bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering modular ‘ON’ RNA switches using biological components
Authors: Ceres Pablo , Trausch Jeremiah J. , Batey Robert T.
Published: September 2013

Riboswitches are cis-acting regulatory elements broadly distributed in bacterial mRNAs that control a wide range of critical metabolic activities. Expression is governed by two distinct domains within the mRNA leader: a sensory ‘aptamer domain’ and a regulatory ‘expression platform’. Riboswitches have also received considerable attention as important tools in synthetic biology because of their conceptually simple structure and the ability to obtain aptamers that bind almost any conceivable small molecule using in vitro selection (referred to as SELEX). In the design of artificial riboswitches, a significant hurdle has been to couple the two domains enabling their efficient communication. We previously demonstrated that biological transcriptional ‘OFF’ expression platforms are easily coupled to diverse aptamers, both biological and SELEX-derived, using simple design rules. Here, we present two modular transcriptional ‘ON’ riboswitch expression platforms that are also capable of hosting foreign aptamers. We demonstrate that these biological parts can be used to facilely generate artificial chimeric riboswitches capable of robustly regulating transcription both in vitro and in vivo. We expect that these modular expression platforms will be of great utility for various synthetic biological applications that use RNA-based biosensors.
Pattern transfer using block copolymers
Authors: Gu Xiaodan , Gunkel Ilja , Russell Thomas P.
Published: September 2013

To meet the increasing demand for patterning smaller feature sizes, a lithography technique is required with the ability to pattern sub-20 nm features. While top-down photolithography is approaching its limit in the continued drive to meet Moore’s law, the use of directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) offers a promising route to meet this challenge in achieving nanometre feature sizes. Recent developments in BCP lithography and in the DSA of BCPs are reviewed. While tremendous advances have been made in this field, there are still hurdles that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of BCPs and their actual use.
Helical silver(I)-glutathione biocoordination polymer nanofibres
Authors: Liu Yong , Li Chao , Liu Yaling , Tang Zhiyong
Published: September 2013

Helical nanofibres of silver(I)-glutathione (Ag-GSH) biocoordination polymer (BCP) are fabricated by introducing dimethyl sulfoxide into the mixture solution of Ag
+
ions and
l
-GSH molecules. The prepared BCP nanofibres show hierarchical helical structures, which are constructed via twisting of small fibres. Water-soluble helices could be further cross-linked with Ca
2+
ions to form a well-dispersed aqueous suspension. When gold nanorods are adsorbed onto these helical nanofibres, the unique plasmon-induced circular dichroism characteristic is observed in the region of the local surface plasmon resonance of gold nanorods. This type of chiroptical metamaterials may have promising applications in nonlinear optics, negative refraction and biosensing.
Tuning electrical properties of graphite oxide by plasma
Authors: Zhu Hongfei , Ji Deyang , Jiang Lang , Dong Huanli , Hu Wenping
Published: September 2013

The electrical properties of graphite oxide (GO) can be tuned consecutively by treating samples with ammonia and hydrogen plasma. When altering ammonia plasma time from 10 to 4.5 min, large area (greater than 100×100 μm
2
), n-type, ambipolar and p-type semiconducting reduced graphite oxide (RGO) sheets could be obtained. The highest mobilities of the electron and hole are 5.41 and 2.10 cm
2
 V
−1
 s
−1
at low operational voltage (3 or −3 V, respectively). When treating a GO film with hydrogen:argon (9:1) plasma, high conductivity RGO was obtained with conductivity around 630 S cm
−1
. It is anticipated that this study could pave the way towards carbon-based electronics.
Single-molecule studies on individual peptides and peptide assemblies on surfaces
Authors: Yang Yanlian , Wang Chen
Published: September 2013

This review is intended to reflect the recent progress in single-molecule studies of individual peptides and peptide assemblies on surfaces. The structures and the mechanism of peptide assembly are discussed in detail. The contents include the following topics: structural analysis of single peptide molecules, adsorption and assembly of peptides on surfaces, folding structures of the amyloid peptides, interaction between amyloid peptides and dye or drug molecules, and modulation of peptide assemblies by small molecules. The explorations of peptide adsorption and assembly will benefit the understanding of the mechanisms for protein–protein interactions, protein–drug interactions and the pathogenesis of amyloidoses. The investigations on peptide assembly and its modulations could also provide a potential approach towards the treatment of the amyloidoses.
Evolvement of molecular nanomagnets in China
Authors: Wang Bing-Wu , Wang Xin-Yi , Sun Hao-Ling , Jiang Shang-Da , Gao Song
Published: September 2013

Molecular nanomagnets have been undergoing development for 20 years since the first single-molecule magnet (SMM), Mn
12
Ac, was characterized as the molecule-behaved magnet. The multi-disciplinary scientists promoted the magnetic characteristics to be more suitable for use in information science and spintronics. The concept of molecular nanomagnets has also evolved to include single-chain magnets (SCMs), single-ion magnets (SIMs) and even magnetic molecules that showed only slow magnetic relaxation, in addition to the initial cluster-type SMMs. In this review, several aspects, including SMMs, SCMs and SIMs, are introduced briefly through some representative examples. In particular, the contribution of Chinese chemists is highlighted in the design, synthesis and understanding of various types of molecular nanomagnets.
Phylogeny and classification of

Dickeya

based on multilocus sequence analysis
Authors: Marrero Glorimar , Schneider Kevin L. , Jenkins Daniel M. , Alvarez Anne M.
Published: September 2013

Bacterial heart rot of pineapple reported in Hawaii in 2003 and reoccurring in 2006 was caused by an undetermined species of

Dickeya

. Classification of the bacterial strains isolated from infected pineapple to one of the recognized

Dickeya

species and their phylogenetic relationships with

Dickeya

were determined by a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), based on the partial gene sequences of dnaA, dnaJ, dnaX, gyrB and recN. Individual and concatenated gene phylogenies revealed that the strains form a clade with reference

Dickeya

sp. isolated from pineapple in Malaysia and are closely related to

D. zeae

; however, previous DNA–DNA reassociation values suggest that these strains do not meet the genomic threshold for consideration in

D. zeae

, and require further taxonomic analysis. An analysis of the markers used in this MLSA determined that recN was the best overall marker for resolution of species within

Dickeya

. Differential intraspecies resolution was observed with the other markers, suggesting that marker selection is important for defining relationships within a clade. Phylogenies produced with gene sequences from the sequenced genomes of strains

D. dadantii

Ech586,

D. dadantii

Ech703 and

D. zeae

Ech1591 did not place the sequenced strains with members of other well-characterized members of their respective species. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and tetranucleotide frequencies determined for the sequenced strains corroborated the results of the MLSA that

D. dadantii

Ech586 and

D. dadantii

Ech703 should be reclassified as

Dickeya zeae

Ech586 and

Dickeya paradisiaca

Ech703, respectively, whereas

D. zeae

Ech1591 should be reclassified as

Dickeya chrysanthemi

Ech1591.
Notification that new names and new combinations have appeared in volume 63, part 6, of the IJSEM
Authors: Oren Aharon , Garrity George M.
Published: September 2013

This listing of names published in a previous issue of the IJSEM is provided as a service to bacteriology to assist in the recognition of new names and new combinations. This procedure was proposed by the Judicial Commission [Minute 11(ii), Int J Syst Bacteriol
41 (1991), p. 185]. The names given herein are listed according to the Rules of Priority (i.e. page number and order of valid publication of names in the original articles). Taxonomic opinions included in this list (i.e. the creation of synonyms or the emendation of circumscriptions) cannot be considered as validly published nor, in any other way, approved by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes and its Judicial Commission.
A Cost-Effective Method for High-Throughput Construction of Illumina Sequencing Libraries
Authors: Dunham Joseph P. , Friesen Maren L.
Published: September 2013

Despite the plummeting cost of next-generation sequencing, the preparation of sequencing libraries using commercially available kits still remains expensive. The cost can be prohibitive for large-scale comparative or experimental studies, where hundreds to thousands of samples need to be analyzed. The increasing use of multiplexing dozens to hundreds of samples underscores the urgent need to develop a cost-effective and time-efficient high-throughput method for library preparation. By optimizing and scaling down the steps in library construction and using commonly available reagents, the protocol described here allows for the preparation of DNA libraries in a 96-well format using no specialized equipment and at a substantial savings in both reagent cost and personnel hours. Utilizing this optimized high-throughput format results in a 10-fold cost reduction, compared to commercially available kits, making per library or pooled sample costs ∼$12.60–14.90 for individually prepared libraries and ∼$8.60–10.60 for pooled libraries with individual barcodes; both techniques allow for up to 144 samples to be pooled on a single lane with the barcodes tested herein.
Labeling Individual Neurons in the Brains of Live Xenopus Tadpoles by Electroporation of Dyes or DNA
Authors: Ruthazer Edward S. , Schohl Anne , Schwartz Neil , Tavakoli Aydin , Tremblay Marc , Cline Hollis T.
Published: September 2013

This protocol describes the targeted introduction of fluorophore in the form of a dye or genetic material into single cells. This method has the advantage of producing true single-cell chimeric animals in which to study the effects of overexpression or knockdown of a gene in an otherwise entirely wild-type background.
Simultaneous Visualization of Multiple Protein Interactions Using Multicolor Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) Analysis
Authors: Kerppola Tom K.
Published: September 2013

This multicolor bimolecular fluorescence complementation procedure is designed for the analysis of alternative protein interactions in cultured mammalian cells, but it can be readily adapted to any cell type or aerobically grown organism that can be genetically modified to express the fusion proteins.
Multicolor Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) Analysis of Protein Interactions with Alternative Partners
Authors: Kerppola Tom K.
Published: September 2013

Many proteins can interact with several alternative partners. The multicolor bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay enables simultaneous visualization of multiple protein interactions in the same cell. This assay, introduced here, is based on the fusion of fragments of fluorescent proteins that form spectrally distinct BiFC complexes to different interaction partners. These complexes can thereby be spectrally resolved and the relative amounts of complexes formed with different interaction partners can be determined. The multicolor BiFC assay enables comparison of the subcellular distributions of complexes formed with different interaction partners and allows analysis of the competition between mutually exclusive interaction partners for binding a shared partner present at limiting concentration.
Cross‐cultural bridges in European firms’ internationalization to Islamic countries
Authors: Calza Francesco , Aliane Nadir , Cannavale Chiara
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the positive effects of cultural bridges on European firms’ internationalization to SMCs and MECs. We analyse the meaning and the role of managers’ cultural competence in order to understand if and how it contributes to the formation of effective cultural bridges.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the few contributions existing on the topic, and the lack of a general theory, a multiple case‐study analysis seems appropriate to the topic. In particular, we present five case studies of European large firms, which have successfully internationalized in SMCs and MECs. In each firm, we interviewed local and foreign managers, in order to understand the importance of cultural issues and the ways companies overcame cultural distance.

Findings

Cultural distance is a big problem for European firms investing in SMCs and MECs. They impact both intra‐ and inter‐organizational relationships and cultural bridges can be useful to overcome the effects of its perception. Cultural bridges are effective if based on managers’ cultural competencies, and can be represented by a specific manager, or by an organizational unit. In any case, the involvement of local people and the adaptation to local customs are crucial.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is still limited, and, in the future, we’ll look for a methodology able to isolate cultural knowledge and cultural competence as key factors in order to evaluate the importance of each factor.

Practical implications

When entering Islamic countries, foreign investors should be aware of local values, particularly religious and family value, which deeply impact on business and social relationships. Based on a deep cultural knowledge, cultural bridges enable fruitful relationships both inside and outside the organization.

Originality/value

Whereas cultural competence is often mentioned in the literature, only a few contributions focus on cultural competence as a key aspect of internationalization. In addition we explore the concept and the relevance of cultural bridges, and the multiple case‐study analysis show some best practices firms could follow to succeed in SMCs and MECs.
Framing and involvement effects on consumers’ brand choice
Authors: Gamliel Eyal , Herstein Ram , Luís Abrantes José , Albayrak Tahir , Caber Meltem
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Consumers frequently find themselves having to choose between various product brands that differ in price and quality. The purpose of this paper is to examine several possible factors that may affect this choice: message framing of the choice as either gain or loss of money or quality, consumer involvement, and consumers’ perceived monetary and quality gains.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 837 participants from Portugal, Turkey, and Israel were randomly assigned to a positively or negatively framed message regarding the quality or price of two alternative brands of sunscreen lotion.

Findings

As expected, highly involved consumers show a higher preference for the better and more expensive product than less involved consumers, while perceived monetary or quality gains mediates this relation. Challenging previous findings, negative framing of loss avoidance affects perceived gains and brand choice more than positive framing only for less involved participants, rather than for highly involved ones.

Research limitations/implications

Although the results were replicated in three different countries, future research of message framing context on other products is needed, as well as research in the context of goal framing.

Practical implications

If indeed future research would replicate the higher effectiveness of positive framing among highly involved consumers, retailers should consider that in planning their product promotion strategy.

Originality/value

This study challenges the current literature regarding the effect of message framing on message and the moderating role of involvement.
Generalized Blasius problem for a viscoelastic fluid with viscous dissipation and suction/injection effects
Authors: Rahman Mohd Kasim Abdul , Sofiah Othman Zarith , Shafie Sharidan , Pop Ioan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the Blasius flat plate with viscous dissipation in the presence of suction or injection effects in the boundary layer of a viscoelastic fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

– The governing partial differential equations are derived as a first order ordinary differential equation using similarity (Blasius) variables. Velocity profiles, temperature profiles, skin friction parameters, and heat transfer parameters are computed numerically for various values of the viscoelastic parameter K, the suction or injection parameter f

w
, the Prandtl number Pr, the Eckert number Ec, and the moving parameter λ.

Findings

– The effects of the viscoelastic, moving, and suction/injection parameters on the skin friction and heat transfer of the flat plate are studied. The effects of these parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles are also presented for 0≤Pr≤3.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors' knowledge, this important classical problem has not been studied before for the case of a viscoelastic fluid. Thus, the results are original and new for this type of fluid.
Effects of concavity level on heat loss, effectiveness and efficiency of a longitudinal fin exposed to natural convection and radiation
Authors: Cuce Erdem , Mert Cuce Pinar
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of concavity level on performance parameters of a parabolic fin under the influences of natural convection and radiation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Computational fluid dynamics software (FLUENT) is used for the heat transfer analysis. Optimum fin geometry is searched in order to maximize the heat dissipation from fin to the ambient while minimizing the volume of fin.

Findings

– The fin profile with concavity level of 2 dissipates 14.92, 17.53, 24.33 and 26.60 percent more heat and uses 34.62, 49.64, 57.66 and 63.09 percent much material compared to the fin with concavity level of 4, 6, 8 and 10, respectively. It is also observed that the amount of heat dissipation per mass considerably increases with increasing concaveness.

Research limitations/implications

– The research was carried out for five different concavity levels in the range of 2-10.

Practical implications

– The results can be used in passive cooling applications of PV systems. Also, heat sinks for CPU cooling can be redesigned with respect to the results obtained from the research.

Originality/value

– In this paper, effects of concavity level on performance parameters of a parabolic fin are investigated for the first time. It is observed from the numerical results that the fin profile with higher concavity levels provides a cheaper and lighter heat dissipation device so it is recommended for the applications where the weight and the cost are primary considerations such as cooling of photovoltaics.
A polarization-based fast numerical method for computing the effective conductivity of composites
Authors: Monchiet Vincent , Bonnet Guy
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The paper deals with the development of an improved fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based numerical method for computing the effective properties of composite conductors. The convergence of the basic FFT-based methods is recognized to depend drastically on the contrast between the phases. For instance, the primal formulation is not suited for solving the problems with high conductivity whereas the dual formulation is computationally costly for problems with high resistivity. Consequently, it raises the problem of computing the properties of composites containing both highly conductive and resistive inclusions.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the present work, the authors' propose a new iterative scheme for solving that kind of problems which is formulated in term of the polarization.

Findings

– The capability and relevance of this iterative scheme is illustrated through numerical implementation in the case of composites containing squared inclusions. It is shown that the rate of convergence is increased and thus, particularly when the case of high contrasts is considered. The predominance of the polarization based iterative scheme (PBIS) over existing ones is also illustrated in the case of a composite containing both highly conductive and highly resistive inclusions.

Originality/value

– The method is easy to implement and uses the same ingredients as the basic schemes: the FFT and the exact expression of the Green tensor in the Fourier space. Moreover, its convergence conditions do not depend on the conductivity properties of the constituents, which then constitutes the main difference with other existing iterative schemes. The method can then be applied for computing the effective properties of composites conductors with arbitrary contrasts.
An efficient method to obtain semi-analytical solutions of the nano boundary layers over stretching surfaces
Authors: Samadpoor Sima , Roohani Ghehsareh Hadi , Abbasbandy Saeid
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to obtain semi-analytical solutions of similarity solutions for the nano boundary layer flows with Navier boundary condition. The similarity solutions of viscous flows over a two-dimensional stretching surface and an axisymmetric stretching surface are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this work, the governing partial differential equations are transformed to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation by using some proper similarity transformations. Then an efficient semi-analytical method, the Laplace Adomian decomposition method (LADM) is applied to obtain semi-analytical solutions of the similarity solutions in both of viscous flows over a two-dimensional stretching surface and an axisymmetric stretching surface. To improve the accuracy and enlarges the convergence domain of the obtained results by the LADM, the study has combined it with Padé approximation.

Findings

– Accuracy and efficiency of the presented method are illustrated and denoted through the tables and figures. Also the effects of the suction parameter λ and slip parameter K on the fluid velocity and on the tangential stress are investigated.

Originality/value

– The similarity solutions of the governing partial differential equation are obtained analytically by using an efficient developed method, namely the Laplace Adomian decomposition-Padé method. The analytic solutions of nonlinear ordinary differential equation are constructed for both of viscous flows over a two-dimensional stretching surface and an axisymmetric stretching surface.
Internal social networks in work teams: structure, knowledge sharing and performance
Authors: Henttonen Kaisa , Janhonen Minna , Johanson Jan‐Erik
Published: September 2013

Purpose

From the structural perspective of social‐capital theory, this research investigates how a team's social‐network relationships affect its performance. More specifically, it concerns the type of work‐group‐internal connectedness in instrumental and expressive networks that is associated with enhanced team performance, and whether knowledge mediates these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was survey based, involving 76 work teams and a total of 499 employees in 48 organisations. The work teams carried out fairly knowledge‐intensive but only moderately complex tasks, some of which were routine in nature.

Findings

Both dense and fragmented instrumental‐network structures affect work‐team performance. However, fragmentation in expressive networks has a negative impact. Furthermore, the mediation results give empirical support to the implicit understanding that only instrumental networks transfer knowledge, especially if they are dense.

Research limitations/implications

The results indicate that social‐network relationships affect team performance and also provide access to social capital (here knowledge). However, instrumental and expressive networks differ in terms of theoretical and practical implications. Future research could overcome the limitations of this study through increasing the sample size and focusing on much more fine‐grained intervening mechanisms (here knowledge sharing).

Practical implications

The recommendation to managers is to stimulate dense instrumental relationships in order to facilitate knowledge sharing and avoid overly fragmented expressive relationships.

Originality/value

First, in examining the social structure of both instrumental and expressive relationships this study responds to the growing call in organisational theory for research into the social content of social networks. Second, the contribution of this research paper lies in directly testing whether team knowledge mediates the effects of advice‐network structures on team performance.
The use of process management based on a systemic approach
Authors: Afonso Storch Luiz , Oscar Benitez Nara Elpídio , Mahlmann Kipper Liane
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The use of management processes based on a systemic approach in the management of organizations aims the perception of the organizations in a more comprehensive way, integrating the various activities through the verification of the horizontal vision of the customer's satisfaction. But this perception is not easy to achieve. Thus, in order for the process management, a survey was conducted in the monitoring of performance indicators of a manufacturer of children's toys company, midsized, located in the Rio Pardo Valley, in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State – Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

It was evaluated the indicators used by the organization in the following dimensions: products, main processes, support processes, learning and growth, customer, strategy and plans, with the aim of permeating the vision of process management. From the results tabulation it was possible to realize the understanding of the process agents studied in relation to the business, mission, organizational vision and values, as well as establish indicators measured among which are the active, inactive and absent.

Findings

At the end, the results of this research showed important facts perceived by the organization in the development and deployment of its performance or development indicators. The amount of 36 percent of the indicators analyzed are active and of these only 16 percent are related to the customer perspective.

Originality/value

With the study it was possible to identify which organization's objectives are disclosed and accompanied, through commitment and discipline are suggested improvement ideas to contribute to the mission, vision and values that are fully disseminated among the employees.
Integrating materials management with project management of complex projects
Authors: Dixit Vijaya , Srivastava Rajiv Kumar , Chaudhuri Atanu
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This work aims at integrating materials management with project management in the context of manufacturing of complex products which require a variety of items. To achieve this, we propose two prioritization measures of items: material criticality (MC) at activity level and overall criticality (OC) at project level by incorporating project network characteristic through activity criticality (AC) values.

Design/methodology/approach

The costs or penalties which determine criticality of items are hidden in nature and are difficult to measure and model mathematically. Hence, Fuzzy Inference System (FIS), which captures experts’ tacit knowledge in the form of linguistic If‐Then rules has been used.

Findings

OC obtained can be used as a measure to prioritize items for procurement aligned with on‐site build strategy and as a surrogate measure of shortage cost coefficient for inventory models. The analyses of output to observe the effect of AC on OC values of items, clearly demonstrate the novelty and importance of incorporating project network characteristics in materials management decision making.

Originality/value

In this work, we are able to leverage managerial tacit knowledge derived through years of experience and convert it into a readily usable quantitative parameter OC for prioritization of items to be procured. For identifying the input parameters for OC, we brought in the new perspective of including project network characteristics to align materials and project management.
Parts quality‐based priority policy in remanufacturing environments
Authors: Nakashima Kenichi , Loomba Arvinder P.S.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to consider the acquisition of end‐of‐life products under variable quality consideration for remanufacturing so as to determine optimal control policy that minimizes per‐period expected costs that may guide future consideration by practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review recent literature on reverse supply chains and remanufacturing. They utilize an undiscounted Markov decision process methodology to ascertain the order amount of remanufacturable products using optimal control under minimum cost criterion.

Findings

The authors conclude that it makes sense for firms to focus on the cost management with production control based on quality levels with different acquisition costs of remanufacturable products.

Research limitations/implications

Although the Markov decision process methodology – which is well supported in literature – was diligently followed, the nature of analysis and discussion may be subject to authors’ bias. Future investigation and adoption of the methodological approach used will verify the paper findings.

Practical implications

This study determines optimal control policy for ordering specific amount of product that minimizes per‐period expected costs for remanufacturing. Reverse supply‐chain professionals now have an easy‐to‐follow guide when acquiring end‐of‐life remanufacturable products alternatives with variable quality.

Social implications

This study determines the optimal policy for ordering remanufacturable products. This information enables practitioners to reduce their carbon footprint in reverse supply chain through inspection/sorting before remanufacturing by processing only the type, quality, and quantity of needed product.

Originality/value

For reverse supply chain to be taken seriously by senior management in firms, it is imperative that practitioners in this field synchronize their operational‐level ordering decisions with holistic cost minimization objective (to maximize value recovery) to stay viable.
New product success: empirical evidence from SMEs in China
Authors: Kam Sing Wong Stanley , Tong Canon
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The question of R&D and marketing cooperation (RMC) in new product development (NPD) is of increasing relevance. However, it is unclear whether RMC really leads to new product success (NPS) and whether and to what extent other elements of market orientation (MO) impact on NPS and the RMC‐NPS relationship. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on this important question and to verify the existence and degree of direct and indirect causalities between the core elements of MO and NPS.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study has been carried out to test the conceptual framework and the five hypotheses developed based on seminal literature. The conceptual framework and hypotheses are tested using both SEM and regression methods with survey data from 217 respondents from the electronics industry in China.

Findings

The results demonstrate that RMC has a significant and positive influence on NPS. The results on customer orientation support previous findings and the research offers interesting insights with respect to the role of customer orientation in NPD. While results from SEM analysis reject the hypothesized direct effect of competitor orientation on NPS and the predicted mediating effect of competitor orientation on the RMC‐NPS link, results from regression analysis, however, suggest otherwise.

Practical implications

The results of the research help to assure practitioners of the primacy role of RMC in NPD and the positive effects of customer orientation on NPS. Such findings should enable NPD team leaders to make best possible decisions in allocating resources among competing priorities. Divergent results on the effects of competitor orientation on NPS and the RMC‐NPS link remind practitioners that knowing the assumptions behind an analysis is actually a precondition for correctly assessing and implementing the results of any research.

Originality/value

Results of the study will fill a research gap in marketing studies which have largely neglected the interplay among the three core elements of MO and the mediating effects, individual and combined, of customer and competitor orientations on the RMC‐NPS link. Divergent findings derived from the use of two different analysis tools yield new insights to both academics and practitioners and may warrant further investigation.
Environmental determinants of responsive and proactive market orientations
Authors: Wang Yejing , Zeng Deming , Di Benedetto C. Anthony , Song Michael
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Recent studies have conceptualized market orientation into two distinct components, responsive and proactive market orientation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the environmental antecedents that lead to the adoption of a responsive or proactive market orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the market orientation literatures, and using theory derived from environment strategy research as a starting point, a conceptual model is developed in which environmental factors are antecedent variables influencing the responsive and proactive market orientation. To test the conceptual model, data were collected from 308 companies across a wide range of industries.

Findings

The results show that responsive market orientation is positively related to market turbulence, technological turbulence and competitive intensity. On the contrary, proactive market orientation is negatively related to market turbulence, technological turbulence, and competitive intensity.

Originality/value

The paper makes a theoretical contribution in that it extends the market orientation literature and examines what environmental antecedents affect responsive and proactive market orientation. The paper also makes some managerial recommendations.
Peer support in mental health: where are we today?
Authors: Lawton-Smith Simon
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a summary of where peer support currently sits in the UK mental health services policy and practice. It presents an overview of models of peer support; the UK national policy on peer support; evidence of the benefits of peer support; case studies of recent and continuing peer support in action; challenges facing peer support; and suggestions for developing peer support in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper selects and discusses evidence from academic literature and policy and practice on peer support within the UK.

Findings

– The evidence base demonstrating the benefits of peer support in mental health across the UK is increasing. This has persuaded UK governmental bodies to encourage the development of peer support services, of which there is a number of models and examples, although the current economic climate poses challenges to their development.

Originality/value

– Historically, peer support in mental health services across the UK has developed piecemeal. But at a time when policy-makers, health practitioners and people who use mental health services are increasingly recognising the benefits of peer support, this paper draws key evidence together and provides pointers towards the future development of such services.
Mental health service user involvement in research: where have we come from, where are we going?
Authors: Kara Helen
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The aim of the research is to assess the extent and value of mental health service user (MHSU) involvement in research in England.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a knowledge review, including academic and “grey” literature, and documented testimonial evidence.

Findings

– The involvement of MHSUs in mental health research has become mainstream. There is clear evidence that involving MHSUs in research adds value. Four gaps in the literature were identified. First, a lack of evidence from non-service-user researchers about their experience of working with MHSUs. Second, a lack of recognition that anyone involved in research may hold more than one role. Third, failure to treat carers as separate from MHSUs, or – often – to include them at all. Fourth, a lack of understanding that MHSUs may have a useful role to play in research on topics other than mental health.

Research limitations/implications

– The literature would benefit from some evidence about non-service-user researchers’ experiences of working with MHSU researchers. Carers should be recognised much more widely as different from MHSUs and with a valid role to play in mental health research from their own perspectives. MHSU researchers, and carer researchers, should be offered opportunities for involvement in research on topics other than mental health.

Practical implications

– The evidence shows that involving service users in research can benefit everyone involved and the research itself. The process can be challenging for all concerned. However, there is now plenty of guidance about how to involve service users in research for maximum benefit to all (e.g. Faulkner, 2004b; SURGE, 2005; Morgan, 2006; Tew et al., 2006; Kotecha et al., 2007; Schrank and Wallcraft, 2008, pp. 243-247; Leiba, 2010, pp. 160-169; Armes et al., 2011; Morrow et al., 2012, p. 114). This guidance should be consulted by researchers, funders, ethics committees, and other stakeholders at the earliest possible stage of any relevant project.

Social implications

– It is essential to recognise and acknowledge that anyone involved in research may hold more than one role. Embracing multiple and mutable identities is not an easy process, as the literature shows, and attempts to do so are likely to produce resistance at every level. Nevertheless, the example of the survivor researchers suggests that doing this has the potential to enrich our individual and collective experience, and therefore society as a whole.

Originality/value

– The paper is written by an independent researcher who is also a carer for people with mental health problems: a viewpoint which is rarely found in the literature. The literature suggests that power imbalances and identity issues are at the root of most difficulties and gaps. Social identity and categorisation theory offers a useful theoretical perspective. The paper will be of value to anyone interested in mental health research, whether as a student, service user/survivor, researcher or teacher.
Homeless women's experiences of social support from service providers
Authors: J. Biederman Donna , R. Nichols Tracy , W. Lindsey Elizabeth
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine homeless women's interactions with service providers and the degree to which these interactions are perceived as social support.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 homeless women recruited through a drop-in day shelter and a winter emergency shelter.

Findings

– Analysis revealed being “cared for” was experienced within service provider encounters and is commensurate with widely recognized sub-categories of received social support. Participants expressed expanded definitions of service providers and made clear distinctions between routine support expected from a provider and received social support, or being “cared for” by providers.

Research limitations/implications

– Studies with homeless persons that exclude service providers as a potential source of social support for homeless women or impose predetermined definitions of service provision may not be capturing the full range of participant encounters, relationships, networks, and experiences.

Practical implications

– Widely used social support measures could serve as a guide for creating education programs for persons who work with homeless people including: professional service providers, students likely to become service providers, paraprofessionals, nonprofessionals, and volunteers.

Originality/value

– Homeless women's voices have been added to the debate regarding whether social support is within the realm of service provision.
Planning library spaces and services for Millennials: an evidence‐based approach
Authors: Yoo‐Lee EunYoung , Heon Lee Tae , Velez LaTesha
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine undergraduates' perception and use of two distinct library spaces – social and communal – in an academic library in order to provide more customized services.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted at D.H. Hill Library at North Carolina State University, including structured questions on perceptions and use of the library, perceptions of library layout and design, and respondent demographics, as well as open questions on the advantages and disadvantages of social and communal spaces.

Findings

Undergraduates frequently use the physical library. Their usage patterns mirror common characteristics of Generation Y by going there mostly on weekday nights, with friends or in a group. Both communal and social spaces appear to be well‐used for many different activities ranging from solitary academic work to technology‐driven collaborative work and socializing. Some demographic variables, such as ethnicity and gender, are found to affect aspects of perception and use. For example, African American and Asian students tend to engage in activities that involve library technology, tools and resources, while White students simply use the spaces. Despite their excitement and appreciation of the social spaces in the library, students consider the quiet communal spaces integral to their experience of the library and stress the need of quiet space for academic work.

Originality/value

This is one of a few systematic empirical studies on end‐users' use of library space.
Division of labor and coordination, intra‐organizational career and salary fairness
Authors: Kont Kate‐Riin , Jantson Signe
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The aim of the current article is to clarify satisfaction of the staff of Estonian university libraries with the division of labor, work organization and coordination, existence of intra‐organizational career opportunities as well as with the fairness of salaries in view of the qualifications and responsibilities of university librarians in Estonia.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this paper are based on reviewing and summarizing of relevant literature to provide an overview of the concepts of performance and efficiency in general and in the context of the library as well as on results of the original study, created by the paper's authors, held in 2011/2012 in Estonian university libraries to determine the attitude of the libraries' staff towards division of labor and performance appraisal.

Findings

Although a number of Estonian university librarians were mostly satisfied with the division of labor within their departments, the respondents feel that duties in the library as a whole should be reorganized and workloads should be divided more equally. Librarians are relatively pessimistic about career opportunities within their libraries. The fact is that in Estonia, the predominantly women's jobs, such as teachers, librarians and nurses, are low‐paid. Therefore, as expected, the employees of university libraries are not satisfied with their salaries. However, librarians are capable and willing to work more and/or more intensively than they are currently allowed if that would bring about an increase in their salaries.

Originality/value

The majority of the literature in library science has focused – and rightfully so – on the user: what do users and patrons want and/or need, how do they use it, how can librarians best provide it to them, do the users feel themselves comfortable in library building etc., etc. Also, a fairly large number of studies have focused on finding relations between librarians' job satisfaction and performance output, but, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no research has been previously carried out in the Estonian library context to determine employees' attitudes towards their division of labor and coordination as well as librarians' intra‐organizational career opportunities and fairness of the salary.
Knowledge management competencies required among library and information science professionals
Authors: Nazim Mohammad , Mukherjee Bhaskar
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and validate the competencies perceived to be essential for library and information science (LIS) professionals keeping in view the needs of knowledge management (KM) applications in Indian academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

After reviewing relevant literature on the topic, a list of 25 competencies was prepared and organized in five categories. A link for attending the survey (list of KM competency statements) for the validation of competencies was sent via electronic mail to the teachers (95 in numbers) of 65 LIS schools where post‐graduate courses in LIS were offered. Respondents were asked to nominate the level of importance for validation of each proposed KM competency.

Findings

Findings of the study show a minor difference in the mean scores of five categories of competencies, but all the competencies were validated as needed. However, respondents were of the opinion that development of competencies in the field of management by LIS professionals is the most essential requirement for effective application of KM in Indian academic libraries.

Practical implications

Competencies validated by the respondents may be used as the groundwork for evaluation of current LIS educational programmes and revision of LIS curricula to impart a wide range of competencies to LIS students for working in KM environment.

Originality/value

Since no empirical study on required competencies for KM in India has been carried out before, this study closes this gap and provides guidelines to modify existing LIS curricula or LIS educational programmes to impart skills and competencies as validated by the academic community.