bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppression of intragenic transcription requires the MOT1 and NC2 regulators of TATA-binding protein
Authors: Koster Maria J. E. , Yildirim Asli D. , Weil P. Anthony , Holstege Frank C. P. , Timmers H. Th. Marc
Published: January 2014

Chromatin structure in transcribed regions poses a barrier for intragenic transcription. In a comprehensive study of the yeast chromatin remodelers and the Mot1p-NC2 regulators of TATA-binding protein (TBP), we detected synthetic genetic interactions indicative of suppression of intragenic transcription. Conditional depletion of Mot1p or NC2 in absence of the ISW1 remodeler, but not in the absence of other chromatin remodelers, activated the cryptic FLO8 promoter. Likewise, conditional depletion of Mot1p or NC2 in deletion backgrounds of the H3K36 methyltransferase Set2p or the Asf1p-Rtt106p histone H3-H4 chaperones, important factors involved in maintaining a repressive chromatin environment, resulted in increased intragenic FLO8 transcripts. Activity of the cryptic FLO8 promoter is associated with reduced H3 levels, increased TBP binding and tri-methylation of H3K4 and is independent of Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase function. These data reveal cooperation of negative regulation of TBP with specific chromatin regulators to inhibit intragenic transcription.
Androgen receptor uses relaxed response element stringency for selective chromatin binding and transcriptional regulation in vivo
Authors: Sahu Biswajyoti , Pihlajamaa Päivi , Dubois Vanessa , Kerkhofs Stefanie , Claessens Frank , Jänne Olli A.
Published: January 2014

The DNA-binding domains (DBDs) of class I steroid receptors—androgen, glucocorticoid, progesterone and mineralocorticoid receptors—recognize a similar cis-element, an inverted repeat of 5′-AGAACA-3′ with a 3-nt spacer. However, these receptors regulate transcription programs that are largely receptor-specific. To address the role of the DBD in and of itself in ensuring specificity of androgen receptor (AR) binding to chromatin in vivo, we used SPARKI knock-in mice whose AR DBD has the second zinc finger replaced by that of the glucocorticoid receptor. Comparison of AR-binding events in epididymides and prostates of wild-type (wt) and SPARKI mice revealed that AR achieves selective chromatin binding through a less stringent sequence requirement for the 3′-hexamer. In particular, a T at position 12 in the second hexamer is dispensable for wt AR but mandatory for SPARKI AR binding, and only a G at position 11 is highly conserved among wt AR-preferred response elements. Genome-wide AR-binding events agree with the respective transcriptome profiles, in that attenuated AR binding in SPARKI mouse epididymis correlates with blunted androgen response in vivo. Collectively, AR-selective actions in vivo rely on relaxed rather than increased stringency of cis-elements on chromatin. These elements are, in turn, poorly recognized by other class I steroid receptors.
Chromosome positioning from activity-based segregation
Authors: Ganai Nirmalendu , Sengupta Surajit , Menon Gautam I.
Published: January 2014

Chromosomes within eukaryotic cell nuclei at interphase are not positioned at random, since gene-rich chromosomes are predominantly found towards the interior of the cell nucleus across a number of cell types. The physical mechanisms that could drive and maintain the spatial segregation of chromosomes based on gene density are unknown. Here, we identify a mechanism for such segregation, showing that the territorial organization of chromosomes, another central feature of nuclear organization, emerges naturally from our model. Our computer simulations indicate that gene density-dependent radial segregation of chromosomes arises as a robust consequence of differences in non-equilibrium activity across chromosomes. Arguing that such differences originate in the inhomogeneous distribution of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling and transcription machinery on each chromosome, we show that a variety of non-random positional distributions emerge through the interplay of such activity, nuclear shape and specific interactions of chromosomes with the nuclear envelope. Results from our model are in reasonable agreement with experimental data and we make a number of predictions that can be tested in experiments.
Good Agreement Between Endoscopic Findings and Biopsy Reports Supports Limited Tissue Sampling During Pediatric Colonoscopy
Authors: Manfredi Michael A. , Jiang Hongyu , Borges Lawrence F. , Deutsch Amanda J. , Goldsmith Jeffrey D. , Lightdale Jenifer R.
Published: January 2014

Objectives:

Colonoscopy in children routinely includes the practice of obtaining multiple biopsy samples even in the absence of gross mucosal abnormalities. The aim of our investigation was to examine the level of agreement between endoscopic and histological findings during pediatric colonoscopy. We also investigated the predictors of agreement and abnormal histology.

Methods:

We performed an institutionally approved retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic colonoscopy during a 6‐month period. Descriptive analyses and regression models were used to determine agreement rates, as well as potential predictors of both agreement and abnormal histology.

Results:

Of 390 included colonoscopies, endoscopists (n = 26) reported abnormal gross findings in 218 (56%) and pathologists (n = 4) found histopathology in 195 (50%). Considering histology as the criterion standard, endoscopy had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 78%. Reports of grossly normal endoscopic findings were highly associated with agreement (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, P = 0.001). A known diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease was a strong predictor of abnormal histology (OR 6.4, P < 0.0001). Abdominal pain as a procedural indication was a strong predictor for normal histology (OR 0.4, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The results of our study suggest good agreement between endoscopic and histological findings, especially when an endoscopist reports normal‐appearing colonic mucosa. We identified predictors of abnormal histology to include known inflammatory bowel disease, whereas abdominal pain was found to be a negative predictor. Future studies are needed to determine evidence‐based protocols for obtaining biopsies during colonoscopy in children.
Bagaza virus and Israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus are a single virus species
Authors: Fernández-Pinero Jovita , Davidson Irit , Elizalde Maia , Perk Shimon , Khinich Yevgeny , Jiménez-Clavero Miguel Angel
Published: January 2014

Bagaza virus (BAGV) and Israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus (ITV) are classified in the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae. Serologically, they are closely related, belonging to the Ntaya serocomplex. Nucleotide sequences available to date consist of several complete sequences of BAGV isolates, but only partial sequences of ITV isolates. Sequence comparisons of partial envelope (E) and NS5 regions reveal a close genetic relationship between these viruses. Despite this, BAGV and ITV are considered as separate virus species in the database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. In this work, complete nucleotide sequences for five ITV isolates are provided, thereby permitting a phylogenetic comparison with other complete sequences of flaviviruses in the Ntaya serogroup. We conclude that BAGV and ITV are the same virus species and propose that both viruses be designated by a new unified name: Avian meningoencephalomyelitis virus.
K9Y3[Si12O32]F2
Authors: Kahlenberg Volker , Manninger Tanja
Published: January 2014

Single-crystals of the title compound, nonapotassium triyttrium dodecasilicate difluoride, were obtained from flux synthesis experiments in the system SiO2—Y2O3—KF. The crystal structure belongs to the group of single-layer silicates and is based on silicate sheets parallel to (110). A single layer contains secondary (Q2) and tertiary (Q3) silicate tetrahedra in the ratio 1:2 and is build up from six-, eight- and twelve-membered rings. The linkage between neighboring layers is achieved by two crystallographically independent Y3+cations, which are coordinated by six oxygen ligands in form of distorted octahedra. Charge compensation is accomplished by incorporation of additional F−anions and K+cations in the structural channels, forming anion-centred [F2K7] groups. Apart from one K+and one Y3+cation (each with site symmetry -1), the 30 crystallographically independent atoms reside on general positions.
2-Chloro-N-(4-methoxybenzoyl)benzenesulfonamide
Authors: Sreenivasa S , Palakshamurthy B. S. , Pampa K. J. , Lokanath N. K. , Suchetan P. A.
Published: January 2014

In the title compound, C14H12ClNO4S, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 82.07 (1)° and the dihedral angle between the planes defined by the S—N—C=O fragment and the sulfonyl benzene ring is 82.46 (3)°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked intoC(4) chains running along [001] by strong N—H...O hydrogen bonds. A C—H...O interaction reinforces the [001] chains: its graph-set symbol isC(7). The chains are cross-linked into (100) sheets by further C—H...O interactions asC(6) chains along [001]. The structure also features weak π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.577 (1) and 3.8016 (1) Å].
Serial crystallography onin vivogrown microcrystals using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Gati Cornelius , Bourenkov Gleb , Klinge Marco , Rehders Dirk , Stellato Francesco , Oberthür Dominik , Yefanov Oleksandr , Sommer Benjamin P. , Mogk Stefan , Duszenko Michael , Betzel Christian , Schneider Thomas R. , Chapman Henry N. , Redecke Lars
Published: January 2014

Crystal structure determinations of biological macromolecules are limited by the availability of sufficiently sized crystals and by the fact that crystal quality deteriorates during data collection owing to radiation damage. Exploiting a micrometre-sized X-ray beam, high-precision diffractometry and shutterless data acquisition with a pixel-array detector, a strategy for collecting data from many micrometre-sized crystals presented to an X-ray beam in a vitrified suspension is demonstrated. By combining diffraction data from 80Trypanosoma bruceiprocathepsin B crystals with an average volume of 9 µm3, a complete data set to 3.0 Å resolution has been assembled. The data allowed the refinement of a structural model that is consistent with that previously obtained using free-electron laser radiation, providing mutual validation. Further improvements of the serial synchrotron crystallography technique and its combination with serial femtosecond crystallography are discussed that may allow the determination of high-resolution structures of micrometre-sized crystals.
Hirshfeld surface analysis of the 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)dipyridinium dication in two new salts: perchlorate and peroxodisulfate
Authors: Gholizadeh Mostafa , Pourayoubi Mehrdad , Farimaneh Masoumeh , Tarahhomi Atekeh , Dušek Michal , Eigner Václav
Published: January 2014

In the title salts, C12H14N22+·2ClO4−, (I), and C12H14N22+·S2O82−, (II), the dication is organized around an inversion centre located at the centre of the –CH2CH2– bridge and the two pyridine segments areantiwith respect to one another. The peroxodisulfate anion in (II) also exhibits inversion symmetry. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows closely similar Hirshfeld surface shapes for the dications in the two salts, reflecting similar intermolecular contacts and similar conformations. The two-dimensional fingerprint plots (FPs) are quite asymmetric, due to the presence of more than one component (cation and anion). The most striking of the complementary features for each of the FPs of the dications is the broad green spike in the regionde>di, without the presence of a corresponding spike in the regionde<di, reflecting the absence of O...H contacts. Moreover, H...O interactions (51% in the dications of both salts) outnumber other contacts in both crystal structures.
Four salt phases of theophylline
Authors: Buist Amanda R. , Kennedy Alan R. , Manzie Craig
Published: January 2014

The structures of two anhydrous salt phases of theophylline, namely 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-7H-purin-9-ium tetrafluoroborate, C7H9N4O2+·BF4−, and 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-7H-purin-9-ium chloride, C7H9N4O2+·Cl−, are reported together with the structures of two monohydrate salt forms, namely 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-7H-purin-9-ium chloride monohydrate, C7H9N4O2+·Cl−·H2O, and 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-7H-purin-9-ium bromide monohydrate, C7H9N4O2+·Br−·H2O. The monohydrate structures are mutually isostructural, with the cations and anions lying on crystallographic mirror planes (Z′ = 1\over 2). The main intermolecular interaction motif is a hydrogen-bonding network in the same mirror plane. The tetrafluoroborate structure is based on planar hydrogen-bonded theopylline cation dimers; the anions interact with the dimers in a pendant fashion. The anhydrous chloride structure hasZ′ = 2 and in contrast to the other species it does not form planar hydrogen-bonded constructs, instead one-dimensional chains of cations and anions propagate parallel to the crystallographiccdirection. An earlier report claiming to describe an anhydrous structure of theophylline hydrochloride is re-examined in light of these results. It is concluded that the earlier structure has been reported in the wrong space group and that it has been chemically misidentified.
Supramolecular association in proton-transfer adducts containing benzamidinium cations. III. Three molecular salts of 3-methoxy-, 4-methoxy- and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoates with benzamidine
Authors: Portalone Gustavo
Published: January 2014

Three molecular salts, benzamidinium 3-methoxybenzoate, C7H9N2+·C8H7O3−, (I), benzamidinium 4-methoxybenzoate, C7H9N2+·C8H7O3−, (II), and benzamidinium 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate monohydrate, C7H9N2+·C10H11O5−·H2O, (III), were formed from the proton-transfer reactions of 3-methoxy, 4-methoxy- and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acids with benzamidine (benzenecarboximidamide, benzam). Monoclinic salts (I) and (II) have a 1:1 ratio of cation to anion. In monoclinic salt (III), two cation–anion pairs and two water molecules constitute the asymmetric unit. In all three molecular salts, the amidinium fragments and the carboxylate groups are completely delocalized, and the delocalization favours the aggregation of the molecular components into nonplanar dimers with anR22(8) graph-set motif by N+—H...O−(±) charge-assisted hydrogen bonding (CAHB). Of the three molecular salts, (I) and (II) show similar conformations of the anionic components and exhibit bidimensional isostructurality, which consists of alternatingR22(8) andR46(16) rings resulting in a corrugated sheet propagated parallel to the crystallographicabplane. In molecular salt (III), theR22(8) synthon is retained but the supramolecular structure is different, due to the presence of three bulky methoxy substituents and a water molecule. The structures reported here further demonstrate the robustness ofR22(8) hydrogen-bonded synthons having the benzamidinium cation as a building block, whereas N+—H...O−hydrogen bonds external to the salt bridge contribute to the overall structure organization.
A two‐way approach of congruent behavior between leaders and staff in the employeeship concept
Authors: Bertlett Johan , Johansson Curt R. , Arvidsson Marcus , Jern Stefan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The authors have developed the Leadership‐Employeeship‐Relationship Model and a questionnaire following their conceptualization of the employeeship concept. It is possible to separately study leadership, peer employee, and interactive leader‐follower behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the conceptualization and operationalization, as well as between the model and psychological climate.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, four organizations operating at an airport participated. The quantitative approach involved data gathered from expected leadership and employee behaviors and psychological climate attitude questionnaires. The leadership and peer employee variables are separately based on the leadership and employeeship questionnaires, whereas the leader‐follower variable is based on the results of both questionnaires. All analyses were made on the variable level.

Findings

The results show that expected leadership, peer employee, and congruent leader‐follower behaviors all have a positive correlation with psychological climate. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that congruent leader‐follower behavior had augmented value to leadership behavior and its relationship to psychological climate.

Practical implications

Congruent leader‐follower behavior plays an important role in the overall improvement of psychological climate. Steps toward congruent behavior are to allow followers to participate in leadership development and that the issue of shared responsibilities and authority is best managed in collaboration between management and staff.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to demonstrate empirically the relation between the interactive leader‐follower employeeship perspective based on the expected behaviors of both leaders and followers and psychological climate.
Transformational and passive avoidant leadership as determinants of absenteeism
Authors: Frooman Jeff , Mendelson Morris B. , Kevin Murphy J.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

Does leadership style affect absenteeism in a company? The purpose of this paper is to contrast the effects of two leadership styles – transformational and passive avoidant – on absenteeism, both legitimate and illegitimate, as mediated by job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐report questionnaire was completed by a sample of 120 employees of a national mail delivery company. Hierarchical regressions were used to analyze the data.

Findings

It was found that transformational leadership decreases illegitimate absenteeism, while passive avoidant leadership increases it. In regard to legitimate absenteeism, transformational leadership is shown to have no effect, while passive avoidant leadership is shown to be negatively related to it. Together, the findings regarding passive avoidant leaders suggest their subordinates tend to come to work when ill (presenteeism), but stay away from work when well (illegitimate absenteeism).

Practical implications

For managers trying to reduce the costs of absenteeism, this suggests that leadership style can make a difference. Managers who give subordinates very little attention, or attention only when they have done something wrong – the passive avoidant style – are likely to experience the higher costs of both absenteeism and presenteeism. Adopting the transformational style may help to reduce these costs.

Originality/value

The paper helps to extend the current work on leadership; it examines the passive avoidant style, which remains understudied to date; and it enriches our understanding of the relationship between leadership style and absenteeism as an outcome variable by moving beyond a uni‐dimensional conceptualization of absenteeism. Finally, it serves as a basis for future research by providing evidence for a somewhat counter‐intuitive finding that, under passive avoidant leaders, workers appear to come to work when sick, but stay away from work when well.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: January 2014

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the Leadership & Organization Development Journal is split into four sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Culture, Change and Intervention; Management Styles and Techniques; Leadership and Decision; Communications.
Clockspeed effectiveness of lead users and product experts
Authors: Tsinopoulos Christos , Al‐Zu'bi Zu'bi
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of collaboration with lead users (users that experience needs unknown to the public and therefore can innovate by finding solutions to those needs) and product experts (external new product development collaborators who have a commercial interest in the development of a new product) on the clockspeed of the development of new products and to determine which of the two has a higher impact.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 421 European manufacturers, and analysed using hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

Both lead users and product experts were found to have a positive and statistically significant impact on new product development speed. Also, collaboration with lead users will lead to greater new product development speed than with product experts.

Research limitations/implications

When knowledgeable individuals are involved in the new product development process as lead users, they have a better impact on new product development speed than when they are involved as product experts. This is a single informant study that makes use of perceptual measures. Although several steps have been taken to minimise any risk of systematic bias, its potential effect cannot be eliminated.

Practical implications

The results have two main implications for manufacturers. First, collaboration with lead users and product experts during the new product development process will help to improve the speed of development, and hence the speed to market. Second, collaboration with lead users will have a greater impact, particularly when undertaken informally, as formal integration may lead to a weakening of lead users' innovative abilities.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the growing literature, which explores how innovators found outside an organisation can be used to enhance the innovative ability of that organisation. The value of this work is that it identifies and empirically compares the impact of lead users and product experts on new product development speed.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: January 2014

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the Marketing Intelligence & Planning is split into nine sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Business Strategy; Marketing Strategy; Customer Service; Sales Management; Promotion; Marketing Research/Customer Behaviour; Product Management; Logistics and Distribution; Sundry.
Adoption of smart TVs: a Bayesian network approach
Authors: Bae Youngim , Chang Hyunjoon
Published: January 2014

Purpose

This study aims to identify factors that determine the smart TV buying decisions of users and analyze the relationships among the factors by using Bayesian network approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates smart TV users' perception based on innovation diffusion theory (IDT) which includes five innovation attributes: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. The authors employ Bayesian network to identify causal relationship among the innovation attributes and analyze the sensitivity of the intentions to changes in factors.

Findings

The results show that relative advantage has the greatest influence on the purchase intention of smart TV, followed by compatibility, entertainment, web‐browsing and n‐screen.

Research limitations/implications

The reliability of the results is limited as the survey is not carried out on a large number of samples. The study, however, suggests a future direction for smart TV in consumers' point of view.

Practical implications

According to the findings, companies should focus on enhancing relative advantage, rather than other attributes and entertainment service, to encourage the adoption of smart TV.

Originality/value

Smart TV is an evolving technology in the phase of market introduction. The definition and characteristics of smart TV are still uncertain. The previous literatures, however, were focused on the contents of smart TV and service, restructuring of broadcasting industry, and changes in the competitive landscape. The consumers have not been discussed in detail yet. This paper's contributions are twofold: first, it identifies important attributes for the adoption of smart TV in consumers' intention; second, it suggests a new methodology of Bayesian network in determining consumer buying factors.
Influence of resource‐based capability and inter‐organizational coordination on SCM
Authors: Tan Keah‐Choon , Cross James
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate which firm‐level antecedent – resource‐based capability or inter‐organizational coordination – contributes to a firm's supply chain management (SCM) focus.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework of antecedents of SCM focus and several research hypotheses posit that for a thorough understanding of the behavior of an organization in the supply chain, it is necessary to consider two sets of antecedents simultaneously. Hypotheses are tested using confirmatory factor analysis and multiple linear regression on a set of survey data collected in the USA, Europe and New Zealand.

Findings

The analysis of survey data validates the major premise that inter‐organizational coordination plays an important role in explaining the SCM focus of a firm. Research results validate the positive relationships between the proposed antecedents and a firm's SCM focus.

Research limitations/implications

Although the research design incorporates extensive literature reviews, it does not capture every aspect of complex inter‐organizational coordination. Future efforts should establish a valid, reliable instrument to measure the underlying constructs.

Practical implications

This study shows that a firm possesses inimitable internal resource‐based capabilities and external coordination mechanisms that are unique to each firm. Each of the resource‐based capabilities helps to integrate the various internal functional areas within an organization to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The external coordination mechanisms help a firm to link its processes seamlessly with upstream and downstream supply chain members. The paper also shows that product innovation is the only resourced‐based capability that predicts SCM focus when inter‐organizational coordination mechanisms are considered.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the extant literature by integrating the traditional resource‐based view of a firm with inter‐organizational coordination to examine crucial factors that precede a firm's SCM focus. Both perspectives have considerable merit, so for a thorough understanding of a firm's SCM focus, it is necessary to consider these factors simultaneously.
ERP use and value: Portuguese and Spanish SMEs
Authors: Ruivo Pedro , Oliveira Tiago , Neto Miguel
Published: January 2014

Purpose

Consistent with the diffusion of innovation (DOI) model and resource‐based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this paper is to develop a research model for measuring enterprise resource planning (ERP) post‐adoption and its consequence on small and medium enterprise (SME) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The model links six determinants based on DOI to explain “ERP use” and three on RBV to explain the “ERP value”, on which nine hypotheses are postulated. Testing was conducted through structural equation modelling, utilizing data from 558 web‐surveyed firms in Portugal and Spain.

Findings

Full sample analysis finds that competitive pressure, training, best‐practices, compatibility, and efficiency are important antecedents of “ERP use”. Together with usage, collaboration and analytics capabilities contribute to “ERP value”. Cross‐country analysis reveals that complexity is an important inhibitor for “ERP use” in Portuguese firms whereas it is a facilitator for Spanish firms. In addition, while for Portuguese firms, compatibility and efficiency are significant, they are not for Spanish firms. For “ERP value”, while use and collaboration are more important for Portuguese firms, analytics is more important for Spanish.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides insight into how SMEs use and value ERP; however, the authors cannot speak empirically on the issue of whether value is sustained, or on maturity stages, or on the impact of different industries.

Originality/value

The paper describes the first empirical research study on Iberian SMEs, thus adding a cross‐country dimension to the innovation diffusion literature. Unlike the typical focus on ERP adoption found in the literature, this paper focuses on post‐adoption stages, linking usage with value.
Knowledge market in organizations: incentive alignment and IT support
Authors: Zhang Zuopeng (Justin) , Jasimuddin Sajjad M.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

Knowledge market has become an important issue of knowledge management. The purpose of this paper is to study the design of an internal knowledge market for enabling knowledge transfer within an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The knowledge market is modeled as a pull market, where buyers post and price their questions to elicit answers from potential sellers. Designing and offering different incentives and information technology (IT) support to knowledge workers with heterogeneous knowledge levels, a firm maintains the efficiency of the market and maximizes the organizational benefit from knowledge transfer.

Findings

The authors identify two payment policies, a priori and a posteriori, and two market‐regulating mechanisms, Locking and Open mechanisms. The optimal designs of incentive contracts and IT support are fully demonstrated for the a priori policy and Locking mechanism. The benefits of the market for knowledge transfer are illustrated from three aspects: transaction price as sharing reward; market as payment platform; and IT as transaction facilitator.

Originality/value

The paper provides valuable insights for practitioners to effectively manage knowledge assets within markets.
Patterns of B2B e‐commerce usage in SMEs
Authors: Sila Ismail , Dobni Dawn
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the B2B e‐commerce (B2BEC) usage patterns of North American small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in their supply chains, the contextual factors that influence usage patterns, and the subsequent effects of these patterns on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an online survey of North American SMEs and obtained 229 responses. They utilized several statistical methods, including cluster analysis and profile analysis, to test five hypotheses.

Findings

The TOE framework, supplemented with interorganizational factors, provides a valid theoretical guideline to study firms' B2BEC usage patterns. Three distinct types of B2BEC usage patterns – E‐Limiteds, E‐Leaders, and E‐Laggards – emerged. Different sets of contextual factors contribute to the formation of these three patterns of B2BEC adoption. Higher levels of B2BEC usage result in stronger firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

Future clustering variables could be more specific. The effects of other potential contextual factors should also be explored by future studies. This study can be replicated in other countries to determine whether the findings can be generalized.

Practical implications

In light of the potential performance improvements that B2BEC adoption offers, managers should assess the risks associated with maintaining their current speed of e‐business deployment versus the risks associated with escalating it. Organizations that have been more reactive should consider how well or ill their sluggish approach prepares them for navigating the inevitability of increasing sophistication in supply chain management.

Originality/value

Limited empirical research exists on the B2BEC usage patterns of North American SMEs, the contextual factors that motivate them to adopt different B2BEC technologies in their supply chains, and how each of these usage patterns affects their performance. The current study contributes to the literature by shedding light on these issues.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Sandelands Eric
Published: January 2014

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of Industrial Management & Data Systems is split into six sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Industrial Management; Industrial Engineering and Work Study; Industrial Design; Quality Management; Manufacturing Strategy and Production; Information Systems.
Legal aspects of e‐books and interlibrary loan
Authors: Müller Harald
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the laws and legal concepts that form the basis for library book lending and how those concepts do or do not apply in the e‐book environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The author surveys relevant legal concepts as defined by international copyright treaties and regulations, and conducts a comparative analysis of how these concepts have been applied in the legal systems of Germany, the USA, and Canada.

Findings

The idea of “lending” books is a carryover from the analogue world and applies only to the distribution of tangible objects, i.e. printed books. The legal concept of “reproduction” more accurately applies to the transfer of e‐books from library to user.

Originality/value

Libraries must lobby their legislatures to create new legal instruments that will enable libraries to provide e‐book access to their users.
New industrial service pricing strategies and their antecedents: empirical evidence from two industrial sectors
Authors: Indounas Kostis , Avlonitis George
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the conditions that led to the adoption of the three new industrial service‐pricing strategies, namely skimming pricing (i.e. a high initial price), penetration pricing (i.e. a low initial price), and pricing similar to competitive prices.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the study's research objectives, data were collected through a mail survey from 129 transportation and 48 information technology companies. Moreover, 20 in‐depth personal interviews were conducted in the initial phase of the research.

Findings

Analyzing data from two industrial sectors, the study concludes that skimming pricing and penetration pricing relate to the company's corporate and marketing strategy and the service characteristics, while market conditions influence the adoption of pricing similar to competitive prices.

Research limitations/implications

Given the limited number of the sectors investigated in the current study, the research results may not be easily applicable to other industrial service contexts.

Practical implications

The findings reflect the complexity and multidimensionality of new industrial service pricing. Thus, a single mode for pricing decisions does not seem to exist. Given the uncertainty facing industrial firms when making price decisions, especially with reference to new services, a balanced approach paying attention to both inward‐ and outward‐looking determinants can ensure the effective price determination.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper lies in the fact that it constitutes the first attempt to examine empirically the aforementioned conditions in an industrial service context.
Pricing, purchasing and product performance factors associated with the relational exchanges of different sized customers
Authors: Fink Robert C. , James William L. , Hatten Kenneth J.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to understand what pricing, purchasing, product defect and late deliveries factors are associated with the decisions of small, medium and large size customers to enter into closer customer‐supplier relationships with their suppliers.

Dessign/methodology/approach

The study involves a survey of 372 professionals in the paper industry to investigate the linkage between pricing, purchasing efficiencies and reductions in product defects and later deliveries and relational exchanges across customers of different sizes and resources.

Findings

The results indicate that the pricing, purchasing, product defect and late delivery factors associated with relational supply chain exchanges are different for small, medium and large size customers.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected from individuals’ perspectives of the customer‐supplier relationships within customer organization only and involved the exchange of one type of product. Similar studies need to be conducted in other industries involving other types of product exchanges that capture both customer and supplier perspectives to verify these findings.

Practical implications

Supplier sales and marketing managers need to understand that different sized customers with different resources may have different performance objectives when entering into relational exchanges. These varying customer performance objectives should help supplier marketing managers to better segment their relational exchange customers and help them in assessing their ability to satisfy varying customer relational exchange performance goals.

Originality/value

While the linkage between closer customer‐supplier relationships and pricing, purchasing, product delivery has been studied in prior research, this is one of the first studies to show that different customer performance factors are associated with different sizes of customers and their relational exchanges. This paper also suggests that further research grounded on a resource‐based theory (RBT) of the firm would be valuable in better understanding the factors associated with different customers' relational exchanges.
The antecedents of salespeople's relational behaviors
Authors: Guo Lei , Ng Irene C.L.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the driving factors of salespeople's relational behaviors in the business to business marketing context.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were tested through a quantitative study via an online survey. Data were collected from 224 salespeople dealing with business customers in manufacturing as well as service industries in China.

Findings

The results showed that perceived consequences, affect‐based judgment and salespeople's communal or exchange orientation influenced their relational behaviors. In particular, communal orientation, perceived reciprocity from the customer, and a liking for the customer positively affected relational behaviors, whilst exchange orientation had a negative impact on those behaviors.

Originality/value

This paper provides a framework of the antecedents to salespeople's relational behaviors in the business to business marketing context, filling in the gaps found in previous research by studying the driving factors, not the outcomes, of individual salespeople's relational behaviors.
The role of mobile technology in a buyer‐supplier relationship: a case study from the steel industry
Authors: Salo Jari
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The impacts of information technology on business relationships have been of interest to managers for decades, and this stream of research has also steadily gained recognition among academics. However, the emergence of mobile technologies and the use of mobile solutions within business relationships is a less well studied area. Thus, the purpose of this research is to show how mobile solutions can be deployed within industrial buyer‐supplier relationships to enhance processes, coordination and overall value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical part of the research presents an in‐depth case study in the context of the steel industry.

Findings

It is shown that mobile technology usage has a central role in key business relationships to improve internal and inter‐organizational coordination. Mobile technology usage grid was conceptualized from the literature to categorize the possible impacts of mobile technology deployment on coordination.

Practical implications

As a practical result, this research shows that a wi‐fi infrastructure based system that uses handheld devices like PDAs can be used to shorten and cut costs of internal and interfacing processes between buyer and supplier. In practice, the steel hardness test report measurements and transmissions from one organization to another are made more effective.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the research is the use of only one case study and the resulting lack of generalizable results. Future studies could include case studies in other contexts, and later a quantitative study could be conducted to validate and broaden the findings.

Originality/value

The paper presents how mobile technology is used in a business relationship and what kind of impacts the usage has on the relationship. The paper contributes to the evolving bonding discussion in business relationships as well as indicates ways to use mobile technology effectively in a business relationship.
The relationship between academic accounting research and professional practice
Authors: Parker Lee D. , Guthrie James , Linacre Simon
Published: January 2014

Purpose

This editorial aims to consider the relationship between academic accounting research and professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of an editorial review and argument.

Findings

The paper acknowledges that accounting academic research is important to the higher education system, careers and publishers. However, its impact on teaching, professional practice, and the professions and society is a hotly debated issue.

Research limitations/implications

The editorial offers scope for accounting academics to engage with the profession and society as to the impact of their research, an important issue in higher education, not only in Australia, but internationally.

Originality/value

The paper provides important commentary on the relationship between accounting research and practice as represented in academic journals.
The plural form from the inside
Authors: Perrigot Rozenn , Herrbach Olivier
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine franchisee perception of company‐owned outlets within their network.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a qualitative approach, based on 38 interviews of franchisees belonging to plural form networks from various industries.

Findings

The interviews show that franchisees generally perceive the advantages of the plural form in terms of network development and management, but they also perceive some limitations, mainly in terms of network culture and cohesion, as well as potential conflicts and costs.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations mainly concern the exploratory nature of this research.

Practical implications

While they should keep on emphasising the benefits of the plural form, franchisors also have to reduce the perception of its limitations. They have to reinforce network culture and minimise internal conflicts.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing literature on the plural form by using a franchisee‐based approach. In addition, contrary to most previous literature, it also highlights some limitations of the plural form.
The fruit and vegetable marketing chains in Thailand: policy impacts and implications
Authors: Srimanee Yanee , Routray Jayant Kumar
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to identify and study the marketing chains of fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) in Thailand, the linkages of FFV farmers with supermarkets, and an evaluation of supermarket procurement systems. Another aim is to discuss the policies and implications relating to FFV and the connection of farmers with supermarkets in the context of Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses both secondary and primary data. Public agencies' documents and published reports were used to describe retailing and FFV policy of Thailand. The supermarket managers and chain stakeholders were interviewed about the FFV marketing chains and supermarkets' procurement system. Policy issues were discussed with policymakers, and extracted from relevant documents.

Findings

The government has made various attempts to improve the FFV market by promoting both domestic and export markets simultaneously thus improving production efficiency. Supermarkets play important roles in connecting farmers to markets through direct procurement while improving cultivation practices of participating farmers in order to enhance quality of produce. A number of policy gaps still exist to protect the interests of the farmers in maximizing their benefits, and in the areas of participation between public and private sectors.

Practical implications

The findings, which are derived from FFV stakeholders and comparative studies in developing countries, are that FFV policy gaps exist.

Originality/value

This paper can help policymakers, private sector and researchers to formulate appropriate policies in the future and catalyse the FFV marketing through supermarket channels while protecting farmers' interests.
Retail Insights ‐ Summer 1996
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: January 2014

A couple of months ago I read the following sentence in Business Week, “Blink, and another billion‐$‐company may have disappeared. Step out for coffee, and an entire industry could be transformed”. Indeed, 1995 will enter into history as the year of alliance building all over the world. All in all, alliance building (announced and realized) will have been $400‐billion business, spread all over the industrialized West. An amazing figure if we remember the fact that investment in new fixed assets will not have grown by more than 3‐4 per cent. The question is: does all this make sense, economically and entrepreneurially?
Retail Insights ‐ Spring 1997
Authors: Pollitt David
Published: January 2014

There is no direct correlation between total information technology (IT) spend and business profitability ‐ an outrageous claim one might think. But this is the fact of the matter as proved in research we have carried out with Andersen Consulting. It does not mean that IT never improves business performance ‐ it means that how money is spent is more important than the amount. So what makes IT investments pay off and deliver long‐term value to a business?.
Retail Insights ‐ Summer 1999
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: January 2014

Business travel is key custom to many hotels. Value springs both from volume and relatively low rates of discounting and commission, but what type of strategies will make for success in the future? Three main themes emerge from a review of reported trends in provision: development of special brands, enhancement of special on‐site services and use of promotions.
Retail Insights ‐ Branding
Authors: Fernie John
Published: January 2014

This issue of Retail Insights focuses on the subject of branding. There are a number of retail reports that offer valuable insights into current trends in branding. Professor Leslie de Chernatony analyses UK consumers’ attitudes towards brand extensions in a survey commissioned by Ventura. The Brand
Finance Report for 1999 provides interesting reading on brand values and the overall performance of companies last year. In addition, there are a collection of shorter reports on various new branding issues and abstracts of articles on the topic.