bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The willingness of professionals to contribute to their organisation's certification
Authors: van Kemenade Everard A. , Hardjono Teun W. , de Vries Henk J.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to find out which factors influence the willingness of professionals to contribute to a certification process and to understand the rationale behind this willingness.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on literature, prerequisites are formulated for the willingness of professionals to contribute to certification. These are compared with the results of a study among lecturers at Universities of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands and Flanders about their willingness to contribute to accreditation of their schools. This study combines survey and Delphi research.

Findings

Professionals agree on the added value of certification systems. They are willing to contribute to the certification process, provided that a set of conditions is fulfilled.

Research limitations/implications

The case focuses on large organisations for which certification is obligatory. The findings may not apply in small or medium‐sized organisations or if the main driver for certification is internal improvement. Further research is needed to verify the generalisation of the results to other sectors and countries.

Originality/value

Research has shown that it is difficult to motivate professionals to contribute to certification. Little research has been done on the reasons why. The paper provides more insight into the difficulties that organizations face to commit their professionals to become involved in certification and turns these into requirements to be fulfilled to achieve commitment. These are relevant for organisations, which need the support of their professional employees to achieve management system certification.
Childhood socioeconomic deprivation and later adulthood health
Authors: Drakopoulos S.A. , Lakioti E. , Theodossiou I.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

Although the link between socioeconomic deprivation and health status has been identified by many researchers, not much attention has been paid to the intergenerational effect of poverty on physical and psychological health status. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of childhood deprivation on health at the later stages of the working age.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for individuals aged between 50 and 65 in six European countries are collected using purpose build questionnaires. The dataset provides information on issues such as physical and mental health status, past working experiences, socioeconomic and occupational background, incidence of diseases and sense of well‐being. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and ordered logit models are utilised to estimate the effect of childhood deprivation on health status indices. Logit models are also used to investigate the effects of childhood deprivation on the likelihood of an individual suffering from specific disease.

Findings

There is a consistent and significant negative effect of childhood deprivation on the overall health profile at later adulthood. For instance, for each additional unit of the childhood deprivation index, the index of the mobility status and physical health status in later adulthood decrease by 0.19 and 0.28, respectively, the index of the psychological health decrease by almost 0.41 and the odds of exhibiting better self‐assessed health decrease by a factor of 0.86 (all p‐values are <0.01). Similar negative effects of childhood deprivation on the likelihood of an individual suffering from a specific medical condition are unearthed.

Originality/value

It is shown that childhood socioeconomic deprivation has long lasting detrimental effects on the health of individuals that are observable at the later ages of working life. Hence, the relationship between childhood socioeconomic deprivation and adult health should be an important factor in social policy and health care planning in an era of aging populations.
An exploration of dynamic relationship between tourist arrivals, inflation, unemployment and crime rates in Malaysia
Authors: Foon Tang Chor
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to examine the dynamic relationship between tourist arrivals, inflation, unemployment and crime rates in Malaysia. This study covered the annual data from 1970 to 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

The multivariate Johansen‐Juselius cointegration test is employed to examine the potential long‐run equilibrium relationship. While the Granger causality test within the vector error‐correction modelling (VECM) framework is applied to determine the causal relationship between crime rate and its determinants.

Findings

The Johansen‐Juselius cointegration test result reveals that the variables are cointegrated and the dynamic ordinary least squares estimator suggest that unemployment, inflation and tourist arrivals are positively related to crime rates in Malaysia. For Granger causality, in the long‐run tourist arrivals, inflation and unemployment rates Granger cause crime rate in Malaysia. However, in the short run we find bilateral causality between unemployment, crime and tourist arrivals. Finally, the variance decompositions and impulse response functions analyses implied that unemployment, inflation and tourist arrivals are important in explaining the variation in crime for Malaysia.

Originality/value

The estimated crime rate function for Malaysia demonstrated that promoting supply‐side economy and also increases the numbers of police and patrolling duties in the potential crime areas will reduce the crime rate in Malaysia and in the same time attract more tourist arrivals to Malaysia.
Innovative titanium dioxide‐kaolin mixed pigments performance in anticorrosive paints
Authors: Ahmed Nivin M. , Selim Mohamed M.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

Kaolin is a soft, white mineral mainly composed of coarse‐ to fine‐grained, plate‐like aluminum silicate particles. As kaolin assists with desired rheological properties that help maintain proper dispersion and provide bulk to the product, it is used as an important extender in paint manufacture. It can be used to reduce the amount of expensive pigments, such as titanium dioxide. In spite of these uses, kaolin has the disadvantage of having coarse particles and low hiding power. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new class of pigments based on kaolin as a core and titanium dioxide as the shell.

Design/methodology/approach

In the work reported in this paper, kaolin was used as a core covered with a surface layer of titanium dioxide comprising the shell in order to combine their properties and get over kaolin's disadvantages, besides enhancing its corrosion protection properties. The pigments prepared were characterised using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Deposition of titanium dioxide on the surface of kaolin was confirmed by Energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. Pigment properties were estimated according to American standard testing methods (ASTM) methods and then were incorporated in anticorrosive paint formulations based on medium oil alkyd resin. The physico‐mechanical and corrosion properties of dry paint films were determined according to ASTM methods.

Findings

The tests revealed that the concentration of titanium dioxide layer deposited on kaolin surface was inversely proportional to the anticorrosive behaviour of these pigments.

Practical implications

The pigments can be applied in other polymer composites, e.g. rubber and plastics as filler and reinforcing agent.

Originality/value

The pigments prepared are eco‐friendly that can replace other expensive pigments. These pigments can compensate for the presence of titanium dioxide in paint formulations successfully, and thus lower the costs. The main advantage of these pigments is that they combine the properties of both of their counterparts, they are of lower cost, and they also overcome the disadvantages of both its counterparts, e.g. low hiding power of kaolin, photochemical activity of titanium dioxide. Also, they can be applied in other industries other than paints, e.g. paper, rubber and plastics composites.
Whey‐protein based environmentally friendly wood adhesives
Authors: Gao Zhenhua , Yu Guoping , Bao Yihong , Guo Mingruo
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an environmentally safe aqueous polymer‐isocyanate (API) wood adhesive for structural uses with whey protein isolate (WPI) that is a by‐product of cheese making.

Design/methodology/approach

The API formulations with whey proteins denatured at different heating temperatures and times, WPI/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) denaturing processes, PVA contents and nano‐CaCO3(as filler) contents were investigated and optimised according to the JIS K6806‐2003 standard.

Findings

A whey‐protein based API adhesive was developed which had 28 h boiling‐dry‐boiling wet compression shear strength 6.81 MPa and dry compression shear strength 13.38 MPa beyond the required values (5.88 and 9.81 MPa, respectively) for structural use of commercial standards. The study also indicated that the thermal denaturation of 40 per cent WPI solution at 60‐63°C could unfold the globular structure of whey protein to some extent and therefore improve the bond strength and bond durability of whey‐protein based API adhesive; the additions of PVA and nano‐CaCO3as filler had a significant effect on the bond strength and bond durability of whey‐protein based API adhesive.

Research limitations/implications

The thermally denatured WPI solutions (40 wt%) incline towards being decayed by moulds if not properly formulated.

Practical implications

Owing to the good bond strength and durability and environmental safety, the optimised whey‐protein based API adhesives have greater potential for commercial applications, especially for the structural wood bonds.

Originality/value

A novel API wood adhesive for structural use was developed using whey proteins that are often regarded as a waste due to their relatively small molecules and compact globular structures.
Loosening the Gordian knot: the role of emotional intelligence in construction
Authors: Love Peter , Edwards David , Wood Elliot
Published: December 2010

Purpose

A perennial problem faced by construction professionals, educators and researchers is what needs to be done to improve project performance? In addressing this question, the need for the switching of lenses from the dominant operations paradigm to one that focuses on organizational behavior is advocated. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a growing area of behavioral investigation which is considered to be positively related to occupational success, satisfaction, emotional health and adjustment. This paper aims to look at its influence.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper emotions are examined and the usefulness measures of EI are discussed and critiqued. The paper then looks more closely at the way in which EI may relate to success in a common position within the construction industry, that of the construction manager.

Findings

Recommendations are made on the ways in which research and practice can contribute to project success through attention to the link between EI and project performance.

Practical implications

In construction, there is a real need to examine how individuals, teams and the structure of projects influence behavior, if the improvements being sought within the industry are to be realistically achieved. Potentially EI, in conjunction with other assessment tools, could be used by construction organizations to significantly improve the performance of construction managers and their teams.

Originality/value

Several researchers in construction have begun to examine EI but have limited understanding about its underlying origins and the problems associated with many of the tools that have been developed. The paper provides invaluable guidance about how EI could be used to improve the performance of construction projects.
How top performers achieve customer‐focused market leadership
Authors: Heller Baird Carolyn , Gonzalez‐Wertz Cristene
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The IBM Institute for Business Value recently surveyed nearly 500 customer relationship management executives – across roles, industries and management responsibilities – in 66 countries. The goal was to assess the current state of marketing, sales and service and to document how top performers achieve customer‐focused market leadership in the emerging digital age.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the survey the paper seeks to identify the best practices of market leaders.

Findings

Analysis of the survey responses indicates that three categories of market leaders are likely to emerge by 2012: customer insight leaders – companies that optimize data analysis, transform it into something useful and create measurable value; digital channel leaders – companies that harness new methods of creating value through customer interactions and new products, services and business models in an always‐on digital world; and new era leaders – companies that incorporate the best practices of each.

Practical implications

The success of companies will depend on the degree to which they embrace new digital communications, service, marketing and delivery channels (digital channel leaders); cater to the needs and demands of a new breed of enlightened and empowered consumer (customer insight leaders) or do both (new era leaders).

Originality/value

IBM asked participants what tactics they would take to differentiate themselves in the next three years. The paper groups them into three core strategies: cost and complexity reduction, strategic service delivery and innovative market making.
Legal and accounting issues of manipulating the timing of stock option grants
Authors: Oppenheimer Pete H.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

Many corporate managers, with the aid of the board of directors, discovered that they could provide themselves with guaranteed or excessive compensation by manipulating the terms of stock option grants that were included in their compensation packages. This paper seeks to examine the legal, tax, and accounting issues that have evolved because of these suspect illegal activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The author presents the theory behind performance‐based compensation that is the basis for employee stock option grants. The author then examines regulations, judicial theory, and court cases to determine the current legal status of backdating, spring loading, or bullet dodging of executive stock option grants.

Findings

The current legal environment has made it difficult for executives to continue the practice of manipulating stock option grants without falling under the ire of regulators and shareholders. However, a question remains whether executives that manipulated stock option grants in the past will be found criminally liable for their acts.

Practical implications

The paper's review of the discourse on the legality of corporate executives enhancing their compensation packages shows the complexity of detecting and regulating this type of suspect activity.

Originality/value

This paper presents a contemporaneous discussion and data on legal and regulatory changes that resulted from management malfeasance of executive compensation.
The uses of irresistible inference
Authors: Murray Kenneth
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assert that the exclusive use of predicate offence as a means of proving money laundering is an inadequate response to the level of threat presented by the crime. It aims to promote the concept of “irresistible inference” from UK case law as a basis for establishing international consensus that this provides an alternative and possibly more effective means of prosecuting the crime.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers academic research into the incidence of money laundering and the effectiveness of anti‐money laundering measures; it considers the efficacy of current UK legislation on money laundering; assesses legal views on recent developments in UK case law relating to the concept of “irresistible inference”; identifies what “irresistible inference” looks like and asserts its practical value as an alternative basis for proving criminality of funds in money laundering prosecutions.

Findings

An effective international response to the increasing threat to international institutions posed by money laundering requires development of new approaches to proving criminality of funds. The use of irresistible inference as an alternative to predicate offence, however, requires development of the international understanding of what it looks like in order that relevant policy makers and legal decision makers can deploy it with confidence so that it is able to make the significant contribution to the international effort against money laundering it is capable of.

Practical implications

To facilitate the necessary international consensus, it may be necessary in some jurisdictions to amend legislation where it currently relies on predicate offence for the prosecution of money laundering cases.

Social implications

A failure to effectively combat international money laundering implies acceptance of an attitude of complacency in the face of increasing exposure to levels of threat in the form of political and social corruption, organized crime and terrorism that ought to be unacceptable to the international community.

Originality/value

International acceptance of “irresistible inference” as a means of proving criminality in money laundering cases would deliver a radically more hostile environment for international money launderers. This paper is designed to open up thinking along these lines across international borders.
General characteristics of civil forfeiture
Authors: Nikolov Nikolay
Published: December 2010

Purpose

This paper attempts to clarify and describe the general characteristics of civil forfeiture as a new national and international tool in the fight against organized crime.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes and compares the civil forfeiture legislations of five counties – the USA, Great Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria and Serbia and draws conclusions on the general characteristics of this legal phenomenon.

Findings

There are substantial differences between criminal and civil forfeiture which set the latter apart as an independent legal phenomenon. Unfortunately, few countries have effective legislations which regulate this tool for fighting organized crime. The importance of civil forfeiture lies in the fact that it shakes the economic foundations of organized crime using the methods and procedures of civil and administrative law even, in some countries, after the court has issued a verdict of “not guilty”.

Originality/value

The paper stresses the importance of international laws and regulations for the unification and development of national civil forfeiture legislations. The paper proposes that one way to develop civil forfeiture is to strengthen the imperative nature of EU legislation; to present annual reports at national and EU level before the EU Parliament and national parliaments proposing measures for the development and acceleration of the process; to turn CARIN into an EU institution. The paper also emphasizes the importance of the decisions of the Strasbourg court as standards for the application of civil forfeiture legislation.
The dark triad: organized crime, terror and fraud
Authors: Perri Frank S. , Brody Richard G.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to recognize that organized crime and terrorism do not always operate independently from each other but, at times, rely on each other to create synergistic outcomes and use the same tactics and methods to advance their goals such as the use of fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

Sources of information consisted of scholarly articles and articles retrieved from the web.

Findings

Findings suggest that over time the crime‐terror nexus has increased its collaborative nature and terrorists have adopted the use of fraud schemes that were initially believed to be methods used only by organized crime to finance their organizations and goals.

Originality/value

This paper serves as a useful guide to alert and educate anti‐fraud professionals, law enforcement and policy makers of the nexus between organized crime, terrorism and fraud and that fraud should not be viewed as a peripheral issue in the crime‐terror nexus.
The global anti‐money laundering court as a judicial and institutional imperative
Authors: Mugarura Norman
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to argue the case for the introduction of a global anti‐money laundering (AML) court. The proposed court as an institution can engender a rule‐based ethos as well as an environment for the transposition of AML regimes and requisite global changes into the society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper was written by exploiting the significance of the court system to the development of any society. In particular, the paper draws on a pivotal role played by the European Court of Justice in enhancing economic integration of European member countries. Another example utilised by this paper was the dispute settlement mechanism (DSM) in the WTO. The DSM evolved an effective framework for settling international trade disputes and fundamentally helped to streamline the system. This paper is of the contention that the court would ease the adoption of global AML regimes and consequently ease the co‐existence of countries in relation to global AML initiatives.

Findings

The paper has delineated that any global initiatives either on money laundering (ML) or otherwise will have to reside in a form of institutional framework for them to work effectively. Short of that, it is possible that there will be enormous challenges for global AML regimes to function properly as envisaged.

Research limitations/implications

The author is cognizant of the fact that states are still mandated to veto his prepositions based on the principle of sovereignty of nations. States can also refuse to lend their support – in its various dimensions to the proposed court.

Practical implications

It has to be noted that creating global AML regimes that are not going to work is not good enough and in case it amounts to a wastage of scarce resources that would better be utilised somewhere else.

Social implications

ML in its various manifestations has far reaching consequences for lives of people wherever it is committed and should be accorded the seriousness it deserves.

Originality/value

The paper has been written based on the appreciation of the need to create enforcement mechanisms of engendered global AML/combating financing of terrorism (CFT) regimes. There are so many regimes masquerading as global, having been constituted with the mandate that give them a global reach and yet, they do not live up to their expectation.
Transshipment and trade‐based money laundering
Authors: Liao Jasper , Acharya Arabinda
Published: December 2010

Purpose

As determined by the Financial Action Task Force, trade‐based money laundering (TBML) has become one of the three major money laundering methods used today. However, there has been very limited acknowledgment of the risk and counter‐measures against TBML until recently. This is particularly problematic with ever increasing trade volumes through transshipment and container shipping which is getting larger by the day. This paper aims to examine the role of TBML as a vehicle for terrorism financing and laundering proceeds of other criminal activity. It also examines the practice of transshipment, analyzes the challenges that this particular phenomenon poses to detection of TBML activity, and looks at possible alternative policy responses to mitigate additional money laundering risks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes reports made by international organizations and government bodies, particularly, the US Government, dealing with various aspects of financial crime, import/export activity, and world trade statistics, in order to identify major challenges and possible solutions to the problem. Interviews were also conducted with the same goals.

Findings

Efforts to monitor and staunch the flow of illicit money through trade would be enhanced through more widespread coverage of customs cooperation and standardization of information sharing procedures between national customs agencies. Also, measures should be taken to make free trade areas more transparent to regulatory scrutiny.

Originality/value

This paper serves to expand the limited amount of scholarship on TBML and to suggest a policy approach towards detection of this kind of money laundering activity to policymakers.
Risk‐based AML regulation on internet payment services in China
Authors: Yan Lixin , Ai Lishan , Tang Jun
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the money laundering vulnerabilities of internet payment services, to analyse the key elements of conducting risk‐based approach (RBA), and finally to provide recommendations of apply RBA to anti‐money laundering (AML) regulations on internet payment services in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the characteristics of internet payment systems, introduces the latest arrangements associated with the third‐party payment services and payment and settlement system in China, and provides case of Alipay to illustrate the importance of carrying out AML regulation on Chinese internet payment industry.

Findings

The internet payment industry in China is increasingly booming, but the regulation in this field is obviously lagged. Recent regulation arrangements published by the People's Bank of China present the determination of Chinese Government to put the third‐party payment industry (including internet payment service) under the national AML regulation.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the money laundering vulnerabilities of internet payment services in China and recommends that AML regulation on internet payment services should focus on “back‐end” account controls on the basis of risk‐rating practice.
Organisational learning as an antecedent of technology transfer and new product development
Authors: Jabar Juhaini , Soosay Claudine , Santa Ricardo
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of organisational learning (comprising absorptive capacity, nature and type of alliances and learning environment) through strategic technology alliances on technology transfer and new product development. The paper is based on a larger research on alliances in the Malaysian manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The antecedents and outcomes of organisational learning were tested using structural equation modelling, based on data collected from 335 organisations through an online survey questionnaire.

Findings

The findings depict that absorptive capacity, nature and type of alliances and learning environment significantly affect technology transfer in Malaysian manufacturers, but not necessarily new product development simultaneously. Nevertheless, the results establish technology transfer as an effective means for building innovative capabilities in developing new products. This is imperative for attaining Malaysia's current goal in improving the manufacturing industry and becoming an industrialised nation by the year 2020.

Research limitations/implications

The findings advocate further deliberations for manufacturers in Malaysia in shaping their strategies and learning objectives when embarking on collaborative relations, as these can result in technological competencies and ultimately the capacity to develop new innovative products.

Practical implications

The paper offers useful insights for manufacturers when forming technology alliances; and facilitate decisions by current practitioners in managing collaborations. The paper also informs Malaysian Government institutions in developing mechanisms, economic policy strategies and business support services for enhancing the economic and commercial viability of Malaysian manufacturing activities and products.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in discerning the current capabilities and strategies of manufacturing firms in developing nations in order to remain competitive.
Effects of using minomi in in‐plant materials supply
Authors: Hanson Robin
Published: December 2010

Purpose

“Minomi” is a unit load where no container is used. The aim of this paper is to identify the effects of using minomi in the materials supply within an assembly plant.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on three case studies within the body shop of Saab Automobile in Trollhättan, Sweden, effects of using minomi are identified. Furthermore, relations are identified between these effects and the different characteristics of each case.

Findings

The paper identifies both benefits and drawbacks of using minomi and relates these benefits and drawbacks to different part characteristics, characteristics of the receiving assembly station, and characteristics of handling and storage. Among the benefits is that minomi is associated with space efficient presentation of parts. This can enable the presentation of a large number of part variants and also result in time efficient parts picking in the receiving assembly operations.

Practical implications

Through the knowledge gained in the case studies, the potential benefits associated with minomi are more likely to be realised within industry.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the concept of minomi, which has previously received very little attention in research literature, but which can offer substantial benefits within industry if used under the right conditions.
An investigation for improvement of the 3D‐digitization process: a reverse engineering approach
Authors: Chowdary Boppana V. , De Noon Ayanna‐Rene , Ali Fahraz , Imbert Clement A.C.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive work flow for the improvement of the Reverse Engineering (RE) process in producing non‐uniform rational B‐splines (NURBS) models from scanned point cloud data. This should become a reliable guide in the creation of desired 3D‐CAD models in order to improve efficiency of downstream operations and further to make decisions regarding quality control.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper deals with a detailed investigation of operations in achieving an object's accuracy in the data editing phase and data fitting phase that employs the use of a 3D scanner. A case example involving the ShapeGrabber® AI310 laser scanner was used in digitizing the physical object. Operations considered for investigation at the data editing phase include relaxation, decimation of triangles and sharpening of edges. Contour detection, construct patches, target patch count, grid construction and grid resolution are selected as the operations for investigation in the data fitting phase. Evaluation of the generated digitized models was carried out by performing tests which include 3D Comparisons and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD & T) testing.

Findings

The process of data editing is considered to be extremely time consuming which requires a high degree of skill in order to carry out the data manipulation steps. For the purpose of investigation, an electrical socket cover was considered as the object for digitization. The study found some contributors to enhance the quality of the digital model that can be used in the first piece inspection. The results indicate that although the operations associated with the data fitting phase affect the overall quality of the digitized model; they are however, limited by whatever the quality achieved at the data editing phase.

Practical implications

The RE work flow described in this research will assist designers and practitioners in improving both the efficiency and effectiveness of design and manufacturing functions.

Originality/value

The data editing and fitting processes are time consuming due to various adjustments necessary in obtaining a NURBS model from the digitized data. Thus, the proposed RE work flow identified the steps to realize the desired CAD models from the point cloud data. Moreover, from this study, practitioners will get a concise overall understanding about which geometrical features need to be adjusted so that the required model can be achieved; instead of the need to develop this procedure by themselves through the process of trial and error.
Competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies
Authors: Nasri Wadie
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of knowledge of competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study was conducted using semi‐in‐depth interviews and focus group with six executives in six companies in Tunisia. Three sectors were chosen for this study: communication technologies, manufacturing and commercial retailing. These companies are prevalent in Tunisia and are very different.

Findings

The results show that Tunisian managers are conscious of the importance of competitive intelligence in the management of their companies. Second, managers believe that internal sources of information are more valuable than external sources information and personal source information is deemed most valuable. Third, the results of the process and structure questions indicate that companies may not yet be investing appropriately in building the internal infrastructure required for fully effective intelligence efficacy. Finally, this practice is not organised in a separate department and, if it is mostly done in the marketing department.

Practical implications

To know and develop this practice, a company must, on the one hand, build internal competitive intelligence process. On the other hand, develop a sensitisation programme that is continuous and that should focus on telling employees what competitive intelligence is, what they can, and should, contribute and demonstrate the value in sharing information.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate competitive intelligence in Tunisia. The results lead to a number of recommendations to develop competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies. Various methods are proposed including awareness and training program, recognising by managers the value of competitive intelligence as an important tool to develop competitive intelligence.
Place recognition and automatic semantic annotation via the Whereabouts diary
Authors: Mamei Marco
Published: December 2010

Purpose

Modern handheld devices provided with localization capabilities can create a diary of the user whereabouts, and provide a description of the user habits and a complement of the user profile in several applications. The places we go, in fact, reveal something about us; for example, two persons can be matched as compatible given the fact that they visit the same places. The purpose of this paper is to describe the Whereabouts diary in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the Whereabouts diary, an application/service to log the places visited by the user and to label them, in an automatic way, with descriptive semantic information. Web‐retrieved information, and the temporal patterns with which different places are visited, can be used to automatically define meaningful semantic labels to the visited places.

Findings

The paper verified that such diary application can be created and can effectively classify the places visited by the user. In particular, geocoding and white‐pages web services were used to extract information about a place, and Bayesian networks to classify places on the basis of the time at which they have been visited.

Research limitations/implications

The paper discusses this implementation, and presents experimental results. Experiments show that the identification of places and the accuracy of the place classification mechanism are effective, while the accuracy of geocoding and white‐pages retrieval should be improved.

Originality/value

This paper shows the novel Whereabouts diary application. Several mechanisms presented are original to this approach. In addition, several applications that can exploit the diary are illustrated.
Inferring social networks from physical interactions: a feasibility study
Authors: Kostakos Vassilis , Kostakos Panos A.
Published: December 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a prototype system that can be used to capture longitudinal socialising processes by recording people's encounters in space.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the results of a longitudinal study, carried out with members of the public, which demonstrates the capabilities of the system.

Findings

The findings show that community structure can be inferred from physical interactions, and that different locations exhibit varying community structures.

Originality/value

The paper argues that such a system can usefully be deployed in environments where people interact and socialise, as a mechanism for inferring the underlying network structure of those people's relationships.
Involvement of the
Shewanella oneidensis
Decaheme Cytochrome MtrA in the Periplasmic Stability of the β-Barrel Protein MtrB
Authors: Schicklberger Marcus , Bücking Clemens , Schuetz Bjoern , Heide Heinrich , Gescher Johannes
Published: December 2010

The
Shewanella oneidensis
outer membrane β-barrel protein MtrB is part of a membrane-spanning protein complex (MtrABC) which is necessary for dissimilatory iron reduction. Quantitative PCR, heterologous gene expression, and mutant studies indicated that MtrA is required for periplasmic stability of MtrB. DegP depletion compensated for this MtrA dependence.
Mechanism of Binding of Prothioconazole to
Mycosphaerella graminicola
CYP51 Differs from That of Other Azole Antifungals
Authors: Parker Josie E. , Warrilow Andrew G. S. , Cools Hans J. , Martel Claire M. , Nes W. David , Fraaije Bart A. , Lucas John A. , Kelly Diane E. , Kelly Steven L.
Published: December 2010

Prothioconazole is one of the most important commercially available demethylase inhibitors (DMIs) used to treat
Mycosphaerella graminicola
infection of wheat, but specific information regarding its mode of action is not available in the scientific literature. Treatment of wild-type
M. graminicola
(strain IPO323) with 5 μg of epoxiconazole, tebuconazole, triadimenol, or prothioconazole ml
−1
resulted in inhibition of
M. graminicola
CYP51 (MgCYP51), as evidenced by the accumulation of 14α-methylated sterol substrates (lanosterol and eburicol) and the depletion of ergosterol in azole-treated cells. Successful expression of MgCYP51 in
Escherichia coli
enabled us to conduct spectrophotometric assays using purified 62-kDa MgCYP51 protein. Antifungal-binding studies revealed that epoxiconazole, tebuconazole, and triadimenol all bound tightly to MgCYP51, producing strong type II difference spectra (peak at 423 to 429 nm and trough at 406 to 409 nm) indicative of the formation of classical low-spin sixth-ligand complexes. Interaction of prothioconazole with MgCYP51 exhibited a novel spectrum with a peak and trough observed at 410 nm and 428 nm, respectively, indicating a different mechanism of inhibition. Prothioconazole bound to MgCYP51 with 840-fold less affinity than epoxiconazole and, unlike epoxiconazole, tebuconazole, and triadimenol, which are noncompetitive inhibitors, prothioconazole was found to be a competitive inhibitor of substrate binding. This represents the first study to validate the effect of prothioconazole on the sterol composition of
M. graminicola
and the first on the successful heterologous expression of active MgCYP51 protein. The binding affinity studies documented here provide novel insights into the interaction of MgCYP51 with DMIs, especially for the new triazolinethione derivative prothioconazole.
Variation inListeria monocytogenesDose Responses in Relation to Subtypes Encoding a Full-Length or Truncated Internalin A
Authors: Chen Yuhuan , Ross William H. , Whiting Richard C. , Van Stelten Anna , Nightingale Kendra K. , Wiedmann Martin , Scott Virginia N.
Published: December 2010

Internalin A (InlA; encoded byinlA) facilitates the crossing of the intestinal barrier byListeria monocytogenes. Mutations leading to a premature stop codon (PMSC) ininlAand thus attenuated mammalian virulence have been reported. We recently characterized 502L. monocytogenesfood isolates from a retail survey and 507 human clinical isolates from multiple U.S. states with respect to the presence/absence ofinlAmutations. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that dose responses for human listeriosis vary betweenL. monocytogenesstrains with and those without a PMSC ininlA. Subtype-specific prevalence and concentration distributions in food, along with epidemiologic and consumption data, were input into established dose-response models to generate anrvalue (probability of a cell causing illness). Under the conservative assumption thatL. monocytogeneslevels at retail represent levels consumed, mean log10rvalues were −8.1 and −10.7 forL. monocytogenessubtypes with genes encoding a full-length and a truncated InlA, respectively.L. monocytogenescarrying a 5′ frameshift mutation in a homopolymeric tract showed a mean log10rvalue of −12.1. Confidence intervals for thervalues and their differences varied depending on subtypes. When the increase in concentration ofL. monocytogenessubtypes between retail and consumption was considered, mean log10rvalues were reduced to −10.4, −13.8, and −12.8 for the subtypes with genes encoding a full-length InlA, for the subtypes carrying a PMSC ininlA, and for allL. monocytogenesisolates regardless of subtype, respectively. Our study provides further quantitative evidence thatL. monocytogenessubtypes vary in abilities and relative likelihoods of causing human disease, which were mechanistically related to defined genetic markers.
Global Regulation of the Response to Sulfur Availability in the Cheese-Related BacteriumBrevibacterium aurantiacum
Authors: Forquin Marie-Pierre , Hébert Agnès , Roux Aurélie , Aubert Julie , Proux Caroline , Heilier Jean-François , Landaud Sophie , Junot Christophe , Bonnarme Pascal , Martin-Verstraete Isabelle
Published: December 2010

In this study, we combined metabolic reconstruction, growth assays, and metabolome and transcriptome analyses to obtain a global view of the sulfur metabolic network and of the response to sulfur availability inBrevibacterium aurantiacum. In agreement with the growth ofB. aurantiacumin the presence of sulfate and cystine, the metabolic reconstruction showed the presence of a sulfate assimilation pathway, thiolation pathways that produce cysteine (cysEandcysK) or homocysteine (metXandmetY) from sulfide, at least one gene of the transsulfuration pathway (aecD), and genes encoding three MetE-type methionine synthases. We also compared the expression profiles ofB. aurantiacumATCC 9175 during sulfur starvation or in the presence of sulfate. Under sulfur starvation, 690 genes, including 21 genes involved in sulfur metabolism and 29 genes encoding amino acids and peptide transporters, were differentially expressed. We also investigated changes in pools of sulfur-containing metabolites and in expression profiles after growth in the presence of sulfate, cystine, or methionine plus cystine. The expression of genes involved in sulfate assimilation and cysteine synthesis was repressed in the presence of cystine, whereas the expression ofmetX,metY,metE1,metE2, andBL613, encoding a probable cystathionine-γ-synthase, decreased in the presence of methionine. We identified three ABC transporters: two operons encoding transporters were transcribed more strongly during cysteine limitation, and one was transcribed more strongly during methionine depletion. Finally, the expression of genes encoding a methionine γ-lyase (BL929) and a methionine transporter (metPS) was induced in the presence of methionine in conjunction with a significant increase in volatile sulfur compound production.
Comparison of Family 9 Cellulases from Mesophilic and Thermophilic Bacteria
Authors: Mingardon Florence , Bagert John D. , Maisonnier Cyprien , Trudeau Devin L. , Arnold Frances H.
Published: December 2010

Cellulases containing a family 9 catalytic domain and a family 3c cellulose binding module (CBM3c) are important components of bacterial cellulolytic systems. We measured the temperature dependence of the activities of three homologs:
Clostridium cellulolyticum
Cel9G,
Thermobifida fusca
Cel9A, and
C. thermocellum
Cel9I. To directly compare their catalytic activities, we constructed six new versions of the enzymes in which the three GH9-CBM3c domains were fused to a dockerin both with and without a
T. fusca
fibronectin type 3 homology module (Fn3). We studied the activities of these enzymes on crystalline cellulose alone and in complex with a miniscaffoldin containing a cohesin and a CBM3a. The presence of Fn3 had no measurable effect on thermostability or cellulase activity. The GH9-CBM3c domains of Cel9A and Cel9I, however, were more active than the wild type when fused to a dockerin complexed to scaffoldin. The three cellulases in complex have similar activities on crystalline cellulose up to 60°C, but
C. thermocellum
Cel9I, the most thermostable of the three, remains highly active up to 80°C, where its activity is 1.9 times higher than at 60°C. We also compared the temperature-dependent activities of different versions of Cel9I (wild type or in complex with a miniscaffoldin) and found that the thermostable CBM is necessary for activity on crystalline cellulose at high temperatures. These results illustrate the significant benefits of working with thermostable enzymes at high temperatures, as well as the importance of retaining the stability of all modules involved in cellulose degradation.
Novel Probiotic
Bifidobacterium bifidum
CECT 7366 Strain Active against the Pathogenic Bacterium
Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Chenoll E. , Casinos B. , Bataller E. , Astals P. , Echevarría J. , Iglesias J. R. , Balbarie P. , Ramón D. , Genovés S.
Published: December 2010

Helicobacter pylori
is considered one of the major risk factors underlying the development of gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Moreover, 50% of the population carries this bacterium, and consequently, when it is detected, eradication of
H. pylori
is strongly recommended. Regarding the use of probiotics as functional agents, several studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the addition of certain probiotic bacteria and
in vitro
inhibition of
H. pylori
; however,
in vivo
studies showing bifidobacterial activity against
H. pylori
remain scarce. In this study, a
Bifidobacterium bifidum
strain which proved active
in vitro
against
H. pylori
has been isolated, with inhibition levels reaching 81.94% in the case of the supernatant and even 94.77% inhibition for supernatant purified by cationic exchange followed by an inverse phase.
In vivo
studies using a BALB/c mouse model have proved that this strain partially relieves damage to gastric tissues caused by the pathogen and also decreases the
H. pylori
pathogenicity ratio. This novel strain fulfills the main properties required of a probiotic (resistance to gastrointestinal juices, biliary salts, NaCl, and low pH; adhesion to intestinal mucus; and sensitivity to antibiotics). Furthermore, the absence of undesirable metabolites has been demonstrated, and its food safety status has been confirmed by acute ingestion studies in mice. In summary, the results presented here demonstrate that
Bifidobacterium bifidum
CECT 7366 can be considered a probiotic able to inhibit
H. pylori
both
in vitro
and
in vivo
.