bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The DEAD-box helicase Ded1 from yeast is an mRNP cap-associated protein that shuttles between the cytoplasm and nucleus
Authors: Senissar Meriem , Saux Agnès Le , Belgareh-Touzé Naïma , Adam Céline , Banroques Josette , Tanner N. Kyle
Published: July 2014

The DEAD-box helicase Ded1 is an essential yeast protein that is closely related to mammalian DDX3 and to other DEAD-box proteins involved in developmental and cell cycle regulation. Ded1 is considered to be a translation-initiation factor that helps the 40S ribosome scan the mRNA from the 5′ 7-methylguanosine cap to the AUG start codon. We used IgG pull-down experiments, mass spectrometry analyses, genetic experiments, sucrose gradients, in situ localizations and enzymatic assays to show that Ded1 is a cap-associated protein that actively shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. NanoLC-MS/MS analyses of purified complexes show that Ded1 is present in both nuclear and cytoplasmic mRNPs. Ded1 physically interacts with purified components of the nuclear CBC and the cytoplasmic eIF4F complexes, and its enzymatic activity is stimulated by these factors. In addition, we show that Ded1 is genetically linked to these factors. Ded1 comigrates with these proteins on sucrose gradients, but treatment with rapamycin does not appreciably alter the distribution of Ded1; thus, most of the Ded1 is in stable mRNP complexes. We conclude that Ded1 is an mRNP cofactor of the cap complex that may function to remodel the different mRNPs and thereby regulate the expression of the mRNAs.
Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in 2 Children With Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection and Its Impact on Their Growth and Gut Microbiome
Authors: Walia Ritu , Garg Shashank , Song Yang , Girotra Mohit , Cuffari Carmen , Fricke Wolfgang Florian , Dutta Sudhir K.
Published: July 2014

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is recognized as an alternative therapeutic modality for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI); however, data on its efficacy in children are lacking, including its effect on their growth and fecal microbiota. We report on 2 young children (<3 years old) who failed available therapeutics for RCDI, but responded remarkably well to FMT. Besides resolution of clinical features of C difficile infection (CDI), FMT administration led to marked improvement in their growth, along with increased microbiota diversity, especially proportion of Bacteroides. Our 2 cases illustrate the efficacy of FMT in children with RCDI and its positive effect on their growth and gut microbiota.
Arthrobacter pityocampae sp. nov., isolated from Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae)
Authors: İnce İkbal Agah , Demirbağ Zihni , Katı Hatice
Published: July 2014

A bacterium (strain Tp2T) was isolated from a caterpillar of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), a destructive pine forest pest. The bacterium is a Gram-stain-positive, red-pigmented coccus, oxidase-negative, nitrate-reducing, non-motile and non-spore-forming. Strain Tp2T was subjected to a taxonomic study using polyphasic approach that included morphological and biochemical characterizations, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, DNA G+C content analysis, comparative fatty acid profiles, and analyses of quinones and polar lipids. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Tp2T revealed that

Arthrobacter agilis

DSM 20550T was the closest known strain (98 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). DNA–DNA hybridization of

A. agilis

DSM 20550T and strain Tp2T resulted in a DNA–DNA relatedness value of 11.9 % (20.2 % reciprocal). The DNA base composition of strain Tp2T was 69.5 mol%, which is consistent with the other recognized members of
Actinobacteria
that have a high G+C content in their genome. The polar lipid pattern of strain Tp2T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (major), phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol and unknown glycolipids. The cellular fatty acids were anteiso C15 : 0 and anteiso C17 : 0 and the major menaquinone was MK-9(II-H2). The peptidoglycan type was A3α with an l-Lys–l-Thr–l-Ala3 interpeptide bridge. The above-mentioned characterization qualifies strain Tp2T as genotypically and phenotypically distinct from closely related species of the genus

Arthrobacter

with validly published names. Strain Tp2T is therefore proposed to represent a novel species of the genus

Arthrobacter

, described as Arthrobacter pityocampae sp. nov. The type strain is Tp2T ( = DSM 21719T = NCCB 100254T).
Flavobacterium arsenatis sp. nov., a novel arsenic-resistant bacterium from high-arsenic sediment
Authors: Ao Lian , Zeng Xian-Chun , Nie Yao , Mu Yao , Zhou Lingli , Luo Xuesong
Published: July 2014

A novel bacterial strain ZT was isolated from the high-arsenic sediment in Jianghan Plain, China. The strain was Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped and formed yellow colonies. This bacterium is capable of tolerating arsenate and arsenite, with MICs of 40 mM and 20 mM, respectively. The strain also possesses catalase and does not produce oxidase. The nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the isolate showed the highest similarity (96.9 %) to that of the type strain of

Flavobacterium soli

. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the phenotypic properties of strain ZT, it was assigned to the genus

Flavobacterium

. The major respiratory menaquinone was MK-6 and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (containing C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C15 : 1G. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three uncharacterized aminophospholipids and four unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 32.1 mol%. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic data presented in this article, it can be concluded that this isolate represents a novel species of the genus

Flavobacterium

, for which the name Flavobacterium arsenatis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZT ( = CCTCC AB 2013048T = KCTC 32397T).
Plant-derived compatible solutes proline betaine and betonicine confer enhanced osmotic and temperature stress tolerance to Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Bashir Abdallah , Hoffmann Tamara , Kempf Bettina , Xie Xiulan , Smits Sander H. J. , Bremer Erhard
Published: July 2014

l-Proline is a widely used compatible solute and is employed by Bacillus subtilis, through both synthesis and uptake, as an osmostress protectant. Here, we assessed the stress-protective potential of the plant-derived l-proline derivatives N-methyl-l-proline, l-proline betaine (stachydrine), trans-4-l-hydroxproline and trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline betaine (betonicine) for cells challenged by high salinity or extremes in growth temperature. l-Proline betaine and betonicine conferred salt stress protection, but trans-4-l-hydroxyproline and N-methyl-l-proline was unable to do so. Except for l-proline, none of these compounds served as a nutrient for B. subtilis. l-Proline betaine was a considerably better osmostress protectant than betonicine, and its import strongly reduced the l-proline pool produced by B. subtilis under osmotic stress conditions, whereas a supply of betonicine affected the l-proline pool only modestly. Both compounds downregulated the transcription of the osmotically inducible opuA operon, albeit to different extents. Mutant studies revealed that l-proline betaine was taken up via the ATP-binding cassette transporters OpuA and OpuC, and the betaine-choline-carnitine-transporter-type carrier OpuD; betonicine was imported only through OpuA and OpuC. l-Proline betaine and betonicine also served as temperature stress protectants. A striking difference between these chemically closely related compounds was observed: l-proline betaine was an excellent cold stress protectant, but did not provide heat stress protection, whereas the reverse was true for betonicine. Both compounds were primarily imported in temperature-challenged cells via the high-capacity OpuA transporter. We developed an in silico model for the OpuAC–betonicine complex based on the crystal structure of the OpuAC solute receptor complexed with l-proline betaine.
Extracting robust trends in species’ distributions from unstructured opportunistic data: a comparison of methods
Authors: Isaac Nick J.B. , van Strien Arco J. , August Tom A. , de Zeeuw Marnix P. , Roy David B.
Published: July 2014

Policy-makers increasingly demand robust measures of biodiversity change over short time periods. Long-term monitoring schemes provide high-quality data, often on an annual basis, but are taxonomically and geographically restricted. By contrast, opportunistic biological records are relatively unstructured but vast in quantity. Recently, these data have been applied to increasingly elaborate science and policy questions, using a range of methods. At present we lack a firm understanding of which methods, if any, are capable of delivering unbiased trend estimates on policy-relevant timescales.

We identified a set of candidate methods that employ either selection criteria or correction factors to deal with variation in recorder activity. We designed a computer simulation to compare the statistical properties of these methods under a suite of realistic data collection scenarios. We measured the Type 1 error rates of each method-scenario combination, as well as the power to detect genuine trends.

We found that simple methods produce biased trend estimates, and/or had low power. Most methods are robust to variation in sampling effort, but biases in spatial coverage, sampling effort per visit, and detectability, as well as turnover in community composition all induced some methods to fail. No method was robust to all forms of variation in recorder activity.

We warn against the use of simple methods. We identify three methods with complementary strengths and weaknesses that are useful for estimating timely trends. Sophisticated correction factor methods, including Occupancy and Frescalo, offer the greatest potential in the long-term. Methods based solely on selection criteria are inherently limited, but a combination or ensemble of approaches may be required to generate trends that are both robust and powerful. Small amounts of information about sampling intensity, captured at the point of data collection, would greatly enhance the utility of opportunistic data and make future trend estimates more reliable.
Stable heteroplasmy at the single cell level is facilitated by inter-cellular exchange of mtDNA
Authors: Jayaprakash Anitha D , Benson Erica , Gone Swapna , Liang Raymond , Shim Jaehee , Lambertini Luca , Toloue Masoud M , Wigler Mike , Aaronson Stuart A , Sachidanandam Ravi
Published: July 2014

Eukaryotic cells carry two genomes, nuclear (nDNA) and mitochondrial (mtDNA), which are ostensibly decoupled in their replication, segregation and inheritance. It is increasingly appreciated that heteroplasmy, the occurrence of multiple mtDNA haplotypes in a cell, plays an important biological role, but its features are not well understood. Accurately determining the diversity of mtDNA has been difficult, due to the relatively small amount of mtDNA in each cell (< 1% of the total DNA), the intercellular variability of mtDNA content and mtDNA pseudogenes (Numts) in nDNA. To understand the nature of heteroplasmy, we developed Mseek, a novel technique to purify and sequence mtDNA. Mseek yields high purity (> 90%) mtDNA and its ability to detect rare variants is limited only by sequencing depth, providing unprecedented sensitivity and specificity. Using Mseek, we confirmed the ubiquity of heteroplasmy by analyzing mtDNA from a diverse set of cell lines and human samples. Applying Mseek to colonies derived from single cells, we find heteroplasmy is stably maintained in individual daughter cells over multiple cell divisions. We hypothesized that the stability of heteroplasmy could be facilitated by inter-cellular exchange of mtDNA. We explicitly demonstrate this exchange by co-culturing cell lines with distinct mtDNA haplotypes. Our results shed new light on the maintenance of heteroplasmy and provide a novel platform to investigate features of heteroplasmy in normal and diseased states.
Strengthening reliability in high hazard industries: reconciling tensions for impact
Authors: H. Offstein Evan , Kniphuisen Raymond , Robin Bichy D. , Stephen Childers Jr J.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Recent lapses in the management of high hazard organizations, such as the Fukushima event or the Deepwater Horizon blast, add considerable urgency to better understand the complicated and complex phenomena of leading and managing high reliability organizations (HRO). The purpose of this paper is to offer both theoretical and practical insight to further strengthen reliability in high hazard organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Phenomenological study based on over three years of research and thousands of hours of study in HROs conducted through a scholar-practitioner partnership.

Findings

– The findings indicate that the identification and the management of competing tensions arising from misalignment within and between public policy, organizational strategy, communication, decision-making, organizational learning, and leadership is the critical factor in explaining improved reliability and safety of HROs.

Research limitations/implications

– Stops short of full-blown grounded theory. Steps were made to ensure validity; however, generalizability may be limited due to sample.

Practical implications

– Provides insight into reliably operating organizations that are crucial to society where errors would cause significant damage or loss.

Originality/value

– Extends high reliability research by investigating more fully the competing tensions present in these complex, societally crucial organizations.
E-service quality: a study of online shoppers in India
Authors: Kandulapati Suresh , Shekhar Bellamkonda Raja
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure the service quality of online shops using E-S-QUAL and validating the tool in an Indian context. Also, the study examines the mediating role of service value on the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction in the context of online services.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey is conducted by administering a structured questionnaire to online shoppers in India. The dimensions of E-S-QUAL (Parasuraman et al., 2005) are adopted without revision to measure electronic service quality (e-SQ) of online shops. Structural equation modeling, reliability tests, analysis of variance (one-way), correlation and regression analysis are performed through SPSS and AMOS.

Findings

– The study reveals that E-S-QUAL as developed by Parasuraman et al. (2005) is valid for measuring e-SQ in the context of Indian online shopping. The study proves that there is a significant impact of perceived e-SQ on perceived service value. Further, perceived service value mediates the relationship between e-SQ and customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The study helps the online service providers/e-commerce industry to understand e-shoppers’ perception and e-SQ in India. Also, it can contribute to formulating the best e-marketing strategies by which to tap into the e-shopping market in India.
A study on health care consumers’ diabetes term usage across identified categories
Authors: Zhang Jin , Zhao Yiming , Dimitroff Alexandra
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate health care consumers’ diabetes term usage patterns based on Yahoo!Answers social question and answers (Q&A) forum, identified characteristics and relationships among terms within three pairs of related categories identified from the Q&A log, and revealed users’ diabetes term usage patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Q&A analysis method allowed first-hand investigation of massive data from health care consumers. Visual term clustering analysis across categories was conducted using a multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) visualization method which provides an intuitive and interactive way to explore and discover term association patterns in a visual environment. Closely related categories were identified and corresponding visual term clustering analyses between categories (Sign & Symptom and Organ & Body Part; Diagnosis and Test; and Diagnosis and Medication) as well at the term level were analyzed.

Findings

– The findings show that there are close relationships between terms in two related categories. Related terms were grouped and patterns were revealed. All the stress values of the MDS analyses fall below 0.10 and RSQ for each of the combined categories is over 0.90 which indicate the investigated terms were well clustered in the visual analyses.

Originality/value

– The study provides a unique research methodology for similar consumer health research studies. The results of this study offer insight into consumer health term use behavior, and enrich existing thesauri and subject heading lists, enhance diabetes-related web sites or portals, and improve effectiveness of internal search engines.
Health and safety coordinators in building projects
Authors: Almén Lena , J. Larsson Tore
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– In order to reduce the number of injuries on construction sites, a European Directive prescribes that the clients shall appoint safety and health coordinators in their projects. The purpose of this paper is to find out who are appointed to be health and safety coordinators for the design and planning phase and what they do in order to prevent injuries on sites.

Design/methodology/approach

– Since the 1st of January 2009, there shall be a coordinator for the design and planning phase in Swedish construction projects. Telephone interviews were made with the coordinators in 42 Swedish building projects.

Findings

– The coordinators’ education and experiences varied widely, as well as their descriptions of their duties: no duties, administration and active injury prevention. The coordinators who were classified as most active had at least one additional leading role in the projects.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is qualitative for an increased understanding, not a statistical reflection of the coordinator population.

Practical implications

– The legislation needs to clarify whether the early conceptual phase of the project is included in the coordinator's commission and whether she/he is supposed to participate in identifying, assessing and reducing risks through design changes. These clarifications will have an influence on when the coordinator should be appointed and what competence she/he needs.

Originality/value

– The study increases the understanding of how the health and safety coordinators of the planning and projecting phase of building projects perceive their mission and what factors, according to them, have an influence on what they do.
Could refurbishment of “traditional” buildings reduce carbon emissions?
Authors: Atkins Richard , Emmanuel Rohinton
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Evaluate the post occupancy performance of a typical “traditional” building using multiple post occupancy evaluation (PoE) protocols against design intents to learn lessons about their suitability in meeting UK's climate change reduction targets. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– PoE studies of a single case study, Norton Park, using three PoE methodologies. Gaps and overlaps between the PoE protocols are assessed and their role in improving energy and carbon emission performance of traditional buildings is explored.

Findings

– Refurbishment of the type undertaken in this case study could halve the energy use in traditional buildings with comparable savings in CO2 emission.

Research limitations/implications

– Traditional buildings could positively contribute to achieving climate change reduction targets; regular feedback loops improve performance over time.

Practical implications

– Quantification of the likely national benefit of focusing retrofit actions on traditional buildings is explored.

Originality/value

– The research study demonstrates that very high levels of energy saving can be achieved when traditional buildings are refurbished. In addition on-going monitoring and PoE studies highlight opportunities to optimise the performance of traditional buildings.
Determining the cost of poor quality and its impact on productivity and profitability
Authors: Mahmood Shahid , M. Ahmed Syed , Panthi Kamalesh , Ishaque Kureshi Nadeem
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how effectively the cost appraisal system proposed measures the cost of poor quality (COPQ) in a construction project. The paper first formulates how COPQ can be measured and later clarifies the relationship between COPQ, labor productivity, and profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to measure COPQ, the researchers prepared data entry forms for recording COPQ items on a daily basis and formulated the cost contribution of lost material, lost man-hours, lost machinery hours, and lost overhead on the overall COPQ for the project. The proposed method was then applied in a case study.

Findings

– The results showed that, for the 60-days study period, COPQ decreased by about 24 percent while labor productivity and profitability increased by about 17 and 11 percent, respectively, after the implementation of COPQ measuring system. This study further supports the use of the COPQ system in construction projects as a mechanism to facilitate continuous improvement.

Originality/value

– COPQ is a major cost that is often ignored in construction projects due to the difficulty of measuring it. This paper presents a COPQ measuring and recording system capable of identifying COPQ. The implementation of the system is shown to increase productivity and profitability as demonstrated by the project used for the case study.
Constraints in implementing Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Suhaiza , Azzahra Haris Fatimah
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study two objectives. First, it intends to scrutinize the challenges in implementing Public Private Partnership (PPP) by examining the factors that hinder the successful adoption of PPP in Malaysia. Second, it aims to investigate the differences in the perceptions of the government and the private sector pertaining to the hindrance factors.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was used to elicit the perceptions of the public and private sectors concerning the constraints of PPP implementation in Malaysia. A total of 122 usable responses were obtained, which were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. The mean score and mean score ranking were used to examine the importance of the hindrance factors based on the overall responses as well as on the respective responses of the public and the private sectors. An independent sample t-test was used to examine the differences in the perceptions between the two sectors.

Findings

– The overall results show that “lengthy delays in negotiation”, “lack of government guidelines and procedures on PPP”, “higher charge to direct users”, “lengthy delays because of political debate” and “confusion over government objectives and evaluation criteria” are the top five constraints for adopting PPP in Malaysia. In terms of the differences in the perceptions between the public and private sector groups, the statistical test results indicate that there are only significant differences in the perceptions for two hindrance factors.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the existing literature on PPP, which is currently limited, by focusing on the challenges of implementing PPP in a developing country (i.e. Malaysia). More importantly, this paper provides evidence concerning the differences in the opinion of two key players (i.e. the government and the private sector) on the PPP hindrance factors.
Shopping orientation as a stable consumer disposition and its influence on consumers’ evaluations of retailer communication
Authors: B. Büttner Oliver , Florack Arnd , S. Göritz Anja
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The present aims to examine whether interindividual differences in consumers’ shopping orientations reflect a stable consumer disposition (i.e. chronic shopping orientation; CSO). Furthermore, it examines whether this disposition influences consumers’ evaluations of retailer communication. Consumers may shop under an experiential or a task-focused shopping orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research builds on four studies; three were conducted online and one was conducted in the laboratory. Study 1 applied a longitudinal design, Studies 2 and 3 applied a cross-sectional design and Study 4 applied an experimental design.

Findings

– Study 1 shows that CSO is stable over time. Study 2 finds that interindividual differences in CSO are stable across different retail domains. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrate that experiential shoppers prefer stimulation-oriented claims, whereas task-focused shoppers prefer efficiency-oriented claims.

Originality/value

– The value of shopping orientation for customer segmentation and tailored marketing largely depends on whether interindividual differences in CSO are stable. The present research is the first to demonstrate that CSO, indeed, exists as a stable consumer disposition. In addition, the research demonstrates that shopping orientation moderates the evaluation of retailer communication. Overall, the results demonstrate that CSO is a valuable construct for customer segmentation and tailored communication in retailing.
Looking beyond impulse buying
Authors: Sharma Piyush , Sivakumaran Bharadhwaj , Marshall Roger
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to conceptualize consumer impulsiveness (CI) as a global trait to explore its influence on a wider range of consumer behaviours and also presents a revised CI scale. Prior research on CI focuses on the impulse buying context and does not establish the cross-cultural invariance of the CI scale.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two studies with undergraduate and MBA students in Singapore, UK and USA were used to develop the revised CI scale and to test its cross-cultural measurement invariance and predictive validity.

Findings

– CI is a three-dimensional construct with cognitive (imprudence), affective (self-indulgence) and behavioural (lack of self-control) dimensions. However, self-indulgence and lack of self-control positively (do not) correlate for consumers with independent (interdependent) self-concepts. These three dimensions also vary in their influence on different types of self-regulatory failures.

Research limitations/implications

– The student participants used in all the studies may be relatively younger and better educated compared to average consumers. Hence, there is a need to test the revised CI scale with diverse consumer populations.

Practical implications

– The revised CI scale would help future researchers study the influence of CI across diverse cultures and self-regulatory failures in a reliable and rigorous manner.

Social implications

– Our findings may help control the onset and spread of self-regulatory failures among young consumers by early identification of their psychological origins.

Originality/value

– This paper extends the scope of CI beyond impulse buying to study its impact on self-regulatory failure across five diverse behavioural domains (driving, eating, entertainment, shopping and substance abuse).
Exploring the fit of e-books to the needs of medical academics in Australia
Authors: Shimizu Wilson Concepción , D’Ambra John , Drummond Robyn
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which e-books fit the needs of medical academics of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the performance of their academic tasks.

Design/methodology/approach

– A web-based survey was distributed to all UNSW academics in medicine, and 224 completed responses were analyzed according to the attributes of a task-technology fit (TTF) model developed for e-books in academic settings.

Findings

– Although the UNSW Library had access to > 225,000 e-books, usage by medical academics was relatively low (38 per cent); however, most (92 per cent) predicted that they would be using e-books within the next five years. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) had portable devices including smartphones, and 90 per cent rated the ability to search across full text in an e-book of moderate-to-high importance. Research tasks dominated the use of e-books, and 71 per cent agreed that e-books helped improve their overall productivity.

Research limitation/implications

– Only 224 (8 per cent) of 2,790 medical academics at UNSW participated in the study. The low response rate and over-representation of research only academics limit the extent of generalization of the findings.

Originality/value

– This is the first study on the use of e-books among academics in the Faculty of Medicine – comprising nearly 64 per cent of all UNSW academic staff. The findings highlight the extent of e-books used by medical academics and their enthusiasm for access to digital resources. There is also the suggestion that the library must continue to develop services to ensure delivery of task-compatible e-books to medical academics in increasingly mobile environments.
Impact of automation on library services in selected management institutes at Aligarh
Authors: Anas Mohammad , Iqbal Jafar , Ahmad Parvez
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of automation on library management services of four selected management institutes at Aligarh.

Design/methodology/approach

– The investigators used a fashioned questionnaire and informal interviews. They chose samples on the basis of a stratified sampling method and administered the questionnaire according to a random method for collecting the data.

Findings

– The study revealed that 3 of 4 libraries are partially automated, with the exception of Al-Barkaat which is completely automated. Seventy per cent of librarians believe that automation has improved their library’s services, while 85 per cent of users believe that an automated library system is better than the traditional manual system. Of the four libraries, three have a shortage of general staff and three also lack qualified specialized staff to deal with automation.

Research limitations

– The investigators could only select four management institutes because of time and logistic constraints, despite Aligarh being the educational hub of western Uttar Pradesh.

Originality/value

– Although many studies of the same kind have already been conducted on library automation in different areas of world, this paper revealed the current status of automation in libraries of selected management institutes at Aligarh.
Procurement of public sector facilities
Authors: E.D. Love Peter , O’Donoghue Damien , R. Davis Peter , Smith Jim
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to determine the perceptions of a public sector agency’s representatives who are involved in the selection of procurement methods about the benefits and barriers of implementing early contractor involvement (ECI). There have been widespread calls for the public sector to use of non-traditional delivery methods so as to obtain better “value for money”. ECI is one form of delivery approach that has begun to attract the attention of many Australian State Governments, as it allows a contractor to proactively participate in design development, risk management and the construction programming processes. Design and construction processes can also be integrated which, therefore, overcome the impediments and barriers that have conventionally existed between designers and contractor. Within Western Australia, the use of ECI has been limited and therefore perceptions about its potential application are obtained.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using questionnaire surveys and follow-up semi-structured interviews, the research sought to determine the perceptions of a public sector agency’s representatives who are involved in the selection of procurement methods about the benefits and barriers of implementing ECI.

Findings

– It is revealed that a significant proportion of contractors did not have the capability and experience to be involved within an ECI approach. Their preference was the use of a traditional lump-sum method. Where there was limited scope for using competitive tendering, particularly on large complex projects, then ECI could be a preferred option for future projects.

Originality/value

– To date, there has been limited empirical research that examined the public sectors views on the use of ECI despite the calls for the greater use of integrated procurement methods of this nature. The research indicates that there is a need to develop strategies to better educate public sector clients, designers and contractors about how ECI can contribute to the development of innovative solutions and better value for money.
Gender, space and identity
Authors: Simpson Ruth
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the intersection of gender, sexuality and occupation and to analyse how male cabin crew utilize space in managing gender identity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on a project where interviews were conducted with 17 male cabin crew, all aged < 35 years, from 5 different airlines in airports in the South East of England. The crew worked in a mixture of short-haul, low-cost and long-haul global carriers.

Findings

– The paper shows how men in a feminized service role negotiate masculine subjectivities within and through space and how gendered meanings attached to space can impress on and both challenge and be challenged by the performances and subjectivities of individuals within them.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings on which the paper is based surface the diverse challenges facing men in non-traditional roles – an area that would profit from further research in different contexts. Further, the findings have implications for work-based practices and employee relations within a paraprofessional service role.

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the understanding of how gender and identity intersect as well as to how space, seen as both gendered and gendering, is implicated in the processes involved.
Virtual value soars for sales-related skills
Authors: Little Bob
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline an unusual – and online-based – approach to sales and negotiation training and coaching.

Design/methodology/approach

– Interviews with organisations involved, augmented with case studies.

Findings

– The “Learn, Implement, Support” method of developing sales and negotiating skills is effective. It combats, cost effectively, the criticism that 30 per cent of all learning is forgotten within 30 days of receiving training unless it is reinforced in a practical way.

Practical implications

– Organisations of all sizes – not just global multinationals – can now increase productivity and profitability from the online delivery of relevant learning materials, followed immediately by virtual coaching and support for a period of at least 12 months.

Social implications

– People can learn how to sell products and services more effectively and efficiently, via online-delivered learning and coaching, which contains a high degree of video.

Originality/value

– Organisations of all sizes – not just global multinationals – can now experience and benefit from the knowledge, skills and experience of a master-performer in the fields of sales and negotiation, thanks to the advent of a system of online learning delivery followed by virtual coaching.
Timeless tools to manage your time
Authors: Rao M.S.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to underscore the importance of time and outline timeless tools to manage your time.

Design/methodology/approach

– The tools are gleaned from author's 32 years of practical experience in industry, teaching, training, research and consultancy. It explains the significance of time and elaborates with illustrations to manage your time.

Findings

– The paper cautions that if you waste one second, you wasted one second of your life.

Research limitations/implications

– Qualitative/action research inevitably needs to be backed up by more formal research into the topic. This paper offers an agenda for action and further qualitative/quantitative research in time management.

Practical implications

– The timeless tools on time management can be applied in all areas of life such as personal, professional and social lives.

Social implications

– These time-tested tools are essential for everybody to make a difference for themselves and also for others.

Originality/value

– The paper enlightens that the biggest gift one can give to others is time, not money.
Point-of-care glucose testing: on-site competency assessment
Authors: Tongtoyai Jaray , Tientadakul Panutsaya , Chinswangwatanakul Wimol , Opartkiattikul Nisarat
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this pilot paper is to use on-site assessment to determine common non-compliance in point-of-care (POC) glucose testing, deficiencies that should be improved by the POC team or emphasized in further training.

Design/methodology/approach

– Assessment forms for POC site and staff competency were developed and used for direct observation in four POC sites. Nurses were sampled in these sites.

Findings

– The on-site assessment demonstrated that initial operator training was insufficient. Only three of 15 nurses achieved a satisfactory score on the first assessment. In all nine participants who had been assessed at least twice improved their performance. In total, 16 (30 percent) of 53 competency items were not achieved, so these should be addressed during refresher training. Improved compliance with the checklist was observed in two of four POC sites.

Research limitations/implications

– Medical students and residents also perform the test, so more representative samples are needed.

Practical implications

– The assessment of staff performance in the workplace with constructive input and POC site inspections to identify common deficiencies are recommended. Refresher trainings should be focussed on the deficiencies identified.

Social implications

– Assessing staff performance in the workplace with constructive input and POC site inspections to identify common deficiencies are recommended. Refresher trainings should focus on deficiencies.

Originality/value

– This study involved directly observing POC site staff during glucose testing. The assessment forms were based on ISO 22870:2006 technical requirements.
Impact of celebrity endorsements in disease-specific direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements
Authors: Rollins Brent , Bhutada Nilesh
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects on consumer response between disease-specific advertising containing a celebrity compared to a non-celebrity endorser.

Design/methodology/approach

– A randomized, cross-sectional two (endorser type) by two (levels of disease state involvement) factorial design was used. Respondents (over the age of 18) were randomly shown one of the ad types and then responded to an online survey questionnaire containing questions and various scales measuring disease state involvement, endorser credibility, attitude toward the ad and company, attention to the ad, behavioral intentions and information search behavior. The disease-specific ad stimuli modeled the form of current print direct-to-consumer ads and were created following recent Food and Drug Administration guidelines, with the only difference being the specific pictorial used (celebrity versus non-celebrity).

Findings

– While endorser type did not significantly affect consumer attitudes, behavioral intentions and information search behavior, level of disease state involvement, though, did. More highly involved consumers had more positive attitudes, behavioral intentions and greater information search behavior.

Originality/value

– While consumers paid more attention to the celebrity-containing ads and viewed them as more credible, this did not translate into significant effects on the outcome dependent variables of consumer attitudes toward the ad and company, behavioral intentions and information search behavior. As previous literature has suggested, level of disease state involvement was a significant predictor of respondent outcomes. Overall, pharmaceutical manufacturers might want to re-evaluate using a celebrity endorser in disease-specific ads, as this research shows the benefits/outcomes may not justify the cost.
Pioneering advantage in generic drug competition
Authors: Yu Yu , Gupta Sachin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to take a close look at competition among the generic entrants during the first three years after patent expiration and examine whether there is a first mover advantage. Pharmaceutical markets experience the entry of numerous generic firms upon expiration of the brand firm’s patent.

Design/methodology/approach

– A random effect nested logit model of competition that allows for competition between the brand drug and generics, and among multiple generic drugs is specified. The model accommodates the effects of prices, detailing, sampling, journal advertising, time-in-market and molecule-specific characteristics. The model is estimated on cross-section time-series data for 49 molecules in which the brand drug lost patent exclusivity between 1992 and 2000.

Findings

– Strong evidence that the early generic entrant enjoys a substantial market share and profit advantage over the second and the third entrants, after controlling for differences in marketing activities was found. In addition, evidence suggesting that the advantage is due to the response of the retail pharmacy channel and due to differential effectiveness of advertising and pricing between earlier versus later entrants was found.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to empirically model first mover advantage among undifferentiated products. The findings are useful for regulators in pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. They can also shed light on other industries where there is little or no quality differentiation, such as commodity trading, open-source software distribution and online banking.
The feminine sector: explaining the overrepresentation of women in the nonprofit sector in the USA
Authors: Lee Young-joo
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that affect a person's choice to work in a specific sector to understand the overrepresentation of women in the nonprofit sector in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study views a sector choice of prime-age salaried workers as a three-way choice among for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors. One's choice of employment sector in this study depends on extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, and is also shaped by structural factors. These benefits, in turn, tend to be determined by individual characteristics. Consequently, this study estimated the endogenous switching regression of earnings and sector choice.

Findings

– Results from 2003 to 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS) September supplement data indicate that the so-called “feminine” industries are concentrated in the nonprofit sector, and this gendered industry structure attributes to women's overrepresentation in the sector. The results also suggest that women with more education and experience may choose nonprofit jobs over jobs in the other sector while nonprofit employment is generally associated with negative wage differentials.

Research limitations/implications

– This study does not model employers’ behaviors while gender segregation and discriminatory hiring practices may have contributed to women's overrepresentation in the nonprofit sector due to the lack of employer-side information in CPS. Consequently, the estimation of sector choice without employer information is likely to suffer from an endogeneity problem.

Practical implications

– This study highlights the factors affecting the concentration of women in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit organizations may use the information to better understand their employees.

Social implications

– The findings suggest that women's sector choice is largely embedded in the industry structure of the nonprofit sector.

Originality/value

– This study examines a sector choice of prime-age salaried workers as a three way choice, instead of a binary choice, among for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors, which reflects the reality better. Further, this study contributes to the literature on nonprofit employment by testing the impact of nonprofit status on an individual's earnings. Lastly, this study contribute to understanding women's overrepresentation in the nonprofit sector by examining both the structural and utilitarian aspects of sector choice.
Examining the relationship between branding and customers’ attitudes toward banking services
Authors: Reza Jalilvand Mohammad , Shahin Arash , Nasrolahi Vosta Leila
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to integrate consumer-based brand equity for a tourism destination (CBBETD) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine the relationship between branding and customers’ attitudes toward banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

– A ten-minute pen and paper questionnaire was distributed to customers of Iran’s Melli Bank in Isfahan as the biggest national bank in Iran through a multistage cluster-sampling approach. Data were collected from 364 customers and analyzed by hierarchical regression approach.

Findings

– Branding constructs including brand image, brand awareness, perceived quality and brand loyalty have a significant relationship with attitude constructs including affective attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a practical framework derived from the CBBETD model and applies it in the context of banking services. The role and impact of its dimensions on customers’ attitudes has been demonstrated.