bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Small Regulatory RNA SyR1/PsrR1 Controls Photosynthetic Functions in Cyanobacteria
Authors: Georg Jens , Dienst Dennis , Schürgers Nils , Wallner Thomas , Kopp Dominik , Stazic Damir , Kuchmina Ekaterina , Klähn Stephan , Lokstein Heiko , Hess Wolfgang R. , Wilde Annegret
Published: September 2014

Little is known so far about RNA regulators of photosynthesis in plants, algae, or cyanobacteria. The small RNA PsrR1 (formerly SyR1) has been discovered in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 and appears to be widely conserved within the cyanobacterial phylum. Expression of PsrR1 is induced shortly after a shift from moderate to high-light conditions. Artificial overexpression of PsrR1 led to a bleaching phenotype under moderate light growth conditions. Advanced computational target prediction suggested that several photosynthesis-related mRNAs could be controlled by PsrR1, a finding supported by the results of transcriptome profiling experiments upon pulsed overexpression of this small RNA in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803. We confirmed the interaction between PsrR1 and the ribosome binding regions of the psaL, psaJ, chlN, and cpcA mRNAs by mutational analysis in a heterologous reporter system. Focusing on psaL as a specific target, we show that the psaL mRNA is processed by RNase E only in the presence of PsrR1. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a posttranscriptional regulation of psaL by PsrR1 in the wild type at various environmental conditions and analyzed the consequences of PsrR1-based regulation on photosystem I. In summary, computational and experimental data consistently establish the small RNA PsrR1 as a regulatory factor controlling photosynthetic functions.
Cloning, expression, purification and preliminary X-ray analysis of EstN2, a novel archaeal α/β-hydrolase fromCandidatusNitrososphaera gargensis
Authors: Kaljunen Heidi , Chow Jennifer , Streit Wolfgang R. , Mueller-Dieckmann Jochen
Published: September 2014

EstN2 is a novel α/β-hydrolase originating from the ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeonCandidatusNitrososphaera gargensis. The genome of the organism was sequenced and genes conferring putative lipolytic activity were amplified and cloned intoEscherichia colias a heterologous host. Through function-based screening, esterase and lipase activity was detected. A recombinant enzyme designated EstN2 was successfully expressed, purified and crystallized. The crystals belonged to space groupI2, with one molecule per asymmetric unit, and diffracted X-rays to 1.5 Å resolution.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Lin1840, a putative β-glucosidase fromListeria innocua
Authors: Nakajima Masahiro , Yoshida Ryuta , Miyanaga Akimasa , Taguchi Hayao
Published: September 2014

Lin1840 is a putative β-glucosidase that is predicted to be involved in 1,2-β-glucan metabolism since thelin1839gene encoding a 1,2-β-oligoglucan phosphorylase and thelin1840gene are located in the same gene cluster. Here, Lin1840 was crystallized. The crystals of Lin1840 diffracted to beyond 1.8 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to space groupI121, with unit-cell parametersa= 89.75,b= 95.10,c= 215.00 Å, α = 90.00, β = 96.34, γ = 90.00°.
Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase fromBacillus thuringiensis
Authors: Wang Yung-Lin , Lin Yi-Ting , Chen Chia-Lin , Shaw Gwo-Chyuan , Liaw Shwu-Huey
Published: September 2014

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) is a microbial biopolymer that has been commercialized as biodegradable plastics. The key enzyme for the degradation is PHB depolymerase (PhaZ). A new intracellular PhaZ fromBacillus thuringiensis(BtPhaZ) has been screened for potential applications in polymer biodegradation. Recombinant BtPhaZ was crystallized using 25% polyethylene glycol 3350, 0.2 Mammonium acetate, 0.1 Mbis-tris pH 6.5 at 288 K. The crystals belonged to space groupP1, with unit-cell parametersa= 42.97,b= 83.23,c= 85.50 Å, α = 73.45, β = 82.83, γ = 83.49°. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected to 1.42 Å resolution with anRmergeof 6.4%. Unexpectedly, a molecular-replacement solution was obtained using the crystal structure ofStreptomyces lividanschloroperoxidase as a template, which shares 24% sequence identity to BtPhaZ. This is the first crystal structure of an intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase.
The structure of lactoferrin-binding protein B fromNeisseria meningitidissuggests roles in iron acquisition and neutralization of host defences
Authors: Brooks Cory L. , Arutyunova Elena , Lemieux M. Joanne
Published: September 2014

Pathogens have evolved a range of mechanisms to acquire iron from the host during infection. Several Gram-negative pathogens including members of the generaNeisseriaandMoraxellahave evolved two-component systems that can extract iron from the host glycoproteins lactoferrin and transferrin. The homologous iron-transport systems consist of a membrane-bound transporter and an accessory lipoprotein. While the mechanism behind iron acquisition from transferrin is well understood, relatively little is known regarding how iron is extracted from lactoferrin. Here, the crystal structure of the N-terminal domain (N-lobe) of the accessory lipoprotein lactoferrin-binding protein B (LbpB) from the pathogenNeisseria meningitidisis reported. The structure is highly homologous to the previously determined structures of the accessory lipoprotein transferrin-binding protein B (TbpB) and LbpB from the bovine pathogenMoraxella bovis. Docking the LbpB structure with lactoferrin reveals extensive binding interactions with the N1 subdomain of lactoferrin. The nature of the interaction precludes apolactoferrin from binding LbpB, ensuring the specificity of iron-loaded lactoferrin. The specificity of LbpB safeguards proper delivery of iron-bound lactoferrin to the transporter lactoferrin-binding protein A (LbpA). The structure also reveals a possible secondary role for LbpB in protecting the bacteria from host defences. Following proteolytic digestion of lactoferrin, a cationic peptide derived from the N-terminus is released. This peptide, called lactoferricin, exhibits potent antimicrobial effects. The docked model of LbpB with lactoferrin reveals that LbpB interacts extensively with the N-terminal lactoferricin region. This may provide a venue for preventing the production of the peptide by proteolysis, or directly sequestering the peptide, protecting the bacteria from the toxic effects of lactoferricin.
Valuing Strategic Growth Options: A Portfolio Approach
Authors: Vassolo Roberto S. , De Almeida Ravara Filipe , Connor John M.
Published: September 2014

This study analyzes the trade‐off between strategic flexibility and commitment for cases of simultaneous and related strategic investments under high levels of uncertainty. It develops a model that, using a Cournot game and real option theory, demonstrates that (1) a correlated strategic investment adds value to a portfolio of ongoing strategic investments in a decreasing marginal fashion, and (2) the new investment delays the development of the other investments. Managers who fail to recognize these properties may make strategic commitments that destroy value, even in the presence of options with individual positive values. An important feature of the model is that competitive advantages may flow from market power or from the capability of managing the portfolio.
Benchmarking of industrial park infrastructures in Germany
Authors: Festel Gunter , Würmseher Martin
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the operational performance of industrial park infrastructures in Germany to find first indications for cost saving potentials.

Design/methodology/approach

– Between 2006 and 2007, six chemical parks and chemical related industrial parks in Germany participated in a benchmarking study with focus on operation and maintenance of buildings, communication infrastructures and traffic infrastructures. Based on data analysis in combination with workshops, numerous key performance indicators were defined and calculated.

Findings

– To compare the different complexities of the analysed infrastructures, the most important key performance indicators were adjusted using correction factors defined and verified during the workshops. This made a discussion based on comparable and comprehensible figures possible which increased the acceptance and applicability of the benchmarking methodology. The benchmarking results showed large differences in performance levels, indicating that there are significant cost saving potentials in some industrial parks.

Research limitations/implications

– The comparability may remain limited due to the partly insufficient availability of data from the participants. Other limitations are due to the small number of investigated industrial parks and the focus of the benchmarking study on Germany.

Originality/value

– The developed benchmark and best practice methodology is well suited to evaluate best practice in the field of industrial park infrastructures. It is important for industrial parks to understand the individual performance level and to adapt best practice in all areas.
An i-AHP&QFD warranty model
Authors: Jenab Kouroush , Pourmohammadi Hamid , Sarfaraz Matin
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a new warranty model to improve warranty management. As a case study, the developed model has been applied on an industrial vehicle manufacturing company. The model is composed of quality function deployment (QFD) and interval-based analytical hierarchy process (i-AHP). The i-AHP is an extension of the concept of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) that takes the benefits of interval computations in order to mitigate the shortcomings of AHP and fuzzy AHP.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a combination of i-AHP and QFD, the authors analyzed the several options and alternatives available, weighting each one by means of an interval pair-wise comparison. Using collected data, the authors have shown how to map the capability of each option against each alternative and thereby build a relationship matrix under the QFD approach based on interval computations.

Findings

– The use of i-AHP&QFD integrated methodology helps to identify the best options to solve several decision problems in diverse fields and could be applied successfully in warranty management. This methodology is especially useful when dealing with several options and equal numbers of alternatives for each warranty option.

Research limitations/implications

– The case study includes competitiveness analysis at the first house of quality (HOQ), but not at the subsequent HOQ, due to a lack of information from the relevant competitors. However, the paper demonstrates the kind of competitiveness analysis at the first HOQ which can be extended to all subsequent HOQs.

Practical implications

– The research would be useful to academics and practitioners in developing integrated versions of the QFD and i-AHP methodologies to improve warranties.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the diffusion of a new form of integrated warranty model, through the presentation of practical examples of industrial vehicle warranty management. Also, the model presents the i-AHP in order to quantify and compare variables via the use of geometrical averages and to synthesize a subsequent solution.
Agility evaluation in fuzzy context: influence of decision-makers’ risk bearing attitude
Authors: Mishra Swagatika , Sankar Mahapatra Siba , Datta Saurav
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of decision-makers’ (DM) risk bearing attitudes and the effect of the decision-making environment on estimating the overall degree of agility of an organization. The present study explores an extended agility model in a specific organization's hierarchy and reflects how decision-making attitudes alter an organizational agility scenario.

Design/methodology/approach

– The concept of fuzzy logic has been explored in this paper. Based on DMs’ linguistic judgments, a fuzzy appropriateness rating as well as fuzzy priority weights have been determined for different levels of agile system hierarchy. Using a multi-grade fuzzy approach the overall agility index has been determined. The concept of fuzzy numbers ranking has been explored to show the effect of decision-making attitudes on agility estimations.

Findings

– Decision-making attributes, e.g. the category of DM (neutral, risk-averse and risk-taking), affect the quantitative evaluation of the overall agility degree, which is correlated with a predefined agility measurement scale.

Research limitations/implications

– This study explores a triangular fuzzy membership function to express DMs’ linguistic judgments as fuzzy representations. Apart from triangular fuzzy numbers, trapezoidal and Gaussian fuzzy numbers may also be used for agility evaluation. The model may be used in other agile industries for benchmarking and selection of the best approach.

Practical implications

– Selecting the right decision-making group to compute and analyze the agility level for a particular organization is an important managerial decision. In the case of benchmarking of various agile enterprises the decision-making group bearing the same attitude should be utilized.

Originality/value

– Agile system modeling and development of agility appraisement platforms have been attempted by previous researchers while the influence of DMs’ risk bearing attitudes, and the effect of the decision-making environment on estimating the overall degree of agility, have rarely been studied. In this context, the authors explore an exhaustive agility model for implementing in a case study and reveal how decision-making attitudes alter organizational agility scenarios.
Analysis of BSC perspectives as related to the alignment of environmental uncertainty and supply chain strategy
Authors: Rahimnia Fariborz , Keyvanipoor Samira , Moghadasian Mahdi
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Selecting the right supply chain (SC) strategy which is aligned with environmental uncertainty will definitely improve SC performance. Lee (2002) proposed a framework to consider the impact of alignment between SC strategy and environmental uncertainty and its impact on SC performance. The purpose of this paper is to apply this framework in Iran and extend it using balanced scorecard (BSC) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– A research survey was completed to consider the aim of this research. A total of 124 questionnaires were returned.

Findings

– The alignment between SC strategy and environmental uncertainty and its positive impact on SC performance has been proven (except for risk-hedging strategy). Efficient strategy enhances all the four BSC perspectives, while agile strategy only improves learning and growth perspective.

Originality/value

– This research extends the work of Lee (2002) and Sun et al. (2009) by emphasizing the impact of SC strategy on each of the four perspectives of BSC.
Benchmarking operational efficiency in the integrated water service provision
Authors: lo Storto Corrado
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This is a benchmarking study and the purpose of this paper is to investigate if there is any association between operational efficiency in the integrated water management industry in Italy and the typology of service providers, and as a consequence, the nature of concession contract.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is focussed on 38 optimal territorial areas (ATOs), e.g. a circumscribed geographical area where the provision of integrated water services is considered efficient. It uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to calculate ATO efficiency and a stepwise regression procedure performed to investigate the effect of contract type on the operational efficiency rate of the ATO.

Findings

– This study shows that there are some inefficiencies in the water service supply industry in Italy. The estimated average pure technical and scale efficiency of ATOs are 92.62 and 93.91 percent, respectively, while the average technical efficiency is 87.61 percent and the lowest is slightly higher than 13 percent. Operational inefficiencies might not be determined by size only. In fact, results show that the water service provider and contract agreement typologies are associated with efficiency. In particular, operational efficiency is higher in those ATOs where the water service supply concession contracts that fit the schemes of the new legislative framework prevail or where the service is mostly provided by a private equity owned or by mixed public-private companies.

Research limitations/implications

– It was assumed that any incremental level of water quality beyond the minimum acceptable threshold as required by law is not important to increase the operation efficiency score; henceforth, no variables measuring the water quality were introduced in the DEA model. The result of the study may be not fully representative of the Italian water service sector, because the unavailability of accurate and consistent public databank in Italy did not allowed to have a larger sample.

Practical implications

– This paper is one of the first in Italy to investigate the association between the operational efficiency of the ATOs and the nature of water service providers and contract agreements used.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first in Italy to investigate the association between the operational efficiency of the ATOs and the nature of water service providers and contract agreements used.
Defined benefit pension decline: the consequences for organizations and employees
Authors: de Thierry Ebony , Lam Helen , Harcourt Mark , Flynn Matt , Wood Geoff
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use the theoretical and empirical pension literatures to question whether employers are likely to gain any competitive advantage from degrading or eliminating their employees’ defined benefit (DB) pensions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Critical literature review, bringing together and synthesizing the industrial relations, economics, social policy, and applied pensions literature.

Findings

– DB pension plans do deliver a number of potential performance benefits, most notably a decrease in turnover and establishment of longer-term employment relationships. However, benefits are more pronounced in some conditions than others, which are identified.

Research limitations/implications

– Most of the analysis of pension effects to date focuses primarily on DB plans. Yet, these are declining in significance. In the years ahead, more attention needs to be paid to the potential consequences of defined contribution plans and other types of pension.

Practical implications

– In re-evaluating DB pensions, firms have tended to focus on savings made through cost cutting. Yet, this approach tends to view a firm's people as an expense rather a potential asset. Attempts to abandon, modify, or otherwise reduce such schemes has the potential to save money in the short term, but the negative long-term consequences may be considerable, even if they are not yet obvious.

Originality/value

– This paper is topical in that it consolidates existing research evidence from a number of different bodies of literature to make a case for the retention of DB pension plans, when, in many contexts, they are being scaled back or discarded. It raises a number of important issues for reflection by practitioners, and highlights key agendas for future scholarly research.
Determinants of innovative behavior of employees: evidence from Spanish firms
Authors: Teresa Ortega-Egea M. , Ruiz Moreno Antonia , Carmen Haro Domínguez M.
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the presence of communication and knowledge flows influences the creation of a work context that supports innovation, and how this relationship is moderated by labor externalization.

Design/methodology/approach

– To study these relationships, the authors use a sample of 249 workers from five organizations. The different hypotheses proposed are contrasted using hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

– The results obtained show the authors that, when communication flows exist, workers’ orientation to innovation is greater; likewise, knowledge transfer influences workers’ innovative attitude positively. However, the results are different when externalization of workers acts as a moderating variable.

Practical implications

– The firm's management should make decisions and foster the production of information flows between employees, as the results obtained indicate that communication and knowledge transfer encourage employee attitudes and behavior favorable to innovation.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this study is to provide new empirical evidence on the influence of communication and knowledge flows on workers’ orientation to innovation. The authors also analyze how these relationships are affected by the presence of externalization. The evidence obtained in this study permits to deduce what actions foster or inhibit organizations in creating a work context that supports innovation and thus encourages the generation of innovation.
Preschool teachers’ resilience and their readiness for building children's resilience
Authors: Bouillet Dejana , Pavin Ivanec Tea , Miljević-Riđički Renata
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the resilience of preschool teachers, aspects of teachers’ readiness to develop children's resilience and the relationship between the two constructs of resilience and readiness.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two instruments (the “Resilience Scale For Adults” and the “Questionnaire on the Readiness of Preschool Teachers for Developing Children's Resilience”) were used to collect data on resilience and readiness for developing children's resilience from 191 female preschool teachers enrolled in a graduate education programme in the Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Data were analysed by factor analyses and a two-way analyses of variance.

Findings

– Results indicate that preschool teachers achieve high results on resilience measures, and that they have supportive attitudes towards programmes for building children's resilience and are willing to implement such programmes in their everyday practice. Those preschool teachers who perceived themselves as more resilient also considered that they were more competent in developing resilience in children. Additionally, preschool teachers who perceived their kindergarten's institutional climate as supportive, felt that they are more competent for fostering resilience in children, and were at the same time more willing to implement programmes for building children's resilience.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings suggest that the level of institutional supportiveness is related to preschool teachers’ competence and willingness to foster resilience in children. Those preschool teachers who perceive their institutional climate as supportive feel more willing and competent to implement programmes for developing children's resilience. Additionally, teachers’ competence for developing resilience in children is related to their own resilience: more resilient preschool teachers feel more competent to foster children's resilience. These results suggest that general institutional climate and resilience of those adults who work with preschool children are important aspects of early educational environment, and should be taken into consideration when planning the implementation of programmes for building children's resilience.

Originality/value

– This research is the first Croatian research on resilience in the context of early childhood education. It also represents a contribution to a relatively small number of studies that link preschool teachers’ resilience with their readiness to foster resilience in children.
Off-price versus price-off
Authors: L. Hess Jr Ronald , Ring Lawrence
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the unique competitive positioning characteristics of off-price retailers and how they compare to other types of retailers. The authors compare off-price and upscale off-price retailers with four major formats of retailers: first, discount department store/warehouse club retailers; second, moderate department store retailers; third, department store retailers; and finally, specialty department store retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper employs a representative sample that was randomly drawn from four primary metropolitan cities in the USA. The data were collected using telephone interviews by a prominent, marketing research firm. A series of discriminant analyses were conducted to examine the data.

Findings

– The findings of the paper indicate that the off-price formats were consistently positioned at extreme points along the price/value continuum, signifying the strongest value-orientation among the other retail formats. The authors also found that while the upscale off-price format followed the specialty department stores in terms of fashion. The results point to an important disadvantage of the off-price format – although strong on price/value, they often fall short on fashion and many other store attributes that may be important to luxury-oriented customers.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper employed a sample from several cities collected using a telephone interview methodology within the US. Due to these limitations, the findings of this paper may be hampered by this methodology and not generalize to regions outside of the US. Future research should examine how the demise of most of the upscale off-price retailers and growth of flash web sites have changed the competitive structure of retailing.

Practical implications

– The results demonstrate that the positioning of the off-price retail format is unique from other formats. The retail formats occupy distinct positions. The off-price retail format is strongly associated with the price/value position but only moderately fashionable to customers, especially when compared with the department and specialty department store formats. In contrast, the upscale off-price format, while also strongly positioned along the price/value continuum, is considered much more fashionable than the off-price retail format. In fact, the upscale off-price retail format only trails the specialty department store format in terms of fashion.

Originality/value

– The unique characteristics of the off-price retail format and growing interest from upscale department stores underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the motives of the off-price shopper. This paper provides retailers with a more complete understanding of the store attributes that differentiate the off-price retail format from other major retail store formats. The overall objective of this study is to offer a comprehensive view of the positioning of off-price retailers compared with many alternative retail formats.
Network uniformity and risk of reclassification of the franchise contract
Authors: Perrigot Rozenn , Basset Guy , Briand Danièle , Cliquet Gérard
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Network uniformity is crucial in franchising, but an excessive number of imposed constraints to maintain this uniformity jeopardizes a franchisee’s independence and too much independence given to franchisees jeopardizes franchise network uniformity. So, how to find an equilibrium and avoid the reclassification of a franchise contract as a branch manager contract or as an employment contract with all its related consequences? The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is based on a multiple cases approach. The four complementary cases deal with Yves Rocher (cosmetics and body/face care), Bata (shoes), Fiventis (real estate, life insurance and tax-sheltered savings products), and France Acheminement (express transportation), all analyzed in the French context.

Findings

– A franchise contract can be reclassified as a branch manager contract if there is economic dependence or as an employment contract if there is a legal subordination relationship. These reclassifications have not only financial consequences, but also an impact in terms of image.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is based on secondary data. Collecting data along with interviews of franchisors and franchisees would be beneficial.

Practical implications

– The research is of specific interest to franchisors, franchise experts and lawyers in terms of minimizing the possible risks of facing such types of reclassification of franchise contracts. It can also inform franchisees who may be running their businesses under such conditions.

Originality/value

– This paper uses a business and law approach in order to analyze the paradox of network uniformity and franchisee autonomy and raises the question of “how to find equilibrium?”
Examining retail customer experience and the moderation effect of loyalty programmes
Authors: Lin Zhibin , Bennett Dag
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the construct of retail customer experience (CE) and its links to satisfaction and loyalty; and to test whether loyalty programmes perform a moderating effect on those links.

Design/methodology/approach

– A variety of retail attributes are integrated to develop a holistic CE construct using formative measures, with four in-built, differentiated replication studies conducted in the supermarket and department store sectors in China.

Findings

– The empirical results confirm the model of CE’s impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty; but reveal that loyalty programmes perform an insignificant moderating role in enhancing the linkages in the model.

Research limitations/implications

– Further studies may examine whether our findings hold true for each individual loyalty programme. The paper calls for more studies based on multiple, in-built, differentiated replication studies and measures to encourage publication of negative empirical results so as to ensure empirical generalization and self-correction in the literature.

Practical implications

– Retail managers should focus attention on the design and delivery of great CE, without placing great reliance on loyalty programmes. Both cognitive and emotional attributes of retailing services should be considered for managing a holistic CE.

Originality/value

– The paper examines a model of CE with loyalty programme as a possible moderator; it uses formative measures of CE, multiple in-built replications and reports negative empirical results, which are critical to the development of scientific progress in retail management research.
Digital TV innovations: industry and user perspective
Authors: Jennes Iris , Van den Broeck Wendy
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to focus on how innovative strategies take users into account. On the one hand, it will look at how the different stakeholders in the TV value network implement user behaviour. On the other hand, it will focus on how users perceive traditional advertising and new advertising formats (e.g. personalised advertising, interactive advertising).

Design/methodology/approach

– The applied research method is a combination of expert interviews with different actors in the TV sector and qualitative user research on viewers’ expectations towards advertising and new advertising formats in a digital era.

Findings

– This paper looks at customer ownership, (inter-media) audience fragmentation and audience autonomy as important concepts in understanding innovation and strategies within the Flemish commercial TV sector and how user behaviour is implemented.

Originality/value

– More specifically, ad skipping (zipping) and second-screen applications are studied. To conclude, the findings of the research are linked to relevant policy questions and challenges for audience members and actors within the television industry.
Designing for participatory governance: assessing capabilities and toolkits in public service delivery
Authors: van der Graaf Shenja , Veeckman Carina
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is yield insight into how cities can optimize citizen involvement in the co-development of citizen services by providing the rights tools, knowledge and resources.

Design/methodology/approach

– By conducting a case study analysis of the city of Ghent, this study investigates how users are engaged in the development of mobile applications on a city-hosted platform.

Findings

– Findings show that public service delivery, related to the urban space, can be co-designed between the city and its citizens, if different toolkits aligned with the specific capacities and skills of the citizens are provided.

Research limitations/implications

– Data were collected between August 2012 and December 2013. Some preliminary findings are presented on the (design of the) dynamic co-creation ecosystem and the citizens’ capacities to participate on the city-hosted platform. In addition, while the examination is still ongoing some insights can be offered in the learning dynamics underpinning how the cities are setting up such a bottom-up process and how local participation for different citizen groups can be optimized in the context of design capabilities and the design space.

Originality/value

– This study yields relevant insights for policymakers, city administrations, as well as Living Lab practitioners into how public service delivery, supported by an inclusive participatory governance by design framework at the local level, can be co-designed between the city and citizens, if different toolkits aligned with the specific capacities and skills of the users are provided. By providing tailored tools, even ordinary citizens can take a much more active role in the development and appropriation of their urban space and generate solutions from which both the city and citizens’ everyday life can possibly benefit.
RFID in toll/ticketing – a user-centric approach
Authors: Storm-Mathisen Ardis
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to discuss challenges to Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-based services from a user perspective located within sociology, anthropology and science and technology studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two cases of toll/ticketing RFID technologies are explored: the mature AutoPASS (tolling on public roads) and the newly implemented Flexus/Ruter Travelcard (public transport) in Norway. A methodologically triangulation of qualitative data is applied to trace the history of RFID implementation, and to compare the benefits proclaimed by suppliers with the hands-on experience of users.

Findings

– The RFID benefits proclaimed by suppliers were, to a large extent, shared by users in the case of AutoPASS, but to a lesser extent in the case of Flexus/Ruter Travelcard. The cases illustrate that RFID applications are heterogeneous products with different levels of maturity and complexity, applied to fields and services with varied user-groups, functional requirements and privacy concerns. Vital to the success of RFID-based services is good management, compliance with Data Protection Regulations and providing user’s an experience of greater ease-of use and added-value in their everyday lives in comparison to previous systems.

Practical implications

– Future research should broaden perspectives and methodologies to better grasp the complex interplay among RFID applications, users and the environment. This entails moving beyond a focus on discursive adoption to ethnographic studies of appropriation and how technology affects social practice.

Originality/value

– RFID is undergoing an extremely expansive usability phase – commercially and socially. Research on RFID is scare and fragmented with few contributions from social science. Studies that privilege user perspectives tend to address the needs and concerns of business rather than of users.
Flexible biosensor using inkjet printing of silver nanoparticles
Authors: Abadi Zahra , Mottaghitalab Vahid , Bidoki Mansour , Benvidi Ali
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a sophisticated methodology for inkjet printing of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the range of 80-200 nm on different flexible substrate. AgNPs was chemically deposited by ejection of silver nitrate and ascorbic acid solutions onto different substrates such as paper and textile fabrics. The fabricated pattern was used to employ as electrode for electrochemical sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The morphology of deposited AgNPs was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, conductivity and electrochemical behavior were identified, respectively, using four probe and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Acquired image shows a well-defined shape and size for the deposited AgNP.

Findings

– The conductivity of the paper substrate after printing process reached 5.54 × 105 S/m. This printed electrode shows a sharp electrochemical response for early determination of glucose. The proposed electrode provides a new alternative to develop electrochemical sensors using AgNPs chemically deposited on paper and textile fabric surfaces.
A capacitive angular sensor with flexible digitated electrodes
Authors: Krklješ Damir , Vasiljević Dragana , Stojanović Goran
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a prototype of a capacitive angular-position sensor which exploits advantages of flexible/printed electronics. The novelty of the sensor is that the capacitor structure is placed at the circumference of the rotor and stator, that it posses two channels (capacitor structures) electrically shifted for p/4 and that the rotor is common for both channels. The electrodes of the sensing capacitor are digitated, providing a triangular transfer function.

Design/methodology/approach

– This sensor prototype consists of two flexible inkjet-printed silver electrodes forming a cylindrical capacitor structure. One of them is wrapped around the stator and another is wrapped around the rotor part of a simple mechanical platform used to precisely adjust the angular displacement.

Findings

– The capacitance as a function of angular position was measured using an inductance capacitance impedance (LCZ) Meter, and results are presented for a full-turn measurement range. The experimental results are compared with analytical ones and very good agreement has been achieved.

Originality/value

– The proposed capacitive sensor structure can be used as an absolute or an incremental encoder with different resolutions, and it can be applied in automotive industry or robotics.
Micro-pressure sensor dynamic performance analysis
Authors: Tian Bian , Zhao Yulong , Niu Zhe , Zhuangde Jiang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on a piezoresistive pressure sensor for micro-pressure measurement with a cross-beam membrane (CBM) structure. This study analyzes the dynamic characteristics of the proposed device.

Design/methodology/approach

– This CBM sensor possesses high stiffness and sensitivity, measuring dynamic pressure more effectively in a high-frequency environment compared with other piezoresistive structures. The dynamic characteristics are derived using the finite element method to analyze the dynamic responses of the new structure, including natural frequency and lateral effect performances. The CBM dynamic performances are compared with traditional structures.

Findings

– The pressure sensor performance was evaluated, and the experimental results indicate that they all exhibit similar dynamic characteristics as the designed model. Compared with traditional structures such as the single island, the CBM proves to be superior in evaluating the dynamic performances of pressure sensors at high frequencies of > 30 kHz.

Originality/value

– Most studies of this micro pressure sensors attempt to promote the sensitivity or focus on the static performance of pressure sensor with micro gauge. This study is concerned with analyze the dynamic characterism of micro pressure sensor and compared with the traditional structures, that prove the CBM structure has stable dynamic performance and is a better option for measuring dynamic micro pressure in biomedical applications.
Supporting the education of pupils with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: the views of teaching assistants regarding their own learning and development needs
Authors: Martin Trudi , Alborz Alison
Published: September 2014

Learning support assistants or teaching assistants play a vital role in the education of pupils with complex learning disabilities, routinely supporting students on a 1:1 basis without the direct supervision of teachers. Despite the responsibility afforded these classroom support staff, there appear to be few training programmes designed for this specialised role. This qualitative study, by Trudi Martin of the Manchester Institute of Education, was undertaken at a special school in England. The study explored the views of 17 teaching assistants and five teachers regarding the extent to which teaching assistant training equipped them to support pupils with complex learning needs. The findings illustrated that much of the training, including that on the Qualifications and Credit Framework, provided inadequate information and guidance. Without sufficient knowledge to underpin their practice, teaching assistants are impeded in the educational support they can give to pupils, who face significant learning challenges, with a resultant impact on their students' ability to learn and develop new skills.
Ideological Quietism? Ideology and Party Politics in Britain
Authors: Dommett Katharine
Published: September 2014

Ideology and political parties are frequently depicted as disparate entities, with scholars citing a range of exogenous and endogenous changes to demonstrate the decreasing relevance of ideology to party politics. This article moves away from such accounts by looking at the role of actors, and specifically party leaders, in contributing to perceptions of ideological decline. Through an examination of the rhetoric of Labour and Conservative Party leaders in Britain between 1946 and 1997, this article contends that politicians have engaged in, what is termed here, ‘ideological quietism’. In this sense, parties have not abandoned ideology but have made rhetorical shifts indicative of ideological decline.
When the Going Gets Tough: The Differential Impact of National Unemployment on the Perceived Threats of Immigration
Authors: Finseraas Henning , Pedersen Axel West , Bay Ann-Helén
Published: September 2014

Economic competition theory predicts that anti-immigration sentiments will increase in periods with high unem-ployment, in particular among low-skilled workers. Using five rounds of cross-sectional data from the European Social Survey and utilising the rise in unemployment in many European countries due to the financial crisis, this article provides a more effective empirical test of interest-based theories than previous studies. It employs hierarchical, two-stage regression techniques to estimate the relationship between aggregate unemployment rates and immigration opinion, and explores whether the relationship differs according to respondent’s level of education. It is found that high unemployment rates are associated with a high level of economic concern over immigration – particularly if the size of the foreign-born population is large. The relationship is stronger among the low skilled, implying a tendency for polarisation of opinions about immigration in economic recessions. Finally, it is discovered that the general level of cultural concern over immigration is unrelated to variation in unemployment.
How do Citizens Evaluate Public Officials? The Role of Performance and Expectations on Political Trust
Authors: Seyd Ben
Published: September 2014

This article examines how citizens judge the trustworthiness of public officials, focusing on one aspect of the cognitive process through which trust is assessed. It considers how far trust reflects not only the perceptions of how politicians behave but also prior expectations of that behaviour. ‘Expectancy disconfirmation’ models suggest that attitudes to public services are largely shaped by performance perceptions adjusted for expectations. Drawing on survey data from a sample of citizens in the UK, the results of this study are inconsistent with this model. Instead, trust is found primarily to reflect performance perceptions alone; expectations play little additional role in shaping citizen evaluations. This suggests that policy makers are unlikely to boost levels of political trust by reducing what citizens expect of politicians. Instead, policy makers concerned to improve their public image will have to undertake the harder task of improving their performance.
Exploring the work and learning stories of para‐teachers in a college for further education in England
Authors: McLachlan Benita
Published: September 2014

This paper reports findings from a research project which developed and introduced the Enhanced Learning Support Assistant Programme (ELSAP). This was a source of professional development for learning support assistants who were supporting students with additional learning needs in a college for further education in England. The purpose of this paper is to share findings from the project and to report on how learning support assistants experienced their work in inclusive college classrooms. The research project was a mixed methods study with participants drawn from learning support assistants within one college for further education in England. Data was collected throughout the 14‐week intervention. Findings indicate that issues exist around the uniqueness of the vocational curriculum and the implications this has for classroom support. It also shows how conflicting classroom procedures can generate feelings of confusion and how learning support workers often feel lonely in their role with no natural opportunity to mix with others. Furthermore, it indicates how a general lack of knowledge about teaching and learning contribute to them experiencing difficulty when performing their role which feed their views that a college for further education can be a complex and hostile environment to work in.
IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION ON RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY: EXPLAINING RACIAL AND ETHNIC PATTERNS USING THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
Authors: XIE MIN , MCDOWALL DAVID
Published: September 2014

Criminal victimization is known to influence households’ moving decisions, but theories suggest that the processes leading to a moving decision can vary across racial and ethnic groups. Drawing from current literature, we hypothesized that victimization would have a stronger effect on moving decisions for Whites than for Blacks or Hispanics, and that racial/ethnic residential segregation would moderate the impact of victimization on mobility. Using a longitudinal sample of 34,134 housing units compiled from the National Crime Victimization Survey for the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the United States (1995–2003), we found results that both support and contradict the hypotheses. Specifically, White residents display consistent evidence that victimization is a significant predictor of household mobility. Blacks and Hispanics, in contrast, are more varied in their moving behavior after victimization. In addition, significant differences exist among these groups in responses to victimization and in how mobility is influenced by residential segregation. Higher levels of residential segregation play a part in the victimization–mobility relationship among Blacks in a way that is more complex than we hypothesized.