bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural basis for KIT receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition by antibodies targeting the D4 membrane-proximal region
Authors: Reshetnyak Andrey V. , Nelson Bryce , Shi Xiarong , Boggon Titus J. , Pavlenco Alevtina , Mandel-Bausch Elizabeth M. , Tome Francisco , Suzuki Yoshihisa , Sidhu Sachdev S. , Lax Irit , Schlessinger Joseph
Published: October 2013

Significance

The receptor tyrosine kinase KIT is aberrantly activated primarily by somatic mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors and in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia, melanoma, and other cancers. Treatment of these cancers with tyrosine kinase inhibitors shows durable clinical response, but drug resistance and disease progression eventually occur in all patients. Here we describe monoclonal antibodies that block the activity of KIT and its oncogenic mutant. Structural and biochemical analyses of anti-KIT antibodies in complex with a KIT fragment demonstrated that KIT antibodies bind to a critical Achilles heel region that is essential for receptor activation. These antibodies may provide a potentially unique therapeutic approach for the treatment of tumors driven by WT or oncogenically mutated KIT.
A mathematical model of serotype replacement in pneumococcal carriage following vaccination
Authors: Bottomley Christian , Roca Anna , Hill Philip C. , Greenwood Brian , Isham Valerie
Published: October 2013

A number of childhood vaccination programmes have recently introduced vaccination against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, the pneumococcus, a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that are currently in use only protect against some serotypes of the bacterium, and there is now strong evidence that those serotypes not included in the vaccine increase in prevalence among most vaccinated populations. We present a mathematical model for the dynamics of nasopharyngeal carriage of
S. pneumoniae
that allows for carriage with multiple serotypes. The model is used to predict the prevalence of vaccine type (VT) and non-VT (NVT) serotypes following the introduction of PCV. Parameter estimates for the model are obtained by maximum likelihood using pre-vaccination data from The Gambia. The model predicts that low (1, 6A and 9V) and medium (4, 5, 7F, 14, 18C, 19A and 19F) prevalence serotypes can be eliminated through vaccination, but that the overall prevalence of carriage will be reduced only slightly because of an increase in the prevalence of NVT serotypes. Serotype replacement will be sequential, with high and medium prevalence NVT serotypes dominating initially, followed by an increase of serotypes of low prevalence. We examine the impact of a hypothetical vaccine that provides partial protection against all serotypes, and find that this reduces overall carriage, but is unable to eliminate low or medium prevalence serotypes.
Asymmetric phospholipid: lipopolysaccharide bilayers; a Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane mimic
Authors: Clifton Luke A. , Skoda Maximilian W. A. , Daulton Emma L. , Hughes Arwel V. , Le Brun Anton P. , Lakey Jeremy H. , Holt Stephen A.
Published: October 2013

The Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane (OM) is a complex and highly asymmetric biological barrier but the small size of bacteria has hindered advances in
in vivo
examination of membrane dynamics. Thus, model OMs, amenable to physical study, are important sources of data. Here, we present data from asymmetric bilayers which emulate the OM and are formed by a simple two-step approach. The bilayers were deposited on an SiO
2
surface by Langmuir–Blodgett deposition of phosphatidylcholine as the inner leaflet and, via Langmuir–Schaefer deposition, an outer leaflet of either Lipid A or
Escherichia coli
rough lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The membranes were examined using neutron reflectometry (NR) to examine the coverage and mixing of lipids between the bilayer leaflets. NR data showed that in all cases, the initial deposition asymmetry was mostly maintained for more than 16 h. This stability enabled the sizes of the headgroups and bilayer roughness of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-
sn
-glycero-3-phosphocholine and Lipid A, Rc-LPS and Ra-LPS to be clearly resolved. The results show that rough LPS can be manipulated like phospholipids and used to fabricate advanced asymmetric bacterial membrane models using well-known bilayer deposition techniques. Such models will enable OM dynamics and interactions to be studied under
in vivo
-like conditions.
The implosion of cylindrical shell structures in a high-pressure water environment
Authors: Ikeda C. M. , Wilkerling J. , Duncan J. H.
Published: October 2013

The implosion of cylindrical shell structures in a high-pressure water environment is studied experimentally. The shell structures are made from thin-walled aluminium and brass tubes with circular cross sections and internal clearance-fit aluminium end caps. The structures are filled with air at atmospheric pressure. The implosions are created in a high-pressure tank with a nominal internal diameter of 1.77 m by raising the ambient water pressure slowly to a value,Pc, just above the elastic stability limit of each shell structure. The implosion events are photographed with a high-speed digital movie camera, and the pressure waves are measured simultaneously with an array of underwater blast sensors. For the models with larger values of length-to-diameter ratio,L/D0, the tubes flatten during implosion with a two-lobe (mode 2) cross-sectional shape. In these cases, it is found that the pressure wave records scale primarily withPcand the time scale(whereRiis the internal radius of the tube andρis the density of water), whereas the details of the structural design produce only secondary effects. In cases with smaller values ofL/D0, the models implode with higher-mode cross-sectional shapes. Pressure signals are compared for various mode-number implosions of models with the same available energy,PcV, whereVis the internal air-filled volume of the model. It is found that the pressure records scale well temporally with the time scale, but that the shape and amplitudes of the pressure records are strongly affected by the mode number.
Correlation between culture-identified bacteria in the middle nasal meatus and CT score in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Uhliarova Barbora , Karnisova Renata , Svec Martin , Calkovska Andrea
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to compare bacteriological findings in the middle nasal meatus in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and healthy controls, and to investigate the correlation between the prevalence of culture-identified bacteria and the severity of sinus disease. Bacterial culture was performed using a swab from the middle nasal meatus under endoscopic control in 72 patients with CRSwNP, 25 patients with CRSsNP and 59 healthy controls. Computed tomography (CT) scans were graded for severity using the Lund–Mackay scoring system. Patients with more severe forms of CRS with and without nasal polyps had significantly higher rates of pathogenic bacteria in the middle nasal meatus compared with patients with lower CT scores of the paranasal sinuses. There were no significant differences in bacterial species among CRSwNP, CRSsNP and control patients. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that colonization by pathogenic bacteria in patients with CRSwNP and CRSsNP is associated with a more severe form of the disease, as assessed by a pre-operative CT scan of the paranasal sinuses. The results suggest a role for bacterial infection in the pathogenesis of CRS. However, bacteria do not appear to play a role in the development of nasal polyposis in patients with CRS.
Altered residues in key proteins influence the expression and activity of the nitrogenase complex in an adaptive CO2 fixation-deficient mutant strain of Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Authors: Farmer Ryan M. , Laguna Rick , Panescu Jenny , McCoy Anthony , Logsdon Beth , Zianni Mike , Moskvin Oleg V. , Gomelsky Mark , Tabita F. Robert
Published: October 2013

Previously, the RubisCO-compromised spontaneous adaptiveRhodobacter sphaeroidesmutant, strain 16PHC, was shown to derepress the expression of genes that encode the nitrogenase complex under normal repressive conditions. As a result of this adaptation, the active nitrogenase complex restored redox balance, thus allowing strain 16PHC to grow under photoheterotrophic conditions in the absence of an exogenous electron acceptor. A combination of whole genome pyrosequencing and whole genome microarray analyses was employed to identify possible loci responsible for the observed phenotype. Mutations were found in two genes,glnAandnifA, whose products are involved in the regulatory cascade that controls nitrogenase complex gene expression. In addition, a nucleotide reversion within thenifKgene, which encodes a subunit of the nitrogenase complex, was also identified. Subsequent genetic, physiological and biochemical studies revealed alterations that led to derepression of the synthesis of an active nitrogenase complex in strain 16PHC.
Comparative study of X-ray charge-density data on CoSb3
Authors: Schmøkel Mette Stokkebro , Bjerg Lasse , Larsen Finn Krebs , Overgaard Jacob , Cenedese Simone , Christensen Mogens , Madsen Georg K. H. , Gatti Carlo , Nishibori Eiji , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Takata Masaki , Iversen Bo Brummerstedt
Published: October 2013

CoSb3is an example of a highly challenging case for experimental charge-density analysis due to the heavy elements (suitability factor of ∼0.01), the perfect crystallinity and the high symmetry of the compound. It is part of a family of host–guest structures that are potential candidates for use as high-performance thermoelectric materials. Obtaining and analysing accurate charge densities of the undoped host structure potentially can improve the understanding of the thermoelectric properties of this family of materials. In a previous study, analysis of the electron density gave a picture of covalent Co–Sb and Sb–Sb interactions together with relatively low atomic charges based on state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical data. In the current study, several experimental X-ray diffraction data sets collected on the empty CoSb3framework are compared in order to probe the experimental requirements for obtaining data of high enough quality for charge-density analysis even in the case of very unsuitable crystals. Furthermore, the quality of the experimental structure factors is tested by comparison with theoretical structure factors obtained from periodic DFT calculations. The results clearly show that, in the current study, the data collected on high-intensity, high-energy synchrotron sources and very small crystals are superior to data collected at conventional sources, and in fact necessary for a meaningful charge-density study, primarily due to greatly diminished effects of extinction and absorption which are difficult to correct for with sufficient accuracy.
Hexaaquabis[3,5-bis(hydroxyimino)-1-methyl-2,4,6-trioxocyclohexanido-κ2N3,O4]barium tetrahydrate
Authors: Dinh Do Nguyen , Kovalchukova Olga , Stash Adam , Strashnova Svetlana
Published: October 2013

In the title compound, [Ba(C7H5N2O5)2(H2O)6]·4H2O, the Ba2+cation lies on a twofold rotation axis and is ten-coordinated by two 3,5-bis(hydroxyimino)-1-methyl-2,4,6-trioxocyclohexanide oxo O atoms [Ba—O = 2.8715 (17) Å], two hydroxyimino N atoms [Ba—N = 3.036 (2) Å], and six water molecules [Ba—O = 2.847 (2), 2.848 (2), and 2.880 (2) Å]. The 3,5-bis(hydroxyimino)-1-methyl-2,4,6-trioxocyclohexanide monoanions act in a bidentate chelating manner, coordinating through an N atom of the non-deprotonated hydroxyimino group and an O atom of the neighboring oxo group. Two lattice water molecules are located in the cavities of the framework and are involved in hydrogen bonding to O atoms of one of the coordinating water molecules and the O atom of a keto group of the ligand. As a result, a three-dimensional network is formed.
(E)-2-[2-(3-Nitrophenyl)ethenyl]quinolin-8-ol
Authors: Schulze Mathias , Seichter Wilhelm , Weber Edwin
Published: October 2013

In the title compound, C17H12N2O3, the mean planes of the benzene ring and the quinoline moiety are inclined to one another by 11.0 (1)°. The nitro substituent is twisted at an angle of 7.9 (2)° with respect to the attached benzene ring. Intramolecular O—H...N and C—H...N hydrogen bonds occur. The crystal is constructed of molecular stacks without involvement of π-stacking interactions, but showing interstack associationviaO—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonding. Thus, the supramolecular architecture of the crystal results from stacked molecules stabilized by hydrogen bonding between the stacks.
Drug interactions and dual diagnosis
Authors: Hamilton Ian , Pringle Rose
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Adverse drug reactions (ADR) and interactions for patients who use substances and have a mental health problem is an area that lacks attention in research, practice and policy. The purpose of this paper is to examine what is currently known about this topic.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper explores the available literature and specialist information available on this subject.

Findings

– This is a complex area, which is compounded by limited empirical evidence. However, information is available which when combined with individual patient assessment there is the potential to reduce the risk of detrimental ADR and improve concordance to medication.

Originality/value

– The paper offers pragmatic suggestions which aim to improve the knowledge of practitioners and lessen the potential harm to patients.
Developing inter-disciplinary and inter-agency networks: reflections on a “community of practice” approach
Authors: E. Anderson Sarah , Hennessy Catherine , Cornes Michelle , Manthorpe Jill
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– People with a dual diagnosis or other multiple and complex needs often require support from a range of services and agencies. Social policy has focused on achieving an integrated response from practitioners; however, service responses to this group frequently remain fragmented. Practitioners supporting these clients are likely to need knowledge drawn from multiple disciplines and awareness of complex and changing services. Research suggests the value of professional networks for knowledge transfer. The purpose of this paper is to describe one's approach to supporting integration and facilitating knowledge exchange through the development of “communities of practice”.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes a “communities of practice” model, as implemented by researchers from King's College London and Revolving Doors Agency through their Communities of Practice Development Programme. It outlines potential benefits of the model – identified through focus groups and survey responses of members, facilitator interviews and the authors’ observations as community of practice members. Finally, it discusses challenges and limitations of this approach.

Findings

– Communities of practice are able to provide a forum for peer support and supervision to mediate feelings of role or service isolation and to sustain practitioner motivation. They can also facilitate inter-disciplinary and inter-agency knowledge transfer. However, the limited resources available to these local networks act as a barrier to developing their capacity to improve responses to people with multiple and complex needs.

Originality/value

– The paper uses a case study approach to outline the potential for a “communities of practice” approach to be used to improve responses to people with multiple and complex needs.
Online self and peer assessment of team work in accounting education
Authors: Anne Delaney Deborah , Fletcher Marty , Cameron Craig , Bodle Kerry
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate the implementation of an online self and peer assessment model (SPARKPLUS) to assess team work skills of accounting students.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study describes the background and implementation of SPARKPLUS and employs a survey questionnaire administered to students enrolled in an undergraduate company accounting subject before and after the implementation of the model. The survey results and selected qualitative data are used to evaluate students' attitudes to group work and the impact of SPARKPLUS.

Findings

– The study suggests that students understand the benefits of group work activities in developing their technical knowledge in company accounting. However, students do not appreciate the value of group work activities in developing generic skills or how SPARKPLUS supports group work activities.

Practical implications

– Professional and accreditation bodies require evidence of teaching and learning activities and assessment of team work skills during the students' undergraduate accounting degree. This study demonstrates that students require significant teaching and learning activities in relation to team work skills and the assessment model for successful implementation.

Originality/value

– This study makes an original contribution to the accounting education literature pertaining to assessment of team work skills in two respects. First, the study outlines the design, implementation and preliminary evaluation of an online self and peer assessment model in an undergraduate company accounting course. Second, preliminary evidence concerning the impact of this model on group work activities and team work skills is provided.
Case studies in a passive learning environment: some Malaysian evidence
Authors: Nazli Nik Ahmad Nik , Sulaiman Maliah
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore accounting students' perceived usefulness of case studies in Malaysia, which has a more passive learning environment, and if gender, prior academic performance and prior exposure to case studies influenced students' perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey on students' perceived usefulness of case studies based on Weil et al. was used with final-year students enrolled in an advanced management accounting course. The data were gathered over two semesters in 2006/2007.

Findings

– Findings reveal that generally students felt that the case method was very useful and gave them numerous benefits. However, there were no significant differences in the perceived usefulness of case studies across gender and prior academic performance. Some differences were observed between students with prior exposure to case studies and students without such exposure, in that students without prior exposure perceived higher benefits of case studies.

Research limitations/implications

– The study showed that students in a passive learning environment generally find case studies to be very beneficial.

Practical implications

– The case approach should be used more extensively and introduced earlier in accounting undergraduate programmes.

Originality/value

– This study is one of very few studies which have investigated students' perceived usefulness of case studies, in a developing country, Malaysia, where a more passive learning environment exists – addressing an important gap in the accounting education literature.
The readiness of universities in managing electronic records
Authors: Eze Asogwa Brendan
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to survey the level of readiness of three universities in Nigeria towards managing their digital records by assessing the e-records frameworks, infrastructures, and structural facilities that are available.

Design/methodology/approach

– The population of the study was 30 staff of the Registry Department in three Nigerian universities. Questionnaires, oral interviews, and check list were used during data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and bar charts.

Findings

– The paper found that universities in Nigeria are not ready to manage electronic records due to weak legislative and organizational frameworks. The paper recommends creation of awareness about e-records management, training of records personnel, adoption of hybrid records management and periodic auditing, provision of sustainable framework and infrastructure, among other things in Nigerian universities.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was carried out on only three out of more than 20 federal universities in Nigeria. Therefore, the sample size and geographical spread was inadequate for generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

– The paper demonstrates that, without proper planning and adoption of various international standards for records management, e-records created using modern technologies are likely to be inaccessible in Nigerian universities in future and consequently, the ability to remain accountable to the citizens will be compromised.

Originality/value

– The study exposed the simple tools and strategies for assessing a university's readiness before embarking on electronic records management in a digital age. The paper will serve as a catalyst to further discussion and research into e-records and archives management in Nigeria. It will lead to other records management initiatives in the library, archives and information management.
Health sciences information literacy in CMS environments: learning from our peers
Authors: Lyons Tierney , Warlick Stefanie
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– With academic institutions' adoption of Course/Learning Management Systems (CMS), librarians are increasingly providing content through this delivery method. This study aims to identify practical information for librarians considering CMS content development or re-evaluation of online offerings.

Design/methodology/approach

– Academic libraries with health sciences information literacy programs within CMS were examined through a literature review and then queried through an online survey. Trends and issues identified within the literature were utilized to develop the survey. Collected data was analyzed to determine how librarians incorporate CMS into information literacy. Analysis focused on strategies used in development and delivery, benefits and challenges of CMS and pairing its content with traditional instruction methods.

Findings

– An overarching theme is the ease and accessibility of CMS, especially for distance learners and those with time restrictions. However, although online tools and learning spaces are readily available and beneficial, librarians maintain in-person instruction. A shift from primarily positive published reports by early adopters to more constructive feedback that stems from longer-term CMS experience is identified. Assessment practices of online library instruction need additional attention to provide a more robust approach.

Originality/value

– This unique examination of the last ten years of publications focusing on information literacy librarians' CMS activity is paired with a broad, updated examination of current trends. It identifies best practices related to time commitment, faculty relationships, and assessment for implementation in CMS environments and the importance of utilizing blended learning strategies.
Understanding the purchase intention towards remanufactured product in closed-loop supply chains
Authors: Wang Yacan , Wiegerinck Vincent , Krikke Harold , Zhang Hongdan
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to explore the reasons underlying the key assumption in the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) literature that consumers' purchase intention is lower for remanufactured products than for new products. It aims to complement the predominantly operation-focused CLSC research by examining consumers' perception of and behavior relating to remanufactured products.

Design/methodology/approach

– A theoretical model is developed by integrating the concepts of perceived benefits and product knowledge with the theory of planned behavior and the theory of perceived risk. Then the model is examined through an empirical study in the Chinese automobile spare parts industry involving 288 respondents and using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The results indicate that purchase intention is directly influenced by purchase attitude followed by perceived behavioral control and indirectly influenced by perceived risk, perceived benefit and product knowledge via attitude. Therefore, effective measures to promote consumers' purchase intention rely on coordinated policies built on multiple pillars instead of single factors.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first empirical studies to explore the factors that underpin consumers' purchase intention regarding remanufactured products. The results can be used to validate the key assumptions in operational models and foster new research in the context of CLSCs.
On the measurement and benchmarking of research impact among active logistics scholars
Authors: Rao Shashank , Iyengar Deepak , J. Goldsby Thomas
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Scholarly interest in carrying out impactful research continues to remain high. Yet, given that citations of scholarly work can never decrease with time, traditional measures of research impact (such as raw counts of citations) unwittingly discriminate against early career researchers and also make it hard to identify future high impact scholars. In the current study, the paper compares several commonly used measures of research impact to identify one that best normalizes for the effect of career stage. The measure thus applies equally across most career stages, providing a usable impact benchmark for logistics scholars irrespective of seniority level. The paper also aims to present benchmarks on that metric to help logistics scholars identify their research impactvis-à-vistheir peers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Bibliometric data on the research of 702 logistics scholars were collected and analyzed by dividing the scholars into different cohorts based on seniority. Comparisons of different citation metrics were then made.

Findings

– The h-rate provides the most appropriate basis for comparing research impact across logistics scholars of various career stages. Benchmark h-rates are provided for scholars to identify their research impact.

Originality/value

– The authors are unaware of any other work in the logistics field that measures the research impact of logistics scholars in this manner.
Dynamic capabilities for fashion-luxury supply chain innovation
Authors: Caniato Federico , Moretto Antonella , Caridi Maria
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims at developing a conceptual framework to identify the main features of supply chain innovation and to analyse the role of dynamic capabilities in implementing such innovations in the context of the fashion-luxury industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper follows an exploratory approach based on one in-depth case study. The theoretical framework, developed through the literature review, is applied to a Italian fashion-luxury company, thus exploring its applicability in a real context and obtaining evidence in the area of supply chain innovation.

Findings

– The paper offers insights on supply chain innovation, by investigating an area under-explored in the existing literature. The paper provides a conceptual framework oriented to analyse the main features of supply chain innovation for fashion-luxury companies, by investigating the main determinants of innovation.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed model provides initial insights into the topic of supply chain innovation in fashion-luxury companies. To date, the analysis is predominantly qualitative and therefore replication is needed to generalise the results.

Practical implications

– The paper identifies three different perspectives of supply chain innovation and the relationships between supply chain innovation and other types of innovations, which are hopefully useful for managers that are willing to introduce innovation inside fashion-luxury companies.

Originality/value

– The paper addresses a new topic, underexplored in the supply chain management literature, by considering a peculiar area of investigation, the fashion-luxury. Moreover, the paper investigates the topic of supply chain innovation through the support of empirical data.
Legitimate vs illegitimate: the luxury supply chain and its doppelganger
Authors: D'Amato Iolanda , Papadimitriou Thanos
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The increase in international trade, the advances in technology, the growing importance of the emerging markets are the main factors that have contributed to the explosion of counterfeiting experienced in recent years, estimated to be valued at about 5-7 per cent of the world trade. The luxury industry in Italy has been particularly hard hit and most brands nowadays are urgently looking for demand-side and supply-side strategies to track and control the phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to provide a supply chain view of counterfeiting and illegitimate trade phenomena, in a supply chain risk management perspective, to define and illuminate the interaction of the legitimate and the illegitimate supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper introduces the LISC model to represent and include all the illegitimate trade phenomena under analysis such as pure counterfeiting, factory overruns, grey and parallel market, supply chain infiltrations, product diversion and sale of stolen goods

Findings

– The interrelations between legitimate and illegitimate supply chains are crucial to approach counterfeiting issue and define which illegitimate trade paths are more harmful to companies and customers.

Research limitations/implications

– The first limitation of the work is that the illegitimate trade categories defined in this paper mainly rely on data and phenomena collected from secondary sources that have not yet been directly observed by the authors. The second one is that a specific focus on high-end fashion industry was employed throughout this work: further analysis for evaluating the applicability and the significance of the illegitimate trade in other industries is still pending. The final limitation stems from the fact that it will be necessary to investigate the implications and the applicability of the model to the illegitimate on-line trade.

Practical implications

– During the course of the MI-FIDO project, the model and the selection rules identified for illegitimate trade family classification were used as a basis for defining the rules for anomalies detection to be included in a “track and trace” system developed the project team currently under with a major Italian fashion brand.

Originality/value

– To the authors
'
knowledge, this is the first work that attempts to present a concise and systematic approach to luxury illegitimate trade from a supply chain perspective. Understanding which legitimate-illegitimate supply chain interactions are the most damaging will help fashion luxury and other industries to battle the counterfeiting phenomenon more effectively
Comparing online and in-store shopping behavior towards luxury goods
Authors: Liu Xia , Burns Alvin C , Hou Yingjian
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the online and in-store shopping behavior towards luxury goods.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two studies are presented. Study one is qualitative in nature. It uses a mixed method approach and explores why luxury consumers decide to purchase luxury products online or in-store. The second study is a quantitative one. It tests the hypotheses drawn from the first study and validates the qualitative results.

Findings

– Online and in-store luxury shoppers are influenced by different motivational factors. Online luxury shoppers are price-conscious, prefer the online product availability and have a higher level of trust towards online customer reviews. In-store shoppers who are more averse to online risks find it very important to see the product personally before the purchase and value shopping experience and interactions. In addition, differences exist between the online shopping behaviors of regular and luxury shoppers.

Research limitations/implications

– It contributes to luxury consumption research and expands shopping motivation literature by investigating luxury buyer behavior in the online context.

Practical implications

– Luxury retailers should pay attention to the newly emerging segment of online luxury consumers. Lack of trust prevents more luxury consumers from shopping on the internet and the trustworthiness of the sellers can help attract potential shoppers. Luxury retailers can cater to the needs of different types of luxury buyers.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first exploratory, comparative study on luxury consumption in the online and physical store environments. It investigates the motivational factors that drive the shopping behavior of internet and in-store luxury shoppers.
Dynamic analysis and model-based feedforward control of a 2-DoF translational parallel manipulator driven by linear motors
Authors: Zhang Gang , Wu Jianhua , Liu Pinkuan , Ding Han
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Based on the inverse kinematics and task space dynamic model, this paper aims to design a high-precision trajectory tracking controller for a 2-DoF translational parallel manipulator (TPM) driven by linear motors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The task space dynamic model of a 2-DoF TPM is derived using Lagrangian equation of the first type. A task space dynamic model-based feedforward controller (MFC) is designed, which is combined with a cascade PID/PI controller and velocity feedforward controller (VFC) to construct a hybrid PID/PI+VFC/MFC controller. The hybrid controller is implemented in MATLAB/dSPACE real-time control platform. Experiment results are given to validate the effectiveness and industrial applicability of the hybrid controller.

Findings

– The MFC can compensate for the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of a 2-DoF TPM and achieve better tracking performance than the conventional acceleration feedforward controller (AFC).

Originality/value

– The task space dynamic model-based hybrid PID/PI+VFC/MFC controller is proposed for a 2-DoF linear-motor-driven TPM, which reduces the tracking error by at least 15 percent compared with conventional hybrid PID/PI+VFC/AFC controller. This control scheme can be extended to high-speed and high-precision trajectory tracking control of other parallel manipulators by reprogramming the feedforward signals of traditional cascade PID/PI controller.
A formal model for embedded brain reading
Authors: Andrea Kirchner Elsa , Drechsler Rolf
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The presented work contributes to research in the field of advanced man-machine interaction and to research in the field of formalisation and verification of complex systems. This work was motivated by the need to provide a detailed and well understandable formal description of embedded brain reading (eBR). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper first introduces eBR and points out its main features. Next, a general model for eBR is developed to describe the overall architecture, integral parts and dependencies between those parts. The model is developed and presented in a formal structured form that allows for application of optimisation as well as verification techniques.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates using implementations that the application of the formal model allows to check for completeness and correctness to detect errors in implementation, which were invisible without formalising eBR. In summary, the presented work contributes a formal model for a complex system and shows that such a formal model can improve the overall system's functionality.

Research limitations/implications

– For future work, the results support the application of formal modelling and verification techniques at the system level and the development of methods to prove for correctness and completeness of complex systems during their development.

Originality/value

– The paper describes for the first time eBR and presents a formal model for it. It illustrates how an error-prone approach like BR can be applied safely by embedding it into the control of a real system and by applying mechanisms that control for its correct function.
Systematic optimal design procedures for the Gough-Stewart platform used as motion simulators
Authors: Liu Guojun , Qu Zhiyong , Han Junwei , Liu Xiaochu
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present systematic optimal design procedures for the Gough-Stewart platforms used as engineering motion simulators.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three systematic optimal design procedures are proposed to solve the engineering design problems for the Gough-Stewart platform used as motion simulators. In these systematic optimal design procedures, two contradicting design optimality criteria with good representations of performances of the Gough-Stewart platforms are chosen as the objective functions. In addition, the two objective function optimization problems are solved by using the multi-objective evolutionary algorithms.

Findings

– In the systematic optimal design procedures, multiple compromised design solutions are found by using Elitist Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm version II in the primary design stage, and many candidates can be used in the secondary design stage for higher decisions. Two higher decision methods have been presented to choose the final solutions.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes three systematic optimal design procedures to solve the practical design problems of the Gough-Stewart platforms used as motion simulators, which are very important for the engineering designers.
Bank asset allocation: the effectiveness of market monitoring
Authors: W.Y. Wang Grace , Mahajan Arvind , P. Kishan Ruby
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the effectiveness of market discipline on banks’ risk-taking behavior based on how swiftly banks respond to market information.

Design/methodology/approach

– A simplified incentive model provides the necessary justification for two types of market disciplines: first, monitoring by uninsured market participants, and second, risk premium in terms of interest spread required by risk-averse depositors. Panel data regression is carried out for both surviving and failed US banks for the period 1999:Q4-2007:Q3 to examine the role of market discipline, bank capital, and macroeconomic shocks.

Findings

– The paper finds that banks which failed during 2007:Q4-2010:Q4 suffered from fundamental weaknesses in their asset quality relative to the surviving banks prior to the crisis.

Originality/value

– The paper focusses on two questions: In what circumstance does market monitoring exist? And how can market incentives affect banking firms’ actions? The first question is studied in a simplified incentive model that provides justification for two types of market discipline. Given that, the effectiveness of market discipline is empirically tested, using the US banking data in the period leading up to a surge in the number of bank failures in 2007-2010. The paper's results show that failed institutions with large size were relatively less responsive to early warning signals of declining uninsured deposits and rising deposit spread.
The impact of energy performance on single-family home selling prices in Sweden
Authors: Högberg Lovisa
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This study aims to test whether energy performance effects single-family home sale prices. It also examines whether recommendations for supposedly cost-effective energy efficiency measures, by intervention category (construction, installation or operation/control technical measures), are perceived as untapped potential – a real option – that effects sale prices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The energy performance measurement and dummy variables for three categories of improvement recommendations are included as explanatory variables in a hedonic regression analysis using transaction data and energy performance certificates data for 1,073 observations.

Findings

– Results indicate that better energy performance effects selling prices positively. Energy efficiency recommendations seem to have an impact on sale price; home buyers seem to require a larger “discount” for more complex types of measures.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample only includes houses in the Stockholm; so-called sustainable buildings have not been specifically studied; and the heating source has not been accounted for.

Originality/value

– The EU energy performance certificates provide new information and measure energy performance more exactly than many earlier (proxy) variables. This is one of the first studies to test the effect of this information, and the first one using Swedish data.
Predicting customers' behavioral intentions toward ATM services
Authors: Kaur Sahi Gurjeet , Gupta Sangeeta
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The present study aims at developing an integrated model designed to predict and explain the various factors that influence customers' behavioral intentions to use or not to use one particular SST, i.e. ATM services.

Design/methodology/approach

– A list of households in a particular Indian city was obtained from the municipal corporation. 268 respondents were contacted using systematic sampling technique. Structural equation modeling was used to demonstrate the stability of the proposed model and to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– The study finds that bank customers are less innovative and less optimistic to try out new technologies. Usefulness of the technology helps in developing positive attitude towards the technology. Customers' intentions to use technology are significantly affected by their attitude towards the technology.

Research limitations/implications

– The present study confines to only two banks and that too limited to the branches of these banks operating in one city only.

Practical implications

– Despite extensive use of ATMs, the absence of direct interaction with bank staff has increased customers' apprehensions about the perceived risk. To reduce the customers concern about perceived risk because of security and privacy concerns, the bank should improve the quality of interaction with the customers to alleviate these apprehensions.

Originality/value

– Lack of personal interaction generates doubts and queries in the minds of the people, especially those unaware or less aware of these technology-based services. Such a situation is quite prevalent in the developing nations (like India), where still a large number of people are apprehensive about using the latest technologies.
Becoming partners in urban development
Authors: Vallet Nathalie
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of public libraries within urban networks aiming for the future development and innovation of cities and how this influences their own strategic plans and decision making

Design/methodology/approach

– An explorative case-study design in five Flemish (i.e. Antwerp, Genk, Ghent, Ostend and Roeselare) and four Dutch (i.e. Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft and Roosendaal) public libraries.

Findings

– The research results identify one generic strategic role and three specific strategic roles of Flemish and Dutch public libraries. The latter concern the so-called roles of an “urban landmark”, an “area-oriented herald” and a “target group patron”.

Practical implications

– This paper provides a unique and interesting overview of alternative strategic roles for public libraries in urban networks aiming for the future development of cities.

Originality/value

– It is the only study in Flanders and the Netherlands providing empirical information on the strategic roles of public libraries in urban development
Getting published: group support for academic librarians
Authors: Sullivan Doreen , Leong Julia , Yee Annie , Giddens Daniel , Phillips Robyn
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer an effective model for increasing professionals' competence, enthusiasm and success in writing and publishing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Recent articles on writing groups in the field of library and information science are reviewed and a case study of a group at RMIT University Library is presented. The authors were the facilitator and group members who were librarians, most with relative inexperience in research, writing, presenting, and getting published. A self-rating confidence survey was created to establish developmental priorities which were then addressed through input from experts, practical application and reflection, and constructive advice and support from group members. Group effectiveness and outcomes were evaluated at mid- and end-point review meetings, through a post-intervention confidence survey and by tracking publication output.

Findings

– The group became a cohesive, task-focused and productive team. A post-intervention confidence survey evidenced improvements on all survey items at a team level. Each member affirmed that they had gained substantial knowledge of writing, presentation and research techniques and understanding of the publication process. Publication output increased over the benchmark year of 2010, and in 2011 and 2012 exceeded initial targets.

Practical implications

– The model presented offers a practical and effective approach to increasing competence and output in writing, presenting, research, and getting published and can be easily adopted by others.

Originality/value

– Most literature reviews on library professional writing groups relate to professionals required to publish. The Get Published Group comprised Australian librarians writing voluntarily.
The hybrid consumer: exploring hybrid consumption behaviour
Authors: Ehrnrooth Hanna , Gronroos Christian
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The article aims to explore hybrid consumption behaviour as an emergent consumption pattern that may make conventional consumer stereotypes outdated.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is an exploratory study in urban environments using qualitative, semi-structured and semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– It is found that a continuum of hybrid consumption types exists, which includes both omnivorous and polarised behaviour. Hybrid consumers opt for both premium and budget alternatives but ignore midrange alternatives. Both trading-up and trading-down categories and situations are identified. While in previous studies trading up and trading down have been considered product category specific, the results of this study imply that hybrid consumption transcends product category boundaries. Four key themes characterizing hybrid consumption are identified.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is explorative. However, as the phenomenon of hybrid consumption behaviour is insufficiently studied in previous research, the article reveals underpinning drivers of such behaviour and suggests directions of further research into the phenomenon.

Practical implications

– There are many practical implications of the study. As hybrid consumers do not fall into distinct and stable categories, traditional marketing and segmentation strategies may need to be rethought. Consumers cannot be categorised in such a straightforward manner as conventional segmentation practices suggest.

Originality/value

– The authors are not aware of hybrid consumption having been studied and categorised in this way before in academic research. New approaches to studying consumer behaviour, segmentation and marketing are implied.