by customers’ positive emotions but not by their negative emotions.Practical implicationsThe findings reveal that strategic management of employee behaviours can influence customer participation. While organisations often provide training to enhance employees’ in-role behaviour to deliver service performance, they should also recognise and encourage employees’ OCB as a means of increasing customer participation. In particular, employees who display positive emotions tend to evoke positive emotions in customers, which increase customer participation in the service encounter.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few studies in marketing to examine the differential effects of employees’ in-role and extra-role behaviours on customer participation. Importantly, the findings show that employees’ OCB is not only more effective than employees’ in-role behaviour in influencing customer participation but also these two behaviours have varying effects on customer emotions. These findings are new and contribute to the literatures on customer participation, value co-creation and human resource management.
Performance management in public universities: overcoming bureaucracy
Authors: Angiola Nunzio , Bianchi Piervito , Damato Letizia 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
Considering a micro performance perspective, the purpose of this paper is to analyze whether and to what extent the adoption of better performance management systems could improve the performance levels of a public university.

Design/methodology/approach
With reference to a period of four years (2011-2014), the quality of performance management systems of 29 Italian universities (response rate: 48 percent) was examined and the possible effects on performance levels of these institutions were analyzed by means of statistical methodologies (multiple regression analysis). Outcome indicators were considered.

Findings
The findings indicate the need to go further “measurement,” and to take care of performance “management,” especially in complex organizations as universities, where academicians identify themselves more with their professions than with the organization and where technicians and administrative employees might look at the performance-based reform with “bureaucratic eyes.” A fruitful cooperation between the professional soul and the bureaucratic one is paramount.

Originality/value
Studies which analyze organizational factors that could affect the adoption and implementation of performance management systems are rare, and use in prevalence qualitative methods or refer to machine bureaucracies, not many to professional ones as public universities. Moreover, the performance management literature in a public university context deepens the topic of the selection of KPIs and the focus is mainly on macro performance or on management tools for gathering and analyzing performance measures.
Survey of management practices enhancing labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects
Authors: Gurmu Argaw Tarekegn , Aibinu Ajibade Ayodeji 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize management practices that have the potential to improve labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted two-phase mixed-methods research design and 58 project managers, contract administrators and project coordinators were involved in the survey. During Phase I, qualitative data were collected from 19 experts using interviews and the management practices that could enhance labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects were identified. In Phase II, quantitative data were collected from 39 contractors involved in the delivery of multi-storey building projects by using questionnaires. The data were analyzed to prioritize the practices identified in Phase I.

Findings
Well-defined scope of work, safety and health policy, safety and health plan, hazard analysis, long-lead materials identification, safe work method statement, and toolbox safety meetings are the top seven practices that have the potential to improve labor productivity in multi-storey building projects.

Originality/value
The research identifies the management practices that can be implemented to enhance labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects in the context of Australia. Being the first study in the Australian context, the findings can be used as benchmark for international comparison.
Why does performance management not perform?
Authors: Cunha Miguel Pina e , Vieira Daniel Veiga , Rego Arménio , Clegg Stewart 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ask why poor performance management practices persist in Portugal, in the middle of claims to increase productivity.

Design/methodology/approach
An inductive micro-practice analysis is used to understand barriers to management practice that do not require massive institutional changes.

Findings
The practice of performance management in Portugal typically displays three weaknesses: (1) insufficient planning (2) process and integrity issues, and (3) a non-meritocratic logic.

Research limitations/implications
The paper discusses the important topic of persistence of bad practices, showing how institutionalized patterns might be difficult to eradicate even they are suboptimal.

Practical implications
The authors identity key issues in the functioning of performance management, therefore helping managers in developing remedies to improve the quality of their practice.

Originality/value
The paper explains the persistence of bad management practice whose continuity hinders not only organizations’ effectiveness but also that of their members.
A conceptual Lean Six Sigma framework for quality excellence in higher education institutions
Authors: Sunder M. Vijaya , Antony Jiju 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the potent application of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in higher education services and to suggest a conceptual framework of deploying LSS in the higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach
This paper aims to outline the importance of the quality excellence criterion in general through different constructs from the literature including TQM, Lean, Six Sigma and LSS. The paper further expands on the applicability of LSS in the HEI setting, with an understanding of HEI as comparatively different from the manufacturing sector from where LSS originated. The published literature on LSS and authors’ experience in the field of LSS (as practitioners) were used as sources for devising a conceptual framework for LSS deployment in HEIs.

Findings
The key finding from the study is the confirmation of LSS applicability in HEIs. The study also confirms that LSS is not anyone’s job but a key part of leadership agenda. The six-staged conceptual framework prescribed for the HEIs as part of the paper is the key contribution of this study. The model describes that LSS readiness is the foremost step in the LSS deployment journey in HEIs. The strategic perspectives of aligning the organisational vision for quality excellence need to be achieved by establishing a need for LSS through leadership. Then, developing an LSS deployment strategy becomes the next step. Educating the appropriate stakeholders (students) and team formation becomes the next important steps in the LSS deployment. Once the above steps are implemented in right way, identifying and implementing LSS projects becomes critical. The execution and closure of the LSS projects leads to quality excellence in HEIs.

Research limitations/implications
Since the framework prescribed here is a conceptual framework, it deserved a testing in the real-life context. This leaves an opportunity for future researchers to test and expand on the implications of the model. Though the LSS framework is customised for HEIs, the fundamental factors essential for any change management initiative holds correct for LSS as well, and hence these are not elaborated as part of this paper.

Originality/value
This paper would serve as an excellent resource for both academicians and LSS practitioners in HEIs, for deployment. The framework presented here is the original work contributed by the authors, as the first of its kind in the academic literature relevant to LSS in HEIs.
Quantifying the relationship between latent variables after successful implementation of QM practices in MSMEs
Authors: Kharub Manjeet , Sharma Rajiv Kumar 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between latent variables, i.e. human resource management (HRM) effectiveness, quality cost (QC), and firm performance (FP) for the successful implementation of quality management (QM) practices in micro, small and medium enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach
The data analysis is accomplished in three steps: in the first step, factor analysis was conducted to extract the latent variables representing key QM practices. In the second step, a descriptive analysis (cross-tabulation) was performed to examine the current situation and association between key QM variables and firm size. In the third step, to test the research hypotheses based on latent constructs, structural equation modelling (SEM) has been used.

Findings
The percent point score shows that there are substantial improvements in all organisational aspects after successful implementation of QM practices. The χ2-test revealed that only three domains namely employee participation, recruitment and retaining and supplier relationship are having a significant variation with respect to the firm size. The SEM results show that HRM effectiveness has a direct and positive relationship with FP, whereas QC has a negative association with HRM effectiveness and FP.

Originality/value
Managers will know which aspect they must consider seeing as an indicator of QM practice in their company(s). Out of the three identified latent constructs first will help to create an efficient human capital, whereas the second will help for addressing extra cost due to poor quality. Finally, the third latent variable will show the effectiveness of these two and will assist in evaluating firm’s performance.
Impact of knowledge enabling factors on organizational effectiveness in construction companies
Authors: Dang Chau Ngoc , Le-Hoai Long , Kim Soo-Yong 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
This study aims to identify key knowledge enabling factors (KEFs) which can enable construction companies to improve various organizational effectiveness outcomes (OEOs).

Design/methodology/approach
Using a questionnaire, data are collected from construction companies in Vietnam. Mean score method is used to calculate the mean values of KEFs. In addition, regression analysis is used to identify KEFs which significantly affect OEOs.

Findings
A list of 32 KEFs, whose ranking orders of importance are provided according to different types of construction companies, is presented. In addition, different lists of specific KEFs which could significantly affect different OEOs are identified. Furthermore, seven key KEFs which could have a significant impact on many OEOs are highlighted.

Practical implications
The findings of this study could help construction companies to know the controllable KEFs, on which they should focus more. Hence, they could perform these KEFs properly to improve various aspects of organizational effectiveness.

Originality/value
This study identifies 32 KEFs and 10 OEOs specifically for knowledge management in construction companies. This study also provides construction companies with a better understanding of the impact of KEFs on various aspects of organizational effectiveness. Hence, they could develop effective KEFs-based management strategies to enhance various aspects of organizational effectiveness.