bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytoscape Web: an interactive web-based network browser
Authors: Lopes Christian T. , Franz Max , Kazi Farzana , Donaldson Sylva L. , Morris Quaid , Bader Gary D.
Published: July 2010

Summary: Cytoscape Web is a web-based network visualization tool–modeled after Cytoscape–which is open source, interactive, customizable and easily integrated into web sites. Multiple file exchange formats can be used to load data into Cytoscape Web, including GraphML, XGMML and SIF.

Availability and Implementation: Cytoscape Web is implemented in Flex/ActionScript with a JavaScript API and is freely available at http://cytoscapeweb.cytoscape.org/

Contact:  gary.bader@utoronto.ca

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The radial growth phase of malignant melanoma: multi-phase modelling, numerical simulations and linear stability analysis
Authors: Ciarletta P. , Foret L. , Ben Amar M.
Published: July 2010

Cutaneous melanoma is disproportionately lethal despite its relatively low incidence and its potential for cure in the early stages. The aim of this study is to foster understanding of the role of microstructure on the occurrence of morphological changes in diseased skin during melanoma evolution. The authors propose a biomechanical analysis of its radial growth phase, investigating the role of intercellular/stromal connections on the initial stages of epidermis invasion. The radial growth phase of a primary melanoma is modelled within the multi-phase theory of mixtures, reproducing the mechanical behaviour of the skin layers and of the epidermal–dermal junction. The theoretical analysis takes into account those cellular processes that have been experimentally observed to disrupt homeostasis in normal epidermis. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the loss of adhesiveness of the melanoma cells both to the basal laminae, caused by deregulation mechanisms of adherent junctions, and to adjacent keratynocytes, consequent to a downregulation of E-cadherin, are the fundamental biomechanical features for promoting tumour initiation. Finally, the authors provide the mathematical proof of a long wavelength instability of the tumour front during the early stages of melanoma invasion. These results open the perspective to correlate the early morphology of a growing melanoma with the biomechanical characteristics of its micro-environment.
Objectively identifying landmark use and predicting flight trajectories of the homing pigeon using Gaussian processes
Authors: Mann Richard , Freeman Robin , Osborne Michael , Garnett Roman , Armstrong Chris , Meade Jessica , Biro Dora , Guilford Tim , Roberts Stephen
Published: July 2010

Pigeons home along idiosyncratic habitual routes from familiar locations. It has been suggested that memorized visual landmarks underpin this route learning. However, the inability to experimentally alter the landscape on large scales has hindered the discovery of the particular features to which birds attend. Here, we present a method for objectively classifying the most informative regions of animal paths. We apply this method to flight trajectories from homing pigeons to identify probable locations of salient visual landmarks. We construct and apply a Gaussian process model of flight trajectory generation for pigeons trained to home from specific release sites. The model shows increasing predictive power as the birds become familiar with the sites, mirroring the animal's learning process. We subsequently find that the most informative elements of the flight trajectories coincide with landscape features that have previously been suggested as important components of the homing task.
Bifidobacterium actinocoloniiforme sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium bohemicum sp. nov., from the bumblebee digestive tract
Authors: Killer J. , Kopečný J. , Mrázek J. , Koppová I. , Havlík J. , Benada O. , Kott T.
Published: July 2010

Our previous study, based primarily on PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, focused on the isolation of four bifidobacterial groups from the digestive tract of three bumblebee species. In that study, we proposed that these isolated groups potentially represented novel species of the family Bifidobacteriaceae. One of the four, Bifidobacterium bombi, has been described recently. Strains representing two of the other groups have been classified as members of the genus Bifidobacterium on the basis of positive results for fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity and analysis of partial 16S rRNA and heat-shock protein 60 (hsp60) gene sequences. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities revealed that the isolates of the first group were affiliated to Bifidobacterium asteroides YIT 11866T, B. indicum JCM 1302T and B. coryneforme ATCC 25911T (96.2, 96.0 and 95.9 % sequence similarity, respectively), together with other bifidobacteria showing lower sequence similarity. Additional representatives of the second group were found to be affiliated to Bifidobacterium minimum YIT 4097T and B. coryneforme ATCC 25911T (96.0 and 96.3 % sequence similarity) and also to other bifidobacteria with lower sequence similarity. These results indicate that the isolates of the two groups belong to novel species within the genus Bifidobacterium. This observation was further substantiated by the results of partial sequencing of hsp60. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses and analysis of 16S rRNA and partial hsp60 gene sequences, we propose two novel species, Bifidobacterium actinocoloniiforme sp. nov. (type strain LISLUCIII-P2T  = DSM 22766T  = CCM 7728T) and Bifidobacterium bohemicum sp. nov. (type strain JEMLUCVIII-4T  = DSM 22767T  = CCM 7729T).
Rubritalea halochordaticola sp. nov., a carotenoid-producing verrucomicrobial species isolated from a marine chordate
Authors: Yoon Jaewoo , Matsuda Satoru , Adachi Kyoko , Kasai Hiroaki , Yokota Akira
Published: July 2010

A Gram-negative-staining, obligately aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and chemoheterotrophic bacterium, designated strain MN1-1006T, was isolated from an ascidian (sea squirt) sample, and was studied using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate shared approximately 93–99% sequence similarity with recognized species of the genus Rubritalea within the phylum ‘Verrucomicrobia’. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MN1-1006T and Rubritalea squalenifaciens HOact23T and Rubritalea sabuli YM29-052T were 57% and 14.5%, respectively. Strain MN1-1006T produced carotenoid compounds that rendered the cell biomass a reddish pink colour. The strain also contained squalene. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of the novel strain contained muramic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content of strain MN1-1006T was 51.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C14:0, iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C15:0. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that strain MN1-1006T represents a novel species of the genus Rubritalea, for which the name Rubritalea halochordaticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MN1-1006T ( = KCTC 23186T = NBRC 107102T).
Cesiribacter andamanensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample from a mud volcano
Authors: Srinivas T. N. R. , Anil Kumar P. , Madhu S. , Sunil B. , Sharma T. V. R. S. , Shivaji S.
Published: July 2010

A novel Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, strain AMV16T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a mud volcano located in the Andaman Islands, India. The cell suspension was pale orange. Cells of strain AMV16T were positive for catalase, oxidase, lipase, ornithine decarboxylase and lysine decarboxylase and negative for gelatinase and urease. The fatty acids present were anteiso-C11 : 0 (5.4 %), anteiso-C12 : 0 (4.1 %), C12 : 0 (7.0 %), iso-C15 : 0 (14.4 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (3.4 %), anteiso-C16 : 0 (3.0 %), C16 : 0 (2.6 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (3.7 %), iso-C19 : 0 (9.7 %), C13 : 1 (13.8 %), iso-C15 : 1 G (15.9 %), iso-C16 : 1 G (11.1 %) and summed feature 5 (anteiso-C18 : 0 and/or C18 : 2ω6,9c; 5.9 %). Strain AMV16T contained MK-4 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine made up the phospholipids. The G+C content of DNA of strain AMV16T was 50.9 mol%. blast sequence similarity searches based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that species of the genus Marivirga were the nearest phylogenetic neighbours, with pairwise sequence similarity ranging from 89.9 to 90.0 %. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain AMV16T clustered with the type strains of Marivirga tractuosa and Marivirga sericea at a phylogenetic distance of 14.6 % (85.4 % similarity), distinct from clades representing other genera of the family ‘Flammeovirgaceae’. Based on the above-mentioned phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain AMV16T is proposed as a representative of a new genus and novel species, Cesiribacter andamanensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Cesiribacter andamanensis is AMV16T ( = DSM 22818T  = CCUG 58431T).
Revision of the genus Massilia La Scola et al. 2000, with an emended description of the genus and inclusion of all species of the genus Naxibacter as new combinations, and proposal of Massilia consociata sp. nov.
Authors: Kämpfer Peter , Lodders Nicole , Martin Karin , Falsen Enevold
Published: July 2010

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium originating from a human clinical specimen was studied for its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies clearly allocated this strain (CCUG 58010T) to the class Betaproteobacteria, closely related to members of the genera Massilia and Naxibacter. Naxibacter varians was shown to be the most closely related species on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.5 %), followed by Massilia niastensis (96.8 %) and Massilia aerilata (96.4 %). Similarities to all other species of the genera Naxibacter and Massilia were in the range 93.9–96.2 %. Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone: Q-8; major polar lipids: phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; and major fatty acids: summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C12 : 0, with C10 : 0 3-OH as hydroxylated fatty acid) supported the affiliation of the isolate to these genera, which share these chemotaxonomic traits. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain CCUG 58010T with the type strain of N. varians CCUG 35299T resulted in a relatedness value of 39.2 % (reciprocal, 50 %) and physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of the isolate from the most closely related species. There is currently no justification for a division of the genera Massilia and Naxibacter and for this reason a proposal is made to transfer all species of the genus Naxibacter to the genus Massilia, as Massilia alkalitolerans comb. nov., Massilia varians comb. nov., Massilia haematophila comb. nov. and Massilia suwonensis comb. nov. Strain CCUG 58010T represents a novel species, for which the name Massilia consociata sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain CCUG 58010T ( = CCM 7792T).
Transcriptional analysis of differential carbohydrate utilization by Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Servinsky Matthew D. , Kiel James T. , Dupuy Nicole F. , Sund Christian J.
Published: July 2010

Transcriptional analysis was performed onClostridium acetobutylicumwith the goal of identifying sugar-specific mechanisms for the transcriptional regulation of transport and metabolism genes. DNA microarrays were used to determine transcript levels from total RNA isolated from cells grown on media containing eleven different carbohydrates, including two pentoses (xylose, arabinose), four hexoses (glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose), four disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose, cellobiose) and one polysaccharide (starch). Sugar-specific induction of many transport and metabolism genes indicates that these processes are regulated at the transcriptional level and are subject to carbon catabolite repression. The results show thatC. acetobutylicumutilizes symporters and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters for the uptake of pentose sugars, while disaccharides and hexoses are primarily taken up by phosphotransferase system (PTS) transporters and a gluconate : H+(GntP) transporter. The transcription of some transporter genes was induced by specific sugars, while others were induced by a subset of the sugars tested. Sugar-specific transport roles are suggested, based on expression comparisons, for various transporters of the PTS, the ABC superfamily and members of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), including the GntP symporter family and the glycoside-pentoside-hexuronide (GPH)-cation symporter family. Additionally, updates to theC. acetobutylicumgenome annotation are proposed, including the identification of genes likely to encode proteins involved in the metabolism of arabinose and xylose via the pentose phosphate pathway.
Characterization of peptide deformylase homologues from Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Lin Penghui , Hu Tiancen , Hu Jian , Yu Wenqi , Han Cong , Zhang Jian , Qin Guangrong , Yu Kunqian , Götz Friedrich , Shen Xu , Jiang Hualiang , Qu Di
Published: July 2010

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis emphasizes the need to develop new antibiotics. The unique and essential role of the peptide deformylase (PDF) in catalysing the removal of the N-terminal formyl group from newly synthesized polypeptides in eubacteria makes it an attractive antibacterial drug target. In the present study, both deformylase homologues from S. epidermidis (SePDF-1 and SePDF-2) were cloned and expressed, and their enzymic activities were characterized. Co2+-substituted SePDF-1 exhibited much higher enzymic activity (k
cat/K
m 6.3×104 M−1 s−1) than those of Ni2+- and Zn2+-substituted SePDF-1, and SePDF-1 showed much weaker binding ability towards Ni2+ than towards Co2+ and Zn2+, which is different from PDF in Staphylococcus aureus (SaPDF), although they share 80 % amino-acid sequence identity. The determined crystal structure of SePDF-1 was similar to that of (SaPDF), except for differences in the metal-binding sites. The other deformylase homologue, SePDF-2, was shown to have no peptide deformylase activity; the function of SePDF-2 needs to be further investigated.
Legionella pneumophila carrying the virulence-associated lipopolysaccharide epitope possesses two functionally different LPS components
Authors: Reichardt Katja , Jacobs Enno , Röske Isolde , Helbig Jürgen Herbert
Published: July 2010

Phase-variable expression of Legionella pneumophila lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has not been described in detail for strains possessing the virulence-associated epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3/1 of the Dresden Panel. About 75 % of cases of community-acquired legionellosis are caused by mAb 3/1-positive strains. In this study, the LPS architecture of the mAb 3/1-positive Corby strain was investigated during its life cycle in broth culture and inside monocytic host cells. During the exponential growth phase in broth, the highly acetylated and therefore strongly hydrophobic mAb 3/1 epitope is expressed continuously, but only 3 % of the bacteria can be detected using mAb 59/1, which recognizes a short-chain variant of the Legionella LPS that is less hydrophobic due to missing acetylations of the O-chain. The percentage of mAb 59/1-positive legionellae increases up to 34 % in the post-exponential growth phase. LPS shed in broth during the exponential phase is mAb 59/1-negative, and mAb 3/1-positive components do not possess short-chain molecules. The LPS pattern expressed and shed inside U937 cells and A/J mouse macrophages points to the same regulatory mechanisms. During the so-called ‘pregnant pause’, the period for establishment of the replicative phagosomes, the mAb 3/1-positive LPS is shed into the phagosome and seems to pass through the phagosomal membrane, while mAb 59/1-positive LPS is detectable only on the bacterial surface. After egress of the legionellae into the cytoplasm followed by host cell lysis, individual bacteria are mAb 3/1-positive and mAb 59/1-negative. Intracellularly formed Legionella clusters consist of surface-located mAb 3/1-positive bacteria, which are predominantly mAb 59/1-negative. They surround less hydrophobic and therefore closely packed mAb 59/1-positive bacteria. Based on the different degrees of hydrophobicity, bacteria are able to support the expression of two functionally different LPS architectures, namely more hydrophobic LPS for surviving in aerosols and more hydrophilic LPS for close-packing of legionellae inside clusters.
l-Glutamine as a nitrogen source for Corynebacterium glutamicum: derepression of the AmtR regulon and implications for nitrogen sensing
Authors: Rehm Nadine , Georgi Tobias , Hiery Eva , Degner Ursula , Schmiedl Alfred , Burkovski Andreas , Bott Michael
Published: July 2010

Corynebacterium glutamicum, a Gram-positive soil bacterium employed in the industrial production of various amino acids, is able to use a number of different nitrogen sources, such as ammonium, urea or creatinine. This study shows that l-glutamine serves as an excellent nitrogen source for C. glutamicum and allows similar growth rates in glucose minimal medium to those in ammonium. A transcriptome comparison revealed that the nitrogen starvation response was elicited when glutamine served as the sole nitrogen source, meaning that the target genes of the global nitrogen regulator AmtR were derepressed. Subsequent growth experiments with a variety of mutants defective in nitrogen metabolism showed that glutamate synthase is crucial for glutamine utilization, while a putative glutaminase is dispensable under the experimental conditions used. The gltBD operon encoding the glutamate synthase is a member of the AmtR regulon. The observation that the nitrogen starvation response was elicited at high intracellular l-glutamine levels has implications for nitrogen sensing. In contrast with other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae, a drop in glutamine concentration obviously does not serve as a nitrogen starvation signal in C. glutamicum.
Redistribution of wealth on merger announcements in India
Authors: Ramakrishnan K.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

Research on mergers has made considerable progress over the last 50 years and has produced a vast body of literature, especially in the developed markets of the world. Little is known about the effect of announcements of mergers on shareholder wealth in the Indian context. Also unknown is the apparent influence of the market for corporate control on such wealth effects. The purpose of this paper is to fill gaps in this knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a standard event study method and statistically analyses share price and other secondary data.

Findings

It was found that the acquired firm shareholders enjoy significant wealth gains of 11.6 per cent in a 21‐day event window period, whereas the acquiring and combined firm shareholders do not do so. Mergers that do not see transfer of corporate control bestow significant wealth gains of 21.1 per cent on announcement on the target firm shareholders, whereas those where such a transfer takes place do not witness such gains.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of the study is the period. This study, a part of research covering a larger gamut of issues, necessitated the restriction of the time to the seven‐year 1996‐2002 timeline. The sample size of 34 usable, finally merged pairs of firms may appear limited, though several studies of this genre have used smaller sample sizes. However, the findings obtained are of value. The study points towards further research using a longer period that might help one to understand longitudinal variations in merger announcement effects on shareholder wealth. It also encourages future studies on several other factors which influence such effects.

Practical implications

The redistribution of shareholder wealth on merger announcement in India seems to be following a pattern similar to that found in many other studies, though the quantum of gains to the target shareholders is larger. Managers may also have to factor‐in the impact of the transfer of corporate control from the acquired to the acquiring firm on their assessment of shareholder wealth effects before announcing mergers.

Originality/value

The paper simultaneously adds to knowledge about wealth effects on merger announcement and the influence of the market for corporate control on this effect, in the Indian context.
Personal financial planning attitudes: a preliminary study of graduate students
Authors: Murphy David S. , Yetmar Scott
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a survey about the personal financial planning attitudes of MBA students in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The study surveyed 206 MBA students about their attitudes to personal financial planning. Participants were asked about their level of knowledge, whether they had prepared components of a financial plan, where they might seek assistance in such a process and the criteria for selecting a financial planner. In addition, participants were asked to indicate their level of confidence in a financial plan's capacity to help them meet their long‐term needs and the likelihood that they would implement such a plan.

Findings

The findings indicate that, while most respondents feel both that financial planning is important and that they are interested in developing a financial plan, very few feel that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare their own plan. In addition, the participants indicated a strong preference for professional personal financial planning advice. The study also indicates that less than 13 percent have prepared a comprehensive personal financial plan. When asked to identify the one professional from whom they would seek advice, certified financial planners were the preferred resource.

Research limitations/implications

While the results are not generalizable to the wider population, the views of this group are important because one might expect that educated individuals would be both more interested in personal financial planning and more capable of preparing their own plans compared with average Americans.

Practical implications

The study presents some implications for practice and financial literacy education from a US perspective.

Originality/value

A perceived need of respondents is to feel that their financial planner will put their needs first. While some professionals believe this to be the hallmark of “independence,” the respondents placed less importance on planner independence. In order to foster client confidence, planners must act in ways that convey clearly the primacy of their clients' needs.
Technological change and employer‐provided training: evidence from UK workplaces
Authors: Gashi Ardiana N. , Pugh Geoff , Adnett Nick
Published: July 2010

Purpose

This paper sets out to examine the link between technological change and continuing training at a workplace level.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper hypothesises that workplaces subject to technological change have an increased demand for skills, which induces an increased provision of training. UK data from two waves (1998 and 2004) of the Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS) are used to investigate this hypothesis.

Findings

Workplaces undertaking technological change are more likely to train their workers and also to provide more days of training per worker. Team working is also associated with a greater number of days spent on training, as are the setting of training targets and the keeping of training records. Training intensity decreases with an increasing share of part‐time and manual employees. Conversely, where workplaces face difficulties in filling skilled vacancies, they provide more days of training.

Research limitations/implications

The WERS training questions refer only to core experienced employees which, since this group may vary from one workplace to another, may not give a completely consistent measure of either absolute or relative training provision. Because the WERS panel (1998 and 2004) excludes both the dependent variable (training intensity) and the variable of interest (technical change), the analysis is restricted to cross‐section estimation. Causal implications of this analysis should be regarded as correspondingly tentative.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that one way to induce firms to provide more training is by enhanced incentives for firms to undertake more rapid technological change. In addition, if the current global economic downturn persists, evidence that operating in a declining market is associated with the provision of fewer training days may be of particular concern to training professionals and policy makers.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical evidence concerning the interaction between technological change and training.
Fair‐weather friends: why compacts fail non‐government organisations
Authors: Edgar Gemma , Lockie Frances
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on compacts and their effectiveness in ensuring that non‐government organisations (NGOs) are able to remain independent, critical checks on government.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiences of the English Compact and the Working Together for NSW agreement, created in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The analysis of Working Together relies upon interviews conducted with key informants involved in its negotiation. Using these cases the effectiveness of compacts in supporting NGOs, particularly in their role as advocates is examined.

Findings

The paper finds that, despite the similarities between the English Compact and Working Together, the NSW government has not produced similar supporting structures or mechanisms and that no champion exists to drive it within government. As a result, awareness of Working Together is low in both the NSW government and among NGOs, and, unlike the English Compact, it has had little effect on the ability of NGOs to advocate independently. As such, it is suggested that compacts do not offer long‐term solutions to the difficulties in the relationship between governments and NGOs. This is because their efficacy is reliant upon the support of government.

Research limitations/implications

The list of interviewees is by no means exhaustive. Despite numerous attempts, the authors were unable to obtain interviews from a number of figures approached from middle‐level departments within the NSW state government.

Originality/value

The interviews are original and new to the literature on compacts. This interview material is especially useful as little literature exists that analyses the Working Together for NSW agreement.
Barriers to outsourcing domestic chores in dual‐earner households
Authors: Windebank Jan
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons women living in dual‐earner households give for not outsourcing domestic chores so as to understand better the barriers to the outsourcing of domestic labour.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a web questionnaire survey amongst 550 staff of a large service‐sector employer in the UK. Using the Likert scale, reasons why households did or did not outsource domestic chores were investigated.

Findings

The two main reasons for not outsourcing which emerged from the research were first, not being able to afford it and second, the satisfaction individuals derived from looking after their own homes.

Research limitations/implications

The first finding concerning affordability reinforces previous research that emphasises income as a determining factor in domestic outsourcing. The second finding that some women do not outsource because they put a positive value on looking after their own homes raises the question of whether the under‐development of domestic outsourcing reflects a culture of resistance to the commodification of private life or evidence of the persistence of traditional ideas concerning domesticity and gender identity.

Originality/value

Many studies of domestic outsourcing have focused on the provider/supplier. Fewer concentrate on the consumer and where this has been done, it has been those who outsource that have been the focus of research. This article contributes to the debate by concentrating on those who do not outsource regular domestic tasks as a way of understanding the barriers to domestic outsourcing.
How can we explain mixed effects of diversity on team performance? A review with emphasis on context
Authors: Haas Hartmut
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the still unresolved issue of explaining the mixed diversity effects on team performance found in empirical research. A special focus is on context factors that have remained systematically unexplored with regard to their potential moderating role.

Design/methodology/approach

This review thoroughly analyses 30 empirical studies on direct diversity‐performance effects. Information on team context is collected and compared according to diversity type and its relationship with performance. As meta‐analyses and narrative reviews provide contradicting evidence, empirical studies are evaluated in terms of regression results as well as correlation coefficients.

Findings

The comparison of regression and correlation results finds contradictions concerning the trend towards positive or negative relationships. Context factors with moderating potential are discovered for some of the tested diversity variables. Reported curvilinear relationships seem to be responsible for non‐significant outcomes of linear analyses.

Research limitations/implications

This review is limited as it only includes studies on direct relationships of diversity and performance whereas work on the link of diversity and team processes is not considered. Empirical diversity studies in the future should include more detailed information on context factors, especially descriptive data of the sample population. New research in this field should furthermore test whether non‐linear relationships exist as they might be the cause for non‐significant linear relationships.

Originality/value

This paper provides valuable insights for researchers investigating the impact of diversity on team performance as it highlights the importance of descriptive context information and potential moderating variables.
Mobile banking rollout in emerging markets: evidence from Brazil
Authors: Cruz Pedro , Barretto Filgueiras Neto Lineu , Muñoz‐Gallego Pablo , Laukkanen Tommi
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceived obstacles to the adoption of mobile banking services among Brazilian internet users and search for patterns according to socio‐demographics variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through an online survey involving the internet banking customers of a major Brazilian bank. A total of 3,585 usable cases were collected from customers who do not use any kind of mobile devices (cell phones, PDAs or Smartphones) to access electronic banking services. The main reasons for rejecting the service were explored using multidimensional scaling, while chi‐square tests were used to assess differences between socio‐demographic variables.

Findings

The results indicate that the majority of respondents do not use any kind of mobile banking service. Perception of cost, risk, low perceived relative advantage and complexity were revealed to be the main reasons behind the reluctance to use the service. The influence of other background factors is less evident.

Practical implications

The research has practical implications, as it suggests guidance strategies and presents directions for service enhancement as a key to overcoming the perceived obstacles to m‐banking adoption.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical research exploring mobile banking resistance factors in Brazil.
Mobile banking: proposition of an integrated adoption intention framework
Authors: Püschel Júlio , Afonso Mazzon José , Mauro C. Hernandez José
Published: July 2010

Purpose

This paper's objective is to propose an integrated framework to investigate the adoption intention of mobile banking technology and to test it in the Brazilian context.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 666 respondents from the most economically developed cities in Brazil were surveyed. The sample comprised 333 mobile banking users and 333 mobile banking non‐users. Partial least squares was used to analyze the proposed framework's construct relations.

Findings

The framework offers an integrated view, taking into account more predictors than other studies on the adoption of innovations. For non‐users, the framework was able to explain approximately 69 percent of the dependent variable (intention to adopt mobile banking) variation, which is a figure higher than those obtained in previous studies. However, for current users of mobile banking, only 27 percent of the dependent variable variation was explained by the framework. It was also observed that the predictors' influence over the criterion variable was different for each group of mobile banking users and non‐users.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that the proposed integrated framework offers a deeper understanding of the variables that influence the adoption of mobile banking.
Cooperation in organizations
Authors: Schalk René , Curşeu Petru L.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to introduce the papers in this special issue which highlight the importance of cooperation in organizations, and outline future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual approaches to cooperation in organizations are described and a brief outline is given to each paper in the special issue.

Findings

This special issue brings together studies that enhance our theoretical understanding of cooperation, addressing core issues related to the role of cultural differences, virtual communication, team processes, leader behavior, and the impact of norms on cooperation.

Practical implications

Factors that facilitate or hinder cooperation in organizations are highlighted, and suggestions on how to deal with those issues in practice are provided. The papers facilitate understanding of the role of cultural differences, communication, team processes, and leader behavior on cooperation in organizations.

Originality/value

The paper provides an introduction to the special issue.
Public‐good games and the Balinese
Authors: Veszteg Róbert F. , Narhetali Erita
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The Balinese have been successful for centuries in sustaining cooperation among the members of local communities in order to provide public goods through individual contributions. The purpose of this paper is to review and highlight the Balinese mechanism's remarkable features.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper surveyed the experimental literature on public goods and highlighted those features of the Balinese tradition that have been proven to be both effective in the experimental laboratory and successful in deterring free‐riding on the field.

Findings

The most prominent features discussed are decentralization, democratic decision making, the use of two currencies, supervision, and the possibility of imposing severe sanctions for free‐riding.

Social implications

The paper's findings not only can help to preserve the high level of cooperation among inhabitants in Bali threatened by migration flows and the increasingly intense reliance on the market mechanism, but they also provide general insights both for theoreticians and practitioners on how to create successful communities. In addition, the literature review sheds light on several features of public‐good games that have not been satisfactorily explored yet by experimental economists.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper's approach lies in looking at the Balinese tradition through the glasses of mechanism design theory and aligning the related findings of experimental economics in order to understand its success and problems.
Street hawking and socio‐economic dynamics of nomadic girls of northern Nigeria
Authors: Usman Lantana M.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a qualitative explanation, understanding, and policy suggestions on the socio‐economic causes, effects, and challenges facing nomadic rural girls' street hawking in cities of Northern Nigeria. The aim is to present the paper as a source of literature that will serve as a future document in formulating inclusive policies for the girls as explained in the section on educational policy options.

Design/methodology/approach

Research orientation and design involved qualitative phenomenology that explored girls' street hawking experiences. Study sites included three major Nigerian cities and three villages of the girls. Purposeful sampling was used to select 20 girls between ages eight and 15 and female parents as primary participants, while two traditional and religious leaders from each of the villages, and one administrator of the local state nomadic education commission served as secondary participants. Snowball samples of three male parents of the girls in each village were used as part of data validity. Data collection technique involved unstructured focus group interviews, participant observations, and video recording of the girls at home, at markets, and at streets in the cities. Ethical issues were addressed by obtaining oral and written consent of participants orally and in writing using the native language for clarity and understanding of their role. Data analysis of interview involved transcription and the repeated reading of the transcripts that identified major themes. Observational data were converted to field notes and analyzed for patterns of ideas that support major themes of the analyzed interview data for validity. Triangulation process of checking validity was used with sample of snowball participants as state educational administrators of nomadic education, religious leaders, amongst others.

Findings

Major findings are presented as themes on major economic causes of the girls' street hawking of dairy products as a part of family gender division of labor, poverty level of most families, preparing girls for self‐reliance and economic independence, and to augment family income. Social causes include Islamic religious pressure of teaching youth self‐reliance in preparation for early marriage, to finance wedding expenses, to acquire material possessions as child brides, for family honor, to accrue income to maintain their bodily aesthetic needs, group street hawking as a means to girls socialization, and exposing girls to suitors as future husbands, amongst others. Challenges facing the girls include lack of safety, exposure to forms of abuse, and being left behind in basic literacy, amongst others.

Originality/value

This paper is of significant value due to its novelty. It will serve as primary literature on minority West African pastoral girls' impact on rural‐urban migration, their challenges, and their position in the current world social policy of the Department for International Development and UNICEF Girls Education Project.
Information literacy assessment: a case study at Miami University
Authors: Resnis Eric , Gibson Katie , Hartsell‐Gundy Arianne , Misco Masha
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this case study, created by a faculty learning community (FLC) on research fluency, is to investigate students' information literacy practices at Miami University, including information search process, preparation, differences in students' information literacy skill levels, and how well they transfer these skills outside coursework.

Design/methodology/approach

Faculty and librarians designed a survey of about 60 questions, which were given to 300 students in faculty's classes by librarian FLC members.

Findings

FLC members discovered where perceptions among professors, librarians, and students were similar, and where they differed.

Practical implications

Influenced by the findings, participating faculty made changes to the course plans and included additional assignments to make the process of research more explicit.

Originality/value

While there are similar studies about information literacy, the Miami University study is distinct in that it reports on collaboration with faculty and makes use of their perceptions of students.
Diversity training in organisations: an introduction
Authors: McGuire David , Bagher Mammed
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on diversity training and examine the effect of power, privilege and politics on diversity in organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper examining the arguments in favour and against diversity training in organisations. It identifies the presence of dominant groups in society leading to the marginalisation and oppression of minority diverse groups. It introduces the papers to the special issue under the three themes of: organisational impacts and outcomes; identify and self‐presentation and resistance to diversity.

Findings

The value of diversity training to promoting inclusivity, equality and fairness in organisations is underlined as is the importance of the human resource development community adopting a more proactive role in addressing the issue of diversity through research and course cirricula.

Originality/value

The paper introduces this special issue in “Diversity training in organisations” by examining the background concepts and providing an overview of the contributions to the issue.
The implications of talent management for diversity training: an exploratory study
Authors: Stewart Jim , Harte Victoria
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to explore the proposition that there is a need for research to address the connections between talent management (TM) and managing diversity as one example of achieving better integration and less separation in academic work on human resource (HR).

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study of one organisation at a very early stage of implementing TM which involved some documentary analysis and interviews with six senior HR professionals in the organisation.

Findings

There is some limited evidence that professionals view different aspects of HR practice in isolation and do not make connections in practice as well as they could. This evidence is taken as sufficient support for the need for more research into the proposition.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is in its early stages and findings are not argued to be generalisable. However, they are sufficient to suggest there will be value on further research on connections between TM and managing diversity. One area still to be explored in more depth is the role of human resource development (HRD) practice in making those connections.

Practical implications

Both academics and practitioners may have to consider less emphasis on narrow speciaisms and foci in their work and take on more wholistic perspectives.

Originality/value

The literature review confirmed the assumption that the two topics are researched and written about separately with little published on the connections and implications of each for the other.
Lesbian presentations and representations of leadership, and the implications for HRD
Authors: Gedro Julie
Published: July 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to identify, examine, and discuss the unique challenges for lesbians who serve in leadership positions in corporate America.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon a multi‐disciplinary framework of management, diversity, feminist, and leadership literature, the paper critically examines the myriad of pressures exerted upon all women in leadership positions, and then identifies the pressures that are specific and unique for lesbians.

Findings

There are pressures that are unique for lesbian leaders. These pressures include negotiating the heterosexism of the organization; invisibility versus visibility, and gender expression and gender role expectations.

Originality/value

The paper provides implications for human resource development to assume a stronger and more active role in uncovering tacit issues embedded in leadership so that organizational workplaces become locations of greater equity, access, and fairness for all who aspire to leadership positions.
Inducted currents analysis in multiply connected conductors using reluctance‐resistance networks
Authors: Wojciechowski Rafal M. , Demenko Andrzej , Sykulski Jan K.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a reluctance‐resistance network (RRN) formulation for determining the induced current distributions in a 3D space of multiply connected conducting systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed RRN method has been applied to solve Problem No. 7 of the International TEAM Workshops. The induced currents in the conductive plate with an asymmetrically situated “hole” have been analysed. The RRN equations have been formed by means of the finite element method using the magnetic vector potential A and the electric vector potentials T and T0. The block relaxation method combined with the Cholesky decomposition procedure has been applied to solve the resultant RRN equations.

Findings

Comparison with results published in literature has demonstrated high accuracy of the proposed RRN computational scheme while offering significant savings in computing times.

Originality/value

A novel formulation of the RRN approach has been proposed and demonstrated to be computationally efficient.
3D analytical field calculation using triangular magnet segments applied to a skewed linear permanent magnet actuator
Authors: Janssen J.L.G. , Paulides J.J.H. , Lomonova E.A.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present novel analytical expressions which describe the 3D magnetic field of arbitrarily magnetized triangular‐shaped charged surfaces. These versatile expressions model that the field of triangular‐shaped permanent magnets (PMs) are very suitable to model skewed slotless machines.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical 3D surface charge method is normally used to provide field expressions for PMs in free space. In this paper, the analytical surface charge integrals are analytically solved for charged right‐triangular surfaces. The resulting field is compared with that obtained by finite element modeling (FEM) and subsequently applied in two examples.

Findings

The comparison with FEM shows that the 3D analytical expressions are very accurate and exhibit very low‐numerical noise. These fast‐solving versatile expressions are therefore considered suitable to model triangular‐shaped or polyhedral‐shaped PMs.

Research limitations/implications

The surface charge method assumes that the relative permeability is equal to 1 and therefore soft‐magnetic materials need to be modeled using the method of images. The PMs are assumed to be ideal in terms of homogeneity, magnetization vector, permeability, demagnetization, and geometrical tolerances.

Practical implications

Many applications, such as the subclass of slotless synchronous linear actuators with a skewed PM structure and planar magnetic bearings, are very suitable to incorporate this modeling technique, since it enables the analysis of a variety of performance data.

Originality/value

As an addition to the common 3D analytical field expressions for cuboidal or cylindrical PMs, this paper presents novel expressions for magnets having triangular surfaces.