bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The informational architecture of the cell
Authors: Walker Sara Imari , Kim Hyunju , Davies Paul C. W.
Published: February 2016

We compare the informational architecture of biological and random networks to identify informational features that may distinguish biological networks from random. The study presented here focuses on the Boolean network model for regulation of the cell cycle of the fission yeast
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
. We compare calculated values of local and global information measures for the fission yeast cell cycle to the same measures as applied to two different classes of random networks: Erdös–Rényi and scale-free. We report patterns in local information processing and storage that do indeed distinguish biological from random, associated with control nodes that regulate the function of the fission yeast cell-cycle network. Conversely, we find that integrated information, which serves as a global measure of ‘emergent’ information processing, does not differ from random for the case presented. We discuss implications for our understanding of the informational architecture of the fission yeast cell-cycle network in particular, and more generally for illuminating any distinctive physics that may be operative in life.
The non-power model of the genetic code: a paradigm for interpreting genomic information
Authors: Gonzalez Diego Luis , Giannerini Simone , Rosa Rodolfo
Published: February 2016

In this article, we present a mathematical framework based on redundant (non-power) representations of integer numbers as a paradigm for the interpretation of genomic information. The core of the approach relies on modelling the degeneracy of the genetic code. The model allows one to explain many features and symmetries of the genetic code and to uncover hidden symmetries. Also, it provides us with new tools for the analysis of genomic sequences. We review briefly three main areas: (i) the Euplotid nuclear code, (ii) the vertebrate mitochondrial code, and (iii) the main coding/decoding strategies used in the three domains of life. In every case, we show how the non-power model is a natural unified framework for describing degeneracy and deriving sound biological hypotheses on protein coding. The approach is rooted on number theory and group theory; nevertheless, we have kept the technical level to a minimum by focusing on key concepts and on the biological implications.
DNA as information: at the crossroads between biology, mathematics, physics and chemistry
Authors: Cartwright Julyan H. E. , Giannerini Simone , González Diego L.
Published: February 2016

On the one hand, biology, chemistry and also physics tell us how the process of translating the genetic information into life could possibly work, but we are still very far from a complete understanding of this process. On the other hand, mathematics and statistics give us methods to describe such natural systems—or parts of them—within a theoretical framework. Also, they provide us with hints and predictions that can be tested at the experimental level. Furthermore, there are peculiar aspects of the management of genetic information that are intimately related to information theory and communication theory. This theme issue is aimed at fostering the discussion on the problem of genetic coding and information through the presentation of different innovative points of view. The aim of the editors is to stimulate discussions and scientific exchange that will lead to new research on why and how life can exist from the point of view of the coding and decoding of genetic information. The present introduction represents the point of view of the editors on the main aspects that could be the subject of future scientific debate.
Directed self-assembly, genomic assembly complexity and the formation of biological structure, or, what are the genes for nacre?
Authors: Cartwright Julyan H. E.
Published: February 2016

Biology uses dynamical mechanisms of self-organization and self-assembly of materials, but it also choreographs and directs these processes. The difference between abiotic self-assembly and a biological process is rather like the difference between setting up and running an experiment to make a material remotely compared with doing it in one's own laboratory: with a remote experiment—say on the International Space Station—everything must be set up beforehand to let the experiment run ‘hands off’, but in the laboratory one can intervene at any point in a ‘hands-on’ approach. It is clear that the latter process, of directed self-assembly, can allow much more complicated experiments and produce far more complex structures than self-assembly alone. This control over self-assembly in biology is exercised at certain key waypoints along a trajectory and the process may be quantified in terms of the genomic assembly complexity of a biomaterial.
Monoclinic MA
domains in anisotropically strained ferroelectric K0.75Na0.25NbO3 films on (110) TbScO3 grown by MOCVD
Authors: Schwarzkopf Jutta , Braun Dorothee , Hanke Michael , Kwasniewski Albert , Sellmann Jan , Schmidbauer Martin
Published: February 2016

A highly regular one-dimensional domain pattern is formed in ferroelectric K0.75Na0.25NbO3 thin films grown on (110) TbScO3 substrates using metal–organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The domain pattern exhibits a lateral periodicity of about 50 nm and extends over several micrometres. The monoclinic symmetry of the domains is controlled by the elastic anisotropy of K0.75Na0.25NbO3 and the anisotropic lattice strain, which is highly compressive in one in-plane direction and weakly tensile in the corresponding orthogonal direction. Using piezoresponse force microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the monoclinic MA
phase is identified, which is associated with both a strong vertical and a lateral electric polarization component. The lateral component of the polarization vector is collinear with the ±[{\overline 1}10]pc shear direction of the pseudocubic unit cell of the film and changes periodically by 180° in adjacent domains. A structural variant of a 90° rotated MA
domain pattern, where the monoclinic distortion of the pseudocubic unit cells occurs along ±[110]pc, is also observed. However, this variant appears with significantly lower probability, in agreement with energy considerations based on linear elasticity theory. Thus, the incorporation of highly anisotropic lattice strain provides the opportunity to grow one-dimensional nanostructures with high ferroelectric properties.
In situ time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering observation of the fractal aggregation process in tin alkoxide polymeric solution
Authors: Dumoulin Matthieu , Hamd Wael , Thune Elsa , Rochas Cyrille , Guinebretiere René
Published: February 2016

SnO2 transparent gels have been synthesized from alkoxide precursor in toluene-2-propanol solvents. The chemical reactivity of transition metal alkoxides must be controlled in order to obtain sols and gels. In tin alkoxide based systems, this control can be achieved through complexation by a chelating agent such as acetylacetone. The gelation of the sols has been studied by in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble on the BM02 beamline. After the addition of water, primary particles are created and stick progressively together to form fractal aggregates. The primary particles are continually created during the aggregation process, which causes an evolution of the fractal dimension of the aggregate during gelation. This evolution is similar whatever the chemical composition is, meaning that the aggregation is ruled by one process which has been identified as reaction-limited cluster aggregation. Nevertheless, the final size of the aggregates is dependent on the chemical composition of the sols.
Full-pattern analysis of time-of-flight neutron transmission of mosaic crystals
Authors: Malamud Florencia , Santisteban Javier R.
Published: February 2016

The energy-resolved neutron transmission of mosaic crystals contains a series of dips in intensity, at specific neutron wavelengths defined by the orientation of the specimen in the neutron beam. This article presents a Rietveld type full-pattern analysis of neutron transmission experiments on mosaic crystals performed at spallation pulsed neutron sources. The proposed analysis provides precise and simple determination of lattice parameters, mosaicity, extinction factors and crystal orientation, and is especially suited to investigate the spatial variation of such microstructural information across macroscopic specimens with ∼1 mm resolution. The effect of extinction on the intensity of Bragg reflections has been successfully accounted for by a parameter measuring the ratio of the beam attenuation due to Bragg reflection to the combined attenuation due to absorption and scattering processes. Experiments were performed at the ENGIN-X beamline, ISIS Facility, UK, on several naturally occurring and man-made mosaic crystals, including a copper monochromator at temperatures between 55 and 300 K, an iron–nickel meteorite, and a natural pyrite crystal. Typical experimental resolutions found for lattice parameters and mosaicity are 0.03 and 7%, respectively. The possibilities of the technique for quantitative phase and/or texture analysis of specimens composed of several grains or phases are discussed.
Spontaneous emission and spectral properties of radiation by relativistic electrons in a gyro-klystron and optical-klystron undulator
Authors: Prakash Bramha , Mishra Ganeswar , Khullar Roma
Published: February 2016

In this paper spontaneous emission of radiation by relativistic electrons in a gyro-klystron is studied. The scheme consists of two solenoid sections separated by a dispersive section. In the dispersive section the electrons are made non-resonant with the radiation. The dispersive section transforms a small change of the velocity into changes of the phases of the electrons. This leads to enhanced radiation due to klystron-type modulation as compared with a conventional gyrotron-type device driven by cyclotron maser interaction. It is shown that the klystron-modulated spectrum depends on the dispersive field strength, finite perpendicular velocity component and length of the solenoids but is independent of the axial magnetic field strength. A simple scheme to design a gyro-klystron is discussed.
Crystal structure of 3-deoxy-3-nitromethyl-1,2;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose
Authors: Lugiņina Jevgeņija , Rjabovs Vitālijs , Stepanovs Dmitrijs
Published: February 2016

The title compound, C13H21NO7{systematic name: (3aR,5S,6R,6aR)-5-[(R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-6-(nitromethyl)tetrahydrofuro[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole}, consists of a substituted 2,2-dimethyltetrahydrofuro[2,3-d][1,3]dioxolane skeleton. The furanose ringAadopts aoT4conformation. The fused dioxolane ringBand the substituent dioxolane ringCalso have twisted conformations. There are no strong hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure: only weak C—H...O contacts are present, which link the molecules to form a three-dimensional structure.
t-3-Benzyl-r-2,c-6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one
Authors: Arulraj R. , Sivakumar S. , Thiruvalluvar A. , Manimekalai A.
Published: February 2016

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C24H23NO, contains two crystallographically independent molecules (AandB). In both molecules, the piperidine rings adopt a chair conformation and the phenyl rings and the benzyl group substituents are attached equatorially. The dihedral angle between the phenyl rings is 60.80 (10)° in moleculeAand 68.43 (9)° in moleculeB. The phenyl ring of the benzyl group makes dihedral angles of 76.95 (9) and 42.25 (10)° with the phenyl rings in moleculeA, and dihedral angles of 81.38 (11) and 30.19 (11)° in moleculeB. In the crystal, the two molecules are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming –A–B–A–B– chains along [100]. In addition, five C—H...π interactions are also present, linking the chains to form a three-dimensional structure.
N-Ferrocenymethyl-N-phenylacetamide
Authors: Khelef Abdelhamid , Mahboub Mohammed Sadok , Lanez Touhami
Published: February 2016

In the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C14H14NO)], the asymmetric unit comprises two unique molecules. The two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings of each ferrocene residue are nearly parallel to one another. In each substituted Cp ring, the CH2group carries anN-phenylacetamide residue. In the crystal, C—H...O hydrogen bonds stack molecules alonga.
Using capital theory to explore problem solving and innovation in small firms
Authors: Glover Jane , Champion Donna , Daniels Kevin , Boocock Grahame
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how small firms work at a micro-level, applying Bourdieu’s Capital Theory to give insight into the way individuals use the social and cultural capital at their disposal, to innovate and solve problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors applied qualitative methods to explore problem solving and innovation activities at the micro-level in small firms, using interviews and thematic analysis.

Findings

– The findings reveal that, compared to firms with lower levels of social and cultural capital, firms which possess higher levels of social and cultural capital have a higher success rate in problem solving and are more likely to engage in innovative activity. Social and cultural capitals complement and reinforce one another in small firms, for example an enhanced ability to utilise networks (social capital) allows small firms to access a greater diversity of knowledge (cultural capital).

Originality/value

– Little is known about how different forms of capital are utilised in the day-to-day operations and problem solving of small firms: the application of Bourdieu’s Capital Theory offered an original frame in which to explore these activities.
Cross-country variations in the participation of small businesses in the informal economy
Authors: Williams Colin C , Horodnic Ioana Alexandra
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to advance a new explanation for cross-country variations in the participation of small businesses in the informal economy. Drawing upon institutional theory, it proposes that the greater the asymmetry between the codified laws and regulations of formal institutions (state morality) and the unwritten socially shared rules of informal institutions (civic morality), the greater is the propensity of small businesses to participate in the informal economy. To analyse this, the extent to which small businesses evade payroll taxes by paying employees an undeclared (envelope) wage in addition to their official declared salary is analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

– To evaluate this, data are reported from a 2013 Eurobarometer survey involving 5,174 face-to-face interviews with employees in small businesses across the 28 member states of the European Union (EU-28).

Findings

– The finding is that small businesses display a greater propensity to engage in this informal wage practice in countries where there is a higher degree of asymmetry between the codified laws and regulations of formal institutions (state morality) and the unwritten socially shared rules of informal institutions (civic morality). A multi-level logistic regression analysis reveals these to be countries which have lower qualities of governance, lower levels of taxation and intervention in the labour market and less effective social transfer systems.

Research limitations/implications

– The major limitation of this study is that it has only examined whether employees in small businesses receive informal wages. Future cross-country surveys should analyse a wider range of ways in which small businesses participate in the informal economy such as under-reporting turnover.

Originality/value

– This is the first known analysis of cross-country variations in the participation of small businesses in the informal economy.
Exploring the venture capitalist – entrepreneur relationship: evidence from India
Authors: Panda Swati , Dash Shridhar
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Maintaining cooperation and avoiding opportunism is essential for a healthy venture capitalist (VC) – entrepreneur relationship. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the role of control and trust for developing a cooperative VC-entrepreneur relationship in an agency environment in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts a multiple case study approach to investigate ten VC-entrepreneur dyads. It uses data collected from both primary and secondary sources. Content analysis was used as the data treatment technique.

Findings

– The empirical evidence indicates that VC-entrepreneur relationships emerging in the early stages suffer from low agency risks and use more of relational mechanisms to curb opportunism and develop cooperation while relationships at an advanced stage suffer from higher agency risks and employ more of control mechanisms to address it.

Practical implications

– The findings can be utilized to enhance cooperation in VC-entrepreneur relationship by identifying the appropriate context to apply relational or control mechanisms, which would eventually lead to better performance of the venture.

Originality/value

– This distinction results in the development of a theoretical model which shows how the dual governance mechanisms of control and trust interact with one another to affect confidence in partner cooperation as an entrepreneurial venture raises multiple rounds of venture capital across various stages. The data collected from Indian VC-entrepreneur dyads offers a rich description of the relationship dynamics across the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Online learning
Authors: Smith Tara , Barrett Rowena
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– If owner-managers engage in management development activities then chances of success may be improved for small businesses. But small business owner-managers (SBOMs) are a difficult group to engage in management development activities. While practitioners worry about timing, content and location of development activities, the purpose of this paper is to examine what drives SBOMs to participate in an online discussion forum (ODF) as a form of management development. An ODF was run with SBOMs and the factors affecting their participation are reported from this exploratory study.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative methodology was used where data gathered from three sources, the ODF posts, in-depth interviews with participants and a focus group with non-participants. These were analysed to evaluate factors affecting participation of SBOMs in an ODF.

Findings

– The findings point to the importance of owner-managers’ attitudes. Attitudes that positively affected SBOMs participation in the ODF included; appreciating that learning leads to business success; positive self-efficacy developed through prior online experience; and an occupational identity as a business manager.

Research limitations/implications

– Few SBOMs participated in the ODF, which is consistent with research finding that they are a difficult group to engage in management development learning activities. Three forms of data were analysed to strengthen results.

Practical implications

– Caution should be exercised when considering investment in e-learning to develop the managerial capabilities of SBOMs.

Originality/value

– Evidence of the factors important for participation in an informal voluntary ODF. The findings suggest greater emphasis should be placed on changing attitudes if SBOMs are to be encouraged to participate in management development activities.
Marketing self-efficacy and firm creation
Authors: Antoncic Bostjan , Auer Antoncic Jasna , Aaltonen Heli Marketta
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– New firm creation plays an important role in economic development and growth. Despite the recognized importance of general and entrepreneurial self-efficacy for entrepreneurship, new firm creation, and growth, research has devoted minimal attention to explicitly investigating the relationship between marketing self-efficacy and firm creation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between marketing self-efficacy and firm creation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected in two European countries (Finland and Slovenia). Regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis.

Findings

– The findings of this study demonstrate that marketing self-efficacy makes a difference in firm creation.

Research limitations/implications

– The model advanced in this study is partial and not comprehensive. Gaining insights into marketing self-efficacy-based firm creation in established economies of northern Europe and transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe can be valuable for broadening the new firm formation research and improving marketing self-efficacy-related practices in these countries.

Practical implications

– Practitioners and policymakers need to be aware that marketing self-efficacy can be an important driver of new firm creation.

Social implications

– It is suggested that economic policymakers make funds available or channel investments into training and education in marketing abilities in elementary, middle, higher, and university education levels in order to increase marketing self-efficacy levels in the population.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to a better understanding of firm creation induced by marketing self-efficacy by developing and testing a normative model.
How do entrepreneurs’ characteristics influence the benefits from the various elements of a business incubator?
Authors: Monsson Christian Kjær , Jørgensen Søren Berg
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate empirically that differences in characteristics of entrepreneurs result in benefits from different elements of a regional incubator programme.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use mixed methods consisting of in-depth interviews and a survey of 100 incubatees in order to study entrepreneurs within a specific incubator programme called the Growth Factories located in Region Zealand, Denmark.

Findings

– The authors find that there are significant differences in the perceived benefit of various business incubator elements for incubatees depending on their entrepreneurial characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

– Future studies are particularly important in order to learn which elements provide the different kinds of entrepreneurs with a critical factor in determining their success or failure.

Practical/implications

– The conclusions have importance for regional government and development managers aiming at designing new business incubators. The authors suggest that in order to enhance the effect of incubator programmes they must be tailor-made to the individual entrepreneur.

Originality/value

– Previous studies have either tended to treat incubator programmes as a uniform entity, where all entrepreneurs receive the same service, or they have treated all entrepreneurs as a uniform group, even though it is well known that entrepreneurs vary considerably in their characteristics. This paper overcomes the gap.
Exploring the sustainability of small rural veterinary enterprise
Authors: Henry Colette , Rushton Jonathan , Baillie Sarah
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the sustainability of small rural veterinary enterprise in light of recent changes in both the farming and veterinary sectors. The overarching research question relates to how small rural veterinary enterprises, especially those at the start-up stage, can meet the needs of their farming clients while ensuring their service offering is both viable and sustainable.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on relevant rural enterprise and veterinary literatures as well as case data, and applies selected elements of Scott’s (2008) 7-P sustainability framework.

Findings

– The authors find that the future sustainability of rural veterinary SMEs is dependent on the veterinary business owners being prepared to change with their clients, develop supportive partnerships and create effective marketing strategies. The authors use the findings to construct an innovative business model to help improve future sustainability of farm animal veterinary business.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper adopts a single case approach.

Practical/implications

– Some policy implications are discussed alongside avenues for future research. The paper contributes to the rural enterprise, agriculture and veterinary business literatures.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few rural enterprise studies contextualized in the veterinary sector. The findings should be of value to both practitioners and policy makers concerned with ensuring future sustainability in this important sector.
Discovering opportunities in necessity: the inverse creative destruction effect
Authors: Monllor Javier , Altay Nezih
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the changes in perceptions and actions taken on post-disaster entrepreneurial opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Utilizing worldwide data on natural disasters (EMDAT) and entrepreneurial perceptions (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)), the authors apply analysis of covariance to compare entrepreneurial opportunity perceptions and actions before and after a disaster took place.

Findings

– The study found that natural disasters have a significant and positive impact on entrepreneurial opportunity perceptions and actions but not on perceptions of self-efficacy, fear of failure and entrepreneurial intentions.

Research limitations implications

– One limitation of the study is the use of the secondary data. While the GEM data as well as the EMDAT data are country specific, disasters usually have a direct impact on a region of a country rather than affecting the whole country’s behavior.

Practical implications

– The results hold important policy implications. The fact that disasters increase entrepreneurial action implies that local government institutions should include entrepreneurial action as part of the post-disaster recovery process. By providing assistance and access to resources, government institutions could further increase entrepreneurial action and could increase the number of opportunities perceived by individuals which would lead to new and innovative businesses, in addition to the rebuilding of pre-existing firms.

Originality/value

– Natural disasters are frequently considered to be the cause of small business failures or an obstacle to their performance, while simultaneously thought to be a vital component of post-disaster reconstruction. To date, few researchers have attempted to understand the impact of these events on entrepreneurial tendencies, behaviors and activities, even though the authors barely understand how they could serve as a source of entrepreneurial opportunity and innovation. This research is one of the first attempts to shed some light into this interesting and important phenomenon.
How to strengthen the social media interactivity of e-government
Authors: Hao xiaoling , Zheng Daqing , Zeng Qingfeng , Fan Weiguo
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how to use social media in e-government to strengthen interactivity between government and the general public.

Design/methodology/approach

– Categorizing the determinants to interactivity covering depth and breadth into two aspects that are the structural features and the content features, this study employs general linear model and ANOVA method to analyse 14,910 posts belonged to the top list of the 96 most popular government accounts of Sina, one of the largest social media platforms in China.

Findings

– The main findings of the research are that both variables of the ratio of multimedia elements, and the ratio of external links have positive effects on the breadth of interactivity, while the ratio of multimedia features, and the ratio of originality have significant effects on the depth of interactivity.

Originality/value

– The contributions are as follows. First, the authors analyse the properties and the topics of government posts to draw a rich picture of how local governments use the micro-blog as a communications channel to interact with the public. Second, the authors conceptualize the government online interactivity in terms of the breadth and depth. Third, the authors identify factors that will enhance the interactivity from two aspects: structural features and content features. Lastly, the authors offer suggestions to local governments on how to strengthen the e-government interactivity in social media.
The role of trust management in reward-based crowdfunding
Authors: Zheng Haichao , Hung Jui-Long , Qi Zihao , Xu Bo
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of trust management on the fundraising performance in reward-based crowdfunding.

Design/methodology/approach

– A research model was constructed based on elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and literatures with five hypotheses developed. Data were collected fromwww.demohour.com- the first and one of the largest reward-based crowdfunding platforms in China. In total, 829 reward-based crowdfunding projects were analyzed to test hypotheses. To test the hypotheses, partial least squares was used to analyze data of entrepreneur/sponsor profiles, entrepreneur/sponsor behaviors, and crowdfunding projects.

Findings

– Results indicated trust management significantly promoted fundraising performance via central (entrepreneur’s creditworthiness) and peripheral (entrepreneur-sponsor interactions) routes. The peripheral route (entrepreneur-sponsor interaction) showed significantly higher effects than the central route (entrepreneur’s creditworthiness). The finding aligns with authors’ assumptions derived from unique characteristics of reward-based crowdfunding – community and collaboration because personal, dynamic message interactions were more effective than static, historical success records on the trust establishment. In addition to the main effects, the results also showed entrepreneur’s prior success crowdfunding records positively moderated the effect of entrepreneur-sponsor interaction on fundraising performance.

Originality/value

– This study is the first paper that reveals the value of trust management in reward-based fundraising, especially the effect of dynamic entrepreneur-sponsor message interactions. Entrepreneur-sponsor interactions not only promoted community benefits in crowdfunding, but also cultivated trust relationships between entrepreneurs and sponsors. Previous studies mainly focussed on the entrepreneur’s popularity level on third-party social media (such as Facebook) toward fundraising performance. This study examines the effect of direct entrepreneur-sponsor interactions on the crowdfunding platform. Additionally, this study found one moderating effect from the central route to the peripheral route. It is a rare case in studies based on ELM. Finally, this study demonstrates how to incorporate a theoretical framework guiding the analysis of structured and unstructured data for in-depth analysis, result interpretation, and corresponding intervention strategy development.
Deconstructing the glass ceiling: gender equality in the Australian property profession
Authors: Warren Clive M J , Antoniades Hera
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to export the role of professional bodies within the property industry in Australia in bringing about gender equality. In particular the policy objectives of the various professional bodies is analysed and contrasted with the level of genres equality demonstrated within the governance structures of the organisations at national and regional level.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyses the annual reports of the leading property professional bodies in Australia to identify any gender equity policy objectives and to identify the balance between male and female representation in the governing boards of the associations.

Findings

– The research shows that while a few organisations have made some statements regarding the need for change to a more inclusive property industry these objectives are not reflected within the governance structure of the organisations. It is therefore evident that significant attitudinal and structural change will be required to bring about equality within the property industry.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is limited to the Australian property and construction industry and the relevant boards at national and state level.

Practical implications

– The paper highlights the need to address gender inequality at the senior management level within the professional associations that govern the property profession. The professional associations are uniquely placed to show leadership in promoting gender equality and should be adopting policy within the organisations charter to being about a shift in attitudes to women within management roles in the property industry.

Social implications

– The issue of gender equity is highly topical and this paper adds to the research in this area. It highlights the important role that professional associations could take in bringing about change, but reveals that many professional bodies have a worse gender balance at the governance level than many of their member firms.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first to analyse the gender mix within the professional bodies in Australia which govern and advise the property and construction industries. As such it reveals that little progress has been made in bringing about gender equality in the profession.
Representations of gender in annual reports in the real estate industry in Sweden
Authors: Staffansson Pauli Karin Maria
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to clarify how annual reports of public housing and commercial real estate companies contribute in “doing gender” of the real estate industry in Sweden. How the issue of gender is dealt with in photographs, in two different types of organizations, with different corporate and business strategies, is important as they play a significant role in constructing the industry itself. Are there any differences in how they perceive gender, and what constitutes gender of the industry?

Design/methodology/approach

– Analysis of photographs in annual reports, 14 public housing companies and eight commercial real estate companies, in the year of 2011.

Findings

– The paper provides empirical insights about how “gender is done” in annual reports, men alone are shown more often as employees and both women and men are portrayed in stereotypical positions. Women are depicted more often as young and also presented in “token positions”.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the chosen research approach, in studying only one year, a longitudinal study would be recommended for future studies.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for the development of gender symbols and images representing the industry, in how gender is done in public situations as in annual reports. This is not only important for the industry itself but also to stakeholders involved with the industry.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils an identified need to study how photographs shown in annual reports reveal gender structure.
Australian Real Estate Management and Development companies and women directors
Authors: Dimovski Bill , Lombardi Luisa , Ratcliffe Christopher , Cooper Barry John
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– There is a large literature advocating the importance of a greater proportion of women directors on boards of publicly listed firms. The purpose of this paper is to examine the numbers and proportions of women directors, including women executive directors, on listed Australian Real Estate Management and Development (REMD) companies to identify how prevalent women directors are on such boards.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study examines the numbers and proportions of women directors for 35 REMDs in 2011 and compares this to the broad board composition data on 1,715 Australian Stock Exchange listed entities. Statistically significant findings are evident due to the identified low proportions.

Findings

– The study finds that of all the Financials Sub Industry sector groups, REMDs have the lowest proportion of female directors on theirs boards – eight women on each of 35 company boards compared to 159 men on these 35 boards at 2011. Of the eight, there were only two women executive directors on boards compared to 50 men. Statistically, it appears that having women directors on REMD boards is not considered important. Even at December 2014, there are only ten women on seven company boards and only one remaining executive director of an REMD company.

Practical implications

– Given that female board representation is positively related to accounting returns and that there is a growing voice for legislation to impose mandatory proportions of women directors on boards around the world, it may be in the interests of REMD boards to consider appointing more women more quickly.

Originality/value

– The study is the first to examine the numbers and proportions of women directors amongst REMD companies to identify the paucity of such women directors.
Factors influencing women participation in home ownership in Nigeria
Authors: Adegoke Bolanle Felicia , Adegoke Oluseyi Joshua , Oyedele Joseph Bamidele
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Women owning a home may take various forms which may be one of the following: through development of land, buying a home or through inheritance. Meanwhile, in many countries and regions of Sub-Saharan African, women’s rights to land and the incidence of exercising rights have been eroded over time. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing women participation in home ownership in Nigeria with a view to improving housing provision.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study purposively administered 170 questionnaires to female staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Nigeria, who was the study population. This population was chosen because of the fact that the institution is owned by Federal Government, where Federal characters are well reflected. The population cut across major tribes in Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential technique was used to analyze the data.

Findings

– The results revealed that income status, cultural norms/traditions, unemployment, structural inequalities have significant influence on the decisions of the women in the study area while tribes, age among others have no significant influence on women decision to own homes.

Practical implications

– The paper recommended that government should enact laws and policies in favor of women to own lands and develop it. Also there should be gender balance in employment opportunities.

Originality/value

– Women’s equal rights to adequate housing, land and property are well elaborated under international human rights law but are often elusive in practice. This paper empirically studied factors influencing women participation in home ownership in Nigeria.
Bourdieu and Psychoanalysis: An Empirical and Textual Study of a Pas de Deux
Authors: Darmon Muriel
Published: February 2016

This paper aims to elucidate some of the similarities between the Bourdieusian and a psychoanalytical approach to understand the individual and the social, and to describe Bourdieu's relation to psychoanalysis. The paper begins by reflecting upon the way a research on anorexia was received and perceived by some psychiatrists and psychoanalysts. Such a case study puts into light several analogies between Bourdieu's theoretical position, his epistemological style and psychoanalysis. Then, some texts by Bourdieu, especially a discussion with the psychoanalyst and sociologist Jacques Maître, are analysed in order to further explore Bourdieu's position vis-à-vis psychoanalysis and to assess the influence of psychoanalysis on his conception of the individual habitus. Finally, the paper discusses the possible contradictions arising between these borrowings and the principles of Bourdieusian epistemology. The paper thus suggests that the Bourdieusian approach is better analysed as a ‘sociologization’ of psychoanalysis rather than as an approach complementing or integrating psychoanalysis.
Institutional Differences and International Private Debt Markets: A Test Using Mandatory IFRS Adoption
Authors: BROWN ANNA BERGMAN
Published: February 2016

Institutional differences between countries result in additional information risks between borrowers and lenders in cross‐border private loans. This study examines the effect of these information risks on the structure of optimal debt contracts in international (cross‐border) versus domestic private debt markets. Using mandatory IFRS adoption as an indicator for institutional changes that reduced differences between countries, I compare attributes of international versus domestic loans before and after IFRS adoption. I find that, in the pre‐IFRS period, international loans are associated with a higher credit spread, a weaker relationship between the bank and the borrower, a more diffuse loan syndicate, and less reliance on accounting‐based covenants than domestic loans. These results are consistent with incremental information risks in international debt markets that make it more costly for lenders to screen and monitor borrower credit quality, resulting in a more arm's‐length relationship between borrowers and lenders. Many of these associations attenuate after IFRS adoption, suggesting that the pre‐IFRS differences in contract terms are driven by incremental information risks related to institutional differences between countries. My findings imply that incremental information risks result in a different optimal contract in international debt contracts compared to domestic debt contracts.
Storm‐Related Postmortem Damage to Skeletal Remains
Authors: Maijanen Heli , Wilson‐Taylor Rebecca J. , Jantz Lee Meadows
Published: February 2016

In April 2011, human skeletons were exposed to heavy storms at the outdoor Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) in Knoxville, Tennessee. Of the approximate 125 skeletons at the ARF in April 2011, 30 donations exhibited postmortem damage that could be attributed to the storms. At least 20 of the affected donations exhibit postmortem damage clearly associated with hailstones due to the oval shape and similar small size of the defects observed. The irregular shape and larger size of other defects may be a product of other falling objects (e.g., tree branches) associated with the storms. Storm‐related damage was observed throughout the skeleton, with the most commonly damaged skeletal elements being the scapula and ilium, but more robust elements (i.e., femora and tibiae) also displayed characteristic features of hailstone damage. Thus, hailstone damage should be considered when forensic practitioners observe unusual postmortem damage in skeletal remains recovered from the outdoor context.
GIbPSs: a toolkit for fast and accurate analyses of genotyping‐by‐sequencing data without a reference genome
Authors: Hapke A. , Thiele D.
Published: February 2016

Genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) and related methods are increasingly used for studies of non‐model organisms from population genetic to phylogenetic scales. We present GIbPSs, a new genotyping toolkit for the analysis of data from various protocols such as RAD, double‐digest RAD, GBS, and two‐enzyme GBS without a reference genome. GIbPSs can handle paired‐end GBS data and is able to assign reads from both strands of a restriction fragment to the same locus. GIbPSs is most suitable for population genetic and phylogeographic analyses. It avoids genotyping errors due to indel variation by identifying and discarding affected loci. GIbPSs creates a genotype database that offers rich functionality for data filtering and export in numerous formats. We performed comparative analyses of simulated and real GBS data with GIbPSs and another program, pyRAD. This program accounts for indel variation by aligning homologous sequences. GIbPSs performed better than pyRAD in several aspects. It required much less computation time and displayed higher genotyping accuracy. GIbPSs retained smaller numbers of loci overall in analyses of real GBS data. It nevertheless delivered more complete genotype matrices with greater locus overlap between individuals and greater numbers of loci sampled in all individuals.
Plant‐O‐Matic: a dynamic and mobile guide to all plants of the Americas
Authors: Goldsmith Gregory R. , Morueta‐Holme Naia , Sandel Brody , Fitz Eric D. , Fitz Samuel D. , Boyle Brad , Casler Nathan , Engemann Kristine , Jørgensen Peter M. , Kraft Nathan J. B. , McGill Brian , Peet Robert K. , Piel William H. , Spencer Nick , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Thiers Barbara M. , Violle Cyrille , Wiser Susan K. , Enquist Brian J.
Published: February 2016

Advances in both informatics and mobile technology are providing exciting new opportunities for generating, disseminating, and engaging with information in the biological sciences at unprecedented spatial scales, particularly in disentangling information on the distributions and natural history of hyperdiverse groups of organisms.

We describe an application serving as a mobile catalog of all of the plants of the Americas developed using species distribution models estimated from field observations of plant occurrences. The underlying data comprise over 3·5 million standardized observations of over 88 000 plant species.

Plant‐O‐Matic, a free iOS application, combines the species distribution models with the location services built into a mobile device to provide users with a list of all plant species expected to occur in the 100 × 100 km geographic grid cell corresponding to the user's location. The application also provides ancillary information on species’ attributes (when available) including growth form, reproductive mode, flower color, and common name. Results can be searched and conditionally filtered based on these attributes. Links to externally sourced specimen images further aid in identification of species by the user.

The application's ability to assemble locally relevant lists of plant species and their attributes on demand for anywhere in the Americas provides a powerful new tool for identifying, exploring, and understanding plant diversity. Mobile applications such as Plant‐O‐Matic can facilitate dynamic new approaches to science, conservation, and science education.
Selection signatures in Shetland ponies
Authors: Frischknecht M. , Flury C. , Leeb T. , Rieder S. , Neuditschko M.
Published: February 2016

Shetland ponies were selected for numerous traits including small stature, strength, hardiness and longevity. Despite the different selection criteria, Shetland ponies are well known for their small stature. We performed a selection signature analysis including genome‐wide SNPs of 75 Shetland ponies and 76 large‐sized horses. Based upon this dataset, we identified a selection signature on equine chromosome (ECA) 1 between 103.8 Mb and 108.5 Mb. A total of 33 annotated genes are located within this interval including the IGF1R gene at 104.2 Mb and the ADAMTS17 gene at 105.4 Mb. These two genes are well known to have a major impact on body height in numerous species including humans. Homozygosity mapping in the Shetland ponies identified a region with increased homozygosity between 107.4 Mb and 108.5 Mb. None of the annotated genes in this region have so far been associated with height. Thus, we cannot exclude the possibility that the identified selection signature on ECA1 is associated with some trait other than height, for which Shetland ponies were selected.