bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nocardia amikacinitolerans sp. nov., an amikacin-resistant human pathogen
Authors: Ezeoke Ifeoma , Klenk Hans-Peter , Pötter Gabriele , Schumann Peter , Moser Ben D. , Lasker Brent A. , Nicholson Ainsley , Brown June M.
Published: June 2012

Five nocardioform isolates from human clinical sources were evaluated. Analysis of the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene showed 99.9–100 % similarity among the strains. The results of a comparative phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolates belonged to the genus

Nocardia

. Phenotypic and molecular analyses were performed on the clinical isolates. Traditional phenotypic analyses included morphological, biochemical/physiological, chemotaxonomic and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling. Molecular studies included 1441-bp 16S rRNA and 1246-bp gyrB gene sequence analyses, as well as DNA–DNA hybridizations. Biochemical analysis failed to differentiate the putative novel species from its phylogenetic neighbours; however, molecular studies were able to distinguish the patient strains and confirm them as members of a single species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, similarity between the isolates and their closest relatives (type strains of

Nocardia araoensis

,

N. arthritidis

,

N. beijingensis

and

N. niwae

) was ≤99.3 %. Analysis of partial gyrB gene sequences showed 98–99.7 % relatedness among the isolates.

Nocardia lijiangensis

and

N. xishanensis

were the closest related species to the isolates based on gyrB gene sequence analysis, and their type strains showed 95.7 and 95.3 % similarity, respectively, to strain W9988T. Resistance to amikacin and molecular analyses, including DNA–DNA hybridization, distinguished the five patient strains from their phylogenetic neighbours, and the results of this polyphasic study indicated the existence of a novel species of

Nocardia

, for which we propose the name Nocardia amikacinitolerans sp. nov., with strain W9988T ( = DSM 45539T  = CCUG 59655T) as the type strain.
Chryseobacterium rigui sp. nov., isolated from an estuarine wetland
Authors: Park Sung-Joon , Choi Jung-Hye , Cha Chang-Jun
Published: June 2012

A bacterium, designated strain CJ16T, was isolated from the estuarine wetland of the Han River. Cells of the isolate were yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. Growth of strain CJ16T was observed in TSB at 5–37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum pH 6.0) and with 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CJ16T was most closely related to

Chryseobacterium hagamense

KCTC 22545T (97.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Genomic relatedness based on DNA–DNA hybridization between strain CJ16T and

C. hagamense

KCTC 22545T was 23 % (strain CJ16T as probe) and 19 % (strain KCTC 22545T as probe). Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that strain CJ16T possessed MK-6 as the major isoprenoid quinone and sym-homospermidine as the predominant polyamine. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (26.9 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (16.8 %) and summed feature 9 (comprising C16 : 0 10-methyl and/or iso-C17 : 1ω9c; 10.5 %). The DNA G+C content of strain CJ16T was 37.9 mol%. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic studies, strain CJ16T represents a novel species of the genus

Chryseobacterium

, for which the name Chryseobacterium rigui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CJ16T ( = KACC 16560T  = JCM 18078T).
Methylomarinum vadi gen. nov., sp. nov., a methanotroph isolated from two distinct marine environments
Authors: Hirayama Hisako , Fuse Hiroyuki , Abe Mariko , Miyazaki Masayuki , Nakamura Takamichi , Nunoura Takuro , Furushima Yasuo , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Takai Ken
Published: June 2012

Two aerobic methane-oxidizing bacterial strains were isolated from distinct marine environments in Japan. Strains IT-4T and T2-1 were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, plump short rods or oval-shaped bacteria with a single polar flagellum and type I intracytoplasmic membranes. They were obligate methanotrophs that grew only on methane or methanol. Each strain possessed the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). The ribulose monophosphate pathway was operative for carbon assimilation. The strains grew best at 37 °C, and did not grow at 45 °C. NaCl was required for growth within a concentration range of 1–8 % (w/v). The major phospholipid fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c, and C16 : 1ω5t. The major isoprenoid quinone was MQ-8. The DNA G+C content was 50.9–51.7 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strains showed 99.4 % similarity to each other, and DNA–DNA hybridization analysis indicated that the strains were representatives of the same species. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were highly similar to some marine environmental sequences (94.0–97.7 % similarity), but did not show similarities more than 94 % with sequences of members of other related genera, such as

Methylomicrobium

,

Methylobacter

,

Methylomonas

and

Methylosarcina

. Phylogenies based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and deduced partial PmoA sequences, and the physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics revealed that strains IT-4T and T2-1 represent a novel species of a new genus in the family

Methylococcaceae

, for which the name Methylomarinum vadi gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IT-4T ( = JCM 13665T = DSM 18976T).
Sinomicrobium oceani gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from marine sediment
Authors: Xu Ying , Tian Xin-Peng , Liu Yu-Juan , Li Jie , Kim Chang-Jin , Yin Hao , Li Wen-Jun , Zhang Si
Published: June 2012

A marine bacterium, designated SCSIO 03483T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. The strain produced roundish colonies with diffusible yellow-coloured pigment on nutrient agar medium or marine agar 2216. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0 and a temperature range of 28–37 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to the familyFlavobacteriaceaeand showed relatively high sequence similarity withImtechella halotoleransK1T(92.7 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate shared a lineage with members of the generaImtechella,JoostellaandZhouia. Phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and three unknown polar lipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6 and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 03-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c). The DNA G+C content of strain SCSIO 03483Twas 38.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular data, strain SCSIO 03483Trepresents a novel species in a new genus in the familyFlavobacteriaceae, for which the nameSinomicrobium oceanigen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain ofSinobacterium oceaniis SCSIO 03483T( = KCTC 23994T = CGMCC 1.12145T).
Aureivirga marina gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella verrucosa
Authors: Haber Markus , Shefer Sigal , Giordano Assunta , Orlando Pierangelo , Gambacorta Agata , Ilan Micha
Published: June 2012

Two bacterial strains, VI.14 and VIII.04T, were isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella verrucosa collected off the Israeli coast near Sdot Yam. The non-motile, aerobic, Gram-negative isolates were oxidase-negative and catalase-positive, and formed golden-brown colonies on marine agar 2216. The pigment was neither diffusible nor flexirubin-like. Strain VIII.04T grew at 15–37 °C, at pH 6.0–9.0, in the presence of 20–50 g NaCl l−1 and 20–80 g sea salts l−1, The spectrum was narrower for strain VI.14, with growth at pH 7.0–8.0. and in the presence of 30–50 g NaCl l−1 and 30–70 g sea salts l−1. The predominant fatty acid (>50 %) in both strains was iso-C15 : 0, and the major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 30.7 and 31.1 mol% for VIII.04T and VI.14, respectively. Results from 16S rRNA sequence similarity and phylogenetic analyses indicated that both strains are closely related to members of the family

Flavobacteriaceae

within the phylum

Bacteroidetes

, with as much as 91.7 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity. On the basis of data from the polyphasic analysis, we suggest that the strains represent a novel species in a new genus within the family

Flavobacteriaceae

, for which the name Aureivirga marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Strain VIII.04T ( = ATCC BAA-2394T = LMG 26721T) is the type strain of Aureivirga marina.
Methylocystis bryophila sp. nov., a facultatively methanotrophic bacterium from acidic Sphagnum peat, and emended description of the genus

Methylocystis

(ex Whittenbury et al. 1970) Bowman et al. 1993
Authors: Belova Svetlana E. , Kulichevskaya Irina S. , Bodelier Paul L. E. , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: June 2012

A novel species is proposed for two facultatively methanotrophic representatives of the genus

Methylocystis

, strains H2sT and S284, which were isolated from an acidic (pH 4.3) Sphagnum peat-bog lake (Teufelssee, Germany) and an acidic (pH 3.8) peat bog (European North Russia), respectively. Cells of strains H2sT and S284 are aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, curved coccoids or short rods that contain an intracytoplasmic membrane system typical of type-II methanotrophs. They possess both a soluble and a particulate methane monooxygenase (MMO); the latter is represented by two isozymes, pMMO1 and pMMO2. The preferred growth substrates are methane and methanol. In the absence of C1 substrates, however, these methanotrophs are capable of slow growth on acetate. Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by means of an aerotolerant nitrogenase. Strains H2sT and S284 grow between pH 4.2 and 7.6 (optimum pH 6.0–6.5) and at 8–37 °C (optimum 25–30 °C). The major fatty acids are C18 : 1ω8c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 1ω7c; the major quinone is Q-8. The DNA G+C content is 62.0–62.3 mol%. Strains H2sT and S284 share identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, which displayed 96.6–97.3 % similarity to sequences of other taxonomically characterized members of the genus

Methylocystis

. Therefore, strains H2sT and S284 are classified as members of a novel species, for which the name Methylocystis bryophila sp. nov. is proposed; strain H2sT ( = DSM 21852T  = VKM B-2545T) is the type strain.
Planosporangium thailandense sp. nov., isolated from soil from a Thai hot spring
Authors: Thawai Chitti , Thamsathit Wasinee , Kudo Takuji
Published: June 2012

A novel filamentous bacterial strain, HSS8-18T, was isolated from soil from a hot-spring pond in Krabi province, Thailand. The isolate produced single globose bodies and short, finger-like sporangia directly from the substrate mycelium. The cell wall of the isolate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glycine, arabinose and xylose. The characteristic phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylethanolamine and hydroxyl phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-10(H4) and the predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that isolate HSS8-18T belonged to the genus

Planosporangium

and shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Planosporangium flavigriseum

YIM 46034T (98.3 %) and

P. mesophilum

YIM 48875T (98.0 %). However, DNA–DNA hybridization results and some physiological and biochemical properties indicated that strain HSS8-18T could be readily distinguished from its closest phylogenetic relatives. Based on phenotypic and genotypic properties, isolate HSS8-18T is judged to represent a novel species of the genus

Planosporangium

, for which the name Planosporangium thailandense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain HSS8-18T ( = BCC 41917T  = JCM 17129T).
Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Perilla frutescens
Authors: Du Hui-Jing , Wei Yu-Zhen , Su Jing , Liu Hong-Yu , Ma Bai-Ping , Guo Bao-Lin , Zhang Yu-Qin , Yu Li-Yan
Published: June 2012

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain I10A-01402T, was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of a medicinal plant, Perilla frutescens, collected in a suburb of Beijing, China. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain I10A-01402T belonged to the genus

Nocardioides

. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a robust cluster with

Nocardioides ginsengisegetis

Gsoil 485T,

N. koreensis

MSL-09T and

N. alkalitolerans

KSL-1T. On the basis of the evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel species, Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is I10A-01402T ( = CPCC 203382T  = DSM 24552T  = KCTC 29022T).
Reliable Transient Transformation of Intact Maize Leaf Cells for Functional Genomics and Experimental Study
Authors: Kirienko Daniel R. , Luo Anding , Sylvester Anne W.
Published: June 2012

Maize (Zea mays) transformation routinely produces stable transgenic lines essential for functional genomics; however, transient expression of target proteins in maize cells is not yet routine. Such techniques are critical for rapid testing of transgene constructs and for experimental studies. Here, we report bombardment methods that depend on leaf developmental stage and result in successful expression with broad applications. Fluorescent marker genes were constructed and bombarded into five developmental regions in a growing maize leaf. Expression efficiency was highest in the basal-most 3 cm above the ligule of an approximately 50-cm growing adult leaf. Straightforward dissection procedures provide access to the receptive leaf regions, increasing efficiency from less than one transformant per cm2 to over 21 transformants per cm2. Successful expression was routine for proteins from full genomic sequences driven by native regulatory regions and from complementary DNA sequences driven by the constitutive maize polyubiquitin promoter and a heterologous terminator. Four tested fusion proteins, maize PROTEIN DISULFIDE ISOMERASE-Yellow Fluorescent Protein, GLOSSY8a-monomeric Red Fluorescent Protein and maize XYLOSYLTRANSFERASE, and maize Rho-of-Plants7-monomeric Teal Fluorescent Protein, localized as predicted in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and plasma membrane, respectively. Localization patterns were similar between transient and stable modes of expression, and cotransformation was equally successful. Coexpression was also demonstrated by transiently transforming cells in a stable line expressing a second marker protein, thus increasing the utility of a single stable transformant. Given the ease of dissection procedures, this method replaces heterologous expression assays with a more direct, native, and informative system, and the techniques will be useful for localization, colocalization, and functional studies.
Three Members of the Arabidopsis Glycosyltransferase Family 8 Are Xylan Glucuronosyltransferases
Authors: Rennie Emilie A. , Hansen Sara Fasmer , Baidoo Edward E.K. , Hadi Masood Z. , Keasling Jay D. , Scheller Henrik Vibe
Published: June 2012

Xylan is a major component of the plant cell wall and the most abundant noncellulosic component in the secondary cell walls that constitute the largest part of plant biomass. Dicot glucuronoxylan consists of a linear backbone of β(1,4)-linked xylose residues substituted with α(1,2)-linked glucuronic acid (GlcA). Although several genes have been implicated in xylan synthesis through mutant analyses, the biochemical mechanisms responsible for synthesizing xylan are largely unknown. Here, we show evidence for biochemical activity of GUX1 (for GlcA substitution of xylan 1), a member of Glycosyltransferase Family 8 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that is responsible for adding the glucuronosyl substitutions onto the xylan backbone. GUX1 has characteristics typical of Golgi-localized glycosyltransferases and a K  m for UDP-GlcA of 165 μm. GUX1 strongly favors xylohexaose as an acceptor over shorter xylooligosaccharides, and with xylohexaose as an acceptor, GlcA is almost exclusively added to the fifth xylose residue from the nonreducing end. We also show that several related proteins, GUX2 to GUX5 and Plant Glycogenin-like Starch Initiation Protein6, are Golgi localized and that only two of these proteins, GUX2 and GUX4, have activity as xylan α-glucuronosyltransferases.
Nutritional knowledge, nutritional labels, and health claims on food
Authors: Petrovici Dan , Fearne Andrew , Nayga Rodolfo M. , Drolias Dimitris
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The primary purpose is to examine the factors that affect the use of nutritional facts, nutrient content claims and health claims on food label use in the United Kingdom.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports the results of a survey of over 300 face‐to‐face interviews with shoppers of Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury – three of the major supermarkets in the UK.

Findings

Product class involvement factors, individual characteristics, health‐related factors (nutritional knowledge, health locus of control, perceived need of dietary change), situational, attitudinal and behavioral factors were found to be significant factors affecting the use of nutritional information and nutritional and health claims on food labeling. While the use of nutritional information and health claims increases with the stated importance of “nutrition” and “family preferences”, it is less likely among shoppers for whom “taste” is an important driver of food purchasing behaviour. There is also evidence of mistrust in health claims, as indicated by the negative relationship between the consideration of such claims and the stated importance of “quality” and perceived need to “change dietary quality” – the more discerning shoppers are the least likely to consider health claims.

Originality/value

The study provides evidence that a wider range of product class involvement factors is necessary to predict the use of nutritional information and nutritional and health claims on food labeling. It also offers a conceptualization of health‐related factors to include health locus of control as a predictor of the acquisition of nutrition and health information.
Revealing the lifestyles of local food consumers
Authors: Mirosa Miranda , Lawson Rob
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Changing consumption patterns have led to a number of transformations throughout the food cycle, and understanding how and why people purchase local food is important. This paper aims to examine the characteristics of the people leading this phenomenon: those that prefer to buy locally produced food.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore the characteristics of local food purchasers, a single item question, “I try to buy a lot of locally produced food”, was included in the food section of a New Zealand consumer lifestyles survey for which 3,556 responses were collected. The full survey included 600 questions across the full attitude, interest and opinion schedule.

Findings

For people who express a strong intention to purchase local food, this behaviour is linked to the types of food they eat (e.g. unprocessed foods), where they buy it (e.g. at speciality stores), and how they cook it (e.g. follow recipes). A range of personality and other personal characteristics differ between local and non‐local food buyers, with the former segment being more liberal, interested in quality, and frugal.

Practical implications

Consumers who express an interest in purchasing local food are a demanding segment of the population whose interest in food makes them critical judges of produce. Local food must thus be fresh and value for money. Growing this sector requires making local food more accessible through mainstream retail outlets.

Originality/value

While something is known about why people buy local food, less is known about other aspects of local food consumers, the range of attitudes they hold towards food or their food‐related behaviours.
An analysis of collaboration in a sugarcane production and processing supply chain
Authors: Nicolaas Bezuidenhout Carel , Bodhanya Shamim , Brenchley Linda
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Sugar from cane remains an important economic contributor in many countries. A lack of collaboration has been identified as a key problem in many of these regions. To date, few sugar researchers have exploited the valuable supply chain collaboration knowledge available in the literature, such as the Supply Chain Collaboration Index (SCCI). This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from three sugarcane milling areas. The SCCI was contextualised from a psychological perspective and used in the quantitative data analyses. A special objective was to raise a number of pertinent questions, which would fast track stakeholders to a new level of collaboration.

Findings

Many relationships in the supply chain remain relatively positive. The main attributes of concern are stability, reliability, trust, personal relationships and communication. A lack of these attributes causes fragmentation, opportunism and a desire to over‐control. Mutuality and communication are key leverages in the system.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to understand how collaboration could be enhanced when stakeholders hold different balances of power. This study is still limited to sugarcane milling in South Africa.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates a partially quantitative research methodology to understand collaboration in a food supply chain. The authors also propose a tool to help industry stakeholders to resolve current problems.

Originality/value

The psychological profiling of SCCI attributes and subsequent correspondence analyses is original. A framework of collaboration questions combined with Kepner‐Tregoe Problem Analyses is unique. These tools are generic to any agricultural supply chain.
Preparation and tribological properties of zinc dialkyl(aryl)ethoxy dithiophosphates
Authors: Margielewski Leszek , Stanecka‐Badura Renata , Plaza Stanislaw , Kozlowski Witold
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Environmental regulations have called for reduction of phosphorus content in engine oils because this element strongly deactivates the catalyst in automotive catalytic converters. The primary source of phosphorus is zinc dialkyl(aryl)dithiophosphate (ZDDP). Therefore, to protect catalyst ZDDP is replaced with other additives or its amount in engine oil is reduced. Zinc dialkyl(alkylaryl)ethoxy dithiophosphates (ZEDPs), a novel derivative of dithiophosphate additive, soluble in lubricating base oils were synthesized and used to replace containing more phosphorus ZDDP.

Design/methodology/approach

Tribological properties of ZEDPs were evaluated using four‐ball and the ball‐disc tribometers. The ZEDPs thermal stability and worn surface were analysed using TGA, XPS techniques.

Findings

ZEDPs significantly reduce the friction and wear under boundary, mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. Friction and wear properties are dependent on chemical structure of additives, their surface active behavior in tribological system and frictional parameters. The effectiveness of friction and wear reduction increases with the concentration of lubricating oil additive solution and depend on the amount of the additive adsorbed on the surfaces. ZEDPs are much more thermally stable than ZDDPs. The XPS shows that the tribochemical films formed on rubbing surfaces contain zinc and iron phosphates and sulphates.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of the number of etoxy groups in ZEDPs molecules on their tribological properties was not investigated.

Practical implications

ZEDPs were synthesized and can be a potential replacement for ZDDP.

Originality/value

ZEDPs were first investigated in lubrication of steel‐steel frictional contact and results indicate that they can be used as additives in combustion engine base oil.
Influence of braking pressure on tribological performance of non‐asbestos brake shoe for mine hoister during emergency braking
Authors: Bao Jiusheng , Zhu Zhencai , Tong Minming , Yin Yan , Peng Yuxing
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe some tribological experiments which were executed to find the influence of braking pressure on tribological performance of non‐asbestos brake shoe used in mine hoister during its emergency braking.

Design/methodology/approach

The WSM‐3 non‐asbestos brake shoe, which has been widely used in mine hoister, was selected as experimental material. Some tribological experiments of the brake shoe sliding on 16Mn steel were investigated on the X‐DM friction tester by simulating of emergency braking conditions of mine hoister. Three kinds of tribological indexes: friction coefficient, stability coefficient of friction coefficient, and wear rate were considered to score the tribological performance and the morphology of worn surfaces were observed through the S‐3000N scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to explore the tribological mechanisms.

Findings

It was found first, that the instant friction coefficient is not constant during emergency braking. After a short climbing period, it rises gradually to steady value. Second, with the increasing of braking pressure, the mean friction coefficient rises first then falls, while its stability coefficient falls gradually. The wear rate rises continuously with the braking pressure increasing. Also, the rising velocity of wear rate at high pressure is higher than it is at low pressure. Third, the instant surface temperature rises first then falls during braking and the mean surface temperature rises continuously with the braking pressure increasing.

Originality/value

It is found that the increasing of braking pressure within a certain range is helpful for achieving a high friction coefficient and a steady wear rate. But too high pressure will cause contrarily the falling of frictional performance and serious of wear performance. So it is not reliable to rise the braking pressure without limited during emergency braking.
The effect of steel balls based on different standards on the anti‐wear properties of lubricants
Authors: Yi Meirong , He Xiaoying , Chen Huan , Hao Lifeng
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Through practical tests, it has been found that steel balls based on different standards could affect tribological performances of the same lubricant, but unfortunately, past researches in the field have been quite inadequate. The aim of this paper, therefore, is conscientiously to study the problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The anti‐wear properties of four kinds of lubricants were evaluated by four‐ball tester using two kinds of steel balls based on different standards. The reason for different anti‐wear properties of the same lubricant was also discussed using hardness tester and scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS).

Findings

It was found that steel balls based on different standards could affect the tribological results for the same lubricant. The reason could lie in the surface chemical composition, surface roughness and hardness of steel balls which originated from the subtle difference of different standards.

Originality/value

The paper shows that, as far as evaluating anti‐wear properties is concerned, steel ball based on AISI Standard Steel No. E‐52100 is a better choice than that based on Chinese standard GB 308.
Converging worlds of activation?
Authors: Graziano Paolo R.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between the emerging European activation policies and the evolution of domestic activation policies and its governance. Drawing on the emerging Europeanization debate and comparative literature on activation, the crucial research question will be the following: is there a European Union (EU)‐induced convergence in domestic activation policies in the EU?

Design/methodology/approach

Following Bonoli's work, the article unpacks activation in two dimensions (human capital investment and employment market orientation) and looks at the trajectories of seven Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries using OECD active labour market policy (ALMP) expenditure data.

Findings

The article argues that there is only limited EU‐induced convergence towards the employment assistance component of the EU hybrid model and similarly limited convergence can be seen with respect to the governance of activation policies. Although fully‐fledged explanations of such limited convergence go beyond the scope of this article, the paper puts forward two tentative explanations which should be tested with further research: first, the lack of convergence may lie primarily in the overall “softness” of the European Employment Strategy (which means, among other things, limited resources), but the lack of convergence may also lie in the lack of administrative capacities enabling member state governments to fully implement innovative activation policies.

Originality/value

The paper is innovative since it empirically tests the role of European policies and ideas in shaping domestic reforms of activation policies. Contrary to other findings, the article shows that there is a limited degree of convergence and that the role is particularly negligible with respect to implementation capacities of reformed activation strategies.
New public governance and activation
Authors: Ehrler Franziska
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to assess the emergence of New Public Management in the governance of activation policies in nine European countries. In the light of considerable diversity in the implementation of New Public Management in the different countries, the article tries to identify common patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

For the identification of patterns, fuzzy set theory is applied. Fuzzy sets are used to define ideal types and to measure the degree of membership in the different ideal types for every country.

Findings

It is possible to show that despite the substantial diversity of New Public Management approaches in the governance of activation policies, common patterns exist. The article identifies four ideal types of New Public Management within the nine countries involved in the analysis. At the same time it is shown that most countries do not represent pure models but unify different tendencies within one dominant type.

Originality/value

The identification of common patterns in the emergence of New Public Management in the governance of activation can provide a useful framework for discussion and further research on the implications of different forms of governance on the content and delivery of activation services in Europe.
Are they being served? Linking consumer expectation, evaluation and commitment
Authors: Mason Chris , Simmons John
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to develop a conceptual framework to show how service provider value propositions and customer purchase decisions represent the offer and acceptance of types of psychological contract that, if satisfied, result in particular levels of consumer commitment and related attitudinal and behavioural outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is developed by the integration of approaches from the marketing, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and psychological contract literature and represents a holistic and multi‐disciplinary perspective on the service value proposition.

Findings

Analysis shows how alignment of different types of value proposition with consumer expectations impacts on the nature and level of consumer commitment. Customer commitment can also contribute to service provider reputation and brand equity.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptual framework and research propositions generated from it should be tested in organisations representative of transactional, relational and transpersonal service providers to provide deeper insights for researchers and practitioners.

Practical implications

Findings confirm the need for providers to target value propositions at particular consumer groups as part of a more sophisticated and nuanced approach to customer segmentation. The paper also recognises possible changes in consumer expectation and how proactive service providers can track and respond to these.

Originality/value

The paper's unique contribution is to confirm the rationale for and the benefits of applying constructs from the psychological contract literature to generate deeper insights into the service provider‐consumer relationship.
Understanding loyalty bonds and their impact on relationship strength: a service firm perspective
Authors: Moore Melissa L. , Ratneshwar S. , Moore Robert S.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Based on previous research in services, marketing, organizational behavior and psychology, this paper aims to identify four types of loyalty bonds that an individual can form with a firm as well as a select set of firm and situational variables which likely result in the formation of each bond. It then aims to examine the influence of each bond on the relationship strength between a customer and a service provider.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a mail survey, female respondents over the age of 25 assessed shopping situations in two service‐provider settings – a grocery store and a beauty salon. Scenarios manipulated aspects of the service experience based on firm and situational variables.

Findings

This study confirms the existence of four primary types of loyalty bonds – utilitarian, affective, symbolic, and obligatory. Firm and situational variables maximally impact each type of loyalty bond. The bonds predict relationship strength with the service provider.

Research limitations/implications

Complex relationships are apparent between the different types of bonds. Further research is needed to understand how firm and situational variables interact in different service settings.

Practical implications

The authors' research shows that customers may form different types of loyalty bonds with firms, some that are controllable by the firm and some which are less controllable. Results provide a starting point for tactical decision making regarding which bonds service providers would like to target in the development of their relationship marketing programs.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the services marketing literature by examining when specific loyalty bonds are created and how these bonds impact relationship strength.
Service convenience and social servicescape: retail vs hedonic setting
Authors: Nguyen Doan T. , DeWitt Tom , Russell‐Bennett Rebekah
Published: June 2012

Purpose

While there have been numerous studies on the antecedents and consequences of service quality, there has been little investigation of the moderators of service quality. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effects of two moderators: service convenience and the social servicescape. The moderating effects are tested in two service settings: retail and hedonic (concert).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 270 customers at kitchen display showrooms and 320 concert‐goers was undertaken. The results were analysed using regression analysis.

Findings

The results show support for ten of the 12 hypotheses. Service convenience moderated the relationships between perceived service quality and its three sub‐dimensions (interaction, environment, and outcome quality), differently in different settings (retail vs hedonic). This supports the authors' general argument that the outcome dimension tends to be more important to customers in a retail setting, while interaction and environment quality dimensions tend to be more important in hedonic service consumption.

Practical implications

These findings suggest that managers need to use different service management tactics in retail and hedonic service settings. Specifically managers in retail settings need to pay more attention to service convenience to achieve service quality and managers in hedonic settings should concentrate on the social servicescape.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to test the moderating factors of service convenience and social servicescape on service quality.
A critical study of quality parameters in health care establishment
Authors: Azam Mohammad , Rahman Zillur , Talib Faisal , Singh K.J.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to identify and critically analyze healthcare establishment (HCE) quality parameters described in the literature. It aims to propose an integrated quality model that includes technical quality and associated supportive quality parameters to achieve optimum patient satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use an extensive in‐depth healthcare quality literature review, discerning gaps via a critical analysis in relation to their overall impact on patient management, while identifying an integrated quality model acceptable to hospital staff.

Findings

The article provides insights into contemporary HCE quality parameters by critically analyzing relevant literature. It also evolves and proposes an integrated HCE‐quality model.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to HCE confidentiality, especially regarding patient data, information cannot be accessed.

Practical implications

The integrated quality model parameters have practical utility for healthcare service managers. However, further studies may be required to refine and integrate newer parameters to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Originality/value

This article adds a new perspective to understanding quality parameters and suggests an integrated quality model that has practical value for maintaining HCE service quality to benefit many stakeholders.
Towards a balanced performance measurement system in a public health care organization
Authors: Yuen Peter P. , Ng Artie W.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

This article attempts to devise an integrated performance measurement framework to assess the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) management system by harnessing previous performance measurement systems.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated evaluative framework based on the balanced score card (BSC) was developed and applied using the case study method and longitudinal data to evaluate the HA's performance management system.

Findings

The authors unveil evolving HA performance indicators (PI). Despite the HA staff's explicit quality emphasis, cost control remains the primary focus in their performance measurements.

Research limitations/implications

Data used in this study are from secondary sources, disclosed mostly by HA staff.

Practical implications

This study shows public sector staff often attach too much importance to cost control and easily measurable activities at the expense of quality and other less easily measurable attributes'.

Originality/value

A balanced performance measurement system, linked to health targets, with a complementary budgeting process that supports pertinent resource allocation is yet to be implemented in Hong Kong's public hospitals.
Rotational effects on film cooling performance
Authors: Zhang C.X‐Z. , Hassan I.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Numerical simulations were carried out for two cooling schemes, a circular hole and a louver cooling scheme, at the leading edge of a rotor blade in a complete turbine stage.

Design/methodology/approach

Two holes were positioned at the leading edge of a rotating blade, one on the pressure side and the other on the suction side. The methodology was validated with a circular hole case. Numerical results of cooling effectiveness for three blowing ratios at three rotational speeds were successfully obtained. Both blowing ratio and rotating speed of the rotor affect the cooling effectiveness level.

Findings

It was shown that for the circular hole, the blowing ratio is the dominant factor at low blowing ratios and the rotational speed is the dominant factor at high blow ratios when jet is prone to lift off in determining the cooling effectiveness level. For the louver scheme, a higher rotational speed leads to a higher level of cooling effectiveness since jet liftoff is avoided.

Originality/value

There are only a few studies of film cooling on a rotational turbine blade and very few studies of film cooling at the leading edge of a rotating turbine blade in the open literature. The present work presents a challenging CFD case. The analysis of film cooling at the leading edge of an airfoil was presented, which sheds light on the physics of film cooling and should prove helpful to the cooling designs of turbine blades.
A meshless numerical solution of the family of generalized fifth‐order Korteweg‐de Vries equations
Authors: Tauseef Mohyud‐Din Syed , Negahdary Elham , Usman Muhammad
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical solution of a family of generalized fifth‐order Korteweg‐de Vries equations using a meshless method of lines. This method uses radial basis functions for spatial derivatives and Runge‐Kutta method as a time integrator and exhibits high accuracy as seen from the comparison with the exact solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a meshless method of lines. This method uses radial basis functions for spatial derivatives and Runge‐Kutta method as a time integrator.

Findings

The paper reveals that this method exhibits high accuracy as seen from the comparison with the exact solutions.

Originality/value

This method is efficient method as it is easy to implement for the numerical solutions of PDEs.
Competitive forces and the levers of control framework in a manufacturing setting
Authors: Hoque Zahirul , Chia Maybelle
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore how the strategic change following a corporate takeover impacted the nature and extent of use of the firm's management control systems (MCS), in particular its performance measurement system (PMS).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses Michael Porter's theory of competitive advantage and Robert Simons' levers of control framework to illustrate and interpret changes in the PMS within an Australian multinational subsidiary following its takeover by an overseas corporation. To provide empirical evidence on this issue, face‐to‐face interviews and archival data are used.

Findings

The findings reveal that the takeover resulted in changes in the firm's competitive forces (threat of potential entrants, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of suppliers, and rivalry among existing firms), and therefore the firm altered its strategy to change the rules of competition in its favor. Corresponding to the strategic change, the PMS was affected, with specific implications on Simons' four levers of control: interactive, diagnostic, beliefs, and boundary systems.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that a corporate takeover is an important phase for any organization, as it involves a change in the competitive environment and strategy, and needs to be facilitated by a change in the MCS to create and sustain superior performance.

Originality/value

This case study demonstrates how interactive and beliefs systems work together with diagnostic and boundary systems in the context of change in an organization. Past research devoted to strategic change and MCS has not documented this phenomenon.
Better safe than sorry: defensive loan assessment behaviour in a changing bank environment
Authors: Nilsson Anders , Öhman Peter
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent and in what forms loan applications from small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in a risk averse banking environment can be assessed defensively by lending officers (LOs). The paper also identifies triggering mechanisms behind defensive SME loan assessment behaviour and its' possible effects on the bank and the LOs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relies on a case study of a major Swedish commercial bank undergoing strategy and control system change during the recent financial crisis. The empirical evidence was collected through interviews with 76 LOs in three branch offices and a focus group interview session.

Findings

In a risk averse banking environment, LOs can be prone to assessing SME loan applications defensively to a noteworthy extent. Such defensiveness comes in different forms: denial of loan applications, granting of loans with collateral or high interest rates, or granting of loans only to clients with most of their financial affairs in the bank. External and internal mechanisms jointly trigger defensive loan assessment behaviour. The possible effects include fewer Type II errors and more Type I errors for the bank, while LOs avoid change and blame.

Originality/value

Overall, this study contributes to the literature by revealing triggering mechanisms, forms and effects related to the multifaceted construct of defensive loan assessment behaviour among LOs in a commercial bank, who handle applications from SMEs.
Beyond rationalisations: improving interview data quality
Authors: Condie Jenny
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Interview data is often the cornerstone of qualitative field studies, yet problems with getting sufficient, rich, reliable data in a cost effective manner can inhibit the progress of field study research. The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a novel interview method, the cognitive interview, in an exploratory field study of management accounting change where in‐depth access was impractical.

Design/methodology/approach

The cognitive interview was developed by cognitive psychologists for use in police witness interviewing. It has been found to substantially improve the amount of information that subjects recall while maintaining or slightly improving accuracy levels.

Findings

The cognitive interview was found to be effective at gathering rich, detailed data despite the restriction of conducting only one or two interviews at each company. The cognitive interview uncovered information that did not fit with the participants' initial account of events. The structure of the cognitive interview often led participants to provide narrative accounts, allowing narrative analysis techniques such as genre analysis to be used. Asking participants to retell their accounts in reverse order may allow researchers to discern the schema (mental template) that the participant was using to organise their memories of the change process.

Originality/value

In its first known use for business research, the cognitive interview was effective at moving beyond the rationalized accounts that participants often provide initially. Researchers who conduct interviews to collect data may find this of particular interest.