bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Over-expression of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase-I with an accessory protein co-expression: a key enzyme for carbon dioxide reduction
Authors: Inoue Takahiro , Takao Kyousuke , Fukuyama Yuto , Yoshida Takashi , Sako Yoshihiko
Published: April 2014

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase-I (CODH-I) from the CO-utilizing bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans are expected to be utilized as a part of reproducible carbon dioxide photoreduction system. However, the over-expression system for CODH-I remains to be constructed. CODH-I constitutes a hydrogenase/CODH gene cluster including a gene encoding a Ni-insertion accessory protein, CooC (cooC3). Through co-expression of CooC3, we found an over-expression system with higher activity. The Rec-CODH-I with the co-expression exhibits 8060 U/mg which was approximately threefold than that without co-expression (2270 U/mg). In addition, co-expression resulted in Ni2+ content increase; the amount of Ni atoms of Rec-CODH-I was approximately thrice than that without co-expression.
Efficiency of 2.45 and 5.80 GHz microwave irradiation for a hydrolysis reaction by thermostable β-Glucosidase HT1
Authors: Nagashima Izuru , Sugiyama Jun-ichi , Sakuta Tomomi , Sasaki Masahide , Shimizu Hiroki
Published: April 2014

Microwave irradiation at different frequencies gave unique results for the hydrolyses of glycosyl bonds by β-Glucosidase HT1. With the observed relative complex permittivity data for the reaction buffer, 2.45 GHz microwave radiation affected both waters and ions, while 5.80 GHz only affected waters. We, here, propose that would be one of the unique “microwave nonthermal effects”.
A method for calculating probability of collision between space objects
Authors: Xu Xiao-Li , Xiong Yong-Qing
Published: April 2014

A method is developed to calculate probability of collision. Based on geometric features of space objects during the encounter, it is reasonable to separate the radial orbital motions from those in the cross section for most encounter events that occur in a near-circular orbit. Therefore, the probability of collision caused by differences in both altitude of the orbit in the radial direction and the probability of collision caused by differences in arrival time in the cross section are calculated. The net probability of collision is expressed as an explicit expression by multiplying the above two components. Numerical cases are applied to test this method by comparing the results with the general method. The results indicate that this method is valid for most encounter events that occur in near-circular orbits.
Effects of Growing Environment on Properties of Starch from Five Australian Wheat Varieties
Authors: Nhan Minh Tri , Copeland Les
Published: April 2014

The effects of growing conditions on properties of starch from wheat grain were examined. Growing conditions affected starch and amylose content, granule size distribution, protein associated with starch granules, and starch swelling power in grains from five commercial Australian milling wheat varieties grown at multiple locations in two years in crop production systems. Soil nitrogen and meteorological conditions were major contributors to variability in grain yield and grain protein and starch contents. The volume proportion of B‐granules was positively affected by warmer temperatures before flowering but negatively correlated with high temperatures during grain filling. Genotype was the main source of variability in the proportion of B‐granules and granule dimensions, starch‐granule proteins, and starch swelling power, although there were also significant contributions to variability from the growing conditions. Seasonal effects and interactions between genotype and season and location were significant sources of variability in amylose content, proportion of short chains of amylopectin, and flour swelling power. The positive relationships between starch content and the number of clear days and atmospheric temperatures before flowering indicate that conditions that enhance accumulation of assimilates before anthesis influence the deposition of reserves in developing grain.
Analysis of Stem Rust Resistance in Australian Barley Cultivars
Authors: Derevnina L. , Fetch T. , Singh D. , Brueggeman R. , Dong C. , Park R. F.
Published: April 2014

Eighty-two Australian and five exotic barley cultivars were evaluated at the seedling stage for resistance to the Australian stem rust pathotype 98-1,2,3,5,6. Although most of these cultivars exhibited mesothetic (mixed infection type) reactions that were associated with a high level of chlorosis, two (‘O'Connor’ and ‘Pacific Ranger’) were highly resistant. Marker analysis indicated that four Australian cultivars (‘Empress’, ‘Vlamingh’, Pacific Ranger, and ‘Yerong’) possess the stem rust resistance gene Rpg1. Tests conducted using North American Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici pathotypes MCCJ and QCCJ supported marker results and indicated that ‘Pacific Ranger’ and ‘Vlamingh’ likely carry additional stem rust resistance genes. Based on pedigree information and results from multipathotype tests, these genes are believed to be uncharacterized and, therefore, new. The resistance in Australian barley ‘Franklin’ conferred resistance against all pathotypes tested in this study. Studies of inheritance to MCCJ revealed that it possessed an unknown seedling resistance, which was independent of and displayed additivity to Rpg1.
A Technique to Study Meloidogyne arenaria Resistance in Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Transformed Peanut
Authors: Chu Y. , Guimarães L. A. , Wu C. L. , Timper P. , Holbrook C. C. , Ozias-Akins P.
Published: April 2014

A reliable peanut root transformation system would be useful to study the functions of genes involved in root biology and disease resistance. The objective of this study was to establish an effective protocol to produce composite plants mediated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation. In total, 75% of transformed peanut seedlings produced an average of 2.83 transgenic roots per plant. Peanut seed had the highest germination rate after treatment in a chlorine gas chamber for 8 h compared with 16 h in chlorine gas or Clorox and mercuric chloride immersion treatments. High transformation efficiency was achieved when the wound site for A. rhizogenes inoculation was covered with vermiculite instead of enclosing the whole plant in a high humidity chamber. On average, 2.5 galls from Meloidogyne arenaria infection were formed per transgenic root from susceptible genotype TifGP-2. These data indicate that A. rhizogenes-transformed roots can be used to phenotype the host response to nematode challenge. Transformation of RLP-2, a candidate resistance gene for M. arenaria integrated into a silencing construct, did not alter the resistance response of Tifguard, even though downregulation of endogenous RLP-2 expression was detected in transformed roots. It is likely that RLP-2 is not the gene conditioning M. arenaria resistance in peanut.
Human primary motor cortex is both activated and stabilized during observation of other person's phasic motor actions
Authors: Hari Riitta , Bourguignon Mathieu , Piitulainen Harri , Smeds Eero , De Tiège Xavier , Jousmäki Veikko
Published: April 2014

When your favourite athlete flops over the high-jump bar, you may twist your body in front of the TV screen. Such automatic motor facilitation, ‘mirroring’ or even overt imitation is not always appropriate. Here, we show, by monitoring motor-cortex brain rhythms with magnetoencephalography (MEG) in healthy adults, that viewing intermittent hand actions of another person, in addition to activation, phasically stabilizes the viewer's primary motor cortex, with the maximum of half a second after the onset of the seen movement. Such a stabilization was evident as enhanced cortex–muscle coherence at 16–20 Hz, despite signs of almost simultaneous suppression of rolandic rhythms of approximately 7 and 15 Hz as a sign of activation of the sensorimotor cortex. These findings suggest that inhibition suppresses motor output during viewing another person's actions, thereby withholding unintentional imitation.
Autism and the mirror neuron system: insights from learning and teaching
Authors: Vivanti Giacomo , Rogers Sally J.
Published: April 2014

Individuals with autism have difficulties in social learning domains which typically involve mirror neuron system (MNS) activation. However, the precise role of the MNS in the development of autism and its relevance to treatment remain unclear. In this paper, we argue that three distinct aspects of social learning are critical for advancing knowledge in this area: (i) the mechanisms that allow for the implicit mapping of and learning from others' behaviour, (ii) the motivation to attend to and model conspecifics and (iii) the flexible and selective use of social learning. These factors are key targets of the Early Start Denver Model, an autism treatment approach which emphasizes social imitation, dyadic engagement, verbal and non-verbal communication and affect sharing. Analysis of the developmental processes and treatment-related changes in these different aspects of social learning in autism can shed light on the nature of the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying social learning and positive treatment outcomes in autism. This knowledge in turn may assist in developing more successful pedagogic approaches to autism spectrum disorder. Thus, intervention research can inform the debate on relations among neuropsychology of social learning, the role of the MNS, and educational practice in autism.
Action observation treatment: a novel tool in neurorehabilitation
Authors: Buccino Giovanni
Published: April 2014

This review focuses on a novel rehabilitation approach known as action observation treatment (AOT). It is now a well-accepted notion in neurophysiology that the observation of actions performed by others activates in the perceiver the same neural structures responsible for the actual execution of those same actions. Areas endowed with this action observation–action execution matching mechanism are defined as the mirror neuron system. AOT exploits this neurophysiological mechanism for the recovery of motor impairment. During one typical session, patients observe a daily action and afterwards execute it in context. So far, this approach has been successfully applied in the rehabilitation of upper limb motor functions in chronic stroke patients, in motor recovery of Parkinson's disease patients, including those presenting with freezing of gait, and in children with cerebral palsy. Interestingly, this approach also improved lower limb motor functions in post-surgical orthopaedic patients. AOT is well grounded in basic neuroscience, thus representing a valid model of translational medicine in the field of neurorehabilitation. Moreover, the results concerning its effectiveness have been collected in randomized controlled studies, thus being an example of evidence-based clinical practice.
The mirror mechanism: recent findings and perspectives
Authors: Rizzolatti Giacomo , Fogassi Leonardo
Published: April 2014

Mirror neurons are a specific type of visuomotor neuron that discharge both when a monkey executes a motor act and when it observes a similar motor act performed by another individual. In this article, we review first the basic properties of these neurons. We then describe visual features recently investigated which indicate that, besides encoding the goal of motor acts, mirror neurons are modulated by location in space of the observed motor acts, by the perspective from which the others’ motor acts are seen, and by the value associated with the object on which others’ motor acts are performed. In the last part of this article, we discuss the role of the mirror mechanism in planning actions and in understanding the intention underlying the others’ motor acts. We also review some human studies suggesting that motor intention in humans may rely, as in the monkey, on the mirror mechanism.
Proposal of Vespertiliibacter pulmonis gen. nov., sp. nov. and two genomospecies as new members of the family Pasteurellaceae isolated from European bats
Authors: Mühldorfer Kristin , Speck Stephanie , Wibbelt Gudrun
Published: April 2014

Five bacterial strains isolated from bats of the family Vespertilionidae were characterized by phenotypic tests and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using the 16S rRNA gene and four housekeeping genes (rpoA, rpoB, infB, recN). Phylogenetic analyses of individual and combined datasets indicated that the five strains represent a monophyletic cluster within the family

Pasteurellaceae

. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated a high degree of similarity (98.3–99.9 %) among the group of bat-derived strains, while searches in nucleotide databases indicated less than 96 % sequence similarity to known members of the

Pasteurellaceae

. The housekeeping genes rpoA, rpoB, infB and recN provided higher resolution compared with the 16S rRNA gene and subdivided the group according to the bat species from which the strains were isolated. Three strains derived from noctule bats shared 98.6–100 % sequence similarity in all four genes investigated, whereas, based on rpoB, infB and recN gene sequences, 91.8–96 % similarity was observed with and between the remaining two strains isolated from a serotine bat and a pipistrelle bat, respectively. Genome relatedness as deduced from recN gene sequences correlated well with the results of MLSA and indicated that the five strains represent a new genus. Based on these results, it is proposed to classify the five strains derived from bats within Vespertiliibacter pulmonis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type species), Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 1 and Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 2. The genus can be distinguished phenotypically from recognized genera of the

Pasteurellaceae

by at least three characteristics. All strains are nutritionally fastidious and require a chemically defined supplement with NAD for growth. The DNA G+C content of strain E127/08T is 38.2 mol%. The type strain of Vespertiliibacter pulmonis gen. nov., sp. nov. is E127/08T ( = CCUG 64585T = DSM 27238T). The reference strains of Vespertiliibacter genomospecies 1 and 2 are E145/08 and E157/08, respectively.
Identification of potential drug targets in Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium using metabolic modelling and experimental validation
Authors: Hartman Hassan B. , Fell David A. , Rossell Sergio , Jensen Peter Ruhdal , Woodward Martin J. , Thorndahl Lotte , Jelsbak Lotte , Olsen John Elmerdahl , Raghunathan Anu , Daefler Simon , Poolman Mark G.
Published: April 2014

Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium is an established model organism for Gram-negative, intracellular pathogens. Owing to the rapid spread of resistance to antibiotics among this group of pathogens, new approaches to identify suitable target proteins are required. Based on the genome sequence of S. Typhimurium and associated databases, a genome-scale metabolic model was constructed. Output was based on an experimental determination of the biomass of Salmonella when growing in glucose minimal medium. Linear programming was used to simulate variations in the energy demand while growing in glucose minimal medium. By grouping reactions with similar flux responses, a subnetwork of 34 reactions responding to this variation was identified (the catabolic core). This network was used to identify sets of one and two reactions that when removed from the genome-scale model interfered with energy and biomass generation. Eleven such sets were found to be essential for the production of biomass precursors. Experimental investigation of seven of these showed that knockouts of the associated genes resulted in attenuated growth for four pairs of reactions, whilst three single reactions were shown to be essential for growth.
Lack of association between Toll Like Receptor-2 & Toll Like Receptor-4 Gene Polymorphisms and Iranian Asthmatics risk or features
Authors: bahrami hamid , daneshmandi saeed , Pourfathollah Ali Akbar , haidarnazhad hasan
Published: April 2014

Background: Asthma as chronic inflammatory airway disease is considered to be the most common chronic disease that is involving genetic and environmental factors. Toll like receptors (TLRs) and other inflammatory mediators are important in modulation of inflammation. In this study we evaluated the role of TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphisms in the asthma susceptibility, progress, control levels and lung functions in Iranian subjects. Methods: On 99 asthmatic patients and 120 normal subjects, TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism were evaluated by PCR-RFLP method recruiting Msp1 and Nco1 restriction enzymes, respectively. IgE serum levels by ELISA technique were determined and asthma diagnosis, treatment and control levels were considered using standard schemes and criteria. Results: Our results indicated that the genotype and allele frequencies of the TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphisms were not significantly different between control subjects and asthmatics (p > 0.05) or even in asthma features such as IgE levels, asthma history and pulmonary factors (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Meanwhile some previous studies indicated TLRs and their polymorphisms role in asthma incidence and features, our data demonstrated that TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly gene variants were not risk factor of asthma or its features in Iranian patients. Genetic complexity, ethnicity, influence of other genes or polymorphisms may overcome these polymorphisms in our asthmatics.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Heat-Sensitive Alternative Splicing in Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Chang Chiung-Yun , Lin Wen-Dar , Tu Shih-Long
Published: April 2014

Plant growth and development are constantly influenced by temperature fluctuations. To respond to temperature changes, different levels of gene regulation are modulated in the cell. Alternative splicing (AS) is a widespread mechanism increasing transcriptome complexity and proteome diversity. Although genome-wide studies have revealed complex AS patterns in plants, whether AS impacts the stress defense of plants is not known. We used heat shock (HS) treatments at nondamaging temperature and messenger RNA sequencing to obtain HS transcriptomes in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Data analysis identified a significant number of novel AS events in the moss protonema. Nearly 50% of genes are alternatively spliced. Intron retention (IR) is markedly repressed under elevated temperature but alternative donor/acceptor site and exon skipping are mainly induced, indicating differential regulation of AS in response to heat stress. Transcripts undergoing heat-sensitive IR are mostly involved in specific functions, which suggests that plants regulate AS with transcript specificity under elevated temperature. An exonic GAG-repeat motif in these IR regions may function as a regulatory cis-element in heat-mediated AS regulation. A conserved AS pattern for HS transcription factors in P. patens and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) reveals that heat regulation for AS evolved early during land colonization of green plants. Our results support that AS of specific genes, including key HS regulators, is fine-tuned under elevated temperature to modulate gene regulation and reorganize metabolic processes.
4,4′-Dimethoxybiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid
Authors: Lundvall Fredrik , Wragg David Stephen , Dietzel Pascal D. C. , Fjellvåg Helmer
Published: April 2014

The title compound, C16H14O6, was recrystallized under solvothermal conditions. The molecules are located on inversion centres, with one complete molecule generated from the asymmetric unit by inversion. There are intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the carboxylic acid group and the O atom of the adjacent methoxy group. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaO—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [100]. The chains are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming sheets parallel to (001).
2-Nitrobenzyl methanesulfonate
Authors: Anuradha Venkatramu , Madan Kumar S. , Siddaraju B. P. , Lokanath N. K. , Nagendra P.
Published: April 2014

In the title compound, C8H9NO5S, the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the nitro group is 5.86 (15)° and the C—C—O—S group adopts ananticonformation [torsion angle = −168.44 (15)°]. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional network.
Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde 4-phenylthiosemicarbazonato-N1,S)nickel(II)
Authors: Oliveira Adriano Bof de , Feitosa Bárbara Regina Santos , Näther Christian , Jess Inke
Published: April 2014

In the title compound, [Ni(C15H14N3O2S)2], the NiIIatom lies on a center of symmetry. The deprotonated ligands act asN,S-donors, forming five-membered metalla-rings. The NiIIatom is four-coordinated in a slightly distorted square-planar environment. In the crystal, the discrete complex molecules are linked by weak N—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating chains along [110]. The chains are further connectedviaweak O—H...N interactions into a layered network extending parallel to (001).
Tetrakis[μ3-2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethanolato]tetrakis[chloridocopper(II)]
Authors: Luo Mei , Huang Yong-Hua , Zhang Jing-Cheng
Published: April 2014

In the title tetranuclear compound, [Cu4(C7H14NO)4Cl4], each CuIIcation isN,O-chelated by a piperidineethanolate anion and coordinated by a Cl−anion and two O atoms from neighboring piperidineethanolate anions in a distorted NO3Cl square-pyramidal geometry. The deprotonated hydroxyl groups of the piperidineethanolate anions bridge CuIIcations, forming the tetranuclear complex. All piperidine rings display a chair conformation. In the crystal, there are no significant intermolecular interactions present. The crystal studied was an inversion twin refined with a minor component of 0.18 (5).
6-Cyanonaphthalen-2-yl 4-hexylbenzoate
Authors: Rahman Md. Lutfor , Srinivasa H. T. , Mashitah Mohd. Yusoff , Kwong Huey Chong , Quah Ching Kheng
Published: April 2014

In the title compound, C24H23NO2, a whole molecule is disordered over two sets of sites with occupancies in a ratio of 0.692 (6):0.308 (6). In the major disorder component, the naphthalene ring system forms a dihedral angle of 68.6 (5)° with the benzene ring. The corresponding angle in the minor component is 81.6 (10)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked into chains propagating along theb-axis directionviaweak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The crystal packing is further consolidated by weak C—H...π interactions.
Two molybdenum pentacarbonyl complexes with electroneutral phosphane ligands: [bis(morpholin-4-yl)(pentafluoroethyl)phosphane-κP]pentacarbonylmolybdenum(0) and pentacarbonyl[(pentafluoroethyl)bis(piperidin-1-yl)phosphane-κP]molybdenum(0)
Authors: Petrochko Natalia G. , Peters R. Gregory , Baughman Russell G.
Published: April 2014

The crystal structures of the title compounds, [Mo{(C4H8NO)2P(C2F5)}(CO)5], (1a), and [Mo{(C5H10N)2P(C2F5)}(CO)5], (2a), were determined as part of a larger project that focuses on the synthesis and coordination chemistry of phosphane ligands possessing moderate (electroneutral, i.e. neither electron-rich nor electron-deficient) electronic characteristics. Both complexes feature a slightly distorted octahedral geometry at the metal center, due to the electronic and steric repulsions between two of the four equatorial CO groups and the pentafluoroethyl group attached to the phosphane ligand. Bond length and angle data for (1a) and (2a) support the conclusion that the free phosphane ligands are electroneutral. For complex (1a), the Mo—P, Mo—Cax and Mo—Ceq(ave) bond lengths are 2.5063 (5), 2.018 (2) and 2.048 (2) Å, respectively, and for complex (2a) these values are 2.5274 (5), 2.009 (3) and 2.050 (3) Å, respectively. Geometric data for (1a) and (2a) are compared with similar data reported for analogous Mo(CO)5 complexes.
A two-dimensional CdII coordination polymer with 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoate and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands
Authors: Jin Yu-Xiu , Yang Fang , Yuan Li-Min , Yan Chao-Guo , Liu Wen-Long
Published: April 2014

In poly[[μ3-2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoato-κ5
O:O,O′:O′′,O′′′](1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′)cadmium(II)], [Cd(C14H8O4S2)(C12H8N2)]
n
, the asymmetric unit contains one CdII cation, one 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoate anion (denoted dtdb2−) and one 1,10-phenanthroline ligand (denoted phen). Each CdII centre is seven-coordinated by five O atoms of bridging/chelating carboxylate groups from three dtdb2− ligands and by two N atoms from one phen ligand, forming a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal geometry. The CdII cations are bridged by dtdb2− anions to give a two-dimensional (4,4) layer. The layers are stacked to generate a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture via a combination of aromatic C—H...π and π–π interactions. The thermogravimetric and luminescence properties of this compound were also investigated.
(H3O)2NaAl3F12, isostructural with A
2NaAl3F12 (A = K+, Rb+, Cs+) fluorides having HTB-type sheets
Authors: Jouffret Laurent , Lhoste Jerome , Hemon-Ribaud Annie , Leblanc Marc , Maisonneuve Vincent
Published: April 2014

The title compound, (H3O)2NaAl3F12 [dihydronium sodium trialuminum(III) dodecafluoride], was obtained by solvothermal synthesis from the reaction of aluminium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, 1,2,4-triazole and aqueous HF in ethanol at 463 K for 48 h. The structure consists of AlF6 octahedra organized in [AlF4
−]
n
HTB-type sheets (HTB is hexagonal tungsten bronze) separated by H3O+ and Na+ cations.
The nexus between monetary policy and housing in Egypt and South Africa
Authors: Abdel-Baki Monal
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the effectiveness of monetary policy in boosting the housing sectors in each of Egypt and South Africa, and to detect the ability of the monetary agents of both nations to tame house prices.

Design/methodology/approach

– An eight-variate two-stage structural vector autoregressive model compares the efficacy of monetary policy during the period from 1975 to 2010 in alleviating housing shortages in both nations.

Findings

– The impact of monetary policy on the housing sector is not found to be uniformly effective. In economies with more developed mortgage markets, like South Africa, monetary agents can affect credit availability, provided that they react promptly to supply and demand shocks. In countries depending on off-plan sales, such as Egypt, monetary policy has a substantial impact on housing starts.

Originality/value

– This paper adds to the economic development literature since it elucidates how monetary policy could be employed as an unconventional tool to alleviate housing shortages in developing nations.
Job performance of employees with disabilities
Authors: K. Baumgärtner Miriam , A. Böhm Stephan , J.G. Dwertmann David
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to follow the call of researchers to take intrapersonal resources into account when trying to understand the influence of interpersonal resources by investigating the interplay of social support and self-efficacy in predicting job performance of people with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected in an Israeli call center employing mostly people with disabilities. The independent and moderator variables were assessed by an employee survey. To avoid common source bias, job performance was rated by the supervisors four weeks after conducting the survey. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– The first main effect hypothesis, stating a positive relationship between social support and job performance was conditionally supported (p=0.06). The relationship between self-efficacy and job performance did not gain support. In line with the extended support buffer hypothesis, the job performance of low self-efficacious employees increased with higher levels of social support. The interference hypothesis, postulating a negative effect of social support under the condition of high levels of self-efficacy, was not supported.

Practical implications

– The results indicate that employees with disabilities differ in the level of social support they need in order to reach high levels of job performance. Instead of a one-size-fits-all-approach, organizations should take individual levels of self-efficacy into account and offer support accordingly in order to unleash the full working potential.

Originality/value

– This is the first known empirical investigation examining the role of individual differences in the need of social support among employees with disabilities.
Female business faculty attrition: paths through the labyrinth
Authors: Klemm Verbos Amy , Vee E. Dykstra De
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore female business faculty perceptions about attrition from a business school to uncover factors that might assist in female faculty retention in business schools.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a qualitative study approach and guided by past literature, the paper systematically analyses open-ended responses to interview questions and notes emergent themes.

Findings

– The major themes that emerged as factors leading to attrition: first, an exclusionary and managerialist culture which marginalized and demoralized women; second, curtailed career opportunities, including a lack of gender equity in promotion and tenure; third, poor leadership; and fourth, break up of a critical mass of women. The factors then that might assist in female faculty retention are a critical mass of women, gender equity, inclusive, collaborative cultures, psychological safety, and ethical leadership. The career patterns of the women indicated that a labyrinth is an apt metaphor for their career paths.

Research limitations/implications

– This research examines just one school from the perspective of women who left. It holds promise as the basis for future studies across business schools and to faculty within business schools to determine whether the emergent themes hold across schools.

Originality/value

– This study examines women in business academe through the attraction-selection-attrition framework and by extending the labyrinth career metaphor to an academic setting. The paper also provides a conceptual model of female faculty retention.
May the best man win
Authors: Wilson Fiona
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how female bank lenders are locked into a position of disadvantage in a UK bank. The work of Bourdieu is used to explore women's position of disadvantage and inequality. As Bourdieu helps us predict, the women are symbolically constructed as different, and face different problems to men. Women's social capital is not perceived as the same as men's.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research method involved preliminary research interviews with seven key senior staff in the bank followed by focus group discussions with 35 male and female bank loan officers on bank premises within a nine-month period. Six focus groups were held – three with men and three with women in four British cities – London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh. All the interviews were tape-recorded and analysed. The participants were told that the discussion was completely confidential, and that we were interested in the role gender played in entrepreneurial and corporate life. Findings were verified by taking them back to a selection of those who had been involved in the focus groups.

Findings

– The findings show how the power dynamics are played out within the immediate workplace environment and influenced by the wider macro systems of society. The women differed in their views as to whether gender mattered. Despite the evident inequities these women face, some wished to deny or resist being seen as unequal or wanted to acknowledge inequity. The paper explains how and why this might be the case.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is limited by its sample size to 35 bank loan officers.

Practical implications

– The paper demonstrates some of the difficulties faced by those who wish to implement equality of opportunity in the face of women's denial of inequality.

Social implications

– The paper clearly illustrates the difficulties and challenges faced by female bank loan officers in banking.

Originality/value

– This paper discusses the subjective experience of equality, inequality and exclusion among female bankers showing how they are not a homogenous group, as they say they experience equality/inequality differently. These women face ideological dilemmas that are not widely discussed in the research literature. It is very unlikely that as a divided, heterogeneous group who find themselves in a very small minority in this bank, that greater equality for them is likely to come about.
The professional doctorate by Public Works
Authors: Jagiello Jolanta
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Professional Doctorate by Public Works (DProf by Public Works) one of the newer Doctorates by Professional Studies from the Institute of Work Based Learning in Middlesex University.

Design/methodology/approach

– The DProf by Public Works is based on 75 per cent practice that has already taken place, and the 25 per cent Contextual Statement is a reflection on this practice encapsulated in no more than six Public Works, which places the researcher at the centre of the enquiry.

Findings

– This paper focuses on a particular DProf by Public Works entitled “An entrepreneurial curatorial strategy for public spaces” and outlines how it was achieved by detailing the inter-professional and trans-disciplinary approach taken. The process undertaken to produce a self-reflexive and self-positioning statement reflecting on over ten years of independent curatorial practice of public art exhibitions is examined.

Originality/value

– The Public Works and its supporting Contextual Statement make up the DProf by Public Works. These can be published works in the traditional sense or other embodied expressions of knowledge and practice such as collections of artifacts, videos, photographic records, musical scores, artworks, and exhibitions. This paper explores how individual critiquing at the highest level of enquiry in the Contextual Statement can transform research into future real-world strategic directions that influence thinking, action, and practice in the public domain.
Developing the researching professional
Authors: Orlans Vanja
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an overview and analysis of a professional doctorate that was designed specifically for the training of psychologists in the fields of counselling psychology and psychotherapy, namely, the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy by Professional Studies (DCPsych).

Design/methodology/approach

– This programme has needed to combine the demands of different professional bodies for the development of a range of clinical competencies with the doctoral level demands of the university and of the UK Quality Assurance Agency in terms of adherence to a required set of doctoral level descriptors.

Findings

– The paper presents a critical review of a number of key areas that have needed to be addressed in both the design and delivery of this programme. It addresses in some detail the interface between clinical training and research activities, demonstrating how these can intertwine and mutually complement each other. Specific issues that are addressed in the paper include the articulation of relevant doctoral level descriptors, the teasing out of key areas that define doctoral level work and the complexities of putting some of these into practice within the DCPsych programme.

Originality/value

– In particular, the paper reflects on the issue of critical capability at doctoral level, the challenge of making a significant contribution to the practice field and the implications for candidates of journeying towards a position of authority as they develop their doctoral work. The paper concludes with the suggestion that what has been developed is an extremely interesting and innovative programme that is not for the faint hearted.
MBA program enrolment as a catalyst for boundaryless career goals (part one)
Authors: Muja Naser , H. Appelbaum Steven
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Further investigation of the thoughts and attitudes contributing to the voluntary pursuit of an MBA degree and career change is necessary to better understand career motivations and to satisfy career goals. This two-part article attempts to achieve this objective.

Design/methodology/approach

– Factors contributing to the cognitive decision to enrol in an MBA program and the subsequent impact of self-discovery gained on program entry on career strategy were explored using a 32-question survey based on empirical research findings.

Findings

– Part-time and full-time MBA students exhibited differences in decision criteria applied for MBA program entry. Following program enrolment, opportunities for career growth led to upward goal revision and increasingly focused goals.

Research limitations/implications

– Participation was potentially limited by survey distribution during a demanding academic period where many project reports and group presentations were due. A single MBA program in the downtown Montreal area may not be representative of all programs in the population.

Practical implications

– Anchoring individual career identity and social identity has become increasingly complex as employers in many industries undergo continuous transformational change.

Social implications

– Integration within the work environment of identified career roles requires additional attention to validate an individual's strategic career efforts.

Originality/value

– Surveying MBA candidates about career decisions and goal-revision allows for a valuable “snapshot” of career evolution over time. By promoting increased self-awareness, applied knowledge gained through MBA program activities acts as a catalyst for self-efficacy beliefs which results in upward distal goal-revision or increased goal focus.
Transformational leadership – an academic case study
Authors: Rao M.S.
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose is to present a case study on transformational leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

– It adopts the 4 I's of Bernard M. Bass, the leadership researcher – individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation and idealized influence.

Findings

– It emphasizes that leaders have to act according to the situation, with more emphasis on transformational leadership, for motivating their people and institutions to achieve their goals and objectives.

Practical implications

– It stresses the importance of accepting feedback and making bold decisions, to ensure the longevity of an academic institution and achieve academic excellence.

Social implications

– It provides an example of a passionate academic leader who leads from the front through his visionary leadership.

Originality/value

– It describes how to turn around an educational institution through academic leadership.
Distributed expertise and instructions
Authors: Valsecchi Irene
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The idea of Simon according to which instructions are premises for further decisions is formalized with respect to informationally decentralized organizations. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is built on the economic theory of teams by Marschak and Radner. Team theory is particularly suited to the analysis of informationally decentralized systems. Teams are composed of agents who strive for a common aim, but are informed of different parameters that characterize the state of nature. In particular, the members want to maximize the team payoff function that depends on both the actions of the members and the state of nature.

Findings

– For teams à la Marshack-Radner, since every member needs to compute optimal action rules, the paper shows that two types of expertise are required: forecasting expertise (as competence over the randomness of the parameters that affect the team payoff function) and organizational expertise (as comprehension of the relevant characteristics of the other members). When the members are supposed to have complete expertise, the only role of orders is the communication of information about the state of nature. Instead, when instructions report actions under the control of the senders, the team population can be classified into ranks, each one having a particular computational problem to solve. The paper analyzes the conditions under which instructions can correspond to different and ordered degree of intelligibility of the team operations. Through instructions non-decodable information is built directly into the decision rules chosen by the receivers, and instructions can realize economies in the use of expertise.

Originality/value

– Instructions are formally shown to play a crucial role when expertise is differently distributed across agents.
IT project risk assessment of learning organizations by fuzzy set and systems
Authors: Taylan Osman
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– IT projects carry high risk of failure due to the existence of great obstacles during the planning, application and development phase. The projects' risks are multi-dimensional, and they must be assessed by multi-attribute decision-making methods. The purpose of this article is to provide analytic tools to evaluate the learning organization's IT project risks under incomplete and vague information. It was also aimed to place the risk in a proper category and predict the level of it in advance to develop strategies to counteract the high-risk factors.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study, three mutual approaches were used to analyze the organizations IT applications. These are enterprise analysis for determination of information requirements of organization, payback method for IT project financial analysis and risk assessment using fuzzy sets and systems. The developed fuzzy model is an expert system which can predict the category of risk for IT projects in learning organizations.

Findings

– This study revealed that the greatest obstacles to IT project success were the lack of organizational learning, resistance to change, etc. User involvement limitation was found to be also one of the common reasons of IT project failure. The information sharing policy was determined to increase productivity of employees in offices and to decide the creators and the users of knowledge. Learning is a continuous process for organizational transformation. Individual and organizational learning were searched to minimize the level of risks factors and learning culture. IT project risks were categorized properly using fuzzy sets and systems to reduce or even eliminate high risks.

Originality/value

– The paper is original and gives the first such work for industry.
Pilot study on university English teachers' professional autonomy in France
Authors: Yassine-Diab Nadia , Monnier Nolwena , Lavinal Françoise
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims at understanding teachers' (the authors refer to “teachers” in higher education as lecturers or senior lecturers) professional autonomy in the context of the current university English teachers in France.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors present here the preliminary results of the test-questionnaire the authors have made to gather main tendencies on the topic (the results were presented orally at the SAES national conference held in Paris from 20 to 22 May 2011, http://saes.univ-paris3.fr). This paper is organized in three different themes that correspond to the three main parts of the test-questionnaire.

Findings

– The authors first show that the current degree of professional autonomy is both satisfying and an essential factor of self-development. The data underline the fact that teachers' professional autonomy is indeed a very important aspect of teaching as a job within the organizational university context. Then, the authors distinguish individualism from autonomy; stressing the fact that team-work does not entail less professional autonomy, contrary to what people may often think. Finally, most colleagues who participated in this first study have expressed concern that organizational constraints, such as the size of the groups, the obligation to conform to an overly constraining curriculum, the obligation to reach some success quotas or employment quotas, etc. could reduce or even threaten their professional autonomy and self-development.

Originality/value

– Many books have been written on learners' autonomy and teachers' role on this aspect. Teachers' professional autonomy at university level on the other hand is a much less studied topic. Often taken for granted, this autonomy now appears to be questioned because of the implementation of new organizational systems.
Corporate PR in a post-Citizens United world
Authors: Myers Cayce , Lariscy Ruthann
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical evolution of campaign finance laws and suggest the legal implications for public relations practitioners after the US Supreme Court's decision inCitizens United v. FEC.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach of this paper examines appellate case law and federal statutes to provide a legal analysis of the history of campaign finance laws and potential impact on public relations practitioners.

Findings

– This research provides an overview of the evolution of campaign finance case law and federal statues in the USA and provides analysis of how the 2010Citizens Unitedcase and a recent 2012 case, American Trade Partnership, are altering both the political and corporate landscapes. By allowing far greater contribution rights to corporations than any time since 1907,Citizens Unitedis changing the role corporations may directly play in elections at all levels. Implications for how these changes may affect corporate public relations practitioners both professionally and ethically are discussed.

Practical implications

– In a post-Citizens Unitedera, corporate PR may now legally be engaged with many forms of highly political communications. Corporate PR may have a more political tone and ethical dilemmas may face practitioners who may be legally asked to perform communications tactics that are at odds with their political values.

Originality/value

– Despite the academic analysis ofCitizens Unitedno study has evaluated the effectCitizens Unitedand campaign finance laws on public relations practice.
Investor relations measurement: an industry survey
Authors: W. Ragas Matthew , V. Laskin Alexander , Brusch Matthew
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Publicly-held companies collectively allocate tens of millions of dollars each year to investor relations, yet little research has been conducted into how investor relations officers (IROs) try to determine the effectiveness of this investment. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the above issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This exploratory study is based on a survey (n=384) of IROs who are members of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), the world's largest professional investor relations association.

Findings

– Respondents strongly rebuked using share price as a valid measure of investor relations performance. A factor analysis revealed that IROs use four factors to measure program success (listed in order of stated importance): first, international C-suite assessment; second, relationship assessment; third, outreach assessment; and fourth, external assessment. IROs at large-cap companies place significantly more importance on both C-suite assessment and relationship assessment than their peers at small-caps.

Research limitations/implications

– These results may not be generalizable to IROs who are non-NIRI members or investor relations consultants. Cross-cultural studies on this topic are needed.

Practical implications

– The evaluative factors that emerged in this study may be used by IROs to develop and refine their evaluation metrics relative to their peers.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first and largest studies to specifically examine program measurement and evaluation in the context of investor relations. These findings help set the stage for future work in this area.