bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tailoring a two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO
3
/SrTiO
3
(001) interface by epitaxial strain
Authors: Bark C. W. , Felker D. A. , Wang Y. , Zhang Y. , Jang H. W. , Folkman C. M. , Park J. W. , Baek S. H. , Zhou H. , Fong D. D. , Pan X. Q. , Tsymbal E. Y. , Rzchowski M. S. , Eom C. B.
Published: February 2011

Recently a metallic state was discovered at the interface between insulating oxides, most notably LaAlO
3
and SrTiO
3
. Properties of this two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) have attracted significant interest due to its potential applications in nanoelectronics. Control over this carrier density and mobility of the 2DEG is essential for applications of these unique systems, and may be achieved by epitaxial strain. However, despite the rich nature of strain effects on oxide materials properties, such as ferroelectricity, magnetism, and superconductivity, the relationship between the strain and electrical properties of the 2DEG at the LaAlO
3
/SrTiO
3
heterointerface remains largely unexplored. Here, we use different lattice constant single-crystal substrates to produce LaAlO
3
/SrTiO
3
interfaces with controlled levels of biaxial epitaxial strain. We have found that tensile-strained SrTiO
3
destroys the conducting 2DEG, while compressively strained SrTiO
3
retains the 2DEG, but with a carrier concentration reduced in comparison to the unstrained LaAlO
3
/SrTiO
3
interface. We have also found that the critical LaAlO
3
overlayer thickness for 2DEG formation increases with SrTiO
3
compressive strain. Our first-principles calculations suggest that a strain-induced electric polarization in the SrTiO
3
layer is responsible for this behavior. The polarization is directed away from the interface and hence creates a negative polarization charge opposing that of the polar LaAlO
3
layer. This behavior both increases the critical thickness of the LaAlO
3
layer, and reduces carrier concentration above the critical thickness, in agreement with our experimental results. Our findings suggest that epitaxial strain can be used to tailor 2DEGs properties of the LaAlO
3
/SrTiO
3
heterointerface.
Removal and effects of scatter-glare in cone-beam CT with an amorphous-silicon flat-panel detector
Authors: Poludniowski G , Evans P M , Kavanagh A , Webb S
Published: February 2011

Scatter in a detector and its housing can result in image degradation. Typically, such scatter leads to a low-spatial frequency ‘glare’ superimposed on the primary signal. We infer the glare-spread function (GSF) of an amorphous-silicon flat-panel detector via an edge-spread technique. We demonstrate that this spread (referred to as ‘scatter-glare’ herein) causes a low-spatial frequency drop in the associated modulation-transfer function. This results in a compression of the range of reconstructed CT (computed tomography) numbers and is an impediment to accurate CT-number calibration. We show that it can also lead to visual artefacts. This explains previously unresolved CT-number discrepancies in an earlier work (Poludniowski et al 2009 Phys. Med. Biol.
54 3847). We demonstrate that after deconvolving the GSF from the projection images, in conjunction with a correction for phantom-scatter, the CT-number discrepancies disappear. We show results for an in-house-built phantom with inserts of tissue-equivalent materials and for a patient scan. We conclude that where scatter-glare has not been accounted for, the calibration of cone-beam CT numbers to material density will be compromised. The scatter-glare measurement method we propose is simple and requires no special equipment. The deconvolution process is also straightforward and relatively quick (60 ms per projection on a desktop PC).
Gaetbulibacter aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from shallow coastal seawater, and emended description of the genus Gaetbulibacter
Authors: Park Seong Chan , Choe Han Na , Baik Keun Sik , Lee Kang Hyun , Seong Chi Nam
Published: February 2011

A rod-shaped, yellow and strictly aerobic marine bacterium, designated KYW382T, was isolated from seawater collected from the South Sea, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-negative and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 32.4 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KYW382T constituted an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Gaetbulibacter. The closest neighbour was Gaetbulibacter saemankumensis SMK-12T (96.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain KYW382T from the described members of the genus Gaetbulibacter. On the basis of the data presented in this study, strain KYW382T represents a novel species, for which the name Gaetbulibacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW382T ( = KCTC 23303T  = JCM 17455T). An emended description of the genus Gaetbulibacter is also given.
Characterization of Tetragenococcus strains from sugar thick juice reveals a novel species, Tetragenococcus osmophilus sp. nov., and divides Tetragenococcus halophilus into two subspecies, T. halophilus subsp. halophilus subsp. nov. and T. halophilus subsp. flandriensis subsp. nov.
Authors: Justé A. , Van Trappen S. , Verreth C. , Cleenwerck I. , De Vos P. , Lievens B. , Willems K. A.
Published: February 2011

Most bacteria recovered so far from sugar thick juice during storage represent strains of the species Tetragenococcus halophilus. Recently, several Gram-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming cocci with other physiological and genetic traits were isolated from sugar thick juice samples from different origins. In this study, representative isolates were investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between these isolates and their closest relative, Tetragenococcus muriaticus, was 97.4 %. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between isolate T1T, representing the newly found Tetragenococcus isolates, and T. muriaticus was 57 %. Isolate T1T had a DNA G+C content of 36.7 mol%. Phylogenetic data and genomic and phenotypic features demonstrated that the isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Tetragenococcus osmophilus sp. nov. is proposed with T1T as the type strain ( = LMG 26041T  = DSM 23765T). Additionally, T. halophilus isolates from high-salt and high-sugar environments showed clear differences in several physiological and genetic characteristics like RAPD fingerprints and 16S rRNA gene sequences. DNA–DNA hybridizations, however, showed 79 to 80 % relatedness between osmophilic and halophilic T. halophilus isolates, demonstrating that the different strains belong to the same species. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic differences observed, as well as the different origins of the strains and the industrial relevance of thick juice degradation, two subspecies of T. halophilus are described in this manuscript: T. halophilus subsp. halophilus subsp. nov. for the strains isolated from salt media and T. halophilus subsp. flandriensis subsp. nov. for the strains isolated from sugar-rich environments, which were first isolated in Flanders, Belgium. The type strains for the subspecies are IAM 1676T ( = LMG 11490T  = DSM 20339T) and T5T ( = LMG 26042T  = DSM 23766T), respectively.
Morphology and 18S rDNA phylogeny of Hemicycliostyla sphagni (Ciliophora, Hypotricha) from Brazil with redefinition of the genus Hemicycliostyla
Authors: Paiva Thiago da Silva , Borges Bárbara do Nascimento , Silva-Neto Inácio Domingos da , Harada Maria Lúcia
Published: February 2011

Morphology of the urostylid ciliateHemicycliostyla sphagniStokes, 1886, the type ofHemicycliostylaStokes, 1886, is investigated based on live and protargol-impregnated specimens from a Brazilian population. The absence of transverse cirri, which has been considered the main diagnostic feature ofHemicycliostyla, separating it fromPseudourostylaBorror, 1972, was found to vary within the studied population, with 50 % of the specimens exhibiting inconspicuous and/or rudimentary transverse cirri. A redefinition ofHemicycliostylawas possible based on combined features of interphase and divisional morphogenesis: Retroextendia Berger, 2006, with bi- or multicoronal frontal cirral pattern; fronto-terminal cirri present; multiple left and right marginal cirral rows that replicate independently via within-row development, each parental row producing one primordium per divider; caudal cirri lacking; and presence/absence of transverse cirri may be intrapopulationally variable. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rDNA marker unambiguously placedH. sphagnias sister group ofPseudourostyla franziFoissner, 1987, which is herein transferred toHemicycliostylaasHemicycliostylafranzicomb. nov.
Stimulus similarity and encoding time influence incidental recognition memory in adult monkeys with selective hippocampal lesions
Authors: Zeamer Alyson , Meunier Martine , Bachevalier Jocelyne
Published: February 2011

Recognition memory impairment after selective hippocampal lesions in monkeys is more profound when measured with visual paired-comparison (VPC) than with delayed nonmatching-to-sample (DNMS). To clarify this issue, we assessed the impact of stimuli similarity and encoding duration on the VPC performance in monkeys with hippocampal lesions and sham-operated controls. The novelty preference was compared for pictures of dissimilar vs. similar objects and for encoding duration of 30, 10, 5, and 1 sec. The novelty preference was spared after hippocampal lesions with dissimilar (colored or black and white [BW]) stimuli and an encoding time ≥10 sec, but declined with similar stimuli or a short encoding time of 1 or 5 sec. Therefore, the severe VPC impairment reported earlier after hippocampal damage cannot be attributed to the long encoding time used (30 sec) relative to DNMS (1–5 sec). However, it may result, at least in part, from the poorer distinctiveness of the stimuli typically used for VPC (BW slides of pictures of equal size and brightness of objects differing in shape) relative to the actual objects used for DNMS, differing in shape, color, size, brightness, and texture. This conclusion fits well with current models that view the hippocampus as a comparator capable of individualizing the representations of highly overlapping inputs.
LIGHT-REGULATED WD1 and PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR9 Form a Positive Feedback Regulatory Loop in the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock
Authors: Wang Ying , Wu Jing-Fen , Nakamichi Norihito , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Nam Hong-Gil , Wu Shu-Hsing
Published: February 2011

In Arabidopsis thaliana, central circadian clock genes constitute several feedback loops. These interlocking loops generate an ~24-h oscillation that enables plants to anticipate the daily diurnal environment. The identification of additional clock proteins can help dissect the complex nature of the circadian clock. Previously, LIGHT-REGULATED WD1 (LWD1) and LWD2 were identified as two clock proteins regulating circadian period length and photoperiodic flowering. Here, we systematically studied the function of LWD1/2 in the Arabidopsis circadian clock. Analysis of the lwd1 lwd2 double mutant revealed that LWD1/2 plays dual functions in the light input pathway and the regulation of the central oscillator. Promoter:luciferase fusion studies showed that activities of LWD1/2 promoters are rhythmic and depend on functional PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR9 (PRR9) and PRR7. LWD1/2 is also needed for the expression of PRR9, PRR7, and PRR5. LWD1 is preferentially localized within the nucleus and associates with promoters of PRR9, PRR5, and TOC1 in vivo. Our results support the existence of a positive feedback loop within the Arabidopsis circadian clock. Further mechanistic studies of this positive feedback loop and its regulatory effects on the other clock components will further elucidate the complex nature of the Arabidopsis circadian clock.
Hermeneutics applied to the quality of empirical databases
Authors: Boydens Isabelle , van Hooland Seth
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to present a conceptual framework to analyze and improve the quality of empirical databases throughout time – with operational results which are measurable in terms of cost‐benefit.

Design/methodology/approach

Basing themselves on the general approach of hermeneutics and, more specifically, on Fernand Braudel's concept of “temporalités étagées” and Norbert Elias's “evolutive continuum”, the authors develop a temporal framework consisting of three stratified time levels in order to interpret shifts in the quality of databases. The soundness of the framework and its capability of delivering operational results are demonstrated by the development of a case study focusing on social security databases. A second case study in the context of digital cultural heritage is also developed to illustrate the general applicability of this interdisciplinary approach in the context of empirical information systems.

Findings

Contrary to the assertions of common theories that postulate a permanent bijective relationship between records in a database and the corresponding reality, this paper provides insights which demonstrate that a database evolves over time along with the interpretation of the values that it allows one to determine. These interdisciplinary insights, when applied practically to concrete case studies, give rise to original operational results in the ICT field of data quality.

Practical implications

The framework helps both the managers and the users of empirical databases to understand the necessity to integrate unforeseen observations, neglected a priori by virtue of the closed world assumption, and to develop operational recommendations to enhance the quality of databases.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to show the potential of hermeneutics for the task of understanding the evolution of an empirical information system, and also the first to deliver operational outcomes.
Information sharing as a means to reach collective understanding
Authors: Pilerot Ola , Limberg Louise
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study aims to increase knowledge about the information‐sharing activities of design research scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were carried out with selected participants from a Nordic design research network. The interview transcripts and notes from workplace‐observations were approached from a discursive point of view and analyzed in accordance with Theodore Schatzki's practice theory.

Findings

Information‐sharing activities are intrinsically intertwined with other information practices such as information seeking and use. It is further established that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be seen as important parts of the arrangements of human and non‐human entities that, together with practices, form the social site in which the scholars are active. There is a reciprocal relationship between ICTs, and other material arrangements, and the ways in which information is used and shared. ICTs function both as a source of meaning and as a preconfigurator of actions.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for the development of information systems and services aimed at scholars working in collaborative interdisciplinary settings. Library and information science scholars can benefit from the elaborated concept of information sharing.

Originality/value

Design scholars' information sharing has not been studied before. By applying a practice‐theory lens this paper presents a particular perspective. Increased knowledge about the information‐sharing activities of an epistemologically and socio‐culturally amalgamated network of scholars is the main contribution of this paper.
What do the conceptions of geo/spatial information tell us about information literacy?
Authors: Nazari Maryam , Webber Sheila
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report findings from an investigation into the conceptions and characteristics of geo/spatial information (GI) to demonstrate how exploring academics and students' conceptions of GI facilitated illumination of information literacy (IL) in the Geographic Information Science/Systems (GIS) discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting an embedded exploratory case study, the data were gathered from semi‐structured interviews, an open‐ended questionnaire and students' reflection in an online distance learning (ODL) GIS programme. The data were analysed in light of the Grounded Theory approach. Drawing on the conceptions of GI which emerged from the study, this paper highlights several characteristics of GI and discusses their implications for IL. In particular, it compares the emergent IL competencies in the GIS discipline with those in the SCONUL model.

Findings

GI was identified as geo/spatial, temporal, geo/spatially contextualised, and geo/spatially technology‐mediated. According to these conceptions, GI is a constructive concept; it has multiple components which need various operations and user inputs to become geo/spatially meaningful and usable. These characteristics uncovered new aspects of IL in the GIS discipline which influence the depth and breadth of the SCONUL model.

Research limitations/implications

Unlike exploratory studies of IL which focus on the IL and IL competencies to explore this phenomenon, the methodological approach taken in this study provides IL researchers with a new approach whose primary focus is on the concept of information as a key contextual element of IL. This helps one to gain a deeper insight into IL in disciplinary areas.

Practical implications

The emergent aspects to the SCONUL model can be taken into consideration when designing and delivering IL programmes in the GIS discipline. Likewise, the emergent picture of IL in this study can be used by GIS educators to develop information‐literate GIS learners.

Originality/value

This study is original in terms of both its methodological approach and its outcomes. These can be of value to IL researchers, educators and practitioners.
Putting new wine into old bottles
Authors: Gärtner Christian
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a critical review of the theoretical conception and practical implications of the notion of mindfulness (introduced to organization theory by Karl Weick and colleagues). As this concept aims at clarifying the mechanisms of knowledge creation and knowledge re‐configuration, the notion of mindfulness is used and refined to contribute to explaining some of the micro‐foundations of dynamic capabilities. Thus, the paper aims to show how putting “new wine” (mindfulness) into “old bottles” (dynamic capabilities) can add to the clarification of the nature and development of dynamic capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores and reviews the literature on mindfulness as well as dynamic capabilities and engages in conceptual development based on this literature. Based on this literature review, propositions are developed that regard mindfulness as a micro‐foundation of dynamic capabilities.

Findings

It is shown that the literature neglects opportunistic behaviour, issues of power, and self‐contradictory aspects of the principles for mindful organizing. It is argued that mindfulness should neither be understood as an attribute of an entity nor be simply contrasted with routine, but should rather be depicted as a medium and outcome of social practices which involves enacting power and drawing pre‐reflectively on a background that is built up by routines. Five propositions describe how such a refined understanding of mindfulness can contribute to explaining the micro‐foundations of dynamic capabilities such as “sensing opportunities and threats”, “seizing opportunities”, and “reconfiguring a company's assets”.

Research limitations/implications

While there are apparent parallels between the notion of mindfulness and the concept of dynamic capabilities, there are also some notable differences. The discussion of dynamic capability puts more emphasis on routines that introduce instability and ambiguity rather than coping with (externally posed) the unexpected. As a consequence, the propositions regarding the relation between mindfulness and dynamic capabilities should be further elaborated and validated or refuted empirically.

Originality/value

First, the paper delineates the limits of (organizing for) mindfulness which has been applied quite uncritically by organization scholars. Second, it derives five propositions that highlight previously neglected mechanisms of how dynamic capabilities develop, therefore adding to one's understanding of the micro‐foundations of dynamic capabilities.
Transformational leadership and human capital benefits: the role of knowledge management
Authors: Birasnav M. , Rangnekar S. , Dalpati A.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

In order to achieve sustained competitive advantage through developing human capital, organizations, apart from human resource management practices, concentrate on developing transformational leaders and implementing knowledge management (KM). To take part in their efforts, this paper intends to explore leadership and KM literatures to examine the interrelationship between transformational leadership, KM, and employee‐perceived human capital creation or benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review is carried out of traditional and contemporary theoretical and empirical research studies to support the nexus of interrelationship between transformational leadership, KM, and human capital. This review is mainly integrated using a model and propositions that relate transformational leadership and KM with human capital benefits.

Findings

Transformational leaders have potential to affect their employees' perceptions of human capital benefits. They also have the greatest potential to augment these benefits through involving them in the KM process, establishing organizational culture, and encouraging communication among employees.

Research limitations/implications

This model suggests that human resource managers should provide training to managers with regard to developing transformational leadership behavior, since this behavior contributes to human capital creation by which an organization achieves competitive advantage. Furthermore, this study mainly focuses on leaders as transformational leaders, since these leaders are highly capable of stimulating their followers' creativity. Therefore, this study only considered the components described by Bass and Avolio.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to leadership literature by adding the notion of transformational leadership as an antecedent of human capital creation.
The impact of emotional intelligence on accuracy of self‐awareness and leadership performance
Authors: Bratton Virginia K. , Dodd Nancy G. , Brown F. William
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This research paper aims to follow a line of research that examines the impact of elements of emotional intelligence (EI), particularly those related to self‐awareness, on self‐other agreement and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study that employs the same methodology as Sosik and Megerian to analyze survey data gathered from a matched sample of 146 managers and 1,314 subordinates at a large international technology company based in North America.

Findings

The analysis revealed that the relationship between EI and leader performance is strongest for managers who underestimate their leader abilities. Underestimators earn higher follower ratings of leader performance than all other agreement categories (In agreement/good, In agreement/poor, and Overestimators). The analysis also suggests that there appears to be a negative relationship between EI and leader performance for managers who overestimate their leader abilities.

Research limitations/implications

Implications of the counterintuitive findings for underestimators as well as the imperative for further study utilizing alternative measures of EI are discussed.

Originality/value

Previous empirical work in this area used anad hocmeasure of EI. This study extends this work by utilizing a larger, business sample and employing a widely‐used and validated measure of EI, the Emotional Quotient Inventory. Results further illuminate the nature of the relationship between EI and self‐other agreement and provide a potential selection and development tool for the improvement of leadership performance.
The research and experimentation tax credit
Authors: Holtzman Yair
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is fourfold: to provide an overview of the alternative simplified credit (ASC) and a basic understanding of how it works; to provide a brief history of the research and experimentation credit as a whole and its evolution; to emphasize the importance of this credit to companies in maintaining a commanding research and development presence in the USA; and lastly to discuss hot topics/issues relating to the taxpayer as they pertain to capturing the maximal value of qualifying research expenditures (QREs) and sustaining this credit upon IRS examination.

Design/methodology/approach

The driver for this article came from interviews and discussions with CEOs, Vice Presidents, VPs of Tax and Director level engineers and scientists over the past two years who have demonstrated great interest in capturing the benefits from the credit but was unclear as to how to proceed.

Findings

Directors overseeing research and development commonly misclassify research and development expenses as something else. For example, specialized computer software that is used in research and development may be misclassified as general and administrative expenses. Other times, companies performing research and development do not realize that the work they perform qualifies for the research and experimentation tax credit. Consultants can potentially save a significant amount of tax dollars by carefully examining client records, interviewing client personnel to gain an understanding of a client's R&D spend to see if reclassification is possible and justifiable.

Originality/value

The author clearly describes the workings of the ASC and the status of the research and experimentation credit as a whole. The paper provides an overview of the subject, and is written so that the messages can be understood by senior management who do not necessarily possess highly tax technical knowledge. It also touches upon some interesting aspects of optimization as they relate to capturing and defending the research and experimentation credit. The author's ideas of integrating operations management and operations research tools and methodologies in optimizing the defensibility of the research and experimentation tax credit are novel and appear to be very promising.
Understanding the basics of SFAS 109
Authors: Holtzman Yair , Nagel Paul
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the SFAS 109/Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification 740.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an overview of a topic.

Findings

SFAS 109 establishes the financial accounting and reporting standards for the effects of federal, state and foreign income taxes.

Originality/value

The paper is a good discussion for non‐tax financial executives. It is a valuable read for anyone looking for an introductory paper on the subject.
The human resource's influence in shaping IT competence
Authors: Crawford Jeff , Leonard Lori N.K. , Jones Kiku
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of an organization's human resource on its IT competence. The IT human resource is examined in terms of worker tenure and worker composition, and IT competence is defined in terms of IT‐business relationships, IT‐business knowledge, and IT infrastructure.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines the activities of one organization's software development group over a three‐year period, 2004‐2006. The organization is a US‐based financial services firm, and data are drawn from archived software development project information.

Findings

The findings help to clarify how changes in the IT human resource influence a firm's IT competence. A model of organizational IT competence is developed and discussed, along with propositions for future study.

Research limitations/implications

The propositions developed in this study provide direction for future IT value research, and are key to the understanding the development of a firm's IT competence.

Practical implications

The paper's findings will help organizations understand how employee turnover and the blending of employees and contract workers can impact the long‐term effectiveness of a firm's software development function.

Originality/value

Previous models of IT value suggest that IT competence is key in a firm's performance. However, those models do not address the changing nature of the IT human resource. The proposed model underlies that organizations can benefit from changes in worker tenure and composition (dimensions of the IT human resource) over time provided they understand and appropriately manage their impact on IT competence.
Transplants' role stress and work outcome in IT outsourcing relationships
Authors: Solli‐Sæther Hans
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into how individuals are affected by an outsourcing arrangement. The aim of this exploratory case study was to develop an understanding of individual level role stress and work outcomes among transferred employees in IT outsourcing relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model was developed based on role theory. Through a field survey conducted in one outsourcing vendor, the research confirms the hypothesis that proposes role stress as prevalent among transferred information technology (IT) employees.

Findings

Perceived role stress was found to influence behavioural work outcomes measured as task performance, turnover intention, and affective commitment. The effect of role stress on work outcomes indicates that carefully crafted outsourcing strategies must take into account the unique position of transferred IT employees since the outsourcing arrangement may affect their work outcome.

Originality/value

The original value of the paper is the use of role theory to extend the scientific research and theory of outsourcing and inform managers of outsourcing decisions. The study is applied at the individual level, which is new in the sense that most outsourcing studies are applied at the organisational level.
Constraint priority scheduling using an agent‐based approach
Authors: Lam C.Y. , Ip W.H.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Scheduling needs to be concise and well‐determined but able to respond to the ever‐changing and uncertain market or environment against the constraints of production capacity, resources, time frame, etc. The purpose of this paper is to model and solve a scheduling problem with another domain perspective that adopts the concept of agent, and an agent‐based scheduling environment is proposed for solving the scheduling problem, in which three agents are developed, i.e. a sales agent, a scheduling agent, and a production agent.

Design/methodology/approach

The modeling and development of the proposed agent‐based scheduling environment and its agents under constraints are discussed. Constraint priority scheduling concepts are applied to the environment and its agents, and the feature of responding to customer change orders is included in the model. The proposed agent‐based scheduling environment with three agents is applied to a lamp‐manufacturing company in China as a case study, and the integrated agent‐based approach is also illustrated in the case study.

Findings

Throughout the autonomous communication between agents in the proposed model, a constraint‐prioritized schedule is generated to fulfill customer orders and customer change orders, as well as to achieve a better scheduling performance result. From the simulation results and analysis in the case study, satisfactory results show that the proposed model can generate a constraint‐prioritized schedule for the studied company that can completely fulfill customer orders, adjust and fulfill customer change orders, and achieve a better scheduling result.

Originality/value

In this paper, the scheduling problem is modeled and solved by using the domain perspective of agent‐based approach. By using an agent‐based approach, the agents can be implemented to represent manufacturing resources or aggregations of resources. Under the proposed modeling approach, the collaboration across the entire scheduling activities can be enhanced, and the efficiency and effectiveness in the scheduling activities can also be increased.
Coordinating new product development with supply chain management
Authors: Hilletofth Per , Eriksson David
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to form an understanding of how new product development (NPD) relates to supply chain management (SCM), why the two fields should be coordinated, and how this may be done.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a literature review and case study research. The case study considers a Swedish company that operates on a global basis in the furniture industry. Empirical data have been collected mainly from in‐depth interviews with key persons representing senior and middle management in the case company.

Findings

This paper stresses the need to produce innovative, value‐adding products, as well as the necessity to quickly deliver them to the market. Companies that face mature business environments may encounter problems due to a high emphasis on either the value‐creation processes, or on the value delivery processes. Therefore, NPD activities need to be coordinated with SCM activities on a strategic level, lest competitiveness will be lost.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to one case company; replication studies would enhance understanding of the studied phenomenon. There is a wide need for research exploring how various parts of demand and supply chains should be managed in order to fully utilize the advantages of the consumer‐oriented enterprise.

Practical implications

This paper provides insights for researchers and practitioners on how to coordinate and balance NPD (demand side) with SCM (supply side) activities. It highlights that companies should organize themselves around understanding how consumer value is created and how these processes may be coordinated to provide that value. The two processes must be given equal attention and importance to avoid sub‐optimization.

Originality/value

The need for coordinating NPD and SCM activities has been emphasized in the literature but still remains relatively unexplored. This paper contributes by investigating this issue further.
Text recommender system using user's usage patterns
Authors: Soo Kim Yong
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel and flexible recommender system based on usage patterns and keyword preferences using collaborative filtering (CF) and content‐based filtering (CBF).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed system analyzes data captured from the navigational and behavioral patterns of users and estimates the popularity and similarity levels of a user's clicked content. Based on this information, content is recommended to each user using recommendation methods such as CF and CBF. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an empirical study was conducted by constructing an experimental news site.

Findings

The results of the experimental study clearly show that the proposed hybrid method is superior to conventional methods that use only CF or CBF.

Practical implications

The above findings are based on data captured from a relatively small experimental site, and they require further verification using various actual content sites. A promising area for future research may be the application of the proposed approach to making recommendations in user‐created content environments, such as blog sites and video upload sites, where users can actively participate as both writers and readers.

Originality/value

Unlike the most research on recommender systems, this is the first study to analyze user usage patterns and thereby determine appropriate recommendation algorithms for each user. The proposed recommender system provides greater prediction accuracy than conventional systems.
ISO 9001 diffusion analysis according to activity sectors
Authors: Llach Josep , Marimon Frederic , Bernardo Merce
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of the world‐wide diffusion, according to industrial sectors of activity, of the ISO 9000 family of quality standards.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data provided by the ISO itself, the evolution of the world‐wide diffusion of the ISO 9000 family of standards from 1998 to 2008 is studied. Using two indices of instability, these data are then analysed in terms of individual industrial sectors to assess the heterogeneity of diffusion across different sectors of activity.

Findings

The results show that the diffusion of ISO 9001 follows a logistic curve in all sectors, although the current stage of diffusion (in terms of initial stage, expansion stage, and saturation stage) differs between different sectors of activity. The sectors have been classified into three groups according to their possible future evolution.

Research limitations/implications

Because the analysis of prediction is based on mathematical models, the validity of the data is crucial. Two weaknesses are detected in the data: the number of certificates during the transition period 2001‐2003; and the number of certificates in 2008. However, both weaknesses are overcome in the paper.

Originality/value

The paper presents the first study of the heterogeneous diffusion pattern of ISO 9001 in different sectors of activity.
Evaluating the green advertising practices of international firms: a trend analysis
Authors: Leonidou Leonidas C. , Leonidou Constantinos N. , Palihawadana Dayananda , Hultman Magnus
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Consumer scepticism about the credibility of green advertising around the world is growing. The article aims to provide a comprehensive assessment and trend analysis of green advertising practices of international firms over a 20‐year period.

Design/methodology/approach

The study identifies 473 international green advertisements during the 1988‐2007 period and content‐analyses them on five major axes: advertiser profile, targeting features, message aspects, copy characteristics, and situation points.

Findings

The content analysis reveals significant trends in all major areas examined and identifies important interaction effects between certain dimensions of green advertisements.

Research limitations/implications

The findings could be augmented by combining them with changes in the external environment, input from consumers about advertising effectiveness, the views of advertisers and advertising agencies, and secondary data referring to the performance of the specific company/product advertised.

Originality/value

Green advertising research mainly focuses on domestic rather than international advertisements; examines important issues in isolation from other issues; partially analyses message, copy, and situation characteristics; and covers a short period. This study fills these gaps by systematically evaluating international green advertisements over a long period and using an integrated framework of analysis that is based on the extant literature. It also explores potential interaction effects between key dimensions describing these advertisements.
Humor and cultural values in print advertising: a cross‐cultural study
Authors: Hatzithomas Leonidas , Zotos Yorgos , Boutsouki Christina
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The present study aims to discuss the role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, uncertainty avoidance and individualism/collectivism, on the use of various humor types in print advertising, across culturally diverse countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 12,351 ads (3,828 humorous) from the largest circulated UK and Greek magazines was content‐analyzed in light of Speck's humorous message taxonomy, emphasizing humor types and intentional relatedness.

Findings

The results indicate that cultural diversity is reflected in the types of humorous devices that tend to be used in the UK and Greece. British advertisements incorporate not only sentimental but also disparaging humor types such as sentimental humor and full comedy, providing a great deal of pure entertainment. On the contrary, Greek print ads emphasize cognitive humorous appeals, in an attempt to provide credible information to the uncertainty‐avoiding Greek audience.

Practical implications

The findings of this study highlight some key aspects of UK and Greek print advertising that can be extended in other homogeneous cultures. In individualistic countries with low uncertainty avoidance, it seems that consumers prefer humor‐dominant messages. On the contrary, in collectivistic countries with high uncertainty‐aversion attitudes, humor can be used as a Trojan horse to convey the required information to the target group.

Originality/value

The present study points out how advertisers' intentions to entertain or to inform the target audience are expressed in the use of various humor types in advertising, underlining, also, the effect of cultural values on these communication decisions.
Made in China but sold at FAO Schwarz: country‐of‐origin effect and trusting beliefs
Authors: Kabadayi Sertan , Lerman Dawn
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of trusting beliefs about a store on country‐of‐origin (COO) effects. The paper suggests that three trusting beliefs (ability beliefs, benevolence beliefs and integrity beliefs) about a retail store moderate negative effects of COO on product evaluation and purchase intention. However, under high manufacturer risk conditions, only benevolence beliefs moderate the negative COO effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The toy industry is chosen as the study context. The first three hypotheses are tested with survey data collected from 224 participants. The last hypothesis is tested with data collected from 338 participants. Hierarchical moderated regression was used in the testing of the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that while only benevolence and integrity beliefs about a store weaken the negative effect of COO on product evaluations, all three trusting beliefs lessen the negative impact of COO on consumers' purchase intentions. However, when manufacturer risk is high, only benevolence beliefs have a significant moderating effect.

Practical implications

The findings show that manufacturers can reverse the negative cycle, or at least minimize their losses, if they choose those retailers that consumers have high trusting beliefs about as their channel members. Similarly, if they can signal that they are benevolent and honest stores, retailers can balance their customers' negative evaluations of products made in certain countries with negative image.

Research limitations/implications

Given the recent product recalls and concerns, the toy industry presents an ideal case to study the effect of trusting beliefs on COO effects. Nonetheless, the focus on a single industry does limit the generalizability of the findings. The authors recommend that future researchers examine these relationships in studies focusing on other product categories.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the impact of individuals' trusting beliefs about a store on COO effects.
Service as business logic: implications for value creation and marketing
Authors: Grönroos Christian , Ravald Annika
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the scope, content and nature of value co‐creation in a service logic‐based view of value creation, addressing the customer's perspective in a supplier‐customer relationship. The nature of the activities and the roles of the supplier and the customer in value creation and co‐creation are analyzed. Furthermore, the purpose is to discuss what implications for marketing can be derived from this analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The article analyzes the marketing implications that follow from the pivotal role of interactions in service provision. The article, thus, builds on a long history in service marketing research pointing at the impact on the content and scope of marketing of customer‐supplier interactions.

Findings

In this article, it is concluded that creating customer value is a multilaned process consisting of two conceptually distinct subprocesses. These are the supplier's process of providing resources for customer's use and the customer's process of turning service into value. The article results in five service logic theses which provide an understanding of the process of value creation and its implications for marketing. The theses offer a terminology that helps researchers and practitioners to understand the various roles of suppliers and customers in value creation and to analyze opportunities for co‐creation of value.

Originality/value

The findings of this article challenge some of the salient propositions of the emerging service‐dominant logic, i.e. customers as co‐creators of value, and firms can only make value propositions. The role of marketing is reframed beyond its conventional borders.
Does satisfaction matter more if a multichannel customer is also a multicompany customer?
Authors: Larivière Bart , Aksoy Lerzan , Cooil Bruce , Keiningham Timothy L.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the moderating influence of both multichannel and multicompany usage on the impact that customer satisfaction has on share of wallet (SOW).

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in the analyses were collected as part of both survey and transactional data of 802 households of a large financial services provider. Within class regression models were employed to test the moderating effects of different segments that were identified based on multichannel‐multicompany customer differences.

Findings

The findings confirm that using multiple channels has an overall positive moderating impact on the satisfaction‐SOW link and that customer satisfaction matters more when the customer adopts multiple channels; online channel usage in addition to offline usage. Furthermore, this effect is even more pronounced for customers that transact with multiple providers. That is, the group of customers that use both the company's and competitors' offline and online channels reveal a higher satisfaction‐SOW association than the group of customers that only adopted the offline channel with the company and competitor.

Originality/value

This study broadens the understanding of multichannel behavior by comparing single (offline) and multiple channels (offline and online) for customers of multiple companies (two competitors).