bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive Imitation is Irrational and Harmful*
Authors: Eyster Erik , Rabin Matthew
Published: August 2014

Rationality leads people to imitate those with similar tastes but different information. But people who imitate common sources develop correlated beliefs, and rationality demands that later social learners take this correlation into account. This implies severe limits to rational imitation. We show that (i) in most natural observation structures besides the canonical single-file case, full rationality dictates that people must “anti-imitate” some of those they observe; and (ii) in every observation structure full rationality dictates that people imitate, on net, at most one person and are imitated by, on net, at most one person, over any set of interconnected players. We also show that in a very broad class of settings, any learning rule in which people regularly do imitate more than one person without anti-imitating others will lead to a positive probability of people converging to confident and wrong long-run beliefs.
Resilience in the aftermath of war trauma: a critical review and commentary
Authors: Litz Brett T.
Published: August 2014

The resilience construct has received a great deal of attention as a result of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The discourse about resilience, especially the promise of promoting it and mitigating risk for serious post-traumatic negative outcomes among service members and veterans, is hopeful and encouraging. Remarkably, most service members exposed to horrific war trauma are not incapacitated by the experience. Yet, resilience is elusive and fleeting for many veterans of war. In this paper, I address some of the complexities about resilience in the context of exposure to war stressors and I offer some assumptions and heuristics that stem from my involvement in the dialogue about resilience and from experiences helping prevent post-traumatic stress disorder among active-duty service members with military trauma. My goal is to use my observations and applied experiences as an instructive context to raise critical questions for the field about resilience in the face of traumatic life-events.
Glucocorticoid-related predictors and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder treatment response in combat veterans
Authors: Yehuda Rachel , Pratchett Laura C. , Elmes Matthew W. , Lehrner Amy , Daskalakis Nikolaos P. , Koch Erin , Makotkine Iouri , Flory Janine D. , Bierer Linda M.
Published: August 2014

The identification of biomarkers for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and resilience/recovery is critical for advancing knowledge about pathophysiology and treatment in trauma-exposed persons. This study examined a series of glucocorticoid-related biomarkers prior to and in response to psychotherapy. Fifty-two male and female veterans with PTSD were randomized 2 : 1 to receive either prolonged exposure (PE) therapy or a weekly minimal attention (MA) intervention for 12 consecutive weeks. Psychological and biological assessments were obtained prior to and following treatment and after a 12-week naturalistic follow-up. Response was defined dichotomously as no longer meeting criteria for PTSD at post-treatment based on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS). Clinical improvement on the CAPS was apparent for both PE and MA, with no significant difference according to treatment condition. Biomarkers predictive of treatment gains included the BCLI polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor gene. Additional predictors of treatment response were higher bedtime salivary cortisol and 24 h urinary cortisol excretion. Pre-treatment plasma dehydroepiandrosterone/cortisol ratio and neuropetide Y (NPY) levels were predictors of reductions in PTSD symptoms, and, for NPY only, of other secondary outcomes as well, including anxiety and depression ratings. Glucocorticoid sensitivity changed in association with symptom change, reflecting clinical state. It is possible to distinguish prognostic and state biomarkers of PTSD using a longitudinal approach in the context of treatment. Identified markers may also be relevant to understanding mechanisms of action of symptom reduction.
Litoreibacter
ponti sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Park Sooyeon , Park Ji-Min , Park Doo-Sang , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: August 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated GJSW-31T, was isolated from seawater from the South Sea, South Korea. The novel strain grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain GJSW-31T clustered with the type strains of species of the genus

Litoreibacter

. Strain GJSW-31T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.2–98.5 % to the type strains of species of the genus

Litoreibacter

and sequence similarities of less than 96.18 % to type strains of the other species with validly published names. Strain GJSW-31T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain GJSW-31T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain GJSW-31T was 62.5 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of

Litoreibacter albidus

,

Litoreibacter janthinus

,

Litoreibacter meonggei

and

Litoreibacter ascidiaceicola

were 13–23 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain GJSW-31T is separate from other species of the genus

Litoreibacter

. On the basis of the data presented, strain GJSW-31T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Litoreibacter

, for which the name Litoreibacter ponti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GJSW-31T ( = KCTC 42114T = NBRC 110379T).
Classical swine fever virus and p7 protein induce secretion of IL-1β in macrophages
Authors: Lin Zhi , Liang Wulong , Kang Kai , Li Helin , Cao Zhi , Zhang Yanming
Published: August 2014

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) has a tropism for vascular endothelial cells and immune system cells. The process and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-18, is one of the fundamental reactions of the innate immune response to viral infection. In this study, we investigated the production of IL-1β from macrophages following CSFV infection. Our results showed that IL-1β was upregulated after CSFV infection through activating caspase-1. Subsequent studies demonstrated that reactive oxygen species may not be involved in CSFV-mediated IL-1β release. Recently, research has indicated a novel mechanism by which inflammasomes are triggered through detection of activity of viroporin. We further demonstrated that CSFV viroporin p7 protein induced IL-1β secretion which could be inhibited by the ion channel blocker amantadine and also discovered that p7 protein was a short-lived protein degraded by the proteasome. Together, our observations provided an insight into the mechanism of CSFV-induced inflammatory responses.
Perturbation biology models predict c-Myc as an effective co-target in RAF inhibitor resistant melanoma cells
Authors: Korkut Anil , Wang Weiqing , Demir Emek , Aksoy Bülent Arman , Jing Xiaohong , Molinelli Evan , Babur Özgün , Bemis Debra , Solit David B. , Pratilas Christine , Sander Chris
Published: August 2014

Systematic prediction of cellular response to perturbations is a central challenge in biology, both for mechanistic explanations and for the design of effective therapeutic interventions. We addressed this challenge using a computational/experimental method, termed perturbation biology, which combines high-throughput (phospho)proteomic and phenotypic response profiles to targeted perturbations, prior information from signaling databases and network inference algorithms from statistical physics. The resulting network models are computationally executed to predict the effects of tens of thousands of untested perturbations. We report cell type-specific network models of signaling in RAF-inhibitor resistant melanoma cells based on data from 89 combinatorial perturbation conditions and 143 readouts per condition. Quantitative simulations predicted c-Myc as an effective co-target with BRAF or MEK. Experiments showed that co-targeting c-Myc, using the BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1, and the RAF/MEK pathway, using kinase inhibitors is both effective and synergistic in this context. We propose these combinations as pre-clinical candidates to prevent or overcome RAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma.
Dead or Just Asleep? Variance of Microsatellite Allele Distributions in the Human Y-Chromosome
Authors: Flood Joe
Published: August 2014

Several different methods confirm that a number of micro-satellites on the human Y-chromosome have allele distributions with different variances in different haplogroups, after adjusting for coalescent times. This can be demonstrated through both heteroscedasticity tests and by poor correlation of the variance vectors in different subclades. The most convincing demonstration however is the complete inactivity of some markers in certain subclades – “microsatellite death”, while they are still active in companion subclades.

Many microsatellites have declined in activity as they proceed down through descendant subclades. This appears to confirm the theory of microsatellite life cycles, in which point mutations cause a steady decay in activity. However, the changes are too fast to be caused by point mutations alone, and slippage events may be implicated.

The rich microsatellite terrain exposed in our large single-haplotype samples provides new opportunities for genotyping and analysis.
Robust Population Structure Inference and Correction in the Presence of Known or Cryptic Relatedness
Authors: Conomos Matthew P. , Miller Mike , Thornton Timothy
Published: August 2014

Population structure inference with genetic data has been motivated by a variety of applications in population genetics and genetic association studies. Several approaches have been proposed for the identification of genetic ancestry differences in samples where study participants are assumed to be unrelated, including principal components analysis (PCA), multi-dimensional scaling (MDS), and model-based methods for proportional ancestry estimation. Many genetic studies, however, include individuals with some degree of relatedness, and existing methods for inferring genetic ancestry fail in related samples. We present a method, PC-AiR, for robust population structure inference in the presence of known or cryptic relatedness. PC-AiR utilizes genome-screen data and an efficient algorithm to identify a diverse subset of unrelated individuals that is representative of all ancestries in the sample. The PC-AiR method directly performs PCA on the identified ancestry representative subset and then predicts components of variation for all remaining individuals based on genetic similarities. In simulation studies and in applications to real data from Phase III of the HapMap Project, we demonstrate that PC-AiR provides a substantial improvement over existing approaches for population structure inference in related samples. We also demonstrate significant efficiency gains, where a single axis of variation from PC-AiR provides better prediction of ancestry in a variety of structure settings than using ten (or more) components of variation from widely used PCA and MDS approaches. Finally, we illustrate that PC-AiR can provide improved population stratification correction over existing methods in genetic association studies with population structure and relatedness.
Omics Pipe: A Computational Framework for Reproducible Multi-Omics Data Analysis
Authors: Fisch Kathleen M , Meißner Tobias , Gioia Louis , Ducom Jean-Christophe , Carland Tristan , Loguercio Salvatore , Su Andrew I.
Published: August 2014

Omics Pipe (https://bitbucket.org/sulab/omics_pipe) is a computational platform that automates multi-omics data analysis pipelines on high performance compute clusters and in the cloud. It supports best practice published pipelines for RNA-seq, miRNA-seq, Exome-seq, Whole Genome sequencing, ChIP-seq analyses and automatic processing of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Omics Pipe provides researchers with a tool for reproducible, open source and extensible next generation sequencing analysis.
Structural and catalytic effects of an invariant purine substitution in the hammerhead ribozyme: implications for the mechanism of acid–base catalysis
Authors: Schultz Eric P. , Vasquez Ernesto E. , Scott William G.
Published: August 2014

The hammerhead ribozyme catalyzes RNA cleavageviaacid–base catalysis. Whether it does so by general acid–base catalysis, in which the RNA itself donates and abstracts protons in the transition state, as is typically assumed, or by specific acid–base catalysis, in which the RNA plays a structural role and proton transfer is mediated by active-site water molecules, is unknown. Previous biochemical and crystallographic experiments implicate an invariant purine in the active site, G12, as the general base. However, G12 may play a structural role consistent with specific base catalysis. To better understand the role of G12 in the mechanism of hammerhead catalysis, a 2.2 Å resolution crystal structure of a hammerhead ribozyme fromSchistosoma mansoniwith a purine substituted for G12 in the active site of the ribozyme was obtained. Comparison of this structure (PDB entry 3zd4), in which A12 is substituted for G, with three previously determined structures that now serve as important experimental controls, allows the identification of structural perturbations that are owing to the purine substitution itself. Kinetic measurements for G12 purine-substituted schistosomal hammerheads confirm a previously observed dependence of rate on the pKaof the substituted purine; in both cases inosine, which is similar to G in pKaand hydrogen-bonding properties, is unexpectedly inactive. Structural comparisons indicate that this may primarily be owing to the lack of the exocyclic 2-amino group in the G12A and G12I substitutions and its structural effect upon both the nucleotide base and phosphate of A9. The latter involves the perturbation of a previously identified and well characterized metal ion-binding site known to be catalytically important in both minimal and full-length hammerhead ribozyme sequences. The results permit it to be suggested that G12 plays an important role in stabilizing the active-site structure. This result, although not inconsistent with the potential role of G12 as a general base, indicates that an alternative hammerhead cleavage mechanism involving specific base catalysis may instead explain the observed rate dependence upon purine substitutions at G12. The crystallographic results, contrary to previous assumptions, therefore cannot be interpreted to favor the general base catalysis mecahnism over the specific base catalysis mechanism. Instead, both of these mutually exclusive mechanistic alternatives must be considered in light of the current structural and biochemical data.
Crystal structure of 2,7-diethoxy-1,8-bis(4-nitrobenzoyl)naphthalene
Authors: Mohri Saki , Ohisa Shinji , Noguchi Keiichi , Yonezawa Noriyuki , Okamoto Akiko
Published: August 2014

The title compound, C28H22N2O8, possesses crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry, with the two central carbon atoms of the naphthalene unit lying on the rotation axis. The two benzoyl groups in the molecule are twisted away from the attached naphthalene unit with a C—C—C=O torsion angle of 49.05 (15)° between the naphthalene unit and the carbonyl group. The dihedral angle between the naphthalene ring system and the benzene ring is 77.17 (5)°. In the crystal, pairs of C—H...O=C hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a double-column structure along thecaxis. The molecules are further linked by C—H...O=N hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network. C—H...π interactions between the methylene group and the naphthalene unit and π–π interactions between the naphthalene ring systems [centroid–centroid distances of 3.7858 (7)–3.7860 (7) Å] are also observed.
Crystal structure of 1-methoxy-2,2,2-tris(pyrazol-1-yl)ethane
Authors: Lyubartseva Ganna , Parkin Sean , Coleman Morgan D. , Mallik Uma Prasad
Published: August 2014

The title compound, C12H14N6O, consists of three pyrazole rings boundvianitrogen to the distal ethane carbon of methoxy ethane. The dihedral angles between the three pyrazole rings are 67.62 (14), 73.74 (14), and 78.92 (12)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by bifurcated C—H,H...N hydrogen bonds, forming double-stranded chains along [001]. The chains are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional framework structure. The crystal was refined as a perfect (0.5:0.5) inversion twin.
Crystal structure of (E)-1(anthracen-9-ylmethylidene)[2-(morpholin-4-yl)ethyl]amine
Authors: Atioğlu Zeliha , Akkurt Mehmet , Jarrahpour Aliasghar , Chermahini Mehdi Mohammadi , Büyükgüngör Orhan
Published: August 2014

The title compound, C21H22N2O, crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. In both molecules, the anthracene ring systems are almost planar, with maximum deviations of 0.071 (8) and 0.028 (7) Å, and make dihedral angles of 73.4 (2) and 73.3 (2)° with the least-squares planes formed by the four C atoms of the morpholine rings, which adopt a chair conformation. An intramolecular C—H...π interaction occurs. In the crystal, the packing is stabilized by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which connect pairs of molecules into parallel to thecaxis, and C—H...π interactions.
Board characteristics and firm performance in Spain
Authors: Rodriguez-Fernandez Mercedes , Fernandez-Alonso Sonia , Rodriguez-Rodriguez José
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the relationship between internal governance structure and financial performance of listed Spanish companies. The effectiveness of the board of directors is analyzed through the use of different variables: size, composition, duality, number of annual meetings and busyness of the directors. The financial performance is measured by return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and Tobin’s Q.

Design/methodology/approach

– Our study is addressed through the use of a multi-theoretical approach followed by an empirical analysis. Schematic literature review serves as a basis for setting our hypotheses. We conduct the empirical part of the study by applying these to the listed companies in the Madrid Stock Exchange. An econometric model (multiple regression) is used to test the relation between board structure and financial performance.

Findings

– Empirical: We conclude that in the three estimated models, two of the dependent variables, ROE and ROA, have an explanatory value. The relationship between the number of the boards of directors’ meetings and performance has proved to be negative. Theoretical: Ample literature on corporate governance leads to two conclusions: First, corporative–financial relations must be studied by a multi-theoretical approach. Second, future research must be made only on specific studies coincident with the majority of their characteristics (country, type of firm, type of statistical model […]).

Research limitations/implications

– Future research will try to cover gaps, expanding this study in both space and time.

Practical implications

– The number of Spanish companies’ boards meetings is very high. As shown in our study, holding more than one meeting a month does not guarantee greater financial returns; the board can effectively establish its strategic lines of business by meeting up to 12 times per year.

Social implications

– The results show a negative relationship between ROE and the number of meetings, which may be linked to the country’s business culture, which traditionally has a higher number of annual meetings when compared to neighboring countries. Perhaps, this is an indicative symptom of the inefficiency associated with the Spanish system.

Originality/value

– Theoretical review is performed with two aims: first, to establish our research hypotheses, and second, to reflect on future research by fine-tuning the abundant previous studies.
Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable business practices: framework and empirical illustration
Authors: A.O. Dos Santos Maria , Svensson Göran , Padin Carmen
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to illustrate what and how a South African retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using economic, ecological and social areas of indices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on the content analysis of public documents, such as sustainability and annual reports, of a retail chain. An assessment of sustainability and annual reports for 2008-2011 has been considered to examine how and what this retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates in its sustainable business practices.

Findings

– Woolworths has a sustainability programme in place that assures that the efforts of sustainable business practices are implemented, monitored and evaluated properly and that their targets for each area of indices are accomplished.

Research limitations/implications

– The content analysis shows that the areas of indices are important in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Woolworths’ spectrum of efforts in sustainability business practices.

Practical implications

– The study demonstrates practically how Woolworths South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using various areas of indices which fall under the three pillars of sustainability, namely, economic, environmental and social.

Originality/value

– This research provides insight on what and how a retail chain in South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices over time. It also offers an insight into the strategic approach beyond the company’s judicial frontiers and into the supply chain. Furthermore, it shows how a company’s business network can be committed to change towards sustainable business practices.
Corporate sustainability through non-financial risk management
Authors: Wong Anson
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims at highlighting the significance in developing non-financial risk management, emphasizing the need of managing environmental and social issues for enhancing corporate sustainability. Particularly, through discussing the implications of non-financial risk management, its benefits, opportunities and challenges will also be presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing on authoritative academic literature, reports of corporations’ studies, current articles and documents, the researcher has managed to examine and construe the development and implications of non-financial risk management.

Findings

– Several key findings are covered in this article. First of all, environmental and social concerns are usually being deemed as intangible issues that need to be properly articulated and managed by an effective non-financial risk management system for enhancing corporate sustainability. Second, through different interpretations of sustainability, links could be drawn for highlighting the significance of non-financial risk management and corporate sustainability. Third, by explaining the impacts from non-financial risk management to sustainable development and profits, the article has illustrated corporate sustainability as a clear business case for any corporation. Fourth, challenges are also portrayed for the effective management of non-financial risk management by corporations. Finally, and most importantly, the need of a systematic and strategic non-financial risk management system for helping businesses to be more competitive, thus, moving closer to sustainable development, is discussed in this paper.

Originality/value

– The contribution of the article is thought to be significant. Although there exists a wide body of research on sustainable development, risk management and corporate sustainability, there is limited insight into how the corporations can effectively conceptualize such intangible or non-financial risk in relation to sustainability. Integrating environmental and social risks is critical to the effective management of any corporation’s real risks, and to improve resources allocation in a sustainable fashion. This demands a systematic and strategic identification of issues through non-financial risk management. Most significantly, this article has shown the way this can be achieved by any corporation, and the concepts can be applied globally.
We didn’t see it coming! Managerial challenges in silently fading processes
Authors: Renström Helena
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand “silent” processes, where the relationship fades away for no obvious reason, and to outline a few managerial challenges related to a passive engagement style in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses an exploratory approach where 42 interviews were screened, resulting in eight semi-structured interviews that were used describing silent fading relationships. The interviews represent four relationship dyads between financial advisors and their customers in a private banking setting (wealth management).

Findings

– The paper outlines the relationship roots, the process dynamics, and the reasons behind fading in the relationships. It emphasizes the problems with implicit expectations from both parties in the relationship and suggests that more focus should be put on defining the relationship from the start. The absence of interaction and dialogue is problematic. If the parties in the relationship are able to communicate constructively during an unstable phase in the relationship, there is a better chance that the relationship will survive.

Research limitations/implications

– Since no attempts are made to generalize the knowledge retrieved, the number of fading relationships categorized must not be seen as representative for a general tendency.

Practical implications

– The paper offers several managerial challenges when it comes to understanding the management of silently fading relationships, e.g. managing mismatching expectations, defining and re-defining the relationship, constructive dialogue, gaining service encounter information, and the need for finding the right level of commitment in the relationship.

Originality/value

– This paper discusses several concepts that are highly interesting for research related to relationship dynamics. Most studies have focussed on active decisions in relationships, whereas this paper focusses on passive and inactive decisions. It also offers empirical insights, which are scarce in the area.
Invisible value formation: a netnography in retail banking
Authors: Medberg Gustav , Heinonen Kristina
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore value formation in the customer-bank relationship outside the line of visibility of service encounters. The customer's own context has been overlooked by the bank marketing literature as it is traditionally focused on value created by the service process and outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

– Positioned within the customer dominant logic, a netnography was conducted to explore how bank relationships are realised in customers’ own contexts and experiences. A total of 579 postings from discussions of retail banking in 18 online communities were collected and analysed.

Findings

– The study uncovered four factors of invisible bank service value experienced by customers: shared moral value, responsibility value, relationship value, and heritage value.

Research limitations/implications

– The study conceptualises bank service value as realised in the customers’ own contexts and thus highlights previously hidden sources of value in banking. The findings can be used for further conceptualisations of the customer dominant value formation of bank services.

Practical implications

– The netnographic method illustrates how naturalistic data about customers’ retail bank experiences can be retrieved unobtrusively. The findings help bank management to understand what comprises customer value beyond the service encounter.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the research in service marketing and bank marketing in three ways: first, a methodological contribution is the introduction of a netnographic approach to bank service value research. Second, a theoretical contribution is the uncovering of invisible value formation in the customer-bank relationship. Third, the paper uses the customer dominant logic in a banking context, thus providing insights into how banks are involved in the customer's own life.
Consumer trust in banking relationships in Europe
Authors: Anneli Järvinen Raija
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the content of consumer trust in the banking sector on the basis of the earlier literature and to compare consumer trust in banking and distinct banking services in 29 European countries in order to find out if there are deviations in consumer trust in banks at the organisational level, and at a service level, and between distinct services and between various countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employs a survey gathered in 2012 in 29 European countries containing 41,308 consumer assessments concerning banking services. The data are analysed by using SPSS-statistical software.

Findings

– The study reveals deviations between various banking services and company-level results regarding consumers’ trust in their banking relationships. Consumer trust is the highest in banking accounts and the lowest in investments and pensions. The study also highlights deviations in consumer trust between European countries, and identifies countries with low, medium and high trust in banking and in distinct banking services.

Research limitations/implications

– The culture and well-being of a nation may affect in consumer trust in general. The data are bound to certain limitations, its formula is decided at European Commission level.

Practical implications

– Low trust may indicate serious problems in the markets and it should be a signal to bank managers to take actions, e.g. by reducing the levels of perceived risk in high-complexity banking services, launching simpler products, present service offerings in a more customer-oriented way, applying behavioural perspectives in relationships with consumers, encourage on-going behavioural loyalty, and maintaining customer service at high priority. Low-trust consumers have to be approached with a different strategy than those with high trust.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the literature on trust by defining the content of consumer trust in the banking context. The empirical results of consumer trust in banking in 29 European markets at country level and at banking service level increase knowledge of trust as experienced by consumers. They reveal that trust is a service-specific phenomenon showing that the degree of consumer trust varies depending on the service in question, and there is vast deviation between the European countries. The highest trust in all the three banking services is experienced in Malta, Finland and Luxembourg, and the lowest in Spain. Otherwise the countries show variation across the banking services. The results indicate also demographic deviations in trust.
An integrated approach to fashion flat sketches classification
Authors: An Lixin , Li Wei
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the problem of fashion flat sketches classification and proposed an integrated approach. It aims to propose a fast, reliable method to handle multi-class fashion flat sketches classification problems and lay the foundation for the garment style query in the next step.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed integrated approach adopts wavelet Fourier descriptor (WFD), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and extreme learning machine (ELM). First, the discrete wavelet and Fourier transform are adopted to extract the shape features of fashion flat sketches. Then, LDA is employed for multi-class classification to reduce dimensionality. Finally, ELM is used as the classifier.

Findings

– The experimental results show that the classification accuracy of the integrated approach is obtained at about 100 percent. Contrary to the traditional approaches, efficiency and accuracy are the advantages of the present approach.

Research limitations/implications

– Fashion concept is conveyed often in the form of the fashion illustration or sketch. This type of sketch is useful to imply the style and overall feel of the design. However, this sketch gives no clue about the parts or sections that make up each garment. For this reason, this paper only studies the classification of flat sketches.

Originality/value

– A new shape descriptor named WFD is proposed. The WFD acquires high classification accuracy comparing with Fourier descriptor (FD) and multiscale Fourier descriptor (MFD) without dimensionality reduction and nearly the same classification accuracy comparing with FD while MFD easily causes small sample size problem with dimensionality reduction using LDA. In addition, ELM is first used as the classifier in the textiles field related to the classification problem.
Morphology and properties of nanoscale copper films deposited on polyester substrates
Authors: Huang Xinmin , Meng Lingling , Wei Qufu , Wang Linyu
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Nanoscale copper (Cu) films were deposited onto the surface of polyester fabrics with different structures using radio frequency magnetron sputter coating system at room temperature. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to observe the surface morphology of substrates and the structures of the deposited copper particles, respectively. The capillary flow pore instrument was used to measure pore sizes distribution of polyester substrates.

Findings

– The experimental results revealed that the fabric structures had a more significant role on the conductivity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of samples. The porosity had more apparent effect on ultraviolet transmittance of samples.

Originality/value

– The results have some theory values on the development of functional textiles.
An integrated approach to explain the manufacturing function's contribution to business performance
Authors: Gonzalez-Benito Javier , Lannelongue Gustavo
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Prior research into the manufacturing function's contribution to business performance demonstrates two seemingly incompatible approaches: strategic alignment or the identification of best practices. In the former, practices are useful only if they are consistent with the strategy to be implemented; in the latter, better performance derives from certain practices, regardless of the strategic context. The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical framework to integrate these approaches according to two types of manufacturing alignment, external and internal, such that organizational performance depends on their interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– The framework was tested over the information provided on a questionnaire by 148 Spanish companies in three industrial sectors: industrial and commercial machinery, electronic and other electrical equipment, and transportation equipment.

Findings

– The level of internal alignment depends on the manufacturing practices; some facilitate alignment under any competitive circumstances, whereas others only do so for specific competitive priorities.

Originality/value

– This study reinforces the idea that alignment between manufacturing capabilities and business strategy is fundamental, but it also recognizes some best practices that facilitate alignment in any circumstances. Therefore, it demonstrates that both, the approach based on strategic alignment and that based on the existence of best practices, can be combined to fully explain the potential of the manufacturing function.
The Emperor’s new tweets
Authors: Buell Hirsch Peter
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify decision tools for determining how to structure a social media presence for senior executives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The desired decision tools emerge from a review of the opportunities and challenges facing senior executives in social media.

Findings

– By following a structured inquiry into the business purposes of an executive’s social media presence, it is possible to determine what that presence should consist of.

Originality/value

– In the current literature, there are few attempts to establish practical criteria for social activities by senior executives and how to measure its value.
The new face of corporate patriotism: does being “local” matter to stakeholders?
Authors: Puncheva-Michelotti Petya , Michelotti Marco
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss how foreign firms can successfully use an innovative marketing communication strategy based on the notion of corporate patriotic appeal to better promote their activities within the countries they operate.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article uses case study analysis and focus group discussions to link current business practices with stakeholder perceptions of corporate patriotism.

Findings

– There is an emerging trend in corporate communication strategies where corporate patriotism is increasingly used as an effective marketing strategy by both domestic and foreign firms. It was also found that corporate patriotism is an important value across four stakeholder groups which include consumers, investors, employees and community members.

Originality/value

– This article identifies a new marketing communication strategy that can be used by multinational enterprises to better promote their activities in the local community within which they operate and among key stakeholder groups. This is particularly important at a time when many multinational enterprises run different operations in multiple countries and, as a result, are often exposed to extensive negative publicity.
Brand intrapreneurs and brand managers: in search of disruption
Authors: J. van Rensburg Deryck
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to postulate as to whether the brand manager function and role is best placed for creating high growth, disruptive brand portfolios. As a potential solution toward resolving this, prescriptions for nurturing brand intrapreneurs are advanced to accelerate corporate entrepreneurial thinking and action based on the empirical case material.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws from seven case studies of six large global consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms involved in strategic brand venturing activity. Interview quotations are used to provide an invocative account of key ideas and arguments in the paper. Data gathering comprised extensive documentation and observation, and 21 semistructured interviews with senior-level executives and entrepreneurs. Interviews ranged in length with a mean interview time of 1 hour 23 minutes. All interviews were recorded with interviewee permission and, subsequently, transcribed and analyzed. Within-case and across-case analyses were performed using the spiral methodology espoused by Creswell (2007).

Findings

– Findings are clustered under three themes: galvanic and savvy leaders, entrepreneurial program design and nuanced operating models. In particular, the simultaneous practice of external and internal venturing inside a single venturing unit was noted to generate unique learning and promote corporate entrepreneurial action.

Research limitations/implications

– While case studies offer a way of investigating complex real-life phenomena with multiple variables, their ideographic nature suffers from an inability to generalize findings to other populations. This research design is no different. Nevertheless, rigorous within-case and cross-case analyses were performed involving world-class CPG marketing corporations to arrive at the findings presented.

Practical implications

– Numerous prescriptions for implementing brand intrapreneurship are advanced in the paper.

Originality/value

– Although technology venturing is a well-researched topic, ambidextrous brand venturing groups among CPG corporations renown for their marketing and branding prowess are only beginning to catch-on in practice – this is one of the first empirical paper to enumerate the practices of brand intrapreneurship within a strategic brand venturing framework.
Finance equity, student achievement, and justice
Authors: C. Knoeppel Robert , F. First Patricia , R. Della Sala Matthew , A. Ordu Chinasa
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between state education finance distribution models and student achievement. To date, lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of state finance systems have been heard in 45 states; the judicial interpretation of the requirement to provide equality of educational opportunity has led to changes in finance distribution models as well as the implementation of accountability policy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study included district level finance and achievement data from five states. Researchers reviewed the relevant judicial interpretation of the finance system, the accountability policy, and the finance distribution system. Next, researchers calculated the equity of both the finance distribution model and measures of student achievement. Finally, an equity ratio was developed and calculated to discern the degree to which state distribution models resulted in equitable measures of student achievement.

Findings

– Findings reveal that no state has both an equitable system of finance and equitable measures of student achievement. The way that states define proficiency significantly impacts the percentage of students that reach proficiency. This impacts the provision of equality of opportunity.

Originality/value

– Traditionally, the measurement of equity has only been applied to finance distribution systems. The authors of this paper have applied these concepts to measures of student achievement and aligned the two concepts with the equity ratio. Since states are charged with providing sufficient resources to enable students to reach proficiency, an understanding of the interaction between resources and achievement is a critical tool in analyzing the provision of equal opportunity.
Total Quality Management in Mauritian education and principals’ decision-making for school improvement
Authors: Claude Ah-Teck Jean , E. Starr Karen
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Reflecting the Mauritian government's “quality” agenda and its focus on school leadership, this paper reports the findings of research exploring Mauritian principals’ views about the use of total quality management (TQM) for school improvement. While aspects of this research have been reported elsewhere, the purpose of this paper is to focus on school leaders’ use of data and evidence in making decisions for school improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reports on qualitative aspects within a mixed methods research with data collected by means of semi-structured interviews conducted with a purposive sample of six principals. The analysis of the data were an exercise in grounded theory building.

Findings

– The paper expands the knowledge of principals as quantitative data users arguing that qualitative information based on professional discourses, human judgements and lived experiences should be equally valorised if TQM is used for making informed educational decisions.

Research limitations/implications

– The research relied on principals’ views as the unique source of data. The perspectives of the other stakeholders would offer a richer description of leadership reality in Mauritian schools.

Practical implications

– The paper suggests a more participatory decision-making model for effective change that could rightfully engage all stakeholders through various complementary quantitative and qualitative processes. It further recommends that alongside the core systemic qualities of TQM, there are ethical, moral and cultural dimensions of leadership that could enhance the teaching and learning environment.

Originality/value

– While confirming some extant research, the paper brings new thinking to understanding the critical role of principals within the TQM scenario of data-driven decision making.
Principals’ sense of efficacy: the influence of the Arkansas Leadership Academy
Authors: T. Airola Denise , Bengtson Ed , A. Davis Deborah , K. Peer Diana
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between school principals’ sense of efficacy and their involvement with the Arkansas Leadership Academy's (the Academy) School Support Program (SSP).

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from participating SSP principals to explore differences in mean principal self-efficacy given varied years of participation in SSP. The Principal Self-Efficacy Survey was used to measure the construct of principal self-efficacy of 27 principals participating in the Academy's SSP for low-performing schools.

Findings

– The findings suggest that principals of low-performing schools that participated in the Arkansas Leadership Academy's SSP for more years have a stronger sense of leadership efficacy than principals of low-performing schools that are just beginning the SSP.Post hocqualitative data were collected through a focus group discussion to provide insight regarding actual practices that led to increased perceived self-efficacy as a result of participating in the SSP.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is highly contextualized to the principals and school systems participating in the SSP, a limited population due to conditions under which schools qualify to participate in the program.

Practical implications

– As schools continue to be identified as needing to improve based on accountability measures, external sources of leadership development for the principals leading these schools should be considered as a possible means for increasing their senses of efficacy, and indirectly supporting the potential for improved school performance.

Social implications

– The attributes of highly efficacious principals – self-regulating, confident, and calm in difficult situations – may be more critical to leaders engaged in systemic change in low-performing schools where the challenges may be more complex.

Originality/value

– There could be a strong argument that the influence of an outside support program might be one strategy to consider when addressing the improvement of low-performing schools through raising leader efficacy.