bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ab initioStudy of Hyperconjugative Effect on Electronic Wavefunctions of 2-chloroethanol
Authors: Wang Ke-dong , Zhang Hai-xia , Liu Yu-fang
Published: September 2011

The electronic structure of five conformers of 2-chloroethanol was studied by ab initio calculations at B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The existing hydrogen bond and hyperconjugation effects on the stability of 2-chloroethanol conformers were discussed on the base of natural bond orbital analyses. The result exhibits that hyper-conjugation is the main factor to determine the stability of conformers. Such effects on the electron wavefunctions of the highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of different conformers are demonstrated with electron momentum spectroscopy, exhibiting the obviously different symmetries of the HOMO wavefunctions in momentum space.
CdS Thin Films Deposited by CBD Method on Glass
Authors: He Xing-wei , Liu Wei-feng , Zhu Chang-fei , Jiang Guo-shun
Published: September 2011

CdS thin films were prepared by chemical-bath-deposited method and the effect of temperature and time on the properties of CdS thin films was studied. Independent of the deposited temperature, the growth was mainly controlled by the ion-by-ion growth mechanism at the beginning of the film deposition, then the cluster-by-cluster mechanism came to be dominant. The growth rate increased faster with the increasing of temperature until the thickness reached the limitation, then thickness instead become thinner. The scanning electron microscope results revealed that the morphology of the CdS film changed from pinholes to rough, inhomogeneous surface with increasing deposition time and deposition temperature. The X-ray diffraction results showed the film structure was a mixture of two phases: hexagonal and cubic, and it was very important to controll deposition time to the film's crystal phase. All films in depth of approximate 100 nm existed above 65% transmittance, the absorption edge became “red-shift" with temperature rising. At 60 and 70 °C, with 20 min deposited-time, the energy band gap was more than 2.42 eV and decreased with time, while at 80 and 90 °C, the energy band gap was less than 2.42 eV and increased little when the time changed from 10 min to 15 min at 80 °C.
Hydrogen Production From Crude Bio-oil and Biomass Char by Electrochemical Catalytic Reforming
Authors: Li Xing-long , Ning Shen , Yuan Li-xia , Li Quan-xin
Published: September 2011

We reports an efficient approach for production of hydrogen from crude bio-oil and biomass char in the dual fixed-bed system by using the electrochemical catalytic reforming method. The maximal absolute hydrogen yield reached 110.9 g H2/kg dry biomass. The product gas was a mixed gas containing 72%H2, 26%CO2, 1.9%CO, and a trace amount of CH4. It was observed that adding biomass char (a by-product of pyrolysis of biomass) could remarkably increase the absolute H2 yield (about 20%-50%). The higher reforming temperature could enhance the steam reforming reaction of organic compounds in crude bio-oil and the reaction of CO and H2O. In addition, the CuZn-Al2O3 catalyst in the water-gas shift bed could also increase the absolute H2 yield via shifting CO to CO2.
Inclusion Complex of β-cyclodextrin with CTAB in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Chen Xiao-ming
Published: September 2011

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/potassium bromide (KBr) micellar system has been used as a viscosity probe to study the inclusion complexation between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and CTAB. Viscosity measurements show that the inclusion complexation between β-CD and CTAB may cause the breakdown of CTAB/KBr wormlike micelles, resulting in the decrease of the solution viscosity. The viscosity minimum at Cβ-CD/CCTAB=2 indicate the molecular ratio of host molecule to guest molecule is 2:1 in the β-CD/CTAB inclusion complex.
Sol-gel Transition of Methylcellulose Solution in the Coexistence of Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide and Sodium Chloride
Authors: Zhou Shan , Yang Hai-yang , Xie Yong-jun , Li Hua-zhen , Liu Guang-ming
Published: September 2011

The sol-gel transition of methylcellulose (MC) solution in the presence of NaCl and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), together with MC/NaCl solution in the presence of HTAB and MC/HATB solution in the presence of NaCl, was investigated by the rheological measurements. It has been found that the sol-gel transition temperature of MC solution decreases linearly with the concentration of NaCl in solution but increases linearly with the concentration of HTAB in solution, respectively. However, the sol-gel transition temperature of MC/NaCl solution in the presence of HTAB keeps the same value, independent of the concentration of HTAB in solution. On the other hand, the sol-gel transition temperature of MC/HTAB solution decreases linearly with the concentration of NaCl in solution. The experimental results suggest that, for MC/NaCl solution in the presence of HTAB, the salt-induced spherical micelles of HTAB should have formed in bulk solution. For MC solution in the absence of NaCl, no spherical micelles have been formed in bulk solution, though the concentration of HTAB in our experiment is almost one order of magnitude higher than the critical micelle concentration of HTAB in polymer-free solution. In fact, due to adsorption of HTAB on MC chains, the realconcentration of HTAB in bulk solution, is much less than the apparent concentration of HTAB dissolved in MC solution.
HIV Therapy Simulator: a graphical user interface for comparing the effectiveness of novel therapy regimens
Authors: Lim Huat Chye , Curlin Marcel E. , Mittler John E.
Published: September 2011

Abstract: Computer simulation models can be useful in exploring the efficacy of HIV therapy regimens in preventing the evolution of drug-resistant viruses. Current modeling programs, however, were designed by researchers with expertise in computational biology, limiting their accessibility to those who might lack such a background. We have developed a user-friendly graphical program, HIV Therapy Simulator (HIVSIM), that is accessible to non-technical users. The program allows clinicians and researchers to explore the effectiveness of various therapeutic strategies, such as structured treatment interruptions, booster therapies and induction-maintenance therapies. We anticipate that HIVSIM will be useful for evaluating novel drug-based treatment concepts in clinical research, and as an educational tool.

Availability: HIV Therapy Simulator is freely available for Mac OS and Windows at http://sites.google.com/site/hivsimulator/.

Contact:  jmittler@uw.edu

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
AUC-based biomarker ensemble with an application on gene scores predicting low bone mineral density
Authors: Zhao X. G. , Dai W. , Li Y. , Tian L.
Published: September 2011

Motivation: The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), long regarded as a ‘golden’ measure for the predictiveness of a continuous score, has propelled the need to develop AUC-based predictors. However, the AUC-based ensemble methods are rather scant, largely due to the fact that the associated objective function is neither continuous nor concave. Indeed, there is no reliable numerical algorithm identifying optimal combination of a set of biomarkers to maximize the AUC, especially when the number of biomarkers is large.

Results: We have proposed a novel AUC-based statistical ensemble methods for combining multiple biomarkers to differentiate a binary response of interest. Specifically, we propose to replace the non-continuous and non-convex AUC objective function by a convex surrogate loss function, whose minimizer can be efficiently identified. With the established framework, the lasso and other regularization techniques enable feature selections. Extensive simulations have demonstrated the superiority of the new methods to the existing methods. The proposal has been applied to a gene expression dataset to construct gene expression scores to differentiate elderly women with low bone mineral density (BMD) and those with normal BMD. The AUCs of the resulting scores in the independent test dataset has been satisfactory.

Conclusion: Aiming for directly maximizing AUC, the proposed AUC-based ensemble method provides an efficient means of generating a stable combination of multiple biomarkers, which is especially useful under the high-dimensional settings.

Contact:  lutian@stanford.edu

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Caloramator boliviensis sp. nov., a thermophilic, ethanol-producing bacterium isolated from a hot spring
Authors: Crespo Carla , Pozzo Tania , Nordberg Karlsson Eva , Alvarez Maria Teresa , Mattiasson Bo
Published: September 2011

A novel moderately thermophilic, anaerobic, ethanol-producing bacterial strain, 45BT, was isolated from a mixed sediment water sample collected from a hot spring at Potosi, Bolivia. The cells were straight to slightly curved rods approximately 2.5 µm long and 0.5 µm wide. The strain was Gram-stain-variable, spore-forming and monotrichously flagellated. Growth of the strain was observed at 45–65 °C and pH 5.5–8.0, with optima of 60 °C and pH 6.5. The substrates utilized by strain 45BT were xylose, cellobiose, glucose, arabinose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, fructose, galactose, mannose, glycerol, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose and yeast extract. The main fermentation product from xylose and cellobiose was ethanol (0.70 and 0.45 g ethanol per gram of consumed sugar, respectively). Acetate, lactate, propionate, carbon dioxide and hydrogen were also produced in minor quantities. 1,3-Propanediol was produced when glycerol-containing medium was supplemented with yeast extract. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C15 : 1, iso-C14 : 0, C13 : 0 and C14 : 0. The polar lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an aminoglycolipid and 15 other unidentified lipids were predominant. The DNA G+C content of strain 45BT was 32.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strain 45BT is located within the Gram-type positive

Bacillus

–

Clostridium

branch of the phylogenetic tree. On the basis of morphological and physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis, strain 45BT represents a novel species, for which the name Caloramator boliviensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 45BT ( = DSM 22065T = CCUG 57396T).
Methylobacterium oxalidis sp. nov., isolated from leaves of Oxalis corniculata
Authors: Tani Akio , Sahin Nurettin , Kimbara Kazuhide
Published: September 2011

A pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium, strain 35aT, was isolated from the leaves ofOxalis corniculata. Cells of strain 35aTwere Gram-reaction-negative, motile, non-spore-forming rods. The highest 16S rRNA gene pairwise sequence similarities for strain 35aTwere found with the strains ofMethylobacterium iners5317S-33T(96.7 %), ‘Methylobacterium soli’ YIM 48816 (96.6 %) andMethylobacterium jeotgaliS2R03-9T(96.3 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of all other recognized species of the genusMethylobacteriumwere below 96 %. Major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0and C16 : 0. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization experiments, analysis ofcpn60gene sequences, fatty acid profiles, whole-cell MALDI-TOF/MS spectral pattern analysis, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 35aTfrom its nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Strain 35aTis therefore considered to represent a novel species within the genusMethylobacterium, for which the nameMethylobacterium oxalidissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 35aT( = DSM 24028T = NBRC 107715T).
Fuchsiella alkaliacetigena gen. nov., sp. nov., an alkaliphilic, lithoautotrophic homoacetogen from a soda lake
Authors: Zhilina Tatyana N. , Zavarzina Daria G. , Panteleeva Angela N. , Osipov Georgy A. , Kostrikina Nadezhda A. , Tourova Tatyana P. , Zavarzin Georgy A.
Published: September 2011

The first alkaliphilic obligately anaerobic hydrogenotrophic homoacetogenic bacterium, strain Z-7100T, was isolated from sediments of the soda-depositing soda lake Tanatar III (Altay, Russia). Cells were thin, flexible rods, motile, Gram-negative and spore-forming. The organism was an obligate alkaliphile, growing at pH 8.5 to 10.5, with optimum growth at pH 8.8–9.3, and it grew in soda brines containing 1.9–4.7 M total Na+(optimum at 2.8–3.3 M). It exhibited an obligate dependence upon sodium carbonate but not upon chloride ions with an NaCl range for growth of 0–14 % (w/v) and an optimum at 7.0–8.5 % (w/v). The isolate was mesophilic and grew at temperatures from 25 to 45 °C, with an optimum at 40 °C. An H2+CO2mixture, ethanol, pyruvate and lactate were utilized with the formation of acetate as the sole metabolic product. Carbohydrates and amino acids did not support growth. The isolate had a respiratory type of metabolism, reducingNO3–, SeO42−or anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (as electron acceptors with ethanol as an electron donor). It was able to grow chemolithotrophically on H2+CO2in medium supplemented with a vitamin solution only. The major cellular fatty acids were the saturated fatty acids anteiso-C15, C14 : 0and C16 : 0and the aldehydes C16, C14and anteiso-C15. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 32.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Z-7100Tis a member of the orderHalanaerobialesand represents a new branch within the familyHalobacteroidaceae, clustering with the type strain ofSelenihalanaerobacter shriftii(92.9 % gene sequence similarity). On the basis of its physiological characteristics and phylogenetic position, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the familyHalobacteroidaceae.The nameFuchsiella alkaliacetigenagen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Z-7100T( = DSM 24880T = VKM B-2667T).
Caenispirillum salinarum sp. nov., a member of the family

Rhodospirillaceae

isolated from a solar saltern
Authors: Ritika C. , Suresh K. , Anil Kumar P.
Published: September 2011

A novel Gram-negative, vibrio-shaped, motile bacterium, designated strain AK4T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a solar saltern at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Strain AK4T was positive for oxidase, urease and DNase activities but negative for gelatinase, catalase, ornithine decarboxylase, lysine decarboxylase, nitrate reduction, aesculin, indole and lipase activities. The fatty acids were dominated by unsaturated components, with a high abundance of summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C17 : 1ω6c. Strain AK4T contained Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AK4T was 71.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain AK4T was most closely related to the type strain of

Caenispirillum bisanense

of the family

Rhodospirillaceae

(phylum ‘

Proteobacteria

’) (96.6 % sequence similarity). It shared <93.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with other members of the family. Based on phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic inference, strain AK4T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Caenispirillum

, for which the name Caenispirillum salinarum sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is AK4T ( = MTCC 10963T = JCM 17360T).
Phyloepigenomic comparison of great apes reveals a correlation between somatic and germline methylation states
Authors: Martin David I.K. , Singer Meromit , Dhahbi Joseph , Mao Guanxiong , Zhang Lu , Schroth Gary P. , Pachter Lior , Boffelli Dario
Published: September 2011

We have determined methylation state differences in the epigenomes of uncultured cells purified from human, chimpanzee, and orangutan, using digestion with a methylation-sensitive enzyme, deep sequencing, and computational analysis of the sequence data. The methylomes show a high degree of conservation, but the methylation states of ∼10% of CpG island-like regions differ significantly between human and chimp. The differences are not associated with changes in CG content and recapitulate the known phylogenetic relationship of the three species, indicating that they are stably maintained within each species. Inferences about the relationship between somatic and germline methylation states can be made by an analysis of CG decay, derived from methylation and sequence data. This indicates that somatic methylation states are highly related to germline states and that the methylation differences between human and chimp have occurred in the germline. These results provide evidence for epigenetic changes that occur in the germline and distinguish closely related species and suggest that germline epigenetic states might constrain somatic states.
Mutual exclusivity analysis identifies oncogenic network modules
Authors: Ciriello Giovanni , Cerami Ethan , Sander Chris , Schultz Nikolaus
Published: September 2011

Although individual tumors of the same clinical type have surprisingly diverse genomic alterations, these events tend to occur in a limited number of pathways, and alterations that affect the same pathway tend to not co-occur in the same patient. While pathway analysis has been a powerful tool in cancer genomics, our knowledge of oncogenic pathway modules is incomplete. To systematically identify such modules, we have developed a novel method, Mutual Exclusivity Modules in cancer (MEMo). The method uses correlation analysis and statistical tests to identify network modules by three criteria: (1) Member genes are recurrently altered across a set of tumor samples; (2) member genes are known to or are likely to participate in the same biological process; and (3) alteration events within the modules are mutually exclusive. Applied to data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the method identifies the principal known altered modules in glioblastoma (GBM) and highlights the striking mutual exclusivity of genomic alterations in the PI(3)K, p53, and Rb pathways. In serous ovarian cancer, we make the novel observation that inactivation ofBRCA1andBRCA2is mutually exclusive of amplification ofCCNE1and inactivation ofRB1, suggesting distinct alternative causes of genomic instability in this cancer type; and, we identifyRBBP8as a candidate oncogene involved in Rb-mediated cell cycle control. When applied to any cancer genomics data set, the algorithm can nominate oncogenic alterations that have a particularly strong selective effect and may also be useful in the design of therapeutic combinations in cases where mutual exclusivity reflects synthetic lethality.
Effective public library outreach to homeless people
Authors: Willett Peter , Broadley Rebecca
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify good practice in conducting outreach for homeless people, and hence to provide recommendations for future library outreach projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine of four case studies taken from the library literature, and conduct six semi‐structured interviews with outreach and/or inclusion librarians from library authorities in South and West Yorkshire.

Findings

The recommendations include: developing partnerships with relevant organisations; removing proof‐of‐identity requirements for joining the library; disseminating the results obtained in projects; using book deposits and mobile library stops; training library staff to ensure that they are aware of relevant issues; building trust in the target audience; ensuring that outreach is tailored to the specific needs of different groups of homeless people; and using a range of methods to evaluate project effectiveness.

Originality/value

Identification of themes common to the published case studies and to the interviews provides a reasoned basis for the recommendations that are presented. These recommendations provide, for the first time in the UK, clear guidelines for future outreach projects for homeless people.
Information seeking behaviour of Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament (MKPs)
Authors: Mansour Essam , Alkhurainej Nasser
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to lighten a very big dark room of research regarding parliament and parliamentarians in the Arabic environment. The two researchers of this study tried to investigate the information seeking behavior of Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament (MKPs) in terms of their thoughts, perceptions, attitudes, motivations, techniques, preferences, ways, tools and problems encountered by them towards accessing information.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a questionnaire, with a response rate 42 percent.

Findings

The study found that MKPs were mainly seeking information to make a parliamentary request/inquiry, to make a speech, and to make a decision. The study showed that the most important sources of information MKPs were seeking for were minutes of sessions, mass media, personal letters and information networks. It was also found that MKPs preferred printed formats, with a very good use of the internet and computers. This study showed MKPs' confirmation of using the English language, beside the use of the Arabic language, as the most dominating foreign language used to access information. The study found that consultants, secretaries and colleagues were the most important assistants of information to MKPs. The currency of information, the limited nature of the library's role to deliver information, and the use of technology tools were the most significant problems encountered by MKPs when they were seeking information.

Research limitations/implications

The paper investigates the topic of parliamentarians' use of information, and as such highlights a topic that has limited previous research.

Practical implications

The paper provides valuable insight into the information behavior of a very important client group.

Originality/value

Being the first study in the Arab world concerned with the issue and topic of information seeking behavior and needs of Arab parliamentarians, it is considered a pioneering and unique study among many studies conducted in the field of both information access and information seeking, especially with this category of information users.
Malaysian archival heritage at risk?
Authors: Johare Rusnah , Noorman Masrek Mohamad
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study carried out pertaining to the Malaysian archivists' knowledge and skills in managing electronic records (ER).

Design/methodology/approach

The main data collection has been gathered through survey questionnaires. Quantitative data were gathered from a total of 41 archivists at the National Archives of Malaysia.

Findings

The insufficiency of education and training received by the archivists contributed to the archivists' limited knowledge and skills to support their roles and responsibilities to manage ER. The archivists' limited knowledge and skills on ER management (ERM) prevented them from implementing the policies and standard procedures on ERM which was part of their main responsibilities.

Practical implications

This study would be useful in identifying the required knowledge and skills for the archivists and suitable education and training for them to acquire such knowledge and skills to manage ER.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind which deals with the archivists' competencies in managing ER in the Malaysian Government.
Flexible learning
Authors: Irvine Jan , Cossham Amanda
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the changes in undergraduate library and information studies education in New Zealand over the past decade. It considers developments in the delivery of distance education, focusing on e‐learning (or flexible learning) modes, and changes to the curriculum due to the changing nature and requirements of the profession.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a case study of the Open Polytechnic, the main provider of undergraduate LIS programmes in New Zealand. It compares the current situation to that of 1999 when the programmes were established, and analyses developments in the delivery of distance education and the changing nature and requirements of the profession.

Findings

The changing nature of the LIS profession, and in particular developments in information and communications technologies, as well as the possibilities offered by e‐learning paradigms have led to significant changes in the curriculum, especially in the delivery of courses. There is a tension between delivering a sound academically coherent curriculum that meets all the changing needs of the profession: core theory, knowledge and skills remain, while new technologies, services, formats and tools are demanding equal time in the curriculum.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is of interest to researchers involved in distance education or curriculum design in LIS.

Practical implications

The paper considers the evolution of distance learning courses for the library community and is of interest to the wider LIS sector.

Originality/value

The case study presents a picture of New Zealand LIS undergraduate education and shows how programmes are changing in response to educational developments and the profession's requirements.
Awareness, action and context‐specificity of blue ocean practices in sales management
Authors: Parvinen Petri , Aspara Jaakko , Hietanen Joel , Kajalo Sami
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of new value creation mechanisms in a company's sales strategy. Using value creation and strategic marketing as theoretical approaches, the study explores the underpinnings of blue ocean strategy (BOS) and categorizes ways in which BOS is reflected in sales management activities. The link to performance and the influence of contextual moderation are also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The article reports on a study on sales management in a 168‐respondent survey of CEOs and sales directors of Finnish companies across industries. The operationalization is quantitative, and principal component analysis with the varimax rotation method is used to examine the companies' approach to executing BOS and the firms are categorized using the cluster analysis method. Furthermore, the linkage to self‐reported business performance is statistically analyzed.

Research limitations/implications

This study identifies four approaches to using BOS: strategic awareness‐building; customer‐specific solution orientation; enforcement‐orientation; and non‐employment of blue ocean thinking. While only the enforcement‐orientation cluster has superior performance to non‐users of BOS across the entire sample, there are surprisingly notable performance differentials within different combinations of contexts.

Practical implications

The study points out that enforcing BOS at the level of action and implementation in sales management pays off. The findings entail that choosing between the identified BOS approaches and implementing them should be context‐specific. Furthermore, the development of skills is emphasized over knowledge management.

Originality/value

For concepts primarily directed at managerial audiences, the theoretical foundations and empirical testability is often not the primary concern. This study presents investigative work geared at revealing the key factors underlying blue ocean strategies in sales management. The paper represents one of the first verifications of the link between blue ocean strategy and business performance.
The impact of managerial perceptions on competitive response variety
Authors: Giaglis George M. , Fouskas Konstantinos G.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of managerial perceptions regarding the competitive environment and organizational capabilities on the way firms respond to their rivals' competitive actions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on competitive dynamics theory to develop a model that is empirically tested in 174 firms from 22 manufacturing, trade and service sectors in Greece.

Findings

The results show an association between managerial perceptions on the one hand and the innovativeness and breadth of competitive responses on the other. More specifically, perceptions of competition intensity, substitution threats and increased buyer powers are associated with broader and more innovative competitive reactions. Similarly, perceptions of strong internal, mediating (managerial) and external (market sensing) capabilities also affect the breadth and innovativeness of competitive responses.

Originality/value

Further to advancing theory in competitive dynamics, the authors contribute to a deeper understanding of the drivers of competitive retaliation that managers can use to anticipate their rivals' retaliation schemes when initiating competitive actions.
The informational contribution of social and environmental disclosures for investors
Authors: Cormier Denis , Ledoux Marie‐Josée , Magnan Michel
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to investigate whether social disclosure and environmental disclosure have a substituting or a complementing effect in reducing information asymmetry between managers and stock market participants

Design/methodology/approach

This study attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of a firm's social and environmental disclosure strategy. The authors posit that this strategy simultaneously affects information asymmetry and disclosure.

Findings

Findings suggest that social disclosure and environmental disclosure substitute each other in reducing stock market asymmetry.

Research limitations/implications

The measurement of social and environmental disclosure is based upon a coding instrument that makes some explicit assumptions about the value and relevance of information. Moreover, information asymmetry cannot be directly measured and is inferred from the behaviour of proxy variables such as share price volatility and bid‐ask spread.

Practical implications

Results suggest that social disclosure reinforces the informativeness of environmental disclosure for stock markets, even substituting for it under certain conditions. Stakeholders must assess and retain an increasing flow of information: a more efficient disclosure strategy becomes critical if firms want to convey the right picture of their CSR performance.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the joint effect of social disclosure and environmental disclosure in reducing information asymmetry.
Strategic development processes during economic and financial crisis
Authors: Kunc Martin , Bhandari Rahul
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the strategy development process followed by firms during the current economic and financial crisis through the relationship between changes in performance measures and strategic success factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey to executives of global firms asking the importance of widely accepted performance indicators and strategic success factors has been performed obtaining 53 usable surveys. Test has been performed to identify respondent bias. Empirical results from the survey are presented and t‐tests have been performed to validate the statistical significance of the change in importance of performance indicators and strategic success factors.

Findings

The findings suggest that firms followed a reactive strategic development process since they adjusted their strategic direction to the short‐term problems in their performance affected by the economic crisis. While firms may focus their attention to similar set of performance measures during the crisis, their strategic behavior to face the crisis differs.

Research limitations/implications

While the sample is small (53 respondents), the authors believe that the quality of the respondents, senior managers and directors with responsibility for strategic development processes, compensates for the small number of responses.

Practical implications

Rehearsing strategies can be a powerful tool to avoid reactive strategic behavior either anticipating environmental constraints through scenario planning or testing the robustness of strategic initiatives using diverse tools like strategic modeling.

Originality/value

The paper offers an empirical validation of strategic development processes under uncertainty considering the linkage between changes in organizational performance, performance indicators and strategic success factors.
The drivers of customer satisfaction in strategic consulting engagements
Authors: Haverila Matti , Bateman Earl Robert , Naumann Earl Robert
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This exploratory study aims to identify the key drivers of customer satisfaction for strategic consulting engagements in a global context. Specifically, the authors compare the attitudes of US and non‐US senior executives to learn how they evaluate consulting engagements.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature surrounding selection of management consultants and client satisfaction with consulting work is reviewed. A thematic content analysis was used to evaluate the responses of 35 US and 22 non‐US senior executives.

Findings

The results reveal both similarities and differences when compared to the outcomes of previous research generally, but they also highlight apparent distinctions based on the country location of the executive. Consistent with previous research, consultant characteristics, customer focus, and value emerged as broad themes driving client satisfaction. In addition, project management and enterprise considerations also emerged as significant drivers of satisfaction. Detailed analysis of responses reveals interesting locational differences underlying satisfaction.

Practical implications

The key implication of this study is the identification of new drivers for customer satisfaction in strategic consulting engagements. These new elements are primarily related to enterprise and project management issues. In addition, this research suggests that the relative importance of customer satisfaction drivers may differ between executives based in the USA and those based elsewhere.

Originality/value

The paper provides a broad overview of satisfaction issues in consulting services, particularly with multinational enterprises as the client. It also offers a more in‐depth discussion of the relative importance of key drivers depending on the location of service delivery. By consolidating these elements into a single discussion, the paper provides a unique viewpoint not available in the current literature. Although exploratory, the holistic approach applied here should allow academic researchers to compare and contrast the results of this research to previous findings. Partners and key account managers at consulting firms might also consider the relative emphasis placed on elements of their service offerings.
The moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behaviors
Authors: Erkutlu Hakan
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether organizational culture moderates the relationships between organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and justice perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 618 lecturers in ten universities in Turkey. Data were collected on site. A randomly selected group of focal lecturers completed the OCB and justice scales. A separate group of randomly selected peers completed the culture scale.

Findings

Multiple hierarchical regression results support the moderating role of organizational culture of the justice perceptions‐OCB link. As hypothesized, results show a stronger relationship between interactional justice and OCB for organizations that are higher in respect for people and a weaker relationship between distributive and procedural justices and OCB for organizations that are higher in team orientation.

Research limitations/implications

The researched lecturers have job conditions inherent to the peculiarities of the public universities which may limit the ability to extrapolate the findings in the private universities. The findings provide a more understandable mechanism of the influence of organizational culture on OCB. They emphasize the significance of organizational culture as a moderator that should be taken closely into consideration to promote employees' OCB levels.

Practical implications

The findings contribute to a better understanding of the organizational justice‐OCB link, and the ways to favor OCB through organizational culture. As a result of this research, leaders' success in organizations will depend, to a great extent, upon understanding organizational culture. They may cultivate subordinates' OCB by treating them with respect and fairness, showing consideration for individual needs, and providing a supportive work environment.

Originality/value

The use of organizational culture as a moderator on this link is unprecedented. The major strength of this study is its multilevel research design. Most research on OCB and organizational justice has been conducted within single organizations, precluding an assessment of the way in which contextual variables influence OCB or justice. Also, using a large number of samples from the Turkish higher education sector adds to the growing literature examining OCB in non‐Western settings.
Young professionals' perceptions toward organizational change
Authors: Lattuch Frank , Young Suzanne
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Effective change management is important for organizational development, but without knowing what features of change situations impact on employee behavior it is difficult to manage change successfully. Considering the changing age demographic of the Australian workforce and the shortage of skilled labor, the purpose of this study is to examine the important age group of young professionals and its perceptions toward organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Lazarus and Folkman's cognitive phenomenological model of stress and coping, a framework of change perceptions was used to analyze young professionals' experience of change. A confirmatory factor analysis has been conducted surveying a sample of 261 young professionals from a diverse set of Australian organizations.

Findings

The analysis found that frequency of change and planning for change are significantly related to uncertainty, and in turn, that uncertainty is significantly related to job satisfaction and behavioral stress. Interestingly, it was found that although frequency of change is positively related to uncertainty, it is also positively related to job satisfaction. Findings indicate which features of change situations are related to poor well‐being outcomes and are therefore important for managers implementing change and working with young professionals.

Originality/value

The present study clarifies the relationship between young professionals and their perceptions of change. Practical implications of the findings for managers are discussed. Some recommendations for future research are provided.
Relationship between leadership behaviors and performance
Authors: Rowold Jens
Published: September 2011

Purpose

In today's organizations, the heterogeneity of work teams is increasing. For example, members of work teams have different ages, genders, and/or cultural backgrounds. As a consequence, team leaders have to face the challenge of taking into account the various needs, values, and motives of their followers. However, there has been very little empirical research to test whether the influence of leadership behaviors on performance is moderated by facets of team heterogeneity. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The leadership behaviors of transactional and transformational leadership, laissez‐faire, consideration, and initiating structure, as well as three facets of heterogeneity (i.e. age, gender, and culture) were assessed in an empirical study based on a sample of n=283 members of German fire departments. These team members also provided self‐ratings for their performance.

Findings

The results revealed that the relationship between three leadership behaviors (i.e. transformational leadership, laissez‐faire, and consideration) and performance was being moderated by facets of team members' heterogeneity.

Practical implications

Both transformational leadership and consideration work best when the work team is heterogeneous with regard to gender.

Originality/value

The importance of the contextual influences of team members' heterogeneity for effective leadership processes was explored theoretically, and subsequently, demonstrated empirically for the first time.
Quality management in China: the effects of firm characteristics and cultural profile
Authors: Zu Xingxing , Zhou Huaming , Zhu Xiaowei , Yao Dongqing
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the underlying characteristics that influence quality management implementation at manufacturing companies operating in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of this study were based on 199 manufacturing companies collected from a cross‐sectional survey in China. The cultural profiles of these companies were identified through cluster analysis. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to identify the effects of operating characteristics and cultural profile on the implementation level of quality management practices.

Findings

The results show that in general, there is no significant difference in implementing quality management practices among companies of different operating characteristics in terms of company size, industry, ownership, and production process. This study reveals that cultural profile is a distinguishing factor to explain the difference in quality management implementation among the companies.

Originality/value

As China is becoming an important supplier of products to the global market, it is necessary to understand how product quality is controlled and managed in China. This study examines the effects of operating and cultural characteristics of companies in China on their implementation of quality management practices. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of how to build an effective quality system at companies in China.
Measuring service quality of conventional and Islamic banks: a comparative analysis
Authors: Amat Taap Manshor , Choy Chong Siong , Kumar Mukesh , Kee Fong Tat
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Based upon an extended SERVQUAL model, this paper attempts to measure and compare the service quality between conventional and Islamic banks in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A new dimension, i.e. convenience was added to the existing SERVQUAL model of five dimensions. Data were collected from 287 bank customers residing in two major cities in Malaysia using self‐reporting questionnaires. Factor analysis is used to validate the instrument, after which the gap and dominance analyses techniques are employed.

Findings

The factor analysis extracted four dimensions of service quality, i.e. tangibility, reliability, competence, and convenience. The results reveal that there are large and significant differences between respondents' expectations and their perceptions. Specifically, the expectations on competence and convenience are significantly different between the conventional and Islamic banks, whereas the perceptions on tangibility and convenience are found to be significantly different between the two types of banks. The application of dominance analysis to predict the SERVQUAL gap indicates that the difference between the two types of banks lie in terms of degree but not pattern. Competence and convenience are found to be the relatively more dominant dimensions in both types of banks. These two dimensions, taken together, can help to reduce the overall service quality gap to an extent of 72 percent in the case of conventional banks and 85 percent in the case of Islamic banks.

Research limitations/implications

Although the outcomes lend support to the extended SERVQUAL model, the results are derived based on a relatively small sample size with an uneven distribution between the two types of banks. This limits the generalizability of the study results which calls for future research attention.

Practical implications

The Malaysian banking sector needs to take initiative to become more competent by being more responsive through fulfilling their assurance for customers and by providing banking facilities more conveniently.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to examine and compare the service quality between conventional and Islamic banks using an extended SERVQUAL model. The results could be particularly useful to countries adopting dual banking systems.
Implementation of a quality procedure based on Delphi method and the ISO/TS 16949:2009 in the production of stainless steel tubes for automotive exhaust systems
Authors: Bevilacqua Maurizio , Emanuele Ciarapica Filippo , Giacchetta Giancarlo , Marchetti Barbara
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of a procedure for the quality control of stainless steel tubes produced for automotive exhaust systems from a leading company in the steel sector, based on the Delphi method in accordance with the ISO/TS 16949:2009 and the ISO 9000:2008. Using Delphi methodology, it was possible to identify the main problems in the production lines object of the study, the main defects and their causes. Statistical methods were used to monitor process compliance and capacity. The panel of experts involved in Delphi method was able to identify causes of non‐compliance and suggest corrective actions.

Design/methodology/approach

The quality procedure implemented involves the application of the Delphi method and the ISO/TS 16949:2009 standard in conjunction with ISO 9000:2008 to the production line of welded tubes for exhaust systems. The statistical methods used to monitor the process were mainly control charts. Capability index, Cp and Cpk, were used to measure the process attitude to produce compliant outputs. Dimensional data were acquired by non‐destructive testing on diameters and X‐R charts were used to graphically represent the process state of control. Destructive tests were performed to monitor the welding quality and P‐chart were used to assess the proportion of nonconforming units.

Findings

In this work, a procedure was developed in order to characterize the production process of TXM tubes realized in the line 31 of the leader company plant. The use of Delphi methodology, in order to incorporate experts opinions in the quality control of stainless steel tubes, was one of the main points of this work. The panel of experts worked together to identify process issues, define their causes and propose corrective actions. The paper provides an overview about the quality approach of one of the world's largest companies in the production of steel and shows also how the statistical tools are used in order to manage process behavior.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to illustrate an innovative approach to a real life quality problem; it demonstrates how the application of qualitative and quantitative quality instruments in accordance with technical specification can help in increasing and maintaining product compliance and in optimizing the management of resources.