The need to anticipate the state of the market for the next few decades calls for excellent judgement rather than clairvoyance (although that would help too) and an ability to…
Abstract
The need to anticipate the state of the market for the next few decades calls for excellent judgement rather than clairvoyance (although that would help too) and an ability to read the signs of the times. The buzz has already gone round that we are heading for a post industrial revolution, and even the tabloids have to take the threat of an energy crisis seriously now. So where does this leave the retailer and his diminishing returns? In this paper we turn to the experience of the Americans. They too are learning to live with recession, and it seems that some people are even making a fast buck out of it — how fast, in terms of how long these new retail operations will last, is another question brought into play. But certainly, the analysis of a faltering economy and the changing face of the consumer are of great interest. This paper was presented at the CIES Congress in Montreal.
When Eugene O'Neill died, theatre critic Brooks Atkinson said of him, “A giant writer has dropped off the earth….He shook up the drama as well as audiences and helped to transform…
Abstract
When Eugene O'Neill died, theatre critic Brooks Atkinson said of him, “A giant writer has dropped off the earth….He shook up the drama as well as audiences and helped to transform the theatre into an art seriously related to life.” (New York Times, 30 December 1953).
François Hirsch and Lluis Montoliu
For more than 20 years, genome editing has been one of the numerous technologies developed for the study and manipulation of the genome. However, since the relatively recent…
Abstract
For more than 20 years, genome editing has been one of the numerous technologies developed for the study and manipulation of the genome. However, since the relatively recent appearance of the so-called precision approaches, and especially through the “CRISPR revolution,” the modification of the genome of any living beings on our planet has become possible, despite recent results showing some unexpected and undesirable effects of this technology. The objective of this chapter is to illustrate how a mobilization of the scientific community through the setting-up of an association should allow a responsible and ethical use of these technologies with considerable impacts for our society.
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Kai Fan, Anthony Brabazon, Conall O'Sullivan and Michael O'Neill
Following earlier claims that quantum‐inspired evolutionary algorithm (QIEA) may offer advantages in high‐dimensional environments, the purpose of this paper is to test a…
Abstract
Purpose
Following earlier claims that quantum‐inspired evolutionary algorithm (QIEA) may offer advantages in high‐dimensional environments, the purpose of this paper is to test a real‐valued QIEA on a series of benchmark functions of varying dimensionality in order to examine its scalability within both static and dynamic environments.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper compares the performance of both the QIEA and the canonical genetic algorithm (GA) on a series of test benchmark functions.
Findings
The results show that the QIEA obtains highly competitive results when benchmarked against the GA within static environments, while substantially outperforming both binary and real‐valued representation of the GA in terms of running time. Within dynamic environments, the QIEA outperforms GA in terms of stability and run time.
Originality/value
This paper suggests that QIEA has utility for real‐world high‐dimensional problems, particularly within dynamic environments, such as that found in real‐time financial trading.
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Rio Jati Kusuma, Desty Ervira Puspaningtyas and Puspita Mardika Sari
The downstream insulin signaling, such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, is an important step for skeletal glucose disposal through the…
Abstract
Purpose
The downstream insulin signaling, such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, is an important step for skeletal glucose disposal through the translocation of glucose transporter (GLUT)-4. In addition, the master of energy regulator adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) is also involved in GLUT-4 translocation, independent from the PI3K/Akt pathway. Fermented cassava tuber or gatot is a traditional food from Indonesia with antihyperglycemic properties. However, the molecular mechanism leading to this effect is unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate whether the antidiabetic activity of gatot is through PI3K/Akt dependent or AMPK pathway.
Design/methodology/approach
Diabetes mellitus was induced in 20 male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin and 230 mg/kg body weight nicotinamide. Diabetic rats were randomly allocated into four groups; negative control, positive control (metformin 100 mg/kg body weight), fermented cassava diet replacing 50% of carbohydrate (FC-50) and 100% of carbohydrate (FC-100) in the diet. Serum glucose, insulin and lipid profile were analyzed before and after four weeks of intervention. Genes expression of PI3K subunit alpha, PI3K subunit beta, PI3K regulatory subunit, Akt and AMPK were analyzed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). GLUT-4 protein expression was performed using immunohistochemistry.
Findings
There is a significant difference (p = 0.000) in serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol between groups. Skeletal AMPK gene expression was higher and significantly different between FC-100 (p = 0.006) and healthy control groups. No significant difference was observed in the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway among groups. GLUT-4 expression was highly expressed in a positive control group followed by FC-100.
Research limitations/implications
This paper did not characterize the bioactive component that is responsible for increasing mRNA expression of AMPK. This paper also did not analyze the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and AMPK that are important in activating the protein.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that showed the antidiabetic activity of traditional fermented food is through AMPK-dependent activity.
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It was the aim to apply basic epistemological concepts, as presented by Heinz von Foerster, to current problems of medicine and biology.
Abstract
Purpose
It was the aim to apply basic epistemological concepts, as presented by Heinz von Foerster, to current problems of medicine and biology.
Design/methodology/approach
The relation of genes and human behaviour is an important issue in current medical discourse. Many states and diseases are claimed to be caused by a genetical disposition. To prove the soundness of such claims, a strict methodology has to be applied.
Findings
The usual approach of combining genetical findings with observed behaviour is based on an insufficient epistemology. The neglect of recursive processes leads to misinterpretations that have far‐reaching consequences, especially if disease and therapy are concerned.
Research limitations/implications
A precise analysis of recursive traits would allow more reliable models of the relation between genetical disposition and environmental influence.
Originality/value
The paper reflects trivial or non‐trivial relations in social behaviour that are often neglected.
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One of the major driving forces behind a firm’s success can be attributed to its meme management. Memes, analogous to the biological gene, are self‐replicating. They represent the…
Abstract
One of the major driving forces behind a firm’s success can be attributed to its meme management. Memes, analogous to the biological gene, are self‐replicating. They represent the knowledge, views, perceptions, and beliefs communicated from person to person. In a business context, memes can be used to manage market perceptions as well as managing the views a firm has of itself. If a firm focuses too persistently on replicating a specific product meme, and by its singularly unyielding focus fails to innovate, a competitor may obliterate it with a disruptive leap in product development. The former firm has failed because of its lack of flexibility and its inability to adapt to a product or market’s ongoing evolutionary process. Discusses the example of Rip Curl, the Australian surf‐wear giant, and how it has developed and managed three memes that are central to Rip Curl’s product success as well as the company’s innovative operations.
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Heather Gage and Ekelechi MacPepple
The 30 MOCHA (Models of Child Health Appraised) countries are diverse socially, culturally and economically, and differences exist in their healthcare systems and in the scope and…
Abstract
The 30 MOCHA (Models of Child Health Appraised) countries are diverse socially, culturally and economically, and differences exist in their healthcare systems and in the scope and role of primary care. An economic analysis was undertaken that sought to explain differences in child health outcomes between countries. The conceptual framework was that of a production function for health, whereby health outputs (or outcomes) are assumed affected by several ‘inputs’. In the case of health, inputs include personal (genes, health behaviours) and socio-economic (income, living standards) factors and the structure, organisation and workforce of the healthcare system. Random effects regression modelling was used, based on countries as the unit of analysis, with data from 2004 to 2016 from international sources and published categorisations of healthcare system. The chapter describes the data deficiencies and measurement conundrums faced, and how these were addressed. In the absence of consistent indicators of child health outcomes across countries, five mortality measures were used: neonatal, infant, under five years, diabetes (0–19 years) and epilepsy (0–19 years). Factors found associated with reductions in mortality were as follows: gross domestic product per capita growth (neonatal, infant, under five years), higher density of paediatricians (neonatal, infant, under five years), less out-of-pocket expenditure (neonatal, diabetes 0–19), state-based service provision (epilepsy 0–19) and lower proportions of children in the population, a proxy for family size (all outcomes). Findings should be interpreted with caution due to the ecological nature of the analysis and the limitations presented by the data and measures employed.
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Hanqing “Chevy” Fang, Yulin Shi and Zhenyu Wu
The authors study the effects of altruism and intention for succession on family firm's reputation risk-taking behaviors in Chinese publicly listed companies.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors study the effects of altruism and intention for succession on family firm's reputation risk-taking behaviors in Chinese publicly listed companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use earnings management as a proxy for reputation risk in family firms, and hand-collected relationship between family members to measure the closeness of incumbent family members and their potential successors as a proxy for the altruistic degree.
Findings
Results show that, in developing countries like China, familial altruism in family firms with succession plans, which does not reduce the practice of earnings management, should be considered by practitioners while detecting it.
Originality/value
The hand collected data are very unique; the authors have focused on the relationship between incumbents and successors and the authors define their closeness by using genes shared between them.