bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microvirga lupini sp. nov., Microvirga lotononidis sp. nov. and Microvirga zambiensis sp. nov. are alphaproteobacterial root-nodule bacteria that specifically nodulate and fix nitrogen with geographically and taxonomically separate legume hosts
Authors: Ardley Julie K. , Parker Matthew A. , De Meyer Sofie E. , Trengove Robert D. , O’Hara Graham W. , Reeve Wayne G. , Yates Ron J. , Dilworth Michael J. , Willems Anne , Howieson John G.
Published: December 2011

Strains of Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria were isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules of the native legumes Listia angolensis (from Zambia) and Lupinus texensis (from Texas, USA). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the novel strains belong to the genus

Microvirga

, with ≥96.1 % sequence similarity with type strains of this genus. The closest relative of the representative strains Lut6T and WSM3557T was

Microvirga flocculans

TFBT, with 97.6–98.0 % similarity, while WSM3693T was most closely related to

Microvirga aerilata

5420S-16T, with 98.8 % similarity. Analysis of the concatenated sequences of four housekeeping gene loci (dnaK, gyrB, recA and rpoB) and cellular fatty acid profiles confirmed the placement of Lut6T, WSM3557T and WSM3693T within the genus

Microvirga

. DNA–DNA relatedness values, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of Lut6T, WSM3557T and WSM3693T from each other and from other

Microvirga

species with validly published names. The nodA sequence of Lut6T was placed in a clade that contained strains of

Rhizobium

,

Mesorhizobium

and

Sinorhizobium

, while the 100 % identical nodA sequences of WSM3557T and WSM3693T clustered with

Bradyrhizobium

,

Burkholderia

and

Methylobacterium

strains. Concatenated sequences for nifD and nifH show that the sequences of Lut6T, WSM3557T and WSM3693T were most closely related to that of

Rhizobium etli

CFN42T
nifDH. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic and DNA relatedness data, three novel species of

Microvirga

are proposed: Microvirga lupini sp. nov. (type strain Lut6T  = LMG 26460T  = HAMBI 3236T), Microvirga lotononidis sp. nov. (type strain WSM3557T  = LMG 26455T  = HAMBI 3237T) and Microvirga zambiensis sp. nov. (type strain WSM3693T  = LMG 26454T  = HAMBI 3238T).
Catenulispora graminis sp. nov., a rhizobacterium from bamboo (Phyllostachys nigro var. henonis) rhizosphere soil
Authors: Lee Hyo-Jin , Han Song-Ih , Whang Kyung-Sook
Published: December 2011

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain BR-34T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of bamboo (Phyllostachys nigro var. henonis) sampled in Damyang, Korea. The strain was found to have morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics typical of the genus

Catenulispora

. The strain contained iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acid and MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as major isoprenoid quinones. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BR-34T formed a cluster separate from members of the genus

Catenulispora

and was related most closely to

Catenulispora acidiphila

ID139908T (97.4 % similarity),

Catenulispora rubra

Aac-30T (97.3 %),

Catenulispora yoronensis

TT N02-20T (97.3 %) and

Catenulispora subtropica

TT 99-48T (97 %). However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain BR-34T and

C. acidiphila

ID139908T was only 45.32 %. Based on DNA–DNA relatedness, morphological and phenotypic data, strain BR-34T could be distinguished from the type strains of phylogenetically related species. It is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Catenulispora

, for which the name Catenulispora graminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BR-34T ( = KACC 15070T = NBRC 107755T).
Microbacterium murale sp. nov., isolated from an indoor wall
Authors: Kämpfer P. , Schäfer J. , Lodders N. , Martin K.
Published: December 2011

A Gram-positive rod, designated 01-Gi-001T, was isolated from a wall colonized with moulds. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis clearly showed that the isolate belonged to the genus

Microbacterium

. On the basis of pairwise comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain 01-Gi-001T was most closely related to

Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans

DSM 16089T (98.9 % sequence similarity),

Microbacterium profundi

Shh49T (98.7 %),

Microbacterium phyllosphaerae

DSM 13468T (98.3 %) and

Microbacterium foliorum

DSM 12966T (98.1 %). The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was ornithine. The major menaquinones detected were MK-13 and MK-12. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown phospholipid and one unknown glycolipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0, which were in agreement with those reported for other members of the genus

Microbacterium

. Physiological and biochemical characteristics and DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 01-Gi-001T and the type strains of its closest phylogenetic neighbours showed clear differences. For this reason, strain 01-Gi-001T ( = DSM 22178T = CCM 7640T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species, Microbacterium murale sp. nov.
Streptomyces atacamensis sp. nov., isolated from an extreme hyper-arid soil of the Atacama Desert, Chile
Authors: Santhanam Rakesh , Okoro Chinyere K. , Rong Xiaoying , Huang Ying , Bull Alan T. , Weon Hang-Yeon , Andrews Barbara A. , Asenjo Juan A. , Goodfellow Michael
Published: December 2011

The taxonomic position of a

Streptomyces

strain isolated from an extreme hyper-arid soil sample collected from the Atacama Desert was determined using a polyphasic approach. The strain, isolate C60T, had chemical and morphological features typical of members of the genus

Streptomyces

and formed a distinct phyletic line in the

Streptomyces

16S rRNA gene tree, together with the type strain of

Streptomyces radiopugnans

. The two strains were distinguished readily using a combination of phenotypic properties and by a DNA–DNA relatedness value of 23.17 (±0.95) %. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic data, it is proposed that isolate C60T ( = CGMCC 4.7018T = KACC 15492T) be classified in the genus

Streptomyces

as Streptomyces atacamensis sp. nov.
Otariodibacter oris gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family

Pasteurellaceae

isolated from the oral cavity of pinnipeds
Authors: Hansen Mie Johanne , Bertelsen Mads Frost , Christensen Henrik , Bojesen Anders Miki , Bisgaard Magne
Published: December 2011

A total of 27 bacterial isolates from California sea lions and a walrus tentatively classified within the family

Pasteurellaceae

was further characterized by genotypic and phenotypic tests. Phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences showed that the isolates investigated formed a monophyletic group, tentatively designated Bisgaard taxon 57. According to 16S rRNA gene sequences, the most closely related species with a validly published name was

Bisgaardia hudsonensis

and the most closely related species based on rpoB sequence comparison was Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida; highest similarities between the isolates and the type strains of B. hudsonensis and P. multocida subsp. multocida were 95.0 and 88.2%. respectively. All isolates of Bisgaard taxon 57 exhibit the phenotypic characters of the family

Pasteurellaceae

. Members of Bisgaard taxon 57 can be separated from existing genera of the

Pasteurellaceae

by the following tests: positive reactions for catalase, oxidase, Voges–Proskauer and indole; no X- or V-factor dependency; and acid production from l-arabinose (slow), l-fucose, maltose and trehalose, but not from dulcitol, d-mannitol, d-mannose or sucrose. The main fatty acids of Bisgaard taxon 57 (CCUG 59994T) are C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and the summed feature C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I. This fatty acid profile is characteristic of members of the

Pasteurellaceae

. The quinone profile of Bisgaard taxon 57 (DSM 23800T) was similar to that of other genera in the

Pasteurellaceae

. The DNA G+C content of strain Baika1T is 36.2 mol%, which is at the lower end of the range for members of the family

Pasteurellaceae

. On the basis of both phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that members of Bisgaard taxon 57 should be classified as representatives of a novel species in a new genus, Otariodibacter oris gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Otariodibacter oris is Baika1T ( = CCUG 59994T = DSM 23800T), which was isolated from the oral cavity of a healthy California sea lion in Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, in 2007.
Selective Inhibition of Clade A Phosphatases Type 2C by PYR/PYL/RCAR Abscisic Acid Receptors
Authors: Antoni Regina , Gonzalez-Guzman Miguel , Rodriguez Lesia , Rodrigues Americo , Pizzio Gaston A. , Rodriguez Pedro L.
Published: December 2011

Clade A protein phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs) are negative regulators of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling that are inhibited in an ABA-dependent manner by PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1 (PYR1)/PYR1-LIKE (PYL)/REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTORS (RCAR) intracellular receptors. We provide genetic evidence that a previously uncharacterized member of this PP2C family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), At5g59220, is a negative regulator of osmotic stress and ABA signaling and that this function was only apparent when double loss-of-function mutants with pp2ca-1/ahg3 were generated. At5g59220-green fluorescent protein and its close relative PP2CA-green fluorescent protein showed a predominant nuclear localization; however, hemagglutinin-tagged versions were also localized to cytosol and microsomal pellets. At5g59220 was selectively inhibited by some PYR/PYL ABA receptors, and close relatives of this PP2C, such as PP2CA/ABA-HYPERSENSITIVE GERMINATION3 (AHG3) and AHG1, showed a contrasting sensitivity to PYR/PYL inhibition. Interestingly, AHG1 was resistant to inhibition by the PYR/PYL receptors tested, which suggests that this seed-specific phosphatase is still able to regulate ABA signaling in the presence of ABA and PYR/PYL receptors and therefore to control the highly active ABA signaling pathway that operates during seed development. Moreover, the differential sensitivity of the phosphatases At5g59220 and PP2CA to inhibition by ABA receptors reveals a functional specialization of PYR/PYL ABA receptors to preferentially inhibit certain PP2Cs.
Dissecting Plant Genomes with the PLAZA Comparative Genomics Platform
Authors: Van Bel Michiel , Proost Sebastian , Wischnitzki Elisabeth , Movahedi Sara , Scheerlinck Christopher , Van de Peer Yves , Vandepoele Klaas
Published: December 2011

With the arrival of low-cost, next-generation sequencing, a multitude of new plant genomes are being publicly released, providing unseen opportunities and challenges for comparative genomics studies. Here, we present PLAZA 2.5, a user-friendly online research environment to explore genomic information from different plants. This new release features updates to previous genome annotations and a substantial number of newly available plant genomes as well as various new interactive tools and visualizations. Currently, PLAZA hosts 25 organisms covering a broad taxonomic range, including 13 eudicots, five monocots, one lycopod, one moss, and five algae. The available data consist of structural and functional gene annotations, homologous gene families, multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetic trees, and colinear regions within and between species. A new Integrative Orthology Viewer, combining information from different orthology prediction methodologies, was developed to efficiently investigate complex orthology relationships. Cross-species expression analysis revealed that the integration of complementary data types extended the scope of complex orthology relationships, especially between more distantly related species. Finally, based on phylogenetic profiling, we propose a set of core gene families within the green plant lineage that will be instrumental to assess the gene space of draft or newly sequenced plant genomes during the assembly or annotation phase.
Phloem Ultrastructure and Pressure Flow: Sieve-Element-Occlusion-Related Agglomerations Do Not Affect Translocation
Authors: Froelich Daniel R. , Mullendore Daniel L. , Jensen Kåre H. , Ross-Elliott Tim J. , Anstead James A. , Thompson Gary A. , Pélissier Hélène C. , Knoblauch Michael
Published: December 2011

Since the first ultrastructural investigations of sieve tubes in the early 1960s, their structure has been a matter of debate. Because sieve tube structure defines frictional interactions in the tube system, the presence of P protein obstructions shown in many transmission electron micrographs led to a discussion about the mode of phloem transport. At present, it is generally agreed that P protein agglomerations are preparation artifacts due to injury, the lumen of sieve tubes is free of obstructions, and phloem flow is driven by an osmotically generated pressure differential according to Münch's classical hypothesis. Here, we show that the phloem contains a distinctive network of protein filaments. Stable transgenic lines expressing Arabidopsis thaliana Sieve-Element-Occlusion-Related1 (SEOR1)–yellow fluorescent protein fusions show that At SEOR1 meshworks at the margins and clots in the lumen are a general feature of living sieve tubes. Live imaging of phloem flow and flow velocity measurements in individual tubes indicate that At SEOR1 agglomerations do not markedly affect or alter flow. A transmission electron microscopy preparation protocol has been generated showing sieve tube ultrastructure of unprecedented quality. A reconstruction of sieve tube ultrastructure served as basis for tube resistance calculations. The impact of agglomerations on phloem flow is discussed.
The inhibition action of tyrosine on the corrosion of low chromium steel in 7 wt percent sulfamic acid
Authors: Tawfik M. Abdel‐Fatah Hesham
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out laboratory studies of the inhibition effect of tyrosine (Tyr) on the corrosion of low chromium alloy steel (ASTM A213 grade T22) in 7 wt percent sulfamic acid solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The corrosion inhibitive effect of Tyr was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the new technique electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM).

Findings

It was found that the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing inhibitor concentration, while a decrease was detected with the rise of temperature and stirring speed. The corrosion inhibition is due to physical adsorption of Tyr on the steel surface. Adsorption of the inhibitor molecule, onto the steel surface follows the Temkin's adsorption isotherm.

Originality/value

The obtained results from both methods (EIS and EFM) at different experimental conditions were in high agreement and almost similar. This is an indication that the EFM technique can be used efficiently for monitoring the corrosion inhibition under the studied conditions.
Critical success factors for Lean Six Sigma programmes: a view from middle management
Authors: Manville Graham , Greatbanks Richard , Krishnasamy Radica , Parker David W.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Many organisations are operating in a dynamic competitive environment and experiencing increasing competition. As a result organisations in the service sector are continually seeking opportunities to remove waste and improve performance. Six sigma has been embraced by the service sector and is receiving increasing attention within both academe and practice. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate lean six sigma from a middle managers' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method approach was adopted involving a structured survey to 200 managers and semi‐structured interviews with two of the management team.

Findings

The paper highlights the importance of developing learning capabilities in the middle management team and the empowering of them. A greater role should be given to middle management in performance improvement and strategy formulation.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings only apply to one case so it is difficult to make assumptions across different sectors. More research is required with regard to change management in lean six sigma implementations.

Originality/value

This paper shows that developing dynamic capabilities in middle management along with a learning culture will facilitate participation in strategy formulation.
Six Sigma, quality management systems and the development of organisational learning capability
Authors: Malik Ashish , Blumenfeld Stephen
Published: December 2011

Purpose

This paper analyses the impact of Lean Six Sigma and a firm's quality management capabilities in developing its organisational learning capability (OLC), especially in the business process outsourcing (BPO) environment of a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multiple case study incorporating embedded design, findings from four Indian BPO firms are analysed.

Findings

Findings confirm the critical and relatively unexplored role that firms' Lean Six Sigma and quality management capabilities play in developing OLCs.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to its qualitative case study design, findings from this study are not able to be generalised to the wider population, instead, the findings are generalised to relevant theory for future development.

Originality/value

The above relationship is examined in a novel research setting and the study also looks at which elements of Six Sigma and TQM content, if not well developed, hinder the development of OLCs.
Lean production supply chain management as driver towards enhancing product quality and business performance
Authors: Agus Arawati , Shukri Hajinoor Mohd
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain a better understanding of the extent to which lean production permeates manufacturing companies in Malaysia by drawing on supply chain management (SCM) managers' or production managers' perception of lean production practices and level of performances in the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The instrument used in this study is a structured survey questionnaire consisting of two major parts. The first part comprises several variables measuring lean production practices, and the second part consists of several performance measurements. Sample companies are chosen from Malaysian manufacturing companies listed in the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers directory. From the 300 companies sampled, 200 responses were completed, representing a 67 per cent response rate.

Findings

The results support the conceptual model, demonstrating strong association between lean production, product quality performance, and business performance. The structural equation modelling (SEM) results reveal that “reduced setup time” appears to be of primary importance in the linkage between lean production, product quality performance and business performance. It is also instructive, from a score of 67.21 on the Malaysian Lean Production Index (MLPI), that manufacturing companies in Malaysia must marshal their effort to implement a more effective lean production SCM in order to improve on product quality performance and business performance.

Practical implications

This research adds to the body of knowledge on lean production SCM in manufacturing industry. This paper may be of particular interest to practicing production managers, or SCM managers, as it suggests what factors should be emphasized in lean production.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies within the context in which this study is undertaken as it seeks to address key relationships between lean production, product quality performance and business performance within the Malaysian manufacturing industry, where relatively few studies are available. In addition, relationships between constructs are analyzed through SEM that measures not only magnitude but also the causal direction of the relationships.
Short‐lived information and order strategies: a clinical study
Authors: Lei Adam Y.C. , Li Huihua
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the order strategies of investors, in particular their use of intermarket sweep orders (ISOs), in response to a short‐lived information event.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a natural experiment on September 8, 2008, in which a 2002 bankruptcy story of United Airlines erroneously reappears through Bloomberg terminals and cause significant price changes on the stock. The authors first provide the background information of this natural experiment and use bootstrapping methods and regression analyses to examine investors' use of intermarket sweep orders.

Findings

The results show that investors use intermarket sweep orders, a unique type of liquidity‐demanding limit orders, in attempts to exploit their short‐lived information. In particular, those investors show aggressiveness not only in trade speed but also in trade size. These findings support the hypothesis that investors with short‐lived information demand immediacy to conserve the value of their information.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that investors on the demand side of liquidity dynamically trade off the potential adverse impact of trade‐throughs with the speed their trades are executed. How limit order traders on the supply side or liquidity suppliers in general adjust to the demand‐side dynamics remains a future research direction.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the fragility of information transmission in financial markets and suggests that the use of intermarket sweep orders could possibly magnify the impacts of erroneous information.

Originality/value

Using a natural experiment, this paper provides the first piece of empirical evidence on the use of intermarket sweep orders when investors possess short‐lived information.
The economic determinants of compensation committee quality
Authors: Sun Jerry , Cahan Steven F.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economic determinants of compensation committee quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample firms were selected from the IRRC Directors' database. Compensation committee quality is measured as the factor score from a principal component analysis of six compensation committee characteristics. Regression analyses are conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

It was found that firms with lower CEO influence, less institutional shareholders, fewer growth opportunities, and that are smaller in size are more likely to have high quality compensation committees.

Practical implications

The results imply that even in the presence of a requirement to have only independent directors on the compensation committee, the quality of compensation committees can vary cross‐sectionally depending on the firm's economic circumstances. Thus, a one‐size fits all solution for compensation committee quality might not be optimal as different firms have different incentives in composing their compensation committees.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the limited literature on compensation committees by using a new measure of compensation committee quality to examine the economic factors that affect the governance quality of independent compensation committees. This paper also complements the board and audit committee research by examining whether the same factors that affect board and audit committee quality might also affect compensation committee quality.
Momentum anomaly: evidence from India
Authors: Ansari Valeed Ahmad , Khan Soha
Published: December 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the presence of momentum profit in the Indian stock market and seeks to explore the sources of momentum profit employing both risk based and behavioral models. R2, idiosyncratic volatility, and delay measures are employed in order to test behavioral models.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows Jegadeesh and Timan's methodology in constructing momentum portfolios.

Findings

The study finds strong presence of momentum profits in India during 1995‐2006. The risk based models such as CAPM and Fama‐French fail to account for the phenomenon. Idiosyncratic risk exhibits a positive relation with momentum, lending support to behavioural factors as source of momentum phenomenon.

Practical implications

In forming portfolios, selecting the stocks which have been winners in the last three and six months can help investors and fund mangers earn substantial profit.

Originality/value

The study employs behavioral variables to explain the momentum phenomenon. In the Indian context it is an unexplored area.
Informal screencasting: results of a customer‐satisfaction survey with a convenience sample
Authors: Bailey Jody
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define and describe informal screencasting (i.e. capturing your actions on a computer screen with the goal of showing others how to accomplish tasks on a website or in a given software environment). Customer‐satisfaction survey results from 103 faculty, staff, and students are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey revealing customer satisfaction with informal screencasts was made available in Spring 2010 to faculty, staff, and students of a mid‐sized public university in Arlington, Texas, USA. Results are compiled, analyzed, and presented here.

Findings

Most participants' reactions to the librarian's informal screencasts were positive or quite positive, but many participants still noted that they would prefer to receive e‐mail instructions in answer to their questions.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was not distributed to a representative sample of the population; instead, the author solicited participants via e‐mail, so the participant pool was a convenience sample, which could introduce bias in the results.

Originality/value

This survey is the first to assess academic library customers' attitudes toward informal screencasting as an instructional tool, as far as the author has been able to determine after an extensive literature search.
LibraryPalooza: a marketing case study
Authors: Lee Anderson Carol
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the elements of a successful marketing and outreach event for undergraduate students at a medium‐sized US research university.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of LibraryPalooza, an annual event held at the University at Albany since 2004, and attended by 1,500 students in 2010.

Findings

Detailed planning and extensive partnerships on campus make for a successful and relatively inexpensive welcome event for new students, introducing them to library services and facilities.

Originality/value

This paper provides a practical example of planning a major event marketing library resources to user constituencies.
LILAC Conference 2011
Authors: Glass Bob
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the LILAC Conference held in London, UK in April 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an outline of the content of the LILAC Conference, noting the key themes. The keynote speakers focused on the topics of the digital transition, school librarians and international indicators of information literacy.

Findings

The conference involved over 70 papers and workshops covering both the theoretical and the practical, with delivery running over the three days of the conference in five parallel sessions.

Originality/value

The conference provided an insight into the developing trends for information literacy.
Synthesis and characterization of poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) modified pyridine polyesteramide coating from sustainable resource
Authors: Alam Manawwer , Al‐Aandis Naser
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop pyridine polyesteramide coatings from Linseed (Linum ussitatissimum) seeds oil for the utilisation of a sustainable resource as coating material, as well as to improve the coating properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Linseed oil was first converted into N,N bis 2‐hydroxyethyl linseed oil fatty amide (HELA). The resin was synthesized by the reaction of linseed oil fatty amide diol with 2,3‐pyridine di carboxylic acid to develop pyridine polyesteramide (Py‐PEA) and further treated with poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride)(SMA) in different phr (part per hundred part of resin). The structural elucidation of Py‐PEA was carried out by FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectral techniques. The thermal stability and curing behaviour of the resin were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The physico‐mechanical and anticorrosive properties were investigated by standard laboratory methods.

Findings

The authors developed a good anticorrosive coating material from sustainable resource. The physico‐mechanical and anticorrosive performance evaluation exhibited satisfactory results. The approach facilitated curing to occur at ambient temperature and the thermal studies revealed that Py‐PEA‐SMA‐45 might be safely used up to 140°C.

Practical implications

Poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) modified pyridine polyesteramide coatings showed the highest scratch hardness 3.0 kg, flexibility (1/8 inch canonical mandrel bend test) and gloss at 45° is 62‐64. Among all, Py‐PEA‐SMA 45 showed the best physico‐mechanical and chemical resistance performance. Thus, the resin may be used as an effective coating material.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the synthesis of polyesteramide resin from vegetable oil provides a new way to utilize a renewable resource based raw material.
Copolymers of carbazoles and methyl ethyl ketone formaldehyde resin
Authors: Ustamehmetoğlu Belkis , Akar Ahmet , Kizilcan Nilgun , Kelleboz Eda
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop the soluble and processable conducting copolymers of carbazole (Cz), ethylcarbazole (ECz), N‐vinylcarbazole (NVCz) by oxidatively polymerising carbazoles by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in the presence of methyl ethyl ketone formaldehyde resin (MEKF‐R); and to report the advantages of obtaining copolymer structure.

Design/methodology/approach

A new class of soluble and conductive P(Cz/MEKF‐R), P(NVCz/MEKF‐R) and P(ECz/MEKF‐R) copolymers were synthesised by the method of oxidative polymerisation with ceric ammonium nitrate. MEKF‐R, CAN and carbazole monomers (Cz, NVCz and ECz) were dissolved in acetonitrile separately. Then, the CAN solution was added dropwise into the mixture of MEKF‐R and Cz, NVCz or ECz solutions while stirring and a green powder was formed almost instantaneously. After one hour stirring at 25°C, the powder was filtered, washed with acetonitrile and dried at room temperature. A green coloured product was obtained. The colourless insulator copolymer present in this product was separated by selectively dissolving with toluene. The insoluble green copolymer was filtered off and dried at room temperature under vacuum. The products were characterised by FTIR, DSC thermograms, 1H‐NMR, four‐point probe conductivity and atomic absorption measurements.

Findings

The solubility and conductivity of the Cz/MEKF‐R copolymer P(Cz/MEKF‐R), the NVCz/MEKF‐R copolymer P(NVCz/MEKF‐R) and the ECz/MEKF‐R copolymer P(ECz/MEKF‐R) were regulated by the ratios of (Cz, NVCz, ECz)/CAN/MEKF‐R. By inclusion of the ketonic resin segments to the polycarbazole chains, thermally processable copolymers have been obtained with a melting point of about 80°C. FT‐IR results in different reaction time and the presence of metal in copolymers show together a complex between monomer‐metal and resin.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on obtaining conductive, soluble and processable copolymers. Since the ketonic resin is an insulator, in order to obtain both conductive and totally soluble polymer, successively regulating the ratios of (Cz, NVCz, ECz)/CAN/MEKF‐R is necessary.

Practical implications

This work provides technical information for the synthesis of conducting and totally soluble copolymer.

Originality/value

The conductive P(Cz/MEKF‐R), P(NVCz/MEKF‐R) and P(ECz/MEKF‐R) copolymers obtained by the method of oxidative polymerisation with ceric ammonium nitrate, which are totally soluble in DMF, could only be produced with this method and may increase the area of application of the carbazole polymers.
Library 2.011 World‐wide Virtual Conference, “The Future of Libraries in the Digital Age”, November 2‐4, 2011
Authors: Wang Minglu
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a conference report on the unique organizational features and the common themes found among the three keynote speeches of the Library 2.011 World Wide Virtual Conference held on the internet on November 2‐4, 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

This report was generated based on the author’s personal participation and observation of a virtual conference and a descriptive method was used to report on and summarize the major subjects of three keynote presentations.

Findings

The paper finds that Library 2.0 is still a live practice among libraries, and the concept itself has become an inspiring theoretical starting point for re‐examining information profession, information literacy, and information management behaviours.

Originality/value

This article sorts out the theoretical directions of Library 2.0’s research, which will provide a reflective and guiding tool for evaluating current library practice and designing future innovative library services.
Ritz‐Galerkin method with Bernstein polynomial basis for finding the product solution form of heat equation with non‐classic boundary conditions
Authors: Yousefi S.A. , Barikbin Zahra , Dehghan Mehdi
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to implement the Ritz‐Galerkin method in Bernstein polynomial basis to give approximation solution of a parabolic partial differential equation with non‐local boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The properties of Bernstein polynomial and Ritz‐Galerkin method are first presented, then the Ritz‐Galerkin method is utilized to reduce the given parabolic partial differential equation to the solution of algebraic equations. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the new technique.

Findings

The authors applied the method presented in this paper and solved three test problems.

Originality/value

This is the first time that the Ritz‐Galerkin method in Bernstein polynomial basis is employed to solve the model investigated in the current paper.
Effect of turbine inlet temperature on rotor blade tip leakage flow and heat transfer
Authors: In Kim Sung , Rahman Hamidur , Hassan Ibrahim
Published: December 2011

Purpose

One of the most critical gas turbine engine components, the rotor blade tip and casing, is exposed to high thermal load. It becomes a significant design challenge to protect the turbine materials from this severe situation. The purpose of this paper is to study numerically the effect of turbine inlet temperature on the tip leakage flow structure and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the effect of turbine inlet temperature on the tip leakage flow structure and heat transfer has been studied numerically. Uniform low (LTIT: 444 K) and high (HTIT: 800 K) turbine inlet temperature, as well as non‐uniform inlet temperature have been considered.

Findings

The results showed the higher turbine inlet temperature yields the higher velocity and temperature variations in the leakage flow aerodynamics and heat transfer. For a given turbine geometry and on‐design operating conditions, the turbine power output can be increased by 1.33 times, when the turbine inlet temperature increases 1.80 times. Whereas the averaged heat fluxes on the casing and the blade tip become 2.71 and 2.82 times larger, respectively. Therefore, about 2.8 times larger cooling capacity is required to keep the same turbine material temperature. Furthermore, the maximum heat flux on the blade tip of high turbine inlet temperature case reaches up to 3.348 times larger than that of LTIT case. The effect of the interaction of stator and rotor on heat transfer features is also explored using unsteady simulations. The non‐uniform turbine inlet temperature enhances the heat flux fluctuation on the blade tip and casing.

Originality/value

The increase of turbine inlet temperature is usually proposed to achieve the higher turbine efficiency and the higher turbine power output. However, it has not been reported how much the heat transfer into the blade tip and casing increases with the increased turbine inlet temperature. This paper investigates the heat transfer distributions on the rotor blade tip and casing, associated with the tip leakage flow under high and low turbine inlet temperatures, as well as non‐uniform temperature distribution.
Numerical simulation of solidification of liquid copper saturated in porous structures fabricated by sintered steel particles
Authors: Damronglerd Piyasak , Zhang Yuwen , Yang Mo
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve solidification of liquid copper saturated in porous structure fabricated by sintered steel particles using a temperature‐transforming model (TTM).

Design/methodology/approach

The convection in the liquid region is modeled using Navier‐Stokes equation with Darcy's term and Forchheimer's extension. The effect of natural convection is considered using the Boussinesq approximation. For the solid region, the velocity is set to zero by the Ramped Switch‐Off Method (RSOM). The model was validated by comparing the results with existing experimental and numerical results with gallium as phase change material and packed glass beads as porous structure. Solidification of liquid copper saturated in sintered copper particles is then simulated and the effects of various parameters on solidification process were studied.

Findings

The results indicate that the stronger convection effects are shown for the cases with high Raleigh number or high Darcy's number. However, when either Raleigh number or Darcy's number is reduced to below a certain order of magnitude, the solidification becomes conduction‐controlled.

Originality/value

This work is the first application of the TTM to solve solidification in porous media, which can find its application in post‐processing of laser sintered parts.
Exploring consumer‐brand relationship quality and identification
Authors: Papista Erifili , Dimitriadis Sergios
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine alternative constructs that are used in parallel to describe the strength of consumer‐brand relationships. First, the two main conceptualisations of relationship quality (RQ), as developed by relationship marketing and branding literature, are analysed to highlight their common elements. Then, the recently applied in branding context concept of consumer‐brand identification (CBI) is analysed, and issues regarding its nature and link to RQ are raised.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon existing literature on the streams of branding and relationship marketing, to propose a conceptualisation of consumer‐brand RQ and examine the link of CBI to RQ. To investigate the research questions, an exploratory qualitative paper is undertaken involving four focus groups with consumers who have developed relationships with cosmetic brands.

Findings

Responses provide evidence for the concepts of satisfaction, trust, commitment, intimacy and love in describing consumer‐brand RQ. CBI emerges as a distinct construct of cognitive nature. Furthermore, RQ appears to be differentiated according to consumer age.

Research limitations/implications

This research enables commencement of empirical examination of the link between RQ and CBI and the relative role of age into building strong relationships with brands.

Originality/value

The paper bridges two different research streams, relationship marketing and branding, into conceptualising consumer‐brand RQ. Furthermore, the paper is a first attempt to explore the role of CBI in relation to the construct of RQ, thus fulfilling an identified gap in the literature regarding the link of those constructs.
Investigating directionality for a media consumption construct
Authors: Wilson Bradley , Vocino Andrea , Adam Stewart , Stella Jason
Published: December 2011

Purpose

When assessing the psychometric properties of measures and estimate relations among latent variables, many studies in the social sciences (including management and marketing) often fail to comprehensively appraise the directionality of indicants. Such failures can lead to model misspecification and inaccurate parameter estimates. The purpose of this paper is to apply a post hoc test called confirmatory vanishing tetrad analysis (CTA hereafter) to a single construct called mass media consumption information exposure, which antecedent studies conceptually posited to be a formative (causative) representation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses a consumer sample of 585 US respondents and applies the CTA test to a single construct by its inclusion in various matrices within a statistical analysis system‐macro that takes into account nonnormal data characteristics. The matrices are derived from Mplus 5 through the estimation of a single‐factor congeneric model. The CTA test calculates a test statistic similar to an asymptotic χ2 distribution with degrees of freedom equal to the number of nonredundant tetrads tested.

Findings

The preliminary data analyses reveal that the data characteristics are nonnormal which is not uncommon in social research. The CTA results reveal that the reflective (emergent) item orientation cannot be fully ruled out as being the correct model representation. This is in contrast to prior theoretical conceptual work which would strongly support this construct being a formative representation.

Originality/value

Insofar as the authors are aware, there is no paper with a particular focus on how the CTA might not provide sound results with a demonstrated example. The paper makes a valuable contribution by discussing modelling philosophy and a procedure for directionality testing. The authors advocate the implementation of pre and post hoc tests as a key component of standard research practice.
Can consumers be racist?
Authors: Rao Hill Sally , Paphitis Katherine
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Consumer racism (CR) is a highly relevant issue to societies such as Australia and one which has, up until now, been somewhat neglected by marketers. This paper aims to investigate this relatively “new” construct and its impact on product evaluation and subsequent willingness to buy cross‐ethnic products amongst Australian consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a quasi‐experiment method. Data were collected from an intercept sample of 212 Australian consumers via personal interviews. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, and hypotheses were tested using regression analysis and two‐way between groups ANOVA.

Findings

The results provide evidence that higher levels of CR translate into more negative evaluations of product quality which, in turn, decrease willingness to buy products perceived as originating from the ethnic minority. Further, regardless of the importance of product outcome, CR has a consistent negative effect on product evaluation and willingness to buy amongst Australian consumers.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could be expanded into other ethnic groups and other countries, and could include other moderators such as level of interaction. CR construct can also be examined in service contexts.

Originality/value

The major contributions of the study are the validation of the CR construct and the findings about the impact of it on consumers' willingness to buy cross‐ethnic products via product evaluations in the Australian context.
Like it or not: differences in advertising likeability and dislikeability within Asia
Authors: Gazley Aaron , Krisjanous Jayne , Fam Kim‐Shyan , Grohs Reinhard
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Asian consumers' attitudes towards television advertisements (ads) to provide an insight into the antecedents and consequences of liked and disliked ads and the cultural differences that influence these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A matched sample of young consumers from four Asian cities was asked to nominate ads that they both liked and disliked. They also provided reasons as to why they were liked and disliked and the effect this had on their purchase intentions. The results were analysed using multiple and logistic regression.

Findings

Findings show that ad likeability increases if people feel that advertising provides something to talk about. Conversely, people who find advertising annoying have higher ratings of ad dislikeability. Results also show that a close relationship exists between liking (disliking) television ads and buying more (less) of the advertised products. However, differences exist between Asian cities.

Practical implications

The results suggest that adherence to a standardised regional advertising strategy based on assumptions that close geography and a seemingly sufficiently close culture within the Asian region is appropriate, could lead to disappointing results. The only commonality is that disliked ads reduce intention to purchase.

Originality/value

Previous research does not consider the unique influences of ad likeability and dislikeability in the decision of whether to standardize or adapt advertising within the Asian region.
The impact of globalization on consumer acculturation
Authors: Gupta Nitin
Published: December 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore whether predisposition towards foreign brands and consumer acculturation would differ across demographic segments in an emerging market (India). Further, the paper aims to investigate if predisposition towards foreign brands (acting as a proxy for forces of globalization) would lead to consumer acculturation among consumers in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Instruments to measure predisposition towards foreign brands and consumer acculturation were developed on the basis of extensive literature review. The data comprised of urban, educated, middle‐class Indian consumers. The data were collected using structured questionnaire. ANOVA and T‐test results were used to determine if extent of predisposition towards foreign brands and consumer acculturation would differ across demographic segments. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the impact of predisposition towards foreign brands on consumer acculturation.

Findings

The findings indicate that significant difference exists among various demographic segments with respect to predisposition towards foreign brands and consumer acculturation. Also, predisposition towards foreign brands does impact consumer acculturation among Indian consumers. Various demographic factors such as age, income and educational qualification level significantly affect this causal relationship.

Practical implications

This paper provides interesting insights about the buying behavior of Indian consumers. These insights would enable corporate managers to develop more focused strategies catering to the Indian consumers.

Originality/value

The paper empirically demonstrates that Indian consumers, when segregated into various demographic segments, do show significant differences in their predisposition towards foreign brands and consumer acculturation. It also ascertains that predisposition towards foreign brands does lead to consumer acculturation.