bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Halorubrum yunnanense sp. nov., isolated from a subterranean salt mine
Authors: Chen Shaoxing , Liu Hong-Can , Zhao Dahe , Yang Jian , Zhou Jian , Xiang Hua
Published: September 2015

Two halophilic archaeal strains, Q85T and Q86, were isolated from a subterranean salt mine in Yunnan, China. Cells were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative and motile. Colonies were red, smooth, convex and round (1.0–2.0 mm in diameter). The orthologous 16S rRNA and rpoB′ gene sequences of these two strains were almost identical (99.5 and 99.7 % similarities). Their closest relatives were Halorubrum kocurii BG-1T (98.0–98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Halorubrum aidingense 31-hongT (97.6–97.7 %) and Halorubrum lipolyticum 9-3T (97.5–97.6 %). The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strains Q85T and Q86 was 90 %, while that between Q85T and other related Halorubrum strains was less than 30 % (29 % for H. kocurii BG-1T, 25 % for H. aidingense 31-hongT and 22 % for H. lipolyticum 9-3T). Optimal growth of the two novel strains was observed with 20 % (w/v) NaCl and at 42–45 °C under aerobic conditions, with a slight difference in optimum Mg2+ concentration (0.7 M for Q85T, 0.5 M for Q86) and a notable difference in optimum pH (pH 7.5 for Q85T, pH 6.6 for Q86). Anaerobic growth occurred with nitrate, but not with l-arginine or DMSO. The major polar lipids of the two strains were identical, including phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and sulfated diglycosyl diether, which are the major lipids of the genus Halorubrum. The G+C contents of strains Q85T and Q86 were 66.3 and 66.8 %, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties of strains Q85T and Q86, a novel species, Halorubrum yunnanense sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is Q85T ( = CGMCC 1.15057T = JCM 30665T).
Hypnocyclicus thermotrophus gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from a microbial mat in a hydrothermal vent field
Authors: Roalkvam Irene , Bredy Florian , Baumberger Tamara , Pedersen Rolf-B. , Steen Ida Helene
Published: September 2015

The bacterial strain, IR-2T, was isolated from a microbial mat sampled near a hydrothermal vent in the Greenland Sea. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene, showed that the closest relatives of IR-2T were Ilyobacter tartaricus, Ilyobacter insuetus, Propionigenium modestum and Fusobacterium varium (91 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The cells of the novel strain were Gram-stain-negative and pleomorphic; changing from long motile rods to non-motile ring structures during the growth cycle. Growth occurred at 20–55 °C (optimally at 48 °C), with 1–6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally with 2 %), and at pH 5.3–8.0 (optimally at pH 6.0–8.0). The strain had obligate fermentative growth on various sugars and yeast extract. The DNA G+C content of strain IR-2T was 25.7 mol%. The cell sugars comprised mainly ribose, mannose and glucose, while the main polar lipids were glycolipids, phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The fatty acid content of strain IR-2 was dominated by saturated and unsaturated iso-branched or anteiso-branched forms. Strain IR-2 represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Hypnocyclicus thermotrophus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IR-2T ( = DSM 100055 = JCM 30901).
Paenibacillus zeae sp. nov., isolated from maize (Zea mays L.) seeds
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhai Lei , Wang Ronghuan , Zhao Ran , Zhang Xin , Chen Chuanyong , Cao Yu , Cao Yanhua , Xu Tianjun , Ge Yuanyuan , Zhao Jiuran , Cheng Chi
Published: September 2015

Four Gram-stain-positive bacterial strains, designated 6R2T, 6R18, 3T2 and 3T10, isolated from seeds of hybrid maize (Zea mays L., Jingke 968) were investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were aerobic, motile, spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolates may represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, the four closest neighbours being Paenibacillus lautus NRRL NRS-666T (97.1 % similarity), Paenibacillus glucanolyticus DSM 5162T (97.0 %), Paenibacillus lactis MB 1871T (97.0 %) and Paenibacillus chibensis JCM 9905T (96.8 %). The DNA G+C content of strain 6R2T was 51.8 mol%. Its polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. Strains 6R2T, 6R18, 3T2 and 3T10 were clearly distinguished from the above type strains using phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strains 6R2T, 6R18, 3T2 and 3T10 represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus zeae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 6R2T ( = KCTC 33674T = CICC 23860T).
Analytical limits of hybrid identification using genetic markers: an empirical and simulation study inHippolaiswarblers
Authors: Engler JO , Twietmeyer S , Secondi J , Elle O , Hochkirch A
Published: September 2015

Hybridization is known to occur in a wide range of avian species, yet the rate and persistence of hybridization on populations is often hard to assess. Genotyping using variable genetic marker sets has become a common tool to identify hybrid individuals, however assignment outputs can differ depending on the marker set used. Here, we study hybrid assignment in two siblingHippolaiswarblers, where hybrid assignment has shown to differ between SSR and AFLP markers. Simulation of heterospecific individuals as well as backcrosses (typed using SSR markers) reveals a rapid loss of assignment probability in higher backcross generations.

However, the characterization of F1 hybrids was clearly distinguished from both parental taxa. The differences in marker sets are not contradictory but complementary. The rate of hybridization is lower than previously expected with AFLP markers but introgression might be long-lasting. This could be either due to differences in power of the marker systems used or due to non-neutral variation covered by AFLP but not SSR markers. We call for more attention to be paid regarding the potential limits of classical marker systems to investigate hybridization and its persistence in natural systems.
Legitimacy, accountability and impression management in NGOs: the Indian Ocean tsunami
Authors: Conway Susan Lee , O'Keefe Patricia Ann , Hrasky Sue Louise
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Prior research has investigated legitimation strategies in corporate annual reports in the for-profit sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this phenomenon in an NGO environment. It investigates Australian overseas aid agencies’ responses to criticism of the relief effort following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. It aims to determine whether voluntary annual report disclosures were reflective of impression management and/or of the discharge of functional accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper applies content analysis to compare the structure and content of the annual reports of 19 Australian overseas aid agencies before and after the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Findings

– Results suggest voluntary disclosure in annual reports significantly increased post-tsunami and was more consistent with impression management activity rather than functional accountability suggesting a response to the legitimacy challenge. The use of impression management tactics differed with agency size, with larger agencies using ingratiation in order to appear more attractive while smaller ones promoted their particular achievements.

Originality/value

– This paper makes a contribution by extending prior impression management and legitimacy literature to an NGO environment. It has implications for the development of these theories as it looks at organisations where the stakeholders are different from the for-profit sector and profits are not the main concern. It raises issues about the concept of accountability in the NGO sector, and how the nature of organisation reporting is changing to address the challenges of a sector where access to funds is highly competitive.
A response to “theoretical triangulation and pluralism in accounting research: a critical realist critique”
Authors: Hoque Zahirul , Covaleski Mark A , Gooneratne Tharusha N
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to respond to Modell’s paper entitled “Theoretical triangulation and pluralism in accounting research: a critical realist critique” (AAAJ this issue), which offers a two-part exposition of topics and issues pertaining to the recent paper “Theoretical triangulation and pluralism in research methods in organizational and accounting research” (Hoque et al., 2013).

Design/methodology/approach

– Critical analysis of Modell’s observations pertaining to the paper drawing on the classical work of Burrell and Morgan (1979).

Findings

– The authors reemphasize the need for an interaction between adopting an ontological stance and then conducting empirical research where the authors stated that the intention was not to argue any idea that theoretical triangulation approach should become the dominant approach and “take over” single theory approach. Instead, the authors demonstrate the ways theoretical triangulation can advance the understanding of multifaceted organizational realities.

Originality/value

– The authors make a contribution to the generation of knowledge in research by addressing the tradeoffs involved such as possible theoretical incoherence and lack of focus when integrating theories with different ontological and epistemological assumptions.
Sustainability reporting and the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Thoradeniya Prabanga , Lee Janet , Tan Rebecca , Ferreira Aldónio
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Drawing upon the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of managers’ attitude and other psychological factors on sustainability reporting (SR). In doing so, this paper aims to respond to calls for the use of previously untried theoretical approaches on the SR literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses a survey of top and middle-level managers of listed and non-listed companies in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using a Partial Least Squares path model.

Findings

– The findings indicate that managers’ attitude towards SR, belief about stakeholder pressure, and their capacity to control SR behaviour influence their intention to engage in SR and, indirectly, actual corporate SR behaviour (in the context of listed companies). However, whilst managers of non-listed companies exhibit the intention to engage in SR, the lack of a relationship between intention and behaviour suggests that companies face barriers towards SR due to lack of actual control over the SR process. Religion, in the case of non-listed companies, and education, in the case of listed companies, has some degree of influence over managers’ beliefs.

Research limitations/implications

– The use of self-reported SR behaviour is a limitation but necessary to maintain anonymity of respondents. The low levels of self-reported SR correspond with past evidence on actual SR in developing countries.

Practical implications

– The results show that managers’ psychological factors are important in determining SR behaviour in companies. Specifically, this highlights the possible roles that regulators, professional bodies and companies can play in improving educational and cultural influences towards improving the level of SR.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to apply the TPB to understand SR behaviour by integrating psychological factors relating to managers’ belief, attitudes and perceptions.
Management control systems and research management in universities
Authors: Agyemang Gloria , Broadbent Jane
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the management control systems developed by universities and groups within them, to manage research within UK University Business and Management Schools. Specifically, the paper analyses how universities develop their internal management control systems in response to an externally imposed regulatory system. It also provides an agenda for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a middle range approach to consider the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) and the previous Research Assessment Exercises. It uses the language provided by a number of conceptual frames to analyse insights from the lived experience, and builds on previous literature that has recognised the perverse outcomes of such performance measurement systems.

Findings

– The study finds that the internal management control systems developed by academics themselves amplify the controls imposed by the REF. These internal control systems are accepted by some academics although they encourage a movement away from previously held academic values.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to debates about the dysfunctional impacts of the use of performance measures to manage research. Its originality lies in explaining that the management control systems developed to resist the imposition of external performance measurement systems may lead to symbolic violence where participants become involved with their own subjugation.
Market access and the mirage of marketing to the maximum: new measures
Authors: Paul Justin
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Globalization means integrating the economy and consumer market with the rest of the world, which involves the removal of restrictions on imports and foreign investment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of globalization on international marketing from the point of multinational firms, in the context of an emerging consumer market – India.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a general review-based study with some secondary data analysis. The author introduces new measures for industry analysis.

Findings

– It was found that Indian market has opened up substantially and there are many foreign players in most sectors. Imports growth rate has gone up substantially during post-World Trade Organization period. The author provides insights based on sector-wise analysis.

Originality/value

– The most important contribution of this paper is the introduction of two measures for carrying out industry analysis by integrating economics, marketing and strategy a Success-probability Index (SPI); and an Opportunity-Threat Matrix (OTM). The author puts forward generalized theoretical propositions for further research, which can be tested in an emerging market/industry context.
Effects of perceived product similarity and ad claims on brand responses in comparative advertising
Authors: Pornpitakpan Chanthika , Yuan Yizhou
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of perceived product similarity and comparative ad claims on brand responses.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses a two (similarity between the target product and the comparison product: relatively similar vs dissimilar) by three (product attributes of the target product: common to the comparison product, distinct from the comparison product, and a combination of common and distinct attributes) between-subjects factorial design with 300 Thai undergraduate students.

Findings

– It finds that when perceived similarity between the products is high, a combination of superiority (distinct) and parity (common) ad claims lead to the best brand responses. When perceived similarity is low, superiority claims bring about the best brand responses.

Research limitations/implications

– It extends comparative advertising and category-substitution research by addressing the research gaps in perceived similarity and claim type.

Practical implications

– Companies should emphasize a product’s superior attributes in general but a combination of common and superior attributes when the product is relatively similar to other products in comparative advertising.

Originality/value

– This study provides new evidence that perceived product similarity moderates the effect of comparative ad claims on brand responses.
Consumer reactions to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Thailand
Authors: Srinaruewan Preeda , Binney Wayne , Higgins Colin
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the business case for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Thailand by focusing on the consumer-organisational relationship and test the conceptual framework of Duet al.(2007).

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantitative study was conducted using a mall intercept survey of 184 Thai mobile phone service provider consumers in Bangkok, Thailand.

Findings

– A CSR emphasised brand is more likely than non-CSR emphasised brands to accrue consumer CSR awareness, positive attitude to company motivations and beliefs in the CSR of that company. Although beliefs are associated with consumers’ greater identification and advocacy behaviours towards the CSR emphasised brand than the non-CSR emphasised brands, they are not associated with loyalty.

Practical implications

– The paper provides potential guidance for companies to more effectively position and communicate their CSR activities to create differential advantages.

Originality/value

– Findings of the study demonstrate some support for a business case for CSR in Thailand.
Training in literature review and associated skills
Authors: Leger Lawrence A. , Sirichand Kavita
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe and evaluate a credit-bearing taught module in literature review skills (broadly conceived, to include literature search, avoidance of plagiarism, analysis, synthesis, writing literature reviews, formulation of research proposals). The module provides training in skills with high transferability to employment, other areas of education and research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The structure of the module is informed by considerations from learning theory and instructional design. Training is by participation in tasks in an active learning framework (“learning-by-doing”). Students work both individually and in small work-groups, on tasks based on specially prepared reading sets. Tutorial presentations are followed by verbal and video feedback. Dedicated English language support is provided. The module is evaluated by analysing responses to an open-ended questionnaire.

Findings

– Students respond very favourably to the module and are aware of the transferability of the skills they practice. However, there is no real evidence of the acquisition of meta-cognitive skills. There is demand for enhanced feedback, particularly verbal feedback.

Research limitations/implications

– The results of the evaluation and the instructional design of the module suggest many areas for experiments in pedagogy.

Originality/value

– There is no other published account of extensive training in literature review skills that we have been able to find. The paper addresses a gap in both the provision of training and its dissemination.
Predicting success in the undergraduate hybrid business ethics class
Authors: Abzug Rikki
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use data available through the hybrid (blended online and face to face) learning environment to explore both a direct behavioral measure of conscientiousness and gender in predicting hybrid classroom performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Variables measuring both student conscientious behavior, in the hybrid classroom, and gender were examined to determine their relationship to student final grades (i.e. success) in hybrid undergraduate business ethics courses.

Findings

– The author finds that: first, conscientiousness continues to be a solid predictor of academic success; second, gender continues to be an insignificant predictor of success in the online/hybrid environment; third, using direct behavioral measures of conscientiousness yields results consistent with prior research that linked inventory-based conscientiousness levels to academic performance; and finally, the archiving and data-collection functions of the hybrid classroom represent a rich trove of behavioral data that may be mined for clues to predict student academic success.

Research limitations/implications

– As the research is based on data from six hybrid business ethics classrooms at one institution, future research could be extended to different classrooms and different institutions compared across nations. Research implications include highlighting the potential value of using direct measures of conscientiousness to predict performance.

Practical implications

– The study sheds light on the tremendous possibilities for conducting applied research on educational performance outcomes using the rich data inherent in the hybrid learning environment. The author has suggested numerous ways to mine the data from the online portion of the hybrid classroom to explore antecedents of academic success. The author suggests that the hybrid classroom can provide data to act as an early warning system for educators to identify struggling students.

Originality/value

– The paper builds upon an exploratory study of the use of direct behavioral (rather than inventory self-report) measures of personality in research on educational outcomes as well as introducing avenues for original research on learning behavior based on data afforded by the hybrid educational environment.
Higher education demand estimation & prediction by 2025 in Iran
Authors: Ghavidel Saleh , Jahani Tahereh
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to predict the number of undergraduate applicants for the National Entrance Examination in Iran during 2012-2025 periods and to identity the factors affecting the demand for higher education in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the method of cohort, participation rate, structural regression and time series econometric models have been used. In the present study, it has been predicted by using four methods mentioned and at the next step, in addition to identifying effective factors, the results given from these four methods have been compared with each other. Furthermore, the most important factors influencing university enrollment decision have been identified by econometric method.

Findings

– The results of estimating the number of the criteria applicants, show that the tendency to pursue studies is different between males and females. Therefore, their structural models differ from each other. The results of forecast in structural method support the high effectiveness of economic growth index. Most predictions are often confirmed the reduction in the number of applicants during the 2012-2025 period, especially for men.

Social implications

– This paper can be helpful in opening up a discourse around cross-cultural elements in higher education demands and planning for higher education.

Originality/value

– It’s important to forecast the demand for higher education using different methods, and to compare the results for specific countries.
Cluster analysis and persistence in college majors
Authors: Quinn John T. , Olinsky Alan D. , Schumacher Phyllis A. , Smith Richard M.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The Bryant University Mathematics Department has been collecting math placement scores and admissions data for all incoming freshmen for many years. In the past, the authors have used these data mainly for placement in first-year classes and more recently to invite the most mathematically talented students to become mathematics majors. The purpose of this paper is to use the same data source to predict persistence in declared majors for all incoming students.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to categorize the students, the authors use cluster analysis, one of the tools of data mining, to see if students in particular majors share similar strengths based on the available data. The authors follow up this analysis by running a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to confirm that the means of the clusters are significantly different.

Findings

– The cluster analysis resulted in five distinct clusters, which were confirmed by the results of the MANOVA. The authors also found how many students in each cluster persisted in their chosen major.

Originality/value

– These results will help to improve counseling and proper placement of incoming freshmen. They will also be helpful in long-range planning of upper-level courses. Retention of students in their majors is an important concern for colleges and universities as it relates to planning issues, such as scheduling classes, particularly for upper classmen. This could also affect departmental requirements, such as the size of the faculty.
Effectiveness of instructor-led collaborative learning in the classroom
Authors: Strang Kenneth David
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Collaborative learning was examined as a pedagogy to determine if students could improve standardized exam scores when the professor led the sessions in class. The purpose of this paper is to design a quasi-experiment to test the predictive ability of this pedagogy using a randomly allocated treatment vs control group. An externally administered standardized exam was used as the instrument.

Design/methodology/approach

– A post-positivist ideology was employed, quantitative data were collected from standardized exit exams scores and from the experiment factors. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis along with a General Linear Model (GLM) ANCOVA were applied to test the hypothesis at the 95 percent confidence level.

Findings

– A statistically significant model was developed using multiple regression in a Generalized Linear Model. The regression model developed in this study was able to capture 51 percent of variance on the exam score, using four predictors were (in order of importance): SAT, pedagogy, GPA, and gender.

Research limitations/implications

– The GLM regression model proved that collaborative learning as pedagogy could increase standardized exam scores, since the only variation between the treatment vs control group was the pedagogy. Prior ability was still the most influential factor in the model, but when it was controlled for, pedagogy (collaborative learning) was shown to help students in the test group make a significant increase in exam score.

Practical implications

– Business schools and other disciplines could apply the collaborative learning as a pedagogy to help students increase high-stakes exam scores, regardless of their gender, age, or prior ability. Several ideas were mentioned for replacing existing high-stakes exams.

Originality/value

– A high degree of experimental control was imposed and the common predictors identified in the literature were tested to control for confounding influences. The researcher reflected on what really worked as techniques within the collaborative learning pedagogy process.
Graduate school supervisees’ relationships with their academic mentors
Authors: Malik Shahab Alam , Malik Shujah Alam
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to observe different aspects of working relationships between supervisees/mentees with their academic supervisors/mentors from the mentees’ perspective. Respondents were asked about networking, instrumental, psychological help received from their mentors and their working relationships with their mentors.

Design/methodology/approach

– A descriptive study was carried out in the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, a public university of Pakistan. Data were collected from its main campus of Islamabad only, the capital of Pakistan. Respondents were Master of Science (MS) and PhD level students actively engaged in research projects/theses with their mentors. A final sample of 104 respondents was used for data analysis, comprising of 65 MS and 39 PhD students, from six departments offering graduate programs. Descriptive analysis was mainly used here to observe mean differences (ANOVA) based on control variables of supervisees gender, academic program, supervisor designation, gender and selection.

Findings

– Major significant mean scores differences were observed between supervisees who selected supervisors themselves and those who were assigned supervisors by the concerned department. In academic programs (MS vs PhD), some significant differences in instrumental and psychological help were observed, whereas no significant differences were found on gender basis (both supervisees and supervisors), supervisor designation and supervisees’ category (full-time, part-time and faculty on leave).

Originality/value

– This study endeavored to observe relationships between supervisees and their supervisors in an academic environment using descriptive analysis. No such particular research in literature has been made earlier on national level and thus this study tries to fill that gap. This research’s outcomes can be useful to all the concerned parties i.e. the mentor, supervisees and the graduate school. Mentors can assess how supervisees rate the supervision style and contribution. Supervisees can benefit from the experiences of their fellows and the graduate schools can assess which aspects of relationship matter most to the supervisees at different levels.
Developing a culture of publication: a joint enterprise writing retreat
Authors: Garside Joanne , Bailey Rowan , Tyas Moira , Ormrod Graham , Stone Graham , Topping Annie , Gillibrand Warren Peter
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Many students irrespective of level of study produce excellent course work which, if given support and encouragement, could clearly be of a publishable standard. Academic staff are expected to produce quality publications meeting peer-review standards although they may be relatively novice authors. All are engaged in some aspects of academic writing practices but not as frequently involved in co-production of publications emanating from student work. This activity is still at the margins of much of the student experience. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mindful of these issues, the authors designed and offered a writing programme including a writing retreat. This brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of applied disciplines (health and art, design and architecture) and their supervisors with the aim of co-producing publications and participating in a community of scholarly practice. The project was delivered over nine months. It involved four days “compulsory” attendance and included a preparatory workshop, a two day off-campus writing retreat and a dissemination event. Student and supervisors applied to participate as a team. Kirkpatrick’s (2006) four-stage classic model: reaction, learning, changes in behaviour and real world results was used as a framework for the educational evaluation.

Findings

– Key findings organised thematically were: supervisor-supervisee relationships; space and time; building confidence enabling successful writing and publication.

Originality/value

– This paper will provide an overview of the design, content and approaches used for successful delivery of this innovative project. It will draw on examples that illustrate the different types of joint enterprise that emerged, illuminate experiences of co-production and co-authorship along with recommendations for future ventures.
Post high school education choices in Italy: an empirical analysis
Authors: Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio , Di Maio Amedeo
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze individual level determinants of Italian secondary school graduates’ educational choices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors rely on data provided by a large survey carried out by the Italian National Institute of Statistics. While previous contributions specifically focus on individual determinants of university enrollment, the authors model graduates’ choice as emerging from a comparison of three alternative options: stop studying in order to enter the job market, continue studying at University and attend a post-secondary professional course. Therefore the multinomial logit estimates enable to define the profiles of high school graduates making different post-secondary educational choices.

Findings

– On the one hand, the authors find that having a good family background, with highly educated parents who hold prestigious professional positions, is associated to a preference for enrollment at university rather than stopping studying. This correlation is both direct and through the choice of academic-oriented secondary school track. On the other hand, the choice of attending professional courses rather than stopping studying seems to arise mainly from the type of secondary school track attended even if some family background characteristics influence the probability of stop studying instead of attending a professional course. Overall the results show that family background significantly affects post-secondary educational choices.

Originality/value

– This paper is different from previous contributions because – more realistically – considers the Italian secondary school graduates as having three alternative options available: put themselves on the job market, continue studying at university or enroll on professional course.
Successful bottom-up faculty collaboration during institutional change
Authors: Ward Hsuying C. , Lu Ming-Tsan P. , O'Connor Brendan H. , Overton Terry
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline findings from practitioner research with a university faculty learning community (FLC) that organized itself to effect bottom-up change. The study explores beliefs about the efficacy of collaboration among members of the FLC and serves as a best case of grassroots faculty collaboration during a period of institutional change.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a case study using semi-structured interviews with FLC members and document review of short-term learning data from students who participated in workshops offered by the FLC.

Findings

– Creative faculty responses to challenges posed by large-scale institutional transformation improved the teaching and learning environment for faculty and students. This case study highlights four characteristics that were crucial to the success of this FLC and which could provide a helpful starting point for faculty collaboration at other institutions.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a preliminary, self-reflective study with a small number of participants working at a unique institution. Findings are presented not as strictly generalizable truths about faculty collaboration in higher education, but as “lessons learned” that may be valuable to other faculty seeking to take a more proactive role in contexts of institutional change.

Practical implications

– This case study highlights four characteristics that were crucial to the success of this FLC and which could provide a helpful starting point for faculty collaboration at other institutions.

Social implications

– This study illustrates how bottom-up, faculty-led collaboration can address institutional problems in a university setting. Creative faculty responses to challenges posed by large-scale institutional transformation can improve the teaching and learning environment for faculty and students.

Originality/value

– This study documents one FLC’s innovative responses to institutional challenges and shifts the conversation about university-based teaching and learning away from bureaucratic mandates related to faculty interactions and productivity and toward faculty’s organic responses to changing institutional conditions.
Students’ preconception due to former students’ feedback about the difficulty of an undergraduate engineering course
Authors: Salih Alj Yassine
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Most university students, if not all, develop a preconception about any academic course before taking it. This preconception undeniably affects students’ performance by influencing their motivation. As a result, learning can be minimized. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evolution of students’ preconception about the difficulty of an engineering course – taught by the same instructor – for a period of seven semesters by analyzing the results of survey questionnaire completed at the beginning of every semester. This approach allows the instructor to assess students’ preconception that is built by former students’ feedback and hence control the impact on students’ motivation which influences their learning performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– By analyzing the surveys’ results, the instructor gets a close idea about how the course is perceived. When students harbor misconceptions that constitute difficult barriers to learning, it becomes necessary to take action like adjusting the way of teaching the corresponding course’s content, or ultimately changing the course instructor for a couple of semesters.

Findings

– The adopted survey-based strategy implicitly helps the instructor to correct inaccurate preconceptions before they become crystallized misconceptions, while in case of a very positive preconception, one can continue to enhance the course level with even more challenging evaluations (e.g. exams). However, in case of a persistent misconception, a midterm survey would further help the instructor to better adjust the way the course is taught by objectively considering the obtained inputs from a considered C/D/S set (i.e. continue doing what was helpful/do start doing what would be beneficial/stop doing what is not working).

Originality/value

– To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has investigated the evolution of – or at least – students’ preconception built by former students’ feedback about the difficulty of a course despite its direct influence on students’ motivation and hence on students’ performance, thus filling an important gap in the literature. Indeed, one general positive aspect of students’ preconception research is the attention it has brought regarding the absolute necessity for teachers and researchers to be well grounded in both content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge.
Living Lab as knowledge system: an actual approach for managing urban service projects?
Authors: Lehmann Valerie , Frangioni Marina , Dubé Patrick
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore Living Labs (LL) as knowledge systems for urban service projects. This empirical study aims to identify and characterize knowledge in LL dedicated to urban service projects. It also aims to understand how through knowledge path, LL redefine the management of projects. First, the praxeologic and academic context underlining the main challenges associated to urban service projects is presented. It mainly concerns the growth of the cities (Haouès-Jouve, 2013), the problematic of social acceptability (Savard, 2013) as well as the normative approaches to manage projects (Kerzner, 2010). Second, a literature review on co-innovation and Livings Labs is presented. (Chesbrough, 2004; Gaglio, 2011). This paper also presents the concept of knowledge applied in an LL system (Sanders and Stappers, 2008). Here, knowledge refers to dynamic knowledge, as suggested by Argyris (1995).

Design/methodology/approach

– In the third part, the goals of this study as well as the abductive and “partnership” qualitative methodology that was used are explained (Fontan and René, 2014). The constitutive and the operational definitions on knowledge that have been mobilized are detailed (Piaget, 1974; Gadille, 2012). A special focus is made, here, on distributed knowledge (Nowotnyet al., 2002; Trepos, 1996), on “users” as “experts of uses” (Chenet al., 2010). Then, the sample and the four cases of LL that were explored are described.

Findings

– Finally, the findings are presented. This paper exposed how knowledge lying in the loops of the LL system was characterized and how knowledge is mobilized in an LL. This paper also draws a theoretical model of project management referring to knowledge, LL and co-innovation approach.

Research limitations/implications

– To conclude, several implications in project management research and urban studies are presented.

Practical implications

– Several implications concern the current practices of project management. Due to some new societal challenges, it is considered that a new professional posture is required.

Social implications

– Several implications concern citizens as users and stakeholders of urban projects.

Originality/value

– The originality of the study lies in its content and its format. A specific participative approach was used to explore LL. This paper investigated knowledge in LL, which are new entities dedicated to very actual projects, where users are co-managers.
A photometric stereo approach for chronic wound measurement
Authors: Sun Jiuai , Xu Xiaoping , Farooq Abdul Rehman , Smith Lyndon Neal , Smith Melvyn Lionel
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to review state of the art of techniques for dimensioning chronic wounds, and validate the possibilities of employing a new proposed optical imaging approach for general task of wound assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Current techniques used for quantifying wound surface are reviewed and evaluated from various perspectives to exam their usability in wound care clinical settings. A photometric stereo (PS) approach will be identified and verified to work as an alternative solution to better satisfy practical requirements on quantifying the dimension of real and mocked wounds.

Findings

– Both contact and contactless approaches provide some useful functions for wound management; however, new imaging modalities are still required for achieving good portability, affordability and applicability in assisting decision-making in clinical settings. The PS approach can work as a potential solution to provide these functionalities as well as dense geometrical and color texture information of measured areas. The experiments demonstrate that the new approach is able to conveniently produce comparable results to those from latest stereo vision-based techniques.

Research limitations/implications

– This work proposed and initially verified the potential of PS technique for the task of wound measurement. Substantial improvements on the prototype and more clinical trials are still required to validate the new technique before it is accepted as a tool for practical wound measurement.

Originality/value

– This new PS approach has good potential to reliably measure the dimension of wounds as well as recover their color texture which could contain additional valuable information for predicting a healing procedure for those wound occurring deeper underneath the skin surface.
New approaches for improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistive gas sensors: a review
Authors: Smulko Janusz Marek , Trawka Maciej , Granqvist Claes Goran , Ionescu Radu , Annanouch Fatima , Llobet Eduard , Kish Laszlo Bela
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the methods of improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistance gas sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper compares various methods of improving gas sensing by temperature modulation, UV irradiation or fluctuation-enhanced sensing. The authors analyze low-frequency resistance fluctuations in commercial Taguchi gas sensors and the recently developed tungsten trioxide (WO3) gas-sensing layers, exhibiting a photo-catalytic effect.

Findings

– The efficiency of using low-frequency fluctuations to improve gas detection selectivity and sensitivity was confirmed by numerous experimental studies in commercial and prototype gas sensors.

Research limitations/implications

– A more advanced measurement setup is required to record noise data but it will reduce the number of gas sensors necessary for identifying the investigated gas mixtures.

Practical implications

– Fluctuation-enhanced sensing can reduce the energy consumption of gas detection systems and assures better detection results.

Originality/value

– A thorough comparison of various gas sensing methods in resistance gas sensors is presented and supported by exemplary practical applications.
Subordinate plants sustain the complexity and stability of soil micro‐food webs in natural bamboo forest ecosystems
Authors: Shao Yuanhu , Wang Xiaoli , Zhao Jie , Wu Jianping , Zhang Weixin , Neher Deborah A. , Li Yanxia , Lou Yiping , Fu Shenglei
Published: September 2015

Subordinate plants have a significant impact on soil organisms in primary successional floodplains and grassland ecosystems, but their role in subtropical forest ecosystems remains unclear.

An experiment was conducted in a subtropical forest to test the hypothesis that removal of shrubs or subordinate arbour tree species would reduce the complexity and stability of the soil micro‐food web. Principal response curves (PRCs) were performed to assess the responses of soil microbial and nematode communities to plant removal compared with a control through time. The effect of plant removal on complexity and stability in the soil micro‐food web was assessed using a suite of indices including ratio of omnivorous‐predatory to herbivorous nematode abundance (OP : H ratio), nematode diversity, resistance and resilience. Furthermore, increments of bamboo productivity among treatments were estimated.

Soil microbial community structure changed in response to plant removal in 2009, but recovered in 2010, and the only change observed was increased soil fungal biomass. In contrast, plant removal had greater impact on soil nematode community composition in 2010 than 2009. Subordinate arbour tree species removal (with or without shrubs) decreased the values of nematode richness, evenness, diversity, ratio of microbial‐feeding to herbivorous nematode abundance (M : H ratios), OP : H ratios and resistance indices in 2010, but only decreased OP : H ratios in 2009 and increased the values of nematode dominance in 2010. Although increments in bamboo productivity were statistically similar among treatments, there was a trend decreasing progressively from control to shrub removal + selective‐cutting of subordinate arbour tree species, shrub removal, and selective‐cutting of subordinate arbour tree species treatments.

Synthesis and applications. Subordinate plants help sustain the complexity and stability of soil micro‐food webs in subtropical bamboo forest ecosystems. Therefore, protection of subordinate plants and maintaining high plant diversity are important parts of a responsible management strategy in subtropical bamboo forests.