bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ectoparasites and fitness of female Columbian ground squirrels
Authors: Raveh Shirley , Neuhaus Peter , Dobson F. Stephen
Published: April 2015

Parasites play an important role in the evolution of host traits via natural selection, coevolution and sexually selected ornaments used in mate choice. These evolutionary scenarios assume fitness costs for hosts. To test this assumption, we conducted an ectoparasite removal experiment in free-living Columbian ground squirrels (Urocittelus columbianus) in four populations over three years. Adult females were randomly chosen to be either experimentally treated with anti-parasite treatments (spot-on solution and flea powder,N= 61) or a sham treatment (control,N= 44). We expected that experimental females would show better body condition, increased reproductive success and enhanced survival. Contrary to our expectations, body mass was not significantly different between treatments at mating, birth of litter or weaning of young. Further, neither number nor size of young at weaning differed significantly between the two treatments. Survival to the next spring for adult females and juveniles was not significantly different between experimental and control treatments. Finally, annual fitness was not affected by the treatments. We concluded that females and their offspring were able compensate for the presence of ectoparasites, suggesting little or no fitness costs of parasites for females in the different colonies and during the years of our experiments.
Fast ventral stream neural activity enables rapid visual categorization
Authors: Cauchoix Maxime , Crouzet Sébastien M. , Fize Denis , Serre Thomas
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Primates can recognize objects embedded in complex natural scenes in a glimpse. Rapid categorization paradigms have been extensively used to study our core perceptual abilities when the visual system is forced to operate under strong time constraints. However, the neural underpinning of rapid categorization remains to be understood, and the incredible speed of sight has yet to be reconciled with modern ventral stream cortical theories of shape processing.

Here we recorded multichannel subdural electrocorticogram (ECoG) signals from intermediate areas (V4/PIT) of the ventral stream of the visual cortex while monkeys were actively engaged in detecting the presence or absence of animal targets in natural scenes. Using multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) techniques, we quantified at millisecond precision task-relevant signals conveyed by ECoG data. Reliable neural decoding was possible shortly after stimulus onset from single trials with a degree of generalization to experimental manipulations closely mimicking monkeys’ accuracy and reaction time.

Together, the present study suggests that rapid ventral stream neural activity induces a selective task-relevant signal subsequently used to drive visual categorization.

Classification

Biological sciences / Neuroscience
Interrogating conserved elements of diseases using Boolean combinations of orthologous phenotypes
Authors: Woods John O , Tien Matthew Z , Marcotte Edward M
Published: April 2015

Conserved genetic programs often predate the homologous structures and phenotypes to which they give rise; eyes, for example, have evolved several dozen times, but their development seems to involve a common set of conserved genes. Recently, the concept of orthologous phenotypes (or phenologs) offered a quantitative way to describe this property. Phenologs are phenotypes or diseases from separate species who share an unexpectedly large set of their associated gene orthologs. It has been shown that the phenotype pairs which make up a phenolog are mutually predictive in terms of the genes involved. Recently, we demonstrated the ranking of gene–phenotype association predictions using multiple phenologs from an array of species. In this work, we demonstrate a computational method which provides a more targeted view of the conserved pathways which give rise to diseases. Our approach involves the generation of synthetic pseudo-phenotypes made up of Boolean combinations (union, intersection, and difference) of the gene sets for phenotypes from our database. We search for diseases that overlap significantly with these Boolean phenotypes, and find a number of highly predictive combinations. While set unions produce less specific predictions (as expected), intersection and difference-based combinations appear to offer insights into extremely specific aspects of target diseases. For example, breast cancer is predicted by zebrafish methylmercury response minus metal ion response, with predictions MT-COI, JUN, SOD2, GADD45B, and BAX all involved in the pro-apoptotic response to reactive oxygen species, thought to be a key player in cancer. We also demonstrate predictions from Arabidopsis Boolean phenotypes for increased brown adipose tissue in mouse (salt stress response's intersection with sucrose stimulus response); and for human myopathy (red light response minus water deprivation response). We demonstrate the ranking of predictions for human holoprosencephaly from the set intersections between each pair of a variety of closely-related zebrafish phenotypes. Our results suggest that Boolean phenolog combinations may provide a more informed insight into the conserved pathways underlying diseases than either regular phenologs or the naïve Bayes approach.
Informed movement and dispersal in experimental metacommunities
Authors: Fronhofer Emanuel A. , Klecka Jan , Melián Carlos J. , Altermatt Florian
Published: April 2015

Dispersal, and the underlying movement behaviour, are processes of pivotal importance for understanding and predicting metapopulation and metacommunity dynamics. Generally, dispersal decisions are non-random and rely on information, such as the presence of conspecifics. However, studies on metacommunities that include interspecific interactions generally disregard information use. Therefore, it remains unclear whether and how dispersal in metacommunities is informed and whether rules derived from single-species contexts can be scaled up to (meta-)communities. Using experimental protist metacommunities, we show how dispersal and movement are informed and adjusted by the strength of inter-specific interactions. We found that predicting informed movement and dispersal in metacommunities requires knowledge on behavioural responses to intra- and inter-specific interaction strength. Consequently, metacommunity dynamics inferred directly from single-species metapopulations without taking inter-specific interactions into account are likely flawed. Our work identifies the significance of information use for understanding metacommunity dynamics, stability and the coexistence and distribution of species.
Concurrent origins of the genetic code and the homochirality of life, and the origin and evolution of biodiversity. Part I: Observations and explanations
Authors: Li Dirson Jian
Published: April 2015

The post-genomic era has brought opportunities to bridge traditionally separate fields on early history of life. New methods promote a deeper understanding of the origin of biodiversity. Relative stabilities of base triplexes are able to regulate base substitutions in triplex DNAs. We constructed a roadmap based on such a regulation to explain concurrent origins of the genetic code and the homochirality of life. Based on the recruitment order of codons in the roadmap and the complete genome sequences, we reconstructed the three-domain tree of life. The Phanerozoic biodiversity curve has been reconstructed based on genomic, climatic and eustatic data; this result supports tectonic cause of mass extinctions. Our results indicate that chirality played a crucial role in the origin and evolution of life. Here is Part I of my two-part series paper; technical details are in Part II of this paper (see “Concurrent origins of the genetic code and the homochirality of life, and the origin and evolution of biodiversity. Part II: Technical appendix” on bioRxiv).
(2-Aminopyrimidine-κN1)aqua(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ3O2,N,O6)copper(II): X-ray and DFT calculated structure
Authors: Yousefi Zakieh , Eshtiagh-Hosseini Hossein , Salimi Alireza , Soleimannejad Janet
Published: April 2015

In the title compound, [Cu(C7H3N2O4)(C4H5N2)(H2O)], (I), pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (pydc2−), 2-aminopyrimidine and aqua ligands coordinate the CuIIcentre through two N atoms, two carboxylate O atoms and one water O atom, respectively, to give a nominally distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry, a common arrangement for copper complexes containing the pydc2−ligand. Because of the presence of Cu...Xbridgedcontacts (X= N or O) between adjacent molecules in the crystal structures of (I) and three analogous previously reported compounds, and the corresponding uncertainty about the effective coordination number of the CuIIcentre, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to elucidate the degree of covalency in these contacts. The calculated Wiberg and Mayer bond-order indices reveal that the Cu...O contact can be considered as a coordination bond, whereas the amine group forming a Cu...N contact is not an effective participant in the coordination environment.
The first structurally analysed nucleic acid building block containing the Reese protecting group: 2′-O-[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl]-β-D-(1′R,2′R,3′R,4′R)-uridine
Authors: Kruszynski Rafal , Czestkowski Wojciech
Published: April 2015

The title compound, C21H26FN3O7, is assembled by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds into well-separated two-dimensional layers of about 15 Å thickness. The crescent conformation of the molecules is stabilized by weak intramolecular C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds. The uridine moiety adopts ananticonformation. The ribofuranose ring exists in an envelope conformation. All the endocyclic uracil bonds are shorter than normal single C—N and C—C bonds, and five of them have comparable lengths, which implies a considerable degree of delocalization of the electron density within this ring.
Crystal structure of (2S)-3-methyl-2-[(naphthalen-1-ylsulfonyl)amino]butanoic acid
Authors: Danish Muhammad , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Jabeen Nabila , Raza Muhammad Asam
Published: April 2015

The title compound, C15H17NO4S, was synthesized from L-valine and naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride. The hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid groups form a catemerC(4) motif extending along [100]. The catemer structure is reinforced by a rather long N—H...O hydrogen bond, between the sulfamide N—H group and a carboxylic acid O atom [H...O = 2.52 (2) Å], and a C—H...O hydrogen bond.
An integrative approach to identifying factors related to long-term career commitments
Authors: Jordan Mark H. , Gabriel T.J. , Teasley Russell , Walker Wendy J. , Schraeder Mike
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine an initial set of characteristics and traits that may reduce officer recruitment turnover by increasing a cadet’s decision to contract vs those that do not contract (contracting represents a written commitment to commission into an US Armed Services Organization after graduation). This paper is the first of a larger, long-term project. The factors of particular interest in this initial study are generalized self-efficacy, grit, and perceived organizational support (POS).

Design/methodology/approach

– Computer-based surveys containing variables of interest were administered to a random sample of freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior cadets over a period of three years. Data for 517 cadets responding to the survey were analyzed using logistical regression to test hypotheses examining whether or not self-efficacy, grit, and POS were positively related to cadets’ decisions to contract.

Findings

– Logistical regression results indicated that self-efficacy and grit were not significantly related to contracting decisions. However, cadets’ decisions to contract were significantly related to POS.

Research limitations/implications

– A significant limitation of this study is the fact that data were collected using a self-report, single survey methodology. However, there were no patterns of significant correlations between self-report variables that seemed to indicate that this was a major issue in the current study. The primary implication of this study is that cadets’ perceptions of support (i.e. POS) provided by the organization do seem to influence their decisions to contract, with this influence being particularly notable in their freshmen year.

Originality/value

– The current study represents a unique context where individuals are making decisions to commit to an organization for a minimum of four years after graduation. Further, the commitment is being made to a military organization. The initial findings of this analysis provided the organization in this study with keen insight regarding possible factors to address or be aware of in relation to cadets’ decisions to contract. This approach and these findings can be extended to other organizations in understanding factors impacting decisions related to long-term commitments of individuals.
To craft or not to craft
Authors: Brenninkmeijer Veerle , Hekkert-Koning Marleen
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine relationships between regulatory focus, job crafting, work engagement and perceived employability. Regulatory focus theory distinguishes between promotion-focused individuals, who strive for growth and development, and prevention-focussed individuals, who strive for security. Job crafting refers to changes that individuals make in their work to meet their own preferences and needs. It was expected that job crafting would mediate associations between promotion focus and work-related outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaires were collected among 383 registered candidates from a consultancy organization for recruitment, assessment and coaching that operates within the branches pharmacy, medical devices, food, and healthcare. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– Crafting structural and social resources were positively related to work engagement and employability, whereas negative relationships were found for crafting hindering demands. Promotion focus was associated with crafting resources and challenging demands, while prevention focus was associated with crafting hindering demands. Job crafting also mediated some of the relationships between promotion focus, prevention focus and work outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

– This study provided insight into possible antecedents and outcomes of job crafting. Unfortunately, this study used a cross-sectional design.

Practical implications

– These insights may help managers to encourage beneficial job crafting behaviors, while taking individuals’ foci into account.

Originality/value

– This study has provided insight in the relationships between regulatory focus, job crafting, work engagement, and perceived employability.
Combined FE and Particle Swarm algorithm for optimization of high speed PM synchronous machine
Authors: Belahcen Anouar , Martin Floran , Zaim Mohammed El-Hadi , Dlala Emad , Kolondzovski Zlatko
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to optimize the stator slot geometry of a high-speed electrical machine, which is used as an assist for a turbocharger. Meanwhile, the suitability of the Particle Swarm algorithm for such a problem is to be tested.

Design/methodology/approach

– The starting point of the optimization is an existing design, for which the Particle Swarm algorithm is applied in conjunction with the transient time-stepping 2D finite element method.

Findings

– It is found that regardless of its stochastic nature, the Particle Swarm work well for the optimization of electrical machines. The optimized design resulted in an increase of the slot area and increase of the iron loss, which was compensated by a dramatic decrease in the Joule losses.

Research limitations/implications

– The optimization was concentrated on the stator design whereas the rotor dimensioning was carried out withing the compressor and turbine design.

Originality/value

– A turbocharger with electric assist is designed optimized and manufactured. The Particle Swarm algorithm is shown to be very stable.
Analysis of FE
Authors: Offermann Peter , Hameyer Kay
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The consideration of uncertainties in the numerical computation of electromagnetic fields has recently gained a lot of attention. Most publications focus on the creation of models for the uncertainty quantification, however, neglect the inaccuracy of the applied finite element model itself. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of mesh quality on stochastic cogging torque calculations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The presented work consists of three steps. At first, a conventional analysis of the influence of mesh accuracy onto cogging torque is presented. Afterwards, the method is extended to stochastic calculations. Based on a comparison of the convergence behavior of both approaches, a method for more accurate cogging torque predictions with fewer necessary calculations is derived.

Findings

– An improved method to calculate probability predictions at minimum computational cost is presented and applied.

Research limitations/implications

– The presented approach requires the exact knowledge of the system’s stochastic variation boundaries.

Originality/value

– A fast method for more accurate stochastic cogging torque calculations is developed.
Magnetic-geared motors with high transmission torque density
Authors: Niguchi Noboru , Hirata Katsuhiro
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Early magnetic-geared motors have a high transmission torque density. However, the torque due to the coil is low because the permanent magnets in the stator become a large magnetic resistance when the current is applied to the coil. The purpose of this paper is to propose magnetic-geared motors which have a high transmission torque density and torque due to the coil. In addition, the proposed magnetic-geared motors are compared with past magnetic-geared motors and the effectiveness is verified by using finite element analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– A new magnetic-geared motor which has permanent magnets in the stator slot are proposed. The torque due to the coil increases by removing permanent magnets at the tip of the stator of past magnetic-geared motors. The permanent magnets placed in the stator slots are all magnetized to the outward direction and then the stator teeth are all magnetized to the inward direction. The maximum transmission torque and torque constant are compared.

Findings

– The proposed magnetic-geared motor has a slightly smaller maximum transmission torque than the early magnetic-geared motors. However, the maximum transmission torque of the proposed magnetic-geared motor is high enough for practical uses. The torque due to the coils is higher than the early magnetic-geared motors.

Originality/value

– The proposed magnetic-geared motor has originalities in its structure, especially in the permanent magnets in the stator slots.
Influence of the closing rotor slots on the additional losses in the induction motor
Authors: Dems Maria , Komeza Krzysztof , Wiak Slawomir , Fernández Coya Sara
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the distribution of the magnetic field and additional losses analysis of the induction motors (IM) with opened and closed rotor slots.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the field-circuit approach the distribution and changes of magnetic flux density in the motor are computed using a time-stepping finite element method. The additional losses in each element are evaluated at different frequencies.

Findings

– An approximate analytical formulation is derived for rapid losses computation confirmed by the results of field-circuit method. For high-voltage motors due to the size ratios of the core and relatively deep stator and rotor slots major role in causing loss of higher harmonics play a fundamental slot harmonics. Higher harmonics order bigger than 100 cause only small part of total higher harmonics core losses. Closed rotor slots construction influenced significantly on no-load losses mainly due to reduction of losses at slot upper part. For nominal load condition that influence is not so strong according to the saturation of slot tips by rotor leakage flux. Nevertheless, core losses at load are several times higher as at no-load.

Research limitations/implications

– In future research authors will take into account motors feed from PWM inverter, working in the frequency range up to 400 Hz.

Practical implications

– The results of investigation will be used in more detailed design of IMs especially for motors with closed rotor slots.

Originality/value

– The methods presented in the paper was not used before. Also results of additional losses in the motor core calculation, especially according motors with closed slots at no load and load conditions are new.
Electromagnetic fields in body by wireless inductive system
Authors: Ding Ping-Ping , Pichon Lionel , Bernard Laurent , Razek Adel
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to calculate the induced electromagnetic fields in human body exposed to the wireless inductive charging system of electric vehicles has been conducted based on the numerical simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A homogeneous human body model is built and a representative wireless inductive charging system is used for the exposure assessment. The numerical simulation relies on finite element method with formulations in terms of the magnetic vector potential. The electromagnetic fields in terms of magnetic flux density and electric field are computed in the human body and compared with the electromagnetic exposure limits.

Findings

– It has been found that the induced EMFs in the near-field exposure configuration greatly comply with the safety guidelines.

Originality/value

– This study could help the development of the wireless inductive charging system with meeting the safety standard of radiation protection.
Optimization of the synchronous motor with hybrid permanent magnet excitation system
Authors: Knypiñski Łukasz , Nowak Lech , Demenko Andrzej
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to elaborate an algorithm and the software for the rotor structure optimization of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with a magnet composed of two materials made with the use of different technologies: sintered Neodymium magnets and powder dielectromagnets. To execute of optimization of selected motor structure using the non-deterministic procedure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The mathematical model of the devices includes: the equation of the electromagnetic field, the electric circuit equations and equation of mechanical motion. The numerical implementation is based on finite element method and step-by-step algorithm. The genetic algorithm has been applied in the optimization procedures. The computer code has been developed.

Findings

– The elaborated computer software has been applied for the optimization and design of PMSMs. The elaborated algorithm has been tested and a good convergence has been attained. The parameters of two optimal structures of PMSM motors have been compared.

Originality/value

– The presented approach and computer software can be successfully applied to the design and optimization of different structure of PMSM with different type of rotors.
Thought works for ThoughtWorks
Authors: Pathak Atul Arun
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe an innovative recruitment process at ThoughtWorks, a software-application development company in India.

Design/methodology/approach

– It details the skills and qualities that ThoughtWorks looks for in its software developers and how recruitment is aligned to project and organizational goals.

Findings

– It reveals that despite high growth pressures, ThoughtWorks recruits very selectively to ensure that the quality of its programmers and the culture of the organization are maintained.

Practical implications

– It shows that the recruitment practices of ThoughtWorks can be emulated by other companies in the software-development industry. This will ensure that new recruits are compatible with the organization’s culture and suitable for the chosen project-delivery approach.

Social implications

– It concedes that the high rejection rates because of the difficult recruitment process put a strain on the recruitment team as well as on project managers and others involved in the interviewing process.

Originality/value

– It considers an unusual recruitment process in a software-development company in India that follows agile project practices.
Blurry objectives threaten engagement and profitability
Authors: Purse Nigel
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Considers the limitations of traditional objective setting and looks at an alternative approach using a conversation around mutual expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Explains that a conversational approach requires parties to look at their purpose at work and the expectations of support they have of others at a deeper level.

Findings

– Examines deficiencies in traditional performance-management processes, including research about how clear employees are on what they are working toward. Proposes a new approach using the language of purpose and expectations to enhance the objective-setting process. Explains why purpose and expectations are so powerful. Examines why this conversation is so important and why it does not usually happen in a business environment.

Practical implications

– Considers that performance management works best when both parties are explicit and honest about their purpose at work and what support they need to achieve this purpose through structured conversation.

Social implications

– Advances the view that employees are more engaged when they are working toward a purpose more meaningful than simply receiving a pay check.

Originality/value

– Emphasizes that the attraction, development, management and retention of talented people are critical to the success of all organizations.
Impact of firefighter gear on lower body range of motion
Authors: Park Huiju , Trejo Helen , Miles Madeline , Bauer Allison , Kim Seonyoung , Stull Jeffrey
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the incremental impact of firefighter’s personal protective equipment (PPE) on lower body range of motion (ROM) while walking to suggest areas of design improvement for enhanced mobility and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

– Eight male and four female firefighters participated in the study. Lower body ROM was assessed while they walked in four different configurations of PPE, including turnout ensemble, a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and boots. The impact of each added PPE item, and gender differences were statistically analyzed.

Findings

– Wearing firefighter turnout ensemble and SCBA reduced ROM in the lower body in the sagittal and transverse planes. A significant reduction in ROM for anterior-posterior movement at the ankle and the ball of the foot was found while wearing rubber boots with turnout ensemble and SCBA. This puts firefighters at higher risk of experiencing foot injuries and physical strains. A significant increase in medial-lateral movement of the foot while wearing rubber boots may increase risk of ankle sprains. A greater reduction in ROM at the ankle and the ball of the foot for female firefighters may imply greater risk for women compared to men, while wearing boots.

Practical implications

– Reducing the inflexibility and bulkiness of boots is critical to improve firefighter’s lower body mobility and safety.

Originality/value

– This study implemented 3-D motion capture technology to analyze how wearing firefighting gear impacted lower body motion. It provides quantitative evidence to recommend ergonomic boot re-design.
Predicting the fiber diameter of spunbonding nonwovens fabrics by means of physical model, statistical method and artifical neural network theory
Authors: Zhao Bo
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish three modeling methods (physical model, statistical model, and artificial neural network (ANN) model) and use it to predict the fiber diameter of spunbonding nonwovens from the process parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

– The results show the physical model is based on the inherent physical principles, it can yield reasonably good prediction results and provide insight into the relationship between process parameters and fiber diameter.

Findings

– By analyzing the results of the physical model, the effects of process parameters on fiber diameter can be predicted. The ANN model has good approximation capability and fast convergence rate, it can provide quantitative predictions of fiber diameter and yield more accurate and stable predictions than the statistical model.

Originality/value

– The effects of process parameters on fiber diameter are also determined by the ANN model. Excellent agreement is obtained between these two modeling methods.
Influence of heat transfer material on the deformability of knitted fabrics
Authors: Masteikaite Vitalija , Saceviciene Virginija , Kopbajeva Elmira , Nurjasarova Maira
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– To produce a coated fabric, a base fabric may be completely or partially coated with a polymer layer, which changes the properties of the new system relative to the base fabric. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of the thermal transfer material and its shape on the deformability of knitted fabrics during the uniaxial extension and to determine the residual deformation of the thermoplastic transfer element of coated fabrics after unloading.

Design/methodology/approach

– Knitted fabrics were partially and entirely coated with heat transfer material. For partial coating, square pieces of three different transfer materials were bonded on the middle of the specimen. They were solid, perforated with either nine circular holes or six rectangular holes. A heat seal press was used to laminate knitted fabrics. The samples were subjected to uniaxial tensile testing. The characteristics such as strain at maximum force, strain at break, and strain at low stress were measured. After stretching and relaxation of the specimens, the residual deformation of the heat transfer element was also investigated.

Findings

– The results indicated that coating knitted fabrics with transfer material may decrease their stretchability. The experiments show that the decrease in stretchability and in the degree of residual deformation after stretching and relaxing depend on the knitted structure, the shape of the transfer element, and the degree to which the fabric is coated.

Originality/value

– This study examines the influence of heat transfer material which may be not only entirely but also partially joined with knitted fabric layer on the deformability and shape stability of this system.
The context of experience
Authors: Akaka Melissa Archpru , Vargo Stephen L. , Schau Hope Jensen
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the social and cultural aspects of the context that frames service exchange to better understand how value and experience are evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors apply a conceptual approach to develop and propose a framework for deepening the understanding of the context of market-related experiences. The authors integrate two growing streams of research – consumer culture theory and service-dominant logic – that focus on phenomenological and experiential views on value and extend the context of experience with a culturally rich, service-ecosystems view of markets.

Findings

– The authors broaden the context of experience by applying a service-ecosystems perspective and identify four social and cultural factors that influence experience from this extended context – sign systems and service ecosystems; multiplicity of structure and institutions; value-in-cultural-context; and co-construction of context. Based on this, the authors point toward directions for future research.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed framework points researchers and managers toward an extended context that is reproduced through the co-creation of value and influences evaluations of experience. Empirical research is needed to provide evidence of the proposed framework and further extend the understanding of dynamic social and cultural contexts.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study provide a broader scope of context and identify additional social and cultural factors for managers to consider in their efforts to enhance customer experiences.

Originality/value

– Traditional views of markets limit the context of experience to firm-customer encounters or consumer-centric practices and processes. This paper extends the context of experience to consider the practices and perspectives of multiple actors and various views on value.
Experience co-creation in financial services: an empirical exploration
Authors: Ponsignon Frederic , Klaus Philipp , Maull Roger S.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how financial services (FS) organizations manage the customer experience. It aims to establish what practices are used, to articulate the role of the FS context in influencing the choice of practices, and to identify how these practices support experience co-creation from the perspective of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors adopt a multiple case study approach. In total, 23 cases provide a rich understanding of the phenomenon studied which permits grounding the findings on robust data.

Findings

– The authors identify five practices that are consistently used by FS organizations to manage the customer experience. The findings suggest that four industry-specific characteristics affect the choice of these practices. The results also reveal how these practices support the co-creation of the customer experience.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors focus on the FS context only, do not examine the impact of the practices on performance, and do not explore experience co-creation from the perspective of the customer.

Practical implications

– Adopting these practices can facilitate a more co-created customer experience, which in turn can provide FS organizations with a competitive differentiator.

Originality/value

– The paper advances current knowledge by revealing five customer experience management practices that are specific to the FS context. Moreover, this is one of the first studies to explore experience co-creation from the perspective of the organization and to identify ways in which organizations can support customers in co-creating the experiences.
Service experience co-creation: conceptualization, implications, and future research directions
Authors: Jaakkola Elina , Helkkula Anu , Aarikka-Stenroos Leena
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The collective, interactive aspects of service experience are increasingly evident in contemporary research and practice, but no integrative analysis of this phenomenon has been conducted until now. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize service experience co-creation and examines its implications for research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– To map the multi-approach research area of service experience co-creation, the study draws on literature in the fields of service management, service-dominant logic and service logic, consumer culture theory, and service innovation and design, together with invited commentaries by prominent scholars.

Findings

– A conceptualization is developed for “service experience co-creation,” and multiple dimensions of the concept are identified. It is postulated that service experience co-creation has wider marketing implications, in terms of understanding experiential value creation and foundational sociality in contemporary markets, as well as in the renewal of marketing methods and measures.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors call for cross-field research on service experience, extending current contextual and methodological reach. Researchers are urged to study the implications of increasing social interaction for service experience co-creation, and to assist managers in coping with and leveraging the phenomenon.

Practical implications

– For practitioners, this analysis demonstrates the complexity of service experience co-creation and provides insights on the aspects they should monitor and facilitate.

Originality/value

– As the first integrative analysis and conceptualization of service experience co-creation, this paper advances current understanding on the topic, argues for its wider relevance, and paves the way for its future development.
Network position and cooperation partners selection strategies for research productivity
Authors: Liu Chih-Hsing(Sam)
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how individuals can leverage interpersonal relationships and critical network position to acquire knowledge and information for generate research productivity. Specifically, this paper argues that the relationship between tie strength and scholar productivity will be an inverted U-shape, and critical position as moderating role in research productivity generation process. The robustness tests were also provided.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using panel data from scholars in tourism academic fields, this paper investigated the conditions under which maintenance of social relations affects knowledge creation. In total, two different regression models and robustness tests were used to test the hypotheses in a sample of 201 tourism scholars from Taiwan and an analysis of 1,198 publications.

Findings

– The results showed that the relationship between tie strength and scholar productivity will be an inverted U-shape. Moreover, the moderating role of critical position of structural holes and betweennesss are recognized: it positively moderates with tie strengths and research productivity.

Research limitations/implications

– The empirical results are derived from a sample of scholars in Taiwanese business management departments, thus raising concern about the external generalizability to other departments and countries. Future research is, therefore, suggested to empirically test the validity of the framework and hypothesis in other departments or countries.

Practical implications

– The practical implications of the results are that individuals need to know that there are two underlying governing forces on the choice of their knowledge exchange partners and occupying critical network position. A diversified social relation is beneficial to the knowledge creation performance because of more information knowledge sharing while a specialized knowledge would avoid the detrimental effects of coordination and conflict problems on research productivity. Therefore, individuals should understand and careful choice their cooperation partners and network position in order to achieve better knowledge creation outcome.

Originality/value

– This research extends developments in social capital theory and the relational view into interpersonal relationships between tourism scholars and their cooperation partners. Furthermore, the paper also examines how critical position has effects on scholar’s research productivity creation process. Finally, studies that examine the relationship between tourism academic networks and different measures of research productivity are few in number, and those that use such longitudinal empirical work are particularly lacking. This study addresses these issues.
Investor reactions to socially responsible investment
Authors: Martí-Ballester Carmen Pilar
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze investor reactions to ethical screening by pension plan managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author presents a sample consisting of data corresponding to 573 pension plans in relation to such aspects as financial performance, inception date, asset size, number of participants, custodial and management fees, and whether their managers adopt ethical screening or give part of their profits to social projects. On this data the author implements the fixed effects panel data model proposed by Vogelsang (2012).

Findings

– The results obtained indicate that investors/consumers prefer traditional or solidarity pension plans to ethical pension plans. Furthermore, the findings show that ethical investors/consumers are more (less) sensitive to positive (negative) lagged returns than caring and traditional consumers, causing traditional consumers to contribute to pension plans that they already own.

Research limitations/implications

– The author does not know what types of environmental, social and corporate governance criteria have been adopted by ethical pension plan managers and the weight given to each of these criteria for selecting the stock of the firms in their portfolios that could influence in the investors’ behaviour.

Practical implications

– The results obtained in the current paper show that investors invest less money in ethical pension plans than in traditional and solidarity pension plans; this could be due to the lack of information for their part. To solve this, management companies could increase the transparency about their corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments to encourage investors to invest in ethical products so these lead to raising CSR standards in companies, and therefore, sustainable development.

Social implications

– The Spanish socially responsible investment retail market is still at an early phase of development, and regulators should promote it in order to encourage firms to adopt business activities that take into account societal concerns.

Originality/value

– This paper provides new evidence in a field little analysed. This paper contributes to the existing literature by focusing on examining the behaviour of pension funds investors whose investment time horizon is in the long-term while previous literature focus on analysing behaviour of mutual fund investors whose investment time horizon is in the short/medium term what could cause different investors’ behaviour.
The moderating role of perceived organizational support on the relationship between emotional labor and job-related outcomes
Authors: Hur Won-Moo , Han Su-Jin , Yoo Jeong-Ju , Moon Tae Won
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to attempt to investigate how emotional labor strategies (i.e. surface acting and deep acting) affect job performance through job satisfaction. Another important objective of this study was to see whether perceived organizational support (POS) moderates the relationship between emotional labor strategies and job-related outcomes (i.e. job satisfaction and job performance).

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural equation modeling analysis provided support for the hypotheses from a sample of 309 South Korean department store sales employees.

Findings

– The results revealed that surface acting had a negative effect, whereas deep acting had a positive effect on job satisfaction. In addition, the relationship between emotional labor strategies (i.e. surface acting and deep acting) and job performance was significantly mediated by job satisfaction. Finally, POS significantly moderated the relationship between surface acting and job satisfaction, as well as the relationship between deep acting and job performance.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study contributed to the literature by identifying the relationship between surface and deep acting on organizational outcomes (i.e. job satisfaction and job performance), especially in a collectivist society (i.e. South Korea). In addition, this study also confirmed the important role of POS based on the norm of reciprocity between an organization and its members.
Integrating nonmarket and market action, response, and initiating firm performance in competitive dynamics
Authors: Wei Wu , Hu Xiang , Li Yanping , Peng Peng
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to seek to advance the understanding of competitive interaction framework based on competitive dynamics theory that investigates how nonmarket and market factors concurrently affect the relationships among action and response, their integration, and initiating firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– To test the hypotheses for this study, the authors used data collected from the news found in web sites of 72 Chinese firms over a five-year period from January 2007 to December 2011. The authors use the approach suggested by Baron and Kenny (1986) to test the mediated effect of rival response and speed, after structured content analysis is adopted to overcome the challenges of identification and measurement by using a sample of competitive actions and responses.

Findings

– The results test partial mediating role of rival response and speed in linking nonmarket, market, and integrated action with initiating firm performance outcomes. Rival responses and speed may vary systematically in nonmarket action. The relationship between the integration of competitive action and initiating firm performance is positive, high, and significant.

Research limitations/implications

– The results of this study were limited by a sample in China. The authors further need to consider how nonmarket and market components are operationalized in different institutional environments. The authors study only captures observable moves reported in the news of Chinese firms’ web sites. This single-data source collection raises the specter of cognitive bias. It is advised to collect data from multiple sources, perhaps directly measuring the managers’ perception by using a questionnaire-based survey.

Practical implications

– Firms whose main focus is to launch market actions in an effort to gain competitive advantage should ensure that their nonmarket actions constitute interfirm rivalry. Particularly, this study also encourages managers to continuously and rapidly integrate nonmarket actions into their analyses of market competition for firm success. Additionally, managers need to develop effective information-processing mechanisms to analyze, monitor, forecast, and interpret rival response and speed for each competitor.

Originality/value

– The research contributes to the authors’ understanding of the nature of nonmarket and market competition by bridging nonmarket action into traditional competitive dynamics.