bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Metaphysics
Authors: Redding Paul
Published: September 2015

No scholarly consensus exists about the nature and evaluation of Hegel’s “metaphysics.” There is a commonplace view, prevalent since the 19th century, in which Hegel is understood as proposing an “extravagant” God-centered ontology, and while some contemporary Hegel interpreters endorse accounts along these general lines, it is now commonly contested by many specialists in the field. In this traditional view, humans are singled out from the rest of nature in terms of their possession of “spirit” (Geist)—a notion understood as a terminological variant of the concept of God, although a somewhat unorthodox and pantheistic-leaning one. Stressing God’s immanence in the world, this concept becomes linked to a Eurocentric triumphalist account of history, with God’s increasing presence in the world being identified with the ways “reason” and “freedom” had purportedly developed in the practices and institutions of European society. Understood along such lines Hegel’s metaphysics is seldom thought to be of relevance to contemporary philosophy. However, in terms of capturing the central features of Hegel’s philosophy, the traditional interpretation had been challenged from the decades after Hegel’s death, and, similarly, nontraditional approaches have from time to time linked Hegel to movements critical of traditional metaphysics, such as existentialism, phenomenology, philosophical hermeneutics, and American pragmatism. Recently a variety of nontraditional views have been gaining strength within academic philosophical interpretations of Hegel, generating debates over the nature of Hegel’s metaphysical commitments.
Proxemics
Authors: Guerrero Laura , Fleuriet Christina
Published: September 2015

Proxemics refers to the perception, use, and structuring of space as communication. The study of proxemics is multidisciplinary, with scholars in fields such as anthropology, architecture, communication, linguistics, psychology, and sociology, among other fields, all making important contributions. The multidisciplinary nature of research on proxemics is appropriate given that space is a ubiquitous part of most human interaction. Space is not only physical, as reflected in the amount of space between people or in the layout of a room and the arrangement of furniture; it is also psychological, with people from different social and cultural groups perceiving and using space differently. The literature reflects the ubiquitous nature of proxemics by focusing on how space functions in different contexts. Early work on proxemics often focused on how culture or the environment shape proxemic communication. From the literature in these areas emerged concepts such as personal space, interpersonal distancing, territory, and crowding. Scholars have also examined how proxemics functions in interpersonal relationships, small groups, and computer-mediated communication, and how it is used to send messages related to persuasion and social support.
OP‐12 PREVALENCE OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN SRI LANKA
Authors: Walter Hannah A.W. , Hovenkamp Anne , Rajindrajith Shaman , Devanarayana Niranga M. , Rajapakshe Nimna N. , Benninga Marc A.
Published: September 2015

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) in toddlers in Sri Lanka and to identify risk factors associated with the development of FC, such as demographic features, social and economic factors.

Methods:

Children between 7 months and 5 years of age were selected from 14 well baby and vaccination clinics in the Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the child's bowel habits, socio‐demographic characteristics as well as physical and verbal violence against mother and/or child. Functional constipation was diagnosed according to ROMEIII criteria.

Results:

A total of 1151 toddlers were included in the analysis, (female n = 588 [50,8%], mean age 21,7 months, standard deviation [SD] 12,5 months). A total of, 92 children (8,0%) fulfilled the Rome III criteria for FC. The prevalence of constipation was significantly and independently associated with first birth order (9,6% vs. 6,5% p = 0,026), underweight [<2SD] (15,0% vs. 7,1%, p = 0,004) and living in an urban residence (9,5% vs. 5,8%, p = 0,023). Odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI] are were respectively 1,61 (CI; 1,02–2,53), 2,53 (CI; 1,45–4,41), 1,70 (CI; 1,08–2,69). Toddlers being overweight, being subject to violence or with mothers subject to violence illustrated higher prevalence of FC, but p‐values were >0,05. No association was found with gender, age, parental age, parental education level, shortage in income and quality of relationship between parents.

Conclusions:

Functional constipation is a significant health problem in toddlers in Sri Lanka, concerning 8 percent of its population between 7 months and 5 years old. Toddlers being first born, underweight and living in an urban area show a significant higher risk for FC.
PP‐6 BOLUS CLEARANCE TIME IS ASSOCIATED WITH REFLUX SEVERITY AND IT IS INVERSELY CORRELATED TO BASELINE IMPEDANCE VALUES IN ADOLESCENTS WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
Authors: Tolone Salvatore , de Bortoli Nicola , Savarino Edoardo , Strisciuglio Caterina , Tolone Carlo
Published: September 2015

Aims:

The role of esophageal clearance is still scarcely investigated in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to assess esophageal clearance in adolescents by means of bolus clearance time (BCT) and to verify if there is any difference among subgroups of GERD patients according to endoscopic and impedance‐pH monitoring findings.

Methods:

We revised endoscopic and impedance‐pH monitoring (off‐therapy) data of 28 consecutive adolescents (range 12–16 years). We evaluated acid exposure time (AET), total number of reflux episodes, baseline impedance (BI), and BCT. According to impedance‐pH monitoring features, adolescents were grouped into pH/MII negative (normal AET and normal number of refluxes), and pH/MII positive (abnormal AET and/or abnormal number of refluxes). This latter were further subgrouped on the basis of abnormal/normal AET (pH+/‐) and abnormal/normal number of refluxes (MII+/‐). Finally, adolescents were also classified as erosive and non erosive reflux disease (ERD, NERD).

Results:

We observed 22 pH/MII positive adolescents (7 ERD and 15 NERD). Eight patients were further subgrouped as pH+/MII‐, 6 as pH‐/MII+ and 8 as pH+/MII+. BCT values (in seconds) progressively decreased from pH+/MII+, pH+/MII‐, pH‐/MII+ to pH‐/MII‐ (34.5 ± 8.1 vs. 22.0 ± 7.2 vs. 16.4 ± 4.5 vs. 10.1 ± 2.1, respectively; p < 0.001), whereas BI gradually increased (1236 ± 358 vs. 1592 ± 762 vs. 1854 ± 567 vs. 3256 ± 743, respectively; p < 0.001). There was an inverse correlation between BCT and BI, and a direct correlation between BCT and AET (p < 0.0001) and ERD presence (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

BCT seems to reflects reflux severity, and it is inversely correlated to BI, a marker of mucosal integrity, supporting the role of esophageal clearance in the GERD pathophysiology.
PP‐15 THE EFFECT OF EXTENSIVELY HYDROLYZED PROTEIN FORMULA IN PRETERM INFANTS WITH SYMPTOMATIC GASTRO‐OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
Authors: Logarajaha V. , Onga C. , Jayagobib P.A. , Khoob P.C. , Heina M. , Fanga H. , Rajaduraib S.
Published: September 2015

Background:

Gaestroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs commonly in infants especially preterm infants. Current anti‐reflux medication has shown limited therapeutic benefits for this age group. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of extensively hydrolyzed formula feed (EHFF) compared to standard infant formula (SF) on GER episodes in preterm infants using Multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring (MII‐pH).

Methods:

This is a prospective crossover trial involving preterm infants >29 weeks corrected gestation age with symptoms of GER. All patiets were recruited from a single tertiary neonatal unit in Singapore. MII‐pH was performed over 48 hours. For the first 24 hours the infants were either fed on standardized infant formula (SF) or Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) depending on maternal choice. For the second 24 hours their feeds were changed to EHFF. All infants were on orogastric/nasagastric tube feeding and were given 2 to 3 hourly bolus feeding throughout the study period.

Results:

23 infants completed the study:14males: 9 females. Mean weight 2971 g (SD +1569 g). None of the patients were on any anti‐reflux medications (apart from one). Type of feeds during first 24 hours were EBM 8/23(35%), SF 5/23(22%) or mixed feeding 10/23(43%). GER symptoms were: desaturations16/23(70%), cough 8/23(35%), arching7/23 (30%), vomit 3/23(13%), crying2/23(8%) and apnoea1/23 (4%). The median total GER episodes (detected by pH and MII) was significantly lower during the EHFF period compared to SF/EBM period 42(21–71) vs 68(32–104) p < 0.001. The median acidic reflux episodes detected by pH was also significantly lower in EHFF vs SF/EBM period 8(4–24) vs 23(3–58) p < 0.005. Total number of refluxes detected by MII showed a significant reduction for EHFF compared to SF/EBM: 17(11–56) vs 46(20–65) p < 0.015. There was no difference in reflux index, MII bolus exposure indexes, and number of long lasting episodes (>5 min) between the 2 groups. There were no significant difference in the number of symptoms recorded between the two study period.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that the number of gastroesophageal reflux was significantly lower in preterm infants fed with EHFF compared to standard formula as measured by pH‐MII monitoring. EHFF may potentially be an effective treatment modality for gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants with minimal side‐effects. The lack of symptom reduction during EHFF despite fewer GER episodes suggests that other pathology other than GER should be considered. A larger study is required to further evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of EHFF on reduction of GER in infants.
PP‐17 AEROPHAGIA IN CHILDREN IS ASSOCIATED WITH EMOTIONAL ILL‐TREATMENT
Authors: Rajindrajith Shaman , Silva Rajitha Lakindu , Devanarayana Niranga M.
Published: September 2015

Background:

Aerophagia is a functional gastrointestinal disease characterized by air swallowing, abdominal distension, excessive flatus and belching. The aetiology of this disorder is not clear. Previous studies have suggested an association between aerophagia and psychological stress. We aimed to assess the association between emotional ill‐treatment and aerophagia.

Methods:

A cross sectional survey was conducted in 4 provinces of Sri Lanka. Children aged 13–18 years were selected from schools in these provinces. A validated, self‐administered questionnaires were used for collect data on functional gastrointestinal disease including aerophagia and emotional ill‐treatment. Aerophagia was defined using the Rome III criteria.

Results:

A total of 1069 questionnaires were included in the final analysis (males 508 [47.5%], mean age 15.3 years, SD 1.8 years). One hundred and thirty six (136) children had aerophagia. Prevalence of aerophagia was significantly higher in children who experienced emotional ill‐treatments (43 (23.2%) vs. 160 (17.1%), p < 0.0001). Emotional ill‐treatments that were significantly associated with aerophagia include, teasing by others (54.1% vs. 45.0%, p < 0.0001), humiliation (38.2% vs. 20.3%, p < 0.0001), treating inferiorly by others (22.8% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.0001), threatening to abandon (8.8% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.0001), threatening destroy belongings (14.0 vs. 4.5%, p < 0.0001), and forcing to do unwanted deeds (9.6% vs. 3.9, p = 0.003). Parenting factors such as refusal of attending to emotional needs (8.8% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.001), refusal to look at (6.6% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0001), refusal of hugging (10.5% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.03), and not appreciating achievements (5.9% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.0001) were significantly common among children with aerophagia.

Conclusions:

Aerophagia in children is associated with emotional ill‐treatments. Attending to child's emotional needs likely reduce the prevalence of aerophagia and its consequences.
Single molecule real-time sequencing of Xanthomonas oryzae genomes reveals a dynamic structure and complex TAL (transcription activator-like) effector gene relationships
Authors: Booher Nicholas J. , Carpenter Sara C. D. , Sebra Robert P. , Wang Li , Salzberg Steven L. , Leach Jan E. , Bogdanove Adam J.
Published: September 2015

Pathogen-injected, direct transcriptional activators of host genes, TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors play determinative roles in plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas spp. A large domain of nearly identical, 33–35 aa repeats in each protein mediates DNA recognition. This modularity makes TAL effectors customizable and thus important also in biotechnology. However, the repeats render TAL effector (tal) genes nearly impossible to assemble using next-generation, short reads. Here, we demonstrate that long-read, single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing solves this problem. Taking an ensemble approach to first generate local, tal gene contigs, we correctly assembled de novo the genomes of two strains of the rice pathogen X. oryzae completed previously using the Sanger method and even identified errors in those references. Sequencing two more strains revealed a dynamic genome structure and a striking plasticity in tal gene content. Our results pave the way for population-level studies to inform resistance breeding, improve biotechnology and probe TAL effector evolution.
Phototaxis and the origin of visual eyes
Authors: Randel Nadine , Jékely Gáspár
Published: September 2015

Vision allows animals to detect spatial differences in environmental light levels. High-resolution image-forming eyes evolved from low-resolution eyes via increases in photoreceptor cell number, improvements in optics and changes in the neural circuits that process spatially resolved photoreceptor input. However, the evolutionary origins of the first low-resolution visual systems have been unclear. We propose that the lowest-resolving (two-pixel) visual systems could initially have functioned in visual phototaxis. During visual phototaxis, such elementary visual systems compare light on either side of the body to regulate phototactic turns. Another, even simpler and non-visual strategy is characteristic of helical phototaxis, mediated by sensory-motor eyespots. The recent mapping of the complete neural circuitry (connectome) of an elementary visual system in the larva of the annelidPlatynereis dumeriliisheds new light on the possible paths from non-visual to visual phototaxis and to image-forming vision. We outline an evolutionary scenario focusing on the neuronal circuitry to account for these transitions. We also present a comprehensive review of the structure of phototactic eyes in invertebrate larvae and assign them to the non-visual and visual categories. We propose that non-visual systems may have preceded visual phototactic systems in evolution that in turn may have repeatedly served as intermediates during the evolution of image-forming eyes.
TRONCO: an R package for the inference of cancer progression models from heterogeneous genomic data
Authors: De Sano Luca , Caravagna Giulio , Ramazzotti Daniele , Graudenzi Alex , Mauri Giancarlo , Mishra Bud , Antoniotti Marco
Published: September 2015

Motivation

We introduceTRONCO(TRanslational ONCOlogy), an open-source R package that implements the state-of-the-art algorithms for the inference of cancer progression models from (epi)genomic mutational profiles.TRONCOcan be used to extract population-level models describing the trends of accumulation of alterations in a cohort of cross-sectional samples, e.g., retrieved from publicly available databases, and individual-level models that reveal the clonal evolutionary history in single cancer patients, when multiple samples, e.g., multiple biopsies or single-cell sequencing data, are available. The resulting models can provide key hints in uncovering the evolutionary trajectories of cancer, especially for precision medicine or personalized therapy.

Availability

TRONCOis released under the GPL license, it is hosted in the Software section athttp://bimib.disco.unimib.it/and archived also atbioconductor.org.

Contact

tronco@disco.unimib.it
Crystal structure ofO-ethylN-(ethoxycarbonyl)thiocarbamate
Authors: Henley Matthew J. , Schrader Alex M. , Young Victor G. , Barany George
Published: September 2015

The title compound, C6H11NO3S, provides entries to novel carbamoyl disulfanes and related compounds of interest to our laboratory. The atoms of the central O(C=S)N(C=O)O fragment have an r.m.s. deviation of 0.1077 Å from the respective least-squares plane. While several conformational orientations are conceivable, the crystal structure shows only the one in which the carbonyl and the thiocarbonyl moieties areantito each other across the central conjugated C—N—C moiety. Pairs of 2.54 Å N—H...S=C hydrogen bonds between adjacent molecules form centrosymmetric dimers in the crystal.
Crystal structures of three newN-halomethylated quaternary ammonium salts
Authors: Múnera-Orozco Carolina , Ocampo-Cardona Rogelio , Cedeño David L. , Toscano Rubén A. , Ríos-Vásquez Luz Amalia
Published: September 2015

In the crystals of the titleN-halomethylated quaternary ammonium salts, C19H23IN+·I−, (I) [systematic name:N-(4,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl)-N-iodomethyl-N,N-dimethylammonium iodide], C20H25IN+·I−, (II) [systematic name:N-(5,5-diphenylpent-4-en-1-yl)-N-iodomethyl-N,N-dimethylammonium iodide], and C21H27IN+·I−, (III) [systematic name:N-(6,6-diphenylhex-5-en-1-yl)-N-iodomethyl-N,N-dimethylammonium iodide], there are short I...I−interactions of 3.564 (4), 3.506 (1) and 3.557 (1) Å for compounds (I), (II) and (III), respectively. Compound (I) crystallizes in the Sohncke groupP21as an `enantiopure' compound and is therefore a potential material for NLO properties. In the crystal of compound (I), molecules are linked by C—H...I−and C—H...π interactions which, together with the I...I−interactions, lead to the formation of ribbons along [100]. In (II), there are only C—H...I−interactions which, together with the I...I−interactions, lead to the formation of helices along [010]. In (III), apart from the I...I−interactions, there are no significant intermolecular interactions present.
Crystal structure of (E)-4,6-dimethoxy-2-(4-methoxystyryl)-3-methylbenzaldehyde
Authors: Ahn Seunghyun , Lim Yoongho , Koh Dongsoo
Published: September 2015

In the title molecule, C19H20O4, the central C=C double bond adopts anEconfiguration. The dihedral angle formed by the planes of the two benzene rings is 83.57 (12)°. The three methoxy groups are essentially coplanar with the benzene rings to which they are attached, with C...;C—O—C torsion angles of −0.2 (3), −2.3 (3) and −4.1 (3)°.
Crystal structure ofN,N,N-tris[(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)methyl]amine
Authors: Mdluli Velabo , Golen James A. , Rheingold Arnold L. , Manke David R.
Published: September 2015

The title compound, C24H18N4S3, exhibits three near planar benzothiazole systems in a pseudo-C3conformation. The dihedral angles between the planes of the benzothiazole groups range from 112.56 (4) to 124.68 (4)° In the crystal, molecules are connected to each other through three short C—H...N contacts, forming an infinite chain along [100]. The molecules are also linked by π–π interactions with each of the three five-membered thiazole rings. [inter-centroid distance range: 3.614 (1)–4.074 (1) Å, inter-planar distance range: 3.4806 (17)–3.6902 (15) Å, slippage range: 0.759 (3)–1.887 (3) Å].
Crystal structure of 2-[(1R,2R,4aS,8aS)-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-N-(o-tolyl)acetamide
Authors: Li Dang-Dang , Shi Xin-Wei , Lu Qiang-Qiang , Li Sheng-Kun
Published: September 2015

The title compound, C23H35NO2, is an amide derivative of the lactone (+)-sclareolide, and was synthesized from natural sclareol. In the molecular structure, the two six-membered rings (AandB) of the labdane skeleton aretrans-fused, and adopt chair conformations. There is an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond present forming anS(7) ring motif. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into helical chains propagating along theb-axis direction. The chains are linkedviaC—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional structure.
Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults
Authors: Cheah Yong Kang , Moy Foong Ming , Loh Debbie Ann
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Nutrition labels bridge communication between food manufacturers and consumers and are instrumental in shaping food choices and dietary habits. Gaining insight into the factors associated with nutrition label use precedes evaluating the effectiveness of these labels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among multi-ethnic Malaysian adults.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data from the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (n=39,506) on nutrition label use was analysed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with reading nutrition labels, adjusted for confounders.

Findings

– The findings show that females, young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, Malays, tertiary educated, singles, employed individuals, physically active adults and non-smokers were significantly associated with increased odds of nutrition label use.

Research limitations/implications

– Causality could not be established due to the cross-sectional study design. The scope of the data collected limited investigations to the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use. Future research measuring consumers’ attention, motivation and comprehension of nutrition label use and subsequent food selection should be conducted.

Practical implications

– Health promotion efforts targeted towards promoting the use of nutrition label among males, older adults aged between 31 and 40 years, ethnic minorities, primary educated, widowed/divorced individuals, unemployed, physically inactive and smokers are recommended.

Originality/value

– This nationwide study provides valuable insights into the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors significantly associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults.
Motivations and limitations in implementing Halal food certification: a Pareto analysis
Authors: Ab Talib Mohamed Syazwan , Abdul Hamid Abu Bakar , Ai Chin Thoo
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review, analyse, and synthesise the motivation and limitation factors in implementing Halal food certification.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic online library search gathered 50 recent journal articles between the years 2004 and 2014. After common motivation and limitation factors were identified and reviewed, a Pareto analysis was performed. This is done to prioritise the motivation and limitation factors and ultimately revealed the major factors that influence the implementation of Halal food certification.

Findings

– A total of 36 motivation and 37 limitation factors were identified. Through Pareto analysis, 15 motivation factors accounted for 80.07 per cent and 20 limitation factors are responsible for 79.65 per cent. These factors are considered the major factors in implementing Halal food certification.

Practical implications

– For academicians, this study provides the most recent review of food safety and quality certification literature and the highlighted factors could assist in designing research instruments and set the foundation for future research endeavours. For industrialists, factors drawn from this study highlight the information critical for effective and efficient decision making.

Originality/value

– This paper is unique as it is the first study to review and analyse the relevant literature from which the authors synthesised the major factors in implementing Halal food certification. The result of this study will provide greater insights to researchers, food companies, and other stakeholders in an effort to encourage greater implementation of Halal food certification.
Major psychological factors affecting consumer’s acceptance of food additives
Authors: Tanaka Yutaka , Kitayama Masaya , Arai Sho , Matsushima Yuki
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to verify the validity of a causal model that was made to predict the consumer’s acceptance of food additives.

Design/methodology/approach

– A new emotional model in which cognitive factors influence emotional factors from the bottom-up was made and the validity of the model was tested. A social survey was conducted in Tokyo, Japan, among 120 female undergraduate students.

Findings

– The results showed that the new emotional model had a higher validity than the conventional emotional model, in which emotional factors influence cognitive factors.

Research limitations/implications

– The reliability and validity of the present models should be reconfirmed with a sample of more than 200 subjects in the future. The sample comprised only Japanese female undergraduate students and additional studies be conducted with diverse samples to ensure that the proposed model is valid and reliable across multiple settings. Future studies should verify whether the use of other topics would produce the same results.

Practical implications

– As it is often difficult to directly affect consumer’s emotions by providing information and education for only a short period of time, it may be advisable to try to change consumer’s cognitions about the perceived risks and benefits through information and education instead.

Social implications

– The greater significance of the current study is the suggestion that the influence of perceptions on emotions should also be considered when evaluating consumer’s acceptance.

Originality/value

– This study showed that the influence of cognitive factors, such as perceived risk and perceived benefit, is also effective in an emotional model. This importantly suggests that consumer’s emotions like anxiety and anger can be changed by altering consumer’s cognitions or perceptions.
The standardization/adaptation dilemma in agri-food exporters marketing strategies
Authors: Sudarevic Tomislav , Radojevic Predrag , Lekovic Jasmina
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical insight into types of marketing strategies and the implementation difficulties of agri-food exporters, with the purpose to get information about them related to firm size, export experience and capital ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

– Focussing on Serbian agri-food exporters, this study employed quantitative design and descriptives-causal approach. An e-mail questionnaire is used to collect data, with aim to determine the influence of firm characteristics on marketing strategy selection and implementation. Descriptive statistics, difference between group tests, and correlation are used in data analysis.

Findings

– Results indicate that large and foreign-owned firms opt for standardization of the product, distribution and promotion, while they prefer an adaptation strategy for price. These firms have fewer difficulties implementing selected strategies compared to small businesses and domestically owned firms. The impact of export experience is mixed and less influential.

Research limitations/implications

– The main research limitations relate to the one country case, but results offer several implications for researchers, management of agri-food exporters, policy makers and society.

Originality/value

– This paper presents the original insight from agri-food exporters originated from one small, emerging economy for all marketing mix elements. Due Serbian case uniqueness it challenges previous findings and provide a “laboratory” for testing export marketing strategies. Research is easy for replication in the other countries and its results might be used for comparisons in further studies of agri-food exporters’ marketing strategies in other small, developing countries.
The networked communications manager
Authors: Fieseler Christian , Ranzini Giulia
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The rise of social media has caused a shift in organizational practices, giving rise, in some cases, to genuinely “mediatized” organizations. The purpose of this paper is to explore how communications managers employ social media to influence their professional impressions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analyzing a sample of 679 European communications professionals, the authors explore with factor and cluster analysis these emerging impression management tactics as well as how managers promote, involve, assist and reproach using social media.

Findings

– The authors distinguish four patterns of online impression management: self-promotion, assistance seeking, peer support and authority. Because different professional duties may require different approaches to impression management, the authors furthermore cluster for managerial roles, showing that in the shaping of formal or informal online roles, communication professionals convey different impressions depending on their degree of online confidence and strategic purpose for using social media.

Originality/value

– This contribution enriches the existing literature first by shedding light on impression management tactics used for social media within a professional context, concurrently exploring the effect of variables such as the extent and purpose of social media activity, the privacy concerns of managers and their roles within the organization. Second, it proposes a typology of social media impression management tailored to the reality of managers, with the aim of presenting a specific tool for understanding managerial self-communication through social media, classifying and predicting professional behaviors.
Cadbury and pig DNA: when issue management intersects with religion
Authors: Jaques Tony
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the evolving role of religion in issue management and introduces a case in Malaysia to examine the emerging corporate risk when western multinationals fall foul of the precepts of Islam.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper details events when Cadbury in Malaysia faced online rumours that its locally made chocolate was contaminated by porcine DNA and examines the corporate and community response in the context of issue management, international public relations, cross-cultural communication theory and apologia theory.

Findings

– The case illustrates that for a multinational company doing business in a Muslim country, an issue response strategy must be based on sound local knowledge and understanding of the religious implications.

Practical implications

– Although issues in the public arena frequently have a political and legal dimension, a religious element can make issue management even more challenging. Internationalisation of both business and issues has increased the profile of Islamic values, and the case shows the practical effectiveness of a calm and considered response in the face of extreme provocation.

Originality/value

– While western public relations literature has highlighted cases of strongly held familiar Christian values driving issues onto the national issue management agenda, this paper identifies how Islamic precepts now represent an increasingly important consideration for modern risk and issue managers.
Building school connectedness through shared lunches
Authors: Neely Eva , Walton Mat , Stephens Christine
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– School connectedness is a well-established protective factor for young people’s physical, mental, and social health. The purpose of this paper is to explore the promotion of school connectedness through the practice of shared lunches within a secondary school context in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

– An ethnographic methodology was used to explore in-depth the mechanisms by which food practices included indicators of school connectedness, and used interviews and observations with teachers and 16-18-year-old students in a New Zealand secondary school.

Findings

– The results describe six key mechanisms by which shared lunches fostered school connectedness: showing common humanity, creating an informal setting, encouraging sharing, enabling inclusive participation, demonstrating sacrifice for the communal good, and facilitating experiences of diversity. These mechanisms contributed to increased social interactions in which people got to know each other better and were able to gain insight into others’ personalities. This allowed for opportunities to establish and strengthen social relationships, and contributed to indicators of connectedness.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is exploratory with findings reported from one school. Further research in other contexts on the value of shared lunches for building school connectedness is required.

Originality/value

– Shared lunches, as part of an overall strategy to develop a well-connected school community, are adaptable and can fit into a multitude of situations to meet different needs. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the mechanisms by which shared lunches can affect indicators of school connectedness.
Aligning supply chain transportation strategy with industry characteristics
Authors: Ke Jian-yu Fisher , Windle Robert J. , Han Chaodong , Britto Rodrigo
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose that transportation modal mix in global supply chains is a result of the strategic alignment between industry characteristics and supply chain strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using annual US trade statistics and manufacturing industry data for the years 2002-2009 between the USA and its top 12 Asian trading partners, this study applies various regression methods to examine key factors associated with the transport modal decision.

Findings

– The results show that industry characteristics have an impact on the transportation modal mix in global supply chains. Manufacturing industries use more air freight and less ocean freight when facing positive sales surprises, high-monthly demand variation, a high-contribution margin ratio, a high cost of capital, and increased competition.

Practical implications

– The findings provide important insights for logistics managers and freight forwarders. While transportation cost remains an important concern, a logistics manager must also consider non-cost factors such as competition, working capital, and demand uncertainties in their modal decisions. Freight forwarders should be supply chain solution providers who consider all of these industry factors and suggest a proper mix of transportation modes for their customers.

Originality/value

– This study is among the first efforts to examine the impact of industry characteristics on the transportation modal mix in global supply chains. This study first develops a theoretical framework for the modal choice decision for international transportation movements and then, using an extensive and innovative data set, provides new findings regarding current air freight practices in global supply chains.
Building a new academic library Web site
Authors: Johnston Ann , Greenlee Pamela , Marcukaitis Matthew W , Lopshire Ian M
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The Benner Library Web site at Olivet Nazarene University was targeted for an update and those responsible desired a systematic, efficient approach to the process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project needed clear goals and careful coordination of all stakeholders, including all levels of patrons, library professionals and staff and university administrators.

Findings

– The methodical approach proved to be time consuming but effective.

Originality/value

– A team composed of Web developers, programmers and graphic designers accomplished the technological process, but communication between team members and stakeholders was essential.
Assessing victim risk in cases of violent crime
Authors: Khan Roxanne , Willan Victoria J , Lowe Michelle , Robinson Phaedra , Brooks Matthew , Irving May , Stokes Rachel , Graham-Kevan Nicola , Karwacka Marta , Bryce Jo
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– There is a body of evidence that suggests a range of psychosocial characteristics demarcate certain adults to be at an elevated risk for victimisation. The purpose of this paper is to examine consistency between one police force, and a corresponding Victim Support service based in England, in their assessment of level of risk faced by victims of violent crime.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study explored matched data on 869 adult victims of violent crime gathered from these two key services in Preston, namely, Lancashire Constabulary and Victim Support, from which a sub-group of comparable “domestic violence” cases (n=211) were selected for further examination.

Findings

– Data analyses revealed methodological inconsistencies in the assessment of victimisation resulting in discrepancies for recorded levels of risk in domestic violence cases across these two agencies.

Practical implications

– These findings provide a compelling argument for developing a more uniformed approach to victim assessment and indicate a significant training need.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights areas of good practice and forwards several recommendations for improved practice that emphasises the integration of empirical research conducted by psychologists to boost the validity and reliability of risk assessment approaches and tools used.
Grey areas and fine lines: negotiating operational independence in the era of the police and crime commissioner
Authors: Wells Helen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the negotiation of boundaries of strategic vs operational responsibility between Chief Constables and Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs).

Design/methodology/approach

– The discussion reflects on interviews with Chief Constables (n=11) and PCCs (n=11) in matched pairs, exploring the relationship between the two figures, specifically in relation to the issue of the operational independence of the Chief Constable in the new accountability structure.

Findings

– The findings demonstrate that experiences vary and depend on the particular personalities and experience of the individuals involved. PCCs were particularly likely to test the boundary of operational vs strategic responsibility in relation to issues which had been brought to their attention by members of their electorate.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research could seek a larger sample as it is possible that those areas where real tensions existed declined to participate. Given the findings, it would also be informative to revisit the topic in the run-up to the next PCC elections.

Social implications

– The (re)negotiation of boundaries may become the norm given that both roles are subject to reassignment at short notice, and may become particularly salient in the run-up to future PCC elections. Crucial policing decisions which affect everyone are inevitably influenced by these background negotiations.

Originality/value

– Previous research has not been based on interviews with both PCCs and their respective Chief Constables, and hence there is dearth of material which reflects on the relationships between these two powerful individuals and their ongoing negotiations of issues with real practical and conceptual implications.
Ryanair: success before love
Authors: Thomas Mark
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to show why public acclaim is not always a guarantee for healthy profits. A low-cost forerunner, Laker Airlines, also discovered this same fact to its fatal cost. A company needs to understand its true value proposition and ensure that customers are willing to pay for it. Ryanair was adored by the public when it began its low-cost flights from Dublin to London in 1986. That love nearly drove it to bankruptcy. Today, despite its poor image, it is one of the most successful and profitable companies in the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article analysis of the changing fortunes of Ryanair from its launch to its near bankruptcy in 1991 and then its revival of fortunes. It draws a parallel with Laker Airlines and the low-cost transatlantic Skytrain. Adulated by the public, the company folded in 1982. It is supplemented with research the airline industry and low-cost business models.

Findings

– The article shows why companies should not fall into the trap of believing that a good public image will be the necessary condition for maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage. They need to fully understand the value proposition and what a customer is willing to buy.
Cathay
&
Southwest: flying the flag of good practice in airline mergers
Authors: Sharma Reetesh , Thomas Mark
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This article highlights the essential factors to be considered for successful mergers and acquisitions (M
&
As) in the aviation industry. The article draws insights from the successful deals between Morris and Southwest Airlines as well as Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article is a case study of two successful mergers in the airline industry, one in the USA and one in Asia.

Findings

– M
&
As in the airline industry are loaded with difficulties. These include problems of brand identification, opposition from key stakeholders and the need of forming one coherent organisational culture. However, this does not mean that they are impossible. Two large-scale mergers have shown that successful mergers can occur in the industry.

Originality/value

– This article gives examples of two successful M
&
A deals from the aviation industry and shows the important factors to achieve this.
M
&
As in the airline industry: emotions flying high
Authors: Thomas Mark , Kummer Christopher Benjamin
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Mergers and acquisitions (M
&
As) are sensitive issues in most industries, but it would seem even more so in airlines. The list of failures or destroyed value in the sector is long. This article outlines three of the main reason why M
&
As can be a challenge in this industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article looks at M
&
As in the airline industry through a key stakeholder and brand identification perspective. It also considers the reaction of airline personnel to merger and analysis the cause of their behaviour.

Findings

– Senior management often fails to understand that there is a big difference between negotiating and closing a merger and afterwards making it a success. While they often feel rather exhausted after the long process of discussions, due diligence and many legal aspects including regulatory hurdles – after the announcement the true work starts!
Longitudinal study of effects of oral dosage of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9‐1 on Japanese cedar pollen‐induced allergic nasal symptoms in guinea pigs
Authors: Tsunemine Satoru , Isa Yasuhiro , Ohno Hiroshi , Hagino Satoko , Yamamura Hideki , Mizutani Nobuaki , Nabe Takeshi
Published: September 2015

Previous studies using experimental animal models have reported the beneficial effects of probiotics on allergic responses; however, their long‐term effects on allergic nasal symptoms in clinical settings have not yet been elucidated in detail. In the present study, a guinea pig allergic rhinitis model involving repeated inhalation challenges with a natural allergen, Japanese cedar pollen, was used to examine the longitudinal effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9‐1 (BBG9‐1) on allergic nasal symptoms. BBG9‐1 was administered orally once a day. Amelioration of nasal blockage was consistently observed throughout the experimental period in the BBG9‐1‐treated group. Although challenge‐induced sneezing was not significantly inhibited in the BBG9‐1‐treated group, prolonged treatment with BBG9‐1 slightly reduced the frequency of sneezing. Antigen‐specific IgE antibody production was also not inhibited in the BBG9‐1‐treated group. Increases in the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in nasal cavity lavage fluid collected after pollen challenge were almost completely suppressed by BBG9‐1 treatment, whereas those in mast cell mediators, histamine and cysteinyl leukotrienes were not. In contrast, increases in the levels of nitric oxide metabolites were potently suppressed. Furthermore, prolonged BBG9‐1 treatment markedly suppressed exogenous leukotriene D4‐induced nasal blockage. Thus, prolonged oral administration of BBG9‐1 suppresses Japanese cedar pollen‐induced allergic nasal symptoms. The inhibitory mechanisms responsible may involve reductions in the responsiveness of target organs, such as endothelial cells in nasal mucosal blood vessels, to chemical mediators.
Patterns and predictors of β‐diversity in the fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forest: a multiscale analysis of forest specialist and generalist birds
Authors: Morante‐Filho José Carlos , Arroyo‐Rodríguez Víctor , Faria Deborah
Published: September 2015

Biodiversity maintenance in human‐altered landscapes (HALs) depends on the species turnover among localities, but the patterns and determinants of β‐diversity in HALs are poorly known. In fact, declines, increases and neutral shifts in β‐diversity have all been documented, depending on the landscape, ecological group and spatial scale of analysis.

We shed some light on this controversy by assessing the patterns and predictors of bird β‐diversity across multiple spatial scales considering forest specialist and habitat generalist bird assemblages.

We surveyed birds from 144 point counts in 36 different forest sites across two landscapes with different amount of forest cover in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. We analysed β‐diversity among points, among sites and between landscapes with multiplicative diversity partitioning of Hill numbers. We tested whether β‐diversity among points was related to within‐site variations in vegetation structure, and whether β‐diversity among sites was related to site location and/or to differences among sites in vegetation structure and landscape composition (i.e. per cent forest and pasture cover surrounding each site).

β‐diversity between landscapes was lower than among sites and among points in both bird assemblages. In forest specialist birds, the landscape with less forest cover showed the highest β‐diversity among sites (bird differentiation among sites), but generalist birds showed the opposite pattern. At the local scale, however, the less forested landscape showed the lowest β‐diversity among points (bird homogenization within sites), independently of the bird assemblage. β‐diversity among points was weakly related to vegetation structure, but higher β‐diversity values were recorded among sites that were more isolated from each other, and among sites with higher differences in landscape composition, particularly in the less forested landscape.

Our findings indicate that patterns of bird β‐diversity vary across scales and are strongly related to landscape composition. Bird assemblages are shaped by both environmental filtering and dispersal limitation, particularly in less forested landscapes. Conservation and management strategies should therefore prevent deforestation in this biodiversity hotspot.