bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from Saharan soil
Authors: Boubetra Dalila , Zitouni Abdelghani , Bouras Noureddine , Schumann Peter , Spröer Cathrin , Klenk Hans-Peter , Sabaou Nasserdine
Published: February 2015

Actinomycete strain SA198T, isolated from a Saharan soil sample of Algeria, was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characteristics observed suggested that it was a member of the genus

Saccharothrix

. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that strain SA198T was a member of the genus

Saccharothrix

and showed a similarity level ranging between 97.5 and 98.9 % within species of the genus

Saccharothrix

,

Saccharothrix australiensis

being the most closely related. However, DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain SA198T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours, the type strains of

S. australiensis

,

Saccharothrix xinjiangensis

,

Saccharothrix algeriensis

and

Saccharothrix espanaensis

, were clearly below the 70 % threshold. Based upon genotypic and phenotypic differences from other members of the genus, a novel species, Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis sp. nov., is proposed, with SA198T ( = DSM 45947T = CECT 8640T) as the type strain.
Methylobrevis pamukkalensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a halotolerant restricted facultative methylotroph isolated from saline water
Authors: Poroshina Maria N. , Trotsenko Yuri A. , Doronina Nina V.
Published: February 2015

An aerobic halotolerant restricted facultatively methylotrophic bacterium was isolated from a saline hot spring in Pamukkale, Turkey, and designated strain PK2T. The cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative, asporogenous, motile short rods multiplying by binary fission. They utilized methanol, methylamine and mannitol as carbon and energy sources. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C in media containing 85 mM NaCl and at pH 7.5–8.0. C1 compounds were assimilated via the isocitrate-lyase-positive variant of the serine pathway. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and the compatible solute ectoine were found in the cells. The dominant phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids of methanol-grown cells were C18 : 1ω7 and C16 : 1ω7c. The main ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 67.9 mol% (T
m). The 16S rRNA gene sequence suggests that strain PK2T is affiliated with the order

Rhizobiales

within the class

Alphaproteobacteria

, being most closely related to

Mesorhizobium gobiense

CCBAU 83330T (94 % similarity). A novel genus and species, Methylobrevis pamukkalensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed on the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, with PK2T (VKM B-2849T = JCM 30229T) as the type strain.
Aquisalimonas lutea sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from a saltern
Authors: Infante-Domínguez Carmen , Sánchez-Porro Cristina , Ventosa Antonio
Published: February 2015

A yellow-pigmented, motile, Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated BA42AL-1T, was isolated from water of a saltern of Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain. Strain BA42AL-1T grew in media containing 5–20 % (w/v) salts (optimum 7.5 % salts). It grew between pH 6.0 and 9.0 (optimally at pH 7.5) and at 15–45 °C (optimally at 37 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on the comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BA42AL-1T is a member of the genus

Aquisalimonas

. The closest relatives to this strain were

Aquisalimonas halophila

YIM 95345T and

Aquisalimonas asiatica

CG12T with sequence similarities of 99.4 % and 97.0 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization between the novel isolate and

Aquisalimonas halophila

YIM 95345T revealed a relatedness of 54 %. The major fatty acids of strain BA42AL-1T were C18 : 1ω6c/C18 : 1ω7c, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and C16 : 0, and lower contents of C12 : 0 and C18 : 0. The polar lipid pattern of strain BA42AL-1T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two glycolipids, a lipid and four unknown phospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of this strain was 65.0 mol%. Based on the DNA–DNA hybridization, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data presented in this study, strain BA42AL-1T is proposed as a novel species of the genus

Aquisalimonas

, for which the name Aquisalimonas lutea sp. nov. is suggested. The type strain is BA42AL-1T ( = CCM 8472T = CECT 8326T = LMG 27614T).
Parabacteroides faecis sp. nov., isolated from human faeces
Authors: Sakamoto Mitsuo , Tanaka Yoshiki , Benno Yoshimi , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: February 2015

A bacterial strain, designated 157T, isolated from human faeces was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, which included analysis of physiological and biochemical features, cellular fatty acid profiles, menaquinone profiles and its phylogenetic position, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The strain was obligately anaerobic, non-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative rods. The isolate was able to grown on medium containing 20 % (w/v) bile. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain was a member of the genus

Parabacteroides

. Strain 157T was closely related to

Parabacteroides gordonii

JCM 15724T (96 % sequence similarity). The results of hsp60 gene sequence analysis indicated that strain 157T was different from

P. gordonii

JCM 15724T, with a hsp60 gene sequence similarity of 96.1 %. The major cellular fatty acids of strain 157T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 1ω9c and anteiso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major menaquinone of the isolate was MK-9. The DNA G+C content of strain 157T was 41.8 mol%. On the basis of these data, strain 157T represents a novel species of the genus

Parabacteroides

, for which the name Parabacteroides faecis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 157T ( = JCM 18682T = CCUG 66681T).
Serratia glossinae Geiger et al. 2010 is a later synonym of Serratia fonticola Gavini et al. 1979
Authors: Kämpfer Peter , Glaeser Stefanie P.
Published: February 2015

Serratia glossinae

DSM 22080T was compared with

Serratia fonticola

ATCC 29844T to clarify the taxonomic relationship of both species. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons demonstrated that these species share 99.6 % sequence similarity. Investigation of substrate utilization profiles displayed no striking differences from the type strains of both species. DNA–DNA hybridizations between both strains showed 100 % (99.9 %) similarity. Therefore, the reclassification of

S. glossinae

as a later synonym of

S. fonticola

is proposed, based upon the estimated phylogenetic position derived from 16S rRNA gene sequence data, biochemical data and DNA–DNA hybridization results.
Chloracidobacterium thermophilum gen. nov., sp. nov.: an anoxygenic microaerophilic chlorophotoheterotrophic acidobacterium
Authors: Tank Marcus , Bryant Donald A.
Published: February 2015

A novel anoxygenic photoheterotrophic member of the phylum

Acidobacteria

, Chloracidobacterium thermophilum strain B sp. nov., was isolated from a cyanobacterial enrichment culture derived from microbial mats associated with Octopus Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY. C. thermophilum sp. nov. was a Gram-stain-negative rod (diameter, approximately 0.8–1.0 µm; variable length, approximately 2.5 µm), which formed greenish-brown liquid suspension cultures. It was a moderately thermophilic microaerophile and grew in a defined medium at 51 °C (Topt; range 44 to 58 °C) and in the pH range 5.5 to 9.5 (pHopt = ~7.0). The DNA G+C content was 61.3 mol%, and phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA sequence, showed that C. thermophilum sp. nov. belongs to subdivision 4 (

Acidobacteriaceae

) of the

Acidobacteria

. C. thermophilum sp. nov. was unable to synthesize branched-chain amino acids, l-lysine, and vitamin B12, which were required for growth. Although the organism lacked genes/enzymes for autotrophic carbon fixation, bicarbonate was required. Growth was stimulated by other amino acids and 2-oxoglutarate. Cells produced chlorosomes containing a diverse mixture of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c derivatives, and additionally, synthesized BChl a
P, Chl a
PD, and Zn-BChl a′P, which occurred in type-1 homodimeric reaction centres. The carotenoids included echinenone, canthaxanthin, lycopene, γ-carotene and β-carotene. C. thermophilum sp. nov. produced iso-diabolic acid as its major fatty acid and synthesized three hopanoids (diploptene, bacteriohopanetetrol and bacteriohopanetetrol cyclitol ether). Based upon its phenotypic and genotypic properties, the name Chloracidobacterium thermophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this isolate; the type strain is C. thermophilum strain BT (ATCC BAA-2647 = JCM 30199).
Comparative study of the X-ray reflectivity and in-depth profile of a-C, B4C and Ni coatings at 0.1–2 keV
Authors: Kozhevnikov I. V. , Filatova E. O. , Sokolov A. A. , Konashuk A. S. , Siewert F. , Störmer M. , Gaudin J. , Keitel B. , Samoylova L. , Sinn H.
Published: February 2015

The use of soft X-rays near the carbon edge of absorption (270–300 eV) greatly enhances studies in various branches of science. However, the choice of reflecting coatings for mirrors operating in free-electron and X-ray free-electron laser (FEL and XFEL) beamlines in this spectral range is not so evident and experimental justifications of the mirror efficiency are rather limited. In the present paper it is demonstrated experimentally that the reflectivity of B4C- and Ni-coated grazing-incidence mirrors is high enough for their operation in FEL or XFEL beamlines near the carbonK-edge of absorption. The minimal reflectivity of both mirrors proves to exceed 80% near the carbon absorption edge at a grazing angle of 0.6°. An in-depth profile of the chemical elements composing the reflecting coatings is reconstructed based on analysis of a set of reflectivity curves measuredversusthe grazing angle at different photon energies in the soft X-ray spectral region. This allows us to predict correctly the mirror reflectivity at any X-ray energy and any grazing angle.
Metadynamics studies of crystal nucleation
Authors: Giberti Federico , Salvalaglio Matteo , Parrinello Michele
Published: February 2015

Crystallization processes are characterized by activated events and long timescales. These characteristics prevent standard molecular dynamics techniques from being efficiently used for the direct investigation of processes such as nucleation. This short review provides an overview on the use of metadynamics, a state-of-the-art enhanced sampling technique, for the simulation of phase transitions involving the production of a crystalline solid. In particular the principles of metadynamics are outlined, several order parameters are described that have been or could be used in conjunction with metadynamics to sample nucleation events and then an overview is given of recent metadynamics results in the field of crystal nucleation.
Three-dimensional electron diffraction as a complementary technique to powder X-ray diffraction for phase identification and structure solution of powders
Authors: Yun Yifeng , Zou Xiaodong , Hovmöller Sven , Wan Wei
Published: February 2015

Phase identification and structure determination are important and widely used techniques in chemistry, physics and materials science. Recently, two methods for automated three-dimensional electron diffraction (ED) data collection, namely automated diffraction tomography (ADT) and rotation electron diffraction (RED), have been developed. Compared with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and two-dimensional zonal ED, three-dimensional ED methods have many advantages in identifying phases and determining unknown structures. Almost complete three-dimensional ED data can be collected using the ADT and RED methods. Since each ED pattern is usually measured off the zone axes by three-dimensional ED methods, dynamic effects are much reduced compared with zonal ED patterns. Data collection is easy and fast, and can start at any arbitrary orientation of the crystal, which facilitates automation. Three-dimensional ED is a powerful technique for structure identification and structure solution from individual nano- or micron-sized particles, while powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) provides information from all phases present in a sample. ED suffers from dynamic scattering, while PXRD data are kinematic. Three-dimensional ED methods and PXRD are complementary and their combinations are promising for studying multiphase samples and complicated crystal structures. Here, two three-dimensional ED methods, ADT and RED, are described. Examples are given of combinations of three-dimensional ED methods and PXRD for phase identification and structure determination over a large number of different materials, from Ni–Se–O–Cl crystals, zeolites, germanates, metal–organic frameworks and organic compounds to intermetallics with modulated structures. It is shown that three-dimensional ED is now as feasible as X-ray diffraction for phase identification and structure solution, but still needs further development in order to be as accurate as X-ray diffraction. It is expected that three-dimensional ED methods will become crucially important in the near future.
Structure refinement using precession electron diffraction tomography and dynamical diffraction: theory and implementation
Authors: Palatinus Lukáš , Petříček Václav , Corrêa Cinthia Antunes
Published: February 2015

Accurate structure refinement from electron-diffraction data is not possible without taking the dynamical-diffraction effects into account. A complete three-dimensional model of the structure can be obtained only from a sufficiently complete three-dimensional data set. In this work a method is presented for crystal structure refinement from the data obtained by electron diffraction tomography, possibly combined with precession electron diffraction. The principle of the method is identical to that used in X-ray crystallography: data are collected in a series of small tilt steps around a rotation axis, then intensities are integrated and the structure is optimized by least-squares refinement against the integrated intensities. In the dynamical theory of diffraction, the reflection intensities exhibit a complicated relationship to the orientation and thickness of the crystal as well as to structure factors of other reflections. This complication requires the introduction of several special parameters in the procedure. The method was implemented in the freely available crystallographic computing systemJana2006.
Crystal structure of bis[S-hexyl 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)dithiocarbazato-κ2N3,S]palladium(II)
Authors: Begum M. Sabina , Howlader M. Belayet Hossain , Sheikh M. Chanmiya , Miyatake Ryuta , Zangrando Ennio
Published: February 2015

The whole molecule of the title complex, [Pd(C15H21N2S2)2], is generated by twofold rotational symmetry. The palladium(II) atom exhibits a square-planar coordination geometry, and is located on the crystallographic twofold axis that induces acisconfiguration of theN,Schelating ligands. In the crystal, molecules stack along thec-axis direction and there are no significant intermolecular interactions present. The structure was refined as an inversion twin with a final BASF parameter of 0.34 (2).
Sensitivity analysis in optimized parametric curve fitting
Authors: Ruiz Oscar E , Cortes Camilo , Acosta Diego A , Aristizabal Mauricio
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Curve fitting from unordered noisy point samples is needed for surface reconstruction in many applications. In the literature, several approaches have been proposed to solve this problem. However, previous works lack formal characterization of the curve fitting problem and assessment on the effect of several parameters (i.e. scalars that remain constant in the optimization problem), such as control points number (m), curve degree (b), knot vector composition (U), norm degree (k), and point sample size (r) on the optimized curve reconstruction measured by a penalty function (f). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A numerical sensitivity analysis of the effect of m, b, k and r on f and a characterization of the fitting procedure from the mathematical viewpoint are performed. Also, the spectral (frequency) analysis of the derivative of the angle of the fitted curve with respect to u as a means to detect spurious curls and peaks is explored.

Findings

– It is more effective to find optimum values for m than k or b in order to obtain good results because the topological faithfulness of the resulting curve strongly depends on m. Furthermore, when an exaggerate number of control points is used the resulting curve presents spurious curls and peaks. The authors were able to detect the presence of such spurious features with spectral analysis. Also, the authors found that the method for curve fitting is robust to significant decimation of the point sample.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors have addressed important voids of previous works in this field. The authors determined, among the curve fitting parameters m, b and k, which of them influenced the most the results and how. Also, the authors performed a characterization of the curve fitting problem from the optimization perspective. And finally, the authors devised a method to detect spurious features in the fitting curve.

Practical implications

– This paper provides a methodology to select the important tuning parameters in a formal manner.

Originality/value

– Up to the best of the knowledge, no previous work has been conducted in the formal mathematical evaluation of the sensitivity of the goodness of the curve fit with respect to different possible tuning parameters (curve degree, number of control points, norm degree, etc.).
Numerical analysis of geometrical and aerodynamic enhancements of a birdlike wing
Authors: Harik Ramy , Nicolas Alipio , Dassouki Mohamed , Bernard Alain
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Biomimetic study existing natural biological elements to produce engineering products with similar performance and abilities. The purpose of this paper is to highlight biomimetic studies to produce a new type of airplanes: adding remiges, bending ability and flapping mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The used methodology was to thoroughly investigate the literature, to define the proper endurance and fatigue parameters, to perform a series of numerical studies and report improvement percentages relevant to defined parameters.

Findings

– By adding remiges and the bending mechanism, the authors managed to reach – numerically – the preset desired structure goal. Efficiency increased using remiges with less drag force. In addition, with the help of the bending wing technique, the drag force was improved. The flapping mechanism showed high vibration rates. Last but not least, applying multiple winglets gave a better optimization of the endurance parameter.

Research limitations/implications

– Research is conducted at a university without any research facilities. No laboratories exist, and acquiring research papers is mostly difficult and costly.

Originality/value

– The research study is original in the sense of its numerical investigation. Proposing biomimetic was at the heart of the airplane invention and cannot be stated as an original contribution. Rather the field has been recently abandoned, and performing this major literature review can be considered as original in a sense it summarizes recent to somewhat old advancement.
Shortage of sustainable supply chain talent: an industrial training framework
Authors: Dubey Rameshwar , Gunasekaran Angappa
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify sustainable supply chain skill and propose a conceptual training framework for sustainable supply chain talent.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors have used exhaustive literature review of extant literature published in academic journals, reputable reports, trade magazines, books and monographs. The authors further consulted leading experts from reputable bodies to further finalize the sustainable supply chain skills matrix and check the content validity of the constructs of our proposed conceptual framework.

Findings

– The sustainable supply chain skill matrix has been identified and a conceptual framework has been proposed. The authors further outlined the future research directions.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a conceptual paper based on the literature review and analysis. This offers opportunities for empirical research.

Practical implications

– This paper will alert companies to focus on developing talents that would help to achieve sustainable supply chain.

Social implications

– Better talents lead to better support for sustainable supply chains.

Originality/value

– The present study is unique in terms of scope and its contribution to theory of supply chain management and operations management and human resource management practice. The study has identified the sustainable supply chain skill matrix and proposed a conceptual training framework for sustainable supply chain talent.
Little BIGS®: small changes that create big innovation success
Authors: Bodell Lisa
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– If we want people to approach change differently, we have to change our approach. Showing people how you want them to behave when it comes to innovation is infinitely more powerful than telling them – or worse yet, mandating it. Instead of top-down initiatives that generate eye-rolling or fear of increased work, it is the small things – the Little BIGS – that can truly ignite desired innovation behaviors and ensure powerful and lasting behavior change. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– “The devil is in the details,” as the old saying goes. But what does this mean? It is the little things that matter. This is a concept that I think is true even when it comes to innovation, but not in the way that you probably think. Even small things, which the author calls, “Little BIGS®” can make a big difference and lead to a powerful culture change.

Findings

– Little BIGS can be as simple as changing a policy, approach, contract, or a meeting. Even more appealing, it is something you can control because it all starts with you.

Originality/value

– In the book, Kill the Company, the author translates this idea that “small things make a big difference” into a powerful culture change concept called, “Little BIGS®”.
Inter-company interaction framework: understanding the 4 Cs framework to promote learning
Authors: Reese Simon
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce a conceptual framework to assist members of an inter-company structure in understanding the partner company's interest in interacting and advancing toward a learning organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a framework outlining the differing patterns of interaction between the two separate organizations and describes how each of the differing interactions should be used to align the learning system. Without understanding the 4 Cs from the side of both companies, the interaction may misalign, and the shared vision of learning may fail.

Findings

– In order to best ensure consistency in knowledge sharing across the organizations, the L&D practitioner in conjunction with the sales and marketing arm of the organization should examine the interactions and identify the patterns of interaction before developing a learning system engaging the partner organization.

Practical implications

– Managing the patterns of interaction through an understanding of the 4 Cs allows the organizations to quickly understand why learning systems are failing and where conflicts may arise.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a conceptual framework for senior managers to consider when they enter into an inter-company interaction. The example is set in a wholesale distributor model; however, the framework can provide the L&D professionals areas into which they can expand traditional learning environments when working across company boundaries.
Appraising clever people: lessons from introducing performance reviews for academics in a UK University
Authors: Bird Hedda
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to build understanding of how to engage a highly educated workforce with the benefits of performance management through sharing the lessons learned from introducing performance reviews (appraisals) into an academic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents a case study of a four-year programme in a UK higher education establishment. The author was closely involved in the last two years of the programme, and completed a detailed evaluation of the programme for the client.

Findings

– Performance management creates significant value within a highly educated workforce through bringing together individual capability and expertise to focus on delivering the strategy. Obstacles to success such as routine complaints of “time-wasting” and “pointlessness” can be overcome by wide and deep engagement with employees throughout the design and development of the approach.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a single case study; however, the author has worked on many similar programmes with highly educated work forces with very similar results.

Practical implications

– The vast majority of staff positively want a high-quality performance review; the practical challenge is to channel this desire into shared ownership and responsibility for the success of performance review in practice.

Originality/value

– Literature abounds with analysis of what is wrong with performance review, this paper is a rarer piece in that it develops our understanding of how to set up performance management and review for success.
New aspects of research to assess and manage critical incidents in service encounters
Authors: Padin Carmen , Svensson Göran , Otero-Neira Carmen , Høgevold Nils
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The objective of this paper is to describe the teleological actions needed to assess and manage critical incidents that cause negative emotions in service encounters. Teleological actions are movements into the future that are believed to be move either towards a predictable/known or unpredictable/unknown state or condition. The authors distinguish between, define and apply three categories: transformative – ad hoc and present-based actions; formative – pre-determined and past-based actions; and rationalist – goal-directed and future-based actions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative study, based upon a two-phase approach applying convenience and judgemental sampling, was used. Focussing on one teleological theory, a process of abductive matching was applied throughout the study. Abductive matching refers to recurring themes, patterns and categories that are uncovered through the iterative processes of analysis. The teleological framework structured and guided the data collection and empirical observations.

Findings

– Seen through the perspective of teleological actions, the study enhances our understanding of the manner in which critical incidents generate negative emotions in service encounters. Through the same perspective, the investigation also reveals that the outcome of a negative service encounter depends upon the interactive interface between service provider and service receiver.

Research limitations/implications

– The teleological actions between service providers and service receivers in negative service encounters appear to be mediators between cause-and-effect on the one hand (critical incident and negative emotions) and a perceptual gap on the other (outcome of negative service encounter). The teleological perspective also provides numerous opportunities for further research in this area.

Practical implications

– Managers should strive to understand the teleological actions potentially undertaken by service receivers, so that they can deal with the teleological actions of their front-line staff accordingly. The interactive interface between a service provider and a service receiver is crucial in assessing and managing critical incidents.

Originality/value

– Based on teleological actions, the investigation provides both a valuable and complementary contribution on assessing and managing critical incidents and the negative emotions that are often triggered in the service-encounter interface between a service provider and a service receiver. Providers also need to educate their staff on what can occur and on how to react appropriately.
Examining the effects of vacation ownership product attributes on customer satisfaction
Authors: Gregory Amy M , Parsa H.G. , Nusair Khaldoon , Kwun David J , Putrevu Sanjay
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This research aims to propose a model that may be used to classify product attributes according to their effect on customer satisfaction within the services industry. It also aims to apply the model to vacation ownership products and to explore attributes related to both the purchase and use of the product: an owned luxury product.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data from 3,231 vacation ownership customers of multiple international companies were analyzed using a modified Kano model and related questionnaire.

Findings

– This study reveals the effect that specific product attributes have on customer satisfaction. It addresses previously unexplored attributes (i.e. sales techniques and hotel program benefits), confirms others previously identified with customer satisfaction (i.e. amenities, exchange benefits, hotel affiliation and vacation counselors) and reveals those that had no incremental effect on overall satisfaction (i.e. financing and activities).

Practical implications

– Results of this study suggest that attributes have varying effects on customers’ overall satisfaction and submit that companies may wish to focus their efforts in particular areas to maintain or improve overall satisfaction. Doing so may create opportunities for companies to increase satisfaction, operate more efficiently or distinguish themselves within the marketplace.

Originality/value

– This research is the first comprehensive examination of customer satisfaction related to the purchase and consumption of an owned luxury vacation product, reveals misconceptions related to certain product attributes, uncovers previously unidentified attributes, provides a model for examining customer satisfaction that could be applied across lodging products and provides a benchmark for future studies.
A disaster resilient built environment in urban cities
Authors: Malalgoda Chamindi , Amaratunga Dilanthi
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This research aims at making recommendations to empower the Sri Lankan local governments in creating a disaster resilient built environment. Disasters make a huge impact on the built environment. In turn, failure of the built environment can create significant impacts on social and economic activities. Thus, when moving towards safer cities, it is important to develop the built environment in such a way that it can withstand threats posed by natural disasters. Various stakeholders need to get involved in the process of making a disaster resilient built environment, of which the local governments need to play a critical role, as they are the closest government body to the local community. However, local governments are facing a number of challenges in responding to city resilience activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research adopts case studies as its research strategy and investigates three cities in Sri Lanka which are potentially vulnerable to disasters. A number of expert interviews have also been conducted to supplement the case study findings.

Findings

– The paper presents the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan municipalities in creating a disaster resilient built environment and provides recommendations to empower municipalities to effectively contribute to city resilience. The paper suggests amending policies related to establishment of municipal councils and disaster management to provide more authoritative powers for municipalities to effectively engage in city resilience building. Findings also revealed the importance of addressing financial and human resource issues, which were the main drivers of hindrance. Furthermore, all relevant urban development plans, risk maps, disaster resilient planning, construction and operation guidelines and resilient land use practices need to be integrated into existing planning and building regulations, and proper monitoring and control mechanisms have to be established to ensure compliance with the regulations. In doing so, it is important to raise awareness of council officials of disaster risks and resilient practices by way of organising educational programmes such as seminars and workshops. It is also suggested that municipal officials should be involved in national-level decision-making with regard to their local areas and to establish proper communication channels to exchange decision and information related to city resilience.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper is based on case studies in three cities and a number of expert interviews, which are limited to the Sri Lankan context. Inputs from other cities from developed countries may further validate the recommendations.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights the challenges faced by the local governments in creating a disaster resilient built environment within Sri Lankan cities and provides recommendations as to how the local governments could be empowered in creating a disaster resilient built environment within cities.
Determining factors of environmental education in Spanish universities
Authors: Larrán Manuel , Andrades Javier
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to analyze the main factors that might determine the extent to which Spanish organizational management educators use environmental stand-alone subjects to equip students with alternative views of business. To give a more qualitative study, this paper also provides a more detailed curriculum analysis from a double point of view: first, the authors analyze the environmental integration in curricula by means of the presence of environmental embedded subjects. On the other hand, the authors analyze the main environmental topics covered by curriculum of Spanish universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– A Web content analysis and non-parametric mean comparison statistics of the curricula of undergraduate degrees at all universities in Spain was conducted.

Findings

– One of the main conclusions of this paper is that public universities in Spain are more likely to require an environmental course than private universities. Other factors, such as size, political orientation or chairs/research institutes are not statistically explanatory of environmental education. Another important finding is that environmental training in management courses offered by Spanish universities is still relatively underdeveloped. Comparatively, the authors found that the most common method of teaching environmental issues in Spain is by means of embedded subjects (horizontal integration) in comparison with stand-alone subjects (vertical integration) as a response of the necessity of providing a systemic and holistic approach toward environmental aspects. From this perspective, the main topics covered in curriculum are environmental management, sustainable tourism, environmental economy or environmental impact.

Originality/value

– There is a lack of empirical research focuses on analyzing determinant factors to environmental education in management undergraduate curricula of Spanish universities. Indeed, most of previous studies provide a descriptive review of environmental courses in management education.
Capstone interdisciplinary team project: a requirement for the MS in sustainability degree
Authors: Jiji Latif M. , Schonfeld Irvin Sam , Smith George A.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe experience gained with a required six-credit year-long course, the Capstone Interdisciplinary Team Project, a key component of the Master of Science (MS) in Sustainability degree at the City College of New York. A common feature of sustainability problems is their interdisciplinary nature. Solutions to sustainability problems often require professionals with different training and backgrounds to work as a team. A sustainability curriculum should provide students with the skills needed to competently participate in an interdisciplinary team.

Design/methodology/approach

– Instructors drawn from different departments and divisions of the college developed a pool of sustainability-focused Capstone projects and acted as mentors to teams of students with diverse undergraduate backgrounds. Students attended workshops designed to provide training in teamwork, research and report preparation. An independent evaluator designed an evaluation protocol to assess the course’s impact both while it was implemented and after the course was concluded.

Findings

– Early experience with the program strongly indicates that the Capstone project requirement is an effective learning tool. However, identifying qualified mentors, developing suitable projects, assembling teams and administering the Capstone course are demanding tasks. Although students often experience difficulties in the early stages of their work, they ultimately express satisfaction and appreciation for the skills learned in the course.

Practical implications

– The inclusion of a capstone team project in a graduate sustainability curriculum is strongly recommended. Adopting such a course requires significant effort and sustained faculty engagement.

Originality/value

– Although there is considerable experience with undergraduate engineering Capstone course requirements, little is known about interdivisional capstone requirements at the level of master’s degree in Sustainability. This paper details new and relevant experience helpful to the implementation of such a requirement.
Quest for a sustainable university: a review
Authors: Amaral Luís P. , Martins Nelson , Gouveia Joaquim B.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to deliver a general review of the methods used to pursue the concept of a “sustainable university”.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was Internet based, and it included research papers, books, conference proceedings, technical reports and Internet Web sites. The review was divided in two main parts: sustainability implementation methods and assessment and report tools. In turn, the practices used on universities to implement included more “traditional” environmental sustainability initiatives and a more updated sustainable management systems.

Findings

– Because “traditional” sustainability environmental sustainability initiatives have flaws, more recent tools were developed to help manage sustainability. Two sustainability management systems specifically oriented to universities are outlined on this paper. They both highlight the advantage of disposing a systematized management system; the need of address environmental issues and putting special attention on the use of resources, especially energy, on campus buildings; the social responsibility of the institution; and educational and research sustainability activities that must be taken on universities. Managing sustainability in a university would be facilitated if the procedure used to implement sustainability is aligned with the tool used that assesses its performance.

Originality/value

– The paper presents an updated review of the efforts that universities have made in contributing to a sustainable development. It includes methods and tools used to manage sustainability within a university, including the ones used to implement, assess and report it. The paper also intends to highlight the need of consistency and coherence between the implementation method and the assessment and report tools.
Barriers to energy efficiency and the uptake of green revolving funds in Canadian universities
Authors: Maiorano John , Savan Beth
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers to the implementation of energy efficiency projects in Canadian universities, including access to capital, bounded rationality, hidden costs, imperfect information, risk and split incentives. Methods to address these barriers are investigated, including evaluating the efficacy of revolving funds.

Design/methodology/approach

– Senior administrators of 15 Canadian universities were interviewed, making use of both structured and open-ended questions. As university executives and senior technical directors are responsible for investment in energy efficiency at Canadian universities, these individuals were the focus of our study.

Findings

– The results offer a curious contradiction. While “Access to Capital” was found to be the largest barrier to energy efficiency in Canadian universities, and while respondents agreed that green revolving funds are both an effective method to address these capital funding constraints, and may be an effective method to implement energy conservation projects at their university, only 2 out of the 15 universities interviewed and 7 out of the 98 universities in Canada currently make use of a green revolving fund. A general reluctance at Canadian universities to formalize processes to prioritize energy efficiency limits the associated benefits of mechanisms such as revolving funds to institutionalize energy efficiency and reduce long-term energy use.

Practical implications

– To provide insights into barriers to energy efficiency in universities and methods to address them, including the efficacy of revolving funds.

Originality/value

– This research is one of the first to investigate the efficacy of revolving funds to confront barriers to energy efficiency. The findings, implications and recommendations are valuable to organizations, university administrators, researchers and practitioners implementing energy efficiency measures.
A framework for Interlibrary-loan implementation (in one semester)
Authors: Irwin John , Favaro Sharon
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for implementing and “going live” with a new interlibrary loan system (ILL), ILLiad Document delivery system and RAPID ILL, in one semester.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper provides a framework for implementing ILLiad and RAPID ILL through conducting a needs assessment, review of the existing practices and selection process of hardware/software, collaboration with stakeholders within the library and university for implementation, training and “going live”.

Findings

– This paper demonstrates how to implement a new interlibrary system in one semester. There are many benefits to implementing and “going live” in one semester. Staff training coupled with “going live” is essential to retain the new skill set and put it into practice. Finally, the most immediate and important impact of the new system was giving the university community (students and faculty) expanded access to collections and providing an overall better user experience.

Originality/value

– This article provides a framework for other libraries to use as a model when considering implementing a new ILL system, such as ILLiad and RAPID ILL, in the course of one semester.
Assessing the value of ILL to our users: a comparative study of three US libraries
Authors: Little Micquel , Leon Lars
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to combine the patron perception of the interlibrary loan services offered in three libraries: an ARL campus, a small private liberal arts campus, and a large state public library. The goal was to have a vehicle for gathering both satisfaction and value information for each of the services provided by a resource-sharing operation to cross-analyze patron perceptions, satisfaction and value placed on resource sharing at each institution.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was created to gather the information desired, and it was designed to be completed in less than 15 minutes. The survey wording was adjusted depending on the individual participating organization to provide appropriate text for the local patrons. However, the basic content was similar for each library. The survey included an optional field where the patron could enter their name to allow follow-up as desired. It also included an open question to capture anything else the previous questions did not.

Findings

– This case studies finding include recognition of recurring features found valuable to library patrons utilizing all three institutions: access, speed and people. Each library was able to identify areas of strength and areas to improve upon within their services. Each library also gained insight into their patrons’ perceptions of the resource-sharing services offered. This insight is being used for further assessment studies, as well as to implement changes on each local campus.

Originality/value

– This study provides insight and data into resource-sharing assessment as related to patron value. As the literature review shows, no studies of this kind have been done recently or across the institutions included: small private academic, large research academic or large public library.
British Library Document Supply: an information service fit for the future
Authors: Appleyard Andrew
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to describe how the British Library Document Supply Service (BLDSS) is responding to changes in the provision of research content, redefining its services to suit varying audiences’ requirements and building on a flexible technology platform.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is descriptive in nature.

Findings

– The British Library is responding well to the current competitive environment for Inter Library Loan (ILL) and document supply.

Originality/value

– This study includes an up-to-date assessment of the BLDSS and the changes, driven by the changing landscape, that are taking place.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: No 88
Authors: McGrath Mike
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to review the current LIS literature for document supply, resource sharing and other issues such as open access (OA) that have an impact upon the service.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach is based on the scanning of about 150 journals, reports, websites and blogs.

Findings

– Lorcan Dempsey from OCLC looks into the future. Patron-driven acquisition and pay per view continue to receive much attention. There is considerable debate on the development of OA as the pace increases; of particular interest is Schöpfel on the impact of OA on document supply.

Originality/value

– This is the only regular literature review that focuses on interlending and document supply and related issues.