bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
General sexual desire, but not desire for uncommitted sexual relationships, tracks changes in women’s hormonal status
Authors: Jones Benedict C , Hahn Amanda C , Fisher Claire I , Wang Hongyi , Kandrik Michal , DeBruine Lisa M 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSeveral recent longitudinal studies have investigated the hormonal correlates of both young adult women’s general sexual desire and, more specifically, their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Findings across these studies have been mixed, potentially because each study tested only small samples of women (Ns = 43, 33, and 14). Here we report results from a much larger (N = 375) longitudinal study of hormonal correlates of young adult women’s general sexual desire and their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Our analyses suggest that within-woman changes in general sexual desire are negatively related to progesterone, but are not related to testosterone or cortisol. We observed some positive relationships for estradiol, but these were generally only significant for solitary sexual desire. By contrast with our results for general sexual desire, analyses showed no evidence that changes in women’s desire for uncommitted sexual relationships are related to their hormonal status. Together, these results suggest that changes in hormonal status contribute to changes in women’s general sexual desire, but do not influence women’s desire for uncommitted sexual relationships.
Hydra, a model system for deciphering the mechanisms of aging and resistance to aging
Authors: Schenkelaars Quentin , Tomczyk Szymon , Wenger Yvan , Ekundayo Kazadi , Girard Victor , Buzgariu Wanda , Austad Steve , Galliot Brigitte 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThe freshwater cnidarian polyp namedHydra, which can be mass-cultured in the laboratory, is characterized by a highly dynamic homeostasis with a continuous self-renewal of its three adult stem cell populations, the epithelial stem cells from the epidermis, the epithelial stem cells from the gastrodermis, and the multipotent interstitial stem cells, which provide cells of the nervous system, gland cells and germ cells. Two unusual features characterize these stem cells that cannot replace each other, they all avoid G1 to pause in G2, and the two epithelial populations are concomitantly multifunctional and stem cells.H. vulgaristhat does not show any signs of aging over the years, resists to weeks of starvation and adapts to the loss of neurogenesis, providing a unique model system to study the resistance to aging. By contrast some strains of a distinct species namedH. oligactisundergo a rapid aging process when undergoing gametogenesis or when placed in stress conditions. The aging phenotype is characterized by the rapid loss of somatic interstitial stem cells, the progressive reduction in epithelial stem cell self-renewal, the loss of regeneration, the disorganization of the neuro-muscular system, the loss of the feeding behavior, and the death of all animals within about three months. We review here the possible mechanisms that helpH. vulgaristo sustain stem cell self-renewal and thus bypass aging processes. For this, FoxO seems to act as a pleiotropic actor, regulating stem cell proliferation, stress response and apoptosis. InH. oligactis,the regulation of the autophagy flux differs between aging-sensitive and aging-resistant animals, pointing to a key role for proteostasis in the maintenance of a large pool of active and plastic epithelial stem cells.
Molecular analysis of the midbrain dopaminergic niche during neurogenesis
Authors: Toledo Enrique M. , Manno Gioele La , Cervo Pia Rivetti di Val , Gyllborg Daniel , Islam Saiful , Villaescusa Carlos , Linnarsson Sten , Arenas Ernest 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTMidbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons degenerate in Parkinson’s disease and are one of the main targets for cell replacement therapies. However, a comprehensive view of the signals and cell types contributing to mDA neurogenesis is not yet available. By analyzing the transcriptome of the mouse ventral midbrain at a tissue and single-cell level during mDA neurogenesis we found that three recently identified radial glia types 1-3 (Rgl1-3) contribute to different key aspects of mDA neurogenesis. While Rgl3 expressed most extracellular matrix components and multiple ligands for various pathways controlling mDA neuron development, such as Wnt and Shh, Rgl1-2 expressed most receptors. Moreover, we found that specific transcription factor networks explain the transcriptome and suggest a function for each individual radial glia. A network controlling neurogenesis was found in Rgl1, progenitor maintenance in Rgl2 and the secretion of factors forming the mDA niche by Rgl3. Our results thus uncover a broad repertoire of developmental signals expressed by each midbrain cell type during mDA neurogenesis. Cells identified for their emerging importance are Rgl3, a niche cell type, and Rgl1, a neurogenic progenitor that expressesARNTL,a transcription factor that we find is required for mDA neurogenesis.
Cofilin Drives Rapid Turnover and Fluidization of Entangled F-actin
Authors: McCall Patrick M. , MacKintosh Frederick C. , Kovar David R. , Gardel Margaret L. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe shape of most animal cells is controlled by the actin cortex, a thin, isotropic network of dynamic actin filaments (F-actin) situated just beneath the plasma membrane. The cortex is held far from equilibrium by both active stresses and turnover: Myosin-II molecular motors drive deformations required for cell division, migration, and tissue morphogenesis, while turnover of the molecular components of the actin cortex relax stress and facilitate network reorganization. While many aspects of F-actin network viscoelasticity are well-characterized in the presence and absence of motor activity, a mechanistic understanding of how non-equilibrium actin turnover contributes to stress relaxation is still lacking. To address this, we developed a reconstituted in vitro system wherein the steady-state length and turnover rate of F-actin in entangled solutions are controlled by the actin regulatory proteins cofilin, profilin, and formin, which sever, recycle, and nucleate filaments, respectively. Cofilin-mediated severing accelerates the turnover and spatial reorganization of F-actin, without significant changes to filament length. Microrheology measurements demonstrate that cofilin-mediated severing is a single-timescale mode of stress relaxation that tunes the low-frequency viscosity over two orders of magnitude. These findings serve as the foundation for understanding the mechanics of more physiological F-actin networks with turnover, and inform an updated microscopic model of single-filament turnover. They also demonstrate that polymer activity, in the form of ATP hydrolysis on F-actin coupled to nucleotide-dependent cofilin binding, is sufficient to generate a form of active matter wherein asymmetric filament disassembly preserves filament number in spite of sustained severing.Significance StatementWhen an animal cell moves or divides, a disordered network of actin filaments (F-actin) plays a central role in controlling the resulting changes in cell shape. While it is known that continual turnover of F-actin by cofilin-mediated severing aids in reorganization of the cellular cytoskeleton, it is unclear how the turnover of structural elements alters the mechanical properties of the network. Here we show that severing of F-actin by cofilin results in a stress relaxation mechanism in entangled solutions characterized by a single-timescale set by the severing rate. Additionally, we identify ATP hydrolysis and nucleotide-dependent cofilin binding as sufficient ingredients to generate a non-equilibrium steady-state in which asymmetric F-actin disassembly preserves filament number in spite of sustained severing.
An exploratory study of job insecurity in relation to household registration, employment contract, and job satisfaction in Chinese state-owned enterprises
Authors: Shi Bing 
Published: June 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the household registration and of employment contract on employee job insecurity in the Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The relationships between job satisfaction and the two components of job insecurity are also analysed.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses original data collected through a questionnaire survey in six Chinese SOEs. In all, 309 samples are analysed mainly using hierarchical regression analysis.FindingsThe research finds household registration is a predictor of job insecurity while employment contract is not. Job satisfaction is found to be positively related to one of the components of job insecurity: the perceived severity of job loss.Social implicationsTo improve job security of the employees who are in vulnerable positions, improving the equality of social safety net is significant. In China, household registration causes unequal access to social welfare and employment opportunities; improving the equality may be more significant than seeking for permanent employment.Originality/valueThe research suggests two levels of factors influencing job insecurity: the macro-level factors that include the institutional configurations of social safety net; and the micro-level factors that include employment contract. The macro-level factors have fundamental influence while the micro-level factors are more apparent. The micro-level factors may manifest their influence only when the macro-level factors equally cover all the employees. The macro-level factors may also intermediate the relationship between job insecurity and satisfaction.
Zoona mobile money: investing for impact (cases A and B)
Authors: Bazley John , Rayner Cynthia Schweer , Power Aunnie Patton 
Published: June 2017

Subject area
Impact investing, Social enterprise.

Study level/applicability
MBA, EMBA, Executive Education.

Case overview
Zoona mobile money: investing for impact details a slightly altered version of the real events that occurred in late 2011 with the series A round of investment in Zoona, a mobile money business in Zambia. The focus is on the decisions that have to be made by the management team of a socially innovative tech start-up (Zoona) providing mobile money and financial services to previously unbanked consumers in Zambia.

Expected learning outcomes
By the end of this case, the student should be able to: understand the basics of term sheets and be able to perform a high level analysis and comparison of two distinct term sheets; identify investor objectives, ultimately recognising the general differences between private equity and venture capital investors; identify and weigh the costs and benefits of term sheets, as well as identify negotiating points and necessary trade-offs in the investment process; and identify and understand the “soft” benefits of investors and weigh these in relation to a term sheet analysis.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code
CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.
Big data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani banks: a case study
Authors: Saxena Stuti , Ali Said Mansour Al-Tamimi Tariq 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to underline the significance of invoking Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani Banks. Opportunities and challenges are also being discussed in the case study.

Design/methodology/approach
Four Omani banks representative of local, international, Islamic and specialized banks are being studied in terms of their social networking presence on Facebook and their e-banking facilities. Also, impetus is laid upon the aggregation of internal data and vast amounts of semi-structured external data from public sources, including social media.

Findings
The case study shows that Big Data analytics and IoT technologies may be utilized by the Omani banks for facilitating them in “forecasting” and “nowcasting”. Besides, customers may be better managed with better and efficient services. However, there are challenges in tapping these technologies such as security, infrastructure, regulatory norms, etc.

Practical implications
Banks in Oman need to appreciate the utility of Big Data and IoT technologies, and for this, a robust IT infrastructure should be institutionalized.

Originality/value
The case study is a major step in integrating Big Data and IoT technologies in Omani banks across four variants of national, international, Islamic and specialized banks. This is the first study where such integration has been emphasized in the Omani banking sector.
Forecasting the total energy consumption in China using a new-structure grey system model
Authors: Zeng Bo , Luo Chengming 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
China is by far the world’s largest energy consumer and importer. Reasonably forecasting the trend of China’s total energy consumption (CTEC) is of great significance. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new-structure grey system model (NSGM (1, 1)) to forecast CTEC.

Design/methodology/approach
Two matrices for computing the parameters of NSGM (1, 1) were defined and the specific calculation formula was derived. Since the NSGM (1, 1) model increases the number of its background values, which improves the smoothness effect of the background value and weakens the effects of extreme values in the raw sequence on the model’s performance; hence it has better simulation and prediction performances than traditional grey models. Finally, NSGM (1, 1) was used to forecast China’s total energy consumption during 2016-2025. The forecast showed CTEC will grow rapidly in the next ten years.

Findings
Therefore, in order to meet the target of keeping CTEC under control at 4.8 billion tons of standard coal in 2020, Chinese government needs to take necessary measures such as transforming the economic development pattern and enhancing the energy utilization efficiency.

Originality/value
A new-structure grey forecasting model, NSGM (1, 1), is proposed in this paper, which improves the smoothness and weakens the effects of extreme values and has a better structure and performance than those of other grey models. The authors successfully employ the new model to simulate and forecast CTEC. The research findings could aid Chinese government in formulating energy policies and help energy exporters make rational energy yield plans.
Climate change policy-making process in Kenya: deliberative inclusionary processes in play
Authors: Njoroge Joseph M. , Ratter Beate M.W. , Atieno Lucy 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
There is a growing recognition in Kenya that citizens should play a role in contributing to policy formation. This is a shift from a conventional approach where the elite in society or selected few would largely define policy problems and determine actions. One of the approaches that underpins such views is deliberative inclusionary processes (DIPs). DIPs emerged in the 1980s with the rise of civil societies that challenged various approaches by governments and authorities. While most countries have embarked on developing climate change policies, this paper aims to discuss DIPs and report on a study of the Kenya Climate Bill 2014 policy-making process.

Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain valuable information from stakeholders. The study aims at understanding how policy space and outcomes are shaped by policy discourses and narratives; actors, networks and institutions; and politics and interests.

Findings
The Kenyan case of a policy-making process represents a typical DIP. However, it had a unique start from social movement action to government ownership which was characterized by serious problems of inclusion and exclusion, relations, conflict of interests and a real play of power and control of the policy process. The findings underscore how politics and interests; actors, networks and institutions; and narratives and discourses are among the elements that shape policy outcomes.

Originality/value
Kenya being among the first countries to have a policy document on climate change, this study provides an insight for future policymakers and practitioners and a basis for comparative studies.
Energy performance certificates in the Turin real estate market
Authors: Fregonara Elena , Rolando Diana , Semeraro Patrizia 
Published: June 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on the Italian real estate market, focusing on old buildings. The contribution of EPC labels to house prices and to market liquidity was measured to analyze different aspects of the selling process.Design/methodology/approachA traditional hedonic model was used to explain the variables of listing price, transaction price, time on the market and bargaining outcome. In addition to EPC labels, the building construction period and the main features of apartments were included in the model. A sample of 879 transactions of old properties in Turin in 2011-2014 was considered.FindingsA first hedonic model let us suppose that low EPC labels (E, F and G) were priced in the market although EPC labels explained only 6-8 per cent of price variation. A second full hedonic model, which included apartment characteristics, revealed that EPC labels had no impact on prices.Originality/valueIn Italy EPC has been mandatory for house transactions since 2009, so there are few studies on the effect of EPC on the Italian real estate market at least to our knowledge. Furthermore, unusually for the Italian context, in this paper also transaction prices were analyzed, in addition to the more frequently used listing prices.
Intelligent assignment in clusters to enhance collaboration and innovation
Authors: Ucler Caglar 
Published: June 2017

PurposeSmall organizations within profit maximization supply chains form industrial clusters to share resources. They mainly deliver products and services in a reactive manner, where the cluster is only facilitating. However, the cluster management can lead business development and assign work packages intelligently to appropriate cluster members by respecting collaboration and innovation. This upgrade of the cluster management requires a systematic approach. Therefore, the intelligent Cluster Assignment Tool concept is developed and an illustrative example is given. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachInterviews and workshops were used to isolate the hierarchy of the assignment model, supported by a literature research. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method was applied to determine weights, consolidating data delivered by members of a Turkish aviation and defence cluster. The approach was discussed at the IEEE 2016 ICE Conference in Norway with experts to assess regional restrictions.FindingsCluster members are actively looking for possibilities to enhance innovation potential that they are ready to participate in systematic approaches. Cluster organizations can differ by leading their members actively, when respecting all isolated dimensions of assignment. This can lead towards a cooperation base enhancing the potential for innovation and new product development (NPD).Research limitations/implicationsThe illustrative example indicates a good fit to clusters without a dominant anchor firm. The generic framework was deliberated on cross-sectional perspective as satisfactory to be applied to different sectors in developing economies.Practical implicationsThis paper helps clusters and small organizations to upgrade for innovation. Furthermore, it delivers a strategic tool supporting organizational transformation, preventing the price trap as well.Originality/valueThis approach is focussing on multi-criteria assignment across cluster members, upgrading it to a united organization. It delivers a strategic framework for cluster management, building a collaboration environment leading to innovation and NPD.
Linking product design to flexibility in an assembly system: a case study
Authors: Asadi Narges , Jackson Mats , Fundin Anders 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
The recent shift towards accommodating flexibility in manufacturing companies and the complexity resulting from product variety highlight the significance of flexible assembly systems and designing products for them. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design from the assembly system’s standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach
To fulfil the purpose of the paper, a literature review and a case study were performed. The case study was conducted with an interactive research approach in a global market leader company within the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry.

Findings
The findings indicate that common assembly sequence, similar assembly interfaces, and common parts are the main requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design which reduce complexity and facilitate various flexibility dimensions. Accordingly, a model is proposed to broaden the understanding of these requirements from the assembly system’s standpoint.

Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the overlapping research area of flexible assembly systems and product design.

Practical implications
The proposed model is largely based on practical data and clarifies the role of product design in facilitating flexibility in an assembly system. It can be used by assembly managers, assembly engineers, and product designers.

Originality/value
The key originality of this paper compared to the previous studies lies in presenting a novel assembly-oriented design model. The model enhances understanding of a flexible assembly system’s requirements for product design with regard to reducing complexity and managing variation in a flexible assembly system. These requirements can be applied to product design across various product families within a company’s product portfolio.