bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved electron transfer and plasmonic effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with bi-functional Nb-doped TiO2/Ag ternary nanostructures
Authors: Park Jung Tae , Chi Won Seok , Jeon Harim , Kim Jong Hak
Published: December 2013

Bi-functional Nb-doped TiO2/Ag ternary nanostructures were generatedviasubsequent ATRP, selective reduction and a doping process for dye-sensitized solar cells.
Distinct regions of triadin are required for targeting and retention at the junctional domain of the sarcoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Rossi Daniela , Bencini Cristina , Maritati Marina , Benini Francesca , Lorenzini Stefania , Pierantozzi Enrico , Scarcella Angela Maria , Paolini Cecilia , Protasi Feliciano , Sorrentino Vincenzo
Published: December 2013

Ca2+ release, which is necessary for muscle contraction, occurs at the j-SR (junctional domain of the sarcoplasmic reticulum). It requires the assembly of a large multiprotein complex containing the RyR (ryanodine receptor) and additional proteins, including triadin and calsequestrin. The signals which drive these proteins to the j-SR and how they assemble to form this multiprotein complex are poorly understood. To address aspects of these questions we studied the localization, dynamic properties and molecular interactions of triadin. We identified three regions, named TR1 (targeting region 1), TR2 and TR3, that contribute to the localization of triadin at the j-SR. FRAP experiments showed that triadin is stably associated with the j-SR and that this association is mediated by TR3. Protein pull-down experiments indicated that TR3 contains binding sites for calsequestrin-1 and that triadin clustering can be enhanced by binding to calsequestrin-1. These findings were confirmed by FRET experiments. Interestingly, the stable association of triadin to the j-SR was significantly decreased in myotubes from calsequestrin-1 knockout mice. Taken together, these results identify three regions in triadin that mediate targeting to the j-SR and reveal a role for calsequestrin-1 in promoting the stable association of triadin to the multiprotein complex associated with RyR.
Scholarly journals at the periphery: the case of Croatia
Authors: GRGIĆ Ivana HEBRANG
Published: December 2013

This paper analyses 231 Croatian journals available on the national online platform, the Hrčak portal. To qualify for analysis journals had to be peer reviewed and to have published at least one issue in 2012. Some differences from the results of previous studies were noted. More journals are internationally oriented and the number of times they are accessed apparently depends on their scientific field. Publishers are still mostly not‐for‐profit but are more likely now to apply article processing/publication charges. This is new for Croatia and raises questions about the potential influence of this trend on the availability and visibility of scientific results. The results are relevant not only to Croatia but may also be representative of other countries at the ‘periphery‘.
Green and gold open access in India
Authors: MUKHERJEE Bhaskar
Published: December 2013

This paper examines the characteristics of 462 open access (OA) journals being published in India under the green, gold and hybrid models. The sample of journals was selected from DOAJ, IndianJournal.com and Open J‐Gate. Journal characteristics were measured in terms of growth, subjects, publishers, and citations under each model. While characteristics such as growth, subject, and publisher have been identified by exploring the journal's website only, the citation count of these journals has been calculated by using Google Scholar and the Indian Citation Index. The gold road is now the most popular form of OA publishing in the subcontinent. There is a great variation in the size of OA journals and in their publishers. One publisher has more than 77 journals, but 264 publishers publish a single journal only. Overall, the OA journal landscape is greatly influenced by a few key publishers and journals. While 43% of journals charge publication fees and the fees vary from as low as US$10 to as high as US$400, the highest impact factor of the gold OA journals has been noted as 0.58. The data presented here suggest that publication fees are not a major barrier to authorship within the fields of computer science, pharmacy, and medicine.
Defining and responding to plagiarism
Authors: WAGER Elizabeth
Published: December 2013

A clear definition of plagiarism and the ability to classify it into more or less serious forms would help editors and publishers to devise policies to handle this problem. Text‐matching software is a useful tool for measuring the extent of text copying but it cannot detect plagiarized tables or figures, plagiarism of ideas, or plagiarism in translation. Furthermore, a working definition of plagiarism in relation to research reports needs to take into account factors such as the originality of the copied material, its position in the report, the adequacy of referencing, and the intention of the authors as well as the extent of the copying. This article considers all these factors and proposes possible definitions of major and minor plagiarism in relation to scholarly publications which might be used as the basis for anti‐plagiarism policies in conjunction with resources such as the COPE flowcharts.
Book reviews
Authors: NICHOLAS David
Published: December 2013

The Future of Scholarly Communication Deborah Shorley and Michael Jubb London, Facet, 2013, 224pp. ISBN: 978‐1‐85604‐817‐0, £49.95 (pbk)
Soft matrix is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness
Authors: Gu Zhizhan , Liu Fei , Tonkova Elina A. , Lee Soo Young , Tschumperlin Daniel J. , Brenner Michael B.
Published: December 2013

Directional mesenchymal cell invasion in vivo is understood to be a stimulated event and to be regulated by cytokines, chemokines, and types of extracellular matrix (ECM). Instead, by focusing on the cellular response to ECM stiffness, we found that soft ECM (low stiffness) itself is sufficient to prevent stable cell-to-cell adherens junction formation, up-regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion, promote MMP activity, and induce invadosome-like protrusion (ILP) formation. Consistently, similar ILP formation was also detected in a three-dimensional directional invasion assay in soft matrix. Primary human fibroblasts spontaneously form ILPs in a very narrow range of ECM stiffness (0.1–0.4 kPa), and such ILP formation is Src family kinase dependent. In contrast, spontaneous ILP formation in malignant cancer cells and fibrosarcoma cells occurs across a much wider range of ECM stiffness, and these tumor cell ILPs are also more prominent at lower stiffness. These findings suggest that ECM softness is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness.
Resequencing Data Indicate a Modest Effect of Domestication on Diversity in Barley: A Cultigen With Multiple Origins
Authors: Morrell Peter L. , Gonzales Ana M. , Meyer Kapua K.T. , Clegg Michael T.
Published: December 2013

The levels of diversity and extent of linkage disequilibrium in cultivated species are largely determined by diversity in their wild progenitors. We report a comparison of nucleotide sequence diversity in wild and cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum and ssp. vulgare) at 7 nuclear loci totaling 9296bp, using sequence from Hordeum bulbosum to infer the ancestral state of mutations. The sample includes 36 accessions of cultivated barley, including 23 landraces (cultivated forms not subject to modern breeding) and 13 cultivated lines and genetic stocks compared to either 25 or 45 accessions of wild barley for the same loci. Estimates of nucleotide sequence diversity indicate that landraces retain >80% of the diversity in wild barley. The primary population structure in wild barley, which divides the species into eastern and western populations, is reflected in significant differentiation at all loci in wild accessions and at 3 of 7 loci in landraces. “Oriental” landraces have slightly higher diversity than “Occidental” landraces. Genetic assignment suggests more admixture from Occidental landraces into Oriental landraces than the converse, which may explain this difference. Based on θπ for silent sites, modern western cultivars have ~73% of the diversity found in landraces and ~71% of the diversity in wild barley.
Broad absorption features in wind-dominated ultraluminous X-ray sources?
Authors: Middleton Matthew J. , Walton Dominic J. , Roberts Timothy P. , Heil Lucy
Published: December 2013

The luminosities of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) require an exotic solution with either supercritical accretion modes on to stellar-mass black holes or subcritical accretion on to intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) being invoked. Discriminating between the two is non-trivial due to the present lack of a direct mass measurement. A key expectation of the supercritical mode of accretion is the presence of powerful radiatively driven winds. Here we analyse XMM–Newton data from NGC 5408 X-1 and NGC 6946 X-1 and find that strong soft residuals present in the X-ray spectra can be reconciled with broadened, blueshifted absorption by a partially ionized, optically thin phase of this wind. We derive initial values for the physical parameters of the wind; we also discuss other possible origins for the observed features.
Overexpression of FGF9 in colon cancer cells is mediated by hypoxia-induced translational activation
Authors: Chen Tsung-Ming , Shih Yu-Heng , Tseng Joseph T. , Lai Ming-Chih , Wu Chih-Hao , Li Yi-Han , Tsai Shaw-Jenq , Sun H. Sunny
Published: December 2013

Human fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is a potent mitogen involved in many physiological processes. Although FGF9 messenger RNA (mRNA) is ubiquitously expressed in embryos, FGF9 protein expression is generally low and restricted to a few adult organs. Aberrant expression of FGF9 usually results in human malignancies including cancers, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we report that FGF9 protein, but not mRNA, was increased in hypoxia. Two sequence elements, the upstream open reading frame (uORF) and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), were identified in the 5' UTR of FGF9 mRNA. Functional assays indicated that FGF9 protein synthesis was normally controlled by uORF-mediated translational repression, which kept the protein at a low level, but was upregulated in response to hypoxia through a switch to IRES-dependent translational control. Our data demonstrate that FGF9 IRES functions as a cellular switch to turn FGF9 protein synthesis ‘on’ during hypoxia, a likely mechanism underlying FGF9 overexpression in cancer cells. Finally, we provide evidence to show that hypoxia-induced translational activation promotes FGF9 protein expression in colon cancer cells. Altogether, this dynamic working model may provide a new direction in anti-tumor therapies and cancer intervention.
Tranexamic Acid Impairs γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A–mediated Synaptic Transmission in the Murine Amygdala
Authors: Kratzer Stephan , Irl Hedwig , Mattusch Corinna , Bürge Martina , Kurz Jörg , Kochs Eberhard , Eder Matthias , Rammes Gerhard , Haseneder Rainer
Published: December 2013

Background:

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is commonly used to reduce blood loss in cardiac surgery and in trauma patients. High-dose application of TXA is associated with an increased risk of postoperative seizures. The neuronal mechanisms underlying this proconvulsant action of TXA are not fully understood. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of TXA on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the basolateral amygdala.

Methods:

Patch clamp recordings and voltage-sensitive dye imaging were performed in acute murine brain slices. Currents through N-methyl-d-aspartate, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABAA) receptors were recorded. GABAA receptor–mediated currents were evoked upon electrical stimulation or upon photolysis of caged GABA. TXA was applied at different concentrations.

Results:

Voltage-sensitive dye imaging demonstrates that TXA (1 mM) reversibly enhances propagation of neuronal excitation (mean ± SEM, 129 ± 6% of control; n = 5). TXA at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 1, 5, or 10 mM led to a dose-dependent reduction of GABAA receptor–mediated currents in patch clamp recordings. There was no difference in the half-maximal inhibitory concentration for electrically (0.76 mM) and photolytically (0.84 mM) evoked currents (n = 5 to 9 for each concentration), and TXA did not affect the paired-pulse ratio of GABAA receptor–mediated currents. TXA did not impact glutamatergic synaptic transmission.

Conclusions:

This study clearly demonstrates that TXA enhances neuronal excitation by antagonizing inhibitory GABAergic neurotransmission. The results provide evidence that this effect is mediated via postsynaptic mechanisms. Because GABAA receptor antagonists are known to promote epileptiform activity, this effect might explain the proconvulsant action of TXA.
Characterization of a new picornavirus isolated from the freshwater fish Lepomis macrochirus
Authors: Barbknecht Marisa , Sepsenwol Sol , Leis Eric , Tuttle-Lau Maren , Gaikowski Mark , Knowles Nick J. , Lasee Becky , Hoffman Michael A.
Published: December 2013

The freshwater fish Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) is common to North American waters, and important both ecologically and as a sport fish. In 2001 an unknown virus was isolated from bluegills following a bluegill fish kill. This virus was identified as a picornavirus [termed bluegill picornavirus (BGPV)] and a diagnostic reverse transcriptase PCR was developed. A survey of bluegills in Wisconsin waters showed the presence of BGPV in 5 of 17 waters sampled, suggesting the virus is widespread in bluegill populations. Experimental infections of bluegills confirmed that BGPV can cause morbidity and mortality in bluegills. Molecular characterization of BGPV revealed several distinct genome characteristics, the most unusual of which is the presence of a short poly(C) tract in the 3′ UTR. Additionally, the genome encodes a polyprotein lacking a leader peptide and a VP0 maturation cleavage site, and is predicted to encode two distinct 2A proteins. Sequence comparison showed that the virus is most closely related to a phylogenetic cluster of picornaviruses that includes the genera Aquamavirus, Avihepatovirus and Parechovirus. However, it is distinct enough, for example sharing only about 38 % sequence identity to the parechoviruses in the 3D region, that it may represent a new genus in the family Picornaviridae.
Evaluating the use of ABBA-BABA statistics to locate introgressed loci
Authors: Martin Simon H. , Davey John W. , Jiggins Chris D.
Published: December 2013

Several methods have been proposed to test for introgression across genomes. One method tests for a genome-wide excess of shared derived alleles between taxa using Patterson’sDstatistic, but does not establish which loci show such an excess or whether the excess is due to introgression or ancestral population structure. Several recent studies have extended the use ofDby applying the statistic to small genomic regions, rather than genome-wide. Here, we use simulations and whole genome data fromHeliconiusbutterflies to investigate the behavior ofDin small genomic regions. We find thatDis unreliable in this situation as it gives inflated values when effective population size is low, causingDoutliers to cluster in genomic regions of reduced diversity. As an alternative, we propose a related statistica modified version of a statistic originally developed to estimate the genome-wide fraction of admixture.is not subject to the same biases asD, and is better at identifying introgressed loci. Finally, we show that bothDandoutliers tend to cluster in regions of low absolute divergence (dXY), which can confound a recently proposed test for differentiating introgression from shared ancestral variation at individual loci.
5,5,7,12,12,14-Hexamethyl-1,8-bis(4-nitrobenzyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane
Authors: Gayathri K. , Sathya S. , Usha G. , Ramanjaneya Reddy G. , Balasubramanian S.
Published: December 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C30H46N6O4, contains one half-molecule. The C(benzene)—C(CH2)—N—C(—Me) torsion angle is −79.89 (13)° suggesting a synclinal orientation of the nitrobenzene ring with respect to the macrocycle. The conformation of the macrocycle is stabilized by intramolecular N—H...N hydrogen bonds.
4-(4-Aminophenylsulfonyl)anilinium toluene-4-sulfonate
Authors: Smith Graham , Wermuth Urs D.
Published: December 2013

In the title p-toluenesulfonate salt of the drug dapsone, C12H13N2O2S+·C7H7O3S−, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings of the dapsone monocation is 70.19 (17)° and those between these rings and that of the p-toluenesulfonate anion are 72.34 (17) and 46.43 (17)°. All amine and aminium H atoms are involved in intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen-bonding associations with sulfonyl O-atom acceptors as well as one of the sulfone O atoms, giving a three-dimensional structure.
5-Chloro-5′′-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-4′-(4-chlorophenyl)-1′′-ethyl-1′-methyldispiro[indoline-3,2′-pyrrolidine-3′,3′′-piperidine]-2,4′′-dione
Authors: Farag I. S. Ahmed , Girgis Adel S. , Ramadan A. A. , Moustafa A. M. , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: December 2013

Two spiro links are found in the title compound, C31H28Cl3N3O2, one connecting the piperidine and pyrrolidine rings, and the other connecting the pyrrolidine ring and indole residue. The piperidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation, in which the C atom connected to the spiro-C atom lies 0.741 (3) Å out of the plane of the remaining five atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.053 Å). The pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the flap atom being the methylene C atom. Centrosymmetric eight-membered {...HNCO}2 amide dimers are the most significant feature of the crystal packing. These are connected into layers parallel to (-120) by C—H...O and π–π interactions between pyrrolidine-bound benzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.8348 (15) Å]. Slipped face-to-face interactions between the edges of pyrrolidine-bound benzene [shortest C...C separation = 3.484 (4) Å] connect the layers into a three-dimensional architecture.
Hexakis(3-chloro-2-methylanilinium) cyclohexaphosphate dihydrate
Authors: Bel Haj Salah Raoudha , Khederi Lamia , Rzaigui Mohamed
Published: December 2013

In the organic/inorganic salt hydrate, 6C7H9ClN+·P6O18
6−·2H2O, the cyclohexaphosphate anion resides on an inversion centre. The asymmetric unit consists of three cations, one half-anion and a water molecule. In the crystal, the water molecules and the [P6O18]6− anions are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating infinite layers parallel to the ab plane. These layers are interconnected by the organic cations through N—H...O hydrogen bonds.
(2E)-2-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-enenitrile
Authors: Mohamed Shaaban K. , Akkurt Mehmet , Kariuki Benson M. , Ali Ali M. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: December 2013

The molecular conformation of title compound, C12H11N3S, is almost planar [maximum deviation = 0.063 (2) Å]; an intramolecular C—H...N hydrogen bond is noted. In the crystal, molecules interact with each other via π–π stacking interactions between thiazole rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7475 (9) Å] and methyl-H...π(C6) interactions, forming columns along the a axis.
4-Amino-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione
Authors: Sarojini B. K. , Manjula P. S. , Kaur Manpreet , Anderson Brian J. , Jasinski Jerry P.
Published: December 2013

In the title compound, C9H10N4OS, the dihedral angle between the benzene and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione rings is 67.51 (16)°. In the crystal, molecules are liked via N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the c-axis direction. The chains are linked via O—H...S hydrogen bonds, forming corrugated layers lying parallel to the bc plane. The layers are linked via N—H...N and N—H...S hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.
Iodidobis(morpholine-4-carbodithioato-κ2
S,S′)(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′)bismuth(III)
Authors: Li Feng , Yin Handong , Wu Guoxing
Published: December 2013

The title compound, [Bi(C4H8NOS2)2I(C12H8N2)], is monomeric, with the BiIII atom chelated by the two S atoms of two morpholine-4-carbodithioate ligands and the two N atoms of a 1,10-phenanthroline ligand. An iodide ligand completes the coordination sphere, with the seven-coordinate BiIII atom adopting a highly distorted monocapped octahedral geometry.
4-[(E)-(4-Chlorobenzylidene)amino]-3-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione
Authors: Sarojini B. K. , Manjula P. S. , Kaur Manpreet , Anderson Brian J. , Jasinski Jerry P.
Published: December 2013

In the title compound, C10H9ClN4S, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenyl and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione rings is 25.3 (9)°. The latter ring is essentially planar, with maximum deviations of 0.010 and −0.010 Å for the ring N atom in the 4-position and ring C atom bearing the methyl group, respectively. An intramolecular C—H...S contact occurs. In the crystal, pairs of weak N—H...S interactions link the molecules into inversion dimers in the ac plane, forming R
2
2(8) graph-set motifs. In addition, weak π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.3463 (14) and 3.6127 (13)Å] are observed.
1-Ethyl-5-iodoindoline-2,3-dione
Authors: Wang Lei , Shen Yu-Xiang , Dong Jian-Tong , Zhang Man , Fang Qi
Published: December 2013

There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C10H8INO2, which differ in the degree of planarity. The iodoindoline-2,3-dione skeleton of molecule 1 is essentially planar [mean deviation = 0.003 (2) Å for the nine non-H atoms of the indoline core, with a maximum deviation of 0.033 (1) Å for the I atom]. The I atom and O atom in the 3-position of molecule 2 deviate by 0.195 (1) and 0.120 (2) Å, respectively, from the least-squares plane through the nine non-H atoms of the indoline core. Molecules 1 and 2 are roughly coplanar, the mean planes through their cores making a dihedral angle of 6.84 (1)°. This coplanarity results in a layer-like structure parallel to (6,11,17) in the crystal, the distance between adjacent least-squares planes through the cores of molecules 1 and 2 being 3.37 (1) Å. In such a layer, molecules 1 and 2 are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [11-1]. The chains are further coupled to construct a kind of double-chain structure via I...O interactions [3.270 (2) Å].
Developing a framework for the identification of criminogenic needs in offenders with intellectual disability and personality disorder: the Treatment Need Matrix
Authors: Taylor Jon
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The criminogenic needs and psychological vulnerabilities of offenders with intellectual disability (ID) has only recently received attention within the academic literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of an approach to identifying such needs in order to inform treatment planning and service delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the methods employed to identify relevant psychological variables for this population, provides an overview of the framework and describes the practices employed to establish the relevance of a range of criminogenic needs.

Findings

– A range of psychological variables derived from a systematic literature review are presented in the context of an assessment framework.

Research limitations/implications

– The Treatment Need Matrix (TNM) is currently an experimental framework for identifying the needs of offenders with ID (and personality disorder (PD)). Further research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of the tool.

Practical implications

– The TNM offers clinicians a practical methodology for determining the significance of a range of psychological variables cited in the literature as relevant treatment targets for offenders with IDs.

Originality/value

– The specific criminogenic needs of offenders with ID (and PD) has received little attention within the academic and research communities. This paper offers a novel approach to the identification of relevant treatment targets for individuals with such difficulties.
The differences between successful and unsuccessful new manufacturing products in international markets
Authors: Haluk Koksal Mehmet
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Developing new products for international markets offers great growth opportunities for companies by positively influencing company performance. Specifically, the research purpose is to determine the effects of new product success factors on the measures of company export performance, namely export sales, export growth and export profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study examines the new product success factors, discriminating successful new products from unsuccessful ones in international markets. A pre-tested structured questionnaire is employed for collecting data from the companies. The population frame consists of exporting manufacturing companies and was determined from the records of the Export Promotion Centre of Turkey (IGEME). Of the 250 questionnaires sent out, 116 were completed and returned yielding a response rate of 46.4 percent. The study analysed data from 202 new product projects.

Findings

– The research determined that various new product success factors have different levels of effect on company performance in international markets, mainly measured in terms of sales, market share and profitability. Specifically, it identified that pre-development and development activities, a large and fast-growing foreign market with huge demand, order of entry and large and well-executed advertising activities differentiate successful new products from unsuccessful ones. Product characteristics are, on the other hand, not found to be a strong factor differentiating successful new products from unsuccessful ones in international markets.

Originality/value

– The main objective of the study is to integrate knowledge from two disciplines and expand new product success factors for international markets. The paper aims to bring together all the factors leading to the success of new products in international markets, and to test the effects of those factors on company performance. It is hoped that the findings will help managers and policy makers.
Shopping online without thinking: being emotional or rational?
Authors: Ozen Hilal , Engizek Nil
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This study aims to explore whether hedonic motivations of Turkish consumers have any potential impact on their impulse buying tendencies (IBT) in the online environment. Besides, it also covers which dimension of hedonic shopping motivation has the strongest effect on online IBT.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey was conducted to test the structural model. A total of 430 Turkish online consumers served as the sample. Data analysis was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings

– Findings confirm that hedonic value drives online IBT. While three dimensions of hedonic shopping motivation (adventure, relaxation and value) affect online IBT in a positive way, social shopping was related negatively to online IBT. It was also found that idea shopping does not have a significant effect on online IBT.

Originality/value

– Given the occurrence of impulse buying in online shopping and the importance of hedonic motivations on consumer behavior, this study provides useful insights into impulse buying behavior in an online setting. In developing markets like Turkey what is the role of hedonic shopping motivations in online IBT? This study is unique in addressing this question for Turkish online consumers.
Institutional entrepreneurship in building the Brazilian market of functional yogurts
Authors: Almeida Felipe , de Paula Nilson , Pessali Huascar
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to present an analytical narrative of the construction of the Brazilian market of functional yogurt, highlighting the role of Danone as an institutional entrepreneur.

Design/methodology/approach

– After putting together a theoretical basis from business studies and institutional economics, the paper explores factual evidence of strategic moves by dairy firms in Brazil.

Findings

– Danone, despite being a second mover, has been able to effectively make use of new values and collective concerns regarding food functionality to create a favourable institutional set in which to operate. Other firms have not been able to challenge its position in the market, simply abiding by the concepts and values created by Danone.

Practical implications

– On the one hand, case studies based on traditional economic theories usually approach markets with supply and demand adjustment tools or taking technology as exogenous and the sole determinant of the existence of a market. On the other hand, traditional business theories highlight an individual entrepreneur as the only relevant object of analysis. This study offers an alternative guideline to study markets with creative players that craft not only new physical products or directly delivered services, but also concepts and ideas. Studies of other markets or similar markets in different countries can benefit from its insights.

Originality/value

– The functional yogurt market in Brazil has not previously been object of academic research, and the combined framework of analysis in this study may offer guidance for other market studies.
Effects on logistic operations from RFID- and EPCIS-enabled traceability
Authors: Anders Ringsberg Henrik , Mirzabeiki Vahid
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to explore the potential effects on logistic operations of implementing the Electronic Product Code Information Service (EPCIS) standard and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable food traceability. A conceptual model for analysing supply chains according to EPCIS standard is also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review was conducted to establish a theoretical framework. A case study of a Swedish fresh fish supply chain was then carried out.

Findings

– Implementation of the EPCIS standard and RFID technology to enable food traceability potentially affects the following logistic operations activities: identification, monitoring, labelling, goods handling, reporting of production, identification costs and revenue changes due to sales of goods. The conceptual model was used to analyse the effects.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper contributes to logistic research by studying the implementation of RFID technology and information standards to comply with food traceability requirements. The research is limited to fish supply chains; other sectors and supply chains need to be investigated for further generalisation of the results.

Practical implications

– Regulatory requirements on food traceability stipulate the implementation of food traceability systems, placing the responsibility on companies by authorities. The research presented can support managers in understanding the potential effects of implementing such systems.

Originality/value

– The discussion about logistics and food traceability has in part revolved around implementation of RFID technology and standardised approaches for handling information to preserve food quality and safety. This paper presents potential effects on logistic operations when implementing the EPCIS standard and RFID technology as a way of enabling traceability throughout food supply chains.
Evaluation of satisfaction and repurchase intention in online food group-buying, using Taiwan as an example
Authors: Chang Shu-Chun , Chou Pei-Yu , Lo Wen-Chien
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purposes of this study are: to investigate the relationship of personal background to online group buying's satisfaction and to establish the relationship between consumer's satisfactions and repurchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research used a questionnaire to survey and chose consumers with online group buying experience as research subjects. The study used SPSS statistic software to analyze.

Findings

– The outcomes of this study are: demographic variables have effects on consumer's online food group-buying satisfaction. Consumer's satisfaction has an effect on repurchase intention.

Originality/value

– This paper investigates the relationship of personal background to online group buying's satisfaction. It establishes the relationship between consumer's satisfaction and repurchase intention.
Systematic review of omega-3 enriched foods and health
Authors: Elizabeth Lane Katie , Derbyshire Emma
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review evidence from high-quality randomised controlled trials reporting links between omega-3 enriched functional foods and health.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using MEDLINE, a search was made for all randomised controlled trials published between 2002 and 2012 that met defined inclusion criteria. Studies had minimum durations of 28 days, clearly stated the food vehicle, dose and type of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC3PUFA) used, and did not include studies where participants only took LC3PUFA supplements.

Findings

– A total of 11 studies were located, ten of which reported potential health benefits linked to omega-3 functional food consumption. Five studies reported significant improvements in markers of cardiovascular (CV) health, while ten bioavailability studies reported increases in omega-3 blood levels when doses of 460 mg or more were integrated into food vehicles.

Research limitations/implications

– In the future a meta-analysis would be useful in terms of determining the dose of LC3PUFA associated with overall health benefits.

Practical implications

– The present review concludes that omega-3 enriched functional foods are a useful way to improve LC3PUFA status and have been linked to improved health outcomes, namely markers of CV health. More work is now needed to determine whether particular population groups could benefit from consumption of these foods, for example vegetarians and children, in relation to a range of health outcomes, such as cognitive function.

Originality/value

– This review provides evidence that integrating omega-3 enriched functional foods within the daily diet could be an effective strategy for helping to improve LC3PUFA status and attenuating CV disease risk.
Digging deeper
Authors: Mørch Andersen Laura , Bøker Lund Thomas
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This article aims to investigate how sub-markets with different degrees of maturity develop during a period of general organic growth, and how different consumer segments behave on these sub-markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses actual purchasing behaviour of six consumer segments with different attitudes towards food in general, and organic production and products in particular. The data is from the Danish market for organic foods, which is one of the most mature markets in the world.

Findings

– The segmentation splits consumers into a positive and a non-positive half, each half consisting of three different segments. The estimations show that the development in general organic consumption varies between segments, and that their behaviour varies between sub-markets. The positive half of the population has driven the overall growth in organic budget share at the Danish market over the period 2005 to 2007, while the other half have not changed their consumption significantly.

Practical implications

– The results indicate that for the most dedicated organic consumers, the organic budget share may be approaching a saturation point for some types of food, but also identify other types of food which still have a growing organic budget share, even among the most dedicated consumers.

Originality/value

– The combination of attitudes and actual behaviour for a large number of consumers is new, and the results provide a valuable contribution to the ongoing investigation of organic consumers, and provide new nuances to the understanding of the latest organic growth.
Consumer understanding and use of country-of-origin in food choice
Authors: Insch Andrea , Jackson Erin
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This study aimed to investigate consumers' understanding of country of origin (CoO) information and its relative importance in the context of their everyday food purchase decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional intercept survey of 402 consumers in two cities in New Zealand was conducted. Respondents were asked to describe what they had considered when selecting a food item in their trolley. This was followed by questions to assess respondents' knowledge of CoO and their use and understanding of common CoO labels.

Findings

– Price (42 per cent), taste (40 per cent), health (18 per cent), and quality (18 per cent) were the most important factors that respondents mentioned. Only 3.5 per cent of respondents mentioned CoO as one of the factors influencing their decision. Of respondents 61 per cent, when prompted, stated that they knew the CoO of the food product selected. Of these respondents, 90 per cent were correct. Of respondents 62 per cent stated that they look at CoO labels when making food purchase decisions. Yet, only one third of respondents correctly understood the difference between the “Made in” and “Product of” labels.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings suggest that consumers that do access CoO labels are misinterpreting this information which may form the basis of their assumptions about the source of origin of the brands and food products they routinely purchase.

Practical implications

– Mandatory CoO labelling policies may add costs and reinforce misconceptions that consumers already hold about the meaning of these labels.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to understanding of the extent to which consumers are competent in their knowledge and understanding of these informational labels.
South African adult metropolitan consumers' opinions and use of health information on food labels
Authors: J.C. Bosman Magdalena , Van der Merwe Daleen , M. Ellis Susanna , C. Jerling Johann , Badham Jane
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The globally recognised link between diet and health needs to be communicated to consumers to facilitate healthy food choices. Thus, this paper aims to determine South African (SA) metropolitan consumers' opinions and beliefs about the food-health link, as well as their opinions and use of health information on food labels.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional study using fieldworker-administered questionnaires was conducted. Using stratified randomised sampling, 1,997 respondents were recruited. The data were weighted to represent the metropolitan SA adult population (n=10,695,000).

Findings

– Practically significantly more respondents agreed than disagreed there is a food-health link and that health messages on food labels are supported by scientific research. Respondents' opinions on health information on food labels were mostly positive, as confirmed by the average opinions for the different ethnic groups. The results identified a lack of interest, time and price concerns, and habitual purchasing as reasons for not reading food labels. Health-concerned respondents also considered labels as important health information sources.

Practical implications

– Consumer education on the food-health link and the use of health information on food labels should address the deficiencies identified through the opinions and use of food labels by these respondents.

Originality/value

– Representative results of SA metropolitan consumers in this study are significant since third world countries are burdened by various diseases and former studies only used limited-sized non-probability samples which could not be generalised.
What determines the business activities in the airline industry? A theoretical framework
Authors: Huettinger Maik
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The main purpose of this paper is to create a model, which specifies the determinants of the airline business. This sector is chosen, as the airline industry is not only influenced by national characteristics, but also characterized by international standards and internationalization processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, a systematic analysis of the research published over the past decades is carried out. This analysis incorporates the most acknowledged concepts and works in the field of airline management.

Findings

– The main determinants of the airline business are identified as: national culture, airline alliances, the implementation of the low-fare business model, the influence of the state on business, and the impact of market liberalization. The modern airline industry can be partially seen as an embodiment of the neoliberal ideas of the 1990s.

Practical implications

– The model may be used by academics and practitioners who work in the area of airline business management. Specifically in the case of a merger between two airlines, the model might serve as a useful tool to analyze potential synergies.

Originality/value

– Although various research has been conducted on describing the way that airline business is done, little focus has been paid on the factors that actually determine and change it. This paper analyzes the unique industry variables by which the airline industry is driven and determined.
How FIEs may sustain competitive advantage in China
Authors: Yuan Xina , Kim SangYong , Dai Wanwen , Ketil Arnulf Jan
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show that the Guanxi characteristics in Chinese business culture may add to the understanding of foreign invested enterprise's (FIE) successful marketing in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors surveyed the entry mode of 296 FIEs in China and examined their way of adapting marketing strategy to local culture. The authors used a conceptual model hypothesizing a system of variables that the authors subsequently tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– Market orientation was insufficient to obtain marketing capability in China. FIE marketing capability in China was dependent on Guanxi and learning orientation, showing the need for contextualization of marketing approaches.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper enriches previous research on marketing and makes a contribution to the existing literature on practical management in China. It is also relevant for marketing in other markets in transition.

Practical implications

– FIEs may develop these capabilities on their own or succeed trough partnering in China. The study also points at similar mechanisms in other emerging markets and economies in transition from previous socialist economies.

Originality/value

– The authors attempt to explore the main factors driving the marketing capabilities of FIEs in China. Few articles have shown how foreign companies may adopt Guanxi orientation to do this, which is the object of the present study.
Open source journals of library and information science: a bibliometric study
Authors: Kumar Satpathy Sunil , K. Maharana Rabindra , Kumar Das Ashok
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to investigate the scholarly communications in open access journals of library & information science and to study the key dimensions of these publications.

Design/methodology/approach

– For the analysis of the study, top ten open access journals of 2011, which were indexed in SCOPUS, have been selected. The authors employed necessary bibliometric measures to analyze different publication parameters.

Findings

– It is found that the contribution of articles in these top ten open access journals in 2011 is good, i.e. 37.3 percent. Single authored papers are found to be the highest (40.48 percent), followed by two-authored and then three-authored papers. The degree of collaboration is found to be between 0.33 and 0.8. The numbers of citations used in the paper are also good (average 21.48 percent paper). In regards to ranking of country productivity, the USA topped the list.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper focuses on the publication traits of top ten open access journals of library & information science of the year 2011. A total of 373 papers from these ten journals are analyzed. Further studies can include more open access journals of this field for a period of more than one year.

Practical implications

– Scholars can benefit from insights into the scholarly contributions of top ten open access journals of 2011 in the field of library & information science.

Originality/value

– This paper provides valuable insights into the nature of academic publishing of open access journals of library & information science. It can help the researchers, professionals, teachers and students to understand the top open access journals, valuable contributions, highly cited journals, country productivity, and other parameters.
Effects of personality traits (big five) on expatriates adjustment and job performance
Authors: Awais Bhatti Muhammad , Mohamed Battour Mohamed , Rageh Ismail Ahmed , Pandiyan Sundram Veera
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Researchers have been focusing on the predictors of expatriates adjustment and job performance at different levels (individual level, organizational level, and societal level) but still some of the predictors have been ignored or unclear in the expatriate literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of personality traits (big five) on expatriates adjustment and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this regards, data were collected from 201 expatriates working in Malaysia and analyzed by using structural equation modelling with Amos 16.

Findings

– The findings of this study indicated that personality traits (big five) which include extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism positively influence expatriate adjustment which further influence expatriate performance rated by peers. In other words, expatriates adjustment (work, interaction, and general) mediate the relationship between big five personality traits (extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) and expatriates job performance (task, relationship building, and overall performance).

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study will help the researchers to further understand the importance of personality traits required for successful completion of international assignment. Furthermore, the findings also suggest human resource professionals to consider these personality traits before selecting an individual for international assignment. Finally, future research directions have been proposed.

Originality/value

– Literature on expatriate adjustment and job performance is still at developing stage. This paper shed light on the individual characteristics which work as predictors for expatriates adjustment and job performance.