bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Happier, faster: Developmental changes in the effects of mood and novelty on responses
Authors: Schomaker Judith , Rangel-Gomez Mauricio , Meeter Martijn
Published: February 2015

Positive mood ameliorates several cognitive processes: It can enhance cognitive control, increase flexibility, and promote variety seeking in decision making. These effects of positive mood have been suggested to depend on frontostriatal dopamine, which is also associated with the detection of novelty. This suggests that positive mood could also affect novelty detection. In the present study, children and adults saw either a happy or a neutral movie to induce a positive or neutral mood. After that, they were shown novel and familiar images. On some trials a beep was presented over headphones either at the same time as the image or at a 200-ms stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA), and the task of the participant was to detect these auditory targets. Children were slower in responding than adults. Positive mood, however, speeded responses, especially in children, and induced facilitatory effects of novelty. These effects were consistent with increased arousal. Although effects of novelty were more consistent with an attentional response, in children who had watched a happy movie the novel images evoked a more liberal response criterion, suggestive of increased arousal. This suggests that mood and novelty may affect response behaviour stronger in children than in adults.
Discriminating precursors of common fragments for large-scale metabolite profiling by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Authors: Nikolskiy Igor , Siuzdak Gary , Patti Gary J.
Published: February 2015

Motivation: The goal of large-scale metabolite profiling is to compare the relative concentrations of as many metabolites extracted from biological samples as possible. This is typically accomplished by measuring the abundances of thousands of ions with high-resolution and high mass accuracy mass spectrometers. Although the data from these instruments provide a comprehensive fingerprint of each sample, identifying the structures of the thousands of detected ions is still challenging and time intensive. An alternative, less-comprehensive approach is to use triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometry to analyze predetermined sets of metabolites (typically fewer than several hundred). This is done using authentic standards to develop QqQ experiments that specifically detect only the targeted metabolites, with the advantage that the need for ion identification after profiling is eliminated.

Results: Here, we propose a framework to extend the application of QqQ mass spectrometers to large-scale metabolite profiling. We aim to provide a foundation for designing QqQ multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) experiments for each of the 82 696 metabolites in the METLIN metabolite database. First, we identify common fragmentation products from the experimental fragmentation data in METLIN. Then, we model the likelihoods of each precursor structure in METLIN producing each common fragmentation product. With these likelihood estimates, we select ensembles of common fragmentation products that minimize our uncertainty about metabolite identities. We demonstrate encouraging performance and, based on our results, we suggest how our method can be integrated with future work to develop large-scale MRM experiments.

Availability and implementation: Our predictions, Supplementary results, and the code for estimating likelihoods and selecting ensembles of fragmentation reactions are made available on the lab website at http://pattilab.wustl.edu/FragPred.

Contact:  gjpattij@wustl.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SOMP: web server for in silico prediction of sites of metabolism for drug-like compounds
Authors: Rudik Anastasia , Dmitriev Alexander , Lagunin Alexey , Filimonov Dmitry , Poroikov Vladimir
Published: February 2015

Summary: A new freely available web server site of metabolism predictor to predict the sites of metabolism (SOM) based on the structural formula of chemicals has been developed. It is based on the analyses of ‘structure-SOM’ relationships using a Bayesian approach and labelled multilevel neighbourhoods of atoms descriptors to represent the structures of over 1000 metabolized xenobiotics. The server allows predicting SOMs that are catalysed by 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 isoforms of cytochrome P450 and enzymes of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase family. The average invariant accuracy of prediction that was calculated for the training sets (using leave-one-out cross-validation) and evaluation sets is 0.9 and 0.95, respectively.

Availability and implementation: Freely available on the web at http://www.way2drug.com/SOMP.

Contact:  rudik_anastassia@mail.ru

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Novel synthetic bis-indolic derivatives with antistaphylococcal activity, including against MRSA and VISA strains
Authors: Caspar Yvan , Jeanty Matthieu , Blu Jérôme , Burchak Olga , Le Pihive Emmanuelle , Maigre Laure , Schneider Dominique , Jolivalt Claude , Paris Jean-Marc , Hequet Arnaud , Minassian Frédéric , Denis Jean-Noël , Maurin Max
Published: February 2015

Objectives

We report the synthesis, antibacterial activity and toxicity of 24 bis-indolic derivatives obtained during the development of new ways of synthesis of marine bis-indole alkaloids from the spongotine, topsentin and hamacanthin classes.

Methods

Innovative ways of synthesis and further structural optimizations led to bis-indoles presenting either the 1-(1H-indol-3′-yl)-1,2-diaminoethane unit or the 1-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanamine unit. MIC determination was performed for reference and clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS species. MBC, time–kill kinetics, solubility, hydrophobicity index, plasma protein-binding and cytotoxicity assays were performed for lead compounds. Inhibition of the S. aureus NorA efflux pump was also tested for bis-indoles with no antistaphylococcal activity.

Results

Lead compounds were active against both S. aureus and CoNS species, with MICs between 1 and 4 mg/L. Importantly, the same MICs were found for MRSA and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus strains. Early concentration-dependent bactericidal activity was observed for lead derivatives. Compounds with no intrinsic antibacterial activity could inhibit the S. aureus NorA efflux pump, which is involved in resistance to fluoroquinolones. At 0.5 mg/L, the most effective compound led to an 8-fold reduction of the ciprofloxacin MIC for the SA-1199B S. aureus strain, which overexpresses NorA. However, the bis-indole compounds displayed a high hydrophobicity index and high plasma protein binding, which significantly reduced antibacterial activity.

Conclusions

We have synthesized and characterized novel bis-indole derivatives as promising candidates for the development of new antistaphylococcal treatments, with preserved activity against MDR S. aureus strains.
Prevalence of Gallstones Compared in Children With Different Intravenous Lipids
Authors: Pichler Judith , Watson Tom , McHugh Kieran , Hill Susan
Published: February 2015

Objective:

The aetiology of biliary liver disease in children with intestinal failure treated with long‐term parenteral nutrition (PN) is multifactorial. Risks include the lipid component of PN. The aim of the study was to compare prevalence and outcome of gallstones with different types of intravenous lipids.

Methods:

Liver and biliary tract imaging and relevant clinical details were reviewed in 71 patients (37, 52% boys) treated with PN for >3 months. Types of lipid infused were compared with regard to hepatobiliary abnormalities.

Results:

In total 369 abdominal ultrasounds were performed in 71 patients of age between 3 months and 17 years. Underlying diagnoses were short bowel syndrome in 20 (28%), small intestinal enteropathy in 34 (48%), and motility disorder in 17 (24%). A total of 67 (94%) children had 362/369 scans on lipid‐containing PN. Of the total, 15 (21%) patients had gallstones, 8 (11%) had sludge, and both were detected in 7 (10%) children. The gallstones/sludge resolved in 7 patients (10%) and persisted in 10 (13%). In 6 patients, sludge progressed to form discrete gallstones, and in 9 children, gallstones led to biliary duct dilatation. Four (6%) patients underwent cholecystectomy. Fewer children had abnormalities with the newer mixed lipid emulsion (P = 0.005). There was a higher prevalence of sludge (P = 0.01) on pure soya lipid. Predictors for sludge were young age at PN (P = 0.001), lack of enteral feed (P < 0.001), and motility disorder with stoma (P = 0.002).

Conclusions:

Hepatobiliary pathology is common in children on PN. The use of mixed lipid was associated with less biliary complications and should be the first choice of treatment in children.
Significance of the actual nonlinear slope geometry for catastrophic failure in submarine landslides
Authors: Puzrin Alexander M. , Gray Thomas E. , Hill Andrew J.
Published: February 2015

A simple approach to slope stability analysis of naturally occurring, mild nonlinear slopes is proposed through extension of shear band propagation (SBP) theory. An initial weak zone appears in the steepest part of the slope where the combined action of gravity and seismic loads overcomes the degraded peak shear resistance of the soil. If the length of this steepest part is larger than the critical length, the shear band will propagate into the quasi-stable parts of the slope, where the gravitational and seismically induced shear stresses are smaller than the peak but larger than the residual shear strength of the soil. Growth of a shear band is strongly dependent on the shape of the slope, seismic parameters and the strength of soil and less dependent on the slope inclination and the sensitivity of clay. For the slope surface with faster changing inclination, the criterion is more sensitive to the changes of the parameters. Accounting for the actual nonlinear slope geometry eliminates the main challenge of the SBP approach—determination of the length of the initial weak zone, because the slope geometry can be readily obtained from submarine site investigations. It also helps to identify conditions for the early arrest of the shear band, before failure in the sliding layer or a change in loading or excess pore water pressures occurs. The difference in the size of a landslide predicted by limiting equilibrium and SBP approaches can reach orders of magnitude, potentially providing an explanation for the immense dimensions of many observed submarine landslides that may be caused by local factors acting over a limited portion of the slope.
The phylogenetic utility and functional constraint of microRNA flanking sequences
Authors: Kenny Nathan J. , Sin Yung Wa , Hayward Alexander , Paps Jordi , Chu Ka Hou , Hui Jerome H. L.
Published: February 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently risen to prominence as novel factors responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNA genes have been posited as highly conserved in the clades in which they exist. Consequently, miRNAs have been used as rare genome change characters to estimate phylogeny by tracking their gain and loss. However, their short length (21–23 bp) has limited their perceived utility in sequenced-based phylogenetic inference. Here, using reference taxa with established phylogenetic relationships, we demonstrate that miRNA sequences are of high utility in quantitative, rather than in qualitative, phylogenetic analysis. The clear orthology among miRNA genes from different species makes it straightforward to identify and align these sequences from even fragmentary datasets. We also identify significant sequence conservation in the regions directly flanking miRNA genes, and show that this too is of utility in phylogenetic analysis, as well as highlighting conserved regions that will be of interest to other fields. Employing miRNA sequences from 12 sequenced drosophilid genomes, together with a
Tribolium castaneum
outgroup, we demonstrate that this approach is robust using Bayesian and maximum-likelihood methods. The utility of these characters is further demonstrated in the rhabditid nematodes and primates. As next-generation sequencing makes it more cost-effective to sequence genomes and small RNA libraries, this methodology provides an alternative data source for phylogenetic analysis. The approach allows rapid resolution of relationships between both closely related and rapidly evolving species, and provides an additional tool for investigation of relationships within the tree of life.
Non-adaptive evolution of them. palmaris longusin the Homininae
Authors: Throckmorton Zach , Forth Nicole , Thomas Nathanial
Published: February 2015

The palmaris longus muscle is widely recognized for its notable variability in living humans. These variations include not only muscle belly reversal, distinct double muscle bellies, duplication and triplication, but also total uni-or bilateral agenesis (absence). A review of the literature and data novel to this study illustrate that different populations of humans exhibit remarkable variation in the frequency of palmaris longus agenesis, from less than 5% of Chinese to nearly 65% of Indians. Comparative dissection-derived data reveal substantial variation in palmaris longus agenesis (PLA) in populations of extant humans (H. sapiens), chimpanzees (Pan spp.), and gorillas (Gorilla spp.) - but not orangutans (Pongo spp.), which apparently always develop this muscle. From this pattern, we infer that palmaris longus is undergoing non-adaptive, stochastic evolution in the extant African Homininae, while it continues to have adaptive purpose inPongo, likely due to the orangutans’ greater degree of arboreality than the African apes and humans. Clinical evidence supports this conclusion, at least as it applies to humans. This study highlights the utility of comparative soft tissue data collection and interpretation in elucidating the evolution of anatomical structures that do not fossilize.
Mechanism of siRNA production from repetitive DNA
Authors: Yang Qiuying , Ye Qiaohong Anne , Liu Yi
Published: February 2015

RNAi is a conserved genome defense mechanism in eukaryotes that protects against deleterious effects of transposons and viral invasion. Repetitive DNA loci are a major source for the production of eukaryotic small RNAs, but how these small RNAs are produced is not clear. Quelling in Neurospora is one of the first known RNAi-related phenomena and is triggered by the presence of multiple copies of transgenes. Here we showed that DNA tandem repeats and double-strand breaks are necessary and, when both are present, sufficient to trigger gene silencing and siRNA production. Introduction of a site-specific double-strand break or DNA fragile site resulted in homologous recombination of repetitive sequences, which is required for gene silencing. In addition to siRNA production, the quelling pathway also maintains tandem repeats by regulating homologous recombination. Our study identified the mechanistic trigger for siRNA production from repetitive DNA and established a role for siRNA in maintaining genome stability.
Olfactory perceptual learning requires action of noradrenaline in the olfactory bulb: comparison with olfactory associative learning
Authors: Vinera Jennifer , Kermen Florence , Sacquet Joëlle , Didier Anne , Mandairon Nathalie , Richard Marion
Published: February 2015

Noradrenaline contributes to olfactory-guided behaviors but its role in olfactory learning during adulthood is poorly documented. We investigated its implication in olfactory associative and perceptual learning using local infusion of mixed α1-β adrenergic receptor antagonist (labetalol) in the adult mouse olfactory bulb. We reported that associative learning, as opposed to perceptual learning, was not affected by labetalol infusions in the olfactory bulb. Accordingly, this treatment during associative learning did not affect the survival of bulbar adult-born neurons. Altogether, our results suggest that the noradrenergic system plays different parts in specific olfactory learning tasks and their neurogenic correlates.
Relapse of extinguished fear after exposure to a dangerous context is mitigated by testing in a safe context
Authors: Goode Travis D. , Kim Janice J. , Maren Stephen
Published: February 2015

Aversive events can trigger relapse of extinguished fear memories, presenting a major challenge to the long-term efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Here, we examined factors regulating the relapse of extinguished fear after exposure of rats to a dangerous context. Rats received unsignaled shock in a distinct context (“dangerous” context) 24 h prior to auditory fear conditioning in another context. Fear to the auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) was subsequently extinguished either in the conditioning context (“ambiguous” context) or in a third novel context (“safe” context). Exposure to the dangerous context 30 min before a CS retention test caused relapse to the CS in the ambiguous and safe test contexts relative to nonextinguished controls. When rats were tested 24 h later (with or without short-term testing), rats tested in the ambiguous context continued to exhibit relapse, whereas rats tested in the safe context did not. Additionally, exposure of rats to the conditioning context—in place of the unsignaled shock context—did not result in relapse of fear to the CS in the safe testing context. Our work highlights the vulnerabilities of extinction recall to interference, and demonstrates the importance of context associations in the relapse of fear after extinction.
Calcineurin inhibition blocks within-, but not between-session fear extinction in mice
Authors: Almeida-Corrêa Suellen , Moulin Thiago C. , Carneiro Clarissa F. D. , Gonçalves Marina M. C. , Junqueira Lara S. , Amaral Olavo B.
Published: February 2015

Memory extinction involves the formation of a new associative memory that inhibits a previously conditioned association. Nonetheless, it could also depend on weakening of the original memory trace if extinction is assumed to have multiple components. The phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) has been described as being involved in extinction but not in the initial consolidation of fear learning. With this in mind, we set to study whether CaN could have different roles in distinct components of extinction. Systemic treatment with the CaN inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK-506, as well as i.c.v. administration of CsA, blocked within-session, but not between-session extinction or initial learning of contextual fear conditioning. Similar effects were found in multiple-session extinction of contextual fear conditioning and in auditory fear conditioning, indicating that CaN is involved in different types of short-term extinction. Meanwhile, inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide (CHX) treatment did not affect within-session extinction, but disrupted fear acquisition and slightly impaired between-session extinction. Our results point to a dissociation of within- and between-session extinction of fear conditioning, with the former being more dependent on CaN activity and the latter on protein synthesis. Moreover, the modulation of within-session extinction did not affect between-session extinction, suggesting that these components are at least partially independent.
An accurate projection model for diffraction image formation and inversion using a polychromatic cone beam
Authors: van Aarle Wim , Ludwig Wolfgang , King Andrew , Penumadu Dayakar
Published: February 2015

Recently, the concept of X-ray diffraction contrast tomography (DCT) has been extended to the case of more widely available laboratory source CT systems. Using well known concepts from geometrical ray optics, an exact formulation is derived for the forward and backward projection geometry encountered under polychromatic cone beam illumination, and it is shown how this projection model can be efficiently implemented in practice. The new projection model is subsequently used for iterative tomographic reconstruction of the three-dimensional shape of a grain from a set of experimentally observed cone beam projections and shows a clear improvement compared to the simplified projection model used previously.
Entrepreneurship paradigm and economic renaissance in Africa
Authors: Edoho Felix Moses
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This Guest Editorial provides contextual insight to the contributions in this special issue that addresses entrepreneurship and economic growth challenge confronting Africa. Although the contributors come from various academic disciplines and adopt different perspectives, they are united in their singularity of focus on entrepreneurship as a pathway for African future. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The papers in this special issue adopt different methodological approaches that help to provide a composite insight to the multidimensional entrepreneurial challenges facing Africa. They review published materials from the government sources and international agencies. They draw heavily on the literature in the field of entrepreneurship.

Findings

– African countries have made significant progress in stimulating economic growth in recent years. However, they still have a long way to go in terms of institutionalizing entrepreneurial paradigm to foster self-regenerating development. Africa needs to do more by leveraging public policy for entrepreneurial development as a pathway for expanding economic opportunities and alleviating poverty. A policy framework designed to anchor entrepreneurial culture in the economy is a key to African economic renaissance in the twenty-first century.

Originality/value

– The originality and value of the papers in this issue hinge critically on the all too often ignored proposition that African countries need to embrace a proven approach to development that is both broad based and citizen driven. Entrepreneurial paradigm will empower citizens to take not only full responsibility, but more importantly inalienable ownership, of the development process. This is the only way to ensure that the ongoing much celebrated growth in Africa is sustainable.
Mobile shopping: a classification framework and literature review
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to classify and organize the accumulated knowledge about mobile shopping (m-shopping) as revealed in the present literature regarding retail. A classification framework has been applied, consisting of three categories: online distribution channels, advanced technology for in-store shopping, and technology perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

– A term-based search method was applied in which the literature was restricted to peer-reviewed articles in English-language journals of a certain date and specific online databases. Finally, 81 peer-reviewed articles, published between 2000 and 2012 around the world, were taken into account.

Findings

– Considering the retail environment, the interest in m-shopping for both advanced technology for in-store shopping and for the online distribution channel has increased continuously over the last decade. Moreover, while studies have mostly explored the consumers’ acceptance and reactions to m-shopping themes, the technology perspective is still being researched.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to the selected term-based search method, the number of identified publications is limited. Additionally, the selected framework requires a corresponding assignment to an explicitly stated topic, which was not always possible.

Originality/value

– As far as the author knows, this paper provides the first systematic review of m-shopping literature, which not only helps to organize retail-based literature, but also investigates significant gaps on this topic, thus facilitating future research.
Cargo theft at non-secure parking locations
Authors: Ekwall Daniel , Lantz Björn
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the patterns of reported cargo thefts at non-secure parking facilities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) with respect to stolen value, frequency, incident category, and modi operandi.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is based on a system-theoretical approach that emphasizes on a holistic rather than an atomistic view. The research method used in this paper is deductive; the analysis is based on data obtained from the incident information service (IIS), a database of transport-related crimes from the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) in the EMEA region. The results are analysed and discussed within a frame of reference based on supply chain risk management (SCRM) and criminology theories.

Findings

– We found that 97 per cent of all attacks during a stop occur at non-secure parking locations. Cargo thefts at these locations are more of a volume crime than high-value thefts. Seasonal variations were seen in these thefts, and the most common type was an intrusion on weekdays during winter.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited by the content of and the classifications within the TAPA EMEA IIS database.

Practical implications

– This paper is directly relevant to the current EU discussions regarding the creation of a large number of secure parking facilities in the region.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first papers in the field of SCRM that utilizes actual crime statistics reported by the industry to analyse the occurrence of cargo theft by focusing on the non-secure parking aspect in the transport chain.
Shopping environment preferences of Hispanic consumers in the U.S.
Authors: Burns David , Conway Dato-on Mary , Manolis Chris
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and begin to validate a scale to assess the shopping environment preferences of Hispanic consumers in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The sample consists of 160 Hispanic consumers attending a Hispanic festival in the southeast USA. A questionnaire contained items to measure shopping environment preferences and scales to measure materialism, hedonic shopping motivations, and perceived discrimination.

Findings

– The findings suggest a second-order model where three factors (familiarity, price, and experience) load onto a single second-order construct of shopping environment preferences. The result is a scale consisting of three factors permitting the exploration of the retail environmental preferences of Hispanic consumers in the USA.

Practical implications

– The study develops a scale that can be applied by US retailers to gain additional knowledge of their Hispanic consumers, thus enabling strategies to be developed that potentially enhance their engagement in retail environments.

Originality/value

– Given the size of this segment and its increasing impact on the retail market, surprisingly, Hispanic consumers in the USA have received relatively little research attention.
The unbearable lightness of participating? Revisiting the discourses of “participation” in archival literature
Authors: Huvila Isto
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how archivists, records managers and scholarly literature in the field(s) analyse how “participation” is discussed in the context of archives and records management, and to explore practical and theoretical implications of the disclosed discursive practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is based on a discourse analysis of a body of archival literature and a sample of posts collected from the archival and records management blogosphere.

Findings

– The analysis shows that instead of discussing one notion of participation, the archival science literature is referring to nine different and partly conflicting types of participation from three broad perspectives: management, empowerment and technology. The discourses have also conflicting ideas of the role of engagement and enthusiasm, and of that what do the different stakeholder communities see as real options.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysed material consists of a limited sample of mainly English language texts that may not capture all the nuances of how participation is discussed in the archival literature.

Practical implications

– A better understanding of how different claims of the benefits and threats endorsing “participation” in archives helps to develop effective and less contradictory forms of collaboration between different stakeholders.

Originality/value

– In spite of the popularity of the notion of “participation”, there little, especially critical, research on how participation is conceptualised by archives professionals and researchers.
Data literacy: in search of a name and identity
Authors: Koltay Tibor
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The role of data literacy is discussed in the light of such activities as data a quality, data management, data curation, and data citation. The differing terms and their relationship to the most important literacies are examined. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– By stressing the importance of data literacy in fulfilling the mission of the contemporary academic library, the paper centres on information literacy, while the characteristics of other relevant literacies are also examined. The content of data literacy education is explained in the context of data-related activities.

Findings

– It can be concluded that there is a need for data literacy and it is advantageous to have a unified terminology. Data literacy can be offered both to researchers, who need to become data literate science workers and have the goal to educate data management professionals. Several lists of competencies contain important skills and abilities, many of them indicating the close relationship between data literacy and information literacy. It is vital to take a critical stance on hopes and fears, related to the promises of widespread ability of (big) data.

Originality/value

– The paper intends to be an add-on to the body of knowledge about information literacy and other literacies in the light of research data and data literacy.
Differences over discourse structure differences: a reply to Urquhart and Urquhart
Authors: Abrahamson Jennie A. , Rubin Victoria L.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to respond to Urquhart and Urquhart’s critique of the previous work entitled “Discourse structure differences in lay and professional health communication”, published in this journal in 2012 (Vol. 68 No. 6, pp. 826-851, doi: 10.1108/00220411211277064).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors examine Urquhart and Urquhart’s critique and provide responses to their concerns and cautionary remarks against cross-disciplinary contributions. The authors reiterate the central claim.

Findings

– The authors argue that Mann and Thompson’s (1987, 1988) Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) offers valuable insights into computer-mediated health communication and deserves further discussion of its methodological strength and weaknesses for application in library and information science.

Research limitations/implications

– While the authors agree that some methodological limitations pointed out by Urquhart and Urquhart are valid, the authors take this opportunity to correct certain misunderstandings and misstatements.

Originality/value

– The authors argue for continued use of innovative techniques borrowed from neighbouring disciplines, in spite of objections from the researchers accustomed to a familiar strand of literature. The authors encourage researchers to consider RST and other computational linguistics-based discourse analysis annotation frameworks that could provide the basis for integrated research, and eventual applications in information behaviour and information retrieval.
Challenges for Australian fashion
Authors: Craik Jennifer
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges facing the Australian fashion industry (textile, clothing and footwear or TCF sector). Just at the point where Australian fashion has achieved international attention for its distinctive design practice, the industry is on the point of collapse. Since the 1980s, radical re-structuring aimed at reducing industry protection to encourage greater international competitiveness and innovation. Key policies have included tariff reduction, new forms of industry assistance, new manufacturing techniques, changing retail forms, and reform of employment and workplace conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Overview of recent trends in the Australian fashion industry due to industry policies and the effects of globalisation.

Findings

– Severe decline in industry viability.

Originality/value

– Important multifaceted analysis of the state of the industry and tracking of effects of government policies.
Consumer behavior of generational cohorts for compression sportswear
Authors: Rahulan Monika , Troynikov Olga , Watson Chris , Janta Marius , Senner Veit
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the difference in purchase decision behavior of compression sportswear by Baby Boomers and Generation Y.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two methods were used for data collection: a simulation study with 17 Baby Boomers and 23 Generation Y subjects using eye-tracking technology; and a questionnaire from a sample of 82 Baby Boomers and 84 Generation Y consumers.

Findings

– Generation Y are more inquisitive and focus greatly on technical information. Baby Boomers are more confident with their choices, taking a shorter time to reach a purchase decision; they are more concerned with aspects that protect the wearer.

Research limitations/implications

– Limited demographic information was collected from participants in the simulation study, further research is required in this area.

Practical implications

– This study provides important insights into the purchase decision behavior of Baby Boomers and Generation Y for compression sportswear. By providing better understanding of some of the key drivers for purchase decisions it enables marketers to develop more effective marketing plans to engage with these important consumer groups.

Social implications

– The focus and findings of this study provide further understanding of the motivations of two significant consumer cohorts. This study provides further momentum to the body of cohort research already available.

Originality/value

– This study addresses a gap in literature with reference to the comparison of consumer behavior of generational cohorts when purchasing compression sportswear. Findings can be applied in other areas of sportswear and to other countries.
Fashion orientation, shopping mall environment, and patronage intentions
Authors: Michon Richard , Chebat Jean-Charles , Yu Hong , Lemarié Linda
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore female fashion shoppers’ perception and response to the mall environment. Specific objectives include a conceptual model of female fashion shoppers’ experience in a mall environment incorporating fashion orientation, store personality, shopping mall perception, shopping value, and patronage intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Empirical testing is done with a latent path structural equation model. Data collection was carried out in a firmly controlled mall intercept survey which produced 312 usable questionnaires.

Findings

– Results show that shoppers’ fashion orientation hypothesized to be a personality trait is not an antecedent to the perception of the mall environment. Instead, fashion orientation moderates the perception of product and service quality, hedonic shoppers’ response, and patronage intentions. The perceived mall personality has a focussed impact on the perception of product and service quality. The mall’s sophistication image influences the perception of product quality. On the other hand, the mall’s enthusiasm image atmosphere affects the perception of service quality. Perceptions of product and service quality are correlated and trigger positive hedonic and utilitarian shopping benefits.

Research limitations/implications

– Because findings from this study cannot be generalized to other situations, the research should be replicated to a variety of mall formats and shopper segments. Furthermore, other fashion-orientation factors (fashion leadership, fashion interest, and anti-fashion attitude) should be considered. However, along with model complexities, increased sample sizes are also required. Future studies may also include male shoppers to investigate differences in fashion motivation and mall shopping experience.

Practical implications

– It is concluded that the person-place congruency theory is confirmed and that the shoppers’ fashion orientation should be included in the set of segmentation variables. Shopping malls cannot be everything to everyone without risking diluting their image. Downtown urban malls have the opportunity to adopt a well-defined positioning in order to differentiate themselves. Large suburban malls should partition themselves to remove image ambiguities. Mall managers must primarily work on the “meaning” of the mall atmosphere rather “mood.” Fashion shoppers are task oriented. Mall managers should design malls to facilitate the shopping experience with highly functional designs, simple layout, and clear signage in support of wayfinding.

Originality/value

– Although fashion consumers have been studied from diverse perspectives, there is limited research on the experience of fashion shoppers in a mall setting. This study partly fills this gap in the literature by investigating how female fashion shoppers respond to the shopping center environment and commit to mall patronage.
Green building technology initiatives to achieve construction quality and environmental sustainability in the construction industry in Malaysia
Authors: Sim Yeong Liang , Putuhena Frederik Josep
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify mechanisms and approaches involved in the local construction industry to enhance environmental concerns and the adoption of capacity development model to manage the environment and up keeping of the quality in Malaysian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper describes an innovative approach to understanding the role of internal and external influence through LEGO® concept. This approach builds on the theory of change management, in which includes learning about the domain of enabling environment, organisation, individual and knowledge management process. New ideas, practices or technologies occur through integration of efforts particularly from the above mentioned domains. The approach also analyses the challenges faced by construction stakeholders. It draws on findings from different studies including some other countries of sustainability in which the engagement of previous research has been incorporated to further enhance the construction and environmental quality in the Malaysian construction industry.

Findings

– Environmental sustainable development construction requires a holistic thinking and decision making and more innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and result in mutually benefited outcomes for all stakeholders. A dedicated effort especially government and government link company is in strong demand. A valid reason for capacity development to develop in organisations and individuals to perform functions needed to keep green management operating and evolving to meet new challenges. The construction sector will benefit from learning advances in capacity development which are designed to improve and enhance construction and environmental quality governance. The coverage of LEGO® conceptual framework at which capacity development operates was identified in each domain of change management.

Research limitations/implications

– A limitation of the study was the relatively little literature information provided and thus affects the expounding and reliability of data. For this reason, these findings cannot be generalised to the other countries based on this study alone. The access to information is limited as public and private organisations hesitate to share information on their strategic planning and tactics.

Originality/value

– Development of capacity development model will contribute to the understanding of environmental sustainability through identifying gaps in the understanding and pursuit of construction and environmental quality in the Malaysian construction industry. This paper suggests the future prospect that integrates several dimensions towards green management practice in Malaysia.
VIX and the variance of Dow Jones industrial average stocks
Authors: Mollick Andre
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine what happens to the variance of individual stocks forming the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) allowing for aggregate uncertainty measured by VIX, the “fear gauge index” of US options contracts. In examining each individual stock belonging to DJIA in 2011, the authors reconsider aggregate market uncertainty (VIX) as the mixing variable. In contrast to studies on the effects of VIX on the aggregate equity market, the data set used in this paper allow a further look at the proposition that market aggregate uncertainty should have varying impact on individual stock variance.

Design/methodology/approach

– GARCH-M models estimate individual stock returns belonging to the DJIA in 2011 on its lags and on the ARCH-M term in the mean equation linking stock returns to the variance equation. The longest time span has 5,738 observations for most stocks under daily frequency from January 3, 1990 to December 30, 2011. The authors use one lag for the VIX2 term to address simultaneity problems in the variance equation. In order to allow for interactions between volatility and business cycles, the authors include a dummy variable for the three recessions identified by the NBER over the period.

Findings

– Adding the “fear gauge” VIX index and a dummy variable for recessions to the variance equation in GARCH-M models, the VIX coefficient always increases variance and the recession dummy has mixed effects. Overall, VIX acts as expected as mixing variable. Supporting the mixture of distribution hypothesis, the impact of VIX is always positive (1.039 on market variance) and GARCH effects vanish completely for the index and almost as much for 24 stocks.

Research limitations/implications

– In theory, the effects of VIX on stock variance should be positive and statistically significant, together with reductions of GARCH persistence. The authors find this to be the case for the aggregate stock market and for 24 out of its 29 DJIA stocks. The authors leave for further work extensions to estimating the variance equation for companies very exposed to idiosyncratic changes, such as oil price fluctuations or stock buybacks. The implication of this research for the academic or financial community relies on the estimation of VIX effects on individual stock variance, controlling for business cycles.

Originality/value

– Due to its benchmark in equities, stocks in the Dow Jones Industrials make it a very interesting case study. This paper reconsiders the aggregate uncertainty hypothesis for two main reasons. First, the financial press and traders keep a very close track on the daily evolution of VIX. Second, recent research emphasizes the formal predictive power of VIX in US stock markets. For the variance equation, existing works report positive values for the VIX-coefficient on the S&P 500 index but they have not examined individual stocks as the authors do in this paper.
Does corporate governance matter in determining CEO compensation in the publicly listed companies in New Zealand? An empirical investigation
Authors: Reddy Krishna , Abidin Sazali , You Linjuan
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs) compensation and corporate governance practices of publicly listed companies in New Zealand for the period 2005-2010.

Design/methodology/approach

– Prior literature argues that corporate governance systems and structures are heterogeneous, that is, corporate governance mechanisms that are important tend to be specific to a country and its institutional structures. The two corporate governance mechanisms most important for monitoring CEO compensation are ownership structure and board structure. The authors use a generalised least squares regression estimation technique to examine the effect ownership structure and board structure has on CEO compensation, and examine whether ownership structure, board structure, CEO and director compensation have an effect on company performance.

Findings

– After controlling for size, performance, industry and year effects, the authors report that internal features rather than external features of corporate governance practices influence CEO compensation. Companies that have their CEO on the board pay them more than those who do not sit on the board, suggesting CEOs on boards have power to influence board decisions and therefore boards become less effective in monitoring CEO compensation in the New Zealand context. Companies that pay their directors more tend to reward their CEOs more as well, thus supporting the managerial entrenchment hypothesis.

Research limitations/implications

– The results confirm the findings reported in prior studies that institutional investors are ineffective in monitoring managerial decisions and their focus is on decisions that benefit them on a short-term basis.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate that although the proportion of independent directors on boards does not significantly influence CEO compensation, it does indicate that outside directors are passive and are no more effective than insiders when it comes to the oversight and supervision of CEO compensation.

Originality/value

– Being a small and open financial market with many small- and medium-sized listed companies, New Zealand differs from large economies such as the UK and the USA in the sense that CEOs in New Zealand tend to be closely connected to each other. As such, the relationship between pay-performance for New Zealand is found to be different from those reported for the UK and the USA. In New Zealand, the proportion of institutional and/or block shareholders is positively associated with CEO compensation and negatively associated with company performance, suggesting that it is not an effective mechanism for monitoring CEO compensation.