bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A cryogenic circulating advective multi-pass absorption cell
Authors: Stockett M. H. , Lawler J. E.
Published: March 2012

A novel absorption cell has been developed to enable a spectroscopic survey of a broad range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) under astrophysically relevant conditions and utilizing a synchrotron radiation continuum to test the still controversial hypothesis that these molecules or their ions could be carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands. The cryogenic circulating advective multi-pass absorption cell resembles a wind tunnel; molecules evaporated from a crucible or injected using a custom gas feedthrough are entrained in a laminar flow of cryogenically cooled buffer gas and advected into the path of the synchrotron beam. This system includes a multi-pass optical White cell enabling absorption path lengths of hundreds of meters and a detection sensitivity to molecular densities on the order of 107 cm−3. A capacitively coupled radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge provides ionized and metastable buffer gas atoms for ionizing the candidate molecules via charge exchange and the Penning effect. Stronger than expected clustering of PAH molecules has slowed efforts to record gas phase PAH spectra at cryogenic temperatures, though such clusters may play a role in other interstellar phenomena.
Ultra-broadband microwave metamaterial absorber
Authors: Ding Fei , Cui Yanxia , Ge Xiaochen , Jin Yi , He Sailing
Published: March 2012

A microwave ultra-broadband polarization-independent metamaterial absorber is demonstrated. It is composed of a periodic array of metal-dielectric multilayered quadrangular frustum pyramids. These pyramids possess resonant absorption modes at multi-frequencies, of which the overlapping leads to the total absorption of the incident wave over an ultra-wide spectral band. The experimental absorption at normal incidence is above 90% in the frequency range of 7.8–14.7 GHz, and the absorption is kept large when the incident angle is smaller than 60°. The experimental results agree well with the numerical simulation.
A method for including daily patterns to synthetic wind speed data for energy systems planning: Validation in the Azores Islands
Authors: Suomalainen K. , Silva C. A. , Ferrão P. , Connors S.
Published: March 2012

A high penetration of renewable electricity generation requires an improved understanding and modelling capability of renewable energy resource dynamics. This paper develops such a capability for wind. Using historical hourly wind speed data, an enhanced methodology for modelling wind, which includes seasonal, daily, hourly, and location related factors, has been developed. The methodology uses a set of day types, evaluating their frequency in real wind data, to generate hourly synthetic wind speed data, which is critical to designing a high wind penetration energy system. The methodology is applied to three different locations and the results compared to a commonly used method for synthetic wind speed data. It is concluded that the new method constitutes an important advance in simulating the occurrence of different types of wind days, which is particularly relevant in energy systems planning, especially in evaluating the frequency and scale of surpluses and shortages of wind power, and the necessity for and dimensioning of a storage system.
Anisotropic heat transport in nanoconfined polyamide-6,6 oligomers: Atomistic reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Eslami Hossein , Mohammadzadeh Laila , Mehdipour Nargess
Published: March 2012

While polymers are known as thermal insulators, recent studies show that stretched single chains of polymers have a very high thermal conductivity. In this work, our new simulation scheme for simulation of heat flow in nanoconfined fluids [H. Eslami, L. Mohammadzadeh, and N. Mehdipour, J. Chem. Phys. 135, 064703 (2011)]10.1063/1.3623471 is employed to study the effect of chain ordering (stretching) on the rate of heat transfer in polyamide-6,6 nanoconfined between graphene surfaces. Our results for the heat flow in the parallel direction (the plane of surfaces) show that the coefficient of thermal conductivity depends on the intersurface distance and is much higher than that of the bulk polymer. A comparison of results in this work with our former findings on the heat flow in the perpendicular direction, with the coefficient of heat conductivity less than the bulk sample, reveal that well-organized polymer layers between the confining surfaces show an anisotropic heat conduction; the heat conduction in the direction parallel to the surfaces is much higher than that in the perpendicular direction. The origin of such anisotropy in nanometric heat flow is shown to be the dramatic anisotropy in chain conformations (chain stretching) beside the confining surfaces. The results indicate that the coefficients of heat conductivity in both directions, normal and parallel to the surfaces, depend on the degree of polymer layering between the surfaces and the pore width.
Application of laser-based resonant ultrasound spectroscopy to study texture in copper
Authors: Hurley David H. , Reese Stephen J. , Farzbod Farhad
Published: March 2012

Two copper specimens with distinct grain microstructures are investigated using laser resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (LRUS). One consists of randomly oriented crystallites and exhibits isotropic elastic behavior (two elastic constants), and the other has been highly textured by rolling and exhibits anisotropic elastic behavior (three elastic constants). The elastic constants are measured using electron backscatter diffraction, LRUS, and time domain laser ultrasound (LU). The elastic constants of the isotropic sample obtained via electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), LU, and LRUS agree closely. However, for the anisotropic sample, there is considerable disagreement between results obtained using LRUS and results obtained using LU and EBSD. Analysis reveals that increasing the dimensionality of the modulus space leads to a questions of whether the LRUS results are unique to within experimental error. The consequence is that for anisotropic materials, small measurement uncertainties can lead to large uncertainties in the measured elastic constants. This observation has important implications for the use of LRUS to measure the elastic constants of thin texture samples.
A real-time velocity diagnostic for NSTX
Authors: Podestà M. , Bell R. E.
Published: March 2012

A new system for fast measurements of the plasma toroidal velocity has been installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment, NSTX [M. Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000)10.1088/0029-5515/40/3Y/316]. The diagnostic, based on active charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy, can measure at up to six radial locations with maximum sampling rate of 5 kHz. The system is interfaced in real time with the NSTX plasma control system, in order to feed back on plasma velocity by means of actuators such as neutral beams and external coils. The paper describes the design criteria and implementation of the diagnostic. Examples from the initial tests of the system during neon glows are also discussed.
Near-field investigation of turbulence produced by multi-scale grids
Authors: Krogstad P.-Å. , Davidson P. A.
Published: March 2012

We investigate grid turbulence behind two multi-scale grids and one conventional one, with particular emphasis on the properties of the near-field turbulence. All three grids are designed to produce the same integral scale, ℓ0, at a downstream distance of two meters (x = 2 m). We find that the turbulence is highly inhomogeneous for x < 50ℓ0, but approaches a homogeneous, fully developed state for x > 50ℓ0. The structure of the near-field turbulence for the present grids is dependent on the type of grid used, exhibiting a number of curious properties, which is consistent with earlier studies [D. Hurst and J. C. Vassilicos, “Scalings and decay of fractal-generated turbulence,” Phys. Fluids 19, 035103 (2007)]. However, the far-field is remarkably similar for all three grids. For example, the far-field energy decay rate is virtually identical for all three grids, as was shown by Krogstad and Davidson [“Freely-decaying, homogeneous turbulence generated by multiscale grids,” J. Fluid Mech. 680, 417 (2011)]. This ability of the turbulence to largely forget its initial conditions is consistent with numerical studies. There has been considerable recent interest in the possibility of an exponential decay of energy in homogeneous turbulence. We confirm a region of apparent exponential decay behind all three of our grids over a limited range of x. However, the range of x is narrow, and other functional forms fit the data equally well. Indeed, when the streamwise extent of the investigated region is increased, a classical power law fits the data even better. In any event, the region of apparent exponential decay lies in the highly inhomogeneous near-field, and so is not representative of homogeneous turbulence.
Robust exciton-polariton effect in a ZnO whispering gallery microcavity at high temperature
Authors: Zhang Saifeng , Xie Wei , Dong Hongxing , Sun Liaoxin , Ling Yanjing , Lu Jian , Duan Yu , Shen Wenzhong , Shen Xuechu , Chen Zhanghai
Published: March 2012

A robust exciton-polariton effect in a ZnO whispering gallery microcavity well above room temperature is presented. The lower polariton branches are tuned by current induced thermal effect. The red shift can be as large as ∼40 meV. It is found that the strong coupling can be preserved and the polariton-phonon interaction quenching effect remains up to ∼550 K, while the Rabi splitting is about 330 meV. The tuning speed is in the order of millisecond, showing its potential in polariton-based optoelectronic device application.
Ultra-long, free-standing, single-crystalline vanadium dioxide micro/nanowires grown by simple thermal evaporation
Authors: Cheng Chun , Liu Kai , Xiang Bin , Suh Joonki , Wu Junqiao
Published: March 2012

Recently, it was discovered that single-crystalline VO2 nanostructures exhibit unique, single-domain metal-insulator phase transition. They enable a wide range of device applications as well as discoveries of oxide physics beyond those can be achieved with VO2 bulk or thin films. Previous syntheses of these nanostructures are limited in density, aspect ratio, single-crystallinity, or by substrate clamping. Here we break these limitations and synthesize ultra-long, ultra-dense, and free-standing VO2 micro/nanowires using a simple vapor transport method. These are achieved by enhancing the VO2 nucleation and growth rates using rough-surface quartz as the substrate and V2O5 powder as the evaporation source.
A dual-silicon-nanowires based U-shape nanoelectromechanical switch with low pull-in voltage
Authors: Qian You , Lou Liang , Julius Tsai Minglin , Lee Chengkuo
Published: March 2012

A dual-silicon-nanowires based U-shape nanoelectromechanical switch with low pull-in voltage is fabricated using standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible process on silicon-on-insulator wafer. The switch consists of a capacitive paddle with dimension of 2 μm by 4 μm supported by two silicon nanowires, suspended on top of the substrate with a gap of 145 nm. The nanowires are 5 μm long with cross-section of 90 nm by 90 nm. The average pull-in voltage is about 1.12 V and the ratio of the ON/OFF current is measured to be over 10 000. According to the preliminary results, this U-shape structure demonstrates great potential in lowering down the pull-in voltage.
Ultrafast, high resolution, phase contrast imaging of impact response with synchrotron radiation
Authors: Jensen B. J. , Luo S. N. , Hooks D. E. , Fezzaa K. , Ramos K. J. , Yeager J. D. , Kwiatkowski K. , Shimada T. , Dattelbaum D. M.
Published: March 2012

Understanding the dynamic response of materials at extreme conditions requires diagnostics that can provide real-time, in situ, spatially resolved measurements on the nanosecond timescale. The development of methods such as phase contrast imaging (PCI) typically used at synchrotron sources offer unique opportunities to examine dynamic material response. In this work, we report ultrafast, high-resolution, dynamic PCI measurements of shock compressed materials with 3 μm spatial resolution using a single 60 ps synchrotron X-ray bunch. These results firmly establish the use of PCI to examine dynamic phenomena at ns to μs timescales.
The Bromide - Carbon Monoxide Gas Phase Complex: Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Ab Initio Calculations
Authors: Lapere Kim M. , LaMacchia Rob J. , Quak Lin Hian , Kettner Marcus , Dale Stephen G. , McKinley Allan J. , Wild Duncan A.
Published: March 2012

The anion photoelectron spectrum of the bromide–carbon monoxide complex is presented in combination with supporting ab initio calculations. The spectrum features transitions between anion and neutral van der Waals complexes, Br⋯CO. A stabilization energy of 0.14 ± 0.05 eV is extracted from the spectrum, while the predicted binding energy for the anion complex is 9.9 kJ mol–1 from CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations. The electron affinity of the Br⋯CO complex is 3.50 ± 0.05 eV. The ab initio calculations reveal a previously unreported minimum for the neutral radical complex, namely the van der Waals Br⋯OC linear complex.
SMURFLite: combining simplified Markov random fields with simulated evolution improves remote homology detection for beta-structural proteins into the twilight zone
Authors: Daniels Noah M. , Hosur Raghavendra , Berger Bonnie , Cowen Lenore J.
Published: March 2012

Motivation: One of the most successful methods to date for recognizing protein sequences that are evolutionarily related has been profile hidden Markov models (HMMs). However, these models do not capture pairwise statistical preferences of residues that are hydrogen bonded in beta sheets. These dependencies have been partially captured in the HMM setting by simulated evolution in the training phase and can be fully captured by Markov random fields (MRFs). However, the MRFs can be computationally prohibitive when beta strands are interleaved in complex topologies. We introduce SMURFLite, a method that combines both simplified MRFs and simulated evolution to substantially improve remote homology detection for beta structures. Unlike previous MRF-based methods, SMURFLite is computationally feasible on any beta-structural motif.

Results: We test SMURFLite on all propeller and barrel folds in the mainly-beta class of the SCOP hierarchy in stringent cross-validation experiments. We show a mean 26% (median 16%) improvement in area under curve (AUC) for beta-structural motif recognition as compared with HMMER (a well-known HMM method) and a mean 33% (median 19%) improvement as compared with RAPTOR (a well-known threading method) and even a mean 18% (median 10%) improvement in AUC over HHPred (a profile–profile HMM method), despite HHpred's use of extensive additional training data. We demonstrate SMURFLite's ability to scale to whole genomes by running a SMURFLite library of 207 beta-structural SCOP superfamilies against the entire genome of Thermotoga maritima, and make over a 100 new fold predictions.

Availability and implementaion: A webserver that runs SMURFLite is available at: http://smurf.cs.tufts.edu/smurflite/

Contact:  lenore.cowen@tufts.edu; bab@mit.edu
Deriving transcriptional programs and functional processes from gene expression databases
Authors: Chang Jeffrey T.
Published: March 2012

Motivation: A system-wide approach to revealing the underlying molecular state of a cell is a long-standing biological challenge. Developed over the last decade, gene expression profiles possess the characteristics of such an assay. They have the capacity to reveal both underlying molecular events as well as broader phenotypes such as clinical outcomes. To interpret these profiles, many gene sets have been developed that characterize biological processes. However, the full potential of these gene sets has not yet been achieved. Since the advent of gene expression databases, many have posited that they can reveal properties of activities that are not evident from individual datasets, analogous to how the expression of a single gene generally cannot reveal the activation of a biological process.

Results: To address this issue, we have developed a high-throughput method to mine gene expression databases for the regulation of gene sets. Given a set of genes, we scored it against each gene expression dataset by looking for enrichment of co-regulated genes relative to an empirical null distribution. After validating the method, we applied it to address two biological problems. First, we deciphered the E2F transcriptional network. We confirmed that true transcriptional targets exhibit a distinct regulatory profile across a database. Second, we leveraged the patterns of regulation across a database of gene sets to produce an automatically generated catalog of biological processes. These demonstrations revealed the power of a global analysis of the data contained within gene expression databases, and the potential for using them to address biological questions.

Contact:  jeffrey.t.chang@uth.tmc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Defining and providing robust controls for microRNA prediction
Authors: Ritchie William , Gao Dadi , Rasko John E. J.
Published: March 2012

Motivation: microRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting target mRNA genes. Next-generation sequencing combined with bioinformatics analyses provide an opportunity to predict numerous novel miRNAs. The efficiency of these predictions relies on the set of positive and negative controls used. We demonstrate that commonly used positive and negative controls may be unreliable and provide a rational methodology with which to replace them.

Contact:  w.ritchie@centenary.org.au

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hydrographic variability in Icelandic waters during recent decades and related changes in distribution of some fish species
Authors: Valdimarsson Héðinn , Astthorsson Olafur S. , Palsson Jonbjorn
Published: March 2012

Valdimarsson, H., Astthorsson, O. S., and Palsson, J. 2012. Hydrographic variability in Icelandic waters during recent decades and related changes in distribution of some fish species. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 816–825. Seasonal time-series of temperature and salinity around Iceland have been collected, with repeat observations at stations, since the start of the 1970s. After fairly cold years during the early 1990s, a reversal occurred during the mid-1990s and the period from 1996 to 2010 was one with warmer, more saline water in shelf seas around Iceland. Temperatures and salinities have been frequently above the long-term mean in the waters to the south and west of the country, and these conditions have also influenced the shelf area north of the country. Marked changes have also been observed in the distribution of many fish species during this warm period. Southern commercial species have extended farther north (e.g. haddock, monkfish, mackerel), a northern species is retreating (capelin), rare species and vagrants have been observed more frequently (e.g. greater fork beard, blue antimora, snake pipefish, sea lamprey, Ray's bream), and 31 species, from both shelf and oceanic waters, have been recorded for the first time since 1996. The most obvious explanation for these changes in the ecosystem has to be the warming of 1–2°C in the waters south and west of Iceland during the past 15 years.
Transfer of

Pseudomonas flectens

Johnson 1956 to Phaseolibacter gen. nov., in the family

Enterobacteriaceae

, as Phaseolibacter flectens gen. nov., comb. nov.
Authors: Halpern Malka , Fridman Svetlana , Aizenberg-Gershtein Yana , Izhaki Ido
Published: March 2012

Pseudomonas flectens

Johnson 1956, a plant-pathogenic bacterium on the pods of the French bean, is no longer considered to be a member of the genus

Pseudomonas

sensu stricto. A polyphasic approach that included examination of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, rpoB and atpD gene sequences supported the transfer of

Pseudomonas flectens

Johnson 1956 to a new genus in the family

Enterobacteriaceae

as Phaseolibacter flectens gen. nov., comb. nov. Two strains of Phaseolibacter flectens were studied (ATCC 12775T and LMG 2186); the strains shared 99.8 % sequence similarity in their 16S rRNA genes and the housekeeping gene sequences were identical. Strains of Phaseolibacter flectens shared 96.6 % or less 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with members of different genera in the family

Enterobacteriaceae

and only 84.7 % sequence similarity with

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

LMG 1242T, demonstrating that they are not related to the genus

Pseudomonas

. As Phaseolibacter flectens formed an independent phyletic lineage in all of the phylogenetic analyses, it could not be affiliated to any of the recognized genera within the family

Enterobacteriaceae

and therefore was assigned to a new genus. Cells were Gram-negative, straight rods, motile by means of one or two polar flagella, fermentative, facultative anaerobes, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Growth occurred in the presence of 0–60 % sucrose. The DNA G+C content of the type strain was 44.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness,

Pseudomonas flectens

Johnson 1956 is transferred to the novel genus Phaseolibacter gen. nov. as Phaseolibacter flectens gen. nov., comb. nov. The type strain of Phaseolibacter flectens is ATCC 12775T  = CFBP 3281T  = ICMP 745T  = LMG 2187T  = NCPPB 539T.
Budvicia diplopodorum sp. nov. and emended description of the genus

Budvicia
Authors: Lang Elke , Schumann Peter , Knapp Brigitte Amalia , Kumar Ramesh , Spröer Cathrin , Insam Heribert
Published: March 2012

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, weakly motile, non-spore-forming bacterium (D9T) was isolated from the gut of Cylindroiulus fulviceps (Diplopoda) on 1/3-strength nutrient agar plates. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain D9T was shown to be phylogenetically closely related to the type strain of

Budvicia aquatica

, the sole species of the genus

Budvicia

, family

Enterobacteriaceae

. The similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain D9T and

B. aquatica

DSM 5075T was 98.4 %. Other strains that showed high pairwise similarities with the isolate belonged to the genus

Yersinia

:

Y. frederiksenii

ATCC 33641T (96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),

Y. massiliensis

CCUG 53443T (96.8 %),

Y. pestis

NCTC 5923T (96.8 %),

Y. pseudotuberculosis

ATCC 29833T (96.8 %),

Y. similis

CCUG 52882T (96.7 %) and

Y. ruckeri

ATCC 29473T (96.5 % ). The similarities of sequences of the housekeeping genes rpoB, hsp60 and gyrB between strain D9T and

B. aquatica

DSM 5075T and other members of the

Enterobacteriaceae

were less than 94 %. Phylogenetic trees based on all four gene sequences unequivocally grouped the isolate with the type strain of

B. aquatica

and separately from the genus

Yersinia

. Cells contained the quinones Q-8, Q-7 and MK-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The G+C content of the DNA (48.3 mol%) and the whole-cell fatty acid composition of strain D9T (C14 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, cyclo-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c as major components) were typical for members of the

Enterobacteriaceae

. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain D9T with

B. aquatica

DSM 5075T resulted in a relatedness of 30.4 %, indicating that the isolate did not belong to

B. aquatica

. Physiological tests allowed the phenotypic differentiation of strain D9T from

B. aquatica

DSM 5075T as well as from members of the genus

Yersinia

. From these results, it is concluded that strain D9T represents a novel species, for which the name Budvicia diplopodorum sp. nov. is proposed (type strain D9T  = DSM 21983T  = CCM 7845T). The description of the genus

Budvicia

is emended.
Separation of Poly(styrene-block-t-butyl methacrylate) Copolymers by Various Liquid Chromatography Techniques
Authors: Šmigovec Ljubič Tina , Pahovnik David , Žigon Majda , Žagar Ema
Published: March 2012

The separation of a mixture of three poly(styrene-block-t-butyl methacrylate) copolymers (PS-b-PtBMA), consisting of polystyrene (PS) blocks of similar length andt-butyl methacrylate (PtBMA) blocks of different lengths, was performed using various chromatographic techniques, that is, a gradient liquid chromatography on reversed-phase (C18 and C8) and normal-phase columns, a liquid chromatography under critical conditions for polystyrene as well as a fully automated two-dimensional liquid chromatography that separates block copolymers by chemical composition in the first dimension and by molar mass in the second dimension. The results show that a partial separation of the mixture of PS-b-PtBMA copolymers can be achieved only by gradient liquid chromatography on reversed-phase columns. The coelution of the two block copolymers is ascribed to a much shorter PtBMA block length, compared to the PS block, as well as a small difference in the length of the PtBMA block in two of these copolymers, which was confirmed by SEC-MALS and NMR spectroscopy.
Dissecting Phosphite-Induced Priming in Arabidopsis Infected withHyaloperonospora arabidopsidis
Authors: Massoud Kamal , Barchietto Thierry , Le Rudulier Thomas , Pallandre Laurane , Didierlaurent Laure , Garmier Marie , Ambard-Bretteville Françoise , Seng Jean-Marc , Saindrenan Patrick
Published: March 2012

Phosphite (Phi), a phloem-mobile oxyanion of phosphorous acid (H3PO3), protects plants against diseases caused by oomycetes. Its mode of action is unclear, as evidence indicates both direct antibiotic effects on pathogens as well as inhibition through enhanced plant defense responses, and its target(s) in the plants is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) exhibits an unusual biphasic dose-dependent response to Phi after inoculation of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), with characteristics of indirect activity at low doses (10 mm or less) and direct inhibition at high doses (50 mm or greater). The effect of low doses of Phi on Hpa infection was nullified in salicylic acid (SA)-defective plants (sid2-1, NahG) and in a mutant impaired in SA signaling (npr1-1). Compromised jasmonate (jar1-1) and ethylene (ein2-1) signaling or abscisic acid (aba1-5) biosynthesis, reactive oxygen generation (atrbohD), or accumulation of the phytoalexins camalexin (pad3-1) and scopoletin (f6′h1-1) did not affect Phi activity. Low doses of Phi primed the accumulation of SA and Pathogenesis-Related protein1 transcripts and mobilized two essential components of basal resistance, Enhanced Disease Susceptibility1 and Phytoalexin Deficient4, following pathogen challenge. Compared with inoculated, Phi-untreated plants, the gene expression, accumulation, and phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase MPK4, a negative regulator of SA-dependent defenses, were reduced in plants treated with low doses of Phi. We propose that Phi negatively regulates MPK4, thus priming SA-dependent defense responses following Hpa infection.
Developing a collaborative faculty‐librarian information literacy assessment project
Authors: Belanger Jackie , Bliquez Rebecca , Mondal Sharleen
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of developing an information literacy assessment project, and to discuss key findings from the project.

Design/methodology/approach

A variety of assessment tools were used to gather information about student learning and information literacy instruction: pre‐ and post‐surveys, student feedback surveys, faculty feedback to librarians, librarian self‐reflection, library worksheets, student research journals, and citation analysis of students' final research paper bibliographies.

Findings

It was found that the authors' initial suite of assessment tools did not provide the information wanted about students' research processes, so the authors' “assessment toolkit” was modified. It was found that more meaningful information could be gathered about students' research processes when the authors worked closely with faculty to embed information literacy assessments into course assignments. From the authors' analysis of student work, it was discovered that, for many students, library instruction was most valuable in helping them refine and explore research topics.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful to librarians and faculty seeking to implement an information literacy assessment project. The authors provide ideas for ways for faculty and librarians to collaborate on information literacy assessment, as well as on assignment and course design.
Customer engagement, buyer‐seller relationships, and social media
Authors: Sashi C.M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The advent of the internet and in particular the interactive features of Web 2.0 in recent years have led to an explosion of interest in customer engagement. The opportunities presented by social media to help build close relationships with customers seem to have excited practitioners in a wide variety of industries worldwide. Academic scholarship on customer engagement, however, has lagged practice and its theoretical foundation is relatively underdeveloped and a better understanding of the concept is essential to develop strategies for customer engagement. This paper seeks to address some of these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper attempts to enhance understanding of customer engagement by examining practitioner views of customer engagement, linking it to the marketing concept, market orientation, and relationship marketing, modeling the customer engagement cycle, and developing a customer engagement matrix.

Findings

The paper develops a model of the customer engagement cycle with connection, interaction, satisfaction, retention, loyalty, advocacy, and engagement as stages in the cycle. It arrays customers in a customer engagement matrix according to the degree of relational exchange and emotional bonds that characterize their relationship with sellers. Four types of relationships emerge: transactional customers, delighted customers, loyal customers, and fans.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is an initial attempt to develop a theoretical framework for customer engagement and further research is required to better understand several aspects of the framework. Future research can also investigate questions stemming from this research, for instance, how different Web 2.0 tools may be used to build customer engagement in consumer and business markets.

Practical implications

Customer engagement turns customers into fans. But for customers to become fans they have to progress through the stages of the customer engagement cycle. In addition to current fans, sellers need a mix of transactional, delighted, and loyal customers who can be turned into fans in the future. A mix of digital and nondigital technologies can be employed to facilitate customers' transition through the stages in the customer engagement cycle.

Originality/value

The paper develops a conceptual model of customer engagement that improves understanding of the concept and provides the foundation for strategies to better satisfy customers using Web 2.0 tools like social media.
Founder effectiveness in leveraging entrepreneurial orientation
Authors: Mousa Fariss‐Terry , Wales William
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effects of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on firm survival and examine whether founder chief executive officers (CEOs) are more effective than other types of managers at utilizing entrepreneurial orientation at initial public offerings (IPOs).

Design/methodology/approach

Using survival analysis the authors investigate the effects of EO on firm survival as well as the moderating role of founder CEOs.

Findings

The results suggest that EO increases post‐IPO survival. Further, founder‐CEOs moderate the EO‐survival relationship.

Originality/value

The paper shows that entrepreneurial orientation enhances long‐term survival in IPO firms. Survival is an important, though generally overlooked consideration in EO research. The paper also concludes that firms with founder CEOs are more likely to value and implement EO. Finally, the paper addresses calls for greater use of secondary measures of EO.
Four decades of research on product diversification: a literature review
Authors: Benito‐Osorio Diana , Ángel Guerras‐Martín Luis , Ángel Zuñiga‐Vicente José
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain new insight into the true nature of the relationship between product diversification and performance, as well as to explore the roles the home country environment and time can play on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reviews a large part of the research that has addressed the relationship between product diversification and performance over the last four decades.

Findings

This study identifies the main views (models) that can help scholars to adequately understand, both theoretically and empirically, the potential effect of product diversification on performance: the premium diversification model; the discount diversification model; and the U‐inverted model. The study confirms a wide diversity of results. Drawing from the institutional‐based view, it is argued that a significant part of this heterogeneity stems from the effect of two factors that have often been ignored: the home country environment and time period. The review of recent empirical research seems to provide some support for the central argument that the value firms achieve through product diversification may be contingent both on the specific home country environment (environmental dependency) and time period (time dependency) under study.

Originality/value

This study yields an alternative explanation to the inconsistency in findings that goes beyond strictly theoretical and methodological reasons. It shows that the arguments related to different views (or models) need to be considered “environment‐dependent” and “time‐dependent”. It concludes by proposing a framework to guide future research.
Expanded strategy simulations: developing better managers
Authors: Poisson‐de Haro Serge , Turgut Gokhan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of simulations in strategy teaching. The authors’ conceptualization is built upon the benefits and limitations of simulations by establishing a link between the skills required to be a competent manager and the capacity of simulations to develop them.

Design/methodology/approach

Using deductive theory building, the authors pinpoint the shortcomings of simulations, and offer a framework categorizing managerial skill development using simulations to teach strategic management.

Findings

The authors propose a new perspective on the use of simulations to teach strategic management by elaborating on their effectiveness in developing soft skills related to social issues often overlooked in simulations’ learning outcomes. The framework provides propositions concerning the ability of simulations to develop both soft (societal and human) and hard skills (technical and conceptual) needed by managers.

Research limitations/implications

Literature shows that computer‐based platforms significantly increase the learning process. While such tools are widely used in teaching hard skills for decision making, they are relatively absent from teaching soft skills for decision making. Future studies should empirically explore the extent to which computer‐based platforms help cultivate soft skills.

Practical implications

Simulations are one of the most praised learning tools by management students. MBA administrators and strategy instructors would benefit from improved simulations that take into account the social environment surrounding managers. Expanded simulations, then, might lead to better preparation of management candidates for their tasks. In addition, simulation developers may find guidance in the authors’ conceptualizations to construct more effective teaching aids.

Originality/value

Contrary to the mainstream literature that focuses on hard‐skill development through simulations, this study calls attention to simulations’ capacity to foster the soft‐skills required to be a competent manager.
Stepping into the unknown: dialogical experiential learning
Authors: Desmond Billy , Jowitt Angela
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring attention to a more embodied, holistic way of working which acknowledges not only the mind, but also the body and emotions, of learners and facilitators as they work together in a co‐created relationship to experience a different way of learning and relating. The authors suggest that practitioners step away from the traditional boundaries of reflecting on experiential learning activities post action. They propose a stronger emphasis on working in relationship with clients in the here and now, to support novel ways of relating and learning to emerge.

Design/methodology/approach

Adapting a reflective inquiry approach, the authors engaged in reflective and reflexive practice to offer a conceptual paper on a dialogical and embodied orientation to experiential learning.

Findings

Learning within Outdoor Management Development (OMD) activities can be enriched within the context of a dialogical relationship where participants are invited to attend to their embodied experience and trust different ways of knowing. This requires a shift from the more individualist to a relational paradigm of relating and learning.

Research limitations/implications

The authors acknowledge the inter‐subjective nature of learning that emerges from within the relationship. So, while a model is proposed to support meaning making, it is not prescribed and in fact the authors realise that it is paradoxical to the emergent nature of learning within relationships.

Practical implications

The authors seek an alternative approach to Kolb when facilitating experiential learning. They propose the Dialogical Experiential Learning Model, inviting facilitators and participants to be more curious about the experience of working in a specific context, while recognising it will be subject to change.

Originality/value

The dialogical orientation of practitioners and the use of a model does, however, offer guiding principles to support facilitation of experiential learning, while challenging current practitioner knowledge.
Towards whole person learning through sustainable executive performance
Authors: MacGregor Steven P. , Semler Katherine
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the authors’ approach to managerial experiential learning, sustainable executive performance (SEP) and attempt to situate the concept within the business, societal, and managerial development context. SEP focuses on whole person mastery, particularly physiological and physiological‐psychological elements which are largely ignored in management education.

Design/methodology/approach

The narrative is based on several custom and executive MBA program implementations over the past 18 months within a leading global business school. In total, SEP has been delivered to over 500 senior managers in leading multinational companies. Such program experiences are backed up by the relevant literature in the field and wider executive education experiences over the past ten years.

Findings

The authors present SEP in the form of the experiential action learning cycle employed during its delivery. The stages of awareness, legitimacy and action provide insight to the evolution, supporting literature and content of the program.

Originality/value

Although the core content of the SEP program builds on existing work, the authors believe the trans‐disciplinary and integrative approach taken to be highly unique in management education on a global scale.
Intellectual competition as technology for professional training of managers
Authors: Minina Vera , Nikitina Irina
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss educational technologies that meet modern requirements for training and retraining managers. The authors demonstrate the potential of interactive learning technologies in the development of independent thinking of graduates as an example of implementation of Graduate School of Management (GSOM), St Petersburg University, educational programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The data in this paper are drawn from a survey by the authors in 2010 of students attending the programs for executives in GSOM (n=49).

Findings

The survey reported that intellectual competitions contribute to achieving independence of participants thinking. The most popular intellectual competitions methods are panel discussion (first place); simulation games with varying roles (team‐consultant and team‐client) and case studies (second place), and modeling professional situations with limited information in writing and calculations (third place).

Research limitations and implications

It would be valuable to explore similar questions with a larger sample of program participants as well, as it would be valuable to gather longitudinal data to explore how students’ preferences regarding intellectual competitions methods change, and why.

Originality/value

The authors prove the feasibility of intellectual competition as the technology of training, oriented to the development of independent thinking and creativity of executives and describe the experience of using this technology in business education.
Non‐formal management learning through electronic experiential fiction
Authors: Holtham Clive , Rich Martin
Published: March 2012

Purpose

All sectors of the economy have shortfalls in the quantity and quality of management development, but a notably large skills gap is in the not‐for‐profit sector, compounded by a reluctance among many managers in the sector to engage with learning management skills. The purpose of this paper is to report on a novel approach which has successfully deployed web technology to create a soap‐opera style of material for the purposes of informal experiential learning for managers in that sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An action learning approach was used.

Findings

It has proved feasible to deploy the processes and style of soap‐opera (continuing drama) to the development of non‐formal management development materials. It has also been feasible to find and develop a team of authors with suitable management experience and fiction‐writing skills.

Research limitations/implications

This is based on a single case study developed in a particular set of circumstances, so its generalisability has not been fully evaluated.

Practical implications

Significant appropriate management and technical resources are needed to set up and produce this type of material on a continuing basis.

Social implications

Many managers are unable to participate in formal management education, but are hard to reach. Their needs are not simply for information, but also for a sense of a learning community and for engaging material, communicated with some drama and clearly relevant to their everyday experience.

Originality/value

The project relates to a unique large‐scale initiative to address hard‐to‐reach groups in need of management development.
Experiential learning for leadership and sustainability at IBM and HSBC
Authors: Gitsham Matthew
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on empirical data from two major organisations (IBM and HSBC) to offer insight on the question of the effectiveness and potential value of experiential learning approaches to developing the mindsets and skills needed by organisational leaders as they respond to the pressures and opportunities of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The data in this paper are drawn from semi‐structured interviews with previous programme participants in IBM's Corporate Service Corps and HSBC's Climate Champions Programme.

Findings

Interviewees reported that the learning programmes had a powerful impact and that a range of outcomes was achieved. The experiential, immersive experience was a fundamental factor in the achievement of these outcomes, from the perspective of participants, but only alongside a number of other key aspects of the design and facilitation of the programme, and also a number of factors related to the wider organisational context.

Research limitations/implications

It would be valuable to explore similar questions with a larger sample of programme participants, and also to explore variations across a wider number of organisations. Similarly, it would be valuable to gather longitudinal data to explore how the perspectives of participants on the impact of these learning programmes vary over time.

Practical implications

The findings lend weight to arguments that those involved in management development might usefully give more consideration of the potential value of experiential learning approaches. The findings also suggest that appropriate consideration be given to a number of other design and facilitation factors, as well as the scope for influencing a range of relevant factors in the wider organisational context.

Originality/value

This paper contributes original empirical data on the effectiveness and potential value of experiential learning approaches.
Collaborative knowledge sharing strategy to enhance organizational learning
Authors: Sita Nirmala Kumaraswamy Kowta , Chitale C.M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The main purpose of the paper is to assess and suggest the ways and means to enhance a collaborative knowledge sharing culture in academic institutions, with special reference to information technology (IT)‐related education in the Management Faculty of the University of Pune.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is descriptive and empirical in nature because the primary data were collected using the survey method through fact finding techniques such as questionnaire and interview. The main purpose of this research is to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe “what exists” with respect to variables or conditions in a situation.

Findings

The sustainability of any industry is closely linked to the manpower talent made available by the academic institutions. Therefore in order to service the needs of the industry in tune with rapidly changing trends, academic institutions have to implement innovative learning systems and be able to match up to the expectations of the industry for knowledge support. Collaborative knowledge sharing links the learning and knowledge processes to enhance organizational learning. The knowledge grows more with communication, sharing of ideas and transfer of knowledge through face‐to‐face communication, discussions, faculty development programs, industry‐institute interactions. Academic institutions should align their human resource strategies, practices and processes in such a way that collaborative knowledge sharing becomes a part of the work culture and overcome the barriers to knowledge sharing. There is need to develop systems that can recognize and reward the efforts of employees who share their knowledge. This can empower collaborative knowledge sharing culture in an academic institute.

Research limitations/implications

In the same context as the practical implications of the paper, it is also appropriate and important to study further how, and to what extent collaborative knowledge improves the performance of the academic institutes. Also, the impact of collaborative knowledge sharing on the quality of higher education.

Practical implications

The recommendations in this paper focus on factors influencing collaborative knowledge sharing culture and also the practices of collaborative knowledge sharing to enhance organizational learning in an academic institute.

Originality/value

This paper contributes original empirical data on the collaborative knowledge sharing strategy to enhance organizational learning.