bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identity, Superselection Theory, and the Statistical Properties of Quantum Fields
Authors: Baker David John
Published: May 2013

The permutation symmetry of quantum mechanics is widely thought to imply a sort of metaphysical underdetermination about the identity of particles. Despite claims to the contrary, this implication does not hold in the more fundamental quantum field theory, where an ontology of particles is not generally available. Although permutations are often defined as acting on particles, a more general account of permutation symmetry can be formulated using superselection theory. As a result, permutation symmetry applies even in field theories with no particle interpretation. The quantum mechanical account of permutations acting on particles is recovered as a special case.
Abstraction and the Organization of Mechanisms
Authors: Levy Arnon , Bechtel William
Published: May 2013

Proponents of mechanistic explanation all acknowledge the importance of organization. But they have also tended to emphasize specificity with respect to parts and operations in mechanisms. We argue that in understanding one important mode of organization—patterns of causal connectivity—a successful explanatory strategy abstracts from the specifics of the mechanism and invokes tools such as those of graph theory to explain how mechanisms with a particular mode of connectivity will behave. We discuss the connection between organization, abstraction, and mechanistic explanation and illustrate our claims by looking at an example from recent research on so-called network motifs.
Really Statistical Explanations and Genetic Drift
Authors: Lange Marc
Published: May 2013

Really statistical (RS) explanation is a hitherto neglected form of noncausal scientific explanation. Explanations in population biology that appeal to drift are RS explanations. An RS explanation supplies a kind of understanding that a causal explanation of the same result cannot supply. Roughly speaking, an RS explanation shows the result to be mere statistical fallout.
PconsD: ultra rapid, accurate model quality assessment for protein structure prediction
Authors: Skwark Marcin J. , Elofsson Arne
Published: May 2013

Summary: Clustering methods are often needed for accurately assessing the quality of modeled protein structures. Recent blind evaluation of quality assessment methods in CASP10 showed that there is little difference between many different methods as far as ranking models and selecting best model are concerned. When comparing many models, the computational cost of the model comparison can become significant. Here, we present PconsD, a fast, stream-computing method for distance-driven model quality assessment that runs on consumer hardware. PconsD is at least one order of magnitude faster than other methods of comparable accuracy.

Availability: The source code for PconsD is freely available at http://d.pcons.net/. Supplementary benchmarking data are also available there.

Contact:  arne@bioinfo.se

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
MetPP: a computational platform for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics
Authors: Wei Xiaoli , Shi Xue , Koo Imhoi , Kim Seongho , Schmidt Robin H. , Arteel Gavin E. , Watson Walter H. , McClain Craig , Zhang Xiang
Published: May 2013

Motivation: Due to the high complexity of metabolome, the comprehensive 2D gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS) is considered as a powerful analytical platform for metabolomics study. However, the applications of GC×GC-TOF MS in metabolomics are not popular owing to the lack of bioinformatics system for data analysis.

Results: We developed a computational platform entitled metabolomics profiling pipeline (MetPP) for analysis of metabolomics data acquired on a GC×GC-TOF MS system. MetPP can process peak filtering and merging, retention index matching, peak list alignment, normalization, statistical significance tests and pattern recognition, using the peak lists deconvoluted from the instrument data as its input. The performance of MetPP software was tested with two sets of experimental data acquired in a spike-in experiment and a biomarker discovery experiment, respectively. MetPP not only correctly aligned the spiked-in metabolite standards from the experimental data, but also correctly recognized their concentration difference between sample groups. For analysis of the biomarker discovery data, 15 metabolites were recognized with significant concentration difference between the sample groups and these results agree with the literature results of histological analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of applying MetPP software for disease biomarker discovery.

Availability: The source code of MetPP is available at http://metaopen.sourceforge.net

Contact:  xiang.zhang@louisville.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
An evolutionary model for the gamma-ray system PSR J1311−3430 and its companion
Authors: Benvenuto O. G. , De Vito M. A. , Horvath J. E.
Published: May 2013

The most recent member of the millisecond pulsar with very low mass companions and short orbital periods class, PSR J1311−3430 (Pletsch et al. 2012) is a remarkable object in various senses. Besides being the first discovered in gamma rays, its measured features include the very low or absent hydrogen content. We show in this Letter that this important piece of information leads to a very restricted range of initial periods for a given donor mass. For that purpose, we calculate in detail the evolution of the binary system self-consistently, including mass transfer and evaporation, finding the features of the new evolutionary path leading to the observed configuration. It is also important to remark that the detailed evolutionary history of the system naturally leads to a high final pulsar mass, as it seems to be demanded by observations.
Spectropolarimetry of the Type Ia supernova 2012fr
Authors: Maund J. R. , Spyromilio J. , Höflich P. A. , Wheeler J. C. , Baade D. , Clocchiatti A. , Patat F. , Reilly E. , Wang L. , Zelaya P.
Published: May 2013

Spectropolarimetry provides the means to probe the 3D geometries of supernovae (SNe) at early times. We report spectropolarimetric observations of the Type Ia SN 2012fr at four epochs: −11, −5, +2 and +24 d, with respect to B-light-curve maximum. SN 2012fr is a normal Type Ia SN, similar to SNe 1990N, 2000cx and 2005hj (that all exhibit low velocity decline rates for the principal Si ii line). The SN displays high-velocity components at −11 d that are highly polarized. The polarization of these features decreases as they become weaker from −5 d. At +2 d, the polarization angles of the low-velocity components of silicon and calcium are identical and oriented at 90° relative to the high-velocity Ca component. In addition to having very different velocities, the high- and low-velocity Ca components have orthogonal distributions in the plane of the sky. The continuum polarization for the SN at all four epochs is low, <0.1 per cent. We conclude that the low level of continuum polarization is inconsistent with the merger-induced explosion scenario. The simple axial symmetry evident from the polarization angles of the high-velocity and low-velocity Ca components, along with the presence of high-velocity components of Si and Ca, is perhaps more consistent with the pulsating delayed detonation model. We predict that, during the nebular phase, SN 2012fr will display blueshifted emission lines of Fe-group elements.
The S2 star as a probe of the accretion disc of Sgr A*
Authors: Giannios Dimitrios , Sironi Lorenzo
Published: May 2013

How accretion proceeds around the massive black hole in the Galactic Centre and other highly sub-Eddington accretors remains poorly understood. The orbit of the S2 star in the Galactic Centre passes through the accretion disc of the massive black hole and any observational signature from such interaction may be used as an accretion probe. Because of its early stellar type, S2 is expected to posses a fairly powerful wind. We show here that the ram pressure of the accretion disc shocks the stellar wind fairly close to the star. The shocked fluid reaches a temperature of ∼1 keV and cools efficiently through optically thin, thermal bremsstrahlung emission. The radiation from the shocked wind peaks around the epoch of the pericentre passage of the star at a luminosity potentially comparable to the quiescent emission detected from Sgr A*. Detection of shocked wind radiation can constrain the density of the accretion disc at a distance of several thousands of gravitational radii from the black hole.
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the connection between metals, specific SFR and H i gas in galaxies: the Z–SSFR relation
Authors: Lara-López M. A. , Hopkins A. M. , López-Sánchez A. R. , Brough S. , Colless M. , Bland-Hawthorn J. , Driver S. , Foster C. , Liske J. , Loveday J. , Robotham A. S. G. , Sharp R. G. , Steele O. , Taylor E. N.
Published: May 2013

We study the interplay between gas phase metallicity (Z), specific star formation rate (SSFR) and neutral hydrogen gas (H i) for galaxies of different stellar masses. Our study uses spectroscopic data from Galaxy and Mass Assembly and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) star-forming galaxies, as well as H i detection from the Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFALFA) and Galex Arecibo SDSS Survey (GASS) public catalogues. We present a model based on the Z–SSFR relation that shows that at a given stellar mass, depending on the amount of gas, galaxies will follow opposite behaviours. Low-mass galaxies with a large amount of gas will show high SSFR and low metallicities, while low-mass galaxies with small amounts of gas will show lower SSFR and high metallicities. In contrast, massive galaxies with a large amount of gas will show moderate SSFR and high metallicities, while massive galaxies with small amounts of gas will show low SSFR and low metallicities. Using ALFALFA and GASS counterparts, we find that the amount of gas is related to those drastic differences in Z and SSFR for galaxies of a similar stellar mass.
Effects of the infectious period distribution on predicted transitions in childhood disease dynamics
Authors: Krylova Olga , Earn David J. D.
Published: May 2013

The population dynamics of infectious diseases occasionally undergo rapid qualitative changes, such as transitions from annual to biennial cycles or to irregular dynamics. Previous work, based on the standard seasonally forced ‘susceptible–exposed–infectious–removed’ (SEIR) model has found that transitions in the dynamics of many childhood diseases result from bifurcations induced by slow changes in birth and vaccination rates. However, the standard SEIR formulation assumes that the stage durations (latent and infectious periods) are exponentially distributed, whereas real distributions are narrower and centred around the mean. Much recent work has indicated that realistically distributed stage durations strongly affect the dynamical structure of seasonally forced epidemic models. We investigate whether inferences drawn from previous analyses of transitions in patterns of measles dynamics are robust to the shapes of the stage duration distributions. As an illustrative example, we analyse measles dynamics in New York City from 1928 to 1972. We find that with a fixed mean infectious period in the susceptible–infectious–removed (SIR) model, the dynamical structure and predicted transitions vary substantially as a function of the shape of the infectious period distribution. By contrast, with fixed mean latent and infectious periods in the SEIR model, the shapes of the stage duration distributions have a less dramatic effect on model dynamical structure and predicted transitions. All these results can be understood more easily by considering the distribution of the disease generation time as opposed to the distributions of individual disease stages. Numerical bifurcation analysis reveals that for a given mean generation time the dynamics of the SIR and SEIR models for measles are nearly equivalent and are insensitive to the shapes of the disease stage distributions.
Symmetry types of the piezoelectric tensor and their identification
Authors: Zou W.-N. , Tang C.-X. , Pan E.
Published: May 2013

The third-order linear piezoelectricity tensor seems to be simpler than the fourth-order linear elasticity one, yet its total number of symmetry types is larger than the latter and the exact number is still inconclusive. In this paper, by means of the irreducible decomposition of the linear piezoelectricity tensor and the multipole representation of the corresponding four deviators, we conclude that there are 15 irreducible piezoelectric symmetry types, and thus further establish their characteristic web tree. By virtue of the notion of mirror symmetry and antisymmetry, we define three indicators with respect to two Euler angles and plot them on a unit disk in order to identify the symmetry type of a linear piezoelectricity tensor measured in an arbitrarily oriented coordinate system. Furthermore, an analytic procedure based on the solved axis-direction sets is also proposed to precisely determine the symmetry type of a linear piezoelectricity tensor and to trace the rotation transformation back to its natural coordinate system.
Hydrolysis of aromatic β-glucosides by non-pathogenic bacteria confers a chemical weapon against predators
Authors: Sonowal Robert , Nandimath Krithi , Kulkarni Sucheta S. , Koushika Sandhya P. , Nanjundiah Vidyanand , Mahadevan S.
Published: May 2013

Bacteria present in natural environments such as soil have evolved multiple strategies to escape predation. We report that natural isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
that actively hydrolyze plant-derived aromatic β-glucosides such as salicin, arbutin and esculin, are able to avoid predation by the bacteriovorous amoeba
Dictyostelium discoideum
and nematodes of multiple genera belonging to the family
Rhabditidae.
This advantage can be observed under laboratory culture conditions as well as in the soil environment. The aglycone moiety released by the hydrolysis of β-glucosides is toxic to predators and acts via the dopaminergic receptor Dop-1 in the case of
Caenorhabditis elegans
. While soil isolates of nematodes belonging to the family
Rhabditidae
are repelled by the aglycone, laboratory strains and natural isolates of
Caenorhabditis
sp. are attracted to the compound, mediated by receptors that are independent of Dop-1, leading to their death. The β-glucosides–positive (Bgl
+
) bacteria that are otherwise non-pathogenic can obtain additional nutrients from the dead predators, thereby switching their role from prey to predator. This study also offers an evolutionary explanation for the retention by bacteria of ‘cryptic’ or ‘silent’ genetic systems such as the
bgl
operon.
Polymorphism in the promoter region of the Toll-like receptor 9 gene and cervical human papillomavirus infection
Authors: Oliveira Lucas Boeno , Louvanto Karolina , Ramanakumar Agnihotram V. , Franco Eduardo L. , Villa Luisa L. ,   for the Ludwig–McGill Cohort Study
Published: May 2013

Polymorphism in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 gene has been shown to have a significant role in some diseases; however, little is known about its possible role in the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. We investigated the association between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs5743836) in the promoter region of TLR9 (T1237C) and type-specific HPV infections. Specimens were derived from a cohort of 2462 women enrolled in the Ludwig–McGill Cohort Study. We randomly selected 500 women who had a cervical HPV infection detected at least once during the study as cases. We defined two control groups: (i) a random sample of 300 women who always tested HPV negative, and (ii) a sample of 234 women who were always HPV negative but had a minimum of ten visits during the study. TLR9 genotyping was performed using bidirectional PCR amplification of specific alleles. Irrespective of group, the WT homozygous TLR9 genotype (TT) was the most common form, followed by the heterozygous (TC) and the mutant homozygous (CC) forms. There were no consistent associations between polymorphism and infection risk, either overall or by type or species. Likewise, there were no consistently significant associations between polymorphism and HPV clearance or persistence. We concluded that this polymorphism in the promoter region of TLR9 gene does not seem to have a mediating role in the natural history of the HPV infection.
Proposals for the classification of human rhinovirus species A, B and C into genotypically assigned types
Authors: McIntyre Chloe L. , Knowles Nick J. , Simmonds Peter
Published: May 2013

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) frequently cause mild upper respiratory tract infections and more severe disease manifestations such as bronchiolitis and asthma exacerbations. HRV is classified into three species within the genusEnterovirusof the familyPicornaviridae. HRV species A and B contain 75 and 25 serotypes identified by cross-neutralization assays, although the use of such assays for routine HRV typing is hampered by the large number of serotypes, replacement of virus isolation by molecular methods in HRV diagnosis and the poor or absent replication of HRV species C in cell culture. To address these problems, we propose an alternative, genotypic classification of HRV-based genetic relatedness analogous to that used for enteroviruses. Nucleotide distances between 384 complete VP1 sequences of currently assigned HRV (sero)types identified divergence thresholds of 13, 12 and 13 % for species A, B and C, respectively, that divided inter- and intra-type comparisons. These were paralleled by 10, 9.5 and 10 % thresholds in the larger dataset of >3800 VP4 region sequences. Assignments based on VP1 sequences led to minor revisions of existing type designations (such as the reclassification of serotype pairs, e.g. A8/A95 and A29/A44, as single serotypes) and the designation of new HRV types A101–106, B101–103 and C34–C51. A protocol for assignment and numbering of new HRV types using VP1 sequences and the restriction of VP4 sequence comparisons to type identification and provisional type assignments is proposed. Genotypic assignment and identification of HRV types will be of considerable value in the future investigation of type-associated differences in disease outcomes, transmission and epidemiology.
A bHLH-Type Transcription Factor, ABA-INDUCIBLE BHLH-TYPE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR/JA-ASSOCIATED MYC2-LIKE1, Acts as a Repressor to Negatively Regulate Jasmonate Signaling inArabidopsis
Authors: Nakata Masaru , Mitsuda Nobutaka , Herde Marco , Koo Abraham J.K. , Moreno Javier E. , Suzuki Kaoru , Howe Gregg A. , Ohme-Takagi Masaru
Published: May 2013

Jasmonates (JAs) are plant hormones that regulate the balance between plant growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although recent studies have uncovered the mechanisms for JA-induced responses in Arabidopsis thaliana, the mechanisms by which plants attenuate the JA-induced responses remain elusive. Here, we report that a basic helix-loop-helix–type transcription factor, ABA-INDUCIBLE BHLH-TYPE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR/JA-ASSOCIATED MYC2-LIKE1 (JAM1), acts as a transcriptional repressor and negatively regulates JA signaling. Gain-of-function transgenic plants expressing the chimeric repressor for JAM1 exhibited substantial reduction of JA responses, including JA-induced inhibition of root growth, accumulation of anthocyanin, and male fertility. These plants were also compromised in resistance to attack by the insect herbivore Spodoptera exigua. Conversely, jam1 loss-of-function mutants showed enhanced JA responsiveness, including increased resistance to insect attack. JAM1 and MYC2 competitively bind to the target sequence of MYC2, which likely provides the mechanism for negative regulation of JA signaling and suppression of MYC2 functions by JAM1. These results indicate that JAM1 negatively regulates JA signaling, thereby playing a pivotal role in fine-tuning of JA-mediated stress responses and plant growth.
Supramolecular study, Hirshfeld analysis and theoretical study of 6-methoxyquinolineN-oxide dihydrate
Authors: Moreno-Fuquen Rodolfo , Hernandez Geraldine , Kennedy Alan R. , Morrison Catriona A.
Published: May 2013

In the crystal structure of 6-methoxyquinolineN-oxide dihydrate, C10H9NO2·2H2O, (I), the presence of two-dimensional water networks is analysed. The water molecules form unusual water channels, as well as two intersecting mutually perpendicular columns. In one of these channels, the O atom of theN-oxide group acts as a bridge between the water molecules. The other channel is formed exclusively by water molecules. Confirmation of the molecular packing was performed through the analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces, and (I) is compared with other similar isoquinoline systems. Calculations of bond lengths and angles by the Hartree–Fock method or by density functional theory B3LYP, both with 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets, are reported, together with the results of additional IR, UV–Vis and theoretical studies.
Reversible high-temperature phase transition of a manganese(II) formate framework with imidazolium cations
Authors: Wang Bi-Qin , Yan Hai-Biao , Huang Zheng-Qing , Zhang Zhi
Published: May 2013

A new metal–formate framework, poly[1H-imidazol-3-ium [tri-μ2-formato-manganese(II)]], {(C3H5N2)[Mn(HCOO)3]}n, was synthesized and its structural phase transition was studied by thermal analysis and variable-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis. The transition temperature is around 435 K. The high-temperature phase is tetragonal and the low-temperature phase is monoclinic, with a β angle close to 90°. The relationship of the unit cells between the two phases can be described as:aHT= 0.5aLT+ 0.5bLT;bHT= −0.5aLT+ 0.5bLT;cHT = 0.5cLT. In the high-temperature phase, both the framework and the guest 1H-imidazol-3-ium (HIm) cations are disordered; the HIm cations are located about 2mmsites and were modelled as fourfold disordered. The Mn and a formate C atom are located on fourfold rotary inversion axes, while another formate C atom is on a mirror plane. The low-temperature structure is ordered and consists of two crystallographically independent HIm cations and two crystallographically independent Mn2+ions. The phase transition is attributable to the order–disorder transition of the HIm cations.
(E)-2-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)acrylonitrile: a chain of π-stacked hydrogen-bonded rings
Authors: Trilleras Jorge , Velásquez Kelly , Cobo Justo , Glidewell Christopher
Published: May 2013

The title compound, C16H9FN2S, crystallizes as a nonmerohedral twin with twin rotation about the reciprocal-lattice vector [10\overline{1}]*. The molecules are nearly planar and the dihedral angle between the planes of the two aryl rings is only 4.4 (2)°. The molecules are linked by pairs of C—H...N hydrogen bonds to form cyclic centrosymmetricR22(18) dimers, which are linked into chains by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. Comparisons are made with some related 3-aryl-2-thienylacrylonitriles.
Physician directed information prescription service (IPs): barriers and drivers
Authors: Zarea Gavgani Vahideh , Roshani Shiramin Ali
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The objective of this study is to find out physicians' attitudes towards prescribing information to patients and the barriers they may face regarding IPs to patients.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional survey of 176 physicians working as clinical faculty members of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences about the information prescription service (IPs) was undertaken using a structured and validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a Fisher's exact test or chi square test were used to analyze data. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. All data were analyzed using SPSS.17.0.

Findings

The study found that physicians are positive about providing IPs. Most of the specialists, i.e. 95.4 per cent (n=167) completely agreed with prescribing information to patients. The physicians rated barriers that they may face in offering IPs. Majority of the specialists 97 per cent (n=174) acknowledged that patients have the right to receive IPs while being seen by healthcare providers. The study did not find significant association between specialty of physicians with their opinion about importance and necessity of IPs. However, there is a statistically significant relationship between the physicians' specialty and their opinions about the following ideas: “information may create side effects” (p=0.01), “the stage of diseases that patient experiences is important and to be considered in personalization of IPs” (p=0.01).

Originality/value

This study is unique because there are no similar studies in the published literature. Physicians are one of the main stakeholders in IPs, therefore it is important to find out their opinions and attitudes towards prescription of information.
Enabler and inhibitor factors influencing competitive intelligence practices
Authors: Garcia‐Alsina Montserrat , Ortoll Eva , Cobarsí‐Morales Josep
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper has a twofold aim. Firstly, to give some insight into competitive intelligence practices in a little‐explored area in the field of competitive intelligence: the higher education sector. Secondly, to find out more about the factors influencing competitive intelligence practices, since little research on this subject has been published.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation used a mixed‐methods approach, including face‐to‐face, semi structured interviews with 47 university managers (degree coordinators, deans and vice‐rectors), followed by a semi‐structured questionnaire carried out with 400 degree coordinators and deans and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The interviews informed the questionnaire design.

Findings

The survey confirms the proposed framework's usefulness for analysing the enabler and inhibitor factors in an organisation for promoting efficient competitive intelligence practice and also gives some insight into which factors enable or inhibit the efficacy of competitive intelligence practices in Spanish universities.

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on degree design adapted to the EHEA. A larger study designed to focus on other management areas in universities would provide a fuller picture of factors influencing competitive intelligence practices.

Practical implications

The findings indicate the areas where universities could plan actions to optimise intelligence activities, make the most of them and stand out from the rest.

Originality/value

This paper sets out a framework to describe factors related to intelligence function and cycle. In addition, the study reveals which indicators act as enablers or inhibitors for competitive intelligence practices and takes account of some of the particular features of the higher education sector.
The inhibition effects of cysteine on the corrosion behaviour of copper in 3.5% NaCl solution
Authors: Kılınççeker Güray , Demir Hasan
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inhibition effect of cysteine on the corrosion behaviour of copper in 3.5% NaCl solution with and without cysteine.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used. The surface morphology of the metal sample after exposure to the corrosive medium was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of temperature also was studied over the range 298‐328 K. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) were calculated and discussed.

Findings

It was found that cysteine could inhibit the corrosion of copper in 3.5% NaCl solution. Cysteine is an organic corrosion inhibitor for copper, and its molecules are physically adsorbed to form a protective film. Inhibition efficiency increases with decreasing cysteine concentration and the product behaves as an anodic‐type inhibitor.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the inhibitory effect of cysteine with temperature change was investigated in environments containing 10−2 M cysteine solution at pH 8.5.

Practical implications

It will be possible to replace other inhibitors, with cysteine for copper protection in heating/cooling systems at higher temperatures.

Originality/value

Cysteine acts as an anodic inhibitor especially for copper‐based materials in acidic solution. The interaction between the cysteine molecule and copper in alkaline media has not been investigated in detail. The main objectives of this study was to gain some insight into the protection of copper by cysteine in 3.5% NaCl medium at a pH value of 8.5.
Supply chain quality management
Authors: Mellat‐Parast Mahour
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a theoretical base for supply chain quality from the learning perspective. Through utilizing the relational view of inter‐organizational competitive advantage, the paper identifies learning‐driven practices that influence buyer‐supplier performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature in quality management, supply chain management and strategic management is conducted to develop key practices associated with quality management in a supply chain environment.

Findings

The findings suggest that quality management facilitates cooperative learning and improves inter‐organizational learning processes. At the supply chain level, it enhances supply chain satisfaction and supply chain performance.

Originality/value

The study contributes to our understanding of quality management practices within a supply chain environment from an inter‐organizational learning perspective. It extends the concept of quality to the supply chain through focusing on key practices that influence the quality of supply chain relationships.
A library in the palm of your hand
Authors: Lee Ballard Terry , Blaine Anna
Published: May 2013

Purpose

In response to the changing world of information access, librarians at the New York Law School's Mendik Library became interested in providing a full‐service mobile phone application so that users could search the catalog, access the reserves module, renew books and find information such as library hours. The purpose of this paper is to show how the library went from this concept to an award‐winning product.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows step by step how the librarians listened to experts in the field, searched the mobile stores to find other libraries that have done this, chosen a vendor, and rolled out the service with a multimedia information campaign.

Findings

Using a team approach, it is possible to develop a mobile application that is useful and still being accessed a year after its first launch.

Research limitations/implications

More needs to be done to see the precise state of mobile access in the world's libraries.

Originality/value

The approach documented in the paper will serve as a template for libraries planning to add mobile access, but are unsure of how to proceed.
Applying the free market philosophy to healthcare
Authors: Testa Pat , Block Walter E.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to support the claim that socialism is ineffective and inefficient, and that this insight applies to socialized medicine, as well as all other forms of socialism.

Design/methodology/approach

The main method utilized in this paper is the application of basic supply and demand analysis, based on private property rights and profit considerations, to healthcare.

Findings

It is found that the application of these basic elements of economics to healthcare demonstrates that free enterprise can better attain the ends of healthcare than can socialism.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should focus on the anomaly that most people view socialism with great disdain, but not when it comes to health care. Why the logical disconnect?

Practical implications

The Soviet Union went through economic paroxysms in ridding itself of socialism. If the implications of this research are implemented, these can be avoided in our health care system.

Social implications

The impact on society of this research will be very beneficial; under free enterprise, costs will be lower, and quality of care higher. But public attitudes are at present very much in favor of socialized medicine. Hopefully, one of the benefits of the present paper will be to change this.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is that, in some small way, it will help attain greater health for the entire population.
The impact of reward personalisation on frequent flyer programmes
'
perceived value and loyalty
Authors: Meyer-Waarden Lars
Published: May 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to contribute to a better theoretical and empirical knowledge about the way frequent flyer programmes influence customer behaviour. It aims to describe the relationships between purchase orientations and personalized rewards on customers
'
perceived programme value and subsequent loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research uses self-determination theory (SDT) and purchase orientations to classify types of rewards in terms of their effect on perceived programme value and loyalty. Scales are developed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. To validate the hypotheses, surveys are realized in a major international airline. Structural equation modelling confirms the research model.

Findings

– Perceived value and loyalty vary according to purchase orientation, in support of the SDT. Intrinsic (extrinsic) rewards motivate customers to act to obtain a benefit within (apart from) the target of their purchase orientation and influences loyalty positively (have low impact on loyalty).

Research limitations/implications

– Further testing of reward types, in(ex)trinsic motivation, SDT, across multiple contexts is necessary for validity enhancement.

Practical implications

– Differentiation through tailored (non-)monetary rewards is possible in markets marked by strong competition to appeal to different segments.

Originality/value

– This is one of the pioneer articles in the use of SDT in marketing research. The development of scales which focus on reward types and the moderating impact of purchase orientations on frequent flyer programmes
'
perceived value and loyalty is another contribution.
Developing an integrated vision of customer value
Authors: Martelo Landroguez Silvia , Barroso Castro Carmen , Cepeda-Carrión Gabriel
Published: May 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to contribute to the service management literature by identifying the possible relationship between customer value seen from the customer perspective and from the firm perspective, and its potential influence on the value created for the service customer. The authors have not found any papers which focus on the relationship between these different perspectives of customer value, and the aim is to fill this gap in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper proposes that a relationship between the different perspectives exists and attempts to create an integrated vision of customer value.

Findings

– The proposed model shows that it is the relationship between customer value from the customer
'
s point of view and customer value from the firm
'
s point of view that really creates value.

Practical implications

– The paper can influence the current service management of firms with regard to customer value creation in several ways.

Originality/value

– From the existing literature, it is deduced that customer value can be seen as perceived value (the customer perspective) or as value creation and appropriation (the firm perspective). The paper proposes that these three types of value are equivalent in an important level and should always be interrelated.
Rebuilding reliability: strategy and coaching in a high hazard industry
Authors: Offstein Evan H. , Kniphuisen Raymond , Robin Bichy D. , Stephen Childers J.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

In light of and due to the spike in concern regarding high hazard industries, in general, and nuclear power plants (NPPs) in particular, resulting from the Japanese earthquake and crisis at Fukushima, the purpose of this paper is to offer an innovative organizational development (OD) intervention that may enhance safety and operational performance directed at these critical organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on and integrating key elements of strategy, leadership coaching and development and assessment, the authors describe and detail an intervention designed to bring a troubled NPP to a state of reliability.

Findings

It was found that performance improved in a relatively short amount of time from implementing this OD tool.

Practical implications

The findings contained herein may apply to any organization aiming to improve on safety and operational performance.

Originality/value

The paper's findings should appeal to high hazard and high reliability organizations, such as those found within the energy industry, that must continuously strive toward improved operational and safety performance.
Predictors of retention in “transitional” rehabilitation: dynamic versus static client variables
Authors: Gholab Karis M. , Magor‐Blatch Lynne E.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Problematic substance use is associated with adverse outcomes that extend beyond the individual, resulting in significant cost to the community through health care, criminal justice and other psychosocial factors, including child protection and family support. These factors create concerns for treatment services, with an increasing demand for cost‐effective solutions to this problem. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This prospective cohort study examined the effect of client variables on retention within a short‐term (56 days) modified therapeutic community (MTC) in the Australian Capital Territory. A total of 28 residents (17 males, 11 females) took part in the study, which included quantitative and qualitative measures.

Findings

Results demonstrate a trend in favour of dynamic client variables as effective predictors of retention, with substance use severity being a significant predictor (p=0.023, d=0.91). Content analysis demonstrates that those with severe substance use have more intentions to engage in aftercare.

Originality/value

Short term treatments are seen as providing a gateway to further treatment, especially for chronic substance‐using clients.
A methodology for design for warranty with focus on reliability and warranty policies
Authors: Ambad Prashant M. , Kulkarni Makarand S.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to develop a conceptual framework that integrates the technology and commercial issues early at the design stage to minimize warranty costs in the most effective and efficient manner and also to develop a model for optimization of warranty with specific focus on reliability and warranty policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical issues in warranty are addressed which affect the warranty cost. An optimization model to achieve multiple goals like minimization of the warranty cost and improving the reliability of the product is developed using genetic algorithm as a solution methodology. The model is illustrated with a real case of automobile engine.

Findings

The results of the optimization show improvement in mean time between failures (MTBF) which results due to improvement in the product reliability and also the targeted warranty cost is achieved.

Research limitations/implications

The model developed needs to be further extended with inclusion of additional decision variable such as support level offered and more objectives such as attractiveness of the warranty from the customer's view point and spares cost to the customer.

Originality/value

The paper provides the help to the designers at the design stage to take the decisions related to warranty in deciding the warranty parameters.
An investigation of voluntary disclosure by Kuwaiti Shariah‐compliant companies
Authors: Al‐Shammari Bader
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to measure the extent of voluntary disclosure in the 2009 annual reports of 108 Shariah‐compliant companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. The study aims to investigate three categories of voluntary disclosure: overall, conventional and Islamic disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

Voluntary disclosure was measured using a self‐constructed index consisting of 132 items overall, 86 for conventional and 46 for Islamic information items. Annual reports were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t‐tests.

Findings

Results suggest that the mean overall voluntary disclosure by Shariah‐compliant companies is 15 percent, but 17 percent and 13 percent for the conventional and Islamic items, respectively. Voluntary disclosure of conventional items is comparable to extant studies, and higher than Islamic items.

Research limitation/implications

The study uses annual reports from 2009 because they were the most recent data available on the listed companies at the beginning of the study. Since this study was undertaken before the Shariah Advisory Council of the Capital Market Authority was established on January 1, 2012, this imposes a limitation. Future study should replicate this study to assess differences with the existence of the Council.

Practical implications

The findings provide evidence that Shariah‐complaint companies lack voluntary disclosure, especially Islamic disclosure information. As a result, the findings should be useful to lawmakers in Kuwait for improving overall disclosure practices by Shariah‐compliant companies. Preparers may use the findings to match the amount of information in their annual reports with other companies to ensure capital sourcing. Investors may use the findings for understanding disclosure behavior of Shariah‐compliant companies in Kuwait. Such findings may assist them to diversify investment portfolios.

Originality/value

This study contributes to extending the Kuwaiti literature on disclosure, and fills a gap in empirical studies on Shariah‐compliant disclosure practices.
The Islamic gracious monetary instruments: a theoretical approach
Authors: Ismal Rifki
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper attempts to construct Islamic gracious monetary instruments namely Qardh hassan, Waqf and Gift central bank certificates. The certificates do not only function as monetary instruments per se, but also give economic and social benefit for the public such as the needy. However, the central bank and its counterparts still need to manage the funds professionally to produce profit, maintain the values of the funds and prevent business losses. As such, this theoretical study aims to offer alternative Islamic monetary instruments for the central bank to manage liquidity and especially to improve the welfare of the people.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper exercises three Islamic gracious monetary instruments (Qardh hassan, Waqf and Gift central bank certificates) for both investment based (Mudarabah and Musharakah) financing and trading based (Ijarah and Murabahah) financing. Every instrument is elaborated mathematically to analyze its economic impact, treatment of profit and loss coming from the business and status of the funds. Finally, the paper compares every gracious certificate and explains the terms and conditions to use them optimally.

Findings

The exercises find unique characteristics, operations and contribution of every Islamic gracious monetary instrument to the economy. Based on economic impact, nature of the contracts and management of the funds, the central bank can now have alternative Islamic monetary instruments to be offered to the generous depositors to improve the welfare of the people particularly the needy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper only assesses the feasibility of three Islamic gracious monetary instruments. There might be more alternatives of Islamic gracious monetary instruments to be considered and elaborated.

Originality/value

To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first paper to try to exercise the alternative of the Islamic gracious monetary instruments.
Analysing challenges, barriers and CSF of egov adoption
Authors: Rana Nripendra P. , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically review and analyse the critical challenges and barriers of e‐government adoption. Such review aims to suggest the salient facts about the issues of successful implementation or adoption of the e‐government services under different circumstances to the researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 78 relevant research papers reviewing and analysing the challenges, barriers, and critical success factors were selected from a set of overall 448 articles on e‐government adoption research. These studies were comprehensively reviewed to examine some of the most significant supply and demand‐side challenges, barriers, and critical success factors explored by different studies in this context.

Findings

The findings indicated that technological barriers, lack of security and privacy, lack of trust, lack of resources, digital divide, poor management and infrastructure, lack of awareness, legal barriers, lack of IT infrastructure, and resilience were among some of the most commonly experienced challenges and barriers across the relevant studies. Moreover, it was also found that challenges and barriers associated with supply‐side (i.e. implementation) (C=53) were almost three times to the one applied to the demand‐side (i.e. adoption) (C=18). Furthermore, it was also found that citizen's satisfaction, information accuracy, security, and privacy were some of the critical factors for the success of e‐government initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

This research only reviews the challenges, barriers and critical success factors and leaving apart many other research themes such as impact, digital divide, security, privacy, trust, and risk of e‐government adoption. Moreover, the theoretical and methodological paradigm of this research have not been explored.

Originality/value

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the challenges, barriers, and critical success factors of the e‐government adoption research both with regard to supply as well as demand side. Such review allows us to provide not only a brief account of the issues experienced in the e‐government research, but also prescribes the guidelines for the governments to consider certain facts before successfully implement their e‐government initiatives. Such a comprehensive review of e‐government adoption literature has not been performed earlier.