bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Control mechanisms of MNEs: an empirical study
Authors: Singh Satwinder , Wood Geoffrey , Alharbi Jaithen , Darwish Tamer K. 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to explore variations in the extent of control mechanisms, according to country of origin and organizational characteristics, in a challenging country of domicile.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design involving the use of a questionnaire as the primary data source was adopted. A total of 350 subsidiaries were initially randomly selected and contacted in person, or via telephone and e-mail, of which 147 agreed to take part in the study and responded to the survey.FindingsThe authors find that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) from highly financialized Liberal Market Economies will be associated with a greater reliance on formalized control mechanisms; this will enable the MNE’s headquarters to closely monitor subsidiary managers according to objective measures, to ensure that the maximum shareholder value is released.Research limitations/implicationsThis study reveals a greater reliance on control mechanisms in larger firms, reflecting a desire to maximize bureaucratic economies of scale.Practical implicationsThe authors find that the presence of expatriates regardless of country of origin leads to greater decentralization, suggesting foreign firms do not trust local staff.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies of this nature conducted for the region of Middle East – and the only one the authors are aware of for Saudi Arabia. Further, it sheds new light on the impact of contextual circumstances on how closely firms monitor their subsidiaries, the challenges of doing business in the Gulf region and the consequences of the large-scale usage of expatriates.
Advancing environmental sustainability via deliberative democracy
Authors: Arunachalam Murugesh , Singh-Ladhar Jagdeep , McLachlan Andrea 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the planning and policy processes in relation to the pollution in Lake Taupo. This paper describes and explains the manifestation of the tenets of deliberative democracy and the impediments of mobilising the tenets in the planning and policy-making processes.

Design/methodology/approach
This interpretive case study makes sense of interview transcripts, minutes of meetings, media reports and public documents and adopts deliberative democratic theory as the theoretical framework for the interpretive analysis.

Findings
Some factors fostered and others challenged the mobilization of the tenets of deliberative democracy. Local government processes facilitated the expression of multiple views in relation to the impacts of human activities on the Lake. Confrontations and tensions were inevitable elements of the deliberative processes. Pre-determined outcomes and domination of local authorities, aiming for environmental sustainability of Lake Taupo, posed as challenges to the operation of deliberative democracy. Some stakeholders need to sacrifice more than others, but recognition of pluralism, conflicts and differences is an essential part of deliberative democracy.

Originality/value
There is scarcity of research that empirically examines local government processes in light of deliberative democratic principles. The study also extends environmental and social studies that have explored the arena approach to accountability and decision-making.
Impaired Japanese encephalitis virus replication in p62/SQSTM1 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts
Authors: Tasaki Takafumi , Nukuzuma Souichi , Takegami Tsutomu 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThe role of the autophagy adaptor protein p62/SQSTM1 in Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) replication in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) was investigated. Amounts of JEV RNA and E protein were significantly smaller in p62‐deficient cells than wild‐type cells at 24 hr post‐infection (p.i.). JEV RNA quantitation and viral plaque assays showed significant reductions in viral titers in p62‐deficient cell culture fluid. Our results indicate that JEV replication is impaired in p62‐deficient MEFs, suggesting that p62 positively regulates JEV replication in host cells.
Curvilinear telomere length dynamics in a squamate reptile
Authors: Ujvari Beata , Biro Peter A. , Charters Jordan E. , Brown Gregory , Heasman Kim , Beckmann Christa , Madsen Thomas 
Published: September 2016

Summary

The lack of consensus concerning the impact of telomere length (TL) dynamics on survival emphasizes the need for additional studies to evaluate the effect of TL on key life‐history processes.

Using both cross‐sectional and longitudinal data, we therefore explored age‐specific TL dynamics in a squamate reptile: the frillneck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii).

Our cross‐sectional analyses revealed that young lizards had short TL, TL increased in medium‐aged lizards, but TL decreased in older age cohorts, revealing a curvilinear relationship between TL and frillneck lizard age.

Neither our cross‐sectional nor our longitudinal analyses revealed any association between TL dynamics and lizard survival.

We observed a significant positive relationship between TL and telomerase expression (TE), suggesting that TE is a significant determinant of frillneck lizard TL dynamics.

Importantly, our longitudinal analyses revealed a positive relationship between initial TL and telomere attrition rate within individual lizards, that is lizards with short initial telomeres were subjected to reduced telomere attrition rates compared to lizards with long initial TL.

Our results strongly suggest that TL and TE dynamics in frillneck lizards is not associated with lizard survival but rather reflect an adaptation to maintain TL above a critical minimum length in order to sustain cellular homeostasis.

A lay summary is available for this article.
An application of 4D seismic monitoring technique to modern coal mining
Authors: Du Wenfeng , Peng Suping 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTTo study the impact of modern coal mining on the overlying formation, a full‐life‐cycle four‐dimensional seismic monitoring study has been carried out. Four seismic data campaigns have been performed using flexi‐bin geometry with square bins, with total duration of 171 days. The four seismic datasets have been processed with the same processing workflow and parameters; major problems such as statics correction, signal‐to‐noise ratio, resolution, and consistency processing are addressed taking into account the geological features of the research area. This guarantees that remaining four‐dimensional differences between the time‐lapse datasets show mostly geological factors due to the coal mining and effects such as surface subsidence. Our four‐dimensional seismic monitoring of modern coal mining shows that mined and unmined areas have significant zoning characteristics; coal mining has a direct impact on the overlying formation. The mining leads to obvious event subsidence, which reflects that overlying formations undergo subsidence during the mining process. The overlying formation appears as two zones called caving zone and fractured zone. We determine the fault dip of the overlying formation at one end of the working face to be 56°or so by calculation and conversion. We also see that, during the coal mining process, over time, the overlying formation has a self‐recovery capability, which gradually strengthens from the roof siltstone upward to the Aeolian sandstone near the surface. The stability of 20‐m coal pillars between working faces displays a strengthening trend and remains safe during the mining process due to both coal seam supporting and formation compaction effects.
Intraspecific competition, not predation, drives lizard tail loss on islands
Authors: Itescu Yuval , Schwarz Rachel , Meiri Shai , Pafilis Panayiotis 
Published: September 2016

Summary

Tail autotomy is mainly considered an antipredator mechanism. Theory suggests that predation pressure relaxes on islands, subsequently reducing autotomy rates.

Intraspecific aggression, which may also cause tail loss, probably intensifies on islands due to the higher abundance.

We studied whether tail autotomy is mostly affected by predation pressure or by intraspecific competition. We further studied whether predator abundance or predator richness is more important in this context.

To test our predictions, we examined multiple populations of two gecko species: Kotschy's gecko (Mediodactylus kotschyi; mainland and 41 islands) and the Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus; mainland and 17 islands), and estimated their abundance together with five indices of predation.

In both species, autotomy rates are higher on islands and decline with most predation indices, in contrast with common wisdom, and increase with gecko abundance. In M. kotschyi, tail‐loss rates are higher on predator and viper‐free islands, but increase with viper abundance.

We suggest that autotomy is not simply, or maybe even mainly, an antipredatory mechanism. Rather, such defence mechanisms are a response to complex direct and indirect biotic interactions and perhaps, in the case of tail autotomy in insular populations, chiefly to intraspecific aggression.
Troxerutin attenuates diet‐induced oxidative stress, impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis and respiratory chain complexes in mice heart
Authors: Rajagopalan Geetha , Chandrasekaran Sathiya Priya , Carani Venkatraman Anuradha 
Published: September 2016

SummaryMitochondrial abnormality is thought to play a key role in cardiac disease originating from the metabolic syndrome (MS). We evaluated the effect of troxerutin (TX), a semi‐synthetic derivative of the natural bioflavanoid rutin, on the respiratory chain complex activity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics in heart of high fat, high fructose diet (HFFD) ‐induced mouse model of MS. Adult male Mus musculus mice of body weight 25‐30 g were fed either control diet or HFFD for 60 days. Mice from each dietary regimen were divided into two groups on the 16th day and were treated or untreated with TX (150 mg/kg body weight [bw], per oral) for the next 45 days. At the end of experimental period, respiratory chain complex activity, uncoupling proteins (UCP)‐2 and ‐3, mtDNA content, mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics, oxidative stress markers and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were analyzed. Reduced mtDNA abundance with alterations in the expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and fission and fusion processes were observed in HFFD‐fed mice. Disorganized and smaller mitochondria, reduction in complexes I, III and IV activities (by about 55%) and protein levels of UCP‐2 (52%) and UCP‐3 (46%) were noted in these mice. TX administration suppressed oxidative stress, improved the oxidative capacity and biogenesis and restored fission/fusion imbalance in the cardiac mitochondria of HFFD‐fed mice. TX protects the myocardium by modulating the putative molecules of mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics and by its anti‐oxidant function in a mouse model of MS.
The disorganized family: institutions, practices and normativity
Authors: Smyth Lisa 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper considers the value of a normative account of the relationship between agents and institutions for contemporary efforts to explain ever more complex and disorganized forms of social life. The character of social institutions, as they relate to practices, agents and norms, is explored through an engagement with the common claim that family life has been de‐institutionalized. The paper argues that a normative rather than empirical definition of institutions avoids a false distinction between institutions and practices. Drawing on ideas of social freedom and creative action from critical theory, the changes in family life are explained not as an effect of de‐institutionalization, but as a shift from an organized to a disorganized institutional type. This is understood as a response to changes in the wider normative structure, as a norm of individual freedom has undermined the legitimacy of the organized patriarchal nuclear family, with gender ascribed roles and associated duties. Contemporary motherhood is drawn on to illustrate the value of analysing the dynamic interactions between institutions, roles and practices for capturing both the complexity and the patterned quality of social experience.
Endometriosis has no negative impact on outcomes of in vitro fertilisation in women with poor ovarian response
Authors: Yang X , Huang R , Cai M , Liang X 
Published: September 2016

ObjectiveTo compare the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) outcomes of poor ovarian responders among women with laparoscopically diagnosed minimal–mild endometriosis (Group A), moderate–severe endometriosis (Group B) and those without endometriosis (Group C). The comparisons were made separately for age groups younger than 35 years and 35 years or older.DesignRetrospective study.SettingA university‐affiliated hospital in Guangzhou, China.Population495 women younger than 35 years old and 543 women aged 35 or older who had poor ovarian response with or without laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis.MethodsPoor ovarian response (POR) was diagnosed using the Bologna criteria. First cycle parameters were analysed over the same period of time from January 2011 to October 2014.Main outcome measuresThe primary endpoint was the live birth rate per embryo transfer cycle. Secondary outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rate, cycle cancellation rate and miscarriage rate.ResultsIn women aged 35 or older no differences were found among the three subgroups in terms of live birth rate, clinical pregnancy rate, cycle cancellation rate or miscarriage rate; in women aged younger than 35 years, the clinical pregnancy rates were 62.96, 45.45 and 43.27% for Groups A, B and C, respectively (P = 0.028). The live birth rate, cycle cancellation rate and miscarriage rate were not significantly different. Compared with the older group of women, the younger women had a significantly higher live birth rate (P < 0.001).ConclusionsA woman's age is the most important factor governing the live birth rate with IVF. Endometriosis has no consistent impact on IVF outcomes in women with POR.Tweetable abstractEndometriosis has no negative impact on IVF outcomes in women with poor ovarian response.
Reliability and relative validity of a diet index score for adults derived from a self‐reported short food survey
Authors: Hendrie Gilly A. , Rebuli Megan A. , Golley Rebecca K. 
Published: September 2016

AimAssess the reliability and relative validity of a diet index score for adults derived using a 38‐item online survey.MethodsThe short food survey (SFS) measured ‘usual’ intake of seven food groups, three food choice indicators and variety; and was completed by 61 adults aged 19‐50 years from Adelaide, Australia. A score was applied to assess compliance with the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines. Reliability of the survey was measured between two administrations one week apart; and validity by comparing the first administration to the average of three 24‐hour dietary recalls. Statistical analyses included paired samples t‐tests, intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC), percentage agreement, Cohen's kappa coefficients and Bland‐Altman plots.ResultsEstimates of daily food group servings were reliable (within 0.3 servings, P > 0.05) but not valid for all foods groups. The mean total index score was approximately 70 points (out of 100) on both SFS administrations (ICC = 0.71 (95% CI 0.56:0.81). Relative validity analysis showed moderate correlation between SFS#1 and 24‐hour recalls (ICC = 0.43 (0.21:0.62, P < 0.001)), with 51% agreement in allocation to tertiles of diet quality between methods (k = 0.262, P = 0.004). The survey overestimated the diet index score by an average of 12.7 points out of 100 [‐20.11:42.94] in comparison to recalls.ConclusionsThe survey overestimated compliance with guidelines relative to dietary recalls. It demonstrated good reliability; however, the validity of estimating intake of some food groups needs improvement. Future refinement will provide a valuable online tool to assess compliance with the Australian dietary recommendations.
Nontargeted, Rapid Screening of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Products for Authenticity Using Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy in Combination with Conformity Index and Multivariate Statistical Analyses
Authors: Karunathilaka Sanjeewa R. , Kia Ali‐Reza Fardin , Srigley Cynthia , Chung Jin Kyu , Mossoba Magdi M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractA rapid tool for evaluating authenticity was developed and applied to the screening of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) retail products by using Fourier‐transform near infrared (FT‐NIR) spectroscopy in combination with univariate and multivariate data analysis methods. Using disposable glass tubes, spectra for 62 reference EVOO, 10 edible oil adulterants, 20 blends consisting of EVOO spiked with adulterants, 88 retail EVOO products and other test samples were rapidly measured in the transmission mode without any sample preparation. The univariate conformity index (CI) and the multivariate supervised soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) classification tool were used to analyze the various olive oil products which were tested for authenticity against a library of reference EVOO. Better discrimination between the authentic EVOO and some commercial EVOO products was observed with SIMCA than with CI analysis. Approximately 61% of all EVOO commercial products were flagged by SIMCA analysis, suggesting that further analysis be performed to identify quality issues and/or potential adulterants. Due to its simplicity and speed, FT‐NIR spectroscopy in combination with multivariate data analysis can be used as a complementary tool to conventional official methods of analysis to rapidly flag EVOO products that may not belong to the class of authentic EVOO.
Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in Asian patients: A pooled analysis
Authors: Yang Wenying , Ji Linong , Zhou Zhiguang , Cain Valerie A. , Johnsson Kristina M. , Sjöström C. David 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin, a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, has been demonstrated predominantly in Western populations. This study examined the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from eight Phase IIb/III double‐blind trials of up to 24 weeks, treated with placebo (n = 497) or dapagliflozin 5 mg (n = 491) or 10 mg (n = 465).MethodsEfficacy was assessed in the pooled population receiving dapagliflozin 5, 10 mg or placebo over 24 weeks. Safety and tolerability were assessed by collating data for overall adverse events (AEs) and AEs of special interest over the 24‐week period.ResultsDemographic and baseline characteristics were comparable across treatment groups. Placebo‐corrected adjusted mean changes from baseline at 24 weeks in the dapagliflozin 5 and 10 mg groups, respectively, were −0.52% and −0.58% for HbA1c and −1.34 and −1.80 kg for body weight. Modest reductions in blood pressure were also noted with dapagliflozin. Overall, 56.5%, 53.6%, and 58.7% of patients in the placebo and dapagliflozin 5 and 10 mg groups, respectively, experienced AEs, compared with 2.8%, 4.1%, and 2.4% experiencing serious AEs. Genital infections were more frequent with dapagliflozin 10 mg than placebo, whereas the pattern for urinary tract infections was less clear. A transient reduction in mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was noted with dapagliflozin, but was not associated with an increased frequency of serious renal AEs. In contrast, placebo‐corrected reductions in urinary albumin : creatinine ratio in patients with albuminuria at baseline suggest a potential renoprotective effect of dapagliflozin.ConclusionDapagliflozin was efficacious and well tolerated in Asian patients with T2DM.
Endogenous reactive oxygen species cause astrocyte defects and neuronal dysfunctions in the hippocampus: a new model for aging brain
Authors: Ishii Takamasa , Takanashi Yumi , Sugita Koichi , Miyazawa Masaki , Yanagihara Rintaro , Yasuda Kayo , Onouchi Hiromi , Kawabe Noboru , Nakata Munehiro , Yamamoto Yorihiro , Hartman Phil S. , Ishii Naoaki 
Published: September 2016

SummaryThe etiology of astrocyte dysfunction is not well understood even though neuronal defects have been extensively studied in a variety of neuronal degenerative diseases. Astrocyte defects could be triggered by the oxidative stress that occurs during physiological aging. Here, we provide evidence that intracellular or mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) at physiological levels can cause hippocampal (neuronal) dysfunctions. Specifically, we demonstrate that astrocyte defects occur in the hippocampal area of middle‐aged Tet‐mev‐1 mice with the SDHCV69E mutation. These mice are characterized by chronic oxidative stress. Even though both young adult and middle‐aged Tet‐mev‐1 mice overproduced MitoSOX Red‐detectable mitochondrial ROS compared to age‐matched wild‐type C57BL/6J mice, only young adult Tet‐mev‐1 mice upregulated manganese and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Mn‐ and Cu/Zn‐SODs) activities to eliminate the MitoSOX Red‐detectable mitochondrial ROS. In contrast, middle‐aged Tet‐mev‐1 mice accumulated both MitoSOX Red‐detectable mitochondrial ROS and CM‐H2DCFDA‐detectable intracellular ROS. These ROS levels appeared to be in the physiological range as shown by normal thiol and glutathione disulfide/glutathione concentrations in both young adult and middle‐aged Tet‐mev‐1 mice relative to age‐matched wild‐type C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, only middle‐aged Tet‐mev‐1 mice showed JNK/SAPK activation and Ca2+ overload, particularly in astrocytes. This led to decreasing levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100β in the hippocampal area. Significantly, there were no pathological features such as apoptosis, amyloidosis, and lactic acidosis in neurons and astrocytes. Our findings suggest that the age‐dependent physiologically relevant chronic oxidative stress caused astrocyte defects in mice with impaired mitochondrial electron transport chain functionality.
Moving from autonomous to planned adaptation in the montane forests of southeastern Australia under changing fire regimes
Authors: Doherty Michael D. , Lavorel Sandra , Colloff Matthew J. , Williams Kristen J. , Williams Richard J. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractForest ecosystems and their associated natural, cultural and economic values are highly vulnerable to climate driven changes in fire regimes. A detailed knowledge of forest ecosystem responses to altered fire regimes is a necessary underpinning to inform options for adaptive responses under climate change, as well as for providing a basis for understanding how patterns of distribution of vegetation communities that comprise montane forest ecosystems may change in the future. Unplanned consequential adaptation of both natural and human systems, i.e. autonomous adaptation, will occur without planned intervention, with potentially negative impacts on ecosystem services. The persistence of forest stands under changing fire regimes and the maintenance of the ecosystem services that they provide pivot upon underlying response traits, such as the ability to resprout, that determine the degree to which composition, structure and function are likely to change. The integration of ecosystem dynamics into conceptual models and their use in exploring adaptation pathways provides options for policy makers and managers to move from autonomous to planned adaptation responses. Understanding where autonomous adaptation provides a benefit and where it proves potentially undesirable is essential to inform adaptation choices. Plausible scenarios of ecological change can be developed to improve an understanding of the nature and timing of interventions and their consequences, well before natural and human systems autonomously adapt in ways that may be detrimental to the long‐term provision of ecosystem services. We explore the utility of this approach using examples from temperate montane forest ecosystems of southeastern Australia.